By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
Largemouth bass are beginning to make a push toward shallower water on lakes in the eastern portion of the state, as their peak spawning period draws near. Some fish are being found on beds, while the majority are staging just off the banks in a little deeper water.
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
In 2023 and 2024, wild turkeys experienced phenom enal production success, thanks to timely rains and pre mium range conditions in much of the state. As a result, spring turkey hunters can expect to encounter plentiful numbers of jakes and 2-year-old gobblers ready to re spond to their calls this season.
A possible negative for opening day, dry conditions have delayed the typical spring green-up across much of the landscape, bringing a delay in the springtime breed ing and nesting activity.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Wild Turkey Program Leader, Jason Hardin, this could create some hurdles for hunters, especially early in the season.
“There are a ton of gobblers out there, and many have been gobbling, right on cue, for the past month or so,”
East Texas guide Cal Cameron has been spending most of his time on Lake Nacogdoches, where he said some bass have started moving up shallow to spawn.
“I’d say about a third of the fish are super-shallow on beds or along the bank, while the other two-thirds are staging up to move shallow along secondary points,” Cameron said. “Wacky-rigged stick baits have been producing
the most bites. Neko-rigged stick baits are working well, too.”
Cameron said there are a lot of 3.5-6 pounders holding in about 3-6 feet of water.
“These fish could move up shallower and get on beds any day now,” he said.
There have been schools of smaller buck bass on the lake as well. Cameron said areas holding buck bass will produce strikes on
nearly every cast. The areas where the buck bass are more scattered will bring fewer bites but better quality fish. Shallow structure like stumps and grass lines have been key features to target.
By Reis Ladd For Lone Star outdoor newS
It is common for soon-to-be dads to wish for boys, especially those dads who are outdoorsmen. For Drew Reed, owner and operator of Dry Land Taxidermy out of Silverton, he has another take.
“There are still some bass holding in deeper water,” Cameron said. “Most of these fish are smaller, in the 2-pound range.”
On Lake Fork, guide Ronnie Kelley said the backs of drains and
Drew and his oldest of three daughters, Meredith, traveled to the cedarchoked hills of Rocksprings in late February looking for a big axis buck. The Reed pair were hunting with close friends, and while originally planned as a one-on-one hunt for two buddies, the hunt turned into a family affair as Drew and Meredith were joined by Drew’s buddy and his two young sons. While the original intent was two lifelong hunters embarking on a focused mission to find a big winter
WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star outdoor newS
The proposed dove season dates for the Texas South Zone for the 2025-2026 hunting season are Sept. 14-Oct. 26 and Dec. 12, 2025Jan. 22, 2026. These dates are in addition to the proposed Special White-winged Dove Area season dates, which include the following five afternoons: Sept. 5-7 and 12-13.
Under these proposed dates, the fall portion of the South Zone dove season would only include six full weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) of hunting opportunity from the Sept. 14 start date, which is a Sunday, through Sunday, October 26. Many outfitters in the South Zone are expressing concern, as the season dates have encompassed seven full weekends during the fall portion of the season for quite some time.
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
Stan Chism lives to hunt hogs at night, and he sets 20-30 game cameras out regularly at locations near Cross Plains and Eldorado. He has dealt with damage to cameras, likely from squirrels, porcupines, hogs and even crows. But the damage from woodpeckers tops them all.
“Out of 21 cameras, they pecked out 15 or 16,” Chism said. “It happens all the time, but we’ve had more issues recently than ever before. At Cross Plains, they pecked out 10 this year.”
No one seems to know why the woodpeckers focus on game cameras. Theories include the birds mistaking the camera’s casing for a suitable surface to drum on, while others believe the little noises created by the camera from the detection of motion trick
Outfitters claim missing a full weekend not only creates scheduling issues for returning customers, but also would likely result in less revenue.
According to Owen Fitzsimmons, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Webless Migratory Game Bird Program leader, under federal frameworks and regulations from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the earliest possible date for a full day of dove hunting
in the South Zone is Sept. 14. Texas is allowed a total of 90 days of dove hunting opportunity in the South Zone, including up to six half days between Sept. 1 and Sept. 19 that can be used for the Special Whitewinged Dove Area season.
“Technically, the amount of full days allotted for dove hunting in the South Zone can fall at any time between September 14 and January 25,” Fitzsimmons said.
Fitzsimmons said the Fish and
Wildlife Service has had concern for decades about the impact of early September hunting on latenesting mourning dove.
“The farther south you go in the state, the later the birds nest into the months of September and October,” he explained. “Both the male and female parents are needed to incubate a mourning dove nest, and the Service has long been concerned about the population impacts that hunting could have
Youth hunters see big groups
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
Youth
As predicted, breeding time is apparently running a little late this spring, Hunters saw temperatures in the 90s Saturday and in the 40s with high winds on Sunday.
LSON contributor Nate Skinnner took his son, Waylon, out both days.
“On Saturday, the birds were with hens in giant flocks,” he said. “We had more than 30 jakes inside
By David J Sams Lone Star outdoor newS
You quickly get the feel an auction is going to go well when the first item, a Texas Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License, valued at $1,800, brings $10,000.
That’s what happened on the floor of Dickies Arena at the Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth annual Wild Game Dinner, held Feb. 27.
The popularity of the event brought a move to the large facility four years ago, The approximately 1,300 people attending made the walk down the ramp to the floor of the arena, passing by each of the 129 silent auction items, which were impossible to miss.
Once on the floor, they could view the action they couldn’t see on the giant Jumbotron above.
A buffet-style prime rib and smoked quail dinner hit the mark, and an ice cream bar with cobbler was a hit, even for the Julie Freeman Agency raffle sales staff.
Jase Robertson entertained the crowd while explaining the legacy of Phil, his father’s, duck calling business and the show Duck Dynasty. He held a duck call in his hand the entire time, eventually pulling it to his mouth to describe how Phil felt competition duck calls didn’t sound at all like real ducks, the reason he started making duck calls.
The excitement grew during the live auction, with 40 items up for bidding. Some of the highlights were:
Deer hunt at the 4G Ranch
Four custom Duck Dynasty duck calls with custom display cabinet made by Phil, Willie, Jase, and Si Robertson
Two bull elk hunts with Bull Basin Co.
$15,000 (twice)
$15,000
$30,000 Wyoming Fish & Game Commissioner’s Tag benefiting Restoring The Bond, a disabled veteran’s charity
$35,000 Offshore fishing aboard a 61-foot Viking in Costa Rica
$58,000 Nilgai hunt for two on Marposa Ranch with private jet travel
$25,000 West Texas free-range elk and whitetail hunt
$30,000 14-day Namibia leopard hunt
$25,000
The event, which raises funds to help support outdoor and wildlife charitable and educational activities, with an emphasis on serving area youth and youth organizations, is put on by the 30 Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth directors.
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
“Conservation’s Greatest Night” was once again a monumental event for quail research. The Park Cities Quail Coalition Dinner & Auction filled the room with 1,500 people at SMU’s Armstrong Fieldhouse.
Dallas Cowboys’ owner and general manager Jerry Jones received the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award, and arrived escorted by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, with former coach and Super Bowl winner Barry Switzer there in support. Also, Jones’ children and grandchildern described hunting quail on Jones’ King Ranch lease.
At the auction, a trip to hunt with Jones on Jones’ lease brought a staggering $130,000.
Other auction highlights included a quail hunt in Georgia on Jones’ son
One of the owners of 3 Amigos Ranch, Anthony John Campagna Sr. died Feb. 14 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Campagna worked and owned a company involved in real estate leasing and property management, and was active with St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and the Knights of Columbus, becoming the Grand Knight of Dallas Council #799.
In 2001, Campagna, along with Frank Marino and Michael Coston, bought the 3 Amigos Ranch in Young/Throckmorton counties. The ranch hosted numerous guests and events over the years, and most of those encounters resulted in lifelong friendships and many fond memories. The ranch also supported nonprofit conservation organizations, including the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation.
—Staff report
Continued from page 1
Hardin said. “However, with the de layed nesting and breeding activity due to dry conditions and a slower or gradual spring green-up in regards to vegetation, there are a lot of hens roaming around that are not initiat ing nests just yet. Hunters will have to compete with these hens, as they will definitely distract gobblers from calls and decoys.”
The good news is, the number of 2-year-old gobblers available to hunt ers will make for some exciting mo ments in the field.
“They are some of the most fun birds to hunt,” Hardin said. “They are usually eager to respond to calls and close the distance, and they are typi cally still naive or uneducated with re gard to hunting pressure or previous encounters with hunters.”
During the first portion of the sea son, hunters are likely to find the birds in larger flocks.
“Getting aggressive on a call with hens that are within earshot could be a productive strategy,” he said. “If you can call a dominant hen in, she will likely bring a gobbler or two along with her.”
The delayed spring green-up and the tardiness of breeding and nesting activity also sets up some excellent hunting opportunities for the middle and late portions of the spring season. Some of the best calling opportunities may take place then, once hens have finally been bred and are busy tend ing nests.
As far as eastern turkeys are concerned, Hardin said the typical areas of East Texas that have traditionally held birds during the last several years should produce great opportunities for hunters, as easterns had great production and recruitment success last year as well.
“My suggestion to hunters is to go early and go often,” Hardin said “You never know when you can strike tom in the right mood, and call him in for a strutting show, but you can’t do it if you’re not out there hunting. Stay persistent and expect for the opportunities to only improve as the season wears on.”
Continued from page 1
axis, the addition of three kids 8 and under bound the hunting party to the hunting rig. Slowly picking their way through the rocky roads, the Reeds and company masqueraded as the local ranch truck, a proven strategy on many working ranches.
As the day progressed and the attention spans of three elementary-aged kids shortened, the backseat grew rambunctious. A remark by the boys’ father snapped everyone back in line.
“Y’all settle down, we’re about to see a big one,” he said.
Not 10 seconds later, he followed with, “See, there he is!”
Having just entered one of the sporadic cactus flats in the area, Reed’s friend spotted a group of four bucks feeding in the open, unaware of the hunters’ presence. At 260 yards Drew, barreled down on the largest of the group with his .280 Ackley Improved.
The truck buzzed with anticipation as all three kids leaned against the back of the front seat, getting as close to the action as they could. The first shot found its mark and the buck made a break for the brush line, with every step accompanied by louder and more anxious remarks from the kids.
Drew placed one final follow up shot and the buck expired in sight.
“The kids absolutely lost their minds after the last shot,” Reed said. “It was so awesome watching them just not able to hold in that raw emotion.”
After recovery, the hunting party field dressed the buck, and the kids performed their own necropsy of sorts.
“After we field dressed him those kids cut open every organ they could to see what was inside,” Reed said. “All three of them were there all along the way and loved every minute of it.”
Having three girls hasn’t hampered the Reed family in the outdoors.
“I know a lot of guys think they need to have boys to live this lifestyle, but having three girls hasn’t changed a thing for us,” he said. “They are all ate up with it and frankly can hold their own against any of the boys. It is what you make it, and I think we have the best of both worlds. Girls are where it’s at.”
Drew and Meredith brought home to Silverton a 33-inch full velvet axis buck, along with quite a father-daughter memory.
Continued from page 4
on these birds if they were allowed to be hunted in the South Zone at the beginning of September. That’s why federal regulations prevent us from being able to start the regular dove season before September 14.”
Fitzsimmons said over the years, it’s been determined in Texas that there have not been any significant population impacts due to latenesting mourning dove being harvested by hunters.
“Unfortunately, the Service’s concern for late nesting birds has remained in South Texas,” he said. “No other region in the country has to wait past September 1 for dove season to open. We have been pushing for a September start date for the South Zone, however, we are currently still bound to the federal framework.”
The 2025-2026 hunting season calendar has presented the Commission with a challenge, with Sept. 1 falling on a Monday and Sept. 14 falling on a Sunday.
Fitzsimmons encourages anyone who is concerned with the current proposed dates to express their comments online at the TPWD website. Official dates for hunting seasons will be determined at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting March 26-27.
“There is a direct link to leave comments on the proposed regulations for the 20252026 hunting season,” Fitzsimmons said. “Our goal is for our committees to put together the best possible hunting season dates package for everyone, and we want to hear your thoughts.”
A link to comments is on the TPWD public comments page.
Continued from page 4
of 15 yards. Waylon wasn’t happy I wouldn’t let him shoot one. The turkeys aren’t breeding yet, it was wintertime flock stuff.”
Skinner had heard of a few people who killed toms at feeders, and one youngster was successful after the birds left their roost.
“On Sunday, we hunted two different properties from daylight until 5 p.m.,” he said. “The strong wind shut them down. We never saw a male turkey.”
What was surprising was the number of jakes seen, after seeing plenty last season.
“There were more than I saw last year, believe it or not,” he said.
Hunters are reminded that there are now mandatory harvest reporting requirements for all wild turkeys harvested each spring. Successful turkey hunters are required to report their harvest within 24 hours of taking their bird through the Texas Hunt & Fish App or online.
Continued from page 4
the birds into thinking there are insects underneath the camera casing.
Regardless, the birds seem to prefer to whack the plastic coverings over the motion detectors on the cameras, and they can make quick work of it.
“I thought it was happening when the plastic got more brittle over time,” Chism said. “Then I put out a brand-new camera and it was pecked out the next day.”
Chism isn’t the only one dealing with the problem. Arizona wildlife photographer Keith Cannataro said woodpeckers damaged six cameras in a single day and he doesn’t understand why.
To address the problem, he tried bird spikes (the woodpeckers perched on them), Mylar strips and peppermint oil, neither of which worked.
Redchevy on the Texas Hunting Forum posted about the issue a few years ago.
“They peck on our cameras, they peck on the blinds, they even peck on the plate of steel at the top of our feeder tripods,” he wrote. “I hope they break their beaks.”
Chism doesn’t know if a viable solution exists.
“They could make the detector covering out of glass, but that’s probably too expensive,” he said. “And I have had lenses scratched up from them, too. The only way to eliminate it is to have it where a woodpecker can’t stand there and peck at them.”
Chism has taken apart cameras and eventually figured out how to fix them.
“It’s tedious and time consuming, though,” he said. “I have 20-some of them sitting there to fix.”
The constant nature of the problem has Chism looking for an alternate solution. I’m going to build some boxes to put the cameras in and see if that works,” he said.
Lone Star outdoor newS
Popular outdoor writer and Lone Star Outdoor News
contributor Robert Sloan died Feb. 25 in a San Antonio hospital.
Sloan was the former outdoor editor for the Beaumont Enterprise and wrote for many publications, including Southwest Fly Fishing Magazine and American Fly Fishing. He also was a pro-
lific fly-fisherman and held several Texas fly-fishing records.
“This morning, I lost my dear friend,” said Cody Bell III. “Robert was more than just a hunting, golfing and fly-fishing buddy, he was a true force in the outdoor world. He will be deeply missed at deer camp, where his stories were always a highlight.”
Lone Star Outdoor News’
By Nate Skinner
Springtime patterns are kicking in as the remnants of winter are seemingly fading in the rearview mirror. Anglers are still dealing with ever-changing conditions, and those finding themselves in the right place at the right time have been rewarded with outstanding catches.
Philip Paredez recently made a trip to the Packery Channel jetties, and ended up landing his personal-best bull redfish. The fish measured a hair over 45 inches in length and took his bait shortly after his first cast.
“I was fishing near the end of the north jetty on the channel side,” Paredez said. “I had just picked up some bait, but it was still frozen. While I was waiting for it to thaw out, I found a large croaker that had been cut in half and was laying on the jetty. I put it on my hook and cast it out into the channel.”
About 10 minutes later, the drag on the rod and reel with the croaker started screaming.
“I was in the middle of rigging up my second rod when the fish hit,” Paredez said. “I picked up the rod and the fight was on.”
The fish made several runs before Paredez
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star
founder David J. Sams spoke with Sloan while he was in a San Antonio hospital, about a week before he died.
“We were recalling old stories of hunting and fishing together,” he said. “Robert was laughing about his adventures right up until the end.”
Capt. Jerry Norris, who guides on Sabine Lake, said he met Sloan in 1989 on the Trinity River.
“At the time I didn’t know it was an introduction that would start a friendship that would last until this day,” Norris said. “I was fortunate to guide him on many successful hunting and fishing trips. He was quick-witted and rough which suited me fine. We shared many stories and stayed in touch. Robert wrote so many great articles on Sabine Lake that I made a good living guiding due
to his excellent skills as a writer.”
LSON Executive Editor Craig Nyhus fished and dove hunted with Sloan on several occasions in addition to discussing stories every week or so for years.
“He could write, but he really could handle a fishing rod and a shotgun,” Nyhus said. “And his sense of humor won’t be forgotten.”
was able to bring the bull red to hand along the jetty rocks.
“I took some measurements and some pho tos with the fish, and then I released it,” he said. “Within seconds after releasing the fish, two game wardens showed up, out of breath, like they had been running down the jetty in my direction. They asked me what I had caught, and I showed them the photos and explained to them that I had just released the fish.”
The wardens congratulated Paredez on his catch and then walked off.
“It was like their sole purpose of being there was to try to catch someone retaining an ille gal fish,” Paredez said. “It was really strange.”
Nathan Zuniga found some solid speckled trout while wade-fishing with Matagorda Bay guide Capt. Chris McKinley. Most of the trout were from 17-22 inches, but there were several caught in the 4-6-pound range.
“The fish were sort of finicky, and the bite was inconsistent,” Zuniga said. “You would catch one here and one there, but they weren’t eating very well. We weren’t able to stay hooked up with a lot of bites.”
The anglers switched back and forth
On the San Gabriel River above Granger Lake, white bass have been consistent, with anglers like Cesar Valiente find ing most of his fish near the mouth of the river.
“It’s been really good,” Valiente said. “It slowed down when the cold front came but picked right up once it warmed up.”
Valiente has had the most success with rooster tails and road runners in white and silver.
“Cast out to the opposite bank and let the bait sink before slowly retrieving it,” he said.
Like the superstitions on when the white bass run starts (when the redbuds bloom), Valiente offered another for when it ends.
“It should stay busy until the bluebonnets bloom,” he said. “That’s a sign that the white bass run is over.”
Domingo Garcia took his daughter, Monalisa, to the river for the white bass run experience.
“The morning bite was good,” Monalisa said.” Most of our success was on jigheads with white grubs.”
completed thanks to the helping hands of a number of outdoor enthusiasts, business owners and a municipality.
The reef, dubbed as one of the worlds’ largest manmade underwater ridges, was under construction for the last 9 years. The completion came to its end after 50,000 tons of concrete materials and a tugboat were sunk earlier this month.
This last of 15,000 tons of concrete materials donated by Fort Worthbased BNSF Railway were dropped over the 1,650-acre reef in March.
By Shannon Drawe
For Lone Star outdoor newS
In the heart of the North Texas white bass run, a new book is fresh soul food for Dallas and Fort Worth anglers looking to fly-fish hot new spots.
The new book, part of The Local Angler series, “Fly Fishing Dallas Fort Worth,” doesn’t tell all the secret spots in the ever-expanding Metroplex, but that’s only because they wouldn’t all fit inside one book.
Greg DeMars’ book, a 4-year labor of love, hit the bookstore shelves March 4, and it comes on the heels of two previous books in the Texas Urban Fly Fishing series, Aaron Reed’s “Fly Fishing Austin & Central Texas,” and last year’s “Fly Fishing Houston & Southeast Texas” by Robert H. McConnell.
All three books are based on the successful formula that features fly patterns, fish behaviors, parking spots and GPS coordinates for legal access. But there are certainly some differences between the volumes. Demars’ book takes a deep dive into the sometimes overlooked blues scene that forms some of the deepest roots in Texas Blues history.
Demars has a keen ear for Texas blues music.
“I have been playing blues guitar for going on 50 years, and I share a couple of pretty cool stories in the book. At the end of each chapter, there’s a highlighted blues song with a strong Texas connection,” he said.
“These songs are a journey through the history of Texas Blues, starting in Chapter 1 with Blind Lemon Jefferson, who plied his trade in the Deep Ellum neighborhood near downtown Dallas in the early part of the 20th century, and working our way up to present day with artists like Austin’s Gary Clark Jr.,” Demars said.
As in the earlier volumes, you can also find information about things other than flyfishing, like fossil hunting, entomology and bird watching.
Demars said starting the book was more by prodding than inspiration. His good friend and author Aaron Reed, “had a light bulb click on” when Demars was fly-fishing Central Texas with Reed and talking about the fishing in DFW.
“He started gently prodding me to write the Dallas book for the Local Angler series,” he said. “I didn’t agree at first, but Aaron can be quite persuasive, and he ended up helping me submit a proposal to his publisher.”
For spring, Demars has a specific chapter for readers to start with in the DFW area.
“I would recommend immediately flipping the book open to Chapter 21: “The White Bass Run When the Redbuds Bloom,” he said. “The two creeks that I cover in the book are Rowlett Creek and Stewart Creek, but there are so many great creeks in the area for fishing the white bass run.”
Much like the book “Flyfisher’s Guide to Texas,” by Phil H. Shook that came decades ago, the new Imbrifex series for Texas fly fishers is a bonanza of information that is up-todate and indispensable if you are new to Texas or if your old spots have been invaded by urban progress.
An official book launch party and signing is set for March 15 at Tailwaters Fly Fishing in Dallas, and a book signing will be held at Dirty Water Fly Co., in Plano, March 22.
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star
Sam Rayburn lived up to its repu tation as a big fish lake in the Major League Fishing Toyota Series’ sec ond visit. The tournament spanned three days with changing weather conditions, and the anglers had to adjust.
“Every bass seemed to come on new water for me,” Alec Morrison said during the final day weigh-in.”
During the first two days, anglers found most of their fish just off shore in 5-15 feet of water with Arigs, minnow imitations and Neko rigs around ditches and drains stag ing for the spawn.
Overall, even with the weather being inconsistent, Sam Rayburn produced multiple lunker-class fish and three 30-plus pound bags on the third day.
Riley Harris took first place in the professional division and averaged 27 pounds over the three days.
“Day one was tough,” he said. “I made an adjustment around noon and was able to bring in 26 pounds.”
Harris followed on the second day with another 26-pound bag, but on day three, he caught 30 pounds, 9 ounces, including the biggest fish of the day that surged him into the lead and his first MLF win.
ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 52 degrees; 1.13’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs.
AMISTAD: Water stained; 63 degrees; 65.84’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and Alabama rigs. White bass are good on slabs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait and worms.
ARLINGTON: Water stained; 60 degrees; full pool. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and flipping baits.
ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 5.72’ low. Catfish are fair on fresh cut shad.
ATHENS: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.45 high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on small jigs.
AUSTIN: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.45’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs and jerkbaits.
BASTROP: Water stained; 66 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs.
BELTON: Water stained; 56 degrees; 2.51’ low. White bass are fair on crankbaits, slabs and jigs. Catfish are good on live perch, shad and punch bait.
BENBROOK: Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.34’ low. Catfish are fair on fresh cut bait.
BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.44’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Alabama rigs, spinner baits, spoons, and underspins. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
BOIS D’ARC: Water stained; 47 degrees; 2.91’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on flukes, square-billed crankbaits and chatter baits.
BRAUNIG: Water stained; 71 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Redfish are fair on crawfish and shrimp. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.
BROWNWOOD: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.01’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows, jigs and square-billed crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on crankbaits and Alabama rigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and night crawlers.
BRYAN: Water stained; 54 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on wacky rigs, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs and crankbaits.
BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 18.21’ low. Stripers and white bass are fair on jigs, slabs and trolling crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs.
CADDO: Water stained; 55 degrees; 1.28’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
CALAVERAS: Water lightly stained; 70 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow. Redfish are slow. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.
CANYON: Water stained; 63 degrees; 29.56’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads and drop shots.
CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.11’ high. Hybrids and white bass are good on flukes. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 60 degrees; 33.77’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
COLETO CREEK: Water stained; 65 degrees; 1.60’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and swimbaits.
CONROE: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Hybrids are fair on soft plastics. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait.
COOPER: Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.00’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs.
CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.78’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs, spinner baits, spoons and underspins.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 65 degrees; 4.54’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and artificial minnows. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.
FALCON: Water stained; 67 degrees; 45.33’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on fresh cut or live shad and tilapia.
FAY-
ETTE: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads, Carolina rigs, chatter baits and lipless crankbaits.
stained; 53 degrees; 7.39’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs and football jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
GRANBURY: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.04’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and spinner baits. Sand bass are fair on jigs and spinners. Striped bass are fair on live shad and jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad.
GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.09’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jigs and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on spinners and jigs. Catfish are good on shad and live perch.
GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 0.48’ high. White bass are fair on slabs, soft plastics and jigs.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.35’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 50 degrees; 13.52’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs and football jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
JACKSONVILLE: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.26’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
JOE POOL: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.35’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic creature baits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on jigs and spinners.
LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 1.12’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs, spinner baits, spoons and underspins.
LAVON: Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 0.25’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, swimbaits and Alabama rigs. White bass are fair on jigs and spinners.
Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut gizzard shad, drum, sunfish and carp.
are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
LIMESTONE: Water stained; 56 degrees; 1.48’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and chatter baits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are good on jigging spoons, road runners and lipless crankbaits. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.06’ high. White bass are good on lipless and square-billed crankbaits.
MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; full pool. Largemouth bass are good on bladed jigs and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Sand bass are good on jigging spoons. Catfish are fair on minnows and cut bait.
MEREDITH: Water stained; 47 degrees; 47.41’ low. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair on spoons and artificial grubs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Walleye are good on minnows and soft plastics. Catfish are fair on chicken liver, minnows and worms.
crankbaits. Catfish are fair on shrimp and cut shad.
OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 18.59’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs.
PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.30’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs.
POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.26’ low. Stripers are fair on live bait. Sand bass are fair on slabs, jigs and live shad. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
PROCTOR: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.32’ high. Catfish are fair on fresh cut bait.
RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.10’ high. White bass are good on slabs and jigs. Hybrids are fair on jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad, buffalo and carp.
RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.69’ low. White bass are fair on live bait and slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
RICHLAND
MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 53 degrees; 2.75’ low. Catfish are fair on juglines.
NACOGDOCHES: Water stained; 62 degrees; 0.07’ high. Largemouth bass are good on bladed jigs, lipless crankbaits and weightless worms. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on stink bait and cut bait.
NACONICHE: Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 0.50’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on square-billed crankbaits and Alabama rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow.
NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees. 0.38’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.
NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.21’ high. Crappie are good on jigs. White bass are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
CHAMBERS: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.08’ high. White bass and hybrid stripers are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on punch bait and cut bait.
SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 61 degrees; 2.43’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and spinners. White bass are fair on silver lipless crankbaits and tail spins. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 53 degrees; 1.94’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on craw jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are slow. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.
SPENCE: Water stained; 58 degrees; 46.62’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits and spoons. Catfish are good on cut bait and dough bait.
STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 56 degrees; 3.15’ low. White bass are fair on crankbaits and jigs.
FORK: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on flukes, chatter baits and swimbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
FT PHANTOM HILL: Water
LBJ: Water stained; 59 degrees; 0.19’ low. Crappie are good on jigs.
LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 54 degrees; 1.53’ low. White bass are fair on jigs, slabs and live bait. Hybrid stripers are slow. Crappie
O H IVIE: Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 23.13’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jerkbaits, chatter baits and flukes. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on
TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 51 degrees; 0.32’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid stripers and white bass are slow. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad and drum.
19
TEXOMA: Water stained; 48 degrees; 3.39’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on swimbaits, jigs and live bait. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.79’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on wacky worms, senkos and Texas-rigged lizards. Crappie are fair on roadrunners and jigs.
TRAVIS: Water lightly stained; 59 degrees; 43.95’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics, crankbaits, jigs and Carolina rigs.
TWIN BUTTES: Water stained; 57 degrees; 39.76’ low. Crappie are slow. White bass are slow. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait and punch bait.
TYLER: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.28’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs.
WACO: Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.81’ low. White bass are good up the Bosque River on spinners.
WALTER E LONG: Water lightly stained; 62 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, spinner baits, Alabama rigs and chatter baits.
WHITNEY: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.05’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Striped bass are good on flukes and live bait. Crappie are slow. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
WORTH: Water stained; 60 degrees; 2.46‘ low. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.
WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 55 degrees; 4.61’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait. —TPWD
between throwing top-waters, suspended baits and soft plastics.
“We caught fish on a variety of baits and color patterns, but there didn’t seem to be just one lure or color that the fish wanted more than another,” he said.
Most of the speckled trout were feeding over waist-deep mud and scattered shell. They also caught quite a few lower slot reds near the mouths of marsh drains.
Baffin Bay anglers are reporting decent catches of trophy-sized speckled trout. With temperatures heating up, the fish have become more aggressive. Some of the largest trout lately have come from soft plastics bounced over waist- to chest-deep flats with mud and scattered rocks.
Continued from page 8
Also, a tugboat from the Galveston area was sunk the week before.
It took some 50 trips and two months to transport the concrete materials from the Port of Brownsville to the site, about 7 miles from the island.
Building the reef is an ongoing effort that has been years in the making, a member of Friends of RGV Reef said.
‘We started building the reef 9 years ago,” Daniel Bryant said. “Everything has been coming along well.”
The reef was the idea of the late Gary Glick and his brother, Bob.
The brothers came up with the concept after studying the movements of red snapper in both state and federal waters. Bob Glick said fishing in state waters is open 365 days year, while the season in federal waters is much shorter, sometimes less than a month.
“It used to be really hard to find and catch snapper in state waters,” he said. “We thought there should be places available even for children to fish.”
So why not create a habitat for the red snapper and other fish species to thrive?
The two brothers then approached the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and suggested to department officials the idea of having a reef.
It took them about a year of talks until the department agreed to go ahead with the project that took some $4.5 million to build, largely through private donations.
Glick said the reef got started with 63,000 cinder blocks dropped in the area, and it took off after that. Today, as many as eight shrimp vessels lay on the bottom of the 60- to 80-foot reef.
The area where the tugboat sunk was named the Gary Memorial Reef, after the conservationist who died in Sept. 2024.
“I am glad to say the RGV Reef has finally been completed.” Bob Glick said. “We accomplished way more than our goal and that was because we received a lot of support from private individuals and from one public entity.”
Glick was referring to the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Continued from page 9
Cody Ross finished second by averaging 25 pounds a day. On the last day, the fog rolled in.
“I stayed closer due to the fog and fished some other pockets I had,” he said.
Dylan Thompson, with a final day 30-pound, 1-ounce limit, was able to hold off Todd Castledine for third place.
In the co-angler division, Philip Hudnall finished on top and secured himself a spot in the Toyota Series Championship this fall. He fished primarily with an umbrella rig, and Carolina rig to catch his 34 pounds.
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
After a man was arrested after improperly moving deer, further investigations led to 1,200 charges against at least 22 subjects.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released information about the arrests and charges, but no names were revealed.
However, according to Montgomery County court records, in early 2024, Herbert McKinzie Jr., of Normanna, and a partner were arrested and charged with possession of controlled substances while smuggling seven buck fawns.
In an Affidavit for Arrest Warrant filed in Montgomery County, Texas Game Warden Coty Castro received information regarding Herbert McKinzie Jr., 46, who was interested in transporting whitetailed deer by not following the proper requirements and without the proper permits.
Castro, on March 9, 2024, observed a truck and livestock trailer in Willis. McKinzie initially said they had hauled a load of donkeys and the trailer was empty. Castro looked in the trailer through a gap and observed whitetail buck fawns inside.
Seven fawns without proper documents, along with drugs classified as controlled substances requiring a prescription, including Draxxin and Epinephrine. McKinzie told the warden the drugs were used to tranquilize the fawns before being transported.
McKinzie was booked March 10, 2024 and plead guilty on Oct. 23, 2024.
What happened?
According to a person familiar with the deer breeding industry, under TWIMS (Texas Wildlife
Information Management Services, the database that collects information and generates reports) requirements, fawns are required to be reported by March 31 each year. Fawns born after the previous reporting deadline aren’t required to be reported until then. McKinzie allegedly wanted to move the deer before the reporting deadline. The fawns then become what some call “ghost deer,” because there is no record of them in the TWIMS system.
Wardens followed the leads from there, learning disturbing details along the way.
According to a TPWD release on Feb. 27, the cases led wardens to uncover a much larger network of alleged offenders.
The suspects and charges are associated with three deer breeding facilities, 10 release sites, one deer management pen and three illegal facilities not registered in the TWIMS database, meaning they were operating or receiving deer in violation of registration requirements and disease monitoring protocols.
The investigations resulted in approximately 1,200 pending charges and 22 suspects from across
the state involved in the black-market wildlife trade. TPWD has referred the cases to prosecutors’ offices in 11 Texas counties.
According to the release, Class C pending charges include transferring deer without valid antemortem Chronic Wasting Disease tests, lack of identifying tattoos or valid transfer permits, failure to report mortality within the required 7-day period following detection and failure to submit CWD samples within seven days of collection. Additional pending charges include illegally selling and purchasing wild white-tailed deer and hunting deer in a closed season to falsify and circumvent CWD testing requirements by submitting samples from free-ranging wild white-tailed deer in place of breeder deer.
Class B pending charges include possession of wild deer in breeder facilities to replace dead breeder deer, multiple Trap, Transport and Transplant (TTT) permit violations and criminal mischief for the destruction of county and state property.
Pending state jail felony charges include tampering with government records falsifying information in TWIMS reports, which were certified as accurate. These incidents include falsifying tests through the submission of tissue samples from poached wild deer for CWD testing in place of the samples of breeder deer, tag swapping between breeder deer, and swapping tags between breeder deer and replacement deer captured in the wild.
“I am incredibly proud of the dedication and diligence Texas game wardens devoted to this case,” said Col. Ronald VanderRoest, TPWD law enforcement director. “An operation of this size and scope did not develop overnight and the widespread violations may have continued unchecked, posing an even greater threat to Texas’ deer populations and the integrity of the deer breeding industry, if not for their hard work.”
Two people, including a Texas helicopter pilot, died after a Robinson R44 helicopter crashed on Feb. 27, reportedly during an aerial game survey on Harris Ranch, off U.S. Highway 90 in Kinney County.
According to the Kinney County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened around 1:20 p.m. Both the pilot, William Garrett Robertson, 31, of Uvalde, and the passenger, Earle Blakely Hunnicutt, 53, of Brookville, Florida, died in the crash.
The crash was investigated by the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, the Kinney County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are conducting further investigations.
According to Kinney County Judge John Paul Schuster, the two were experienced and the flight was “one of their annual trips.”
Garrett attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, with minors in Helicopter Operations Safety and Aviation Flight Safety. He held multiple certifications, including Certified Flight Instructor, his Commercial Certificate, and a Second-Class Medical. Robertson was a seasoned aviator with years of experience flying various types of aircraft. Friends and colleagues described him as a skilled and cautious pilot who prioritized safety above all else.
He had previously worked in Olathe, Kansas, at KC Copters, Total Traffic & Weather Network, Heartland Helicopters and Texas Specialty Helicopters. He eventually found his home at Holt Helicopters, in Uvalde.
According to local reports, Hunnicutt was a well-known figure in the local community. He was actively involved in various charitable organizations and was a strong supporter of initiatives that benefited veterans and first responders.
Robertson is survived by his wife, Maci, daughter Emma, and dog Copter.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help cover immediate expenses and to establish a college fund for his daughter. As of March 11, $73,800 had been raised. Additionally, Holt Helicopters established the Garrett Robertson Memorial Fund to assist the family.
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Email them with contact and caption information to editor@ lonestaroutdoornews.com. Highresolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Grip & Grin, Lone Star Outdoor News P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
Continued from page 1
creeks have been holding good numbers of bass in depths of 2 feet or less. He said that the bass on the main lake are staging out deeper, off the bank, in 12-15 of water, suspended in the trees. There also have been some bass feeding along docks.
“The fish in the backs of the drains and creeks have been hitting lipless crankbaits and other reaction baits, as well as wacky-worm rigs,” Kelley said. “These bass have been anywhere from 4 to 8 pounds, with some smaller and larger ones mixed in. Wacky worms have been producing mostly smaller, buck bass.”
On Fork’s main lake waters, Kelley said jerkbaits have been hard to beat.
Kelley also has been fishing Lake Palestine, where he said the south end of the lake has been producing a lot of fish on rocky points and docks in 5-8 feet of water. Jerkbaits have been working the best, and bass weighing up to about 8 pounds or so have been caught.
On Lake Limestone, largemouth bass are staging in 5 feet of water or less, and are starting their transition to spawning beds. According to guide Colan Gonzales, the best action has come from Texas-rigged soft plastics and chatterbaits.
Continued from page 8
When the bite slowed down, they received a tip from a frequent flyer of the San Gabriel and switched to live minnows.
“We were fishing a drop-off in a pool,” Monalisa said.
On the Neches River, near Chandler, the white bass are not quite full-speed ahead yet.
“I’ve been going since the day after Valentine’s Day and the first three trips nothing,” said angler Brandon Quick. “Now, the evenings have been twice as productive than the mornings.”
Quick has been finding fish holding tight to the banks on the bottom.
“S-bends on the river seem to hold the most fish,” he said.
The sandies have been more consistent south of Chandler closer to the river mouth, said Gage Lydahl.
“The big sandy bends and laydowns that block the current where the fish like to stack
up in, that’s what I target,” he said.
Lydahl is finding the fish in 5-feet of water using an inline spinner with big spoons in white and silver.
“Right about the time turkey season starts, the run will end,” he said.
On Lake Grapevine, the female white bass are still staging before heading upriver, according to guide Omar Cotter. “There also are fish up the river where the water is a little warmer,” Cotter said.
Cotter said the river fishing should pick up toward the end of March.
Gubius on the Texas Fishing Forum reported a good day for male sandies on March 2 using pearl/white paddle tails.
“Caught 14, two were little and the others were 11 to 14 inches,” he posted. “Lots of people even way back in there, more than I have ever seen in the 10-plus years of fishing there.”
Solution on Page 20
ACROSS
1) One of the quail
5) A deer communication sound
6) Port Mansfield’s county
8) Fort Worth’s river
9) Safari destination
10) Bass ambush spots
11) Hill Country lake
13) San Antonio’s county
15) Rifle brand
17) The male mallard
18) One of the divers
22) A goose favorite
23) McLennan County’s seat
24) A Great Lake
25) One of the hawks
27) Coastal bay
30) The two-pointer
31) Shotgun brand
33) Formerly Granite Shoals
34) Trout species
37) East Texas lake
38) Ammo brand
42) Tree-nesting duck
43) Shotgun type
46) A turkey call
48) Duck call brand
49) Turkey hunters’ org.
DOWN
2) A spaniel 3) It holds the arrows 4) Angelina County’s seat 7) A soft plastic lure 10) Hunting TV host 12) An African antelope
14) Former name of Lake Corpus Christi
16) Florida’s turkey
19) A duck favorite
20) The big crappie
21) Check for these after the turkey hunt
26) Sinker type, ___ shot
28) Border lake
29) Salmon species
32) Shackelford County’s seat
35) A duck favorite
36) Good white bass river
39) Hunting boot brand
40) A turkey sound
41) Choke used by turkey hunters
44) The ground blind
45) Pearsall’s county
47) Stephenville’s county
Dineen promoted at Streamlight
Streamlight promoted Michael Dineen to president, and Raymond Sharrah will retain the title of chief executive officer.
PR agency for Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms retained Dangersoup as its public relations agency.
Cole named COO
Louis P. Cole was named the chief operating officer of Safari Club International.
Anderson joins Fish Monkey
Fish Monkey Hunt Monkey hired Keith Anderson as operations manager.
Tharpe to lead Delta Waterfowl
Jason Tharpe was named chief executive officer of Delta Waterfowl, after the exit of Dr. Scott Petrie; and Chris Williams was promoted to senior director of industry partnerships.
Marketing head at Hawke Optics
Hawke Optics hired Cameron Derr as marketing manager.
Promotions at Primary Arms
Primary Arms promoted Kody Staples to vice president of marketing and Scott Tirman to vice president of Primary Arms Optics.
Pontoon president
Mastercraft Boat Holdings named Mike O’Connell as president of its pontoon segment.
Marketing manager at Sierra Bullets
Colby Adamek joined Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets as marketing manager.
*email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
6 large (4-inch) portobello mushrooms
1/2-lb. ground venison
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup finely chopped red pepper
1 tbsp. fresh parsley
1/2 tsps. dried thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tbsps. olive oil
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Position oven rack in top third of oven. Cut stems off mushrooms flush with cap. Finely chop stems and set side. Arrange caps on baking sheet, top side down. Set aside. In 10-inch skillet, brown venison over medium heat and drain. Stir in garlic, red pepper and chopped mushroom stems. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until stems begin to release liquid, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining ingredients, except oil. Spoon mixture evenly into mushroom caps. Drizzle filling evenly with oil. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, sprinkling fresh Parmesan cheese over mushrooms during the last few minutes of baking.
—Pennsylvania Game Commission
1 medium onion, chopped
1.5 lbs. fresh bass
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup of ice water Crab boil mix
1 banana pepper, roughly chopped Salt & pepper
Boil white bass in crab boil until flaky and break into clumps. Spread half of the onion over the bottom of a large bowl, cover with bass clumps, add the remaining onion, salt and pepper to taste. Pour oil, vinegar, and ice water over all. Cover and refrigerate for 2-12 hours. Toss lightly before serving. Eat with crackers and top with banana pepper.
—Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
SABINE LAKE: 57 degrees. Speckled trout are good on suspended artificials and live shrimp rigged under a popping cork. Redfish are fair on top-waters and crankbaits. Sheepshead and black drum are good on live shrimp.
BOLIVAR: 60 degrees. Redfish are fair on live shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp. Flounder are slow.
TRINITY BAY: 66 degrees. Redfish are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Flounder are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Black drum are good on live shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on suspending baits and soft plastics.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: 62 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp under a popping cork. Redfish are fair on live shrimp. Black drum are fair on on live shrimp.
GALVESTON BAY: 66 degrees. Speckled trout are good on suspending baits and soft plastics. Redfish are fair on live shrimp. Sheepshead and black drum are good on live shrimp.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: 66 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are good on live shrimp.
TEXAS CITY: 66 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on suspending baits and soft plastics. Redfish are fair on live shrimp under popping corks. Sheepshead and black drum are good on live shrimp.
FREEPORT: 61 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on soft plastics.
EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 64 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on suspending baits, top-waters and soft plastics.
waters, soft plastics and suspending baits.
PORT O’CONNOR: 60 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp. Slot redfish are fair on live and dead shrimp. Oversized redfish are fair on blue crab. Black drum are fair on dead shrimp.
SAN ANTONIO BAY: 60 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are fair on top-water lures and live shrimp.
ROCKPORT: 62 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish are good on shrimp and cut mullet. Black drum are good on live and dead shrimp.
REDFISH BAY: 70 degrees. Redfish and black drum are good on dead shrimp or mud minnows. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics.
PORT ARANSAS: 62 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp. Oversized redfish are good on cut crab and mullet. Speckled trout are good on shrimp.
CORPUS CHRISTI: 70 degrees. Redfish and drum are fair on dead shrimp and mud minnows. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics.
BAFFIN BAY: 55 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics, suspending twitch baits and top-waters. Redfish are fair on soft plastics.
PORT MANSFIELD: 60 degrees. Redfish and trout are fair on soft plastics and topwaters.
SOUTH PADRE: 67 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp. Redfish are good on soft plastics. Black drum, sheeps head and Mangrove snapper are good on live shrimp.
Hunters harvested 199,863 white-tailed deer in the 2024-2025 season, a nearly 4 percent increase over last year’s harvest.
The statewide harvest continues a steady climb, indicating that Arkansas’s deer population continues to recover after an unusually high spike in harvest in 2020.
In 2022-23, deer hunters harvested 185,579 deer, followed by a harvest of 192,392 deer in 2023-24.
—AGFC
The Missouri Department of Conservation is interested in learning more about the experiences of Missouri residents and nonresidents who hunt deer, turkey, and waterfowl in the state.
MDC is considering a range of potential regulatory changes regarding nonresident hunting. They could include limiting nonresident hunting during portions of the deer, turkey, and/or waterfowl hunting seasons; changing the price of nonresident permits; restricting nonresident hunting in portions of the state; and/or restricting nonresident hunting on MDC conservation areas
An auction will be held later this month to sell hundreds of antlers and furs that Utah Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officers seized during poaching investigations, or otherwise obtained possession of, during the past three years.
Many of the items in the auction were seized as evidence, and the individuals were court-ordered to forfeit the items. Some of the antlers were also taken from animals that were hit and killed by vehicles or from big game animals that died because of harsh weather conditions. All of the money raised from the auction goes toward funding wildlife conservation in Utah.
A public preview for the auction will be held on March 26, which will include the antlers, furs and some forfeited bows and traps to be auctioned. The auction will be held online on March 27.
—UDNR
MDC is conducting a survey of a sample of resident and nonresident hunters who purchased permits in the past two years. In addition to the surveys, MDC is requesting public comment on the topic online.
A total of 542,532 Missouri residents and 84,568 nonresident hunters purchased one or more of the related hunting permits over the two years.
From January to December 2024, 420 rhinos were poached in South Africa, with 320 being killed on state properties and 100 on privately owned parks, reserves or farms. This was a decrease in comparison to 499 rhinos poached in 2023.
The hardest-hit province continues to be KwaZulu-Natal that lost 232 rhinos, where 325 were lost in 2023.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame selection panel named Randy Hopper, Craig Lamb and William Shakespeare Jr. as inductees.
Hopper is an innovator whose fingerprints are all over various breakthrough developments in the design, construction and evolution of modern bass boats.
Lamb has spent the vast majority of his 40plus year career behind the scenes in various media roles and on the B.A.S.S. tournament operations staff.
Shakespeare’s developed the first levelwind reel in the late 1800s, ground-breaking lures and the introduction of the world’s first fiberglass fishing rod in the 1940s.
The trio will be honored during Celebrate Bass Fishing Week on Sept. 25 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield.
—Bass HOF
Kruger National Park reported a total of 88 poached rhino in 2024, 10 animals more than in 2023. A total of 21 rhino were reported poached in Kruger National Park during December 2024 and a further 17 were reported poached during January 2025.
Both SANParks and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife continue to implement a number of actions and initiatives to counter the threats, including polygraph testing of staff, as linkages have been found between failed polygraph tests and the surge in poaching.
—SA Dept. of Forestry
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4,900-ACRE STONEWALL COUNTY HUNTING LEASE: Trophy whitetail deer, dove, hogs. On historic JD Patterson Ranch in northwest TX with 20+ years in TPWD management program. Also MLD participant. $12 per acre. Low fence. One-year provisional lease. Option to extend based on responsible stewardship of native wildlife/habitats. ButchN@Caprock-Spur.com (806) 543-4215
HUNTING. EXOTICS, WHITETAIL. BEST PRICES. NO MIDDLEMAN. LETS HAVE FUN. (830) 928-0370
TEXANS ARCHERY CLUB Network of Archery Ranges For One Membership! TEXASARCHERY.INFO
APRIL 5
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB
Panhandle Chapter Banquet Amarillo Civic Center (806) 433-5766 biggame.org
COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
Aransas Bay Banquet Fulton Convention Center (210) 240-7722 ccatexas.org
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Kaufman County Dinner Kaufman Civic Center (469) 732-1581 ducks.org
APRIL 7
WINGS UP OUTDOORS
Golf Tournament
Walnut Creek Country Club Mansfield (214) 507-2507 wingsupoutdoors.org
Trinity Valley Banquet
Dayton Community Center (936) 641-2040 deltawaterfowl.org
Bloodlines For Details Call (830) 324-6690
Continued from page 5
APRIL 10
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Austin Dinner Branch Park Pavillion (512) 217-8483 ducks.org
APRIL 11-13
TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza Midland County Horseshoe ttha.com
Stephen’s place, with private jet service, which brought $80,000; and a quail hunt at Pine Hill Plantation, auctioned twice for $30,000 each. All live and silent auction items brought well above retail value, and PCQC Executive Director Jay Stine said the event grossed more than $2.4 million.
“And Robert Earl Keen (the singer/ songwriter) was there, which didn’t mean a lot to some of the people, but it did to me,” Stine said.
The table gifts were again a hit with attendees, especially the box of 20-guage shotgun shells with the Dallas Cowboys’ blue star, the PCQ logo and the saying, “Make Quail Great Again” all on the box. A logoed tumbler and pocket knife rounded out the gifts. Monies raised are used for quail research and youth education.
SOUTH AFRICAN PLAINS GAME HUNTS
5 days, 4 animals. Includes Taxidermy, shipping, meet and greet and transfers LONESTARAFRICA.COM/ HUNTING-PACKAGES/
AUSTRALIAN WATER BUFFALO HUNTS
Ask about our family hunt deals Graham Williams BUFFALO577.COM BUFFALO577@HOTMAIL.COM
HOG HUNTING Rocksprings, TX 4 Blinds and Feeders. Nice Cabin for 3 People. 3 Hunters $500 Each RON: (612) 723-1323
GALVANIZED COTTON SEED FEEDERS
300# Capacity: $275
1,000# Capacity: $1,200 Sunrise Fabrication Mathis, TX (361) 362-3283, ask for Harry
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