Lone Star Outdoor News 032825

A windy start Crappie spawn kicks off

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star outdoor newS

With the onset of springtime conditions, the spawning season for crappie has begun. The fish can be found in all stages of the spawn, depending on what lake anglers are targeting. Minnows and jigs have been putting good numbers of crappie in the boat over both shallow and deep water.

Crappie fishing guide, Capt. Jess Rotherham, has been chasing crappie on Lake Buchanan, where the fish are stacked along the banks and spawning.

South Zone toms shy opening weekend

By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS

South Zone turkey hunters were met with gusty winds and changing temperatures with the passage of a cold front for the opening weekend of spring turkey season. The strong breezes seemed to shut the birds down for some hunters, while others were able to tag a mature gobbler.

Bryan Osteen and his daughter, Claire, traveled from Houston to Wilson County to hunt with Osteen’s lifelong friend, Darren Jones. Jones had scouted a couple of days before the opener and observed multiple longbeards courting hens.

“It also seemed like the pecking order between birds was being established, and there were large gangs of jakes around that both the gobblers and us would have to contend with,” Jones said. “On opening day the wind picked up quickly. It was rough — the birds were quiet and not aggressive.” Jones said they had a few toms working on opening day, but they acted decoy shy and stayed just out of range.

“My best guess is, that the number of jakes around had them wary of walking into a fight and being outnumbered,” Jones said. “We had three groups of jakes come in on opening day, with five to 10 birds in each group.”

The second day of the season brought improvement for Jones and the Osteens. Chilly temperatures in the mid to upper 40s and calm winds had the gobblers sounding off all morning long, and Jones was excited for Osteen’s daughter, Claire, to experience it.

After a few mishaps and near

Spring break anglers fight changing conditions

Redfish Bay, Aransas Pass and Nueces Bay.

Many anglers and some interested in a day of fishing flocked to the coast for spring break. Fishing guides did their best to cope with changing winds and conditions and targeted a variety of species. Most customers were happy to catch whatever species of fish was willing to bite.

Capt. Dominic Sanchez, said the black drum bite was consistent in areas with oyster shell along the Upper Laguna Madre,

“The wind played the largest factor in determining where we were able to fish,” Sanchez said. “I tried to stay in protected waters and keep my anglers hooked up with fish.”

Fresh dead shrimp rigged under a cork was the ticket for catching keeper black drum in the 17-19 inch range. Most of the fish were found in about 3 feet of water around the edges of heavy shell reefs.

“Low tides had the fish hanging out off

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Parker Sayers caught this and several more crappie on Lake Buchanan. Photo by Capt. Jess Rotherham.

Bryan Osteen and his daughter, Claire, walks away from the South Zone turkey opener with a mature gobbler after battling tough, windy conditions and gangs of jakes. Photo by Darren Jones.

Meade Flavin III, right, caught this redfish on the fly while fishing out of South Padre Island with his dad during spring break. Photo by Capt. Glenn Harrison.

FROM WORK TO PLAY

WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

Curry’s bill to gut TPWD stirs camp talk

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

Over the last few months, Texas legislators have filed more than 9,000 bills to be discussed and potentially voted on this legislative session. Most don’t see the light of day, but one filed by Rep. Pat Curry (R-Waco) drew considerable attention before Curry decided not to pursue the bill.

The bill, HB 4938, if passed, would break up Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission and transfer its responsibilities to other state agencies.

The bill’s text includes state parks, natural areas, wildlife management areas and fish hatcheries as responsibilities directed to the General Land Office; provisions related to native plants, wildlife, including hunting and fishing, would be transferred to the Department of Agriculture; and items such as law enforcement, game wardens and the titling of vessels to the Department of Public Safety.

“I think Parks and Wildlife does a great service in a lot of different ways and it’s been a very good agency, and I’m a hunter, I’m a fisherman,” Curry said.

Curry, a former deer breeder, cited one area of concern.

“If you have a deer breeder over here that might have a problem and every ranch within 5 miles of it is restricted because of that one guy, that’s stomping on landowner rights,” he said.

Curry told San Antonio television station KSAT he hoped that they can figure out a solution.

“What I want is, I want clarity, I want transparency, and I want general fairness in our rules and regulations,” he said.

Curry told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he intended for the bill to start a conversation.

“Let’s work together with the legislature on some of these rules instead of letting rules stomp on the rights of landowners and small business and legislatures,” he said.

While many believe Curry is simply an upset former deer breeder, he has raised concerns about several areas unrelated to white-tailed deer.

Specifically, he challenged the handling of the sale and attempted seizure of Fairfield Lake by eminent domain, after the department had declined an offer to purchase the property; and the actions of TPWD’s “mussel division” against a ranch owner, whereby the department issued an $800,000 fine against a Texas landowner for getting the Texas Department of Transportation to fence an area of his property, denying fishermen and hunters from illegal access from a farm-to-market road with no boat ramp. The fine was allegedly for damage to the most common mussel in the Trinity River system, although less than 1/2-acre was impacted.

The agency has declared 15 mussel species, not listed as threatened by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as state-threatened, what opponents assert is essentially creating a mini-EPA, much like California.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the department’s nonprofit partner, said in a statement that the department is “a model for efficacy and efficiency” and “plays a critical role in protecting our state’s lands, waters, wildlife, aquatic life, and

Father, sons return for fifth turkey trip

By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS

Carl Bock and his sons, Jordan and Jesse, have been traveling to South Texas from their home state of Pennsylvania to hunt turkey since March of 2021. This spring marked their fifth consecutive trip, and they harvested six longbeards over three days of hunting.

“We’ve hunted with the same outfitter in the Dilley area called Dilley Dove, every spring,” Carl said. “They work hard to make

encounters with gobblers.”

Bock’s son, Jordan, struck first. On the first morning of the hunt, he doubled on two mature long beards within the first 10 minutes of legal shooting light.

“The birds were roosted about 150 yards from where we were set up with our decoys at the edge of a field,” Jordan said. “A group of hens flew into the field off of the roost and came running at the decoys, and two gobblers were right behind them. I was able to harvest both of them on back-to-back shots.

Carl and Jesse were sitting together at the edge of a different field during the first morning. They had two toms come strutting into the decoys about 30 minutes after sunrise, and Bock arrowed one with his crossbow. Later that afternoon, Jesse scored two gobblers with one shot from his shotgun.

“We had a group of jakes come in to the decoys,” Jesse explained. “They walked off for a few minutes and then came back with additional jakes. Then they walked off once again, but when they returned, three

Big changes for future DSC conventions

Lone Star outdoor newS

On March 24, Dallas Safari Club announced some significant changes to its future convention plans.

In a letter to members, new Chief Executive Officer Rob McCanna said since the Atlanta Convention, the entire DSC team has taken on the monumental task of changing what the next five years of DSC Conventions will look like.

“We started this process by encouraging and facilitating input from various convention stakeholders including exhibitor

partners, sponsors, DSC members, as well as from our DSC board,” McCanna wrote. “Listening is key to solution-management, and we have made it a point to be receptive and to consider the broad input from these important parties.”

Also, McCanna formed an Exhibitor-Partner Committee comprised of approximately 50 of DSC’s longest-standing exhibitors to help guide in making the best decisions possible moving forward.

“From the meetings with these partners, the message was clear — “Get back

to Texas ASAP,” McCanna wrote. “Other central, keystone pieces of feedback we heard included requests on date changes, possible venue locations, and affiliated costs.”

McCanna said all relevant features have been taken into consideration regarding what’s possible and what’s best for DSC’s partners, stakeholders, and for DSC.

“I am announcing today that DSC Convention will be in Atlanta for the next two years (2026 & 2027) and will return to Texas in 2028, 2029 and beyond.”

Jesse Bock, left, harvested two gobblers with one shot while on an annual turkey hunting trip to South Texas with his dad, Carl. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Johnny Morris, left, discusses raffle tickets with Julie Freeman at the 2025 DSC convention in Atlanta. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Big payouts again at WTBBC

Lone Star outdoor newS

At the March and final West Texas Big Bobcat Contest of the season, a total of 714 teams competed for a total payout of $164,220 in prize money.

According to WTBBC, for the three contests combined in 2025, a total of 2,289 teams entered and prize monies totaled $526,470. The all-time total payout since 2008 raised to $4,487,490.

Winners:

Big Bobcat

1. 28 pounds, 7 ounces

2. 26 pounds, 1 ounce

3. 25 pounds, 12 ounces

4. 23 pounds

5. 22 pounds, 12 ounces

Heaviest Grey Fox

$49,880 Nathan Schwartz, Dawson, Halfmann, Carl Halfmann

$28,460 Jack Gabriel

$21,320 DJ Moss, Ryan Raschke, Trevor Lalk

$14,180 Carson McCoy, Dillon Terrell, Clay Land

$7,040 Tyler Stefansen, Steve Burris, Mickie Ryerson

Two-way tie 10 pounds, 7 ounces

$21,420 (split)

Jeremy Cypert, Jeff Strahan, Jarrod Miller, John Weaver

Ricky Martinez, Cuatro Wardlaw, Gage Hernandez

Most Cats

(7) Carson McCoy, Dillon Terrell, Clay Land

Most Grey Fox

(80) David Bjork, Ben Bjork, Tyler McConathy

Most Coyotes (15) Jake Quine, Robert Miles, Monty Roberts, Jared Hampton

Cole Fine Guns celebrates 40 years

Lone Star outdoor newS

Premium firearms retailer, Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing, has reached its 40th anniversary. Over its four decades in business, Cole Fine Guns has established and upheld a strong reputation for providing top-quality firearms and exceptional customer service. Founder Rich Cole grew up knowing he wanted to be a gunsmith. After working for Beretta USA and apprenticing in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy, Cole established Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing in 1985. Since then, he has developed a team of experienced technicians devoted to the highest quality custom shotguns. Cole Fine Guns now has three locations in Naples, Florida, Harpswell, Maine and San Antonio.

2025 Spring

Turkey Season

North Zone Mar. 29 - May 11

South Zone Mar. 15 - Apr. 27

One-Turkey Counties Apr. 1 – 30

East Zone Apr. 22 - May 14

Check TPWD for more information.

Quiet toms

Continued from page 1

successes, mid-morning came without Osteen or his daughter being able to seal the deal on a boss gobbler.

“They needed to hit the road back to Houston by 11 a.m.,” Jones said. “I was about to call the hunt and had crawled out from our hide to grab the decoys at about 10:45 to try to avoid spooking some birds that were about 250 yards away, when I spotted a tom about 80 yards from us.”

Jones maneuvered himself back behind Osteen’s daughter without spooking the approaching gobbler. The bird started to close the distance before hanging up and acting decoy shy.

“The gobbler ended up circling behind us, preventing Claire from being able to get a shot,” Jones said. “Her dad, however, had a clear view of the tom, and took the shot, harvesting the longbeard. Although we were hoping the youngster was going to be the one pulling the trigger, she still got to experience the hunt.”

Hunting guide Zach Montalvo spent opening weekend guiding turkey hunters near Big Wells, where he said the birds were tight-lipped.

“We had 100-degree temperatures the day before the season opened, and then a cold front that brought strong winds and much cooler temperatures for the opening weekend,” Montalvo said. “The crazy winds and big weather change definitely didn’t help.”

Montalvo said that the birds gobbled and worked well on opening morning before the cold front arrived and the winds started gusting.

“After the cold front hit, there was very little gobbling activity,” Montalvo said. “You could see the longbeards strutting for hens, but they wouldn’t talk at all and were not responsive or aggressive towards calls. The gobblers just wouldn’t close the distance.”

Montalvo and his hunters had their best success sitting in high percentage areas where the turkey typically travel and not calling at all. They put a strutter decoy out, got comfortable, and waited for them to come by.

“The birds definitely seemed like they were running late,” Montalvo said. “They were in large flocks and not covering ground and gobbling like I would have thought they would be.”

In the Charlotte area, Miguel Morales guided hunters on El Tesoro Ranch, where he said the birds came off the roost on opening morning in a large group.

“We were lucky enough to be in the right position for my hunter to get a shot at a longbeard after he came off of the roost in an open area to strut for hens,” Morales said. “There were turkey all around us, and after they hit the ground, they really didn’t gobble much at all.”

NEW ZEALAND HUNTING TRIPS & FISHING ADVENTURES

Bryan Osteen harvested this gobbler with his daughter, Claire, alongside while hunting with his lifelong friend, Darren Jones, in Wilson County. Photo by Darren Jones.

Photo courtesy of BuxtoN loNghorNs

FISHING

Spring break sheepies

By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS

Each year, spring break goers come to Padre Island at Corpus Christi to spend the week and blow off steam. It also marks the start of the sheepshead run. Chris Salazar has made the trip many times to the island when he was younger.

“I started fishing about 2022 and I started seeing the posts of the fishing

Young guns shine at Classic

Easton Fothergill, a 22-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, used a stellar second day and a strong finish to win the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic March 23.

Feathergill used a 3/32-ounce Neko rig, in red bug, to catch most of his fish after spotting them on his forward-facing sonar, along with catching a few on an off-white jerkbait. He ended up winning the Ray Scott Trophy and $300,000.

“I had confidence in the Neko in the (slightly stained) water,” he said.

Fothergill finished the three-day event on Lake Ray Roberts with a total of 15 bass for 76 pounds, 15 ounces. It was the biggest winning

groups on Facebook,” he said.

When he saw posts that the sheepshead were running, Salazar and his friends decided to go down and fish during spring break.

The group started out at the jetties, but moved back to Packery Channel, where they had heard the action was.

“It was crowded,” Salazar said.

“You’re pretty much fishing shoulder to shoulder — hooks are flying around and weights are getting tan-

gled. It’s kind of hectic.”

Salazar said tempers stayed relatively cool despite the crowd of landbased anglers and boaters.

“The sheepshead haven’t really migrated towards the jetties yet,” he said. “Usually by this time they are thick at the jetties, but it seems the winter has stretched on a bit longer this year.”

Salazar and his friends had success using live shrimp with a split-shot.

Conroe largemouths on the comeback trail

By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS

When the MLF Bass Pro Series returned to Lake Conroe about a month ago, the lake produced good numbers of big bass for the pros.

“The lake showed out amazing, way more fish than we expected,” angler Jeff Sprague said.

The tournament allowed the use of forward-facing sonar, and the pros found fish in places where most fishermen wouldn’t cast.

Some fishermen see the technology as an unfair advantage when fishing, while others are all on board for any edge that makes them more efficient. Regardless, FFS highlights that we may not know as much as we think about largemouth and their habits.

Conroe is largely comprised of bulkheads and has little vegetation in much of the lake.

“In our lake in general a lot of our fish are offshore year-round,” said Chris Edwards with Catch a Trophy Fishing Guide Service. “They will go up and spawn — not all of them will go up at once but they come in waves.”

Fish at the north and west end of the lake tend to start their spawn sooner, as the water

weight in the 55-year history of the championship and was 8 1/2 pounds more than the nearest competitor.

Anglers said the bass were scattered and starting to spawn on Lake Ray Roberts, making getting bites difficult. When the pros, many of them in their early 20s, saw bass on their sonar and were able to get them to bite, the size of the North Texas lake’s fish was impressive.

Fothergill’s most important catch of the week came mid-afternoon Sunday. With only four bass in his livewell, he spotted and later hooked a fat bass suspended near a tree in the back of a slough. The bass ended up weighing 8 pounds.

“That was the fish that got it for me,” he said.

Fothergill caught 24 pounds, 15 ounces on

warms up faster. Edwards is currently targeting the larger females in deeper water.

“We are catching ours in pre-spawn spots right now,” he said. “The ones we have been catching lately still have eggs in them. We are catching them differently than other bass fishermen because we are also looking for a big hybrid.”

The guide has been using a gizzard shad on a Carolina rig or free-lining in 10-12 feet of water. He said fishermen can also find success with big swimbaits and deep-diving crankbaits. This year, his clients have landed one largemouth topping 10 pounds and several 8-pounders.

It is only on the north end of the lake where fishermen will find what appears like largemouth waters to most. The locals call it the jungle. This time of year, the jungle provides some of the best public access for those who don’t have a boat.

“It’s a great time for kayakers right now,” Edwards said. “Kayakers can get deep into the little pockets where the bigger boats can’t go, and bass go to spawn.”

Fishermen on foot also can get access to good water through Sam Houston Park.

“It’s gnarly up there,” Edwards said. “There are a lot of stumps.”

Fishermen have had success flipping and

Lone Star outdoor newS

Lake Conroe is producing some better largemouth bass this spring. Photo from Chris Edwards.

Easton Fothergill sets the hook on a bass at Lake Ray Roberts that helped him win the Bassmaster Classic at the age of 22. Photo by Seigo Saito, B.A.S.S.

Chris Salazar caught a limit of sheepshead at the Packery Channel. Photo from Chris Salazar.

Commercial port proposal dead —

By Tony Vindell

An ambitious project to try to convert Port Mansfield into a sort of commercial hub is dead — for now.

Port officials have been pushing the idea to bring hundreds of containers to this small fishing community on the east side of Willacy County and some 20 miles east of Raymondville.

The port, which falls under the jurisdiction of the taxing entity Willacy County Navigation District, has a permanent population of about 100 people. It is, however, a haven for retirees and out-of-town residents who own houses for relaxation.

A dozen or more fishing guides make the port their home base of operation and it’s also a popular spot for scores of fishing tournaments.

But for the past few years, Ron Mills, the port director, and several members of the WCND have been pushing the idea of bringing barges hauling shipping containers to the bedroom and fishing community, especially after the channel was dredged to a depth of 17 feet, enough for barge and tug traffic.

Commissioners Lefty Cavazos and Albert Trevino said the project is still alive and kicking even though it has been put on hold for the time being.

That’s because the navigation district entered into a 50-year lease agreement with a company named North American Standards, but it was terminated because the company failed to pay $300,000 at the end of last year.

NAS bills itself as a leading construction company in the Rio Grande Valley, staffed with a team of fully certified professionals who tackle everything from complex large projects to smaller scale jobs.

“They defaulted on their obligation so we terminated the contract with them,” Cavazos said.

However, Cavazos said they will continue looking for other options, adding they already have two potential prospects.

Cavazos said taking care of the port is their number one priority.

Buyback of oyster licenses proposed

By Craig Nyhus

Star outdoor newS

A buyback of 150 oyster licenses could help relieve pressure on public oyster reefs and complement oyster reef restoration efforts.

On Tuesday March 11, the Oyster License Buyback committee approved a plan that was disseminated Friday March 14, to all Oyster Harvest License Holders. The offer will last for 76 days, terminating on May 31. The offer is for $30,000 per license and contingent upon a minimum of 150 people accepting this one-time offer.

“In the event we do not reach the 150, the offer is null and void,” said Capt. Chuck Nasier, president of FlatsWorthy and a member of the committee. “We have had members deeply involved in raising the funds necessary to complete this transaction as it will be a minimum of $4.5 million.”

There are currently 546 active oyster licenses, so the reduction would be about 27 percent.

Nasier said he has worked with people in the oyster industry in negotiating the buy-

back number and price.

“They are hard-working people and I like them,” he said. “We were shooting for 190 licenses.”

FlatsWorthy is against all harvest on public reefs but hopes a reduction will bring down the number of oyster boats and crews.

“If there are 300 remaining boats and they increase their harvest capability, you haven’t done much, though,” Nasier said.

“The previous offer was $7,000 per license,” he said.

Funding for the buyback amount came from private donors and organizations, including $1 million from CCA Texas, and from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s buyback fund.

Initial reaction from members of the oyster industry appears to be mixed, with more favorable reactions from license holders whose vessels are older and in need of repair.

If the plan is unsuccessful, an alternate plan would likely consist of a lottery to activate licenses allowed to harvest oysters each year.

Lone

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Boats head out of the Port Mansfield harbor on a typical fishing morning. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 53 degrees; 1.28’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.

AMISTAD: Water stained; 63 degrees; 65.90’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits and crankbaits. White bass are good trolling crankbaits. Catfish are good on punch bait.

ARLINGTON: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.10’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and flipping baits. Crappie are fair on jigs.

ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 5.72’ low. Catfish are good on fresh cut gizzard shad.

ATHENS: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.44’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow.

AUSTIN: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.66’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs and jerkbaits.

BASTROP: Water stained; 68 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs.

BELTON: Water stained; 56 degrees; 2.65’ low. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.

BENBROOK: Water stained; 55 degrees; 1.20’ low. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait.

BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.60’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs, spinner baits, underspins and crankbaits.

BOIS D’ARC: water stained; 53 degrees; 2.86’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits, spinner baits, square-billed crankbaits and flukes. Crappie are good on jigs.

BRAUNIG: Water stained; 67 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms. Redfish are fair on shrimp and crawfish. Catfish are good on cheese bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water stained; 55 degrees; 9.03’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits and crankbaits. Hybrids and white bass are good on soft plastics and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

BROWNWOOD: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.09’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and squarebilled crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on crankbaits. Catfish are fair on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 18.43’ low. White bass and striper are good on live bait and jigs. Hybrids are good on jigs. Crappie are good on jigs.

CADDO: Water stained;

58 degrees; 1.59’ high. Largemouth bass are good on senkos, chatter baits and spinner baits.

CALAVERAS: Water lightly stained’ 72 degrees. Redfish are slow. Catfish are fair on shrimp, cut bait and cheese bait.

CANYON: Water stained; 64 degrees; 29.79’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads and dropshots.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.10’ high. Hybrids and white bass are good on plastic flukes. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 65 degrees; 33.84’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.

COLETO CREEK: Water stained; 67 degrees; 1.70’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.

COMANCHE CREEK: 65 degrees; 0.47’ low. Largemouth bass are good on drop-shots rigs and crankbaits. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

CONROE: Water stained; 59 degrees; 0.01’ high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, chatter baits, swimbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on punch bait.

COOPER: Water stained; 60 degrees: 2.00’ low. Crappie are good on jigs.

CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.13’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs, spinner baits, spoons and crankbaits.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 57 degrees; 4.64’ low. White bass are fair on slabs, rooster tails and inline spinners. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait and shad.

FALCON: Water stained; 70 degrees; 45.42’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait and live bait.

FAYETTE: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads, Carolina rigs, chatter baits and lipless crankbaits.

low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

GRANBURY: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.16’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and crankbaits. White bass are good on small jigs. Striped bass are fair on jerkbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad.

GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.12’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jigs and worms. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on road runners and jigs. Catfish are good on shad and live perch.

GRAPEVINE: Water slightly stained; 52 degrees; 0.49’ high. White bass are fair on slabs and soft plastics.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 59 degrees; 0.34’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 50 degrees; 13.60’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs and football jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

INKS: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.74’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics, crankbaits and spinner baits.

JACKSONVILLE: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.23’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs, wacky rigs and drop shots.

JOE POOL: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.56’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Catfish are good on cut bait.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 1.34’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs, spinner baits, spoons and lipless crankbaits.

FORK: Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, senkos and flukes. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.

FT PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 55 degrees; 7.31’

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 0.54’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and flukes. Catfish are good on cut gizzard shad.

LBJ: Water stained; 59 degrees; 0.23’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics, jigs, frogs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs.

LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 54 degrees; 1.43’ low. White bass are fair on jigs, slabs and live bait. Hybrid stripers are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

Catfish are fair on cut shad.

LIMESTONE: Water stained; 62 degrees; 1.37’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and chatter baits. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on rooster tails and beetle spins. Catfish are good on cut bait and minnows.

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.60’ high. White bass are good on lipless and square-billed crankbaits.

MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 61 degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, spinner baits and worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on jigging spoons. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.

MEREDITH: Water stained; 45 degrees; 47.37’ low. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair on silver spoons and artificial grubs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Walleye are good on minnows, worms and soft plastics. Catfish are fair on chicken liver, minnows, worms and shrimp.

MILLERS

CREEK: Water stained; 57 degrees; 2.79’ low. Catfish are fair on juglines.

high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. White bass are good on grubs, jigs and underspins.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.32’ low. Striped bass are fair on live bait. White bass are fair on live shad, lipless crankbaits and small jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad.

PROCTOR: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.18’ high. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait.

RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.01’ high. White bass are fair on slabs, roadrunners and small jigs. Hybrids are fair on flukes. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad, buffalo and carp.

RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.63’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are fair on live bait and slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

NACOGDOCHES: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.03’ high. Largemouth bass are good on stick baits and bladed jigs. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on live minnows and cut bait.

NACONICHE: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 0.50’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs and large glide baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow.

NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.45’ 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; 60 degrees; 0.27’ high. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait.

O H IVIE: Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 23.21’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are slow.

OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 18.73’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.55’

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.08’ high. White bass and hybrid striper are fair on jigs, slabs and spinners. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 58 degrees; 1.73’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on crankbaits and spinner baits. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 59 degrees; 2.00’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are fair on spoons and ghost minnows. Hybrids are slow. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.

SPENCE: Water stained; 58 degrees; 46.78’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are fair on spinner baits and spoons. Catfish are good on cut bait and dough baits.

STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 56 degrees; 3.32’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are fair on slabs.

TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 51 degrees; 0.62’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass and hybrid stripers are fair on jigs and spinners. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait.

TEXOMA: Water stained;

19

48 degrees; 2.85’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Striped bass are fair on live bait and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are slow.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.70’ low. Largemouth bass are good on wacky worms, Texas rigs, spinner baits and chatter baits. Crappie are fair on roadrunners and tube jigs.

TRAVIS: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 44.11’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits and Texas-rigged worms.

TYLER: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.30’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on weightless plastics, crankbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.

WACO: Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.83’ low. Crappie are good on jigs tipped with minnows. White bass are fair on underspins and jigs. Catfish are fair on minnows.

WALTER E LONG: Water lightly stained; 65 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, spinner baits, jerkbaits and chatter baits.

WHITNEY: Water stained; 56 degrees; 0.21’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Striped bass are good on live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait.

WORTH: Water stained; 57 degrees; 2.41’ low. White bass are good on underspins and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on shad and punch bait.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 55 degrees; 5.31’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

Shallow slabs

Continued from page 1

“There are some crappie to be found up the creeks, but the majority of the fish are concentrated along sandy, gravel banks,” Rotherham said. “The water level is so low on Buchanan that there really isn’t a lot of inflow in the creeks.”

Rotherham said the spawn is wide open, and he and his anglers are catching a good mix of both male and female fish. The majority of the crappie have been in the 1-pound range. Minnows rigged about 1.5 feet below a cork have worked best.

“We’ve been averaging about 35 crappie each trip,” he said. “The majority of the fish are white crappie.”

Rotherham said the fish also are willing to hit roadrunners and small jigs fished along the bank.

On Cedar Creek Lake, guide Justin Shelton said the crappie are in all stages of the spawn.

“We have some concentrations of fish spawning up creeks,” Shelton said. “There are also good numbers of crappie in a pre-spawn pattern, staging along the banks, as well as around boat docks. And we still have some fish roaming out in deeper water, too.”

Minnows and jigs fished in 6-10 feet of water inside creeks have been producing plenty of crappie, and stretches around the ends of boat docks in similar depths have been productive.

“We’ve been catching mostly female crappie, but there have been some males mixed in,” Shelton said. “Crappie of all sizes have been biting, and we’ve been catching some weighing up to about 2 pounds. The bigger fish have been stacking up in the creeks after rain events when there is more current from runoff.”

Guide Kayle Ward has been targeting crappie on Bois D’Arc Lake, where he said the spawn is just getting going.

“The majority of crappie are still in a pre-spawn mode right now, but there are a lot of fish transitioning to staging areas like flats and the backs of pockets and coves,” Ward said. “Most of the fish that have started moving to these staging areas are white crappie. The majority of black crappie are still out in deeper, main lake waters.”

Ward said his anglers have been catching steady limits of fish that are roaming in pre-spawn staging areas along the backs of coves, creek arms, drains, and flats in 5-18 feet of water. Bright-colored jigs have been producing the most strikes.

“The crappie are not schooled up,” Ward said. “We are just bouncing around and covering water to catch limits, and the majority of the fish are males.”

On Lake Granbury, James Davis said some crappie are stacked up along the banks and spawning, while others are in a pre-spawn stage in deeper water.

“The spawning fish are holding along the banks in 1 to 4 feet of water around brush, rock piles and retaining walls,” Davis said. “Crappie in a prespawn pattern have been staging in depths of 10 feet or less, out off of the banks.”

Davis has been mainly targeting pre-spawn fish with jigs, and his anglers have been catching mostly female white crappie in the 12-14-inch range.

Two Texas natives receive Bass HOF honors

Earl Golding and Phil Marks posthumously received the Meritorious Service Award from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, presented March 20 during the Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth.

Golding was a Waco-based sportswriter who is credited with starting the first competitive bass tournament, the Texas State Bass Championship.

Golding began his career at the Waco Tribune-Herald as a sports reporter in 1949 and began covering Texas’ hunting and fishing scenes a year later. In 1955, he hatched the idea of a fishing tournament to be sponsored by the newspaper as a way to determine who was the best bass angler in the state. Held at Lake Whitney, the invitation-only tournament was the first of its kind not only in Texas, but in the nation. Seventy-five anglers were invited and 73 showed up to fish.

The following year, Golding instituted an open format. This year’s Texas State Bass Tournament, as it’s presently known, is scheduled for April 26-27 at Toledo Bend Reservoir. The event will mark its 70th anniversary in 2026. It is believed to be the world’s oldest “open” bass fishing competition and has maintained the tradition of awarding the tournament champion only a commemorative wall plaque that carries the inscription “Winner of the State Tournament.” There is no cash payout.

In 1998, Golding was the fifth inductee in the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2007 at age 81.

Marks played a pivotal role in developing numerous tournament-proven baits for Strike King that turned into top sellers.

Marks spearheaded the development of baits that helped anglers from all backgrounds catch more fish.

Marks served as Strike King’s head of research and development and vice president of sales. He collaborated with key pro anglers to design and refine baits that helped win numerous titles at every level of tournament angling.

One of his signature creations was the Strike King 10XD crankbait, which he introduced to the world during his victory at the 2012 Sam Rayburn FLW Tour Open. He used a prototype version of the bait, along with other Strike King lures, to amass 82 pounds over four days, including a 32-pound, 12-ounce limit on the final day. That win and the exposure it created for the 10XD catapulted the lure to one of the all-time winningest baits in major tournament history.

Marks passed away at age 55 in 2020.

Spawning off and on

Continued from page 8

pitching creature baits and jigs, and large ribbon tails work as well.

“The spawn is really dependent on the weather,” Edwards said. “It can start as early as February and run through the end of April. Recent cold fronts have slowed down the spawn, and some of the fish have moved off their beds back to the pre-spawn spots.”

Classic

Continued from page 8

Day 1, a tournament-high 29 pounds, 6 ounces on Day 2 and 22 pounds, 10 ounces on the final day. Local favorite Lee Livesay, of Longview, finished third with 66 pounds, 10 ounces. Livesay spent much of the final day fishing in an old-school way, fan-casting coves for spawning or pre-spawn bass moving in. Trey McKinney, a 20-year-old from Carbondale, Illinois, joined the young gun movement of using his forward-facing sonar to spot individual bass and quickly moved up the leaderboard on the final day. Just off the lead until Fothergill landed his final big fish, McKinney finished second with 68 pounds, 7 ounces.

—Bass HOF

OUTDOOR BLOTTER

HELPING OUT

In March, Texas game wardens in the Panhandle responded and assisted after several motor vehicle accidents as a result of extreme winds. Wardens also assisted with a wildfire in Gray County.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL BALE BLIND

While assisting other law enforcement agencies, a Texas game warden and his K9 partner, Jake, were called to track a bailout suspect. Before starting their search for the bailout, Jake alerted to the vehicle — an indication people could be inside. However, Jake and his partner began pursuing the track of the bailout suspect and left the vehicle to be processed for evidence. After successfully locating and aiding in the apprehension of their suspect, the warden received a call from the agent at the scene telling him the haybale in the bed of the truck had just flipped over and requested assistance from the warden. Officers discovered 10 undocumented individuals hiding inside the fake hay bale.

GOOD MEMORY AND PERSISTENCE FROM ND WARDEN

North Dakota District Game Warden Drew Johnson found a set of deer sheds on a wildlife management area. Eight months later, he stopped a pickup with two occupants who had rifles but claimed they weren’t hunting. They did not have permits to hunt the part of the state that included the WMA. The warden observed blood on the tailgate, and the driver claimed he killed a buck in another area and showed the warden the head and cape he was taking to the taxidermist. The tag on the buck showed another area where it was killed. That night, the warden recalled the sheds he had found, and the similarity to the buck. At the taxidermist, he compared the shed to the buck. After seeing the similarities, a search warrant was obtained. A sample was obtained from the antlers and compared with the sheds. The DNA matched. The shooter, who had failed to return calls, appeared and admitted he killed the buck near the WMA.

Sheepies on the rocks

Continued from page 8

“The least amount of gear possible is going to keep you from hanging up in the jetties or rocks,” he advised.

There is no need to cast your shrimp a country mile.

“Eight to 10 feet away from the rocks and you can catch a limit pretty quickly,” Salazar said. “There were people casting to the middle of the channel but they weren’t catching much.”

For sheepshead fishing, Salazar recommends using an octopus hook with enough backbone that the fish can’t cut it with its teeth. He said the sheepies should move out to the jetties and remain there until early May.

DOM INATE

The all-new ZXR SE—crafted to elevate your fishing experience without elevating your expenses. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, part of a high school or college fishing team, or simply chasing your passion, the ZXR SE is designed to deliver exceptional performance in a streamlined package. Redefining what “entry-level” can be, with a spacious front deck, generous storage capacity, and ergonomic performance seats, the ZXR SE isn’t just budget-friendly, it’s boundary-breaking –proving that greatness doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

ZXR SE. Simplicity, performance, and purpose—refined. Visit your nearest dealer to discover your future on the water today!

•

FROM WORK TO PLAY

WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

CCA San Antonio Celebrates its

Conservation Association San Antonio chapter’s 46th Annual Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, May 1 at the Freeman Coliseum Exposition Hall. Doors open at 5pm. Our banquet is one of the largest fundraisers annually in San Antonio and your support plays a huge part in the success of CCA San Antonio. All money raised in Texas stays in Texas!

The San Antonio chapter of the CCA is one of the oldest and largest chapters in the country and is a great contributor to CCA Texas. All guests receive their annual CCA membership. Our banquet is catered by Don Strange of Texas, and includes an open bar featuring beer, wine and premium liquor, and a variety of food stations.

We have many ways of raising money including table sales and sponsorships.

stuffed ice chest sales, $10 raffle items, silent auction, two 10-gun raffles including pistols and long guns, and large raffles including a new boat, motor & trailer, Kawasaki Mule & trailer, 2 kayaks on a trailer, and twin e-bikes. The big event of the night is our live auction featuring hunting and fishing trips from all over the world, plus artwork, custom guns, family trips and much more.

We anticipate a sellout, so please help protect our coastal resources by attending. Visit us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Please use code LSON.

CCA SAN ANTONIO

☎ (210) 289-8821

✉ REATON@EATONCONTRACTING.COM CCATEXAS.ORG/SAN-ANTONIO

ADDING SALT

Learning with the new bay boat

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

After years of working and saving, you’re ready. You rent (or buy) a place near the coast, you’ve fished the bays a few times with guides, but you want to do it on your own.

You’ve just pulled the new Skeeter SX2550 Fish bay boat into the driveway and are ready to take it out. You’ve taken your boater education course. You have experience on the water, but it’s all been on Texas lakes. You’re not worried about driving from the center of the boat, but you’re a little uneasy about navigating the bays — and finding fish — on your own.

Capt. Nathan Beabout has guided for years and also runs some navigation trips, teaching anglers how to read and use electronics in saltwater. But you’re more concerned with the shallow water depths, obstructions and numbers of people on weekends.

Beabout said you can learn a lot just by looking at the water.

“Even though you’re unfamiliar with the area, you still need to know how to read the area,” he said. “Water color tells you about the depth — green is deeper, white and dark is shallower.”

A few of Beabout’s tips are obvious, but not always remembered in the excitement of running a new craft.

“Don’t run wide open, at least right away,” he said. “Take your time — pay attention out in front of you and just cruise.”

When in the shallows or over reefs, more care is required.

“If you’re unsure about the safety of the depth, put your trolling motor down and creep through or, if you’re able, get out and walk in the water.”

On a tip from experienced guides when he started, Beabout said this was “the smartest thing I did” for both fishing and duck hunting.

“After a cold front, when there’s not a cloud in the sky, you have sunshine so you can see the bottom,” he said. “Go out in low tides, anchor at the end of a reef and walk it. You’ll see and feel little areas with guts and troughs. It’s a 3-D feel, not just a look from the top. You’ll learn where the edges of the reef are — and you’ll learn the best areas for fish, areas to go and areas not to go when you return and the water is higher. Then mark those areas on your electronics for when you come back and you’ll know where you are.”

Beabout said picking the days to go might be the most important advice.

“Pick and choose the days you go fishing, and skip the bad days,” he said.

Chuck Nasier is a former longtime fly-fishing guide and the president of FlatsWorthy, an organization that promotes respect for fellow bay users, the resource and the law.

Nasier said it’s important, as a new bay boat owner, to ask yourself a few questions before heading out.

“Where are you going to go, what is your target and how are you going to fish are a few,” he said. “My recommendation would be to find a guide and be honest with him or her on what you want to do. Then really learn the particular bay where you are going to focus — that’s a good start. Fish only that area during differences in seasons, water levels and wind directions. Then you can apply those things when you go somewhere else.”

The extra time spent in one area will pay off, Nasier

said.

“You have to put the effort into it yourself,” he said. “But there are a multitude of resources if you invest the time in it.”

Nasier said boaters new to saltwater bays need to learn to deal with crowds while being courteous to others, especially in prime fishing areas.

In some areas, you’ll find a number of boats drifting with the wind, requiring the knowledge of which direction they are headed so as not to cut them off. If you do, you may well hear about it from the fishermen on the drifting boats.

As the years have gone by, Beabout prefers to simply avoid those areas and find fishing spots that receive less pressure.

When making a long run, visibility is key, despite the electronics.

“A Garmin is not a radar,” Nasier said. “It won’t show approaching vessels. And learn there are days you just don’t go. Be aware of weather systems and wind switches.”

A pet peeve of anglers up and down the coast is “burning the shoreline,” often done on windier days. If you do it while wade-fishermen are moving slowly toward the bank, you might hear their yells over the sound of your Yamaha 300hp 4-stroke.

“All of the boats can run just fine in a 3-foot chop,” Beabout said. “There’s no reason to run the bank anymore.”

Nasier said it’s a matter of courtesy.

“A boat burning the shoreline alters the fishing in that area for everyone for the rest of the day until everything resets,” he said.

Skeeter Boats

REGISTER NOW FOR WCYF TOURNAMENT

The 2025 Willacy County Young Farmers “Bullet’ Bob Austin Memorial Fishing Tournament is just two months away.

And guess what? Anyone can register online now by going to the organization’s website. The annual event is slated for May 24, or the Saturday of the Memorial Day Weekend, in Port Mansfield. Its proceeds go to award scholarships to graduating high school students from Willacy County, to a number of nonprofit organizations and to those who enter show animals in the county’s Livestock Show and Fair. The tournament will have its three divisions - Piggy Perch, Bay and Offshore.

WCYF “BULLET” BOB AUSTIN MEMORIAL FISHING TOURNAMENT ✉ BYRANTSOENDKER5@GMAIL.COM. WILLACYCOUNTYYOUNGFARMERS.GODADDYSITES.COM

Shallow Sport & SCB Owners Tournament to celebrate 25 years

May 9-10 marks the 25th anniversary of the Shallow Sport & SCB Owners Fishing Tournament, presented by Suzuki Marine and Visit South Padre Island. This traditional opener to the South Texas tournament season has always set the gold standard. What started as a competition among a handful of local fishing guides has grown into one of the nation’s largest saltwater owners’ fishing tournaments, drawing thousands of participants from several different states.

This event has a well-earned reputation as one of the biggest and best tournaments on the Gulf Coast, and this year is even bigger with a Texassized celebration in honor of the anniversary.

The official event kicks off with the Registration Party on Friday, May 9 at the South Padre Island Convention Centre. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and visit vendor booths while your team completes their registration, purchases raffle tickets and browses new custom Shallow Sport merchandise. At registration, each participant will collect their coveted “swag bag,” which includes a custom long-sleeve Dri-fit event shirt, tournament bag, neoprene event koozie, bag of custom KWiggler lures and various other goodies. Also this year there will be live country music by The Brody Rivers Band and a mechanical bull-riding competition as well as other games and chances at winning prizes. The energy and anticipation of the tournament fills the room as new and old friends catch up before an amazing day on the water.

Saturday morning before dawn, boats begin to trickle past Louie’s Backyard to join in what feels like the world’s coolest boat parade. Hundreds of boats gather to await the signature ‘BOOM’ of the longest-running cannon take-off blast. Seeing 250 boats take-off at once is quite the spectacle as the competition begins. Each team is allowed to weigh in one slot redfish, one speckled trout and one flounder per boat.

In 2021, the tournament created a popular

scavenger hunt competition, where lucky anglers who come across one of the many bright green floating buoy balls distributed throughout the fishing grounds are awarded a guaranteed prize at weigh-in. This year the scavenger hunt is expanded to also take place on land, allowing family members and friends who aren’t fishing to have some fun around the island and win prizes.

Participants and guests head to Louie’s Backyard for a live-streamed on-stage weigh-in to show off their catch and take team photos from 1-3 p.m. before getting ready for the night’s festivities at the Convention Centre.

The Awards Banquet is unlike any other in South Texas, with the banquet hall transformed into an unforgettable night of entertainment with professional lighting, audio shows and a video recap of the tournament, while Bill Miller BBQ serves the participants dinner. More than 40 handcrafted trophies will be awarded to the day’s top catches in Guided, Amateur, and Youth divisions before the highly anticipated drawing for the winner of the 2025 Tournament Raffle Boat; a brand new 22-foot Sport with a 200hp Suzuki motor and McClain trailer. This year’s raffle boat will feature unique and one-of-a-kind details that match the tournament theme.

With more than $250,000 in prizes given away, everyone has a good chance of going home a winner. The 2025 Shallow Sport & SCB Owner’s Tournament will be an event you and your family do not want to miss. Make sure to register early as registration is capped at 250 boats, with the next price increase happening May 1.

Nearly 27 million fish were stocked in Texas public waters in 2024, with more than 400 different waterbodies stocked.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division stocked 17 different species, sub-species or hybrids in 2024, with 7.9 million of the fish stocked in rivers, ponds and lakes associated with 50 state parks.

In 2022, licensed anglers spent an estimated $9.2 billion on food, lodging, transportation and equipment while fishing Texas freshwater and coastal waters, and sportfishing supported an estimated 78,040 Texas jobs.

Sportfishing provides a statewide economic impact of $14 billion in Texas annually. Meanwhile, the local economic value of Texas’ top largemouth bass fisheries ranges from $10-$37 million annually. The striped bass fishery at Lake Texoma is valued at $47 million annually, while river fishing in the Hill Country for species such as Guadalupe bass, white bass, rainbow trout and Rio Grande cichlid was recently estimated at $74 million over a 16-month period.

Texas’ oldest state fish hatchery currently in operation, Heart of the Hills, in Mountain Home, was constructed in 1925 and celebrates its centennial this year. The Inland Fisheries Division operates and maintains five additional state fish hatcheries: Dundee located in Electra (built 1927), A.E Wood in San Marcos (1949), Possum Kingdom in Graford (1950), Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens (1996), and John D. Parker in Brookeland (2012).

Highlights of the state’s fish production and stocking efforts during 2024 included the production of 5.7 million striped bass and hybrid striped bass fingerlings, 6.3 million Lone Star Bass (Pure Florida ShareLunker lineage bass), and 189,117 ShareLunker fingerlings.

Typically, 2-inch fingerlings of species such as striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and blue catfish are stocked from April through July. Channel catfish ranging from 2-12 inches are stocked from March through November while rainbow trout are stocked from late November through early March.

Lone Star outdoor newS

PHOTO : GUY HARVEY

Classic winner a Skeeter/Yamaha pro

Easton Fothergill became the 2025 Bassmaster Classic Champion on Sunday, March 23, on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, bringing in a threeday total weight of 76 pounds, 15 ounces, and setting a new record for the biggest winning weight in the 55-year history of the prestigious fishing tournament. It was all done while fishing from his Skeeter boat and powered by his Yamaha outboard.

The 22-year-old rookie sensation from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is a two-time Bassmaster Classic Qualifier and first-year Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Angler who joined the Skeeter/Yamaha Pro Team in January. The $300,000 championship trophy is the top prize in bass fishing.

“For all the kids out there dreaming about competing in the Classic, this is proof that it can happen,” said Fothergill. “The college bracket is why I am here today. Dream big, work hard and anything is possible.”

In August 2023, Fothergill underwent surgery to remove an infected brain abscess. Just weeks later, he won the Bassmaster College Bracket on Milford Lake in Kansas, where he qualified to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Oklahoma. His hot streak continued with two Bassmaster Open wins last year, which earned him an invitation to fish the Bassmaster Elite series as well as a berth in this year’s Classic on Ray Roberts.

Fothergill fished with confidence on Lake Ray Roberts, catching 24 pounds, 15 ounces on day 1 to secure third place. He followed that with a

tournament high of 29 pounds, 6 ounces on day 2, giving him a commanding lead of 8 1/2 pounds going into Championship Sunday. He caught 22-10 on day 3. Rising temperatures started the spawn on Ray Roberts, too, and bass were scattered across the 23,950-acre reservoir as they began moving to shallow water. His most important catch of the week came mid-afternoon Championship Sunday and with only four bass in his livewell.

“I was scared (of losing) at 1 o’clock and with only four fish, but that was the fish that got it for me,” said Fothergill. “Running a Yamaha gave me the absolute confidence I’ll make it back to weigh in. I was able push it to the very last minute to get that fishing time I needed, and it showed with that crucial 8-pounder bite at 2:30.”

In addition to Fothergill’s win, Yamaha-powered pro Lee Livesay placed third with 66 pounds, 10 ounces while Yamaha Pro Patrick Walters and 2024 Bassmaster Classic Champion Justin Hamner placed ninth and 10th with 55 pounds, 2 ounces and 53 pounds, 3 ounces respectively.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Fothergill earned an additional $20,000.

Yamaha Pro Anglers kicked off 2025 with a strong winning streak. Leading up to Fothergill’s Classic victory, Bill Lowen won the first Elite event on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, and Brandon Palaniuk captured first place at the second Elite event on Lake Okeechobee in Okeechobee, Florida.

ELEVEN LUNKERS WEIGHED IN THIS YEAR

Texas lakes have been

Jason

Easton Fothergill. Photo by Seigo Saito, B.A.S.S.

SEE THE UNSEEN WITH PROFESSIONAL LAKE MANAGEMENT

There’s a lot going on under the surface of a lake or pond, and when the body of water is the centerpiece of your rural retreat, unseen changes can catch you off-guard.

Some think once a lake or pond has been built, it will naturally take care of itself. But that is simply not the case if you want a thriving fishery or a landscape water feature that will maximize the aesthetics and recreational possibilities for a property.

“Pond and lake management is best not left to chance,” said John Jones, president of Lochow Ranch Pond & Lake Management. “A properly maintained pond or lake will grace your ranch or farm with natural beauty and endless recreation options for generations to come.”

Lochow Ranch’s certified team of biologists and water maintenance experts provides the full range of lake and pond management techniques, including water quality and clarity testing and improvement, vegetation control and removal of pond weeds, liming and fertilizing, algae control, erosion and sediment control, identification and control of predators and much more.

If a fishery is your goal, Lochow Ranch’s experts bring state-of-the-art techniques and expertise to maximizing your environment for game fish to thrive. The team is known across the South for its electrofishing surveys that yield the most accurate inventory of a lake’s fish population. The company also provides fish stocking,

including a full range of game and forage fish, as well as supplemental fish feeders that help spur growth.

“We’re growing some really big fish,” Jones said.

New technologies and management techniques are at the forefront.

“We’re using drones to help analyze lakes and fisheries, and we’re constantly working toward solutions on otter deterrence and trapping — they can wipe out a lot of your best and biggest fish,” Jones said.

Everything starts with the property owners’ goals for the lake, whether swimming, boating, or a fishing hotspot for family and friends.

“Many property owners like some combination of all three,” Jones said.

Lochow Ranch provides turnkey pond and lake management and maintenance services to landowners across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The company also works in partnership with its affiliated company, Shoreline Consulting, to design and build new lakes and expand or renovate existing ones.

These professional techniques take the guesswork out of maintaining your body of water and ensure you can make faster progress toward your goals.

“We can establish fundamental management practices,” Jones said. “Having that solid foundation can help your lake thrive despite seasonal disturbances and

PALACIOS ESCAPE TO

broader environmental conditions.”

Lochow Ranch’s biologists and fleet of trucks are based in Bryan, Texas. They manage more than 6,000 lakes across the region — and they are offering their services into the southeastern states.

“Our aim is to help you reach your goals so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your beautiful body of water,” Jones said.

GRIP & GRIN

Austin Owens landed this red drum in South Bay near Aransas Pass.

Pake South caught this 4.82-pound smallmouth at Lake Texoma.

Jay Lehmer, from Gunter, with his peregrine falcon, Sandy, with a drake mallard she caught.

Lee Hogue caught this Lake Fork bass while fishing with his brother-in-law.

Leighton Ramsey, 10, of Midland, shot her first deer in Crockett County with her dad, Austin. She made a 125-yard shot with a 6mm Creedmore.

TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES

LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER

Solution on Page 20

ACROSS

1) Cuero’s team name

3) A nontoxic shot

5) One of the setters

9) Mule deer hunters’ org.

10) Sweetwater’s county

11) Good white bass river

13) One of the hawks

14) Don’t forget on the turkey hunt

16) A Great Lake

18) A turkey call

19) Guadalupe County’s seat

22) Formerly Town Lake (2 words)

25) Corpus Christi’s county

26) Ammo brand

27) Sinker type

30) Bassmaster Classic lake, Ray ___

31) The tom’s show-off moves

32) An African antelope

33) Fishing knot

37) Shot size used by some turkey hunters

40) One of the falcons

41) The landlocked sockeye salmon

43) Hunting boot brand

44) Hunting TV host

45) Trout species

46) A deer favorite, mesquite ____

2) Turkey species 4) Shotgun type (3 words)

6) Axis buck’s mating call

7) Hill Country lake

8) A soft plastic lure

12) Safari destination

15) Taylor County’s seat

17) A bird’s food-storage pouch

20) Salmon species

21) Seymour’s county

22) Central Texas lake

23) Rifle brand

24) The main antlers

28) Brazos County’s seat

29) One of the cats

34) A duck favorite

35) One of the divers

36) Sherman’s county

38) Border lake

39) Montgomery County’s seat

42) A bob and blue combo

S&W promotion

Chad Patrick was promoted to vice president of sales at Smith & Wesson.

Ruff named Fiocchi’s sales director

Fiocchi of America named Todd Ruff as director of sales.

Promotions at Swanson Russell

Swanson Russell promoted Sam Larson to account director and Will Folsom to public relations counsel.

Barrett Firearms to expand

Barrett’s new $76.4 million campus-style industrial precinct, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, will double the Barrett workforce over the next five years.

Agency for KGM Suppressors

KGM Suppressors retained Covey Sales & Marketing as its sales representative group for the Midwest territory.

Baltzegar named COO

Daniel Defense named James Baltzegar as its chief operating officer.

New board members at DSC

Dallas Safari Club members elected Rebecca Jones, Jay Leyendecker and Russell Stacy to the DSC Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting held March 13.

Sweet promoted at Trijicon Trijicon, Inc. promoted Gary Sweet to vice president of sales and marketing.

*email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

2 turkey breasts

8 slices bacon

1 box creamed spinach

1/2 cup onion, diced

1/2 cup tomatoes, diced Garlic powder

Salt and pepper

Spinach:

4 tbsps. unsalted butter

1 yellow onion, minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 tsps. Kosher salt

1 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 1/2 cups half-and-half

2 1/4 lbs. fresh leaf spinach

1 cup mozzarella cheese

4 ozs. cream cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Slice turkey breasts in half so they fold open. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook the breasts over medium heat. When cooked-through, set aside in an oven-safe dish.

Creamed spinach: In a skillet, add butter, and diced onion and cook until onions become clear. Add cream cheese, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese until melted and combined. Add the halfin-half and flour to thicken. Stir until combined. Add spices to taste. When combined, add the spinach. Keep adding and stirring in the spinach until there is enough spinach to see that the spinach and cheese is equally combined. Continue to cook until thickened.

When done, spoon the creamed spinach to the opened turkey breasts in the pan, and close the breasts so the creamed spinach is covered by the breasts. Add additional cheese on top of breasts and add tomatoes to the dish with the breasts. Broil the breasts in the oven until the cheese is melted and remove from oven. Let cool before serving.

—Virginia DNR

4 sheepshead fillets, skinless and boneless

1-2 tbsps. mayonnaise

Salt and cracked black pepper

Garlic powder

Crumble: 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs

2 tbsps. fresh parsley, finely chopped

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 tbsps. olive oil

Salt and cracked black pepper Squeeze of lemon juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare crumble by adding all ingredients and combining. Put sheepshead fillets onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and add mayo and then salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add parmesan crumble on top when ready to put your fish in the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes and then turn oven on broil for 1 minute to crisp up crumble.

—U. of Florida

Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT

SABINE LAKE: 57 degrees. Speckled trout are good on suspended baits and soft plastics. Redfish are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are good on Carolina-rigged live shrimp.

BOLIVAR: 60 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on suspending baits and soft plastics. Sand trout, sheepshead and black drum are fair on live and dead shrimp. Oversized black drum are good on halved fresh crab.

TRINITY BAY: 66 degrees. Redfish are fair on shrimp and soft plastics. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics, suspending baits and top-waters.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: 67 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits. Black drum are good on live shrimp.

GALVESTON BAY: 62 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Black drum are good on live shrimp. Oversized black drum are good on live crab.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: 62 degrees.

Speckled trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics, live shrimp and suspending twitch baits. Black drum are good on live shrimp.

TEXAS CITY: 66 degrees. Speckled trout, redfish and black drum are good on live shrimp and finger mullet. Oversized drum and bull reds are good on fresh crab.

FREEPORT: 67 degrees. Speckled trout, redfish and flounder are good on soft plastics. Black drum and sheepshead are good on live shrimp.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 64 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics, top-waters and suspending baits.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 64 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics and top-waters. Black drum are good on live shrimp.

PORT O’CONNOR: 68 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics or live shrimp. Oversized drum are fair on blue crab. Redfish are fair on Spanish sardines and blue crab.

SAN ANTONIO BAY: 65 degrees. Redfish are fair on Spanish sardines and cut bait. Speckled trout are fair on live piggy perch.

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 and mud minnows. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics.

PORT ARANSAS: 62 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp. Bull redfish are good on cut crab and mullet. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 70 degrees. Redfish and black drum are good on dead shrimp and mud minnows. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics.

BAFFIN BAY: 55 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on suspending twitch baits, soft plastics and top-waters. Black drum are good on live shrimp.

PORT MANSFIELD: 60 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good on top-waters and soft plastics.

SOUTH PADRE: 67 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and live shrimp. Bull redfish and oversized black drum are fair on cut bait or fresh crab. Mangrove snapper are good on live and dead shrimp.

Mixed bag along coast

Continued from page 1

the edges of the shell,” Sanchez said.

On the upper coast, Sabine area guide, Capt. Chris Phillips, spent spring break bouncing back and forth between Keith Lake and the Sabine Pass ship channel.

“When it was breezy, I hid from the wind in the protected waters of Keith Lake where I found black drum, sheepshead and redfish over oyster shell and along the edges of rocks, using live shrimp fished under a popping cork or fished along the bottom.”

When conditions permitted and water clarity was better, Phillips fished along the ship channel with his anglers to catch limits of redfish. There were also good numbers of trout, sheepshead and black drum in the mix, caught on live shrimp or soft plastics bounced off the bottom. All of the fish were hanging out along shell humps or rocky banks.

“I was able to venture out to the jet ties one day,” Phillips said. “There were sheepshead stacked along the rocks, and my anglers were catching them nearly ev ery cast on free-lined live shrimp.”

In spring break hotspot South Padre Island, Capt. Glenn Harrison said his anglers were able to catch good numbers of redfish and speckled trout.

“The tides were unseasonably low, and the redfish were feeding in super-shallow water,” he said. “The reds were hanging out over mud flats in as skinny of water as you can fish in. My anglers were able to sight-cast to them using fluke-style baits rigged on spinning tackle. I also had some fly-anglers that had great success sight-casting to redfish with large, shrimp-pattern flies.”

Keeper-sized speckled trout were hanging out along color changes in 2.5-3 feet of water, with soft plastics producing the best action.

“There were drum cruising along in the same areas near color changes,” Harrison said. “I always kept a rod rigged with a scented strip bait handy so we could sight-cast to a drum if we spotted one cruising by.”

Harrison said larger trout could be spotted up shallow over mud flats with the redfish, and the jetties also were loaded with sheepshead.

Call Rick at (970) 852-1708 or send an email to rick@charitysafaris.com www.charitysafaris.com

Anglers over spring break in the Corpus Christi area found plenty of black drum, despite the changing and windy conditions. Photo by Capt. Dominic Sanchez.

ARKANSAS AGFC communications chief honored

Trey Reid, assistant chief of communications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, was named Ducks Unlimited’s 2025 Conservation Communicator of the Year for his dedication to promoting waterfowl hunting and the conservation of waterfowl habitat at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.

—AGFC

WISCONSIN

All operations in Wisconsin

KENTUCKY B&C honors Demmars, Rey

The Boone and Crockett Club presented Bill and Linda Demmer and Mark Rey with its most prestigious award, the Conservation and Stewardship Award, for their leadership on the William A. Demmer Scholars Program. The award was presented during the Club’s annual spring meeting held in Louisville. The Demmer Scholars Program was conceived in 2009 by Bill and Linda Demmer to provide college students with exposure to and experience in policy making on a national level related to natural resources and conservation.

Henry Repeating Arms announced a commitment to establishing 100 percent of its manufacturing operations in the state. The commitment includes transferring all of its Bayonne, New Jersey manufacturing operations to its newly expanded state-of-the-art headquarters in Rice Lake and two additional facilities in nearby Ladysmith.

“We are putting all of our eggs in one basket, the Wisconsin basket, because it makes us more efficient, more productive and allows for more collaboration amongst our design and engineering teams, all while sustaining and enhancing Henry’s solid reputation for quality,” said Anthony Imperato, founder and CEO of Henry Repeating Arms.

—Henry

OHIO

Lake Erie double-dippers busted

Law enforcement officers assigned to Lake Erie recently closed two cases in which anglers unlawfully took more than the legal daily limit of six walleye.

Ohio Wildlife investigators discovered anglers at Huron Fishing Access Boat Launch in Erie County were double tripping, an unlawful practice of surpassing daily bag limits by taking multiple trips onto Lake Erie in a day. In total, 10 anglers were charged in Huron Municipal Court.

Each of the fishermen were found guilty and paid fines ranging from $210 to $310. The fish were forfeited. Two of the defendants had previous charges for taking more than the legal limit of walleye on Lake Erie.

—ODNR

Unusual bill

Continued

public access to outdoor recreation.”

Mark Rey has led development and teaching of program content to each of the 389 Demmer Scholars to date. The program requires a competitive application for a 12week natural resource policy course and paid internship with a government agency or nongovernmental organization active in natural resources policy making in Washington, D.C.

NOVA

SCOTIA, CANADA

Huge fines for releasing fish

Smallmouth bass were introduced to Nova Scotia legally in the 1940s. Since that time, the bass have moved out of the waters where they were originally introduced and are competing with native coldwater species, like salmon and trout.

In an effort to protect native fishes, the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture put a regulation in place ordering anglers to euthanize smallmouth bass in the Margaree River watershed. Anglers who catch a smallmouth bass in those areas must kill the fish and retain it. Failure to do so can result in a $100,000 fine for a first offense and up to a $500,000 fine for a second offense, with the possibility of two years’ jail time. Chain pickerel are also a problem in the province after being illegally introduced in the 1940s. Anglers fishing the East River in Pictou County must also kill any chain pickerel they catch, or they could face the same fine schedule.

—Staff report

TPWD doesn’t comment on proposed legislation, but said in a statement:

“Our 89 state parks welcome more than nine million visitors each year. The Texas legislature has an existing Sunset Commission that reviews the efficacy of all state agencies, and TPWD underwent that process in 2021.”

After considerable backlash, much on social media, Curry said on March 24 he no longer intends to push the bill. Curry told KWTX, in Waco, that his decision was made after a “series of productive conversations” with TPWD staff.

“While this bill might have ruffled some feathers, I believe the conversation was necessary, and I appreciate TPWD’s willingness to work with me for the benefit of all Texans,” he said.

Texas turkey trip

Continued from page 4

longbeards followed them. I was able to line up two and make a good shot.”

Carl took his second gobbler on the second morning of their trip.

“The birds were acting kind of finicky that morning and weren’t talking much,” he said. “After trying a couple of areas without success, we picked a spot during the mid-morning hours where birds would likely be moving through.”

They heard one gobble, and then a few minutes later, two longbeards started heading their way. Then both birds went into the brush as if they had been spooked. One finally came out and headed their way again, this time in full strut.

“When he got to 50 yards, I took my shot,” Bock said. “The bird fell right there, sealing the deal on another great morning in South Texas.”

Bock and his sons said they look forward to their Texas turkey trip every spring.

“The Rio Grande turkey down here are just a blast to hunt,” Carl said. “But more than the birds, it’s the people that keep us coming back. The guides have become our friends, and there’s just so many great people who we have made memories and friendships with over the years. And that’s what trips like this are all about.”

Big changes

After the next two years in Atlanta, the convention will be held in Houston from 20282030.

New DSC five-year schedule:

2026 Atlanta dates:

Friday to Sunday (2/6/2026 to 2/8/2026)

2027 Atlanta dates:

Thursday to Sunday (1/7/2027 to 1/10/2027)

2028 Houston dates: Friday to Sunday (1/28/2028 to 1/30/2028)

2029 Houston dates: Thursday to Sunday (2/15/2029 to 2/18/2029)

2030 Houston dates: Thursday to Saturday (1/24/2030 to 1/26/2030)

Other changes made include a robust exhibitor-partner incentive program to reward those who remain loyal throughout the Atlanta show dates, the hiring of The Moore Group, a globally recognized marketing firm and a strategic partnership with the NRA.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation for everyone involved with DSC for their valuable input and patience throughout this important process,” McCanna said. “Our DSC exhibitors, sponsors, members, and other supporters are the lifeblood of this great organization. With your continued support, the vibrant health of DSC will allow us to strongly deploy our global work for the benefit of hunters and conservation.”

APRIL 3

DELTA WATERFOWL

Cowtown Dinner

The Ostreum (817) 715-7008

deltawaterfowl.org

APRIL 4

DELTA WATERFOWL

Trinity Valley Banquet

Dayton Community Center (936) 641-2040

deltawaterfowl.org

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

DATEBOOK

APRIL 10

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Austin Dinner Branch Park Pavillion (512) 217-8483 ducks.org

APRIL 11

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Rockwall Dinner Hidden Creek, Heath (972) 757-5357 ducks.org

APRIL 11-13

TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION

Midland Hunting & Fishing Extraganza Midland County Horseshoe ttha.com

APRIL 12

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB

Oklahoma Chapter Banquet

Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma City dscok.org

APRIL 17

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Brazos Valley Deer Camp Brazos Center, Bryan whitetailsunlimited.com

APRIL 19

MULE DEER FOUNDATION

North Texas Banquet

Knights of Columbus Hall, Keller (325) 277-6770 muledeer.org

DUCKS UNLIMITED Matagorda County Banquet

Bay City Civic Center (979) 216-6818 ducks.org

APRIL 25

DUCKS UNLIMITED Ellis County Dinner Waxahachie Civic Center (214) 673-7264 ducks.org

APRIL 26-27

TEXAS GUN & KNIFE SHOWS

Kerrville Happy State Bank Expo Hall (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

APRIL 26

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

Bell County Banquet Cadence Bank Center, Belton (254) 707-0081 rmef.org

MAY 1

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

San Antonio Banquet Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall (210) 289-8821 ccatexas.org

Business v. fishing

Continued from page 9

“Yes,” he asserted. “We want to bring containers but smaller ones.”

Trevino said the port needs to diversify its operations.

“There are some people who want to see the port as it is,” he said. “We want progress.”

Mills reportedly said the port has received millions of dollars for dredging the Port Mansfield channel and structure improvements in the last five years.

But the thought of turning the port into a tugboat/barge type of operation has drawn the ire of a group of residents and homeowners used to the tranquility and fishing opportunities the port has to offer.

Miller and Kathy Bassler and members of a grassroots organization called Concerned Citizens of Port Mansfield are among them.

“It has been a big fight,” Miller Bassler said, referring to the latest development. “And it’s not over yet.”

He said Port Mansfield is one of the best fishing places in the entire country, adding it would be a big loss to the fishing community if the port was turned into a commercial type of operation.

Residents fear development such as barge docks, a truck terminal, loading and unloading facilities and other development could forever change the community.

Bassler said dozens of people are opposed to that idea. Yet, he added, only a few members of the PMND are in favor of it.

“We have been fishing here since the early 1900s and bought a place in 2006,” he said. “This is a popular getaway for people from all over.”

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