Plano Page 6
Terminator Page 3
Lazer Sharp Page 5
Strike King Page 10
ForEverlast Page 11 Hobie Page 10 Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS âœŻ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
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White bass run rookie gets educated Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
WE FOUND THEM: After searching for most of the morning, Conor Harrison and guide Simon Cosper finally found the chunky females they were searching for. Photo by LSON.
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ver since moving to Texas from Montana six years ago, I kept hearing about the famous spring white bass run of Texas. Much like wildflowers blooming in the Hill Country and spring break on South Padre, fishing the white bass run was viewed as a rite of passage into the Texas spring scene. I have to admit, I am an ultra-light tackle guy. If I can’t land a fish with my small spinning rod and reel combo with 4-pound test line, I’m not going to get very excited about it. And I’ve landed some nice fish with the small setup — even largemouth bass up to 7 pounds. So I’m surprised it took me this long to go see what all of the fuss was about regarding white bass. I finally jumped at the chance to wet a line in a creek off of the Trinity River just north of Lake Livingston with guide Simon Cosper of Get the Net Guide Service. I met Simon in Riverside and followed him to the launch, where we boarded his bass boat and headed “up the creek.” After traveling about a mile away from the marina and the main channel of the Trinity, we started throwing small Panther Martin spinner baits and Road Runners in white and chartreuse colors. The plan was to go to the head of the creek and work our way back to the main river, stopping in deep holes and bends to try and find the big female white bass we knew were in the creek somewhere. A cold front had blown through the area the
night before, and the fish were not where Simon had found them earlier in the week. We picked up a few small males on almost every sand bar we came to, but the females eluded us. “They’re here somewhere,” Simon said with full confidence. “We’ll find them — probably closer to the Trinity. I think the cooler weather pushed them back down the creek.” Simon was right on with his prediction. Just after lunch, we came to a grassy bank with a drop-off leading up to the shoreline two bends from the Trinity. Both of our first casts hooked fish — and these were bigger then the males we had been entertaining ourselves with during the morning. One, two, three, four casts in a row all produced fish — all females and all full of eggs. The bigger fish put up a great fight on the ultra-light tackle. I even had a needlenose gar eat my small spinner. As Simon unhooked the fish, he got a kick that I had landed the fish on such small line. “Usually, they will break a line with their teeth,” he said. “I can’t believe you caught this gar on such light line.” Cast after cast produced fish. My arms were tired from reeling in so many white bass. We caught more than 100 fish, but I only kept five chunky females for a fish fry at home. We fished for several more hours and I finally understood what draws people to the white bass run like moths to a flame. Easy to catch, easy to find and great table fare make spring white bass fishing in Texas a blast. Take it from a transplanted Texan — get out there and experience it for yourself.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
Terminator turns on the adrenaline Introduces T-1 Titanium Spinnerbaits with Power Pulse QuickSkirts
Terminator termin terminatorlures.com
roducing heart heartpounding action, Terminator® has bass fanatics amped up with its new T-1 Titanium Spinnerbaits with Power Pulse QuickSkirts. Constructed with Terminator’s legendary T-1 Titanium frame, these T-1s feature baitfish-imitating skirt patterns with an elongated action tail that emits salivating action bass can’t resist. “These T-1s are just like the original T-1s, but feature two distinct benefits,” said Tom Mann Jr., Terminator pro angler.
“The added action tails to the skirt, along with new metalized head colors, combine to create the ultimate enticement that bass charge after.” Featuring Terminator’s patented SnapBack Titanium wire frame for perfect in-the-water performance and longevity, along with a beveled edge blade design, the T-1 Titanium Spinnerbaits with Power Pulse QuickSkirts make their presence known. “The extended accent tails provide an exaggerated flowing presentation, making these spinnerbaits highly
versatile,” Ma Mann said. dual blad combination A dual-blade enhances flash and vibration as the bait careens through the water, while its premium VMC® hook holds the big ones on the strike. The uniquely changeable silicone QuickSkirts with Power Pulse Trailer Extensions come in 10 ultra-realistic natural color patterns and are available in two sizes: 3/8 ounce and 1/2 ounce. Each color is available in two blade configurations. Bass fishing action just got turned up a notch. Suggested retail price: $7.99.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
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Coastal shorelines not all created equal Why some hold fish and others don’t Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News o many coastal anglers, a captain’s boat skimming across bays several hundred yards from a shoreline looks as homogenous as a long stretch of Interstate 10 in West Texas. Then the captain suddenly cuts the engine and makes a hard turn into a spot that, to the untrained eye, looks just like the same shoreline you’ve been covering the past five miles. But something has caught the captain’s eye, and he knows fish will be there. Just what is it about certain points along a shoreline that hold fish, while others don’t? “Bait,” said Rockport Capt. George Rose. “If there is no bait there, there aren’t going to be any fish. I look for slicks or bait in the water.” Rose also said sand holes in grass flats usually hold fish if the area has bait. He said watch the wind, as a steady breeze will congregate bait on a shoreline. Bait is also what Baffin Bay guide Les Cobb keys in on while looking for fish activity. “I look for active bait,” Cobb said. “If I see baitfish fleeing something, it is a pretty good indication that something is there. I know what areas hold fish, but if I pull into an area and don’t see any bait, I will move pretty quick because the fish will not be there if there is nothing to eat.” Cobb said on windy days, he searches out places that have less chop and clearer water.
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“In Baffin, we don’t have shell (bottoms),” he said. “I look for drop-offs, grass flats with sand beds and any rock. I like to be on the calm side of the bay if the wind is blowing because in Baffin, if the wind is blowing, it will be muddy.” Another tip from anglers who spend time on the coast is to look for sticks coming up from the water for no apparent reason. These could signal several things for the inexperienced angler — a small shell reef, a former anchor point for other anglers or an old piece of a structure like an abandoned duck blind. All of these could indicate a place where fish could be, or have, congregated in the past. Capt. Zane Starr fishes the Galveston Bay complex and said he looks for a number of factors when deciding which shoreline looks promising. “Baits, slicks, shell coming off the beach, water clarity, cuts and guts that flow into the bay,” he said. “This actually paid off yesterday when we caught a couple of nice trout in 3 1/2 feet of water. There were 10-15 slicks and active bait. I’ve found those scenarios usually pay off with a fish.” Starr also looks for shell or grass that extends from the shoreline into the water. “Nine times out of 10, the shell or grass will make a point in the water,” he said. “Especially this time of year when the fish are in a transition period, some are still spawning in the shallows and others are deeper.”
LOOK FOR BAIT: According to guides along the coast, anglers should first focus on finding active bait along shorelines in order to find game fish like sea trout and redfish. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
Lazer Sharp introduces new Saltwater Series hooks Lazer Sharp eagleclaw.com/site/products/lazer-sharp azer Sharp fishhooks, long known for their durability and strength, continue to undergo performance enhancements geared at keeping the brand at the top of the fresh and saltwater hook markets. A new set of Lazer Sharp Saltwater hooks have been developed using our improved American-made needlepoint design. These new hooks include live bait, circle and a new ballyhoo hook. The hooks have undergone a new plating process to enhance corrosion resistance in saltwater. The new needlepoint design has proven to be 30 percent sharper than a comparable forged point hook. These new hooks are the new standard for inshore and offshore saltwater hooks. L2007B Wide-Gap, Non-offset, Circle, Platinum Black in 5/0-9/0 MSRP from $6.99 to $8.52 L2011S “Poseidon”, Wide-Gap, Short Shank, Non-offset, Circle,
Platinum Black in 4/0-9/0, MSRP from $6.99 to $8.52 L2013B “Odysseus” Wide-Gap, Short Shank, Non-offset, Circle, Platinum Black in 5/0-9/0, MSRP from $6.99 to $8.52 L3B In-line Octopus, Platinum Black in 3/0-9/0, MSRP from $2.99 to $5.90 L669S “The Admiral” O’Shaughnessy, Ballyhoo, Ringed Eye, Sea Guard in 5/09/0, MSRP from $1.99 to $11.99 L092BP Oversize Saltwater Plastics Hook, Medium Wire, Platinum Black in 7/0 and 11/0, MSRP from $4.99 L098BP Oversize Saltwater Plastics Hook, Heavy Wire, Platinum Black in 7/0 and 11/0, MSRP from $6.99 As always, Lazer Sharp hooks are priced extremely competitively in the marketplace and are an exceptional value for the consumer. The switch to the new needlepoint design began approximately 12 months ago, and has already begun to filter down through the supply chain.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
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New Plano Alabama Rig Box Stowaway joins in umbrella rig frenzy
Texas
Clip for your camp ✄
Freshwater
Statewide Bag & Length Limits for Freshwater Fish
Plano planomolding.com
Daily Length Bag In Inches
Species Bass:
he Alabama Rig has become the ut lure most talked about in sport fishing. Now it is the signed Plano rig’s specially designed ng the buzz. Stowaway™ that is generating ma Rig® Box, Simply called The Alabama ed in the 3700 this unique Stowaway created i d footprint is the first tackle box d designed to securely hold Alabama Rigs, also called umbrella rigs. Measuring 14”L x 9.13”W x 2”D, it holds four rigs in individual compartments and can be used with any Plano, Guide Series or FTO Elite tackle systems that hold 3700 series Stowaway. Manufactured of sturdy, clear polypropylene plastic with ProLatch™ fasteners, this specialized Stowaway features two unique and adjustable dividers to protect and organize the Alabama Rigs. The first is the V-channel leader slot that firmly clips in the top of the lure. The second is a patented star-channel that collects and secures the wire lure arms for both 4- and 5-arm rigs without bending or crimping.
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With the unique ability to rig your line with what appears to be a small school of fish swimming through the water, it’s no wonder the bass, as well as anglers, are going crazy for this new lure. So much so, stores are struggling to keep them in stock. So if you have been lucky enough to get one of these highly discussed lures, be sure to protect it in the only tackle box designed for the Alabama Rig. And if you’re still looking to pick up this hot new-style lure, grab an Alabama Rig Box in advance and be prepared to take this rig with you on your next fishing outing. You won’t regret it.
• largemouth and smallmouth
5
14 inches
• spotted and Guadalupe
5
No min.
Bass, striped & hybrid striped
5
18 inches
Bass, white
25
10 inches
Bass, yellow
No limit No min.
Catfish: channel and blue
25
12 inches
Catfish, flathead
5
18 inches
Crappie: white and black
25
10 inches
Paddlefish
No harvest allowed
Gar, alligator
1
No min.
Saugeye
3
18 inches
Sunfish: various species included
No limit No min.
Trout: rainbow and brown
5
No min.
Walleye
5
No min.
• The bag and length limits below apply to all public fresh waters except for locations noted in the Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations. • Possession limit is twice the statewide daily bag. The only exception to the statewide possession limits in fresh water is for striped bass from Lake Texoma. NOTE: Lakes Caddo, Kirby, Livingston, Palestine, Toledo Bend and the Sabine River below Toledo Bend where some daily bag limits are larger than the statewide daily bag, the possession limits remain twice the statewide daily bag limits listed below. Fish stored by a person at their permanent residence do not apply to their possession limit.
• For saltwater finfish species caught in the public fresh waters of this state, saltwater bag, possession, and length limits apply.
NOTE: For freshwater fishes not listed above, there are NO statewide bag or length limits. There are special requirements associated with the harvest of harmful or potentially harmful exotic fishes (tilapia, grass carp). Consult www.tpwd.state.tx.us for additional regulations EXPIRES AUG. 31, 2012
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
Clip for your camp ✄
Texas
Saltwater
Statewide Bag & Length Limits for Saltwater Fish
a Black drum: No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag and possession limit. (Min.-Max.) b Red drum special regulation: During a license year, one red drum over the stated maximum Amberjack, Greater 1 34 - No Limit length limit may be retained when affixed with a Bass: striped, hybrids 5 18 - No Limit properly completed Red Drum Tag and one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be Catfish, gafftopsail No Limit 14 - No Limit retained when affixed with a properly completed Cobia 2 37 - No limit Bonus Red Drum Tag. Any fish retained under authority of a Red Drum Tag or a Bonus Red Drum Drum, black a 5 14 - 30 inches Tag may be retained in addition to the daily bag b and possession limit as stated in this section. Drum, red 3 20 - 28 inches c Flounder special regulation: Daily bag is 5 fish Flounder c 5/2 14 - No limit except for the period Nov. 1-30 when the daily bag Gar, alligator 1 No limit - No limit is 2 fish and flounder may be taken only by pole and line. Possession limit is equal to the daily bag. Grouper, gag 2 22 - No limit d Mullet: May not take from public waters, or Grouper, goliath Catch and release only possess on board a boat, mullet over 12 inches Mackerel, king 2 27 - No limit during October, November, December, and January. No limits apply during other months. Mackerel, Spanish 15 14 - No limit e Spotted Seatrout Special Regulation: For the Marlin, blue No limit 131 - No limit Lower Laguna Madre, the daily bag limit and the possession limit shall be 5 fish in all inside Marlin, white No limit 86 - No limit waters south of marker 21 located inside the Mullet d No limit No limit - 12 area known as the Land Cut. Inside waters are all bays, inlets, outlets, passes, rivers, streams, Sailfish No limit 84 - No limit and other bodies of water landward from the e Seatrout, spotted 10/5 15 - 25 inches shoreline of the state along the Gulf of Mexico and contiguous to, or connected with, but not a Sharks: part of, the Gulf of Mexico and within which the tide regularly rises and falls. • Atlantic sharpnose, 1 24 - No limit blacktip, bonnethead f Spotted Seatrout: No more than one spotted sea trout over the stated maximum length may • Other allowable shark species 1 64 - No limit be retained per person per day and counts as h part of the daily bag and possession limit. • Prohibited species Catch and release only g Special Regulation: the daily bag limit is 1 Sheepshead 5 15 - No limit fish for all allowable shark species including Snapper, lane No limit 8 - No limit Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, and bonnethead. Snapper, red i 4 15 - No limit h Prohibited shark species: Atlantic angel, Basking Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye Snapper, vermilion No limit 10 - No limit thresher, Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfin mako, Snook 1 24 - 28 inches Narrowtooth, Night, Sandbar, Sand tiger, SevenTarpon 1 85 - No limit gill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, and White. Triggerfish, gray 20 16 - No limit i Red snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind of hook Tripletail 3 17 - No limit other than a circle hook.
Species
Daily Length Bag In Inches
NOTE: For freshwater finfish species caught in the public salt waters of this state, statewide freshwater limits apply. • There are no bag, possession, or length limits on game or nongame fish, except as listed in this guide.
Consult www.tpwd.state.tx.us for additional regulations EXPIRES AUG. 31, 2012
Get gear ready for spring fishing altwater fishing is off to an early start this season, but is your gear ready for action? Here’s a checklist that will help assure everything you need is up to the challenge of tackling that first fish of the new season.
SAFETY FIRST Now is the time to check that all-important safety gear that should be a part of every trip. That includes EPIRBs (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons), PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) and PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices). These items can save lives, should be inspected annually and serviced when indicated. EPIRBs and PLBs have long-life batteries that should be checked at least once a year and replaced every five years. Emergency beacons have a battery expiration date on the information tag on the unit. And check and update your beacon registration form on the official NOAA Web site. “This is the first information resource rescue personnel look for in the event your beacon is activated,” said Mikele D’Acrangelo of ACR Electronics. “If they encounter incorrect information, efforts to launch a rescue operation can be slowed or improperly focused.” Perform a safety check of your PFDs. If they are the non-inflatable type, check the label for an expiration date and inspect each one for signs of excessive wear or damage. Inflatable PFDs require periodic servicing, whether they are manually or automatically activated types. All models have an indicator that will show green when the unit is properly charged and red if it is not. Recharging kits are available at most local marine stores.
REEL CHECKS Modern saltwater reels are not as simple to disassemble and service as their more basic forerunners, and significant service issues should be handled by professional technicians. Basic maintenance, though, is easily accomplished. Start by washing reels in a mild detergent. If salt buildup is prevalent, use a soft toothbrush to loosen it. Then rinse using a low-pressure stream of water (high-pressure streams can drive salt deep into recesses where it can build up and cause corrosion problems). Towel dry, apply a light coat of spray lubricant/corrosion inhibitor to the outside of the reel, and finish by wiping it down with a clean, dry cloth. Perform a drag check. If the drag is jerky or if it takes more pressure to get it to slip initially, it’s time for a drag service or replacement. Apply a few drops of light reel oil to the roller guide found on the bail of spinning reels and allow it to seep into the bearing. Check the line on your reels. Monofilament should be replaced at least annually. Braided lines have greater longevity, but don’t last forever.
TACKLE YOUR TACKLE BOX Check your lures, rigs and components. Having the correct, organized terminal gear with you for the first trip of the year means you have exactly what you need. Inspect the hooks on your lures to make sure they are sharp and make sure any loose hooks, swivels and other components are not showing corrosion after winter storage. Taking a little time to get your gear ready for that first trip can make a big difference. By doing so, you ensure the safety of everyone on the boat and you greatly improve your chances of catching some fish the first time out on the water. — Yamaha Marine Group
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
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When is the best time to throw the Alabama Rig? Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
ake Fork guide Justin Rackley can attest ttesst ti-b bait to the awesome potential of the multi-bait Alabama Rig that has taken the basss world by storm the past few months.. wIn early March, Rackley was throwing the rig to suspended fish and caught four bas basss t weighing 25 pounds in two casts. That might be the e th hat first time in bass fishing history something like that has happened. he prime p But Rackley doesn’t think early spring is the uccess. time to throw the Alabama Rig, despite his success. ld be b “I would think fall fishing, not spring, would h are the best,” Rackley said. “In early March the fish h on a shallow pattern, but I still managed to catc catch d (go ood). those big fish, so the fall could be just stupid (good). ointts The fall is an optimal time to throw around points ow a and grasslines — anywhere you normally throw spinner bait, the Alabama Rig will be great.” Rackley said the best time to throw the rig is when fishing deep-water structure or targeting suspended fish. “I’ve caught big bass around deep-water structure and I’ve also caught them in the midrange when they are suspended,” he said. “It can be a killer on suspended bass. Even when they aren’t hungry, it is hard to resist a school of baitfish. “It works better for suspended fish than anything I have ever fished.” Elite Series angler Clark Reehm agreed the rig is a game changer.
“It’s not a defined thing yet,” Reehm said. “It seems to be working everywhere right now. It could replace a spinner bait, crankbait or jerkbait — anything that requires movement out of the bait. It won’t replace finesse fishing, though.” Reehm said he has seen wonder baits come and go before, and wondered if the Alabama Rig will fade outt once b bass gett accustomed t d tto seeing i it it. “I remember when the Horny Toad and buzzing frogs came out,” he said. “It was crazy for a while, but the bite isn’t as crazy as it used to be. A lot of us are wondering if the Alabama Rig will be the same way?” Rackley also said the Alabama Rig could be a huge advance for novice anglers. “Anywhere you normally throw a crankbait, swimbait or spoon, the Alabama Rig can replace those in your tackle box,” he said. “Instead of trying to get a crankbait down to 20 feet, you can just throw the Alabama Rig, let it sink and reel it in.”
Lone Star Outdoor News posed the question to our Facebook readers and received some interesting opinions. Alan Clemons, an avid fisherman and managing editor at Deer & Deer Hunting, may have summed it up best with all of the hype surrounding the Alabama Rig. “Supposedly,” he said, “if you just wave it over the lake like a big magic wand the bass will jump in your livewell or die of fear to its awe-inspiring power.” If it were only that easy.
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April 2012 to December 2012 Date-Day Rise Set
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1 Sun 7:14 2 Mon 7:13 3 Tue 7:11 4 Wed 7:10 5 Thu 7:09 6 Fri 7:07 7 Sat 7:06 8 Sun 7:05 9 Mon 7:04 10 Tue 7:02 11 Wed 7:01 12 Thu 7:00 13 Fri 6:59 14 Sat 6:58 15 Sun 6:56 16 Mon 6:55 17 Tue 6:54 18 Wed 6:53 19 Thu 6:52 20 Fri 6:51 21 Sat 6:49 22 Sun 6:48 23 Mon 6:47 24 Tue 6:46 25 Wed 6:45 26 Thu 6:44 27 Fri 6:43 28 Sat 6:42 29 Sun 6:41 30 Mon 6:40
1 Tue 6:39 8:07 2 Wed 6:38 8:08 3 Thu 6:37 8:09 4 Fri 6:36 8:10 5 Sat 6:35 8:10 6 Sun 6:34 8:11 7 Mon 6:34 8:12 8 Tue 6:33 8:13 9 Wed 6:32 8:13 10 Thu 6:31 8:14 11 Fri 6:30 8:15 12 Sat 6:30 8:16 13 Sun 6:29 8:16 14 Mon 6:28 8:17 15 Tue 6:27 8:18 16 Wed 6:27 8:19 17 Thu 6:26 8:19 18 Fri 6:25 8:20 19 Sat 6:25 8:21 20 Sun 6:24 8:21 21 Mon 6:24 8:22 22 Tue 6:23 8:23 23 Wed 6:23 8:23 24 Thu 6:22 8:24 25 Fri 6:22 8:25 26 Sat 6:21 8:25 27 Sun 6:21 8:26 28 Mon 6:21 8:27 29 Tue 6:20 8:27 30 Wed 6:20 8:28 31 Thu 6:20 8:28
1 Fri 6:19 2 Sat 6:19 3 Sun 6:19 4 Mon 6:19 5 Tue 6:18 6 Wed 6:18 7 Thu 6:18 8 Fri 6:18 9 Sat 6:18 10 Sun 6:18 11 Mon6:18 12 Tue 6:18 13 Wed 6:18 14 Thu 6:18 15 Fri 6:18 16 Sat 6:18 17 Sun 6:18 18 Mon6:18 19 Tue 6:18 20 Wed 6:18 21 Thu 6:19 22 Fri 6:19 23 Sat 6:19 24 Sun 6:19 25 Mon6:20 26 Tue 6:20 27 Wed 6:20 28 Thu 6:21 29 Fri 6:21 30 Sat 6:21
1 Sun 6:22 2 Mon 6:22 3 Tue 6:22 4 Wed 6:23 5 Thu 6:23 6 Fri 6:24 7 Sat 6:24 8 Sun 6:25 9 Mon 6:25 10 Tue 6:26 11 Wed 6:26 12 Thu 6:27 13 Fri 6:27 14 Sat 6:28 15 Sun 6:29 16 Mon 6:29 17 Tue 6:30 18 Wed 6:30 19 Thu 6:31 20 Fri 6:32 21 Sat 6:32 22 Sun 6:33 23 Mon 6:34 24 Tue 6:34 25 Wed 6:35 26 Thu 6:36 27 Fri 6:36 28 Sat 6:37 29 Sun 6:38 30 Mon 6:38 31 Tue 6:39
1 Wed 6:40 2 Thu 6:40 3 Fri 6:41 4 Sat 6:42 5 Sun 6:42 6 Mon 6:43 7 Tue 6:44 8 Wed 6:45 9 Thu 6:45 10 Fri 6:46 11 Sat 6:47 12 Sun 6:47 13 Mon 6:48 14 Tue 6:49 15 Wed 6:49 16 Thu 6:50 17 Fri 6:51 18 Sat 6:51 19 Sun 6:52 20 Mon 6:53 21 Tue 6:53 22 Wed 6:54 23 Thu 6:55 24 Fri 6:55 25 Sat 6:56 26 Sun 6:57 27 Mon 6:57 28 Tue 6:58 29 Wed 6:59 30 Thu 6:59 31 Fri 7:00
1 Sat 7:01 2 Sun 7:01 3 Mon 7:02 4 Tue 7:03 5 Wed 7:03 6 Thu 7:04 7 Fri 7:04 8 Sat 7:05 9 Sun 7:06 10 Mon 7:06 11 Tue 7:07 12 Wed 7:08 13 Thu 7:08 14 Fri 7:09 15 Sat 7:09 16 Sun 7:10 17 Mon 7:11 18 Tue 7:11 19 Wed 7:12 20 Thu 7:13 21 Fri 7:13 22 Sat 7:14 23 Sun 7:14 24 Mon 7:15 25 Tue 7:16 26 Wed 7:16 27 Thu 7:17 28 Fri 7:18 29 Sat 7:18 30 Sun 7:19
1 Mon 7:20 2 Tue 7:20 3 Wed 7:21 4 Thu 7:22 5 Fri 7:22 6 Sat 7:23 7 Sun 7:24 8 Mon 7:24 9 Tue 7:25 10 Wed 7:26 11 Thu 7:27 12 Fri 7:27 13 Sat 7:28 14 Sun 7:29 15 Mon 7:30 16 Tue 7:30 17 Wed 7:31 18 Thu 7:32 19 Fri 7:33 20 Sat 7:33 21 Sun 7:34 22 Mon 7:35 23 Tue 7:36 24 Wed 7:37 25 Thu 7:38 26 Fri 7:38 27 Sat 7:39 28 Sun 7:40 29 Mon 7:41 30 Tue 7:42 31 Wed 7:43
1 Thu 7:44 2 Fri 7:45 3 Sat 7:45 4 Sun 6:46 5 Mon 6:47 6 Tue 6:48 7 Wed 6:49 8 Thu 6:50 9 Fri 6:51 10 Sat 6:52 11 Sun 6:53 12 Mon 6:54 13 Tue 6:55 14 Wed 6:56 15 Thu 6:57 16 Fri 6:57 17 Sat 6:58 18 Sun 6:59 19 Mon 7:00 20 Tue 7:01 21 Wed 7:02 22 Thu 7:03 23 Fri 7:04 24 Sat 7:05 25 Sun 7:06 26 Mon 7:07 27 Tue 7:08 28 Wed 7:09 29 Thu 7:09 30 Fri 7:10
1 Sat 7:11 2 Sun 7:12 3 Mon 7:13 4 Tue 7:14 5 Wed 7:14 6 Thu 7:15 7 Fri 7:16 8 Sat 7:17 9 Sun 7:17 10 Mon 7:18 11 Tue 7:19 12 Wed 7:20 13 Thu 7:20 14 Fri 7:21 15 Sat 7:22 16 Sun 7:22 17 Mon 7:23 18 Tue 7:23 19 Wed 7:24 20 Thu 7:24 21 Fri 7:25 22 Sat 7:25 23 Sun 7:26 24 Mon 7:26 25 Tue 7:27 26 Wed 7:27 27 Thu 7:27 28 Fri 7:28 29 Sat 7:28 30 Sun 7:28 31 Mon 7:29
7:46 7:46 7:47 7:48 7:48 7:49 7:50 7:51 7:51 7:52 7:53 7:53 7:54 7:55 7:56 7:56 7:57 7:58 7:58 7:59 8:00 8:01 8:01 8:02 8:03 8:04 8:04 8:05 8:06 8:07
8:29 8:30 8:30 8:31 8:31 8:32 8:32 8:33 8:33 8:33 8:34 8:34 8:35 8:35 8:35 8:36 8:36 8:36 8:36 8:37 8:37 8:37 8:37 8:37 8:37 8:38 8:38 8:38 8:38 8:38
Times given above are for Dallas. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of Dallas, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of Dallas. The table below gives adjustments for some Texas cities. Information provided is the longitudinal distance from Dallas and the time adjustment for sunrise and sunset.
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8:38 8:38 8:38 8:37 8:37 8:37 8:37 8:37 8:37 8:36 8:36 8:36 8:35 8:35 8:35 8:34 8:34 8:33 8:33 8:32 8:32 8:31 8:31 8:30 8:29 8:29 8:28 8:27 8:27 8:26 8:25
Abilene . . . . . . . . . . Alpine . . . . . . . . . . . Beaumont . . . . . . . . . Corpus Christi. . . . . . Austin . . . . . . . . . . . Del Rio . . . . . . . . . . . El Paso*. . . . . . . . . .
8:24 8:24 8:23 8:22 8:21 8:20 8:19 8:18 8:17 8:16 8:15 8:14 8:13 8:12 8:11 8:10 8:09 8:08 8:07 8:06 8:05 8:04 8:02 8:01 8:00 7:59 7:58 7:56 7:55 7:54 7:53
165 miles west . . . . 405 miles west . . . . 160 miles east . . . . 35 miles west . . . . . 55 miles west . . . . . 235 miles west . . . . 555 miles west . . . .
7:51 7:50 7:49 7:47 7:46 7:45 7:43 7:42 7:41 7:39 7:38 7:37 7:35 7:34 7:33 7:31 7:30 7:29 7:27 7:26 7:25 7:23 7:22 7:21 7:19 7:18 7:17 7:15 7:14 7:13
add 14 minutes add 24 minutes subtract 13 minutes add 3 minutes add 5 minutes add 20 minutes subtract 23 minutes
7:11 7:10 7:09 7:07 7:06 7:05 7:03 7:02 7:01 7:00 6:58 6:57 6:56 6:55 6:53 6:52 6:51 6:50 6:49 6:48 6:46 6:45 6:44 6:43 6:42 6:41 6:40 6:39 6:38 6:37 6:36
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Houston . . . . . . . . . . 170 miles east . . . . Laredo . . . . . . . . . . . 160 miles west . . . . Lubbock . . . . . . . . . . 280 miles west . . . . San Angelo. . . . . . . . 215 miles west . . . . San Antonio . . . . . . . 95 miles west . . . . . Tyler . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 miles east . . . . . *El Paso is in Mountain Time Zone.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
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Sheepshead on a surface fly? You bet Scott Sommerlatte For Lone Star Outdoor News
ost fly-fishermen don’t even try to target sheepshead. With their highly tuned sense of smell and keen eyesight, sheepshead are often referred to as the ‘permit’ of the Texas flats, making them a frustrating fly-fishing target. While the best of fly-casters can occasionally dupe one into sucking up a small, shrimp-like fly off the bottom, more often than not the fish recognizes the fly for exactly what it is — a hook with a bunch of stuff tied onto it with some thread. However, I may have stumbled onto a trick that could possibly alleviate some of the frustration that many fly-anglers face. After finally receiving some relief in the form of rains, the Texas bays have started ‘sweetening’ as freshwater from upstream has begun to make its way to the estuaries. The bait (shrimp and crabs) is returning in large numbers and the fish are taking advantage. This could not have been more evident this spring when I stepped out my back door with fly rod in hand to try the dock lights at the fish camp along the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway for a nice trout for my breakfast the next morning. What I found was truly a delight — there were small shrimp and fingernail-sized crabs everywhere beneath the lights. Not only were there trout, but also sheepshead. About a dozen large ‘heads’ were swimming just under the surface and sipping the tiny crabs at leisure. Amazed, I pulled a small crab fly from my gear bag and started casting. Unfortunately, all of my crab flies were weighted and often sunk out of sight from the fish before they noticed it. After landing a couple, I decided to change tactics and try something that I had heard about but never experienced — taking a sheepshead with a surface fly. Over the last year or so I have been experimenting with small, floating foam crabs for redfish with some success, so I pulled one out and tied it on. It took me a little while to figure out the correct presentation but once I did, it was game on, at least as far as the fish went. They immediately started slamming the little crab. Unfortunately, it was difficult to actually hook the fish because of the fly’s size and weight. Almost every time a fish came at the high-riding fly it would knock it out of the way. It made for some exciting takes, but there were quite a few more missed attempts. So I re-thought my fly selection, going back to the original fly that I started with and cutting the weighted eyes off of it, making it sink much more slowly. The plan worked, and before it was all said and done I had landed eight or nine sheepies. Quite an adventure.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
THEY WILL EAT A FLY: Not known for being a target of fly-fishermen, sheepshead can be readily caught with a fly under the right circumstances. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, for LSON.
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The KVD Sexy Dawg will hunt! Strike King Lure Company strikeking.com
trike King Lure Company has long been a leader in the bass fishing market, known especially for its professionally designed and diverse line of products. And the all-new KVD Sexy Dawg is no exception at an affordable price. Retail cost is a factor of lure design that isn’t taken for granted by the company based in Collierville, Tenn. In a time when the price of both a crankbait and a gallon of boat gas are scary, Strike King strives to offer anglers affordable lure offerings that exceed their higher-priced counterparts. In every step of the manufacturing process — from inception, design, sourc-
ing quality components and materials, and tweaking the final prototypes to work just right — an equally important consideration is to hit an affordable price point. None of these steps was overlooked when designing the KVD Sexy Dawg. The Sexy Dawg is a “walking” style of top-water lure that is available in two sizes and was designed by none other than Kevin VanDam himself. The world’s best bass fisherman wanted a bait that could be cast into the next zip code, walk just right to trigger bites, be userfriendly, and, most importantly, be affordable. Between the efforts of VanDam and Strike King, the Sexy
Dawg is all that and more. “No detail was spared during the design of these baits,” VanDam said. “From the shape and size to the hook configuration and placement, every single aspect of this top-water adds up to be the perfect walking bait.” Available in 11 awesome colors in both a 3.75-inch, 2-hook version or a 4.5-inch, 3-hook version, the Sexy Dawg has any water color, forage or fish size under control. It has a unique weight transfer system that allows for a tantalizing rattling sound that bass just can’t resist. Take this Dawg for a walk the next time you hit the lake. And hang on tight ’cause this Dawg will hunt!
The ultimate fishing kayak Hobie Pro Angler combines comfort, stability Hobie H hobiecat.com/fi fishing
kayak revolution? We can’t say for sure right now, but if you haven’t noticed, the sport of kayaking is i by b leaps l d bounds. bounds b d Th ’ growing and They’re affordable, transportable and offer all kinds of access and opportunities to their owners. Paddlers have enjoyed the sport for years, and fishermen are joining in. But, due to the learning curve and territory specific designs, there wasn’t a sustainable growth curve until ‘sit on tops’ entered the market about a decade ago. You now can throw out the notion of a kayak being unstable or tippy. As a matter of fact, they’re downright comfortable. It’s no longer a “one-size-fits-all” world, and manufacturers have caught on. With the introduction of the Hobie Pro Angler in 2009, Hobie unveiled the ultimate fishing kayak. It didn’t look much like a kayak, yet it had all the features including Hobie’s patented MirageDrive system and foot pedal propulsion which takes the learning
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curve of kayaking from an all-day event to a ten-minute tutorial, saving the rest of the time for fishing. And since your feet are doing the work, your hands are free for casting and catching. That makes a lot of sense. The Mirage Pro Angler doesn’t really look like what many think a kayak would look like. At nearly 14 feet long and 38 inches wide, the Pro Angler boasts a 600-pound capacity with plenty of room to spare. With horizontal rod tubes for up to six rods and an adjustable Cool Ride Seat that is super comfortable, the Pro Angler has features more like those seen in a Skeeter or Ranger. And you can even accessorize it with a live well. All of these features, yet it is as fast and nimble, as, well, a kayak. Times are changing, and that’s a good thing. Good fishing!
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
Family and the outdoors drive ForEverlast ForEverlast foreverlast.com
A FAMILY AFFAIR: ForEverlast president Billy Gerke and his family make getting outdoors a priority. Last year was a great year for the group, according to Gerke. Photos by Billy Gerke.
illy Gerke, the president and founder of ForEverlast, Inc., along with his family, are all about family and the outdoors. And it just so happens the family had their best year of fishing and hunting. “I caught a 31 1/4-inch trout, my wife took her first bow buck, a 149inch 10 point, my dad and I both took great West Texas muleys and my father-in-law was with me when I took a 184 B&C whitetail buck with archery equipment in Kansas,” Gerke said. “And my family was there to enjoy every trip. That kind of year will probably never be repeated.” The Hallettsville-based ForEverlast, established in 1998, “surrounds our family and our products do as well,” Gerke said. “We live hunting and fishing,” Gerke continued. “It has helped us develop top-quality products that
people really enjoy and need to pursue the outdoor lifestyle.” The business got off the ground in 2003 with the popular Ray-Guard Wading Boots, used by wade-fishermen and women up and down the Texas coast. “I worked a full-time job until 2007,” Gerke said. “It’s been neat to watch the business grow.” Other popular fishing products have included the Flats, Reef and Flats Predator Wading Boots, G2 Wading Net and the never-rusting G2 Pro Pliers. Anyone who has passed by a group of wading fishermen has seen the G2 Wading Belt with its rod holder, pliers, removable tackle box and 15-foot stringer. Those fishing without it know the struggle of landing, removing hooks and stringing a keeper speckled trout or redfish without dunking their rod and reel. “Whether you are taking your child on his or her first outdoor adventure or are enjoying some time for yourself, we want you to have the best in products for those pursuits,” Gerke
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012
said. “We strive to manufacture only those products that will perform to exceed your expectations.” ForEverlast has added hunting products over the years, and the company’s Snake Guard Boots, Shields and Chaps are well known to Texas hunters. Since that time, wildlife feeders, attachments and numerous other hunting products have been developed. This year, ForEverlast has added a line of women’s products called ReelGirlGear. “My wife, Amy, is very involved in the business, and she helped with the development of the new line,” Gerke said. The G2 nets, pliers, stringer and belt sport a good deal of pink for women who like to sport their feminine side. The Gerke family and the company motto says it all. “Family, Friends and the Great Outdoors. … It’s who we are.” ForEverlast products are available at the company’s Web site and at quality sporting goods retailers nationwide.
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LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Texas Fishing Spring Annual 2012