Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
April 13, 2018
Volume 14, Issue 16
Front turns on toms Gobbling activity picks up with weather change By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Opening weekend of the North Zone turkey seasons started off much like its neighbor to the south, with talking toms until the birds hit the ground, followed by silence. When a strong cold front came a week later, though, things changed. Cole Thompson hunts each year on family property in Wise County, and heard lots of gobbling early during a warm and windy opening weekend. He had a successful hunt, but not without plenty of patience and effort. “I worked a tom and his hen for 2 1/2 hours before they finally came to me from 400 yards away,” he said. West of Dublin, Jeff Kenny reported difficult hunting the opening weekend. “I didn’t get any gobbles back until 7:30 p.m. and I put a gobbler to roost less than 100 yards from me,” he said. “It was an unusual opening day for us.” Reports from Llano, Kimble and Menard counties indicated little gobbling, and toms and hens failing to respond to calling. Eddie Stevenson hunted on
Sophia Hagan landed a 14-pound bass at age 4. Fishing from the pier on Lake Naconiche, she used a minnow on a crappie hook. Photo from Michael Hagan.
Hunting for big bass on Lake Naconiche 4-year-old girl lands 14-pounder By Robert Sloan
For Lone Star Outdoor News The second heaviest bass known to be caught out of Lake Naconiche was brought in by 4-yearold Sophia Hagan on Sat., March 24, while fishing a live minnow off the pier. The giant bass weighed 14 pounds and was 25.5 inches long. Sophia was using a kids Zebco rod and reel with 6-pound test line. The fish was weighed on a digital scale provided by a nearby angler. After of couple of photos the bass, almost as big as the angler, was released. “We were out there trying to catch crappie,” said her dad, Michael Hagan. “There were plenty of people on the pier, and we took the only available spot. She got a bite and reeled the big bass in. That’s when I had to jump in the water and
Please turn to page 23 This excited tom strutted and gobbled before mounting a hen decoy on a West Texas ranch. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
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By Nate Skinner
Seasonal gusty winds make fishing wide-open waters a daunting task. That’s why Galveston Bay fishing guide and owner of Battistoni’s Guide Service, Captain Ryan Battistoni, is focusing his efforts on back lakes and marshes that offer protection from the incessant springtime breezes. Recently, Battistoni has found good
success fishing the marshes in West Galveston Bay, including Green’s Lake, Carancahua Lake, Hall’s Lake and Chocolate Bay. He’s been targeting shell as well as small drains along the banks in these areas. “The small oyster shell reefs that litter the back lakes in west Galveston Bay almost always hold plenty of trout this time of year,” Battistoni said. “Redfish and flounder can be found feeding along the shorelines. I like to key on
West Galveston Bay back lakes are good locations for April trout and redfish. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
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CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12
No change to deer season (P. 4) Snook up north (P. 9)
Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 18 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 21 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Page 26
INSIDE
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Action gaining momentum in Galveston marshes
FISHING
Quail hunters oppose extension.
Galveston guide lands warm-water fish.
Water for wildlife (P. 4)
Beach cleanup founder dies (P. 8)
Guzzlers installed in Big Bend.
Billy Sandifer left legacy.