Lone Star Outdoor News 031023

Early start for turkey?

Jakes absent this spring

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS

South Texas turkey hunters have wondered the past few years whether the earlier opening day of the spring season was a good thing. With a midMarch start, cooperative toms have been hard to come by.

This year could be different, according the Jason Hardin, the wild turkey program leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

“South Texas got rain — not a lot, but rain — and things greened up,” he said. “Then it got hot.”

Hardin said turkey flocks are breaking up in time for the opener on March 18.

“Gobblers are strutting,” he said. “I expect bet ter early season hunting.”

Hardin said hunters shouldn’t expect to see ju venile birds.

“We had almost zero nest success last season,” he said. “In all the trapping we did throughout the state, we caught only one juvenile. There are virtually no jakes or jennies out there, but the adult hens are in pretty good shape.”

Although the early season could be better than in the past, early April should be the best for hunt ers, Hardin said.

“The gobblers are ready and the hens are just

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Springtime bite begins

Upper coast trout, reds and more

Springtime patterns are gaining momentum from East Matagorda Bay to Sabine Lake and everywhere in between. Speckled trout and redfish are feeding in a variety of areas, both shallow and deep, and black drum and sheepshead are providing rod-bending action. With plenty of options, anglers have been able to decide where they will fish and what species they will target, according to the prevailing weather

East Matagorda Bay angler Chris McKinley has been finding trout and reds while wade -fishing and drift-fishing in a variety of loca-

“I’ve been catching a lot of trout in the 20inch range, with a few stretching to 25 inches lately,” McKinley said. “The bigger trout have been feeding along shallow, thigh-deep flats near main bay shorelines in areas where there are a lot of baitfish. Top-water plugs, soft plastics, and slow-sinking twitch baits have all been producing strikes.”

McKinley said the best action has occurred during the peak feed times as indicated on sol“A couple of my best wade-fishing trips have taken place in the middle of the night during a major feed period,” he said. “There have been a ton of sand eels showing up in the shallows during the nighttime hours, and the fish have been gorging themselves on them.”

Open water stretches of scattered oyster shell across East Matagorda have also been holding “There’s a lot of fish in the middle of the bay right now, you just have to have the right weather to be able to target them,” McKinley explained. “Slot redfish have been feeding in just about every place I’ve been finding trout

Capt. Billy Penick has been finding a steady bite for both redfish and trout near Baytown, upstream across the satellite bays off of the San Jacinto River. He’s also been catching good

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White bass run on the fly

By Robert Sloan

For

Lone Star outdoor

newS

There is no better time to catch white bass on the fly than when they are heading up the rivers to spawn. You can wade for them or stay in the boat. And since the fish tend to move up in big numbers, they can be easy to fool with a fly.

Three of the best rivers for spawning white bass are the Sa-

bine, Nueces and Colorado. All three offer boating or wading options.

Cody Bell has been wading the Colorado and Sabine rivers for years.

“I like to fish for anything that will bite my fly,” he said. “But I especially like to target spawning white bass. They are suckers for streamers. I’ll use a 4 or 6 wt. rod most of the time. The

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Big

Victor Solice landed this redfish while fishing with live shrimp under a popping cork in the upper portion of Galveston Bay. Photo by Capt. Billy Penick.

Some anglers prefer to use their fly rods and wade for running white bass. Photo by Robert Sloan, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

FROM WORK TO PLAY

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

Last day quail

By Tony Vindell For Lone Star outdoor newS

For Dakota, a 10-year-old German short-haired pointer, the 2022-23 quail season was much like last season. She flushed out about 12 coveys, some with as many as 20 birds and others with as few as a three, at a ranch in the north-eastern edge of Willacy County.

Although quail hunting was down all over the state due to drought and

blazing heat, bird numbers were better in spots around South Texas.

On Feb. 26, the season’s last day, Dakota flushed a similar number of coveys as she did on the last day of the 2021-22 season. The birds were flying in similar patterns as well fast and quick.

Some hunters believed weather was not the only reason behind a slow season. Ernie Zamora, a Raymondville resident who grazes livestock on a couple of pastures of a private

ranch, said coyotes and raccoons took their toll on the birds, although studies show coyotes and raccoons aren’t top quail predators.

Zamora said packs of six of more of the howling wild canines were spotted on and off during his cattle runs. He started setting traps and has caught quite a few of the predators.

As for Dakota, she worked well, searching and, ultimately, pointing covey after covey. But after she finished the morning hunt, she wasn’t

Harvesting the T-shirt buck

Texas Buck Registry holds 4th Annual “Most Texas” buck contest

By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS

At 17, Layne Gerke was recently crowned the winner of the fourth annual “Most Texas” Buck Contest put on by Texas Buck Registry. Gerke secured more votes on Instagram than 15 other finalists for his buck, which scored 186 inches, while hunting on a low fence lease in Maverick County with his dad, Billy.

“We were on a hunting trip right before Christmas and had noticed an impressive buck on one of our trail cameras during the morning hours,” the teenager explained. “We had never seen this deer before. We were eager to get in the stand that afternoon with hopes of getting a better look at him in person, and maybe even a shot.”

The father and son headed to the stand early that afternoon and a strong cold front passed through before sunset.

“The wind began howling once the front arrived and we didn’t see the buck,” Gerke said. “We decided to give it one more shot the next morning before we had to head home.”

The next morning greeted the hunters with frigid conditions, and at about 8 o’clock, all of the deer in the area cleared out.

“We didn’t understand why all of the deer

A new perspective

Documentary examines safari operations from the native people’s point of view

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS

“Killing the Shepherd”, a fulllength documentary, examines the decline and later rise of African wildlife in a region of Zambia from a different perspective. Rather than looking at the animals, poaching, hunting and habitat, it looks at the native Soli people and human rights.

The area examined, the Lower Luano Game Management Area, about the size of Delaware, was once the crown jewel of safari hunt-

ing. Hunting bans were instituted in 1987, 2002 and 2003, and the result was the wholesale slaughter of wild animals. Two decades later, most game animals were gone.

But what about the people?

The film shows the impact of unhindered poaching and the loss of the game animals and hunting, including the loss of jobs the safari industry provided, lack of schools and education, lack of medical care, the sale of young girls and alcoholism in young men.

The top leader in the region, Chief Shikabeta, of the Kingdom of Shikabeta, came to Roland Norton of Makasa Safaris with a proposal.

“She said she needed the area to return to being a game management area,” Norton said in the film. “She wanted her people to benefit and

knew if something wasn’t done, all of the wildlife would be gone. She is a tiny woman, but dynamite comes in small packages.”

Norton, who was born in Zambia and whose father helped develop the national parks, said the govern ment provided little help to the Soli people.

“They paid a nominal amount of money, didn’t support anti-poach ing efforts and basically ignored the community,” he said.

After meeting with members of the community, an arrangement was reached. As a result, Makasa undertook a number of efforts de signed to help the local people.

In addition to hiring native men, many former poachers, as scouts for anti-poaching efforts and providing uniforms, guns, training and wages,

left, especially with the cold conditions,” Gerke said. “Then, we spotted six illegal immigrants walking in the distance. They were moving away from the blind but were upwind of us. We really thought this would be the end of our hunt, as we were certain the deer had seen or smelled them, and that they were the reason our deer activity had shut down so quickly.”

Gerke and his dad decided to sit another half hour or so. All of a sudden, Gerke spotted the buck he was after to his right.

“He was trotting towards some does,” Gerke said. “My dad ranged the does at 208 yards with his Vortex binocular/rangefinder combo. I got my gun up and ready, and all of a sudden, there he was, nosing around those doe.”

The buck turned broadside and Gerke was about to take his shot when the deer spun around and started facing them head on.

“We were sure that when he turned again, he would probably leave,” Gerke said. “The buck finally turned and started to move, and my dad hollered at him. The buck stopped for a split second and I took my shot with my .270. I immediately felt confident that I had hit him well. A few moments later, we saw dust flying in some cactus where he had fallen over, just barely 10 yards from where he was standing.”

When Gerke put his hands on his buck for the first time, he told his dad, “This is a T-Shirt buck for sure,” referring to the annual Texas Buck Registry “Most Texas” buck contest.

Dakota takes a break after a hunt to close the season, then developed a dangerous gastric condition.

Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Layne Gerke’s Maverick County buck won TBR’s “Most Texas” category and will be shown on the company’s T-shirts. Photo from Billy Gerke.

Former poachers now work as game scouts in Zambia’s Luano Game Management Area. Photo by Tony Bynum, Shepherds of Wildlife Society.

Close encounter from make-shift blind

Nilgai bull at 30 yards

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Wade Riddle harvested a mature nilgai bull in Kenedy County from a make-shift blind. Due to health issues, Riddle isn’t able to walk well, so a typical spot-andstalk hunt wasn’t in the cards.

Riddle had taken a nilgai two years ago with Mark Franklin, but the hunt was at night using thermal optics. This year, Riddle wanted to hunt nilgai during the daytime so he could enjoy the scenery and his surroundings.

“I really wanted to make a hunt during the daylight so I could really see the lay of the land, as well as how these animals behaved in the South Texas environment,” Riddle said. “Franklin told me that it might be tough with us having to just sit in one spot, but he was willing to try.”

Riddle said Franklin seemed to have a pretty good handle on the movements

NWTF chapters honored

the nilgai were making during the early morning hours, and the guide picked out an oak motte where they would set up at sunrise.

“It was a really neat experience, especially when my shot opportunity came together,” Riddle explained. Franklin had set up a panel blind with

Three Texas National Wild Turkey Federation chapters were presented with Partnership Achievement Awards at the NWTF Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Kaufman County Double Beards, Cross Timbers and Cottonwood Creek chapters were recognized for hosting their fourth hunt for physically disabled children between the ages of 13-18, as part of NTWF’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen campaign. The hunt is held on a 2,400acre area managed by the Army Corp of Engineers. With two morning hunts and two evening hunts, participants were allowed plenty of chances to see and harvest deer. Other partnership awards went to the New Jersey Women in the Outdoors Chapter, the Minnesota State Chapter for its Alexandria Youth Activity Day and the Arizona State Chapter for its Youth Turkey Hunt.

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Wade Riddle took this bull nilgai at 30 yards from a blind in Kenedy County. Photo by Capt. Mark Franklin.

No changes to migratory bird regs

Proposed migratory game bird regulations for the 2023-24 season mirror last season’s lengths, timing and daily bag limits. No substantive changes are proposed other than calendar adjustments for season dates. The proposals are open for public comment until March 22.

—Staff report

T-shirt buck

Continued from page 4

The term “T-Shirt buck” is one that has gained some popularity over the last few years, as the winning buck of the annual contest put on by Texas Buck Registry is used for artwork on their annual T-Shirt design.

“I see a lot of folks using the words ‘T-Shirt Buck’ to describe deer that are entered into the registry in comments on our Instagram posts,” said Tompall Glaser, founder, owner and operator of Texas Buck Registry. “It seems to be something that more and more hunters are looking forward to every season, and I am excited to have Gerke’s buck on our T-shirt this year.”

Glaser said 100 percent of the proceeds from TBR T-Shirt sales are put back into the Texas Buck registry website, to help maintain the growing database of bucks.

“This year, Texas artist, Matt Tumlinson is producing the artwork that will illustrate Gerke’s buck on our shirts,” Glaser said. “The T-shirts will be available for purchase on our website soon.”

This season, the Texas Buck Registry surpassed the 5,000-buck mark.

“Around 800 or so were entered this season alone,” Glaser said. “Texas Buck Registry is proof that there are impressive bucks to be found across the entire Lone Star State, no matter the region. More and more folks are learning to appreciate the mindset of letting bucks grow to reach their full potential, and they are adapting that to their management strategies on the properties they hunt.”

Ready for toms

Continued from page 6

breaking up,” he said. “Some hens will be ready to start nesting, but I think the best times will be in early April.”

North Texas hunters will have to wait until April 1 for the Spring Season, and Hardin said hunters can expect an early start to gobbling activity in the North Zone as well.

“They have had a few timely rainfalls and the birds will be in better shape,” he said. “It’s warm already, though, we don’t want a May with triple-digit heat.”

Quail dog woes

Continued from page 4

acting like her usual self. Her owner said that she often takes a long siesta on the back seat of the pickup truck after a hunt. But as they drove back home, Dakota stood during the entire 45-minute trip, making her owner worry. He noticed Dakota’s ribs were distended.

A trip to the veterinarian and an abdominal X-ray revealed Dakota had Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, or GDV, also called bloat. As a result, Dakota was bloated and dehydrated. Dakota received IV fluids and was back to normal a few hours later.

The temperature during the morning of the hunt started in the mid-70s but peaked at 84 degrees by late morning — not ideal conditions for quail hunting even in deep South Texas. GDV, caused by an accumulation of gas in the stomach, is not normally associated with heat or dehydration, but can occur after excessive exercise.

Nilgai up close

Continued from page 5

mirrored sides which reflects the ground surrounding it to help break up their outline among the trees.

“I had a pretty good idea of how the nilgai were moving across the property where we were hunting, based on intel from several cell cameras that I had set up,” Franklin said. “I picked out a motte I was confident they would be walking past within range, sooner or later that morning.”

Franklin said they were overlooking a flat with huisache trees at the edge of a low, drainage area.

“We were sitting there, and hadn’t seen anything yet, when I heard a stick snap behind us,” Franklin explained. “I peeked over my shoulder and I saw two massive bulls in the same motte we were sitting in, about 40 to 50 yards behind us.”

Franklin was able to help Riddle spin completely around with his rifle without spooking the bulls.

“I told Riddle to try to be as quiet as possible when he was taking the safety off, and sure enough, the lead bull stopped as soon as he heard the safety click,” Franklin said. “He stopped and looked straight at the blind, but then started walking toward us again. I encouraged Riddle to shoot as quickly as possible whenever he felt like he had a good shot, because they were getting pretty close.”

The bull got inside 30 yards and was quartering to Riddle slightly when he took his shot. His bullet passed through the front shoulder of the nilgai, and the animal ran about 40 yards and fell over.

“It was an extremely exciting encounter,” Riddle said. “I did not expect to have them get that close to us. I’m very thankful of Franklin for giving me an opportunity to hunt these awesome creatures, even though I am unable to spot and stalk.”

STAND & FILL BROADCAST FEEDER WITH CORN SHIELD

Saving animals, people

Wildlife, like kudu, have returned in good numbers to the Luano Game Management Area after the region’s Chief Shikabeta, left, contacted Makasa Safaris about working together with local people to bring the wildlife back and benefit the community.

they helped provide an additional protein source for the community by establishing aquaculture, through a series of tanks, water pumps and generators, raising endemic fish for food and to return to the river to increase fish populations. They worked with fishermen to increase net sizes to allow small fish to pass through, and taught people how to fish with pole and line.

“You can see the happiness,” Norton said in the film. “Life has changed in the two years we have been here.”

Natives were paid for information on poachers, and 15,000 wire snares were seized, along with 250 mostly homemade rifles and shotguns. Trail cameras helped identify poacher routes.

But the people benefited in other ways. Medical clinics provide free services for childbirth and diseases like malaria and HIV. New schools were crowded as soon as they were built, resulting in three shifts per day of full classrooms. Loans are provided to women who need help with their small businesses. Captured wire snares are repurposed into bracelets to raise money for the community, with each bracelet representing the saving of an animal.

The animals have returned and are beginning to thrive. The film shows the community singing songs of thanks for their return.

The news isn’t all good, though, and the film shows some disturbing activities affecting the community. Criminal poaching gangs seek to take the land. Contracts have been put out for the killing of Norton and his son, Alistair, and a bullet was fired into their vehicle. The Chief, described as “the mother” of the community, died unexpectedly, likely poisoned. The new chief, Sakala Paxima, refused to sell onethird of the land to the land-speculating poaching gangs, and also died unexpectedly shortly thereafter.

“There was definitely foul play involved, and everyone knows it,” Norton said.

Some game scouts returned to their past poaching activity. Local men drink all day, eager to obtain funds from illegal sources.

But Norton remains positive for the future.

“My hope is in the second 10 years of the 20-year concession, we will have full quotas of animals for hunting without affecting the population,” he said. “If you stop tourist hunting and the benefit, it will go back to the way it was before.”

The film shows how safari hunting must be crafted with biodiversity protection in mind, putting its top priority on benefiting the local people who live with the sometimes dangerous and destructive wildlife and, if done correctly, can result in an area, like the Lower Luano, previously declared by the government as being depleted of wildlife, to again thrive for both animals and humans.

Of safari hunting, the Soli Chief said, “What’s wrong with them taking the skins and leaving the meat for us?”

“Killing the Shepherd” has been viewed at 38 major film festivals and received 20 major awards, including the Best Indigenous Film and Best Cinematography at the Cannes World Film Festival and the Best Human Rights Film at the Toronto Independent Film Festival. Created, produced and narrated by TA Opre, of the Shepherds of Wildlife Society, after his team spent more than three years in the region, the film and a new book, “Killing the Shepherd – Beyond the Film,” is available at shepherdsofwildlife.org.

Opre plans to return to Zambia in August to start filming for Part 2 of the story.

“The wildlife has gotten to the point where Makasa is receiving quotas, and the first legal lion was taken for the first time in 20 years,” he said.

Photos by Tony Bynum, Shepherds of Wildlife Society.

Bill could strip public beach access

Lone Star outdoor newS

Three former Texas Land Commissioners are urging Texans to oppose a bill that would restrict access to Texas beaches.

They assert that Senate Bill 434, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton, of Galveston, would strip the authority of the Texas General Land Office to define the boundaries of the public beach and would allow the upland beachfront property owner to make that determination.

Former commissioners David Dewhurst, Garry Mauro and Jerry Patterson issued an Op-Ed, asking Texans to join them in opposing SB 434.

They claim if the legislation is passed, the property owner could then deny access to the public beach easement that existed between the line of vegetation and the mean high tide mark. That would then limit access to only what is known as the “wet beach” — the area between the low tide and the high tide lines. When that area is washed by waves during periods of high tide, SB 434 would result in there being no beach at all for Texans to use.

“If SB 434 passes, don’t be surprised if you show up at your favorite beach spot and you’re confronted with a fenced off beach or no trespassing signs. The only remedy available to you then would be a suit against the adjacent upland landowner,” the op-ed said.

The commissioners asserted the 1959 Texas Open Beaches Act provides that Texas beaches are open to the public. Also, in 2009, Texas voters enshrined the Open Beaches Act into the Texas Constitution.

Supporters of the bill claim the bill simply changes the burden of proof to the state, rather than the private landowner, if the state sues over property rights on beachfront property. Supporters claim the current burden on the landowner is unfair, especially following events such as storms causing damage to the beach and beach erosion.

The text of the bill reads, in part:

In a suit or administrative proceeding brought or defended under this subchapter or whose determination is affected by this subchapter pertaining to the area from mean low tide to the line of vegetation, the burden of proof is on the party seeking to establish that:

(1) The title of the littoral owner does not include the right to prevent the public from using the area for ingress or egress to the sea; or

(2) There is imposed on the area a common law right or easement in favor of the public for ingress and egress to the sea.

The commissioners pointed out the property owners have received notice of the public beach easement in real estate closing documents since 1986 and said the proposed legislation would have a negative impact on beach renourishment projects and beach cleanups.

From fairways to the waterways

Guide transitions from golf to Gulf

By Helena Hernandez

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Reanna DeLaCruz has always been an outdoorswoman. Born and raised in Austin, she played high school golf for Westlake, then eventually collegiate golf at Texas A&M-Kingsville. She spent many weekends and summers fishing Lake Travis and Rockport, and when she wasn’t swinging a club, she was casting her rod.

In Baffin Bay, she met her avid angler husband, and after a short stint as an account executive for a local paper, a local guide took her under her wing and mentored her in fishing, hunting, and life in general. Energized and inspired, DeLaCruz obtained her captain’s license with Sea Academy in Aransas Pass and then bought a boat “for the smoothest ride in Baffin Bay.” She is now a full-time U.S. Coast Guard and Texas Parks & Wildlife licensed fishing guide.

“This isn’t about competing anymore,” she said. “The outdoors to me is spiritual.”

Baffin Bay is famous for trophy-sized speckled “gator trout,” redfish, and black drum. Due to its lack of freshwater drainage and open passes to the Gulf of Mexico, it has consistently high salinity which may contribute to the rapid growth of speckled trout whose size changes as it adapts to changing salinity. The remoteness of the bay and the presence of large rocks, remains of old reefs spread randomly throughout the water, create a natural protective structure from tides and boats, and thereby deter fishing pressure.

Fishing can be a truly life-changing experience which Capt. Reanna is passionate about introducing to children and families. Fishing provides opportunities for families to bond and create lasting memories while enjoying the great outdoors. Whether it’s catching fish or simply spending time together, fishing can teach

Will Alan Henry’s heyday return?

Spotted bass thought to outcompete largemouths

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

Alan Henry Reservoir caught the attention of anglers when Rossco Gomez caught a 13.22-pound largemouth while crappie fishing in the crappie house on the lake.

Gomez, of Plainview, was jigging a baby shad glow and saw the mouth of the bass coming up behind the jig.

After a few more tries with no results, he cast the bait out farther into the center of the crappie “house” and let it sink.

“She just grabbed it and immediately went down with it,” Gomez said. “I was using a 4-foot micro crappie fishing rod with 4-pound test line, so I just loosened the drag and let her take, take, take until she

tired herself out and I could reel her in.”

Randy Britton guides on the lake and recalls the big fish boom when Alan Henry had nine 13-pluspounders in 2005 and 2006, includ ing Bill Greason’s lake record fish at 15 pounds.

“There are still big bass in there,” Britton said. “I’ve caught numerous fish over 10 pounds in the last few years, but usually at night.”

Britton said it may be some time before the lake produces multiple fish topping 13 pounds, though.

“The year with the big bass, those were the brood fish from when they opened the lake (in 1993),” he said.

“They were the oldest fish in the lake.”

It’s another fish, though, that Britton thinks is the culprit for the drop in big largemouths.

“The largemouth got screwed up because of the introduction of the Alabama spotted bass,” he said.

Alabama spotted bass were stocked in Alan Henry Reservoir when it was filling in 1993, and anglers believe the aggressive spots outcompete largemouths in the lake. Photo by Randy Britton.

Reanna DeLaCruz was a collegiate golfer who loved to fish, and now guides anglers at Baffin Bay.

Photo from Capt. Reanna DeLaCruz.

A proposed bill could impact beach access for fishermen and beach visitors, according to former Land Commissioners. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Wading for big trout

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Wading for speckled trout on the Lower Laguna Madre is not at the top of Capt. Brian Barrera’s list — except in March. He’s usually found drift-fishing for tarpon or slinging lures for snook, reds and mangrove snapper. But this month he’ll be wading the Laguna Madre on the hunt for big trout.

“February and March are two of the best months to be wading for big trout here on the lower Laguna Madre,” he said. “I’m really into it, and my clients love the action and possibility of hooking up with the trout of a lifetime.”

His most recent catch was a 27-inch trout that slammed into a D.O.A. PT7 topwater lure. The top color that day was pink and that big fish was caught in about 3 feet of water.

“I primarily fish areas that have soft mud, but hard sand can be good, as well,” Barrera said. “Over the years I’ve found that the bigger trout tend to favor mud more than a sand bottom. And they will more often than not be found around ambush points like potholes in the grass. My best fish usually come on an outgoing tide.”

Regardless of where you fish for trophy trout, you need to follow the bait. Barrera said he will stay close to jumping mullet, and the bigger the better. Big trout will just about eat anything that won’t eat them first. They especially like 6- to 10-inch mullet, and will even eat small trout.

Barrera said he will key in on mullet that are fleeing something. By that he means to look for mullet that jump like three or four times in a row. That’s where you want to place a lure in a hurry.

He’s fishing in water that’s about shin deep, and the water temperature is anywhere from 66 to 71 degrees.

“Once I get the conditions right that’s a big confidence builder,” he said.

His top three lures are a D.O.A. PT7, a Shimano Current Sniper and Rapala Skitter V. The Rapala top-water is a pencil bait with a high-pitched sound. The PT7 is a soft plastic lure that can be fished in all sorts of structure without snagging. It’s perfect for fishing sand pockets in the grass. Both the Current Sniper and Skitter V are top-water lures specifically designed to be fished on a walk-the-dog retrieve.

“I like to fish lures on a steady retrieve, but with the occasional stop and go action,” Barrera said. “Some of the best blowups will come when the lure is sitting dead still.”

His reel is spooled with 10-pound test braided line. Via a Uni knot, it’s connected to an 18-inch section of 25-pound test fluorocarbon leader. The lures are connected to the leader via a loop knot.”

For the next month or so, Berrera will be running both wade- and drift-fishing trips for big trout.

“We’re using mostly top-water lures for the time being,” he said. “But there are days when soft plastic tails will work pretty well. But you just can’t beat a good blowup on a top-water lure.”

Texans on leaderboard at Eufala

The top six spots at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufala went to four Texans, with Georgia’s Justin Barnes taking the title with a two-day total of 48 pounds, 9 ounces.

The Day 1 leader, Barnes was struggling Saturday after foul weather forced the cancellation of Friday’s competition. But a move from a football jig to a series of deep-diving crankbaits helped him secure the victory.

The victory earned Barnes $52,500 and a spot in the 2024 Bassmaster Classic. Shaine Campbell, of Brookeland, cranked his way to a second-place finish, with 45 pounds, 14 ounces, winning $25,500. Brett Cannon, of Willis, finished third with 44 pounds, 11 ounces, and Ben Milliken, of New Caney, finished fifth with 41 pounds, 3 ounces. Cannon, who guides on Texas’ prolific bass lakes, also relied on crankbaits to get a podium finish at Eufaula.

“I had to cast a few thousand times with that Strike King 10XD chartreuse sexy shad,” he said. “My fish were found in anywhere between 15 to 20 feet of water. And the hard bottom was key. When you got that crankbait down there and felt it digging on that hard stuff, you knew you were in the right area.” —B.A.S.S.

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Top-water lures are bringing in big speckled trout for wade-fishermen in the Lower Laguna Madre. Photo from Brian Berrera.

TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 52 degrees; 10.67’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows.

AMISTAD: Water stained; 58 degrees; 36.79’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged senkos, lizards or worms and lipless crankbaits. White bass and stripers are good on jigging spoons and lipless crankbaits. Catfish are good on cheese bait, chicken liver and cut shad.

ARLINGTON: Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 0.05’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jerkbaits, umbrella rigs and crankbaits. Channel catfish are good on prepared baits.

ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 6.21’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad and punch bait.

ATHENS: Water stained; 59-63 degrees; 0.47’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.

AUSTIN: Water clear; 59 degrees; 0.79’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on swimbaits, worms and top-waters. Catfish are good on cut shad.

B.A. STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black and blue senkos, frogs and white swim jigs.

BASTROP: Water clear; 65 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, chatter baits and medium-diving crankbaits.

BELTON: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 13.97’ low. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are very good on live bait, cut bait and punch bait.

BENBROOK: Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 0.80’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on creature baits and spinner baits.

BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 56 degrees; 0.20’ high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits and chatter baits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on punch bait.

BRAUNIG: Water stained, 63 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on large jigs. Red drum are good on frozen shrimp and cut bait. Catfish are fair on cheese bait and worms.

BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 55 degrees; 8.98’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits. White bass and hybrids are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on jigs.

BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 52-55 degrees; 8.47’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs. White bass are slow. Catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 18.08’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jigs, crankbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on char-

treuse jigs. White bass are fair on jigging spoons. Striped bass are fair on live bait. Catfish are good on punch bait.

CADDO: Water stained; 60 degrees; 2.03’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on finesse worms, swim jigs and spinner baits.

CALAVERAS: Water slightly stained, 68 degrees. Red drum are good on shrimp and slowly trolled crankbaits. Channel catfish and blue catfish are good on cheese bait, cut bait and shrimp.

CANYON: Water clear; 62 degrees; 11.05’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on swimbaits or slow-moving spinner baits.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 54-59 degrees; 0.64’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and spinner baits. Crappie are good on jigs. White bass and hybrids are good in creeks on small spinners and jigs.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 65 degrees; 24.41’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on spinner baits, chatter baits and Texas-rigged worms or creatures. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait.

COLEMAN: Water slightly stained; 53-58 degrees; 5.53’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on umbrella rigs and swim jigs.

CONROE: Water stained; 64 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are fair to good on drop-shot rigs and Texasrigged lizards. Crappie are fair to slow on jigs. Hybrid striped bass are fair jigging swimbaits and live bait. Catfish are very good on punch bait and liver.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Water stained; 65 degrees; 4.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on dark soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and blue and white jigs. Catfish are very good on cheese bait, cut shad and soap baits.

CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.67’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits, craws and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 3.63’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good on punch bait and shad.

FALCON: Water stained; 68-75 degrees; 40.99’ low. Largemouth bass are good on football jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows.

Catfish are good on cut bait, shrimp and stink bait.

FAYETTE: Water lightly stained; 61 degrees. Largemouth bass are excellent on shad-colored crankbaits and

crawfish plastics. Catfish are good on punch bait and chicken livers.

FORK: Water stained; 58-65 degrees; 2.29’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs and swim jigs. Crappie are good on hand-tied jigs and minnows.

FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 48 degrees; 6.95’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are very good on gizzard shad.

GRANBURY: Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 1.50’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and spinner baits in the river. White bass are good in the river on road runners and live minnows. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish are good on cut bait.

GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.31’ high. Largemouth bass are fair upriver on jigs and soft plastics. Crappie are good on slip bobber rigs. White bass are good upriver on jigs and small spinners. Blue catfish are good on jug lines baited with cut bait.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 51 degrees; 1.11’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are good on slabs with a stinger hook and upriver on small grub tails. Catfish are fair drifting cut bait.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 62 degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth are fair on weightless plastics. Are good on minnows.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 58 degrees; 7.72’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

JACKSONVILLE: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 0.03’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, crankbaits and softball plastics.

JOE POOL: Water slightly stained; 58 degrees; 1.70’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged plastic worms and creature baits.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 58 degrees; 1.50’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on creature baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are excellent upriver on roadrunners. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

LA-

VON: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.41’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good upriver on small jigs. Blue catfish are good on cut gizzard shad.

LBJ: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.31’ low. Largemouth bass are good on wackyrigged worms, Texas rigs and creatures. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse jigs. Catfish are good on punch

bait.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 0.08’ high. White bass are fair on flukes, small swimbaits, slabs and live bait are working. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on cut shad or chicken breasts.

LIMESTONE: Water clear; 60-62 degrees; 2.96’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, chatter baits and Texas rigs. Crappie are good shallow on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.15’ high. White bass are fair trolling slabs. Catfish are good drifting cut bait.

MARTIN CREEK: Water slightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.04’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on flukes. Crappie are good on jigs.

MEREDITH: Water stained; 46-47 degrees; 55.03’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair on curly tailed grubs and minnows. Walleye are fair on minnows and grubs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow.

MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 55 degrees; 5.91’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas or Carolina rigs, football jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows or small jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and cheese bait.

NACOGDOCHES: Water clear; 59-64 degrees; 0.32’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics, with spawn beginning.

NACONICHE: Water lightly stained; 65 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on red flake soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow.

NASWORTHY: Water slightly stained; 55 degrees. 0.96’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white chatterbaits, and flipping soft plastics. Crappie are good on chartreuse jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.31’ low. Crappie are good on split tail and saucer tail jigs. Catfish are slow.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 58 degrees; 23.65’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits and umbrella rigs. White bass are fair on live bait and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on prepared baits, cut bait and live bait.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 60-64 degrees; 0.46’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are good on inline spinners. Catfish are excellent on nightcrawlers

and on trotlines and juglines with cut bait, live minnows or perch.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water lightly stained; 50-54 degrees; 5.91’ low. Striped bass are good on live shad and deadsticking jigs. White bass are good on white jigs and live shad. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

PROCTOR: Water stained; 55 degrees; 9.19’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are slow to fair on live bait and cut bait.

RAVEN: Water clear; 70 degrees. Largemouth bass are excellent on soft plastics. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 52-55 degrees; 0.06’ low. White bass are good on small spinners. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.

RAY ROBERTS: Water stained; 51 degrees; 0.64’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jerkbaits and Alabama rigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water clear; 55 degrees; 2.72’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on jigs. White bass and hybrids are fair on slab and jig combinations. Blue and channel catfish are good on punch bait.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.07’ low. Largemouth bass are good on flukes, senkos, Alabama rigs and lipless crankbaits. White bass and some crappie are good upriver on road runners and chrome lipless crankbaits. Catfish are good on minnows and stink bait.

SOMERVILLE: Water slightly stained; 61 degrees; 2.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on craw jigs and shad crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are slow. Catfish are good on minnows and worms.

SQUAW CREEK: Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.44’ high. Channel catfish are good on punch bait, minnows, cut bait and hot dogs.

STILLHOUSE HOLLOW: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 11.96’ low. White bass are fair to good on slabs and trolling crankbaits.

TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.51’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on square-billed crankbaits, swimbaits and Alabama rigs. White bass and hybrids are fair on small jigs with plastics. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Blue catfish bite are good on fresh gizzard shad and cut bait. Smaller catfish are good on punch bait.

n Saltwater reports Page 19

TEXANA: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.23’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on creature baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait and cut bait.

TEXOMA: Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.83’ low. Striped bass are fair to good on flukes and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are slow.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 55-56 degrees; 1.46’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits, jig-n-pigs and Carolina rigs. Crappie are good on jigs and roadrunners. Catfish are fair on punch bait, shrimp, and homemade weenie concoctions.

TRAVIS: Water clear; 60 degrees; 41.44’ low. Largemouth bass are good on big lizards, worms and flukes.

TWIN BUTTES: Water stained; 57 degrees; 22.68’ low. Crappie are good on smaller minnows. White bass are good on shiny spinner baits. Catfish are fair on prepared baits and nightcrawlers.

TYLER: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.20’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are slow.

WACO: Water stained; 60 degrees; 11.21’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on chartreuse and green soft plastics.

WALTER E. LONG: Water clear; 60 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits, and Texas-rigged plastic worms.

WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 6.17’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs. Striped bass are good on slabs, swimbaits, live shad and Alabama rigs.

WORTH: Water lighlty stained; 52 degrees; 2.75’ low. White bass and crappie are fair to good in the river and creeks on jigs. Blue catfish and channel catfish are fair to good on cut bait, shad and punch bait.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 10.57’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on hair jigs.

—TPWD

Sandies on fly

Continued from page 1

Colorado River is fun to fish and most of the fishermen here will be wading.”

Access to the river is along the shoreline in the state park. A lot of the anglers at the Colorado are into tent camping. You can get up in the morning, walk to the river and be catching white bass within minutes.

“The wading on this section of the Colorado can be tricky,” Bell said. “It’s got a mostly rocky bottom that can be slippery. And there are holes in the rocks that can trip you up. Most of the time I’ll be fishing in 3 to 4 feet of water.”

On the Sabine River above Toledo Bend, you can put in at a boat ramp and run north to where lots of white bass can be caught. The sand bars along the way give you a chance to wade. Usually, the downstream end of the sand bar will be most productive, said Ed Jenkins, who has been fly-fishing on this river for years.

“I prefer to wade the sand bars,” he said. “Its easy fishing and you can take your time and fish a lot of water. Some of the heavier white bass that I ever fly-fished were caught in about 3 feet of water along the sand bars on this river.”

His go to fly is a No. 4 bend back. That’s a weedless fly that won’t snag a lot of roots or brush on bottom.

“The key to catching the big white bass on the Sabine River is to work the fly along bottom,” said Jenkins, who fishes with a 2 wt. rod. “The spawning whites will be holding on bottom, so that’s where you want to keep your fly. The best colors are white and red or white and chartreuse. A bead head streamer like a clouser is deadly on the white bass. You can work it deep or shallow. It’s especially good for fishing the deeper pockets of water out in the middle of the river channel.”

Another excellent place to find spawning white bass is on the Nueces River just north of George West in South Texas. One of the better boat ramps is off of Airport Road about three miles north of town.

This year, the river level is low. Typically, you can run it in a small aluminum boat. This year, anglers said you are better off fishing it from a kayak or canoe. Most fly-fishermen there will wade the sand bars while fishing small clousers in white, white/orange or white/pink. From the airport ramp, anglers head upstream and fish the sand and gravel bars for the most action.

At any of the Texas rivers where the white bass run, expect to encounter lots of fishermen on the weekends. Weekdays are less crowded for those who can get away.

Steady bite

Continued from page 1

numbers of fish along upper Galveston Bay near Sylvan Beach.

“Areas with harder, sandy bottoms and heavy shell in 3 to 5 feet of water have been the ticket lately,” Penick said. “You’ve got to be in close prox imity to oyster shell or you’re not going to get a bite.”

Live shrimp rigged under a popping cork has been work ing best.

“There’s also hoards of sheepshead hanging tight to the rocks along the edges of the Houston Ship Channel near Baytown,” Penick said. “You can catch all of the sheeps head you want right now on live shrimp fished tight to the rocks.”

Ross Battistoni found limits of trout and redfish recently along sand flats with scattered shell on the north end of the Galveston Bay Complex in Burnett Bay. Slow-sinking twitch baits and soft plastics produced the most hook-ups.

Capt. Ryan Battistoni has been keeping his anglers hooked up in various places across the Galveston Bay Complex.

“Spoil islands and shell humps in Chocolate Bay have been holding plenty of redfish, both slot-sized and undersized, lately,” he said. “The bigger reds have been staging right along the edges of shallow oyster reefs near the channel.”

Speckled trout from 15 to 18 inches have been mixed in.

“There have been some sheepshead and black drum around this shell as well,” Battistoni said. “Live shrimp under a popping cork has been producing steady action.”

Battistoni also has been catching some solid trout along the south jetty leading into Galveston Bay.

“Free-lined live shrimp casted parallel to the rocks has been working well to fool trout from 16 to 24 inches along the granite,” Battistoni said. “There’s also plenty of sheepshead feeding along the jetty rocks as well, and most of them are pretty large.”

Folks fishing from the rocks along the Texas City Dike are catching plenty of black drum, most of which are oversized. Cut bait and chunks of fresh crab have been the best bait options, and the most consistent action has been occurring during periods of tidal movement. When the tide goes slack, the bite tapers off quickly.

South of Sabine Lake, Capt. Chris Phillips has been catching solid specks and redfish along drop-offs and shell humps on the edges of the Sabine Pass Channel.

“The fish have been hitting both live shrimp and soft plastics fished under a cork,” Phillips said. “There have been some bull reds in the mix as well, and it seems like the springtime bite is really starting to get underway.”

More than 30 pounds at Big Sam

Another big limit came out of Sam Rayburn Reservoir at the Bass Champs tournament on March 4.

The team of Aaron Freeman, of Montgomery, and Hayden Heck, of Lufkin, topped the field of 164 teams with 31.83 pounds, winning $20,000. The team’s biggest bass weighed 9.32 pounds.

Colt Dear and Eric Williamson, both of Vidor, finished second with 27.9 pounds, including a 13.04-pounder that took the big bass prize. The team won $4,000.

Cody Pitt, of Elmer, Louisiana, fish alone and came in third with 25.81 pounds, winning $2,700.

PK puts out 13-pounder

On March 5, Tony Lozipone, of Iowa Park, cast his swimbait toward a 15-foot ledge on Possum Kingdom Reservoir, and got a strike. The life-long angler reeled in his biggest bass, at 13.14 pounds. The fish helped him win a bass tournament on the lake.

—Staff report

—Bass Champs

Photo by Robert Sloan, for Lone Star Outdoor News

Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News

TWO HUNDRED POUNDS OF SNAPPER SEIZED

The Coast Guard interdicted two lancha crews and seized 200 pounds of illegally caught fish in federal waters off southern Texas, A Coast Guard aircrew identified lancha crews engaged in illegal fishing approximately 2 miles north of the Maritime Boundary Line. Response boat and crews were launched. After arriving at the scene, they seized two lanchas with fishing gear and a combined 200 pounds of red snapper onboard. The Coast Guard crews detained the nine Mexican fishermen and transferred them to border enforcement agents for processing.

PET GATOR KEPT FOR

20 YEARS

A Buda-area woman was keeping an alligator as a pet. Game wardens were notified and discovered a 7-foot alligator in a woman’s backyard. She told game wardens it was her pet, but she did not have any permits to keep the animal. The woman informed wardens she had kept the alligator for more

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER

AXIS, RED STAG POACHED, LEFT TO WASTE

On Feb. 17, Young County game wardens were notified of an axis deer that was illegally shot and left to waste inside of high-fenced ranch. During the investigation, it was determined that a total of four axis deer and one red stag had been illegally killed, each exhibiting gunshot wounds, and were left to waste on the property within the last few months. Call Operation Game Thief with any information. A reward is offered for information leading to the conviction of the person(s) responsible.

than two decades. Texas law allows people to keep alligators if they are farming, educating or using them for zoological reasons. The woman told investigators she was volunteering at the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels and stole an alligator egg. Wardens said the alligator was healthy, but had outgrown the space provided. It was recovered and returned to Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo.

The woman will face up to $1,000 in fines and fees for illegally possessing an alligator. Charges for stealing the egg are past the statute of limitations.

VIRTUAL REALITY BOATING ED Texas game wardens revealed, for the first time in the nation, VR headsets to introduce people to boating and sailing, and the effects of wind and waves and their impact on a

boat’s behavior. While immersed in a highly realistic environment, participants learned about parts of the boat and steering basics. The virtual reality course is part of the MarineVerse app, one of the online training courses offered by Nautic Ed. The course was on hand at the Houston Boat and Auto Show in late January. The course includes a safety briefing. Audience members were able to follow along on a monitor.

SPONSORED BY:

WARDENS HONORED AT LEGISLATURE

At the State Capitol on Feb. 21, Texas game wardens were officially recognized by both houses of the legislature for achievements in conserving Texas’ wild spaces, supporting fellow law enforcement through special operations and creating opportunities for communities to enjoy and learn about Texas natural resources. Following the recognition, wardens met with state leaders to discuss their experiences.

REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263

AN AMERICAN LEGEND

RUGER.COM/AMERICANRIFLE

Hunt hog in Texas Panhandle & Texas Hill Country. Due to overpopulation, there are no seasons or bag limits. Hogs can be hunted year-round, day or night, using virtually any weapon or technique.

Austin Ferguson, 12, of Mansfield, harvested his first buck while hunting at the March Ranch in San Angelo with his father, grandfather, uncle and cousin.

Charlie Haas took his first bow buck in November of 2022. He prepared all year for the moment and made it count.

Bren Bezdek, 10, of Dallas, harvested her first buck from 85 yards at her grandfather’s ranch in Live Oak County.

Rob Jeffrey landed this crappie while fishing along timber on Lake Ray Roberts with fishing guide, Daniel Koberna

Kayleigh Wright caught this grouper while fishing with her father, Darby

ARKANSAS

First woman officer of the year

The National Wild Turkey Federation honored Arkansas Wildlife Officer Audrey Bush with the National Wildlife Officer of the Year Award for her commitment to Arkansas’s natural resources. The award was presented at the 47th annual NWTF National Convention and Sport Show.

Bush is the first female NWTF National Wildlife Officer of the Year in the history of the award, dating back to 2000.

Bush is a five-year veteran of the AGFC. Last spring, she put in 270 hours of work during turkey season, stopping multiple hunters in violation of the regulations, in addition to contacting 110 violators throughout the year that resulted in several larger cases. She is also a major proponent of outreach, having promoted conservation and outdoor/hunting education to several local schools and other youth-oriented events.

—AGFC

FLORIDA

Top sellers in hunting, shooting

Southwick Associates identified top brands purchased in the market, based on more than 9,000 surveys of hunters and shooters conducted through the year.

Red Dot Sights – Holosun

Scope/Accessory Mounts – Leupold

Hunting Apparel Camo Brand – Mossy Oak

Tree Stands/Ladders/Towers – Big Game

Foot Plot Seed – Deer Creek

Trail Cameras – Cabela’s

Game Calls – Primos

Shooting Sticks – Bog Gear

Gun Cleaning – Hoppes

Choke Tubes – Carlson

Magazines – Magpul

Trigger Assemblies - Timney

—Southwick Associates

Poacher took dozens of turkey, 20 deer

On Feb. 28, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission filed charges against Sidney Brent Hurst ranging from second-degree misdemeanors to third-degree felonies. The charges resulted from a twoyear investigation conducted by the FWC Statewide Investigations Section and regional law enforcement officers.

FWC officers identified Hurst as a person of interest in poaching activities and, in the spring of 2020, in response to tips from the public and shared social media posts.

The initial investigation provided evidence that Hurst and his young son had both taken over the season bag limit for wild turkeys and Hurst himself had poached 15-20 wild turkeys during the spring 2020 season.

During the spring 2021 season, the FWC executed search warrants on Hurst’s social

Evidence also showed Hurst killed several gobblers illegally during the closed season. The investigation in spring 2021 provided evidence that he had also committed armed trespass on multiple occasions in four Florida counties. Hurst also harvested more than the season bag limit for deer, likely harvesting 20 buck deer during the 2020-21 general gun season.

On Sept. 20, 2022, FWC officers executed search warrants at Hurst’s house in Taylor County and a hunting camp in Lafayette County. Two shotguns, Hurst’s iPhone, 156 pairs of turkey feet/spurs, 155 turkey beards and 21 sets of deer antlers were seized during the searches.

—FWC

IDAHO

Another celebrity hunter charged

Erik Van Woerkom, an online hunting personality of the Muley Freak crew, was charged with felony unlawful possession of a trophy mule deer and misdemeanor trespass, according to Idaho court documents.

On Oct. 12, 2022, the 36-year-old hunter received citations for trespassing to hunt a mule deer buck on private land, as well as another charge of possession of that animal.

Both charges had initially been marked as misdemeanors, but since the buck measured more than the 150-inch Idaho trophy limit for mule deer bucks, the charge was amended to a felony.

The charges come with a maximum penalty of five years in jail and/or $50,000 in fines. Van Woerkom could also face a $2,000 fine for the illegally possessed animal and lose his Idaho hunting privileges for life.

—Staff report

INTERNATIONAL MANITOBA, CANADA Lottery coming for U.S. waterfowlers

Manitoba is expected to announce that most non-Canadian waterfowlers who wish to hunt in the province without a registered Manitoba guide must apply to a lottery for a duck or goose hunting license.

Those who are awarded licenses will be limited to seven days of hunting. The number of licenses available in the lottery isn’t known, though reports last fall said 1,300 would be awarded to non-Canadian, nonoutfitted waterfowlers.

The program is expected to begin this fall.

Meanwhile, 1,200 non-Canadian licenses would be reserved for 60 Manitoba outfitters. Additionally, Americans who own property in Manitoba will get one “legacy’’ license for themselves and four licenses for their buddies, each good for 21 days.

Opponents, including Ducks Unlimited, said American hunters are the major financiers of habitat preservation in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada’s primary waterfowl-producing provinces.

DU said since 1986, more than $2.7 billion [Canadian] has been invested in wetland conservation in Canada under the auspices of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This averages approximately $77 million in funding to Canada each year.

—Staff report

LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER

Solution on Page 18

shorebird

DOWN

1) Texas border lake

2) Zambia’s capital

3) Angelina County’s seat

4) Turbulent area below a dam

6) Fort Worth’s county

7) Binocular brand

9) Where the quail stores food

13) River fishing town (two words)

15) Site of TU’s Troutfest (two words)

16) Hunting boot brand

17) San Marcos’ county

19) Falfurrias’ county

21) Spring turkey hunting month

22) The tom’s mating dance

23) Texas’ second tallest mountain

24) One of the cats

27) A duck-hunting state

31) Presidio County’s seat

32) Fly rod brand

35) Saltwater lure company

36) A Texas bay

Blenker to lead Fiocchi

Fiocchi named David Blenker as president and chief executive officer of the company’s North American operations, replacing Anthony Acitelli, who is retiring as CEO.

Acquisition for Vortex

Vortex acquired GeoBallistics, a Dallasbased based business providing ballistic mobile application software.

Director at USA Archery

USA Archery appointed Richard Fleming as senior director of communications and marketing.

Hayowyk top sales manager at Lyman

Lyman Products Corp. named Alex Hayowyk as national sales manager and promoted Spencer Karoll to product manager.

Roper promoted at Camfour

Camfour Inc. promoted Brandon Roper to the position of president and added Ryan Oliver and Lisa Shows to its sales team.

Sales exec changes at Mossberg

Bill Brown will be shifting director of sales to senior director of product management and Brian Krouse moved into the role of director of sales at O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.

Sales exec at Burris

Phillip Harding IV was named the new United States regional sales manager at Burris.

Racine named VP

Redding Reloading Equipment named Dennis Racine as its new vice president, sales and marketing.

Agency for Scent Thief

Scent Thief retained Source Outdoor Group of Gainesville, Georgia, as its public relations agency.

PR agency for Caracal USA

Caracal USA, a manufacturer of small arms, retained Laura Burgess Marketing as its public relations and marketing agency.

FOR THE TABLE

Mushroom sauce

2/3 cup mushrooms, sliced

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup onion, diced

6 tbsps. unsalted butter

6 tbsps. flour

2 cups beef broth

2 tsps. balsamic vinegar

1 tsps. thyme

Pepper

In a medium-sized pot, sauté mushrooms, garlic and onions with 2 tbsps. butter. Remove mushroom mixture when cooked and set aside. Reduce heat and add remaining butter. Stir in

flour to create a roux, stirring constantly until the butter and flour turn a brown color. Slowly stir in beef broth while continuing to stir. Once the mixture is thickened, add mushroom mix back in, along with vinegar, thyme and pepper.

Turkey

Turkey breast, trimmed, sliced and tenderized

1 cup flour

1 tsp. salt

2 large eggs

1 cup breadcrumbs

1 tsp. black pepper

4 cups vegetable oil

Preheat oil to 350 degrees. In a shallow bowl, mix flour and salt. In a second bowl, beat eggs. In a third bowl, mix breadcrumbs and pepper. Dip breasts in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture. Gently shake off excess breadcrumbs. Fry 2-3 minutes on each side. Place onto paper towel to drain and serve with mushroom gravy.

—Ohio DNR

4-6 white bass fillets, sliced in 1-inch

pieces

2 tbsps. yellow mustard

1 cup of all-purpose flour

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. pepper

Tortillas

1 cup beer

Juice of 1 lime

1 tbsp. garlic powder

1 tbsp. salt

Vegetable oil for frying

Condiments, your choice of onions, cilantro, lettuce and/or spicy aioli

Heat oil to 350-375 degrees. Prepare fish slices by patting them dry with paper towels. Combine flour, salt and spices in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the beer, lime juice and mustard; combine that mixture with the dry ingredients to make a thin batter. Place fish pieces in batter to coat, then fry in hot oil until golden brown, 4-6 minutes. Remove fish from oil and place on a drying rack or paper towel-lined plate. In a hot pan, heat tortillas until small brown spots appear. Assemble tacos starting with the fish and then adding preferred condiments.

—Oklahoma Wildlife Department

Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News

Comment on fish regs

A reduction in the limit for cobia highlights proposed changes to saltwater fishing regulations for 2023-24. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is accepting public comment until March 22. The proposals will be considered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March 2023 public hearing.

Proposals:

Add shortfin mako to the list of prohibited shark species for recreational and commercial fishing;

Require anglers to use descending devices when a fish exhibits signs of barotrauma and match federal DESCEND Act requirements;

Lower the bag limit for cobia to one fish per day per angler and create a vessel limit of two fish per trip, not to exceed the per person bag limit, for recreational and commercial fisheries.

—TPWD

New guide

Continued from page 8

valuable lessons about patience, perseverance, and respect for the environment.

“It has great mental health benefits,” she said. “It’s a chance to unplug from technology and connect with one another in a meaningful way.”

While everyone is excited about the large fish that they catch, DeLaCruz emphasizes conservation, especially after the devastating freeze of 2021, so she asks guests to

keep only legal catches and release ones over 25 inches, allowing the fish to reproduce and maintain the ecological balance of their habitat.

The guide believes whether you are a seasoned angler or an eager beginner, fishing with your family is an opportunity to escape the stresses of everyday life and bond over a shared passion.

Spots and largemouths

Continued from page 8

“They took over the lake. We catch limits of them while crappie fishing.”

The Alabama spotted bass were stocked when the 2,880-acre lake 45 miles south of Lubbock was filling up, designed for anglers who preferred a high catch rate. Britton said the spots are super-aggressive.

“They are more aggressive than crappie and largemouth,” he said. “They come into the crappie holes and take over, hitting everything. We have to move.”

The limit was increased to five bass, any size, and Britton encourages anglers to keep their limit of spots.

“They are in huge schools, see them on

my graph,” he said. “They’re almost like piranhas. They fight great, though. I expect we’ll break the state record on those someday.”

Britton said the needle nose (longnose) gar numbers also are up on the lake.

“I catch four or five while night fishing each night,” he said. “I see them on the spawning beds swimming with 12-inch crappie in their mouths.

Largemouth seem to be coming back, according to Britton.

“We’re catching more small, 1- to 2-pounders this year,” he said.

MARCH 11

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

Greater Hill Country Banquet

Gillespie County Fairgrounds

Fredericksburg (210) 240-0214 rmef.org

TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT

TRWD FlyFest

Clear Fork of the Trinity River, Fort Worth trwdflyfest.com

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY CHAPTER SCI

Banquet and Auction Harper Community Hall, Harper texashillcountrysci.org

MARCH 11-12

TEXAS GUN AND KNIFE SHOW

Amarillo Civic Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

MARCH 17

MULE DEER FOUNDATION

Greater San Antonio Banquet

Leading Edge Archery, Boerne (817) 565-7121 muledeer.org

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

San Antonio Hooked on Clays

National Shooting Complex (210) 863-7288 ccatexas.org

MARCH 17-19

NATIONAL FISHING EXPOS

Fishing Expo, Fort Worth Will Rogers Memorial Center nationalfishingexpos.com

DATEBOOK

MARCH 18

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

Cowtown Banquet Cinnamon Creek Ranch, Roanoke (817) 694-6671 rmef.org

MARCH 18

BANDERA WRANGLERS

Bandera Ham Rodeo 2023

Bandera County Manfield Park, Bandera (830) 460-3756

MARCH 18-19

TEXAS GUN & KNIFE SHOWS

Abilene Convention Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

MARCH 23

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

Cowtown Annual Ruckus River Ranch, Fort Worth (817) 306-7160 nwtf.org

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Helotes Banquet Pedrotti’s Ranch (210) 535-6810 ccatexas.org

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Texoma Spring Event Mayor Arena, Denison (903) 267-4108 ducks.org

MARCH 25

MULE DEER FOUNDATION

Greater Houston Banquet

IAG Icehouse (817) 565-7121 muledeer.org

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Kaufman County Dinner

Kaufman Civic Center (469) 732-1581 ducks.org

PARK CITIES QUAIL

17th Annual Dinner & Auction

SMU Field House, Dallas parkcitiesquail.org

MARCH 25-26

KIMBLE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Predator Calling Contest Junction (325) 446-3190 junctiontexas.com

MARCH 26

TECHRON MEGA BASS

Lake Fork Marina basschamps.com

MARCH 30

WHITETAILS UNLIMITED

Texas North Deer Camp Myers Show Park Barn, McKinney (512) 657-9943 whitetailsunlimited.com

DELTA WATERFOWL

Houston Banquet Sawyer Park Icehouse, Spring (337) 322-8088 deltawaterfowl.org

MARCH 31

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

Edwards Plateau Banquet Reneau Farms, New Braunfels (361) 960-3375 rmef.org

APRIL 1

DSC SOUTH TEXAS CHAPTER Annual Gala Pedrotti’s Ranch, Helotes dscsouthtexas.org

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Aransas Bay Banquet Fulton Convention Center (210) 240-7722 ccatexas.org

APRIL 2

STEWARDS OF THE WILD San Antonio Sausage Showdown Beethoven Maennerchor tpwf.org/sotw

APRIL 5

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

Permian Basin Banquet

Midland Country Club (432) 230-4399 nwtf.org

APRIL 6

DUCKS UNLIMITED Seguin Banquet Geronimo Community Center (210) 449-6942 ducks.org

APRIL 8

DSC TEXAS PANHANDLE CHAPTER Annual Banquet Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Ballroom (806) 433-5766 panhandledsc.com

APRIL 13

DUCKS UNLIMITED Houston Evening of Conservation Gordy & Sons Outfitters (713) 471-8854 ducks.org

and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or email them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT

SABINE LAKE: 65 degrees. Black drum and oversized redfish are fair to good on live shrimp under a popping cork.

Speckled trout are fair on shrimp under a popping cork.

BOLIVAR: 67 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork.

TRINITY BAY: 68 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics and mullet imitation plugs.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: 68 degrees.

Speckled trout and scattered redfish are good on soft plastics. Redfish are fair on shrimp and burner dark green plastics.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: 69 degrees. Redfish and scattered speckled trout are fair on shrimp under a popping cork, topwaters and soft plastics.

TEXAS CITY: 68 degrees. Oversized black drum are good on live crab. Redfish and speckled trout are fair on shrimp under a popping cork.

FREEPORT: 65 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork or free-lined. Redfish are fair on live finger mullet and live shrimp.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 65 degrees.

Speckled trout and redfish are fair drifting or wading with artificials. Black drum are fair on cut bait.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 65 degrees. Redfish and black drum are fair on cut mullet and shrimp.

PORT O’CONNOR: 67 degrees. Black drum are fair to good on dead shrimp. Big bull redfish are good on Spanish sardines and piggy perch. Slot redfish are good on Spanish sardines and live shrimp.

ROCKPORT: 62 degrees. Redfish are good on cut bait, soft plastics, and topwaters near sand pockets. Speckled trout are good on live bait, suspension baits and large soft plastics. Black drum are good on dead shrimp.

PORT ARANSAS: 70 degrees. Redfish are fair to good on shrimp, cut mullet and cut perch.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 68 degrees. Redfish are fair on shrimp and cut mullet.

BAFFIN BAY: 65 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are slow to fair on live shrimp.

PORT MANSFIELD: 69 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on paddle tail and ball tail plastics.

SOUTH PADRE: 68 degrees. Speckled trout are fair but small along the Intracoastal on shrimp. Black drum are good on dead shrimp. Redfish are good on cut mullet and scented plastics.

—TPWD

C4 RANCH - WHITETAIL & EXOTIC HUNTS

Cull, Management & Trophies up to 300” Duval County, TX

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USYF GUN/OUTFITTER/ FISHING/HUNTING SHOW

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DOS HERMANOS RANCH

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WHITETAIL + HOGS Brush country whitetail bucks! Doe, management bucks and hog hunts

All-inclusive guided hunts zacatehunts.com

ANTLERS WANTED Buying all species, all conditions. Looking for large quantities Call Del

QUAIL HUNTING

Guided-Self Guided-Training 700 yard RANGE PoetryShootingClub.com (214) 728-2755

DUVAL COUNTY South Texas Dove Hunting 65 acres, Lodging RV Power Available Huntershilton.com for more info (361) 244-0544 or (361) 443-9330

23FT FORMULA CUDDY CABIN DEEP V I/O

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GUN/ACCESSORIES FOR SALE Weatherby Vanguard bolt-action 270 Win. Pelican Vault Single Gun Case Vortex Viper HS Scope Call David (214) 909-2747

SKID STEER BRUSH CUTTING / HYDRO AX

(830) 997-2263

NEED ARCHERY RANGE? www.TexasArchery.info

AXIS HIDES

Tanned axis hides Axis pillows / gbroach@ktc.com

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EXOTICS + WHITETAIL Several species Trophy and meat hunts Owner guided Very reasonable Let’s have fun!

(325) 475-2100

TDHA - JOIN TODAY Texas Dove Hunters Association TexasDoveHunters.com (210) 764-1189

FISHING

BAY FISHING

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BAFFIN BAY ADVENTURE Offshore, Nearshore Fishing and Bay fishing at its best! Come enjoy the beauty of Baffin Bay and surrounding areas. Reasonable prices and family oriented! (361) 371-1857

(325) 446- 6716 THE

All your clearing needs, right-of-ways, senderos, creek & river bottoms, fence lines etc. South Texas Call Frank (512) 699-5381

LAWN BOY TILLER 5HP Briggs & Stratton Runs Great $250 (830) 708-7160

WORD)

LIKE NEW 2014 NEWWATER showroom condition, stored indoors, 9 ft. T-Top, Front & rear casting platforms, Raised Console, Livewell, 90 HP Yamaha 4 stroke motor, less than 40 hrs. Located in Port Mansfield. Make an offer. Call Capt. Steve (956) 492-8472

ADD