Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
July 10, 2015
Volume 11, Issue 22
CWD found in one Texas whitetail By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS A 2-year-old white-tailed buck on a Medina County deer breeding facility has been confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. The response to the positive test on the buck that was born and reared on the ranch could be Texas’ time to show the rest of the country how to appropriately deal with a positive test for CWD. “Texas is viewed as the top state in the country for wildlife management,” said one Texas rancher, who asked not to be identified. “This should be their time
to shine.” According to a joint release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Animal Health Commission, the Medina County tissue samples submitted by the breeder facility in early June as part of routine deer mortality surveillance revealed the presence of CWD during testing at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station. The National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the findings on June 30. An epidemiological investigation to determine the extent of the disease, assess risks to Texas’ free ranging deer and protect the captive deer and elk breed-
ing industry is being led by TAHC, in coordination with the TPWD and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services. Final determinations of the agencies’ response to the finding have yet to be made, and any liberation of captive deer into the wild statewide has been suspended. According to reports, two days of closed-door meeting were held July 2-3 with TPWD, TAHC and the Texas CWD Task Force to determine actions to be taken. According to multiple reports, a notice has been sent to the landowner that the deer (approximately 140 adult Please turn to page 6
Trout bite going strong By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table . . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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Page 32 Page 26 Page 10 Page 26 Page 12 Page 28 Page 30 Page 16 Page 24
LSONews.com
PLENTY OF NICE TROUT: Anglers up and down the coast are having good success catching spotted seatrout on a variety of patterns, including top-waters, soft plastics and fi shing with live bait, like croakers. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Club anglers catching big sacks in North Texas Lone Star outdoor newS
North Texas angler Coy Frasier had a good weekend recently fishing Lake O’ the Pines. Frasier was fishing alocal bass club tournament — Century Bass Club — on Lake O’ the Pines and caught seven limits in two days of fishing for a total weight of 41.83 pounds with his 10 best. “I had a very good weekend,” Frasier said. “I caught all of them on a Carolina rig with trick worms and centipedes in 9 to14 feet of water. I was working it pretty slow on the bottom. There was a little rocky point that extended out into the main lake, and they were all over it.” Frasier said he caught three limits of fish on Saturday, including a 9.15-pounder and another fish that went almost 7 pounds.
INSIDE
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Please turn to page 34
Lake O’ the Pines hot By Conor Harrison
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
The Fourth of July weekend brought loads of anglers to the Texas coast, and the trout cooperated for the most part. Even though pressure was extremely high, with lots of boats crowding many of the more popular spots, the trout bite was good on live bait. “We had a good early morning bite on both Friday and Saturday wading west Matagorda Bay,” reported Capt. Troy Keen. “We threw croaker both mornings wading the guts. The bite died down and we went in early both days with solid boxes. Our fresh water from the river is back to normal, but (boaters need to) be careful navigating the diversion channel — saw boats stuck both days. “They could float but that was about it.” Many anglers bemoaned the numbers of other boats. “Holiday weekend brought lots of boats, and by lots I mean lots,” said one Port O’ Connor angler on 2coolfishing.com. “Boats scattered on shorelines as far as you could go.
HUNTING
“I found the spot the week before in practice,” Frasier added. “I only caught about 13 pounds on it the week before, so I know more fish moved in there, and I think even more are coming. I was catching fish that still had bloody tails.” Lone Star Outdoor News’ Operations Manager Mike Hughs also spent the weekend chasing largemouth bass on Lake O’ the Pines and Lake Monticello. Hughs said Monticello was fishing well — the south end was 97.5 degrees. The power plant was not generating, but one stack was turned on, creating some current in the lake. “I fished above the thermocline in 20 feet of water,” Hughs said. “I caught my fish on Carolina rigs; the trailer did not matter, I caught them on everything.” Please turn to page 11
FISHING
GOOD NUMBERS AND SIZE: Anglers like Mike Casanova are catching big bass on Lake O’ the Pines this month. Photo by LSON.
Rio opens plant
Legendary duck man Tough to launch
Rio Ammunition to produce 1 million shotguns shells per day in Marshall. Page 4
Duck call maker Butch Richenback dies after fight with cancer. Page 5
Hybrids biting
Many North Texas lakes still tough to access Good hybrid bite a staple of summer fishing in Texas. because of high water levels. Page 8 Page 8