Texas Fish & Game October 2015 by Texas Fish & Game

THE TEXAS OUTDOOR AUTHORITY

www.FishGame.com SPECIAL: Strange Sightings from a Texas Deer Blind

October 2015 $3.95

RedďŹ sh & Blue Cats

Running Together Advanced

Crankbait Strategies Get Schooled on

The Flounder Run Pining for Bushy Tails: Hunting Squirrels in the Tall Trees

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Texas Muley STALKING A

Ducks, Redfish

and Seagrass 9/29/15 5:34 PM

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BIGGER. BETTER. 60 FRESH & SALTWATER LOCATIONS OVER 2500 GPS FISHING SPOTS

2016 EDITION

NOW AVAILABLE

ACADEMY • WALMART • FISHANDGAMEGEAR.COM

www.FishGame.com Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent, family-owned outdoor publication in America. Owned by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & Ardia Neves.

ROY NEVES PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

C O N T R I B U T O R S JOE DOGGETT DOUG PIKE TED NUGENT LOU MARULLO MATT WILLIAMS CALIXTO GONZALES LENNY RUDOW STEVE LAMASCUS DUSTIN ELLERMANN KENDAL HEMPHILL WILL LESCHPER REAVIS WORTHAM TOM BEHRENS GREG BERLOCHER PAUL BRADSHAW CAPT. MIKE HOLMES DUSTIN WARNCKE STAN SKINNER LISA MOORE JOHN GISEL

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SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR CONSERVATION EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR STRATEGIC ADVISOR

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SUBSCRIPTIONS 1745 GREENS ROAD, HOUSTON, TX 77032 PHONE (800) 725-1134 TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. ©Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response. Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing address label when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Email change of address to: subscriptions@fishgame.com Email new orders to: subscriptions@ fishgame.com Email subscription questions to: subscriptions@fishgame.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX 77267-9946 and at additional mailing offices.

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Table of

OCTOBER 2015 Volume 32 • NO. 6

Contents FEATURES

REDS & BLUES RUNNING TOGETHER

COVER STORY: Muley Stalk

Sneaking up from behind is a deadly tactic for putting a solid West Texas mule deer on your wall.

STORY:

In the late fall and winter on the Texas coastline, catfish and redfish can both be found in brackish water bordering the Intracoastal Canal corridor.

by Chester Moore

Story by John N. Felsher Photo: ©Western Photographs, Canstock

CRANK IT UP

Crankbaits demand more prowess than just about any other bait or technique used for bass. Here are a few advanced strategies that can help crank up your skill set.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

by Matt Williams Pining for Bushy Tails STORY:

The forgotten pleasures of prowling for squirrels in the tall trees

Story by John N. Felsher

FLATFISH UNIVERSITY

The fall semester is now in session and flounder scholars will be studying the patterns and the best techniques for success in the annual fall “run.”

by Chester Moore

DUCKS, REDS & SEAGRASS

Strange Sightings

From exotic imports to odd natives, a lot of wild species can appear in a Texas hunter’s scope.

STORY:

Some of the best coastal waterfowl holes just happen to also be great fishing hotspots for redfish.

by Chester Moore

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Contents (continued)

Inside FISH & GAME

COLUMNS

9 by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

NE OF THE NERDIER PLEASURES WE ENJOY IS studying the demographics of anglers and hunters—and keeping score on whose anglers and hunters are better. By “whose” we mean residents of Texas versus the rest of the country, and, then, TEXAS FISH & GAME readers versus the rest of Texas and the rest of the U.S. Having completed our most recent reader survey, we’re proud to annouce that you, our readers, occupy the highest echelons of outdoor participation. Before we look at your score, let’s see how Texas stacks up in terms of outdoor participation compared to the rest of the U.S. Every five years, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service conducts an extensive nationwide survey of fishing and hunting participation. The last survey was completed in 2011 and released in 2013. This survey shows that Texas had 2,133,000 resident anglers and 1,080,000 hunters. It ranked number one in both categories and was the only state in the country with more than two million resident anglers and more than one million resident hunters. Texans were also most active in two key areas. In hunting, Texas was number one with a 20.4 million days of hunting (by resident and non-resident hunters) but its 19.8 million days of hunting by Texas residents only was still higher than any other state’s combined resident and non-resident total. In fishing, Texas anglers fished 22.1 million days freshwater, more than any other state and fished 7.6 million days in saltwater, second only to Florida. Now, let’s see how TF&G readers do in comparison to these numbers. First, nearly every single one of you participates in the outdoors (that may sound like a “duh” conclusion for readers of an outdoor magazine, but there is such a thing as “armchair” sportsmen). Ninety-eight percent of you fish (90% prefer saltwater, 80% prefer freshwater) and 79% of you hunt. Some quick math extends these percentages into some impressive numbers. Based on our paid distribution, about 85,000 of you fish and 75,000 of you hunt. Either group is a bigger crowd than most sports stadiums in the country could seat. But where you blow your fellow sportsmen out of the water (fresh- or salt-) is in days of participation. TF&G readers fish 39 days a year freshwater and 49 days a year saltwater. The average Texan—in the state with the most fishing days—fishes 13 days freshwater and 10 days saltwater. You are 3-5 times more active! You hunt 36 days a year, versus 18 days by the average Texas hunter— double the participation level of the nation’s most active hunting market. So as you can see, you are in very good company. We craft this magazine for the most active outdoors enthusiasts, and it is very satisfying to see that we are indeed speaking to the right audience. As anglers and hunters, TF&G Readers rock!

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by Chester Moore

TF&G Editor in Chief

As Sportsmen, You Rock

Editor’s Notes

Doggett at Large by Joe Doggett

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Pike on the Edge by Doug Pike

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Nugent in the Wild by Ted Nugent

TF&G Editor At Large

Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

TF&G Political Commentator

Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales

TF&G Saltwater Editor

Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo

TF&G Hunting Editor

Texas Freshwater by Matt Williams

TF&G Freshwater Editor

Open Season

by Reavis Wortham

TF&G Freshwater Editor

Texas Boating by Lenny Rudow

TF&G Boating Editor

Practical Angler by Paul Bradshaw

DEPARTMENTS

8 LETTERS 10 TF&G REPORT 10 BIG BAGS & CATCHES

32 TEXAS

DEPT. OF DEFENSE

36 TRUE GREEN 52 HOTSPOT FOCUS

60 TEXAS

HOTSPOTS

72 TIDES &

PRIME TIMES

94 TF&G PHOTOS

TF&G Contributing Editor

Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus

TF&G Firearms Editor

Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven

The Texas Gourmet

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LETTERS to the Editor ‘Animals I will Not Hunt’ Feedback IT WAS REFRESHING TO HEAR someone talking about the fact we are raising a generation of kill-only kids who are not getting a true appreciation for the animals we pursue. Thanks for using the platform you have to bring this to the public’s attention. Johnny Sabo WHICH ANIMALS YOU WANT TO hunt are really none of my business. Some of us, however, would like to hunt African game. My wife arranged for me and my son to go a safari to Zimbabwe to hunt plains game. The total cost for both of us, less transportation for my son (he was going to Africa on business, and we set it so he could come and go on his business trip), was less than $10,000 (in 2007). This also included $1,000 plus tip for a videographer, who made a 52-minute video of our safari. We hunted on the Dollar Block Ranch, hunted only game decided to be excess by the landowner and the government of Zimbabwe. I shot a kudu, a tsessebe, and an impala. My son shot a wildebeest, 2 impala, a warthog, and a baboon. I passed on a wildebeest, and my wife didn’t want a warthog on our wall. It also included the trophy fee for a zebra, which my son shot and wounded, but it got away. The price also included shipping the trophies home and taxidermy here in Abilene. One can pay that much for a guided trophy deer hunt in south Texas, or a guided elk hunt in Colorado, which would NOT include transportation, taxidermy, etc. We ate one meal from each of the plains game we shot (excluding the baboon, of course). The rest of the meat went to the local people. The natives use EVERY PART of the animal – nothing is left and they even dry and eat the intestines. The fees also go to 8 |

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provide jobs for the people in the area and to pay the salary of the “Game Scout,” who is along to ensure no laws are broken and to take care of poachers. Without safaris, the poachers take over and the animals are killed, willy nilly, and are often left to rot, because the poachers don’t get around to checking on them. We found several snares and some dead animals in snares. Keith Garner EDITOR: As I said in the article I support all legal hunting and have written many times about the benefits of sport hunting conservation including African. What I don’t understand is people who get upset because some say they would not kill a lion etc. I just think it’s ridiculous people in the hunting community can’t even say they have no desire to kill something without getting heat. Glad you had fun in Africa. Hope to go there some day.

this subchapter, provided that take occurs on private land or private water. 2.(2) The holder of a nongame dealer’s permit may possess, transport, sell, resell, import, or export Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta), or softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera, A. muticus) in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter, provided that take occurs on private land or private water. 3.(3) No person while on or in public water may possess or use a net or trap capable of catching a turtle. This section does not apply to: (A) dip nets; or (B) minnow traps, provided the minnow trap is less than 24 inches in length or has a throat smaller than one by three inches. (C) It is an offense for any person to take or attempt to take nongame wildlife for purposes of commercial activity from public land or water.

READ YOUR “EDITOR’S NOTES” IN the Sept. issue. Well done! Rick Stovall

Turtle Question IS IT LEGAL TO SELL turtles in Texas? When I was a kid it used to be pretty common to see snapping turtle meat for sale. Tony S. EDITOR: This is directly from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s website. 1.(1) The holder of a nongame permit may possess, transport, sell, import, or export Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta), or softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera, A. muticus) in accordance with the provisions of

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Send Your Comments to: Texas Fish & Game 1745 Greens Rd Houston TX 77032 editor@ﬁshgame.com

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EDITOR’S Notes by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Top Five Texas Critter Sightings

CTOBER IS MY FAVORITE month. Besides the opening of bow season, it is also the kickoff of the fall flounder run and the most pleasant weather we have all year. It is also a month I have ran into all kinds of interesting creatures in the field. I don’t know it is the amount of time spent in the woods and on the water or just that many things are on the move before winter but October always ends up being critter time for me. I’ve seen everything from big sharks to mountain lions this month, which got me to thinking it would be fun to list my all-time favorite Texas critter sightings. Here are the top five. 5. Volkswagen Hog: While night hunting for hogs back in the early 2000s, I saw what at first looked like a compact car coming through the woods. It turned out to be the biggest wild hog I have ever seen in my life. Weighing at least 500 pounds, the beast came to the bait pile and devoured the corn spread on the ground. Normally I would have pulled the trigger on such a creature but this time I let it pass. I had no desire to drag that thing out of the woods that night. Still it was an impressive sight. 4. Piebald Doe: Way back in 1993, when I was just 19 years old me, my then girlfriend and now wife Lisa and my father hunted aoudad on the Greenwood Valley Ranch near Kerrville.

We were in awe of the literally thousands of axis deer we saw and although the aoudads were way too far out to shoot at, we saw quite a few of them as well. The thing that sticks out most about that hunt was seeing a beautiful piebald whitetail doe. Piebalds, also known as calico deer, have what is essentially partial albinism on their bodies producing a cool looking white and brown blotched coat. Super cool to see this, especially with Lisa and Dad along for the hunt. Too bad it wasn’t deer season. 3. Leatherback Sea Turtle: A few years back my friend Bill Killian and I were fishing at one of the nearshore gas platforms out of Sabine Pass on a super-hot and perfectly calm day. High barometric pressure gave the fish a good case of lockjaw but things did not stay dull for long. A huge head surfaced out past the rig. At first it looked like images of the Loch Ness Monster or some other sea serpent but then a distinctive tear drop-shaped body rose and revealed a leatherback sea turtle. This was not just any leatherback but a huge specimen that was at least seven feet long, perhaps larger. These are not common sights on the Texas coast, particularly only three miles from shore. It swam around for a couple of minutes and then dove back under, never to be seen again by Killian and I. Turtles can live for incredibly long periods and I cannot help but wonder what that great creature had seen over the years. How many boat hulls had it swam under? How many brushes with tiger and bull sharks did it have through the years? 2. Red Wolf: Red wolves were supposed to have been extinct in the wild by 1980 but according to my research and personal experience there are animals that perhaps are wolf/coyote hybrids but look super close to the genuine article. In 1984 there might have still been some of the genuine article, especially in Orange County, which is the last place “pure” specimens were caught for their captive breeding program. T E X A S

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I mention that year because my father and I saw one walking along a drainage ditch at Claiborne West Park in Orange County. We were having an end of the season Little League party for our team the “Bucs” and saw this beautiful, long legged, big-eared, deep-red colored canine taking its time walking about 50 yards behind the gazebo. It was a transformative moment for me as it showed that nature still had plenty of mysteries to solve. 1 Cougar: If the red wolf sighting was transformative, the cougar sighting I had at age 14 pushed me over the edge. While rabbit hunting in a rice field near my home one evening, I had a super close (10-15 yards) cougar sighting. When the majestic cat locked eyes with me, I was terrified but also fascinated. I loved wild cats already, but that sent me on a quest to know as much about them as possible and has led me to some truly remarkable encounters. Indigo Snake (Honorable Mention): I had to throw this one in too. Lisa and I were bowhunting in South Texas when a pair of huge Texas indigo snakes crawled beneath our stand and locked up in what we assumed was a mating ritual. One of the snakes was about eight feet long and as big around as a soda can, and the other was probably in the six to seven foot class. I was thrilled! Lisa not so much. I would love to learn about your favorite Texas critter encounters. E-mail them to cmoore@fishgame.com. One of the best things about hunting and fishing are the wild things we ,nd Texas just happens to be full of all kinds of wild things.

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The TF G Report Wood County Game Warden Honored WOOD COUNTY GAME WARDEN Kurt Kelley was recognized as the Association of Midwest Fish and Game Law Enforcement Officers’ Texas Officer of the Year at August’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Executive Director Carter Smith presented the award for Kelley’s outstanding work as a law enforcement officer. The midwest association, which encourages close cooperation between natural resource law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada to further professionalize

their law enforcement activity, recognized Kelley recently at their 71st annual meeting in Duluth, Minnesota. Kelley, who started his game warden career in 1999, has maintained a minimum case load of more than 300 cases per year for the last 14 years. Additionally, he averages more than 400 boat hours every year, routinely leading his district in all wildlife-fisheries cases. One case Kelley solved was one of the largest deer poaching cases in Texas, which involved 30 illegally poached deer and four suspects. More than 500 charges were filed on the violators, and all four were convicted. Penalties totaled $41,000 in fines, 3,000 hours of community service and 12 years of prison

time. Most recently, Kelley coordinated the water safety enforcement effort during the Toyota Bass Classic and Concert on Lake Fork. In addition, Kelley presents numerous information and education programs in Wood County. These programs include hunter education classes, school programs and sporting group presentations. He also coordinated and managed one of the largest youth fishing events in the state, with more than 300 kids in attendance. Kelley’s other accomplishments include Master Peace Officer Certification, TCOLE Instructor, Firearms Instructor, ALERRT training and Patrol Rifle course completion.

BIG BAGS CATCHES

WHITETAIL

SPECKLED TROUT

Jackson County

Galveston

Peyton McCarrell of Edna shot this buck on a lease in Jackson County with his Dad Jason. This is his second buck, his ﬁrst taken in Gonzales County with his Grandpa from a tree blind. While tracking that deer, he said, “Ok , we have to look for blood.” The buck was 40 yards away, perfect shot. He was ﬁve.

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Austin Calhoun, 14, caught this 28-inch, 9-pound 2-oz. trout while ﬁshing with his dad Josh Calhoun in Galveston. His ﬁsh was submitted as a Texas Youth State Record, being 2 ounces heavier than the previous record and entered in the CCA STAR Tournament.

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States Receive Huge Boost in Endangered Species Grants THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERvice (Service) is awarding $37.2 million in grants to 20 states to support conservation planning and acquisition of vital habitat for threatened and endangered species across the nation. The grants, awarded through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF), will benefit numerous species ranging from the coastal California gnatcatcher to the Karner blue butterfly. “Private landowners and natural resource managers play a vital role in conserving our nation’s most imperiled wildlife,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “By cultivating partnerships between federal, state and local governments, private organizations and individuals, we can establish creative and effective solutions to some of the greatest conservation challenges of our time. These grants are one of many tools available under the Endangered Species Act, and we look

CATFISH Georgia Dalton Shepherd with a 64-pound catﬁsh that he caught on rod & reel on Clarks Hill Lake, Georgia, using blue back herring as cut-bait. He released it safely back into the water.

forward to providing continued guidance and support for these programs.” Authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), these competitive grants enable states to work with private landowners, conservation groups and other government agencies to initiate conservation planning efforts and acquire or protect habitat for the conservation of threatened and endangered species. The grants are funded in part by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was established by Congress in 1964. The fund promotes access to outdoor recreation resources for present and future generations and provides money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands for the benefit of all Americans. For the past 50 years, the fund has supported more than 40,000 conservation and outdoor recreation projects nationwide. Without action from Congress, authorization for the program will expire in September. President Obama has proposed to fully and permanently fund the program. “These grants enable the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tap into the considerable capacity of the state fish and wildlife agencies and their partners to advance the stewardship of our nation’s fish and wildlife resources,” said Larry Voyles, president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The states’ proactive, science-based conservation programs and partnerships to restore vital habitats are more effective and less costly to American taxpayers than an emergency-room approach to save species in peril.” CESCF grant funding is provided through three programs that advance creative partnerships for the recovery of imperiled species: the Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grants Program, Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants Program, and Recovery Land Acquisition Grants Program. The Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grants Program provides grants to states and territories to support the development of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) through funding of baseline surveys and inventories, document preparation, outreach and similar planning activities. HCPs are agreements between the T E X A S

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Service and private landowners, states or counties that allow certain activities to take place that may impact one or more ESAlisted species. In return, landowners agree to conservation measures designed to avoid, minimize and mitigate the impact of those actions. This year, the program will allocate approximately $4.7 million in grants. Under one such grant, the state of Florida will receive $750,000 to complete a statewide HCP for Florida beaches. The goal of this HCP is to allow ongoing beach structure protection measures while limiting and mitigating the adverse effects to nesting loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles, five beach mouse subspecies, and shorebirds, including wintering piping plovers. Under the HCP Land Acquisition Grants Program, the Service provides grants to states or territories for land acquisitions that complement the conservation objectives of approved HCPs. Nearly $20.3 million will be allocated under this program in 2015. For example, Washington state will receive $2 million to support the permanent protection of up to 1,014 acres of habitat for federally listed species including bull trout, northern spotted owl, Canada lynx and gray wolf. Acquisition of this land by the state will improve connectivity for 60 species of terrestrial vertebrates, including wolverine, marten and Pacific giant salamander, and enhance the effectiveness of the new fish and wildlife crossing structures on the adjacent I-90 freeway. The Recovery Land Acquisition Grants Program provides funds to states and territories to acquire habitat for endangered and threatened species with approved recovery plans. Habitat acquisition to secure longterm protection often is an essential element of a comprehensive recovery effort for a listed species.

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DOGGETT at Large by JOE DOGGETT :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Mourning Dove

O TAP FROM A WELL-WORN adage, “A dove in the hand is worth two in the brush.” The drab, diminutive mourning dove is among the easiest of all game birds to lose on the ground. The grays and browns and creams and whites somehow blend with every type of low cover, excluding maybe a tropical hibiscus blossom. The white-winged dove marginally improves recovery chances, being slightly larger and sporting brighter slashes, but any paloma can be “swallowed up” amid seemingly open terrain. The dove that falls breast-down and with wings folded can disappear through a trap door constructed of nothing more than dried dirt clods and parched grain stubble. The hunter without a trained retriever especially runs the risk of failing to find recoverable doves. With most dove hunts being casual affairs, many hunters do not shoot over dogs. You often are on your own. The steps to minimizing lost birds for the solo hunter are worth repeating as we bangbang-bang through another productive dove season: First, strive to shoot over reasonably open ground. This is not always possible, but the conscientious sportsman at least avoids dropping one bird after another into a tangled jungle or across a thick brush line. A little judgment before positioning to shoot can go a long way in reducing wasted game. Second, mark the bird down and go straight to the fall. Don’t fiddle-futz around. Lock your eyes on the spot and walk in a true line. Do not deviate or look away (an exception might be the glance down to confirm the status of the gun). Following this simple procedure of walking straight with locked focus should eliminate almost all lost birds that drop within 40 or 50

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yards. Conversely, a lapse of concentration can confuse the issue, as all clumps, furrows and stalks start looking the same. If the ground cover is at all “iffy,” avoid the temptation to pop at another dove whizzing overhead. Doing so might cost the first bird as attention shifts and coordinates are lost. Sometimes fate takes a hand and, despite the best efforts, you fail to recover a presumably easy retrieve. Hunt long enough, and odd things can occur. A year ago, I was stationed on an afternoon water hole near Houston. A single mourner coasted in, framed against the low sun, and I swung smartly and smacked it down. The slanting dove fell in the water against the far bank. The dove floated on the slick surface maybe three or four feet from the dry sand. I prepared to walk around the perimeter to retrieve the kill when an abrupt splash erupted from a rim of reeds. A big green-and-brown bullfrog sprang through the air and glommed “my” dove. The puffing frog glared over as it summarily swallowed the bird. The thin tail extended like a cheroot cigar from the corner of the glum maw. I stared, amazed. The Charles Daly over/under 12 gauge was in my hands. Just as I decided to add a pair of jumbo frog legs to the bag, the outrageous amphibian ducked under the surface. I never saw it—or the dove—again. On a hunt in deep South Texas, a friend and I were positioned on either end of a rectangular stock tank. He was from “up north,” a bit skittish of the thorny brush country, but thrilled at the prospects of a high-volume tank shoot. As the evening flight started, a single crossed, and he crumpled it cleanly. The bird fell behind him, on the far side of the tank levee. He topped the ridge and disappeared. Then he yelled, “Help! A huge black snake has grabbed my dove! It looks 10 feet long and as thick as a fire hose!” “Don’t shoot! It’s an indigo!” I dashed over the levee, forgetting the several incoming doves banking and twisting overhead. Old junior-high “snake collecting” habits dieT E X A S

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hard, and I was frantic to see the indigo—the most impressive of all North American nonvenomous snakes. It was a fine mature indigo, maybe six or seven feet in length and maybe as thick as a Sunkist lemon. (Snakes have a tendency to grow dramatically over wide-eyed stares. There’s no such thing as a 10- or 12-foot indigo, at least judging by all recorded scientific measurements.) But an honest seven footer is an awesome sight. It was glowing and glossy, blue-black in the afternoon sun. It held the half-swallowed dove in its big jaws and poured like a stream of gleaming oil across the sand and vanished into a thick mesquite motte. My friend was miffed over the opportunistic meal, but I assured him he had experienced an exceptional wildlife encounter. He eyed the mesquite thicket. “Well, maybe,” he allowed, “but why don’t we swap sides of the pond.” Just last season, while gunning with old friend David Boyles over a grain field near Hondo, I knocked down a chunky whitewing. The bird fell dead, plopping with a fluff of feathers onto a line of railroad tracks behind us. It was a no-brainer retrieve. But, as I shouldered the 16-gauge Model 12 and started pacing to the gravel runway, the horrific horn and thundering clatter of a fastapproaching train stopped me short. The enormous string of five engines and uncountable cars roared past while I bitched and pointed. Boyles laughed and pointed. “What’s the matter, Doggett? Go get your bird!” Union Pacific and Hanjin obviously were collaborating to make the awards ceremony for “World’s Longest Train,” as the procession must have taken 10 minutes to pass. Not a feather was found as the procession from the Great Train Robbery disappeared to the north. I suppose that some days, no matter how hard you try, you’re going to lose a dove or two. Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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PIKE on the Edge by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Guide or Outﬁtter?

T’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I guided anyone on a duck- or goosehunting trip for pay, but recent conversations with some of the best in the business tell me the profession hasn’t changed much. That makes it easy to shed light, mostly positive, on the men and women who do now what I did then, through 14 long waterfowl seasons on the (formerly) vast prairie west of Houston. Let’s look first at the difference between a guide and an outfitter: Simply put, the former usually works for and makes less than the latter. Here’s how: The outfitter is invested, sometimes heavily, in hard costs for leased land, water, gear and guides. He or she works year-around and aims to turn a profit, hopefully a nice one, but with no guarantee, on that deep outlay. Guides show up before the season to help brush blinds, trap water, patch levees, clean decoys and do whatever else the outfitter asks. In exchange, they anticipate plenty of trips onto the outfitter’s best properties. To have any chance at return on investment, an outfitter must have keen skills in picking the right properties, befriending landowners (because without those handshakes and smiles, there won’t be any deals at all), negotiating rates, and writing good contracts. An outfitter’s deck of land cards has to be stacked. It needs aces, face cards, a couple of 10s and as few low numbers as possible, but not none of them. The aces represent go-to spots on which the outfitter counts to produce good quality hunts most times they’re used, which can’t be every day without certainty of diminished returns. Birds can and do fly away sometimes for no reason, but at those top three or four spots, they seldom all fly away on the same morning. Second-tier spots are reliable as producers of good hunts with the occasional great shoot or total

dud just, in cruel irony, to make a grown man scratch his head now and then. The remainder of the acreage in an outfitter’s portfolio is assigned as needed and watched closely for the few days on which birds suddenly find them attractive. It’s the outfitter’s job also to match clients with guides of similar personalities, which isn’t easy. The guide’s assignment each morning is to greet a group of people, often strangers, and convince them they’re going to have a great time even if no shots are fired. Afield, a professional guide should exhibit above-average skills in decoy placement, calling and determining when actually to have guns raised for the shot. And always—always—emphasize gun safety. Professionalism and success aren’t measured in dead birds. In fact, I always aimed a little lower than where I actually thought we’d wind up. Better to bring home more birds than anticipated than even one fewer. (Note to young guides: Never talk actual numbers of birds in front of hunters from other groups. Sometimes, 12 hard-earned geese can make a group feel pretty accomplished. If the next crew’s guide walks up and boasts of sacking 24, the guys with a dozen feel instantly deflated.) Guides are asked daily to make a winning hand from whatever cards they’re dealt, and veterans have reasonable ideas how many chances their group will have each morning. Where I worked, several of us were quite skilled at guessing how many birds would be killed from specific fields and made a game of it. We’d take into account the guide, scouting report, weather forecast and the shooting ability of the group. Top five spots, total birds for the morning, five bucks a man, winner take all. I made more than I lost. Away from the restaurant or gas station, once in the field, the guide’s charge is safety first, client enjoyment second, and dead birds third. Two great frustrations faced by bird-hunting guides are taking great clients into spots that don’t produce as expected, and taking total jerks into spots that rain birds all morning—especially if those bad clients can’t shoot. Know as a paying hunter that, on every trip and no matter who’s following them down some dark, dirt road, the guide’s intention is to run a safe hunt T E X A S

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that produces full limits and a few laughs. To improve their success rates long-term, the best outfitters I know turn down business any time they are remotely concerned that a field won’t produce—and not just small business. A friend who operates east of Houston walked away from a 40-man corporate outing for this year’s dove opener. He declined three grand rather than disappoint so many hunters. Good outfitters earn their reputations through honest evaluations of potential. Sometimes, that honesty costs them money. Most times, it generates long-term relationships with clients who appreciate not having smoke blown down their waders. Tips are as important to hunting guides as they are to anyone in the service industry, and the amount of your gratuity shouldn’t be determined by a dead-bird count at the end. Your guide probably spent the previous afternoon scouting a 100-mile round trip of properties, maybe stopping a couple of times to shovel dirt into busted levees. He got home after dark, fed his dog, made sure he had the right decoys and calls for the next morning, cleaned his gun, fed himself, then fell into bed two hours after he’d hoped. He got up at 3 a.m., loaded the truck and the dog, met you and your friends at 4:30 or so to explain where you were going and what he’d seen yesterday, then kept one eye forward and the other on his rearview mirror to make sure none of you got lost on the way to the field. He made sure the spread was right, prayed silently that a coyote didn’t run through the roost or some other hunter’s headlights didn’t wash across all those birds before shooting time, then watched you all like a mother duck to make sure nobody waved a barrel in the direction of anyone else as you all scrambled to get off shots. Good guides work hardest on the slowest trips. They’re running mental checklists the entire time— Should I call more, call less? Do we move some decoys? Do we move to that ditch line? Should I call the shots earlier or later? And that work is invaluable to the outcome, even if that outcome is only a couple of birds and not a full limit. Peel off some money. The guy who did all that work deserves every cent of it.

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9/10/15 4:32 PM

NUGENT in the Wild by TED NUGENT :: TF&G Editor-at-Large

Energized

S I JETTISON FEROCIOUSly into the soul cleansing, spirit intoxicating month of September with fresh Rocky Mountain elk blood on my Buck knife and hands, please excuse me while I attempt to control my over-active emotion glands! Lord have mercy! Son and best hunting buddy Toby and I just returned from the ultimate elk hunt in Colorado with the Primos BloodBrothers, being blessed with the gift from The Great Spirit of a ginormous Hill Ranch wapiti monster! I look to the heavens and am compelled to share, celebrate and promote the truth about hunting far, far beyond the choir. This pure, perfect, hands-on conservation celebration will end up in numerous blogs, websites, magazines, media interviews, on social media and beyond to educate, stimulate and share this truth around the world to tens of millions of people. I will start with the amazing post by Toby on facebook that brought tears of joy to my eyes and sums up perfectly the spirit of our hunting lifestyle. Happy Fall BloodBrothers. Happy Spirit of the Wild fall! Flourishing Wildlife In Harmony With “All The Above” Energy Production. My elk hunting buddy Jimmy Primos excitedly shared his elk stalking thrills with us all back at camp. Seems he and his Hill Ranch Colorado guide Paul had heard a squealing bull elk up over the next ridge, with the subtle “mews” of cow elk echoing from the stunning wilderness forests all around. Carefully playing the wind for a sneaky approach, they cautiously made their way up the steep, thick timbered Rocky Mountain slopes with visions of majestic stags and gorgeous venison bearing beasts before them. Ever so slowly getting closer and closer to the sounds of bugling bulls, they finally peered over the dense oak puckerbrush with high hopes of pulling the trigger on one of America’s most 14 |

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impressive big game animals. There in the small clearing was indeed a wonderful trophy, but not the kind you can eat or hang on the wall. However, this particular trophy is appreciated by all human beings as the commodity by which Jimmy and I were able to get to Colorado for our dream elk hunt. The squealing sounds that lured my friends up and over the mountain wasn’t elk speak, but rather energy speak, as the pumpjack creaked and groaned away pumping natural gas from far beneath the pristine wilderness mountain top terrain. Here on the vast Hill Ranch outside of Trinidad Colorado, like thousands and thousands of privately owned properties across America, wildlife and flora and fauna rich wilderness thrives side by side with gas, oil, shale, coal, wind, solar and hydro driven energy production. Our energy requirements and love of wild things is not only not mutually exclusive, it is proven to be highly beneficial to both. Like the lichen enhancing heat from Alaska pipelines benefitting caribou, to the game rich bio-diversity of reclaimed coal mines in the east, the great fishing around oil platforms in the oceans, wildlife populations actually increase and expand as a result of energy development. Sorry Al Gore, but the polar bears floating away on the ice floe is what polar bears do, Mr. Bozo scam artist. I just spent the week getting my Rocky Mountain high elk fix in with my wonderful son Toby and a camp full of great Americans, where we were surrounded by the healthiest elk and mule deer herds to be found anywhere in the world. Throughout the gorgeous, healthy landscape, dotting the coniferous forested mountains were methane gas wells, running 24/7/365, surrounded by herds of elk, mule deer galore, more black bears and cougars than ever in recorded history, eagles, songbirds of every description, marmots, ground squirrels, porcupines, gophers, coyotes, badgers, bobcats and every indigenous species ofr critter that Jeremiah Johnson probably encountered, just more of them. Long known for its coal and gold mining, T E X A S

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eternal timber production, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, and various agriculture in the bottomlands, the wild Colorado we enjoyed this opening week of elk and deer season in the Rockies proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the enviro-whackos must have started doping it up many years before it was legalized in these parts. Hunters from around the world will once again descend on these game rich traditional hunting grounds and like my son and I, will harvest big and small game in record numbers while energy production rages on nonstop all around us. I didn’t get fooled by the elk sounding squeaks of a pumpstation, but I did merrily leap up a steep mountainside one fine morning to ambush a regal old stag with my Savage .300 Winchester Magnum rifle and the aim small miss small sniper discipline that my dear old dad taught me. The soul stirring excitement of another phenomenal annual was captured by Toby running our Spirit of the Wild vidcam for all the world to see on Outdoor Channel how the old Motorcity guitar player gets high on nature while providing the most delicious, natural, renewable, healthy, nutritious, organic, free range protein available to mankind to my family, friends, neighbors and charities. And lots of it! As we loaded up the stunning antlers, hide and sacred flesh into our pickup truck, we did not have to be reminded about our inescapable consumerism, or how hunters just live it more honorably and honestly, naturally sharing this sacred earth with our brothers the beasts, and how we need to fuel our trucks to get the job done. You can’t grill it till you kill it, and you can’t hump it till you pump it. We will burn some wood to cook our elk meat this fall, then plant some new trees next spring to replace the ones we use. Conservation is indeed the “wise use”, and like hunters and responsible consumers everywhere, we enjoy using God’s creation wisely.

Email Ted Nugent at TNugent@ﬁshgame.com

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9/10/15 4:34 PM

TF&G COMMENTARY by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

HE LITTLE OLD LADY DOTED on her pet squirrel. She pampered it, petted it, and gave it pecans to eat. She decided the squirrel was having to work too hard to crack the pecans, so she began to peel them before giving them to him. After a while the squirrel became listless and stopped eating. The lady finally found a veterinarian who agreed to take a look, and he found that, because it hadn’t had to peel the pecans, the squirrel’s teeth had grown into the bottom of its mouth. The squirrel was beyond help by that time. The lady had literally loved the squirrel to death. Anti-hunters are doing the same thing. That is, assuming they actually care about animals, as they claim. By their opposition to hunting, anti-hunters are not just killing off individual animals, but are ravaging entire species. Like the little old lady did to the squirrel, the anti-hunters, with good intentions, are doing far more harm to animals than good. Hunting has been banned in Kenya since 1977. During the past 38 years, wildlife populations in Kenya have declined by more than 70 percent, according to the country’s wildlife officials. At the same time the population of game animals has flourished in other African countries, where hunting has been used as a conservation tool. Even the most obtuse observer should be able to establish a cause and effect relationship. Of course, just because hunting has been banned in Kenya, and other areas of Africa, does not mean that no hunting occurs there. Poaching is rampant, as locals are generally averse to starvation. Growing populations of indigenous people trap and shoot the native wildlife for food with impunity. Without the

“ Without hunting, wildlife suffers horribly.

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revenue from hunting that would support wildlife officers and conservation programs, the poaching continues unchecked. Without hunting, wildlife suffers horribly. Part of the problem is the high demand for ivory, rhino horns, and other animal parts by the Chinese, for use in traditional medicines. Tiger bone is highly sought after, but lion bone is accepted as a substitute. The claws and teeth of large predators are also especially valuable in Asia. A lucrative black market combined with a dearth of game law enforcement has made poaching a paying proposition, but unregulated hunting is only part of the problem. Another part, perhaps even more damaging,

is the fact that much of Africa’s native game has no value to the locals. People trying to scratch out a living and grow crops in a harsh, non-irrigated environment see elephants as nothing more than huge pests that destroy what grain they don’t eat, stomping fields, livestock, and the odd villager. They see lions and leopards as opportunistic killers of their cattle, goats, and sometimes their children. Wherever hunting is not used to bring in the big bucks, game animals become a liability, instead of an asset, to those who must live with them. It’s no wonder they want the animals dead. Richard Leakey, the famous conservationist and paleoanthropologist, was the Kenya Wildlife Service’s first director, and was T E X A S

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arguably indispensible in curbing the ivory trade during the 1980s. Leakey grew up in Nairobi, and probably knows more about the wildlife of Africa than most. Speaking to a group in Nairobi, Leakey said, “If you fly over parts of Tsavo today, you can see lines of snares set out in funnel traps that extend four or five miles. Tens of thousands of animals are being killed annually for the meat business. Carnivores are being decimated in the same snares and discarded. “I am not a propagandist on this issue, but when my friends say we are very concerned that hunting will be reintroduced in Kenya, let me put it to you: hunting has never been stopped in Kenya, and there is more hunting in Kenya today than at any time since independence. Thousands of animals are being killed annually with no control. Snaring, poisoning, and shooting are common things. So when you have a fear of debate about hunting, please don’t think there is no hunting. Think of a policy to regulate it, so that we can make it sustainable.” Which brings us to the celebrated case of Cecil the Lion, the 13-year-old denizen of the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. Shot by an American dentist, cried over by thousands who had never heard of him while he was alive, Cecil has become a martyr in the cause of the antis. His death has raised him to a higher status than even Saint Guinefort. Because of this one lion, airlines are refusing to fly dead African animals anywhere, and “trophy hunting” is now viewed, by many, as the bane of African wildlife. Without wealthy hunters from America and Europe, African wildlife is doomed. Unless hunting is legalized and regulated, and the revenue it generates is used properly, all the game in Africa is on a greased pole to extinction. Good intentions killed the squirrel, and they won’t save the animals. There’s nothing wrong with good intentions, but there’s a famous road paved with them. Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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9/8/15 7:01 PM

SNEAKING UP FROM BEHIND CAN PUT A SOLID MULE DEER ON THE WALL 16 |

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EEING DEER IN WESTERN TEXAS USUALLY DOESN’T present much of a problem, but stalking close enough for a killing shot, even with a high-powered rifle, may create a major challenge. In the open country of west Texas, hunters frequently spot more

than 100 deer a day, often miles away. Many eastern hunters can barely see anything more than 40 yards way in thick forests. Unlike their eastern counterparts, deer hunters in western Texas seldom climb into tree stands since they usually can’t find trees big enough to support them where scattered scrubby cedar brushes scarcely six feet high create the only green specks dotting the everlasting rocky gray and brown landscape. Instead, deer hunters in west Texas frequently climb into four-wheeled drive trucks to scout for deer over huge areas. After seeing a “shooter” buck from the truck, hunters get out and plan a stalk. Getting within range may require considerable effort.

story by JOHN N. FELSHER

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The author shows off a 10-point mule deer buck he killed south of Fort Stockton.

In west Texas mesa country, whitetail and mule deer populations overlap. Whitetails prefer to stay in thickly brushed canyon bottoms, along creek beds and in cedar thickets. When a whitetail deer senses danger, it often kicks in its four-footed overdrive and flees at high speed. Sportsmen frequently see little more than a white flash of tail fur as the deer vanishes into thick brush or over the rims of what seem like impassable cliffs. On the other hand, muleys

prefer open cliffs, high mesas and rugged country. Many sportsmen walk along canyon rims, scanning with binoculars for movement. Mule deer often lie down just below canyon rims on slopes that shouldn’t support any movement except downward. Instead of running and making itself a visible target, a mule deer typically freezes and hides in the thickest cover it can find while watching for whatever spooked it. Even when aware of a human in the vicinity, a muley may remain motionless until it believes the danger has passed. This trait often makes them easier to stalk than quickly fleeing whitetails. On a massive ranch south of Fort Stockton, Texas, and about 20 miles north of the border, Frank Cusimano and I hunted along steep rimrock canyons and atop mesas in brutal, biting winds one cold morning. With Frank about 10 yards in front of me and looking toward the left, I spotFrank Cusimano of Houston scans for mule deer while hunting with the author near Fort Stockton.

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ted a good buck, possibly a muley, looking at us from the right. It hid on the side of a steep canyon wall in thick cover about 30 yards in front of Frank. When we approached the rim to scan with binoculars, it stuck its head out of the cover, but quickly disappeared. Frank never saw it. We crept around the canyon rim to try to cut off his escape, but couldn’t move quickly enough. It and two does disappeared over a canyon rim several hundred yards away before we could manage a shot. How it ran that far, that fast along the face of a rocky, brush-filled vertical slope virtually without making a sound I cannot imagine. That afternoon, we rode over the backroads with our guide and spotted a good muley about 100 yards away near a water tank. In arid west Texas, many hunters seek deer near any water holes they can find. Some ranchers create waterholes by erecting windmills to pump water from deep below ground into tanks or natural depressions. Finishing its drink, the mule deer buck loped off around a hill and disappeared. Our guide drove around the back side of the hill, hoping to cut off the deer. We didn’t see it, but decided to climb the hill for a good look around the area. Frank spotted the buck walking about 600 yards away off to the right through some sparse cedar clumps. True to mule deer habits, it found some cover it liked under a cedar bush and bedded down, looking right at us skylined PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER

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atop the hill. “There’s no way we can stalk him while he’s looking at us,” Frank advised. “Let’s use that to our advantage,” I suggested. “You stay highly visible on this hilltop and keep his attention. I’ll sneak down the side of the hill and come around him from behind. If I don’t get a shot, maybe at least it will push the deer toward you. Let’s hope mule deer can’t count.” “It’s worth a shot,” he replied. As planned, I descended the hill off to the left to make the long, roundabout stalk. The buck kept keenly focused on Frank, remaining conspicuously visible on the hilltop. It didn’t notice me. At the bottom of the hill, thick cedar bushes made visibility extremely difficult. It resembled a Christmas tree lot with the thickest branches right at eye level. I lost track of exactly where the buck hid, but Frank could clearly see it still looking at him on the hilltop. I kept watching Frank through my binoculars to see where he was looking with his binoculars. As I approached where I thought the deer hid, I overshot it. Frank, still on the hill, waved his hands like a cheerleader to indicate the direction to go where the deer still hunkered down under its bush. I reversed direction. About 50 yards away, the deer bolted from his hideout and ran into a scrub cedar thicket. Out of breath from the long stalk and shaking with excitement, I chanced a quick standing shot as the deer loped away through heavy brush. I missed cleanly, but the deer didn’t zoom away like a whitetail. It disappeared behind some other cedar clumps. I followed in the direction it ran and spotted him again. This time, he walked quartering away from right to left. If he continued in that direction, he would pass behind a thick cedar clump. As quickly as possible, I raced for the clump and created an ambush point behind a small cedar bush where I could see an opening in the thicket. I could hear the deer walking across the rocky soil in the thicket. Invisible behind the small bush, I dropped to one knee and pointed the Winchester Model 70 toward the opening in the thicket. I didn’t wait long. About 60 yards away, the buck stepped into the small opening, turned broadside and stopped to look in my general direction. It never saw me. Moments later, a 130-grain, .270-caliber slug smacked into the deer’s

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shoulder. The bullet passed through both lungs and exited the other side, dropping the buck instantly in its tracks. “When I saw that deer jump up and heard the first shot, I thought that was the end of it,” Frank said after climbing down the hill to join me at my first deer kill. “If that had been a whitetail, you would never have seen it again. I followed the buck the whole way with the binoculars, but lost sight of you. Then, I saw the deer fall, and I thought it was just lying down and hiding

again. Moments later, I heard the shot and said, ‘All right, Felsh, got him!’” My first mule deer buck carried a perfectly symmetrical 10-point rack, which measured 18 inches across. The 5.5-year-old buck weighed about 120 pounds dressed and now adorns my den as a reminder of great friendship and a wonderful adventure.

9/8/15 3:20 PM

Brackish Waters Hold Both Catfish and Reds in Fall and Winter

story by Chester Moore 20 |

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PHOTOS: TF&G; LARRY HODGE, TPWD

9/8/15 3:18 PM

HUMP! THE SHOCK of an extremely hard strike vibrated down my braided line, up my rod and onto my hands. Targeting flounders at the tail end of the fall run, I thought I just might have the flatfish of a lifetime on the other end of the line. I waited a couple of seconds,

set the hook super hard and watched my medium-heavy spinning rod double over as if I were battling a halibut. The fish shook its head like a flounder but moved too fast or at least faster than any I had ever seen. A few seconds later as the dorsal fin of the fish cut through the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s T E X A S

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surface, I realized I was battling a blue catfish. A big blue catfish. Tipping the scales at nearly 15 pounds, this fish hit a glow-colored curl-tail grub tipped with shrimp and would be one of four blues I would catch that day. On top of that I was able to catch a Texas limit of redfish and a couple of flounders. |

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Catfish and redfish together? Yes and during the late fall and winter on the Texas coast, they are in large numbers in the same holes in brackish marshes and other locations all along the Intracoastal Canal corridor. Biologists with the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge have found through tagging efforts, blue catfish have a high tolerance for salinity, validating what hardcore redfish fishermen have known for years. You can catch blues with the reds if you look in the right spots. My cousin, Frank Moore, is an avid winter angler who pursues these big, brackish blues every year. “My favorite spot to get them are the deep, wide bends in some of the bayous. There tends to be a lot of mussel shell in some of these spots, which blues feed on and there are also quite a few crabs, which the blues and redfish feed on as well. If we find blues in these areas, the reds are always close by,” Moore said. He fishes small chunks of cut mullet on a Carolina (Fish Finder) rig and targets outgoing tides. “These fish will move up tight to the shorelines to feed on high tides and when it starts to trickle out you can really get on a good bite. It is very common to catch fish up to 15 pounds but most of them are in the five to eight-pound range.” Another spot he targets is along the edge of drop-offs in the Intracoastal. “There are lots of big blues and reds in the ship channel during the winter. On warm afternoons when you have a high tide the dark mud heats up, and the fish move onto there. Any time from an hour or so before peak high tide until an hour or so after it starts falling is a good time,” Moore said. In these areas, Moore uses his Carolina rig setup and also dead shrimp fished under a popping cork. “I start out fishing with both because sometimes they want something floating and other times they will only take bait directly on the bottom.” During late fall cold fronts, large bayous on the edge of marshes can be excellent places to intercept reds and blue catfish. The larger cuts usually wind far through the marsh and into pure fresh water. Anglers who do not regularly fish the interior of marshes would be surprised with the catfish, bass and crappie that can be caught a few 22 |

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Coastal anglers can catch big blues and bull reds together this time of year.

miles inland of bay systems. The flipside is that reds are very freshwater tolerant and roam these areas year round. In fact, I have sight casted to largemouth bass and redfish in the same hole during summer months. Look for the fish to feed heavily on the eddies that form in these spots. Blue catfish, while primarily a scavenger, will feed on live prey, and these eddies where the smaller baitfish are often stacked up provide an easy location to feed. Reds of course can be thick in these areas and usually dominate early in the fall, but as winter gets closer, blue catfish start filtering in. “Use a good, wide-gapped or circle hook because there can be a lot of small reds in there, and you don’t want to deep hook any. Plus, those kinds of hooks actually help you catch more fish because they take the guesswork out. When you get a strike, don’t set the hook. Just pick up the rod, lift sternly and start reeling in,” Moore said. During extra dry winters, reds and blues often gather together but in these instances it is because the reds move far north of the saltwater barriers. As noted earlier in the story, reds are frequently in brackish to fresh marshes but during dry years they will make a long run north and feed among areas most anglers would never think of catching reds. Look for deep holes in river channels and T E X A S

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the mouths of bayous feeding into the main river. Cracked blue crab, crawfish and cut mullet or shad can be very effective using the same methods discussed above. If the water is more than 30 feet deep, try using a drop shot rig with the bait tight to the deep hole. The fish in these circumstances tend to stack up tightly and feed aggressively. Once again if you don’t get bit quickly, move to another location. Wait no more than 15 minutes. These are the kinds of spots you are more likely to catch really big blues. In the Sabine River where I fish, fish over 20 pounds are common and fish over 40 are not unheard of. This kind of fishing takes some getting used to because it mixes not only fresh and saltwater species, but also methodology. Growing up in Southeast Texas it was just a matter of fact. During the late fall and winter we would catch blues and reds in the same spots. However, after getting into outdoor writing and traveling around a bit, I realized this was a vastly underutilized opportunity to have a great time in the so-called off season and collect some tasty fillets for the freezer. Even diehard salts can appreciate blue catfish, especially when caught along an old favorite such as redfish.

PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; TF&G

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Advanced Crankbait Strategies 24 |

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F ALL THE BAITS AND TECHniques used to fish for bass, few demand more prowess on the angler’s part than throwing a crankbait does. It’s not rocket

science by any means, but finding consistent success with crankbaits does call for a level of skill that is altogether different from other styles of lures. At times it is almost an art form, one that calls for specific tools, a dedicated mindset and fine-tuned mechanics in terms of lure presentation and retrieve to maximize the chances of reeling in a few bass. “There’s a lot more to fishing with crankbaits than just throwing a bait out there are reeling it in, especially with billed plugs,” says Stephen Johnston, a Texas bass pro and Toledo Bend fishing guide. “With crankbaits there are all kinds of things you have to think about like water depth, the type of cover or structure you are fishing, proper boat positioning, casting distance and so on. On top of that you have to pay constant attention to what is going on down there with your bait and be ready to react accordingly. “

Getting to Know Crankbaits Crankbaits are hard body baits made from plastic or wood. The lures come in varied sizes and an endless list of colors and shapes intended to simulate all sorts of forage such as shad, bluegills and crawfish. There are two families of crankbaits—billed and lipless. Billed plugs are those that have a plastic lip secured to the nose. The lip is positioned at a downward angle so it will catch water and force the bait to dive as it is retrieved. It also acts as a shield to help the bait deflect off of wood or rock, which helps prevent the treble hooks from snagging. The length, width and shape of the lip play a big role in determining if the bait will dive to one foot or 20 feet deep. The longer and wider the bill, the deeper the bait will dive. The shorter and narrower the bill, the shallower the bait will dive.

story and photos by Matt Williams PHOTO:

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9/8/15 5:24 PM

Angler Shane Hale with a bass caught on a deep-diving crank.

because there will most likely be a sweet spot where the majority of the fish are congregated. Johnson always lines up with an object on the bank and uses it as reference point for each cast. “That way you won’t make the same cast twice until you catch a fish,” he said. • PAY ATTENTION—DON’T GET HUNG: Johnston always stays in tune with his crankbait, especially when fishing around isolated brush piles, rocks or stumps. “You want the bait to make contact with the structure but the last thing you want to do is get hung up and spook the fish. Pay constant attention and feel what the bait is doing down there. If it hits something and you know its not a fish, stop turning the handle and allow the bait to float free before continuing the retrieve.”

The author cranks out a double.

Some baits are designed with fat bodies to produce a wide wobble that is often preferred in warm water temperatures; other have flat sides resulting in a tighter wobble that often works best when the water is cold, say 55 degrees or less. There are crankbaits with BB rattle chambers that emit noise, while others have none. San Antonio-based Livingston Lures offers the best of both worlds in its Team Livingston Series of cranks, which feature a internal Smart chip that can be programmed to emit three different bait fish sounds or a silent mode. They called it EBS MultiTouch Technology. A lipless crankbait has no bill. It has flat sides, an elongated body and a pointed nose that promotes a tight wobble and tons of vibration as it speeds through water column and deflects off wood and rips through submerged patches of grass. Now that the basics are out of the way, here is a random list of hard body fishing tips gleaned from some best crankbait fishermen in world. Follow them and you are sure to gain more confidence in crankbaits and catch whole bunch of fish along the way: •NICE AND EASY: Many anglers refuse to throw crankbaits into areas with heavy cover such as brush, stumps or rock for fear of hanging the treble hooks and losing their baits, but not South Carolina bass pro Anthony Gagliardi. Gagliardi sometimes tosses his cranks into the same places he’ll throw a jig or worm then uses a finesse style retrieve to get them back. It works particu26 |

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larly during the pre-spawn. “If you watched me from a distance you might think I was fishing a worm,” he said. “I’ll keep my rod tip high and actually use the rod to impart the action on the bait. I’ll basically finesse the bait through the cover. It takes some practice to become accustomed to it, but once you get it down you can throw a crankbait into the same stuff you would throw a spinnerbait.” •LIPLESS AROUND GRASS: When selecting a lipless bait for fishing around grass, always choose the size in accordance with how deep the grass is beneath the surface. The narrower the window, the lighter the bait you should use; the wider the window, the heavier the bait. The most popular sizes are 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 ounce. •MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE: If the fish are holding on bottom in 17 feet of water, a square bill crankbait designed to run 4-5 feet deep isn’t the best lure choice. You’ll need a bait with a bigger lip to get at those fish. •BOAT POSITIONING: Johnston says boat positioning is a big key when fishing crankbaits around offshore structure such as humps, points and ridges. Always position the boat away from the structure so you can cast to it and bring the bait through the fish, not right top of where you suspect the fish are holding. •LINE IT UP: It is important to make fan casts when probing offshore structure

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•LIPLESS RODS: Longview bass Jim Tutt says you should always use a rod with a fairly stiff tip action when fishing lipless crankbaits around submerged hydrilla beds. This helps the bait tear free rather than burying up when it ticks the top of the grass bed. • HARALSON’S FAVORITE: Every crankbait nut their favorites for working around deep structure. Veteran Lake Falcon guide Charlie Haralson is a big fan of the Bass Pro XPS Professional Series Deep Diver. “It’s a big bait you can throw in big wind and it will get to bottom in 15 feet of water on 12-pound monofilament,” he said. “Plus, it has a coffin-style bill that’s built for banging around and deflecting off of wood and rock. It comes through heavy cover really well.”

Getting It Down Crankbait experts David Fritts of Lexington, N.C. and David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., say there are several things that can be done to help a deep diving crankbait reach its maximum diving depth: •RIGHT ROD: Use a rod will fling the bait like a rocket launcher. The longer the cast, more depth you’ll get out of a crankbait. Dudley prefers a 7 foot, 11 inch Lamiglas flipping stick. Fritts prefers a 7 1/2 foot medium/heavy David Fritts Speed Stick by Lews. Both anglers match their rods with a silky smooth bait caster. PHOTOS: MATT WILLIAMS

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•LIGHT LINE: Use the lightest line you can get away with. Lines in the 8-12 pound test range are heavily preferred for deep crankbaits. The bigger the line, the shallower the bait will dive. •STROLL IT: If you want to get really deep, giving long-lining a try. The trick is to cast the bait and free spool additional line out before engaging reel. Then use the trolling motor to move the bait a long. It’s similar to strolling a jig for crappie. •KNEEL AND REEL: Try the kneeling and reeling. Make a long cast, kneel at the edge of the deck and poke your rod vertically in the water. The farther you bury it, the deeper the bait will go.

makes all sorts of racket and causes the bait to move erratically, which will sometimes trigger reaction strikes. • CRASH AND BURN: Purposely try to crash the bait any available structure such as rocks, stumps or trees. Strikes usually occur when the bait deflects off a hard object.

There are several things you can do to trigger inactive bass to pounce on a crankbait:

• THE RIGHT ANGLE: Fritts says that changing the angle of your cast is sometimes all it takes to activate an inactive lunker. “Inactive fish probably won’t bite a bait if they see it coming, but if the bait comes from behind and shoots over their head by surprise they may jump up there and bite it,” he said.

•MAKE BOTTOM CONTACT: Dudley says grinding a crankbait off the bottom

The learning curve with crankbaits a little steeper than it is with other styles of baits,

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The kneel and reel.

but once mastered the hard body is sure to change your fishing. Simply put, crankbaits are deadly on bass.

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Getting Schooled on the Fall Flounder Run by Chester Moore 28 |

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OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS I have not been able to do any of my Flatfish University clinics. We are hoping that changes in 2016. These are my official class notes (part of them) for the coming fall run period. I think you will find them interesting, helpful and they might just change your flounder fishing forever. FALL RUN: The “fall run” is migration of flounders from the bays and estuaries into the Gulf of Mexico to spawn. However this migration, which occurs chiefly in November, is not as brief as some think. All migrations have peaks, valleys, beginnings and ends, yet we never talk about the different stages of the fall flounder run. They are as follows: FIRST PUSH: (late Aug.-Mid Sept): This is when the first tiny cold fronts come through dropping the temperature from the upper 90s to the upper 70s for a day or two. There is a push of fish from the backwaters toward the bay, especially around the mouths of marshy drainages, cuts and bayous. This bite lasts about two weeks and can get a boost if another small front comes through. PHOTO:

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• EARLY PURGE: (Mid-October): This is when your first big cold front comes blasting through. We usually do not define these as a “blue norther” but occasionally they will be a fairly strong arctic blast but usually a Pacific cold front. This is when water is pushed out of the marsh and along with it any flounders there along with baitfish. Again, the mouths of the cuts turn on and fishing around the passes will heat up a bit.

Flounder in different bays along the Texas coast prefer different types of bottom structure.

• BIG RUN: (November): When people talk about the “fall run” this is what they are referring to. This is when several cold fronts in succession push the shrimp and menhaden out to the Gulf and the flounders leave as well to hit key spawning grounds. The fish stack up around passes and use them as staging points for migration. The fish are aggressive because they have a long trek to make and need the caloric intake and they move through in large groups. • FINAL EXIT: From about the week after thanksgiving into December we get what can be described as a final exit. This is when fish that are late to leave, exit the bays as well as the period. Males are the first fish to leave and this is a great time to focus on finding really big fish. Since many of the smaller fish are gone, lots of the holdovers are big flounders so anglers have an increased chance of finding the big ones.

7 Keys to Successful Fall Fishing 1. FOLLOW THE FRONTS: THE day before a cold front usually features southerly winds and low pressure. If you can find protected water, these are great days to fish. The days of a front are slow typically because of high pressure, which is our next step. Two days after a front is usually the premium time to fish during the fall period. 2.UNDERSTAND BAROMETRIC Pressure: Barometric pressure is probably the least understood factor of flounder fishing, and it is one I am continually exploring. High pressure puts a strain on fish, and typically makes them bit finicky, but sometimes not at all. Pressure that is falling or is on a downward trend means a strong bite. That 30 |

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is why the day immediately following fronts is beautiful (clear skies with high pressure) but the fishing is sub par. Some suggest pressure over 30.20 is too high and if it gets below 29.80 things can get a little shaky. If it is above 30 and falling you have ideal conditions. I always prefer low to high, but when it is coming off a high and dropping, the fish bite. If you are fishing high-pressure days, use light line, small lures and be ready for a soft bite. 3. LEARN HISTORICAL MIGRAtion points: It is obvious flounders migrate through the passes, but there are other areas they move through that are not as obvious. Do some exploring and find areas they move through simply because they have for years. Look for underwater trenches that would make easy travel routes on Google Earth and shorelines that give them easy access to passes. 4. COVER LOTS OF WATER: Don’t stick around a spot too long unless it is a pass or a migrational point you have identified as solid. Fish move fast and move on because fall fish typically bite aggressively when the conditions are right.

for current lines in the water where you see trash gathering or a convergence of two currents. Flounders love to move along these spots. They also feed along the edges opting for the clearer side of murky water lines or the stained side if you have super clear and stained water. Wear polarized shades to locate these sometimes subtle changes. 6. LEARN THE BOTTOM: GETting intimate details of the bottoms in the areas you fish is key. Make note of the areas where you catch fish because flounders will prefer certain kinds of bottoms in different bays. In Sabine where I do most of my flounder fishing, it is a slight shell and mud mix that tends to yield the best results. Take notes and always be aware of transition zones where you have two kinds of bottom meeting. These spots will often hold fish. 7. AIM SMALL, CATCH BIG!: Micro jigs are key to catching big fish in certain situations, particularly in the later stages of the fall run. Two-inch curltails and shad imitations are killer. Here are a few that I have been using rigged on 1/8 or 1/16oz jigheads and fish on eight-pound Stren Flourocast (fluorocarbon) line.

5. HEED WATER LINES: LOOK T E X A S

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PHOTO: GERALD BURLEIGH

9/8/15 3:25 PM

Texas SALTWATER by CALIXTO GONZALES :: TF&G Saltwater Editor

Cool Stuff

LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR. IT has nothing to do with the diminished numbers on the bay because everyone is either hunting or watching football, although that is a boon. Nor is it because it’s baseball postseason and college football season, although that will keep me glued to the couch most weekends I’m not on the water. It isn’t even because we are two months away from Christmas, and I can start hinting at my Eternal Beloved as to what she can get me for my stocking (although that is the subject of this column in a peripheral sense). I love this time of year because all the really neat stuff that the various tackle and fishing companies showed off at ICAST back in July finally hits the shelves in earnest. In aisles everywhere you hear the same discussion transpire: A: Look at this! Isn’t it cool? B: Put it back. We’re not here for that. A: It’s got more ball bearings B: Aren’t we here to buy an air filter? A: Yeah, but this one would look great on that new rod I got for my birthday. B: You don’t need another one. A: But, who said anything about need? I want. You can’t blame the avaricious consumer though. There is always really great stuff coming out of ICAST. At the very least, it’s worth dreaming about the stuff. Take fishing line for example. You would think that there isn’t much you can do to change the overall quality and selection of lines. Well, guess again.

Companies have re-vamped and added to their—uh—lines of lines with some truly innovative products. Berkley took its stalwart product, Fireline, and enhanced it for deepwater anglers. Metered Fireline is designed with five different colors, each in 10-foot segments. Anglers can effectively measure out the depth they’re fishing in deepwater or trolling by counting off the segments and multiplying by 10. Though most Texas saltwater anglers tend to fish shallower stuff, jetty and bridge fishermen will definitely find the metered colors handy, especially in the 20-pound Fireline, which is the line of choice for many jetty fishermen. Along with the metered Fireline, Berkely also offers a new color pattern for its line of braid. Tracer alternates 30 inches of high-visibility yellow with 30 inches of low-visibility black. The high vis portion enables you to detect the lightest strikes and adds a visual aspect to the super-sensitivity of braided line. If that isn’t enough, it looks pretty cool coming off the reel on casts. If monofilament is your game, then you should check out Berkley’s Pro Spec Chrome. PSC is a premium, high-quality line on a par with some of the top names in the product genre. The line was designed to the specifications of top charter captains and big game anglers around the world. These captains and anglers also tested and advised on the manufacture of the line. The end product was a line with professional-grade abrasion resistance and high tensile strength. The line is available in all the standard variety of pound tests and a variety of colors. My personal favorite is the orange, which appeals to the Texas Longhorn in me. Power Pro Braid has been another very popular product on the Texas Coast. Literally hundreds of miles of the line has been spooled on reels all over the state. Fans of the braid should be excited to find out that Power Pro’s latest innovation, Maxicuatro, is an enhancement to their T E X A S

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vast array of superlines. Maxicuatro is 25 percent thinner than other PowerPro braids of similar pound test strength. The thinner diameter also means a softer line that allows for longer casting, wthout sacrificing tensile strength. Currently, Maxicuatro is available in High-Vis Yellow and Moss Green and in pound test ranges from 50-, 65-, 80-, and 100-pound test. This is the sort of line that anglers could find quite handy when chasing down some of the offshore brute thugs that lurk around rocks and wrecks. Speaking of abrasion resistance, anglers who do fish around snags, wrecks and rocks should ake a very close looks at Seaguar Flippin’ Braid. Denny Brauer helped design Flippin’ Braid and Flippin’ Flourocarbon specifically for pulling big bass out of some of the nastiest snags, falldowns, and submerged junk. Fishing line has no idea where its used, so there is no reason why Flippin’ Braids strength and abrasion resistance wouldn’t prove useful fishing for bull reds around the jetty systems on the Texas Coast, or around the wrecks and snags that red snappers and groupers love. The frugal angler will also like the 100yard spools Seaguar fills with Flippin’ Braid, because a common complaint I hear from readers is that the bottom half of a reel spooled with 300 yards of expensive braid doesn’t really get used all that much. This array of line is just a scratch on the surface of all the truly remarkable products coming out of 2015 ICAST. Next month, we’ll look at some of the other great gadgets and gizmos available for the Texas angler.

Email Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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9/8/15 7:05 PM

TEXAS Dept. of DEFENSE by STEVE LAMASCUS & DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Self Defense Tactical :: Concealed Carry

Quiet & Secretive or Open & Theatening TEXAS HAS JUST ENACTED A LAW that when it takes effect will allow a citizen with a concealed handgun license to carry his or her gun openly. Many laud this as a wonderful step forward in citizen’s rights. I have my doubts, but no one asked me. For what it’s worth here is my take on the subject. In the past I have seen CHL holders who would enter a business and purposely leave their shirttail tucked over the butt of their gun, so that the gun was partially visible. They would strut around until some unsuspecting citizen would either report them to the store security or unobtrusively

whisper, “Your handgun is showing.” At which point the person would make noises like he was surprised that the gun was visible and cover it up. This is the type of person who wants everyone to know that he is rough, tough, and armed for strife. This is backwards thinking. I have carried a concealed weapon for

more than 30 years, across the majority of the United States, including on airlines, and I have not one time had someone ask whether I was armed. The reason is that I took every pain to prevent anyone from seeing my weapon. Why? Good question—because I want to have the benefit of surprise if I have to use the weapon. If a person is openly armed he is a target. If the weapon is hidden he is just one of the crowd. I do not want to be singled out by an armed assailant should he be intending mayhem. I want to be as unobtrusive and as nonthreatening as I can possibly be. In that way I have the advantage.

CZ Scorpion Evo THE CZ SCORPION EVO LOOKS way too cool to pass up. This semi automatic, blow back operated, five pound, 9mm, 7.5-inch-barreled pistol will definitely attract attention at the firing range. Some might recognize it from video games such as Call of Duty although this one doesn’t sport a happy switch to fire in full auto. The Scorpion looks a bit unwieldy as a pistol, but that’s what you get when you try to adapt a stocked submachine gun to infringing federal gun laws. However, it’s still fun at the range, and with the proper paperwork it would be one excellent Short Barreled Rifle (SBR). The Scorpion Evo has adaptable rear

plates that allow the user to adapt to any mission. The factory plate works well as a rear sling attachment. Or swap it to install a SB15 brace or other pistol-stabilizing device, or you can attach the CZ folding stock to closely mimic the original submachine gun if you adhere to the legal requirements. For my testing I asked for a Sig Brace adapter, so I could see how it performed on the

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The CZ Evo in pistol brace conﬁguration topped off with the SeeAll Sight shot sub one-inch groups at 25 yards with Black Hills Ammo.

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range. Shooting one handed with the brace strapped on my arm helped tame muzzle flip for faster shooting, I even fired while driving an ATV for some fun point shooting. But remember, the ATF has declared that you cannot use a pistol stabilizing brace as a work-around stock without the proper SBR registration. The trigger on the Evo was smooth yet heavy measuring around eight pounds. It wasn’t too long of a pull, but I wish it were lighter. The ambidextrous safety was well within reach—too well actually.

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TEXAS Dept. of DEFENSE If an armed robber comes into a store where I am shopping with my family, I do not want him to see that I am armed. This gives me the best possible chance to protect my family. It seems simple to me, but apparently it isn’t so to everyone. I can see that if a person has been out in the pasture, where he has been wearing his .44 Magnum, and then comes to town to eat lunch, that he might want to enter the café without taking off his cannon. However, it takes only a second to pull out his shirttail and cover it up. I think swaggering around with a big gun on your hip is akin to making yourself a target, and I do not want to be a target. I want the bad guy to be the target—my target. I firmly believe that the law should be rewritten to allow a CHL holder to carry his weapon anywhere. I see no reason that I should have to take my gun off when I go to the post office or into the court house, hospital, or movie theater. Leaving my gun in the car makes me no safer and carrying

it into the post office does nothing to make others in the PO safer—quite the opposite. In fact, I was once confronted in the local post office by a person I had previously arrested. How could leaving my gun in the car make me safer. Luckily, in that instance nothing happened, but you see my point. I have, also, twice been involved in scuffles in hospitals. One instance was where a young man lost his temper and for some reason I never found out, began kicking the bejabbers out of a comatose girl he had brought into the emergency room and dumped unceremoniously on the floor. He wasn’t armed, and I merely had to restrain him until he was over his mad, but it could very easily have been much worse if he had been armed. I fully expect that the people killed in the most recent mass murder were wishing there was someone nearby with a gun and the ability to use it well. I also wonder how many lives could have been saved in the last

few decades had there been someone with a gun and the skills to use it in each of the locations where a kook decided to shoot up the place? How did being in a “gun free zone” protect all those people? A gun free zone protects only those who are intent on mayhem. It means nothing less than a hunting preserve for the nutcases of society. It tells them that there is probably no danger to them when they start killing innocent, lawabiding citizens like ducks in a shooting gallery. A few people with concealed handguns in each of those locations could have saved, literally, hundreds of lives. So please lobby for changes to the CHL laws, but when the open carry law goes into effect, I hope you will consider what I have written here and choose to keep your weapon hidden. It is, really, the only smart thing to do.

Whether it’s on or off, it digs into your hand and trigger finger a bit. CZ already offers a “Safety Delete” to remove one side of the safety lever to eliminate this uncomfortable design. The H&K-style charging handle worked just like it was supposed to with the additional option of swapping the controls to the right side for southpaws. The bolt holds open when the mag runs dry, and it has a bolt release directly above the magwell on the left side of the weapon. Ambidextrous magazine release paddles flank forward of the trigger guard. The only issue I had with controls is that you can’t cycle the weapon on safe if the hammer has been dropped. On the AR15, you can’t put the weapon on safe if the hammer is dropped, however the Evo allows you to put it on safe if you’ve dry fired it, yet won’t allow you to charge it until it’s back on fire. This won’t really be an issue in a defensive situation, but you might discover this while handling one and be baffled why the bolt is locked up. The sights on the Scorpion are very

solid and high quality. Price point for the sights alone on the CZ website are $150 and they are worth every penny. I wouldn’t mind having a pair of these around for some of my rifles although they are probably too low profile for an AR15. The best feature is the four different sized peep sights that you can flip through, which comes in very handy since you can shoot the Evo in so many different positions. The translucent double stack magazines come in 10, 20, and 30 round options, are easy to load by simply pushing rounds into the top center. Best of all, the mags retail for under $20. Although the sights performed fine for me, I wanted to test out the new SeeAll open sight. It’s a unique design that uses a bright green sight picture with a painted black triangle, which is magnified by a lens forward lens. It’s more comparable to iron sights than an electronic red dot. However some advantages of red dot sights still apply such as being able to use the Bindon aiming concept with both eyes open. With this combination I was able

to shoot sub one-inch groups at 25 yards using Black Hills Ammunition. That’s plenty accurate for a pistol.

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—Steve LaMascus

I was hoping to suppress this little beast, however the adapter I ordered didn’t work out. The 18mm/1 muzzle thread pattern of the Evo is rare, but the industry is manufacturing several options of adapters now. Best case might be to rethread the barrel to the standard 1/2x28 since there is enough space, and you can even leave a bit of the factory threads behind the standard threads so you can use the factory muzzle device when the silencer is removed. As is, the Scorpion Evo is a great range toy or oversized truck handgun, but it would be an excellent defensive tool in SBR configuration. It retails just over $800, and that’s not too shabby for the top quality, reliability and accuracy you get from a CZ. —Dustin Ellermann

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9/10/15 5:10 PM

Bare Bones HUNTING by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

High Tech Hunting

S A YOUNG LAD WITH A love of the outdoors, I was fortunate enough to grow up in a small city with many friends who shared the same interest in hunting as I did. Consequently, I always had a place to hunt and a good friend to hunt with. Back then, we always thought that we had the newest and best gear out there—and some of us did. I remember thinking how tough our ancestors must have had it and often wondered how they ever got any deer at all. Well, my friends, the times they are a’changing. New technology and new ideas are coming on how to be more successful during hunting season. One of my best friends had a birthday coming up in a month and I asked a female friend “What do you get a guy who has everything?” She immediately replied “my phone number!” Well, I did not think that would have been the best gift I could come up with, so I put some more thought into it. This guy is a gadget freak so I thought that he might like one of those drones to fly around his yard—one with a camera on it. I was surprised to see how inexpensive some of them were. Of course, you can go overboard on some of them as well, but I thought that just to be in control of a flying machine would be fun, no matter how old you are. Put a camera in the works and it can be a blast—or against the law if you fly it near your neighbor’s windows! Anyway, the gift was a hit, and he loved it. It did not take him long before he called me and explained how he could use it for his scouting trips. He told me he already gave it a trial run on his hunting land and saw a few nice bucks that were on the edge of a field. How cool is that?

Not too long ago, you had to take the time to walk the woods where you planned to hunt to look for whitetails and whitetail sign. Then, the invention of trail cameras made it much easier. It was nice to be able to see whether the deer were using a certain area day or night. It seemed almost perfect. You still had to walk out there and set your camera up then periodically go out there to check it. Remember that every time you walked in the woods, you left your human scent right in the area you planned to hunt. Plus, you would always have to worry about whether some unscrupulous hunters would find and steal your expensive trail camera. My hunting buddy showed me how easy it was now to check on your hunting grounds without ever stepping foot near your tree stand locations. He was able to fly this “spy in the sky” not only in and around open fields where deer like to frequent, but also above an area where the whitetails like to bed. Is it a perfect solution to a new way to scout? The short answer is no. Trail cameras can take pictures no matter what time of day or night it is. They work under a canopy of trees or on a field’s edge. The drone can take pictures only during daylight hours and is limited where it can fly. But who knows what the future will bring? In any event, it sure does bring the fun element into scouting for deer. It’s not for everybody, including me. I can remember dinner conversations at our hunting camp about where we will hunt. At that time, the head of our group, whom we referred to as “chief,” would get a new paper pie plate and do his best Picasso, outlining the woods and laying out our attack plan for the next morning. To anybody who did not already know the woods well enough, the “Picasso” looked like a bunch of lines and x’s that made no sense at all. But it seemed to be the best solution for letting everyone know where they were going to hunt. Surprisingly enough, we did get deer, and his plan worked. Oh yes.the times they are a’changing. T E X A S

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Now, with all of our smart phones, we have access to a GPS and many apps to direct us to our favorite spot. They will also tell us what the wind is doing at that exact moment and predict what it will be doing for hours. I scheduled a hunt with Cy Weichert, owner of Scout Look, which is an app that will show a map of your hunting spots, pinpoints your tree stands and also gives the wind direction. I met Cy at his lodge, and we sat at his computer and decided which stand would be best for us that day. Not only was that pretty cool, but the information was extremely accurate as well. There is no question about it. Technology has changed the way some of us prefer to hunt. When you think about it, bows are faster, and arrow manufacturers claim to have the straightest and most penetrating arrow. Broadheads have gone from the early two-bladed fixed broadheads, to multi-blades that could be replaced, to broadheads that open on impact. Clothing is quieter with scent absorbing technology. Range finders have improved to be much more accurate. Smoother releases, flashlights that are super bright and jackets that provide heat with the touch of a button are examples of the many tools that new hunters will use when they hunt. Not all will agree with or accept the technology available today. The big question is—With all this technology, is it a good thing, or will we, as hunters; lose our ability to hunt successfully using just our wits and knowledge of the habits of the animal we are seeking. I feel that if we can accept that the “times they are a’changing,” then we should also accept our fellow hunter’s choice of any technology he or she chooses to hunt with. Some will continue to hunt with primitive equipment, while others will choose to use all the technological help they can afford. At the end of the day, it’s all good.

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True GREEN TF&G Conservation Editor

Edited by WILL LESCHPER

drought. The rains won’t help this year but it does put us in a position hopefully in years to come that that rice acreage may be put back on the landscape.” Morrison said that the migration of geese, particularly the more wary light geese, is changing. “Those (light) geese are shifting. There’s more and more white geese going over toward Arkansas. Is that because of the loss of rice paddies? Is that because of other factors? Who knows what drives those birds? They go where they want to go,” he said.

Quail and Pheasant

For the Birds

OVE HUNTING IS THE most common bird-hunting pursuit in Texas, but we also have some outstanding opportunities for other wingshooting from the Panhandle all the way down to the Mexican border. Conservation efforts continue to help drive the pursuit for notable species including ducks and geese, with more farmers and land managers focusing their efforts on improving habitat, while quail and pheasants benefit from Mother Nature more than any other pair of species in Texas. With that in mind, here’s what to expect when bird hunting this fall and winter, with things looking up despite a hot and dry summer in many areas.

Waterfowl DAVE MORRISON, small game program leader for TPWD, said duck sea36 |

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sons again should be good in many locales and notable haunts. “I do think that what we’re going to see is very likely conditions not as favorable, but I think we had enough ducks on the ground the last several years that I think that it shouldn’t be a problem. All this (late spring) rain is going to help us,” he said. “In some places it’s a drought-buster and that certainly is going to be a positive for what’s coming up this fall, and so when those birds get here from the north things should be positive because we should have good habitat and good conditions. The playas got a lot of rain. In East Texas a lot of those reservoirs are full and overflowing. If we get timely rains after the ducks move south we should be in a pretty good position.” In regard to goose hunting, Morrison noted that conditions aren’t as good as they historically have been. “The numbers of geese coming to Texas is down, there’s no question. White geese numbers have been on the decline for several years,” he said. “Part of that ties into the loss of a lot of our rice paddies because of the T E X A S

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QUAIL PRODUCTION is a positive note, Morrison said. “We had a pretty good quail crop last year,” he said. “All these (spring) rains have certainly put a lot of habitat on the ground for those birds. These big flood events can have devastating effects in localized areas, but by and large, putting that rainfall on the ground, I’d take it any day of the week. “Quail populations tend to go up as far as they fill up the space that they’re in and then they blossom outward. So those places that had good habitat last year, they kind of got in good position and so now those numbers can start spreading across the landscape.” Morrison said that conditions are set for an increase in ground-nesting birds across much of the state. “For quail and pheasant, these rains have been a blessing, and I think we’ll see an uptick in quail and pheasant,” he said. “Now, from blues (quail), it’s a little trickier. They’ve been on a long-term decline. Yes, a lot of that desert country in far West Texas has seen some decent rains, but we’ll just have to see how the blues respond to it. I do know there were some places along the Texas-New Mexico line where the blues were just phenomenal. “East of I-35 they’re in good position. West of I-35 there are still some lingering effects, but it definitely is a step in the right direction.”

Email Will Leschper at WillLeschperOutdoors@gmail.com

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Reef News ONE PROJECT TO CREATE A NEW artificial reef and another to enhance an existing reef site are both moving closer to reality with the selection of Callan Marine LTD as the contractor. Using funding from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment, both sites will deploy concrete pyramids to create artificial reefs in nearshore waters 10 miles or less from the coast. In August, the Texas Artificial Reef Program managed by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department awarded the contract to construct the two reefs to Callan

Grant Complete

UCKS UNLIMITED RECENTly completed the final project of the Gulf Coast 9 North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant at Brazos Bend State Park. Managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the park provides high quality outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, wildlife watching, camping and hiking. Because the park sits in the shadow of Houston – the fourth largest city in the United States – Brazos Bend State Park serves over 250,000 visitors each year. The restoration project improved watermanagement capabilities, which allows park managers to recreate natural water cycles that make the habitat better for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species, providing dependable year-round resource opportunities for wildlife and park visitors. Unmanaged drainage during spring and summer months prevented the use of Pilant PHOTO: DUCKS UNLIMITED

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Marine, a civil and marine contractor based in Galveston, following the standard state bidding and purchasing process. The project will deploy three-sided concrete pyramids, eight-feet tall with 10-foot bases, at both reef sites. The Matagorda Artificial Reef Project will create an artificial reef site within Texas state waters in the Gulf of Mexico, about 10 miles offshore of Matagorda County. The project will create 160 acres of artificial reef through deployment of concrete pyramids onto sandy substrate at a water depth of 60 feet. The estimated cost is $3,552,398. The Freeport Artificial Reef Project will increase the amount of reef materials in a currently permitted artificial reef site, the George Vancouver (Liberty Ship) Artificial Reef, located about six miles offshore from Freeport. The site is permitted for 160 acres, but only has materials in 40 acres. The project will

Marsh as brood-rearing habitat by wood ducks, black-bellied whistling ducks and other wetland wildlife. Prolonged flooding cycles within Pilant Marsh also drowned native hardwoods that require drying periods for growth and resilience. DU completed construction of a new berm and water control structure last year to restore hydrology to the 183-acre Pilant Marsh and the surrounding swamp. The recently completed phase two work included aerial spraying to control invasive Chinese tallow trees and planting of native oak and other hardwood species. According to Park Superintendent Chris Bishop, “We are extremely grateful for Duck Unlimited’s generosity and commitment to conservation in Texas. The outcome of the Pilant Slough project at Brazos Bend State Park far exceeded our expectations. This project will allow us to serve more effectively as stewards of the superlative natural resources placed in the public trust at Brazos Bend State Park. We look forward to improving our natural resource management practices in cooperation with outstanding partners like Ducks Unlimited.” Brazos Bend State Park is a 5,000-acre parcel of public land managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to conserve natural and cultural resources, provide T E X A S

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place predesigned concrete pyramids in the remainder of the 160-acre permitted area onto sandy substrate at a water depth of 55 feet. This is a legacy reef originally created in 1976 with the sinking of the George Vancouver Liberty Ship. The TPWD Coastal Resources Advisory Committee, composed of agency and industry representatives, provided input on reef expansion. The reef is utilized by numerous recreational fishermen and the ship has attracted divers over the years. Commercial fishermen avoid the reef site as it is a well-known “wreck” marked with a navigational buoy and on NOAA charts. The estimated cost of the project is $2,155,365.

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Ducks Unlimited installed a water control structure to enhance wetland management at Brazos Bend State Park.

recreational and educational opportunities, and foster an understanding of the diversity of Texas’ lands and heritage for all generations. For more information about Brazos Bend State Park, please contact Chris Bishop, (979) 553-5101, email –christopher.bishop@tpwd.texas.gov or visit www. brazosbend.org or Texas Parks & Wildlife on the web at www.tpwd.state.tx.us, or join the park’s Facebook fan site.

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COMPOSITE PHOTO: CANSTOCK; TF&G

9/8/15 3:26 PM

Some Choice Waterfowl Holes are Also Great Redfish Holes story by Chester Moore

y favorite redfish holes are also my favorite places to hunt ducks. The Lower Neches Wildilfe Management Area (WMA )is a fine case in point. I grew up fishing this area before it was under control of the state and saw it go from a thriving marsh to a series of open lakes intersected by chunks of marsh, particularly on the western side of the unit. During that time, the fishing declined and so did the waterfowl hunting. What was once heaven for gadwalls with acres of widgeon grass became mud flats as saltwater intruded into the area. Like many spots on the coast, channelization had allowed saltwater to flow into these marshes and turn what was once brackish into an unproductive, dying salt marsh. Now, you are probably thinking “salt

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marsh” and saltwater fish go hand in hand. Well, not necessarily. In many areas, the ideal estuary habitat for fish, crabs and shrimp is actually brackish leaning toward freshwater. “One of the things people have to realize is that good marsh is not always super salty,” said the late Ed Holder, a respected outdoor writer and avid redfish angler and duck hunter. “Species like redfish thrive in brackish marsh that can sustain good vegetation. When the Intracoastal Canal was put in, and a lot of these areas had channels cut for various things, it degraded the habitat for species like redfish and also for ducks,” Holder was my mentor and to drive home this point when he first took me under his wing, he took me into the back of the Keith Lake chain where the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and J.D. Murphree WMA intersect. |

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On that day, we were able to sight cast to redfish that were swimming next to largemouth bass. “People get the idea that redfish have to be in this super salty water but healthy marshes are just not that way. And this is really good duck country in here,” he said. A few years after Holder set me straight on the status of healthy marshes, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) set up a series of saltwater barriers at the Lower Neches WMA. At first, the response from local anglers was not good. I got several phone calls and letters from readers of my columns in the Port Arthur News and Orange Leader with some interesting comments. “TPWD just wants to coddle the ducks.” “They are going to ruin the fishing.” However, it did not take long for the anglers to realize the fishing did not decline, it got better. The marsh began to come alive with all kinds of vegetation good for fish and ducks and the very saltwater barrier that people complain about became the favorite fishing hole in the area. A few years later, Ducks Unlimited (DU) worked with TPWD on a program to create grass terraces in that marsh to halt erosion. That combined with the saltwater barriers turned the marsh into a haven for waterfowl. “The projects that we do along the coast are certainly designed to help ducks but there is a real benefit to everything from redfish to speckled trout and blue crabs in many of them. Good coastal waterfowl habitat in most cases is good coastal fishing habitat,” said David Schuessler of DU. A fine example is the seagrass conservation initiatives forwarded by TPWD recently for the Redfish Bay complex. “Seagrass meadow supplies everything that many marine organisms need. It provides food for grazing animals at the base of the food chain, surfaces to cling onto for small crawling critters, shelter and hiding places for small invertebrates and fish, and ambush points for the larger predators and game fish. For them it’s the nursery, the roof over their heads and the grocery store all rolled into one,” TPWD officials said. Duck hunters know that seagrass is an important factor in the wintering of duck species on the Middle and Lower Texas coasts. “The grass is our bread and butter and what keeps us in ducks when other places 40 |

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Duck blinds dot the surface of marsh lands all along the Texas coastline each season.

don’t have them,” said Keith Walberg of Port Aransas. For redheads, it is even more important than that because the Texas coast winters 80 percent of the continent’s population. “The Laguna Madre de Tamaulipas, just south of the delta of the Rio Grande, is an integral part of the winter life-support system of redheads. In most years, more redheads overwinter in Texas than Mexico; however, in years of drought in Texas, more ducks continue south into Mexico,” said Christopher P. Onuf of the National Biological Service in a paper on the importance of seagrass. “The large geographic extent of available habitat apparently buffers the population by increasing the probability that suitable conditions prevail somewhere in the system every year.” Onuf wrote that Mexico is pushing for the extension of the Intracoastal Waterway into Mexican Laguna territory. “In all likelihood, this development will reduce the support capacity of the Laguna in Mexico for redheads, further increasing the reliance of the ducks on the laguna in Texas.” T E X A S

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And that will make the projects being conducted by agencies like DU and groups like DU even more important to not only redheads, but the fish they share their habitat with. “Many of us in DU are coastal fishermen as well, and I think the crossover appeal has a lot to do with the fact that those who come from a fishing background see lots of ducks and want to give it a try, and the duck hunters know how many fish are out in those marshes and want to do the same. It’s all about habitat,” DU’s Schuessler said. If you go to a Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) banquet you will see many of the same people that attend the DU fundraisers because there is a common thread that is not often addressed. CCA’s cutting-edge work on Texas seagrass and habitat directly benefits ducks. And DU’s efforts benefit redfish. In the end, what is good for the redhead is good for the redfish and that equals happy hunters and anglers who realize that healthy habitat is everything for whatever swims or flies.

PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSER

9/8/15 3:26 PM

Texas FRESHWATER by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&G Freshwater Editor

Some of the Things I Love about Fall

F ALL THE SEASONS OF the year, fall is one of my favorites. The welcome arrival of cooler weather on the heels of another blistering Texas summer is always nice, but that ranks way down the hit list of reasons why autumn is so special in my book. I like to fish regardless of what the weather is doing. It makes no difference if I’m casting a buzz bait over a fishy-looking grass flat for bass, soaking shiners around brush piles or bridge pilings for crappie, or banging around a lazy East Texas river bottom hoping to catch a few fiddler cats for the skillet. But there is something about being out there during fall that soothes the fishing soul and feeds a fishing fever in a way that no other season does. Here is a random list of some of the things I love fall fishing in Texas:

• LOW WATER: In a normal year, Texas lakes are at their lowest levels during fall as the result of day-to-day evaporation during the hot summer months, increased water demands by consumers and limited amounts of rainfall to keep things recharged. When water levels drop, it reduces the size of the playing field, forces fish off flats and confines them to channels and other structure, thus making them easier to find. The low water also brings grassbeds so close to the surface, it forms distinctive edges that can be seen with the naked eye. This can be especially beneficial to bass anglers because it provides them with visual target to throw at. Plus, it positions the fish in a way that they are easier to catch. • LIMITED TRAFFIC: In my book, there is nothing more inviting as a fisherman than pulling up to your favorite boat ramp and

finding an empty parking lot. It happens pretty frequently this time of year, especially in rural East Texas where I’m from. Most fishermen in these parts are hunters, and a high percentage of them surrender their fishing gear in exchange for scatterguns, bows and rifles for fall hunting seasons for ducks, deer, squirrel, dove and a host of other critters that are fair game over the next few months. Fewer fishermen on the water means less competition on the water for potential sweet spots. At this time of year, sport fish are prone to go on strong feeding binges more often as the result of cooling water temperatures, shorter days and longer nights. This signals their biological tickers that a change in seasons is underway.

• COLD FRONTS: Fall is the harbinger of cold fronts and cooler temperatures. As a rule, frontal activity becomes more frequent and intense as winter draws near. Cold fronts can blow in with a vengeance. With them come stiff north winds that can turn an otherwise calm lake into sea of roiling whitecaps and dangerous waves in a matter of minutes.

• DIMPLES ON THE SURFACE: Fall is when roving pods of shad begin their annual treks up creek channels to seek out plankton and other food sources that gradually diminished on the main lake towards the end of summer. The succulent bait fish are prone to travel in tight wads or balls that may number into the thousands, often times so close to the surface they can be seen dimpling the water on a windless October day. Bass go where the shad go. When you see dimples on the surface, you can bet the bass aren’t far behind.

• SOUNDS OF FALL: One of my favorite sounds of fall is the lonesome groans of snow geese as they wing their way over an East Texas lake. They are en route to rice and other crop fields of the Katy Prairie, where many of them will ultimately spend the winter. Another is the sudden eruption of a shotgun volley in the dim morning light, followed by the distinctive chants of duck hunters signaling that somebody made a great shot or missed a really easy one. There is a lot to like about fall. Even more to love. Get out and enjoy.

• SCHOOL BASS: When it comes to Mother Nature’s greatest shows, few are more intense than watching a group of feisty school bass have their way with a hapless group of shad. Sometimes the feeding frenzies are so violent it seems as if the bass are killing the shad for the mere hell of it, just to show them who is boss out there.

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• STUMP HOOKIN’: Passive fishermen on Toledo Bend experience a big run on flatheads every fall, and one of the most effective ways to catch the highly-prized catfish is setting stump hooks with live perch for bait. The basic stump hook set consists of a heavyduty line tied around a stump, usually just beneath the surface so others can’t see it. The bait dangles freely three to four feet beneath the surface on a 10/0 or 12/0 stainless circle hook. It’s a good idea to use a weight heavy enough to hold the bait down and a large barrel swivel to prevent a big fish from twisting the line and tearing free. Stump hook sets are most effective when water levels drop several feet below normal, which exposes stumps that line the edge of major and secondary feeder creeks.

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Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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9/8/15 7:02 PM

The Forgotten Pleasures of Prowling for Squirrels in the Tall Trees

story and photos by John N. Felsher

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ITH FADING light barely penetrating the mixed evergreen and hardwood forest canopy, I heard the faint scratching and clicking coming from high in a loblolly pine as a squirrel munched contentedly on a green cone. Unseen, it ripped seeds from the cone, dropping chips to the forest floor. I traced

the chips to a clump of intertwined pines growing closely together, but could not determine precisely where the squirrel hid. Sometimes, it seemed to feed in one tree and at other times, sounds came from a second tree. With interlocking branches creating a lofty maze, these trees could easily conceal a herd of squirrels. With little time to waste before shooting hours ended, I finally spotted a falling cone chip reflecting what little sunlight T E X A S

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remained of this day. Tracing the chip back to a likely spot, I isolated the tree and the approximate area. With each new chip falling to the ground, my search area decreased until a shelled cone husk nearly bounced off my head. Silhouetted against a reddened sun, the squirrel reached for seconds. I popped him with a single shot from the .22 barrel of my old Savage Model 24 over and under rifle/ shotgun combination. |

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At the report of the rifle, another undetected squirrel burst from an adjacent pine tree, solving the mystery of the conflicting sounds. I fired the 20-gauge barrel at the runner, bringing it down with a load of number 6 lead shot. In 15 seconds, tall pine trees saved me from returning home with an empty game bag. When chasing bushytails, most sportsmen head to vast strands of hardwood bottomlands. However, hunting the pines could often mean the difference between a heavy game bag and nothing. Few squirrels normally live in solid evergreen forests, but they thrive in mixed forests. They prefer lofty pines Daniel Felsher with plenty of branches instead of retrieves a squirrel those that grow tall crowns, but few he shot while hunting low branches. Squirrels need plenty in a mixed pine/hardof branches to hide from predators, wood forest. especially hawks and owls. Often, squirrels return to dine in their might bag more game by methodically favorite trees or even preferred branches of searching a small patch of woods or a grove a particular tree that offers adequate cover, of trees than by scanning huge tracts of forprotection and delicious cones growing with- est. Watch trees for movement and look for in easy reach. Several mounds of denuded odd-shaped “knots” on the sides of trees. pine husks and chips could mark a good About every 50 yards or so, find a fallen “feed” tree. If juicy green matter or damp- log or comfortable tree trunk to lean against. ness remains on the husk, it could indicate a Remain quiet and still for 20 to 30 minutes cone recently dropped by a nearby squirrel. before moving to other groves. A good A single pine tree growing near thick pair of binoculars helps spot well-concealed hardwoods often becomes a feed tree. It bushytails hiding in the nooks and crannies might even contain a squirrel nest or two in of immense evergreens. its lofty branches. Find a comfortable tree or “One thing about hunting in pines, peolog with a good view about 20 to 30 yards ple can usually hear squirrels before they from the feed tree and wait. see them,” said John Taylor, an avid pine Squirrels usually visit such trees shortly squirrel hunter. “If they are playing, they’ll after daybreak or late in the afternoon, but run up and down the trees, and we can hear they could feed at any time. Regularly, sev- them a long way off. Just sit, watch, wait eral squirrels may feed in one tree. Without and listen for them. If they’re feeding, they’ll moving, a hunter might bag two or three drop cones.” squirrels from the same tree. People can also hear teeth clicking as Sometimes, a thick carpet of debris not squirrels gnaw on cones. Listen for cone only indicates squirrel activity in an area, husks dropping through the branches. You but the decaying matter combined with lay- can often hear the faint, yet unmistakable ers of pine needles can allow sportsmen to sound of pine chips floating to the ground as stalk game more easily and quietly. Acidic a squirrel tears a green cone apart. Sounding pine needles, husks, chips and other material almost like light rain, falling chips send out can choke off underbrush, making almost subtle hints of activity. You can often trace park-like conditions in a densely canopied sounds or a line of raining fragments back to pine forest. the source and bag another bushytail. When you walk through a pine forest, Being masters of concealment, squirrels take a few paces and stop. After a few min- can find abundant places to hide in the utes, take two or three more steps and stand branches, knots and foliage of big trees. In still again. Use large trees for concealment. the cover of spreading pine branches, feedCover ground thoroughly. Sportsmen ing squirrels often feel safe from predators. 44 |

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Nestled in the nook or fork of a tall tree, they gnaw on their cones, seemingly oblivious to anything around them. Slugs from a .22 rifle penetrate with more killing force than shotgun pellets, if they find the target. In addition, huge pines frequently hang heavy with spreading branches that furnish excellent cover to block or deflect shotgun pellets. Often, a squirrel exposes only a tiny spot, like its head—just enough for a well-placed rifle slug from a scoped .22 single-shot, pump, automatic or lever action rifle. The scope can also help in spotting hiding squirrels. Once, I spotted a fox squirrel running up a lone pine tree growing at the edge of a field more than 20 yards from any other tree. Open, barren ground separated this tree from the rest of the forest, so this squirrel could not possibly escape from that one tree without me seeing or hearing it. I sat on a nearby log for more than an hour searching for that one lone squirrel without success. I tried all the tricks, including tossing branches to the far side of the tree to make it jump. Nothing moved. I couldn’t see any holes in the tree, so I knew it still sat on some branch looking at me the entire time. I scanned the tree with a good binocular, a must for hunting in tall pines. Spotting nothing and nearly ready to give up, I finally detected a tiny patch of white fur illuminated by the sunshine. Focusing the binocular on this patch of white, I eventually spotted a tiny ear facing in my direction. Protruding from behind the tree trunk, it flicked almost imperceptivity. I moved a few feet and the squirrel’s head popped up from around the pine trunk to track my progress. Putting the crosshairs on its eye, I drilled it in the head with a shot from my.22 rifle. Hunting in pine forests can prove an exciting and highly rewarding experience in the right area. Usually, hunters stalking the piney uplands find little competition from other sportsmen since most people head to the bottomlands for bushytails. Therefore, those willing to tread on a few needles may find spectacular shooting where few others seek squirrels.

PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

9/8/15 3:27 PM

Open SEASON by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM :: TF&G Humor Editor

Survival

FEW RECOLLECTIONS popped into my mind while the War Department and I were hiking this past summer through the crowds in Maine’s Acadia National Park. I remembered how, as a kid, I wanted to be stranded on a desert island and live off the land. Kids love to fantasize, which is why comic books and super heroes have always been popular. After reading a number of books about kids making their way alone, without adults, I decided that if I was ever stranded on a deserted island, I’d be ready. When I was around 12 or so, two authors figured heavily into my plan. Euell Gibbons was born in Clarksville, Texas, in 1911, and wrote several books on wild edibles. He talked of foods virtually under our feet in Lamar County, and I thought that if I knew which plants to eat there, I could make it anywhere. Then I found a book by Bradford Angier called “How to Stay Alive in the Woods.” I read it twice, and then set out to prove that I could live on my own, without help from anyone except Cousin. “Where are we going?” he asked, following me across the pasture. One of his U.S. Keds left a nice print in a fresh cow pattie. “To find something to eat.” “There’s bacon and biscuits left from breakfast.” “But when that’s gone, we’ll starve.” Cousin looked worried. “Why are we starving?” “Because some day all the Russians are going to shoot all their atom bombs at

us and we’ll have nothing to eat but the cows and what’s in the garden, and then where will we be? Our job will be to help provide food.” “We can hunt.” “Sure, but we’ll get tired of squirrels and rabbits, and I ain’t gonna eat no ‘possum. They’re greasy.” “How do you know that?” “They look like they’d be greasy.” He studied on that one for a while. “So where are we going?” “To that pool that has all the cattails growing around it.” “We gonna fish? We didn’t get any poles.” “Fish are good, but we’ll need to eat everything we can find.” I stopped and dug the “How To Stay Alive in the Woods” paperback out of my satchel. “This guy eats everything, leaves, roots, even bark. He says that cattail roots can be eaten right from the water, or we can gather a bunch, dry them, and grind them into flour.” “So we’ll still have biscuits and gravy after the bombs drop?” “Sure. That’s how the settlers did it.” “I don’t believe they ate cattails.” “You don’t know. In history all they say is that they baked biscuits, but they didn’t say what kind of flour they used.” We came to the choked stock tank reeking in the summer sun. Cow patties surrounded the muddy bank. Dragonflies zoomed overhead and cicadas sang from the trees. I wiped the sweat from my face. “Look. It’s a buffet.” “Huh?” “Cattails for greens and flour. Water for survival. We can dig worms to fish with, or to eat—they’re protein you know. I bet we could eat that dragonfly there if we needed to.” “You’re not tough enough to make me drink that scummy water.” He swallowed, and I realized he’d been carrying a baconbiscuit leftover from Grandma’s breakfast. T E X A S

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He took another bite. “I ain’t eating no dragonfly, neither.” “We’d take off the wings and legs.” The pool had evaporated in the past few weeks, and the cattails grew close to hand. I stepped out on the crust of mud and sank to my knees. Already committed, I grabbed a couple of cattails and yanked them out of the stinking mud. While Cousin watched from the shade of an oak tree, I stuck the roots into the still water and washed them, kind of. Digging out my pocketknife, I peeled one of the roots and held it out. “You want a bite.” “You first.” I bit into the tuber, chewed off a chunk and crunched for a while, watching a cow on the other side of the tank relieve herself in the pool. “Buffalo wouldn’t do that.” After chewing for a full minute, I spat out the fibers. “It must taste better when it’s dried and ground into flour.” Cousin looked up from one of the books. “It says here you can eat the heads and make them into flour, too.” I studied the root with a bite out of it. “See what I told you? These, are flour machines.” Cousin held out one of the green heads. “Take a bite. I bet this tastes better than the root.” Without thinking, I bit into the head. My mouth immediately filled with fluff that absorbed every drop of moisture I had left. I coughed, blew, gagged, and snorted. Fluff blew out like feathers. Cousin watched carefully, chewing on his leftover breakfast once again. “Didn’t work, huh?” I studied the books on the ground at our feet. “Not really. Do you have another one of those bacon-biscuits?” He handed me one. “We won’t starve before we get back home. Granny’s frying chicken for lunch.” I was thankful for her experience and knew we’d make it, as long as she was around. Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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9/8/15 7:03 PM

Texas BOATING by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

F YOU’VE EVER SHOPPED FOR A boat, you’ve seen the following statement ad nauseam—“Its deep-V hull has a smooth, dry ride.” The biggest problem with this marketingspeak isn’t that this boat or that one is not particularly smooth nor very dry—no boat is. We have to look at these traits comparatively. Virtually every boat out there other than jon boats are marketed and sold as deep-Vs—ven when they most assuredly are not. So, what exactly makes a hull a deep-V? Part of the reason why so many builders and brokers get away with selling everything from dinghies to dreadnaughts as deep-V boats is that most consumers don’t have a good handle on basic hull design. And what’s worse is that while the term “deep-V” seems self-explanatory, it is not. The biggest mistake most folks make is assuming that when you talk about hull design, you’re most concerned with the bow of the boat. Not so. The vast majority of boats are pointy at the front end, and make what we’d commonly call a V-shape. This is not adeep-V. Rather, you have to consider what the hull bottom looks like well past the bow, all the way back to the stern. In fact, when describing just how much V-shape there is in a hull (which is called its “deadrise,”) the most telling figure is found at the very transom of the boat and is called “transom deadrise.” Why should you care about all this? Because the next time you’re shopping for a boat, you want to make sure you pick the 46 |

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FLAT BOTTOM BOATS —These are Jon boats, some specialty boats such as scooters, and some skiffs. As you might expect, their bottoms are flat—even though the bow itself may be pointy. HIGH POINTS: Flat bottom boats are incredibly stable, have low draft, and excellent weight-bearing characteristics.

“ And a complete understanding of the boat’s hull design will play a huge roll in just how satisﬁed you ultimately are.

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To Deep-V, or Not to Deep-V?

best one for your purposes. And a complete understanding of the boat’s hull design will play a huge roll in just how satisfied you ultimately are. So here’s a quick run-down on basic hull designs, and the deadrise you’ll find in each.

They also plane easily and usually require less power than similarly-sized boats with V-hulls. Plus, flat bottom boats generally cost less because they’re easier to manufacture and ship. LOW POINTS: That flat bottom is not going to ride very smoothly, nor will it be dry. In fact, flat bottoms provide about the bumpiest, wettest ride on the water. SEMI-V — Bay boats, many freshwater T E X A S

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fishing boats, and most runabouts are semiV’s. A semi-V hull is one with some V in the hull, but not enough to qualify as a deep-V. Most range between 10 and 19 degrees of deadrise measured at the transom, though there are some boats with less deadrise, which could still accurately be called semi-Vs. HIGH POINTS: these are middle-ofthe-road hulls. They aren’t the smoothest nor are they the bumpiest; they aren’t the driest nor are they the wettest; they aren’t the most stable nor are they the least stable. LOW POINTS: see above; by focusing on the in-between, semi-V hulls are generally not the best at any one thing. DEEP-V —These are your offshore fishing boats, as well as offshore-oriented speed boats, some cruisers, and some larger runabouts. From 20 degrees of transom deadrise on up, hulls are considered deep-Vs. The vast majority of them range between 21 and 24 degrees of deadrise, with a few outliers boasting 24.5 degrees. Make that V any sharper, and stability suffers too much for the boat to remain comfortable. HIGH POINTS: Deep-V hulls provide the smoothest ride possible for monohull boats. LOW POINTS: Deep-Vs tend to rock and roll quite a bit. They aren’t particularly easy to get on plane and don’t provide the best efficiency. They also tend to draw a lot more water than flatter bottom boats. Dryness varies quite a bit from hull to hull. VARIABLE-DEGREE DEADRISE —A variable-degree deadrise hull is one that features different deadrise in different portions of the hull. These designs are commonly seen for the same type of uses we see deep-Vs. As an example, they may feature a deadrise of 40 or more degrees at the entry, taper down to 24 or 25 degrees amidships, and then down to 18 or 20 degrees at the transom. The concept is to get the best advantage of the deep-V (smooth riding) PHOTO: CREDIT

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Texas BOATING but recoup some stability and efficiency. HIGH POINTS: Many variabledegree deadrise hulls do in fact ride exceptionally well, yet also exhibit good stability. LOW POINTS: not all variable-degree deadrise hulls are created equal, and some perform much better or worse than others. To make matters more complex, some will perform better or worse when fully loaded versus when they’re run light. And the weight distribution of people and gear can also have a big impact on how smooth the boat may or may not be, particularly when it affects running angle. TRI-HULLS — We used to see lots of small fishing boats and runabout tri-hull designs back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but their popularity faded quite a bit. Today, however, they do seem to be staging something of a come-back with a couple major builders rolling out new tri-hull designs. HIGH POINTS: these are very stable

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hulls, second only to flat-bottom boats for stability. They also tend to be a bit drier than flat-bottom boats. LOW POINTS: they tend to be quite bumpy in a chop, only marginally smoother than flat-bottom boats. POWERCATS — Powercats have twin hulls, and are applied to many different uses. There are many variations on the shape of each hull, ranging from V-shapes to rounded bottoms to flat bottoms to hulls that have different shapes on either side of each keel (called “asymmetrical in the inverse,” with the inside halves of each hull being identical and the outside halves being identical, though the inside and outside are different from each other). HIGH POINTS: a well-designed powercat rides even more smoothly than a deepV, is usually very dry, and requires less power to reach the same speeds. LOW POINTS: Not all powercats

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are well-designed, and can live up to the aforementioned expectations. Plus, some are overly-stable. When they do finally roll, their righting moment is extremely fast and can create a phenomenon known as a “snap roll,” which is abrupt and uncomfortable. Is this a complete run-down on boat hulls? Heck no—there are rounded bilge boats, Chesapeake Deadrise hulls, tunnel hulls, and countless other specialized or modified versions of all of the above. But this run-down of basic bottom types will cover 90-percent of the fishing and hunting boats out there—and now you’ll know whether that boat being advertised as a “deep-V” really is.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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our up .

The Practical ANGLER by PAUL BRADSHAW | TF&G Contributing Editor

You Caught That on What?

RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUnity to go on a mission trip with my church to Belize. We took daily bus rides in a vehicle with questionable safety standards and a driver that may or may not have been licensed (and who owned only one CD that he played over and over).

Tied to solid object on the bank

Trot line rope

On one trip, we came across a young boy fishing beneath a bridge (I’m pretty sure the bridgewas built by Mayans Circle hook: out of balsa maximum of wood) that had. ﬁve per line All he was using was a fishing line. No fancy rod or reel. Just a line, a hook, a weight and was using his hands to pull in any fish that decided to bite. So this got me to thinking about legal methods of fishing here in Texas without using your standard rod and reel. To be honest, if you’re chasing game fish, there aren’t many options. Texas fishing has been regulated so much that you can almost get a ticket for just thinking about fishing the wrong way. If you target non-game fish your options open up considerably. Just don’t get confused by what is a game fish and what is 50 |

a fish that simply has regulations because there is a difference. A great example being flounders which are not game fish, but do have size and bag limit regulations. I didn’t say it made sense. I had thoughts of showing you how to make a Hawaiian sling (it’s a real fishing tool, Google it) but I figured my wife and editor might get upset since it’s kind of weapon-ish so we’re going to stick with less imposing and scary (but no less fun) methods of catching fish. So without further suspense let’s talk throw lines. If an eight year old Belizean kid can handle it so can you. Throw lines can be one of the simplest methods around for catching fish but before we get too deep into it let’s go over what you can legally catch with it. Throw lines can

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only be used for non-game fish along with blue, channel, and flathead catfish. Catch anything else on a throw line, and you have to release it. In addition to what you can catch with a throw line, there is also a restriction on how many hooks you can have on a single line. For some reason that I’m sure has a history rooted in fish mortality rates or simply because it matches the number of fingers on your hand, you can only have five hooks per throw line. This probably isn’t a bad idea since there could be hooks flying everywhere if you catch a big catfish on a throw line. Now that all of that is out of the way we’ll get into how to really make a throw line. You start off with around 60 feet of braided trotline cord that has been treated to withstand rot, mold, mildew and other stuff associated with being in the water for long periods of time. On one end you tie a weight. The type of weight used is up to you but a one pound T E X A S

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(16 ounce) bank sinker works well. In a pinch, a rock off the bank will work but they have a tendency to fly off if not tied on properly. The other end of the line will be tied to a tree or other sturdy object on the bank. There are dozens of ways to attach hooks to the throw line but we’re going to cover the most basic and cost effective. Starting about three feet up the line from the weight, double your line and tie an overhand knot leaving a large loop (about 1-2 feet long) of doubled line sticking out. Approximately three feet up the line from this loop do it again, up to five times total since this is where you’ll attach your hooks. While we’re on the hook topic, you’ll need big eyed trotline circle hooks (something in the 3/0 to 4/0 range will work). To attach the hook, take the loop formed in the doubled line from earlier and run it through the eye of the hook, then opening the loop, run the body of the hook through the middle of the loop and pull tight.

Weight: minimum of one pound

When used on public waters the throw line must have a valid gear tag with your name, address, and date the line was set. Tie the loose end to a sturdy object on the bank, bait the hooks with live or prepared bait, throw it in and you’re fishing.

Email Paul Bradshaw at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

ILLUSTRATION: PAUL BRADSHAW

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Texas GUNS by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

Great Grampa’s Guns

EFORE THE LEVER-ACTION rifle was chambered in more powerful rounds than the .38 and .44 WCF the most common hunting rifle was a single-shot, generally in one of the large calibers such as .45-90, .44-77, .44-90, .45-110, .40-65, .50-90, and a plethora of others. The only real difference in any of these cartridges was the size of the bullet and the amount of black powder they used. Most were straight walled cases, but some, such as the .44-77, .44-90, and .45-75, were bottlenecked cases. These bottlenecks were often used in the Remington Rolling Block, which could not chamber a cartridge as long as the falling block Sharps rifles could. These were the cartridges that devastated the immense herds of American bison, elk, and pronghorn antelope in the 1870s and 1880s. They were big, but compared to modern cartridges they really weren’t that powerful. They fired a big, heavy, soft lead bullet, either paper-patched or lubricated with grease. These bullets often weighed in the neighborhood of 500 grains, and launched at modest velocities of around 1,200 to 1,400 feet per second. But when I say they were not that powerful, don’t get me wrong. They hit like a ton of bricks and were more than powerful enough to kill a buffalo bull that would shade a ton in weight. Their biggest drawback was their trajectory, which resembled a rainbow. The buffalo runners sometimes made amazing shots with their old smoke poles, but that was because they were intimately familiar with their guns and were masters at judging range.

Do not believe the tripe that they regularly killed buffaloes at 800 to 1,000 yards. They didn’t. They rarely shot at more than 200, and 300 was a long shot, indeed. A few, I am told, specialized in making longer shots, but they used telescopic sights. And they still didn’t regularly blaze away at 700 or 800 yards. They were there to kill buffalo as a business and each missed shot was a debit while each dead buffalo was money in their pockets. I have read many of the old books and journals written by these men and know this to be true. The first lever-actions were made in short, mild cartridges like the .44 Henry Rimfire, .38-40, and .44-40. The professional hunters did not have much use for such guns, but the lawmen and cowboys loved them. They were short, light, held a lot of bullets, and were easy to pack on a horse for eight or ten hours a day. They didn’t need something that would kill a buffalo at 300 yards, but rather something that would kill an outlaw or a rustler at 100. The fact they could buy a handgun that would shoot the same ammunition as their rifle was a great asset. Also, if they found a deer that would let them get close enough, the old rifles were sufficiently powerful to put venison on the table. These were the guns that were being used by the many thousands right up to the end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th. Some, in fact, are still in use today, and a large number of modern replicas sell like snow cones on a hot summer day. I have an Italian-made replica of an 1874 Sharps in .45-70, and let me tell you, it isn’t a toy. I have shot deer with it, and it works just as well today as it did in 1876. The lever-action, however, was the type of gun that came to be synonymous with the term “deer rifle.” It is often said that the .3030 Winchester has killed more deer than any other caliber. I don’t know if that is true or not, but it has killed a bunch, and still does. One of the last iterations of the old-fashioned lever-action is the Winchester Model 71. An updated version of the big bore Model 1886, it was made in only one caliber—.348 T E X A S

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Winchester—and was made for only about 20 years, from the mid-1930s to the mid-’50s. The .348 was and is a powerhouse. It was loaded with bullets of 150, 200, and 250 grains and was powerful enough for any North American game if range was kept to less than about 200 yards. Although the Winchester Model 71 is getting hard to find and is very pricey, the .348 is still one of the finest woods cartridges ever made for anything from deer and black bear to moose. It is one of the most powerful cartridges ever chambered in a lever-action, excepting the Browning BLR’s modern magnum chamberings. Ammunition is hard to find, but reloading components are still available from a number of sources. The old guns are getting to be too valuable to carry around and shoot a lot. Also, many of them are simply not safe to shoot. However, there are plenty of modern guns that are either replicas or actual modern rifles. As I said, Marlin is still in there pitching, Mossberg has recently introduced a lever-action that bears a more than passing resemblance to the Winchester Model 94, and Winchester has just re-introduced the Model 73. If Winchester were smart, they would reintroduce the Model 71 and chamber it for .348 and .45-70. If you want a single-shot you have a wide selection. You can choose a Ruger Number 1 in any of the modern calibers, or any one of a number of copies of the old Sharps, Remington, and Winchester rifles. Two U.S. companies I am familiar with make fantastically well-built modern versions of the Sharps rifles. They are strong and accurate and are used in the long-range black powder cartridge rifle competitions that are shot out to ridiculous ranges. In addition, several companies import highquality foreign copies of such guns. So, if you have a hankering to relive the good old days, there are plenty of choices. It is a great way to put a bit of spice back into your hunting life. Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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SABINE Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

HAT CAN I SAY ABOUT October? You want action? How about excitement, opportunity and endless options? You want specks, reds and flounder? Sand trout? Bull reds? If the word yes entered your brain from any of these questions, you owe it to yourself to get down here and join us in a Sabine version of Octoberfest. Many people are convinced that no other month rivals October when it comes to sheer numbers and the overall quality of the Big 3. I’d have to agree because if I had to pick one month out of the year to fish, this would be it. The marsh and bayous are constantly being purged as shrimp and baitfish continue to pour out into the bay with every cold front. As a result, the mouths of the bayous, shorelines and open bay are all excellent places to locate fish.

“ Many people are convinced that no other month rivals October...

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Octoberfest

Flounders will set up ambush points in the bayous at S curves and points near the mouth on outgoing tides. Trout and redfish will also take advantage of these areas as the tide leads their next meal toward deeper water.

Fishing the mouth of any bayou or cut on the eastern bank of Sabine Lake can lead

to success. If you’ve got tidal movement and bait present, the odds of you catching fish greatly increase. The mouths of Willow and Bridge Bayous are excellent places to start. These areas hold bait and fish year-round but seem to step it up a notch in October. Throwing topwaters early and plastics once the sun gets up should keep you on the fish. It’s hard for a flounder to resist the wobble of a curl-tailed grub tipped with fresh shrimp dragged slowly along the bottom. Trout and redfish usually prefer it worked just a little faster. Use a 1/8 oz. or ¼ oz. lead head and bounce it off the bottom or swim it back to the boat. The action in the open bay should be in full force with big flocks of birds leading anglers to trout and reds. Shrimp are making their way out of the marsh and the fish have them corralled and pushed to the surface where the gulls, and hopefully you, will be waiting. Meanwhile, the big bulls have invaded the beachfront and jetties as they come in close to spawn future generations. Break out the big rods and catch some mullet and you shouldn’t have to wait too long for the reels to start singing. Make sure your drag is set if you answered, “yes” earlier and come join us at the Sabine Octoberfest.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Concrete steps at Pleasure Island Marina SPECIES: Flounder, Redﬁsh, Speckled trout and Croaker BAITS/LURES: Mud Minnows, Fresh Dead Shrimp, Cut Bait BEST TIMES: All day

Email Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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GALVESTON Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

October: Best Fishing Month of the Year?

“NORMAL” AMOUNT OF rainfall in the winter of 2015 and record rain and flooding in late spring will have an effect on coastal fishing, maybe a drastic one. Instead of high salinities that discourage shrimp and some baitfish species from thriving and reproducing, all Texas bays should be in good shape after a thorough spring flushing, but hopefully not “too fresh” for good fishing. Many of our most popular bay game fish are surprisingly tolerant of both high and lower salinities, so I don’t expect this to be a problem. The two river watersheds that directly drain into the Galveston Bay system—the San Jacinto and Trinity Rivers—were possibly the most affected by the heavy rain in late May. Too much freshwater can be bad for the oyster crop, but speckled trout, redfish, and flounders are attracted to oyster reefs because they are a form of bottom structure that draws various bait species—not because they feed on oysters. Should the fall continue to see a lot of rain on the coast, fishing the Galveston bays – especially the back bays and feeder creeks and bayous – will probably find specks, especially, to be more numerous in the surf. They will also be in the immediate vicinity of natural passes from inshore waters to the Gulf. As flounders will be staging for their winter migration to Gulf waters, anyway, excess rain should not be a factor in fishing for them. Redfish are very freshwater tolerant, and might be very comfortable with the abundant food sources a “cleaner” bay system could provide. It is a function of nature that serious floods occur when bay systems have become clogged with silt and other forms of debris. Coastal bayous feeding the bays are also helped by this flushing action. Heavy water flow washes much of this “pol-

lution” into the open Gulf, where it provides needed nutrients to that eco-system. Strong currents will also open sanded-in channels and move the cuts and even the sandbars themselves in ways that can be helpful to fishermen. I need to mention the plight of the San Bernard River. Before the heavy spring rains the mouth of the San Bernard was—again— sanded closed. This is a bad situation in normal weather, but when a dramatically increased amount of water tries to flow down a river with no Gulf outlet, well, it has to go somewhere. In the case of the San Bernard, when the water tries to take the path of least resistance and travel down the Intracoastal Canal, it will be blocked to the east by the floodgates on the Brazos River. The flood gates are kept closed during high water periods to stop logs and

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Shore-bound still ﬁnd temperatures warm enough for “wet” wading, with a huge area to work. This extends from the Galveston surf to the back bay shorelines and sand bars behind West CONTINUED ON PAGE

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other large debris from the Brazos entering the canal and becoming hazardous to barge traffic. Going west, the current will probably try to cut through to the Gulf through marsh lakes towards Sargent. The added current is not helpful to either recreational or commercial boat traffic on the waterway. This, of course, is assuming the water flow does not have the force to re-open the natural mouth of the river on its own, which is possible, but not probable. With nowhere else to go, the water backs up, and after the marshes near the Gulf are inundated, areas along the river farther upstream are in danger of worse flooding. Local efforts to gain support for Federal funding to dredge the mouth might have gotten a real boost from aftermath of the spring floods. I for one certainly hope so.

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MATAGORDA Area Hotspot Focus :: by MIKE PRICE

October Offers Great Fishing Conditions

OU HAVE HEARD PEOPLE say, “This is such a nice day, I wish every day was just like it.” Well, that’s how I feel about fishing in Texas’s bays in October. The water temperatures, air temperatures, winds, solar/ lunar cycles, and tides come together to provide great fishing. Water temperatures drop from the low 80s at the beginning of October to about 60 degrees at the end of the month. This cooling water, along with diminishing daylight hours, stimulates fish to prepare for winter. Flounders feed up aggressively to have the energy to go offshore and spawn. Redfish smash along the shorelines eating crabs, shrimp, and minnows. Trout form schools and chase shrimp in the open bay.

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It was the middle of October when I took my brother, Stephen, and cousin Joe Sexton, fishing on the southeast side of West Matagorda Bay. I went to a favorite cove that gave us protection from a 15 mph northeast wind. Stephen waded to a spot where the current was rapidly moving through a cut between an island and the south shore. He slowly worked his pumpkinseed/chartreuse Bass Assassin soft plastic on a 1/16 ounce jig head with a little piece of Fishbite scent over the bottom of a five foot deep gut, and was rewarded with a slam that traveled up his arm. He forcefully lifted his rod tip, set the hook, and the 21 ½ inch flounder started one of several runs. However, Stephen’s hook set and rod handling prevailed, and he landed the fish.

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Joe waded the wind-protected shoreline in search of redfish. As he approached a corner he heard repeated splashing. He knew this sound came from redfish feeding, and the sound was getting louder. They were coming his way; so he stopped, prepared to cast and waited. A gang of four or five reds came around the corner with shrimp popping out of the water in front of them. Joe placed his Captain Mike’s 3/8 ounce gold spoon in front of the school and flashed the lure past them. A fish raced to be first to eat the lure, and Joe had the first of several redfish on. The most difficult part of fishing is finding the fish, but sometimes in October you have a great big arrow pointing directly at the fish—birds. Gulls, terns and pelicans love to eat shrimp In October, white shrimp move from the marshes to the bay, and then from the bay they go offshore. This shrimp migration gets fish, especially speckled trout, all excited. The trout follow the movement of the shrimp and attack them from below, while the birds attack the shrimp from above. Fishermen just have to find a group of gulls and terns screeching and diving and coming up with fat shrimp in their beaks. Then drop any kind of lure in the midst of the melee and stand by to set the hook. This phenomenal fishing gets fishermen all excited, sometimes too excited. One fall day, I was kayak fishing on the south side of East Matagorda Bay when I saw and heard birds about a half mile out into the bay. I paddled out to them and caught a nice 23-inch trout. Usually the species and size of fish working shrimp are consistent. That is, if you catch a 23-inch trout, you will probably catch more about the same size. So I was pumped up and ready for more, when an inconsiderate boater/ fisherman came roaring into where I was fishing, and chased everything, birds, shrimp, and fish away. When you see the birds, position your boat up wind, cut your engine and drift, or use a trolling motor to approach. You will be able to share the bounty with other fishermen without

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chasing the fish away. Water temperatures are cooling in the fall as northers come through, bringing higher winds and cooler weather. On some days these north winds are too strong to take a boat out safely. On other days, the cool north winds and warmer bay water form fog, especially in the morning. If I have a bay fishing trip planned and find the bay is socked in with fog, I take my kayak out of my boat, put it on my truck, launch from land and fish close to shore, away from boat traffic. I have been out on the bay in fog listening to the sound of a boat coming closer and closer to my boat at high speed, but unable to see it. I will not put myself or my boating guests in that situation again if I can help it. October is a great month to fish in our bays. The fish are moving and eating, the weather is pleasant, and even though the fishing is better than warmer months, there are fewer fishermen.

THE BANK BITE PALACIOS: Palacios is arguably the prettiest little town on the Texas coast. It has a boardwalk that

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Galveston Island, either close to San Luis Pass, or on the bay side of Galveston Island State Park. Some shell reefs are accessible to waders, even some to pier and dock fishermen who do their homework. When the water does cool off, piers, docks, jetties, and rock groins are numerous and productive. SPECIES: The shallow bars and other bay areas including oyster reefs will be harboring speckled trout and a few flounders. Reds might show up anywhere this month, from tidal bayous to the surf. With cooler water, flounders will be staging for their offshore run, and can be intercepted in passes and river outlets. Marina docks nearly always hold

goes for a mile next to the bay. There are several piers and little jetties that you can ﬁsh from, and convenient parking. One day my wife and I were walking alongside the bay looking through the clear water, and we saw a school of redﬁsh searching for crabs among the rocks next to shore.

sheepshead, also some puppy drum. The surf will be offering up bull reds, a few late jacks and sharks, possibly pompano. BEST BAITS: Artificial lures are fun to work and do catch fish, but live bait nearly always can be expected to produce. Shrimp is king, of course, but even mud minnows will be effective—and not just for flounder. BEST TIMES: Tide movement is important in fall, more so than time of day because daytime heating is not a factor.

Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

Bring your family. There are places for the kids to play while you ﬁsh. Bait is available at Grassy Point, 529 Bayshore Dr. 361-972-5053 or Shrimp Shack 1211 main St. 361-972-1466.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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UPPER MID Coast Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. CHRIS MARTIN

‘Red Alert’

ISHING IN OCTOBER IS GENerally very nice, as the Texas coast has normally already received a couple cool fronts that have been strong enough to break the stronghold of the summertime heat indexes, thereby initializing the beginning of the annual fall transition. Transition is the change or passage from one state to another, but what does this mean to the world of coastal fishing? Well, it means that there will be a lot of changes beginning to take place this month that anglers may need to pay attention to and adjust their plans accordingly.

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Air and water temperatures will slowly begin to cool, so the term “suitable clothing” may take on a whole new meaning as we progress through this month and into next. The days will start to become shorter, so the amount of sunlight hours will also become more limited. Higher than normal tides tend to occur this month, which tends to push fish off of the flats and into the marshy environs of the back lakes. Additionally, anglers will often start to look for fish over muddy areas instead of sand, and the top water bite could begin a huge upward swing this month, as well. All in all, October means that changes are inevitable for the coastal angler, so make sure you’re ready to adapt. We will probably find the October bite becoming more prevalent in the low-light hours of the day, anglers should begin making it a point to be out on the water to set up their first wading spot of the day before the morning sun breaches the eastern horizon. Start your days very early, and then plan to be off the water by mid-morning. To take full advantage of the day’s low-light hours, you might also want to plan to be back out on the water a couple hours prior to sunset that very same day…just in case. Historically, the month of October means it is time for redfish. That means it is time for us to have a lot of fun locating and chasing them. It’s at this time of the year that the reds will experience an overwhelming urge to spawn. In fact, the male reds will be ready to spawn nightly, but the big red ladies will normally only be ready to spawn every two to seven days. Now then, depending upon certain variables (such as their physical location), some of the female reds can produce as many as a couple of million eggs each time they spawn. They’re often able to do that every two to four days—but some studies reflect that a single female redfish can produce as many as 40 million eggs each spawning season. The red’s desire to eat will also be at its absolute highest point, and the females’ food cravings T E X A S

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can be nothing less than ravenous. The typical eating habits of these broadshouldered fish often become ridiculous They begin searching for food sources way beyond what they need. These big reds often strike very destructively at anything that even closely resembles a food item. Wading anglers who search for these redfish in October should begin their first wading session of the day as close as possible to the bank of the shoreline, in the shallowest water that they dare to throw a top water plug across. Toss the surface walker parallel to the shoreline and retrieve it with a gentle and consistent walk-the-dog retrieve. If the lure is met with little or no resistance, try a different retrieval pattern, such as working the bait back to you in intervals, pausing a few seconds after five or six brief lifts of the rod tip. If there still aren’t any takers, try retrieving the bait just as fast as possible while still maintaining a side-to-side motion of the lure in the water. If that doesn’t work, then a lastditch effort would be to slow your retrieve as much as humanly possible. Work the lure from side-to-side every couple of seconds, and then let it sit completely still upon the water’s surface in between each movement of the rod tip. It takes patience, and is often hard to do. Experimenting with various top-water retrieves seems to pay-off more times than not. Another bait tactic that often works on these big red bruisers in October is a variety of different plastic baits beneath a popping cork. But regardless of your bait choice, keep in mind that this month should spell fishing success, especially with regard to fall’s redfish action. Good luck!

Contact Capt. Chris Martin at bayﬂatslodge@gmail.com or visit bayﬂatslodge.com

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ROCKPORT Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

Guide Wars

WAS SPEAKING TO A POTENtial client who was seeking a fishing trip on the bay. There were the normal questions, which I much appreciate, for it helps clarify how the day’s fishing will go and allows one to determine whether the guide is a good match for the client and his or her expectations. All was going well in the conversation when I was asked if there was going to be any fighting or altercations. I wasn’t sure where the question came from and what was meant by it. Laughingly I said “Well, I’ve never been known to punch a paying client!” The client, I soon discovered, was all too serious and wanted assurance there would be no brawling while they were with me. “I am not sure how to answer your question without a little more explanation” I said. “The last guide we hired got into it with another guide while at the boat launch and a fight ensued,” they explained. It seemed one guide accused the other of fishing in HIS spot, words were exchanged and then pushing and shoving with an allout slug fest which ended with broken teeth, busted lips, and one guide left lying on the ground swearing he would get even! At one point guns were threatened to be used. At any rate, the client didn’t walk away; they wisely ran and left the scene of the debacle losing the day of fishing to stupidity. Needless to say, I assured them there would be none of that where I was concerned. “There are things worth fighting over, but a fish isn’t one of them” I told them, and then I apologized on behalf of the professional guides here in our area. In another conversation with people I trust, I was told two guides had a show-

down on the water, leaving one in the water with his clients adrift in his boat while the other guide powered away in his boat. Both had clients who witnessed the altercation. Another incident had one guide threatening another with bodily harm while at a boat launch because he felt the guide was supposedly infringing on his territory. There was even an incident where two guides who were “best of friends” got into it because one guide who was catching fish (a term we call “On The Fish”) didn’t call his friend over to share in the bounty, the result being all but ruined friendship. I would like to say these clashes were spread over a long time frame, but truthfully they all occurred this year. Add to that the personal property like trucks, trailers and even boats while left unattended were damaged for reasons like: they shouldn’t be in my area, they fished too close to me, they took my spot at the boat ramp. The reasons are endless and God only knows how a person can justify such actions. Unfortunately, these occurrences are

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becoming all too familiar and, while they don’t happen every day, the fact they happen at all is reason for concern. What drives these conflicts? What is the impact on our people, our area and our natural resources? After a bit of research and by asking questions of guides and anglers up and down our coastal communities, I am sad to say these encounters seem to exist along the full 367 miles which make up our Texas coastline. The rationale is an ambiguous one, which stems from over population in the sheer number of guides. In 2014 there were 1,096 “all water guide licenses issued.” In 2015, 1,153. That’s roughly over three fishing guides for every mile of coastline, or a guide every 1,760 running feet. So, yeah, we’re bound to step on each other’s toes! Add to this the free spirit most guides possess, not to mention a jealously defended independence, and (I reluctantly mention) a healthy dose of testosterone and, well, one can see how this MIGHT create some

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Focus: ROCKPORT territoriality. Anyone who can get a loan for a boat, motor and trailer and can pass a Coast Guard test can call themselves a guide. HE’s a fishing guide, SHE’S a fishing guide, WE’RE a fishing guide. All God’s children are fishing guides! The reasons given are in other forms too, one major player being an ATTITUDE OF ENTITLEMENT. Let me explain. I get up every morning, I get MY boat ready, I prepare MY reels, I get MY bait, I launch MY boat at MY boat ramp, I fish MY waters, I catch MY fish! Hmm… Houston we have a problem with the capital letters M and Y! I don’t own the boat ramp, I don’t own the waters, I don’t own the fish, and for most of the guides I know, they don’t own their boats, their motors, their trailers or what they use to pull them with—the credit union or bank does. The bait is not even theirs until they pay for it. This, in a nutshell, is a mindset of entitlement. I’ve used it for so long it’s now mine, at least in MY mind, even though in reality I’ve done nothing but make use of it. In any law in this land that does not create legal entitlement. The impact on the area we live in is pretty straight-forward. These types of encounters show those who think fishing and hunting is cruel or unjust or those who have not quite decided, there must be merit in their way of thinking, for if we treat each other this way, it could be perceived that we will treat our natural resources and wildlife similarly. The truth is it makes us look ignorant, uneducated, and demonstrates a compulsion for destructiveness. Is this the face we want to show to our neighbors, our families, visitors, potential new anglers, fellow Texans and Americans? Keep this up and we will send a loud signal, which could result in fewer people coming to our shores, which equates to fewer licenses being sold, less visitor revenue, which in turn impacts our coastal fisheries in the form of hatcheries and the law enforcement that protects our natural resources. I’m not sure if those who present this ugly face to others know it, but anglers, ALL 58 |

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anglers, who buy licenses, help pay for our hatcheries and law enforcement and a list of other things that support us as guides. This reprehensible conduct can hit close to home as well, with fewer booked guide trips and the demise of a guide’s ability to pay his or her bills. These waters and their resources belong to the State of Texas and its citizens—all citizens, not just those who make a living on the water. No person or private entity has the right to lay claim to, or strip others by threat or any other act, of such long standing rights! There is no such thing as a fishing lease on our Texas bays. Everyone who is legal to fish has equal access. Further, fishing, hunting and guiding in this great state is a privilege, no matter who you think you are, so let’s all please be wise, be safe and be fair to one another. It goes no further than that. There is an old saying “While we war amongst ourselves we create the perfect diversion for our enemies.” ••• OCTOBER IS SAYING SO LONG TO our long hot summer. It is historically the month in which our first cold front of the season makes its way down. These temperature changes can be very good for fishing minded folks. Should the cold front drop our bay temperatures by as much as 10 degrees in a short period of time, the angling action can be incredible. What is the best bait or lure for this these transformational times? Any bait or lure that has worked well for you in the previous week or so.

and finger mullet. Deadman’s Reef is good for black drum using frozen shrimp on a very light fish finder rig. ST. CHARLES BAY — Drifts between Indian Head Point and Little Devils Bayou is good for reds using Berkley Gulp crab under a clear bubble cork. East Pocket is still good for reds during high tide. Cut mullet on a Carolina rig works well here. CARLOS BAY — Cedar Point is a good wade for reds and trout using free lined croaker. This area can be boggy so test the bottom before you place your foot. Cedar Dug Out is a good place for trout when the water temperature drops appreciably (10 degrees or more). Deep running lures in bone and red colors work well here as well as mud minnows on a medium to heavy Carolina rig. MESQUITE BAY — Drifts across Braves Cove are good for some trout and flounder using jig heads and shrimp. The mouth of Little Brundrett Lake is good for reds using cut menhaden or cut mullet free lined. AYERS BAY — The reefs just off Rattlesnake Island are good for sheep head and black drum using frozen shrimp under a silent cork. The Ayers Bay side of Second Chain Islands is good for reds and trout using live shrimp free lined.

THE BANK BITE

COPANO BAY — Shell Bank Reef is a good place for trout using piggy perch on a medium Carolina rig. One can catch reds here as well using piggies and finger mullet fee lined. There is some nice black drum just off the mouth of Port Bay. Live shrimp work well on a light Carolina rig. This is shallow water so go slow and watch your depth.

LONG WADES between Red Fish Point and the airport shoreline are producing some nice reds and trout using croaker. Live shrimp will produce some black drum as well. This is a long wade over and back so takes something to drink.

ARANSAS BAY — Long Reef is still holding some trout with free lined croaker being the preferred bait. The mouth of Allyns Lake is a good place when the tide is dropping for trout and reds using croaker

Contact Capt. Mac Gable at Mac Attack Guide Service, 512-809-2681, 361-790-9601 captmac@macattackguideservice.com

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LOWER Coast Hotspot Focus :: by CALIXTO GONZALES

Rock-Hard Choices

CTOBER IS BEST KNOWN for the vast herds of large and tough redfish that prowl the flats of Lower Laguna Madre, feeding in preparation for their winter migration through Brazos Santiago and Mansfield Passes and into the Gulf of Mexico. Every remaining boat (most anglers have replaced their rods and reels for rifles, bows, and shotguns) in Mansfield, Arroyo City, Port Isabel, and Padre Island aim their bows for legendary spots such as the Saucer, Gladys’s Hole, Gaswell Flats, and Cullen Bay after these bronze thugs. Quite a few anglers, however, don’t have a boat of any kind to reach these faraway destination, nor do they have friends who can take them along. These shore-bound fishermen can take heart, however. The jetty systems of both passes provide some excellent (and sometimes better) fishing for big reds, some of them truly impressive specimens. Not only that, but there is a greater variety of fish— some highly coveted by anglers. Some of the best fall fishing in South Texas takes place along both sides of the Brazos Santiago Jetties that bookend the pass by the same name that feeds in and out of Lower Laguna Madre. These jetty systems are accessible from land—the north jetties from South Padre Island, and the south jetties from Brownsville via SH 4. Anglers should then turn left onto Brazos Island (known locally as Boca Chica Beach). This area offers excellent fishing for all four parts of the “Texas Slam” (trout, redfish, flounder, and snook), mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, and even kingfish for the properly equipped. Certainly, the most sought-after quarry is

speckled trout and also redfish. Both fish can be caught from the jetties on the same trip. However, different techniques are called for. Speckled trout will usually hold closer to the rocks and patrol up and down the gut that runs parallel to the jetties (this is especially true on the north jetties. Prevailing currents create gentler eddies and currents that, on an outgoing tide, push water and bait against the surf-side of the rocks). Redfish will prowl the surf away from the jetties and in the guts that intersect them. An incoming tide and soft southeast breezes send clean water in from the Gulf to lay swells down. This makes early mornings magical off the rocks. A fisherman can do well throwing live bait under a popping cork near the rocks for trout (and mangrove snapper, which almost become a nuisance with their abundance), or on a Carolina rig out in the surf for redfish. The bait bucket, however, isn’t necessary. Bring a box filled with chugging topwaters such as the Storm Chug Bug, Chugging Spook, or similar such popper, a couple of pink/polka-dot Rat-L-Traps, a ½ silver spoon or two, and a collection of your favorite plastic tails in red/white, or chartreuse patterns and some 1/4 ounce jigheads (the lighter heads are less apt to snag up). This is perfect to keep you mobile. If the wind is straight from the south, you can still fling topwaters parallel to the rocks. In fact, the trout seem a little more aggressive in the more active water. Start an early morning expedition on the jetties by casting back towards the corner where the rocks meet the beach and work the lure back along the bottom. Trout should be there, but there may also be a few big flounders waiting in ambush. From those casts, expand out into the guts and cast parallel to the beach to see whether any redfish are there. It doesn’t hurt to take a few wire leaders in your tackle box. This time of year, schools of Spanish mackerel tear into bait balls in front of the jetties. They aren’t discriminating, and can clean you out of tackle T E X A S

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in a hurry A nifty little trick I learned by reading the late Rudy Grigar’s book, Plugger, was to fasten a three inch segment of 20-pound coffee-colored wire to all my lures; if a toothy mackerel or bluefish grabs the bait, I’m protected, but the short length doesn’t seem to inhibit the lure’s action. On the south jetties, the surf is a bit rougher, and the rocks are not laid as smoothly, but the presence of snook in the suds more than makes up for the tougher work. These fish will also attack the same trout and redfish lures with abandon, only they offer some gill-rattling jumps for your thrills. The question always comes up about the sort of tackle needed for the jetties. Honestly, your traditional inshore 10-12 pound tackle is enough, but if you hook into a big red or snook, you are going to be in trouble. Upping slightly to 14-17 pound tackle is a safer bet to handle just about anything that swims the suds around the pink granite, and it gives you a little more power in reserve if Mr. Big comes calling. My preferred rig is a 7½ foot medium action casting rod with a Curado 300-e loaded with 10/40 Power Pro braid. This outfit will tackle pretty much any fish you might run into on the rocks (unless a 150 pound tarpon grabs your plug; then, all bets are off). You never know what might show up and rock your world.

Email Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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Texas HOTSPOTS

UPPER COAST

Flounder Flock to North Jetty by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: Galveston HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 29 21.2719, W 94 43.0909 (29.3545, -94.7182)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Stevens 409-392-3533 ﬁshcoastal@gmail.com www.ﬁshcoastal.com TIPS: “I’m looking for clean water and a moving tide, anchored and placing bait right on top of the rocks.” Capt. Glenn Stevens LOCATION: Christmas Bay HOTSPOT: Christmas Point GPS: N 29 4.663, W 95 10.495 (29.0777, -95.1749)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Stevens 409-392-3533 fishcoastal@gmail.com www.fishcoastal.com TIPS: Sometimes Stevens adds a Rattler Weight to entice fish to bite.

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GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes). Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information speciﬁc to your GPS device.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Drulls Lump GPS: N 28 42.285, W 95 50.0659 (28.7048, -95.8344)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corkys or soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “If shrimp are in the bay we will have bird activity. When you spot the birds, get upwind and drift into them.” Capt. Tommy Countz LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoal GPS: N 28 40.4487, W 95 53.898 (28.6741, -95.8983)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com T E X A S

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TIPS: “If we are drifting regardless whether the birds are working or not, normally we are over scattered shell.” Capt. Tommy Countz LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: St. Mary’s Bayou GPS: N 28 39.7829, W 95 57.4309 (28.6631, -95.9572)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “Start off the day with topwaters, switching to Corkys or soft plastics. I usually use the brighter colors, such as a chartreuse or Glow.” Capt. Tommy Countz LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 28 43.728, W 95 45.9179 (28.7288, -95.7653)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Stevens 409-392-3533 fishcoastal@gmail.com www.fishcoastal.com TIPS: “Sometimes I’m fishing over shell, sometimes over mixed mud-shell, and sometimes over sand-grass, but primarily over shell in October.” Capt. Glenn Stevens LOCATION: Galveston HOTSPOT: South Jetty GPS: N 29 19.6699, W 94 41.4109

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Texas HOTSPOTS (29.3278, -94.6902)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Stevens 409-392-3533 fishcoastal@gmail.com www.fishcoastal.com TIPS: Place the bait right up against the rocks. Be sure to take extra terminal tackle because you will lose some hooks and weights. LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Ship Channel GPS: N 29 35.22, W 94 55.8059 (29.5870, -94.9301)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: 3-4 inch curly tail grub CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: “You feel the bump, give it ﬁve or seven seconds before setting the hook. When a ﬂounder grabs it, they open their mouth and bring the bait in. When you feel the second bump, set the hook.” Capt. Joe Madsen LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: North Jetties GPS: N 29 21.2598, W 94 43.1297 (29.3543, -94.7188)

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: Fish Rat-L-Traps close to the rocks. “Start cranking as soon as the Trap hits the water, but experiment from depths 4-8 feet.” Capt. Joe Madsen LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Hannah’s Reef GPS: N 29 28.486, W 94 45.021 (29.47477, -94.750344)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: “You want an oyster reef with deep water deep water close by so the trout can retreat to deeper water if they need to.” Capt. Joe Madsen LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Beachfront west end GPS: N 29 6.3049, W 95 4.9189 (29.1051, -95.0820)

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ﬁshcoastal@gmail.com www.ﬁshcoastal.com TIPS: “I kind of mix it up a bit; we do croaker and also live shrimp free lined, no weight, tied straight to a swivel, 24 inches of leader, 2 no. 5 split shot.” Capt. Glenn Stevens LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 29 14.3149, W 95 0.6769 (29.2386, -95.0113)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Stevens 409-392-3533 fishcoastal@gmail.com www.fishcoastal.com TIPS: Stevens looks for bait, slicks and structure …””jumping mullet, hard heads, shad. Just depends on what’s out there. LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Cold Pass GPS: N 29 4.9009, W 95 8.1359 (29.0817, -95.1356)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Stevens 409-392-3533

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Stevens 409-392-3533 fishcoastal@gmail.com www.fishcoastal.com TIPS: Stevens sets up a Carolina Rig using live croaker for bait on a 5/0 Kahle hook with 1/8 oz. barrel weight and fluorocarbon leader about 18-24 inches long. LOCATION: Matagorda HOTSPOT: Colorado River GPS: N 28 40.5419, W 95 58.08 (28.6757, -95.9680)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “There’s always a chance if we have a cool spell in October, some trout will move up the river a little bit.” Tommy Countz LOCATION: Port O’Connor HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 28 24.018, W 96 24.9919 (28.4003, -96.4165)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Mark Robinson 361-550-1081 fishmpr@aol.com www.edgewateroutfitters.com TIPS: If the weather stays warm he will continue to

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Texas HOTSPOTS and in the mouths of the bayous on the south end of the lake.” Capt. Bill Watkins

use live croaker if he can ﬁnd them. LOCATION: Port O’Connor HOTSPOT: Jetties GPS: N 28 25.212, W 96 19.5439 (28.4202, -96.3257)

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LOCATION: San Luis Pass HOTSPOT: Flats GPS: N 29 6.711, W 95 7.1059 (29.1119, -95.1184)

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www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “I will work the little shell reefs along the drains, working the mouth of the drains with a 1/8 oz. lead head and a Glow/chartreuse soft plastic.” Capt. Tommy Countz

MIDDLE COAST

Shamrock Lucky for Corpus Reds SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Mark Robinson 361-550-1081 fishmpr@aol.com www.edgewateroutfitters.com TIPS: “Jerk the croaker pretty violently. Shake it every 45 seconds, give it a good shake.” Capt. Mark Robinson LOCATION: Sabine HOTSPOT: Bridge Hole GPS: N 29 46.0819, W 93 53.7469 (29.7680, -93.8958)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 9782018@sbcglobal.net www.ﬁshsabinelake.com TIPS: “It will be ﬂounder time in the ship channel

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters or soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Stevens 409-392-3533 fishcoastal@gmail.com www.fishcoastal.com TIPS: “When the fish are biting it doesn’t make a difference what color I use, but my favorite color on soft plastics is a Pumpkin/chartreuse and on a topwater, chrome.” Capt. Glenn Stevens LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cotton’s Bayou GPS: N 28 30.45, W 96 12.3816 (28.5075, -96.2064)

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net

by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Shamrock Cove GPS: N 27 44.017, W 97 9.747 (27.7336, -97.1625)

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Kelly Wigler soft plastic CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com captjoemendez.com TIPS: “I use a strawberry with a white tail and also a limetreuse a lot. Limetreuse color works great on redﬁsh.” Capt. Joe Mendez LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Traylor Islands GPS: N 27 56.6849, W 97 4.4609 (27.9448, -97.0744)

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut Bait CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Cut bait or live bait in the pot holes. The redﬁsh bite should be really cranking up in October.” Capt. Jack McPartland

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: St. Joseph Island GPS: N 28 0.7279, W 96 58.365 (28.0121, -96.9728)

GPS: N 27 49.7539, W 97 10.6099 (27.8292, -97.1768)

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Pumpkin seed/chartreuse, Pumpkin seed/ red or mullet colors (dark on top and light on the bottom) are my favorite colors.” Capt. Jack McPartland LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Dagger Flats

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “One/eighth or three/quarter oz. jig head? I normally use a 1/8 oz. because normally you are in 3 feet of water or less. A 1/8 oz. jig head won’t sink too fast and you won’t be dragging grass.” Capt. Jack McPartland

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Kelly Wigler soft plastic CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com captjoemendez.com TIPS: “I think at this time of year any color will work. Just some might trigger a little more aggressive strike. Big thing - have conﬁdence in what you are using.” Capt. Joe Mendez

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: JFK Causeway GPS: N 27 38.071, W 97 14.461 (27.6345, -97.2410)

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOWER COAST

Unnecessary is Now Mandatory by CALIXTO GONZALES and TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Unnecessary Island GPS: N 26 13.811, W 97 16.342 (26.2302, -97.2724)

LOCATION: Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Spoils GPS: N 27 14.655, W 97 24.843 (27.2443, -97.4141)

Dog in knee deep water on grass ﬂats. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Intracoastal Waterway GPS: N 26 13.8, W 97 16.3 (26.2300, -97.2717)

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, cut bait, topwaters, gold spoons.

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CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: The shallows are beginning to warm as Spring-type weather starts to move in. Live Shrimp always is a good ﬁrst choice.

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: She Dogs topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Mark Robinson 361-550-1081 fishmpr@aol.com www.edgewateroutfitters.com TIPS: In October Robinson switches over from live bait to artificials. Fast steady retrieve, Walking-the-

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Root beer/Chartreuse. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the deeper water near the ICW to locate speckled trout that are showing an appetite after winter dormancy. The same live shrimp/popping cork rigs that you are using for redﬁsh on the ﬂats will work for speckled trout. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre

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Texas HOTSPOTS HOTSPOT: Dolphin Point GPS: N 26 4.044, W 97 9.712 (26.0674, -97.1619)

bottom with 1/8th ounce jigheads. Work slowly and keep a soft touch to detect light takes u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

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LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: Stover Point GPS: N 26 12.195, W 97 17.784 (26.2033, -97.2964) SPECIES: Redﬁsh

SPECIES: Sheepshead BEST BAITS: Live shrimp fresh shrimp. CONTACT: Quick Stop 956-943-1159 TIPS: Large aggregates of the convict ﬁsh start collecting around rocks to begin their spawn. Live shrimp or fresh shrimp can be ﬁshed under a cork to suspend it above the rocks and detect light biters. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Gaswell Flats GPS: N 26 10.713, W 97 11.107 (26.1786, -97.1851)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut bait, gold spoons, soft plastic in red/white, Bone/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Drift the flats between the two bars for pods of redfish. Gold spoons work well on sunny days, but bait works best when fish are finicky. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Airport Cove GPS: N 26 10.02, W 97 18.12 (26.1670, -97.3020)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, soft plastics in red/ white, Bone/Chartreuse. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Live Bait is though to beat in early spring. If the water is still cool, ﬁsh soft plastics near the T E X A S

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Texas HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut bait, gold spoons, soft plastic in red/white, Bone/chartreuse CONTACT: LG Outfitters 956-371-0220 lgonzales@lgoutfitter.com lgoutfitters.com TIPS: Watch for boils to mark the presence of fish. Off-colored water might require that you switch over to live bait or Gulp! tails. Long casts will allow

you to work more water and lessen the chance of spooking ﬁsh LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: Green Island GPS: N 26 23.533, W 97 19.33 (26.3922, -97.3222)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut bait, gold spoons. CONTACT: LG Outfitters 956-371-0220 lgonzales@lgoutfitter.com lgoutfitters.com TIPS: This water seems to stay fairly clear, even with a strong southeast wind blowing. A gold spoon or spinnerbait with a red trailer can be deadly, especially when the sun is higher in the sky LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Fred Stone County Pier GPS: N 26 34.329, W 97 25.642 (26.5722, -97.4274)

GPS: N 30 26.232, W 95 35.508 (30.4372, -95.5918)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Pop’rs and spinnerbaits, stink bait, and live shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch (936) 291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: With the first cold fronts of the year beginning to move in the bass will begin to feed on shad in preparation for the cold weather. The top water bite and spinnerbait bite will be good. The next thing to try would be a Pop’r, working this bait in the same areas and alternate between the spinnerbait to determine which they want on that particular day. The larger catfish will start feeding in the 15 to 20 foot depth ranges. Some days you may not catch a lot but they will be worth your while. The hybrids will also begin their aggressive feeding habits also and should be in the 16 to 22 foot range along the channel edges. Bank Access: Stowaway Marina LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats on Texas Side GPS: N 32 42.0059, W 94 5.6103 u TAP FOR (32.7001, -94.0935)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live bait, speck rigs. CONTACT: Harbor Bait and Tackle 956-994-2367 TIPS: Fish at night under the lights for trout. Most will be schoolies, but there are some big ﬁsh lurking in the shadows around the lights.

PINEY WOODS

Lake Conroe Smorgasbord by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M Thundershad swimbaits, V&M Swim Jigs, buzzbaits CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakeﬁshing.com TIPS: Watch for shad on the main lake ﬂats near the main river channel that runs through the lake. Most of these areas will be in and around the lily pads and grass patches. Possible schooling of bass in these areas. Stick with shad or watermelon colors. Throw the buzzbait early and late in these same areas. LOCATION: Lake Livingston

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Texas HOTSPOTS HOTSPOT: The Pocket GPS: N 30 55.656, W 95 15.054 (30.9276, -95.2509)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Soft plastics and jigs CONTACT: David S Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: “Flip docks, lay downs, boat houses and rocks with Charlie’s June Bug 6 inch Gecko and Charlie’s 1/4 oz. Green Pumpkin Swimming Jig tipped with Charlie’s Chunk Green Pumpkin Blue Flake. BANK ACCESS: Public boat ramp at Hwy 19 Bridge or Bethy Creek Resort. LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Bowen Branch

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, tail spinners, & RatL-Traps CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: Holy Cow Batman! Toledo Bend has been rated the number fishery in the country by Bassmaster’s annual list of the top 100 lakes. 81 bass, 10 pounds and over were certified and given free replicas by the Toledo Bend Lake Association. This year is starting off even better for the same period last year. October is always a great time to be on the lake. Not much traffic, the days are get-

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ting shorter and the water temp is starting to fall signaling that winter is on its way. The ﬁsh will start feeding heavy, bulking up in anticipation for the coming winter season. The White bass will start migrating to the north end main lake river channel sand bars. Concentrate on the inside river channel bends. Use your electronics to locate the baitﬁsh. There will usually be plenty of schooling activity in these same areas.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

White Bass in Granbury Top Tin by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: River by Tin Top GPS: N 32 32.869, W 97 48.959

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Texas HOTSPOTS (32.5478, -97.8160)

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Jigging slabs in chartreuse and silver CONTACT: Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 www.unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Look for schools of bait on the bottom in 10 to 15 feet of water typically on a feeding ﬂat adjacent to the deeper holes in the river. Tie a crappie jig 12 to 18 inches above the slab to catch two at a time.

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LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Docks GPS: N 32 18.3359, W 96 10.722 (32.3056, -96.1787)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits and crankbaits CONTACT: Jason Barber (903) 603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Power ﬁsh every dock you come to by ﬂipping or throwing crankbaits and spinnerbaits under and around the docks. Fish in 2 to 10 feet of water.

LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: South East Trees GPS: N 29 56.502, W 96 43.542 (29.9417, -96.7257)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: “CJ’s Punch bait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: “Fish 1-12 foot of water at this spot. There are lots of under water stumps. Chum around the boat, fishing straight down with tight lines. Set the hook with least movement of rod tip.

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Employee Dock Area GPS: N 30 37.602, W 96 4.5899 (30.6267, -96.0765)

(30.6649, -97.4019)

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: “CJ’s punch bait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: There are larger cats here at night looking for perch around the Lily pads. Use perch or shad. Drift a cork by the lily pads during the day with punch bait a foot off the bottom. LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Up River Channel GPS: N 30 39.894, W 97 24.1139

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell (512) 365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Right now the crappie are very good up the river and are relating to standing timber located along the river channel. You can actually use a slip bobber just like springtime fishing. Find the areas that hold lots of shad and start by setting your slip bobber to about 3 feet deep. Drop the jig next to standing stumps that line the channel. Even though the water may be 10 feet deep next to the stump, the crappie will be suspended 3 to 6 feet deep on the stumps. These fish are really nice sized fish and you can fill a cooler with this pattern.

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LOCATION: Lake Aquilla HOTSPOT: Deep Humps GPS: N 31 54.2044, W 97 12.1772 (31.9034, -97.2030)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: 1oz Chartreuse slabs from RSRLures.com and Tail Spinners CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: “Watch your graph along humps and you will see the White Bass stacked up on the edges of the humps. Drop slabs down and bounce off bottom making contact with bait as it falls. Carry binoculars and glass the lake occasionally watching for the herons and cranes that land on the water. The white bass push the bait to the surface and the cranes

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Texas HOTSPOTS will drop down and feed. Keep a good distance and make long casts with slabs or tail spinners. LOCATION: Lake Belton HOTSPOT: Vertical Ledges GPS: N 31 8.94, W 97 31.956 (31.1490, -97.5326)

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SPECIES: White Bass/Hybrids BEST BAITS: Mann’s Little George, Picasso Flashback, V&M Thunder Shad Jr. CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 lakeaustinﬁshing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: The hot summer days of the past and recent rises in the lake levels has produced a lot of new areas for the baitﬁsh to venture. I have recently spent a lot of time catching white bass on many of the vertical ledges beside the river channel using the Picasso Flashback rig with white V&M Thunder Shad Jr’s. We have doubled and tripled up with these rigs recently. We have also had success using the Mann’s Little Georges. It’s important to try to throw from a shallow area out over the ledge and let fall to about 15-18’ then start reeling with a very slight pause about every 3-4 cranks. LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N 33 2.766, W 96 29.5559 (33.0461, -96.4926)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: White Bass: 5/8 oz. slabs in white/ chartreuse or pink/chartreuse; Crappie: black/chartreuse, white/chartreuse, and silver pepper on 1/8th ounce or 1/16 ounce jig heads. CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Crappie are in 18 ft. of water on timber and brush. Fish in 9-12 ft. of water. White Bass are in 10-25 ft. This is a huge ﬁsh year for the lake. White Bass are averaging 14-18 inches and Crappie are averaging 14-15 inches. A lot of the ﬁsh are

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hanging out in the 34 foot of water in front of the damn just West of Lavonia South boat ramp. All around the island, and that little ridge point and 14 to 25 foot of water. LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Main Lake Islands and Grass GPS: N 32 11.5019, W 95 29.3759 (32.1917, -95.4896)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shimmy Shaker chartreuse/white, the Big Eye jig, and chartreuse/white spinnerbaits CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Fish slow in 3’-6’ around the main lake islands and any grass. LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 50.7132, W 96 29.9245 (32.8452, -96.4987)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Double Colorado-bladed blue and green spinnerbaits and blue and red 1/4oz jigs CONTACT: The Cajun Guide/Johnny Procell (972) 814-8942 cajunguide@att.net www.johnnyprocell.com TIPS: “The high water of the summer created an interesting phenomenon in that the brush that grew during the drought is now cover for the bass in areas where no cover previously existed. This has caused the largemouths to move much shallower than I can ever remember before this year. Look for willows growing on the shore. On all these points there will also be unseen grass and brush in thee water immediately in front. Work these areas and get set for a battle! LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Creeks GPS: N 33 26.7985, W 96 58.7873 (33.4466, -96.9798) T E X A S

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SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Frogs, topwaters, flukes CONTACT: Dannie Golden - Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: Bass fishing will be good in October. As in September, it is a really good month for topwaters. The soft plastic frog bite picks up in October. I like a Stanley Ribbit worked over the shallow cover. A hollow body frog will work as well. I love how a bass hits a frog. They are pissed off at it and want to kill it. We will still be catching some fish on a spook type topwater also. The weightless soft plastic bite will also be picking up around the shallow flooded bushes. I like a Zoom fluke in Mardi Gras and a Gene Larew Salt Flickr in Sooner Run. Work these baits very slow. Toward the end of October the chatterbait will start to be a player. That bait flat out catches some nice fish. Chartreuse/White is a great color combo on Ray Roberts. LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Lantana GPS: N 33 24.361, W 97 0.321 (33.4060, -97.0054)

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: RatLTraps, square-bill crankbaits, steel shad, slabs CONTACT: Dannie Golden - Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: White bass (also catfish and crappie) are usually biting really well. White bass will be in a lot of different places. There are a lot of long points, ridges, humps out on the main lake that will be holding fish. Use your graph and look for gulls to help find them. The schooling action is usually limited in October. They will be close to the surface a lot of times, but not all of them chasing completely to the top. You may only see some shad running/jumping on the surface. The sandies are right behind them. That is when the gulls really get

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Texas HOTSPOTS active. Any kind of shallow moving shad like bait will work. A RatLTrap, square bill or a steel shad will work great. When they are not near the top, use a 1-oz. slab and be sure to hit the bottom with it. LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Brushy Creek GPS: N 30 20.94, W 96 33.2039 (30.3490, -96.5534)

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: “Shad, Liver, CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: “Lake is back to near normal, so look for 8-10 foot water here. Fish shallower if the Lily pads are showing. Fish near the lily pads with corks and set bait a foot off the bottom. LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: North Island and Tabletop GPS: N 33 52.068, W 96 41.67 (33.8678, -96.6945)

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Henry Bass Go Gobble, Gobble SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Redfin and Live Shad CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: Look for a shallow top water bite at Striper Point and Whitney Hump. Make long casts with a redfin. Retrieve it back to the boat and make it wobble on the surface. When the Striper blows up wait until the rod doubles up with the weight of the fish and THEN set the hook! After the sun gets up back off the points, drift the same area in 18 ft. of water. LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: 309 Flats GPS: N 31 58.716, W 96 6.87 (31.9786, -96.1145)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Topwater plugs and Sassy Shad jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: The big fish are on the banks early in the mornings. Cast Pencil Poppers and big Chug Bugs for vicious strikes in shallow water. Mid-morning change your lures to 4” sassy shad on a 1oz jighead in white-glow and chartreuse fleck. Gulls can locate schools of stripers roaming in open water. Live shad fishing is also an excellent way to catch stripers. Locate the fish on the ledges, anchor up and place your bait three turns off the bottom. The best depth will average thirty feet deep.

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Shallow: Silver/Blue Rat-L-Trap, Deep: 1 oz. Silver Glitter RSR Slab CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: Fall is my favorite season of the year: Big hybrids and some of the best white bass fishing of the year. The gulls arrive, the shad are hopping and the fishing gets so much better as the weather and water temperature cools. Check out this hotspot for early morning action. Watch for the baitfish being chased to the surface and the gulls and herons will be above them. When the fish go deep a 1 oz. Silver Glitter RSR Slab is my go to bait!

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Gobbler Creek GPS: N 33 2.418, W 101 6.636 (33.0403, -101.1106)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: “Shad and chartreuse colored crankbaits and Shaky Head jigs with a shad looking bait on the jig CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: “October, as the cold fronts start rolling in the bass will start moving up the creeks. Start in Gobbler Creek and then move up Rocky, Big Grape, Little Grape, or Ince Cove. I love to fish at this time of the year. The bass are bulking up for the winter months. Start fishing at the mouth of the creeks, and slowly move back into the cove, and you should find the bass. LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Costello Island GPS: N 32 54.57, W 98 27.838 (32.9095, -98.4640)

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: jigs, spoons CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Costello Island is the hotspot for October because on the south side you still have 50-plus feet of water, and on the north side you have 35

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Striper Point/Whitney Hump GPS: N 31 54.8334, W 97 23.0859 (31.9139, -97.3848) T E X A S

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Texas HOTSPOTS feet or less serving as a staging point for fish. But don’t rule out the rest of the lake, as fish will be on almost any point or sandbar and on natural feeding flats. Also, you have extra eyes on the lake in the birds, gulls or herons, so take advantage of their eyesight. Don’t expect summer topwater explosions, as this time of year they use the surface more as a brick wall to trap the bait against. Instead of a topwater, I like jigs and slabs, which work that 2 to 4 foot column better and the fish, do too. Tip the end of your jigs with Mister Twister Curly Tails.

BIG BEND

Mark Zorro for Amistad Bass by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: East Bank of Zorro GPS: N 29 27.674, W 101 02.411 (29.4612, -101.0402)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Torpedoes and Little Georges CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasﬁshing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasﬁshing.com TIPS: Stripers and Whites provide great top water action this time of year. Fish with Torpedoes or Little Georges mid-lake on either side. LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 29 54.4619, W 98 17.3579 (29.9077, -98.2893)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: buzzbaits, frogs CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com www.amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish peppergrass with white buzzbaits or slow frogs. Action best dawn through mid-morning.

HILL COUNTRY

Buchanan Whites & Stripes

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: “¼ oz. Picasso Shakey Head, Carolina rigged Watermelon ﬂukes (1/2 oz. or ¾ oz.), Senko type baits Texas rigged w/ ¼-3/8oz Picasso Tungsten weights, and Picasso spinner baits in chart/white 3/8th oz., Baby Brush Hogs CONTACT: KC’S Bassin’ Guide Service 210-823-2153 kandie@gvtc.com www.kcbassinguide.com TIPS: Fish the main lake point up river from the pipeline near the drop off of the river channel. Work the shallows early and then move into the deeper depths. Bass are in transition and with the weather cooling off are not aggressive. Good colors include watermelon red, green pumpkin candy, and don’t be afraid to throw a black Power Worm now and then. LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek Point GPS: N 29 54.1799, W 98 16.134 (29.9030, -98.2689)

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: 1oz red jigging spoon CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantonioﬁshingguides.com www.sanantonioﬁshingguides.com TIPS: Fish from the point back to the swim beach casting out the spoon and try to maintain a depth of 20 to 40 feet, the Striped Bass and White Bass like to school in this area this time of year. LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Potter’s Creek Point GPS: N 29 53.952, W 98 16.9439 (29.8992, -98.2824)

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SPECIES: Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Crankbaits and spinnerbaits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide ServiceBarry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Turn your attention to fishing both the main points and inside the mouths of coves looking for secondary points intersecting with a significant depth change and some sort of cover. The shallower water cools and warms fastest, so fish shallower waters early before moving out. One final note, don’t forget that fall is a good time of year to have fun with exciting top water action. This is a very long main lake point with plenty of shallow and deep water. There are brush piles on this point along with very good breaks and ledges next to the river channel. Watch for schooling fish early. LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Flats and Docks GPS: N 30 19.74, W 97 49.584 (30.3290, -97.8264)

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M Wild Craw, V&M Wild Thang, V&M Trickster, Picasso Shad Walker CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 48.798, W 98 26.184 (30.8133, -98.4364)

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Texas HOTSPOTS lakeaustinfishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: As water temps start to drop, the bass begin to actively feed. Most of the larger bass will tend to feed on bigger meals so I tie on a Texas Rig with a V&M Wild Thang or Trickster and throw around the docks. I also like throwing a Pacemaker Jig with a Wild Craw on the flats/shallows and work it towards deeper water as the crawfish become more active. Early mornings and late evenings, throw a Picasso Shad Walker over the flats also. LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N 30 45.336, W 98 25.6019 (30.7556, -98.4267)

u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

which are blessings for moderating temperatures but can also produce dangerous winds and storms. Generally, just before a front arrives and as the front is pushing in, fish become more active and feed much more aggressively. This area is a hump defined with several small points and valleys, plenty of vegetation and next to the main river channel. It has enough shallower water, mid depths and deeper water to hold fish for long periods of time.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Contour Hump GPS: N 30 34.59, W 98 22.6259 (30.5765, -98.3771)

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SPECIES: Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Crankbaits and spinnerbaits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide ServiceBarry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: October is the month that the water temperature finally falls into the 70’s and marks the beginning of the fall fishing season. Bass and crappie begin moving from the depths of the lake into shallower water and the catching percentages start improving. It is also the time for cool fronts,

Choke Bass Jam the Dam LOCATION: Choke Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N 28 29.7539, W 98 15.1679 (28.4959, -98.2528)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Carolina rigs and drop shots using watermelon-colored plastics CONTACT: Scott Springer 361-499-7643 outﬁtterscott@yahoo.com TIPS: Fishing on this lake has been tough at this time. The dam area is producing the best bite. Fish Carolina rigs and drop shots for best results. LOCATION: Choke Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 29.274, W 98 22.8239 (28.4879, -98.3804)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures, Carolina rigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 www.coletocreekguidefishing.com TIPS: October is usually a great month to fish. Weather has cooled down and fishing is great. Most all year we have to fish the way the fish want, this time of year we get to fish how we want. Top water, Carolina rig, flipping trees, crank baits. Personally I enjoy spinnerbaits as I get to cover a lot of water and attract big fish too. Main lake grass in afternoons should be good along with the shallows in early morning or late afternoon. LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Big Tiger and Little Tiger Creeks GPS: N 26 42.036, W 99 10.1159 u TAP FOR (26.7006, -99.1686)

ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Watermelon-colored plastics on Texas Rig CONTACT: Scott Springer 361-499-7643 outﬁtterscott@yahoo.com TIPS: Fishing has been fair lately. We are catching lots of smaller ﬁsh but recommend Big Tiger and Little Tiger as the best overall areas. Fish soft watermelon-colored plastics on a Texas rig.

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Punch bait, cut bait CONTACT: Charlie Brown 830-780-2162 TIPS: Since the lake came up, ﬁshing around T E X A S

ALMANAC-1510-Oct DIG.indd 75

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 45.054, W 97 11.5799 (28.7509, -97.1930)

SOUTH TEXAS

by DUSTIN WARNCKE

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Zara Spooks and other topwater lures CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: “Stripers will be on a top water bite down around the dam area. Use Zaras, Pencil poppers, or even a casting cork with a speck rig will work!

grass and willows in shallow water seems to be the ticket. Use a ﬂoat rigged to 3-5 feet and move to another spot if you don’t get a bite within 10-15 minutes.

F I S H

G A M E ®

O C T O B E R

2 0 1 5

9/29/15 5:16 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK OCTOBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Channel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).

T12

T11

T10 T9

TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the upper white boxes on the Calendar Pages. Use the Correction Table below, which is keyed to 23 other tide stations, to adjust low and high tide times.

T8 T17

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE below to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

T15 T16

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below. SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of inﬂuence on many wildlife species.

T13 T6

T3 T2 T1

T14

AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.

T18

AM & PM MAJOR phases occur when the moon reaches its highest point overhead as well as when it is “underfoot” or at its highest point on the exact opposite side of the earth from your positoin (or literally under your feet). Most days have two Major Feeding Phases, each lasting about 2 hours.

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the inﬂuence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest inﬂunce of the month. PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine the adjustment from the time shown for GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass Jetty Sabine Pass Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass Galveston Bay, S. Jetty Port Bolivar

HIGH -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14

LOW -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06

KEY PLACE HIGH Galveston Channel/Bays T7 Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +3:54 T8 Eagle Point +6:05 T9 Clear Lake +10:21 T10 Morgans Point T11 Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39

LOW +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

PLACE Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, W. Bay Alligator Point, W. Bay Christmas Pt Galveston Pleasure Pier

HIGH +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -1:06

LOW +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:33 +2:31 -1:06

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

PLACE HIGH San Luis Pass -0.09 Freeport Harbor -0:44 Pass Cavallo 0:00 Aransas Pass -0:03 Padre Island (So. End) -0:24 Port Isabel +1:02

LOW -0.09 -1:02 -1:20 -1:31 -1:45 -0:42

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE GRAPH:

Yellow: Daylight

Tab: Peak Fishing Period Green: Falling Tide

12a

12p

12a

AM/PM Timeline

Light Blue: Nighttime

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Gold Fish: Best Time

Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

Blue Fish: Good Time

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY:

AM PM MINOR Minor: 1:20a Minor: 1:45p Feeding Periods AM PM (+/- 1.5 Hrs.) Major: 7:32a Major: 7:57p Time Moon is at its Moon Overhead: 8:50a Highest Point in the Sky 12a

AM/PM Timeline

76 |

12p

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

O C T O B E R

ALMANAC-1510-Oct DIG.indd 76

MAJOR Feeding Periods (+/- 2 Hrs.)

12a

Time Moon is Directly Underfoot (at its peak on opposite side of the earth)

2 0 1 5

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

9/18/15 4:57 PM

SYMBOL KEY

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

28 ¡

TUESDAY

29 «

OCTOBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times WEDNESDAY

30 «

THURSDAY

Oct 1

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 7:09p Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 7:08p Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 7:07p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 7:06p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 7:05p Sunrise: 7:12a Moonrise: 7:47p Set: 7:38a Moonrise: 8:34p Set: 8:46a Moonrise: 9:22p Set: 9:53a Moonrise: 10:12p Set: 10:58a Moonrise: 11:04p Set: 12:00p Moonrise: None

Set: 7:02p Set: 1:50p

AM Minor: 5:47a

PM Minor: 6:16p

AM Minor: 6:46a

PM Minor: 7:15p

AM Minor: 7:48a

PM Minor: 8:17p

AM Minor: 8:52a

PM Minor: 9:20p

AM Minor: 9:55a

PM Minor: 10:23p

AM Minor: 10:55a

PM Minor: 11:22p

AM Minor: 11:51a

PM Minor: -----

AM Major: -----

PM Major: 12:01p

AM Major: 12:32a

PM Major: 1:01p

AM Major: 1:34a

PM Major: 2:03p

AM Major: 2:38a

PM Major: 3:06p

AM Major: 3:41a

PM Major: 4:09p

AM Major: 4:41a

PM Major: 5:09p

AM Major: 5:38a

PM Major: 6:04p

Moon Overhead: 1:17a

12a

Set: 7:03p Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 12:58p Moonrise: None

12p

Moon Overhead: 3:11a

Moon Overhead: 2:14a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:08a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:00a

Moon Overhead: 5:05a 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

T I D E L E V E L S SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day n = Best Day SUNDAY

DIGITAL EXTRA Tap for Customized Tide Charts

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

Moon Overhead: 6:54a 12a

12p

12a

FEET

+2.0

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 1:45p

Moon Underfoot: 2:42p

BEST: BEST: 6:30 —8:30 PM 12:30 —2:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 3:39p BEST: 1:30 —3:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 4:36p BEST: 2:00 —4:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 5:33p BEST: 9:30 —11:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 6:27p BEST: 10:00A —12:00P

Moon Underfoot: 7:20p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

-1.0

+2.0

BEST: 11:00A —1:00P

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

4:37 AM 10:41 AM 5:27 PM 11:16 PM

1.64 ft 0.53 ft 1.80 ft 0.89 ft

ALMANAC-1510-Oct DIG.indd 77

High Tide 5:03 AM Low Tide 11:29 AM High Tide 6:37 PM

1.63 ft 0.33 ft 1.81 ft

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

12:05 AM 5:29 AM 12:19 PM 7:50 PM

1.10 ft 1.63 ft 0.20 ft 1.79 ft

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

12:57 AM 5:55 AM 1:13 PM 9:09 PM

1.30 ft 1.62 ft 0.14 ft 1.77 ft

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

1:59 AM 6:20 AM 2:13 PM 10:35 PM

1.46 ft 1.61 ft 0.14 ft 1.75 ft

Low Tide 3:50 AM High Tide 6:38 AM Low Tide 3:19 PM

1.56 ft 1.58 ft 0.20 ft

High Tide 12:02 AM Low Tide 4:33 PM

1.74 ft 0.28 ft

+1.0

-1.0

9/18/15 4:57 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

SYMBOL KEY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day n = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

5»

OCTOBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

11 «

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 12:19a

PM Minor: 12:43p

AM Minor: 1:05a

PM Minor: 1:29p

AM Minor: 1:49a

PM Minor: 2:12p

AM Minor: 2:30a

PM Minor: 2:52p

AM Minor: 3:09a

PM Minor: 3:30p

AM Minor: 3:47a

PM Minor: 4:08p

AM Minor: 4:26a

PM Minor: 4:47p

AM Major: 6:30a

PM Major: 6:55p

AM Major: 7:17a

PM Major: 7:41p

AM Major: 8:01a

PM Major: 8:24p

AM Major: 8:41a

PM Major: 9:03p

AM Major: 9:20a

PM Major: 9:41p

AM Major: 9:58a

PM Major: 10:19p

AM Major: 10:37a

PM Major: 10:58p

Moon Overhead: 7:46a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 9:22a

Moon Overhead: 8:35a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 10:07a

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 11:33a

Moon Overhead: 10:50a 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 7:01p Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 7:00p Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 6:59p Sunrise: 7:15a Set: 6:57p Sunrise: 7:15a Set: 6:56p Sunrise: 7:16a Set: 6:55p Sunrise: 7:16a Set: 6:54p Moonrise: 12:51a Set: 2:38p Moonrise: 1:45a Set: 3:21p Moonrise: 2:39a Set: 4:00p Moonrise: 3:32a Set: 4:37p Moonrise: 4:24a Set: 5:12p Moonrise: 5:15a Set: 5:46p Moonrise: 6:06a Set: 6:20p

Moon Overhead: 12:15p 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 8:10p

+2.0

BEST: 2:00 — 4:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 10:28p

Moon Underfoot: 11:11p

BEST: 4:00 — 6:00 PM

BEST: 5:00 — 7:00 PM

BEST: 3:00 — 5:00PM

Moon Underfoot: 11:54p

Moon Underfoot: None

+2.0

BEST: BEST: 5:30 — 7:30 PM 5:00 — 7:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST: 1:30 — 3:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:44p

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 8:58p

High Tide 1:16 AM Low Tide 5:48 PM

1.73 ft 0.37 ft

MONDAY

12 l

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

2:04 AM 8:33 AM 11:02 AM 6:56 PM

1.71 ft 1.38 ft 1.42 ft 0.46 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

TUESDAY

2:37 AM 8:51 AM 12:33 PM 7:53 PM

1.67 ft 1.29 ft 1.44 ft 0.55 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

WEDNESDAY

13 «

3:00 AM 9:09 AM 1:44 PM 8:40 PM

1.62 ft 1.18 ft 1.48 ft 0.66 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

THURSDAY

14 «

3:19 AM 9:25 AM 2:44 PM 9:19 PM

1.58 ft 1.07 ft 1.54 ft 0.78 ft

FRIDAY

3:36 AM 9:41 AM 3:37 PM 9:51 PM

1.56 ft 0.95 ft 1.58 ft 0.89 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

SATURDAY

15 «

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

3:52 AM 10:00 AM 4:26 PM 10:19 PM

SUNDAY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

PM Minor: 5:28p

AM Minor: 5:50a

PM Minor: 6:12p

AM Minor: 6:36a

PM Minor: 6:58p

AM Minor: 7:25a

PM Minor: 7:48p

AM Minor: 8:16a

PM Minor: 8:40p

AM Minor: 9:10a

PM Minor: 9:35p

AM Minor: 10:05a

PM Minor: 10:30p

AM Major: 11:18a

PM Major: 11:39p

AM Major: -----

PM Major: 12:23p

AM Major: 12:25a

PM Major: 12:47p

AM Major: 1:13a

PM Major: 1:36p

AM Major: 2:04a

PM Major: 2:28p

AM Major: 2:58a

PM Major: 3:22p

AM Major: 3:52a

PM Major: 4:18p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 2:26p

12a

12p

12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:48p

Moon Overhead: 3:59p

Moon Overhead: 3:12p 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 5:07a

Moon Overhead: 1:41p

Moon Overhead: 5:39p 12a

12p

12a

FEET

-1.0

BEST: 5:30 — 7:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 1:19a BEST: 6:00 — 8:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 2:03a

Moon Underfoot: 2:49a

BEST: 7:00 — 9:00 AM

BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 3:35a BEST: 8:30 — 10:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 4:24a BEST: 9:00 — 11:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 5:14a

+2.0

BEST: 9:30 — 11:30 AM TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 12:36a

TIDE LEVELS

+2.0

-1.0

1.55 ft 0.83 ft 1.62 ft 1.01 ft

Sunrise: 7:17a Set: 6:53p Sunrise: 7:17a Set: 6:52p Sunrise: 7:18a Set: 6:51p Sunrise: 7:19a Set: 6:50p Sunrise: 7:19a Set: 6:49p Sunrise: 7:20a Set: 6:48p Sunrise: 7:21a Set: 6:47p Moonrise: 6:57a Set: 6:54p Moonrise: 7:49a Set: 7:30p Moonrise: 8:41a Set: 8:07p Moonrise: 9:34a Set: 8:47p Moonrise: 10:27a Set: 9:30p Moonrise: 11:19a Set: 10:16p Moonrise: 12:11p Set: 11:07p

Moon Overhead: 12:58p

+1.0

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

4:09 AM 10:23 AM 5:13 PM 10:46 PM

1.55 ft 0.72 ft 1.65 ft 1.12 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

4:25 AM 10:50 AM 6:01 PM 11:13 PM

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

1.56 ft 0.63 ft 1.67 ft 1.22 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

4:39 AM 11:20 AM 6:51 PM 11:43 PM

1.56 ft 0.56 ft 1.68 ft 1.32 ft

High Tide 4:48 AM Low Tide 11:54 AM High Tide 7:45 PM

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

LOW

KEY

Sabine Bank Lighthouse -1:46

-1:31

Galveston Channel/Bays

Sabine Pass Jetty

-1:26

-1:31

Sabine Pass

-1:00

-1:15

Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass -0:04

-0:25

Galveston Bay, S. Jetty -0:39

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the T4 Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine T5 the adjustment from the time shown for GALVES- T6 TON CHANNEL in the calendars.

Port Bolivar

PLACE

1.56 ft 0.50 ft 1.69 ft

HIGH

LOW

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

12:15 AM 4:46 AM 12:31 PM 8:47 PM

1.42 ft 1.57 ft 0.46 ft 1.69 ft

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

HIGH

LOW

12:52 AM 4:32 AM 1:12 PM 9:55 PM

1.51 ft 1.59 ft 0.43 ft 1.70 ft

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

1:38 AM 4:21 AM 2:00 PM 11:07 PM

KEY

PLACE

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

LOW

T12

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay +5:48 +4:43

T18

San Luis Pass

-0.09

Texas City Turning Basin+0:33 +0:41

T13

Gilchrist, East Bay

+3:16 +4:18

T19

Freeport Harbor

-0:44

-1:02

Eagle Point

+3:54 +4:15

T14

Jamaica Beach, W. Bay+2:38 +3:31

T20

Pass Cavallo

0:00

-1:20

Clear Lake

+6:05 +6:40

T15

Alligator Point, W. Bay +2:39 +2:33

T21

Aransas Pass

-0:03

-1:31

-1:05

T10

Morgans Point

+10:21 +5:19

T16

Christmas Pt

T22

Padre Island (So. End) -0:24

-1:45

+0:14 -0:06

T11

Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39 +5:15

T17

Galveston Pleasure Pier -1:06

T23

Port Isabel

+2:32 +2:31 -1:06

1.59 ft 1.62 ft 0.42 ft 1.72 ft

+1.0

-1.0

+1:02 -0:42

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION 78 |

O C T O B E R

ALMANAC-1510-Oct DIG.indd 78

2 0 1 5

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

9/18/15 4:57 PM

ALMANAC-1510-Oct DIG.indd 79

9/18/15 4:57 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

SYMBOL KEY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day n = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

TUESDAY

20 º

OCTOBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 11:00a

PM Minor: 11:26p

AM Minor: 11:55a

PM Minor: -----

AM Minor: 12:21a

PM Minor: 12:48p

AM Minor: 1:12a

PM Minor: 1:39p

AM Minor: 2:01a

PM Minor: 2:28p

AM Minor: 2:49a

PM Minor: 3:16p

AM Minor: 3:38a

PM Minor: 4:05p

AM Major: 4:47a

PM Major: 5:13p

AM Major: 5:42a

PM Major: 6:08p

AM Major: 6:34a

PM Major: 7:01p

AM Major: 7:25a

PM Major: 7:53p

AM Major: 8:15a

PM Major: 8:42p

AM Major: 9:03a

PM Major: 9:30p

AM Major: 9:51a

PM Major: 10:19p

Moon Overhead: 6:31p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 8:18p

Moon Overhead: 7:24p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 9:12p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 11:01p

Moon Overhead: 10:06p 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Sunrise: 7:21a Set: 6:45p Sunrise: 7:22a Set: 6:44p Sunrise: 7:23a Set: 6:43p Sunrise: 7:23a Set: 6:42p Sunrise: 7:24a Set: 6:41p Sunrise: 7:25a Set: 6:41p Sunrise: 7:25a Set: 6:40p Moonrise: 1:02p Set: None Moonrise: 1:51p Set: 12:02a Moonrise: 2:38p Set: 1:00a Moonrise: 3:23p Set: 2:01a Moonrise: 4:08p Set: 3:05a Moonrise: 4:52p Set: 4:10a Moonrise: 5:36p Set: 5:15a

Moon Overhead: 11:56p

12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 6:05a

+2.0

BEST: 11:00A — 1:00P

Moon Underfoot: 8:45a

BEST: 12:00 — 2:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:39a

BEST: 2:30 — 4:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 10:33a

BEST: 3:00 — 5:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 11:28a

+2.0

BEST: BEST: 4:00 — 6:00 PM 4:30 — 6:30 AM

TIDE LEVELS

Moon Underfoot: 7:51a

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST: 10:00A — 12:00P

Moon Underfoot: 6:57a

Low Tide 2:58 AM High Tide 4:04 AM Low Tide 2:56 PM

1.64 ft 1.64 ft 0.42 ft

MONDAY

26 «

High Tide 12:08 AM Low Tide 4:00 PM

1.74 ft 0.44 ft

TUESDAY

27 «

High Tide 12:52 AM Low Tide 5:09 PM

1.75 ft 0.48 ft

WEDNESDAY

28 ¡

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

1:26 AM 7:49 AM 11:13 AM 6:17 PM

1.73 ft 1.35 ft 1.41 ft 0.54 ft

THURSDAY

29 «

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

1:53 AM 7:49 AM 1:01 PM 7:22 PM

1.69 ft 1.15 ft 1.48 ft 0.64 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

FRIDAY

2:18 AM 8:18 AM 2:23 PM 8:23 PM

1.66 ft 0.89 ft 1.59 ft 0.77 ft

SATURDAY

Oct 31

30 «

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2:42 AM 8:56 AM 3:35 PM 9:19 PM

SUNDAY

Nov 1

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

PM Minor: 4:56p

AM Minor: 5:23a

PM Minor: 5:51p

AM Minor: 6:21a

PM Minor: 6:50p

AM Minor: 7:23a

PM Minor: 7:52p

AM Minor: 8:27a

PM Minor: 8:56p

AM Minor: 9:30a

PM Minor: 9:57p

AM Minor: 10:29a

PM Minor: 10:56p

AM Major: 10:42a

PM Major: 11:10p

AM Major: 11:37a

PM Major: -----

AM Major: 12:07a

PM Major: 12:36p

AM Major: 1:09a

PM Major: 1:38p

AM Major: 2:13a

PM Major: 2:41p

AM Major: 3:16a

PM Major: 3:43p

AM Major: 4:16a

PM Major: 4:43p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 1:50a

12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 2:48a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:42a

Moon Overhead: 3:46a 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 4:28a

Moon Overhead: 12:53a

Moon Overhead: 5:37a 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 12:24p

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 6:00 — 8:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 2:19p BEST: 12:30 — 2:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 3:17p BEST: 1:00 — 3:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 4:14p BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 5:10p BEST: 8:30 — 10:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 6:03p

+2.0

BEST: 9:00 — 11:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST: 5:00 — 7:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 1:21p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

-1.0

1.63 ft 0.61 ft 1.71 ft 0.93 ft

Sunrise: 7:26a Set: 6:39p Sunrise: 7:27a Set: 6:38p Sunrise: 7:28a Set: 6:37p Sunrise: 7:28a Set: 6:36p Sunrise: 7:29a Set: 6:35p Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 6:34p Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 6:34p Moonrise: 6:21p Set: 6:22a Moonrise: 7:08p Set: 7:30a Moonrise: 7:58p Set: 8:36a Moonrise: 8:50p Set: 9:41a Moonrise: 9:45p Set: 10:43a Moonrise: 10:40p Set: 11:40a Moonrise: 11:36p Set: 12:31p

Moon Overhead: None

+1.0

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

3:07 AM 9:37 AM 4:42 PM 10:13 PM

1.62 ft 0.34 ft 1.80 ft 1.09 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

3:32 AM 10:22 AM 5:47 PM 11:06 PM

1.63 ft 0.13 ft 1.86 ft 1.25 ft

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

3:58 AM 11:09 AM 6:52 PM 11:59 PM

1.64 ft High Tide 4:26 AM -0.02 ft Low Tide 11:58 AM 1.87 ft High Tide 7:58 PM 1.39 ft

1.64 ft Low Tide 12:58 AM -0.08 ft High Tide 4:53 AM 1.85 ft Low Tide 12:49 PM High Tide 9:06 PM

1.49 ft 1.62 ft -0.06 ft 1.81 ft

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

2:17 AM 5:15 AM 1:44 PM 10:15 PM

1.54 ft 1.58 ft 0.02 ft 1.75 ft

Low Tide 1:43 PM High Tide 10:21 PM

0.16 ft 1.70 ft

+1.0

-1.0

SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE (right) to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

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HERE’S SOMETHING big and white that keeps coming out late in the evening toward your stand. We can’t see what it is but we’ve heard a strange whistling sound.” These words from my Aunt Ann lit my extremely PHOTO: TF&G

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inquisitive passion for wildlife investigation and within 24 hours I had a game camera set at my feeder which which at the time was located on the back side of her (former) property in Newton County. Three days later I returned to pick up the camera and was shocked when I

by Chester Moore

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got the filmed developed. (Yes, I said film. This was back in the dark ages when there was a such thing as a 35 mm camera.) A huge white bull elk was hitting my feeder. The first shot showed it eating the corn and next with its nose to the camera. This escapee from a nearby exotic ranch did not make it long as someone shot it a couple of weeks later in their |

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Special SECTION pea patch but for a while it was big talk around hunting camp. From time to time hunters encounter strange but (usually) explainable things in the deer woods. Here’s an examination of some of these. Let us examine the source of some of these mysterious sightings.

Albino Whitetails On rare occasion, an albino whitetail will make it to adulthood in the wild and they are a remarkable sight. They are striking animals and over the last year, I have had the pleasure of being around one at my friend Ken Swenson’s Swenson

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The author and “Rusty,” an albino whitetail.

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Special SECTION

Piebald whitetails lack pigment only in certain areas instead of all over, as is the case with albino deer.

Whitetail Ranch. Their buck “Rusty” is becoming quite an impressive specimen.

Piebald Whitetails Think of a piebald as an animal with partial albinism or simply lack of pigment in certain areas instead of all over the body. Over the years, there have been a number of piebald whitetails harvested. My father, my wife Lisa and I saw a piebald doe while hunting aoudad on a beautiful spread called the Greenwood Valley Ranch in 1993. She had big blotches on her side and several along the neck. Piebalds are also called “calico deer” and seem to be most commonly killed in the Pineywoods region of the state but they could turn up anywhere. Leucistic Whitetail When I was a kid, my father and I 84 |

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put together scrapbooks of wildlife and I had a small clipping of a leucistic (white) whitetail from the Seneca Army Depot in New York. Ten years ago, TF&G Bowhunting Editor Lou Marullo took me there and we got to see some behind their security fence as well as one free ranging a few miles from the post. According to Senecawhitedeer.org, “The white deer found at Seneca Army Depot are a natural variation of the whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which normally have brown coloring.” “The Seneca White Deer are leucistic, meaning they lack all pigmentation in the hair but have the normal brown-colored eyes. Albino deer, which lack only the pigment melanin, have pink eyes and are extremely rare. The Seneca White Deer interbreed freely with the brown deer in the former Depot and appear to share the PHOTO: NJF&W

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Special SECTION habitat equally.” They go on to say the genetics of these deer have not been studied extensively, but a recessive gene for lack of pigmentation apparently prevents normal (i.e. brown) coloration of the hair. “Management of the white deer within the former Depot increases the proportion of deer exhibiting the trait.” New York is not the only place leucistic deer have been found and this is another potential source for “ghost deer” in the Lone Star State.

Nilgai The nilgai is a truly strange-looking creature and one that is common in the

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Nilgai were imported from India decades ago and thrive in South Texas.

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Special SECTION coastal areas from the Baffin Bay area down to the Mexico line. Imported from India decades ago, these huge antelope thrive on the King and Kennedy Ranch properties. Weighing upwards of 600 pounds they are huge, sport a super long neck and the males have small upwards pointing horns and sometimes a beard like a turkey. Someone without knowledge of nilgai running into one in South Texas would be in for a big surprise.

Snow Monkeys Now that’s we’ve gotten the unusual deer out of the way, let’s talk about something really strange. There are snow monkeys (Japanese macaques) in South Texas. According to the Austin Chronicle they had been brought to the South Texas Primate Observatory in 1972, in the first attempt at the relocation of an entire primate population. “The observatory’s ranch near Dilley, in Frio County, was much hotter than the macaques’ Japanese home, and at first many perished. But South Texas eventually provided the conditions the monkeys needed to thrive: a wild setting, water tanks, plenty of mesquite beans, cactus fruits, and lots of tall brush to climb around in. Things went very well – at least for the first couple of decades.” A number of these monkeys formed a wild population that still exists in some numbers to this very day. We have received several reports of hunters who have run into them. One oilfield worker reported walking back to his truck after a day of work to find one sitting on the hood of his truck.

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Snow monkeys have inhabited South Texas since the early 1970s.

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PHOTO:WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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Special SECTION Black Bears Bears are making a small but meaningful comeback in Texas. There are populations established in the Trans Pecos that are moving into South Texas and the Hill

Country. In addition East Texas has small numbers of bears. They are protected in the Lone Star State so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get too excited about bagging a bear rug here.

Bears are making a small comeback in various regions of Texas

Consider yourself blessed to see one of these magnificent animals from the deer blind.

Jaguarundi Did you know Texas is home to the jaguarundi? They are a medium-sized cat with a mean body size of 102 centimeters for females and 114 for males according to Mexican researcher Arturo Caso. Other sources list them as ranging from 100 to 90 |

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Jaguarundis range from South America to inside the borders of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.

120 centimeters with the tail making up the greatest part of the length. Most specimens are about 20 centimeters tall and sport a dark gray color while others are chocolate brown or blonde. Jaguarundis are known to range from South America to the Mexican borders of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. The key word here is “known”. That means scientists have observed or captured the species within those areas, however they are reported to range much farther north in the Lone Star State and perhaps elsewhere. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials solicited information from the public and received numerous reports of the species in the 1960s, including several sightings from central and east Texas. Additional sightings were reported from as far away as Florida, Oklahoma, and Colorado

Fallow Deer Sometimes hunters report seeing “chocolate-colored” deer. Others report seeing deer with “moose-like horns”. These sightings are most likely fallow deer. Fallow deer come from Europe and Asia and adapted to the Texas Hill Country perfectly and there are many free-ranging specimens in Kerr, Bandera, Medina and Uvalde Counties in particular. They also do well on high fenced properties in other parts of the state and often escape. Fallow come in white, spotted and chocolate patterns and a mature buck will sport incredible palmated antlers. Axis deer are more common outside of high fences but most hunters know what

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Special SECTION they are. Fallow are a little more mysterious with their variety of colors and unique antler formation. There are actually a variety of exotics that could potentially explain unusual sightings in the woods. The white elk

Fallow deer have incredible palmated, “moose-like” antlers. They have adapted well to Central Texas.

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mentioned above is another candidate but a super rare one which is why I consider

Seeing a deer is one thing but spotting a monkey or bear in Texas is a whole other

myself privileged to have had such an encounter. Barasingha deer from India and Pere David’s deer are two species present on Texas ranches that may occasionally escape and provide unique encounters. There is something exciting about encountering an anomaly in the wild.

things. Texas is a land of surprises so stay alert in the field, keep your eyes fixed on the edge of the wood line and you might get a glimpse of one of these mysterious animals.

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Texas TASTED by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Duck Gumbo

ALL IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF year. With football season starting and baseball playoffs upon us I love the fall with all of its treasures. First and foremost, I love the hunting season, from dove and Teal to deer season it’s all good to me. I have a good friend that I have spent many weekends with in Rockport and in the Lower Laguna Madre chasing down redfish and trout and enjoying some awesome duck hunts as well. Robert Moore is a unique guy with a passion for the outdoors that is to be admired. We have prepared a few meals together and enjoy discussing cooking techniques and preparations on a continued basis. If you are a hard core wade fisherman or duck hunter you will want to get on a waiting list to enjoy a trip of a lifetime with Robert as he guides you through the back lakes of Port Mansfield and Rockport on a journey to enjoy a memorable experience on the water and in the marshes of the lower Texas coast. He can be reached at 832884-4540 Last fall Robert prepared a duck gumbo that was truly the best I have ever tasted and he was kind enough to share it with us. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have. ROUX & TRINITY • 1 cup flour E.G. Kentucky Kernel • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil • ½ cup salted butter • 3 cups chopped onions • 2 ½ cups chopped bell pepper • 2 cups chopped celery • 5 garlic cloves, minced GUMBO • ½ c. sherry wine or ½ c. cooking wine • 2 ½ qts duck stock or beef stock. Preferably homemade • Duck meat, 5-6 cups duck breast cubed ½”X ½” • 2 lb. Andouille sausage cubed ½” X ½” • 5 bay leaves 96 |

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• 14 oz. can of stewed tomatoes • 2 tablespoons of dried thyme • 2 teaspoons garlic powder • 2 teaspoons onion powder • 2 teaspoons black pepper • 1 teaspoon white pepper • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce Louisiana, Cajun Chef or Crystals’ hot sauce to taste BEDDING & TOPPING • 2 ½ cups fresh okra chopped and fried for topping • 2 cups steamed white rice or my favorite is SooFoo. This can be found at Whole Foods. • Put just a pinch in every bowl DIRECTIONS 1. MEAT REP: In a med. frying pan add a t, of olive oil and heat to medium high. Place 1 c. of meat in pan at a time, brown until all moisture is gone and meat is cooked. Repeat process until all of the meat is cooked. Set aside in a bowl until it is needed in step 3. 2. ROUX & TRINITY: Start the roux by pouring the oil first in the bottom of the stock pot oyou plan to make your gumbo in and set to medium heat. When oil is hot enough that a pinch of flour causes it to sizzle like it is frying, begin adding the flour to the oil while stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon. The roux requires constant stirring while cooking to prevent it from burning and it may be necessary to reduce the heat during cooking several times to prevent the roux from burning. Once half of the flour has been added put the butter in. Continue the process as you where while slowly adding the remainder flour. You will notice the roux slowly beginning to get darker as you stir it. The correct shade for a gumbo roux will look like a melted milk chocolate. It could take 30-45 minutes for the roux to reach its desired shade, be sure to keep an eye on the heat during the cooking process so that the roux does not burn. If you burn the roux, start over. Once the roux has reached its correct shade add the onions, celery and bell peppers (trinity) to the roux, add the garlic and set heat to low. Allow the mixture T E X A S

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Sunrise in Rockport.

to simmer for about 10 minutes 3. GUMBO: Add the wine, 2 quarts of strained stock, browned duck meat and sausage to the pot with the roux/trinity and set heat to medium. Add all seasonings and remaining ingredients to the pot and stir gently until the roux and stock blend together. Once pot boils for 5 minutes reduce heat to low and cook over low heat for 2 hrs. The gumbo may look thin when all the ingredients are first added to the pot but it will cook down into a very nice consistency over the next two hours. As the gumbo thickens add the remaining stock. The longer it cooks the better it gets, 3 to 4 hrs is best but not necessary. 4. During the cooking process some oil from the roux and fat from the sausage will float to the top. You can use a big gravy spoon to skim it off the top. It makes for a better finished product. 5. BEDDING AND TOPPING: Any gumbo is best served over white rice with a big piece of French bread. Fried okra over the dish makes for great treat as well. Pan fry okra with no flour to a crisp and top each bow with about 10 pieces. Frying the okra and placing on top allows for a gumbo of better/silky consistency than adding it into the dish beforehand. 6. Enjoy and share with friends!

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

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TEXAS FRESHWATER

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HUNTING

LAKE AMISTAD

UPPER TEXAS COAST

SOUTH TEXAS

MIDDLE TEXAS COAST

DFW METROPLEX

NEW 2016 EDITION LAKE TEXOMA

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TURKEY

REDFISH

Concho County

Galveston Bay

Nine-year-old Bryler Weidemann took his ﬁrst turkey and got a second turkey as an added bonus with the same bullet while sitting with his uncle and grandfather near Eden using his .30-30 riﬂe.

Justin Garza caught this 28-inch redﬁsh in Galveston Bay.

WHITETAIL/FERAL HOG Lee County Holly Torrez with her ﬁrst deer and feral hog, killed in Lee County.

REDFISH Anahuac Donnie Lucas holds an approximate 45-inch, 40 pound redﬁsh he caught on an Original Paul Brown Corky lure using a trout rod with 12-pound mono line in Trinity Bay near Anahuac.

WHITETAIL Private Family Ranch Kyler Swan, 8, practiced a lot to place his shot on this wide 7-point buck, his ﬁrst deer.

FLOUNDER Sabine Pass John and Mike Guillot caught these ﬂounder from the Sabine Pass ship channel. The largest was 24 inches long and weighed 5 pounds, 4 oz.

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MAIL TO: TFG PHOTOS 1745 Greens Rd, Houston TX 77032 NOTE: Print photos can not be returned.

EMAIL: photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital ﬁles only, please.

No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

FERAL HOG San Saba County Brady Palermo shot his ﬁrst big game animal at age 5. He harvested the hog with a .223 The hunt took place in San Saba County at Buck Horn Ranch.

REDFISH Trinity Bay Kay Purifoy with her ﬁrst redﬁsh, caught in Trinity Bay. The 25-inch red had 21 spots.

BLACK DRUM

WHITETAIL

Port Aransas

Undisclosed Location

Kelsey Murray of San Antonio was ﬁshing from a kayak when she caught and released this 35-pound black drum at Light House Lakes near Port Aransas. The drum put up a 30-minute ﬁght.

After years of watching her dad, four brothers and husband hunt, kill, dress and skin deer, Carolyn Stratton ﬁnally got hers— two deer in 24 hours last season.

TURKEY

NILGAI

Uvalde

Encino

Michelle Varga of Lake Jackson shot this turkey while hunting in Uvalde.

Rene Loredo of Rio Hondo shot this Nilgai while hunting with family and friends in Encin.

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