FISHING ANNUAL INSIDE Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
March 26, 2021
Fishing texas A N N UA L 2 02 1
BIG YEAR FOR BIG BASS
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Volume 17, Issue 15
Fishing passion started young Possible junior lake record for 14-year-old By Lili Sams
Lone Star Outdoor News Bennett McBride, 14, of Flower Mound, has been fishing as long as he can remember. The
older he gets, the more it has become a full-blown obsession. McBride grew up fishing on farm ponds near his grandparents’ home in Oklahoma. Now, a freshman at Flower Mound High School, McBride is working on joining the school’s fishing club.
Joey Saye, a family friend and McBride’s middle school athletics coach, has been fishing with him and hopes to be McBride’s captain for the fishing club next year. The duo headed out March 19 on Lake Grapevine. “It had just rained so
the water was a little dirty,” McBride said. After a while, he got a bite. “When I set the hook I could tell it was a decent fish,” he said. “When he got close to the boat, he started tugging and pulling drag.” The pair didn’t have a net onboard, so Saye Please turn to page 9
Bennett McBride, 14, is eaten up with fishing. On March 19, he landed the pending junior record largemouth at Lake Grapevine, a 7-pound, 11-ounce fish. Photo from Joey Saye.
Ganged-up gobblers South Zone opener mixed By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Hunters saw plenty of turkeys during the South Zone opener March 20, but many described opening weekend as “weird.” Near Rocksprings and Fredericksburg, hunters reported that gobblers were still hanging together in big groups, making it tough to break a mature tom away. While hard-working and fortunate hunters had success, most said there wasn’t a lot of gobbling and just a few gobblers breaking away from the packs. In the George West area, the birds were plentiful, but the success was mixed. On a hunt testing the new Briley turkey chokes, hunters witnessed a similar scenario, although the birds were starting to break up. “Some guys did well but worked hard for it,” said guide James Prince. On 14,000 acres, six hunters got three birds on one side of the ranch, while two hunters bagged three birds on the other. “There were a lot of gobblers running together with no hens,” Prince said. “But they are starting to split During the opening weekend of turkey hunting in Texas’ South Zone, some hunters had shy toms work their way to the jake decoy and exert their dominance; while others reported quiet gobblers and groups of turkeys ganged up. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
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Catfish stacked up on Texoma, steady on Conroe By Nate Skinner
Shawn Brown landed this 60-pound blue catfish while fishing on Lake Texoma. Photo by Daniel Armstrong.
Springtime conditions across many inland lakes have triggered a catfish feeding frenzy. The whiskered species are on the move in shallow water, and in some areas, they are staging to spawn. Two of the hottest lakes include Lake Texoma and Lake Conroe.
Texoma guide Daniel Armstrong said hoards of blue catfish are stacked up along the northwest end of the lake near the mouth of the Red River, where they are feeding heavily in preparation for the spawn. “The water level on Texoma is quite a bit lower than it has been during the past several spring seasons,” Armstrong said.
“The fish are unable to get into the Red River right now because the water leading into it is super skinny. They usually go up the river to spawn, so they are extremely thick near its mouth right now.” Most of the catfish are hanging out over shallow mud flats in less than 2 feet of water. “The key is finding the Please turn to page 11
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 11 Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 15 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 19
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News
HUNTING
FISHING
Cousins take toms (P. 4)
White bass running (P. 8)
Youth season success.
Where clear water is moving, fish biting.
Marine in Africa (P. 4)
Spring break fish (P. 9)
Taking advantage of leave time.
Kids head out with dad.