Lone Star Outdoor News 081420

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August 14, 2020

Volume 16, Issue 24

Cats Bighorn survey team on dies in chopper crash Cooper Pilot survives

Lone Star Outdoor News

On Aug. 9, while conducting aerial surveys for desert bighorn sheep in West Texas, three Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employees died in a helicopter

crash on the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County.

Wildlife biologist Dewey Stockbridge, fish and wildlife technician Brandon White and State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Bob Dittmar were killed in the crash. The pilot, a private con-

tractor, survived the crash and was taken to Alpine, then was transported to El Paso for further treatment.

Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said the crash took place in an area called Big CanA distant view shows smoke coming from the yon, which was difficult for dep- helicopter crash site where three TPWD employuties to reach. ees died. Photo from Brewster County Sheriff’s Please turn to page 6

Office.

Offshore weather windows Kids enjoy bringing in big blue catfish on Cooper Lake. Photo by Chris Kinworthy.

By Robert Sloan

Calm winds increase success

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News

For Lone Star Outdoor News According to longtime catfishing guide Chris Kinworthy, Cooper Lake is known as one of the best in Texas for catching one of the tastiest whiskered fish you’ll ever eat — a blue cat.

“Right now, the fishing is very good for the smaller blue cats in the 2- to 10-pound range,” said Kinworthy. “We’re catching a few bigger blues, as well. The lake is pretty much on the clear side, and is about a foot low. If you’re looking to catch the trophy class blues, fish upwards of 40 to 60 pounds, the winter months are best from about November through early spring. My personal best is a 62-pounder.”

What makes this particular lake so popular is, not only the number of blue cats, but the fact that they are caught on rod and reel.

“It’s fun fishing,” Kinworthy Please turn to page 13

Offshore anglers have been watching the wind forecasts, hoping to venture out into the Gulf, and the dog days of summer have finally rewarded them. Many folks found success to close out the red snapper season in federal waters at the beginning of the month, and other species like dorado, swordfish, tuna and wahoo have been providing plenty of action.

League City resident Mitchell Stephenson ran offshore out of Galveston with his dad, Eric Stephenson, on the final day of the federal waters red snapper season. They took a course due south about 90 miles off of the Galveston south jetty.

“We were fishing in about 140 feet of water, dropping fresh sardines

John Saucier, Tanner Fontenot and Eric Watson show one of four swordfish they landed in the 200-pound class while fishing in 1,400 feet of water about 170 miles southeast of Sabine Pass with Mark Brackin. Photo by Mark Brackin.

down to the bottom,” said Stephenson. “Limits of snapper in the 5- to 20-pound range came

rather quickly.”

They targeted a variety of deep structures, and most of the fish were sus-

pended just above the bottom. Stephenson ended up catching his personal best red snapper that weighed

a hair over 19 pounds, out of a school of snapper feeding over a hard spot along the bottom.

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Please turn to page 9

Spotting bumblebees Quail hatch improved from last year

By Craig Nyhus

Although range conditions are deteriorating in much of the state, the bobwhite quail hatch appears to be better than last year. Photo by Joe Richards for Lone Star Outdoor News.

In the Rolling Plains region of Texas, the quail hatch is “decent,” given the circumstances, said Dale Rollins, executive director of the Rolling Plains

survival looks pretty good,” Rollins said.

On Aug. 10, a “Bug Day” was conducted at the research ranch, and Rollins said the bug count was down 30 percent.

“Caterpillars were 90 percent off,” he said. “But the grasshoppers are abundant.”

Rollins said chicks can eat 1- to 2-inch grasshoppers.

Please turn to page 6

Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10

HUNTING

FISHING

Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 11

Not Canada-bound (P. 5)

Summer on Fork (P. 8)

Border closed to waterfowlers.

Humps, pond dams holding bass.

NY vs. NRA (P. 4)

Fishing after Hanna (P. 8)

Lawsuits, charges exchanged.

Action picks back up.

Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 16 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 18

INSIDE

CONTENTS

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

Lone Star Outdoor News

Quail Research Ranch near Roby.

“I would say it hasn’t been great, but given the weather, it’s OK,” Rollins said. “It’s torrid out here, and we’ve received less than 11 inches of rain for the year.”

Most of the nesting has completed, but a few birds are still on the nest.

“In Erath County, our nesting success and chick

Page 2

Aug 14, 2020

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Aug 14, 2020

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Aug 14, 2020

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HUNTING

New York AG sues to dissolve NRA

Tracking pintails

Lone Star Outdoor News After promoting a “major announcement” to the media, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the agency had filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the National Rifle Association.

James charged the organization with illegal conduct because of its diversion of millions of dollars away from the charitable mission of the organization for personal use by senior leadership, awarding contracts to the financial gain of close associates and family, and appearing to dole out lucrative no-show contracts to former employees in order to buy their silence and continued loyalty.

The suit charged the NRA as a whole, as well as Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre, former Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Wilson “Woody” Phillips, former Chief of Staff and the Executive Director of General Operations Joshua Powell, and Corporate Secretary and General Counsel John Frazer with failing to manage the NRA’s funds and failing to follow numerous state and federal laws, contributing to the loss of more than $64 million in three years for the NRA. The suit specifically alleged LaPierre received private jet travel on luxury vacations to the Bahamas eight times over three years, and was reimbursed for personal trips, golf fees and gifts.

NRA President Carolyn Meadows responded to the allegations on social media.

“This was a baseless, premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend,” Meadows wrote. “You could have set your watch by it: the investigation was going to reach its crescendo as we move into the 2020 election cycle. It’s a transparent attempt to score political points and attack the leading voice in opposition to the leftist agenda. This has been a power grab by a political opportunist — a desperate move that is part of a rank political vendetta. Our members won’t be intimidated or bullied in their defense of political and constitutional freedom.”

The NRA quickly filed a civil lawsuit against the New York Attorney General, and Meadows said, “We not only will not shrink from this fight — we will confront it and prevail.”

The NRA’s civil suit accuses James of defamation and violating its rights to free speech, claiming James “made the political prosecution of the NRA a central campaign theme” when she was running for the AG’s office in 2018, and has not treated the association fairly since.

The defamation allegations stem from James’ public descriptions of the NRA as a “criminal enterprise” and “a terrorist organization.”

McAllen expo cancels Hurricane Hanna and COVID-19 relief efforts brought the Texas Hunters and Sportsman’s Expo to a halt. After being rescheduled once from July to Aug. 21-23, at the end of July, heavy rains from Hurricane Hanna changed things.

“The state has taken over the McAllen Conversation Center to use as both a storage facility and a makeshift hospital,” said show director Chris Curl. “We were forced to postpone the expo until 2021, but we’ll be back next year, bigger and stronger.”

—Staff report

Female birds wearing trackers

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News Despite prime breeding conditions over the last three decades, northern pintail’s continental population still remains well below historical averages. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Waterfowl Program leader Kevin Kraai, the majority of Central Flyway pintails winter on the Texas coast.

“Over the years, female pintails have developed a trend of departing wintering areas within Texas in a relatively lean body condition, especially when compared to pintails that are wintering in other regions,” Kraai said. “This is extremely concerning, because we want our state’s wintering habitats to be able to help send them back to their breeding grounds in a healthy condition year after year, so they will have successful breeding seasons.”

Kraai and other waterfowl biologists believe this may be due to a low-quality diet in certain wintering areas, or possibly because pintails in other regions have differing spring migration strategies. Currently, there is a lot of uncertainty about how winter ecology and spring migration strategies impact the reproduction success of pintails on breeding grounds. Kraai said solving these uncertainties is important, because these scenarios present very different management implications that could affect waterfowl hunters.

Female pintails have been tagged with GPS transmitters to track their migrations, behaviors and movements throughout the year. Top photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News. Bottom photo by Georgina Eccles.

TPWD has partnered with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, New Mexico Game & Fish, USGS, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries to investigate both the winter ecology and spring migration strategies of pintails that are wintering in different regions across North America.

Kraai said the goals of this study include: investigating the habitat use and behavioral activities of pintails wintering in Texas; comparing the spring migration strategies of pintails within and among wintering

areas in North America; investigating the linkages between migration strategies and reproductive success; assessing the contribution of endogenous nutrients to reproduction for different regions and different migration strategies; and identifying critical stopover areas for pintails migrating from different wintering areas.

“Pintails were captured in several wintering locations during the fall and winter from 2019-2020,” said Kraai. “These locations included the Texas coast, Texas Panhandle, New Mexico, Arizona, Central California and the Louisiana coast. To date, 148 females have been outfitted with Please turn to page 6

Movie in development to feature hunting

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News A major motion picture in development seeks to highlight hunting and the outdoor lifestyle.

The Harvest, written by Jim Liberatore and his wife, Kim, with assistance from the author of 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi, war hero and avid hunter Mark Geist, will be the first-ever feature-length film celebrating the beauty and importance of the outdoor lifestyle.

“The is a film Hollywood wouldn’t make, so we will,” Liberatore said.

The movie script follows the McLean family who, in the initial script, live in Marble Falls. Dave McLean, the father, hunts with his high school-aged daughter

and son, and becomes a host of a hunting television show. Mac, McLean’s father, is a pastor and provides wisdom to his son.

Things change when a job opportunity results in a move for the family to New York City, where McLean and his family face challenges, including coming under attack for their outdoor pursuits.

Liberatore, the chief executive officer of Outdoor Sportsman Group, didn’t grow up a hunter, but is now.

“What struck me was the conservation story and the beauty of it,” he said. “I saw the confidence that comes when a 13-yearold kid can handle a rifle, hunt, harvest, cook and eat his own food.”

Libertore said the movie’s aim is to get people to understand the beautiful story of hunting.

“The hunting lifestyle is explained, and

the film is unapologetically Christian,” he said.

Geist said leadership is a big part of the script.

“It has the struggles we all experience and every family can relate to it,” he said.

“And it shows great leadership from a little girl.”

Liberatore and Geist are currently in fundraising mode, and as of Aug. 11, the movie has raised more than $187,000, according to the movie’s website, theharvestmovie.com. They are seeking to raise $14 million to fund the film.

“We’re seeking money from hunters and have received great support from the industry and groups including Dallas Safari Club and Houston Safari Club,” Liberatore said. “In the movie, hunting and the outdoors will be a sixth character.”

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Waterfowling trips to Canada off for the season

The thousands of guides, hunters and bird dogs won’t be able to make their annual duck or goose hunting trip to Canada this September. Photo by Ward McGee.

Border remains closed, no change expected

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News Thousands of Texas duck hunters and guides head to Canada each September to hunt ducks and geese before the birds cross the border on their way south.

Not this year, though. The border is closed preventing guides and their clients from getting to the hunting areas. The border is officially closed until Aug. 21, but most Canadian outfitters and U.S. hunters think it will be extended until at least October and probably until the end of the year.

“It doesn’t look like they are going to open it at all,” said Brennan Hudson, who owns Alberta Waterfowl. “We’ll be pushing everything to next year.”

Hudson said most of his clients fly into Calgary and drive to the hunting area.

“A lot of the freelance hunters drive up, though,” he said.

Ward McGee has operated Frontline Waterfowl in western Saskatchewan for 15 years.

“Back in March, some of my clients started calling,” he said. “I told them I wasn’t worried and that we would be hunting.

Boy, did that ever come back to bite me.”

McGee said two weeks ago, he contacted all of his customers and closed everything, a big change from not having an open date for the past 10 seasons.

“We’re just not seeing any signs of hope in time for our seasons,” he said.

Most of McGee’s customers come from Texas and Louisiana, and about half fly up on private planes.

“They aren’t going into town except maybe to go to the liquor store,” he said.

“They aren’t really encountering locals.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense, being in a goose blind in a pea field is about as quarantined as you can be.”

McGee said he’ll be back at it next season, as 95 percent of his customers rolled their reservations to the 2021 season.

“I have a lodge up there,” he said. “I can’t even go up there and check on it.”

Derek McDaniels, of Lubbock, owns Blackfoot Outdoors, but guided with McGee for several years.

McDaniel said the closing will be a major hardship for many of the outfitters.

“I think you’ll see a lot of the U.S. guys that won’t be able to go back,” he said.

“You have to roll deposits to next year, and it will take two seasons after that to get back on your feet. Especially for the new guys and the young guys, that might be too tough.”

McDaniel said his phone has been ringing, with people calling to book hunts in West Texas.

“Some say it’s because they can’t go to Canada,” he said. “And I think some of it is just from people who want to get out and hunt.”

Texan honored posthumously for bobwhite work The National Bobwhite Technical Committee posthumously honored a 19-year veteran of the group during its 26th annual meeting, originally scheduled for Arkansas but conducted virtually instead. Chuck Kowaleski received the 2020 NBTC Leadership Award for his significant, long-term contributions to the bobwhite restoration cause.

“Chuck helped shape the future of bobwhite conservation management in the United States, was a strong advocate for the NBTC mission, and made significant contributions to habitat conservation efforts nationwide,” said NBTC chair Robert Perez with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Kowaleski was a Peace Corp Volunteer in Liberia West Africa, a high school biology teacher, an urban biologist and managed Texas Project Wild teacher trainings, all before joining the NBTC. When Kowaleski became the TPWD Farm Bill Coordinator in 2001 he joined the Southeast Quail Study Group, the forerunner of the NBTC. His contributions included serving as chair and vice chair of the Agriculture Policy Subcommittee, and chair and treasurer of the NBTC Steering Committee.

During his tenure as the TPWD Farm Bill coordinator, Kowaleski partnered with a variety of organizations to implement programs creating special focus areas benefitting various wildlife species, including bobwhites. Those areas provided $35.3 million in federal cost share to 1,208 landowners in habitat improvements for priority species on 1.79 million acres. Over 325,000 of those acres were specifically for bobwhites.

—NBTC

Aug 14, 2020

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Aug 14, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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Chad Jones to lead game wardens Chad Jones was named the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s new Law Enforcement director. Col. Jones became a game warden in 2004 and has held duty stations in Brazos and Trinity counties, has served as a Team Lead for the Forensic Accident and Reconstruction Team, a Lieutenant at the Game Warden Training Center in Hamilton County, a Captain in Uvalde and a Major in both Corpus Christi and in the Pineywoods region of East Texas.

Jones succeeds Col. Grahame Jones, who recently retired.

As Colonel, Chad Jones will set the tone, direction and expectations for the Law Enforcement Division and will oversee a force of 551 state game wardens that provide conservation law enforcement across Texas and 128 dedicated non-commissioned support staff.

—TPWD

Helicopter crash Continued from page 1

“A few of them walked in, but otherwise we had to use helicopters and land some distance away — it’s real rough.”

Dodson said two of the victims were found still in the helicopter, and the third was located about 175 yards away.

Dodson spoke with the pilot, who believed there was a mechanical failure.

“He said the helicopter didn’t hit anything,” Dodson said.

The pilot is recovering in an El Paso hospital after having surgery.

“No words can begin to express the depth of sadness we feel for the loss of our colleagues in this tragic accident,” said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Federal Aviation Administration and Texas game wardens are investigating the incident.

Dr. Robert Dittmar Dittmar, of Harper, was hired as Texas’ first state veterinarian in 2014. He was a fifth-generation Texan raised on a working livestock ranch in Gillespie County.

A graduate of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, he has worked in mixed animal practices in Weslaco, Hondo and Kerrville.

During his tenure with TPWD, he helped the agency diagnose and respond to the

complexities of health and disease issues that affect Texas wildlife.

Dewey Stockbridge Stockbridge graduated from Texas A&M University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree from the u n i v e r s i t y ’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. He was the lead wildlife biologist at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area south of Alpine. He was regarded as instrumental in the bighorn sheep restoration efforts in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.

Brandon White White was a fish and wildlife technician based out of Elephant Mountain WMA. Originally from Spur, White began his career with TPWD in 2016. He played a vital role in preserving the health of Texas wildlife, assisting with surveys and translocations for bighorn sheep and pronghorn.

Young quail on the ground Continued from page 1

“If they are bigger, the parents will dismember them for the chicks,” he said.

In Fisher County, scalebuster reported on the Texas Hunting Forum that he had seen one covey of 13 birds, including young birds that flew about 15 yards. When returning to the house, he saw another group of at least 15 chicks.

Rollins said the rains have been spotty, and areas receiving more timely water are faring best.

“I’m getting reports that areas of Runnels and Stonewall counties are pretty good,” he said. “That’s where the best reports have come from. Overall, while last year was graded at a 2-3, this year is better than last year.”

Much of South Texas has benefited from more rainfall, and Hurricane Hanna added beneficial rains.

“The birds won’t stand in water,” Rollins said. “They head for the higher ground — they make it but they are more vulnerable to predation. I expect South Texas will have a good hatch over the next 30 days.”

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hybrid GPS-ACC tracking devices, including 52 from the Texas coast and 13 from the Texas Panhandle.”

These devices provide location information every 60 minutes and reveal almost continuous behavioral data, such as whether the birds are feeding, walking, resting or flying.

“This information will help us better quantify their habitat use during the winter, and aid us in understanding their migration strategies during the spring,” Kraai said.

Two more field seasons of this study are planned in 2021 and 2022. Kraai said the study gives them the ability to gain more knowledge about pintails than they’ve ever dreamed of learning before.

“It is arguably the largest pintail research project ever attempted,” he said. “The technology we are using seems to be getting better by the day, and hopefully this study is the gateway into future studies on other species of ducks.”

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Aug 14, 2020

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FISHING

Spearheading cobia research in the Gulf

By Lili Sams

Lone Star Outdoor News Dr. Matt Streich, a research scientist for the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, is leading a study on the seasonal movements

of cobia in the Gulf.

Streich enjoys catching cobia, or ling as they are most often called in Texas. He noted anglers voicing concerns over cobia the last few years during Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

meetings. The anglers said they haven’t caught as many cobia as they had in the past.

Streich wondered what was going on, and noticed there wasn’t a lot of research on the species.

And the research didn’t

account for some of the fish moving on from Texas and being caught in Mexico.

His study seeks to examine the movements and wintering patterns.

Streich said typically the cobia come in closer to Please turn to page 11

Dr. Matt Streich is leading a research project studying the movements and wintering patterns of cobia. Photo by Quentin Hall.

Fishing after Hanna Lower coast rebounds after hurricane

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News

Capt. Steve Ellis holds a speckled trout he caught and released out of Port Mansfield after the recent hurricane. Photo by Mike Sutton.

Have you ever wondered how long it takes a coastal fishery to rebound after it is hit by a major storm or hurricane? The answer might just surprise you. At the end of July, Hurricane Hanna made landfall along the lower Texas coast, but that hasn’t stopped anglers from getting back out on the water and catching plenty of fish.

Speckled trout and redfish have been aggressively striking artificial lures and natural baits from Port Mansfield to South Padre Island since the beginning of the month.

Getaway Lodge owner Mike Sutton and the lodge’s, Capt. Steve Ellis, went on a scouting trip recently to see what the action along the Lower Laguna Madre would afford in the aftermath of the storm that Sutton said dumped 19 inches of rain in a 24-hour period on Port Masfield. Ellis said they found a fast-and-furious bite from speckled trout while wading sand bars north of the Port Mansfield Harbor.

“We were standing about 50 feet apart from one another and got a bite on nearly every cast while chunking various soft plastics,” Ellis said. “We probably caught and released 25 to 30 speckled trout in the 16- to 22-inch range, and we didn’t catch a single undersized fish.”

Most of the trout were hanging off of the sandbar in deeper wa-

ter, and the majority of their bites came at the very end of their casts.

“There definitely is some offcolored, fresh water in our bay system to contend with right now,” Ellis said. “The majority of West Bay is in pretty bad shape; however, the water on the north side of the bay and along the east side is clear and salty. As you run across the bay, you’ll regularly see pockets of dirty-looking fresh water adjacent to decent stretches of saltier water.”

Port Mansfield guide Mike Garvin also found schools of speckled trout to be holding out off the edges of sandbars.

“Most of the fish have been staging out in deeper water, and when the floating grass isn’t too bad, they’ve been willing to crush top-water baits,” Garvin said.

Capt. Todd Grubert has been experiencing consistent action since the hurricane passed while fishing out of Port Mansfield.

“My customers have been catching limits of trout on live bait along the edges of grass lines in 3 to 4 feet of water,” he said.

“We’ve also been catching a good amount of redfish along the rocks at the East Cut jetties.”

Grubert said most of the water south of the Port Mansfield harbor is pretty ugly due to the runoff from the storm.

South Padre Island guide Capt.

Jason Storm has been catching plenty of trout on live bait and dark-colored soft plastics while drifting grass beds in 3 to 3.5 feet of water.

“The water around South Padre Island is in good shape,” he said.

Please turn to page 11

Lake Fork go-to summer bass tactics

By Robert Sloan

For Lone Star Outdoor News

Some big bass are coming out of deeper water on Lake Fork, often caught over humps or pond dams. Photo by Andrew Grills.

August started out with a deep bite on Lake Fork, but as cool fronts come through, some anglers headed to shallower structures to catch bass on top-water plugs, and swimbaits.

“Right now, it’s mostly hot weather fishing for bass holding over deep structure like humps and pond dams,” said guide Andrew Grills. “Another good area to fish will be main lake points. The best depths are from

15 to 25 feet deep. I prefer to fish deep for bass. They are more predictable than bass that begin moving shallow towards the end of August. That’s when we’ll begin getting light cool fronts. And the water temperature will cool down by 2 to 4 degrees. That’s enough to move bass off the deep structure.”

Grills said one reliable fishing pattern used to be in the hydrilla. But most of the aquatic vegetation is gone. That’s why you’ll be better off fishing extended points for much of August.

“On structure like humps and pond dams, I’ll be fishing a drop-shot Texas rig on a 3/0 hook,” he said. “A shaky head jig is good in green/pumpkin, watermelon seed and June bug. I try to stay with colors that look like a bream.”

Another type of structure that will hold big, solitary bass are boat docks and brush piles.

“That’s where you’ll find one or two big bass,” Grills said. “You just have to move around a lot. One of my favorite lures for boat docks is a Santone football jig in Please turn to page 11

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

Aug 14, 2020

W E T SO UNDS

Team lands 737-pound blue marlin to win Walk West topped the 40-team field at the Texas Legends Billfish Tournament in Port Aransas. The Viking 55, owned by Riley Rhodes and captained by Raleigh Morrison, landed one blue marlin weighing 737 pounds and one sailfish to amass 1737 points.

Backlash, owned by Jackie Hunter and captained by K.T. Scott, landed two blue marlin and one sailfish to total 1,100 points, finishing second. In third place was Draggin’ Up, with two blue marlin totaling 1,000 points.

A total of 12 blue marlin, one white marlin and nine sailfish were landed in the event.

—Texas Legends

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“After boxing our limit of snapper, we tried trolling for a while, but didn’t have any bites,” Stephenson said.

Natasha Pitts and Capt. Karl Weston of Tripped Out Sportfishing ran about 50 miles southeast out of Matagorda where they found good current breaks, weed lines and floating debris.

“There were dorado everywhere along the weed lines,” said Pitts. “These weren’t just chicken dolphin, either. They were solid, and some were pushing 36 inches.”

Pitts said that they had multiple hookups while casting Natasha Pitts landed this wahoo while trolling a weedline about 50 miles southeast small jigs on light of Matagorda. Photo by Capt. Karl Weston. tackle at the school.

“One thing that made this trip special is that Weston had they landed were in the 200-pound class.

“We also jumped a sailfish and a marlin told me that he had seen dorado exhibit while trolling, but lost them both,” Brackin cannibalistic behavior before,” she elaborated. “Then, at one point, I was reeling in said. “We did end up landing some tuna a smaller dorado, when a larger bull came and wahoo while trolling.”

Brackin said they also did a little deepout of nowhere and tried to eat it. I quickly dropping, and that those efforts rendered realized, that’s why the green, yellow and some grouper and tilefish. blue lures we were throwing worked so well.

In Port Aransas, Jesse Drewa took his bay Those baits were getting their attention beboat east about 25 miles out a couple of cause they looked like little dorado.”

After the dorado action died down, they times at the end of the federal waters red spent some time trolling along the weed- snapper season.

“We used Spanish sardines in about 125 lines in the area.

“We had several runs and ended up feet of water near rigs,” Drewa said. “On landing a wahoo that weighed about 20 the first trip we caught limits of red snapper and a few kingfish, but then the second pounds,” Pitts said.

Out of Sabine Pass, Mark Brackin, ran his time we went, the action was much slower.

31 Cape Horn, the Broad Daylight, south- It seemed like the folks that ran farther out east about 170 miles with some buddies in did much better.” search of swordfish. While fishing in about 1,400 feet of water, the crew went four for five on swords, and all four of the ones that

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Aug 14, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 84 degrees; 0.89’ low. Largemouth bass are good in deeper water on soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait, cut bait and stink bait.

AMISTAD: Water lightly stained; 88-90 degrees; 46.92’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, square-billed crankbaits, Carolina- and Texasrigged worms. Catfish are fair on stink bait and cut bait.

ARLINGTON: Water clear; 87 degrees; 2.28’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on crickets and prepared baits.

ATHENS: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.06’ high.

Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, swimbaits and dark wacky-rigged plastic worms.

Crappie are good on minnows.

Catfish are good on prepared baits. Sunfish are good on cutworms.

AUSTIN: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.52’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Sunfish are good on worms along ledges, boat docks, and brush. Catfish are fair on prepared baits and cut bait.

B.A. STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.59’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on topwaters, crankbaits and plastic worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are excellent on cut bait and prepared baits.

BASTROP: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged plastic worms, crankbaits and poppers. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut bait and live bait.

BELTON: Water clear; 85 degrees; 1.56’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits, and Carolina-rigged plastic worms. White bass are excellent on soft plastic swimbaits, rooster tails and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Catfish are good on cut bait and live bait.

BENBROOK: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 2.34’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, crankbaits and drop shots. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrid striped bass are good on live bait and slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and live bait.

BOB SANDLIN: Water slightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.18’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, jigs, crankbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms.

Crappie are good on minnows.

Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait.

BRAUNIG: Water stained; 87 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and plastic worms. Red drum are good on live bait. Catfish are good on live bait, cut bait and cheese bait.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 87 degrees; 3.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on deep-diving crankbaits, jigs and Carolinarigged plastic worms. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. Catfish are good on prepared baits and live bait.

BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 1.49’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged plastic worms, chatter

baits, skirted jigs and deep-diving crankbaits. Striped bass are good on live bait, jigging spoons and slabs. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel catfish are good on prepared baits.

CADDO: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.44’ high. Largemouth bass are good on plastic craws and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

Catfish are good on prepared baits and earthworms.

CALAVERAS: Water stained; 86-87 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged plastic worms and light-colored weighted jigs. Red drum are fair to good on live bait. Catfish are good on stink bait, chicken livers and cut shad.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 87 degrees; 2.22’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on deep-diving crankbaits, skirted jigs and Texas-rigged plastic worms.

Striped bass are fair on slabs, heavy jigging spoons and live bait. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. Catfish are good on prepared baits and cut bait.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.67’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-water plugs, shaky heads and Texasrigged plastic worms. Hybrids and white bass are fair to good on slabs, heavy spoons and swimbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait.

CHOKE CANYON: Water lightly stained; 86-88 degrees; 19.97’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on poppers, plastic worms and smaller crankbaits. White bass are fair on silver and blue lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on dough balls, live bait and cheese bait.

CONROE: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.95’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shad imitations, nightcrawlers, and Texas-rigged soft plastic worms.

Crappie are fair on minnows.

Hybrid striped bass are fair on lipless crankbaits. Catfish are good on cut bait.

COOPER: Water clear; 86 degrees; 1.15’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged curly-tailed plastic worms, crankbaits and skirted jigs.

White bass are excellent on slabs, swimbaits and jigging spoons. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: Water stained; 87 degrees; 5.03’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and some reflective soft plastic worms. White bass are fair on smaller spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows in cloudy water. Catfish are good on cut bait and cheese bait.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water clear; 87 degrees; 0.69’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters along reeds and grass edges, chatter baits and jigs.

White bass are excellent on

slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait and punch bait.

FALCON: Water lightly stained; 88-90 degrees; 39.72’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair to good over brush piles on crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

FAYETTE: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on rootbeer and green/ pumpkin Texas-rigged plastic worms, plastic grub drop shots and crankbaits. Sunfish are good on worms and crickets. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

FORK: Water lightly stained; 85-89 degrees; 0.93’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on blue fleck, purple and dark green plastic worms, crankbaits, bladed jigs and chatter baits.

Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water stained; 86 degrees. Largemouth bass are good above brush on light-colored worms.

Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait.

Sunfish are fair on cutworms.

GRANBURY: Water clear; 84-87 degrees; 0.39’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jerk baits, spinner baits and Texasrigged plastic worms. Crappie are good around brush piles and boat docks on minnows. White bass are good on slabs, jigging spoons and swimbaits. Stripers are good on live bait. Catfish are good on earthworms or prepared baits.

GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.50’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, blue flecked plastic worms. drop shots and chatter baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs and small crankbaits. Catfish are good on cut shad, chicken livers and prepared baits.

GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 85-86 degrees; 0.22’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, plastic worms and crankbaits. White bass are excellent on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in marinas and near submerged structure. Catfish are good on prepared baits and cut bait.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 0.19’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on bream-colored top-waters and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair at night on live bait.

JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.35’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair to good on plastic worms, spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait and prepared baits.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.53’ high. Largemouth bass are good on flukes, plastic grubs and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are excellent on jigs and minnows.

Catfish are good on punch bait, earthworms and cut bait.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 1.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on chatter baits, plastic creatures and swimbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are excellent on jigs, jigging spoons and slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.

LBJ: Water clear; 86 degrees; 0.77’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows around brush piles, timber, and docks. White bass are good on slabs and rooster tails.

Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.38’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on tubes, stick baits and jerkbaits.

White bass are excellent on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on live bait and prepared baits.

LIVINGSTON: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.13’ high.

Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms, spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs in the shade. White bass are good on Alabama rigs. Catfish are fair on live bait and stink bait.

MEREDITH: Water stained; 85 degrees; 48.55’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, jigs and weighted worms. Walleye are fair on live bait and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows.

MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.13’ low. Largemouth bass are good on buzzbaits, jigs and worms.

Crappie are good on minnows.

Catfish are fair on live bait and blood bait.

NACONICHE: Water slightly stained; 85 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, spinner baits and plastic worms.

Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Sunfish are fair on jigs and crickets. Catfish are good on dough balls, cut and live bait.

NASWORTHY: Water stained; 86 degrees. 0.97’ low. Largemouth bass are excellent on weighted worms, spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on live and prepared baits.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.14’ high.

Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, jigs, and blue or purple Texas-rigged plastic worms.

Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. Catfish are good on prepared baits and live bait.

O.H. IVIE: Water clear; 85 degrees; 11.11’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, worms and crankbaits.

Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on stink bait, live and cut bait.

PALESTINE: Water clear; 86 degrees; 0.14’ low. Largemouth bass are good on plum, or rootbeer Texas-rigged brush hogs, swimbaits and deep-running crankbaits. Crappie are good on

minnows. Hybrid stripers are good on live bait. White bass are excellent on slabs. Catfish are good on earthworms and prepared baits.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water slightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.92’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic worms and crankbaits. White bass are good on small crankbaits and spoons.

Crappie are good on jigs under docks. Striped bass are slow.

Catfish are good on cut shad.

PROCTOR: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 2.79’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms and chatter baits. Hybrid stripers are good on live bait and jigging slabs.

Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared baits, chicken liver and cut bait.

RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.77’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on crankbaits, chatter baits, skirted football jigs and Texas-rigged brush hogs. White bass are good on tiny torpedoes, small tail spinners and slabs.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.19’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on finesse worms, poppers and bladed jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and jigging spoons.

Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on live bait and prepared baits.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 86-90 degrees; 0.01’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits, flukes and jerk baits. White bass and hybrids are good on swim jigs and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows on bridge pilings and in brush piles. Catfish are good on punch bait.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.47’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on light-colored worms and jigs.

White bass are fair on minnows.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on live bait and stink bait.

SOMERVILLE: Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 0.88’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on blue or green/pumpkin Texas-rigged worms, deep-diving crankbaits and chatter baits.

White bass and hybrids are good on slabs and jigging spoons. Crappie are good on minnows.

Catfish are good on earthworms and prepared baits.

STILLHOUSE HOLLOW: Water clear; 88 degrees; 1.53’ low. Largemouth bass are good on flukes, crankbaits and Carolina-rigged soft plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are excellent on slabs and jigs.

Catfish are good on prepared and cut bait.

TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 0.60’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, dark blue or purple plastic worms and skirted jigs. White bass and hybrid stripers are excellent on live bait and

n Saltwater reports Page 11 slab spoons. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are excellent on punch bait, earthworms and cut bait.

TEXOMA: Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 0.85’ high.

Largemouth bass are good on skirted jigs, Texas-rigged plastic creatures, chatter baits and crankbaits. Striped bass and white bass are good on live bait and top-waters. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait, prepared baits and live bait.

TOLEDO BEND: Water slightly stained; 84-85 degrees; 1.87’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, deep-diving crankbaits and soft plastic worms. Crappie are fair to good above the Pendleton bridge on minnows and jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stink bait.

TRAVIS: Water clear; 87 degrees; 15.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged blue flecked plastic worms, skirted jigs and chatter baits. White bass are good on swim jigs and slabs. Crappie are good on jigs.

Catfish are good on earthworms and prepared baits.

TYLER: Water clear; 86 degrees; 0.29’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged worms, skirted football jigs, chatter baits and drop shots.

Crappie are good on minnows.

Catfish are excellent on punch bait and live bait.

WACO: Water clear; 86 degrees; 0.79’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, crankbaits and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on live bait and prepared baits.

WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on blue plastic worms, deep-diving crankbaits and jigs. Hybrid stripers are good on slabs and live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

WHITNEY: Water clear; 84-88 degrees; 1.70’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms, shad-colored crankbaits and spinner baits. White bass are excellent on jigging spoons and slabs. Stripers are good on live bait. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on earthworms and prepared baits.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 2.71’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits, spinner baits and maroon or plum Carolinarigged plastic worms. White bass are good on jigging spoons and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are excellent on punch bait, live bait and earthworms.

—TPWD

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Aug 14, 2020

Page 11

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT SABINE LAKE: 88-89 degrees. Redfish are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork and top-waters. Speckled trout are good on shrimp and top-waters.

TRINITY BAY: 86-87 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair to good on live shrimp under a popping cork.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: 86-88 degrees.

Speckled trout, redfish and black drum are fair to good on live shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: 86-88 degrees.

Speckled trout, redfish and black drum are

fair to good on live shrimp.

TEXAS CITY: 85 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good along the shoreline on shrimp under a popping cork or soft plastics. Black drum are fair on blue crab around vegetation.

FREEPORT: 86 degrees. The jetties are very active with fish right now feeding on the granite reef. Redfish and speckled trout are fair to good along the shoreline and at the jetties on shrimp.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 85-86 degrees.

Speckled trout and redfish are fair to good on top-waters and soft plastics or live shrimp.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 85-86 degrees.

Speckled trout are fair along grassy shorelines on shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are fair on blue crab. Redfish are good on live bait around shell reefs.

PORT O’CONNOR: 85-86 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are fair on blue crab around structure.

ROCKPORT: 87-88 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair to good on shrimp under a popping cork.

good on paddle tails and crankbaits. Speckled trout are fair to good on shrimp and soft plastics.

BAFFIN BAY: 87-88 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair to good on shrimp under a popping cork.

PORT MANSFIELD: 86 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on ball tails and scented plastics under popping corks.

SOUTH PADRE: 86 degrees. Speckled trout are good on shrimp or scented plastics behind a popping cork. Redfish are fair in the shallow flats on shrimp and soft plastics.

PORT ISABEL: 83-84 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on shrimp under a popping cork.

Redfish are good on shrimp or soft plastics.

Black drum are good on blue crab over vegetation. ­—TPWD

PORT ARANSAS: 90 degrees. Redfish are good on shrimp under a popping cork. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp. Black drum are fair on soft plastics or blue crab.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 84 degrees. Redfish are

Finding Fork bass Continued from page 8

peanut butter/jelly and Mexican heather color patterns. The Mexican Heather is a chartreuse/watermelon color that kind of looks like a bluegill. Another really good bait is a Realis Boostar Wake. That’s a 3-1/2-inch swimbait that looks a lot like a threadfin shad.

A top pattern is the icefish color. This is a good bait to use when late August cool fronts trigger the summer-to-fall transition from deep water to shallow structure.”

Grills said another good lure when

bass begin moving shallow is a Skinny Dipper in shad colors.

“You can cover a lot of water with a lure like that,” he said.

Jason Hoffman has been guiding on Fork for 20 years. His advice for catching big bass during the sweltering summer months is to rig up with a 10-inch worm.

“I’ll fish them on a Carolina rig at about 12 to 15 feet early, then move out to 20- to 25-foot depths,” he said.

“My best color is blue flake. The worm

is rigged on a 3/8-ounce slip weight and 5/0 hook. Some of the best summer structure on Fork right now is an extended point. I’ll fish them shallow early, then as the sun heats things up, I’ll move to water that’s up to about 25 feet deep.”

When fishing the points and humps in 15 to 25 feet of water, Hoffman said he’ll also be using crankbaits. One of his big bass favorites is a Strike King 10X deep diver in chartreuse with a blue back.

Photo by Andrew Grills

Learning about ling

After the storm

Continued from page 8

Continued from page 8

shore in the late spring, or at least this is when anglers tend to catch them.

He said the fish prefer warmer water somewhere in the 68-degree mark and above. Then by late fall, the cobia seem to disappear.

“Where are they going? And who is catching them?

Onshore or offshore?” he asked.

Starting this year, 17 satellite tags, funded by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, will track the tagged fish and “pop off” at a defined date in January or February of next year. The satellite tracks the fish and once the tag is “popped off” the Trackers will help researchers learn about the movement patterns of cobia. Photo final destination from Quentin Hall, Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation. during the wintering months will be determined.

In an effort to better understand their seasonal movements, Streich and the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation have partnered with citizen scientists and anglers to begin tagging cobia to increase the numbers of studied fish.

“It’s a good way for anglers to contribute,” Streich said.

So far, he has distributed more than 100 dart tags and is looking for more anglers to become involved.

If you recapture one of the tagged fish, please record and report the tag number, date, length, and location to the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation by calling (361) 825-2525.

This information will provide insights on the movement (tagging vs. recapture location) and growth (size-at-tagging vs. size-at-recapture) of these fish. They are offering a reward for reporting this information.

“As you get closer to the Arroyo, the water quality begins to go downhill, as there is a lot of dirty fresh water in that area.”

Storm ran north toward Post Mansfield on a scouting trip with his son, Jason Storm Jr., in search of redfish recently.

“We finally found some schools of reds in some really nasty-looking water in Peyton’s Bay,” he said. “You could see the school humping up along the surface of the water, because it was really calm. We caught redfish in the 24- to 32-inch range on top-waters, nonstop for over an hour.”

Storm said there has been an abundance of other species in the South Pa-

dre Island area.

“I’ve seen several Spanish mackerel caught, and even a few sharks,” he said.

“There have also been some tripletail floating around Long Bar.” Capt. James Hagan also found a consistent bite in the South Padre Island area since the storm.

“My best trip recently occurred in the afternoon when I found some birds working over a flat,” he said. “My customers were able to wade near the edges of the schools of fish that the birds were hovering over, and they caught trout and redfish for almost four hours.

There’s no telling how many fish were eating in that feeding frenzy on that day.”

Made i n U SA

C.A.L. 5” Swim Bait C.A.L. 3” Shad Tail

C.A.L. 4” Shad Tail C.A.L. 4” Jerk Bait C.A.L. 5.5” Jerk Bait C.A.L. Curl Tail C.A.L. Paddle Tail

201596_DOA_2.17_Tx Outdoor Journal_CAL ad_5.125x3.75.indd 1

w w w. d o a l u r e s . c o m 2/17/20 3:37 PM

Page 12

Aug 14, 2020

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER STEMMING BRUSH FIRE WITH BOAT FIRE EXTINGUISHER While patrolling on Lake Medina, game wardens came across a brush fire that was quickly moving toward some residential structures. Armed only with his boat fire extinguisher, a warden was able to knock down and slow the spread of flames until additional help could extinguish the fire.

SHOOTING SKEET ON THE COUNTY ROAD A Lubbock district game warden encountered a group of five young men who were shooting skeet on a county road. The warden noticed numerous empty shell casings on the road. When questioned as to what they were doing, one of the individuals admitted they were skeet shooting and were not aware of the owner of the field in the direction where they were shooting.

At one point, one member of the group became frustrated and said, “We have done this for years.” Citations were issued to the individuals for Discharge of Firearm on Public Roadway and Trespass by Projectile.

USING ELECTRONICS, BOATER RUNS ASHORE A boat ran aground on Lake Belton.

Bell County game wardens were on the lake at the time and responded.

SPONSORED BY:

SON JUMPS FROM BOAT OPERATED BY DRUNK FATHER A Gregg County game warden received a phone call from a Sabine River boater requesting help.

The boater said she and her husband had just happened upon a boat accident and a lethargic operator was found overboard clinging to his partially grounded vessel. The caller added that the operator’s 14-year old son was seen in the boat just minutes beforehand but was now missing and believed to be underwater. The caller secured the operator of the boat but said attempts to dive and search underwater for the missing boy were unsuccessful. While in route, the warden notified local first responders and other wardens for assistance.

The warden later received a call that the boy had been safely located on private property upstream

Fortunately, there were no injuries.

The operator was trying to navigate with the onboard electronics and the vessel came to rest more than 30 feet on shore with minimal damage. The reporting party facilitated a courtesy ride for the owner and operator.

STRANDED SWIMMERS RESCUED Four people were stranded in the middle of the lake at Hubbard Creek Reservoir and a boat had washed onto shore. The caller reporting the incident was in the boat and was unable to crank the boat

from the accident. The caller and the operator’s family transported the father and son to their residence. Immediately upon the boat operator’s arrival, the wardens recognized multiple clues of heavy intoxication. Unable to initially walk or stand, the operator crawled along the shoreline offering profanity-laced responses. The subject was placed into handcuffs and later arrested for BWI. During interviews of the operator’s spouse and son, the warden was informed that due to the father’s unsafe operation and alcohol consumption on the boat that day, the boy feared for his safety and leaped from the boat into the river moments prior to his father’s crash.

to go get the stranded swimmers.

The caller had never been on the lake before and did not know where she was on the lake to give directions. One person got into the water while the boat was floating in the middle of the lake to swim with no life jacket and the boat floated too far away for her to swim back to the boat. At this point, her husband, unable to crank the boat to pick her up, left the boat and swam to her with a small ring buoy. The boat continued to drift further away and as another occupant of the boat saw the husband and wife struggling, he

swam out too them to assist with no life jacket. By the time he reached them, the boat had tripled in distance from the original swimmer. A fourth occupant of the boat decided to swim out to the three swimmers trying to stay afloat with lifejackets for them. However, by now the boat was approximately 350 yards from them and he was unable to get to the three swimmers. After talking to the only occupant left in the boat, a Stephens County game warden was able to get somewhat of a location of the boat and swimmers using landmarks and permanent struc-

tures on the lake. Once locating the boat washed ashore in shallow water near an island, the warden found the three stranded swimmers approximately 450 yards from the boat. The swimmers were exhausted and panicked but where all accounted for. Once they were in the boat safely, the warden located the fourth swimmer who had multiple lifejackets attached to him but had exhausted himself attempting to get to the stranded swimmers. Once all the people in the water were accounted for, the warden assisted them in getting their boat back to where they had launched.

A GOOD START TO A WARDEN CAREER Before beginning his first duty station, a game warden graduate was camping and fishing at Fayette Lake. He came across a small aluminum boat that was abandoned at the dam. He called in and towed the boat to the Oak Thicket boat ramp and secured it.

When the game warden arrived, he was advised by a park worker that a boat had been stolen during the night from one of the campers. The campers recovered their boat.

REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000.

CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263

A N AMERIC AN LEGEND RUGER.COM/AMERICANRIFLE

AG UA V I DA R A NCH

SUMMER HUNTS

SCHEDULE YOUR HUNT

T O D AY (713) 301-8440 Contact Andrew: (713) 301-8440 Andrew@aguavidaranch.com

www.AGUAVIDARANCH.com 22402 N HWY 55 ROCKSPRINGS, TX 78880

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Cooper cats Continued from page 1

said. “Both kids and adults really get into it.”

What’s interesting is that there are only two catfishing guides on Cooper Lake. Kinworthy has been fishing most of his life, and on Cooper since it was impounded in 1991.

Finding and catching blue cats is not all that easy. It starts with a fresh piece of dead bait. Next is fishing on the right structure and at the right depth. But most important is the rigging used. It all starts with a Santee Cooper rig, one that lifts the bait off the bottom and makes it easier for catfish to zero in on the bait.

It’s a rig that will catch channel cats and flatheads, but is best for catching blues.

The rig became popular with catfish anglers on the famous Santee Cooper catfish lakes in South Carolina. It’s popular for drift fishing and anchored fishing, which is the way Kinworthy likes to fish for the blues. On a windy day, he’ll set up drifts over preferred bottom structure. If the wind is pretty much calm, he’ll anchor over proven spots. But if there’s a chop on the water, he’ll use a drift sock to slow the pace of the boat.

“The Santee Cooper rig keeps the bait out of the grass and the mud on bottom,” Kinworthy said. “The structure I fish most is 1 to 4 feet during the winter months.

But during the summer months, like now, I’ll be fishing in 20 to 25 feet. I like to fish river flats and creek bends with a hard bottom like gravel, or grass, both of which attract and hold shad. Blues feed heavily on shad.”

The Santee Cooper rig is easy to put together.

“It starts with a 12- to 18-inch leader,” Kinworthy said. “Then I’ll tie on an 8/0 circle hook. A few inches above the hook I’ll add a 3-inch peg float (a.k.a. cigar float) that you can find wherever fishing tackle is sold. The other end of the leader is tied to a swivel. Then a dragging weight is place above the swivel on the main fishing line.

FIND. SIGHT. SHOOT.

Photo by Chris Kinworthy

The float keeps the bait suspended.”

Kinworthy uses a cast net to collect shad for cut bait. The shad are about 6 to 12 inches long. Sometimes he’ll use a whole fillet, or cut the shad into small pieces during the summer months. During the winter months, when he’s catching the big blues, he’ll use 12- to 18-inch whole shad.

“A fresh piece of shad is best because it keeps the scent in the water,” the guide said. “During the winter months we catch plenty of bigger blues. I release all fish over 15 pounds and larger. It’s all fun fishing.

And the blues have an aggressive bite that can yank the rod out of your hands.”

Cooper Lake is located about 85 miles northeast of Dallas, near Sulphur Springs, and covers roughly 19,300 acres. The lake record blue cat weighed 66.5 pounds, caught on April 17, 2013 by Dustin Phillips.

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Page 13

Page 14

Aug 14, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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HEROES

Landon Marmolejo, 7, harvested his first axis with his favorite hunting buddy, Ryan Sinclair, his stepdad.

Layne Gerke, 15, of Hallettsville, caught this 30.5inch speckled trout in East Matagorda Bay. Brady Kirkland, 6, of Dallas, caught this largemouth.

“He did everything himself to catch this monster, except hold it, because it was too big,” said Brady’s dad, Taylor.

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.

Allison Hinojosa, 18, shot her first buck at a deer lease in George West.

Makayla Preston caught her first redfish wading with her dad and brother in Port Mansfield, guided by Capt.

Ruben Garza.

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Aug 14, 2020

INDUSTRY

LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER Solution on Page 17

Fiocchi to add Arkansas facility

Agency for SneakyHunter

Fiocchi is planning a new, independent manufacturing facility in Little Rock, Arkansas to operate in tandem with its manufacturing facility in Ozark, Missouri.

SneakyHunter retained Hunter Outdoor Communications as its agency of record.

Covert promoted at Evolution Outdoor

Benelli USA hired Lee Colquitt as its vice president of sales.

Lester joins Davidson’s

Marketing exec at Bear Archery

New CEO at Pelican

Changes at EOTECH EOTECH officially separated from L3Harris, and named Matt Van Haaren as chief executive officer, along with naming a new executive team.

DOWN

2. A riflescope manufacturer

1. Must be on the boat (two words)

4. North Texas lake with zebra mussels

3. Caring for wildlife and the environment

5. Home of the West Texas Hunting and

6. A spaniel breed

Fishing Heritage Museum

8. Disease messing up hunting plans

7. A rangefinder brand

10. A partridge species

9. A type of tent

11. A coastal fishing town

12. Palestine’s county

14. An outdoor retailer new to Texas

13. A sea duck

15. The bronzeback

14. A North Texas river

18. A fishing shirt manufacturer

16. A coonhound breed

19. The small mammal that invades deer

17. A saltwater fish often not welcome in the boat

camps 20. A Hill Country river

19. The fish-eating duck

21. The small, low-flying dove

22. A blade design on a spinner bait

24. Texas lake with redfish

23. Makes the minishell 24. The short-tailed cat 25. A sunfish species 26. The back of the boat 27. A type of structure for stripers 28. Important to bring on the dove hunt 29. A grouse species 30. He or she repairs the rifle 31. The shorter plastic worm 32. Texas’ state large mammal

Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News

VP of sales at Benelli

Evolution Outdoor promoted former Jeff Covert to vice president of sales.

Bear Archery hired Alec Wyman to serve as marketing manager.

ACROSS

Page 15

Scott Lester joined Davidson’s as the director of marketing.

Pelican Products, Inc. appointed Phil Gyori as the company’s president and chief executive officer.

Stephens joins True Velocity Garland-based ammunition manufacturer True Velocity named Jim Stephens its chief operating officer.

Page 16

Aug 14, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases

New

First

Full

Last

Aug 18

Aug 25

Sept 2

Sept 10

Solunar Sun times Moon times

Houston

Dallas

2020 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Aug Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

2020 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Aug Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri

14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu

1:55 2:43 3:33 4:25 5:20 6:15 7:12

8:08 8:57 9:47 10:40 11:34 12:02 12:59

2:22 3:11 4:01 4:54 5:48 6:43 7:39

8:35 9:24 10:16 11:09 12:02 12:29 1:26

21 Fri

8:10 1:57

8:36

2:23

06:54 08:05 9:37a 10:11p

22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri

9:08 10:05 11:02 11:58 12:25 1:18 2:10

9:33 10:31 11:29 ----12:53 1:46 2:38

3:20 4:18 5:15 6:12 7:07 8:01 8:52

06:55 06:55 06:56 06:57 06:57 06:58 06:59

1:49 8:03 2:37 8:51 3:27 9:41 4:19 10:34 5:14 11:28 6:10 11:52 7:07 12:53 8:04 1:51 9:02 2:49 9:59 3:46 10:56 4:43 11:53 5:39 12:19 6:33 1:12 7:27 2:04 8:18

2:16 3:05 3:56 4:48 5:42 6:37 7:33 8:30 9:27 10:25 11:23 ----12:47 1:41 2:32

8:29 9:19 10:10 11:03 11:56 12:23 1:20 2:17 3:14 4:12 5:10 6:06 7:01 7:55 8:46

06:48 06:48 06:49 06:49 06:50 06:50 06:51 06:52 06:52 06:53 06:53 06:54 06:54 06:55 06:55

08:03 08:02 08:01 08:00 07:59 07:58 07:57 07:56 07:54 07:53 07:52 07:51 07:50 07:49 07:48

2:15a 4:39p 3:05a 5:36p 4:01a 6:30p 5:03a 7:21p 6:09a 8:08p 7:17a 8:50p 8:25a 9:28p 9:32a 10:05p 10:38a 10:41p 11:44a 11:19p 12:51p NoMoon 1:57p NoMoon 3:02p 12:44a 4:03p 1:33a 5:00p 2:26a

2:55 3:52 4:49 5:45 6:39 7:32 8:24

06:49 06:50 06:51 06:51 06:52 06:53 06:53

08:12 08:11 08:10 08:09 08:08 08:07 08:06 08:04 08:02 08:01 08:00 07:59 07:58 07:56

2:14a 3:03a 4:00a 5:02a 6:09a 7:19a 8:29a

4:52p 5:50p 6:44p 7:34p 8:19p 8:59p 9:36p

10:45a 10:46p 11:53a 11:22p 1:01p NoMoon 2:09p NoMoon 3:15p 12:44a 4:17p 1:32a 5:14p 2:24a

San Antonio 2020 Aug

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

14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri

2:02 8:15 2:50 9:03 3:40 9:54 4:32 10:46 5:26 11:40 6:22 12:08 7:19 1:06 8:16 2:04 9:14 3:01 10:12 3:59 11:09 4:56 ----- 5:51 12:32 6:46 1:25 7:39 2:16 8:30

2:28 8:41 3:17 9:31 4:08 10:22 5:01 11:15 5:55 12:09 6:50 12:36 7:46 1:32 8:42 2:29 9:40 3:27 10:38 4:25 11:35 5:22 12:05 6:19 1:00 7:14 1:53 8:07 2:44 8:58

07:01 07:01 07:02 07:02 07:03 07:03 07:04 07:05 07:05 07:06 07:06 07:07 07:07 07:08 07:08

08:14 08:13 08:12 08:11 08:11 08:10 08:08 08:07 08:06 08:05 08:04 08:03 08:02 08:01 08:00

2:29a 4:50p 3:19a 5:47p 4:15a 6:42p 5:17a 7:33p 6:23a 8:20p 7:31a 9:02p 8:39a 9:41p 9:45a 10:18p 10:51a 10:54p 11:57a 11:32p 1:03p NoMoon 2:09p 12:13a 3:14p 12:58a 4:15p 1:47a 5:12p 2:40a

Amarillo

2020 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Aug Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri

2:15 8:29 3:03 9:17 3:53 10:07 4:45 11:00 5:40 11:54 6:36 12:22 7:32 1:19 8:30 2:17 9:28 3:15 10:25 4:12 11:22 5:09 ----- 6:05 12:45 6:59 1:38 7:53 2:30 8:44

2:42 3:31 4:22 5:14 6:08 7:03 7:59 8:56 9:53 10:51 11:49 12:19 1:13 2:07 2:58

8:55 9:45 10:36 11:29 12:22 12:49 1:46 2:43 3:40 4:38 5:36 6:32 7:27 8:21 9:12

07:06 07:06 07:07 07:08 07:09 07:10 07:10 07:11 07:12 07:13 07:13 07:14 07:15 07:16 07:16

08:36 08:35 08:34 08:33 08:32 08:30 08:29 08:28 08:27 08:25 08:24 08:23 08:22 08:20 08:19

2:29a 5:20p 3:17a 6:17p 4:14a 7:11p 5:17a 8:00p 6:25a 8:44p 7:36a 9:23p 8:47a 9:58p 9:58a 10:32p 11:07a 11:05p 12:17p 11:39p 1:26p NoMoon 2:35p 12:17a 3:42p 12:59a 4:45p 1:46a 5:42p 2:38a

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 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Time 2:51 AM 3:26 AM 3:58 AM 4:28 AM 4:58 AM 5:27 AM 5:55 AM 6:23 AM 12:17 AM 1:08 AM 2:07 AM 3:21 AM 12:21 AM 1:43 AM 2:43 AM

High Island Height 1.66H 1.74H 1.79H 1.81H 1.80H 1.77H 1.73H 1.67H 0.37L 0.70L 1.04L 1.32L 1.76H 1.86H 1.92H

Time 6:53 PM 7:39 PM 9:03 AM 9:20 AM 9:50 AM 10:28 AM 11:13 AM 12:03 PM 6:50 AM 7:15 AM 7:40 AM 8:03 AM 5:22 AM 5:58 PM 6:55 PM

Height -0.14L -0.25L 1.46L 1.42L 1.33L 1.19L 0.99L 0.77L 1.62H 1.58H 1.56H 1.55H 1.51L -0.18L -0.18L

Time 11:56 AM 1:12 PM 2:19 PM 3:25 PM 4:34 PM 5:50 PM 12:56 PM 1:53 PM 2:53 PM 3:55 PM 8:20 AM

Height 1.51H 1.58H 1.64H 1.67H 1.66H 1.63H 0.53L 0.30L 0.11L -0.04L 1.54H

Time

Height

8:25 PM 9:10 PM 9:56 PM 10:41 PM 11:28 PM

-0.33L -0.35L -0.30L -0.16L 0.07L

7:16 PM 8:53 PM 10:39 PM

1.59H 1.59H 1.65H

4:57 PM

-0.13L

Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Time 2:40 AM 3:17 AM 3:52 AM 4:24 AM 4:55 AM 5:26 AM 5:55 AM 6:24 AM 6:51 AM 12:58 AM 2:33 AM 5:01 AM 12:09 AM 1:19 AM 2:16 AM

Height 2.12H 2.22H 2.30H 2.34H 2.33H 2.27H 2.17H 2.02H 1.86H 0.76L 1.17L 1.43L 2.25H 2.40H 2.46H

Time 6:21 PM 7:10 PM 7:58 PM 10:48 AM 10:46 AM 10:41 AM 11:03 AM 11:40 AM 12:27 PM 7:16 AM 7:37 AM 7:50 AM 4:37 PM 5:45 PM 6:52 PM

Height -0.09L -0.23L -0.34L 1.58L 1.55L 1.43L 1.24L 1.01L 0.76L 1.71H 1.59H 1.53H -0.04L -0.12L -0.14L

Height 1.75H 1.86H 1.94H 1.97H 1.95H 1.88H 1.75H 1.61H 0.32L 0.68L 1.02L 0.02L 1.83H 1.96H 2.03H

Time 6:24 PM 7:12 PM 8:00 PM 8:48 PM 9:35 PM 12:02 PM 12:02 PM 12:20 PM 6:55 AM 7:11 AM 7:21 AM

Height -0.16L -0.27L -0.36L -0.40L -0.36L 1.32L 1.18L 0.96L 1.46H 1.34H 1.28H

4:32 PM 5:41 PM 6:46 PM

-0.10L -0.17L -0.19L

Height 0.80H 0.85H 0.88H 0.88H 0.85H -0.18L -0.10L 0.03L 0.20L 0.39L 0.58H 0.70H 0.79H 0.84H 0.85H

Time 9:09 PM 10:05 PM 10:59 PM 11:50 PM

Height -0.06L -0.12L -0.18L -0.20L

2:31 PM 4:13 PM 11:00 AM 9:54 AM 7:37 AM 4:39 PM 5:51 PM 7:00 PM 8:09 PM 9:16 PM

0.78H 0.70H 0.52H 0.43H 0.47H 0.07L -0.01L -0.07L -0.10L -0.12L

Height 0.13L 0.07L 0.01L -0.06L -0.10L -0.10L -0.04L 0.06L 0.20L 0.34L 0.54H 0.65H 0.71H 0.77H 0.14L

Time 2:00 PM 2:48 PM 3:40 PM 4:34 PM 5:31 PM 6:32 PM 7:38 PM 8:50 PM 4:34 PM 2:41 PM 7:13 AM 10:13 PM 11:16 PM

Height 0.79H 0.85H 0.91H 0.96H 0.97H 0.94H 0.86H 0.75H 0.57H 0.53H 0.48L 0.24L 0.18L

1:58 PM

0.81H

Time

1:04 2:10 3:18 4:28 5:43 7:06 1:22 2:25 3:30

Height

PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

1.65H 1.73H 1.81H 1.85H 1.86H 1.87H 0.51L 0.27L 0.09L

Time

Height

Time

Height

8:44 PM 9:29 PM 10:15 PM 11:03 PM 11:55 PM

-0.41L -0.40L -0.27L -0.02L 0.34L

8:42 PM 10:33 PM

1.91H 2.05H

Time 2:58 AM 3:37 AM 4:13 AM 4:47 AM 5:18 AM 5:47 AM 6:13 AM 6:36 AM 12:11 AM 1:15 AM 2:45 AM 3:26 PM 12:19 AM 1:48 AM 2:52 AM

2:39 PM 4:06 PM 5:32 PM 12:52 PM 1:34 PM 2:26 PM

1.38H 1.40H 1.43H 0.70L 0.43L 0.20L

Time

Height

10:24 PM 11:15 PM

-0.22L 0.01L

7:02 PM 8:40 PM 10:29 PM

1.47H 1.55H 1.67H

Port O’Connor Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Time 8:30 AM 9:11 AM 9:56 AM 10:43 AM 11:40 AM 12:36 AM 1:19 AM 2:00 AM 2:38 AM 3:11 AM 6:46 AM 6:11 AM 6:30 AM 7:17 AM 8:12 AM

Time 12:15 AM 1:00 AM 1:48 AM 2:37 AM 3:26 AM 4:14 AM 4:59 AM 5:42 AM 6:22 AM 6:57 AM 2:19 AM 11:36 AM 12:03 PM 12:54 PM 12:18 AM

Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Time 4:51 AM 5:25 AM 6:01 AM 6:33 AM 6:57 AM 7:09 AM 7:12 AM 12:02 AM 12:58 AM 2:04 AM 3:32 AM 5:31 AM 1:35 AM 3:00 AM 4:06 AM

Time 10:46 PM 11:50 PM

Height -0.07L -0.12L

11:03 AM 11:07 AM 10:50 AM 10:41 AM 10:42 AM 10:50 AM 11:00 AM 5:23 AM 7:48 PM 8:39 PM 9:50 PM 11:08 PM

1.53H 1.49H 1.43H 1.38H 1.33H 1.30H 1.28H 1.04L 0.02L -0.04L -0.03L -0.01L

Height 1.26H 1.32H 1.35H 1.35H 1.31H 1.25H 1.18H 0.17L 0.39L 0.64L 0.89L 1.07L 1.39H 1.49H 1.53H

Time 7:02 PM 7:52 PM 8:42 PM 9:32 PM 11:50 AM 12:01 PM 12:24 PM 7:13 AM 7:19 AM 7:30 AM 7:44 AM 7:57 AM 5:11 PM 6:13 PM 7:15 PM

Height -0.05L -0.12L -0.16L -0.16L 1.20L 1.14L 1.02L 1.11H 1.08H 1.07H 1.08H 1.12H 0.01L -0.03L -0.03L

Height 0.40H 0.41H 0.42H 0.44H 0.46H -0.03L -0.01L 0.05L 0.12L 0.21L 0.29L 0.36H 0.42H 0.45H 0.45H

Time 9:13 PM 10:05 PM 10:57 PM 11:46 PM

Height 0.04L 0.01L -0.02L -0.04L

4:20 PM 5:18 PM 10:51 AM 7:57 AM 7:52 AM 7:40 AM 5:57 PM 7:04 PM 8:06 PM 9:05 PM

0.46H 0.44H 0.28H 0.27H 0.29H 0.31H 0.04L 0.01L -0.02L -0.03L

Height 1.06H 1.10H 1.11H 1.10H 1.09H 1.07H 1.04H 0.77H 0.29L 0.48L 0.68L 0.86L 1.01H 1.11H 1.16H

Time 6:45 PM 7:33 PM 8:20 PM 9:07 PM 9:57 PM 10:50 PM 11:42 PM 9:47 AM 5:50 AM 6:13 AM 6:36 AM 6:41 AM 4:34 PM 5:45 PM 6:49 PM

Height -0.08L -0.14L -0.17L -0.16L -0.10L -0.01L 0.12L 0.69L 0.79H 0.82H 0.86H 0.91H -0.08L -0.14L -0.16L

Height 1.55H 1.64H 1.69H 1.69H 1.64H 1.53H 1.39H 1.26H 0.45L 0.77L 1.09L 0.12L 1.68H 1.80H 1.85H

Time 6:03 PM 6:57 PM 7:49 PM 8:40 PM 9:31 PM 10:23 PM 11:19 AM 11:41 AM 6:30 AM 6:24 AM 6:13 AM

Height -0.09L -0.18L -0.23L -0.24L -0.18L -0.05L 1.29L 1.05L 1.18H 1.17H 1.22H

4:03 PM 5:09 PM 6:15 PM

0.01L -0.04L -0.03L

Time

4:14 PM 4:33 PM 5:06 PM 5:47 PM 6:27 PM 11:06 AM

Time

1:54 PM 3:11 PM 4:25 PM 12:59 PM 1:43 PM 2:31 PM 3:21 PM 4:14 PM

Height

1.24L 1.09L 0.87L 0.62L 0.36L 1.27H

Height

1.23H 1.23H 1.20H 0.85L 0.65L 0.45L 0.26L 0.10L

Time

Height

6:42 PM 8:10 PM 9:29 PM 10:52 PM

1.29H 1.26H 1.21H 1.18H

7:06 PM

0.15L

Time

Height

10:21 PM 11:10 PM

-0.12L -0.01L

5:42 PM 7:13 PM 9:23 PM 11:48 PM

1.16H 1.11H 1.13H 1.24H

Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Time 8:25 AM 9:25 AM 10:44 AM 2:08 PM 3:21 PM 12:30 AM 1:11 AM 1:49 AM 2:25 AM 2:59 AM 3:24 AM 4:28 AM 5:02 AM 5:45 AM 6:37 AM

Time

1:22 2:23 3:27 4:41

Height

PM PM PM PM

0.27L 0.20L 0.14L 0.09L

Time

Height

Time

6:28 PM 8:03 PM 10:03 PM

Height

0.40H 0.36H 0.34H

Port Aransas Time

Height

Time

Height

1:33 PM 2:29 PM 3:30 PM

0.49L 0.34L 0.19L

6:00 PM 9:14 PM

0.59H 0.53H

Time

Height

Time

Height

Nueces Bay Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

San Luis Pass

Height 1.49H 1.53H 1.54H -0.17L -0.20L -0.18L -0.07L 0.13L 0.41L 0.73L 1.20H 1.30H 1.50H 1.63H 1.68H

East Matagorda

Freeport Harbor Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Time 9:48 AM 10:11 AM 10:39 AM 12:51 AM 1:45 AM 2:29 AM 3:07 AM 3:41 AM 4:13 AM 4:46 AM 12:34 AM 6:18 AM 7:36 AM 8:25 AM 9:07 AM

Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Time 5:30 AM 6:13 AM 7:09 AM 8:19 AM 1:01 PM 2:25 PM 3:38 PM 5:31 AM 12:33 AM 1:21 AM 2:07 AM 3:07 AM 3:18 AM 4:02 AM 4:45 AM

4:49 PM 12:35 PM 1:29 PM 2:23 PM 3:24 PM

0.99H 0.51L 0.32L 0.14L 0.01L

Time

6:08 PM 7:59 PM 10:45 PM

Height

0.93H 0.88H 0.94H

South Padre Island

6:45 PM 8:02 PM 11:35 AM

0.56L 0.43L 0.57H

10:15 PM

0.62H

9:08 PM

0.32L

Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Time 4:28 AM 5:11 AM 5:54 AM 6:34 AM 7:07 AM 7:21 AM 7:05 AM 6:42 AM 12:12 AM 1:13 AM 2:28 AM 3:00 PM 1:07 AM 2:36 AM 3:41 AM

Time

3:17 PM 4:51 PM 12:21 PM 1:09 PM 2:02 PM

Height

1.42H 1.39H 0.79L 0.52 0.29L

Time

Height

11:16 PM

0.17L

6:30 PM 8:38 PM 11:07 PM

1.37H 1.40H 1.52H

Texas Coast Tides

Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Date Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

NATIONAL NORTH CAROLINA

Three California Department of Fish and Wildlife fish hatchery facilities in the eastern Sierra and Southern California have been battling a bacterial outbreak that has affected 3.2 million fish. The fish, all trout, at the affected facilities were euthanized to stop the spread of the outbreak.

The affected facilities provide fish for stocking waterways in CDFW’s South Coast Region and Inland Deserts Region.

—CDFW

Two anglers shattered two catfish state records within days of each other.

On July 5, Joey Baird, of Lawrenceville, Virginia, reeled in a 121-pound, 9-ounce blue catfish from Six Pound Creek at Lake Gaston. Fifteen days later, Tyler Barnes, of Pikeville, broke the 15-year-old record for a flathead catfish, after landing a 78-pound, 14-ounce fish from the Neuse River.

Baird caught his fish using cut bait, and Barnes used a live sunfish as bait.

Two new catfish records

ARIZONA

Poachers finally caught After a two-year investigation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department arrested Blake R. Owens and Thomas “TJ” Purinton. Both men were charged with a variety of felony and misdemeanors after they were linked to poaching big game on the ApacheSitgreaves National Forests in Arizona and conning hunting organizations into awarding them prizes and recognition.

Owens poached a 200-inch mule deer, a 3x3 droptine mule deer, a 6x6 mule deer, a 5x4 velvet mule deer and a bear. He is charged with defrauding the following publications and organizations: Bowhunting in Arizona Record Book Committee, Pope & Young, Boone & Crockett and Eastman’s Bowhunting Journal.

Owens was sentenced to three years of probation, ordered to forfeit all awards, complete 50 hours of community service and pay $18,724 to the Arizona Wildlife Theft Prevention Fund.

Purinton was sentenced to 18 months of supervised standard probation and ordered to pay $2,562 in fines.

—AGFD

OKLAHOMA

Paddlefish record broken again A new world-record paddlefish has again been pulled from Keystone Lake near Tulsa, less than a month after the previous world record was snagged in the same lake by a client of the same fishing guide.

Angler Cody James Watters, of Ochelata, snagged a 151-pound, 14.4-ounce giant.

The paddlefish had been caught in the past — as part of a research project. The fish had a band on its jaw. Once the fish was weighed, it was observed it had an OSU reward tag in it.

Records indicate the fish was caught and banded in the Salt Creek arm of Keystone Lake on Jan. 4, 1997. When banded, this fish was about 2 years old, weighed 7.7 pounds and was about 2 feet long.

—ODW

Page 17

PRODUCTS

CALIFORNIA

Hatcheries hit by bacterial disease

Aug 14, 2020

DIFFUSE AIR-O MESH FISHING SHORTS: AFTCO’s technical fishing shorts, the 2020 ICAST winner in the Warm Weather Technical Apparel category, utilize Air-O Mesh technology in its proprietary fabric for venting throughout the shorts. Appreciated by anyone who fishes in warm, humid climates, these breathable, yet durable, shorts offer the ultimate in comfort and mobility due to garment’s four-way stretch fabric. The shorts’ multiple pockets include a reinforced pliers/ utility pocket. They will be available in men’s sizes 28 through 42 for about $60.

>>

—NCWRC

COLORADO

Lesser-prairie chickens increasing in numbers Estimates on lesser prairie-chickens from the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies showed that bird population estimates remain stable from the previous survey and, that the estimated number of birds has increased since surveys began in 2012. These estimates were bolstered by the detailed ground surveys performed this spring by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Just four years ago, Colorado’s lesser prairie-chickens had declined to an estimate of 50 birds in the state.

—CPW

ARKANSAS

Using spines to age catfish Fisheries biologists say the best way to determine a fish’s age is by the study of the otolith, a calcium carbonate structure in the inner ear that develops annual growth rings, like the rings inside a tree. The drawback, though, is that a fish must be harvested to get to the otolith.

However, the pectoral fin spines of catfish species also show annual growth rings that can be seen under a microscope.

In a study of blue catfish and flathead catfish at Lake Erling, biologists caught several hundred fish via electrofishing, took pectoral fin spine samples from some of the fish caught, logged the length of the fish, and released the fish.

Biologists studied the pectoral fins under a microscope to determine the age of the catfish.

—AGFC

>>

WOMEN’S POP UP 28 BACKPACK: Mystery Ranch’s redesigned pack offers a telescoping frame that converts the daypack into a load-hauling system for those successful day hunts when extracting game becomes wonderfully necessary. It is the pack’s “Overload” system with its adjustable load shelf that allows hunters to carry game bags weighing up to 80 pounds. Other features include Rip-Zip access to the main compartment along with zippered accessory compartments on the top and the front, side water bottle pockets, and more. Available in sizes extra small to large, the pack offers harnessing and a yoke that easily micro adjust to the length of a women’s torso, allowing the proper amount of stand-off between the back and frame. The pack comes in Coyote, Foliage and Optifade Subalpine camo and costs about $325.

SADDLE MOUNTAIN SKINNER: This premium fixed-blade knife by Benchmade is designed for big game hunters.

The ergonomic wood handle and drop-point blade profile provide increased comfort and control while cutting. Its leather sheath ensures the 8.70-inch knife is protected.

It costs about $190.

>>

>>

THE MULLET: 13 Fishing’s 2020 ICAST-winning lure in the Saltwater Soft Lure category is a champion when it comes to targeting large predators. The lure’s weighted VMC custom swimbait hook hides discretely within its durable, and realistically hand-painted, body. It also has lifelike holographic eyes and nose anchors for durable rigging.

The lure costs about $15.

>>

AXIOM+: Raymarine’s latest generation of its Axiom line of touchcontrol multifunction displays promises to elevate the user experience. It offers vivid imaging with improved clarity and wider viewing angles in a range of lighting conditions; enhanced GPS for accurate positioning; a powerful quad-core processor for greater responsiveness and speed, giving anglers the power to seamlessly redraw charts and navigate with augmented reality via its “RealVision” 3-D sonar; and more precise control, thanks to the nano-coated, impact-resistant display, which repels water and oils. It also offers up to 16 GB of storage. The Axiom+ starts at about $750.

Puzzle solution from Page 15

Page 18

Aug 14, 2020

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

DATEBOOK Current as of press time

AUGUST 15-16

AUGUST 28-29

Texas Gun and Knife Shows Gun Show Abilene Convention Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknife.com

Deer Breeders Corporation Convention San Antonio dbcdeer.com

AUGUST 30

AUGUST 21-22

Chrisitan Outdoor Ministry Youth Fun Clay Shoot Ellis County Sportsmans Club Waxahachie (817) 980-2333 christianoutdoorministry.org

Babes on the Bay Fishing Tournament Paws and Taws Convention Center, Fulton (361) 205-0182 babesonthebay.com

AUGUST 28

Texas Wildlife Association South Texas Wildlife Conference Online texas-wildlife.org

SEPTEMBER 1- JANUARY 23

Texas Dove Hunters Association Texas Banded Bird Challenge texasdovehunters.com

CLASSIFIEDS HUNTING TEXAS TROPHY WHITETAILS Axis, Blackbuck, Hogs Free range whitetail and exotic hunts in Sonora, TX www.HuntTexasWhitetails.com (717) 512-3582 NEED ARCHERY RANGE? www.TexasArchery.info STOCKERBUCK.COM Call now to order Texas Trophy Bred does and stockerbucks or check us out online at stockerbuck.com Call Jay (505) 681-5210 ANTLERS WANTED Buying all species, all conditions.

Looking for large quantities Call Del (830) 997-2263 TDHA - JOIN TODAY Texas Dove Hunters Association TexasDoveHunters.com (210) 764-1189 DUVAL COUNTY South Texas Dove Hunting 65 acres, Lodging RV Power Available Huntershilton.com for more info (361) 244-0544 or (361) 443-9330 DECOYS WANTED WOODEN Duck and Goose. Top prices paid.

Ask for David (214) 361-2276

DOVE HUNTING Special Season White-Wing South Zone Sept. 5,6, 12&13 and Regular Season (361) 701-4711 ARGENTINA DOVE SHOOTING 5 Star Lodge – Hosted by Owner 4 Days/3 Nts/6 Shoots - $1320/person (972) 769-8866 ARGENTINA DUCK HUNTING Lots of Birds!!! Hosted by Owner Partridge & Dove Shoots Included 5 Days/4 Nts/8 Shoots - $4250 Includes everything but shells and tips dagaradventures.com (972) 769-8866 QUALITY DOVE FIELDS OPENING DAY AND WEEKEND $150 for one day or $300 for 2 Brown and Coleman Counties Sunflowers galore Blastandcast@ sbcglobal.net or (214) 207-8871 AXIS HIDES Tanned axis hides Axis pillows gbroach@ktc.com (830) 896-6996

FISHING BAY FISHING 6 Hour Trip from $275 Port Isabel, TX (956) 551-1965

$1

REAL ESTATE/ LEASE DUCK LEASE WANTED Four hunters looking for ponds that hold ducks Prefer north of Dallas References available (214) 632-5417 SOUTH TEXAS DEER LEASE Duval County Low Fence 740 Acres 4-6 Hunters (361) 701-4711 WANTED PREMIUM FAMILY DEER LEASE 4 to 5 Experienced Trophy Hunters Year round–MLDP–2 hours max from Waco. Call Jim (254) 716-6227 JIM WELLS CO. 90.94 Acres For Sale Prime Hunting Electric Meter Fenced, Gated Rose Land, Realtor All City Real Estate (512) 924-2208 YOUNG PROFESSIONAL LOOKING FOR TEXAS MULE DEER LEASE No need for lodging and dining accommodations, I prefer to camp and hike.

No antler size restrictions; will follow all agreed upon rules.Hoping to lease for one week of the season.

Hunting industry references available.

Call Carson (907) 460-4313

CLASSIFIEDS (PER WORD)

RANCH FOR SALE $665,000 - 2000 acres Coahuila, Mexico Big Deer, Quail, Water, Houses Beautiful Sierra Madre Valley (504) 236-8069

VEHICLES HUNTING JEEP 1995 Wrangler 4.0L, 6 Cylinder, Fully Loaded Many Extras, Automatic Transmission Winch and New Tires (361) 541-8420

JOBS DO YOU WANT A WEBSITE FOR YOUR BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION OR HOBBY? https://dolinw.com/custom-websites/ FACILITIES MANAGER Port Bay Hunting and Fishing Club, Inc. Full-time position. Responsible for onsite operations and maintenance of a 108-year-old duck hunting and fishing club in Rockport.

Duties include: Managing kitchen, housekeeping, and other contract staff; managing member activities and well-being while at the club.

Compensation includes housing on site.

Contact RMANESS@CRAI.COM LEARN TO BECOME AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER https:onlinemediatraining.now.site

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A mailed subscription is $35 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $3, in certain markets copies are free, one per person.

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Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited.

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

Aug 14, 2020

DSC’s mission is to ensure the conservation of wildlife through public engagement, education and advocacy for well-regulated hunting and sustainable use.

JOIN US!

Mark your calendars for our 2021 Convention – February 11-14! info@biggame.org I www.biggame.org I

Dallas Safari Club I (972) 980-9800

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