Heroes

Daniel Gonzales, of Bandera, caught this 23-inch redfish near Pink Shack Cove during a family fishing trip to Port Aransas.

Kelton Hebert, 6, landed this striper on a flutter spoon while fishing on Lake Whitney.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE

n Want to share hunting and fishing photos

with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers?

Email them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

Kayla Hellen, 15, of Tomball, with a wild boar she shot in Lampasas County.

Braylon McDonald, 6, landed this crappie on Lake Bridgeport.

Lauren Daniel harvested her second deer with a crossbow near Comstock.

FIELDPRO

Continued from page 1

fanatic.

“I learned to fish by fishing for carp,” he said. “Carp, goldfish and koi are underappreciated. Wherever they are, I won’t be far behind. The hunt for the giants is what keeps me going.”

On Oct. 10, Miller was fishing the pond for carp with a hair rig.

“I caught three carp under an overhanging tree,” he said. “Then I hooked this fish, and as it came closer, I recognized it. My adrenaline went through the roof — I was shaking until I got it in the net. Once I got her in the net, I started calling everyone I knew immediately.”

Miller said he knows how to tell the difference between a carp, a koi and a goldfish, although he said goldfish can hybridize with carp.

“You look for barbels (whiskers by the mouth),” he said. “If there are no barbels, it’s a goldfish. And you count the scales along the lateral line of the fish. A goldfish has 27 to 29. A carp has 35 to 39.”

Miller’s catch had 29 scales along the lateral line.

“It’s a pure goldfish,” he said.

The only larger goldfish caught that he knows of is the world record caught in California. Miller’s fish, which will top the state record by several pounds once confirmed, came just a few ounces shy of the besting

Miller took the fish to Bass Pro Shops in Garland to be weighed, and he donated the fish to the store, where it still swims in the store’s waters.

“My buddy and I decided if we catch it, we would donate to be on display,” he said. “We want to increase awareness for carp fishing.”

Will he get a replica made?

“At some point,” he said. “But I don’t have a lot of money. But it was a fish of a lifetime.”

The current state record is 5.63 pounds and was caught in Denton.

Continued from page 8

prime month to target the hard-fighting fish.

This is mainly a catch-and-release affair. After taking a couple of photos, most anglers release the bulls to finish their spawning activities. But if you want to box one, you can tag it.

Bull reds feed on bottom and three of the best baits are a chunk of a fresh mullet, half of a fresh dead blue crab and Spanish sardines.

On the middle Texas coast are the Port O’Connor jetties, one of the top spots to catch lots of bull reds. Beabout has been using fresh dead blue crabs to catch 10 to 15 bulls per trip.

“I like to catch big reds,” he said. “And half of a fresh dead blue crab will catch the big ones. Lately, we’ve been catching reds that weigh 40-pounds-plus. The water temperature has been holding in the upper 70s. That’s perfect for the bull red run.”

Beabout fishes the crab on a 12/0 circle hook with a 3-foot-long, 50-pound test monofilament leader. Depending on

Anglers enjoy catching and releasing bull redfish in October. Photo from Steve Reed.

how strong the current is, he’ll use a 4- to 8-ounce barrel weight on a Carolina rig.

Guide Steve Reed also fishes the Port O’Connor jetties and the surf around Pass Cavallo. His go-to bait is half of a Spanish sardine, rigged on a 5/0 hook with a 2-ounce weight on a 30-pound test leader.

“I like to fish in 15 to 20 feet of water,” Reed said. “A bottom drop rig with a sardine is tough to beat.”

Villarreal tops kayak field

Andy Villarreal, of San Antonio, won the 2020 Hobie Owners’ Corpus Christi tournament, winning a prize package worth $7,099. Villarreal’s two redfish weighed 14.18 pounds. He landed the fish on a 1/8-ounce jig head with a New Penny scented shrimp behind a popping cork. His best redfish measured 27.5 inches.

Poco Cedillo, 39, of Corpus Christi, finished second with a pair of redfish weighing a combined 13.14 pounds, winning a package worth $3,750; and Nathaniel Hutchinson, 28, also from Corpus Christi, placed third with 11.75 pounds, winning $3,269.

The event drew 150 kayak anglers, with 120 fish being measured. —Hobie

Cedar Park team captures Bass Champs title

Dean Alexander and Thomas Martens, both of Cedar Park, won the 2020 Bass Champs Championship on the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The team weighed in 10 bass totaling 26.17 pounds in the two-day event. Their largest bass weighed 5.55 pounds.

For the win, they took home a new Skeeter boat with a Yamaha motor.

Also winning a boat and motor for second place, Keith Bryan and Jeremy Lambert, both of Decatur, finished with 25.69 pounds.

Ricky Madole, of Many, Louisiana, and Ronnie Madole, of Shreveport, Louisiana, followed in third with 25.61 pounds, winning $6,000.

A total of 193 teams competed in the event. Two-day, five fish limits were obtained by 51 teams.

—Bass Champs

BUILT RIGHT thefIRST TIME toLAStA LIFETIME

R

U.S. PATENTS 8201520, 7370605, 6920841, D575908, D599503, D602649, D603104, D603105, D604017, D603566, D624706, D624708, D622453, D624707, D636942, D629572, D629976, D629975, D624709, D630802, D630653, D647253, D642750, D681883, 9278813, 9554555 • OTHER PATENTS PENDING • U.S. TRADEMARKS 3629190 & 3625066

NEW!

HALF-BACK DUALLY

half-back Gravity flOw

half-back Gravity flOw xt half-back reGulatOr

Capacity is split evenly: ½ corn and ½ protein • Three gravity-flow protein tubes • Directional corn spinner with eliminator plate • “The Timer” battery and solar panel incuded • 400, 600 and 1000# capacities

half-back series 3 models - in 3 sizes: 400#, 600# and 1000# capacities: Half-Back Gravity Flow is the shortest Half-Back Gravity Flow XT is 6” taller - allowing for more antler clearance Half-Back Regulator lets you control how much feed is dispensed at your specified times

Get Outback’s MaxiMuM Quality in these sMaller sizes

36” height 400 lb. cap. 42” height 600 lb. cap.

42” height 1000 lb. cap.

TOP GUN heAVY dutY Corn feeder • High Output Solar Power Panel mounted on top with Timer Box inside REINFORCED VARMINT CAGE • 600 & 1000 lb. capacities

ChooSe from 360º SPinner or PiStoLero direCtionAL

Shown with Pistolero 42” height 600 lb. cap.

“BABY-BACK” SerieS VerY Low ProfiLe • 360o corn distribution or up to 50 feet in one direction via Outback’s “Pistolero” directional unit • 400, 600 & 1000 lb. capacities feederS

“ShAre-KroPPer” fiSh feeder

Low ProfiLe direCtionAL feeder spreads heavier feed out to 50’ in a 20’ wide pattern

Low ProfiLe SPinner feeder spreads up to 360o

• 54” tall & 3’x3’ at base • Works equally well with all types of fish feed, corn or milo • Can be placed on a pier, dock, bank or in truck bed CF CORN FEEDER CP GRAVITY FLOW PROTEIN FEEDER • 1000, 2000 & 3000 lb. capacities • 24” tank diameter holds 175 lb. floating fish feed or 300# corn with Solar Powered Timer • 600, 1000, 2000 & 3000 lb. cap.

Q More outback Quality Products: uail Feeders • Turkey Feeders • WaTer Troughs • Bulk Feed Trailers, hoppers & Bins alFalFa Feeders • Feeder pens • hog Traps • game Cleaning CarTs • game loaders OUTBACK DELIVERS MAXIMUM QUALITY!game raCks • shooTing BenChes • Fire piTs • miCroWave grills to your ranch! See all our products! Contact us for a brochure or see online at outbackfeeders.com or kickinbackkreations.com 903.734.4210 • 800.396.6313 • e-mail: rickmeritt@yahoo.com

LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER

Solution on Page 22

ACROSS

1. The young quail 3. A sunfish species 6. A camouflage manufacturer 8. A coastal fishing town (two words) 12. The hook’s curve 13. A shark species 14. An elk organization 15. Longview’s county 17. A shorebird species 18. A hook manufacturer 20. A Central Texas reservoir 22. A mountain range in West Texas 23. Modified or full 24. Quiet way to communicate between deer blinds 25. Feathers on the arrow 27. A spaniel breed 30. A deer feed 32. Maker of saltwater lures 33. A county where crossbows are illegal during archery season 34. An illegal fishing device 35. Late summer target at South Padre 36. Type of arrowhead

DOWN

1. A shotgun brand 2. The smaller rabbit 4. Amarillo’s county 5. Time to stop shooting at ducks 6. A shotgun type 7. Good to wear while duck hunting (two words) 9. A grouper species 10. A Texas bay 11. Emotion during long bowhunting sets 12. A European hunting destination 16. The boneless piece of fish 17. A grouse species 19. An owl species (two words) 21. The bowhunters’ month in Texas 26. Circular water movement in river 28. An African game species 29. An often-ignored gamebird 30. A salmon species 31. Holds the BB Challenge

Field & Stream, Outdoor Life acquired by digital firm

North Equity, a digital media equity firm, acquired several media brands from Bonnier Corporation, including Popular Science, Outdoor Life and Field & Stream.

ATA cancels in person show for 2021

The Archery Trade Association board of directors announced the in-person ATA Trade Show, scheduled for Jan. 7-9, 2021, has been canceled and the show will take place virtually.

Blunck promoted to CFO at DU

Darin Blunck, Ducks Unlimited’s director of conservation programs, was named the new chief financial officer.

Public relations position

Swanson Russell is seeking a public relations professional to assist its hunting and shooting brands.

Fiocchi acquires Italian shotshell maker, hires sales VP

Fiocchi, with manufacturing facilities in Lecco, Italy, and Ozark, Missouri, acquired Italian shotgun ammunitions make Baschieri & Pellagri. The company also hired Michael Halleron as its new vice president of sales.

SIG expands facilities

SIG SAUER is relocating and expanding its New Hampshire operations in Rochester.

Jobs at S&W

Smith & Wesson is seeking a consumer marketing manager and product managers for pistols/revolvers and rifles.

OTF teams up with Arkansas

The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation is partnering with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to make its Outdoor Adventures program available to middle and high schools across the state.

Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News

FOR THE TABLE

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

Clean out your freezer duck gumbo

6 – 8 large ducks split in half Chicken or beef broth 6 tbsps. Old Bay Seasoning 2 tbsps. garlic powder 1 tbsp. oregano 1 tbsp. salt 3 tbsps. filé powder 5 bay leaves 4 large yellow onions - coarsely chopped 4 red bell peppers - coarsely chopped 1 cup olive oil 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 20 ozs. frozen cut okra - thawed 2 lbs. shelled large shrimp 1 1/2 lbs. Andouille sausage Place ducks in a large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and simmer for 5-6 hours or until meat can be easily removed from the body. Pull meat from the body, roughly chop and set aside. Strain liquid into another large pot over medium heat, adding additional chicken or beef broth to make 3 quarts of liquid. Add Old Bay Seasoning and next 7 ingredients. Simmer until onions are translucent. While simmering, heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Slowly whisk in flour, stirring constantly until mixture (roux) is chocolate brown, but not burnt. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before stirring roux into the pot. Add reserved duck, okra, shrimp and sausage and stir. Simmer for 10 minutes. Best served over rice.

Expanding the reef

Continued from page 1

A trio of divers with Friends of the Rio Grande Reef and several fishing boats witnessed the sinking of the boat.

The divers went underwater to check if the boat landed upright and to release a huge balloon used as stabilizer as it went down.

Rick Kline, a FRGVF advisor and marine biology professor at the University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley, said the vessel was donated by a business that operates at the Port of Brownsville shipyard.

He said it took about six months to gut the boat.

“This is going to help build more habitat for the reef,” Kline said. “This boat is a lot larger than the two sunken before.”

Kline said the reef is relatively close to the Island and people with smaller boats can get there in less than an hour.

The shrimp boat sinking took place under clear skies and with little wind.

A Breakaway Cruises catamaran took the divers and reporters to the site.

The 1,650-acre reef has been dubbed as the largest of its kind and it’s currently made up of more than 100,000 tons of material like concrete railroad ties and cinder blocks donated by a number of businesses.

He estimated more than $1 million have been spent in the reef project.

Gary Glick, the FRGVR’s president, said sunken boats provider refuge and habitat for apex predators.

“The RFV Reef is unique in having the first industrial scale nursery in the world,” he said. “It will carry multiple species of fish through all of their life stages.”

Long prep, short hunt

Continued from page 5

Ven Huizen took the shot at 31 yards, and placed the arrow “right in the armpit.”

“I heard him crash within seconds,” he said. “I waited 90 minutes, but he had gone 40 yards and fell over dead.”

Ven Huizen said after checking the deer out and comparing old trail camera images, he believed he let the same buck walk three years ago. Photo from John Van Huizen

“I never saw him again and figured he was shot by a neighbor or run over,” he said.

Later, mostly out of curiousity, Ven Huizen measured the buck, and the tape stretched beyond 150 inches.

“I’ve shot a few decent deer with my bow but this is by far the biggest,” he said. “And he was old, at least 6. He was gray and had a big, saggy belly.

“My archery season lasted about three hours. Now, I can focus on getting my daughter (who is 11) a deer.”

SANTA ANNA HUNTING AREA

S A N T A A N N A , T E X A S

S A N T A A N N A H U N T I N G A R E A ( S A H A ) I S A F A M I L Y - R U N S H O O T I N G P R E S E R V E .

W E H U N T O N 6 0 0 A C R E S O F T H E P R E S E R V E F O R P H E A S A N T , C H U K A R ,

H U N G A R I A N

P A R T R I D G E A N D Q U A I L H U N T S .

Whitney stripers

Continued from page 8

lately,” Small said. “With that being said, they can change on you from day to day. You have to be flexible and change with them in order to consistently be successful.”

Most of the action is coming on live shad and live bluegill.

“Flutter spoons have also been producing some ferocious strikes,” Small said.

The stripers are in large schools some days, and on other days, they seem to be in smaller pods. Carolina rigs with a 2-ounce barrel sinker have been Small’s go-to option for keeping baits in the strike zone.

“Most of the stripers we are catching are averaging anywhere from 20 to 27 inches in length,” he said. “We are landing a lot of fish in the 5- to 8-pound range, and the largest fish that we’ve been seeing are running 10 to 12 pounds. There are a few days where all we can catch is 5- to 8-pounders, and then all of a sudden we’ll have three days in a row where we catch at least one double-digit fish.”

Lake Whitney guide Cory Vinson said he’s been using large gizzard shad to coax strikes from double-digit striped bass.

“The bigger the bait that you use, the bigger the fish, it seems,” Vinson said. “Shad as large as your hand or bigger really seem to get the larger stripers’ attention.”

Vinson has been drifting various flats in about 23-28 feet of water while bouncing shad along the bottom.

“We are really just covering a lot of water,” he said. “We aren’t encountering any monster schools of stripers. They are moving around a lot.”

Vinson said the last couple of weeks on Whitney have been absolutely lights out.

“We are catching limits of fish on a daily basis,” he said. “A good portion of these

Guide Cory Vinson with a striper caught on Lake Whitney. Photo from Cory Vinson. fish have been around 6- to 8-pound range, and it’s not been uncommon to land at least one over 10 pounds each trip. We are landing a lot of fish pushing the 30-inch mark in length as well. The heaviest striper that we have caught so far this month weighed in at a little over 18 pounds.”

Guide Blake Stritz confirmed Whitney is wall-to-wall with striped bass right now.

“There’s a ton of stripers feeding and the action can be nonstop,” he said. “The obstacle has been weeding through the smaller fish in order to catch keeper-sized striped bass. There are a bunch of undersized fish out there right now, but they are still fun to catch. Plus that means that the future for stripers on Whitney is looking pretty good.”

Observing & Evaluating Whitetails New Updated Edition

By Dave Richards & Al Brothers

Order the New Edition Now at RichardsOutdoorPhotography.com or order by phone (800) 839-9453 Only $29.99

Now contains 470 + color photographs with NEW bucks added!

THE BEST FLYING BIRDS IN TEXAS

W W W . S A H A I N C . C O M

3 2 5 - 3 4 8 - 9 2 6 7

T-POST MOUNT

MOUNT UP TO 2 CAMERAS PER MOUNT. EASY SET UP, NO TOOLS REQUIRED. FIND US ON EBAY OR CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR STORE LOCATIONS NEAR YOU. RETAILERS WELCOMED.

TEXASHOGBLOCKER.COM STEPHENVILLE, TX 254-631-9883 MIKE.ROGERS1967@YAHOO.COM