Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
July 24, 2015
Volume 11, Issue 23
Gig ’em gets a national championship Texas A&M University wins team title, misses Classic berth By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
CHAMPIONS: Matthew McArdle, left, and Josh Bensema fi gured out a tough Lake DuBay to beat out local favorites and other college teams for a national championship. Photo by B.A.S.S.
Seasons set
The fishing was tough on Wisconsin’s Lake DuBay, a fishery known for big smallmouth bass. But when the final weight had been tallied, a shallow-water fishing team from College Station upset northern teams with much more experience to win the the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. Josh Bensema, Willis, and Matthew McArdle, Crosby, of Texas A&M University overcame a 6-ounce deficit on Saturday morning to surpass the secondround leaders — Tyler Rivet and Allyson Marcel of Nicholls State University — and take home the biggest prize in college bass fishing. “When we caught a keeper bass right away, we were very confident,” Bensema told Bassmaster of their fishing day. “To go almost the rest of the day with no
fish was tough.” In fact, the pair’s only other bass was caught with only minutes of fishing time remaining. “Catching that smallmouth with five minutes to go was important. Matt looked at me and said, ‘I think you just caught the winning fish.’ It turns out I did. I still feel like I’m dreaming,” Bensema said. Over the course of the championship, Bensema and McArdle caught eight bass for a three-day total of 18 pounds, 4 ounces. The majority of their fish came on a top-water frog, although a jig accounted for some keepers, as well. Bass were biting best for the A&M anglers in the morning hours. “Our specialty is shallow water,” McArdle said. “If the fish are shallow, that is where we will be. We knew it was a big smallmouth lake. We actually talked to a man who has fished the lake for 40 years and never
Summertime patterns
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released the 201516 season dates this month, and early teal hunters should be happy with a full 16-day season beginning Sept. 12. With record numbers of teal expected to make their way into Texas during the upcoming months, prospects should be good, although the birds will have plenty of water to utilize once the shooting begins.
MORE PLEASE: Hunters are noticing the decline in public land permits issued from TPWD, with some places like Richland Creek WMA issuing none this season because of fl ooding. Photo by Ron Cole.
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Lost opportunities
CONTENTS . . . . . . . . .
Page 28 Page 26 Page 10 Page 26 Page 12 Page 22 Page 30 Page 18 Page 25
LSONews.com
Number of public hunting permits on 10-year decline
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
TOP-WATERS WORKING FOR BASS: Summertime in Texas means early mornings and late evenings on the water chasing big bass. Anglers across the state report a solid bass bite, even as temperatures soar into the triple digits for the fi rst time since last summer. Read about the East Texas bass bite on page 8. Photo by Joseph Richards, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
Baffin producing big trout Buda angler Ellis Taylor likes to travel to Baffin Bay in search of big trout several times a year. Last week, he took his 8-year-old daughter Peyton, along with his two sons, to fish with Capt. Allen Sifford, and Peyton wasted no time joining the 30-inch club with a monster trout. “We had a midweek break, so we decided to head down and hire a guide,” Ellis Taylor said. Please turn to page 29
INSIDE
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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NICE TROUT: Peyton Taylor, 8, holds her 30-inch trout she caught in Baffi n Bay last week. Photo by Ellis Taylor.
HUNTING
Lots of food for dove Plan of action Range conditions so good, patterning Officials, landowners responding to birds could be tough. Medina County positive test. Page 4 Page 4
FISHING
Snapper season ends
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
A decline in the overall number of hunting permits issued through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s drawn hunts has some hunters worried they are getting the cold shoulder when it comes to public land hunting in Texas. Not so, said TPWD’s public hunting leader Justin Dreilbelbis. Although permit numbers have declined — substantially in some cases such as overall archery hunting permits — Dreilbelbis said the agency has cut permit numbers for drawn hunts, but they have offPlease turn to page 16
East Texas still hot
Anglers still pulling big bass from many 44-day federal red snapper season for East Texas reservoirs. charter boats comes to a close. Page 8 Page 8