March 25, 2011 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

March 25, 2011

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Fund raising Fund-raiser reaches new heights.

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Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

March 25, 2011

Volume 7, Issue 15

Super Moon moves tides

Inside

❘❚ FISHING

Carp master Austin angler catches giants, records.

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Palmetto bass Most Texans know them as hybrid stripers.

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Big bass bites Big bass from around the state.

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❘❚ HUNTING

RISING TIDES: The perigee moon rises above Espiritu Santo Bay March 20 as an angler admires a redfish. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, for LSON.

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

QDM critics Deer management strategies debated.

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Facebook gator

Sitting on a pier in Aransas Pass on March 20, several retirees with cameras waited poised and ready to snap a picture.

But it wasn’t to take pictures of the small redfish several anglers were catching off the dock. It was for the “perigee moon” — the biggest full moon in nearly 20 years — that sprung from the horizon about 8 p.m.

The last full moon that was so big and so close to earth occurred in March 1993. This perigee moon appeared 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than other full moons.

Guides in the Rockport

area noticed the high tide Saturday night was up more than 2 feet over normal tides.

Robin Riechers, coastal fisheries director for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said his department hadn’t heard

about any abnormalities in the tide or fisheries because of the large moon.

“We haven’t heard much of anything out of the ordinary,” he said. “We did see See SUPER MOON, Page 14

Social network helping authorities track poachers.

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Sun, Moon and Tide data .

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Typical turkey opener Gobblers henned up; windy conditions make calling tough

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Windy conditions prevailed across much of South Texas for the opening of spring turkey season, making calling conditions tough.

Although hard to hear, the toms were gobbling and plenty of strutting action was observed.

HENNED UP: Big toms like these two were busy with hens during the opening weekend of turkey hunting in South Texas. Photo

by David J. Sams, LSON. See TURKEY OPENER, Page 14

Mystery cure: Soft drinks used to clot bass blood

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS It was a nice bass, pulled from a private lake in Bosque County, but it was bleeding.

“I hooked it in the tongue a little bit,” said the angler, Jonathon VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.

“When you do that, it can bleed pretty bad.

“And it can die pretty quickly.”

That’s a major concern for people who are serious about catchand-release.

But VanDam, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler, can lose points FIRST AID: Pro angler Jonathon VanDam pours a little Coca-Cola into the mouth of if there is a dead fish in bass that was bleeding from the hook. VanDam is not sure why, but a few drops of a the livewell. And that soft drink can stop the bleeding. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON. means lost tourna“It clots it, basically,” VanDam said. “I ment earnings.

Saving a fish, however, might be as easy as haven’t used it a lot, to be honest with you.

But I heard it from a friend of mine, and he popping the top on a Coke can.

VanDam, recalling the Bosque County swears by it.”

VanDam placed the fish in his livewell to incident last summer, said he gently poured a few drops of Coca-Cola into the mouth of the bass.

See MYSTERY CURE, Page 14

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March 25, 2011

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March 25, 2011

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March 25, 2011

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HUNTING

Texas fund-raisers set high marks Many events seem to be economy proof; still raising dollars PRICEY: Guns like this Beretta can fetch top dollars to apply towards conservation.

Photo by Bill Miller, LSON.

By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS The purchase of a $90,000 Beretta shotgun at a fund-raiser may come as a shock to some, given what is in print nearly each day about the economy.

But at several Texas fundraisers in the outdoor community, it’s not that surprising.

The Beretta SO 10 20-gauge over and under with engraving by the renowned Fracesca Franzini, provided by the Beretta Gallery in Dallas, fetched $72,500 at the Park Cities Quail banquet on March 10. That, along with a quail hunt for six with T. Boone

Pickens that brought a six-figure price tag, highlighted the record-breaking event.

The Dallas Safari Club again set records at its convention in January, and several chapters of other conservation groups set new standards.

But not all record-breaking events were high-end or in the big cities.

Ducks Unlimited’s top Texas chapter was in Mexia, population 6,500, where more than 600 people show up annually to support the wetlands conservation group. Cleveland’s Big Thicket chapter, population 7,500, finished 3rd in the state and 16th in the nation.

So what sets these Texas groups apart?

“For us, it’s the quality of what we do,” said Stephen Hill, banquet chair of Park Cities Quail, “and the exposure that we receive. That and we spend a lot of time in preparation for the event.”

Some of the events become can’t-miss social opportunities, and the fund-raising records follow.

In Mexia, this year’s fund-raiser was their best ever, and that’s saying something.

“We were No. 1 in Texas in 2009, but I think Houston beat us last year,” said area Chairman Ivan Jackson, Jr.

See RAISE MONEY, Page 15

Concepts of deer management debated

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS There’s nothing absolute about the old saying, “You can’t argue with success,” just ask members of the Quality Deer Management Association.

Two national sporting magazines — Field & Stream and Petersen’s Hunting — recently published articles that questioned if the concept of Quality Deer Management is being overemphasized in the U.S. QDM recommends letting bucks reach maturity before hunting them. It also calls for harvesting an appropriate number of does and making habitat improvements.

“These days, deer herds have better sex ratios and better age structures in bucks,” said Kip Adams, the association’s director of outreach and education.

He said that while QDM does not emphasize developing trophy deer, trophies can result from a properly aged herd, with bucks ages 3 through 5 and even older.

QDMA’s founder, South Carolina biologist Joe Hamilton, was recently named the 2011 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year.

The man Hamilton credits for inspiring the group, fellow biologist Al Brothers of Berclair, Texas, was nominated for the same award in 2008.

The benefits of QDM were brought out in a sidebar article for the cover story “Deer Crazy” in Field & Stream’s February 2011 edition.

The writer, Dave Hurteau, added that QDM “has empowered individual hunters to engage in wildlife management and land stewardship on an unprecedented scale.”

But Hurteau, taking an objective look, also offered “The Bad” of QDM. He wrote that, “many so-called QDM programs cross the line into trophy deer management, which severely reduces the number of deer available to harvest and virtually always restricts hunter access.”

Mike Schoby, editor of Petersen’s Hunting, also criticized trophy development in his April 2011 letter from the editor.

Its headline: “Is QDM ruining hunting?”

QDM, he wrote, “is a simple concept and one I believe works … but have we taken it too far?”

Schoby offered examples of hunts last season where the management restrictions made him and other hunters confused about which bucks they were allowed to shoot.

“I will continue to hold out for bigger, older deer,” he added, “but it is because I want to, not because some farm biologist tells me I have to.”

Later in his blog, Schoby wrote that the magazine was “flooded with letters” on the topic and “99 percent of them” agreed with the article.

Others praised him for countering “our current whitetail trophy culture.”

But Adams said QDM is frequently confused with trophy management.

See QUALITY DEER, Page 6 WHAT'S THE AIM?: Some are claiming the line between QDM and managing for trophy bucks is becoming blurred. Photo by LSON.

Lone Star Merriam’s Texas mountains hold populations of western birds

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Rios rule in Texas when it comes to turkey hunting.

But for the enterprising hunter who wants a different challenge, the Davis Mountains in West Texas holds a population of Merriam’s turkeys.

However, several challenges await the hunter who attempts to tackle these birds in Texas.

One is obtaining permission to hunt in the Davis Mountains, which is almost entirely made up of private ranches. The second is finding a pure Merriam’s gobbler.

Merriam’s are striking birds with white feathers outlining the fan on gobblers. They live in mountainous habitat at higher elevations than most turkeys, although their mountain habitat is being invaded by Rio Grandes as they march west across the state from their traditional range in south and central Texas.

“About 20 years ago, (Texas Parks and Wildlife) stocked Merriam’s turkeys in the Davis Mountains,” said Jason Hardin,

lead turkey biologist for TPWD. “Those birds did really well for a long time. But the Rios are expanding rapidly and the Merriam’s are being bred out pretty quickly.”

Hardin referred to the current population as “Merrios.”

“They’re all being hybridized,” he said.

“They are the same species, and we probably have a small population of pure Merriam’s left.”

Several years ago, researchers from Sul Ross State University conducted DNA testing on feathers gathered in the Davis Mountains, and found approximately 500 pure Merriam’s, according to Hardin.

Billy Tarrant, TPWD’s district leader for the TransPecos region, said along with the population in the Davis Mountains, a small but unhuntable population probably exists in the Guadalupe Mountains in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

“That population is probably marginal at best,” Tarrant said. “Like most of west Texas, there isn’t a lot of water up

WHITE EDGES: Merriam's turkeys have distinctive white tips to their tail feathers, making them an attractive subspecies.

Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

there right now. It’s powder dry in this area.

“We probably get a few birds that come in from New Mexico, but as far as hunting them, I don’t know.”

Tarrant said the Davis Mountains population is experiencing some hybridization, but the birds he has seen still have a strong Merriam’s influence.

The Nature Conservancy auctioned a hunt this year at the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet for one hunter to shoot two Merriam’s on their property near Ft. Davis.

Ray Hood will act as a guide on that hunt.

“These might be the only two Merriam’s killed in Texas this year,” Hood said. “Gene Miller (former TPWD biologist) and I will be guiding on that hunt.”

Check a future issue of LSON for that hunt report.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Inaugural East Texas hog tourney a good start

LOTS MORE: About 300 feral hogs, including the ones shown here, were taken from the East Texas countryside recently during the Lone Star Wild Hog Tournament. Photo by Roger Skipper.

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS There were 301 fewer feral hogs roaming the East Texas landscape following the recent Lone Star Wild Hog Tournament.

But organizers of the tournament, held Feb. 26-March 6, were disappointed that more hogs weren’t harvested, considering the species’ ability to rapidly reproduce.

It was their first time sponsoring the tournament, which they hope to make better next year.

“Participation wasn’t quite as good as what I hoped for,”

said organizer Scotty Parsons, a biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation.

“Over 300 — that’s still a good number for our first attempt at this.

“We’re going to do it again next year, but we need to do a little better at advertising.”

The tournament offered $2,250 in prizes at each of the five National Forest ranger stations in the region.

The tournament was modeled after the various varminthunting contests in Texas.

The money was paid to contestants who delivered the most hogs to the ranger stations.

Hogs were taken by any legal means or methods, including some that were captured in traps and later taken to state-certified buying stations.

Fannin County Agent Roger Skipper, another tournament organizer, said needy families received 55 of the 137 hogs brought to the ranger station at the Caddo National Grasslands.

Parsons said he wants to expand the wild pork donations during next year’s tournament, which he hoped will be expanded into other regions of Texas.

March 25, 2011

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March 25, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Social media helps crack gator poaching case

By Bill Miller

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Texas brothers plead guilty to deer hunting violations

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Two brothers from East Texas pleaded guilty March 16 in a Kansas federal court to charges of running an illegal guide service in Kansas and violating federal laws by bringing illegally hunted antlers across state lines.

James Bobby Butler Jr., 42, the owner and operator of the hunting club in Coldwater, Kan., and his brother Marlin Jackson Butler, 36, who worked as a guide, acknowledged they conspired to violate the Lacey Act, a federal law that prohibits the interstate transport of any wildlife taken in violation of state regulations.

Sentencing was set for June 2.

The brothers, both from Martinsville, said in their plea deal that between 2005 and 2008 they sold guided hunts in Kansas for the illegal taking of 25 buck deer for which they were paid $77,500 in guiding fees and tips.

James Butler also pleaded guilty to a separate wildlife trafficking charge related to a 2005 guided archery hunt for which he was paid $3,500. In that case, a Louisiana hunter paid an additional $1,800 for a hunting permit that was not valid in the county where the hunt took place. A few days later, the hunter paid another $3,500 to kill an extra buck deer beyond the annual bag limit.

James Butler also acknowledged he obstructed justice in April 2009 by ordering an employee at

Making a friend on Facebook can result in a game warden knocking on your door.

That is if your Facebook page has a photo of a game animal or fish that you took illegally.

Such was the case the first week of March when a photo of a dead alligator in Bastrop County appeared on Facebook.

Alligators can only be hunted by special permit in nine Texas counties, and Bastrop isn’t one of them.

It was a massive bull gator, nearly 12 feet long, which surprised another person who saw the Facebook photo. That person called the Operation Game Thief hotline (800792-4263), which put Game Warden Frederick Ensinger on the case.

Ensinger used the information to determine the animal’s location on Wilbarger Creek — a tributary of the Colorado River.

“Then I did what game wardens do,” he said. “I parked my truck, got out and just kind of See SOCIAL MEDIA, Page 15 BULL GATOR: A tip generated by Facebook helped game wardens build a case in the illegal killing of this American alligator earlier this month in Bastrop County. Photo by Clay Ingram.

Outdoors journalist honored

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS People who know Bob Hood say he is a man of few spoken words.

Written words are another matter.

Hood started working for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a paperboy in 1962 and he

Quality deer Continued From Page 4

“The definition of trophy management is when the goal is to harvest bucks that are fully mature and have high-scoring antlers,” Adams said. “QDM says protect yearling bucks at least to let them get to be 2 1/2 years old.

“That line does get blurred

soon became a sportswriter. characteristic, said John Thompson, But Hood also loved to hunt a longtime friend and a former colleague at the Star-Telegram. and fish and by 1968, the newsThompson, an outdoors writer paper was paying him to cover from Aledo, received the Wilke the outdoors. He was there for 40 award in 2010 and he nominated years.

Hood for it this year.

Very few writers have been “Bob is a very low-key, unassumon the job that long, according individual,” said Thompson. ing to the Texas Outdoor Writers “He probably said not more than 50 Association.

BOB HOOD words while accepting (the award).

The group recently honored “Somebody remarked that was Hood, who lives on Possum Kingdom Lake, with its L.A. Wilke Lifetime the most Bob ever said … ever.”

Hood currently is hunting editor for Texas Achievement Award, an accolade named for Fish & Game Magazine, although he has writits first executive director.

“I knew L.A. Wilke personally,” Hood said. ten for just about every outdoors publication “He was just a nice guy, fairly quiet, and in Texas, including Lone Star Outdoor News.

But Hood’s career hasn’t just been about everybody respected him.

“To receive an award with his name on it recreation.

He editorialized against a bill that would means a lot to me.”

Hood’s acknowledgement of Wilke is have established a permit system for bass

sometimes.”

Brothers, reached by phone at his home in Berclair, agreed.

“When you stockpile deer you’re crossing the line into trophy management,” Brothers said. “That’s an individual’s decision.

“But that’s not QDM.” In his blog, Schoby wrote that he “probably should have used the term ‘Trophy Deer Management’ to describe the

Pigapalooza set for March 26 Kids hunting pigs is a great way to introduce young people to the outdoors.

Working in conjunction with the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance, the Hunter Heritage Foundation is inviting young sportsmen (ages 8 to 15) to attend the 3rd Annual Pigapalooza Youth Hog Hunt. The event will be held Saturday, March 26, at DB Hunting Ranch in Bertram, Texas, and will provide an afternoon of fun outdoor activities, a pork sandwich lunch and an evening hog hunt.

kind of behavior I was seeing (even though all of the practitioners refer to themselves as implementing QDM...)”

He suggested that the association’s members “have some PR work ahead of them” to educate people who believe QDM and trophy management are the same thing.

“That’s fine,” Adams said.

“QDM has big shoulders and we can handle it.”

“Affordability and accessibility are major obstacles for getting our youth involved in hunting today, and our annual Pigapalooza Youth Hunt offers a great opportunity for kids to get outdoors, learn a little about wildlife and enjoy the thrill of hunting with a group of their peers,” says ADWA President John Meng.

Cost is only $50 for one non-trophy class hog per youth hunter. Space is limited. Youth must be accompanied by parent or guardian with a valid Texas hunting license. Call ADWA to reserve space today at (877)331-8607.

—Staff report

the High Roller Whitetails, a deer operation in Center, Texas, to get rid of five or six white-tailed deer mounts after wildlife officers began conducting interviews in Texas in relation to the federal investigation. The employee refused to destroy the mounts.

Prosecutors recommended a 41-month prison sentence for James Butler. The government also is seeking a fine of $25,000 and restitution of the same amount to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Marlin Butler pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge as his older brother in addition to a separate charge involving a 2007 guided hunt in which a Texas hunter paid $5,500.

Although it was archery season, he acknowledged that he encouraged the hunter to hunt with a rifle. The Texas hunter killed a 10-point, white-tailed deer with a rifle after shooting hours while Marlin Butler held a flashlight.

Prosecutors are recommending that Marlin Butler receive a prison term of 27 months, a fine of $10,000 and pay restitution of $10,000 to the state wildlife department.

In exchange for the plea deals, the government agreed to drop the remaining charges in the 23-count indictment returned last year.

—Staff report

tournaments — it was tabled, never to see a vote — and criticized Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission for not publicizing its meeting agendas. It does now.

He also urged TPWD to prioritize which lakes would be stocked with striped and hybrid bass.

“I don’t know what effect my opinions may have had,” Hood said, “but the state did establish a list of priority lakes because, as I had said, the hatcheries couldn’t sustain that many put-and-take fisheries.”

To write credibly, Hood has drawn on “a pretty unusual skill set” beyond hunting and fishing, Thompson said. Some of his other interests are trapping, varmint calling and canoeing.

“I like it all — whatever is going on at the moment,” explained Hood. “It doesn’t matter if it’s gigging for frogs or fishing for perch.”

But the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on March 16 rejected each of the challenges, according to court documents.

The court’s action came on the fourth anniversary of the shooting on March 16, 2007.

Hurst joined other officers in an attempt to arrest A high court has Freeman for shooting at denied the death-row a bird sitting on a fence. appeal from the Wharton An hour-long chase County man convicted ensued. in the murder of a Texas A Texas highway patrol game warden in March trooper applied spikes to 2007. the roadway and disJames Freeman, 30, abled Freeman's truck. continues to await exeHe then got out and cution for killing Justin opened fire with a pisJUSTIN HURST Hurst, the 34-year-old tol and an AK-47 rifle, game warden. striking Hurst.

In his appeal, Freeman was arrested and Hurst Freeman claimed there were several was airlifted to Memorial Hermann points of error during his trial. He Hospital in Houston, where he was complained, for example, that his trial should have been moved out of pronounced dead on arrival.

—Staff report Wharton County.

Man convicted of killing warden loses appeal, stays on death row

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

ADVERTISMENT

Prospect Retrievers For dog owners who want their retrievers to have the finest training by someone who does it right, look no further than Tom Rossiter, owner of Prospect Retrievers in Paris.

Rossiter brings more than 30 years of experience training all breeds of retrievers.

He is a well-known field trial veteran, hunt test qualifier and former American Kennel Club field judge.

His method of training involves a focus on the particular needs of the handler/ owner and their dog.

“I like to see the dog at an early age,” Rossiter said. “Four months old is not too early for a hunting dog.

A started puppy has an incredible willingness to learn.

“They are predisposed to learn these things.”

Rossiter says he doesn’t hide faults and he’ll be honest with owners and tell people the truth about their dogs.

“I particularly like taking a young dogs and their owner and getting both of them ready to go hunting,” he said.

Rossiter provides a clean kennel and doesn’t take on too many dogs at once. His dogs are trained on the 20-acre property that is set up strictly with training in mind — with ponds and hedgerows to challenge the dogs and other properties in the area.

“Because I want to give them the proper attention,” Rossiter said,” I only keep between seven and ten dogs, and three of those are my own.”

Along with teaching basic commands

such as heeling, sitting and marking, Rossiter trains his retrievers out to various yardages. All dogs are taught to the whistle, and Rossiter only uses electric collars when a dog’s owner requests him to do so.

“I invite anyone who wants to come up and visit and see my dogs and what they can do,” he said. “I don’t want anyone to ever walk away from my kennel feeling like they haven’t gotten their money’s worth.”

A typical day of training at Prospect Retrievers begins with a health check of each dog first thing in the morning, followed by a hearty breakfast.

Next comes work in the yard focusing on obedience work and fetching drills.

Then he spends the rest of the day focusing on land and water retrieves.

He also works with single and multiple bird marks.

The evenings are for rest and a good dinner. He also makes journal entries every day for each dog.

“I’ve worked with some of the top retriever trainers in the country over the past 15 years,” he said. “Some of my puppies are currently running in field trials, hunt tests and I’ve sold dogs to the government. I have references available for anyone who wants them.”

Rossiter said a well-trained dog is one step in game bird conservation. By hunting over a well-trained retriever, hunters can collect wounded or crippled birds, thereby filling their limit quicker and with less waste.

Contact Tom at (903) 784-2933.

March 25, 2011

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March 25, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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FISHING

What the heck is a Palmetto bass?

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Lewisville fisherman Ken Fisk was catching so many Palmetto bass on Lewisville Lake on March 16 he had to put the phone down for fear of losing his rod during a phone interview.

Most Texans know the Palmetto bass as a ‘hybrid striper’ — a cross between a male white bass and a female striped bass.

Prime time to catch these great fighting fish is now through the end of April in shallow water, although many anglers catch them throughout the summer when they move back into deeper pockets of water.

“They’re turned on right now,” Fisk said. “When the shad move to the shallows to spawn, the hybrids get right in there with them. A rooster tail is my favorite bait right now.

“They bite the daylights out of them. You can catch your limit in no time.”

The majority of Palmetto bass — up to 99 percent — are sterile, so populations have to be maintained through restocking efforts.

Palmetto bass are being raised at several state fish hatcheries, including Possum Kingdom and Dundee, where the demand from

lake biologists requesting finger- include a broken stripe pattern lings has risen this year to 2.8 down their sides as opposed million. That’s above the normal to unbroken straight lines in annual request of 2.3 million. pure stripers, thicker bodies “Requests for hybrids are up sig- similar to a white bass and two nificantly this year,” said Dale tooth patches in the back of Lyon, manager of the Possum their tongue like a striper.

Kingdom Hatchery. “Typically The state record Palmetto hybrids are used in reservoirs that bass is 19.66 pounds, but have a high population of smaller they seldom get more than 10 shad. They have a smaller mouth pounds. They grow faster than than a pure striped bass and occupy pure stripers or sand bass, and a niche in reservoirs that would otherwise be unexploited.”

NUMBER OF FINGERLINGS REQUESTED According to Dennis FOR RELEASE AT TEXAS LAKES AND Smith, manager of the RESERVOIRS THIS YEAR. Dundee hatchery, the requests are up this year ■ Lake Bridgeport: 413,000 because production has ■ Lake Conroe: 201,000 been down the past two years due to golden alga.

■ Lake Ray Hubbard: 227,000 “Part of the reason for ■ Cedar Creek: 326,000 the increased demand ■ Lake Palestine: 255,000 is production has been ■ Lewisville Lake: 295,000 down the past two years, so many places didn’t get *Many other smaller stockings will occur across the state a full stocking,” he said.

“Both hybrids and stripers FUN BITES: Griffin Elliott, right, and Braden Funderburg hold two palmetto bass (hybrid are susceptible to golden alga, and we many experts believe they striped bass) they caught recently on Lewisville Lake. Palmetto bass are great for kids beare more aggressive and eashave that in our supply water and it is ier to catch than pure strains, cause they are easy to catch. Photo by Steve Fogle. much more virulent.”

Identification is important, although white bass are easily have to be careful when filleting “If you hit that, it can make them since undersized hybrids look caught as well.

And they are great table fare. them because they have a blood- taste fishy. similar to their white bass cous“They are great to eat, but you line just below the fillet,” Fisk said.

“My wife prefers them over crappie.” ins. Features of the Palmetto bass

Master of carp

CARP MAN: Chris Munn holds the Walter E. Long water body record smallmouth buffalo he caught in February. Photo by Chris Munn.

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Chris Munn was fishing for catfish two years ago when he found a local creek near his home in Manor, just east of Austin, and noticed it was full of carp.

After doing some research on the Internet, the 29-year-old set out to catch a few of the slow-moving giants he had seen in the creek.

Eight state water body records later, Munn is addicted to catching big carp and buffalo.

“Once I started catching them, it was a lot of fun,” Munn said. “I prebait the areas I want to fish and have a lot of patience. Carp fishing takes a lot of time — 12 hours sitting on the bank sometime.”

Munn said he chums the areas he wants to fish with various types of grains, including maize. He also uses dough bait — either bread balls or simulated plastic dough baits found at bait shops.

See MASTER, Page 16

Galveston Bay turning on Cacciotti said the water temperaSpringtime brings warmer weather and accelerated fishing ture was 63 degrees on Friday, March action to the Texas Gulf Coast, but 18.

“There are some bigger trout in the Galveston Bay Complex was the Galveston shipping channel,” already busy in mid-March.

“The speckled trout are hit- he said. “The Causeway is also holdting well on live shrimp under the ing some trout on an outgoing tide.

Causeway Bridge,” said “Jetty” Joe Ceccacci, who works the afternoon shift at Galveston Bait and Tackle.

Trout were also being caught with topwater lures, Ceccacci said.

“I hooked one about 4 1/2 pounds, and I got a good run out of him,” Ceccacci said. “He went around the pylons (of the DRIFTERS: Drifting for spring trout is the way to go in Galvesbridge) and we had ton Bay. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News. to move the boat to get around to him.”

We’re catching those on live shrimp Ceccacci said other anglers have with popping corks.” been catching redfish in grass on He said wade fisherman have the west side of Galveston Bay. been scoring in the Yates Bayou area Sheepshead, redfish and black drum with topwater lures. have also been good at the jetty.

At nearby Texas City, sheepshead “They’ve also been catching a and sand trout were good around lot of 2- to 7-pound ‘puppy’ drum, the piers on shrimp. Redfish are on fresh dead shrimp or crabs,” fair to good on shrimp and crabs in Ceccacci said.

Moses Lake.

According to Galveston Capt.

Ceccacci said warmer temperaMike Cacciotti, the black drum run tures were sure to make the fishing is going strong, with anglers scoring even better. large catches on cracked crab.

“The redfish and everything will “The fishing has been awesome be turning loose here pretty quickly, the past week,” Cacciotti said. now that we have the nicer weather,” “Along with the drum, whiting fish- he said. “All the bait is coming is back ing has been real good at the jetties around — the croaker, the mudfish with dead shrimp. Sheepshead is and the mullet.” good on live shrimp on the rocks, To contact Capt. Mike Cacciotti, and we’re also catching some redfish call (281) 507-1933. with live shrimp.”

—Staff report

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Midcoast heating up Black drum run still on

BANG THE DRUM: Eating-sized black drum, along with the bigger ones, still are being caught along the midcoast. Photo by Lili Sams, LSON.

Spring break has ended and guides along the midcoast are as worn out as the fish.

But the fishing was good the past week, with guides reporting good catches of black drum, redfish and trout.

In the Corpus Christi ship channel, black drum were being caught in good numbers using cracked crab and shrimp near the old Navy base in Ingleside.

Capt. Brian Holden reported catching 18 drum on one trip.

Several of the piers reported anglers still were catching good number of black drum through the weekend of March 19-20.

Capt. Johan Combs caught several big black drum early in the week in the channel before going north for eating-sized fish.

Copano Bay waders caught good numbers of trout and reported the action was good on Zara Super Spooks in bone color over sand and scattered shell.

Redfish has been hit or miss throughout the past several weeks.

Once anglers find the fish and the bite turns on, limits are pretty easy to come by. But it might take a little bit of looking before the right spot is found.

Ingleside Capt. Dan Kelly said he fished groups down along the coast for spring break and boated limits of reds every day, although the key was finding the fish when the tide was moving in or out.

Kelly reported smaller black drum still were the most consistent fish to catch along the midcoast, but said drifting for trout in Baffin, Copano and San Antonio bays has started to produce. Strong winds persisted along much of the coast the past few weeks, which made getting to some fishing spots difficult.

In Port O’Connor, trout and redfish were hitting topwater baits in San Antonio Bay and in the drains of the back lakes, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Contact Johan Combs at (210) 825-3727.

Contact Dan Kelly at (361) 332-9836.

—Staff report

March 25, 2011

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LSONews.com

TEXAS FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

HOT BITES LARGEMOUTH BASS

BROWNWOOD: Good on crawfishcolored Persuader crankbaits and 4” soft plastic worms over brush piles in 4–10 feet.

GRAPEVINE: Good on Texas rigs, jigs, drop-shot rigs and flukes.

LBJ: Good on watermelon red jigs, pumpkinseed worms, and green pumpkin tubes off docks.

O.H. IVIE: Good on shallow on Texas rigs, Lipless crankbaits and square-bill crankbaits — the deeper bite (larger females) is on jigs, Texas-rigged 10” worms and deep-diving crankbaits.

TAWAKONI: Excellent on shallow-running crankbaits and Baby Brush Hogs.

WHITE, HYBRID, STRIPER

BUCHANAN: Striped bass are good trolling white/chartreuse Curb’s striper jigs and crankbaits, and drifting live bait in 20–30 feet.

LIVINGSTON: White bass are good on soft plastics, and slabs in the north end of the lake.

TAWAKONI: Striped bass and hybrid striper are good in 8–15 feet on slow-rolled 4” Sassy Shad on a 3/4 oz. jighead and Moe’s Shanghai Shad.

CATFISH

BRAUNIG: Channel catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cheesebait, and cut bait near the discharge. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

LEWISVILLE: Good on prepared bait and chartreuse nightcrawlers.

RAY HUBBARD: Good under cormorant roosts on prepared baits.

TAWAKONI: Excellent in 3–6 feet on cut bait and fresh shad.

CRAPPIE ALAN HENRY: Good on minnows and jigs.

LAVON: Good on minnows and jigs around bridge columns.

WHITNEY: Good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs.

ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 56–68 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, drop-shot rigs and shallow-running crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on prepared and cut bait.

AMISTAD: Water clear; 54–62 degrees; 0.28’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics and jerkbaits. Striped bass are fair on crankbaits, slabs and grubs. White bass are fair on crankbaits, slabs and grubs.

Catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines and droplines baited with live perch.

ATHENS: Water lightly stained, 58–66 degrees; 0.8’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows — moving shallow.

Catfish are good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers.

fair on live bait. Catfish are fair to good on cut and prepared bait.

and jigs near the dam. Redfish are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver, shrimp, and cheesebait near the railroad trestle.

post spawn pattern, so target anywhere from 1–15 feet. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad over shallow mud flats.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 60–63 degrees; 1.91’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on black/chartreuse hair jigs, jerkbaits, and Texas-rigged worms on shaky jigheads in 20–30 feet. Striped bass are fair to good vertically jigging Pirk Minnows and Spoiler Shads, and trolling white striper jigs. White bass are fair jigging Roostertails along the main river channel at midlake. Smallmouth

GRANBURY: Water 59–62 degrees; 0.47’ low. An active fish kill continues to affect the lake, including channel and flathead catfish, largemouth bass, white bass, white crappie, and striped bass.

GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 57–65 degrees; 1.16’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs, jigs, drop-shot rigs and flukes. Crappie are fair to good

HOT SPOT

BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 58–67 degrees; 2.7’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on flukes, Texas rigs, jigs and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on trotlines or juglines.

BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and dark soft plastic worms in the reeds. Striped bass are fair on liver and shad at Dead Tree Point and near the pier. Redfish are slow. Channel catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cheesebait, and cut bait near the discharge. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water fairly clear; 57–65 degrees; 4.24’ low; Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Texas rigs and red Lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are fair to good on slabs and live shad.

Channel catfish are good on cut and prepared bait on shallow flats.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 10.01’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on crawfishcolored crankbaits and 4” soft plastic worms over brush piles in 4–10 feet.

Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits off lighted docks at night. Crappie are fair on chartreuse tube jigs and minnows over brush piles. Channel catfish are fair on cut bait and nightcrawlers over baited holes in 10–20 feet.

BUCHANAN: Water clear; 58–61 degrees; 10.78’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkin jigs, jerkbaits, and Carolina rigs along break lines in 10–20 feet. Striped bass are good trolling white/chartreuse jigs and crankbaits, and drifting live bait in 20–30 feet.

White bass are fair on slabs and trolling crankbaits near the mouths of larger creeks. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles.

CADDO: Water murky; 58–65 degrees; 0.38’ high. Largemouth bass are good on flukes and Texas rigs. White bass are fair on Roostertails and minnows. Yellow bass are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

CALAVERAS: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on dark soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits near the dam. Striped bass are fair on spoons

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 58–66 degrees; 27.16’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shallow on Texas rigs, and square-bill crankbaits — the deeper bite (larger females) is on jigs, Texasrigged 10” worms and deep-diving crankbaits. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows. Catfish are fair on prepared and live bait.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 57–65 degrees; 1.3’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on, Texas rigs and tubes. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs.

Hybrid striper are fair on slabs, and live shad. White bass are fair to good on slabs and minnows. Catfish are fair on prepared bait and chartreuse nightcrawlers.

BASTROP: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on black/pumpkinseed spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat–L– Traps. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs over brush piles.

Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.

BELTON: Water stained; 58–62 degrees; 3.09’ low. Largemouth bass are good on purple/black and navy blue soft plastics and topwaters. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. White bass are good on silver slabs. Crappie are very good on white riversides and on minnows under lights at night in 25 feet.

Channel and blue catfish are good on hot dogs and Spam. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch and goldfish.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 57–61 degrees; 0.19’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows off points in Liberty Hill Park. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and black/chartreuse, orange/chartreuse, red/chartreuse, and blue/white jigs. Blue catfish are good on juglines baited with perch and large minnows. Channel catfish are good on nightcrawlers and shrimp.

Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with perch.

Caddo Lake According to Angie King, tour boat operator for Johnson’s Ranch Marina, anglers have caught a lot of bass in the 10-pound range the past week, including a 16 pound monster. Fishing will only get better as big females move into the shallows to spawn. See story on page 16. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

bass are good on tomato red curl tail grubs, smoke/red flake tubes, and tomato red drop-shot worms over rock piles in 15–25 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows and crappie jigs upriver.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 57–65 degrees; 2.51’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on medium-running shad pattern crankbaits, Texas rigs and jigs.

White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad and large slabs jigged vertically. Crappie are fair to good on minnows.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 63–65 degrees; 6.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms and lizards. White bass are slow.

Crappie are slow. Drum are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and prepared baits. Yellow catfish are fair on live perch.

COLEMAN: Water clear; 60–64 degrees; 11.14’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastics and Rat–L–Traps. Hybrid striper are fair on minnows and silver striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles.

Channel catfish are good on stinkbait and cut bait.

COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 0.43’ low. Largemouth bass are slow.

Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live perch.

FALCON: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on small crankbaits and swimbaits, and on deep-running crankbaits off points. Crappie to 3.5 pounds are very good on minnows and crappie jigs under bridges. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on frozen shrimp, shad and prepared bait. Yellow catfish are fair on live perch.

FORK: Water fairly clear; 57–66 degrees; 3.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on square-bill crankbaits, Texas rigs, chatterbaits and drop-shot rigs.

Females are on beds or cruising in a

on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs and Roostertails.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 58–67 degrees; 1.51’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on watermelon flukes, Texas rigs, spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows and Roostertails fished shallow. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Striped bass are fair on live shad.

RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 57–66 degrees; 2.87’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and with movement towards the creeks. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good under cormorant roosts on prepared baits.

JOE POOL: Water off-color; 57–64 degrees; 0.14’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits and wacky rigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs over brush piles.

White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and prepared baits.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 56–65 degrees; 1.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse/white chatterbaits — also on watermelon/red split shotrigged flukes around shallow cover.

Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around standing timber in 12–20 feet.

White bass are fair to good on small swimbaits on shallow windy points on the main lake.

LAVON: Water stained; 57–65 degrees; 4.88’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits and shallow slow–running crankbaits.

White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around bridge columns. Catfish are fair to good on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 57–65 degrees; 2.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and spinnerbaits. White bass are fair on slabs and live shad. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and live shad. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on prepared bait and nightcrawlers.

LBJ: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.18’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red jigs, pumpkinseed worms, and green pumpkin tubes off docks. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair to good on silver Pirk Minnows near the power plant. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles.

Channel catfish are fair on shrimp and nightcrawlers.

TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 57–66 degrees; 2.97’ low. Largemouth bass are excellent on shallow-running crankbaits.

Crappie are good on 1/16 oz. jigheads in and around docks. White bass are fair in the upper end of the lake on chartreuse grubs on a 1/4 oz. jighead (spawn has begun). Striped bass and hybrid striper are good in 8–15 feet.

Catfish are excellent in 3–6 feet on cut bait and fresh shad.

LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 56–64 degrees; 0.97’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and Sassy Shad. White trolling catfish are good on prepared bait and chartreuse nightcrawlers.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 61–63 degrees; 0.15’ high. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are slow.

White bass are good on soft plastics, slabs in the north end of the lake. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad.

MEREDITH: Water fairly clear; 57–66 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, and cotton candy tubes. Smallmouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and Suspending stickbaits. Crappie are fair to good on Roostertails and minnows. Walleye are

TEXOMA: Water off-color; 57–64 degrees; 0.85’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Striped bass are good on live shad.

Catfish are fair on cut and live shad.

TRAVIS: Water stained; 62–65 degrees; 15.87’ low. Largemouth bass are good on smoke grubs, brown jigs, and crawfish-colored crankbaits in 10–20 feet. Striped bass are fair on white spoons and minnows in 20–40 feet.

White bass are fair on white spoons and chrome crankbaits in 20–35 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows and pink tube jigs in 15–30 feet.

WHITNEY: Water stained; 9.68’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Striped bass are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs.

SALTWATER SCENE NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good in the river on live shad. Redfish are good in the marsh on small topwaters and Stanley Ribbits.

Flounder are good on jigs tipped with shrimp.

SOUTH SABINE: Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Trout are fair around the Reef on live shrimp.

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet. Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet.

Trout are good while drifting slicks.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good while drifting shell and mud and dark–colored plastics. Trout are good on the south shoreline. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp. Black drum are good in the channel on blue crabs. Trout are fair to good for waders on the south shoreline on topwaters.

TEXAS CITY: Sheepshead and sand trout are good around the piers on shrimp. Redfish are fair to good on shrimp and crabs in Moses Lake.

FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Black drum are good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair to good for drifters on live shrimp under rattling corks over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good in the middle of the bay.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good in Oyster Lake on shrimp. Trout are fair on shell and grass on soft plastics and topwaters. Black drum are fair to good at the jetty on crabs.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are good on topwaters over soft mud in waist–deep water in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the mouths and drains of the back lakes with live shrimp.

ROCKPORT: Black drum are good in the Lydia Ann Channel on crabs. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. Redfish are fair on the Estes Flats on crabs and mullet.

PORT ARANSAS: Black drum are good in the Shrimpboat Channel on crabs and finger mullet. Redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are fair to good around Shamrock Cove on small topwaters and spoons. Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on live shrimp. Trout are fair in Oso Bay on topwaters.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good around the rocks. Trout are fair to good on the King Ranch shoreline on topwaters. Trout are good at night in the Land Cut. PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on topwaters around sand and grass holes.

Redfish are fair to good while drifting potholes on shrimp and plastics.

SOUTH PADRE: Black drum, redfish and sheepshead have been taken at the jetty. Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal.

Sheepshead are fair on shrimp around the rocks.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good in South Bay on live shrimp. Sheepshead and mangrove snapper are fair around the causeway on shrimp. Redfish are fair in Cullen Bay on jigs tipped with shrimp.

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Blooms and bites: Old wives’ tales swirl about springtime fishing white bass run is on,” is one tidbit circulating in the Sabine area; while “crappie begin to spawn when the dogwoods bloom,’’ is a popular saying in East Texas.

Dogwoods blooming also signal it’s top-water time for largemouths in other parts of the state.

Still other old-timers who frequent the Guadalupe and San Antonio Rivers will eagerly relate that, “when the cottonwood trees start dropping cotton, the carp will be biting.”

All of these old wives’ tales involving fishing and foliage may have some merit, but the correlation seems to be based more on the time of the season and warm weather conditions rather than any mysterious connection between wood and water.

“I’ve heard a lot of these old sayings, but I can tell you that we never REDBUDS: Old wives’ tales connect great fishing with blooming foli- based any of our fish surveys on that kind of thing,’’ said Jimmy Dean of age, like the redbuds shown here. Some observers say, however, that the two are unrelated other than they both occur with warmer San Antonio, who is a retired Texas Parks and Wildlife Department weather. Photo by Ron Gard, for LSON. fisheries biologist.

By Ralph Winingham “I guess that watching the (bloomFOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ing) trees was just a gauge of the season, and that can vary from year to year,” he said. “You Anglers are a superstitious lot, whether can tell more about when the fish will be bitthey are making sure to always have their ing by the water temperature, but even then lucky lure in the tackle box or they are look- if a cold snap comes in dropping the temperaing for a secret sign to tell them the bite is on. ture a few degrees the fish will be gone.

Crusty veterans are eager, often without “The only old saying that I know is true is any provocation, to share their wisdom about that ‘when the mesquite trees start bloomhow to tell when an angler should be tearing ing, winter is over.’” up the water with limits of fish just fighting for the chance to grab bait.

“When the redbuds are blooming, the See BLOOMS AND BITES, Page 16

March 25, 2011

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER WARDENS RESCUE INCLUDES RESCUE BOAT Hunt County Game Wardens Dale Waters and Gary Miller were called to rescue a fire department rescue boat.

The fire department was deployed for a boat with engine problems when the fire department boat ran out of gas. Both boats were pulled to shore.

FOOT SLIPPING LEADS TO LOST TRUCK, BOAT TRAILER While backing down a public boat ramp at Lake Tawakoni, a man’s foot slipped off the brake and hit the gas.

Hunt County Game Wardens Dale Waters and Gary Miller responded and found the new Ford F-350 truck and boat trailer under the water. The man was trying to retrieve his boat from the lake. The driver made it out safely. Divers were called in to hook up the vehicle and clear the ramp.

POOR DRIVER CITED FOR UNDERSIZED FISH After a traffic stop for reckless driving, a Webster Police Department officer discovered an ice chest full of fish and notified Harris County Game Warden Jennifer Inkster.

Inkster met the officer at the city jail and issued citations to two subjects for 18 undersized redfish and two black drum, no fishing license upon demand, and exceeding bag limits and possession limits.

BAD DAY ON THE LAKE While patrolling Calaveras Lake, Game Wardens Chad Moore and Derek Iden checked a subject who reportedly had just smoked some marijuana in a "bong" made out of a water bottle, took catfish with a cast net, didn't have a fishing license, and was trespassing on CPS Energy property. Several cases pending.

WARDEN RESCUES LOST KAYAKER Williamson County Game Warden Turk Jones received a call from Williamson County Communications about a boater in distress on Granger Lake. It was reported that a kayaker had launched his kayak at a primitive boat ramp and was returning from a 16-mile trip on the lake when night fell and he got lost. Losing battery on his cell phone and with temperatures starting to go down, the kayaker called 9-1-1 for help. As Jones was en route DEER IN BATHTUB IS CLEAN EVIDENCE Marion County Game Wardens Rick Lane and Robb Furlow arrested two Louisiana men for killing a white-tailed deer in closed season and hunting from the roadway. After observing dried blood in the bed of the men's truck, they interviewed both subjects and they admitted to killing an additional deer the previous night. The second deer was recovered at the suspects’ residence in the bathtub. Cases pending.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT IN OBSERVING SPOTLIGHTERS Gillespie County Game Warden Scott Krueger was out patrolling when he saw a spotlight sweep across the sky. He soon located the ranch and heard several shots while waiting for the vehicle to make its way to the gate. As the vehicle came within approximately 100 yards of Krueger's location, the spotlight lit up a jackrabbit. Krueger saw what was about to happen and had his finger on the switch to activate his red and blues when the subject shot at the rabbit with a .223. The subject immediately came to Krueger's location after seeing his grill lights.

A very shook-up 20-year-old man was issued a citation for no hunter education.

with a patrol boat, Williamson County was able to ping the kayaker’s cell phone and report his possible coordinates. Using a GPS unit and the possible coordinates, Jones reached the stranded kayaker. When asked where his life preserver was, the shivering kayaker responded that the lake was not a Class 4 rapid so he did not need a PFD. Jones corrected his thinking and returned him to his vehicle.

FISHING OUTING EXPOSES WARRANTS Harrison County Game Warden Darrin Peeples checked a subject fishing on Caddo Lake. The subject did not have a fishing license and a warrant check showed two active warrants for indecent exposure and deadly conduct. The subject was transported to the Harrison County Jail.

LANDOWNERS BLOCK TRESPASSERS At approximately 10 p.m., Erath County Game Warden Zach Havens responded to a call from the Erath County Sheriff’s Office in reference to criminal trespass and illegal hunting.

The dispatcher stated the landowner was blocking the gate. Havens contacted an Erath County deputy who was close by. The deputy entered one blocked gate, and Havens entered a second blocked gate after an adjacent landowner moved his front-end loader out of the way. Two subjects and several hog dogs suddenly found themselves pinned between a deputy and a game warden. The individuals and the dogs were escorted off the property.

ONE-DAY LICENSE DOESN’T COVER TOMORROW While checking bank fishermen on the Guadalupe River, Victoria County Game Warden Travis Haug walked to a secluded area of the river and

found two men fishing and smoking marijuana. The two men were both arrested for the marijuana, and they were both fishing with one-day licenses that were issued for the previous day. Cases pending.

YOUNGSTERS GET SURPRISE FROM WARDEN While on patrol in Archer County, Game Warden Richard Key noticed headlights approaching on a county road from south of his location. Key backed up about 100 yards from the intersection of the two county roads, and the driver of the vehicle approached the intersection, stopped and turned off the lights and engine.

Key observed the vehicle for about 10 minutes before approaching it.

Upon making contact, Key identified three juveniles who were in possession of a rifle. The three admitted to hunting from the county road. A bottle of liquor was also in their possession. Citations issued.

BRAGGING AT COFFEE SHOP CATCHES EAR OF CALLER A caller reported to Grayson County Game Warden Michael Hummert that he overheard someone at a local coffee shop talking about a doe that had been killed out of season. The caller was only able to provide a possible

last name of the subject and the area of town that he lived in. Hummert began investigating and was able to obtain an address. Three hours later, he had a confession for illegal hunting. Hummert also seized the deer meat and deer hide. The subject faces charges of no hunting license, hunting during closed season, untagged deer, no hunter education and illegal means and methods (gun in an archery-only county). Cases and civil restitution are pending.

STATES WORK TOGETHER ON STRING OF VIOLATIONS Dimmit County Game Warden Gene Fernandez wrapped up a case that began just six days prior. The case involved an out-of-state oil field worker who shot a big 9-point buck around 12:30 a.m. at an RV park by the Nueces River. The subject shot the buck at night with a light without landowner consent, used a .17-caliber rimfire rifle, did not have a valid Texas hunting license and tagged the deer with a tag that he “got from a friend.” After speaking with several individuals who witnessed the deer just after being shot, Fernandez received a phone call from an individual stating that the head had been taken to a taxidermist’s shop in Louisiana, but that one of the subject’s family members was going to pick it up and attempt to destroy it. Fernandez was able to contact a Louisiana Fish and Game Agent and get the head and cape secured in their possession. That same day, Fernandez received a call from the subject himself stating that he was on his way down from North Texas to give a full confession and turn himself in. Numerous cases pending including one against the friend that gave the subject the tag to illegally tag the deer.

LSONews.com

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Super moon

Mystery cure

Continued From Page 1

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some really nice pictures of it, though.”

Fishing was all over the map during the full moon.

While the moon did affect tides, fishing remained about the same as it has been during the past few weeks. Great for some folks, not so great for others. The coast was plagued by strong southeastern winds during the full moon weekend, making fishing tough in some places.

Bass fishermen experienced the same thing.

Some big fish were caught during the full moon, but the majority of those were females moving into spawning areas, which they would have done regardless of how big the full moon was.

Reports from Lake Fork had some nice stringers being caught, but the majority of the bass were in the 5- to 6-pound range.

If the moon had any greater affect than normal on the fishing, it was hard to quantify. It did make for some great pictures and a nice scene to sit on a dock and enjoy nature.

make sure it was OK and then released it back into the lake when he was sure the bleeding had stopped.

VanDam recently placed 5th at the Elite Series Sunshine Showdown in Tavares, Fla. — one notch below his uncle, top pro Kevin VanDam, who won his fourth Bassmaster Classic in February.

The younger VanDam said he’s not sure why soft drinks can stop fish blood, but just about any of them will work, including Sprite and Dr Pepper.

“It doesn’t take much, but it does seem to work,” he said. “I don’t think too many people know about it.”

He’s right.

Most university professors and state biologists contacted for this story had never heard of the technique.

The technique also perplexed Dr. Greg Stunz, a marine biologist at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.

“It could potentially do something, but as far as I know, there is no scientific evidence,” Stunz said. “I’d love to be wrong on that because it sounds like it could be a great silver bullet, but, right now, I’m a little skeptical.”

Stunz and his students research fish mortality in catch-and-release situations.

He said “global research” consistently shows that only 10 percent of fish, fresh or salt water, die during catch and release.

A fish usually dies when it gets “hooked deep” in the esophagus, Stunz said.

Brian Waldman of Coatesville Ind., is not a scientist, but he studies fish biology as a hobby — when he’s not fishing for bass.

Waldman said he has seen people do it, and it seemed to work. He has researched soft drink first aid and posted an article about it on his Web site, Big Indiana Bass.

“It’s kind of like an urban myth or legend,” he said.

“Everybody has their theory why, but nobody really knows why.”

At first he thought the carbonation might be a coagulant, but then he read that carbon dioxide is normally expelled from a fish’s body without clotting anything.

Next, he considered the acidity of the drink might cause a minor chemical burn that cauterizes the wound.

But Waldman said he wonders if it has more to do with the liquidity of the drink. He has heard that fish blood clots faster in water than in air.

Water, being cooler, may stop bleeding by causing the blood vessels to constrict.

Turkey opener Continued From Page 1

However, when it came to pulling the mature birds away from hens, some hunters found it tough.

“I wasn’t out this past weekend, but I talked to lots of hunters who were,” said Ray Hood, National Wild Turkey Federation representative. “The birds are gobbling a lot and are starting to engage.

“People heard a lot of gobbling and saw a lot of strutting. The hens are just starting to lay eggs.”

Hood said it would probably be two or three weeks before the hunting peaked in the southern zone, when mature birds breed the majority of the hens and become more responsive to calling.

“It was real windy, but there are a lot of birds out there,” he added.

Jason Hardin, Texas Parks and Wildlife lead turkey biologist, said the toms were still somewhat flocked up, and the dry conditions were making nesting tough for hens.

“I haven’t heard of a lot of breeding activity yet,” he said. “But the birds are gobbling.”

Hood said the entire state needs rain soon, or the breeding season will not be a good one.

“We’re still optimistic of a good hatch like last year,” he said.

“But we need some rain soon to help with nesting habitat.”

With more hens heading to nests, the hunting should continue to improve during the next few weeks of the season in the South Zone. The North Zone season begins April 2.

LSONews.com

“Maybe just the fact you’re pouring something really liquid on the wound is the equivalent of putting the fish back into water.”

And returning the fish to the lake or a livewell is widely considered the best way to stop bleeding, Stunz said.

“Our general take on catch and release is the less handling, the better,” he said. “The quicker you can unhook it and get back into the water, the better.”

LSONews.com

Three elected to Texas Conservation Hall of Fame A habitat restoration pioneer, a noted conservationist-philanthropist, and the state’s largest landowner membership organization, have all been elected to the Texas Conservation Hall of Fame. J. David Bamberger, George C. “Tim” Hixon and the Texas Wildlife Association comprise the Class of 2011 to be inducted at a gala September 22 at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio.

Each of the 2011 Hall of Fame inductees will receive the Conservation Gold Medal during a ceremony featuring video tributes and other more complete information about their conservation influences and accomplishments.

—Staff report

WFN launches on Comcast in Houston World Fishing Network, North America’s only 24-hour fishing lifestyle network, announced that WFN HD is now available to customers in select areas of Houston and the surrounding areas on channel #271. Comcast Houston customers can get WFN as part of Comcast’s Sports and Entertainment Tier.

“Houston is located in the heart of

Social media Continued From Page 6

came up on it.”

Amos Cooper, biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, estimated that an alligator that large would be at least 20 years old, but he could have been as old as 40.

He said gators are top carnivores that eat anything they can catch: fish, raccoons, squirrels, feral hogs, an occasional calf, and sometimes each other.

This one, Cooper said, was probably emerging from winter sluggishness when they eat next to nothing. He said it’s possible that the gator had lived in the area for many years.

“Central Texas has resident populations of alligators that people never see because they stay out of the way,” Ensinger said.

The investigation evolved.

Ensinger said he learned that some ranch hands had been looking for some stray cows when they saw the gator in the creek.

They told another man who, Ensinger believes, searched repeatedly for the huge reptile before finally killing it with a high-powered rifle.

But the Facebook information allowed the warden to identify the suspect; he questioned the man and then cited him for the illegal taking of an alligator — a Class C misdemeanor.

Lt. Cody Jones at TPWD headquarters in Austin said wardens have built several cases using information from Facebook, and he expects there will be more.

For example, game wardens in Kansas reported last year that a Facebook page indicated a Texan illegally killed a trophy deer in their state.

Texas wardens joined the investigation, which lead to a Beaumontarea man; they confiscated the deer and archery equipment.

Jones said other sites, like eBay and Craigslist have led wardens to people who were illegally selling game meat on the Internet, or trying to get rid animals they turned into pets, like fawns.

“Of course all these new forums for hunting and fishing are good also,” Jones said. “But dealing with different media sources involves different tactics.

“Facebook is kind of a different situation; you have to be a friend of these folks because of a security setting in there.

“We rely heavily on the public to get that information to us. It’s kind of one more tool in our tool chests.”

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

one of America’s best fishing spots and as a result the demand for WFN there has been strong,” said Mark Rubinstein, president & CEO of WFN. “We are thrilled to bring WFN to Comcast customers in Houston, and look forward to bringing WFN to more Comcast customers soon.”

—WFN report

USF&W to launch major survey The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will soon be conducting the 12th National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

Hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts across the nation will be asked to participate in interviewing set to begin April 1. The survey, which has been conducted every five years since 1955, will involve 53,000 households.

“We appreciate the anglers, hunters, birdwatchers and other citizens throughout the United States who voluntarily participate in the survey when contacted,” said Acting Director Rowan Gould, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The survey results help wildlife and natural resource managers quantify how much Americans value wildlife resources in terms of both participation and expenditures.”

—Staff report

March 25, 2011

Page 15

Raise money Continued From Page 4

Jackson attributes the chapter’s success to its 35 committee members and being known for having more raffle items than most.

“We gave away 103 guns this year,” he said. “It’s become the social event of the year around here.”

Cleveland’s banquet also brings out the crowd each year.

“In a small town, you have to make it the place that everybody wants to be,” said Chairman Tom Johnson. “It’s all about the atmosphere — if you do that, you’ll have a good event.”

The top National Wild Turkey Federation chapter was the Pineywoods Chapter out of Lufkin. Shawn Roberts, regional field supervisor, credits the volunteers and the group’s focus on the community.

“We put so much money back in the community, and we try to put together the best show in the town,” Roberts said. “It seems like it has taken hold — we’ve had 12 banquets so far this year and we’re up $80,000 over last year.”

For the Dallas Safari Club, it’s a year-long preparation by staff and hundreds of volunteers for a 4-day event.

“We’re continuing to grow because we work hard at letting people know who we are and what we do,” said Executive Director Ben Carter. “We promote it all year long and that attracts members, and many of our members become passionate members.”

DSC’s convention has become a destination show, with exhibitors and attendees from around the globe.

“Our exhibitors do well and attendees come because of the exhibitors,” Carter said, “and our auctions do well because the money goes to causes people believe in.”

Page 16

March 25, 2011

Blooms and bites Continued From Page 11

Modern technology allows anglers to accurately measure water temperature at various depths; check the barometric pressure; monitor the solunar tables; and keep tabs on numerous other conditions believed to impact fish activity.

While the superstitions of old remain colorful, they are, ultimately, an outdated method of monitoring fishing activity, Dean said.

“It all really boils down to fishing at the right place on the right day,” he said.

Concerning the prognosticating ability of foliage, David Winningham of Natives of Texas Nursery in Kerrville, who is also a retired rocket scientist, said he knows of no correlation between the two.

“The only possible common factor between the two is the temperature,’’ he said, explaining that when the air temperature is warm enough, the water temperature will reach the level where fish will become active and in a biting mood.

Not only is there no connection between wood and water, in some cases the blooms are actually detrimental to fish populations.

“Dogwood trees, both the eastern variety east of Interstate 35 and the western or mountain variety, have semi-toxic blooms (hazardous to both fish and humans),” Winningham said. “Cottonwood trees and especially sycamore trees can drop seeds on the water and the fish will think they are flies.”

In either scenario, blooming trees are not conducive to a healthy environment for inhabitants of the deep.

Whether an angler wants to observe and act on the old wives’ tales or not, everyone agrees that the best way to determine if the bite is on is to get out on the water and get some kind of bait in front of the fish.

Master Continued From Page 8

“Pretty much deer corn can be boiled and I throw a big pile of it out the night before,” Munn said. “I always use the same bait I chum with to fish. Some days I’ll go out and it will be pulling in fish after fish. I’ve had days where I’ve caught 300 or 400 pounds of fish.”

Munn said he mostly fishes around Austin, and his personal best carp, a 38-pounder from Town Lake, was caught during the middle of last summer.

“I’ve had the most success when the weather gets really hot during the summer,” he said. “Right now is when it starts to get good.”

Although summer is prime time, Munn had a pretty good run this past winter, when he set eight new records.

It started on Dec. 31, when he caught a 15.06-pound common carp to break the water body record on Inks Lake. He followed that up with a New Year’s Day lake record Blue catfish that weighed 30 pounds.

One day later, while fishing on Lake Travis, Munn set another water body record when he landed a 29.81-pound smallmouth buffalo fishing with maize.

A week later, on Jan. 9, he set two water body records on Walter E. Long Reservoir. First was a 14.25pound common carp, followed by a 43.44-pound Smallmouth buffalo.

Three days later, he was fishing on the Comal River when he landed a 20.38-pound common carp to set the river record.

Then another week later, Munn was fishing on the Colorado River when he caught a 14.69-pound common carp — another record.

Finally, on Feb. 13, he broke his own record on Walter E. Long, when he caught a 48.13-pound Smallmouth buffalo.

“The common carp is a great fighting fish,” he said. “They pull like a train. They just have so much fight in them.

“The buffalo feel like a log, but I’ve seen them come out of the water and dance like a bass.”

Munn said he also caught the unofficial state record, when he landed a 54.5-pound grass carp, but didn’t claim the record in time.

“I was 22 days late,” he said. “I didn’t realize it was a record until it was too late.”

Munn said the Internet helped turn him on to carp fishing.

“I checked out the water body records and got a pretty good idea of where the bigger fish were,” he said. “There are some really big bow fishing records, so I know where the big fish are located.”

Munn’s future plans include fishing local carp tournaments and trips to South Texas to fish places like Choke Canyon. Until then, he’ll keep focusing on water around his home and setting new records.

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

is over. Since the fish is less than 90 percent Florida bass, it will not be used for spawning but will be returned to Caddo Lake as soon as possible.

This year, it tops a fish from Lake Austin A lunker bass lurking in Caddo that weighed 16.03 Lake might be the biggest bass pounds. It takes over caught in the state of Texas for the number 20 spot on the second year in a row. the Top 50 list of bigDe Berry angler Sean Swank gest bass ever caught was jigging in 4 feet of water in Texas and also ranks DOUBLE TROUBLE: This big bass was the biggest caught when the big female hit. The fish number 16 due to its in Texas last year and currently is the biggest bass caught weighed 16.07 pounds, was 25 previous catch, when it inches long and had a 21.75-inch so far this year. Photo by David Campbell, TPWD. weighed 16.17 pounds. girth.

Catches of 16-pound When Swank called Texas or bigger fish are extremely rare. Only 25 have been Parks and Wildlife officials to pick the fish up, it was reported in Texas. Two of those came during the curscanned for a PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) rent season and two last season. Prior to last season, tag, and was found to be the same fish caught almost no 16-pound or bigger fish had been reported in Texas exactly one year before by Keith Burns. since the 2001-2002 season. This is the sixth season At 16.17 pounds, the fish set the lake record and that two or more 16-pound-plus fish have been caught. won Burns the 2010 Toyota ShareLunker Angler of Three were caught in each of the 1990-91 and 1991the Year in the state of Texas for catching the biggest 92 seasons; one of those was the current state record bass of the season.

18.18-pounder caught at Lake Fork in 1992.

Burns returned the fish to the lake last year, as —Staff report most anglers choose to do once the spawning season

Big bass from Caddo caught for second straight year

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

March 25, 2011

Page 17

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He reveals his guarded secrets and innovative techniques for catching bass under tough conditions in his 210-page handbook. The latest revised edition includes new tips and tricks, more images throughout, and a new section on power fishing. The list price of the book, which was produced by VanDam and journalist Louie Stout, is $18.95.

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CAMOUFLAGE BIKINI: blend into the Don’t worry. You won’t ble background in this camo bikini from Swimwear ColRealtree’s 2011 Camo Sw includes tankinis, lection. The collection inc one-piece swimbikinis, and one-p suits. This biki bikini combines Realtree APG camo, a band, and an eyebrown band catching pop p of sunny yellow. Th This head-turnswimsuit will give ing swim you the edge in the hunt for f summer fun. The two piecare sold sepaes a rately, with the rat halter top costing ha about $40 and ab the banded bottom costing $38.

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Page 18

March 25, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides

Last

Time

7:36 p.m.

7:51 p.m.

2:22 p.m.

2:29 p.m.

2:36 p.m.

2:46 p.m.

2:56 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

3:09 p.m.

3:04 p.m.

2:54 p.m.

2:54 p.m.

Height

1.8 L 1.6 L 2.1 H 2.0 H 2.0 H 2.0 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.3 H 2.5 H

Time

Height

11:01 p.m. 2.0 H 8:06 p.m.

8:22 p.m.

8:40 p.m.

9:02 p.m.

9:28 p.m.

9:57 p.m.

10:29 p.m.

11:05 p.m.

11:46 p.m.

1.4 L 1.1 L 0.9 L 0.5 L 0.4 L 0.2 L 0.2 L 0.0 L 0.0 L

Time

Height

Date Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar 30 Mar 31 Apr 01 Apr 02 Apr 03 Apr 04 Apr 05 Apr 06 Apr 07 Apr 08

April 15

April 8

Houston

Time Height 4:52 a.m. -0.2 L 6:06 a.m. -0.1 L 7:29 a.m. 0.0 L 8:51 a.m. 0.0 L 10:04 a.m. 0.1 L 11:09 a.m. 0.2 L 4:19 a.m. 0.7 H 5:56 a.m. 0.7 H 7:13 a.m. 0.7 H 12:17 a.m. 0.3 L 12:41 a.m. 0.2 L 1:08 a.m. 0.1 L 1:41 a.m. 0.1 L 2:18 a.m. 0.1 L 3:03 a.m. 0.0 L

Time Height 6:50 p.m. 0.9 H 7:29 p.m. 0.9 H 7:57 p.m. 0.9 H 8:04 p.m. 0.8 H 7:46 p.m. 0.7 H 7:26 p.m. 0.6 H 12:07 p.m. 0.3 L 1:06 p.m. 0.4 L 2:13 p.m. 0.4 L 8:24 a.m. 0.8 H 9:37 a.m. 0.8 H 11:05 a.m. 0.8 H 1:19 p.m. 0.9 H 3:20 p.m. 1.0 H 4:30 p.m. 1.0 H

Time

11:29 p.m.

7:06 p.m.

6:38 p.m.

5:49 p.m.

Height

Time

Height

0.5 L 0.6 H 11:38 p.m.

0.5 H 11:55 p.m.

0.5 H

0.5 L 0.4 L

Height

Height

Rockport

Time Height 11:50 a.m. 2.0 H 1:18 p.m. 2.0 H 2:15 p.m. 1.9 H 2:46 p.m. 1.9 H 3:01 p.m. 1.7 H 8:04 a.m. 0.4 L 8:44 a.m. 0.7 L 9:17 a.m. 0.9 L 9:46 a.m. 1.0 L 10:13 a.m. 1.3 L 10:42 a.m. 1.4 L 11:12 a.m. 1.6 L 11:44 a.m. 1.6 L 12:16 p.m. 1.7 L 9:27 a.m. 2.0 H

Time

Height

8:02 p.m.

8:17 p.m.

3:09 p.m.

3:16 p.m.

3:23 p.m.

3:33 p.m.

3:43 p.m.

3:52 p.m.

3:56 p.m.

3:51 p.m.

3:41 p.m.

12:47 p.m.

.4 L 1.3 L 1.7 H 1.6 H 1.6 H 1.6 H 1.7 H 1.7 H .7 H 1.7 H 1.9 H 1.9 L

Time

Height

11:48 p.m. 1.6 H 8:32 p.m.

8:48 p.m.

9:06 p.m.

9:28 p.m.

9:54 p.m.

10:23 p.m.

10:55 p.m.

11:31 p.m.

1.1 L 0.9 L 0.7 L 0.4 L 0.3 L 0.1 L 0.1 L 0.0 L

3:41 p.m. 2.0 H

Date Time Height Mar 25 6:02 a.m. -0.05 L Mar 26 7:08 a.m. -0.03 L Mar 27 8:11 a.m. 0.00 L Mar 28 9:09 a.m. 0.03 L Mar 29 12:31 a.m. 0.30 H Mar 30 1:42 a.m. 0.29 H Mar 31 3:03 a.m. 0.27 H Apr 01 4:43 a.m. 0.26 H Apr 02 6:51 a.m. 0.25 H Apr 03 2:01 a.m. 0.13 L Apr 04 12:59 a.m. 0.11 L Apr 05 1:51 a.m. 0.10 L Apr 06 2:40 a.m. 0.10 L Apr 07 3:32 a.m. 0.10 L Apr 08 4:28 a.m. 0.10 L

Time Height 8:50 p.m. 0.30 H 10:07 p.m. 0.31 H 11:21 p.m. 0.31 H 9:57 a.m.

10:35 a.m.

11:01 a.m.

11:17 a.m.

11:19 a.m.

3:47 p.m.

3:56 p.m.

4:15 p.m.

4:49 p.m.

5:42 p.m.

6:47 p.m.

0.07 L 0.11 L 0.15 L 0.20 L 0.24 L 0.29 H 0.32 H 0.34 H 0.36 H 0.37 H 0.39 H

Time

Time

Time Height 12:20 p.m. 1.2 H 1:48 p.m. 1.2 H 2:45 p.m. 1.1 H 3:16 p.m. 1.1 H 8:10 a.m. 0.2 L 9:00 a.m. 0.3 L 9:40 a.m. 0.4 L 10:13 a.m. 0.5 L 10:42 a.m. 0.6 L 11:09 a.m. 0.8 L 11:38 a.m. 0.9 L 12:08 p.m. 0.9 L 12:40 p.m. 0.9 L 8:52 a.m. 1.2 H 9:57 a.m. 1.2 H

8:58 p.m.

3:31 p.m.

3:39 p.m.

3:46 p.m.

3:53 p.m.

4:03 p.m.

4:13 p.m.

4:22 p.m.

4:26 p.m.

4:21 p.m.

1:12 p.m.

1:43 p.m.

0.9 L 1.0 H 1.0 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 1.0 H 1.0 H 1.0 H 1.0 H 1.0 L 1.1 L

Time

Height

9:13 p.m.

9:28 p.m.

9:44 p.m.

10:0 p.m.

10:24 p.m.

10:50 p.m.

11:19 p.m.

11:51 p.m.

0.8 L 0.7 L 0.5 L 0.4 L 0.3 L 0.2 L 0.1 L 0.1 L

Date Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar 30 Mar 31 Apr 01 Apr 02 Apr 03 Apr 04 Apr 05 Apr 06 Apr 07 Apr 08

4:11 p.m. 1.1 H 4:11 p.m. 1.2 H

Time Height 1:57 a.m. -0.2 L 3:14 a.m. -0.1 L 4:36 a.m. 0.0 L 5:51 a.m. 0.1 L 6:53 a.m. 0.2 L 1:03 a.m. 1.4 H 2:10 a.m. 1.4 H 3:09 a.m. 1.4 H 4:01 a.m. 1.5 H 4:51 a.m. 1.6 H 5:38 a.m. 1.6 H 6:27 a.m. 1.6 H 7:18 a.m. 1.6 H 8:15 a.m. 1.6 H 9:20 a.m. 1.6 H

Time Height 11:43 a.m. 1.6 H 1:11 p.m. 1.6 H 2:08 p.m. 1.5 H 2:39 p.m. 1.5 H 2:54 p.m. 1.4 H 7:43 a.m. 0.2 L 8:23 a.m. 0.4 L 8:56 a.m. 0.5 L 9:25 a.m. 0.5 L 9:52 a.m. 0.7 L 10:21 a.m. 0.8 L 10:51 a.m. 0.8 L 11:23 a.m. 0.8 L 11:55 a.m. 0.9 L 12:26 p.m. 1.0 L

4:26 p.m.

3:56 p.m.

3:46 p.m.

0.19 H 0.22 H 0.26 H

9:00 p.m. 0.17 L 10:46 p.m. 0.15 L

Time

7:41 p.m.

7:56 p.m.

3:02 p.m.

3:09 p.m.

3:16 p.m.

3:26 p.m.

3:36 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:49 p.m.

3:44 p.m.

3:34 p.m.

3:34 p.m.

Height

0.8 L 0.7 L 1.4 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.5 H 1.6 H

Time

Height

11:41 p.m. 1.3 H 8:11 p.m.

8:27 p.m.

8:45 p.m.

9:07 p.m.

9:33 p.m.

10:02 p.m.

10:34 p.m.

11:10 p.m.

11:51 p.m.

0.6 L 0.5 L 0.4 L 0.2 L 0.2 L 0.1 L 0.1 L 0.0 L 0.0 L

Time

Height

South Padre Island

Freeport Harbor Time Height 11:12 a.m. 1.7 H 12:40 p.m. 1.7 H 1:37 p.m. 1.6 H 2:08 p.m. 1.6 H 2:23 p.m. 1.5 H 8:01 a.m. 0.3 L 8:41 a.m. 0.5 L 9:14 a.m. 0.5 L 9:43 a.m. 0.6 L 10:10 a.m. 0.8 L 10:39 a.m. 0.9 L 11:09 a.m. 1.0 L 11:41 a.m. 1.0 L 12:13 p.m. 1.1 L 8:49 a.m. 1.7 H

Time

Height

7:59 p.m.

8:14 p.m.

2:31 p.m.

2:38 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

2:55 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

3:14 p.m.

3:18 p.m.

3:13 p.m.

3:03 p.m.

12:44 p.m.

0.9 L 0.8 L 1.5 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.6 H 1.2 L

Time

Height

11:10 p.m. 1.4 H 8:29 p.m.

8:45 p.m.

9:03 p.m.

9:25 p.m.

9:51 p.m.

10:20 p.m.

10:52 p.m.

11:28 p.m.

0.7 L 0.5 L 0.5 L 0.3 L 0.2 L 0.1 L 0.1 L 0.0 L

3:03 p.m. 1.7 H

Date Time Mar 25 1:47 a.m.

Mar 26 2:58 a.m.

Mar 27 4:11 a.m.

Mar 28 5:24 a.m.

Mar 29 6:31 a.m.

Mar 30 7:31 a.m.

Mar 31 1:29 a.m.

Apr 01 2:42 a.m.

Apr 02 3:45 a.m.

Apr 03 4:42 a.m.

Apr 04 5:35 a.m.

Apr 05 6:30 a.m.

Apr 06 7:30 a.m.

Apr 07 8:40 a.m.

Apr 08 10:01 a.m.

Height -0.5 L -0.4 L -0.2 L 0.0 L 0.2 L 0.4 L 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.5 H

Time 12:18 p.m.

1:23 p.m.

2:03 p.m.

2:26 p.m.

2:40 p.m.

2:46 p.m.

8:25 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

10:05 a.m.

10:56 a.m.

9:59 p.m.

10:29 p.m.

11:04 p.m.

11:47 p.m.

Height 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.4 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 0.6 L 0.7 L 0.8 L 0.9 L 0.1 L -0.1 L -0.1 L -0.2 L

2011 Mar-Apr 25 Fri 26 Sat Q 27 Sun 28 Mon 29 Tue 30 Wed 31 Thu 01 Fri > 02 Sat > 03 Sun N 04 Mon > 05 Tue > 06 Wed 07 Thu 08 Fri 09 Sat 10 Sun Q 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed

A.M. Minor Major 11:33 5:19 12:05 6:16 12:55 7:08 1:42 7:54 2:24 8:35 3:03 9:13 3:39 9:49 4:15 10:25 4:53 11:03 5:33 11:43 6:16 12:05 7:03 12:51 7:54 1:42 8:48 2:35 9:44 3:31 10:42 4:29 11:39 5:25 12:10 6:21 1:00 7:13 1:49 8:02

P.M. Minor ----12:29 1:20 2:05 2:46 3:24 3:59 4:35 5:13 5:54 6:38 7:26 8:18 9:13 10:11 11:09 ----12:34 1:26 2:15

Major 5:47 6:43 7:33 8:17 8:57 9:34 10:10 10:46 11:23 12:04 12:27 1:14 2:06 3:01 3:58 4:55 5:52 6:47 7:39 8:28

SUN Rises Sets 07:19 07:34 07:18 07:35 07:17 07:36 07:15 07:36 07:14 07:37 07:13 07:37 07:12 07:38 07:11 07:38 07:09 07:39 07:08 07:40 07:07 07:40 07:06 07:41 07:05 07:41 07:04 07:42 07:02 07:42 07:01 07:43 07:00 07:44 06:59 07:44 06:58 07:45 06:57 07:45

MOON Rises Sets 1:25a 11:51a 2:18a 12:49p 3:05a 1:47p 3:45a 2:44p 4:21a 3:39p 4:53a 4:32p 5:23a 5:24p 5:52a 6:16p 6:21a 7:08p 6:51a 8:01p 7:23a 8:56p 7:58a 9:51p 8:37a 10:47p 9:21a 11:42p 10:10a NoMoon 11:04a 12:35a 12:02p 1:26a 1:04p 2:13a 2:08p 2:57a 3:13p 3:38a

P.M. Minor Major ----- 5:53 12:35 6:48 1:26 7:38 2:11 8:23 2:52 9:03 3:29 9:40 4:05 10:15 4:41 10:51 5:19 11:29 5:59 12:10 6:43 12:32 7:31 1:20 8:24 2:11 9:19 3:06 10:16 4:03 11:14 5:01 ----- 5:58 12:39 6:53 1:32 7:45 2:21 8:34

SUN Rises Sets 07:24 07:40 07:23 07:41 07:21 07:42 07:20 07:42 07:19 07:43 07:17 07:44 07:16 07:44 07:15 07:45 07:14 07:46 07:12 07:47 07:11 07:47 07:10 07:48 07:08 07:49 07:07 07:49 07:06 07:50 07:05 07:51 07:03 07:51 07:02 07:52 07:01 07:53 07:00 07:54

MOON Rises Sets 1:38a 11:48a 2:31a 12:47p 3:17a 1:46p 3:57a 2:44p 4:31a 3:41p 5:02a 4:35p 5:31a 5:29p 5:58a 6:22p 6:26a 7:16p 6:54a 8:11p 7:25a 9:07p 7:58a 10:03p 8:36a 11:00p 9:19a 11:55p 10:07a NoMoon 11:01a 12:49a 12:00p 1:39a 1:03p 2:26a 2:09p 3:08a 3:16p 3:47a

P.M. Minor Major ----- 6:00 12:42 6:55 1:33 7:45 2:18 8:30 2:59 9:10 3:36 9:47 4:12 10:22 4:48 10:58 5:26 11:36 6:06 12:17 6:50 12:39 7:38 1:27 8:31 2:18 9:26 3:13 10:23 4:10 11:21 5:08 ----- 6:05 12:46 7:00 1:39 7:52 2:28 8:41

SUN Rises Sets 07:32 07:47 07:30 07:47 07:29 07:48 07:28 07:48 07:27 07:49 07:26 07:50 07:24 07:50 07:23 07:51 07:22 07:51 07:21 07:52 07:20 07:52 07:19 07:53 07:17 07:54 07:16 07:54 07:15 07:55 07:14 07:55 07:13 07:56 07:12 07:56 07:11 07:57 07:10 07:58

MOON Rises 1:37a 2:30a 3:17a 3:57a 4:33a 5:06a 5:36a 6:05a 6:34a 7:04a 7:37a 8:12a 8:51a 9:35a 10:24a 11:17a 12:16p 1:17p 2:22p 3:27p

Sets 12:04p 1:03p 2:01p 2:57p 3:52p 4:45p 5:37p 6:29p 7:21p 8:14p 9:08p 10:03p 10:59p 11:54p NoMoon 12:47a 1:38a 2:25a 3:09a 3:50a

P.M. Minor ----12:55 1:46 2:31 3:12 3:49 4:25 5:01 5:39 6:19 7:04 7:52 8:44 9:39 10:36 11:34 12:05 1:00 1:52 2:41

SUN Rises 07:44 07:43 07:41 07:40 07:38 07:37 07:36 07:34 07:33 07:31 07:30 07:29 07:27 07:26 07:25 07:23 07:22 07:21 07:19 07:18

MOON Rises 2:06a 2:59a 3:44a 4:22a 4:55a 5:25a 5:53a 6:19a 6:45a 7:13a 7:42a 8:15a 8:52a 9:34a 10:22a 11:16a 12:16p 1:20p 2:27p 3:35p

Sets 12:03p 1:02p 2:02p 3:01p 3:59p 4:55p 5:50p 6:44p 7:39p 8:35p 9:32p 10:29p 11:27p NoMoon 12:23a 1:16a 2:06a 2:52a 3:33a 4:11a

Dallas

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier

San Luis Pass

Date Time Height Mar 25 2:15 a.m. -0.2 L Mar 26 3:32 a.m. -0.1 L Mar 27 4:54 a.m. 0.0 L Mar 28 6:09 a.m. 0.1 L Mar 29 7:11 a.m. 0.2 L Mar 30 12:32 a.m. 1.5 H Mar 31 1:39 a.m. 1.5 H Apr 01 2:38 a.m. 1.5 H Apr 02 3:30 a.m. 1.6 H Apr 03 4:20 a.m. 1.7 H Apr 04 5:07 a.m. 1.7 H Apr 05 5:56 a.m. 1.7 H Apr 06 6:47 a.m. 1.7 H Apr 07 7:44 a.m. .7 H Apr 08 12:09 a.m. 0.0 L

First

April 1

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. F=Full Moon, N=New Moon, Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

Full

Port O’Connor Time Height 11:03 a.m. 2.5 H 12:31 p.m. 2.5 H 1:28 p.m. 2.3 H 1:59 p.m. 2.3 H 2:14 p.m. 2.1 H 7:38 a.m. 0.5 L 8:18 a.m. 0.9 L 8:51 a.m. 1.1 L 9:20 a.m. 1.3 L 9:47 a.m. 1.6 L 10:16 a.m. 1.8 L 10:46 a.m. 2.0 L 11:18 a.m. 2.0 L 11:50 a.m. 2.1 L 12:21 p.m. 2.3 L

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty

Date Time Height Mar 25 3:14 a.m. 0.2 L Mar 26 4:31 a.m. -0.1 L Mar 27 5:53 a.m. 0.0 L Mar 28 7:08 a.m. 0.1 L Mar 29 12:18 a.m. 0.9 H Mar 30 1:40 a.m. 1.0 H Mar 31 2:47 a.m. 1.0 H Apr 01 3:46 a.m. 1.0 H Apr 02 4:38 a.m. 1.1 H Apr 03 5:28 a.m. 1.2 H Apr 04 6:15 a.m. 1.2 H Apr 05 7:04 a.m. 1.2 H Apr 06 7:55 a.m. 1.2 H Apr 07 12:27 a.m. 0.0 L Apr 08 1:08 a.m. 0.0 L

New

March 25

Sabine Pass, jetty

Date Time Height Mar 25 2:18 a.m. -0.3 L Mar 26 3:35 a.m. -0.1 L Mar 27 4:57 a.m. 0.0 L Mar 28 6:12 a.m. 0.1 L Mar 29 7:14 a.m. 0.3 L Mar 30 1:10 a.m. 1.7 H Mar 31 2:17 a.m. 1.7 H Apr 01 3:16 a.m. 1.7 H Apr 02 4:08 a.m. 1.9 H Apr 03 4:58 a.m. 2.0 H Apr 04 5:45 a.m. 2.0 H Apr 05 6:34 a.m. 2.0 H Apr 06 7:25 a.m. 2.0 H Apr 07 8:22 a.m. 2.0 H Apr 08 12:12 a.m. 0.0 L

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases

Texas Coast Tides Date Time Height Mar 25 1:52 a.m. -0.4 L Mar 26 3:09 a.m. -0.2 L Mar 27 4:31 a.m. 0.0 L Mar 28 5:46 a.m. 0.2 L Mar 29 6:48 a.m. 0.4 L Mar 30 12:23 a.m. 2.1 H Mar 31 1:30 a.m. 2.1 H Apr 01 2:29 a.m. 2.1 H Apr 02 3:21 a.m. 2.3 H Apr 03 4:11 a.m. 2.5 H Apr 04 4:58 a.m. 2.5 H Apr 05 5:47 a.m. 2.5 H Apr 06 6:38 a.m. 2.5 H Apr 07 7:35 a.m. 2.5 H Apr 08 8:40 a.m. 2.5 H

LSONews.com

Time

7:43 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

2:47 p.m.

2:41 p.m.

2:28 p.m.

2:06 p.m.

Height

1.1 L 0.9 L 1.2 H 1.1 H 1.0 H 1.0 H

11:56 p.m. 1.2 H 8:22 p.m.

8:45 p.m.

9:08 p.m.

9:33 p.m.

0.8 L 0.6 L 0.4 L 0.2 L

2011 Mar-Apr 25 Fri 26 Sat Q 27 Sun 28 Mon 29 Tue 30 Wed 31 Thu 01 Fri > 02 Sat > 03 Sun N 04 Mon > 05 Tue > 06 Wed 07 Thu 08 Fri 09 Sat 10 Sun Q 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed

A.M. Minor Major 11:39 5:25 12:11 6:22 1:01 7:13 1:47 7:59 2:29 8:40 3:08 9:19 3:45 9:55 4:21 10:31 4:58 11:08 5:38 11:49 6:21 12:10 7:08 12:57 7:59 1:47 8:54 2:41 9:50 3:37 10:47 4:34 11:44 5:31 12:15 6:26 1:05 7:18 1:54 8:07

San Antonio 2011 A.M. Mar-Apr Minor Major 25 Fri 11:46 5:32 26 Sat Q 12:18 6:29 27 Sun 1:08 7:20 28 Mon 1:54 8:06 29 Tue 2:36 8:47 30 Wed 3:15 9:26 31 Thu 3:52 10:02 01 Fri > 4:28 10:38 02 Sat > 5:05 11:15 03 Sun N 5:45 11:56 04 Mon > 6:28 12:17 05 Tue > 7:15 1:04 06 Wed 8:06 1:54 07 Thu 9:01 2:48 08 Fri 9:57 3:44 09 Sat 10:54 4:41 10 Sun Q 11:51 5:38 11 Mon 12:22 6:33 12 Tue 1:12 7:25 13 Wed 2:01 8:14

Amarillo

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OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen

Solution on Page 22

2011 A.M. Mar-Apr Minor 25 Fri 11:59 26 Sat Q 12:31 27 Sun 1:21 28 Mon 2:08 29 Tue 2:50 30 Wed 3:28 31 Thu 4:05 01 Fri > 4:41 02 Sat > 5:19 03 Sun N 5:59 04 Mon > 6:42 05 Tue > 7:29 06 Wed 8:20 07 Thu 9:14 08 Fri 10:10 09 Sat 11:08 10 Sun Q ----11 Mon 12:36 12 Tue 1:26 13 Wed 2:15

Major 5:45 6:42 7:33 8:19 9:01 9:39 10:15 10:51 11:29 ----12:31 1:17 2:08 3:01 3:57 4:54 5:51 6:46 7:39 8:28

Major 6:13 7:09 7:59 8:43 9:23 10:00 10:36 11:11 11:49 12:30 12:53 1:40 2:32 3:27 4:23 5:21 6:18 7:13 8:05 8:54

Sets 08:01 08:02 08:03 08:03 08:04 08:05 08:06 08:07 08:07 08:08 08:09 08:10 08:10 08:11 08:12 08:13 08:14 08:14 08:15 08:16

FOR THE TABLE Ginger’s Southwestern Venison Enchiladas

ACROSS 1. An action on a repeating shotgun 5. Act of bass attacking baitfish 8. Baits that work well for largemouth 9. Name for the Hawaiian goose 10. Animal hideaways 12. Name for a bird gun, _____ piece 13. Fish eggs 14. The female turkey 15. A female bear 16. The formation flyers 19. Fish bite well during this happening 21. Valuable part of many game 23. Gill is a fish breathing ____ 25. Name given to the whitetail of the North 26. Camo covers for a bow 28. Used for bait at times 29. The ringnecked ______ 32. The area for hunting 34. Young bear 35. Group of decoys 37. An animal lair 39. To carve in metal on a gun

42. A brand of arrow 44. Boat gear 45. Place for the still hunter's stand 46. A bow model 47. Protective cover for a scope DOWN 1. Crappie, perch classed as this 2. A very good bait 3. A bird shot for sport shooting 4. To work a lure just under water's surface 5. A breed of gundog 6. Name for a trout species 7. A breed of setter 11. Used by anglers to determine depth 12. Name for some Arizona whitetails 17. Field area where quail are found 18. The ____ fish family 20. Name for largest of quail species 22. The habitat areas for deer 24. The male pheasant

Step 1 2 lbs. venison roast, cut into large cubes 2 cups water 1/2 cup tequila 2 Serrano chilis, seeded and diced One day ahead, make roast: In crock pot, combine the above ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low until tender (about 6 hours in a large crock pot). Shred the venison.

Step 2 5 7-ounce cans tomatillo or verde sauce 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce 1 lb. pepper jack cheese, grated 3 15 1/2-ounce cans black beans 1 7-ounce can diced chilis

2 dozen corn tortillas 2 (9x13 inch) baking dishes Combine tomatillo sauce and tomato sauces in a saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring in a 1/2 cup of the cheese. Set aside Combine shredded venison, black beans, diced chilies and 1/2 cup of sauce in a large bowl.

Fill tortillas with meat mixture and a little cheese, roll and place in baking dish. Once complete, pour remaining sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve immediately.

— Ginger Hoolan

Wild Turkey Fingers 26. A species of the quail 27. Angler's name for a large crappie 29. Name for back leg in shooting stance 30. The hunter's retriever 31. A _____ lure 33. Name for old gobblers

that stay alone 36. This holds power charge of a shell 38. Term for a quick shot 40. This nuisance fish tangles trotlines 41. The moray 43. Code for a type bullet

Tenderize wild turkey strips 1 cup dry breadcrumbs 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon thyme or oregano) 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Combine ingredients other

than turkey. Whisk one large egg.

Coat the turkey with flour. Dip in egg and roll in breadcrumbs. Pan fry in a small amount of butter or olive oil until lightly brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

— Missouri Department of Conservation

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

March 25, 2011

Page 19

HEROES

RYAN WARNER of Dallas was drawn for the youth deer hunt last season at the White Oak Creek Wildlife Management Area in northeast Texas. The 9-year-old hunter harvested a spike and an eight-point buck. The eight-pointer was dropped at 300 yards with a shot to the neck.

DELORES DELGADO of Raymondville landed this largemouth bass recently from the bank at Choke Canyon State Park. Her lure was a watermelon lizard. The fish was 21 inches long and weighed 5 pounds.

TANNER WINN, 6, of Windcrest downed this mature eight-point buck during the special 2010 youth deer season.

This 43-inch black drum was caught by RUDY GARCIA of Atascosa at the Copano Fishing Pier.

Congratulations, Will! You can claim your Nikon 10 X 42 Trailblazer ATB binoculars at the Nikon Sport Optics dealer nearest you: McBride’s Guns Inc. 2915 San Gabriel St Austin, TX 78705-3532 (512) 472-3532 Reynolds season on the t buck last deer round from rs e fi s on hi th ok wi to d 8, of Austin phy was droppe tro s xa Te t WILL LIARDON, es is W berts. erling City. Th red in .257 Ro Ranch near St r No. 1 chambe ge Ru t ho -s le Will’s sing

CADE CROYSDALE, 10, of Duncanville shot his first deer last season during the youth weekend hunt on the Rocky Ridge Ranch near Comanche.

Page 20

March 25, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

DATEBOOK Executive Editor Craig Nyhus Editor Bill Miller Associate Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Operations Manager Mike Hughs

March 25-27

April 7

North Texas Chapter SCI Outdoor Expo Bass Pro Shops, Grapevine www.scinorthtexas.com

Hill Country Quail Coalition Annual Dinner and Auction The Bob Bullock Museum, Austin (512) 757-0892 www.quailcoalition.org

March 26 Rice Belt Ducks Unlimited Annual Fun Shoot Meek Ranch, El Campo (979) 332-0657 www.ducks.org

National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Classified/Outfitters Blazing Paths Media Advertising Intern Nicholas Conklin Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Contributors Kyle Carter Alan Clemons David Draper Wilbur Lundeen Aaron Reed Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail editor@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com (214) 361-2276

Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2011 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or e-mail them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Lone Star Outdoor News growing Combining its print and online versions, Lone Star Outdoor News reaches more than 270,000 readers each month.

“In other words,” said founder and CEO David J. Sams, “more than 6.4 million eyes see LSON content each year.”

And now, as mainstream newspapers continue to shrink, LSON is still bucking the trends. It is growing.

The March 11 issue of Lone Star Outdoor News was the first one to be published at 45,000 copies — up 5,000 copies from its most recent press runs.

April 21

Grand Prairie Ducks Unlimited Ruthe Jackson Center (214) 957-2449 www.ducks.org

McKinney Ducks Unlimited 32nd annual banquet Myers Park Event Center (972) 529-0091 www.ducks.org

April 7-10

April 27

Texas Gun and Knife Association Show Abilene Civic Center, Abilene (830) 285-0575 www.texasgunandknifeshows.com

Texas International Boat Show Corpus Christi Downtown Marina (561) 842-8808 www.texasinternationalboatshow.com

Central Texas Safari Club Wild Game Gourmet Dinner Austin (512) 773-5674

Texas Deer Association 5th Annual Leo Hicks Production Sale San Marcos (800) 392-3819 www.hickswhitetaildeer.com

April 9

April 28

Austin Smiles 14th Annual “Shoot for a Smile” Tournament Cypress Valley Preserve (512) 451-9300 www.austinsmiles.org

San Antonio Ducks Unlimited Sportsman’s Night Out MacArthur Park Pavilion (210) 396-6282 www.ducks.org

Houston Safari Club Appreciation Clay Shoot Camp Karankawa www.bacbsa.org

Dallas Safari Club 4th Annual Big Bore Shoot Whitewright (972) 980-9800 www.biggame.org

April 29

April 14-17

April 30 - May 1

South West International Boat Show South Shore Harbour Marina, League City (561) 842-8808 www.southwestinternationalboatshow.com

Texas Gun and Knife Association Show Hill Country Exhibition Center Kerrville (830) 285-0575 www.texasgunandknifeshows.com

Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau

Houston Safari Club Crawfish boil (713) 623-8844 www.houstonsafariclub.org

Lufkin Ducks Unlimited Lufkin Civic Center (936) 212-1304 www.ducks.org

April 1-3 Greater Houston Christian Outdoor Fellowship 13th Annual Bass Fishing Tournament Quantum Lakes, Cleveland (281) 788-8435 www.quantumlakes.com

April 15-16 Taxidermy Auction Will Rogers Memorial Center, Ft. Worth (512) 451-7633 www.taxidermyking.com

April 30 - May 2

April 16

May 5

Kimble County Chamber of Commerce Outdoor Women Gone Wild, Junction (325) 446-3190 www.junctiontexas.com

Fort Worth CCA Banquet and Auction Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant Fort Worth (817) 437-8351

April 6 Houston Safari Club Monthly meeting Embassy Suites (713) 623-8844 www.houstonsafariclub.org

“We’re excited about this growth,” said Craig Nyhus, executive editor.

“Our audited circulation results told us it was time to bump it up, and our plan is to keep growing.”

A new addition to the LSON Web site is our hunting and fishing forum.

This is designed to provide readers a chance to discuss the latest hunting and fishing news, post reports and brag about the big buck they killed or trophy fish they caught. We encourage all of our readers to participate in the newest way to enjoy LSON. Now in its seventh year, Lone Star Outdoor News brings readers timely reports twice each month on hunting and fishing in Texas.

The newspaper’s home page is at http://www.LSONews.com.

*

Go to www.LSON/Forum to REGISTER for the

Hunting and Fishing Forums Become more involved with the

Outdoor Community

* One lucky winner will receive an Academy gift card.

Duck Jam Wolf Pen Creek, College Station (512) 944-3828 www.duckjam.org

2011 Quail Masters Roby (325) 653-4576

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

March 25, 2011

Page 21

Texas big bass bites FALCON RELEASES ANOTHER: David Cosner of Austin caught this 13.6-pound largemouth March 13 at Falcon International Reservoir. Photo by Nathan Reynolds, TPWD.

LUNKER: Jason Shropshire, of Cleveland, caught this 13.56-pound bass March 9 on Falcon International Reservoir. The catch was made in 22 feet of 70-degree water using a Senko. Photo by TPWD.

FOURTEEN POUNDS PLUS: Ed Carter, of Broken Bow, Okla., used a black lizard lure March 13 to catch this 14.25-pound bass on Lake Fork. Photo

by Larry D. Hodge, TPWD.

FALCON: Todd Elrod, of Fritch, caught this bass on Falcon International Reservoir March 15. The fish weighed 13.19 pounds. Photo by Ryan Fontana, TPWD.

Bass tournament roundup Ward's top bass wins Oakley event at Lake Conroe Josh Ward of Montgomery, Texas caught a 9.98-pound bass to win the 2011 Oakley 14th annual Big Bass Classic March 5-6 on Lake Conroe.

More than 600 competing anglers faced brutal conditions Saturday as rain, high winds and a cold front hit Conroe.

“The front hampered fishing conditions, and the double-digit fish that Conroe is known for evaded anglers the entire weekend,” said Louis Wellen of Oakley Sports Marketing.

Sunday's weather improved dramatically, and so did the quality of the fish brought to the scales.

Evers takes title in Florida Trailing three-day leader Alton Jones of Waco, Edwin Evers caught an 8-pound, 13-ounce “mule” on the final day to win the Bassmaster Elite Series Power-Pole Citrus Slam on the St. Johns River in Central Florida.

“Awesome, awesome, awesome,” Evers said.

Targeting the backwaters of the St. Johns River system, he weighed in 19 pounds to total 77-1 and shut out three-day leader Jones and hard-charging local favorite Terry Scroggins.

Trailing Jones by about 2 1/2 pounds before Sunday's finale, Evers sealed his sixth Bassmaster victory by overtaking Jones and besting him by almost 3 pounds.

Jones' sight bite, which included the event's biggest bag of

26-9 on Day One, died, and he only brought 13-2 to the scales Sunday. He finished in third place with 73-12, leaving second place to Scroggins, who moved over him with the day's biggest bag of 20-4 for a 74-3 total.

Sight-fishing the flats of a St. Johns lake the first day, he shared the spot with many other Elite pros, and Evers started out in 20th place.

Evers, from Mansfield, Okla., moved into second place at the end of the third day, and went to a spot he’d fished early in the tournament to attempt to catch a big fish he knew was there.

Newberry wins on Sam Rayburn Dickey Newberry of Houston caught five bass weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division March 12 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

Newberry edged out Bryan native Tommy Mackey by 1 pound, 2 ounces to claim the title, $6,000, and a big jump in the overall standings.

The top 40 anglers based on points from the five Cowboy Division tournaments will qualify for the regional championship Nov. 3-5 on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Ark.

Castledine tops on Toledo Bend Todd Castledine, of Nacogdoches, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, 9 ounces Saturday to win the EverStart Series Texas Division event on Toledo Bend with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 65 pounds, 2 ounces. For his victory,

Castledine earned $27,842.

“Seems like every week I come up against these guys, (Bird and Martin), but I love the competition. It makes me a better fisherman,” said Castledine. “This really has been an incredible week. This morning after my boat broke down I was real nervous, but then everyone came out to help and I knew I was prepared for this moment and everything worked out.”

“I was sight-fishing all week long,” Castledine went on to say.

“I never strayed and stayed 100 percent committed to that. I love to sight-fish and know that it is one of my strengths. All my fish were caught off beds using a sweet beaver. I was mostly in about 2 to 3 feet of water.”

Lamar clinches CFL Texas event The Lamar University team of Matt Morrison and Danny Iles won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Texas Division event on Toledo Bend Saturday with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 6 ounces. The win helped them advance to the Texas Division Regional Championship.

"We had a pretty decent day," said Iles. "We had about 10 keeper fish, which was a few more than the rest of the teams seemed to have. Most of the other teams were sight fishing. We didn't do much sight-fishing, which is what I think made the difference for us. We were using Strike King Game Hawgs and an All Terrain Jig with a Strike King Game Hawg trailer to catch most of our fish. Our big one came with the Strike King Game Hawg.”

Page 22

March 25, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LONE STAR MARKET

Puzzle solution from Page 18

To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

March 25, 2011

Page 23

Page 24

March 25, 2011

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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