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LoneOStar Outdoor News
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May 24, 2013
Passing the torch Top coastal lodge changes hands.
Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper
May 24, 2013
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Volume 9, Issue 19
Heck, yeah
Inside
Late-night idea leads to big smallmouth By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
❘❚ HUNTING
Sometimes, the mood strikes and you just have to go fishing. That is what happened to Gunter angler Scott Tubbs early Saturday morning on May 12. “The story begins with me waking up at 3:15 a.m. and thinking about taking my 12-year-old son, Scotty, fishing,” Tubbs said. “I woke my son up at 3:15 and asked if he would like to go fishing at Lake Texoma with me. He immediately popped up and gave a determined “Heck, yeah.” I told him to go back to sleep and I would wake him up in a couple of hours to go.” With several hours to kill before the
Letting them grow Are antler restrictions working?
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A powder puff for ticks Sulphur sock really works.
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I’m confused Traveling with firearms an ever-changing challenge. Page 4
❘❚ FISHING
See SMALLMOUTH, Page 16
Space weather Solar flares could affect GPS.
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Reds, trout on jetties Action heating up on the rocks.
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Hill Country bites Bass, catfish hitting in area lakes.
❘❚ CONTENTS
Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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Photo by David J. Sams.
Lucky to find a big trout Port Mansfield was the location for a recent fishing trip attended by Lone Star Outdoor News and, although few and far between, several big trout were caught. There is always one angler in the group that seems to have the golden touch on any given day,
and this day it was Billy Gerke, who waded in water between calf- and waist-deep throwing top-waters in silver, pink and bone colors, gold spoons, chrome jerkbaits, an Academy 5-inch H20 Thumping mullets and Egret Wedgetails in plum and chartreuse. This trophy trout weighed 8 1/2 pounds. While the other
anglers in his group struggled to find good big fish, they mirrored reports from other waders in the area — some good, but tough, fishing. The trout and reds that were caught hit top-waters in silver, pink and bone colors, gold spoons, chrome jerkbaits, and many were ranging from 16-20 inch fish. — Staff report
GOOD IDEA: Scotty Tubbs holds the big smallmouth he hooked on Lake Texoma. Photo by Scott Tubbs.
National champs from Texas
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
Lamar Middle School top at NASP tourney By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS Texas’ first-ever championship in the National Archery in the Schools Program occurred May 11 when the team from Lamar Middle School in Flower Mound topped the field of 158 teams from across the U.S at the NASP Nationals in Louisville, Ky. “It was the first time any Texas school has brought home a trophy at nationals,” said Lamar Middle School’s coach, TAKING AIM: Kelby Benda of the Lamar Middle School archery team prepares to shoot a target at the NASP Nationals. Photo by Shannon Benda.
Ferris Bavousett. His team, which has won several state championships, came close last year, but was bumped out of third place by 10 points. Bavousett thought this could be the year. “We finished 1-2-3 at state in both boys and girls,” he said. “We beat every Texas school of all ages.” Lamar scored 3,366 points to secure a win over two Kentucky schools, Trigg County Middle School, which had 3,348 points, and Anderson County Middle School with 3,344 points. Teams are a mixture of boys and girls. See CHAMPS, Page 21
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HUNTING FEELS GOOD, MAN: This young buck enjoyed a recent rain near Port Mansfield and took the opportunity to test his long jumping skills as a truck approached. A large herd of deer had gathered along the side of the road. The storm dumped up to 5 inches of rain, bringing about a temporary break in the severe drought in the valley. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Antler restriction results studied Average age, score of bucks increase By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News History has smiled on the White-tailed Deer Special Antler Restriction rules implemented in Texas. Beginning in 2004 in six counties in Southeast Texas, the program has expanded again and again. And the hunting results in the original counties show the restrictions work. “It started as a landowner grassroots effort,” said David Forrester, wildlife district leader with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “The six original counties had high hunter denSEEMS TO BE WORKING: Average size and age have both improved since antler restrictions were implemented, according to a TPWD study. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Texas record gator taken on Choke Canyon A young hunter who grew up with a fascination about dinosaurs and a dream of hunting what some call “living dinosaurs” has harvested the largest alligator ever certified in Texas. Braxton Bielski, an 18-year-old high school senior on his first alligator hunt, bagged the behemoth 800-pound, 14-foot, 3-inch gator during a recent public hunt on the James E. Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area. Braxton and his father, Troy, were among 481 applicants vying for 10 alligator permits issued through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s public hunting program for a five-day hunt at the Daughtrey WMA. After scouting, the pair observed what they believed to be a large gator in a cove and
sity — 75 percent of the buck harvest was 2 1/2 years and younger.” The 13-inch inside spread restriction was designed to protect all of the yearling bucks and most of the 2 1/2-year-old bucks, thereby increasing the age structure of the buck herd, as well as increasing hunter opportunity and encouraging landowners and hunters to become more active in habitat management. It was also designed to be relatively easy for the hunter to determine. “On the average buck, looking at it in the alert position, from ear tip to ear tip is 13 inches,” Forrester said. The regulations have had some slight changes over the years, but generally increased the allowable harvest to two bucks, although only one could be a buck with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater, while the other is most often described as a “spike.” The current See ANTLER, Page 16
were down, indicating they had two alligators hooked. A hook and line set baited with raw meat is used to catch the alligator; only after it has been hooked can a gator be dispatched at close range with a firearm. Choke Canyon has a reputation for holding some big old gators. Unlike the alligator populations along their core range in southeast Texas, these creatures are left alone to live to a ripe old age. A 14-footer is estimated to be between 30-50 years old, according to TPWD Alligator Program Photo by TPWD. Leader Amos Cooper. “Choke Canyon has a larger size class decided to place their baited lines nearby. than other areas because they have just began “We didn’t pressure it, but while we were to hunt the area,” said Cooper. “A large alliputting up our cane poles we could see it gator in Choke Canyon is not unusual but watching us 30 yards away,” Braxton said. expected. You won’t see a lot of alligators on Braxton chose one of the lines as his set; Choke Canyon but the alligators that you do the other would be his dad’s. When the two see are relatively large.” hunters returned the next morning, they realized they had their work cut out as both lines — TPWD
COULD BE A HEADACHE: Knowing all of the rules and regulations about traveling with guns and ammo can save huge headaches, not to mention time and money, when you get to your international hunting destination. Photo by Lili Sams, LSON.
Confusing as ever Traveling with firearms not getting easier By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Anyone who has traveled internationally to hunt and taken a firearm on an airplane knows what a headache it can be. Dallas hunter Steve Miller, a veteran of nearly 20 international hunts, knows the nightmare scenario all too well. “How much time have you got?” Miller said, when asked if he had any horror stories of traveling with a rifle to foreign countries. In fact, Miller was in the process of leaving for a hunt in Cameroon, See TRAVELING, Page 25
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LoneOStar Outdoor News
May 24, 2013
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Repel ticks, chiggers with the sulphur sock Old-time remedy still works
THUMPING TICKS: An old, thin sock filled with dusting sulphur helps repel ticks and chiggers when rapped on boots and pant legs. Photo by Tom Mansel.
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Heading out to set up a ground blind to hunt turkey in Stephens County, Brokenridge Ranch owner
Tom Mansell handed the visiting hunter an old sock. “Whack this on your boots and pants,” he said. “What’s in it?” the hunter asked. “Sulphur, it keeps the ticks and chiggers off of you,” Mansell replied. “It’s an old remedy I heard
about growing up in Alabama. I haven’t had any ticks on me for years since using it.” The sulphur dust goes through the sock and, like a powder puff, invisibly coats the hunter’s boots and pant legs. “Use an old, thin sock so the dust goes through,” Mansell said. An Internet search reveals sulphur in an old sock is indeed an age-old remedy — and it works, although probably not as well as the commercial repellants containing DEET or permethrin. “Sulphur is a wellknown repellant for mites (including chiggers) and ticks,” said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Entomologist Mike Merchant. “People have been using sulphur socks for years. It’s not quite as good as DEET, but preferable for some because it’s more natural and it’s
cheap. It doesn’t work for insects, though. “And it’s tick season, I got my first one, a deer tick, the other day.” The why or how sulphur works isn’t really known. “Actually, how all repellants work is something of a mystery,” Merchant said. “Odor detection is the most important sense for ticks and insects, so distaste is a possibility. I have an entire book on repellants in the office — it has one sentence on sulphur.” Merchant said sulphur works to repel ticks if placed on a person’s clothing or directly on the skin. “You can apply it to the skin of your arms and legs,” he said. “But there is an odor — it may make you less socially interactive.” Hunters and fishermen combing the banks of rivers or lakes know the eerie feeling of a tick
on the skin, along with the irritation of having to remove one that has taken hold. Infection and other diseases, like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, increase the concern from a tick bite. In Texas, there’s an App for that, created by Texas A&M, that works on the web or smartphone, said Otto Strey, a lab technician with the university. The App, http://tickapp.tamu.edu, covers tick identification, tick biology, tick removal and tick prevention and protection. The sulphur sock, although not mentioned in the App, is cheap — a box of dusting sulphur costs a few bucks at a garden center, and the old sock is free. And it lasts. “That sock has been hanging there for three years, and it’s still working,” Mansell said.
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MANY FACTORS: Along with harvesting predators, other factors such as time of year, herd composition and territoriality need to be considered. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Effective predator control goes beyond shooting coyotes By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Many ranchers shoot all of the coyotes they see on sight and call it good — predator control accomplished. But, according to Mike Bodencheck, state director for Texas Cooperative Wildlife Service Program, that isn’t always the case. Bodencheck recently presented a webinar on predator control for the Texas Wildlife Association, and said the relationship between predator and prey management goes much deeper. “There are primary versus secondary predator effects,” he said. “Primary is directly related to the act of predation. Secondary is related to the changes in prey behavior due to the risk of predation.”
For example, a deer being killed by coyotes is a primary effect, whereas deer that won’t feed in a field to avoid coyotes and starve during the winter is a secondary effect. “Secondary effects are more important but much tougher to study,” Bodencheck said. “Many past studies have examined limiting factors such as habitat versus predators, and some of those studies are flawed.” Bodencheck said ranchers often ask where to spend their money — on habitat improvements or predator management? “There is always a need for habitat improvement, but I believe that is a process, not a goal,” he said. “It is always ongoing. Predator management relates to those habitat goals.” Bodencheck cited three factors — habitat, See COYOTES, Page 18
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Deer “due process” bill passes, signed by governor Other bills left pending in committee Bills pertaining to the deer breeding industry created some division between different wildlife organizations in Texas, as previously reported in Lone Star Outdoor News, but one bill found them working together toward a solution. Called the “due process bill,” what began as Senate Bill 820 passed in revised form as a committee substitute. Its provisions provide that any deer breeder charged with a violation is afforded a review by a district judge (the current review process is within Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.) The bill requires TPWD to provide written notice in the event the department seeks to depopulate some or all of a breeder’s deer herd so that the breeder has the opportunity to seek legal counsel prior to the depopulation. The bill also allows for one-, three- and five-year deer breeder permits, instead of the current annual permit. At hearings of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the bill was supported by the Texas Deer Association and Deer Breeders Corp but opposed by the Texas Wildlife Association and other groups. Then representatives of the groups got together and worked out a compromise. The original bill would have permitted the breeder to seek judicial review in the county where the facility is, the county of his residence or Travis County. “That was a stumbling block,” said Karl Kinsel, executive director of TDA. “Once we resolved that we reached an agreement.” The revised bill provides that the review must take place in Travis County. “The introduced bill had some items that we thought were problematic,” said Gary Joiner, CEO of the Texas Wildlife Association. “For example, there was a fiscal component with the Attorney General’s office if the reviews were in other counties. But bills often go through several revisions, and after several meetings we reached agreement with TDA and Texas Parks and Wildlife as a resource.” Once out of committee, the bill passed both the Texas House and Senate unanimously. It was signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry on May 20. In other legislative news: • HB 2433 — This bill would require a breeder to release deer 60 (over a three-year period in increments of 30, 45 and 60) days before any legal hunting season. This bill was left pending in the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism. • HB 2150 — This bill would recognize elk as an indigenous species to Texas, but would exempt them from any regulations by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The bill passed the House and a public hearing was held on May 17. • HB 840 — This bill relates to the identification of breeder deer, including using microchips, was voted out of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and is awaiting a vote in the House, which did not take place this session. • HB 1616 — The bill to allow the sale of white-tailed deer venison was left pending in committee. • HB 2092 — This bill would transfer jurisdiction of whitetailed deer from TPWD to the Texas Animal Health Commission was left pending in committee.
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FISHING
Causing havoc? Solar flares could affect GPS coordinates for coastal guides By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Capt. Ted Springer knew the hump in the Laguna Madre was around somewhere. The problem was his GPS wouldn’t pinpoint the exact spot where he needed to anchor to fish the hump correctly. “That morning, I don’t know if it was me or the GPS, but my spot kept moving,” Springer said. “I’ve heard solar flares could mess with it, and this is the first time I have ever had a problem with it.” Springer said he mostly fishes in See GPS, Page 15 WHERE’S THAT SPOT? Space weather could hinder GPS units during the next few months. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, for LSON.
Redfish and trout feeding along the jetties By Jacob Longoria Lone Star Outdoor News
WATCH YOUR STEP: Anglers who use caution on the rocks have been rewarded with good numbers of redfish, Spanish mackerel and trout. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Everyone can catch something on the jetties. In the La Porte area, the north jetties are the best area to catch a variety of fish. Capt. Bob Leonard said to be prepared fishing around the jetties, and bring plenty of tackle. “It’s hard,” said Leonard. “You lose a lot of leaders.” Leonard fishes in depths of 12 to 30 feet using live shrimp. He makes sure to follow the tide schedule when fishing the jetties. “When the tide goes out, fish the inside jetty,” he said “When the tide is in, fish the outside.” By following the tide schedule, he is able to target different species along the jetties successfully. Redfish, sand trout, speckled trout, and black drum are cur-
rently feeding along the jetties. In some areas, the croakers have appeared, but are very small. In the La Porte area they won’t be larger until the beginning of June. Expect the unexpected and keep your eyes open on the South Padre Island jetties. Ray Betancourt, of Jetty Bait Stand, said local anglers are catching their share of redfish, Spanish mackerel and Atlantic whiting. Recently, anglers have been witness to a 1,500-pound tiger shark feeding around the local jetties. This is the second time the shark has been seen in the area. “I am going to go out there and catch it,” said Betancourt. Currently, the water is at 75 degrees. Betancourt said when the wind blows hard from the See JETTIES, Page 17
Catching cash Tagged catfish could reward anglers on Lake Palestine By Jacob Longoria Lone Star Outdoor News
Catfishermen can help a study on flatheads and put some cash in their pocket at the same time, but Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials won’t say how much cash. The department recently began a year-long survey on Lake Palestine to gain information about the flathead catfish and the methods used to catch them. TPWD biologists used six elec-
troshock boats to catch the catfish, along with six chase boats that gathered the fish in nets. Biologists spread the boats around the lake to get a survey from each part. In the end, they tagged 255 flatheads (1 percent of the lake’s flathead population) measuring 18 to 53.5 inches. They were given two weeks to find, catch and tag 255 legal flatheads, but it only took two-and-half days. “The lake had bigger flatheads than we expected,” said Richard Ott, a TPWD district biologist from
PLEASE RETURN: TPWD biologists are asking anglers to return tags from catfish caught on Lake Palestine. Photo by TPWD.
Tyler. “We thought they would be 18 to 30 inches, but a lot were over 40 inches.” A longitude and latitude were given to each batch of four or five
fish that were tagged. When the fish is caught and reported, the angler will be asked where the catfish was caught. This information will be recorded to see how far
each catfish traveled in the lake. The objective of the research is to gather information about how See CATFISH, Page 25
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Different approaches Tactics vary in Hill Country lakes By Jacob Longoria Lone Star Outdoor News
Many Texas Hill Country lakes have one thing in common — low water. But that hasn’t stopped anglers from taking advantage of some unique conditions. Lake Buchanan is currently 30 feet low, which would have some anglers worried, but guide Fermin Fernandez can work with those conditions. “It concentrates all the fish,” Fernandez said. With the fish concentrated, Fernandez is focusing on the stripers in the lake. He fishes with live shad in 25 to 28 feet of stained water. Catfish are also being caught in the reservoirs on cut bait and stink bait. Guide Clancy Terrill doesn’t expect Buchanan to slow down going into the summer months. The conditions on the lake haven’t all been to his liking, but he works around them. “If the day is calm, it is tough,” Terrill said. “A little breeze helps.” When the sun doesn’t heat the water, it stays at a consistent temperature and he is able to have his best fishing. Currently in the morning, the water is 67 degrees. Terrill would prefer the water to stay in the 50- to 60-degree range.
GOOD BITE: Bass are hitting on Lake Travis despite low water levels. Photo by Robert Brown.
“The cold water helps hold oxygen in the water, which is better for the fish,” he said. Terrill uses jigs and shad to target stripers and white bass. He usually begins his trips in the middle of the lake before working his way to the upper end. During his recent trips, catfish were caught with gizzard shad on the lake bottoms at 40 feet. But he found that the trophy catfish are located on the bottoms at 20 feet. The crappie bite has been very good in and around trees in 10 to 15 feet using live minnows. Lake Travis is not known for its monster fish but is
more consistent in the number of fish you can catch. Guide Robert Brown said the lake is hard to get onto because the water is so low. As a result, a lot of underwater structure that used to be fishable is now above water. “With the water so low, there is not a lot of cover,” Brown said. Bass are currently being caught in 15 feet around the docks using shallow crankbaits and spinner baits. The water temperature is in the mid-70s. Fishing can be tough after a small cold front. “The fish bounce back after a day or two,” Brown said. See HILL COUNTRY, Page 17
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Two cranks from the bottom BELTON LAKE —Guide Darrell Nowlain isn’t worried about the fishing as much as physically getting into the water these days. The lake is 8 1/2 feet low, so anglers should careful as they put their boats into the water. “It is hard to catch bait in the shallows,” Nowlain said. Nowlain has been focusing on on hybrid stripers near Rogers Park and Bull Creek. He has been catching solid numbers of 4- to 5-pound hybrids on live shad, when he can catch bait. “Two cranks off the bottom,” he said, when asked where the fish are feeding. He recommends anglers fish the main lake points and rivers. In the shallows, catfish can be caught on shad in 3 to 5 feet. White bass will be found schooling on the surface and can be caught on minnows. To contact guide Darrell Nowlain, call (254) 495-0210.
Still on the beds LAKE BOB SANDLIN — Guide James Henderson has been targeting largemouth bass in two patterns this month — spawn and postspawn. When the sun gets higher later in the morning, Henderson switches to weightless soft plastics. The key to catching the bass, according to Henderson, is to find
ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 59–65 degrees; 11.28’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters, spinner baits, jigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows.
White bass are good on minnows and watermelon jigs off lighted docks at night in 5–15 feet. Crappie are good on minnows and watermelon tube jigs over brush piles in 5–10 feet.
AMISTAD: Water clear; 72–76 degrees; 61.04’ low. Largemouth bass are very good on Senkos, minnows and watermelon soft plastics and top-waters. Striped bass are good on Sassy Shad, swimbaits and lipless crankbaits. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch.
BUCHANAN: Water murky; 71–75 degrees; 27.40’ low. Largemouth bass are good on white/chartreuse spinner baits, watermelon top-waters, and green pumpkin Whacky Sticks with chartreuse tails along lake points in 8–12 feet at first light. Channel catfish are good on live bait and cut bait. Yellow and blue catfish are good on juglines and trotlines baited with goldfish and minnows.
ARROWHEAD: Water off-color; 58–63 degrees; 12.63’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair to good on top-water frogs, spinner baits and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs. ATHENS: Water clear, 69–74 degrees; 2.57’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on small plastic swimbaits, shallow crankbaits and top-waters. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad. BASTROP: Water clear; 72–76 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers and minnows. BONHAM: Water stained, 69–74 degrees; 2.11’ low. Largemouth bass are excellent pitching soft plastics and jigs in the cattails. Crappie are excellent around the cattails on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait along the bank in the park area and drifting as the presentation. BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon spinner baits and crankbaits near the dam. Striped bass are good on liver and perch off points. BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 67–72 degrees; 16.76’ low. Largemouth bass are good on square-billed crankbaits around shallow cover as well as small swimbaits in shad patterns. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs and crankbaits. BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 69–73 degrees; 11.63’ low. Largemouth bass to 5 pounds are good on crankbaits and flukes in the evenings in 3–5 feet, and on spinner baits around docks early.
CADDO: Water stained; 71–75 degrees; 0.30’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged creature baits and craws. Catfish are good on cut bait. CALAVERAS: Water clear. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are good on spoons and striper jigs between the dam and the crappie wall. Channel catfish are very good on liver, shrimp and shad. CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 71–75 degrees; 9.80’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on tomato red JDC grubs, watermelon red Whacky Sticks, and Texas-rigged watermelon red finesse worms along bluff ledges in 8–16 feet. Smallmouth bass are good on root beer/green curl-tailed grubs and craws and smoke/red tubes on ball jigheads. Crappie are good on pink tube jigs and live minnows upriver around submerged brush piles over break lines. Yellow and blue catfish are good on juglines and trotlines baited with live bait. CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 68–72 degrees; 3.63’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on weightless wacky worms and top-waters early. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. Crappie are good on minnows. CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 73–77 degrees; 19.92’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon deep-running crankbaits and white spinner baits. Channel and blue catfish are good on punchbait. COLEMAN: Water lightly stained; 69–73 degrees; 14.82’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermel-
on lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and soft plastic worms and lizards. Hybrid striper are good on live shad near the park and the store. Crappie are good on minnows at night. Channel catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch. CONROE: Water stained; 71–75 degrees; 2.79’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon Texasand Carolina-rigged soft plastics and spinner baits. Striped bass are good on chartreuse striper jigs. FALCON: Water murky; 73–77 degrees; 39.03’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shallow-running crankbaits in 10–12 feet. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on liver, cut bait, stinkbait and frozen shrimp. FORK: Water clear; 69–74 degrees; 4.73’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms in 4–8 feet of water on main lake points as well as top-waters.Yellow bass and white bass are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait. GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms with chartreuse tails. Catfish are good on minnows, shrimp and liver. GRANGER: Water stained; 70–74 degrees; 0.37’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Blue catfish are good on shad and prepared bait in 4–15 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait upriver. GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 69–73 degrees; 5.91’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastics near rocky points. Catfish are good on cut shad. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 74–78 degrees; 0.19’ low. Largemouth bass to 5 pounds are good on watermelon/red flake lizards, chrome/black crankbaits and shad in 5–8 feet. Crappie are excellent on live minnows over brush in 10–15 feet. Bream are good on live worms off piers and grass beds. Catfish to 68 pounds are excellent on trotlines baited with live bait. HUBBARD CREEK: Water off-color; 57–64 degrees; 21.27’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Zara Spooks, lipless crankbaits, Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs.
them on their beds. With the lower water levels in the lake, the beds are in different locations than years before. But Henderson said to keep looking. “Put your trolling motor on high and find them,” he said. Henderson said the bass are harder to catch the day after a front, but when the weather stabilizes, the bass get hungry again. To contact guide James Henderson, call (214) 864-2469.
Best in the country COOPER LAKE — Considered by guide Marc Mitchell as the best hybrid lake in the country, Cooper is still about 12 feet low. When the lake gets this low, the larger boats have a hard time getting into the water without sustaining damage. Mitchell is using spoons and jigs to catch hybrids up to 8 pounds. He said the big fish are out there and even with the lower water, it shouldn’t make anglers think the fishing is suffering. “Top-water and spoons in the late evening,” Mitchell said. “Fish the last two hours of the day near dams and main lake humps and look for birds.” To contact guide Marc Mitchell, call (800) 657-1969. — Jacob Longoria
JOE POOL: Water clear; 69–74 degrees; 0.73’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastics and top-waters near grass. White bass are good on minnows.
nows and jigs.
LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 71–75 degrees; 2.28’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastic jerkbaits and paddle tail worms in shallow areas.
OAK CREEK: Water stained; 58–63 degrees; 18.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Yellow Magics, spinner baits, Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are good on jigs and live minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on chartreuse nightcrawlers and prepared bait.
LAVON: Water lightly stained; 69–74 degrees; 8.13’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits near wood cover. White bass are good on slabs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows.
PALESTINE: Water clear; 69–73 degrees; 0.78’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on weightless worms around docks. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. White bass are good on jigs and crankbaits. Catfish are good on prepared bait.
LBJ: Water clear; 71–75 degrees; 0.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red top-waters, watermelon jigs and weightless green pumpkin Texas-rigged Whacky Sticks along break lines of flats in 6–10 feet. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles in 15 feet. Channel catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.
POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 59–65 degrees; 10.33’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, Stanley Ribbits, medium-running crankbaits, dropshot rigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs.
LEWISVILLE: Water clear; 69–73 degrees; 5.12’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads near rock piles. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut shad. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 70–74 degrees; 0.30’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon spinner baits and crankbaits. Striped bass are good but small on pet spoons and slabs. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 76–79 degrees; 1.62’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and buzz/hollow-body frogs. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 70–74 degrees; 0.84’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon crankbaits and minnows in Liberty Hill Park. Channel catfish are good on minnows and stinkbait in baited areas. Blue catfish are good on juglines baited with shad and goldfish. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 59–64 degrees; 36.77’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Zell Pops, lipless crankbaits, jigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair to good on min-
PROCTOR: Water lightly stained; 70–74 degrees; 4.05’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon crankbaits off points. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on prepared bait in the upper end of the lake. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 69–74 degrees; 3.88’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on medium-diving crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 68–73 degrees; 4.44’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastics — some fish still on beds. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water clear; 68–72 degrees; 5.87’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads and finesse worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 69–73 degrees; 1.99’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs over brush piles. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait. STILLHOUSE: Water lightly stained;
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n Saltwater fishing reports: Page 14 70–74 degrees; 7.29’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon lipless crankbaits and spinner baits. TAWAKONI: Water stained; 70–74 degrees; 5.79’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on Texas-rigged craws around shallow cover. Crappie are good on minnows. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait. TEXOMA: Water clear; 69–73 degrees; 4.27’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastics and Zara Spooks. Striped bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait. TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 70–74 degrees; 1.62’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin soft plastic worms in 12–22 feet. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs over brush in 15–25 feet. TRAVIS: Water clear; 72–76 degrees; 52.76’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse lipless crankbaits, watermelon worms and smoke grubs in 8–24 feet. WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Largemouth bass are good on shad and small spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver and frozen shrimp. WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 70–74 degrees; 9.12’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are good on minnows and pet spoons. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 70–75 degrees; 4.08’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits and white buzzbaits. Catfish are good on cut bait. — TPWD
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Some hiding deep, some shallow Sheepshead moving toward summer hideouts in deeper water By Jacob Longoria Lone Star Outdoor News
Galveston Capt. Jason Woods said the sheepshead fishing in his area has slowed down this month in the bays, but you just need to go a little deeper to find the fish. “With the spawn over, they all moved out to the oil rigs,” he said. Woods said the toothy fish can be caught along the jetties, but those are mostly small females. The previous two months, the sheepshead were in the shallows and biting hard. The sheepshead have now gone into deeper water about 20 miles out located deep off oil rigs. Many anglers won’t drive out that far to catch them, Woods said. Even then, catching them at the rigs on traditional rod and reel is tough. “You have to spear them,” said Woods. Photo by LSON.
Know before you go Fishing license rules can be confusing By Jacob Longoria Lone Star Outdoor News
While fishing Texas waters, some rules and regulations are a little unclear. But the “I didn’t know” answer will not cut it with Texas game wardens. In Texas state parks, a fishing license is not required if the angler pays a park fee or has a state park pass. Anglers may fish the bank, pier, river, creek or open water on a boat as long as the body of water is fully contained within the state park boundary. But what is a “fully contained body of water”? This rule has been considered a gray area because every state park is shaped differently, according to Shawn Phillips, a Lufkin game warden. Phillips suggests it can be a little confusing but recommends a rule of thumb. “When you step foot on a boat, you need a fishing license,” he said. In cases where an angler owns a private pond, a fishing license is not required. But when public water goes through a private pond, a license is then needed. If an owner of a private lake wants to stock their pond with fish from public waters, a fishing license is also required to make that transfer, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Fishing on lakes that comprise the border between two states usually have different regulations. Toledo Bend is located on the Texas/Louisiana border. The lake requires a fishing license from either Louisiana or Texas, but anglers with a Texas license can fish on the Louisiana side of the lake with no additional licenses. Lake Texoma has two-thirds of its water in Oklahoma. For $12 dollars, Texas residents must purchase a special Lake Texoma license. If See LICENSE, Page 18
“They won’t bite.” South Padre Island is the place that has the structure and water temperatures to catch sheepshead almost year-round. Capt. Dave Edwards said the best time is during the spring and winter in shallow water. Edwards knows he can catch sheepshead if he can get out on the water as the sun comes up. Edwards uses cut mullet or shrimp fished off the bottoms in 2 to 3 feet. He targets areas where sheepshead love to feed. “The sand flats, grass pockets and up north by the Gas Well Flats,” he said. Capt. Bob Bleving in Port O’Connor said the area has been slowing down due to the influx of redfish and trout. “The sheepshead have some real competition now,” he said.
Bleving uses live and dead shrimp on a jetty rig to catch sheepshead. He said they feed up on shrimp in the rocks from 10 to 20 feet while they spawn. When the spawn is over, the trout and redfish come in and the sheepshead feed more on oysters and crustaceans. Bleving knows big sheepshead will always be around the rocks, but they are tougher to catch in May. “Right now we are catching between eight to 10 big ones,” Bleving said. “You have to keep fishing the area to find them.” Bleving recently caught a 10-pound sheepshead. Capt. Jason Woods, (409) 599-0909 Capt. Dave Edwards, (956) 524-3002 Capt. Bob Bleving, (361) 550-0958
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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER FISHERMEN, WARDENS HELP MEN AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES A boat took on water and capsized at Lake Alan Henry. Garza/ Lynn counties Game Warden Drew Spencer responded and learned the boat had two elderly men on board and was far from the public access area. The two men had been brought aboard another fishing boat and the boat, although upside down and underwater, was being slowly towed toward the public boat ramp. Spencer called Scurry County Game Warden Trey Kram to assist. Spencer, Kram and two Garza County officials made sure of the two boaters’ safety and then waded into the chilly waters to tie towropes to the boat. They were able to flip the boat right-side up, pull the boat up the boat ramp enough to allow for drainage, push the boat back into the lake and trailer it. NOT THAT KIND OF BOBCAT Freestone County Game Warden John Thorne responded to a call from the sheriff’s office regarding a woman who had been attacked by a bobcat and was en route to the hospital. After arriving at the hospital, Thorne determined that the woman had been struck by a skid-steer, front-end loader Bobcat machine and not the feline variety. LESSON NOT LEARNED Llano County Game Warden Kenneth Stannard was patrolling Lake Buchanan for fishing violations and on two consecutive days encountered the same man in possession of undersized white bass and hybrid striped bass. Cases pending. MEN CAUGHT KEEPING SMALL CATFISH Zapata County Game Warden Carson Wardlow and Jim Hogg County Game Warden Carlos
SNAPPING TURTLES KEPT TO “WATCH THEM GROW” On Toledo Bend Reservoir, Sabine County Game Warden Sam Smith checked a man who was fishing. Smith then headed up a creek and saw a small black truck parked in the brush. Smith secured his boat and approached the vehicle. Looking in the window, he observed large net sacks containing alligator snapping turtles. Smith waited in the brush until the man he had checked earlier came up the creek. After questioning, the man admitted he had caught all of the turtles in Toledo Bend, that they were still alive in the cab of Maldonado encountered two young men fishing on Falcon International Reservoir near Paradise Point. Upon checking for fishing licenses and bag/size limits, the wardens observed one of the men retain a very small catfish. In a five-gallon bucket were more. Twenty-six undersized catfish were seized; one was live released, and citations and restitution are pending. GILL-NET OPERATION FOILED During the month of April, Nueces County game wardens wrapped up a gill-netting operation within the Upper Laguna Madre. Based on several weeks of investigations, Game Wardens Saul Aguilar and Mike Wheelington pinpointed an area of interest. During the surveillance portion of the investigation, Game Wardens Jimmy Lindsey, Scott Lindner, Albert Flores, Brad Meloni, Stormy King and Kevin Mitchell helped locate and apprehend a local fisherman who had been running gill nets. On the night of April 22, the wardens noticed two boats without navigational lights heading out into the Laguna Madre north of Kennedy Causeway. The wardens launched two patrol boats and set up a plan to intercept the suspect
the truck and that he planned to return to Louisiana that evening and put them in a “sanctuary” so that he could watch them grow. Smith contacted Shelby County Game Warden Nathan Skeen, who assisted in removing 10 live alligator snapping turtles from the cab of the man’s truck and returning them to the lake. The man was also in possession of a prohibited weapon and did not have a driver’s license. A federal game warden was contacted and made aware of the case. Multiple charges are pending.
vessels on their way back in. During the morning hours of April 23, at approximately 5:45 a.m., Lindsey and Mitchell could hear one of the boats head out of Dead Man’s Hole before gaining visual with their nightvision goggles. The wardens stopped the vessel and discovered 24 black drum and three redfish; all exhibiting nets marks and no hook marks within one of the vessel’s compartments. No net was found onboard, so the wardens launched an airboat and located a gill net in the water. Aguilar and Wheelington located the boat belonging to the second suspect moored in a Flour Bluff canal, where they located a trash can with several hundred feet of gill net and a box full of freshly netted drum. The second suspect fisherman had left the area, but Corpus Christi police located him at a nearby convenience store and arrested him on an unrelated warrant. Cases pending. WARDENS HELP SECURE ESCAPED ELK Motley County Game Warden Matthew Cruse received a call that several elk had escaped from a highfenced ranch on the county line of Motley and Floyd counties. Cruse called Floyd County Game Warden Kyle Nevins for help to keep the
elk from being shot and/or run over until the landowner arrived. When the landowner arrived, both wardens helped drive as many of the elk back into the ranch as possible. The landowner was very thankful for the help and surprised that he got a few of the elk back. TOURNAMENT FISHERMEN ASSISTED AFTER BOAT ADRIFT, SINKING Cooke County Game Warden Darla Barr was checking fish at the weighin of a tournament on Lake Ray Roberts when one of the officials received a phone call about a contestant’s boat sinking. The winds had picked up to 30 mph and the boat had been adrift and without an anchor. Barr located the boater and returned him and his passenger safely to shore. WINDS FLIP SMALL BOAT, OPERATOR DIES Titus County Game Warden Jerry Ash responded to a water fatality on Lake Bob Sandlin. A man was fishing about 100 yards from the new boat ramp at the Titus County Fresh Water District Park in a 14-foot flatbottom boat. A witness reported that a sudden gust of wind flipped the boat over, and the victim was not
wearing a life preserver. FORUM POST LEADS TO DISCOVERY OF STOLEN BOAT On a fishing forum website, Comal County Game Warden Michael McCall read a thread about a local resident reporting that his boat had been stolen from a New Braunfels storage facility. The thread included a picture of the boat. As it turned out, McCall had seen this boat parked in a strange place the night before. McCall traveled to the location and found the boat still parked. He confirmed with New Braunfels Police Department that this was the boat that was reported stolen. The boat was recovered and returned to its owner a short time later. New Braunfels PD is investigating the theft as part of a local theft spree by unknown persons. SHRIMP BOAT ATTEMPTS TO DUMP FISH Aransas County Game Wardens Derek Reeder, Laura Peterek and Libby Balusek were patrolling Aransas Bay for commercial and water-safety violations. The wardens made contact with a shrimp boat that was improperly displaying its commercial plates. Right before the wardens boarded the vessel, the captain came out of the wheelhouse hurriedly and said something to the deckhand. The deckhand promptly dumped a large basket of fish out onto the deck, where plenty of birds were waiting to feast. The wardens were able to locate two headed-and-tailed spotted seatrout before they disappeared. After measuring the TEDs and trawls, the wardens found the trawl was exceeding the cork line length by more than 3 feet. The net was seized, and the entire catch onboard was returned to the water. A warning was given for improperly displaying commercial plates. Cases pending.
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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Hitting croaker DICKINSON BAY/MOSES BAYOU — The Eagle Point Fishing Marina in San Leon is selling their share of live shrimp and croaker to local anglers for redfish and trout. Most bait shops run out of the bait when the weekend hits but Eagle Point keeps a close eye to prepare for weekend rushes. Manager Eric Valentino said his shop rarely sells out. Valentino said the croaker are big enough to fish with, the trout spawn has started and trout don’t like croaker in their territory. Valentino recommends anglers fish from the Exxon wells into Moses Lake. To contact Eagle Point Fishing Marina, call (281) 339-1131.
Find the ballyhoo LAGUNA VISTA COVE — Ballyhoo is the way to go according to guide Herbert Bode. “Skip the small ones on top-water and fish the bottom with the bigger ones,” said Herbert. The redfish are starting to be caught in bigger numbers. Herbert is targeting redfish with ballyhoo in the shallows.
NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good on the Louisiana shoreline on top-waters and Corkies. Flounder are fair on jigs tipped with shrimp around marsh drains. Redfish are good in the marsh on SkitterWalks and Stanley Ribbits.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: Bull redfish are good on the beachfront on live bait. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Trout are showing in the surf when the wind allows.
SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and around slicks on plastics. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Trout are fair to good at the jetty on live shrimp and plastics.
TEXAS CITY: Trout are fair to good on Dollar Reef on live shrimp and croakers. Redfish are fair in Moses Lake on mullet and shrimp.
BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on plastics and Crazy Croakers. Black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on soft plastics. Trout are fair to good on the shell along the east shoreline on Corkies. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good on the south shoreline on jerkbaits and twitchbaits. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Trout are good on the reefs on live shrimp.
FREEPORT: Trout are fair to good at San Luis Pass on shrimp. Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs in Christmas Bay. Trout and redfish are good at the jetties on live shrimp and finger mullet. Bull redfish are good on the beach. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair to good for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet. Trout are good on the east end of the bay while wading the reefs. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the edge of Oyster Lake on shrimp and crabs. Trout are fair on shell and grass on
“It’s like redfish candy,” he said. The trout have been excellent for Bode, and he said he has caught limits using 3-inch, white pearl and chartreuse soft plastics. The black drum are schooling in and out of the bay. Bode is using dead shrimp to catch the drum and gave a bit of advice to visiting anglers. “See them before you cast,” he said. “It will be a soft bite.” To contact guide Herbert Bode, call (956) 501-3832.
A month behind SOUTH BAY — Guide Chris James said this year, it seemed the fish are a little behind on everything. “The fish are not moving as fast,” he said. Currently, the trout bit has been hit or miss and James said sometimes he catches his limit and other days he can’t get a bite. He believes the trout spawn should have already happened, but it looks likely that it will come at the end of the month. James is using dead and live shrimp or cut mullet to target the black drum — some up to 54 inches. The redfish have been spotty, but anglers are having success in 3 to 4 feet of water on perch. To contact guide Chris “CJ” James, call (361) 815-6812. — Jacob Longoria
soft plastics. Redfish are fair to good at Shell Island on live shrimp. PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are good on top-waters over sand and grass in the guts in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp. Trout are good at the jetty on live shrimp. ROCKPORT: Redfish are good on the Estes Flats on top-waters and live shrimp. Trout are fair to good in the guts and channels on free–lined shrimp. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: Trout are fair to good on live shrimp while working potholes on the flats. Redfish are fair to good at East Flats and around Dagger Island on shrimp and crabs. Trout, redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers. CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on scented plastics and live shrimp. Redfish are good in the potholes on shrimp and scented plastics. Trout are good
on top-waters in Oso Bay. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good at night in the Land Cut on live shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in the grass on the King Ranch shoreline on small top-waters. Trout are good on the upper end of the Laguna on Gambler Flappin’ Shad and Corkies. PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are good on Corkies around sand and grass and at the Saucer. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes and while anchored with natural baits at East Cut. SOUTH PADRE: Trout are good around the spoil islands, channel edges and color changes on DOA Shrimp and live shrimp. Redfish are fair while drifting sand and grass on scented plastics and live shrimp under a popping cork. PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the flats on live shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in South Bay on top-waters. Snook are good in the channel and on the edge of the flats. — TPWD
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BRING A BACKUP: With solar interference, it is always a good idea to have a backup navigational unit. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
GPS Continued From Page 8
the bay, so he doesn’t rely completely on GPS to find his spots. But with the sun moving into one of its most active periods for solar flares in years, the potential is there to cause problems for anglers. Joe Kunches, a space scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado, said solar flares, or space weather, can impact GPS systems. “This year and the next couple of years is when the sun is most likely to produce events that could produce solar eruptions,” Kunches said. “There is a directional component to it, though.” Kunches said during the past few weeks, the activity has been facing away from earth, so space weather probably wasn’t responsible for anomalies in GPS readings during that time. “Now, beginning early next week (through Memorial Day weekend) the active area on the sun will be more aligned with the earth,”
he said. “If it erupts again, we expect to see a magnetic storm here on earth. That is when you could get interference.” However, the Gulf Coast is in a better spot to avoid these disruptions because of the lower latitude closer to the equator. “The good news is in that locale, it is a pretty good spot to be protected,” Kunches said. “It is more acute in northern latitudes because of the poles.” Kunches said he would be surprised if it was space weather causing recent problems in the Gulf. “There hasn’t been anything recently,” he said. If GPS are affected, Kunches said the unit wouldn’t be able to lock on to as many satellites. “It can cause satellite transmission to be lost,” he said. “The largest error for GPS is the space weather causing positioning problems.” Kunches said anglers should always have a backup plan or carry another navigational tool beside a GPS. For more information, go to www.swpc.noaa.gov.
May 24, 2013
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Antler Continued From Page 4
White-tailed Deer Special Antler Restrictions read as follows: • A legal buck deer is defined as having a hardened antler protruding through the skin AND: • At least one unbranched antler; OR • An inside spread measurement between main beams of 13 inches or greater. Bag limit two bucks: No more than one buck may have an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. Forrester and his team monitored the results over the last three years in the six counties with the longest time under the program, being Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca, Lee and Washington counties. “There has clearly been an upward trend,” Forrester said of the bucks taken since the pro-
gram’s inception. “Fifty seven percent of the bucks taken have been 4 1/2 years old or better, and 20 percent have been 5 1/2 or older.” And although the total buck harvest was down in the first year of the regulation, since then it has exceeded the numbers taken before the regulation began. While the regulation was not designed as a trophy buck management strategy, older bucks have meant higher B&C scores as well. “In the six original counties, the trend has gone from an average score of 106 to 118,” Forrester said. “And the Texas Big Game Award entries have increased.” At the Texas Deer Study Group held in April, Forrester described the expansion of the antler restriction program that now encompasses 113 of Texas’ 252 counties. “In 2005-2006, 15 counties were added,” he said. “Then 40 more counties were added in ’06’07 and 52 more in ’09-’10.”
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Smallmouth Continued From Page 1
Photo by LSON.
Although a few hunters aren’t in favor of the restrictions, usually explaining that they don’t like having to tell a youngster he or she can’t shoot the buck they are looking at, most like it, espe-
cially wildlife co-ops and landowners that implement other wildlife management strategies. “The response has been 75 to 80 percent favorable,” Forrester said.
trip, the elder Tubbs began getting gear ready. “I knew his rods were in ill sorts from the past year, so I went out to the shop and spent the next couple of hours restringing his reels, changing out the rods, tying on baits and getting everything ready for his day on the lake,” he said. After getting in the car, Tubbs listened to his son tell him what they might catch once they got to Texoma, along with listening to some good tunes. “My son was so excited on the ride to lake and kept talking about what we might catch at the lake,” he said. “He also likes listening to Willie Nelson, so we enjoyed some sweet Willie during our drive as well.” Hoping to find schooling stripers, the pair of anglers drove around the islands in Texoma to try and locate the fish, to no avail. “We spent the first couple of hours trying to locate some active stripers but had no luck,” he said. “My son was using a top-water Sammy, a chrome Rat-L-Trap and a tail kicker. We did have a couple of blow-ups on the top-water baits but the stripers seemed to keep missing the bait.” The pair then decided to try a cove just north of Highpoint Marina. Even though the fishing had been suspect up to that point, the father/son team still enjoyed being out on the water. “He really got a kick out of seeing all the carp, gar, turtles, birds and catfish,” Tubbs said. “We could see the fish swimming around and we took turns guessing what species we were seeing swimming around the shallow water.” The younger Tubbs made a long cast and began to “walk the dog” with his top-water. “After just a few twitches, this giant smallmouth smashed his bait right off the top of the water and the fight was on,” Tubbs said. “Smallmouth bass have a reputation for being strong fighters that love to jump out of the water as they attempt to throw the hook from their mouth — this was no exception.” Even though the seventh-grader at Gunter Middle School had a lot of line out when the fish hit, he stayed patient and worked the big smallie to the boat. “I remember seeing what I thought was mixture of fear, anticipation and joy on my son’s face,” Tubbs said. “He was totally focused on getting this fish to the boat. I knew it was a great fish and the biggest bass he had ever caught. “I wanted to help him bring the fish to the boat but I refrained, knowing that it would be such a greater accomplishment if he landed this fish all by himself.” Scotty finally got the fish to the boat and hauled him aboard. “The first thing I wanted to do was measure it,” Scotty said. “We didn’t catch another fish all day, so I have bragging rights on my dad.” Scott said the memory will be with him forever. “The look on his face was something I will never forget,” Tubbs added. “He immediately started digging for my scales and, like a true fisherman, added a few ounces to his actual weight. We were both so excited that we had to send a picture to mom right away.” The big fish weighed more than 4 pounds. After a few pictures, the fish was released back into the water. “We are going again this weekend and I am going to catch another one,” Scotty said.
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Anderton family sues TPWD By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
James and Jimmie Anderton, of Hunt County, filed a civil lawsuit against Texas Parks and Wildlife stemming from the termination of the Andertons’ captive deer herd in 2010 and 2011. According to a press release from the Andertons’ attorney, Steven Griggs, the father/son duo filed the federal lawsuit for killing their legally acquired herd of captive deer worth approximately $700,000. “Plaintiffs James Anderton and Jimmie Anderton are challenging the department’s ability to seize and destroy a person’s deer breeding business at any time without adequate due process,” Griggs said.
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The key to great fishing on Lake LBJ is rocks and docks, according to guide Phillip Sanders. Sanders said the lake is easier to navigate during the weekdays, when weekend boaters don’t present a hazard. “Some people call it a recreation lake, but it isn’t,” he said. Sanders said the bass bite right now is hit or miss. During April, the spawn didn’t produce big bass in spawning areas due to the lack of cover and structure. Since then, the largemouths being caught are all less than 3 pounds. Sanders said the best time to catch bass is in the morning in deep water with overcast weather. Later in the day, he fishes around shallow rocks and docks for bass. Although bass fishing is slow, the crappie bite on the lake has been exceptional. On Sander’s last trip, he caught 36 crappie fishing brush piles on a dropshot rig with a minnow. Catfish have been caught on goldfish and the occasional minnow while bass or crappie fishing. Sanders caught 34 blues and channel catfish recently after a cold front hit. Canyon Lake is the biggest hotbed for bass in the Hill Country, according to guide Charles Whited. Right now on the lake, the fish are starting to go into their summer pattern which consists of schooling up around marinas. Whited expects the schooling to pick up during the summer months. “The fish are about a month behind,” he said. Whited recommends anglers have a four-wheel drive vehicle to put their boat into the water due to ramps being very steep to launch a boat. Whited is starting his trips early in the morning, catching bass under lights in 10 feet. He is using crankbaits for the shallow bass. The crappie bite for Whited depends on the how the wind is blowing. If the wind is light, Whited uses minnows. If the wind is strong, he uses a black and chartreuse jig. Mostly of the crappie caught are 1 to 1 1/2 pounds and up to 12 inches. Whited doesn’t target catfish, but said they can be caught on earthworms and chicken livers. He has also seen other anglers catch them on perch and goldfish. Anglers using goldfish also have a good chance at another fish. “Stripers love goldfish,” he said. “Goldfish can be sunk deep and still survive.” Fermin Fernandez, (512) 755-1007 Clancy Terrill, (512) 633-6742 Robert Brown, (512) 632-6088 Philip Sanders, (512) 589-1419 Charles Whited, (512) 557-6772
The father/son duo pleaded guilty and spent time in a federal prison on multiple crimes, including violations of the Federal Lacey Act, for illegally transporting stolen property and illegal trafficking of wildlife — in this case, white-tailed deer from Arkansas. At the time, TPWD officials said the Andertons could not prove the deer came from Arkansas, and subsequently killed all of the deer to test for Chronic Wasting Disease. None of the deer tested positive for CWD. TPWD’s Big Game Program Leader Mitch Lockwood, named in the suit along with Executive Director Carter Smith, Wildlife Director Craig Hunter and others, said at the time of the killings that he authorized the extermination when it appeared the
origination records did not exist. “The U.S. Constitution affords certain protections against arbitrary government takings of one’s property,” Griggs said. “For example, the government cannot take your property through eminent domain without due process. Right now we have a system where a lot of deer breeders have a lot of money invested in deer that they have no protected right to possess.” TPWD’s General Counsel Ann Bright said the department has not yet been served with the lawsuit, but she had read news reports on the suit. “We will be represented by the Attorney General’s office,” Bright said, “but I cannot comment on the suit since we have not yet been served.”
May 24, 2013
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Jetties Continued From Page 8
east, as has been prevalent the past few weeks, the bite slows down. “If the front comes in from the east, the bite is least,” said Betancourt. The Corpus Christi area has had its share of wind and rain the past few weeks. “Everyday the weather changes,” said Bryan Huggard, assistant manager of Clem’s Marina. “One day high tide, the next day low.” But the anglers who fish the jetties go to Clem’s Marina to get perch, shrimp and croaker. The croaker are 2 1/2 to 3 inches, and
anglers haven’t switched over to them yet. Anglers are buying shrimp to catch redfish, black drum and trout on the jetties. Bob Leonard, (281) 960-8986 Jetty Bait Stand, (956) 772-1038
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License Continued From Page 11
Photo by LSON.
Coyotes Continued From Page 6
predator population and prey population. With habitat, several sub-factors come into play, including linear habitat (senderos or dikes in a wetland), access to water, fire and escape cover. Any of these can affect wildlife in a positive or negative way. Predator factors include the overall number of predators, which is not important in many species. “In coyote social structures, 60 percent of the coyotes are non-breeders,” he said. “Eighty percent of predation on game animals is done by breeding coyotes.” Bodencheck recommends removing breeding-age coyotes before the whelping season in the spring. “If you kill a male, you aren’t doing a thing,” he said. “January and February are the best times to shoot females. Also, removing pups before the fawning season isn’t pleasant, but it is effective.”
Bodencheck said in one study, livestock losses ceased completely in the study area one day after pups were removed. “Focus on areas of contact,” he said. “Fawning areas, water holes, etc… and practice selective removal — targeting a specific animal at a specific time in a specific area.” Territoriality is also a factor with predators. “This is very important,” he said. “Coyotes and mountain lions are very territorial. There will only be a certain number of them in an area. A species like raccoons, however, are not territorial. Their numbers will be only determined by the amount of food available.” Prey factors also come into play. “There is a relationship with the carrying capacity of the land,” he said. “If you are at carrying capacity and reducing predators, you won’t see an increase in game animals.”
they choose not to purchase the additional license, they can fish only the Texas parts of the reservoir with a valid Texas fishing license, according to TPWD. Anglers on the coast must always have a valid Texas saltwater license when they go out on a boat or fish from a dock. However, they don’t need a license if they are in the state park. If anglers choose to fish with a licensed guide, they may bring their saltwater license or they can purchase a day pass from many marinas. In South Texas, the international waters are an area that requires more preparation and safety. Falcon and Amistad International Reservoirs are know for great fishing and anglers fishing the American side of the lake must have a Texas license. But once the angler passes the U.S./Mexico boundary, they are required to have a Mexican fishing license and boat registration. Every person in the boat must have a Mexican license if they cross into Mexican waters, even if they aren’t fishing, according to Mike Morse, a Bexar County game warden. Morse said although anglers may follow the laws of the lake, there are other unwritten rules they should follow on Falcon. “Always have a plan,” Morse said. “Tell people where you are going to be and have the numbers of local law enforcement with you at all times. “The more you prepare, the less trouble you will get into.”
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NATIONAL Five-year Missouri poaching case concludes The Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wrapped up a major special investigation involving 46 individuals that began in 2008. Operation “Pulling Wool” came to a close on April 25 with a final conviction in federal court. The last defendant charged in the operation was found guilty by a United States magistrate in Cape Girardeau. All 46 defendants were found guilty by trial or plea in federal court for hunting deer with the aid of dogs on U.S. Forest Service property. The defendants paid a total of $67,425 in fines to the federal court for their actions. Another six defendants were charged with nine total violations in state court. These defendants paid a total of $1,909 in fines and court costs. Additionally, hunting privileges of all the defendants were revoked for periods of one to three years. “These convictions are a direct result of our mission to protect the fish, forests and wildlife of Missouri,” said Gary Cravens, MDC Protection regional supervisor for Ozark Region. “Missouri citizens have asked us to take on this mission, and putting a stop to illegal poaching activities, like deer dogging, helps to ensure Missouri remains a great place to hunt ethically.” The investigation began in the fall of 2008, when the MDC’s special investigation unit set up an operation targeting illegal poaching activity that was occurring on the Mark Twain National Forest. — MDC
Mississippi stocks Fla. largemouth bass The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks stocked more than 100,000 Florida-strain largemouth bass fingerlings into Bay Springs Lake and Lock C on the TennesseeTombigbee Waterway and Lake Lamar Bruce. The fish were reared at MDWFP’s Turcotte Fish Hatchery near Canton. Bay Springs and Lock C are popular bass fishing destinations among tournament and recreational anglers. Lake Lamar Bruce is still under renovation and closed to the public. It is scheduled to open in 2015, which will allow the bass to establish a strong population. “Florida-strain largemouth bass are typically more aggressive and grow larger than northern-strain largemouth bass” said MDWFP Fisheries Biologist Tyler Stubbs. “The goal of the Florida-strain bass stockings is to help improve fishing quality.” — MDWFP
Louisiana men guilty of poaching Iowa bucks Four Louisiana men were found guilty of poaching Iowa deer from a case that started when someone made a call to the Turn in Poachers hotline. The investigation began in late November 2011 when the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department received a TIP call from a concerned citizen about the activities of these men. The information led authorities to possible illegal activity in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a TIP call about illegal deer activity around the same time that linked the two cases together. “These men came to Iowa specifically to road hunt trophy bucks during the rut,” said Deb
Howe, state conservation officer for the Iowa DNR. “They did not have any licenses or tags to hunt in Iowa during the time they were here.” Michael Fralick, of Ponchatoula, La., was convicted on all 32 counts of deer hunting violations in four southwest Iowa counties. Fralick was assessed $6,123.90 in fines and court costs, forfeited two rifles and received a five-year license suspension. He was ordered to pay $22,500 in civil damages. James Moore, of Ponchatoula, La., pleaded guilty to discharge firearm from roadway, having a loaded gun in vehicle, failure to tag deer, illegal method of take in Adams County, Iowa, and was fined $604.50. He also pleaded guilty to two counts unlawful transportation/possession of whitetail deer, no valid non-resident hunting license, no valid non-resident any-sex deer license, no habitat fee, illegal method of take in Montgomery County, Iowa, and was assessed $1,688.50 total fines and court costs. Moore received a five-year license suspension and was ordered to pay $10,000 in civil damages. Moore was in possession of an illegal deer in Oklahoma when he was served with the Iowa citations by officials in Oklahoma. Stanley Russel, of Roseland La., and William “Heath” Chambliss, of Kentwood, La., were both found guilty in Montgomery County, Iowa, of no valid non-resident hunting license, no valid non-resident any sex deer license, no valid non-resident antlerless deer license (required) and no habitat fee. Their fines and court costs totaled $1,433.40 each and they received a two-year license suspension. The four men pleaded guilty to various wildlife crimes in Kansas, as well. — IDNR
RMEF receives intervenor status in wolf lawsuit A U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., granted the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s request to intervene in a lawsuit by animal rights groups seeking to return federal protection to Wyoming’s wolf population. That means the judge will consider RMEF’s arguments in the case. RMEF also filed to intervene in a similar lawsuit regarding Wyoming wolves based in a Cheyenne, Wyo., U.S. District Court. “This matter is no different than the current case in the Great Lakes or past legal cases in the northern Rocky Mountains,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Individual states need to be given the opportunity to manage the wildlife species within their borders. These Wyoming lawsuits seek to frustrate the science-based management plan already laid out and approved by the federal government.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed Wyoming wolves from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in August 2012 with a minimum population estimate at that time of 328 wolves, including 48 packs and 27 breeding pairs. That total included 224 wolves, 36 packs and 19 breeding pairs outside Yellowstone National Park. A subsequent hunting season led to the harvesting of 42 wolves in the trophy-hunting zone bordering Yellowstone with 26 taken as unprotected predators elsewhere in the state. Wyoming Game and Fish since proposed reducing wolf hunt quotas by half for the 2013 fall season. Wildlife managers must maintain at least 100 wolves, including 10 breeding pair, outside of the Wind River Reservation and Yellowstone. — RMEF
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TPWD creates new unit to stop boat theft Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Law Enforcement Division has formed a new Marine Investigations Unit made up of Texas game wardens who will work to combat boat theft, personal watercraft theft and related fraud. The new unit, part of the Law Enforcement Division’s Special Operations section, will operate on a statewide basis. The nine game wardens assigned to the new unit met together for the first time earlier this week for initial training and equipment issuance. “While all 532 Texas game wardens handle boat and personal watercraft theft as part of their routine duties, we believe this new unit will help TPWD better focus on these high dollar crimes,” said Chief of Special Operations Grahame Jones. “Not only are we interested in apprehending thieves and recovering stolen boats, we think the new unit will be able to proactively prevent some offenses.” The wardens assigned to the new unit will be the regional contacts for all marine theft, tax fraud and title fraud investigations, said Capt. Greg Williford, who will supervise the new unit along with Sgt. Ned Nichols. Williford said all wardens will continue working these types of investigations, but will be passing on intelligence to the new unit and otherwise working with the wardens assigned to the unit. “TPWD handles $47 million a year in boat registration fees,” Williford said. “Unfortunately, it’s pretty tempting for boat owners or thieves to try to dodge registration fees or otherwise commit fraud. And when it comes to boat theft, Texas always ranks in the top three states nationwide. There is only a 10 percent recovery rate compared with roughly 70 percent in vehicle theft. With this new unit, we want to get that boat recovery percentage heading upward in Texas.” — TPWD
Champs Continued From Page 1
“To shoot as a team, you must have a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 24 students,” Bavousett said. “Five have to be of the opposite gender. When it come to scoring, they take 12 archer scores and four of them must be from the opposite gender.” Lamar’s scores, led by Adam Westenkirchner, who finished 5th, and Esther Choi, who finished 6th among the female archers, scored as follows with scores making up the final team score in bold: Male scores: Adam Westenkirchner 292 Kelby Benda 290 Sam White 284 Ashton Wyatt 282 Noah Sandberg 280 Nicholas Mcelhone 280 Agat Pughazhendi 275 Kevin Ko 274 James Preston 270 Michael Leaumont 267
Preston Boyd
247
Female scores: Esther Choi Laura Vargas Jessika Lemaster Sofia Gomez Claire Hanlon Audrey Stoltz Brynna Egge Genna Sullivan Abby King Melanie Hernandez Hayley White Kendall Phillips Katelyn Glogowski
285 278 272 272 271 267 267 265 260 259 257 246 245
Points are scored based on 15 arrows from 10 meters away and 15 from 15 meters away. A perfect score is 300. “I have great shooters,” Bavousett said. “I hope they keep at it when they get to high school.” Joe Musacchio of Cinnamon Creek Ranch in Roanoke, who sponsors the team, was proud, but not surprised. “The kids come here and practice all the time,” he said. “They are really good.”
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Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, north Date Time May 24 4:29 AM May 25 5:18 AM May 26 6:08 AM May 27 6:59 AM May 28 12:12 AM May 29 1:08 AM May 30 2:07 AM May 31 3:12 AM Jun 01 4:26 AM Jun 02 12:42 AM Jun 03 1:59 AM Jun 04 3:01 AM Jun 05 3:51 AM Jun 06 4:32 AM Jun 07 5:08 AM
Height 2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.0H -0.4L -0.1L 0.1L 0.4L 0.7L 1.4H 1.5H 1.7H 1.7H 1.8H 1.8H
Time 9:52 AM 10:37 AM 11:23 AM 12:14 PM 7:53 AM 8:48 AM 9:41 AM 10:30 AM 11:15 AM 5:48 AM 7:11 AM 8:24 AM 9:24 AM 10:08 AM 10:39 AM
Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time May 24 5:00 AM May 25 5:51 AM May 26 6:43 AM May 27 7:35 AM May 28 8:27 AM May 29 12:38 AM May 30 1:38 AM May 31 2:46 AM Jun 01 4:08 AM Jun 02 12:45 AM Jun 03 2:20 AM Jun 04 3:29 AM Jun 05 4:20 AM Jun 06 4:59 AM Jun 07 5:32 AM
San Luis Pass
Date Time May 24 5:30 AM May 25 6:21 AM May 26 7:13 AM May 27 8:05 AM May 28 12:39 AM May 29 1:34 AM May 30 2:34 AM May 31 3:42 AM Jun 01 5:04 AM Jun 02 1:15 AM Jun 03 2:50 AM Jun 04 3:59 AM Jun 05 4:50 AM Jun 06 5:29 AM Jun 07 6:02 AM
Freeport Harbor Date Time May 24 4:45 AM May 25 5:39 AM May 26 6:34 AM May 27 7:27 AM May 28 8:18 AM May 29 12:43 AM May 30 1:45 AM May 31 2:57 AM Jun 01 4:26 AM Jun 02 12:19 AM Jun 03 1:57 AM Jun 04 3:08 AM Jun 05 4:02 AM Jun 06 4:46 AM Jun 07 5:23 AM
Height 1.3L 1.4L 1.4L 1.4L 1.9H 1.8H 1.7H 1.6H 1.5H 0.9L 1.1L 1.2L 1.3L 1.3L 1.3L
Time 2:13 PM 2:53 PM 3:37 PM 4:28 PM 1:15 PM 2:30 PM 3:51 PM 5:01 PM 5:57 PM 11:54 AM 12:28 PM 12:58 PM 1:23 PM 1:43 PM 1:58 PM
Height 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H 1.3L 1.2L 1.0L 0.8L 0.5L 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H
Time Height 9:42 PM -0.5L 10:30 PM -0.6L 11:20 PM -0.5L
Height 2.0H 2.1H 2.1H 2.0H 1.9H 1.6L 1.3L 1.0L 0.6L 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.8H
Time 9:11 PM 9:59 PM 10:50 PM 11:43 PM
Height -0.7L -0.8L -0.7L -0.5L
6:23 PM 8:31 PM 10:44 PM
1.7H 1.5H 1.4H
5:32 PM 7:00 PM 9:02 PM 11:03 PM
1.5H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H
6:42 PM 0.3L 7:21 PM 0.1L 7:56 PM 0.0L 8:30 PM -0.1L 9:03 PM -0.2L 9:36 PM -0.2L
Height 2.5H 2.6H 2.5H 2.4H 2.3H -0.2L 0.1L 0.5L 0.9L 1.6H 1.8H 2.0H 2.1H 2.1H 2.1H
Time 9:48 AM 10:32 AM 11:18 AM 12:11 PM 1:23 PM 9:16 AM 10:01 AM 10:40 AM 11:12 AM 5:45 AM 7:16 AM 8:32 AM 9:35 AM 8:48 PM 9:15 PM
Height 1.9L 2.0L 2.0L 2.0L 1.8L 2.2H 2.0H 1.9H 1.8H 1.2L 1.4L 1.6L 1.7L -0.3L -0.4L
Time 1:31 PM 2:08 PM 2:53 PM 3:45 PM 4:48 PM 2:59 PM 4:21 PM 5:17 PM 6:03 PM 11:40 AM 12:03 PM 12:22 PM 12:38 PM
Height 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H -0.3L -0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.9H 1.1H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H
Time 10:44 AM 11:28 AM 12:14 PM 1:07 PM 8:57 AM 9:46 AM 10:31 AM 11:10 AM 11:42 AM 6:41 AM 8:12 AM 9:28 AM 10:31 AM 9:44 PM 10:11 PM
Height 1.1L 1.2L 1.2L 1.2L 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 0.7L 0.9L 1.0L 1.0L -0.2L -0.2L
Time 2:01 PM 2:38 PM 3:23 PM 4:15 PM 2:19 PM 3:55 PM 5:17 PM 6:13 PM 6:59 PM 12:10 PM 12:33 PM 12:52 PM 1:08 PM
Height 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1L 1.0L 0.8L 0.6L 0.4L 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H
Height 2.1H 2.2H 2.2H 2.1H 2.0H -0.2L 0.1L 0.4L 0.7L 1.3H 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.8H 1.8H
Time 9:13 PM 10:01 PM 10:52 PM 11:46 PM
Height -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L -0.4L
Time
Height
Time
Height
9:05 AM 9:44 AM 10:17 AM 10:44 AM 6:09 AM 7:49 AM 9:22 AM 8:18 PM 8:50 PM 9:21 PM
1.9H 1.7H 1.5H 1.4H 0.9L 1.1L 1.2L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L
4:53 PM 5:22 PM 5:56 PM 11:05 AM 11:23 AM 11:37 AM
1.0L 0.7L 0.5L 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H
8:13 PM 10:18 PM
1.1H 1.1H
6:43 PM 0.3L 7:19 PM 0.0L 7:51 PM -0.1L 8:20 PM -0.3L
Time Height 10:07 PM -0.4L 10:55 PM -0.5L 11:46 PM -0.4L 5:18 PM 6:53 PM 9:01 PM 11:14 PM
1.1H 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H
7:39 PM 0.2L 8:15 PM 0.0L 8:47 PM -0.1L 9:16 PM -0.2L
6:32 PM 0.3L 7:08 PM 0.1L 7:44 PM -0.1L
Solunar | Sun times | Moon times
Moon Phases Last
Full
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.
First
New
May 31
May 25
June 16
June 8
Houston
Port O’Connor
Date Time May 24 10:21 AM May 25 11:20 AM May 26 12:25 AM May 27 1:20 AM May 28 2:17 AM May 29 3:12 AM May 30 4:06 AM May 31 4:53 AM Jun 01 5:29 AM Jun 02 11:51 AM Jun 03 10:39 AM Jun 04 10:24 AM Jun 05 10:15 AM Jun 06 10:30 AM Jun 07 10:53 AM
Rockport
Date Time May 24 12:07 AM May 25 12:59 AM May 26 1:53 AM May 27 2:48 AM May 28 3:40 AM May 29 4:26 AM May 30 5:03 AM May 31 5:25 AM Jun 01 5:25 AM Jun 02 1:53 AM Jun 03 12:24 PM Jun 04 12:40 PM Jun 05 1:05 PM Jun 06 1:37 PM Jun 07 12:00 AM
Height 1.0H 1.0H -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L 0.0L 0.1L 0.2L 0.4L 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H
Time 11:34 PM
Height -0.1L
12:22 PM 1:20 PM 1:52 PM 1:48 PM 1:49 PM 1:38 PM 12:28 PM 8:53 PM 9:33 PM 10:11 PM 10:46 PM 11:17 PM 11:47 PM
1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.8H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.2L 0.0L 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L
Height 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.1L
Time 1:46 PM 2:37 PM 3:36 PM 4:41 PM 5:47 PM 6:56 PM 8:17 PM 1:19 PM 12:33 PM 4:26 AM 9:51 PM 10:35 PM 11:17 PM
Height 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L
2:16 PM
0.4H
Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Date Time May 24 5:08 AM May 25 6:03 AM May 26 6:57 AM May 27 7:49 AM May 28 8:35 AM May 29 12:20 AM May 30 1:14 AM May 31 2:11 AM Jun 01 3:17 AM Jun 02 12:07 AM Jun 03 1:55 AM Jun 04 3:07 AM Jun 05 4:02 AM Jun 06 4:50 AM Jun 07 5:35 AM
Height 2.1H 2.2H 2.2H 2.1H 1.9H -0.5L -0.2L 0.1L 0.5L 1.0H 1.2H 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.8H
South Padre Island Date Time May 24 5:14 AM May 25 6:13 AM May 26 7:11 AM May 27 8:04 AM May 28 8:49 AM May 29 12:19 AM May 30 1:13 AM May 31 2:09 AM Jun 01 3:10 AM Jun 02 12:01 AM Jun 03 2:02 AM Jun 04 3:24 AM Jun 05 4:24 AM Jun 06 5:14 AM Jun 07 6:01 AM
Height 1.6H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H -0.6L -0.2L 0.1L 0.5L 0.9H 1.1H 1.2H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H
Time 9:02 PM 9:49 PM 10:38 PM 11:28 PM
Height -0.6L -0.7L -0.7L -0.6L
9:13 AM 9:43 AM 10:05 AM 10:20 AM 4:39 AM 6:23 AM 7:14 PM 7:51 PM 8:27 PM 9:03 PM
1.7H 1.5H 1.4H 1.3H 0.8L 1.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L
Time 8:57 PM 9:45 PM 10:35 PM 11:26 PM
Height -0.9L -1.0L -0.9L -0.8L
9:24 AM 9:47 AM 10:02 AM 10:12 AM 4:25 AM 6:02 AM 7:17 PM 7:55 PM 8:31 PM 9:07 PM
1.5H 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H 0.8L 1.0L -0.3L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L
Time
Height
8:13 PM
0.3L
Time
Height
Time
Height
Time
Height
2013 May-Jun 24 Fri > 25 Sat F 26 Sun > 27 Mon > 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri 01 Sat Q 02 Sun 03 Mon 04 Tue 05 Wed 06 Thu 07 Fri > 08 Sat N 09 Sun > 10 Mon > 11 Tue > 12 Wed
A.M. Minor Major 4:55 11:11 5:56 ----7:01 12:45 8:09 1:53 9:15 3:01 10:18 4:05 11:16 5:03 ----- 5:56 12:32 6:44 1:16 7:28 1:57 8:09 2:38 8:49 3:19 9:30 4:01 10:13 4:46 10:58 5:33 11:45 6:22 12:10 7:12 1:00 8:03 1:51 8:54 2:42
Dallas 6:31 PM 8:05 PM 12:19 PM
0.3L 0.2L 0.4H
10:21 PM
0.3H
9:03 PM
0.2L
Time
Height
Time
Height
5:00 PM 5:27 PM 10:30 AM 10:32 AM
0.6L 0.4L 1.2H 1.2H
9:32 PM
0.8H
6:01 PM 0.1L 6:37 PM -0.1L
Time
Height
Time
Height
4:48 PM 5:20 PM 10:15 AM 10:12 AM
0.7L 0.4L 1.1H 1.1H
9:16 PM
0.8H
5:58 PM 0.1L 6:37 PM -0.1L
2013 May-Jun 24 Fri > 25 Sat F 26 Sun > 27 Mon > 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri 01 Sat Q 02 Sun 03 Mon 04 Tue 05 Wed 06 Thu 07 Fri > 08 Sat N 09 Sun > 10 Mon > 11 Tue > 12 Wed
A.M. Minor Major 5:01 11:16 6:01 ----7:07 12:51 8:14 1:59 9:21 3:06 10:24 4:10 11:22 5:09 ----- 6:02 12:38 6:50 1:22 7:33 2:03 8:14 2:43 8:55 3:24 9:36 4:07 10:19 4:51 11:03 5:38 11:50 6:27 12:15 7:18 1:06 8:08 1:57 8:59 2:48
San Antonio
2013 A.M. May-Jun Minor Major 24 Fri > 5:08 11:23 25 Sat F 6:08 12:00 26 Sun > 7:14 12:58 27 Mon > 8:21 2:06 28 Tue 9:28 3:13 29 Wed 10:31 4:17 30 Thu 11:29 5:16 31 Fri ----- 6:09 01 Sat Q 12:45 6:57 02 Sun 1:29 7:40 03 Mon 2:10 8:21 04 Tue 2:50 9:02 05 Wed 3:31 9:43 06 Thu 4:14 10:26 07 Fri > 4:58 11:10 08 Sat N 5:45 11:57 09 Sun > 6:34 12:22 10 Mon > 7:25 1:13 11 Tue > 8:15 2:04 12 Wed 9:06 2:55
Amarillo
2013 A.M. May-Jun Minor 24 Fri > 5:21 25 Sat F 6:22 26 Sun > 7:27 27 Mon > 8:34 28 Tue 9:41 29 Wed 10:44 30 Thu 11:42 31 Fri 12:10 01 Sat Q 12:58 02 Sun 1:42 03 Mon 2:23 04 Tue 3:04 05 Wed 3:45 06 Thu 4:27 07 Fri > 5:12 08 Sat N 5:59 09 Sun > 6:48 10 Mon > 7:38 11 Tue > 8:29 12 Wed 9:19
OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen 26. 27. 30. 31.
Roe, ova Game behavior patterns A type of gunsight A flat-bottom fishing boat 32. Describes a wild turkey’s vision 35. Hunters strive for a clean one 37. Bowman’s protector, ____ guard 38. The electric swimmer 39. A shooting sport 41. Catch small ocean fish from here 46. A game hideaway 47. A fly rod grommet 48. A species of a large catfish 49. Classed as a rodent 50. Hearing, smell, vision ACROSS 1. Wingshooter’s prey 3. A large jungle predator 6. Game resting places 8. A grouse 9. To ready gun for another shot 11. A clay pigeon 12. Number of game, fish, fowl allowed
15. Keeps gun parts from rusting 16. A deer species 18. The ____necked pheasant 19. Code for a type bullet 20. The formation flyers 22. Home of 33 down 23. A type of fly 24. Propels the arrow
DOWN 1. Act of game seeking food 2. A tasty freshwater fish 3. A top commercial fish 4. Time when hunters do their scouting 5. A fake fishing lure 6. Term for a group of bass 7. A camo cover for a
Solution on Page 28 10. 13. 14. 17. 21. 22. 24. 25. 27. 28. 29. 32. 33. 34. 36. 39. 40. 42. 43. 44. 45.
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May 24, 2013
scope Pack animals A breed of setter A covering on antlers A fuel for camp stoves A predator of small game The corn holder A predator fish Name for the whitetail of the north Hunter’s name for 20 across Pack a day’s catch in this Part of a fishline The name for the sea bass A dweller in 22 across A flightless bird A name for some very old gobblers A deer can do this to escape danger Field area preferred by quail Female sheep A type fly lure A female pheasant A bowhunting organization
Major 11:36 12:14 1:11 2:19 3:27 4:31 5:29 6:22 7:10 7:54 8:35 9:15 9:56 10:39 11:24 ----12:36 1:26 2:17 3:08
P.M. Minor 5:26 6:27 7:33 8:39 9:44 10:46 11:42 12:09 12:56 1:39 2:20 3:01 3:42 4:25 5:10 5:57 6:46 7:36 8:26 9:16
Major 11:41 12:12 1:17 2:24 3:30 4:32 5:29 6:21 7:07 7:51 8:32 9:12 9:54 10:37 11:22 12:09 12:34 1:24 2:14 3:05
SUN Rises Sets 06:24 08:12 06:23 08:12 06:23 08:13 06:22 08:13 06:22 08:14 06:22 08:15 06:22 08:15 06:21 08:16 06:21 08:16 06:21 08:17 06:21 08:17 06:20 08:18 06:20 08:18 06:20 08:19 06:20 08:19 06:20 08:19 06:20 08:20 06:20 08:20 06:20 08:21 06:20 08:21
MOON Rises 7:58p 9:04p 10:06p 11:01p 11:50p NoMoon 12:34a 1:13a 1:50a 2:26a 3:01a 3:38a 4:16a 4:57a 5:40a 6:26a 7:14a 8:05a 8:56a 9:49a
Sets 5:55a 6:52a 7:54a 8:59a 10:06a 11:11a 12:14p 1:15p 2:13p 3:09p 4:05p 5:00p 5:54p 6:47p 7:39p 8:28p 9:14p 9:57p 10:37p 11:14p
P.M. Minor Major 5:31 11:47 6:33 12:17 7:38 1:22 8:45 2:29 9:50 3:35 10:51 4:38 11:47 5:35 12:14 6:26 1:01 7:13 1:45 7:56 2:26 8:37 3:06 9:18 3:48 9:59 4:31 10:42 5:15 11:27 6:02 12:14 6:51 12:39 7:41 1:29 8:31 2:20 9:22 3:10
SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 06:22 08:24 8:11p 5:54a 06:22 08:25 9:17p 6:51a 06:21 08:25 10:18p 7:53a 06:21 08:26 11:12p 8:58a 06:21 08:26 NoMoon 10:06a 06:20 08:27 NoMoon 11:13a 06:20 08:28 12:43a 12:17p 06:20 08:28 1:21a 1:19p 06:19 08:29 1:56a 2:19p 06:19 08:29 2:30a 3:17p 06:19 08:30 3:05a 4:14p 06:19 08:30 3:40a 5:10p 06:18 08:31 4:17a 6:05p 06:18 08:32 4:57a 6:59p 06:18 08:32 5:39a 7:51p 06:18 08:32 6:25a 8:40p 06:18 08:33 7:13a 9:26p 06:18 08:33 8:04a 10:09p 06:18 08:34 8:57a 10:47p 06:18 08:34 9:50a 11:23p
P.M. Minor Major 5:38 11:54 6:40 12:24 7:45 1:29 8:52 2:36 9:57 3:42 10:58 4:45 11:54 5:42 12:21 6:33 1:08 7:20 1:52 8:03 2:33 8:44 3:13 9:25 3:55 10:06 4:38 10:49 5:22 11:34 6:09 12:21 6:58 12:46 7:48 1:36 8:38 2:27 9:29 3:17
SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 06:37 08:23 8:11p 6:08a 06:36 08:24 9:17p 7:05a 06:36 08:25 10:18p 8:07a 06:36 08:25 11:13p 9:13a 06:35 08:26 NoMoon 10:19a 06:35 08:26 12:03a 11:25a 06:35 08:27 12:46a 12:28p 06:34 08:27 1:26a 1:28p 06:34 08:28 2:03a 2:26p 06:34 08:28 2:39a 3:22p 06:34 08:29 3:14a 4:18p 06:34 08:29 3:51a 5:12p 06:34 08:30 4:29a 6:06p 06:33 08:30 5:10a 7:00p 06:33 08:31 5:53a 7:51p 06:33 08:31 6:40a 8:40p 06:33 08:32 7:28a 9:26p 06:33 08:32 8:18a 10:09p 06:33 08:32 9:10a 10:49p 06:33 08:33 10:02a 11:26p
P.M. Minor 5:52 6:53 7:58 9:05 10:10 11:12 ----12:34 1:22 2:05 2:46 3:27 4:08 4:51 5:36 6:23 7:12 8:01 8:52 9:42
SUN Rises 06:37 06:37 06:36 06:36 06:36 06:35 06:35 06:34 06:34 06:34 06:33 06:33 06:33 06:33 06:33 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32 06:32
Major ----12:38 1:43 2:50 3:56 4:58 5:55 6:47 7:33 8:16 8:58 9:38 10:20 11:03 11:48 12:35 1:00 1:50 2:40 3:31
Sets 08:49 08:50 08:51 08:52 08:52 08:53 08:54 08:54 08:55 08:55 08:56 08:57 08:57 08:58 08:58 08:59 08:59 09:00 09:00 09:00
MOON Rises 8:37p 9:43p 10:44p 11:38p NoMoon 12:25a 1:06a 1:43a 2:17a 2:50a 3:24a 3:58a 4:34a 5:13a 5:55a 6:41a 7:29a 8:21a 9:14a 10:08a
Sets 6:11a 7:07a 8:09a 9:15a 10:23a 11:31a 12:37p 1:40p 2:41p 3:40p 4:37p 5:34p 6:30p 7:25p 8:17p 9:07p 9:52p 10:34p 11:12p 11:47p
FOR THE TABLE Honey baked pheasant 4-6 boneless pheasant breasts and thighs, cut into 2-inch cubes 1-2 cups flour Salt and pepper 2 sticks butter 1 bottle honey Season the flour to taste with the salt and pepper. Add your favorite seasonings if desired. Melt 1 stick of butter in a skillet. Roll the pheasant pieces in the flour and add to the hot
butter. Brown on all sides. Remove the meat to a lightly greased glass baking dish. Place the other stick of butter and the honey in the skillet. Stir while heating. Once the mixture is runny, pour it over the pheasant. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Serve making sure to dip some of the honey from the dish onto the pheasant. — Backwoodsbound.com
River catfish stew 2 lbs. catfish fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces 6 oz. bacon 1–2 medium onions, chopped 4 cups diced potatoes 1 large can tomatoes
1/2 cup ketchup 1 cup water 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper Cooked rice, optional
Fry the bacon until just crispy. Remove. Add the onions and cook lightly until just soft. Remove. Place the onions and a small amount of bacon grease in a stew pot. Add the potatoes, tomatoes, ketchup, water and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30–40 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and hot sauce. Add the catfish and simmer 15–20 minutes. Serve over cooked rice or by itself. — Backwoodsbound.com *email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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HEROES
ROBERT AVALOS, 11, took his first buck, this 12-pointer, on his family’s ranch in Refugio on Dec. 15.
MATTHEW YOUNG, 7, of Rusk took his first deer this past season on the family farm with a .250 Savage.
This 25-inch trout and 23-inch flounder were caught in the Laguna Vista flats by FRANK SILVA.
Eleven-year-old COLE FINDLEY took this big 11point buck in Concho County with a 7mm-08.
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Email them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
SAM HOLDEN caught this big black drum March 15 in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel.
ETHAN BENNETT, 13, of Houston, harvested this gobbler during youth weekend at Seven Bar Ranch in Archer City.
BDS Outfitter’s J.R. RODRIGUEZ, from San Perlita, with a nilgai bull harvested in Willacy County with a .30-06.
JOSH TILLEY, of Houston, and friends landed this 66-pound blue catfish while jugging on Somerville Lake.
KYLEIGH CARR celebrated her 13th birthday by taking her first buck in Webb County on Feb 2.
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Traveling
Catfish
Continued From Page 4
Continued From Page 8
and said he traveled to the country last year and had major issues getting a rifle permit and visa from the Cameroon embassy. “In Cameroon, for the past 20 years, it has not been an issue,” he said. “Last year it became an issue, but only for Americans. What I found out was, Harvard owns the building that Cameroon uses for their embassy. They were woefully behind on rent, so Harvard tried to evict them. Well, someone in the embassy decided they wouldn’t release my passport, with or without a visa and gun permit.” Miller contacted a friend in the State Department, who managed to get the embassy to release Miller’s passport with the visa and gun permit. “I got my gun permit the day before I left on the hunt,” he said. “I’m leaving next week to go back and I still don’t have my gun permit for this trip. There is more and more of this around the world as green organizations that want to eliminate hunting put pressure on carriers. “It has nothing to do with safety.” Miller recommends doing a ton of research before a trip and hiring a knowledgeable travel agent who knows how to navigate the airlines ever-changing rules and regulations. “Most airlines require you reserve space for your gun,” Miller said. “Ammo has to be in a separate case from the one the firearm is in. I remove the bolt, place that in a separate case and put a child lock on the firearm. “The gate agents, even the ones that have no idea about firearms, relax noticeably when they realize there is no way it can be fired.” Ammunition must weigh 11 pounds (5 kilograms) or less on most international flights. Always check with the Transportation Security Administration, www.tsa.gov, for any additional restrictions and allowances affecting hunters. If you’re flying with firearms, more time will be necessary at check-in. Get to the airport an extra hour early. Generally speaking, archery gear is treated as normal checked baggage. On United Airlines, “firearms are not accepted to and from Bahrain, Denmark, Israel, Nigeria, Qatar and Turkey. For travel to and from the United Kingdom, pistols, rifles and shotguns must be packed in a hard side rifle case. Customers traveling to or through Amsterdam, Netherlands with checked firearms/ammunition must obtain permission from the Netherlands Consulate/Embassy in their country of origin prior to departure. Firearms are subject to confiscation in Amsterdam unless the owner can show all required permits. Customers traveling on military orders with checked firearms may do so without prior consent from Dutch Customs.” On a Delta flight, “you must declare to the Delta representative that you are checking a firearm. Present firearm(s) unloaded and sign a “Firearms Unloaded” declaration. If you are transporting a firearm to the United Kingdom, a permit from the United Kingdom is specifically required. You must contact the United Kingdom for more information about securing this permit. Ammunition in excess of 11 pounds per passenger or that contains potential projectiles is not allowed.” Black powder and hand-loading items are forbidden in all baggage.
many flathead catfish are being harvested each year, how they are being harvested and the impact of the new hand-fishing rule in Texas. “We are getting the science needed to make better decisions,” said Craig Bonds, regional director of TPWD’s Inland Fisheries. The flatheads were tagged with a green or red tag. When an angler catches a tagged flathead, they should call a number where they will be asked questions about their catch. TPWD will not release the value of the tags because they don’t want the lake full of “tag fishermen,” Bonds said.
Ott hopes they get at least 10 percent of the tags back. When the research concludes next year, the biologists will find out if any changes need to be made to the lake to keep the flathead population stable. If the population needs to recover, biologists may change the bag limit or enforce a longer minimum length. Texas anglers are looking forward to the chance to catch a tagged flathead. “With a little extra change in my pocket, I would put it towards my kayak-accessories fund,” said Kyle Miller, a San Antonio angler. The rewards will continue until April 24, 2014.
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Photo by LSON.
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G ood - bye G et -A-Way On a Sunday evening, Bruce and Shirley Shuler passed the torch to the new owner of one of the Texas coast’s top fishing destinations. One of the last guests to arrive noticed a different vibe in the room, different from the usual exuberant talk and story sharing. At the Get-A-Way Adventures Lodge in Port Mansfield, representatives from fishing equipment manufacturers like Foreverlast, Egret Baits and Sarge Custom Rods, top outdoor media and friends were present. Bruce was tearing up, even though the ceremony was to celebrate the transfer of the lodge to its new owner, Mike Sutton. Bruce’s thoughts went to the late 1990s. “I had a long career in commercial construction,” he said. “Shirley and I
Photos by David J. Sams, LSON. Story by Craig Nyhus.
had discussed building a lodge on the coast when we retired. A friend had a stroke and when we visited him, he said ‘It’s not worth it,’ of all the travel and time away. I decided right then to start on the lodge.” Shuler built the 8,000 square-foot lodge himself and finished it in 1999. “It can handle 32 guests at a time,” he said. The lodge grew from the start. “Every year we were in business, we grew,” he said. “Except 2008 was flat because of Hurricane Dolly.” Shuler was never afraid to take on causes he believed in, especially when it came to protecting the fish. He was instrumental in the five-fish trout limit in the Lower Laguna Madre. “A lot of people didn’t like it at first,” See GOOD-BYE, Page 30
JOB WELL-DONE: His first time wet-wading this season, the cool, 70-degree water gets Capt. Bruce Shuler’s attention as the water makes its way to just below waist deep. Always handy in front of a camera, Bruce poses with a nice trout and shows his love for “holding court” at the lodge. Finally, Bruce and Shirley Shuler share a moment after 15 years of running Get-A-Way Adventures Lodge.
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Couple takes crappie tourney Jay Don and Rhonda Reeve of Gun Barrel City topped the field at the Crappie Anglers of Texas qualifying tournament at Lake Palestine. The couple’s seven-fish total weight of 11.75 pounds bested the Division 1 team of George Nelson and Larry Middleton, who finished with 11.45 pounds. Third place went to the team of Craig Carpenter and Kirk Grounds with 10.82 pounds. In Division 2, Willie and Chris Scott led the field with 10.35 pounds, followed by Clinton Joseph Jr. and Clinton Joseph III with 7.64 pounds. — CATS
Team battles wind to win on Travis Dale Boren and Jody Holubek of Fort Worth don’t mind the wind so much, at least since the Bass Champs event May 18 on Lake Travis. The team weighed in three bass totaling 13.03 pounds to win the event and $15,000. The team of James Millsap of Harker Heights and Jody Berger of Belton finished second with 12.15 pounds, followed by Chuck Guthrie of Killeen and Rodney Thompson of Harker Heights with 11.94 pounds. The big bass of the event, 7.59 pounds, was landed by the team of Mike Hastings and Steve Magnelia, of Buda and Austin. — Bass Champs
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Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 21628300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2013 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 email them to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
May 24, 2013
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PRODUCTS
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NIGHT OWL DOUBLE-BARRELED LED FLASHLIGHT: This high-performance flashlight by Impeltronics has 10 light settings – including a double-light capability with 1100 lumen output. The flashlight, which provides a wide-range of versatility for the outdoorsman, is equipped with CREE LED lights, giving the user about 50,000 hours of bright light time. Designed to operate in extreme cold or heat, the Night Owl flashlight is constructed with scratch-resistant aircraft aluminum housing, stainless steel lens rings, and diamond-coated strengthened lenses. The flashlight sells for about $340.
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DOUBLE FX PRO-HUNTER BLIND: The interior of this hard-sided blind measures more than 5 feet wide by 7 feet long – plenty of room for two or more Texas-sized hunters. The Darkwoods Hunting Blind Company, which custom-makes each model, lauds the function and performance of this blind. Offered in the Realtree Xtra camo pattern, the roomy blind has eight windows providing hunters with several vantage points for making the perfect shot. This model exceeds American with Disabilities Act (ADA) interior requirements for handicapped hunters and meets federal and state standards for a 360-degree turnaround for wheelchairs. The Double Pro-Hunter FX blinds sells for $3,995 (a highway ATV trailer with drop-down ramp is sold separately).
BALLOON FISHING CLIP: Anglers can clip, bait, inflate, and fish with Balloon Fisher King’s patent-pending product. Designed for balloon fishing anywhere that sport fish feed near the surface or in skinny waters, the clip dispenses with the need for fancy swivels or elaborate knots by providing an easy, functional way to set up a rig. These clips, which offer the angler an easy way to control the depth of the bait, are rated for 20-pound-test monofilament or larger. They are available in several options, including starter kits, refill packs and Pro Packs. A starter kit, which contains one balloon clip and 10 five-inch biodegradable balloons, sells for about $7.
Puzzle solution from Page 23
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Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Good-bye Continued From Page 26
he said. “The lodge went to a five-fish limit three years before we got Texas Parks and Wildlife to implement it. And we’ve never thrown croakers out of here — most of my guides are just like me, throwing artificials.” Get-A-Way achieved several milestones, including being listed as one of the top 10 fishing destinations in North America by Field & Stream magazine. And Bruce was always eager to promote Port Mansfield, hosting several media events each year with outdoor writers from across the country. “And we have done 60-some TV shows out of here — they all showed the water tower at Port Mansfield,” he said. The group’s mood picked up the next morning when the boats headed out in pursuit of big trout. The fishing wasn’t the greatest ever, but nice trout were landed from each boat and everyone was happy. The credit for the lodge’s success, Bruce said, should go to Shirley.
Nikon will send your 10x42 ProStaff 7 binoculars. You can check out the entire line at the nearest dealer: See a full selection of Nikon products at:
Victoria All Sports 1902 Houston Hwy Victoria, Texas 77901 victoriaallsports.com (361) 575-0655
LAYNE GERKE was hunting in turkeys on April 20 in Lavaca County when he and his dad found this big boy strutting. Layne put a sneak on the bird and got within 50 yards, with his mom and older brother keeping the tom occupied with their calling. One shot from his .17 HMR rifle was all it took.
“She had the hard, hard job,” Bruce said. “She made all home-cooked meals — customers would request their favorites when they booked their trips.” As they said so long to the lodge, the new owner, Mike Sutton, who just happens to be a former client, vowed to keep the lodge running like the Shulers had for 15 years. And Bruce is going to stick around for a few months to help Sutton get started. “Then I’m going back to bass fishing and even fish some tournaments to see if I can still hang with the young guys,” Bruce said. The couple won’t miss the hustle and bustle of running the lodge or the local politics, Bruce said. “But I will miss sitting around visiting with the guides and customers and having a cold beverage. “We were blessed, and I think we accomplished my goal to leave the bay better than I found it — for my grandkids.”
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Photo by TPWD.
Canyon Lake gets brushy In late April, volunteers from Canyon Bass Club, the Boy Scouts of America Troop 133 and local individuals joined staff from the Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in placing fish-attracting structures into Canyon Lake. Largemouth bass are the reservoir’s most sought-after sport fish. Historically, catch rates have been poor, and this has been attributed to a lack of suitable structural habitat in the lake. A fish attractor project in Canyon Lake was started in January 2005 to help concentrate cover-seeking species like largemouth bass and increase catch rates. Forty-two attractor locations were installed and furnished with Ashe juniper (mountain cedar) bundles. “These larger-scale conservation projects are made possible through partnerships and community commitment to conservation,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department District Fisheries Supervisor Marcos De Jesus. “When we get a large group formed, these projects become more efficient, and success is inevitable.” Selected trees were cut from designated areas, loaded on trailers and hauled to the boat ramp at Canyon Park. The trees were arranged in bundles, zip-tied to cinder blocks and laid out on the boat ramp ready to be picked up by the boat crews. An updated map and coordinates of the attractor locations will be posted on the TPWD website: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/canyon/. — TPWD
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A good day in the blind Sixteen-year-old hunter and budding wildlife photographer James Richards of San Antonio was hunting on the JHA Ranch in George West when he took this set of photographs. Minutes before, a mature bird had worked within range and Richards took the tom with a 10-inch beard out of the back of the pop-up blind. Although he wasn’t going to shoot a jake, the group hung around long enough to beat up on the decoy and allow Richards to take a few shots with his camera. Photos by James Richards.
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DATEBOOK May 24-25
Willacy County Young Farmers Annual Fundraising Fishing Tournament Port Mansfield Community Pavilion (956) 746-6810 wcyf.org
May 25
Third Coast Fishing Tournament Bluff’s Landing Marina and Lodge (361) 992-5152 winthirdcoast.com National Wild Turkey Federation Panola County Banquet Carthage Civic Center (903) 754-4635 nwtf.org/texas
June 1
National Wild Turkey Federation Hopkins County Longbeards Banquet Hopkins County VFW, Sulphur Springs (903) 885-6237 nwtf.org/texas Texas Team Trail Cedar Creek Tournament (210) 788-4143 texasteamtrail.com Lonestar Kayak Series Tournament #2 Louie’s Bait Camp, Hitchcock lonestarkayakseries.com Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 2013 Big Game Banquet and Fundraiser Marriot Westchase Hotel, Houston (281) 389-0488 rmef.org
June 6
Coastal Conservation Association San Jacinto Chapter Annual Banquet Bay Area Community Center ccatexas.org
June 6-9
Bass Champs Skeeter Owner’s Tournament Lake Fork (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com
June 7-8
Texas Deer Association Brush to Bay Fishing Tournament Bluff’s Landing Marina and Lodge Corpus Christi texasdeerassociation.com
June 8
June 11
Ducks Unlimited Pattison Dinner Repka’s Cafe, Brookshire (281) 259-9638 ducks.org/texas
June 13
Coastal Conservation Association Live Oak Chapter Annual Banquet Knights of Columbus Hall, Columbus ccatexas.org Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly Meeting and Dinner Sheraton Dallas North (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org
June 14-15
Texas Game Warden Association Fishing Tournament and Music Festival Roberts Point Park, Port Aransas texasgamewarden.com
National Wild Turkey Federation Pease River Chapter Banquet Crowell Activity Center (940) 684-1372 nwtf.org/texas
Coastal Conservation Association 2013 Interchapter Challenge Tournament Aransas Pass Civic Center ccatexas.org
5th Annual Battle of the Bay Fishing Tournament and BBQ Cook-off Kaufer Hubert Park Docks Baffin Bay (361) 296-3798
National Wild Turkey Federation 8th Annual JAKES Day Comfort (210) 422-8783 nwtf.org/texas
2nd Annual Texas-Oklahoma Patriot Shootout Lewisville Lake (214) 762-9222 networkingwarriors.org/events
June 15
Crappie Anglers of Texas Lake Ray Roberts Tournament (903) 887-0334 crappieanglersoftexas.com
LONE STAR MARKET
To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or email him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Dallas Safari Club Summer Fun Shoot Elm Fork Shooting Range (972) 980-9800 biggame.org Ducks Unlimited Fort Worth Camo Shoot Alpine Shooting Range (817) 291-6696 ducks.org/texas
June 20
Coastal Conservation Association Alvin/Pearland Annual Banquet Knights of Columbus Hall, Pearland ccatexas.org Coastal Conservation Association Centex Chapter Banquet Waco Convention Center ccatexas.org
June 22
Lone Star Bowhunter Association 2013 Annual Awards Banquet and Expo Brazos County Expo Center, Bryan (214) 282-3697 lonestarbowhunter.com Rudy’s Texas Redfish Series Galveston Tournament redfishseries.com
June 27
Ducks Unlimited State Convention Downtown Hilton, Fort Worth (512) 992-0710 ducks.org/texas
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LoneOStar Outdoor News
May 24, 2013
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May 24, 2013
LoneOStar Outdoor News
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