October 24, 2014 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

October 24, 2014

Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas

October 24, 2014

It’s time

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Volume 11, Issue 5

250 and change Huge South Texas buck taken with crossbow

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

Mission hunter Roel Vela has gone deer hunting every year since he was 5 years old when his dad would take him.

“It’s an addiction,” he said.

“I’ve been in the brush ever since.”

That addiction led Vela to pick up a crossbow for the first time before this season in hopes of connecting with a huge deer he had been watching on trail cameras at a Hidalgo County ranch.

“We had spotted him on game cameras and knew where he was

TROUT DISCUSSIONS: More coastal anglers seem to favor the expansion of the five-fish spotted seatrout limit farther up the coast, but some disagree with the change. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Mixed opinions

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Anglers share their thoughts on new trout limit

By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS

With any sort of change, particularly in regulations, anglers are generally the first to share their thoughts on the subject — and the new five-fish speckled trout limit on the Texas Gulf Coast is no different.

Starting Sept. 1, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department enacted the new limit, which was already imposed in the Lower Laguna Madre, all the way up to the Highway 457 Bridge near Sargent.

Anglers in the newly targeted area weren’t afraid to share their thoughts on the matter.

“It really hasn’t affected me; this is the busiest October I’ve had in a

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

Please turn to page 14

READY FOR ACTION: November 1 marks the opening of the Texas general gun deer season, the state’s opening day for most rifle hunters. The work of setting and filling feeders, cleaning stands, checking trail cameras and sighting in rifles should be mostly over, and hunters are left to hope that a buck like this steps out into their sights. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

An urban perspective

Deer Hunting Texas

INSIDE

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

Biologists take advantage of chances to educate city dwellers

NOT JUST FOR WINGSHOOTERS GREYSTONE CASTLE

NEW TECH FOR LONG-RANGE LEUPOLD

DEER NATION CABELA’S

SAFE, SECURE FORT KNOX

CUSTOM 30MM

NIKON

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DEER HUNTING: TEXAS ANNUAL 2014

Lone Star Outdoor News

Annual 2014

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS Those who spend time hunting or in the outdoors may not realize that many Texans in urban areas haven’t seen many of the animals that may cross their paths.

A call to one of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s urban biologists often follows.

“Sometimes we take for granted what we see when we’re in the outdoors,” said Dallas area urban biologist Derek Broman. “The vast majority of the public has no idea — they are experiencing the critter for the first

FISHING

Good signs

While the fishing on Amistad International Reservoir may not be stellar, the fishery is showing signs that it is on the upswing.

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Count on crappie

Crappie activity in East Texas is consistent with fall patterns.

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BRUISER: Roel Vela of Mission spent days waiting for this big buck to appear, and he finally came close enough for his crossbow shot. Photo by Roel Vela.

time. They want to know what it is, they want it gone or they are just interested.”

Calls to the biologists range from interesting to bizarre.

“After Hurricane Ike, a man called and described a cicada in his house,” said Houston urban biologist Diana Foss. “It looked like a giant fly with great big eyes. He swore it was an alien bug that came in with the hurricane, and his wife had speared it with a knife and they wanted to know what to do.”

Many questions involve white-tailed deer in the city.

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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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October 24, 2014

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HUNTING

Up close and in person Port Mansfield deer come to town for treats

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS White-tailed deer head into the tiny little fishing village of Port Mansfield each morning and night, looking for an easy snack. Many head straight for the trailer with a small yard owned by Ohio resident Norm Lavelle.

Lavelle has known the deer so long and has given many of the bucks and does names, and says some of the deer come to the call.

“I got goodies, Niner,” he called out in early October. “The buck stepped forward from the group of 15-or-so whitetails to receive a treat.

“They are partial to horse biscuits,” Lavelle said. “Sometimes you can watch them drool.”

Proving Niner's response was more than a coincidence, Lavelle called another.

“Dancer, want a treat?”

Another buck walked up.

“That’s him; Dancer will hop the fence into the yard and look into my picture window in the mornings.

And Daisy (a doe) lays down in the yard for a few hours each evening.”

Lavelle and friend Howard Steussy are feeding regulars, and their cost to feed the semi-tame herd isn’t small.

“I spend between $500 and $600 each month,” Lavelle, who believes about 450 deer roam the small town, said while pouring stacks of corn, like placemats, on his picnic table. Soon, six whitetails took their places at the table.

The Port Mansfield deer are different from some urban populations,

Norm Lavelle

like in Fair Oaks Ranch or Lakeway.

At Port Mansfield, you might be tossing corn to a giant buck.

“I have a 14-pointer that comes regularly,” said Steussy, who lives across town from Lavelle.

Parents and young children come by often to feed or just watch thedeer, and the residents help them

“That’s him; Dancer will hop the fence into the yard and look into my picture window in the mornings. And Daisy (a doe) lays down in the yard for a few hours each evening.”

avoid scaring the animals and help protect the deer.

“Thanks for coming,” Lavelle said to two young parents with their slightly frightened 5-year-old daughter. “Please don’t toss any corn on the road.”

A doe rushed up to the young girl and stuck her head in the bag of corn.

“Watch that one, she doesn’t have a tongue,” Lavelle told them. “She has to lean her head back to swallow.”

The Port Mansfield deer have been in the news the past few years after three of the largest bucks, Pretty Boy, Able Sr. and Little Able, were poached, all within the same month last winter, upsetting the town’s residents.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: Norm Lavelle feeds a horse biscuit to one of Port Mansfield's resident bucks. Dozens of deer come into town each morning and evening looking for a snack from area residents and tourists. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.

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Eyeworms in bobwhites feed on blood

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS Ron Kendall, a researcher at Texas Tech University, has discovered a trait in the eyeworms that are suspected of causing or contributing to the bobwhite quail decline in the region. They are hookworms and they eat blood, and Kendall believes the finding may lead to a treatment that could help the quail recover.

“In 2010, we had a rainy year and we still had a severe drop in quail numbers,” Kendall said. “We started looking at environmental contaminants, pesticides, even deer corn. There was no evidence of deer corn being a problem.”

Kendall came to the conclusion that eyeworms may be the culprit for much of the decline, even though good habitat conditions have brought about a slight rebound this year.

“Everything pointed to the eyeworm,” he said.

“We discovered that it is a hookworm and it feeds on blood — no one had ever discovered that.”

The eyeworms aren’t just on the surface of the quail’s eye.

“They inhabit the rear of the eye in the ducts,” Kendall said. “It’s like a leech. We believe it affects the quail’s vision and makes them more subject to

predation.”

That discovery wasn’t a surprise to Kendall.

“We kept hearing of quail flying into objects,” he said. “They clearly aren’t seeing well.”

The eyeworm eggs are ingested by the quail, migrate to the nasal sinus and grow rapidly, Kendall said.

“The worms eat blood — anything that eats blood sucks up the bird’s energy and causes anemia. Now we need to figure out how to control this.

“Can we treat the quail for worm infections?”

Kendall believes a treatment is very promising.

“We are in the research and development process to develop a medicated feed,” he said. “It is in the early stages. The fact that the worm feeds on blood means it attaches to tissue causing inflammation, especially when near the optic nerve. It provided a steering mechanism for our research.

“I think we can isolate it for quail.”

Kendall feels a treatment could have an impact on the bobwhite population in the region.

“We need to demonstrate how we can impact the population by developing a strategy to implement the treatment on a ranch,” he said. “Infections take the birds so fast.”

NEW BREAKTHROUGH: Texas Tech researchers believe they have discovered a key that may lead to a treatment for the eyeworm that is prevalent in Rolling Plains bobwhites.

Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

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HECK OF A GIFT: Thanks to a change of heart from his father-in-law, Andrew Hunt, right, got to shoot an axis buck instead of a doe and downed the new world record in the process. Photo by Joshua Creek Ranch.

37-inch Hill Country axis certified as SCI world record

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Schertz hunter Andrew Hunt had never laid eyes on a live axis buck until an Easter weekend hunt at Joshua Creek Ranch near Boerne.

After the buck he took was recently certified as Safari Club International’s new world record axis, he might be done hunting axis after just one hunt.

“The hunt was a gift from my father-inlaw,” Hunt said. “The gift was actually for an axis doe. It was only my second deer hunt ever, but I love to shoot. I shot a doe last sea-

son at Joshua Creek.”

During the doe hunt, Hunt’s father-in-law, Keith Strimple, sent a text to the guide saying, ‘Go ahead and let Andrew shoot a buck.’

“When I let the guide know, I thought the boys would bring back a nice, 30-inch axis,” Strimple said (he also allowed his other sonin-law to shoot a buck). “When they came back with those two bucks, I was fired up.”

Hunt said with about 20 minutes of shooting light left on their hunt, he and his guide, Jesse Grace, saw several bucks emerge from a treeline about 250 yards away.

“My guide said, ‘Shoot the big one,’” Hunt Please turn to page 18

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Pronghorn hunting results The pronghorn season wrapped up on October 12, and good bucks were taken in the Panhandle, although harvest numbers were slightly lower than last year. The Trans-Pecos region population continues to struggle, and few permits were issued.

Panhandle: Total animals brought to check station: 119 Percentage bucks taken in experimental units: 50 Largest buck checked: 82 6/8 Average buck checked: 77

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Port M deer capture residents’hearts Continued from page 4

Lavelle took charge in establishing a reward for the person who helps catch the poacher(s).

“I started the reward for Pretty Boy — he was the best,” Lavelle said after giving Dancer a biscuit from his mouth. “I’m 71 years old, I could have cried when they were killed — it’s hard to believe anyone would do something like that.”

The reward now totals $25,000. Anyone with information on the poachings is encouraged to call Operation Game Thief at (800) 792-4263.

Trans-Pecos: Number of permits issued: Fewer than 100 Good bucks taken on private ranches, herds still recovering

LOTS OF SOLID ANTELOPE: Marc Salinas was one of many Texas hunters who had a successful pronghorn hunt this season. Photo by Marc Salinas.

PLACEMATS: Bucks and does hop the fence in a small yard to feast on corn at the picnic table.

Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Take precautions to avoid diseases afi eld With archery season for deer already under way, and the general rifle season only days away, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is cautioning hunters to be careful in handling the game they harvest.

It is not common, but some diseases can spread from wildlife to humans. One such disease is

anthrax, which is caused by naturally occurring bacteria found in soil. Humans can contract the disease through touching infected animals, either alive or dead, or consuming their meat.

Other conditions, including tularemia, brucellosis and rabies may be transmitted to people through direct contact with live animals or while field dressing harvested game. In addition, insects and ticks can transmit West Nile virus, Lyme disease and other diseases.

Precautions

• Do not harvest animals that

appear ill or are acting abnormally.

• Wear latex-type gloves when dressing game.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling game. If soap is not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good alternative.

• Consider eye protection when dressing game to prevent contact between fluids or tissues and eyes. Shooting glasses provide an adequate level of protection in most cases.

• Avoid eating, drinking, using tobacco, or rubbing eyes while dressing game.

• Do not touch non-hunterkilled dead animals or their remains, including antlers, bones and hides.

• Use an approved insect repellent and follow the instructions on the label. EPA-approved repellents include those containing DEET. • Stay on trails and avoid areas of overgrown brush and tall grasses.

• Wear protective clothing such as a hat, long-sleeved shirt and long pants tucked into boots or socks, and check frequently for ticks.

— TPWD

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

October 24, 2014

Texas 2014-2015 Waterfowl Seasons Ducks

North Zone: Nov. 1-Dec. 7 and Dec. 20-Jan. 25; Youth-only, Oct. 25-26.

South Zone: Nov. 1-Nov. 30 and Dec. 13-Jan. 25. Youth-only, Oct. 25-26.

High Plains: Oct. 25-26 and Oct. 31-Jan. 25.

Daily bag limit: Six ducks in the aggregate, to include no more than five mallards (only two hens), three wood ducks, three scaup, two pintail, two redheads, one canvasback, one mottled duck. The season for “dusky” ducks, (mottled ducks, Mexican ducks and Mexican-like ducks) is closed for the first five days of the regular season in each zone.

Geese

Eastern Zone: “Light” geese (snow, blue, Ross’s), Nov. 1-Jan. 25; Canada geese, Nov. 1-Jan. 25; white-fronted geese, Nov. 1- Jan. 11.

Daily bag limit: 20 “light” geese, three Canada geese, two white-fronted geese.

Light Geese Conservation Order: Jan. 26-March 22 Western Zone: Nov. 1-Feb. 1 for all geese.

Daily bag limit: 20 “light” geese, five “dark” (Canada or whitefront) geese, to include no more than one whitefront.

Light Geese Conservation Order: Feb. 2-March 22.

Check TWPD’s website for more season dates and information Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News

Celebrate lower gas prices during hunting season Current average regular unleaded in Texas: $2.837 Last month’s price: $3.158 Last year’s price: $3.119

Cost of average truck tank of gas (24 gal.)

This year: $68.09 Last year: $74.86 Savings per tank: $6.67 *Prices from gasbuddy.com

What to do with savings One 50-lb. bag of apple-scented deer corn (Mumme’s): $6.95 Six-pack of Keystone Light (QuikTrip): $6.99 Short-sleeve camo T-shirt (Academy): $7.99 1 box Fiocchi 20 gauge, 8 shot: $7.99

Ribelin receives Quail Patriot award The Quail-Tech Alliance announced that it will award the 2015 Quail Patriot of Texas award to Chuck Ribelin, a Texan who has been an important advocate for quail, which cannot advocate for themselves.

Chuck Ribelin has been a voice in quail conservation for decades. He steadfastly fought for the release of the conservation stamp funds which were being sequestered by the Legislature and not being used for the intended purpose.

Over the past five years, Ribelin has led the efforts to release the funds in an effort to put, in his words, “birds on the ground.”

Ribelin’s efforts over the last decade to foster fledgling programs for quail conservation have helped programs such as Quail-Tech and UNT Quail gain a foothold in the battle to save our wild quail of Texas.

— Quail Tech Alliance

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FISHING

The (re)start of something good

SUPER SHARK: Richard Reed of San Antonio got a surprise when he hooked into a giant spinner shark that narrowly missed record status. Photo by Richard Reed.

Feeding frenzy Angler casts into school of spinners, pulls out 200-pound monster

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

Richard Reed often travels from his home in San Antonio and heads to Port Aransas for some offshore fishing — usually with the folks from Dolphin Docks for 8-hour trips in search of nearshore species.

But Reed wasn’t expecting a 200-pound spinner shark on the other end of this line when the headboat pulled behind a shrimp boat tossing bycatch over the side.

“We left about 8 a.m. and I rigged up a rod with an 8-foot, heavy steel leader,” Reed said.

“We pulled up behind the shrimp boat and there were easPlease turn to page 14

EVERYTHING BUT THE FISH: Fishing still hasn’t rebounded at Amistad International Reservoir, but long-time anglers are seeing all of the elements needed to make a strong comeback — namely multitudes of baitfi sh and hydrilla. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Amistad rebounding, bass still not back in numbers

By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS

Anglers may not be bringing in the lunkers yet on Amistad International Reservoir — but they still have reasons to be positive.

“I think our lake has gone through some changes,” Raul Cordera said after a day on the water. “It looks really good around here; we’ve had a lot of water come in.”

Cordera has been fishing Amistad International Reservoir for 30 years, and has seen its ups and downs. Over the past

seven or eight years, Amistad has been in one of those “down” times, following a period when it was known as the best largemouth bass lake in the United States.

Extended periods of drought have crippled the enormous reservoir. But with a recent upswing in rains, long-time anglers are seeing more cover and baitfish than they have seen in years — they are just hoping the black bass will follow.

The lake is currently just over 30 feet below normal level, up from over 50 feet just a few months ago.

Kurt Dove, a guide on the lake, said the fishing hasn’t necessarily picked up — that is a misconception — but the best they can hope for is a positive outlook.

Considering what they’ve been dealing with over the past few years, it’s a welcome change.

“Before, you’d catch a 4-pounder every once in a while, but they just looked like sick 6-pounders,” Dove said. “Now we are catching fish that look like actual 4-pounders.”

Tournaments in which winners would Please turn to page 11

Consistent crappie East Texas bite predictable across multiple lakes

By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS

AS IT SHOULD BE: Conditions have been diffi cult to predict with a strange weather year, but the fall crappie bite in East Texas seems to be right on track. Photo by LSON.

East Texas lakes have been showing the telltale signs of a good crappie bite. The good news? Take your pick of which lake is hitting the best.

“The numbers are starting to come up around here,” said Lake Fork guide Brad Williams. “The sizes have been good, but we are seeing some good signs.”

Guides at Lake Fork, Palestine, Toledo Bend and Livingston reported they are seeing similar holding patterns for the fish — mid-level brush piles in about 10 to 18 feet of water.

“We’ve been having quite a bit of cloudy days, but the sunny ones are

when the fishing is better,” Toledo Bend’s Butch Covington said. “When it’s cloudy out they’ll spread out from the cover, but when it’s sunny they’ll all move in close.”

That’s what Covington has been seeing firsthand. He uses an Aqua Vu underwater camera to survey just what the fish are doing when they are holding close to cover. He’s been throwing live shiner minnows and 1/8-ounce jigs at around 10 a.m. in the morning to catch crappie, including some reaching the 2-pound mark.

Jim Beggerly, out of Lake Palestine, said the crappie are showing their predictable behavior for this time of year, Please turn to page 25

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Can we go bigger?

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Tough to beat Bass anglers Todd Castledine and Russell Cecil top team in state

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

No saltwater spawning program to grow trophy redfish

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS Houston angler Matt White loves to head to the midcoast in October and fish the passes for big bull redfish.

When asked if he’d like a saltwater program that mirrors the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s ShareLunker program, which takes bass more than 13 pounds and spawns them, then releases the fry into public and private lakes, White was all for it.

“I’d love to catch even bigger redfish,” he said. “I think that would be a benefit to all anglers.”

A benefit, but one that likely isn’t going to come to fruition anytime soon. The logistics just don’t make sense like they do with largemouth bass, according to Robin Riechers, TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries leader.

“We obviously release redfish into the wild,” Riechers said.

“But we haven’t gone down that road, yet. Our brood fish have big fish genetics.”

Riechers said breeding redfish for bigger size isn’t feasiPlease turn to page 11

October 24, 2014

IT WOULD BE COOL: Although it isn’t feasible on several levels to select bigger brood stock for redfish, it would be exciting for anglers. Photo by LSON.

Ask any of the better team trail bass anglers in the state about who they need to beat to win events on any given weekend around Texas and two names continually pop up — Todd Castledine and Russell Cecil.

Or you can just glance at the standings — their n a m e s are usually right at the top. They recently won the Platinum T e a m Todd Castledine T r a i l Anglers of the Year.

Whether fishing against each other in solo events or pairing up for team events, the names Castledine and Cecil seem to always appear at the top of leader boards.

“We’ve both been fishing quite a while against each other in Rayovac, Texas Tournament Trail, Everstarts and such,” Cecil said.

“There were a couple of years in the Everstarts where we battled each other for angler of the year.

We started traveling and became good friends. We have complimentary styles, so we started to fish together on the team trails.”

Once the two paired up, they

became tough to beat.

“I think we have three top 10s in a row and six of eight top 10s fishing together,” Cecil said.

What both anglers said they do well is power fish — not a lot of finesse tactics with these two.

“He’s more experienced, even though I fish twice as many tournaments each year,” said Castledine, who makes a living on the water fishing tournaments. “We never get in each other’s way. We have the same concepts. I take for granted his skill level — Russell’s great technically.”

Castledine said practice is a key time for the duo, and their styles help narrow down where to fish. “ O u r styles are our own, and I’ll be doing one thing and he’ll be doing another,” he said.

Russell Cecil “But I d o n ’ t have to look at what he’s doing. He can do the basic stuff better than anyone I’ve ever seen. I’m into some crazy stuff that nobody else tends to do, and with his technical style, we can catch every fish in an area. The shallow stuff is Please turn to page 11

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Top-water action CANYON LAKE — According to anglers posting on Texas Fishing Forum, the Canyon Lake bite is on near the dam, with good catches during the early-morning hours of striped and white bass on top-waters.

Anglers used spooks and poppers to catch fish before 9 a.m.

The water temperature is 75 degrees and the lake remains low, so anglers should use caution when fishing.

After the top-water bite dies, anglers have been searching for largemouth bass, although the bass bite has been tougher, with a few fish caught with Texas-rigged soft plastics and spinner baits.

Dirty water CHOKE CANYON RESERVOIR — The bass bite has been tougher thanks to dirty water in many areas on the South Texas reservoir.

According to anglers, the morning bite has been decent, with largemouths up to 8 pounds being caught on Carolina rigs and other soft plastics, including lizards.

The water is very dirty and looks more like a river than a lake, according to anglers.

Along with bass being spread out and tough to catch, white bass are slow, crappie are

ALAN HENRY: Water stained; 72–79 degrees; 9.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on jigs, Texas rigs, lipless crankbaits and Carolina rigs.

AMISTAD: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 34.43’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on jigs, Senkos, and craw worms. Striped and white bass are good on lipless crankbaits, slab spoons, topwaters, shad, spooks, and small crankbaits.

ATHENS: Water clear; 73–77 degrees; 1.51’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin shaky heads, Texas-rigged worms and Yellow Magic top-waters. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

BASTROP: Water stained; 82–86 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse and chartreuse/white lipless crankbaits over grass.

BELTON: Water murky; 77–81 degrees; 11.41’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits, and trolling Rat–L–Traps.

BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 74–79 degrees; 2.41’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on frogs and black and blue flipping jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

BONHAM: Water stained, 75–79 degrees; 2.68’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow along creek channels and on the rocks with shad pattern crankbaits and Texas-rigged soft plastics.

BRAUNIG: Water stained.

Largemouth bass are slow.

Striped bass are fair on liver and shad near the pier and at Dead Tree Point. Redfish are fair on perch, shad and silver spoons. Channel catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cut bait and cheesebait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water clear, 73–78 degrees; 23.64’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and white spinner baits near riprap. Crappie are

good on minnows near brush piles.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 78–82 degrees; 12.59’ low. largemouth bass are good on watermelon/chartreuse tailed soft plastic worms, top-water frogs, torpedos, and Pop–R’s on main lake flats near grass.

BUCHANAN: Water murky; 76–80 degrees; 31.56’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on daiquiri top-waters, lipless crankbaits and wacky-rigged watermelon red stickbaits along docks and over flats early.

CADDO: Water stained; 76–79 degrees; 0.15’ high.

Largemouth bass are good on bladed jigs, hollow-body frogs and buzzbaits.

CALAVERAS: Water stained.

Largemouth bass are fair on dark soft plastic worms, spinner baits and crankbaits around reed beds. Striped bass are slow.

CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 74–78 degrees; 5.21’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on white spinner baits and squarebill crankbaits in shad patterns near docks and shallow cover.

White bass are good on slabs.

COLEMAN: Water clear; 78–82 degrees; 18.61’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red spinner baits, crankbaits and soft plastics.

COLETO CREEK: Water murky; 80 degrees in main lake, 92 degrees at hot water discharge; 4.04’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastics and lipless crankbaits over grass in 8–12 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines and droplines baited with live perch in 8–10 feet.

CONROE: Water stained; 79–83 degrees; 0.46’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red and tequila sunrise Carolina-rigged soft plastics and Senkos, and on chartreuse Rat–L–Traps.

COOPER: Water clear; 80–84 degrees; 11.32’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow.

Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows.

FALCON: Water murky; 82–86 degrees; 31.34’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on white and chartreuse/white crankbaits and spinner baits.

Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut bait and shad.

FORK: Water clear; 74–77 degrees; 5.91’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on black blue flipping jigs on stumps in 2'–10’ as well as square-bill crankbaits in shad patterns.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed Carolina-rigged soft plastics, and on white spinner baits and lipless crankbaits.

Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on stinkbait, nightcrawlers and frozen shrimp.

GRANBURY: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 9.21’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed spinner baits and crankbaits. White bass are good on perch-colored spinner baits and minnows.

Crappie are good on minnows and pink tube jigs.

Catfish are good on stinkbait, shrimp and live bait.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 73–77 degrees; 11.61’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on 1/4 oz. double-willow spinner baits and shallow crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are good on slabs and minnows.

Catfish are fair on trotlines.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water off-color; 73–78 degrees; 28.97’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on chatterbaits, jigs, Texas rigs and shaky heads.

JOE POOL: Water clear; 74–78 degrees; 1.50’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on shallow to medium shad crankbaits. Crappie are good

slow and catfish are good on live perch and goldfish, along with punchbait in 3 to 10 feet.

The water temperature is between 81 and 85 degrees.

Cats biting

LAKE HOUSTON — The catfish bite is good and getting better on Lake Houston, according to guides at Lake Houston Catfishing Guide Service.

“With water temps staying in the 70s (high 60s some mornings) better-sized blue cats are beginning to show. Blues from 4 to 13 pounds were caught last week in deeper water.

(We still are catching) all of the 12- to 15-inch channel cats you can catch in shallow and deeper water. Catfish are being caught from 3 to 18 feet of water on hearts on the bottom or punchbait under a cork.

“We could use some more cold air to cool the water down even further.”

Along with cats, largemouth bass are good on silver top-waters near the dam and crappie are good on live minnows.”

To contact Lake Houston Catfishing Guide Service, call (832) 439-7103.

— Conor Harrison

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

Catfish are good on cut shad and prepared bait.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 74–79; degrees; 0.68’ high.

Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, buzz frogs and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

Catfish are good on trotlines and cut shad.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 75–79 degrees; 12.52’ low. Largemouth bass are good on squarebill crankbaits, hollow-body frogs and black buzzbaits.

White bass are fair on slabs.

Crappie are good on minnows and white jigs. Catfish are good on trotlines and cut shad.

LBJ: Water stained; 78–82 degrees; 0.39’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on watermelon jigs, watermelon red Whacky Sticks, and pumpkin 4-inch tubes in 10–18 feet at daylight.

White bass are good on minnows and Li’l Fishies at night.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 74–78 degrees; 6.69’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are slow. Hybrid striper are good on slabs and topwaters. Catfish are good on trotlines.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 80–84 degrees; 0.81’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. White bass are good on pet spoons and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Blue catfish are fair on shad.

MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 89–94 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on hollow-body frogs, buzzfrogs and shallow crankbaits.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water

stained; 77–81 degrees; 1.44’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows and jigs off docks in Liberty Hill Park.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 72–79 degrees; 41.46’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair to good on spinner baits, Texas rigs, jigs and shaky heads.

PALESTINE: Water clear; 73–78 degrees; 0.72’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on swim jigs, bladed jigs and top-waters.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 72–79 degrees; 15.22’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, drop-shot rigs, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs.

PROCTOR: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 12.27’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on perch-colored lipless crankbaits. Striped bass are good on silver striper jigs and shad.

RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 74–79 degrees; 9.62’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow on medium crankbaits and small swimbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and white jigs.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 74–78 degrees; 7.15’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on white spinner baits and topwaters. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse jigs.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 74–77 degrees; 9.37’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow.

SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 78–82 degrees; 2.02’ low. Largemouth bass are good on dark soft plastic worms and crankbaits.

White bass are good on silver spoons off points.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 78–82 degrees; 0.76’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon/chartreuse tailed soft plastic worms.

STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 79–83 degrees; 12.37’ low.

n Saltwater reports: Please turn to

Page 14 Largemouth bass are slow.

TAWAKONI: Water stained; 75–79 degrees; 11.15’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

TEXOMA: Water clear; 73–78 degrees; 6.37’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, medium crankbaits and shaky head worms.

TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 79–83 degrees; 2.70’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon/blue flake and redbug soft plastic worms. White bass are fair on minnows and silver spoons.

TRAVIS: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 57.05’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on perch colored top-waters, watermelon worms and grubs.

WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and spinner baits.

Hybrids are good on live bait. White bass are good on crankbaits and spinner baits.

WHITNEY: Water murky; 79–83 degrees; 9.96’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on pumpkinseed/white Rat–L– Traps, spinner baits, and crankbaits on main lake points and flats.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 75–79 degrees; 4.82’ high.

Largemouth bass are slow on flipping tubes and flipping jigs near shallow cover.

— TPWD

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

October 24, 2014

Page 11

Bait, hydrilla showing up on Amistad

No redfish program

pull in 30 or 40 pounds with a fivefish total are now winning with around 13 pounds total, Dove said.

But for the tournament anglers who spend the most time on the water, they are seeing some good signs.

Bart Giles, with Two Guys Marine, has been seeing changes on a daily basis.

“These fishermen, they’re so fairweather,” Giles said. “The tournament guys will still tell you this is still a good lake to fish. In the late ’90s, a 12- or 13-pound bass would win a tournament, and we are getting back to that — it’ll just take time.”

Recent rains have been showing signs of the ’90s coming back again to Amistad, just without the largemouth … yet.

“It’s looking good, the lake is beautiful right now,” Cordera said. “We

ble because anglers in the bays are catching juvenile fish — the mature fish are an open-ocean species and spend the majority of their time in the Gulf.

“Truly, when you think of the number of fish out there, I think our approach has been to level out recruitment, especially in low years,” he said. “With red drum, we wouldn’t see the big fish because they go to open ocean. The ones we catch are the juveniles.”

Shane Bonnot, hatchery manager at Sea Center Texas, breeds redfish to be released into the wild for TPWD, and said while you theoretically could breed for bigger redfish, he doesn’t see a need.

“Actually, we try and avoid anything like that,” he said. “We don’t want to alter the genetics of the wild stock in any way.”

Continued from page 8

are seeing hydrilla that is 20-feet tall, which is a great sign. With all of this flooded cover, we are going to have a great spawn. Classic October (fishing) is not happening right now, but it’ll get back there.”

Cordera said the guides on the lake have taken a hit with the lack of trophy bass, but they’ve made due.

“It’s been tough on us guides,” he said. “We’ve resorted to fishing for catfish, white bass and stripers.”

Giles said the fresh interest in stripers isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He’s seen more and more anglers coming to the lake to fish for new species, which can be refreshing to the area.

As long as the lake can stabilize, the anglers said they are going to start seeing larger and larger bass.

With the size of Amistad, Dove and Giles said fishing pressure was never

GRASS IS KEY: Anglers and guides are seeing strands of hydrilla up to 20 feet long, which bodes well for black bass. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

an issue — it’s just been the lack of water.

“We could stand to see another 5 or 6 feet of water before it really stabilizes,” Giles said. “I think the fish are there, they are just tough to catch. When the water comes up like this, they get all spread out, but then they’ll concentrate.”

Cordera said pressure on the lake might have had more of an effect than many people realize.

“One of the things I’ve seen hurt the lake is watching people fillet 6-, 8- and 10-pound bass,” he said.

“Recently Falcon has taken some pressure off of us, which helps, but we have to protect it — we have to think about the future.”

He said being known as the “number one bass lake” may not have the most positive effect either.

“When you’re ranked the number one bass lake and you’re on ESPN, it can be a lot for the lake to handle,” Cordera said. “From 2006 to 2009, you had people coming up here and catching 35 to 40 pounds at a time.”

As for now, Amistad is seeing a perfect equation for a comeback — water and growth — observers just hope it stays that way.

“The fishing is tough overall, but the health of the lake is what is really good right now,” Dove said. “If we could just keep it like this for the next 12 to 18 months, it’ll definitely turn around.”

Giles said for those on the water, they have nothing but hope for the winter and spring seasons — those that have stuck with Amistad through slower years have always known the lake would bounce back, though, he said.

“It’ll come back,” he said. “It’s heading back that direction right now and just like anything else, it takes time.”

Continued from page 9

Bass duo best in Texas Continued from page 9

great, but we do go deep occasionally.”

Castledine said Cecil is the best he’s ever seen at running a pattern on stuff that doesn’t make any sense and still catch fish.

“If he gets on, it’s unbelievable to watch,” he said. “I do it for a living, but he’s a pro.”

Cecil said communication is one of the biggest keys to their success.

“There is a lot of respect there,” he said. “If we have a place we really want to go, we talk about it. We are both power fishermen; shallow and structure are really good for us, along with sight fishing — I don’t remember a tournament where we had a spinning rod in the boat.

That works well in Texas, but it might not work so well in other places.

“We do better in multiday tournaments — we like the Platinum events because of how much they pay down the line, but the Texas Team Trails have been really good to us, also.”

And when it comes to their favorite lake in Texas, both anglers are in agreement — Amistad.

“It is more exotic to me,” Cecil said. “When it is good down there, it can be great.”

Castledine agreed.

“I think that lake is really coming back,” he said.

Page 12

October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER WILSON’S SNIPE MISIDENTIFIED AS DOVE While assisting Collin County game wardens during dove season, Dallas County Game Warden Jamie Sanchez noticed a hunter and a youngster standing in the middle of a field looking down at what he shot.

The hunter said, “I am in trouble; this is not a dove.” The bird was identified as a Wilson’s snipe. The man also had an unplugged shotgun. Citations issued.

GALVESTON WARDENS KEEP BUSY WITH FISHING VIOLATIONS While off-duty, Galveston County Game Warden Jennifer Provaznik observed two individuals working a gill net. She called wardens Mack Chambers and Travis Fountain to inform them of the violation. They responded to the location and observed two individuals with the net; both were issued citations. In the process of contacting the netters, the wardens contacted four other fishermen and cited them for possession of undersized fish.

Shortly afterwards, the wardens caught two individuals fishing on private property, and one of the fishermen had an outstanding warrant. Later that day, the wardens were checking recreational boats when they contacted four individuals who had exceeded the limit of black drum and were in possession of undersized fish. Overall, 30 fish were seized and multiple citations were issued.

BIRTHDAY PARTY INTERRUPTED TO CHECK GROUP HUNTING OVER BAIT Sabine County Game Warden Sam Smith was hosting his son’s birthday party when multiple shotgun shots were heard in the distance.

Smith and San Augustine County Game Warden Micheal Ferguson

HUNTERS LEGAL, BUT DOVE IDENTIFICATION IFFY During the special white-winged dove season, Starr County Game Warden Jack Pearl and Zapata County Game Warden Kyle Allison made contact with two hunters who were dove hunting for the first time. When asked if they had shot any birds, the two hunters said that they had only shot one white-winged dove. When Pearl inspected drove down the road and entered a small track of private land where they saw nine people dove hunting. While Smith was checking the hunters’ licenses, Ferguson found milo in the field. Approximately 79 mourning dove were seized. Civil restitution and cases pending.

MAN CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE IN SHOOTING TIMBER RATTLER SIX TIMES Smith County Game Warden Dustin Dockery received a call from a TPWD biologist regarding illegal hunting on a WMA. The bowhunter claimed self-defense. However, when the individual discussed the situation and the six shots he fired to kill the 5-foot timber rattler, it was evident that it was not self-defense. Case and restitution pending.

MAN CLAIMS THE DOVE ATE ALL OF THE BAIT HE PLACED Gregg County Game Warden Todd Long asked a landowner and guest about cracked corn, sunflower and wheat seeds scattered beneath their feet. Upset, the landowner shouted, “My property is not baited. Milo was my bait, but the dove ate it all weeks ago. They aren’t eating this stuff so there is no bait now.” Citations were issued

the birds, he observed that the hunters had shot approximately 12 whitewings and two mourning dove each, plus a Eurasian collared dove. When asked about the discrepancy, the hunters said that they thought the collared dove was the whitewing.

The wardens provided the hunters a lesson on dove identification.

for hunting over bait and hunting from a vehicle.

GROUP MIGHT HAVE BEEN LEGAL IF THEY HAD LICENSES AND SHOTGUN PLUGS Assisting in Atascosa County during the special white-winged dove season, Karnes County Game Warden Chad Moore and Wilson County Game Warden David Nieto received a call from a resident saying a group was hunting out of season. The wardens went to investigate the area and contacted two individuals near the gate. The first subject indicated he had been hunting dove earlier and that there were three others on the property hunting. Both wardens searched the area, but did not locate anyone.

The wardens again spoke with the initial two subjects and discovered dove feathers and rabbit remains.

When questioned, the men said they didn’t kill the birds or rabbit.

Shortly afterwards, three individuals were located and two of them admitted to hunting. Two of the men did not have a hunting license and were using unplugged shotguns. Citations were issued.

WARDEN WATCHES MAN SHOOT ACROSS PUBLIC ROAD Houston County Game Warden

Eddie Lehr observed a subject take two shots at a dove across a paved farm-to-market road. He was ticketed for discharging a firearm across a public road, and a man with him was cited for an unplugged shotgun.

BAIT PLANTED ALONG FENCELINE FOR VEGETATION APPEARS BY PONDS AND ROADS Gregg County Game Warden Todd Long located a group of dove hunters on a baited field. When Long asked about the milo seed, the landowner said he only placed it along outer fence lines for vegetation. After Long toured the baited cattle ponds and gravel roads where the people were sitting, he contacted Smith County Game Warden Chris Swift to assist.

The wardens seized more than 50 dove, issued citations for hunting over bait, placing bait to attract, no hunting licenses, unplugged shotguns, rallying birds, hunting from a vehicle, no hunter education and no state migratory bird stamp.

BAIT TRAIL LEADS TO NUMEROUS CITATIONS Walker County Game Warden Stephen Ingram encountered two people hunting dove in a field and another three drove up in a UTV on the county road. Ingram suspected

the group was hunting dove over bait based on past experiences with several of the hunters in the group.

Along the county road, several shotgun hulls along with UTV tracks were located amid whole corn, cracked corn and milo in the weeds between the fences and ditch on both sides of the county road. Ingram followed the bait trail for approximately 100 yards back to the driveway of one of the hunters. Multiple citations were issued.

GROUP WAY OVER LIMIT ON LAND WITHOUT PERMISSION, FELON ARRESTED Palo Pinto County Game Wardens David Pellizzari, Matt Waggoner and Jake Mort received a request for assistance with a group of dove hunters by a Palo Pinto County deputy.

The deputy advised the wardens the group was well over their daily bag limit and at least one was a known felon. Of the seven adults, four admitted to being 63 birds over their daily limit. Multiple charges and civil restitution were filed and one arrest was made for the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. It was later determined the group did not have permission to hunt the property and all seven adults could be facing charges of hunting without landowner consent.

A GOOD SHOOT, BUT SEASON CLOSED Zavala County Game Warden Chris Stautzenberger and Maverick County Game Warden Jake Noxon caught six individuals hunting during closed season, two with unplugged shotguns, two hunting without a valid hunting license and several over the daily bag limit on mourning dove. A total of 19 mourning and white-winged dove were seized and citations issued.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

October 24, 2014

Page 13

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October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Big reds, trout GALVESTON AREA — Capt. Greg Verm is having a good October in the Galveston Bay complex.

Our fishing patterns seem to be three to four weeks behind,” he said. “Temps have been in the low 80s still, and we just had a cool front make its way down this week, and should begin to drop the temps. The Galveston jetties are loaded up with redfish. Nice upper-slot fish and even more fish just over 28 inches up to 33 inches. The best baits are big live shrimp free-lined or just enough weight to keep up with the currents at any given time from an 1/8- to 3/8-ounce. We are also catching a few nice specks along the jetties as well. Not great numbers but very nice in size.

“The back bays and marshes are holding very healthy slots, and many fish just undersize that will be 20-inch keepers in November and December. Live shrimp and live mullet are the most productive baits back in the bayou and marshes.”

To contact Capt. Greg Verm, call (409) 739-8526.

Great along midcoast

very good, along with the improving weather, throughout the midcoast.

“It has been great out here,” Forrester said on 2coolfishing.com. “The birds are working in areas and any day it'll be full-fledged to some nice fall fishing. Redfish, trout, flounder, and big sand trout have been under (the birds) over some deeper shell pads I've been hitting using live shrimp and (scented plastics) under a midcoast popping cork drifting. If we've been wading it's been hard to beat Down South and Big Nasty plastics.

“The flounder are getting thick — definitely a bonus fish.”

To contact Capt. Hollis Forrester, call (979) 236-3115.

Reds running BOLIVAR PENINSULA — The big redfish are in full swing along the Bolivar Peninsula, according to multiple anglers on message boards.

Day or night, big reds are being caught on fresh mullet from the beach and in the passes. Between the second and third bars are producing best, according to some anglers.

Along with big bull redfish, sharks and sand trout are also being caught on cut bait and soft plastics.

— Conor Harrison

MATAGORDA COMPLEX — According to Capt. Hollis Forrester, the action has been

NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad on soft plastics. Redfish are good in the marsh on small top-waters.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad. Trout are good at the jetty on live bait and top-waters. Flounder are fair at the mouths of the bayous on a falling tide.

BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the south shoreline on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels.

Trout, black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. A few birds are beginning to work.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working birds on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Redfish are good on live bait around the reefs and at the spillway.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout and large Gulf trout are good for drifters working deep shell on plastics and fresh shrimp. Redfish are good in the marsh and out the mouths of drains on the falling tide.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sand trout are fair to good in the surf and around San Luis Pass on live shrimp and top-waters. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs.

TEXAS CITY: Redfish are fair to good in Moses Lake on crabs and shrimp. Gulf trout are good in the channel on fresh shrimp.

FREEPORT: Redfish are fair to good on the reefs in Christmas Bay and Bastrop Bay on shrimp.

Bull redfish are fair to good around Surfside and at the Quintana Jetty on crabs, shrimp and mullet.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are good for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Waders have taken better catches on the shorelines on small top-waters and dark plastics.

Flounder are fair on the shorelines on Gulps.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and top-waters.

Redfish and black drum are fair on live shrimp

San Antonio angler lands big spinner shark Continued from page 8

ily 100 sharks circling behind the boat. The deckhand grabbed me and said come to the front.”

Once at the front of the boat, Reed put a bonita head on his hook and threw into the frenzy.

“A big shark came up and as I was about to set the hook, he missed it,” Reed said. “A couple of smaller sharks came up, but they were under 6 feet, so we pulled (the bait) away from them. Then, another big shark came up and took it — I got a good hookset on him and started the fight.”

The battle lasted almost 30 minutes, and got interesting when Reed broke a strap on his harness.

“It got a little dicey,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Once in the boat, the shark proved to be bigger than expected. The current all-tackle world-record spinner shark is 208.9 pounds and was also caught off of Port Aransas by Raymond F. Ireton on Dec. 13, 2009. Reed’s fish barely missed the mark.

“I didn’t expect him to be so big, but he pulled the scales to 199.6 pounds,” Reed said. “This one just missed (the world record). I’ve caught some of these before — they are basically like a bigger blacktip.”

Reed said he makes five or six offshore trips a year — most of them with Dolphin Docks.

“Those guys really take pretty good care of me,” he said. “I also do a lot of bay and surf fishing.”

Reed and his friends are having a big “shark fry” this weekend to celebrate and enjoy the bounty.

“We are definitely putting it to good use,” he said.

Texas warden receives national boating award Freestone County Game Warden John Thorne received the National Law Enforcement Boating Officer of the year at the 55th Annual National Association of Boating Law Enforcement Annual Conference in Bar Harbor, Maine, held from October 16-19.

Thorne previously received the Southern States Officer of the Year from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

Thorne has been a Texas Game Warden since 2002.

—Staff report

John Thorne

in Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and at Shell Island.

Redfish are good while wading the south shoreline on live bait.

PORT O’CONNOR: Redfish are good in the back lakes on shrimp and mullet. Bull redfish are good at the jetty on crabs, mullet and shad.

Trout are fair on plastics around shell in Ayres Bay. ROCKPORT: Redfish are good on mullet on the Estes Flats and around Mud Island. Bull redfish are good in the Lydia Ann Channel on mullet.

PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair at East Flats on top-waters and Gulps. Bull redfish are good at the jetty and on the beachfront on natural baits.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are good on the beachfront on mullet and shrimp. Trout are fair for waders working mud and grass on small topwaters and Corkies.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on top-waters and plum plastics around rocks and grass. Redfish are fair to good in knee–deep water on small

Super Spooks, She Pups and SkitterWalks. Trout are fair to good on plastics under rattling corks at Rocky Slough.

PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair to good while drifting potholes on top-waters and soft plastics under a popping cork. Trout are fair to good for waders over sand and grass on topwaters.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout, redfish and snook are fair to good in South Bay and Mexiquita Flats.

Redfish are fair to good on the beachfront and at the jetties on mullet and crabs.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good while drifting sand and grass flats on live shrimp, DOA Shrimp and Gulps under popping corks.

Trout and redfish are fair to good at Laguna Vista on small top-waters and soft plastics under rattling corks.

— TPWD

Anglers weigh in on trout limits Continued from page 1

while,” Charlie Barret, with C&T Charters out of Port giant as it is.”

Aransas, said. “Something had to be done, the trout The charters aren’t the only ones affected by the fishing is the worst I’ve seen in a long time. I’m fine coastal trout industry, either, and bait shops also with the law changes. I’ve seen Aransas Bay take a nose weighed in on the subject. dive in the past five years.”

“We’ve been talking about it a lot around here — I That’s one side of the story, an opinion many long- know a lot of bait shops have,” Cos Way Bait & Tackle’s time coastal anglers share. Many believe over-fishing Tyler Millerstrom said. “I think it’s going to be a good and improved technology has led to too much pres- thing for the fish, and I don’t think it will affect the sure on the spotted seatrout, as well as the fishery’s bait. The only people I’ve heard complaining have habitat. been saying they’ll have to make 10 trips down here “I’ve been here a long time, and it’s probably not a instead of five, which is fine with me.” bad thing,” Corpus Christi guide Joe Mendez said. “A He said fewer fish being taken doesn’t necessarlot of guides don’t like it, but they haven’t seen how ily mean less bait sold, and people in his shop aren’t it used to be in the late ’80s concerned yet — but many and early ’90s.” don’t think the changes While some believe the in the fishery will come fishing has taken a hit, that’s quickly, and could make not the consensus across the take several years. Anything board. could help, though, with “I don’t think it was fair,” what they’ve been hearCapt. Len Girard, out of ing from the Lower Laguna Corpus, said. “It was mostly Madre. politics; the decision wasn’t “I think it’ll definitely made by the people that had improve the trophy trout the information. The trout is fishery, it seems to have one of the biggest draws on helped down south,” the coast, and a lot of peoMillerstrom said. ple aren’t going to want to For those in support of the spend the money to catch law, none seemed to be confive fish. There are so many cerned about their business. fish out there it’s ridicu“After a couple of years go lous.” by, I don’t think it’ll make Girard said the chara difference,” Mendez said. ter captains on the coast “Most of the people I take weren’t consulted when the now, they don’t even know decisions were made, which what the limit is.” left out a demographic that spends the most time on the Barrett, who is ultimately water. in support of the change, He also said he believes EXPANDING LIMITS: The new fi ve-fi sh trout limit took effect said he has heard some negthe lower limit will lead Sept. 1, and now covers the majority of the Gulf Coast, ative reaction from anglers to more people dumping to just south of Galveston, near Sargent. Map by Google and clients. smaller fish when they catch Maps.

“They’ve (clients) all said a larger one — something it sucks, losing five fish,” he he’s seen already with small, dead fish floating in the said. “Some guides are all bent out of shape about it, bays. but I just tell them we’ll just see next year if it affects “We’ll just have to see, but it’s not going to make the their business. But I think it people want to come fish, fish population any bigger,” Girard said. “It’s already they are going to come fish.”

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

GREAT ON THE POINTS: Anglers have been pulling in numerous species of fish in the past few weeks on the piers along the coast. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Fishing piers showing diverse catches up and down the Gulf Coast

By Steve Schwartz Lone Star Outdoor News

Anglers tossing lines off of Texas piers are catching any number of species, with a few fish biting better than others.

In the Galveston area, 61st Street Pier employee Corinna DeMyers said the golden croaker are running just off the pier, which has lured the bull reds in full force — and anglers have been taking full advantage.

“Today we had about 10 bull reds caught just this morning (Oct. 20), and that was definitely a slow day,” DeMyers said. “Over the weekend we had someone catch a 41-inch bull red.”

She said the sandy water, with 2-foot swells, seems to be key for the redfish and blacktip sharks. The trout have been tough to come by,

however.

“If it clears up, we might catch the end of the trout run, but I think it’s just about over for us,” DeMyers said.

DeMyers also noted that an angler caught four jack crevalles on Oct. 20, all around 38-inches long.

Port Aransas’ Keepers Fishing Pier reported similar conditions — green, clearish water providing key conditions for black drum, redfish, pompano, kingfish and black tip sharks.

“The sharks and the drum are pretty heavy,” Jeff Miller said. “People have been slide lining the kingfish and doing well also.”

Most productive for the drum were anything live fished near the bottom, particularly live piggy perch and mullet.

Please turn to page 21

October 24, 2014

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October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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Ebola concerns affecting African safari bookings

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS Booking agents for safaris in southern and eastern Africa are feeling like geography teachers this year, as the ebola crisis in West Africa is causing people to question or even cancel their safaris.

According to Safaribookings.com, reservations for future trips are down and cancellations of existing vacations are up at least 10 percent at more than half of 500 safari companies.

Marina Lamprecht, of Hunters Namibia Safaris in the ebola-free country, said the fear and lack of knowledge of Africa’s size has affected bookings.

“Sadly, it’s true,” she said. “We have had two cancellations for next year.”

While ebola is limited to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leon in West Africa, some people associate the disease continent-wide, possibly lacking the knowledge that it is closer to fly from Liberia to London than it is to fly from Liberia to Johannesburg, making cancellation of a trip to southern Africa similar to cancelling a trip to London because of conflicts in the Ukraine.

The Africa Travel Association said the African tourism industry has felt stark repercussions through economic losses, cancelled flights and bookings. The Zimbabwe Safari Operators Association has issued releases to alleviate fears of travelers.

Peter Thormählen, of Thormählen and Cochran Classic Safaris in South Africa, has been counseling apprehensive clients about their trips.

“I just got off the phone with a client who said he was scared,” Thormählen said.

The Safari Co is not a booking agent but puts travelers and safari outfitters together for trips to southern and eastern Africa. They provided a list of facts for those considering a safari or questioning whether they should go.

• Africa is larger than the U.S., China, India, Europe and Japan combined, consisting of 54 independent nations.

• Main safari destinations are in southern and East Africa, farther away from West Africa than Europe and South America.

• There have been no ebola cases in southern and East Africa, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe or Tanzania.

Distance from West Africa to Europe closer than most safari destinations

Distance from Liberia to: Madrid London Paris Recife, Brazil Windhoek Johannesburg

1,648 mi 3,067 mi 2,935 mi 1,880 mi 2,711 mi 3,385 mi Map by Google Maps

LSONews.com

State champ caller heading to worlds

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

McKinney duck caller Steve Elmore isn’t a stranger when it comes to making the trip to Stuttgart, Arkansas, for the world championship of duck calling.

He is, however, a rookie when it comes to representing the state of Texas at the event.

“I’ve been on the contest circuit since 1992,” Elmore said.

“I am now one of the old guys.

I moved to Texas two years ago from Illinois, so I am now a transplanted Texan. I’ve competed at the worlds about 15 times, so far.”

Elmore won the Texas State Championship Duck Calling Contest on Oct. 10 in Katy. He beat out six other callers for the title.

Elmore said his highest finish at the world championship is fifth runner-up — not bad, considering more than 80 callers are usually at the competition.

“There are five judges and you have 90 seconds to run a routine,” he said. “It is a utopian situation where you start with a hail call, go to a greeting call with chuckles, then a comeback call, then greet them again with another greeting call, more chuckles and, finally, a hen hail call. It starts with high notes down to low notes and takes a lot of air.

“By the time you are finished, you are out of breath.”

The judges’ highest and lowest scores are thrown out and the remaining three scores are tabulated to get a winner.

If the past is any indication, Texas will be well represented by Elmore in Arkansas.

“I’ve made it to the final round at least half the time,” he said.

“This year’s final is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. There was some really good competition at the Texas finals and there will be some really good competition at the worlds.”

Elmore makes his own calls and has his own brand of call — Fowl Language. Along with being a champion caller, he is an avid duck hunter.

“Moving down from Illinois was a big change,” he said. “I was shocked at how little public land there was to hunt. I hunt public lakes a bunch, and actually had a pretty good season last year.”

The Texas championship organizer, Newell Cheatheam, said this year’s competition went really well and he thinks Elmore has a good shot at placing high at the world championship.

LoneOStar Outdoor News

October 24, 2014

Page 17

Gayne C. Young’s books split — one great, one so-so

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

It is hard to write a funny hunting story.

Many of the best outdoor writers fail when it comes to making people laugh while still telling a good story.

In Dallas author Gayne C. Young’s book, And Monkeys Threw Crap at Me: Adventures in Hunting, Fishing and Writing, Young does a great job of incorporating humor into his hunting stories.

From his first African safari with a crazy, mostly drunk professional hunter who doesn’t like Texans, to trekking through the wilds of Papua New Guinea, Texas and beyond, this book is an easy read that will make you laugh out loud.

Young does a great job of painting a picture with words that will take readers right to the spots he travels. If you’ve ever been to the exotic

places Young visited in his earlier years and met some colorful locals, the stories will have even more of an impact, since you basically have met the people he speaks of.

Texans will laugh at the stories of illegal immigrants almost being killed by mad ostriches and hunting mouflon sheep along the border in ridiculous heat. Those of us who have hunted along the border can certainly relate (about hunting in the heat — not so much being attacked by an angry ostrich).

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes

outdoor stories with a little Carl Hiaasen thrown in for good measure.

As much as I enjoyed the first of Young’s books that I read, I can’t say the same for his newest offering — Teddy Roosevelt : Sasquatch Hunter.

The name of the book implies this isn’t a serious story, and I was expecting a humorous story that paralleled And Monkeys Threw Crap at Me — I was wrong.

The first thing the reader notices about the nearly 100-page story is the writing is triple-spaced on the page. You could

condense the book to normal spacing and it might make it to 30 pages.

A young Teddy Roosevelt heads west for adventure and wants to go on a grizzly hunt, except he ends up hunting bigfoot. The short story lacks character development (something that was beautifully done in Monkeys — you immediately felt like you knew the people in that book because of Young’s great descriptive passages and side-splitting anecdotes). It reads like a bad screenplay and even incorporates the same old and tired storyline of King Kong — right down to where the sasquatch kidnaps a woman toward the end of the book.

This book misses the mark, but it only takes 30 minutes to read.

If I had any advice for Young, it would be stick to storytelling about adventures loosely based in fact — you do it very well. Stay away from fictional beasts and monsters.

Page 18

October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Urban biologists tackle some odd questions Continued from page 1

“There is an overabundance of deer in many areas,” Broman said. “People interpret them as being stranded. We try to explain that they will head to more natural settings at night.”

Jessica Alderson, a San Antonio urban biologist, said questions about fawns are common.

“People think that when they see a fawn by itself that it has been abandoned and needs their help,” she said.

The misidentification of animals is a common subject for the biologists.

“People think bobcats are mountain lions,” Foss said. “It is helpful that most people have cellphones and can take a picture and send to us. One person saw a coati, a member of the raccoon family, they look like anteaters with a long nose and tail — the caller thought it was a wolf.”

Some questions are quite fascinating, though.

“I had a ringtail reported in Dallas (on Oct. 16),” Broman said. “It was seen in a parking garage — I suspect it hitched a ride to North Texas on someone’s vehicle.”

The biologists often alleviate the fears of urban callers.

“It seems people are very scared of possums in the cities,” Foss said. “They are pretty harmless but people want to know how to get rid of them — there is just more fear from people about urban wildlife. Recently, the turkey vultures were grouping up and people were seeing large groups of them. They thought it was like something out of ‘The Birds.’”

Broman said many urban dwellers are concerned about their children or pets.

“Even with the coyotes, we tell them their diet is still things that weigh 1-2 pounds at most,” he said. “Unless you have a teacup-sized pet, you probably don’t have to worry.

The tiny pets are the perfect size, though.”

The biologists have received calls about beavers, snakes, fox, mink, hogs and nearly every animal that lives in creeks or wooded areas.

“They believe it is the first time the animal has been seen in their area,” Broman said.

“Usually it isn’t.”

Occasionally, a rare sighting comes from an urban report.

“A caller saw a jaguarundi,” Foss said. “They look like a glorified black house cat with a really long tail. They are an endangered species and are rarely seen, even on game cameras.”

The biologists see education as their primary purpose, especially since 86 percent of Texans now live in urban areas.

“We use the chance to teach them whenever we can,” Broman said. “It can go quite a long way — each call is a chance to educate one more person.”

Record axis buck taken Continued from page 5

said. “I didn’t have a clue which one was the big one. I thought Jesse was about to take the gun from me and shoot it himself.

I finally figured out which one was the big one, and made a perfect shot.”

Hunt said Grace told him although the buck wasn’t hard-horned, he was only a day or two away from stripping off his velvet.

“I think Jesse knew this buck was around, but not on this part of the ranch,” Hunt said.

When they got back to camp, an Easter celebration for the ages broke out.

“I knew his buck was a nice buck, but the guide kept telling me I had to have it scored,” Strimple said. “I didn’t really want to, so I asked Jesse, ‘Is he really that good?’

He said it would be top five, at least.”

Darrel Dieringer was the official SCI scorer, and taped the buck at 176 inches on April 14.

“It was a wonderful experience,” Hunt said. “We love going out there every Easter and my family eats axis in some form almost every day. I am probably ruined for axis hunting from here on out.”

Hunter takes down huge buck with crossbow Continued from page 1

about a month before the season,” Vela said. “But we had so much rain, the place where we had been seeing him was underwater. We were driving around the ranch one day and caught a glimpse of him in another area. We put a new trail cam up and found where he was living.”

Vela said he didn’t want to wait until rifle season to hunt the deer, so he thought about purchasing a bow, before settling on a crossbow.

On opening day, Vela got set up and was prepared to put in the time to hunt the buck — at least a week hunting from sunup to sundown.

“Those all-day sits in the ground blind were hot,” Vela said. “On Wednesday (Oct. 1), I just couldn’t take it anymore and had to get out of the blind and go back to the Polaris for a Gatorade. I left my crossbow in the blind and got out. The buck was 40 yards from the blind eating.

“I stood there and watched him for 15 minutes with my crossbow in the blind. That killed me.”

The deer moved off and did not present a shot and it was back into the ground blind for another few days.

On Thursday morning, nothing came into the setup, so Vela ran to the ranch house for a quick lunch and then headed right back into the blind.

“I came back at 3 p.m.,” he said. “About 4:20, he walked up to the sendero and I could see him in the brush. He stood there for 15 or 20 minutes just looking. He finally came out at 35 yards and stood between two mesquite trees. I decided I could make the shot and I hit him. He ran off and I gave him 45 minutes before going to look.”

Vela said he found the bolt in a mesquite tree and thought he might have missed the big buck.

“Then I saw the blood trail,” he said. “I followed it and he jumped up, but he was going down. I put another shot into him to finish it.”

As he approached the buck, Vela knew he had just killed the type of monster buck South Texas is famous for.

“He got bigger and bigger,” he said. “I was just amazed.”

The buck had 32 scoreable points and measured a whopping 250 1/8 inches.

“This is my biggest buck and I might be done after this,” Vela said laughing. “Things won’t be the same.”

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

October 24, 2014

Page 19

Page 20

October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

NATIONAL Arkansas hunter arrows 638-pound bear

HUNTER JONES, 14, A HUNTER FROM KELLER, HARVESTED THIS BIG TOM ON A SPRING HUNT IN SOUTH TEXAS.

Chris Hillard walked out his door and scored with what may be the largest bear taken in Arkansas by a hunter.

Hillard’s bear, shot with an arrow on Saturday, Oct. 4, weighed in at 638 pounds. Hillard took the bear on his own land in Franklin County about a dozen miles north of Ozark using a crossbow.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission does not maintain state records on bears.

But Hillard’s animal is the largest known to have been taken since bear hunting resumed in the state in 1980 after a halfcentury hiatus.

Hillard had seen the bear on a trail camera photo, but didn’t know how large it was.

After two days of hunting, the bear showed and came toward his bait.

“When he was 12 yards away, I shot,” Hillard said.

A neighbor with a tractor helped move the bear.

— Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Delta Waterfowl names chief operating officer The former regional director of Delta Waterfowl in Texas, Jason Tharpe has been named chief operating officer of the conservation group. Tharpe will oversee systems, planning and staff development.

A native of Louisiana, Tharpe joined Delta as a regional director in Texas in 2003. He later served as director and vice president of events and membership.

“We’re focusing on the ways to be the most impactful for ducks and duck hunters,” Tharpe said.

—Delta Waterfowl

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See a full selection of Nikon products at:

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Dallas, Texas, 75212 Rayssportinggoods.com (214) 747-7916

10x42 Prostaff 7

Michigan poacher first person prosecuted under enhanced law A Kent County man pleaded guilty in a deer-poaching case that occurred in September, the first case of a violation meeting the new enhanced sentencing guidelines for poaching that became law in Michigan earlier this year.

On Sept. 21, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers responded to a complaint phoned in to the Report All Poaching Line involving an adult suspect who allegedly killed two trophy white-tailed deer in Montcalm County during the 2014 Youth Hunt while acting as a mentor to an 8-year-old hunter.

Jacob Powers, 25, of Lowell, Michigan, was arraigned Oct. 3 on the charge of taking two white-tailed deer during the closed season before a magistrate of the 64B District Court at Stanton in Montcalm County. At arraignment, Powers entered a plea of guilty to the charge and was sentenced. He was assessed $335 in fines and costs, $12,000 in restitution for payment to the state’s Fish and Game Protection Fund, and five days mandatory minimum jail time to be served as community service. In addition, Powers now faces up to five years of hunting license revocations in Michigan and 41 other states that participate in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

— MDNR

National Bobwhite restoration effort approved for federal funding With the approval and assistance of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, participating states and the University of Tennessee, the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative is now eligible for and receiving financial support from states through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program.

“Pittman-Robertson funding not only substantially increases the financial support to do what we’ve said from the beginning needed to done, it also stabilizes that support so we can concentrate more intensely on actually getting the priority work done,”

said NBCI Director Don McKenzie. “Just as importantly, Pittman-Robertson funding by the states is a compelling testament to the increasing commitment to tackle this difficult bobwhite conservation issue. This is a transformational new chapter in the history of bobwhite conservation.”

Among NBCI’s priorities are reconnecting forests with bobwhites through aggressive, purposeful forest management practices first on public and then private lands, returning native grasses to agricultural landscapes, especially in pasture operations, and providing a centralized national data warehouse on habitat management activities, and bobwhite and grassland songbird population response to those activities.

— NBCI

Youngest hunter bags best Arkansas elk Ryley McCuiston may have been a substitute as an elk hunter, but he took the prize in the early 2014 elk hunt in the Buffalo River country of northwest Arkansas.

McCuiston was also the youngest of the eight hunters in the field for the five days of that hunt. He downed a 6x8 bull elk in the Bearcat Hollow area of the Ozark National Forest in eastern Newton County on the hunt’s second day.

McCuiston lives at Cord in Independence County and is 10 years old. His permit came from a fundraising auction of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. The winning bid for the youth permit was by Dr. Allyn Ladd, who bought it for his daughter. When the daughter chose not to hunt, Ladd gave the permit to McCuiston, son of close friend and hunting buddy Justin McCuiston.

Bearcat Hollow is the newest Arkansas elk area. It is a remote and rugged area where extensive habitat work was done a few years ago. Almost immediately, elk moved into the area along with deer, turkeys and bears.

The second segment of the 2014 elk hunt will be five days beginning Oct. 27.

— Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Umbrella rigs banned from Bassmaster Opens B.A.S.S. banned the use of umbrella rigs at Bassmaster Opens or any other B.A.S.S. event that leads directly to a Bassmaster Classic qualification.

The lures, already banned from use in the Bassmaster Elite Series, drew comments from anglers on both sides of the issue.

“I think that’s fantastic,” said Chris Lane, the 2012 Classic champion. “If you make the Classic or qualify for the Elite Series, it shouldn’t be on something that everybody can’t use.”

Shaw Grigsby disagreed.

“I think it’s sad,” said Grigsby. “I think it’s a sad day when we start taking innovation out of the sport. It’s not the greatest thing to ever hit. It’s a very situational lure.”

— B.A.S.S.

Georgia angler wins Islamorada All-Tackle Bonefish & Permit Championship Richard Barnett of Savannah, Georgia, took top honors for the second consecutive year in the Islamorada All-Tackle Bonefish & Permit Championship that ended Oct. 15.

Fishing with Islamorada Captain Mark Krowka, Barnett released three bonefish and one permit on bait to win that division.

In addition, his 32-inch permit was the largest of the tournament.

Kyle Gemas of Thiensville, Wisconsin, a tournament newcomer, won the fly division with a permit that measured 19.7 inches.

The largest bonefish award, for a 25.5-inch fish, went to Frank Delucas of Plantation, Florida, who fished with Islamorada Captain Jared Raskob.

— fla-keys.com

LSONews.com

Clark and Rambo take Bass Champs championship The Bass Champs season came to a conclusion on the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana Oct. 11-12, when 222 teams converged to do battle.

Rusty Clark, from Sam Rayburn, and Cory Rambo, from Orange, bested all the other teams with a 2-day, 6-fish limit of 20.45 pounds to take the title.

On the first day of competition, Clark and Rambo put two 3-pounders in the boat and a 15-inch keeper from their starting spot.

“We decided to leave the area alone, and hit some other spots and caught five more keepers,” Rambo said.

Later they went back to the pads and boated another 3-pound fish, giving them just under 10 pounds to secure seventh place going into day two.

“On the second day, we decided to sit on that spot and just burn it up,” he said.

“We had all of our weight by 10 a.m.”

Central Region lone angler Adam Miranda, from Brownwood, won second place.

Miranda decided to concentrate his efforts along a single 100-yard stretch

Pier bite is hot on the coast Continued from page 15

Down south, Dave Fletcher with Pirate’s Landing Pier in Port Isabel said mangrove snapper, speckled trout, sheepshead and black drum are on the menu for their anglers.

Bull reds are just starting to be on the move. Water conditions are clear and calm currently in the Port Isabel area.

“One of our guys caught a 38-inch redfish the other day,” Fletcher said.

“We’ve seen lots of whiting and trout in the evening.”

All three piers reported the nighttime fishing was producing well, and anglers have been seeing luck with mullet and shrimp drifted close to the pier.

61st Street Pier, (409) 744-8365 Keepers Fishing Pier, (361) 749-5333 Pirates Landing Pier, (956) 943-3663

LoneOStar Outdoor News

using a black and blue craw.

“The first day, I caught three keepers on my first pass,” he said. “I just kept grinding and beating the bank, catching a lot of keepers throughout the day and culling by ounces.”

North Region anglers Shonn Blassingame, from Sunset, and Cody Burdine, from Bridgeport, finished in third place overall with 17.85 pounds.

— Bass Champs

PAA cancels 2014 season The PAA Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2014 PAA Tournament Series.

After postponing the 2014 PAA opener originally slated for September 25-27 on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee, the board has also cancelled its remaining two PAA events on October 9-11, at Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, Kentucky and November 20-22, on Toledo Bend Reservoir.

The PAA Tournament Series will not take place this year.

“Every year, the PAA must work hard to avoid schedule conflicts with the other professional tours including the Bassmaster

Elites, FLW Tour, Bassmaster Opens, and Rayovac FLW Series as well as Major League Fishing, ICAST and other industry and sponsor events that PAA pros cannot miss throughout the year,” Reed said.

“Unfortunately, we were not able to work out 2014 PAA Tournament Series dates until late in the fall.”

— PAA

Big bass tourney won with 9.69 pounder Jeremy Parker of Independence, Missouri landed a 9.69-pound largemouth to take home the top prize at the Berkley Big Bass Lake Fork tournament on Oct. 18.

The winning fish earned Parker a Skeeter ZX 200 Yamaha SHO. Joshua Derden won a Skeeter TZX 190 for his top “under” on the slot-limit lake with a 2.57-pound bass.

One other “over” was landed by Aaron Walker of Mount Vernon, weighing in at 8.45 pounds.

—Bass Champs

October 24, 2014

Page 21

Women fight through the rain at Babes on Baffin At weigh-in time at the 10th annual Babes on Baffin, the sky opened up — but it didn’t damper the hopes of the 82 teams hoping for one of the biggest stringer prizes.

“It was wet all day, but it really poured at the weigh-in,” said tournament director Lauren Roescher.

In the Guided Division, team Real Appeal landed the heaviest drum at 9.1 pounds; Just Hookin caught the largest redfish at 8.1 pounds; and Trebble Makers won the trout division with 4.75 pounds.

Real Appeal had the heaviest stringer at 17.55 pounds, followed by Team Beer, Bait and Booty with 15.35 pounds.

In the Non-Guided Division, the heaviest drum, 6.45 pounds, was landed by team Reel Haynie Hookers, who also won the heaviest stringer with 16.5 pounds. The best redfish and the trout were caught by Laguna Holic Gals at 8.5 pounds and 5.95 pounds.

— Staff report

Page 22

October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

| | Sun Moon Tides

Moon Phases First

Date Time Oct 24 3:23 AM Oct 25 3:37 AM Oct 26 3:53 AM Oct 27 4:12 AM Oct 28 12:46 AM Oct 29 1:51 AM Oct 30 3:25 AM Oct 31 5:01 AM Nov 01 12:01 AM Nov 02 12:38 AM Nov 03 12:12 AM Nov 04 12:43 AM Nov 05 1:14 AM Nov 06 1:43 AM Nov 07 2:12 AM

Height 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.5L 1.6L 1.5L 1.4L 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H

Time 10:19 AM 10:56 AM 11:37 AM 12:22 PM 4:37 AM 5:11 AM 6:09 AM 8:41 AM 6:00 AM 5:45 AM 6:27 AM 7:08 AM 7:49 AM 8:31 AM 9:12 AM

Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Date Time Oct 24 3:19 AM Oct 25 3:45 AM Oct 26 12:16 AM Oct 27 1:07 AM Oct 28 2:02 AM Oct 29 2:49 AM Oct 30 3:38 AM Oct 31 5:03 AM Nov 01 6:22 AM Nov 02 12:38 AM Nov 03 12:10 AM Nov 04 12:38 AM Nov 05 1:04 AM Nov 06 1:31 AM Nov 07 2:07 AM

San Luis Pass

Date Time Oct 24 3:41 AM Oct 25 3:51 AM Oct 26 4:00 AM Oct 27 12:23 AM Oct 28 1:06 AM Oct 29 2:05 AM Oct 30 3:28 PM Oct 31 12:07 AM Nov 01 12:44 AM Nov 02 1:15 AM Nov 03 12:43 AM Nov 04 1:08 AM Nov 05 1:34 AM Nov 06 1:59 AM Nov 07 2:25 AM

Freeport Harbor Date Time Oct 24 2:56 AM Oct 25 12:15 AM Oct 26 10:57 AM Oct 27 11:39 AM Oct 28 12:28 PM Oct 29 1:25 PM Oct 30 2:33 PM Oct 31 3:53 PM Nov 01 6:56 AM Nov 02 12:29 AM Nov 03 6:34 AM Nov 04 12:25 AM Nov 05 12:48 AM Nov 06 1:09 AM Nov 07 1:25 AM

Rollover Pass Date Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 01 Nov 02 Nov 03 Nov 04 Nov 05 Nov 06 Nov 07

Time 2:34 AM 3:48 AM 3:11 PM 3:43 AM 4:30 AM 4:58 AM 4:48 AM 4:37 AM 4:23 AM 3:17 AM 3:26 AM 3:40 AM 3:54 AM 1:04 AM 2:13 AM

Height 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H 1.4H 1.1L 0.9L 0.6L 0.3L 0.0L -0.1L -0.2L

Time 5:26 PM 6:10 PM 7:00 PM 7:58 PM 1:12 PM 2:09 PM 3:13 PM 4:21 PM 11:15 AM 11:49 AM 1:02 PM 2:04 PM 3:00 PM 3:52 PM 4:44 PM

Height 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L 0.4L 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.9H 1.9H 2.0H 2.0H

Time 10:44 PM 11:20 PM 11:59 PM

Height 1.3L 1.4L 1.5L

9:05 PM 10:14 PM 11:14 PM

1.8H 1.8H 1.8H

5:31 PM 5:38 PM 6:39 PM 7:35 PM 8:26 PM 9:13 PM 9:58 PM

0.5L 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 1.1L 1.2L 1.3L

Height 1.7H 1.7H 1.6L 1.6L 1.7L 1.6L 1.6L 1.4L 1.2L 1.9H 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H

Time 10:31 AM 11:06 AM 4:12 AM 4:36 AM 4:58 AM 5:17 AM 5:40 AM 9:07 AM 11:29 AM 5:55 AM 6:29 AM 7:08 AM 7:54 AM 8:43 AM 9:30 AM

Height 0.4L 0.3L 1.7H 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H 0.9L 0.6L 0.3L 0.2L 0.0L 0.0L

Time 5:59 PM 6:52 PM 11:42 AM 12:23 PM 1:15 PM 2:12 PM 3:06 PM 4:09 PM 5:42 PM 12:09 PM 1:21 PM 2:32 PM 3:28 PM 4:14 PM 5:00 PM

Height 2.1H 2.1H 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3L 0.4L 0.6L 0.8L 1.7H 1.8H 2.0H 2.1H 2.2H 2.2H

Time 11:36 PM

Height 1.5L

7:57 PM 8:51 PM 9:37 PM 10:23 PM 11:12 PM 11:59 PM

2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.0H 1.9H

5:51 PM 6:45 PM 7:44 PM 9:03 PM 10:03 PM 10:50 PM

0.9L 1.1L 1.2L 1.4L 1.4L 1.5L

Height 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3L 1.4L 1.4L 0.3L 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H

Time 10:41 AM 11:15 AM 11:54 AM 4:09 AM 4:23 AM 4:38 AM

Height 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H

Time 6:20 PM 7:12 PM 8:08 PM 12:37 PM 1:27 PM 2:23 PM

Height 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 0.1L 0.2L 0.2L

Time 11:12 PM 11:46 PM

Height 1.2L 1.3L

9:10 PM 10:15 PM 11:17 PM

1.5H 1.5H 1.5H

0.4L 1.1L 0.9L 0.6L 0.4L 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L

11:16 AM 12:06 PM 1:30 PM 2:41 PM 3:44 PM 4:41 PM 5:36 PM

1.2H 1.3H 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.6H 1.6H

6:02 PM 6:18 PM 7:27 PM 8:27 PM 9:22 PM 10:13 PM 11:02 PM

0.5L 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 1.1L 1.1L 1.2L

Height 1.6H 1.5L 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3L 0.4L 0.5L 1.3L 1.9H 0.8L 1.7H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H

Time 9:52 AM 2:59 AM 7:24 PM 8:21 PM 9:22 PM 10:20 PM 11:11 PM 11:54 PM 10:37 AM 6:09 AM 12:45 PM 7:04 AM 7:38 AM 8:14 AM 8:52 AM

Time 5:40 PM 10:22 AM

Height 2.1H 0.3L

5:21 PM 11:21 AM 7:07 PM 1:56 PM 3:00 PM 3:59 PM 4:55 PM

0.7L 1.6H 1.0L 2.0H 2.1H 2.2H 2.2H

Height 1.2L 1.3L 0.2L 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2L 1.3L

4:43 PM 7:05 AM 6:34 AM 7:10 AM 7:48 AM 8:28 AM 9:07 AM 9:47 AM

Height 0.4L 1.6H 2.2H 2.2H 2.2H 2.1H 2.1H 2.0H 1.5H 1.1L 1.8H 0.6L 0.4L 0.2L 0.1L

Time 6:21 AM 6:35 AM

Height 1.4H 1.4H

3:56 PM 4:48 PM 5:48 PM 6:59 PM 8:21 PM 10:44 AM 10:07 AM 10:36 AM 11:07 AM 11:41 AM 4:08 AM 4:22 AM

0.2L 0.2L 0.3L 0.3L 0.4L 1.0L 0.8L 0.6L 0.4L 0.2L 1.3H 1.3H

Time 2:05 PM 2:34 PM

Height 0.3L 0.2L

1:50 PM 2:55 PM 4:36 PM 6:03 PM 7:22 PM 12:19 PM 12:59 PM

1.1H 1.1H 1.2H 1.4H 1.4H 0.1L 0.0L

Time

Height

6:30 PM

2.1H

5:48 PM

0.9L

8:20 PM 9:30 PM 10:41 PM

1.2L 1.3L 1.4L

Time 10:02 PM 11:28 PM

Height 1.4H 1.4H

9:39 PM 9:48 PM 10:54 PM 11:58 PM

0.6L 0.7L 0.9L 1.0L

8:39 PM 9:57 PM

1.5H 1.5H

Port O’Connor

Date Time Oct 24 12:22 PM Oct 25 1:01 PM Oct 26 12:43 AM Oct 27 1:49 AM Oct 28 2:40 AM Oct 29 3:20 AM Oct 30 3:49 AM Oct 31 4:06 AM Nov 01 4:17 AM Nov 02 3:15 AM Nov 03 1:57 AM Nov 04 1:16 AM Nov 05 12:04 AM Nov 06 10:42 AM Nov 07 11:28 AM

Rockport Date Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 01 Nov 02 Nov 03 Nov 04 Nov 05 Nov 06 Nov 07

Port Aransas

Date Time Oct 24 2:28 AM Oct 25 2:40 AM Oct 26 12:45 AM Oct 27 1:29 AM Oct 28 1:41 AM Oct 29 12:02 AM Oct 30 2:09 PM Oct 31 3:23 PM Nov 01 6:15 AM Nov 02 5:48 AM Nov 03 6:24 AM Nov 04 7:02 AM Nov 05 12:02 AM Nov 06 12:27 AM Nov 07 12:50 AM

Date Time Oct 24 1:46 AM Oct 25 10:18 AM Oct 26 10:56 AM Oct 27 11:40 AM Oct 28 12:30 PM Oct 29 1:27 PM Oct 30 2:33 PM Oct 31 3:49 PM Nov 01 12:10 AM Nov 02 12:24 AM Nov 03 6:18 AM Nov 04 6:52 AM Nov 05 7:30 AM Nov 06 8:09 AM Nov 07 8:49 AM

East Matagorda Date Time Oct 24 11:24 AM Oct 25 11:55 AM Oct 26 12:54 PM Oct 27 12:31 AM Oct 28 1:02 AM Oct 29 1:32 AM Oct 30 2:02 AM Oct 31 2:35 AM Nov 01 3:48 AM Nov 02 1:34 AM Nov 03 12:48 AM Nov 04 12:09 AM Nov 05 12:21 AM Nov 06 12:44 AM Nov 07 1:11 AM

41.

42.

43.

44.

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

New

Nov. 22

Houston Height 0.7L 0.7L 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.2H 0.5L 0.5L

Time 11:18 PM

Height 1.4H

1:44 PM 2:32 PM 3:23 PM 4:17 PM 5:14 PM 6:11 PM 7:09 PM 7:06 PM 8:47 AM 9:18 AM 9:59 AM 11:14 PM 11:59 PM

0.6L 0.6L 0.6L 0.6L 0.6L 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 0.9L 0.8L 0.6L 1.4H 1.4H

Height 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H

Time 1:41 PM 2:24 PM 3:10 PM 3:59 PM 4:49 PM 5:39 PM 6:26 PM 7:07 PM 7:38 PM 7:56 AM 9:12 AM 10:08 AM 10:58 AM 11:45 AM 12:32 PM

Height 0.5L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.5L 0.6L 0.5L 0.5L 0.4L 0.4L 0.3L

Height 1.2H 1.3H 1.3L 0.3L 1.4H 1.4L 0.4L 0.5L 1.1L 0.9L 0.7L 0.5L 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H

Time 9:45 AM 10:13 AM 2:46 AM 8:26 PM 12:16 PM 2:19 AM 11:25 PM 11:36 PM 9:33 AM 10:29 AM 12:25 PM 2:05 PM 7:41 AM 8:19 AM 8:57 AM

Height 1.2H 0.1L 0.1L 0.0L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L 0.4L 1.4H 1.3H 0.6L 0.3L 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L

Height 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H

Time

4:34 PM 6:31 PM 11:39 PM

Time

Height

Time

Height

1.1H 1.2H 1.3H

8:02 PM 8:54 PM

1.0L 1.2L

Height

Time

Height

6:49 PM 6:03 PM

Height 0.5L 0.4L 1.3H 1.4H 0.3L 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 0.3L 0.2L 0.1L

Time 5:38 PM 6:28 PM 10:48 AM 11:27 PM 9:51 PM 1:09 PM

Height 1.4H 1.4H 0.3L 1.4L 1.4H 0.4L

Time 11:55 PM

4:59 PM 5:34 PM 6:50 PM 7:57 PM 3:20 PM 4:24 PM 5:23 PM

0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H

Time 9:45 AM 6:57 PM 8:02 PM 9:15 PM 10:28 PM 11:21 PM 11:51 PM

Height 0.3L 1.5H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H

Time 5:58 PM

Height 1.5H

6:34 AM 5:49 AM 12:51 PM 2:15 PM 3:27 PM 4:32 PM 5:35 PM

1.0L 0.8L 1.3H 1.4H 1.5H 1.6H 1.6H

9:34 AM 11:07 AM 6:49 PM 8:01 PM 9:12 PM

Height 0.4H 0.4H

2:41 PM 3:15 PM 3:50 PM 4:37 PM 6:28 PM 7:44 AM 6:39 AM 7:01 AM 9:13 AM 9:33 AM 9:50 AM 10:14 AM

0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 0.1L 0.1L 0.0L 0.0L

Solution on Page 25

A.M. Minor Major

24Fri 25Sat 26Sun 27Mon 28Tue 29Wed 30Thu 31Fri 01Sat 02Sun 03Mon 04Tue 05Wed 06Thu 07Fri 08Sat 09Sun 10Mon 11Tue 12Wed

6:54 ----7:46 1:33 8:42 2:29 9:42 3:28 10:43 4:29 11:43 5:29 12:18 6:28 1:13 7:24 2:02 8:15 2:51 9:04 2:37 8:50 3:23 9:36 4:11 10:24 5:01 11:15 5:55 ----6:52 12:38 7:49 1:36 8:47 2:34 9:43 3:31 10:36 4:24

2014 Oct.-Nov.

0.6H 0.6H

Time 9:45 PM 10:59 PM

2014 Oct.-Nov.

Dallas

11:23 AM 3:07 PM

Time

12:58 PM 12:38 PM 4:34 PM 5:26 PM 6:59 PM 7:47 PM

1.1H 1.1H 0.9L 1.0L 1.2L

Height

0.3H 0.4H 0.3H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H

0.5L 0.6L

Height 1.2L

7:22 PM

1.4H

10:56 PM

1.3H

11:51 PM 11:13 PM 11:38 PM

1.2H 1.2H 1.2H

8:58 PM 9:55 PM 10:49 PM

1.1L 1.2L 1.3L

Time

5:13 PM 5:34 PM 11:48 PM 11:54 PM 11:52 PM

Time

6:59 PM 6:27 PM 7:02 PM 9:46 PM 10:00 PM 10:00 PM

24Fri 25Sat 26Sun 27Mon 28Tue 29Wed 30Thu 31Fri 01Sat 02Sun 03Mon 04Tue 05Wed 06Thu 07Fri 08Sat 09Sun 10Mon 11Tue 12Wed

7:00 ----7:52 1:39 8:48 2:35 9:47 3:34 10:48 4:35 11:49 5:35 12:24 6:34 1:19 7:29 2:08 8:21 2:56 9:10 2:43 8:56 3:29 9:42 4:17 10:30 5:07 11:21 6:01 ----6:57 12:44 7:55 1:42 8:53 2:40 9:49 3:36 10:41 4:30

San Antonio

Height

0.5L 0.7L 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H

A.M. Minor Major

P.M. Minor Major

7:24 13:37 8:17 2:05 9:15 3:01 10:15 4:01 11:16 5:02 ----- 6:03 12:48 7:01 1:43 7:57 2:34 8:48 3:23 9:36 3:09 9:22 3:55 10:09 4:43 10:57 5:34 11:48 6:28 12:14 7:24 1:11 8:22 2:08 9:18 3:06 10:13 4:01 11:05 4:53

8:27 8:28 8:29 8:29 8:30 8:31 8:32 8:32 8:33 8:34 7:35 7:36 7:36 7:37 7:38 7:39 7:40 7:40 7:41 7:42

7:42 7:41 7:40 7:39 7:38 7:37 7:36 7:35 7:35 7:34 6:33 6:32 6:32 6:31 6:30 6:29 6:29 6:28 6:28 6:27

SUN Rises Sets

8:36 8:37 8:38 8:39 8:40 8:41 8:41 8:42 8:43 8:44 7:45 7:46 7:47 7:48 7:49 7:50 7:50 7:51 7:52 7:53

7:44 7:43 7:42 7:41 7:40 7:39 7:38 7:37 7:36 7:35 6:34 6:34 6:33 6:32 6:31 6:30 6:30 6:29 6:28 6:27

P.M. Minor Major

SUN Rises Sets

24Fri 25Sat 26Sun 27Mon 28Tue 29Wed 30Thu 31Fri 01Sat 02Sun 03Mon 04Tue 05Wed 06Thu 07Fri 08Sat 09Sun 10Mon 11Tue 12Wed

7:31 13:43 8:24 2:11 9:21 3:08 10:22 4:08 11:23 5:09 ----- 6:10 12:54 7:08 1:50 8:03 2:41 8:55 3:29 9:43 3:16 9:29 4:02 10:15 4:50 11:03 5:41 11:54 6:35 12:21 7:31 1:18 8:28 2:15 9:25 3:12 10:20 4:08 11:12 5:00

8:39 8:40 8:41 8:41 8:42 8:43 8:44 8:44 8:45 8:46 7:47 7:48 7:48 7:49 7:50 7:51 7:52 7:52 7:53 7:54

7:06 ----7:58 1:46 8:55 2:41 9:54 3:40 10:55 4:41 11:56 5:42 12:30 6:41 1:26 7:36 2:15 8:28 3:03 9:16 2:50 9:03 3:36 9:49 4:23 10:37 5:14 11:27 6:08 ----7:04 12:51 8:02 1:49 9:00 2:47 9:55 3:43 10:48 4:36

2014 A.M. Oct.-Nov. Minor Major

0.2L 0.2L 0.3L 0.3L 0.4L 0.4L

7:18 13:31 8:12 1:59 9:09 2:56 10:09 3:55 11:10 4:57 ----- 5:57 12:42 6:56 1:37 7:51 2:29 8:42 3:17 9:30 3:03 9:16 3:50 10:03 4:38 10:51 5:28 11:42 6:22 12:09 7:18 1:05 8:16 2:03 9:13 3:00 10:07 3:55 10:59 4:47

SUN Rises Sets

2014 A.M. Oct.-Nov. Minor Major

Amarillo

Height

P.M. Minor Major

24Fri 25Sat 26Sun 27Mon 28Tue 29Wed 30Thu 31Fri 01Sat 02Sun 03Mon 04Tue 05Wed 06Thu 07Fri 08Sat 09Sun 10Mon 11Tue 12Wed

7:20 ----8:12 1:59 9:08 2:55 10:08 3:54 11:08 4:55 ----- 5:55 12:44 6:54 1:39 7:49 2:28 8:41 3:16 9:30 3:03 9:16 3:49 10:02 4:37 10:50 5:27 11:41 6:21 12:11 7:17 1:04 8:15 2:02 9:13 3:00 10:09 3:56 11:02 4:50

P.M. Minor Major

7:44 13:57 8:38 2:25 9:35 3:21 10:35 4:21 11:36 5:22 12:09 6:23 1:08 7:22 2:03 8:17 2:55 9:08 3:43 9:56 3:29 9:42 4:15 10:29 5:03 11:17 5:54 ----6:48 12:35 7:44 1:31 8:42 2:28 9:38 3:26 10:33 4:21 11:25 5:13

7:55 7:54 7:53 7:52 7:51 7:50 7:49 7:48 7:48 7:47 6:46 6:45 6:44 6:44 6:43 6:42 6:42 6:41 6:41 6:40

SUN Rises Sets

8:59 9:00 9:01 9:02 9:03 9:04 9:05 9:06 9:07 9:08 8:09 8:10 8:11 8:12 8:13 8:14 8:15 8:16 8:17 8:18

8:01 8:00 7:59 7:58 7:57 7:56 7:55 7:53 7:52 7:51 6:50 6:50 6:49 6:48 6:47 6:46 6:45 6:44 6:44 6:43

MOON Rises Sets

9:06a 8:26p 10:04a 9:11p 11:02a 10:00p 11:59a 10:53p 12:54p 11:51p 1:46p NoMoon 2:35p 12:51a 3:21p 1:54a 4:05p 2:57a 4:47p 4:01a 4:28p 4:04a 5:10p 5:08a 5:53p 6:11a 6:38p 7:14a 7:26p 8:15a 8:15p 9:15a 9:06p 10:10a 9:58p 11:02 10:51p 11:48a 11:44p 12:31p

MOON Rises Sets

9:16a 8:28p 10:15a 9:12p 11:13a 10:00p 12:11p 10:53p 1:06p 11:51p 1:58p NoMoon 2:46p 12:52a 3:31p 1:56a 4:13p 3:00a 4:53p 4:05a 4:34p 4:10a 5:14p 5:15a 5:56p 6:20a 6:40p 7:24a 7:26p 8:26a 8:15p 9:26a 9:06p 10:22a 9:59p 11:13a 10:52p 12:00p 11:45p 12:42p

MOON Rises Sets

9:19a 8:39p 10:16a 9:24p 11:14a 10:14p 12:11p 11:07p 1:06p NoMoon 1:59p 12:04a 2:48p 1:05a 3:34p 2:07a 4:17p 3:11a 4:59p 4:14a 4:41p 4:17a 5:23p 5:21a 6:06p 6:24a 6:52p 7:27a 7:39p 8:28a 8:28p 9:27a 9:20p 10:23a 10:12p 11:14a 11:05p 12:01p NoMoon12:43p

MOON Rises Sets

9:40a 8:45p 10:40a 9:28p 11:39a 10:16p 12:37p 11:09p 1:32p NoMoon 2:23p 12:07a 3:11p 1:09a 3:54p 2:13a 4:35p 3:19a 5:15p 4:25a 4:54p 4:31a 5:33p 5:37a 6:14p 6:43a 6:57p 7:48a 7:43p 8:51a 8:31p 9:52a 9:22p 10:48a 10:15p 11:39a 11:08p 12:25p NoMoon 1:06p

FOR THE TABLE

Triple meat burger

routes A deer food source The antlers A part of an antler A very large group of animals

DOWN

1. His family is called a pride 2. Game trails 3. A cousin to the weasel and mink 4. A gun part 5. Classed as a rodent 6. Campfire residue 7. These have been shot off turkeys 8. Good for arrow shafts 13. Used for bait at times 15. A group of quail 16. A part of a gun’s action 17. The trapper’s interest 18. Name given the Arizona whitetail 20. Trapped for the pelt 22. A quail predator

Nov. 14

Nov. 6

South Padre Island

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS

1. A group of newborn 3. A game cover 9. A scope cover 10. To take game illegally 11. Parts on a bow 12. Cousins to the rabbits 13. The fish basket 14. The tip of a bullet 19. A group of fish in one spot 21. Name for a certain lure 23. The largest bass 24. A game trailway 25. Term for a fly pattern for bass 28. Good source of wood for arrows 31. A fly-rod grommet 32. A gun association 33. Name for whitetail of the North 34. Gun part that expels spent shell 36. Code for a type bullet 38. Term for fish seen but not hooked 40. To change hunting

Time 3:54 AM 4:06 AM 4:26 AM 4:58 AM 5:42 AM 6:34 AM 7:32 AM 8:35 AM 9:58 AM 2:49 AM 1:56 AM 1:31 AM 1:26 AM 1:39 AM 2:06 AM

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times Last

Full

Oct. 31

Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, north

LSONews.com

2 lbs of ground burger (elk, bear, cow, buffalo, etc.)

About 8 strips of peppered bacon 2 spicy smoked sausages (elk, bear, deer, etc.)

1 large onion sliced 4 pretzel hotdog rolls 4 slices of pepper jack cheese BBQ sauce (you can make your own or buy the type you love) Salt (pinch for each side of the burger and a pinch for the onions) Garlic (pinch for each side of the burger) Sugar (pinch for the onions) Pepper (pinch for each side of the burger) Cut each sausage into four long strips. In a large sauté pan, crisp up the bacon and 23. Letter code for a shotgun model 26. The yellow is one species 27. The shoulder jerk from fired gun 29. A bowman’s protector, arm ____ 30. The long-armed tree dweller 32. A deer food source

35. A song bird 36. An appendage on a wild turkey 37. Name for the Hawaiian goose 38. Name for arrowhead used in streams 39. A fired gun’s recoil 40. The camp pest

sausage on medium-high heat. From there, remove and place on a plate with a paper towel to soak up the grease. In a sauté pan, place 1 tablespoon of your bacon grease.

Throw your onions into the pan along with a pinch of sugar and a pinch of salt. Cook the onions on medium heat until you get a nice caramelization.

Split your ground burger into 4 even patties. Form into long patties so they fit perfectly in your bun. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on your burger. Place the burger in the sauté pan with 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease and cook on mediumhigh heat. Place pepper jack cheese on each burger and place under the broiler to melt the cheese.

— LSON

Creole pan-fried redfi sh 3 pounds redfish fillets Salt and pepper to taste Lemon pepper to taste 2 packages cornbread mix 1 bottle Louisiana Hot Sauce Creole seasoning to taste 1 cup corn oil

Season fish. In a plastic bag, empty cornbread mix with 15 shakes of hot sauce and about 5 to 6 shakes of Creole seasoning. Place fillets in bag and shake to coat fish.

Heat oil in heavy cast iron skillet. Fry fish until golden and done.

— allrecipes.com

*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

October 24, 2014

Page 23

Page 24

October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

LSONews.com

Crappie in predictable patterns

Sid W. Richardson Foundation gives $1M to Cedar Bayou

Continued from page 8

which is welcome news for a fishing year that has been consistently tough to predict.

“They’re all doing what they should be doing this time of year,” Beggerly said. “When it gets colder they’ll be moving out deeper into their winter holes, but right now we are seeing them in about 8 to 13 feet of water around brush and bridge pilings.”

“For people that pay attention to the conditions, they’ll know exactly where to find them.”

Beggerly said certain jig patterns have been producing more fish, especially anything with blue or orange on them.

Sometimes he’ll simply fish the jig, but will add a minnow for more attraction if need be.

Williams said Lake Fork is showing similar holding patterns, but they are having the most luck on any small, pink lure along the creek channels. Recent rains have cooled the water along the creek channels, making the crappie bite more productive in those areas.

Simon Cosper, a guide at Lake Livingston, said the bite recently caught on in the past week — something he attributed to the weather change and East Texas rains.

“It just started to pick up this week,” Cosper said. “A lot of them are in the creek channels in about 10 to 12 feet of water. The lake is a little dingy from the rain we’ve had, so we’ve been having more luck on jigs that are black and chartreuse than anything.”

Another piece of consistent information — guides reported the crappie are hitting the hardest directly above their cover.

They recommend dropping the jig until it hits an obstacle, then reeling it up slightly to suspend it above the prospective catch.

Cosper said everything he’s seeing is a good sign for a strong crappie season, as the cooler weather fronts roll through in Texas.

“At least around here, the cooler the water, the more aggressive the fish seem to be,” Cosper said.

Beggerly said the crappie bite hasn’t hit its pinnacle yet, but it’s still definitely worth venturing onto Lake Palestine — it could happen at any time.

“People have been bringing in a lot of fish, which is average for this time of year,” he said.

“Occasionally you’ll hear of someone hitting their limit, or at least enough to make it worth their while.”

Butch Covington, (337) 526-1257 Brad Williams, (903) 355-1464 Jim Beggerly, (903) 219-9002 Simon Cosper, (936) 355-2889

LoneOStar Outdoor News

The Sid W. Richardson Foundation made a $1 million grant to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation for the maintenance of Cedar Bayou in Aransas County, Texas.

Cedar Bayou was opened to the Gulf of Mexico on September 25, reconnecting the Aransas and Mesquite Bays and Vinson Slough to the Gulf. The dredging effort removed over 750,000 cubic yards of material over its two-mile path of operations in the bayou and slough.

The grant will help ensure that the improvements to the bayou will be maintained over the years ahead and will continue to support the health of the Gulf of Mexico and its bays and estuaries.

“The Sid W. Richardson Foundation is committed to the long-term maintenance of Cedar Bayou and grateful for the commitment of Aransas County to ensure its proper maintenance,” said foundation president Pete Geren.

The foundation was established by Sid W. Richardson in 1947 to support organizations that serve the people of Texas. Directors of the foundation are Chairman Edward P. Bass, Sid R. Bass, and Lee M. Bass.

— TPWF

Puzzle solution from Page 22

October 24, 2014

Page 25

Page 26

October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

HEROES

Jesse Rodriguez picked up fly-fishing this past Christmas and immediately began tying his own flies. He caught this 26-inch redfish at Holly Beach in Laguna Vista earlier this year.

Jeff Paladini and his son, Kaden, 10, with a nice blackbuck taken in Kerrville.

Helotes hunter Eddie Stevenson took his 3-year-old son, Wesley, to an opening day dove hunt near San Angelo.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE

n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers?

Email them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews. com. High-resolution original jpegs only.

Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

Kohl Kennedy, 10, from Boerne, took this Corsican ram at Joshua Creek Ranch after completing the Youth Outdoor Adventure Program.

Taylor Hughs, 8, was wearing his lucky hat when he shot his first dove this season on a hunt near Ferris.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

October 24, 2014

Page 27

October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

PRODUCTS

(866) 537-0384 OLYMPIAPRODUCTS.COM

>> 170 C TRIPOD: Leica’s lightweight and sturdy tripod will give hunters a stable place to rest their spotting scopes. This tripod is a versatile tool with two field observation heads that offer fluid-effect panning for a variety of applications and conditions: the compact VH-1 and the larger VH-2. Made from carbon and premium magnesium, the 3-pound tripod can be easily moved and set up wherever the game roams. The tripod, which will adjust up to a height of 6 feet, 5 inches, sells for about $550.

LEICA-SPORTOPTICS.COM

AMERICAN WHITETAIL SLUGS: Made for fully rifled barrels, Hornady’s slugs are loaded with the company’s 325-grain InterLock bullets. A hollow-point serrated design initiates rapid expansion upon impact, and a tough, lead alloy core is lethal out to 200-plus yards. The rigid polycarbonate sabot helps ensure accuracy. The end result is an accurate delivery system for a tough shotgun slug capable of taking the big whitetails. The 12-gauge, .325 grain slugs sell for about $14 per box of five.

(800) 338-3220 HORNADY.COM

>>

TRK619: TroKar’s surgically sharpened 619 is aimed at those anglers looking for a beefier and more robust circle hook when using their heaviest gear: It offers the stopping power and backbone to haul in the most powerful of game fish. This hook, which won Best of Show for the Terminal Tackle category at the 2014 ICAST show, is available in a medium wire or a heavy wire magnum size.

The 619 hook includes a variety of options, including ringed, non-offset and offset. The hooks sell for about $18 per pack.

>>

(720) 941-8700 EAGLECLAW.COM

FEEDER WITH ANTI-VARMINT PACKAGE: Chas-Mac Hunting Products has incorporated an anti-varmint feature into its Big Mac Super Deluxe Winch-Up Feeder. This prevents feed loss due to varmints, wind and other issues in the field without the need for a varmint guard. The feeder pictured sells for $720. It has “The Eliminator” spinner feature and a hoist with an automatic brake winch and a stainless steel pulley plus a brass shaft to deter rust.

(713) 461-9163 CHAS-MAC.COM

>>

(866) 894-1626 YAMAHAOUTBOARDS.COM

EX550 HEADLAMP: This high-powered headlamp by Olympia emits 550 lumens of bright light and a beam range of just under 148 yards. It has five lighting modes to provide multiple options for varying light conditions. Its run time is 3.5 hours to 60 hours, depending on mode used. The waterproof flashlight is constructed from rugged aircraft grade aluminum.

The headlamp also features a lockout function that prevents battery drain and a pivoting head. It sells for about $70.

>>

VMAX SHO 175: Yamaha Marine Group’s newest four-stroke outboard motor a lightweight, high-performance and fuel-efficient engine that may make two-stroke power obsolete. Features include its Variable Camshaft Timing System, which advances and retards the angle of the intake camshaft to increase power and throttle response in the low- and mid-rpm ranges; advanced sensors that constantly provide vital atmospheric and engine conditions to the Engine Control Module resulting in precise adjustments for optimum performance; and technology that helps the engine maximize combustion efficiency to deliver clean, quiet power and performance. With mechanical control, the outboard offers easy rigging. It can be equipped with analog gauges, 6Y5 digital gauges or Command Link gauges. The price will be announced in January.

>>

Page 28

CLASSIFIEDS DOVE HUNTING Over Sunflower and Sesame Seed Fields in Uvalde County. Contact Mark Roberts. www.MarkRoberts DoveHunting.com (830) 261-9467

ARROWHEADS AND ARTIFACTS I buy and sell authentic Texas artifacts. Please call Nick.

(210) 557-9478

SOUTH PADRE FISHING Reds, Trout, Flounder, Snook. Everything supplied but food and licenses.

Multiple trip discounts. Call Capt. Thomas for details or CDCT12005@aol.com.

CustomSportsAnglers.com (956) 551-1965 COMPLETE TEXAS DUCK STAMP PRINT COLLECTION Signed and numbered. Call Steve.

(817) 832-8078

DECOYS WANTED WOODEN Duck and Goose. Top prices paid. Ask for David.

(214) 361-2276

TROPHY WHITETAIL BUCK HUNTS Intensive Management Program. Lodging included.

(940) 362-4219

TROPHY BASS AND BIRD HUNTING Fish famous Lake Guerrero.

Hunt Dove, Quail, Ducks.

Please contact Lago Vista Lodge today! dickyn@ lagovistalodge.com 713-376-3938 or 281-495-9296

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS & MAPPING RANCH & HUNTING, AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL, BalboaMapCompany.com (806) 777-8840

DEER HUNT-SOUTH TEXAS Trophy Deer-$695 for 2 days. Wife or child 1/2 price. Uvalde, Texas. b-jranch.com (830) 313-3555

PROFESSIONAL GUIDE SERVICE CEDAR BAYOU OUTFITTERS Capt. Jeff Sims (361) 403-7510

TDHA - JOIN TODAY TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOC. TexasDoveHunters.com (210) 764-1189

BRING MORE DEER TO YOUR FEEDER CALL ‘EM IN FEEDER PLATES – THE DINNER BELL FOR DEER Take advantage of the deer season special — 3 plates with universal u-bolts only $32.50. Go to BuckCanyonWelding.com Call (575) 390-6200

HUNTING EXOTICS $100/DAY GUIDE FEE, Plus trophy fee. Non-trophy $250-$350. Whitetail — High Fence $1,000-$1,500.

Near Junction. Owner.

(325) 475-2100 POETRY SHOOTING CLUB 700-yard range, range target camera, quail hunting preserve, dog training, shooting classes, day leases Dove, duck & deer Poetryshootingclub.com (214) 728-2755

GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTERS AKC Champion Blood Line consists of Master Hunter, Jr Hunter, SV Champion and Show Champion.

Please call or text 361660-8136 or visit our website at CountryTimePups.com

FLOATING CABIN RENTALS CORPUS CHRISTI Have the fishing time of your life. Lots of fish, fun and 17 years of Repeat business.

(800) 368-8175

ONLY $1 PER WORD LSON CLASSIFIEDS Advertise your business or merchandise in Texas’ largest outdoor newspaper.

(214) 361-2276

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

October 24, 2014

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DATEBOOK OCTOBER 24-25

Taxidermy King World Class Big Game Trophy Mount and Western Auction Will Rogers Center, Fort Worth (512) 451-7633 taxidermyking.com

OCTOBER 25

Exotic Wildlife Association Congressional/Legislative Fundraiser Y.O. Ranch Hotel, Kerrville (830) 367-7761 myewa.org Ducks Unlimited Calhoun County Banquet Bauer Community center, Port Lavaca (361) 237-6803 ducks.org/texas

OCTOBER 25-26

Texas Gun & Knife Association Gun Show Gillespie County Fairgrounds, Fredericksburg (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

OCTOBER 28

Dallas Safari Club Lubbock Regional Meeting (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

Ducks Unlimited Gladewater Banquet Gladwater Frm. Std Building (903) 845-2132 ducks.org/texas Ducks Unlimited NE Tarrant County Dinner Colleyville Center (817) 360-5611 ducks.org/texas

OCTOBER 30

Mule Deer Foundation Odessa Chapter Banquet (970) 846-5489 muledeer.org Hunting Film Tour Angelika Theater, Dallas huntingfilmtour.com Ducks Unlimited Tyler Dinner Harvey Hall Convention Center (903) 520-5598 ducks.org/texas Ducks Unlimited Corpus Christi Banquet American Bank Center (361) 249-4909

NOVEMBER 1

Mule Deer Foundation Amarillo Chapter Banquet (806) 679-3983 muledeer.org

Executive Editor

Craig Nyhus Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Steven Schwartz Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Managing Editor

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

Operations Manager Accounting National Advertising Automotive Advertising Website Founder & CEO

Mike Hughs Ginger Hoolan Mike Nelson Dave Irvine Bruce Soileau David J. Sams

NOVEMBER 2

Texas Indoor Archery League Texas Archery Academy, Plano Indoor Range (214) 960-4088 texasarchery.info

NOVEMBER 5

Houston Safari Club Monthly Meeting Houston Racquet Club (713) 623-8844 houstonsafariclub.org Coastal Conservation Association Brush Country Banquet Knights of Columbus Hall, Alice (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org

NOVEMBER 6

Ducks Unlimited Dallas Dinner Centennial Hall at Fair Park (214) 673-9636 Dallas Safari Club Trophy Room Tour (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

NOVEMBER 8

Tomorrow’s Hunter 2014 Pam Redfearn Holman Memorial Shoot Dallas Gun Club (505) 360-3336 youthoutdoors.org

Contributors Shannon Drawe Wilbur Lundeen Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

NOVEMBER 11

Delta Waterfowl Mount Pleasant Banquet Mount Pleasant Civic Center (903) 380-0842 deltawaterfowl.org/events Ducks Unlimited Harlingen Banquet Longhorn Cattle Company (956) 245-2463 ducks.org/texas

NOVEMBER 12

Coastal Conservation Association Hays County Banquet Wimberley VFW (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org

NOVEMBER 13

Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Location TBD (972) 980-9800 Ducks Unlimited Aggieland Dinner Brazos County Expo Center (903) 690-1005 Coastal Conservation Association Guadalupe Valley Banquet The Venue, Cuero (713)-626-4222 ccatexas.org

Lone Star Outdoor News, Founded 2004, 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 2014 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.

Advertising: Call (214) 361-2276 or email editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

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October 24, 2014

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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