Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
February 9, 2018
Volume 14, Issue 12
Dunking cellphones
Crappie in rivers, sandies on the way
Crappie are being caught in East Texas rivers, and some white bass are beginning to make the run. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Lone Star Outdoor News The crappie have moved into East Texas rivers, and based on reports from anglers, the traditional white bass run won’t be far behind. Guide Seth Vanover has been finding crappie on the Sabine River between Marshall and Carthage. “If you find the eddies, you’ll find the crappie,” he said. Vanover said some white bass, mostly males, also are being caught. Bruce Nguyen fished the Sabine on Feb. 3 and landed 25 whites on a white and chartreuse Roadrunner, slow-rolled on the bottom. On the Angelina River, there have been multiple reports of crappie limits from the upper reaches of the river, and some male white bass are being landed as well. Three factors influence the white bass run: the day length, water temperature and river flow, with river flow thought to be the most important for a good spawn,
Saltwater guides often take photos of customers, like this photo of Jimmy Burns of Waterloo Rods, and their fish, either on the boat or while wade-fishing. Many have to replace cellphones after they fall into the water, or just get wet. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Guides deal with occupational hazard By Mark England
Lone Star Outdoor News Capt. Ruben Garza Jr. chalks it up as an occupational hazard of being a fishing guide. The danger is more to his wallet than his hide, though.
Losing a cellphone comes with the territory, said Garza, owner of Snookdude Fishing Charters in Port Mansfield. How many has he lost? “I’ll put to you this way,” Garza said. “It happened so much that Sprint canceled my insurance. In one stretch, I lost four in a month, two in a week. It happens.”
Asked how it happens, Garza gave an example. “Twice, I had put them in my pocket and started wading,” he said. “Then I realized, ‘Damn, my phone’s in my shorts pocket.’ I’ve only lost one to the water. All the other times, it’s been in my pocket or some other dumb thing.” If you’re wondering, Garza
once tried to revive a phone by putting it in a container of rice. “It did OK, but it wasn’t the same,” he said. “It only lasted a month more. The functions weren’t all there.” Capt. Trey Pyre’s phone bought it recently during a rainstorm. “I have the iPhone 7,” said Pyre, with Caney Creek Outfitters in Sargent. “They say it’s water-re-
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Proposed changes to hunting regs Expanded whitetail season, mule deer antler restrictions among possible changes Lone Star Outdoor News North Zone deer hunters may get two more weeks
Wildlife Commission meeting, held Jan. 25, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department proposed a uniform statewide season “to simplify regulations while allowing time in the northern two-thirds of the state to conduct additional beneficial harvest.” TPWD officials asserted the change to season length would not result in negative
Potential changes to hunting regulations may extend the North Zone deer season by two weeks and may impose antler restrictions for mule deer in some counties. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Please turn to page 7 Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12
Tapeworms in hogs? (P. 4)
Setting records (P. 8)
Officials stem frenzy.
Woman sets two fly records in Alaska.
Getting involved (P. 4)
Find mullet, find trout (P. 8)
Woman bags first buck with LSONF.
Slow retrieve key to good fish.
Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 16 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 19 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 21 Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Page 22
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
By Craig Nyhus
added to the general season. Texas has been divided into two zones for deer hunting, and, since 2001, the opening date has been the first Saturday in November. In the North Zone, the closing date has been the first Sunday in January, while the South Zone remained open until the third Sunday. At the Texas Parks and