September 10, 2010 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

Flying High Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

September 10, 2010

Volume 7, Issue 2

An Austin youngster medaled at the Fly Fishing World Championships. Page 8

Last hunt for a while

Inside

Father spends time with son in dove field before deployment to Iraq

❘❚ FISHING

Crappie Crappie catch going up as the temperatures fall.

By Craig Nyhus

Page 8

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Too slow

For young Matthew Aris, it was going to be his last day in the field with his dad for another year.

Matthew, 11, will watch later this month as his father heads to a few months of training and then to war.

Labor Day weekend was family time as Matthew and his sister Kate, 7, rode four-wheelers, fished and enjoyed time at the ranch in Stephens County the family owns with two other friends.

Dad, Chuck, after graduating from Texas A&M in 1988, enlisted in the Army. After his term came law school and a law practice in Dallas, but he remained in the National Guard. Now a colonel, he left his family and law practice when he spent 18 months in 2005-2006 being ■ Dove Report: deployed to Kosovo.

Opening day and “That was two hunting seasons lost,” Aris said. “And weekend updates Page 6 Kate was only two — that was tough.”

Again he will have to rely on his wife, Amy, to take on the lion’s share of the parenting responsibilities. This hunting season will be the third one lost as he heads to Fort Lewis for two months of training and then to

Surf anglers are fighting a 15 mph speed limit on PINS. Page 9

❘❚ HUNTING

INSIDE

M-223 Shoot-Out Testing scopes near the Glass Mountains.

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Color changes Some whitetails sport unusual summer coloring.

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IS THAT A DOVE? Matthew Aris spent Labor Day weekend hunting before saying good-bye to his father, Chuck Aris, who is being deployed to Iraq. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.

See LAST HUNT, Page 16

Crossbow Crossbow hunters are winning acceptance from bowhunters and other hunters.

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❘❚ CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . .

Crossword . . . . . . . .

Fishing Report . . . . . .

For the Table . . . . . . .

Game Warden Blotter . . .

Heroes . . . . . . . . . .

Outdoor Datebook. . . . .

Outfitters and Businesses Products . . . . . . . . .

Sun, Moon and Tide data .

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Patience is key on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS With the dog days of summer slowly sloughing off and cooler temperatures on the horizon, the largemouth bass fishing on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend reservoirs should take off soon. Ask the water is cooling and good fish are being caught now.

Despite a slow summer, the action on Sam Rayburn Reservoir is starting to improve, and anglers have reported bass upwards of 6 pounds being caught.

According to guide Lynn Atkinson, as the water begins to cool going into the fall, the feeding ferocity of the bass should pick up.

“Going into the fall the fish are starting to get a little more active and the baitfish are starting to move up into some of the pockets,” Atkinson said. “The water temperature has dropped about 5 degrees, which makes those bass get a little more active.”

With the cooler water, the feeding of the bass will increase and, according to Atkinson, that is when anglers can throw a large variety of baits.

Atkinson has had success on the traditional topwater baits during low light periods, but added that anything See PATIENCE, Page 25

OLD MEAT? NO PROBLEM: A sanctuary for wild cats will gladly accept freezer-burned venison.

Photo by Lili Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

A place for freezer-burned meat

By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS A hunter checked his freezer as the new season approached, figuring to cook some meat, give some to neighbors or to a charity that feeds the needy.

When he examined the meat, he noticed the dreaded white edges of the meat through the plastic bag.

Freezer burn.

Usually freezer-burned venison finds

its way to the landfill. But there is another use — and that use is feeding wild cats. Yes, lions and tigers.

Michael and Michelle Clark founded Pug Mark Park in McKinney in 1995 after they saved a male lion from being destroyed.

Then the only husband and wife team of big cat trainers in the country, the Clarks work the cats at circuses and made apperances in parks, shows and even commercials. Later they lectured at colleges, See FREEZER-BURN, Page 27

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HUNTING

Group gathers for dove hunt in San Antonio Sportsman Club includes hunters of all ages and professions, even an astronaut

By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS During most opening day outings across Texas, the opportunity to mingle discussions on how to knock down a limit of doves probably would not include stories about walking on the moon.

That opportunity, plus a lot of other tales and tidbits typical of any gathering of hunters, took place at the annual Sportsman Club of San Antonio dove hunt Sept. 1 as about two dozen guys from all walks of life shared an afternoon with retired Brig. Gen., and Apollo 16 Astronaut Charles, Duke.

“I am able to get out dove hunting about two or three times a year.

It is just a lot of fun and I really enjoy it,’’ Duke said before venturing out along a tree-lined pasture for an afternoon of putting his Weatherby 20-gauge semiautomatic to the test against high-flying whitewinged doves.

Although it was far from the rocket science required in April 1972 when he became the young-

est of only a dozen people who have walked on the moon, Duke and his fellow hunters were required to kick their shooting skills into high gear in order to make the hunt a success.

“They are up there pretty high — it takes a lot of lead,’’ said retired Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist Jimmy Dean, who is another member of the Sportsman Club.

Businessmen, a cowboy artist, Dutch oven cooking chefs, journalists and a variety of other professionals with a wide range of backgrounds make up the club that gets together on a regular basic to hunt, fish and share tall tales.

“This is what dove hunting is all about — socializing,’’ said Mike Valerans, who was the host of the opening day shoot.

“Everybody can come out, have something to eat and then try to shoot some birds. We all just have a good time and enjoy the company,’’ he said.

Typical of reports from many areas of the southern section of the Central Zone that opened Sept. 1, the

FUN DAY: The opening day of dove hunting is all about sharing stories, with a little dove hunting tossed in for good measure, for members of the Sportsman Club of San Antonio who participated in an opening day hunt in eastern Bexar County. Photo by Ralph Winingham.

hunting success experienced by club members generally hinged upon the shooting ability of each person as the prediction of good numbers of birds in the area was accurate.

A steady number of white-winged doves and a smattering of mourning doves drifted into the club members’ shooting zone throughout the afternoon, although many of the whitewings were moving fast and passing by at high altitude.

Several of the members managed to knock down a limit before the setting sun put an end to the

day’s hunting, and then the group was back at the camp site to handle cleaning chores and share a few more stories.

“I was able to bring in 10 birds and I lost several in the brush,’’ Duke said. “I had to climb up on top of the tin roof of an old shed out there to get a couple of them.’’

Duke’s story about retrieving birds was followed with the same attention that the club members gave him earlier when he was reflecting on the only time he was really scared during his trip to the moon.

“We started bouncing around on the moon (during one of his walks) and I fell over backwards. I wasn’t hurt, but I was worried about all the plumbing and other equipment in my backpack that weighed as much as I did.

“When I bounced on my back, my heart was really pounding,’’ Duke said, adding that after he was helped back on his feet, mission control sent a not-so-subtle message that “There will be no more of that.”

“I guess I own the high jump record for the moon,” he said. “But it is a dubious honor.”

“Summer red” coats Difference may be genetic or geographical

By Bill Miller FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS A hunter brought a buck to West Texas deer processor who took one glance at the unremarkable spike and said, “You’ve been up on a ranch in Coke County.”

“That’s right,” the hunter said, trying to figure out how the processor knew he’d been hunting near the town of Robert Lee, north of San Angelo.

“The coat,” said the processor. “The soil up in Coke County is reddish. The deer live on that ground and it makes their coats look red.”

This exchange happened in the mid-1990s, but it was in November, long after the deer had shed their “summer red” coats. The hunter never got scientific confirmation that Coke County deer coats were more red than others, even during the fall and winter.

Physical size and other features are heavily influenced by habitat and nutrition, deer biologists say.

But the reasons for various colors of deer, subtle or drastic, are fair game for lively campfire debates.

Consider the big deer hiding out along the Red River in North Central Texas.

Dick Cain, a retired animal science professor at Texas A&M University, operates Trophy Ridge Whitetails, a hunting lodge and deer breeding farm near Saint Jo in Montague County.

He explained that he mixes his Texas breeding stock with the bloodlines of robust deer from northern states. These fawns grow

up to be huskier and their coats are generally darker than deer in other parts of the state.

But those are pen-raised deer, and Cain said he has noticed similar characteristics in free-ranging deer along the Red River. He’s not sure why, but he has a theory based on “a good bit of observations” and possibly some “rural mythology.”

“In the early 1950s some people brought some deer to the Red River area from Kansas,” Cain said.

Ancestors of the husky deer may be the reasons why Red River whitetails “are a good bit larger and they have redder coats than those south of I10,” Cain said.

“It’s not uncommon for us to kill a doe dressed out at over 100 pounds up here,” he noted.

Cain’s theory may have merit, but one could also argue against it, said Randy DeYoung of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute in Kingsville.

“Certainly since deer have been released all over creation during restocking several decades past, many things are possible,” DeYoung said. “I’ve done some work on deer near the Red River in Oklahoma — north of Dallas — and they don’t look much different to me in that region.

“However, on the same latitude in the Texas Panhandle, in some areas deer appear to have a serious winter coat with longer hair.”

But DeYoung, who specializes in deer genetics, also suggested that northern deer may not have survived in their new Texas homes.

“The soil up in Coke County is reddish.

The deer live on that

ground and it makes their coats look red.”

STRANGE CAPE: Some whitetails exhibit a reddish tint and longer hairs on their summertime coats. There are several theories as to reasons why. This buck’s coat is in transition. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

See SUMMER RED, Page 29

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A year later, crossbow hunting “business as usual”

NO COMPLAINTS: Archers with vertical bows or crossbows have been sharing the field since crossbows were allowed during archery season starting last year. Wendy White is happy with the deer she shot with her crossbow.

By David Draper FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS A year after seeing crossbows added as a legal method of take in the early archery season, most Texas hunters have put past differences aside and accepted the oncecontroversial hunting method as just another great way to enjoy the storied tradition of Texas deer hunting. Prior to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopting a rule to allow hunters to use crossbows, there had been two opposing sides to the issue.

Now bowhunters, whether they use vertical bows or crossbows, are sharing the field and the success.

“Since the season opened last year, I haven’t heard anything negative about people using crossbows during the general archery season,” said Wendy White, administrator of the fledgling Texas Crossbow Hunters Club.

“The Internet forums are filled with people talking about how wonderful it is to hunt with a crossbow.”

Major David Sinclair from Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Law Enforcement Division agreed.

“Since the Commission adopted the crossbow resolution, we haven’t recorded any problems or complaints,” said Sinclair. “It’s just business as usual out there.”

See CROSSBOW, Page 7

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Deadly dog disease becoming more common

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Dove hunting opener

Chagas disease caused by parasite in insect

DEADLY DISEASE: Affecting young dogs the most, Chagas disease is caused by a parasite on an insect known as the kissing bug. The disease is fatal to dogs. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON. Bug photo by Judy Bishop Jurek.

By Judy Bishop Jurek FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS “With a heavy heart I write to tell you our sweet puppy, Rowdi, died.”

The e-mail related the sudden demise of Phil and Kay Kelley’s 9-month old gun dogin-training. No signs of illness had been observed beforehand. On their trainer’s advice and their own desire to know, a necropsy was performed. The cause of death was Chagas (SHA-gus) Disease, also called American trypanosomiases (tri-PAN-o-so-MY-ah-sis).

Never heard of it? Neither have many hunt-

ers, pet and kennel owners, trainers and veterinarians. It’s a disease showing up more in Texas every day. Currently there’s no cure or vaccine against it. Chagas Disease is caused by a protozoan parasite carried in the excrement of a reduviid insect known as a kissing bug or an assassin bug.

Common in South and Central America and in Mexico, Chagas has now made its way to all Gulf Coast states as well as Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Texas is no exception. Quite prevalent across South Texas, it’s been found in every coastal county.

Humans and dogs can be carriers. All domestic animals, including cats, and wildlife such as opossums, armadillo, raccoons, squirrels and mice may also transport it. The parasitic organism hides from the immune system in muscles. It particularly affects the heart muscle.

Acute Chagas causes sudden death with little or no symptoms like Rowdi. In a chronic stage it may take years to become known.

Blood tests can confirm Chagas but current drug treatments have severe side effects.

Through the placenta the disease may be passed to offspring. Puppies born with Chagas have poor survival rates.

Tom Craig, a professor at Texas A&M’s School of Veterinary Medicine, is very familiar with this relatively new Lone Star illness.

“Seven species of reduviids pick up the parasite from a carrier with the organism going into the bug’s intestines,” said Craig. “The bug’s bite is painless but it defecates while feeding or shortly afterward.”

If scratched, infected excrement may spread across the bite wound. The parasite can penetrate mucous membrane when rubbing an eye, nostril or inside the mouth after touching the indiscernible feces. For dogs, licking can assist infiltration into the canine’s body.

“Children and puppies put things in their mouth,” Craig related, “They may spit it out but not before biting the bug causes it to expel feces. Most deaths occur in young dogs less than one year old. Age may be a factor.

South America is working hard to find a cure and preventative.”

Attracted to night lights the triggering mechanism for reduviids is carbon dioxide, as in breathing, hence the moniker kissing bug as they’re drawn to the face. Certain times of the year they’re more active. During the day and in dry weather the bugs seek dark, moist places to hide such as beneath old metal or wood or under a dog’s water bowl.

Many dogs sleep outside, penned or not.

Rowdi slept in a portable kennel on the ranch house porch near a night light. The Kelleys have since discovered numerous reduviids around that area. Many of the specimens they sent to A&M tested positive for Chagas.

“We’d never heard of Chagas before and were devastated by Rowdi’s death.

We laughed watching her chase bugs. No more.” said Kay Kelley.

“Our new dog will sleep in the house when at the ranch.”

Currently dog owners should be aware of night lights in close proximity to canine sleeping areas, practice good housekeeping around the premises, and learn about Chagas. Discuss it with your veterinarian and trainer. Hopefully a preventative and cure will be discovered soon.

Teal arriving in force Dove hunters, fishermen notice early arrivers If reports of blue-winged teal showing up are any indication of hunter success, it could be a banner opener for the early 16-day teal season beginning Sept. 11. And heavy rains beginning Sept. 7 will create more shallow water habitat for the birds.

Birds were arriving in mid-August across the state, and Matagorda fishermen reported hundreds in the marsh as early as August 15.

Dove hunter Tom Haddock, hunting near Throckmorton, reported multiple groups of up to 30 birds.

Moss Fennell hunted dove in Comanche County and saw several groups of teal with spoonbills mixed in.

Lone Star Outdoor News contributor Scott

Sommerlatte sent a text message Sept. 5 that a flock of 30 pintail buzzed his head near Seadrift. And he saw several hundred teal in one pond.

“I’ve seen more teal this WADERS NOT REQUIRED: Early teal season in Texas means hunting in comyear than I’ve seen in a long fort. Teal numbers are up significantly this season, and birds have arrived. time on the coast,” he said. Photo by Marina Sams.

The warm-weather loving bird stays on the move, though, and birds in to an estimated 6.7 million birds this year. one spot a week before the season may be in According to Ducks Unlimited, this is the another county or even country as they move third highest estimate for blue-winged teal south, many to Mexico. But more will follow. since 1955. Green-winged teal also increased Surveys have estimated that the blue- 13 percent to 2.9 million birds.

—Staff report winged teal population jumped 14 percent

Dove opener produces smiles, frowns Nick Kohleffel of Boerne was the first to report his full limit on Lone Star Outdoor News’ Facebook page via his PDA after finishing his hunt inside loop 410 south of San Antonio.

Opening day reports were mixed as usual. North of Dallas, hunters in the morning had average hunts. Another Facebooker, Cheryl Long reported on opening day that her husband and four others limited near Lake Lavon, but the afternoon hunt was slower.

“I love hunting,” she posted.

For many other North Texas evening hunters, the birds had just started flying when a big thunderstorm hit, sending hunters to their trucks.

“All we could do was sit and drink beer,” one hunter said.

The Waco area was one of the state’s top destinations this year, and the storm didn’t arrive until well after dark. Whitewing hunters did well north of town. One group hunting there shot plenty of shells at high-flying whitewings, while another group of two south of the city hunting a cut corn field took limits of a mix of whitewings and mourning doves.

Cool fronts pushed birds out of some areas known for their opening day success. In Comanche County, groups of hunters struggled to find the birds and had to work hard for small bags. Breckenridge-area hunters had mourning doves working opening day, but hunting pressure scattered them quickly. Near Carbon, the birds moved out before the opener causing many hunters to look for new areas to hunt the opener.

As usual, limits were taken near Hondo, Uvalde and Sabinal, and San Antonio hunters reported fast shoots.

Areas near Lubbock and north of Abilene also produced limits.

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hermine may bring big changes for hunters in much of Texas, with some areas getting deluged.

North Zone Dove: Dove hunters saw good shoots around the Panhandle over cut corn and milo. A cool front with stiff north winds dispersed birds a bit.

However, it also prompted new birds to migrate to Texas. Lubbock and fields north of Abilene were good for morning shoots of mourning doves. Fields along the Red River enjoyed fair flights of mourning doves near Paris. Conditions have been dry there, so evening tank shoots were best.

Central Zone Dove: Shoots were fast around San Antonio. A few mourners flew early, but the brunt of the flight was whitewings about 30 minutes after sunrise. Cut corn was the ticket near Castroville and Pleasanton. Sabinal, Hondo and Uvalde saw good shoots as well. Afternoon hunters saw a steady flight as well. Fields north of Houston in the Cypress area were fair to good. The Hankamer and Devers area just north of IH-10 saw steady flights. Steady flights of mourners kept shooters in the field through mid-morning and resulted in good hunts south of Austin. Hunters situated around ponds and tanks took good numbers of mourning dove near Marlin and Waco. Sealy hunters saw their best action around treelines and cut rice fields for whitewings.

Brenham hunters enjoyed easy limits of whitewings. Harrison County hunters saw limited flights of mourners. Plowed ground held limits of mourners near Sulphur Springs.

—Staff and TPW report

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Crossbow Continued From Page 5

JOINING THE HUNT: Crossbow hunters enjoyed success in Texas last season. Proponents say using crossbows are a good recruitment tool for youngsters, women and people not able to draw a vertical bow.

For White, a Center Point resident who has been hunting hogs with a crossbow for years and helped found the TCHC earlier this year, allowing people to use crossbows in the archery season helps stop the precipitous decline in hunter numbers.

“Crossbows are a great recruitment tool for youngsters, women, people who are not able to draw a vertical bow,” said White.

“And older hunters who may have stopped hunting for physical reasons can now maintain their quality of life.”

One such hunter who picked up a crossbow for the first time in 2009 is 77-yearold Rolf Meyer of Austin. Meyer bought a Parker Tornado at the Cabela’s in Buda and used it to tag a beautiful, eight-point Blanco County buck.

“The guy at Cabela’s who taught me to shoot the crossbow told me it was beginner’s luck, but that’s not true,” said Meyer. “I hunted for that buck 21 times, getting up at 5 a.m. and hunting in the rain. I didn’t want to, but I did. And I shot a big buck. That’s not beginner’s luck.”

Stories like Rolf Meyers’ make the hard work White went through to help convince the TPWC to include crossbows in the archery season worth it.

For her, the more people who are able to enjoy hunting, the brighter her favorite pastime’s future will be. She’s particularly proud when she hears about multiple generations — grandparents, parents and children — enjoying the Texas outdoors as a family.

“Families can now truly go hunting together, no matter what their ability or how they choose to hunt.”

CROSSBOW EXPERT: Wendy White, founder of the Texas Crossbow Hunters Club, said she heard no negative comments regarding crossbows during the general archery season.

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FISHING

Coastal anglers seeking more shallow water restrictions

By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Shallow water fishing opportunities in many areas along the Texas Gulf Coast could be hampered unless additional controls of motorized watercraft are implemented, members of the Texas Parks and Wildlife were told during San Antonio public hearing.

“This has been the worst fly-fishing year of my experience,’’ said Capt. Randy Best, who has been guiding and fishing on the Texas coast for the past 55 years.

“Many guides have abandoned some areas because of the activity of air boats. We need to start no-motor zones as soon as possible,’’ he added.

Best and other members of Texas Wade Paddle and Pole directed their concerns about the fishing pressure in the shallow water bays during the commission’s annual public hearing held outside of

Austin, which was conducted Aug. 25 at the International Center in downtown San Antonio.

In their well-planned presentation to the commission, members of the TWPP made up the largest group of speakers at the public hearing and did not face any challenges from shallow-water anglers with motorized crafts. However, several times during and after the TWPP members voiced their concerns, TPW Commission officials stressed that they would carefully examine the rights of all members of the shallow water angling community to utilize the resource before considering any changes.

Members of the group stressed that they were not attempting to eliminate fishing in the areas, but would like to see areas designated as “low-impact zones” where anglers would be limited to wading, paddling, poling, drifting or electric trolling.

“Management does not mean closure,’’ Best said.

Dean Thomas, another member of the group, said in addition to disturbing the fishery, there are safety concerns when anglers in motorized watercraft share the same areas with waders or drift fishermen.

“I have personally been involved in near collisions,’’ he said. “The pressure being put on these crystal clear flats is indisputable.’’

Jack Campbell, a Calhoun County fishing guide for more than 50 years, told the commission he has seen a steady and obvious decline in the fishery in shallow coastal waters.

“There is consistent evidence of fish on the flats being nervous and wild — fleeing from motor craft operating at high speeds. I have seen fish running from boats that are a half-mile away,’’ he said.

“We must not abuse the resource, but we must coexist,’’ Campbell said.

Responding to the concerns, Commission Chairman Peter Holt said that efforts would be conducted to study the situation and see how other states have handled shallow water fisheries in their coastal waters.

“We have got to figure out how to make any solution work,’’ he said.

“We are not trying to stop people from utilizing a resource, but we need to find out how we can work together.’’

Carter Smith, executive director of TPW, said that while the commission has the authority to limit motorized boat traffic in designated state scientific areas, creation of a low-impact fishery zone does not fall within the commission’s control at this time.

“One of the things we can do is to heighten law enforcement to resolve any conflicts,’’ he said, adding that increasing public awareness through

education programs will also be part of the department’s efforts.

The state has already created no prop zones in several areas along the coast, such as in Redfish Bay, where motorized craft have been prohibited in order to prevent damage to sea grasses.

Carter said the first step he would recommend would be an expansion of the department’s efforts to bring various fishing groups and organizations together to help identify possible measures that would allow for safer and improved conditions in what are considered some of the best coastal fisheries in the country.

“By getting these groups together, we will help identify potential solutions and come back with recommendations,’’ Smith said. “We also want to continue to make sure that anglers have as many fishing opportunities as possible.’’

Improving crappie bite bringing out anglers across the state

ON HIS GAME: Noah Thompson, 15, of Austin, participated in the Youth Fly Fishing World Championships in Slovakia. Photo by Wendy Thompson.

Flying high Austin youth medals at Youth Fly Fishing World Championships

By Kyle Carter FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS When Randy Thompson took his 2-year-old son, Noah, fishing for the first time, he noticed something odd.

“He had an incredible amount of patience,” Thompson said. “He could stare at the bobber for hours with no movement. I’d say, ‘Buddy, I don’t think they’re biting today,’ and he’d just wave me off.”

A few years later Thompson introduced his son to fly-fishing, and by the time Noah was 9 years old, he was tying his father’s flies.

The Thompsons live outside of Austin, which isn’t exactly a fly-fishing hot spot, but that didn’t keep Noah from becoming obsessed. All the practice in the backyard and on Lake Austin would manifest itself in a few trips a year to the Rocky Mountains where Noah could fish for trout.

“I’d show him a few things, he’d get frustrated because he couldn’t do them right away and he’d ask me to leave,” Thompson said. “Two weeks later he’d be doing it better than me.”

A random encounter with John Wilson, then head coach

FILLING THE BOX: Crappie anglers are happy for cooler water, which should bring better fishing and more fillets for the freezer. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.

of the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing team, started Noah on something of a new path. Once or twice a year, Noah would visit Wilson, a guide on the White River in Arkansas, and work on his technique.

When Noah was 12, he traveled with the U.S. team to the Youth Fly Fishing World Championship in Pennsylvania, but in order to compete, anglers must between 14 and 18 years old. Last year, at age 14, Noah traveled as an alternate to the world championship in the Czech Republic.

But through all this, he still hadn’t actually competed as a fly-fisherman at any level — he had only watched.

“I thought I’d be good at it, but I really didn’t know for sure,” Noah said.

When Noah got word this year, at age 15, that he’d made the five-man team for the world championship in Slovakia, he entered a men’s fly-fishing event and finished in the middle of the pack. It was good experience but still wasn’t a clear indication of his talent in a competition setting.

The three-day youth world championships were in early August this year. Anglers from all over the world were broken up into five groups of 10. Each group fished five, 3-hour sessions on different parts of a stream in Liptovský Mikuláš, with anglers earning points for number of fish caught compared to their group.

Despite being the only youth on the team not from a traditional fly-fishing state, Noah was leading the 50-man field See FLYING HIGH, Page 21

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Cooler water means only one thing to crappie anglers.

It’s time to get on the water.

After a brutal summer that nearly ground most fishing to a halt, cooler weather has anglers preparing for a productive fall.

Anglers in the east on Sam Rayburn Reservoir have begun to report fair numbers of crappie caught.

Guide Steve Covington, said that because of the high temperatures this summer, the crappie fishing has been affected as well. He also said that he has been catching anywhere from 40 to 60 per trip, and expects that number to rise in the coming weeks.

As in most crappie fishing, the depth is crucial and Covington said that he has found success by working clear or chartreuse jigs in deeper depths.

“The main thing is in the 27- to 32-foot depths over brushpiles,” Covington said.

Covington said that with cool fronts moving into the area he has high hopes for the fall.

“Actually the bite will get better especially once we get a couple cold fronts come through,” Covington said. “And we usually do well all the way up until Thanksgiving.”

See CRAPPIE, Page 20

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STAR tournament leaderboard ■ Speckled Trout Lower Coast: 9 pounds, 1 ounce Israel Lara of Falfurrias

Texas Ford Dealers Redfish Division Truck-boat package Boat package ■ Ricky Howard ■ Gerardo ■ Ryan Pletcher Reyna ■ Robert McLaren ■ None ■ Anthony Mihalski ■ None ■ Kenneth Neskora ■ None

■ Speckled trout Mid-Coast: 7 pounds, 15 ounces Logan Howard, 16, of El Campo

■ Sheepshead: 7 pounds, 5 ounces Camryn Kotlarz, 10, of Baytown

■ Sheepshead: 7 pounds, 1 ounce Taylor Shirley, 12, of La Porte

■ Flounder: 7 pounds John T. Gill of Corpus Christi

■ Gafftop: 7 pounds, Hunter Bellanger, 6, of Orange

■ Gafftop: 7 pounds, 2 ounces Marley Graham, 16, of Port Neches

■ Sheepshead: 8 pounds, 7 ounces Chon Marrquin of Baytown

■ Speckled trout Lower Coast: ■ Kingfish: 51 pounds, 4 ounces 7 pounds, 11 ounces William Anderson, 13, of Boerne Kelly Holland of Bay City

■ Dorado: 53 pounds, 1 ounce Time Warner Cable Starteens Scholarship Inshore Division (11-17) Benjamin Scott of Port Aransas Starkids Scholarship Division Ages 6-10 $50,000 Scholarship $20,000 Scholarship ■ Ling (cobia): ■ Flounder: 5 pounds, 7 ounces ■ Flounder: 5 pounds, 12 ounces 80 pounds, 15 ounces Colby Trahan, 15, of Pearland Darrell Ashley of Huffman Davis Towns, 6, of Houston

SNAIL’S PACE: Surf anglers believe a proposal for a 15 mph speed limit on the Padre Island National Seashore is unreasonable. Photo by Chris Sessions.

Surf anglers against proposal

By David Sikes FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Surf anglers are rallying against a proposal to post a 15 mph speed limit on 60 miles of Padre Island National Seashore during the sea turtle nesting period.

Surf fishermen say the rule change is unreasonable and unnecessary, citing a lack of evidence shown by park officials to support the change.

Organized opposition comes mainly from a group called Citizens for Access and Conservation, led by outspoken surf angler and long-casting champion Nick Meyer of Corpus Christi. Park officials say they’ve seen a high level of

public interest on this issue.

“There are only two known cases involving vehicles and turtle deaths on the National Seashore. And those weren’t even the endangered Kemp’s ridley,” Meyer said. ”Where’s the documentation to support this? Where is the science to back up this proposal, to say it’s necessary? This is about restricting access without cause.”

Park officials acknowledge that few turtles, other wildlife species or people were harmed when the speed limit was 25. They suggest the rule change would guard against potential future conflicts between a growing user base and a successful sea tur-

tle program that seeks to reestablish the National Seashore as a secondary nesting site for the rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, whose main nesting beach is in Mexico.

For two summers now, park officials have been enforcing the reduced speed limit from 25 mph to 15 mph between April 15 and July 15, when several species of sea turtles lay their eggs on the National Seashore.

Anglers and others argue that this precaution significantly infringes on the park’s public enjoyment mission and could lead to further public access restrictions as See SURF ANGLERS, Page 21

Academy Sports & Outdoors Starteens Ford / Tilson Home Corp. Leader Board Scholarship Trout Division (Ages 11-17) ■ Speckled trout Upper Coast: 6-pound min., $20,000 scholarship 8 pounds, 8 ounces Mark McCafferty of Pearland ■ Speckled trout Upper Coast: 7 pounds, 1 ounce ■ Speckled trout Mid-Coast: Christian Riordian, 12, 8 pounds, 9 ounces of Pipe Creek Cody Mueck of Brazoria

■ Gafftop: 7 pounds, 9 ounces Harry Chessher of Orange Results are as of Sept. 6.

Proceeds from STAR go to CCA Texas and its conservation programs.

Page 10

September 10, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

TEXAS FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

HOT BITES LARGEMOUTH BASS

BROWNWOOD: Good on Bass Hogg spinnerbaits near the docks, and on Pig Sticker Shaky Heads with Grande Bass 4” watermelon red Trickster Worms near the docks and rocks and over brush piles in 12–15 feet.

CADDO: Good on topwaters early and late, midday switching to Rat–L–Traps, Texas rigs and 5” Mardi Gras Yum Dingers.

FALCON: Good flipping soft plastic worms and crankbaits in 2–8 feet.

LAVON: Good on jigs, Texas-rigged Baby Brush Hogs, spinnerbaits and wacky rigs.

SAM RAYBURN: Good on black/blue flake soft plastic worms.

TAWAKONI: Good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas rigs, short Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits and jigs.

WHITE, HYBRID, STRIPER

ARROWHEAD: White bass are good on Rooster Tails.

BRAUNIG: Striped bass are excellent on liver and shad off points, and down-rigging silver and gold spoons near the jetty and dam.

CEDAR CREEK: White bass are good on topwaters.

GRAPEVINE: White bass are good on Humdingers and live shad.

CATFISH

CHOKE CANYON: Channel and blue catfish are good on punchbait. Yellow catfish are good on live perch.

CONROE: Catfish are good on stinkbait, liver, and shrimp.

MARTIN CREEK: Catfish are good on trotlines and rod & reel with bloodbait and shrimp in 15–20 feet.

SOMERVILLE: Channel and blue catfish are excellent on cut shad.

CRAPPIE MEREDITH: Good on jigs and minnows.

ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 82–88 degrees; 0.2’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to shad pattern spinnerbaits and large blue fleck soft plastic worms worked along timber lines. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good over baited holes.

AMISTAD: Water stained; 89 degrees; 1.28’ high. Black bass are good on topwaters, soft plastics, jigs, and drop shots. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers in 8–20 feet early. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines, juglines, and droplines baited with live perch.

ARROWHEAD: Water clear; 84–87 degrees; 2.09’ low. Black bass are fair on Pop Rs and Ribbits early and late and during the day on crankbaits and spinnerbaits off rocky points. Crappie are good on minnows off the derricks. White bass are good on Rooster Tails. Catfish are fair on juglines and drift fishing with shad or punch bait.

ATHENS: Water fairly clear, 85–89 degrees; 0.64’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers.

BASTROP: Water clear. Black bass are fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp, liver, and nightcrawlers.

CADDO: Water murky; 85–91 degrees; 0.06’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters early and late, midday switching to Rat–L–Traps, Texas rigs and 5” Mardi Gras Yum Dingers. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows and jigs.

Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers.

CALAVERAS: Water clear; 89 degrees.

Black bass are slow. Striped bass are good on spoons and striper jigs near the dam and the crappie wall in 15–20 feet, and on chicken livers and shad along the shoreline. Redfish are excellent on down-rigging silver and gold spoons and live bait along the crappie wall and the dam in 10–20 feet, and on crawfish and tilapia along the shoreline. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on liver, cheesebait, and shad near the railroad trestle and 181 Cove.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 88 degrees; 1.22’ low. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters and watermelon red Whacky Sticks along grassy banks early and late, and on Texas-rigged blue flake worms along break lines and ledges.

Smallmouth bass are fair on smoke JDC grubs and 3/16 oz. pumpkin Curb’s jigs with matching JDC craw trailers in 12–28 feet early. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are good on live bait.

BELTON: Water clear; 89 degrees; 3.55’ low. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits in coves near structure. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on hot dogs.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 86–90 degrees; 1.27’ low. Black bass are good on Ribbits early, later switching to Texas rigs, spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs. White bass are good on topwaters.

Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

BOB SANDLIN: Water off-color; 85–91 degrees; 1.87’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas-rigged Baby Brush Hogs, Bandit 200 crankbaits and wacky rigs. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and minnows over brush piles and around bridge columns.

White bass are good on live shad, topwaters and Rooster Tails.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 92 degrees; 4.35’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and large soft plastics early and late, and on crankbaits and Carolina-rigged soft plastics in the grass.

White bass are slow. Crappie are slow.

Drum are fair on nightcrawlers. Channel and blue catfish are good on punchbait.

Yellow catfish are good on live perch.

BRAUNIG: Water clear; 89 degrees.

Striped bass are excellent on liver and shad off points near the pier, and downrigging silver and gold spoons near the jetty and dam. Redfish are fair on perch, shad, and silver spoons, and down-rigging spoons near the jetty and dam.

Channel catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cut bait, and cheesebait.

COLEMAN: Water fairly clear; 88 degrees; 9.04’ low. Black bass are fair on watermelon red and watermelon gold spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Hybrid striper are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and liver. Yellow catfish are slow.

BRIDGEPORT: Water fairly clear; 86–90 degrees; 1.2’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Pop–R’s, spinnerbaits, small pearl/chartreuse crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Catfish are good on stinkbait. Bream are fair on crickets and red wigglers. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and live shad.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 90 degrees; 7.69’ low. Black bass are good on Bass Hogg spinnerbaits near the docks, and on Pig Sticker Shaky Heads with Grande Bass 4” watermelon red Trickster Worms near the docks and rocks and over brush piles in 12–15 feet. Hybrid striper are fair trolling and drifting shad. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies and Persuader crankbaits off lighted docks at night. Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies and minnows over brush piles in 10–18 feet. Channel catfish are fair on trotlines baited with cut bait and chicken livers in 12–20 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with cut bait and chicken livers.

BUCHANAN: Water clear; 90 degrees; 9.90’ low. Striped bass are fair on Spoiler Shads plastic swim baits on the surface at first light, and drifting or free lining live bait from Lighthouse Point to the dam.

White bass are slow and small trolling Shad Raps and jigging 2” plastic swim baits through shad schools along the river channel. Crappie are fair on pink/ white and chartreuse Curb’s crappie jigs and live minnows. Channel catfish are good on liver, minnows, and dipbait.

Yellow and blue catfish are very good on rod/reel, juglines and trotlines baited with goldfish and perch upriver.

COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 88 degrees (98 degrees at discharge); 1.10’ low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

CONROE: Water fairly clear; 1.00’ low.

Black bass are good on watermelon/ white Carolina-rigged soft plastics and Rat–L–Traps. Striped bass are fair on silver striper jigs and minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on stinkbait, liver, and shrimp.

FALCON: Water murky; 93 degrees.

Black bass are good flipping soft plastic worms and crankbaits in 2–8 feet.

Striped bass are slow. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

FAYETTE: Water fairly clear; 94 degrees.

Black bass are fair on shad colored swim baits, Zara Spooks, and Carolina-rigged soft plastics in 14–18 feet. Channel and blue catfish are fair on juglines baited with cut shad.

FORK: Water fairly clear; 85–90 degrees; 1.45’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters early and late, strolled DD22s over flats, flutter spoons and Carolina rigs — night fishing continues to be very productive. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows around the bridges and over brush piles. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 85–90 degrees; 1.5’ low. Black bass are fair to good on DD22s along the dam and deeper rock piles, jigs, Texas rigs and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on Humdingers and live shad. Catfish

are fair on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 93 degrees; 0.34’ low. Black bass to 9 pounds are very good on soft plastic worms and topwaters around deep water timber. Crappie are slow. Bream are good on live worms off piers and over grass beds. Channel and blue catfish to 3 pounds are good on trotlines baited with perch.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 84–88 degrees; 8.82’ low. Black bass are fair on shad pattern spinnerbaits fished along grass lines and watermelon seed soft plastics worked along reeds. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass and hybrid striper are good on live bait.

Catfish are good on live and cut bait.

JOE POOL: Water off-color; 86–91 degrees; 0.64’ low. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters early, later switching to jigs, Texas rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. White bass are good on Humdingers. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait and cut shad.

LAVON: Water stained; 86–90 degrees; 4.76’ low. Black bass are good on jigs, Texas-rigged Baby Brush Hogs, spinnerbaits and wacky rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers, cut shad and prepared bait.

LBJ: Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.45’ low. Black bass are fair to good on black/blue Curb’s Erratic jigs, blue flake Whacky Sticks, and Texas-rigged Big Pigs around docks and lay downs in 5–12 feet early. Striped bass to 2 pounds are good at night. White bass are fair to good at night. Crappie are fair to good on Curb’s crappie jigs and live minnows over brush piles in clear water. Channel catfish are very good on nightcrawlers, liver, and dipbait. Yellow and blue catfish are very good on trotlines baited with goldfish and perch.

LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 85–92 degrees; 2.37’ low. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs over brush piles and around bridge columns. White bass are good. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and large Rooster Tails. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 89 degrees; 0.46’ low. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits. Striped bass are good but small on Rat–L–Traps and Zara spooks.

White bass are good on troll tubes, pet spoons, and green Charlie slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

MARTIN CREEK: Water fairly clear; 2.52’ low. Black bass are fair on soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs over brush piles.

Catfish are good on trotlines and rod & reel with bloodbait and shrimp in 15–20 feet. Bream are slow on nightcrawlers and crickets.

MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 82–86 degrees; 85.89’ low. Black bass are good on live bait, topwaters, shad–colored crankbaits, and black/chartreuse jigs or Texas–rigged soft plastics along grass lines and rocky points. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on live bait and shad–colored crankbaits. Smallmouth bass are good on live bait and chrome jerkbaits along rocky points. Walleye are good on live bait and bottom bouncers. Channel catfish are good on live bait.

O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 83–88 degrees; 24.23’ low. Black bass are fair on topwaters early and late in the day, midday switching to pearl/chartreuse crankbaits, jerkbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on Road Runners. Channel catfish are good on live and cut bait.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 85–90 degrees; 0.95’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, crankbaits and Carolina-rigged Baby Fork Creatures.

Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Hybrid striper and white bass are fair to good on live shad, topwaters and Humdingers.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 83–87 degrees; 1.14’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, medium-running crankbaits and Caroline rigs. Crappie are slow on small jigs worked along deep wood structure in the mid–lake area. White bass are good on small silver crankbaits in the north lake area early or at night. Catfish are good on cut bait, worms and liver along the river channel and under docks in the Rock Creek area.

RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 86–91 degrees; 3.82’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Carolina rigs, medium-diving crankbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles, around the bridges and in the marina slips with brush. White bass are good on topwaters and Rooster Tails.

Hybrid striper are fair on swimbaits.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 86–91 degrees; 1.53’ low. Black bass are fair on chrome/blue 1/4 oz. Rat–L–Traps and watermelon/gold flukes around grass.

Crappie are good on jigs and minnows around standing timber in 15–20 feet.

White bass are excellent — schooling early and late. Catfish are good over baited holes.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 85–90 degrees; 1.3’ low. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas rigs, medium- to deep-diving crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

White bass are good on Little Georges.

Hybrid striper are fair to good on Sassy Shad and live shad. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles.

Catfish are fair on prepared bait.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 90 degrees; 5.87’ low. Black bass are good on black/blue flake soft plastic worms.

White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows over baited holes. Bream are fair on nightcrawlers. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait and cut bait.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 92 degrees; 0.80’ low. Black bass are good but small on crappie jigs. Hybrid striper are slow.

White bass are slow. Crappie are slow.

Perch are excellent on worms. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on cut shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 85–90 degrees; 1.92’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas rigs, short Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on Humdingers and minnows. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair on live shad and Storm WildEyes. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

TEXOMA: Water off-color; 84–89 degrees; 0.94’ low. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters early and late, midday switching to DD22s, Carolina rigs and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles and around bridge columns. Striped bass are good on live shad, Swimming Pogys and topwaters.

Catfish are good on cut and live shad.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 89 degrees; 4.63’ low. Black bass are good on black/blue flake and black/red flake Gene Larew craw worms early and late.

Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows over baited holes. Bream are good on crickets and nightcrawlers off docks in 4–5 feet.

Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait, livers, and hearts. Yellow catfish are slow.

SALTWATER SCENE NORTH SABINE: Trout are good under slicks and birds on soft plastics. Redfish are good under rafts of shad on topwaters. Redfish are good in the marsh on small topwaters.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are good at the jetty on live bait and topwaters. Offshore is good for kingfish and ling.

BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the outgoing tide at Rollover Pass on soft plastics and mullet.

Redfish have been taken in the marsh with higher tides. Trout are good on the shorelines on Super Spooks and She Dogs.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Trout and redfish have been caught under birds on the upper end of the bay. Trout are good under slicks.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good on the south shoreline on topwaters and soft plastics. Trout are fair to good on the shell adjacent to the channel on live bait.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Trout and redfish are good in the surf on live bait and topwaters. Tarpon have been caught along the beachfront.

TEXAS CITY: Trout are fair to good on the reefs and in the channel on live shrimp and croakers. Redfish and sand trout are fair to good in Moses Lake on shrimp.

FREEPORT: Trout, redfish, sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs in Christmas Bay. The jetties have held a variety of catches on live bait. Offshore is good for Atlantic spadefish, kingfish and ling.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over mid–bay reefs.

Waders have taken good catches on reefs on topwaters and plastics. Trout and redfish are good over mud on live mullet.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair over sand and grass humps on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish and black drum are fair to good at Shell Island and Twin Island on live shrimp. Offshore is good for ling and tuna.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair to good on topwaters and live bait over sand, grass and shell in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp and small topwaters.

ROCKPORT: Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp and Gulps. Redfish are good on piggy perch and shrimp around Mud Island and Estes Flats.

Trout are good over shell in St. Charles Bay. PORT ARANSAS: Trout, redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers. Offshore is good for dolphin, ling, kingfish and tuna.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on piggy perch, Gulps and live shrimp. Redfish are good in the potholes on shrimp and piggies.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on topwaters and soft plastics around deep rocks and grass. Redfish are fair to good for sight–casters on the flats on small topwaters. Trout are fair to good on soft plastics under a popping cork on the grass in the Land Cut.

TRAVIS: Water fairly clear; 92 degrees; 13.65’ low. Black bass to 3 pounds are fair on bone chuggers and watermelon worms in 15–28 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on smoke grubs and jigging spoons in 28–40 feet. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish to 8 pounds are good on nightcrawlers and cut perch in 32–45 feet. Yellow catfish are slow.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on topwaters on the edge of the channel and around sand and grass along spoils. Redfish are good in skinny water on the sand on small Super Spooks and SkitterWalks.

WHITNEY: Water murky; 2.54’ low.

Black bass are fair on watermelon red and watermelon/gold, spinnerbaits, and deep-running crankbaits near drop-offs.

Catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

PORT ISABEL: Trout are good at Three Islands on DOA Shrimp and topwaters.

Redfish are good on the Gas Well Flats on shrimp and mullet. Trout are fair to good along the edges of the channel on live bait.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout are good along the ICW and South Bar on shrimp and plastics under a popping cork. Snook are fair in South Bay and around the jetties on DOA Lures and live shrimp. Mangrove snapper are good at the jetties.

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

RED JIG: Anglers can work jigs in varying water depths near Port Mansfield. Photo by Alan Clemons.

Jigging for reds at Port Mansfield Depth changes and bait key to success

By Alan Clemons FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Just a flicker or small push is sometimes all you need to find a likely spot to cast in the Lower Laguna Madre flats.

Bait flitting about can be a tell-tale giveaway to better things, including trout or redfish lurking below. Whether you’re in knee-deep water, stalking on grass-covered flats or out deeper casting to the edge of grasslines, bait quite often is the key to success.

And, too, if you’re offshore looking for bigger fish then typically you’re first looking for bait. Diving birds, bursting pods and slicks shimmering on the surface provide good starting points to drift for redfish, trout and other species.

“We don’t have the deepwater structure or rockpiles inside the island,” said Bruce Shuler, owner of Get-A-Way Adventures Lodge in Port Mansfield. “Deep is relative to everyone, you know, but here we might be talking about inches instead of feet in some areas. Even the subtle changes can make a difference with bait and fish.”

During visits to the area when wading for trout and reds, seasoned anglers target areas ranging from shin-deep with grass to deeper places where rogue, wind-driven waves crash on their shoulders. The latter isn’t much fun.

No matter where, finding or trying to find bait is the key. And there are two easy ways to do it: Using your eyes and ears, or using binoculars, or taking the time to stop, look and listen.

Swimming a jig can work on the saltwater wades as well. My father makes bass fishing jigs (www.tightlinejigs.com). Figuring a redfish might eat a crab imitation, Pops whipped up some “rusty crawfish” skirts on 1/4- and 3/8-ounce Woodthumper heads for me. I combined that with a NetBait Baby Paca Craw in Potomac Blue color and swam it on top or just under the surface.

Crab, or crayfish, colors typically work just about anywhere, and it’s wise to carry a white or shad (white/black) jig that can be matched with a minnow or swimbait body.

The puffy profile of the jig skirt works great

with the baby swimbait or minnow body – think cocahoe, Yum Houdini Shad or Original Texas Trout Killer.

Some other favorites are the Heddon Spook Jr. or Lucky Craft Sammy 85 or 100 and the larger Bomber Badonk-A-Donk, along with jigheads with soft plastics, including the Yum Houdini Shad and Strike King Caffeine Shad, cocahoes, Berkley Chigger Craws and other minnow or crab-creature imitations.

Occasionally, a shallow-running crankbait, wake bait or jerkbait might get the nod.

Because the Lower Laguna Madre is so shallow, Shuler said some years the bait may be thick and in others it may seem like the bottom fell out of the population. Mother Nature has a way of taking care of herself.

“We’re really a very volatile system down here,” he said. “The North Cut is 70 miles above us and Brownsville Cut is 55 miles to the south. We have no freshwater runoff tributaries, a highly evaporative and dry desert climate along with constant wind and high temperatures. We count on freshwater rainfall, and if we go a year or two with no rain then things are affected.”

And everything is susceptible to cold weather, too.

“There’s about 550 square miles in the Laguna Madre and probably an average depth of about two feet,” Shuler said. “If we get a day or two of really cold weather, or freezing conditions like we have on occasion, that can affect the populations for a couple of years.”

That’s where the eel grass and subtle depth changes can help. Baitfish, reds and trout utilize whatever they can to survive including the edges of deeper grasslines. Remember, that may be only a few feet.

“Three inches can hold baitfish,” Shuler said. “You have turtle and eel grass of different heights. After May, the majority of fish have moved to deeper cover and structure. That’s the edge of the grass, maybe 3-4 feet and every point or cut will hold fish at some time of the day. They’ll be more active in the morning and evening when the bait is active, and then moving along the edges during the day.”

September 10, 2010

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September 10, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER DEER POACHER FORGOT TO CHANGE SHOES A call reporting shots were fired from the road and giving a vehicle description was received by Red River County Game Wardens Daniel Roraback and Benny Richards. The wardens went to the general area and located blood, drag marks, tire tracks, and footprints.

The driver’s vehicle was located at one house; they found the rifle at another location; and the deer, burning in a pit, was found behind a house. After locating the driver, the wardens soon realized he failed to change shoes, which were an identical match to the print found at the initial scene. When shown a picture of his footprint at the scene, a full confession was obtained.

Cases and civil restitution pending for both subjects.

GAME WARDEN OFFICE BURGLARIZED The Hill County Sheriff’s lake substation was burglarized and Game Warden Mark Hammonds was called to assist. All offices had been entered and were missing items. The burglar entered through the game warden office window after bashing in the window with a wood post. In total, around $2,500 worth of items were taken from different offices, most notable being three department pistols. Bosque County Game Warden Preston Spiller assisted Hammonds.

In the investigation, the wardens searched the area and recovered all of the stolen items hidden a block away from the crime scene. Later the same day, a person called with a tip advising the burglary suspect’s identity. Later that same evening, the suspect was located at a nearby vacant home. He later confessed to the burglary. Case pending.

SPOTLIGHTERS FLEE THE SCENE Game Warden Daniel Roraback was tracking down a spotlighter he had seen earlier that night. Around

WARDENS RESCUE MAN FROM AGUA DULCE CREEK The banks of the Agua Dulce Creek near Orange Grove were the scene of a life-saving rescue by Texas Game Wardens Stormy King and David Nieto on April 16.

Torrential rains had caused creeks all around the Orange Grove area to swell out of their banks and that’s when the Jim Wells County Sheriff’s dispatcher got the call that a pickup with two men in it had been washed off CR239 near the Agua Dulce Creek bridge on CR308. The dispatcher paged the Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Department and at that time Engine 302 along with Rescue 310 was sent to the scene.

Upon arrival one man was pulled

to the bank while another let go of a line just feet short of rescue and firefighters said he was pulled under by the current of the swollen creek and was no longer visible.

King and Nieto had been listening to the radio and already had their boat hooked up and were making their way through high water on roads toward the scene when they got the call for assistance. Upon arrival, the wardens launched their boat and quickly began to search for the missing man. After navigating through the rolling creek, barbedwire fences, heavy brush and much other debris, the two game wardens

located the man clinging to a tree, completely exhausted, hypothermic and pretty well banged up. King navigated the boat upstream while Nieto grabbed the man and pulled him into their boat. (They found out later the man could not swim). The wardens quickly got the man back to shore and to waiting EMS personnel, who transported the man to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries from which he has made a full recovery.

The wardens were honored for their life-saving efforts with plaques from the City of Orange Grove and Jim Wells County.

1 a.m., a vehicle was traveling slowly down a dead-end road in that same area. He turned on his emergency lights, but the vehicle did not stop until it reached a deer camp a half mile away. The subjects tried to flee into the cabin but were stopped by the warden. While dealing with these individuals, another vehicle in camp fled the scene and was pursued by wardens and local law enforcement.

The driver of the vehicle was later identified and Roraback surprised him at his residence two days later.

Cases pending.

TWO MEN CAUGHT SPEARING GAME FISH Williamson County Game Warden Joel Campos went to monitor the San Gabriel River off Hwy. 183 due to a previous call that people were spearing game fish. Campos conducted surveillance on two men who were spearing fish. The men were cooperative and four homemade spears were confiscated. Citations were issued.

the pier and marked the poaching groups and relayed locations to the uniformed wardens. By doing this, the wardens were able to more quickly locate violators before they could fade away. The wardens issued 33 citations and seized 137 undersized trout. The operation began at 1 a.m. and ended at 6 a.m.

ILLEGAL FISHING AT LAKE SOMERVILLE SPILLWAY Burleson County Game Warden Sophia Hiatt was returning from working a drowning on the Brazos River when she received a call concerning possible illegal fishing at the Lake Somerville spillway. Numerous citations were issued to four individuals for grabbing fish, taking game fish with a net and possession of undersized game fish.

WARDENS APPREHEND PEOPLE FOR KEEPING UNDERSIZED TROUT Cameron County Game Warden Dan Waddell checked the fishing pier in Port Isabel. He seized 59 spotted seatrout and wrote several citations. Many of the fish had been discarded in trash cans, on stringers and several were found in an abandoned ice chest. A few days later, Game Wardens Libby Balusek, Billy Lucio, Jarret Barker and Dave Lewis put together a patrol to apprehend people keeping undersized trout in Port Isabel. One warden observed

STUMBLING OVER EMPTY BEER CANS LEADS TO BWI While patrolling the waning hours of the annual Eagle Mountain Lake Raft-Up on Saturday night, Tarrant County Game Wardens John Padgett and David Vannoy stopped a vessel for not having an all-around stern light. As the flashing blue light and spotlight illuminated the vessel, the operator tried the driver switch with another occupant, but it was too late. The original operator was asked to produce all of the required safety equipment. As the subject stumbled over numerous empty beer cans, his slurred speech, confusion, and strong odor of alcohol gave the war-

dens enough suspicion to ask the subject to come aboard their patrol boat for evaluation. The subject became aggressive and vulgar once aboard the warden’s boat. The subject refused all afloat tests, SFSTs, and breath sampling. He was booked into the Tarrant County Jail for boating while intoxicated. Case pending.

DRUGS, 60 CANS OF BEER FOUND IN TRUCK Montague County Game Warden Jason Jones was on a possible spotlight call and observed a slowmoving vehicle down another county road. Jones watched the truck from a distance and noticed the truck was stopped for a long period of time in the middle of the road. When Jones pulled up behind the truck, it began to leave. When Jones stopped and approached the truck, he noticed several beer cans in the back and a strong odor of alcohol and marijuana.

Jones found 60 cans of beer, a bag of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. Three of the four subjects were booked into Montague County jail. Several charges pending.

RELEASED ALLIGATOR IN APARTMENT POND, PHOTOS POSTED Houston police notified Game Warden Kevin Malonson of a complaint regarding a person who had unlawfully taken an alligator from the Livingston area and transported it to West Houston. Then the alligator was released in an apartment complex retention pond. The information was discovered on Facebook where the suspect had posed for a picture with the alligator. Also in the picture was a vessel with its registration number visible. On his blog section, the suspect entertained questions about the offense and stated his reason for this action, “...Lol. yeah.

I’m just waiting for the ducks and neighbors dogs to start disapearing...” The subject confessed and revealed the identity of an accomplice. Cases pending.

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NATIONAL Idaho helicopter crash kills three Two Idaho Fish and Game biologists and a helicopter pilot were killed in a crash on Aug. 31.

The rented helicopter was on a trip to count salmon spawning nests in the Selway River, according to the department.

Local authorities are investigating the crash.

—Idaho Fish and Game report

Americans excel at muzzle-loading championships American women led the United States International Muzzle-Loading Team to victory at the twentyfourth World Muzzle-Loading Championships.

Top honors went to Betty Peloquin, of Inverness, Fla., who won the original division of the “Walkyrie” ladies’ 100-meter prone rifle match. Shooting a percussion target rifle made more than 150 years ago, her score of 95 gave Peloquin a 3-point lead over the silver medalist.

A silver medal was won by Shannon Boyce, of Norfolk, N.Y., in the replica division of the “Whitworth” prone percussion rifle event.

Tim Thorne, of Bealsville, Md., conned his nearly 200-year-old flintlock rifle to a Bronze medal in the original division of the “Pennsylvania” 50 meter offhand flintlock rifle match. And a team of Thorne, Allen Godshalk, Frank Meyer, Larry Brockmiller, and Tom Warabak took 3rd in the “Grand Prix de Versailles” combined smoothbore and rifled musket aggregate.

The championships, held in midAugust in Fervenca, Portugal, had 383 competitors representing 24 countries vying for top honors with original and replica black powder firearms.

—U.S. Muzzle-loading Team report

retailers from within the shooting industry, votes to honor outstanding achievements in product design and service to the industry.

—Sturm, Ruger report

Taylor receives Ark. Garmin recalls GPS top communicator award devices Garmin is recalling 1.25 million of its GPS units because their batteries could overheat and cause fires.

Only GPS Units with model numbers 200W, 250W, 260W, 7xx and 7xxT, may be affected. Although there have been no injuries or significant property damage caused by this issue, in its statement Garmin wrote it is taking the action out of an abundance of caution. For owners of recalled units, Garmin will replace the battery and insert a spacer on top of it for free.

Owners are cautioned not to attempt to remove the batteries on their own.

—Garmin report

Ruger named 2010 “Manufacturer of the Year” Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. was named “Manufacturer of the Year” for 2010 by the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence.

MIKE FIFER: CEO, The award was Sturm, Ruger & presented during the CO., Inc. 8th Annual Shooting Industry Masters in Grand Island, Neb. The academy, a 500-member group consisting of manufacturers, editors, writers, distributors and

Lawrence Taylor, public relations director for PRADCO Fishing in Fort Smith, Ark., was named Arkansas Conservation Communicator of the Year for 2010 by the Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AWF) at the 73 Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet held on August 28.

Taylor is the outdoors columnist for Entertainment Fort Smith magazine, providing news and local outdoor opportunities to thousands of readers each month. He also writes for a number of national publications and Web sites, as well as his company Web site with readers around the world. As public relations director, Taylor supports numerous events throughout the state with product donations and volunteer time, especially when kids are involved.

—Arkansas Conservation Commission report

Record number of hunters registered for Duluth hunt A record total of 339 hunters registered for Duluth, Minn.’s sixth annual bowhunt for deer. The hunt begins Sept. 18, concurrently with the state’s regular archery deer season, and continues through Dec. 31.

Last year, 316 hunters took part in the hunt, and in 2007 a total of 315 hunters participated.

The hunt will be conducted as in years past, with hunters assigned to 20 designated hunting units across town, mostly on public land. Some will hunt on private land with permission from landowners.

As in past years, hunters must take at least one antlerless deer before shooting a buck. Each hunter may take up to five deer.

Last fall, hunters took a record 586 deer, 84 percent of them antlerless.

The hunt is conducted for the city of Duluth by the Arrowhead Bowhunters Alliance. Each hunter must pay a $20 registration to the city, pass a shooting proficiency test, take a hunter education course and sign an ethics pledge.

—Arrowhead Bowhunters Alliance report

rate 15-acre field.

—U.S. Fish and Wildlife report

Reward offered in bighorn sheep poaching case Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking for the public’s assistance in finding the person or persons responsible for the illegal killing of a bighorn sheep lamb along Highway 88 (also known as the Apache Trail), northeast of Apache Junction, on Tuesday, August 24.

Upon investigation biologists discovered the animal had not been hit by a car, but had been illegally shot.

Investigating officers found firearm casings at the scene and determined the bighorn sheep lamb had been shot by someone standing on the road.

—Arizona Game and Fish report

Inmates lend a hand Report violators by for conservation text in Washington Inmates at the Saginaw Correctional Facility in Michigan are helping Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge conserve wildlife habitat by growing native prairie grass and wildflowers from seed.

Prison inmates prepare and sow seeds collected from the refuge and tend plants once they’ve germinated. When the plants are mature, they are trucked to the refuge for transplanting on former cropland.

This year — the program’s third — refuge staff planted more than 10,000 seedlings of 17 lakeplain wet prairie species in one 44-acre field. Another 30,000 prison-grown plant plugs were planted in a sepa-

The text message has joined the methods of reporting fish and wildlife violations to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The department has added a new text-messaging option for reporting activity that threatens fish, wildlife and critical habitat. Tip411 allows users to send a text message to WDFW’s communications dispatch center.

The text-reporting system removes the texter’s name and replaces it with an alias before the message arrives at WDFW’s communications center. When necessary, the system allows the reporting party and the on-duty fish and wildlife officer to exchange text messages in real time.

—Washington Fish and Wildlife report

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>>

RUGGED UPLAND DOG VEST Ugly Dog Hunting Co.’s blaze orange vest comes in five sizes for a snug fit. It fastens with a wide underbelly double-Velcro attachment. The quiet soft cotton vest provides protection against thorns and barbed wire. It has a reflective neck band strip for increased visibility and is machine-washable. It sells for $36.

(877) 982-7054

>> ALL PRO CHAIR BLIND Ameristep’s durable camouflaged hunting blind is ultra compact, lightweight and waterresistant. Its design provides concealment and comfort. The blind, with attaching chair, has a large front zippered window for unobstructed shooting and maximum visibility. Use the quick-disconnect feature to use the chair separately. The Chair Blind measures 23 inches by 19 inches by 35 inches high. It comes with an integrated backpack system for easy carrying and sells for about $130.

(810) 686-4035

>>

>>

GRAB ‘N GO BOW CASE Plano Molding Co.’s soft bow case is made from rugged 600D nylon and reinforced mstitching throughout for strength and durability. It can be used as a standalone case (about $40) Or, with its reinforced PillarLock openings, it will fit snugly within its matched Plano hard cases. The soft case also has corresponding slots that match up to the tie-downs on the inside of the hard cases for secure placement.

(800) 226-9868 www.PlanoMolding.com

GAME SPY I-35 INFRARED CAMERA Moultrie’s newest game camera has an optional Pay As You Go cellular accessory. The camera, (about $140), is compatible with the company’s Game Management System. This 4-megapixel camera has such features as 50-foot flash, a rapid response time, day and night video, plus a temperature, moon phase, and time imprint. It will accept up to a 16GB SD memory card. The GPS Game Spy Connect cellular accessory (about $150) is now available in a “Pay As You Go” $39.99 monthly option that includes all the features of its subscription counterpart without having to lock into a contract. The Game Spy Connect transmits images to a Web site so that hunters can access photos and videos from virtually anywhere.

(800) 653-3334 www.moultriefeeders.com TIMBER TIGERS These gamefish crankbaits by Worden’s Lures promise maximum vibration and superior snag-resistance. The Timber Tigers, which can dive from 1 to 16 feet or more, feature a body and diving lip designed to glide through grass, weeds and stumps with minimum snagging. The crankbaits are available in eight sizes and eight colors, including two new hues: Sexy Shad and Chartreuse Shad. They cost about $6.

(509) 854-1311 www.yakimabait.com

>>

HUNT PAC 1200 G BOOTS These lightweight, streamlined hunting boots by LaCrosse Footwear are ideal for late season cold-weather hunts. They offer 100 percent waterproof protection, a Bear Trap outsole for supreme traction in snow, and a 1200 G Thinsulate Ultra Insulation for warmth in cold weather.

A reinforced heel and toecap provide extra durability and protection, while the padded collar ensures comfort. Available in camo and black, the boots sell for about $130.

(800) 323-2668 www.lacrossefootwear.com

>>

>>

PRODUCTS

E-Z CAST REEL Shakespeare’s low profile baitcast reel incorporates an Anti-Backlash System that helps prevents backlash, allowing novice anglers to send baits flying without reel mishap. The reel will automatically throttle down the revolutions of the spool when line speed and spool speed are not lining up. Anglers can also opt to turn off this teaching tool function. The reel, which sells for about $40, also is available in a pink Ladyfish version that will help support the American Breast Cancer Foundation. The reels are filled with 100 yards of Stren 10-pound test monofilament line. Also offered are a reel-and-rod combo priced at about $50, which features a twopiece 6-foot medium action rod with hook keeper, stainless steel guides, and EVA grips.

(803) 754-7000 www.shakespeare-fishing.com

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Last hunt Continued From Page 1

MAKING DAD PROUD: Matthew Aris shows his father a harvested dove on their last hunting trip before Col. Chuck Aris deploys to Iraq. Photo by Craig Nyhus

Basra in southern Iraq, where he will be the Operations Officer for the division of 8,000 soldiers, all from Fort Hood.

“Basra is near the port where the majority of the country’s oil reserves are,” Aris said. “We’ll be advising and assisting the Iraqi army units and handing off all army responsibilities to the state department and the government of Iraq.”

But this day in the field was about having fun together. Matthew, a 6th grader honor student at Red Oak Intermediate, isn’t getting used to his father being gone.

“We will get to talk every week or so,” Matthew said. “And a few times a month we can talk and see each other on the computer with Skype.”

And the hunting season won’t be a total loss for Matthew.

“I have some great friends who will get him out deer hunting a few times,” Col. Aris said.

“And I might get to go duck hunting,” Matthew said. “I’ve never done that.”

The war may be over for the U.S., but for Al Qaeda in Iraq, it’s still going on. Col. Aris is looking forward to the challenge of heading up such a large operation, but he’s also aware of the risks involved.

“We want to do it right,” he said. “I would hate to see an order we implemented result in a soldier being injured or killed — that would be hard.”

The doves weren’t very cooperative as the father-son pair only managed a few birds each.

But they didn’t seem to care — on this day it was spending time together that mattered.

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HEROES

JACOB PRIMEAOX, 14, made a great shot with a .308 on this 9-point buck with a broken tine.

DANIEL CRAIG of Rockport landed this 45-pound black drum.

JEFF SMITH caught his personal best speckled trout on Sabine Lake. The fish was 28 inches long and weighed 8 pounds.

JARRETT HUBER, 9, of Lufkin shot his first buck, a 10pointer, at the family ranch in Zavala County.

Share an adventure Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers?

Send them to us with contact and caption information. editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, PO Box 551695 Dallas, TX 75355

GUADALUPE F. CUELLAR, JR. caught a 24-pound, 2-ounce blue catfish and a 8-pound, 4-ounce channel catfish at Calaveras Lake.

KANNAN REYNOLDS, 12, of Marshall, harvested the 8-point buck in Throckmorton County at 120 yards on Dec. 26, 2009 with her .243.

Congratulations, Catie! You can claim your Nikon 10x42 Trailblazer ATB binoculars at the Nikon Sport Optics dealer nearest you: Euless Guns & Ammo 1200 West Euless Boulevard Euless, TX 76040-4915 (817) 267-6947 1, 2009.

43 rifle on Nov. one with her .2 st ee Fr in ck is bu 9, harvested th Catie Salazar,

KAYLA GARCIA caught this largemouth at Choke Canyon while fishing with sister, Maeghan.

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September 10, 2010

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Crappie Continued From Page 8

Cold fronts are also on the mind of guide Weldon Kirk at Lake Somerville.

Kirk said that the fishing on his lake had been average this summer, but with the lake dropping several degrees recently he expects the fishing to pick up.

“The water has cooled down from about 90 to about 83 degrees in the last 10 days,” Kirk said. “So I anticipate as the water cools another 4 to 5 degrees the bite will get even better.”

Kirk said that on Somerville Lake he has found success using chartreuse jigs, and by using minnows off of jigs.

His average has been around 30 fish per trip, but he foresees that number increasing, when the next cold front comes through. He also said that locating fish will also become easier as the crappie move from the deeper portions of the lake (20-30 feet), to brushpiles in the 10- to 12-foot range.

Similar reports are out of Lake Conroe, with water temperatures nearing optimum levels for the fish to move into shallow water.

Anglers reported diminished catches due to water temperatures close to 90 degrees the past few weeks. Also wind has affected anNICE SLAB: Jigs and minnows are producing nice crappie as the fish glers trying to fish brushpiles, howare beginning to move into more shallow water. Photo by LSON. ever success has been found by working minnows. just to see if they are holding fish,” Parker said.

Navarro Mills Lake and Richland ChamOf his new spots he reported catching fish in bers are expected to be high producers this the 6- to 10-foot range, with fish biting on minfall and catches are starting to increase. nows. Parker also fished Aguilla and Navarro Guide Mark Parker fished Richland Cham- Mills, and expects the same jig and minnow bers Lake in early September, and said that combination to be effective. he has high hopes for this year.

Parker said the next two months are tradiParker spent most of his time on the water tionally the best conditions for crappie fishing scouting new spots and working structures in and he expects these lakes to be very fishable. preparation for this months trips.

“September and October are really good crap“I’ve been going around fishing stuff I have pie months, probably the best two months out found recently, but have never really fished, of the year,” Parker said.

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Flying high

Surf anglers

Continued From Page 8

Continued From Page 9

world championship.

“I was ecstatic,” said Noah, who plans to compete in the championship until he’s too old. “I’ve always had a fascination with flyfishing and I’m always challenging myself to get better. I thought that I could compete on this level and it was nice to get some validation.”

Noah’s dad, Randy, was HITTING THE MARK: Noah Thompson has been fly-fishing back in Austin, forced to since he was 4 years old, and it paid off in competition. wait on semi-frequent Photo by Wendy Thompson. updates from overseas.

When he heard the news, going into the final day. After what he thought was an average perfor- he was only kind of surprised.

“He’d just always had a knack for mance in the last session, he went fishing and could catch fish when in to town to run an errand.

When he came back to the compe- nobody else was,” Thompson said. tition site, his teammates were smil- “A lot of times on our fly-fishing ing. When they told him he had fin- trips I just end up putting down ished third overall, “I thought they my pole and watching him. People were playing a trick on me,” he said. would ask me how he does and I’d He was the first American to medal tell them I have no idea. He’s just alsince 1998, the first year they held a ways been good at it.”

State record swordfish — almost

By David Sikes FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Charlie Biedenharn of Port Aransas caught a 442-pound swordfish that bested the state record by 102 pounds. But his honesty got in the way of the record.

According to Joedy Gray, who administers the state record program for Texas Parks and Wildlife, a deckhand first handled the rod when the fish hit his bait the night of Aug. 24 aboard his father’s boat, the Locomia.

The fish was caught at a spot called Colt 45, which is about 60 miles offshore.

Gray said stories such as this are rare. But he said the rule is clear.

From the moment the fish hits the lure, a single angler must set the hook and that angler alone must handle the rod until the fish is landed for a state record to be certified. The department does not issue polygraph tests to qualify state records.

Capt. Dee Wallace, who greeted Locomia Capt. Rand Clark when the boat returned to Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas, said word spread through town quickly about the giant swordfish.

About 30 onlookers came to marvel at the catch and shoot photos.

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sea turtle numbers increase. And because the new biologists say the Kemp’s ridley could be removed rule threatens to substantially disrupt traditional from the endangered species list in the next five to 10 public use, park officials have agreed to conduct a years, when they reach 10,000 nesting females.

Meyer said if park officials are willing to reduce the $75,000 Beach Vehicle Environmental Assessment to re-examine its initial decision and its consequenc- speed limit by 40 percent at the current level of nesting turtles and beach drivers, he believes they would es, while soliciting public comments on the issue.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who propose more dramatic measures if or when the pophas authority over nonfederal Texas beaches, refers ulation of nesting ridleys doubles on PINS. To provide some perspective, a record 117 Kemp’s to the proposal as a solution in search of a problem.

Patterson said he plans to submit his opinions nest were found on the National Seashore in 2009. as a concerned Texas resident regarding the neces- During a meeting last year involving park officials, biolsity of the rule. He also will write letters denounc- ogists and concerned beach users, a U.S. Fish and Wilding the plan to the U.S. Department of the Interi- life Service biologist said it would be possible to eliminate every Kemp’s ridley on PINS or, the National Park Service and and not jeopardize the survival of to Joe Escoto, superintendent of the species.

Padre Island National Seashore.

Meyer said nobody is suggestPatterson said he considers ■ Public Meeting, Sept 14: ing anyone drive carelessly on the this a beach access issue. He also The National Park Service has beach. CAC favors a year-round plans to speak with Texas legisscheduled a public meeting to 25 mph limit on the 60-mile lators to get Austin, and possihear comments. The meeting is stretch, but with a mandatory bly Washington, D.C., involved. scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 14 15 mph slowdown rule enforced at the Harte Research Institute Corpus Christi Councilman Kevfor Gulf of Mexico Studies on within 100 feet of people on the in Kieschnick, a surf angler and the campus of Texas A&M beach, campsites, parked vehicles kayak fisherman, is concerned University-Corpus Christi, 6300 and turtles. about the economic implicaOcean Drive.

The park has offered four altertions. Kieschnick visited Washnatives for public comment in its ington as part of a city hall group ■ Contact Us: Environmental Assessment docvoicing concerns to the feds over Submit comments online at ument. Alternative One would this, and has been working withwww.parkplanning.nps.gov/pais be to resort back to the 25 mph in Texas Congressional circles to (click on project); or by e-mail to speed limit from mile marker 2.5 quash what he believes is a threat pais_superintendent@nps.gov; to the Mansfield Jetty (about a 60 to tourism in the Coastal Bend. or by U.S. mail — Superintenmile stretch of mostly 4-wheel Kieschnick, along with the dent, Attn: Beach Vehicle EA, drive beach).

CAC group, which is mostly surf Padre Island National Seashore, Alternative Two essentially PO Box 181300, Corpus Christi, fishermen, argues that anglers TX 78480-1300. calls for the status quo with an are the front-line conservators of the National Seashore. They addendum. It would establish a often report nesting turtles and 15 mph limit for all of PINS from also provide extra surveillance against illegal activ- April 15 to July 15 (nesting season), On July 16, ity along more remote stretches of the park. Meyer the speed limit would revert to 25 on the 60-mile and Kieschnick say the 15 mph rule will limit their stretch. Included in this option would be a 100-yard trips down the beach and ultimately hurt the tur- invisible buffer or safety zone around people, pets, tle program. campsites, vehicles and wildlife, where the maxiDuring the spring and summer of 2006, 12,143 mum speed would be 15 mph.

Kemp’s nests were counted in Mexico. In 2009, as Alternative Three would establish a 15 mph speed many as 20,000 Kemp’s ridley nests were found during limit from March 1 through Nov. 30 for the entire a single nesting season on beaches throughout their beach. Outside of these dates, the speed limit would nesting range, but mostly in Mexico. This represents be 25 for the 60-mile stretch to Mansfield. a remarkable recovery and between 6,666 and 8,000 Alternative Four would establish a 15 mph limit for nesting females. At the current population growth, the entire beach year-round.

GET INVOLVED

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Sun | Moon | Tides

Full

Time Height 10:36 a.m. 0.5 L 11:29 a.m. 0.2 L 4:40 a.m. 2.9 H 4:35 a.m. 2.9 H 3:52 p.m.

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Time Height 5:58 p.m. 3.0 H 7:23 p.m. 3.0 H 12:26 p.m. 0.0 L 1:28 p.m. 0.0 L

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October 1

Houston

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Time Height 1:47 a.m. 0.7 L 1:46 a.m. 0.8 L 5:21 a.m. 1.1 H 5:47 a.m. 1.2 H 6:22 a.m. 1.2 H 7:00 a.m. 1.2 H 7:37 a.m. 1.2 H 08:09 a.m. 1.2 H 08:32 a.m. 1.1 H 08:44 a.m. 1.1 H 08:39 a.m. 1.0 H 12:20 a.m. 0.5 L 1:08 a.m. 0.6 L 2:00 a.m. 0.7 L 3:15 a.m. 0.7 L

Time Height 5:36 a.m. 0.8 H 5:15 a.m. 0.9 H 3:16 p.m. 0.1 L 4:18 p.m. 0.1 L 5:29 p.m. 0.1 L 6:49 p.m. 0.2 L 8:13 p.m. 0.2 L 9:30 p.m. 0.3 L 10:35 p.m. 0.3 L 11:30 p.m. 0.4 L 11:53 a.m. 0.9 L 8:19 a.m. 0.9 H 7:45 a.m. 0.8 H 6:51 a.m. 0.8 H 5:16 a.m. 0.8 H

Time Height 1:20 p.m. 0.2 L 2:17 p.m. 0.1 L

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6:44 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

9:20 p.m.

1.0 H 1.0 H 1.1 H 1.1 H

Rockport

Time Height 11:02 a.m. 0.4 L 11:55 a.m. 0.1 L 5:27 a.m. 2.3 H 5:22 a.m. 2.3 H 0.3 L 0.3 L 0.4 L 2.0 L 2.0 L 1.9 L 1.6 L 1.3 L 1.1 L 0.9 L

Time Height 6:45 p.m. 2.4 H 8:10 p.m. 2.4 H 12:52 p.m. 0.0 L 1:54 p.m. 0.0 L

11:25 a.m.

12:47 p.m.

1:55 p.m.

2:56 p.m.

3:54 p.m.

4:50 p.m.

5:46 p.m.

2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.3 H 2.3 H

Time Height 11:50 p.m. 1.6 L 9:44 p.m. 2.6 H 11:32 p.m. 2.6 H

7:24 p.m.

8:04 p.m.

8:36 p.m.

9:02 p.m.

9:27 p.m.

9:53 p.m.

10:22 p.m.

0.6 L 0.7 L 0.9 L 1.1 L 1.3 L 1.6 L 1.7 L

Time

Height

Date Time Height Sep 10 5:09 a.m. 0.45 H Sep 11 5:15 a.m. 0.52 H Sep 12 5:49 a.m. 0.56 H Sep 13 6:40 a.m. 0.59 H Sep 14 7:43 a.m. 0.60 H Sep 15 8:54 a.m. 0.61 H Sep 16 10:08 a.m. 0.60 H Sep 17 11:18 a.m. 0.60 H Sep 18 12:22 p.m. 0.59 H Sep 19 1:24 p.m. 0.58 H Sep 20 2:30 p.m. 0.55 H Sep 21 7:00 a.m. 0.47 H Sep 21 3:57 p.m. 0.52 H Sep 22 5:33 a.m. 0.50 H Sep 23 5:08 a.m. 0.53 H

Time Height 2:39 p.m. 0.23 L 3:38 p.m. 0.20 L 4:35 p.m. 0.18 L 5:32 p.m. 0.18 L 6:31 p.m. 0.20 L 7:34 p.m. 0.23 L 8:35 p.m. 0.26 L 9:31 p.m. 0.29 L 10:16 p.m. 0.32 L 10:49 p.m. 0.35 L 11:09 p.m. 0.40 L 8:36 a.m. 0.47 L 11:16 p.m. 0.44 L 11:28 a.m. 0.45 L 12:52 p.m. 0.42 L

Time

Height

Time Height 11:58 a.m. 0.3 L 5:44 a.m. 1.3 H 5:57 a.m. 1.4 H 5:52 a.m. 1.4 H 3:59 p.m. 0.1 L 5:14 p.m. 0.2 L 6:26 p.m. 0.2 L 7:29 p.m. 0.3 L 9:41 a.m. 1.2 L 9:40 a.m. 1.2 L 9:46 a.m. 1.1 L 9:58 a.m. 0.9 L 10:17 a.m. 0.8 L 10:41 a.m. 0.7 L 11:08 a.m. 0.5 L

Time Height 7:15 p.m. 1.5 H 12:51 p.m. 0.1 L 1:48 p.m. 0.0 L 2:50 p.m. 0.0 L

Time Height 10:59 a.m. 0.3 L 11:52 a.m. 0.1 L 4:49 a.m. 2.0 H 4:44 a.m. 2.0 H

Time Height 6:07 p.m. 2.1 H 7:32 p.m. 2.1 H 12:49 p.m. 0.0 L 1:51 p.m. 0.0 L

11:55 a.m.

1:17 p.m.

2:25 p.m.

3:26 p.m.

4:24 p.m.

5:20 p.m.

6:16 p.m.

1.3 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.4 H 1.4 H

8:40 p.m. 1.5 H 10:14 p.m. 1.5 H

8:20 p.m.

9:00 p.m.

9:32 p.m.

9:58 p.m.

10:23 p.m.

10:49 p.m.

11:18 p.m.

0.3 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 0.7 L 0.8 L 0.9 L 1.0 L

Date Time Height Sep 10 4:51 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 11 5:07 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 12 12:30 a.m. 1.1 L Sep 13 2:03 a.m. 1.2 L Sep 14 2:42 p.m. 0.1 L Sep 15 1:18 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 16 2:30 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 17 3:12 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 18 3:33 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 19 3:38 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 20 3:38 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 21 3:40 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 22 3:46 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 23 3:54 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 24 4:03 a.m. 1.7 H

Time Height 10:41 a.m. 0.2 L 11:34 a.m. 0.1 L 5:20 a.m. 1.8 H 5:15 a.m. 1.8 H 3:57 p.m.

5:09 p.m.

6:12 p.m.

8:24 a.m.

8:23 a.m.

8:29 a.m.

8:41 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

9:24 a.m.

9:51 a.m.

0.2 L 0.2 L 0.2 L 1.1 L 1.1 L 1.0 L 0.8 L 0.7 L 0.6 L 0.5 L

6:11 p.m.

0.51 H

11:06 p.m. 0.48 L

Time Height 6:38 p.m. 2.0 H 8:03 p.m. 2.0 H 12:31 p.m. 0.0 L 1:33 p.m. 0.0 L

Time Height 11:29 p.m. 0.8 L

11:18 a.m.

12:40 p.m.

1:48 p.m.

2:49 p.m.

3:47 p.m.

4:43 p.m.

5:39 p.m.

7:03 p.m.

7:43 p.m.

8:15 p.m.

8:41 p.m.

9:06 p.m.

9:32 p.m.

10:01 p.m.

0.3 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 0.6 L 0.7 L 0.8 L 0.9 L

Time

Height

1.7 H 1.7 H 1.7 H 1.7 H 1.7 H 1.8 H 1.8 H

9:37 p.m. 2.1 H 11:25 p.m. 2.1 H

South Padre Island

Freeport Harbor

4:15 p.m.

5:27 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

8:42 a.m.

8:41 a.m.

8:47 a.m.

8:59 a.m.

9:18 a.m.

9:42 a.m.

10:09 a.m.

0.2 L 0.2 L 0.3 L 1.3 L 1.3 L 1.2 L 1.0 L 0.8 L 0.7 L 0.5 L

10:47 a.m.

12:09 p.m.

1:17 p.m.

2:18 p.m.

3:16 p.m.

4:12 p.m.

5:08 p.m.

1.8 H 1.8 H 1.8 H 1.8 H 1.8 H 2.0 H 2.0 H

Time Height 11:47 p.m. 1.0 L 9:06 p.m. 2.2 H 10:54 p.m. 2.2 H

7:21 p.m.

8:01 p.m.

8:33 p.m.

8:59 p.m.

9:24 p.m.

9:50 p.m.

10:19 p.m.

0.4 L 0.5 L 0.5 L 0.7 L 0.8 L 1.0 L 1.1 L

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Date Time Height Sep 10 3:41 a.m. 1.2 H Sep 11 12:24 a.m. 1.2 L Sep 12 12:15 p.m. -0.2 L Sep 13 1:14 p.m. -0.2 L Sep 14 2:20 p.m. -0.1 L Sep 15 1:17 a.m. 1.9 H Sep 16 2:17 a.m. 1.9 H Sep 17 2:56 a.m. 1.9 H Sep 18 3:20 a.m. 1.9 H Sep 19 3:33 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 20 3:38 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 21 3:35 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 22 3:26 a.m. 1.6 H Sep 23 3:12 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 24 2:53 a.m. 1.4 H

Time Height 10:33 a.m. 0.2 L 3:20 a.m. 1.3 H 09:45 p.m. 1.8 H 11:41 p.m. 1.9 H 3:32 p.m.

4:46 p.m.

5:55 p.m.

6:56 p.m.

8:23 a.m.

8:27 a.m.

8:42 a.m.

9:01 a.m.

9:22 a.m.

9:44 a.m.

0.0 L 0.2 L 0.4 L 0.6 L 1.6 L 1.5 L 1.4 L 1.2 L 1.0 L 0.8 L

Time Height 6:23 p.m. 1.8 H 11:21 a.m. 0.0 L

11:35 a.m.

1:11 p.m.

2:25 p.m.

3:29 p.m.

4:27 p.m.

5:24 p.m.

1.7 H 1.7 H 1.8 H 1.8 H 1.8 H 1.8 H

7:58 p.m. 1.8 H

7:49 p.m.

8:36 p.m.

9:19 p.m.

10:00 p.m.

10:43 p.m.

11:33 p.m.

0.7 L 0.9 L 1.0 L 1.2 L 1.3 L 1.3 L

ACROSS 1. A species of eel 4. Good area to shoot crows 7. A finger protector, shooting 9. Large on the muley 10. The fish basket 11. Trapper’s gear 12. A turkey calling sound 13. A species of goose 14. Deer meat 17. The clay pigeon 19. To put wildfowl to flight 21. Pulling the trigger 23. The moray is one 24. Boat equipment 25. A sight on a gun 27. The bowman’s ammo 29. Where wildfowl have young 31. The shoulder hide on a deer 33. The rugged method of fishing 35. A shell that fails to fire 37. Indian name for the deer 38. A name for a trout 41. A gun organization 43. A deer species 45. To stand ready to shoot 47. Oxidation on gun parts 48. A series of shots fired 49. Signifies side by side barrels DOWN 1. A colorful wildfowl 2. A cover for small fish 3. A species of perch 4. The object of a hunt 5. A good bait for brown trout 6. Shooter’s practice area 7. Place for deer stands

A.M. Minor Major 7:23 1:10 8:24 2:10 9:26 3:12 10:28 4:14 11:27 5:13 ----- 6:09 12:47 7:00 1:35 7:47 2:18 8:29 2:58 9:09 3:36 9:46 4:13 10:23 4:50 11:00 F 5:30 6:12 12:02 6:59 12:47 7:49 1:37 8:42 2:30 9:39 3:26 10:37 4:24

P.M. Minor 7:50 8:52 9:55 10:56 11:55 12:22 1:13 1:59 2:41 3:19 3:56 4:33 5:10 11:40 6:34 7:21 8:12 9:08 10:05 11:05

Major 1:37 2:38 3:40 4:42 5:41 6:36 7:26 8:11 8:52 9:30 10:07 10:43 11:20 5:50 12:23 1:10 2:01 2:55 3:52 4:51

SUN Rises Sets 07:02 07:33 07:03 07:32 07:03 07:31 07:04 07:29 07:04 07:28 07:05 07:27 07:05 07:26 07:06 07:25 07:06 07:23 07:07 07:22 07:07 07:21 07:08 07:20 07:08 07:18 ----- 07:09 07:09 07:16 07:10 07:15 07:10 07:13 07:11 07:12 07:11 07:11 07:12 07:10

MOON Rises Sets 9:30a 8:53p 10:38a 9:36p 11:46a 10:23p 12:50p 11:14p 1:48p NoMoon 2:41p 12:08a 3:28p 1:04a 4:09p 2:00a 4:45p 2:56a 5:17p 3:51a 5:47p 4:45a 6:16p 5:37a 6:44p 6:29a 07:17 7:13p 7:44p 8:15a 8:18p 9:10a 8:56p 10:07a 9:39p 11:05a 10:28p 12:03p 11:23p 12:59p

2010 Sep 10 Fri > 11 Sat > 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed Q 16 Thu Q 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue > 22 Wed > 23 Thu 24 Fri > 25 Sat > 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed

A.M. Minor Major 7:29 1:15 8:30 2:16 9:32 3:18 10:34 4:19 11:33 5:19 12:04 6:15 12:53 7:06 1:40 7:52 2:23 8:35 3:03 9:14 3:41 9:52 4:18 10:28 4:56 11:06 F 5:35 6:18 12:07 7:04 12:53 7:54 1:42 8:48 2:35 9:45 3:31 10:43 4:29

P.M. Minor Major 7:56 1:42 8:57 2:43 10:00 3:46 11:02 4:48 ----- 5:47 12:28 6:41 1:18 7:31 2:04 8:16 2:46 8:58 3:25 9:36 4:02 10:12 4:38 10:48 5:16 11:26 11:46 5:56 6:39 12:29 7:26 1:15 8:18 2:06 9:13 3:01 10:11 3:58 11:10 4:57

SUN Rises Sets 07:06 07:40 07:07 07:39 07:07 07:37 07:08 07:36 07:09 07:35 07:09 07:33 07:10 07:32 07:10 07:31 07:11 07:29 07:12 07:28 07:12 07:27 07:13 07:25 07:13 07:24 ----- 07:14 07:15 07:21 07:15 07:20 07:16 07:19 07:17 07:17 07:17 07:16 07:18 07:15

MOON Rises Sets 9:39a 8:54p 10:50a 9:35p 11:59a 10:21p 1:04p 11:11p 2:03p NoMoon 2:55p 12:05a 3:41p 1:01a 4:21p 1:59a 4:56p 2:56a 5:27p 3:52a 5:55p 4:47a 6:22p 5:41a 6:49p 6:35a 07:23 7:16p 7:46p 8:24a 8:18p 9:21a 8:55p 10:19a 9:37p 11:18a 10:25p 12:17p 11:20p 1:13p

P.M. Minor Major 8:03 1:49 9:04 2:50 10:07 3:53 11:09 4:55 ----- 5:54 12:35 6:48 1:25 7:38 2:11 8:23 2:53 9:05 3:32 9:43 4:09 10:19 4:45 10:55 5:23 11:33 11:53 6:03 6:46 12:36 7:33 1:22 8:25 2:13 9:20 3:08 10:18 4:05 11:17 5:04

SUN Rises Sets 07:15 07:45 07:15 07:44 07:16 07:43 07:16 07:42 07:17 07:41 07:17 07:39 07:18 07:38 07:18 07:37 07:19 07:36 07:19 07:34 07:20 07:33 07:20 07:32 07:21 07:31 ----- 07:21 07:22 07:28 07:22 07:27 07:23 07:26 07:23 07:25 07:24 07:23 07:24 07:22

MOON Rises 9:42a 10:51a 11:58a 1:02p 2:00p 2:53p 3:40p 4:21p 4:57p 5:30p 6:00p 6:28p 6:57p 07:30 7:57p 8:31p 9:09p 9:52p 10:42p 11:37p

Sets 9:06p 9:49p 10:37p 11:28p NoMoon 12:22a 1:18a 2:14a 3:10a 4:05a 4:58a 5:50a 6:42a 7:26p 8:28a 9:23a 10:19a 11:17a 12:15p 1:11p

P.M. Minor 8:16 9:18 10:20 11:22 ----12:48 1:39 2:25 3:07 3:45 4:22 4:59 5:36 ----7:00 7:47 8:38 9:33 10:31 11:31

SUN Rises 07:25 07:26 07:27 07:27 07:28 07:29 07:29 07:30 07:31 07:32 07:32 07:33 07:34 12:06 07:35 07:36 07:37 07:37 07:38 07:39

MOON Rises 10:04a 11:16a 12:26p 1:31p 2:31p 3:23p 4:08p 4:47p 5:20p 5:50p 6:18p 6:43p 7:09p 07:43 8:03p 8:35p 9:10p 9:52p 10:40p 11:35p

Sets 9:11p 9:51p 10:36p 11:26p NoMoon 12:20a 1:16a 2:14a 3:12a 4:10a 5:06a 6:01a 6:56a 7:35p 8:48a 9:46a 10:45a 11:45a 12:44p 1:41p

San Antonio 2010 A.M. Sep Minor Major 10 Fri > 7:36 1:22 11 Sat > 8:37 2:23 12 Sun 9:39 3:25 13 Mon 10:41 4:26 14 Tue 11:40 5:26 15 Wed Q 12:11 6:22 16 Thu Q 1:00 7:13 17 Fri 1:47 7:59 18 Sat 2:30 8:42 19 Sun 3:10 9:21 20 Mon 3:48 9:59 21 Tue > 4:25 10:35 22 Wed > 5:03 11:13 23 Thu F 5:42 24 Fri > 6:25 12:14 25 Sat > 7:11 1:00 26 Sun 8:01 1:49 27 Mon 8:55 2:42 28 Tue 9:52 3:38 29 Wed 10:50 4:36

Amarillo 2010 A.M. Sep Minor 10 Fri > 7:49 11 Sat > 8:50 12 Sun 9:52 13 Mon 10:54 14 Tue 11:53 15 Wed Q 12:24 16 Thu Q 1:13 17 Fri 2:01 18 Sat 2:44 19 Sun 3:24 20 Mon 4:02 21 Tue > 4:39 22 Wed > 5:16 23 Thu F 24 Fri > 6:38 25 Sat > 7:25 26 Sun 8:15 27 Mon 9:08 28 Tue 10:05 29 Wed 11:03

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Mail to Lone Star Outdoor News, PO Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355. For fastest service, call (214) 361-2276 or visit LSONews.com.

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen

2010 Sep 10 Fri > 11 Sat > 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed Q 16 Thu Q 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue > 22 Wed > 23 Thu 24 Fri > 25 Sat > 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed

Dallas

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier

San Luis Pass

Date Time Height Sep 10 4:20 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 11 4:36 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 12 12:48 a.m. 1.3 L Sep 13 2:21 a.m. 1.4 L Sep 14 3:00 p.m. 0.1 L Sep 15 12:47 a.m. 2.2 H Sep 16 1:59 a.m. 2.2 H Sep 17 2:41 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 18 3:02 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 19 3:07 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 20 3:07 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 21 3:09 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 22 3:15 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 23 3:23 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 24 3:32 a.m. 1.8 H

October 7

Last

Sept. 15

Date Sep 10 Sep 11 Sep 12 Sep 13 Sep 14 Sep 15 Sep 16 Sep 17 Sep 18 Sep 19 Sep 20 Sep 21 Sep 22 Sep 23 Sep 24

Time Height 11:24 p.m. 2.0 L

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty

Date Time Height Sep 10 5:28 a.m. 1.3 H Sep 11 12:46 a.m. 0.9 L Sep 12 1:47 a.m. 1.2 L Sep 13 3:20 a.m. 1.3 L Sep 14 12:02 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 15 1:55 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 16 3:07 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 17 3:49 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 18 4:10 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 19 4:15 a.m. 1.4 H Sep 20 4:15 a.m. 1.3 H Sep 21 4:17 a.m. 1.3 H Sep 22 4:23 a.m. 1.3 H Sep 23 4:31 a.m. 1.3 H Sep 24 4:40 a.m. 1.3 H

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

New

Sept. 23

First

Port O’Connor

Sabine Pass, jetty

Date Time Height Sep 10 4:58 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 11 5:14 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 12 12:51 a.m. 2.0 L Sep 13 2:24 a.m. 2.1 L Sep 14 3:03 p.m. 0.1 L Sep 15 1:25 a.m. 2.6 H Sep 16 2:37 a.m. 2.6 H Sep 17 3:19 a.m. 2.4 H Sep 18 3:40 a.m. 2.4 H Sep 19 3:45 a.m. 2.3 H Sep 20 3:45 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 21 3:47 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 22 3:53 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 23 4:01 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 24 4:10 a.m. 2.1 H

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases

Texas Coast Tides Date Time Height Sep 10 4:11 a.m. 2.7 H Sep 11 4:27 a.m. 2.7 H Sep 12 12:25 a.m. 2.5 L Sep 13 1:58 a.m. 2.7 L Sep 14 2:37 p.m. 0.2 L Sep 15 12:38 a.m. 3.2 H Sep 16 1:50 a.m. 3.2 H Sep 17 2:32 a.m. 3.0 H Sep 18 2:53 a.m. 3.0 H Sep 19 2:58 a.m. 2.9 H Sep 20 2:58 a.m. 2.7 H Sep 21 3:00 a.m. 2.7 H Sep 22 3:06 a.m. 2.7 H Sep 23 3:14 a.m. 2.7 H Sep 24 3:23 a.m. 2.7 H

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Solution on Page 29

Major 1:36 2:36 3:38 4:40 5:39 6:35 7:26 8:13 8:55 9:35 10:12 10:49 11:26 5:56 12:28 1:13 2:03 2:56 3:52 4:49

Major 2:03 3:04 4:06 5:08 6:07 7:02 7:52 8:37 9:18 9:56 10:33 11:09 11:46 6:16 12:49 1:36 2:26 3:21 4:18 5:17

Sets 08:02 08:00 07:59 07:57 07:56 07:55 07:53 07:52 07:50 07:49 07:47 07:46 07:44 07:34 07:42 07:40 07:39 07:37 07:36 07:34

FOR THE TABLE Quail Vino 2 quail per person Sliced mushrooms, at least 2 cups 1/2 cup chopped green onions Wild rice 2 teaspoons lemon juice Salt to taste Ground pepper Dry white wine, at least 1 cup 1/2 cup butter or margarine Brown plucked quail in butter; remove from pan and set aside.

Sauté mushrooms and onion in pan. Place quail, mushrooms and onion in a shallow pan and cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove foil and add wine, lemon juice, a little salt and pepper.

Cook for another 15 minutes or until brown, basting often. Serve hot over cooked wild rice.

— California Department of Fish and Game

Oven “Fried” Crappie with Mustard Dill Sauce

8. A trout species 15. A fish hitting a bait 16. Hunters give this TLC 18. A wood used for arrow shafts 19. Home of the Key deer 20. Hunters rattle these to lure deer 21. Describes a recent track 22. Used to fry fish over open fire 26. Storage cabinet for bowhunting tackle 28. Part of a stream fisherman’s outfit 30. Hunters strive for a clean one

32. Young boars 34. A very large member of deer family 36. To point at a target 39. Arrows, bullets, shells 40. To determine game tracks info 41. A group of pheasants 42. Rings reveal this on a striper 44. Bowman’s protective device, ____ guard 46. Letters signify a single-action gun

1 1/2 pounds crappie fillets 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 2 eggs 1 cup flat beer 1 1/2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs 1/2 cup cornmeal Pan coating spray 6 lemon wedges Mustard and Dill Sauce 1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 tablespoons Creole mustard 2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced Dash Tabasco Pinch salt Combine all ingredients and refrigerate.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine flour with next 4 ingredients.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs well with beer.

Combine breadcrumbs and cornmeal and spread

out on a plate. For each fillet, first dredge the fish with the seasoned flour.

Dip the fillets into the egg mixture and then roll in the breadcrumbs. Spray fish lightly with pan coating spray. Place each fillet on a lightly oiled baking pan and bake uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with lemon wedges and mustard and dill sauce on the side for dipping.

— The Sporting Chef, huntfishcook.com

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

September 10, 2010

Page 23

CONSERVATION Game Warden named Texas Wildlife Officer of the Year Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Arthur McCall of Pleasanton has been recognized as Texas Wildlife Officer of the Year by Shikar-Safari Club International.

McCall graduated from the 23rd Texas Game Warden Training Academy in 1969.

After an initial assignment to Real County, he transferred to Atascosa County in 1971 and that has remained his duty station.

Arthur McCall McCall participated in the arrest of multiple violators of a poaching ring in South Texas, part of a covert operation dubbed “Venado Macho.” More recently he conducted an investigation stemming from an Operation Game Thief call that resulted in the prosecution of an individual who killed two bucks in a one buck county. Restitution on the case came to more than $5,000.

McCall is one of the founding members of the Texas Game Warden Honor Guard. In 2007, the Honor Guard received the TPW Outstanding Team Award for its commitment and dedication in performing at numerous events around the state, including ceremonies for fallen officers. Additionally, he is the Honor Guard’s rifle squad leader.

When not enforcing the law, McCall is also a very accomplished artist and is represented by the Mooney Gallery in San Antonio. His work has three times been selected as the posterprint for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

—Texas Parks and Wildlife report

TPW completes mandated budget cuts The state-mandated 5-percent budget reduction due to reduced state revenue involved cuts in several area, but officials say they should not disrupt core services and programs.

The 2011 cuts total $13.1 million, including: • $1.3 million — represents 5 percent of the total $25.2 million TPW passes to the General Land Office to fund coastal erosion projects • $1.1 million — unexpended funds due to data migration and transformation delays by the Data Center Services vendor • $228,000 — reflects canceled plans to create a new offhighway vehicle state park in the Texas Panhandle along the Canadian River

• $5.8 million — reduces the department’s ability to fund grants to cities and counties for local park projects • $2.3 million — eliminates merit pay and retention programs that reward outstanding employee performance • $1.4 million — reduces funds for capital repair and construction needs at agency facilities • $881,000 — reduces funds for equipment replacement, including vehicles, boats, tractors and other equipment • $100,000 — reduces functionality of a new integrated financial system by delaying implementation of some reporting functions —Texas Parks and Wildlife report

NWTF announces inaugural upland gamebird chapter

hunting and veterinary groups had filed a petition several weeks ago with the EPA seeking action, citing the hazards of lead and available alternatives to hunters.

The National Rifle Association also came out against action by the EPA. “Simply put, the (Toxic Substances Control) Act does not grant EPA the authority to regulate ammunition of any composition,’’ the NRA stated in a letter to EPA. The American Sportfishing Association opposes banning lead in fishing tackle and is recommending its members comment on the proposal before the EPA. Cabela’s also issued a statement requesting that its customers oppose the proposed ban.

—Staff report

Texas marks 10 years in state wildlife grants

Since 2000, the federal State Wildlife Grants program has provided more than $30 million for Texas to help fish and wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished.

Nationwide, the program has provided federal funding for conservation projects totaling more than $573 million to state agencies. Texas Parks and Wildlife has received about $3 million per year for Texas conservation in the past decade. Since TPW has had to match federal grant dollars by at least LEAD STILL OK: The EPA denied a peti35 percent, total on-the-ground conservation fundtion to ban lead ammunition used by ing for Texas is more than $40 million since 2000. hunters. Photo by Lili Sams, LSON. For many decades, North American game animal conservation has been paid for through hunting and fishing license sales Turkey Federation report and federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. In 1938, Congress created the Pittman-Robertson/Wildlife Restoration federal aid program. In 1950, federal lawmakers followed up with the similar Dingell-Johnson/Sport Fish Restoration program.

Among other projects, SWG funds have supported TPW urban wildlife biologists, wildlife diversity programs focusing on species of concern, and the Landowner Incentive Program, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency denied a petition providing grants for private ranchers and others to restore and seeking a ban on lead ammunition used by hunters. protect habitat for rare species.

The agency, however, said it would continue to review SWG dollars also support research projects, including ways another section of the petition on the use of lead in fishing to detect and respond to toxic golden alga that has killed tackle. millions of fish, plus research and monitoring for pronghorn In denying the request, the EPA said the Toxic Substances Control Act does not give the agency the authority needed to antelope, black bear, ocelots, alligator gar, striped bass and address that issue. many other species and habitats.

A group that described itself as a coalition of conservation, —Texas Parks and Wildlife report The National Wild Turkey Federation announced the formation of its first ever upland gamebird chapter.

The Kansas First Upland Pioneers Chapter was created in Iola, Kan., on Aug. 18 by more than two dozen individuals who decided the best way to improve quail populations and upland habitat was to form the first NWTF chapter focused on upland gamebirds.

The chapter will host its first banquet in Piqua, Kan., on Oct. 30.

—National Wild

EPA denies bid to ban lead in hunting ammunition

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DATEBOOK September 10 Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly meeting Speaker is Josef Riekers of African & Texas Hunts Sheraton North Dallas Hotel (214) 570-8700

Hays County Coastal Conservation Association Fundraiser Painted Horse Pavilion (713) 626-4222

September 11

Lake Grapevine Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Grapevine Golf Course (817) 368-7310

Inland Hill Country Chapter Coastal Conservation Association Fall Tournament, Rockport (830) 217-4224 mlaskowski.hccca@gmail.com

Heart of the Hills CCA Fundraiser Don Strange Ranch (210) 380-5709

September 14 East Bernard Delta Waterfowl Fundraiser Riverside Hall (979) 335-6575 Stephenville Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser City Limits (254) 592-7239

September 15 Texas Deer Association Semen Production and Artificial Insemination of White-tailed Deer McKinney Rough Nature Center Cedar Creek (210) 767-8300 info@texasdeerassociation.com

Paris Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Paris Elk’s Lodge (903) 784-2333

September 18 Texas Wildlife Association Team Dallas Sporting Clays Fun Shoot Elm Fork Shooting Sports, Dallas (210) 826-2904 www.texas-wildlife.org Dallas Safari Club Fall Youth Safety Event Greystone Castle (972) 980-9800

Deer Study Group Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville chollimon@texas-wildlife.org

Texas Deer Association TDA West Texas Sportsmen’s Banquet San Angelo (210) 767-8300 info@texasdeerassociation.com

September 16

September 21

Dallas Safari Club Monthly meeting Speaker is Larry Weishuhn Omni, Fort Worth (972) 980-9800 www.biggame.org

Central Texas Safari Club Wildlife Legacy Gala fundraiser The Austin Club, Austin (512) 773-5674 info@centexsci.org

September 16-17

September 22 Oyster Creek Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Sweetwater Country Club Sugar Land (281) 589-0087

September 23 Weatherford Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser National Guard Armory (817) 907-3403 Webfooters Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Round Rock, Heritage Center (512) 461-3568 Texas Deer Association TDA Longview Sportsmen’s Banquet Longview (210) 767-8300 info@texasdeerassociation.com Lake Ray Roberts Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Pilot Point, Redfearn Gym (940) 390-5964

September 25

Wharton Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Hungerford Hall (979) 532-3175 Kilgore Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Bodacious Barbecue (903) 245-4548

September 30 Fort Worth Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Lockheed Martin Recreation Building (817) 291-6696 Austin/Pflugerville Delta Waterfowl Fundraiser Pfluger Hall (512) 653-6267

Northeast Tarrant County Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Colleyville Community Center (817) 360-5611

October 9 Texas Fly Fishers Redfish Rodeo Rockport www.texasflyfishers.org

October 10 Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly meeting Ty Bartoskewitz speaks about white-tailed deer Sheraton North Dallas Hotel (214) 570-8700

October 6

October 14-16

Houston Safari Club Monthly Meeting Embassy Suites – Energy Corridor (713) 623-8844

September 26

October 7

National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club, El Paso (915) 471-2609 bonnie@jpandacorp.com

The Orvis Company Dallas Orvis Store Conservation Night Dallas (214) 265-1600

Athens Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (903) 681-3347

Denton Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Knights of Columbus Hall (940) 390-6235

Matagorda Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Bay City Civic Center (979) 429-0050

Jefferson Delta Waterfowl Fundraiser Kellyville Community Center (903) 576-0775

September 28

Beaumont Delta Waterfowl Fundraiser (409) 718-8280

Cross Timbers Quail Coalition Fundraiser Fort Worth (817) 731-3402 Katy/Brookshire Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Agave Road Banquet Hall (281) 748-5906

Texas Deer Association 2nd Annual San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Show Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio (210) 767-8300 info@texasdeerassociation.com

October 15-17 Fredericksburg Fly Fishers Oktoberfisch Fly Fishing Festival South Llano River, Junction www.fredericksburgflyfishers.org

October 17 Northeast Texas Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors Mount Pleasant Clays-N-More Gun Club (903) 572-7179 dorothy.mccarver@sbcglobal.net

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Page 25

Patience Continued From Page 1

MORE ACTIVE: Cooler water temperatures are beginning to mean more active bass on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn reservoirs.

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

Fukae Wins on Lake Champlain Shinichi Fukae of Palestine caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces to win $49,349 plus a $1,000 Cabela’s gift card in the FLW Series Eastern Division tournament on New York’s Lake Champlain.

Fukae’s four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 73 pounds, 12 ounces gave him the win by just 5 ounces over Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., who finished with 73 pounds, 7 ounces.

“I just fish,” said Fukae, who finished 5th place at Lake Champlain in 2006 and 6th in 2008. “I drop-shot all week with a shad shape worm.”

Fukae fought high winds to take the lead on the final day, landing mostly suspended fish over 30- to 40foot depths.

“Today, I almost broke the camera guy,” he said. “Waves were really bad, I lost two fishing poles.”

Rounding out the top-five: 3rd: Jason Ober, Johnstown, Pa., 70 pounds, 10 ounces 4th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 70 pounds, 1 ounce 5th: David Wolak, Wake Forest, N.C., 66 pounds, 9 ounces —FLW Outdoors report

Cowboy Division Event on Toledo Bend Won by Freeman Glen Freeman of Converse La., caught 10 bass weighing 40 pounds, 1 ounce to win $7,329 in the BFL Cowboy Division tournament on Toledo Bend. Henry was fishing the north end of the lake with Yum crankbaits in 20 to 25 feet of water.

The remaining top 10 anglers were: 2nd: Brian Brandon, Elgin, 38 pounds 5 ounces 3rd: Danny Iles, Hemphill, 34 pounds, 3 ounces 4th: Andrew Upshaw, Hemphill, 28 pounds, 8 ounces 5th: David Truax, Beaumont, 27 pounds, 13 ounces 6th: Jeremy Guidry, Opelousas, La., 27 pounds, 8 ounces 7th: Dustin Robison, Anacoco, La., 26 pounds, 3 ounces 8th: Dicky Newberry, Houston, 25 pounds, 6 ounces 9th: Jeff Holder, Bossier City, La., 24 pounds, 14 ounces 10th: Darold Gleason, Leesville, La., 23 pounds, 11 ounces Randy Hicks of Lumberton caught 10 bass weighing 22pounds, 5-ounces to win $2,664 in the Co-angler Division.

—FLW Outdoors report

from Carolina rigs to buzzbaits will trigger bites.

“I would go to a shad-colored crankbait or a spinnerbait in white and chartreuses,” Atkinson said. “But you’ll see them feeding on a lot of different colors.”

Fishing most recently on Sam Rayburn, Atkinson hooked into a fish weighing 9.2 pounds. He said that fish has been on the heavier side than most recently, but he did catch a 7-pound bass later that week.

Other reports out of Sam Rayburn report fair catches or larger fish in the 3- to 7-pound slot. Most anglers have found success on artificial baits in a Carolina or Texas rig. The key to fishing when water temperatures cool is to alter the speed of the baits fished, and not standard slow-fishing techniques used during summer months.

Positive reports from Toledo Bend have anglers expecting a fall filled with aggressive biting fish.

Guide Greg Crafts said that they are just starting to move out of the slow summer patterns and he expects the next 3 to 4 weeks to be productive.

“It should be getting better every day as water temperatures get a little cooler and the fish start getting a little more active,” Crafts said.

Crafts reported success and fair numbers of fish while using topwater baits, spinner and buzzbaits. He said that on Toledo Bend, fishing in the coves will be productive areas and should hold some of the larger fish.

As the water continues to cool, Crafts said it will be great time to catch fish in schooling patterns.

“You’re going to see a lot more schooling activity, they’ll be busting on the shad, so you can throw a lot of stuff,” Crafts said.

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Publisher/Editor Craig Nyhus Graphics Editor Amy Moore Associate Editor Mark England Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Nancy Halphen Web site Bruce Soileau

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Contributors Kyle Carter Alan Clemons David Draper Wilbur Lundeen Bill Miller

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Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

Distribution Bruce Andreen, Metrogate Communications Budget Distribution Services Victor Cantu, South Texas Circulation Jeff Bulpin Paul Fletcher Klaus Rindfleisch Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail editor@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

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

Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2010 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or e-mail them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

FEEDING TIME: Pug Mark Park, a sanctuary for retired, unwanted or injured wild cats, raises funds for food for the animals through photo tours. Photo by Lili Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Freezer-burn Continued From Page 1

museums and zoos.

“I traveled with the circus for a year,” daughter Ann Pauken said.

“Later, with the lectures, my parents tried to teach people about big cats.

They’ll never be a pet — and they can have a bad day.”

Since her father died in 2000, Ann helps her mother when she can.

“We both drive school buses,” she said.

They have had as many as 10 cats at a time. Now they have two tigers and one lioness.

The cats are retired and maintained at the Clarks’ private sanctuary in McKinney where they live out their days in natural habitat.

Friends Trey Neal and Tom Hicks at Nature’s Wildscapes have organized photo tours where professional and amateur photographers can get close to the big cats.

“Tom and I started the photo shoots as an effort to help defray the cost of buying meat to feed the cats,” Neal said. “The owner puts all their money into these cats.”

The $50 charge to photograph the animals all goes to the Clarks for purchasing food and paying for insurance and USDA, county and state fees.

“The state gets $100 a head for fees,” Pauken said.

They do accept freezer-burned deer meat and parts to feed the cats, and they have three freezers with ample room. And bring an old basketball.

“The cats love to play with them,” Pauken said.

“When I worked at the Garland ISD a hunter asked if he could give some meat for the cats,” Pauken said.

“The cats just love it — especially when they can have a leg — they are so proud.”

And they aren’t looking for the backstraps, either.

“The spare parts that people don’t eat are good, and good for them.

They have a lot of minerals and vitamins,” Pauken said. “And believe me, if the meat is tainted a little, they don’t mind. Cats are used to returning to a carcass for days.”

Michelle Clark said she didn’t want to feed the cats waterfowl or hog due to the richness of the meat.

“They’re too fatty,” she said.

Pauken said they worry the cats might like it too much.

“Then they might not want what we feed them,” she said.

■ Contact for donations: To schedule a delivery, contact Ann Paulken at (469) 223-6859 ■ Contact for tiger photo tour: Nature’s Wildscapes (972) 839-5577 www.natureswildscapes.com

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TOP OF THE LINE: The GMC Sierra Denali 2500 sports a new 6.6L Duramax diesel engine and greater towing capacity. Photo by Ralph Winingham, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Test driving the new GMC diesel trucks

By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Weaving along rocky ranch roads and navigating slippery creek bottoms at the Knibbe Ranch, GMC Lead Development Engineer James Mikulec could not control his enthusiasm about the company’s 2011 line of heavy duty trucks.

“Our products just stand up and say ‘We are better,’’’ he said. “Our customers told us they want to haul more and tow more with a quieter, smoother ride.

“We are in the game now and we are here to win,’’ he said.

Mikulec and other representatives of Chevrolet/GMC were visiting the Hill Country ranch on Aug. 26 to show off more than a half dozen heavy-duty pickup trucks that will soon be available to the public.

Among the new offerings on display were the GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD and 3500HD and several other heavy-duty models of the Silverado and Sierra pickup line.

New features on the vehicles include: • A greater towing capability of 21,700 pounds, with a maximum payload of 6,635 pounds supported by all-new fully boxed, high-strength steel frames and strong suspensions to handle the load and provide a smooth ride.

• A new 6.6L Duramax diesel engine that delivers 397 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 765 foot-pounds of torque at 1,600 rpm; up to 11 percent greater highway fuel economy; up to 63-percent lower emissions; B20 biodiesel capability; and quicker acceleration.

• A larger fuel tank — 36 gallons — and fuel economy improvements that will allow for trips of up to 680 miles between fill-ups with the 6.6L Duramax turbo diesel engine.

• An all-new “smart” exhaust brake feature for greater control on grades and reduced brake pad wear.

• An array of control features, including trailer sway control, integrated trailer brake

control, hill start assist, automatic grade braking, intelligent brake assist and larger brakes.

• Consumer-focused technology, including available mobile WiFi, USB connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, XM Satellite Radio, OnStar 9.0 and navigation systems.

Otie McKinley, South Central Region assistant manager, said the Knibbe Ranch was selected for the hands-on demonstration of the new trucks because the typical Texas Hill Country terrain provided ideal driving conditions.

“These are not aggressive ranch roads, but they are ranch roads that would be like you could find anywhere across the state,’’ he said.

While being able to handle ranch roads with good acceleration and climbing ability, one of the most obvious features of the new diesel trucks during the test rides was something that was lacking – engine noise.

All of the trucks were very quiet, unlike diesel engines of the past that could be an assault on the ear drums, and the running motors were barely noticeable as drivers and passengers could easily carry on conversations even with open windows.

During a test ride in the Sierra Denali 2500HD, which is the high-end model of the line, a 2,000-pound payload in the truck bed did not hinder the truck’s ability to handle steep grades or rocky road beds.

“One of the things you will notice is a much improved braking system,’’ Mikulec said, pointing out that in safety tests, the new GMC trucks loaded with 2,000 pounds of weight in the bed stopped one and a half feet shorter than other comparable truck models.

“Our trucks are built to do hard work all day long,’’ he added.

While Texas truck customers will appreciate the bigger, better features of the new GMC vehicles, there is one option that is foreign to most residents of the Lone Star State.

“We have the ability to put a snow plow on the front of nearly every truck, but that probably won’t be a feature used in Texas very much,’’ Mikulec said.

Summer red Continued From Page 4

He said maladies like epizootic hemorrhagic disease or “bluetongue” can “hit northernstrain deer very hard.”

“I would guess that the northern deer were less likely to make it,” DeYoung said. “Some work we and others have done in the southeastern U.S. implies, but does not prove, that northern stocks did not survive.

“So it’s possible, but I’d be a bit skeptical.”

There is more agreement on seasonal variations in the colors of whitetails — generally red in summer and grayish in the fall and winter.

Naturalist and wildlife photographer Leonard Lee Rue III wrote that warm-weather coats are called “summer red,” while the coldweather coverings are called “winter blue.”

In his 1997 book, “The Deer of North America,” Rue says the hair in a summer coat is solid.

The winter hair is hollow, which adds insulation and enhances “a very soft, fine, kinky undercoat” that is “like cashmere.”

Deer start to shed the red coats in mid-Au-

gust to make way for their gray, cold-weather outerwear, Rue said.

Still, there are differences in the shades of both red and gray coats.

“The difference in the color between and winter and summer coats is much more noticeable in the north, Rue wrote in his book.

But, he added, deer in the open areas of the south “are the palest of all.”

DeYoung said variations are noticeable among the state’s various regions.

“In south Texas, deer near the coast are noticeably lighter in color than deer an hour or two drive to the west,” he said. “(I’m) not sure why this is, but (it) seems common to coastal environments.

“The deer west are darker overall and the facial markings and coloration are much more distinct than the local coastal deer. Some of this might have a genetic basis, but the difference in coloration is a bit subtle — noticeable, but not extreme.”

Puzzle solution from Page 22

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Proving grounds Nikon M223 tested in West Texas

T

he Glass Mountains of West Texas cast a shadow on a huge prairie dog town just north of Marathon. Rifle barrels cooled down and spent brass was picked up. About 20 gun salesmen from Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas had just finished an afternoon of shooting and testing new guns and optics.

On one shooting buggy, four shooters shot almost 1000 rounds during the two and one-half hour blast.

Waylan Owens, president of Owens Outdoor Sales, organized the shoot and was using his Nikon spotting scope to find targets at very long distances.

“Look at the third fence post and go left another 10 feet,” he shouted.

“See the dog standing on top of the mound?”

Shots would fire, dust would fly.

“You are still one foot low and right, aim left,” Owens yelled over the noise, buffered by the shooters’ hearing protection.

Dust would fly again and after a few more shots from all four shooters, the target would be taken.

The shooters were looking through the new Nikon M-223 BDC 600 reticle scope specially designed for .223 caliber guns. Some were pulling the trigger on the new Colt Accurized Rifle that features an all-new free-floating, 24” stainless steel heavy barrel.

One model of the new scopes had the BDC redicle and the other had the Nikoplex reticle with Rapid Action Turret Technology.

The BDC rings in the varmint scope eliminate the guesswork. If the shot hit low, one of the spotters would let the shooter know. Then, simply move to the next circle and fire.

Developed specifically for the trajectory of the .223 Rem 5.56 NATO round with 55-grain polymer tip bullet, the new BDC 600 reticle offers shooters unique open circle aiming points and hash marks from 100 to 600 yards.

The M-223 2-8.32 Nikoplex with Rapid Action Turret scope has adjustments on the turret that were easily adjusted for elevation and wind.

Sometimes the heat waves were a problem, causing the shooter to only see a figure of the target. Not a problem. On another buggy, Jason Phillips was spotting for his shooters and shouting commands.

During a “hot moment,” 18 rounds were fired during a one-minute period from six guns. Most of the shots were long — 400 plus yards — so it took a few rounds to get into the targets. There were at least two shots that connected at 800 yards and a few more in the 600-yard range.

When the conditions were right, the Fioochi full metal jacket 55 grain bullets could be seen flying though the air in most of the spotting scopes.

The arch of the flight path was impressive. The vapor trail the spotter was seeing looked just like the drawings in the ballistic books.

Bill Roosevelt from Carters Country in Houston said he doesn’t get to shoot prairie dogs much.

“I got a lot of experience in a short time here in the mountains,” he said.

The evenings were spent at a hotel in town where Gordon Buescher put on a good feed for the group. Under the dry West Texas night sky the shooters retold the stories of their great shots and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY DAVID J. SAMS LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

VARMINT SHOOT: Shooters help landowners control an over populated West Texas prairie dog town near Marathon. The Boss Ranch offers fully guided trips which include lodging and meals. Zack Jones and David Ridley test the Nikon M-223 scope atop a Colt Accurized Rifle. Lower right: Waylan Owens keeps an eye on one lucky prairie dog.

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