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Lone✯Star Outdoor News
June 8, 2012
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How many? Elusive mountain lions make estimating numbers difficult.
Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper
June 8, 2012
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Volume 8, Issue 20
GPS gaffe
Inside
Photos may reveal more than you realize By John Keith
❘❚ HUNTING
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
Keep shooting Breaking a practice routine at camp can cost you. Page 4
Axis in the heat Summer axis hunting provides hot challenge. Page 5
❘❚ FISHING
Snapper opener Anglers ease offshore for start of season. Page 8
Fish fry Catfish action is solid across the state. Page 8
EARLY RISERS: Good-sized trout have been plentiful before the sun warms water temperatures and the wind picks up. This trout was caught midmorning on the King Ranch Shoreline June 1. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Morning glory By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
❘❚ CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Outdoor Business . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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Craig Jones knows where to look for big trout. The current president of the Dallas chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association makes about a dozen trips annually to
Trout bite is on; conditions tougher in the afternoon the coast, often taking his family along. “We fished this past weekend in Baffin Bay and the Land Cut,”
Jones said. “We got into a good amount of trout and the Land Cut also had some nice reds.”
Included in the “good amount” of trout were several line stretchers, including a 29-inch fish and a 27-incher caught by his wife, Valerie. “That 27-inch fish weighed over 6 pounds,” Jones said.
Many outdoorsmen have favorite hunting or fishing spots they want to keep secret. Maybe it’s an unassuming grass line on a lake where big bass frequent or a small opening on a wildlife management area unknown to other hunters. The hunter or angler who finds success may snap a picture of the lunker or buck with his smartphone, and, if that picture is posted online, his hidden spot may not be unknown for long. According to photographymad.com, exchangeable image file format, or EXIF data, is information saved by a camera so the photographer can review shutter speed, exposure and other settings to improve their pictures. Location information is often recorded because it helps organize photos by scene or track the shots on a map. When individuals post photos with this information on public Web sites, they could be displaying more than they intended. “Information is encrypted in the file, and what it’s showing you is what kind of camera is used, when it was taken, sometimes even where it was taken,” said a special operations game warden for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, who requested to remain anonymous. Law enforcement knows about the ability to pull information from a picture, and it can jump-start an investigation, he said. “We are definitely aware of it, and we have used it,” he said. “It’s helped us make several cases. It’s pretty much a tool to start an investigation.” An image posted online with an overharvest of deer or over-possession of fish can be as effective in building a case as See GPS, Page 24
See TROUT BITE, Page 15
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
❘❚ LSONews.com
Bacteria affects bass, humans By Mark England
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
OUTBREAK: Aeromonas hydrophila is a disease that affects fish by causing red sores across their body. It is the same bacteria that caused a Georgia student to lose most of her limbs after she was infected in a river. Photo by TPWD.
What do the largemouth bass that Ken Caldwell weighed in at a B.A.S.S. Federation Nation tournament at Lake Holbrook and a 24-year-old Georgia woman fighting for her life have in common? Perhaps a bacteria known as Aeromonas hydrophila. “I was pulling fish that had some type of sore, very red and very blotchy,” said Caldwell, who lives
in Wylie. Texas Parks and Wildlife officials contacted by LSON said the fish likely had red sore disease. It causes scale loss and skin ulceration. Besides largemouth bass, the disease also strikes striped bass, hybrids, bluegill and catfish. Red sore disease in Texas is most often caused by either the protozoan Heteropolaria or Aeromonas hydrophila (or both), according to TPWD. See BACTERIA, Page 29
NOT SECRET ANYMORE: By finding the coordinates of where a photo was taken, anyone with the correct software can match the photo to the exact location, meaning some hunting and fishing spots won’t remain secret for long. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.
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June 8, 2012
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June 8, 2012
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HUNTING
Mysteries of mountain lions IT’S REAL: When Chet Markgraf saw the photos from his game camera on his West Texas ranch, he knew it was something special. An incredible image of a mountain lion dragging a big white-tailed buck was captured. What he didn’t realize is the firestorm that would follow. “I didn’t put it on the Web,” he said. “Someone scanned the printed image and posted it on the Internet. It took off from there.” The 2009 image has been claimed as theirs by people in at least a dozen states, from Massachusetts to South Dakota. And skeptics claimed the images were the work of a Photoshop expert, until Markgraf showed the original images to the owner of the buckmanager.com Web site. The site set the record straight, but it didn’t stop others from claiming the image was a lion from their state. Markgraf has the skull of the deer mounted at his home.
Oil development might be affecting South Texas population By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
See the time sequence trail cam photos at LSONews.com. Photo by Chet Markgraf. LSONews.com
Not everyone likes them, but there is something about the mountain lion in Texas. They are mostly nocturnal, elusive and solitary. Feeding largely on deer and large prey, they are at the top of the food chain. “There is a lot of respect for them,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, director of the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University. “It’s impressive how they make a living — one can take down a 1,200pound elk and drag it up a hill.” Guessing their numbers in Texas, though, is not so easy. “They are one of those critters that is hard to unravel,” Harveson said. Once living across Texas, mountain lions are mostly found in far West Texas with pockets of the cougars in South Texas. Radiotelemetry studies have helped researchers gain knowledge, but estimating their numbers in Texas is not much more
than an educated guess. “It’s still a very hard thing to do,” said Dr. Michael Tewes, research scientist and Regents Professor at Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. “As soon as I would throw out a number I would get attacked from all directions.” Tewes said although the breeding populations are mostly in West and South Texas, there may be individual females having young in the Hill Country. “The other lions seen in the Hill Country and East Texas are males that dispersed,” he said. A recent study shed light on the cougar’s diet. “Using dogs and snares, we captured and collared mountain lions to map their locations,” Harveson said. “Using mapping software, we marked areas and searched for kill sites. So I know there are at least 12 mountain lions in Texas, because that’s how many we have collared.” See MOUNTAIN LIONS, Page 19
Shooting in camp key to hunting success By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS The big South African warthog boar was less than 10 yards away. And broadside. The shot should have been a “gimme” with all of the practice the bow hunter sitting in the blind on the edge of the waterhole had put in before the hunt. But he hadn’t shot his bow since taking several practice shots the first morning of the safari. That had been five days ago. The gimme shot turned into a nightmare when the hunter, with adrenaline rushing through his body, forgot the calm, steady motion he had practiced for so long and rushed the shot, taking the pig high in the shoulder — too high. With no vitals hit, the big tusker ran from the waterhole never to be seen again. Months of practice had been blown because the hunter broke a cardinal rule of his bow hunting regiment — shoot everyday.
It was a good lesson learned, and one that many hunters should heed. Why spend all of the time, See SHOOTING, Page 7
MAKING SURE: By shooting everyday in camp, bow hunters stay in their normal practice routine and can make minor adjustments to equipment that might have been bumped during the day. Photos by LSON.
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Aiming for axis Exotic deer present summer opportunity By John Keith
the effect the rut has on hunter success, Vawter said. With a buzzer“I don’t really beater of a shot, an see a big difference 11-point axis buck (with the rut),” he was downed in the said. “We’re more final minutes of his open with sporadic hunt, and Wade trees — the (properAbadie of Conroe ties) with more trees could not help but to are out to hunt the be excited at his luck. rut.” “The deer looks One of the more like it has a crown of challenging aspects thorns,” he said. “It of axis hunting in has three brow tines contrast to whitetail on one side and four deer is the axis’ tenbrow tines on the dency to travel in other.” groups, said Lewis The hunter Scherer of Flagler found his sucRanch in Mountain cess in Gonzalez Home. County at Double “If you’re after a Arrow Bow Hunting specific whitetail, SUMMER FUN: Many axis are hardhorned and rutting ranch, where Abadie he’s probably going during the summer months, making them an exciting and guide Curtis to be by himself,” target for hunters impatient for the fall to arrive. Photo Schramm jumped by Lili Sams, LSON. he said. “When you’re hunting the the trophy buck deer is pretty consistent axis, they’re a herd by deciding to be mobile the last few minutes throughout the year, because animal, so you’re having to the axis bucks don’t always fight all the eyeballs.” of daylight. This herd behavior makes “I could see a rack stick- have the same rut schedule, ing out of the grass,” Abadie said Robert Vawter of Eight it hard to sneak up to a particular axis, Scherer said, but said. “I thought originally Point Ranch in Elgin. “It’s a great time to hunt,” the rut helps the hunter’s he was an eight-point — I he said. “We have some that odds. didn’t realize he had 11.” “You don’t have to work as Impressive antlers and a are slick-headed, and some unique spotted-hide make that are just now stripping hard because they’re out hunting for girls or challenging the exotic from India a their velvet.” The terrain where the axis highly targeted trophy. Hunting success for the are located correlates with See AXIS, Page 24
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Twelve-year-o ld BRYSON KE NNEDY, from Be last summer to rtram, went on New Zealand a family vaca and took this stag and fallo tion Himalayan tahr w deer on a hu , along with a nt with Four Se Johnson. Brys red asons Safaris on’s dad, Kevi an n, d outfitter Shan said Bryson wa Rem Mag that e s shooting a Ti Shane provided kka rifle in 7m . Bryson took earning the m m all of his anim oniker “Ole De als with one sh ad Eye.” ot,
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June 8, 2012
Michael Hummert named marine wildlife officer of the year Four-year-veteran Grayson County Game Warden Michael Hummert has been named the MICHAEL HUMMERT 2012 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department marine law enforcement officer of the year. TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith presented the award to Hummert at the May 24 meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in Austin. “This is just a great honor,” Hummert said. “I work real hard on the lake to keep people safe, and it is great to be recognized.” Hummert spends about 500 hours a year patrolling sprawling Lake Texoma along the Texas-Oklahoma border. During his time on the lake, Hummert has made six boating while intoxicated cases, including one that netted the defendant a third-degree felony conviction because he had nine prior DWI charges on his record. “Because of Michael’s streamlining of the BWI process by utilizing the TPWD game warden station on Lake Texoma, through videotaping and blood sampling, most of his BWI cases are plead out before ever going to trial,” Smith said. “Because of Lake Texoma’s sharing a common boundary with Oklahoma, Michael has become a great asset to not only this state, but to the citizens of Oklahoma as well.” Hummert has assisted in several search efforts for drowning victims on the lake, including two in Oklahoma waters where he was the first officer on the scene. “This is a job where I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Hummert said. “You could say I got to turn a hobby into a career. I pinch myself on some days because I can’t believe I get to make money doing this.” — Staff report
Col. Pete Flores receives national award Col. Pete Flores, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division director, has received the first-ever Legacy Award from the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs. The award, a bronze sculpture of a vigilant game warden called “Standing Watch,” was presented by Gene Elms, law enforcement director for the Arizona Game and Fish Department at the May 24 meeting of
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the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Flores retired at the end of May after more than 27 years of state service. Chief of Staff David Sinclair, a 40-year TPWD veteran, has been named acting division director. — TPWD
Quail season unaltered for 2012-13 State wildlife officials are taking a proactive approach to bobwhite quail management in Texas as part of a strategic action plan that involves hunters, landowners and science. The plan focuses on habitat management and does not include changes in harvest regulations. Because regulations will not compensate for losses in quail habitat, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is making no changes to the quail-hunting season for 201213. The season will open Oct. 27 and close Feb. 24, 2013 with a daily bag limit of 15, and a possession limit of 45. “Hunting is a tool to regulate harvest of quail, but not a tool that could impact quail recovery at a landscape level,” said Robert Perez, TPWD Upland Game Bird Program leader. “Hunting didn’t create this problem.” During the upcoming hunting season, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists will also be looking to hunters to help collect and report data that can be used to more accurately monitor quail harvest. By issuing a harvest scorecard to a random group of quail hunters prior to the season, and using methodology similar to that developed for tracking migratory game bird harvest, TPWD hopes to get a more accurate accounting of wild bobwhite harvest. — TPWD
Texas Bison Association wants bison to be national mammal The Texas Bison Association announced its support for the National Bison Legacy Act, a bill recently introduced in the Senate by Sen. Mike Ezni (R) of Wyoming, and Sen. Tim Johnson (D) of South Dakota. If enacted by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the bill would designate the North American bison as the National Mammal of the United States. The bill does not establish new regulatory protections for American bison, but it provides official recognition to a species that has sweeping cultural and ecological significance. The decision to support the National Bison Legacy Act was a unanimous vote by the TBA board of directors during the 2012 Texas Bison Conference, held earlier this month in Lubbock. — Texas Bison Association
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Bogus warden Man impersonates wildlife officer By John Keith LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Individuals trying to enjoy camping or fishing opportunities in the Port Mansfield area recently had their day dampened by coming into contact with a man falsely claiming to be a game warden. Antonio Guerra Jr., 22, was arrested at his home in Harlingen on May 15. He is accused of pestering fishermen under the false pretense of being a wildlife officer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Game Warden Jarret Barker of TPWD was ANTONIO GUERRA JR. the lead investigator in the case. Barker was tipped off about the faux warden when checking anglers on the Port Mansfield jetties. The anglers told him a warden who did not display his credentials, and who acted in an unprofessional way, had just checked them. A woman who had been approached by the fake warden managed to take a picture of the man, which helped Barker know for sure the man was not an authentic game warden. “He used an actual name of a game warden who used to live in Willacy County,” Barker said. “The name of the game warden he was using is bald — this guy had spiky hair.” Even though the man was in plain clothes, he was still forcing his will upon others, Barker said. “He was checking fishing licenses and looking at fish people caught, just kind of digging into their lives while they were camping,” he said. “He made people stop fishing, making them walk to their vehicle and show him their licenses.” Barker said impersonating a police officer but not making people do anything under the false authority is a misdemeanor. When a person impersonates an officer, and then has people submit to the power of the position is when the crime becomes a felony case. Impersonating a public servant is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison, or a fine not to exceed $10,000. If someone is concerned about the validity of any officer, citizens have the right to ask for his credentials and the officer is required to present them, Barker said.
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SIGHTING IN: Simulating hunting conditions in practice will make pressure shots on actual game easier. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Shooting Continued From Page 4
effort and money to travel to a far-away destination to hunt and drop the practice routine once there? “We should have been shooting more often,” said professional hunter Whitey Van Zyl, who guided the hunter who wounded the warthog. “He was spot-on the first day of the hunt, but somewhere along the line his bow pins got knocked and everything was shooting high. That contributed to the bad shot.” Archery pro Ken “Gunther” Hays of Cinnamon Creek Archery Shop said he sticks to a routine when traveling on hunting trips. “I shoot at least half a dozen
arrows before I go out every morning,” he said. “There is usually enough light to do that. It is also a good check to make sure your clothing isn’t coming into contact and hitting the bow string.” Hays said he also tries to shoot again each night in camp. “It helps relieve some frustration, especially if you’ve had a tough day in the blind,” he said. “There is also some good-natured trash talking usually going on in camp, so we like to shoot longer distances to see who is the best shot. “It definitely helps on the shorter shots when you shoot longer distances. Keeping that muscle memory is really
important.” Hill Country guide Andrew Phillips said he likes to have his clients, especially bow hunters, shoot every day, even if he has to turn his truck lights on to illuminate a target at night. “It is just really good practice for them, and it gives me a chance to evaluate how they are shooting,” he said. “I’ve had guys tell me they are great shots and they can hit a dime at 50 yards, and then they get on a range with a little bit of pressure and they are all over the place. “It calms them down to shoot a few arrows and makes me more confident in their abilities.”
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FISHING
Snatching snapper Anglers head offshore for season opener By John Keith LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Many anglers are scratching their head — that is, when they aren’t too busy catching red snapper — at the harsh restrictions placed on snapper season in federal waters. “The snapper fishing is phenomenal, about the
best I’ve ever seen,” said Capt. Johnny Walker of Walker Sportfishing in Galveston The ocean conditions were not ideal opening weekend, he said, but the snapper still cooperated. “We had six people on the boat, got our fish, and none were underweight,” he said. “Anywhere from 14 to 18 pounds was the average fish.”
Sardines and big mackerel were the ticket, Walker said, with many snapper holding on structure. “There is a lot of fish and they move around, they don’t just sit in one spot,” he said. “But there’s no problem with the snapper fishing on pretty much any spot you stop on — at the first set of rigs you can catch
keepers.” Success breeds interest, and with the snapper opportunities presented all along the coast, anglers were excited for a chance to fish for them opening weekend. “It looked like a boat parade out of Freeport,” said Richard Elliott of See SNAPPER, Page 24
SEEING RED: Ryan Elliot holds a nice red snapper caught opening weekend off the coast from Freeport. Photo by Richard Elliot.
Catfish hitting deep and shallow By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS In Texas, the summer blues are a good thing. And we aren't talking about depression — we’re talking blue catfish hitting the end of an angler’s line. And not many have been as big as the 74.5-pound giant Spring angler Dustin Smith found on the end of his trotline Memorial Day weekend. Smith was fishing Lake O’ The Pines with family and friends, and the group boated about 30 cats on rod and reel before he set his trotline for the night. About 1 a.m., he and fishing partner Kenneth Strickland, along with Kenneth’s son, decided to check the line baited with chicken gizzards. “We’d caught a few small blues,” Smith said. “Then the line began to get heavy and jerk a little bit. I thought we had hooked a stump, but when I started to pull, the fish started to fight. I had about a foot of visibility into BIG CAT: Dustin Smith, far right, shows off the huge catfish he caught on Lake O’ The Pines. His fishing pal, Kenneth Strickland, left, helped land the big fish. Photo by Dustin Smith.
the water, and I saw this giant head emerge.” Smith told his friend to grab the net, but as more and more of the fish revealed itself, Smith said, “Forget the net — this one isn’t going to fit.” “I ended up putting my hand in her mouth because I had no idea how to get the fish into the boat,” he said. “She clamped down and didn’t want to come, but we got her in the boat.” Smith said he tried to keep the fish alive while looking for a certified scale, but it was almost 12 hours before the nearest weigh station opened and the fish perished. “I’m a big catch and release guy and that broke my heart,” he said. “When we saw she wasn’t going to make it we packed her in ice to make sure the meat wouldn’t spoil.” According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Web site, the big blue will surpass the current lake record by 4.5 pounds. “Lake O’ The Pines is an untapped catfish lake in my opinion,” Smith said. “We always do really well when we fish there.” See CATFISH, Page 27
Brown tide a headache for Baffin anglers, guides By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Brown tide has invaded Baffin Bay in a big way this spring and while there are differing thoughts on its cause, no one can argue that the tea-colored water has forced an altering of angling tactics. “When there is only moderate visibility, the trout have to use all of their senses to find the bait,’’ said veteran Guide Joey Farah during an early morning run from Marker 37 Marina. “You have to use a little more action, a little more flash, a little more scent and a lot of knowledge about where to look for the fish. On the good side, this helps keep a lot of guides who are not familiar with the area off the water.” Farah, who has been fishing the Baffin Bay and Upper Laguna Madre area since he was old enough to paddle a canoe to his “honey holes,” has learned to adapt his fish-catching techniques to find big speckled trout and redfish in areas where the normal crystal clear waters are stained with brown tide.
“We have to deal with this about every three or four years when they dredge out areas of the Intracoastal,” he said. “I think that stirring up the bottom when they remove the silt releases nitrogen. If there is a high salinity level in the water and the temperatures reaches 75 degrees — boom — you have a brown tide bloom. “It doesn’t hurt the fishing as bad as a red tide, but you do have to be able to deal with it to be able to find the fish.” Art Morris, constituent outreach specialist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Lower Coast Division, said department biologists do not believe there is any correlation between the dredging and the brown tide blooms. “The last big brown tide bloom was in the ’90s and it lasted about 10 years,” he said. “While we don’t know what causes brown tide, there is no correlation between the dredging and blooms. Brown tide does prefer hot, salty water, so it will probably take a lot of heavy rain or maybe a hurricane to flush it out.”
The dredging of the Intracoastal Canal is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office in Galveston. Isidro Reyna, deputy public affairs officer at the Galveston office, said prior to the dredging earlier this year, the last time a dredge was conducted in the Baffin Bay area was in 2009 when work was completed on the Intracoastal from Corpus Christi to the Mudflats area. “As for the dredge cycle, dredging tends to occur about every five years; however, due to reductions in funding, sometimes we are only able to dredge the problem areas or a shallower template,” he said. Brown tide is caused by blooms of a microscopic alga called Aureoumbra lagunensis. There is no evidence that brown tide poses any harm to people or saltwater fish. “Any of the guides who have been here very long will tell you the same thing — a brown tide always comes after the dredgSee BROWN TIDE, Page 16
STILL CATCHING FISH: Dr. Catherine Cook of San Antonio shows off a nice 23-inch trout that she brought into the boat while fishing with guide Joey Farah. Photo by Ralph Winningham.
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Sandbass tournament produces big bags By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Lake Tawakoni Sportsmen’s Association head Greg Clark figured he would have a quick job at the LTSA Sandbass Tournament weigh-in on June 2. “Man, they were catching a lot of sandbass,” Clark said. “I was working the weigh-in, and every time I looked back in the line it just kept getting bigger and bigger. There were a lot of fish caught.” More than 100 adults and 15 kids took part in the tournament, with 100 percent of the proceeds going toward restocking hybrid striped bass in Lake Tawakoni. Clark said many of the anglers were fishing slabs along the bottom, although trolling small spoons also put fish in the livewell. Gene Reeves of Rockwall won the adult division of the tournament with five fish weighing 9.35 pounds. Jacob Brueks won the kids division with 7.6 pounds. “Lake conditions were perfect,” Reeves said. “It was cloudy and overcast with a light wind until about 10:30, but by that time we had put most of our fish in the boat.” Reeves said he and his two partners — John “El Nitro” Valenzuela and Mike “Luv 2 Fish” Newell — caught more than 100 fish during the morning. All three anglers
MESS OF SANDIES: Anglers at the LFSA Sandbass Tournament found lots of active fish during the morning event, helping raise more than $10,000 toward stocking Lake Tawakoni with hybrid stripers. Photo by LSON.
finished in the top 15. “We caught most of our fish early on tailspinners in less than 3 feet of water,” Reeves said. “Once the sun came up, we fished off a deep point in 35 feet jigging slabs. “I love to fish Tawakoni. Ray Hubbard is my home lake, but we get over to Tawakoni at least once a month because the fish are just huge over here.”
Top 3 in each division: ■ Adult 1. Gene Reeves, 9.35 pounds 2. James States, 9.2 pounds 3. James Dowdy, 8.98 pounds
■ Kids 1. Jacob Brueks, 7.6 pounds 2. Landon Eastep, 7.36 pounds 3. Cole Siegler, 6.68 pounds
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Finding still waters LAKE O’ THE PINES — Catching good fish right now means getting away from the main hubbub and noise of the recreational boats and jet skiers, said angler Bubba Romine of Jefferson. “The fish go as far in as they can, because they don’t like the noise,” he said. Bass are best on spinner baits or buzzbaits, and have continued to move into deeper a the lake temperawater as tu ur rises. They have ture been biting best early in the morning and late in th afternoon. Liver the
ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 78–83 degrees; 8.22’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early, midday switching to Texas rigs, jigs and dropshot rigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait. AMISTAD: Water clear; 76–80 degrees; 22.48’ low. Largemouth bass to 6 pounds are good on crankbaits, spinner baits and watermelon soft plastics. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines and juglines baited with live perch. ARROWHEAD: Water off-color; 78–84 degrees; 8.37’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on buzzbaits, spinner baits, Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and minnows over brush piles. White bass are good on slabs and spoons. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait. ATHENS: Water lightly stained, 77–82 degrees; 1.52’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics and wacky-rigged worms on docks and deeper brush piles. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait. BASTROP: Water stained; 78–82 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on small spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp, minnows, and stinkbait. BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 76–81 degrees; 2.77’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on soft plastics and shallow crankbaits. Crappie are good on live minnows and jigs. White bass are good on Humdingers. Catfish are fair to good on trotlines or juglines with soap. BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and soft plastic worms in reeds. Redfish are good down rigging spoons near the jetty and dam. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver, cut bait, and cheesebait near the dam. BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained; 77–81 degrees; 5.74’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads with green pumpkin finesse worms around deeper docks. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs (best action midday). BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 77–81 degrees; 10.75’ low. Largemouth bass to 5.5 pounds are excellent on redbug and watermelon red shaky heads
has been producing bites from catfish. Overall, the lake level is down about 3 feet.
Bunch of bites LAKE RAY ROBERTS — The fishing is on for about any species you could want to pursue, said Ray Roberts guide Tim Wike. “Everything is good right now — bass, crappie, sand bass and catfish,” he said. White bass school on the surface this time
with rattlesnake plastics and top-waters. Crappie are excellent on white Li’l Fishies and black/ chartreuse tube jigs in 10–20 feet. Yellow catfish to 45 pounds are good on trotlines baited with perch in 5–15 feet. BUCHANAN: Water murky; 77–81 degrees; 22.70’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on perch-colored top-waters, weightless wackyrigged pumpkinseed plastics with chartreuse tails, and chartreuse spinner baits off points in 10–16 feet. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs over brush piles. Channel catfish are fair on live bait and stinkbait. Yellow and blue catfish are good on juglines and trotlines baited with liver and minnows. CADDO: Water stained; 77–82 degrees; 0.42’ high. Largemouth bass are good on black/blue soft plastics around isolated cover. Yellow bass are good on minnows. New TPWD regulations concerning invasive species that affect Caddo anglers went into effect May 17. CALAVERAS: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows. Redfish are good on live bait along the crappie wall and the dam. Channel catfish are good on liver and shad near the railroad trestle. CANYON LAKE: Water stained; 75–79 degrees; 4.47’ low. Largemouth bass are good on smoke grubs, pumpkinseed plastics and Texas-rigged chartreuse finesse worms early. Crappie are good on live minnows and white tube jigs upriver. CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 77–82 degrees; 0.53’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texasrigged creature baits, shaky heads and black/blue finesse jigs around docks closer to main lake. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. Crappie are fair to good on minnows. CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 78–82 degrees; 12.69’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and nightcrawlers. COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 1.80’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon spinner baits and crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and perch. CONROE: Water fairly clear; 78–82 degrees; 2.42’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse
crankbaits, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Catfish are good on minnows and shrimp. COOPER: Water lightly stained; 76–80 degrees; 0.88’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse shallow crankbaits and Texas-rigged craw worms later in the day. Green pumpkin soft plastics are best. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair to good on Sassy Shad and live shad. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut bait. FALCON: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 29.54’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are very good on frozen shrimp under birds. FORK: Water lightly stained; 78–82 degrees; 1.96’ low. Largemouth bass are good on wakebaits and top-waters along main lake points in early morning. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad and prepared bait. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 78–82 degrees; 10.6’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on soft plastic frogs early, later switching to Texas rigs, jigs, crankbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows around deep water structure. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers. GRANBURY: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 1.09’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastic worms and lizards, and on chartreuse crankbaits. Striped bass are good on minnows and silver striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and shrimp. GRANGER: Water clear; 79–83 degrees; 0.27’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie to 2 pounds are very good on minnow jigs over main lake brush piles. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch. GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 77–81 degrees; 1.05’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon Texas-rigged worms, watermelon finesse jigs, and crankbaits along main lake points. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut shad. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 80–84 degrees; 0.10’ high.
of year, Wike said, and can best be targeted by looking for fish feeding on the top. A lipless crankbait, or any kind of moving bait, is the best lure to solicit a bite. The catfish are willing to bite on most all typical stink or cut bait. Water clarity is mostly clear, and the lake level is only down a couple of inches. To contact Tim Wike, call (940) 368-2712.
Fish heating up LAKE RAY HUBBARD — The white bass and hybrid striper action has been picking up along with the temperature, said Ray Hubbard guide Paul Rogers.
Largemouth bass to 8 pounds are very good on black/blue worms and live perch from piers. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs in 12–20 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with shad, and on stinkbait. HUBBARD CREEK: 78–83 degrees; 14.97’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Zara Spooks, buzzbaits, Texas rigs, mediumrunning crankbaits and jigs. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and live minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers. JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 76–81 degrees; 0.22’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits, finesse worms and smaller jigs — midday bite has been best. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on prepared baits. LAVON: Water lightly stained; 77–82 degrees; 0.56’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits, black/ brown jigs and square-billed crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around bridge columns. Catfish are good on cut shad and nightcrawlers. LBJ: Water clear; 78–82 degrees; 0.29’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse lipless crankbaits and watermelon topwaters in 8–18 feet early. White bass are good on minnows and Li’l Fishies. Channel catfish are good on minnows and shrimp. LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 76–81 degrees; 0.93’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on shallow to medium crankbaits along main lake points. Larger rock along main lake points producing as well. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and Sassy Shad. Catfish are good on prepared bait. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 79–83 degrees; 0.04’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. White bass are good on pet spoons, trolling tubes and Charlie slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on cut bait and shad. MARTIN CREEK: Water fairly clear; 73–78 degrees; 4.10’ low. Largemouth bass have been good on white soft plastics in the flooded willows. Good catches being reported on watermelon
“Once the water gets up to about 83 degrees, it’s almost like clock-w to work knowing how catch the fish,” he said. Right now the lake is reading about 80 degrees, so the fishing “hasn’t been just real consistent yet.” Tossing slabs on humps and points have been bringing the fish to the boat. Spinner baits have been getting bites when the fish school. White bass and striper limits are common. To contact Paul Rogers, call (214) 668-8467. — John Keith
jigs and worms in deeper water. Catfish are good on prepared bait and minnows. NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 79–83 degrees; 0.66’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic worms and spinner baits along the bank. Channel catfish are good on stinkbait. Blue catfish are good on shad. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 78–83 degrees; 41.41’ low. Largemouth bass are good on poppers early, later switching to jigs, Texas rigs, drop-shot rigs and weightless flukes. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows. White bass are good on slabs and Humdingers. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait. OAK CREEK: Water stained; 78–82 degrees; 15.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on topwaters early and late, midday switching to Texas rigs, spinner baits, shaky heads and jigs. Catfish are good on chartreuse nightcrawlers. PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 76–80 degrees; 0.26’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastics near shallow cover and docks. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 77–84 degrees; 5.88’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters early, later switching to spinner baits, Texas rigs, jigs and shaky heads. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. White bass are good on slabs. Striped bass are fair to good on live shad. Catfish are good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers. PROCTOR: Water stained; 79–83 degrees; 0.63’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse crankbaits and soft plastics early and late. Striped bass are good on live shad. White bass are good on minnows and perch-colored spinner baits. SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 78–83 degrees; 0.69’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows and small spinner baits. White bass are good on minnows and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and Li’l Fishies over brush piles. Bream are good on shrimp and nightcrawlers. SWEETWATER: Water murky; 78–83 degrees; 15.09’ low.
■ See Saltwater fishing reports: Page 14 Largemouth bass are fair on topwaters, split-shot rigged flukes, Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are good on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers. TAWAKONI: Water stained; 76–80 degrees; 0.63’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black/blue soft plastics and hollow body frogs. Best bite is around flooded cover. Crappie are fair on 1/16 oz. curl tail grubs and small minnows on docks, bridge pilings and deep timber. White bass are excellent on slabs and tailspins — schooling on points early and late. Striped bass and hybrid striper are good on 4” to 6” white or shad-pattern Sassy Shad in the shallows early then suspending deep during the day — drifting live bait is also producing. Catfish are excellent in deep water drifting cut bait and fresh shad. TEXOMA: Water lightly stained; 76–82 degrees; 1.79’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits and medium crankbaits along main lake points and jigs and Carolina rigs over deeper structure. Striped bass are good on slabs and live shad. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and cut bait. TRAVIS: Water stained; 78–82 degrees; 37.93’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon/ chartreuse spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. WEATHERFORD: Water lightly stained; 76–80 degrees; 1.38’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on shallow crankbaits and Texasrigged creature baits — target any shallow cover. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in. WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 79–83 degrees; 26.23’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, Texas rigs, jigs and chatterbaits. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows in brush. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait. WHITNEY: Water stained; 77–81 degrees; 0.30’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows. Striped bass are fair on minnows and green striper jigs. White bass are good on minnows and Li’l Fishies. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Catfish are good on hot dogs, stinkbait, and liver. —TPWD
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TOURNAMENT BRIEFS Weatherly and Texans come close Texans came close to the top Wheeler take Bass spot, but couldn’t catch Converse, La., pro Glen Freeman, who won the Champs EverStart Series Texas Division tourThe Bass Champs Central Region season wrap-up on Belton Lake was challenging for all anglers, as keeper bass were elusive for most. Skinny limits were a dominating factor at the scales, and a new record for low weights that received checks was set. Despite the tough conditions, John Weatherly of Killeen and Rex Wheeler of Belton caught 15.51 pounds to win. Early boat troubles put the pair in a hole, but they finally started catching fish after noon. “At 12:30 we finally got a keeper — a good one, around 5.5 pounds,” Weatherly said. Soon after, he caught another keeper, right at 14 inches. Twenty minutes later, Wheeler landed another 5.5 pounder, making three keepers in the livewell. “At that point we started to think we might have a chance to do something,” Weatherly added. “We just needed two more keepers.” They got those two to win the event by 2 1/2 pounds. Ryan Warren and Ryan Crawford stayed on top of the pack to win Bass Champs Central Region Anglers of the Year. — Bass Champs
UT-Tyler wins on Toledo Bend Battling tough winds and a late bite, the University of Texas-Tyler team of Charlie Brown and Matthew McClellan won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Southern Conference event on Toledo Bend Saturday with four bass weighing 15 pounds, 4 ounces. “We didn’t get our first fish until after 11 a.m.,” said McClellan, a senior majoring in kinesiology. “We had a pretty good practice and with wind were able to find fish in shallow grassy points. The wind was blowing about 15-20 miles per hour this morning so we decided to start shallow. We made about a 10-mile run and at 10 when we didn’t have a bite we decided to move to a location closer to the launch site. By 10:30, we still didn’t have a bite so we decided to go deep. “We had graphed a location that was full of concrete and brush about 10 to 12 feet deep,” McClellan continued. “At 11 a.m., we finally caught our first keeper — it was over 6 pounds. We then got a 4-pounder followed by a 1 1/2-pounder and the last fish we caught was a 4-pounder, all within 45 minutes. We just ran out of time; I think if we would have gotten to this spot earlier we would have caught our limit and could have easily gotten a 20-pound sack. “Once we moved deep we switched to a football head jig. You really needed something that you could feel the bottom.” This was the first year the pair of seniors from the University of TexasTyler fished together as a team. “Toledo Bend is renowned for fishing deep,” said Brown, a senior finance major. “I knew the tournament couldn’t be won shallow, but with the wind and cloud cover this morning, we thought the bass would be feeding off the shallow banks so decided to start on grassy humps with swim jigs and frogs. By midmorning we decided that clearly wasn’t working so decided to go deep. “The bite was really slow,” Brown continued. — Staff report
nament on Toledo Bend on June 2. Freeman battled challenging conditions and targeted fish in shallower water as the tournament progressed to bag a large sack of 68 pounds, 15 ounces over three days. He won by 9 1/2 pounds over second-place finisher Tim Reneau. The Del Rio pro fought heavy winds all three days to bring home 59 pounds, 7 ounces. “Even the first day, the wind really (hindered me); I caught all my fish before the storm hit,” Reneau said. “I went back the next day and tried to fish the stuff that I thought I was saving and the grass wasn’t there because the waves were so big. Today, when the sun came out, I saw that the wind had just laid the grass over, but it stood
back up today.” David Harvey of Beaumont came in third with 58-4. “The wind was a lot stronger out of the south than it had been,” Harvey said. “I did catch some, but
they were smaller and scattered. The bait was scattered and I think that, in turn, the fish were scattered. They didn’t ball up on the structure the way they had been. Harvey caught his fish on a football jig and Carolina-rigged worms. — FLW Outdoors
Media Bass holds events across the state
WINNER: Jay Kendrick holds a pair of bass that helped him claim victory on Cypress Springs. Photo by Media Bass.
Four divisions of the 2012 Media Bass Texas circuit competed across the state the first weekend of June, with teams and individual anglers catching bass and taking home prizes. In the Northeast Individual Division, Jay Kendrick of Dallas took first place on Cypress Springs with a total weight of 17.67 pounds. “I pretty much didn’t practice,”
Kendrick said. “I started off in the morning on a spot that held a lot of bait. It was actually a bunch of tires underwater in about 15 feet. I caught a real good one on a football jig before drifting off of the spot. I cast off of the structure and caught a 4-pounder. “Next cast I caught a 2-pounder and it just kept going. By 9:30, I had my fish.” The big bass of the tournament, caught by Evan O’Brien, weighed 4.64 pounds. On Lake Ray Hubbard, the Central Division was won by the team of Bubba Young and Steve Foster with 17.45 pounds. On Lake Bob Sandlin, the team of Danny Wims and Dillon Lee took first place in the Northeast Team Division with 19.22 pounds. Finally, in the Cowtown Division, Brandon Hollingshead and Parker Smelley won the tournament on Lewisville Lake with a weight of 19.54 pounds. — Media Bass
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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER BOATING ACCIDENT INVESTIGATED AT AMISTAD A boating accident involving two bass boats on Lake Amistad was reported to Crockett County Game Warden Mark Blount and Schleicher County Game Warden Chris Frey. It appeared that one boat was following another too closely and collided with the rear of the front boat. One passenger was struck, but was treated and released by EMS at the scene, and he refused further treatment. CUTTING ANTLER DOESN’T MAKE A SPIKE Angelina County Game Warden Tim Walker was patrolling Sam Rayburn Reservoir when he met a fisherman who had a deer tag missing from his license. Because the harvest log was not filled out, Walker began to ask the man about his hunt and the deer he killed. The man said he killed a spike buck in 2010 and a four-point buck with a 13 1/2-inch spread last year. The man said he killed the deer in Houston County and threw the head in an old hog pen. Walker contacted Houston County Game Warden Eddie Lehr. Lehr was familiar with the property and was able to locate the antlers. Lehr noticed a point had been cut off of the antlers to make one side appear to be a spike. The deer was originally a five-point buck with a 6-inch spread. Walker contacted the man, who admitted cutting a point off the antler. Citation pending. FISH SHOCKERS ZAPPED Jasper County Game Warden Morgan Inman received information of someone shocking fish on the Neches River. Inman then contacted Newton County Game Warden Ellis Powell to assist, and the wardens made contact with three individuals. After inspection of the boat, a small amount of marijuana, numer-
TOO MUCH TO DRINK WHILE FISHING Waller County Game Warden Kevin Glass and a volunteer ride-along were working Clear Lake in Harris County for water safety violations. Glass stopped a boat in the Kemah Channel for a water safety inspection. The driver stated that they had been fishing all day near the Galveston jetties. Glass noticed signs of intoxication and asked that the driver remove his sunglasses. The driver’s
ous undersized catfish and a fish shocker (zapper) were located. Cases pending. BUZZARDS GIVE AWAY GATOR KILLER Jasper County Game Warden Morgan Inman was patrolling the Neches River when he noticed buzzards circling nearby. Inman parked his boat and determined the attraction of the buzzards — three alligator carcasses with the tails cut off. Inman followed an ATV trail near the area to a small camp house on a private lake, where he discovered a boat with blood in it tied to a dock. Contact was made with the landowner, who was able to provide information that led to the violators who illegally shot the alligators. Cases pending. GATOR KEEPS MAN FROM JOB Game Warden Albert Flores captured and relocated an 11-foot, 2-inch alligator. The gator was blocking a gate, not allowing the resident to leave for work. The resident photographed the gator as proof for his tardiness to work. DEAD DEER DISCOVERED IN TRAFFIC STOP McLennan County Game Warden Kurt Slaughter responded to a DPS trooper request for his assistance. The trooper had stopped a subject
eyes were bloodshot, glassy and watery. After the inspection, the operator could not get through the alphabet nor could he count backwards. Glass drove the fisherman’s boat to a nearby boat ramp and administered a sobriety test. The fisherman had problems with the test. Warden Glass placed the man under arrest for BWI. The operator blew a breath specimen of .21.
in a Tahoe with blood on his hands and a dead deer in the back of the vehicle. The trooper felt the subjects had picked up the deer to keep him from using the dog to sniff for narcotics. The driver was arrested for DWI and the passenger for public intoxication. Both subjects received a citation for possession of whitetailed deer in closed season. A BAD DAY FOR RUNNING AWAY Reagan/Upton counties Game Warden Matt Adams received a call to assist the sheriff’s office in a vehicle pursuit in the early morning hours. Prior to arrival, the subject stopped the vehicle and bailed out. It then became a foot pursuit with the deputy losing the subject. About 30 minutes later, Adams spotted the man hiding under a pickup. The subject ran again, but this time through backyards with Adams in pursuit; but the man evaded the warden. A neighbor about three houses down called and advised the subject was in his backyard. Once again, Adams and sheriff’s deputies chased the subject on foot over fences and through yards. The subject jumped the wrong fence and was taken down by a pit bull dog on a chain. The subject then ran the wrong direction and was taken down and arrested by Adams and a deputy. The subject was arrested for
evading with vehicle, evading/foot and other charges as well as being a deported felon. UNIQUE ARROW A POACHER’S GIVEAWAY Tom Green County Game Warden Jason Huebner received a call about a white-tailed doe that had been shot and killed. Huebner recovered an arrow from the deer and noticed that the arrow had some unique fletching and wraps. At the local archery shop, Huebner was able to cross-reference the components of the arrow to a customer database. He then matched the arrow to a subject. After some brief interviews, Warden Huebner was able to obtain a confession. Appropriate charges have been filed. FISH NETTERS CHASTISE WARDENS FOR BEING TOO CLOSE At Lake O’ the Pines, Marion County Game Warden Robb Furlow and Cadet Daylan Damron decided to get out of the heat for a bit. They headed for their trailer that was located in a camping area. As the wardens parked their boats to access the trailer, they noticed a yellow rope stretched across the cove and a group of about eight people trying to stop the wardens from running over their net, less than 50 yards from the wardens’ trailer. Multiple cases pending.
TRUCKER ROLLS OVER WITH FAWN IN VEHICLE While assisting troopers with a truck rollover, Polk County Game Warden David Johnson learned that fire department officials found a very small white-tailed fawn trapped under the driver as the truck was cut away to free him. After the driver was safe, fire crews rescued the fawn from the crushed truck. Covered in fuel, the fawn was cleaned as best as possible on scene and delivered to a local rehab, where it was turned over to good hands unharmed. BOAT RAMP FIGHT RESULTS IN DROWNED TRUCK, TRAILER Comal County Game Wardens Michael McCall and Brent Satsky and Capt. Michael Morse were patrolling Canyon Lake and responded to reports of a fight at one of the more congested boat ramps on Canyon Lake. Apparently, a man who was attempting to trailer his boat became upset with a ski boat that was pulling skiers really close to the boat ramp. Words were exchanged and a fight soon followed. The man driving the pickup with the trailer attached jumped out to get in on the melee, but forgot to put his truck in park. The truck and trailer rolled down the steep boat ramp and came to rest in about 60 feet of water. The truck and trailer were recovered the following day. MAN CAUGHT CLEANING SHARK’S TEETH ON PIER While checking fishermen on Bob Hall Pier, Game Warden Nichole Spatz observed an individual cleaning shark’s teeth. When asked by Spatz where the rest of the shark was, the man responded in the ice chest, in which 19 pounds of shark fillets were found. A citation was issued and the individual was educated on where not to possess fish fillets.
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June 8, 2012
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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Sponsored by
Snapper not shy
PORT ARTHUR — Anglers are reporting a good start to the red snapper season, despite moderately rough conditions that stem from early morning winds, which tend to die down in the afternoon. Snapper are biting on just about everything, with the largest fish being caught on vertical jigs and live bait. But they are not shunning dead bait, either. Weed patches are holding good amounts of bait. The ling fishing is slow, but they may intermittently be found hanging around underwater structure.
Trout run #1 TEXAS CITY — Despite slightly murky water, anglers are coming in with full stringers of speckled trout, said Charlie Curry of Boyd’s One Stop. Croaker has been the winning bait for catching trout, and has also been coaxing some redfish action. Nice reds have also been brought in off the jetties with the use of squid. Curry said the flounder activity has been above average for the bay. “A lot of people have been nailing flounder with watermelon and chartreuse Chickenboy lures,” Curry said. “But we’re on a phenomenal trout run.” Curry said some anglers have caught tripletail and even bluefish off the rocks lately, which is unusual. To contact Boyd’s One Stop, call (409) 945-4001.
NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad on soft plastics. Redfish are good in the marsh with the swollen tides. SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad. Trout are good at the jetty on live bait and top-waters. Sheepshead are good on live shrimp tight to the rocks. BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the south shoreline on soft plastics. Black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair for
drifters working pods of shad and mullet on scented plastics and other plastics. Redfish are good on live bait around the reefs. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good for drifters working deep shell on limetreuse and plum plastics. Waders have taken good trout on top-waters on the south shoreline. Trout are good on the south shoreline on top-waters and plastics. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live bait over reefs. Waders have taken good trout on top-waters. Sheepshead, redfish and black
drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Offshore is good for ling and kingfish. FREEPORT: Trout are good at San Luis Pass on shrimp and plastics. The surf has held trout on live bait and artificial. Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs in Christmas Bay. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are good for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout
Mixed bag Mix M
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — The fishing has been pretty consistent across the board, said b an a employee of Jetty’s Bait Stand. Sand trout and black drum have been the predominant fish being caught by anglers — mainly d with the use of squid and shrimp. On days where wit the water is calm and clear, lipless crankbaits have been the lure most successful in catching kings. On rougher days, the fish have been tougher to come by. Anglers fishing at the end of the jetties have been catching mangrove snapper, sheepshead and sharks. Speckled trout are still hanging around as well, with anglers bringing in limits of the trout daily. To contact Jetty’s Bait Stand, call (956) 772-1038.
Steady, not splendid PORT LAVACA — As the temperature cools down at night, the fishing action heats up, said Melissa Carroll at Indianola nd dianola d ianola Fishing Marina. “It’s been okay, it’s just hot in the morning,” she said. “They’re catching a lot of fish at night.” Shrimp and squid are the prime baits bringing success, with trout being the most common catch. Reds are being brought in, with scattered gafftop, sheepshead, blacktip shark and a few jackfish. Mock shad is popular for anglers preferring to use artificial baits. To contact Indianola Fishing Marina, call (361) 552-5350. — John Keith
are good on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and top-waters. Redfish are good on top-waters and live shrimp in Oyster Lake. PORT O'CONNOR: Trout and redfish are good on top-waters and live bait over sand, grass and shell in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair to good in the guts and channels on free–lined shrimp. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. Redfish are good on
mullet on the Estes Flats. PORT ARANSAS: Trout, redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers. Trout are good in the surf on top-waters and croakers. Offshore is good for kingfish. CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on scented plastics and live shrimp. Redfish are good in the potholes on shrimp. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on top-waters around rocks and grass. Trout are good at night in the Land Cut on live shrimp. Redfish are fair to
good in Nine Mile Hole on gold spoons and top-waters. PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are good on top-waters around sand and grass. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes and while anchored with natural baits at East Cut. Offshore is good for red snapper and kingfish in state waters. PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the flats on live shrimp and in Airport Cove. Trout are good on the deeper edges and flats in Laguna Vista on top-waters and live shrimp. — TPWD
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Trout bite Continued From Page 1
FAMILY AFFAIR: Valerie Jones shows a nice trout she caught on a recent family trip to Baffin Bay. Photo by Craig Jones.
“The fishing was better in the morning and it would fade around noon. We were still picking up a few here and there, though.” Jones said his 11-yearold son, Dale, also caught a lot of keeper fish, although they released the bigger trout. Croaker was the bait of choice for the family trip. “He did real well,” Jones said. “His biggest was also 29 inches and he broke off a really big red. He caught several nice reds.” Jones said Baffin Bay was salty and suffering from a brown tide outbreak, which made fishing tougher than
normal. Capt. Raymond “Slick” Appel said he is having good success all across Aransas Bay, especially around the flats of St. Joe Island. “The trout and redfish have been phenomenal,” he said. “I’m using both artificials and live bait, and we have been catching a lot of nice fish.” Appel said the mornings have been best on an incoming tide, but afternoons have also produced when a strong outgoing tide is moving bait. “We’ve been hitting the drop-offs in the morning, and during the heat of the
day we have been targeting potholes,” he said. Appel said he has seen no instances of brown tide in the areas he is fishing. “Nope,” he said, “our water has been crystal clear and the salinity levels are very good. We’ve gotten a few rainstorms down here, but the water is really good right now.” Capt. Kevin Sparks said his clients have been doing well early in the morning wading with top-waters before switching to croaker later in the day. “The bite has been on and off,” he said, “but they are really starting to bite at the mouth of Baffin, near the Tide Gauge Bar. We are catching some mid-20s and and a few bigger ones, along with a lot of small stuff. “The bite is a lot better early before the winds kick up, and then we are getting that late afternoon bite around 5 p.m.” According to anglers who fished in a tournament out of Bluff’s Landing Marina the first weekend in June, the trout bite was hard to come by, although several big trout were taken. Anglers wading near sandbars using croakers and scented plastics put some fish in the boat, but high waves and windy conditions made wade fishing tough. Capt. Raymond “Slick” Appel, (361) 386-0569 Capt. Kevin Sparks, (361) 815-8145
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Brown tide Continued From Page 8
ing,’’ Farah said. “We have just learned to deal with it.” In his case, dealing with the turbid water of brown tide is a combination of utilizing his knowledge of fish-holding sand pockets and shell-studded bottoms; plus some tricks with live bait or lures that he uses to entice a bite. “There is a good supply of croakers this year, which are always good bait. I like to hook them up two at a time in order to offer the trout and reds some bigger bait with more action and scent,’’ Farah said. Farah free lines the double croakers topped with a bead and sliding rattle to add even more vibration and sound, casting to spots where the big fish are looking for a meal. “When you are using two baits, you have to give the fish SOLID TROUT BAIT: Two lively croakers offer a bigger, more active and a little slack line to swallow higher-scented live bait presentation for speckled trout and redfish when the croakers and then you just brown tide makes angling more difficult in Baffin Bay and the upper Laguna crank the reel like crazy to set Madre. Photo by Ralph Winningham. the hook,’’ he said. If he is working with artificial baits, one of his go-to lures is a “Wiggly Jiggly” tandem jig head setup featuring plastic tails that have a faint scent of licorice. The rig is the creation of Logic Lures out of South Padre Island and is designed to provide “90 percent more action” than standard jig heads. “They are designed to dart, dive and flash through the water like a pair of bait fish,” Farah said. “That extra action and flash is really what you need when the water is cloudy like this. Right now the fishing is still good — if you know where to go — and we are catching some nice trout up to 31 inches long, but it is tougher fishing with the low visibility. “What we need are a couple of hurricanes to clear everything out.” Capt. Joey Farah, (361) 442-8145
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NATIONAL Tarpon pulls off man’s hand Jack Wiseman is an amateur fisherman who was invited to participate along with professionals in the Tarpon Tournament Series at Boca Raton Grande Pass. Wiseman, a former armed services member, bears a prosthetic limb. He hooked a tarpon and the rod went down. “The captain tried, but I have a special prosthetic and all of a sudden the hand snapped off with the prosthetic device still hooked to the rod, and the rod and the reel and the hand went down into the water,” Wiseman said. Another angler soon hooked the same fish and reeled the large tarpon in, with the hand and rod still attached. Weisman said the other boat brought the hand back to him. —Staff report
Louisiana announces 2012 alligator lottery hunts The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in order to increase alligator harvest opportunities, will conduct alligator lottery hunts on four Coastal and Nongame Resources Division wildlife management areas, 15 Wildlife Division WMAs and 24 public lakes for the 2012 alligator harvest season. Interested participants may print out an application from LDWF's Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/ hunting/lottery-hunts or request an application by phone for CNR Division WMAs at (337) 373-0032 or Wildlife Division WMAs and public lakes at (225) 765-2346. Applications and nonrefundable
application fees ($5) must be submitted to the address indicated on corresponding applications and be postmarked by July 6, 2012. The lottery alligator harvests will be conducted between Aug. 29 and Oct. 4. — LDWF
Pa. record lake trout A lake trout landed by Todd Young, of Nazareth, Pa., was certified as the new state record by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Young caught the 29-pound, 4-ounce fish on May 6 while fishing on Lake Erie aboard the charter boat Eyecon II. The prior record was 27-pounds, 13-ounces and was caught in 1996 by Tom Illar Jr. of Apollo, Pa., while fishing in Lake Erie. The trip aboard the Eyecon II was a graduation present from Young’s dad and fishing buddies. He recently graduated from Clarion University. The fish took a Northern King spoon, trolled approximately three miles offshore from Harbor Creek. — Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
300 dead white bass found on Arkansas lake A microorganism known as columnaris bacteria is the likely cause of a fish kill on Harris Brake Lake in Perry County. Biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission tested the fish on Thursday and found the bacteria. On Tuesday, a property owner on the 1,300-acre lake first reported about 10 white bass floating near his dock. After biologists from the AGFC investigated the report, several more fish were found floating along the shoreline throughout
the lake. In all, about 300 dead white bass were found on the lake. No other dead fish species were observed during the inspection. AGFC biologist Matt Horton said columnaris is a common bacteria that has shown to be harmful to many fish species, but is not transferable to humans. “It is usually a secondary infection, so we suspect that the white bass were stressed from spawning and contracted the bacteria due to weak immune systems,” Horton said. “Warmer than normal water temperatures during the spawn most likely added additional stress to the fish.” — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Grizzly bear and cub illegally shot in Idaho U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement agents and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game are investigating the shooting of a federally protected grizzly bear and her nursing cub in northern Idaho. A reward of $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. The large female bear was lactating, an indication she was nursing a cub or cubs produced during her recent winter hibernation. A subsequent search of the surrounding area by an Idaho Fish and Game biologist turned up a dead cub that had also been shot. Both bears appeared to have been dead a few days when found. Killing a threatened species, like a grizzly, protected by the ESA carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. — Idaho Fish and Game
Sushi with a kick Earlier this week, scientists discovered elevated levels of radiation in bluefin tuna caught off the coast of California. Daniel J. Madigan, a marine ecologist at Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, was researching the migratory patterns of bluefin tuna as part of a broader study of Pacific fish migration when he made the discovery. Madigan was testing samples of muscle tissue from 15 tuna caught by a San Diego fisherman in August 2011. He found radioactivity in one sample and decided to send all 15 samples to Nicholas Fisher, marine scientist and specialist in radiation at Stony Brook University in Long Island. The fish showed higher-than-average levels of the radioactive isotopes cesium-137 and cesium-134. Although radiation levels in the tuna were about 3 percent above the average of other tuna caught in California, they are still well below levels at which the fish would be considered unsafe for human consumption. Scientists say the higher radiation level was undoubtedly a result of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. — Stanford University
Ducks Unlimited backs Sodsaver Ducks Unlimited supports newly introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting native grasslands at high risk of being converted to cropland. Sodsaver provision in the 2012 Farm Bill would help slow down the rapid destruction of grassland in landscapes important to DU’s conservation work, such as the Prairie Pothole Region of North and South Dakota. Sodsaver would reduce crop insur-
ance for the first four years for crops grown on native sod and certain grasslands converted to cropland. The Congressional Budget Office says this could save taxpayers nearly $200 million over 10 years. “It’s just common sense to reduce crop insurance assistance for less productive land that will save taxpayers money and help preserve critical habitat for pheasants, ducks and other game species, which helps support South Dakota’s vibrant hunting industry,” Rep. Kristi Noem of South Dakota said. — DU
Minn. man way over limit State Conservation Officer Rick Reller netted Chien Van Tran of Otsego with 413 sunfish and 30 crappie over the legal limit. Reller watched as Tran placed a bag of fish in a locked compartment of his boat before leaving Pelican Lake in Wright County. “I asked how fishing was and if he had any fish onboard the boat,” said Reller. “He stated the fishing was ‘okay’ and he showed me a cooler with approximately a dozen panfish in it.” Actually, on the boat were 134 sunfish and 19 crappie. The state daily/possession limit is 20 sunfish and 10 crappie. A check of a freezer at Tran’s home found 11 bags of fish containing 299 sunfish and 21 crappie bringing the total number to 413 sunfish and 30 crappie over the legal limit. All of the fish were seized, along with Van Tran’s boat, motor, trailer and fishing license. Van Tran faces a maximum $3,000 fine, one year in county jail and the loss of fishing privileges for three years. — MDNR
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TREED: This mountain lion in West Texas looks on as researchers prepare to dart the cat for tracking. Photo by Dr. Louis Harveson.
Mountain lions in Texas: ■ Weight: 80 to 150 pounds; males average 125 pounds ■ Density estimates: Fewer than 1 lion per 100 square miles. ■ Other animals in similar West Texas ranges: 1,300 white-tailed deer, 828 javelinas and 1,048 feral hogs
Mountain lions Continued From Page 4
Over the past two years, 4,000 locations of 7 mountain lions have been documented, along with 70 known kill sites. “Mule deer and whitetails accounted for 49 percent of the kills,” Harveson said. Other prey included feral hogs (17 percent), elk (10 percent) and collared peccaries (9
percent), along with other species including coyote, skunk and porcupine. Lions in other areas focus on other prey. In South Texas, rabbits and rodents represent 33 percent of their diet, while deer represent 26 percent. “There are lions making a living on aoudad,” Harveson said. “No one seems to mind that. But when one takes down a 180class mule deer or a bighorn sheep, people get concerned.”
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Harveson said the wide range of the solitary animals minimizes their impact on the deer numbers at individual ranches, even though they kill a deer every six to 12 days. “They travel on many ranches,” he said. “Up to 40 or 50 in South Texas, although that may only be five or six large-acre ranches in West Texas.” And the amount of small animals taken by the cougars is underestimated. “It’s a third of their diet — they eat everything,” he said. “They kill a lot of small animals they don’t get credit for — they can’t pass up a skunk or a porcupine.” Certain areas and activities can raise the lion’s impact, though. “During drought it can be worse,” Harveson said. “Some studies have shown they can impact the bighorn sheep population. And at ranches that feed, the lions know where the feeders are.” Jonah Evans, a wildlife diversity biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said while lions probably don’t significantly impact the overall numbers of deer in West Texas, the impact on individual animals is a concern to some landowners. “A lot of the ranches are focused on hunting now — this used to be sheep and goat country,” he said. “So a deer lost to a lion can be money lost. But things like weather and habitat have a much greater effect on the deer numbers.” While the West Texas population appears stable, there is increased concern for the lions in South Texas. “The population in West Texas is pretty stable — they ben-
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efit from dispersion into New Mexico, Mexico and the Rocky Mountains,” Tewes said. “But the South Texas prime habitat is not as extensive. The prime habitat is being affected by the Eagle Ford Oil Shale field.” Drilling permits in South Texas have exceeded predictions each year, and there are 3,649 permitted locations representing pending oil or gas wells as of March 15. “The prime habitat for the mountain lions in South Texas is best described as a horizontal figure 8 with Freer on the southeast side, Eagle Pass on the west side and Cotulla in the middle of the 8,” Tewes said. The western portion of the Eagle Ford Shale field overlaps much of the historical area of cougars in South Texas, with roads, pipelines and increased truck traffic. And the development is expected to continue for 15 to 20 more years. “The prime habitat already was restricted,” Tewes said. “Now it’s restricted more. The Eagle Ford is great for the economy; we see the benefits over to Corpus. For the lions, though, it’s not such good news.” One thing about mountain lions appears clear. While people don’t want to come faceto-face with them, they don’t want to see the lions disappear. A master’s thesis prepared several years ago by Iliana Pena at Texas A&M UniversityKingsville assessed the public’s knowledge and beliefs about mountain lions. Surveys as part of the study found that 84 percent of the public believed that lions were an essential part of nature, and 74 percent believed efforts should be made to ensure their survival.
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HEROES SHARE AN ADVENTURE ■ Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? E-mail them with contact and caption information to news@ lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
BOB BUTLER, from Keller, caught this 16-pound striper recently with Michael Beeson of Four Seasons Guide Service. They released the fish after the picture.
9-year-old ALLEN DRY, from Victoria, took this great tom with a 10-inch beard and 1-inch spurs on the last evening hunt of the youth season. The big bird weighed 22 pounds.
This 179 3/8-inch buck was taken by ERIC HEATH of Burleson. Eric took the buck on Nov. 19 near Childress. The buck was a free-range, low-fence deer with 14 scorable points and incredible mass. Eric took the buck at 58 yards with his .30-06.
ALAN SKROBARCEK, manager of the Port Bay Club in Rockport, took a little time off to fish the waters of the southern Yucatan Peninsula. He picked off this nice barracuda on the flats.
This free-range aoudad was taken by 15-year-old CASE GARRISON during his spring break in March. The big ram had 30-inch horns, and was harvested with a .22-250 at 275 yards on a family ranch outside of Fort Davis.
KANNAN REYNOLDS, 14, of Marshall, harvested this eightpoint buck with a 16 1/2-inch spread in Throckmorton County on a family hunt during the Thanksgiving holiday. The deer scored 124 3/8.
OUTDOOR BUSINESS Executive Editor Craig Nyhus Managing Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Intern John Keith Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau
National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Advertising Sales Jaimey Honea Founder & CEO David J. Sams
Contributors Kyle Carter David Draper Shannon Drawe Wilbur Lundeen Aaron Reed Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham
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, ISSN 2162-8300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2012 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.
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PRODUCTS PRODU RED EYE SHAD: This lipless crankbait by Strike King Lures is now available in new hues, including this red-hot Chili Craw model. Available in 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce and 3/4-ounce sizes, the hard bait, which was designed by the company’s national pro-staff, offers realistic paint combinations, premium hooks 3D eyes, and free-floating rattles. And, yes, the eyes are red. The lures sell for about $5 to $6, depending on size.
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T TREEBLIND: Clever. This may be hunting e the most realistic hu u unting blind we’ve seen. Outside, it looks like a tree, right down to its brownish ownish bark-textured d surface. Inside, it offers a 6-foot, 10-inc 10-inch h tall space, 360-degree ee views, carpeted floors, o and silent magnetic tic sliding windows. Made M from high density foam polyureoam with a hard poly y yurethane shell, the fully keeps ully enclosed blind ke e eeps harsh weather and nasty critters ou outt — and blocks in scents nts and sounds. For use year-round, this durable urable hunting blind can c be left outdoors. $3,450. ors. Its MSRP is $3,45 5 50.
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FAWNZY PREDATOR DECOY: Montana Decoy utilized HD photography to create its fawn decoy. This tempting baby deer is made to fool and lure in those wily summer predators. With its simple twistand-stake set up, this 21-ounce decoy is easyto-carry and fits easily in a vest or hunting pack. The decoy expands to 24 by 22 inches when set up. It sells for about $45.
HDR HEARING PROTECTOR: Browning’s newest earmuff hearing protector has a decibel-reduction rating of NRR 37 db. Designed to protect against the harmful sound levels from shooting firearms, the HDR Hearing Protector has a padded and adjustable headband along with soft foam earcups for all-day comfort on the shooting range. The ear protectors sell for about $40.
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KICK A MULLET: The new Kick A Mullet from Egret Baits is a hard bait that suspends, rattles and has a natural swimming action. The Kick A does exactly that. It has a unique tail kick that mimics the natural action of fish. The (ROF) rate of fall is about 1 foot per 3-4 seconds. Suspending baits are sensitive to the variables. You can slow or speed up the ROF by changing hooks and split rings. The Kick A Mullet is 5 inches long and weighs 1/2 ounce without hooks. Brian Holden, manager of Redfish Lodge, tested this lure for LSON and liked running it across the top like a top-water. “The action is awsome,” he said. The Kick A Mullet can be ordered online for $12.95.
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CLASSIFIEDS POND PROBLEMS? WE CAN HELP. Aeration, fountains, windmills, docks, weed/ algae control, fish stocking, pond clearing, leak sealing, muck removal. www.texaslakesandponds.com (830) 609-4466 TRADITIONAL BOW HUNTING No sights or releases. Whitetails and hogs. $50 primitive, $75 tent or $100 cabin. (713) 829-4141 EXCELLENT INVESTMENT 100 to 1800 +/- acres with 40 +/- acre lake, 20 stock ponds and 2 smaller lakes, 2 seasonal creeks, a ranch house, lakeside cantina, and up to 100' elevation changes. This ranch has the potential to be the next closed gate community for Stephenville. Pick your acreage. Prices start at $2,900/acre. Call Dave. (254) 595-0066 DECOYS WANTED WOODEN Duck and Goose. Top prices paid. Ask for David. (214) 361-2276 SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN Smith & Wesson Elite Gold 20-gauge, 26” BBL, English stock. In box, never fired. (214) 361-2276 x 201 DEER LEASE WANTED Lone Star Outdoor News is looking for a hunting and fishing lease with all hunt and fish rights. Central or Northwest Texas. Camphouse is needed. (214) 361-2276
1223-ACRE RANCH Hill Country Ranch between Burnet and Lampasas near Lake Buchanan and Colorado River. Paved County Road frontage, seasonal creek and spectacular views of both Lampasas and Burnet. Great hunting with a site to build a lake. 100-yearold house on property with a 50-year-old ranch house for hunters. Additional acreage available. Call Dave. (254) 595-0066
SOUTH PADRE FISHING Reds, Trout, Flounder, Snook. Everything supplied but food and licenses. Multiple trip discounts. Call Capt. Thomas for details or CDCT12005@aol.com. (956) 551-1965
BOW ONLY MULE DEER 3500 Acre. 5 day hunt. Meals, lodging included. South of Clovis NM. $2500. Sept. 15, 2012 or Jan. 5, 2013. For info and booking call: (214) 564-5099
TROPHY WHITETAIL DEER HUNTS And/or cull hunts on high fenced ranch west of Fort Worth. Day hunts or lodging available. Contact David (817) 734-9229 or email hunt@pedros12point.com www.pedros12point.com
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3 DAY PACKAGE HUNTS Webb County - 6,000 Acres. 1 Buck, 1 Doe, 2 Hogs. Call Ross. (361) 815-7827
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Brush to Bay brings big prizes By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS A fishing tournament might not seem like an expected activity of the Texas Deer Association. But with 104 four-person teams descending on the Coastal Bend of Texas, TDA members showed they like to fish as much as hunt. The highlight, though, may not have been the trout and redfish brought to the weigh-in. It was the boat people were after. “We give away a boat to one of the teams each year,” said Darrell Cox, TDA’s events coordinator. And not just any boat. The prize this year was a fully loaded 20-foot Majek Extreme. Teams were eliminated one-by-one until just three remained. Then, two additional spots were auctioned to reach
the final five. Marty Berry’s team, Baffin Bay Badasses, made the initial top three. Then, to increase his odds of winning, Berry, of Corpus Christi, bought both auction spots to increase his odds. The move paid off with the $43,000 prize. And they didn’t have to catch fish to win it. On the fishing side, prizes were awarded in both guided and unguided divisions, and the unguided division led the way. In the trout competition, Team Waterloo Rods with members Jimmy and Colton Burns, Ryan Korsekwa and Beeny Bordozsky won with their three trout totaling 13.84 pounds. In the guided division, the top trout stringer weighed 12.02 pounds, landed by the team of Andrew Rodriguez, Gary
Rapstine, David Skloss and Gene Walls. The top redfish stringer also went to an unguided team, where Marcos Alaniz, Omar Sahadi, Hector Galvan and Danny Alvarez brought in 23.2 pounds, followed by Team ForEverlast with 22.74 pounds. The top guided redfish stringer was 18.08 pounds, landed by Team M3 Ranch.
The prize for the top oversized trout went to David Aron with his 7.2-pound fish. Team ForEverlast took the top oversized redfish with a weight of 16.11 pounds; Brown Trophy Whitetails had the top black drum at 9.09 pounds; and Noah Gonzales caught the best flounder at 4.16 pounds. Only three fish could be weighed in in the trout and redfish divisions.
DEER AND FISH DO MIX: Team ForEverlast, left, won second place in the unguided redfish division and also took the top redfish at the TDA’s Brush to Bay Tournament out of Corpus Christi. Team members from left are Vic Jasek, Leslie Wells, Demetric Wells and Billy Gerke. Anglers battled the LSONews.com breezes at Baffin Bay and points farther south. Photos by LSON. Check out LSONews.com to watch a fishing video from this event.
GPS Continued From Page 1
seeing the act in real-life, he said. “You can ask, ‘Is this you in the picture?’ and you can’t really deny that it’s you,” he said. Dishonest individuals who are not necessarily out to break a law can also take advantage of the information with access to the right program. A fishing guide who has special spots on a lake can unknowingly be exploited by a customer who may want to come back later, and this could be something for a guide to worry about, said Lake Tawakoni guide Greg Clark of Three Seas Guide Service. “It could be a problem. It could be an issue,” he said, “But fish change so much it might not really matter.” Some guides are more secretive of their spots and don’t allow handheld GPS markers on the trip, but that may not be good enough, according to Clark. “There’s not always a lot of landmarks on the lake, and a guide may say ‘No GPS,’ but the guy just turns around and snaps a picture of the bottom of the boat or the air, and he’s got it,” Clark said. Even recreational fishermen may give away a good spot. “On forums, a lot of the guys will
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each other,” he said. “They’re wandering the ranch.” The increased rainfall has also been beneficial to the axis health. “The grass and the browse, the forbs, have really shot off early from the winter rain,” Scherer said. “The weather has been really good — it’s been excellent for them.” The exotic nature of axis deer is what expands hunting opportunities, said Donnie Frels, manager of the Kerr Wildlife Management Area. “Axis deer are certainly not native, so their breeding habits are not on a regular cycle like we think of with whitetail deer,” he said. “You can have axis deer in hard antler or velvet at the same time.” The bulk of Texas’ axis deer population is around the Edwards Plateau area, he said, but their adaptability also helps them thrive in other parts of the state. And since they are an exotic species, there are no regulated seasons to harvest them. “They’re very adaptable — axis deer have the ability to survive.” Frels said. “They’re considered more like livestock than a game animal, so they provide year-round hunting opportunities.” When a lucky hunter does manage to bag an axis deer, the enjoyment doesn’t stop there, Frels said. “The meat is at the very top in regards to exotic game.”
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Houston. “Snapper are definitely a very sought-after fish.” Elliott said his four-man crew had no problem catching their limit using live piggy perch, with the average snapper being about 10 pounds. “We hammered them,” he said. “We didn’t even have to go out very far.” Snapper is a consistent catch, which is nice when other game fish aren’t biting, he said. “It’s a problem if you’re trying to catch something else,” he said. “You get any kind of bait down toward the bottom and you’ll catch a snapper.” The quantity of the red snapper fishery is good, but the fish are small and young, said Art Morris, fishery outreach specialist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “There could be a lot of snapper, but they’re not very big — we need to add some age to them,” he said. “People are catching a lot of good 10-15 pound snapper, but we’re talking about a spe-
PINPOINT: Finding an exact tree contained in a photograph is possible with EXIF information. Photos by John Keith, LSON.
black out the background where they’re fishing, and that might not even matter,” he said. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, automatically wipe the data from the image for the privacy of users. However, many forums and photo-
upload sites, such as Photobucket, do not clear the information. Fortunately, outdoorsmen who want to share their pictures online can edit EXIF data to add copyright information, or remove location information, with the use of one of several free EXIF editor programs. EXIF data can be beneficial in multiple ways for the serious or professional photographer, said National Geographic Deputy Director of Photography Ken Geiger. “It has more benefits than drawbacks,” Geiger said. “Sometimes it’s for educational purposes. ‘Let’s look and see what settings he had his camera on for this shot.’” Most people have no reason to worry about the data, Geiger said. “EXIF data is part of pretty much every photo file,” he said. “If you ran around checking everyone’s shoe size, everyone is going to have one, but who cares?” To turn location information off on an iPhone, follow these steps: Settings>Location Services>Camera. Slide the button to OFF. To turn location information off on a Blackberry, follow these steps: Camera > Hit menu button > Options>Set “Geotagging” option to “Disabled.” To turn off GPS location on an Android, follow these steps. Camera > Settings > Tools > Uncheck GPS Tag.
cies that lives 50 years. We’re just not catching any older ones.” According to Morris, the limit of two snapper per person is implemented not only to increase quantity but age and, therefore, average size. “The problem with snapper originally is there were no big ones, and there is still not an old class of snapper,” Morris said. “We need to get the population out to where it is representative of all year classes, of a generation.” Because the recovery is focused as much on age as overall quantity, anglers may be confused as to why they are not allowed to keep more of the fish. “The problem lies in how do we recover the population and still allow a commercial and recreational season?” Morris said. “Everybody will have to sacrifice here, and the fishery councils are always going to err on the side of caution.” The longevity of red snapper means the impact of every released fish is enhanced, he said. “When you have a fish that can live 50 years, it may get released this season and still be reproducing in 2032.” Capt. Johnny Walker, (713) 823-3293
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Lone✯Star Outdoor News
June 8, 2012
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June 8, 2012
Lone✯Star Outdoor News
LSONews.com
DATEBOOK June 9 Texas Team Trail Tournament Lewisville Lake (210) 788-4143 texasteamtrail.com
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Central Texas Big Game Banquet Killeen/Waco (254) 744-9673 rmef.org
June 14
June 20-24
Dallas Safari Club YPG Happy Hour Common Table (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
Texas Billfish Championship Surfside Marina, Freeport txbillfishchampionship.com
Ducks Unlimited Austin Sportsman’s Night Out Hill’s Café, Austin (512) 370-3237 ducks.org Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly Meeting Sheraton Dallas North Hotel (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org
June 15-17 Challenged Outdoorsmen of America Overnight Youth Campout Lake Wright Patman (903) 748-2437 challengedoutdoorsmen.com
June 16 Bass Champs Tournament East Region #5 Sam Rayburn Reservoir (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com Dallas Safari Club Summer Fun Shoot Elm Fork Shooting Range (972) 980-9800
June 21 Dallas Safari Club Monthly meeting, featuring Stephen Miller Omni Hotel Dallas Park West (972) 980-9800
June 22-23 Marco Pena Memorial Fishing Tournament Benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation Marker 37 Marina, Corpus Christi (210) 542-0970 mpmfishingtournament.com
June 22 Ducks Unlimited 2012 Texas State Convention College Station (210) 414-4858 ducks.org Texas Deer Association Seguin Chapter Sportsmen’s Banquet Falls City Community Hall (210) 767-8300 texasdeerassociation.com
June 23 Bass Champs Tournament North Region #5 Lake Ray Roberts (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com
June 28-July 1
July 27-28
Texas Deer Association TDA Convention — WildLife 2012 JW Marriott Hill Country Resort San Antonio (210) 767-8300 texasdeerassociation.com
Deer Breeders Corp Quality Whitetail Deer Auction Westin La Cantera, San Antonio (866) 972-5001 dbcdeer.com
July 7 Texas Deer Association Southeast Beaumont Chapter Banquet MCM Elegante Hotel and Conference Center Beaumont (210) 767-8300 texasdeerassociation.com
July 11-14 John Uhr Memorial Billfish Tournament Rockport (361) 205-0789 johnnybastante.com
July 12
July 28-29 Gulf Coast Trout Series Texas Redfish Showdown Harbor Walk Marina and Yacht Club, Hitchcock (281) 300-5806
August 3-5 Texas Trophy Hunters Association Hunters Extravaganza Reliant Center, Houston (800) 800-3207 ttha.com
August 4-5
Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly Meeting Sheraton Dallas North Hotel (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Bowhunter Education Class Grand Prairie (817) 564-6579 tpwd.state.tx.us
July 19
August 9-11
Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Bent Tree Country Club ((972) 980-9800 b biggame.org
JJuly 20-22 9 Annual Southeast Texas Great Outdoors 9th E Expo Ford Park Exhibit Hall, Beaumont (512) 358-1000, ext. 202 iemshows.com
July 26-29 Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament (956) 944-2354 portmansfieldchamber.org
Texas Deer Association TDA’s 14th Annual Convention and Fundraiser JW Marriott Hill Country Resort San Antonio (210) 767-8300 texasdeerassociation.com
August 16 Coastal Conservation Association Hill Country Chapter Annual Banquet New Braunfels Civic Center (800) 594-2056 ccatexas.org
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Lone✯Star Outdoor News
Catfish Continued From Page 8
Other anglers also found success in late May and early June. “We are catching good numbers of small blues,” said Lake Waco guide James Tucker. “That is typical this time of year. Along with the eating-sized blues, we are also catching a lot of eating-sized channels.” Tucker said he is catching some blues shallow very early in the day and then moving out to deeper water. “It's a funny pattern right now, but should stabilize in the near future,” he said. “They are late moving out of the spawn, and they also went into it way early this year. We go through this every year on Waco for about a month, but it has lasted almost three months now.” Tucker said the best bet right now is to start shallow, chum light in several areas, fish with your favorite channel bait and move often until you find the fish. Then keep them interested by tossing a cup or so of grain RARE ALBINO: This rare albino catfish as recently caught by a client of when the bite slows down. Lake Waco guide James Tucker. Tucker reported a good catfish bite in After the shallow bite stops, Central Texas. Photo by James Tucker. it is time to head deep. ing out solid catches of water,” he said. “I typically “I’m getting them on find fish 10-15 feet deeper deep-water humps and blues and channels. than other lakes.” “We caught 22 in four ledges,” he said. “Once the Nixon said shrimp and thermocline appears, fish hours on a recent trip,” cheese bait have been putNixon said. “That’s about right there on it. If it’s at 22 feet, you have to fish right average for this time of year.” ting fish in the boat. Internet reports from Nixon said he is catching at 22 feet. It can be tricky to keep the boat in the perfect his fish in deeper water, but Grapevine Lake said the big spot, but if you are on it, you that is not uncommon for blues and channels are stacked up at the dam, although presCanyon Lake. will catch a lot of fish.” “Really for late spring- sure is heavy. Anglers have Around San Antonio, guide Steve Nixon said time fishing on Canyon, been using cut shad for bait Canyon Lake has been turn- it is extremely deep clear to catch the eating-sized fish.
June 8, 2012
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June 8, 2012
Lone✯Star Outdoor News
Sun | Moon | Tides
Height -0.3L 0.1L 0.5L 0.9L 1.4H 1.6H 1.8H 1.9H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 1.9H
Height 1.9L 2.4H 2.3H 2.1H 2.1H 1.8L 2.0L -0.4L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L 2.2L 2.2L 2.1L 2.0L
Time 5:14 PM 3:44 PM 4:37 PM 5:18 PM 5:53 PM 10:26 AM 10:37 AM
Height 2.0H 1.5L 1.1L 0.7L 0.4L 2.0H 2.1H
12:15 PM 12:48 PM 1:18 PM 1:51 PM
2.2H 2.2H 2.1H 2.0H
Time
Height
7:12 PM 9:27 PM 11:42 PM
1.7H 1.6H 1.7H
6:24 PM 0.1L 6:52 PM -0.2L
9:17 PM 9:49 PM 10:23 PM 10:58 PM
-0.6L -0.6L -0.5L -0.3L
Time 8:58 AM 9:37 AM 10:10 AM 10:37 AM 4:54 AM 6:44 AM 8:13 AM 7:45 PM 8:12 PM 8:41 PM 9:11 PM 10:29 AM 10:44 AM 11:19 AM 12:09 PM
Time 2:55 PM 4:10 PM 5:03 PM 5:44 PM 10:58 AM 11:13 AM 11:24 AM
Height 1.5L 1.2L 0.9L 0.6L 1.7H 1.6H 1.6H
Time 6:01 PM 7:59 PM 10:14 PM
1:02 PM 1:35 PM 2:05 PM 2:38 PM
1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.6H
9:43 PM 10:15 PM 10:49 PM 11:24 PM
Height 1.6H 1.4H 1.3H
6:19 PM 0.3L 6:50 PM 0.1L 7:18 PM -0.1L
-0.5L -0.5L -0.4L -0.2L
July 3
June 27
Date Jun 08 Jun 09 Jun 10 Jun 11 Jun 12 Jun 13 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jun 16 Jun 17 Jun 18 Jun 19 Jun 20 Jun 21 Jun 22
Time 3:04 AM 3:45 AM 4:14 AM 4:16 AM 11:06 AM 10:17 AM 10:10 AM 10:00 AM 9:56 AM 10:12 AM 10:39 AM 11:10 AM 12:31 AM 1:12 AM 1:51 AM
Houston Height -0.1L 0.0L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L
Time 1:27 PM 1:17 PM 1:00 PM 11:44 AM 8:33 PM 8:59 PM 9:26 PM 9:56 PM 10:29 PM 11:06 PM 11:48 PM
Height 0.7H 0.6H 0.5H 0.5H 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L -0.3L
11:39 AM 12:03 PM 12:21 PM
0.7H 0.6H 0.6H
Height 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L 0.2H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L
Time 6:44 PM 7:58 PM 12:36 PM 11:57 AM 3:38 AM 9:18 PM 10:01 PM 10:44 PM 11:28 PM
Height 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L
2:26 PM 3:08 PM 3:46 PM 4:19 PM 4:43 PM
0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H
Time
Height
Time
Height
8:19 PM
0.2L
Date Jun 08 Jun 09 Jun 10 Jun 11 Jun 12 Jun 13 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jun 16 Jun 17 Jun 18 Jun 19 Jun 20 Jun 21 Jun 22
Time 4:05 AM 4:36 AM 4:52 AM 4:47 AM 1:34 AM 11:50 AM 12:06 PM 12:31 PM 1:04 PM 1:44 PM 12:13 AM 12:58 AM 1:41 AM 2:22 AM 2:58 AM
Time
Height
Time
Height
6:04 PM 7:37 PM 11:45 AM
0.2L 0.2L 0.3H
9:55 PM
0.2H
8:33 PM
0.1L
Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Height -0.2L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.8H 1.0H 1.1H 1.1H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H
Time 9:28 AM 10:07 AM 10:40 AM 11:07 AM 5:50 AM 7:40 AM 9:09 AM 8:41 PM 9:08 PM 9:37 PM 10:07 PM 11:25 AM 11:40 AM 12:15 PM 1:05 PM
Height 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 1.0H 0.7L 0.9L 0.9L -0.2L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L 1.1L 1.0L 1.0L 1.0L
Time 3:51 PM 5:06 PM 5:59 PM 6:40 PM 11:28 AM 11:43 AM 11:54 AM
Height 0.9L 0.7L 0.5L 0.4L 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H
Time 6:31 PM 8:29 PM 10:44 PM
Height 0.9H 0.8H 0.8H
1:32 PM 2:05 PM 2:35 PM 3:08 PM
1.1H 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H
10:39 PM -0.3L 11:11 PM -0.3L 11:45 PM -0.2L
Height -0.2L 0.1L 0.4L 0.7L 1.1H 1.3H 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H
Time 8:44 AM 9:15 AM 9:39 AM 9:57 AM 5:23 AM 7:19 AM 7:07 PM 7:41 PM 8:14 PM 8:46 PM 9:18 PM 9:49 PM 10:20 PM 10:53 PM 11:28 PM
Height 1.7H 1.6H 1.4H 1.3H 1.0L 1.1L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.1L
Time
Height
Time
Height
4:25 PM 4:53 PM 5:26 PM 10:13 AM 10:24 AM
0.9L 0.7L 0.5L 1.2H 1.2H
7:44 PM 9:49 PM
1.0H 1.0H
5:59 PM 6:33 PM
0.3L 0.1L
7:15 PM 0.2L 7:46 PM 0.0L 8:14 PM -0.1L
Date Time Jun 08 12:04 AM Jun 09 12:53 AM Jun 10 1:44 AM Jun 11 2:41 AM Jun 12 3:55 AM Jun 13 1:45 AM Jun 14 3:00 AM Jun 15 3:53 AM Jun 16 4:37 AM Jun 17 5:18 AM Jun 18 5:55 AM Jun 19 6:29 AM Jun 20 6:59 AM Jun 21 7:25 AM Jun 22 7:48 AM
Height -0.6L -0.3L 0.1L 0.4L 0.7L 1.1H 1.4H 1.5H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H
Time 8:51 AM 9:15 AM 9:32 AM 9:42 AM 9:44 AM 5:52 AM 6:38 PM 7:15 PM 7:52 PM 8:27 PM 9:02 PM 9:36 PM 10:09 PM 10:43 PM 11:19 PM
Height 1.5H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.0L -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L -0.6L -0.6L -0.4L
Time 9:03 AM 9:20 AM 9:30 AM 9:35 AM 9:32 AM 5:05 AM 6:46 PM 7:22 PM 7:57 PM 8:30 PM 9:02 PM 9:34 PM 10:07 PM 10:40 PM 11:16 PM
Height 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.0L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L -0.5L -0.5L -0.3L
Time
Height
Time
Height
4:20 PM 4:51 PM 5:26 PM 9:29 AM
0.6L 0.3L 0.1L 1.1H
8:55 PM 11:43 PM
0.7H 0.9H
6:02 PM
0.0L
Date Time Jun 08 12:04 AM Jun 09 12:53 AM Jun 10 1:41 AM Jun 11 2:32 AM Jun 12 3:31 AM Jun 13 2:07 AM Jun 14 3:30 AM Jun 15 4:23 AM Jun 16 5:07 AM Jun 17 5:47 AM Jun 18 6:24 AM Jun 19 6:57 AM Jun 20 7:25 AM Jun 21 7:49 AM Jun 22 8:08 AM
Height -0.6L -0.2L 0.1L 0.5L 0.8L 1.0H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H
2012 Jun 08 Fri 09 Sat 10 Sun 11 Mon Q 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun > 18 Mon > 19 Tue N 20 Wed > 21 Thu > 22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue Q 27 Wed
A.M. Minor Major 9:51 3:39 10:46 4:34 11:35 5:24 ----- 6:09 12:40 6:51 1:20 7:31 1:59 8:10 2:38 8:49 3:19 9:31 4:02 10:14 4:48 11:00 5:36 11:48 6:27 12:14 7:19 1:07 8:12 2:00 9:04 2:53 9:57 3:45 10:48 4:36 11:39 5:27 12:05 6:16
P.M. Minor 10:17 11:10 11:58 12:20 1:02 1:41 2:21 3:01 3:42 4:26 5:12 6:01 6:51 7:43 8:35 9:28 10:20 11:11 ----12:29
Major 4:04 4:58 5:46 6:31 7:12 7:52 8:32 9:12 9:54 10:38 11:25 12:13 12:39 1:31 2:23 3:16 4:08 5:00 5:51 6:41
SUN Rises Sets 06:20 08:20 06:20 08:20 06:20 08:20 06:20 08:21 06:20 08:21 06:20 08:21 06:20 08:22 06:20 08:22 06:20 08:22 06:20 08:23 06:20 08:23 06:21 08:23 06:21 08:23 06:21 08:24 06:21 08:24 06:21 08:24 06:22 08:24 06:22 08:24 06:22 08:24 06:22 08:24
MOON Rises NoMoon 12:04a 12:39a 1:12a 1:44a 2:17a 2:50a 3:27a 4:06a 4:49a 5:36a 6:26a 7:19a 8:14a 9:11a 10:08a 11:06a 12:04p 1:04p 2:07p
Sets 10:47a 11:47a 12:44p 1:38p 2:32p 3:25p 4:18p 5:11p 6:04p 6:57p 7:47p 8:35p 9:19p 10:00p 10:38p 11:14p 11:50p NoMoon 12:25a 1:02a
Dallas 2012 Jun 08 Fri 09 Sat 10 Sun 11 Mon Q 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun > 18 Mon > 19 Tue N 20 Wed > 21 Thu > 22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue Q 27 Wed
A.M. Minor Major 9:57 3:44 10:51 4:40 11:41 5:30 12:02 6:15 12:46 6:57 1:25 7:36 2:04 8:15 2:43 8:55 3:24 9:36 4:07 10:20 4:53 11:06 5:42 11:54 6:32 12:20 7:24 1:12 8:17 2:05 9:10 2:58 10:02 3:51 10:54 4:42 11:44 5:32 12:10 6:22
P.M. Minor Major 10:22 4:10 11:15 5:03 ----- 5:52 12:26 6:36 1:07 7:18 1:47 7:58 2:26 8:37 3:06 9:18 3:48 10:00 4:32 10:44 5:18 11:30 6:06 12:19 6:57 12:45 7:49 1:36 8:41 2:29 9:33 3:22 10:25 4:14 11:17 5:05 ----- 5:56 12:34 6:47
SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 06:18 08:33 NoMoon 10:49a 06:18 08:33 12:13a 11:51a 06:18 08:33 12:46a 12:49p 06:18 08:34 1:18a 1:45p 06:18 08:34 1:48a 2:40p 06:18 08:35 2:19a 3:34p 06:18 08:35 2:52a 4:28p 06:18 08:35 3:27a 5:23p 06:18 08:36 4:05a 6:17p 06:18 08:36 4:48a 7:09p 06:18 08:36 5:34a 8:00p 06:18 08:36 6:24a 8:47p 06:18 08:37 7:18a 9:31p 06:19 08:37 8:14a 10:11p 06:19 08:37 9:12a 10:48p 06:19 08:37 10:10a 11:23p 06:19 08:37 11:10a 11:56p 06:20 08:37 12:10p NoMoon 06:20 08:38 1:12p 12:30a 06:20 08:38 2:16p 1:05a
P.M. Minor Major 10:29 4:17 11:22 5:10 ----- 5:59 12:33 6:43 1:14 7:25 1:54 8:05 2:33 8:44 3:13 9:25 3:55 10:07 4:39 10:51 5:25 11:37 6:13 12:26 7:04 12:52 7:56 1:43 8:48 2:36 9:40 3:29 10:32 4:21 11:24 5:12 ----- 6:03 12:41 6:54
SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 06:33 08:31 NoMoon 11:01a 06:33 08:32 12:17a 12:00p 06:33 08:32 12:52a 12:57p 06:33 08:32 1:25a 1:51p 06:33 08:33 1:57a 2:44p 06:33 08:33 2:30a 3:37p 06:33 08:34 3:04a 4:30p 06:33 08:34 3:40a 5:24p 06:33 08:34 4:19a 6:17p 06:34 08:34 5:02a 7:09p 06:34 08:35 5:49a 7:59p 06:34 08:35 6:39a 8:47p 06:34 08:35 7:33a 9:31p 06:34 08:35 8:28a 10:13p 06:34 08:36 9:24a 10:51p 06:35 08:36 10:21a 11:27p 06:35 08:36 11:19a NoMoon 06:35 08:36 12:17p 12:02a 06:35 08:36 1:17p 12:38a 06:36 08:36 2:20p 1:15a
P.M. Minor 10:43 11:35 12:01 12:46 1:28 2:07 2:47 3:27 4:08 4:52 5:38 6:27 7:17 8:09 9:01 9:54 10:46 11:37 12:05 12:55
SUN Rises 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:33 06:33 06:33 06:33 06:33 06:34 06:34 06:34 06:35
San Antonio
South Padre Island
Freeport Harbor Date Time Jun 08 12:27 AM Jun 09 1:21 AM Jun 10 2:21 AM Jun 11 3:36 AM Jun 12 12:00 AM Jun 13 1:51 AM Jun 14 2:59 AM Jun 15 3:47 AM Jun 16 4:25 AM Jun 17 5:00 AM Jun 18 5:33 AM Jun 19 6:05 AM Jun 20 6:35 AM Jun 21 7:03 AM Jun 22 7:30 AM
First
June 19
Rockport Height 2.1H 1.9H 1.8H 1.7H 1.2L 1.4L 1.6L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L 1.8L 1.7L 1.7L 1.6L
San Luis Pass Date Time Jun 08 1:19 AM Jun 09 2:12 AM Jun 10 3:08 AM Jun 11 4:14 AM Jun 12 12:59 AM Jun 13 2:52 AM Jun 14 4:00 AM Jun 15 4:43 AM Jun 16 5:14 AM Jun 17 5:41 AM Jun 18 6:08 AM Jun 19 6:36 AM Jun 20 7:08 AM Jun 21 7:41 AM Jun 22 8:14 AM
Last
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.
Full
Port O’Connor Time 2:29 PM 8:50 AM 9:23 AM 9:50 AM 10:11 AM 6:18 AM 7:47 AM 7:19 PM 7:46 PM 8:15 PM 8:45 PM 10:03 AM 10:18 AM 10:53 AM 11:43 AM
Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time Jun 08 12:23 AM Jun 09 1:16 AM Jun 10 2:12 AM Jun 11 3:18 AM Jun 12 12:29 AM Jun 13 2:22 AM Jun 14 3:30 AM Jun 15 4:13 AM Jun 16 4:44 AM Jun 17 5:11 AM Jun 18 5:38 AM Jun 19 6:06 AM Jun 20 6:38 AM Jun 21 7:11 AM Jun 22 7:44 AM
New
June 11
Sabine Pass, jetty Height 2.6H 0.1L 0.6L 1.1L 1.5L 2.0H 2.2H 2.4H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 2.4H
Solunar | Sun times | Moon times
Moon Phases
Texas Coast Tides Date Time Jun 08 8:11 AM Jun 09 12:50 AM Jun 10 1:46 AM Jun 11 2:52 AM Jun 12 4:28 AM Jun 13 1:35 AM Jun 14 2:43 AM Jun 15 3:26 AM Jun 16 3:57 AM Jun 17 4:24 AM Jun 18 4:51 AM Jun 19 5:19 AM Jun 20 5:51 AM Jun 21 6:24 AM Jun 22 6:57 AM
LSONews.com
Time
Height
Time
Height
4:15 PM 4:52 PM 5:30 PM 9:17 AM
0.6L 0.4L 0.1L 1.1H
8:43 PM 11:42 PM
0.8H 0.8H
6:09 PM -0.1L
2012 A.M. Jun Minor Major 08 Fri 10:04 3:51 09 Sat 10:58 4:47 10 Sun 11:48 5:37 11 Mon Q 12:09 6:22 12 Tue 12:53 7:04 13 Wed 1:32 7:43 14 Thu 2:11 8:22 15 Fri 2:50 9:02 16 Sat 3:31 9:43 17 Sun > 4:14 10:27 18 Mon > 5:00 11:13 19 Tue N 5:49 ----20 Wed > 6:39 12:27 21 Thu > 7:31 1:19 22 Fri 8:24 2:12 23 Sat 9:17 3:05 24 Sun 10:09 3:58 25 Mon 11:01 4:49 26 Tue Q 11:51 5:39 27 Wed 12:17 6:29
Amarillo 2012 A.M. Jun Minor 08 Fri 10:17 09 Sat 11:12 10 Sun ----11 Mon Q 12:22 12 Tue 1:06 13 Wed 1:46 14 Thu 2:25 15 Fri 3:04 16 Sat 3:45 17 Sun > 4:28 18 Mon > 5:14 19 Tue N 6:02 20 Wed > 6:53 21 Thu > 7:45 22 Fri 8:37 23 Sat 9:30 24 Sun 10:23 25 Mon 11:14 26 Tue Q ----27 Wed 12:31
OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS 1. Shoulder hides on deer 4. The main fin on a fish 9. The white weasel 10. A pheasant food source 11. Calling to lure elk 13. To dress a game 15. Deer food source 16. Solution used to wash out gundog's eyes 19. Deer hide in this habitat 22. To frighten game out of the area 25. The ___ cat 26. A type bullet, ____ jacket 27. To drop an antler 29. Very rare deer or other animal 30. A shooting sport 32. Female turkey, pheasant 33. Procedure to push game toward hunters 35. Fish roe 37. An eel 39. The trapper’s interest
40. To construct a fly lure 42. A commercial fish, ____ snapper 43. To skin a game afield 44. Month deer usually have young 45. The line grommet on a rod 46. Camo cover for a scope DOWN 1. A wild turkey sound 2. Act of carrying canoe over land 3. Code for a type bullet 4. A fish species 5. To prepare for another shot 6. A brand of bow 7. Angler’s term for a very small bass 8. Describes a turkey’s vision 12. A species of duck 14. A quick-to-erect type tent 17. A breed of setter 18. Appendages on a turkey’s feet
20. Treating the hides 21. A grouping of geese in flight 23. A mark made by bulls 24. Consider this when reeling in a catch 28. A good time to hunt whitetails 30. The trapper’s gear 31. Types of camp fireplaces
Solution on Page 30 34. Skin-like covering on antlers 35. Cloth used to sharpen fishhooks 36. It is wise to hire one in strange areas 37. A species of deer 38. Sound made by wild turkeys 40. The male turkey 41. A very good firewood
Major 4:05 5:00 5:50 6:35 7:17 7:57 8:36 9:15 9:56 10:40 11:26 ----12:40 1:32 2:26 3:19 4:11 5:02 5:52 6:42
Major 4:30 5:24 6:12 6:57 7:38 8:18 8:58 9:38 10:20 11:04 11:51 12:39 1:05 1:57 2:49 3:42 4:34 5:26 6:17 7:07
Sets 08:59 08:59 09:00 09:00 09:01 09:01 09:01 09:02 09:02 09:02 09:03 09:03 09:03 09:03 09:03 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04
MOON Rises NoMoon 12:36a 1:08a 1:39a 2:08a 2:38a 3:10a 3:44a 4:22a 5:03a 5:50a 6:40a 7:34a 8:31a 9:29a 10:29a 11:30a 12:31p 1:34p 2:39p
Sets 11:08a 12:10p 1:09p 2:07p 3:02p 3:58p 4:53p 5:49p 6:43p 7:36p 8:27p 9:14p 9:57p 10:36p 11:12p 11:45p NoMoon 12:18a 12:50a 1:24a
FOR THE TABLE Thai-Style tuna steaks 2 tbps. soy sauce 2 tsps. brown sugar 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. sesame oil or vegetable oil 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper 1 clove garlic, minced 4 (4 to 5 oz.) tuna steaks 4 green onions, diagonally sliced 3 cups cooked rice Red pepper slices for garnish Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, cumin, sesame oil and red
pepper in a 7x11x2 microwave safe baking dish. Add fish and turn to coat both sides. Let marinate 5 to 15 minutes. Turn steaks over and cover with lid or wax paper. Microwave at 100 percent power 1 1/2 minutes, rotating dish 1/4 turn. Sprinkle with onions and continue to cook 1 1/2 minutes longer or until fish begins to flake easily when tested with a fork. Let stand, covered, for 2 minutes. Serve fish and sauce over rice. — National Marine Fisheries Institute
Fried venison with jalapeño honey mustard sauce 3 — 3 oz. venison steaks 2 cups flour 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup bread crumbs 2 — 12 oz. flour tortillas 1/2 cup roasted corn kernels 1/2 cup black beans, cooked 1 cup lettuce 1/2 cup red onion, sliced thin 1 tomato, medium ripe, sliced 2 oz. pommery mustard 2 oz. honey 1 tsp. jalapeño, minced Preheat 6 cups vegetable oil to 350 degrees. Season the venison with
salt and pepper. Coat the venison in flour, shaking off excess, and transfer to a shallow bowl with the beaten eggs. Roll the venison pieces in bread crumbs and deep-fry the venison until golden brown. Transfer venison to a 350-degree oven until medium rare, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve with jalapeño honey mustard sauce (see recipe below) and garnish with flour tortillas, roasted corn, cooked black beans, sliced red onion, and tomato slices. Jalapeño Honey Mustard Sauce: Combine pommery mustard, honey, and minced jalapeño together. — National Association of Deer Farmers
*E-mail LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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Bacteria Continued From Page 1
That same bacteria caused Aimee Copeland, a University of West Georgia graduate student, to lose most of her limbs after she was exposed to it May 1 when she fell into a river and cut her calf on a rock. “That is what you call, ‘disturbing,’” Caldwell said. National media labeled Aeromonas hydrophila “flesh-eating,” but it actually produces toxins that attack the skin and underlying tissue. TPWD officials said the bacteria can cause red sore disease among fish in the spring and fall when they’re stressed by such things as spawning or just being caught. However, biologist Rafe Brock, district supervisor in the Fort Worth area, said red sore disease has never reached an epidemic level at any Texas lake. “We’ve never had that much of a problem with it,” Brock said. “Some fish may occasionally die from it, but we’ve never had a major outbreak of it.” Most fish recover from red sore disease, said Greg Southard, a natural resource specialist in TPWD’s Inland Fisheries department. Being in open water helps. “The fish are spread out, and they have a diverse diet,” Southard said. “It’s like us and disease. We stand a better chance if we have a diverse diet than if we’re going to McDonald’s every day.” Infections from Aeromonas hydrophila are not reported in Texas, so the bacteria’s impact on public health is largely unknown. But health officials said a lot of things have to go wrong for Aeromonas hydrophila to produce the downward spiral Aimee Copeland experienced.
“Our systems actually do a good job of clearing out pathogens,” said Dr. Ashok Chopra, a professor in the Microbiology and Immunology Department at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. “We live with them day to day. We don’t have issues most of the time. But they (pathogens) are opportunistic in nature. If they find that opportunity, they’re going to do what they do.” Immune systems weakened by such things as liver disease, chemotherapy or just stress can increase a person’s vulnerability to bacteria. Even a stout immune system, though, can be overwhelmed if a person has a cut, unluckily picks a body of water holding large amounts of the Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria and then delays seeing a doctor after experiencing symptoms such as pain, redness or swelling. “Serious infections are rare,” Chopra said. “But they’re so serious they can become life-threatening. The bacteria spreads so fast that you can start treatment and it won’t help. It’s too late.” Health officials insist there’s no reason to panic over Aeromonas hyrophila. Most people exposed
AILING FISH: So-called red sore disease is produced by a bacteria called Aeromonas hydrophila, which plagues fish during the spring and fall months. Stress produced by spawning or just being caught can weaken a fish’s immune system and make it vulnerable. Photos by TPWD.
to it are unaffected. Some people may experience a gastrointestinal infection, officials said. And if a person is sickened, antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and Bactrim can stem the bacteria's destructive tide. However, that doesn’t mean precautions shouldn’t be taken. A Baltimore microbiologist, Amy Horneman, appeared on an outdoors network warning anglers
of the dangers of Aeromonas infection from fishhook wounds. If a wound becomes infected, or you have concerns, she urged seeking prompt medical attention. “As an angler, I’m constantly around sharp objects when I’m dealing with fish,” Caldwell said. “To think I could expose myself to this. Whew.” Caldwell said he’s not panicking, but he hopes TPWD warns
anglers and others of the potential dangers posed by Aeromonas hydrophila. “I think they need to notify the public, not only on their Web site but with signs at the public ramps on lakes,” he said. “Just something saying, ‘Hey, this is important.’ That girl lost arms and legs and may lose her life. That’s significant. It’s definitely something I’m going to be more aware of.”
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Lone✯Star Outdoor News
South African adventure at LSONews.com LSON Managing Editor Conor Harrison recently returned from a trip to South Africa. He kept a journal of the trip and LSON will publish his notes from the hunt online at LSONews.com. Click the “Hunting News” section for all of the daily entries and photos. — Staff report Photo by Conor Harrison LSONews.com
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Dove hunters asked to participate Texas leads the nation in dove hunter participation. So it comes as no surprise that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for the help of Texas dove hunters. An upcoming survey will ask dove hunters from Texas and across the U.S. to share their experiences and opinions about dove hunting. Topics will include time spent hunting, demographics, constraints to hunting, and thoughts about potential effects of spent lead from hunting ammunition on mourning doves and other wildlife. The survey is a cooperative effort by the state fish and wildlife agencies, all four flyway councils and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We are conducting this survey because hunter opinions and preferences are important and should be taken into account whenever possible,” said Dr. Ken Richkus of the Service’s Population and Habitat Assessment Branch. “The Service and the states want to make sure we use the best science-based information for the management and conservation of our migratory bird resources.” There are more than 1 million dove hunters nationally, with seasons in 40 states. “We’re surveying dove hunters in every state that has a dove season so they can give us their opinions on a variety of topics,” Richkus said. “This approach will give us an excellent picture of mourning dove hunter thoughts and needs by state, region and nationwide.” The National Dove Hunter Survey is scheduled to begin in late June 2012, and will be completed by the end of the year. Check LSONews.com later this month for the survey to be posted online. — Staff report
LONE STAR MARKET
Puzzle solution from Page 28
To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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June 8, 2012
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