Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
October 22, 2021
Volume 18, Issue 5
Impressive, heavy bucks Andree Tobias, 16, caught this blue catfish while fishing with guide Michael Houston on Lake Waco. Photo by Michael Houston.
Lakes still in transition By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Freshwater fish are in a transition period between summer and fall patterns, and guides have been employing multiple strategies to keep their clients hooked up on catfish, crappie, white bass, stripers and largemouth bass across the state. Michael Houston said the blue catsfish are beginning to move from deep to shallow water as fall action emerges on Lake Waco. “A lot of catfish are starting to stage in 1-3 feet of water,” Houston said. “Fresh cut shad, carp and buffalo have been the best baits for targeting blues.” Houston has been catching blue cats up to about 26 pounds, but expects even larger fish to become easier to find as water temperatures cool. “A similar pattern for catfish is taking place on Richland Chambers,” Houston said. White bass also have been abundant on Lake Waco, according to Houston.
Jake Mort, J.T. Bowman and Wade Montgomery (left to right) harvested three big whitetails with their bows during opening weekend in Shackelford County. Photo from Lindy Hudman.
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News The results of excellent range conditions and timely spring and summer rains are being experienced by hunters across the state. Both Managed Lands Deer Program and bow seasons are in full swing, and whitetail bucks sporting heavy body weights and impressive antlers are hitting the ground. South Texas is known for producing trophy monarchs, and
the 13-point, approximately 206 7/8-inch buck Clark Cadwallader harvested in La Salle County is proof. He was hunting on his family’s MLD ranch on opening weekend in pursuit of this particular deer, and on the second day of the season, the stars aligned for him to get an opportunity with his rifle. “We had known about this buck for the last three years, but we had only captured maybe a half dozen trail camera photos of him at a protein feeder over that
period of time,” Cadwallader explained. “He always showed up during the pre-season in a particular area of the ranch, not far from the neighboring property’s border. Each year, he would disappear, never to be seen again, once the season opened.” Cadwallader’s dad caught a glimpse of this buck late in the season last year, but didn’t take a shot at him because the buck had a broken main beam. “He has always been a typical 12 point, but this year his ant-
lers blew up even more, and he grew a drop tine,” Cadwallader said. “We had a few trail camera photos of him around a protein feeder he had seemed to be favoring, so I set out on opening weekend in hopes that he would show up. We felt like the early season was our best bet of encountering him in person, before he disappeared.” Cadwallader hunted both the morning and afternoon on opening day, but the deer didn’t show. The next morning, luck was on
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Reds grouping up near jetties Best baits change day to day By Robert Sloan
The Port O’Connor jetties have come to life with lots of reds, steady numbers of black drum and a fair number of speckled trout, and chumming helps stir the bite. “The jetties are tough to figure out, but when you can determine what the fish want to eat, it can be some of the best fishing you’ll ever experience,” said Dodd
Anglers have found chumming helps stir up the bite while fishing near jetties. Photo by Robert Sloan, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Please turn to page 20 Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 20 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 24
INSIDE
CONTENTS
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For Lone Star Outdoor News
Coffey, a long-time guide along the Port O’Connor jetties. “During the second week of October, I had two older gentlemen out on my boat for a two-day charter. The first day started out pretty slow. I had both live shrimp and Spanish sardines for bait. We fished the first three hours and scratched out a couple of slot reds. But on the first day of that two-day charter I couldn’t get anything on a shrimp – alive or dead. But as the day progressed I started chumming with diced sardines, and that’s what they wanted. That’s when it all came together.”
HUNTING
FISHING
Testing deer (P. 4)
Gazing for gulls (P. 8)
Landowners weigh risks.
Sabine anglers follow the birds.
Self care (P. 4)
Fairfield for sale (P. 8)
Doctor staples own hand during sheep hunt.
Lake, surrounding property for $110 million.
