Texas Fish & Game November 2017

VOICE OF THE TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

Cold Months,

Cool Cats

November 2017 | $3.95

Map of Seasonal Peaks • 8 Texas Regions Big Timber Ducks of East Texas

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Finding Fall Redfish

Cash in on Great Bank Fishing

In Harvey’s Wake: Toxins and Habitat Disruption 10/16/17 11:23 AM

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Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent, family-owned outdoor publication in America. Owned

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Table of

Contents FEATURES

AFTERMATH As the floodwaters brought down on the Upper Texas Coast by Hurricane Harvey receded, many problems remained, from toxins in the bays and other waterways to displaced and otherwise distressed wildlife.

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by Chester Moore COVER STORY: Where’s the Rut? A recent study of eight eco regions showed that peak rut activity across our vast state occurs at different times during the long Texas hunting season.

In the Lone Star State, timing the peak of the rut is all about Location, Location, Location.

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TAKE IT TO THE BANK A common dream of most anglers is to own a boat. But for those who can’t afford—or simply don’t want—one, bank fishing is a viable option.

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by TF&G Staff

Edited by Chester Moore Cover Photo: Canstock

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

FINDING FALL REDS The autumn months are prime time for catching redfish along the Texas Coast.

While the action is hot and heavy, there are a number of ways to take advantage. Here are some of the best, from some of the best redfish anglers who ever lived.

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by Chester Moore Guns, Gear & Grub November is the ulitimate u month for hunters in Texas. This special section offers some random thoughts on guns, gear and grub to mark this awesome month, from some of our staff writers and from a collection of experts in the field.

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by TFG Staff

BIG TIMBER DUCKS Duck hunters love their sport. But two hunters are especially captivated by the excitement of being under a group of wiley big timber mallards as they barrel down through East Texas treetops.

by Matt Williams T E X A S

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Inside FISH & GAME

Contents (continued) COLUMNS

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by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

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ERE WE GO AGAIN. SOME EVIL BAG OF CRAP HOLES UP in a high-rise luxury hotel room, armed to the teeth with more firepower than a lot of small police departments can afford, and then with cold, inhuman premeditation, unleashes a literal rain of terror down on an unsuspecting crowd of innocent people.

And in that horrible, eternally preserved moment, we are thrown back into the continuing nightmare that has become almost so routine that flag poles might as well just come pre-set at half mast.

Predictably, amid the natural expression of grief and shock, voices of political exploitation began clamoring for attention, crying out either for immediate action to outlaw such “weapons of mass destruction,” or in spontaneous defense of gun rights.

There is obviously something wrong in our society that has inspired this depraved competition to out-terrorize the last crazed terrorist, domestic or foreign—the goal being to capture world infamy as the perpetrator goes down in flames or a hail of bullets, or even worse, stares blankly through court proceedings that accomplish no justice, just a lifetime stay in a mental ward, if that.

But to think that the simple solution to this problem is to legislate more restrictions on firearms—or that there IS a simple solution—is about as naive as thinking that someone with a concealed-carry weapon could have protected a single one of the victims at the Las Vegas concert.

Shortly after that act of terror in Vegas, an opinion piece appeared in THE WASHINGTON POST, of all places, that presented the most lucid reaction we have seen, out of all the reactionary chinwagging that followed this latest mass shooting.

Written by statistician Leah Libresco, the article explains why the author, who says she remains opposed to the use of firearms herself, no longer believes that Gun Control is the answer to America’s gun violence problems.

Recounting a statistical autopsy she and fellow researchers conducted on the 33,000 average gun deaths that occur annually in the U.S., Libresco said she and her team found that stricter laws on guns, ammunition, or accessories would have had little or no effect whatsoever on the outcome.

Most of the 33,000 would still have fallen victim to violence.

First, the team found that two-thirds of the gun deaths in the study were suicides. No current gun control proposals address that problem in any meaningful way. Next, twenty percent of gun deaths were found to be young men between the ages of 15 and 34, killed in homicides, mostly gang and street violence. The last substantial breakout was 1,700 women, or five percent of all gun deaths, who were the victims of domestic violence. That leaves eight percent to account for accidental deaths, non-gang related crime and other forms of gun violence, including acts of terror.

In 92 percent of the gun deaths analyzed, the conclusion of this statistical analysis—again, not

by NRA shills but by researchers who were probably expecting a wholly different outcome—was that none of the many Gun Control proposals advocated by special interests, lobbyists, politicians and celebrities would have made any difference. Suicide can be accomplished without a gun. So can lethal domestic abuse. And gangs thrive in areas where guns are already all but totally illegal.

Libresco pointed to other measures she deemed more likely to have real impact, such as better suicide prevention, intervention efforts aimed at young men vulnerable to street violence and gang affiliation, and better programs to protect women from domestic abuse. These underlying sociological and psychological problems are complex and, by their very nature, defy simple solutions.

One thing is abundantly clear: making it harder for a deer hunter to fill his freezer or a sporting clays competitor to get enough practice, or for a homeowner to feel adequately protected, is not going to solve any of the problems so clearly articulated by cold, hard statistics.

If the real problem is the fact that violence, in any form, comes from an evil heart, a desperate broken spirit, or from a twisted mind, and not from the weapon of choice in the hand of someone driven by such demons, then applying superficial treatments can’t possibly be expected to work.

But superficial solutions are always the easy ones. And in the cultural and political climate of the late twenty-teens, quick and easy solutions to complex problems, expressed in ten-second sound bites or 140 characters at a time, appear to be what people want to hear.

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Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

DEPARTMENTS

OUTDOOR Pike on the Edge 75 DIRECTORY

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by Doug Pike

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TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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Nugent in the Wild

STATE SECTION

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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Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams

TF&G Freshwater Editor

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Bare Bones Hunting

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HOT SHOTS

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Texas Boating

38 TEXAS DEPT. OF

TF&G Boating Editor

40 TEXAS COASTAL

by Lenny Rudow

Practical Angler

OF DEFENSE

CONSERVATION FOCUS

by Greg Berlocher

54 TEXAS FISHING

Texas Guns

56 PRIME TIMES

TF&G Contributing Editor

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30 COOL CATS 34 TF&G REPORT 34 TEXAS

by Lou Marullo

TF&G Hunting Editor

HOTSPOTS

by Steve LaMascus

TF&G Firearms Editor

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Open Season

by Reavis Wortham

TF&G Humor Editor

www.FishGame.com

E-mail Roy and Ardia Neves at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

by Chester Moore

TF&G Editor in Chief

Evil, Desperate, Twisted

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Editor’s Notes

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EDITOR’S Notes

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

Stop Fake Wildlife News

Another rumor that he shot down was the alleged 15-foot long eastern diamondback that has shown up in a variety of online e-mail and social media-forwarded photos. The world record for the species is actually around eight feet in length.

“We have a reticulated python that is around eight feet, and I can’t imagine a rattler that big. Eastern diamondbacks do get big, both in length and girth, but they are not as big as large pythons, not even close,” Van Horn said.

Speaking of pythons, the first time someone’s pet python is swimming the floodwaters, the critics will be calling for a ban on all exotic snakes and claiming we will have a problem like Florida’s with their Everglades Burmese python issue.

I also expect to see rumors of cougars throughout the Houston area. Now there are cougars in the Houston area. They are rare but they are there.

However, there are many bobcats, too. I personally shoot down at least a dozen “cougar” photos sent to me each year that are really bobcats.

Bobcats will turn to cougars. House cats probably will too. Of course the black ones are more likely to turn into “black panthers.”

People like wildlife stories. Unfortunately many people are more likely to gravitate toward sensationalist fake wildlife news of “balls of cottonmouths” and sharks on the highway.

We pledge to keep it real here and shoot down as much fake wildlife news as possible.

The wildlife of our country deserves better than pathetic memes created in someone’s grandmother’s basement.

Like people, wildlife and those who pursue it in duck blinds and bay boats deserve the truth, and we will do our best to bring it here.

several storm incidents and floods in Texas.

The stories are bogus, but people believe them.

Then they become extra terrified when they do see a snake. That of course causes more snakes to be killed.

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OW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU seen the photo of a large shark swimming on a highway since Hurricane Harvey blew into

Texas?

I’ve been tagged on it numerous times on Facebook. The problem of course, is that it’s a fake.

How do I know?

For starters, it was identified as being near 290 off of the 610 loop, many miles from the nearest saltwater body—Galveston Bay. The flooding from Harvey is from rain, not storm surge. Although bull sharks can live in freshwater, there aren’t any eight footers living in roadside canals in the Houston area.

The photo and others like it are fakes. They look good, but they are fakes, just like the one I saw of an orca in the flooded streets of my hometown of Orange, Texas.

Yes, a killer whale in Orange.

Sad thing was on Facebook and some people were buying it.

So, what’s the problem with people having a little fun and posting their Photoshop renderings to stir things up?

The problem is these images stir up fear and there is enough fear of wildlife out there. In this storm there is enough legitimate reason to be concerned, without people who really don’t know much about wildlife, pondering whether sharks are in their front yard.

It will not end with the sharks and the extra stupid orca picture. We’ll see false stories of all kinds.

As the floodwaters begin to recede, you can bet there will be absolutely fake news about giant “balls of cottonmouths” swimming in the floodwaters. I have seen this repeated during

PHOTO: SOME INTERNET JOKER

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Sometimes Internet information is just plain dangerous. Several times, I have seen people post that coral snakes are “rear-fanged snakes,” which have to chew on you a bit to get venom in.

Wrong!

I will never forget capturing on video the death of this dangerous rumor.

“You see this. These are fangs,” said George Van Horn as he carefully opened the mouth of a large eastern coral snake. Van Horn operates Reptile World Serpentarium in Kissimmee, Florida and collects venom for a pharmaceutical company.

The tiny fangs were in the front of the snake’s mouth. They destroy this commonly held myth It’s not true that coral snakes are rear-fanged and must “chew” on a person to inject venom.

“They are elapids just like cobras and they have the same skull structure. I don’t know where these rumors came from but they are persistent,” Van Horn said.

He went on to say that most coral snake bites result from people picking them up, and it is often young men.

“Women typically don’t go around picking up venomous snakes, and a coral snake has a very dangerous, difficult-to-treat venom. So people shouldn’t fool with them,” he said.

Women are also not very likely to believe Internet rumors and approach dangerous animals.

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DOGGETT at Large

by JOE DOGGETT :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Good Fences

bristling buck spooked and whirled.

But the horns faced an otherwise off-limits buck.

Of course, what’s good for the goose can be good for the gander—or, more accurately, what’s good for the doe can be good for the buck. Hunters on a big ranch of unimproved brush can use a strategic stand or two to shortstop game being drawn to the small-ranch food source.

All this might lead to a bit of grumbling and finger pointing, but it’s legal—assuming no shot is taken across the fence.

It is the responsibility of each hunter to respect property lines. Cattle fences can be scattered all over a lease. Most are defining various pastures, and the ones that mark the perimeter might not look especially different.

The guest or newcomer should understand the legal boundaries before climbing into a predawn stand.

The issue can get awkward if a stricken deer jumps the fence. Worth noting, a deer mortally hit in the lungs or heart might run 50 or 100 yards in a frantic dash before piling up dead.

Also worth noting, a standing deer tends to run in the direction it’s facing. This may not be absolute, but it’s pretty solid. Unfortunately, a deer that approaches the fence on your property is probably aiming in the wrong direction.

Also possible, a wounded deer might stumble across the fence then stand hunched or drooping within easy range. The poor animal is suffering, but within reach of a humane followup shot. The opportunity is there to finish what you started, but this logical reaction becomes a dilemma.

What now?

I am not qualified to offer legal advice on this unfortunate circumstance. Let me repeat—I don’t know.

Proof that the deer was, in fact, on your side of the fence when the shot was taken should go a long way in supporting a follow-up effort. In soft ruts, the gouge marks of hooves and a few splatters of blood often are visible. However, such tracking “sign” might be hard to pinpoint amid poor light, over rocky ground or thick grass. Or along a frequently used game trail

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S THE OLD SAYING GOES, good fences make good neighbors.

Of course, white-tailed deer don’t always heed this wisdom. The standard deer, regardless of age or sex, has four legs and four feet, and pretty much goes where urge and instinct suggest.

The typical “low fence” rimming private property has three or four strands and poses virtually no obstacle to a healthy deer. The animal can either jump over or duck under.

Unfortunately, a few hunters perhaps suffering from temporary loss of direction also get confused regarding boundaries—but that is a different issue, which surely does not apply to TF&G readers.

Almost all hunters respect property lines.

But the edges of property lines often are lawfully used as intercept positions. This explains why a relatively small low-fenced lease might yield several outstanding bucks during the course of a season if it shares a border with a giant ranch holding dozens of quality deer.

Tower blinds frequently are placed near the edges of property lines, and the hunters on a small lease can improve the odds by using game feeders or food plots to attract deer from the larger spread. During the rut, horn rattling might lure a buck.

Years ago, I was hunkered against a brush pile in a root-plowed field about 50 yards from a low-fenced property line in South Texas.

The chill December morning was gray and damp, ideal for rattling. I saw a fine buck walking along the wrong side of the fence, so I hit the horns and—Shazam! The rut-juiced buck sailed across and rushed the sounds of battle.

A perfectly “legit” opportunity at an incoming dark-horned 10 pointer was at hand. I’m sorry to admit that I muffed the chance. The deer closed too fast. I bumbled and fumbled and failed to get the rifle shouldered before the 6

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already cut and pocked with fresh prints.

This is especially true if the bullet failed to exit. The small entry hole might not show blood immediately. It’s also possible that during the excitement of the shot, you failed to take an exact mark. Once you climb out of the stand, the low vantage can get confusing.

In short, unless you are a direct descendant of Pocahontas or Hiawatha you might have difficulty establishing where the deer was standing when the shot was taken.

The anchoring follow-up should be taken quickly, while the clean opportunity is there and before the animal moves from view— frankly, before you have time to inspect the area. During those fleeting moments you may not know whether you have conclusive ground evidence.

If no subsequent proof can be established, things can start getting sketchy when an irate landowner shows up in a steaming vehicle.

Keeping this unpleasant scenario in mind, the wise move on a deer facing the fence might be to pass on the popular “behind the shoulder” bullet placement. A deer thusly hit is likely to run.

Wait for a standing broadside and break the animal down in its tracks by putting the bullet square on the shoulder. Worry about ruined shoulder meat later.

This shoulder shot is stressed as good training for dropping dangerous game in Africa, but it makes total sense in a fence-line situation.

Mitigating circumstances certainly can apply, but a dead deer on the wrong property is not what you want.

To reiterate, I am not qualified to get into the middle of this. I simply am pointing out that in the real world of bucks and brush these things can happen.

Lease members and landowners might want to discuss this issue. Contacting the nearest game warden in advance is a smart idea. So, for all its controversies, is a high fence.

Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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PIKE on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Hats Off to Harvey Heroes

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OR FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE in southeast Texas this past September, tens of thousands in all, the ground was too low and the water was too high.

I wrestled for days on whether I should write about Hurricane Harvey and what its 51 official inches of rain did to the region I’ve called home for longer than I’d like to admit.

As a native Houstonian who qualifies for the senior discount at Denny’s, I’ve been through my share of hurricanes. First was Carla, before I was 10. Most memorable, until the water bomb called Harvey, was Ike. Now, I hope, Harvey will be the worst storm I ever experience.

It blew homes off their slabs and stilts along much of the middle coast when the storm first came ashore. Up my way, more than four feet of rain—over three days—inundated the better part of the nation’s fourth-largest city. Then it beat up our friends to the east and north, into several more states, before it died.

And through it all, even when the storm was blowing and raining its hardest, thousands of brave men and women exhausted themselves and their personal resources to help others.

I learned shortly after the sun reappeared that a longtime friend, Pat Lester, used his personal airboat to rescue who knows how many people and deliver desperately needed supplies to others. He, without patting himself on the back once, wrote to tell me about a dozen mid-coast guides who left their own damaged or destroyed homes and trailered their boats to Houston for rescue efforts here.

Every night on the news, there were more clips of more everyday people using their own boats and trucks and ATVs to help people.

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tion orders. Where’s the payoff? Who writes them checks? Who covers their costs?

Nobody, that’s who.

It’s all out-of-pocket, hundreds of dollars never to be recovered. They don’t ask for anything, and most wouldn’t take money if it were offered.

I’m frustrated and suffering mild survivor’s guilt for being at an age and physical state in which I’m not much use in a natural disaster.

I can’t sling cases of water bottles. I can’t haul furniture upstairs, and I certainly couldn’t lift a grown man or woman into a boat or onto a truck.

What I can do is remind you, my readers, of the contributions made in the aftermaths of these two horrific storms by younger, stronger outdoorsmen and women than me.

Personally, allow me to thank every one of you who walked or rode or paddled through water to help someone for nothing more than it was the right thing to do. That’s how we are raised—most of us, anyway.

Without so many unnamed heroes, as was pointed out by a couple of national columnists and reporters, the death toll of Harvey certainly would have been higher—potentially by a multiple of five or six or more.

On my radio show the weekend after Harvey finally exited our region, I said something about the “Texas Navy” being on patrol until the last stranded person was rescued from a rooftop. A listener suggested that the correct term was Cajun Navy.

I responded that whether you call it the Texas Navy, Cajun Navy or Redneck Navy, you’re talking about courageous, self-sacrificing people who are an increasingly rare breed in this country. I am thankful that a preponderance of them live in Texas.

What I heard least in reporters’ descriptions of these brave, selfless people was that nearly every one of them was either a hunter or a fisherman. Who else, after all, would have been so comfortable under such adverse conditions?

Who else would have spent their last dime and last ounce of energy coming to the aid of total strangers?

Excepting those guides who drove up from an obliterated middle coast, most of the boat operators in flood waters up here had not been flooded. Their homes and families were dry and safe.

They could have looked the other way and gone on with their lives. They could have grabbed their shotguns and enjoyed the opening of dove season on September 1. They could have driven to the coast and chased redfish.

They could have found a thousand other things to do, every one of which would have been more fun and might have helped them forget three days of torrential rain.

Instead, though, they chose to help. They burned their own gas and went without sleep for days on end. They tore up their boats and motors on mailboxes and submerged cars and stop signs. And they kept going until the job was done.

Similar stories emerged from parts of Florida after Hurricane Irma ripped its way up the length of my second-favorite state in which to fish. (Louisiana is third. Love you, Cajuns, but you don’t have snook).

When natural disaster strikes any coastal state or city, first responders include more than just firefighters, police and the National Guard. For each of those men and women in uniform, badge and waders, there are at least one and sometimes three outdoorsmen standing beside them.

Importantly, volunteers willing to be on the flooded front lines don’t have to await instructions or permission from higher ranks. They just go wherever their instincts and guts lead.

About now, I’d expect that skeptics are asking themselves what’s in it for people who risk their own safety and tear up their own equipment to retrieve soaked, hungry, frightened people who might even have ignored evacuaF I S H

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NUGENT in the Wild

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

Hail the Mighty Whitetail

essential to survival today than the beasts of a million years ago.

You know it and I know it, that we don’t even have to kill a deer, or even be anywhere near the deerwoods to feel that urge to connect, to learn, to better understand our pure, natural predator/prey bond with the beasts.

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OD, FAMILY, COUNTRY and the mighty whitetail deer!

If that isn’t life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness I don’t know what is.

Sure, there are sundry derivative priorities that go hand in hand with those prime categories for quality of life, like freedom, work, health, laughter, and of course killer guitar music, but I think we can all agree here in the pages of Texas Fish & Game that there is something deeply powerful about the role of this fascinating herbivore that stirs our souls like no other.

From the time I could walk the majestic forests of Northern Michigan to this very day 69 years later in the spectacular wilds of my home on Texas, I could not then and still cannot today wait for my next encounter with these beautiful creatures for reasons far beyond the here and now.

There is no wonder why our ancestors drew crude images of majestic stags on cave walls in homage to the beasts that gave us life. That primal instinct, thank God, remains alive and well in millions of hunting families across America even in this modern, twisted world of illogic and soulless political correctness.

In fact, as critical to life itself the deer were for food, clothing, shelter, tools, weapons, medicine and faith to the survival of our own species for time immemorial, I am here to tell you that the spiritual powers of whitetail deer perform an even more impacting role in our lives today for those of us smart enough to remain in touch with God’s miraculous creation as hands-on conservation participants.

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Me and the deer.

No politics, no fear, no pain, no suffering, no wars, no political correctness, no nuthin!

We can be deep in the throngs of a critical business deal or dancing like an animal possessed deep within the flames of a firebreathing rock-n-roll concert moment far, far removed from the hunting season, and still the eye candy and stimulating aura of our brother the |

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deer penetrates the otherwise impenetrable.

On the historical knotty pine wall of our Northwoods wilderness Michigan cabin are the small shoulder mounts of a button buck and a yearling doe. Yes, that is correct, I hired a professional taxidermist to lovingly and respectfully mount a button buck and scrawny yearling doe, my first rifle kill and my first bow kill more than fifty years ago.

Having hunted side by side with my father from the earliest of age, my relationship with whitetail deer was forever relegated to the rare flash of a rapidly departing white flag disappearing into the distant forest or the occasional prolonged and much appreciated study of tracks and droppings.

So on those magical moments after many, many years of diligent trying, when the planets finally aligned and I was able to put it all together and squeeze the trigger and release that arrow, those kills had absolutely nothing to do with bragging rights, antler score, age, size or anything other than the moment!

Me and the deer. No politics, no fear, no pain, no suffering, no wars, no political correctness, no nuthin!

Ain’t it wonderful! Ain’t it grand! Ain’t it perfect every time!

So look to the heavens my backstrap addicted BloodBrothers, and thank the Good Lord every day for such a phenomenal creation that includes the embodiment of life, liberty and the ultimate pursuit of happiness in the manifestation of grace, beauty, fun, sport, meat, trophy, challenge and life itself on four legs.

May your bullets, arrows and spirit fly true this magical November 2017, and may the mighty whitetail deer continue to cleanse our souls in every way conceivable every day of our lives.

Spiritual protein is good for the soul.

Aim small miss small but think, live and hunt big!

Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@fishgame.com

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10/9/17 12:02 PM

TF&G COMMENTARY

by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

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URRICANE HARVEY, I’VE been told, is the worst natural disaster on U.S. soil in history. I don’t know whether that’s true, but Harvey certainly caused a lot of damage.

From Port Aransas to Bridge City, and inland as far as Conroe, Harvey damaged at least 150,000 properties, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Estimates of the damage hover around the $190 billion mark, and may well go much higher. More than 30,000 were left homeless, and more than 70 people lost their lives during the hurricane.

The lives lost, of course, is the worst of the toll taken by the storm. Floodwaters recede, debris can be cleaned up, and homes can be rebuilt. People, loved ones, cannot be replaced.

But as heartbreaking as the storm’s death toll was, experts said that it could have gone much higher. If not for heeded warnings, swift action by first responders, and pure luck, Harvey might have claimed many more lives.

Having never experienced such a storm myself, it’s impossible for me to imagine the terror faced by those who were in Harvey’s path. The amount of water dumped along the Texas coast, over 20 trillion gallons by some estimates, quickly overwhelmed all drainage routes and turned the coastline into a maelstrom of violence, uprooting trees, dismantling buildings, and washing away boats and vehicles like bath toys.

As usual during such disasters, Harvey brought stories of heroism and tragedy. People risked their lives, and sometimes lost them, trying to save others. 60-year-old Sergeant Steve Perez, a 34-year veteran of the Houston police department, was one of those lost to the storm.

One story, out of Beaumont I believe, epitomizes the tragic events along the coast, and the character of the people who faced them.

“ No one, standing on the roof of their flooded home, asked the political party of boaters who came to rescue them.

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What Storm?

While white supremacists, antifa and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) groups clashed in other parts of the country, people of all skin tones risked their lives to save others of all skin tones. Rescuers don’t care about the color of the people who need help, and the victims are grateful no matter the race of their benefactors.

No one, standing on the roof of their flooded home, asked the political party of boaters who came to rescue them. Harvey didn’t play favorites, didn’t care whether the homes flooded belonged to rich or poor, white or T E X A S

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black or brown, Republican or Democrat, man or woman or undecided. Neither did those who flocked to the Texas coast to lend a hand, cheerfully and without pay, to whomever needed it.

As usual when a tragedy occurs, there were those who tried to use the storm to advance their own agenda. Whether that involved climate change, or bashing the current administration, or racial division, or gender equality, or gun control, or boxers vs. briefs, it didn’t work. Those who mattered, the victims and the volunteers, collectively ignored the whiners.

They didn’t have time for petty sniping and self-serving speeches. They had work to do— and they did it.

As I write, Hurricane Irma has already done terrific damage in the Virgin Islands, and continues on a course for Florida. Experts tell us Irma will be even more destructive than Harvey. Unless something changes, the entire, horrible scenario caused by Harvey will soon repeat itself, causing more damage, taking more lives, and challenging the resolve of those in the path of the storm.

Once again, people from all over the country will come to help, without reward, except for the knowledge that they were able to lend a hand to those who desperately needed it.

The Texas coast won’t be rebuilt overnight.

You don’t repair almost $200 billion worth of damage in a month or two, even in Texas. But it will get done.

It won’t be done by those who hope to capitalize on the misfortunes of others. It will be done by Texans and others who look at the people of the Texas coast and see, not black people, or white people, or brown people, but people—Americans who need help.

Texans, who have been hit with the biggest storm in memory, shook the mud out of their boots, rolled up their sleeves, and went to work. Those are my people, and it will take more than Harvey to stop them.

A 41-year-old woman and her three-year-old daughter were stranded by high water and swept into a drainage canal. The woman managed to save her daughter, but drowned in the process.

By any reckoning, the hurricane was a monumental disaster, but despite being horribly destructive and deadly, the storm brought people together like nothing since 9/11. Folks from all over the country converged on the Texas coast to help rescue survivors from the flooding, clean up and rebuild. The best part is, as bad as the situation was, Harvey created equality like nothing since Sam Colt’s first revolver.

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10/9/17 12:00 PM

Timing the Rut in Texas is All About Location, Location ,Location edited by Chester Moore

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NCE A LEASE, RANCH OR AREA OF HIGH DEER traffic on public land is located, hunters want to know one more major piece of information.

When is the rut?

In a state as large is Texas, the question has just as much to do with “where” as “when”.

The fact is there are many mysteries and misconceptions involving the rut, particularly in regards to when it happens in various ecological regions of the state.

I always refer to a study entitled, The Rut in Whitetail Deer put out by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. It sheds some light on timing and issues involving the mysterious phenomenon known as the rut.

According to the study, a doe may be attractive to bucks for about five days, but may be willing to breed for a period of only 24 hours. If

the doe is not bred during her first cycle, she will generally come into heat again about 28 days later.

“In areas where there are few bucks, a doe may not encounter a buck when she is first receptive and may not be bred until one of her later cycles. A hunter, landowner or biologist who sees the late breeding activity may be convinced that there was a late rut.

On the other hand, those who see does attended by bucks in the early part of the season believe there was an early rut. This helps explain the wide variety of opinions on the timing of the rut during a particular year.”

TPWD also reported that “Hunter chronology” has a lot to do with the perceived timing of the rut.

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SOURCE: TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPT.

The following are rut dates as detailed in TPWD’s study.

“Traditionally, hunters are more likely to be afield during cool weather. They will usually be out in force with the onset of the first weekend norther during the deer season.

When there are many observers spending time in the field it is more likely that breeding activity will be noticed.”

“Bucks, like hunters, have a tendency to move around during cool weather. Bucks with hardened antlers are ready to breed and are looking for a willing doe. More movement means more opportunity to encounter a receptive doe.

This increased movement helps give rise to the idea that cold weather causes the rut.

However, this theory is disproved by whitetailed deer breeding in tropical climates.”

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Pineywoods “Most breeding activity happened from October 21 to January 5. Peak breeding dates were November 22 in the northern portion and November 12 in the southern part of the Pineywoods.”

Post Oak Savannah “The conception dates for does in this region ranged from September 30 to January |

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16 during the study period. Two study areas were used. The peak breeding dates for the central and southern portions were almost identical. The peak dates were November 10 and 11, respectively.”

Cross Timbers Representing the north-central part of the state, conception dates in the Cross Timbers and Prairies were as early as October 13 and extended to December 17. In the northern portion of the region, the average breeding date was November 15. The average breeding date in the southern part was November 17.”

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Rolling Plains “Most does were bred from October 8 to December 30 in the three years studied.

Study areas showed a peak date of December 3 in the north and November 20 in the south.

The Rolling Plains had the highest incidence of pregnancy, with 97 percent. Biologists found an average of 1.7 fawns for each doe examined.”

Edwards Plateau

along the coast where bucks are rutting in early September and just 50 miles up the road there is little or no breeding action until the middle of October.

The rut is an important period to hunt areas where you tend to see many does because the bucks will be after them. The bucks themselves usually turn their attention away from feeders during this period, although they may still show up to find a doe in estrus.

The fact is very few areas of the state are

completely out of rut by the time this issue of TF&G arrives. Opportunities are regal out there. In places like South Texas, the peak hunting is yet to come.

The rut is a complex issue, and we are thankful our state biologists have done a great job identifying the key breeding periods throughout the state.

“Conception dates for this region ranged from as early as October 9 to a late date of January 30. The Edwards Plateau, Texas’s highest deer production region was divided into three areas for the study. The eastern part had a peak breeding date of November 7. Peak breeding for the central portion was November 24, and the western area had a peak date of December 5.”

Gulf Prairies & Marshes “The earliest whitetail breeding in the state occurred in this ecological region.

Breeding occurred in the period August 24 to November 25. There were two study areas: the northern study area had a peak date of September 30, and the southern area was a month later with an October 31 peak breeding date.”

South Texas Plains “South Texas had the latest rut in the state. Breeding dates ranged from November 9 to February 1 during the three years. In the eastern part of the area the peak breeding date was December 16, while in the west it was December 24.”

TransPecos “Conception dates in the Trans-Pecos ranged from as early as November 4 to as late as January 4 during the three-year study.

The peak date of the breeding season was December 8.”

It is interesting that there are so many varying peaks in rut dates in Texas. We are as big as several states, but I have seen areas

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10/9/17 12:30 PM

As Harvey’s Waters Recede, Toxins and Affected Wildlife Remain story by Chester Moore 14 |

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10/7/17 6:25 PM

THE WATERS OF GALVESTON BAY SOUTH OF Houston and Sabine Lake in the Golden Triangle area (Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange) have had a tremendous amount of water pollution history.

The Houston/Galveston area has numerous superfund sites, which are designated major pollution sites that need years and sometimes decades worth of cleanup efforts. These pollutants have already impacted wildlife and found their way into the human population via fishing which is very popular in the region.

With many superfund sites underwater and flooding into neighborhoods, marshes and into fisheries, what will happen in the long run? Speckled trout, the most popular sport fish on the Texas coast, absorb several potentially deadly pollutants. What are the threats to wildlife and people?

The following warnings come from the Texas Department of Health and have been established in the area for years.

Sabine Lake and contiguous Texas waters in Jefferson and Orange counties (Chemical of Concern: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): • For gafftopsail catfish, adults should limit consumption to no more than three, 8-ounce meals per month.

• Children under 12 and women who are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant should limit consumption to no more than one 4-ounce meal per month Houston Ship Channel and all contiguous waters north of the Fred Hartman Bridge, State Highway 146 including the San Jacinto River below the Lake Houston dam (Chemicals of Concern: Dioxins, Organochlorine pesticides, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): • For all species of fish and blue crabs, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.

• Women of childbearing age and children under 12 should not consume any fish or blue crabs from this area.

Poisons in bay waters and displaced coyotes, hogs, rats and other wildlife are among the after effects of Hurricane Harvey.

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region since I was nine, I had never heard of a western diamondback rattlesnake east of Galveston Island.

Immediately after Hurricane Ike (2008) I interviewed a man who killed a large diamondback on Pleasure Island on Sabine Lake 50 miles to the east of Galveston.

Then within two years more and more stories of western diamondbacks in the region started to surface. A capture reported to us by veteran local meteorologist Greg Bostwick gave us photographic evidence of diamondbacks in the area. “The snake was captured alive about one mile south of my house in Chambers County and was about 4.5 feet long,” Bostwick said.

The snake was found north of Winnie, and that is not typical diamondback territory.

Shortly before Bostwick’s capture, the late Mike Hoke, at the time director of ShangriLa Botanical Gardens, said a diamondback was found during an expedition a while back at the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge in Sabine Pass. It surprised him and his team.

There is no doubt snakes will be found in larger numbers than many would expect in some areas after this storm. So does my own nightmare animal—the one I like the least.

Upper Galveston Bay and all contiguous waters north of a line drawn from Red Bluff Point to Five-Mile Cut Marker to Houston Point (Chemicals of Concern: Dioxins and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): • For all species of catfish, spotted seatrout and blue crab, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.

• Children under 12 and women of childbearing age should not consume spotted seatrout, blue crabs or any catfish species from this area. (Chemicals of Concern: Dioxins and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

• For all species of catfish, adults should limit consumption to no more than one, 8-ounce meal per month.

• Children, and women who are nursing, pregnant or who may become pregnant should not consume catfish from these waters. The old statement, “You are what you eat.”

Let’s pray these pollutants don’t impact people already devastated in the region for much wiser stewardship of our resources.

Another issue possible with this storm is one that some might consider the stuff nightmares are made of—snake migration.

There is no question storms move snakes. Floodwaters push up debris that snakes pile on and they get a free ride sometimes dozens of miles inland.

The area being impacted

by Hurricane Harvey has a sizable population of rattlesnakes on the islands along the Intracoastal Canal and higher ground in the marshes as well as abundant cottonmouths.

Snake migration via hurricane has happened before. In fact it happened nine years ago after Hurricane Ike hit the Upper Texas Coast.

The area impacted

by Harvey has a sizeable population of rattlesnakes and, of course, cottonmouths.

Rats!

During my coverage of Hurricane Ike in 2008, I learned of a family that stayed in the path of the massive hurricane only a few miles from the beach and had to retreat into

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the attic and eventually the roof. As waters rose, rats inundated the small strip of high ground along with snakes from the nearby marsh.

Rats that can stay together, will. They have a very strong social order.

But those separated by flooding conditions are still resilient.

According to CDC officials, rodents that survive a disaster often move to new areas.

It will take time for rodents to regroup, reorganize their social behavior, become familiar with their new environment, find safe haven, locate food and water, and memorize their movements.

“Colony building and reproduction will begin only when their new ecosystem has stabilized. This typically takes 6 to 10 months under favorable conditions. As the rodent population grows and resettles, people have a greater chance of being exposed to the diseases carried by rodents. Rodent urine and dander also contain allergens that can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma symptoms in sensitive persons. More than 9,000 persons are treated in emergency departments annually for rat or mouse bites” Something very few people consider is that a large number of rats found in America’s cities are a foreign invader—the Norway rat.

Dispersed around the world on ships, these highly resilient animals can chew through virtually anything. They can outcompete native rodents for space and food.

They will survive virtually anything— including hurricanes and floods.

Very few people consider these things after a flood, but wildlife is also impacted.

It’s our job to inform you of what is happening beyond the pavement.

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10/7/17 6:25 PM

Texas SALTWATER

by CALIXTO GONZALES :: TF&G Saltwater Editor

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Y THE TIME YOU READ THIS, the healing is in full swing.

Publishing requirements mean that every column you read goes to press a full two months before the magazine hits the stands. It’s a tricky proposition to try and make concrete statements that demand you make anything more than a relatively vague prediction.

The being said, I am more than confident when I say that the Coastal Bend and Upper Texas Coast is firmly entrenched in rebuilding and recovering from the mauling that Hurricane Harvey inflicted back in late August/early September.

They aren’t doing it by themselves. The rest of the state is offering a hand.

Harvey’s destruction was reminiscent of other storms that hit the area, such as the Indianola Hurricane of 1886, the Great Galveston Hurricane, Hurricane Celia, and Hurricane Ike. Like the aforementioned cyclones, Harvey’s level of destruction and flooding was almost beyond comprehension.

For more than a week, every major news program was filled with surreal images of entire communities flattened, normally dry areas flooded above rooftops, and remarkable images of human suffering.

The response from the unafflicted parts of Texas, however, was typical. People from every part of the state hitched up boats, loaded supplies onto trailers, truck beds, and car trunks, and went to render aid and comfort.

Many of those who couldn’t make the trip dug into their wallets and pocketbooks and contributed what they could to the victims of the monstrous destruction. Help came from the Rio Grande Valley, the Llano Estacado, North Texas, West Texas, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, Waco. Suddenly, areas that had been depopulated by evacuations had

“ People from every part of the state hitched up boats, loaded supplies onto trailers, truck beds, and car trunks, and went to render aid and comfort.

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The Best of Us

owners, Shallow Sport owners, Majek, Blue Wave, airboats and Jon boats, all made the exodus to Houston to save the trapped.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Dad said. “We might be at each other’s throats, but when it comes time to unite, we always do.”

It struck me that there hasn’t been mention of the issues that seemed to matter so much before tragedy struck. No one has asked who voted for whom, or who is what nationality.

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be done.

Perhaps everyone was too busy.

Perhaps, in the grand scheme, it really doesn’t matter.

Texans are often not portrayed in the best light. Television shows often depict Texans as “sophisticated hicks” who blunder through the world in our cowboy hats and Tony Llama boots.

I remember a particular episode of Hawaii 5-0, a character who was supposed to be a Texas Ranger (right down to the Stetson, boots, and Wranglers) stood off McGarrett and Danno, who were aiming automatic weapons at him, with a Colt SAA revolver.

For a few news cycles, however, the rest of the world saw the real Texas. No hats.

No boots. No six guns—just good men and women doing what they could to help other good men and women. That’s the real Texas.

I remember a college professor of mine who was discussing the damage and loss of life of Hurricane Hugo, which had slammed into South Carolina. He marveled at the resilience of humanity comparing them to a colony of ants. If the ant hill gets kicked over, the ants immediately work on re-building it. If it happens again, they rebuild again—and again, and again.

People are remarkable, he said. Their civilizations have been destroyed by hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, fire, and war.

Years, even centuries, of effort are wiped away in a fraction of the time it took to build it. The day after the debacle, the ants begin to rebuild.

In Texas, the ants have a lot of help in the rebuild. It’s the Texas way.

It will take time for Port Aransas, Rockport, Houston, and Beaumont to rebuild. The destruction won’t be undone overnight, or even in a few months. But the people of these regions are vibrant, energetic, and tough. By now, in November, the rebuild is well on its way.

Texans don’t wait. We act.

become crowded with men and women who were there simply to help.

Texans don’t wait to be told to help. We act.

My father, son, and I were taking a load of water, canned food, and other supplies to our church to contribute to the aid movement.

Dad told me of a fellow teacher at his school who had gone to Houston to help rescue people who were flooded out of their homes and had no place to go.

I added that two groups of boat owners, dubbed the Texas Navy and Cajun Navy were already in Houston doing the same. Dargel

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Land-Locked Anglers Should Not Feel Limited compiled by TF&G STAFF

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OST ANGLERS would like a boat.

However, many cannot afford one. That does not mean they are exempted from quality fishing in the state of Texas.

The following are a few things that will make a gigantic difference in any bank-fishing venture, especially for anglers here in Texas .

WATER LEVELS: Paying special attention to water levels and movement is crucial for anglers fishing from the bank. By virtue of fishing from shore, you are fishing across the very shallowest areas, and that can be a problem.

Coastal anglers should pay special attention to tide charts and focus on the last half of an incoming tide through the first couple of hours of a falling tide. Tidal movement is essential in getting specks, reds, flounders, drum and other fish to bite, but having enough water to fish in is equally important hence fishing near the height of high tide.

Inland anglers should strategically position themselves in areas with enough depth to get solid fishing action. The tip of piers as well as walking out toward points that extend into a lake or river offer a big advantage over simply setting up at a pretty spot on the bank.

THE RIGHT LINE: This one might seem so important but it can save you lots of time and frustration in the field.

Avoid using fluorocarbon and braided lines that sink while fishing from the bank. Shorelines are typically lined with vegetation, trash and other obstacles. If you are making long casts and using a sinking lure or fishing dead bait on the bottom, a fluorocarbon or other sinking line will get you snagged all over the place.

I learned this the hard way fishing for crappie a few years back in Orange County at a favorite bank fishing spot. It was frustrating to say the least.

Most braided line floats (there are exceptions), and it also gives you a strength advantage. If you are fishing for catfish for example and hook a 30 pounder instead of the usual two to three pounders, it can pay off to have a strong, braided line.

CHUM: While chasing fish from the bank is not an option, you can make them chase you. Chumming is an underrated method of fishing in Texas and can be used in both salt and freshwater.

Let us tackle saltwater first.

While fishing for Wels catfish in Europe, I learned about “ground baiting” where anglers use soured grain and prepared chum from the bank. They use slingshots to shoot it far into the water and also use a plastic device that rests above their leader. I have not seen these for sale in America, but there’s a homemade remedy.

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Piers and docks along the coast and lake shorelines provide access to many boatless anglers.

If you can find an old 35 mm film canister or one of the soft-sided plastic aspirin bottles, remove the labels and poke holes all over it. Poke aligning holes in the top and bottom. Using a Carolina rig, slide the rig above your weight and leader. Open the lid, fill with chum and cast. This allows you to have a fish attractant right on your line.

Floats and popping corks are effective tools for the bank angler.

In saltwater, there are some awesome details few people ever consider.

Many anglers complain of rarely catching legal-sized game fish from the bank, and I believe a big reason for this is their choice of bait.

Dead shrimp is by far the easiest bait to get. It will catch everything, but that is just the problem. It catches hardheads, small croakers, sand trout and lots of undesirables. My advice is to bring one rod rigged with dead shrimp (let kids use it if they are fishing) and use the croaker, sand trout and piggy perch you might catch as live or cut bait.

Also, learn to throw a cast net to catch mullet, mud minnows and baby croakers. All

FLOATS: In northern states, floats are considered precision bait and lure delivering instruments. In Texas we often look at them as child’s play, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Using floats while fishing from the bank gives you some wonderful advantages. For starters, if you have a good idea of the depth you will be casting toward it will allow you to fish above any cover or on the bottom (shell, brush) that could get you snagged.

Additionally, it allows you to keep an exact eye on your bait and position it over certain spots. Good visuals are extremely important for bank fishing. Little details like these can go a long way when you’re fishing these saltwater walk-up venues.

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of these fished on a Carolina rig will catch reds, specks and flounders. The beauty of using a cast net is you do not have to pay for your bait. Of course it is a lot of work, but it will save you money.

Something else to think about is to use a popping cork, not just a float if you are fishing in saltwater.

There are lots of snags along shorelines, and when fishing on bottom you are bound to get snagged. By using corks you can fish just above the bottom and avoid most snags.

At the same time, you have the advantage of being able to draw attention to your bait by the popping action of the cork.

There are lots of good ones on the market, but I am a big fan of the Bomber Paradise Popper X-Treme. This one has a killer sound and a titanium shaft that survives plenty of punishment and is easy for casting long distance. Another good long-distance caster is the Outcast from Midcoast Products.

There’s a lot more to bank fishing than most would expect, and we will increase our coverage on it in 2018, here in Texas Fish & Game.

PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE; INSET, COASTAL POPPERS

10/7/17 7:03 PM

Texas FRESHWATER

by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&G Freshwater Editor

Reel Changes

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EADS UP, TEXAS BIG BASS hunters!

If you’re lucky enough to catch a giant bass weighing upwards of 13 pounds from a Texas bass lake and want it evaluated for the TPWD Toyota ShareLunker program, take note. Nobody is going to check out the fish. Not during November or December, anyway.

So, save yourself some wasted time and the fish some unnecessary handling. Don’t take it to the bank.

For those who might not be familiar with Toyota ShareLunker, it is a spawning and genetics research program run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department since 1986.

The program solicits anglers who catch Texas bass weighing 13 pounds or more to loan the fish to the state agency for spawning and genetics research.

In exchange, anglers receive ShareLunker memorabilia and nationwide recognition through news releases. Plus, the angler who catches the biggest fish during the program season wins a lifetime fishing license and high quality fishing tackle.

ShareLunkers are always females. The big fish are paired with handpicked males for spawning in hatchery raceways. A portion of the offspring are retained for research and the rest are stocked into donor lakes.

The minimum weight for entry was set at 13 pounds based on the belief that jumbo bass have superior genetics offering the best shot for producing more giant bass though selective breeding.

For years the program has begun accepting entries on October 1. Beginning this year, however, the starting date will shift forward several months to coincide with the new spawning season put in place last year—January 1 to March 31.

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Florida’s TrophyCatch program in a lot of ways. If that’s what comes down the pike, it could be a good thing.

Run by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, TrophyCatch is an incentive-based conservation program designed for anglers who catch-and-release largemouth bass heavier than eight pounds.

The FWC describes the program as a “citizenscience partnership” instrumental in ensuring that FWC biologists are able to make informed decisions for the management and improvement of Florida’s lakes and rivers.

Anglers can enter TrophyCatch electronically by providing quality photos of the fish, including one that shows it on a scale with the recorded weight in clear view.

Participants are eligible to win all sorts of cool prizes such as gift cards, fishing rods, decals, tackle discounts, etc. The value of the prizes varies with the club level in which a fish is entered. The bigger the fish, the bigger the club, and the bigger the prize. Everyone who enters a fish is automatically entered in a drawing to win a fully rigged Phoenix bass boat at the end of the season.

Not surprisingly, TrophyCatch has been very well received by its constituents. Through four seasons more than 5,325 catches have been approved, and it continues to grow.

It will be interesting to see whether Texas bass anglers respond likewise to tweaks in Toyota ShareLunker, once regarded as one of the most innovative freshwater fisheries programs in America.

The new spawning season was implemented because data showed nearly 90 percent of successful Sharelunker spawns occurred during that time frame, and 75 percent of Sharelunker entries were caught during the months of January, February and March.

TPWD implemented several other changes to the program under new leadership last season in hopes of making it more efficient.

The changes also aim to rekindle angler support that appears to have faded with time.

This included accepting non-pure Florida bass entries for spawning and eliminating private lakes as recipients of ShareLunker offspring.

Another noteworthy change was to begin relying strictly on ShareLunker offspring from pure Florida bass entries to rebuild TPWD’s Florida bass hatchery program within six to seven years. No headway occurred toward that goal last season because none of the fish managed successful spawns in hatchery raceways.

TPWD inland fisheries director Craig Bonds says even more tweaks are coming this season. This has the purpose of drumming up more angler participation in the program.

Thus far the program has served as a great public relations platform for promoting Texas bass fishing and getting the word out about catch-and-release. ShareLunker also has provided researchers gobs of opportunity to learn more about proper handling techniques for heavyweight bass. To date, the program has taken in 570 entries.

At press time, TPWD was still being tightlipped regarding the additional changes, mainly because the details were still being ironed out. Bonds says the tweaks will be announced long before the January 1 season opener. He is confident they will be well received by the angling public.

“TPWD is in the process of relaunching the Toyota ShareLunker program to expand participation and increase engagement with our bass anglers,” he said. “We are very excited about the changes and will be sharing more news about the new program this fall.”

There was plenty of chatter circulating last year that ShareLunker’s changes may lead it toward a 12-month gig that would mirror F I S H

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F

ALL IS PRIME TIME TO CATCH redfish along the Texas coast.

However there is no single, particular strategy that works. There are several, and we dig deep into the best, or at least my favorite strategies, taught from simple experience and some of the best redfish anglers who ever lived.

Under the Birds Retired guide and one of my mentors

Capt. Skip James said school reds sometimes feed the outside edges of speckled trout schools instead of on the surface. During fall, if you pick up a couple of reds in a school of trout, a bunch more are probably lurking in the area.

“For a guy who’s looking to bag some big reds and maybe has already caught his trout or would rather try something different, look to the outside of trout schools,” James said.

story by chester moore PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

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“Game fish feed in four distinct phases: packing, corralling, ambush, and mop-up.

Packing involves the fish coming together to terrorize the baitfish population. This usually happens early on.”

It’s during the next phase, corralling, that we start to notice some action, like nervous menhaden, scurrying shrimp and jumping ladyfish. During the ambush period, the feeding reaches a feverish frenzy, as the fish turn from passive to highly aggressive. This is the phase that the birds work, and that’s when you want to have your bait in the water.

“To catch schooling reds, I recommend a lipless crankbait or a big heavy spoon. Use something that you can chunk out there and reach the fish with, and that can get down toward the bottom fast.

Additionally, have a few extra guns ready to shoot with. If you catch the fish on the feed, do not bother to unhook your fish if it’s a legal one. Just lay it down for a second and fire another shot. It’s important to maximize your time during the feeding frenzy.”

James said that when targeting reds, it’s crucial to avoid the small trout. He recom-

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mends backing off of a school if you catch a couple of small trout. They will get your bait before the reds do, so leave them be: “If I go in and catch a couple of little trout right off of the bat, I circle where I think the school is and try to find the reds. Often they will be on the outer edges of the trout, but you may have to search a little to find them.”

The final stage of feeding phase is mop-up.

This occurs after the main feeding is over, and the fish seemingly get lockjaw. This is a great time to move into an area where trout have been schooling to locate reds. More often than not, they will move in on the remnants of a baitfish school and start biting when the trout leave.

“When the main bite is over, I will switch over from a lipless crankbait or spoon to a soft plastic swimbait rigged on a jighead and bounce it along the bottom, trying to rattle any roving reds attention. Glow and chartreuse are the best colors,” James said.

James believes a common mistake is to leave an area during the mop-up period. The best bet is to set the trolling motor on low and cruise the perimeter, making 45-degree fan casts so that you can cover every angle.

Think of redfish as scavengers waiting to attack the remnants of the trout’s prey.

Intracoastal Buoys There are thousands of marker buoys and barnacle-encrusted channel marker poles in the Intracoastal, and they are good spots to find reds this time of year. These poles make up their own mini ecosystems in much the same way oil and gas platforms do offshore.

They are obviously not as pronounced as rigs, but they do draw in fish.

The first thing you need to do is check to see if the poles have many barnacles on them.

Those spots are good ones to fish because they are likely to draw in lots of baitfish and crustaceans, which reds of course dine on.

In addition, the ones located near shorelines with shell are great places to fish. The markers typically designate where the channel and shallows meet, so setting up between the shell along the shore and the marker puts an angler in a great position.

Chunk one line in the shallows and another in the deep, and there is a very good chance you will score on redfish. Live bait

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PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

Fall is a good time to look for reds at any of the Texas jetty systems.

such as mud minnows or finger mullet works good in the spring, but so do crankbaits like Rat-L-Traps or even freshwater plugs like the Bomber 9A.

Hard Rock Reds All of the jetty systems in Texas will hold redfish this month. The action ranges from

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lukewarm to excellent, depending on the presence of cold fronts and tidal flow.

On the passing of late cold fronts target the eddies that form at the end of jetties.

Typically all jetties have an area at the southern tip where the current washes out a large bowl area. When the tide is strong, and in particular when it is going out, eddies form and a lot of the smaller baitfish gather in

these spots. Redfish will stack up there and gorge themselves.

Probably the all-around best easily accessible bait at bait camps in the fall is a live mud minnow (the bigger, the better) hooked through the tail and fished on a drop-shot rig.

Croaker is killer for the bull reds, but for slotsized reds, mud minnows are great.

With the fish hooked through the tail, it will swim upward and struggle a lot, which draws the attention of the reds. The disadvantage is tail hooking makes it easier for the red to take the bait without getting hooked, but it tends to draw more strikes.

Free-lining a mud minnow with a split shot rigged six inches above the hook is also good, but sometimes currents even in the eddy can be such that it’s hard for the bait to get down to the fish.

Another spot to try at the jetties are the boat cuts. They are good on both outgoing and incoming tide and can be full of reds of slot size and epic proportion.

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NDREW BOATMAN HAS HUNTED DUCKS under about every condition imaginable in a wide variety of situations and habitat ranges. His experiences extend from the flatland playas of the Panhandle to the potholes, marshes and tidal bay systems found up and down the Texas coast.

Although that’s all fun stuff, Boatman was fast to point out that nothing captures the bare bones excitement of duck hunting better than a group of wily big timber mallard drakes barreling down through tree tops. With their wings cupped and green heads craning, they send the definitive message that you and your decoys are exactly where they want to be.

“When it comes to duck hunting, hunting mallards in big, green timber is definitely the juice,” said Boatman, a 33-year-old duck hunter from Nacogdoches. “I’ve hunted lots of places, but there is nothing quite like the sight of bunch of mallards pitching through a hole in the tree tops and streaming in right in your face. I’ve seen where you could actually feel the wind off their wings because they were so close when they were trying to sit down.

It’s the coolest type of duck hunting there is, no doubt. I think most serious duck hunters would agree with that.”

Jeff Harrell of Central Heights was quick to second the motion. Harrell is a 57-year-old inspector in the oil and gas industry, but he lives to hunt. He likes it particularly well when the game involves some vocal interaction between hunter and critter.

A crackerjack with a duck call, Harrell labeled hunting tall timber mallards as the pinnacle of the sport. It will lure hunters through tangled mazes of waist-deep muck laced with head-high briars. They’ll brave all sorts blowdowns, stump holes and other obstacles you can’t see in

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the pre-dawn darkness of a frosty December morning.

Never one to mince words, Harrell got straight to point when asked to describe the allure of coaxing greenheads through a mangled canopy of limbs and branches.

“There ain’t nothing like it when you hit them with the call and they circle back and start falling through that timber right in on top of you,” Harrell said. “Orgasmic.”

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According to Andrew Boatman, bad weather is not a requirement for good duck hunting.

• THE RIGHT CHOKE: Use an improved cylinder choke. Most of your shots are going to be in your face and there’s no need for a tight choke.

• FINISH THE JOB: If a wounded duck hits the water, keep shooting until it’s dead. A wounded duck can swim a lot faster than you can run through the water and limbs. They’ll get away from you and hide.

Hunting in timber is not like open water where there’s no place for them to hide.

• PASS ON THE WOODIES: If you’re wanting to go for a limit of straight mallards, let the wood ducks fly by right at daylight. Generally the wood ducks will fly early, and the mallards a little later.

• MIDDAY HUNTING: A lot of times mallards won’t start flying good until midmorning. I’ve killed them as late as 2 p.m.

Bring food and coffee and be prepared to wait the birds out.

• DRESS FOR IT: You’ll be standing in frigid water all day, so you’ll be a lot more comfortable if your feet stay warm. Wear the best socks you’ve got.

• HANDS FREE HUNTING: Put a sling on your shotgun if you don’t have one. You can sling it across your back and use your arms and hands to help navigate around. Then hang it from the sling while you’re waiting on birds. Bring a screw-in hanger like you use for bow hunting to hang your gun and gear on.

Finding success with big timber ducks is more than setting up in the nearest creek or hardwood riverbottom with a duck call in your hand and a staunch retriever at your side. It takes time, dedication and experience to score in this wet and rugged arena.

I asked asked Boatman and Harrell to share some tips that East Texas waterfowlers with access to big woods honey holes might use to help them fill their straps this season.

Here’s what they had to say:

Boatman’s Tips: • BLUEBIRD MALLARDS: Most people think the best duck hunting is during bad weather, but that’s not always the case when hunting big timber. When it’s cloudy the ducks can see down into the trees and pick out things they don’t like. I like a cold, bluebird day with a steady wind, but not too much wind. When it’s sunny, there are plenty of shadows to hide in, and the steady wind makes the birds line up better on their final approach.

• STAY HID: Wear camo patterns that match the surroundings. I like the Natural Gear color the best, and you should always wear a facemask.

• USE A SOFT CALL: My experience in the timber has been that a softer call works better and sounds more natural.

A loud call will blow them out of there. It echoes in a way that sounds unnatural.

• STIR STILL WATER: MAKE some splashing and kicking action with your feet.

Wait until the birds are circling and before they turn back toward you kick your feet and stir the water to imitate ducks splashing around. Don’t splash around when they’re right above you or heading your way. They’ll key-in on your movement.

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cessful hunt are slim to none.

• SCOUTING: Scouting is crucial.

Mallards don’t seem to stay in one location in East Texas quite like they do in other parts of the country. When you locate an area that is holding a concentration of mallards, it would be in your favor to hunt them as soon as possible. I have found them before during the week and went back three to four days later to hunt, only to find an empty hole of water.

• HUNTING “NEW” WATER: Newly flooded areas can be particularly good.

Ducks like to feed in areas where the water has risen over ground that is normally dry.

This newly flooded ground holds lots of feed, such as invertebrates, snails, and weed seed. The best time to hunt these flooded areas is when the water is rising or holding the same depth. The birds tend to leave to look for new feeding areas as the water starts receding.

• HUNT THE FRONTS: Weather is an important factor in a successful hunt. I like to watch for a big cold front to move in from the north bringing a drastic drop in temperature over a 24-hour period. The ducks tend to be out in front of the weather change by 24 to 36 hours and continue migrating south just below the freeze line.

• SMALL SPREADS: East Texas is not on a major flyway such as the Mississippi and Central flyways. The ducks we see here are not used to 150 to 200 birds on a pocket of water as in Arkansas, Louisiana and other major flyways. For this reason I like a smaller decoy spread of about 12 to 15 decoys.

It’s a more realistic scenario for the ducks.

• MAKE ‘EM MOVE: Water movement is a huge deal because it makes things look real. I prefer to use a jerk string or a decoy that causes some ripples on the water. The jerk string is rigged by attaching two to four decoys (this number is usually sufficient). Putting ripples on the water in your decoy spread is a must on a calm day.

Spinning wing decoys work on some days, but I prefer to stick with traditional decoys and a jerk string.

• SPEAK THE LANGUAGE: Learning to blow a call in the correct way and when to use it, will improve your odds of getting mallards in your decoy spread. A good sounding “quack” and some soft feeding chuckles are usually enough for hunting in East Texas.

PHOTO: CANSTOCK

10/7/17 7:05 PM

Bare Bones HUNTING

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

Decoys

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T’S NO SECRET THAT HUNTING is a true passion of mine.

In earlier years, I would spend every free moment I had in the woods either scouting, setting up ambush sites or just sitting on the edge of a food plot enjoying the evening. As a matter of fact, it just seemed that I had little time for anything else (my wife will attest to that).

I have always loved to try different ways to bag my deer. Sure, most hunters will spend hours in a tree stand waiting for that fleeting moment when they can make the shot that counts.

Of course, that works. But as I had a few hunts under my belt already, I really enjoy having more fun in the field by hunting over a decoy.

Hunting with decoys has been around for a long time. However, you need to be aware of a few facts if you decide to try your luck with one of these fake love dolls. Scent control tops the list as far as I am concerned.

This is a good time to remind our readers that a human has about five million scent receptors. A dog is equipped with about 220 million scent receptors, and a whitetail deer takes the prize with about 297 million scent receptors.

Wow! For an animal that depends on its nose for survival, it amazes me that we ever get close enough to be able to being home a venison dinner.

Most hunters who use decoys forget to keep human scent off of it. They carry the decoy into the area they plan to hunt, set it up and then climb up into a tree stand. If you did not take the precaution of using rubber gloves while setting up the decoy, your scent will be all over it, and the deer will avoid it all together.

I always carry a spray bottle of Scent Away from WildLife Research Center. Once the decoy is set in place, I liberally spray the Scent Away all over the decoy and then climb up

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to see.

The feeding decoy by Flambeau is outstanding. It is realistic and most of all, it gives a relaxed look as if to say “Boys, the food is delicious… come join me.”

It has worked for me many times. Set up a couple of turkey decoys 20 yards away from the deer decoy and that will really convince the buck that all is well.

The blow-up model by Tinks looked so realistic that every once in a while I actually thought I saw a deer in front of me. One advantage of this model is that it’s so light to carry in and out of the field.

The rigid stationary decoy will bring deer in to investigate, but because it looks like it is staring at danger and not moving, bucks get nervous, as they get a little closer. I once had a nice buck come out in the field I was hunting.

He came out on the opposite side, about 300 yards from me.

The deer saw my decoy and made a beeline toward it. As he got closer, he slowed down, but was still coming. It was the first time I had ever used a decoy and I thought that this was going to be so picture perfect that in my mind, I already had him packaged up in my freezer.

When he got to about 50 yards, still out of my bow range, he stopped completely and stared at the plastic deer. He never smelled me, but he decided something was not right and walked away. Poof, there goes my venison in the freezer.

You may already have an ambush planned for your success in the whitetail world. If not, then I strongly suggest trying a hunt or two over a decoy. They work and they work well.

Even if a deer gets a little nervous, and you do not get the shot off, it still is a blast watching them come in.

Have fun and hunt safe.

in my stand. I have also used scent away field wipes to keep the scent down to a minimum.

It is very important to place the decoy in the correct position for a nice clean shot. Early in the bow season, I usually just set the decoy up facing the wind. Any whitetail that sees the “deer” in the field would feel comfortable that there is no danger present.

The buck might come right in to your ambush site with no regard at all. Later in the year, when the rut is starting, bucks will approach a deer toward the back side so he could mount her. You should place the decoy so the tail is closest to you, and the decoy’s head looks away from your position.

The buck may come in toward the head, but will soon work his way to the back side. That’s when your clean shot should be in focus. With the buck approaching from the rear of the decoy, he will be concentrating on the “good looking babe” in front of him. You will be able to draw on that buck much easier.

Any sudden, fast movement will still draw the attention of that buck, but if you draw your string back nice and slowly, you might get yourself the shot you have been waiting for.

Another thing I like to do during the rut is to tape a piece of toilet paper on the decoy’s tail. Then I spray a little doe-in-heat scent on the paper.

The slightest wind will give that tail the look of some movement. I use the toilet paper technique during the early bow season as well. Just remember not to use the doe-in-heat at this time. The movement will be enough to bring a deer nice and close for an easy shot.

There are many different types of decoys to use. They have bedded decoys, stationary decoys; bobble head decoys and feeding decoys. Most are made from a rigid plastic material but Tink’s introduced blow-up dolls a few years ago that look very realistic, especially to another whitetail.

I cannot comment on the bobble head design because I have never hunted over one.

However, I have used the others I mentioned.

Bedded decoys give a relaxed look, and I like that idea. I prefer to have a decoy though that is standing up only because I think it is easier F I S H

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ATCHING CATFISH IN THE COLD MONTHS in Texas can be the most rewarding time of year, and most anglers don’t take advantage of it.

You just don’t think about baiting lines when it’s cold and damp outside. You might be missing out on arguably the best time to catch large numbers of eating size catfish.

Cold weather makes time on the water a bit more uncomfortable than the usual warm weather most are used to.If you plan to fish the cooler waters you had better be prepared for some cold hands and face. A good set of insulated waders is a must in my book to fend off old man winter while chasing the big blues and channel cats of late season.

Live bait is a paramount must-have for those late season cats. I love to put out eight to ten throw lines. A throw line is a line about 40 feet in length with a hook set about every four feet and a heavy weight on the end.

The leading end is tied to a good flexible limb as close to the water’s edge as possible.

The water in late winter is generally up, and the current is swifter than the usual summer and spring fishing.

The best place to locate your lines is along the rivers edge in relatively shallow water six to 12 feet in depth.

Your top hook should be set in the shallows, then the line run out and dropped in the deep water. The natural current will settle it in the right spot.

Baiting a throw line is a three-fold process. Live perch is the best without a doubt. I like what I call twofinger perch. Just about the size of your first two fingers in length and width. These little darlings are like candy to the blue cats I target in the four to 12-pound range.

I often get much larger cats, but I target the really best eating-size cats this time of year. The colder water and often lots of fresh water lend to some of the best tasting fish you can get.

If I can’t get my hands on the live perch I love to use, I use beef liver and chicken hearts. You generally get a lot of smaller cats with this bait, but you tend to get larger numbers. The third bait choice is cut bait. During the year I save the filets and rib cuts from carp and buffalo. At times this bait works as well or better than live perch.

REPORT: NEWS 34u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 34u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

DEPT. OF 36u TEXAS DEFENSE

by Stan Skinner and Dustin Ellermann

38u TEXAS DEPT. OF CONSERVATION

by Will Leschper and Andi Cooper

40 u TEXAS COASTAL FORECAST

by Eddie Hernandez, Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Chris Martin, Mac Gable, Tom Behrens, Sally Black and Calixto Gonzales

54u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

56u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

CONTINUED u

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Prepping your gear is a must before you hit the water. Cold hands and freezing fingertips make it miserable to put your lines together in the field. Sharp hooks are as important as good bait.

Cold water makes for somewhat slow lazy bites. Needle sharp hooks assure more solid sets.

I let my lines soak a minimum of 12 hours.

Generally, from late afternoon until early morning is a prime set, but in the winter early morning until late afternoon is often better. The sun warms the water, and the fish become more active.

It’s not unheard of to catch 25 to 30 fish a day. I often catch my limit with a 15- to 20-line set, but I am happy with 10 to 15 fish so I mainly do eight to ten lines.

This moves us on to using a good old rod and reel in the cold months. If at all possible try to get some chicken guts. I know this sounds gross, but the best cool catfish winter fishing I ever experienced was when I worked as an industrial electrician at a poultry processing plant and had access to chicken entrails.

The river was very high, and we fished the grassy rivers edge. In two hours we had a three-man limit of blue cats ranging in size from two pounds up to 15 pounds.

You are best off to find some fairly swift water off of a sand bar and fish a heavy sinker Carolina rig with a double hook. Fish that edge just off the vegetation. Water can range from three to eight feet in depth. Watch for trash on your line. If you have a lot of trash, gather up your line then move. Fish do not like to bite in water with lots of floating leaf litter and debris. It also gets on your hooks and obscures your bait.

I guess a few safety thoughts need to be addressed. If possible keep a small propane heater in your boat. You will never appreciate anything more than being able to warm your cold, wet fingers at a moment’s notice.

I like a heater that serves two purposes. A heater I can heat up some coffee and a can of soup on, is a lifesaver even in the not-so-frigid East Texas winter. When your hands are wet, 45 degrees is very cold. Also, a long boat ride can be excruciatingly cold even at mid-40s.

PHOTOS: MATT WILLIAMS

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The NATIONAL

Texas Leads the Nation in Hog Attacks

News of TEXAS

wide, 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. It is interesting to note that hogs beat out worldwide shark fatalities 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). Most

TEXANS ARE PROUD OF MANY OF the statistics involving our state.

Outdoors lovers in particular beam with pride when speaking about the number of whitetails in the state and sheer amount of hunting land.

Here is a stat that most are not going to like. Texas is top when it comes to hog attacks. Last year we did a story called “Profile of a Killer Hog,” and it featured information from a biologist named Dr. Jack Ayer.

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 world-

attacks occurred when there was no hunting involved.

This describes a lone, mature boar, probably territorial, that is powerful and much faster than a person can imagine. It is a different hog than 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 Ayer’s findings show many of these 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. That happened when a hog got 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.

In 1998 Robert Burns of the

REDFISH

SAILFISH

Corpus Christi

South Padre Island

Eleven-year-old Isaac Wright caught this 29-inch bull redfish while he was wadefishing in Corpus Christi Bay.

Matthew Garcia caught and released this nice sailfish while fishing with grandpa Manny Garcia and uncle Michael Garcia. They were fishing with Captain Murphy at South Padre Island in July.

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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.”

Hog attacks of course are not limited to Texas. The Pineville Town Talk tells the story of a Pineville, Louisiana 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 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, Maj. Herman Walters said.”

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

In my book “Hog Wild,” I reference an Edgefield, South Carolina man who 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 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. 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.

As previously mentioned, hogs are not out to kill people. Well at least most of them aren’t. Apparently there are a few out there who don’t mind coming after humans, which is why we should always give them plenty of space.

You never know their intentions.

Hunters beware.

Almost one fourth of all feral hog attacks reported in the U.S. have occurred in Texas.

Texas Agricultural Extension Service wrote 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 details that, “Greg Lemke, who designs

WHITETAIL Frio County After a grueling season, Thomas Hajduk took this South Texas monster in Frio County in January . This Whitetail of a lifetime scored 184 4/8 B&C, was taken on a lowfence free range property making it a true accomplishment for his family ranch. He now owns the Biggest Buck Bragging rights and looks to remain the King for years to come with this Monarch.

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TEXAS Dept. of

:: Self Defense :: Tactical :: Training Tips

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN and STAN SKINNER

:: Gear

Riflescopes & Ballistics Part Two

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N LAST MONTH’S COLUMN, I recommended zeroing your long-range hunting rifle one inch (or one MOA) high at 100 yards. For practical purposes, “one MOA” (MOA being approximately 1.04 inches at 100 yards) and “one inch per 100 yards” are very similar terms, but not quite the same.

Having established that this zero makes sense inside 200 yards, let’s look at how it works at longer ranges. The secret is in two parts.

First, you need to understand the bullet’s trajectory. Second, you need a reticle that is more advanced (and more complex) than a simple crosshair.

The first part of the secret is understanding

Meopta MeoTac ZD 1-4x22RD MY OPTIC RECOMMENDATION FOR defensive-styled, multipurpose rifles recently has been a low powered illuminated scope. For several years I have fulfilled this for 3 Gun and hunting using the Meopta MeoTac ZD 1-4x.

While I do normally prefer a nonmagnified red dot for speed shooting inside 100 yards, true 1x magnified and illuminated optics such as the Meopta

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trajectory. When a bullet leaves the rifle’s muzzle, it immediately begins decelerating because of air resistance. At the same time gravity begins tugging it downward at a constant rate. As a result the bullet’s path is a downward arc that gets steeper as the bullet slows down.

To illustrate this, I’ll use Ballistic ExplorerTM by Oehler Research of Austin, Texas to calculate the trajectory of a typical .300 Winchester Magnum load using a 165-grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of 3,100 fps.

Because atmospheric data influences how much air resistance the bullet encounters, this example is at sea level with temperature of 59º F and a barometric pressure of 29.56 inches of mercury. If you are hunting at a higher altitude, higher or lower temperature and barometric pressure will affect trajectory in a predictable way that you can enter into Oehler’s Ballistic ExplorerTM or other ballistics program. Tape this data onto your rifle’s buttstock for reference in the field.

If this seems extremely technical, that’s because it is. The important thing is that trajectory can be predicted well enough to provide

you with a fairly accurate long-range shooting solution. Or, you could avoid all this and limit yourself to shots closer than about 200 yards.

It’s another case of “Ya pays yer money and takes yer choice.”

Assuming that the rifle is zeroed one inch high at 100 yards, the bullet will strike a tad less than an inch low at 200 yards. At 300 yards, the bullet will be 7.25 inches low. At 400 yards, it will be 19.5 inches low; at 500 yards, 38.25 inches low. At 600 yards, the bullet has dropped about 65 inches—that’s nearly five and a half feet!

By now the trajectory arc is so steep that in another 100 yards, the bullet has dropped another three feet to more than 100 inches.

Military snipers routinely make killing shots to far greater ranges than this, but remember, they are not concerned with a clean, humane kill. A disabling wound on an enemy soldier is sufficient for military purposes—even preferable.

Being ethical hunters, we strive for a quick, humane kill, ideally with one shot. When you consider wind drift, steady hold factors, accu-

ZD give you that same advantage with the option of zooming closer to 4x with the slide of a lever.

The Czechoslovakian manufactured optic boasts a very clear and high quality glass on par with other high-end scopes retailing in the $2,000-plus range.

Meopta has been slowly entering the US market, modifying their adjustments and reticles to match the aiming systems we Americans prefer.

One of the great advantages of the MeoTac scope is the illuminated, red

dot Ballistic Drop Compensation (BDC) reticle. This has been my go-to optic for 3 Gun competitions for this primary reason. It has a two-MOA illuminated dot in the center with two, nine-MOA horizontal lines for quick target acquisition.

For the farther targets three chevrons are spaced out to use for holds out to 500 yards. I’ve had competitions where you engage rifle targets at five feet to 500 yards in the same stage, and this reticle made it all the easier.

On low magnification there is a very slight “fisheye” when viewing with both eyes open. But I’ve seen more lens shift in other manufacturers 1x red dots. I added a throw lever for faster adjustment of the magnification ring.

The illuminated reticle is absolutely necessary when shooting in bright light.

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racy of the rifle, a clean, one-shot kill at these ranges becomes problematic. For this reason, I’ll confine this discussion to distances under 600 yards.

This brings us to the second part of the secret to long-range shooting while using a one-inch-high zero at 100 yards. I’m sure many of you know what that secret is—a riflescope equipped with a reticle with one or more secondary aiming points below the crosshair intersection.

But if you think I mean a “mil-dot” reticle, you’d be wrong. A mil-dot reticle does offer secondary aiming points, but it is a clumsy solution compared to the Varmint Hunter reticle available in Leupold VX-3 riflescopes and similar reticles from other scope manufacturers.

Instead of dots on the vertical crosshair spaced at a constant 3.6 MOA interval, a ballistic reticle uses a series of secondary horizontal crosshairs spaced at progressively greater intervals that correspond to the steepening bullet path as it travels down range.

As a bonus, these secondary crosshairs usu-

485-yard zero. Below that is the bottom post at 9.72 MOA and a 570 yard zero.

You probably notice that these downrange zeroes are not in 100-yard increments. That’s because each cartridge/rifle combination has a slightly different trajectory. This trajectory is for the .300 Win Mag with a 165-grain bullet at sea level. This same load will shoot a bit flatter as altitude increases. Also, a higher temperature will flatten the trajectory, and a lower temperature will make it steeper.

All these changes can be entered into Ballistic ExplorerTM and give you a decent firing solution for the temperature and altitude where you plan to hunt.

Don’t forget, you also have to think about wind drift at long range, but the Varmint Hunter reticle gives you the necessary aiming point to hold into the wind, assuming it is a direct crosswind. You do have a wind meter, don’t you?

A quartering crosswind will require a halfvalue hold-off—assuming it’s constant all the way to the target. A “fish-tailing” wind is a “whole ’nother” thing to complicate your life.

By now, if you count the number of times I mentioned the word “assuming,” you should be ready to chuck the whole idea of long-range shooting. Yet, there is something enticing about the idea of plunking a round into the next zip code and placing it right where it needs to go. I feel it, and I’ll bet you do, too.

ally have a pair of tic marks, one on each side of the vertical crosshair. These tic marks are spaced to compensate for a 90-degree crosswind of 10 mph. Spaced farther out is a dot on each side that offers the hold-off for a 20 mph crosswind.

Used with a decent laser rangefinder, this gives you the range and windage data you need to score on a game animal up to a quarter of a mile and beyond. This assumes you have a steady shooting position and the marksmanship skills to necessary to make the shot.

Let’s see how the Leupold Varmint Hunter reticle works with the .300 Win Mag data discussed above. Remember this data should be pasted to the side of your rifle’s buttstock.

Using a zero of one-inch high at 100 yards, the primary crosshair intersection is zeroed at 180 yards. The first secondary crosshair is 1.81 MOA below the main crosshair intersection, which gives you a longer range zero at 280 yards.

The next crosshair is 4.29 MOA below the main crosshair giving you a 380-yard zero. At 7.02 MOA is the last crosshair, which marks a

—by Stan Skinner

½-inch per click at 100 yards and seem to be spot on. You must remove the large turret caps for any adjustments. They are tied onto the optic with a small string so you don’t misplace them. I have seen a slight issue with the rubber o-rings that the turret caps snug up against. They distort if over-tightened, so make sure you don’t torque down too much.

I found the MeoTac listed around $1,100. It might seem like a lot for a red dot, but for a dual-purpose high quality European magnified scope that’s built with German Schott glass, it can be considered quite a deal.

The MeoTac gives the user a versatile optic capable of close quarters speed shooting as well as long range engagement.

The second focal plane, etched glass reticle is too fine to pick up without it glowing bright red. However, at least it is there in case the electronics fail.

Adjusting the knob on the left side of the optic activates the reticle illumination between its seven brightness positions. I usually run my illumination on positions five to seven depending on the brightness PHOTO: DUSTIN ELLERMANN:

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and distance. The lower levels are great for night shooting.

The MeoTac uses standard 2032 batteries. There is no “time out” shutdown feature and battery life is only rated for 120 hours, so I would recommend keeping a few spares ready in case you inadvertently leave it on and drain the battery.

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TEXAS Dept. of :: Edited by WILL LESCHPER

Texas Deer Bigger and Better

are antler restrictions, which have had a huge impact in producing larger deer for hunters in some of the most heavily frequented areas of the state. The antler frameworks define a legal buck as one with at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of 13 inches or greater.

It should be noted that the restrictions don’t apply on properties enrolled in the Managed Lands Deer Permit program and for which MLDP buck tags have been issued.

Alan Cain, white-tailed deer program leader with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, said the age structure appears

T

EXAS HAS LONG HAD THE largest population of white-tailed deer in the country.

However, the only thing that surpasses the quantity in our state is the quality, and it again has shaped up to be a fantastic year for big deer. This is mostly from conserving a variety of vital age classes—which has increased, as population management has become the norm.

Chief among the conservation measures

DU Sr. Regional Director Tim Soderquist lends a hand in Harvey cleanup.

DU Proves Texas Strong DU FAMILY HELPS IN HARVEY Rescue and Recovery Hurricane Harvey has far exceeded the U.S. record for rainfall from a single storm. Between midnight, Friday, and 9:20 a.m., Tuesday, 51.88 inches of rain fell in the Lone Star State – a record for continental U.S. from a land-falling tropical cyclone. The incredibly slow-moving system dumped more than 11 trillion gallons of water before August 30 in Texas alone.

For comparison, the catastrophic flooding in Louisiana last year was the result of nearly 7 trillion gallons over seven days.

Thirteen million people were put under flood watches or warnings, and 58 Texas counties are under disaster declaration. About onethird of Houston, the fourth largest city in the country, was flooded. In addition, the coastal 38

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cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur got pummeled with 26 inches of rain in 24 hours. At least 74 people have died in the Texas flooding, and thousands have lost everything they own.

Estimates put eventual total losses at as much as $125 billion.

With many staff members, thousands of volunteers and more than 75,000 members in Texas and Louisiana, Ducks Unlimited’s family in the region quickly fell into two categories: those impacted and those helping others.

Many were both.

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to be improving in recent seasons in those areas that are under antler restrictions. This has shifted the average age of bucks, which exactly is what they were designed to do.

He said that in some regions, including the Post Oak area where the restrictions have been in place the longest, as many as 70 percent or more of the bucks are at least 3½ years old.

The Pineywoods area, where restrictions have been in place not quite as long, has experienced the same general trend in the age structure of bucks. That’s something easy to quantify when you look at the number of monster Big Game Awards entries from that part of the state in recent seasons.

Cain also said that present and futurehunting success rests mostly on fawn production, setting the stage for bigger and better bucks.

“Although most hunters don’t typically

alone,” DU CEO Dale Hall said. “Many of our staff and volunteers are struggling to deal with loss and damage to their homes, but they are also turning out in droves to help others.”

Texas Manager of Conservation Programs Todd Merendino lives in Bay City, which issued a mandatory evacuation order. His parents live in Beaumont, another area impacted by the incredible amount of rainfall.

“The ‘DU Family’ is more than a moniker. Staff, volunteers and members are pulling together to help each other get to safety and salvage what they can,” Merendino said. “In times like this you really grasp just how important faith, family, friends and even strangers can be.”

Despite his family’s situation, Todd’s thoughts were already turned toward what his Richmond-based staff could do for others over the coming weeks. They manned DU boats and helped neighbors and strangers evacuate and salvage what they could. As soon as the water receded, they focused on helping out in their local communities and areas, helping PHOTOS: DUCKS UNLIMITED

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harvest fawns, fawn production each fall is extremely important since that translates into adult deer—more specifically adult bucks in future years,” Cain said. “In years with poor fawn production hunters should expect to see fewer bucks in that particular age class in each of the future years as that group matures.

“Looking back into the culmination of deer survey data over the years we see statewide fawn crop estimates were good in 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Those good fawn crops, above 45 percent, meant a good number of young bucks in the 1½- and 2½-year-old age classes and a good number of 4½- and 7½-year-old bucks as compared to other age classes.”

Cain also said that it’s easy to predict the size of racks based on using the scientific approaches he and other biologists use regularly.

“For the most part, average B&C scores

tively, for the 4½- to 5½-year-old and 6½and older age groups. The Edwards Plateau, the most heavily hunted area of Texas actually has the lowest estimated big buck outlook, with the numbers being 93 3/8, 113 3/8 and 119 4/8 for the corresponding age classes.

The top area of the state, without even having to look at the data, is South Texas, with figures of 104 2/8, 129 4/8 and 136 for the same age groups. One area that certainly can’t be overlooked is the Rolling Plains, with the eastern portion having B&C figures of 108, 125 3/8 and 133 3/8, respectively, and the western portion nearly identical at 107 1/8, 125 2/8 and 133 4/8.

The Pineywoods, which also features high hunter densities, remains another solid bigbuck spot, with averages of 104 2/8, 124 3/8 and 123 2/8.

Heavy rainfall and damage associated with Hurricane Harvey is going to have a detrimental impact, though it’s too early to tell, biologists have noted. That includes numerous species native to Texas.

and overall quality don’t fluctuate too much within an age group or age class. Lack of adequate nutrition often related to drought or too many deer on the range causing competition for forage resources have the greatest impact on antler quality from one year to the next.

“While any area of the state can produce a quality deer, hunters would likely improve their odds of bagging a trophy-quality buck by hunting in South Texas and the Rolling Plains, which on average produce the highest scoring bucks in the state.”

Cain pointed out that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists collect age and antler survey data annually. The figures from the past decade underscore the overall outlook.

Statewide, the gross Boone & Crockett score for 2½- to 3½-year-old bucks is 102 6/8, while it’s 121 3/8 and 127 3/8, respec-

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Email Will Leschper at WillLeschperOutdoors@gmail.com

time and resources to assist victims of the recent flooding,” Hall said.

Ducks Unlimited remains committed to its mission of restoring wetlands. These critical wetland habitats provide places for ducks and other wildlife, but they also provide community resilience through storm surge abatement, water absorption and flood mitigation.

Wetlands are particularly important in coastal areas where communities are vulnerable to hurricanes and other powerful storms, like Harvey. The flat coastal terrain exposes property to the full power of these storms, but wetlands act like sponges, absorbing water and slowing storm surge. Even small wetlands can make a difference in the landscape.

A one-acre wetland can typically store about one million gallons. In fact, FEMA encourages the use of wetlands for stormwater retention in lieu of, or in conjunction with, traditional structural flood control measures.

DU staff and volunteers pause from rescues for a quick photo.

folks get stuff out of their homes, cleaning up, serving food, distributing supplies and anything else that was needed.

“It is our way, as DU staff, to show our community spirit in a part of the state that has greatly supported DU. I’m not really sure what we can do, but we are offering our help in any way it’s needed,” Merendino said.

DU Senior Regional Director Jason McKey had more than a foot of water in his house in Katy, Texas. On Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 29), DU volunteers and staff showed up to help Jason and his neighbors.

“Matt Bunn, Edd Hanson and John Taylor are the epitome of Team DU,” McKey explained. Director of Development Matt Bunn, East Texas District Chairman Edd Hanson and Kilgore DU Committee member John Taylor drove 300 miles to launch Edd’s

boat and help flood victims.

“These men are willing to do anything for me and my family during this difficult time. I am truly blessed to call them friends and, better yet, family,” McKey said.

The three used the boat to get McKey’s flooded house packed up, and then they turned their attention to the needs of his neighbors.

“It is absolutely devastating, what is happening here in Southeast Texas,” McKey said.

“But we are pulling together and rescuing my neighbors.” When they finished there, they moved to the neighborhood across the street.

Even in the midst of one of the worst disasters to hit Texas in decades, the DU family spirit can be seen firsthand.

“On behalf of all DU volunteers and members, we extend a special Ducks Unlimited thanks to all who have given and will give their T E X A S

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt.

EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Fish Still Bite Even After Hunting Season Starts

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T’S PRE-DAWN ON A BRISK November morning. The cold front that brought a stiff northeast wind two days earlier, seems like ancient history.

I find myself thinking about my friends and everyone else across Texas who are settling into blinds in the woods, marsh, and rice fields. I can relate to their excitement as I pull into the boat ramp.

We’ve still got northeast winds, but it’s dropped about 20 mph since the front blew through. I pour a fresh cup of coffee and step out of the truck while I wait to greet today’s clients.

Light winds and high pressure are in order for the day, and that’s exactly what you hope for on Sabine Lake in November. If you’re lucky enough to take advantage of these con-

ditions, by all means, do so.

On days like this you should have no problem finding flocks of seagulls hovering over large schools of trout and reds. These fish have huge pods of shrimp pushed to the surface. They are gorging on them from below while the gulls are picking them off from above.

If this is your style of fishing, you owe it to yourself to get down here on days like today. The only real dilemma we usually have is deciding which group of birds we want to fish.

Most schools will be loaded with trout, while others will have a mixture of trout and reds. If you hit enough groups you will likely run into a couple that are holding redfish only.

Good bait choices are generally whatever you feel like throwing or what you already have tied on. Soft plastics are typically our baits of choice simply so we don’t have to deal with trebles after every cast. However, if you don’t mind breaking out the pliers on every fish, topwaters, hoginars, rattletraps and Corky’s will all get serious results.

These baits at times produce some of the larger fish of the day. Color doesn’t seem to matter much either, when you’re sitting within casting distance of what seems like an acre of aggressively feeding fish. Glow, red shad and morning glory usually get it done for us.

If flounders are on your menu, some of our best of the year are caught in November.

The mouths of East and West Pass traditionally produce some real nice saddle blankets trying to make it to the gulf.

Tip them with fresh shrimp and give them some wobble with a curl tail such as CT Shad

by Flounder Pounder. Glow and grape are excellent color choices. I think I’ll just go fishing in these conditions. I can hunt later.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: North Revetment Road: Pleasure Island SPECIES: Specks, Reds, Flounders BAITS/LURES: DOA Shrimp under popping cork, topwaters, finger mullet BEST TIMES: Early and late with moving tide

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Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt.

MIKE HOLMES

November, And Beyond

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OVEMBER IS A MONTH I AM always glad to see come around again. The overall temperatures are usually the most pleasant of the year, and the rest of the weather behaves itself as well.

The prospect of Gulf storms is normally past, there is at least some rain (although in recent years, perhaps a bit too much?). Tides are moderate and follow schedules, winds are fairly light.

This is a good month to be outdoors.

Like all of the fall season, there are also enough other outdoor activities to take some pressure off the beaches and bays.

Is a zero-day red snapper season in the future?

In my not too distant past, when fishing was my only outdoor activity, I was more than fine with this, but these days I have “diversified”

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Surf, bays, piers, jetties, tidal creeks and rivers, and offshore will all be producing fish for those who seek them.

SPECIES: The inshore big three, speckled trout, redfish, and flounder, are seasonal favorites, but pan-fish are numerous. Offshore will be without red snappers except in state waters.

It might be interesting to see if the threeday red snapper season for recreational anglers in the Gulf for 2017 will increase fishing pressure in the bays and other inshore waters. However, I would wager that it doesn’t encourage more private boat owners to take trips on charter boats, which are allowed a much longer fishing time. It’s a good bet that snapper fishing in Texas waters where snappers can be found will reach an all-time high in popularity – but this is not really a good thing, either.

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rate statistics on such catches, the Feds “estimate” them, normally on the high side. These dubious estimates are then included as part of the recreational catch of red snappers for the Gulf.

This ensures that even with a three-day season, NMFS can announce that the recreational catch exceeded its allowed quota— yet again—and those fish must be “replaced” by an even shorter rec season next year.

Anybody else see a zero-day season in the future? Would it be possible to have a negative day season?

Of course, this is all part of the plan to classify charter boats with the commercial, rather than the recreational fishing sector so that catch shares and other unfair restrictions will be easier to implement. Letters to Congress critters should not cease, but rather grow in numbers and intensity.

and relish the opportunity to get in some hunting during this time of year also. The chance to combine a fall hunt for squirrels, doves—even deer—with a bit if fishing for reds, specks, or flounders can almost amount to outdoor sensory overload.

Bull reds in the surf are one of the top draws of fall for me, although the big channel bass can also be caught off piers, around jetties, and even near inshore oil rigs in the Gulf itself. Specks in the surf fall into a different tackle level, and can provide much faster action.

A morning in still comfortable “wet” wading water tossing live shrimp or lures to big, yellow-mouth trout is about as good as it gets. Flounders will be staging for a move offshore for the colder months, although the numbers of really big flatfish caught each winter in shrimp nets trawling the ICW proves not all flounders actually move out for winter.

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BAIT: Live or “fresh dead” bait is fairly easy to come by, with shrimp, croakers, mud minnows, small mullet, and small “shad” being favorites. All sorts of man-made lures will catch fish. Fall is an excellent time to try out fly fishing in salt water, as well.

BEST TIME: In November, fishing all day can be pleasant and productive. Have I ever mentioned, though, to pay attention to the tides when planning a trip to the coast?

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Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

Marauding Speckled Trout and Redfish

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WAS KAYAK FISHING ALONG A shoreline, but wasn’t getting any action.

Then I saw splashing in a cove about a hundred yards away, so I headed over there. A school of redfish were bashing their way over oysters in three or four inches of water, chasing grass shrimp.

I paddled to where I thought they were going, quietly lowered my anchor and readied my fly rod with a little pink Clouser fly, and then waited. I was about fifty feet from

the shoreline and the redfish came along, herding grass shrimp, and I cast the fly so that it would swim in front of them. The little pink Clouser fly wasn’t swimming for more than two seconds when it was eaten by a nineteen-inch redfish that put up a rodbending fight, was landed, and then released.

Then the redfish school turned around and came back giving me another cast in front of them. This time an eighteen-inch red quickly took the fly.

In November several factors come together to cause fish to feed actively—there is a lot to eat; white shrimp are making their way through the bay system and going offshore to spawn; grass shrimp in shallow water are abundant; and blue crabs and bait fish are prolific. Fish are also stimulated to feed by signs of winter, the shorter days and cooling water.

On November 20 last year my wife and I were marveling at more than 1,000 sandhill cranes flying over Oyster Lake. All were calling at the same time and making a tremendous racket. The evening was crisp with temperatures falling from 67°F to 50°F in just two hours.

As the setting sun touched the water, I noticed gulls and terns hitting the surface

Fishermen drift fishing under the birds in the Diversion Channel.

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and slicks popping up, so I positioned my kayak within casting range and let loose with a Plum/Chartreuse colored Texas Tackle Factory Killer Flats Minnow. As soon as the lure dropped under water and I wiggled it a bit, it was gently bumped. I set the hook and a large trout came out of the water shaking its head back and forth trying to rid itself of my hook It was successful.

I changed tactics by loosening the drag.

If a fish tried to throw my hook, I would still have a tight line, but not so tight that the hook would pull out. I also let the fish play with it a while before setting the hook.

The bites were so light because a norther had come in, causing the water temperature to drop from 68°F to 60°F. As darkness set in, I enjoyed every cast being a hook up and caught about twenty trout to get my limit of five respectable keepers.

The wind often comes from the northeast in November, and on many days it blows hard—more than 15 mph, making it tough to take your boat in the bay.

However, the Colorado River and the Diversion Channel are sheltered enough that you can enjoy drift fishing on these strong-

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wind days. In middle November last year we were drifting through birds diving on shrimp at a turn in the river, just north of the intersection of the Colorado River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Speckled trout were forcing those shrimp to the surface and when we mixed our Bass Assassin soft plastic lures in with the shrimp, they were hit. In colder months, when the river is fairly clear and there hasn’t been a lot of rain, or LCRA has not sent fresh water down river, trout can be caught all the way up to FM 521.

Coming out of Braggs Cut and going south or left you are in the Diversion Channel, which is deep enough (8 to 15 feet) to hold fish when the water is cold. Birds often work shrimp in this area also.

On a light northeast wind you have the option of drifting either East or West Matagorda Bay, or Turtle Bay, just west of Palacios. My experience has been that large trout are more likely found in East Matagorda Bay than the other locations.

Even on a 15 to 20 mph northeast wind, you can enjoy a good day of fishing in November. If you happen to be on the water

on a light wind day and the tide is moving, your chances of an exceptionally good day are very high in this month of cooling weather and water.

THE BANK BITE TROUT FROM PIERS AT RIVER PARKS: There are two parks on rivers in Matagorda County, FM 521 Park and Carl Park. Given the right conditions of mostly clean salt water and cool winter water, both can be good places for catching speckled trout. FM 521 Park is located where 521 crosses the river. It has a pier, porta-can rest rooms and is wheel chair accessible. Carl Park is close to the intersection of FM 2853 and FM 521. A long boardwalk along the river is for fishing, and it has a launch ramp. The park has picnic tables, but no rest rooms.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@fishgame.com

10/7/17 7:07 PM

Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt.

CHRIS MARTIN

Adopt Adjustments for November Trout

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E GENERALLY HAVE good fall weather, and some really good fishing to go along with it.

As air and water temps drop, a lot of anglers will store their rods and reels until springtime when things begin to warm-up once again.

Others will “pick-n-choose” the days they fish during cold weather in an attempt to spend only the absolute nicest days out on the water. Then there are the die-hard anglers

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who could care less about the weather conditions—they simply want to be out on the water fishing.

Regardless which type of angler you may be during the wintertime months, you need to know that some of the year’s nicest trout (and redfish) are landed in cold-water conditions.

Your decision to fish during times of colder temperatures doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Making just a few minor adjustments to the way you normally fish can often spell success at the end of a cold day.

Being warm is important for anglers venturing out into cold weather, so changing the way you dress will make a lot of difference.

Listen to weather forecasts and attempt to dress for the occasion.

Dressing in layers can provide ample warmth for even the harshest of conditions.

At the same time, it allows you to adjust the amount of clothing to satisfy any comfort level. Remember, you can always take clothes off if you get too hot, but you can’t put clothes on if you don’t have them. Having extra dry clothes isn’t a bad idea either, and staying dry in the cold is a very good thing!

During the warmer months, depending on what kind of lure is being used, lure anglers may vary the action at the tip of their fishing rod as they attempt to draw a strike, but the speed of the retrieve generally remains quick.

Such a speedy retrieve in cold water will most often only leave your arm extremely tired and sore, and you’ll have nothing to show at the end of the day for your hard efforts.

November’s water temperatures signal to the fish it’s time for their metabolism to slow down because there is less eating until things begin to warm again. Their bodies automatically go into power-saving mode as a direct result.

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about all of the fish’s actions usually slow down considerably—their swimming motions, their reaction speed and movements, and even the force with which they strike at their prey.

This means that you need to retrieve your lure as slowly as possible. When you think you’re reeling slowly, slow it down even more.

The strike at the end of your line may feel like nothing more than a brief bump. These fish are laid-back in these colder conditions, and they usually aren’t going to exert any effort that isn’t absolutely necessary to sustain life.

Also, adjust how you cover an area when wading. Try anchoring the boat in a little bit deeper water. Then begin your wading session by heading directly toward the shoreline, while casting from nine o’clock to three o’clock positions.

As you approach the bank, turn in either direction and walk along the bank the distance of one of your casts, then turn and start heading back out to deeper water while walking perpendicular to the bank. This type of zigzag wading pattern allows significant coverage of a lot of real estate, as doing so essentially leaves no part of the immediate vicinity unexplored.

Extensive coverage like this can often mean the difference between catching and fishing, especially in cold-water If there’s one thing that’s certain in life, it’s that change is inevitable. From an angler’s perspective this means that all of the many variables associated with coastal fishing will undergo change. This includes the wind, the water conditions, the air and water temperatures, the bait, the structure, etc.

Coastal anglers who can visualize the approaching changes and who can adapt, will be the ones to succeed in fishing for coldwater trout and redfish. Until next time, tight lines to all.

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

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10/7/17 7:07 PM

Coastal Focus: ARANSAS/CORPUS :: by Contributing Editor TOM BEHRENS

Corpus Hatchery Raising Juvenile Flounder

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HIS YEAR, THE NUMBER OF juvenile flounders caught by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as part of its annual survey hit an all-time low, worrying fisheries biologists across the state.

For decades flounders have had declining numbers off the Texas coast. In a recent article, “Gulf ’s Environment Is In Hot Water,” penned by Kim McGuire for the Houston Chronicle, Leslie Hartman, TPWD’s Matagorda Bay Ecosystem Leader was quoted as saying, “It’s been warm, too warm, for southern flounders the past couple of years.

“You don’t see the effect as much on the adults, but you do with juveniles. In a couple of years, fishermen in Texas are going to start to notice.”

Southern flounders spawn only in cold water and prefer temperatures around 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Water temperatures off the coast have been rising for years, especially the wintertime lows. This year, for the first time on record, the daily average surface water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico never fell below 73 degrees.

Not only does it dictate whether they spawn or not, it also plays a major role in whether the fish become male or female.

Cold water tends to produce females, which are bigger than males and prized for their meat.

That trend was observed at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, which led the state’s first efforts to get the fish to spawn in captivity to start a restocking program.

“We are trying to produce as many of those guys as possible,” said Natural Resource Specialist, Ruben Chavez at the fish hatchery in Corpus Christi in recent visit. “Our yearly quota is about 25-50 thousand. We are still

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southern flounder numbers dropping since the early 1990s.

Mark Fisher, science director for the department’s coastal fisheries division reported that the flounder are showing a pretty steep and steady decline. Any improvement in recent years likely has been due to stricter fishing regulations and restocking efforts.

One of the regulation changes was banning gigging flounder during the fall, a controversial move, but one that state fisheries managers thought necessary.

It’s not just Texas that is experiencing the decline in juvenile female southern flounders. Alabama and other states in the western Gulf have reported during their spring sampling effort, not one of the 10 ecosystem teams was able to collect a juvenile flounder

learning that species; we haven’t been doing that too long, still a learning curve. Now that we have southern flounders we are culturing year-round.”

Joan Holt, former director of UTMSI Fisheries and Mariculture Lab explained that 64 degrees Fahrenheit is where the spawn is about 50/50 split between males and females, which is what you want in a fishery. If you raised the temperature above that threshold, you get less females and more males.

Juvenile flounder

Having a fish population that is seriously skewed toward one gender would obviously be detrimental to its long-term survival.

So are temperatures creating more male southern flounder? The jury is out on that answer but there are strong indications that’s what’s happening.

During this year’s spring gill net season TPWD crews observed more adult southern flounder than they had the year before. Still, the numbers were low enough to be the fourth-worst on record, and state data shows T E X A S

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in the seine nets.

Whether southern flounders ultimately adapt to its changing environment remains to be seen. Studies suggest that coastal Texas may be on the edge of southern flounder’s natural range, which means it wouldn’t take much to force the population to shift elsewhere.

Email Tom Behrens at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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Coastal Focus: BAFFIN BAY :: by Capt.

SALLY BLACK

Baffin Alive with Ducks and Spawning Specks

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UCKS HAVE PILED INTO Baffin Bay, and the fall trout spawn is in full swing.

Wading jackets and waders are interspersed with fishing shirts and shorts.

That’s because Texas’s Mother Nature can’t figure out if it’s summer or winter as the swings in temperature can be that dramatic.

Because of this, anglers need to do some fancy footwork and have a flexible approach to finding feeding fish under any and all conditions. Just about the time that late fall anglers key in on a fish pattern, the weather makes a quick turn-around and throws everyone a little curve.

Cold fronts are beginning to approach now, and some even make it all the way through. Stretches of warm weather, then a few cold, windy nights keep water temperatures fluctuating wildly.

Throughout the late fall and early winter fishermen must continually do the “Shallow Water Two-Step.” When it’s warm and summer-like, move up and fish the shallow water where the bait is congregated.

When bad conditions come along and it’s cold and windy at night, move back to a “winter pattern,” by fishing protected water close to deeper areas. This includes Starvation Point, East Kleberg Point, Tide Gauge Bar, Cat Head on the Intracoastal Waterway and the spoil islands that line it.

“Fishus Interruptus” can be frustrating, but until a weather pattern sets in for good, moving back and forth from pattern to pattern is essential to catching fish. Water temperature is everything, so keep a close eye on that variable. Keep in mind that shallow water cools off the fastest, especially on windy, cloudy days or nights. The good news, however, is that shallow water heats 46

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up the fastest.

So, on those days where conditions demand a re-visit to winter patterns, key-in on the warmer, protected water near deeper areas. The sunny, or protected side on any island of spoil is one of the first places to look.

Bait is still the best indicator of the right water temperatures, so if unsure, the saying, “no bait, no fish, move on” really does apply.

If an area is not holding bait, it is most probably not the right water temperature.

Baffin Bay is full of warm, dark grass which holds the heat of the day if the sun is shining.

Bait will be drawn there, and as a good friend of mine says, “the lions aren’t very far from the gazelles.” Big fish follow the bait, and bait is the very best indicator of the potential for good fishing.

As conditions moderate (or if they do), a pattern will slowly emerge. Anglers who key into this “pattern change” start catching lots of fish. Big trout are mostly looking for a bang for their buck, which means, when they eat, they eat big.

Redfish almost always eat smaller, but, at this time of the year, they are crashing into schools of finger mullet shallow, eating crabs, shrimp and even sand eels. Black drum are still marauding the sand, so look for the pock marks they leave to key-in on their favorite locations.

The one surprising thing that’s happened in Baffin this year is the abundance of really big flounders in the five- to seven-pound range. They like to hang out on the edges of the grass and sand or in a pothole, either deep or shallow. If they are in the feeding mode, they will inhale most anything thrown within their strike zone. It’s been great to watch the re-appearance of the flounder, and of course, they make some fantastic table fare as well . |

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Natural colors work best on nice days or clear water (we like variations of white).

Cloudy days might require some adjustments, such as darker naturals, Chicken on a Chain or Morning Glory. Pink and chartreuse are the perfect accompaniments to any color as an attractant.

Presentations are important this time of the year. If you are looking for a big Baffin trout, low and slow is your mantra on most every day, except for the days that the top water bite is on. When top waters don’t work, I tie on a Saltwater Assassin five-inch Die Dapper in the “Snowstorm” color (which is a variation of white) on a Black’s Magic 1/32 ounce jig head.

This big-bodied paddle tail floats ever so slowly down to the bottom and once there, I make a series of slow lifts as it is retrieved back, once in a while letting it suspend just off of the bottom.

This is a killer presentation, no matter what lure is being thrown. The combination of the big-bodied paddle tail and the superlight, super-small jig head gives this lure the most natural presentation of a “right-sized” mullet to a hungry trophy trout.

Successful late fall fishing requires thoughtful adjustments and adaptations to catch fish under the variety of conditions that come along. Match your fishing style to the weather conditions, specifically water temperature. Master the habits of the late fall predator, and don’t be afraid to dance the “shallow water two-step” when Mother Nature cranks up the music.

Contact Capt. Sally Black at 361-205-0624 Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com Web: www.BaffinBayRodandGun.com Facebook: Baffin Bay Rod and Gun Twitter: @CaptainSally Instagram: baffin_bay_rod_and_gunLinkedIn: Capt. Sally Black

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10/7/17 7:07 PM

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

Give Thanks for Sheepshead

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OVEMBER ON LOWER Laguna Madre is a quiet time. Most sportsmen have turned their attention to their deer leases and their quest for a trophy buck for the wall and meat for the freezer.

Some are following various high school, college, and pro football teams. Many of the rest simply don’t fish in the winter, and focus on the NFL and NBA. That doesn’t mean there’s no good fishing to be had. It’s still there for the diehard few willing to take advantage of the beautiful, mild days of November and venture forth onto the water.

When the water begins to cool after the first substantial cold front of the season, sheepsheads, those toothy piling-dwellers in the prison stripes, begin moving around. They’ll congregate in good numbers around any structure that has good water depth nearby.

Shorebound anglers, including winter visitors who make their annual pilgrimage from the cold, snowy north, usually focus on the Brazos-Santiago Jetties, Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier, the old Queen Isabella Causeway, and the various piers and seawalls.

All these areas hold excellent numbers of tasty panfish, with numbers increasing steadily until March, when the fish are in the middle of their spawn. All three also offer excellent opportunities at a wide variety of other species such as speckled trout, redfish, black drum, sand trout, and whiting.

Any fisherman with access to a boat that wants to have the opportunity to tangle with some larger than average sheepshead (those measuring in the 20-inch range) will want to turn their attention to the “Y.” The Y is the link-

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hook. Braided line is very helpful because of the extra sensitivity it provides.

November around the Y also means redfish. Fish topwaters and gold spoons along the mangroves that line the shore and watch for drains where water flows in and out of the flats behind the trees. Keep a sharp eye for tailing redfish, or solitary fish just “resting” by the drain. You can sight cast to these fish, although they can be a bit spooky on a clear day. Use as much stealth as you can.

The shallower water makes using standard LLM redfish techniques prohibitive, but the fish are there for the innovative angler. A Strike King Redfish Magic Spinnerbait is perfect for this situation, and every angler should have a spare rod rigged with one. Fishermen who want to practice their poling and stalking techniques will find this great sport, especially with a flyrod and the standard collection of redfish flies.

Texas Parks and Wildlife, in an attempt to help preserve and enhance the sheepshead fishery is in the middle of an annual upgrading of minimum-size limits for them. This year, sheepsheads have to be over 14 inches in length in order to be retained, with no maximum size limit. This is a good thing, because four of the last five state records have come from Lower Laguna Madre, including the current record of 15.25 pounds.

That’s a big sheepshead, and there is no reason to believe that other members of his flock aren’t out there.

ing point between the Port Isabel Navigation Channel and the Brownsville Ship Channel and derives its name from the Y-shape created by the spoil island that bifurcates the confluence.

Both the island and the mainland shorelines are good spots to begin fishing. Locate the edges of the drop-offs and fish with a live shrimp under a popping cork. Hook choices may vary from fisherman to fisherman. A 1/0 short shank hook such as an octopus can be very effective and hooks in the corner of the jaw, which makes handling fish much easier (they aren’t as destructive as a treble hook, either). When sheepshead are short striking, a #2 long or extra-long shank hook may be a better choice. Break the tail off the shrimp and thread it onto the hook.

This is where the popping cork proves its worth. It isn’t used as a noisemaker, as when fishing the flats for trout and redfish. Rather, the float serves as a strike indicator when sheepsheads are being their bait-stealing best.

When the cork sinks, or moves off to the side, set the hook.

Some sharp Winter Texans have brought some of the quill floats they use for trout fishing and have adapted them to this application.

The quills are much more effective at detecting the subtler strikes and I have seen these old birds catching sheepie after sheepie while other fishermen were just feeding fish and talking to themselves.

The bend immediately west of the Y is another excellent spot for sheepshead. The fish hold on the down current side of the bend, where eddies naturally form and make it easier for these fish to suspend in place. Again, the standard shrimp/cork presentation works well, but if the fish are holding deeper in the water column, you may want to remove the cork and free-line your shrimp (this is also an effective way to happen upon some of the big flounders that take up residence around the bend).

Keep a finger on your line and wait for the bump that means a sheepshead has picked up your bait. As the fish starts to move off, set the F I S H

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Arroyo City SPECIES: Speckled Trout TIPS: Fish Adolph Tomae Park Pier at night with shrimp under a popping cork.

Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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

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

UPPER COAST

GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes).

Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information specific to your GPS device.

Oyster FarmFresh Trout

by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Oyster Farm Drain GPS: N 28 44.406, W 95 42.09 (28.7401, -95.7015)

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Crab Lake GPS: N 28 40.199, W 96 3.015 (28.6700, -96.0503)

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LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: St. Mary’s Bayou GPS: N 28 39.786, W 95 57.432 (28.6631, -95.9572)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Skitter Walk topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-4871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresalfadventures.com TIPS: The retrieve: “We are still working the bait pretty fast in November. Typically in November the fish are feeding, getting ready for the colder months, unless we get a lot of big cold fronts knocking temperatures down.” Capt. Kersh

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-4871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresalfadventures.com TIPS: “Look for birds working schooling trout. Once you get on trout in mid bay the fish will hit just about

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LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoal Area GPS: N 28 40.449, W 95 53.898 (28.6742, -95.8983)

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anything.” Capt. Kersh

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Norton Juniors soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com TIPS: Capt. Prye fishes drains on a full moon. “Tides are stronger on an outgoing tides.” He typically fishes the shoreline adjacent to the drain.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Tripod GPS: N 28 40.147, W 95 54.813 (28.6691, -95.9136)

TIPS: Slower retrieve in cooler water…”No, I think that is taken out of context. Yes, the fish are lethargic, but I don’t really slow my presentation down.”

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Norton Juniors soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com www.captaintreyprye.com |

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “We will be working some birds for schooling trout. In some past years we have a lot of shrimp in here and real solid bird activity.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 28 43.728, W 95 45.918 (28.7288, -95.7653)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-4871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresalfadventures.com TIPS: “Make drifts around scattered oyster shell for both redfish and trout,” said Capt. Kersh. One of his favorite colors is Momma’s Chicken…”kind of like Chicken on a Chain, but a darker back and a lighter belly. It has some black fleck in it.”

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Deep Reef GPS: N 29 30.802, W 94 40.581

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10/16/17 4:40 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS (29.5134, -94.6764)

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ounce; it it’s above 65 degrees use the 1/4 ounce.”

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LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Hodges Reef GPS: N 29 34.963, W 94 44.574 (29.5827, -94.7429)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Fishing slicks: “You want to be behind a slick, throwing just up from it on the upwind side, not chasing the slicks and trying to hit it.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 28.471, W 94 43.251 (29.4745, -94.7209)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: If a slick pops up behind you, pull out and go back around it, probably get a 100 feet behind it.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge Reef GPS: N 29 28.179, W 94 41.941 (29.4697, -94.6990)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Drifting: “I would probably be using a 3/8 or 1/4 ounce jig head. It all depends on surface water temperature. If it’s below 65 degrees use the 3/8

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin Sea Shad CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Capt. Frazier says his number one bay choice in November will be Trinity Bay, East Bay number two and West Bay, number three. If the weather turns cold, then West Bay will be his first choice.

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Dows Reef GPS: N 29 38.858, W 94 54.2 (29.6476, -94.9033)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters & Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 4097862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: “Redfish will be mixed in with trout, but there will be schooling reds. We still have trout on the short rigs in the Gulf and along the jetty. There will be some big reds along the jetty.” Capt. Watkins favorite colors in soft plastics are white/glow chartreuse, red and gold flake/chartreuse tail or chartreuse Ice. He uses a quarter ounce gumball jig head.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin Sea Shad CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “Fish all the shell reefs starting in 2-3 feet of water and work out to deeper depths. Watch for slicks and birds working.” Capt. Frazier LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Beasley Reef GPS: N 29 40.268, W 94 52 (29.6711, -94.8667)

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Mad Island Reef GPS: N 28 37.211, W 96 5.783 (28.6202, -96.0964)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin Sea Shad CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 ralph2fish@aol.com www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Favorite Bass Assassin colors: “If the water is off-color I like Limetreuse.” His favorite dark color is Drunk Monkey with a Limetreuse tail. “Limetreuse is without a doubt the best color for our bay system.”

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by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Bait or Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “This time of the year is great time to find a spot on the surf line. Look for diving birds in surf to try your luck.” Capt. Jack McPartland LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Corpus Christi Bay Front GPS: N 27 44.957, W 97 22.511 (27.7493, -97.3752)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Silver Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: A spoon retrieved steadily through the surf can provide some sudden excitement.

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Shamrock Cove GPS: N 27 45.437, W 97 9.717 (27.7573, -97.1620)

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MIDDLE COAST

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Black’s Bayou GPS: N 29 59.866, W 93 45.182 (29.9978, -93.7530)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Drifting the reefs I use a heavier lead head, a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce. With the heavier lead head you are working deeper in the water column on your cast.

Getting down and tickling the shell with heavier lead head increases your chance of catching redfish.”

Capt. Countz

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HOTSPOT: Portland Shoreline GPS: N 27 52.51, W 97 18.013 (27.8752, -97.3002)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Clouser Flay CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com Captjoemendez.com TIPS: Capt. Mendez likes to sight fish for reds in

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10/16/17 4:40 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS November using fly rod and flies. “You just kind of leave all the bait fishermen behind…they are not around. You are free to cover a lot more water.”

LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Contee Lake GPS: N 28 17.784, W 96 33.682 (28.2964, -96.5614)

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BEST BAITS: Crab CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 Billyfreudensprung@gmail.com TIPS: Fishing crab: “Basically free-lining, using a #6 Eagle Claw Circle C hook…the fish pretty much hook themselves.” He uses no weight, just the crab.

LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Pringle Lake GPS: N 28 18.984, W 96 30.865 (28.3164, -96.5144)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Skitter Walk topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-4871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresalfadventures.com TIPS: “November is a good time of the year for schooling redfish,” said Capt. Kersh. His favorite color is pink. “Pink is actually one of the hardest colors for fish to see.” He likes the larger size Skitter Walk.

LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Long Lake GPS: N 28 16.772, W 96 36.698 (28.2795, -96.6116)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 Billyfreudensprung@gmail.com TIPS: Capt. Freudensprung likes the Mid Coast Popping Cork because of the sound it makes and durability.

LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: South Pass Lake GPS: N 28 17.534, W 96 35.365 (28.2922, -96.5894)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cut Bait or Live Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Redfish fishing should be on fire using cut bait and live mullet.” Capt. McParland

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LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Dagger Island GPS: N 27 50.217, W 97 9.967 (27.8370, -97.1661)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 Billyfreudensprung@gmail.com TIPS: If Capt. Freudensprung uses lures he likes the purple/chartreuse Down South soft plastics.

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Outside of Traylor Island GPS: N 27 55.995, W 97 4.494 (27.9333, -97.0749)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Gold or Silver Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “The redfish should up on the flats around the islands or along the shorelines.” Capt. McPartland

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LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Dagger Island Flats GPS: N 27 49.754, W 97 10.61 (27.8292, -97.1768)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Trout will be moving up shallow before cold fronts pass through, and they go deep.” Capt.

McParland

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Gold or Silver Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “The redfish should up on the flats around the islands or along the shorelines.” Capt. McPartland

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N 27 57.058, W 97 5.331 (27.9510, -97.0889)

LOCATION: Port Aransas

SPECIES: Redfish T E X A S

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FISHING HOTSPOTS HOTSPOT: Super Flats GPS: N 27 53.534, W 97 2.457 (27.8922, -97.0410)

cork: “It’s a solid cork, but it has a ceramic bead underneath the cork about the size of a marble, and then a little bead under that. Pop it and it has a deep sound.”

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LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Packery Flats GPS: N 27 37.777, W 97 17.689 (27.6296, -97.2948) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cut Bait, Live Mullet or Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Weather changes can change everything. If you know there is a front coming through, fish the day before the front blows through.” Capt. McParland LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Half Moon Reef GPS: N 28 20.274, W 96 46.347 (28.3379, -96.7725)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Nino Gonzalez 361-332-1568 nino@redtailrods.com www.captninogonzalez.com TIPS: “The first cold front will light the fish up, get the redfish stirred up and ready.” Capt. Gonzalez

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GPS: N 27 18.228, W 97 24.338 (27.3038, -97.4056)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Popping Corks with Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Nino Gonzalez 361-332-1568 nino@redtailrods.com www.captninogonzalez.com TIPS: “It it’s cool in the morning the trout will be sitting around the potholes.” Capt. Gonzalez LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Kennedy Shoreline GPS: N 27 15.672, W 97 25.29 (27.2612, -97.4215)

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LOWER COAST

Baffin Badlands a Good Bet

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 Billyfreudensprung@gmail.com TIPS: “The lakes have a lot of grass pockets and by November you should be picking up some decent fish.” Capt. Freudensprung LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline GPS: N 27 29.134, W 97 21.108 (27.4856, -97.3518)

by CALIXTO GONZALES and TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Badlands South GPS: N 27 16.386, W 97 25.266 (27.2731, -97.4211)

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LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: East Cut Sloughs GPS: N 26 33.62, W 97 17.403 (26.5603, -97.2901)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Popping Corks with Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Nino Gonzalez 361-332-1568 nino@redtailrods.com www.captninogonzalez.com TIPS: “We are mainly looking for slicks and just grinding it out, looking for potholes.” Capt. Gonzalez

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Gulp under a Popping Cork CONTACT: Capt. Nino Gonzalez 361-332-1568 nino@redtailrods.com www.captninogonzalez.com TIPS: Capt. Gonzalez likes the STX Tackle popping

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters & Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Nino Gonzalez 361-332-1568 nino@redtailrods.com www.captninogonzalez.com TIPS: Capt. Gonzalez’ favorite baits for redfish are a popping cork with a 1/16 ounce jig head with Gulp underneath, 18 inch drop and 3/0 croaker hook.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: East Cut GPS: N 26 33.8, W 97 17.029 (26.5633, -97.2838)

year. November-January is my favorite time of the year.

The larger sized bass are schooling this time of the year as the water cools. I like to stay with areas that are near the main channel and other creeks because as the shad group up they travel up and down these deeper creeks and get on the adjacent shallow flats. Most any shad imitating baits work well this time of the year.

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Do Deep Bends for Fork Bass

LOCATION: Lake Conroe

by DUSTIN WARNCKE SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: K Wigglers and Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 TIPS: K Wigglers: “I feel like wade fishing on the sand is really productive with red and white Kelley Wiggler.

It draws a lot of attention.” Capt. Prado LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: North of East Cut GPS: N 26 34.669, W 97 22.403 (26.5801, -97.3733)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: K Wigglers and Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 TIPS: “If I’m fishing deep water I use a 1/8 ounce jig head; if the water is less than knee deep I’ll switch off to a 1/16 ounce jig head.” Capt. Prado LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 26 33.93, W 97 16.303 (26.5655, -97.2717)

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Deep Points, Humps and Creek Channel Bends GPS: N 32 48.7319, W 95 36.504 u TAP FOR (32.8122, -95.6084)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: K Wigglers and Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 TIPS: Besides Kelley Wiggler and gold spoons, cut bait freelined, or under a popping cork, works for redfish along the jetty.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: When fish are on bottom: spoons, deep swim baits | When fish are suspended: umbrella rigs. | When fish are on surface schooling: Owner Flashy Swimmer with a Grandebass Air Tail Flash as a trailer in shad colors CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: November on Lake Fork is my favorite fall month. The fish are feeding for winter so the best water temperature is between 65 and 55 degrees. Best locations are deep points, humps and creek channel bends.

Best feed times are late in the afternoon. Good fishin’ and big bass wishes!

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Twin Island Area GPS: N 32 41.7719, W 94 5.604 (32.6962, -94.0934)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Flukes, umbrella rigs CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: Stick with shad or light colors this time of the T E X A S

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FISHING HOTSPOTS HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 26.136, W 95 35.55 (30.4356, -95.5925)

than the north end of the lake (shallow water) So I head north early November and go south towards the end of the month. Look in places like Burch, Glade, or Bell early in the month and places like Dale, Ray, and Chaney towards the end of the month. Target the back of the areas you are fishing and watch for shad activity even in that 1-3 foot of water range.

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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)

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-661-7920 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: “The hybrid stripers will begin to school along ledges along the river channel. Find the schools of shad and you will find the Hybrids. This time of year they will run shad up on these ridges during the day they will move deeper around the area. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish.

Live shad will be the bait of choice in deeper water but the swim shad will work as long as you can control your retrieve to keep the bait in the depth the fish are going to be in. The depths will vary from one day to the next. Today they may be in 20 foot of water and tomorrow they may be in 40 foot. It all depends on the schools of shad. Good luck and good fishing!

Bank Access: Stowaway Marina” LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Birch Creek GPS: N 32 54.954, W 95 38.79 (32.9159, -95.6465)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Tsunami Zombie Eye Slabs, 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 falling bait. BANK ACCESS: Governor’s Point at Point Blank or the public ramp on the west side of 190 Bridge. “ LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Still Water to Bayou Seipe GPS: N 31 44.5248, W 93 49.764 (31.7421, -93.8294)

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Kick Some Bass on Palestine

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, chrome Rat-L-Traps, square bill crankbaits in shad with a white belly, white buzzbaits CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: November bass fishing on Lake Fork is very good due to the fact the bass are feeding up before the lake cools off for the winter. The bass will push shad to the back of cover, creeks and pockets and stuff themselves till they cannot eat any more. Then they will hit a lure coming by. This is a great month to throw most anything except plastics. Keep in mind, the lower end of the lake (deeper water end) will cool off slower

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along the ledges of the river channel. Use your electronics to locate the baitfish 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. If the lake is high and the stumps are under water, it’s hard to stay over your brush tops in order to catch your fish. If you want to make your fishing time more productive, invest in a hands free trolling motor with “”Spot Lock”” technology like the MinnKota I-Pilot. You’ll be glad you did.”

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Shiners, 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 bunching up

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Kickapoo Creek GPS: N 32 16.992, W 95 29.9639 (32.2832, -95.4994)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: 3/8 oz. Big Eye Jig in black/brown/ amber and black/blue/red flake, Texas Spinnerbait Lake Fork 430 special in chartreuse/white, Texas rigged Mr. Twister Pocket Craw in black/blue CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Fish the islands and concentrate on grass along the banks and any brush or stumps you can see. Fish 2-6 foot as this will be your best depth range. Fish slow, covering all your key spots very good. This will reward you with more bass.

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 and Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps | Crappie: minnows and jigs CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: For bass, throw spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps along the weed line. Crappie are under the bridge this time of year. Minnows and jigs are your best bet right now.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Docks and Secondary Points GPS: N 32 18.5279, W 96 8.862 (32.3088, -96.1477)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/16th to 1/8th oz. crappie jigs CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: “Fish all docks with 6’ or more of water. Depth and plenty of shade near main lake or secondary points throughout the lake should produce well. Medium action spinning tackle with 6-pound line and 1/16th to 1/8th oz. jigs works best.“ LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Long Ridge South of Pelican Island GPS: N 32 54.077, W 97 30.012 u TAP FOR (32.90128, -97.5002)

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johnnysguideservice.com johnnystevens@1scom.net TIPS: This area is a long ridge surrounded by deeper water. Sandbass chase shad along this ridge. I have found 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: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad, cut bait CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com 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. Some places to start would be windy sides of the lake. Shad are blown into these areas and thus concentrate the hungry blues. I like to use #11/0 Mustad circle hooks with no more that two hooks on each jug line. Good luck!

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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: Water is about 40’ deep here. Best to throw a buoy and chum close to the buoy. Then either anchor up or use a trolling motor to stay over chum. Fish tight line straight down.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Shore East of Boat Ramp GPS: N 30 37.32, W 96 3.114 (30.6220, -96.0519)

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Lower Ends by Pump Station GPS: N 32 23.014, W 97 42.55 (32.3836, -97.7092)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Swim baits in glow and chartreuse, live shad CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: Slow troll using your trolling motor with your bait in 20 to 25 feet of water near channel ledges. Look for birds to point you to active fish. Bigger stripers are typically under the smaller fish feeding shallow.

Granbury water temperatures continue to fall into the lower 60’s by the end of the month. Patterns are changing towards winter patterns as the water cools.

Fish are actively feeding before the winter season.

Passing cool fronts continue to dominate the weather pattern. White bass and stripers are schooling early and late and then are on structure when not on the surface. Slabbing lead slabs and Mepps spinners are best for putting sandies in the boat

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad or CJ’s Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: There are lily pads in this area. Anchor inside of the tree stumps and fish along the lily pads in 6’ of water using a slip cork with #6 treble hook.

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

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

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Slab with a fly 12” Above CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: CJ’s Monster Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fish off shore a little ways in 6’ of water to keep from hanging up on stubble that died during 2016 floods. Tight line toward the shore. Also chum close to the boat.

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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: Fish 1-3 foot divers early in the morning and then soft plastics when the sun is up.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Main Lake point GPS: N 33 22.545, W 97 3.076 (33.3758, -97.0513)

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Five Creeks GPS: N 33 54.8339, W 96 42.3959 (33.9139, -96.7066)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, live shad CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: “The stripers are running in large schools.

Pay close attention to the seagulls as they will locate the stripers ambushing large bait balls. The favorite artificial is 4”” Sassy Shad on a 1-ounce jig head. The best colors are white glow and chartreuse fleck. Live shad fishing is also a great way to catch stripers. You can anchor or drift live bait. Bank access: Sand Creek.”

SPECIES: Crappie and white bass BEST BAITS: Minnows, 3/4-1oz slabs CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780 justinwilson371@yahoo.com TIPS: Colder weather is here but that doesn’t mean the fish aren’t biting. White bass bite has been consistent. Look for big schools of fish off the main lake points in 20-40 feet of water. Once you find them, slabs jigged off the bottom usually make quick work of filling a cooler. The crappie bite has been better than the past months and more keeper fish are being caught. Look for these fish holding close to brush piles in 25-30 foot of water. Jigs are working well but the quality of fish seems to be better on minnows. Brighter color slabs and jigs have been a very good key to success.

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

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Big Rocky Creek GPS: N 31 52.794, W 97 23.682 (31.8799, -97.3947)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Cut bait and live shad CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: Cast out 30 feet behind boat and turn trolling motor on medium speed and drag baits behind boat in the mouth of the creek and hump just out from creek.

Stripers have baits pushed up in the mouth of Big Rocky gorging on them.

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SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers & white bass BEST BAITS: For White Bass: 1 oz. Silver Glitter RSR Shad Slabs (www.rsrlures.com) & 1/4 oz. Blue Chrome Rat-L-Traps |For Hybrids: 2 oz. Chartreuse Slab CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: “If it’s a really cold November, bait and fish may be suspended in 40’ plus water. If it’s a warm fall, watch for the gulls and pelicans dipping down to pick up shad off the surface. Concentrate on the sides of Windsock Point in depths ranging from 20’-30’.

Bounce the Slab off the bottom and when the strike occurs HOLD ON! It might be a BIG Ol’ hybrid! If surfacing action occurs, bring out the Rat-l-Traps.”

PANHANDLE

Kirby for Wild West Catfish

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Kirby Lake HOTSPOT: East Side GPS: N 32 22.368, W 99 43.6439 (32.3728, -99.7274)

SPECIES: Catfish

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LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Windsock Point GPS: N 31 56.586, W 96 7.452 (31.9431, -96.1242)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut carp & shad, live bait CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 325-692-0921

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FISHING HOTSPOTS michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Kirby Lake has been producing some good blue catfish and flathead catfish catches lately. In September, the lake record blue catfish record was broken with a fish weighing 38.74 pounds caught off cut bait on rod and reel. Blues and flatheads will be still active this November, and larger fish should begin moving into more shallow water as the temperatures cool. Consider fishing with cut carp and shad for blues or live shad, small carp, or bluegill for flatheads.

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creeks GPS: N 33 2.274, W 101 3.93 (33.0379, -101.0655)

winter weather.”

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Costello Island GPS: N 32 54.777, W 98 27.979 (32.9130, -98.4663)

big spawners, it could become the striper capital of the state. PK’s optimal balance of salt and fresh water makes it one of only two lakes in Texas where stripers actually spawn. u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

BIG BEND

Bedtime for Bass on Amistad SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: slabs, jigs CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Whether it’s a cold or mild November will determine if the fish are north or south of Costello Island. I have the best results with Johnny’s old ugly slabs from Eagle Mountain Lake (check out his contact information under that lake’s listing in the Prairies & Lakes section), or trailing my jigs with Mister Twister Curly Tails. The pressure is back on Possum Kingdom with the massive influx of guides from other lakes that no longer sustain limits. But PK has rebounded so the populations of every species except smallmouths are great here. Texas Parks & Wildlife deserves credit for the great job they did to ensure our fish keep getting restocked, no matter how bad the problems with golden algae got. They also get credit for making PK one of the best striper lakes in the state. With just a little help on limits and more voluntary release of the

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: “ Shaky head jigs, shad colored crankbaits” CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: “November will be when the cold fronts really move the bass up the creeks when the water gets 75 degrees and lower. I will be fishing up Rocky, Ince, Little Grape, and Big Grape Creeks. The bass will be hitting shad colored lures gorging themselves for

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Grassbeds GPS: N29 30.5052, W100 58.062 (29.508420, -100.967700)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Zara Spooks, Pop Rs, Ribbit Frogs, soft plastics CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl, stan@amistadbass.com, 830-768-3648, amistadbass.com TIPS: Cooler weather has put the bass on the move, feeding around the many small islands with grassbeds nearby. Try ”silent” topwaters such as the Ribbit Frogs or soft plastic jerkbaits early. Switch to a Zara Spook or Pop R if you are not getting hit

HILL COUNTRY

Feast on Turkey at Canyon

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek Point GPS: N 29 51.7079, W 98 12.948 (29.8618, -98.2158)

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10/16/17 5:02 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Hogie 5” Super Shad in “Lime Rita” Color CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com http://www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Trolling this area with downriggers seems to produce the best catches. Set the downriggers from 40 to 60 feet deep and look for schools of striped bass.

When located, vary trolling speeds until the fish strike.

Tight lines and fish on!

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Shaw Island to the Dam GPS: N 30 47.742, W 98 24.2879 (30.7957, -98.4048)

TexasOutdoorNation-1711DIG.indd 59

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, 1 oz. Roadrunner jigs with white and chartreuse flirt tails CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Stripers are scattered all over lake. Drifting 6” shad in 30’ to 40’of water or trolling 1 oz. Roadrunner jigs with white and chartreuse flirt tails in any combination has been working well.

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Top water plugs, jigs, slabs CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: November is one of the best months for stripers and hybrids! The only thing you have to worry about is the northers! A few days in from and 3 days after the norther can be some fantastic fishing! Watch for schools of fish on the surface. They could be stripers or maybe hybrids or white bass or even all the above.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 46.3019, W 98 25.2047 (30.7717, -98.4201)

10/16/17 5:02 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS SOUTH TEXAS

Dock Holidays at Coleto Creek

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 43.2959, W 97 11.7359 (28.7216, -97.1956)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, Zoom pearl white flukes

TexasOutdoorNation-1711DIG.indd 60

CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: November is when the holidays begin, the weather starts cooling and the lakes are not as busy. I love the winter months the best. The lake is quiet the weather is comfortable and the fishing is great. The big hogs move up shallower sometimes you can catch them all day shallow. Spinnerbaits are the fish locators.

When the fishing gets slower during late morning, I slow my baits down. The rule of thumb when fishing this time of year is to slow your bait down. Usually fish are more aggressive in the early morning and then they lay back later in the day. If you watch the fry carefully, they are moving slow also. Fast baits don’t look natural. I’m always trying to match natural. When it’s windy then I get more aggressive. Focus on back of creeks early then move out little during the latter morning.

Take a friend and enjoy the great gifts God has given us. God bless.

LOCATION: Calaveras Lake HOTSPOT: Picnic Point GPS: N 29 17.6759, W 98 18.114 (29.2946, -98.3019)

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SPECIES: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com 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.

LOCATION: Choke Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 29.886, W 98 22.074 (28.4981, -98.3679)

10/16/17 4:40 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, cut bait CONTACT: Charlie Brown 830-780-2162 TIPS: Fishing around grass and willows in shallow water seems to be the ticket. Use a float rigged to 3-5 feet and move to another spot if you don’t get a bite within 10-15 minutes.

LOCATION: Choke Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Mason Point Area GPS: N 28 28.518, W 98 21.7739 (28.4753, -98.3629)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits in chartreuse and black patterns CONTACT: Scott Springer 361-274-4899 outfitterscott@yahoo.com TIPS: Choke Canyon is still over 20 feet low at the time of this report. A few areas have shallow hydrilla, mostly in the Mason Point area. With the water cooling, fish should be moving into these areas. Secondary points in the Four Fingers area should be active.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinner baits and plastics CONTACT: Scott Springer 361-274-4899 outfitterscott@yahoo.com TIPS: Water temperature will be cooling down to the 70’s and the fishing should really improve. Crank baits and spinners should be players but plastics will still be your best bet.

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 26 41.166, W 99 10.7759 (26.6861, -99.1796)

10/16/17 4:40 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

30

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:59AM 8:35AM 12:51PM 7:05PM

1.64 ft.

1.18 ft.

1.34 ft.

0.72 ft.

3:30 — 5:30 PM

TUESDAY Sunrise: 7:29aSet: 6:34p Moonrise: 3:56pSet: 2:44a AM Minor: 1:50a AM Major: 8:02a PM Minor: 2:14p PM Major: 8:26p Moon Overhead: 9:47p Moon Underfoot: 9:23a

FEET

31

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:19AM 8:30AM 2:03PM 7:56PM

1.62 ft.

1.01 ft.

1.42 ft.

0.79 ft.

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 7:30aSet: 6:34p Moonrise: 4:35pSet: 3:42a AM Minor: 2:33a AM Major: 8:45a PM Minor: 2:57p PM Major: 9:09p

3« High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 10:35p Moon Underfoot: 10:11a

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

WEDNESDAY

Nov 1 High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

PRIME TIME

2:38AM 8:47AM 3:08PM 8:46PM

1.59 ft.

0.80 ft.

1.53 ft.

0.89 ft.

11:00P — 1:00A

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 7:31aSet: 6:33p Moonrise: 5:13pSet: 4:41a AM Minor: 3:15a AM Major: 9:27a PM Minor: 3:40p PM Major: 9:52p Moon Overhead: 11:25p Moon Underfoot: 11:00a

FEET

2

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:57AM 9:16AM 4:08PM 9:34PM

1.58 ft.

0.56 ft.

1.64 ft.

1.01 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:31aSet: 6:32p Moonrise: 5:52pSet: 5:42a AM Minor: 3:59a AM Major: 10:12a PM Minor: 4:25p PM Major: 10:37p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:50a

FEET

5« High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

62

6a

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9a

12p

N O V E M B E R

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T E X A S

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F I S H

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6a

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12p

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6p

9p

12a 12a

G A M E ®

10/16/17 4:43 PM

FRIDAY

3«

: 8:45a : 9:09p

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

3:15AM 9:52AM 5:09PM 10:23PM

1.57 ft.

0.32 ft.

1.74 ft.

1.16 ft.

11:30P — 1:30A

SATURDAY Sunrise: 7:32aSet: 6:31p Moonrise: 6:34pSet: 6:45a AM Minor: 4:47a AM Major: 11:00a PM Minor: 5:13p PM Major: 11:27p Moon Overhead: 12:16a Moon Underfoot: 12:42p

FEET

4l

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

3:34AM 10:33AM 6:11PM 11:14PM

1.57 ft.

0.11 ft.

1.81 ft.

1.30 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Moon Overhead: 1:09a Moon Underfoot: 1:37p

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 7:33aSet: 6:30p Moonrise: 7:19pSet: 7:50a AM Minor: 5:40a AM Major: 11:54a PM Minor: 6:07p PM Major: -----

PRIME TIME

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a

SUNDAY

: 10:12a : 10:37p

5 « End DST High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:53AM 10:18AM 6:15PM 11:07PM

PRIME TIME 1.59 ft.

-0.06 ft.

1.85 ft.

1.44 ft.

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:34aSet: 6:30p Moonrise: 8:09pSet: 8:57a AM Minor: 6:38a AM Major: 12:23a PM Minor: 7:07p PM Major: 12:53p Moon Overhead: 2:06a Moon Underfoot: 2:35p

FEET

READING THE GRAPH

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

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s Best Score

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

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

0

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

T E X A S

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10/16/17 4:43 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

6«

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:11AM 11:07AM 7:23PM

1.61 ft.

-0.16 ft.

1.85 ft.

1:00 — 3:00 AM

TUESDAY Sunrise: 6:34aSet: 5:29p Moonrise: 8:04pSet: 9:04a AM Minor: 6:42a AM Major: 12:26a PM Minor: 7:12p PM Major: 12:57p Moon Overhead: 2:05a Moon Underfoot: 2:35p

FEET

7

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:08AM 3:27AM 12:00PM 8:34PM

1.53 ft.

1.61 ft.

-0.18 ft.

1.83 ft.

8:30 — 10:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:35aSet: 5:28p Moonrise: 9:03pSet: 10:08a AM Minor: 7:48a AM Major: 1:33a PM Minor: 8:19p PM Major: 2:04p

10

Low Tide: High Tide:

Moon Overhead: 3:05a Moon Underfoot: 3:36p

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

WEDNESDAY

8

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:46AM 3:19AM 12:58PM 9:43PM

1.58 ft.

1.58 ft.

-0.13 ft.

1.79 ft.

9:30 — 11:30 AM

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:36aSet: 5:28p Moonrise: 10:05pSet: 11:08a AM Minor: 8:55a AM Major: 2:40a PM Minor: 9:26p PM Major: 3:11p

9

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

2:03PM 10:44PM

-0.02 ft.

1.73 ft.

Moon Overhead: 4:06a Moon Underfoot: 4:36p

FEET

10:30A — 12:30P

Sunrise: 6:37aSet: 5:27p Moonrise: 11:09pSet: 12:03p AM Minor: 10:00a AM Major: 3:45a PM Minor: 10:29p PM Major: 4:15p

12

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 5:06a Moon Underfoot: 5:35p

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

64

6a

|

9a

12p

N O V E M B E R

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T E X A S

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F I S H

3a

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6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

G A M E ®

10/16/17 4:43 PM

: 1:33a : 2:04p

p : 3:45a : 4:15p

FRIDAY

10

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

3:13PM 11:32PM

0.14 ft.

1.66 ft.

11:30A — 1:30P

SATURDAY Sunrise: 6:38aSet: 5:26p Moonrise: NoneSet: 12:52p AM Minor: 11:00a AM Major: 4:46a PM Minor: 11:27p PM Major: 5:14p

11 » Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 6:03a Moon Underfoot: 6:30p

FEET

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

1.19 ft.

1.22 ft.

0.31 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 PM

Moon Overhead: 6:57a Moon Underfoot: 7:22p

+3.0

3a

6:40AM 9:00AM 4:27PM

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:39aSet: 5:26p Moonrise: 12:11aSet: 1:37p AM Minor: 11:53a AM Major: 5:40a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:07p

PRIME TIME

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a

SUNDAY

12

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:09AM 6:55AM 11:02AM 5:41PM

1.58 ft.

0.99 ft.

1.21 ft.

0.48 ft.

2:00 — 4:00 PM

READING THE GRAPH

Sunrise: 6:39aSet: 5:25p Moonrise: 1:12aSet: 2:17p AM Minor: 12:17a AM Major: 6:29a PM Minor: 12:41p PM Major: 6:54p Moon Overhead: 7:47a Moon Underfoot: 8:12p

FEET

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

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s Best Score

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

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

0

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

T E X A S

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10/16/17 4:43 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

13

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:39AM 7:20AM 12:36PM 6:47PM

1.50 ft.

0.77 ft.

1.26 ft.

0.65 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

TUESDAY Sunrise: 6:40aSet: 5:25p Moonrise: 2:11aSet: 2:54p AM Minor: 1:01a AM Major: 7:13a PM Minor: 1:25p PM Major: 7:37p Moon Overhead: 8:35a Moon Underfoot: 8:58p

FEET

14

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:04AM 7:47AM 1:52PM 7:46PM

1.44 ft.

0.57 ft.

1.34 ft.

0.81 ft.

10:30A — 12:30P

Sunrise: 6:41aSet: 5:24p Moonrise: 3:07aSet: 3:30p AM Minor: 1:43a AM Major: 7:54a PM Minor: 2:05p PM Major: 8:17p

17 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 9:21a Moon Underfoot: 9:44p

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

WEDNESDAY

15

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:25AM 8:15AM 2:57PM 8:38PM

1.39 ft.

0.39 ft.

1.42 ft.

0.96 ft.

11:00A — 1:00P

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:42aSet: 5:24p Moonrise: 4:02aSet: 4:04p AM Minor: 2:22a AM Major: 8:33a PM Minor: 2:45p PM Major: 8:56p Moon Overhead: 10:06a Moon Underfoot: 10:28p

FEET

16

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:44AM 8:43AM 3:53PM 9:24PM

1.37 ft.

0.24 ft.

1.49 ft.

1.09 ft.

11:30A — 1:30P

Sunrise: 6:43aSet: 5:23p Moonrise: 4:57aSet: 4:39p AM Minor: 3:02a AM Major: 9:13a PM Minor: 3:25p PM Major: 9:36p

19 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 10:50a Moon Underfoot: 11:13p

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

66

6a

|

9a

12p

N O V E M B E R

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T E X A S

12a 12a

F I S H

3a

&

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

G A M E ®

10/16/17 4:43 PM

: 7:54a : 8:17p

: 9:13a : 9:36p

FRIDAY

17 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

PRIME TIME 2:01AM 9:11AM 4:43PM 10:04PM

1.36 ft.

0.13 ft.

1.53 ft.

1.19 ft.

4:30 — 6:30 AM

SATURDAY Sunrise: 6:44aSet: 5:23p Moonrise: 5:51aSet: 5:16p AM Minor: 3:44a AM Major: 9:55a PM Minor: 4:06p PM Major: 10:18p Moon Overhead: 11:35a Moon Underfoot: None

FEET

18 l High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

2:16AM 9:40AM 5:31PM 10:39PM

1.36 ft.

0.05 ft.

1.55 ft.

1.26 ft.

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Moon Overhead: 12:21p Moon Underfoot: None

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:44aSet: 5:22p Moonrise: 6:44aSet: 5:54p AM Minor: 4:28a AM Major: 10:40a PM Minor: 4:51p PM Major: 11:03p

PRIME TIME

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a

SUNDAY

19 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

PRIME TIME 2:27AM 10:11AM 6:18PM 11:12PM

1.36 ft.

0.02 ft.

1.55 ft.

1.31 ft.

6:00 — 8:00 AM

READING THE GRAPH

Sunrise: 6:45aSet: 5:22p Moonrise: 7:37aSet: 6:35p AM Minor: 5:15a AM Major: 11:00a PM Minor: 5:39p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:07p Moon Underfoot: 12:44a

FEET

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

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s Best Score

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

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

0

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

T E X A S

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10/16/17 4:43 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

20 «

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:29AM 10:44AM 7:06PM 11:48PM

1.36 ft.

0.01 ft.

1.53 ft.

1.35 ft.

6:30 — 8:30 AM

TUESDAY Sunrise: 6:46aSet: 5:22p Moonrise: 8:29aSet: 7:19p AM Minor: 6:05a AM Major: 11:49a PM Minor: 6:29p PM Major: 12:17p Moon Overhead: 1:55p Moon Underfoot: 1:31a

FEET

21 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

PRIME TIME 2:08AM 11:19AM 7:56PM

1.36 ft.

0.04 ft.

1.51 ft.

7:00 — 9:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:47aSet: 5:21p Moonrise: 9:19aSet: 8:06p AM Minor: 6:57a AM Major: 12:45a PM Minor: 7:21p PM Major: 1:09p

24

Low Tide: High Tide:

Moon Overhead: 2:42p Moon Underfoot: 2:19a

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

WEDNESDAY

22

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:56AM 1:08AM 11:57AM 8:48PM

1.36 ft.

1.36 ft.

0.08 ft.

1.49 ft.

7:30 — 9:30 AM

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:48aSet: 5:21p Moonrise: 10:07aSet: 8:55p AM Minor: 7:50a AM Major: 1:38a PM Minor: 8:14p PM Major: 2:02p

23

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

12:36PM 9:38PM

0.15 ft.

1.47 ft.

Moon Overhead: 3:30p Moon Underfoot: 3:06a

FEET

8:30 — 10:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:49aSet: 5:21p Moonrise: 10:52aSet: 9:46p AM Minor: 8:43a AM Major: 2:31a PM Minor: 9:06p PM Major: 2:54p

26 º Low Tide: High Tide:

Moon Overhead: 4:18p Moon Underfoot: 3:54a

FEET

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FRIDAY

: 12:45a : 1:09p

: 2:31a : 2:54p

24

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

1:20PM 10:21PM

0.22 ft.

1.45 ft.

9:30 — 11:30 AM

SATURDAY Sunrise: 6:49aSet: 5:21p Moonrise: 11:34aSet: 10:39p AM Minor: 9:34a AM Major: 3:23a PM Minor: 9:58p PM Major: 3:46p

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Low Tide: High Tide:

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

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10:30A — 12:30P

Moon Overhead: 5:52p Moon Underfoot: 5:28a

+3.0

3a

0.31 ft.

1.42 ft.

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

2:07PM 10:55PM

Moon Overhead: 5:05p Moon Underfoot: 4:41a

FEET

Sunrise: 6:50aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 12:14pSet: 11:33p AM Minor: 10:25a AM Major: 4:13a PM Minor: 10:48p PM Major: 4:36p

PRIME TIME

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

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SUNDAY

26 º

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

3:00PM 11:23PM

0.41 ft.

1.38 ft.

11:30A — 1:30P

READING THE GRAPH

Sunrise: 6:51aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 12:53pSet: None AM Minor: 11:13a AM Major: 5:01a PM Minor: 11:36p PM Major: 5:24p Moon Overhead: 6:38p Moon Underfoot: 6:15a

FEET

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

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s Best Score

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

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

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

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Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

7:09AM 10:05AM 3:59PM 11:45PM

0.90 ft.

0.94 ft.

0.52 ft.

1.35 ft.

1:00 — 3:00 AM

TUESDAY Sunrise: 6:52aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 1:30pSet: 12:28a AM Minor: 11:59a AM Major: 5:47a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:10p Moon Overhead: 7:25p Moon Underfoot: 7:02a

FEET

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Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:34AM 11:53AM 5:03PM

0.72 ft.

1.01 ft.

0.64 ft.

7:30 — 9:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:53aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 2:07pSet: 1:25a AM Minor: 12:19a AM Major: 6:31a PM Minor: 12:43p PM Major: 6:55p

Dec High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 8:13p Moon Underfoot: 7:49a

FEET

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WEDNESDAY

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High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:05AM 6:45AM 1:13PM 6:08PM

1.32 ft.

0.49 ft.

1.14 ft.

0.77 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

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THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:53aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 2:45pSet: 2:24a AM Minor: 1:02a AM Major: 7:14a PM Minor: 1:27p PM Major: 7:39p Moon Overhead: 9:02p Moon Underfoot: 8:37a

FEET

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High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:23AM 7:13AM 2:21PM 7:12PM

1.30 ft.

0.22 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.91 ft.

9:00 — 11:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:54aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 3:24pSet: 3:25a AM Minor: 1:45a AM Major: 7:58a PM Minor: 2:11p PM Major: 8:24p

3« High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 9:53p Moon Underfoot: 9:27a

FEET

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FRIDAY

Dec 1 High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:43AM 7:49AM 3:23PM 8:12PM

PRIME TIME 1.30 ft.

-0.06 ft.

1.43 ft.

1.04 ft.

9:30 — 11:30 PM

SATURDAY Sunrise: 6:55aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 4:07pSet: 4:28a AM Minor: 2:31a AM Major: 8:44a PM Minor: 2:58p PM Major: 9:12p

2« High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 10:48p Moon Underfoot: 10:20a

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1.33 ft.

-0.31 ft.

1.54 ft.

1.15 ft.

10:30P — 12:30A

Moon Overhead: 11:46p Moon Underfoot: 11:17a

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:56aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 4:55pSet: 5:34a AM Minor: 3:21a AM Major: 9:35a PM Minor: 3:49p PM Major: 10:04p

PRIME TIME

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a

SUNDAY

3«

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:29AM 9:16AM 5:21PM 10:04PM

1.36 ft.

-0.51 ft.

1.60 ft.

1.24 ft

5:00 — 7:00 AM

READING THE GRAPH

Sunrise: 6:57aSet: 5:20p Moonrise: 5:48pSet: 6:42a AM Minor: 4:16a AM Major: 10:31a PM Minor: 4:47p PM Major: 11:02p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:16p

FEET

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

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s Best Score

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

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

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Special SECTION

N

OVEMBER IS THE ULTIMATE MONTH for hunters in Texas.

From the opening of the general gun season to ducks and geese flying into the lower reaches of the Central Flyway to Thanksgiving dinner with family, this is a truly awe-

some month.

Here are some random thoughts on guns, gear and grub from some of our

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writers and a collection of experts in the field.

Hope you enjoy.

Starting Right Young hunters should not be sent into the field with a rifle big enough to kill Cape buffalo. This is a peeve of mine ever since I used to spend time as a teen at a shooting range in Orange and watch hunters (adult and child alike) way over-gunned.

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Special SECTION First of you don’t want to send a 10-year-old out into the field with a .300 Magnum to down their first deer. They probably will not make it past the first shot at the practice range when the blast rattles their eardrums.

A .223, .243 or similar caliber is a much better option. With today’s high quality ammunition you can get something of higher grade than was available when I was kid. It depends on your kid, their size and maturity level. Rifles in these calibers offer minimal recoil and will greatly reduce the chance of your kid flinching and making a bad shot.

Adult-sized guns usually have a pull length of 14-15 inches, which is just too long for most kids. Find a youth model with something a bit shorter.

Take your kid with you to the gun shop when making the selection and make sure it is a good fit. Let them ask questions and handle the rifle. This will let them “buy in.” to the choice.

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Kids who are going to hunt should be given plenty of practice on the gun range.

Also, give the kids plenty of practice time. Take the kids to the gun range, deer lease or wherever you shoot. Children must be confident in their rifle and have zero fear of it. They must also prepare for the kind of shooting you will encounter in the field.

If you use sandbags and a comfy rest at the deer lease, but hunt with shooting sticks and a pop-up blind in the national forest, your chance of success takes a

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nosedive. Have them shoot from the kind of position and gear they will use on the big day.

A well-trained kid will be a confident one.

Marullo on Gear There are many other items that make hunting convenient but do we really need them?

“I, for one, have tons of extra items in my backpack. When I say ‘tons,’ sometimes it feels like it,” said TF&G Hunting Editor Lou Marullo. “I am always amazed at my friends who hunt with me. They do not even have backpacks to carry their stuff. They simply fit what they can in their pockets and head out to the woods.

“A range finder is a must when it comes to bowhunting and a huge plus when it comes to rifle hunting as well,” Marullo said.

“Misjudging distance means the difference between a fast, clean, ethical shot that will put the animal down quickly, or a wounded deer that may or may not expire from his wounds,” he said. “Ethically, you need to follow the blood trail no matter how long it takes. You took the shot; you have to do the work that follows.”

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Special SECTION One of the items he considers a must in his backpack is a ThermaCell.

“For those of you that are not familiar with this item, let me explain. A ThermaCell is a portable device that WILL keep mosquitoes and black flies away from you. For those of us that hunt in locations where these pesky beasts linger, you will agree with me that these small critters can ruin a good hunt quickly.”

Although hunting is generally considered one of the safest sports out there, it does not mean you can just leave caution to the wind according to Marullo.

“More people get injured playing golf than any other sport,” he said. “Something about holding a lightning rod in your hands during a storm gives the previous

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Tree stands are great tools for hunting, but must be used carefully.

statement some legitimacy. I know I just put a smile on your face, but accidents do happen. In the hunting world, they are usually self-inflicted injuries. All the more reason to think about every move you make and be sure that it is a safe one.”

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Commercial tree stands of today come with a free safety harness.

“If you purchase a two-man stand, it comes with two harnesses, Marullo said.

“You, as a safe, ethical hunter, need to use those harnesses every time you hunt from

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Special SECTION an elevated position. That is the problem.

For some reason, some hunters seem to think an accident will never happen to them. After all, they are careful and are veteran hunters. They have been in and out of this particular stand for years now.

What could go wrong? That is exactly when things can and do go wrong. Climbing in and out of your stand is when accidents happen.”

“Think safety first and your deer season will be a memorable one-in a good

way!”

Wild Recipies Goose Enchilada Roll-ups (Ducks Unlimited) Try this super easy recipe for a sure party favorite. Leave out the green chilies if you don’t like your enchiladas spicy.

Ingredients: 4 boneless skinless goose breasts 4 ounces whole green chilies 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack Cheese 4 teaspoons chopped black olives 1 egg 1 cup crushed tortilla chips 1/4-cup vegetable oil 1 envelope enchilada seasoning mix 1/2-cup water 1 (16-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese Directions: Pound the goose breasts on a work surface with a meat mallet to flatten. Spread equal portions of the chilies, Monterey Jack cheese and olives over each goose breast. Roll up and secure with wooden picks.

Beat the egg in a bowl. Dip the roll-ups in the egg and coat in the tortilla chips.

Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the rollups and fry until golden brown on all sides. Remove to a baking dish.

Mix the seasoning mix, water and tomatoes in a saucepan. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pour over the roll-ups.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until the goose is cooked through.

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Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese and bake 5 minutes more.

Dutch Oven Venison Roast (Freevenisonrecipes.com) First get the fire ready. Dig two feet deep and three feet in diameter. Line the hole with a layer of rocks so it is about 18 inches deep. The rocks hold heat from the fire, helping cook the venison.

Build a fire in the pit. Burn a good strong fire for at least two hours to build up a good amount of coals.

While the fire is burning, cut the venison roast into pieces that fit the Dutch oven. Leave room in the Dutch oven for the carrots and onions. Sear the venison to seal in the juices before putting it in the Dutch oven.

Season the venison, add it and the vegetables to the pot. Pour in one cup of strong beef bouillon. Put the lid on the Dutch oven, and partially bury it in the hot coals. Cover the pit with a piece of sheet metal, and then cover the metal with a layer of dirt.

After three hours, carefully remove the sheet metal and take out the pot. The venison will be falling apart tender.

2 T tomato paste 1 cup chopped onion

approximately 3 minutes per side, remove rabbit and set aside.

Add onions, mushrooms, and garlic to the skillet reducing the heat to medium, cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.

Add drained tomatoes, wine, and tomato paste, bring to a boil.

Add rabbit, and tuck into the sauce.

Instructions: Dust rabbit with flour enough to coat, season with salt and pepper.

In skillet, heat olive oil over mediumhigh heat. Add rabbit and cook for

Rabbit Cacciatore (Missouri Dept. of Conservation) Ingredients: 1 whole rabbit, cut into pieces 1 package sliced button mushrooms 14 oz. can diced Italian-seasoned tomatoes (drained) 12 oz. cooked pasta (rotini or fettuccini) 3 T flour 2 tsp chopped garlic ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 2 T olive oil T E X A S

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Cook mixture on medium-low heat partially covered for approximately 8 minutes, until the meat is tender.

Perfectly Roasted Turkey (National Wild Turkey Federation) Get the perfect roasted turkey in five simple steps!

Place the turkey breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Do not add water. Before placing the turkey in the oven, you may want to brush it with cooking oil, melted butter or margarine, although it’s not necessary. (Check out the Roasted Turkey recipe below) Cover the turkey with a loose tent of heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent over browning, allow for maximum heat circulation and keep the turkey moist. To make a tent, tear off a sheet of foil 5 to 10 inches longer than the turkey. Crease the foil crosswise through the center and place over the turkey, crimping loosely onto the sides of the pan to hold it in place.

Roast according to the following chart.

To brown the turkey, remove the foil tent 20 to 30 minutes before roasting is finished, and continue cooking until the meat thermometer reaches 185 F. FYI: Basting usually is not necessary during roasting, since it cannot penetrate the turkey’s skin. Also, frequently opening the oven door prolongs cooking time.

FYI: When using a meat thermometer, insert it through the foil into the thickest part of the thigh muscle without touching bone. The inner thigh is the area that heats the slowest. For other parts of the turkey, insert the thermometer in the thickest area.

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10/9/17 5:44 AM

Texas BOATING

by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

Can You Hear Me Now?

U

SING YOUR VHF RADIO THE right way is important for smooth communications—and it could save your life.

A VHF radio is one of the most basic but important safety items aboard your boat. But, when’s the last time you checked its performance?

Do you even know the proper way to do so? Just how savvy are you when it comes to the different channels that your radio has, and which is for what? The answers to these questions are important—in fact, your life could depend upon them. Yet few boaters take the time and effort to ensure that their VHF communications will go smoothly in an emergency.

The first piece to this puzzle is making sure your radio is DSC active. All VHF radios produced in the past decade have DSC ability, but you need to activate it.

When you press the DSC “panic button” on the VHF, the radio will automatically transmit your vessel’s information along with your exact latitude and longitude to the Coast Guard.

Since DSC is digitally processed and uses narrow receiver bandwidth, it also boosts range over normal voice communications.

So, have you made your radio DSC active?—probably not.

The USCG reports that the vast majority of boaters out there haven’t taken the few simple steps to do so. Here it is, in a nutshell: • If your radio doesn’t have a built-in GPS, interface your radio with your chart plotter.

This requires no more than connecting a pair of plotter line-out wires with a pair of VHF line-in wires The color-coding differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, but a quick Google search will make identifying these

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boat needs help—but don’t broadcast on them unless there’s an emergency.

Channels 68, 69, 71, 72, and 78A are considered non-commercial channels, and in most areas, 68 and 72 are commonly used by the recreational boating community. All of these channels are just fine for speaking with a buddy, although as a general rule of thumb VHF communications should be kept to a minimum.

Only one person can talk at a time, and dominating a channel to gab is considered poor form. When chatting with a friend who’s boat is close by (within a mile or two) you can mitigate this issue by switching over to low power.

Both fixed-mount and handheld VHFs have low power settings (commonly one watt, versus 25) which limit the range of your broadcast, also limiting the number of other boaters you may be “stepping on” (blocking from speaking) while you transmit.

Sometimes, you’ll try to use your radio to no avail. Problems with antennas, radio hardware, and wiring are rather common. To make sure everything is working properly you should

wires a no-brainer.

• Register your vessel with BoatUS and get an MMSI number. This is free, and takes a matter of minutes. Just go to boatus.com/mmsi/.

• Plug the MMSI number you get from BoatUS into your VHF. That’s it.

Follow this process, and in an hour or two, your radio will be DSC active. Now, you just need to know how to use it properly.

The first and most important rule is to respect the channel designations. Channel 16 is reserved for distress calls and contacting the Coast Guard in an emergency, period.

Channel 13 is used by commercial ships, tugs, and the like for bridge-to-bridge communications, and is heavily trafficked.

Generally speaking, recreational boaters should completely avoid using it unless there’s a need to hail a commercial ship nearby.

Channel 22A is used for safety broadcasts and Coast Guard communications (after hailing the USCG on channel 16, you’ll usually be asked to switch to 22A).

It’s fine to monitor these channels—in fact, you should always monitor 16 in case a nearby

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Texas BOATING do regular radio checks, but do them on a recreational communications channel.

Simply call requesting a radio check from any vessel, and wait for a reply. It’s helpful to give your location and ask for the location of anyone responding, so you’ll have some idea of the range your check is effective to.

You can also call for an automated radio check in some areas. On the Texas coast Sea Tow provides automated checks in Kemah, Galveston, Port Aransas, and Corpus Christi.

Simply ask for a radio check on channels 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, or 84 in these areas. The automated service will play back a recording of your transmission so you know how clear you sound is while speaking over the airwaves.

Another important thing to remember is that everyone within miles and miles can hear everything you say on the radio. You might find foul language and rude comments the norm, but it’s easy to offend a large number of people on the VHF. This isn’t merely a matter of political cor-

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rectness, but is more a matter of common courtesy. As a parent, hearing a flurry of inappropriate language while your five-year-old child is sitting next to you can be rather unsettling.

In the case of an emergency, your language should take on a very specific structure. The word “mayday” used to precede emergency communications, is reserved for life-threatening situations only. It should be repeated three times prior to stating your predicament.

The word “pan-pan” is the appropriate one to use when you’re in a situation that isn’t life threatening at the moment, but could become life threatening.

After using the appropriate call word you should always state your vessel’s name, your latitude and longitude as read off the GPS or chart plotter, and the nature of your emergency. Speak slowly and clearly, and wait for a response from the Coast Guard.

Once they know the exact situation and location, be ready for some follow-up questions. They’re likely to ask about things like

who’s onboard, their sex and age(s), and if everyone is in good health. This gives them some background information if a rescue operation commences. If you don’t get an answer from the Coast Guard, continue making the call. The authorities might hear you even if you can’t hear them, and if not, a nearby pleasure boater might be listening.

The bottom line? Familiarize yourself with operating your VHF, check to make sure it’s operating properly, and use it courteously and judiciously. Doing so not only makes a day of boating more pleasant for everyone on the water, it also makes it safer.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com

10/9/17 1:27 PM

The Practical ANGLER

by GREG BERLOCHER | TF&G Contributing Editor

W

HEN I HAVE HAD THE occasion to make new friends at tournaments, speaking engagements and fishing shows, people have asked me one question more than any other: Do you prefer to fish an incoming or outgoing tide?

Many anglers are intrigued, or down right baffled, by tides. As such, many casual anglers rely on fishing “lucky spots,” not really understanding why the spot has paid dividends in the past. Understanding a few basics about tidal movements will improve your chances of catching fish on your next outing.

Large bodies of water are affected by the gravitational pull of the moon. Think of the earth as a perfectly round water balloon. If you hold the water balloon where it is tied, the balloon stretches out into an elliptical shape and is no longer round. This is a crude illustration of how the moon’s gravity affects the water in our oceans.

There is a bulge of water directly underneath the moon and a matching bulge on the opposite side of the Earth. As the moon orbits the Earth, the twin bulges rotate around the globe, 12 hours apart. As the bulge draws near, the tide rises and, after the bulge passes, the tide falls.

The moon orbits around the Earth once every twenty-five hours. This means that the highs and lows happen one hour later each day.

If you live on the ocean, that’s all you need to remember. You have two high tides and two low tides per day.

Easy right? It is unless you fish one of Texas’s seven bay systems.

The Gulf of Mexico is essentially a closed lagoon with only two ways in or out—the Yucatan Channel and the Straits of Florida.

Depending on your location around the Gulf, incoming water sometimes collides with out-

“ Keep in mind that schools of redfish and trout aren’t sedentary and will roam up and down a drop-off.

“

Which Tide is Best?

perch, croakers, mullet and other small baitfish, are not strong enough to fight a pumping tide and are swept along wherever the moving water takes them. Predators, on the other hand, are strong enough to navigate a determined tide. They take advantage of the baitfish’s limited mobility, picking them off as they are swept by.

I seldom get to pick the tides I fish any more, but given a choice, I would opt for a falling tide. Rising tides flood shallow flats, providing spotted predators a few precious inches of extra water to slither back into marsh lakes and other skinny water feeding ground. Although this is good, I prefer a retreating tide.

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Shallow flats, especially grass flats, are nursery grounds for immature baitfish. A hard falling tide will pull a good chunk of the biomass off of the flat and unceremoniously dump it in deeper water adjacent to the flat. Be there at the right time, and you will find plenty of cooperative fish.

November is my favorite month of the year to fish falling tides. The first hard cold fronts of the year visit during November, draining water from our bays and leaving shallow flats high and dry. The resident bait population is swept over ledges and drop-offs, creating a massive feeding frenzy. I like to wade-fish along sharp drop-offs, exploring different depths between knee- and belly button-deep.

Wading is the preferred method because you can ease along slowly. Watch for slicks and adjust your depth quickly when one pops up.

Cast a few casual glances over your shoulder now and then to make sure there aren’t any slicks popping up behind you.

When you come across a gut or drain exiting the flat, stop and probe the area thoroughly. A gut draining the water off of a flat is a saltwater river. Fish will stack up where the retreating water empties into the depths.

Keep in mind that schools of redfish and trout aren’t sedentary and will roam up and down a drop-off. If you catch fish at the mouth of the drain, stay put. Give it time, and the fish will keep cycling through. They know where the groceries are and won’t go too far.

Saltwater drains are also a great place to pick up a few flounders. Flatfish will lie on the edges of a gut and ambush small baitfish being swept along. Cast up into the drain and allow your natural or artificial offering to tumble back with the current.

November is a prime month for coastal fishing, especially on a falling tide. If you are an avid deer hunter, you have probably missed this fantastic opportunity. I will be happy to trade you some fillets for deer sausage.

going water and the currents neutralize themselves. In short, the water level doesn’t go up or down.

Technically, there was a tide change, but because the water level stays the same, it appears that there was no tide. On the Texas coast, we have two weeks of four tides per day and two weeks of two tides per day.

All of this is mapped out in tide charts and a quick online search reveals what the tides will be doing before you head to the coast. Rising and falling tides are important because moving water triggers fish to feed.

Baitfish don’t have homes. Shrimp, pin

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10/7/17 7:13 PM

Texas GUNS

by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

The 6.5mm Lone Wolf

He sent it off to another gunsmith to bush the firing pin hole. The problem was not caused by the gunsmith who built the gun, but was an error in quality control by Remington. Finally it was ready to go.

Todd started working up loads, and I was amazed at the velocities he was getting from it. Working up carefully and measuring case head expansion with a micrometer, to make certain pressures were not too high, he managed to get velocities that exceeded those listed in the Nosler and Hornady books for the .264 Winchester Magnum.

This was without hot-rodding the cartridge at all. I will not list the loads tested because they

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IKE MOST AMERICAN SHOOTers, I hadn’t had much to do with any of the .264 (6.5mm) calibers, until recently.

The only 6.5mm I had much experience with was the little 6.5 Swedish Mauser, a fine little deer cartridge, which the Swedes use on their native elg, the same as our moose.

Then I bought my granddaughter, Tristin, a 6.5 Creedmoor for her to use on a West Texas cow elk hunt. I worked up the loads for the hunt using her rifle and fell in love with the little Creedmoor cartridge.

After the elk hunt, I started looking around for a 6.5 Creedmoor for myself and finally found one I liked. It was a Ruger Hawkeye in stainless steel with a laminated stock. I wrote about it in this column not long ago.

I kept working with the Creedmoor and the more I played with it, the more I liked it.

Then a friend, Todd Tate, caught the 6.5 bug and started a project to have a custom rifle built. Instead of building it in 6.5 Creedmoor, he decided to go me one better and have his built around the 6.5/280 Remington Ackley Improved (Say that three times fast). We got really tired of saying “six point five—twoeighty Remington—Ackley Improved,” so to make it easier to talk about we named it the 6.5 Lone Wolf, or just the Lone Wolf.

It took him some time to get all the parts together, decide on what barrel he wanted, and find a gunsmith that he trusted to do the job. Then we both sat around and chewed our fingernails off to our elbows waiting for it to be finished and shipped to him. Then when he received the gun and had fired it, he found out that the bolt on the Remington 700 action had a firing pin hole that was much too large, causing the primer to flow back and make a huge crater, precluding any thing near maximum loads—a dangerous situation. |

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The 6.5mms are for the first time gaining a wide acceptance in American shooting circles.

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may not be safe in other guns, but not only was pressure moderate and velocity outstanding, but accuracy was equally good, averaging far less than an inch, even before barrel break-in was completed.

Because .264-inch bullets have very high ballistic coefficients, this little jewel is one of the flattest shooting, hardest hitting rifles I have ever seen. This should be one of the finest whitetail/mule deer/antelope/sheep rifles it is possible to make without going to one of the barrel burning, hard kicking, super magnums, and I doubt that even one of those would better it by enough to be worth the effort. |

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I have shot aoudads and whitetails with my 6.5 Creedmoor, and every one was a one-shot kill; and the Lone Wolf is to the Creedmoor what a Shelby Mustang is to a Ford Pinto.

Using the normal criterion of 1,000 ft lbs of energy at the target for a deer rifle, this gun would qualify at up to 1,000 yards, and none of us should ever shoot at a deer at that range.

The .270 Winchester with a 130-grain bullet at 3,100 fps is a very fine long-range deer cartridge. The Lone Wolf will better that velocity by 200 fps, with a bullet of equivalent weight and better ballistic coefficient.

It is well known among the cognoscenti that the Ackley Improved series of cartridges offers some amazing ballistic possibilities.

By changing the angle of the shoulder and straightening out the sides of the case, it is possible to increase almost any standard cartridge’s velocity potential by 10 percent, and sometimes more than that. The reason is, I think, that the thrust on the bolt is lessened and the pressure is taken by the stronger walls of the chamber. This allows chamber pressure to be increased, which, added to the greater powder capacity (usually between five and 10 percent more, depending on the size of the case), allows velocities to be greatly increased.

The 6.5mms are for the first time gaining a wide acceptance in American shooting circles.

They have been popular for decades in Europe, especially in the Scandinavian countries, but have never been popular on this side of the pond.

It seems that their wonderful ballistic properties are finally being realized, and we should look for more 6.5mm cartridges to hit the shelves in the near future. As for the Lone Wolf, I’ll try to keep you up to date as we learn more of its capabilities.

Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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10/7/17 7:14 PM

Open SEASON

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

Use Enough Gun

They disappeared into the grass, and with BB guns at the ready we began our Phantom Stalk. The first bird that came up almost hit me in the face and I swatted at it with my air gun.

Cousin fired a shot and then I tried leading the little rooster with the same dismal results.

“They’re fast!” I cocked my gun.

“I wish we could see them sitting on the ground. I’d hit one then.”

A squirrel scampered up a bois d’arc tree and chattered at us from a low limb. Cousin aimed and adjusting his elevation for the BB drop, pulled the trigger. The BB bounced off the squirrel’s head.

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F WE WEREN’T HUNTING QUAIL with Uncle in November, Cousin and I were out with our BB guns. It was just such a day when we finished breakfast in Grandma’s kitchen and picked up our Daisy airguns.

“Where are y’all going?”

Thus began the rote.

“Gonna go shoot our guns.”

“Where?”

“Up at the barn probably.”

“Well, y’all stay in our pasture.”

“Okay.”

“And be careful around that pool.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t get on the highway.”

“Can we hunt down by the slough?”

Two pastures over.

“Well, okay, but don’t fall in.”

Cousin pointed across the highway at Granddad’s two acres on the other side. “I want to hunt over there, too.”

“Well, I guess that’s all right. Look both ways before you cross the road. Why do y’all want to go over there?”

“There’s quail, and we might want to hunt down on Center Springs Branch.”

She looked to the south. “You know, Indians used to camp on that branch.”

“We’re gonna look for arrowheads while we’re there.”

“Well, don’t fall in.”

“It ain’t but ankle deep.”

“You’ll get your shoes wet.”

With permission to roam at will, Cousin and I stepped off the porch and crossed the fence into the only pasture we hadn’t mentioned, because a covey of quail flushed from behind the house and scattered over there. |

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I shot and missed, throwing up sand in front of him.

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That squirrel puffed up like a coon and cut loose with a sound like I’d never heard. “I think you made it mad.”

The squirrel charged out on the limb, chattering and fluffing its tail, making it look the size of a beaver. It chattered and chuffed, eyes blazing that we’d dared to hit it with a BB. Cousin retreated a couple of feet and cocked his gun. “I think it’s coming after us.”

“Don’t run. If you run from a mad dog, it’ll chase you.”

“It ain’t no dog.”

“It’s big as one. Be still!”

Cousin shot again, this time bouncing the BB off the squirrel’s chest. The boar squirrel charged even farther out on the limb, gaining a couple more feet on us. Cousin turned to run.

“Don’t! That thing’s gonna catch us if we |

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run.”

“I ain’t gonna stand here and be et by no squirrel!”

“You’re the one keeps shooting him. Ain’t no BB gonna kill a squirrel.”

“A pellet gun will.”

I gaped at him. “Well that ain’t no pellet gun. Look out, here he comes!”

The squirrel leaped off the limb and charged, all the time chattering.

I shot and missed, throwing up sand in front of him. Cousin shot to the side. Neither round turned the infuriated rodent. Tail high and flickering, it continued toward us and time slowed as it will when ten-year-olds are in danger.

Those yellow front teeth rivaled a wild boar’s tusks, and the fight or flight response took control. Fighting hadn’t worked.

We turned and ran, screaming in terror with the little beast right on our heels. We fled across the highway without looking either way The squirrel did the same, but with less success.

A car flattened it like a pancake.

“See, a BB gun will kill a squirrel!”

I thought about knocking him in the head, but it seemed like too much trouble. Anyway, we had a lot more adventuring to do before dinnertime.

Back then kids could adventure all they wanted without adult intervention.

We learned things—like never shoot a big boar squirrel with an underpowered BB gun.

Applying that lesson in life, in varying situations, got me through.

Turn your kids loose in the outdoors and let them learn something.

Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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SPECKLED TROUT Corpus Christi Five-year-old Evan Anderson holds the 31-inch trout he caught recently in Corpus Christi Bay.

BLACK DRUM Texas Coast Thirteen-year-old Walter Jenke, left, caught and released this oversized black drum while fishing during Spring Break.

BLACK DRUM Tiki Island Fifteen-year-old Jack Kueser would rather fish than learn to drive, as this 40-pound black drum shows, caught at Tiki Island.

SPECKLED TROUT West Matagorda Bay Blake Wolf with his first trout, caught while wadefishing West Matagorda Bay.

SPECKLED TROUT Trinity Bay Elijah Schmadl of Baytown pulled his personal best fish out of Trinity Bay, a 24.5-inch speckled trout.

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10/9/17 6:17 AM

SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

Also Enter our PHOTO CONTEST: FishGame.com/ texas-hotsots-upload

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

SPECKLED TROUT West Galveston Bay Eight-year-old Jackson Ray caught his first keeper, a twenty-inch speckled trout, while fishing in a canal off West Galveston Bay. He caught the speck on a shrimp and popping cork. Jackson had been trying for two years before landing this keeper.

JACK CREVALLE Texas City Tony Bright caught a jack crevalle while wade fishing Texas City Dike. The fish was caught using live shrimp and took 30 minutes to land.

BASS

GAFFTOP

Sam Rayburn

Galveston FUTURE ANGLER Santa Fe Bailey Jolene Gilstrap, of Santa Fe is an angler in training.

Russell Polk of Allen shows off one of the many gafftopsail catfish that he and his family caught near the North Jetty in Galveston.

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Eight-year-old Elyssa Edmonds caught her first bass while evacuating from her home in Kirbyville during Hurricane Harvey. She caught the fish all by herself.

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