LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 26, 2014
Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
September 26, 2014
Page 1
Volume 11, Issue 3
South rising again
Nicer than your house Turn basic into posh
All zones open, many hunters seeing lots of birds
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS They might look like they hold nothing but old farm equipment or unused deer corn, but open the door and it’s like stepping into a five-star hotel. Hunting camp containers are being taken to a whole new level, thanks to some creative owners. Liz Foster of Dallas set her first container at her Archer County lease in 2008, and outfitted her container to the hilt. “I had seen pictures of some of the versions,” she said, “and bought the container from Waters Ag in Wichita Falls and took it from there.” Foster’s camp “the box” sports Please turn to page 16
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
FLYING HIGH: The majority of dove hunters in the South Zone reported a great opening weekend when they weren’t dodging rainstorms that popped up. Many shot their limits, although some hunters in deep South Texas struggled to find enough birds to shoot a limit. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Redfish run starting
New rules affect transfer of water, not fish
By Steve Schwartz L one S tar o utdoor n ewS
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
When Texas Parks and Wildlife announced tighter regulations to combat the spread of zebra mussels, many anglers thought the days of catching bait in one lake and fishing with that bait in another was now offlimits. That isn’t true, according to Ken Kurzawski, director of Information and Regulations at TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division. “This really isn’t about
INSIDE
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
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Running hard out of the gates
The ins and outs
OPEN THE FRONT DOOR: Even thought they might look plain on the outside, containers can be nice and comfortable on the inside. Photo by Liz Foster.
Wharton County Game Warden Chris Bird has seen eight previous South Zone dove openers come and go, but he can’t remember one with this many birds, and hunters shooting their limits. “It has been an awesome opener,” Bird said. “This is the most birds I’ve seen for an opener down here. Hunters are having really good shoots on sunflower fields and other agriculture fields. Those seem to be
SIGNS OF LIFE: Anglers — from fl y-fi shing guides to surf fi shermen — are starting to see success with the bull reds on the coast. Photo by “Mullethead00” on 2coolfi shing.com.
While “weird” conditions have made for tough predictions along the Gulf Coast, the proof is in the pudding for bull redfish — and reports show the big guys are starting to get active. Late spawns, inconsistent bait production and manic weather patterns have delayed much of the predicted “high points” during the season, but Rockport guide Eric Knipling is seeing the reds right on time. “The only thing I’ve really been producing
HUNTING
FISHING
Coming soon
Small, but numerous
Busted in the fi eld
A new technique
TPWD predicts future hunting opportunities on the recently-acquired Powderhorn Ranch. Page 5
Game wardens write lots of citations during the opening weeks of dove season. Page 17
Texoma’s striper bite is still strong, but the trophy fish are tougher to come by. Page 8
Texas A&M is using a new electric method to rebuild reef systems. Page 9
on a fly rod is bull reds,” Knipling said. “Most people are catching them on the jetties, but I’ve been looking for current lines — especially where the sargassum builds up in about 14 feet of water.” That sort of visual fishing is what Knipling is keying in on, and it’s making for some exciting catches. “I’d rather catch them in 14 feet of water than 90 feet of water,” he said. “Just follow the (current) line. It seems like those reds are looking up and hunting. It’s not rocket science.” Please turn to page 14
CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Prime Time . . . . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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