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January 8, 2021
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
GAME WARDEN BLOTTER BAITING FOR DUCKS Liberty County game wardens wrapped up an investigation that included surveillance on an area that had been heavily baited for waterfowl. The wardens contacted a group of five hunters, one of whom admitted to placing the bait, and found them to be in possession of 31 ducks. All ducks were seized and charges were filed. JOINT EFFORT ON SOUTHERN COAST Texas game wardens assigned to the Marine Tactical Operations Group completed a two-day joint patrol with United State Coast Guard Station South Padre, focused on the Gulf of Mexico and the coastal waters of the Rio Grande River. The patrol resulted in the seizure of multiple illegal fishing gear and the release of numerous species caught on such gear. REWARD FOR POACHERS OF TAGGED DEER During a 7-day period from Oct. 25-Nov. 1, three white-tailed bucks disappeared from the LHK Ranch in Berclair, Goliad County. The three deer were all tagged, one with a red tag in the right ear, one with a black tag in the left, and the third with a green tag in the right ear. All three bucks measured around 200 inches. An Operation Game Thief reward is available for information
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DREAM TRIP FOR YOUNGSTER BATTLING CANCER A Calhoun County game warden and trooper made a dream come true for a young man who has been battling a rare form of pediatric cancer since 2017. The 16 year old has been living in Houston for treatment. From Alabama, he loves everything about the outdoors. One of his wishes was to have
leading to the indentification, arrest and convection of the person(s) responsible. NO FISHING LICENSES, PLENTY OF BIG BLACK DRUM Jefferson County game wardens checked two fisherman who were found to be fishing without a valid Texas fishing license. The fishermen were in possession of 27 black drum, 20 of which were oversized. All fish were seized and donated. Cases and restitution pending. OPERATION HALF SHELL RACKS UP CASES Between Dec. 14 and 18, Calhoun and Aransas County game wardens
the opportunity to go on a duck hunt by airboat. The dream came true when he rode shotgun in the front of an airboat with his father and two close friends for a youth hunt. A few redheads were bagged.
led a multi-agency law enforcement surge operation targeting illegal commercial oyster harvest and possession along the Coastal Bend. “Operation Half Shell” consisted of patrols by wardens in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard, Calhoun County Sherriff’s Office and the Aransas County Sheriff’s Office. The operation resulted in more than 70 criminal cases and numerous warnings over four days. In total, 436 sacks of oysters, approximately 47,960 pounds, were returned to the bay. Many of the violations were for possession of undersize oysters that the state’s reef ecosystems require for sustainability and for future harvests. Wardens made 12
arrests for possession of undersized oysters from oystermen who had two prior convictions on the same violation. Game wardens also issued 42 citations for possession of undersize oysters, adding up to 34 percent of the cases. Other arrests included unlawfully selling molluscan shellfish and possession of marijuana.
large portion of the state, including Sterling County game wardens, who assisted with a jackknifed tractor trailer and helped a local rancher after a motorist went through his fence, and a Terrell County warden who assisted a family that went off the road. TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO DISCOVERY OF DRUG STASH A Webb County game warden, at a traffic stop, called for assistance from other wardens after suspecting drug activity. The driver gave consent to search the vehicle. The wardens found substances believed to be heroin, crack cocaine, Xanax pills and drug paraphernalia. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and transported to the Webb County Jail. The other two occupants were cited and released. All charges are pending.
WARDENS HELP AFTER BIG SNOWSTORM IN TRANS PECOS Texas game wardens, as part of the state’s emergency response team, coordinated through the Texas Department of Emergency Management, assisted with the impacts from severe weather over a
REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263
A N AMERIC AN LEGEND RUGER.COM/AMERICANRIFLE
Rolling Plains quail Continued from page 1
said. “Rick is using one feeder for every 300 acres and feeds (the medicated feed) only two times per year (in March and in early fall).” Based on his firsthand observations, Photo from Joe Crafton Crafton feels the medicated feed is working. “Before the test, 70 percent of the birds I harvested in 2017 had visible eyeworms — they had very high levels of infection. Yesterday, I checked nine birds and only one had one visible eyeworm.” Awaiting approval for the medicated feed from the Federal Drug Administration has been a long process, now going on six years. Dr. Kendall’s staff is documenting the findings to support the application to the FDA. Snipes said he estimates the ranch has about three times the numbers of birds it had last year. “On one of our all-day hunts we pointed six coveys in the morning and nine that afternoon, with a three-hour break for lunch and naps,” he said. “Our harvest so far has been 90 percent juveniles.” Dr. Dale Rollins, executive director of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, said in his monthly newsletter there is some more “good” news on the quail front. “Our November helicopter counts were up 15 percent and our trapping-banding effort showed a 20 percent increase,” he said. While hunting reports from the Rolling Plains weren’t great, a good rainfall year could help the numbers rebound. At the Matador Wildlife Management Area, Manager Chip Ruthven said hunters with good dogs have been “pleasantly surprised.” “The better reports have been seven to eight coveys a day,” he said. “Hunters are averaging about half a bird per day, which is close to double from last year.” In Fisher County, Paul Melton said this season has been an improvement from last year, saying bird numbers are 35 to 40 percent higher. “I hunt almost exclusively in the last 2.5 hours of the afternoon,” Melton said. “I am finding three to five coveys per hour, and covey size is larger than I anticipated.”
Port M specks Continued from page 8
the lower 60s, and the guides said that’s pretty much where it’ll stay throughout the winter months. “The exception will be when cold fronts move through and lower the water temperatures a few degrees for a couple of days,” Sauls said. When it comes to catching cold water trout, Sauls said three of his top lures are a Kelly Wigglers with a willow tail, a 6-inch Hogie paddle tail and a suspending bait like a Paul Brown’s Soft-Dine XL. His go-to colors are purple, chartreuse, jalapeno pepper and Mansfield margarita. With the Hogie paddle tail jig he’ll opt for one that is green and brown with a white tail. With the SoftDine, silver with a black back is the slow sinker he prefers. But he’ll also fish an Original Corky in black, pink or red/white. “That green and brown Hogie paddle tail is the ugliest lure I’ve ever seen,” Sauls said. “But it catches Photo by Capt. Ruben Garza big trout. Usually, I’ll fish the lures with a slow twitching retrieve, kind of like a walk-the-dog action. On sunny days I’ll often speed up my retrieve with soft plastics.” Ruben Garza Jr. has been fishing the Laguna Madre out of Mansfield for decades. His personal best trout measured 30-3/4 inches. That trout was caught on a Kelly Wigglers ball tail, one of Garza’s go-to lures for winter trout. His top colors are Mansfield margarita, Getaway jalapeño pepper, and green with a white tail. “When I’m fishing tails in cold water for winter trout, I’ll more than likely rig them on a 1/8-ounce Kelly Wigglers screw lock jig head,” Garza said. “I don’t think the color of the head is that important. A plain lead head is good, and so is white.” Garza said the best areas to get the most bites will be over grass or potholes. “The main thing is to look for mullet,” he said. “Just one single mullet can often be the key to catching a big trout. Usually when a mullet jumps out of the water it’s being chased by something. Right now I’ll be wading in waist-deep water just about every day, with mid-morning to mid-afternoon being the prime hours to be on the water. We’re doing lots of wading now, but we’ll also do some drift fishing. It’s always good to fish areas with close access to deep water.” One thing to keep in mind is to move slowly and be on point with every cast. “The water is cold and the trout are lethargic,” Garza said. “They have a soft bite. If your line comes tight, set the hook.” Both Garza and Sauls spool their reels with 20- to 30-pound test PowerPro braided line and 20-inch Fluorocarbon leaders.
