Texas Fish & Game November 2016

VOICE OF THE TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

Black Drum:

Monster Fish, Midget Budget

November 2016 | $3.95

Time to Bone Up on

Deer

Law Season of Big Bass:

ShareLunker Autumn

ProďŹ le of a

Killer Hog The Fall

Flounder Catch

Streaming Live from Texas:

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www.FishGame.com

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C O N T R I B U T O R S

SUBSCRIPTIONS

(CONTINUED)

1745 GREENS ROAD, HOUSTON, TX 77032 PHONE

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.

TOM BEHRENS GREG BERLOCHER PAUL BRADSHAW CAPT. MIKE HOLMES DUSTIN WARNCKE STAN SKINNER LISA MOORE

• • • • • • •

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR

A D V E R T I S I N G ROY NEVES PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

C O N T R I B U T O R S JOE DOGGETT DOUG PIKE TED NUGENT LOU MARULLO MATT WILLIAMS CALIXTO GONZALES LENNY RUDOW STEVE LAMASCUS DUSTIN ELLERMANN KENDAL HEMPHILL WILL LESCHPER REAVIS WORTHAM

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SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR CONSERVATION EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR

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Table of

NOVEMBER 2016 Volume 33 • NO. 7

Contents FEATURES

THE FALL FLOUNDER CATCH COVER STORY: Staying on the Right Side of the Deer Law Between new rules to u address chronic wasting disease and existing rules, such as those prohibiting the use of dogs to track wounded deer in certain counties, it pays to be well versed in the laws that govern Texas deer hunting—before you head out to the woods.

By late November, most flounder are heading out to the Gulf to spawn. The key word is “most,” because some flatfish stick around the bays, offering winter angling opportunities—especially in Upper Coast systems.

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TF&G Special Staff Report COVER PHOTO: U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

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TF&G Staff Report SHARELUNKER AUTUMN The month of November saw the biggest Texas largemouth ever caught on an artificial lure. Now that ShareLunker season is upon us, here are the best lakes to fish—if you want to chase a 13-pound-plus bass.

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by Matt Williams ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: KILLER HOGS

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Shark attacks get all the press, but more people worldwide have been killed by wild hogs than sharks. In the U.S., Texas has reported more hog attacks than any other state. What makes these monsters—many bigger than a black bear—so ornery?

by Chester Moore Practical To Tactical

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What are your best

u firepower options for home defense and concealed or open carry? From shotguns, to handguns, to rifles, you’ll want to consider which solutions best fit your needs if you plan to arm yourself for protection.

CREEK CATFISH Many of the thousands of creeks and streams winding across Texas harbor secret catfish honey holes that are rarely fished, except for the occasional line dropped by an in-the-know local.

by Jeff Stewart

by Stan Skinner

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Contents (continued)

Inside FISH & GAME

COLUMNS

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by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

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T E X A S

F I S H

by Joe Doggett

Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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Nugent in the Wild

by Ted Nugent

TF&G Editor At Large

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Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

TF&G Political Commentator

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Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales

TF&G Saltwater Editor

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Bare Bones Hunting

8 LETTERS 89 TEXAS TESTED 90 INDUSTRY INSIDER

92 FISH AND

GAME GEAR

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TF&G PHOTOS

NEW SECTION

by Lou Marullo

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Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams

TF&G Freshwater Editor

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Texas Boating

by Lenny Rudow

TF&G Boating Editor

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Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus

TF&G Firearms Editor

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Practical Angler

by Greg Berlocher

TF&G Contributing Editor

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Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven

38 BLACK DRUM 42 TF&G REPORT 42 TEXAS HOT SHOTS

44 TEXAS DEPT. OF DEFENSE

The Texas Gourmet

46 TEXAS DEPT. OF

Open Season

48 TEXAS COASTAL

by Reavis Wortham

TF&G Humor Editor

www.FishGame.com &

DEPARTMENTS

TF&G Hunting Editor

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Doggett at Large TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

N EARLY OCTOBER, WE WERE REMINDED HOW LUCKY WE are to work with people and organizations that contribute to the betterment of the world. Attending the 34th annual Awards Banquet for the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)’s State of Texas Angler Rodeo (S.T.A.R.) Tournament, we witnessed the awesome impact that this months-long, coastwide event has on families and, ultimately, on the very future of fishing.

As a Scholarship Sponsor of the S.T.A.R. tournament since 1997, we have contributed almost $400,000 toward college scholarships for kids who have won in the STAR Teens Inshore Division. We’re certainly proud of that, but we are more proud that our modest support has been part of the larger impact this pioneering conservation organization has made on sea life, habitat and sportfishing, first in Texas and then along the entire U.S. coast.

Founded in 1977 by the late Walter Fondren as the Gulf Coast Conservation Association, GCCA waded right into the thick of a surging conservation battle, leading the charge against commercial fishing interests that threatened the survival of redfish as a viable sport fish along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Victorious in the Redfish War, GCCA kept moving forward as a leading voice for all saltwater species and coastal anglers. In the early 1990s, chapters formed in New England and mid-Atlantic regions, and TF&G’s Elliott “Gulf” and the “G” were dropped from CCA’s official Donnelly presented a name. Now, CCA is a national force in conserva$25,000 scholarship tion, with chapters in 17 states spanning the Gulf of to Jordan Sandow at Mexico, Atlantic seaboard and the Pacific Northwest. the 2016 banquet.

A major factor in promoting this massive growth in scope and funding power was the novel concept that became the S.T.A.R. tournament. Tournament Director Bill Kinney has built S.T.A.R. into one of the largest fishing tournaments—and one of the most interesting amateur sporting events—in the world. He hasn’t done it alone. Operations Director Gina Rice and Customer Service Manager Peggy McMillan, along with a host of CCA staff and volunteers, have also been integral to S.T.A.R.’s 34-year success story.

The concept is simple, and boldly ambitious: for the whole summer, anglers fish the entire 384-mile Texas Coast, competing in a number of divisions for more than a million dollars in prizes, including trucks, boats—and best of all—a total of nine scholarships of $50,000 and $25,000. As a result of these powerhouse incentives, participation has grown to 50,000 anglers a year—including thousands of kids. And that’s just Texas. CCA S.T.A.R. tournaments have been established in other regions now, and because entry also requires membership in CCA, this popular event has been a driving force in the explosive growth in membership nationwide.

If you fish saltwater and are not fishing the S.T.A.R. tournament, you’re missing the chance to win some major league prizes—and maybe put a kid through college.

If you fish saltwater and are not a member of CCA, you’re missing the opportunity to give back to a resource that has given us all more than we can ever repay.

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by Chester Moore

TF&G Editor in Chief

Coastal Conservation Awesomeness

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Editor’s Notes

CONSERVATION FOCUS

56 TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

70 PRIME TIMES

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LETTERS to the Editor Rattlers In Love I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A ONCE IN a lifetime experience I happened upon here in Central Texas.

This photo is of two “solid” four-foot mating ratters I got in one grab from my snake tongs. Talk about intense!

Butch Repa

Bobcat Question I RECENTLY SAW A LITTLE BOBCAT in my neighborhood that could not have weighed more than say 7-8 pounds. It was the size of a young house cat. Could a cat that size survive on its own? And are bobcats dangerous if they are in a neighborhood?

Brenda Shook Editor: I recently had the opportunity to photograph a young bobcat about that size in the wild. Young bobcats tend to not be as shy as

A pair of mating rattlesnakes from Central Texas.

the older, more experienced ones but they are as just as strikingly beautiful.

The cat you described is about the size of one that would be just starting to hunt on its own. A supreme predator, they are excellent at killing rodents and birds and in some areas large specimens have been verified taking down whitetail deer.

Bobcats are not considered dangerous to

The editor recently photographed this young bobcat.

people, unless of course they are unhealthy or people harass them. Remember never to feed any wild predator including bobcats.

I hope you enjoy this photo of a bobcat I photographed the size of the one you described.

Keith Lake Question NOW THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY to get into Keith Lake (in Jefferson County) via the new boat launch, I would like to know good fishing areas. I have never fished there.

Jack Herford Editor: The best thing to do is go to google maps and scan the area with that. The spot where Keith Lake Cut enters the lake has a small reef. Great spot for specks and flounders.

I don’t know the area that well other than chasing birds and looking for reds and fishing that cut area. Any of the canals linking the different smaller lakes going south can be productive as well. Be careful navigating though.

Those areas get pretty shallow.

North Padre Coverage I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME SUBscriber and enjoy the magazine BUT there is one super deficiency: there is nothing about fishing in the North Padre area.

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and a guy write about the Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield south.

Am I the only subscriber from Corpus Christi? Oh and we have a lot of people come to the island from San Antone and other inland venues. Just look at the launch ramps at Billings Bait, Clems, and Marker 37 Marina.

It sure would be nice to read about “how to” in the Packery Channel to Baffin Bay area.

Regards,

Editor: Thanks so much. Roy and Ardia Neves, our owners, have had a commitment to education for 25 years, distributing the magazine to high school wildlife classes. Four years ago we began doing the weekly newsletter and love hearing of home school families enjoying it as well as those in public and private educational settings.

Henry Quigley North Padre Island resident

Send Your Comments to:

Editor: Henry, we know and we are working on it. In fact, we should have this lack of coverage rectified by the January issue.

Educational Newsletter I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU for producing the weekly educational news-

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letter. I am a home schoolteacher and heard about it by word of mouth. I have enjoyed it over the last year and use it frequently in our class setting. Our kids love the videos.

Jennifer Nelson

Texas Fish & Game 1745 Greens Rd Houston TX 77032 editor@fishgame.com

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EDITOR’S Notes

by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Sacred Cow Tipping

R

EMEMBER COW TIPPING? It was the craze of finding cows sleeping on their feet, rushing in and pushing them over. Some say it is an urban legend, but there are enough Youtubers doing this to justify it as a reality. Not a nice thing to do to the cow, but real nonetheless.

It’s time we tip over some sacred cows of the outdoor world. There are some issues no one wants to touch because of business reasons, political correctness and downright cowardice in some cases.

Although I have no desire to tip an actual cow, throwing some of these sacred ones off balance should be fun.

Pollution Politics IT IS TIME THE FISHERIES CONSERvation community starts talking about water pollution.

Mention bumping up the minimum size on bass or speckled trout, and you will get tons of emails, tweets and public comment. Meetings around the state would turn into a scene that would have made Joe Blanchard and Southwest Championship Wrestling proud back in the day.

I have never actually seen an actual physical fight at one of these events, but I have seen men cut promos that remind me of a bloodcovered Bruiser Brody cutting a promo on Cowboy Scott Casey after a cage match.

Mention water pollution and get crickets—Zilch.

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down the bag limit.

I salute the Coastal Conservation Association for their recent efforts to raise awareness of the dioxins in the Galveston Bay complex. The problem is we are so worried about looking “green” and liberal, if we support anything to do with pollution reduction we keep our mouths shut.

That is nonsense.

Water pollution is an issue for anyone who does not want to end up at MD Anderson cancer hospital. It’s an issue for anyone who wants fish and wildlife to have safe water to survive and thrive and be safe to eat.

Land Hogs ANOTHER, (ALBEIT LESS SERIOUS) sacred cow that needs tipping is the fictional notice of feral hog population control. Yes feral hogs cause problems. There is no question they destroy millions of dollars of property annually. But when you see landowners charging $1,000 to hunt hogs, that has nothing to do with controlling numbers. It is all about making money.

I am all for that. If a hunter wants to pay $5,000 for a hog hunt good. I hope landowners make tons of money, but let’s be real. If the same people who complain about hog numbers really wanted to help control them it would be a lot cheaper to hunt them on their property.

More hunters equals more dead hogs.

If state wildlife management areas, national forests and other public venues were more serious about hog control they would allow unlimited hog trapping, dog hunting and other methods during the off season—but don’t hold your breath on that one either.

Just because you run a Facebook group on trout fishing does not mean you are a rock star. I have seen more snooty attitudes and just downright clown-like behavior by folks who operate social media groups or have a few Youtube followers than just about anything in years.

These are the media of today, at least a big part of it. We embrace them here at Texas Fish & Game, but please do not act as if you are the only one who knows anything because you clicked the “create group” icon on Facebook and started posting photos.

Most groups and Youtube channels are fun, fact-filled and done by good, passionate people. However, I am sure everyone here has encountered the wannabe, pathetic expert by virtue of a free platform where they didn’t have to accomplish anything to start.

I love the great outdoors, but I write about it because it is a business. Oh I am passionate about this profession, but it is how I feed my family and how I have done it since I was 19.

People who do things strictly for ego and to build a following for no other reason to have a following, need help.

Keep you intentions pure and you will go far.

If you want to help people learn more about something, you’re good at (like catching bull reds in the surf) by all means engage social media and share. I salute all humble members of this new media who simply want to share their passion and skills That world could use a serious jolt of humility on top of expertise.

Now excuse me while I find some more sacred cows to tip.

That was fun!

Social Media Celebs THE FISHING WORLD HAS BEEN injected with a heavy dose of unfounded egotism with the advent of social media. It actually goes back to the beginning of forums an early form of social media, but is running rampant with Youtube, Vine, Facebook, etc.

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Email Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com

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DOGGETT at Large

by JOE DOGGETT :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Taking a Stand

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ORE TEXAS WHITE-TAILED deer tags are filled from box blinds than by all other hunting options combined. At least, that’s my observation based on approximately 50 deer seasons in the Lone Star State.

There is a reason for longstanding popularity of the elevated blind; the vantage of the box provides concealment and confidence while overseeing a promising scope of terrain. Not coincidentally, a game feeder or food plot often is situated within 100 yards of the perch.

There’s nothing wrong with this. Indeed, the idea in humane hunting is to place a clean shot, and the high-percentage way to do this is with a scoped rifle from a stable rest at reasonably close range. The proper box blind provides this opportunity.

As a tool for game management, the stand allows the disciplined hunter to evaluate the age and antlers of a potential “shooter” and wait for a standing broadside. Such controlled deliberation seldom is possible when horn rattling or still hunting on foot. Even when high racking (legally driving in a tricked-out hunting vehicle on private ranch roads), a quick draw often is necessary when a sudden corner faces a close deer.

In short, the tower blind minimizes blown chances and lousy shots. At least, it should.

As a new opening day approaches, here are a few pointers on “taking a stand” that might benefit the relative newcomer to deer hunting in Texas: If the weather is cold or even semi-cold, tote one more layer than you think you’ll need.

Sitting motionless for several hours allows chill to creep close. And, worth note, the elevated box blind lacks the snug insulation of a roost on the ground. This is especially true if a significant wind is blowing.

A cold hunter is not a focused hunter. You

fidget and fret and probably quit too soon.

Most deer hunters wear camouflaged clothing. “Full camo” is fine although not necessary in the typical box blind.

Ironically, many hunters swaddled in the latest blend-in, can’t-miss natural patterns fail to pay attention to the face and hands—the two extremities that move the most for the seated hunter.

Even in warm weather, a pair of mesh gloves and a pullover facemask can be a dealsaver. Face paint seems to be mandatory on many cable deer hunting shows (especially deadly looking tiger stripes fanning from the eyes) but the simple mesh facemask serves the same purpose.

If you do elect for the war paint, you might want to set the alarm clock 30 minutes early so as to apply all the makeup just right.

A big advantage of the enclosed box blind is that it allows the hunter to transport various cumbersome accessory items. But don’t get carried away; figure what you’ll realistically use and pack accordingly. For example, if the longest shot amid brushy terrain promises to be well within 200 yards you don’t need a powerful spotting scope. Or, for that matter, a range finder. Your binoculars will tell you all you need to know.

Regardless of region, the ability to sit concealed in a box blind begs for a telephoto camera. Keep in mind we’re not just focusing on antlered deer; all sorts of wonderful wildlife images can be captured.

Climbing into the stand should be easy enough if you don’t overload as you waddle up the ladder. Make two or even three trips, if necessary, and use a flashlight to point the way.

As a rule, the rifle should be unloaded during entry and exit.

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work. You’ve already compromised the immediate area with your noisy arrival, so go ahead, latch the door and slide open the windows and stow any clang-bang accessory items away from careless feet. Blind chairs often are rusty and squeaky, so test for any mutinous creaks and pops by leaning and twisting. Figure out in advance what the chair will tolerate.

And practice raising the unloaded rifle into seated shooting position. Remember the barrel of the typical bolt action .270 or .30-06 is 24 inches long, horrifyingly easy to whack against a wall or bang into the roof during a hurried reaction. The forethought of a few practice swings might spare the soul-deadening sight of a giant buck bounding and racing for cover.

Now, safely load the rifle and prop it in a secure corner. While you’re at it, turn the variable scope to its lowest setting. The expanded field of view will allow faster target acquisition amid vague gray backdrops. Remember, visibility will be severely reduced during the first 15 or 20 minutes of struggling light, and you don’t need 12X to cover a deer at 40 yards; indeed, the powerful magnification can be a hindrance.

Once adequate visibility unfolds, readjust the magnification and start paying attention to glare and shadow. Ooze into a convenient corner of the box, rather than framing a moon face and bobbling arms in the center of the window. Contrary to legend, white-tailed deer will look up—especially when reacting to a sudden noise or a jerky motion.

The goal on stand is to settle in, and be watchful and patient as the brush stirs back to life. But avoid getting too comfortable in the cozy box. In this, you might heed the old children’s fable, “And where’s the young lad who looks after the sheep, Baa, baa—fast asleep.”

The temptation to “just rest my eyes for a minute” has squandered many chip-shot opportunities. And so has quitting too soon.

Regardless of circumstances this side of a blizzard or tornado, here’s one final tip for sitting in a box blind: Give it 30 minutes more.

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PIKE on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

The Great $10 Lure Challenge

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HALLENGE: SOMEBODY IN Texas come up with the next real game-changer of a fishing lure.

It can’t just be a spinoff, and for goodness sakes it can’t be named for another insect or liquor or barnyard animal. New. Different. Both, by the strictest definitions of each.

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There isn’t space in this magazine for even a condensed version of our state’s prior contributions to freshwater and saltwater fishing.

For obvious reasons—you can hardly make a long cast in this state without its payload landing in fishable water—some of the best-ever lures originated in the minds of Texans.

Off the top of my head, the shortest of short lists of absolute geniuses among Texas lure-makers alone includes the likes of Fred Nichols, Doug English, Paul Brown, Pat Kelley, Bob Norton—and some others I’ll ask to forgive me for not naming them.

They know who they are, and they don’t need to see their names in print (again) to know what they brought to the table and the tackle box. They know what they built through hours and years of experimentation on Texas’s

bays and reservoirs, stock ponds and open Gulf of Mexico.

Even if you counted only baits for largemouths, speckled trout, redfish and flounder, you could fill a bushel basket with Texas-born, Texas-built lures that each changed the ways generations of anglers fished.

So, enough history. What will be the next truly innovative, potentially life-altering (for the right tournament fisherman, perhaps) lure to launch beneath that single-starred flag of ours?

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I don’t know. But some of you probably have ideas swirling in your creative minds. Write them down. Draw them. Go into the garage or the workshop and build them.

Take parts off other lures if you must, and name the amalgam of parts a Frankenstein lure for all I care. Just come up with something heretofore unseen that catches fish.

Incentive? I’ve got a crisp $10 bill, to be delivered personally if you live around Houston, for anyone who earns it. The amount is trivial, of course, but that lure you dream and ultimately create could be worth a whole lot more.

To merit this financial windfall, lunch money if you’re frugal, this lure will have to be unlike any other lure past or present. It can be a hard bait, a soft bait, or a combination of the two, but it can’t share profile or function with anything already out there.

Can it look like something fish eat? Sure it can. It probably should, but it can’t be something we look at and immediately think, “That looks like a….”

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Can it be a different color? Yes, but only if you can invent a color or combination of colors other than the 20,000 or so already in use among tackle makers. Collect what you will from eager fishermen before your new lure reaches tackle stores, but to earn my $10, I’d prefer that you call colors by their familiar, proper names than go with Butterscotch Nose-hair Moonbeam. (Or is that already taken?)

Don’t be dissuaded from this challenge by the hundreds and hundreds of lures already out there. Remember next time you walk the tackle-store aisle, that every bait there, if you go back far enough in time, wasn’t there.

Somebody had to put it together, test each of the failed prototypes that preceded it, package it, and finally convince store owners it was worthy of a few pegs—at the expense, always, of something that already occupied that retail space.

If nothing else, acceptance of this “new lure” challenge gives you a (sort of) good excuse to fish more—lots more. There’s $10 on the line, straight from my pocket. Who wants it?

As Texas fishermen, we are blessed with high quality angling opportunities that last throughout the year. No closed seasons, no bitterly uncomfortable seasons. We fish when we can, and if we’re any good at it, we catch a few.

If you’re not especially gifted just yet as a fisherman, by the way, don’t let that stop you from trying to earn my money. There could be some slight advantage, actually, for a mind that’s not already cluttered with current lure designs.

And keep your priorities straight—Faith, family, fishing. Don’t become a recluse living in a lean-to on the banks of a southeast Texas reservoir and looking like Tom Hanks toward the end of Castaway. It’s $10, not $10 million.

One prize. Someday. Maybe. Depends on the lure, and the decision of the judges— Chester Moore and me—is final.

Good luck.

Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@fishgame.com

10/10/16 12:05 PM

NUGENT in the Wild

by TED NUGENT :: TF&G Editor-at-Large

Don’t Let the Season Get Away From You

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MELL THAT? FEEL THAT? Sense that? Hear that? Recognize that? Know that spirit in the air?

Does it call our name loud and clear or what?

Happy Happy Ultra Happy Huntseason 2016 my SpiritWild BloodBrothers!

Everything is gonna be alright now! It is our time!

What exactly is it we want out of our annual hunting season? Backstraps? Fun? Adventure?

Challenge? Sport? A trophy? Escape? Quiet?

That special campfire with family and friends?

The healing powers of nature? Filling the memory bank? Defying political correctness? Or just flexing that pure, natural, instinctive predator muscle because we must?

All of the above? All the above for me that’s for sure.

Many, many years ago back in the roaring 1970s, after more than a dozen years of nonstop touring performing more than 300-350 concerts each year with my band The Amboy Dukes, I was getting more and more antsy every October.

We didn’t sell that many records at the time but we were making a pretty decent living performing nonstop killer concerts all across North America, which didn’t leave me much time for my beloved bowhunting.

Sneaking in a couple of days here and there during the fall wasn’t exactly filling my predator cup to overflow, and I was finding myself obsessed with getting out there for a genuine extended hunt where I could really, truly apply myself and do it right.

I do not believe it to be a coincidence that the year I decided to take a month off to hunt was the year my career exploded.

By the fall of 1975 I had backed down my concert schedule to the point where I could really apply myself to killing a deer and all

the intense details to go with such a diligent pursuit, and most importantly, recharging my batteries and coordinating quality time with my growing family and friends.

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The powerful boost that my mind, body, soul and spirit received from such quality time pursuing my deepest hunting passions, equal to my deepest musical passions, further cleared my already cleared head and set me on an upgraded course in life where deeply craved priorities would never again take a backseat to anything.

Amazingly, in that fall 1975, with my trusty Bear recurve, I arrowed my 1st antlered muledeer in Colorado on September 10, my 1st antlered whitetail on October 10, and killed my 1st firearm buck on the Michigan gun opener on November 15.

Right on the heels of that mind-boggling mega-accomplishment, my brand new just released 1st solo album skyrocketed to a F I S H

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million seller. In the next few years I would become the highest grossing touring artist in the world, selling many millions of records each year.

Eventually I would sell more than 40 million records and I am currently on the greatest tour of my life selling out shows all across America 50 wild years later with the greatest band and crew and audiences any guitar player could ever dream of.

Lord have mercy!

My point is that man does not live by bread alone, or rock alone, or backstraps alone, or any one thing alone!

As I approach my 68th birthday (are you kidding me!! And everyone should respect their elders!) I guess I qualify to some degree to pass on some meaningful advice after a long, wonderful, passion driven, ultra-aware, lessons-learned adventurous American Dream.

My hunting seasons are indeed sacred time and while cleansing my soul, must always bring FUN, SPORT, MEAT and TROPHY! FUN is inescapable because I love it so much.

SPORT is inescapable because killing a deer with a bow and arrow is an ultimate life challenge everytime.

MEAT is the prize for gung-ho dedication, sacrifice and diligence.

TROPHY is every good arrow regardless of whether it’s a small doe or a giant buck.

I assure you that what works for an old roustabout backstrapping guitar-slayer will work for pretty much all humans who seek health, balance, adventure, fulfillment and happiness.

So whip out your intellectual crystal ball my Spirit BloodBrothers, and be sure you take charge of your dreams. Our beloved huntseason is coming on strong. We should come on strong too! Prioritize like you mean it!

Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@fishgame.com

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10/7/16 3:18 PM

TF&G COMMENTARY

by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

Right To Be Wrong

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OLIN KAEPERNICK’S DECIsion to sit during the playing of the national anthem before San Francisco football games this year has further divided a nation that had already been dealing with widening gaps between political, racial, and socio-economic factions.

As more NFL players jumped onto Kaepernick’s bandwagon, the issue became incendiary, drawing statements, pro and con, from various other celebrities, politicians, and pundits. Few, it seems, remain unaffected.

Beginning his “silent protests” during the preseason, Kaepernick claims he is showing support for the people of color who are being oppressed in the United States, and taking a stand against police brutality. In a statement to the press on August 28, shortly after his protests became national news, Kaepernick said, “It’s something that can unify this team. It’s something that can unify this country.”

Kaepernick’s sit-downs have so far not created unity. His protests seem to have brought more division, distrust, and resentment. The question, then, is whether such protests do more harm than good.

In his statement to the press Kaepernick also pointed out that he has family and friends who have fought for the country, and that the ideals they fought for, such as freedom, liberty, and justice, are “not happening.” He claimed to have seen videos in which men and women who have fought for the country have come back and been “treated unjustly by the country they fought for, and have been murdered by the country they fought for.”

Few challenge Kaepernick’s right to protest what he thinks are injustices, or to sit during the playing of the national anthem. I would submit, however, that the two are not the same thing. Kaepernick is attempting to attack the current political administration by showing

Kaepernick’s sitting during the national anthem has brought him attention, no doubt, but I can find no good that has come of it. The irony is that his statements are seen as disrespectful of those who have fought to give him the right to sit during the anthem.

Sometimes just because we have a right doesn’t mean we should exercise it.

“On the shore dimly seen through the mist of the deep, Where the foe’s haughty host in dread

Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam as the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream. ’Tis the Star-Spangled Banner. Oh! Long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

disrespect for our nation’s flag and song. My opinion is that the song and the flag stand for the country, whether those in positions of power represent us or not.

At least two decades ago I came across an opinion piece written by Isaac Asimov about the Star Spangled Banner. Asimov was born in Russia and immigrated to the U.S., becoming a professor of biochemistry at Boston University, and one of the most popular science fiction authors in the world. Asimov, I believe, was representative of immigrants who come to America and, through their own hard work, take advantage of the opportunities afforded here, opportunities for everyone, to make a good life for themselves.

The story was called “All Four Stanzas,” and was written at a time when there were those who wanted a different anthem. Asimov was against this idea, claiming, “I am crazy, absolutely nuts, about our national anthem.” I think that if all Americans, including Kaepernick and his fellow protestors took the time to learn the song, they wouldn’t be so quick to disrespect it, or our flag.

Written as a poem by Francis Scott Key after the battle for Fort McHenry in Baltimore, the song depicts the fight between American and British forces during the War of 1812. The battle would likely decide the war, so its outcome was hugely important. Key was on a British ship the evening the battle began, September 12, 1814, negotiating the release of his friend, an aged doctor captured in Maryland named William Beanes. The two watched all night to see which flag flew over the fort, which would tell them whether it had fallen to the British.

All night they caught glimpses of the flag, but toward morning the battle died down, and they couldn’t tell who had won. The first verse of the song asks, as Key and Beanes must have asked one another many times, “Can you still see the flag?” That verse is the only one ever sung at a sporting event. The second verse answers the question:

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The flag of the fledgling country, less than forty years old, still flew over the fort. The mighty British had been defeated by the upstart Americans, and Key could hardly be blamed for gloating a little in the third stanza: “And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave.

And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

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ID YOU KNOW YOU ARE allowed to quarter a deer (or pronghorn antelope) in camp, but tagging and proof-of-sex requirements continue to apply until the wildlife resource reaches a final

destination?

Chances are you probably did know that.

Well, did you know said deer may not be processed beyond quarters in camp unless the camp qualifies as a final destination? “While in camp you may remove and prepare a part of a wildlife resource if the removal and preparation occur immediately before the part is cooked or consumed; however, all tagging and proof of sex regula-

tions apply to remaining, parts and those parts may be transported to a final destination,� according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

Final destination is defined as the permanent residence of the person who takes the antelope, deer, or turkey; the permanent residence of the person who receives the antelope, deer, or turkey or part of the antelope, deer, or turkey; or a cold storage or processing facility.

In other words, not hunting camp unless you live there.

This year new regulations are centered on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). TPWD has created CWD zones and restricted live deer movement in those areas. It also impacts the average hunter.

TF&G Staff Report

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The deer harvest in Texas is the largest in the nation.

The state is concerned chronic wasting disease will spread from captive to wild herds.

The TPWD Commission passed regulations banning importation of certain deer carcass parts from states where the disease has been detected and restricting carcass movement from CWD zones within Texas.

“Since CWD prions are known to be present in tissues of infected animals (especially brain, spinal cord and viscera), the new deer carcass movement restrictions establish the conditions under which certain parts of a harvested white-tailed deer or mule deer could be lawfully transported from those

same zones or from a state, province or other place outside Texas where CWD has been detected among free-ranging or captive herds.”

“Hunters will be allowed to transport boned or packaged venison, cut quarters with the brain stem and spinal tissue removed, caped hides with skull not attached, the skull plate with antlers attached and cleaned of all soft tissue or finished taxidermy products. Hunters wishing to preserve a head for mounting can obtain a waiver to transport

Doe harvest regulations are radically different in East Texas than they are in South and Central Texas. It always pays to know the regulations.

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the skinned or unskinned head of a susceptible species to a taxidermist, provided all brain material, soft tissue, spinal column and any unused portions of the head are disposed of in a landfill in Texas permitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.”

These waivers can be obtained at CWD check stations where TPWD staff will collect CWD samples. Texans hunting out of state can obtain releases online at www.tpwd. texas.gov/cwd.

The new rules shrink the current CWD zones in Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth and Reeves counties based on the department’s CWD surveillance efforts over the past four hunting seasons, establish a new CZ and SZ in the western Panhandle around Hartley County and create a SZ in portions of Bandera, Medina and Uvalde counties.

“Since the disease has only been associated with permitted deer breeding facilities and an enclosed release site within the Medina area SZ, the new rules do not require hunters in this particular zone to submit harvested deer for sampling. However, a grassroots effort to generate voluntary samples from hunter harvests will be necessary to establish sufficient confidence that the disease will be detected if present at a low prevalence.

TPWD encourages all hunters who harvest deer in Bandera, Medina and Uvalde counties to assist in this voluntary effort by presenting their harvested deer at a departmentrun voluntary check station for CWD testing.

PHOTOS: US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

10/7/16 3:54 PM

only season (Oct. 1 - Nov. 4, 2016) unless the person has an upper-limb disability and has in immediate possession a physician’s statement that certifies the extent of the disability.

An upper-limb disability is defined as “a permanent loss of the use of fingers, hand, or arm in a manner that renders the person incapable of using a longbow, compound bow, or recurved bow.”

And finally it is unlawful to possess a deer or any part of a deer that has been hit by a

motor vehicle. It might seem like a shame to waste a perfectly good road kill, especially if it does maximum damage to your vehicle, but taking that deer back home will get you trouble just like disobeying all of these regulations pertaining to our state’s top game animal.

Check station locations and additional information were not available at the time of this printing, but can now be found online www. tpwd.texas.gov/cwd.

New rules are not the only ones people sometimes slip up on.

It seems there are some hunters in parts of the state who have forgotten hunting deer with dogs is illegal. A person is prohibited from using a dog to hunt or pursue deer in this state. A person who violates this law is subject to a fine of $500-$4,000 and/or a year in jail. Additionally, a person’s hunting and fishing licenses may be revoked or suspended. In addition, no person may possess a shotgun and buckshot or slugs while in the field with dogs on another person’s land during an open deer season in Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, and Tyler counties.

As we noted in last month’s feature on trailing dogs, it is unlawful to use dogs to trail a wounded deer in the counties listed above.

Additionally, not more than two dogs may be used to trail a wounded deer in counties not listed above. A “wounded deer” is a deer leaving a blood trail.

Here is a unique one.

Crossbows are lawful for any person during the archery-only season for whitetail in all counties except Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties, where no person may use a crossbow to hunt deer during the archery-

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C

OME LATE NOVEMBER

lism low, they typically

most flounder are headed

stay on the flat’s side of

toward the spawning grounds

the drop off and this serves two

of the Gulf of Mexico, and

purposes. First, it fits their lazy nature.

anglers have moved on to duck hunting

They do not have to move far.

Second, when the tides are rising or

or seeking redfish.

The key word here is “most” because

falling, it gives the flounder a place to

some flounder stick around during winter

intercept baitfish going to and from the

especially in Upper Coast bays.

deep. Tides are the number one crucial

“You can catch some flounder in the late fall and early winter if know where to

issue in flounder fishing because they almost totally rely on them to bring baitfish to them. In these areas, it is no

look,” said Capt. Shane Chesson.

different.

Chesson said anglers should

Numerous guides target trout in these

target mud flats adjacent to the Intracoastal Canal

areas in the winter and each of them said

in East and West

they have incidentally caught flounder all

Galveston Bay

over the flats, but did say they caught the

on warm, sunny

most near the drop-offs and also bonding

winter afternoons

to any structure on the mud such as small

when the tides

oyster reefs.

are running high.

“The black mud in the shallow water

Stick with slow-moving lures in these areas such as the Corky, which is what

retains heat and gets the fish on the flats,”

a great many anglers use for trout there.

Chesson said.

Also, consider the Gulp! Shrimp, which

They do not move around much when the water is warm so with their metabo-

is a good lure to move across the bottom at a snail’s pace. Shrimp are an important part of a flounder’s diet during the win-

Marcus Heflin kisses a beautiful flatfish caught on Sabine Lake.

PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

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Flounder migration does not happen overnight. The top fishing kicks off in October and runs into December.

Pay attention the latter part of the fall run. There is less pressure and often the fishing is outstanding.

The Houston Light and Power (HL&P) outfall canal in Trinity Bay can be productive for winter flounder. “The HL&P Canal is just a downright great place to fish for anything in the winter, and it will hold some flounder,” Chesson said.

Baitfish congregate here during cold spells, making it a sort of buffet for a host of flounder that winter in the bays. Flounder often sit down-current and can be found in eddies that form near drop offs. Small baitfish cannot negotiate current very well and they often are stuck in eddies. Flounder will stack up in these eddies and gulp up the shad, shrimp and whatever else ends up there.

Something to keep in mind is that even small flows from a single drainpipe can draw fish. They may not hold massive schools of fish for long periods, but even a slight change for the positive in water temperature can make a difference in cold weather. It is very important to look for the little things in these spots since very often that is all it takes to attract game fish. When fishing at HL&P any kind of structure or flow-producing warm water is worth trying.

If you can get your hands on live mud minnows, they are great this time of year for these warm water flounder. In addition,

any shad or minnow imitation fished on a 1/8-ounce jig head in glow or chartreuse can be killer.

Another option for anglers this month is the holdover flounder that hang around Rollover Pass. Most of them have already left to spawn in the Gulf but there are enough holdovers to make things interesting for anglers wanting to catch flatfish.

In this area, fishing live mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig along the edges of the ship channel is the best move. Some anglers are starting to wise up to the fact that they can set out several rods with live bait so that they can get more action as more flounder move through their area. Look for outgoing tides to provide the best bites, especially after a cold front passes through.

For “holdover” flounder look in some of the same locations you would during the rest of year especially along shorelines.

If the tide is high, working over the unique systems created by stands of Roseau cane can put fish in the boat. Many anglers concentrate solely on the mouths of these bayous and more often than not, they catch fish, but by going into the cuts and looking for cane stands, they can step into a whole other realm

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of flounder fishing.

Roseau cane has a very intricate rooting system, not unlike mangrove, which provides baitfish protection from predators. On high tides, the shad will seek refuge among the jungle of roots, and the flounder wait patiently just a few feet away waiting for the inevitable escapee.

Pitch a soft plastic curl-tailed grub tipped with shrimp or a Gulp! Swimming Mullet down a bank of cane on a high tide and you might find the saddle blanket fish you’ve been looking for. People have got to remember that flounder are lazy fish. If they can get what they need by just lying there and gulping up stuff, they’re going to do it.

Many a bass tournament has been won by fishing “new” structure, when a lake or river floods. Working a spinner or worm on this normally dry ground can produce a good number of bass. Translate this technique over to flounder fishing and you might just surprise yourself.

If the floods we’ve been experiencing on the coast continue into fall don’t be hesitant to throw your lure in the flooded marsh or right along the edge of it. Watch for tails flopping in the shallows. If you see some shad come cruising along in a few inches of water and something hit at them, more than likely, it’s a flounder. Throw your bait at the edge of the shore and slowly drag it in. These moving flounder are feeding and will gladly gulp down your bait.

PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

10/7/16 3:56 PM

Texas SALTWATER

by CALIXTO GONZALES :: TF&G Saltwater Editor

Time to Think

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NYONE WHO HAS BEEN reading my work for a long time knows that I have been fighting an ongoing battle with diabetic kidney disease. Three years ago, my nephrologist told me that it wasn’t a question of will I need dialysis, but when.

Well, the time finally arrived where I need to go in three days a week for four-hour sessions with the dialyzer to get my blood cleansed (or as one tech so cleverly puts it, get my oil changed).

Everyone who knows me has been upset for me. They hug me, or pat me on the shoulder, and treat me like I’m a terminal patient (and I guess I am, technically, because without this process I WILL die soon enough). They all say they’ll pray for me. I appreciate that, because a wretch like me can use all the kind words I can get.

The irony is that dialysis isn’t that bad.

Sure, there are other things I’d rather do than sit for four hours at a stretch with my blood being pumped through a series of filters, but it’s a small tradeoff for the therapeutic effects.

I really do feel better than I have in years. As I’ve adjusted to the procedure, I’ve found ways to while away the time. One way is by writing down notes about my experiences over the past 15 years as a writer for Texas Fish & Game. As I sit here and peruse the notes on my I-Pad (it is no small feat to write on one of these with your right hand while your left is pinned down), some things stand out more than others Such as Top Gun, the fishing guide.

Around my third year with the magazine I got an e-mail from a reader. “Hey, Gonzales,” the e-mail started, “I have a great story idea for you. Can you give me a call at 956-xxx-xxxx?”

My curiosity peaked, and it being a local

number, I called. The e-mail writer insisted that I refer to him not by Captain so-and-so, but as “Top Gun.” THAT should have been my first warning sign.

“I have a great story idea for you,” he said.

“Really? Tell me about it,” I said, with some genuine interest.

“I’m catching lots of trout and redfish.”

“Okay, how are you doing it?” I asked, expecting him to tell me about some novel technique.

“Shrimp and a popping cork,” said the excited captain.

My face dropped. “Is that it?”

He sounded genuinely confused. “Yeah.

Why?” “Well, that isn’t really special. Everyone does it that way.”

“Yeah, but I’m TOP GUN!” I run into Top Gun once in a while. He doesn’t guide anymore, but he still has ideas how I can write about him in the magazine.

One of these days, I’m certain he’s going to have a noteworthy story idea. Then, we’ll see.

Top Gun reminds me of another enthusiastic reader who approached me and friend David Rutledge while we had breakfast at White Sands Marina and Restaurant in Port Isabel. He had a huge story idea for me about the next world record speckled trout. When I asked to see the fish, he said he didn’t have it—yet, but he knew where and how to catch it.

“Baffin Bay in winter, using a Corkie.”

He asked me for a card so he could call me when he caught the fish, so I could go over and do the story.

That was nine years ago. I’m still waiting. I hope he catches it, if for no other reason than to see what an 18 pound trout looks like.

BEFORE I LEAVE YOU THINKING that my experiences as a writer have been— challenging, let me stress that is not necessarily the truth. I’ve met some truly wonderful people, some of whom have become dear, dear friends. There is the Texas Fish & Game family itself, the finest kind of people you could ever meet. There are members of the industry, some with whom I keep in regular touch.

Then there are the readers. You guys are some of the greatest people, not just sportsmen and women, I could ever meet. I love meeting and visiting with you whether at the local HEB, or at an outdoor show. Every one of you is a new experience to enjoy, and I am blessed to meet all of you.

You make every oil change worth the time.

ONE OF MY NOTES SIMPLY SAYS “Poison pen.” That serves as a reminder that I will always have some readers that are unhappy with me (every writer has one), some for reasons that are unique to them.

There was the time that I wrote my column about seeing a huge buck swimming across Laguna Madre and how I was tempted to grab a gaff and brain it and pull it aboard. Of course T E X A S

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I was being facetious, but one reader didn’t see the humor in the quip. I got an e-mail taking me to task in not practicing fair chase and even thinking about running down that “beautiful buck” and beating it over the head. The writer closed the correspondence by hoping that the local game warden was aware of me and someday put me in my place.

Then there was the e-mail from a reader who took issue with my use of PhD-level words such as “poikilothermic” in my writing. He didn’t want to have to use a dictionary every time he came upon a new word. That e-mail made me flash back to a history teacher in high school who said the same thing about my writing to my dear mom, who happened to be the woman who taught me how to write and the importance of using proper terminology.

Thanks, Mom.

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’Tis the Season for Big Bass by Matt Williams

AKE FORK FISHING GUIDE Mark Stevenson likes to recall that crisp Thanksgiving eve back in November 1986. That’s the day he caught Ethel. Ethel was a potbellied largemouth with a serious weight problem that made his career and forever changed the scope of Texas bass fishing.

The way Stevenson tells it, a nasty cold front had pushed across eastern Texas two days earlier and left chilly temperatures, blue bird skies and high pressure in its wake. The conditions weren’t ideal for catching a big one, but Stevenson decided to go fishing anyway.

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It’s a good thing, too. Around noon, the veteran guide pitched a 1/2-ounce Stanley Jig tight to a bush in Garrett Creek. No sooner had the bait reached bottom than he felt what turned out to be a magical “thump.”

Moments later, Stevenson hauled aboard a 17.67-pound monster that was eventually certified as a new Texas state record. The fish has since been stripped of the title by an 18.18 pounder that was caught on a live shiner by a crappie fisherman.

However, Stevenson’s bass still ranks as the biggest Texas bass ever caught by a bass fisherman who was targeting bass with an artificial lure. &

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but was recently placed under an even more restrictive 16-inch maximum length limit aimed at enhancing the trophy fishery by protecting all bass greater than 16 inches.

THE FISHING: This is heavy cover fishing. With the exception of the 150-acre lake proper, all of the timber along the Telesco and Naconiche creek bottoms was left intact, creating a jungle of thick cover to provide bass with a nursery and a playground. Even today some areas remain impassible to boat traffic, so it stands to reason there are fish in the lake that have yet to see a lure.

Lake Falcon

Lake Naconiche has been managed for trophy bass from the beginning.

The fact the big fish came from Fork was certainly no shocker. But what continues to surprise a lot of folks is the timing of the deal.

November has never had a real rich history for producing big bass in Texas, particularly those rare double-digit teeners.

The majority of the bigger bass are caught during spring, when the fish are heavy with eggs and more accessible in the shallows.

To wit: Only 12 of the 565 13-plus pounders turned over to the state’s Toyota ShareLunker program were caught during November, and four of them were caught by crappie fishermen. In contrast, March has produced 239 ShareLunkers, followed by February (130) and April (88).

year. Here are three good bets as fall gives way to winter:

Lake Naconiche

If you’re beginning to get discouraged by the numbers, don’t. Texas is home to a passel of great bass lakes and many of them have earned reputations for producing exceptional fishing and big bites during all seasons of the

SIZE: 692 acres DESCRIPTION: Located northeast of Nacogdoches, Naconiche is a spring-fed jewel that has been intensively managed for trophy bass from the very start. Impounded in 2009, the lake opened for fishing in Sept.

2012 and has since produced several whoppers, including a lake record 14.12 pounder last July. The origin of t h e big fish is unclear, but was likely one of the dozens of retired hatchery brood fish that was stocked in the lake prior to opening.

The lake opened under a five-fish, 18-inch minimum length limit,

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SIZE: 86,000 acres DESCRIPTION: The fertile South Texas reservoir straddles the Texas/Mexico border near Zapata and is fed by the Rio Grande and Salado rivers. It is also influenced by numerous creeks and draws during big rains.

Impounded more than 60 years ago for local water supply and irrigation, Falcon is prone to radical fluctuations in water level that have historically taken the habitat and bass fishery on a rollercoaster ride of peaks of valleys.

Following an extended down cycle created by drought in the 1990s and early 2000s, the lake roared back to life 10 years ago and eventually became the No. 1 ranked bass lake in America after Mississippi bass pro Paul Elias set a four day, 20 bass weight record of 132 pounds, eight ounces there during a Bassmaster Elite Series event in April 2008.

After undergoing another down cycle in recent times, the lake appears to be bouncing back once again. According to James Bendele at Falcon Lake Tackle, two teams weighed in more than 42 pounds during a two-day, API event in early June. It is worth noting that teams were allowed to weigh only three fish per day, which equals a seven-pound average.

PHOTO: MATT WILLIAMS

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THE FISHING: Productive fishing patterns hinge heavily on water level. When water levels are sufficient, flipping and pitching around shoreline bushes and hardwoods are big time players. Otherwise, you should try dredging bottom around old building foundations, river/creek ledges and gravel points using crankbaits, Carolina rigs and football jigs.

Anglers who had rather fish away from the bank should check out main lake ridges, ledges, points and humps in water ranging 18 to 25 feet deep. Although it is often times a numbers game, anglers can rack up some big weight offshore in short order if they stumble across the right group of fish.

Other Good Bets: LAKE PINKSTON: 520 acres BRANDY BRANCH: 1,200 acres LAKE NACOGDOCHES: 2,200 acres TOLEDO BEND: 186,000 acres LAKE PALESTINE: 20,000 acres LAKE O’ THE PINES: 18,700 acres LAKE AMISTAD: 64,900 acres KURTH LAKE: 726 acres

Lake Sam Rayburn SIZE: 114,000 acres DESCRIPTION: Naming Texas’s Top bass lakes for fall and leaving out Sam Rayburn would be like omitting Toledo Bend or Amistad from the same list. All of them are great, but space is limited, so I made this pick simply because I’ve got a soft spot for the big lake east of Lufkin.

Impounded along the Angelina and Attoyac rivers in the 1960s, Rayburn is like the Energizer bunny in that it keeps going and going despite intense fishing pressure from weekend recreational crowds and tournament anglers who routinely bring limits weighing upwards of 20 pounds to the scales.

The lake is tied as the second leading producer of ShareLunker entries statewide (26), including a 13.1 pounder that was caught last November.

When it comes habitat, Rayburn has a stacked deck. In addition to shoreline willows and buck brush, torpedo grass has come on strong in recent years to provide fish plenty shallow cover when water levels are sufficient.

The lake’s hydrilla beds took a big hit a couple of years ago as the result of high water, but the green stuff is making a good comeback in just about every major creek south of the Highway 147 bridge.

THE FISHING: Anglers are apt to find the big bite just about anywhere this time of year. But with hydrilla beginning to regain a toehold in water as deep as six to eight feet, it would be a good idea to test the water around it with a crankbait, topwater, Senko, frog, swim bait, spinnerbait or a light Texas rig. Areas with shoreline torpedo grass can be equally productive at times.

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HE BRUSH popped as a deep, guttural grunt sounded.

“Hog!” I yelled as my cousin Frank Moore and I shot up large cedars as an enraged boar charged through the brush, right at our position.

In that moment it looked the size of a

Buick, but in reality it was probably in the 300pound class and dark brown with big front shoulders and a tall head showing its Eurasian roots.

My Dad who had severe hearing PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

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loss was a bit behind us, never heard us or the hog, but did get a quick look at it when it finally decided to turn and go the other way. Had we come into contact with a killer in the cedar thickets of Real County? Dr. Jack Mayer has been studying wild hogs since the 1970s and his research may shed light on our would-be attacker.

The researcher with the Savannah River National Laboratory recently presented a paper on hog attacks from around the world, and the findings are fascinating.

The study documented 412 wild hog attacks worldwide impacting 665 people.

During this time there were four fatal hog attacks in the United States, with the most recent in Texas in 1996.

Of the 21 states reporting hog attacks Texas led the pack with 24 percent with Florida at 12 percent and South Carolina 10.

Interestingly when examining worldwide shark fatalities hogs beat them out as recently as 2013.

Obviously if hogs were bloodthirsty animals, bent on destroying humanity there would be many fatal attacks in Texas. That is just not the case, but what is interesting is the profile of hogs that have attacked humans.

In his study, hogs that attack are described as solitary (82 percent), large (87 percent) and male (81 percent) and most attacks occurred when there was no hunting involved. |

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GRAPHIC: USFWS

Most hunters do not realize there are hogs in Texas as big as bears.

when the pig entered through the front door.

Kyles told deputies he stomped the floor to try to shoo the pig out of the room, but the pig charged him.”

“I had heard of pigs attacking people in the woods,” Maj. Herman Walters said, “but this was the first time I had heard of a pig going into a house and attacking someone.”

In 2004, the Associated Press reported, “A Florida Gulf Coast University student is suing the college for failing to control wild boars on campus. Donna Rodriguez said in a lawsuit filed yesterday that a wild boar chased her on campus in October 2004, causing her to fall and suffer serious injuries. The suit claims the school knew the boars were a hazard, and its failure to control them resulted in ‘an unreasonably dangerous condition.’”

In that same year, an Edgefield, South Carolina man experienced one of the scariest hog attacks I could find occurring in the United States. The Edgefield Advertiser reported, “A man was hospitalized recently after being attacked by a wild hog at his home

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on Gaston Road. The hog, which eyewitnesses estimated to weigh upwards of 700 pounds, materialized in Fab Burt’s backyard while he was working in his garden.”

“It came out of nowhere and attacked me,” he said. “It had me pinned on the ground and was mauling me.” Fortunately, Burt’s sevenmonth-old German shepherd, named Bobo, was on hand to help him fend off the hog.

Recognizing that grunt back in 1996 might have saved our lives. On the distant property we were on, a trip to any type of medical treatment center would have taken at least an hour. With the kind of damage that big hog could have done that might have been too late.

Killer hogs are out there. They are few and far between and should not cause us to be paranoid, but perhaps a tad bit of fear will keep us on our toes enough to be aware of little signs when we are in the domain of big, wild hogs.

PHOTO: DREAMSTIME

This describes a lone, mature boar, likely territorial, which is powerful and much faster than a person can imagine. It is a different hog from the young boar that comes in with a bunch of other hogs to a deer feeder or the sow defending her young. She may be aggressive in defense, but Mayer’s findings show many of these fall hog attacks have the pig actually eating or attempting to eat the people.

There are numerous accounts of hunters (usually hunting hogs with dogs) getting hooked by a boar. While bowhunting for hogs in South Texas many years ago, I met a man with 83 stitches on his left leg due to a hog getting hold of him in a cactus thicket while running it with dogs a few years previous. I have since lost track of the man, but I will never forget seeing his scars.

An article written in 1998 by Robert Burns for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service talks of two verified attacks in Texas, including the aforementioned 1996 fatality.

“In one instance, a boar attacked a woman on a Fort Worth jogging trail. Two years ago, a Cherokee County deer hunter died from a feral hog attack.”

The Benton County Daily Record chronicled a wild boar that “attacked and flipped a utility vehicle on a job site in Waco— and severely injured a Gentry man.” The story relates that, “Greg Lemke, who designs chicken houses for Latco Inc. of Lincoln, was a passenger in a utility vehicle when the wild boar struck the rear of the vehicle, causing it to flip with Lemke inside.”

“The accident left Lemke paralyzed from the breast bone down.”

The Pineville Town Talk tells the story of a Pineville, La. man who had a pig enter the house he was visiting. “Boston Kyles, 20, of 497 Pelican Drive told deputies he was visiting his sister’s house at the time of the incident. He said he had gone there to clean fish and was sitting in the house’s front room

This hog may have pretty eyebrows but it is big enough to cause damage.

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Bare Bones HUNTING

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

10 Tips for the Rut

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Y FAVORITE MONTH OF the year has finally arrived. I have been preparing for this season for months now.

I have shot hundreds of arrows at targets at unknown distances. I have sighted in my rifle so that it is dead on and I feel confident of success if I get my chance at a nice whitetail.

In Texas, our peak rut differs depending on where you live. It ranges from the last two weeks in October up north to December in South Texas. One thing is certain. No matter where you hunt, the following are 10 important things to remember during the rut to help achieve success.

WALKING TO AND FROM YOUR STAND: Sometimes the only important thing

you may be thinking about is getting to your stand as quickly as possible, so you are ready to hunt in plenty of time. You trample through the woods directly to your stand without a care in the world about the wind direction or the excessive noise you make with every step. If the wind is at your back as you walk toward your stand, then you might as well keep on walking.

Any whitetails that were in your area have now vacated to another county.

Humans are the only animals in the woods with a rhythm to their walk. Think about that for a minute. It’s true! Try walking to your stand and stop often to sound more like another animal. If you have paid attention to the wind, and walk while stopping once in a while, you have a better chance at seeing deer.

CONTROL YOUR SCENT: We stink— at least to a deer. Fortunately, there are products on the market that will help hide that human odor. Nothing is 100 percent, but 99 percent is pretty good. Wildlife Research Center offers a wide variety of scent control products that I have personally field-tested and

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believe in. They work, simple as that. They are my “go to” choice for scent control.

One shower in the morning is not enough if you also plan on an afternoon hunt. You should shower every time you go afield. It goes without saying that you should clean your hunting clothes with a scent-free product as well.

HUNT ALL DAY: I know this is hard to do, but during the rut, deer are on the move all day long. You never know when that big boy is going to reveal himself. And you need to be ready when that time comes. So many hunters leave the stands and stretch their legs. And that usually happens around lunchtime. Pack a lunch with you and stay in that stand. Let the other hunters kick deer around for you.

HUNT FOOD SOURCES: Even during the rut, deer still need to eat. Yes, bucks will eat less with other things on their minds, but the does will be feeding. Where there are does, there will be bucks. Remember those apple trees or oak trees that may be on your lease. It might be a perfect spot to be.

RATTLING: Where I live, there is a small window when it is great to rattle in a buck.

The last week of October and the first week of November are golden for rattling. However, bucks have been known to come to a rattle at any time of the rut. So if you have had a slow, boring morning, try rattling. It can’t hurt.

GRUNTING: My grunt tube is my American Express card of the woods—I don’t leave home without it. I cannot tell you how many bucks I have turned my way by letting out a grunt. I am not saying I got them, but they DID turn my way.

Once I was hunting with a friend from Greece, and he was excited to take any deer with his bow. We were only about 100 yards apart. I had a nice six–point walk about 40 yards behind me, heading away from my friend. I was not going to shoot it because I had my heart set on a bigger boy, but I thought I would try to get this deer to head back to my friend. I turned in the stand and bent the tube grunt call in his direction and lightly grunted.

That buck stopped, turned and walked right at my friend’s stand.

USING A DECOY: So many hunters

have told me they just do not want to bother carrying something else in the woods with them. Take it from me, during the peak of the rut, a decoy could be the very thing you need to lure that big buck in range. Last month, I wrote about how a grazing doe decoy could calm down the most skittish buck in the county.

It looks relaxed and not alarmed at all. A decoy with a little “doe in heat” scent would make your hunt unforgettable. Believe me, it works,and it is worth the effort.

CHECK YOUR SIGHTS: Most ethical hunters make sure they check the sights on your bow and rifles months before the whitetail season begins. However, a lot can happen during the season with those sights. A bump here and there or just taking your firearm in and out of your vehicle could change the sight alignment. Make sure that just before the rut, you check them again so that you can be assured of that humane shot.

HUNT DURING THE PEAK: Take vacation days; make previous arrangements; get sick—promise your boss some venison. Do whatever is necessary to hunt during the peak of the rut. That is your best chance of scoring on a nice buck. Remember, just because the bucks will be preoccupied with does on their mind, it does not mean they will pay no attention to you. You will still have to use your best hunting skills to be successful, but you definitely will be seeing more bucks on the move this time of year, so get out there and hunt!

FLOWERS: That is correct. I said it.

Flowers during the rut. Your Better Half needs to be understanding if you plan on spending extra time in the woods and not at home. So make sure you order the flowers. It would be perfect if they could be delivered the day before the peak of the rut.

I can promise you this: if you pay attention to all of these little tips during the rut, you will increase your chances of success.

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Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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EXAS IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL catfish fisheries. Such legendary waters as Toledo Bend and the mighty Sabine River have long produced huge, as well as gigantic, catfish.

Often overlooked are the smaller creeks and streams, which carve their way across the entire state. Many of these creeks offer enjoyable and profitable days afield. When looking for places to go catfishing, these smaller bodies of water generally go unutilized by all but the few locals who know the secrets held in their waters.

Not all creeks hold hidden treasure troves of cats, but many do.

Recognizing them could mean you could hold the key to a secret honey hole. Not every hole is going to hold channel cats. Some may hold any of five species of catfish found in Texas freshwater creeks.

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The most sought after, of course is the channel cat because of its very delicate and tasty meat. A channel cat will bite on just about anything you can throw at them from cheese and dough baits to crickets and night crawlers.

The most common species encountered in smaller creeks is the bullhead. There are two kinds of bullhead, black and green. Though not generally thought of as particularly good table fare, a bullhead caught in good cold running water and handled properly can be quite good eating.

When you start looking for a fishing hole here are a few things I look for. I always start off with the obvious and look for creeks crossing under the roads where I drive regularly. Not just any creek, but creeks that hold water year round. By holding water all year, it offers the resident fish time to mature and get a bit of size to them.

I also like a creek that runs relatively close to a larger body of water. Often catfish will travel upstream in these creeks following baitfish or seeking refuge from the much larger predators in the main waters. That being said, creeks away from larger waters still hold some great fun and fishing. No matter which creek or stream you fish, just look for the larger, deeper pools as they generally provide suitable habitat for better numbers and larger sizes of creek cats.

The tackle needed for taking advantage of creek cats, can be as simple as a cane pole with a few feet of line and a hook—or as elaborate as your best bass fishing rig with slip sinkers and circle hooks. I find that a short five foot, six inch rod or shorter with an ultralight reel and eight to ten pound line good enough for taking just about any creek cat in Texas.

Tight lining on the bottom as well as using bobbers can produce catfish. A wide variety of tackle and techniques can be employed and there really is no wrong way. As long as your hook is in the water and baited you are doing it right.

I have fished with everything under the sun for creek cats, and it generally all works.

One of the most used baits in my creek fishing arsenal is bacon. I have caught more fish in creeks on bacon than just about anything. Although I always love to use bacon I never go up or down the creek without a container of night crawlers and some Little Stinker stink bait of some flavor. Usually, I like to use the cheese-flavored and smear it all 34 |

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Many Texas creeks are full of eatingsized Texas catfish.

over whatever bait I am using. Scent carried downstream will bring the cats in for a look at what you have to offer.

One of the best things about creek fishing is that you don’t need a boat, generally not even a pair of rubber boots. Tennis shoes and blue jeans are good enough. All you really need is permission to access the creeks from landowners or the proper permit from the State, such as an Annual Public Hunting Permit.

It is easy to carry a small tackle box and a rod while walking up and down a creek without even breaking a sweat. I find that a simple, small tackle box that will fit into your pocket does well enough to hold everything you need. This includes enough bait for a day’s fishing along just about any creek accessible by a person on foot. If you think you need more tackle or even a few snacks and drinks, a small backpack requires only a little more effort.

I have spent hundreds if not thousands of hours as a boy, trudging along such creeks with names such as Flatfork, Wilkerson, Socagee, Tenaha, Macfadden, and Murvaul catching every kind of cat there was.

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Oftentimes, I had little more than a willow limb and string with a hook, a pocket full of worms and a piece of old bacon. Many a day saw me carrying home a piece of vine with 15 or 20 catfish threaded on it.

Many times my mother would open the door and find me cooking them up right in the yard Huck Finn style. Sometimes there would be as many as five or six of us boys walking a creek with poles in hand, enjoying our days and building memories that have lasted a lifetime.

These small creeks are much more than just a spot to go fishing. They are a portal to the past. They are a passport to allow us older folks to relive our former log rolling days and introduce the younger generations to a new and fun activity. Adventures that allow a parent or grandparent the opportunity to spend some quality time with a youngster without having to invest in expensive rigs. Nothing is better than sitting on a creek bank, poles in hand and talking the day away while actually catching some catfish to take back to the deep fryer.

PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

10/7/16 4:00 PM

Texas FRESHWATER

by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&G Freshwater Editor

Five Reasons Texas Bass Fishing is So Darn Good

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RECENT NEWS RELEASE from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife serves as a pretty good reminder of how lucky Texas bass anglers are.

In early August, Snohomish County angler Bill Evans caught a 12.53-pound largemouth from Lake Bosworth. The release says fish has been declared a new state record for The Evergreen State and eclipses the previous state record of 11.57 pounds set way back in 1977.

Although a 12-pounder is certainly a beast in anybody’s book, the new Washington state record doesn’t stack up very high in comparison to Texas’ long line of record class bass.

To wit: The bottom fish on the Texas Top 50 heaviest bass of all-time is a 15.38 pounder. Actually, there are four fish from two different lakes tied for the No. 50 spot. Three of the fish were caught from Lake Fork and one from Possum Kingdom, all between 1989 to 1992.

The Texas state record bass stands at 18.18 pounds. That record —in place since January 1992—also was caught from Lake Fork.

Interestingly, Evans claims he was targeting bass with an artificial lure when he caught the new Washington record. The 23-inch bass reportedly ate Strike King Shim-E-Stick rigged wacky style, so you have to assume he was fishing in fairly skinny water.

Not so with Texas record holder Barry St. Clair. St. Clair, who was soaking live shiners for crappie in deep water near the lake’s dam when the big bass came calling.

To date, the biggest Texas bass ever reported by a bass angler who was actually fishing for bass with an artificial lure belongs to veteran Lake Fork guide Mark Stevenson. Stevenson’s former 17.67-pound state record was caught in November 1986.

I’m not sure how many Texas lakes have

produced bass larger than the new Washington state record, but it would be safe to say dozens.

Of the 32 major reservoirs located in the Piney Woods region alone, only seven have not produced fish upwards of 12.53 pounds.

What is it that makes Texas bass fishing so good? Actually, it’s a combination of things all working together.

Here are a few key ingredients that I think have helped mold Texas into the big bass mecca it is today: FLORIDA BASS: This is a major player.

Florida strain largemouth bass are genetically wired to grow bigger and faster than northern largemouths native to Texas waters. The late Bob Kemp brought the first Florida bass to Texas in the 1970s and the bass fishing here has not been the same since.

The correlation between big Texas bass and the arrival of Florida bass is evident by looking at the state weight records. In 1979, when I was a high school senior, the Texas state record was a 13.50 pounder caught from Lake Medina.

That record had stood since 1943.

Since 1980, the record has been broken six times. Furthermore, 65 different lakes have produced bass weighing upwards of 13 pounds for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Toyota ShareLunker program.

The super-charged Floridas also have played a key role in making Texas one of the top tournament and pleasure fishing destinations in the nation. Multiple Texas lakes have landed spots on Bassmaster’s Top 100 Bass Lakes in America list every year since the list was created four years ago.

Lake Falcon along the Texas/Mexico border was named the No. 1 bass lake in America in 2012. Bassmaster recognized Toledo Bend as the best lake in the country in 2015 and 2016.

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CLIMATE: Texas weather is typically mild and warm. As a result, most lakes maintain moderate to relatively warm water temperatures over the course of the year. Bass and other fish are cold-blooded, which allows their body temperatures to be regulated by water temperature.

Fish in cold weather climates don’t feed as much, or as often as fish in warm weather climates, because their metabolism is slower.

Bass in many lakes across eastern and South Texas enjoy a year-round growing season, because water temperatures seldom drop below 50 degrees.

HABITAT AND WATER QUALITY: Many Texas reservoirs are rich in habitat with water that is high in nutrients. This nurtures forage that is critical throughout the food chain.

Good habitat provides bass with a nursery for rearing their young and optimizing recruitment.

It also serves as a playground where forage species can thrive and bass can feed. At the same time, this provides anglers with a seemingly unlimited number of sweet-looking spots to soak their baits.

PROGRESSIVE MANAGEMENT: Texas Parks and Wildlife’s inland fisheries division governs our reservoirs with restrictive regulations geared to produce high quality fishing while striving to maintain optimum constituent satisfaction. On certain lakes, length and bag limits are custom tailored to protect larger bass and ultimately enhance the trophy fishery.

ANGLERS LOVE THEIR BASS: Texas bass anglers in general are a conservative crowd who take pride in their bass fisheries. Most are willing to go the extra mile to protect them.

Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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N

OT EVERYBODY CAN afford to buy a big boat or hire a charter captain for an offshore adventure, but even anglers on a budget can experience tacklebusting action from big fish all along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Black drum could show up 100 miles offshore, but frequently venture into water only a few feet deep.

Often ignored or even disdained by many anglers, the largest member of the drum family can weigh more than 113 pounds and put up an incredible fight. Anglers commonly catch drum in the 20- to 40-pound range and some bigger ones.

Anglers can catch big drum in anything from a kayak to an ocean cruiser, but sportsmen without boats can still land really big fish with very little financial investment. Anglers frequently see huge drum around marinas and other inland places.

Many people catch them off public piers and docks. Some people simply pull off the road at a likely looking spot near a bridge, boat launch or inviting shoreline and start fishing.

REPORT: NEWS 42 u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 42 u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

DEPT. OF 44 u TEXAS DEFENSE

by Dustin Ellermann and Stan Skinner

46 u TEXAS DEPT. OF CONSERVATION

by Will Leschper and Andi Cooper

Related to redfish or red drum, CONTINUED ON PAGE

48 u TEXAS COASTAL

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FORECAST

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

56 u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

66 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

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black drum eat very similar forage to its spottailed cousins, but tend to like dead things more than live ones. Like a big blue catfish in fresh water, a black drum scours the bottom looking for any morsels it can suck up, particularly clams, crabs and shrimp.

“Black drum have several great big, fleshy, barbels hanging on the underside of the lower jaw and are predominantly bottom-feeders with no great preference for any particular foodstuff,” explained Dr. Bob Shipp, (bobshipp.com) a renowned marine biologist and author of Dr. Bob Shipp’s Guide to Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico.

“Although they graze on bottom, shelled animals are a main feeding strategy,” Dr. Shipp said. “Drum are especially proficient at digesting thick-shelled animals like clams and crabs by using a set of heavy, crushing teeth that are borne on the bones that support the gills.”

Not many people intentionally fish for black drum. Anglers most often catch them by accident while chasing after redfish, speckled trout, flounder or some other species. Anglers sometimes catch black drum on jigs tipped with soft-plastic trailers that resemble shrimp or crabs, gold spoons, spinnerbaits and other lures while casting for redfish or trout. Drum even occasionally hit crab- or shrimp pattern flies and streamers, but typically want a piece of meat.

Although anglers catch many drum with shrimp and other baits, nothing works better than a crab. For really big drum, anglers can use a whole fresh crab. Keep the top shell attached, but crack it to let the juices out.

Drum might also hit a small live blue crab hooked through the back near the rounded swimmer fins.

Half of a blue crab cracked open and oozing juice often proves too tempting for any drum moving through the area. When fishing with a crab half, first remove the top shell from a live or fresh crab and break the remaining body in half.

With the top shell removed, it should

break easily into two nearly equal pieces.

Remove one of the legs from a crab half. Run a hook through the meaty part of a crab half so that the point exits out of the hole where the leg was. In shallow water, anglers can dangle a crab half under a bobber, but most people fish for big drum in deep holes.

Fish either a half or whole crab on the bottom and let it sit for as long as necessary.

Smaller fish like croakers or hardhead catfish may pick at the meat, but you can’t mistake when a big drum gulps the bait.

Many anglers put their rods in holders and set their reels to click when something strikes the bait and runs off with it. When a big drum takes a bait, don’t set the hook immediately. Let it ingest the bait for a few seconds. When fishing with circle hooks, simply begin to reel it in after feeling the fish on the line.

Fiddler crabs also make excellent drum bait. Only use the male crabs, those with one huge claw, and release the females to reproduce. Break off the huge claw and toss it into the water for chum before baiting a hook with a fiddler. Slip a hook through the back shell of a fiddler crab so that it comes out through the top shell.

Anglers often see fiddler crabs crawling along rocky jetties and seawalls or concrete riprap. Jetties make excellent places to look for big drum. In many places, two rows of rocks may extend a mile or more out from a channel entrance. Often the only visible cover around, jetties can hold an enormous amount and variety of bait and fish. Crabs

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Many anglers avoid drum, but young ones are actually quite delicious.

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crawl among the crannies as shrimp attempt to hide in crevices.

Built to break up the forces of nature and mark channel entrances, jetties create chokepoints that concentrate fish and bait.

During a falling tide, water flows from the channel and spills around either side at the tip in a mushroom effect. Bait collects on the ends of the jetties in the current backwash.

A falling tide can also pull bait out from the bays and estuaries. During a rising tide, fish and bait gather at the channel entrance before moving into the bays and estuaries.

During a falling tide, fish between the jetties.

On a rising tide, fish outside the rocks.

Breaks in jetties sometimes allow boats to pass between the rocks without going all the way to the end. Water and bait flush through these openings, whipping fish into a feeding frenzy. Sometimes, current flowing through boat breaks also scours holes. Big drum may wait around these breaks or holes to scoop up whatever they can devour.

Many people probably ignore drum or even avoid them because they don’t think such ugly creatures could taste good on a plate. Larger drum commonly carry white wormy parasites that look hideous, but don’t affect the taste. The worms often disappear in the cooking process. Smaller drum taste delicious, very similar to redfish. In fact, many people probably ate drum without realizing it if they ever ordered a redfish dish in a restaurant.

“Drum are edible fish, particularly young ones up to a couple of pounds,” Shipp advised.

“Many people call these puppy drum. These fish are often offered as a replacement for red drum, because red drum are generally unavailable commercially. Larger drum tend to have a tough hide and thick scales, making cleaning them a chore hardly worth the effort. Larger fish are also especially prone to be wormy, although this doesn’t pose a health problem, only an aesthetic one.”

PHOTO: PHOTO: BIGSTOCK CREDIT

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The NATIONAL

News of TEXAS

Prairie Dogs Have Returned to Tarrant County MARK MCDONALD, CHIEF WILDlife Biologist at Beacon Hill on Cedar Creek Lake is proud to announce the arrival of a family of Prairie Dogs to the Community’s Nature Trail.

“We are delighted how quickly the Prairie Dog families have adapted to our Nature Habitat. They have become a welcome addition to our Nature Trail and birdwatching locations here on the shores of Cedar Creek Lake and we look forward to having our visitors enjoy watching them in action in their new ‘town’.”

McDonald

said the release of 40 prairie dogs on the site is part of native prairie restoration on a 23-acre tract.

“We are planting native

BLACKBUCK

TURKEY

Hood County

Menard County

Nine-year-old Chase Burroughs shot this blackbuck antelope while hunting with his dad, Mark Burroughs. Chase and his dad were on a hunt in Hood County last January when the young man bagged his exotic trophy.

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prairie vegetation and are excited that these interesting and unique animals are back on this property.”

The animals which were captured on a facility in the Panhandle are already getting comfortable with their new home and should be well established soon.

According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department prairie dogs are very social animals. They live as a group in prairie dog “towns” which range from one to over 1,000 acres.

These towns are subdivided into

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Cheri Teutsch bagged this gobbler on her first turkey hunt, with guide Mike Buie of Real Outdoors, in Menard County. She started the day with a 10-inch bearded hen and finished it off with this 30-pound 9.5-inch-bearded tom. Both birds were taken with a Beretta A400 12-gauge shotgun.

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NEWS PHOTO: LEFT, CANSTOCK; RIGHT, USFWS

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Black-tailed prairie dogs have been restored to a special native prairie area at Beacon Hill.

wards that are arranged like counties within a state. Wards are further subdivided into distinct social units called coteries. A coterie usually consists of a single adult male, one to four adult females, and any offspring less than two years of age.

BASS Spring Thirteen-year-old Cole Seymour shows off a healthy 9.5-pound largemouth bass caught and released while fishing on a private lake in Spring.

Movement between wards is uncommon; however, among family members, prairie dogs greet each other with bared teeth with which they “kiss” as a form of recognition.

“Prairie dogs are native to the western North American plains. In Texas, they may be found in western portions of the state and in the Panhandle. Huge prairie dog towns, such as one that covered 25,000 square miles and supported a population of approximately 400 million prairie dogs, once were reported from Texas. Although prairie dogs still are common locally, less than one percent of the prairie dog population and habitat remain.”

TPWD noted that prairie dogs have been pushed out of their native habitat by ranching and farming activities for the past 50 years or more. As a result, their former range and numbers have shrunk dramatically.

“Although it is true that large concentrations of prairie dogs can damage cultivated crops or compete seriously with livestock, the wisdom of eliminating them entirely from rangelands has not been proved.

Ranchers in certain parts of Texas, for example, claim that removal of prairie dogs is related to the undesirable spread of brush.

This has had detrimental effects on the livestock industry which far outweighs the damage prairie dogs might do.”

Prairie dogs are now chiefly relegated to the Panhandle and western parts of the state but there are rumors of surviving small T E X A S

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towns in East Texas. If anyone has information or photographs of prairie dogs east of Interstate 35 e-mail cmoore@fishgame.com.

—by Chester Moore

Fatal Boat Wreck Leads to BWI Arrest AN INVESTIGATION BY TEXAS Game Wardens into a fatal boat crash on Lake Fork in July led to an arrest warrant Sept. 30 for the boat’s operator on felony intoxication manslaughter charges.

On the afternoon of July 9, game wardens responded to a one boat wreck on Lake Fork involving two Wood County fishermen. Both occupants of the vessel were ejected during the crash. The boat operator, David Michael Roche, 45, was arrested on suspicion of Boating While Intoxicated. Lab tests indicated Roche had a blood alcohol content level of .168, more than double the legal limit, at the time of the incident.

The body of the other fisherman, Donald Bryant Lawson, 45, was recovered by game wardens the following morning.

Roche turned himself in to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday. The case is pending in the Wood County District Attorney’s Office.

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TEXAS Dept. of

:: Self Defense :: Tactical :: Training Tips

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN and STAN SKINNER

:: Gear

Holster Options BLISTERING HOT TEXAS SUMMER weather significantly limits how a lawfully armed citizen can carry a concealed handgun discreetly. The heat pretty much rules out a jacket, sport coat or other outer garment.

This, in turn, rules out a shoulder holster, and makes some other carry locations more difficult to conceal.

Speaking as one of the male persuasion, summer weather means polo or tee shirts and blue jeans or shorts. Of course, some of us are locked into office wear, which usually means a coat and tie, no matter how hot it is outside.

Aside from a fanny pack, if you want to carry a concealed sidearm, you have a choice of several methods of carry somewhere on your waistline or an ankle holster.

I’m going risk some blowback and say that

Armor Up IT’S WELL KNOWN THAT THE police and military defend themselves with body armor, but many are unaware that law-abiding citizens may also own body armor for defensive purposes. Body armor is most usually incorrectly referred to as a “bullet proof vest,” but nothing is completely “bullet proof.”

Armor also has different ratings for different calibers. Of course you would stick out like a sore thumb if you attempted to wear most any type of vest in your daily carry. But in times of unrest, riots, disasters, or even a home invasion, you might wish to have body armor available.

First, the fine print: Texas Penal Code

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an ankle holster is almost always a bad choice for several reasons. Of necessity, you’d need to place the holster on the inner side of your ankle (left or right) because it is very difficult to yank a trouser leg up and grasp a pistol on the outer side.

So, using an ankle holster has several consequences. First, you will have to walk funny to keep from banging your gun against the other ankle with every step. Second, you need to choose an ultra-compact, lightweight pistol (or revolver), because having a couple of pounds strapped to one of your ankles all day will throw off your balance and annoy the @#%& out of you.

Third, if you need to draw your weapon, you’ll need to yank your trouser leg up to expose it, then crouch or kneel to grasp the grip. This is an obvious aggressive move that alerts an assailant that something bad is about to happen.

If you are carrying something, a shopping bag for instance, you have to make the conscious decision to drop it before you can begin your move to your weapon. Then, when you

crouch or kneel, you can’t move to cover or retreat—and you have a very narrow field of fire until you can change position. All this considered, an ankle holster is a bad tactical choice.

If you choose a belt holster, you have several carry options. This includes strong-side, cross draw, appendix, kidney, and small of the back (SOB) carry. All of these holster choices can be inside-the-waistband or outside.

Assuming you are not one of the aforementioned coat and tie wearers, you need to wear an untucked shirt to conceal your sidearm.

An inside-the-waistband holster offers more concealment, but you’ll need to buy pants one size larger than you normally wear.

As one whose waist is already too large, I do not favor IWB. Also, appendix and cross draw place your handgun in front of your hip bone, which is exceedingly uncomfortable when you sit down.

So, in my humble opinion, strong-side, kidney and SOB are the best choices by far— outside the waistband. You’ll need a stout belt and a holster designed to keep your sidearm close to your body, and as mentioned earlier,

states under section 46.041 that no convicted felon may possess metal or body armor that is designed or adapted for the purpose of protecting a person against gunfire. If you have a felony on your record, don’t even think about owning any type of body armor. However, for the rest of us law-abiding citizens who consider protecting ourselves against unwanted holes, there are a couple of options.

The most common form of body armor is the Kevlar-type concealable soft armor vests worn by law enforcement officers.

These conform to your body and come in

ratings of IIA, II and III-A. Level II is the most common rating worn by LEOs and it will stop common pistol rounds such as 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Level III-A is thicker and heavier and rated for slightly faster pistol calibers such as a 9mm traveling at 1,400 FPS and magnum pistol rounds such as the .44 Magnum. The thicker III-A vests will also minimize blunt trauma injury so the user can return fire. None of these are designed to stop high velocity rifle rounds. Soft armor prices start around $300.

Rifle rated armor comes in rigid plates that are worn in plate carriers. This is your foot soldier or SWAT team load out. Plates rated at level III are designed to defeat rounds from .308 Winchester traveling at 2,750fps. The highest rating is level IV plates that will stop steel core armor pierc-

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regard SOB as a viable option. As a wise, but folksy friend used to say, “Yer pays yer money and takes yer cherce.”

One of the major advantages of any waistband carry position is that you are not limited to a compact, low-powered carry piece. If you want to carry a full-sized revolver or semiauto, you can. My personal choice is a Kimber Ultra CDP II in .45 ACP with a Crimson Trace laser grip. Similar compact 1911s or other large semi-autos—even a (shudder) Glock would also work well.

Bringing your weapon to hand from under your untucked shirt is fairly easy, but you should practice it from time to time so you don’t fumble around when you really need your sidearm.

The key is to extend your thumb and hook it under the hem of your shirt as you begin your draw motion. Then you merely sweep the shirt up and away as you grasp the weapon. If your opposite arm is encumbered by a shopping bag, gym bag, etc., drop it and pull your shirt higher to aid your draw.

What happens if an untucked shirt is not an option? For example, I hate constantly having to hitch up my pants, so I use Perry suspenders that hook securely onto my belt.

This means an untucked shirt

just ain’t happening. So, in summer weather, I have to resort to a pocket holster.

This limits me to a sub-compact semi-auto.

Most such pistols are chambered for a lowpowered round, such as .380 or even .32 ACP. My personal choice is a fractionally larger Kahr 9, which is a striker-fired double action semi-auto. Similar sub-compacts include the Kimber Solo, Sig P 229 and S&W Shield. All of these are good choices. More recent versions are chambered for the more powerful .40 S&W cartridge, and I am seriously considering an upgrade.

Cold-weather carry offers additional options, which I hope to address in a later column. Also, I haven’t forgotten the ladies.

That’s a ho’ ‘nother subject.

But for now, there’s one last piece of advice I wish to leave you with. Don’t under any circumstances, jam your sidearm into your waistband or pocket like a gangbanger.

First, the outline of your handgun will easily “imprint,” revealing that you are carrying. Worse, you risk having the gun slip out, fall to the ground and possibly discharge.

Even worse, you might snag your trigger and shoot away an important part of your anatomy. I know of several cases where that has happened with dire results, even death.

‘Nuff said.

—Stan Skinner

about catching fragments in Several types of body armor: top left is the throat if an old Kevlar level IIIA panel, top right a he were shot.

Level III polyethylene plate, low left is a Steel plates low end AR500 level III steel plate, and will also be the center is a 5.11 plate carrier. heaviest running around ing 30-06 rounds, but as you can imagine seven pounds each, but are also the thinnest these plates get very thick and heavy. measuring about ¼ inch.

Level III is the most common “prepper Ceramic Level III plates can be found style” plate and it comes in three differunder $300, running around 6 pounds and ent weights and price points. The cheapest ½” thick, but then make some users neroption is AR500 steel plates that can be vous with the “Fragile, Do Not Drop” warnfound for under $200 each. These usually ings since rough handling can jeopardize come with a rubber coating that hopefully the plates’ performance. While ceramic defeats any bullet spalling. If you’ve ever plates might stop multiple rounds, they shot an armored steel target and saw how are designed and rated to defeat a single the bullet turns into tiny shrapnel, this shot. might leave the steel plate user a bit nervous Finally, synthetic level III polyethyl-

ene plates weigh around 4 pounds, are 1” thick and can be purchased around $400 each. With any of these armor plates you would also remember to budget for a plate carrier for $50-200.

So in summary if you are looking for some ballistic protection the rule of thumb is soft armor for pistol calibers, hard plates for rifles. Hopefully you never have the need to don bullet resistant armor, but if you do, you’ll be happy you have it at the ready.

your shirt must be worn untucked to cover it.

Because OWB holsters are less concealed than IWB, most men will need to buy shirts labeled “tall” instead of “regular” for the extra few inches of fabric to cover your holster. Be sure you buy a size large enough to drape loosely. A tight fit will usually “imprint” your holstered handgun, especially with the strongside carry.

Kidney and SOB carry place your holstered sidearm well behind your hipbone, which is a more discreet carry position. Of course when you sit, both kidney and SOB will place a large lump between you and your seat back. However, a well-designed holster will minimize any discomfort, and you will soon become accustomed to it. Some, myself included, find the sensation reassuring that your carry piece is right where it should be.

SOB offers a slight advantage because you can reach your handgun with either hand. In a worst case scenario where your strong-side arm is injured, this might be a life-saver. On the other hand, if one arm is disabled something has already gone horribly wrong.

Personally, I favor the kidney carry, but

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—Dustin Ellermann

Do Steel Targets Ricochet?

Watch this DIGITAL EXTRA video at: fishgame.com/2015/01/ steel-targets-ricochet-video

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TEXAS Dept. of :: Edited by WILL LESCHPER

Comeback Year for Texas Quail

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IKE WATERFOWL HUNTING, quail hunting has a long tradition in Texas, but in recent seasons drought and other factors have combined to make the pursuit extremely tough, based solely on bird numbers.

Last year was fantastic in terms of production, and just like in 2015, there have been exceptional moisture levels at the right time.

“You look at what happened last year with such excellent rainfall and moisture levels,

Waterfowl Get Another Advocate THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE Commissioner George P. Bush announced the names of inaugural members of the Commissioner’s Coastal Resiliency Advisory Group (CCRAG) in July. The 15-member group will provide local input and leadership to the GLO on coastal issues and consists of representatives from local government, business and industry leaders, each serving two-year terms.

“This coalition of regional leaders is an important element of my plan to make coastal protection a priority both during the upcoming legislative session and for the long-term,” Commissioner Bush 46 |

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quail numbers just shot through the roof.

And then we’re looking forward to another extraordinary season this year,” said Dave Morrison, small game program leader for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

“The benefit of all that rainfall depends where it occurs. You look at the Gulf Coast prairies and in regard to quail it’s an inverse relationship,” he said. “The more rain, the worse off it is for quail. But when you look at South Texas, the Rolling Plains and the Panhandle, that timely rain has them doing well, especially since we’ve had a mild spring.

I suspect that in many of the quail strongholds the birds are going to respond nicely.”

Quail hunting has been labeled as a boom-or-bust proposition with the greatest strongholds occurring on the western edge of key bobwhite habitat, but with good rainfall producing excellent nesting cover and abundant forbs and insects, Texas as a whole is set

up for another bumper crop of birds.

“A friend of mine was spring turkey hunting this year up in the Panhandle and he said he couldn’t kill a turkey because the quail wouldn’t be quiet,” Morrison said. “It’s been unbelievable the number of birds they’re seeing in some places like the Rolling Plains and South Texas. What we’re seeing now is just a continued building on what we did last year when it was excellent.

“Nothing can fix problems like a good rain, especially when it comes to groundnesting birds like turkey and quail.”

Texas quail surveys in 2015 showed phenomenal numbers of birds in traditional hot spots as well as in other noted strongholds.

The prime example is the Rolling Plains, the area of the state that includes a variety of excellent habitat and spanning from Lubbock and San Angelo on the western edge to the Red River basin in the east.

said in a press release. “Texas’s beaches, marshes and islands are a symbol of Texas’s rich heritage, and ensuring that we build, maintain and protect our coast is one of my top priorities. With input from those who live and work in Texas’s coastal community, we will be better equipped to make decisions regarding both economic activity and wildlife preservation.”

Appointees from Texas coastal areas include three each from the Coastal Bend, South East Texas, Houston/Galveston, Lower Rio Grande Valley, and Golden Crescent areas. Of the three regional members, one is an elected or government official from a county or municipality. The second is a representative from a coastal conservation or regional planning organization. The third is a representative from a regional port or member of the coastal business community.

South East Texas coastal area appointees include two extremely dedicated coastal conservation advocates,

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick and Ducks Unlimited’s Texas Chenier Plain Conservation Specialist Jim Sutherlin.

Both have numerous years’ experience developing and implementing coastal restoration efforts and emphatically support the use of the best available science to identify restoration projects that can have the most impact for fish, wildlife and people.

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After helping guide Jefferson County through the aftermath of Hurricane Ike as County Attorney in 2008, Branick was elected County Judge in 2010 in the shadow of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Since then, he has strongly advocated using Deepwater Horizon restoration funds to restore and conserve the largest coastal marsh in Texas to benefit fish and wildlife populations and people.

“Judge Branick fully understands, appreciates and shares with others the interconnected nature of a healthy coastal

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might only have one route. Biologists record the number of singles, pairs, coveys and number of quail within coveys for each quail species by one-mile increments. The relative age of broods also is recorded.

It should be noted that the counts are not replicated within a given year. For this reason, the number of quail observed during any single observation is not necessarily indicative of quail abundance in the general area of the route, according to TPWD. Essentially, it provides a good baseline for biologists to estimate how many quail may be on the range. Observing a few quail along a route one year and a huge number the next doesn’t necessarily mean there are more quail in that particular area, biologists noted.

The average number of bobwhite quail observed per survey route was 38.3 compared with 7.5 in 2014 and representing the highest figure since 1992-93, another boom year for birds, according to TPWD data. In fact, the 2015 count is the only one since 2008 that reached into double digits in the Rolling Plains.

South Texas, another bastion for bobwhites, also saw phenomenal bird numbers. The 2015 survey showed 21.1 birds per route, a substantial increase over the previous 11.6. The larger count was the highest in 15 years, with the 2005-13 surveys all ending in the single digits.

Although bobwhites dominate the quail hunting landscape in Texas, another species out west also has benefited from better habitat conditions. Scaled quail, like bobwhites, can rebound quickly under optimum conditions, something they had in 2015.

Like the bobwhite counts, scaled quail figures in the Trans-Pecos region were off the charts last year, rising from six birds per route in 2014 to 28.4. That represents the highest scaled quail figure in that hunting hot bed since 2007. It also is the first year in five that the count hit double figures.

The agency designed the roadside quail survey in 1976 to track quail production trends at the statewide and regional levels.

The 20-mile routes are randomly assigned and many counties

ecosystem and our nation’s economic and defense systems,” said Todd Merendino, DU Manager of Conservation Programs for Texas. “In this way, he has been integral in bringing diverse stakeholders together to raise a unified voice in support of important restoration projects,” “Furthermore,” Merindino said, “his devotion to the wise use of restoration funds does not end at the Jefferson County line. He also supports coastal restoration efforts and collaboration across the Chenier Plain—one of the most important wintering areas for North America’s waterfowl.”

Sutherlin spent 25 years with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as the Project Leader for the Upper Coast Wetland Ecosystem Project where he managed the state-owned wildlife management areas in Jefferson, Orange and Chambers counties. He now works part time for DU to ensure investments made in coastal restoration in the Chenier Plain

of Texas are most beneficial for the ecosystem and waterfowl.

“In a place like coastal Texas, where there’s a resource-based economy, investments in ecosystem restoration are investments in economic development and recovery,” Sutherlin said.

Meetings of the Coastal Resiliency Advisory Group will be held quarterly at a location in a different coastal region on a rotating basis. The first meeting in Corpus Christi in mid-August provided a general overview of coastal protection.

Moving forward, the group will review and evaluate the effect of state policies and programs and make recommendations to the Commissioner on matters relating to coastal resiliency and recovery. The group will also consider evaluation criteria for providing financial assistance and recommend special studies and projects to the Commissioner to further the effectiveness of coastal resiliency and recovery.

“The Commissioner made a sound

choice in including Judge Branick and Jim Sutherlin in his advisory group,” Merendino said. “Both of them have years of experience with coastal restoration, a deep and complete understanding of the connections between our coastal ecosystem and economies, and the common sense and real-life experience to know that diverse partners must come to the table for the greater good of coastal Texas, regardless of their different motivations for doing so.”

For a complete list of appointees http://www.glo.texas.gov/the-glo/news/ press-releases/2016/february/commissioner-george-p-bush-announces-coastalresiliency-advisory-group.html

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Email Will Leschper at WillLeschperOutdoors@gmail.com

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt.

EDDIE HERNANDEZ

November Has Late Fall Action & Less Pressure Staying home and watching football on TV is a good idea while one of these fronts is blowing through. Once it calms down, however, is

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This action should continue until mid-December.

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OVEMBER IS, ALWAYS HAS been, and always will be one of my favorite months to fish. Its arrival means that it is time for some serious fishing, or should I say catching, here on Sabine Lake.

We are experiencing the tail end of some of the best fall action the coast has to offer.

November is, for the most part, an extension of October’s fast and furious bird chasing.

Running and gunning is what we do mostly, and the birds, shrimp and fish do not let us down.

This fast action should continue until about mid-December. The cold fronts are becoming more frequent and intense, and that means timing is as crucial as ever if you are going to have success.

an entirely different story. That’s when I hit record for the good games and catch them

after I’m through cleaning fish.

One of the biggest advantages of fishing in November is that the lake is a lot less crowded.

Most of the fishermen are also hunters, and a big portion of them are out in the field chasing ducks and deer. More power to them, but to be able to work the birds without all the competition is a much-welcomed change for us.

Dark colored soft plastics usually produce our better trout this month. Morning Glory and Red Shad paddle-tailed Assassins worked fairly deep should bode well on the larger trout, as well as some bruiser reds.

Hoginars are also proven red killers. You really don’t have much choice but to work them a little deeper, because they sink very fast. It doesn’t take long for them to get to the bottom as the north end and whole main body of Sabine Lake doesn’t get over eight feet deep. Give it a couple of pops, reel in the slack, and be ready to hang on tight. These fish will put your gear to the test so make sure your drag is set properly.

Top waters like Skitterwalks and She-Dogs in Bone and Black with Chartreuse will also result in some exciting blowups. The fall flounder fun will also peak this month. If you’re craving some flaky, white meat for supper you should have no problem finding it at the mouths of the bayous on the eastern bank. Try to fish a nice outgoing tide early or late for a more consistent bite.

The ship channel in Sabine Pass is also a great spot for intercepting these tasty flatfish as they make their way to the Gulf. GULP! Swimming mullet and live mud minnows are hard to beat.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Twin Lakes (Hwy 87 Bridge City) SPECIES: Redfish, flounder, crabs BAITS/LURES: Fresh shrimp, mud minnows, finger mullet, chicken necks BEST TIMES: Moving tides

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Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt.

MIKE HOLMES

Texas Anglers Have Much to be Thankful For

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OPEFULLY, THE MAIN thanks we will be giving this November will be because the unusually heavy rains that plagued the Texas Coast have stopped.

Even affected inland areas through the winter, spring, and early will have at least returned to a more normal level. Yes, droughts are bad things to live through. However, having lived through several situations of real, no nonsense high water, to me flooding rains are worse.

Fresh water influx to the bays is not only beneficial, but necessary for a healthy marine ecosystem—but the salt water world, by definition, needs to be mostly salt water.

Assuming that a more normal rainfall schedule has returned for the fall, we will be thankful for that and the chance for good to excellent inshore fishing on the upper Texas Coast.

Texas is a “Red” state, so is November still a “red” month. Our redfish are known as channel bass on the east coast, and are actually a large member of the croaker family. Examine a red’s mouth and it is obvious they originally come from the factory best equipped as a bottom feeder, majoring in crabs and other shellfish.

Personally, I’ve caught quite a few reds, most of them in the “bull” category of 20 pounds or heavier, and have yet to use a crab for bait. The mature, breeding age reds have mostly been caught on fish—live finger mullet or fresh cut bait from larger mullet.

I have seen reds caught on large shad and on squid, as well. Once I even caught one on a large chunk of bonito dangled from a small boat just past the breakers in hopes of enticing a shark. Smaller, “rat” reds will take dead shrimp as well as—or sometimes better than—live ones. They will also feed on just about any small baitfish, from mullet and shad to mud minnows.

When using lures, I’ve had the best luck

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flounders, with probably a few croakers and maybe some “Gulf trout”—and this without changing tackle, baits, techniques, or fishing spots in most cases.

THE BANK BITE

with baitfish or shrimp imitations, mostly soft jig-tails or silver spoons. Despite the underslung mouth, however, reds will hit mullet imitation plugs—even top waters.The explosion of a fair sized red on a top water plug can be very impressive.

At this time of year, reds may be found in the back bays and brackish bayous to open bay reefs, in passes and river mouths, and in the surf. Their abundance, varied diet, the way they pull on a tight line, and the fact that they are delicious on the table in a wide range of recipes are all reasons they are among the most sought after inshore sport fish on the Texas Coast.

The best thing about the Texas coast at this time of year is that even those targeting redfish will catch their share of speckled trout and

LOCATION: Everywhere, bayous, bays, surf and some distance offshore.

SPECIES: Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, croaker. They are all good.

BAIT: You can’t go wrong with natural baits, from shrimp and small crabs to shad, croakers, mud minnows and mullet. When choosing lures, select those that imitate these baits—whether top-waters or sub-surface lures. This is an excellent time of year for those who enjoy using a fly rod on bay flats.

BEST TIME: Daytime temperatures are pleasant, and the nights have not started getting cold, so either is comfortable. Best bet is to fish the times, concentrating on periods of current movement— whether in or out.

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Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

November Offers Many Different Fishing Options

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HE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVing last year I went fishing with my grandson Ian. While we were launching our kayaks in the back waters of East Matagorda Bay, another kayak fisherman was returning from fishing in the bay and the back lakes and bayous. He held up a stringer with a limit of reds, and a limit of trout. Encouraged by his success, we paddled into the lake.

Ian was 12 years old and had very little fishing experience, but he listened to my instructions, “Let the lure drop when it hits the water; fish like to strike on the drop.

If you know you are fishing over a shallow oyster reef, hold your rod tip high and run the soft plastic lure over the reef. You will not get your lure caught. Predators like to hang

in holes in the reef and will come up to take your lure.”

His first fish was a 14-inch redfish. He hollered, “Granddad look!” And held up his net, “What is it?”

I showed him how to remove the hook and gently return the fish to the water. Then he caught a 13-inch trout and a 12-inch flounder, and released them after learning what species they were.

There was a small bayou where water was draining into the lake, and I told him to drop his lure into that spot. Soon Ian had a big bend in his rod. I had not taught him how to keep his rod tip up and reel as you lower it a bit when he has a big fish on. However, he instinctively handled his rod and reel cor-

rectly, his jaw jutting out in determination as he worked the fish to his kayak.

With the fish in his net and the net in his lap, he looked over at me with a huge grin and held his hands far apart. I measured the hefty trout at 21 inches.

Ian was hooked on fishing. He took the fish home to Dallas, cooked it and shared it with his mom, dad, and sister.

November offers many different fishing options. Friday the Thirteenth is supposed to be an unlucky day. However, with a degree of creativity and many casts, I enjoyed a good day of fishing last November 13th in the backwaters of East Matagorda Bay even though the wind was blowing 15-20 mph out of the northeast.

Using an Egret Baits Zulu shrimp I caught and released a 19-inch redfish. Then I changed to an Egret Baits Wedge Tail Minnow and caught and released a couple of small trout and a small red. Finally I worked a keeper fish, a flounder, up to my net when it spit out the lure and swam away.

Flounders are hard to hook because they have a boney mouth making it difficult to get a hook set, and they sometimes bite a bait or soft plastic just below the hook. So I changed to a Flounder Pounder, a lure with hooks on the tail end of the soft plastic, thinking, “I’ll get those flounders.”

Well, I didn’t catch any flounder, but I was pleased to learn that large trout will hit a Flounder Pounder, and I caught a 19-inch and a 22-inch trout. My wife’s comment was, “Nobody told the trout that only flounders were allowed to hit that lure.”

Redfish roam the surf in November. The way to fish for them is to use a long rod to help get your bait well offshore. Set up a two and a half foot leader with a swivel at the end that connects to your line and a snap swivel with a weight attached on the other end. Put 12-inch leader lines with circle hooks on each swivel. Use fresh cut mullet, if you can get it, for bait. You may want to put out two or three rods and then sit in a comfortable chair

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There is an abundance of keeper trout in the back lakes of East Matagorda.

with your favorite beverage and wait for the rods to bend.

Texas fishing regulations state that you can keep one redfish that is over 28 inches.

Large redfish are breeders and many fishermen and women return them to the water.

The jetties are also a great place to catch reds in November. November is one of the best months to fish the surf and bays of Matagorda because cooling water and weath-

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er along with shorter days trigger fish feeding activity.

THE BANK BITE OLIVIA HATERIUS PARK: About 15 minutes west of Palacios on Highway 35 turn left onto Highway 172 and follow it to Olivia Haterius Park.

This park has a bulkhead to fish from, a place to

launch boats and kayaks, and a children’s play area.

It is a great place for family members who like to fish as well as those who like to do other outdoor activities. Buy your bait in Palacios (or use a cast net) because there are no bait shops in Olivia.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@fishgame.com

10/12/16 1:59 PM

Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt.

CHRIS MARTIN

Saltwater Experiment

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URING YOUR NEXT NOVEMber fishing trip, try to imagine yourself as a scientist whose surroundings are nothing more than one huge laboratory provided to you for the sole purpose of experimentation.

Your job as the fishing scientist this day is to utilize the principles and practices you’ve learned throughout your fishing career in order to gain further knowledge into the more natural problem at hand—catching fish. Your

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first order of business will be to collect some data.

Some of you may have a head start on others as you might have already amassed brief pieces of data from your local weather channel while pre-planning today’s adventure. Others of you might need to play a little catch-up in this area, so before you even launch the boat try to get a quick forecast for the day before getting underway.

Once you have arrived at the spot where you think you would like to begin fishing, start collecting your second grouping of data before you even turn the engine off. Is there evidence of any bait activity? If so, what kind? Are there any pelicans or seagulls that happen to be flying or sitting? What condition is the water in?

Is there any conspicuous movement of water, or current? Are you able to see what the bottom terrain looks like – grass, mud, sand, shell?

Which way will you need to walk in order for the wind to not be a hindering factor for you?

These are all data points anglers should pay close attention to when fishing for cold-water trout in November, but your particular list may vary. Remember, this is an experiment, and at the end of the day there probably is no right or wrong answer.

Finally, you make your way over the side of the boat and into the water. Now it’s time to begin experimenting with some of the data you’ve collected to this point through your previous observations. You noticed a few anxious mullet popping the surface when you pulled-up, so you tie on a top-water and start chunking it randomly in front of you. To your dismay, there are no takers at the other end of your line.

You’ve been wading fairly close to the bank, but have noticed that most of the mullet action is currently taking place out amidst deeper water. What should you do? Many may prefer to experiment with patterns, but you should always attempt to cast in the general vicinity of the bait itself, especially in the colder months of the year. After all, you’re pursuing an animal that’s most likely cold, lethargic, and who may only attempt to eat one meal a day right now, so the odds are T E X A S

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weighted heavily against you to get it right on your very first try.

Other hypotheses to test on this day would be to try several different retrieval patterns with your lure, whether surface walker, slowsinker, or plastic tails. Before giving up on having any luck at the water’s surface, try bringing the lure back to you differently each time on several consecutive casts.

One way would be the walk-the-dog presentation with a steady retrieve. If that doesn’t draw attention, try the old fashioned jerk-n-sit, whereby you walk the bait across the water with five brief movements of the rod tip and then let it sit motionless for five seconds. It can be a tedious and monotonous task, but it has proved to work great in cold weather when the fish simply don’t want to exert any more effort than absolutely necessary in catching their next meal. You can almost bet that if we were to ask the fish their opinion on this subject, they’d certainly tell us it’s much easier for them to catch bait that’s sitting still in the water over that of bait that’s moving very quickly across the surface.

All the things we’ve talked about here are but a tip of the iceberg when it comes to variables in the sport of Texas coastal fishing. We could probably talk until we’re blue in the face about all the things we could try, but here’s one thought to leave with you. In looking back on all your years as an avid coastal angler, you can probably honestly say that you have never once been able to tell the fish exactly what it is they prefer. They have to tell you.

For you to continue to advance to the next level of becoming a more successful angler, you’ll need to get good at letting them do that.

One way for you to do that is to experiment.

You should always keep in mind the necessity for you to mix things up once in a while and not be afraid to play with tactics and strategies that are new to you. Give it a try, and form your own hypothesis. Have fun, and be safe out there.

Contact Capt. Chris Martin at bayflatslodge@gmail.com

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Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt.

MAC GABLE

Fly Fishing

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HAVE CLIENTS WHO TRAVEL from out of state each year to join me for a day of fishing. I try to appreciate all of my clients but it just says something about a person if they are willing to take the time and the money to travel great distances to fish.

If I am honest, these folks hold a special place in my heart, even though it brings a certain amount of pressure to make sure all is ready for them after such a long trip. My stress level ratchets up a notch because after being in this business for all these years, things can just go wrong that are outside of my control.

It seems I find more things just before these trips than at any other time. Luckily though, I can’t remember a single trip that I HAD to cancel because of my neglect.

Some of my out of state clients bring their own rods and reels and some of their special artificial lures. I had never given this much thought until recently my wife and I traveled to an upstate New York family reunion.

Probably by now you’ve heard about or read about the Baltimore flood, well guess where our midway stop was—yeppers the Baltimore Airport.

To say they were having an unusual high tide that day doesn’t come close to describing the amount of fresh water these poor folks had to deal with. We were stranded along with thousands of other travelers, and each had issues none of which the airline could adequately deal with.

Admittedly my wife flies a lot more than I, so she knows how to navigate airports. She is especially good at playing flight hop scotch to get her where she needs to go. She takes airline things in stride; a skill I have yet to acquire.

I probably shouldn’t, but I am going to tell you things have changed markedly since I had last flown. I was pretty much lost most of the time even though I tried to look like I knew

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exactly what I was doing, and I was exactly where I needed to be—none of which was the truth.

A saltwater guide in a Houston/Dallas/ Tampa airport—yeah, I guess you could say I stuck out. Terms I never needed to know 15 years ago were absolutely a necessity these days—kiosk check in, pre-check, TSA, GOES, magnetic scanning, 60 linear inches, 23 kilograms, 100 milliliter bottles, one-quart plastic bags, random screening, airplane mode, paying for checked baggage, not getting an assigned seat (you have to fight it out with other fliers once on the plane), paying extra for boarding the plane early or late (I forget which).

I learned quickly where the flight board was. If you are ever in an airport, and all the little letters and numbers are in red you’re gonna have a LONG day. Luckily there were some coffee places but at more than $5 a cup, (unless you’re rich) you’re not going to caffeinate your way through this helter-skelter environment.

At the Homeland Security line my wife

elected NOT to be scanned and rather be searched. Me, wanting to fit in, decided emptying my pockets was okay, but then the guy tells me he’s gonna pat me down and feel around on me where nobody is allowed to.

“No sir, you’re NOT gonna do that” I told him.

“Well, it’s either that or get back in line and get scanned.”

The line was long and full of grumpy people.

“I’ve already stood in line,” I said.

“Not in the scan line” he remarked.

“Listen, I paid over 500 dollars to fly on an airplane, then I had to pay for my baggage, throw away a lot of my snacks, then I’m herded like a herd of cattle, treated like I’m a criminal (do I look like a terrorist to you?), and now you want to feel me up or radiate me in that Star Trek-looking beam me up chamber?”

At this point to say I’m getting some attention is not accurate.

“I’ve got on nylon shorts, a baseball cap, and a tee shirt, do you think I’ve got an M16

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Forecast: ROCKPORT hiding somewhere!!??”

“You might!” he said. “Or it could be in your carry on.” “ !@#$ You made me throw away all my carry on!” I hollered.

“Sir, what planet have you been on the last 20 years?” the security guy asked.

Then they discovered I had pre check (something my wife finagled), I was put in an express line and all was forgiven!!!???

“All this and I still have to fight for my seat once on the plane!” I LOUDLY stated.

Okay, sorry, but airports and me are like a match and an open can of gas, we just don’t mix without an explosion. After arriving at the gate (oh, and no meal on the plane!!!) I was in need of something that looked familiar, so my wife bought me a solid gold cup of coffee (had to have gold in it for what it cost).

Lo and behold, I see a fellow flyer with a PVC pipe with glued ends. I surmised it had to be a rod holder, so feeling a little lonely for some familiarity I eased over and struck up a conversation.

“Going fishing?” I asked.

“Probably not,” he replied in a tense manner. “See this rod holder I made?” he said.

“Don’t EVER do this and try to fly. “My thought was I would carry this on the plane to protect the very expensive rod I have inside,” he continued. “They all but tackled and handcuffed me at the entrance, and sir I was no longer an innocent American with my prized rod, I was a guilty terrorist with a pipe bomb or a weapon of mass destruction. I was escorted away, interrogated, patted down, and all but my bodily orifices were thoroughly examined.

It didn’t help that I had some of my favorite lures inside either, all of which I was told could be used as a weapon. If I wanted to proceed, they would not be allowed in the cabin of the plane. Glad I didn’t bring my favorite stink bait or I might have been accused of carrying genocide weapons!”

“Sir, why didn’t you check the rod holder?

I asked.”

“Well I have fear of flying (Now I have a fear of trying to get to fly), and the rod would be kinda of a relaxing item, or so I thought,” he said. “At check-in I got treated like I was a criminal, then at security it was even worse.

Now I am so afraid of trying to get on my plane that my stomach is upset—not to mention I am getting the weirdest looks by every-

body within sight. The fact that you’re talking to me might make you a potential BAD GUY as well so be careful!”

“Maybe it would help if, when you get to the gate, you open the holder up and show everybody it’s a fishing rod,” I suggested.

“Oh yeah, and as I unscrew the top I get shot or bludgeoned to death! I’m a hunter as well,” he said. “I have traveled with a gun case, and it was all pretty straight forward until I realized my money belt was inside the gun case. I made the mistake of trying to open my case after it was inspected inside the TSA perimeter. Within a nanosecond I had five TSA security officers on me. I’m pretty sure I was a hair’s width away from getting hurt for they all meant business, let me tell you!”

He went on to say in his NSHO (not so humble opinion) after a person buys a plane ticket,they forfeit all rights once they approach the check in counter.

After my experience on this very long flight, I have to say that while I understand the need for security and very much want it, ( I applaud my brothers and sisters in arms who do these thankless, glamorless, and dangerous jobs), I suggest a little compassion and understanding and maybe a friendly demeanor where we the customers are concerned.

It would help tense situations and be much appreciated. After this trip I have a much deeper appreciation for those clients and any sportsman/woman who choose the airlines as a means of transportation.

If you do decide to fly to destinations out of state or out of country, set your attitude to that akin to being herded like cattle—you’re going to be scanned, examined/groped, not fed anything worthwhile, cramped in a VERY small seat, and radiated while you fly.

The comforts once enjoyed with coach flight now come only with added expense— premium economy class, business class, first class. The cost difference can be staggering from 2x to 20x the price of coach. The cumbersome security check, however, is the same.

If flying abroad with hunting equipment, please make note of U.S. government form 4457. Have it filled out and stamped/ approved by Customs ahead of time. If you don’t, it could cost you a lot of money in taxes returning from your destination.

If you can, get TSA pre-check or pay for GOES (global enrollment/entry system)

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certification for out of country travel. Pack snacks. Ideally, use a rod/gun local to your destination and avoid the added hassle.

For the sportsman / woman who flies with his/her gear, it truly is a lesson in endurance - enduring attitudes, enduring patience, and time. Good Luck!

••• THE FIRST COLD FRONTS HAVE arrived, and the bite has changed. This is good cut bait time with menhaden and mullet on the top of the list. Sliced piggy perch work well too.

COPANO BAY: On a dropping tide the mouth of Mission Bay is a good place for reds using free-lined cut mullet. Patience is key. The reds will be moving through the cuts that frequent this area into the protection of deeper water. The deeper edges of Copano Reef are a good place for trout using new penny-colored jerk shad and or live shrimp.

Some black drum may be found just off the shoreline near Bayside. A light Carolina rig with peeled shrimp is the ticket.

ARANSAS BAY: Bartel Island is holding some black drum. Use live shrimp under a silent cork. Dunham Point is a good place for reds using finger mullet free lined or cut menhaden on a medium Carolina rig. Grass Island Reef still holds trout with live shrimp the best bait; free lined is best or under a rattle cork.

ST CHARLES BAY: The mouth of Little Devils Bayou is a good place for reds using finger mullet free lined. Some trout frequent this area as well so free lined piggy perch is a good choice. Little Sharp Point has some black drum and some flounder with peeled shrimp fished free lined or on a very light Carolina rig. The grass off Egg Point is a good place for reds and trout using a weedless rigged jerk shad in morning glory and chartreuse pepper glow colors.

CARLOS BAY: On colder days the deep cuts such as Cedar Dugout are good for keeper trout using free-lined shrimp or shad assassins in salt and pepper color. The shoreline of Ballou Island is a good place to wade with CONTINUED ON PAGE

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

Turkey Time Jetty Fishing

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OST OF THE ANGLERS who are not spending their Novembers in deer blinds are usually fishing all the traditional autumn hot spots for trout and redfish, which is understandable.

Most of these spots are tough to beat for steady action from aggressive, and sometimes sizeable, fish. Even so, a lot of these fishermen are missing out on some top of the line November fishing by ignoring the activity around the Brazos Santiago Jetties.

Some of the most underrated fall fishing in South Texas takes place along both sides of the pin granite breakers that bookend the pass known as the “Arms of Saint James.” This pass feeds in and out of Lower Laguna Madre.

These jetties systems 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) and 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. In November, save a severe blue norther, the water remains in the mid to high 70s most of the month, which will hold many warm water denizens within casting distance.

Certainly, the most sought-after species are speckled trout and redfish. Both fish can be caught from the jetties on the same trip.

However, different techniques are called for.

Speckled trout usually will be holding closer to the rocks and cruising up and down the gut that runs parallel to the jetties. This is especially true on the north jetties, where prevail-

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ing 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.

An incoming tide sends clean water in from the Gulf and makes early mornings magical off the rocks. A fisherman can do well throwing live bait under a popping cork. Cast your line near the rocks for trout (and mangrove snapper, which almost become a nuisance with their abundance). A Carolina rig out in the surf for redfish can also produce.

The bait bucket, however, isn’t necessary.

A box filled with chugging topwaters such as the Storm Chug Bug, Pop-A-Dog, similar such poppers, a couple of pink/polka-dot Rat-LTraps, and a ½ silver spoon or two. A collection of your favorite plastic tails in red/white, or chartreuse patterns and some 1/8 ounce jigheads (the lighter heads are less apt to snag up) is perfect to keep you mobile.

If the wind is straight from the south, you can still fling topwaters parallel to the rocks. In fact, the trout seem a little more aggressive in the more active water.

Start an early morning expedition on the jetties by casting back toward the corner where the rocks meet the beach and work the lure back along the bottom. Trout should be there, but there may also be a few big flounders waiting in ambush. From those casts, expand out into the guts and cast parallel to the beach to see whether there are any redfish.

It doesn’t hurt to take a few wire leaders in your tackle box. This time of year, schools of Spanish mackerel tear into bait balls in front of the jetties. They aren’t discriminating, and can clean you out of tackle 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, and they offer some gill-rattling jumps for your thrills.

Boaters may have to pick their days, but working around the north point on a calm day can be very productive. Schools of large slot-

sized redfish cruise around the point.

Fish with a ½ ounce jighead and your favorite soft plastic to tempt them to bite. Bait colors that usually mimic the pilchards and mullet that they feed upon this time of year are usually the best bet. I’ve had better success using a four- to five-inch bait, although a threeinch bait will also work.

The question always comes up about the sort of tackle needed for the jetties. Honestly, your traditional inshore 10-12 pound tackle is enough, but if you hook into a big red or snook, you are going to be in trouble.

Upping slightly to 14-17 pound tackle is a safer bet to handle just about anything that swims the suds around the pink granite, and it gives you a little more power in reserve if Mr. Big comes calling. My preferred rig is a 7 ½ foot medium action casting rod with a Curado 300-e loaded with 10/40 Power Pro braid. This outfit will tackle pretty much any fish you might run into on the rocks—unless a 150 pound tarpon grabs your plug; then, all bets are off.

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 a Berkley Power Mullet are the best bets to get a poon’s attention. Fly fishermen can use a large Tarpon Bunny or Chicken Feather-type fly on an eight- or nine-weight fly rod.

On one particular trip, while fishing with friends David Rutledge, Oscar Garcia, and Anibal Gorena, we were slow trolling with large live mullet. Dave pulled his mullet up to see if it was still lively. Just as he pulled it out of the water, a 150-pound-class tarpon came up and cherry-picked the hapless baitfish off his rig. We were pretty quiet for some time after that.

You never know what may show up and rock your world.

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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.

East Mat Trout Make the Cuts

by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Three Mile Cut GPS: N 28 38.4829, W 95 55.5829 (28.6414, -95.9264)

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LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Boggy Cut GPS: N 28 44.043, W 95 49.6579 (28.7341, -95.8276)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: “In November the fishing pattern will switch, more bird activity over feeding fish. When wading we switch off to topwaters.” Capt. Prye LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: St. Mary’s Bayou GPS: N 28 39.786, W 95 57.432 u TAP FOR (28.6631, -95.9572)

ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: Capt. Prye says that East Matagorda Bay doesn’t have a strong tidal movement. Most of the

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LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Live Oak Bay Cut GPS: N 28 44.8339, W 95 44.391 (28.7472, -95.7399)

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water movement in and out of the drains is caused by winds. “I typically fish shorelines that stretch adjacent to the drain.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: Capt. Prye says the bird action could be anywhere on the bay, shorelines, middle of the bay, “just anywhere” in November.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Old Gulf Cut GPS: N 28 42.919, W 95 53.2099 (28.7153, -95.8868)

and any of the cuts along the north shoreline.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: Concentrate on drains on the south shoreline |

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: “When I’m fishing from the boat I’ll use a 1/8 ounce jig head; when wading I throw a 1/16 ounce Screw Lock jig head.” Capt. Prye LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: St. Mary’s Bayou GPS: N 28 39.621, W 95 56.667 (28.6604, -95.9445)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: Capt. Prye likes the Dog Walker by Unfair Lures.

“It has more of a sway back to it; walks a lot tighter.”

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Boggy Flat GPS: N 28 44.029, W 95 48.576 (28.7338, -95.8096)

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top waters for trout and reds. The Rapala Chartreuse Floating minnow works well here.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: Fishing the birds: “Try to figure out what and where the fish are moving, whether they have their track shoes on, moving real fast, or staying grouped together.” Capt. Prye LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Oyster Farm Drain GPS: N 28 41.452, W 95 48.627 (28.6909, -95.8105)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: Birds continued…”If they stay grouped together, I’ll troll from 40-50 yards away from them, and drift into them. They have been small fish, but last November we caught three fish between 28-29 inches.” Capt. Prye LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 28.92, W 94 43.6559 (29.4820, -94.7276)

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MESQUITE BAY: Drifts across Bays Cove is a good way to catch flounder with peeled shrimp on a very light jig head. Set the hook at the slightest tap. Some good sheepshead on the northeast shoreline using cut squid or frozen shrimp under a silent cork. Reds may be found here as well. Belden Dugout is a good place for reds using finger mullet on a medium heavy Carolina rig.

AYERS BAY: There are some black drum off Second Chain Island with peeled shrimp

THE BANK BITE THE SHORELINE OF GOOSE ISLAND is a good place to set up for reds. Wading this area is best but fishing from the bank can produce some keeper reds as well as some big trout. Cut mullet is a good bait choice or mud minnows.

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

www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “I use 1/8- and1/4-ounce jig heads. The 1/8 is good for when the fish are up and under working birds.

If we are fishing slicks, I like to throw the 1/4 ounce.”

Capt. Frazier LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Richard’s Reef GPS: N 29 31.429, W 94 45.3229 (29.5238, -94.7554)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 Ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Capt. Frazier’s topwater is the She Dog in the 808 (orange/black/gold) colors. “It works in any color of water, and it has a higher pitch rattle.”

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Tong Reef GPS: N 29 32.2319, W 94 30.3509 (29.5372, -94.5059)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 Ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “If you are catching a bunch of little fish from under the birds or out a slick, cut off the jig and tie on a topwater, and you will catch the biggest fish in the school.” Capt. Frazier LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Hodges Reef GPS: N 29 34.963, W 94 44.574 (29.5827, -94.7429)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 Ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “Fish the shell reefs, beginning in 2-3 feet of water, working out to deeper locations. Watch continu-

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 Ralph2fish@aol.com

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free-lined or on a fish finder rig. East shoreline is holding some trout. Work a jerk shad in new penny and morning glory colors for best action.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS ously for slicks, birds working.” Capt. Frazier LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Dows Reef GPS: N 29 38.8579, W 94 54.1999 (29.6476, -94.9033)

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CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 Ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “Determining how fast to fish the lure is based on how deep the water we are fishing... 1/8 ounce if the fish are up; under slicks, a 1/4 ounce jig head.”

Capt. Frazier LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Dana Cove GPS: N 29 12.768, W 94 58.308 (29.2128, -94.9718)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 Ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Fishing the slicks … “Normally we throw tails or Corkys,” says Capt. Frazier. His favorite soft plastic is the Sea Shad from Bass Assassin.

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Beasley Reef GPS: N 29 40.2679, W 94 52 (29.6711, -94.8667)

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LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: San Luis Pass GPS: N 29 4.851, W 95 6.7759 (29.0809, -95.1129)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with 1/4 jig heads CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 4097862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.net TIPS: “The majority of the shrimp will leave the marsh to go into the bigger bayous, rivers and the lake. We will be working the birds.” Capt. Watkins LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Black Bayou GPS: N 29 59.866, W 93 45.1819 (29.9978, -93.7530)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin soft plastics

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 Ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Fishing the Sea Shad … “Throw is out as far as you can and reel it back at different speeds until you find the speed the fish want. You don’t have to impart any action to the bait. The little paddle tail on the bait does it all.” Capt. Frazier.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: East Pass GPS: N 29 53.9039, W 93 49.219 (29.8984, -93.8203)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 Ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Favorite colors … “If the water is extremely clear, I like a dark color…Limetreuse is the color of choice for most guys. My favorite dark color is Drunk Monkey with a Limetreuse tail.” Capt. Frazier

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with 1/4 jig heads CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 4097862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.net TIPS: Capt. Bill’s favorite colors are white/glow chartreuse, red and gold flake/chartreuse tail and Chartreuse Gold. “I will dip my tails with a limetreuse color or white to get a little contrast.”

• • • MIDDLE COAST

Corpus Flatfish in the Flats

by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Mustang Flats GPS: N 27 41.5159, W 97 11.437 (27.6919, -97.1906)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in your confidence color CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Flounder fishing with rod and reel limit is two fish per day.

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

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Piggy perch or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Capt. Jack says it all depends on the weather if the trout are up close to the island or they go deep.

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet or cut mullet CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Redfish fishing in November should be on fire.” Capt. McPartland

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N 27 57.12, W 97 5.148 (27.9520, -97.0858)

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Dagger Island GPS: N 27 50.22, W 97 9.966 (27.8370, -97.1661)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Gold spoons and soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Pretty much any of your favorite soft plastics in your favorite colors and gold spoons will catch redfish.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Super Flats GPS: N 27 54.669, W 97 2.196 (27.9112, -97.0366)

10/12/16 1:59 PM

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Gold spoons and soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “The reds will be nuts on the flats.” Capt.

McPartland LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: St. Joes Island GPS: N 28 0.7279, W 96 58.365 (28.0121, -96.9728)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in your confidence color CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “if we get pounded by cold fronts in November, it severely affects the flounder gigging in December.

The flounder move offshore.” Capt. McPartland

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet or cut mullet CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Weather really takes a part in where to fish.

“In November the outside temperatures can drop 10 degrees, totally changing everything.” Capt.

McPartland LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Porno Flats GPS: N 27 51.42, W 97 21.357 (27.8570, -97.3560)

TION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Brown & Root Flats GPS: N 27 51.1639, W 97 5.812 (27.8527, -97.0969)

LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Redfish Bay Flats GPS: N 27 51.1039, W 97 9.352 (27.8517, -97.1559)

SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live bait, soft plastics in pearl, Smoke.

CONTACT: Captain Carlos Garcia 956-433-6094 TIPS: Fish the weedline along the edge of the ICW. Look for cuts into the weeks and sharpshoot into them.

Use a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jighead and fish slowly.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre @ Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Marker 151 GPS: N 26 31.89, W 97 23.26 u TAP FOR (26.5315, -97.3877)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet or cut mullet CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “If it’s cold, the fish will head to mud bottoms, as the mud bottom holds heat.” Capt. McPartland

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Gold Spoons, soft plastics in LSU CONTACT: Captain Jeff Neu 979-942-0164 TIPS: Wade or drift the deep potholes in the area with topwaters, soft plastics, spoons, or your favorite redfish lures to find pods of reds cruising the flats in this area LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N 26 27.652, W 97 21.702 (26.460867, -97.3617)

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LOWER COAST

On the Mark for Flounder & Reds SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in your confidence color CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblecharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “As the weather cools, the trout are still around, but you will have to poke around to find themLOCA-

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Marker 67 GPS: N 26 13.877, W 97 16.178 (26.2313, -97.2696)

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SPECIES: Redfish and Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Gold spoons and soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 facebook.com/captjoe.prado TIPS: “If I’m fishing any water less than knee deep I’ll use a 1/16 ounce jig head.” Capt. Prado LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: The Flounder Hole GPS: N 26 21.2239, W 97 19.3889 (26.3537, -97.3232)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 facebook.com/captjoe.prado TIPS: “Rig up using a 1/4 jig head and soft plastic, letting it sink to the bottom.” Capt. Prado LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Queen Isabella Causeway GPS: N 26 4.97, W 97 12.06 (26.0828, -97.2010)

GPS: N 26 2.302, W 97 12.799 (26.0384, -97.2133)

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SPECIES: Mangrove Snapper BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut squid, White bucktails.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Locate the edges and drop-offs along points in the Ship Channel and fish them with live or dead shrimp on a free-line rig.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre

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SPECIES: Sheepshead BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, fresh shrimp, crab chunks CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish close to the bottom alongside the pilings with free-line rigs and shrimp. Braided line helps minimize bait stealing.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Andy Bowie Park GPS: N 26 11.541, W 97 10.327 (26.1924, -97.1721)

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SPECIES: Pompano BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, fresh shrimp.

CONTACT: Quick Stop 956-943-1159 TIPS: Fish two hook rigs with 1 to 2 ounce sinkers (spider weights are best if the surf is sloppy) in the first or second gut (the latter on an outgoing tide) to target all them.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Brownsville Ship Channel

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FISHING HOTSPOTS HOTSPOT: Long Bar GPS: N 26 12.164, W 97 15.957 (26.2027, -97.2660)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, Shrimp tail/popping cork, and soft plastics in red/white, Tequila Gold.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: If the tide is down, or cooler weather is prevailing, then fish the edges and deeper water. The slower, more methodical retrieve keeps the bait in the fish’s face longer LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Three Islands GPS: N 26 16.95, W 97 14.194 (26.2825, -97.2366)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live bait, gold spoons, and soft plastics.

CONTACT: Captain Carlos Garcia 956-433-6094 TIPS: Fish soft plastics on 1/8 ounce or 1/16 once jigs. If you are having a problem with floating grass try a weedless gold spoon.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Kelly Wigglers soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 facebook.com/captjoe.prado TIPS: “Wade fishing on the sand bottom is really productive with the red/white color…can’t tell you why, but it draws a lot of attention.” Capt. Prado

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: East Cut GPS: N 26 33.7999, W 97 17.029 (26.5633, -97.2838)

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Northeast of East Cut GPS: N 26 33.852, W 97 16.495 (26.5642, -97.2749)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Kelly Wigglers soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 facebook.com/captjoe.prado TIPS: Another reason why Capt. Prado chooses the Kelly Wiggler is the paddle tail on the bait.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: East Cut Spoils GPS: N 26 33.685, W 97 22.377 (26.5614, -97.3730)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters, soft plastics in LSU, Black/ Chartreuse, Gold spoons.

CONTACT: Capt. Jeff Neu 979-942-0164 TIPS: Redfish will be pushing bulges of water in front of them as they cruise around and scaring up small fish and crabs. A live shrimp or finger mullet can be fished under a popping cork, or sight cast into the holes themselves.

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PINEY WOODS

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Gold spoons and soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 facebook.com/captjoe.prado TIPS: Capt. Prado likes a quarter ounce jig head if he is fishing waist deep water.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: South side of East Cut GPS: N 26 32.814, W 97 23.089 (26.5469, -97.3848)

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: Huxley River Channel GPS: N 31 44.5248, W 93 49.764 (31.7421, -93.8294)

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LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Main Channel Bends GPS: N 32 40.614, W 94 3.0179 (32.6769, -94.0503)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: A-rigs, chatterbaits and swim jigs CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: November and December is my favorite time for bass fishing on Caddo Lake. The larger bass are schooling and feeding up on shad for the winter and are usually very aggressive. Shad imitating baits are best. Watch for large groups of shad and white gull birds hitting the water and you will usually find schooling bass there also.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 26.226, W 95 35.508 (30.4371, -95.5918)

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SPECIES: Redfish and Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Gold spoons and soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 facebook.com/captjoe.prado TIPS: If he is wade fishing in knee deep water, he switches off to 1/8 ounce jig head.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N 26 28.149, W 97 23.874 (26.4692, -97.3979)

Take a Shine to Toledo Crappie

bunching up along the ledges of the river channel. A good stretch to cover is the river ledges between Still Water and Bayou Seipe. Use your electronics to locate the bait-fish and natural cover or drop your own brush tops. As the water temperature falls the Crappie will move deeper. Either shiners or jigs will load up an ice chest of Crappie.

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Shiners and crappie jigs CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: November is my favorite month of the year to be fishing on Toledo Bend. Besides the weather being pleasant with cool mornings and warm afternoons, the vista of the lake can be mesmerizing with the fall foliage and waterfowl migration. Besides soaking in all the glorious surroundings of nature, the fish will be feeding like crazy bulking up for winter. On the north end of the lake the Crappie will start moving and

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim Shad and deep diving crankbaits CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: “The hybrids will also begin their aggressive feeding habits and should be in the 15 to 25 foot range along the channel edges and humps on the main lake.

Use live shad to be more productive. Artificial baits like swim shad and shad colored crankbaits also work well if you find a good school of fish on your electronics. Look for schools of shad on your depth finder and

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FISHING HOTSPOTS whatever depth you see them in is where the hybrids will normally be on this lake!

Bank Access: Stowaway Marina” LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Brush Piles and Bridges GPS: N 32 55.536, W 95 38.8799 (32.9256, -95.6480)

swimbaits and crankbaits can work magic. Deeper fish around humps and creek channels will school on the surface and will tackle swimbaits and umbrella rigs.

When you find them on the bottom you can’t beat a spoon this time of year. Good fishing!”

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows and jigs in Electric Chicken or a jig with chartreuse and blue.

CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: The lake is cooling off and the crappie bite is very good, as they feed up for the winter months. Brush pile fishing in 19-26 feet of water will be the best places to catch a mess of slabs. Another good place will be the 154, 515 east and west bridges around the bridge structure. Look for the crappie to be suspended in the 20 foot range. There are a series of humps around the damn area in 26-30 feet range that will also be good crappie fishing. I like to use a 1/8 oz. jig head for the fall fishing. As the crappie go deeper I will up the size of the jig head.

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creek Channels GPS: N 32 48.522, W 95 34.89 (32.8087, -95.5815)

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LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Wyndell’s Hot Hole GPS: N 30 45.1319, W 95 10.2959 (30.7522, -95.1716)

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SPECIES: white bass & striped bass BEST BAITS: Tsunami Zombie Eye Slabs and live shad CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: “Jig slabs off the bottom. Look for water depths 11 - 14 feet. Keep line tension tight as the slab falls. Be ready for strikes on the falling bait. BANK ACCESS: Governor’s Point at Point Blank or the public ramp on west side of 190 Bridge.”

• • • PRAIRIES & LAKES

Take Five for Texoma Stripers

bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: “The stripers are running in large schools.

Pay close attention to the seagulls. They will locate the stripers ambushing large bait balls. The favorite artificials are 4-inch Sassy Shad soft plastics on a 1-ounce jig heads. The best colors are White-Glow and Chartreuse Fleck. Live shad fishing is also a great way to catch stripers.”

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: 10” red and black worms Carolina rigged CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Everything is shallow right now so fish in 1-8 feet of water. Bass prospects are good early and late.

Bigger fish being caught at midnight hours on 10 inch red and black worms Carolina rigged. We are seeing a 3-6 lb. average.

LOCATION: Belton Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 31 8.4179, W 97 31.572 (31.1403, -97.5262)

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Five Creeks GPS: N 33 54.8339, W 96 42.3959 (33.9139, -96.7066)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: “Spinnerbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits, umbrella rigs and spoons crankbaits, spinnerbaits. Deep points and road beds: spoons and A-rigs” CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “Bass are feeding for the oncoming winter. The key is finding the shad and being there at the best time.

Late afternoons there is consistently more activity. Fish shallow around creek channels and grass. Spinnerbaits,

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs and live shad CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Bass jigs and jerkbaits CONTACT: Henry Niemiec 254-368-0294 surestrikeguideservice@yahoo.com TIPS: “By November in Central Texas the bass has fattened up and have moved to their winter holding areas. Points close to deep river channels are going to be key for this time of the season. Fish natural color baits and keep in mind to fish them slow. Bass will not chase a bait and are looking for an easy target.

Just because bass have moved to deep water does not

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FISHING HOTSPOTS mean that they cannot be still taken in shallow water.

On those nicer days in late fall, fish a jerkbait around stick-ups along the shoreline. Here again, natural colors work the best. The thing to remember now is that fishing will be much slower but a fish of a lifetime could be only a cast away.”

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Docks GPS: N 32 17.52, W 96 7.3919 (32.2920, -96.1232)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/16th to 1/8th ounce jigs CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Concentrate on fishing under docks with 6 foot depth of water or more. Fish Crappie jigs under these docks, focusing on the shadiest parts of the dock. A short 5-6 foot rod with 6lb line is best.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Long Ridge South of Pelican Island GPS: N 32 53.765, W 97 30.009 u TAP FOR (32.8961, -97.5002)

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Slab with fly 12 in. above CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnystevens@1scom.net johnnysguideservice.com TIPS: This area is a long ridge surrounded by deeper water. White bass chase shad along this ridge. I have found the best way to work this area is to find fish on your electronics and anchor on them and let them come to you along this ridge. I use a slab with a fly 12” above and jig this rig up and down over the fish.

LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Cedar Creek Bridge pilings GPS: N 29 56.448, W 96 44.562 (29.9408, -96.7427)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: The water is 40’ deep here at this hotspot.

Throw out a buoy and chum beside the buoy so you know where to keep your hook. Anchor and fish straight down and set the hook at the slightest bump.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Water Intake area GPS: N 30 37.02, W 96 4.3319 (30.6170, -96.0722)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut Shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Water temperatures are cooling. At this hotspot you have deep water close to shallow water. Fish along edge of lily pads or around dead trees deeper.

Chum next to lily pads to draw fish to you.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Open Lake Flats GPS: N 30 42.216, W 97 21.324 (30.7036, -97.3554)

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SPECIES: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad and cut bait CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com

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TIPS: Now is a good time to catch Blue Catfish on jug lines fished all over the main lake. Depth of water really doesn’t matter. Start on windy sides of the lake. Shad are blown into these areas and thus concentrate the hungry Blues. I luse #11/0 Mustad circle hooks with no more that two hooks on each jug line. Good luck!

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Blue Water Shores GPS: N 32 23.014, W 97 42.55 (32.3836, -97.7092)

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Little Georges, Mepps spinners, road runners, rattle traps and holographic slabs in silver and chartreuse.

CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Slabs jigged off the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water where baitfish are located. Look for hovering birds and use the Little Georges, rattle traps and Spinners on schooling fish. Bring your binoculars.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 3.3479, W 96 30.438 (33.0558, -96.5073)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: 1-3 ft. diving crankbaits, soft plastics CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: The lake has dropped and the fish are moving out of the submerged willows and brush. Three 10 pound plus fish have come out just this week. Average fish is 3-4 pounds with 6-8 pound kickers. Fish 1-3 ft. divers early then soft plastics when the sun is up.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Kick-a-Poo Creek and Cades Lake Area GPS: N 32 17.4239, W 95 27.288 (32.2904, -95.4548)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Big Eye Jig in black/blue and red flake or black/brown amber CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Fish the Kick-a-Poo creek channel and work your bends fishing all drainages and stumps along the creek. Another good location will be the Cades Lake Area fishing along the river and also back in and around the Cade Lake. Fish the lay downs and channels very slow. Jig colors will vary a bit. On your bright days fish the black/brown amber and your cold dark days fish the black/blue red flake jig.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Cove GPS: N 33 23.295, W 97 3.191 (33.3883, -97.0532)

TIPS: Fish small spinnerbaits (1/16-3/8 ounce) and shallow diving crank baits around shoreline cover.

Water has normally cooled enough by this month that bass are active in very shallow water. Start fishing at the mouth of the coves and fish towards the back until you find fish. Once a couple fish are caught fish the area thoroughly before moving on.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Yegua Park West Shoreline GPS: N 30 17.76, W 96 32.784 (30.2960, -96.5464)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait/Crawdad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: There is some vegetation and structure in this area. With the lake back to normal, fish will be in 5-6’ water just before winter. Use tight line here with several rods fished.

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Striper Point / Whitney Hump GPS: N 31 53.238, W 97 23.1059 (31.8873, -97.3851)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Danny Kings Blood Punch Bait CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: “November is an EXCELLENT month to catch Blue and Channel Catfish on Richland Chambers. The fish will be in the timbered coves and creek channels and are easily caught on Danny Kings Punch Bait on a # 4 treble hook. Most days, the fish will be in depths of 25-30 feet of water and near the bottom. To increase your chances of filling the ice chest with ‘eater size’ fish, chum the area with a little bit of sour maize.”

• • • PANHANDLE

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Cats Get Pumped on Lake Kirby

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, crank baits CONTACT: Jim Walling 940-391-5534 Jimwwalling@icloud.com

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live Threadfin Shad, 1/2oz Stripaholic Lead Heads and chartreuse Swim Baits from RSRLures. com CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: If the birds are working and diving on shad, us chartreuse Swim Baits and cast out behind the boat.

Use the trolling motor to slow troll or “stroll” the jigs along the edge of the fish. You can also make long casts and make a medium retrieve. Look along the ledge in 20’ to 30’ of water out from the island. You can also use live bait and fish 10’ to 21’ suspended below the boat.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Long Arm Branch Cove GPS: N 31 59.196, W 96 12.288 (31.9866, -96.2048)

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LOCATION: Lake Kirby HOTSPOT: Pump House GPS: N 32 22.6961, W 99 43.7744 (32.3783, -99.7296)

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SPECIES: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut bait CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr. 325-692-0921 michael.home@tpwd.texas.org TIPS: Lake Kirby’s pump house has been a great bank fishing spot for landing decent blue catfish. Cut shad and carp as well as live sunfish are excellent baits to use. Punch baits can also be effective at landing smaller blues and channel catfish.

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creeks GPS: N 33 1.572, W 101 6.5639 (33.0262, -101.1094)

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(32.9220, -98.4643)

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behind Costello Island to the mouth of the Brazos. We sometimes use a slab on bottom and about 18 inches up have a 1/8-oz. jig tied to catch two at a time.

• • • SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shad colored crankbaits, top water lures, shaky head jigs with a worm and spinnerbaits CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net http://www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: “In October the bass will be following the shad up the creeks as the cold fronts start to cool down the water. When the water cools down to the low 70’s, the bass will move shallow. Look for bass up Rocky, Gobbler, Little Grape, Big Grape, and Ince Creeks. Fish Fun-Fish Safe!”

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Chimney Slough GPS: N 32 55.322, W 98 27.857

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SPECIES: Striped/Hybrid Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, jigs, live bait CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: This is the time to fish ahead of the cold fronts for best action as the barometric pressure will be rising. We fish slabs and jigs this time of year with great success. Just hop it up and down off the bottom. Of course live bait is best if you have or can get it. Stripers, hybrids and sand bass will be stacked on bottom running breaklines like natural highways.

Pay attention to how deep it is to the bottom when you catch a fish on a slab or jig and try to stay on that depth—like 2 feet for instance—and that is their natural highway depth for the day. Watch for birds, as they will put you on fish this time of year and anywhere

BIG BEND

Rough & Tumble Amistad Bass

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Rough Canyon Area GPS: N29 34.82838 W100 58.9488 (29.580473, -100.98248)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass

BEST BAITS: War Eagle spinnerbaits, soft plastic worms, lizards CONTACT: Capt. James Burkeen 830-734-9652 www.amistadbassin.com TIPS: The bass will be holding off the drop-offs along the numerous points in this area. Start early with a spinnerbait to search for any bass that are on the move

and feeding shallow and then switch to a Carolina rigged worm or other soft plastic. Concentrate on the drop-offs but cast your lures toward shallow water and work them all the way out until you feel the drop-offs.

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Party Time at Canyon Lake

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Party Cove GPS: N 29 53.148, W 98 15.96 (29.8858, -98.2660)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Hogies 4” Super Shad: pearl w/black back CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Look for the Striped Bass to be shallow (20-40 feet). They will be suspending over the river channel and feeding on the point in this area. Fishing the Super Shad close to the bottom produces fish in this area. Tight lines and Fish-On! LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 19.482, W 97 50.37 (30.3247, -97.8395)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Picasso spinnerbaits, Double Underspins, V&M Delta Bug and Wild Thang CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227

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FISHING HOTSPOTS lakeaustinfishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: November at Lake Austin can be somewhat tricky because of feeding patterns of the bass. Some days they will bite just about anything they find and some days it’s hard to get them to eat. With that in mind, I will start with Picasso spinnerbaits and Double Underspins around the docks and shallow flats. If the moving baits aren’t successful I switch over to a V&M Delta Bug or Wild Thang. I like to pay attention to how the bass eat. If they crush the bait, I know they are in a good feeding mode..

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Willows Near Shaw Island GPS: N 30 49.998, W 98 25.068 (30.8333, -98.4178)

Use Your Melon for Coleto Bass

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LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 43.53, W 97 11.2379 (28.7255, -97.1873)

• • •

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek GPS: N 28 44.612, W 97 10.455 (28.743533, -97.17425)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad, perch CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: Work the drop-offs and standups. Also, look for action in the brush. Good spot for dawn to dusk fishing.

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Alejandrejas Road GPS: N26 44.04954 W99 12.05676 (26.734159, -99.200946)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Craw worms, jigs CONTACT: Robert Amaya 956-765-1442 www.robertsfishintackle.com TIPS: Slowly fish a Carolina or Texas-rigged craw worm or a jig with a soft plastic trailer on the drop-offs around the islands in this area. Topwater lures can produce some fish during the early morning hours around the brush but most fish will be deep along the edges off the drop-offs during the day.

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com T E X A S

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Watermelon/chartreuse Zoom lizards or Baby Brush Hogs CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: “November is this guide’s birthday month! The big 60 and still fishing! What a great deal! It is most likely going to be cool all day as a rule and the big bass are usually active all day. Focus on deep hydrilla with the outsides about 7-12 foot. I like watermelon chartreuse, zoom lizards or my favorite is baby brush hogs. I credit more success with heavier weights.

I usually throw 1/2 ounce bullet weights. The extra weight gives it more action on the way down. Pay attention to how the fish are biting and if they are hitting on the fall or picking it up off the bottom. Another possibility might be they are hitting it swimming. Until next month, good fishing to all!”

LOCATION: Calaveras Lake HOTSPOT: Picnic Point GPS: N 29 17.6819, W 98 18.114 (29.2947, -98.3019)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Silver top water lures, jigs and slabs CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: The stripers will be doing the “top water thing” on the lower end of the lake! Watch for the gulls working! Throw silver topwater baits as well as jigs and slabs!

TIPS: Drift fishing shad close to the bottom at a depth of 15 to 25 feet in this area produces some good catches of Blue Cats.

by DUSTIN WARNCKE

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Small shad-colored lures and top water lures CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: White Bass prospects are excellent near the willows close to Shaw Island. Fish early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Lower End of Main Lake GPS: N 30 45.738, W 98 24.894 (30.7623, -98.4149)

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK NOVEMBER 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

T4

T11

T10 T9

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

T8 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.

T15 T16

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below.

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species.

T13 T7

T3 T2 T1

T5

T14

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

T18

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

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month.

PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

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

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

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

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

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

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

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

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

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

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

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

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

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

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

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

READING THE GRAPH

Moon l Moon Overhead l Underfoot

Fishing Score Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Graph

Score

Best Score

n

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 70 |

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Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

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High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: FEET

3:43 AM 10:28 AM 5:57 PM 11:13 PM

1.57ft.

0.24ft.

1.73ft.

1.24ft.

TUESDAY

1 Nov « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

3:55 AM 11:02 AM 6:38 PM 11:50 PM

1.54ft.

0.20ft.

1.70ft.

1.32ft.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

3

2«

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

High Tide: 3:59 AM 1.51ft.

Low Tide: 11:38 AM 0.20ft.

High Tide: 7:24 PM 1.67ft.

12:31 AM 3:54 AM 12:16 PM 8:20 PM

FRIDAY

4

1.39ft.

1.48ft.

0.23ft.

1.64ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:24 AM 3:37 AM 12:57 PM 9:33 PM

SATURDAY

1.45ft.

1.47ft.

0.27ft.

1.61ft.

5

Low Tide: 1:43 PM 0.33ft.

High Tide: 10:53 PM 1.60ft.

SUNDAY

6

Low Tide: 1:37 PM 0.39ft.

High Tide: 10:46 PM 1.61ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6:30 — 8:30 AM

7:00 — 9:00 AM

7:30 — 9:30 AM

8:00 — 10:00 AM

8:30 — 10:30 AM

9:00 — 11:00 AM

10:00A — 12:00P

Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 6:34p Moonrise: 8:12a Set: 7:32p AM Minor: 6:02a AM Major: 11:47a PM Minor: 6:25p PM Major: 12:14p Moon Overhead: 1:54p Moon Underfoot: 1:32a

Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 6:33p Moonrise: 9:04a Set: 8:11p AM Minor: 6:50a AM Major: 12:38a PM Minor: 7:12p PM Major: 1:01p Moon Overhead: 2:39p Moon Underfoot: 2:16a

Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 6:32p Moonrise: 9:55a Set: 8:53p AM Minor: 7:39a AM Major: 1:28a PM Minor: 8:02p PM Major: 1:51p Moon Overhead: 3:25p Moon Underfoot: 3:02a

Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 6:31p Moonrise: 10:46a Set: 9:39p AM Minor: 8:31a AM Major: 2:19a PM Minor: 8:55p PM Major: 2:43p Moon Overhead: 4:13p Moon Underfoot: 3:49a

Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 6:31p Moonrise: 11:34a Set: 10:27p AM Minor: 9:24a AM Major: 3:12a PM Minor: 9:48p PM Major: 3:36p Moon Overhead: 5:01p Moon Underfoot: 4:37a

Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 6:30p Moonrise: 12:22p Set: 11:19p AM Minor: 10:17a AM Major: 4:05a PM Minor: 10:42p PM Major: 4:29p Moon Overhead: 5:50p Moon Underfoot: 5:25a

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 6:29p Moonrise: 1:07p Set: None AM Minor: 11:10a AM Major: 4:58a PM Minor: 11:35p PM Major: 5:22p Moon Overhead: 6:39p Moon Underfoot: 6:14a

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

7 º End DST 8

9

Low Tide: 3:43 PM 0.51ft.

High Tide: 11:41 PM 1.59ft.

Low Tide: 2:37 PM 0.45ft.

High Tide: 11:18 PM 1.60ft.

Low Tide: 5:53 AM 1.03ft.

High Tide: 10:43 AM 1.25ft.

Low Tide: 4:48 PM 0.57ft.

FEET

THURSDAY

10

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:01 AM 6:12 AM 12:06 PM 5:50 PM

FRIDAY

11

1.58ft.

0.80ft.

1.40ft.

0.65ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:24 AM 6:43 AM 1:10 PM 6:47 PM

SATURDAY

12

1.58ft.

0.52ft.

1.58ft.

0.75ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:48 AM 7:20 AM 2:08 PM 7:42 PM

SUNDAY

13 «

1.59ft.

0.23ft.

1.74ft.

0.86ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:15 AM 8:01 AM 3:04 PM 8:33 PM

1.60ft.

-0.03ft.

1.86ft.

0.98ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

11:30A — 1:30P

12:30 — 2:30PM

1:30 — 3:30 PM

8:30 — 10:30 PM

9:00 — 11:00 PM

10:00P — 12:00A

4:30 — 6:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 5:29p Moonrise: 12:51p Set: None AM Minor: 11:02a AM Major: 4:49a PM Minor: 11:27p PM Major: 5:14p Moon Overhead: 6:29p Moon Underfoot: 6:04a

Sunrise: 6:37a Set: 5:28p Moonrise: 1:33p Set: 12:11a AM Minor: 11:52a AM Major: 5:39a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:04p Moon Overhead: 7:20p Moon Underfoot: 6:54a

Sunrise: 6:37a Set: 5:27p Moonrise: 2:15p Set: 1:10a AM Minor: 12:14a AM Major: 6:27a PM Minor: 12:40p PM Major: 6:52p Moon Overhead: 8:11p Moon Underfoot: 7:45a

Sunrise: 6:38a Set: 5:27p Moonrise: 2:56p Set: 2:12a AM Minor: 1:00a AM Major: 7:13a PM Minor: 1:26p PM Major: 7:39p Moon Overhead: 9:03p Moon Underfoot: 8:37a

Sunrise: 6:39a Set: 5:26p Moonrise: 3:39p Set: 3:15a AM Minor: 1:46a AM Major: 8:00a PM Minor: 2:13p PM Major: 8:26p Moon Overhead: 9:56p Moon Underfoot: 9:29a

Sunrise: 6:40a Set: 5:26p Moonrise: 4:22p Set: 4:20a AM Minor: 2:34a AM Major: 8:47a PM Minor: 3:01p PM Major: 9:15p Moon Overhead: 10:52p Moon Underfoot: 10:24a

Sunrise: 6:41a Set: 5:25p Moonrise: 5:09p Set: 5:27a AM Minor: 3:24a AM Major: 9:38a PM Minor: 3:53p PM Major: 10:07p Moon Overhead: 11:49p Moon Underfoot: 11:20a

READING THE GRAPH

MONDAY

14 «

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: FEET

MOON PHASES

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

1:45 AM 8:45 AM 3:59 PM 9:23 PM

TUESDAY

15 ¡

1.61ft.

-0.24ft.

1.92ft.

1.10ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:16 AM 9:32 AM 4:55 PM 10:13 PM

Fishing Score Graph

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

16 «

1.62ft.

-0.35ft.

1.92ft.

1.20ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:50 AM 10:21 AM 5:54 PM 11:05 PM

1.60ft.

-0.37ft.

1.87ft.

1.27ft.

n

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

18

17 «

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

High Tide: 3:25 AM 1.56ft.

Low Tide: 11:12 AM -0.30ft.

High Tide: 6:57 PM 1.77ft.

12:04 AM 4:03 AM 12:08 PM 8:05 PM

1.31ft.

1.48ft.

-0.16ft.

1.68ft.

SATURDAY

19

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:22 AM 4:47 AM 1:08 PM 9:14 PM

1.29ft.

1.37ft.

0.02ft.

1.59ft.

SUNDAY

20

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:20 AM 6:22 AM 2:13 PM 10:14 PM

1.20ft.

1.23ft.

0.22ft.

1.53ft.

FEET

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+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

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0

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6p

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12p

6p

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6p

5:00 — 7:00 AM

12:00 — 2:00 AM

6:00 — 8:00 AM

7:00 — 9:00 AM

8:00 — 10:00 AM

9:00 — 11:00 AM

10:00A — 12:00P

Sunrise: 6:42a Set: 5:25p Moonrise: 5:59p Set: 6:35a AM Minor: 4:19a AM Major: 10:34a PM Minor: 4:49p PM Major: 11:04p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:19p

Sunrise: 6:42a Set: 5:24p Moonrise: 6:53p Set: 7:43a AM Minor: 5:20a AM Major: 11:35a PM Minor: 5:50p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 12:49a Moon Underfoot: 1:19p

Sunrise: 6:43a Set: 5:24p Moonrise: 7:50p Set: 8:49a AM Minor: 6:25a AM Major: 12:10a PM Minor: 6:55p PM Major: 12:40p Moon Overhead: 1:50a Moon Underfoot: 2:20p

Sunrise: 6:44a Set: 5:23p Moonrise: 8:51p Set: 9:50a AM Minor: 7:31a AM Major: 1:16a PM Minor: 8:01p PM Major: 1:46p Moon Overhead: 2:51a Moon Underfoot: 3:20p

Sunrise: 6:45a Set: 5:23p Moonrise: 9:52p Set: 10:46a AM Minor: 8:37a AM Major: 2:23a PM Minor: 9:06p PM Major: 2:51p Moon Overhead: 3:50a Moon Underfoot: 4:18p

Sunrise: 6:46a Set: 5:22p Moonrise: 10:52p Set: 11:36a AM Minor: 9:39a AM Major: 3:25a PM Minor: 10:06p PM Major: 3:52p Moon Overhead: 4:46a Moon Underfoot: 5:13p

Sunrise: 6:47a Set: 5:22p Moonrise: 11:51p Set: 12:21p AM Minor: 10:35a AM Major: 4:22a PM Minor: 11:01p PM Major: 4:48p Moon Overhead: 5:39a Moon Underfoot: 6:04p

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

21 FEET

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:56 AM 9:09 AM 3:24 PM 11:01 PM

TUESDAY

22 »

1.04ft.

1.15ft.

0.40ft.

1.48ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:36 AM 10:58 AM 4:35 PM 11:37 PM

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

23

24

Low Tide: 6:06 AM 0.66ft.

High Tide: 12:18 PM 1.27ft.

Low Tide: 5:42 PM 0.69ft.

0.85ft.

1.18ft.

0.56ft.

1.44ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:06 AM 6:33 AM 1:22 PM 6:40 PM

FRIDAY

25

1.41ft.

0.47ft.

1.36ft.

0.80ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:31 AM 7:00 AM 2:14 PM 7:29 PM

SATURDAY

26

1.39ft.

0.29ft.

1.44ft.

0.90ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:54 AM 7:28 AM 3:00 PM 8:13 PM

SUNDAY

27 «

1.37ft.

0.12ft.

1.49ft.

0.98ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:15 AM 7:58 AM 3:41 PM 8:51 PM

1.36ft.

-0.01ft.

1.53ft.

1.04ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

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0

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6a

12p

6p

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6a

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6p

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6a

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6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

11:00A — 1:00P

12:00 — 2:00 PM

7:300 — 9:30 PM

8:30 — 10:30 AM

9:00 — 11:00 AM

9:30 — 11:30 AM

10:30A — 12:30P

Sunrise: 6:47a Set: 5:22p Moonrise: None Set: 1:02p AM Minor: 11:26a AM Major: 5:14a PM Minor: 11:50p PM Major: 5:38p Moon Overhead: 6:29a Moon Underfoot: 6:52p

Sunrise: 6:48a Set: 5:21p Moonrise: 12:47a Set: 1:39p AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:00a PM Minor: 12:11p PM Major: 6:23p Moon Overhead: 7:15a Moon Underfoot: 7:38p

Sunrise: 6:49a Set: 5:21p Moonrise: 1:41a Set: 2:14p AM Minor: 12:31a AM Major: 6:42a PM Minor: 12:53p PM Major: 7:04p Moon Overhead: 8:00a Moon Underfoot: 8:21p

Sunrise: 6:50a Set: 5:21p Moonrise: 2:33a Set: 2:48p AM Minor: 1:10a AM Major: 7:20a PM Minor: 1:31p PM Major: 7:42p Moon Overhead: 8:43a Moon Underfoot: 9:04p

Sunrise: 6:51a Set: 5:21p Moonrise: 3:25a Set: 3:22p AM Minor: 1:47a AM Major: 7:58a PM Minor: 2:09p PM Major: 8:19p Moon Overhead: 9:25a Moon Underfoot: 9:47p

Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 4:16a Set: 3:56p AM Minor: 2:25a AM Major: 8:36a PM Minor: 2:46p PM Major: 8:57p Moon Overhead: 10:08a Moon Underfoot: 10:30p

Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 5:08a Set: 4:32p AM Minor: 3:04a AM Major: 9:15a PM Minor: 3:26p PM Major: 9:37p Moon Overhead: 10:52a Moon Underfoot: 11:14p

READING THE GRAPH

MONDAY

28 «

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: FEET

MOON PHASES

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

1:35 AM 8:30 AM 4:18 PM 9:28 PM

TUESDAY

29 l

1.34ft.

-0.10ft.

1.54ft.

1.09ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:52 AM 9:03 AM 4:55 PM 10:04 PM

Fishing Score Graph

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

30 «

1.32ft.

-0.16ft.

1.53ft.

1.13ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:04 AM 9:37 AM 5:32 PM 10:41 PM

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:11 AM 10:12 AM 6:12 PM 11:23 PM

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

2

Dec 1 «

1.30ft.

-0.18ft.

1.51ft.

1.17ft.

n

High Tide: 2:14 AM 1.25ft.

Low Tide: 10:49 AM -0.13ft.

High Tide: 6:57 PM 1.45ft.

1.27ft.

-0.17ft.

1.48ft.

1.19ft.

SATURDAY

3

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:16 AM 2:19 AM 11:28 AM 7:46 PM

1.20ft.

1.22ft.

-0.07ft.

1.42ft.

SUNDAY

4

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:45 AM 2:15 AM 12:11 PM 8:35 PM

1.18ft.

1.18ft.

0.01ft.

1.38ft.

FEET

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+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

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0

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12p

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4:00 — 6:00 AM

5:00 — 7:00 AM

5:30 — 7:30 AM

6:00 — 8:00 AM

6:30 — 8:30 AM

7:00 — 9:00 AM

7:30 — 9:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 6:00a Set: 5:11p AM Minor: 3:45a AM Major: 9:57a PM Minor: 4:08p PM Major: 10:19p Moon Overhead: 11:37a Moon Underfoot: None

Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 6:52a Set: 5:52p AM Minor: 4:30a AM Major: 10:41a PM Minor: 4:53p PM Major: 11:05p Moon Overhead: 12:23p Moon Underfoot: None

Sunrise: 6:55a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 7:43a Set: 6:37p AM Minor: 5:18a AM Major: 11:02a PM Minor: 5:41p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:10p Moon Underfoot: 12:46a

Sunrise: 6:56a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 8:32a Set: 7:24p AM Minor: 6:08a AM Major: 11:52a PM Minor: 6:32p PM Major: 12:20p Moon Overhead: 1:58p Moon Underfoot: 1:34a

Sunrise: 6:56a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 9:20a Set: 8:15p AM Minor: 7:01a AM Major: 12:49a PM Minor: 7:25p PM Major: 1:13p Moon Overhead: 2:47p Moon Underfoot: 2:23a

Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 10:06a Set: 9:09p AM Minor: 7:55a AM Major: 1:43a PM Minor: 8:20p PM Major: 2:08p Moon Overhead: 3:36p Moon Underfoot: 3:12a

Sunrise: 6:58a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 10:50a Set: 10:04p AM Minor: 8:50a AM Major: 2:37a PM Minor: 9:14p PM Major: 3:02p Moon Overhead: 4:26p Moon Underfoot: 4:01a

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Special SECTION

W

HAT KIND OF FIREARM DO YOU need for home defense? for concealed carry? for hunting? target shooting?—or just because?

That’s a good question, one that doesn’t have a simple answer. The fact is that you are an individual with a unique set of physical attributes defined by age, physical condi-

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tion, body type and gender. Sorry, one-size-fits-all doesn’t apply here.

So, let’s look at a few of the choices available:

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Shotguns A shotgun has a lot of advantages compared to other types of firearms for most purposes. On One of G A M E ®

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A shotgun is designed to be held with two hands, making it easier to control, and harder for an intruder to wrestle it away.

the most interesting to me (although this doesn’t apply to Texas) is that many states that ban or severely restrict gun ownership are not particularly concerned if one of their citizens wants to own a shotgun.

This, despite the fact that a shotgun is one of the most devastatingly potent close-range weapons you can use against an intruder in your home (or anywhere else, for that matter). However, that’s not the only advantage a shotgun has as a home defense weapon.

A shotgun is designed to be held in both hands. This makes it easier to control your shotgun’s recoil and more difficult for an intruder to wrestle it away from you. Also, with a barrel at least three times

longer than most handguns, it’s relatively easy to point and ensure that your load of OO buckshot goes where it will do the most good.

Loading and firing a pump-action shotgun such as the Remington Model 870 or a semi-auto shotgun such as the Benelli M2 is a fairly simple process. Both of these and similar shotguns are designed for hunting upland game or waterfowl.

However, they serve very well for home defense, especially factory variations modified as “tactical” shotguns. If home defense is your main interest, Mossberg offers an extensive, moderately priced line of tactical shotguns, some of which have rifle-type sights and pistol grips.

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Although pump-action and semi-auto shotguns are not particularly complex, a shooter still needs some training to handle, load, unload and shoot one. For this reason, some might prefer the much simpler break-action, double-barrel shotgun.

However, many double guns are relatively expensive, which puts them out of reach of the average shooter.

One of the few exceptions is Stoeger Industries, which offers several models of moderately-priced side-by side shotguns from 12 gauge to .410 bore. One model, the “Coach Gun” has a short 20-inch barrel that is perfect for home defense.

Another variation, the “Double Defense Gun” has a ported barrel to conPHOTO: CANSTOCK

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trol recoil, plus two picatinny rails. One rail is on top near the breech to mount an optical sight. A second is below the barrels near the muzzle to accommodate a laser or tactical light.

Handguns Although some hunters like to use a handgun to pursue deer, varmints and other wild game, most handguns are bought with self-defense in mind. For home defense, a handgun fits nicely in a drawer of a bedside table, but a bedside safe is a better choice, especially if you have small children.

The HDX-250 by Liberty Safes has room for your handgun with space left over for a tactical light and maybe a spare magazine. If you have your fingers programmed into the biometric finger swipe, only you will have instant access to your handgun.

Having said that, a handgun is a poor choice for home defense. The longer barrel of a shotgun (or a rifle) makes it easier to shoot accurately, especially when you’re stressed out by a late night intruder in your home.

On the other hand, when it comes to

A bedside safe is a wise investment if you opt for handgun home defense.

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Some Texans prefer larger handguns, such as the .357 Magnum. But they are less “concealable.”

concealed carry, a handgun is the only game in town. However, you still have

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to choose between the simplicity of a double-action revolver and the greater firepower of a semi-auto pistol.

A small double-action revolver such as the Smith & Wesson Model 642 holds five .38 Special cartridges and weighs less than one pound. Because it has an internal hammer, the trigger pull is double action only.

If you prefer a compact semi-auto, Ruger’s LC9 is available in 9mm Luger.

The LC9 weighs only a couple of ounces more than the S&W M 642 and is somewhat slimmer at only .9 inches wide. Its seven-round magazine plus one in the chamber gives it more firepower than a small revolver. Both handguns have a Crimson Trace laser as an option.

Some Texans might prefer a larger, but less concealable revolver such as the S&W Model 19, which holds six powerful .357 Magnum cartridges. The semi-auto Springfield Armory Compact Range Officer 1911 has somewhat smaller dimensions and is chambered for .45 ACP. It has a six-round magazine plus one in the chamber.

Even larger revolvers and semi-auto pistols are available, but carry the penalty of additional weight and bulk.

Rifles Rifles from .17 and .22 caliber rimfires to bellowing big bore magnums have an important place in a shooter’s collection.

Depending on the chambering, you can

10/7/16 3:47 PM

Special SECTION hunt almost anything from rabbits to coyotes to the heaviest big game Texas has to offer.

One of the most popular rimfires is the Ruger 10/22 semi-auto. It is available in several versions from a sporter to a superaccurate target model to the versatile takedown model, which breaks down into two parts. The 10/22’s unique 10-round rotary magazine is extremely reliable, and larger capacity magazines that hold as many as 25 rounds are also available.

For larger game, many traditional Texas hunters prefer an iron-sighted lever gun such as the Winchester model 94 chambered in .30-30 or the similar Marlin 336, which because of its side ejection is suitable for a riflescope.

For longer- range hunting, a riflescopeequipped bolt action is hard to beat.

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AR 15 ries, such as this High Standard 300 Blackout, are the civilian version of the military M-16.

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the “Modern Sporting Rifle,” also known as the AR-15. This civilian version of the

berings from the legendary .30-06 to powerful magnums with flat trajectories able to reach out a quarter mile or (a lot) more. Even at these ranges, today’s premium rifle bullets can deliver a humane kill on deer, elk or the many exotic game animals Texas has to offer.

When discussing rifles, we can’t forget

military M-16 was derived from a design

by Eugene Stoner dating from the 1950s.

The AR-15 has grown rapidly since the ill-conceived assault weapons ban expired in 2004. It is available in its original .223 Remington chambering as well as numerous wildcat cartridges from .300 Whisper/ .300 AAC, to .458 SOCOM and the powerful .50 Beowulf. These chamberings and modular design allows an enthusiast to customize his AR-15 into a truly unique rifle suited to his personal tastes The AR-15 is becoming ever-more popular for hunting everything from prairie dogs to deer-sized and larger big game—it’s truly a modern sporting rifle.

So, the question of what kind of firearm you need has no real answer for those of us who take pride in the name “gunnut.” Or maybe the answer is “just one more.

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Texas BOATING

by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

Thunder Over the Transom O, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT the thunder accompanied by lightning strikes and storm fronts—I’m talking about the thunder of hundreds of horsepower, more than ever before found under a single outboard engine cowl.

I’m talking about powerheads that create 300, 400, even 600-plus horses, by harnessing the energy released as gasoline and oxygen combine and ignite in up to 400 explosions per second. I’m talking about taming this violent chemical reaction to spin a finely-fashioned chunk of metal 6,000 times in the space of a minute, transferring those revolutions into thrust via a transmission and propeller which drive your boat through the water with neck-snapping acceleration and eye-watering top speeds.

Since Yamaha made the big jump over the 250 hp threshold in 2007 with the introduction of its F350—the first production eightcylinder outboard and still one of only two on the market today—all of the major outboard engine manufacturers have taken a similar leap. Evinrude offers up to 300 hp, Mercury offers up to 350 hp and Mercury Racing up to 400 hp, and newcomer Seven Marine offers a mind-boggling 627 hp. Each of these manufacturers, however, has taken a very different technical path to create such power. And each path has its own up-sides and down-sides.

Yamaha started this latest arms race, so let’s look at that beastly F350 first. In its current iteration as the F350C the basics remain the same as they were when this engine was first introduced. It’s a naturally-aspirated fourstroke 5.3 liter V-8 with a 3.70-inch bore and a 3.78-inch stroke, EFI fuel induction, and dual overhead cams.

What exactly do all those specifications mean in layman’s terms? The engine makes its horsepower with sheer size and displacement, not high-tech tweaks and add-ons. This keeps the pieces and parts relatively simple, without over-stressing the engine or asking it to do more than it was originally designed to do. In the world of outboards the F350C is a tank, and no one would ever accuse Yamaha of under-building it.

The net result is demonstrated in a fiveyear warranty, and a well-deserved reputation for reliability that’s been earned despite a harmonic issue that takes place between 3,500 and 4,200 rpm on the F350C. It can cause flywheel damage over time, which Yamaha addressed by giving the engine an ECU that keeps tabs on engine rpm and determines when and if the flywheel should be replaced (which Yamaha does at no charge).

A down-side, however, lies in the engine’s weight and size. At 763 pounds this is one of the heaviest options around, despite the fact that Yamaha has managed to shave 41 pounds off of the motor since its introduction. On the transom of some relatively small center consoles, it looks ridiculously large.

The same can be said of Seven Marine 627, which dwarfs the competition in both horsepower rating and size. The 627 has a gigantic alien-looking cowl and weighs in at a whopping 1,094 pounds. That eliminates it as an option on virtually all boats under 26 feet, and many boats that are significantly larger.

The 6.2 liter V-8 is straight out of a Cadillac, based on GM’s LSA Gen 4 engine—which is a bit ironic considering that at around $90,000, the outboard engine costs more than an entire Cadillac CTS-V with the same powerhead under its hood.

The additional 0.9 liters of displacement doesn’t account for this engine having so much more power than Yamaha’s V-8. Credit for that goes to an Eaton crankshaft-driven, four-lobe rotor supercharger that crams air into the engine’s combustion chambers. The engine also has a cast-aluminum block with cast-iron cylinder liners and rotocast cylinder heads.

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Again, let’s unpack some of this jargon to determine what it all means to boaters. First off, note that time has proved the design is solid. Cadillac’s experience has shown that utilizing the latest engine-building technologies (like rotocasting those cylinder heads, which eliminates porosity to deliver a stronger part) works wonders.

Don’t forget that land use and marine use are exceptionally different. Aluminum blocks don’t have a particularly impressive history in marine applications. Superchargers add another layer of complexity and more parts potentially fail.

The 627 simply hasn’t been around long enough for us to assess its reliability (the first model was unveiled last February at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show). However, Seven Marine’s rather convoluted, exclusionriddled three-year warranty doesn’t instill a ton of confidence. On the other hand, if you simply want the biggest, baddest, most powerful outboard engine on the face of planet Earth, this is it.

Mercury and Mercury Racing also utilizes supercharges to make their outrageously potent powerplants, in the form of the Verado 350 and the Verado 400R. Both are based on a six-cylinder 2.6-liter four-stroke powerhead.

Wait a sec—2.6 liters? That’s less than half the displacement of the F350C. As a result the Verados are more than 80 pounds lighter than the Yamaha and they take up a lot less space at the transom.

There are, however, a lot of caveats to consider. As we mentioned earlier, depending on a supercharger means more complexity, more pieces—parts that can potentially fail—and more stress on the engine as a whole.

Taking the Verado from 300 to 350 horses required water-jacketing the supercharger and hiking its boost pressure (which already doubled atmospheric pressure) by an additional six percent. These Verados also need to burn 91 octane fuel to attain peak performance, and require a minimum 87 octane.

Meanwhile, the 400R gets its extra oomph by simply spinning faster—top end RPM on this outboard is an industry-high 6,400 to

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Texas BOATING 7,000 RPM. The 350 spins at a maximum of 5,800 to 6,400 RPM. Since both engines are less than two years old, it’s too early to tell whether Mercury has crossed any red lines here, but they’ve certainly moved the redline.

Again, the warranty provided with these engines offers some insight: you get three years on the Verado 350, and just two years on the 400R. The only two-stroke outboard in contention is the Evinrude E-TEC G2, which maxes out at 300 horses. This direct-injection engine has a healthy 3.4 liters of displacement with a 3.85-inch bore and a 3.00-inch stroke, spins at up to 6,000 RPM, and tips the scales at a svelte 537 pounds, making it the lightest of these heavyweights by a long shot.

It’s also the least mature. Unlike the triedand-true Yamaha, the Cadillac-converted Seven Marine, and the uber-tweaked Verados, the G2 is a completely fresh design introduced just two years ago.

Like all two-strokes built to date, it suffers from increased sound and vibration levels as compared to a four-stroke, but it also shows some serious cutting edge innovation and improvements.

Computational fluid dynamic software analysis was used to simulate fuel and airflow in the combustion chamber, which led to redesigned transfer and exhaust ports, pistons, and cylinder heads, as well as shifting the exhaust manifold for the port bank off to one side, instead of being centered along the back of the engine.

Techno-jargon aside, what this boils down to is rather shocking efficiency. For years we’ve all been told over and over again that four-strokes have better fuel economy, but hands-on experience with the G2 300 blows that assertion right out of the water.

I’ve now tested about a dozen on different boats. Without fail they post fuel economy

FROM LENNY

numbers 10- to 15-percent higher than their four-stroke competitors.

Added bonus: two-strokes have fewer pieces (parts) and as a general rule of thumb, their relative simplicity translates into better reliability. The G2 hasn’t been around long enough to make any objective assessment in this regard, but Evinrude does claim the engine can go five years or 500 hours with zero scheduled maintenance—and they back it up with a healthy five-year warranty.

With all of these contenders, you have the ability to harness more horses than ever before. Modern technology and our hunger for power means it’s time to tell your passengers to hang on tight—there’s a storm brewing, and it’s right on your transom.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com

RUDOW’S BLOG

Outboard Quick Fix: Fuel Problems

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UTBOARD ENGINES are incredibly reliable these days, but they’re still subject to many of the same old fuel problems we’ve always had to deal with. If your engine is cranking but just won’t start and you suspect it may be a fuel issue, remember these quick-fix tips.

Inspect the ball in your fuel line, which can indicate a number of problems. If it’s easy to pump and doesn’t grow firm as you squeeze it, there’s a good chance your fuel line has a leak and air is getting in and/or fuel is getting out. When the fuel line is properly sealed, the ball grows firm after a few pressure-building pumps. If, on the other hand, the ball is so firm you can’t pump it, that tells you that fuel isn’t moving through the system. This could be due to blockage, air-lock (inspect the fuel tank’s vent and make sure it’s open), or a faulty connection between the fuel line and

the tank or the fuel line and the engine.

If you’re sure fuel is getting to the engine, your next suspect is the fuel filter.

It’s rare that an external canister filter gets so clogged that fuel won’t move through it, but many outboards have small (read: eas-

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ily clogged) filters inside the cowl. Since these are out of sight they often are out of mind, and few boaters remember to regularly clean them.

If you’re sure fuel is flowing properly but the engine won’t fire or starts then quickly shuts down, you may have water in your fuel or an ethanol issue. In either case, there’s only one way to find out for sure: disconnect the fuel line at the tank, and bring a different tank of fresh fuel aboard. Then try to start the engine on the new supply. If everything runs right, you’ll have to drain the boat’s tank and fill it with fresh stuff.

—Lenny Rudow

« Fuel issues? The ball can provide several hints as to what’s wrong.

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Texas GUNS

by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

Deceptive Patterns: How Camo Works (or Doesn’t)

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AMOUFLAGE—OR CAMO— has become the uniform of the hunter in Texas and, I assume, in most of the country This is true even in those places where the hunter is required to wear a specified amount of Hunter Orange. These days you can’t go out to hunt rabbits without wearing full camouflage. Much of the time this even includes some kind of mask or face net.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this, but the truth is that it is for the most part unnecessary.

Camouflage—that is, civilian camo in its current forms—is made to be sold to hunters, not to disguise the human form at various distances.

Most camouflage is made with various shades of gray, brown, and green. The difference in the density and contrast of these colors is minimal. At any distance, they all run together and become one dark blob. That is fine, as it does generally blend in with the background, as long as the background is dark and shaded. However, it does very little to disguise the human form. Truth is that most of the time the hunter would be just as well concealed if he wore a set of overalls in a solid, medium brown or green color.

Camouflage, to be really effective, must have a large amount of contrast between the colors, and must have large, open patterns. To understand this concept look at two animals that are very well camouflaged, the zebra and the tiger, one predator and one prey. Notice that the patterns are large and open, and the colors are about as opposite as nature could make them. The reason

for this is to break up the form of the animal.

To make the big animal into smaller, unrecognizable patches of, well, nothing.

Modern commercial camouflage patterns, most of them anyway, make the mistake of trying to make the hunter look like a tree or bush.

This is very hard to do, because no matter what the color, the form is

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“ Almost invariably, camouflage patterns are too ‘busy.’

Like, you can’t see the forest for the trees.

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the same. It still looks like upright, two-legged danger. The hunter still has to conceal himself among the bushes and trees, stay in shadow, and not move.

That is the same thing I did when I was a kid and wore Wranglers and a flannel shirt. So what is the advantage?

With most modern, commercial camouflage patterns the advantage is almost totally mental. It gives the hunter the impression that he is less visible to the animal. Because he is more confident, he hunts longer and better and is more successful.

Some effective camouflage patterns are on the open market today, but they are not the most popular. They are less popular because

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“ Look at two animals that are very well camouflaged, the zebra and the tiger.

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they do not look like what we have come to expect camouflage to look like. That is a shame, because hunters continue to buy the bushes and leave the background on the shelves.

Almost invariably, camouflage patterns are too “busy,” meaning they have too much stuff in the pattern. It is like the old saying, “you can’t see the forest for the trees.” If you look at a forest and all you see are wall-to-wall trees, they all run together and you see a big blob of green. That is what happens with camouflage that tries to put too much into the pattern.

Instead they should remove most of the leaves and limbs and bushes and leave just enough to make the pattern with big open spaces with lots of contrast between the colors.

That is camouflage—large open patterns of dull colors. These are counter-shaded with large areas of opposite colors—black and white, brown and gray, dirt and snow—not a ton of small leaves and twigs.

I dislike using brand names in instances like this, but I feel that I must. The best patterns on the market today are made by Predator and ASAT. Both of these manufacturers understand the concept of large, open patterns with

lots of contrast, and have marketed products with these types of patterns. You can check them out at their websites.

Sometimes camouflage is necessary, or at least highly desirable. Calling predators in areas with little cover is one place where I wear full camo. Still-hunting deer is another time it is very useful.

Hunting deer from an enclosed box blind, a hunter could wear a pink tutu without serious detriment to his hunting success. However, there is no law that says you can’t wear camo where and when it is not needed. If that is what you want to do, go for it.

However, if you are wearing camo and are engaged something where it is highly desirable, I suggest that you be very careful what kind of camo you buy. Study the terrain where you will be hunting. Then choose camouflage that actually works in that type of terrain. Don’t wear green camo in a sea of dead grass, or snow camo when you are hunting spring turkeys.

Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@fishgame.com

10/10/16 1:58 PM

The Practical ANGLER

by GREG BERLOCHER | TF&G Contributing Editor

Goodbye to Baitfish

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AY GOODBYE TO THE BAITfish in our bay systems. Well, most of them; at least, for a while.

Cold fronts start knocking politely on the Lone Star’s door about Labor Day. The first mention of a cold front is sure to draw belly laughs and guffaws from the weatherman on your favorite news channel, but while early cold fronts don’t affect air temperatures much, they trigger lots of chilled precipitation. The influx of cold water starts the cooling process of lakes and bays and triggers large-scale bait migrations.

Texas bay systems are wonderful ecosystems, containing a myriad of marine species, including a wide variety of baitfish. Some are very sedentary, and others migrate long distances.

Mud minnows and pistol shrimp are definite “home bodies.” Scientific studies have revealed that mud minnows spend their entire lives within several hundred yards of where their eggs hatch. It is unknown how far pistol shrimp actually roam but they can be found yearround hiding in clumps of oyster shell. Pistol shrimp do not migrate, preferring the safety of the hidey-holes where they take up residence.

Finfish and shrimp are often lumped together into a category called “bait” or “baitfish.” A partial list of baitfish found in Texas bays include striped mullet, silver mullet, silver perch, piggy perch, pin perch, spot croaker, Atlantic croaker, menhaden, white shrimp, pink shrimp, and brown shrimp.

Every fall, cooling water temperatures and shorter photoperiods trigger baitfish to migrate from our bays to the Gulf of Mexico,

where they will spend the winter and spawn.

It is interesting to note that spawning of many species has never been witnessed because it takes place in the Gulf. The closest scientists have come is capturing newly hatched baitfish in fine-mesh net surveys.

As winter is giving up its grip and spring begins taking hold, the hatchlings begin in their inward migration into our bay systems. Strong flood tides help push the fry back into the shallows and out of harm’s way.

I have always been fascinated by this mass migration, and I have a number of questions that remain unanswered. For instance, why do some baitfish migrate to the Gulf and some choose to remain in the bay? Or, what percentage of the baitfish in our bay systems migrate?

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So how does this information help coastal anglers? First, understanding the life cycles of our coastal fisheries will help you become a better saltwater angler. You will become more in tune with nature and will notice more small details.

Knowing that a large amount of the biomass that trout and redfish eat heads for the Gulf helps in several ways. As the pages on the calendar turn, large numbers of game fish will concentrate inside and outside of the passes connecting the bays to the Gulf.

When you understand that baitfish populations diminish during winter months, it will change your fishing patterns. Finding bait in an area is far more important than fishing your “lucky spot.” Fishing in barren waters is always a losing proposition.

Fast-forward a few months, and the circle of life begins anew. Those same passes will be flooded with baitfish hatchlings pushed along by spring currents, which are supercharged by pumping coastal winds. As soon as the fry enter the bay systems, they will seek out the safety of inlets and shorelines, with the protective vegetation and oyster reefs found there.

Speckled trout and redfish are genetically predisposed to feed heavily during the fall in preparation for the winter months when meals might not be readily available. November is a prime coastal fishing month. The biggest challenge to catching fish this month is the conscious decision you must make to put down your rifle or smoothbore and pick up your rod and reel.

Every fall, cooling water temperatures and shorter photoperiods trigger baitfish to migrate from our bays to the Gulf of Mexico.

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Fisheries biologists do not have a definitive answer about why a certain percentage of the baitfish population overwinters in the bays instead of the Gulf of Mexico. When queried regarding the percentage of baitfish that leave for the winter, Texas Parks & Wildlife fisheries biologists provided only a simple answer—a bunch.

The migration pattern can be plotted as a bell curve. The migration starts around September and ends around December with a trickle, with peak movements occurring in October and November. This mass migration decimates the baitfish population in our bays, leaving population levels threadbare during the winter.

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Email Greg Berlocher at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Texas TESTED Sequel to Leupold’s Vendetta

regarding this product in one word.

WOW! I found it much easier to mount and adjust correctly. It really only took me less than an hour to adjust the 20 yard beam perfectly. The Vendetta 2 comes with a paper

target and easy directions on how to adjust the offset so that it is accurate at any bow range.

A nice feature included with the Vendetta 2 is the ability to follow your target and the Vendetta 2 will automatically adjust and

Vendetta 2 mounts quickly and easily.

LEUPOLD HAS BEEN AROUND FOR years and continues to make astonishing improvements in the field of optics. This is a company that understands the needs of hunters and has always developed products with cutting edge technology.

We all know how Leupold scopes have helped hunters score on nice whitetailes during the big game season. A few years ago, they came up with the Vendetta: a range finder for bow hunters that (once mounted correctly), proved to have stunning accuracy.

Leupold has taken it up a notch and now has a new and improved version of the Vendetta that they appropriately call the Vendetta 2. I had the opportunity to field test the Vendetta 2 and can sum up my thoughts give you the correct distance to your target with every step the animal takes! I love that feature. You simply press the button that you mount on the handle of your bow once to turn the unit on and once more to give you an easy to see read-out of the exact distance to your target.

It is easy to see how the Vendetta 2 will produce more successful bow hunters and more importantly, less wounded animals.

Knowing the distance to your target is paramount if you want to fill your freezer this year. Try it and I am sure you will not be disappointed at all.

Vendetta 2 automatically adjusts as you follow a moving target.

—by LOU MARULLO

PHOTOS: LOU MARULLO

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Industry INSIDER PHOTOS: SPEEDY STOP

Speedy Stop Kids Tourney SPEEDY STOP CONVENIENCE Stores held their 16th annual Kid’s Fishing Tournament on August 13 at the Community Center in Port O’Connor.

The company, which operates stores throughout East, Central and South Texas expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the children, parents and family members who participated in the event and helped to make it a big success.

Below are the tournament winners:

HALF PINT DIVISION – AGES 2-6 CRAB CATEGORY 1st – Deuce Blaschke • 2nd – Mason Henderson 3rd – Rhett Branch • 4th – Brooklyn Ulrich HARDHEAD CATEGORY 1st – Deuce Blaschke • 2nd – Luke Spann 3rd – Nolan Gonzales • 4th – Lilly Nelson PIGGY PERCH CATEGORY 1st – Hayden Ezzell • 2nd – Megan Ulrich 3rd – Jayden Shive • 4th – Landry Wendel TROUT CATEGORY 1st – Laela Aranda • 2nd – Gaige Raybon 3rd – Brennan Gregory • 4th – Karter Phillips REDFISH CATEGORY 1st – Bayelah DeLeon • 2nd – Pryncess Sew 3rd – Alice Brown • 4th – Madden Guevara OPEN CATEGORY 1st – Ellie Roben • 2nd – Bethani Wittig 3rd – Collin Bellanger • 4th – Lainey Clark

SOW TROUT DIVISION – AGES 7-9 CRAB CATEGORY 1st – Tristan Vahalik • 2nd – Hannah Hernandez 3rd – Gage Kirkpatrick • 4th – Logan Lott HARDHEAD CATEGORY 1st – Addisynne Rosas • 2nd – Wyatt Garza 3rd – Kyleigh Dolan • 4th – Roy Rodriguez PIGGY PERCH CATEGORY 1st – Heston Lovett • 2nd – Olivia Stanich 3rd – Tristan Foster • 4th – Brody Henderson

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TROUT CATEGORY 1st – Cole Neill • 2nd – Keith Hicks 3rd – Derek Pfeil • 4th – Shiyla Schmidt REDFISH CATEGORY 1st – Carington Osornia • 2nd – Keith Hicks 3rd – Kelsie May • 4th – Gunner Young OPEN CATEGORY 1st – Jayden Adames • 2nd – Addisynne Rojas 3rd – Nikki Hurley • 4th – Matthew Christoferson

BULL RED DIVISION – AGES 10-12 CRAB CATEGORY 1st – Terrick Martinez • 2nd – Ashlynn Gasch 3rd – Tre Hernandez • 4th – Ashlynne Jenkins HARDHEAD CATEGORY 1st – Riley Costella • 2nd – Felicia Tippie 3rd – Martha Robles • 4th – Cayden Cherry

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PIGGY PERCH CATEGORY 1st – Madyson Lovett • 2nd – Kayden Marbach 3rd – Summer Young • 4th – Madalynn Kroos TROUT CATEGORY 1st – Tanner Monroe • 2nd – Riley Costella 3rd – Kolbi Darilek • 4th – Tristyn Schmidt REDFISH CATEGORY 1st – Vic Nunez • 2nd – Joseph Diaz 3rd – Jessie Lashley • 4th – Josh May OPEN CATEGORY 1st – Vic Nunez • 2nd – Wesley Moss 3rd – Taylor Hlavac • 4th – Forrest Clark

OPEN DIVISION – AGES 2-12 SMALLEST FISH CATEGORY 1st – Landon Wilson • 2nd – Rhett Branch 3rd – Abigail Schoppe • 4th – Isaiah Bautista

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10/7/16 3:29 PM

Winchester Celebrates 150 Years IN 1866, AMERICA WAS STILL rebuilding from the recently concluded Civil War, and citizens were pushing West in an effort to find their fortunes and settle the frontier. At the same time, Oliver Winchester established the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The Winchester brand went on to help Americans settle the West, win two World Wars, help law enforcement keep our communities safe and, to this day, continues to revolutionize the way hunters and shooters succeed in the field and on the range.

Like few other brands, Winchester has helped shape America and in 2016, the iconic brand celebrates this important milestone by introducing one of its most collectible editions of ammunition in history, featuring classic Winchester artwork and embossed packaging, making these offerings truly unique.

Collectible ammunition offerings will be available throughout the year and include: • .270 Winchester 150-grain

• .30-30 Winchester 150-grain • .44-40 Winchester 200-grain • 12-gauge 3-inch 1¼ ounces of No. 2 steel for waterfowlers Additional Winchester Ammunition products will carry special 150th anniversary markings. Look for your favorite loads in popular offerings throughout the year. To honor the milestone, Winchester Repeating Arms Company will be releasing a commemorative Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy lever-action rifle chambered in .44-40. The original Yellow Boy was the first ever firearm to bear the Winchester name.

“Winchester has been a part of America for more than half of the country’s history and has played a vital role not only in the way we hunt and shoot, but also in the settling of this great nation,” said Brett Flaugher, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing, sales and strategy. “We are proud of Winchester’s storied history and look forward to making these collectible products available to those shooting enthusiasts

who wish to share in the company’s continuing legacy.”

The iconic Winchester brand celebrates 150 years of legendary excellence in 2016— a historic milestone representing a steadfast commitment to the hunting and shooting sports traditions and future generations of sportsmen.

Learn more about the history of Win-

chester by visiting Winchester.com or at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.

Video EXTRA Costa Sunrise Lens WE RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TREK UP to Sam Rayburn Reservoir and hit the water with the folks over at Costa and their pro staff. The shining star of this event was the newly developed Sunrise Lens.

I know what you are thinking, yet another new lens that will be helpful on the water but nothing to call home about. WRONG! These lenses are totally new and totally legit.

Costa developed the Sunrise Lens with a special formulation of color enhancement and color contrast tailored around dusk and dawn activity.

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backside light from causing eye strain or reflection back into the eyes.

The Sunrise Lens features polarization that is tailored around the morning and dawn effects to allow the pupils, rods, and cones in your eyes to all work together to reduce eye strain. After only ten minutes on the water at dawn I was able to truly see the difference. Sight fishing became increasingly easier in low light, allowing us to see those big bass buried in the Hydrilla below.

Check out the video at FishGame.com for more coverage of our trip and be sure to head over to Costa’s website and snag a new pair of shades with the Sunrise Lenses.

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Fish and Game GEAR Dredge Head GRANDER CUSTOM TACKLE, A designer and manufacturer of premium saltwater fishing tackle launched the Grander Dredge Head, an innovative sportfishing dredge that will allow anglers to quickly rig their bait. The bait sockets are designed for quick and simple rigging and come in three different sizes to best fit the bait preferred.

Customizeable dredges are now available at grandercustomtackle.com.

With a focus on quality, innovation, customization, and consistent performance, the Grander team, comprised of tackle engineers and professional anglers, test and continuously improve product designs. The socket protects the front of the bait keeping the water from entering and causing a blowout. The dredge heads are manufactured in silver or black prismatic tape, with large eyes for extra attraction.

“To develop a product that is fast and easy to use, the team designed the bait retainer pins to have a taper which allows the pin

to be quick and simple as well. The strong rubber band holding the skirt in place can be removed with a quick cut and the skirting pliers allow simple installation of the new skirts. Tough mylar skirts can withstand a lot of abuse and still maintain their flash for the reflective quality to attract more fish.

All dredge heads come with three original skirts to give a full look when the dredge head is being pulled. Dredge heads can be customized with any combination of the 11 different colors Follow Grander Custom Tackle at grandercustomtackle.com.

Browning Ammo

to lock bait into place quickly and without tools.

No wire rigs, no stitching and no wasted time,” said Steve Shockley, Grander Custom Tackle Manufacturing Manager.

The skirt retaining system is designed

A GLOBAL LEADER IN OFFERING quality and innovative firearms, Browning now introduces a new, full-line of superior performance ammunition for hunting, personal defense and target shooting. The development of Browning Ammunition will provide millions of men and women, including new shooters and hunters across the world, with “The Best There Is. “Browning Ammunition builds upon the legacy and heritage of our brand while introducing innovative products that will carry the iconic Buckmark™ symbol,” said Travis Hall, Browning president and CEO. Browning and Winchester developed this full line of ammunition products under the Browning brand.

The Browning Ammunition portfolio includes popular ammunition offerings in rifle, shotgun, handgun and rimfire, featuring advanced technologies for hunters and shooters.

More information on each product line is available at the new Browningammo.com, which features a responsive design for both mobile and tablet devices.

“It is a tremendous opportunity to partner with Winchester, the

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Browning BXR 30-06

world’s leading manufacturer of ammunition for shooters and hunters,” said Hall.

Winchester is responsible for product development, manufacturing, marketing and sales. “An alliance with Browning allows us to drive strategic ammunition products deep into the hunting and shooting sports categories,” said Brett Flaugher, vice president of sales, marketing and strategy for Winchester.

“This is a significant milestone in the history books of both companies.”

Visit www.browningammo.com.

SondeCAM HD FISHSENS TECHNOLOGY’S SONDECAM HD Underwater Camera features the latest in image-sensing technology for clearcolor, high-definition visuals in any light condition. The American-made camera is perfect for fishermen of all levels as well as fisheries managers looking to profile submerged structures or identify fish species and habitats.

The SondeCAM HD’s marine-grade anodized aluminum body has streamlined hydrodynamics for easy movement in the water and blends in well with swimming fish, something that other underwater cameras can’t always guarantee.

The underwater camera can operate in marine or freshwater environments, with cables available up to 75

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feet, and doesn’t flinch when it hits concrete piers or drags across rocky bottoms. Its power and signal cable ups the durability with a high-flex design and an abrasion-resistant polyurethane jacket.

SondeCAM HD connects to popular fishfinders and also comes with an integrated WiFi module that makes it easy to stream videos directly on mobile devices using the free SondeCAM App. From there, users can view, record and share videos from anywhere. The app is available on the Apple App Store as well as in Google Play.

SondeCAM HD is compatible with many popular smartphones, tablets and chartplotters. The camera is powered directly from a boat’s 12VDC power source using an included cable. Find it on fishsens.com for $499.

SnakeGaiters TURTLESKIN SNAKEGAITERS HAVE the protection you need when hiking or hunting through “Snake Country”. The Gaiters feature patented SnakeArmor material that is made from high performance ballistic textiles and offers the lightest snakebite protection on the market. The light and flexible design make SnakeGaiters a comfortable solution for those spending long hours outdoors. The durable SnakeArmor material has been tested on and successfully repelled a diamondback rattlesnake strike. The Gaiters also will provide protection to those that are walking through terrain with heavy brush or briars.

Perfect for the avid and active outdoorsman.

Another great feature about TurtleSkin SnakeGaiters is you can wear them all year round. They provide water and wind resistance making them a suitable hunting gear solution for all seasons. Since the Gaiters individually weigh less than 6 ounces they are not too hot or heavy in the summer months or warmer climates. With a built in YKK zipper on the back you can easily take the Gaiters on and off. SnakeGaiters are very convenient outdoor gear for a

camping or hiking trip as they easily fold up and fit nicely into a small backpack.

SnakeGaiters are available in two sizes regular and husky. The built SnakeGaiters in elastic drawstring design allows men and women of all different builds to fit nicely into them. The Gaiters also feature a reversible design. They are available in Khaki/Khaki, Khaki/Camo, Khaki/Sage, and Sage/Sage for color combinations. SnakeGaiters are easy to take care of as they can be machine washed (mild detergent) and dried (cool tumble dry).

TurtleSkin also makes Chaps, Pants, and Dog Hunting Vests that feature SnakeArmor protective technology. All TurtleSkin SnakeArmor products are proudly made in the USA. To learn more about TurtleSkin SnakeArmor visit www.turtleskin.com or call 603-291-1023.

Sig ECHO1 THE ECHO1 THERMAL REFLEX Sight fuses the fast target acquisition and simplicity of a reflex sight with the latest in thermal imaging technology. Designed in Oregon, assembled right here in the USA and based on the newest generation of thermal imaging sensors, this digital sight offers day or nighttime predator and hog hunting functionality while operating similarly to a conventional reflex sight during the day. The ECHO1 has eight different display modes, including “White Hot” and “Black Hot” to enhance the display for optimal thermal image contrast against the background.

Features include 206x156 uncooled VOx Bolometer array; five default reticles, and the ability to design and upload new reticles at www. sigoptics. com; ability to take pictures in single image and

Heated Rut Jacket MY CORE CONTROL IMPROVES THE daily lives of people through excellence in product innovation. We have redefined wearable technology in apparel, outerwear, and footwear with our utility-patented Electronic Personal Thermal Control on demand. Meaning, for the first time in history, we are able to change a human’s core body temperature and actually see the results on a thermometer. Are you tired of freezing while out on a hunt? They’ve got you covered – check out their Heated Rut Jacket.

They strategically place heat on the pulse points on your inner wrists to heat your blood and use your own circulatory system to heat your entire body. Basically, this makes you warm from head to toe. Three adjustable heat settings allow you to adjust the warmth to fit your comfort level, and with up to 12 hours Heated Rut of battery life, you’ll never Jacket cut a hunt short again.

Take your hunt to the next level this winter and feel the heat with My Core Control’s Heated Jacket.

Check them out at mycorecontrol.com.

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burst mode; Color LCD display for day/ night time direct-view targeting; Electronic zoom from 1x to 2x; top-mount peep sight and ROMEO1 adapter plate for backup sights; M1913 Picatinny cross-slot STANAG compliant mount; Thermal detection >1,000 yards, Targeting range >300 yards; 30 Hz frame rate; 8-hour minimum runtime; and IPX-6 Waterproof.

Specifications are 1x/2x magnification, 100 MOA digital elevation adjustment range; 3.2 x 4.5 degrees field of view; 100 MOA digital windage adjustment range.

Length, 4.3 inches, width 2.6 inches; weight 14.7 oz. The anufacturer’s suggested retail price is $2,999. ECHO 1 carries Sig Sauer’s Infinite Guarantee.

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Fish and Game GEAR Release a Slam THE TEXAS INSHORE SLAM Release Ruler is the perfect tool to help aid in the pursuit of spotted seatrout (speckled trout), red drum (redfish), and flounder. Each Release Ruler is clearly marked with the slot measurements for the particular species.

Current regulations and bag limit details are displayed in a user friendly format.

The ruler is made from a durable waterproof PVC coated vinyl (portable ruler) or 3M material (decal).

Both measure 3 x 37 inches.

The Vinyl ruler is easily stowed, can be moved from boat to boat, or taken on a trip.

Kayak fisherman love the portability.

The premium 3M quality of Release Ruler Decals are equipped with air release long term removable cast vinyl which will not shrink.

Decals are also equipped with laminated UV protection.

With amazing graphics, the Inshore Slam Release Ruler is easy to install and costs only $15.99 + shipping for the portable ruler or decal.

Fish, measure, release.

Visit www.releaseruler.com.

MGM Switchview FOLLOWING THE STRICT ENGINEERing and design standards of nearly a decade of development of the original MGM Switchview scope adjustment lever, the latest innovation is the FoldDown Switchview Lever.

MGM Switchview levers undergo continuous refinement and the new Fold Down Switchview maintains ease of use and operation while adding level of convenience with its FoldDown feature for improved storage, travel and competition use.

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intermediate two-hole lever while optional one-hole and three-hole levers are available separately.

MGM Switchview levers revolutionize rifle scope use - A small, lightweight accessory which clamps around the power adjustment ring of variable power scopes and perfectly enables quick and easy adjustment of the scope’s power setting with just a light push or pull of the lever while maintaining natural hand, arm and firing position. Perfect!

Suggested retail price is $89.95. Made in America. Visit mgmswitchview.com.

Maxpedition THE MAXPEDITION RIFTCORE Backpack is an ergonomic pack with quick release yoke-style straps, along with an adjustable sternum strap. There is also a stowable and padded waist belt with gear loops, which can be easily be adjusted by cinching forward.

The semi-rigid fleece-lined EVA pocket on the front of the pack is ideal for storing sunglasses, electronics, or valuables. There is also a lower pocket with ample organization.

Four (4) side compression straps take pressure off zippers when fully packed. The Lattice Attachment System (ATLAS) allows for

modular attachments to be added, and packs can be customized to best suit the user.

The middle compartment, which has a full clamshell opening, comes with multiple loop-lined adjustable straps that can be repositioned to make organizing and locating contents much easier. The lockable main compartment has multiple Gossamer mesh pockets and elastic straps for organization.

There is also a hydration reservoir, along with dual hydration ports.

The padded rear of the pack has 2-way access to a fully loop-lined rear CCW compartment. A double-sided Security Lockout Strip is included, so contents do not fall out of the compartment.

The overall size is 12 x 8 x 18 inches, and the overall volume of the pack is 1400 cubic inches (23 liters).

Shapeshift handles have Maxpedition been added for a more comfortable carry. Positive Grip zipper pulls make opening the pack faster and easier, and seatbelt webbing is very skin-friendly. Stress points are double stitched, bar-tacked, circular bar-tacked, or “Box-and-X” stitched for added strength.

MGM Switchview

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10/7/16 3:51 PM

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Texas TASTED

by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Backstraps

B

ACKSTRAPS, HAMS, AND trimmings for chili meat and sausage are all part of the reward for time well-spent hunting with friends. To assure you of the best yield and quality for your money and time, here are a few tips: • After taking, skinning, and field dressing your deer, when the temperature is in the low 40s or below, hang it high enough to keep it away from animals, at least 3-1/2 to 4 feet or higher overnight for two to three days.

Put a game bag around the meat to protect it from dust or critters. If you have a walk-in cooler, there should be no problem with the thermostat set between 34 and 38 degrees.

• While quartering your deer, cut away any heavily bloodied areas of meat. Surround the individual cuts of meat with at least 1-1/2 inches of ice. If the meat is not adequately cooled before placing it in the ice chest, the ice will melt quicker. That could increase the possibility of spoilage, especially during lengthy transports.

Upon arriving home, place the cooler where it can be drained of water and add enough finely chopped ice to aid in the bleeding process.

• If a deer or other game animal you’ve shot traveled some distance before expiring, the muscles hold hormones that contribute to a wild or “gamey” taste.

To remove these hormones and blood from the meat, place the quarters or sections of meat in melting ice in a chest with the plug open, allowing it to drain as it melts. Replenish the ice when necessary to effectively remove or minimize the presence of these unsavory hormones. When the meat is ready for quartering, the water and ice should be clear.

You’ll find many good places throughout Texas where you can take your game for processing. If you plan to have the meat processed, here are a few more helpful tips: • Include the head, along with the filled-out tag secured to a hindquarter or shoulder.

• Check out the processor, either by recommendation of trusted friends or by the number 96 |

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Savory Backstraps are a perfect reward.

of years in business, as well as the cleanliness of the facility.

• Choose a variety of products that will be enjoyed by everyone, and be realistic about the wait for processing (six weeks or longer).

• use your processed product before beginning your next hunting season (six to nine months for sausage, larger cuts slightly longer).

• have all processed meats vacuum-sealed if possible, then wrapped with butcher paper.

This will provide maximum protection from freezer burn and light exposure. If not possible, make sure meat is tightly wrapped in waxed butcher paper.

• For larger cuts, such as hams, i recommend using a cling style plastic wrap and creating a cocoon effect with several layers until the meat is sealed, with no open areas. Then wrap butcher paper around the ham and properly label it with the date When you are ready to prepare your venison, we have supplied you with a couple of recipes from our virtual cookbook on the Texas Gourmet website, TexasGourmet.com Our products can be ordered online, or check the site for stores that carry them.

Backstrap Wraparounds 1 loin venison backstrap (you may substitute with pork tenderloin or filet mignon) 14-16 slices thin bacon 1 large purple onion, peeled and quartered T E X A S

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lengthwise, then halved lengthwise again 6-8 large fresh jalapenos, seeded and quartered lengthwise 1 pound pepper jack cheese, sliced in 1/8 x 2 x 1/2 wide slices 1 box round toothpicks (place picks in water) BASTE: 1 tbs sesame seeds 3 tbs texas gourmet jalapeno jelly 2 tbs soy sauce 2 tbs olive oil 1 tbs coarse mustard 1 cup merlot or other dry red wine 2 cloves of garlic 2 tbs black pepper Heat basting ingredients until well blended and remove from heat. Remove all sheath, membrane, or skin from the backstrap. Cut into 12 or so 3/4-inch thick steaks. Place each steak one at a time on a cutting board. Cover with saran wrap and lightly tenderize, using the shallow side of the tenderizing mallet. The meat should be 1/4-inch thick after tenderizing. Be careful not to put holes in the steaks.

Spray with olive oil or pam spray, then set aside. Separate the onion into 1- to 2-piece sections. Take one slice of tenderized meat in one hand, and lay one onion slice in the center, inside up. Place a slice of cheese on the onion and lay one jalapeno piece on the cheese, face down. Carefully roll the meat around the veggies and cheese. Wrap a slice of bacon around the wrap from one end, stretching the bacon as you wrap. Carefully fold in and seal the ends with a toothpick.

Grill over mesquite charcoal or gas fire set to medium high heat. Place the wraps indirectly over the heat. Baste liberally, cook covered for 3-5 minutes per side. Baste when turning.

When bacon is done, place wraps on plate and remove the toothpicks. Rest wraparounds before serving. Serve with Texas Gourmet quick dirty rice and black bean pico de gallo.

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

10/10/16 2:14 PM

Open SEASON

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

Trespassing

D

URING HAPPIER TIMES IN the 1980s, when we had a brand new deer lease, Wrong Willie and I were looking for a good place to set up a deer stand when we found evidence that someone else was hunting on the property.

Anyone who has ever paid for a lease has most likely wondered whether others were showing up during the week. We once had a lease out of Brownwood, Texas, that was constantly hunted by the owner’s family members, despite our contract that said otherwise.

We met with Billy Roy one day to voice those concerns, and he shook his head at our stories.

“Someone hunted out of my stand last week while we were at work.” Wrong Willie toed the ground beside the gate. “I found a .30-06 hull on the floor.”

I had the same thing happen. “The problem I have is the same, Billy Roy, except whoever used my stand didn’t close the windows when they left, and it rained inside.”

The uncomfortable ranch owner leaned on his tailgate and sighed. “I’m sorry, boys.

You’re most likely talking about my alkyholic brother’s adult step-son. They live across the fence, and that boy does whatever he wants. I’ll talk to them and see if we can get it stopped.”

He didn’t, though. The step-son continued to use our stands, and the last time it happened at the end of deer season, he didn’t close my stand up, again. When I returned in the spring, all three windows were open, and owls had nested in my very nice American Hunter stand.

We let the lease go, and I sold the nasty stand to the poor guys who came in after us.

They left after a year. Something about someone shooting deer out of their stands…

A year later there was apparently a notice on some bathroom wall telling folks they could hunt our next lease outside of Jefferson, Texas.

That thousand acres was as busy as a shopping mall parking lot. They shot deer from my

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tripod stand so often someone thought it was theirs and added some well-needed camouflage netting.

Then one weekend the whole stand disappeared, and we went hunting again, for another lease.

So when Wrong Willie and I were exploring the new, current lease, we came upon fresh materials to construct a tree stand. As he kicked around on the ground, I found a halfbuilt platform in the fork of the live oak. “This is the Brownwood lease all over again,” I said.

Willie studied the boards stacked at the base of the tree. “These guys are slobs,” he said.

“I can’t believe this. Here we are at the best place on the whole lease, and now we have this.

I wanted to put a tree stand here.”

It was a perfect funnel between a line of trees forming a shelterbelt and a deep cut. The trail that came up from the lower creek bottom to our little rise was a natural pass between a big cedar and a boulder the size of my house.

Deer and turkey tracks told us it was in constant use.

“These guys are pretty good, though. They recognize the perfect location.” I sighed. “Now, what do we do?”

I say we put all this in your truck and take it with us.” Wrong Willie glanced up into the tree. “Climb up there and knock that platform out.”

I studied the boards nailed crossways on the trunk to form a crude ladder. “I don’t think it’ll hold my weight.”

“Well, I’m not hunting here until we talk to the rancher and make him stop these guys,” he replied.

We were standing there, hands in our pockets, when we heard soft voices in the mesquites across the fence. “Willie, here they come.”

We stepped behind a thick cedar, waiting for the trespassers to arrive. After working with Willie for over thirty years, I knew he was primed for an altercation. His face reddened, and his stance told me someone was going to get a royal butt-chewing.

I only hoped the guys weren’t bigger than we were.

They weren’t. They stopped at the fence,

and we could hear them climbing over. Nails in some kind of container rattled. I heard a whisper.

“See anyone?”

“No.” “Let’s get this finished.”

It was the perfect line for me to step out from cover. “You guys are finished….”

I stopped. Wrong Willie drew a sharp breath behind me.

Two frightened pre-teens almost bolted.

“Hold it!”

They stopped. I studied the kids. “What are you guys doing?”

Shaking in fear, the tallest, and I assumed the oldest, pushed a pair of glasses up on his nose and pointed at the tree. “Uh, we’re building a tree house.”

Wrong Willie frowned. “Tree house?”

“Yessir. There aren’t any good trees on our side of the fence, and we figured we’d build one here so we could watch the deer and turkeys go by.”

“You boys hunt?”

“Dad won’t let us have a rifle. We shoot birds with our BB guns, though.”

We studied the boys for a long moment, and I remembered the tree houses I’d built when I was their age, and the bazillion BBs Cousin and I fired from our air rifles. “I have a question for you two.”

They waited.

“If we help you finish this tree house, can I use it to shoot deer?”

The youngest beamed. “Yes sir!”

So for the rest of the day, Willie and I helped the boys build a treehouse/tree stand that would have made me sick with envy, when I was younger.

And I remembered those glorious days of kiddom.

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WHITETAIL Clay County Cougar Jetton shot his first deer, this 10-point trophy, while on a hunt near the Red River at Charlie, Texas, in Clay County.

CRAPPIE Weatherford Bailey and Gentry Fuller with two crappie caught on a private lake in Weatherford.

REDFISH Sabine River Three-year-old Avery Carlin with her first redfish, caught in the Sabine River using a pink Barbie rig.

REDFISH Port Aransas Braxton Dahse, age 9, of LaGrange caught this 28-inch redfish while fishing with his grandpa, Howard Dahse, in Port Aransas.

JACK CREVALLE East Bay Scott Wilson landed this 41-inch jack crevalle on a popping cork and shrimp near the East Flats in three feet of water.

The trophy was released.

COHO SALMON

SPECKLED TROUT

Alaska

Galveston Bay

Diane Davis with two coho salmon caught at Island Pointe Lodge in Petersburg, Alaska.

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Seven-year-old Coy Blair caught this 23-inch, 4.5pound speck in Galveston Bay.

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10/7/16 3:52 PM

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.

TURKEY Val Verde County Hunter Votaw, age 8, shot his first turkey, while hunting in Val Verde County.

BLUEGILL Private Lake Sam Morrow took his ten-year-old daughter Sabrina to a local pond to catch some bluegills. She didn’t want to go, but after catching eight bluegills, she told her dad, “that was the funnest thing ever!”

WHITETAIL Shelby County Jamie Denby killed this free ranging 10 point trophy buck in the Sabine National Forest of Shelby County. He was shooting 125 grain NAP Spitfires out of his wife’s Barnett Raptor crossbow.

REDFISH West Galveston Bay Jaime Zamarripa caught this 28-inch redfish in the Tiki Island flats. The red pulled him around in his kayak and put up too good of a fight to keep, so Jaime released it.

SPECKLED TROUT Port O’Connor J.P. Strickland caught his first 28-inch speck while fishing at Port. O’Connor in May.

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