September 24, 2010 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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September 24, 2010

Volume 7, Issue 3

New fiberglass boat introduced.

Page 30

Bow Season

Inside

❘❚ HUNTING

Do-it-yourself ANTICIPATION: Archery hunters hope a buck like this passes by their treestand on Oct. 2. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Tips for a European mount.

Page 4

Higher and higher

Hunters’ hopes up

Some hunters believe whitewings are reaching new heights.

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❘❚ FISHING

SAD SIGHT: Fairfield Lake suffered a fish kill for the third straight year, with the 2010 kill being the largest. The kills may affect TPW’s decision to continue stocking red drum in the reservoir. Photo by TPW.

Fairfield’s future in doubt Third fish kill claims 1.25 million fish, red drum stockings questioned

On the move Trout tagging study monitors travels of the fish.

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By Mark England

Micro guides

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

A group of anglers think tiny guides help increase casting distance.

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

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Fishing Report . . . . . .

For the Table . . . . . . .

Game Warden Blotter . . .

Heroes . . . . . . . . . .

Outdoor Datebook. . . . .

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

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Surveys over the next few months could determine whether Texas Parks and Wildlife continues to stock red drum at Fairfield Lake in the aftermath of a major fish kill in August that hit game fish particularly hard.

More than an estimated 1.25 million fish died August 25-26, with the majority being shad, tilapia, sunfishes and common carp. However, the total also included more than 27,000 red drum, 48,000 or so largemouth bass and almost 2,000 catfish.

It was the third straight year the East Texas lake has suffered a fish kill. Almost a million fish died

there last year and more than 100,000 in 2008.

“Fish kills there are getting to be an annual event,” said Richard A. Ott Jr., a TPW natural resources specialist in Tyler.

“What we have to look at is the total magnitude of the kill. If it turns out that two-thirds of the fish we stock every year die, we may have to reconsider.”

Ott stressed that TPW would prefer not to lose “a unique angler opportunity.”

Fairfield Lake is one of the few lakes in Texas able to sustain red drum over the winter months — possible since the lake is home to Luminant’s Big Brown Steam Electric Station, which keeps the water temperature relatively high.

Water samples taken from Fairfield Lake on Aug. 25 showed lower-than-normal dissolved oxygen in the areas where fish died.

The problem is two-fold, TPW officials said.

Water from the Trinity River, which is high in nutrients, is pumped into Fairfield Lake to maintain its elevation. This produces an abundance of phytoplankton. On sunny days, the microscopic plants manufacture enough oxygen for themselves and fish through photosynthesis.

On cloudy summer days, however, it’s a different story.

“The phytoplankton begin consuming the oxygen they make, See FAIRFIELD’S FUTURE, Page 27

Wet South Zone dove, hunters Birds flew between showers, downpours

By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Bad timing befell numbers of dove hunters who had been waiting for the South Zone opener on Sept. 17. Heavy rains hit at the worst time, delaying shooting chances for some and totally washing out others.

WET WINGS: Rain played havoc with hunters in the South Zone opener. Photo by LSON.

Sidney Junek of Richardson hunted with a friend on family property near Karnes City.

“On Saturday, I limited out by 8:30 and there was lots of shooting all around us,” Junek said.

“My friend was a few birds short but he never got See WET SOUTH ZONE, Page 25

By Bill Miller FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Excellent range conditions, bigbodied deer and awesome antlers were commonly reported across Texas two weeks before the Oct. 2 archery season opener.

In fact, the range was so wellwatered, so filled with healthy deer, many of them fawns, that things may actually be ... well ... too good.

“There is no doubt that we had a good spring,” said Mitch Lockwood, big game program leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife.

“So deer ought to have good body fat and antler development.

“They should be in excellent shape come archery season.”

But will they be hungry for feed corn?

“The answer we don’t know,” Lockwood said, “is the one for the question about what conditions are going to be like opening weekend.

“If there’s going to be groceries everywhere, there may be fewer deer under the feeder.”

Outfitters and guides were pondering the same question.

“We’ve had a lot of rain and the horns look spectacular,” said J.D. Cox of J.D. Cox Hunting Ranch near Brackettville in South Texas.

“The bowhunters are going to kill some magnificent bucks, if it stays dry.”

Similar prospects were observed in typically arid West Texas.

Frankie Eicholz, is co-owner of Horns and More Outfitters on 50,000 acres in Pecos County.

He is not booking archery hunts this year, but he reported that the region’s animals are in great shape.

“The range is fantastic,” he said.

“We were out there three weeks ago and we cruised for about four hours.

We have mule deer and whitetails.

But the deer we saw were still in velvet, with big bodies.

“It just looks like a good, healthy year.”

East Texans also reported robust deer in a very lush countryside.

“The growth of weeds and grass has been tremendous, and we’ve See HUNTERS’ HOPES, Page 19

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HUNTING

High flyers Some hunters believe whitewings seeking new heights

By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Instead of asking “How many birds?” quite a few early season white-winged dove hunters this year are singing a woeful tune of “How high are they and how the heck do you hit them?”

Reports of high-flying birds in many parts of the state have a lot of hunters pulling out tighter chokes and heavier loads from their shooting bags earlier than any dove season in recent memory.

Some veteran hunters and wildlife observers are even suggesting that the birds have instinctively learned to sail high when the sound of shotguns marks the opening of the season.

“It is the same as asking how do big bucks know to go nocturnal the first day of deer season,’’ said Dr. John R. Johnson, who has operated the Great Northwest Animal Hospital in northern San Antonio for decades and is an avid bird and big game hunter.

“The birds adapt and if they don’t adapt, they die,’’ he said.

“The birds I’ve seen are higher than they ever have been (in the early season) as if they have already learned that there is danger whenever they see a person standing up.”

The veteran veterinarian said he has conferred with other experts in the field of wildlife biology who believe that birds have developed something similar to Pavlovian conditioning.

In 1927, Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov discovered that a certain stimulus could cause a specific reaction by an animal.

In his experiments, he used a bell to call dogs to their food and after several repetitions, the dogs started to salivate in response to the bell.

“It is possible that these birds detect gunfire in

the air and that is triggering a response,’’ Johnson said. “This could be learned behavior not just over the past couple of years, but something that has developed over 30 or 40 years.’’

He said he has heard theories from wildlife experts that the birds not only fly high to avoid shotgun fire, but dive and dart through the air after being shot at to seek cover rather than just to avoid the shotgun pellets being sent in their direction.

“If you are standing near cover when someone shoots at the high-flying birds, that may actually come down in your direction and give you a shot,’’ Johnson said.

Another veteran observer of white-winged doves, Sammy Nooner of the Nooner Ranch in Hondo, said he has also noticed a change in the behavior of the thousands of birds that flock to his sunflower fields each year.

“For the past couple of years the birds have been coming in extremely high, particularly in the mornings,’’ he said. “Some of them are dropping down at a 60 degree angle and others will change direction from one day to the next if they are under hunting pressure.

“We have watched flights of birds that will come in from the west one day and then circle around in from the east the next day to get away from the hunters,’’ he said. “Whitewings are a lot smarter bird than mourning doves and I believe that they are capable of learned behavior.’’

While incoming birds flying at 50 to 60 yards are providing some skill-testing shots for hunters in the field, the good news is that after the doves have landed and filled their crops with seed, the shooting situation changes.

“Once they feed, they are heavier and fly lower — that gives the advantage to the hunter,’’ Nooner said.

“The birds I’ve seen are higher than they ever have been...”

STRAIGHT UP: Many hunters are finding whitewings are flying higher and higher. Studies show that the birds are capable of learned behavior. Photos by David J. Sams.

Cleaning the skull Do-it-yourself tips for a European mount The smallish buck is nothing special in scoring terms. But it is your —or your child’s — first. You want to do a European mount but the cost brings hesitation.

Some hunters do it themselves, with varying success. But longtime taxidermist Evelyn Mills of Billington Ranch Taxidermy in Georgetown has experimented and put together a set of methods to clean the whitetail skull.

Mills suggests and has authored tips including four potential methods. She says they all work about the same, but depending on where you live and how close your neighbors are, some may be preferred over others.

Beetles and bugs Some people purchase dermestid beetles, but Mills said that’s not necessary.

“The beetles will just show up if you put out some old meat under a Tupperware container,” she said.

“Put it in the dark, but not close to the house. They will find and eat all of your mounts.”

Steps: • First skin the skull and remove as much meat as possible. Remove the eyeballs, tongue and any tissue that you can easily cut off with a sharp knife or blade.

• If the skull is a fresh one, just lay it in the cage after you are done cutting off the biggest pieces of meat. Make sure you keep your beetles in a dark enclosure with a high humidity. They like dark, moist places.

• If the skull was already on the drier side when you got it, rewet it by soaking it in water for about an hour. Keep misting the skulls you put into the beetle cage on a daily basis to keep them from drying out while the beetles consume the flesh.

• Use more than one tank with beetles so you can switch tanks if the beetles in one tank have eaten their share and the skull is still not clean. This process can take anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks depending on the size of the skull, the appetite

of your beetles, and the freshness of the meat.

• Once the skull is cleaned of any meat and tissue, take it out of the tank and rinse it real good under running water and brush with a soft wire brush.

If any brain is left in the brain cavity, it needs to be taken out with a small wirehook.

• Bleach and finish.

Maceration This method, soaking the skull, is Mills’ favorite, as it causes the least damage to the skull if it is done correctly. But don’t use close to the house or if you have close neighbors who may not like the smell of rotting flesh.

Steps: • Skin the skull and remove the biggest parts of flesh. Then take the skull and put it in a tub or bucket of water. Make sure the whole skull is immersed in the water.

See CLEANING THE SKULL, Page 21

DO-IT-YOURSELF: European mounts may be easier than expected with the help of a taxidermist’s tips. Photo by LSON.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Snow Goose Production Up The snow goose season could be quite different this year, as production of juvenile birds was excellent in the Arctic breeding grounds this summer.

Dr. Robert “Rocky” Rockwell, a biology professor at City University of New York and one of North America’s leading authorities on snow geese, said the summer nesting season in the subarctic region of La Perouse Bay in northern Manitoba was “spectacular.”

“This is a huge production year,” Rockwell said, who was concerned about nesting success after last year’s dismal production. “This was the most bizarrely wet year I’ve ever seen up there. The birds nested nine or 10 days earlier than normal, and as a result nest success was very high.”

Goose hunters are glad to hear the news, as adult birds tend to shy away from decoy spreads.

“My message to goose hunters is this: get ready.

The migration could be packed with young-of-the-year birds,” said Delta Waterfowl President Rob Olson.

MORE YOUNG BIRDS: Increased production “We’re talking about juvenile to adult ratios of 1.5 should mean more snow geese coming to huntto 1,” Rockwell said. “Harvest always goes up when ers’ decoy spreads this season. Photo by Fred you have a high juvenile-to-adult ratio.”

Greenslade, Delta Waterfowl.

The eastern Arctic is also looking good, although production was down in the central Arctic, which produces 10 to 15 percent of the snow goose population.

—Delta Waterfowl report

September 24, 2010

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DOVE North Zone and Central Zone Sept. 1-Oct. 24 and Dec. 25-Jan. 9 South Zone Sept. 17-Oct. 31 and Dec. 25-Jan. 18 Bag limit: 15 birds and not more than two white-tipped doves.

Special White-winged Dove Area Sept. 4-5, 11-12, Sept. 17Oct. 31, Dec. 25-Jan. 14

MUDDY FEET: Trent Broadhurst retrieved these teal barefoot from a tank in Comanche Co. Some parts of the state remain dry with available water holding some teal. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Teal action spotty The Texas coastal prairies provided steady teal hunts for the Sept. 11 opener, but some hunters saw bird numbers wane for the second week of the 16-day early teal season.

“It’s been hot and cold,” said Randy Triplett with Third Coast Outfitters of Texas. “When you get into them, it’s lights out. Other spots might just see a few.”

Triplett hunts groups from Brookshire to Bay City, mainly in flooded rice fields.

During the season’s second week, things started off as expected.

“A little front spread them out and it was good for all our groups,” he said. “But when the big storm got close, some holes became hot and others not. We had to rotate some people around to get them all good hunts.”

Triplett felt this week’s full moon would bring more birds down for the final weekend.

“We should get another push,” he said. “Usually we’re starting to see a few geese by now.”

Hunters with South Wind Hunting Adventures near Eagle Lake reported quick limits with most shooters being finished by 8 a.m.

Internet posters of hunt results seemed to echo that of outfitters — some had phenomenal hunts with quick limits while others struggled. Those willing to wait did say there was a late-morning flight that helped them reach their 4-bird limits.

Near Bonham, Mike Jolley of Pintail Farms also said hunting has been spotty.

“We still could use one good cold front,” Jolley said. “Hunting has been off and on. One day the hunters will see groups of 80 to 100 birds and the next day will be pretty slow.”

Jolley said spinning wing decoys have helped bring in the birds.

“They’re decoying great,” he said. “Even the Mojo dove seems to bring them in — they land right by it.”

—Staff report

The daily bag limit in the SWWDA during the first two weekends is 15 doves in the aggregate, to include no more than 4 mourning doves and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15.

EARLY TEAL-ONLY Sept. 11-26 ALLIGATOR: 22 counties & special properties Sept. 10-30 (by permit only) Remainder of the state April 1-June 30 PRONGHORN ANTELOPE (By permit only) Oct. 2-10 WHITE-TAILED DEER Archery-Only Season Oct. 2-Nov. 5 Special Youth Season* Oct. 30-31, Jan. 3-16

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General Season North Texas (208 counties) Nov. 6-Jan. 2 South Texas (30 counties) Nov. 6-Jan. 16 Late Antlerless and Spike North Texas (106 counties) Jan. 17-30 South Texas (30 counties) Jan. 18-31 Muzzleloader (55 counties) Jan. 3-16

MULE DEER Archery-Only Season Oct. 2-Nov. 5 General Season Panhandle (39 counties) Nov. 20-Dec. 5 SW Panhandle (11 counties) Nov. 20-28 Trans Pecos (19 counties) Nov. 26-Dec. 12 JAVELINA Northern (43 counties) Oct. 1-Feb. 27 Southern (50 counties) Sept. 1-Aug. 31 PHEASANT Panhandle (37 counties) Dec. 4-Jan. 2 Chambers, Jefferson & Liberty counties Oct. 30-Feb. 27 SQUIRREL Special Youth Season** Sept. 25-26 East Texas (51 counties) Oct. 1-Feb. 6, May 1-31

Other Open counties Sept. 1-Aug. 31 QUAIL Statewide (all counties) Oct. 30-Feb. 27 RIO GRANDE TURKEY Archery-Only Season Oct. 2-Nov. 5 Fall Season Special Youth Season* Oct. 30-31, Jan. 15-16 North Zone (122 counties) Nov. 6-Jan. 2 South Zone (26 counties) Nov. 6-Jan. 16 Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, & Willacy counties Nov. 6-Feb. 27 Spring Season North Zone (101 counties) April 2-May 15 Special Youth Season* March 26-27, May 21-22 South Zone (54 counties) March 19-May 1 Special Youth Season* March 12-13, May 7-8 1-Turkey Bag Limit (11 counties) April 1-30

EASTERN TURKEY+ Spring-Only Season East Texas (43 counties) April 1-30 CHACHALACA Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties Oct. 30-Feb. 27

In addition to a hunting license, a migratory game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt any migratory game bird, including mourning dove (a Federal Sandhill Crane Permit also is required to hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant or chachalacas. See County Listings in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual for specific county regulations and more detailed information. *In all counties that have an open season for those species. ** In all counties that have an Oct. 1-Feb. 6 and May 1-31 open squirrel season. + Rio Grande and Eastern Turkey may be hunted in these counties.

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FISHING

Tracking Trout Early reports on project supports tide-runner theory

COVERING WATERS: Early results from a study that implants surgical tracking devices in spotted seatrout and follows their movements suggests that the fish move long distances in short periods of time. Photos by LSON.

By Kyle Carter FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

GOT ONE: This 6-pound blue catfish is headed for a trip to a frying pan after falling victim to Charlie Brown’s trotline techniques that he has been putting to use at Choke Canyon Reservoir for more than three decades. Photo by Ralph Winingham, Lone Star Outdoor News.

A little over a year into a study tracking the movement of adult spotted seatrout on the lower Texas coast, biology master’s student Laura Bivins said results have been as expected but interesting.

“I expected to see a lot of random movement and that’s kind of what we’re getting,” Bivins said. “We’re still very early on in the study, but initial results seem to support the tiderunner theory.”

Tide-runner theory says seatrout travel through the surf, come in through Mansfield Pass and then migrate up into the Land Cut and into Baffin Bay. Other theories suggest it’s a different subpopulation of fish — that they look different – but Bivins is not doing anything with the genetics, she’s only tracking movement.

The multi-year tracking project is headed up by Bivins under the guidance of Dr. Greg Stunz and the Harte Research See TRACKING TROUT, Page 21

Let trotlines do all the work

By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Micro Guide rods introduced earlier this year. “It took some getting used to seeing them on the rod, but I haven’t had a single problem with them at all.”

Even with their tiny size, the guides come in different sizes and weights.

On rods with regular guides, the tip guide usually is a size 6. Anything less is considered “micro,” and the small

The sun is just barely creeping into the morning sky when Charlie Brown begins easing his battered boat into the catfish haven known as Choke Canyon Reservoir.

With more than 60 years of angling experience under his belt, the 71-year-old retired educator had slept very well in his comfortable bed that night knowing trotlines he had set 12 hours earlier have been working while he rested.

“Every time you go out and check the lines, you never know what you will find,’’ he said as he cruised to the sets. “You always hope to be put something in the boat to take the ride home.”

The tree-studded Choke Canyon is ideal for stringing trotlines baited with live perch, cut bait, liver and other fishattracting morsels in an attempt to collect channel, blue or flathead catfish.

In the nearly three decades Brown has focused his fishing attention on Choke, one of his best catches was four 20-25 pound blues hooked nearly one after another on a single main line. Several other sets over the years have produced flatheads in the 20-plus range.

All of the trotline prizes have “taken the ride home” and ended up fried to a golden brown on a dinner plate.

“There just isn’t any better way to put some good-eating fish in the boat,’’ Brown said.

On this particular outing, the catch is slow and only nine blues ranging from about 6 pounds to about a pound and a half make the mistake of trying to snatch a bait from one of the trotline hooks.

Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations limit trotline fishermen to no more than 100 hooks per person, which must be spaced at least three feet apart with no more than 50 hooks per line.

Gear tags listing the fisherman’s name, address and the date must be attached to both ends of the line within three feet of the first hook.

Choke is one of the trotline hot spots in the state because of the multitude of bare tree tops sticking through the surface of the like the well-worn bristles of a brush.

“There are a lot of people who use trotlines in Choke because there are a lot of catfish and gar there, but we have people putting out trotlines all over the state,’’ said Capt. Danny Villalobos, of the District 1, Region 5 office at San Antonio.

“The main violations that we are seeing are people taking fish that are not allowed (trotline catches are limited to nongame fish and channel, blue and flathead catfish); lines that are not properly tagged or labeled; and people who leave lines unattended.

“That creates a nuisance and our wardens will take them in when they find abandoned or improperly tagged lines,’’ he said.

Potential trotline anglers should check the regulations in the Outdoor Annual and their local game warden’s office as the lines are prohibited in several lakes and reservoirs across

See MICRO GUIDES, Page 27

See TROTLINES, Page 22

SUBJECT RELEASED: Laura Bivins releases a study trout. Photo by HRI.

SMALL HOLES: Jason Williamson uses micro guides on his rods. He believes they help him cast farther. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Micro guides trend increases

By Alan Clemons FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS One of the hottest trends in bass fishing this year that may be here to stay is the addition of micro guides to fishing rods, tiny guides that look strange but may add distance to casts.

Micro guides are not new. They have been used in Europe and Asia for years, on custom rods for every-

thing from finesse fishing with small lures to carp rods requiring sensitivity to detect bites.

But like other trends, such as the drop shot, American fishing companies were slow to include the diminutive guides in their lineups.

“They definitely look a little bit out of place because they’re so much smaller,” said professional angler Terry Seagraves of Kissimmee, Fla., who fishes with the E21 Carrot Stix

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GOOD JOB: Keith Combs gets a congratulatory handshake from Todd Auten, right. The two fishing pros waited with their fish in the holding tanks line during the final weigh-in at the PAA tournament on Lake Tawakoni. Photo by Gerald Dutton, PAA.

Del Rio pro takes PAA Tournament Series on Lake Tawakoni Keith Combs of Del Rio capped a record-setting week on Lake Tawakoni for his first major win with 60.48 pounds in the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented

by Carrot Six. His total weight was the most in a PAA Tournament Series event, eclipsing the 52.44 pounds caught by Brian Snowden of Missouri in 2009 on Lake Toho.

Combs sandwiched a meager 13-pound catch with limits weighing more than 24 and 22 pounds on the first and third days to clinch the win.

Todd Auten of South Carolina was second with 46.25 pounds and Randall Tharp of Alabama finished third with 43.88 pounds.

Takahiro Omori of Emory finished fourth with 43.42 pounds while Edwin Evers of Oklahoma landed 40.63 pounds to round out the top five.

“I didn’t think I would win going into this thing,” Combs said. “I didn’t really have a good practice and was catching a few 3-pounders, so I was thinking about maybe 15 pounds a day would be good.”

Combs threw a 3/8-ounce jig and a small swimbait around docks with water from dirt to 3 feet and any

FLIPPING WIN: Keith Combs flips to shoreline cover on Lake Tawakoni. Photo

by Chris Dutton, PAA.

isolated cover. The jig proved to be a hit on the final day, after his first keeper “hit the bait so hard it knocked slack in the line.”

Auten also targeted docks with jigs.

“If I wasn’t stirring up mud, I wasn’t catching them,” he said.

Tharp pitched his way up the leaderboard on the final day.

“On my fifth pitch I caught a 5-pounder and the next fish was a 4-pounder,” he said.

This is the day you want to have on the final day. I just

Texas teams win IFA Redfish Tour events Capt. Kevin Akin of Austin and tournament partner Glen Hornsby of Corpus Christi credited a lucky LSU cap and local knowledge of where to fish to win the IFA Redfish Tour event at Delacroix, La. The pair weighed in a two-redfish limit that totaled 16.82 pounds, winning a boat valued at $30,000.

Akins and Hornsby relied on gold spoons, and caught 25 fish during competition.

Second-place went to Tansel Basci of Houston and John Gill of Corpus Christi with 16.11 pounds.

Third-place winners, Capt. Levi Price of Marble Falls and Capt. Brandon Mondin of Sequin, a student at Texas A&M, finished with 15.21 pounds.

At the IFA Kayak Tour Texas Division tournament at Port Aransas, Josh MacNaughton, a mechanic from Crosby, used a Berkley Jerk Shad and caught a redfish, black drum, a short rat red and a speckled sea trout out of his kayak. His final 42-point score, a combination of the redfish’s length and the trout’s length, led to the win.

wasn’t high enough in the standings to win.”

Hours after his final bag hit the scale, Combs still was still on Cloud 9 after his first major tour win.

“I knew what I was getting into after seeing some of the guys who fish the PAA series,” he said. “There are top guys from the other tours here and they’re all sticks, and just about every hammer in North Texas was here. This really means a lot.”

—PAA report

MacNaughton won a kayak.

Second-place finisher Thomas Bulger Jr., of Rockport landed a 22.5-inch redfish and a 19.25-inch speckled sea trout to finish second.

—IFA Redfish report

Texas City Dike reopens Nearly two years to the day from when Hurricane Ike hit the Texas City Dike, fans of the popular fishing spot on the Gulf may return.

Texas City celebrated the official opening of the dike at 5 a.m. on Sept. 12. The two-year project was funded by $4.1 million in federal disaster funds, with boat ramps, fishing piers and roadways being rebuilt.

The opening was anticipated to be in October, but good weather helped speed up the rebuilding effort.

There is no charge for Texas City residents to access the dike. For others, there’s a $5 cost per vehicle on weekends and holidays, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The dike was severely damaged during Hurricane Ike when roads were washed out and ramps demolished.

—Staff report

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TEXAS FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

HOT BITES LARGEMOUTH BASS

BASTROP: Good on watermelon red deep-diving crankbaits and soft plastics.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Very good on Pop R’s and chartreuse soft plastic worms off piers and drop-offs near the dam.

LBJ: Good on watermelon Curb’s Erratic jigs, watermelon red Whacky Sticks, and pumpkin 4” tubes near docks and lay downs along seawalls and in 10 feet at daylight.

MEREDITH: Good on Yellow Magics early, later switching to drop-shot rigs, shaky head jigs and Rat–L–Traps.

RAY ROBERTS: Good on Zoom watermelon/red flukes around submerged trees in 2–8 feet.

TRAVIS: Good on bone topwaters, watermelon worms, and grubs in 5–15 feet.

WHITE, HYBRID, STRIPER

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

CALAVERAS: Striped bass are good on spoons and striper jigs near the dam and the crappie wall in 15–20 feet.

LIVINGSTON: White bass are good on troll tubes and pet spoons.

CATFISH

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

COLETO CREEK: Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp, liver, and live perch.

O.H. IVIE: Channel catfish are good on live and cut bait.

CRAPPIE COLEMAN: Crappie are good on minnows and green tube jigs.

ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 76–81degrees; 0.2’ low. Black bass are good on drop-shot rigs, Rat–L–Traps and shaky head jigs with a 7” worm. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

ARROWHEAD: Water clear; 77–80 degrees; 2.09’ low. Black bass are fair on buzzbaits early, midday switching to Rat–L–Traps, crankbaits and Texas rigs in 2–10 feet. Crappie are good on minnows off the derricks. White bass are good Rooster Tails and Road Runners.

Catfish are fair on juglines to good on cut shad.

ATHENS: Water fairly clear, 78–81 degrees; 0.64’ low. Black bass are fair on soft plastics in 2–10 feet around heavy brush. Crappie are fair at night on live minnows off docks with brush.

Catfish are good on punchbait and fresh cut bait in 15 feet. Bream are good on nightcrawlers in 4–6 feet.

BASTROP: Water clear. Black bass are good on watermelon red deep-diving crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are very good on shrimp, minnows, and stinkbait.

BELTON: Water clear; 82 degrees; 3.17’ high. Black bass are good on Rat–L–Traps and drifting minnows in coves. Hybrid striper are fair trolling white riversides. White bass are fair trolling Rat–L–Traps and white riversides. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut bait.

Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch and live shad.

BOB SANDLIN: Water off-color; 79–82 degrees; 2.38’ low. Black bass are good early on and topwaters, later switching to drop-shot rigs and finesse jigs. White bass are fair on Rooster Tails and minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and chartreuse nightcrawlers.

BRAUNIG: Water clear; 86 degrees.

Black bass are slow. Striped bass are excellent on liver and shad off points near the pier and at the north end of the park, and down-rigging silver and gold spoons near the jetty and dam. Channel catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cut bait, and cheesebait near the dam and the discharge. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water fairly clear; 79–83 degrees; 1.36’ low. Black bass are fair on topwaters early, midday switching to crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Hybrid striper are fair on Sassy Shad and live shad. Bream are fair on crickets and red wigglers.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 88 degrees; 7.61’ low. Black bass are fair on Bass Hogg spinnerbaits and Pig Sticker Shaky Heads with Grande Bass 4” redbug or green pumpkin Trickster Worms near the docks and over brush piles in 12–15 feet, and good on Frog and Pop–R topwaters. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies off lighted docks at night. Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies and minnows over brush piles in 10–18 feet, and off lighted docks at night. Channel catfish are good on cut bait and nightcrawlers over baited holes in 12–20 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with perch in 12–20 feet.

BUCHANAN: Water clear; 86 degrees; 9.65’ low. Black bass are good on daiquiri topwaters, blue shad flukes, and wacky-rigged watermelon red Whacky Sticks along docks and over flats early.

Striped bass are good on plastic swim baits and drifting or free lining live bait around Lighthouse Point at first light.

White bass are fair but small trolling deep-diving Shad Raps and jigging Tiny Traps and 2” plastic swim baits over humps along the river channel. Crappie are fair on pink/white or chartreuse crappie jigs and live minnows in clear water. 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.

CADDO: Water murky; 80–85 degrees; 0.33’ low. Black bass are good on black/ red or watermelon Senkos on the grass and along the edges of lily pads and on soft plastic frogs over grass and lily pads.

Georges and Road Runners. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around cypress trees and in the river bends. Bream are fair around cypress trees on crickets and worms. Catfish are good on limb lines with cut bait.

CALAVERAS: Water clear; 86 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 good on down-rigging spoons with green grubs between the crappie wall and the dam in 15–20 feet, and on crawfish and tilapia along the shoreline. Crappie are slow.

Channel and blue catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cheesebait, and shad near the railroad trestle, 181 Cove, and the discharge. Yellow catfish are slow.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 87 degrees; 1.13’ high. Black bass are fair to good on JDC Skip–N–Pops, Pop R’s, and wacky-rigged watermelon red Whacky Sticks along the edges of grass and buck brush, and on Texas-rigged blue flake worms and drop-shot Devil’s Tongues along break lines and ledges. Striped bass are slow to fair trolling Gizz 4 crankbaits over and around humps and jigging 1 oz. Pirk Minnows at daylight.

White bass are slow. Smallmouth bass are fair on topwaters, root beer JDC grubs, and craws in 10–30 feet at daylight. Crappie are fair on white or chartreuse crappie jigs and live minnows tight to lay down tree tops and brush upriver. Channel catfish are slow.

Yellow and blue catfish are very good on trotlines and juglines baited with live goldfish and perch from Cranes Mill Park to the mouth of the river.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 79–86 degrees; 1.61’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Carolina rigs, jigs and drop-shot rigs, with early action on topwaters.

White bass are fair early on Humdingers, midday switching to Hellbender with Pet Spoon rigs. Hybrid striper are fair burning large slabs. Catfish are good drifting cut shad and on nightcrawlers.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 88 degrees; 4.14’ low. Black bass are fair on minnows and white spinnerbaits. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are very good on frozen shrimp and punchbait.

COLEMAN: Water fairly clear; 88 degrees; 9.23’ low. Black bass are good on chartreuse and chartreuse blue spinnerbaits, and soft plastics. Hybrid striper are fair on silver striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and green tube jigs. Channel catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 86 degrees (97 degrees at discharge); 0.10’ high. Black bass are fair on minnows.

Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp, liver, and live perch. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines and juglines baited with live perch in 10–20 feet.

CONROE: Water fairly clear; 0.83’ low.

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

Striped bass are fair on live minnows and green striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and pink tube jigs. Catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.

FALCON: Water clear; 85 degrees. Black bass are good on white spinnerbaits.

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

FAYETTE: Water fairly clear; 89 degrees.

Black bass are slow. Channel and blue catfish are very good on cut shad, liver, and shrimp over baited holes under trees.

FORK: Water fairly clear; 79–85 degrees; 1.88’ low. Black bass are fair to good on buzzbaits and Yellow Magics early, midday switching to Carolina rigs, jigs, crankbaits and spoons. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs around structure. Catfish are good on cut shad and chartreuse nightcrawlers.

GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 4.93’ high. Black bass are

fair on Texas rigs, shaky head jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over planted brush piles. White bass are good to excellent all over the lake. Catfish are fair on prepared baits and chartreuse nightcrawlers. Boaters are advised to watch for floating debris.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 83 degrees; 0.33’ low. Black bass to 4 pounds are very good on Pop R’s and chartreuse soft plastic worms off piers and drop-offs near the dam. Crappie are good on live minnows in coves in 10–12 feet. Bream are good on live worms off piers and over grass beds and the south side of the islands. Channel and blue catfish to 9 pounds are good on trotlines baited with perch.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 78–81 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 are good on live bait. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.

JOE POOL: Water off-color; 81–86 degrees; 2.91’ low. Black bass are fair on topwaters early, later switching to jigs and Carolina rigs. Crappie are slow to fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on Rooster Tails over mid–lake humps. Catfish are fair on cut and prepared baits.

LAVON: Water stained; 80–86 degrees; 5.21’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and topwaters in the shallows, and on Carolina rigs off deeper points. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around structure. Catfish are fair on cut shad and prepared baits.

LBJ: Water stained; 88 degrees; 0.30’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon Curb’s Erratic jigs, watermelon red Whacky Sticks, and pumpkin 4” tubes near docks and lay downs along seawalls and in 10 feet at daylight. Striped bass are good on Creme Lure’s 2” Spoiler Shads and 1” Li’l Fishies at night. White bass are fair to good on Li’l Fishies 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; 81–86 degrees; 2.58’ low. Black bass are fair to good on spinnerbaits, Texas rigs and shaky head jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. White bass are good on Humdingers and slabs.

Hybrid striper are fair to good on slabs and Sassy Shad. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 87 degrees; 0.11’ high. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

Striped bass are fair on bone-colored Zara spooks. White bass are good on troll tubes and pet spoons. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 77–81 degrees; 85.89’ low. Black bass are good on Yellow Magics early, later switching to drop-shot rigs, shaky head jigs and Rat–L–Traps. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and live minnows. White bass are good on Rooster Tails. Smallmouth bass are good on spoons, live bait and jerkbaits along rocky points. Walleye are good on live bait. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait.

O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 78–82 degrees; 24.23’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, shaky head jigs, Rat–L–Traps and wacky rigs. Crappie are fair to 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; 79–85 degrees; 1.25’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Rat–L–Traps and soft plastics fished shallow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in the marinas and over brush piles. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are fair to good on Little

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 78–83 degrees; 1.14’ low. Black bass are fair on Rat–L–Traps, Texas rigs and chatterbaits. Crappie are fair on live minnows. White bass are good on Road Runners and slabs. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 81–86 degrees; 3.71’ low. Black bass are fair to good on shallow- to medium-running shad pattern crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Rat–L–Traps and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on topwaters and slabs. Hybrid striper are fair to good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 81–84 degrees; 0.55’ high. Black bass are good on Zoom watermelon/red flukes and Gene Larew Biffle Bugs around submerged trees in 2–8 feet. Crappie are good on Slab Slayers and minnows on brush piles and standing timber in 15–20 feet. White bass are good on main lake humps in 25–35 feet on chartreuse/white 1 oz. slabs.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 82–86 degrees; 0.79’ low. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters and spinnerbaits early, midday switching to Carolina rigs and drop-shot rigs. White bass are fair on slabs and topwaters.

Hybrid striper are fair on large slabs and Rat–L–Traps. Catfish are good on prepared baits and cut shad.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 6.44’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters and watermelon soft plastic worms. White bass are fair on spoons over humps. Crappie are fair on minnows over baited holes. Bream are fair on nightcrawlers. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait and nightcrawlers.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 88 degrees; 0.67’ low. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are fair on spinnerbaits and Rat–L–Traps. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Perch are good on worms. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait and shrimp.

TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 81–86 degrees; 2.15’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, topwaters and Texas rigs.

Crappie are fair on live minnows in 15 feet. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait. White bass are good on Humdingers and topwaters. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on live shad, Sassy Shad and slabs.

TEXOMA: Water off-color; 79–85 degrees; 0.94’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early, midday switching to crankbaits, Texas rigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around bridges, in the marinas and over brush piles. Striped bass are fair early on topwaters and Sassy Shad, later switching to slabs and continuing with Sassy Shad. Catfish are fair on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 88 degrees; 5.33’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters and redbug soft plastic worms early and late. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on spoons on ridges. Crappie are slow. Bream are good on crickets and nightcrawlers in 5–10 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with shrimp and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow.

TRAVIS: Water fairly clear; 87 degrees; 8.05’ low. Black bass are good on bone topwaters, watermelon worms, and grubs in 5–15 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on chrome jigging spoons and minnows in 35–42 feet. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers and fresh cut bait in 28–45 feet.

WHITNEY: Water murky; 0.57’ low. Black bass are fair on watermelon and chartreuse Rat–L–Traps, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics off points. Striped bass are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows and green tube jigs. Catfish are good on frozen shrimp and punchbait.

SALTWATER SCENE NORTH SABINE: Redfish are good in the marsh with high tides. Tides are well above normal. Drifters have worked slicks for trout and redfish on plastics and topwaters.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad. Trout are good at the jetty on live bait and topwaters. Bull redfish are good at the jetty.

BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the south shoreline on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Trout, bull redfish, black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels.

Redfish are good on live bait around the reefs.

Redfish are good on the north shoreline on gold spoons and small topwaters.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout and redfish are good on soft plastics while working slicks and mud boils. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Trout are good for drifters on plum plastics.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout and redfish are good in the back lakes on live bait. Bull redfish are good in the surf and at San Luis Pass on crabs and mullet. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetties on shrimp and crabs.

TEXAS CITY: Sand trout and Gulf trout are good in the channel on shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in Moses Lake on crabs and shrimp. The Dike is now open.

FREEPORT: Bull redfish are good on live bait and crabs on the Surfside beach. Black drum and redfish are good on the reefs. Bull redfish are showing at all the jetties.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Trout and redfish are fair to good on the shorelines for waders tossing small topwaters and plastics.

Redfish are good in Lake Austin.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are good on live shrimp and topwaters in Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and Shell Island.

PORT O’CONNOR: Bull redfish are good in the surf and at the jetty on natural baits. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp.

ROCKPORT: Redfish are good on mullet on the Estes Flats and around Mud Island. Redfish are showing up in large schools. Trout and redfish are good in the back of Allyn’s Bight.

PORT ARANSAS: Trout are fair around Super Flats on topwaters. Redfish are fair at East Flats and Shamrock Cove on topwaters and plastics under rattling corks. Offshore is good for amberjack, kingfish, tuna and dolphin.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are good on the shallow flats on gold spoons and small topwaters. Sand trout and croakers are good in the channels on fresh shrimp.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on topwaters and plum plastics around rocks and grass.

Redfish are good in the Land Cut on live bait. Redfish are fair to good in knee–deep water on gold spoons and topwaters.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good around East Cut. Redfish are showing in large schools on the sand. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes on topwaters and soft plastics under a popping cork. Offshore is good for kingfish, ling and dolphin.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout, redfish and snook are fair to good on the flats on DOA Lures and live bait. Tarpon are fair to good around the jetty.

PORT ISABEL: Redfish are good at Gas Well Flats and in South Bay on scented baits.

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

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September 24, 2010

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER FOUND DOE, SHOT WITH .22 RIFLE A caller notified Waller County Game Warden Kevin Glass that he had driven by a house and observed four men cleaning a deer. Glass responded to the residence and found that a doe had indeed been shot with a .22 rifle. Charges were filed.

DEER TAKEN AFTER BEING HIT WITH SUBURBAN Travis County Game Wardens Christy Vales and Chad West responded to a call regarding a deer that had been hit by a vehicle. The complainant stated to West that he had hit the deer, and shortly after a Suburban had pulled up to the complainant and injured deer. They told the complainant that they wanted the deer and loaded the deer up in the back of their Suburban. The complainant wrote their license plate number down and contacted Austin Communications. When the wardens arrived at the Suburban’s registered address, they observed a subject using the headlights of the Suburban to quarter the deer.

Contact was made, three subjects were cited for possession of a whitetailed deer in closed season, and the meat was seized. Cases pending.

DOVE HUNTERS GETTING AN EARLY START After receiving a call regarding several persons shooting doves, Game Wardens Marcus Vela and Hector Leandro went to the area along a tree line that surrounded a sand and gravel pit in Cameron County. Several trucks were parked along the very back of the pit.

Contact was made with the shooters who were holding shotguns and several dead clay pigeons. The group was just getting some practice for the upcoming dove season and had permission from the landowner to be there. No violations occurred but good contacts were established.

CRAIGSLIST STRIKES AGAIN A man is charged with taking an alligator during closed season and attempting to sell the meat illegally on Craigslist. Fort Bend County Game Warden Barry Eversole had spotted an ad the individual had placed online on Craigslist, offering the gator meat for sale. District 5 Captain Harmon phoned the individual, and posing as an inter-

ested buyer, arranged to meet the seller later that day. During the phone conversation, the seller told Harmon that he had killed a 10 1⁄2-foot alligator in a pond behind his residence, had already given away much of the meat to family members, and was in the process of bleaching the skull. Harmon later met the seller to make the

transaction. When asked about the skull, the seller said he did not have it and invited the wardens to his residence to look. No skull was there but several marijuana plants growing in 5-gallon buckets were beside the house. The man also had pending warrants. The subject was turned over to Brazoria County sheriff’s deputies.

WHOLE CORN “PLANTED” FOR DOVE BAIT On the opening day of dove season, El Paso Game Wardens Ray Spears and Kenneth Zuber were checking dove hunters when they heard an unusual amount of shooting coming from a farming area fairly close to their location. They investigated and found five individuals with more than 200 doves and a large quantity of whole corn and oats spread on the ground. Cases pending.

additional 19 dove. The juvenile told Mount that the dove and the shotgun belonged to his father who was hunting earlier that day. Vannoy also noticed an abundance of assorted baked goods (sliced bread, bagels, etc.) on the ground in the field. The adult subject admitted to placing the bread to attract birds. All 27 dove were seized and several citations are pending.

observed maize spread across the ground. The subjects received citations for hunting over a baited area.

Cases pending.

MORE BAIT, BREAD AND BAGELS A subject told wardens that placing bread and bagels to attract dove worked pretty well. Tarrant County Game Wardens Chelle Mount and David Vannoy had noticed a field ripe with sunflowers and thought that it looked promising. They noticed two men in an adjacent field. Vannoy made contact with the first man hunting near the fence line, while Mount approached the other who was heading toward a parked truck. The sound of five shotgun shells being ejected from an unplugged shotgun told Mount that Vannoy had already found a violation. At the vehicle, Mount made contact with a juvenile who claimed he was not hunting and did not have a hunting license.

Sitting in the bed of the truck was another unplugged shotgun and an

BAIT, BAIT AND MORE BAIT Ellis County Game Warden Jeff Powell received a call of dove hunters possibly trespassing.

Powell observed 12 individuals hunting around a pond. Powell contacted Navarro County Game Warden Jimmy Woolley who was nearby. As the wardens approached the hunters, piles of milo were located all along the bank of the pond. Two protected shore birds were also located.

Multiple citations pending.

“THE GAME WARDENS ARE HERE” While checking dove hunters in Fannin County, Fannin County Game Warden Randolph McGee and Wood County Game Warden Derek Spitzer drove to a farm. McGee observed a man run out of a barn and yell “the game wardens are here.” Everyone hunting ran to the barn. Spitzer

MILO FOOD OF CHOICE IN THIS FIELD Shelby County Game Warden Randy Button and Capt. Tom Jenkins responded to a call from a woman who reported shooting near her house. Upon arrival, a group of 15 people was found on the adjoining property. After the wardens checked licenses and guns, it was determined the milo that the birds were eating was planted the week before. Citations were issued to the group members and restitution filed for 145 birds. Cases pending.

SUNFLOWER SEEDS WITHOUT PLANTS Polk County Game Wardens David Johnson and Ryan Hall cited several men for hunting dove over a baited area. One man admitted to putting out only one 60-pound bag of wild bird mix three weeks before the season began. Seeing that all the bait was not gone, he used his dozer to blade over what was left in an attempt to cover it up. After a short walk to where the birds seemed to be coming from, a large amount of sunflower seed was found scattered on the back side of the pond dam.

The man then admitted to placing a second bag of sunflower seed within two weeks. Several citations were issued and cases pending.

SOUTH ZONE SEASON NOT OPEN YET Starr County Game Warden Drew Spencer responded to an call about a man shooting doves during a closed season. After finding no one in the reported fields, Spencer drove to a nearby subdivision to do a cursory search of the vehicles and persons in the area. At the end of a driveway, Spencer found seven freshly shot shotgun shells. He then looked into the open garage and saw dove feathers, a bird hunting vest, and an empty box of shotgun shells on a folding chair. Spencer knocked on the door, gained consent to search the kitchen area, and saw a pot of stewing dove breasts on the stove.

The man told Spencer that those doves had been shot by his dad a few days ago and that he hadn’t shot any earlier because the birds had been too high. Spencer issued the man citations for hunting dove during a closed season and for shooting from/across a roadway.

PLOWED FIELD FULL OF DOVE A GIVEAWAY While patrolling in Cochran County, Game Warden Lance May came across a freshly plowed field near the Cochran/Hockley county line loaded with dove. May investigated and found the plowed field to have grain seeds scattered in a zigzag pattern. Several shot shells and feathers were found on the ground nearby. May teamed up with Game Warden James Cummings at the field late that afternoon. After about four hours of waiting, they witnessed two subjects pull in and shoot several birds off the baited field. Cases pending.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

September 24, 2010

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

A quaint stay on the mother lagoon

By Scott Sommerlatte FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Traveling anglers have found great comfort and hospitality at the Redfish Inn in South Padre along the banks of the Laguna Madre.

Relatively new, the Redfish Inn was founded by local skiff guide Capt. Dale Fridy and is situated along what many anglers call the ‘hotel channel’ that runs from the South Padre Island Causeway northward bayside until it reaches the Convention Center. Not only will anglers find themselves at home REDFISH INN: Dale and Kelly Fridy opened the Redfish Inn so that anglers in South Padre at the inn, but they will also find could have a gathering spot. The seven-room inn is right on the water and it is possible to a nice lighted pier to tie their catch a Texas Slam right off their dock. Anglers can also enjoy some of the best fly-fishing skiffs or bay boats up at night for red drum in Texas in the shallow waters nearby. Photo by LSON. or to cast a fly to the numerous trout, redfish and snook that In addition to providing easy access to what chase bait in and out of the submerged green lights. In fact some consider some of the best fly-fishing and a Texas Slam, which consists of catching all three species in light-tackle angling the state has to offer, the a 24-hour period of time, is not out of the question.

Redfish Inn has become an occasional gather“I wanted to take my guide business to the next level,” ing spot for some of the area’s most talented said Fridy of the location. “I wanted to be the first to open and reputable guides. a lodge that caters to fly and light-tackle anglers but at the Recently, angler Chris Blevins fished his way same time, I did not want it to be a full-service lodge.” from Port Mansfield to South Padre with a With its seven rooms opening onto a common porch that group of friends that included mid-coast guide wraps around the building, the Redfish Inn has all of the Ethan Wells. ambiance of a lodge or bed and breakfast but does not serve “It is the perfect destination for fly anglers to meals. There are dining areas both inside and on the patio go,” Blevins said. “Great waters to fish, great faoverlooking the bay allowing guest to get take out or bring cility and hanging out with great people, what their own meals. In addition, the seafood restaurant Scam- more could you ask for?” pi’s is just across the street for those who have traveled by It was the fellow visitors who drew the most boat rather than driving into the area by car. praise from the guests.

John Rizopolous recently spent a week there with his “What truly makes this place are those who son, Nick. gather there,” Rizopolous said. “The guests are “Not only is it very tastefully done and comfortable, but all very like-minded people who often have a Dale and his wife, Kelly, are excellent hosts that go out of passion for the same things. It is very special to their way to ensure your stay is beyond enjoyable.” He add- look out across the bay while sharing experied, “There is not a thing that I do not love about it.” ences with new friends.”

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

September 24, 2010

HEROES 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

JILL ARGUS of Boerne was fishing near Port Mansfield when she caught her first speckled trout this summer.

HAROLD STELLY from Louisiana shot this buck in Zavalla County while hunting with El Indio Outfitters. The 15-point deer scored 182.

CYNTHIA CUELLAR,12, shot this mature spike with her TC .22-250 in Zapata County.

LUKAS BENTON, 8, caught this 4-pound bass on a buzzbait.

He was fishing a pond near Tomball.

NICK KOHLEFFEL with a 26-inch trout caught in Baffin Bay.

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

th her .243 rifl in Freestone wi ck bu is th d te 9, harves Catie Salazar,

09. e on Nov. 1, 20

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100 YEARS OF SERVICE FREE DELIVERY FREE LOANERS ON WARRANTY SERVICE

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September 24, 2010

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NO ONE BEATS OUR DEALS, NOT NOW, NOT EVER!

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September 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

FLIP N’ DRIP COFFEE MAKER Thank you, Brunton, for your compact little coffee maker. Whether you are a hunter or an angler camping out in your favorite spot, there is no need to forgo a hot beverage in the morning. With the Flip N’ Drip coffee maker, just heat water in the stainless steel carafe, place the ground coffee or tea in the reusable mesh filter, twist on the double-walled insulated mug, then flip. Faster than you can say drip, drip, drip, you will have 16 ounces of your favorite hot beverage ready to enjoy.

The coffee maker sells for about $60.

(800) 443-4871 www.brunton.com

>>

VAP CARBON SHAFTS Victory Archery’s newest Armour Piercing series has a shaft that incorporates advanced carbon technology to ensure strength, accuracy and penetration. The VAP arrows feature a Penetrator Insert that provides a stronger, sleeker fit for both target points and broadheads. This insert is available in a 5/16 (43-grain) and a 9/32 (33-grain) option. The 30-inch-long arrows sell for about $150 per dozen.

(760) 496-2121

FLO-TORQ REFLEX PROPELLER HUB KIT Mercury Marine’s newest kit eliminates clutch rattle, minimizes noise and vibration, and offers lower-unit protection for 40 to 60 hp standard-gearcase outboard motors. Should a propeller hit an underwater obstruction, this field-serviceable kit allows boaters to replace a hub by themselves in minutes. The kit, which sells for about $150, is designed for the company’s Flo-Torq Reflex hubs that have replaced the rubber hubs previously used on 40 to 60 hp standard-gearcase propellers. In the event of an impact, the Flo-Torq Reflex sleeve will sacrifice itself to protect key drive components.

(920) 929-5040 www.mercurymarine.com

>>

>>

PRODUCTS

>> >>

>>

WINDSTOPPER JACKET Late season anglers will appreciate Simms’ newest jacket, which combines the durability of a soft shell with the warmth of fleece.

The jacket’s high-wear areas (its hood, collar, shoulders, back of its sleeves, front side panels, hem and cuffs) feature waterresistant Windstopper soft shell fabric for rugged, abrasion-resistant durability. Available in brown, black and gray, the jacket sells for about $250.

(866) 585-3570 www.simmsfishing.com

SERIOUS SCOUTERS CAMERA MOUNT Crazy about Outdoors’ easy-to-adjust universal camera mount is ideal for hunters who don’t want to cause damage to trees. The mount is designed to affix without drilling holes or adding hardware to trees. Features include a foot-long flexible arm for finding the perfect angle for the camera, all-metal construction that weathers any climate, and an L-shaped bracket and metal plate for secure mounting.

The kit sells for just under $40.

(830) 456-2325 www.crazyaboutoutdoors.com

X-TREME ADVENTURE PANTS These pants by RailRiders are perfect for outdoorsmen who require reliable, durable, and low-maintenance garments.

Anglers will especially like the pants’ quickdrying abrasion-resistant nylon fabric as well as their roomy fit. The lightweight pants also feature two welted zippered back pockets, zippered cargo pockets on the outer legs, deep front pockets, plus a security pocket. The wilderness pants, which are also available in tall sizes, sell for about $95.

(800) 437-3794 www.railriders.com

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

September 24, 2010

Page 19

Hunters’ hopes Continued From Page 1

had to do a lot of shredding,” said Kyle Nunn, manager of North Star Outfitters on a 4,500acre ranch near Winona.

“Last year and the year before, we were really dry, but this year it’s just the opposite,” Nunn said. “We’ve got everything booked up for October, and that tells us something.

“Last year we couldn’t find any hunters.”

The state climatologist reported earlier this summer that 71.2 percent of the state was drought free.

The proverbial cup — the one that’s frequently half-full — was overflowing the first week of September when Tropical Storm Hermine unloaded double-digit precipitation.

The opposite was true a year ago when 71.8 percent of Texas was saddled by drought.

Back then, parts of the state — especially South Texas — were so parched the brown grass crumbled under foot, leaving hardly any food for adult deer, and nothing for newborns.

Fawn recruitment in Goliad County, for example, was estimated at less than 10 percent.

But a couple of factors probably blunted hunter success last year.

While a lot of forage wilted, acorns were plentiful, which starts out being a very good thing.

But, Lockwood noted, if deer are content to find food beneath an oak canopy, they might not care if there’s corn at the feeder.

The same thing could happen this year, he said.

Whatever the reasons, last

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

National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Intern Nicholas Conklin Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Contributors Kyle Carter Alan Clemons David Draper Wilbur Lundeen Bill Miller

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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.

year’s total harvest, for archery and rifle seasons, was down from 2008-09.

According to TPWD data, 648,686 deer hunters went afield in Texas last season; that’s 3,288 more than the 645,398 in the previous year.

But last year’s hunters only took 559,357 deer, compared to the 629,650 animals that were killed the year before, the data shows.

“We have a lot of carryover from last year, with a lot of bucks that are a year older,” Lockwood said. “And now it’s even more important to harvest the right number of does this year.”

Despite the challenges, Cox is ready to harvest the biggest deer of his life.

“We just have to get them out of the brush and into the feeders,” he said.

The archery-only season runs through Nov. 5.

WAITING AND HOPING: An abundance of available natural food is a good thing for deer, but not always for hunters with blinds and stands near feeders. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Page 20

September 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

NATIONAL

HIGH EXPECTATIONS: For those headed north to chase ringnecks, the forecast for most states is good compared with last season. Photo by LSON.

National pheasant forecast promising Beginning in mid-October, flights north from Texas are spotted with passengers wearing blaze orange jackets and caps heading for some of the country’s pheasant hot spots.

According to Pheasants Forever, bird numbers appear to be holding steady in the Dakotas, Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska, but numbers are down in Iowa.

KANSAS Kansas pheasant hunters bagged 746,000 roosters last year, up approximately 10 percent from 2008, the second highest total in the country. Spring crowing counts were up one percent this year, and expectations are for a similar harvest total this season.

Season Dates: November 13 through Jan. 31, 2011 Daily Bag Limit: 4 Possession Limit: 16 NEBRASKA Severe winter weather in parts of Nebraska and above-average rainfall this spring impacted pheasant populations in parts of the state, with the overall rural mail carrier survey showing a 4-percent decrease. But where pheasants are most abundant — the southwest and Sandhills regions of the state — this year’s survey showed healthy jumps.

Season Dates: October 30 through Jan. 31, 2011 Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 12 NORTH DAKOTA North Dakota was expected to check in around a 500,000 pheasant harvest last year, and exceeded that with a 650,000 bird take.

And though crowing counts were down six percent this spring, overall nesting conditions improved by June across many parts of the state.

Season Dates: October 9 through Jan. 2, 2011 Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 12 SOUTH DAKOTA Coming off a season in which hunters harvested more than 1.6 million roosters, South Dakota’s 2010 brood survey count showed a 3-percent increase from last year in the country’s pheasant mecca. In 2009, South Dakota’s official pheasant population estimate was 8.4 million.

Although CRP acreage has dropped to about 1 million acres, the quality of existing habitat appears to have boosted reproduction.

Season Dates: October 16 through Jan. 2, 2011 Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 15 —Pheasants Forever report

Virus results in destroying thousands of steelhead After finding a potentially deadly virus in ponds at Idaho’s Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, federal fish managers were forced to destroy tens of thousands of juvenile steelhead.

The fish were killed to reduce the threat of the viral disease called Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis, or IHN, spreading to other hatchery holding ponds at the facility.

INH infects salmon and trout and can be fatal.

—Staff report

STEELHEAD DISEASE: Despite having to destroy thousands of hatchery steelhead, federal officials in Idaho still expect to meet the expected release numbers. Photo by Tailwaters Fly Fishing Company.

Freak bow-hunting accident kills hunter A 50-year-old man died in Washington while bowhunting in what authorities are calling “a freak accident.”

Benny White and his hunting partner left their pickup truck after spotting an elk.

The victim was hunting with a crossbow, which is allowed in the state for disabled hunters. His partner was behind him with a compound bow with the bow in position. The victim apparently stopped abruptly and the second hunter ran into him, his arrow piercing White in the torso.

Aid crews responded but White was pronounced dead at the scene.

—Washington Department of Game and Fish report

World record mountain caribou hunter honored Paul T. Deuling of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, received the Sagamore Hill Award, the highest honor given a hunter by the Boone and Crockett Club.

Deuling received the award, named for the New York home of Theodore Roosevelt, for taking a World’s Record mountain caribou in a challenging fair chase hunt.

Deuling spotted the huge caribou during a 1988 solo hunt for Dall’s sheep in the Pelly Mountains of Yukon Territory. He had backpacked six miles across two shallow valleys and a range of hills, all choked with thick, tangled brush. After setting up camp, Deuling climbed a ridge to glass for sheep when he spotted the magnificent bull with a single cow. Deuling said the bull “appeared to have a black oak tree growing from its head.”

A meticulous stalk and 10-yard shot with his .270 ended the hunt but began a grueling fiveday meat-packing ordeal.

When Deuling took his trophy to a Boone and Crockett Club official measurer to tape the antlers, they scored 459-3/8, more than 7 inches larger than the next largest mountain caribou in the Club’s records book.

The award was created in 1948 in memory of Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and Kermit Roosevelt to honor outstanding trophies worthy of great distinction. Only one award may be given in any three-year period, but the actual frequency has been even less often. Deuling is only the 17th recipient of a Sagamore Hill Award.

—Boone and Crockett Club report

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Cleaning the skull

Tracking trout

Continued From Page 4

Continued From Page 8

• Depending on the outside temperature and the time of year this process can take from as little as a week to a couple of months. The water needs to be checked every three or four days, and if necessary partially replaced with fresh water. If the water gets too murky and nasty with meat tissue floating around in it, it needs to be changed out. Check the water for missing teeth first and don’t exchange all of it — you want to keep the bacteria in the water.

• The skull is ready to come out when you can easily remove the meat with your hands. It will literally just fall off and very little, if any, scraping with a knife will be required.

• Remove skull and rinse with clean water. Scrub it with a soft wire brush to remove the last bits of tissue that may cling to the skull. Clean the skull under running water inside and out and then let it sit in the sun for a few days to dry.

• Bleach and finish.

Institute’s Ocean and Human Health research team. The project has received funding from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi’s Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationist Award Trust.

“This study is mainly to enlighten us on when and if these fish are moving,” Bivins said. “They are managed different in the lower Laguna than they are in the Upper Laguna.

So if these fish are traveling back and forth, it gives the managers more information.”

Last July, Bivins started surgically implanting tracking devices inside seatrout and strategically planting information receivers in high traffic areas around Port Mansfield Channel, the Lower Laguna Madre, Land Cut, Baffin Bay and the Upper Laguna Madre waters.

When Bivins retrieved the tracking information for the first time this past May, which has to be done by hand at each receiver, she found out 70 percent of the 62 seatrout she’d tagged were still alive and had been successfully tracked.

The seatrout had been picked up and

Simmering Another method commonly used is to simmer the skulls. But never boil a skull, Mills said, as it can do serious damage to the bones.

Steps: • Skin the skull and cut off the biggest chunks of meat. Either presoak the skull for a week or so in a bucket of water to soften up the tissue (preferred) or simmer it in a pot with water and sal soda (sodium carbonate), or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

• Simmer the skull in the brew until the meat comes off easily, almost like cooking a soup bone. The time varies according to how dry the meat is on the skull. Presoaking the skull in water cuts down on the simmering time.

• Once the skull is simmered long enough, take it out and clean it under running water.

• Bleach and finish.

The bag method Mills said this method is not as popular as the other three, but it is still effective. It works best during the hotter months.

Steps: • Skin the skull and remove the big chunks of meat. Place the skull in a plastic bag and close it up. Then just let it sit in the sun for a few weeks.

Insects will find their way into the bag. And the heat inside the bag will encourage bacteria growth.

• Check the skull every few days.

Once you can see the meat deteriorating and falling off, it is time to take the skull out.

• Clean the skull under running water and make sure the brain is completely gone.

• Bleach and finish.

Bleaching and finishing Not all people bleach the skull, Mills said, but most prefer the gleaming white color it achieves.

Steps: • Place the skull in the sun for a few days to dry.

• Place the skull in a container (not metal) of hydrogen peroxide, making sure to cover the container. Hydrogen peroxide bought at beauty supply stores may be 40 percent volume. At grocery stores, drug stores or chain stores it is 3 percent volume. If you use the 40 percent volume, leave the skull in it no more than about 12 hours (overnight).

If you use the 3 percent volume, it may have to soak a few days.

• After the bleaching process, take the skull out and let it sit in the sun again for several days to dry. Once it is dry, glue any loose or missing teeth back in with Elmer’s glue.

• Spray the skull with a slight mist of Deft matte wood finish or just leave it as it is. Mills prefers to spray.

“The skulls stay clean longer and are easier to keep clean,” she said.

Evelyn Mills may be contacted at (254) 793-2120, Taxidermymyranch@aol.com or www.billingtonranchtaxidermy.com.

tagged from both out in the surf and inside the bays, as well as a handful caught in a couple different tournaments.

“Ten of the trout that were tagged in the surf had come inside,” Bivins said. “And at least from this first batch, none of the seatrout tagged inside went out into the surf.”

She was also surprised at how far and how fast some of the seatrout had moved.

“There had been some real long distance movements in a relatively short period of time,” she said. “I’m talking about a 9- or 10mile move in a 12-hour period.”

But Bivins stressed that the study still extremely young and there’s a lot of information yet to be gathered. She now has a total of 79 fish tagged and the tracking device inside the trout stays active for three years. Bivins plans to make another trip to the receivers this fall so she can start comparing the second batch of information against the first.

“We’re hoping to keep building on this,” she said. “Eventually the goal is to really cover the entire Texas coast and put tags in other species. This won’t end anytime soon.”

September 24, 2010

Page 21

TROUT TAGGER: Laura Bivins is tracking the movement of spotted seatrout along the lower Texas coast. Photo by Fisheries and Ocean Health Group at Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.

Page 22

September 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Trotlines Continued From Page 8

GOOD CATCH: Another good-eating size blue catfish that could not resist a live perch on a 15-O hook on a trotline set at Choke Canyon Reservoir, which is one of the state’s hot spots for long lines. Photo by Ralph Winingham, LSON.

the state, particularly in those waterways within the boundary of a state park.

After years of trial and error at his home lake, Brown has uncovered a hefty handful of honey holes across Choke where he can anchor his trotlines with good prospects of fooling catfish into taking the bait.

On his most recent trip, he tried out an area of water that was about 28 feet deep, using metal weights on either end of the lines to hold the string of baited hooks about 20 feet deep.

Ends of the line are attached just below the surface of tree limbs sturdy enough to handle the tug and tussle of muscular catfish that take a bait and try to pull away from a not-so-free meal.

Brown recommends that when anglers are setting the lines — normally a two-man job — trotliners should stick with sets of less than 100 feet long and string out the heavy main line first before going back to rig up the 18-24

inch drop lines every three to six feet. Drop lines have a size 13-O to 15-O circle hook attached to a barrel swivel that is baited and snapped to the main line with another swivel.

“You can get into a lot of trouble pretty fast handling all those hooks,’’ he said.

The swivels are necessary because hooked catfish have a tendency to twist and circle around a line in an attempt to pull their way to freedom.

“The best way to set a line is to put it in the water, then come back on the upwind side as you bait the hooks and let the wind push you along the line,” he said. “Just be very careful handling those hooks.”

Although he does not run trotlines with the regularity of his younger days — one of his former fishing partners decided to retire after he turned 94 — Brown said he still enjoys the surprise factor of putting a lot of baits in the water and letting nature take its course.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Time Height 3:23 a.m. 2.7 H 3:29 a.m. 2.7 H 3:28 a.m. 2.9 H 3:17 a.m. 2.9 H 3:07 a.m. 3.0 H 3:10 a.m. 3.2 H 3:27 a.m. 3.2 H 3:45 a.m. 3.2 H 1:16 a.m. 3.2 H 1:23 a.m. 3.0 H 1:35 a.m. 3.0 H 1:48 a.m. 2.9 H 2:03 a.m. 2.9 H 2:19 a.m. 2.9 H 2:36 a.m. 2.9 H

Time Height 9:46 a.m. 1.1 L 10:17 a.m. 0.9 L 10:50 a.m. 0.7 L 11:29 a.m. 0.5 L 12:15 p.m. 0.5 L 1:09 p.m. 0.5 L 2:13 p.m. 0.5 L 3:25 p.m. 0.5 L 4:38 p.m. 0.5 L 6:22 a.m. 2.7 L 6:35 a.m. 2.5 L 7:12 a.m. 2.0 L 7:54 a.m. 1.4 L 8:37 a.m. 0.7 L 9:23 a.m. 0.4 L

Time Height 4:59 p.m. 2.9 H 5:57 p.m. 2.9 H 7:00 p.m. 3.0 H 8:12 p.m. 3.0 H 9:42 p.m. 3.0 H

Time 9:56 p.m.

10:27 p.m.

10:59 p.m.

11:27 p.m.

11:49 p.m.

Height 2.1 L 2.3 L 2.7 L 2.9 L 2.9 L

2.9 H 3.0 H 3.2 H 3.4 H 3.6 H 3.6 H

5:47 p.m.

6:49 p.m.

7:48 p.m.

8:44 p.m.

9:39 p.m.

10:35 p.m.

0.7 L 0.9 L 1.3 L 1.8 L 2.1 L 2.5 L

Time Height 5:46 p.m. 2.3 H 6:44 p.m. 2.3 H 7:47 p.m. 2.4 H 8:59 p.m. 2.4 H 10:29 p.m. 2.4 H 1:35 p.m. 0.4 L

Time 10:22 p.m.

10:53 p.m.

11:25 p.m.

11:53 p.m.

Height 1.7 L 1.9 L 2.1 L 2.3 L

10:23 a.m.

12:34 p.m.

2:07 p.m.

3:27 p.m.

4:41 p.m.

5:51 p.m.

6:13 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

8:14 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

10:05 p.m.

11:01 p.m.

9:36 a.m.

11:47 a.m.

1:20 p.m.

2:40 p.m.

3:54 p.m.

5:04 p.m.

Time Height 10:12 a.m. 0.9 L 10:43 a.m. 0.7 L 11:16 a.m. 0.6 L 11:55 a.m. 0.4 L 12:41 p.m. 0.4 L 3:57 a.m. 2.6 H 2:39 p.m. 0.4 L 3:51 p.m. 0.4 L 5:04 p.m. 0.4 L 6:48 a.m. 2.1 L 7:01 a.m. 2.0 L 7:38 a.m. 1.6 L 8:20 a.m. 1.1 L 9:03 a.m. 0.6 L 9:49 a.m. 0.3 L

October 14

October 7

Houston

Time Height 3:15 a.m. 0.7 L 1:11 p.m. 0.5 L 1:46 p.m. 0.4 L 2:20 a.m. 1.2 H 3:59 a.m. 1.3 H 5:01 a.m. 1.4 H 5:55 a.m. 1.4 H 6:47 a.m. 1.5 H 7:37 a.m. 1.4 H 08:29 a.m. 1.3 H 09:32 a.m. 1.2 H 7:01 a.m. 1.0 H 4:50 a.m. 0.9 H 12:46 a.m. 0.9 L 12:20 p.m. 0.4 L

2.3 H 2.4 H 2.6 H 2.7 H 2.9 H 2.9 H

0.6 L 0.7 L 1.0 L 1.4 L 1.7 L 2.0 L

Date Time Height Sep 24 4:57 a.m. 0.56 H Sep 25 4:52 a.m. 0.59 H Sep 26 4:54 a.m. 0.62 H Sep 27 5:10 a.m. 0.64 H Sep 28 5:49 a.m. 0.66 H Sep 29 6:46 a.m. 0.69 H Sep 30 7:52 a.m. 0.70 H Oct 1 8:58 a.m. 0.72 H Oct 2 10:03 a.m. 0.71 H Oct 3 11:11 a.m. 0.69 H Oct 4 12:41 p.m. 0.66 H Oct 5 6:18 a.m. 0.58 H Oct 6 4:12 a.m. 0.60 H Oct 7 3:16 a.m. 0.65 H Oct 8 3:05 a.m. 0.71 H

Time Height 5:16 a.m. 0.8 H 11:05 p.m. 1.1 H 2:28 p.m.

3:19 p.m.

4:19 p.m.

5:31 p.m.

6:52 p.m.

8:12 p.m.

9:27 p.m.

10:35 p.m.

9:46 a.m.

10:42 a.m.

3:26 a.m.

10:27 p.m.

0.4 L 0.4 L 0.3 L 0.4 L 0.4 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 0.7 L 0.9 L 0.8 L 1.0 H 1.4 H

Time Height 12:41 p.m. 0.6 L

4:07 p.m.

6:32 p.m.

11:32 a.m.

1.1 H 1.2 H 0.6 L

Time

Height

Time Height 9:20 p.m. 1.1 H

11:39 p.m. 0.8 L 8:26 p.m. 1.3 H

Time Height 1:47 p.m. 0.39 L 2:32 p.m. 0.37 L 3:16 p.m. 0.35 L 4:04 p.m. 0.34 L 4:58 p.m. 0.34 L 5:56 p.m. 0.33 L 6:57 p.m. 0.33 L 7:55 p.m. 0.34 L 8:47 p.m. 0.37 L 9:32 p.m. 0.41 L 10:04 p.m. 0.47 L 9:03 a.m. 0.58 L 11:21 a.m. 0.51 L 12:31 p.m. 0.45 L 1:28 p.m. 0.39 L

Time

Height

Time Height 6:16 p.m. 1.4 H 7:14 p.m. 1.4 H 8:17 p.m. 1.5 H 12:51 p.m. 0.3 L 1:37 p.m. 0.3 L 2:31 p.m. 0.3 L

10:53 a.m.

1:04 p.m.

2:37 p.m.

3:57 p.m.

5:11 p.m.

6:21 p.m.

Time Height 11:18 p.m. 1.0 L 11:49 p.m. 1.1 L 9:29 p.m. 1.5 H 10:59 p.m. 1.5 H

1.4 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.6 H 1.7 H 1.7 H

7:09 p.m.

8:11 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

10:06 p.m.

11:01 p.m.

11:57 p.m.

0.3 L 0.4 L 0.6 L 0.9 L 1.0 L 1.2 L

Time Height 5:08 p.m. 2.0 H 6:06 p.m. 2.0 H 7:09 p.m. 2.1 H 8:21 p.m. 2.1 H 9:51 p.m. 2.1 H 1:32 p.m. 0.3 L

Time 10:19 p.m.

10:50 p.m.

11:22 p.m.

11:50 p.m.

Height 1.1 L 1.2 L 1.4 L 1.4 L

Date Sep 24 Sep 25 Sep 26 Sep 27 Sep 28 Sep 29 Sep 30 Oct 1 Oct 2 Oct 3 Oct 4 Oct 5 Oct 6 Oct 7 Oct 8

Time Height 4:03 a.m. 1.7 H 4:09 a.m. 1.7 H 4:08 a.m. 1.8 H 3:57 a.m. 1.8 H 3:47 a.m. 2.0 H 3:50 a.m. 2.1 H 4:07 a.m. 2.1 H 4:25 a.m. 2.1 H 1:56 a.m. 2.1 H 2:03 a.m. 2.0 H 2:15 a.m. 2.0 H 2:28 a.m. 1.8 H 2:43 a.m. 1.8 H 2:59 a.m. 1.8 H 3:16 a.m. 1.8 H

Time Height 9:51 a.m. 0.5 L 10:22 a.m. 0.4 L 10:55 a.m. 0.3 L 11:34 a.m. 0.2 L 12:20 p.m. 0.2 L 1:14 p.m. 0.2 L 2:18 p.m. 0.2 L 3:30 p.m. 0.2 L 4:43 p.m. 0.2 L 6:27 a.m. 1.2 L 6:40 a.m. 1.1 L 7:17 a.m. 0.8 L 7:59 a.m. 0.6 L 8:42 a.m. 0.3 L 9:28 a.m. 0.2 L

3:13 p.m.

0.61 H

10:10 p.m. 0.54 L

Time Height 5:39 p.m. 1.8 H 6:37 p.m. 1.8 H 7:40 p.m. 2.0 H 8:52 p.m. 2.0 H 10:22 p.m. 2.0 H

Time 10:01 p.m.

10:32 p.m.

11:04 p.m.

11:32 p.m.

11:54 p.m.

Height 0.9 L 1.0 L 1.2 L 1.2 L 1.2 L

10:16 a.m.

12:27 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

3:20 p.m.

4:34 p.m.

5:44 p.m.

5:52 p.m.

6:54 p.m.

7:53 p.m.

8:49 p.m.

9:44 p.m.

10:40 p.m.

0.3 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 0.8 L 0.9 L 1.1 L

1.8 H 2.0 H 2.1 H 2.2 H 2.3 H 2.3 H

South Padre Island Time Height 10:09 a.m. 0.5 L 10:40 a.m. 0.5 L 11:13 a.m. 0.4 L 11:52 a.m. 0.3 L 12:38 p.m. 0.3 L 3:19 a.m. 2.2 H 2:36 p.m. 0.3 L 3:48 p.m. 0.3 L 5:01 p.m. 0.3 L 6:45 a.m. 1.4 L 6:58 a.m. 1.3 L 7:35 a.m. 1.0 L 8:17 a.m. 0.7 L 9:00 a.m. 0.4 L 9:46 a.m. 0.2 L

9:45 a.m.

11:56 a.m.

1:29 p.m.

2:49 p.m.

4:03 p.m.

5:13 p.m.

2.0 H 2.1 H 2.2 H 2.3 H 2.5 H 2.5 H

6:10 p.m.

7:12 p.m.

8:11 p.m.

9:07 p.m.

10:02 p.m.

10:58 p.m.

0.4 L 0.5 L 0.6 L 0.9 L 1.1 L 1.3 L

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Date Sep 24 Sep 25 Sep 26 Sep 27 Sep 28 Sep 29 Sep 30 Oct 1 Oct 2 Oct 3 Oct 4 Oct 5 Oct 6 Oct 7 Oct 8

Time Height 2:53 a.m. 1.4 H 2:29 a.m. 1.4 H 10:42 a.m. 0.4 L 11:21 a.m. 0.3 L 12:09 p.m. 0.2 L 1:06 p.m. 0.2 L 12:00 a.m. 2.1 H 12:59 a.m. 2.2 H 1:38 a.m. 2.2 H 2:00 a.m. 2.1 H 2:09 a.m. 2.0 H 2:08 a.m. 1.8 H 2:00 a.m. 1.6 H 1:47 a.m. 1.5 H 1:23 a.m. 1.5 H

Time Height 9:44 a.m. 0.8 L 10:11 a.m. 0.6 L 7:33 p.m. 1.8 H 8:56 p.m. 1.9 H 10:33 p.m. 2.0 H 2:12 p.m.

3:24 p.m.

4:39 p.m.

5:53 p.m.

7:27 a.m.

7:34 a.m.

8:02 a.m.

8:38 a.m.

9:20 a.m.

0.2 L 0.3 L 0.4 L 0.6 L 1.6 L 1.3 L 0.9 L 0.5 L 0.2 L

Time Height 5:24 p.m. 1.8 H 6:24 p.m. 1.8 H

11:29 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

4:28 p.m.

5:47 p.m.

1.8 H 1.9 H 2.0 H 2.1 H 2.2 H

Time Height 11:33 p.m. 1.3 L

7:05 p.m.

8:16 p.m.

9:30 p.m.

10:52 p.m.

0.8 L 1.0 L 1.2 L 1.4 L

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Solution on Page 25

P.M. Minor 6:34 7:21 8:12 9:08 10:05 11:05 ----12:33 1:27 2:18 3:05 3:51 4:38 5:28 6:23 7:24 8:27 9:31 10:33 11:31

Major 12:23 1:10 2:01 2:55 3:52 4:51 5:50 6:47 7:41 8:31 9:18 10:04 10:51 11:41 12:37 1:09 2:13 3:17 4:19 5:17

SUN Rises Sets 07:09 07:16 07:10 07:15 07:10 07:13 07:11 07:12 07:11 07:11 07:12 07:10 07:12 07:08 07:13 07:07 07:13 07:06 07:14 07:05 07:15 07:04 07:15 07:02 07:16 07:01 07:16 07:00 07:17 06:59 07:17 06:58 07:18 06:57 07:19 06:55 07:19 06:54 07:20 06:53

MOON Rises 7:44p 8:18p 8:56p 9:39p 10:28p 11:23p NoMoon 12:23a 1:28a 2:35a 3:43a 4:50a 5:57a 7:05a 8:14a 9:24a 10:31a 11:34a 12:31p 1:22p

Sets 8:15a 9:10a 10:07a 11:05a 12:03p 12:59p 1:53p 2:43p 3:29p 4:11p 4:50p 5:28p 6:05p 6:43p 7:25p 8:11p 9:02p 9:56p 10:53p 11:51p

2010 Sep 24 Fri > 25 Sat > 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu Q 01 Fri 02 Sat 03 Sun 04 Mon 05 Tue 06 Wed > 07 Thu > 08 Fri N 09 Sat > 10 Sun > 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed

A.M. Minor Major 6:18 12:07 7:04 12:53 7:54 1:42 8:48 2:35 9:45 3:31 10:43 4:29 11:41 5:27 12:14 6:24 1:05 7:18 1:56 8:09 2:44 8:57 3:30 9:43 4:17 10:30 5:07 11:20 6:01 ----7:01 12:46 8:04 1:49 9:08 2:53 10:11 3:57 11:10 4:56

P.M. Minor Major 6:39 12:29 7:26 1:15 8:18 2:06 9:13 3:01 10:11 3:58 11:10 4:57 ----- 5:55 12:38 6:52 1:32 7:46 2:23 8:37 3:11 9:24 3:56 10:09 4:43 10:56 5:34 11:47 6:29 12:43 7:29 1:15 8:33 2:18 9:37 3:22 10:39 4:25 11:36 5:23

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 07:15 07:21 7:46p 8:24a 07:15 07:20 8:18p 9:21a 07:16 07:19 8:55p 10:19a 07:17 07:17 9:37p 11:18a 07:17 07:16 10:25p 12:17p 07:18 07:15 11:20p 1:13p 07:19 07:13 NoMoon 2:07p 07:19 07:12 12:21a 2:56p 07:20 07:11 1:27a 3:41p 07:21 07:09 2:36a 4:21p 07:21 07:08 3:45a 4:58p 07:22 07:07 4:54a 5:34p 07:23 07:05 6:04a 6:09p 07:23 07:04 7:14a 6:46p 07:24 07:03 8:25a 7:25p 07:25 07:01 9:36a 8:10p 07:25 07:00 10:45a 9:00p 07:26 06:59 11:48a 9:54p 07:27 06:58 12:46p 10:51p 07:28 06:56 1:36p 11:49p

P.M. Minor Major 6:46 12:36 7:33 1:22 8:25 2:13 9:20 3:08 10:18 4:05 11:17 5:04 ----- 6:02 12:45 6:59 1:39 7:53 2:30 8:44 3:18 9:31 4:03 10:16 4:50 11:03 5:41 11:54 6:36 12:50 7:36 1:22 8:40 2:25 9:44 3:29 10:46 4:32 11:43 5:30

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 07:22 07:28 7:57p 8:28a 07:22 07:27 8:31p 9:23a 07:23 07:26 9:09p 10:19a 07:23 07:25 9:52p 11:17a 07:24 07:23 10:42p 12:15p 07:24 07:22 11:37p 1:11p 07:25 07:21 NoMoon 2:05p 07:25 07:20 12:37a 2:56p 07:26 07:19 1:42a 3:42p 07:26 07:17 2:49a 4:24p 07:27 07:16 3:56a 5:03p 07:27 07:15 5:03a 5:40p 07:28 07:14 6:10a 6:18p 07:29 07:13 7:18a 6:57p 07:29 07:12 8:27a 7:39p 07:30 07:10 9:36a 8:25p 07:30 07:09 10:43a 9:16p 07:31 07:08 11:46a 10:10p 07:31 07:07 12:44p 11:07p 07:32 07:06 1:34p NoMoon

P.M. Minor 7:00 7:47 8:38 9:33 10:31 11:31 12:02 12:59 1:53 2:43 3:31 4:17 5:04 5:54 6:49 7:50 8:53 9:57 10:59 11:57

SUN Rises 07:35 07:36 07:37 07:37 07:38 07:39 07:40 07:40 07:41 07:42 07:43 07:43 07:44 07:45 07:46 07:47 07:47 07:48 07:49 07:50

San Antonio 2010 A.M. Sep Minor Major 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 30 Thu Q 11:48 5:34 01 Fri 12:21 6:31 02 Sat 1:12 7:25 03 Sun 2:03 8:16 04 Mon 2:51 9:04 05 Tue 3:37 9:50 06 Wed > 4:24 10:37 07 Thu > 5:14 11:27 08 Fri N 6:08 ----09 Sat > 7:08 12:53 10 Sun > 8:11 1:56 11 Mon 9:15 3:00 12 Tue 10:18 4:04 13 Wed 11:17 5:03

2010 A.M. Sep Minor 24 Fri > 6:38 25 Sat > 7:25 26 Sun 8:15 27 Mon 9:08 28 Tue 10:05 29 Wed 11:03 30 Thu Q ----01 Fri 12:35 02 Sat 1:25 03 Sun 2:16 04 Mon 3:04 05 Tue 3:51 06 Wed > 4:38 07 Thu > 5:27 08 Fri N 6:22 09 Sat > 7:21 10 Sun > 8:24 11 Mon 9:28 12 Tue 10:31 13 Wed 11:30

Major 12:28 1:13 2:03 2:56 3:52 4:49 5:48 6:45 7:39 8:30 9:18 10:04 10:51 11:41 ----1:07 2:09 3:14 4:17 5:17

Major 12:49 1:36 2:26 3:21 4:18 5:17 6:16 7:13 8:07 8:57 9:44 10:30 11:17 12:07 13:03 1:35 2:39 3:43 4:45 5:43

Sets 07:42 07:40 07:39 07:37 07:36 07:34 07:33 07:32 07:30 07:29 07:27 07:26 07:24 07:23 07:22 07:20 07:19 07:18 07:16 07:15

MOON Rises 8:03p 8:35p 9:10p 9:52p 10:40p 11:35p NoMoon 12:36a 1:43a 2:53a 4:04a 5:15a 6:26a 7:37a 8:50a 10:02a 11:12a 12:16p 1:13p 2:03p

Sets 8:48a 9:46a 10:45a 11:45a 12:44p 1:41p 2:35p 3:23p 4:06p 4:45p 5:21p 5:55p 6:28p 7:04p 7:42p 8:26p 9:14p 10:08p 11:05p NoMoon

FOR THE TABLE Charcoal Grilled Shrimp

ACROSS 1. A young hooter 4. Solution to wash out gundog’s eyes 9. A perch species 10. Treating a hide 11. A duck 13. Act of constructing a fly 14. Eagles, owls class 18. A good bluebill bait 19. A deer scouting term 21. Should be in icefishing gear 24. Large trout species 27. Forward end of a gun barrel 28. A male elk 29. Very large game of the plains 33. Game to relocate seasonly 35. A sight on a gun 36. Term for a leader on a fly rod 37. A deer species DOWN 1. Mammal trapped for the fur 2. A name for a trophy-sized game fish 3. A type of camp fireplace 4. A grouse species 5. Part of a fishline 6. A loop in a bowstring 7. Term for tiring a fish to land it 8. Deer munch on them 12. A deer lure, scent ______ 15. Part of an antler 16. The camper’s bed 17. A good wood for arrow shafts 19. The V formation flyers 20. The hunting area 22. Protects from skin slap on arrow release

A.M. Minor Major 6:12 12:02 6:59 12:47 7:49 1:37 8:42 2:30 9:39 3:26 10:37 4:24 11:36 5:22 12:09 6:19 12:59 7:13 1:50 8:04 2:39 8:52 3:25 9:38 4:12 10:25 5:01 11:15 5:56 ----6:55 12:41 7:58 1:44 9:02 2:48 10:05 3:51 11:04 4:51

Amarillo

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

Dallas

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Time Height 11:08 a.m. 0.5 L 11:39 a.m. 0.4 L 12:12 p.m. 0.3 L 4:34 a.m. 1.4 H 4:24 a.m. 1.5 H 4:27 a.m. 1.5 H 3:35 p.m. 0.3 L 4:47 p.m. 0.3 L 6:00 p.m. 0.3 L 7:44 a.m. 1.3 L 7:57 a.m. 1.2 L 8:34 a.m. 0.9 L 9:16 a.m. 0.7 L 9:59 a.m. 0.3 L 10:45 a.m. 0.2 L

Freeport Harbor Date Time Height Sep 24 3:32 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 25 3:38 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 26 3:37 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 27 3:26 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 28 3:16 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 29 12:12 a.m. 1.4 L Sep 30 3:36 a.m. 2.2 H Oct 1 3:54 a.m. 2.2 H Oct 2 1:25 a.m. 2.2 H Oct 3 1:32 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 4 1:44 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 5 1:57 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 6 2:12 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 7 2:28 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 8 2:45 a.m. 2.0 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.

First

New

September 24

Date Sep 24 Sep 25 Sep 26 Sep 27 Sep 28 Sep 29 Sep 30 Oct 1 Oct 2 Oct 3 Oct 4 Oct 5 Oct 6 Oct 7 Oct 8

San Luis Pass Date Time Height Sep 24 4:40 a.m. 1.3 H Sep 25 4:46 a.m. 1.3 H Sep 26 4:45 a.m. 1.4 H Sep 27 12:21 a.m. 1.3 L Sep 28 12:49 a.m. 1.4 L Sep 29 1:11 a.m. 1.4 L Sep 30 4:44 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 1 5:02 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 2 2:33 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 3 2:40 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 4 2:52 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 5 3:05 a.m. 1.4 H Oct 6 3:20 a.m. 1.4 H Oct 7 3:36 a.m. 1.4 H Oct 8 3:53 a.m. 1.4 H

Last

October 1

Rockport

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time Height Sep 24 4:10 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 25 4:16 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 26 4:15 a.m. 2.3 H Sep 27 4:04 a.m. 2.3 H Sep 28 3:54 a.m. 2.4 H Sep 29 12:15 a.m. 2.3 L Sep 30 4:14 a.m. 2.6 H Oct 1 4:32 a.m. 2.6 H Oct 2 2:03 a.m. 2.6 H Oct 3 2:10 a.m. 2.4 H Oct 4 2:22 a.m. 2.4 H Oct 5 2:35 a.m. 2.3 H Oct 6 2:50 a.m. 2.3 H Oct 7 3:06 a.m. 2.3 H Oct 8 3:23 a.m. 2.3 H

Full

Page 23

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases

Port O’Connor

Sabine Pass, jetty Date Sep 24 Sep 25 Sep 26 Sep 27 Sep 28 Sep 29 Sep 30 Oct 1 Oct 2 Oct 3 Oct 4 Oct 5 Oct 6 Oct 7 Oct 8

September 24, 2010

2 pounds of large shrimp 1/3 cup safflower oil 1/2 cup fresh lime juice 3 tablespoons dry white wine or vermouth 1 tablespoon minced shallots or green onions (white part only) 1 clove garlic minced 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh dill or 1/2 teaspoon dried Several dashes Tabasco sauce

Place shrimp in a shallow ceramic or glass baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over shrimp.

Cover and chill several hours or overnight. Drain shrimp and reserve marinade. Thread on skewers or place in a wire grill basket. Grill shrimp over hot coals, turning and brushing with reserved marinade, until pink and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.

Serve with wooden picks.

—The National Fisheries Institute, www.aboutseafood.com

Venison Swiss Steak

23. To construct a fly lure 25. A game’s favored area 26. A wild sheep 30. Part of the fishing gear

31. A brand of bowhunter’s optic 32. Furseeker’s gear 34. A game resting place

1 1/2 to 2 pounds venison steak, cut into slices 3/4-inch thick Salt and pepper 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons clarified butter or light cooking oil 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced onion 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 1/2 cups beef stock or broth Enough water to cover Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix salt and pepper into flour. Dredge meat in flour to coat well. Shake off excess. At high setting, heat 2 tablespoons clarified butter or oil in a large frying pan. When the butter

or oil is very hot but not smoking, add meat and brown on all sides (roughly 2 minutes). Cook meat in separate batches if necessary to avoid crowding in pan. Remove meat from pan and set aside. Add remaining butter or oil and sauté onions. Stir in tomato paste or puree, stock or broth and pinch of salt and pepper. Add steaks and position in a single layer. Cover with water. Bring to a boil, cover tightly, and bake for 2 1/2 hours. Place steaks on plates and cover with sauce from pan. Serves four.

— Minn. Dept. of Natural Resources

Page 24

September 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

DATEBOOK September 25 Jefferson Delta Waterfowl Fundraiser Kellyville Community Center (903) 576-0775

September 26 National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club, El Paso (915) 471-2609 bonnie@jpandacorp.com

September 28 Athens Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (903) 681-3347 Wharton Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Hungerford Hall (979) 532-3175 Kilgore Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Bodacious Barbecue (903) 245-4548

September 29 Midland Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Green Tree Country Club (432) 694-9374

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

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

October 1-3 Toyota Texas Bass Classic Lake Conroe, Lone Star Convention Center www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com

October 2 Clear Creek Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser League City, Clear Creek Community Center (281) 217-9238

October 5 Uvalde Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Uvalde Country Club (830) 591-8952

October 6 Houston Safari Club Monthly Meeting Embassy Suites – Energy Corridor (713) 623-8844 Centex Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Temple, Star Hall (254) 624-3255

October 7 The Orvis Company Dallas Orvis Store Conservation Night, Dallas (214) 265-1600 Cross Timbers Quail Coalition Fundraiser Fort Worth (817) 731-3402 Katy/Brookshire Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Agave Road Banquet Hall (281) 748-5906

Beaumont Delta Waterfowl Fundraiser (409) 718-8280 Denton Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Knights of Columbus Hall (940) 390-6235 Northeast Tarrant County Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Colleyville Community Center (817) 360-5611 CCA Texas BBQ & STAR awards Houston Farm & Ranch Club (713) 626-4222 San Antonio Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Alzafar Shrine Temple (210) 396-6282 Central Texas Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Central Texas Home Builders Assn.

(254) 702-9250

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 12 Baytown Delta Waterfowl Fundraiser Eagle Point Golf Club (281) 839-5680

Austin Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Zilker Park (512) 423-5974 Terrell/Kaufman Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser El Patron Event Center (972) 762-5701

October 14-16 Texas Deer Association 2nd Annual San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Show Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio (210) 767-8300 info@texasdeerassociation.com

October 14 Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly meeting Sheraton North Dallas Hotel (214) 570-8700

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

October 19 CCA Fishsticks Golf Tournament Longwood Golf Club (713) 626-4222

October 21 Dallas Safari Club Monthly meeting Royal Oaks Country Club (972) 980-9800 Texas Watershed Steward Workshop Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Athens (979) 862-8072

October 23 Bastrop National Wild Turkey Federation Fundraiser Watterson Dance Hall

October 15-17

Upper Coast - Fort Bend Coastal Conservation Association Executive board tournament, Rockport (800) 626-4222

Fredericksburg Fly Fishers Oktoberfisch Fly Fishing Festival South Llano River Junction www.fredericksburgflyfishers.org

Texas Deer Association TDA Board of Director Meeting Westin La Cantera Resort San Antonio (210) 767-8300 info@texasdeerassociation.com

October 16

October 29-31

Slowride Guide Service Texas Paddle-In Lighthouse Lakes Park Port Aransas (361) 758-0463

National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors Richards Ranch, Jacksboro (940) 627-4200 jbarrow1994@gmail.com

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Hunting Briefs Service proposes first time hunting on one refuge The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to open Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to big game hunting.

Deer hunting at the refuge for the purpose of wildlife management was permitted over four weekends in the fall of 2009 to curb overpopulation in some areas. This season, lottery hunts have been set for a disabled hunt, youth hunt and three weekends for modern gun hunts.

The deadlines for applications for these hunts have passed.

—Staff report

Wet South Zone Continued From Page 1

back out in the field. It just kept raining.”

Sunday, the birds weren’t as plentiful, and then the rains came again.

“It was just sprinkling most of the time,” he said. “But the birds still headed for cover. But it was wet, we nearly got stuck getting out.”

Along the Coastal Bend and in areas south of San Antonio, offshoots of Hurricane Karl in the form of an area of low pressure ruined hunts. Corpus Christi received 7.16 inches of rain on Sunday after receiving a few inches Friday and Saturday. The Guadalupe River in Victoria overflowed. In Robstown, trucks were wading through several inches of water on the highways. Hunters in McMullen County reported rain all weekend after good hunts on Friday afternoon.

One group hunting near Pleasanton braved the rains and stayed in the field. The whitewings didn’t fly much but the Eurasian collared doves didn’t seem to mind and the group bagged 26 of the bonus birds.

And even Uvalde had showers but hunters managed limits — it just took them longer than usual.

Most South Texas hunters reported seeing good numbers of birds, and they were busy planning trips to get back out once it dries up.

Closer to the Rio Grande Valley, the rains came but gave hunters more shooting time. Kris Kallina with La Media Lodge near Linn said the birds were flying most of the weekend.

“It rained early Friday but stopped in the afternoon,” Kallina said. “And everyone shot limits on Saturday.”

Sunday, though, the rains came and washed out the hunt.

“It’s like a curse,” he said.

“Something seems to happen opening weekend or one of the special whitewing weekends every year.”

But Kallina remained encouraged for the remainder of the season.

“I scouted on Monday and it looks like the birds stuck around,” he said.

Farther east but still in the South Zone, hunters fared much better. The El Campo and Rosenberg area saw steady whitewing hunts, with some hunters comparing areas south of El Campo to hunting in the Rio Grande Valley.

Pope & Young Club founder dies Glenn St. Charles, archery pioneer and one of the principals often credited with legitimizing the bow and arrow for big game hunting with state game agencies across the country, Glenn St. Charles died in Seattle at the age of 98. The founder of the Pope and Young Club was one of the first inductees into the National Archery Hall of Fame and was a driving force in the industry for more than 50 years.

—The Outdoor Pressroom report

September 24, 2010

Page 25

Puzzle solution from Page 23

Page 26

September 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LONE STAR MARKET

LSONews.com

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Fairfield’s future Continued From Page 1

GETTING TO BE A HABIT: TPW officials say low dissolved oxygen rates at Fairfield Lake are responsible for what is becoming an annual fish kill. Photos by TPW.

and they’re better consumers of oxygen than the fish,” said Greg Conley, a pollution biologist for TPW’s Kills and Spills Team. “It crashes the system basically. The fish have nothing left to breathe.”

While fish kills have been reported at other power plant lakes such as Braunig and Calaveras near San Antonio, they were minor compared to those at Fairfield Lake.

“Most lakes have inflow through creeks and rivers and outflow through a dam,” Conley said.

“In a typical reservoir lake, this causes a flushing of nutrients. In this case, the dam has not been opened in several years.”

A lack of rainfall also contributed to the kills, TPW officials said.

Ott called the high nutrient levels in Fairfield Lake a “two-edged sword.”

“The high nutrient level contributes to a rapid growth rate for fish, while leaving them vulnerable to a fish kill,” he said. “It’s an amazingly productive fishery. The number and weight of fish per acre is far above what it is at other lakes. It may well be that the fishery is so productive that it can sustain a high production of fish for a long time. At

this point, we just don’t know. Once we do our sampling, we’ll have a better idea.”

There’s little sign of the fish kill now at Fairfield Lake. The fish on the water sank and those along the shore were devoured by vultures and a bountiful hog population.

“And what they didn’t get, the fire ants did,” Ott said.

What locals are waiting to see is the effect of the kill on fishing.

Cory Vinson, owner of Guaranteed Guide Service, wouldn’t be surprised if the fishing is off the charts.

He remembers fishing Lake Whitney after a die-off from golden algae.

“For six months afterward, the fishing was great,” he said.

“The reason being all the baitfish were gone.

The fish that survived were starving to death.

If there are any reds left at Fairfield Lake, they’re going to be hungry. It could be great fishing until they’re caught out.”

Vinson hopes TPW will continue stocking Fairfield Lake. Starting in October, his business runs three boats out there every weekend.

“Having redfish there is a big draw,” he said. “It’s our winter hot spot. How great is it to only have to drive an hour and a half from Dallas to catch a 40-inch red? I hope they keep stocking it. Will they? I don’t know.”

Micro guides Continued From Page 8

guides go down as low as 2.5.

Japanese anglers use them for everything from finesse fishing to rods for large squid.

The European carp rods also are designed for specific tactics, but with sensitivity being paramount.

Seagraves has used his rods for everything from bass in open water and close-quarter vegetation near his Kissimmee home to saltwater in the Upper Keys. He said not only are little things like wind knots reduced dramatically, but casting distance is increased.

“I’m still trying different lures with the micro guide rods, but so far I haven’t seen anything that would cause me to change (back,)” he said. “Topwaters, crankbaits, jigs, saltwater — I’ve picked up some distance with casts and am continuing to learn more about them each time I go fishing.”

Casting distance has been one benefit companies have promoted. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jason Williamson is a member of the Duckett Fishing team and uses its “Micro Magic” rods. He compared the performance of smaller guides to a piston and cylinder in a vehicle motor.

“If you take the cylinder head off and look at the piston, it’s a tight fit,” he said.

“If you leave the piston the same size but bore out the cylinder then it would have more movement, unusual friction, more everything.

“It’s the same thing with micro guides. You’re closing in to the line size so you’re getting your cylinder to match your piston. If you have fluorocarbon on there for a long time, days without casting, what do you hear when you cast a spinning rod? You hear the line slapping the guides.

Pick up a micro guide spin-

ning rod and you’re going to hear less line slap and you’ll get more distance. It’s the same thing with a baitcasting rod, to an extent.”

At least one top ten pro angler discounts the tiny guides as another weird gimmick or trend that will go away. But Williamson says the extra distance during casts is noticeable. Setting the reel properly, along with using fresh line and a line conditioner to help add a little lubricant, also can help casting efficiency.

“When you get two professionals who fish all day, someone like me and Kevin (VanDam) on wire-towire casts probably should be within a couple of feet of each other,” he said. “That’s because we’re dialed in and set up with our gear. But for the average angler who wants to gain distance, I think the micro guides are the way to go.”

September 24, 2010

Page 27

Page 28

September 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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Hog Eradication Hunts Unlimited Hogs Llano & San Saba Riverbottom Lodging Included 512-517-9259 ThreadgillRanches.com

Corsicana, Navarro Co

LEASE

• 254 acres with 15 ac bass lake. Deer, ducks, hogs, and open range. PRICE REDUCED to $600,000.

Rockdale, Milam Co • 147 acres. All wooded. Never hunted. Secluded.

Mineral and water rights. $695,000

WANTED

Lake Athens, Henderson Co

Lone Star Outdoor News is looking for a hunting and fishing lease with all fishing and hunting rights. Interested landowners please call (214) 361-2276.

Bryan Pickens 214-552-4417 mobile pick@busbeeranches.com www.busbeeranches.com

• 29 acre waterfront estate. Dockable shoreline, great views. $1,400,000

Beach and Waterfront Rentals available Matagorda and Sargent, Texas ● Come see the new Matagorda Bridge and Jetties!! ● Great values on Waterfront Properties!!

www.FullStringerRealty.com Your Coastal Property Specialist Residential Acreage Commercial David and Jody Cassady Owners/Broker (979) 863-1143

Place your classified Place a classified ad in Lone Star Outdoor News and experience the

Brownsboro, Henderson Co 153 acres Athens area with 30 ac lake. All wooded with deer, ducks, timber. Call for pricing.

Troup, Cherokee Co 144 acres of INCOME. Clay mine, gas well, woods, deer, ponds. $750,000

Troup, Cherokee Co 55 acres with 7 ac lake. Tyler area. Two houses, meadows, good soil for pine trees. $550,000 Bryan Pickens 214-552-4417 mobile pick@busbeeranches.com www.busbeeranches.com

results of a new look.

The 2”x 2” ad will get the attention necessary to say SOLD! $50 per month (two issues) Call (214) 361-2276. Ask for Mike Hughs or e-mail ad to mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

!!! NEW !!! !!! NEW !!!

FLAT PROOF

ATV/MOWER TIRES

Filled with liteweight FOAM

Peterson Tire, Inc. 2715 N. St. Mary’s, San Antonio, Texas 78212 (210) 738-1111 (800) 292-6018 To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

BASIC INSTRUCTION: World Junior Champion Miranda Wilder helps a new shooter prepare to break a clay target at the Dallas Ecological Foundation’s S.A.F.E.T.Y. event.

Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Taught by a champion More than 120 youngsters received a treat at the Dallas Ecological Foundation’s S.A.F.E.T.Y event at Greystone Castle near Mingus. They were given shotgun instruction by some of the world’s top junior shooters.

Miranda Wilder, Jaiden Grinnell and Caitlin Connor all medaled at the Junior World Championships in Munich, Germany last month. Wilder, of Diana, took the gold in International Trap.

The event, held twice yearly by the charitable affiliate of the Dallas Safari Club, hosts students and their parents for a full day of hands-on experience in shotgun, muzzleloader, archery and crossbow, pistol, and rifle shooting. The students are chosen from the more than 3,500 who complete an Outdoor Adventures elective course at participating Texas schools.

Dallas Safari Club is a sponsor of the USA Shooting Junior team.

OUTFITTERS and BUSINESSES ● Hurricane Shutters ● Replacement Windows ● Impact Windows ● Patios ● Patio Covers ● Screen Rooms ● Carports ● DIY Kits Available (866) 579-6433 www.specialtyshutter.com 10990 US Hwy 87 S., Victoria, TX 77905

Secure Door

www.TexasHuntingCompany.com We will help you “Bag ’em and Tag ’em”

Texas: Whitetail & Mule Deer, Turkey, Wild Hogs Central Kansas: Deer & Turkey Namibia: Plains Game & Leopard South Africa: Plains Game & Lions Bryan Moore Wildlife Consultant and Senior Guide Cell (214) 808-5055

moorefamily.1@verizon.net

Sweetwater Creek Bow Hunting

Texas’ Premier Bow Hunting Ranch Decatur, Texas

Exotics • Whitetails • Buffalo • Hogs No Trophy Fees All-Inclusive Hunts 2,500 Acres High-Fenced

www.SweetwaterCreekBowHunt.com Contact Jim Bob Little • (940) 393-5853

BOOK MORE TRIPS Send a business card or information about your service, and see it as an ad in Lone Star Outdoor News. $100 per month (both issues). Send check or credit card information to Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355, call (214) 361-2276, or e-mail mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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Affordable way to stay on the water

By Alan Clemons FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS It’s no secret the boating industry has taken a big hit the last couple of years, but some boating companies are banking on moderately priced fiberglass boats to help anglers interested in getting on the water.

Nitro Boats is one of them, and recently unveiled its new Nitro Z-6 that is loaded with some of the same features found on its higher-priced brothers in the “Z” lineup. But the Z-6, which is 17 feet 6 inches in length, carries a more affordable price tag of just $19,695 (not counting prep and freight).

Anglers on a budget or those looking to break into tournament competition might find the Z-6 to be just the right fit. Maurice Bowen of Tracker Marine Group said anglers’ passion for fishing remains high.

“They may lack confidence in these economic times,” Bowen said recently to boating writers at Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Mo. “But one thing hasn’t changed. They are looking for features, they are looking for value and they are looking for price.”

Bowen showed nationwide sales figures and fiberglass bass boats were off 20 percent in the last year. But he said those in the Tracker Marine Group line were up 52 percent, easily bucking the trend and helping TMG to a 15 percent market share.

Sales of aluminum boats were down 10 percent, although Tracker’s were up 9 percent, while recreational boats were down in boat categories.

But optimism is high for continued growth in the Z lineup, with the comfortable Z-6 expected to be a highlight.

At roughly $20,000 to $21,000 (counting prep/shipping), it provides an affordable entry point for bass fishermen ready to step into a fiberglass rig.

For its size, the Z-6 offers a roomy front deck that includes a 54-pound thrust MotorGuide trolling motor. Two rod/gear

NITRO’S NEW BOAT: Nitro recently unveiled its Z-6 model, which is 17 feet 6 inches in length and carries an affordable price tag of just $19,695. Photos by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

lockers can hold rods up to 7-feet-6 inches long. Port and starboard aft lockers have drop-in boxes that are molded for tackle trays and gear.

Three-across seats are comfortable and the console has tilt steering control. The livewell holds 34 gallons and is aerated with a timer, divider and pumpout system. A 2-bank, 4amp battery charger is standard, as is a flushmounted Lowrance Mark-5X fishfinder. The Z-6 also comes with a reboarding ladder, in case of an overboard spill or a dunk on a hot summer day.

Storage shouldn’t be a problem in a garage, either. The Z-6 trailer has a swingaway tongue to reduce length, and the trailer comes with Galvashield corrosion protection.

The Z-6 is rigged with a Mercury 115 hp ProXS OptiMax direct injection outboard. The engine is part of upgrades Mercury is making to some of its lineup, including the addition of a new 150 ProXS OptiMax. “They might be smaller in size — but they’re not short on

performance,” said Steve Miller, Mercury brand manager.

Tracker Marine is counting on a continued uptick in boating sales as consumers look for new or different ways to enjoy fishing and the outdoors. With the boat show season just months away, expect to see the Z-6 as part of many dealers’ offerings.

For information on the new Nitro Z-6, visit www. nitroboats.com.

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