Texas Fish & Game June 2016 by Texas Fish & Game

VOICE OF THE TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

Bite-Size Fun in Gator

Country

June 2016 | $3.95

Spoon Feeding Crappie with

Deep Temptations

Braving the Border Is it Safe Yet?

Lone Star Exotics:

Afro-Tex Trophies

Tackling

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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 • SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DOUG PIKE • SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR TED NUGENT • EDITOR AT LARGE LOU MARULLO • HUNTING EDITOR MATT WILLIAMS • FRESHWATER EDITOR CALIXTO GONZALES • SALTWATER EDITOR LENNY RUDOW • BOATING EDITOR STEVE LAMASCUS • FIREARMS EDITOR DUSTIN ELLERMANN • SHOOTING EDITOR KENDAL HEMPHILL • POLITICAL COMMENTATOR WILL LESCHPER • CONSERVATION EDITOR REAVIS WORTHAM • HUMOR EDITOR TOM BEHRENS • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR GREG BERLOCHER • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR PAUL BRADSHAW • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CAPT. MIKE HOLMES • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DUSTIN WARNCKE • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR LISA MOORE • CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR STAN SKINNER • COPY EDITOR

A D V E R T I S I N G ARDIA NEVES VICE PRESIDENT/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DIRECT PHONE:

(281) 869-5549

EMAIL: ANEVES@FISHGAME.COM DUSTIN WARNCKE • ADVERTISING SALES DIRECT PHONE:

(512) 497-7674

EMAIL: DWARNCKE@FISHGAME.COM LARRY DALTON • ADVERTISING COORDINATOR 1745 GREENS ROAD HOUSTON, TX 77032 PHONE: (281) 227-3001 • FAX (281) 784-2962

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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

JUNE 2016 Volume 33 • NO. 2

Contents FEATURES

BRAVING THE BORDER Is it safe yet to hunt and fish along the Rio Grande River where, in the past, Mexican outlaws have engaged in several high profile border skirmishes with individuals and law enforcement?

COVER STORY: Water Moccasins and Their Mockers

Is that big, black u snake slithering your way from the creek a water moccasin? Chances are, it is a harmless water snake, one of many that share the same habitat as the deadly cottonmouth. Knowing the difference is important for anyone venturing into the woods—or backyard.

by Matt Williams

HIT A TRIPLE

With red snapper off the table for many offshore anglers heading into federal waters, tripletails make a fine substitute, both in the water and ON the table.

by John N. Felsher

Story and Cover Photo by Chester Moore

FISH GAME DIGITAL

AFRO-TEX TROPHIES

The Texas-Africa connection has revitalized a world of exotic game animals, and established the Lone Star State as the premiere destination for U.S. exotic hunting.

by Steve LaMascus

SPOON FEEDING CRAPPIE

Mobile Editions:

u iPad u Android u Kindle

FREE to Subscribers. See your Device’s App Store, or visit:

As summer waters chase crappie into the cooler depths, one way to tempt them out of the shadows is deep jigging with spoons.

by John N. Felsher

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Inside FISH & GAME

Contents (continued) COLUMNS

10 Editor’s Notes by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

A Slap in the Facebook

HE TWENTIETH CENTURY GAVE US AIRPLANES, motion pictures, radio, air conditioning, penicillin, television, computers, organ transplants, and men on the moon. Almost two decades in, the Twenty-First Century has given us Facebook. And already, millions of the kids responsible for defining this glorified bulletin board as a cultural phenomenon have moved on, ascending to other platforms more suited to their rapid-fire changes in moods and tastes. In this social media Rapture, many souls have been left behind... parents and (yikes!) grandparents whose crowding into the Facebook space was itself a factor in the exodus of the young. So, Facebook is still a primary means of interaction for members of these older generations, and since this large group includes many of our readers, we still take it seriously. As of this writing, the Texas Fish & Game Facebook page has more than 51,000 followers. Not bad. Not William Shatner numbers, but not bad at all for a one-state regional magazine. In theory, Facebook is a great way to reach out to our audience with instant updates and messages. And when we began attracting followers, it worked. Our posts of news, blogs, articles, and photos would go out, get shared, and, for a while, would routinely achieve nearly a million shared views. Then two things happened. First, and not surprisingly, when Facebook’s financial wizards realized that popular businesses were using the platform for quick and easy (and Free!) access to their followers, they decided to shut off the FREE-flow of information through their pipes. You could still reach more than a trickle of your fans, but you had to pay. That’s fine. No free lunch, and all that. But then something else, more disturbing and political, began to happen. Texas Fish & Game’s posts with guns or hunting were not allowed to be “boosted” (the term for paying to expand reach to more fans). Any Photo of the Day submission that had a gun or dead animal in it couldn’t be boosted. A lot of proud parents, and excited kids, were deprived of having their accomplishments shared throughout the digital community. Then, at one point, ALL Texas Fish & Game posts were blocked from boosting, because the content was deemed “offensive” by Facebook censors. Meanwhile, Facebook was infamously being used by ISIS and other terrorists to promote their vile insanity and even to share information within their ranks. We were finally able to restore our ability to boost non-hunting, non-gun content, but we are not sure how long that “privilege” will be tolerated. It is a shame how Facebook’s political views have alienated so many of their users. We’re not going to abandon Facebook. We’ve worked too hard to earn the interest and following of so many Facebook friends. But... if you use Twitter, we’re building our presence over there, where they still appear to have respect for the Freedom of Speech. Check us out at twitter.com/FishandGame.

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by Chester Moore

TF&G Editor in Chief

12 Doggett at Large by Joe Doggett

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

14 Pike on the Edge by Doug Pike

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

16 Nugent in the Wild by Ted Nugent

TF&G Editor At Large

17 Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

TF&G Political Commentator

29 Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo

TF&G Hunting Editor

DEPARTMENTS

8 LETTERS 84 INDUSTRY INSIDER

86 FISH AND

GAME GEAR

94 TF&G PHOTOS NEW SECTION

38 Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales

TF&G Saltwater Editor

40 Texas Freshwater by Matt Williams

TF&G Freshwater Editor

78 Texas Boating

by Lenny Rudow

TF&G Boating Editor

82 Practical Angler by Paul Bradshaw

TF&G Contributing Editor

83 Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus

TF&G Firearms Editor

90 Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven

The Texas Gourmet

92 Open Season

by Reavis Wortham

TF&G Humor Editor

www.FishGame.com

42 GATOR COUNTRY 46 TF&G REPORT 46 TEXAS HOT SHOTS

48 TEXAS DEPT. OF DEFENSE

50 TEXAS DEPT. OF CONSERVATION

54 TEXAS COASTAL FOCUS

62 TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

72 PRIME TIMES

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LETTERS to the Editor Texas Outdoor Nation Kudos I JUST PICKED UP MY MAY ISSUE and was so excited to see the Texas Outdoor Nation section. There is definitely something special about Texas and you at Texas Fish & Game have

tapped into it. The way you presented the Texas independent spirit was great, and I look forward to seeing more of what you have to bring to the table with this concept.

Rocky Drew I’M SECEDING WITH YOU! GREAT job on the Texas Outdoor Nation column and the new section of the magazine. Makes me proud to be a member.

Juan Gonzalez

Settle This Argument DEAR CHESTER, CAN YOU PLEASE help settle a long-standing argument I have had with a friend. He says there have never

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been grizzly bears in Texas. I say there have been. Who is right?

Caleb Harris EDITOR: Caleb—you are correct. Grizzlies have not been here for a long time but they once lived out in the Trans Pecos region of the state. The last grizzly known to live in Texas was killed in 1900. This was documented in a 1948 edition of Texas Game and Fish, not to be confused with Texas Fish & Game.

Thanks to TFG I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK the Texas Fish & Game staff for all of the hard work they do putting out by far the best outdoor magazine I have come across. I can-

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not imagine someone picking up the magazine and not enjoying it. You have so much to offer for the complete sportsman from the expert to the novice. Whether I am laughing with Reavis Wortham, getting fired up for the hunt with Ted Nugent or learning the deep things of the outdoors with Chester Moore I just cannot put the magazine down. It is obvious you love what you do and the fact that you keep doing it consistently is inspiring to us out there. Please keep up the great work.

Carol Lindsey EDITOR: Wow! Would you like to become our PR representative? What a great endorsement. We do love getting the best information to you and appreciate the overwhelmingly positive feedback we get. We are grateful for all of you who make what we do possible.

Texas-Sized Problems DEAR CHESTER, WHAT DO YOU think is the biggest problem facing the

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outdoors lover in Texas today? I am mainly interested in the hunting side of things although I am an avid fisherman. It just seems like there are so many things coming against hunting, it is hard not to question the future.

JR Reynolds EDITOR: We covered this very topic last year in an article called “The Demographics Bomb” and a lot of it has to do with the growing population of the state. We can’t blame people for wanting to move here but it does change things. I think the biggest problem is a combination of two issues-a shrinking amount of available hunting land and rising prices. We are not too far off from having a “king’s deer” situation where only the rich will be able to hunt. South Texas is out of the price range for the average guy, and has been that way for 25 years. The Hill Country is getting there and even East Texas leases have risen dramatically. For the average guy who works 40 hours a week and hunts a few times a year, access

to quality hunting land is a growing problem and this will be noticed more as development chews up forests and a continually devalued dollar and rising prices on lease fees go up, up and eventually away from most of us. I don’t know the time window but for sure in 20 years, the Texas hunting landscape will be radically different.

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

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

Don’t Believe Them

It is all BS. I truly do not care if my candidate hunts or fishes. Sure it would be wonderful if we had a true sportsman up there but most of the political class rarely venture beyond the pavement unless it is to play golf.

S I SAT DOWN TO WRITE MY June column, I heard a political radio advertisement. It was in support of one of the Republican candidates and to say it got me fired up is an understatement. I had planned to write something that complemented this issue’s feature on snakes but that will have to wait—at least until this burr is removed from my saddle. Over the next few months we will be hearing much in outdoors circles about how various politicans love hunters, fishermen and support the Second Amendment. Most of them are lying. Some of them are truthful but they are few and far between. The outdoors has always been used as a tool for politicians to reach voters in Texas and other states with a heavy hook and bullet crowd. And it has worked. We like to have people in office we think are one of us. For some reason we get excited about someone who gets in front of the cameras, puts on some blaze orange and goes pheasant hunting while they talk about preserving outdoor traditions. Yes, it is better than someone who is out and out against everything we are about, but we should not keep settling for the best poser of the bunch. For example, if anyone actually thought President Clinton was a diehard duck hunter while he was in Arkansas…well… maybe you need to go quail hunting with Vice President Dick Cheney. We’ve already had Ted Cruz duck hunting with the Duck Dynasty crew. Maybe next we’ll get Donald Trump hog hunting or Secretary Clinton shooting sporting clays.

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I DO HOWEVER CARE THAT they support the Second Amendment without any hesitations and believe in the soverginity of America. Right now those are two issues that are hanging by a thread with the death of Antonin Scalia, the most powerful conservative on the Supreme Court and the deciding vote. I have no doubt the next appointee will be anything but conservative and that we will see gun issues coming to the court in full force with a huge push to start banning certain kinds of weapons. If we have learned anything from the debacle of this year’s political season it is that at the national level the elite class are on the same page whether they are republican or democrat. The Democrat party left the Second Amendment believing, common sense America long ago and the Republicans are not far behind. There truly is a one party system in Washington with only a few rogue conservatives willing to stand out. And of course the Republican party does everything it can to destroy them. And they are destroying the very party they claim to love in the process. Ditto for the Democrat Party. When an avowed socialist makes a legitimate run for the party’s nomination you can tell it is not the party of JFK anymore. This election and this point in American history is very much about the Second Amendment. We are the closest to losing it that we have been ever in history and we must do whatever it takes to preserve it. Whichever candidate lines up with it will get my vote. Period. This is not political. This is America’s longterm survival. But we can’t just believe what these people say. We must hold their feet to the fire. Write

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in, call, begin social media campaigns and stay engaged in Second Amendment issues. And we need to start doing this on a local level. This is the area we can see the most positive change and gun issues usually start at the local level. Can you imagine living in Chicago for example and not being able to own a gun? The criminals have plenty of them but the average person there is crippled by insane gun laws. Staying involved in the local and state levels is crucial to your gun rights. The ship may have very well sailed nationally but we live in Texas. This state is the last great hope for freedom loving people and we need to keep our Texas attitude, embrace our history and stand for the Second Amendment. We have to be smart and fight it in the system. Our voices will drown out the elites if we are consistent, stay on track and don’t let the looney tunes steal the show. The last thing we need is violence from our side and inarticulate buffoons running around speaking for us. The media loves to pick them out of a crowd but we need to control the narrative, remain peaceful and never back down. Freedom sells. We need to let those who are on the fence on guns know this is a choice. We can own or not own a gun but we should not have anyone telling us that it is illegal to do so. The political class and the fat cats will be blowing hot air like never before in the coming months to forward their agenda of staying fat cats. Don’t’ believe them unless you have good reason and don’t let them gloss over the fact that America’s most unique and perhaps profound freedom, the right to keep and bear arms, hangs in the balance.

Email Chester Moore at cmoore@ﬁshgame.com

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

Loose Lips, Golden Tips

HE YOUNG BANK FISHERman was proficient. He carried proper tackle and used it well. He moved smoothly, hugging the shadows of the pond bank while fan casting to cover each station. I walked over and we started talking. We did not introduce ourselves. I told him I was new to that particular pond and asked several questions. He provided sensible answers. We were fishing last winter for the put-andtake rainbow trout in one of the urban lakes in Houston. We both were rigged with light spinning rods. He was casting a 1/8-ounce in-line Mepps spinner; I was chunking a 1/8-ounce Super Duper spoon. Both lures are proven winners on the small rainbows and our timing was good—about a week after the early-February stocking. But it wasn’t happening. Neither of us had a strike. He reeled up, hooked the spinner on his rod and prepared to leave. “Just one of those days,” he shrugged. “I’ll let you in on something, though. This little pond may not look like much, but it’s got some really big crappie in it. Not many, but some huge ones.” I filed that “intel” away and on a balmy afternoon several weeks later decided to gamble a 45-minute drive on my confidant’s tip. I walked the brushy banks, dabbling here and there around promising stickups. The spinning rod was rigged with a soft twist-tail crappie jig suspended about two feet below a slim cork. I worked the bank for about 30 minutes and fired total blanks. A nagging doubt began to muster; I mean, why would the guy unveil an off-the-radar hot spot to a total stranger? Most likely, he was jacking with me, seeing if I (unlike the presumed white perch) would

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take the bait. The chartreuse and white jig plopped alongside a “fishy” brush pile about five feet off the steep pine-littered bank. The cork disappeared in the determined slant that almost always means a good fish. The rod lifted smartly against startling weight and the surface flashed thickly of green and silver—a good bass, no doubt. Then I got a better look in the murky water. The fish was a world-class crappie. I almost fell off the bank. Crappies are not hard fighters but this one plowed in a tight circle near the tangle of stickups. Fearing a breakoff, I panicked and lifted harder, doubling the light rod and trying to derrick the protesting “slab” over the brush and onto the high bank. The gleaming crappie suspended for a moment, flapping and bucking in the sun, then the miserable little hook pulled free. The fish fell back with a lusty splash. It would be an exaggeration to claim that my curses wilted the dogwoods along the far bank, but I severely scorched the spring air. I glanced sheepishly around the park trails, grateful no young mothers and children were strolling nearby to suffer my meltdown. The slab was one of the largest I’ve ever hooked—if it took a deep breath it surely would have topped three pounds. The open mouth looked as wide as a beer can. I am of the opinion that a big white crappie with glaring eyes and flaring fins and glowing scales is among the most striking of all fish. This jumbo did nothing to dispel that opinion. I failed to draw another strike during the short session and left the urban pond before Houston’s beltway traffic became a seriously major issue. But I know what I lost, and I will return—with a sincere nod of thanks to my benefactor. The purpose of this account is not to admit to ham-handing a career crappie; rather, it is to point out that, now and then and for no apparent gain, an angler you’ve never seen before and most likely never will meet again may give you a golden tip. This is a remarkable contradiction to the typical hush-hush reaction. Secrecy, even jeal-

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ousy, runs rampant on lakes and bays, streams and ponds, inshore and offshore. The crush of competition is a real problem on public water. No doubt, some readers are thinking, whoa, you moron! Only a chump would spread the word to a stranger about a secret spot! I get this. Let me back up: I served on active duty on an aircraft carrier in the Navy and am well aware of the old expression, “Loose lips sink ships.” And, closer to home, loose lips can french fry secret spots. Most serious anglers tend to be reluctant, even evasive when discussing productive spots. Frankly, some salty guys deliberately mislead even with proven friends. For example, a big trout caught in upper East Galveston Bay somehow winds up in lower West Galveston Bay. That sort of blatant misdirection is going too far. I won’t outright lie, but on occasion I might be dodgy when pressed on specifics. This is a fairly normal reaction in playing cards and catching fish. So, to casually divulge privileged coordinates, or maybe a new technique, to an unknown person wielding a hungry fishing rod is a rash gesture. Yet, it happens. I do believe that a “fraternity of fishing” exists. And, under the right circumstances, you can quickly size up another angler. It’s not necessarily friendship. Perhaps it’s more an offering of respect, an appreciation that the other person plays the game the right way—that maybe they deserve a break. Granted, this can be a risky call. Either knowingly or accidentally, the recipient of the guarded information might muddy the water. So maybe I am a chump. But, giving or receiving, the nod might make you feel pretty good about fishing. If nothing else, it’s an uncommon gesture that you tend to remember.

Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

Jordan Farms

N LATE APRIL, I GOT WORD through a good friend that Lyle Jordan had passed away. The name won’t mean much to most of you, but the man meant a great deal to Texas waterfowl hunting— and to me. Jordan Farms was a sprawling expanse of rice and soybean and open fields south of I-10 a little closer to Katy than Brookshire. It was there, all over those acres, where I learned to hunt ducks and geese with some of the state’s earliest and best goose shooters.

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Jordan was among Texas’s first farmers, back in the late 1960s if memory serves, to recognize commercial value in the growing flocks of snow geese and swarms of ducks that took such keen interest in his crops. A few fellows from Houston, and then more and more, enjoyed shooting the big birds at dawn and still, if necessary, being able to muster for at least half an office day in the city. Into the 1970s, what started as a handful of guided hunts on weekends turned into a steady, seven-day operation through winter, and that bloomed into addition of groups of hunters who paid for the right to hunt “somewhere” each seasonal morning. That’s where I entered the picture, late in that decade, as a friend of a friend who plunked down a couple hundred bucks to be

part of a 10-person group—three of whom had any clue how to do what we all so eagerly wanted to do. Every winter morning, two hours before sunrise, most of us waited in the frigid parking lot outside Jordan’s storefront in town. G uides and group leaders met with our lessor inside the small room and huddled over a plywood “map” of the farm. Negotiation and discussion followed over who would hunt which numbered field. Washers were plunked onto the board, one by one, until everyone had a spot. There were arguments some mornings, especially over prime pintail flats on sunny days. Ultimately, however, the decision always rested with the man whose hands had worked those fields since he was a child.

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This was long enough ago that there were no full-bodied goose decoys. Nor were there cones or wind socks or anything else that looked much like a goose. Most of us still were shuttling diapers and bedsheet squares into the fields, and a wet hundred of those in a burlap sack is every bit as heavy and cumbersome as you can imagine. And, for the record, we did all this toting and dragging across sloppy ground without the aid of any ATV or even so much as a plastic sled. Just legs and backs, both of which were sore more than not during the season. If you were standing “here” and wanted something in the field over “there,” you lifted it up and carried it in—and out again, including hulls, preferably with a dozen or two geese on the opposite shoulder. We shot lead back then, too, and plenty of it, from modified barrels choked in the factory. Most of us chose pump guns, because the auto-loaders couldn’t take the grit and grime. Somewhere along the way, Jordan came across some heavy plastic that he cut into squares and tested on the sharp eyes of the snow geese. The material was white on one

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side and black on the reverse, which was about as ideal a coincidence as ever happened in outdoors gear. He had thousands of the rags sacked and ready, and he loaned them enthusiastically to anyone who needed them. And man, did they work. Occasionally, if the farm wasn’t too busy, Jordan would join us on a hunt and show up with a few extra bags of plastic. The bigger the spread back then, the better the snow geese, whitefronts and Canadas liked it. We all had calls and whistles around our necks, and most of us at least were adequately skilled to fool gray-feathered young geese. A couple of guys were groundbreakers, however. I wish I could positively identify the man who, somewhere on Jordan Farms, first blew a specially-tuned Olt T-20 predator call at a specklebelly. The sound, when yodeled just so, was irresistible to those brown birds. I’m not sure who blew those first notes, but I’m confident the gullible bird that heard them never heard another sound. At its peak, the Katy Prairie was winter home to more than a million waterfowl annually—along with hawks, bald eagles and

dozens more migratory species. Our average goose hunt was nearly three times the national average for geese, and the duck hunting was nothing short of stellar. Lyle Jordan may not have started it all, but he was there from those first thunderous volleys through the smattering of shots that occasionally are still fired over a few remaining duck ponds out that way. During the many years I hunted Jordan Farms, long before I guided anywhere for anyone, I learned a great deal from Lyle, his guides and my friends. If I were younger by a dozen or so years, I’d try to name the men who shared so many cold, wet, absolutely glorious mornings on that ground. Instead, I’ll just consider each of us descendants of a man who saw the Katy Prairie change from nothing but farmland into one of the continent’s most outstanding waterfowl wintering grounds—then into the unrecognizable sea of homes and businesses it is today. I’ll miss Lyle Jordan the same way I miss the Katy Prairie.

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

The Sportsman’s Foodplot Phenomenon

OTHING MAKES FOR MORE soulful, greasy, stimulating guitarlicks like adequate terra firma shrapnel twixt one’s ten digits of

doom. Allow me to translate for the adventure challenged linguistics amongst us- The more a guitarplayer works the Good Mother Earth, the more soulful his or her guitarplaying will be. Let me tell you all about it! I love music, pretty much all music, as long as it has spunk, funk, spirit, shimmy, energy, attitude, passion, groove and believability. But my favorite music in the world is my music because I write, sing and play killer music of the earth, down and dirty, instinctual, premeditated sonic bombast celebration of life, for God’s miraculous creation, His critters and wild places, The Great Spirit of the Wild, tooth, fang and claw, blood and guts, love and lust, no holds barred gut wrenching, gut piling, gut fondling, backstrap sizzling, snarling, sexy, physics of spirituality animal breeding soundtrack dance music from the depth of creation itself. Are you still with me here? Can you please bear with me as I call in an airstrike to all things status quo deerhunting? Now, mind you, nobody loves all things status quo deerhunting.com more than I do. I actually look to all the various, and dare I say brilliant outdoor publications and writings as my daily dose of SpiritWild bible-thump, as I, like most of you, am wonderfully addicted to the deerhunting lifestyle and dearly appreciate all the wisdom, opinions, ideas, thoughts, data, science and joys that glow from such pages and screens. That being said, I am, after all, the deerhunting guitar-guy, and I do believe that

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my channeling of our phenomenal outdoor lifestyle into my creative musical guitar life is not unlike everyone’s channeling their own outdoor joys into each individual’s life, lifestyle and passions overall. Joy in, joy out. So as we throttle headlong into another wonderful springtime and summertime with excited peeks into future calendar pages identifying all the thrilling anticipation for our upcoming opening days 2016, nothing says deerhunting springtime like the plunging of our mitts into the Good Mother Earth as we participate in the new year ritual of foodplot partying. And I do me partying! To me and all my hunting buddies, for many years now foodplots for wildlife have become as integral to our deerhunting lifestyle as the hunt itself. I remember way back in the roaring 1960s when I started planting handfuls of autumn olive seedlings in the national forests of northern Michigan where I did all my hunting. It seemed that whenever I had the best grouse, woodcock and rabbit action was when the best puckerbrush habitat was surrounded by red berry heavy autumn olives bushes. And the deer were always there too. So I improvised, adapted and upgraded to the best of my ability pursuing my own variation of little Johnny Appleseed of the forests. Then of course the foodplot craze exploded sometime in the early 1980s when landowners, biologists, botanists and hunters literally went crazy developing and planting custom food sources to enhance habitat and wildlife health. Not everybody can afford land, tractors, discs, plows, fertilizer, seeds and the sub-

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stantial time needed to groom expansive and expensive foodplots, but I literally created my original plots for many years with a borrowed 4 wheeler and a chain dragged old bedspring, hand sewing 19-19-19 fertilizer and feed mill bought bags of oats, wheat and rye on 1/4 acres of hand cleared openings in the woods. Those of us that work the ground know how special that aroma and touch are. My nostrils flare as I turn the ground, plowing, disking and broadcasting my various seeds every spring. When those first emerald green shoots begin to emerge, all that hard work is more than appreciated and celebrated knowing we are being good stewards and critter managers helping our beloved wildlife grow healthy and strong. No need to go into seed choice detail here as the world is loaded with every imaginable plot mixture best suited for your individual regions. All I know is that when I wrap up a dirty white boy farmer-Ted day and grab one of my amazing Gibson Byrdland guitars, dirty fingernails, sweaty brow and all, the screaming licks and pulsating, driving rhythms that erupt are a direct result of my down to earth deerhunting lifestyle. We should all salute and thank all American landowners, conservationists, hunting families, ranchers and farmers for the incredible effort and investment they make, dedicating millions of dollars and millions of acres across America just to benefit wildlife. God knows we deserve the reward of sacred backstraps for all our hard work and sacrifice. Happy springtime America! Now get out there and get dirty!

Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@ﬁshgame.com

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5/3/16 4:13 PM

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

AKE FALCON IS NOW ABOUT 22 feet below its conservation pool level. Choke Canyon Lake is more than 23 feet low. Lake Amistad, although much higher than it was a couple of years ago, still laps about 25 feet low. Other Texas lakes are also far below pool level, although few are suffering as much as these. Recent rains have made a big difference, but Texas lakes are still not out of the woods— and the lakes mentioned here continue to drop daily. Of all the problems we have, and Texas has a few, water maintains a constant spot at the top of the charts. Although the drought seems to have abated somewhat in some areas, it would be a mistake to think our water problems are over—far from it. No other natural resource is as contested, debated, and fought over. No other dilemma has as much impact on the entire population of the state. Few other commodities are taken for granted to the extent our water is. Few are as easily squandered. And no other asset is more essential to life. The water issue is certainly not new. Everyone needs water, and always has. The first towns in Texas, and most other places, for that matter, grew up near springs and lakes, and along rivers and creeks. Population centers still hover around readily available water sources to a large extent, perhaps as much out of convenience as necessity. Water has always played a major role in the lives of Texans, and although we still have fewer water-related issues than some states, the handwriting is on the wall. If we manage our water carefully Texas has a bright future. If we ignore the problem and expect it to solve itself we could be headed for disaster. One of the problems is that there is confusion over who owns the water in some areas, especially the ground water. The Union of

“ Few other commodities are taken for granted to the extent our water is.

“

Water the Stakes?

Concerned Scientists issued a report in 2011 stating that more than half of Texas’s water comes from underground aquifers, and that there is debate over who can legally tap those sources, and how the water can be used. The laws are, as yet, not set in stone, and water districts have been formed in many areas in an attempt to regulate water capture and usage. A main problem with the water districts, however, is a lack of understanding on the part of locals as to the purpose of the organizations. Many are opposed to such districts, thinking they might deny permission to drill water wells for agricultural use, new homestead construction, and livestock consump-

tion. The districts, however, are made up of local residents, themselves, and their purpose is typically to protect the water for those who live, work, farm, and ranch in those same areas. In other words, their goal is to keep the water from being sold and either hauled or piped to other parts of the state. The Hickory Underground Water Conservation District, for example, was formed during the 1990s for just such a purpose. The Hickory Underground Aquifer lies beneath McCulloch, Mason, and San Saba Counties, and spreads out slightly under Concho, Menard, and Kimble Counties. Were the Hickory Aquifer to dry up, it would T E X A S

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be difficult for the residents of the area, especially the three primary counties, to continue to live and operate there. The HUWCD was formed to help the local residents manage the aquifer, and to oppose the transfer of the water to municipalities lying outside the area, some of which had already bought water rights in McCulloch and Mason Counties. At the time there was no state regulation to prevent the aquifer from being drained for use elsewhere. Early on, the HUWCD was opposed by some local residents who were worried that, by joining the district, they were handing over their water rights to a government-type bureaucracy. They saw it as a cure which could potentially be worse than the disease. In fits and starts, the district was formed, accepted, and now is a useful tool helping to manage the groundwater in the Hickory Aquifer. As urban populations continue to grow, as new businesses are attracted from other states by the favorable political climate in Texas, and as, at times, the skies fail to provide rain; the Lone Star State will continue to face problems. The good news is that the Texas Water Development Board is on the case. The bad news is that there is no easy, quick fix for our water problems. Treated, recycled wastewater is already being used in many places, and TWDB officials expect its consumption to grow in the future. Desalination is an option, although the prohibitive expense has curtailed its implementation in the past. The lower the water levels drop, however, the less we worry about money. You can’t drink a hundreddollar bill; no matter how hard you try. The water issue isn’t going away, and a panacea isn’t likely to emerge anytime soon. For now we should all work on being more conservative with our H2O. And it never hurts to pray for rain.

G A M E ®

Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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5/3/16 4:15 PM

Is it Safe to Hunt and Fish on the Rio Grande Yet?

I HAVE TO ADMIT, I CRINGED A

gunpoint, beaten and antagonized for

little when I first read this assignment.

several hours by men with guns and

It centers on a controversial topic

knives. This happened in 2005 after

where the subject matter sometimes

they unknowingly walked into trouble

gets so badly twisted or blown out

at a cantina in small town down the

of proportion by the media or misin-

road from Sugar Lake, a bass-rich res-

formed individuals that things sound a

ervoir just 15 miles across border in

whole lot worse than they really are.

the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

Indeed, some bad and unfortunate

looking for trouble when it found

Texas/Mexico border over the years.

them. Instead, some of them admitted-

It often happens in “hot” areas located

ly let their guard down and ventured

in close proximity to small border

into places they shouldn’t have. Others

towns. In these areas warring drug

were simply victims of being in the

cartels sometimes square off in heated

wrong place at the right time.

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I’ve heard it said that the chances of falling into harm’s way in Mexico are

shed.

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None of these guys were actually

things have gone down along the

turf battles that usually end in blood-

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story by Matt Williams

Although it doesn’t happen very

no greater than in a big metropolitan

often, American anglers and hunters

city or suburb. Considering the esca-

have gotten into trouble on Mexican

lating crime rates in this country, cou-

soil or water more than once. I know

pled with the ongoing threat of folks

several of them personally.

strapping bombs to themselves, I can’t

Two were victims of on-the-water

help but agree. There are places in just

robberies on the Mexico side of Falcon

about every town in the US where you

Lake in 2010. The others were held at

just don’t go, especially if you’re alone.

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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I’ve made more than a dozen bass fishing trips to heavy-hitting Mexico lakes like El Salto, Bacarrac, Guerrero, Comedero, Mateos, Huites, Sugar and Oviachic over the years. As a result, I am occasionally asked whether I think it’s safe to make the trip. The answer is always the same. It’s strictly a personal decision, I never have a problem making provided I am traveling with a group of well-mannered people. It needs to be under the direction of a reputable outfitter who knows the ropes. He also needs to be in good standing with locals and government officials on the other side of the border. Something else I always take into consideration when heading to border lakes is the “mood” on the opposite side of the line. Would I have taken a rod and reel to a border lake such as Sugar or El Cuchillo during the height of the 2010-11 border wars?—probably not. Would I go now? —probably yes, if I felt comfortable about the set-up. Naturally, opinions differ depending on whom you talk to. Plenty of guys have way more experience fishing and hunting in Mexico than I do. I recently caught up with a few of them and asked them to share some thoughts and safety tips on fishing/hunting along the border.

Ray Hanselman, Amistad Fishing Guide Ray Hanselman is a veteran fishing/hunting guide from Del Rio who guided deer and dove hunters in Mexico for 15 years. He has been guiding on Lake Amistad for 23 years, and he has no problem heading south of the border to fish or hunt. “Probably 80 percent of my time fishing on Amistad has been spent in Mexico and I’ve never had an issue or heard of anybody else having an issue,” Hanselman said. “Not one time have I seen anything that looked remotely suspicious.” Hanselman advises researching the area you plan to visit and checking government travel bulletins for any heightened alerts. If you see or hear something that makes you skeptical about going, it might be wise to stay home. “If you are worried about it all the time,” he said, “you aren’t going to have a good time anyway. If you do go, it’s always best to go with a group of people. Tend to your own business and stay at the lodge. It’s also a good 20 |

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idea to stay out of the bars and leave the night life to somebody else.”

Charlie Haralson, Falcon/Amistad Fishing Guide Like Hanselman, Charlie Haralson has lived along the in border his entire life and has crossed over to hunt and fish dozens of times. But not all of those trips have turned out rosy. During the mid-2000s, Haralson was part of a group who went somewhere they shouldn’t have near Sugar Lake and endured a bad experience that none of them will soon forget. He learned a valuable lesson that day that he always relates to anyone contemplating a trip across the border. “Go fish and hunt, stay at the lodge and have a big time,” he said. “But whatever you do don’t go to town. I’ve been back to Sugar Lake several times and haven’t had any problems. You should always go in a group with somebody who has a history down there, has a good relationship with the people and knows do’s and don’ts. You should never attempt to go alone and always travel during the daytime—never at night.” Haralson added that it’s never a good idea to carry large sums of money. You should also make sure you have all the proper paperwork, including a passport and registration papers for your vehicle and boat. “You also want to make sure your vehicle and boat are ‘clean,’ meaning no old bullets, brass or firearms,” Haralson said. “It’s also a good idea to carry plenty of snacks, potato chips, bottled water and cases of soda to give to the local people or law enforcement officers should you get stopped along the way for some reason. Stuff we take for granted they don’t have over there. Being courteous goes a long way with those folks. If you’ve got a bad feeling about something, chances are you better not do it.”

James Bendele, Angler/Tackle Store Owner

“Do I think is safe for me personally— absolutely,” Bendele said. “Do I think it is safe for a guy traveling from Dallas with two kids who are scared of their own shadow? —maybe not. We’ve got thousands of man hours on Falcon the last few years and have never had a problem. I fish Sugar Lake all the time and I’ve been to El Cuchillo and never had a problem. “Do I occasionally see things that I don’t like or things that look suspicious, yes without a doubt. But it doesn’t really bother me personally. It’s a different country over there. Going into Mexico isn’t for everybody. If somebody has got reservations about going, it’s probably best that they stay on the Texas side.”

Col. Game Warden Craig Hunter, TPWD Col. Game Warden Craig Hunter is the director of law enforcement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He has extensive experience policing the border and plenty of inside information about what goes on down there. As a law enforcement veteran of 42 years, Hunter currently sees no problem wetting a hook or hunting along the Texas/Mexico border so long as you stay on the Texas side and stay alert to your surroundings. “We have no immediate safety concerns over our citizens hunting and fishing along the border,” Hunter said in an April 2016 e-mail. “I am referring to the US side of the border. We recommend using common sense and caution. Do not approach any person suspected of any illegal activity. If boating or fishing on border lakes, let someone know your plans.” Hunter was more apprehensive about giving his blessing in regard to crossing the border to hunt or fish. “We have had some concerns in the past,” he said. “Ultimately, it will be up to the individual person to determine if it’s worth the risk. To me personally, it’s not. If a person chooses to go, I would get detailed logistics and specifically ask about personal safety.”

Falcon Lake Tackle owner James Bendele has never been one to pull any punches when asked for his opinion on any topic. Not surprisingly, he got straight to the point when asked if he thinks it is safe to fish and hunt along the border.

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5/3/16 4:18 PM

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5/3/16 4:18 PM

Casting to Cunning Tripletails

ITH A LIMIT OF RED SNAPPERS already cooling in tthe fish box, we decid-

flotsam accumulates. Baitfish attempt to hide around the only cover they can find in the barren sea. Surface feeders, such as tripletails, dolphin and

ed to turn toward home. Perched high in his flying bridge, Captain Sammie Faulk watched with keen

cobia, lurk under such floating cover to ambush any straggling morsels they can catch.

eyes and years of experience for any shadows or activity near buoys or floating debris in tide lines. In tide lines, where two

“Let’s look over any buoys or floating structure we find on

layers of water mix, driftwood, floating weed patches and other

the way back,” the captain said. “It’s pretty common for dolphins

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5/3/16 4:20 PM

story and photos by John N. Felsher (mahi mahi) and tripletails to hang around floating driftwood, buoys or other debris.

The strategy worked. As the captain piloted the boat near a channel buoy, he spotted a shadow and some movement. With

“Except for oil platforms and a few channel buoys, there isn’t

polarized sunglasses cutting the summer glare, the shadow turned

much cover out here,” he said. “Platforms are fished pretty heav-

into a flat fish lurking under the buoy. One of the anglers grabbed

ily, so many fish hang around buoys or other structure. Bigger fish

a light rod, baited it with a cigar minnow chunk and tossed it

hang below the baitfish and feed on them. Sometimes, you might

toward the buoy. It slowly sank. Beneath the buoy, the dark cir-

find a piece of driftwood three feet long and see a couple of big

cular shadow darted out to inhale the morsel. The fish found itself

tripletails or a cobia around it.”

hooked, and the fight ensued.

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Looking something like a dark brown goggle-eye on bad steroids, the flattened sixpound fish sported one tail and two fins that closely simulated additional tail lobes, giving the fish its name. Ranging throughout all the warm water of the world, tripletails can exceed 30 pounds, but most range in the 5- to 15-pound class. Mrs. Eddie Porter landed the Lone Star lunker at 33.50 pounds from Matagorda Bay in June 1984. The world record, a 42-pound, 5-ounce fish, came from off South Africa in 1989. They are relatively small sized compared to other Gulf of Mexico fish and have a solitary nature, so Texas tripletails don’t often attract much attention. Most of the time, anglers ignore them as they race out to the rigs for snappers or troll for king mackerel and cobia. However, they do provide exciting action on occasion. In Texas, anglers can catch them all year long without limit or size restrictions, although the best fishing occurs from late spring through fall. “Tripletails occur all along the Texas coast,” said Paul Hammerschmidt, a marine biologist with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. “I’ve seen them from Aransas Bay to the Galveston area. Only a few people in Texas specifically target tripletails and know how to do it. Once people are hooked on tripletails, it’s a lot of fun. It just takes some skill to catch them.” Tripletails hide around pilings, jetties, buoys and floating debris. Occasionally, they hang around oil platform legs where they feed on crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans that hide among the barnacles. Snapper fishermen might catch a few of them around oil platforms, but most people hunt for them if they bother with them at all. Occasionally, they present unpredictable targets of opportunity. “Tripletails are kind of a ‘now you see them, now you don’t,’ fish,” explained Capt. Erik Rue, an offshore charter skipper. “About 99 percent of the ones we catch are seen first. Then, we cast to them and watch them eat the bait. When I’m targeting tripletails, I get in an area with a lot of floating debris and burn a lot of gasoline. It’s sight-fishing, almost like hunting. We have to see them before we can catch them.” Floating debris or matted grass provides the best cover for hiding tripletails. Appearing sluggish, they drift with floating cover up and down the coast. 24 |

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ABOVE: Tripletails, cobia and dolphin often feed near floating mats of sargassum grass, such as this one near an oilfield structure in the Gulf. BELOW: Tripletails sport a tail and two fins that

Rivers and ship channels prosimulate additional tail lobes, giving the ﬁsh its vide excellent hunting grounds name. for finding tripletails. Fertile OPPOSITE: A popping cork is tossed near a crab waters beyond river deltas trap buoy to target a tripletail lurking beneath it. spawn abundant plant growth, giving tripletails many places to junk fall into the water. These bits of flotsam hide in large mats of seaweed. The mouths of rivers and ship channels provide excellent cover for tripletails. Tripletails don’t necessarily need often carry floating debris out to sea, espelarge objects, cially just after high water. Moreover, sailors on ships navigating a channel may toss objects overboard. Winds also blow material off ships. Boxes, crates, lumber and other

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PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER

5/9/16 9:18 AM

such as huge grass lines or big buoys. Sometimes, they hide under even the smallest, most inconspicuous bits of flotsam. Sometimes, anglers might even catch tripletails hanging under something as small as a floating drink bottle. “When I’m specifically targeting tripletails, I hit every buoy and some of the smaller platforms,” Faulk explained. “I look under floating debris. Sometimes, I might see one or two, possibly four or more tripletails. Sometimes, we cast and they seem to disappear, but they are still there. Around a buoy, they are usually down below eating barnacles off the chain or buoy anchor. Sometimes when they disappear, drop a bait to the bottom and they’ll hit it.” Fortunately, tripletails don’t spook easily when people do see them. Not a heavily pressured fish, they tend to remain near cover. They might disappear for a while, but often re-emerge shortly in the same area. Polarized glasses enable anglers to see better past reflected glare. Having a spotter equipped with polarized glasses and perhaps binoculars high in a flying bridge helps put more tripletails on ice. Along a floating weed line, look for them almost the way a bass angler would work a shoreline. Scout along one edge for a while and then come back on the other side. Pay particular attention to anything unusual floating in the grass. Be ready to throw quickly at shadows. Frequently, tripletails hang just beneath the edges. If people throw lures at tripletails in a weed line and miss, they can usually come back a while later from another direction and catch them. After spotting tripletails, approach from upwind. Stalk them almost like a hunter, only using the wind to carry the boat near structure instead of human scent away from an animal. Watch tidal flow and wind direction. Don’t shut down the motor in a place where the wake might bounce against structure hiding tripletails. That could spook them. Usually, an idling motor doesn’t bother them, but watch how they react. If necessary and available, use a trolling motor to maneuver into position for a good cast. “In the spring and summer, when the sargassum drifts into the channels, people sight-fight for them around floating mats of vegetation,” Hammerschmidt said. “I like to use large shrimp on a free line fished under weed mats or floating debris. They eat a lot of

invertebrates, like shrimp and crabs.” Tripletails readily take many different kinds of natural baits including shrimp, pogies, squid, minnows, crabs or cut bait. They also smash several styles of artificial lures. They devour 1/4- to 1/2-ounce leadheads tipped with jigs, grubs or other soft plastics in a variety of colors. If they refuse to hit one bait or color, come back a while later and tempt them with a different bait or color. In grassy areas, anglers might want to throw silver or gold spoons. If tripletails feed on the surface, you might tempt them with small topwater baits, such as Spit’n Images, Zara Spook Juniors, Pop-Rs or small Chug Bugs. Tripletails also hit a variety of crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and other offerings. Bait placement matters more than selection for catching big tripletails. You may often enjoy several chances to bag a finicky fish, but make the first cast count. Throw the lure or bait past the fish and bring it right past the fish’s nose. Don’t throw right on top of it. “Tripletails hit just about anything when they are feeding,” Rue said. “I use a light leadhead to keep the bait close to the surface. A heavier bait might fall out of the strike zone too quickly. Occasionally, if they get finicky, I tip a jig with a piece of bait or even toss them a live bait. Tripletails are an excellent target for fly fishermen. They readily eat a fly tossed at them. That’s a lot of fun.” Often, tripletails either suck in baits as T E X A S

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they cross their noses or start following them. If one starts following the bait, let it fall. Frequently, tripletails follow a bait down. Once out of sight, they might attack it. Despite sluggish habits and a slothful appearance, a big tripletail can exhibit amazingly quick bursts of speed and lightning strikes. They are a tough fish built like a weight-lifting panfish, so they provide outstanding sport on light tackle. “They are a lot of fun to catch,” Rue said. “In open water, they generally jump and thrash on the surface, dive and run. They are a really wide fish and they use the leverage of their bodies to get away. They can burn off some line. They are tough fish to catch with hard mouths.” Many anglers cast for them with standard bass, speckled trout or redfish tackle. A medium action rod with 14- to 20-pound test should suffice for most tripletails. When targeting larger fish or casting near barnacleencrusted structure, anglers might opt for heavier tackle. A tripletail can easily ensnare tackle in line-slicing structure under a rig. People don’t need a huge boat to run 60 miles offshore to find tripletails. Most anglers catch them within 10 miles of the coast, although some anglers report catching tripletails more than 100 miles offshore. At times, tripletails penetrate quite far up bays and estuaries, wherever they can find deep, salty water. People can catch them from bay boats, even bass boats. “I’ve seen juvenile tripletails right up against docks,” Hammerschmidt said. “Larger tripletails are usually out in deeper water, not necessarily far offshore. They could be in the deeper channels.” Often, people blast out to the rigs for snapper, cobia and king mackerel, but they might pass some of the best, most exciting sport fishing available. Before heading home, try to put a few more fish on ice. Take a little time to look for shadows under floating debris or fins sticking out of the water. Look carefully around channel buoys, floating trash, grass or tide lines and keep a few light lines ready just in case. An excellent source of fresh fillets, tripletails add a delicious and abundant bonus to the catch of the day. Broiled, fried or grilled, the delicate white flesh makes sumptuous eating. After catching limits of snappers, cobia and king mackerel, spend the afternoon trying to get a piece of ’tail!

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5/9/16 9:18 AM

I FIRST SAW THE BIG KUDU

the tips were rubbed and jagged, miss-

while sitting in a blind, hunting other

ing a few inches of the ivory that had

game. It was a huge old beast, though

decorated his crown in his glory days.

near its last days. It hobbled along like

My guide, the owner of the ranch,

an old man with arthritis and bad feet.

looked at the old kudu and said: “We really should shoot that one. If we

I was later to discover that it had

don’t he’s going to die in the brush

good reason to hobble. Its hooves,

somewhere, and we’ll lose his horns.

usually covered in hard shells of black

Do you want him? If you will take him

keratin, were tattered and soft. The

and mount him, I’ll let you have him

hard outer shell had broken away, leav-

for nothing.”

ing all four feet uncovered to the quick.

I was shocked at the offer; Kudus

Imagine trying to walk with the skin

are worth a lot of money. I thought

removed from the soles of your feet

about it, hard. The rifle I had with

and you will begin to understand his

me—an old, but very nice Remington

plight. I can’t imagine how the old ras-

Model 722 in .300 Savage, shooting

cal managed to walk, at all. Each step

fairly soft 150-grain bullets—wasn’t

must have been agony.

really the medicine for such a large

It was obvious that he was on his

animal, even in such poor condition.

last legs. His backbone was sticking up

But the range was short and I was con-

several inches, his flanks were drawn,

fident that I could place the shot in the

and his ribs were showing. He prob-

right spot. I finally decided to take the

ably didn’t weigh 2/3 of what he had

old animal, but by then the kudu had

when he was in his prime. What had

vanished back into the brush.

not suffered and shrunk were his beautiful, majestic, spiral-shaped horns. Just

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“Well,” said my guide, “maybe we’ll see him again in a day or two.”

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5/3/16 4:21 PM

story by Steve LaMascus

The Texas-Africa Connection has revitalized a world of exotic game animals PICTURED: The author with an aged kudu he spared from a slow death in the brush.

PHOTO: STEVE LAMASCUS

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Todd Tate and his big aoudad, Old Number Nine. The Chihuahua desert of West Texas is home to a large, but spotty herd of aoudad.

Three days later I was back. This time I was armed with a custom-built Winchester Model 70 in the wildcat .30-338 Magnum, shooting 200-grain Nosler Partitions at nearly 3,000 feet per second. If the kudu showed up, I would have no doubts about my armament. We sat and we waited, then we waited some more. The sun was just kissing the western horizon when I saw the tips of a pair of spiral horns above the brush. They moved and they stopped and they waved and moved again. It was torture to sit there, hoping it was the big kudu and hoping it would come out of the brush before the day ended. Finally it did. The range was long for the light we had left, close to 200 yards, but through the bright Trijicon scope I could see the kudu clearly. I held the crosshairs a bit above the center of its chest, took my shooting breath, and began my trigger squeeze. The crosshairs were jumping with each beat of my heart, but they were on the spot when the trigger broke. At the shot the big bull dropped like he had been brained with an ax. I quickly chambered another round and put the crosshairs back on the still body, but it never moved. The 200-grain Partition had broken his back and exited, headed in the general direction of the sunset. His royal crown now decorates the wall of my den. We were driving around the ranch, looking for nothing in particular, just taking in the sights. It was hot, rough, rocky, cactus-covered country, but with cool, blue mountains in the distance. I was sitting in the front seat while my buddy, Todd Tate, was riding in the higher shooting seat in the back of the Jeep. We had just pulled up to a broken-down 28 |

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barbed wire fence where the road ended and a foot trail began. We intended to climb down to a point that overlooked a particularly scenic view. I had one foot out of the Jeep when our guide yelled: “Aoudad! Shoot it, shoot it!” I looked up to see a big aoudad ram, running as hard as it could diagonally across the hillside in front of us. Its shaggy mane was shaking with each motion, and it was leaving a contrail of dust in its wake. It was a sight to remember. I covered my ears just as Todd loosed the first round. Behind—not enough lead. I heard him work the bolt for the second shot. Blam! This time I heard the bullet strike and the ram slowed to a shambling walk. Todd again worked the bolt and fired. With the third shot the ram went down. We sat there a moment, trying to take in the frantic few, previous seconds. From our guide’s yell to the last shot couldn’t have been more than 10 seconds. Todd finally found his voice and quivering with excitement asked: “Is he a good one?” I looked through my binoculars and said, “Yeah. He looks like he’ll go 28 or 29 inches. He’s a good trophy.” We got out and headed over to the ram. The longer we walked, the bigger the ram looked. I had thought the shot was about 200 yards, but when we got 200 yards from the Jeep, the ram looked to be at least another hundred. The farther we walked, the calmer Todd became, but the more excited I got. Instead of 28 inches, this was a grand old ram with long, massive horns. Todd had never been around aoudads and still thought my first estimate was right. He was over his excitement of shooting the ram and was wondering why I was getting excited. When we finally got to the ram and I could put my shaking hands on his horns, I realized just how big he was. “Todd, he’s a monster!” I said. “You have the trophy of a lifetime here.” Much later, after it was measured by an official scorer, Todd got a letter telling him his ram was number nine in the records. Now Old Number Nine graces the wall of Todd’s

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den. Not only was it a grand trophy, it was a fantastic shot. With the ram running at more than 300 yards, he hit the ram perfectly with two out of three shots from his .30-06. Both of the above adventures took place in Texas. One in Southwest Texas not 30 miles from Del Rio, the other in West Texas on the bluffs of the Rio Grande west of Sanderson. Both were trophies that a hunter would be hard pressed to match in their native Africa, much less better. My kudu’s horns measured 50 inches, with about four inches broomed off the tips. Of course, Todd’s aoudad was one of a thousand. Today you can hunt animals in Texas that because of poaching, habitat encroachment, and poor game management are almost extinct in their native habitat. Blackbuck antelope, for instance, are scarce as hen’s teeth on the plains of India, but are a dime a dozen in Texas. Axis deer are another good example of such a species, as are nilgai, or blue bulls, also from India. There are also oryx, addax, sika deer, elk, red deer, fallow deer, ibex, and who knows what else. In addition, I will bet you dollars to yen that trophy aoudads are much more plentiful in Texas than they are in their native habitat of the desert mountains of North Africa. Some of these animals are terribly expensive to hunt. A trophy kudu, for example, will probably cost at least $15,000, but others are very reasonable. In some places black bucks, aoudads, and axis deer are so numerous they’re a nuisance. I was recently invited to help cull some aoudads on a Texas Hill Country ranch where they had become so numerous the herd had to be reduced for their own protection. So the next time you start thinking you want a safari in Africa, a shikar in India, or an elk hunt in Montana, check out what’s available in Texas and you may change your mind. Just one note: Be careful when you choose your outfitter. Most of these hunts are for wild animals in large pastures. The hunting is often difficult but rewarding. However, there are a few places that hunt on put-and-take type affairs. If you want a 50-inch kudu the owner buys a 50-inch kudu, puts it in a small escape-proof pasture, and takes you out to shoot the poor confused creature. Just be aware of this and check carefully before you book.

PHOTO: STEVE LAMASCUS

5/9/16 9:10 AM

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

KNOW THAT MOST OF THE READers here, right now, have nothing but fishing on their mind. After all, it IS summer and in most states, that is the primary outdoor activity this time of year. Fortunately, Texas is not one of those states. Although while a lot of outdoor’s men and women have a fishing pole in their hand in June, others have the urge to shoot their bow or rifle at any legal game they can hunt. I just happen to be one of the latter. For me, fishing is a pastime, and although I love to get out there and cast a line or two, I would rather be out there hunting something. I do not care if it is with my bow or rifle or a peashooter, if is open season on some game, then I am there. I am not alone… On a recent hunt with Chester Moore, he and I decided to try our luck at some whitetails and hogs. I was introduced to his good friend Josh Sloan. Now, I realize that first impressions are so very important, and after meeting Josh in the wee hours of the morning, I was convinced that we were going to have a good day. I was not wrong. Sunrise found us huddled in a blind that overlooked a fire -break. After Josh set me up with one of his rifles on a swivel stand, we sat back, and the three of us quietly waited for the action to begin. Now, with three people in a deer blind, the quiet does not last too long. Soon, the whispers began. We started by telling each other whitetail stories of the ones we killed and the ones that got away. If I remember correctly, it seems that there were many more tales of the ones that got away! We would tell a few lines and then look out the window of the blind to check on any deer movement. Convinced that nothing was moving, we continued the story. As any hunter knows, stories soon are accompanied with

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laughter. Have you ever tried to hold in a belly laugh, or be very quiet while you are bursting inside and your eyes are tearing up? I must admit, for me, it is not an easy thing to do, especially when Josh told the story! After sitting for about three hours, we finally caught some deer movement. Five nice does walked across our clear-cut as we patiently waited for a buck to follow. Unfortunately, no buck was with this group of does, but it did not matter at all to me. I had so much fun with the guys I was with, that shooting a deer might have proved to be a distraction. Well… maybe not! My point is that even though we did not have “lady luck” with us that morning, we still had a successful hunt.

Josh offered to bring us to his house to meet his family and enjoy the best chili this side of the Rio Grande. Believe me, he was not kidding. It was absolutely delicious and as we enjoyed our lunch, we discussed our plan to try for some hogs later in the day. That afternoon, just before 4pm, Josh took us to his hunting ground in search for hogs. After we walked through a wooded area, we finally arrived at our “honey hole.” However, our metal blind was sitting in a foot of water. One by one, we waded through the water and climbed up the metal ladder to the blind. That is when I found out that my waterproof T E X A S

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snakeskin boots were no longer waterproof. Oh well… looks like Academy is going to get my business again. Once we were secured in our blind with rifles at the ready, we quietly continued our conversations about previous hunts. The feeder was about 100 yards away, and I was convinced that this was hog heaven. It was only a matter of time before the action would begin. Unfortunately, time was not a luxury for us. As darkness blanketed our area, Josh would use a green night vision light every 10 minutes or so to see if any hogs came in to the feeder. We never did see a hog that night, although each of us at different times swore we heard one. That must happen to every hunter I know. Your mind persuades you that you only need to stay a few more minutes. You know you heard something just in the bush. Finally, we called it a night, shook hands and headed for a place to rest. My flight back home was the next afternoon, and I still had to pack. The good news was that at least I did not have to pack a cooler full of meat and lug it home. The bad news was that I did not have to pack a cooler full of meat and lug it home. I have said this before, but it is worth repeating. Too many people feel that if you are not successful in taking the game you seek, then the whole hunt was unsuccessful. I could not disagree more. A successful hunt doesn’t mean you come home with the game you sought, it simply means that you come home—safe. Bringing home some of the bounty is a bonus as far as I am concerned. I hope to have many more years to be able to hunt whitetails and pigs…and anything else that is in season, but the good company and the good memories may only happen once. I may never get the chance to hunt with Josh again, who knows? However, I hope I am wrong. He really was a blast to be around and I feel blessed to have met him and his family.

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HEN CRAPPIE go deep to escape temperature extremes, anglers sometimes need to spoon-feed finicky fish. In deep water, crappie might not chase baits far or aggressively, but they may hit something dangling in front of their noses. In addition, deeper water makes crappie difficult to catch with traditional live bait rigs. Therefore, anglers need something to get down to the fish quickly. Enter the chrome jigging spoon! “I’ve caught fish down to 40 feet,” said Jerry Blake, a crappie guide. “It takes a little bit of time to get bait down to that level and live bait becomes a little more difficult to use in really deep water. Vertical jigging with a small spoon is a great way to catch deep crappie.”

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Essentially, vertical jigging consists of positioning a boat over a likely spot and dropping a metal spoon into the water. Small, heavy and compact, a jigging spoon sinks to the bottom quickly. A spoon fluttering down resembles a dying shad or shiner, and a crappie likes nothing better than slurping shiners. Facets reflect sunlight and mimic the flash of baitfish scales, creating sparkles in clear water. Let a spoon flutter all the way to the bottom. Most of the time, fish hit on the fall. After the spoon hits bottom, bounce it off the bottom a foot or two, keeping it fluttering in the strike zone. Even in deep water, fish often look skyward because they can see prey silhouetted against the bright surface better than they can see something hiding near the dark bottom.

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Tempt Deep Water Crappie with Vertical Jigging story by John N. Felsher PHOTO:

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“Make a little flash by lifting it up and letting it drop,” Blake said. “Crappie look up and might come up two or three feet to ambush their prey. Ideally, we like to put baits right above their heads. Spoons are also good for casting.” When casting, attach a split ring to a barrel swivel to keep the spoon from twisting the line too much. Just like in vertical jigging, let the spoon flutter to the bottom after casting it. Retrieve it with a series of jerks and pauses, letting it drop a few feet with each pause. Sometimes, a fish follows a spoon, waiting for the time to strike. Spoons also make excellent tools for casting at schooling fish feeding on the surface. Experiment with different retrieves and drops. Sometimes, deep crappie become very finicky and

don’t want to see any movement at all. Just hold the rod as still as possible, only allowing the boat movement to make it twitch. “Often, it doesn’t take a whole lot of movement to make a fish bite,” said Darryl Morris, a crappie guide. “Sometimes, I jerk it up and down two or three times and then stop. Sometimes, the spoon twists on the line, and I just stop it and let it unwind. You keep the rod still, but the spoon twists and unwinds at the end.” Fish don’t always sit on the bottom. Although they’re usually found near brush piles, humps or other cover, crappie sometimes suspend in open water. Frequently, they suspend under baitfish schools, waiting for the proper time to attack or pick off wounded fish.

Jigging spoons can help attract ﬁnicky crappie in the deep, such as these two that young Alex Cochran caught.

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Knowledgeable anglers can detect baitfish schools on their depth finders. Some depth finders can actually detect a spoon jigging up and down in the water. You can watch as it descends to the proper depth and possibly watch as a fish approaches it. Not finding any action on the bottom? Experiment with different depths. Crank the reel handle two or three times to lift the spoon a few feet off the bottom and dangle it there. Keep moving up the water column, pausing every few feet. Some anglers mark their lines in intervals and count the marks as the lure sinks. Others slowly let sinking line slip through their fingers. They fish their spoons all the way down and count until something bites. Then, they drop the spoon back at the same rate and stop at the magic number. Most anglers use 1/8- to 3/4-ounce faceted chrome spoons because of their highly reflective properties in sunlight. Some anglers use gold, green or other colors. Try different sizes, colors retrieves and drops. When fish become extremely finicky, they might want a smaller bait that sinks more slowly. “Often, I use 1/4-ounce spoons for crappie,” Morris said. “Crappie feed with a very light bite in deep water so it’s very subtle. Sometimes, we use a 1/16-ounce jig, even down 25 or 30 feet when crappie are biting very subtly.” A jigging spoon works because it mimics a dying shiner and creates flash. Besides crappie, a vertically jigged spoon might catch largemouths, bream, catfish and just about anything that might eat a dying shad or shiner, and that includes just about everything that swims.

PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

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HE SWAMPS, MARSHES AND WATERWAYS OF Texas are loaded with snakes. In most cases, every dark-colored snake encountered in these realms is labeled a “water moccasin” or “cottonmouth.” In reality, the vast majority are

simply nonvenomous watersnakes or even other species such as the hognose snake. The water moccasin is the largest species of the genus Agkistrodon. Agkistrodon piscivorus, the water moccasin or cottonmouth, is a pit viper found in the southeastern United States. Adults are large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite. When antagonized, they will stand their ground by coiling their bodies and displaying their fangs. Although their aggression has been exaggerated, individuals may bite when feeling threatened or being handled. This is the world’s only semiaquatic viper, usually found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes, streams, and marshes. The snake is a strong swimmer and will even enter saltwater. It has successfully colonized islands off both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The generic name is derived from the Greek words ancistro (hooked) and odon (tooth), and the specific name comes from the Latin piscis (fish) and voro (to eat); thus, the scientific name translates into “hooked-tooth fish-eater.” The common names water moccasin and cottonmouth refer to the threat display, where this species will often stand its ground and gape at an intruder, exposing the white lining of its mouth.

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The broad head is distinct from the neck, and the snout is blunt in profile with the rim of the top of the head extending forward slightly further than the mouth. Juvenile and subadult specimens generally have a more contrasting color pattern, with dark crossbands on a lighter ground color. The ground color is then tan, brown or reddish brown. The tip of the tail is usually yellowish, becoming greenish yellow or greenish in subadults, and then black in adults. On some juveniles, the banding pattern can also be seen on the tail. This species is often confused with the copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix. The 36 |

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watersnakes of the genus Nerodia are also similar in appearance, being thick-bodied with large heads, but they have round pupils, no loreal pit, a single anal plate, and a distinctive overall color pattern. The fact is there are only four types of venomous snakes in all of North America. These are cottonmouths, copperheads, rattlesnakes and coral snakes. There are numerous varieties of each, but those are the types. In other words, everything else is nonvenomous. Included here are a few classic cottonmouth photos along with a few of the mimics out there to help you tell the difference when

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fishing on your favorite lake or squirrel hunting in that deep, dark creek bottom.

A TRUE COTTONMOUTH is not a snake to be toyed with. They can deliver a deadly bite of hemotoxic venom that destroys tissue. Unlike their reputation of being super dangerous, most cottonmouths simply prefer to be left alone. If you encounter one giving you the “cottonmouth,” consider yourself lucky. That is a warning before biting.

THE YELLOWBELLY watersnake, pictured here and with me on the PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

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previous page, looks a lot like a cottonmouth from the top view. As you can see its belly is yellow and has no pattern, unlike the cottonmouth. These snakes have extreme musking abilities and are usually the “moccasin” most people claim they can smell before seeing.

THE DIAMONDBACK water snake is the largest water snake in Texas, growing (confirmed) up to six feet long, but they might get even large according to some reports. These snakes are sometimes called “water rattlers” because of the diamond pattern on their back, but they are nonvenomous and have no rattles. They do, however, have lots of attitude. When cornered they may strike out and flatten their head. SNAKES can grow up 4 toHOGNOSE 2.5 feet long. When they are in the black phase like this one, they look a lot like a cottonmouth. These snakes will puff up their bodies and hiss. They will also flatten their heads out like this one is doing and will strike with their mouth closed and play dead. In fact, they are so adamant about convincing you they are dead, they will turn back over if you turn them right side up.

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snakes have round pupils. Cottonmouths such as this one have split pupils. That’s an easy way to tell whether the snake you are looking at is venomous or not. However, we don’t recommend getting that close.

GEORGE VAN HORN of Reptile World Serpentarium in Kissimmee, Florida extracts venom from a huge Florida cottonmouth. If you are ever in the Orlando area check his place out. We go every time and always learn something new. You can actually watch his venom extracting presentations, which are truly an amazing thing to see.

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA has a great table describing how to tell the difference between nonvenomous water snakes and cottonmouths. This is a great list of general guidelines. The characteristic I find most helpful is the thick and blocky head of cottonmouths. The other watersnakes have much thinner heads and will flatten them out when cornered.

WATER MOCASSIN OR WATER SNAKE?

CHARACTERISTIC

HARMLESS WATER SNAKE

VENOMOUS WATER MOCCASIN

Usually Found near water Body shape is... Body dark, often with bands? Rough-looking, keeled scales? Head shape is... Neck is... Dark facial band or eyestripe? Eye pupil type is Heat-sensing pits on face?

YES Slender YES YES Slender or Flattened Not Distinct MAYBE Round NO

YES Heavy YES YES Thick, Blocky Narrower than Head YES Vertical YES

Source: University of Florida PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE; TABLE, UNIV. OF FLORIDA

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

A Writer’s Heroes

NE OF THE GREAT PERKS I have as a writer is that I get to speak to students about my writing and my experience as a writer. Considering how the suits in Austin have completely mucked up the teaching of real writing in public schools, it looks like a daunting job to de-mystify the whole process. Here is one of the most common questions I encounter—“Who were your inspirations to become a writer.” That question is a respectable second, in fact, to “How do you come up with ideas about what to write?” It’s an interesting question, really, because there is no single answer. Each time I begin to answer, I discover that the list is a bit longer than before. Some of the names that have popped up, in fact, surprise me. A few are quite obvious. Then, a couple surprised even me. Some answers really go without much mention“—my parents, who always encouraged me to write and helped me believe that i could become a writer. There was my high school journalism teacher, Pat Meador, who taught me the tight, journalistic style that has served me well all these years. There were the editors that have given me the opportunity to be published, such as John Gregg, Jim Mathis (a Pulitzer Prize winner, no less), Bert Randolph Sugar, and, of course, Don Zaidle. Those are the obvious names. Mixed-in with these mentors and teachers, however, are a few more esoteric names that often require some explanation. I always feel that these people not only deserve mention, but should be. Ernest Hemingway: Beginning with The Old Man and the Sea and continuing through the Nick Adams short stories, Papa was the first writer to teach me that fishing

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wasn’t just a pastime with which I was totally obsessed. His writing, tapped into the tense anticipation of waiting for the bite. It piqued the anxious wonder at what is tugging at your bait below the surface. It evoked the spiritually restorative powers of standing in waist-deep water and waving a long stick. It reflected everything I felt as an angler and made me realize that, hey! others felt the same way. Even as a boy, I suddenly became aware of the vast fraternity of the angling community of which I was a member. He created the literary springboard that launched me into writing about fishing. Thanks, Papa! Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin: I have to include all three as one. I grew up watching their shows. Comedians might make jokes about fishing shows, but let’s face it: they’re fun, informative, and a better way to kill time than to watch reruns of “The Walking Dead.” I loved watching the three shows for such different reasons, and each reason is also what led to a different facet of my writing. Roland Martin’s technical prowess and facility at using a novel technique for a variety of species taught me about always thinking outside the box while fishing. That skill has helped me discover and write about different techniques. He could take a heady topic and make it clear and easy to understand, while not dumbing it down. You could tell he respected his audience, and always made sure not to insult them. His self-deprecation, which we all got to see in his blooper episodes, also taught me never, never to take myself too seriously. Some writers still do. Jimmy Houston was just a blast to watch. His sheer, unmitigated joy in just fishing is infectious. He’d get a thrill out of a twopound crappie as easily as he would out of a 10-pound bass. Even a buffalo fish or hardhead catfish was elevated to the level of something special when Jimmy hooked it. He loves fishing, truly loves it. On days when I start thinking that the fishing is a grind and I’d rather be doing something

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else, I remember Jimmy. Then it becomes fun again. Larry Dahlberg: I always loved Dahlberg’s show, The Hunt for Big Fish, first when it was a segment on ESPN, and later when it became a full-blown show. As I got to know Larry over the years, he became an inspiration for me because of his bottomless inquisitiveness. Larry never lets a question rest. He’ll examine it, worry it, turn it over, and shape it until he develops an answer or solution. It’s the very essence of outdoor writing to analyze and solve problems, because most of the techniques we use were originally solutions to a question or problem. It’s exciting and inspirational to see as well-traveled a fisherman as Dahlberg still seek out questions to answer. Stan Hansen: I’ve never had the privilege of meeting Hansen. I don’t even know if he fishes, but he’s one of my inspirations, all the same. “The Bad Man from Borger” is a professional wrestler, or rather a retired pro wrestler. When I was a boy, I wanted to be like Hansen. I was sickly until my high school years. He was this six-foot-three, 290-pound force of nature who would barrel into the arena at 100 miles an hour and wreak havoc. He never slowed down. It never mattered to me that pro wrestling is a pre-determined event—so are my favorite westerns—because it was what Hansen represented to me. He never took a step back or slowed down. He put his head down and stormed forward, regardless of pain or exhaustion. When I feel tired, or rotten, or I just don’t want to work, I remember the example he set for me when I was a boy. I remember the examples they all set for me.

Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

Wild Bill

It seems like an ocean of rough water has passed beneath the bridge, but it’s finally smooth sailing for Billy Ray Williams. My life-long mentor, confidant and fishing partner passed away on the eve of Easter 2016. Not surprisingly, Dad did it his way. He was sneaky about it, waiting patiently until his bride of 72 years and an army of family had left the bedroom before he checked out in the arms of his oldest daughter, Linda. He was 92. I wrote this story several years ago as a Father’s Day tribute to my Dad. Some may have read it before, but others may have not. It pretty much summarizes who he was—a kind, stand-up guy with a zest for adventure who always lived life to the fullest while he was able. RIP Dad, and tight lines to you.

ASUAL ACQUAINTANCES call him Bill. But his closest friends know him as “Wild Bill.” My dad earned that distinctive nickname, but nearly killed himself in the process. At 87, he doesn’t get around near as well as he once did. Even so, Wild Bill is still as tough as boot leather. Just ask and he’ll tell you. He’s the guy who took me hunting and fishing as a kid. The same one who taught me how to trim a horse’s hoof, shoot a shotgun and skin a cottontail. He’s the guy who constantly warned me about keeping the empty beer cans swept out of my pick-up bed at a time in my life when I honestly believed I was bulletproof. The same one who cautioned me to steer clear of girls who wore too much make-up, and always told me to treat every woman with respect. He’s the guy who spent hours helping me develop a round-house curve and knuckleball at a time when many didn’t realize the dangers of throwing too much junk at 11 years of age. The same one who stuffed a worn out catcher’s mitt with a greasy shop rag to muffle the sting of a fastball rather than buying a new one.

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He’s the guy with a passionate love for flying who claims to have spun a 450 Stearman 10,000 feet before pulling it out just above his parent’s front yard, all for the mere hell of it. The same one who once set a plane down in a wheat field between Dallas and Sweetwater after a strong headwind drained his fuel reserves prematurely, then finished the jag on tractor gas. He’s the guy who once owned a black stud named “Bullet” that would rear on its hind legs on command. The same one who grew up amid the Great Depression and worked fields with his siblings to raise cotton that sold for four cents a pound. He’s the guy who enlisted in the Navy in 1942, one year after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,400 servicemen and civilians. The same one who spent 3 1/2 years working as an electrician aboard the USS Fogg, a 306-foot Naval destroyer escort that carried him on six trips across the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans. He’s the guy who raced home on military leave in 1944, just so he could marry the woman he once relied on to shuffle love notes to another girl while he was in high school. The same one who called my mother his wife for 72 years. He’s the guy who worked for 23 years at an hourly wage as a troubleshooter for General Telephone and sold real estate and firewood on the side before hanging it up at 55. The same one who pinched his pennies and somehow managed to scrape together enough dough to build his family a mountain retreat on the side of a cliff in Red River, N.M., way back in the 1970s. He’s the guy who once owned a herd of cows so crazy and mean that they wouldn’t load without chasing him through the trailer and out the emergency hatch. The same one who sped his ‘68 Ford down the highway so fast that my Uncle Glenn couldn’t catch up to warn him that the load of hay stacked high in his pick-up bed was ablaze. He’s the guy who jumped at the opportunity to straddle my Texas Chopper, even though he could barely walk. The same one

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An old school ﬁsherman, the author’s father was always in the game for the meat rather than the fun.

who would have cranked it and taken off if given half the chance. I could go on and on with stories about my dad, but not all of them would be good. He lived through heart attacks, prostate cancer and multiple bouts with pneumonia and other respiratory problems. His rugged face bears at least a dozen scars from skin cancer removal. In 1980, he twisted the throttle too hard on my dirt bike and flipped it on solid rock. The blow to his tailbone was so hard it crushed two vertebrae in his spinal column. The doctors told him he may not ever be able to walk again. Obviously, they didn’t know Wild Bill very well. It took months of therapy, but Dad slowly got his legs back beneath him. Eventually, he was right back at it, doing all the risky things that had earned him a daredevil reputation. Wild Bill nearly met his match in 1986. He and my mother were vacationing in New Mexico when some neighbors invited him to ride along on horseback to deliver water to some Boy Scouts camped in the mountains. Dad was fast to accept—even quicker to PHOTO: MATT WILLIAMS

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make a full recovery. I was standing in the room the morning a physician told my mother he would never drive again, but Wild Bill refused to accept it. It took several years, but he gradually bounced back to a level nobody ever expected. Except him. •••

His wit as genuine as ever. His handshake firm as a vise. When the cowboy finally rode away, the world around him kept right on turning. Though he will be sorely missed by those closest to him, the legacy he left behind will live on for years to come. I’m proud to have called him my Dad.

WILD BILL WAS A FIGHTER WHO didn’t savvy the word “quit.” He was a warrior until the end.

Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

Wild Bill’s wife, Rita, snapped this photo of him and “Bullet” during the early stages of a love affair that lasted for nearly 3/4 of a century.

ask for the chance to mount the greenest gelding in the barn. While the water delivery went smoothly, the return trip turned sour when dad’s horse suddenly burst into a gallop down a rocky, mountain jeep trail and refused to stop. The other men found him around the bend, lying at the edge of the trail. He was unconscious and blood was trickling from his ear. Two hoof scars in the trail indicated the horse had stopped hard, throwing Dad into a head-on collision with a fir tree. Wild Bill doesn’t remember much about it, but he was taken by ambulance to Taos, then transferred to an intensive care unit in Santa Fe, roughly 800 miles from his home in Wylie, Texas. It was a rough time for our family, even rougher for Wild Bill. His brain swelled, demanding surgery to relieve the pressure. Some doctors believed he might not make it. And if he did, the long-term prognosis was rocky. And bumpy it was. After three months in Santa Fe, Wild Bill was flown to Dallas Baylor Hospital where he spent another two months tied in a hospital bed, haunting nurses and anyone else who passed through the door. I once found a butter knife hid beneath his bed pillow and asked what it was for. “If they tie me up again I’m cuttin’ myself loose and gettin’ the hell outta here,” he said. Doctors said his brain injuries were likely terminal and that he would probably never PHOTO: COURTESY MATT WILLIAMS

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On the Endagered List Not That Long Ago, Texas Alligators Now Require ‘Nuisance Control’ STORY BY CHESTER MOORE 42 |

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK

5/16/16 10:06 AM

NO ANIMAL SYMBOLIZES the marshes of coastal Texas better than the American alligator. Once an endangered species, the population rose enough to open a hunting season in 1984 and now thanks to solid management by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and private landowners, the alligator is doing wonderfully in the Lone Star State. In fact, with increasing development and economic activity in region, alligators and humans are having more encounters than

REPORT: NEWS 46 u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 46 u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

DEPT. OF 48 u TEXAS DEFENSE by Steve LaMasus and Dustin Ellermann

ever. Sometimes they find themselves in locations that pose a danger to themselves as well as people and that is where Gary Saurage comes in. Saurage, owner of Gator Country in Beaumont, is one of several nuisance alligator control officers in the state and often gets the call when an unwelcomed gator shows up. “We bring our team in and capture the gators and bring them back to Gator Country to

50 u TEXAS DEPT. OF CONSERVATION

by Will Leschper and Andi Cooper

54 u TEXAS COASTAL FORECAST

by Eddie Hernandez, Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Chris Martin, Mac Gable and Cal Gonzales

62 u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

72 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

be released alive. These nuisance gators can’t be released back into the wild so we put them in with our gators at the park to teach people about these amazing creatures,” Saurage said.

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Watching the alligators feed at Gator Country is an impressive sight. As you can see these two have not missed many meals.

Two years ago, the Gator Country crew meticulously pursued a 10 foot, 8-inch alligator at the Sunoco Plant in Nederland and brought it in alive. Pictured here are Gary and Janna Saurage and Arlie and Jessica Hammonds with that gator.

In 2015 a man (who reportedly entered the water knowing the gator was there at night) was tragically killed by an 11-foot alli44 |

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around humans. The last data I can find on gator numbers from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) showed 286,000 alligators in Jefferson, Liberty, and Orange counties. That was just before Hurricane Ike which killed man so it might be down from then but that is still a lot of alligators. This has resulted in a major increase in “nuisance” alligator calls to TPWD. And one of the major reasons for that is people feeding them. Feeding any wild predator is a bad idea. It gets them accustomed to people and often gets the animal killed. “Please don’t feed wild alligators. It could get them and maybe you in trouble,” Saurage said. He noted it is extremely important to teach people about the importance of alligators and other native wildlife. “Alligators are part of the natural order and are key to healthy wetlands. It can be really easy for the public to get a negative opinion of alligators because if you don’t understand them they look scary and sometimes get a bad rap. That is one reason I remain so passionate about the work we are doing with Gator Country and our Gator Rescue. We get to reach so many people with a true look at these amazing creatures,” he said. Gator Country is home to “Big Al”, a 13.5 foot, 1,000 pound alligator that has thrilled thousands of visitors at the facility. “Big Al is an icon. And we have ‘Kong’ a huge twelve footer and numerous other big alligators for people to see. These animals are hold and have survived in an extremely harsh environment. A gator like Big Al was alive during the period when poaching alligators was extremely common and there were little protection for them so for them to be alive today is a testament to an amazing species with great survival instinct,” Saurage said. Outsiders think of Texas oil fields and barren plains but down in the Southeast corner of the state swamps and marshes are the main habitat and in them lurk Texas-sized alligators. Visit www.gatorrescue.com. www.gatorrescue.com

gator in Adam’s Bayou in Orange. Normally a shy, reclusive animal, alligators are becoming increasingly comfortable

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The NATIONAL

Redﬁsh Classic Kicks Off in Texas THE ELITE REDFISH SERIES “REDfish Classic” held at the City of Orange Boat Ramp in April showed that Texas has what it takes when it comes to redfish and redfish anglers. Texan Clark Jordan weighed in a threeday total of 70 pounds for a big win. This was his second victory in as many classics, and he won handily. Second place Dwayne Eschette had a 65.40 bag. Third place was Kevin Broussard with 61.38 while Kevin Akin took fourth with 59.92 and Mark Sepe with 59.63 at fifth. Jordan won a $75,000 Yellowfin boat and $5,000 cash for

News of TEXAS

his efforts and set himself up as being the top angler on the Redfish Elite Series trail. A three-day total of 70 pounds is impressive when you consider that’s with a three fish limit here in Texas. Overall, the average redfish weighed at the event was 7.01 pounds, and the average weight per participant was 28.06 pounds. A total of 31 anglers weighed in 128 redfish weighing 897.91 pounds. The average angler catch was 4.13 fish and the live release weight was 127. In other words only one fish perished at or before the scales. Jordan’s winning bag of 70 pounds consisted of nine reds. That’s a nearly eightpound average and when you are talking about fish in the Texas slot limit of 20-28 inches those are huge.

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Wardens Aid in Houston Area Floods TEXAS GAME WARDENS HAVE BEEN busy responding to devastating floods that inundated a dozen southeast Texas counties over the last few days, conducting over 170 water rescues of individuals and families who were caught in the quickly rising waters. “The Texas game wardens’ knowledge of the waterways and back country areas have allowed them to quickly locate and rescue those who have been trapped by the floods,” said Texas Game Warden Maj. William Skeen. “Conditions out there have been difficult, but I’m very proud of the efforts by our game wardens,” he said. “They have saved many lives. Regardless of how dangerous it

BASS

KING MACKEREL

Elm Grove

Padre Island

Kassidy Ramirez caught two “awesome” bass in a private lake in Elm Grove.

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Richard Roussett caught this king mackerel in the surf at the Padre Island National Seashore, casting past the first bar with live whiting as bait. It was his first surf king. He was fishing with his brother, Robert Roussett, who took the photo.

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is, our men and women will stay engaged with local communities and state response efforts until this event is over.” Wardens were dispatched in all affected counties, including: Palo Pinto, Parker, Johnson, Harris, Waller, Austin, Montgomery, Grimes, Fayette, Colorado, Falls and Milam. In addition to water rescues, wardens conducted 78 evacuations, rescued 27 pets, performed 240 welfare checks and assisted in the recovery of one fatality in Waller County. For more than 100 years, Texas game wardens have provided professional law enforcement, search and rescue and water safety while working to conserve and protect our natural resources. Texas game wardens respond locally to natural disasters and also operate a statewide search and rescue team. Game wardens also work closely with the Texas Division of Emergency Management during large-scale disasters.

•••

WHITETAIL Newton County Thomas Reinholt, 12, shot this nice 10-point buck while hunting near Wiergate in Newton County. It was his ﬁrst deer.

NEWS PHOTO: DEBORAH WADE, © TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT

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Bruce Butler’s ShareLunker from Lake Alan Henry was 26 inches long, 21 inches in girth and weighed 13.13 pounds.

Alan Henry produces its ﬁrst Sharelunker in nine Years AFTER 4.5 MONTHS WITH NO entries into the Toyota ShareLunker program, Bruce Butler of Amarillo ended the dry spell with a 13.13-pound fish from Lake Alan Henry. Butler caught the season’s second ShareLunker about 4 p.m. April 13 from the reservoir southeast of Lubbock. It was 26 inches long and 21 inches in girth. No other details on the catch are available. ShareLunkers are no stranger to either Lake Alan Henry or Butler. In 2004 Butler caught ShareLunker 364, a 14.8-pounder, also from Alan Henry. That fish came during a spate of catches from the lake that saw it produce 22 ShareLunkers between 2004 and 2007. Lake Alan Henry is now tied with Sam Rayburn Reservoir for second place in the number of entries into the ShareLunker program, 26. Only Lake Fork, with 257, has produced more. T E X A S

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Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours. Anglers entering fish into the Toyota ShareLunker program receive a free replica of their fish, a certificate and ShareLunker clothing and are recognized at a banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. The person who catches the season’s largest entry will be named Angler of the Year and will receive a prize package from G. Loomis of a top-of-the-line rod, Shimano reel, PowerPro line and G. Loomis hat. If the Angler of the Year is a Texas resident, that person will also receive a lifetime Texas fishing license. ShareLunker catches can be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the season, by calling 903-681-0550. If poor cellphone service prevents use of the voice number, anglers can leave a phone number (including area code) at 888-784-0600. That number is also monitored 24/7 during the season. From staff reports

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TEXAS Dept. of

:: Self Defense :: Tactical :: Training Tips

by STEVE LAMASCUS and DUSTIN ELLERMANN

SpiderMan

THIS PIECE IS NOT ACTUALLY about Spider-Man. It is about something that one of the characters in the first SpiderMan movie said. Spidey was talking to his uncle and the uncle told him “With great power comes great responsibility.” At the time I thought nothing about that, other than to note that it was obviously true. Then later I began to cogitate on it more deeply and discovered that it had a very real and present application in our society today. When Texas began to issue concealed carry licenses, it returned to us what many of us believe is a basic American right—the right to carry a device by which we could protect ourselves and our loved ones from all those evil wolves that prey on the weaker members of society. I personally do not believe that any state

Actions THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A pistol’s shootability is the trigger. I’ve had many students who brought pistols to lessons that they chose just on caliber or size then found their pistol was difficult to shoot accurately because of the weight and action of the trigger. Revolver actions are simple to explain. Single actions are like the old cowboy hog legs that require the shooter to manually cock the hammer every shot. Modern revolvers are usually double action where you have the option of cocking the hammer every time for a lighter, shorter, and crisper trigger press. Or you can just pull the trigger and a longer heavi48 |

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:: Gear ever had the legal right to take away that right in the first place—regulate it, possibly, but never remove it. Not even if they were going to assign each one of us a police officer to be by our sides 24 hours a day to protect us. Since that is unlikely to happen, they have no reason and no right to deny us the ability to protect ourselves. That old saying that “when seconds count, the police are only minutes away,” is absolutely true. In more than 20 years in various law enforcement positions, I never once got to the scene of a crime in time to protect anyone. Think about that and then think about the fact that most cops can say the same thing, and you will begin to understand why you must be prepared to protect yourself and your family. Now, you have bought the handgun that you are going to carry, have practiced enough to pass the Texas concealed carry class. What do you do? Most people carry their handgun for a few weeks, find that it’s a terrible burden, and put it in the drawer beside the bed, to be taken

out only when they think they may need it. They may put it in the console or under the front seat of the car, so it will be handy, and some will lock it in the gun safe to keep it away from the kids. Sadly, every one of those things is dead wrong. The only way a gun is going to be there when you need it, is if it is on your hip almost every waking hour. As I sit writing this, I am on my own little place of 25 acres just outside the town of Brackettville. I am in my workshop, which is about 50 feet from my house. On my right hip is a Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chief’s Special. The first round up is a snake load, but the next four are +P hollow points. When I get up in the morning, one of the first things I do after I put on my pants is put a gun in the holster on my belt. Am I paranoid? No, I am not. I have seen enough of the evil in this world to know that the only way I can be prepared is to have protection at my side 24 hours a day. I don’t like carrying a gun. It is uncomfortable, makes me wear clothes that look

er pull cocks the hammer as you squeeze through. The heavier and longer double action pull makes it difficult to keep your sights aligned and often results in a miss. Yet in a defensive scenario the shooter will probably be forced to fire quickly in double action mode without ample time to cock the hammer. Double action revolvers have a simple operation when compared to a semiautomatic, but I usually recommend new shooters choose a handgun with an action

that is easier to shoot more accurately. This brings us past revolvers to semiautomatic pistols where there can be so many types of actions it can get confusing. With single action, semi automatic pistols such as the 1911, the hammer must be manually cocked for the gun to fire, however racking the slide will automatically cock the hammer. These guns are usually carried “cocked and locked” with the hammer back and safety on for quick defense. Then there are traditional double action pistols like most Sig Sauers, Berettas, or CZs that work just like a double action revolver where the trigger can have a longer heavier pull if it has been decocked, or have a lighter, shorter, crisp break in single action mode. Usually these guns are carried with the hammer decocked so your first trigger press will

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sloppy, and it pulls my pants down. I carry it because I understand that I cannot predict when I may need it. Neither can you. Now for the reason for the title of this story. If you are going to carry a gun, you have great power, the power of life and death. Because of that great power you have the responsibility to learn to use it properly. This is not something that is in our DNA. We have to be taught the proper use of a firearm and the proper times to use it. The Texas concealed carry class would be laughable if it weren’t so lacking. The truth is,

as I have said before and will say again, it is not and was never intended to be a training class, but only a test, and not a very good one at that. When you pass the test, unless you are an IPSC competitor or a retired law enforcement officer, you still need training. I beg you, carry the gun and get the training. There are many places in Texas where you can get the training you should have. I do not know most of them. I am familiar with Thunder Ranch near Kerrville and with Gunsite Academy in Arizona. Both of these are top notch training facilities. I am sure there are many others.

It is your responsibility to seek out this training and then—after you have been properly trained—to practice what you have been taught. So, when that once in a lifetime situation arises where you must use that gun that has been riding under your shirt all those years, you will be able to react properly, with the necessary degree of speed and skill.

preference—striker-fired. This is also the most popular action you will find on today’s modern handguns. This is your run of the mill Glock, S&W M&P, Springfield XD, and so on. Instead of a traditional exposed hammer, these pistols utilize an internal striker to fire and are charged when the slide is racked. They usually have no decocking mechanism which results in the same trigger pull every time. Most of the most popular models do not have a manual safety selector, but instead have several internal safeties along with trigger and grip safeties. This design

might make inexperienced shooters nervous about accidental discharges, however as long as you don’t pull the trigger they will not fire. Although the actions listed above were only the most popular styles of actions and there are several other variations, the important thing to remember is that the trigger action plays an important role in how well a shooter can use his firearm. Find what works for you best and train accordingly.

—Steve Lamascus

Single action pistols on the left, double action pistols on the right. S&W Shield striker ﬁred in the center.

have to pull through the 8-10 pounds of pressure. However your subsequent shots will be in single action mode. The only advantage that I see to the double-action semi-automatic is for safety purposes. With this action, you won’t have a negligent discharge under adrenaline stress when your finger applied too much pressure. However, if you are going to carry a firearm in this condition you must train twice as much since you have two different trigger pulls to master. Although there are other types of double action we could get into, we will ignore them in order to close with my personal

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—Dustin Ellerman

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TEXAS Dept. of :: Edited by WILL LESCHPER

Private Property

F THERE IS A DOWNSIDE TO hunting in the Lone Star State, it relates to access, with roughly 97 percent of lands resting in private hands. That being said, it’s hard to overlook public hunting locales in Texas—with nearly a million acres of territory accessible to anyone who buys a hunting license and a permit. Those areas hold a lot of game, too. Since 1987 the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s annual public hunting permit program has helped hunters across the state

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partake in less expensive outings for wildlife, including deer and birds to hogs and exotics. The program includes hundreds of thousands of acres across the state, with many good hunts not far from urban centers. If you’re looking to get far away from civilization, there are plenty of options as well. A valid hunting license and any necessary stamp endorsements are required to participate on public hunts, but the overall costs are much more reasonable than regular lease fees. This is a great way to introduce youngsters to the pursuits and to conservation in general. Justin Dreibelbis, Private Lands & Public Hunting Program Director with TPWD, said that hunting has become much more competitive in recent decades. In some

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cases, hunters are being priced right out of areas they previously hunted. “It is getting harder and harder to find an affordable place to hunt in a private lands state such as Texas,” Dreibelbis said. “Hunters pay for wildlife conservation in this country; and we, as a state game and fish agency, have an obligation to provide as many high-quality public hunting opportunities as we can, so that they can enjoy these areas with friends and family and pass their conservation values on to the next generation of hunters. “TPWD has offered drawn hunting opportunities on wildlife management areas and state parks for years and with our new online system (www2.tpwd.state.tx.us/ huntwild/hunt/public/public_hunt_draw-

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ing), it is easier than ever to take part in the program. This year we will draw nearly 5,000 special permits for a diverse group of hunts for species including everything from alligators on the Gulf Coast to desert bighorn sheep in the Trans-Pecos. Included in these drawings are eight youth-only hunt categories. Applications for these special permit hunts are only $3 per hunt and free for youth.” In addition, the annual public hunting

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permit (tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/ public/annual_public_hunting), which costs only $48, offers access to nearly 200 hunting areas, including large tracts located in wildlife management areas, and more than 100 dove and small-game areas leased from private landowners. In addition to regular hunts, there also are youth-only and youth-adult hunts for deer, waterfowl, doves, rabbits, squirrels and feral hogs, and youths 16 and younger may

access the public hunt areas free of charge when accompanied by a permitted adult. Another public-hunting angle is regular permit hunts, available for certain smallgame and waterfowl excursions. The regular permits are issued at hunt areas on a first-come, first-served basis, with a $20 fee charged for each one issued. However, the fees are waived for hunters 16 and younger when hunting under the supervision of an authorized adult who possesses a regular permit or an annual hunting permit. One opportunity targeted specifically at introducing novices is mentored hunting, with workshops at select state parks and wildlife management areas. Mentored hunting permits—which cost $25—are required for these workshops and are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The permits are valid for a specific public hunting unit and corresponding workshop dates, but they are great for introducing and educating beginning hunters and their mentors. Workshops are followed by a hunt on the specific area for doves, waterfowl or deer. CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 u

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Planning for Growth

OOK AROUND YOU, I’LL BET you notice more traffic, longer lines at the store, a new subdivision going in or another Starbucks opening soon. These are all signs of the greatest threat to fish and wildlife conservation— human population expansion and associated habitat loss. As our population grows, we need more space, more water, and more resources of all kinds. All of these resources come from somewhere, and the biggest losers are

wildlife and their habitats. Fortunately for the Lone Star State, its wildlife and its citizens, the leadership at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is fully aware of such stressors on the ecosystems upon which we all depend. In a bold move that has been years in the making, TPWD has allocated funds from

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Among the largest ways that TPWD attempts to provide hunting opportunities to the public is through its annual online-only drawings for everything from deer and antelope to turkeys and alligators. Thousands of hunters are chosen through random drawings for hunts, including those on wildlife management areas, state parks and private ranches. With application fees ranging from $3 to $10, these are a bargain. The drawn hunt permit fees if you are chosen, range from $80 (standard two- to three-day hunt) to $130 (extended four- to fiveday hunt), but when you consider you could pay more than 20 times that much just to lease some decent land for one gun, the value shines through. It also should be noted that youths between the ages of 8 and 16 may apply and hunt without paying an application or permit fee.

« Email Will Leschper at WillLeschperOutdoors@gmail.com

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We must have public spaces for wildlife to dwell and people to experience the natural world.

Grants for Hispanic Families

ITH THE HELP OF FORmer President George H.W. Bush, representatives of Texas and Florida, and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, the Vamos a Pescar Education Fund has announced the first grant donaF I S H

the state migratory bird stamp to be used to complete engineering for wetland restoration work on several wildlife management areas across the state. Ducks Unlimited will deliver the survey and design work to restore and enhance wetlands on Justin Hurst, Richland, Gus Engeling, Lower Neches and J.D. Murphree wildlife management areas. As wildlife gets squeezed by each new subdivision, these public lands and the habitat they provide become increasingly important. In addition to providing homes for waterfowl and other wildlife in a dwindling landscape, having places where the public can access wildlife is more and more critical each day. Big conservation accomplishments such as the recent acquisition of the Powderhorn Ranch and smaller successes like making new and better wetlands on public lands are steps on a path toward passing on a conservation legacy we can all be proud of. As things get more crowded and people spend more time with electronics than in the field, these investments in the public’s land become increasingly crucial. We must provide public spaces to connect people to the natural vs. the virtual, world. TPWD and DU are working toward that end, for Texans and for waterfowl. —by Andi Cooper

tions to organizations bringing conservation, education and fishing and boating experiences to Hispanic families. A total of $50,000 in grants was awarded in April during a ceremony at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station. Hispanics make up 17 percent of the U.S. population (54 million), and are projected to grow to 20 percent of the U.S. population by 2020, according to a news release from the Foundation. Out of 46 million total anglers, 3.3 million are Hispanic, representing only seven percent of all anglers in the United States, according to the release.

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

S ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION to the number of boats being dragged down the highway? From before dawn till late afternoon, even into the night, people are making tracks to their favorite destinations. And with good reason. First, summer vacation is here and parents can finally load the kiddos up and take the family for a nice saltwater getaway. That, coupled with the fact that the coastal bite is in full swing is what has everyone chomping at the bit for a piece of the action. Here on Sabine Lake, Texas’s northernmost estuary, things are heating up nicely. The redfish bite is on early with topwaters from

“

Here on Sabine, things are heating up nicely.

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Time For a Saltwater Getaway

Madame Johnson Bayou southward to Blue Buck Point. Switching to soft plastics once the hot June sun begins to penetrate should keep you in the action. Light colors such as glow and chartreuse rigged on 1/4 oz. lead heads work well. Throwing one rigged under a popping cork with about 20 inches of leader can also keep you in the game.

Pay special attention to areas where bait is present. Have your binocular handy and watch for gulls and terns working behind you.

Fish the perimeters a little deeper and slower for these bronze beauties. For trout, we spend a lot of time at the short rigs. Light winds and sandy green water usually equal nice boxes of trout. On calm days when the current is not too strong, the trolling motor is all you will need to stay on the fish. If it’s choppy, however, a rig hook or anchor (with plenty of rope) is necessary. Most of the time you can get by with a 1/4 oz. lead head but depending on the current and wind, you may need to go heavier. Mirrolures and Rat-L-Traps can also be real trout killers. Filling your live well with finger mullet and shad is never a bad idea either. Sometimes the fish get lockjaw when it comes to artificial baits as the water heats up in the summer months. Keep an eye on your sonar because a lot of times the trout will be in tight groups for protection. They will also hang out around unseen structure that could be several yards from the legs of the platform. For flounders, work the mouths of the bayous on the Louisiana side of the lake. Move down the bank keying on areas where there is Roseau cane. Also, work any small cuts or points thoroughly. Throw GULP swimming mullet or other curl tail grubs tipped with peeled fresh shrimp. Another good bet for flatties is the Causeway Bridge on the extreme south end of Pleasure Island. Both the Texas and Louisiana sides hold lots of nice flounders in June. Anchor on either side near the boat ramp and drag mud minnows or cut tail grubs tipped with shrimp.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: South Revetment Road (Pleasure Island) SPECIES: Trout, Reds, Flounder BAITS/LURES: Topwaters, soft plastics, live shrimp BEST TIMES: Early and late

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Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

Another Texas Summer

ET THERE BE NO DOUBT about it—June is SUMMER on the upper Texas Coast. Although temperatures are mild compared to late summer days, it will already be getting serious. Anglers need to exercise care in exposure to both the heat of the day and the rays of the sun. It is amazing how much cooler a boat cockpit can be when covered by an even a small canvas top. Sunscreens and specialized clothing designed to mitigate the effects of reflected sunlight off the water’s surface will be more important in later months, but June is none too early to begin the practice of using them seriously.

surf fish, even though they are not really edible because they fight harder than just about any other fish, of any size. Jacks will terrorize the baitfish of the area between the second and third bars off the beach, running through the packed masses of mullet like a mowing machine. The jacks scatter the mullet, maiming and mutilating them; and other fish from reds and sharks to big stingrays will be caught while seeking the easy pickings. Perhaps the most ominous feeling I ever had while surf fishing was when I was harnessed to a 12/0 shark rig one night while the drag first sounded a few tentative “clicks.” Then it screamed in agony as an unseen monster took off effortlessly with a big chunk of jackfish. Another such “run” on a 6/0 rig was even more impressive. I couldn’t raise the rod high enough to have someone attach the harness snaps to the reel lugs without a helper putting his shoulder under it. Not much time elapsed before the line was all gone, parting at the spool with a loud snap and leaving me on my

back in the (luckily) soft sand Yes, there are monsters in the summer surf, and even the ugliest of them all—the big stingray—will put a bend in your rod, a “kink” in your back – and food on the table. If fighting heavy waves and strong currents to hook a fish is not what you really came for, trout, rat reds, croakers, whiting, gafftop catfish, and smaller sharks are there to be enjoyed as both sport and food. I once barely missed capturing a big tripletail that was following a discarded water cooler floating to shore when my cast net line tangled on the throw—probably from too much excitement on my part—but I still enjoyed the sight of such a fish just off the beach. Out Gulf beaches are not as accessible to fishermen as they once were. Still, there are parts of Galveston and the beach across Sal Luis Pass, the beachfront piers and rock groins that offer the angler a chance to challenge the elements and the fish, one-on-one, that few other forms of our sport can equal. CONTINUED ON PAGE 57 u

For much the same reasons, this is a month when the best fishing begins early and late in the day, on overcast days, or even at night. An early summer morning spent wading the surf with schools of bait chasing speckled trout is an event worth remembering, but remember that the fishing cools off as the temperature heats up. Specks are not the only warm weather visitors to the surf. Everything from big sharks to tarpon might be encountered this month. In many years of long rod surfcasting I was gifted with at least seeing most of the more exotic species, and catching quite a few. I beached a 27-pound king mackerel in the June surf one summer while soaking a live mullet for bull reds. I watched my partner Dave Shaeffer do battle with a trophy class tarpon on similar gear another occasion. The big redfish will be more numerous toward the end of August most years, but some can be hooked all through the summer. Jack crevalle is one of my personal favorite T E X A S

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Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

Listen for the Sound of... No Sound

NOWING WHEN TO CHANGE your location or lure is one of the challenges anglers have. Last June I went to the south shore of West Matagorda Bay with Jeff Wiley and my wife, Janet. The 84 degree water was tinged brown from recent rains, and the tide was incoming. I fished the shoreline but did not find any fish, and Janet tried a bayou with the same non-productive results. Then she paddled her kayak about a half mile out into the bay while I continued to search for fish in the back waters. Jeff waded out into the bay fishing the surface with a MirrOlure Top Dog. He got a dozen blowups, but no hook ups. Janet found bait fish exploding in an effort to escape redfish, and she dropped a Chicken

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on a Chain Bass Assassin into those areas. She came back to the boat with two keeper reds, and said she had additional hits and hookups. Under these circumstances, Janet had the right approach, use a soft plastic and fish the guts out into the bay. On that day, we arrived at our fishing site well after sunrise and both the air and shallow water were getting warm. Long-time Matagorda fisherman, Eddie Vacek and I were talking about locating fish in June and he said, “When it is hot outside, those fish are on the shoreline very early in the morning and then they move out into the second or third gut in the bay. They will move back onto the shoreline in the evening when it cools down.” Wade fishermen will tell you the terrain

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in the bay varies continuously in depth, and these deep areas hold fish. It is also deeper in the bay than on the shoreline, and therefore, a little cooler. This is why Jeff and Janet had fish hitting their lures. But Janet was landing fish while Jeff was left with only blowups. Sometimes fish will attack, but not eat, topwater lures. That’s what happened to Jeff.

The Surf The sound of surf pounding the beach is welcome and tranquil for the casual beach walker, but for the surf fisher it is disappointing. Some surf fishermen and women like to wade out past the first, or even the second gut, because that’s where the action is. Unless you have a calm day, you are asking to be pounded like the beach. I lived on the beach for two years. Each morning, well before daylight, I went out on the deck and listened for the sound of…no sound—no surf bashing the sand. When the sea was so calm that I couldn’t hear waves, I put on my wading belt, picked up my rod, and walked over the dunes. Picture standing in waist deep water while the sun spreads yellow and orange light through the clouds to the east. Add shrimp, sardines, mullet, and menhaden blasting out of the water because they are being chased by trout, spanish mackerels, jack crevalles and other species. It’s worth getting out of bed early for; but when you add “fish on” to that scene, you are pretty close to nirvana. That’s great if you are catching a species of fish that you want, such as trout, redfish, or Spanish mackerel. At times, however, cutlassfish or ribbonfish, one- to three-foot-long, slender, silver fish with sharp teeth are in the area. If you are fishing with soft plastics or shrimp, you will usually come back with one half of your lure or bait bitten off. If you do hook a cutlassfish, just return it to the water because it is mostly bones with very little meat. Small sharks patrol the beach waters and will hit both artificial lures and live or dead shrimp (though they prefer bait fish).

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The minimum keeper size for sharks is 54 inches, and you usually do not catch sharks that big in the surf. To safely remove a small shark, carry a gripper and needle-nose pliers; grip the shark’s mouth and remove the hook using your pliers. Sometimes you get into gafftopsail catfish. Their dorsal and pectoral fins are poisonous, so again use the gripper and needle-nose pliers to remove the hook from the fish. Many people keep gafftopsail catfish, because they are good eating. June first is the opening of red snapper season in federal waters. The length of the season will be announced on the website www.gulfcouncil.org. In 2014 and 2015 the season was only 9 or 10 days. When you are fishing in the bays and your lure or location is not working, make a change. Pick the right days to fish the surf, and come prepared to remove fish safely.

THE BANK BITE MATAGORDA BEACH Matagorda has 22 miles of beach, and June usually has several calm days.

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Focus: GALVESTON t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53

If you fail to take advantage of the opportunity June offers, make plans for July!

THE BANK BITE

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, dead bait or live baitﬁsh caught in a cast net, the speciﬁcs depending on the quarry—but cast man-made offerings if that is your preference. BEST TIMES: June tides usually give good water movement coming in or going out. Mornings and evenings are beginning to be the best periods, along with nighttime.

LOCATION: The surf will “heat up” first in June, also passes leading to the Gulf. Piers, jetties, and rock groins are walkways to deeper water that even a long cast can reach. SPECIES: Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, croaker, whiting, shark, tarpon—the list is a long and exciting one.

When you drive on the beach use a four-wheel-drive vehicle, I have seen many people get stuck in their two-wheel-drive cars and trucks. Look for birds working close enough to cast to. Lots of shell on the beach indicates a cut through the sand bar. Places with current ﬂowing in and out of

Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

cuts often have predator ﬁsh cruising through in search of prey.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

5/16/16 10:06 AM

Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt. CHRIS MARTIN

Summer Slicks

VERYTHING IN LIFE SEEMS to be pretty much on a schedule. We always plan on Thanksgiving in November, Christmas in December, and taxes by mid-April. From the perspective of the fishing world, things are not that much different. Coastal anglers generally march to the beat of a schedule as well, knowing that winter months signal the need to begin to retrieve their lures much more slowly for cold-water trout, and that the arrival

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of springtime means they should begin to search for the birds that will start to work the pods of natural bait in the bays. Once Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, the next thing on a lot of coastal angler’s schedules is to begin scanning the water in search of that ever-noticeable smooth contrast in water surface texture commonly referred to by most of us as “slicks.” It’s not uncommon for savvy anglers to be able to smell a slick before they ever even see it, especially if you happen to be moving rapidly across the water in a fast moving boat. To know the aroma is to love it, and once you have smelled it, your nostrils will continue to detect its fragrance from that day forward— it smells just like freshly sliced watermelon on a hot summer day. It’s a scent that’s definitely recognizable by even the least-trained nose. It can often signify a last chance hope for anglers who may have had an otherwise unproductive day on the water. Be forewarned, however, as crab traps have been known to give-off a very similar aroma to that of the fish slick. So, always scan the immediate area for the presence of any crab traps that may be emitting this distinctive smell before you make what could be a futile commitment of time by anchoring your boat and performing a useless wade session. Everyone has their own opinion about why these slicks form on the surface of the water above the location of a predator fish. Some say that the slick forms after the predator fish catches and swallows its prey, then regurgitates, or burps, a bit as a result. Others claim that the oily substance forming the slick is body oil coming directly from the shrimp or mullet that just got eaten. Regardless of your thoughts on this, you can rest assured of one thing: Whenever you happen upon one of these slicks, fish (of some kind) are in the immediate area. It’s hard to tell exactly what kind of fish they may be —speckled trout, redfish, flounders, gafftops—or to know exactly what kind of prey they may have been feeding on. One

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thing is certain, however. You should take a little bit of time out of your day to set up a wade session in the immediate vicinity. This is especially true if the slick is very small in size, which indicates it formed just recently. Wind and weather conditions can alter your ability to detect a summer time slick. If you’re fishing on a day that has absolutely no wind, your ability to see a slick is almost impossible. On the other hand, if your day is accompanied by some rather stronger winds, then chances are great that whatever slicks do form are going to be rapidly torn apart by the force of the wind itself. Having a slight wind is best when you’re aggressively searching for slicks, as smaller ripples and waves provide you with just the right amount of contrast needed. Many anglers prefer to already be wading whenever they see the formation of a new slick. This way they can approach the slick stealthily, and won’t scare the fish. If you are lucky enough to already be wading when you spot a slick, try to position yourself upwind, if possible. More important to remember, however, is that the slick is going to be on the move just as soon as it begins to form. For this reason, pay close attention to what the tide is doing because slicks tend to move with the tidal movement. If you know which direction the slick is moving, you can determine where to pinpoint your casts over the fish that made the slick. However, just because you place your lure right where the fish is, doesn’t mean the fish is going to bite. There are no guarantees, so if you spend 15 minutes casting to a new slick with no results, cut your losses and move on to the next opportunity.

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

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Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

Losing Ourselves

F YOU ARE INCLINED TO THINK this article is about how to get yourself (unlost), then think again. There are no navigation tips here or special NAV apps for one’s cell phone Instead, this is an article about personal direction. I pulled up to the dock with a friend one day. We had been fishing reds in a special hole of his and had much success, and we were back at the dock plenty early. I noticed two other boats were back early as well and couldn’t help but notice they too had a great catching day. As is not unusual for me these days, the two boats belonged to two new guides I did not know and had just begun cleaning their client’s fish. They appeared to have an abundant box of trout. “Nice day” I said, “and it looks like you guys had a good day.” “Yes, we caught our limit and got an added bonus,” remarked one of the clients. “Ahh, you found some black drum” I quipped. “Not exactly.” He smiled and nodded to the guide. “Let’s just say we were well taken care of,” and laughed. Luckily for me my buddy was doing the cleaning of our reds as I had a sore shoulder from too many honey dooooes the day before (but I could reel in fish). I was getting the rods and boat ready for the road back home and was in a good position to observe. One of the boats had three clients and cleaned 20 trout the other had two clients and cleaned 15 trout from my count. Not being one to avoid a hornet’s nest, I decided to see whether they had been schooled in the new math being taught these days, or perhaps had used a dysfunctional calculator to multiply with. Then I remembered my sore shoulder and knew sticking my nose into another guide’s business especially with

clients around, was akin to threatening their first born child. I reluctantly just gave all the evil eye and decided to wait for a better opportunity to understand how these numbers might add up. As luck would have it, the two guides were gone faster than a toupee in a hurricane. Their clients were left holding the, ummm, evidence, so my opportunity had indeed arrived. “Say” I said, “you guys looked parched and we have a lot of cold water here. Would you like a cold drink?” “Wow,” two of the clients said, “we sure would!” Conversation ensued, and we got around to how the fishing day was with me in the lead. “Reds were hammering the mullet we had, but I couldn’t get any help catching them,” I said, jabbing my buddy as he continued to clean our fish. “He’s full of !@#$%^ !” he said. “He can’t hardly raise his shoulder. It’s so sore and look who is cleaning the fish. Nuff’ said” he boomed with a smile.

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“Well, you guys did well,” I said. “Seems like a lot of fish there for two fellows,” I hinted. “Yeah,” he said, “we’ve been out before with these guides, and the fishing has been slow, but today we got into the fish and quickly had our limit and decided to make up for the other no-fish trips we had with them. The guides were nice enough to let us keep their limit, that’s why it seems like we have so much, or maybe too much fish. I mean heck whose gonna miss the 10 more trout we kept? Besides, the guides told us it was mostly legal and if asked by anyone we were all just friends.” “Who’s gonna miss ‘em? Mostly legal? Just friends?” I said as I looked both of them in the eye not wavering. “Sir, you seem like a nice enough guy and I hope open to suggestion if not criticism. What you did was break the law. What you and they did was not mostly legal it was 110% illegal and ‘just friends’ sounds like something a cheating spouse would say to a faithful better half! “As for not missing, just say 10 trout,” I

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Forecast: ROCKPORT continued. “There are on any given day more than a hundred guide boats that leave the dock with paying clients on our middle to lower coast. If say 50 percent of those took 10 fish a day above the limit that’s 500 fish daily that would otherwise be healthy spawning and provide a sporting chance for other anglers.” “I think it’s a gray area that has to be proved,” he said, “and I am a law abiding citizen every day of my life, so me stepping up on the fence, so to speak, once or twice a year shouldn’t hurt anything.” “Oh indeed it does” I argued. “I think you can see if everyone who comes down here has this attitude the impact it would have on our fishing resources. I hope, if nothing else, a seed was planted for future thought and action.” The limit of any species is always met with heated debate, which usually falls into two camps—those who are fishing for a given species, and those who are trying to manage or protect the same. I have sat in these meetings and seldom if ever have the two sides agreed. It is a balancing act I dare say I would not want to mediate. The law is not ambiguous. It is pretty clear. It states “Each licensed or exempt angler in the boat is entitled to keep one daily bag limit, except on guided trips fishing trips, where the boat limit is equal to the daily bag limit multiplied by the number of licensed / exempt anglers on board, minus the guide and any deck hands employed by the guide”. Unfortunately this puts the onus on the game warden (whose job is hard enough), trying to enforce fish and wildlife laws as well as boating and trapping laws all the while protecting our natural resources. There are so many variables to this scenario it can melt your brain. My mother and father tried to teach me in these matters. It’s so very easy for one to lose his or her way. It is very subtle in the first offense and leads, we believe, to little harm, but then there is always the next time. Well, that red is only a 1/16th-inch undersized so we’ll just step on him and make him longer or how about dropping that red on its nose? After all it’s just ¼-inch oversized, and I’ve already used my tag. Or, having one’s limit in the box, then catching a bigger fish and simply throwing 60 |

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the smaller ones already on ice back in the water. This method is known as culling, but it’s okay the “back at the dock” limit was never exceeded. Or, fishing in closed / private areas. If no one knows, where’s the harm? These small currents we drift into can lead us into an ocean of these kinds of actions. Isn’t that what we all complain about in our current Government? The cracks in our laws (our armor) are filled with those seeking only to fill their own selfish wishes. These seemingly ever so small unscrupulous currents multiply, and the going gets easier as one descends until we are truly adrift with no bearings.” I wish I could say I’ve never broken the law or stepped up on the fence, but it would be a lie. What I have learned is it’s much easier to just refuse the selfish tendencies that seem to govern the majority of our daily lives than trying to navigate back home after finding we are indeed lost. • • • SO IT’S HOT, SO YOU SWEAT, SO you might be kinda odorous, when you come back from fishing the fishing can outweigh these little hindrances. The croaker bite is on, and piggys work well this time of year. For those up early the best times I’ve found, are from sunrise to about 9:30 a.m. For evening anglers, just as the sun hits the horizon is best. Be aware it gets dark in a hurry after the sun kisses the west skyline. COPANO BAY — Free-lined croaker on Lap Reef is good for keeper trout. This same reef early morning can produce some nice reds as well. Mission Bay is a good place for reds on the north shoreline as long as you know how to navigate it. I recommend shallow draft boats here especially on low tide. Cut mullet works well either free-lined or on a light Carolina rig. The deeper edges just off Newcomb Point are good for trout mid-day using live shrimp under a rattle cork. ARANSAS BAY — Paul’s Mott Reef is a good place for red and trout using a croaker on a light Carolina rig. The mouth of Turtle Bayou is a good place to drift across for trout

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using a free-lined croaker. Traylor Island is holding some trout with new penny-colored soft plastics a good choice. Work this area with a good drift wind or a trolling motor for best results.

ST. CHARLES BAY — Still a few black drum may be found close in Cavasso Creek, with peeled shrimp on a very light Carolina rig the bait of choice. Cut mullet on a fish finder rig at the mouth of Little Devil’s Bayou is a good place in early morning for reds. Cut menhaden on a Carolina rig works well for some keeper reds in East Pocket on high tide. CARLOS BAY — Cedar Reef is still a good choice for reds using fresh cut mullet free lined or on a very light Carolina rig. Carlos Dugout has some trout in the deeper water with croaker free lined as the best bait choice. MESQUITE BAY — The North shoreline of Brays Cove is good for a few flounders and reds using free-lined live shrimp. The mouth of Cedar Bayou is good for trout using a croaker on a light Carolina rig. The area just off Roddy Island is a good place for gafftops using squid or frozen shrimp. A light fish finder rig works well here. AYERS BAY — The shoreline of Rattlesnake Island is good for sheepshead and some black drum using frozen shrimp or cut squid on a light Carolina rig. Second Chain has some keeper reds using finger mullet free-lined.

THE BANK BITE THE AIRPORT SHORELINE off Copano Bay is a good wade with croakers for trout and reds. The key to this area is to wade far enough out that you can ﬁsh 360 degrees. For those bank-bound, long casts with a medium heavy Carolina rig using cut mullet or menhaden work well.

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

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Coastal Focus: LOWER COAST :: by Saltwater Editor CALIXTO GONZALES

A Touch of Pink

HEN PREVAILING WINDS begin blowing out of the southeast and help smooth out near-gulf waters, every angler’s attention should turn to the school of rock, as in the rocky jetties that bookend the passes up and down the South Texas Coast. Fishing the jetties in early summer isn’t a journey for just dinky whiting and skinny sand trout. Some of the most underrated summer fishing in South Texas takes place along either side of the Brazos Santiago jetties that bookend the pass by the same name which feeds in and out of Lower Laguna Madre. These jetties systems, which were lengthened and reinforced in late 2012, are accessible from land—the north jetties from South Padre Island, and the south jetties from Brownsville via SH 4, and then turning left onto Brazos Island (known locally as Boca Chica Beach). They offer excellent fishing for everything from the 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 are speckled trout and redfish. Both can be caught from the jetties on the same trip. However, different techniques are called for. Speckled trout will be usually holding closer to the rocks and patrolling up and down the gut that runs parallel to the jetties. This is especially true on the north jetties, where 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 be prowling the surf away from the jetties and in the guts that intersect them. Late summer and fall are better times for surf-run redfish, but there are some decent

numbers sniffing around in the suds. An incoming tide and soft southeast breezes that send clean water in from the Gulf, lay swells down make 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 snappers, which almost become a nuisance with their abundance. The problem is, everything loves to eat shrimp, including the countless bait thieves that live in and around the rocks. On a really bad day, these little nibblers can leave you with an empty bait bucket and talking to yourself. Fortunately, live bait isn’t necessary. A box filled with chugging topwaters such as theMirrolure Poppa Dawg or PRADCO’s Heddon Pop’R, 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 1/8 ounce jigheads is perfect to keep you mobile. I 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 if there are redfish. It doesn’t hurt to keep a few wire leaders in your tackle box. This time of year, there are schools of Spanish mackerel and some small bluefish that start to maraud around the surf side of the jetties. They aren’t discriminating, and can clean you out of tackle in a hurry. 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.They offer some gillrattling jumps for your thrills. The question always comes up about the T E X A S

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sort of tackle needed for the jetties. Honestly, 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. It gives you a little more power in reserve if Mr. Big comes calling. If you are feeling a little ambitious, walk all the way to the end of the jetties to take a shot at a kingfish or tarpon. Tarpon prowl the currents and eddies on the channel side of the jetties when the tide is running. Mullet imitators such as a large Rapala, Bomber Long A, or Money Mino are the best bets to get a poon’s attention. Fly fishermen can use a large Tarpon Bunny or Chicken Feathertype fly on an 8- or 9-weight fly rod. Calm days bring blue water right up into the rocks, and kingfish follow bait into casting range. Use a Magnum Rat-L-Trap in Chrome/blue or a fresh ribbonfish on a classic kingfish rig. Large menhaden (pogies) are best if you can get some that are fresh. Upgrade to a surf rod and high-capacity reel. Back in June of this year, I hooked into something that nailed my Pencil Popper and stripped my Penn 9500 SS of 400 yards of braid just like that. As far as I know, whatever it was is halfway to Yucatan. You never know what my show up and turn your June into a month to remember.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Dolphin Cove SPECIES: Panﬁsh, sheepshead. TECHNIQUES: Live or fresh dead shrimp. Fish near the rocks with a ﬂoat rig for sheepies, further out in the deeper water for drum.

G A M E ®

Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Saltwater: n Upper Coast n Mid Coast n Lower Coast Freshwater: n Piney Woods

Freshwater: n Prairies & Lakes n Panhandle n Big Bend n Hill Country n South Texas

UPPER COAST

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.

Reefs, Bayous, Lakes & Jetties by TOM BEHRENS

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows and Sand Shads in Black Magic, Chicken on a Chain, or Tequila Rocks colors CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal www.matagordaﬁshing TIPS: Look for slicks or bait action. Some trout could be on the outer beds. LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Little Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 27.5209, W 94 42.3989 (29.4587, -94.7067)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Ronnie Scheck 713-906-2137 specksunlimited@gmail crystalbeachﬁshing J U N E

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LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Deep Reef GPS: N 29 31.863, W 94 39.093 (29.5311, -94.6516)

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TIPS: Scheck is ﬁshing about 6 feet deep over the reef, using a live croaker. The trout will take a larger croaker, but his favorite is the smaller croaker.

LOCATION: Carancahua Bay HOTSPOT: Pipeline GPS: N 28 42.600 W 96 23.816 (28.71, -96.396933)

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crystalbeachﬁshing TIPS: He describes the clear bead as kind of diamond cut and the other bead as orange in color. The beads tend to give a little ﬂash so the trout can see them.

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 28.92, W 94 43.6559 (29.4820, -94.7276)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Ronnie Scheck 713-906-2137 specksunlimited@gmail crystalbeachﬁshing TIPS: I use a wide gap, #4, croaker circle hook, said Scheck. No weight, a clear and an orange bead tied straight to the braid line, freelining the croaker…just hook, beads and croaker. LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Richards Reef GPS: N 29 31.429, W 94 45.3229 (29.5238, -94.7554)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Ronnie Scheck 713-906-2137 specksunlimited@gmail |

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Ronnie Scheck 713-906-2137 specksunlimited@gmail crystalbeachﬁshing TIPS: A lot of the time we will just drag the croaker behind the boat in a controlled drift, bumping the croaker off the bottom. Capt. Scheck LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Siever’s Cut GPS: N 29 26.074, W 94 42.6919 (29.4346, -94.7115)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Ronnie Scheck 713-906-2137 specksunlimited@gmail crystalbeachfishing TIPS: At times Scheck fishes the shoreline up toward the channel, past Siever’s Cut. We cast the croaker and throw it up against the rock. It’s about 7 feet deep here. Lots of redfish and trout usually in there. LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N 28 29.650

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FISHING HOTSPOTS W 96 13.565 (28.494167, -96.226083)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Skitter Walk or She Dogs in pink CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal www.matagordaﬁshing TIPS: Start the day wading and throwing topwaters along the south shoreline. “Pink seems to be the top color at this time of the year.” —Capt. Tommy Countz LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Island Reefs GPS: N 29 45.106 W 93 53.307 (29.751767, -93.88845)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Skitter Walk and She Dogs in black/ chartreuse and pink/silver colors; Zoom Flukes and H&H Cocahoe Minnows in glow or glow/chartreuse CONTACT: Capt. Eddie Hernandez 409-721-5467, 409-673-3100 www.goldenhookguide TIPS: Fish the topwaters early until the sun begins to permeate the water, and then switch off to soft plastics. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Jetty GPS: N 29 39.708 W 93 49.544 (29.6618, -93.825733)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Skitter Walk and She Dogs in black/ chartreuse and pink/silver colors; Zoom Flukes and

H&H Cocahoe Minnows in glow or glow/chartreuse CONTACT: Capt. Eddie Hernandez 409-721-5467, 409-673-3100 www.goldenhookguide TIPS: Hernandez says the Skitter Walk is probably his favorite topwater lure: “…mainly because it’s easy to ‘walk’. It walks the dog in a real tight pattern.” LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoals GPS: N 28 33.028 W 96 18.081 (28.550467, -96.30135)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a MidCoast popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal www.matagordaﬁshing TIPS: Countz likes the 4-inch cork with ¾ ounce swivel sinker. “They have a lot of big beads that make a rattling sound.” —Capt. Tommy Countz LOCATION: Matagorda Jetties HOTSPOT: South Jetty GPS: N 28 25.053 W 96 19.380 (28.41755, -96.323)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a MidCoast popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal www.matagordaﬁshing TIPS: “Normally I’m looking for slicks popping and also bait activity. If there is some bird activity, that’s a plus.” —Capt. Tommy Countz

MIDDLE COAST

Port A Specks Under Quarantine by TOM BEHRENS

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LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Oyster Lake F I S H

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LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Outside of Traylor Island GPS: N 27 56.688, W 97 4.4639 (27.9448, -97.0744)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Freelining with live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal www.matagordaﬁshing TIPS: “Last year we had some great ﬁsh while free shrimping along the jetties early June, but you will need calm conditions.” —Capt. Tommy Countz

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GPS: N 28 36.900 W 96 10.998 (28.615, -96.1833)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with Gulp CONTACT: Capt. James Sabo 361-726-5255 tailsupguideservice TIPS: Capt. Sabo likes fishing for redfish on the flats, free lining croaker in 3 to 5 feet of water, rigging with a swivel about 3 feet away from a 5/0 croaker hook, using a 30 lb. monofilament leader. LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: St. Joe’s Island GPS: N 28 0.7279, W 96 58.365 (28.0121, -96.9728) G A M E ®

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live or dead bait CONTACT: Capt. James Sabo 361-726-5255 tailsupguideservice TIPS: Capt. Sabo uses either 3/4 or 1/2 oz. weight to keep the bait on the bottom in shallow water. Birds will try to pick up the bait if you can’t keep it on the bottom.. LOCATION: Redﬁsh Bay HOTSPOT: Flats GPS: N 27 51.1039, W 97 9.352 (27.8517, -97.1559)

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LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Quarantine Shoreline GPS: N 27 54.733, W 97 03.502 (27.912217, -97.058367)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Freeline live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo www.texasﬁshingguides.org/bigm TIPS: In June, Engel switches exclusively to live croaker as bait of choice for speckled trout. “Baitﬁsh become so numerous as the water warms up, they will strip a live shrimp off a hook in 10 seconds.” – Capt. Marvin Engel LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Mud Island GPS: N 27 56.380, W 97 00.763 (27.939667, -97.012717)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live or dead bait CONTACT: Capt. James Sabo 361-726-5255 tailsupguideservice TIPS: Sight fish for the redfish on the flats in the shallow, grassy water areas. LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Traylor Island GPS: N 27 56.610, W 97 04.263 (27.9435, -97.07105)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo www.texasﬁshingguides.org/bigm BEST BAITS: Freeline live croaker TIPS: Capt. Engel’s freeline rigging: 4/0 croaker hook, 2 foot shock leader made up using 30 lb. test Berkley Trilene, clear color

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Freeline live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo www.texasﬁshingguides.org/bigm TIPS: Pop your line about every 15-20 seconds, reel 2-3 cranks to get slack out of the line. LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: East Flats GPS: N 27 48.991, W 97 07.139 (27.816517, -97.118983)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Freeline live pin perch or cut mullet CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo www.texasfishingguides.org/bigm TIPS: Hook the pin perch under the anal fin, the same way as if you were using croaker for trout. LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Dagger Flats GPS: N 27 49.754, W 97 10.610 (27.829233, -97.176833)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Freeline live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo www.texasﬁshingguides.org/bigm TIPS: Hook the croaker right above the anal ﬁn so he can swim around naturally, won’t be upside down or sideways in the water. LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Super Flats GPS: N 27 54.669, W 97 02.196 (27.91115, -97.0366)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Freeline live pin perch or cut mullet CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo www.texasfishingguides.org/bigm TIPS: If the wind is blowing hard and the trout water is muddy, switch off to fishing water, 1-3 feet deep in one of the flats areas. LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Harbor Island Flats GPS: N 27 52.035, W 97 04.749 (27.86725, -97.07915)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Freeline live pin perch or cut mullet CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo www.texasfishingguides.org/bigm TIPS: Give a spot about 20-25 minutes to produce fish, giving enough time for the redfish to find the bait

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captainjohnlittle@sbcglobal www.facebook /captjohnlittle TIPS: Little likes to throw live croaker along the Tide Gauge Bar, and to the guts and the reefs, early in the morning for big trout.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captainjohnlittle@sbcglobal www.facebook /captjohnlittle TIPS: Sometimes the trout will be hitting right as the sun is coming up. Other times it takes a little while till about 8:15, 8:30 a.m. Capt. Little

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Outside Dagger GPS: N 27 50.217, W 97 09.967 (27.83695, -97.166117)

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Center Reef GPS: N 27 16.138, W 97 34.704 (27.2690, -97.5784)

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Badlands GPS: N 27 18.447, W 97 25.993 (27.3075, -97.4332)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Freeline live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo www.texasﬁshingguides.org/bigm TIPS: A croaker should last 10-15 minutes before he becomes fatigued and needs to be replaced.

LOWER COAST

Baffin Redfish & Trout Action by CALIXTO GONZALES and TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge Bar GPS: N 27 18.109, W 97 28.051 (27.3018, -97.4675)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live or Dead Shrimp using a 1/8 oz. jig head CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captainjohnlittle@sbcglobal www.facebook /captjohnlittle TIPS: After we finish up with trout we will target redfish in the badlands using live or dead shrimp on a 1/8 oz. jig head similar to how you would rig a soft plastic. Capt. Little LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Badlands South GPS: N 27 17.152, W 97 25.053 (27.2859, -97.4176)

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captainjohnlittle@sbcglobal www.facebook /captjohnlittle TIPS: Trout are usually up on the King Ranch shorelines. You can be limited out in 20 minutes, said Capt. Little

956-357-1301 josephpradoprado@yahoo www.facebook /joseph.prado TIPS: On calm days I like to throw Kelley Wigglers on a jig head. Capt. Prado

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: East Kleberg Point GPS: N 27 16.3, W 97 30.46 (27.2717, -97.5077)

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Dunkin House GPS: N 26 18.034, W 97 17.808 (26.3006, -97.2968)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters,, soft plastics in dark color patterns CONTACT: Captain Joey Farah 361-442-8145 TIPS: Fish the rocks that are off the point in deeper water. LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Center Reef GPS: N 27 16.206, W 97 34.362 (27.2701, -97.5727)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live or Dead Shrimp using a 1/8 oz. jig head CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captainjohnlittle@sbcglobal www.facebook /captjohnlittle TIPS: Cast into the sand and grass pockets will produce big redfish, and sometimes some big black drum. Capt. Little LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline GPS: N 27 29.134, W 97 21.1079 (27.4856, -97.3518)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in dark patterns, Corkies CONTACT: Captain Joey Farah 361-442-8145 TIPS: Trout prefer to forage around areas that can provide cover. Fish the deeper edges of the reef with soft plastics and Corkies. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Cullen Channel GPS: N 26 15.6, W 97 17.415 (26.2600, -97.2903)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado 956-357-1301 josephpradoprado@yahoo www.facebook /joseph.prado TIPS: We catch a lot of ﬁsh at the Dunkin House using a popping cork with Gulp whenever the wind comes up. Capt. Prado LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: North Cullen Bay GPS: N 26 16.9939, W 97 19.5979 (26.2832, -97.3266)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Kelley Wigglers or Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado 956-357-1301 josephpradoprado@yahoo www.facebook /joseph.prado TIPS: Freshwater runoff creates algae masses grow in different little back bays we have down here. All the ﬁsh will be around the algae feeding on it. Capt. Prado LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Rattlesnake Bay GPS: N 26 18.613, W 97 19.453 (26.3102, -97.3242)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh and trout BEST BAITS: Live or Dead Shrimp using a 1/8 oz. jig head CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Kelley Wigglers soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado 956-357-1301 josephpradoprado@yahoo www.facebook /joseph.prado TIPS: Prado’s favorite colors on the Gulp! depends on the water clarity. Dark colors for off-color water and lighter colors for clear waters. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: South Cullen Bay GPS: N 26 13.6519, W 97 17.5729 (26.2275, -97.2929)

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Queen Isabella Causeway GPS: N 26 5.206, W 97 11.039 (26.0868, -97.1840)

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SPECIES: Sheepshead BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, fresh shrimp. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Free line shrimp around the pilings. Spinning tackle helps make the ﬁnesse casts needed to get a small bait close to the structure. Braided line is best for light bites. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Port Isabel Turning Basin GPS: N 26 3.761, W 97 9.482 (26.0627, -97.1580)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Rootbeer/Glitter, Kelly Wigglers in Plum/ Chartreuse, Black/Chart. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the edges of the drop-off early, when trout are cruising the edges. Use shrimp tails to match the hatch. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Atascosa Wildlife Refuge Shoreline GPS: N 26 10.244, W 97 18.155 (26.1707, -97.3026)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado 956-357-1301 josephpradoprado@yahoo www.facebook /joseph.prado TIPS: If we do have a lot of rain, the ﬁsh will scatter to anywhere they ﬁnd saltwater. Capt. Prado LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: South Bay GPS: N 26 1.771, W 97 11.0479 (26.0295, -97.1841)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado 956-357-1301 josephpradoprado@yahoo www.facebook /joseph.prado TIPS: Freshwater runoff creates algae masses grow in different little back bays we have down here. All the ﬁsh will be around the algae feeding on it. Capt. Prado

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TIPS: Fish the channel edges on the bottom to intercept feeding drum. Fresh or live shrimp are bets. Use stout tackle; there are some big drum out there. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Marker 63 GPS: N 26 14.343, W 97 16.482 (26.2391, -97.2747)

SPECIES: redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, topwaters in Bone, Gold spoons CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the mud/sand transitions in deeper water along the shoreline. Trout will mingle in the warmer water. Redﬁsh will be prowling shallower water. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: South Bay GPS: N 26 2.961, W 97 11.031 (26.0494, -97.1839)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live bait, Gulp Shrimp, twitchbaits. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the ﬂats just west of the Marker. Trout and redﬁsh hang out around the potholes in 3- to 4-feet of water. The traditional live bait and soft plastics work well. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Fishing Shacks GPS: N 26 26.4756, W 97 20.591 (26.4413, -97.3432)

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, fresh shrimp, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Root Beer/Glitter. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581

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SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, Fresh Shrimp. CONTACT: LG Outfitters 956-371-0220 lgonzales@lgoutfitters lgoutfitters TIPS: Anchor up near a set of pilings marks where a shack used to be, or where on may still be standing, and toss a live shrimp or fresh shrimp out on a fish finder or split-shot rig towards the edge of the ICW. If the current is pulling hard, you may want to go with the heavier weight of the former. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: South Jetty GPS: N 26 3.8189, W 97 8.8859 (26.0637, -97.1481)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado 956-357-1301 josephpradoprado@yahoo www.facebook /joseph.prado TIPS: Tips on ﬁshing freshwater runoff …if the coastal bays are overrun with freshwater, move out to the jetties to catch saltwater tidal movement. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 26 4.048, W 97 8.881 (26.0675, -97.1480)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado 956-357-1301 josephpradoprado@yahoo

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FISHING HOTSPOTS www.facebook /joseph.prado TIPS: Tips on ﬁshing freshwater runoff …if the coastal bays are overrun with freshwater, move out to the jetties to catch saltwater tidal movement.

PINEY WOODS

Bridges & Brush for Fork Crappie by DUSTIN WARNCKE

BEST BAITS: V&M wild thang 8.5-inch worm in colors of black/blue or Blue Flex. Frogs and buzzbaits in the grass and pads. CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att www.caddolakeﬁshing TIPS: Fish the large worms around the cypress trees in 3-5 ft. of water while ﬁshing the frogs and buzzbaits in the same areas. LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 26.994, W 95 35.376 (30.4499, -95.5896)

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903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass www.guideonlakefork TIPS: June rocks! Fish are done spawning and looking to eat. Early in the day fish top water lures on points and shallow grass lines. Later in the day, Texas-rig a Grandebass Megatail Rattlesnake (1/4 weight and 3/0 off-set hook) and use football head jigs rigged with mega claws in Trophy Hunter color on points and humps 15 to 25 feet deep. Remember, fish like to bite when it’s hot. Good fishing! LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: 190 Road Bed GPS: N 30 45.15, W 95 10.3206 (30.7525, -95.1720)

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: 154 & 515 Bridges or Main Lake Brush Piles GPS: N 32 51.498, W 95 31.956 u TAP FOR (32.8583, -95.5326)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows and jigs in chartreuse or ice blue CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass www.lakeforktrophybass TIPS: June is a great month to catch a big mess of crappie on Lake Fork. The crappie have spawned and started moving back off shore and schooling up for the summer. A great place to look for them will be the 515 bridges both east and west and the 154 Bridge in the east arm. But the best place will be if you can ﬁnd brush piles in the lake from 18 to 22 feet. The crappie are hungry from the spawn and will be feeding aggressively. If you are interested in a crappie trip I ﬁsh out of a 22 foot bay boat and can handle several adults. LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Bird Island Area GPS: N 32 40.6206, W 94 5.0219 (32.6770, -94.0837)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad and Storm Swim shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx www.fishdudetx TIPS: The hybrid stripers are in full swing now and this is the time to catch trophy fish and possibly lake record Hybrids. They will be all around the lake on submerged points and humps. The use of electronics is a necessity! Find the schools of shad and you will find the Hybrids. This time of year they will range in the water column from 16 foot to 28 feet. Find the depth the bait is in and you will find the fish. As the weather heats up the early morning bite will be best. Live shad will be the bait of choice but the swim shad will work if you can control the depth. Good luck and good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 50.232, W 95 34.29 (32.8372, -95.5715)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures, Texas-rigged Grandebass Megatail Rattlesnake (1/4 weight and 3/0 off-set hook), football head jigs rigged with Mega Claws in Trophy Hunter color CONTACT: Lance Vick F I S H

LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Wilson Creek (Poly Farm) River Bend Sandbar GPS: N 31 37.242, W 93 49.608 u TAP FOR (31.6207, -93.8268)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Jigging slabs, spoons, troll pet spoon on down rigger, Tsunami Zombie Eyes (1 oz. pink/ silver glow) CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice www.palmettoguideservice TIPS: Key in on old bridge rails and roadbed in 11 15 foot. Jig slabs and Tsunami Zombie Eyes right off the bottom. BANK ACCESS: Kickapoo Marina off 190 on Kickapoo Creek

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, tail spinners, and RatL-Traps CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo www.toledobendguide TIPS: As the water continues to warm, the White bass will be moving further south down the lake following

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FISHING HOTSPOTS the old river channel, holding and feeding on the inside bend sand-bars. Use your electronics to find the baitfish and the Whites or Blacks will be close by. Drop a slab spoon or cast out a tail spinner. Schooling activity will be increasing as the water warms so keep a Rat-LTrap handy. You might catch two fish on each hook and two or three following the bait up to the boat. Look for the Sea Gulls feeding on the baitfish and you’ll find the schools of fish. It’s a great time to catch a lot of fish in a short term when they get bunched up.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

Roberts White Bass on the Culp by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Culp Island GPS: N 33 21.351, W 97 4.52 (33.3559, -97.0753)

LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014 (32.8531, -96.8669)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Small rooster tails and small creature baits (3-4 inches long) CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo TexasOklahomaFishingGuide TIPS: Bass are on fire shallow along the banks. Fish in 1-5 feet of water. Cast along the banks parallel as the fish are no more than five foot from the banks. 1-8 lbs. are being caught! LOCATION: Belton Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 12.3899, W 97 30.756 (31.2065, -97.5126)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo www.kingscreekadventures TIPS: Fish mid-lake humps and points with slabs hopped along the bottom in 8’ to 16’, LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Dam GPS: N 32 52.693, W 97 28.006 (32.8782, -97.4668)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Small lures, swimbaits, slabs CONTACT: Jim Walling 940-391-5534 jimwalling@icloud ucatchemguideservice TIPS: White Bass should show up in the area around Culp Island. Early and again late in the day, fish will chase shad to the surface. When they are surfacing they can easily be caught on many different small lures. A Tiny Torpedo will produce and watching fish chase the lure on the surface is always exciting. Another good choice is a 2-3 inch paddle tail swimbait on a jig head. When fish are not surfacing, jig a 3/4ounce slab on the bottom in this area in 15-25 feet of water.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Bass jigs CONTACT: Henry Niemiec 254-368-0294 surestrikeguideservice@yahoo TIPS: Bass will be in their summer pattern at this time of the year. The prime time to be on the lake is early in the morning and in the evenings. Bass will move from deeper water into the shallows looking for baitfish in the evenings and you will catch them still cruising and feeding in the morning. As the sun gets high in the sky they will move back deep. During these times crankbaits and spinnerbaits matching the color and size of the baitfish the bass are feeding on will be key. This is not to say that that you cannot catch them in the heat of the day. Look for shaded areas or large weed beds. Jigs work great here for punching the grass bed. Keep a close eye on your line while fishing grass beds, many times the Bass will hit it as soon as it comes through the matted grass. LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake Humps GPS: N 32 18.288, W 96 9.636 (32.3048, -96.1606)

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SPECIES: Hybrid/White Bass BEST BAITS: Hell Pet or Deep running lure CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnystevens@1scom johnnysguideservice TIPS: This area just north of the dam is a series of humps with water all around them. As the water heats up the Hybrids that have come down from Lake Bridgeport during a ﬂood hang out in this area. An effective method is to troll a very deep running lure. A hell pet rig with a bell sinker on the front of the hellbender to make it to run deep. LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Pekema Creek channel GPS: N 29 55.95, W 96 42.87 (29.9325, -96.7145)

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail

G A M E ®

5/16/16 10:07 AM

FISHING HOTSPOTS www.ﬁshtales-guideservice TIPS: Fish are done spawning now. They will move deep as the water warms. Chum straight down by the boat or out from the bank if bank ﬁshing. Fish right over the chum LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Eagle Point South Side GPS: N 30 37.92, W 96 2.7899 (30.6320, -96.0465)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs and Minnows CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail www.gotcrappie TIPS: Now is a very good time to catch crappie at Granger Lake. This year has been one of the best in the last several years. Earlier in the year, a new lake record was set at 3.5 pounds. Granger is one of the best lakes in Texas to have a chance at a 3-pound crappie. They are biting all over the lake right now. If you can ﬁnd brush piles with your sonar, you can catch the crappie. They are even biting up the river in the stumps. Use jigs tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles or minnows and you will load the boat. Remember, the dead minnows will usually catch the largest crappie. That is what caught the lake record. Fish vertically over the brush and hold the bait very still. Wait for the thump and you are in business. Good luck and good ﬁshing.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Coves GPS: N 33 2.2319, W 96 29.37 (33.0372, -96.4895)

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SPECIES: Channel Catfish BEST BAITS: Night crawlers, cut shad and prepared baits. CONTACT: Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 unfairadvantagecharters TIPS: Look for docks near deeper water or work the backs of sloughs in the evenings and don’t be afraid to chum with soured milo/maize to draw the fish in. Diced up shad can turn on the bite. A little water flow will also turn these fish on. Use small trebles for better hook-ups. Granbury water temperatures are in the 80s and the summer patterns are in place. The weather continues to heat up and with the daytime heat, feeding is occurring mainly in the morning and evening.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: BD 7 Crankbait in shad color CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice rickysguideservice TIPS: Fishing south of the 155 bridge working points. Concentrate on 8 to 16 feet depths. Work the points for best results. Cobb creek has good points and I catch good numbers in this area. When fishing points I will fish the first point going into a creek and then move to the next inside the creek all the way to the back staying in the depths mentioned above. Try Carolina rigs as well. LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Yegua Park Cove GPS: N 30 18.3239, W 96 32.034 (30.3054, -96.5339)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/8 & 1/16 jigs with a painted pink head in black and chartreuse and white and chartreuse colors CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo TexasOklahomaFishingGuide TIPS: Crappie are finally in shallow water. Previously, Crappie started spawning in the button willows on Lavon and the cattails on Hubbard. Depth is 1-4 ft. if wading. Try 7 to 18 ft. if fishing deeper. Find a firm ground with your back facing deep water and put the jig next to every stick up and the base of every willow. Also fish small rock piles. Try to find a cove if possible protected from the south and north wind. LOCATION: Lake Palestine T E X A S

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HOTSPOT: Cobb Creek GPS: N 32 5.4539, W 95 27.8339 (32.0909, -95.4639)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Crawdad or Shad punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail www.fishtales-guideservice TIPS: South wind is now blowing. Put out a chum line 20 feet off the bank. Anchor where you can fish both the bank and the chum line. LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Brush Piles GPS: N 30 42.09, W 97 21.0839 (30.7015, -97.3514)

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Mid-lake GPS: N 32 26.404, W 97 46.977 (32.4401, -97.7830)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait or Shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail www.fishtales-guideservice TIPS: Water is warming. Fish close to shore. Chum the area. If Lily pads are growing, fish the edge of them with slip corks. LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: The North End GPS: N 33 52.068, W 96 41.67 (33.8678, -96.6945)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass F I S H

G A M E ®

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Slabs, jigs and topwater plugs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress www.striperexpress TIPS: June is the beginning of the summer fishing patterns at Lake Texoma. Stripers are schooling in large groups across the lake. For best results this month, cast topwater plugs on shallow banks near deep water drop offs early in the morning. The topwater bite is exciting fishing this time of year. The go-to topwater plug is the Pencil Popper. When mid-morning rolls around, try tying 1.5-ounce slabs in chrome, white or chartreuse. Track large schools of fish in the main lake area and in river channels. The technique of choice this month is a fast retrieve; let your slab free fall to the bottom, reeling quickly to the surface. Pay attention as the stripers will hit on the fall. We call this technique drop it and rip ‘em. Look for surfacing topwater action mid-month in the river channels and main lake areas. LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Big Rock Ledge and Island Flats GPS: N 31 53.652, W 97 23.0579 u TAP FOR (31.8942, -97.3843)

ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Live Gizzard Shad, Live Perch, Flutter Jigs, Stripaholic jig heads and trailers from www. rsrlures CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail www.teamredneck TIPS: June can be a great time to not only catch a lot of fish but catch some big fish too. Two things are happening: they are coming off a spawn and are still gorging and they are on a feed in preparation for the hot summer months ahead when their metabolism will slow down and not want to use as much energy in chasing and foraging for bait fish. Look along the ledge that runs from the mouth of Big Rocky Creek towards Bird Island and fish around 18’ in 22’ to 28’ of water along the ledge. The rock bluffs along the shorelines can be good too, on a ledge where the River Channel cuts in close to the Bluffs. For White Bass, Bring a set of binoculars and glass the lake. The Whites are schooling up on surface and make for some quick limits and a lot of fun. LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Dam Area to the 287 Bridge

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GPS: N 31 59.256, W 96 10.6319 (31.9876, -96.1772)

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many times the Bass will hit it as soon as it comes through the matted grass. Good Luck and I’ll see you on the water.

PANHANDLE

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Tiny Torpedo, Rat-L-Traps, and slabs CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail www.goneﬁshin TIPS: June is traditionally the month that the Topwater White Bass action kicks in full gear! Once started, the action only gets better as the weather gets hotter. Look for early morning schooling action on the Main Lake from the Dam all the way back to the Hwy 287 Bridge. The Hwy 309 Flats is the area we usually head for early and start the search for schooling activity. If you’re lucky and get a light breeze and some cloud cover, the topwater action can last up to several hours and you’ll often be on several acres of ﬁsh! This is the time of the year to take the kids as the action is fast and easy and, most importantly, FUN! LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 1.1099, W 97 36.7679 (31.0185, -97.6128)

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T E X A S

F I S H

Brownwood Cats Rock the Dam by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Brownwood HOTSPOT: Rocky Point Across from Dam GPS: N 31 50.4363, W 99 0.5875 (31.8406, -99.0098)

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SPECIES: Flathead Catfish BEST BAITS: Live sunfish, shad, cut bait CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr. 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas TIPS: This rocky point has a drop-off of large boulders that are home to some decent size flathead catfish. Live baits work best to land these fish, particularly sunfish, shad, and smaller carp. Cut carp and gizzard shad may also yield a good catch. These rocks also hold decent panfish and bass. To catch them, consider throwing live worms, a smaller trick worm, curly-tailed jig, or spinner baits. LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Dam Area and Major Creeks GPS: N 33 3.768, W 101 3.0959 (33.0628, -101.0516)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Bass jigs as well as swim jigs and shaky head jigs. Both swim jigs and shakey heads will have a 4 or a 7 blue ﬂeck worm CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal

G A M E ®

5/16/16 1:59 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS http://www.lakealanhenry /norman_clayton.htm TIPS: The first of June will find some of the bass still on beds on the dam area of the lake. I like to use jigs to fish for these bass. I will cover the point of the hook with a piece of white worm so that I can see the bait and it seems that most of the time the bass will pick up the jig by the white piece of worm, and thus the bass will have the point of the hook in her mouth. Look for the beds in the clear water around and across from the dam. In the other parts of the lake, the bass will be off the beds, and moving out of Rocky Creek, Gobbler, Little Grape, Ince Cove, and Big Grape Creeks. Many of the fish will be hanging off the steep banks and points. I will be using a swim jig, or a shaky head jig. Both of these will have a 7 or a 4 blue fleck worm on them. Any of the points around the dam are good place the start and as well as the steep banks. But don’t forget the flats for these can be very productive. LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Tabletop GPS: N 32 52.724, W 98 31.809 (32.8787, -98.5302)

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SPECIES: Striped, Hybrid & White Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, topwaters CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb TIPS: June is one of my favorite months because the weather has finally settled down. Tabletop is mid-lake and just as it sounds.— great big tabletop coming out of the deep water with everything the fish want. You can catch almost all species on it through this month. Live shad is best. Also there will be on cloudy days some top water action and as always the early bird gets the worm. Mister Twister curly tail worms work best. This is a great time of the year to fish at night also so don’t pass up any dock lights or tying up over brush and setting lights out and fishing around brush or bridge pilings or any other structure.

Largemouth Go Deep on Amistad by DUSTIN WARNCKE

HILL COUNTRY

Buzz the Flats for Austin Bass by DUSTIN WARNCKE

LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Deep Water Points GPS: N 29 29.67126, W 101 8.2884 (29.494521, -101.138140)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Crank baits, soft plastic worms, topwater lures CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass amistadbass TIPS: Fish the major points that drop-off into 20 feet of water. The bass will be feeding on crawﬁsh so crawﬁsh-colored lures will produce the best catches. Try topwaters early in the backs of the coves. LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Highway 90 Area GPS: N 29 28.72116, W101 3.2424 (29.478686, -101.054040)

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LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats GPS: N 30 19.824, W 97 50.6219 (30.3304, -97.8437)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Carolina-rigged worms, Texas-rigged worms, Senkos, crankbaits CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass amistadbass TIPS: Fish the backs of the multiple coves in this area with Texas-rigged plastic worms, Senkos and crawdad-colored crankbaits. If the action is slow, move off the points and ﬁsh the edges of the grass beds with F I S H

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Picasso Shad Walker, Picasso Buzzbait, V&M Chopstick, V&M Wild Thang CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 lakeaustinfishing@yahoo www.LakeAustinFishing TIPS: I’m having success throwing the Picasso Shad Walker and Buzzbaits in the mornings and when there’s wind and/or rain. It’s ideal to fish these baits on long casts as the bigger fish will sometimes follow the baits. Once the sun gets high or the topwater bite subsides, throw the V&M Chopstick or Wild Thang either Texasrigged or weightless just off of the flats. Work these slowly with a hard twitch in between pauses and be ready for some action! LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Point Near Potter’s Creek Pier GPS: N 29 54.132, W 98 15.978 (29.9022, -98.2663)

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Carolina-rigged soft plastics.

BIG BEND

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Creature baits, 7 Berkley Power Worms, Crème Whakey Stix, Zoom Trick Worms, Flick Shake CONTACT: KC’S Bassin’ Guide Service 210-823-2153

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FISHING HOTSPOTS kandie@gvtc www.kcbassinguide TIPS: The Bass are on the move again looking for deeper water. Look for Bass to be along bluff edges and ﬂooded timber on left. Using Flick Shake in 1/8oz weight, Power Worms or Trick Worms. Good colors for this time of year: Motor Oil, Watermelon Red and Blue Fleck. Be sure to ﬁsh the entire point into the entrance of Canyon Park. This is about a 300-yard stretch.

topwaters early and late moving to soft plastics during the middle portions of the day. Crappie can be found around bush piles and standing trees. There is little to no vegetation on this point but there is enough cover and contour to hold bass and crappie. Vary the lure selection sizes for bass (larger) and crappie (smaller). Fish live bait, soft plastics, topwaters, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and diving crankbaits with conﬁdence. LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Magnum (South Side of Shaw Island) GPS: N 30 49.086, W 98 25.23 u TAP FOR (30.8181, -98.4205)

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Jacobs Point GPS: N 29 52.668, W 98 13.3259 (29.8778, -98.2221)

ONLINE MAP

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Jigging spoon in white color CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantonioﬁshingguides www.sanantonioﬁshingguides 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 like to school in this area this time of year. Tight lines and Fish On! LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Long Point Between Potter’s Creek and Cranes Mill GPS: N 29 53.982, W 98 16.986 u TAP FOR (29.8997, -98.2831)

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Live Shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo www.centraltexasfishing TIPS: Striper fishing is good in this area. Concentrate on fishing in 30 to 45 feet near ridges and humps. If you have a breeze, drop anchor. If you don’t have a breeze drift your live bait in about 24 feet. LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Dam Area/Lower End of Main Lake GPS: N 30 45.57, W 98 27.2699 u TAP FOR (30.7595, -98.4545)

ONLINE MAP

SOUTH TEXAS

Coleto Bass Wake Up Hungry by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 43.26, W 97 11.1659 (28.7210, -97.1861)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Pearl White Zoom Fluke CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: Water level will still be great. Hydrilla will be growing good. Early morning should be a blast for top water. As always I’d throw a pearl white zoom fluke dipped in chartreuse just a little. Afternoon I’d move to deeper water around the hydrilla. Main lake hydrilla should be good for bigger fish. Don’t let our little lake fool you. There is a lot of five pound plus fish. I’d spool my rod with 20 lb. Berkley Big Game. Good fishing and GOD bless us all.

ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters and soft plastics CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish www.teachemtofish TIPS: Average water temperature for June is 81.4 with a low of 72.1 and high of 84.9. This is the time of year bass and crappie are settling into their summer habit and patterns. The prime areas to look for bass and crappie are along drop-offs with ledges containing cover. Begin fishing points with crankbaits and

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live Shad CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon www.striperfever TIPS: Stripers and Hybrid ﬁshing has been really good on the lower end of the lake! Fish in front of the dam on the sand and on deep-water humps south of the Black Rock Park area.

T E X A S

NEW 2016 EDITION

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G A M E ®

5/16/16 1:59 PM

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK JUNE 2016

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.

T13 T7

T6 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.

T14

T15 T16

T3 T2 T1

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. 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 PLACE HIGH T1 Sabine Bank Lighthouse -1:46 -1:26 T2 Sabine Pass Jetty -1:00 T3 Sabine Pass T4 Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass -0:04 T5 Galveston Bay, S. Jetty -0:39 +0:14 T6 Port Bolivar

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

KEY PLACE HIGH LOW Galveston Channel/Bays T7 Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +0:41 +3:54 +4:15 T8 Eagle Point +6:05 +6:40 T9 Clear Lake +10:21 +5:19 T10 Morgans Point T11 Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39 +5:15

KEY PLACE HIGH LOW T12 Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay +5:48 +4:43 +3:16 +4:18 T13 Gilchrist, East Bay T14 Jamaica Beach, W. Bay +2:38 +3:31 T15 Alligator Point, W. Bay +2:39 +2:33 +2:32 +2:31 T16 Christmas Pt T17 Galveston Pleasure Pier -1:06 -1:06

KEY PLACE HIGH -0.09 T18 San Luis Pass -0:44 T19 Freeport Harbor 0:00 T20 Pass Cavallo -0:03 T21 Aransas Pass T22 Padre Island (So. End) -0:24 +1:02 T23 Port Isabel

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

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

READING THE GRAPH

Moon l Moon Overhead l Underfoot

Fishing Score Graph

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 76 |

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T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

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JUNE 2016

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

30 May 31 Jun 1 2 3 « 4 « 5 l Low Tide: 4:43 AM 0.66ft. High Tide: 12:27 AM 1.41ft. High Tide: 1:39 AM 1.60ft. High Tide: 2:41 AM 1.77ft. High Tide: 3:37 AM 1.90ft. High Tide: 4:31 AM 1.96ft. High Tide: 5:23 AM 1.97ft. High Tide: 11:43 AM 1.58ft. Low Tide: 6:11 PM 0.70ft. FEET

Low Tide: 5:53 AM 0.80ft. High Tide: 12:13 PM 1.57ft. Low Tide: 6:50 PM 0.43ft.

Low Tide: 7:00 AM 0.93ft. High Tide: 12:44 PM 1.56ft. Low Tide: 7:32 PM 0.15ft.

Low Tide: 8:03 AM 1.05ft. High Tide: 1:16 PM 1.57ft. Low Tide: 8:16 PM -0.08ft.

Low Tide: 9:01 AM 1.16ft. High Tide: 1:49 PM 1.58ft. Low Tide: 9:00 PM -0.25ft.

Low Tide: 9:55 AM 1.24ft. High Tide: 2:24 PM 1.58ft. Low Tide: 9:47 PM -0.33ft.

Low Tide: 10:46 AM 1.30ft. High Tide: 3:00 PM 1.57ft. Low Tide: 10:35 PM -0.32ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

12p

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

10:00A — 12:00P

11:00A — 1:00P

12a

7:30 — 9:30 AM

8:00 — 10:00 AM

9:00 — 11:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:21a Set: 8:12p Moonrise: 2:19a Set: 2:29p AM Minor: 12:52a AM Major: 7:05a PM Minor: 1:18p PM Major: 7:31p Moon Overhead: 8:21a Moon Underfoot: 8:47p

Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:13p Moonrise: 3:01a Set: 3:33p AM Minor: 1:40a AM Major: 7:53a PM Minor: 2:07p PM Major: 8:20p Moon Overhead: 9:14a Moon Underfoot: 9:40p

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunrise: 6:20a Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:13p Set: 8:14p Set: 8:14p Moonrise: 3:43a Moonrise: 4:28a Moonrise: 5:15a Set: 4:38p Set: 5:44p Set: 6:51p AM Minor: 2:27a AM Minor: 3:15a AM Minor: 4:06a AM Major: 8:41a AM Major: 9:30a AM Major: 10:21a PM Minor: 2:55p PM Minor: 3:44p PM Minor: 4:35p PM Major: 9:08p PM Major: 9:58p PM Major: 10:50p Moon Overhead: 10:08a Moon Overhead: 11:03a Moon Overhead: 12:01p Moon Underfoot: 10:35p Moon Underfoot: 11:32p Moon Underfoot: None

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12p

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM

1:00 — 3:00 PM

12a

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:15p Set: 8:15p Moonrise: 6:07a Moonrise: 7:02a Set: 7:56p Set: 8:58p AM Minor: 5:01a AM Minor: 6:00a AM Major: 11:16a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 5:31p PM Minor: 6:29p PM Major: 11:45p PM Major: 12:44p Moon Overhead: 1:00p Moon Overhead: 1:59p Moon Underfoot: 12:30a Moon Underfoot: 1:30a

5/16/16 10:07 AM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

8 9 10 11 6 « 7 « 12 º Low Tide: 12:14 AM -0.08ft. Low Tide: 1:07 AM 0.11ft. Low Tide: 2:03 AM 0.32ft. Low Tide: 3:04 AM 0.52ft. High Tide: 6:16 AM 1.92ft. High Tide: 7:10 AM 1.84ft. Low Tide: 4:10 AM 0.71ft. FEET

Low Tide: 11:38 AM 1.33ft. High Tide: 3:39 PM 1.53ft. Low Tide: 11:23 PM -0.23ft.

Low Tide: 12:33 PM 1.32ft. High Tide: 4:20 PM 1.46ft.

High Tide: 8:04 AM 1.75ft. Low Tide: 1:38 PM 1.28ft. High Tide: 5:09 PM 1.37ft.

High Tide: 8:58 AM 1.66ft. Low Tide: 2:58 PM 1.20ft. High Tide: 6:31 PM 1.25ft.

High Tide: 9:50 AM 1.58ft. Low Tide: 4:20 PM 1.06ft. High Tide: 8:53 PM 1.16ft.

High Tide: 10:34 AM 1.52ft. Low Tide: 5:14 PM 0.89ft. High Tide: 10:53 PM 1.17ft.

High Tide: 11:12 AM 1.48ft. Low Tide: 5:52 PM 0.71ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

6:30 — 8:30 PM

8:00 — 10:00 PM

3:30 — 5:30 AM

4:30 — 6:30 AM

5:00 — 7:00 AM

12:30 — 2:30 AM

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:16p Moonrise: 8:00a Set: 9:56p AM Minor: 7:01a AM Major: 12:47a PM Minor: 7:31p PM Major: 1:16p Moon Overhead: 2:58p Moon Underfoot: 2:29a

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:16p Moonrise: 8:59a Set: 10:48p AM Minor: 8:04a AM Major: 1:50a PM Minor: 8:32p PM Major: 2:18p Moon Overhead: 3:55p Moon Underfoot: 3:27a

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:17p Moonrise: 9:59a Set: 11:35p AM Minor: 9:05a AM Major: 2:52a PM Minor: 9:32p PM Major: 3:19p Moon Overhead: 4:49p Moon Underfoot: 4:22a

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:17p Moonrise: 10:58a Set: None AM Minor: 10:04a AM Major: 3:51a PM Minor: 10:29p PM Major: 4:16p Moon Overhead: 5:40p Moon Underfoot: 5:15a

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:17p Moonrise: 11:54a Set: 12:17a AM Minor: 10:58a AM Major: 4:46a PM Minor: 11:21p PM Major: 5:09p Moon Overhead: 6:27p Moon Underfoot: 6:04a

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:18p Moonrise: 12:49p Set: 12:56a AM Minor: 11:47a AM Major: 5:36a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:58p Moon Overhead: 7:12p Moon Underfoot: 6:50a

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:18p Moonrise: 1:41p Set: 1:32a AM Minor: 12:08a AM Major: 6:21a PM Minor: 12:32p PM Major: 6:43p Moon Overhead: 7:56p Moon Underfoot: 7:34a

MOON PHASES

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS Moon l Overhead l Moon Underfoot

READING THE GRAPH

MONDAY

TUESDAY

12a

PRIME TIME

Fishing Score Graph

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

13 14 15 16 17 18 « 19 « High Tide: 12:25 AM 1.26ft. High Tide: 1:37 AM 1.37ft. High Tide: 2:34 AM 1.48ft. High Tide: 3:22 AM 1.57ft. High Tide: 4:03 AM 1.63ft. High Tide: 4:40 AM 1.67ft. High Tide: 5:15 AM 1.69ft. FEET

Low Tide: 5:20 AM 0.87ft. High Tide: 11:45 AM 1.45ft. Low Tide: 6:25 PM 0.53ft.

Low Tide: 6:29 AM 1.00ft. High Tide: 12:13 PM 1.43ft. Low Tide: 6:57 PM 0.35ft.

Low Tide: 7:32 AM 1.10ft. High Tide: 12:39 PM 1.41ft. Low Tide: 7:29 PM 0.19ft.

Low Tide: 8:27 AM 1.17ft. High Tide: 1:03 PM 1.40ft. Low Tide: 8:02 PM 0.06ft.

Low Tide: 9:15 AM 1.22ft. High Tide: 1:25 PM 1.40ft. Low Tide: 8:35 PM -0.03ft.

Low Tide: 9:56 AM 1.26ft. High Tide: 1:43 PM 1.39ft. Low Tide: 9:09 PM -0.10ft.

Low Tide: 10:34 AM 1.28ft. High Tide: 1:59 PM 1.38ft. Low Tide: 9:44 PM -0.13ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

12p

12a

12p

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

4:30 — 6:30 PM

5:00 — 7:00 PM

5:30 — 7:30 PM

12a

7:00 — 9:00 AM

8:00 — 10:00 AM

3:00 — 5:00 PM

4:00 — 6:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:19p Moonrise: 2:33p Set: 2:06a AM Minor: 12:52a AM Major: 7:03a PM Minor: 1:13p PM Major: 7:24p Moon Overhead: 8:38p Moon Underfoot: 8:17a

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:19p Moonrise: 3:24p Set: 2:40a AM Minor: 1:31a AM Major: 7:42a PM Minor: 1:53p PM Major: 8:03p Moon Overhead: 9:21p Moon Underfoot: 8:59a

Sunrise: 6:19a Set: 8:19p Moonrise: 4:15p Set: 3:14a AM Minor: 2:09a AM Major: 8:20a PM Minor: 2:31p PM Major: 8:42p Moon Overhead: 10:04p Moon Underfoot: 9:42a

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunrise: 6:19a Sunrise: 6:20a Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:19p Set: 8:20p Set: 8:20p Set: 8:20p Moonrise: 5:07p Moonrise: 5:59p Moonrise: 6:52p Moonrise: 7:44p Set: 3:49a Set: 4:27a Set: 5:07a Set: 5:51a AM Minor: 2:48a AM Minor: 3:27a AM Minor: 4:09a AM Minor: 4:54a AM Major: 8:59a AM Major: 9:38a AM Major: 10:21a AM Major: 11:06a PM Minor: 3:10p PM Minor: 3:50p PM Minor: 4:32p PM Minor: 5:18p PM Major: 9:21p PM Major: 10:01p PM Major: 10:44p PM Major: 11:30p Moon Overhead: 10:48p Moon Overhead: 11:34p Moon Overhead: None Moon Overhead: 12:22a Moon Underfoot: 10:26a Moon Underfoot: 11:11a Moon Underfoot: 11:58a Moon Underfoot: 12:47p

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

23 24 25 26 20 ¡ 21 « 22 « High Tide: 7:37 AM 1.64ft. Low Tide: 12:22 AM 0.04ft. Low Tide: 1:10 AM 0.18ft. Low Tide: 2:05 AM 0.36ft. High Tide: 5:48 AM 1.69ft. High Tide: 6:22 AM 1.68ft. High Tide: 6:58 AM 1.66ft. FEET

Low Tide: 11:10 AM 1.30ft. High Tide: 2:16 PM 1.37ft. Low Tide: 10:21 PM -0.14ft.

Low Tide: 11:47 AM 1.30ft. High Tide: 2:38 PM 1.36ft. Low Tide: 10:58 PM -0.11ft.

Low Tide: 1:19 PM 1.24ft. High Tide: 3:58 PM 1.29ft.

Low Tide: 12:29 PM 1.29ft. High Tide: 3:11 PM 1.34ft. Low Tide: 11:39 PM -0.05ft.

High Tide: 8:16 AM 1.60ft. Low Tide: 2:15 PM 1.15ft. High Tide: 5:09 PM 1.21ft.

High Tide: 8:55 AM 1.56ft. Low Tide: 3:11 PM 1.00ft. High Tide: 6:58 PM 1.12ft.

High Tide: 9:32 AM 1.51ft. Low Tide: 4:03 PM 0.80ft. High Tide: 9:15 PM 1.11ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

6:00 — 8:00 PM

6:30 — 8:30 PM

7:30 — 9:30 PM

8:00 — 10:00 PM

9:00 — 11:00 PM

4:30 — 6:30 AM

5:00 — 6:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:20p Moonrise: 8:35p Set: 6:39a AM Minor: 5:42a AM Major: 11:54a PM Minor: 6:07p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:12a Moon Underfoot: 1:37p

Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:21p Moonrise: 9:24p Set: 7:30a AM Minor: 6:34a AM Major: 12:21a PM Minor: 6:59p PM Major: 12:46p Moon Overhead: 2:02a Moon Underfoot: 2:28p

Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:21p Moonrise: 10:11p Set: 8:25a AM Minor: 7:28a AM Major: 1:15a PM Minor: 7:54p PM Major: 1:41p Moon Overhead: 2:54a Moon Underfoot: 3:19p

Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:21p Moonrise: 10:55p Set: 9:22a AM Minor: 8:24a AM Major: 2:12a PM Minor: 8:50p PM Major: 2:37p Moon Overhead: 3:45a Moon Underfoot: 4:11p

Sunrise: 6:21a Set: 8:21p Moonrise: 11:38p Set: 10:21a AM Minor: 9:21a AM Major: 3:09a PM Minor: 9:47p PM Major: 3:34p Moon Overhead: 4:36a Moon Underfoot: 5:02p

Sunrise: 6:21a Set: 8:21p Moonrise: None Set: 11:21a AM Minor: 10:18a AM Major: 4:05a PM Minor: 10:43p PM Major: 4:31p Moon Overhead: 5:27a Moon Underfoot: 5:52p

Sunrise: 6:21a Set: 8:21p Moonrise: 12:19a Set: 12:21p AM Minor: 11:13a AM Major: 5:00a PM Minor: 11:38p PM Major: 5:26p Moon Overhead: 6:18a Moon Underfoot: 6:43p

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JUNE 2016

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

28 29 Jun 30 Jul 1 2 27 » 3 « Low Tide: 4:18 AM 0.77ft. High Tide: 12:41 AM 1.37ft. High Tide: 1:51 AM 1.54ft. High Tide: 2:51 AM 1.67ft. High Tide: 3:44 AM 1.76ft. Low Tide: 3:07 AM 0.56ft. High Tide: 4:33 AM 1.78ft. FEET

High Tide: 10:08 AM 1.48ft. Low Tide: 4:52 PM 0.55ft. High Tide: 11:12 PM 1.20ft.

High Tide: 10:42 AM 1.45ft. Low Tide: 5:39 PM 0.29ft.

Low Tide: 5:34 AM 0.95ft. High Tide: 11:17 AM 1.44ft. Low Tide: 6:25 PM 0.03ft.

Low Tide: 6:48 AM 1.08ft. High Tide: 11:54 AM 1.44ft. Low Tide: 7:12 PM -0.19ft.

Low Tide: 7:55 AM 1.17ft. High Tide: 12:32 PM 1.46ft. Low Tide: 7:59 PM -0.34ft.

Low Tide: 8:53 AM 1.23ft. High Tide: 1:14 PM 1.47ft. Low Tide: 8:46 PM -0.43ft.

Low Tide: 9:43 AM 1.25ft. High Tide: 1:57 PM 1.48ft. Low Tide: 9:33 PM -0.43ft

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

12p

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

10:00A — 12:00P

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

11:30A — 1:30P

7:00 — 9:00 AM

8:00 — 10:00 AM

9:00 — 11:00 AM

11:00A — 1:00P

12:00 — 2:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:22a Set: 8:21p Moonrise: 1:00a Set: 1:23p AM Minor: ----AM Major: 5:53a PM Minor: 12:06p PM Major: 6:19p Moon Overhead: 7:09a Moon Underfoot: 7:34p

Sunrise: 6:22a Set: 8:22p Moonrise: 1:41a Set: 2:25p AM Minor: 12:31a AM Major: 6:44a PM Minor: 12:57p PM Major: 7:10p Moon Overhead: 8:00a Moon Underfoot: 8:26p

Sunrise: 6:22a Set: 8:22p Moonrise: 2:23a Set: 3:29p AM Minor: 1:20a AM Major: 7:34a PM Minor: 1:47p PM Major: 8:01p Moon Overhead: 8:53a Moon Underfoot: 9:20p

Sunrise: 6:23a Sunrise: 6:23a Sunrise: 6:23a Set: 8:22p Set: 8:22p Set: 8:22p Moonrise: 3:07a Moonrise: 3:55a Moonrise: 4:47a Set: 4:34p Set: 5:38p Set: 6:41p AM Minor: 2:09a AM Minor: 2:58a AM Minor: 3:50a AM Major: 8:23a AM Major: 9:12a AM Major: 10:04a PM Minor: 2:37p PM Minor: 3:27p PM Minor: 4:19p PM Major: 8:50p PM Major: 9:41p PM Major: 10:33p Moon Overhead: 9:48a Moon Overhead: 10:45a Moon Overhead: 11:43a Moon Underfoot: 10:16p Moon Underfoot: 11:14p Moon Underfoot: None

Sunrise: 6:24a Set: 8:22p Moonrise: 5:43a Set: 7:40p AM Minor: 4:44a AM Major: 10:58a PM Minor: 5:13p PM Major: 11:27p Moon Overhead: 12:41p Moon Underfoot: 12:12a

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

The Need for More Speed

AYBE YOU’RE A TOURNAment bass angler, and every second counts. Perhaps there’s a thunderhead on the horizon, and you need to get home ASAP. Or, maybe you just plain like going fast. Whatever the reason, many boaters are concerned with—possibly even obsessed with—getting their boat to run as fast as possible. And with a few simple steps, just about anyone can add a mph or three to their top-end. You say you like 50 mph a whole lot more than 48? Here are three things for you to consider.

two of you are going fishing and your boat has four pedestal-mounted seats, those two extra seats are hitting you with a weight penalty for no reason. Finally, remember to account for “wet” weight. Things like full water and waste tanks, or livewells, may or may not be necessary depending on how and where you use your boat. If they aren’t, minimizing tankage can save gobs of weight. Remember, water weighs in at around eight pounds per gallon and fuel at around six pounds per gallon. That may not sound like such a big deal, but think about it. A full 20-gallon livewell adds a whopping 160 pounds to your boat’s weight.

“ And with a few simple steps, just about anyone can add a mph or three to their top-end.

1. Weight

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“

AMONG ALL the variables that impact a boat’s top-end, weight is one of the most significant. That’s why builders split hairs to shave every pound possible from a boat, and it’s why you should too, if you want to maximize speed. Let’s start off by recognizing that we all tend to load down our boats with a bunch of gear we think we need. But, just how much of it do we actually use on a regular basis? Do you really need to carry that second anchor? The box of bucktails you haven’t used since the 1990s? That extra case of chilled beverages? All that stuff adds up. Now, consider some “fixed” poundage, which most boaters never even think about. Bottom paint, for example. A coat of bottom paint usually shaves about one mph off a 20-something boat’s top-end. Contrary to popular belief it’s not because the paint has a rougher surface than fiberglass—it’s because of the added weight. Or, consider seating. If

Now add up all of the above, and subtract it from your boat. You could easily shed 200 pounds or more—and in doing so, gain at least a mph or two at top-end.

2. Prop Pitch PROPELLER PITCH is, to a large degree, what determines the maximum rpm your engine will turn. Before we dig into the why and what to do about it, let’s make sure

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everyone’s on the same page and understands exactly what pitch is—the theoretical distance a propeller would move forward with one rotation, if there were no slippage. An easy way to visualize this is to think of a regular wood screw. Some have threads such that a single rotation will creep the screw deep into a board; others are threaded such that a single rotation only takes it half as deep. That’s a reflection of the screw’s “pitch.” Of course, with a boat propeller there always is slippage. On top of that, boats have variations from one hull to another. After being purchased, a boat’s weight varies because of equipping, painting, and other factors such as those mentioned above. The weight differential also affects proper pitching. As a result, there are an awful lot of improperly-propped boats running around out there. If your boat’s engine already spins up to the manufacturer’s maximum rpm rating (without any ventilation from over-trimming, of course,) then your prop’s pitch is right on target. But let’s say you have an outboard rated to spin between 5,500 and 6,000 rpm. At wide-open throttle it turns 5,600. That’s in the recommended range, sure, and won’t cause your engine any harm. But it’s on the low end by a long shot. You could subtract an inch or two in pitch, your engine’s maximum rpm would jump up by 150 to 200, and top speed would go up by another mph or two.

3. Trim TRIM IS one of those things everyone thinks they understand perfectly, but is often misunderstood. When a boater is trying to milk each and every mph out of his or her rig the most common practice is to trim the engine up as far as possible, period. Keep on raising it until the prop starts grabbing air and howling, right? Not so much. On some boats, yes, maximizing trim does maximize speed—but not

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Texas BOATING on all boats, and not in all cases. You also have to bring sea state, weight distribution, and an individual hull’s traits into consideration. Trim also affects running angle, which is also affected by all of the above factors. And yes, running angle affects speed. There’s no simple answer to the above

equation, because it changes. Are you running into the seas? With them? Are they on the beam? Is it glassy-calm? Is your 300pound brother-in-law Bubba currently sitting in the bow? All of these ever-changing influences play a role. There is, however, one sure-fire way to

find the right trim position to maximize speed. Step one is just what most people already do: find that point where your trim is maxed-out and prop starts ventilating, then drop the engine back down a notch. But don’t stop there. Click down the drive in the smallest increment possible, while eyeballing the GPS. Give it a few seconds to reflect any change in speed, then click it down another notch. Continue the process until your speed drops, then bump the trim back up a notch. This may happen at the first increment, or it may not happen until the fourth or fifth.

“ There is, however, one sure-ﬁre way to ﬁnd the right trim position to maximize speed.

“ Along the way, your GPS will show you which trim setting maximizes your speed. Note: If you’re doing this in a high-speed situation, such as on a 60-plus mph bass boat, you should have a passenger watch the GPS for you, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the water. You say yes, you want your boat to go faster? Consider these three factors, nail the throttle, and hold on to your hat.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

Skills Can Start Early

The first area to look at is the hooks. Remember those little hooks that grab everything in sight and easily latch onto fish? Well they have a tendency to let go of those same fish when they start jumping. The best way to remedy this is by replacing the hooks with VER THE PAST SEVERAL trebles that are slightly larger, but don’t get all crazy and use massive hooks. Just move up months I have had the pleasure to a front hook one size larger than the one of fishing with multiple talented that came on the bait. Leave the rear hook young bass anglers as they comalone so you aren’t impacting the way the pete in tournaments specifically designed for bait runs or wobbles. high school fishermen (and women). Speaking of the way a bait runs, it is As a matter of fact, as you read this there possible that after a could be hundreds of while (after hitting these young men and IF THE BAIT docks, and trees, and women on Toledo RUNS LEFT limbs, and your fishBend battling for the ing partner) that your championship in their favorite crankbait can association (one of start running funny. which might be my Usually, it will start daughter if her team running off to one side did well in regionals, or the other instead thanks for asking). of straight back to What I’ve learned you. This can become while being a boat capfrustrating if you are tain at various tourfishing around cover naments is that kids BEND THE LINE and need the bait to love to fish, and even run a precise line in beginners can put a TIE RIGHT order to not get hung lot of fish in the boat up. However, there is if you start them out a simple solution. No, slow and simple. Think back to when you were a teenager, I our biggest fish of the day. Even when you’re don’t throw it away and buy another one know that’s farther back for some of you than talking to your girlfriend, a crankbait is still (have you seen the prices for these things?). Simply tune it to run straight again. others, but just try. Back then could you tell working. This is really easy. If the bait is running to the difference between a Texas-rig, CarolinaThe second reason I like crankbaits is rig, wacky worm, split shot rig, jig, drop shot because with all those hooks on them the the left, bend the eye of the bait to the right. or any of the dozens of techniques that you kids tend to miss fewer bites. If a fish hits it If it is running to the right, bend it to the left. use today? is usually stuck. Of course this also means if Bend, don’t twist. Make small adjustments, Probably not. you hit a stick or stump you might get hung not huge ones, because a little bend in the So when you’re teaching your kids to fish up as well (I’ve spent plenty of time getting eye makes a huge difference in the direction today forget about taking them to a main lake baits off docks, tree limbs nowhere near the the bait will run. point to Carolina-rig for hours for a couple water, stumps, occasionally me, etc…), but of big bites and get back to the basics. Find it’s worth it. something they can chunk and wind to put a With all of that being said, crankbaits are few fish in the boat. not the perfect bait. Even though they are Email Paul Bradshaw at One of my favorite baits for introduc- light years ahead of where they were 20 years ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com ing new anglers to bass fishing is the small ago, they can still be improved upon.

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square-billed crankbait. It tops the list for a couple of reasons. First it can be very easy to use. If you want, all you have to do is simply cast and crank. If the fish are even halfway interested you will catch a few without having to do anything elaborate. If you want to switch up your technique put a pause in your retrieve when you get near cover (it really can be that simple). At a recent tournament, one of the kids in my boat was fishing a crankbait when he got a text from his girlfriend. As he pulled his phone out to respond his bait floated lazily to the top and a bass hit. It was

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ILLUSTRATION: PAUL BRADSHAW

5/16/16 10:34 AM

Texas GUNS by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

The 6.5mms

HE 6.5MM CALIBER—.264 IN American parlance —has been popular in Europe. This has been especially true in the Scandinavian countries, since before the turn of the 20th Century. The Swedes use 6.5x55s, which we consider to be marginal for deer, to take thousands of moose every season. W.D.M. Bell used a 6.5x54 Mannlicher with 160-grain solid bullets to kill elephants. Why this caliber has never been very popular in the U.S. is something I don’t understand. But except for a few smart old rascals who had a pet 6.5x55, 6.5x54, or sporterized 6.5 Arisaka, It hasn’t been— until recently. In the last 15 years the American shooter has finally discovered what the rest of the Western World has known for more than a hundred years—that the 6.5mm is one fine caliber. One of the things the 6.5 has going for it is that bullets in that caliber have amazing ballistic coefficients. That means that bullets in that caliber tend to shoot flatter, be more stable, and penetrate deeper than do many other calibers. This has been discovered and put to use by the guys and gals who participate in long-range target matches. The various 6.5s range from the diminutive to the monstrous and include both factory cartridges and wildcats. Two of the most popular in the recent past have been the .260 Remington (based on the .308 Winchester) and the .264 Winchester Magnum (with a case like the 7mm Remington Magnum). The .264 Winchester Magnum, developed in 1958, was well on its way to being the king of high velocity cartridges, until Remington introduced the 7mm Remington

Magnum in 1962, and kicked the legs out from under the .264. However, with modern slow-burning rifle powders the .264 Winchester is a real velocity star and is currently making a comeback as a long-range plains and mountain rifle. Matched with a 26-inch barrel it will spit a 120-grain bullet at 3,400 feet per second and a 130- at 3,250. This is not a lot more than the .270 Winchester, but is enough more to give the .264 a significant advantage in long-range trajectory. With a shorter barrel, however, the .264 Winchester is really no better than the old .270. One of the calibers that was recently developed (2007) specifically for the long distance games is the 6.5 Creedmoor. While it was originally developed as a target cartridge, shooters quickly learned that it is one fine hunting cartridge. I became acquainted with the 6.5 Creedmoor when we bought one for my granddaughter, Tristin, to use on a cow elk hunt in West Texas. Tristin was 12 at the time and couldn’t stand much recoil, and we figured the 6.5 Creedmoor was the most powerful caliber she could shoot well (she shoots it very well). While I was working up loads for her, I found that I liked the cartridge so much that I got one for myself. I have been loading for it and shooting it for the last few months and like it better now than I did then. The thing that’s different about the 6.5 Creedmoor is that it has an especially long throat in the barrel that allows the handloader to seat the bullets out far enough to take advantage of all the powder capacity of the cartridge, while it will still work in a short bolt action. This means that a;though the cartridge case is actually shorter than the .260 Remington, it has almost the same useable powder capacity. When matched with good 120-grain bullets such as the Barnes TSX, the Hornady GMX, or the Nosler 130-grain AccuBond, it makes an especially deadly deer cartridge. Hornady makes their Superformance T E X A S

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rounds with a 129-grain SST at 2,950 fps, which is also a great choice. It may be the finest cartridge extant for the lady, youth, or other hunter who doesn’t like being belted by recoil. And that is saying plenty! Even the diminutive 6.5 Creedmoor will break 3,050 fps with a 120-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip and 2,950 with a 130-grain AccuBond. The ballistic coefficient for the 6.5mm 130-grain AB is 0.488 as compared to 0.435 for the .270 caliber 130-grain AccuBond. So, I think it safe to say that the little 6.5 Creedmoor will do practically anything the venerated .270 Winchester will do, and do it with a lot less noise and recoil. Tristin did not get an elk on our West Texas hunt; they were just too wild and spooky for us to get her close enough and for the elk to stand still long enough. She really is a fine shot, but has not learned to shoot with speed, yet. Tristin finally asked me to shoot one for her, but I refused. That is no way to end a hunt. It was her shot, and I will not shoot another hunter’s game. Later I took my 6.5 Creedmoor to West Texas on a mule deer/aoudad hunt. Again the odds were on the side of the animals. We saw no aoudads, and while we saw a lot of deer, I saw none that I wanted to shoot. Mostly they were young animals, no older than 3 1/2 years, so I passed. Maybe next season both Tristin and I will have better luck and our little 6.5s will make meat.

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Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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Industry INSIDER The Father’s Day Gift for Every Sportsman IT’S A PASSION THAT ALL ANGLERS and hunters share, developed though years of triumphs and failures out in the field or on the water. For most, those experiences define them as Sportsmen, and the ones who nurtured that passion deserve all of the credit. This Father’s Day, Sportsman’s Box helps you share your appreciation with a gift that keeps on giving through every season. Sportsman’s Box is the first subscription

box that delivers hunting, fishing, and shooting gear to thousands of members across the US and Canada. Every month, Sportsman’s Box partners with both new and well known brands, to ship field tested products that Sportsmen can use in their outdoor adventures. Each box caters to a specific theme, and will relate to the seasons ahead. There is no better way to learn about new

products, while stocking the mud room with essentials that every hunter or fisherman will need. This Father’s Day, you can return the favor for the Sportsmen that you have shared so many memories and experiences with through the years. You can give them a gift that gives every month, with options to ship 1, 3, 6, or 12 month memberships. Each box will have up to $75 in gear, and costs as low as $35 per month. Gifts and memberships can be ordered online at www.sportsmansbox.com. Use Coupon Code “TEXASMAG” for $5 off your first gift. See below for examples of previous months’ boxes.

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Sportsman’s Box goodies for January, February and March.

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New Daiwa Baitcasters DAIWA’S NEW ZILLION LINE OF baitcaster’s feature an all new lower profile design. Easier to palm and feels natural on the rod. But still has the T-Wing system which will reduce backlashes and gives you a farther cast. Now they have added the SV spool so you can cast lightweight lures with little chance of backlashes. It also

• Right and Left Hand Models • Gear Ratios 6.3:1 & 7.3:1 Daiwa’s new Tatula CT line of baitcasters feature an all new lower profile design. Easier to palm and feels natural on the

Daiwa’s new Tatula (top) and Zillion (bottom) baitcast reels.

rod. But still has the T-Wing system which will reduce backlashes and gives you a farther cast. Also still has the aluminum frame and air rotation which give it a silky smooth retrieve. Available in left and right retrieve to meet your needs. Tatula’s features include: • T-Wing System • Magforce Z • Aluminum Frame • Line Capacity: 16 lb. –100 Yards • 8 Bearing System (7BB +1RB) • Ultimate Tournament Drag (UTD) with 13.2 lbs. of drag • 90 mm Swept Handle with cutouts for reduced weight • I-Shaped Handle Knobs • Weight 7.4 oz. • Right and Left Hand Models • Gear Ratios 5.5:1 (RH Only), 6.3:1, 7.3:1 & 8.1:1 (RH Only). For more information, visit Daiwa.com.

still has the aluminum frame and Zaion side plate on the gear side which gives it strength and will be lightweight. Daiwa added four corrosive resistance ball bearings for more durability and will also aid in casting and smoothness. Available in left and right retrieve to meet your needs. Features on the new Zillion baicaster include: • SV Spool (Easy to cast all weights of lures) • G1 Duralumin Spool • Air Brake System • T-Wing System • Aluminum Frame & Zaion side cover on the gear side • Line capacity: 14 lb. –100 yds. • 9 Bearing System (4CRBB+4BB+1RB) • Ultimate Tournament Drag (UTD) with 13.2 lbs. of drag • 90 mm Swept Handle with cutouts for reduced weight • I-Shaped Handle Knobs • Weight 6.8 oz. PHOTOS: DAIWA

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Fish and Game GEAR

Easily Mount Your Trophies Euro-Style

gested retail prices of $34.99 and $59.99, respectively.

SKULLHOOKER HAS REVOLUTIONized the way hunters can display their European skull-mount trophies with its affordable, stylish and easy do-it-yourself bracket system. No matter what your trophy may be the Skullhooker’s patented Little Hooker and Big Hooker mounting solutions have you covered. The Little Hooker skull hanger is designed specifically for small to mid-sized skulls including, all deer species, hogs, aoudad, alligator, black bear, cats, antelope and exotic medium-size game such as gazelle, impala and others. The Big Hooker holds large to extra-large sized skulls including, elk, bison, moose, caribou, grizzly/brown/polar bears, domestic steer and other exotic larger game such as kudu, giraffe, wildebeest, oryx, stag and Cape buffalo. Either one can be assembled in a matter of minutes with no permanent alterations to your skull. Simply attach the wall plaque to a wall stud with the supplied screws, insert the mounting arm studs into the wall-plaque’s pivot rings, attach the prong to the mounting arm in any one of 12 adjustment angles, lower the skull onto the center prong—the 90 |

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Winchester Releases 572 WINCHESTER SMOKELESS PROPELlants, the powder For Loading Professionals is excited to announce the release of Winchester 572, a new Ball Powder available immediately in one-pound (1lb), fourpound (4lb) and eight-pound (8lb) con-

SkullHooker European skull mount.

Big Hooker comes with a second prong for extra-large skulls—through the spinal opening, and you’re finished. Adjustments and changes to the angle can be made at any time. Each SkullHooker mount is constructed of heavy-gauge steel, rustically powder coated in either Robust Brown or Graphite Black for a simple yet stylish display of your trophy. The Little Hooker and Big Hooker are available at retailers nationwide or conveniently online at www.skullhooker.com for sug-

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Winchester 572 propellant.

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tainers at quality reloading powder dealers. This new propellant is strategically designed and manufactured to perform multiple powder functions: • Allows duplication of the famous Winchester 28-gauge AA target load • Perfect for the original Winchester 3¼ dram equivalent, 1330 fps, 1¼ oz, 12-gauge upland game load • Provides top-quality 1200 fps target loads in both 28- and 20-gauge, with all popular reloading components

• Showing off its versatility, can be used in shotshell field loads from 12-gauge to 28-gauge and handgun applications such as 380 Auto, 9MM Luger, 38 Special and 45 ACP. To obtain complete load data for this versatile and useful propellant vist the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center online at HodgdonReloading.com.

Wheel Well Guards HUSKY LINERS WHEEL WELL Guards cover, protect and boost the appearance of your truck’s wheel wells. Made from a durable, impact resistant all-weather material, the Wheel Well Guards protect from rust and decay caused by rocks, dirt, salt, All-weather guards protect wheel wells from dirt, salt, rocks, rust and decay.

and debris. Stopping the rage of the road in its tracks.Best of all, they are ridiculously easy to clean. Just spray them down and they’ll be good as new. Who’d of thought a wheel well could look so sexy? This product features tough and durable impact resistant thermoplastic and is easy to install. The Wheel Well Guard also comes with a No Hassle Lifetime Guarantee and is designed and manufatured in the U.S.A. Visit HuskyLiners.com for more details.

The dual focus system allows an exceptional ease of use. With the gross focus adjustment ring, the user can first focus quickly on the

Minox MD88 APO spotting scope with angled eyepiece.

MINOX Spotting Scope has Angled Eyepiece

object in view and then use the fine focus ring in a second step for fine tuning.

FOR THE DEDICATED NATURE observer and birder a high quality spotting scope is an essential tool. To meet that need, MINOX has extended its range of spotting scopes with the MD 88 W APO model, which has an angled eyepiece. The MD 88 W APO provides core MINOX features: compactness, quality and precision. Equipped with a steplessly adjustable eyepiece with 20 to 60 times magnification it offers maximum flexibility. Fitted with a very high quality and extremely powerful optical system that features high-resolution, apochromatically corrected special glass and multicoating of the lens surface, the MD 88 W APO provides an exceptionally brilliant image, rich in contrast with natural color rendition. The high quality APO technology delivers a color-fringefree image with a resolution that brings out the smallest detail, even into twilight. T E X A S

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Another feature is the integrated eyepiece that permits the observation of far-off objects in an amazing magnification, and details are experienced in high resolution and image quality.

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With a rotating tripod mount, the MINOX spotting scope can be conveniently turned on its longitudinal axis and fixed with ease – also making the new MD 88 W APO a perfect and essential tool for target shooting. Other equipment features include a practical lens hood that can be pulled out quickly and easily to provide protection against undesired glare from sunlight, and it all comes with an ever-ready case. When developing the new MD 88 W APO, wishes of digiscoping enthusiasts were also taken into account. This resulted in integration of a bayonet on the eyepiece for a camera adapter, so this scope can be connected to any commercially available digital camera. The MINOX MD 88 W APO is extremely robust, shock-resistant and watertight up to a depth of 16’5”. Suggested retail price for the new spotting scope is $1,799. For more information visit Minox.com.

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Fish and Game GEAR KastKing Charts New Course with Rover Series KASTKING, AN ICAST AWARD-WINning division of Eposeidon, Inc. www. eposeidon.com located on Long Island, New York, has introduced a new round conventional baitcasting reel for the professional fishing charter market - the KastKing

KastKing Rover

Rover B Charter Captain Special. The KastKing Rover B Charter Captain Special series in 40, 50, and 60 sizes comes without a level-wind line guide and are equipped with 6 premium shielded stainless steel ball bearings, carbon fiber drag washers instant-stop anti reverse, 5.3:1 gear ratio, precision machined brass gears, centrifugal brake, hard anodized aluminum alloy spool and side plates, stainless steel components, and line-out alarm clicker. “We have met with many fishing 92 |

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guides and captains around the country for their input. Our objectives were to help them keep their operating costs down and provide durable tackle, which also translates to savings,” says Tom Gahan, Marketing Director at Eposeidon, Inc. “We originally set the stage with KastKing braided line. It sells for less than half of competing brands and is as good as or better than anything out there. It will be the same for the KastKing Rover. We are not the first to have a nonlevelwind reel. But, we can safely say we’re the first to offer a quality reel of this type at this price point with so many features such as carbon fiber drag. We listened to the professional fishing public, and the KastKing Rover Charter Captain’s Special is the result.” The all new KastKing Rover, has several upgrades from the original RXA model with all new and improved features including: carbon fiber drag washers, centrifugal brake, hardened stainless steel main shaft, non-slip foam grips on dynamic strengthened handles, reinforced side plates, and an ergonomic thumb release line out bar. Rover is also available with a level-wind line guide in all sizes for those who want that feature. Rover reels are available right or left-handed models and are saltwater approved. “I chose the 60 size for fishing off the East End of Long Island where I commonly use eightounces

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of sinker weight when bottom fishing. The KastKing Rover B 60 should be perfect for inshore work on saltwater species such as fluke, sea bass, and porgies. In addition, this reel should have no problem with school sized stripers, bluefish, and also redfish and large catfish,” says Capt. Tom Mikoleski of Grand Slam Charters in Montauk, NY and author of Bass Buff- A Striper Fishing Obsession Guide. “The reason for the ‘no level wind’ is twofold. Firstly, it’s something else that can break, and in addition, newbies can very easily get their fingers pinched between the level wind guide and the frame when using a level wind reel. Now this can’t happen. It’s a safety factor for clients.” KastKing Rover will be initially available through Amazon.com/KastKing and other online retailers. MSRP ranges from $62.98 to $67.98 for 40, 50, and 60 sizes and will be discounted to sell in the mid-$40 to mid-$50 range based on size.

Effortless Slide Racking HANDI-RACKER IS ONE EFFORTless way to rack the slide on most any semi-auto pistol. Yes, most of us can rack a slide with our hands. But for those with arthritis, weak or small hands, or who may be disabled (even missing an appendage), slide operation can be difficult or impossible! Handi-Racker makes these problems disappear. Simply place the Handi-Racker atop

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the slide and place the front of the HandiRacker against any firm surface and push the pistol forward and the slide is effortlessly functioned. The Handi-Racker also makes it effortless to clear a hard-stuck jam, and when disassembling or reassembling, Handi-Racker makes it easy to hold the slide rearward while removing or replacing pins and/or levers. And of course, it makes it easier to lock a slide back on a heavy-spring pistol. CNC machined from an extruded block of high-density, tough-as-nails pistol finishprotecting polyethylene, the patented Handi-Racker is designed for many years

of hard use. Handi-Racker comes in two sizes that fit 90 percent of the most popular semi-automatics currently manufactured. Pick the one you need at www.handiracker. com. (Note: The popular Beretta 92 series requires a separate model due to its exposed barrel construction.) Handi-Racker CEO Chris McAnich says, “Look at it this way — you probably have power steering in your car, so think of the Handi-Racker as power steering for pistols; less work, more fun.” Visit handi-racker.com for additional information.

Sightmark HX Riﬂescopes IN 2016, SIGHTMARK LAUNCHED its new Core HX hunting series of riflescopes aimed at providing hunters with an optic designed specifically for the game they pursue. Designed in the heart of Texas, the Sightmark Core HX series of riflescopes are engineered to be a reliable match for the modern hunter. With distinct reticle options, this line features three new deer hunting scopes and one designed specifically for hog hunters. The four new Sightmark riflescopes include the Core HX 2-7x32 HHR Hog

Hunter Riflescope, the Core HX 3-9x40 VHR Venison Hunter Riflescope, the Core HX 4-16x44AO VHR Venison Hunter Riflescope, and the Core HX 6-24x50AO VHR Venison Hunter Riflescope.

Designed specifically for hunting feral hogs, the Core HX 2-7x32 HHR is a reliable optical system that offers a wide field of view for fast shooting on moving targets. There are few tools in a deer hunter’s arsenal more important than a reliable riflescope. Crafted for seasons of accuracy, the Core HX 3-9x40 VHR, 4-16x44AO VHR, and 6-24x50AO VHR provide deer hunters with a rangefinding BDC reticle that works with a variety of hunting calibers. Each scope in the Core HX series is constructed from a single piece of durable aircraft-grade aluminum to withstand the most punishing conditions and are shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof. For more information on the Sightmark Core HX line of riflescopes, visit sightmark.com.

Sightmark Core HX riﬂescope.

Handi-Racker makes it easier for people with limited use of their hands to rack the slide on any semi-auto pistol. T E X A S

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Texas TASTED by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Shrimp and Swiss Chard Pasta

E HAVE BEEN ORGANIC gardeners for several years and love the lettuces and greens that grow in early Spring. This was our first year to grow Swiss chard. We have thoroughly enjoyed it and the abundance it produces. This is a great way to combine the chard along with fresh herbs, cheeses and seafood. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have. Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients: ¼ cup butter melted 3 teaspoons olive oil (for the sauté’) 4 tbsps. olive oil (for the roux) 8 oz. mushrooms (baby portabellas) 2 cloves garlic minced 1 jalapeno stemmed, seeded and sliced ¼ cup green onion sliced ½ teaspoon thyme ½ teaspoon oregano ¼ teaspoon rosemary 2 roma tomatoes diced 5 cups Swiss chard rinsed, stemmed, and chopped 1 lb. med/large Sshrimp peeled and deveined, sliced into thirds ¼ cup green or black olives, sliced Salt and Pepper to taste 1 T Texas Gourmet Sidewinder Searing Spice or any blackening/cajun spice ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper Roux: 4 T olive oil 94 |

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Shrimp & Swiss Chard Pasta

4 T Flour 3 cups seafood or vegetable stock ¼ teaspoon chicken bouillon ¼ cup cream or half and half 1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan 1 T capers 3 cups cooked rigatoni or penne pasta. An 8 inch casserole dish, greased ¼ cup parmesan and ¼ cup bread crumbs, mixed together

Directions: Melt butter and olive oil over medium heat 2 Add mushrooms, green onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Sauté’ for 45 minutes then add chard, tomatoes, thyme, oregano, rosemary and olives and cook for 3 to 4 minutes Add shrimp, crushed red pepper and Texas Gourmet Sidedwinder Searing Spice.. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on med/ high heat then set aside.

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Roux: Heat olive oil and flour over medium heat and stir with a whisk until well blended. Continue stirring for 5 to 7 minutes to add color, then slowly stir in stock until combined. Add cream, parmesan cheese, capers and pasta. Next, stir in shrimp and vegetable mixture until combined. Place in a greased 8x8 casserole dish Dust with parmesan and bread crumb mixture Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with tossed salad, some good garlic toast and a glass of your favorite red or white wine. Bon Appetit’

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

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ADVERTISE HERE: (512) 497-7674

www.FishandGameGear.com T E X A S

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

OODROW AND I USED my truck on a road/camping trip to the mountains of New Mexico in back in June. The reason was simple. I have to drive. No, I have to drive. I love to drive and am the world’s worst passenger. If I’m in that seat, I’ll either sleep the whole way, which is probably good for some people, or I’ll do bad things when I get bored. I get bored easily while riding. Then important things start going out the window, music gets really loud, and I start messing with the driver, which isn’t usually a good idea. So through past 35 years, whenever Woodrow and I head out on an adventure, he rides and I drive. We were somewhere high in a caldera in the mountains when we saw a herd of elk in a huge meadow down below. I pulled off into a nearby overlook and we parked to watch them. He and I have a long history of simply stopping to talk. Some of the places we stop might be odd to some folks, and others, remarkable. Once, on the way back from a float trip down the Frio, he and I stopped in a small country cemetery off I-35 to pay our respects to his favorite author, the late Roy Bedichek. Woodrow loves Bedichek’s works, so we sat in the truck parked in the shade of a live oak, and talked philosophy, writing, and where we all end up at the end of a long, productive life. That was near as perfect an afternoon as I’ve known. Another time while we were on separate trips, I called him from the side of the road just outside of Key West, Florida. He pulled his old Chevrolet over on the side of the road in Wyoming’s Wind River Range and we described what we could see from where we were. That day last June, we left the overlook and cruised through forests of pinon pine with the 96 |

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“ I know guys who wouldn’t put a pair of dirty gloves in the ﬂoorboard.

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Contents of a Truck

windows down and real country music playing on the radio, and not that bubble-gum, rapcrap, rock and roll *$&#!!! they call modern country. He sipped on a “to go” cup of coffee. “I love trucks.” With a cup in my own in hand, I took a deep breath of clean, pine-scrubbed air. “Me too. I don’t think I could do without one.” “You know what I like best about your truck?” Uh oh. Here it comes. Woodrow has concrete black and white thoughts about what makes a “True Truck,” instead of a “City Truck.” “What?”

He pointed toward the hump in the floorboard between us. “You have two pairs of gloves lying there.” I glanced down at the worn work gloves. There’s always at least one pair in the truck. I used a pair yesterday to unload splintery boards in a landfill. Other times they’re ready for a flat tire, or maybe to open a wire gate on a hunting lease. He sipped again, and sighed as cool air rushed through the open window. “We live in the city, where most people keep their pickups

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washed, vacuumed, and waxed. I know guys who wouldn’t put a pair of dirty gloves in the floorboard. But you have two. I like that.” We continued through the mountains, talking trucks. I recalled Grandpa’s old 1948 Chevrolet, Dad’s 1956 Ford, and my first new truck, a 1986 Ford. He’d only recently purchased a new Chevrolet after the rear axle on his old pickup froze up and flipped him and his wife, Flower Child, on Interstate 45. Their seatbelts held, and they emerged scratched, but still healthy. My new Dodge dually is mainly to pull our RV. I’m pretty particular about it, because it still looks new, though a few rude folks have opened doors against it in parking lots. There’s scuff on one side, from a mesquite on the deer lease. It’s used mostly on the highway when I’m not pulling the trailer. But it has also evolved in the past few weeks. Now there boxes of shotgun shells, cleaning kits, tools, camping gear, coolers, and new baby seat. The new acquisition is for my grandbaby Miss Riley Harper, who belongs to the Redhead, and Taz’s new girl, Miss Logan Joy, not to mention Parker who’s still trying to cut his first tooth. So I have a baby seat behind me, with a mirror attached to the headrest so I can see who is with me. You’d think I’d be out of that business, but that’s not the way of it. What Woodrow didn’t know that day in New Mexico was that I’d put the second pair in the truck before he and I left, just in case we had a flat tire. He’d need a pair of his own to help me change it. What he didn’t know, didn’t hurt him.

Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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BLACK DRUM

REDFISH

Rockport

Galveston

Josh Davis of Southlake caught this nice 25-inch black drum in Salt Lake near Rockport. He was visiting his grandparents while on vacation last summer.

Norberto Julian Martinez caught this 35-inch redﬁsh at the Galveston South Jetty. He caught the red, his personal best, on quartered fresh crab.

AXIS Uvalde County Twelve-year-old Colton Krailo shot this axis buck on his ﬁrst hunt, at Concan in Uvalde County.

HALIBUT Alaska Diane Davis with two halibut, caught on a trip she and husband Ralph took to Petersburg, Alaska.

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Rockport

REDFISH

Yvonne De La Rosa caught and released two black drum six days apart in the same spot at Rockport. The ﬁrst was a 40-inch 30 pounder, and the second (pictured) was 50 inches and 35 pounds.

Five- year-old Sunny Luster of Sweeny with her ﬁrst keeper red. She caught it in West Galveston Bay and reeled it in entirely by herself.

West Galveston Bay

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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.

CATFISH Lake Conroe Seven-year-old Reid Kelley and nine-yearold Austin Krenek with some Lake Conroe catﬁsh they caught while ﬁshing around the boat docks and bulkheads with their Paw Paw.

SPECKLED TROUT Galveston Bay Two-year-old Brantley Berss LOVES ﬁshing. This was his ﬁrst time out with his daddy and “Pappie” and they caught a bunch of speckled trout in Galveston Bay.

WHITETAIL Liberty County Thirteen-year-old Alex Atwood’s ﬁrst buck, killed at Devers in Liberty County.

SPECKLED TROUT Indleside BLACK DRUM

Three-year-old Quint Jendrzey (yes, named after the ﬁctional shark hunter) caught his personal best speckled trout at Indleside, casting a Norton Sand Eel Jr.

Sargent Karen Klein of Dallas caught and released this 42inch black drum while ﬁshing off her dock on the Intracoastal Waterway in Sargent.

REDFISH South Padre Scott Owings caught this 27-inch redﬁsh from a kayak at South Padre.

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