Lone Star Outdoor News 062620

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Shooting Sports annual Inside Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas

June 26, 2020

Shooting Sports texas A N N UA L 2020

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John Wayne, HUNTING LIKE TEDDY Advertising Section

Volume 16, Issue 21

Trophy Hunters sues SCI, Buckmasters

Fly-fishin’ in the dark By Nate Skinner

Claims theft of information

For Lone Star Outdoor News Have you ever been fly-fishing in a picture-perfect hole or pool along a creek or river and had numerous fish follow your offering, but refuse to eat it? Spoke Hollow Outfitters guide Davin Topel’s favorite way to combat this issue is to return to that same area at night. “Often, you’ll find that fish that were not willing to commit to a fly during the daytime hours will become less finicky under the cover of darkness,” Topel said. “More aggressive reaction strikes are often the result, especially from larger fish like bass.” Topel’s favorite time to go night fly-fishing is during the few days leading up to a full moon. “A clear night and a bright moon allows you to see fairly well after dusk, and I think it helps the fish see your flies better,” he said. “Any bright and clear night is worth trying, but in my experience, they seem to eat better on the front side of the full moon compared to the backside when it is becoming smaller.” According to Topel, nighttime strikes can be pretty impressive, and he attributes this aggression to the limited visibility that is available after dark. “During the daytime, the fish can take their time, inspecting a fly in clear water,” he explained. “At night, I feel like they have to choose whether to simply eat it or not.” Because species like bluegill, bass and sunfish tend to produce explosive reaction strikes in the dark, night fly-fishing involves a lot of listening. “I tend to throw a lot of larger poppers and floating streamers that emit noise and vibration along the surface of the water,” Topel said. “You can’t really ever see the strikes on these offerings in the dark, but you can hear them.” Topel and fellow fly-fishing industry professional, Edgar Diaz of Sight Line Provisions, set out recently to put Topel’s knowledge and theories about nighttime fly-fishing to the test. They chose some spots along Onion Creek near Dripping Springs where they knew decent bass and sunfish were lurking. “Conditions weren’t ideal, as we were coming off a full moon and had missed the brightest nights by a couple of days,” Topel said. “Regardless, we felt like

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News On June 17, the Texas Trophy Hunters Association received a temporary restraining order against Safari Club International and Buckmasters, claiming that SCI stole its proprietary membership list and provided it to Buckmasters to solicit new members. The TRO ordered the two groups to immediately stop using TTHA’s confidential membership list. The lawsuit, seeking a temporary restraining order, permanent injunction and damages, claims that SCI gained access to TTHA’s confidential membership list during acquisition negotiations with TTHA and violated confidentiality agreements by providing the list to Buckmasters. In January, SCI announced that it had entered into an agreement to purchase TTHA, as reported in Lone Star Outdoor News. The plans were announced at SCI’s annual convention in Reno, Nevada. According to the sworn lawsuit and Dave Keith, TTHA’s chief executive officer, negotiations in the acquisition included the parties signing a Confidentiality Agreement, followed by TTHA providing SCI its membership list. The Confidentiality Agreement, which was attached to the Bexar County lawsuit, provided that the confidential information only be used for the purpose of

Davin Topel caught this sunfish while fly-fishing at night in an area of Onion Creek where the fish had been acting finicky during daytime hours. Edgar Diaz used a prototype underwater bubble camera that is made to pair with a cellphone, along with some underwater lights to capture this image. Photo by Edgar Diaz.

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The trout with two mouths By Craig Nyhus

Fishing off of his Port Mansfield pier after dark, Kyle Smith landed this strange-looking speckled trout. Photo from Kyle Smith.

Kyle Smith had a good fishing weekend off of the pier at his vacation home in Port Mansfield. “We hit it just right,” he said. “There was a full moon and the fish were feeding. We caught redfish, a 22- and 25-inch trout along with smaller trout and an eel.”

Then they caught the weirdlooking trout. “It looked like it had two mouths,” Smith said. Quentin Hall, a biologist with the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation, a part of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, said after reviewing the photos that he has seen the phenomenon before in trout, redfish and even a cobia.

“That is an old injury from either a violent hook set or possibly feeding on something too large,” Hall said. “The skin and muscle has been cut from the jaw leaving a flap of tissue and a hole outlining the mandible.” Smith said if it had been a tear, it had completely healed. “It was pretty weird looking however it developed,” he said.

Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10

HUNTING

FISHING

Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12

More and more exotics (P. 4)

Bass tracking (P. 8)

Industry adds $1.5 billion to economy.

Fork study looks at behavior.

Turkeys nesting (P. 4)

Art from beach trash (P. 9)

Poult numbers promising.

Creations on display.

Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 13 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 15 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 18

INSIDE

CONTENTS

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

Lone Star Outdoor News


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June 26, 2020

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June 26, 2020

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June 26, 2020

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HUNTING

Explosion of exotics in Texas By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News

More Texas ranchers are adding exotic animals, like this axis. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

The exotic animal industry has more than a $1.5 billion economic impact in Texas, according to Texas A&M University Economic Impact Study. “It’s probably closer to $2 billion now,” Charly Seale, the executive director of the Exotic Wildlife Association, said in a webinar hosted by the Texas Deer Association. Seale said the first exotics came to Texas in 1854, with the arrival of 33 camels from Egypt. The camels were used to transport

supplies to military bases. “When the program ended, they were let loose, and camels were seen on the Texas landscape for years after that,” Seale said. The more modern exotic industry began in the 1940s. Drought and falling domestic livestock prices caused ranchers to sell their property. “Several ranchers had been on African safaris,” Seale said. “They knew the Texas Hill Country was almost identical to the terrain in South Africa.” Ranchers got animals from zoos, and the animals readily adapted to the Hill Country

habitat, especially axis, blackbuck and fallow. “Then rains created water gaps and some animals escaped,” Seale said. Exotics were the savior for many Texas ranches, avoiding the sale of the family ranch. Seale said the super-exotics came next, in the 1960s. “More and bigger animals were brought in,” he said, “including scimitar-horned oryx, addax, sable, kudu, gemsbok and others. The Exotic Wildlife Association began in Please turn to page 6

Turkey nesting success looks positive Lone Star Outdoor News For hunters and ranchers walking through grassy fields, there’s nothing like the shock of flushing a hen turkey by nearly stepping on her nest. If reports are any indication, nesting success this spring was high. Gene T. Miller, a district biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation, said in his area of Texas, west of Interstate 35, nesting success looks positive. “I’m getting reports of poults being seen in the western half of Texas,” he said. “The problem is seeing them with the high grass and brush. We’ll know more in August and September when we can see them better.” Tom Mansell’s hens moved off of his ranch near Breckenridge, and he blames a feral hog infestation after nearby creeks flooded several times. “The hogs moved in on me and rooted up everywhere they usually nest,” he said. “The birds have moved on, I’m seeing a quarter of the turkeys I used to. There are birds around me, but not here.”

Mansell said his birds moved off of the ranch after heavy rains in the past. “About 15 years ago, we had floods and the turkeys moved off to higher ground,” he said. “That’s the last time I had an evacuation of turkeys. We’ve had some serious rains out there this year.” Jason Hardin, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s turkey program leader, said it’s still early, but he has been receiving reports of big poults spotted in South Texas. “The birds are just hatching in North Texas, so we’ll learn more as the summer goes on,” he said. “But the nesting season should have been good — there is good moisture in most of the state and lots of insects.” During the spring season, hunters saw an abundance of jakes and fewer adult birds after poor nesting conditions in previous years. “Now, we should have two good years in a row,” Hardin said. So next spring, hunters may be seeing both jakes and adult birds in good numbers.

Good numbers of large poults are being seen in South Texas, and nesting success appears to be good. Photo by Joe Richards, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Lack of data on bucks inspires database By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News After he finished college, Tompall Glaser’s grandfather asked him to take over management of the family ranch in southeast Kimble County, situated between Harper and Junction. He quickly noticed the lack of information on buck harvest over the years. “Of course, I jumped on the opportunity to manage the property,” Glaser said. “But

when I looked at the books, there was no clear record of deer harvests and the ranch had been in the family for more than 100 years. There were no photos of bucks that had been harvested, either. The realization of the lack of harvest records on my family’s ranch prompted the birth of the Texas Buck Registry.” The Texas Buck Registry is an online database with a specific focus of showcasing deer harvested from all over the state, which inadvertent-

ly allows it to also be used as a valuable tool by hunters who are interested in keeping harvest records on the properties they hunt. There are currently 2,324 bucks registered on the site, and the harvest data available is proof that impressive deer can come from any area in Texas. An Austin resident, Glaser is the brains behind the operation. He grew up hunting in Fayette and Colorado counties where, as a kid, it was ex-

citing to simply see deer from a blind or stand. “It was always a big deal if we got to actually see some deer when I was younger,” he said. “If we saw buck, things became real exciting.” As he got older, Glaser began to see a shift in the numbers and quality of deer in these counties, especially after antler restrictions were brought into play within annual hunting regulations. Tompall Glaser, pictured with his 3-year-old son, Oliver, began “I remember around the the Texas Buck Registry to help keep track of bucks on the year 2000 when I was off at family ranch. Photo from Tompall Glaser. Please turn to page 6


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“Big John” Estes dies at 87

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AG UA V I DA R A NC H

SUMMER HUNTS

Lone Star Outdoor News A legendary and internationally recognized hunter, John Lancaster Estes, died June 14 of natural causes, at the age of 87. Estes was well-known for his wit and sense of humor; and also for his omnipresent cigar, which he used to smoke, but in later years only chewed. Because of his size, he acquired the nickname, “Big John.” Estes’ passion was big game hunting. He collected all 31 of the North America species, as recognized by the Boone & Crockett Club. He traveled to all six continents where game animals occur and hunted in more than 30 countries. Overall, he collected over 275 species, not including many species of game birds. Estes was a founding, charter member of the Dallas Safari Club and served as its president in 1979-80. He received The Outstanding Hunter Achievement Award, in 1996. Safari Club International also recognized him with its World Hunting Award. He also received the Grand Slam Award, Sheep of the World Award, Capra (mountain goats) of the World Award and the Triple Slam Award from the Grand Slam/ Ovis Club.

June 26, 2020

Photo from Dallas Safari Club

Estes graduated from Waxahachie High School and was later inducted into the Waxahachie High School Hall of Fame in 2010. He attended the University of Texas in Austin, obtaining a BBA degree in 1955 and an LLB degree in 1956. After two years in the U.S. Army in El Paso, Estes practiced law in Dallas from 1961 until his retirement in 2011. He was active in the State Bar of Texas, and served as President of the Dallas Bar Association in 1973 and later on the board of directors of the State Bar of Texas. In 1988 he received the “Trial Lawyer of the Year” Award from the Dallas Bar.

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June 26, 2020

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Texas Buck Registry Continued from page 4

college, I started seeing and hearing about some impressive bucks being harvested back home in Fayette and Colorado counties,” Glaser explained. “This first came as a surprise, but it got my wheels turning.” Glaser said the website was created and went live in 2012, and that it has taken off over the past few seasons. “At first, I was just using it to keep photographical records of bucks harvested on our ranch, but soon, I had many friends using it that were hunting in other counties,” he said. “The database has experienced a 33-percent

increase in buck registrations over the last year, and during hunting season, it averaged close to 100 bucks registered per week.” Glaser said one of the neatest things about the Texas Buck Registry is the network of people that it has attracted. “I’ve been able to communicate with a ton of great folks from all over the state that have the same interest, which is improving the quality of deer on their property,” he said. “With registrations and photos coming in from all parts of Texas, the Texas Buck Registry is proof

that mature, trophy deer can come from anywhere in the state.” Glaser said he is constantly hearing from folks who are surprised at what a 5- or 6-year-old buck from their county of focus looks like when one gets added to the registry. He feels that this is motivating hunters to allow bucks to grow older and reach their full potential. There is a real management side to the database,” he said. “For one, it can be used to record harvests over time. Secondly, it shows that big deer can be grown anywhere without a ton of knowledge

and capital. We just have to let them reach maturity.” Registering a buck to the database is as simple as going to the website, creating an account, and uploading photos of the deer and its measurements. From there, an individual can continue to add different bucks to their account, where they will have a constant record of their harvests, at their fingertips. Glaser keeps the Texas Buck Registry Instagram page updated as registrations come in on the website, including the stories of the bucks’ harvests.

The Texas Buck Registry helps ranchers keep track of the bucks harvested on the property. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Conservation through commerce Continued from page 4

1967, after some ranchers had turned solely to exotics. “Most fencing was 4-foot sheep fencing,” Seale said. “Then they put two sections on top of each other to create 8-foot fencing, but there still were escapes. It led to a whole new fencing industry.” Over the year, EWA has faced battles regarding Ag Exemption valuations for property and Endangered Species Act concerns. “We have to show legislators and agencies how the species might be extinct where native, but are thriving here,” Seale said. EWA was instrumental in, after a long battle, exempting the “three amigos,” the scimitar-horned oryx, addax and dama gazelle, from the provisions of the act. During the 5-year interim when sales of these animals were prohibited, Seale said scimitar-horned oryx numbers dropped as much as 50 percent. “We’re working on seven more species now,” Seale said. Seale said the future of the exotic industry in Texas is bright. “Our motto is conservation through commerce,” he said. “Many of the animals are extinct where native, but flourish here. You have to give them a value.” The trend of diversifying a ranch through exotics also is increasing. “Ranchers need something else to offer in hunting and in sales throughout the year,” Seale said. With Covid-19, there has been a move to shut down Asian live animal markets, and a proposed bill would give governmental agencies the ability to decide what animals could be transported across state and inter-

national lines. “Asian markets could care less about a U.S. bill,” Seale said, including that EWA is working to modify the terms of the bill that restrict the movement of disease-tested exotics. EWA, the Texas Deer Association and the Deer Breeders Corporation work together to promote their respective industries, and each will be holding conventions in August. “We’re all fighting for the same thing,” Seale said. “Keeping our animals safe, without over-regulation.” Patrick Tarlton, TDA’s executive director, said each group takes a three-pronged approach, being auctions, education and advocacy. “The education and advocacy are sometimes overlooked,” he said. “But they may be the most important.” Conventions: Exotic Wildlife Association Congressional Fundraiser August 6-9 Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort, Boerne Texas Deer Association Annual Convention August 14-15 J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio Deer Breeders Corp Annual Convention August 28-29 Hyatt Regency Hill Country, San Antonio


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June 26, 2020

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FISHING

Hooked for life Surprise fishing trip proposal By Lili Sams

Lone Star Outdoor News During a recent fishing trip near Corpus Christi, Macey Black reeled in an empty lure. Although there wasn’t a fish on the other end, her boyfriend Michael Schneider pointed out that there was something different about this one. Black pulled in the top-water lure and read “Will you marry me?” which was written on the side. She turned around in excitement to find Schneider down on one knee. “I wanted her to be surprised and distracted so I could get ready,” Schneider said. The couple met back in middle school but reconnected when Schneider was wrapping up college and starting work as a programmer and Black was in nursing school. They started dating and later moved in together. Fishing is a shared favorite activity for the couple. “Our first big date, we drove down to the coast to go fishing,” Schneider said. Schneider said he had originally thought of “accidentally” falling into the water and when she would grab his hand to pull him back into the boat he would propose. But after some consideration, the fear of losing the ring in the water outweighed the idea. He turned to fishing guide Joshua Mettlach to tie on the “proposal lure” after losing a test lure during a cast. “I hope that wasn’t the good one,” Mettlach joked. Mettlach guided the couple to full limits of trout and an afternoon they will never forget. They plan on buying a boat soon and eloping somewhere scenic, Schneider said.

Michael Schneider used a special lure to propose to Macey Black while on a fishing trip in Corpus Christi. Photo by Capt. Joshua Mettlach.

Crappie on the brush piles

By Craig Nyhus

By Robert Sloan

Lone Star Outdoor News

For Lone Star Outdoor News

Locating numbers of brush piles and using the correct sized jig head can help increase crappie catches. Photo by Robert Sloan.

Examining bass behavior on Lake Fork

When you talk summertime crappie fishing in Texas, you know everybody is going to be looking for brush piles. When these popular panfish finish the spring spawn, they begin leaving the shallows and heading back to deep-water brush where they will spend the summer months. That’s where they can be caught in numbers with live minnows and jigs. But there are a few things you might want to consider before heading to the lake. One is what bait you’re going to use to catch crappie. Lake Fork guide Dan Langston said using super-lightweight jigs can keep you from getting down to the fish. “Crappie will definitely stage at various depths on brush or a tree,” Langston said. “That’s why I use a Garmin LiveScope to see where the fish are holding. That gives me a real-time view. And with that information I’ll know how heavy a jig to use. If the crappie are on brush that’s 20 to 25 feet deep, I’ll use a 1/4-ounce jig head. That heavier jig will get me on the deep-water target fish. If I use a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jig I’ll be wasting too much time trying to get down to the crappie.” Lake Fork is Langston’s go-to place for numbers of crappie, but he’s located more than 1,000 brush piles and spots on a number of lakes. “It pays to be versatile,” he said. “You want to use the Please turn to page 18

A project headed by Jake Norman of the Inland Fisheries Tyler District will track the movements and behavior of largemouth bass on Lake Fork over at least a 1-year period. A total of 23 bass ranging from 14-21 inches have been equipped with transmitters in the Birch Creek area of the lake. The fish will be tracked every two weeks to identify seasonal movement patterns and how they react to boat and motor noise and angling pressure. The tracking is being done to provide information for anglers,” Norman said. “It’s not for any regulatory purpose.” Norman said the department was hoping to learn what the bass are doing once they become slot-sized, around 16 inches. “After the drought, a lot of people were catching a lot of smaller fish, but a few years later

said they weren’t catching slot fish,” Norman said. “We want to look at the behavior over the course of the year and see if they are learning to avoid anglerpressure areas.” Norman plans to document the habitat and structure the fish are using. “In electrofishing surveys, we don’t see a large change,” he said. “There has been no disappearance of fish from 16 to 22 inches. So there may be other driving factors, like a behavioral change.” The researchers also will locate the fish in the water. “We’re going to try and see if they are fleeing from boat noise,” he said. “Then we will actually fish for them to see how they react.” The fish each have a small pink external tag and/or a small metal wire extending from the abdomen. If you catch one, contact Norman and provide the pink tag number and a location Please turn to page 16


LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

June 26, 2020

Page 9

Art spotlights ocean trash Sculptures target pollution problem By Lili Sams

Lone Star Outdoor News Local Harlingen artist and founder of Washed Up Texas, Connie Lovell, creates sculptures made from plastic and marine debris that have washed up on beaches of South Padre Island. She also works with groups to help collect the debris. Lovell founded the nonprofit three years ago, dedicated to raising public awareness of the pollution in the ocean and to become a solution to the plastic crisis. “Art is the vehicle used to get our message to the public,” Lovell said. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean each year. As of January 2020, 2,774 pounds of trash has been picked up off the SPI beach and turned into art. Lovell grew up on an island off the coast of Georgia. “The ocean is my heart and soul,” she said. After moving to Texas, Lovell was disturbed after her first trip to South Padre Island. “I almost had a heart attack the first time I went there,” she recalled. “I had never seen trash on a beach before.” Lovell felt she had to do something. With

her husband, they started by driving to the beach and picking up the trash themselves. She said it took about an hour and a half to fill the back of a pickup truck. “It’s only a fraction of what’s in the ocean, and I only use a part of it for the sculptures,” she said. Her first sculpture was a 14-foot dolphin, and it took six months to complete. “Each one is a personal one, all with their own personalities,” she said. The sculptures are constructed on a platform of treated lumber with stainless steel wheels, so they can be easily transported for exhibitions. Lovell uses galvanized pipes to create the “skeleton” with stainless steel mesh and plastic as the shape. From that, she attaches the washed up trash, only painting the screws used to secure the pieces. When asked about the most interesting or unusual thing she has collected, Lovell replied, “the sad thing is, nothing is interesting or unusual anymore.” She has found a retainer, medical supplies, Clorox bottles from Mexico, juice bottles from the Dominican Republic, fabric softeners from the Netherlands, and the list goes on. Groups on SPI, the Texas master naturalists and others volunteer, picking up or cleaning the trash for the projects. The Washed Up Project has a station on SPI dedicated to collecting debris on the island.

Connie Lovell, of Harlingen, creates sculptures from trash and debris washed up on Texas beaches. The red snapper was her “test” sculpture and the turtle behind her took three months to complete. Miguel, the beach trash mahi-mahi, is on display at the Valley International Airport in Harlingen. Photos by Erich Schlegel, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

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June 26, 2020

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 77 degrees; 1.13’ high. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms, spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are very good on minnows. Catfish are fair on live bait, cut bait and stink bait. AMISTAD: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 46.48’ low. Largemouth bass are good on grubs, Carolina-rigged worms and crankbaits. Catfish are fair on stink bait. ARLINGTON: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.94’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-water plugs, stick worms, deep-diving crankbaits and swimbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on live bait and prepared baits. ATHENS: Water clear; 84 degrees; 0.17’ high. Largemouth bass are good on weightless worms, chatterbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in standing timber. Catfish are good on earthworms, cut bait and prepared baits. Sunfish are excellent on cut worms. B.A. STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.22’ low. Largemouth bass are good early and late on top-waters, spinner baits and Texas-rigged soft plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are excellent on cut and prepared baits. BELTON: Water clear; 83 degrees; 0.25’ high. Largemouth bass are good on jigs, crankbaits, jerk baits and Carolina-rigged worms. White bass are fair to good on slabs and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits and live bait. BENBROOK: Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.76’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jerk baits, crankbaits and drop shots. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are excellent on slabs and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits. BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.22’ high. Largemouth bass are good on jigs, crankbaits and plastic worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are excellent on earthworms, live bait and blood bait. BRAUNIG: Water lightly stained; 80-84 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, spinner baits and Carolina-rigged plastic worms. Red drum are good on crawfish and tilapia. Catfish are good on live bait and cheese bait. BROWNWOOD: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 1.72’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and plastic frogs or worms. White bass are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits and blood bait. BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.07’ low. Largemouth bass are good on red/black or purple Texas-rigged plastic worms and deep-diving crankbaits. Striped bass are very good on slabs, jigging spoons and live bait. White bass are excellent on minnows and slabs. Crappie are excellent on jigs and minnows. Channel catfish are

good on cut bait and blood bait. CADDO: Water lightly stained; 78-82 degrees, 1.30’ high. Largemouth bass are good near trees and vegetation on plastic creatures, frogs and top-waters. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are excellent on prepared baits and live bait. CALAVERAS: Water stained; 82-84 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits. Red drum are good on crawfish and tilapia. Hybrid striped bass are fair on spoons and lipless crankbaits. Catfish are good on stink bait, chicken livers and cut shad. CANYON LAKE: Water lightly stained; 82-88 degrees; 0.83’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on square-billed crankbaits and jerkbaits. Striped bass are excellent vertically jigging striper jigs. Catfish are good on live and cut bait. CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.08’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-water plugs early and Texasrigged craws, crankbaits, and jigs. White bass and hybrid striped bass are good on slabs, swimbaits and live bait. Crappie are excellent on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on chicken liver and cut bait. CHOKE CANYON: Water lightly stained; 82-84 degrees; 18.76’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, Carolina-rigged worms and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on dough balls, live bait and cheese bait. CONROE: Water stained; 82 degrees; 1.08’ low. Largemouth bass are good in deep cover on crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striped bass are fair on lipless crankbaits. Catfish are good on stink bait, cut bait and small minnows. COOPER: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.15’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged plastic craws, crankbaits and jigs. White bass are excellent on slabs, jigs and jigging spoons. Crappie are good on minnows in standing timber. Catfish are good on live and cut bait. CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 4.07’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and cheese bait. EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.39’ high. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and plastic frogs crankbaits and stick worms. White bass are excellent on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are excellent on fresh cut bait and punch bait. FALCON: Water very lightly stained; 84 degrees; 36.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and Carolina-rigged

worms. Catfish are fair on cut shad and nightcrawlers. FAYETTE: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic creatures, jigs and crankbaits. Sunfish are good on worms and crickets. Catfish are good on blood bait. FORK: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.07’ high. Largemouth bass are good on plastic creatures, bladed jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait. GRANBURY: Water clear; 82-86 degrees; 0.03’ high. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, crankbaits and Texasrigged plastic creatures. Crappie are good around brush piles and boat docks with minnows and jigs. Catfish are excellent on earthworms, cut bait or blood bait. GRANGER: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.31’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, jigs and Carolina-rigged plastic creatures. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are excellent on swimbaits and slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad and blood bait. GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 83-86 degrees; 2.53’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on bladed jigs, buzzbaits and crankbaits. White bass are excellent on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are excellent on blood bait. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 0.01’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, poppers and crankbaits in the evenings. Crappie are excellent near the spillway. Channel catfish are good on cut shad and perch on juglines. HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 78 degrees; 0.82’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, soft plastic worms and jigs. Crappie are excellent on live minnows. White bass are good on spoons and minnows. Catfish are fair on live and cut shad. JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.17’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged craws, swimbaits and crankbaits. Crappie are good beneath bridges on minnows. Catfish are excellent on fresh cut bait and blood bait. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.36’ high. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, frogs and Carolina-rigged creature baits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows in standing timber areas. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers, blood bait and cut bait. LAVON: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.69’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, jigs and plastic worms. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs. White bass are excellent on jigs and slabs. Catfish are good on prepared baits and blood bait.

LBJ: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.58’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good over main lake points and humps on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits. LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 84 degrees; 1.69’ high. Largemouth bass are good on deep-diving crankbaits, spinner baits and Texas-rigged plastic worms. White bass are excellent on slabs and swimbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and blood bait. LIVINGSTON: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.14’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, spinner baits and crankbaits.. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair in deeper water off points. Catfish are fair on live bait. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 87 degrees; 0.09’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are excellent on cut bait and earthworms. MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 77 degrees; 1.13’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina-rigged soft plastic worms and spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on live bait and blood bait. NACONICHE: Water slightly stained; 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and plastic worms. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on dough balls, cut and live bait. NASWORTHY: Water murky; 77 degrees; 0.86’ low. Largemouth bass are good fishing the bullrushes with worms and vertically fishing minnows. Crappie are good beneath larger docks on jigs. Catfish are fair on live and prepped baits. NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.17’ low. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are excellent on slabs and swimbaits. Catfish are good on blood bait and cut bait. O.H. IVIE: Water clear; 78 degrees; 9.54’ low. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms and minnows. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on stink bait, live and cut bait. OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 76 degrees; 1.55’ low. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms, spinner baits and buzzbaits. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, live bait and cut bait. PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.11’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged craws, swimbaits and crankbaits. Crappie are excellent on jigs and minnows. Hybrid stripers are good on slabs and live bait. White bass are excellent on jigs and slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad, chicken livers and prepared baits.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water slightly stained; 75-78 degrees; 0.20’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good shooting jigs under docks. Striped bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad. PROCTOR: Water clear; 85 degrees. 0.37’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged creatures, swimbaits and crankbaits. Hybrid stripers are good on live bait and slabs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared baits and cut bait. RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 78-82 degrees; 0.14’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, jigs and Texas-rigged plastic worms. White bass are excellent on swimbaits, slabs and top-waters early and later in the day. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait, live bait and prepared baits. RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 1.07’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms, crankbaits and jigs. White bass are excellent on slabs and jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are excellent on live bait and blood bait. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.05’ high. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, swimbaits, plastic frogs and top-waters. White bass and hybrids are excellent on jigs and swimbaits. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs under bridges and in brush piles. Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait. SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 82 degrees; 0.17’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on topwaters, jigs and plastic worms. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on live bait and stink bait. SOMERVILLE: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.10’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged worms, crankbaits, spinner baits and top-waters. White bass and hybrids are good on slabs and swimbaits. Crappie are good on brush piles and in standing timber on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad and stink bait. STILLHOUSE HOLLOW: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.52’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, spinner baits and Carolina-rigged soft plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are excellent on slabs and minnows off main lake points and drop-offs. Catfish are very good on live and cut bait. TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 81-84 degrees; 0.59’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, plastic worms and crankbaits. White bass and hybrid stripers are good on swimbaits and slabs. Catfish are excellent on live bait, blood bait and cut bait. Crappie are good

n Saltwater reports Page 13 on minnows and jigs. TEXANA: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.23’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, jigs and spinner baits. Crappie are excellent on jigs. Catfish are good on stink bait, cut bait and live bait at night. TEXOMA: Water lightly stained; 77 degrees; 2.54’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic creatures, shaky- head worms and swimbaits. Striped bass and white bass are excellent on live bait and top-water baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and blood bait. TOLEDO BEND: Water slightly stained; 79-81 degrees; 1.08’ low. Largemouth bass are excellent on top-waters, Carolina-rigged worms and square-billed crankbaits. Crappie are good on shiners. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stink bait. TRAVIS: Water clear; 85 degrees; 8.24’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged red plastic worms and squarebilled crankbaits. White bass are excellent on jigs, crankbaits and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits. WACO: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.22’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, chrome crankbaits and jerk baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut bait, blood bait and prepared baits. WEATHERFORD: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.23’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, crankbaits and plastic worms. White bass are excellent on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits, earthworms and blood bait. WHITNEY: Water clear; 83-87 degrees; 1.51’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, topwaters and red or black plastic worms. White bass are excellent on jigging spoons and slabs. Stripers are excellent on jigging slabs and live bait. Catfish are good on cut shad and prepared baits. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 83 degrees; 8.05’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, Texas-rigged worms and swimbaits. White bass are good on jigging spoons and slabs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are excellent on cut bait, live bait and blood bait.

—TPWD


LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

June 26, 2020

Page 11

More snapper than ever, says 85-year-old

Anglers thankful for steady action at charity tourney By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News Summertime along the Texas Coast has provided anglers with inconsistent conditions in the form of strong winds and unseasonably late cold fronts. This has made staying on the fish tough at times for those fishing the open waters of Galveston Bay, where many of the best fishing grounds lie in unprotected waters. That’s why Bacliff area anglers, Tres Clawson, Eric Lindner and Brian Cooper were excited to catch a bunch of fish recently, despite the fact that the majority of them were undersized. According to Clawson, he and his two buddies get together every June to participate in the Patrick F. Doyle Saltwater Invitational Fishing Tournament, a charity fundraiser. “We always fish in the artificial division for the event, and the past few years it has been pretty difficult to catch fish,” Clawson said. “This year, it seemed the streak of bad luck would continue, as the wind was forecasted to gust to 20 mph out of the northeast on the day of the tournament.” The trio decided to try their luck in a protected area of Chocolate Bay where they would at least be out of the wind and away from rough waters. None of them had much experience fishing these waters, but they were willing to give it a try. For the tournament, teams could weigh in a five-fish limit of speckled trout. Clawson said their team hadn’t been able to land five keeper trout over the past few years in order to weigh in a full stringer. “Our goal was simple,” he said. “We were just trying to catch five keeper trout to bring to the weigh-in.”

John Blackwell has been having a great red snapper season. At 85, he said the fish are abundant, but getting down to the bigger fish is the challenge. Photo by Robert Sloan.

By Robert Sloan

For Lone Star Outdoor News

Brian Cooper shows a black drum he caught on a soft plastic jig while fishing working birds in Chocolate Bay. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Their morning along the northeast corner of Chocolate Bay started out pretty promising. “There were birds working everywhere we looked,” Cooper said. “The trout under the birds were aggressive, but most of them measured just shy of the 15-inch mark.” The three anglers grinded throughout the entire day, targeting different schools of fish under working birds, along with several small shell reefs. “We must’ve have caught close to 50 or 60 fish, but finding keepers was not easy,” Lindner said.

John Blackwell has been fishing offshore for many of his 85 years. He said the recreational season for red snapper this year has been better than expected. Blackwell fishes out of Galveston and runs a 42-foot Freeman with four 300-horsepower Yamaha outboards. “On opening day of the season, we made the run about 53 miles out,” he said. “It took us about an hour to reach the bottom structure that more often than not is holding big snapper — fish in the 15- to 20-pound class. We were not disappointed.” Blackwell had eight friends on board for opening day. Each of them caught their limits of two snapper, weighing from 10 to 20 pounds each. “That’s one heck of a day of snapper

fishing,” he said. “Over the years I’ve locked in the location of dozens of spots that hold snapper, lots of them. Just recently we were out and had schools of snapper coming up to the surface. It was incredible.” Blackwell said snapper can be totally unpredictable. At times, he’ll find them suspended. That’s usually the case when he finds them behind an anchored shrimp boat, or downcurrent from a rig. “What I’ll usually do is look for baitfish on my electronics,” he said. “The snapper will almost always be close to baitfish. When I pull up to a rig, I’ll circle and see what’s going on. At the rigs you’ll usually find lots of smaller snapper holding close to the structure. The bigger snapper will be on bottom or holding away from the rig. It helps to do a lot of looking before even dropping a line.” It’s also best to find bottom structure

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Page 12

June 26, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER SOCIAL MEDIA LEADS WARDEN TO DUCK POACHERS A McLennan County game warden contacted a subject who had been identified through a Facebook post sent to him by a Colorado game warden. The post was made in December of 2019 but was then quickly deleted. In the post, the subject admitted to shooting ducks over the limit and wounding several more. The same individual had been cited earlier in 2020 for duck hunting a week early. The subject was eventually located after contacting his mother. When the game warden presented the subject with the post, he confessed to shooting four redheads and two mallards over the limit the day the post was made. He then confessed to there being a second individual with him that day who shot two mallards and three wigeon over his limit. Contact was made with the second subject and he also complied, giving a full confession. Both claimed they read the Outdoor Annual incorrectly. Citations were issued and restitution was assigned. MANS LEAVES ANOTHER DRIVER BEHIND AFTER ROLLOVER ACCIDENT A Burleson County game warden was dispatched to a call of a man walking down a road yelling for help. More information then came in regarding a single rollover accident near the same location. The game warden was the first on scene and discovered a vehicle in the roadway with its front smashed in. Witnesses still on scene with the vehicle said the driver left on foot. Another vehicle was found in the

ting from the male subject, along with observing several alcoholic beverages on board the vessel. The operator was detained, failed field sobriety tests and was arrested.

GAR GILL-NETTERS NETTED ON THE NUECES Game wardens observed signs of possible illegal gill-netting activities along the Nueces River. The wardens observed two males launch a small boat into the river with no fishing rods and two large buckets with lids. The wardens walked the shoreline of the river following the boat for approximately 1.5 miles and were able to obtain video of the individuals gill-netting from the concealment of the brush. The men attempted to hide

ditch nearby with the driver still inside. The game warden dispatched medics to the area. Once backup arrived, the warden drove the immediate area searching for the man who fled the scene. A man fitting the description was located at a nearby gas station. The man’s story didn’t make sense, but he did admit to drinking that night. The man had seatbelt burns on his stomach and chest. The witnesses confirmed the man was the individual they had seen leaving the scene. The incident was handed over to DPS. SPEARFISHING CATFISH, BASS Illegal spearfishing was reported along the Nueces River in Uvalde County. The game warden spotted the culprits with a stringer of speared game fish and the spear. In total, eight catfish and four bass were seized and donated. BABY GOAT RESCUE While on patrol on Lake Amistad,

the gillnets in buckets upriver prior to loading up the boat. Once the boat was loaded, one individual returned to retrieve the gill nets. The wardens then contacted the individuals and located 200 yards of gill net along with six large alligator gar. The boat and illegal fishing devices were seized. One of the individuals had been caught previously by one of the wardens for the same violations.

three game wardens came across a baby goat in distress. The young goat had fallen into the lake and, due to a broken leg, was unable to get back out. The goat was rescued. NAKED AND ARRESTED Near Sam Rayburn Reservoir, a Sabine County game warden noticed a naked man run across the road from the water to a makeshift tent. The man then emerged wearing an oversized pair of pants. Dispatch advised the warden that the man was wanted on three felony warrants out of Sabine County. Based on the man’s actions and demeanor, the warden asked the girlfriend for consent to search the vehicle but was denied. A canine officer was called and alerted the presence of narcotics. Inside of a bag in the bed of the truck, 2.7 grams of meth, along with the man’s wallet, was located inside a pair of pants. He was arrested and taken to the Sabine County Jail.

STRANDED ON AN ISLAND During heavy thunderstorms, a group of boaters became stranded on an island. An Angelina County game warden launched his boat during a break in the storm and picked up the six females and two males from the island, returning them and the boat to the boat ramp. HEY, THAT’S MY JUGLINING TREE A Limestone County game warden received a call regarding several boaters having a verbal confrontation regarding the placement of juglines on Lake Limestone. Both parties were on separate vessels, with one male subject threatening to destroy the other’s lines. The warden and several sheriff’s deputies arrived and the parties agreed to meet at the boat ramp. The alleged verbal aggressor did not have a fire extinguisher or throwable device on his boat. The warden detected an odor of alcohol emit-

DOUBLE RESCUES ON CALAVERAS While on patrol at Calaveras Lake, Bexar County game wardens were on their way to assist stranded boaters when they noticed a capsized inflatable raft. Some distance from the raft were two adult men and two small girls, huddled together. The wardens pulled the 6-and 7-yearold girls and one adult male onto the patrol boat, and the other male was pulled onto a civilian boat. It was explained that the adult male with the life jacket and his two daughters launched their raft from the south end of the lake, but as the storm drew closer and the winds picked up, they were swept into open water toward the north end of the lake. The raft capsized sending all three into the water. The fourth male jumped from a civilian boat to try to assist. The wardens transported everyone back to the boat ramp and then went to assist the stranded boaters. Due to the approaching storm, the high winds and the size of stranded boat, the wardens decided to secure the inoperable boat instead of towing it. They then carried the boaters back to the boat ramp on the patrol boat.

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LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

June 26, 2020

Page 13

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT SABINE LAKE: 84-85 degrees. Speckled trout are good over the grass flats on shrimp. Redfish are good around the jetties on crankbaits, mullet and jigs. Flounder are good along the shoreline on mud minnows.

TRINITY BAY: 84-85 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good over wading flats with soft plastics. Flounder are good on mud minnows. EAST GALVESTON BAY: 83-85 degrees. Speckled trout are fair to good on top-waters and shrimp. Redfish are good on shrimp while wade-fishing along the shoreline. WEST GALVESTON BAY: 83-85 degrees.

PORT O’CONNOR: 83-84 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on red/white soft plastics and live bait. Black drum are good on blue crab. ROCKPORT: 86-87 degrees. Redfish are good on top-waters in black or white/red. Speckled trout are good on shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are fair on blue

Speckled trout are fair to good on top-waters and shrimp. Redfish are good on shrimp. TEXAS CITY: 83 degrees. Redfish are good over the flats on live bait. Speckled trout are good in the shallows along the shoreline on shrimp or soft plastics. Black drum are fair on blue crab. FREEPORT: 84 degrees. Redfish are fair along flats or shorelines on shrimp. Speckled trout are good on shrimp near the San Luis Pass. Flounder are good around the rocks on mullet. Black drum are fair on blue crab. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 84 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on live bait over mid-bay reefs. Black drum are fair on blue crab. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 84 degrees. Speckled trout are good on top-waters and soft plastics. Black drum are good on blue crab and shrimp. Redfish are good on live bait.

No snapper shortage

crab and shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on shrimp and paddle tails. Speckled trout are good on shrimp, ball tails and topwaters.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 84-85 degrees. Redfish are good on live bait over mud flats. Black drum are fair on crab and shrimp over vegetation. BAFFIN BAY: 90 degrees. Speckled trout are good on darker-colored plastics. Redfish are good on the flats on shrimp. PORT MANSFIELD: 86-87 degrees. Redfish and trout are very good in sand potholes on top-waters, live shrimp under a popping cork, and paddle tails. SOUTH PADRE: 85-86 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on mullet imitations and artificial or live shrimp. Redfish are fair in sand pockets on shrimp. PORT ISABEL: 83 degrees. Speckled trout are good on shrimp. Redfish are fair to good on shrimp. Jack crevalle are good. Black drum are fair on blue crab. —TPWD

R

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Continued from page 11

that other fishermen don’t know about. “There are all sorts of stuff on the bottom that snapper will hold close to,” Blackwell said. “There are wrecks, rocks, humps and lots of wellheads. I’ve got some very good numbers that few if anybody knows about. Some of my favorite spots are wellheads. But old wrecks can be pretty good, too. Most charts of the Gulf of Mexico show all sorts of spots to fish. It’s just a matter of getting out there and locating them. It takes a little bit of time, but is usually worth the effort.” A wreck Blackwell recently fished was loaded with snapper. The small fish, in the 5- to 8-pound class, were suspended about 40 feet deep, in about 103 feet of water. “The trick was to use enough weight to get past the smaller fish, so we could hook up with the 15to 20-pounders,” he said. The hot lure on that trip was a double hook 4- to 6-ounce Snapper Slapper in yellow/white, red/ white or blue/white. The lower hook was tipped with a whole Spanish sardine or cigar minnow. “I don’t like to use buoys to mark a wreck,” Blackwell said. “That makes it too easy for another boat to slip up on me. Instead, I’ll position the boat so that we’ll drift directly over the bottom structure. That way we can all drop down at the same time, and right on top of the bigger fish.” The long-time angler said he wishes the recreational season was longer. There is definitely no shortage of them out there,” Blackwell said. “It’s just a matter of knowing where to go.”

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Page 14

June 26, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

HEROES

Rex Lewis, 7, caught his first Guadalupe bass in the Pedernales River. Lewis is an avid fisherman.

Garrett Scholl, 10, bagged his first buck at the Madera Ranch in Mason County.

Kyle Smith caught this trout while fishing near Port Mansfield.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE

n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Email them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

Doak Morrow, 3, caught his first fish at the Dallas Hunt and Fish Club lake while fishing with his dad, Raymond.

Robert Frausto, enjoying retirement life, caught a 5-pound bass at Lake Casa Blanca in Laredo.


LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

June 26, 2020

Page 15

TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases

First

Full

Last

New

June 28

July 4

July 12

July 20

Solunar Sun times Moon times

Houston

Dallas

2020 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Jun/Jul Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

2020 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Jun/Jul Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Mon 30 Tue 01 Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 06 Mon 07 Tue 08 Wed 09 Thu 10 Fri

26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Mon 30 Tue 01 Wed 02 Thu

10:56 11:50 12:16 1:03 1:49 2:35 3:23

03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 06 Mon 07 Tue 08 Wed 09 Thu 10 Fri

10:50 4:37 11:44 5:32 12:11 6:22 12:58 7:10 1:43 7:56 2:29 8:43 3:17 9:31 4:08 10:23 5:03 11:18 6:00 ----6:59 12:45 7:56 1:44 8:52 2:40 9:44 3:33 10:33 4:22

11:15 5:03 ----- 5:56 12:35 6:47 1:22 7:35 2:09 8:22 2:56 9:10 3:45 9:59 4:37 10:52 5:32 11:47 6:29 12:15 7:26 1:12 8:22 2:09 9:16 3:04 10:06 3:55 10:54 4:43

06:22 06:22 06:22 06:23 06:23 06:24 06:24 06:24 06:25 06:25 06:26 06:26 06:26 06:27 06:27

08:25 08:25 08:25 08:25 08:25 08:25 08:25 08:25 08:25 08:25 08:24 08:24 08:24 08:24 08:24

11:45a 12:16a 12:49p 12:54a 1:52p 1:29a 2:56p 2:04a 4:01p 2:41a 5:07p 3:20a 6:14p 4:03a 7:18p 4:52a 8:19p 5:45a 9:13p 6:43a 10:02p 7:43a 10:44p 8:43a 11:21p 9:42a 11:53p 10:39a NoMoon 11:34a

4:43 5:37 6:28 7:16 8:02 8:48 9:37

11:21 5:08 ----- 6:02 12:40 6:53 1:28 7:41 2:15 8:28 3:02 9:15 3:51 10:05

06:21 06:21 06:21 06:21 06:22 06:22 06:23

4:14 10:29

4:43

06:23 08:38 7:32p

5:09 11:23 6:06 ----7:05 12:51 8:02 1:49 8:58 2:46 9:50 3:39 10:38 4:28

5:38 11:53 6:35 12:20 7:32 1:18 8:28 2:15 9:22 3:10 10:12 4:01 10:59 4:49

10:58

06:23 06:24 06:24 06:25 06:25 06:26 06:26

08:38 08:38 08:38 08:38 08:38 08:38 08:38 08:37 08:37 08:37 08:37 08:37 08:37 08:36

11:48a 12:53p 1:58p 3:04p 4:11p 5:19p 6:26p

12:26a 1:02a 1:36a 2:09a 2:44a 3:21a 4:03a 4:51a

8:33p 5:43a 9:27p 6:41a 10:14p 7:42a 10:55p 8:43a 11:31p 9:43a NoMoon 10:42a 12:02a 11:38a

San Antonio 2020 Jun/Jul

A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Mon 30 Tue 01 Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 06 Mon 07 Tue 08 Wed 09 Thu 10 Fri

11:02 4:49 11:56 5:44 12:23 6:35 1:10 7:22 1:56 8:09 2:42 8:55 3:30 9:44 4:21 10:35 5:15 11:30 6:13 12:03 7:11 12:58 8:09 1:56 9:04 2:52 9:57 3:45 10:45 4:35

11:28 5:15 ----- 6:09 12:47 6:59 1:35 7:47 2:21 8:34 3:09 9:22 3:58 10:12 4:50 11:04 5:45 11:59 6:41 12:27 7:39 1:25 8:35 2:22 9:28 3:16 10:19 4:08 11:06 4:56

06:35 06:36 06:36 06:36 06:37 06:37 06:37 06:38 06:38 06:39 06:39 06:39 06:40 06:40 06:41

08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:36 08:35 08:35

11:58a 12:28a 1:02p 1:06a 2:05p 1:42a 3:09p 2:17a 4:13p 2:54a 5:20p 3:33a 6:26p 4:17a 7:30p 5:06a 8:31p 5:59a 9:25p 6:57a 10:14p 7:57a 10:56p 8:57a 11:33p 9:56a NoMoon 10:53a 12:06a 11:47a

Amarillo

2020 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Jun/Jul Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Mon 30 Tue 01 Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 06 Mon 07 Tue 08 Wed 09 Thu 10 Fri

11:16 5:03 ----- 5:58 12:37 6:48 1:23 7:36 2:09 8:22 2:55 9:08 3:43 9:57 4:34 10:49 5:29 11:44 6:26 12:17 7:25 1:11 8:22 2:10 9:18 3:06 10:10 3:59 10:59 4:48

11:41 12:10 1:01 1:48 2:35 3:22 4:11 5:03 5:58 6:55 7:52 8:48 9:42 10:32 11:20

5:28 6:22 7:13 8:01 8:48 9:35 10:25 11:18 ----12:41 1:38 2:35 3:30 4:21 5:09

06:34 06:35 06:35 06:35 06:36 06:36 06:36 06:37 06:37 06:38 06:38 06:39 06:39 06:40 06:41

09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:03 09:03 09:03 09:03 09:02

12:06p 12:50a 1:13p 1:24a 2:20p 1:57a 3:27p 2:29a 4:35p 3:02a 5:45p 3:38a 6:54p 4:19a 8:00p 5:05a 9:00p 5:58a 9:54p 6:55a 10:41p 7:56a 11:21p 8:58a 11:55p 10:00a NoMoon 11:00a 12:25a 11:57a

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

Sabine Pass, north Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Juy 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

Time 1:35 AM 2:33 AM 3:39 AM 4:54 AM 1:21 AM 2:31 AM 3:29 AM 4:21 AM 5:08 AM 5:54 AM 6:39 AM 7:24 AM 8:07 AM 12:41 AM 1:27 AM

High Island Height -0.05L 0.20L 0.49 0.76L 1.44H 1.64H 1.79H 1.86H 1.87H 1.82H 1.75H 1.65H 1.56H -0.05 0.20L

Time 9:26 AM 10:03 AM 10:35 AM 11:05 AM 6:14 AM 7:33 AM 8:42 AM 9:39 AM 10:26 AM 11:08 AM 11:49 AM 12:35 PM 1:32 PM 8:48 AM 9:25 AM

Height 1.56H 1.50H 1.45H 1.42H 0.99L 1.16L 1.28L 1.34L 1.37L 1.37L 1.34L 1.28L 1.19L 1.47H 1.40H

Time 3:19 PM 4:18 PM 5:10 PM 5:58 PM 11:33 AM 12:02 PM 12:34 PM 1:08 PM 1:44 PM 2:21 PM 2:58 PM 3:34 PM 4:16 PM 2:40 PM 3:42 PM

Height 1.01L 0.73L 0.41L 0.07L 1.41H 1.42H 1.45H 1.47H 1.47H 1.46H 1.41H 1.34H 1.23H 1.07L 0.91L

Time 7:07 PM 9:48 PM 11:52 PM

Height 1.13H 1.10H 1.23H

6:44 PM 7:29 PM 8:14 PM 8:59 PM 9:44 PM 10:29 PM 11:13 PM 11:57 PM

-0.24L -0.49L -0.65L -0.72L -0.70L -0.61L -0.46L -0.27L

5:23 PM 7:48 PM

1.10H 0.97H

Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Time 1:05 AM 2:13 AM 3:28 AM 4:55 AM 1:05 AM 2:16 AM 3:19 AM 4:15 AM 5:05 AM 5:51 AM 6:33 AM 7:13 AM 7:52 AM 12:14 AM 1:04 AM

Height -0.04L 0.25L 0.57L 0.90L 1.88H 2.17H 2.40H 2.53H 2.56H 2.50H 2.38H 2.23H 2.07H 0.04L 0.33L

Time 9:30 AM 10:11 AM 10:46 AM 11:15 AM 6:57 AM 8:37 AM 9:54 AM 8:38 PM 9:22 PM 10:04 PM 10:46 PM 11:29 PM

Height 2.14H 1.99H 1.84H 1.69H 1.17L 1.34L 1.45L -0.64L -0.66L -0.59L -0.43L -0.22L

Time 4:57 PM 5:08 PM 5:24 PM 5:50 PM 11:38 AM 11:57 AM 12:12 PM

Height 1.25L 1.00L 0.68L 0.32L 1.58H 1.52H 1.52H

Time 7:11 PM 9:44 PM 11:40 PM

Height 1.31H 1.34H 1.57H

6:26 PM 7:09 PM 7:53 PM

-0.02L -0.31L -0.52L

8:29 AM 9:04 AM

1.91H 1.77H

3:28 PM 4:07 PM

1.25L 1.06L

5:53 PM 7:40 PM

1.32H 1.21H

Height -0.19L 0.08L 0.40L 0.73L 1.36H 1.63H 1.85H 1.97H 2.01H 1.97H 1.88H 1.76H 1.64H -0.08L 0.15L

Time 9:29 AM 9:57 AM 10:21 AM 10:41 AM 7:05 AM 7:09 PM 7:54 PM 8:40 PM 9:26 PM 10:11 PM 10:55 PM 11:36 PM

Height 1.68H 1.53H 1.37H 1.24H 0.98L -0.41L -0.58L -0.67L -0.67L -0.60L -0.47L -0.29L

Time

Height

Time

Height

Time 12:55 AM 1:55 AM 3:08 AM 4:52 AM 1:09 AM 2:33 AM 3:40 AM 4:39 AM 5:31 AM 6:20 AM 7:03 AM 7:41 AM 8:12 AM 12:15 AM 12:53 AM

8:37 AM 8:58 AM

1.51H 1.40H

Height -0.07L 0.08L 0.26L 0.55H 0.65H 0.76H 0.85H 0.91H 0.92H -0.26L -0.25L -0.21L -0.14L -0.04L 0.09L

Time 3:07 PM 2:33 PM 12:45 PM 8:17 PM 8:55 PM 9:40 PM 10:30 PM 11:22 PM

Height 0.71H 0.59H 0.51H 0.15L 0.00L -0.12L -0.19L -0.24L

11:56 AM 12:57 PM 1:47 PM 1:54 PM 1:35 PM 12:59 PM

0.92H 0.89H 0.84H 0.77H 0.69H 0.62H

Height -0.04L 0.07L 0.22L 0.36L 0.31L 0.17L 0.07L 0.01L -0.04L -0.07L -0.09L -0.10L -0.09L -0.05L 0.04L

Time 6:05 PM 5:32 PM 5:05 PM 4:25 PM 3:22 PM 3:15 PM 3:27 PM 3:50 PM 4:23 PM 5:05 PM 5:51 PM 6:37 PM 7:06 PM 6:24 PM 5:42 PM

Height 0.91H 0.82H 0.76H 0.73H 0.77H 0.84H 0.91H 0.95H 0.98H 0.99H 0.99H 0.95H 0.90H 0.81H 0.73H

5:12 PM 5:24 PM 5:51 PM 10:54 AM

0.73L 0.45L 0.14L 1.15H

9:16 PM 11:23 PM

0.93H 1.09H

6:28 PM

-0.16L

4:40 PM

0.77L

7:27 PM

0.83H

Time

Height

Time

Height

7:57 PM

0.33L

Port O’Connor Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

Time 3:52 AM 4:39 AM 5:21 AM 11:02 AM 10:22 AM 9:37 AM 9:39 AM 10:16 AM 11:03 AM 12:12 AM 1:00 AM 1:45 AM 2:26 AM 3:03 AM 3:30 AM

Time 7:44 AM 8:18 AM 8:35 AM 7:58 AM 12:35 AM 1:03 AM 1:40 AM 2:23 AM 3:12 AM 4:04 AM 4:58 AM 5:48 AM 6:34 AM 7:14 AM 7:47 AM

Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

Time 2:01 AM 2:57 AM 3:56 AM 5:19 AM 1:56 AM 3:40 AM 4:56 AM 5:53 AM 6:42 AM 7:30 AM 8:20 AM 9:06 AM 12:19 AM 1:04 AM 1:43 AM

Time 2:17 PM 2:22 PM 7:28 AM 7:49 AM 11:54 AM 11:38 PM

Height 1.19H 1.13H 0.41L 0.70L 0.96L -0.36L

10:33 AM 10:59 AM 11:27 AM 11:55 AM 12:20 PM 12:43 PM 1:03 PM 1:19 PM

1.45H 1.44H 1.39H 1.31H 1.24H 1.17H 1.12H 1.07H

Height -0.07L 0.11L 0.33L 0.56L 0.91H 1.08H 1.24H 1.33H 1.36H 1.33H 1.26H 1.17H -0.19L -0.03L 0.14L

Time 11:05 AM 11:04 AM 11:01 AM 11:05 AM 7:21 AM 9:06 AM 8:27 PM 9:10 PM 9:56 PM 10:43 PM 11:31 PM

Height 1.09H 1.01H 0.96H 0.93H 0.77L 0.92L -0.46L -0.53L -0.52L -0.45L -0.33L

9:38 AM 9:59 AM 10:15 AM

1.08H 1.01H 0.96H

Height -0.00L 0.07L 0.16L 0.28H 0.34H 0.40H 0.45H 0.48H 0.49H -0.12L -0.11L -0.08L -0.03L 0.03L 0.10L

Time 4:16 PM 2:51 PM 12:26 PM 7:13 AM 8:28 AM 9:45 PM 10:31 PM 11:20 PM

Height 0.39H 0.34H 0.32H 0.24L 0.32L -0.05L -0.09L -0.12L

11:56 AM 3:21 PM 4:04 PM 4:30 PM 4:34 PM 4:02 PM

0.49H 0.48H 0.47H 0.43H 0.38H 0.33H

Height 0.00L 0.16L 0.35L 0.57L 0.84H 0.99H 1.12H 1.21H 1.25H 1.24H 1.21H 1.14H -0.09L 0.06L 0.21L

Time 11:22 AM 10:32 AM 9:50 AM 10:10 AM 6:32 AM 8:05 AM 8:08 PM 8:53 PM 9:41 PM 10:32 PM 11:24 PM

Height 0.95H 0.86H 0.85H 0.88H 0.77L 0.91 -0.28L -0.36L -0.36L -0.31L -0.21L

11:20 AM 11:29 AM 10:04 AM

1.04H 0.94H 0.87H

Height -0.27L -0.03L 0.27L 0.58L 1.02H 1.25H 1.45H 1.56H 1.61H 1.58H 1.52H 1.42H 1.30H -0.18L 0.04L

Time 10:40 AM 10:25 AM 10:10 AM 10:01 AM 6:21 AM 6:43 PM 7:29 PM 8:16 PM 9:04 PM 9:52 PM 10:39 PM 11:23 PM

Height 1.22H 1.07H 0.96H 0.92H 0.87L -0.45L -0.63L -0.71L -0.72L -0.65L -0.53L -0.37L

9:28 AM 9:26 AM

1.19H 1.09H

Time 9:33 2:30 2:40 2:46

Height

Time

Height

PM PM PM PM

0.59L 1.08H 1.05H 1.03H

10:01 PM 10:32 PM 11:04 PM

0.32L 0.05L -0.19L

8:49 PM

0.63L

11:09 PM

0.66H

Time

Height

5:51 PM 6:10 PM 6:37 PM 11:15 AM 11:27 AM

0.58L 0.36L 0.11L 0.94H 0.96H

Time

Height

9:28 PM 11:57 PM

0.70H 0.76H

7:10 PM 7:47 PM

-0.13L -0.33L

Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

Time 3:57 AM 4:55 AM 6:02 AM 12:21 AM 5:45 AM 7:13 AM 8:33 AM 9:40 AM 10:43 AM 12:09 AM 12:56 AM 1:41 AM 2:22 AM 2:57 AM 3:18 AM

Time 7:18 PM 7:46 PM 12:04 PM 12:01 PM

Height

Time

Height

0.30L 0.20L 0.33H 0.36H

9:56 PM

0.31H

8:22 PM 9:02 PM

0.10L 0.01L

Height

Time

Height

Port Aransas

Nueces Bay Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

San Luis Pass

Height -0.05L 0.15L 0.74H 0.80H 0.99H 1.22H 1.38H -0.46L -0.49L -0.46L -0.39L -0.29L -0.17L -0.01L 0.17L

East Matagorda

Freeport Harbor Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 01 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

Time 6:04 AM 6:53 AM 1:10 AM 4:06 AM 9:37 AM 9:45 AM 10:07 AM 12:16 AM 1:00 AM 1:48 AM 2:34 AM 3:17 AM 4:00 AM 4:43 AM 5:27 AM

Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

Time 1:17 AM 1:57 AM 2:36 AM 3:15 AM 12:56 AM 2:55 AM 5:20 AM 6:30 AM 7:45 AM 8:54 AM 9:51 AM 10:40 AM 12:12 AM 12:55 AM 1:29 AM

Time 5:31 PM 6:07 PM 10:35 AM 10:59 AM

0.54L 0.30L 0.92H 0.97H

10:25 PM

0.75H

6:46 PM 7:26 PM

0.07L -0.14L

South Padre Island Time

Height

Time

Height

Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

Time 1:03 AM 1:58 AM 2:59 AM 4:17 AM 1:19 AM 3:10 AM 4:31 AM 5:35 AM 6:33 AM 7:27 AM 8:16 AM 8:55 AM 9:20 AM 12:05 AM 12:43 AM

Time 5:12 4:58 5:23 9:50

PM PM PM AM

Height 0.71L 0.43L 0.11L 0.95H

Time

Height

7:52 PM 11:08 PM

0.73H 0.81H

6:00 PM

-0.20L

Texas Coast Tides

Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10

Date Jun 26 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jun 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 Jul 2 Jul 3 Jul 4 Jul 5 Jul 6 Jul 7 Jul 8 Jul 9 Jul 10


Page 16

June 26, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

INDUSTRY

LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER Solution on Page 18

New president at Harris Pontoons

National sales manager position

Harris Pontoons, a division of Brunswick Corporation, named Chris Bernauer as president.

Outdoor Edge is currently seeking a national sales manager at its Denver, Colorado headquarters.

Apollo Custom operations director

McCanna joins Walther

Jessica Tucker Grubbs joined Apollo Custom, Inc. as its new director of operations.

Walther hired Rob McCanna as its vice president of sales.

Asbery to head marketing at American Tackle Theron Asbery was named marketing director at American Tackle Company.

Phelan named VP at Orchid Orchid Advisors appointed Shaun Phelan as its vice president of sales and marketing.

ACROSS 1. The license that covers both hunting and fishing (two words) 6. A shooting sport (two words) 8. An African game species 10. A type of bow 12. The duck-sized Canada goose 13. A fallen shoreline tree 14. The timberdoodle 15. A Hill Country river 18. Good item for the hunting backpack 20. The dominant elk (two words) 24. The reproductive period for fish 27. The soft plastic lure with several appendages 29. Another name for a drop-off 30. The house made by beavers 31. The lure-holding container (two words) 32. The baby specklebelly 33. Athens’ county

DOWN 1. A Central Texas reservoir (two words) 2. A small African game species 3. Shotgun with two barrels next to each other (three words) 4. The bird the clay target is named after 5. Serrations on the side of a duck’s bill 6. A wading boot manufacturer 7. Keeing the lure motionless 9. A coastal fishing town 11. An outboard manufacturer 16. Used to improve the sound of a box call 17. A shark species 19. Technique to get lure through heavy cover 21. Coastwide fishing tournament 22. The water disturbance behind the boat 23. Bass boat brand 25. Word shooters use for target to be thrown 26. Laredo’s county 28. Number of shooting stations in a trap field 31. Number of target houses on a skeet field

New VP at Smith & Wesson Kyle Tengwall joined Smith & Wesson Inc. as vice president, marketing for the company’s firearms brands.

Duck stamp on sale The 2020-2021 federal duck stamp went on sale June 26. The stamp features a pair of blackbellied whistling ducks painted by Eddie LeRoy of Eufaula, Alabama.

Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News

Poppers at night Continued from page 1

we could scratch out some fish.” Even though the two anglers only had one bite each, they made them count. “I was working a popper when I heard a loud splash and felt my line go tight,” Topel said. “The intensity of the strike made me think it was a bass, but it turned out to be a large sunfish.” A few minutes later, Diaz scored a solid bite, which turned out to be a pretty nice bass. “The fish was probably a little over 2 pounds, and it was definitely the caliber of bass that would’ve been much more finicky during the daytime hours,” Topel said. In addition to simply trying to catch a few fish, Topel and Diaz hoped to get some creative photos in the dark with new photography gear that they had toted along. “We used a prototype underwater bubble camera that is made to pair with a cellphone, along with some underwater lights,” Topel said. Topel encouraged anyone who has ever experienced the frustrations of watching fish not Edgar Diaz landed this bass while fly-fishing along Onion Creek at commit to eating a fly in clear water, to try fish- night. Photo by Davin Topel. ing for them at night. “It’s an entirely different world in the dark,” he said.

A good day Continued from page 11

Mid-morning, the group landed their first keeper trout under some birds that were working over a school of fish close to the bank. About 30 minutes later, they caught another one in the same general area. “We realized that the schools with bigger fish were hanging out closer to the shoreline in shallower water,” explained Clawson. “So we decided to target shallower water the rest of the day. It ended up paying off.” The crew managed to put five keepers in the boat, giving them a full stringer. “We were pumped just to be able to compete on a day when the conditions were tough,”

Clawson said. In addition to all of the small trout, the anglers also caught black drum, sand trout, catfish and flounder. “It was awesome to catch that many fish in one day,” Cooper said. “The consistent action made it a great trip.” Although their fish weren’t heavy enough to place in the tournament, Clawson, Lindner and Cooper were just glad to have been able to get the bites that they did. “There was never really a lull in the excitement the entire time,” Clawson said. “We caught a ton of fish and scored some fillets for dinner.”

Tracking bass Continued from page 8

where the fish was caught. All results will be made available to the public. The first batch of fish has been in the water the whole month of

June. “There have been six fish caught already,” Norman said. “And one of them has been caught twice.”


LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

PRODUCTS

June 26, 2020

Page 17

NATIONAL ILLINOIS

FLORIDA

Legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker gives school districts in Illinois the option to build hunting safety education into the daily curriculum. The law “provides that a school district may offer its students a course on hunting safety as part of its curriculum during the school day or as part of an afterschool program.” It also enables the state’s Board of Education to prepare and make available resources on hunting safety that may be used as guidelines for the development of the course.

A Farmington, Minnesota teenager reeled in what turned out to be a world-record goliath grouper while vacationing with her family in Florida. Reegan Werner was on a deep-sea fishing trip with her brother, mother and stepfather near Marco Island on May 31 and caught the grouper, her first fish of the day. The fish weighed 583 pounds, was 83 inches long and 75 inches in girth. It broke the current women’s world record of 366 pounds caught in 1965. The overall goliath grouper record still stands at 680 pounds.

Hunting safety courses World record grouper in school approved while on vacation

BHA FORAGER: Alpacka Raft’s new BHA series of watercraft is for backcountry outdoorsmen headed to sites way off the beaten path. The Forager, a self-bailing raft, offers two-person seating and massive cargo capacity. For the backcountry hunter, it will comfortably transport one person and a moose out of the most remote areas. For backcountry fishermen, the micro drift boat allows one angler to control the boat with a kayak paddle while the second fishes off the bow. The BHA Forager costs $1,800.

>>

—Staff report —Staff report

MONTANA

Conservation deal in Central Asia

>>

NXTLVL 10.5-INCH FISHING SHORTS: Built for optimal comfort and performance, these Next Level shorts by Huk Performance Fishing are fashioned from a high-stretch, anti-microbial and SPF-rated fabric that dries quickly and is stain-resistant. Features include an adjustable waistband, a perforated back yoke, a zippered back pocket, cargo pockets and a gusseted crotch for maximum mobility. Available in 14 colors and in sizes small to XXXL, the fishing shorts cost about $60.

BORE CLEANER: Hunters can keep their firearms operating at peak performance with Corrosion Technologies’ line of solvents, cleaners and protective coatings. Its Bore Cleaner, made without volatile organic compounds, the cleaner is safe to use on actions, bores and barrels, even in confined spaces. It will safely blast through multi-layered bore buildup, including hydrocarbon resins, dust, minerals, carbon, soft metal fouling and black powder fouling without the fumes associated with older powder solvents. Available in five sizes, the 4-ounce container costs about $7.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

>>

>> RANGER SHOTGUN: Dickinson Arms has introduced its new Ranger series of single-shot shotguns that combine classic styling, performance and value. The perfect first shotgun for those getting into hunting or for more experienced shooters, this shotgun features a simple and reliable break-open action for easy loading and operation, and comes with a 28-inch barrel in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge and .410 bore. Its satin silver receiver is complimented by checked Turkish walnut or a black synthetic stock. Both versions offer a rubber butt plate for comfortable shooting and a ventilated rib for better sighting and accuracy. The shotguns start at about $150.

>>

The Wild Sheep Foundation announced a major advancement in the conservation and management of Central Asia’s wild sheep and goat populations under the Foundation’s Central Asia Conservation Initiative. The initiative includes the signing of Memorandums of Understanding with Central Asian NGOs and governments that will dedicate funding and commitments to on-the-ground conservation actions. WSF and OXUS Holding of Tajikistan recently entered into their first-ever MOU. OXUS Holding is one of Tajikistan’s most respected companies dedicated to conserving wildlife species in protected areas through sustainable use and ecological tourism. Tajikistan is home for Bukhara markhor, Asiatic ibex, argali Marco Polo sheep, Bukhara urial, Severtsov argali and Bukhara deer. —WSF

RS.4 RIFLESCOPE: This scope by Maven Outdoor Equipment Co. is designed for long-range hunters who require maximum precision when minor adjustments can make the difference between getting their prey — or not. It offers a 56mm objective lens and a 5-30x zoom range. The scope is built around a 34mm tube for maximum dialing adjustments and light transmission. Built with a rock solid zerostop, broad parallax adjustments, and two color options of illumination with multiple brightness settings, the scope is capped with large tactile turrets and a beautifully machined zoom ring. The RS.4 costs $1,800.

Boating fatality statistics in The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2019 Recreational Boating Statistics Report, revealing there were 613 boating fatalities nationwide in 2019, a 3.2 percent decrease from 2018. From 2018 to 2019, the total number of accidents increased 0.6 percent (4,145 to 4,168), and the number of nonfatal injured victims increased 1.9 percent (2,511 to 2,559). Alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2019, accounting for over 100 deaths, or 23 percent of total fatalities. The report showed operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and alcohol use ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. The vessel types with the highest percentage of deaths were open motorboats (48 percent), kayaks (14 percent) and personal watercraft (8 percent). —USCG

Great Outdoors Act clears Senate Nearly all outdoor conservation groups applauded the action of the U.S. Senate in passing the Great American Outdoors Act. The act will provide $9.5 billion dollars over five years to address crumbling infrastructure on America’s public lands and waters. The National Park Service will received $6.5 billion in funding, with an additional $3 billion going to public land infrastructure overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service. The act now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. —Staff report

OKLAHOMA

Turkey bag limit decreased Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commissioners voted to reduce or alter wild turkey hunting bag limits in large areas of western Oklahoma during their June 17 meeting. Chief of Wildlife Bill Dinkines said declining turkey numbers during the past two years, especially in southwestern Oklahoma, prompted the bag limit changes. Starting this fall, turkey gun hunters will be allowed to harvest one tom only in 14 counties that previously permitted eithersex harvest. Archery hunters will still be allowed one turkey of either sex statewide in the fall. Next spring, all counties outside the Southeast Region will have a one-tom limit. —ODWC

Bokoshe pro wins Central Open Using a swim jig, Chris Jones, of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, moved from eighth place to first on the final day of the Bassmaster Central Open on the Arkansas River. Jones made a long run and landed 19 pounds to seal the win with a total weight of 42 pounds, 15 ounces. Jones earned $45,300 for the win. Lee Livesay, of Longview, Texas, finished fourth with 41 pounds, 4 ounces, earning $12,800. —B.A.S.S.

INDIANA

Animal extremists publish map of farms, ranches Animal extremist website Project Counterglow published an interactive map with the physical addresses and GPS coordinates of more than 27,500 large modern farms and animal agriculture facilities in the U.S. There are 5,812 of these locations identified using satellite imagery and many of these locations do not appear in public records. The map “pins” show farms with dairy, meat, poultry (meat and eggs), pigs, processing plants, fur, zoos, horse facilities and medical research facilities. A similar project in Australia, called Farm Transparency Map, was launched last year. The map was used by animal extremists to terrorize farmers and ranchers. According to The Intercept, result of that outrage “led to passage of federal legislation in Australia that criminalized the use of a website or social media to incite trespass on a farm.” —Protect the Harvest


Page 18

June 26, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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Brush pile slabs

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 8

Texas Trophy Hunters Association with a joint venture with Buckmasters. SCI is putting together an Avengers-level team of hunting defenders and wildlife conservationists!” When asked to respond to the lawsuit, Hunnicutt replied by email to Lone Star Outdoor News that the organization would have “no comment at this time.” On June 9, Jackie Bushman of Buckmasters and SCI CEO W. Laird Hamilton signed a joint venture agreement aligning the two organizations. Buckmasters, in addition to producing its publication and TV show, also holds an expo in Montgomery, Alabama. Buckmasters also has not commented on the claims. However, in 2017, Buckmasters was sued by the Alabama Attorney General over allegations it had signed up members without authorization and engaged in aggressive collection efforts. The suit was later settled. TTHA member William Gates posted about the contacts he had received from Buckmasters on Lone Star Outdoor News’ Facebook page. “I was wondering why I had a Buckmasters magazine show up in my mail,” he wrote. “And whatever you do, don’t enter into ANY Buckmasters drawings. They will hound you for money.” Jerry Johnston started TTHA in 1975. “I spent over half my life promoting it,” he told Lone Star Outdoor News. “I’m not gonna stop now. You don’t come into Texas and mess with Texans. That’s a sin. You come here, you better remember, this is Texas.”

Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 21628300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $35 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $3, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2020 with all rights reserved. Reproduction 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 news@lonestaroutdoornews.com. Executive Editor

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No deal evaluation in the acquisition, and the parties were: “…not to disclose to or use with any third party any confidential information, or any notes, analysis, summary or derivative thereof; and protect the confidential information using the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as it uses to protect its own confidential information.” “What happened here is no different than inviting someone to be a guest in your home, only to have them steal your property in the middle of the night. Safari Club International said it wanted to forge a business relationship. Instead, they just wanted to surreptitiously gain access to a competitor’s most valuable asset,” said TTHA’s attorney, Regan Marble of the San Antonio office of Jackson Walker. According to Keith, shortly after the negotiations broke down, TTHA discovered its members were receiving solicitations from Buckmasters. “It seems rather blatant,” Keith told Lone Star Outdoor News. “The deal [between TTHA and SCI] started to drag out after they did the Buckmasters deal. I thought maybe it was the Covid-19, but it wasn’t.” Based in San Antonio, TTHA is a member-based organization dedicated to promoting the sport, science and heritage of hunting. The group produces the “Hunters Extravaganzas” hunting shows in San Antonio, Houston and Fort Worth and publishes The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters. In a Twitter post on May 4, SCI’s director of marketing and communications Chip Hunnicutt said: “Following up the acquisition of

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right color jig and a head that will fish best at various depths. Some of my top colors are crawfish and white/chartreuse.” Two of his favorite jigs are G-Daddy baits and Beaver Bottom baits. “The Beaver Bottom baits are made with a wide selection of contrasting colors and the baits have a large profile that makes them more visible,” Langston said. “They are also infused with a shad attractant to ensure the fish will hold the bait longer.” Lake Conroe has a reputation for producing an abundance of crappie, especially during the summer months. That’s where guide Tex Bonin will be fishing from now through September. “The hot summer months will move crappie to deep structure,” Bonin said. “That’s where you can find brush piles in 16 to 18 feet of water on this lake. The most productive brush will be located on humps and ridges. Brush placed along creek and river channels will attract numbers of crappie as well. The folks that don’t have electronics can fish around the pilings of the 1097 and 1375 bridges. A lot of those pilings have been brushed up. The combination of concrete pilings and brush bring in a lot of crappie.”

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Bonin often sinks additional brush on existing brush piles. He uses yaupon, sweet gum and pin oak brush because it will last a long time. He uses concrete blocks to sink the brush. Really thick brush piles will bring in catfish and bream, along with bass, and definitely lots of crappie. His go-to summertime baits will be minnows and soft plastic jigs. “Minnows come in various sizes,” Bonin said. “I like to use the bigger minnows, about 3 inches long, to catch bigger crappie. When using soft plastic jigs his top colors are white/ chartreuse, blue/chartreuse and on cloudy days a black/chartreuse color combination is best. Most of the time I’ll go with a 1/8-ounce jig head.” Both guides said that crappie can be unpredictable. “They can be on a brush pile one day and you will crush them,” Langston said. “Then you’ll come back the next day and won’t get a bite. That’s why you want to locate and mark as many brush piles as possible. If one is not producing, go to the next one. I’ve found that on days with bright sunlight and wind, crappie will move around.”

Puzzle solution from Page 16


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June 26, 2020

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