April 2013

Digital Edition

www.FishGame.com The Things That

BUG US

APRIL 2013 | VOL. XXIX • NO. 12 | $3.95

Lake Fork

WHITE BASS BOOM JOE DOGGETT

Wades the Wilderness

HATING ON

Wild Turkeys

DOUBLE

DOWN Upping the Odds with Tandem Rigs

THE RISE AND FALL OF

Possum Kingdom

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Digital Edition

www.FishGame.com The Things That

BUG US

APRIL 2013 | VOL. XXIX • NO. 12 | $3.95

Lake Fork’s WHITE BASS

BOOM DOUBLE DOWN WITH

JOE DOGGETT

THE RISE AND FALL OF

HATING ON

Tandem Rigs

Possum Kingdom

Wades the Wilderness Wild Turkeys inland cover

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www.FishGame.com Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. Texas Fish & Game is the largest independent, family-owned outdoor publication in America.

Owned by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & Ardia Neves.

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Chester moore Executive EDITOR

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

Joe Doggett Doug Pike Ted Nugent Bob Hood Matt Williams Calixto Gonzales Lenny Rudow Steve LaMascus Lou Marullo Kendal Hemphill Reavis Wortham Greg Berlocher Paul Bradshaw Capt. Mike Holmes Dustin Ellermann Lisa Moore John Gisel

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CONTENTS FEATURES

APRIL 2013 • Volume XXIX • NO. 12

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white bass explosion Despite the fact that they are not native to the lake—and have never been stocked there by TPWD—white bass are now booming on Lake Fork.

on the coastal cover: Dane Villadsen is all smiles after catching this big redfish.

Photo by Chester Moore

by Matt Williams

double down Multiple-lure rigs are all the rage these days, and while bass anglers are enamored with huge umbrella contraptions, the more modest tandem rigs are catching fish on the coast with an impressive elegance.

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by Calixto Gonzales inland/north cover:

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I really hate turkeys Okay, maybe “hate” is a bit harsh.

But this peanut-brained gamebird can be maddeningly frustrating in the ways it consistently makes even seasoned hunters feel like morons in the woods.

by Paul Bradshaw

The best way to truly experience the magnitude and vitality of Alaska sport fishing is by flying out and hiking in... an adventure that requires two things: money and physical stamina.

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The Rise & Fall of a Kingdom

In its 72-year history, Possum Kingdom Lake has experienced more than its share of ups and downs.

Story by Bob Hood

STORY:

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by Joe Doggett A P R I L

ALSO IN april:

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Wading the wilderness

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Fishing guide Cathy Wheatley hoists a healthy Lake Fork white bass. Check out the story, described above left.

Photo by Matt Williams

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CONTENTS COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

APRIL 2013 • Volume XXIX • NO. 12

COLUMNS

DEPARTMENTS

8 letters 12 TF&G Report 12 big bags &

Editor’s Notes 10

Return of the

Night Gollum

by DON ZAIDLE TF&G Editor-in-Chief

t

catches

Chester’s Notes 14 Wildlife

Hunt Texas 31 Faking

It

defense

by CHESTER MOORE TF&G Executive Editor

by bob hood TF&G Hunting Editor

Doggett at Large 16 Breaching

Texas Bow Hunting 39

Hunt Like a

40 True green

by JOE DOGGETT TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

by Lou Marullo TF&G Bow Hunting Editor

Pike on the Edge 18

The Eleven Day

Texas Freshwater 43

A Crash Course in Bass

by Doug Pike TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

by matt Williams TF&G Freshwater Editor

Surprises

Security

Season

Everywhere

by Ted nugent TF&G Editor At Large

by Calixto Gonzales TF&G Saltwater Editor

Commentary 21

Just the

Open Season 56 Knotheads

by Kendal Hemphill TF&G Politcal Commentator

by reavis wortham TF&G Humor Editor

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Spawn Behavior

Creatures

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TexasWild Saltwater 20 51 Texas

Beware Science-Defying For Moms and Dads

Facts

36 texas dept. of

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Letters to the Editor plaguing our society would continue.

We must commence the treatment of our national sickness by re-establishing our morality and our sense of ethics concerning our daily lives.

The treatment must not be mandated by government, but to succeed, must originate with the citizens of our nation.

Pray that it commences soon.

John Knoerzer Via email

Memorable Cobia Catch I caught this 40-inch cobia at Bob Hall pier in Corpus Christi (left photo above) using finger mullet as bait. The cobia was pulled out from underneath a giant 10-foot manta ray (right photo), which was swimming around the pier.

Only a handful of cobia are caught each year at the pier and it took me 18 years to get one!

Louis Garcia Corpus Christi

Lost Dogs, Lost Loves I am writing about Winchester, our Chocolate Lab. Winchester, Mama misses you.

The loss of a family member is a terrible thing, which we all know. I was taught at a young age that the day you were born, is the day you start dying. The loss I’m talking about is my wife’s Labrador she raised from a pup, which was given to her by a close friend.

Winchester, my wife’s chocolate Lab, was not killed, but rather came up missing during deer season, which we found out he was taken home by hunters, whom had a son that liked playing with him. It cost my wife a 4-hour round trip, the $50 she gave them for “finding” him, as well as Christmas gifts 8 |

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she bought their sons, to get her dog back.

To me, I may be wrong in feeling this way, but in my eyes, he was stolen. Now, we do not chain our dogs up. All us neighbors out here in the country know each other’s dogs, which play and hunt together. But, to have hunters come from out-of-town and take an animal loved and raised by a loving owner, just because their kids like playing with it, is a wrong message being sent to their kids.

But, that’s the way it is nowadays: no one tells their kids “no.” That is stealing in my eyes. Winchester came up missing again during deer season after we got him home. Could he have ended up with the same hunters? My wife put flyers out, but no word since.

If you notice your neighbor recently has a new addition to their family (full grown, neutered, chocolate Lab), please tell them to give him back.

“Smitty” Jewett TX

Treat the Disease, Not the Symptoms Kendal Hemphill’s Commentary appearing in the February issue hit squarely in the 10 ring!

If all guns were removed from our society (a most troubling thought) the sickness F i s h

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Bodyguard of Lies Kendal Hemphill’s “Bodyguard of Lies in the March issue is the best article I have read yet about “gun control.” I made copies to pass out to friends and family. These hypocrites will protect themselves, but would disarm us little people.

Keep up the good work.

David Florence Grapevine, TX I read Kendal Hemphill’s column in the March issue of TF&G magazine. I’d like to send “Bodyguard of Lies” to a couple of liberal democrats I know. Is it available anywhere online, where I can send them a link?

Thanks for this article and setting some facts straight Mike Murphy Via email Visit fishgame.com/displayissue.php and select the March 2013 issue to read this or any other article from past Texas Fish & Game issues.

—Don Zaidle, editor-in-chief

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

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Editor’s Notes

by Don Zaidle | TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Return of the Night Gollum Back in April 2003, we published my expose on an esoteric Texas insect fauna.

In response to recent renewed interest and numerous requests, I decided to republish said scientific article in this issue. I therefore re-present, The Texas Night Gollum:

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ost outdoorsmen pay close attention to the habits and habitats of the fish and animals they pursue, but know little about less visible non-game fauna. That is a shame, because some of the most interesting creatures are all but invisible unless you know where and when to look for them—and their behavior is fascinating to observe. One such creature is the Texas Night Gollum.

The night gollum, as the name implies, is a nocturnal ankospod of the Pseudomagnus genus, texanus species. Pseudomagnus texanus occurs throughout the Southwest, but is most prominent in Texas.

The gollum is similar to the arthropods in that it has an exoskeleton. However, unlike arthropods, the gollum’s legs are not jointed, but move in a manner reminiscent of a snake by means of fluids pumped through an intricate arrangement of channels and valves.

The end of each leg sports a hard fibrous hook used when feeding.

The gollum is also similar to the Triatoma subfamily in that it feeds only on the blood of vertebrates, including man. It is among the largest Pseudomagnus in the world, measuring up to 8 inches long with widely spaced 6-inch legs.

The night gollum begins life on a unicorn plant, Proboscidea louisianica, as a drupaceous capsule, from which it emerges after incubation as a fully developed adult. It

begins to search for a blood host immediately after hatching, which always occurs at night.

Hosts include cattle and humans, and occasionally dogs with thick wooly coats. (Due to the gollum’s size and wide leg spacing, it usually cannot attach directly to smaller hosts such as canids and felids.)

Once the gollum locates a host, it attaches to the ankle or lower leg and inserts two fang-like stylets through the skin to begin its blood meal. (The common name “gollum” derives from old-timers describing the behavior as “golluming” onto the host’s leg.) The host is rarely aware of the feeding due to the swiftness with which the stylets penetrate.

In fact, gollums are the fastest of their kind, moving with great swiftness unmatched by any insect. Speed combined with shyness,

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natural camouflage, and nocturnal behavior means few people have seen a live gollum, although many have no doubt picked up and wondered at the exoskeleton of a dead one.

Observing gollums in their natural environment is difficult, and photographing them almost impossible. Ergo, I am most proud of this photo—the only one in the world, so far as I know.

So, the next time you are walking back from your blind after sundown and feel something “gollum” onto your ankle, look down quickly and you just might get a glimpse of the elusive Texas Night Gollum.

Contact Don Zaidle at DZaidle@fishgame.com Photo: Don Zaidle

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The TF&G Report Texas Bill Would Block Gun Laws Under a measure advancing in the Texas Capitol, local police officers could be convicted of a crime for enforcing any new federal gun control laws.

Rep. Steve Toth, a newly elected Republican from the Woodlands, said his proposal would prevent officers from carrying out any future federal orders to confiscate assault rifles and ammunition magazines.

“There’s a federal law, there’s a 30-round magazine right in front of you – what do I do?” Toth said in an interview. The mea-

sure known as the Firearm Protection Act “answers that question in spades,” he said.

It moved Tuesday to the House Committee on Federalism.

President Barack Obama has proposed federal laws banning such weapons, but no such laws currently exist.

Toth’s proposal would create a Class A misdemeanor for police officers enforcing any new federal gun regulations. It also would establish cause for the state attorney general to sue anyone who seeks to enforce new federal gun regulations. It is one of several states-rights measures being offered by conservative state lawmakers nationwide in response to federal gun control proposals.

TPWD Considers Options in Fed-Shortened Snapper Season The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission received a briefing from staff on the state’s red snapper fishery as well as recent action by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council that is likely to shorten this year’s recreational fishing season in federal waters.

“We continue to be very concerned over the possibility of a greatly shortened red snapper season in federal waters off the

b i g b a g s& c a t c h e s

Record catfish Lake Tawakoni

MouNtain Lion West Texas Ralph Robin killed this mountain lion while night-hunting with friends in West Texas. It is the first one he had ever seen in the wild. He shot the lion at 200 yards with a .308.

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Danny Miles caught a pending lake record blue catfish at Lake Tawakoni on rod and reel. With a certified weight of 82 pounds, it measured 51 inches long and 28 inches in girth. The current Tawakoni record is 73 pounds, caught in January of 2010. Miles’ father, the late Daniel Miles, was a seasoned catfisherman and Miles’ grandson, Cody, 9, has 2 Junior Lake records on lakes Ray Hubbard & Ray Roberts.

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Texas coast,” Commission chairman T. Dan Friedkin of Houston said.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted on Feb. 8 to implement an emergency rule that could shorten the recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters off the Texas coast to as few as 11 days from the planned 27-day season. In contrast, the department allows snapper fishing in state waters 365 days a year.

The rule would authorize the National Marine Fisheries Service to shorten the red snapper season in the federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters off Texas.

The EEZ begins nine nautical miles from the state’s coast and extends 200 nautical miles.

“While the proposed shortened season would have no apparent conservation benefit, it would definitely have an economic impact,” said TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith. “We estimate that a 27-day season would generate at least $28 million from recreational fishermen, while an 11-day season would cut that figure by at least $17 million in lost retail sales.”

The bag limit for red snapper in state waters is four fish longer than 15 inches with the season running year-round. In federal waters, the limit is two fish measuring more than 16 inches with season length varying.

“Not just guns, but you see we’ve had a certain amount of violence and things in schools…” Christian replied.

“I’m not asking you about that. I’m asking you about the subject matter of his paper and why you took issue with it,” the mother said.

“The problem was not the subject matter…” the teacher said.

“You just told me it was the subject matter,” the mother said.

The family demanded an apology.

The Denton Independent School District said in a statement, “The teacher has accepted the paper and apologized to the student for misperceptions. The teacher’s intent was for guns not to be trivialized in any school situation because of recent events.”

Link: www.myfoxdfw.com/ story/21291400/teacher-refused-to-gradereport-on-guns-mom-says

Texas Teacher Refuses to Grade Reports on Guns

According to a report by Dallas-Fort Worth TV station KDFW, a Denton teacher allegedly refused to grade two student reports because they were about guns.

Marshall Williams said he and his classmates were told by Mr. Dewey Christian at Denton High School to write a report on anything that they were interested in using different types of sentence structures. He chose to write about the Fort Worth gun show. His English teacher told him he would get a zero on the assignment because of the topic.

Williams’ mom confronted the teacher.

She asked him if he had outlined any criteria for the topic and posted a video of his response on YouTube.

“So because it had guns in it you refused to grade it?” Kimberly Williams asked.

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Chester’s Wild Life

by Chester Moore | TF&G Executive Editor

Wildlife Surprises ost Texas animal encounters are sort of ho-hum.

Whitetail deer, raccoons, opossums and songbirds are the most frequently seen creatures that thrive in our woodlands, prairies and marshes. For most wildlife enthusiasts, seeing them is commonplace.

Unless a buck has a big rack, the coon is an albino or the bird is an endangered species, their sightings are rarely celebrated.

There are however some really strange creatures that are a real surprise to those who encounter them.

Take the eastern mole for example.

These burrowing mammals have tiny eyes but they cannot see and spend almost all of their time underground.

According to the Mammals of Texas, “…moles feed largely on earthworms and grubs, although beetles, spiders, centipedes, insect larvae and pupae, and vegetable matter may also be eaten. In captivity, they have consumed mice, small birds, and ground beef.

“The average daily food consumption is about 32 percent of the body weight of the animal, although a mole can consume more than 66 percent of its body weight in 18 hours. Active prey is killed by crushing it against the sides of the burrow with the front feet or by piling loose earth on the victim and biting it while thus held. Captive moles kill earthworms by biting them rapidly in several places, often nearly cutting the worm in two.”

The saliva of males contains a type of toxin that paralyzes worms and insects. And if that is not weird enough, they can move as quickly backwards as they can forwards.

If the mole isn’t odd enough for you than let me introduce you to the shrew.

These mouse-sized insectivores are argu-

ably the most voracious predators on the planet and East Texas has two varieties: the southern short-tailed shrew and the least shrew.

According to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, shrews have an extremely high metabolic rate. This rapid conversion of food to energy requires that these animals consume up to their own body weight in food every day.

“The highly social and gregarious least shrew often cooperates in building burrows or nests, which are sometimes shared with other least shrews during the nesting and wintering seasons. The species uses the runways and burrows of moles, voles and other small mammals but will make its own runways in soft, loose soil. Tunnels under the snow provide protection from wind and intense cold, allowing least shrews to remain active all winter.

Least shrews rely mainly on their senses of touch and smell. Sight and hearing are not well developed.”

They also said the least shrew only lives a short time, usually a little over a year.

“After being born in the summer, shrews overwinter as juveniles, breed the following spring, raise 2 to 3 litters of young, and then die.”

Although you would not file it as a strange creature, the fact grizzly bears once roamed Texas is definitely surprising.

Only two specimens of grizzly bears are available from Texas. According to Vernon Bailey, who wrote of this bear in his Biological Survey of Texas, a large and very old male grizzly was killed in the Davis Mountains in October, 1890 by C. O. Finley and John Z. Means.

“Mr. Finley reported that the claws on the front feet were about 31/2 inches long, and the color of the bear was brown with gray tips to the hairs. Its weight was estimated at 1,100 pounds “if it had been fat.”

“Mr. Finley found that this bear had killed a cow and eaten most of it in a gulch near the head of Limpia Creek, where the dogs took the trail. Out of a pack of 52 hounds, only a few would follow the trail,

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although most of them were used to hunting black bear. These few followed rather reluctantly, and after a run of about four miles over rough country stopped the bear, which killed one of them before it was quieted by the rifles of Finley and Means. It took four men to put the skin, with head and feet attached, upon a horse for the return to camp.”

The book also details that a Walter Dalquest reported, “examining the partial skull of a grizzly bear that had washed out on the banks of the Red River (Montague County) about 1950. This specimen has since been lost.”

On a similar note is a species that is not supposed to dwell here but that has been reintroduced in neighboring New Mexico.

A very well respected veteran trapper I know saw a Mexican gray wolf in the Trans Pecos region. He has dealt with hundreds of coyotes over the years but saw an animal he said was “no doubt a Mexican gray wolf”.

If there is one thing I know about wildlife is they do not read maps and our pitiful political boundaries mean nothing to them.

The truth is there are all kinds of creatures out there and both radio-collared wolves and mountain lions have been found thousands of miles from their point of origin.

The truth about wildlife in particular their range is much more exciting than the homogenized version put out by government agencies. Wild creatures do what wild creatures want to do.

Sometimes the result is giving a very fortunate outdoorsman the surprise sighting of a lifetime.

Catch Chester on the radio Fridays, 6 pm on 560 KLVI Beaumont (www.klvi.com) and Thursdays online on TF&G Radio (www.fishgame.com) Contact him at CMoore@fishgame.com

Photo Chester Moore

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Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Breaching Security

recall as a young child going with my dad to pick up a passenger at a small airport. This was during the early ‘50s.

We lived in Tallahassee, Fla. The passenger was an older boy, maybe in his mid-teens. His name was Harry. He was the son of a neighbor, a hero of mine. He was tall and slim, with slicked-backed hair and confident manner.

Harry was returning from prep school in Tennessee for Christmas vacation and I was thrilled to watch as the twin-prop Douglas DC-3 sputtered and smoked to a stop.

The plane door opened and dapper Harry stood at the top of boarding ladder. He was wearing a coat and tie—that’s the way you dressed for air travel back then. He nodded at the stewardess and she smiled back. He waved at us and paced down the steps and across the tarmac.

His carry-on items included an overcoat and a leather trunk-style shotgun case. In the case was a 20-gauge Winchester Model 21 side-by-side, which I thought was the coolest thing in the world. To the best of my knowledge, no one on the plane or in the terminal gave the cased bird gun a second thought. It was just another piece of carry-on baggage.

In various ways, that was a long time ago.

Let’s fast-forward about 45 years. I was preparing to board a midday “express jet” flight from the tiny terminal in Eagle, Colo., to Denver. Only three hours before, on the final day of a five-day mule deer hunt, I bagged a fine buck. The first shot missed; the second shot scored.

The timing was close. We barely had time to load duffle bags and cased guns into the truck and race to the Eagle airport (the antlers and cape would be sent by a taxidermist).

The weather was cold and I was wearing the same insulated hunting parka.

I handed the agent my boarding pass and

approached the security screening booth.

I removed my belt and shoes and emptied the keys and coins from my pants pockets.

I stepped into the booth and the machine sounded a no-nonsense alarm. A uniformed security guard promptly ushered me to the side.

“What’s in the jacket,” he said.

“Well, nothing.”

“Let’s have a look.”

I fished into the wide double-flap pocket and touched something that felt suspiciously like the hard brass and pointed tip of a live center-fire rifle cartridge. Uh-oh.

I held up the Weatherby .300 Magnum round. To my thinking, the 180-grain Weatherby is one of the most beautiful cartridges in the world—but at the moment it didn’t look so appealing. “Sorry. I guess I forgot about this.”

“I guess you did. Follow me into this office.”

The Mark V bolt-action rifle chambered in .300 Weatherby holds three cartridges.

After firing twice and confirming the buck was dead, I ran the bolt back and ejected the remaining cartridge. That’s a nice safe thing to do.

I placed the cartridge in the parka pocket and, in the excitement of claiming the deer and the rush to pack, forgot about it. That’s an easy oversight; the loose cartridge posed no danger.

I recounted the story and the agent gave me a close look and smiled. “I’m sure that’s true; we have hunters coming through here all the time. But you’ve committed a serious breach of air security and the rules say I’ve got to report this to the FBI.” We sat at a desk and filled out official forms. The agent finally stood. “OK, you can board now. I doubt anything will happen but don’t be surprised if the FBI follows up and contacts you.”

I never heard another word but suspect I’m in a file somewhere. The episode occurred a year or two following 9/11 and air security correctly was extreme.

The Eagle lapse was totally my fault but at least reasonable judgment prevailed. This is not always the case. About the same time,

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I was flagged for attempting to carry two fly reels onto a commercial jet. The plane was departing from San Jose, Costa Rica.

A stern senior agent deemed the fly lines hazardous—a stance that defies logic. I mean, who is going to rush the cockpit while trailing a 12-weight tarpon line as a terrorist weapon.

A leather belt or a nylon camera strap certainly would be a more effective garroting device..

Time for the flight was short and I had no desire to back-pedal to the main terminal and suffer the check-in ordeal again. I sat to the side and laboriously stripped the fly line and Dacron backing from each reel. A young security guard watched as I disarmed the reels.

He seemed sympathetic. I handed him the wadded lines.

“Look, don’t throw these away,” I said. “Sell them somewhere. They’re new Scientific Angler weight-forward lines, maybe $60 or $70 each.” His eyes went round at his great good fortune.

It’s hard to argue with tight flight security in these troubled times. Better too much than not enough, but I submit that common sense should not be left at the gate.

Securities issues aside, air travel can be an exasperating and expensive hassle. This especially is true for outdoor-oriented passengers with extra baggage or oversized equipment.

Allowances are tight and rates are high; for example, some major carriers charge $200 for a single surfboard bag. Mind, that’s one way.

Air travel has changed greatly during the past 50 years. Planes are bigger and faster and non-stop flights are available to excellent outdoor destinations around the world. But the experience is not necessarily smoother.

The age of innocence is long gone in recreational air travel, discarded like Harry’s regimental striped tie.

If you’re aiming outdoors be prepared for setbacks and annoyances, and allow plenty of extra time for departure. Keep a credit card handy and—oh, yes—don’t forget to doublecheck your pockets.

Contact Joe Doggett at JDoggett@fishgame.com

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Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

The Eleven Day Season

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egardless of how this summer’s red snapper season ultimately is structured, I’ll be disappointed in the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s action this past February (See “The TF&G Report,” page 12).

Then, not especially far in advance of whatever officially landed on the books, the council voted in favor of emergency rule that

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may have resulted in a 2013 recreational red snapper season of only 11 days.

Even sillier than that is the “best-case” scenario of a 27-day season and two-fish limit, as if those were things for which we fishermen should feel grateful.

In the end, federal managers could wag their fingers and warn us all that any season is better than no season, but I’d have to disagree. As would the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and other state agencies that view the council’s action as more political punishment than science-based management.

Eleven days is no season. It’s a fist to the faces of every sportsman who has waited patiently for one federal rule or another

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actually to improve red snapper stocks in the Gulf of Mexico. We’ve been told now for years that adoption of this regulation or that, each more restrictive than the last, was going to heal the ailing population of this popular sport fish.

So far, at least to the satisfaction of federal managers, none of these plans has worked. Or have they?

According to TPWD’s respected marine biologists and more than a few charter captains who earn their livelihoods on the water, there is no problem with red snapper – in the western Gulf. On “our” side of the Mississippi River, red snapper are big and getting bigger, plentiful and becoming more so every summer that we endure these abbreviated, highly restricted seasons.

East of the big flow, the story is starkly

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different. Snapper are depleted, scientists agree, and in need of broad-rush restrictions to rebuild their local populations.

Despite acknowledgement of the geographical difference between eastern and western Gulf snapper populations, however, federal managers show little or no interest in drawing a line down the map and managing each stock separately.

I have trouble believing that anyone on the council, or even anyone charged with gathering the data on which it bases its decisions, holds a grudge against Texas and its fishery managers. (Although it likely sticks a bit in their craws that Texas’ state regulation has run contrary to federal guidelines for years. OK, so maybe there are ruffled feathers.)

Hopefully, the men and women who in recent years were charged with fixing this perceived problem were able to set aside all but the science in front of them. Trouble with that optimistic view, however, is that the science is riddled with holes.

You can’t get an accurate count of live fish by counting dead fish, which is what

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dockside surveys do. The number of fish we catch each year means only that there were at least that many of those fish when the season began. In theory, there could only tens of thousands of snapper in the entire Gulf at the end of a season. If their ages and sizes were of just the right makeup, they – theoretically – could sustain a fragile but restricted fishery almost indefinitely.

Or, whimsically, if there were the slightest miscalculation in the wake of some unseen natural disaster at the bottom of the sea, we could catch the last red snapper and never see another. I’d like to think that well educated, well trained marine biologists and managers wouldn’t allow that to happen, but the people in charge have had a decade to fix red snapper stocks and haven’t yet done so.

In recent history, recreational anglers have been told that they catch too many snapper, that they fish too many days of the year, and that the snapper they catch are too large for the fishery to improve under the same, sustained pressure.

And each of those assertions on the parts of managers has been accompanied by a

new, “this’ll do it” rule on when we can fish and how many we can catch.

If a mechanic fixed my wife’s car twice and it still ran poorly, I’d find a new mechanic. If my dentist fixed a toothache twice and my tooth still ached, I’d look for a new dentist.

You and I can’t fire federal managers, but we can encourage a changing of the guard. Or, at least, insist that something other than current scientific methods be used to count a population of fish that lives on the bottom, all over the bottom, of an especially large body of water.

I don’t pretend to have the answers, but I know what word is defined by doing the same thing over and over with expectation of a different result.

Contact Doug Pike at DPike@fishgame.com

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Ted’s TexasWild

by Ted Nugent | TF&G Editor-at-Large

Beware Science- Defying Creatures

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t’s all there on video. Nowadays when we say “you would have to see it to believe it…” it is easy to document exactly what we mean. With the ubiquitous video cameras proliferating the hunting world, I believe American hunters film more hunts than we don’t. It is all there for the world to share, and I like it. Many valuable lessons are to be learned from such visual evidence, and such footage now plays an incredible and unprecedented educational benefit for us all.

My dangerous predator wife, Shemane, the Queen of the Forest, is the most patient bowhuntress in the world. If the absolute perfect shot opportunity does not materialize, she will not send her arrow. Period.

This fine fall afternoon, she was positioned ideally in the thick leafy canopy of the towering maple grove on the edge of the vast saw-grass marsh, her perfect ambush setup taking advantage of everything a smart, effective predator could think of. The occasional peak of sunshine was at her back, the gentle breeze whispering slightly against her face, with just the right amount of cover to hide her human form, (oh what a form it is) and everything was just right for a killer bowhunt.

Deer were constantly seen off in the distance, bucks chasing does and plenty of activity to keep things very exciting.

Shemane sat statue still, arrow nocked, and release on the string, cocked, locked and ready to rock, doc! She don’t mess around.

A better than average mature buck appeared from the tangle down below, and even when the handsome buck was still out of range, Shemane carefully lifted her bow into shooting ready position. She knows that everything has to be absolutely perfect and well thought out in order to kill a deer with a bow and arrow, so as always, she left nothing to chance.

The buck got a whiff of the Primos Swamp Donkey attractant we had placed out for the best shot, and eventually the wary buck made his way to the kill zone.

Fidgeting as all whitetail do when feeding, the buck never stood still for more than a second or two. Shemane waited, and she waited, and she waited.

Finally turning broadside with an angled glance away, Shemane knew it was now or never as she smoothly drew back her lightweight 35-pound Martin bow, settled the twenty yard pin on that beautiful pump station crease, and let ‘er loose for the prettiest arrow you ever did see, clear as a bell all on video.

Well, this is where we rejoice the short and easy bloodtrail following a perfect heart shot, right? Not so fast science fans, for Newton’s law of gravity was about to be put on standby, along with everything else about deer anatomy and wildlife biology that we take for granted.

Five of the best trackers I know went all out for the next five hours, reviewing the footage in slow motion to confirm the perfect hit, the great penetration, the ideal angle, the heart shot reaction and the impossible trail that defied it all.

The blood was scant and a diligent grid search turned up nothing till the next morning where guide Jim found the buck near death, but still very much alive. The mortally hit deer had traveled more than a mile and was hidden in such a way that it was pure luck that we found him.

Amazingly, this hunt took place on a high fence, ultra state of the art deer hunting operation. Hightechunts.com in the rolling swamps, hardwoods and farmlands of southern Michigan is the only hunting operation of its kind. With WiFi technology spread out across the hunting property, and some

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of the larger trophy bucks wearing electronic telemetry tracking bling, deer habits and locations can be tracked and recorded on a grid network.

But let it be known, that even with this incredible advantage, a bowhunter is still completely limited to stealth, patience and the defining factor in all hunting, hi-fence, no fence, no matter what; right place right time.

Shemane got her stunning buck and much rejoicing was shared by all. But I can tell you many instances that I have personally experienced in 60 plus years of deer hunting that defy nature and confused and frustrated me no end.

Hunter awareness, diligent practice, ultra cautious stealth, timing, and the pinpoint demands of picking that aim small miss small spot must always be adhered to for ultimate backstrap pursuits. But even when we do everything right and then the animals refuse to play by the rules, do not get angry, discouraged or ever give up.

I am here to tell you that a sub species of super deer exist out there that can take arrows and bullets to the vitals and respond like Scarface on an overdose of blow, meth, crack, heroin and God knows what biology altering chemical warfare.

The only thing that a hunter should be sorry for is failing to be the very best that we can be on every hunt. As long as we put our heart and soul into being the most dedicated reasoning, conscientious predator that we can possibly be, we can be confident we have done our part in the scheme of tooth, fang and claw nature. Follow up every shot so as to do everything in our power to bring home the bacon. But when we have exhausted every possible maneuver to recover the animal, do not beat yourself up. Just maybe you have encountered one of those super deer that just doesn’t want to die.

Contact Ted Nugent at TNugent@fishgame.com

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Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill | TF&G Political Commentator

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ill Rogers, that bastion of wit, once said, “I don’t make jokes, I just watch the government and report the facts.” Congress is no less entertaining now than it was in Rogers’ time, but it seems the facts may be more difficult to pin down and report these days.

Politicians disagreeing with one another is normal, but lately it seems that some of them can’t even agree with themselves.

Those pushing for an ‘assault weapons ban,’ for example, have recently claimed that AR-15s are too easy to use to kill people, and that no one should own one.

Vice president Joe Biden then claimed in a recent interview that women should not use AR-15s for home protection, because they are too difficult to aim and shoot. This after our leaders have decided to allow women on the front lines in combat.

Biden also admitted, in a recent interview, that banning AR-15s could not be expected to lower America’s crime rate appreciably, even though his task force recommends the ban as a necessary move to curb gun violence. One wonders what the ban is expected to accomplish, if anything.

Those who claim to favor tolerance and political correctness have long argued against persecution of Americans of the Muslim faith, on the grounds that, although all terrorists of late happen to be Muslim, they represent a tiny minority among the followers of Muhommad. Fair enough. Those same tolerant, politically correct citizens then claim guns need to be taken away from everyone, because a tiny minority of people with guns use them to commit crimes.

The argument for enacting a ban on certain types of firearms seems to be that private citizens are incapable of safely operating them. Police, on the other hand, are expected to exhibit not only adequate

“

Biden admitted that banning AR-15s could not be expected to lower America’s crime rate.

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Just the Facts

firearms skills, but necessary restraint and judgment. This despite the many instances in which police have behaved reprehensibly, such as during the recent hunt for Christopher Dorner in Los Angeles. On at least two occasions during that debacle citizens were targeted because their vehicles vaguely resembled that of the fugitive. The pickups were shot full of holes by our models of public safety and protection.

On another occasion two New York City police officers fired a total of sixteen rounds from their pistols at a subject less than ten

feet away on a busy street. They hit their target, certainly, but they also shot nine innocent bystanders. The supposition that armed private citizens would do worse, with the added danger of potentially being held liable for the damage done by errant bullets, carries little weight.

But those who believe the government should, can, and will protect them from harm have divested themselves of responsibility for their own safety. Despite daily proof that criminals seldom choose to operate under the watchful eyes of the agents of the state, many doggedly refuse to take any personal defensive action. They believe the lies of those in positions of power, such as Rep. Joe Salazar (D-CO), who claims the best way for women to avoid being raped and killed is to carry a whistle and use a call box. Oh, and go to a ‘safe area,’ where rapists are not allowed.

Here in Texas, thankfully, common sense is more common. Our Texas Parks & T e x a S

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Wildlife commissioners even passed legislation last summer to allow suppressors to be used during the harvesting of game animals.

The consensus among opponents of the new rule claimed abuses and criminal activity would no doubt result, but so far I have not been able to find one instance of illegal behavior involving a suppression device.

Suppressors, often called silencers, have been regulated in the U.S. since 1934, but reasons have proven elusive. Some claim the federal government feared criminals might begin to use them in crime, but no proof of that motive is available. Unpermitted suppressors are illegal, evidently, just because they’re illegal.

A recent Salon article, written by Alexander Zaitchik, claims the regulation of suppressors has resulted in less crime. Criminals supposedly don’t use them because they happen to be illegal. If that were the case, one could assume other crimes would not be committed, because they were illegal, so that dog won’t hunt.

There has been one instance of a suppressor being used in a crime in America that I could find, and it was stolen. If suppressors made crime easier or less dangerous, criminals would use them. That doesn’t happen, even though suppressors can be built in any basement or garage in America, easily and cheaply. Criminals don’t use them because they are cumbersome, unweildy, and difficult to carry concealed. Besides which, criminals don’t need them.

But criminals do need more than seven rounds in a magazine to commit crimes, or so New York City’s politicians would have us believe. Not that criminals will comply with that law any more than other laws, but at least honest citizens are less prepared to defend themselves in the Big Apple now.

Will Rogers may have been able to come up with enough facts from the government during his time to make a living. These days, I’m afraid he would starve to death.

Contact Kendal Hemphill at Khemphill@fishgame.com G a m e ®

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never thought there would come a day when I’d be writing a fishing piece with Lake Fork and white bass in the lead sentence.

But it has. Mainly because Morone chrysops is showing up in angler creels these days about as often as plump largemouths that fall within the lake’s 16-24 inch slot limit.

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“They aren’t everywhere, but when you do get in them they are stacked,” says fishing guide Lance Vick. “I’ve seen times when you could sit one spot and catch them until your live wells are full or your fingers are bleeding. I’m not talking about dinks, either. These guys are toads—2 1/2 pounders.”

Another BASS BOOM is Occurring on LAKE FORK by matt williams

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The source of bountiful catches like this may be the unauthorized importation of white bass from Lake Tawakoni in the 1990s.

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That may come as a surprise to a lot of folks. And rightfully so.

The brawny sport fish are not native to the watershed that feeds Lake Fork. Even stranger is the fact that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocking records indicate there has never been a single sandie introduced to the 27,000-acre reservoir from its hatchery system.

If that’s the case, then how in the heck did they get there?

While nobody knows for certain, Kevin Storey has a pretty good idea. Storey is the Tyler-based fisheries biologist who rides shotgun over Lake Fork for TPWD. He claims the fish were quietly (and illegally) piggybacked to Lake Fork from nearby Lake Tawakoni via live wells and released over a period of years beginning sometime in the 1990s.

“About a year ago, we received information from the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association about an angler who lived up in Garrett Creek who brought in white bass from Tawakoni for several years, he explained. “Unfortunately, by the time we heard about it, the guy was in a nursing

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home and he wasn’t expected to live much longer. So it probably wouldn’t have been a good idea for law enforcement to go after him.”

Storey isn’t sure about the current health status of the man, but it is apparent that his ambitious stocking project worked like a charm. Drop a spoon on a main lake hump during summer or winter and there is a good chance a burly white bass will hammer it before a largemouth does. During spring and fall, anglers are finding whites in the same places as the blacks, and they are catching them on the exact same baits, often in big numbers.

“We first started hearing a few reports about anglers catching them in the late 1990s,” Storey said. “Eventually, a couple of lake records were set and we even started collecting a few in our sampling. Then, during the summer and fall of 2010, the population pretty much exploded and big schools of fish started showing up all over the lake.”

Storey attributes the population boom to wet weather the previous spring, which increased water inflow and created optimum reproductive conditions for the freespawning species. Unlike black bass, whites don’t build nests for spawning. Instead, they swim up rivers and creeks and release their eggs at will in the current. Males fertilize the eggs, which are left to drift or sink to bottom with no parental protection. Offspring that survive become the next generation of white bass.

“White bass always have the best spawning success during wet springs,” Storey said.

“We haven’t seen any major pulses in the population since 2010 because we haven’t had the spring rains. That tells me this population is going to be cyclic in nature.”

While the biologist says there haven’t been any significant increases in population since 2010, the existing fish have grown fat and sassy on Fork’s abundant forage base. That in itself has created some concerns among lake regulars that the voracious whites may eventually put a dent in the dinner buffet that also feeds the largemouth bass.

“Initially, there were a lot concerns about it, but I just don’t see it happening,” Storey said. “The forage base out there is just too robust. Lake Fork has more shad than the fish can eat.”

Early on, some anglers suggested TPWD do away with daily bag limit on whites and allow the public to attempt to fish them out Photo: Matt Williams

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before the population grows any larger.

According to Storey, that would be biologically impossible to do because of the prolific nature of the fish.

“Once a population has become established like this one has, it is every difficult to over fish it,” he said. “About the only way you could ever get rid of them would be to drain the lake and start over. These fish are pretty much here to stay. It seems like most of the anglers have finally accepted it.”

And many of them, including some of Fork’s most well-known bass fishing guides, don’t necessarily see the sandies as a bad thing.

Former state record holder Mark Stevenson says he thinks the whites will be beneficial to the lake in the long run mainly because of the fun factor they bring to the table.

“Overall I think they’ll be a positive,” Stevenson said. “None of my clients have wanted to go after them so far, but that could change. A lot of people just want to catch fish. If the bass fishing gets slow you can always switch to the whites and salvage the day. Once you find them, it seems like those

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fish are almost always willing to feed. Plus, I think the big bass will feed on them. They’ve been eating those yellow bass for years.”

Fishing guide Gary Paris says he thinks the white bass will be good for business in the long run, as well.

“From a guide standpoint I think they will definitely help, especially on those days when you get a client who is inexperienced at bass fishing, or one who can’t perform the techniques that are necessary to catch fish consistently,” he said. “You can take a guy who has never caught fish on a spoon before and teach them pretty quick with white bass, because they are almost always willing to bite. Plus, they’ll pull your string all over the place.”

The daily limits on white bass at Lake Fork mirror the statewide erg, 25 fish, 10 inches.

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Graphic layout: Texas Fish & Game

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e TANDEM RIG “What have you got there?” Anibal Gorena asked me as I

grabbed my favorite spinning rod after we had settled the 20-foot Bay Quest in a quiet Lower Laguna Madre back bay. “That is the funkiest thing I’ve ever seen!”

It was safe to say my fishing buddy had never seen the rig I was using: two Skippyfish jerkbaits tied on two leaders.

One was fixed to the main line by a swivel.

The second was also tied to a swivel, but the swivel was allowed to slide up and down the main line. A red bead separated the two swivels.

“This?” I responded as I readied a cast.

“It’s a little rig the guys at Skippy Fish wanted me to try. It’s called a Deuces Wild.”

“Ay! It’s a Deuces Wild!” Gorena chid-

ed in his best George Lopez. “You just love those double rigs of yours.”

My second cast never made it back to the boat. A fat trout nailed it as the twin tails darted over the edge of a sand hole. As the trout struggled and lunged while trying to shake off the lead bait, a second trout chased the trailing bait and snapped at it repeatedly.

The second trout finally gave up the chase only when his littermate was about to be scooped into the landing net.

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morning, trout chased and took shots at the loose bait as it darted in front of or behind a hooked trout. On one cast, a big redfish literally crashed into a hooked trout while trying to sideswipe the lead bait. After a couple of hour’s excitement, Gorena asked if I had any spares.

Double Trouble

Much like just about every saltwater angler on the Texas Coast, my indoctrination to tandem lure rigs was the classic G a m e ®

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t Multiple-lure rigs have experienced a renaissance in recent years.

Speck Rig, a pair of nylon or bucktail jigs paired up on each end of a 2-foot leader with a surgeon’s or double overhand loop tied in the middle of the leader. We’d use the combos usually at night under the halogen lights of a fishing pier and wear out the speckled

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trout with them. It wasn’t uncommon to have numerous double hookups per night.

Yellow and white were—and still are—the most popular colors, although there were some versions in red, orange, and black.

These speck rigs were a staple among night-

Photo Courtesy Logic Lures

time anglers up and down the coast.

Multiple-lure rigs have experienced a renaissance in recent years due to the growing popularity of the Alabama rig, which is a downsized version of the umbrellas rig which was a mainstay among offshore anglers hunting for tuna and other pelagics. However, the Alabama, which can feature as many as 5 swimbaits on a single spreader, can be very cumbersome and impractical in shallow water bay systems such as Laguna Madre.

The tandem rig, on the other hand, is an ideal setup.

“They are much more versatile than (umbrella rigs),” said Joe Montemayor, owner/operator of Joe’s Tackle in McAllen, Texas. “You can use them on spinning tackle and bait casting tackle, even on spin casting rods. Trout hit them. Redfish hit them. Flounder will even hit them if you fish them slowly enough.”

Indeed, the versatility and ease of use of the tandem is a big selling point. As Montemayor pointed out, many young anglers were first indoctrinated into lure fishing by tying on a speck rig and catching school-sized speckled and sand trout.

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More importantly, tandems are tremendously effective.

Two Fer

“Tandem rigs give the illusion of multiple targets for a predator to focus on,” said Skippy Fish’s Lou Consoli, innovator of the Deuces Wild Tandem. “It can look like a couple of baitfish chasing each other (if you rig a smaller bait in front of a bigger one), or two fleeing baitfish. It’s a more natural presentation.”

There is security in numbers, hence the natural habit of baitfish to swim in schools or multiples. Indeed, it is rare that you do in fact see a solitary forage fish of any kind swimming along in a hostile environment. A tandem rig takes advantage of that fact. A pair of fleeing baitfish just looks more natural. I remember once fishing a tandem in ginclear water and seeing other baitfish join the two that seemed to know where they were swimming; even prey fall for the illusion.

The image of two baitfish fleeing also

appeals to a game fish’s predatory and competitive instincts. A fish that sees other fish feeding will naturally feed because of the natural instincts to feed and to get as much of a food source as it can. Fleeing prey is a cue to begin feeding.

The same feeding and competitive stimuli are also the factors that lead to multiple hook-ups. When a trout or redfish sees one of its ilk hooked up and sees another prey trailing behind the commotion, it will strike. The lucky angler ends up with two fish on the end of his line, and a fine time is had by all.

Double the Versatility

The plethora of commercial tandem rigs on the market indicates the how versatile tandems are. There are tandem rigs by Skippyfish, H&H Lures, Speckline, Logic Lures, C&K Lures, and still others. There are tandems comprised of bucktails, jerk shad, shad tails, curly-tailed grubs, and even flies.

The styles of tandems are also diverse.

There is the classic style, which consists of two lures on separate ends of a length of mono leader and a loop in the middle to tie the main line. The Texas Tandem by Logic Lures is two Texposed-rigged jerkbaits tied in line with each other and rigged on Logic’s patented swivel hooks. Skippyfish’s Deuces Wild is especially innovative, with the use of a free sliding leader in front of a fixed leader as described in the opening vignette.

Tandems also lend themselves to a variety of fishing situations, Consoli said.

Naturally, the speck rigs are effective under the lights, or when fish are aggressive and schooling under birds. Unweighted jerkbaits rigged such as the Deuces Wild or the Texas Tandem can be fished in shallow water with the added weight of two baits providing the heft to make long casts without added weight, or weighted with a bullet sinker or worm hook such as the Arkie Jigs flutter hook to fish deeper. It is entirely up to the angler.

The question is who wants to double their chances at doubling their luck?

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Hunt Texas

by Bob Hood | TF&G Hunting Editor

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fter many years of using decoys and employing a considerable number of different setups, I am convinced decoys can be a hunter’s best friend or his worst enemy.

Veteran waterfowl hunters know that the terrain, wind direction, number of hunters and several other factors go into the equation that determines whether a J-spread or another spread design is best for ducks at a particular hunting site and time. And they know if something is out of place, such as two decoys becoming “tied” together by tangled lines and weights, or a decoy tilted in an unusual way, that an adjustment with the decoys needs to be made quickly.

If not, ducks and geese will take a close look at the spread and then flare. No doubt you have seen that take place, and it sends you scratching your head and trying to figure out what they saw that caused them to turn their tail feathers toward you.

But what about turkey decoys, deer decoys, predator decoys and other fakesters designed to attract other animals and birds such as sandhill cranes, doves and feral hogs?

Contrary to the belief of many hunters, simply setting out a decoy doesn’t mean a turkey, deer or other wildlife the decoy is meant to resemble is going to approach it closely.

Let’s start with turkey decoys. There certainly are many of them, ranging from hens standing erect, feeding and in breeding postures, plus jakes and toms standing or strutting. Some turkey decoys even come with real attachable tail fans or other feather features.

I love to hunt anything that is huntable, but if there is a favorite, the wild turkey would fill that bill. I began hunting them in the spring of 1972, three years after Texas established our first spring turkey season and have taken 140 gobblers in Texas and other states since then, mostly with a single-shot 12-gauge. However, more importantly to me are the countless other gobblers I have called up to photograph or for other hunters to shoot. Those hundreds Photo: Bob Hood

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of memories are priceless.

Of all these meetings with Rio Grande and Eastern turkeys, only a few have involved the use of turkey decoys. Yes, I have had great success with fake hens, jakes and toms, even to the point of having live toms attempt to mate my decoys. I also have had coyotes and bobcats attempt to snatch a decoy for a meal.

Taxidermy mounts used as decoys in a sandhill crane hunt.

On the negative side, I have had tom turkeys answer my call and then to strut in to within of sighting distance of a decoy or decoys and put on the breaks. The most recent incident took place last spring while hunting at Skipper Duncan’s Adobe Lodge near San Antonio.

I set a single hen decoy about 20 yards in front of my stand which was beneath a tree where I was surrounded by thick brush with a sheet of camouflaged netting in front of me. I am particular about total concealment because I want the option of harvesting a bird or photographing it which sometimes calls for some movement on my part to switch from shotgun to camera with a long lens.

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yards in front of me blocked their view of my decoy until they started around the brush.

As soon as the gobblers spotted the decoy about 10 yards from them, they immediately stopped strutting, putted a few times, reversed direction and hurried away. It was obvious the decoy had spooked them, even though they were coming in expecting to see a hen.

I have talked with several other hunters who have similar results as I have had, and not just with turkey decoys. The deer decoys I have used have attracted deer in close and, as with some of my turkey decoys, deer that attempted to mate or fight the fakester. Other deer, especially does, have immediately made a high-tailed retreat at the sight of the decoy.

Last fall, I hunted over an interesting decoy spread for sandhill cranes in West Texas. We set out 42 full-body taxidermist-mounted sandhill decoys in a wheat field before daybreak and then erected two A-frame blinds near a fence and oil slush pit. The blinds had hinged tops and kept us completely hidden.

The taxidermist had done a great job bringing the cranes back to life. Some were mounted in feeding postures with their beaks to the ground. Some simply stood erect while others appeared to be preening the feathers on their backs or had out-stretched heads pointing to the sky as if calling to cranes overhead.

Several hundred sandhill cranes had been seen feeding in the field the afternoon before.

But as the morning grew, only a flight of 25 to 35 cranes crossed the field, looked the spread over and departed. Yes, several factors may have been involved for them to decline coming in. Was it previous hunting pressure in the area? Maybe, but who knows for sure.

As lifelike as a decoy may appear, and with a hunter or hunters well-concealed, there are no guarantees that they are going to fool the birds or animals we hunt. And, as the old saying goes: That’s why we call it hunting.

Contact Bob Hood at BHood@fishgame.com

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Photo: Canstock

3/7/13 11:03 AM

For the most

part, hunters have an affinity for their quarry. We have special places in our hearts for deer, elk, and waterfowl of all kinds. We even love quail and pheasant, but turkeys, those dang turkeys, we hate those stupid birds.

Ok, we don’t really hate them, as a matter of fact they are the second most pursued game animal after white-tail deer, but they do have a tendency to be maddeningly frustrating and drive us crazy.

Mostly because they have brains the size of a scrawny peanut and on the average hunt, they still make us look like over-accessorized morons in the woods.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way.

There is no reason in the world that you can’t walk out of the woods with a turkey thrown over your shoulder this season with a sense of pride and restoration of your manhood. You just have to know what you’re doing and luckily I happen to know someone that does.

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Cable Smith is a young gun in the outdoor communication industry but don’t let that fool you; he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to turkey hunting. As host of Cabela’s Lone Star Outdoors radio show (http://texasoutdoorsmedia.com/) he typically spends his time asking experts questions about the outdoors, but I flipped the script on him and picked his brain for some of his best turkey hunting tips.

There are a few different thought processes when it comes to hunting spring time gobblers. Some hunters like to find birds on the roost, set up, and hope they fly down to them. Others like to sit and call for hours on end and try to talk the birds to come to them. While others, Cable included, prefer to run and gun taking the hunt to the birds all day long.

Why you ask? Simple, because it is more natural. Gobblers are not programmed to chase down hens, they want the girls to come to them so when you hear a gobble and go to it you are mimicking nature.

“On most of the places I hunt the ranchers just give me the general location of where they see birds and I take it from there,” Cable advised in a recent conversation.

“The area they are talking about might be a thousand acres so I can’t just sit in one spot and hope the birds come by.” When trying to find birds on expansive Texas ranches, running and gunning is the only option.

Running and gunning requires traveling light. You can’t take everything with you.

A few calls, head to toe camouflage (including gloves and face mask) and a few decoys is all you need. Cable typically carries three decoys, one gobbler and two hens, on his hunts and rarely has time to use them all.

Sometimes he doesn’t even have time to set them up.

“I was hunting one time and there was a gobbler on the other side of a fence that didn’t want to come in,” Cable mentioned.

“The difference is it was a high fence with the bottom three feet covered in black plastic sheeting so I couldn’t see the bird and he couldn’t see me.” No matter how much he called, the bird just wouldn’t come over to find the invisible hen. After a long conversation of purrs and clucks with the turkey, Cable came up with a plan.

Sneaking up to the fence, hidden from view by the plastic, Cable took one of his hen decoys and raised it up by hand so that its head stuck up over the plastic. Think of it as the world’s first turkey puppet show

complete with a dancing and calling hen.

While it wasn’t exactly an Oscar-worthy performance, it was convincing enough to make the gobbler fly over the high fence to meet his new girlfriend. Too bad for him she was made of plastic and a few minutes later Cable was carrying him out. While this is effective, and can be duplicated anywhere there is brush to hide you from view, it should be noted that you shouldn’t try this on land with multiple hunters since you might be mistaken for a bird.

One of the biggest tips Cable shared was in the calling methods used to tempt a gobbler to come in. “A lot of hunters like to use purrs, or clucks, or yelps, “he stated.

These are all great calls and have their place in the woods but the one he uses the most is cutting.

Cable went on to describe cutting as the sound a hen makes when she gets really excited and is ready to breed. If a gobbler won’t come to this call, he won’t come to a hen call at all.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, a gobbler simply will not come to a hen call at all. Like mentioned earlier, this just isn’t natural. So in order to get the bird to come in, you have to try something different and instead of appealing to a gobblers need for love you, have to challenge its dominance.

In Cable’s words, “Sometimes you have to pick a fight.”

In the spring, gobblers are like high school boys on the weekend. All they think about is finding girls and causing trouble. If they won’t come to the sound of hens, they’ll come running for trouble.

If a bird is gobbling but refuses to come in to your hen calls, or if he already has some hens with him then it’s time to forget about being polite and quiet with your calling.

It’s time to rattle the woods and sound like the biggest gobbler on the block. You’re challenging every tom within ear shot for dominance and this time of year this kind of calling can have great results. This is a mature turkey call, so while it will bring in the big boys it will also run off lesser turkeys that don’t feel like getting whipped.

There is no doubt that hunting turkeys can be one of the most frustrating experiences in the woods. However, with a few decoys, a handful of calls and the willingness to take the hunt to the birds, it can also be one of the most addicting.

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Texas Department of Defense M

ost of the time when we discuss ammunition for self-defense, we are talking about factory ammunition. In fact, the vast majority of professionals will tell you that is the only way to go and that you should never carry hand loaded ammunition in your self-defense handgun. In most instances they are, I think, correct, but not necessarily for the reasons they state.

For instance, I have heard a thousand times that if you use handloaded ammo and have to shoot someone, the opposition’s lawyer will make a big deal out of it. He will, we are told, raise cane about the terrible destructive qualities of the ammunition that is loaded specifically to be super deadly.

The truth is that in nearly 40 years of being in and around law enforcement I have never heard of a case where the question of

| Concealed Carry | | Tactical |

by Steve LaMascus & Dustin Ellermann

factory or hand loaded ammunition came into play. If it did it would be easy to counter because the factories today are working as hard as they can to make ammunition that is more dependable and more destructive.

The average hand loader is never going to load ammunition that is more destructive than he can buy at the local sporting goods store. In fact, most ammunition so loaded is intended to be a milder load so the shooter can have better control and accuracy of a large caliber handgun.

I prefer to carry factory ammunition in my self-defense handguns because I think it

is as good as it can be and because 99% of the handgun ammo I hand load i s either for hunting or for target practice and is often loaded in large lots where precision is not that important. I just came in from loading a few hundred rounds of hard ball .45 ACP on my Dillon machine. It is generally very good ammo, but also you will occasionally find a round with a primer upside down or that has some other flaw. Also, it is 230-grain ball, not the best for self-defense. If I were to load my .45 ammo for self-defense, I would do so on my single-stage loader, making certain that everything was clean and perfect, and

Photo: Hornady

More on Ammo

| Self Defense |

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CMMG .300 Blackout AR Earlier I wrote about the .300 Blackout cartridge which is becoming a popular AR15 round. So, of course, I had to get my hands on a rifle and give it a proper testing. The .300BLK is a essentially shorter .223 style casing sized to stuff a .308 caliber bullet into it. This yields almost the same power as a 7.62x39 (AK47’s

round) power but is able to stack into a standard AR15 magazine and utilize every other standard AR15 part except the barrel. This makes for a very affordable way to build or modify your AR to

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The CMMG .300BLK Rifle complete with GEMTECH suppressor, Aimpoint H1 Red Dot optic and 5.11 Double Rifle Bag.

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fire .30 caliber bullets.

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Texas Department of Defense the bullets would be some kind of expensive, high tech expanding bullet, like the Speer Gold Dot or Hornady XTP. With the introduction of the Hornady bullets using flexible material inserted into a hollow cavity, self-defense ammunition took a new direction. In the past the hollow point was the best way to make a bullet expand more rapidly than a standard soft point.

Then came the Nosler Ballistic tip, which used a synthetic point imbedded in the nose of the bullet to initiate expansion.

Building on this innovation, Hornady introduced the SST rifle bullet, which also has a plastic nose-cone. From there it was only a small step, but one that no one else had been able to take, to the LEVERevolution rifle ammunition which had a synthetic point soft enough to use in a tubular magazine rifle without the danger of the point impacting the primer of the next round, setting off the cartridge in the magazine. From there to handgun ammunition with synthetic noses, such as the laughable Zombie Max and the very effective FTX Critical Defense ammunition was another

small but important step.

Hollow points are still a viable choice, but they are no longer the only choice. I don’t really know which is the best because the newest ammunition has not been used enough in combat to give us enough data to reach those conclusions. What I do know is that hollow points are sometimes not effective because the cavity will fill with material from clothing and cause the bullet to fail to expand. I have seen this happen and have noticed it numerous times when I shot a hollow point into the dirt of my range backstop. Sometimes the bullet would open beautifully, but other times the cavity would fill with dirt and the bullet would look just like it came out of the muzzle. This is one reason I have always preferred the Federal Hydra-Shok bullet, because it has a device in the cavity that aids in preventing the cavity from filling with material and impeding expansion. I assume the new bullets with the synthetic material in the cavity would be pretty much free from such problems, but I have not seen any positive information to prove it conclusively.

Another innovation is Federal’s Guard Dog ammunition which has a jacket that appears solid, but has the nose of the bullet filled with something that looks like bathroom silicon sealer, with striations down the jacket to promote expansion. I have fired the 9mm 105-grain bullets at a published 1230 feet per second, into boxes filled with old newspapers and magazines and they performed perfectly. Federal states unequivocally that they expand every time.

So there are plenty of choices out there for the person who carries a weapon, concealed or otherwise.

In the absence of concrete data on the combat performance of the newest high tech bullets, all I can offer is that you depend on the ammunition in which you have the most confidence. In a life and death situation, any bullet is better than a rock or a nail file.

CMMG .300 most companies’ uppers, CMMG offers an entire rifle so I opted for the most affordable, retailing around $900. I was able to get the from 16” CMMG with a quad t Continued page xx rail so I could quickly mount any of my optics or lights for any variety of hunting needs.

After doing all the proper paperwork at Evans Brothers Guns in Huntington, where their motto is “Providing Tools Against Tyranny since 2006,” I promptly took the A2 style flash hider off of the rifle and installed a GEMTECH Sandstorm suppressor. Then I slapped on an Aimpoint H2 with a LaRue quickrelease lever mount. Atlanta Arms and The Hunting Shack both sent me supersonic and subsonic ammo for the testing.

I stuffed standard PMAGs full of each type and test fired.

With a non-magnified optic, I wasn’t

sure what type of groups to expect at 100 yards, but it performed rather well.

Atlanta Arms loads the Blackout with 124 grain Nosler ballistic tips that traveled at an average of 2,251 FPS. I chose this load to hunt whitetails with this past season. And The Hunting Shack loads theirs with 110 grain Hornady VMax traveling about 2,400 FPS. Both brands of ammo turned out five shot groups measuring approximately 1.5”. Very adequate hunting accuracy, and had I actually put a magnified optic on it and had a better than mil-spec trigger, it could have been even better. But the real testing would be with the subsonic rounds the Blackout cartridge was designed for.

I’ve seen subsonic rounds come in weights ranging from 187 to 220.

Subsonic speed is usually considered less than 1,050 FPS although atmospheric conditions will vary the exact speed.

Many might discredit the subsonic round when comparing it to other fast rifle cartridges, so it helps to think of it more

as a .45ACP, just with a better ballistic coefficient. After zeroing the Aimpoint at 100 yards with a supersonic round, it was interesting to see how much drop would result in firing The Hunting Shacks 220 grain subsonics. Accuracy was quite impressive with 5 rounds flying downrange at an extremely consistent 1,016 FPS all gathering within 1.25”.

The only issue was that the slower, heavier bullets impacted about 13” lower than my point of aim with the 100 yard supersonic zero. Knowing distance and ballistic data will be mandatory if one plans to use special subsonic rounds for hunting, it’s almost the same as bow hunting in that sense. But banging steel with nearly silent 220 grain bullets had never been so much fun. And now that Trijicon, Leupold and EOTech have all introduced new ballistic reticle optics just for the .300BLK round, this rifle is a definite win.

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—Dustin Ellermann

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Texas Bowhunting

by Lou Marullo | TF&G Bowhunting Editor

Hunt Like a Turkey Pro

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here are not too many things that can get this child out of a nice warm bed at dark thirty in the morning.

Spring turkey hunting with my bow is definitely one of those things. Bow hunting these critters can be one of the most difficult hunts you have ever had but also one of the most rewarding ones as well.

I have a friend who is a professional hunter, although he would never admit to it.

In fact, he would deny such an accusation.

But in my book, Nathan Jones is one of the best in the business.

With many years under his belt contributing professional video hunting footage to television hunting shows, he also ran his own unique television show for three years called Wild Extremes. I call it unique because, unlike some of the shows out there, Nathan would actually go on the property cold turkey (no pun intended), do all the scouting himself and consistently score on huge whitetails and turkeys while giving the viewers a lesson on things to look for to have a successful hunt.

I thought it would be good to ask his opinion on a few things regarding bow hunting turkeys…it is April and turkey season is on.

Lou: I happen to know that you are not only very successful with the big whitetails, but you also have a turkey Grand Slam under your belt.

Nathan: Yeah, I really enjoy bow hunting and have had the opportunity to hunt throughout this country and internationally as well.

Lou: What would you say is the first and foremost thing one should know about hunting turkeys with a bow?

Nathan: Well, I have found that the key factor for success with any animal is scouting and plenty of it. Too many hunters go out in the field and hope that they will get lucky and

get a bird, but if the tom decides to walk in a different direction, the hunter usually gives up fast and tries again another day. Learn where the turkeys are feeding. Hens will fly from their roost and hunt for food. The toms will fly from their roost and head to the feeding area to hunt for hens. Find out where the big toms like to strut, where they roost. Learn as much as you can about the birds you are hunting and get in their way.

Lou: Get in their way?

Nathan: Yes. Sometimes the birds get call shy and will be quiet after they fly down.

Even the pro callers out there, every once in a while, have a hard time getting the birds to be interested. Many times, a tom will gobble his fool head off and then walk off with a hen.

Most of the time, the hen leads him away from you. If you have done your scouting, then you know where that hen is going, to the food source. Once you have determined they are walking away from you and are out of sight, then pack your gear and hustle to the food source. You should get there and all set up before the birds arrive. Get in their way.

Let them come to you. You know where they are going. Just get between them and the food source.

Lou: What if you see the birds coming but they are too far from one side or the other and will miss your set up?

Nathan: I always use decoys. If they are walking past you, then just some light calling is all you need. So many hunters over-call.

They see the bird heading in their direction and keep calling. That is a common mistake.

I have seen so many toms do the same thing over and over again. Once they hear a hen/ hunter call, they would answer with a big loud gobble and then feed in the field as if they could care less about the hen. Let’s remember how it works in nature. The toms gobble to attract the hens and the hens come to his call. He just struts and stays put and the hens come running. When we hunt these birds we are trying to get them to do a 180 degree turn. We are trying to go against their natural instincts and make the tom come to the hen. Once the gobbler answers your call, he is acknowledging that you are there. And T e x a S

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he knows right where you are.

Patience is the name of the game. You have to wait him out. I have seen the tom feed as if he is not interested while all the time heading in my direction. Once I see him coming, I stop my calling. Let him look for me.

It might take a couple of hours, but as long as I see him slowly heading my way, I have a smile on my face.

Lou: How can you tell if you have found a strut zone?

Nathan: Look on the edges of dirt fields, check out a dirt road that runs through your hunting spot. A bird that does a lot of strutting will shave off some of his wing feathers as he drags them against the dirt. You can actually see the wing marks in the dirt. Once I took a friend of mine out turkey hunting with little luck. I decided to go to the strut zone and just wait for the big boy to show up and sure enough, he did.

Lou: What if it’s raining and blowing hard? Do you still hunt on those days?

Nathan: Well, I never killed a turkey on my couch. The animals are still there. You just have to know where to hunt. Once again your scouting comes into play here. A turkey does not like being in the woods during a rain storm. His defenses are compromised.

They can’t hear danger coming so they must depend on their superior eyesight. That’s why you should hunt the green fields. I don’t know why, but they love the green fields and it is a great place to hunt as long as the field hasn’t grown too much.

Lou: I really want to hunt a Merriam.

What a beautiful bird.

Nathan: Lou, I have the spot for you in South Dakota. A friend of mine, Colby Crago, has a great spot and it is infested with Merriams. One morning we had 300 Merriams in one creek bottom. I’m not kidding. Make sure you check him out.

For more information check out Crago Outfitting at Cragooutfitting.com

Contact Lou Marullo at LMarullo@fishgame.com G a m e ®

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3/7/13 3:14 PM

TRUE GREEN Health Dept.

Destroys Donated Venison

Study Ties Waterfowl Health to Hunting and Duck Stamps

photo: US interior dept.

Dr. Mark Vrtiska and colleagues at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recently published research in the Wildlife Society Bulletin saying that organized and licensed hunting boosts money spent on conservation.

More than 2 million hunters paid for a duck stamp in the 1970s. The researchers say that 98% of the money raised is spent on purchasing or leasing habitat within the National Wildlife Refuge System.

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According to Dr Vrtiska this has had a hugely beneficial impact on the birds “The waterfowl population has passed 40 million six times since 1995. These should be glory days for duck hunting” he said.

But there are clouds on this happy horizon. Sales of duck stamps are declining, down to 1.3m in 2008, and they continuing to fall by around 30% annually.

In the good old days the number of hunters and the number of birds rose and fell in balance with each other. But no longer.

“Because the relationship appears to be broken we’ve lost a lot of funding and in turn lost a lot of habitat conservation on the ground,” Dr Vrtiska said.

—Staff Report «TG

Hunters across Louisiana are outraged after state health officials ordered a rescue mission to destroy $8000 worth of deer meat because venison is not allowed to be served in homeless shelters.

The Dept. of Health and Hospitals ordered the staff at the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission to throw 1600 pounds of donated venison in garbage bins — and then ordered them to douse the meat with Clorox — so other animals would not eat the meat.

“Deer meat is not permitted to be served in a shelter, restaurant or any other public eating establishment in Louisiana,” said a Health Dept. official in an email to Fox News. “While we applaud the good intentions of the hunters who donated this meat, we must protect the people who eat at the Rescue Mission, and we cannot allow a potentially serious health threat to endanger the public.”

That statement set off a firestorm among hunters and lawmakers who called it outrageous and insulting.

—Staff Report «TG

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TRUE GREEN CONTINUED...

Photo: Canstock

Drug Residue Makes Fish Bolder and More Gluttonous Anxiety-moderating drugs that reach waterways via wastewater create fearless and asocial fish that eat more quickly than normal.

These behavioral changes can have serious ecological consequences. This is shown

by Umeå University researchers in the prestigious journal Science.

Many drugs leave our bodies unaffected, and residues from them are therefore found in wastewater. Low concentrations of drugs are often found downstream from sewage treatment plants. Today we test how dangerous drugs are to humans, but our knowledge of the environmental impacts of drugs is limited. For the first

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time, scientists have now been able to show how the behavior of fish is affected by involuntary medication.

Researchers have examined how perch behave when they are exposed to the anxiety-moderating drug Oxazepam.

The changes were obvious in drug concentrations corresponding to those found in waters in densely populated areas in Sweden.

“Normally, perch are shy and hunt in schools. This is a known strategy for survival and growth. But those who swim in Oxazepam became considerably bolder,” explains ecologist Tomas Brodin, lead author of the article.

The drug made the fish braver and less social. This means that they left their schools to look for food on their own, a behavior that can be risky, as school formation is a key defense against being eaten by predatory fish.

—Staff Report «TG

3/11/13 12:29 PM

Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams | TF&G Freshwater Editor

A Crash Course in Bass Spawn Behavior

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here is no such thing as a bad time to chase bass in Texas, but given the choice I wish springtime could last forever. Spring is the spawning season for Texas bass. At no other time of the year are there more heavyweights nosing around in skinny water than there are during the months of March, April and May. Bottom-line: If you are after a career bass, now is the time to catch one.

As promising as the fishing prospects can be during spring, it can be sort of tricky if you don’t have a good understanding of the spawn and how it plays out:

Timing it Right

Water temperature is a major player in the timing of the spawn. As a rule, male bass will begin gravitating towards the shallows and constructing nests when water temperatures climb into the mid-to-upper 50s. The bigger females won’t be too far away, but they usually won’t commit to the shallows and actually lock on beds until surface temperatures stabilize at 60 degrees.

Not surprisingly, the timing of the spawn can vary from one geographic region to the next.

Waters located in southern climates tend to warm up quicker than northern impoundments. This explains why spawning activity may get underway as early as January on a South Texas lake such as Falcon, or as late as May on a North Texas impoundment like Ray Roberts or Texoma.

Regardless of the geographic location, it should be understood that not all the bass in a given reservoir system will barrel into

the shallows and do their thing at exactly the same time.

As a rule, the first bass to spawn are those that live at the upper reaches of the lake. Most lakes are shallower on the upper end than at the lower end, where the dam is located. The shallower water naturally warms up quicker than deep water. The spawn will gradually progress towards the midlake and lower quadrants of a reservoir as water temperatures in those areas warm over time. These gradual movements are most typical on larger reservoirs such as Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend in eastern Texas, where “waves” of spawning bass will continue moving shallow from March through early May. Peak movements are usually spurred by the full moon phase.

Setting the Stage

Fishing around the spawn brings with it a variety of options -- pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn. Most savvy anglers will tell you the chances of catching big fish are always best during the pre-spawn and spawning phases.

In my book, pre-spawn bass are the more reliable of the two. Not only are they less spooky. They are also much easier to pattern.

Plus, they will often be bunched up in wads, often according to size. Get on the right group of pre-spawn fish and you can put together a heavyweight sack in a hurry.

One of the main keys involved in catching pre-spawn bass is finding them. To accomplish this, it helps to know where to look.

Bass follow trails during their transitional movements. When making the move towards the spawning flats, female bass will travel creeks, drainages, ditches and other types of structure that provide suitable cover along a beaten path that connects deep water to shallow.

The move isn’t one that occurs in entirety overnight. Instead, pre-spawn bass will stop short of the shallows and suspend at a suitable spot as they wait for the adjacent shallows to warm to a suitable degree.

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One of the main keys involved in pinpointing staging areas is covering lots of water. The search can be fine-tuned by using a depth finder in combination with a GPS mapping chip to locate primary travel routes such as major creeks and large ditches that lead into isolated coves and pockets.

But don’t limit the search to those types of places alone. Bass will sometimes follow a main creek to a certain point, and then take an alternate route like a secondary drainage, trough or canal to the shallows.

Lookin’ At ‘Em

Once bass “lock on” to spawning beds is when sight fishing comes into play.

The idea is to navigate quietly through shallow water using a trolling motor or push pole while looking for nests that are occupied by spawning fish.

The trick is visibly identifying the fish from a distance. And then attempt to irritate it into striking an artificial lure.

The level of difficulty involved in closing the deal on bedding bass can vary from one fish to the next. While one bass may appear as wary as a feral cat, the next may respond so aggressively that closing the deal is so easy that it hardly seems like a challenge.

Here are few tips to remember when targeting bedding fish.

• Try to remain as quiet as possible when navigating the shallows to avoid spooking fish.

• Always wear a good pair of polarized sunglasses. This will reduce glare on the surface and make it easier to see fish from a distance.

• Always set up on bedding with the sun at your back and try to stay as far away from the bed as possible. A shallow anchor like a Talon or Power Pole is a valuable tool for holding the boat steady.

• A subtle lure presentation is essential.

For best results cast past the nest and work the bait back to it.

Contact Matt Williams at MWilliams@fishgame.com G a m e ®

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t Inflatable rafts are best for covering long stretches of the scenic and trout-filled Copper River.

You know you are facing wild Alaskan water when the

only tracks on the nearest bank were made by a moose, a bear and a wolf. You pause for a moment to put things in perspective.

Moose, bear and wolf are a different realm than, say, raccoon, squirrel and opossum. You’ve reached someplace special.

No strip centers or convenience stores are around the next corner.

We were the first—probably the first in, well, however long it takes for the tracks of man to erode against wind and storm.

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Creek. Nothing original there; no doubt, hundreds of remote Alaskan streams have been hailed as special water by adventuresome anglers. Our latest claim only underscored the potential in the “Great Land.”

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region is accessible only by bush plane.

Newhalen Lodge guide Drew Pozzi, Houstonian Charles McCord and I decided to abandon the silver salmon in the main channel and explore the trickle. We hiked several hundred yards across open gravel bars and around tangled brush-matted logs.

Ahead, a tight bend formed a short, quick riffle; below the riffle was a lazy run.

PhotOS: Main, Canstock; Insets, Joe Doggett

3/7/13 10:39 AM

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A Beaver float plane carries anglers on daily fly-out excursions across miles of wild Alaska.

Bright rainbow recently migrated from deep Lake Iliamna to follow spawning salmon in the Kvichak River.

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Story and Photos by Joe Doggett

We walked along the gravel bank and Pozzi stopped. He said nothing, just pointed. “Look out there!”

Pozzi has been the head fishing guide at Newhalen Lodge for 20 years; he has seen the best of Alaska and you know something exceptional is within reach when he points with exclamation.

McCord and I stared with polarized sunglasses into the sun-glittered flow. The bottom of the entire run was carpeted with char. Several hundred fish were within reach. They were suspending just off the shallow bottom, gray-green apparitions fin-

ning slowly in the flow. You could see the white pectoral fin slashes and the pink dorsal spots of the hens and the orange slashes of the males, beautiful fish, most in the 3- to 6-pound class.

Pozzi answered my unspoken question.

“They’re stacked in this run, staging to spawn. I’ll bet no one has touched this hole all summer.”

“Well, we’re fixing to,” McCord said, flipping a short cast with a six-weight fly rod. As soon as he threw an upstream line mend, the rod flashed against the surge of a hooked five pounder.

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We worked a hundred-yard stretch and I doubt either of us went more than three or four legitimate casts without at least raising a char on the standard egg-imitation bead rig. We soon switched to large dry flies, skating them down and across the current, and the char came up in furious boils and blasts.

Two hours later we left. Why only two hours? We had to retreat to rendezvous with the float plane. Timetable is one thing the Alaska bush pilots and fishing guides take very seriously.

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Joe Doggett, foreground, and Charles McCord caught dozens of char from untouched “Paradise Creek.”

char and Arctic grayling.

Despite the crushes of progress, Alaska renews each year. Threats do exist, such as the proposed Pebble Mine project, a giant open-pit mine on the tundra near Lake Iliamna, in the very heart of the Bristol Bay fishery. But, at least in the foreseeable future, the region remains virtually unchanged.

If anything, the sport fishing is better now than 30 years ago. This especially is true for rainbow trout. I base this conclusion on better access, better techniques, and a strong commitment to catch-and-release on

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mering run was as we had found it. Except our boot prints now blended with the moose, bear and wolf.

The char jackpot last September was only one of many “Paradise” sessions I have been privileged to enjoy in Alaska. I’ve made approximately 30 trips to the 49th State, dating to the mid 1970s, and consider it to be the finest fishing/adventure destination in the world.

Most of those expeditions have been to the Bristol Bay region—the mother lode of salmon and rainbow trout. Not to mention

Bill Sims’ bush plane in the background opens great vistas of uncrowded wilderness fishing to fly-out anglers.

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the dozen of “blue ribbon” rivers and creeks feeding the region.

Alaska remains a true and vital wilderness, a place where you can fly for an hour in a bush plane and see few, if any, signs of permanent civilization. The few gravel roads and the occasional cabins are meaningless when backed by awesome scopes of sprawling tundra, uncut valleys and far-reaching mountains.

You cannot conceive the magnitude of the place until you experience it. And the best way to do this is by flying out and hiking in; this combination of soaring like and eagle and stalking like a wolf puts you right in the middle of the wildness.

Sadly, the first part requires money—the fly-out lodges offering daily bush plane trips are the most expensive option (maybe $6,000 to $8,000 for a week of fishing).

But the experience provided by an A-Team operation truly is world class.

Newhalen Lodge is an excellent example.

The facility has been owned and operated by Bill Sims, of Anchorage, since the 1970s. It is situated near Clark Lake and the village of Nondalton. Newhalen Lodge accommodates 14 anglers and uses three de Havilland Beaver float planes and a Cessna 206 on wheels—major air power committed to putting clients on the best fishing each day.

Here’s a rule of Alaska worth remembering: Competition among lodges for the prime PhotOS: Joe Doggett

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Beautiful char in spawning colors is one of Alaska’s overlooked sport fish.

A long hike across open tundra from the float plane’s landing pond frames anglers against the dawning promise of Alaska’s Moraine Creek.

water does exist. It’s not always enough to be on the right river. You want to be on the right spot on the right river. And Newhalen

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Lodge consistently makes this happen.

(Incidentally, I’ve spent thousands of dollars “following the rainbow” to Alaska and

I’m telling it straight.)

The second part of the equation demands some game—you must be in reasonable con-

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Newhalen Lodge guide Drew Pozzi shows a typical wild Alaskan rainbow caught while wading a shallow stream.

Beautiful char in spawning colors is one of Alaska’s overlooked sport fish.

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dition to walk and wade during long hours for six consecutive days to maximize fishing potential.

A small float plane or wheel plane can safely “put down” only in so many places,

such as tundra lakes and open beaches. A serious hike often is required.

Bristol Bay gets all five North American species of Pacific salmon. They are, in summer spawning order, sockeyes, kings,

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chums, pinks and—best of all—silvers. The silvers, which average eight to 12 pounds in most rivers, are aggressive strikers and hard fighters, often making repeated leaps on fly or spin tackle.

PhotOS: Joe Doggett

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Ed Cappel of Houston tries to concentrate on Alaskan rainbows while a sow bear and cubs critique his drift.

The salmon are great but the big rainbow trout put Alaska over the top. Bristol Bay is, without question, the greatest wild rainbow fishery in the world; it is a promised land where the wader armed with a 6- to 8-weight

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fly rod can catch two or three dozen trout between 20 and 28 inches in a day and feel vaguely cheated.

Damn, you think, I lost one over 30!

You can get spoiled in a hurry up there.

The big trout move from the lakes into the feeder streams to follow the spawning salmon and gorge on the eggs. Bristol Bay has a dream roll call: Lower Talarik Creek, Moraine Creek, Copper River, Little

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the white mouth opens. The strike indicator shoots down and the line whips tight and the magnificent rainbow vaults three feet into the air.

Then you turn to see a gigantic brown bear on the gravel bar. You are in the bear’s fishing spot. The bear affixes you with a great fuzzy head and small dark eyes and the long claws scrabble on the gravel. Suddenly, abruptly, the biggest trout of your life doesn’t seem so important.

This is real Alaska, remember. And

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Kukaklek River, Kvichak River, Battle River, Gibraltar River, on and on. You cannot hit them all in a given week.

But, regardless of river, you can sight cast to marvelous trout holding behind pods of busy salmon in two or three feet of clear, cold water. The trout with green backs and black dots and scarlet slashes weave and dart, snapping the drifting eggs.

You make a decent cast, throw the quick upstream mend, and watch as battlewagon pushing 10 or 12 pounds slides over and

there’s no such thing as a small brown bear.

The protein-jacked coastal “brownie” is arguably the biggest land carnivore in the world.

During a weeklong trip in August or early September, when the sockeye runs are peaking and the bears are concentrating on the hot rivers, you might see several dozen at close range. “Close range” means on foot within 100 yards. Maybe right there, close enough to hit with a rock.

You respect their space and go around and, almost always, they leave you alone.

A legitimate confrontation is extremely rare.

But a full-blown brown bear appearing from nowhere amid streamside brush will solidly get your attention.

So, also, might a rutting bull moose or a roaming wolf pack or a soaring bald eagle.

But the great wildlife is a big part of the experience of going beyond the roads and wading amid the uncut vistas.

An incident from the trip last September is a good example. We were fishing the desolate and wind-swept Moraine Creek, possibly the most pleasing of all the Bristol Bay rainbow drainages. The day was almost finished; in fact, we were preparing to reel up and start the long hike up the steep bluff and across the spongy tundra to meet pilot Fred Sims on the take-out lake.

“OK, two more casts and we’re outta here,” Pozzi said, hitching his backpack.

My partner, Ed Cappel of Houston, was standing in knee-deep flow when he hooked a gorgeous 27-inch rainbow. I was 50 yards downstream. I made a final cast with the 7-weight and the line sprang tight as another “upper 20’s” rainbow shook into the air.

We both began back-pedaling to the gravel bar. “Hey, boys, look behind you,” Pozzi said.

Two bears had waddled from the brush.

The dark one stood behind Cappel, the blond one stationed behind me. They stared, watching the commotion, as Pozzi hefted a warning rock and laughed.

We had a double-double on big trout and bigger bears. Only when wading the wilds of Alaska.

3/11/13 10:09 AM

Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

For Moms and Dads Everywhere One of my best–received columns was a piece I did in 2008 dedicated to my parents.

A great friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen in a very long time mentioned that it was his father’s favorite column. His dad is now in a constant care facility due to stroke. I’d like to re-visit the column for Mr. Sauceda and his son Trey. Enjoy…

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do not come from a family of outdoorsmen. My mom grew up in Brownsville, Texas, which is about fortyfive minutes from Port Isabel and South Padre Island. I’m sure she would fish more if it didn’t involve being outside so much.

My dad grew up in Atascosa County, which is thirty miles south of San Antonio.

His youth was very hard. A three-year drought had ruined his father’s farm, and the entire family—including two brothers and two sisters—had to work to prevent the loss of it. Fishing and hunting weren’t for sport, but to literally put meat on the table. I’m sure he would fish with me more than the handful of times he’s gone with me if it didn’t bring back memories of those rough times.

I don’t regret not having either of my parents join me whenever I went fishing, though. They don’t go golfing with my two brothers, either. That’s ok, though. We spent lots of quality time together. Holidays, family barbecues, trips, even school were all family time (Dad was our High School principal and Mom our English teacher and speech coach in same). Fishing, then, was my personal time.

Even so, Mom and Dad understood that that fishing and hunting were very important to me, and they worked hard to encourage it. One year when I was thirteen the five of us spent an entire week in a condominium at

South Padre Island, and five of those seven days were spent fishing. Of course, the various rods and reels, tackle and perceived expertise were provided by this stalwart writer, and a fine time was actually had by all, including my big brother, Paco, whose contemporary idea of fishing is cross-examining some poor schlub during a big trial. He’s really good at it, too.

What strikes me though, to this day, is that Mom and Dad dedicated so much of OUR vacation to MY passion. They didn’t, and don’t, prefer me over my two brothers, but they wanted to us all to enjoy ourselves. So, along with the visits to the beach, and the tour of the Lighthouse, and the museum of the wreck of the Atocha, we fished.

And they put up with me, my fishing, and my…misadventures.

One day I came home from a fishing expedition to the local golf course’s water hazard with a catfish spine firmly imbedded in the soft flesh behind my right thumb and on top of my right hand. The catfish managed to stay behind, but I showed him. He was going to go through life lacking a dorsal fin.

Mom’s first reaction was to let the damn thing stay in my hand forever. After she realized it wouldn’t reflect well on her mothering skills to send me out into the world with part of another creature sticking out of me, Mom relented and took me to see Dr. Ben. Dr. Ben Garza has been my doctor since I was three years old. In the three decades he’s known me, he’s yanked my tonsils, treated my asthma and held my son. He’s also been privy to my misadventure as an aspiring fisherman.

Thus, he was more amused than surprised when Mrs. Gonzales brought in her thirteenyear-old middle child with a catfish spine sticking out of his hand.

“He’s incredible, isn’t he?” Dr. Ben asked.

“Incredible wasn’t among the words I was thinking of,” Mom said, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling.

Dr. Ben numbed my hand with Novocain and began working the spine out. Catfish spines are barbed, and that makes them tricky to remove. This one was stuck deep. As Dr. Ben worked it out of me, little bits of subcuT e x a S

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taneous particles and blood came out with it.

Mom went pale and looked like she was going to pass out.

“Are you all right, Judy?” Dr. Ben asked.

“Do you need to sit down?”

“Next time, I swear I’m leaving it inside you,” Mom gagged as she turned away and looked at the model of a human pelvis on the wall.

Dr. Ben finally dug the spine out of my hand and held the thing aloft for the nurse, Mom, and me to see. It was an inch long (I could have sworn it was at least three, maybe four times that size), thin and very sharp. In the movies, it would have been streaked with blood, with thin tendrils of gore trailing from it to the gaping hole in my hand. In real life, there weren’t any streaks, tendrils, or even a gaping hole. There was simply a long, pearl-colored, serrated thorn, a puckered, star-shaped puncture hole (the scar of which I’m looking at as I write this), a gawking kid, an indifferent nurse, and a queasy parent.

Dr. Ben was actually quite pleased.

“Now I have something to add to my collection,” he said.

Collection?

After the nurse had dressed my wound and given me a tetanus shot as a precaution— or maybe as punishment for putting Mom through this—Dr. Ben led Mom and me to his office. From behind his desk he withdrew a small test tube. In it were the prizes from some of my previous visits: Two fishhooks cut out of the same foot a year apart, a bb that had rolled around my forehead for two months before I told Mom and Dad about it—never, ever tape a paper target to a brick wall—and now a catfish spine.

As far as I know, Dr. Ben still has that collection.

That those who guide us can put up with the nonsense we aspiring outdoorsmen put them through is nothing short of epic.

Thanks, Mom and Dad. You did alright.

Contact Calixto Gonzales at CGonzalez@fishgame.com G a m e ®

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PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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It has been 72 years since Northwest Texas gave

birth to one of its most scenic reservoirs by closing the gates on a dam across the 820-mile long Brazos River in Palo Pinto and Young Counties. That event in 1941 eventually flooded approximately 17,000 acres of land that early-century fur trappers had helped nickname “Possum Kingdom.”

Within a few years Possum Kingdom Lake begun to attract anglers from as far away as Fort Worth, Dallas, and other North Texas cities. Remember, those were the days of only V and flat-bottom boats with small outboards, oars, or paddles.

The advent of electric trolling motors and their eventual mountings on the bows of boats rather than their sterns would come a few years later.

Most fishing rods were made of bamboo, steel or the new fiberglass, and reels were spooled with braided line

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in Texas and from Ron Venerable elsewhere. In the caught the meantime, these current state newer lakes with record striper below the PK young, fast-growing dam in 1999. populations of bass, including the experimental Florida bass, helped reduce the fishing pressures on Possum Kingdom.

It was during this period when the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department increased experimental stockings of numerous other non-native species in addition to Florida bass. The list included Nile perch, tarpon, orangemouth corvino, peacock bass, muskellunge, Atlantic croaker, saugeye, coho salmon, sauger, flounder, speckled trout, red drum, tilapia, walleye, northern pike, and striped bass and their hybrids. With the exception of the Florida bass, the striped bass and hybrids are the only ones that “took” and created new, lasting fisheries.

This was especially true at Possum Kingdom Lake, where a handful of fishing guides began leading their customers to catches of stripers weighing up to 20 pounds

Photo Don Zaidle

and tied to lures such as the Creek Chub Wiggle Fish that had caught the world record 22-1/4-pound largemouth bass in Georgia a little more than 10 years earlier, or on topwater lures including the Weezle Sparrow with its mallard hen, duck feathercovered body.

As word continued to spread about Possum Kingdom’s great fishery (and especially its fantastic topwater action for largemouth bass), the Weezle Sparrow, Heddon Chugger, Creek Chub Plunker, and Heddon Lucky 13 probably made more topwater catches than any other lures.

One of the hottest areas for that type of action was the deep-water bluffs above famed Hell’s Gate. The bluffs attracted hundreds of cliff swallows that built their nests there.

Occasionally, a baby cliff swallow would fall or be pushed from its nest and fall right into the hungry maw of a largemouth bass or catfish waiting below.

By the early 1970s, other reservoirs came onto the scene. Big ones like Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, and Amistad along with smaller ones were helping supply the needs of a fast-growing population of anglers

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or more by the mid-1990s. During PK’s rise as a striped bass fishery, its largemouth and white bass fisheries were continuing to climb to new heights, too. The still-standing largemouth bass record of 16.02 pounds was caught in 1989 by Scott Tungate, the same year a 15.12-pound hybrid striper became a lake record.

By the late 1990s, Possum Kingdom was at the top of the ladder as an overall great fishery. And down on the Brazos River below the PK dam, where fur trappers a century earlier trapped opossums, a 53-pound striped bass was pulled from the tailrace in May 1999. That fish still stands as the Texas record.

A year later, Lisa Taylor, the wife of PK fishing guide Jerry Taylor, caught the

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still-standing lake record striper that tipped the scales at 34.19 pounds. That same year, Bob Borg set a new smallmouth bass lake record with a fish weighing 6.80 pounds.

Then, tragedy struck. In early 2001, a major fish kill blamed on a little-known golden alga caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of fishes. At first, mostly rough fish washed ashore or sank to the bottom, but later, large numbers of game fishes including largemouth bass, striped bass, and others died from the suffocating effects of golden algae blooms.

Similar golden algae fish kills soon occurred at lakes Granbury and Whitney on the Brazos downstream, and in several other Texas water systems. Following the major 2001 fish kill at PK, other golden algae-related kills occurred there in 2003, 2007, and 2010. Of the four PK fish kills, the ones in 2001 and 2010 had the biggest negative impacts on the fishery.

TPWD employees have said negative fishing expectations spoken by many sources since the 2001 fish kill have turned many anglers away from the lake. Wildfires in 2011 also have contributed to negative out-

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looks. Local anglers who haven’t given up on the lake since the initial fish welcome the lack of fishing pressure.

TPWD has stocked PK with largemouth and striped bass several times since 2001 with mixed results, at least for striped bass.

The most recent surveys indicate populations of channel and blue catfish as well as white bass and gizzard shad to be above their historical averages, and largemouth bass numbers are above those recorded in 2008, according to TPWD fisheries supervisor Tom Lang of Wichita Falls.

“There were some largemouth bass weighing up to 8-1/2 pounds caught in bass tournaments last year, and we hope to stock largemouths again this year if we can get them,” Lang said. “I think the bass are coming along very well. The striped bass are still down and that probably can be blamed on the 2010 fish kill, but we still hear of some big stripers being caught.”

Possum Kingdom still suffers from low water levels, blamed by many on a severe drought that has continued since 2011, and the Brazos River Authority’s releases of water at the dam. The lake has remained

8-10 feet below conservation pool (full) level since 2012.

“We are hoping to do some habitat work there,” Lang said. “The aquatic vegetation hasn’t taken well to the water fluctuations and I am hoping that may stabilize soon.

American pond weed seems to be more tolerant to [water fluctuations] and we may get that going in some areas.”

Lang is hopeful to establish some brush piles in the lake, possibly with cedars (juniper), in strategically safe locations to help offset the lake’s loss of habitat caused by prolonged low water levels.

Finding cedars for such a project should not be a problem, considering the thousands of cedars that died during the severe 2011 wildfires and now are waiting to be burned or removed. Using some of those cedars as fish habitat could benefit the fish, anglers, and landowners if done in a professional and safe manner.

Anglers see them as better for the fish than the possums.

3/7/13 10:54 AM

Open Season

by Reavis Wortham | TF&G Humor Editor

Knotheads he Hunting Club members in the large round corner booth in Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café were deep into a discussion about fishing knots.

I’m not sure how we got there It was one of those fluid conversations that probably started about the weather, or astrophysics.

A table of college girls not far from our booth had somehow been drawn in. “My dad says an improved clinch knot is the best,” a blonde said, eyeing us from behind huge sunglasses.

Doc agreed. “That’s one of the best and it’s pretty easy to tie.”

“I don’t know how.” The tiny brunette who looked to be about sixteen.

Wrong Willie reached into his shirt pocket and withdrew a spool of 30-pound test line.

When we gave him a question look, he shrugged. “My grandson has a loose tooth.”

The girls left their table and gathered at our booth in an extremely animated crowd.

“Hold this paper clip.” Sunglasses volunteered and he demonstrated the proper way to tie the knot. “Then you pull it tight.”

“I want to try.” Willie handed Brunette the line and we watched as she tied a pretty fair imitation.

“Not bad.” Doc yanked and the knot held. “That’s probably the easiest to start with.”

“Is it strong?” Brunette asked.

That’s when we started to get in trouble.

“It’s the strongest you guys need to know right now,” Willie said.

“That’s not entirely true.”

I knew the argument was leading down the path of disaster. “A Snell is just as strong.”

Willie’s eyes gleamed.

“Prove it.”

“Bring that chair over here.” I went outside for some heavier fish-

ing line. When I returned, college kids and adults alike were practicing knots.

Doreen frowned from behind the counter.

“Do. Not. Break. Anything.”

“How can that happen? We’re just tying knots.” I felt a chill along my backbone and rejoined the group. “Here’s how we’re going to do this. Brunette, sit in that chair and hold it down. I’m going to tie one end to this chair leg, and the other around this smooth butter knife, to use as a handle. We’ll just lift up on the handle and see if the knot breaks.”

The first experiment was successful, and the Improve Clinch knot moved the chair a fraction of an inch before it snapped.

Encouraged, we tried a Snell.

Unfortunately, the results appeared to be the same. Then the Cap’n had an idea.

That’s why we call him the Cap’n. “Let’s tie four knots on four different lines tied to different points on Brunette’s chair. Then we can all lift at the same time to see which one breaks first.”

Doreen rested her chin on a fist. “Whatever breaks will get you guys in trouble.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Willie told the girls. “This is educational. Education doesn’t hurt.”

“My head hurt all through Fundamentals of Mathematics back in college,” Jerry Wayne recalled.

Doc, Willie, the Cap’n and I tied different knots to four corners of Brunette’s chair, then to our butter knife handles.

“Ready?”

Willie began.

“Lift…slowly.”

While the café’s patrons watched, we slowly pulled upward. Her chair shifted, slid, and began to rise, just as the Eugene Bend knot snapped and she thumped back to the ground with a squeal.

“Do you think plain old fishing line will hold her up?” asked Blonde. “That reminds

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me of the trick we play at slumber parties called Lighter Than a Feather.”

Our original intent went out the window at that point.

Willie smiled. “I remember that. We played it even when I was a kid.”

“More line.” I cut off several lengths of 30-pound test. “You girls come over here and help. We’ll pick her up head high with fishing line.”

“Stop it!” Doreen shouted. “Somebody’s gonna get hurt.”

“Sounds just like Mama.” Doc created a knot.

We unspooled more line and the giggling girls joined us. Hunting Club members demonstrated a variety of knots and we had the girls tie their own. Brunette stayed in the her chair and we were ready.

“Lighter than a feather.” Blonde chanted.

“Lighter than a feather.”

Club members joined in. “Lighter than a feather.”

Brunette closed her eyes and stiffened.

We lifted.

“Lighter than a feather!”

And lifted.

Higher.

“Lighter than a feather!”

Higher.

Then a knot broke. Don’t know which one. In quick succession the others snapped and Brunette crashed to the ground. The chair splintered. Brunette’s heel kicked up, catching Willie in his… …anyway, he fell back against a table… …glasses crashed… …people fell…

Doreen shouted. “You knotheads!”

The girls fled and Doc stood alone in the rubble. “At least we taught them some knots and they gained an interest in fishing.”

That observation sent us to the lake, where we tied more knots and wondered when Doreen would let us back into the café.

Contact Reavis Wortham at RWortham@fishgame.com Graphic Illustration: Texas Fish & Game

3/11/13 10:10 AM

Digital Edition

Texas Fish & Game is not just a magazine.

Photo:

TF&G is a provider of educational materials for those who seek to know more about the myriad topics we cover. In the Jan. 2013 edition we covered our weekly educational newsletter that goes to hundreds of public, private and home school teachers across the state.

But there is more.

The level of knowledge and wisdom contained within our print and web pages is immense and anyone wanting to learn or teach from it has opportunities that no other entity in our great state can boast.

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TF&G ALMANAC Table of Contents

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GEARING UP SECTION

hotspots focus: lower coast • Shackin’ Up | by calixto

tested • Trijicon, Shi68 texas manao, Ranger | TF&G Texas Hotspots • Texas’ Hot81 test Fishing Spots | industry insider • BIC Alli, & 70 ance | TF&G and game gear• Hot New sportsman’s daybook • 72 fish Outdoor Gear | TF&G 88 Tides & Prime Times | TF&G sporting tales• xxxxxx | 96 TF&G by

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by calixto gonzales bob hood george knighten

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by

by

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COVER STORY • Outdoor Education | by chester moore

OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE SECTION

FISHING FORECAST SECTION

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hotspots focus: upper coast • Ribbonfish: More of the Same, Please | by capt. eddie hernandez

HOW-TO SECTION

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texas boating • Eyes Wide Open | by lenny rudow texas kayaking • Big Mouth Trout | by greg berlocher paul’s tips • Keep Your Cool | by paul bradshaw

Texas Fish & Game (Print Magazine)

The features in our monthly magazine are typically based around a formula of freshwater, saltwater, hunting/shooting and A P R I L

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texas tasted • Beer Can 100 Chicken | CLASSIFIED 102 OUTDOOR DIRECTORY • Guides, Gear and More | TF&G by bryan slaven

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hotspots focus: galveston • It Isn’t Nice (Or Smart) to Fool with Mother Nature | by capt.

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tf&g Photos • Your Action Photos | by TF&G readers

mike holmes

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hotspots focus: matagorda • Matagorda Springs to Life |

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hotspots focus: rockport • The Night Shift, Part 1 | by capt.

by mike price

texas guns & gear • Predator Calling Today | by steve lamascus

“While we certainly have adventure stories and firsthand experiences from the great outdoors, the heart of Texas Fish & Game is going out into the field and even into the halls of legislature and the labs of wildlife and fisheries biologists to bring forth information that can give outdoorsmen an edge whether it is on the water, in the woods or simply for their own enjoyment,” said Editor-In-Chief Don Zaidle.

Zaidle has been instrumental in assembling a team of writers that have a broad understanding of the outdoors experience and helping steer the company’s coverage away from the crowd and into something unique.

“If you want to educate yourself on the outdoors and read things you will find nowhere else, we are the ticket.”

We would like to show you how to cash in that ticket and use TF&G as an educational tool for school age children and yourself.

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conservation. And instructions are given to writers to provide as many unique observations and citations as possible. They are the place to go for the most far-reaching information.

Columns can easily be overlooked for their educational benefits because people associate them so closely to the authors but ours certainly have huge educational benefits. For instruction and techniques Calixto Gonzalez (saltwater), Matt Williams (freshwater), Lou Marullo (bowhunting) are the places to go. For pure information tied in with historical anecdotes check out Bob Hood (hunting), Chester Moore (wildlife), Lenny Rudow (boating) and the Texas Department of Defense written by Steve LaMascus and Dustin Ellermann. For political issues tied to the outdoors as well as a variety of commentary check out Don Zaidle (editor’s notes), Ted Nugent and Kendall Hemphill (commentary).

The thing to keep in mind is all of these writers can be contacted via email and really do respond so if you would like to dig deeper into an issue or ask for sources, feel free to contact them.

Fishgame.com

www.FishGame.com branch of TF&G is a treasure trove of wideranging information. By simply using the search engine on the site, you can access virtually everything on the site dating back for many years. This will connect you to the features, columns and news from back issues as well as information from blogs from many of our writers.

Perhaps the most informative part of the site is the TF&G Report which is represented front and center on the home page.

It is a collection of news stories aggregated from throughout cyberspace and increasingly written by TF&G staff that covers every facet of the outdoors and it is created from an educational standpoint.

“We didn’t want that simply to be a bunch of news stories just on hunting and fishing but everything in the outdoors from the scientific to the obscure. We are the source for the latest information that you more commonly see in journals like Science but that have extremely important applications for outdoorsmen and women,” Zaidle said.

Readers (and web surfers) can subscribe to a free e-newsletter that goes out MondayFriday and gives them the latest headlines.

The large and ever-expanding internet

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Texas Boating

Eyes Wide Open

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hen I can drag them away from their electronics, Thingies and Podamajigs, my 13 year old twin boys, are the best fishing buddies in the world, but right now as they both sit in the bow and stare gapmouthed at a six-inch TV screen, I feel a surge of… pride? Yes, that’s pride I feel.

Because the picture that has them so captivated is of the fish below our boat. Each boy has a rod in hand, they’re completely engrossed in our underwater fish-cam and my only wish is that they’d move back a bit so I could see the screen, too.

The View from Down Under

Fish-cams first came onto the scene a little over a decade ago when Aqua-Vu

began marketing a bulky plastic contraption that housed a small, rudimentary, black and white TV screen jacked to a simple low-res underwater camera on a 50’ chord. The unit was designed for ice fishermen, who would drill a second hole next to the one they were fishing in, drop down the camera, and watch their lure to see how fish reacted to different baits and jigging techniques. The usual media frenzy and calls to make underwater fish-cams illegal followed, though most of us south of the Mason-Dixon Line probably didn’t pay much attention since ice fishing

here is rather (ahem) thin.

As is true of most electronics, during the past 10 years the quality of underwater fish-cams has moved forward by leaps and bounds, while prices have dropped. In fact, today you can purchase a fish viewing system with a camera sporting LED lights, a rechargeable 12-V battery, 50’ of chord, and a 380-pixel 5.5” black and white monitor for about a hundred bucks.

If you’re willing to spend more like $300, you can get a system the size of a cell phone with a 3.5” full color display, or a larger 7” daylight-viewable LCD. If you’re not afraid to drop big bucks, you can even get a fullblown recreational underwater ROV for recreational use, like the HydroView (which goes for around $3,000). This mini subon-a-string has a built-in high-def camera, LED lights, and 50’ to 300’ of cable. It’s 19” long, is rated to dive to a depth of 150’, and can make speeds of up to five knots in forward and two knots in reverse. You can even use your smart phone or pad (either Apple or Android) as the controller, tilting

Photo: Canstock

by Lenny Rudow | TF&G Boating Editor

Cover story: Outdoor Education t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 58 It is an easy way to keep informed in almost real-time.

The video center at fishgame.com contains hundreds of videos ranging from proper snake identification to tips from the bass pros like Gerald Swindle on how to fish soft plastic frogs. It is searchable and broken down by category for ease of use.

“We are constantly updating our videos and although many of them are new product oriented because of our presence at shows like SHOT and ICAST, we are increasing those on wildlife and fisheries subjects and very specific instruction on fishing, hunting and shooting,” said publisher Roy Neves.

A few years ago I embarked on a selflearning journey to study the habits of truly 60 |

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big fish. I am talking about the extra-large specimens of largemouth bass, flounder, speckled trout, crappie and other species.

My first stop was fishgame.com and my archive of back issues of Texas Fish & Game.

The 25 years (at that time) backlog of well-researched in-depth features, columns and news stories gave me a heads up on which experts to contact and specific studies to seek out. This journey took me many other places but as someone who has been on the editorial staff since 1998, it made me proud.

The result has been the F.L.E.X. Fishing ® system you will see me write about from time to time. And while our research needs may be as simple as sources for a high school essay or instruction on how F i s h

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to flip a jig, we can help make it happen.

A big part of my job is interacting with the public at various shows and appearances and I am constantly honored to hear so many people who say TF&G has given them the information they need to be successful in the field and that their views on outdoors issues have been broadened by our writers.

And over the last few years we have families share how we are their resource for their children’s outdoors educational projects.

That inspires us to reach higher, fight harder and take things to new levels as we approach our 30th anniversary.

There is no resting our laurels. Not now.

Not ever.

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Texas Boating it to change the HydroView’s direction.

You can get any of these systems and plug the camera directly into your MFD or chartplotter if it has a video-in jack—and most intermediate to high-end units do these days—to display the picture right at the helm. The question is, why would you want to?

Wonder About Down Under

Forget about ice fishing (as if you were considering it, in the first place). No matter what someone uses their boat for, be it casting for redfish, swimming at a secluded beach, or water skiing, each and every one of us who’s a boater is sure to be awed in one way or another by the underwater world.

Some of us interact with it by snorkeling or scuba diving, some by watching the sonar, and some by simply looking over the side of the boat. Many of us do all of these things at different times, and now you can add a new form of interaction to the list—with one of these inexpensive yet high-quality underwater fish-cams.

The boys and I got ours out of curiosity; there was a certain spot we discovered which was swarming with redfish. Though no larger than a two-bedroom house, the spot

seemed to hold hundreds of fish, and we made limit catches there several weekends in a row. The real mystery, however, was a complete lack of structure. Staring at the fishfinder as we drifted over the spot did no good—there simply wasn’t anything there, or so it seemed.

Wandering through a store one day, the boys and I walked by a fish-cam display and stopped in our tracks. With underwater eyes, surely we would be able to figure out why all those fish were attracted to the spot.

Shocked by just how inexpensive these systems had become, buying one seemed like a no-brainer.

The next Saturday the iPods and cell phones were left sitting at home, as we beelined for our mystery hot-spot. As soon as I cut the throttle the camera went over the side, our eyes were glued to the screen, and we quickly discovered why these things are great for ice fishing—but not so great on open waters. It’s incredibly hard to control the camera when you’re adrift. Yes, the camera has a fin attached, but it still swings and sways as it’s pulled through the water.

It seems to drop through nothingness, until it plops down on bottom and raises an obscuring cloud of mud. When you catch a

glimpse of something interesting off to the right, the camera invariably swings left. And the whole time you’re messing with it trying to get a decent view, your rod sits unattended in a holder. I quickly gave up, decided the camera was an unwise purchase, and started casting my jig. But the boys did not.

And as is true of most electronic devices, practice makes perfect. After an hour or two of fiddling, they discovered how to pinch the cable in-between two fingers, rotate it to counter the camera’s swings, and pull up or drop down the chord to keep the camera hovering a few inches off bottom as our boat rocked and pitched.

“Mounds,” one of them suddenly blurted out. “There are mounds all over the place, and look at the fish!” Their patience had paid off. I rushed over, dropped my rod into a holder and peered over their shoulders. On the screen I could see dozens of small mounds, shaped like watermelons that had been cut in half and placed flat-side down. Rising less than a foot off the bottom, they had remained invisible to the fishfinder, but there they were plain as day in black and white. And hordes of redfish meandered around them.

Truth be told, the underwater camera turned out to be an electronic item that not only failed to help us catch more fish, it actually caused our catch-rate to drop. We spent half of our fishing time fiddling with it, and it’s not like knowing that those mounds— whatever created them—were down there would help us pull more fish from the spot.

But the fish-cam certainly helped satisfy our curiosity. It added a new and exciting dimension to a day of fishing and it was simply fun to use. We can’t wait for our next opportunity to peek beneath the waves with it. Plus, using the fish-cam taught the boys an important lesson on persistence, one on which I evidently needed a refresher. And heck yeah—the experience made me proud.

Contact Lenny Rudow at LRudow@fishgame.com Get more boating tips in LENNY RUDOW’s Texas Boating Blog at www.Fishgame.com/blogs 62 |

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Texas Kayaking

by Greg Berlocher | TF&G Kayaking Editor

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ig bass and big ling are at the front of the line when it comes time to procreate. Seasoned angers know that that the largest specimens are caught at the beginning of the spawning season, not at the end. The same goes for speckled trout. April and May are big trout months on the Texas coast and a kayak will help improve your chances of landing the catch of a lifetime.

The spawning habits of speckled trout might be the most understood of all the Lone Star’s game fishes. Unlike largemouth bass, trout don’t build a nest. They are free spawners. Triggered by extended photo periods and increasing water temperatures, speckled trout begin staging in spawning areas. When it is time to mate, males and females release sperm and eggs in close proximity to one another, allowing gravity and water currents to unite the two.

A fertilized fish egg is a high protein snack for a variety of marine creatures.

To increase the chances their fertilized eggs survive, speckled trout prefer spawning areas with seagrass, which provides lots of hiding spaces, or areas with favorable water currents, which help disperse the eggs. The water along windward or exposed beaches is a popular area to seek spawning speckled trout.

Speckled trout can spawn multiple times a year. Egg production continues throughout the year and it is not uncommon for 1-2 year old speckled trout to spawn half a dozen times or more each year. Egg production requires lot of energy and spawning females consume a lot of groceries. The moral of the story: Target a likely spawning area that has the right combination of clean and moving water, as well as bait activity, T F & G

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As mentioned earlier, large speckled trout kick off the mating season early and April and May are prime months to catch a fish weighing 6-pounds or more. Big trout get that way by being very wary creatures.

Waves slapping against the side of a center console is a great way to alert the fish that you are in the neighborhood.

The result: lockjaw.

“ Unlike largemouth bass, trout don’t build nests.

They are free spawners.

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Big Trout Month

and you will likely find hungry and cooperative speckled trout.

Most sharpshooters who target sow trout on the Texas Gulf Coast prefer to fish afoot rather than afloat as it increases stealth but doing the “speckled trout shuffle” limits your effective range. It also limits the maximum depth you can fish.

The ideal tactic for seeking sow trout is a hybrid approach. Enter the kayak.

Paddle out from a windward beach or shoreline until you are in 6 – 7 feet of water. Allow the wind to push you back to the beach, fan casting ahead of your drift.

Note the depth when strikes occur. Ease your anchor over after every strike and stop and fan cast the area thoroughly. Kayaks are much less prone to hull slap than bay boats but certain square-walled kayak hulls are just as noisy. To minimize hull slap, adjust A L M A N A C

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your anchor trolley to keep the waves from hitting your hull broadside.

As you drift, keep an eye out for slicks, especially small ones that pop up. Slicks start out the size of your fist. The slick’s sheen is created by oil from partially digested bait fish which is regurgitated by a speckled trout. The droplets of oil float to the surface and, over time, disperse. It only takes minutes for a slick to go from washtubsize to swimming pool-size. Speckled trout are more likely to be under a small slick than one that is 100 feet across.

If you look sideways down the shoreline and see several slicks all lined up at the same depth, consider it money in the bank. You now have multiple data inputs that confirm what depth the trout are feeding. Get to that water depth immediately. The only question that remains is whether you continue fishing from your kayak or bail out and wade.

I generally like to stalk spawning trout on foot but only in shallow water. More than one mutinous wave has topped my chest waders as I tiptoed out into deeper water in a futile attempt to add precious yards to probing casts. The result was a very chilly paddle back to the launch spot. I now err on the side of caution once the water hits belly button-deep.

If you have never caught a speckled trout over six-pounds before, April and May are prime months when the big breeders get the jump on the youngsters. Dress warmly, target an exposed beach with good water clarity, moving water, and baitfish, and keep the noise down. If you fish from a kayak, you already have that part down pat.

Contact Greg Berlocher at GBerlocher@fishgame.com.

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Paul’s Tips

by Paul Bradshaw | TF&G Contributing Editor

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s hunters and anglers, by the very nature of the hobbies we choose to pursue, we spend a lot of time in the woods or on the water miles away from the convenience of electricity.

This is ironic since most of the time we are fishing on lakes designed to provide electricity to the masses living in cities hundreds of miles away. Now, if your outdoor excursions lasts only a few hours then this lack of

isn’t a viable option, let’s look at a few ways to make ice last longer and a few alternatives to buying bags of ice at the local convenience store.

I know this is going to sound like the dumbest thing I’ve ever said but the biggest enemy of ice is heat. See, I told you it was dumb but a lot of people fail to realize all the sources of heat and how to combat them.

The biggest source of heat you need to worry about is the sun. Even in the dead of winter, a cooler in direct sunlight will be warmer than one in the shade, meaning the

“ The problem with ice is that it doesn’t stay ice for very long.

illistration by paul bradshaw

Keep Your Cool

access to electricity is negligible. However, if your hunting trip in the mountains, fishing trip to the beach, or family camping trip in a national forest lasts for a few days then this lack of electricity causes one huge problem in that you have no means of keeping food or game fresh other than the old fashioned way, ice (unless your want to drag a refrigerator and generator along and if you do that then you might as well just stay home Nancy-boy).

The problem with ice is that it doesn’t stay ice for very long and when it melts you’re left with a soggy, nasty, potentially unsanitary mess. Plus, if you go through a lot of it, the expense can add up in a hurry.

So since not keeping your food or game cool

“ ice inside will melt faster. So the first tip is to always store your cooler in the shade.

If you’re in the woods this isn’t a problem but if you are on the beach or other areas with sparse cover it might be a little harder to find. If you have a tarp, use it to set up a shade to cover the cooler. No tarp, no problem, just take the cooler out of the bed of the truck and put it under it.

If you are at the beach you can even go a few steps further. Since you should always have a shovel while beach camping, use it to dig a hole slightly larger than the cooler, but not quite as deep, and place the cooler in it. Keeping the lid a few inches above the ground means all the items in the cooler are still accessible but the sand stays out and 64 |

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will help insulate the cooler from the heat. Kind of like when your dog digs

800 h o l e s in your backyard to lie in during the summer. For a little more added insulation keep the ground around the cooler wet to help dissipate additional heat.

Those tips might help your ice last longer, but eventually it will melt which means you now have water to deal with which turns everything in the cooler into a waterlogged sloppy mess, and can cross contaminate food in some cases.

To get around this, take some empty two liter soda bottles, clean them thoroughly inside and out, fill them about 他 full of water and then freeze them. These self contained

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that, then take some sandwich sized ziplock

ice cubes can last for days and can be used multiple times. Or, if you get desperate for water you have a ready supply once the ice melts.

There are cases where the two liter bottles are just too big and bulky. In cases like this we also carry some small frozen 20 ounce bottles. These work great since they can be packed in tightly and settle in close to food or game to keep it cool for a long time.

If you still need something smaller than

bags, f i l l t h e m with water, place them in a cake pan in the freezer so they lay flat and you can make dozens of these clean ice cubes for cheap. The point is, with a little thought you can save money and mess on ice for all your outdoor excursions.

Contact Paul Bradshaw at PBradshaw@fishgame.com

3/25/13 4:14 PM

Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus | TF&G Shooting Editor

Predator Calling Today

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redator calling – luring a predator such as a bobcat or coyote to the hunter by use of a device that makes a sound like a small animal in distress, or that simulates the mating sounds of the animal hunted – is one of, if not the fastest growing of the outdoor sports. It is generally productive, not terribly expensive, and the animals hunted are prolific and very widely spread, even into the city limits of our larger cities.

During my many years as a predator caller I have had at one time or another, coyotes, bobcats, gray foxes, raccoons, badgers, whitetail does, whitetail bucks, hawks, owls, eagles, javelinas and mountains lions, respond to my calls. Any animal that eats other animals for a living has heard the frightened screams made by these prey animals and recognizes those sounds as the dinner bell. The others come out of curiosity or because they misconstrue the sounds as mating sounds or the sounds of their own young in distress.

The first calls were pretty crude by modern standards. The first call I ever saw was made by attaching a a thin brass reed to the tip of a hollowed out goat’s horn. It was used by a retired government trapper to call in the first coyote I ever shot.

My first call was one I made from a plastic screwdriver handle with a reed made from the plastic to which clarinet reeds came glued. I spent hours fashioning the call with an electric drill, a bastard file and a pocketknife. I used the knife to scrape the plastic of the reed until it was the correct thickness to make the sounds I wanted.

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Both of these calls, primitive though they seem, worked amazingly well and still would. In fact, there are many modern open reed calls that are today fashioned very much like my old screwdriver handle model.

These days, however, the epitome of the varmint call is the digital electronic model. It will have a big speaker, a remote control and be equipped with from a dozen to a hundred or more different sounds. While I still prefer the mouth calls, both open and closed reed, I am forced to admit that the digital electronic models are deadly under the right conditions. Also, they allow the neophyte varmint caller to get into the woods and have some success without the hours or months of practice that is required before one can make realistic sounds on a mouth call.

One of the newest and best electronic calls to hit the market is by Fox Pro. I have an older Fox Pro but it was very expensive - prohibitively so to many of us. Fox Pro understood this and this newer model, the Spitfire, is less expensive than its older siblings.

The Spitfire is a great caller. I gave it a try last winter in the cedar breaks of North Texas. My buddy, Wyman Meinzer, and I had tried all day without success. The weather was against us. It was muddy, rainy, windy and cold. Nothing was moving.

Even the cows were bedded down and we didn’t see a jackrabbit or cottontail all day.

We blew on our calls until we gave out. In fact, three of my calls did give out. Finally I drug out the Spitfire to try a different sound and hopefully change our luck.

It was the last stand of the day. Light was running out and so was our ambition. I was cold, damp, and hungry. I set the little Fox Pro out in front of our location a few yards, selected a woodpecker sound and turned it on.

We had decided to sit there until it was too dark to shoot, and it was fast approaching that time. I was just about to turn off the call and stand up when I heard Wyman’s little .221 Fireball bark over to my left. I F i s h

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stood up and walked down to pick up the caller. Having hunted with Wyman for over 40 years, I knew that whatever he shot at was dead.

Sure enough, as I walked up the road toward the 4-wheeler, Wyman came strolling out of the cedar carrying a gorgeously spotted bobcat of about 18 pounds. The little Fox Pro Spitfire had saved the day.

The Spitfire has recently been replaced by an improved version called the Wildfire 2. Externally, the two appear identical, but internally the Wildfire 2 has a number of improvements. The new Wildfire 2 has only one speaker, rather than the two that the bigger models have. There are two jacks for add-on external speakers. One of the weak points of my Spitfire is that it’s not quite loud enough for windy days on the plains, but it’s perfect for hunting the Brush Country and for reasonably calm days anywhere.

I think all neophyte predator callers should make the effort required to learn to use a mouth call. The open reed calls are the most versatile and the closed reed calls are the easiest to learn to use. Either type, blown properly, will bring predators on the run. And believe it or not, the old-fashioned mouth blown call is, in my experience, more productive, on average, than the electronic.

If you want to start with an electronic call, please do, but if you forsake the use of a mouth call you are missing out on a huge thrill. There is nothing like the thrill of seeing a coyote loping toward you on a cold winter morning with frost on the ground, mouth open in what can only be described as a savage smile, as his yellow eyes search for the rabbit making those cries, and knowing that it is you he is looking for.

Contact Steve LaMascus at SLamascus@fishgame.com

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Trijicon’s Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR)

Photo: Dustin Ellermann

Every year brighter and more compact optics hit the market for the tactical and hunting world. The Trijicon RMR is one of the smallest and lightest of them all.

Weighing in at only one ounce, the RMR is an impressive sighting system coming in a variety of reticle colors, styles and illumination features.

1 MOA click adjustable windage and elevation adjustments with no silly locking screws that cheaper optics have to employ.

It is so ruggedized and durable many folks are mounting them not only on their battle rifles but also on the slide of their semi-auto pistols. A custom shop will mill out the slide on the handgun for mounting giving the shooter a quick acquisition, single focal plane, precise aiming solution.

At a range day I attended a Springfield representative had one mounted on an XD and he was beating it against the concrete floor. There was no paint left on the RMR’s contact area from numerous hammering sessions, but everything

Cure for What Ails You: Shimano Curado

Photo: Shimano

Texas Tested

If the poor quality, sticky drags, low gearing and unreliable braking found in common bass reel makes you sick to your stomach, Shimano has the cure—the new Curado G series.

I tested out a

Shimano Curado G

The Trijicon RMR boasts of a robust, durable and compact design, mounted here on an AR-15

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For my testing I opted for the 3.25 MOA red dot model (RM06) with automatic and adjustable electronic illumination. The RMR has an impressive battery life of 4 years on a standard CR2032 battery. If you don’t care for batteries and electronics then the “Tritium”/Fiber Optic version is even more affordable might be what you are seeking. The RMR has 68 |

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else was in perfect working order. There are several mounting solutions available to mount the RMR to anything you wish to use it on. The RMR’s retail from $550-650 and you can choose from nine different models to best meet your needs at www.trijicon.com.

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200G6 while casting crankbaits for largemouth and found that this new, upgraded version of the old Curado has the makings to keep this model line rolling as a work horse for dedicated bass guys, while bringing them a new level of performance.

First off, take note of the price. At around $160 this reel is still reasonably priced—and even costs a hair less than last year’s Curado E. Now consider the reel’s appearance; it has a dark green metallic finish which will protect it from corrosion, and it sits a tad higher on the reel seat than the previous version did. But all of this stuff is peripheral to what you really care about: how the Curado G performs.

Casting, it feels every bit as smooth as they come (give some credit to the bearingsupported pinion which cuts friction against the spool shaft) and the VBS brake system, which uses centrifugal force instead of magnets to control the spool which did a great job of cutting backlash. It has six weighted settings so you can dial it in for maximum distance or maximum control in adverse conditions. On the retrieve you

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won’t feel any slop in the handle and the level-wind lays the line on evenly. And most importantly, when you set the hook and start cranking, the aluminum frame won’t flex like some all-graphite reels.

Down-sides? Some anglers may feel the ever-so-slight increase in profile changes the feel when palming the reel, although I didn’t even notice after about two casts.

Some others may dislike the change from a metal star drag to composite, but this saves weight and today’s composites are strong enough that a low-stress piece like this simply doesn’t need to be metal. The sideplates are also weight-savers, made from graphite. Put all the pieces-parts together and the Curado 200G6 weighs in at a mere 7.2 ounces.

The Curado G series also includes the G5 and G7 (plus leftie versions of the 6 and 7), all of which hold 190 yards of 30-lb. Power Pro braid or 180 yards of standard eight-pound mono. Gear ratios are 5.5:1 for the G5 (23” of line per crank), 6.5:1 for the G6 (27” of line per crank), and 7.1:1 (30” of line per crank) for the G7. All have five bearings including an A-RB roller clutch bearing, and all put out up to 11 pounds of drag. If you’re ready to replace that old work-horse and you want an upgrade at the same time, the Curado G should be on your short list.

Find out more at www.fish.shimano.com.

—Lenny Rudow

Photo: Ranger Boats

Ranger 220 Bahia Ranger may be famous for its bass boats, but they also offer Fish-N-Plays, Multi-species boats, and Bay Rangers.

But, can a freshwater company really build a top-notch saltwater boat? Check out their 220 Bahia, and I’ll bet you say yes.

The 220 Bahia is 21’5” long, 8’5” wide and weighs in at just over 2,000

pounds. Those are pretty common dimensions for a dedicated bay boat, but beyond its specifications, few other things could be described as average. The rod locker, for example, is a whopping 8’6” long. Instead of the usual half-dozen vertical console rodholders on the Bahia you get eight, and instead of the usual plastic these are stainless-steel. The fishbox holds 55 gallons, which is enough volume to ice down a tuna much less a sea trout. And instead of one livewell the boat comes with two.

They say the devil’s in the details and one of the nice finishing touches on this boat will be found in the stowage compartments. Where many builders skimp and either settle for a painted surface or a rotomolded pan, the Ranger’s locker interiors are lined with gel-coated fiberglass. Now check out the hatches, and note that they dog-down tight on compression latches.

Even though the Bahia comes with a wealth of standard features, Ranger offers a wide range of options to allow you to semi-customize the boat. Items like a Power Pole, keel protector, and onboard battery chargers, which would usually be added by a dealer or as aftermarket addons, can be installed right at the factory.

More options open up when you consider the wide range of power options. All are 150-hp—that’s what Ranger designed this boat to run with—but you have your choice of a factory-installed Mercury Four-Stroke, Optimax, or Verado; a Yamaha F150, a Suzuki DF150, or an Evinrude E150.

There are also multiple jack plate options, trailer options and a whopping 15 different choices just when it comes to electric trolling motor options. Semi-customization on a production bay boat? You betcha.

The construction Ranger uses on its high-performance bass boats also gets applied to the Bahia, as well. The transom is pultruded (the fiberglass part is

tensioned, rolled through a resin bath, and then pulled through a temperaturecontrolled die); stringers are foam-cored; and of course the boat has full-upright foam floatation. Like other Rangers, it also comes with a custom-matched trailer with oil-bath hubs and hydraulic surge brakes.

Check it out, at www.rangerboats.com.

—LR

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Industry Insider

BIC Magazine BIC Alliance publishes Business & Industry Connection (BIC) Magazine 10 times a year and is nearing its 30th year in circulation. BIC reaches more than 120,000 mid- and upperlevel managers and executives in the refining/petrochemical, drilling and exploration, pipeline, marine, terminal, pulp and paper, power generation and heavy construction industries.

Departments in the publication cover industry concerns such as safety, maintenance, purchasing and the environment.

BIC is also featured online in its entirety and is accessed worldwide. BIC’s horizontal format gives it an advantage against its competitors’ vertical approach. BIC Magazine serves a wider variety of sectors and departments than other energy magazines.

It also has ongoing editorial, direct mail, email blasts and access to databases.

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BIC Alliance’s mission is “to connect people in business and industry with one another for the betterment of all.” In a business setting, better usually means growth. When a company looks to grow, it can do so in three ways: an aggressive marketing plan, hiring the right people and acquiring businesses (or obtaining capital for expansion). BIC Alliance Founder and CEO Earl Heard and his partner Thomas Brinsko have developed a unique business model to help businesses accomplish all of these growth opportunities with the BIC Alliance family of companies.

Photos: BIC Alliance

BIC Alliance

IVS Investment Banking’s Thomas Brinsko, far left, and John Zapalac, far right, visit with, from second left, Dennis Turnipseed of Total Safety; Jimmy Foret, owner of Wholesale Radio; David E. Fanta, CEO of Total Safety; Chad Knight of Wholesale Radio and Steven Cowan of Total Safety. IVS Investment Banking was the exclusive adviser to Wholesale Radio Rental.

an industrial ad in the help wanted section of BIC. When Heard began describing his idea for the ad, the executive told him, “Earl, with your experience, contacts

and influence, we want to use you as our recruiting firm.”

And just like that BIC Recruiting was born. Today, BIC Recruiting is used by

BIC Recruiting came about in 1992 when a BIC Alliance member asked Heard to help him find an experienced selling professional.

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BIC Recruiting BIC Recruiting’s, Jana Wise, left, Hazel Kassu, center, and Deborah Anderson have more than 48 years’ experience in executive recruiting, interviewing, management, mentoring, leadership, business development and customer service.

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nearly 30 companies and has helped place even more employees in C-level executive, managerial and sales positions.

Recently, BIC Recruiting’s Hazel Kassu was promoted to managing director.

BIC Media Solutions BIC Media Solutions — the custom publishing division of BIC Alliance — represents another innovation in the way industry professionals tell their stories to the world through brochures, reprints and custom publishing. Since 2005, BIC Media Solutions has published seven books including, “It’s What We Do Together That Counts— The BIC Alliance Story,” “Energy Entrepreneurs,” “Industry Achievers,” “Turner Industries: Fifty Years of Industrial Innovation,” “Earl’s Pearls,” “Michael Learns to Listen” and “Louisiana Sports Legends and Heroes— Leaving a Legacy.” BIC Media Solutions has found its niche in the custom book publishing game and now offers to edit and publish others’ stories as they write them.

The idea came to Heard as a way to help others catch the writing bug and turn their cherished memories into great stories to share with family, friends, co-workers and clients.

up a new avenue for individuals in business and industry to buy or sell their companies.

In 2007, John Zapalac joined IVS Investment Banking as a managing partner.

Since 2008, IVS has completed 10 transactions that total more than $210 million.

In 2013, BIC Alliance will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Having spent half of that time helping industrial service companies grow through mergers and acquisitions using IVS Investment Banking and executive recruiting with BIC Recruiting, BIC Alliance and its sister companies are poised for continued growth and success.

This expansion will include major investments in Web and digital media to grow online viewership. BIC Alliance will be involved in 40 trade shows and conferences during the year, host hospitality events during the week of the AFPM Reliability & Maintenance Conference in May and the International WorkBoat Show during the last quarter of the year. It will also host an Industry Appreciation Day on March 21, a crawfish boil on April 4 and a BIC Users Conference. Brinsko and

Vice President Jeremy Osterberger will be taking over most of the day-to-day duties of BIC Alliance, BIC Recruiting and IVS Investment Banking in 2013, allowing Heard to focus on strategic planning, being an ambassador for the company and its marketing partners, public speaking and rewriting his book, “It’s What We Do Together That Counts—The BIC Alliance Story.”

For more information, contact Earl Heard, founder and CEO of BIC Alliance, at (800) 460-4242 or by email at earl heard@bicalliance.com or Thomas Brinsko, president and COO of BIC Alliance, at (281) 538-9996 or by email at tbrinsko@bicalliance.com.

IVS Investment Banking In the mid-1990s, BIC Alliance created another new category for energy and construction publishers by launching IVS Investment Banking, a mergers and acquisitions firm. Many of BIC Alliance’s marketing partners need not only strategic marketing and advertising to help grow their companies but also growth capital. IVS Investment Banking allows BIC Alliance companies to be a one-stop shop not only for marketing and talent recruiting but also for merger and acquisition matchmaking, investment banking and recapitalization.

Through relationships and interest from strategic buyers such as BIC Alliance members and the limited universe of private equity groups, IVS is able to run a “dual path” when representing sellers, maximizing value for its clients. When IVS helped sell a company for the first time in 1997 (the acquisition of AllService Inc. by Total Safety), BIC Alliance set itself apart from every publisher in the energy, construction and environmental industries and opened T F & G

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Photo: Remington

Fish and Game Gear

Photo: American technologies network

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New Remington Hog Hammer ammunition is loaded with Barnes Bullets’ tough, all-copper Triple Shock bullet to offer deep penetration, 100% weight retention, and reliable 2X expansion.

Outperforming traditional lead-core bullets, the Barnes TSX is the toughest expanding bullet on the market. Combined with four rapidly expanding, razor-sharp cutting petals, Hog Hammer creates deep, wide wound channels through tough hide and bone of the biggest, most aggressive feral hogs. Because so many hogs are hunted at night, Hog Ham-

Remington Hog Hammer with Barnes Bullets.

mer utilizes a flash-suppressed propellant for nighttime or low light hunts. To ensure reliable feeding in today’s popular hog rifles, each round is packed in a nickelplated case. For more information about the new Hog Hammer Ammunition or any other Remington products, visit www. remington.com.

Odin-14 Thermal Monocular American Technologies Network Corp., makers of military, law enforcement, security and

Odin-14 Thermal Monocular.

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outdoor night vision and thermal applications, have introduced the Odin-14 Thermal Monocular, one of the smallest thermal imaging monocular system currently on the market. By using the latest technologies in high-grade polymers and miniature thermal imaging sensor technology, the Odin-14 is extremely compact and lightweight.

The Odin -14 features a new, patented technology the Variable Pivot Technology (VPT.) VPT allows the user to rotate the screen to match the angle of the Odin-14.

The VPT comes into action whenever the monocular is helmet or weapon mounted so the screen appears straight as the user moves or the sight moves through the environment.

Standard features in the Odin -14 include the Thermal VOx Vanadium Oxide sensor with the clarity provided by the OLED display in zoom, polarity and color modes. Made to Mil-Spec standards, the Odin-14 is not only compact but very rugged.

The Odin -14 is helmet and weapon mountable by using the ATN PVS014

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Photo: Shooter’s Choice:

weapon/helmet mount adapter. Another option available for the Odin-14 is the digital reticle aiming system, similar to what the ATN THOR comes standard with. MSRP is $6,199.00 to $10,199.00 depending upon resolution output.

For more information on American Technologies Network Corp, visit www. atncorp.com. Visit Facebook to stay up to date on new products, images and promotions.

Full-Bore, EcoFriendly Cleaner After years of research and development, Shooter’s Choice (Ventco Inc.) has finally been able to formulate a non-flammable, non-hazardous and non-corrosive line of cleaner/ degreasers that exceed the high standards that our customers expect.

Aqua Clean Bore Cleaner is a unique

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concentrated formula that is non-abrasive and completely safe for all rifles, handguns and black powder firearms.

Joe Ventimiglia, Ventco President said, “Our customers wanted an environmentally friendly way to clean and we believe this is the product they will use.” The Bore Cleaner is water-soluble for easy clean up and is harmless to all finishes. Plus, there is absolutely no harsh chemical odor.

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ONLINE STORE Shop for innovative, new and hard-to-find outdoor gear at

www.FishandGameGear.com

3/25/13 4:14 PM

Hotspots Focus: Upper Coast

by Capt. Eddie Hernandez

Ribbonfish: More of the Same, Please

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s we ease into April, I can’t help but flash back to last year, and can only hope that the fishing on Sabine Lake will be just as good now as it was then. The spring of 2012 will definitely be a tough act to follow but I will remain full of optimism.

Visions of trout up to six ponds at the jetties and schooling on the south end of the lake will be forever embedded in my mind.

Despite having to deal with strong winds on most days, our big trout numbers were above average, and borderline silly when we could catch Mother Nature in a good mood.

We had a winning combination of pretty water, good tides, and bait. The fish pretty much had their pick of shrimp, shad, glass

minnows, croaker, mullet, ladyfish, needlefish, sand eels, crab and ribbonfish. All of the above mentioned, except for maybe the crab, are pretty darned high on speckled trouts pecking order of quality meals.

The difference maker though, when it comes to consistent numbers of solid trout, day in and day out is ribbonfish. I learned a long time ago that if you find a school of trout feeding on ribbonfish, they are not going to be your typical schoolies. Last year we had an overabundance of ribbonfish throughout most of the Sabine ecosystem.

Starting in early April and lasting until about mid-June it’s what put it over the top in terms of consistent, quality fish netted during a spring season. Keep in mind, there

is a big difference between a school of feeding ribbonfish and a school of fish feeding on ribbonfish. I have casted countless times into both. The difference is if you fish a school of feeding ribbonfish and happen to get bit, there is a good chance you’re going to catch...well, a ribbonfish. These are typically larger, up to about 24 inches and are aggressively feeding on smaller prey. It’s the ribbonfish that are the prey that you want to key on. The ones that are pushed to the surface by hefty trout are about 8 to 12 inches long and can be seen jumping for their shiny little lives hoping not to end up in the gullet of a hungry trout or seagull. Those are the ones that showed up in droves on Sabine last year, and those are the ones that I hope show up again this year.

We’re going to catch fish regardless, but it sure would be nice to start this month off by pulling up to a groups of birds, get bit on the first cast, then notice a gull flying while trying to ingest a silver wiggly object.

After last April I can’t help but feel like we will, and that is why I will remain full of optimism. I can definitely handle more of the same.

the bank bite Location: Keith Lake Fish Pass ( Hwy 87 Sabine Pass) Species: Speckle Trout, Reds, Flounder, Baits: Live Shrimp, Finger Mullet, Shad Best Times: Moving Tides

Contact Eddie Hernandez at EHernandez@fishgame.com

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Hotspots Focus: Galveston

by Capt. Mike Holmes

It Isn’t Nice (Or Smart) to Fool with Mother Nature

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here have been a lot of news items in the past few months about efforts by man to change the Texas coast for reasons involving many things, in some cases recreational fishing.

Closest to home for Galveston area residents and fishermen would be the ongoing saga of Rollover Pass. This man-made water exchange between East Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico “worked” very well as a fishing hotspot, and provided bank access for untold numbers of anglers to catch

“

The San Bernard River is a textbook example of the domino effect that can occur when the order of nature is upset.

over appears to be a done deal. It will be closed by man just as it was opened.

A situation with more serious potential exists below Freeport, in the San Bernard River. The plight of the San Bernard, a short but very scenic river, is a text-book ready example of the domino effect that can occur when the natural balance and order of nature is upset. Many years ago the decision was made to turn the natural Gulf outlet of the Brazos River into the Freeport shipping harbor. The mouth was jettied and the river channel blocked off and diverted, with a new outlet located on Bryan Beach that created Wolfe Island, bounded by the Intracoastal on the north, Gulf on the south, San Bernard on the west, and the “New”

Brazos on the east. Unfortunately, the jetties changed the flow of water down the beach, causing major erosion of sand from Surfside. This sand partially piled up at the base of the jetty on the north side of the channel, but a significant amount also made it’s way to the mouth of the San Bernard, where it eventually blocked the mouth completely, allowing no flow from the river to the Gulf. Of course, the water that should have been exiting the river mouth had to go somewhere. Some of it began cutting a new channel through the Cedar Lakes to the Gulf, while quite a bit backed up towards the Brazos; at times creating a current so strong that tugs and their barges had trouble crossing the “new” river on their way down the ICW. Little or no flow out of the San Bernard also backed up the river, causing stagnation and an unhealthy ecosystem.

A group was formed to fight the good fight for their beloved river, and “Friends of CONTINUED ON PAGE 77

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croaker, speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. Unfortunately, it also got the blame for increased beach erosion and “sanding in” on the bay side. Farther down the coast, the Packery Channel is being re-opened for much the same reason Rollover was originally dug – to create an exchange of water between the bay and Gulf, which improves salinity in the bay and allows shrimp and other baits species easy access – which in turn attracts game fish, and fishermen. RollT F & G

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Hotspots Focus: Matagorda

by Mike Price

Matagorda Springs to Life

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riend Jeff Wiley and I occasionally fish overnight aboard my 19-foot Carolina Skiff in West Matagorda Bay. When the sun sets and rises over the bay, not only is it beautiful, it also stimulates the fish to feed. It was 4:30 PM when Jeff and I arrived at a favorite spot.

We launched our kayaks and headed for the bayous. Paddling against the roaring 20 mph southeast wind was a chore, but I finally reached the relative protection of the shoreline. A dozen small bait fish lifted off the water, no doubt being chased by a flounder or redfish. I got out of the kayak

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to wade fish and could see 20 or 25 finger mullet scurrying off. The bayous and shoreline were loaded with bait fish. A chorus of coyotes yipped and howled for about five minutes adding to the sounds of many different kinds of birds.

As I released a couple of rat reds, Jeff strung three keeper redfish. The sun cast shimmers of orange over the horizon as it set and I thought, “I would not trade this for any other place or time.” Spring time on East and West Matagorda Bays brings wind, baitfish, birds, animals and foraging predator fish, but finding redfish, flounder and trout is not always easy.

When water temperatures are between 70 and 80°F, fish are very active, and April water temperatures range from just under 70 to just over 80. From December through March you usually either find the fish in concentrated schools or you don’t find them at all, but in April, because the water temperature has come up, the fish

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could be anywhere. My notes show that I have done well fishing on the south shore of either East or West Matagorda Bays when strong tides were moving water, but on slack tides, it was tough to find feeding fish. You may want to try using a smaller soft plastic in April because the millions of baitfish, including menhaden, mullet, croaker, gobies and anchovies are small. On rare occasions you may come upon birds going crazy feeding on tight schools of small bait fish. This happened to Jeff and me when we were fishing near Green’s Bayou. There were gulls, terns and pelicans gorging themselves.

Redfish were pushing the baitfish up in the center of the action and trout worked the outside. Another welcome phenomenon in April is finding big trout.

I went to the south shore of East Matagorda Bay in the afternoon. Very few other boats were out on that balmy spring day. I hooked and lost a big flounder using a pumpkinseed/chartreuse Bass Assassin on a weightless-weedless hook. Then, fishing a little way off the shoreline, I tossed the fiveinch soft plastic near two little posts and let it slowly drop. I felt a major tug and then the fish started running. As it pulled line off my reel, I thought, “this is no ordinary fish,” and indeed it wasn’t. It was a 27 inch, 7 pound trout.

Some fishermen look for trout in the bayous and lakes that are adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway, but beware! April is the beginning of alligator mating season.

My son, Andy, got into trout in one of these bayous while kayak fishing. He had several on a stringer when a 12-foot gator showed an interest in his stringer. Andy snatched his trout out of the water, put them in his kayak and hustled out of there.

Afternoons on an incoming tide seem to pay off in April. As we headed home about 1:30 p.m., we waved goodbye to the people in a boat fishing near us on the south shore of West Matagorda Bay. The next day we talked with the owner of that boat; he was next to us as we refueled. He said that on

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Galveston focus the previous day we had left too soon. The trout really turned on late in the afternoon.

So what I learned is that in April, hungry trout can be found on the flats during the latter part of an incoming tide.

the bank bite Location: Three Mile Lake is accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicle on the beach. From the beach entrance go 1.2 miles east until you see an opening in the dunes. When you see the lake, if you turn right you will come to a back lake that can be fished from the bank. If you go straight, you will come to a corner with bayous going off in three directions. Both of these spots are very good bank fishing.

Contact Mike Price at MPrice@fishgame.com

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t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 75 the River San Bernard” eventually got the attention of the Corps of Engineers – with the help of Lake Jackson Congressman Ron Paul. The mouth was dredged from just above the junction with the ICW and far enough into the Gulf to even allow small boat traffic through the mouth, although a far cry from the channel before man began mucking with the shoreline, when we used to run offshore through the San Bernard in fair-sized boats and a sizable shrimp fleet was based in the river.

Just a few short years, though, and the mouth is again sanding in because the conditions that caused the original closure were left the same. The dredging that opened the mouth was acknowledged from the beginning to be a temporary fix only and everyone knew it would have to be done again. The San Bernard is a very popular and fairly expensive place to live for waterfront residents and is very popular with recreational boaters. Right now,

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redfish action is still good up the river, also trout and flounder, but when the flow slows beyond a certain level, the fishing will slow, also.

the bank bite Location: The Beaches are good, as well as jetties and piers for inshore Gulf species. Bay water is warm enough for “wet” wading, and fish will be feeding on shallow flats and reefs when the sun warms them.

Species: All the major players from summer are coming back, with an emphasis on speckled trout.

Best Baits: This is a good time to work those surface lures over reefs and in schools of mullet but live shrimp is excellent, also.

Best Times: It will be comfortable enough even in mid-day for most fish and fishermen to be active so the tidal movements will be key to finding fish.

Contact Mike Holmes at MHolmes@fishgame.com.

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Hotspots Focus: Rockport

by Capt. Mac Gable

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hat’s that over there?” my friend asked in the pitch black that hovered over the water.

“It’s the night shift coming on board,” I said.

“Night shift?” he said while shining the flashlight that he never let go of into my face.

“Yeah,” I said. “God created nocturnal creatures to help fill the void of darkness, you know, night-shift critters.”

I don’t like the word “creatures,” especially out here in the emptiness of the night.

It conjures up old horror movies (“Creature from the Black Lagoon”--one of my favorites) and gives me the willies. At this point, I deduced that whatever this night fishing excursion turned out to be it wasn’t going to take very long.

My friend (he knows who he is) elected shortly thereafter to put up his rod and suggested, due to a promise he forgot about,

• Make sure your navigation lights work, have a good flashlight, and a backup for

“

Do I night fish? On occasion I do and I enjoy it.

“

The Night Shift, Part 1

that we call it a night and head back to the boat ramp.

Don’t be too hard on him, especially while you are tucked away in your comfortably lit house while reading this article. If you have never fished (or hunted, for that matter) at night, then you are probably not aware that it takes a different side of your brain and a few more nerves to function in this seemingly evil environment. For some folks it can be downright spooky and they quickly decide that God created the world in 6 days, rested on the seventh, and didn’t mention one thing about sporting life in the dark.

Truth is the boat ramp across from the house is vacant come nightfall, the exception being the occasional flounder gigger or a tow boat because somebody broke down. I like to think that it’s the bay’s time to relax, settle, and rebuild from the boating and fishing activity of the previous day. Do I night fish? On occasion I do, and I thoroughly enjoy it, but then I’ve been told I’m not normal, so as you read on please keep that in mind. That said, for those that might want to wander our coastal bays at night here are some tips that might help make adventure a little more, shall we say, tame or doable.

that light. A good DC spotlight that runs off of your boat battery is also a must. If your boat does not have two batteries with a Perko switch, get one or at least have a well-charged backup battery stored away on the boat.

• Have a first aid kit. If you’re gonna get cut, stuck, or broke, it’s gonna be at night.

The limited visibility just seems to conjure up mishaps. Have plenty to drink and clothes to stay warm even during the summer. The night winds blowing across the water can put a shiver on you very quickly.

• GPS is a must as well, especially those that have good detail maps of the waters you will be fishing. A GPS that tracks your course can get you back to the dock easily.

• Carry a two-way marine radio and cell phone with a power jack that plugs into your boats DC system. Leave a float plan (where you’re going) with someone and establish a drop-dead time to be back at the dock or call out the troops.

• Test your boat before venturing far from the ramp. Check all your equipment, GPS, lights, etc. and just spend a few minutes functioning in the dark. Out on the water in the dark is no place or time to discover a malfunction.

Some anchoring rules that must be followed according to the U.S. Coast Guard,

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which I think are pretty lenient: • Anchored vessels at night: All vessels at anchor must display anchor lights. If your vessel is less than 164 feet (50 meters) in length, then its anchor light is an all-around white light visible where it can be seen from all directions.

• At night, you need to be seen and heard. Use your navigation lights when running and at least a white 360-degree light while anchored.

• A horn or a whistle is required. If they can’t see you, they might be able to hear you. I like the canned foghorn. It’s about $15 and is cheap insurance if night settles in or a thick fog develops. Aerial flares are another visibility tool worth having; about $40 for the handheld version or $70 for the flare gun version. It’s cheap insurance.

If by now you haven’t gotten the point that it takes a different set of skills to navigate/function/fish at night, then its best you have fishing fun during the rising hours of the sun. I have just skimmed the surface and you, based on your own boat and gear, will undoubtedly develop your own new and hopefully better ways. A night on the water can be a lot of fun, but it can also be sheer terror, so think it through.

fresh dead shrimp on a light Carolina rig.

As you’ve heard me mention, slow hook sets are the ticket here. Wait ‘til you feel a steady pull to set the hook. Trout and reds will be good on Jay Bird Reef using a popping cork and live shrimp. Finger mullet on a light Carolina rig is a good choice as well.

for reds using new penny colored sand eels.

Work the area mid bay here, close to the old wreck, which has some small reefs close by as well. The east shoreline close to S reef is good for black drum using fresh dead shrimp. A light Carolina rig or a silent cork works well here.

St. Charles Bay – The south end of the bay adjacent to Bird Point is good for reds using new penny jerk shad or bass assassin in watermelon and electric grape colors. The fish feed out of the deep channel into the shallows here especially on an incoming tide. The small reefs/islands close to Indian Head Point are good early morning for reds using cut mullet under a silent cork. Stealth is in order here, as any sound will spook the reds into deeper water.

Ayers Bay – Ayers Reef on a north or east wind is good for black drum and some slot reds. Have two poles rigged here – one with a light Carolina rig and another with rattle cork, using cut mullet or live shrimp. If you hook a fish, get your rod tip up as this area is well known for breaking fish off on the sharp shell.

Carlos Bay – Cedar Reef is hard to beat here for reds and some keeper trout.

For reds, cut menhaden works well, allowing the scent of the bait to drift with the tides or winds. Small piggy perch (if you can find them) are good for trout. Otherwise, live shrimp will do the job. Wading the area adjacent to cedar point using bone and white and red and white Super Spooks works well for reds that feed on this shoreline.

Location: Wading Live Oak Point at the south end of LBJ causeway is good for trout and reds using gold and red spoons or jerk shad in morning glory and electric chicken. Wade out to waist deep and fish 360 degrees. The bait from Gulf fish come down this shoreline and if you time it right the fish action can be fast and furious.

the bank bite

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

Mesquite Bay – The area between Cedar Point and Bludworth Island is good

• • • “Bait me baby” is the rule of thumb this month. The manmade and natural fish passes are the place to be this time of year as a multitude of bait makes its way back into our bay systems. If I see bait moving or breaking the surface this time of year I stay close to that area as it can only mean reds, trout and flounder are not too far away.

Copano Bay – The south shoreline close to Swan Lake is good for reds using cut mullet or finger mullet on a fish finder rig. If no action, work your way down the shoreline towards Egery Flats. Some keeper trout are on Copano Reef using free lined shrimp. On high tide, fish the top of the reef and on a low or falling tide fish the transition edges.

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Hotspots Focus: Lower Coast

by Calixto Gonzales

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looding from the 2010 hurricane season led to a huge slug of freshwater pouring into the bay system that wiped out the natural sea grasses and turned the water murkier than it has ever been. The grasses are slowly rebounding, but habitat is different for the time being.

Anglers are now looking for cleaner water over sand and hard-packed mud with dropoffs and deeper water for trout and redfish that have fewer grass lines to aggregate over.

A popular area for many LLM anglers is in the vicinity of Bennie’s Shack. The area is located south of Port Mansfield and is productive for both speckled trout and redfish. When there is a strong southeast wind generated by low pressure systems passing through the Great Plains, focus on the windblown shorelines of the large spoil islands west of the ICW. Trout hang out around the drop-off between the island and the channel, while redfish will patrol the shallows of the island. As the tide drops off, fish move to the flats just north of the spoils and work along the transition point of color changes (“color change” is a relative term; the water transitions from murky to downright unfishable).

Shrimp under popping corks are always effective, but lures such as Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny or Nuclear Chicken on an 1/8th ounce jig is very effective. Captain Danny Neu swears by a Norton Sand Eel, Jr. in LSU (purple/chartreuse).

On calmer days, fish east of the IC for trout action. There are fishable grassflats East of the ICW, but many trout will be hanging out in the deep guts further east in the sand. Early morning is usually very good for small topwaters such as a Spook, Jr. in speckled trout or natural mullet. If

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fish are deeper in the guts, or the day is very sunny, then you may want to fish with a jig/plastic. Again, the Gulp! Shrimp or Jerkshad are good choices.

Another good spot to start is the Cullen House area. This is very popular with local guides and fishermen, and rightfully so.

When the conditions are right, especially in April, this place is full of fish.

Redfish roam around the flats like so many bronze, finny bison, grazing upon any crustacean or baitfish with the misfortune of being in their path. Speckled trout lurk on the edges where sand and grass meet, waiting to ambush an easy meal.

The higher tides increase the overall depth of Cullen Bay during high tide, thus providing access to areas that were out of reach as recently as March.

Gold spoons (in this case, the weedless variety) will always be the traditional weapon for redfish up and down the Laguna.

The 1/4 ounce variety is standard, but if the wind is a little stiff, a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce spoon may be called for when casting into the wind. Topwaters work well for both trout and redfish, with blue/orange and bone the most effective colors. Don’t be timid about throwing these plugs in choppy water. Fish can pick up the sound from a good distance in spite of the hydro-interference.

Certainly, soft plastics can be especially effective. Whether you swim the lures on a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce head or under a noisy float, which is a simple, effective and successful way to introduce neophytes to fishing with lures. Plastics can do a number F i s h

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on trout and redfish in this area. The important part is to fish with a pattern you have the most confidence in—there is a reason, however, that the venerable red/white tail soft plastic is still a best seller along the lower coast. Gulp! Baits such as the Shrimp have become increasingly popular among LLM fishermen, especially when live shrimp are sold out. Fish them the same way you would a live shrimp, under a popping cork or free-lined when fishing the depth breaks.

Don’t hesitate to fish around the fishing cabins that line the ICW from Cullen northward. Trout and black drum roam along the drop offs and guts that criss-cross around these cabins. It never hurts to anchor near them. Make sure it is unoccupied; sleeping fishermen can get grumpy if you disturb them. Toss a live shrimp on a free-line rig into the deeper water. If you spot an eddy formed by the pilings and a moving tide, focus your attention on the area. Trout like the slack water near the eddy as a resting spot and an area to ambush current-addled bait.

Also cast your offering around the pilings and in front of the dock and let it sink near the bottom. My son once caught a 5 pound flounder doing so, and I’ve found that these areas are always good for a couple of flatties or three. Again, live shrimp is good, finger mullet are better and a 1/4 ounce jig/soft plastic is also lethal.

Spring is always a good time to find a good place to shack up, especially for the ambitious fisherman.

the bank bite Location: Brazos-Santiago Jetties Species: sheepshead, mangrove snapper.

Technique: Free-line a live or fresh shrimp near the rocks with sturdy tackle.

Contact Calixto Gonzales at CGonzales@fishgame.com

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UPPER GULF COAST

Campbell’s Serves Souped Up Trout

by GEORGE KNIGHTEN gtkphoto@yahoo.com LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Campbell’s Bayou GPS: N29 21.063,

W94 53.27598

(29.351050, -94.887933) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: 1/2-ounce; gold spoon; 3/8 jigheads with Norton Eels or Saltwater Assassins in a Pearl or Bone colors Contact: Capt. Paul Marcaccio, 281-788-4041 or 281-339-0475 www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Bigger trout are on or close to the bottom.

Make sure your lure works this area.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Three Beacons GPS: N28 40.518,

W95 53.05398

(28.675300, -95.884233) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Topwater lures, Corkys and Catch 2000 Contact: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281-450-4037 www.matagordafishing.com tcountz@sbcglobal.net TIPS: Afternoon trips work better than morning trips.

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Pig Pen GPS: N29 25.49202,

W94 43.88202

(29.424867, -94.731367) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Topwater baits in a chrome color Contact: Capt. Paul Marcaccio, T F & G

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SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live pogeys Contact: Capt. Bill Watkins, 409-673-9211 www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Any location on the south end of the lake should be home to a lot of trout.

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.

281-788-4041 or 281-339-0475 www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: If you aren’t throwing chrome, you aren’t throwing the right color.

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Mosquito Island GPS: N29 23.484,

W94 53.08002

(29.391400, -94.884667) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels or Saltwater Assassins in Pearl or Bone colors Contact: Capt. Paul Marcaccio, 281-788-4041 or 281-339-0475 www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Good place for drifting or wading with soft plastics or bait.

LOCATION: Sabine Jetties HOTSPOT: West Jetty GPS: N29 40.371,

W93 50.25

(29.672850, -93.837500) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Finger mullet or live pogeys Contact: Capt. Bill Watkins, 409-673-9211 www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Fish tight to the rocks.

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LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cotton Bayou GPS: N28 30.60198,

W96 12.603

(28.510033, -96.210050) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows in Back Magic or Chicken on a Chain colors Contact: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281-450-4037 www.matagordafishing.com tcountz@sbcglobal.net TIPS: Work the lure slowly across the area; feel the bite.

MIDDLE GULF COAST

San Antonio Reds Go for the Gold

by GEORGE KNIGHTEN gtkphoto@yahoo.com

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Pleasure Island GPS: N29 55.77702,

W93 51.94902

(29.929617, -93.865817) A L M A N A C

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Blue Buck Point GPS: N29 47.77998,

W93 54.43902

(29.796333, -93.907317) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live pogeys Contact: Capt. Bill Watkins, 409-673-9211 www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Trout will be following incoming bait on bull tides.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Live Oak Point F ish

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Texas Hotspots GPS: N28 15.06714,

W96 47.23242

(28.251119, -96.787207) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: 1/4-ounce gold spoons Contact: Capt. Chris Martin, 361-785-2686 www.bayflatslodge.com BayFlatsLodge@gmail.com TIPS: Good spot to drift fish for redfish.

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay HOTSPOT: Long Lake GPS: N28 16.81704,

W96 36.21546

(28.280284, -96.603591) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: 1/4-ounce; gold spoons Contact: Capt. Chris Martin, 361-785-2686 www.bayflatslodge.com BayFlatsLodge@gmail.com TIPS: Really good spot for wade-fishing; look for nervous bait on the windward shoreline.

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Quarantine Shore GPS: N27 55.00602,

W97 4.06998

(27.916767, -97.067833) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live croaker Contact: Capt. John Barbree 361-222-0477 jebarbree@yahoo.com www.barbree-guide-service.com TIPS: Free line using no weight.

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Packery Channel Flats GPS: N27 37.94202,

W97 13.026

(27.632367, -97.217100) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics, 3-4-inches in length Contact: Capt. Jon Fails 361-949-0133 jonfails9@gmail.com www.landcut.com TIPS: Use soft plastic baits that have a swimming tail motion.

LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Pringle Lake GPS: N28 19.82898, A P R I L

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LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Allyn’s Shoreline GPS: N27 58.86402,

W96 59.29002

(27.981067, -96.988167) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live croaker Contact: Capt. John Barbree 361-222-0477 jebarbree@yahoo.com www.barbree-guide-service.com TIPS: Anchor and throw toward shore.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Nine Mile Hole GPS: N27 3.91098,

W97 24.67098

(27.065183, -97.411183) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastic, 3-4-inches in length F i s h

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Contact: Capt. Jon Fails 361-949-0133 jonfails9@gmail.com www.landcut.com TIPS: If the water turns dirty in the high winds that sometime happen in the spring, keep your bait 3-4-inches deep. It will go over the top of the fish and they can look up and see it.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Yarborough Flats GPS: N27 12.77898,

W97 23.85

(27.212983, -97.397500) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastic baits, 3-4-inches in length in Salt and Pepper color Contact: Capt. Jon Fails, 361-949-0133 TIPS: Use a bait with a chartreuse tail if the water becomes off-colored.

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay HOTSPOT: Ayers Bay GPS: N28 11.115,

W96 50.25

(28.185250, -96.837500) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: 1/4-ounce; gold spoons Contact: Capt. Chris Martin, 361-785-2686 TIPS: Look for nervous bait.

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Lydia Ann Channel GPS: N27 57.40998,

W97 3.58998

(27.956833, -97.059833) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live croakers Contact: Capt. John Barbree 361-222-0477 jebarbree@yahoo.com www.barbree-guide-service.com TIPS: Free line the croaker.

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W96 28.67202

(28.330483, -96.477867) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Topwater artificial baits in a Bone color or Texas Tackle Factory Trout Killers in Pumpkinseed color using a 1/8-ounce; jighead Contact: Capt. Chris Martin, 361-785-2686 TIPS: South shoreline is excellent for wadefishing.

LOWER GULF COAST

Head South, then South Again

by CALIXTO GONZALES cgonzales@fishgame.com LOCATION: South Bay HOTSPOT: South Shoreline GPS: N26 1.785,

W97 11.01102

(26.029750, -97.183517) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live shrimp, cut ballyhoo; and jointed plugs early Contact: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the grass flats for both trout that have rejuvenated appetites. Look for depth changes, potholes, and oyster clumps, or anything that trout might use as ambush points.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Community Bar GPS: N26 35.14398,

W97 25.644

(26.585733, -97.427400) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Spook Jr; in baby trout, Bone, Sand Eel Jr; in LSU

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Contact: Captain Danny Neu, 979-942-0165 TIPS: Warm water flowing in from the Gulf affects the West shoreline nearest to Port first. Trout and redfish start showing up around Community Bar. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Color Change GPS: N26 10.42902,

W97 12.759

(26.173817, -97.212650) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Cut mullet, cut ballyhoo, Gulp! shrimp in Rootbeer/Gold and New Penny Contact: Captain Richard Cadengo, 956-434-2511 TIPS: Fish the “trout green” water that marks the boundary between the grass flats and sand that stretches all the way to the ICW. The trout will mostly be just inside the murkier water.

LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Texaco Channel GPS: N26 8.89098,

W97 17.7396

(26.148183, -97.295660) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Cut mullet, cut ballyhoo, Gulp! shrimp in Rootbeer/Gold and New Penny Contact: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: Drift the length of the channel and work either live bait under a popping cork, or soft plastics near the bottom. Work with a steady, moderate pace.

LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Spoil Guts GPS: N26 20.17002,

W97 19.22802

(26.336167, -97.320467) SPECIES: flounder BEST BAITS: live shrimp, Gulp! shrimp in Nuclear Chicken, Lime Tiger, soft plastics in Chartreuse patterns Contact: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: Work the edges of the channel during a high tide, the mouth of the channel on a falling tide. Use live shrimp or better, still-live finger mullet on a split shot rig. Gulp! shrimp or shad are good artificials to use.

LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Cullen Channel GPS: N26 15.159,

W97 17.27298

(26.252650, -97.287883) SPECIES: redfish

PINEY WOODS

Crappie Rock on Livingston

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com LOCATION: Livingston HOTSPOT: White Rock Creek GPS: N30 58.44222,

W95 20.22444

(30.974037, -95.337074) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: live minnows, jigs Contact: David S. Cox 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Crappie are spawning in shallow water or are looking for sandy spawning grounds. Look for them in the brush piles along the edge of the creek channel and on cut banks. Black-blue are the best color-combinations for jigs.

LOCATION: Caddo HOTSPOT: Big Green Break GPS: N32 41.97078,

W94 3.00888

(32.699513, -94.050148) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms, topwaters, buzzbaits Contact: Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net caddolakefishing.com TIPS: Fish the cypress trees in two to four feet of water all around this area, Rig the plastic worms Texas-style and fish them slowly tight against the trees and two-three feet off them. Some bites may be very light so keep a close eye on your line.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake

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BEST BAITS: live shrimp, Gulp! shrimp in Nuclear Chicken, Lime Tiger, soft plastics in Chartreuse patterns Contact: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: If you are drifting the edges of the channel for redfish, use shrimp under a popping cork, or topwaters and spinnerbaits early in the morning.

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Texas Hotspots GPS: N30 23.7141,

W95 35.41422

(30.395235, -95.590237) SPECIES: hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: Storm Swimbaits, live shad Contact: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com fishdudetx.com TIPS: The hybrids will school on the surface in the mornings and will be easy to catch on Swimbaits. They will be on main-lake points that have sandy bottoms. When you locate schools of shad you will find hybrids. Use live bait when the fish go deep.

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Johnson Creek GPS: N32 47.84628,

W94 33.01344

(32.797438, -94.550224) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, soft plastics, stick baits Contact: Sonny Kopech 903-592-8221 Marion.Kopech@HDSupply.com TIPS: The bass are shallow in their spawning grounds. Fish the weeds, logs and stickups close to the banks slowly. Keep an eye out for beds in the sandy bottom. Stick baits work well on cloudy days here and Alley Creek.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Bayou Seipe GPS: N31 43.9512,

W93 51.14664

(31.732520, -93.852444) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits, finesse plastics, shiners, jigs Contact: Greg Crafts 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com toledobendguide.com TIPS: Bass will be moving in and out of shallow spawning flats. Some will be moving onto the beds, some will be on the beds and some will be moving off the beds and heading back to deep water following the creeks and ditches. Start shallow early.

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903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingcreekadventures.com TIPS: Enter the creek channel when the water level is up and go up the creek until it is in its banks, Fish the worms and jigs tight in the brush and laydowns and close to the stumps and logs.

Good action also can be found in other upper-lake creeks.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

Lavon Crappie, Day or Night

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com LOCATION: Lavon HOTSPOT: Mallard Park GPS: N33 3.1848,

W96 26.3322

(33.053080, -96.438870) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows Contact: Billy Kilpatrick 214-232-7847 straightlineguide@yahoo.com straightlineguide.com TIPS: Crappie are in full spawn. Night fishing is good under the lights along any riprap and the railroad trestle with small minnows and glow bobbers. Daytime action is good in standing timber on black-chartreuse jigs or minnows and bobbers 2-4 feet deep.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek HOTSPOT: Lakeview Point GPS: N32 18.48498,

W96 10.50822

(32.308083, -96.175137) SPECIES: hybrid striper BEST BAITS: Slabs, Swimbaits, minnows Contact: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingcreekadventures.com TIPS: Rig a 7-foot medium-heavy rod with 15-20pound test line with 1/2 to one-ounce sinker, a 12-24-inch leader and 3-ought hook. Anchor in water 2-6 feet deep and cast fresh shad around the boat. Expect fast action the first two hours of the morning.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek HOTSPOT: Lacey Creek GPS: N32 24.936,

W96 11.47122

(32.415600, -96.191187) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms, jigs Contact: Jason Barber F i s h

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LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Boggy Creek Timber GPS: N29 56.50098,

W96 43.99698

(29.941683, -96.733283) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: shad, punch bait Contact: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com FishTalesGuideService.com TIPS: Fish are in the latter stages of the spawn.

This area has 1-8 feet of water around stumps.

Use Carolina rigs on windy days, slip corks on calm days. Fish close to the trees, chumming. Do not hesitate to fish the open areas too.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek.

HOTSPOT: Big Cedar Boat Ramp GPS: N30 37.347,

W96 3.22698

(30.622450, -96.053783) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs Contact: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com FishTalesGuideService.com TIPS: This lake is open Friday thru Sunday.

Start at the big cedar tree and work toward the bank. Reset the depth of your slip cork when necessary. Fish will be close to vegetation and structure. Keep your cork in one place for at least 30 seconds.

LOCATION: Aquilla HOTSPOT: Snake Island GPS: N31 55.33284,

W97 12.89472

(31.922214, -97.214912) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Little Georges, grubs and Flea Flies Contact: Randy Routh 817-822-5539

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teamredneck@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: Use a Flea Fly tied 12-inches above a grub on a lead-head jig. Make long casts to the edges of the island. Bounce the grub off the bottom where the white bass are spawning. After a fish hits, let it swim around and another fish may hit the Flea Fly. LOCATION: Cooper HOTSPOT: Dam Area Points GPS: N33 20.47884,

W95 39.81492

(33.341314, -95.663582) SPECIES: hybrid striper BEST BAITS: Swimbaits Contact: Tony Parker 903-348-1619 tawakonifishing@yahoo.com www.tonyparkerfishing.com TIPS: Target the shallow points on the dam end of the lake. Look for water around 10 feet deep and cast all the way to the bank. Fish any point or bank with deep water nearby. I prefer a 4-inch Sassy Shad on a 1/2-ounce jighead.

LOCATION: Lewisville

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HOTSPOT: Hidden Cove Park Point GPS: N33 7.33254,

W96 57.69114

(33.122209, -96.961519) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh gizzard shad or threadfin shad, Secret 7 dip bait Contact: Bobby Kubin 817-455-2894 bobby@bobby-catfishing.com bobby-catfishing.com TIPS: The shad spawn is under way. Look for spawning shad along wind-blown points. Feeding egrets may be nearby. Use a 5-0 circle hook on a Carolina rig with cut shad or No. 6 treble with Secret 7 dip bait. Stripers and white bass also may hit the baits.

LOCATION: Palestine HOTSPOT: Flag Bay Area GPS: N32 16.65726,

W95 28.8375

(32.277621, -95.480625) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, jigs, topwaters Contact: Ricky Vandergriff

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903-561-7299 ricky@rickysguideservice.com rickysguideservice.com TIPS: The boat docks and points on the mid to lower areas of the lake typically produce good catches at this time of the year. The edges of the channels in Flat Creek and Kickapoo Creek also are good bets.

LOCATION: Palestine HOTSPOT: Chimney Cove GPS: N32 4.98894,

W95 24.48066

(32.083149, -95.408011) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: jigs, minnows Contact: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 ricky@rickysguideservice.com rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Look for crappie in brushpiles up to 10 feet deep in the shallow pockets. Small minnows work better than medium to large minnows. Black-blue jigs also work well, LOCATION: Palestine HOTSPOT: Three Points Area

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Texas Hotspots GPS: N32 5.69562,

W95 27.67608

(32.094927, -95.461268) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, spoons, Rat-L-Traps, topwaters Contact: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 ricky@rickysguideservice.com rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Schools of white bass prowl the main points during the early-morning hours. Start with chrome-blue Rat-L-Traps early and then move out as the sun rises. Some action also can be found during the late-evening hours in these areas.

LOCATION: Palestine HOTSPOT: Shallow Boat Docks GPS: N32 13.87866,

W95 29.51226

(32.231311, -95.491871) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Red worms, punch bait Contact: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 ricky@rickysguideservice.com rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Fish beneath the shallow boat docks with worms or punch bait under slip corks set at about two to three feet. Concentrate on areas close to channels and coves with brush and scattered laydowns.

LOCATION: Somerville HOTSPOT: Brushy Point Shoreline GPS: N30 20.25696,

W96 33.333

(30.337616, -96.555550) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Shad, stinkbait Contact: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com FishTalesGuideService.com TIPS: When the wind is blowing into the point, anchor close and cast into one feet of water. The shad will be on this bank as long as the wind is from the south. Look for indentions that may indicate a small depth change.

LOCATION: Tawakoni HOTSPOT: Shook Point GPS: N32 51.9057,

W95 55.8642

(32.865095, -95.931070)

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SPECIES: hybrid striper BEST BAITS: Sassy Shads Contact: Tony Parker 903-348-1619 tawakonifishing@yahoo.com www.tonyparkerfishing.com TIPS: Concentrate on the shallow, wind-blown points. The fish will have spawning on their minds even though they will not reproduce. Look for them moving in and out of 2-20 feet of water. Use 4-inch Swimbaits. Also try other points nearby.

LOCATION: Texoma HOTSPOT: Mill Creek Area GPS: N33 49.39812,

W96 45.74742

(33.823302, -96.762457) SPECIES: striper BEST BAITS: Sassy Shads, Bass Assassins Contact: Bill Carey 877-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com striperexpress.com TIPS: Target the shallow banks and look for spawning shad. Start very shallow early and then move out to the edges of the drop-offs as the morning progresses. Pearl, white and chartreuse are good lure colors.

LOCATION: Whitney HOTSPOT: Striper Point GPS: N31 54.76248,

W97 23.04966

(31.912708, -97.384161) SPECIES: striper BEST BAITS: Swimbaits, live shad Contact: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: Big stripers are shallow. Start early throwing chartreuse Swimbaits and ripping them back to the boat in 3-10 feet of water. After the sun rises, back off, anchor and cast a Carolina rigged shad up shallow along the grass. White bass also are here.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Fisherman’s Point Marina GPS: N31 56.45394,

W96 7.41012

(31.940899, -96.123502) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: jigs, minnows Contact: F ish

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T F & G

Royce & Adam Simmons 903-389-4117 royce@gonefishin.biz www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: This is a good time for bank fishermen to catch spawning fish in the two coves near the marina. Fish the shallow water at the mouths of each cove and work to the back of them with slip cork rigs.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Windsock Point GPS: N31 56.51082,

W96 7.1115

(31.941847, -96.118525) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, Rat-L-Traps Contact: Royce & Adam Simmons 903-389-4117 royce@gonefishin.biz www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: The regular main-lake hotspots including the 309 Flats, Pelican Point and Windsock Point should hold white bass and hybrid striped bass in 15 to 25 feet of water throughout the month. Use a silver Slab or a blue-chrome Rat-L-Trap.

PANHANDLE

Branch Out for Possum Crappie

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Lambert Branch Area GPS: N32 57.95808,

W98 23.84466

(32.965968, -98.397411) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs, minnows Contact: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: The crappie are spawning in shallow water close to any type of structure they can find. Jigs under slip corks will work best but switch to minnows if the action slows, especially during mid-day periods. Tipping a jig with a minnow also works well.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom

A L M A N A C

3/25/13 4:15 PM

HOTSPOT: Chimney Slough GPS: N32 55.32612,

W98 27.82032

(32.922102, -98.463672) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms, spinnerbaits, soft plastic jerkbaits Contact: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Fish the mouth of this slough and similar areas such as any of the feeder creeks north of Costello Island. Some bass still are spawning while others are beginning to feed off the points on shad that also have spawned recently.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Caddo Creek GPS: N32 51.04044,

W98 32.95986

(32.850674, -98.549331) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, Slabs, topwaters Contact: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Pay attention to the main creeks and feeder creeks that have had recent runoffs. These areas will attract white bass and striped bass.

Watch for bird activity picking up shad injured by the white bass.

BIG BEND

Up River for Amistad Bass

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Upper River Canyons GPS: N29 33.55494, W101 12.5784

(29.559249, -101.209640) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Soft plastics, topwaters Contact: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish the backs of the cuts with topwater lures early, casting as close to the rocky banks as possible. After the sun rises, fish Carolina-rigged soft plastics over the grass beds close to where T F & G

ALMANAC Digital.indd 87

the grass drops off into deeper water near the channels.

kandie@gvtc.com, TIPS: Fish the pockets all the way to the back of them with Bass Kandie worms and Senkos.

Pumpkin and Watermelon-red are good colors.

Topwater action can be good very early but brief.

Fish the area slowly.

HILL COUNTRY

Taylor Made for Granger Crappie

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com LOCATION: Granger HOTSPOT: Taylor Park GPS: N30 39.92256,

W97 23.03544

(30.665376, -97.383924) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Maribou Jigs, small minnows Contact: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com gotcrappie.com TIPS: Now is the time for bank and boat fishermen to catch spawning crappie. The two coves next to the Taylor Park ramp and the big cove at Fox Park are good places to start. The big females will be found straight out from the males at the same depths.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Potter’s Creek GPS: N29 54.18336,

W98 16.6656

(29.903056, -98.277760) SPECIES: striper BEST BAITS: Zara Spook Contact: Steve Nixon 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: This area is known for large catches of fish. Look for feeding birds to locate schools of stripers. Chrome-blue and chartreuse are the best colors for the topwater lures. Use the walking-thedog method to draw the most strikes.

Tune in to Falcon’s Catfish Channel

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: River Channel GPS: N26 52.74768, W99 19.66926 (26.879128, -99.327821) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad, shrimp, punch bait CONTACT: Robert Amaya 956-765-1442 robertsfishntackle@gmail.com robertsfishntackle.com TIPS: This is the time of the year when the big blue catfish are staging for the spawn. They will be traveling along the main river channel and staging around the bends. Anchor or drift slowly with the bait just off the bottom.

Find Thousands of Texas Fishing Hotspots with our HOTSPOT FINDER app: www.FishGame.com/hotspots

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Mystic Shores GPS: N29 54.56958,

W98 17.7987

(29.909493, -98.296645) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Shakey Heads, Bass Kandie worms, Senkos Contact: Kandie Candelaria 210-823-2153 A L M A N A C

T e x a S

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A P R I L

2 0 1 3

|

87

3/25/13 4:15 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook Tides and Prime Times

APRIL 2013

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

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

T12

T4

T11

T10

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

T9 T8 T7

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

T15 T16

T6 T17

T3 T2 T1

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

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

T13 T5

T14

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

T18

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

T19

T20

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

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

T21

Tide Correction Table

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

KEY PLACE T1 Sabine Bank Lighthouse T2 Sabine Pass Jetty T3 Sabine Pass T4 Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass T5 Galveston Bay, S. Jetty T6 Port Bolivar

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

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

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

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

KEY PLACE

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay T12

Gilchrist, East Bay T13 Jamaica Beach, W. Bay T14

Alligator Point, W. Bay T15

Christmas Pt T16

Galveston Pleasure Pier T17

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

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

KEY PLACE

San Luis Pass T18

Freeport Harbor T19

Pass Cavallo T20

Aransas Pass T21

Padre Island (So. End) T22

Port Isabel T23

HIGH -0.09 -0:44 0:00 -0:03 -0:24 +1:02

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE GRAPH:

Yellow: Daylight

12a

Tab: Peak Fishing Period

6a

12p

6p

12a

Light Blue: Nighttime

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Green: Falling Tide

Gold Fish: Best Time

Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

Blue Fish: Good Time

MINOR Feeding Periods (+/- 1.5 Hrs.) Time Moon is at its Highest Point in the Sky

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY:

12a

AM/PM Timeline

88 |

AM/PM Timeline

AM Minor: 1:20a

PM Minor: 1:45p

AM Major: 7:32a

PM Major: 7:57p

Moon Overhead: 8:50a 6a

6p

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

A P R I L

ALMANAC Digital.indd 88

12p

2 0 1 3

12a

MAJOR Feeding Periods (+/- 2 Hrs.) Time Moon is Directly Underfoot (at its peak on opposite side of the earth)

T e x a S

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T F & G

A L M A N A C

3/25/13 4:15 PM

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

TUESDAY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

WEDNESDAY

2

»3

Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 7:37p Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 7:37p Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 7:38p Moonrise: 12:29a Set: 11:17a Moonrise: 1:27a Set: 12:18p Moonrise: 2:21a Set: 1:21p

4

Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 7:38p Moonrise: 3:09a Set: 2:24p

FRIDAY

5

Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 7:39p Moonrise: 3:52a Set: 3:25p

SATURDAY

6

Sunrise: 7:03a Set: 7:39p Moonrise: 4:31a Set: 4:25p

SUNDAY

7

Sunrise: 7:01a Set: 7:40p Moonrise: 5:09a Set: 5:24p

AM Minor: 10:46a

PM Minor: 11:16p

AM Minor: 11:49a

PM Minor: -----

AM Minor: 12:18a

PM Minor: 12:47p

AM Minor: 1:12a

PM Minor: 1:39p

AM Minor: 2:01a

PM Minor: 2:27p

AM Minor: 2:46a

PM Minor: 3:11p

AM Minor: 3:29a

PM Minor: 3:53p

AM Major: 4:31a

PM Major: 5:01p

AM Major: 5:34a

PM Major: 6:03p

AM Major: 6:32a

PM Major: 7:01p

AM Major: 7:26a

PM Major: 7:53p

AM Major: 8:14a

PM Major: 8:40p

AM Major: 8:59a

PM Major: 9:23p

AM Major: 9:41a

PM Major: 10:05p

Moon Overhead: 5:53a

12a

THURSDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:49a

Moon Overhead: 6:52a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 8:44a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 10:26a

Moon Overhead: 9:36a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Apr 1

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2013

Moon Overhead: 11:14a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 6:23p

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

Low Tide: 2:19 am High Tide: 11:02 am Low Tide: 3:24 pm High Tide: 5:33 pm

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 8:17p BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Low Tide: 4:44 am High Tide: 1:21 pm Low Tide: 8:00 pm High Tide: 9:40 pm

T F & G

ALMANAC Digital.indd 89

BEST:

12:30 — 2:30 AM

-0.23 ft. Low Tide: 3:28 am -0.19 ft.

1.40 ft. High Tide: 12:21 pm 1.39 ft.

1.26 ft.

1.27 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 9:11p

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

-0.12 ft.

1.37 ft.

1.13 ft.

1.14 ft.

A L M A N A C

Low Tide: 6:03 am High Tide: 2:03 pm Low Tide: 8:02 pm High Tide: 11:51 pm

Moon Underfoot: 10:01p

BEST:

2:30 — 4:30 AM

F i s h

&

3:30 — 5:30 AM

0.09 ft. High Tide: 1:25 am 1.27 ft. Low Tide: 8:21 am 0.81 ft. High Tide: 2:58 pm Low Tide: 8:55 pm

G a m e ®

Moon Underfoot: 11:37p

+2.0

BEST:

3:00 — 5:00 AM

-0.02 ft. Low Tide: 7:17 am 1.33 ft. High Tide: 2:33 pm 0.99 ft. Low Tide: 8:26 pm 1.13 ft.

T e x a S

Moon Underfoot: 10:50p

1.19 ft.

0.22 ft.

1.22 ft.

0.62 ft.

A P R I L

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 7:21p

High Tide: 2:41 am Low Tide: 9:16 am High Tide: 3:20 pm Low Tide: 9:26 pm

2 0 1 3

|

1.27 ft.

0.37 ft.

1.19 ft.

0.43 ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

89

3/25/13 4:16 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 7:00a Set: 7:41p Moonrise: 5:45a Set: 6:21p

Sunrise: 6:59a Set: 7:41p Moonrise: 6:21a Set: 7:18p

Sunrise: 6:58a Set: 7:42p Moonrise: 6:58a Set: 8:15p

Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 7:42p Moonrise: 7:36a Set: 9:10p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

«9

l 10

« 11

FRIDAY

« 12

SATURDAY

« 13

SUNDAY

14

Sunrise: 6:56a Set: 7:43p Sunrise: 6:55a Set: 7:43p Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 7:44p Moonrise: 8:17a Set: 10:05p Moonrise: 9:00a Set: 10:57p Moonrise: 9:46a Set: 11:47p

AM Minor: 4:11a

PM Minor: 4:35p

AM Minor: 4:55a

PM Minor: 5:18p

AM Minor: 5:40a

PM Minor: 6:04p

AM Minor: 6:29a

PM Minor: 6:53p

AM Minor: 7:20a

PM Minor: 7:44p

AM Minor: 8:13a

PM Minor: 8:37p

AM Minor: 9:07a

PM Minor: 9:31p

AM Major: 10:23a

PM Major: 10:46p

AM Major: 11:06a

PM Major: 11:30p

AM Major: 11:52a

PM Major: 12:16p

AM Major: 12:17a

PM Major: 12:41p

AM Major: 1:08a

PM Major: 1:32p

AM Major: 2:01a

PM Major: 2:25p

AM Major: 2:55a

PM Major: 3:19p

Moon Overhead: 12:00p 6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 1:34p

Moon Overhead: 12:47p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 2:21p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:58p

Moon Overhead: 3:09p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 4:46p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

«8

12a

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2013

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: None

+2.0

-1.0

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 PM

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

High Tide: 3:47 am Low Tide: 10:06 am High Tide: 3:41 pm Low Tide: 9:58 pm

90 |

1.34 ft.

0.54 ft.

1.17 ft.

0.26 ft.

A P R I L

ALMANAC Digital.indd 90

Moon Underfoot: 1:10a BEST:

6:00 — 8:00 PM

High Tide: 4:46 am Low Tide: 10:50 am High Tide: 4:01 pm Low Tide: 10:31 pm

2 0 1 3

1.40 ft.

0.70 ft.

1.17 ft.

0.14 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 1:57a

7:00 — 9:00 PM

High Tide: 5:41 am Low Tide: 11:31 am High Tide: 4:21 pm Low Tide: 11:05 pm

T e x a S

1.44 ft.

0.85 ft.

1.18 ft.

0.06 ft.

F i s h

&

Moon Underfoot: 2:45a

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 PM

High Tide: 6:33 am Low Tide: 12:07 pm High Tide: 4:38 pm Low Tide: 11:40 pm

G a m e ®

Moon Underfoot: 3:34a

BEST:

8:00 — 10:00 PM

BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 PM

1.45 ft. High Tide: 7:25 am 1.43 ft. Low Tide: 12:17 am 0.97 ft. Low Tide: 12:41 pm 1.08 ft. High Tide: 8:20 am 1.19 ft. High Tide: 4:52 pm 1.21 ft. Low Tide: 1:11 pm High Tide: 4:57 pm 0.03 ft.

T F & G

0.04 ft.

1.41 ft.

1.16 ft.

1.22 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 4:22a

+2.0

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 PM

Low Tide: 12:57 am High Tide: 9:19 am Low Tide: 1:40 pm High Tide: 4:35 pm

0.08 ft.

1.37 ft.

1.22 ft.

1.24 ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 12:24a

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

3/25/13 4:16 PM

ALMANAC Digital.indd 91

3/25/13 4:16 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

TUESDAY

15

Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 7:45p Moonrise: 10:34a Set: None

16

º 17

Sunrise: 6:51a Set: 7:45p Sunrise: 6:50a Set: 7:46p Moonrise: 11:24a Set: 12:34a Moonrise: 12:15p Set: 1:18a

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 6:49a Set: 7:46p Moonrise: 1:08p Set: 1:59a

Sunrise: 6:48a Set: 7:47p Moonrise: 2:02p Set: 2:37a

18

19

SATURDAY

20

Sunrise: 6:47a Set: 7:48p Moonrise: 2:58p Set: 3:14a

SUNDAY

21

Sunrise: 6:46a Set: 7:48p Moonrise: 3:54p Set: 3:50a

AM Minor: 10:00a

PM Minor: 10:24p

AM Minor: 10:52a

PM Minor: 11:16p

AM Minor: 11:42a

PM Minor: -----

AM Minor: 12:05a

PM Minor: 12:29p

AM Minor: 12:51a

PM Minor: 1:14p

AM Minor: 1:34a

PM Minor: 1:57p

AM Minor: 2:15a

PM Minor: 2:38p

AM Major: 3:48a

PM Major: 4:12p

AM Major: 4:40a

PM Major: 5:04p

AM Major: 5:30a

PM Major: 5:54p

AM Major: 6:18a

PM Major: 6:41p

AM Major: 7:03a

PM Major: 7:26p

AM Major: 7:46a

PM Major: 8:08p

AM Major: 8:27a

PM Major: 8:50p

Moon Overhead: 5:34p

12a

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:09p

Moon Overhead: 6:22p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:55p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 9:26p

Moon Overhead: 8:40p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 10:13p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2013

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 5:11a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

10:00P — 12:00A

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Low Tide: 1:41 am High Tide: 10:24 am Low Tide: 2:19 pm High Tide: 3:54 pm

92 |

0.15 ft.

1.34 ft.

1.25 ft.

1.26 ft.

A P R I L

ALMANAC Digital.indd 92

Moon Underfoot: 6:45a

Moon Underfoot: 7:32a

BEST:

BEST:

11:00P — 1:00A

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Low Tide: 2:30 am 0.23 ft. Low Tide: 3:26 am 0.31 ft. Low Tide: 4:28 am High Tide: 11:31 am 1.33 ft. High Tide: 12:27 pm 1.32 ft. High Tide: 1:05 pm

2 0 1 3

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Moon Underfoot: 8:18a BEST:

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 AM

2:00 — 4:00 AM

0.39 ft. Low Tide: 5:32 am 1.31 ft. High Tide: 1:31 pm Low Tide: 8:03 pm High Tide: 11:55 pm

T F & G

Moon Underfoot: 9:03a

0.46 ft. Low Tide: 6:32 am 1.30 ft. High Tide: 1:52 pm 1.02 ft. Low Tide: 7:51 pm 1.12 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 9:49a

+2.0

BEST:

3:00 — 5:00 AM

0.53 ft. High Tide: 1:18 am 1.29 ft. Low Tide: 7:28 am 0.89 ft. High Tide: 2:11 pm Low Tide: 8:07 pm

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 5:58a

1.19 ft.

0.61 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.71 ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

3/25/13 4:16 PM

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

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2013

22

Sunrise: 6:45a Set: 7:49p Moonrise: 4:53p Set: 4:26a

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 6:44a Set: 7:49p Moonrise: 5:54p Set: 5:03a

Sunrise: 6:43a Set: 7:50p Moonrise: 6:58p Set: 5:43a

Sunrise: 6:42a Set: 7:51p Moonrise: 8:04p Set: 6:27a

Sunrise: 6:42a Set: 7:51p Moonrise: 9:11p Set: 7:15a

« 23

¡ 25

« 26

« 27

Sunrise: 6:41a Set: 7:52p Moonrise: 10:16p Set: 8:09a

28

Sunrise: 6:40a Set: 7:53p Moonrise: 11:18p Set: 9:07a

AM Minor: 2:56a

PM Minor: 3:20p

AM Minor: 3:38a

PM Minor: 4:03p

AM Minor: 4:24a

PM Minor: 4:51p

AM Minor: 5:15a

PM Minor: 5:43p

AM Minor: 6:12a

PM Minor: 6:41p

AM Minor: 7:15a

PM Minor: 7:45p

AM Minor: 8:21a

PM Minor: 8:52p

AM Major: 9:08a

PM Major: 9:32p

AM Major: 9:51a

PM Major: 10:16p

AM Major: 10:37a

PM Major: 11:04p

AM Major: 11:29a

PM Major: 11:57p

AM Major: 12:03a

PM Major: 12:27p

AM Major: 1:00a

PM Major: 1:30p

AM Major: 2:06a

PM Major: 2:37p

Moon Overhead: 11:01p

12a

« 24

SATURDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: None

Moon Overhead: 11:51p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 12:45a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 2:41a

Moon Overhead: 1:41a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:42a 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 10:36a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

High Tide: 2:26 am Low Tide: 8:20 am High Tide: 2:29 pm Low Tide: 8:35 pm

ALMANAC Digital.indd 93

1.30 ft.

0.70 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.50 ft.

BEST:

4:30 — 6:30 PM

High Tide: 3:27 am Low Tide: 9:09 am High Tide: 2:47 pm Low Tide: 9:10 pm

1.42 ft.

0.81 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.28 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 12:17p BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 PM

High Tide: 4:26 am Low Tide: 9:58 am High Tide: 3:05 pm Low Tide: 9:49 pm

1.54 ft.

0.93 ft.

1.30 ft.

0.06 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 1:13p BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 PM

High Tide: 5:24 am Low Tide: 10:47 am High Tide: 3:24 pm Low Tide: 10:32 pm

1.64 ft.

1.06 ft.

1.34 ft.

-0.13 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 2:11p BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 3:11p BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 PM 2;00 — 4:00 AM

High Tide: 6:23 am Low Tide: 11:36 am High Tide: 3:45 pm Low Tide: 11:19 pm

Moon Underfoot: 4:13p

+2.0

BEST:

2:30 — 4:30 AM

1.71 ft. High Tide: 7:24 am 1.73 ft. Low Tide: 12:10 am 1.19 ft. Low Tide: 12:28 pm 1.30 ft. High Tide: 8:28 am 1.38 ft. High Tide: 4:08 pm 1.42 ft. Low Tide: 1:26 pm High Tide: 4:33 pm -0.26 ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

3:30 — 5:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 11:26a

-0.31 ft.

1.71 ft.

1.37 ft.

1.43 ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

3/25/13 4:16 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

29

TUESDAY

30

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

May 1

»2

Sunrise: 6:39a Set: 7:53p Sunrise: 6:38a Set: 7:54p Sunrise: 6:37a Set: 7:54p Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 7:55p Moonrise: None Set: 10:09a Moonrise: 12:15a Set: 11:13a Moonrise: 1:06a Set: 12:17p Moonrise: 1:52a Set: 1:20p

3

Sunrise: 6:35a Set: 7:56p Moonrise: 2:33a Set: 2:20p

SATURDAY

4

Sunrise: 6:35a Set: 7:56p Moonrise: 3:10a Set: 3:18p

SUNDAY

5

Sunrise: 6:34a Set: 7:57p Moonrise: 3:46a Set: 4:15p

AM Minor: 9:29a

PM Minor: 9:59p

AM Minor: 10:35a

PM Minor: 11:04p

AM Minor: 11:36a

PM Minor: -----

AM Minor: 12:07a

PM Minor: 12:31p

AM Minor: 12:55a

PM Minor: 1:20p

AM Minor: 1:41a

PM Minor: 2:04p

AM Minor: 2:22a

PM Minor: 2:45p

AM Major: 3:14a

PM Major: 3:44p

AM Major: 4:20a

PM Major: 4:49p

AM Major: 5:22a

PM Major: 5:49p

AM Major: 6:18a

PM Major: 6:44p

AM Major: 7:08a

PM Major: 7:32p

AM Major: 7:52a

PM Major: 8:16p

AM Major: 8:34a

PM Major: 8:57p

Moon Overhead: 4:43a

12a

FRIDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 6:40a

Moon Overhead: 5:43a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:33a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 9:12a

Moon Overhead: 8:24a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 9:58a 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2013

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 5:14p

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

BEST:

9:30 — 11:30 PM

Low Tide: 1:04 am High Tide: 9:33 am Low Tide: 2:48 pm High Tide: 4:58 pm

94 |

ALMANAC Digital.indd 94

Moon Underfoot: 7:59p

BEST:

BEST:

10:30P — 12:30A 5:30 — 7:30AM

-0.29 ft. Low Tide: 2:03 am -0.20 ft.

1.67 ft. High Tide: 10:36 am 1.61 ft.

1.39 ft.

1.40 ft.

A P R I L

Moon Underfoot: 7:07p

2 0 1 3

Low Tide: 3:08 am High Tide: 11:32 am Low Tide: 6:25 pm High Tide: 8:21 pm

T e x a S

12:30 — 2:30 AM

-0.05 ft.

1.54 ft.

1.18 ft.

1.19 ft.

F i s h

&

Low Tide: 4:19 am High Tide: 12:17 pm Low Tide: 6:53 pm High Tide: 10:40 pm

G a m e ®

Moon Underfoot: 8:48p BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 9:35p BEST:

T F & G

+2.0

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

0.14 ft. Low Tide: 5:36 am 0.34 ft. High Tide: 12:30 am 1.46 ft. High Tide: 12:52 pm 1.38 ft. Low Tide: 6:53 am 1.00 ft. Low Tide: 7:26 pm 0.78 ft. High Tide: 1:22 pm Low Tide: 8:00 pm 1.13 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 10:21p 3:00 — 5:00 AM

1.16 ft.

0.53 ft.

1.32 ft.

0.57 ft.

High Tide: 2:00 am Low Tide: 8:05 am High Tide: 1:46 pm Low Tide: 8:33 pm

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 6:12p

1.25 ft.

0.71 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.37 ft

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

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3/25/13 4:17 PM

GRAPHIC LAYOUT: TEXAS FISH & GAME

by reavis wortham

riends know that I have deep-seated hatred for the common house fly.

Judge O.C. Rains, one of the main characters in my novel, The Rock Hole, keeps a fly swatter close at hand in his office. “I’m glad you’re here, Ned. A good constable oughta make a fair hand at using a flyswatter. You can help me kill some of these flies. They’re worrying the piss out of me today.”

“I didn’t come here to kill flies, but it looks like you’re doing a pretty fair job 96 |

A P R I L

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2 0 1 3

T e x a S

without my help.”

Ned nearly smiled at the scattering of insect corpses on the polished oak floor. “I’m here because I’ve got a crow to pick with you.”

Personally, I have a crow to pick with all insects that annoy me here in the Lone Star state, musca domestica especially. They are one of the filthiest creatures on this earth, and yet so familiar that we simply wave these nasty annoyances away without reflecting upon the diseases clinging to their hairy legs.

The common house fly doesn’t bite, but they are a living petri dish of diseases that F i s h

&

G a m e ®

T F & G

have been known to include typhoid, cholera, dysentery, salmonella, anthrax, or tuberculosis. They have even been known to transmit the eggs of parasitic worms.

Flies collect pathogens on their legs and mouths when females lay eggs on decomposing matter, feces, or dead animals. They contaminate our food by depositing dark spots (feces) or yellowish droplets (regurgitated liquid). Think about that the next time one lights on your plate.

The mosquito is another annoying and

A L M A N A C

3/25/13 4:17 PM

potentially dangerous insect that lately has garnered a lot of news coverage in Texas.

Red and itching “skeeter” bites used to be simply annoying, but there is growing concern over the rise of the West Nile virus which first appeared in the U.S. in 1999.

Fortunately, though heavily reported, the number of cases of this highly advertised disease is small, confined mostly to the elderly and children, or those with serious medical conditions.

Elsewhere, every year millions of people across Africa, Asia and South America are infected with malaria, yellow fever and encephalitis through the bites of these tiny insects. The stunning truth is that, through infection, mosquitos kill more people each year than any other insect or animal in the world.

Here at home, the simple application of a quality mosquito repellent either on the skin or on clothing will prevent the vast majority of bites.

Texas is home to 11 species of ticks and they all carry their own brand of infection. The most popular is Lyme disease, which is identified by flu-like symptoms and sometimes accompanied by a rash. Again, a quality insect repellant significantly reduces the risk of infection.

Of lesser concern, but still dangerous in certain circumstances, are certain venomous arachnids. If you have arachnophobia, you’re afraid of spiders. I’ve smashed my share of these eight-legged creatures with a variety of weapons including, but not limited to, rolled newspapers and Texas Fish & Game magazines, fly swatters, shoes, and once, a baseball bat, but that particular time there were extenuating circumstances involv-

ing a shrieking girlfriend and the need for a teenage boy to be a hero.

Of the nearly 900 species of spiders in Texas, only two are poisonous to humans.

Both the black widow and her cousin the brown recluse are found both inside homes and in the outdoors. The bite of these spiders are potentially deadly and at the very least, uncomfortable.

From personal experience my bride, the War Department, has a deep, circular scar on her leg that looks like a cigarette burn. It was the bite of a venomous fiddle-back, or brown recluse spider.

After injecting poison into the site of the bite, the wound stings and burns until the site blisters then blackens into a necrotic lesion that eats away at the flesh.

The wound might take months to heal. In extreme situations, they can cause major organ failure, or death.

Hers is a childhood bite that is still evident, forty years later.

The shy brown recluse prefers to hide in wood piles or other refuse, or within the folds of cloth such as towels or the sheets on a bed. Check them well for a brownishyellow spider with a violin-shaped line on its belly.

A particularly nasty surprise is the scorpion, a relative of ticks and spiders. They love to hide in dry rocky areas, stacked wood, and inside the walls of any structure.

A bulb-like poison gland at the end of their curved stinger delivers a painful injection of neurotoxins that impacts different individuals in a variety of ways.

Most insects here in our state simply drive us nuts, but at the same time, many can deliver painful bites or stings,

some even resulting in serious illness or death. Although most of us consider them mere annoyances, insect stings in America account for more than a half-million visits to hospital emergency rooms, causing about 40 deaths a year, according to the American College of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology.

In fact, according to ACAAI, insect stings kill more Americans than snakebites.

If stung, carefully watch the victims of insect stings for adverse reactions, which might include a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Common symptoms of an allergic reaction includes hives in areas other than the bitten area, nausea, tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing and hoarseness, swelling of the tongue or throat or difficulty swallowing, dizziness and a sharp drop in blood pressure, unconsciousness, and even cardiac arrest. If any of those symptoms occur, the victim should seek immediate medical attention.

The truth is that outdoorsmen have to deal with a variety of things that bug us while in pursuit of hunting, fishing, camping, or any other activity that draws us out of our home environments.

Knowing your bugs and their habitat lessens the chance of being bitten or stung.

Most insect bites are not severe, so a basic knowledge of first aid treatment is all you need. Stings can cause reactions, so watch the site, because as always in the outdoors, preparation is the key to a safe, successful outing.

Right in the Kisser Another little bloodsucker making its presence known in Texas is the conenose or kissing bug. The flattened insects have elongated, cone-shaped heads with a prominent proboscis. Their bodies are dark and wide with six equally spaced orange spots along the flattened sides. Their habit of biting around the mouth (hence kissing bug) is often unfelt by sleeping victims, and results in itchT F & G

ALMANAC Digital.indd 97

ing and redness around the site.

The bite of the bloodsucking conenose Triatoma sanguisuga, also called the Mexican bedbug, can transmit Chaga’s disease. Several human cases of Chagas’ disease have been recorded in Texas since the first indigenous case was recorded in 1955. Cases among dogs are more common, especially in southern regions of Texas. Transmission of A L M A N A C

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F i s h

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the disease to people in Texas, however, is rare.

For more information about insect transmitted diseases in Texas, contact the Texas Department of Health at (512)458-7111 or on the web at www.dshs.state.tx.us/ —Reavis Wortham

G a m e ®

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2 0 1 3

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3/25/13 4:17 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook Tides and Prime Times

APRIL 2013

TIDE forecast for GALVESTON CHANNEL (29.3166° N, 94.88° W) SOLUNAR forecast for TEXAS CENTER (31.14° N, 99.39° W) MONDAY

Apr 1

Low Tide: 2:19 am High Tide: 11:02 am Low Tide: 3:24 pm High Tide: 5:33 pm

TUESDAY PRIME TIME

-0.23 ft.

1.40 ft.

1.26 ft.

1.27 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:26a Set: 7:55p Moonrise: 12:51a Set: 11:32a AM Minor: 11:04a AM Major: 4:49a PM Minor: 11:34p PM Major: 5:19p Moon Overhead: 6:12a Moon Underfoot: 6:41p

8«

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 3:47 am Low Tide: 10:06 am High Tide: 3:41 pm Low Tide: 9:58 pm

1.34 ft.

0.54 ft.

1.17 ft.

0.26 ft.

5:30 — 7:30 PM

Sunrise: 7:17a Set: 8:00p Moonrise: 6:03a Set: 6:41p AM Minor: 4:29a AM Major: 10:41a PM Minor: 4:53p PM Major: 11:04p Moon Overhead: 12:19p Moon Underfoot: None

15

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 1:41 am High Tide: 10:24 am Low Tide: 2:19 pm High Tide: 3:54 pm

0.15 ft.

1.34 ft.

1.25 ft.

1.26 ft.

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 8:04p Moonrise: 10:49a Set: 12:10a AM Minor: 10:18a AM Major: 4:06a PM Minor: 10:42p PM Major: 4:30p Moon Overhead: 5:53p Moon Underfoot: 5:29a

22

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 2:26 am Low Tide: 8:20 am High Tide: 2:29 pm Low Tide: 8:35 pm

1.30 ft.

0.70 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.50 ft.

3:30 — 5:30 PM

Sunrise: 7:01a Set: 8:09p Moonrise: 5:12p Set: 4:44a AM Minor: 3:14a AM Major: 9:26a PM Minor: 3:38p PM Major: 9:50p Moon Overhead: 11:19p Moon Underfoot: 10:55a

29

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 1:04 am High Tide: 9:33 am Low Tide: 2:48 pm High Tide: 4:58 pm

-0.29 ft.

1.67 ft.

1.39 ft.

1.40 ft.

9:30 — 11:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 8:14p Moonrise: None Set: 10:24a AM Minor: 9:47a AM Major: 3:32a PM Minor: 10:17p PM Major: 4:02p Moon Overhead: 5:02a Moon Underfoot: 5:32p

98 |

i s s u e x x x

ALMANAC Digital.indd 98

2

WEDNESDAY PRIME TIME 12:00 — 2:00 AM

Low Tide: 3:28 am -0.19 ft.

High Tide: 12:21 pm 1.39 ft.

Set: 7:56p Sunrise: 7:24a Moonrise: 1:50a Set: 12:33p AM Minor: ----- AM Major: 5:52a PM Minor: 12:07p PM Major: 6:21p Moon Overhead: 7:11a Moon Underfoot: 7:40p

9«

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 4:46 am Low Tide: 10:50 am High Tide: 4:01 pm Low Tide: 10:31 pm

1.40 ft.

0.70 ft.

1.17 ft.

0.14 ft.

6:00 — 8:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:16a Set: 8:00p Moonrise: 6:38a Set: 7:38p AM Minor: 5:13a AM Major: 11:24a PM Minor: 5:36p PM Major: 11:48p Moon Overhead: 1:05p Moon Underfoot: 12:42a

16

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 2:30 am 0.23 ft.

High Tide: 11:31 am 1.33 ft.

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 8:05p Moonrise: 11:39a Set: 12:56a AM Minor: 11:10a AM Major: 4:58a PM Minor: 11:34p PM Major: 5:22p Moon Overhead: 6:41p Moon Underfoot: 6:17a

23«

High Tide: 3:27 am Low Tide: 9:09 am High Tide: 2:47 pm Low Tide: 9:10 pm

PRIME TIME 1.42 ft.

0.81 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.28 ft.

4:30 — 6:30 PM

Sunrise: 7:00a Set: 8:10p Moonrise: 6:14p Set: 5:21a AM Minor: 3:56a AM Major: 10:09a PM Minor: 4:21p PM Major: 10:34p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:44a

30

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 2:03 am -0.20 ft.

High Tide: 10:36 am 1.61 ft.

10:30P — 12:30A

Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 8:14p Moonrise: 12:38a Set: 11:29a AM Minor: 10:53a AM Major: 4:38a PM Minor: 11:22p PM Major: 5:07p Moon Overhead: 6:02a Moon Underfoot: 6:31p

T e x a S

F i s h

&

3»

Low Tide: 4:44 am High Tide: 1:21 pm Low Tide: 8:00 pm High Tide: 9:40 pm

THURSDAY

PRIME TIME -0.12 ft.

1.37 ft.

1.13 ft.

1.14 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 AM

Set: 7:57p Sunrise: 7:23a Moonrise: 2:43a Set: 1:37p AM Minor: 12:36a AM Major: 6:51a PM Minor: 1:05p PM Major: 7:19p Moon Overhead: 8:08a Moon Underfoot: 8:36p

10 l

High Tide: 5:41 am Low Tide: 11:31 am High Tide: 4:21 pm Low Tide: 11:05 pm

PRIME TIME 1.44 ft.

0.85 ft.

1.18 ft.

0.06 ft.

7:00 — 9:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:15a Set: 8:01p Moonrise: 7:14a Set: 8:36p AM Minor: 5:58a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:22p PM Major: 12:34p Moon Overhead: 1:52p Moon Underfoot: 1:29a

17 º

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 3:26 am 0.31 ft.

High Tide: 12:27 pm 1.32 ft.

11:00P — 1:00A

Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 8:06p Moonrise: 12:31p Set: 1:40a AM Minor: ----- AM Major: 5:48a PM Minor: 12:00p PM Major: 6:12p Moon Overhead: 7:27p Moon Underfoot: 7:04a

24«

High Tide: 4:26 am Low Tide: 9:58 am High Tide: 3:05 pm Low Tide: 9:49 pm

PRIME TIME 1.54 ft.

0.93 ft.

1.30 ft.

0.06 ft.

5:30 — 7:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:59a Set: 8:10p Moonrise: 7:19p Set: 6:00a AM Minor: 4:42a AM Major: 10:55a PM Minor: 5:09p PM Major: 11:22p Moon Overhead: 12:10a Moon Underfoot: 12:36p

May 1

Low Tide: 3:08 am High Tide: 11:32 am Low Tide: 6:25 pm High Tide: 8:21 pm

PRIME TIME -0.05 ft.

1.54 ft.

1.18 ft.

1.19 ft.

5:30 — 7:30AM

Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 8:15p Moonrise: 1:28a Set: 12:33p AM Minor: 11:54a AM Major: 5:40a PM Minor: ----- PM Major: 6:07p Moon Overhead: 6:59a Moon Underfoot: 7:26p

G a m e ®

x x e d i t i o n x x

4

Low Tide: 6:03 am High Tide: 2:03 pm Low Tide: 8:02 pm High Tide: 11:51 pm

PRIME TIME -0.02 ft.

1.33 ft.

0.99 ft.

1.13 ft.

2:00 — 4:00 AM

Set: 7:57p Sunrise: 7:22a Moonrise: 3:30a Set: 2:40p AM Minor: 1:31a AM Major: 7:44a PM Minor: 1:57p PM Major: 8:11p Moon Overhead: 9:03a Moon Underfoot: 9:29p

11«

High Tide: 6:33 am Low Tide: 12:07 pm High Tide: 4:38 pm Low Tide: 11:40 pm

PRIME TIME 1.45 ft.

0.97 ft.

1.19 ft.

0.03 ft.

7:30 — 9:30 PM

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 8:02p Moonrise: 7:52a Set: 9:32p AM Minor: 6:47a AM Major: 12:35a PM Minor: 7:11p PM Major: 12:59p Moon Overhead: 2:40p Moon Underfoot: 2:16a

18

Low Tide: 4:28 am High Tide: 1:05 pm

PRIME TIME 0.39 ft.

1.31 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 8:06p Moonrise: 1:24p Set: 2:20a AM Minor: 12:23a AM Major: 6:36a PM Minor: 12:47p PM Major: 6:59p Moon Overhead: 8:13p Moon Underfoot: 7:50a

25 ¡

High Tide: 5:24 am Low Tide: 10:47 am High Tide: 3:24 pm Low Tide: 10:32 pm

PRIME TIME 1.64 ft.

1.06 ft.

1.34 ft.

-0.13 ft.

6:30 — 8:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:58a Set: 8:11p Moonrise: 8:25p Set: 6:43a AM Minor: 5:33a AM Major: 11:47a PM Minor: 6:01p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:03a Moon Underfoot: 1:31p

2»

Low Tide: 4:19 am High Tide: 12:17 pm Low Tide: 6:53 pm High Tide: 10:40 pm

PRIME TIME 0.14 ft.

1.46 ft.

1.00 ft.

1.13 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 8:16p Moonrise: 2:13a Set: 1:36p AM Minor: 12:25a AM Major: 6:36a PM Minor: 12:49p PM Major: 7:02p Moon Overhead: 7:52a Moon Underfoot: 8:18p

A l m a n a c

3/25/13 4:17 PM

SYMBOL KEY

l

New First Full Moon Qtr Moon

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

Tide Correction Table

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

KEY PLACE

Sabine Bank Lighthouse

Sabine Pass Jetty

Sabine Pass

Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass Galveston Bay, S. Jetty

Port Bolivar

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

FRIDAY

5

Low Tide: 7:17 am High Tide: 2:33 pm Low Tide: 8:26 pm

2:30 — 4:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:21a Set: 7:58p Moonrise: 4:13a Set: 3:42p AM Minor: 2:20a AM Major: 8:32a PM Minor: 2:45p PM Major: 8:58p Moon Overhead: 9:55a Moon Underfoot: 10:20p

12«

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 7:25 am 1.43 ft.

Low Tide: 12:41 pm 1.08 ft.

High Tide: 4:52 pm 1.21 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 8:02p Moonrise: 8:33a Set: 10:27p AM Minor: 7:38a AM Major: 1:26a PM Minor: 8:02p PM Major: 1:50p Moon Overhead: 3:28p Moon Underfoot: 3:04a

19

Low Tide: 5:32 am High Tide: 1:31 pm Low Tide: 8:03 pm High Tide: 11:55 pm

PRIME TIME 0.46 ft.

1.30 ft.

1.02 ft.

1.12 ft.

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 8:07p Moonrise: 2:19p Set: 2:58a AM Minor: 1:09a AM Major: 7:21a PM Minor: 1:32p PM Major: 7:44p Moon Overhead: 8:59p Moon Underfoot: 8:36a

26«

High Tide: 6:23 am Low Tide: 11:36 am High Tide: 3:45 pm Low Tide: 11:19 pm

PRIME TIME 1.71 ft.

1.19 ft.

1.38 ft.

-0.26 ft.

7:30 — 9:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 8:12p Moonrise: 9:33p Set: 7:31a AM Minor: 6:30a AM Major: 12:15a PM Minor: 7:00p PM Major: 12:45p Moon Overhead: 2:00a Moon Underfoot: 2:30p

3

Low Tide: 5:36 am 0.34 ft.

High Tide: 12:52 pm 1.38 ft.

Low Tide: 7:26 pm 0.78 ft.

PRIME TIME 1:00 — 3:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:51a Set: 8:16p Moonrise: 2:53a Set: 2:38p AM Minor: 1:13a AM Major: 7:26a PM Minor: 1:38p PM Major: 7:50p Moon Overhead: 8:42a Moon Underfoot: 9:07p

6

High Tide: 1:25 am Low Tide: 8:21 am High Tide: 2:58 pm Low Tide: 8:55 pm

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

LOW

PRIME TIME 1.19 ft.

0.22 ft.

1.22 ft.

0.62 ft.

13«

Low Tide: 12:17 am High Tide: 8:20 am Low Tide: 1:11 pm High Tide: 4:57 pm

3:00 — 5:00 AM

PRIME TIME 0.04 ft.

1.41 ft.

1.16 ft.

1.22 ft.

8:30 — 10:30 PM

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 8:03p Moonrise: 9:15a Set: 11:20p AM Minor: 8:31a AM Major: 2:19a PM Minor: 8:55p PM Major: 2:43p Moon Overhead: 4:17p Moon Underfoot: 3:52a

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Low Tide: 6:32 am High Tide: 1:52 pm Low Tide: 7:51 pm

PRIME TIME 0.53 ft.

1.29 ft.

0.89 ft.

2:00 — 4:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:03a Set: 8:08p Moonrise: 3:15p Set: 3:34a AM Minor: 1:52a AM Major: 8:04a PM Minor: 2:15p PM Major: 8:26p Moon Overhead: 9:45p Moon Underfoot: 9:22a

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PRIME TIME

High Tide: 7:24 am 1.73 ft.

Low Tide: 12:28 pm 1.30 ft.

High Tide: 4:08 pm 1.42 ft.

2;00 — 4:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:56a Set: 8:12p Moonrise: 10:39p Set: 8:24a AM Minor: 7:33a AM Major: 1:18a PM Minor: 8:03p PM Major: 1:48p Moon Overhead: 3:00a Moon Underfoot: 3:30p

4

High Tide: 12:30 am Low Tide: 6:53 am High Tide: 1:22 pm Low Tide: 8:00 pm

PRIME TIME 1.16 ft.

0.53 ft.

1.32 ft.

0.57 ft.

KEY PLACE

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, W. Bay

Alligator Point, W. Bay

Christmas Pt Galveston Pleasure Pier

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

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

SUNDAY

Set: 7:58p Sunrise: 7:19a Moonrise: 4:51a Set: 4:43p AM Minor: 3:04a AM Major: 9:17a PM Minor: 3:29p PM Major: 9:41p Moon Overhead: 10:44a Moon Underfoot: 11:08p

2:00 — 4:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:50a Set: 8:17p Moonrise: 3:29a Set: 3:37p AM Minor: 1:59a AM Major: 8:10a PM Minor: 2:22p PM Major: 8:34p Moon Overhead: 9:30a Moon Underfoot: 9:54p

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SATURDAY PRIME TIME

0.09 ft.

1.27 ft.

0.81 ft.

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PRIME TIME

High Tide: 2:41 am Low Tide: 9:16 am High Tide: 3:20 pm Low Tide: 9:26 pm

1.27 ft.

0.37 ft.

1.19 ft.

0.43 ft.

3:30 — 5:30 AM

Set: 7:59p Sunrise: 7:18a Moonrise: 5:28a Set: 5:42p AM Minor: 3:47a AM Major: 9:59a PM Minor: 4:11p PM Major: 10:23p Moon Overhead: 11:32a Moon Underfoot: 11:56p

14

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 12:57 am High Tide: 9:19 am Low Tide: 1:40 pm High Tide: 4:35 pm

0.08 ft.

1.37 ft.

1.22 ft.

1.24 ft.

9:00 — 11:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 8:04p Moonrise: 10:01a Set: None AM Minor: 9:25a AM Major: 3:13a PM Minor: 9:49p PM Major: 3:37p Moon Overhead: 5:05p Moon Underfoot: 4:41a

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PRIME TIME

High Tide: 1:18 am Low Tide: 7:28 am High Tide: 2:11 pm Low Tide: 8:07 pm

1.19 ft.

0.61 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.71 ft.

3:00 — 5:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:02a Set: 8:08p Moonrise: 4:13p Set: 4:09a AM Minor: 2:33a AM Major: 8:45a PM Minor: 2:56p PM Major: 9:08p Moon Overhead: 10:31p Moon Underfoot: 10:08a

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PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 12:10 am High Tide: 8:28 am Low Tide: 1:26 pm High Tide: 4:33 pm

-0.31 ft.

1.71 ft.

1.37 ft.

1.43 ft.

2:30 — 4:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:55a Set: 8:13p Moonrise: 11:41p Set: 9:22a AM Minor: 8:39a AM Major: 2:24a PM Minor: 9:10p PM Major: 2:55p Moon Overhead: 4:01a Moon Underfoot: 4:32p

5

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 2:00 am Low Tide: 8:05 am High Tide: 1:46 pm Low Tide: 8:33 pm

1.25 ft.

0.71 ft.

1.28 ft.

0.37 ft.

3:00 — 5:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:49a Set: 8:18p Moonrise: 4:05a Set: 4:34p AM Minor: 2:40a AM Major: 8:52a PM Minor: 3:03p PM Major: 9:15p Moon Overhead: 10:17a Moon Underfoot: 10:39p

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PRIME TIME

best days

Good Day KEY PLACE

San Luis Pass

Freeport Harbor

Pass Cavallo

Aransas Pass

Padre Island (So. End)

Port Isabel

HIGH -0.09 -0:44 0:00 -0:03 -0:24 +1:02

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

Tide Station Correction Table (Adjust High & Low Tide times listed in the Calendar by the amounts below for each keyed location)

NOT FOR NAVIGATION

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse (29.47° N, 93.72° W) Sabine Pass Jetty (29.65° N, 93.83° W) Sabine Pass (29.73° N, 93.87°W) Mesquite Pt, Sabine Pass (29.77° N, 93.9° W) Galv. Bay, So. Jetty (29.34° N, 94.7° W) Port Bolivar (29.36° N, 94.77° W) TX City Turning Basin (29.38° N, 94.88° W) Eagle Point (29.5° N, 94.91° W) Clear Lake (29.56° N, 95.06° W) Morgans Point (29.68° N, 94.98° W) Round Pt, Trinity Bay (29.71° N, 94.69° W) Pt. Barrow, Trin. Bay (29.74° N, 94.83° W) Gilchrist, E. Bay (29.52° N, 94.48° W) Jamaica Bch., W. Bay (29.2° N, 94.98° W) Alligator Pt., W. Bay (29.17° N, 94.13° W) Christmas Pt, Chr. Bay (29.08° N, 94.17° W) Galv. Pleasure Pier (29.29° N, 94.79° W) San Luis Pass (29.08° N, 95.12° W) Freeport Harbor (28.95° N, 95.31° W) Pass Cavallo (28.37° N, 96.4° W) Aransas Pass (27.84° N, 97.05° W) Padre Isl.(So. End) (26.07° N, 97.16° W) Port Isabel (26.06° N, 97.22° W)

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HIGH LOW -1:46

-1:31

-1:26

-1:31

-1:00

-1:15

-0:04

-0:25

-0:39

-1:05

+0:14

-0:06

+0:33

+0:41

+3:54

+4:15

+6:05

+6:40

+10:21

+5:19

+10:39

+5:15

+5:48

+4:43

+3:16

+4:18

+2:38

+3:31

+2:39

+2:33

+2:32

+2:31

-1:06

-1:06

-0.09

-0.09

-0:44

-1:02

0:00

-1:20

-0:03

-1:31

-0:24

-1:45

+1:02

-0:42

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Texas Tasted

Beer Can Chicken

F

or many years we always cut our chicken into pieces when barbequing on the pit or grill. Several years ago, I was introduced to Beer Can or Beer Butt Chicken. No matter how you say it, this is an absolutely wonderful and delicious way to barbecue a whole chicken.

And it will be the juiciest chicken you have ever tasted. The beer inside the can steams the inside of the chicken while the grill or pit cooks the outside for an awesome flavor sensation.

For the beer selection, it’s really a personal preference. You can use just about any beer, I prefer a bock or dark style beer, and then add a few cloves of garlic, a few peppercorns and a lemon slice for added flavor.

Beer is not mandatory, you can use a standard soda can, and fill it 1/3 full with chicken broth, and your favorite herbs.

Ingredients:

1 whole 4 to6 lb fully thawed chickenremove the neck, giblets, etc.

Tip 1—Before opening the beer, make sure the beer will fit inside the chicken.

1 can of beer-open and pour out or drink about ¾ of the beer, add garlic, peppercorns and a slice of lemon.

Tip 2—Make sure the grill or pit you are using is tall enough to hold the chicken on the can when closed. It is best for you to use a beer can holder, they are available at most stores that sell grilling supplies, and it will keep the beer and chicken from falling over and losing all of the liquid from the can.

Photo: Bryan Slaven:

by Bryan Slaven | The Texas Gourmet

Beer Can (a.k.a.

Beer Butt) Chicken.

3 tbsps. of butter 2 tbspns of olive oil Melt the butter add olive oil, and dry rub Wrap the chicken with cheeseclothapprox. 12 by 36 inches. It helps in a few ways: 1) Keeps the skin from burning 2) Keeps the smoke from penetrating and over smoking the bird.

3) It allows the baste to keep the skin moist throughout the cooking process.

The cheesecloth is not mandatory, but I definitely recommend it. (Try it once, put cheesecloth on one chicken and not on another and see which one you like it the best.)

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On the grill:

Build a charcoal fire on one side of the grill, baste the bird every 20 to 30 minutes and cook for 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours. Check for doneness with meat thermometer, it’s done when it registers 165 degrees. Be sure and use gloves and exercise caution when removing can from the bird. If you use cheesecloth unwrap or cut it away from the bird, Cover the bird with a piece of foil and rest for ten to twelve minutes. Carve and serve! Serve with Creamy Cole Slaw.

Email Bryan Slaven, “The Texas Gourmet,” at BSlaven@fishgame.com

Join the Texas Gourmet Fanclub on Facebook, at http:// www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=152165096156. Come and share your favorite recipes, restaurants, and hangouts.

The Texas Gourmet is waiting on you!

Texas Gourmet’s Sweet Chipotle Season All A P R I L

extremely hot.

Set on plate and cover with a loose piece of foil for 8 to 10 minutes to rest the bird.

Preheat the pit to 250 degrees and smoke for 3 to 3 ½ hours, basting every 30 to 45 minutes. When done, a meat thermometer should register 165 degrees. Remove from pit, then remove the cheesecloth, and take the chicken off of the beer can.

CAUTION: When removing the beer can wear gloves, the liquid and can are

For the baste:

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TEXAS SALTWATER

TEXAS SALTWATER

ROCKPORT / BAFFIN BAY

Upper Coast (Sabine Lake)

ROCKPORT

MIDDLE Coast

Striper Express

Striper Express

GALVESTON

FISHandGAMEgear.COM

Striper Express Striper Express

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Striper Express Striper Express

TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS FRESHWATER

LAKE AMISTAD

DFW METROPLEX

LAKE TEXOMA

FISHandGAMEgear.COM

WWW.FISHGAME.COM

WWW.FISHGAME.COM

SPOTLIGHT: STRIPER EXPRESS GUIDE SERVICE “Welcome To Striper Express!” is the greeting you’ll receive the minute you board one of the Striper Express boats. For owners and pro-guides Bill and Chris Carey, friendliness and professionalism are not just words; they are a way of life.

For the past 28 years, Striper Express Guide Service has been offering first class fishing for striped bass on Lake Texoma. “We Sell Fun!“ states the father and son team. Our slogan is, “Every Trip is an Adventure!”

They specialize in group outings, meetings and events. Striper Express offers companies large and small a way to recharge and refocus with employees and key clients. Whether a daycation or a conference, you can count on a unique outdoor adventure that your group can drive to and be excited to attend.

Lake Texoma boasts twice the state limit for striped bass at 10 fish per person. The lake is located on the Texas-Oklahoma border just 75 miles north of Dallas. This 90,000 acre impoundment is a fisherman’s dream come true.

We asked Bill and Chris what are their most memorable moments and without hesitation they both stated, “It’s the Kids! They are our future fishermen!”

If you would like to book a guided fishing trip on Lake Texoma, call Bill or Chris Carey at Striper Express Guide Service. You can get in on the “striper success”, too. Please call: 903-786-4477 or visit their website at www.striperexpress.com.

ORDER CHESTER’S GRAND SLAM FROM OUR STORE : WWW.FISHANDGAMEGEAR.COM T F & G

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3/25/13 4:18 PM

Whitetail Burleson County

Bass

Redfish

Rhan Burrell of Houston shot this 14-point buck in Burleson County near Somerville with a .270 Winchester. A Barnes Triple Shock-X bullet dropped the buck in his tracks

Austin

Corpus Christi

Thirteen-year-old Knox Kronenberg landed this 9-pound Bass at a local golf course in Austin.

Kyle Anderson, age 12, caught this redfish on a Super Spook at 9 Mile Hole, Corpus Christi.

Whitetail Fredericksburg Gibby Lambert, 7, shot his first buck while hunting with his dad, youth weekend, on his family ranch in Fredericksburg.

Sea turtle

Shark

Crystal Beach

San Luis Pass

Brothers Justin Joshua and Chace White caught this sea turtle at Crystal Beach last June . The brothers notified TPWD and they came out and retrieved the turtle.

M’Lyn Pyfer of North Richland Hills, Texas with the bonnethead shark she caught while fishing with her family at San Luis Pass near Galveston.

Drum Redfish Arroyo City Eric Ramirez from Donna caught this 27-inch redfish while wadefishing in the Lower Laguna Madre out of Arroyo City, inside Rattlesnake Bay. He used an artificial lure to catch the red.

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Gafftop

Corpus Christi

Sabine Jetties

Detrrick Duncan caught this 37-inch black drum in Corpus Christi Bay, fishing on bottom with shrimp.

Gabrielle Henley caught this 7-pound gafftop catfish while fishing with her father at the Sabine Pass Jetties.

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

EMAIL: photos@FishGame.com

For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

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

Drum Texas City

Bass

whitetail

Fredericksburg

McMullen County

Ten-year-old Allison James from Fredericksburg shows off her first Bass, caught at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park in Fredericksburg.

Justin Malek, 8, shot his first deer in McMullen County, sitting alongside his proud father.

Five-year-old Michael Eriksson landed this 40-pluspound black drum with the help of his dad and 80-year-old grandfather while fishing Moses Lake in the Texas City area. The fish was released.

feral Hog Medina County Jake Fohn shot this wild hog with a Sig Sauer .223 AR. He was hunting on his great-great-greatgrandfather’s ranch south of Hondo in Medina County.

Jake learned a lot from his first biggame kill—respect for the animal, the value of the chase, and the rewards of successful persistence.

Bass Red River

Speckled Trout

Lee Casey caught this 9-pound largemouth in the Red River while fishing with a friend.

Baffin Bay Chris Jackson caught this 26.5-inch speckled trout fishing with live croaker on Baffin Bay. He released the fish.

Redfish

Speckled Trout

Galveston

Baffin Bay

Abigail Palmer caught this 40-pound redfish near the Boat Cut at Galveston.

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Patrick McGary caught this 29-inch, 8.4 pound trout on Baffin Bay.

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