January 28, 2011 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting by Lone Star Outdoor News

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

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Timber ghost Not albino: Rare Wisconsin white deer dropped by Texan.

Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

January 28, 2011

Volume 7, Issue 11

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Anglers hook big bass when cold eases

Inside

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS About the only thing warm in Texas the past few weeks has been the bass ﬁshing on some of HOOKED: Bass are being caught on soft plastics in many parts of the state. Anglers who ﬁnd warm water are having the best success in January. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

❘❚ FISHING

Fair weather reds Redﬁsh success coincides with mild weather. Page 8

the state’s reservoirs. In fact, some of the action has been downright hot as several lakes saw records fall, or at least get rattled, in January. First there was the 15.63pound largemouth that shattered the lake record Jan. 7 at Falcon Lake on the U.S.-Mexican border. Next, a 5.62-pound spotted bass caught Jan. 15 on Lake Alan Henry in

the Panhandle might be a new state record. And there have been only a few interruptions, according to James Bendele, co-owner of Falcon Lake Tackle in Zapata. “Barring a few cold fronts, every nice day has been really good,” he said. “I’ve never seen as many 10- and 12-pounders caught as I’ve seen lately.”

Bendele said during the third week of January that the ﬁsh were in a pre-spawn pattern, but a new cold front might push them down for a day or two. “But the weather warms and right back they come,” he said. Anglers are catching big bass on big soft plastics and spinner baits. See BIG BASS, Page 23

Bass strategy Pro bass anglers debate which matters most — bait or spot. Page 8

Money hard to track for upland birds

❘❚ HUNTING

Texas trifecta Three teal species downed in one hunt. Page 4

Phantom pheasants Season still open in three counties that seemingly have no ringnecks. Page 5

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PURSUIT: The Super Combo option for buying licenses has made it tough for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ofﬁcials to determine exactly how much money is generated for upland game birds. Conservation groups hope to persuade TPWD to release about $14 million in surplus funds to help pay for upland game bird habitat restoration. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Texas hunters spend millions of dollars annually to purchase licenses to hunt upland game birds. That money is supposed to go back into upland game bird conservation. But the Super Combo option for buying licenses has made it tough for Texas Parks and

Wildlife Department ofﬁcials to determine exactly how much money is generated for upland game birds. There are an estimated 50,000 and 60,000 upland game bird hunters in Texas, according to harvest surveys released by Dave Morrison, TPWD’s small game program leader. He said TPWD gets guidelines on how to spend money from the Texas legislature and

Action on the ﬂats By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Ellen Hatridge of Austin was having a hard time seeing the big speckled trout, but she still made a great cast. “I could see it better than she could,” said Capt. Billy Trimble, who guides out of Aransas Pass, “so I told her where to put the ﬂy. “She made a 65-foot cast, and the trout turned and ate it.”

But the ﬂy, one of Trimble’s white-on-white “Blind Chickens,” came loose, so the angler made another long cast. “She turned around and put it right back there,” Trimble said, “and this time, the hook got set.” The trout, plump with eggs, was measured at 30 inches before Hatridge eased her back into the water. See TROUT ACTION, Page 23

WINTER TROUT: Anglers are reeling in big speckled trout on the Texas Coast. Sight casting with a ﬂy rod has been effective in shallow ﬂats that draw trout on sunny days. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, for LSON.

also said there currently is a surplus of funds. Upland game bird conservation groups are hoping to persuade TPWD and the Legislature to release funds totaling nearly $14 million back to conservation and habitat restoration. Morrison did not have exact dollar ﬁgures, but he did address where money is intended to go. See UPLAND BIRDS, Page 23

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January 28, 2011

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

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January 28, 2011

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HUNTING

Triple-teal trophy still savored

TROPHY: Rob Gokey of Richardson presents the rare three-teal trophy he downed last year near Buckeye. His “Texas Trifecta” is rare because the teal trio included one blue, one green and a cinnamon. The cinnamon is seldom found on the Texas coast. Photo by Rob Gokey.

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS IT’S A WRAP: Mixed results were reported for the Texas waterfowl season, which wrapped up on Jan. 23. However, a lot of hunters reported great late-season shoots, thanks to early winter rainfall in the state. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Waterfowl season ends, results mixed By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Many hunters took advantage of late season rains to get in a few good shoots before the Texas waterfowl season ended last weekend across much of the state. In the goose country near the Texas coast, Wharton County Game Warden Chris Bird said the duck hunting was slow all season, with the exception of a “great” early teal season. “The bay is holding quite a few birds, but in Wharton County there just wasn’t many ducks or duck hunters this year,” Bird said. “The geese started out slow but they are here now. There are lots of snows and more sandhills than I’ve ever seen.” Bird said the goose hunting picked up the last three weeks of the season as more guides zeroed in on birds that had just arrived. “The geese showed up a lot later than normal this year,” Bird added. “Speaking with guides, goose numbers have been on a steady decline the past couple of years.” Hunters still can

shoot geese through Feb. 6 in the zones west of Interstate 35. Along the coast, hunters had good late-season outings over decoys around the bays near Rockport and Port O’Connor. In East Texas, late showers brought more ducks into the area during the late season, but rain also tended to spread the birds out because it gave them more areas to feed. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials were hopeful for a good season after abundant rains in the spring and early summer, but after the rains stopped in September, those expectations were dampened. Officials called the season “average at best,” especially in North Texas where the duck hunters struggled to find good hunting throughout the year. More mallards had moved into the northern part of the state during the last two weeks, which gave hunters in the central portion of the state some good shoots. In the Panhandle, hunters and guides were

reporting outstanding hunting after several major cold fronts pushed through the area late in the season. Several outﬁtter blogs reported high goose numbers around Lubbock. According to Marcus Collins, game warden for Hale and Floyd counties, the waterfowl hunting was outstanding, especially later in the season. “It’s been phenomenal,” Collins said. “It’s as good as I’ve seen it in years. I checked a lot of do-it-yourselfers and guided hunters and if you have any idea what you’re doing, it’s hard not to kill birds.” Collins said from November through the end of the season, more than 15 outﬁtters were working in the area and they all were having successful shoots. He said they were still doing well toward the end of the season, although the geese were starting to “get wiser.” “But overall,” he said, “it’s been very good for everyone.”

January is Rob Gokey’s favorite month. While he didn’t hunt much this season, last January is still on his mind. It was January a year ago that Gokey, hunting near Buckeye in Matagorda County, nailed a trifecta. In a single day, he shot three teal — one blue, one green and a duck that is rarely found on the Texas Coast, the cinnamon teal. “It is very uncommon to get all three species in one hunt,” Gokey said. “We call that the ‘Texas Trifecta’ because the cinnamon teal is pretty rare.” That is to say, rare on the Gulf Coast because they usually are found in the Pacific Flyway, although one might occasionally get confused and wind up in a flock of blue or green teal. The cinnamon teal is aptly named for the drake’s body — a rich shade of brown. Its range extends from southern British Columbia to South America, according to the “Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds.” The species sometimes appears in Texas, but usually in the western area of the state. It’s uncommon to find them near the Texas coast, where Gokey was a guest at a duck camp operated by Bill Ansell of Galveston, a regional vice president for Ducks Unlimited. Gokey, a businessman, has been active with DU for about 15 years, and See TRIPLE-TEAL, Page 7

More mule deer check station participation wanted By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

CHECKMATE: TPWD ofﬁcials hope more hunters come to check stations to register their mule deer harvests next season. Photo by Morgan Tyler.

About 135 mule deer were brought to volunteer check stations last fall in the Trans-Pecos region, but the ofﬁcial in charge of the program believes it can be improved next season. Data collected at the stations helps monitor harvest intensity, herd conditions and age structures, and to develop revisions in regulations. The 2010 numbers still were being crunched in late January, said Shawn Gray, program leader for mule deer and pronghorn at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Meanwhile, Gray said he would study ways to encourage more hunter

participation at the check stations. He said the 135 entries would provide important information, but TPWD biologists will learn more in the future from a much bigger sample. The stations were set up during the weekends of Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 5-6 in Culberson, Jeff Davis, Ward, Pecos, Terrell and Brewster counties. Gray noted, however, the station at Monahans State Park was out of the way for some hunters. “I think we need to have them in areas where people are already stopping,” Gray said. Gray said he would seek out more places like taxidermist shops or deer processors for future check stations.

He added that other stations last season might have gotten more trafﬁc if their road signs had been more prominent. Gray plans, therefore, to get larger signs and put them where hunters easily can see them while traveling highway speeds. “The data that we use from that person’s deer is going to be used for future mule deer management decisions,” Gray said. “So, each person’s deer is very important. “The better we understand mule deer in the state, the better we identify hunting regulations in the future.” The information includes age by tooth wear and replacement, num-

ber of antler points, antler inside spreads and basal circumferences, and ﬁeld-dressed weights. Although last year’s check-station sample is smaller than Gray would like, he still expects it will conﬁrm some good news. Biologists already believe the mule deer herd is quite healthy, thanks to wet weather earlier in 2010 that bolstered habitat from the Panhandle to the Trans Pecos. “I haven’t seen the hard data yet,” Gray said, “but our biologists said they saw a lot of nice deer, and it was a good year for antler development. “There were several 180- to 200class deer across West Texas.”

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January 28, 2011

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Texan harvests rare Wisconsin ‘timber ghost’ By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Deborah Meritt went on a ghost hunt last fall in Wisconsin, but this was no Halloween gag. With husband Rick, she arrived shortly after Labor Day at a trophy deer operation in northeast Wisconsin. Her goal was to harvest a whitetailed buck — but one that was completely white. The Meritts, who operate Outback Wildlife Feeders in Gilmer, hunted with brothers Gary and Jimmy Nelson of Wild Rivers Whitetails, near the community of Fence in Wisconsin’s “Northwoods.” Both companies regularly promote their products on the outdoor show circuit, and that’s how the Meritts and the Nelsons became friends. “What attracted us most, aside from their charming personalities and quick wits, were their mounts TIMBER GHOST: Deborah Meritt of Gilmer downed this rare all-white of the piebald and white bucks white-tailed buck last fall in northeast Wisconsin. Photo by Rick featured in their show display,” Meritt.

Deborah said. “I decided that I would like to hunt for one of their unique white bucks.” Small herds of white deer are legendary in northern Wisconsin, but the deer at Wild Rivers Whitetails are not albino, Gary Nelson said. “The type of deer we have is a whitecolor phase whitetail,” he said. “They actually have a white gene that is dominant.” White deer, albino or not, only can be hunted in Wisconsin if they are on a licensed breeding operation, like the one operated by the Nelsons. Wild Rivers Whitetails has been in operation since 1996. Brilliant autumn colors greeted the Meritts when they arrived at the farm. “We unknowingly visited Wisconsin at the perfect time of year,” Deborah said. She set out with Jimmy Nelson, covering densely forested hillsides that had a few scattered food plots. “Early and late we would hunt from blinds and hunt through the timber during the day,” Deborah said. “I was surprised to see several white deer, both does and bucks, along with the normal

white-tailed deer.” Rick harvested a northern whitetail early during the visit that gross scored 246. He joined Deborah on the third day, which was rainy. In the morning they saw a nice white buck with a non-typical rack, but it was a bit uneven. Jimmy assured the Meritts that there was an even nicer buck in the woods, and he was right. They got a glimpse of him during an afternoon downpour, and they could see that his rack was wider. “He vanished back through the timber just as quickly as he had appeared,” Deborah said. They stalked the deer with light fading, but they caught more glimpses of him moving through the dense woods with a group of does. “We circled around to intercept them and waited for the perfect shot,” Deborah said. “The does stepped slowly and timidly across the only opening that presented a clear shot, but when this white ghost buck stepped up to the clearing, he leapt across it in a blink and once again into the trees. “As he slowed behind the does, he did ﬁnally make a fatal mistake and I claimed my timber ghost.” The 10-point buck scored 143 6/8.

Pheasant season still open in 3 counties, but good luck killing one By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Jefferson County Game Warden Colt Crawford has a running joke with his fellow wildlife ofﬁcers. “What were you doing this morning?” he asks. “Out chasing pheasant hunters,” replies his friend. It’s a little bit of a joke along

the southeastern coast of Texas in Chambers, Jefferson and Liberty counties, where the pheasant season extends through Feb. 27, long after the Jan. 2 closing in the Texas Panhandle. But it’s hard to ﬁnd anyone who hunts pheasants in those counties because there seemingly are no ringnecks to be found there. “I’ve been here 2 1/2 years and I’ve never seen a pheasant

or checked a pheasant hunter,” Crawford said. The reason for those three counties remaining open? According to Dave Morrison, Texas Parks and Wildlife small game program leader, the area was stocked with pheasants during the late 1980s, but those efforts largely failed. “They didn’t do very well for

whatever reason,” Morrison said. “But there are probably a few remnant birds and this gives people extra time to get out and maybe shoot a few birds.” Morrison said he worked in Louisiana during that time and knows the three counties had birds at one time because Louisiana received extra birds from the area. But wardens haven’t seen pheas-

ants in many years. Capt. Rod Ousley said he has been in the area for 23 years and has never seen a pheasant or anyone kill one. “About twice a year I get a call from someone who wants to come hunt them down here, and I do all I can to discourage it and point them towards the Panhandle,” Ousley said. “It’s hard to kill something that isn’t here.”

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Lab working to keep fever ticks off deer Eradication research continues in Kerrville

ROLLING: A Texas buck eats corn at a "4-Poster" feeding station designed to rid the deer of ticks. Photo by USDA.

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS An unsuspecting Hill Country buck drives his muzzle into a bin of feed corn to sneak a treat, but researchers in Kerrville have a different agenda. The buck is feeding at a device called a "4-Poster," which slathers the deer with pesticides that kill dreaded cattle fever ticks. The chemicals are applied as the deer pushes its head through a port to feed. At the same time, the head brushes against paint rollers saturated with pesticides. Later, as the deer grooms, the pesticide spreads to other parts of its body. The 4-Poster is one of several devices developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s KniplingBushland Livestock Insects Research Lab in Kerrville. Scientists suspect that the ticks don’t harm deer, but they worry that white-

tails and other wildlife could become springboards for the tick's return to Texas livestock. Fever ticks on cattle were largely eradicated in the 1940s, but the scientists aren't taking any chances on a return of the parasite. History shows that the ticks can carry deadly diseases such as bovine babesiosis, which has the potential to kill 90 percent of a cattle herd. “It is a very real threat to agriculture bio-security for the U.S.,” said Dr. Adalberto Perez De Leon, lab director. The scientists hope to prevent that by patenting several new methods like the 4-Poster. An automatic deer-collaring device was also developed at the lab by entomologist Mat Pound. It was patented in 1999. According to the USDA, Pound and co-inventor Craig LeMeilleur designed it to automatically apply pesticide-soaked collars to wild deer in a bait station

apparatus. The device has an assembly for holding a collar in an open position. The deer moves into a V-shaped area to eat corn and the collar suddenly snaps around its neck when its presses against a trigger mechanism. “White-tailed deer are regarded as the major complicating factor in current eradication efforts since they are suitable hosts for cattle fever ticks,” Pound said. “Removing cattle from infested pastures was a viable eradication method in past years, but now it’s unlikely to be effective as long as white-tailed deer remain within an area.” Perez De Leon said the lab currently is working on other tick eradication methods. The cattle fever ticks do not present a health risk to hunters, although deer that can carry other ticks that that can infect people with lyme disease. Included are the deer tick,

the western black legged tick and the Lone Star tick. The devices developed at Kerrville can be used to treat deer for those ticks, the scientists said. Meanwhile, Perez De Leon said more research is needed to conﬁrm the suspicion that deer are immune to cattle tick fever. “We are addressing that issue right now,” he said. “When cattle fever ticks bite a deer, they are exposed. But as far as we know, they don’t become sick with the disease.” A main goal of the lab is spreading the word to ranchers and deer breeders in South Texas about the possibility of wildlife spreading the diseases to cattle through ticks. “A partnership is needed with ranchers to raise awareness,” Perez De Leon said. “Ranchers raising cattle and deer together is a doublewhammy as far as risk.” To learn more about this issue, go to www.lsonews.com.

MADE TO HUNT: Three Texas companies have almost simultaneously entered the hunting apparel market with camouﬂage clothes that blend with the cedars of the Hill Country. Austin-based Cedar Creek Camo was able to get its apparel, shown here, on the marketplace just before last fall’s hunting season. Photo by Cedar Creek Camo.

Cedar camo companies vie for Hill Country niche By Mary Helen Aguirre LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Jeremy Ruiz, a bow hunter who has spent serious time hiding amid the cedar that dots the Texas Hill Country, knew firsthand there was a gap in the camo industry. There was just no pattern designed specifically for use in cedar country. Period. Imagine his surprise, then, when he spotted Cedar Creek Camo hunting apparel on the shelves of an Austin store last fall. Ruiz tried it. He liked it. CEDAR BREAKS: Hill Country Camo, He told his hunting budbased in Deer Park, outfits hunters dies about it. They tried it from head to toe. A complete enand they liked it. semble is shown here. Photo by Hill Country Camo. The 33-year-old from Wimberly is president of the Camo Cartel, a group who hunts in Texas’ Hill Country and New Mexico. Now, all 10 hunt-crazy members are wearing the camo Ruiz found. “These colors are spot-on,” he said of the Cedar Creek Camo pattern. “For hard-core bow hunters, especially turkey hunters, you want to be as concealed as possible.” Austin-based Cedar Creek Camo is one of three Texas companies that have recently unveiled cedar camouflage hunting

The Texas entrepreneurs have traveled apparel and hope to claim a share of the similar paths. lucrative camo industry. All three men said they recognized there Cedar Creek Camo was able to get its was no cedar camo pattern on the market apparel on the marketplace just before last and worked to come up with a design for hunting season. the cedar country where they hunt. Hill Country Camo, based in Deer Park, Then, there was the business of arranging received its first shipment of apparel last for manufacturing, distribution and all the year and sold plenty at a recent Texas other work that accompanies the launching Trophy Hunters Show. and nurturing of an embryonic business. And Eldorado-based CedarFlage plans So far, the response has been positive. to make a big push this spring when the The Cedar Creek Camo currently is in turkey hunters will be out in droves. 23 retailer stores, including three Buc-ee’s The companies each came up with a truck stops. pattern that the owners say best mimics “It’s doing really, really well,” said the homely evergreen shrub-like cedar tree Reynolds, noting that the most popular with its grayish, brownish shedding bark. items are the cargo pants and the longJames Reynolds, an owner of Cedar READY FOR SPRING: CedarFlage, based sleeve hunting shirt. Creek Camo, said his company set out to in Eldorado, plans to make a big push CedarFlage is in about five retailers in the design a pattern that offered maximum in the upcoming spring turkey season San Angelo area. concealment while hunting in the cedar with pieces like the shirt shown here. Hill Country Camo’s made-in-the-USA breaks. His 3D pattern combines 12 earth Photo by CedarFlage. apparel is in a couple of retailers and some tones and was designed through the use of online sites. digital photography and a touch of artistry. Because of the coloration of the new cedar camo patterns, Likewise, Hill Country Camo and CedarFlage developed they have the potential of becoming popular in any part of their patterns based on digital photography. Todd St. Francis, who owns Hill County Camo along the country where cedar, pine trees or any such colored vegwith his wife, Debbie, described the company’s “Deadwood etation can be found. Time will tell if hunters across the U.S. Cedar” pattern as a 12-color 3D pattern that reflects the hues are sold on these Texas-born patterns. But Ruiz is already sold. of the evergreen cedar, merged with a live oak whose limbs “It’s awesome,” he said. “It conceals you like no other have died. Steve Elmore, an outfitter and owner of CedarFlage, said of we’ve tried.” See www.lsonews.com for more information on this camo. his camo: “It’s just like looking at a cedar bush.”

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Triple-teal Continued From Page 4

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

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Texas Duck Stamp prints still fund projects But proceeds have dwindled since 1980s

TEAL TRIO: The teal slam taken by Rob Gokey of Richardson is showcased in this mounted display of the three birds. Photo by Rob Gokey.

currently serves as Texas state sponsor chairman. He completed the triple-teal trophy in a single morning, from the same blind. “There was just a tremendous amount of teal and we got lucky on getting all three,” Gokey said. “There was no other cinnamon teal killed that weekend.” Gokey began waterfowl hunting 30 years ago with his father, Bob, who is his partner in their family food sales company. He also enjoys hunting with his 14-year-old son, Kyle. Gokey once shot two banded mallards in one day, but he said the hunt near Buckeye tops that. “This year has been a little bit slower,” he said. “I haven’t gotten out as much because of business and family obligations.” Gokey, however, relived the Buckeye experience recently when the three-teal mount was brought home from the taxidermist. “When I ﬁnished the trifecta out, it was like scoring the winning touchdown at the Super Bowl,” he said. “There was so much hooting and hollering, they heard us over on the neighboring property.”

who died in 2006, was chairman of the TPW Commission. “He helped get the bill killed,” Wood said. The bill was rewritten to guarantee proceeds went to Texas waterfowl, and that bill passed into law. A bidding process ensued with retailers vying to become the exclusive seller of the prints, and Collector’s Covey was awarded the bid. Wood acknowledged it was a good deal for him. STAMP OF APPROVAL: Proceeds from the sale of “It was a lot of fun back in the day duck stamp prints, like the ones pictured in these — just magithree images, help TPWD fund conservation projcal,” he said. ects around the state. Photos by Bubba Wood. “The first year, royalties from By Conor Harrison the print sales were LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS greater than the Since the early 1980s, the state of money the state Texas has had a duck stamp, with raised from the proceeds from its print sales ben- actual sale of the efiting Texas Parks and Wildlife stamps.” Department. In 1981, the state Those funds, however, have made $670,395 declined significantly since TWPD from the sale of switched to electronic license sales 16,500 prints. and hunters no longer had to pur“Back then, the state duck stamps chase actual stamps. were so collectible, especially the first The story begins in 1981, said edition,” Wood said. “Texas spawned a Bubba Wood, owner of Collector’s lot of state duck stamp programs.” Covey in Dallas. The 1981 Texas Duck Stamp print was He recalled recently that a bill introthe largest single signed and numduced in the Legislature would have sent 50 percent of revenue gained bered print of any kind ever sold, from the sale of duck stamp prints to including the federal duck stamp an international waterfowl founda- print, Wood said. In the second year, 9,500 prints tion, such as Ducks Unlimited. Wood wasn’t against foundations, were sold and the state made approxbut he was concerned about money imately $400,000 in royalties. “It’s declined every year except leaving Texas. “I was opposed to that bill because 1985, when (Texan) Jack Cowen I didn’t want to see Texans getting was the artist,” Wood said. “It went taxed and the money going out of up a little bit that year because Jack was such a well-known artist.” state,” Wood said. These days, fewer than 1,000 Wood turned to Perry Bass, the Fort Worth oilman. In 1981, Bass, duck stamp prints are sold annu-

ally, although TPWD still makes royalties from the sales. In 2009, the state received $37,410 from the proceeds of all wildlife stamp prints; of that amount, $20,500 came from the duck stamp prints. “When the state went to computer licenses in 1996, it hurt sales,” Wood said. “The stamp prints are collectible, but not investments.” In a 2005 press release from TPWD, the agency said more than $15 million had been raised through the Texas Duck Stamp program, with another $5 million raised through the sales of the stamps and prints. Major conservation initiatives funded through the program included the acquisition of more than 18,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas, the restoration of more than 112,000 acres of wetland habitat and more than 35 marsh projects with Ducks Unlimited. “Perry Bass was the real hero of this story,” Wood said. “He shepherded this through the process. I think people like the fact that Texas gets the money.”

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FISHING

Mild weather extends redfish bite for some Others skunked by cold water, high winds By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Anglers searching the Texas Gulf Coast for redfish are reporting differences that are like night and day. For some, an abundance of reds has kept the consistent 2010 bite going strong in 2011. But for others, cold temperatures and high winds have all but sunk their hopes for fish. The action in Galveston Bay has held steady because of the large, consistent population of redfish. “In fact, I have never seen as many redfish in my life in the bay as there has been last year (and into this year),” guide Tom Brown said. “We’ve just had an incredible redfish population.” Brown’s target depths are 4 to 6 feet over muddy or shell-covered bottoms. He also has had success fishing artificial baits like the Deadly Dudley in pearl and chartreuse. This is a simple paddletail bait, about 4 ounces. Although weather has been a concern along much of the coast, Brown said that only matters for finding redfish holding patterns. Some of FAIR WEATHER REDS: Abundant redfish are being caught this winter on the Gulf Coast, as long as winds stay light and water temperatures don’t dip into the 50s. Photo by the places he has marked are along Scott Sommerlatte, for Lone Star Outdoor News. the Intracoastal Waterway and the Galveston Ship Channel. Farther north, Baffin Bay continues to pro- weather has throttled much of the activity. casting in winter, fish are likely to strike at a Fishing has been strong in the With water temperatures dipping into the duce fair numbers of fish for those working variety of bait presentations. Laguna Madre area, where reds have been low to mid-50s, guide Marvin Landers has Guide Jamie Spears reported high-catch Bass Assassins and other soft body baits. drawn to abundant baitfish, said guide Guide Jim Leavelle of Tarpon Adventures been forced to wait out the weather. totals in the Port Isabel/South Padre Island Ruben Cisneros. Success depends on close attention to has found success while fishing artificial He credited recent rainfall for stirring up area. water temperatures because redfish retreat to baits in a cantaloupe color with a 1/8-ounce By working gold spoons, Spears reported the bait. lower depths when it’s cold, Landers said. “I have seen a particularly large increase reds of 23 to 28 inches. He said that although jig head. “It’s pretty miserable fishing out there Water temperatures around 67 degrees of crab and shrimp in our secluded flats,” fishing has been steady, the weather has have been stable in the area, which has right now,” Landers said. “But, when that been challenging. Cisneros said. water temperature gets back to about 68 With winds close to 20 mph, the fishing added to success, Leavelle said. Cisneros also found success with small But, for those fishing near Rockport, foul degrees, we’ll start to fish again.” paddletail baits. He added that while sight shuts down quickly, Spears said.

Bait or spot? Bass anglers debate which matters most

PRIORITIES: Most agree that to catch bass you have to be near them and offer them something they’ll stick in their mouths. But which one of those is more important – the spot or the bait – is up for endless debate. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

By Kyle Carter FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS At the end of a bass ﬁshing trip, no matter how well it went, there’s some analyzing to be done. If you caught them, you contemplate why, how, and how you might do it again. If you missed them, it’s why, how, and how can you avoid it in the future. And in a sport that, for the most part, takes place in an unseen world underwater, the analysis mostly takes place through educated guesses. Those educated guesses often spur debate among anglers about what it takes to catch more bass. What should an angler spend his time analyzing?

Most agree that to catch bass you have to be near them and offer them something they’ll stick in their mouths. But which one of those is more important — the spot or the bait — is up for endless debate. “Obviously if you figure both of those out that’s the day you never forget, but I think it’s more important to find the right spot,” said Trevor Romans, who fishes the North and Central regions of the Texas Bass Champs tour. “It’s harder to find the right spot,” he said, “especially this time of year. They get bunched up in the winter, so when you do find the right spot, it’s actually pretty easy to catch them.” Charles Whited, who fishes the South and Central regions of Bass Champs, simplified it even more. “You’ve got to find them before you can catch them,” he said. “Any angler can catch them. I do a lot of guiding and they rely on me to find the fish so that they can go there and catch them. “It’s always about finding the right spot.” But nothing is ever that simple. Allen Shelton, who fishes all four ■ Scan Technology: regions of Bass Page 11 Champs, said bait and presentation are more important than spots. “Guys like Kevin VanDam and Skeet Reese can’t win tournament after tournament by finding the right spot,” Shelton

said. “They find patterns that can work from lake to lake, and you can’t find a good pattern without the right bait.” All three anglers agreed that the ultimate goal is to find a pattern — something that is working all over the lake in multiple spots — but they disagreed on how to get there. Shelton says he likes to start with a crankbait, experimenting in different depths with crankbait lips of different sizes and shapes. Once he finds success, he starts paying more attention to the spot he is in and looks for similar areas across the lake. Romans said he tries multiple styles in multiple areas. “Once you’ve identified where they are and what they’re doing, you can start trying to identify other parts of the water that are offering the same thing,” Romans said. “It’s always better to have a pattern than relying on one spot.” The difference between searching for the right spot and searching for the right bait is subtle — it’s hard to have one without the other — but Shelton said the correct approach varies among anglers. “I’m a shallow fisherman, so I’m always looking for a pattern over a spot,” Shelton said. “I think having a pattern is more important than anything, but if you’re a guy who likes to fish deep, it might be more important to find the right spot. “You just do whatever suits your style.”

Changes to sea trout regulations debated Meetings over, decision expected soon By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Texas anglers and guides are bracing for possible changes to sea trout regulations — including smaller bag limits — after a series of meetings conducted along the coast by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists. TPWD concluded the series of scoping meetings on sea trout Jan. 18 in Corpus Christi and, according to Art Morris, TPWD fisheries outreach specialist, the reaction from anglers and conservation groups was split down the middle. “We received an overall response from more than 1,000 people,” Morris said. “Nearly half of those (48 percent) were favorable to some sort of change and half were not favorable. “Of those that did favor change, most supported going to a five-fish bag limit.” The current limit is 10 sea trout per person with a minimum size of 15 inches. Morris said other ideas supported by some anglers included slot limits, raising or lowering the minimum size and having different regulations for guided and recreational trips. He added that anglers on the lower coast were more open to changes in bag limits than the upper coast. See TROUT REGULATIONS, Page 11

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

Page 9

TEXAS FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

HOT BITES LARGEMOUTH BASS

BASTROP: Good on chartreuse soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and Rat–L– Traps. CANYON LAKE: Good on watermelon Brush Hogs, Texas-rigged chartreuse JDC drop-shot worms, and tubes on jigheads along bluffs in 15–25 feet. COLEMAN: Good on watermelon soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and Rat–L– Traps. JOE POOL: Good on drop-shot rigs and crankbaits in 6–10 feet. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and black/ blue Power Worms.

WHITE, HYBRID, STRIPER

AMISTAD: Striped bass are good on crankbaits and jigging spoons. White bass are good on crankbaits and jigging spoons. BELTON: Hybrid striper are good on live shad early. RAY ROBERTS: White bass are good on main lake humps and ridges in 30–35 feet on chartreuse/white 1 oz. slabs.

CATFISH

BASTROP: Channel and blue catﬁsh are good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. CHOKE CANYON: Channel and blue catﬁsh are good on minnows and hot dogs in 5–15 feet. FORK: Good on prepared baits and nightcrawlers.

CRAPPIE BOB SANDLIN: Good on minnows and jigs under the Hwy 21 Bridge. BROWNWOOD: Good on Li’l Fishies and minnows over brush piles in 10–20 feet. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Good on minnows and jigs in 20–25 feet.

ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 44–48 degrees; 1.77’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows over brush piles. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. AMISTAD: Water clear; 60 degrees; 0.68’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs, spoons, and soft plastic worms and lizards. Striped bass are good on crankbaits and jigging spoons. White bass are good on crankbaits and jigging spoons. Catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers over baited holes to 120 feet. Yellow catfish are slow. ATHENS: Water fairly clear, 45–48 degrees; 1.8’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad. BASTROP: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow.

degrees; 27.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catﬁsh are fair on prepared bait. CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 44–49 degrees; 3.07’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, spoons and Texas rigs. White bass are fair to good on chartreuse/white slabs. Hybrid striper are slow to fair on live shad and Sassy Shad. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catﬁsh are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut shad. CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 61 degrees; 5.70’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon jigs, crankbaits, and soft plastic worms along grassy edges. White bass are slow. Crappie are on minnows and Li’l Fishies. Drum are fair on live

shot-rigged LFT Ring Fry. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catﬁsh are fair on cut shad. JOE POOL: Water off-color; 45–49 degrees; 0.21’ high. Largemouth bass are good on drop-shot rigs and crankbaits in 6–10 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around bridge columns and brush piles. White bass are fair on slabs. Catﬁsh are fair on nightcrawlers and prepared baits. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 44–48 degrees; 0.63’ low. Largemouth bass are good on

HOT SPOT

BELTON: Water clear; 61 degrees; 3.10’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid striper are good on live shad early. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catﬁsh are good on doughbait and snails. Yellow catﬁsh are slow.

BRIDGEPORT: Water fairly clear; 45–47 degrees; 3.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and Texas rigs. White bass are fair on jigging spoons and minnows. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and cut shad. BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 59 degrees; 9.46’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Persuader crankbaits, and watermelon red soft plastic worms over brush piles in 10–18 feet. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies and crankbaits from lighted docks at night. Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies and minnows over brush piles in 10–20 feet. Channel catfish are fair on shrimp, stinkbait, and liver. BUCHANAN: Water clear; 60 degrees; 10.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse curl tail grubs on jigheads, Texas-rigged watermelon Scoundrel worms, and trolling blue back Fat Free Shads along ledges in 10–25 feet. Striped bass are fair on live shad, Spoiler Shad swim baits, and Pirk Minnows in 20–30 feet. White bass are fair on jigging spoons, white crappie jigs, and spinnerbaits along main lake points in 15–20 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows. CADDO: Water murky; 44–47 degrees; 0.24’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on jigs and weightless flukes. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair to good on spoons. CALAVERAS: Water clear; 62 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows and small spinnerbaits. Striped bass are good on live shad and chartreuse striper jigs. Redfish are fair on live perch and shad. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow. CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 57 degrees; 1.07’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon Brush Hogs, Texas-rigged chartreuse JDC drop-shot worms, and tubes on jigheads along bluffs in 15–25 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along main lake points. Smallmouth bass are good on watermelon red grubs, blue/red flake tubes on jigheads, and white soft plastic worms along main lake points. Crappie are fair on minnows.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 45–49 degrees; 1.51’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows over brush piles. White bass are fair on slabs. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and cut bait. RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 46–48 degrees; 2.87’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and split shot-rigged flukes. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are slow to fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on chartreuse (use Worm–Glo) nightcrawlers. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 44–48 degrees; 1.18’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on jigs and crankbaits around rocky points. Crappie are slow. White bass are good on main lake humps and ridges in 30–35 feet on chartreuse/white 1 oz. slabs. Catfish are fair drifting cut shad around main lake humps.

BOB SANDLIN: Water off-color; 44–48 degrees; 3.52’ low. No reports on Largemouth bass. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs under the Hwy 21 Bridge. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait. BRAUNIG: Water clear; 62 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows. Striped bass are fair on live shad and striper jigs. Redfish are fair on live perch and shrimp near the dam. Channel catfish are good on chicken livers, shrimp, and nightcrawlers.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 44–47 degrees; 2.4’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 20–25 feet around brush piles and bridge columns. Hybrid striper and white bass are fair on shad and slabs. Catﬁsh are fair on cut shad.

Falcon Lake After the breaking of a 20-year lake record this month, Falcon continues to produce plenty of great largemouth bass fishing. Great water temperature has pushed big fish into a pre-spawn pattern, and anglers are catching loads of 10- and 12-pounders. This 9-pound bass was caught on Jan. 19 by Johnny Miller while fishing with guide Tommy Law, (325) 439-6045. worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on minnows and hot dogs in 5–15 feet. Yellow catfish are slow. COLEMAN: Water fairly clear; 58 degrees; 10.65’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. Hybrid striper are good on minnows and white striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs. Channel catfish are fair on stinkbait and shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow. COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 63 degrees (82 degrees at discharge); 0.14’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse Rat–L–Traps and spinnerbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish to 3 pounds are good on perch and stinkbait in 10–20 feet. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live perch. CONROE: Water fairly clear; 1.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Rat–L– Traps in 10–20 feet. Striped bass are fair on silver striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and green tube jigs. Catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp. FAYETTE: Water fairly clear; 64 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse Carolina-rigged soft plastic worms, Rat–L– Traps, and spinnerbaits in 10–20 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers over baited holes in 15–25 feet. FORK: Water fairly clear; 44–47 degrees; 3.37’ low. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits and nightcrawlers. GRANBURY: Water clear; 1.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. An active golden algae bloom has been confirmed above HWY 377. GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 46–49 degrees; 1.35’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on jigs, drop-shot rigs and split

spinnerbaits, crankbaits and black/ blue Power Worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in 20–25 feet (December 1st through February 28th, anglers keep their first 25 crappie regardless of size). Catfish are good on bloodbait. Bream are slow to fair on cut nightcrawlers. LAVON: Water stained; 45–47 degrees; 5.21’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair to good on minnows around bridge columns. White bass are fair on slabs and spoons. Catfish are fair on prepared bait. LBJ: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.18’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red jigs, pumpkinseed worms, and green pumpkin tubes off docks. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair to good on silver Pirk Minnows near the power plant. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles. Channel catfish are fair on shrimp and nightcrawlers. Yellow and blue catfish are slow. LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 44–47 degrees; 0.52’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on jigs and Power Tackle Lateral Perch. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut shad. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 47–52 degrees; 0.34’ high. Largemouth bass to 3 pounds are fair on soft plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat–L– Traps. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with shad. Yellow catfish are slow. MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 43–47 degrees; 78.11’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad and prepared bait. MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 68–85 degrees; 0.6’ low. Largemouth bass are good on weightless flukes, Rat–L–Traps, spinnerbaits and Texas rigs. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait. O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 45–49

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 46–49 degrees; 2.48’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and Texas rigs. White bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on live shad and slabs on main lake humps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around deep–water trees. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, prepared bait and liver. SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 44–50 degrees; 8.64’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. White bass are fair on live minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs. Bream are fair on worms. Catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp. SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 61 degrees; 1.86’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on juglines baited with perch and cut shad. Yellow catfish are slow. TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 46–49 degrees; 3.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, slow–rolled spinnerbaits and Power Tackle Lateral Perch. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. White bass are fair on slabs and live minnows. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair on live shad and topwaters. Catfish are fair on prepared baits. TEXOMA: Water off-color; 47–49 degrees; 0.7’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on jigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Striped bass are fair to good on live shad and dead–sticked slabs or Sassy Shad. TOLEDO BEND: Water fairly clear; 62 degrees; 8.17’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles. Bream are fair on worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. TRAVIS: Water fairly clear; 59 degrees; 13.25’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse crankbaits, soft plastic worms, and Rat–L–Traps in 10–25 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and jigging spoons in 30–40 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and nightcrawlers in 20–40 feet. WHITNEY: Water stained; 9.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse and watermelon spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. Striped bass are fair on minnows and silver striper jigs. White bass are fair on minnows, hellbenders, and pet spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on shrimp, liver, and hot dogs.

SALTWATER SCENE NORTH SABINE: Redfish are good in the marsh on small topwaters and live shad. Trout are fair on the shorelines on Corkies and Catch 2000s. SOUTH SABINE: Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Trout are fair around the Reef on live shrimp. Trout are fair to good on shell and mud on Gulps. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on Catch 5s, MirrOlures and Catch 2000s. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Trout are fair for waders working slow–sinkers in the afternoon. TEXAS CITY: Redfish are fair to good in the holes in Moses Lake on fresh shrimp and cracked crabs. Black drum are fair over reefs on shrimp. FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Black drum are fair to good in San Luis Pass on cracked blue crabs. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair to good for drifters in the afternoon on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are g fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet. Waders have taken trout over mud. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good at the mouth of Oyster Lake on shrimp. Trout are fair on shell, mud and grass on soft plastics. Black drum are fair to good at the jetty on crabs. PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are good on topwaters and live shrimp over reefs and soft mud in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp. ROCKPORT: Redfish are fair to good in the on the drop–offs in the channel on crabs. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: Redfish and black drum are good in the Shrimpboat Channel on crabs and finger mullet. Redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp. CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are fair to good in the coves and bayous on small topwaters and spoons. Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on Gulps and live shrimp. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on Corkies and topwaters. Redfish are fair along the spoils on shrimp and Gulps. PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on topwaters around sand and grass holes. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes on Gulps under popping corks. SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and Gulps. Redfish are good in n South Cullen Bay and Gas Well Flats on Gulps and shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good in South Bay on live shrimp. Redfish are fair at Three Island on small topwaters and soft plastics under rattling corks. Trout are fair on the edge of the channel on Gulps.

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January 28, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Meet JP DeRose, host of Getting School’d with JP DeRose Those who’ve met JP DeRose know that he is an avid fisherman with a great outgoing personality. From his hometown of Stouffville, Ontario, JP has been fishing for more than 25 years. He grew up fishing but never fully took it up until age 13 and the rest is history. By age 26, JP had bought his first boat and since then has been competing in tournaments all over North America. With 127 top-10 tourna- JP DEROSE ment finishes and 34 firstplace finishes, JP quickly fell in love with the sport. Now in his third season with World Fishing Network, JP hosts his own show called Getting School'd with JP DeRose, a 30-minute show where he reviews the newest products in the fishing industry — anything from the latest fishing rods, to the best lures and the top accessories on the market today. Fishing Questions: 1. How many years have you been fishing? I've been fishing since I could walk but really got into it big time around the age of 13. Tournaments began at the age of 26 with the purchase of my first real boat, a 16-footer with a 45-hp motor. 2. What was your first fish that you ever caught? The first fish I can remember catching was probably a pumpkinseed. I used to travel by bike or bus to local ponds around Toronto, Ontario and spend endless hours catching panfish. 3. Who taught you how to fish? I really kind of taught myself ... I loved to read magazines and loved to spend time on the wa-

ter trying the new stuff out. Learning to throw a baitcaster at the age of 11 was my brother, Carmine, who gave me one of his old junkers! 4. Where is your favorite fishing spot and why? That is a tough one ... I really love to fish for everything, so picking one place is very challenging ... Lake Erie for smallmouth, Niagara River for rainbow trout and the Bay of Quinte for largemouth bass. 5. Which types of fish do you like to fish for most? Depending on the season I change quite a bit but my mainstay is definitely bass. Next would be trout, rainbows to be exact, and then crappie and perch. Walleye, pike and musky fall down on my list since I'm usually entwined in other species when they are in season. 6. Do you have any superstitions before/ during each fishing trip? No superstitions; I have never really gotten into the whole banana in the boat thing or not shaving, but if I'm doing well I'll stick with the game plan. 7. What is your favorite type of fish to eat? Subway Tuna on whole wheat! I really don't like fish. If I were forced to choose, it would be a steak every time. Fried calamari is the only other water critter that I'll attempt to eat. 8. Out of all your years of fishing, what would you say is your most memorable fishing moment? Probably winning the CFT/CRK Belleville open in 2005. It was my first major win in my second year fishing the Pro/Am circuit and the $10,000 was a nice added bonus.

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

Page 11

New sonar devices reveal the unseen By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Knowing what lies beneath the surface of any lake or river often is the key to fishing success for anglers of any skill level. Being able to gather and examine that information has become a lot easier and quicker with the recent appearance of space-age sonar technology in the fish finder market. Both Lowrance and Humminbird recently have introduced high-resolution color fish finders that provide underwater details far beyond systems that were mainstays of the fishing industry just a few years ago. “There is still a time and place for poking the tip of your rod into the water to see how deep it is, but it seems like every six months we are seeing new technology that can tell us more about what is down there,’’

Trout regulations Continued From Page 8

A five-fish limit currently is in effect for the Lower Laguna Madre, although Morris said the data, to date, was inconclusive about whether it has helped trout numbers there. “From our gill-net survey, we have been catching a few less trout than we were prior to the rule change,” he said. “We have seen people catching slightly larger fish. The jury is still out on that.” Morris said the main concern was the 60-percent decline in trout being caught in gill-net surveys in San Antonio and Aransas bays. “That gets our phone ringing and people switching to other fisheries,” he said. “That’s the reason we threw (the proposed conservation methods) out for discussion. “When you have constant fishing pressure on top of a depressed population, it leads to a decline.” Like TPWD’s numbers, anglers and guides were split in their assessments of the new proposals. “The lower coast has a five-trout limit and I don’t think it would be a bad idea along the middle coast,” said Rockport angler Jeff Groseclose. “The fish are under high pressure. Personally, I am seeing a decline in trout. “I don’t know if it’s about the salinity or fishing pressure, but it seems like the quantity hasn’t been there.” In an unofficial survey on www.2coolfishing.com’s message board, more than 300 anglers responded to a poll on the matter. Thirty-three percent were in favor of no changes, the highest percentage total. Twenty-eight percent favored reducing bag limits to five trout statewide. Ten percent wanted to raise the minimum size anglers are allowed to keep. Guides also were divided on the issue, with many asking TPWD why they are proposing to lower limits when they don’t have evidence the lower limits are working in the Lower Laguna Madre. “It’s discouraging because their scientific evidence doesn’t show it improving,” said mid-coast guide Dan Kelly. Several guides said they feared Texas anglers would start making the short trip to Louisiana, where there is a 25-fish limit and 12-inch minimum. “People can drive two hours from Houston and keep a lot more fish,” Kelly added. TPWD commissioners were scheduled to hear Morris’ recommendations at their Jan. 26 meeting, the results of which were unavailable at press time. When asked if Morris knew what recommendations he was leaning toward, he answered, “not yet.” Check for updates of the meeting on www.lsonews.com after Jan. 26.

said professional angler Cody Greaney of Austin. “It is just amazing to find that you have been fishing a place for years and thought you knew what was down there, and now you can see what the structure really is.’’ Greaney, who has been fishing the FLW Outdoors tournament circuit for the past five years, quickly added that the latest sonar images of fish, structure and the bottom still do not give anglers an unfair advantage. “You still have to know how to catch the fish — the right bait, the right color, the right speed to make them bite,’’ he said. Echoing his comments is veteran fishing guide Manny Martinez, who said he thought he knew the bottom of Calaveras Lake at San Antonio like the back of his hand after 25 years of finding catfish, redfish and stripers in the CPS Energy reservoir.

FINDING FISH: Today’s sonar technology on fish finders gives anglers a new perspective of structure when attempting to locate fish. Several different scan technologies are being used to see the bottom of lakes and rivers like never before. Photo by Lowrance.

Martinez recently installed the latest electronic system by Lowrance that provides him with all the bells and whistles possible: below-theboat and side sonar; water and air temperature; Global Positioning System; Sirius radio including current weather information and nearly

unlimited music channels; and many other features. “I have found out things that I never knew and never thought I would know,’’ he said. “You can see the tie wraps around underwater pipes and what you might have thought was a log might turn out to be a row of rocks. “We have come from watching funny little blips on the screen to getting a picture of what is really down there. I can tell if I am over baitfish, a striper or a redfish by the image on the screen. I can even tell if catfish are channel cats or blue cats. This new system is well worth all the pennies, nickels and dimes it costs.” Ryan Roby, a pro-staff member of the marine center at the San Antonio Bass Pro Shops, said the latest electronic systems by both Lowrance and Humminbird are top sellers with anglers looking for an edge. “The technological advances in

the past 10 years have really been phenomenal,” he said. “The latest advances have been with the side imaging where the angler can see not only what is below their boat, but what is out on each side of the boat. “The deﬁnition is also so much better. The images have become more like a picture than the cartoon-like view of earlier models. You can detect all the cracks and crevices in the bottom and can tell if the structure on the bottom is a tree or a sunken boat.’’ Although the data provided to anglers using the new electronic systems has become far more exact and detailed, Roby agreed with Greaney and Martinez that there is no unfair advantage to high-tech anglers. “No matter what you see on the screen, it is not going to make the ﬁsh bite,’’ he said. “You still have to put the right bait in the right place at the right time, just like always.’’

Page 12

January 28, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER POOR CHOICE OF SPOT TO HANG BUCK Brewster County Game Warden Matthew Bridgefarmer received a call from his wife about a mule deer buck that was hanging just down the street from their residence. The deer was inspected and had a proper MLD tag, but the hunter had not purchased his hunting license for the year. Case pending. PERMISSION NOT GRANTED Information from a conﬁdential informant led to two men who had killed several deer in two counties. Brazos County Game Warden Jason Bussey investigated and determined that the two men had explicit permission to hunt only hogs and had been killing deer without permission. Felony cases pending. CARCASSES LEAD TO CITATIONS Galveston County Game Warden Mack Chambers investigated the illegal dumping of six white-tailed deer carcasses. Two individuals were charged with failing to complete the hunting license harvest log, one for an untagged deer and one for hunting without a license. Cases pending.

BURNING A BUCK TAG TAKEN LITERALLY Hays County Game Warden James Michael located a hunter who had an untagged deer at a processor. The man had hastily tried to remove tags from his license upon Michael’s arrival to cover up the untagged deer. Unfortunately, the hunter had removed the wrong tags (turkey and mule deer). To correct the situation, the hunter was told that he would have to burn two of his buck tags by ﬁlling out the county and ranch name, cut

Nelson and Calvin Christian. Nelson and Christian made contact with four people matching the description in the area. Nelson identiﬁed himself as a state game warden, and they immediately stated, “This is our property, we didn't do anything wrong.” Upon further questioning, one individual admitted that all four of them had crossed the fence with a riﬂe and a shotgun and they knew the hunter saw them. Two weapons were seized; charges pending.

GAME CAMERA PICS NAB TRESPASSERS A landowner had a problem with trespassers and contacted Atascosa County Game Warden Derek Iden. Iden placed a hidden game camera on their property and got four images of the trespassers and determined their identities. When confronted with the photos, the trespassers, who were leasing adjacent property, admitted putting some corn, a mineral block, and “deer cane” on the complainant's property. Trespassing and no hunting lease license citations resulted.

FISHERMAN FORGETS THE BOAT PLUG Comal County Game Warden Michael McCall responded to a call for assistance in the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake where a man and his 9-year-old son were ﬁshing from a 16-foot bass boat. The boat operator reported that they were drift ﬁshing when they suddenly started taking on water. Within moments the boat sank and both occupants had to swim to shore with water temperatures near 50 degrees. The boy was treated for signs of hypothermia. McCall helped the operator retrieve his boat from the river and load it on the trailer. Once loaded on the trailer, the only apparent problem with the boat was that the plug was missing.

CROSSING FENCE ONTO ANOTHER’S LEASE TO HUNT A hunter reported seeing four people with riﬂes on land that he leases to Webb County Game Wardens Mark

LATE BIRD HUNTING ONLY THE BEGINNING Game Warden William Heath was patrolling a ranch north of O.H. Ivie Reservoir when he heard several shot-

out the harvest dates, and fill out his harvest log. While Michael was filling out the hunter’s citation, the hunter borrowed a pen and started filling out the back of the tags and his harvest log. He then cut out the dates and promptly pulled out a lighter and lit the tags on fire. Michael stopped the hunter and asked what he thought he was doing, to which he replied, “You told me I had to burn my tags.” Cases pending.

gun blasts. Heath was able to locate three individuals who were hunting ducks and dove. Upon checking the individuals, he filed several cases for hunting ducks with nontoxic shot, hunting migratory birds with unplugged shotguns, no migratory bird stamps, no federal duck stamps, and hunting without a valid license and hunting migratory birds after legal shooting hours. Cases pending. DUCK HUNTER THROWN FROM BOAT, RESCUED While checking deer camps, Runnels County Game Warden Lane Pinckney received a call about an overturned boat on Old Winters Lake. Lane responded along with other officers. They arrived to find a duck hunter hanging on to the side of a swamped johnboat in the middle of the lake. A row boat was utilized to rescue the hypothermic hunter, who was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The hunter had left the blind to retrieve a duck and lost his grip on the tiller motor sending the boat hard right, throwing him to the left side of the boat and swamping it. MISSING LICENSE USED BY ANOTHER TO TAG DEER Bell County Game Warden Brandt Bernstein contacted Williamson County Game Warden Joel Campos to assist him in making contact with a violator in Taylor in regards to an improperly tagged

white-tailed deer at a processing facility. Campos made contact with the suspect who advised he didn't hunt deer, he just bird hunted and fished. Bernstein met Campos at the suspect’s house. After a short time trying to track down the license, which he didn't have in his possession, the suspect made contact with one of his friends, who advised he had the license and would be bringing it to the wardens. Later, the friend said he wanted to tell the wardens in person he didn't have it and invited the wardens to his home to search his truck that was at his residence. As soon as the wardens pulled into the residence, the friend broke down and stated that he was untruthful to the wardens and that he did use the suspect’s license to tag the deer. The license remains missing. Citations issued. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO SEARCH ANYTHING ELSE? Williamson County Game Warden Turk Jones finally caught up with a poacher from three years prior. Once located, Jones summoned fellow wardens to assist with the warrant service. Jones had obtained two felony warrants for the prior poaching incident, and Lampasas County had confirmed a Felony 2 warrant for possession of controlled substance with intent to sell. The wardens extracted the subject from an RV camper without incident. However, he then asked the wardens to find his wallet and cell

phone. The wardens obliged him by thoroughly searching for these items. Another felony charge was filed when the wardens found methamphetamine in a dollar bill located on top of his wallet. The subject insisted the wardens find his cell phone. The wardens then found a loaded revolver, a light bulb bong with tubing, other drug paraphernalia, and numerous prescription pills packaged and priced to sell. Additional felony charges were filed for possession of controlled substance with intent to sell. Cases pending. BAITING DEER OK, BUT NOT ON THE ROAD Atascosa County Game Warden Derek Iden came upon a county road with about 150 yards worth of corn spread along the road. Iden pulled into a nearby camp and found an illegal buck that did not meet the antler restriction requirements. The subject said he put the corn on the county road to hunt varmints and that in hindsight it was a bad idea and that he was very sorry. Cases and civil restitution pending. DOG FINDS CARCASSES, HELPS FETCH POACHER Hays County Game Warden James Michael responded to a call from a person whose dog had drug up several deer parts, and he wanted to know what the law was concerning dumping. Michael met with the caller and located two carcasses and three deer heads approximately 50 yards inside the property. On the neighbor’s property, a metal pole barn was observed with blood, deer hair and bloody knives on the floor. Michael made contact with the neighbor and said he needed to talk to him about the deer that had been killed. The neighbor dropped his head and said he had done it. The neighbor said he had killed two and his friend had killed two. The neighbor did not have a license and had killed all four bucks with a .22 rifle. Cases pending.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

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January 28, 2011

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LSONews.com

NATIONAL

Texan named new president of Boone and Crockett Club Wallace pledges to forge partnerships among conservation groups By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Trophy animals have been a constant in the life of Ben B. Wallace, the Corpus Christi lawyer who recently was named president of the Boone BEN B. WALLACE and Crockett Club. Wallace fondly recalled his boyhood visits to the Fort Worth home of his uncle, the late tax attorney Ben Bird. With his wife, Emily, Bird traveled the globe, frequently in pursuit of big game.

During the visits, Wallace slept in the couple’s trophy room, surrounded by mounts from around the world. At ﬁrst he was a little frightened by the taxidermy work. But at age 13, Wallace eagerly accompanied his uncle on a jaguar hunt to Belize. “We ended up getting one,” Wallace said. “For a kid just 13 years old, I was tickled to death.” The sporting life took hold. But when he was asked to join Boone and Crockett Club in 2001, Wallace was somewhat apprehensive. “It took me a year to decide,” he said. “The Boone and Crockett people were real intense. “When I saw what the Texas members were doing, I saw that it was a true commitment.” The Boone and Crockett Club widely is considered the oldest hunter-conservation group in the United States. Theodore Roosevelt and like-minded sportsmen formed the club in 1887. They were alarmed by rapidly decreasing populations of

North American big game animals. The club authored a code of "fair chase" ethics while working to end the wholesale slaughter of game animals for food. Today, the club’s system for evaluating trophies, the “Boone and Crockett score,” generates important data used in wildlife management programs. But it was the intensity of Texas members that ultimately inspired Wallace to join the club. For example, the man who invited him, fellow Corpus Christi resident Dan Pedrotti, is not only a past president of the club, but also the founder of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners. This consortium of conservation and sporting groups, including the Boone and Crockett Club, was founded in 1999 to combine their efforts for wildlife. For this and other works, the Dallas Safari Club presented Pedrotti with its 2011 Peter Hathaway Capstick Hunting Heritage Award. Wallace pledged to keep working to forge

cooperation among these groups and the sporting goods industry. It’s a critical time, he said. For example, The Associated Press reported in December that hunting license sales have dipped in 33 states, although Texas is not one of them. A year ago, Texas was included in a 12-state “license sale index” counted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. That data showed license sales were up 3.5 percent in those states. But Wallace said wildlife can’t afford to see license purchases slip anywhere in the U.S. He noted that proceeds from the sales help fund improvements to wildlife habitat. In other words, fewer hunters mean fewer conservation dollars. “The bottom line is the hunting group is getting smaller,” Wallace said. “Unfortunately, in today’s economy, it’s an ever-increasing challenge. “We have to get a hold of like-minded people, whether hunting groups or not. “Together, we’re trying to make sure things happen.”

Firearms industry set for banner year The health and resilience of America’s outdoor and ﬁrearms industries was demonstrated last week in Las Vegas. The 2011 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show set records for buyer attendance at 31,769 and media attendance at 2,074. Overall attendance of 57,390, comprising buyers, exhibitors, media and guests, ranked the show as the third largest ever behind the 2008 and 2010 events. "Based on what we're hearing, industry has every reason to think that 2011 shows promise of being another strong year,“ said Steve Sanetti, president and CEO of National Shooting Sports Foundation. —NSSF report

NMMA, engine builders sue EPA over E-15 fuels A newly formed coalition, the Engine Products Group, has sued the Environmental Protection Agency after its decision to give partial waiver to the production and sale of gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol (E-15) for vehicles built later than 2007. But the coalition is concerned the new fuel will harm non-road engine systems such as snowmobiles, marine motors, lawn and garden equipment and other small gasolinepowered engines. The petition was ﬁled in December at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. And since then, the EPA on Jan. 21 revised its position and said a mix of gasoline and E-15 was safe for cars and light-duty trucks manufactured since 2001. The coalition’s original petition, however, asks that EPA’s decision be remanded back to the agency. It also requests judicial oversight and review over whether EPA’s “partial waiver” approval for E-15 fuels violates the federal Clean Air Act provisions, which limit the circumstances under which the EPA can approve applications for new fuels and fuel additives. The Engine Products Group is a coalition made up of Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The NMMA, the trade association for the recreational boating industry in the U.S. and Canada, is concerned the EPA does not plan to take steps to address issues with consumer confusion and the risk of misfueling. —Staff report

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

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January 28, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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HEROES JEFF KEITH of Rockport caught this speckled trout in the Estes Flats of Redﬁsh Bay. It was 26.5 inches long and weighed 5.25 pounds.

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CAMERON PFEIFFER, 10, of San Antonio, got his first buck Oct. 31 on his family's Bexar County ranch north of the city. He used .223-caliber rifle to take the deer at 90 yards. BRANDON EHRHART of Greenville used cut shad to hook this 56-pound blue catfish on Lake Tawakoni. The fish was released after it was weighed and photographed.

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MCKENZIE DOERRIG, 8, helped her dad, Michael, harvest this hog at the Cold Creek Ranch near Bellville.

Share an adventure Want to share hunting and ﬁshing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Send them to us with contact and caption information.

editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com

HUNTER PLAUCHE, 11, of Sherman took this Grayson County buck in early October during the archery season. Hunter was joined by his dad, Bill.

Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, PO Box 551695, Dallas, TX, 75355

Congratulations, Kyler! You can claim your Nikon 10x42 Trailblazer ATB binoculars at the Nikon Sport Optics dealer nearest you: Johnny's True Value 914 W Tyler Ave Harlingen, TX 78550 956-428-4011

g with his

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to, harves , 6, of San Beni KYLER DE LEON . as rri lfu Fa in ase dad at their le

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

Deer photo at top courtesy of HWH Whitetails

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January 28, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides

New

Height 1.8 H 2.0 H 1.8 H 1.8 H 1.6 H -1.1 L -0.9 L -0.5 L -0.2 L 0.0 L 0.4 L 0.7 L 1.1 H 1.4 H 1.6 H

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7:55 p.m. 8:05 p.m. 8:14 p.m. 4:06 p.m. 4:21 p.m. 4:36 p.m. 4:51 p.m. 5:06 p.m. 5:19 p.m. 5:25 p.m. 11:28 a.m.

1.4 L 1.4 L 1.3 L 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 0.9 L

Time

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8:21 p.m. 8:31 p.m. 4:37 p.m. 4:53 p.m. 5:08 p.m. 5:23 p.m. 5:38 p.m. 5:53 p.m. 6:06 p.m. 11:27 a.m. 11:54 a.m.

1.1 L 1.1 L 1.3 H 1.1 H 1.1 H 1.1 H 1.0 H 1.0 H 1.0 H 0.6 L 0.7 L

Time

Height

9:17 p.m. 9:27 p.m. 5:07 p.m. 5:23 p.m. 5:38 p.m. 5:53 p.m. 6:08 p.m. 6:23 p.m. 11:55 a.m. 12:23 p.m. 12:50 p.m.

0.7 L 0.7 L 0.8 H 0.7 H 0.7 H 0.7 H 0.6 H 0.6 H 0.2 L 0.3 L 0.4 L

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8:18 p.m. 8:28 p.m. 8:37 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 5:28 p.m. 11:24 a.m. 11:51 a.m.

0.7 L 0.7 L 0.6 L 1.0 H 1.0 H 1.0 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.4 L 0.5 L

Time

Height

Feb. 18

Feb. 11

Houston

10:25 p.m. 1.6 H 11:26 p.m. 1.6 H 8:30 p.m. 8:58 p.m. 9:35 p.m. 10:16 p.m. 11:00 p.m. 11:46 p.m.

1.3 L 0.9 L 0.7 L 0.5 L 0.4 L 0.0 L

5:14 p.m. 1.3 H

Date Time Height Jan 28 7:30 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 29 8:37 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 30 9:38 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 31 10:32 a.m. -0.7 L Feb 01 11:20 a.m. -0.7 L Feb 02 12:03 p.m -0.6 L Feb 03 1:37 a.m. 0.3 H Feb 04 3:41 a.m. 0.3 H Feb 05 5:06 a.m. 0.2 H Feb 06 1:06 a.m. 0.0 L Feb 07 1:45 a.m. 0.0 L Feb 08 2:30 a.m. -0.1 L Feb 09 3:24 a.m. -0.2 L Feb 10 4:28 a.m. -0.3 L Feb 11 5:43 a.m. -0.3 L

Time Height 8:29 p.m. 0.6 H 9:05 p.m. 0.6 H 9:43 p.m. 0.5 H 10:22 p.m. 0.5 H 11:00 p.m. 0.4 H 12:42 p.m. 1:16 p.m. 1:47 p.m. 6:29 a.m. 8:04 a.m. 6:18 p.m. 5:56 p.m. 6:13 p.m. 6:45 p.m.

Time

-0.5 L -0.4 L -0.3 L -0.2 H -0.1 H 0.2 H 0.3 H 0.4 H 0.5 H

Height

9:50 p.m. 0.1 H 2:10 p.m. -0.1 L 2:12 p.m. 0.0 L

Time

Height

8:48 p.m. 0.1 H 7:30 p.m. 0.1 H

Rockport

Time 2:20 p.m. 3:08 p.m. 3:46 p.m. 4:16 p.m. 8:05 a.m. 8:41 a.m. 9:12 a.m. 9:39 a.m. 10:05 a.m. 10:31 a.m. 10:59 a.m. 7:42 a.m. 9:26 a.m. 5:14 p.m. 4:44 p.m.

Height 1.4 H 1.6 H 1.4 H 1.4 H -1.0 L -0.9 L -0.7 L -0.4 L -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.3 L 0.9 H 0.9 H 1.1 H 1.3 H

Time 2:50 p.m. 3:38 p.m. 4:16 p.m. 4:46 p.m. 9:01 a.m. 9:37 a.m. 10:08 a.m. 10:35 a.m. 11:01 a.m. 11:27 a.m. 6:43 a.m. 8:12 a.m. 9:56 a.m. 5:44 p.m. 5:14 p.m.

Height 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.9 H -0.6 L -0.5 L -0.4 L -0.3 L -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.5 H 0.5 H 0.5 H 0.7 H 0.8 H

Time 1:42 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:08 p.m. 3:38 p.m. 3:59 p.m. 8:38 a.m. 9:09 a.m. 9:36 a.m. 10:02 a.m. 10:28 a.m. 10:56 a.m. 7:04 a.m. 8:48 a.m. 4:36 p.m. 4:06 p.m.

Height 1.2 H 1.4 H .2 H 1.2 H 1.1 H -0.5 L -0.5 L -0.3 L -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.2 L 0.7 H 0.7 H 1.0 H 1.1 H

Time

Height

11:12 p.m. 1.3 H 8:40 p.m. 8:56 p.m. 9:24 p.m. 10:01 p.m. 10:42 p.m. 11:26 p.m.

1.0 L 1.0 L 0.7 L 0.6 L 0.4 L 0.3 L

6:12 p.m. 1.0 H 6:01 p.m. 1.0 H

Date Time Height Jan 28 8:15 a.m. -0.47 L Jan 29 9:14 a.m. -0.47 L Jan 30 10:12 a.m. -0.47 L Jan 31 12:36 a.m. -0.07 H Feb 01 1:32 a.m. -0.07 H Feb 02 2:24 a.m. -0.09 H Feb 03 3:15 a.m. -0.11 H Feb 04 4:08 a.m. -0.15 H Feb 05 5:12 a.m. -0.18 H Feb 06 12:27 a.m. -0.26 L Feb 07 2:42 a.m. -0.29 L Feb 08 4:00 a.m. -0.32 L Feb 09 5:00 a.m. -0.35 L Feb 10 5:55 a.m. -0.37 L Feb 11 6:51 a.m. -0.39 L

Time Height 10:40 p.m. -0.07 H 11:38 p.m. -0.06 H 11:07 a.m. 11:55 a.m. 12:35 p.m. 1:06 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:47 p.m. 6:42 a.m. 8:53 a.m. 8:19 p.m. 8:38 p.m. 9:07 p.m. 9:47 p.m.

Time

-0.46 L -0.45 L -0.43 L -0.41 L -0.37 L -0.34 L -0.22 H -0.24 H -0.18 H -0.15 H -0.13 H -0.11 H

Height

Time

Height

Time

Date Time Height Jan 28 4:25 a.m. -0.5 L Jan 29 5:23 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 30 6:16 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 31 7:03 a.m. -0.6 L Feb 01 12:06 a.m. 1.0 H Feb 02 1:01 a.m. 1.0 H Feb 03 1:53 a.m. 0.9 H Feb 04 2:47 a.m. 0.9 H Feb 05 3:44 a.m. 0.8 H Feb 06 4:50 a.m. 0.7 H Feb 07 6:06 a.m. 0.7 H Feb 08 7:35 a.m. 0.7 H Feb 09 12:40 a.m. -0.1 L Feb 10 1:33 a.m. -0.2 L Feb 11 2:30 a.m. -0.2 L

Height

11:42 p.m. 0.8 H 9:36 p.m. 9:52 p.m. 10:20 p.m. 10:57 p.m. 11:38 p.m.

0.6 L 0.6 L 0.4 L 0.3 L 0.3 L

6:36 p.m. 0.6 H 6:42 p.m. 0.6 H 6:31 p.m. 0.6 H

Time 2:13 p.m. 3:01 p.m. 3:39 p.m. 4:09 p.m. 7:44 a.m. 8:20 a.m. 8:51 a.m. 9:18 a.m. 9:44 a.m. 10:10 a.m. 10:38 a.m. 11:06 a.m. 9:19 a.m. 5:07 p.m. 4:37 p.m.

Height 1.1 H .3 H 1.1 H 1.1 H -0.5 L -0.5 L -0.4 L -0.2 L -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.2 L 0.3 L 0.7 H 0.9 H 1.0 H

9:19 p.m. -0.25 H 1:54 p.m. -0.30 L 1:46 p.m. -0.27 L

8:26 p.m. -0.23 H 8:14 p.m. -0.21 H

Time

Height

Time

Height

8:00 p.m. 8:10 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:46 p.m. 5:01 p.m. 5:16 p.m. 5:31 p.m. 5:46 p.m. 5:59 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 11:33 a.m.

0.6 L 0.6 L 1.0 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.8 H 0.8 H 0.8 H 0.8 H 0.4 L

Time

Height

Time

Height

1.0 L 1.1 H 1.0 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.8 H 0.8 H

9:56 p.m. 10:21 p.m. 10:49 p.m. 11:21 p.m. 11:56 p.m.

0.9 L 0.8 L 0.6 L 0.4 L 0.2 L

11:05 p.m. 1.0 H 8:19 p.m. 8:35 p.m. 9:03 p.m. 9:40 p.m. 10:21 p.m. 11:05 p.m. 11:51 p.m.

0.5 L 0.5 L 0.4 L 0.3 L 0.2 L 0.2 L 0.0 L

5:54 p.m. 0.8 H

South Padre Island

Freeport Harbor Time

Height

10:34 p.m. 1.1 H 11:35 p.m. 1.1 H 8:53 p.m. 9:21 p.m. 9:58 p.m. 10:39 p.m. 11:23 p.m.

0.6 L 0.5 L 0.4 L 0.3 L 0.2 L

5:34 p.m. 0.9 H 5:23 p.m. 0.9 H

Date Time Jan 28 4:06 a.m. Jan 29 5:07 a.m. Jan 30 6:06 a.m. Jan 31 6:59 a.m. Feb 1 7:47 a.m. Feb 02 8:30 a.m. Feb 03 12:21 a.m. Feb 04 1:38 a.m. Feb 05 2:49 a.m. Feb 06 4:02 a.m. Feb 07 5:24 a.m. Feb 08 7:05 a.m. Feb 09 12:38 a.m. Feb 10 1:26 a.m. Feb 11 2:21 a.m.

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Height -0.8 L -0.9 L -0.8 L -0.8 L -0.6 L -0.5 L 1.1 H 1.0 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.8 H 0.8 H 0.1 L -0.1 L -0.2 L

Time Height 2:53 p.m. 1.3 H 3:36 p.m. 1.4 H 4:13 p.m. 1.4 H 4:43 p.m. 1.3 H 5:05 p.m. 1.3 H 5:20 p.m. 1.2 H 9:09 a.m. -0.3 L 9:43 a.m. -0.1 L 10:14 a.m. 0.1 L 10:42 a.m. 0.3 L 11:06 a.m. 0.5 L 11:26 a.m. 0.7 L 4:18 p.m. 0.9 H 3:40 p.m. 1.0 H 2:31 p.m. 1.1 H

9:37 p.m. 5:28 p.m. 5:28 p.m. 5:22 p.m. 5:11 p.m. 4:56 p.m. 4:39 p.m.

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Solution on Page 23

P.M. Minor 12:50 1:41 2:29 3:16 4:02 4:47 5:31 6:15 6:59 7:44 8:30 9:17 10:06 10:56 11:47 12:12 1:04 1:55 2:47 3:38

Major 7:04 7:54 8:43 9:29 10:14 10:58 ----12:04 12:49 1:34 2:20 3:06 3:54 4:44 5:34 6:26 7:18 8:10 9:01 9:52

SUN Rises Sets 07:13 05:54 07:12 05:54 07:12 05:55 07:11 05:56 07:11 05:57 07:10 05:58 07:09 05:59 07:09 06:00 07:08 06:01 07:07 06:01 07:07 06:02 07:06 06:03 07:05 06:04 07:04 06:05 07:04 06:06 07:03 06:07 07:02 06:07 07:01 06:08 07:00 06:09 07:00 06:10

MOON Rises Sets 2:42a 1:11p 3:41a 2:05p 4:35a 3:01p 5:23a 3:59 6:06a 4:57p 6:44a 5:54p 7:18a 6:48p 7:49a 7:42p 8:18a 8:34p 8:47a 9:26p 9:16a 10:18p 9:47a 11:12p 10:20a NoMoon 10:58a 12:07a 11:41a 1:04a 12:30p 2:01a 1:25p 2:58a 2:27p 3:52a 3:32p 4:44a 4:41p 5:31a

2011 Jan-Feb 28 Fri 29 Sat 30 Sun 31 Mon 01 Tue > 02 Wed > 03 Thu N 04 Fri > 05 Sat > 06 Sun 07 Mon 08 Tue 09 Wed 10 Thu Q 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed >

A.M. Minor Major 12:28 6:42 1:18 7:32 2:08 8:21 2:56 9:09 3:43 9:55 4:29 10:40 5:14 10:59 5:59 11:45 6:44 12:34 7:29 1:19 8:15 2:05 9:01 2:51 9:49 3:38 10:37 4:25 11:27 5:14 ----- 6:04 12:41 6:55 1:32 7:47 2:24 8:38 3:15 9:30

P.M. Minor Major 12:56 7:10 1:46 8:00 2:35 8:48 3:22 9:35 4:07 10:20 4:52 11:04 5:36 ----6:20 12:10 7:04 12:54 7:49 1:39 8:35 2:25 9:23 3:12 10:11 4:00 11:01 4:49 11:52 5:40 12:18 6:31 1:09 7:23 2:01 8:15 2:53 9:07 3:44 9:58

SUN Rises Sets 07:24 05:53 07:23 05:54 07:23 05:55 07:22 05:56 07:21 05:57 07:21 05:58 07:20 05:59 07:19 06:00 07:19 06:01 07:18 06:02 07:17 06:03 07:16 06:04 07:15 06:05 07:15 06:06 07:14 06:07 07:13 06:08 07:12 06:09 07:11 06:10 07:10 06:11 07:09 06:11

MOON Rises Sets 2:56a 1:08p 3:55a 2:02p 4:49a 2:59p 5:36a 3:58p 6:18a 4:57p 6:55a 5:55p 7:27a 6:51p 7:57a 7:46p 8:24a 8:40p 8:52a 9:33p 9:19a 10:27p 9:49a 11:22p 10:21a NoMoon 10:57a 12:19a 11:39a 1:17a 12:27p 2:15a 1:23p 3:12a 2:25p 4:06a 3:32p 4:56a 4:42p 5:42a

P.M. Minor Major 1:03 7:17 1:53 8:07 2:42 8:55 3:29 9:42 4:14 10:27 4:59 11:11 5:43 ----6:27 12:17 7:11 1:01 7:56 1:46 8:42 2:32 9:30 3:19 10:18 4:07 11:08 4:56 11:59 5:47 12:25 6:38 1:16 7:30 2:08 8:22 3:00 9:14 3:51 10:05

SUN Rises Sets 07:24 06:07 07:24 06:08 07:24 06:08 07:23 06:09 07:22 06:10 07:22 06:11 07:21 06:12 07:21 06:13 07:20 06:14 07:19 06:14 07:19 06:15 07:18 06:16 07:17 06:17 07:17 06:18 07:16 06:19 07:15 06:19 07:14 06:20 07:13 06:21 07:13 06:22 07:12 06:23

MOON Rises 2:54a 3:53a 4:47a 5:35a 6:18a 6:56a 7:30a 8:01a 8:31a 9:00a 9:29a 10:00a 10:34a 11:12a 11:55a 12:44p 1:39p 2:40p 3:46p 4:54p

Sets 1:24p 2:18p 3:15p 4:13p 5:10p 6:07p 7:02p 7:55p 8:47p 9:39p 10:31p 11:25p NoMoon 12:20a 1:16a 2:13a 3:10a 4:04a 4:56a 5:43a

P.M. Minor 1:16 2:06 2:55 3:42 4:28 5:12 5:56 6:40 7:25 8:10 8:56 9:43 10:32 11:22 ----12:38 1:30 2:21 3:13 4:04

SUN Rises 07:49 07:48 07:47 07:47 07:46 07:45 07:44 07:44 07:43 07:42 07:41 07:40 07:39 07:38 07:37 07:36 07:35 07:34 07:33 07:32

MOON Rises 3:23a 4:23a 5:16a 6:03a 6:44a 7:19a 7:51a 8:19a 8:46a 9:12a 9:38a 10:06a 10:38a 11:13a 11:54a 12:42p 1:38p 2:40p 3:48p 4:59p

Sets 1:23p 2:17p 3:14p 4:13p 5:13p 6:13p 7:10p 8:06p 9:01p 9:56p 10:51p 11:47p NoMoon 12:45a 1:44a 2:42a 3:39a 4:33a 5:23a 6:07a

San Antonio 2011 A.M. Jan-Feb Minor Major 28 Fri 12:35 6:49 29 Sat 1:25 7:39 30 Sun 2:15 8:28 31 Mon 3:03 9:16 01 Tue > 3:50 10:02 02 Wed > 4:36 10:47 03 Thu N 5:21 11:06 04 Fri > 6:06 11:52 05 Sat > 6:51 12:41 06 Sun 7:36 1:26 07 Mon 8:22 2:12 08 Tue 9:08 2:58 09 Wed 9:56 3:45 10 Thu Q 10:44 4:32 11 Fri 11:34 5:21 12 Sat 12:01 6:11 13 Sun 12:48 7:02 14 Mon 1:39 7:54 15 Tue 2:31 8:45 16 Wed > 3:22 9:37

2011 A.M. Jan-Feb Minor 28 Fri 12:48 29 Sat 1:39 30 Sun 2:28 31 Mon 3:16 01 Tue > 4:03 02 Wed > 4:49 03 Thu N 5:35 04 Fri > 6:20 05 Sat > 7:04 06 Sun 7:50 07 Mon 8:35 08 Tue 9:22 09 Wed 10:09 10 Thu Q 10:58 11 Fri 11:47 12 Sat 12:11 13 Sun 1:02 14 Mon 1:53 15 Tue 2:44 16 Wed > 3:36

Major 7:02 7:53 8:42 9:29 10:16 11:01 11:20 12:09 12:54 1:40 2:25 3:11 3:58 4:46 5:35 6:25 7:16 8:07 8:59 9:50

Major 7:30 8:20 9:09 9:55 10:40 11:24 ----12:30 1:15 2:00 2:45 3:32 4:20 5:10 6:00 6:52 7:44 8:36 9:27 10:18

Sets 06:09 06:10 06:11 06:12 06:13 06:14 06:15 06:16 06:18 06:19 06:20 06:21 06:22 06:23 06:24 06:25 06:26 06:27 06:28 06:29

FOR THE TABLE Bob’s Philly deer steak sandwiches

ACROSS 1. A bowman's target in Florida everglades 4. Trapped for the fur 7. Female elk 10. Sets of antlers 11. He hunts with a snare 12. Wild boars 14. Outdoor special item container 15. A wounded game or wildfowl 20. Bobbing a lure to attract fish 23. Name for old gobblers left to themselves 24. A very rare deer species 26. A female bear 27. To stand ready to shoot 29. Part of the body of a bow 33. The change in flight of bullets, arrows 35. Also called a dogfish 36. Over and under is one model 37. The ______ catfish DOWN 1. This takes gamey taste out of meat 2. The fishing gear 3. Oxidation on gun parts 5. Term for roots of trees under water 6. A deer food source 7. The shoulder hide of a deer 8. A bass habitat 9. Term for bass attacking a surface bait 13. A wild target in Hawaii

A.M. Minor Major 12:22 6:36 1:13 7:27 2:02 8:16 2:50 9:03 3:37 9:50 4:23 10:35 5:09 10:54 5:54 11:39 6:39 12:28 7:24 1:14 8:09 1:59 8:56 2:45 9:43 3:32 10:32 4:20 11:22 5:09 ----- 5:59 12:36 6:50 1:27 7:41 2:18 8:33 3:10 9:24

Amarillo

Mail to Lone Star Outdoor News, PO Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355. For fastest service, call (214) 361-2276 or visit LSONews.com.

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen

2011 Jan-Feb 28 Fri 29 Sat 30 Sun 31 Mon 01 Tue > 02 Wed > 03 Thu N 04 Fri > 05 Sat > 06 Sun 07 Mon 08 Tue 09 Wed 10 Thu Q 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed >

Dallas

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier

San Luis Pass

Date Time Height Jan 28 4:43 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 29 5:41 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 30 6:34 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 31 7:21 a.m. -0.7 L Feb 01 8:02 a.m. -0.6 L Feb 02 12:30 a.m. 1.1 H Feb 03 1:22 a.m. 1.0 H Feb 04 2:16 a.m. 1.0 H Feb 05 3:13 a.m. 0.9 H Feb 06 4:19 a.m. 0.7 H Feb 07 5:35 a.m. 0.7 H Feb 08 12:09 a.m. 0.0 L Feb 09 12:58 a.m. -0.1 L Feb 10 1:51 a.m. -0.2 L Feb 11 2:48 a.m. -0.3 L

Full

Feb. 4

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. F=Full Moon, N=New Moon, Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

Last

Port O’Connor Time 1:33 p.m. 2:21 p.m. 2:59 p.m. 3:29 p.m. 3:50 p.m. 8:15 a.m. 8:46 a.m. 9:13 a.m. 9:39 a.m. 10:05 a.m. 10:33 a.m. 11:01 a.m. 8:39 a.m. 4:27 p.m. 3:57 p.m.

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty

Date Time Height Jan 28 5:42 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 29 6:40 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 30 7:33 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 31 8:20 a.m. -0.7 L Feb 01 12:43 a.m. 0.8 H Feb 02 1:38 a.m. 0.8 H Feb 03 2:30 a.m. 0.7 H Feb 04 3:24 a.m. 0.7 H Feb 05 4:21 a.m. 0.6 H Feb 06 5:27 a.m. 0.5 H Feb 07 12:22 a.m. 0.2 L Feb 08 1:08 a.m. 0.0 L Feb 09 1:57 a.m. -0.1 L Feb 10 2:50 a.m. -0.2 L Feb 11 3:47 a.m. -0.3 L

First

Jan. 28

Sabine Pass, jetty

Date Time Height Jan 28 4:46 a.m. -1.0 L Jan 29 5:44 a.m. -1.1 L Jan 30 6:37 a.m. -1.1 L Jan 31 7:24 a.m. -1.1 L Feb 01 12:13 a.m. 1.3 H Feb 02 1:08 a.m. 1.3 H Feb 03 2:00 a.m. 1.1 H Feb 04 2:54 a.m. 1.1 H Feb 05 3:51 a.m. 1.0 H Feb 06 4:57 a.m. 0.9 H Feb 07 6:13 a.m. 0.9 H Feb 08 12:12 a.m. 0.0 L Feb 09 1:01 a.m. -0.1 L Feb 10 1:54 a.m. -0.3 L Feb 11 2:51 a.m. -0.4 L

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases

Texas Coast Tides Date Time Height Jan 28 4:20 a.m. -1.3 L Jan 29 5:18 a.m. -1.4 L Jan 30 6:11 a.m. -1.4 L Jan 31 6:58 a.m. -1.4 L Feb 01 7:39 a.m. -1.3 L Feb 02 12:21 a.m. 1.6 H Feb 03 1:13 a.m. 1.4 H Feb 04 2:07 a.m. 1.4 H Feb 05 3:04 a.m. 1.3 H Feb 06 4:10 a.m. 1.1 H Feb 07 5:26 a.m. 1.1 H Feb 08 6:55 a.m. 1.1 H Feb 09 12:35 a.m. -0.2 L Feb 10 1:28 a.m. -0.4 L Feb 11 2:25 a.m. -0.5 L

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Serves 20 5 large onions 16 oz. Swiss cheese, sliced 20 whole wheat hoagie buns 4 lbs. tenderized deer steak To make marinade, combine: 1 cup Italian dressing ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tbsps. Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp. onion powder 1 tsp. garlic powder ½ cup barbeque sauce ½ cup lemon juice ½ tsp. liquid smoke (optional)

½ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional) Dip meat in marinade, one piece at a time, and place in a covered bowl. Refrigerate 1-3 days. Marinade should cover all of the meat. Grill marinated meat for about four minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the steak. Do not overcook. Sauté onions until caramelized. Toast buns on grill. Assemble sandwiches. — Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Panﬁsh chowder

16. A distribution of shot pellets 17. A sharp sense of the wild turkey 18. Grooves in the bore of a rifle 19. A grouping of fish in one spot 21. A big game arrow, _____ head 22. Putting pheasants or quail to flight

25. Procedure of igniting a shell 28. Term for feathers on heads of fowl 30. A very good walleye bait 31. A large game of the plains 32. A wild game in the Rockies 34. A part of an antler

4 slices bacon ½ cup chopped onion ½ cup diced carrots ½ cup chopped celery 1 lb. panﬁsh cut in 1-inch chunks 1 can cooked potatoes, diced 1 cup water Salt Pepper 1 cup milk 1 can creamed corn Cook the bacon and reserve two tablespoons of bacon drippings.

Place the bacon drippings in a large pan that has a cover. Add onion, carrot and celery to the pan and cook for about ﬁve minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the ﬁsh, potatoes, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Next, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes. Blend in the milk and the corn. Stir and heat — but do not boil — until heated through. Sprinkle each serving with the crumbled bacon. — Ohio Department of Natural Resources

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

2011 BOATS IN REVIEW G3 1860 CENTER CONSOLE Designed as a part of the Gator Tough Jonboat Series, this shallow-running craft by G3 Boats is at home on any water, from Intracoastal flats to backwater bayous. This 18-foot-1-inch boat will take hunters or anglers in and out of their favorite spots. Built on a durable, all-welded 13-rib tunnel hull with a center console design, the boat’s features include a 16-gallon aerated livewell, extra-wide front deck with abundant lockable storage, and a camo flip driver’s seat with built-in cooler. The boat, which is pre-wired for a trolling motor, now is available in Mossy Oak Break-Up and Desert Brown camouflage. The MSRP on the 1860 CCT in Mossy Oak Break-up with a Yamaha F70 is $19,895. (800) 588-9787 www.G3boats.com

NITRO Z-9 This 20-foot-9-inch long bass boat features Nitro’s Rapid Planing System transom design for top-end speeds. The new Z-9, which is available with an optional removable dual console package, is one of those go-to boats for professional anglers. Among the boat’s features that will appeal to anglers are two 20-gallon aerated livewells, a ﬁshﬁnder, two rod lockers and a trolling motor. It sells for $39,995 when equipped with a 225 OptiMax motor and trailer. (417) 873-4555 www.nitro.com

TARGA V-18 COMBO Tracker Marine describes its deep V aluminum fishing boat as the perfect crossover vehicle. This family-oriented 19-foot1-inch-long boat has extra passenger seating in the bow and cockpit areas, plus accessories such as a ski tow pylon, boarding ladder and stereo with MP3 input. The family that fishes together especially will enjoy this equipped-to-the-hilt boat. In addition to a trolling motor and a fish finder, the boat offers abundant storage in the bow, aft and in the floor. There also is an onboard battery charger, plus bow and aft livewells. The boat has a maximum capacity of six people (or 900 pounds) and sells for $20,995 when equipped with a 115 EXLPT OptiMax motor and trailer. (888) 492-6382 www.trackerboats.com

NEPTUNE This boat combines the classic features for which Hell’s Bay boats are known, with a tournament rig creating the ideal skiff for long distances. Designed for performance, the Neptune offers a quiet, nimble ride. The 18-foot-8-inch-long boat can handle a 150-hp engine and has such features as rod racks with ﬂy rod tubes and a livewell. It has a 38-gallon capacity. This boat sells for about $56,000. (321) 383-8223 www.hellsbayboatworks.com

ALPHA 191 Legend Boats’ newest Alpha model is a 19-foot-long boat with 94-inch beam and 200-hp maximum rating. Like its bigger brothers, the Alpha 191 boasts a standard 42-gallon fuel tank and 47-gallon divided livewells. But, this model also has a center rod locker capable of securing eight-foot rods and divided starboard storage. Packed with standard equipment, this ﬁberglass boat equipped with the Mercury 200 ProsXS outboard sells for $36,595. (888) 657-5051 www.legendmarine.com

SHEARWATER 25LTZ American Marine Sports describes its LTZ series as elegance balanced with ferocious performance. The 24-foot-6inch-long bay boat has a maximum 350-hp capacity. It boasts the standard equipment required by serious anglers, including two 10-foot rod lockers, front storage box, leaning post with a 23-gallon livewell, built-in cast net storage box, 45-gallon release well and a 25-gallon rear baitwell. The boat sells for about $75,000. (352) 429-8989 www.americanmarinesports.com

COURAGEOUS Metal Shark Boat’s 35-foot beauty is a sleek, well-appointed aluminum boat that offers performance and durability. Able to withstand brutal offshore conditions and near-shore runs alike, the Courageous is built on a high-performance, deep V hull crafted from a lightweight marine-grade aluminum alloy. With a 900-hp capacity, a 400-gallon capacity and speeds up to 65 mph, this fuel-efficient boat can move. Features for anglers include six top-mounted rod holders, eight flush-mounted rod holders, two in-deck fish boxes and a transom livewell. Other features include a T-top, console with three windows, fully enclosed berth, integrated seating in front of the cockpit, bolstered helm station seat, and a leaning post and transom seating aft. The luxurious boat costs about $259,000, well-equipped. (337) 364-0777 www.metalsharkboats.com

Page 19

Page 20

January 28, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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PRODUCTS

(800) 323-2668 www.lacrossefootwear.com

MAKO BOW: Alpine Archery’s latest model is for the bow ﬁsherman. This thoroughly tested equipment was put through its paces on everything from deep-water shark to river carp. The Mako weighs 3 pounds, has an axle-to-axle length of 30 ¾ inches, and a brace height of 6 ½ inches. Features include CNC-machined riser and cams, bi-ﬂex composite limbs, and an “LX” pocket mounting system. The Mako sells for about $300.

VENOM SCENT HD SNAKE BOOTS: LaCrosse Footwear’s newest boots will allow hunters to navigate venomous snake territory safely, comfortably and nimbly. The company’s Venom Scent HD boots are waterproof, scent-free and provide 360 degrees of snake-proof protection. Made from leather and nylon uppers, the boots feature an odor-ﬁghting internal membrane, a cushioned foot bed and a reinforced abrasion-resistant toecap. They also have a side zipper, which makes the boots easier to put on and take off. Available in RealTree APG HD, the boots come in men’s and youth sizes. The MSRP is $139.95 for men’s sizes and $99.95 for youth sizes.

GRANDER SUNGLASSES: Part of Maui Jim’s ICAST-winning Guy Harvey collection, these Grander sunglasses are designed to withstand the rigors of ﬁshing and boating. The full-wrap frame features distinctive artwork on the inner and outer temples. But, it is the polarized lens’ glare protection that outdoorsmen will really appreciate. The lens’ multi-layer design features a treatment that maximizes color transmission and glare reduction. Available in three frame colors and three lens colors, the rugged and comfortable sunglasses retail for just under $300.

(208) 746-4717 www.alpinearchery.com

(888) 666-5905 www.mauijim.com

RX-1000 TBR RANGEFINDER: This compact digital laser rangefinder by Leupold offers pristine image quality and fast, reliable rifle readings up to 1,000 yards and close-range readings for archery. Among its features are 6X magnification, colorful optics, three adjustable intensity settings, three reticle options, a built-in inclinometer, a scan mode, a fast-focus eyepiece, and a quick set menu. The waterproof and lightweight rangefinder, which is available in a gray and black finish or in Mossy Oak Breakup camo sells for about $420.

(800) 333-3288 www.browning.com

(800) 538-7653 www.leupold.com

HUNT MASTER VXT: Browning’s newest flashlight uses a powerful new green 70-lumen LED for maximum stealth and enhanced night vision. The green LED will send out a beam past 200 feet. The flashlight, which also offers a bright white light, has an adjustable spot-to-flood lens design and a memory feature that returns the light to the last setting used. The 6.6-inch-long flashlight sells for about $85.

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January 28, 2011

Page 21

DATEBOOK January 27-30

February 4-6, 9-13

February 19-20

San Antonio Boat and RV Show The Alamodome (512) 481-1777 www.sanantonioboatshow.com

Dallas International Boat Show Dallas Market Hall (469) 549-0673 www.dallasboatshow.net

Texas Gun and Knife Association Show Gillespie County Fairgrounds Fredericksburg www.texasgunandknifeshows.com

January 28-30

February 10-12

February 22-23

Coastal Bend Marine Dealers Boat Show The American Bank Convention Center, Corpus Christi (361) 991-0369 www.ccboatshow.com

Big Country Celebrity Quail Hunt Abilene (325) 677-6815 www.driabilene.org

Texas Farm and Ranch Expo Taylor County Fairgrounds Abilene www.abilenechamber.com

February 11

February 25

January 29

Texas Deer Association Whitetail Workshop San Antonio Stock Show/ Rodeo Auction Barn (210) 767-8300 www.texasdeerassociation.com

Ducks Unlimited Brazos Valley Banquet The Brazos Center, Bryan (979) 255-8507 www.ducks.org

Ducks Unlimited Big Thicket Dinner Cleveland Civic Center (281) 593-9118 www.ducks.org Pronghorn Restoration Beneﬁt Granada Theatre, Alpine (432) 837-8488 www.sulross.edu

Midessa Boat, RV, Sport and Gun Show Ector County Coliseum Odessa www.midessaboatshow.com

Texas Wildlife Association Wildlife, Land and Livestock Seminar Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (512) 551-3004 www.texas-wildlife.org

February 14-15

February 3 Tomball Ducks Unlimited Dinner Tomball VFW Hall (832) 303-9464 www.ducks.org

February 4-5 Texas Hill Country Chapter SCI Campﬁre Memories Banquet Inn of the Hills Resort, Kerrville (830) 928-4344 www.texashillcountrysci.org

Editor Bill Miller Associate Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau

National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Classiﬁed/Outﬁtters Blazing Paths Media Advertising Intern Nicholas Conklin

February 26 February 11-13

Executive Editor Craig Nyhus

North Texas Chapter SCI Meeting Embassy Suites Outdoor World (940) 612-1928 www.scinorthtexas.com

Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Contributors Kyle Carter Alan Clemons David Draper Wilbur Lundeen Aaron Reed Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

March 3

Texas Wildlife Association Boots on the Ground Event AT&T Center, Austin (210) 826-2904 www.texas-wildlife.org

National Wild Turkey Federation Alamo Chapter Banquet The Alzafar Center San Antonio (210) 213-5339 www.alamochapternwtf.org

February 18

March 10

Ducks Unlimited Pearland Dinner Epiphany Lutheran Church (713) 907-4264 www.ducks.org

Park Cities Quail Annual Dinner and Auction Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas (214) 801-6802 www.parkcitiesquail.org

February 18-20

March 12

Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited Troutfest 2011 Rio Raft Resort, Canyon Lake www.grtutroutfest.org

Dallas Woods and Waters Club Dinner and Beneﬁt Auction (214) 570-8700 www.dwwcc.org

Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail editor@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com (214) 361-2276

Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2011 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or e-mail them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Page 22

January 28, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LONE STAR MARKET

To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

January 28, 2011

Big bass

Trout action

Upland birds

Continued From Page 1

HEAD SOUTH: To catch big bass, anglers would do well to head south where warmer water temperatures are putting big ﬁsh into a pre-spawn pattern and anglers are taking advantage. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

“It was the first speckled trout she ever caught on the fly,” Trimble proudly said of his client. “That day we caught five or six big trout.” Trimble said this recent January outing near Rockport is an example of more excitement to be had on the Texas Gulf Coast. “It’s the time of year for big trout,” he said. “We have our super-clear water and low tides, and the grass is gone, so we have access to the flats that the fish like to go to. “We’ve caught quite a few in the 24to 28-inch range.” D o - i t - yo u r s e l f anglers have been having fun, too. Ray Hoese of San Antonio uses his parents’ home at Rockport as a launch to St. Charles Bay, Mesquite Bay and Copano Bay. “Unless the wind is above 15 mph, I’m exclusively on fly,” Hoese said. “As long as it’s sunny during

The spawn should commence around the middle of February and continue through mid-March. To the northeast on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, the fishing has been hampered by the cold weather. “It’s been tough fishing for some, but not all,” said Robin Johnston of Needmore Tackle. “The weather has been pretty nasty the past week or so. I haven’t heard or seen any big fish being caught.” Johnston said bass were being caught on lipless crankbaits in shallow water. O.H. Ivie continues to be one of the premier lakes in the state for catching big bass. The lake has produced 14 bass weighing more than 13 pounds in the past year. The latest came on Jan. 15 when Christopher Wright

Puzzle solution from Page 18

caught a 13.83-pound bass fishing in 75 feet of water. He caught the fish at a depth of around 37 feet using a swim bait. Lake Monticello in Northeast Texas generated good fishing reports in January. The lake, warmed by a power plant, produced good numbers of medium-sized bass for Mike Hughs, operations manager for Lone Star Outdoor News. Hughs was throwing a Senko in 71-degree water when he caught a number of small bass. Then he zeroed in on a drop-off and caught several 6-pounders. On Lake Fork, fishing has been good when the water temperatures rise, but cold water makes the pre-spawn fish sluggish. When the weather cooperates, good fish are being landed.

the day, the shallow areas will warm up and you can find them in the flats. “But this time of year, you never know because it could be too cold, and they usually go into deeper water, like at the drop-off.” If that happens, Hoese, director of marketing at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, has a solution. “If the wind is dead, I’ll use a fly rod with a sinking fly, like an imitation shrimp,” he said. That technique, however, requires patience to let the fly reach the fish — maybe 8 feet down — but it worked great one cold day last February in the Brownville Ship Channel. “Everybody was using soft plastics, and it took me five

BIG CATCH: Ellen Hatridge of Austin prepares to release the 30-inch speckled trout she caught recently near Rockport. It was her ﬁrst speckled trout on ﬂy, guide Billy Trimble said. Photo by Billy Trimble.

times longer to catch a trout,” Hoese said, “but it was worth it.” Speckled trout on ﬂy will get even more exciting in February, predicted Capt. Scott Sommerlatte out of Lake Jackson. “Mid-February, they’ll be the biggest with their eggs,” he said. “And it will also be warm enough for them to go even more shallow to lay their eggs.” But anglers have to be ready for a challenge because large female trout don’t feed every day, and when they do, they’re very skittish. “Big trout on ﬂy is one of the hardest things we do,” Sommerlatte said. “Sight casting has to be done with long, precise casts. “Big trout didn’t get big because they’re dumb.”

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“There are so many things going on with different pots of money,” he said. “We talked to an advisory board last August and they outlined what we are going to spend money on. “They include surveys, monitors, Wildlife Management Areas, public hunting, habitat assessment, regional habitat projects, solicitation requests from people. “And we are trying to develop habitat action teams.” The teams meet with landowners to advise them on how to improve game bird habitat on their land. Morrison said the action teams are available for upland and waterfowl habitat restoration programs. One group that has received grants from the game bird stamp revenue is the Wildlife Habitat Federation, a nonproﬁt conservation organization dedicated to reestablishing upland game bird habitat across the state. “We go to landowners and groups with a desire and passion to restore habitat,” said Jim Willis, president of WHF. “I feel very blessed that TPWD has this habitat restoration bug like I do. “I’m elated they’re not just trying to perpetuate what has been done in the past, but looking at ways to improve in the future.” Willis said a lot of the quail habitat restoration work around the state also helps pheasants, prairie chickens and rabbits. Other groups supported by money from the upland game bird stamp include the Western Navarro Bobwhite Restoration Initiative and Caesar Kleburg Wildlife Research Institute.

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January 28, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com