Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
June 28, 2019
Record bighorn tag brings $155K
Volume 15, Issue 21
Morning glory
Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News
Lone Star Outdoor News
Phil McClain hooks up with a chunky largemouth bass while fishing on a rare, cool morning in mid-June in East Texas. Mild conditions resulted after an early summer cool front passed through the Lone Star State earlier this month. Anglers that were able to take advantage of the pleasant conditions were met with light northerly winds and beautiful mornings where the surface of the water across inland lakes were covered with a smoky fog. Since then, temperatures have risen, reaching triple digits in many parts of the state, causing the bass to settle into their summer patterns. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
West Matagorda Bay trout on summer pattern By Robert Sloan
With hot summer days and daytime temperatures flirting with the tripledigit mark, trout are in their summer patterns up and down the Texas coast. For West Matagorda Bay fishermen, that involves wading, drifting, fishing shell pads and cork fishing over reefs. Guide Ken Marshall said he’ll have his customers wading and drifting over shell reefs for the next few months. “The wade-fishing options on West Matagorda are excellent during the hot summer months,” he said. “We’ve got
many miles of shoreline to fish along the Matagorda Peninsula. Some of the most popular areas are Greens, the middle grounds, Cottons and on down to Long Fence Bayou and Phillip’s Bayou. That’s a lot of water that holds good numbers of trout and reds throughout the summer months.” Marshall said in places like Cottons Bayou, he’ll be fishing with popping corks, live bait and various lures. “Fishing a live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork is a good way to catch trout just about year-round on West Matagorda Bay,” he said. “We’re mostly wading in 2 to 4 feet of water with a botPlease turn to page 19
CONTENTS
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Anglers have had success wading and drifting over shell pads and reefs for speckled trout in West Matagorda Bay. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12
Great fawn crop (P. 4)
Variety offshore (P. 8)
Conditions prime for production.
Kings, wahoo and swordfish, plus snapper.
Hunting show in China (P. 4)
Banding together (P. 9)
First event of its kind.
Veterans join to make affordable rods.
Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 19 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 20 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 21
INSIDE
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
An opportunity to hunt a desert bighorn sheep in Texas was auctioned June 22 at the Texas Bighorn Society Roundup at The Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio. “The bidding was real active — there were a half dozen serious bidders,” said TBS board member Robert Joseph. “There was a lot of energy in the room when the price started going higher and higher.” In the end, the winning bidder paid $155,000 for the hunt. “The good news is 100 percent of the proceeds goes to sheep conservation in Texas,” Joseph said. For the relatively small group of conservationists who raise money and build water guzzlers in the Texas mountains, it raised the bar, as the amount was the highest ever paid at auction for the hunt. “We auctioned some other good hunts and firearms, but everyone was most interested in the sheep hunt,” Joseph said. TBS board member Booner Beck said the Roundup was a great event this year. “Everybody was really excited, and we raised a lot of money and we got some new members,” he said. “One guy drew the $10 tag for a desert bighorn hunt, and he and his wife were almost as excited to become life members of Texas Bighorn Society.”