April 2014

Digital Edition

www.FishGame.com 2015 Outdoors

Truck Guide

April 2014 | VOL. 30 • NO. 12 | $3.95

Bow

Sand & Teeth Sharks from Shore

Birds

Salt Catfish:

Bowhunting Spring Turkey

Slimers & Hardheads Sealy’s

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‘Doodlesocking’

Catfish

Wild in Texas:

Snakes

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OVER 50 FRESH & SALTWATER 2014 LOCATIONS EDITION 2500 GPS Available FISHING Now! SPOTS ORDER NOW www.FishandGameGear.com

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

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

ROY NEVES PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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

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Table of

APRIL 2014 Volume 30 • NO. 12

Contents Features

DOODLE SOCKING CATFISH There’s no better time to use a technique called “doodlesockin” than late spring and early summer, when channel catfish are spawning.

COASTAL COVER: Sand & Teeth Fishing for sharks from the shoreline has an allure for a special breed of angler. And it proves that not all big-game fishing is done from a boat.

STORY:

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by Chad Ferguson

Story by Calixto Gonzales Cover Photo: Paul Bradshaw

SEALY’S 30 YEAR SPLASH Bob Sealy hosted his first fishing tournament on Sam Rayburn in 1983.

Thirty years and tens of millions of dollars in payouts later, Sealy’s Big Bass Splash is the largest amatuer tournament circuit known to fishing-kind.

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SLIMERS & HARDHEADS Saltwater catfish are more popular than ever, despite the fact that you could lube a tractor trailer with the slime that comes off every gafftopsail and hardhead you catch.

INLAND COVER: Bow Birds

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by Chester Moore

Hunting a spring gobbler can be one of the most frustrating things you have ever attempted. It can also be the most rewarding.

Here are a few tips for bowhunters who love a challenge.

STORY:

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WILD IN TEXAS: SNAKES

Story by Lou Marullo Cover Photo: Sidney Cromer, Bigstock.com

Texas has some 113 species and subspecies of snakes. This month’s “Wild in Texas” photo essay looks at some of the diverse species of serpentes found in the Lone Star State.

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Contents (continued)

Inside Fish&Game

Columns

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by Roy & Ardia Neves | TF&G Owners

Untangling Our Web

Editor’s Notes

Micro Whitetail and Other Texas Oddities

by CHESTER MOORE TF&G Editor in Chief

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Doggett at Large Reel Rigs

by JOE DOGGETT TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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ARDON US WHILE WE BRAG A LITTLE ON THE newest member of the Texas Fish & Game family. Elliott Donnelley joined the company in early January in a brand new position titled Digital Publisher. Despite being here less than three months, he has already made a huge difference.

Don’t take our word for it, though. Check him out yourself.

Just go to www.FishGame.com and you will immediately see how Elliott has made his mark. In fewer than 90 days, he managed a massive overhaul of our website and took it live more than a month ahead of our most ambitious target date.

Of course, he did not accomplish the relaunch alone.

The usual suspects were called in to help in the planning, strategizing and content production that enabled us to get it all together.

Of course, Chester Moore was all over it. So was Dustin Ellermann, who is almost as good in his social media and web exploits as he is with firearms. Graphic designer Juliana Seale helped put the art together and also assisted Elliott in getting the ads that pay for everything to work right.

The new site is up and running—and attracting a gratifying  number of visits. But this is just The new FishGame.com the beginning. It is a platform on which we’re going to build a lot of really cool features and utilities. Check it out and keep coming back to see what’s new.

And give us your feedback. FishGame.com is there for you. We want it to deliver the kind of information and tools you expect from a cutting edge outdoors resource.

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Pike on the Edge

Departments

Web Whoppers

by DOUG PIKE

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TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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TexasWild

The Perfection of Hound Music

by TED NUGENT

TF&G Editor At Large

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LETTERS TF&G REPORT BIG BAGS & CATCHES

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Commentary

OF DEFENSE

An Inconvenient Trip

45 TRUE GREEN

by KENDAL HEMPHILL TF&G Politcal Commentator

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Bare Bones Hunting Let the Season for Outdoor Fun Begin

by LOU MARULLO TF&G Hunting Editor

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Texas Saltwater

This About That

by CALIXTO GONZALES TF&G Saltwater Editor

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Texas Freshwater Making a Big Splash

by MATT WILLIAMS

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TF&G Freshwater Editor

Season 56 Open An April Cold Front

by REAVIS WORTHAM TF&G Humor Editor

Texas Fish & Game is a family-owned business, and the owners welcome your comments and questions. E-mail Roy and Ardia Neves or Ron Ward at ContactUs@fishgame.com 6 |

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Letters to the Editor ‘Stealth Tyranny’ Strikes Chord I TRULY ENJOYED THE FEBRUARY issue and found your article on Stealth Tyranny to be of tremendous interest.

I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you but to give you a little background, I served on the Texas Ducks Unlimited State Committee several years before it was changed to the State Council, was on one of the early boards of GCCA and appeared before a couple of Legislative Committees trying to help push through the Texas Duck Stamp Bill and the Redfish Conservation Bill way back when. That’s enough about me-just wanted you to understand I’m not a newbie at this stuff.

I believe that stealth tyranny is the biggest threat in the attempt to undermine State and Local authority that has ever come down the pike because of the ‘live and let live’ attitude of way too many people. I know Mr. Gonzales opined in his article this month “Game Laws are not written to prevent anglers from catching fish.”

I’m not real sure I agree with that premise.

I’m 73 years old and I’ve lived to see a lot of change in this State—some good, a lot bad.

I do remember a conversation that took place in the early 80’s when I was fortunate enough to be invited to hunt with a group of DU folks on opening day of duck season.

One of our cohorts from Dallas who was unable to make the trip had called the camp where we were staying and said that he had hunted Lake Lavon that morning and that there were a lot fewer “idiots wandering around in orange sweatshirts [no offense to the Texas Longhorns] on the lake than usual.”

One of the men with whom I was sitting then made the comment, “Looks like steel shot got rid of a bunch of guys who shouldn’t be duck hunting!”

My attitude was, and continues to be, we don’t want to run folks away—we need their presence, we need their assistance, we need 8 |

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their money and, most of all we need their continued interest in hunting and fishing to keep the resources in place that allow us to pursue such sports.

Therefore, it always causes me to pause and consider any new fishing or hunting regulation. My first question is always, “Why is it needed?” If there’s a good reason behind it, then it’s great—let’s get it done. To reach such a conclusion typically takes talking to a lot of folks, mostly away from any group with an iron in the fire, such as TPWD, to be able to come to a logical conclusion.

I fought tooth and toenail to no avail way back when to try to keep what had once been the Texas Game, Fish & Oyster Commission from merging with the Parks agency for fear that hunters and fishermen would be footing some of the bill for under-utilized properties belonging to the State.

I will close with a statement of belief that I have had and will continue to have in issues, particularly those such as the Fed shutting down public waters for fishing—it’s time for someone to stand on their hind legs, look the bastards in the face and simply say, “No, we’re not going to do that!” They may have the ‘authority’ the enforce their agenda but, so did King George in his day!

Glenn Ab Walters CHESTER, YOU ARE PROBABLY… NO, you are the only editorial writer at TF&G that I can tolerate reading. Therefore you are the only one that I will dignify with a response.

I just finished your Stealth Tyranny article and I was surprised at how close you are to understanding the true nature of our current political situation.

You touched on the idea that we are beyond Republican/Democratic ideological bickering. In this you are so correct. But, as I read on, you made note of the “progressive” ideology and made it clear that you believe that this type of thinking is the root of our current problems.

No doubt there are some left wing extremist who wish to stop all hunting and fishing because of their bleeding heart ideals, just as F I S H

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there are those on the right wing spectrum who wish to impose their ideals of Christian/ moral/family values on everyone else.

Similar to the Taliban, I suppose.

Consider the possibility that those behind the housing and economic crash are the same ones who would like to see an end to fishing and hunting. These same people who supported murdering right wing dictators in Central and South America in the name of privatization and freedom. (Freedom for those raping the resources of those countries therein).

Follow the money. Hunting and fishing provide a means to feed oneself and to take advantage of our “free” natural resources.

What would happen if we were cut off from these free resources? Well, we would be forced to pay. Not just in the form of tags and licenses etc. as we do now, but with added access fees, and we would lose a source of food, causing us to purchase what we cannot catch or hunt.

I am firm in my conviction that most of the important issues in this country are being resolved in a manor favoring privatization and the economic benefit of an elite cabal.

If we continue to fight a ground war against one another, they will certainly continue to curtail our freedoms and limit our access to our natural resources.

I am a progressive and I hunt and fish.

I also own my own company and create jobs. For profit, no less! I believe in prudent government regulation because we cannot live together as a society without some regulation.

Corporations will not watch out for our best interests or the interests of our earth without regulation.

We must come to some understanding between ourselves, “republicans” and “democrats” and see who and what the true enemy is. Divided we will fall.

Mike Wilson

Email Your Comments to: Editor@fishgame.com

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Editor’s Editor’s Notes

by Chester Moore | TF&G Editor in Chief

Micro Whitetails and Other Texas Oddities

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Y LATE UNCLE JACKIE MOORE USED to tell a story about seeing a microsized whitetail buck cross the road when he was headed out to a deer lease near San Saba, TX. He said it was a fully-developed buck with a nice rack but was about half the height of a normal deer from the area.

And considering the Texas Hill Country has some of the nation’s smallest deer, that would put the weight of this tiny buck at around 40 pounds.

He and my father both said they heard stories of bucks like this in that area, which got me to pondering if others had encounters with such creatures.

In conducting an Internet search I found several references.

“We used to have one where I went to college. Can’t remember what everyone named it but it was a dwarf deer. People would see it all the time and it was about half the size of a normal adult deer as well.

These deer were very tame too as they were never hunted in an urban area so you could get fairly close to them. Use to trap deer there and then tackle them so we could put tags in them and do some research. Tried to get the mini but never did get him to go in one of the traps.” (From T_3 Kyle on Taxidermy.net) “I was watching some hunting show.

I can’t remember which one it was, but they showed a midget whitetail buck walking down a trail. It was neat looking, short stubby legs and it had a nice little rack too.” (From JMBFishing2008 on Indianasportsman.com) The Key Deer is the smallest subspecies of whitetail and it is found only in the Florida Keys chain of islands. The next smallest is the Carmen Mountains Whitetail found in a remote mountainous region of

West Texas and northern Mexico there a recessive gene akin to dwarfism in whitetails?

Have you seen one of these deer?

If you have shoot us a report or preferably a photo to cmoore@fishgame.com.

I am searching out some of the lesser known wildlife mysteries in Texas and need your help in the process. The dwarf whitetail is sort of at the top of the list but there is more.

Back in the late 1990s, I uncovered some records of commercial shark catches and shark studies in Texas dating back to the 1950s. One of the species that was mentioned was the sand tiger shark which are the large, brownish sharks with the crazy, jagged teeth that are the stars of aquariums like the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi.

I have never heard and certainly never saw or caught a sand tiger in Texas. If you have a photo of one or have a record of one in Texas please email me with the information.

Ditto for any records of great white sharks in Texas waters.

Great whites are not “supposed” to be in Texas waters or in the western Gulf of Mexico for that matter but neither were orcas (killer whales) and some fisherman captured a video of a pod feeding on tuna there a few years ago.

I have one reliable report of a great white in Texas waters from a decade ago and I have no doubt the great sharks have swam our waters, at some point.

What is out there?

That question has dominated my interest in wildlife since I was a little boy growing up on the edge of the Pineywoods and coastal marshes in Orange, Texas.

I can not remember a time I passed by a forest, marsh or pasture and not wondered what kind of wild creatures roamed there,

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hiding in the shadows, prowling after the setting of the sun.

No more than 100 yards past my office window is a patch of woods bordering Adams Bayou. This slow-moving stream begins with a small trickle near Mauriceville, starts opening up near Interstate 10, winds through West Orange and eventually meets up with the Sabine River near the Port of Orange. Even now the thought of the creatures that dwell along its corridors and similar areas in the region stimulates my curiosity and inspires me to seek them out.

Perhaps a more fitting question would be, “What’s really out there?” Because that is what we are asking.

Anyone can look through a wildlife field guide or surf the Internet and come up with a pretty good idea of local animals. If you live on the outskirts of a big Texas city like Dallas and see a lot of rooting on your property and rounded-off hoof prints, there is little doubt feral hogs are nearby. Any official guide would tell you that.

However, if you see something that looks like a whitetail buck but is about half the size, the situation might be very different.

There is a place where nature can become stranger than fiction.

Once you venture beyond the pavement in the Lone Star State, be prepared to be surprised because our woods, marshes, prairies and waterways are truly where the wild things are.

E-mail Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com.

You can watch him Saturdays on GETV/GETV.org at 10 a.m. on “God’s Outdoors with Chester Moore” and hear him on “Moore Outdoors” Fridays from 6-7 p.m. on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI.

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The TF&G Report TPWD to Decide on 5 Trout Limit, Flounder Changes THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Department (TPWD) is proposing fishing regulation changes that will affect both salt and freshwater anglers.

Some of the most noteworthy include changes to harvest regulations for flounder and spotted seatrout, the rainbow trout fishery on the Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake dam, and additional restrictions on the harvest of alligator gar during critical periods of spawning.

TPWD staff presented proposed amendments to the 2014-15 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing Proclamation to the Texas Parks and Wildlife

Commission. The recommended changes include: • OYSTER HARVEST: Temporary 2-year closure of a 54-acre oyster restoration site on Half-Moon reef in Matagorda Bay, and a 2-year temporary closure of seven restoration sites located in East Galveston Bay. • FLOUNDER: Extension of the November 2-fish bag limit through the first 2 weeks of December, and during those two weeks harvest would be allowed by any legal means.

• SPOTTED SEATROUT: Extension of the 5-fish bag and possession limit up the coast through East Matagorda Bay with a five-year sunset date.

Big Bags&Catches

• GUADALUPE RIVER below Canyon Reservoir (Comal County): rainbow and brown trout regulations on a section of the river would be changed to a 12- to 18-inch slot length limit with a five-fish daily bag limit, harvest by artificial lures only, and only one trout over 18 inches could be retained.

The new regulation zone would begin 800 yards downstream from the Canyon Dam release and extend downstream to the easternmost Highway 306 bridge crossing.

• TEXAS/LOUISIANA Border Waters (Toledo Bend Reservoir, Caddo Lake, and the Lower Sabine River in Newton and Orange Counties): regulations for blue and channel catfish would be changed to no minimum length limit and a 50-fish daily bag limit in any combination, of which no more than five blue or channel

SALTWATER WINNER

HUNTING WINNER

Matagorda

Fredericksburg

Helen Linley is was the January Saltwater Big Bags & Catches Photo Contest winner with this Matagorda Bay speckled trout.

Mandy Donnaud killed her first whitetail in Fredericksburg. The buck scored a 152 1/4 and won Mandy the January Hunting photo contest.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your Big Bags & Catches Photos and Vote for our next Winners 12 |

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catfish 30 inches or longer could be retained.

• TRADINGHOUSE CREEK Reservoir (McLennan County): the special limits for freshwater lakes where red drum have been stocked would be removed and regulations would revert to statewide length limits (20inch minimum length limit, 28-inch maximum length limit, and harvest of up to two red drum 28 inches or longer per year with trophy drum tag). Bag limit would remain at three.

to Bell Street Dam (Tom Green County): anglers would be restricted to using two poles.

• JUG LINE FLOATS: Recreational anglers who fish with jug lines will be allowed to use floats of any color except orange. Commercial anglers will continue to be restricted to using orange-colored floats.

In addition to the proposed changes noted above, the TPW Commission direct-

ed staff to include for public comment proposed changes to alligator gar harvest regulations.

The changes would give the TPWD Executive Director the authority to temporarily prohibit taking or attempting to take alligator gar in any area where conditions such as water temperature and water levels would be conducive for spawning of alligator gar.

Typically, alligator gar do not spawn

• LAKE KYLE (HAYS COUNTY): regulations would be changed to catch and release (no harvest) of channel and blue catfish, largemouth bass, or any sunfish species.

• CANYON LAKE Project #6 (Lubbock County): Changes implemented last year were not fully implemented. To correct this, the harvest regulation for channel and blue catfish would be changed to no minimum length limit and a five-fish daily bag and anglers would be restricted to only two poles.

• NORTH CONCHO RIVER from O. C. Fisher Dam to Bell Street Dam and the South Concho River from Lone Wolf Dam

FRESHWATER WINNER Lake Fork Steve Proctor of Pryor, Oklahome won the January Freshwater Photo Contest with this Lake Fork ShareLunker.

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TF G&Report every year. This change would add increased protection to spawning gar in certain areas when they are concentrated and most vulnerable to over-harvest. Closures would be invoked only during those limited times when and where the specified conditions are occurring, and the public would be notified as soon as the closure is invoked.

By the time this issue hits newsstands TPWD will be deciding on the fate of these proposals. Go to fishgame.com for up to the minute coverage.

—Staff Report

Squirrel, Mule Deer Reg Changes Considered THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Department (TPWD) is proposing expansion of mule deer hunting in several counties and extending squirrel season into February across parts of East Texas.

TPWD staff presented proposed amendments to the 2014-15 Statewide Hunting Proclamation to the Texas Parks and

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Wildlife Commission. The recommended changes include: • Implement an archery-only open season and 16-day general season for mule deer in Knox County, where the season is currently closed; • Implement a nine-day general season for mule deer in Castro, Hale, Lubbock, and Lynn counties, where the season is currently closed; • Clarify rules regarding utilization of antlerless mule deer permits; • Shorten the current year-round open season for desert bighorn sheep by one month and eliminate the requirement of a landowner affidavit for skulls and horns found in the wild; • Extend squirrel season in 51 East Texas counties; • Eliminate bag and possession limits for squirrel in 12 counties in the Blacklands Prairie; • Allow the take of squirrel by means of air rifles meeting minimum standards; • Implement rules allowing use of mobile technology by hunters to check harvested Eastern turkeys; • Clarify rules governing possession of firearms while hunting deer or turkey during

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an open archery season; By the time this issue hits newsstands TPWD will be deciding on the fate of these proposals. Go to fishgame.com for up to the minute coverage.

—Staff Report

Texas Bass Classic Returns to Lake Fork THE TOYOTA TEXAS BASS CLASSIC (TTBC) is returning to Lake Fork in a big way. The Sabine River Authority in Quitman will again host this world-class bass fishing tournament and outdoor country music festival. We are proud to announce our exceptional entertainment this year, featuring country super stars, Pat Green, Little Big Town, and Justin Moore.

“The anticipation and excitement for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic is off the charts this year. TTBC will be bringing premiere country music artists, as well as the world’s best anglers to Lake Fork. We hope to break records on and off the water” said Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur.

“Not only do we have family friendly ticket prices, but the sale of tickets will help us in our ongoing effort to support the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.”

Single day, general admission tickets are available for $15 in advance (or $25 at the gate). That ticket includes parking and kids 17 and under get in free with a ticketed adult. Pat Green will be kicking off Friday’s country music concert and Little Big Town will take the stage on Saturday, May 10.

Rounding out the event’s entertainment will be Justin Moore, Sunday, May 11. In addition to the headlining entertainment artists, the TTBC will also feature a variety of regional bands including Tyler and the Tribe, Southern Slang, Backroad Anthem, and Sister C. Tickets are available now at www.ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com, your local Toyota dealerships, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and Brookshire’s.

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Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Reel Rigs

F YOU ARE EVEN SEMI-SERIOUS ABOUT fishing in Texas, chances are you have five or six casting rods and reels. If you are like half the guys I know, you have 10 or 12 outfits. Maybe more.

Most of these rigs are suitable for lake and bay applications. The rods are twohanded, usually between 6 1/2 and 7 feet in length. The casting reels are spooled with 12- to 15-pound mono or fluoro or braid of comparable diameter.

You might even have one or two heavier 20-pound class rigs for specialized duty.

What you may not have among this glittering lineup is a light-spinning outfit. Do yourself a favor and get one.

I’m talking about a spinning rig suitable for six-pound line and small payloads in the 1/8th- to 1/16th-ounce range _ much too light to wield with conventional trout or bass tackle.

Some people refer to such an outfit as “ultra light.” Technically, that’s not correct.

Back during the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, when light spinning made a big push, ultra light (or hairline) tackle was defined as fourpound test or less.

That’s often too light for functional use.

Four-pound mono can be major headache to deal with in gusting wind; and, unless you have eyes like an osprey, tying knots in the wispy thread is extremely difficult. It also frays and snaps with disheartening ease.

Under all but the most demanding highvisibility circumstances such fine line really isn’t required. Six-pound test with a diameter of approximately 0.23 to 0.25mm is much easier to live with on real water. And, if conditions dictate, you can always step up to eight This spinning rig might be dainty but it’s not a toy; it can handle fish of surprising size. I suggest a rod in the 5 1/2- to 6 1/2foot range with a fairly stiff butt but a whippy action. Avoid a stubby, stiff spinning stick; it’s fine for vertical jigging in deep water but

a poor choice for long casts with light lures.

You want the rod to load properly by flexing smoothly during the delivery.

The reel is an open-faced design that sits below the rod. The push button closed-face (“spin cast”) models that ride on top are fine for beginners or casual use; they certainly have their place but they’re not up to speed for serious light-tackle fishing. The typical spin cast reel won’t cast as far (increased friction through the small line hole) and the retrieve ratio is lousy. The drag system is at best suspect on any fish with shoulders.

All major reel manufacturers offer excellent open-faced models at reasonable prices.

Look for a model with a wide spool diameter; we’re not talking about much here, but even 1/4-inch of added diameter can improve overall performance. The upgrades in casting distance and retrieve efficiency are possible because the length of each loop of line on the spool is increased.

Put another way; don’t opt for one of the cute little reels about the size of your big toe.

This is not a toy.

The open-faced design allows superior braking because the drag components are seated on the flat face of the spool. The wider spool improves this potential by providing more surface area to displace friction.

A good way to improve performance is to keep the spool filled. Well, almost filled.

A good policy is to fill to the inside edge of the flange. This compromise leaves the curved rim exposed to help keep the top coils seated.

Of course, after several trips the inevitable lost line will start shrinking the spool.

And a half-filled spool defeats the advantages of a superior reel design _ don’t get lulled into this common trap.

You can either re-spool or cheat by stripping 40 or 50 yards off the reel and “topping off” with fresh line. The idea is to keep the splice deep enough so that it doesn’t interfere with the longest cast.

Spinning is claimed to be much more trouble-free than casting, and this is semitrue. The backlashes caused by revolvingspool casting reels are theoretically impos-

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sible with the fixed spool, but loose line loops are an on-going threat that reel manufacturers don’t like to advertise.

Over-filling the spool can encourage line to boil over the front of the spool. Another potential problem is throwing a large twisted loop onto the spool following a hasty slackline pickup. The experienced spin fisherman uses the tip of his extended index finger to apply a tad of tension on the spool as he completes the cast. Lifting the rod tip also helps draw mutinous slack from the line.

And it costs nothing to glance at the spool before starting each retrieve. When (not if) you see the inevitable twisted loop sticking up, promptly stop and carefully clear the spool. Refrain from “one more cast.” Whamming another shot out there will cause a sorry wad of mono to sag between the reel and the first rod guide.

Not good. In fact, you probably are screwed until the nearest line clippers come into play.

But with reasonable attention you can enjoy hours of trouble-free spinning. The light rig opens many options that cannot be properly covered with conventional casting tackle. In freshwater, the clear Hill Country streams and lakes are ideal venues for the light touch. Panfish in ponds are another excellent choice (rigging a nymph-type fly on a dropper behind a clear casting bubble can be a killer presentation).

The light rod even can be used for finesse fishing with small plastics for largemouth bass in reasonably open water.

On the coast, the spinning rod excels on school trout under dock or pier lights.

And it’s great for free shrimping along jetties _ especially when casting into the wind.

It’s good for casting small spoons or jigs for Spanish mackerel in the surf or small “chicken dolphin” along offshore weed lines.

And, in fresh or salt, the little outfit does a fine job of turning small fish into big ones.

Contact Joe Doggettl at JDoggett@fishgame.com

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Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Web Whoppers

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OTE TO THOSE WHO POST PHOTOS with exaggerated and erroneous information attached: Cut it out.

This past February, late in the month and during a time when much focus was on queen-sized speckled trout, a photo was forwarded my way by a friend. The bold subject line read: 40-inch trout. The text beneath alleged that the fish came from Baffin Bay, which is believable. There was no identification of the two young men in the shot, one of whom was holding that big

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speckled trout.

And it was big. No doubt about it. And getting bigger with every electronic forwarding of the photograph, apparently. Within 48 hours, I’d received the photo several times. As had some friends in the coastalguiding business. One of them noted with a laugh that the first time he got the email, the fish was claimed to be 38 inches. By the fourth or fifth, it had grown to 42 inches.

My friend Mark Nichols, founder of DOA Lures down in Stuart, Fla., even called.

“Is it true somebody over there caught a 40-inch trout?” Nichols asked. “I got this picture, and…”

“Nope,” I replied.

“Well, OK,” he said, and we changed topics.

Two days later, I heard from a more reliable source that the fish actually was caught in December, in East Matagorda Bay, and measured a respectable 31-ish inches. The truth is somewhere between Matagorda and Baffin Bay, somewhere between 30 and 32 inches. Still an exceptional fish.

The guy who caught the beast had every reason to smile, but he’s not smiling because he caught a 40-inch speckled trout. He and his friend are both grinning because neither of them ever had seen a trout so long – and may never again see one of equal or greater length.

Guessing, and that’s all it is, the guy still dreams about that strike, the fight, and his best-ever trout. It’s a pig. A fat pig. And anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

But it’s not 40 inches. Here’s how I know.

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story to anyone who’d listen.

And I’d make darned sure that a real photographer showed up to get real photographs back at the dock where I launched… presuming I were too far from the dock for a photographer to meet me right there where I caught the fish.

“ The guy who caught the beast had every reason to smile.

“

First, the guy who actually caught that fish and his buddies haven’t made a fuss over it.

They talked, but only to a couple of people.

My thought is that they’re a tad embarrassed by it all, but they shouldn’t be. They should, in fact, be congratulated for landing such a fine fish. The angler has done, at a fairly early age, what an overwhelming majority of fishermen (who target speckled trout every time they leave the house with rod-and-reel in hand) never will do.

I’m increasingly impatient with people who rush to throw a photo like that one onto the Internet with no verifying information and simultaneously frustrated with those who would believe the hoaxes. A 40-inch trout? Really?

Second on my “here’s why it’s short of 40” list is omission of the angler’s name. If I caught a 40-inch trout, I’d write my name in Sharpie across my chest and on the fish, and I’d make sure both scribbles were visible in photos.

I’d call newspapers and magazines and radio stations and even the rare, outdoorsfriendly television station, and I’d tell my

A couple of friends at Clear Channel questioned whether the photograph – latest in a growing string of “monster trout” shots

distributed in recent years and all of which were quickly debunked – had been altered to make the fish look larger than it really was.

I don’t think so. It’s a huge trout, and I won’t deny it a millimeter of its actual length, whatever that was. But it’s not three feet, four inches of teeth and fins and tail. Not even three feet.

That doesn’t diminish the greatness of the fish or the fortune of the man who caught it. The only fault in this and similar cases lies with the first person who “doctored” the accompanying text and tried to turn a great thing into an implausible thing.

If I meet the young man who caught that fish, I’ll shake his hand and applaud his incredible feat. And unless he volunteers the information, I won’t even ask how long it actually was. He might not even know, exactly. And it doesn’t matter.

It’s a great trout, and even a knucklehead jokester can’t make it anything less.

Contact Doug Pike at ContactUs@fishgame.com

3/12/14 12:14 PM

Ted’s TexasWild

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

The Perfection of Hound Music

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ERTAIN LOUD, INTENSE NATURAL sounds turn me on. Hell, I’ve made a very gratifying lifelong career out of various sonic bombast outrages, so maybe I’m just the guy to best articulate the perfection of raging hound-speak in the fury of canine battle.

Until you have scrambled maniacally to keep up with bellowing hunting hounds during a crazed lion, bear, deer, coyote, fox or coon chase in the wild, you will never know exactly why God made these amazing animals. Those of us privileged and smart enough to be a part of this special hound hunting celebration do indeed understand and cherish this phenomenal relationship with these natural born four-legged hunters.

As pure and natural as gunning for birds with a trained pointer and or retriever, and just like running rabbits with beagles, pursuing game with hounds is faultless and wonderful and as natural as anything in life.

Their indefatigable dedication and tenacity to catch and bay their prey, and their Herculean stamina and miraculous gravity defying spirit is deeply inspiring. I’ve always thought of myself as the coonhound of guitar playing. At least I try.

So let us examine another display of terminal political correctness gone beyond the pale, where ignorant, anti-nature, anti-hunting, disconnected wingbats have again succeeded in taking magnificent big game populations straight out of the thriving asset column and insanely forced them into the liability column in one fell swoop of denial riddled dishonesty.

Which brings us back to the bizzarro world of, where else, California, where it is painfully apparent that in order to be a force to reckon with in that crazed state, one must trade in their soul for a mask of deceit and corruption when it comes to taxes, the Second Amendment and wildlife management.

Having implemented the big lie of banning mountain lion hunting many years ago, saving no lions, but literally condemning billions of dollars’ worth of livestock and domestic animals to death and destruction in one of the most foolish displays of wildlife mismanagement and wasted tax dollars in the history of the world, only California could do themselves one better by banning the hunting of bears with hounds in 2012.

By any reasonable scrutiny, there is no possible winner in this mindless regulation. But beyond the obvious buffoonery, California bureaucrats didn’t really end the hunting of bears or lions with hounds. They only forbid “we the people” to do so, for both of these once highly desirable big game animals that generated incredible amounts of revenues and family hours of recreation for a bankrupt state in desperate need of such sensible resource utility, bears and lions are indeed still being killed on a regular basis with the proven effectiveness of hound hunting.

Only now, (drum roll please) gobs and gobs of tax dollars are being further wasted by paying so called government hunters to slaughter the surplus animals using the very methodologies forbidden by law, but universally admitted to be the best system to maintain balanced populations after all.

PUNKED isn’t just a TV show, it’s a way of life in the land of nuts, fruits and zombie politicians.

Conservation, as we all know, is ultimately the “wise use” of natural resources.

Sensible people are astonished that Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Gavin Newsome, Jerry Brown and a growing gang of dangerous misfits can somehow scam the good citizens of California into such an irresponsible and wasteful program.

One is driven to wonder if medical marijuana is simply legal, or mandatory.

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What really breaks the hearts of hunters, real animal lovers and true conservationists everywhere, is the abject failure of so called professional wildlife managers, biologists and scientists in these game departments that refuse to speak up halt the insanity.

This is not a slippery slope we have here.

It is a sheer 90 icy rock face.

Let this be a warning to good Americans everywhere. If we the people do not increase our activism and voice of reason, this kind of insanity will continue to chip away at the greatest quality of life and the most successful wildlife conservation model in the history of humankind. And that would be unforgivable.

Like the hypocrites in our own hunting ranks that condemn the use of bait for hunting, but wouldn’t think twice about using a wormless hook when they fish, or the bird hunter who lives for his pointing dog but condemns the use of hounds for bears, lions and other game, the more intelligent amongst us had better get cracking, turn up the heat and do everything in our power to educate those in our own community to use their heads and stand united, or the scourge of corruption metastasizing across America will end up destroying conservation one step at a time.

I for one will continue to turn up the heat.

Call me crazy, call me radical, but just don’t call me when our grandkids have no place to hunt and no game to pursue. Every hunter and freedom lover in America and beyond should be a member of the National Rifle Association, and give away as many memberships as we possibly can to everyone we know throughout the year.

And of course we all know that this sacred experiment in self-government is not supposed to be a spectator sport, but rather a life and death battle-cry to make certain we continually direct our elected officials to do the right thing, and always demand real science, real logic and the US Constitution are the guiding forces for every decision and policy ever made in America.

I am on it. Are you?

Contact Ted Nugent at TNugent@fishgame.com

G A M E ®

3/10/14 10:05 AM

Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill | TF&G Political Commentator

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ARK TWAIN ONCE SPENT SOME TIME in Russia, and wrote home that it was a country full of geniuses, since even the little children could speak Russian fluently, while he could not, even after paying close attention. I can identify with that.

So I have no idea what the name of the Russian ship, ‘Akademic Shokalskiy,’ means, in English. But I’m going out on a limb here and posit that it probably has something to do with academic scholarship, or some such. Which is somewhat ironic, in itself.

That’s the ship Chris Turney used for his recent Antarctic expedition to, as he said on his personal website, “discover and communicate the environmental changes taking place in the south.” Chris is a ‘professor of climate change’ at the University of New South Wales. He stands firmly in the global warming camp, and he sailed south to prove the world is getting warmer, and that man is causing it. So there.

As Bill Shakespeare once wrote, the best laid plans of mice and men, etcetera.

Chris’s plan wasn’t all that well-laid to begin with, I guess. He loaded up in Akademic Shokalskiy, sailed to Antarctica to see why the ice down there was melting like Blue Bell in August, and promptly got stuck in the ice. This happened on Christmas day 2013, smack in the middle of the Antarctic summer, no less.

Well. You could’ve knocked old Chris over with a snowball. What an embarrassment. Setting out to find out why the ice is gone, and getting frozen into the ice that isn’t supposed to be there is just bad luck.

Chris’s official statement was, “We’re stuck in our own experiment.” In other words,

“ He sailed to Antarctica to see why the ice down there was melting like Blue Bell in August.

“

An Iconvenient Trip

they got caught with their global warming down.

Three unsuccessful attempts were made to rescue our intrepid heroes before the 52 passengers were finally helicoptered off the boat on January 2. One ice cutter responding to the call, Chinese ship Xue Long (Snow Dragon), got stuck in the ice, itself.

Twenty-two crew members stayed on board the A.S. to await further developments, although I’m vague on what those might be.

A mall could be going in down there, but I rather doubt it.

Now, lest you decide this was just a fluke, let me hasten to point out that Chris and his buds are the people who claim they can tell

us what the weather will be like ten, twenty, fifty years down the pike. These people could not, with any accuracy, predict what the weather would be like five weeks ahead, even when it mattered enough that their mistakes would highlight, to the world, what total phonies they are. How sad.

This story, of course, comes on the heels of recent events in the north, featuring more than twenty yachts that got stuck in the ice in the Northwest Passage, which was supposed to be totally ice-free last summer, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Those yachts are still stuck in the T E X A S

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ice up there, awaiting further developments.

The owners might be able to get them out when the ice melts. If it melts.

According to NASA photographs and evaluations of the data, the Arctic Ice Cap was 29% larger in August 2013 than it was in August 2012. Things just aren’t working out for the global warmers.

This does not, of course, mean global warming does not occur, or that it isn’t happening right now. More ice in one place or another doesn’t indicate global cooling overall. But then, less ice in one place or another doesn’t indicate global warming overall, either. Those who adhere to the belief that global warming is a grave risk to the world, and that it is caused by humans, and that if we don’t do something about it we will all burn up, are quick to point to hurricanes, droughts, and other normal cyclic events to prove their theory. Yet they discount cooling trends as anomalies, and claim they don’t matter. They want it both ways.

The bottom line is that the growing ice in the north and south seems to indicate that there’s no danger of the ocean levels rising and covering Los Angeles with water, although that might not be a bad thing. I’ve been to Los Angeles.

The climate change crowd always gets angry with me when the facts point out that their models and estimates might be a little inaccurate. As if I made up the ice in the Northwest Passage myself, and sabotaged the Akademic Shokalskiy’s compass, or something.

Will Rogers used to say he didn’t make political jokes, he just watched the government and reported the facts. I’m that way with the global warmers. I can’t control the weather, anyway. If I could, you wouldn’t need weather stripping around your doors.

But if you’re interested, I know where you can pick up a Russian ship and a bunch of fancy yachts, cheap.

Contact Kendal Hemphill at Khemphill@fishgame.com G A M E ®

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Cats THERE’S NO BETTER TIME TO use a technique called “doodlesocking” than late spring and early summer, when channel catfish are spawning. This is a sure-fire way to load up on channel cats and have a day of fast-paced fishing action – and you won’t even need a boat.

When water temperatures begin to reach the 70 degree mark, have your gear ready because the window of opportunity will end by late June when the dog days of summer arrive.

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There are a few “tattletales” that mother nature provides that the “old school” catfish anglers have used for decades to predict the time of the spawn.

Blooming cottonwood trees are a good indicator that the spawn is near. If wheat fields have reached maturity and are ready to be cut, there’s a good chance you’ve already missed a week or two of prime channel catfish action.

Local bass anglers are also a great source of information. If they complain about catching channel catfish while bass fishing, then you should be fishing!

Doodlesocking Gear Basics Doodlesocking is a finesse fishing technique, so light tackle similar to what is used for largemouth bass or white bass is a perfect fit. If you’re looking for an excuse to buy a new rod and reel, the 7-foot, 6-inch Ugly Stik CAL1100 ML action rod and Abu Garcia 5500C3 are a perfect “no frills” combination for Texas channel catfish.

If fishing from the shore, a longer rod will come in handy, such as a 10- to 12-foot crappie rod paired with a spinning reel.The additional rod length allows you to access some areas that you would otherwise not be able to and allows you to place baits in very tight places.

Monofilament fishing line in 12 pound test provides easy casting with the light tackle you’ll be using but is still durable enough to hoist fish out of cover or heavy timber.

Prepare your rig using a slip bobber and a size 6 treble hook that is 4X strong adding a small split shot sinker a few inches above the hook. The slip bobber aids in detecting the light channel catfish bite and also helps reduce snags fishing in and around cover.

many popular brands like Team Catfish Sudden Impact Fiber Bait and CJ’s Catfish Punch Bait.

Punch baits allow you to fish with a bare treble hook and eliminate the need for any special bait holders or sponges. They’re easy to fish with and very effective.

To bait the hook you simple lay it on the top of the bait and use a stick or screwdriver to “punch” the hook into the bait (hence the name punch bait).Use the fishing line to pull the hook from the bait and you’ll find it loaded with the stinky concoction.

Spawning Behavior Channel catfish nest in cavities and like very dark secluded spots for spawning.

Crevices, debris piles or spaces between and under rocks are popular spawning locations.

The male channel catfish selects and prepares a nest site and lures a female in for spawning. The female lays a mound of eggs and the male fertilizes them and forces the female out of the nest. The male remains in the nest with the sole job of fanning the eggs to keep sediments off them, keeping them aerated and protecting the eggs from predators.

Eggs usually hatch in about 6-12 days.

The small group of fry remains in a compact group in the nest for a few days until they leave as a group. The male will remain with the fry until they leave the nest.

Cats On The Rocks

The preferred bait is a form of “stink bait” referred to as punch bait. There are

Many catfish anglers grow frustrated because they take a “sit and wait” approach, waiting for the fish to come to them. But that rarely happens. You have to find the fish and almost knock them in the head with a bait to get them to bite, so inches can make the difference between fishing and catching.

Finding the right area with access to numerous spawning locations will keep you

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busy but location is critical. Just keep casting and working potential locations until you catch a fish. When you catch a fish then slow down and cover the area thoroughly because it’s rare to catch only one.

Male fish will strike defending the nest but rarely just roam around feeding. They’re identified by their large head and skinny body. Males also commonly have cuts and scrapes on their bodies from defending their nest sites.

Female fish will be more plentiful and are easily spotted by their distended bellies full of eggs. They’ll be concentrated near these spawning locations.

Cast right against the potential nesting site and wait 60 seconds and then retrieve and cast again moving down a few feet.

Watch the slip bobber closely because the fish will strike quickly and then drop the bait, so a quick hook set is essential.

If you’re not getting bites, then adjust the bobber stop slightly and experiment with depth changes of the slip bobber. Once you find that “magic depth” and location you’ll stay busy catching fish.

They key is getting the baits in front of the fish and moving quickly if you’re not catching fish. Slow down only when you catch fish and exhaust an area.

Shore anglers can use long rods and walk rip rap shorelines or creeks and fish spawning locations from shore. Simply drop the bait in the water staying tight against cover in potential spawning areas. With a long crappie rod you can cover a lot of water in a short time on foot.

Selective harvest is critical during spawning season, so make sure you release all of the male fish and be cautious of how many female fish you keep so the lakes remain populated with channel catfish.

Texas law allows anglers to keep 25 channel catfish per person that are twelve inches or longer.

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Catching Sharks from Shore

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by Calixto Gonzales THE THREE OLD MEN WERE A FIXTURE on the South Brazos Santiago jetties.

They had an old red oilskin tarp set up as a sort of lean-to for shade, a banged-up Coleman camp stove with a pot of coffee and black-scorched cookware. They had a bucket and cast net, an old cutting board and knife, and the prerequisite tackle boxes.

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In five rod holders spread over a couple of hundred feet were four long, thick, handwrapped poles made from Calcutta cane with huge Penn 116 Senators battened to each. Thick dacron line stretched out from the reels and out into the deep water on the channel side of the jetties. They were shark fishermen.

Now THAT was fishing!

Walk-Up Sharking

Island side. It wasn’t a big shark, maybe three feet long (“but plenty big for a skinny kid like me”). Baltazar was hooked from that point on.

“Sharks became my obsession,” said Baltazar.

In the 20 years since that run-in with the mischievous hammerhead, Baltazar has fished for sharks on beaches and jetties from Boca Chica to Sabine and has spent time learning and refining techniques he’s picked up catching tigers, bulls, lemons, hammerheads and sand sharks upwards of 12 feet long.

or – if no other bait is available – a large whiting past the last sand bar. Then they pull back to shore and repeat until all their baits are out.

Waiting Game Time spent fishing for sharks from shore is slow time. Baltazar has waited upwards to eight hours or longer between bites. There is a temptation to reel in and check to see whether there is still bait on the hook, but Baltazar has developed the patience needed to keep his hands off the reel handle.

The wait time lends itself – and even recommends – other pursuits. Baltazar’s wife, Sarita, and his two daughters have become regular companions on his excursions up and down the South Padre Island surf, and he’ll spend the time waiting for the bite alarm to buzz by playing with his family. When a shark picks up the bait and runs, however, the entire family turns to the business at hand.

The old men who used to fish the Brazos Santiago jetties were shark hunters. They took home what they caught. Baltazar may occasionally keep a small blacktip or lemon shark for grilling steaks, but like many of the current generation of shark fishermen, he releases the true giants.

“I don’t need to kill one of those big girls,” he said. “Let them swim so I can catch them again.”

Gotta feed that obsession, you know?

There is no denying that the very idea of fishing for sharks has always had an allure to a certain cross section of anglers. Alf Dean’s 2,644 pound great white that he caught out of the waters around Australia in 1959 still ranks as the largest world record ever recognized. The mount, which hangs at the International Game Fish Association Museum in Dania Beach, Florida is an awesome sight. Sharks are the monsters we fear, the creatures we marvel at, and the stuff of legends. Of course they have chewed a niche into our psyche.

Not all big game fishing is done from a boat, and not all big game fishermen own a boat. Sometimes factors such as finances, living situation or logistics can proscribe ownership of or access to a boat suitable to the needs of an angler who has aspirations of latching into “Ol’ Mean and Nasty.” A seaworthy, properly outfitted vessel suitable for going after even bay sharks can cost a pretty penny, as well as the cost of fuel, storage, upkeep, and various other expenses.

Still, the shark is an accessible quarry for the ambitious fisherman who is willing to dig his heels into the sand and shells of a local beach or along a sea wall or jetty.

In fact, some real monsters can be pulled out of the breakers along South Padre Island, Matagorda Island, Galveston Island, and Sabine Pass. The vast jetty system in Galveston is legendary for some of the giant sharks caught there. Roy’s Bait and Tackle in Corpus Christi still sports a photo of a 1,200 pound tiger shark that was pulled from the National Seashore.

“There are some real beasts out there,” said longtime surf shark hunter Nico Baltazar. “I’ve been fishing (the South Padre Island surf) since I was eight, and I’ve caught some really big sharks.”

Baltazar’s first run-in with a surf-bound shark was when he was 11 and a small hammerhead grabbed a mullet head reserved for the bull redfish that roam around the Mansfield Pass jetty on the South Padre

The surf shark fisherman has a different set of needs from a boat fisherman. The immediate need is to get a bait out past the second and third bars, where the bigger sharks tend to prowl (though they will also come into the wade gut during high tides).

A very close second on the priority list is having tackle that can handle most any shark that picks up the bait. Long rods measuring upwards of 13 or even 15 feet with large offshore-style reels with at least 50 pound test line are almost mandatory.

Baltazar’s rods of choice are almost oldschool: long fiberglass blanks that he wraps himself. He matches this with Penn Senator 114 and 116 reels loaded with 65-pound Ande monofilament. He has considered replacing the line with similar-test braid, which would facilitate even higher line capacity, “but I can’t talk myself into spending all that money.”

Baltazar prefers his Senators over other reels for the simplicity of the TF&G Reader design. He concedes that the lever Brandon Jeffcoats drag design of an International or caught this 5-1/2 Shimano or Avet reel would profoot blacktip at vide more torque and leverage than Sargent. the Senator’s star drag design when fighting a big shark. But the Senators are easier to clean of sand and grit, the banes of the surf shark fisherman.

The long rods hold the line above the waves for a greater distance, which helps Baltazar keep the bait from being pulled and rolled by the waves. They also provide leverage when fighting a shark more than 300 yards out.

In order to get the bait out to where the monsters prowl, Baltazar and his fishing partners use a kayak to scull out past the breakers. They drop the bait, which can be a large skipjack, horse mullet, small jack,

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BOB SEALY IS A MAN OF VISION. A FORmer real estate agent and fishing guide, Sealy hosted his first fishing tournament in April 1983 on Sam Rayburn. That year, 492 men, women and children paid an entry fee of $37.50 per day to compete for a guaranteed cash purse of $10,000.

The money was divided among hourly and overall winners who weighed in the heaviest fish of the event.

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“We wanted to have a tournament where anyone could potentially win and also where lots of people had a shot at winning a decent purse. I am happy to say we have done that for many over the last 30 years,” Sealy said.

In 1987, the third-year tournaLake Jam ment advertised a guaranteed first at the Sam place overall prize of $2,500.

Rayburn event Dale Robinson of Beaumont features concerts by top recording caught the winning fish, but he lion in cash and awarded artists. hundreds of bass boats and came away with a much larger dozens of pickups, ATVs, payday than he expected when Sealy and recreational vehicles to lucky surprised him with a check for $35,000.

“We really made a statement with that anglers. tournament,” Sealy said. “We went from No longer just a Texas event, the Splash 492 entries to 2,267 entries in just three trail now makes regular stops at Lake years. That’s when we realized we had Guntersville in Alabama, Kentucky Lake in something that we could turn into a full-time Tennessee and Lake Ouachita in Arkansas. business. The fishermen really began to take But Sam Rayburn is still the flagship notice at that point, and the whole deal just tournament, and the one that dominates snowballed from there.” the dreams and memories of thousands of The Sam Rayburn tournament takes anglers. place April 25-27 with a guaranteed $1 The family-oriented event has also given million total payout. Toledo Bend (May this family-run enterprise many treasured 16-18) and Lake Fork (Sept. 19-21) both memories of its own. feature $500,000 in total winnings.

At the 1988 event, Simon Oquinn “We’ve come a long way from where we of Silsbee won the tournament with a started. We certainly didn’t know we would 9.42-pounder. Oquinn, the father of eight still be doing this, but we hoped so. We young children, was out of work at the time. did the work to make sure the vision could Sealy said the man “borrowed” his entry fee become a reality, and we are so blessed that from the family’s grocery stash. Fishing in a it has,” Sealy said. borrowed johnboat, he proceeded to catch The Rayburn million-dollar payout will the winning fish and took home $38,000. include a $250,000 grand prize featuring a In 2004, 10-year-old Brandon Adams of Coachman RV, Ram pickup, fully loaded Florence won an hourly session and $2,000 Triton bass boat and $40,000 cash. with an 8.33-pounder. A year later, the Second through fifth places also win then-fourth grader went for all the marbles big with another $10,000 cash, four more and caught an 11.57-pounder. He walked Triton bass boats and four more Ram trucks away with the top overall prize package up for grabs. But the winning doesn’t stop worth $102,000. Adding his $1,000 hourly there. Not by a long shot. prize, it was the richest payday ever for a Anglers will compete every hour of the youth angler in competitive fishing history. three-day tournament for 12 cash prizes Amateur fishermen are not the only ones ranging from $3,000 for biggest hourly bass who have cashed in under the McDonald’s to $500 for the 12th largest. Exact-weight Big Bass Splash format. The tournaments catches can win an additional $10,000 for have generated millions in charity donaone lucky angler each day. The total hourly tions for Ronald McDonald Houses across payout will be a staggering $372,000.

America. The RMHs provide free housing This year the Rayburn tournament also for parents of children who are in the hospihas “Lake Jam.” This five-day outdoor tal undergoing treatment. festival will feature a Tackle and Boat Expo “The neat thing is, our tournaments have as well as live music, including Nashville helped spread the word about the RMHs,” recording artists Josh Turner and Chris Sealy said. “That has resulted in a lot of Young. outside donations to RMH from people Over the past 30 years, the Big Bass who previously had no idea the charity Splash events have paid out nearly $50 mil- existed.”

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Now Sealy is happy to report they will also be donating to world-famous St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, which offers free medical care to children with cancer.

“What they do is amazing. They offer so many families hope and do amazing work.

Our heart is to help them out as much as we can,” he said.

To mark this big year for the Big Bass Splash, a number of Bassmaster Elite Series pros will be on hand, including 2014 Bassmaster Classic Champion Randy Howell. Four-time Classic champ and allaround fishing legend Kevin Van Dam will appear at the Rayburn event to meet and greet fans and present the overall winner with his or her prize.

“It’s going to be an exciting event. We are honored to have such great competitors and people who come out to celebrate with us,” Sealy said.

In August Sealy will be inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame, a fitting tribute to a man who has done so much for so many, purely out of a deep love for bass and bass fishing.

“I’m humbled and excited at the same time to receive such a prestigious honor.

This is shaping up to be an amazing year and best of all I’m extremely optimistic about what the future holds,” Sealy said.

Admission to the Expo and Lake Jam concerts is free and open to the public. Entry fee for the McDonald’s Big Bass Splash is $160 for one day, $210 for two days, or $260 for three days per person. Contestants can enter a couple of bonus games to win additional money. Entry fee in the Little Anglers Division is $10 per day, per person.

For more information or to sign up online, see sealyoutdoors.com or call 888698-2591.

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Texas Department of Defense

| Self Defense | | Concealed Carry | | Tactical |

by Steve LaMascus & Dustin Ellermann

The SnubNose

F

OR MANY YEARS I CARRIED SNUB-NOSED revolvers as my plain clothes and off-duty weapons. The Border Patrol in those days did not actually authorize the carry of off-duty weapons, but it did not forbid it, either. I carried a number of different shortbarreled handguns over the years, including 2 1/2” Smith and Wesson .357 Magnums, a Colt Detective Special with a bobbed hammer, an S&W Model 24 .44 Special, and a couple of S&W J-frames in .38-Special.

Mostly I stuck with the small Chief’s Specials and a shrouded hammer Bodyguard. The little S&Ws were wonderful off-duty guns because they were small and easily concealed.

Holster that Sidearm!

Next to the Model 36 is a speed loader in a Safariland holder, carrying 5 extra rounds of Federal Hydra-Shok hollow point ammunition. Old habits are hard to break.

I have mentioned before what the advantages are of a revolver, but I think they need to be studied a bit more closely. In this day of the high capacity semi-auto, the little revolvers are thought of as nothing more than anachronisms. The truth is far different.

Many people today who go for their concealed carry licenses are told that they should not qualify with revolvers because that will mean they cannot carry semi-autos.

That is correct, up to a point. The law states

They could be carried tucked under my waistband covered by a tee shirt and be all but invisible. On top of that they were light and a pleasure to carry. For a while I tried a little high-capacity .380 made by Beretta, but found it was so bulky that there was no comfortable way to carry it concealed when wearing jeans and a light shirt. As I sit here today I have a nickel-plated Model 36 Chief’s Special with a bobbed hammer riding in a homemade pancake holster on my right hip.

Different holsters for different purposes: clockwise from 12 o’clock – Safariland with ALS system (XDM), Safariland paddle holster (S&W M&P 9mm with Trijicon RMR), ThinkFast Custom Kydex holster and magazine pouch (FNX Tactical), Crossbreed Supertuck (Walther PPS), Comptac Mag pouch, and 5.11 Tactical’s LBE universal holster (TTI G34)



I’VE WITNESSED MANY FRIENDS in the past few months purchase pistols and rifles for self defense purposes without completing their defensive loadout with a way to carry the weapon. Of course having a firearm is better having nothing at all, but if you have one for protection I highly recommend you have a way to holster or sling it so you aren’t committing your hands to holding your weapon in a defensive situation.

Sometimes we think, “Well I don’t plan on carrying this, I just want to keep Continued on page 36  34 |

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Texas Department of Defense that if you qualify with a revolver you cannot then carry an auto. On the other hand, if you qualify with an auto you can carry either. The reason is something that needs to be studied.

You see, a revolver is much easier to use well than an auto. The state feels that if you can qualify with an auto, you could certainly do so with a revolver. Safety is another reason. It is easy to see if a revolver is loaded and cocked. On the other hand, an auto is a closed system and can be loaded and ready to fire without any obvious outward signs.

Additionally, if a dud round occurs with an auto it is necessary to know how to clear the round and get old Roscoe running again, something that can be fatally difficult in the horror and confusion of a gun battle. If a dud occurs with a revolver, assuming it has not lodged a round in the barrel, all that must be done is to pull the trigger again.

Another problem occurs when an inexperienced shooter goes to a store to buy a gun for self-defense. Almost invariably he or she is advised by the sales person to buy a semi-auto, because it is much better than an

antiquated revolver. This is pure moonshine.

The fact is that the inexperienced shooter, especially one who does not intend to attend some type of training course, is much better off with a revolver than with an auto. Last, a small revolver is easier to conceal than most autos, and generally uses a more powerful cartridge than an auto of even nearly equal size.

As for the much-touted advantage of the greater ammunition capacity of the semi-auto, the truth is that almost never will the civilian need such greater firepower. The generally accepted data is that most armed encounters follow the rule of three; that is it takes place at 3 yards, lasts 3 seconds, and takes 3 rounds.

Any 5-shot revolver can take care of this with dispatch.

As for reloading, a speed loader is just as easy to carry as a spare magazine and the revolver can be reloaded almost as fast as an auto. Plus, a revolver can be reloaded with 1, or 2, or 3 rounds, where an auto can effectively be reloaded only with a fresh magazine.

I am not saying that a revolver is a superior weapon; I am saying that it is a better weapon

for some people and some purposes. From what I have seen of the people who are taking the concealed carry course, I would say the revolver is a better weapon for most of them.

My impression is that the majority of people taking the course are poorly trained or have no training, at all; have no intention of taking a class from a trained and qualified instructor; will not practice enough to become truly proficient with their weapons; and would be much better off with a revolver. If that hurts your feelings, I am sorry, but it is the truth.

If you are thinking about getting your concealed carry license and fall into the group I outlined above, do yourself a favor and forget about the high-capacity semi-autos and buy a high quality short barreled revolver in .38 Special or .357 Magnum. Such guns have been getting the job done for decades and will get it done today. But remember this: Nothing takes the place of practice and familiarity with your chosen weapon. If you are going to carry it, know how to use it.

—Steve LaMascus

Holsters

tion, are slow to draw, and are floppy to wear. I’ll admit I own one or two universal holsters just in case, but they are only backups. My primary defensive pistols are all paired with properly fitted holsters.

Holsters are manufactured with a variety of materials, but the most popular has become kydex. Kydex is an easily moldable hard plastic that offers excellent retention and durability. It’s so easily to mold that it’s a growing small businesses and even hobbyists can custom make their own. Of course there is still traditional leather that will probably lead to less wear on your firearm’s finish. But Kydex offers value, quality, retention and a variety of mounting options for your firearms.

For instance, normally I don’t prefer weapon-mounted lights due to the inability to holster them. But when I acquired a FNX .45 Tactical I decided that since it was so big I might as well add a light on this beastly handgun to be an ultimate bedside pistol. When search-

ing for a mainstream holster for a FNX with a Streamlight TLR1 I didn’t yield many options so I contacted ThinkFast Holsters and they built a holster to my specifications. I mailed him my magazines and they also put together a double mag carrier as well.

There are several different types of holsters as well, for my competition rigs I use a variety of Safariland holsters that either have the ALS thumb lock retention for active run-and-gun competitions or just a simple open top that fits closer to my body with a strong detent retention and no locking mechanism for less active IDPA style matches. Then for concealed carry I’ve always found the Inside-theWaistband Crossbreed leather/kydex holster platform comfortable for extended wear. Whatever your situation, make sure you own a proper holster for your sidearm and train how to use it safely.

 Continued from page 34 it locked in a safe in case I need it”. And that’s all fine and dandy, but we cannot foresee every event, and there might be a nearby escaped convict, situation of civil  Continued from page xx unrest, hurricane, prolonged blackout, or other disaster in the unseen future that changes your mind and you’ll really wish you had spent at least $30 on a holster so you could have your pistol close and secure. And carrying a pistol without a holster, either tucked in your waistband or stuck in your pocket or bag, is very dangerous and never, ever recommended.

Now of course a holster is an added expense, and decent quality ones start around $29 at Academy for the popular SERPA retention holster and a top notch Safariland holster can go for over $100.

While cheaper nylon “universal holsters” might be attractive to your wallet I do not recommend them. They have poor reten-

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Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo | TF&G Hunting Editor

Let the Season for Outdoor Fun Begin peaked over the horizon, the day promised to be filled with outdoor activities that did not include a smart phone… and we had fun.

Someone came up with the statement that if you give a person a fish, they will eat for a day, but teach a person to fish and they

“ Every kid should get a chance to go camping.

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HE OFFICIAL START OF SUMMER IS almost here and I, for one, am ready for it! Although the colder months bring with it the peak of hunting seasons, these warmer months have much to offer as well.

For the outdoorsman or woman who still has the passion to got to the fields and hunt, then hog hunting may be what quenches their thirst. However, with the coming of summer also comes a host of outdoor activities that might peak your interest as well, especially if you have never tried it before.

My wife and I have always tried to open doors for our children to tease their palates of outdoor life. We have always made it a point to introduce them to new summer activities and, what we may think, is exciting and fun. Hopefully, they will discover one or two things that will blossom into a life-long love of the outdoors. I just think that any activity that takes the kids out of their room and away from their computer games is a good thing.

Spending a few weeks a year camping in just one of those things. Every kid should get a chance to go camping. It is a great experience for them and they will look at it as an adventure. What kid doesn’t like a new adventure? It does not matter if you are using a full size motor home or a tent with sleeping bags, the point is you are outdoors as a family and enjoying life the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Personally, I think the young ones would have a much better time in a tent…while the adults would prefer the comfort of sleeping above ground level in an RV of some sort.

I have many great memories of starry nights, the warmth of a campfire and the endless campfire stories of ghosts and goblins that seemed to make the sleepless night never end. But when the morning sun

would eat for the rest of their life. It may not be verbatim, but you do get the point! Kids from 5 to 95 love to fish.

Many life-teaching discussions have been made on the banks of a favorite fishing hole.

The important thing to remember is that if you bring a child along fishing, make sure the spot you choose is infested with small pan fish. Toss a worm on the end of the hook and you can have hours of fun in the sun.

Many companies offer a wide variety of equipment that you might need depending on the body of water you are fishing and the species of fish you are after. If you decide to try your luck in fresh water, then you might consider a lightweight pole to make the small fish feel like a lunker. However, should you chose to chase some of the big boys of a nearby river, then you might want T E X A S

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a medium weight pole along with some 10 pound test line.

My friend and I spent many hours along side a river trying our luck with the catfish in the area. We had a hot spot. Many times you would be working a big cat when another line would sing out and both of us would be trying to net our dinner before the line snapped. We would get there just before dusk and start a nice fire along the riverbank before setting up our rigs for big catfish or whatever else we might catch that evening.

One particular night a young couple came and set up about 100 yards downstream from us. We noticed that they did not have the luxury of a warm fire. It was unavoidable to hear their laughter every once in a while, as they would miss fish after fish. Soon the laughter was changed to a deafening silence that lasted at least a half hour. Suddenly, we heard the couple reeling in their lines and head for their vehicle. I shouted to them in the darkness and asked if they had caught anything. The young lad hollered back “ I hope not!”

I am not sure if the sound of the slap that followed was louder than our laughter, but it sure was funny! It was one of those moments I will never forget. I cannot remember if we caught any fish that day, but we had a blast!

It is moments like this that stay embedded in our minds. It is the many moments in life that bring us countless memories that last through the years. It is the summer outdoor fun that proves to be some of the most important times of our lives.

So what are you waiting for? The warmer weather has finally arrived and Mother Nature is screaming for us to get off that couch and enjoy all she has to offer. Answer the call and go have some fun.

Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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3/10/14 10:18 AM

Saltwater Cats are More Popular than Ever

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Story by Chester Moore

IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT was on the other end of the line. At first I thought it might have been a shark because it hit hard and fast, but when slime started oozing up the line, it was obvious I was battling a gafftopsail catfish, gafftop for short.

My fishing partner, Bill Killian, was a little reluctant to allow me to put the slimy fish in his boat, but changed his mind when he saw how big it was: “That’s a huge gafftop you got there.

Throw him in the ice chest, but don’t let it touch the upholstery, though,” he said.

Big it was. The gafftop weighed more than 10 pounds, a true giant of its kind. It was one of 20 big gafftops we caught on that hot summer day.

Though not as popular or respected as their freshwater counterparts, there are two species of catfish commonly caught in coastal waters of Texas: the gafftop, Bagre marinus, and sea catfish, more commonly known as hardhead,

Arius felis. These fish do not run in the same crowd as tarpon and speckled trout, but they do have a dedicated cult following and a few positive attributes.fins that look like a sail on a boat, hence the name gafftopsail. They also have long, stringy whiskers. The fish average 2.5 pounds, but can get as big as 15 pounds.

They have actually become fairly popular along the coast in no small part due to the CCA Star Tournament offering amazing prizes (boat) for adults and scholarships for kids for catching the biggest during the summer-long event.

For anyone who has never caught a gafftop, all of the talk about slime earlier in the story might seem unusual, but it is true. These fish

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ď ą

have more slime on them than any other fish in the sea. As alluded in the beginning, the slime actually finds its way up your line when fighting these fish. Gafftops Catching a make hard, determined Gafftop in the CCA runs, rubbing against the Texas S.T.A.R. line and depositing the tournament can telltale slime. The stuff help put a kid then oozes along the line through college. toward the spool like an alien visitor from a 1950s science fiction movie.

These fish are so slimy they play havoc with coastal anglers looking for more desirable species. Feeding game fish like speckled trout and redfish create oil slicks on the water. A fresh slick is a sure sign of fish feeding activity unless gafftops are in the area. They often create oil slicks just Gafftops are like their freshwater cousins by being there. A big school of gafftops can in that they are suckers for chum and will hit create a slick big enough to make any angler just about any kind of bait. They will even worth his salt do a double take. hit soft plastic shrimp imitations designed to Gafftops usually hang out around fish catch game species. passes, jetties, and offshore oil platforms, Most of the fish Killian and I caught that although they can travel far beyond the reach day fell for free-lined chunks of cut mullet of saltwater. in a chum slick we created by throwing out

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mashed up pieces of menhaden, shrimp, and squid. When we first arrived at the spot, we did not get a bite for a good 30 minutes, but once we put the chum out, the fish immediately responded. It does not take long to figure out this pattern.

Rigging up for gafftop is easy. When jetty or offshore fishing, a simple free-line with

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a 10/0 circle hook connected to 17-pound test or better is usually more than adequate.

When pursuing gafftops in bays, use a typical fish-finder rig with a 6/0 Kahle-style hook. I like the Daiichi Catfish Wide or Circle Wide.

HARDHEADS ARE A DIFFERENT story altogether. Few fish are more maligned and dreaded than the hardhead. Part of the reason is that hardhead fins contain a powerful toxin that causes severe pain, and might even send a person to the hospital.

Hardheads do not seek out people to stick, but when removed them from the hook, often flop around and sometimes fin the angler.

I can attest the pain is tremendous. In 1999, a small shark bit me on the leg and a hardhead stuck me a month later. I am not exaggerating when I say the pain from the hardhead encounter was at least five times worse than the shark bite.

Hardheads are smaller than gafftops and do not get much bigger than three pounds.

The average hardhead is in the neighborhood of 10 ounces.

Very few anglers actively pursue hard-

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heads, although coastal creel surveys show they are the most commonly caught species in many areas. That is because they are highly abundant along beachfronts and in bay systems where fishing pressure is high, and will hit just about any kind of bait.

Shrimp is a favorite, although they gladly accept donations of squid, cut bait, and crab.

I say accept donations because they are skilled bait thieves, which is just fine with many anglers; rebaiting a hook is far better than removing a hardhead.

An interesting note about saltwater cats is that people do not always call them by their common name. In fact, many anglers call them things that are not suitable to print in this publication. Some of the less extreme names for gafftops are slimer, slimy boy, blob fish, slime machine, Mr. Long Whiskers, and ooze fish.

Hardheads are dubbed tourist trout, stinger, thieving cat, #%&*, and other obscenities.

I always keep the big gafftops I catch.

They have pretty white meat that tastes similar to blue catfish, but you have to get past the slime.

If you decide to keep gafftop, do not waste time with catfish skinners. They are too slimy to skin out, so I use an electric fillet knife. These fish fillet very easily, and yield lots of meat. It is wonderful fried or grilled.

The flesh of hardhead is not as good as gafftop, but it is not half bad. Catching a big enough fish to bother cleaning is usually the hardest part. I have eaten hardhead fried, and smoked like salmon. The smoked was better, although it was not quite as good as salmon, to put it charitably.

In parts of Louisiana, some people eat the eggs of both gafftop and hardheads. The males of both species carry the eggs in their mouths to protect them from predation, so they usually do not eat during this phase.

Shrimpers often catch egg-holding males and put them aside for clients who enjoy this offbeat delicacy.

Gafftop and hardheads may not be the ultimate prize on a coastal fishing trip, but when nothing else is biting, sometimes even the most proper anglers do not mind getting a little slimy.

3/10/14 10:19 AM

Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

This About That

I

HAVEN’T RANDOMLY RUMBLED ABOUT mumblings for quite some time. It isn’t that I don’t have much to say (some wag would say that I have plenty to say and do so), much like life in general, things get in the way. Well, here I am running up on a deadline and lo and behold, I actually have some things to say. Let’s get on with it, shall we?...

I OFTEN HEAR ANGLERS WHO ARE paying for their fishing licenses complain

about the cost and effort spent on getting that slip of paper that grants us the privileges to fish the waters of the Lone Star State.

Before you do complain about having to plunk down that money, you should think about what the funds raised by the licensing fees do. The money raised by the state’s licensing program pays for a lot of the major projects that TPWD oversees. The speckled trout and redfish re-stocking programs, fisheries research, habitat restoration, law enforcement all get a substantial share of their funding from that money. Short of a state income tax or a MAJOR boost in the state sales tax, there is no way for Austin to come close to matching those funds. Neither option would ever be considered, nor should they be.

Currently, states without saltwater licens-

es such as New Jersey are trying to find ways to sell the idea to their public, with little success. Consequently, they lack the revenue to institute re-stocking and habitat restoration initiatives. Our remedy may feel similar to a large pill going down the gullet sideways, but the benefits are worth the swallow.

WHILE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT of licenses and law enforcement, a big kudos to the numerous anglers who called TPWD’s Enforcement Division after spotting Luis Castro’s photo of him with nine oversized redfish on Facebook. The phone calls led to Castro pleading guilty to 11 different charges which resulted in a total of over $5,200 in fines and restitution.

That so many swamped the local Game Wardens’ office with complaints shows how protective Texas sportsmen have become of our resources. The message sent to Castro and others who would flout the game laws of Texas was also very clear: break them at your peril!

By the way, to answer a question posed to me by a young man who thought that the punishment didn’t fit the crime: no, I don’t think anyone is entitled to make this kind of “mistake.” A mistake is keeping a fish 1/8th of an inch too short. What Castro did was a willful violation of the law. I still think he got off very light.

I’VE RECENTLY BEGUN TRYING TO make my own soft plastics. No, I haven’t abandoned my favorite Kelly Wigglers, Down South Lures or Vudu Shrimp. I just wanted to try my hand at developing my own designs and colors. Thanks to a kit bought through MakeLure.net, I’ve been pouring my own tails since Christmas. The process is surprisingly easy and, after a couple of messy false starts (and being banished to the garage by an upset and non-plused spouse) I’ve gotten the hang of it. I’ve devised color patterns I’ve yet to see on the market. Every do-it-yourself-spirited angler should have a try at making his own baits. Who knows where the next Mr. Twister may come from?

Am I the only one who marvels at how

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reel designers can come up with new and innovative reels for fishermen to lust after?

I can’t help but wonder if there are some vaults down in the deepest recesses of companies such as Daiwa, Shimano, and Penn with dozens of permutations waiting to be released in future years.

I FEEL COMPELLED TO REPEAT something I wrote long ago: the reason speckled trout eat croaker has nothing to do with the latter’s habit of eating trout eggs.

Speckled trout do not guard nests or brood.

They are what some fisheries biologists quaintly refer to as “pump and dumpers:” they spawn, release their eggs and move on.

Trout eat croaker because large trout prefer finfish, and at certain points in the year, croaker are the most plentiful forage. If a big trout were to run into a small speck, it would eat that, too. Moreover, speckled trout have

ican Sportsfishing Alliance once said that it was important to recruit new members into the sport of fishing in order to ensure the sport and thus the industry’s growth.

Wilson has worked tirelessly over the last several years to bring more young people into the sport and has opened FF chapters throughout the state and nation. Wilson, who is also a first grade teacher, understands the need to reach children and young people before outside influences can work on them

and undermine some of the values we can instill and nurture in the intimate time spent fishing. The sweat equity he’s put into Fishing’s Future not only deserves praise, but support.

Email Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com

“ Kudos to the numerous anglers who called TPWD after spotting Luis Castro with nine oversized redfish on Facebook.

“ a brain the size of a newborn’s pinky nail.

They lack the frontal lobes capable of the executive function that leads to the reasoning of “that is a croaker; it is my enemy and I am going to kill it.”

Yes, fishing for speckled trout with croaker can be very effective and seem so easy as to be unfair, but the reality is that some fishermen don’t fish because they are seeking a challenge. They want to catch fish. There is nothing wrong with that.

PROPS TO SHANE WILSON AND Fishing’s Future, which continues to grow exponentially. Mike Nussman of the AmerT E X A S

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TRUE GREEN

Edited by Will Leschper

PHOTO: © TONY CAMPBELL - FOTOLIA.COM

TPWD to Aid Turkey and Pronghorns TEXAS HAS A LONG AND DOCUMENTED HIStory of hunting and fishing excellence.

However, sometimes it helps to stack the odds in our favor, something that officials from Texas Parks & Wildlife and other agencies and organizations have done for decades. And while those efforts mostly have been aimed squarely at a variety of fish such as striped bass and hybrid stripers, the newest pair of grand undertakings includes pronghorn antelope and eastern turkeys, a pair of species that certainly could use a little aid from the helping hands of humans.

Spring turkey hunting for the Rio Grande variety of birds has long been a staple in Texas, but the hunting opportunities for the eastern subspecies hasn’t gained the same fame, mostly because the population of birds isn’t on par with those out in the Hill Country and West Texas.

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However, efforts are aimed at improving those figures, with help from out-of-state transplants from Alabama, Missouri, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Dozens of those birds have been introduced at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area near Tennessee Colony as part of a “super stocking” program focusing on restoring more adequate numbers of the birds to their traditional range.

The overall plan calls for roughly 250 of the birds to be stocked at the WMA and other sites in East Texas, with a ratio of three hens to one gobbler in hopes of spurring the birds to breed and ultimately multiply.

Jason Hardin, the turkey program leader for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, noted that the effort comes in the wake of other stocking programs in the 1980s and ’90s in more than 50 Texas counties. Those efforts didn’t bear as much fruit as wildlife officials would like, with only 28 counties in East Texas open to turkey hunting as of last season.

The initiative will be as much a study in overall stocking efforts as it is a scientific barometer in what has led to such a drastic decline in eastern turkey figures. The states also are reimbursed $500 for each turkey F I S H

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they provide, with that funding coming from the department’s upland game bird stamp program.

Texas’ overall pronghorn population also has seen a staggering hit, with less than 3,000 animals roaming the vast Trans-Pecos region, a place known mostly for some great mule deer hunting. At one time that pronghorn figure was closer to 17,000, according to wildlife officials.

However, another alliance of organizations is hoping that moving animals from the Panhandle, which has no shortage of “speed goats,” to far West Texas brings Continued on page 46 

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TRUE GREEN Waterfowl to Benefit from Spill Settlement

PHOTO: DUCKS UNLIMITED

THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNdation (NFWF) recently announced five projects to restore and enhance habitats for species impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Disaster. These projects are funded through the NFWF-administered Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, and include a $1.25-million grant to Ducks Unlimited for conservation projects on coastal wetlands.

Continued on page 47 

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TRUE GREEN CONTINUED...

TPWD  Continued from page 44 more desired results. The Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Project progressed with another successful relocation of almost 100 pronghorns during the winter, helping to bolster a regional population hit hard by a number of factors.

Last year 125 antelope were captured from the Dalhart area and released on ranches near Marathon, and TPWD estimates that about 80 percent of the transplanted pronghorns remain, with an impressive fawn crop of at least 70 percent.

The initiative includes testing for diseases and more than 50 of the animals were geared up with GPS collars designed to collect hourly location data. Those collars will drop off after a year and be collected,

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providing vital data for researchers.

It doesn’t take long to see that Texas remains a great place for anglers and especially hunters, and if past indicators lay the foundation for future success, we’re in for

Prairie Conservation THE USDA’S NATURAL RESOURCES CONservation Service has committed as much as $35 million during the next three years for prairie conservation in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa – a move that could aid waterfowl production.

continued greatness when it comes to outdoors pursuits for generations to come.

—Will Leschper TG

As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, the service will offer private landowners a mix of financial and technical assistance opportunities to restore wetlands and grasslands and help slow a recent regional trend of conversion to croplands. The bill also includes a “Sodsaver” provision, which reduces crop insurance subsidies for farmers and ranchers who convert native grasslands for crop production.

—Staff Report TG

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...

Waterfowl  Continued from page 45 Part of the grant will support wetland improvement and water availability on private lands through the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project program. A second portion of the grant will focus on providing seasonal surface water on agricultural lands in the Texas Mid-Coast and Chenier Plain to support the beleaguered Texas rice industry.

The Texas Prairie Wetlands Project is the primary delivery mechanism of waterfowl habitat on private lands for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture and the single largest program in Texas designed to assist private landowners with wetlands restoration and enhancement.

“We believe that the Texas Prairie Wetland Project, with its proven track record of delivering wetland projects in

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partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and private landowners, is ideal for delivering habitat to offset impacts to coastal wetlands from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” said DU Director of Conservation Programs Jerry Holden.

Having restored and enhanced more than 65,000 acres on the Texas Gulf Coast in its 20-year history, the program provides engineering, design and cost share to private landowners to restore wetlands in exchange for an agreement to manage the habitat for waterfowl and other wetlanddependent species for no less than 10 years.

“Ducks Unlimited has incomparable experience and expertise in wetlands restoration,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Director Carter Smith. “Our well-established partnership has resulted in improved waterfowl habitats in Texas, and we look forward to continuing that effort to

further restore Gulf Coast wetlands.”

“With 95 percent of Texas under private ownership, working with private landowners is a critical strategy necessary to accomplish habitat objectives for wintering waterfowl. The Texas Prairie Wetlands Project is the perfect vehicle for getting that done,” said Todd Merendino, DU manager of conservation programs for the state.

Though individual project areas may be small, the importance of these habitats should not be underestimated. According to a recent Gulf Coast Joint Venture analysis, Texas Prairie Wetland Project units provide 20 percent of the available waterfowl habitat on the Texas Mid-Coast in dry years.

—Andi Cooper TG

3/10/14 10:23 AM

Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams | TF&G Freshwater Editor

Making a Big Splash

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FAT BASS CAMPED ON A BED CAN BE A tough nut to crack. But not always.

Every fish is different in the way it reacts when an intruder starts nosing around its nest. 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.

Nacogdoches bass pro Lendell Martin, Jr. is a bed-fishing expert who has witnessed both sides of the fence more than once.

“Every one of them has a different disposition,” says Martin. “One of the main keys with bed fishing is learning to read the individual fish. Another is learning how to determine whether or not that fish is catchable or not. Some of them aren’t catchable.

Some of them take more time than others.

And some of them are easy. That’s what makes it a challenge, particularly in a tourna-

Lendell Martin

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ment situation. There is a certain window of time when you can win a lot of money bed fishing. But you’ve got to be careful, because you only have so much time on water. If you spend too much time on one or two fish it can really hurt you.”

April ranks among the premier months to scour the shallows in search of bass on beds, particularly on clear water lakes across eastern Texas. Water temps should be stable in the 60s or low 70s by now, and that means fat females will be pulled up in skinny water pockets, shorelines and backwater nooks and crannies looking for spots to create future generations of largemouth bass.

You can catch some giants up there, too.

Just ask Alex Finch of Lancaster.

Finch won the 2013 McDonald’s Big Bass Splash on Sam Rayburn last April with a hefty 9.90 pounder that he caught off a spawning bed shortly after the tournament got underway. The fish grabbed a four-inch watermelon Fat Jack tube in about four feet of water.

Interestingly, Finch’s win didn’t come on the heels of one lucky cast as many of these events do. He actually found the fish two days before the event got underway.

The way the story goes, Finch and his partner, David Tyroch, saw the fish on a spawning bed in pocket near a creek channel while they were practicing. But they didn’t do the dumb thing and attempt to catch her. Instead, they did the smart thing and stood guard over the spot until the event got underway. The strategy was to prevent anyone else from spotting the prize fish.

The anglers arrived at the spot well before daylight on the first day, anchored their boat and sat quietly until legal casting time. Finch caught the big bass in short order, but waitF I S H

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ed until the 8-9 o’clock “bonus” hour to take her to weigh-in to maximize his winnings for having purchased a tournament T-shirt.

Two days later, Finch grabbed the tournament’s grand prize package valued at over $100,000, including a 2013 Dodge pickup, a fully rigged Triton 20XS bass boat and $10,000 cash.

My guess is Finch and his buddy will have their bass goggles on again later this month when the folks at Sealy Outdoors bring their traveling road show back to Sam Rayburn for their 30th Anniversary event.

Billed as the largest and richest amateur fishing event the history of the sport, the three-day tournament will award a guaranteed $1 million in cash and prizes. Included is $372,000 in cash hourly payouts, plus five overall prize packages that will include boats, trucks, travel, motor coaches, cash and much more.

Five overall winners will be crowned.

The top prize for the heaviest bass of the event is a $250,000 Sportsman Package that includes a fully rigged Triton bass boat, Dodge pick-up, a Coachman Motor Home and $40,000 in cash.

In addition to the huge prizes, the event will feature a full-blown outdoor expo and music festival featuring country music headliners Josh Turner and Chris Young. Also, several of the country’s top pro anglers including Kevin Van Dam, Gerald Swindle, Terry Scroggins, Ish Monroe, Byron Velvick, John Crews and Brandon Palaniuk are scheduled to make guest appearances.

Entry fee for the tournament is $160 for one day, $210 for two days and $260 for all three-tournament days. Other Texas Big Bass Splash events set for 2014 include Toledo Bend, May 16-18; and Lake Fork, Sept. 19-21. (See the feature article, “Sealy’s 30 Year Splash,” on page 30 of this issue.)

Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@fishgame.com Check out Matt’s latest How-to Videos at FishGame.com

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3/10/14 10:25 AM

TEXAS HAS SOME 113 species and subspecies of snakes ranging from the tiny earth snake to the massive indigo.

THIS SOUTHERN COPPERHEAD is getting a super close look at my snake proof boot (with my foot in it by the way). We have three varieties of copperheads in Texas: the southern, broad-banded and Trans Pecos.

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This month we will look at some of the diverse species of serpents found in the Lone Star State.

THE COTTONMOUTH is arguably the most aggressive snake in Texas and sports potent tissue-destroying venom. The variety we have is the western cottonmouth. This specimen is a 3.5 footer I caught, photographed and released in summer 2012.

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 THE LOUISIANA MILK snake is a rare find in Texas and is a close mimic of the coral snake. This species seems to be on the rebound as I have seen more in two years than I have in my previous 38.

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MY FAVORITE snake in the state is the mud snake which is found in the eastern third of Texas, mainly around marshes, creek and river bottom. They can grow up to five feet long and are one of the most docile species to be found anywhere.

Despite their frightening looking they are completely harmless.

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THE DIAMONDBACK WATER snake is the largest water snake in Texas, growing (confirmed) up to six feet long but they might get even large according to some reports.

These snakes are sometimes called “water rattlers” because of the diamond pattern on their back but they are nonvenomous and have no rattler. They do however have lots of attitude.

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HUNTING A SPRING GOBBLER WITH A BOW CAN BE THE MOST frustrating thing you have ever attempted, but arrowing a spring gobbler can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have in the field. If you are someone who loves a challenge – and it is a challenge – then I have a few tips and tricks that might help you bag that gobbler with a stick and string.

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First of all, as you can well imagine, I have hunted these birds for more than a few years now and have been both amazed and surprised at their behavior. The defenses of the turkey are mainly his eyes and ears. I firmly believe that if these creatures could smell, we would never get a chance to bag one. So, what so we need to be successful this spring?

The first thing I would make sure I have is a portable pop-up blind.

A few years ago I hunted out west with a friend of mine, Nathan Jones. At the time he had a television show called Wild Extremes, and he invited me out for a bow turkey hunt.

I was excited to hear his tales about previous hunts and how his place was infested with birds.

Morning came and I had no trouble at all jumping out of the sack and headed for the “hot” spot with Nathan. When we arrived, he led me to a field that bordered two woodlots. The blind was already in place but when I saw it I was a little confused. There we were in a blind in the middle of a field.

We were not in a hedgerow or hidden along

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a ditch. To be honest, I thought the turkeys would spot this thing and never come in.

Was I ever wrong.

We had so many young birds in front of us that I couldn’t count them all. Then, after a half hour, a nice big tom came into our setup. I went to school on that one. Did I get that tom? Well, that is another story.

The following season I was hunting a field again. I had my portable blind set up.

I also carried five decoys. Too many setups have two hens and a jake. I try to make it more realistic with four hens and a jake or maybe just five hens.

I know that deer and turkeys like to hang together in a field because it gives each a sense of security. I decided to increase my

odds and bring along a deer decoy as well.

Tinks offers a blow-up decoy that they call Miss November. It looks realistic and it works like a charm. I think it just gives a little bit more of a realistic look. It was all I needed and I was soon on my way home with dinner.

I have used fixed blades and mechanical blades, both, on my turkey hunts and I can tell you that without a doubt, the mechanical blades work so much better. Oh, the fixed blades will definitely do the deed, but the problem is they blow right through the bird.

If the turkey flies off mortally wounded, you will have a hard time recovering it. The mechanical blades open on impact. Better still, the amount of energy lost by the blades

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opening as it slices through the vital organs is enough to keep the arrow in the bird.

Consequently, the turkey cannot fly and will only run a short distance. Recovery is always much easier.

When I wore a younger man’s clothes, I tagged along on a turkey hunt with one of my older friends. We used guns at the time, and he did a few things that I never forgot and now I incorporate that in my own hunts to this day.

First, we were walking in to our spot and

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we were not sure exactly where the birds were roosting. We had a general idea, but they really could be anywhere. As we got closer to our set-up spot, he turned and reminded me to try to be as quiet as possible while walking on the forest floor. We did not want to spook the birds from their roost. He then took a deer grunt call out of his pocket and used it every once in a while to simulate a deer walking in the woods.

Good idea!

Once we settled in and sunrise started to peek over the horizon, we could hear some birds starting to wake up. The soft tree calls, although a little distant, were close enough to get our adrenaline going.

The old geezer I was with mimicked each call he heard. He checked to make sure he could easily see his sights and then took his hat off. I listened as he made a few more soft yelps and then suddenly he frantically beat his hat against his pant leg as he cackled with his mouth call.

My first reaction was to get as far away from this lunatic as I could, but I soon realized it was all part of his charade. It sounded exactly like a bird’s wings as it flew down

and scared the beJesus out of me I might add. Once he slowed the cackle down, he finished his calling with a couple of soft yelps as if to tell the toms “Here I am, and everything is fine.”

I thought to myself that this man is a genius! However, he was not done with his trickery yet. After the “come hither” yelps, he took his hand and scratched away at the leaves on the ground to sound like a hen turkey looking for her breakfast.

Oh yeah, that did the trick. It was not long after his performance that I saw a nice tom heading right for us. His shot was true and it was all over in less than 30 minutes!

Turkey hunting with a bow makes the game – and it is a game – more interesting.

These are just a few of the tricks that I know work and work well, but I must say I love trying new and different ways to fool that wary bird. Who knows what this season will bring? What ever happens, as long as the end game is bringing home the turkey dinner, I am all for it.

3/10/14 10:27 AM

Open Season

by Reavis Wortham | TF&G Humor Editor

An April Cold Front HE COLD NORTH WIND DID ITS BEST TO freeze everything outside the four walls of our house. This annoying predisposition caused a significant kink in what we’d expected to be a fine spring day. We had planned to fry turkeys in my backyard, but the freak norther made it feel like January. Since the backyard faced due north, thus taking the full brunt of the surprise arctic front, we were forced to hang a tarp between the redwood posts of my patio cover to block the wind.

When Doc finally arrived at noon, he found the Hunting Club membership huddled around the fryer, like old codgers warming themselves by the country store’s wood stove.

The War Department opened the door, shoved Woodrow and Doc outside, and quickly retreated back into her World, the kitchen. “They’re frying turkeys out there in that wind, gahhh!!!” That guttural emphasis is her audible eye-roll.

I hear it a lot.

Doc stretched his hands toward the tall pot bubbling with grease. A plucked flock of plump, defrosted birds lay on a nearby folding table like bare ducks on a tailgate, awaiting their turn in the hot peanut oil. There was no special occasion for our event, we’d simply been talking about frying turkeys at Doreen’s a couple of days earlier and it sounded like a good time to get together with the wives and have a good time. Who would have expected such weather?

Doc arrived just in time to watch Wrong Willie’s bird emerge from the oil, dripping and sizzling, an audible gasp rippled through the crowd. Club members recoiled as if something particularly alien had just slithered out of the pot to stare at them.

“What’s that?” Woodrow asked in horror.

“Well, it doesn’t look exactly like a Butterball turkey, but it’s the bird Wrong Willie shot last week.”

“That’s not a turkey,” Doc accused.

“Look at it. It’s splayed out. It’s dark brown.

There’s something seeping out of the side… what is that near the wing?”

Willie examined the smoking bird. “It’s an exit hole, where the bullet came out.”

“Lordy,” Doc breathed. “What did you shoot it with, a howitzer?”

“Seven millimeter mag.”

“It looks like a monkey,” Jerry Wayne said softly, les someone in the house hear.

He was right. Instead of browning golden and crispy the way a considerate bird should, all tucked into a neat little package ala Norman Rockwell, the wild turkey was a mottled dark brown, splayed to the four corners of the compass, the stumps of its splintered drumsticks oozing a dark, viscous fluid.

“I told him not to skin it,” I said, holding the bird as far from my body as possible.

“You can’t fry a skinned bird so that it’ll look right.”

We were staring hard at the disastrous results when the door opened. Youngster was sort of pushed through by the War Department and the door closed again.

He sniffed. “It smells like old grease out here. Y’all shouldn’t cook with old…good goshamighty! Y’all cooked a monkey!!!???”

He looked toward the windows, expecting to see the wives pressed against the glass, their faces masks or horror. Instead, they were laughing uproariously in the kitchen, gathered around the island. “I’ve always expected y’all of sinister leanings, but not as far as deep frying primates.”

Willie shushed him. “It’s not a monkey.

It’s my spring turkey.”

“What’d you do, bury it in the backyard until today? I’m telling you, it looks like a monkey.”

Exasperated, Wrong Willie again stared at his bird. “It looks a little bit like a turkey.”

“And a lot like a monkey,” Doc added.

“You gonna let your wife see this?” I couldn’t imagine Jan allowing something that looked like that into the truck, let alone

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her house.

“You’re kidding, right? Of course not.

I’ll wrap it in foil, smuggle home, and carve the breast before she sees it. She’ll never know.”

“Hope you don’t get pulled over by the police on your way home,” Jerry Wayne said. “They’ll take you to jail for cooking monkeys. I think there are laws against Monkey Frying in this state, anyway.”

“Who’s ready to cook their monk…uh, turkey?” I asked, trying to remove the bird from the raised rack without actually touching it. I was beginning to feel nauseated from just looking at the turkey.”

“Will it look like that one?” Doc asked, averting his gaze from the offending bird.

“Shouldn’t.”

“You gonna use that same grease? I think it’s contaminated or something.”

I sighed. “The temperature will kill anything you’re worried about.”

Doc shrugged. “I need more assurance than that.”

The War Department opened the door and saw us wrapping Wrong Willie’s victim.

The foil was blowing in the wind, and it incited something in her. “I’ll do that. Y’all stick to frying out here and we’ll wrap…oh my gosh, are you guys frying monkeys out here!!!???”

I sighed in exasperation. “No, it’s Wrong Willie’s wild turkey.”

“Why does it look like a monkey?”

A strong gust of wind snapped the tarp like a sail, at the same moment the back gate slammed open to reveal Delbert P. Axelrod, the Missing Cerebral Link. His eyes widened in horror when he saw the turkey in my hands. “AAAgggg!!! Are you guys frying dogs out here!!!???”

I finally surrendered. “No. Monkeys.”

Contact Reavis Wortham at RWortham@fishgame.com

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3/10/14 10:29 AM

Digital Edition

For Sportsmen, it’s

the Year of the

Truck

BY LINDA WATER NELSON

PHOTO: GENERAL MOTOS

AS A TRUCK WRITER, I SOMETIMES GRUMBLE WHEN THERE are no new or improved trucks to drive. In the last two years, I have driven more dramatically new pickup trucks than in any comparable period before, and every indication is that the trend will continue.

For those who hunt, fish and embrace the outdoor lifestyle, Chevrolet’s Three Truck Strategy manufacturers are building vehicles with greater towing power with improved fuel efficiency, acceptance of SAE J2807 standardized towing specs for apples-to-apples comparison, and a range of features for comfort, safety and performance that make these the best pickups ever.

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IT HAS BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE CHEVY offered a full range of new trucks. They took a lot of heat for being behind the curve; but loyalists held out, waiting for new vehicles. Enough about “government motors,” now is time to

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TF&G Almanac Table of Contents GEARING UP SECTION

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TEXAS TESTED • Blue Wave and Alumacraft Boats | BY TFG STAFF FISH AND GAME GEAR• Hot New Outdoor Gear | BY TFG STAFF

FISHING FORECAST SECTION

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COVER STORY • The Year of the Truck |

BY LINDA WATER NELSON

HOW-TO SECTION TEXAS BOATING • Old vs. New |

BY LENNY RUDOW

TEXAS KAYAKING • Low River Crossings | BY GREG BERLOCHER PAUL’S TIPS • Lost Lures | BY PAUL BRADSHAW

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: MATAGORDA • April’s Lessons |

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SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK • Tides & Prime Times | BY TFG STAFF

OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE SECTION

100 TEXAS TASTED • Venison Stew | CLASSIFIED 101 OUTDOOR DIRECTORY • Guides, Gear and More |

BY BRYAN SLAVEN

BY TFG STAFF

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TF&G PHOTOS • Your Action Photos | BY TFG READERS

BY MIKE PRICE

HOTSPOTS FOCUS: UPPER MID COAST • Spring Fever | BY CAPT.

CHRIS MARTIN

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: ROCKPORT • Hazards of the Trade | BY CAPT.

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: LOWER COAST • A Touch of Color | BY

TEXAS GUNS & GEAR • New Cartridges? | BY STEVE LAMASCUS

give credit where credit is due. The brand has come roaring back with new trucks in all three categories – mid-size, full-size and heavy duty. In every case, they have heard what sportsmen had to say about performance and features. Every new Chevy truck is more fuel efficient, offers better tow/haul capacity, and looks so much better than its predecessor without sacrificing that iconic Chevy DNA. They have been rewarded with numerous awards including 2014 North American Truck of the Year, Four-Wheeler magazine’s Pickup Truck of the Year, Best of the Best from AutoWeek, Best Fleet Truck of the Year from Business Fleet Magazine, and many others.

First of the new mid-size models will be the new GMC Canyon so, for now, I’ll focus on the Silverado 1500 and the 2015 heavy duty models, both of which I have driven – on and off road and with substantial tow loads and payloads.

With the Colorado’s larger stablemates, the exterior styling is a very fresh take on the vehicles that Chevy loyalists love. You will still recognize many of the iconic lines but they no longer look dated. Features like an integrated bumper step to access the bed are inspired.

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TEXAS HOTSPOTS • Texas’ Hottest Fishing Spots | BY TFG STAFF

MAC GABLE

www.FishGame.com

CALIXTO GONZALES

EcoTec 3 engines, a V6 and two V8s. They include a 4.3L V-6 SAE-certified at 285 hp with 305 lb-ft of torque; a 5.3L V8 certified at 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque; and a new 6.2L V8 certified at 420 hp and 460 ft-lb of torque. The 5.3L V8 has estimated fuel economy of up to 23 mpg highway for the AWD model. A model equipped with a 4.3L V6 can tow as much as 7,600 pounds, which GM says is the highest for any base V6 in the segment. With the 5.3L V-8 and max towing package, Silverado is able to tow

up to 12,000 pounds. – more, they say, than any other light-duty pickup on the market.

Silverados feature active fuel management via a cylinder deactivator and continuously variable valve timing. The engines also use a compact overhead-valve design plus aluminum block and cylinder heads to reduce weight and mass for fuel savings.

I found the cabin on both the 1500 and the HD to be among the quietest in the market. The redesign includes inset doors, new body mounts, hydraulic body mounts PHOTO: ©GENERAL MOTORS

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Cover Story on double cab and crew cab models, and a range of acoustic enhancements that may make this truck the quietest in its class. There are numerous other features for comfort, performance connectivity and safety, but not enough space to list them all.

I had a chance in February to do a first drive of the 2015 Silverado HD with executive chief engineer, Jeff Luke. These are workhorses with all new exterior and interior styling that ties them seamlessly to the 1500.

Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel and 6.0L Vortec V8 engines are great power players. There will be segment-exclusive safety features and an available Z71 package that includes Rancho monotube shocks (2500HD only) and a range of other features for the sportsman.

I pulled several loaded trailers and hauled some mighty loads, and found these trucks to be worthy successors to their much-appreciated predecessors. Again, these were extremely quiet and I felt I never used their full performance capability.

Ford F-Series

PHOTO: ©FORD MOTOR CO.

AN F-SERIES TRUCK IS SOLD every 42 seconds, and the F-150 is America’s largest-selling vehicle (car or truck) so it should come as no surprise that the upcoming 2015 entry is getting a lot of attention.

Although I have kicked the tires on this truck, none of us have had a chance to drive it, yet.

Ford has won just about every award out there for its F-series, but competitions are

generally based upon something new to the market. Watch them in 2015 with their new introduction. As everyone’s pickups improve, Ford has taken a leadership role in materials and weight reduction – both of which lead to improved fuel efficiency and the ability to tow and haul up to 700 lbs. more since the truck itself is lighter, but the gross vehicle weight should be unchanged.

The new F-150 features an all-new highstrength steel frame and aerospace-grade aluminum body panels. And, before you ask, it has withstood real-time testing in sport and work situations for about 10-million miles. Its performance was outstanding, and Ford has announced that it will use the new towing standard for rating purposes.

Four engines are available including a new 2.7L EcoBoost with standard start/ stop technology for cylinder deactivation and a 3.5L V6 engine with twin independent variable camshaft timing. The proven and popular 3.5L EcoBoost and 5.0l Ti-VCT V8 are also back EcoBoost models will have active grille shutters that aid in engine cooling when open and will close to reduce aerodynamic drag at cruising speed.

Exterior and interior styling are clearly up to what Ford lovers have come to expect, and there is a wide range of features that make this new F-150 a game changer. Emphasis is on safety, comfort, performance, and a better solution for connectivity. All of the trim levels that you know and love will be available. No new King Ranch interior has been shown yet, but I know one is coming.

I expect that fuel efficiency, tow and load numbers and pricing info will be available by the third quarter. I also expect that the current F-150 will sell out so, if there is a Ford truck in your future, you may want to check it out sooner rather than later. There are legitimate reasons why so many truck owners love F-series trucks.

Among the new features are a 360-degree camera system that creates a bird’s eye view of the truck to help with maneuverability in tight spots and for navigation down narrow roads and trails, with or without a tow load.

No mention of F-Series would be complete without mention of Super Duty. In March, Ford announced that its 2015 F-Series Super Duty trucks will deliver what they describe as “best-in-class horsepower, torque and towing capacity. The second generation 6.7L Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel will bring 440hp to the game, along with 860 pound-feet of torque. For the F-350 with a maximum towing package increases fifth-wheel gooseneck trailer towing capacity to 26,500 pounds and raises gross combined weight rating to 35,000 pounds.

At its introduction Super Duty accounted for about half of all heavy duty sales – dominating the marketplaces as it does with other F-series entries. Since its intro in 2005, Ford went from 325hp and 570 poundfeet of torque to the current numbers; and increased max gooseneck tow capacity from 16,700 pounds to 31,200 pounds. A decade of innovation makes a truck enthusiast wonder what the next decade will bring.

GMC – Canyon, Sierra and Sierra HD

2015 Ford F-150

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A NEW SILVERADO SERIES GENERally means new GMC trucks as well, but these new GMCs are not the nearly-identical twins of the past. A commitment to brand differentiation has been a great success. From the front end to the tailgate the new GMCs have their own distinct look, and sportsmen should find it extremely appealing.

The 2015 Canyon strongly hints at GM’s desire to redefine the mid-size truck segment which has been dominated by the Toyota Tacoma with the Nissan Frontier as its com60 |

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 GMC Sierra HD, Sierra and Canyon for 2015.

petition. Along with the Chevy Colorado, these will be the only mid-size trucks from a U.S. company, and the first in the segment in years.

This Canyon appears larger than the typical mid-size. It will have two available engines – a193 hp standard 2.5L I-4 and an available 302 hp, 3.6L V6. GMC says this is the best horsepower in the segment, as well as touting the best payload (1,450 pounds min.), best tow rating (with optional equipment) of 6,700 pounds minimum, and

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a Duramax 2.8L turbodiesel.

The Canyon looks like the Sierra’s minime, and that’s all good. I look for an available Denali interior to really tempt buyers who don’t need a full size truck but still want a pickup to meet their sporting needs. No additional information regarding fuel efficiency, pricing and availability have been released, but I expect those in the second quarter of 2014.

The new Sierra and Sierra Denali are real lookers. I would call them GM’s most

refined trucks ever. GM says that they offer segment-best standard V6 torque and trailering and the best V8 fuel economy – the specifics are mentioned in the Chevy section since the engines are the same. For 2014 there are 4.3L V6, 5.3LV8 and 6.2L V8 power trains. Their features, towing and hauling numbers also match those of the Silverado.

The Sierra features four-wheel disc brakes with Duralife brake rotors. This GM-exclusive technology is expected to pro-

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Cover Story vide twice the life with quieter braking than conventional rotors.

This is another of GM’s super quiet cabins. There are plenty of outlets, sophisticated infotainment and excellent fabrics and finishes.

I drove the new Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD models earlier this year and they were among the most luxurious heavy duty trucks ever. They feature everything available on the Silverado HDs, with the addition of more design and interior amenities, particularly at the Denali trim level.

Truck buyers waited a long time, but I think the wait was worth it.

Again, these vehicles are much more refined than their predecessors so if GMC is your pick for an HD sport truck that can double as a luxury vehicle, you will be pleased.

Ram Trucks – Revolution Turns to Evolution

PHOTO: © COPYRIGHT 2014 CHRYSLER GROUP LLC

IT WASN’T SO LONG AGO THAT Ram stepped out of its Dodge shadow and – to great surprise in some quarters – brought out trucks that impressed almost everyone.

Their offering was handsome and robust, but with features that its forefathers had lacked.

The 2013 Ram 1500 was a head-turner with unique features, and since that intro, the Ram team has continued to add features that set it apart from the competition.

In addition to the 3.6L Penta Star VG-6

which offered 42 percent more horsepower and 13 percent more torque than the 3.7L that preceded it (along with 20 percent better fuel economy) and the 5.7L Hemi V8 with a raft of features, 395 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque for better mpg than a turbo V6, there is now a 3.0L turbo-diesel with 240 hp, 420 lb-ft of torque and tow capacity of 9,200 pounds. I have driven all of these and they are great performers.

The new engine and more refinements brought Ram the honor of being named Motor Trend Truck of the Year for both 2013 and 2014 – a first in industry history -- as well as being named Truck of Texas two years running.

Since Ram brought out its latest round of new interiors, it has competed with the best of them. Today it is the one that many truck makers want to emulate.

No wonder – Between its Longhorn (or Bighorn) level, special editions such as the Mossy Oak and the well-named Outdoorsman, there is something for everyone and most budgets. Features like Rambox for locked storage of fishing or hunting gear give the 1500 even more credibility.

The eight-speed transmission is a winner and the TorqueFlight 8 dash-mounted rotary e-shift is excellent. The air suspension which first appeared on the Jeep Grand Cherokee is genius, particularly for a pickup, and I only wonder why no one ever offered it before.

On the heavy duty side, the Ram 3500

Ram 1500

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has a maximum trailer weight of 30,000 pounds. attributed to its high-strength steel frame, improved transfer case, higher load transmission, an upgraded 6.7L Cummins turbo-diesel engine with 850 lb-ft of torque.

Its gross combined weight rating (including truck weight, payload and trailer) has been raised to 37,350 pounds, which Ram says surpasses everyone else. It deserves its Power Wagon identity and HD Truck of the Year awards from The Texas Auto Writers Association.

Toyota – A New Look for Tundra THE 2014 TUNDRA – THE FIRST major redesign in seven years – will please Toyota lovers and truck enthusiasts who have been put off by its appearance. The exterior and interior changes and upgrades – particularly the inclusion of the luxury 1794 and Platinum editions – should put it on more “check it out” lists than ever before.

The three engine/powertrain options that have been available in years past are still available. Toyota describes its workhorse as the 5.7L, DOHC i-Force V8, with 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. A 4.0L dual overhead cam V6 with 270 hp and 278 ft.-lb. of torque is standard on regular and double cab SR models. It is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with uphill/downhill shift logic. The 4.6L V8 offers 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque. In all cases, no changes have been made in transmission for these engines from the 2013 model.

Max tow capacities and GVWR have been increased, however, and, in a tip of the hat to Toyota, all tow capacities are already measured against the SAE J2807 SAE towing standard.

At higher trim levels, Tundras have the kind of luxury amenities that might be expected from Lexus, its high end car sibling. On the outside of every new Tundra, there is a new chiseled look with distinct character lines that define their trim levels. A new hood and grill, a three-piece bumper design (less expensive than replacing an entire bumper) and squared-off fenders and wheel wells look more refined than ever before.

It is expected that the introduction of the

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PHOTO: © TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC.

2014 Tundra is a precursor to the introduction of a new Tacoma. Upgrades and new features will keep it highly competitive against the new GM mid-size vehicles. This is particularly meaningful since Tacoma dominates its segment with about 67 percent of the current market. Tacoma owners are among the most loyal in the sport truck market. I expect Toyota recognizes that a diesel to up the tow capacity and torque at low speeds is extremely important although, like all truck makers, they won’t discuss future product.

Another tip to an upcoming vehicle redesign is that only an appearance package and Entune audio were added for 2014.

The available engines are a 2.7L DOHC four-cylinder offering 159 hp and 180 ft.-lb. or torque and a 4.0L DOHC V6 with 236 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque. Both have variable valve timing with VVT-I intelligence to provide stronger low-end and mid-range torque.

The V6 can be paired with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.

The four-cylinder can be mated with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. When equipped with a V6 tow package, access cab models have a SAEcertified max tow capacity of up to 6,500 pounds.

In their 4x4 TRD configurations, Tacomas are great sport trucks where a smaller vehicle meets your criteria for off-road performance. It would be impossible to list all of the features and available sport packages that are available for the Tacoma, but this is an outstanding mid-size truck for others in this growing segment to be measured against.

 Toyota Tundra

mix either. At the Chicago Auto Show, it was announced that a Cummins 2.8L turbodiesel with almost 200 hp and more than 350 lb-ft of torque is being tested out on mules – those are current vehicles with new technology under the hood. The technical study for this new engine shows 35 percent better fuel economy than the current V6 4x2 Frontier.

Fuel efficiency has always been an issue for Nissan and they are addressing it now.

Today’s Frontier garners a lot of love with its choice of a 4.0DOHC V6 (261 hp, 281ft-lb torque) and a 2.5L inline fourcylinder for the 4x2 King Cab only. As with the Titan, there is a full array of bells and whistles, and the PRO-4X packages make this continue to be an exciting off-roader.

New Nissan trucks could be game changers, especially among the loyalists. They know how to handle off-roading, now let’s see some major tow capacity, horsepower and torque to be game changers.

serious towing and smooth shifting. The PRO-4X is a rugged off-road performer and it features a range of standard and optional equipment to meet most needs.

I can assure you that Nissan is looking at the Titan as a sport truck since they announced an initiative at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show in January. They have asked 2,500 outdoor journalists to provide input into the next gen Titan, by submitting a video or using social media to identify their ultimate outdoor adventure. We will know much more by summer.

Already announced by Nissan is the inclusion of an optional Cummins 5.0LV8 turbo-diesel with a torque rating in the mid 500 lb-ft and more than 300 hp. That redefines the game for Titan and is a clear sign that they are serious about their new truck offering. Look for a new Titan second quarter of 2015.

The Frontier is not being left out of the

Nissan Titan

NISSAN HAS MANY LOYALISTS for its pickups, but both the current Frontier and Titan have been in the marketplace longer than they should have been, and Nissan knows it. It’s no surprise to Nissan that truck buyers feel discouraged but there is good news for sportsmen on the horizon. Rather than beat a dead horse, I’ve decided to give you a look at how Nissan is approaching new trucks for 2015 and 2016 model years.

The current Titan is a no nonsense pickup already with an all-aluminum 5.6L V8 engine rated at 317 hp and 385 ft-lb of torque. Its five-speed automatic is designed especially for truck use with emphasis on T F & G

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PHOTO: ©NISSAN MOTOR CO.

Nissan – Frontier & Titan 

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Texas Boating

by Lenny Rudow | TF&G Boating Editor

Old vs.

New

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N THIS ERA OF LICKETY-SPLIT CHANGE, we’re used to things going obsolete in a few short years. Your computer is from 2010? It’s ancient. Your cell phone was built 24 months ago? Wow, you are oldfashioned. Thank goodness boats haven’t changed quite this rapidly – or, have they?

Nope.

MARINE ELECTRONICS? – Sure.

We expect them to develop as quickly as any

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other type of electronics. But that fiberglass hull and the outboard attached to it is more or less the same as it was two or three years ago.

That means you don’t need to update and upgrade, right? Wrong – at least, for the vast majority of us. Most anglers hold onto their boats for five, six, even eight or 10 years. And when we look that far back, the story changes. In fact, since the earlyto mid-2000s there have been quite a few changes in boats, power plants, and accessories. Should you consider something new?

Let’s look at the old versus the new.

HULLS AND DECKS – Design-wise there haven’t been a whole lot of changes, but if you own a stepped-hull boat that’s

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a decade or more old, you’d notice a difference by upgrading. Stepped boats have always run a bit funny, sliding in turns and sometimes aerating things that don’t like aeration, such as raw water pick-ups. But today’s steps are far more refined, and modern stepped hulls tend to run much more like a standard V-bottom.

Another area where we’ve seen change is in construction. More specifically, a trend towards vacuum-infused hulls. A decade ago these were rare, but today some form of vacuum infusion has become much more common. Plenty of boats are still built the old-fashioned way, so do your research to find out if this technology is in use by a builder you’re interested in. What difference does it make? Pulling a vacuum allows the builder to draw out excess resin, which adds weight without adding any strength. In a nutshell, vacuum-infused boats weigh less but are just as strong, so they tend to be a bit more fuel-efficient and slightly faster than their traditionally-built counterparts.

OUTBOARDS – By now, just about everyone has made the switch from old-tech two-strokes to four-strokes or direct-injected two strokes. If you haven’t done so yet, your outboard is more or less an antique. But a lot of new change has taken place recently at the lower end of the power-band. Perks like electronic fuel-injection, fly-by-wire controls, and shock-absorbing no-thunk props have become available on smaller and smaller versions. Today, for example, you can get EFI on an engine that’s just 15 horsepower.

On larger rigs, joystick control is all the rage. Twin and triple-screw boats can now be had with a number of different systems, which allow you to push the boat sideways, spin it within its own length, and do countless tricky close-quarters maneuvers that were somewhere between difficult and impossible with standard throttle controls.

Some of these systems work a bit better than others (a stiff wind against the bow can be difficult for some joystick rigs to overcome, for example), but generally speaking they

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greatly enhance close-quarters maneuvering.

Oh yes, and they greatly enhance price, too, often to the tune of $10,000 to $20,000.

Alternatives to gasoline is another big trend we’ve seen in outboard motors, the past few years. Electric outboards are now available clear on to 180 horsepower. Yes, you read that right, 180. Battery technology hasn’t progressed quite as rapidly, however, and range remains a weakness. In fact, some of the larger outboards can only operate for a half-hour or so at maximum power, before the juice runs out. Meanwhile, propane outboards can now be had from two to 15 horsepower. You can run them on propane tanks or even those little green bottles you use with your camping stove.

ELECTRONICS – As we said earlier, we expect marine electronics to evolve at a breakneck pace. If your fishfinder is more than two or three years old, it’s dated. Does that really matter?

Sorry, but the answer is yes.

High-def imagers and side-scanning will change the way shallow water anglers fish.

And CHIRP has completely changed the game in deep water. Now units like SpotlightScan (from Lowrance) and AS 360 (from Humminbird) throw a new wrinkle into the fish-finding game. There’s way too much to thoroughly cover in this article.

We’ll have to focus purely on new fishfinder technologies to cram it all in. So stay tuned for a future column on this topic.

And, let’s not neglect a quick survey of nav gear. Broadband radar completely changed the world of short-range small-boat radar units; many of today’s chartplotters have WiFi and can communicate with your phone or tablet; and integrated GPS/VHF radios have eliminated the need to wire different units together. There’s more – a lot more – and again, we’ll dedicate a future column to this topic to cover it fully.

LIFTS – Here’s an item that doesn’t come up much, because lifts haven’t really changed a whole lot in the past few decades.

But they were always problematic, noisy, and slow. Recently, however, hydraulic lifts have hit the market. They don’t need to spool the cable, so “sprung” cable reels (which tangle, pinch, and otherwise ruin the cable) no longer need be an issue. One introduced just this year (the ShoreStation) runs your boat up and down five times faster than last year’s quickest lift.

SAFETY – In the past five or six years,

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satellite messengers have changed the way we call for help. The latest versions allow two-way texting, so you can do more than just send out an emergency request for help. Today, you can also communicate with SAR personnel. These haven’t exactly replaced the old-school EPIRBS, but in some ways, they’re even better. Another big advance has come in the form of AIS. A decade ago it was unheard-of. Today it’s commonplace.

Are you ready to get with the new age of boating? If you read this and realize that everything on your boat in the past five or six years – and maybe the boat itself – falls into the “old” category, it’s time to consider upgrading. And don’t forget – in a few more years, the story is bound to change yet again.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Texas Kayaking

by Greg Berlocher | TF&G Kayaking Editor

F

OR THREE WONDERFUL SUMMERS during college I served as a counselor at Camp Chrysalis just outside of Kerrville. Turtle Creek ran through the camp’s 54 acres and during the 24 hours I had off every week during summer months, I tempted bass with a variety of lures.

Soft plastics fished early and late seemed to bedevil bass hiding amidst a tangle of cypress knees or under large boulders that had sheared off from the cliff above.

Unfortunately, I was enthralled with the piscatorial theater unfolding before me, typically setting the hook prematurely as the river bass attacked my lure in the clear water.

During a memorable week (I refuse to admit the decade), Pastor Wayne approached me and inquired about my river experience. I quickly read off my paddling resume: Eagle Scout with canoeing merit badge, and multiple overnight canoe trips on the Brazos, Colorado, and Guadalupe Rivers to my credit.

Although I was a failure driving the camp’s school bus in the hills (don’t ask me about the granny gear and double clutching), I was lucky enough to pass Pastor Wayne’s scrutiny, and I had the good fortune to discover the beautiful stretch of the Guadalupe between Kerrville and Comfort.

Each trip was unique and wonderful. We alternated launch spots between the dam at Kerrville and a low water crossing, roughly halfway between Kerrville and Comfort.

What a blessing the opportunity to be part-time canoe guide turned out to be. The Texas Hill Country is full of beautiful rivers with plenty of low water bridges that provide easy and free access to the rivers.

We launched our canoes near Kerrville

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“ The low water crossing acted as a dam and created the most beautiful pool upstream.

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Low River Crossings

every morning, and I rendezvoused with members of the camp staff at the low water crossing around noon. The camp bus dropped off a cheese sandwich for me, along with another load of campers for the afternoon paddle to Comfort, then returned the first load of paddlers to camp.

The low water crossing acted as a dam and created the most beautiful pool immediately upstream. Rimmed with lily pads, and edges punctuated with large cypress

trees, most featuring scores of knobby knees around their bases, it was a fisherman’s paradise. Unfortunately, I was officially on company time and could not fish, but the memory burned into my mind.

A few years later, I persuaded my bride and newly acquired in-laws to spend a weekend paddling the Guadalupe and doing a little fishing. It was the perfect set-up, except I had forgotten to ask whether my in-laws had ever been in a kayak or canoe before.

My mistake.

Realizing their inadequate experience afloat, I suggested they spend some time getting acclimated to their canoe before conquering the “mighty rapids” that waited for us downstream. As my brother-in-law and sister-in-law paddled their canoe in erratic patterns, I pulled out an ultralight spinning F I S H

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rod and fired a small white spinner bait into an opening in the lily pads.

“Paddle!”

“I am paddling!”

“No, the other way!”

The noise didn’t seem to affect the bass.

Their canoe meandered about the small pool, Lady Luck as their pilot. Two bass were fooled by my spinner bait as the shrieks of protest continued. About the third bass, my beloved in-laws settled down and inquired whether they could catch some fish, too. Thirty minutes later and a half-dozen more bass, we set off on the grand adventure that waited downstream.

To this day, I love the living waters tumbling down the edges of the Balcones Escarpment. Anglers in search of new excitement need only go as far as the Guadalupe, Llano, Sabinal, and San Marcos Rivers. Check out a road atlas and you will find a plethora of low water crossings bridging Hill Country streams. There is usually room to park one or two cars on either side to allow water crossing, making them ideal launch areas, but beware of private property signs. Landowners post these signs because they mean business.

Anglers who fish the clear water streams of the Texas Hill Country should think light. Scale down the line on your reel with four- to eight-pound test and pack an assortment of small spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and spinners. Fly tackle is extremely productive.

Small bead-head nymphs, streamers, and poppers are good options.

The clear water and the cool breezes coming off Hill Country streams are certainly a refreshing change from crowded reservoirs and bays. The fish you catch are likely to be small, but extremely feisty when fought on light tackle. You will probably be the only fisherman in sight, which is the most refreshing change of all.

Email Greg Berlocher at ContactUs@fishgame.com.

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Paul’s Tips

by Paul Bradshaw | TF&G Contributing Editor

Lost Lures

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’VE LOST A FEW BAITS IN MY LIFE. – OK, I’ve lost a lot of baits in my life. Many have found a final resting place deep under water among sunken brush or the legs of boat docks. On a rare occasion, I’ve tossed one (or two, or a hundred) into a tree limb lining the lake shore, but this was for the specific purpose of a visual example to my kids as what not to do. That’s just the kind of dad I am.

Of all the lures I’ve given to the water, the ones that irritate me the most are those that are lost to fish. I was irritated a lot recently while surf fishing for trout. The trout bite was on, but the bad part was that for about every three trout caught, a Spanish mackerel decided to hit.

Unfortunately, that first morning of the trip I was using monofilament without a leader and donated a few of my favorite lures to the sharp teeth of the mackerel. The second morning, however, was a different story. The night between fishing trips, I took the time to build a few short wire leaders to avoid cut-offs.

Making wire leaders yourself is easy, doesn’t take any specialized tools, and is much less expensive than buying pre-made versions from the local bait shop. For the price you would pay for a single leader you can make dozens on your own. If you’re frugal (pronounced cheap), as I am, this is very appealing.

Only three parts are needed for a wire leader – the wire itself, a barrel swivel, and a snap swivel. The size of each of these is up to you, but I tend to lean towards the heavy side because I don’t want to break off.

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a large shark decides to hit, I know that I might get spooled, but the leader isn’t going to be bitten in two.

As for the swivels, those should be rated around the same breaking strength as your wire since it doesn’t make sense to use a wire that can hold 100 pounds and a swivel rated for 20. Also, don’t use a brass swivel that shines like a new penny. Rather, use black ones. Flash attracts fish, and you want the fish to hit your bait, not your swivel.

To make the leader, start with about 18 inches of wire and attach it to one side of the barrel swivel with a haywire twist. Make the haywire twist by running six inches of the tag end of the wire through the eye of the swivel then bend it back parallel with the main body of the wire. Loosely twist the end of the wire around the body three times (by hand) before bending the end perpendicular with the main wire body. Then tightly wrap the end of the wire around the body five or six times, leaving about an inch of the end sticking out. To get rid of this

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extra wire you can either use wire cutters to snip it off (which can leave a sharp edge) or put a 90 degree bend in the end of it, then grab it with a pair of pliers and twist it until it breaks off. This method takes a little practice to master, but will leave it much smoother. The original 18 inches of wire will produce a leader about six to eight inches long which makes it easy to cast but keeps the line far enough away from the fish’s mouth that it won’t get cut.

Connect the snap swivel to the other end of the wire with another haywire twist and you have your leader complete. Tie your main line to the open end of the barrel swivel via whatever knot you feel most comfortable tying. Attach your bait to the snap swivel and you’re ready to fish.

Email Paul Bradshaw at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus | TF&G Shooting Editor

New Cartridges?

Really?

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HAVE ON MY WORKBENCH A BOOK, actually a reloading manual, written by Parker O. Ackley. The copyright date is 1962. In it are photos and reloading data for such wonderful old cartridges as the .17 Flintstone Super Eyebunger, the .240 Page Pooper, the 6.5 Apex Magnum, .270 Ackley Magnum, and my personal favorite, the .243 Winchester Ackley Improved. The odd thing here is that if you set these old

cartridges up next to some of the new super cartridges, you will be hard pressed to tell which are new and which are old.

When Winchester introduced the .300 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM), I looked at it and said “That’s a pretty good looking cartridge; it should bridge the gap between the .30-06 and the .300 Winchester Magnum.” In truth they loaded it to such high pressures that it managed to

match the factory loads of its larger, older sibling. However, with good handloads in a strong, modern rifle, the .300 Winchester Magnum will out-step the smaller .300 WSM by a good bit. The .300 Winchester Magnum is, apparently, loaded down quite a bit, probably because it is used in a large number of older guns and many custom rifles.

Then Winchester introduced their line of Super Short Magnums (WSSM). When I first saw the .223 WSSM and .243 WSSM I looked at them and said, “Winchester has made a mistake here. Those are very poorly designed cartridges.” They were short and stubby and looked like the neck and bullet

“ You will be hard pressed to tell which are new and which are old.

“ were stuck on as an afterthought. The truth turned out to be that although the .223 WSSM had a lot more case capacity than the old .220 Swift, it gave very little gain in velocity and did not prove to be noticeably more accurate. On top of that, any cartridge that pushes that much powder through that small a bore is going to produce markedly more barrel wear and, therefore, shorter barrel life.

Short fat cartridges with sharp shoulders have several advantages over more slender cartridges with gently sloping shoulders.

This was proved many years ago, as evidenced by the cartridges I mentioned above.

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However, there is a point of diminishing returns, and the WSSM cartridges crossed that line while the .300 WSM and its brothers did not.

The .243 WSSM produces 3,250 feet per second with a 95-grain bullet. That is pretty quick and is about 200 or so feet per second faster than the old .243 Winchester factory loads. It is somewhat faster than the 6mm Remington, a wonderful cartridge which is sadly overlooked by most shooters. However, again, the .243 WSSM is pushed to much higher pressures than the .243 Winchester and 6mm Remington. I have a newly built .243 Winchester Ackley Improved, built for me by Ted Borg of Weatherford, OK. My current load pushes a 95-grain Nosler Partition to 3,260 feet per second, and that does not appear to be a maximum load.

So what is the advantage of the .243 WSSM? According to the breathless pundits and the manufacturers, it is that you can get it in a really short, really light rifle. I cannot fathom why I should want such a gun for what is a varmint/deer rifle, but that is

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the idea. It is also why I had a .243 Ackley Improved built. If I am going to shoot my gun, I want a bit more barrel out there to help me hold steady when the shots are long. My prophesy is that these cartridges will not be long in the makers’ line-ups; they just don’t have the qualities that the cognoscenti want. They are too short, too fat, and too hard on barrels. The rifles they are chambered for are too light and too short to be shot well by the average hunter, and they just are not enough better than cartridges already out there to justify themselves.

Note: After I had written the above statement about prophesy I started thinking and went to the Browning website for some after-the-thought investigation. The new Browning X-Bolt Micro Hunter is chambered in the .22-250, .243 Winchester, and the Winchester Short Magnums, but there are no Winchester Super Short Magnums present. Neither do I find them listed in the new Winchester Model 70 line-up. So it looks like their demise is underway.

I have said this before and I hope it is not true for very much longer, but the cur-

rent truth is that there have been almost no truly outstanding advances in the design of rifles and cartridges in the last century. The 7x57 Mauser is well over a hundred years old and is still a match for the 7mm-08 Remington in a modern rifle with loads of equal pressures The .270 Winchester was introduced in 1925 and is still one of the finest deer cartridges ever produced. The .243 was introduced in 1955 and is still a fine choice for a combination deer/varmint cartridge. The .22-250 was a wildcat for decades before Remington added it to their line-up in 1965 and is still one of the hottest cartridges out there. Maybe some genius whiz kid is out there working on the next great ballistic advance – something that will revolutionize the firearms industry. I sure hope so. But, for now, we will just have to be happy with what we have, and what we have is plenty good.

Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@fishgame.com

3/19/14 4:33 PM

Texas Tested

Blue Wave 2000 Purebay

and the starboard side of the helm is left open for flush-mounting electronics. Now poke around inside that console, and check out the electrical connections. They’re the waterproof Deutsche style, the very best for use in the saltwater environment – smart.

The bottom line? If you’re looking for a relatively small bay boat that has the features and quality of its larger brethren, the 2000 Purebay is one you’ll want to check out. Visit bluewaveboats.com.

Alumacraft Bay Series YOU LIKE ALUMINUM BOATS, AND WISH someone designed them in the bay-boat genre? For 2014, Alumacraft has done just that. They’ve introduced a pair of new models, the 1860 and 2072 Bay Boats, which are designed specifically for intercoastal waters.

The 1860 is 18 feet long and has a beam of 7 feet, 2inches, while the 2072 is 20 feet long and has a beam of 7 feet,10 PHOTO: BLUE WAVE BOAT

BLUE WAVE HAS BEEN BUILDING BAY BOATS for a long time, and is one of the bay-boat originals – so it’s not often they break the mold, and roll out new models. But for 2014, they did just exactly that with the 2000 Purebay.

The 2000 is a relatively small model, with a 19 foot, 7 inch LOA and a beam of eight feet. But Blue Wave packs a lot into the trim package. All of the standardissue fishing items you expect, such as rod boxes, fish boxes, vertical rod racks, and a live well, are present and accounted for.

Plus, there are a few items you wouldn’t necessarily expect on a smaller bay-boat.

Check out the aft jump seats, for example, which fold flush to create the aft casting deck. You’ll see them on a big-dollar bay boat with four more LOA, for sure, but on a 20-footer? Not so much. Same goes for the stainless-steel framed leaning post (which houses a 70-quart cooler and has

four rocket launchers). On most boats of this size, this would be a cost-adding upgrade.

A svelte package also holds some fishing advantages. Hull draft, for example, is a mere 11 feet. And with just 150 horses on the transom, performance is still topflight, while fuel burn is significantly lower than that of bigger bay-boats.

The most unusual feature on the 2000 Purebay, however, is its foredeck. Blue Wave molded in a wider lip on the port side for trolling motor mounting, put a single off-center cleat forward and slightly to starboard, and shifted anchor stowage down under the deck. The design will spread the weight of the trolling motor mount across a larger area, reducing the stresses.

How well does Blue Wave outfit the boat? Check out the center console, for one important example. The vertical rod racks aren’t screwed or bolted to the side; they’re molded right into the console itself.

Grab rails are smartly curved so your rods don’t slap against stainless-steel as you run,

 Blue Wave 2000 Purebay

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 Alumacraft 1860 Bay

inches. What really makes these unique as far as bay boats go, however, is their weight. The 2072 is 1,175 pounds, and the 1860 is 865 pounds. That means these boats can run with much smaller power plants than the norm, lowering initial cost and operating expenses. (Max power for the 2072 is 130 horsepower, and max power for the 1860 is 115 horsepower).

It also means you can pull them with a relatively small tow vehicle, and load or offload them easily at the ramp.

Both boats in the Bay Boat series have semi-V hulls, which also sport strakes.

They’re built with 0.102-inch aluminum for extra-stout construction, which is thicker than the norm for aluminum boats of this size. And the build-it-tough attitude doesn’t end at the hull; check out compartment lids and you’ll find they have full-length hinges, along with deep gutters and lips.

These boats also have the must-have fishing features you need in a bay-boat; there’s a live well built into the front of the console, vertical rod racks line the console’s sides, rod boxes are built into the forward in-wales, and the foredeck has a dedicated stowage compartment plus space for a fishing seat (which is standard on the 2072 and optional on the 1860). They also have battery stowage both in the aft deck and inside the console, so there’s plenty of space to house both starting and trolling motor batteries.

Wait a sec – many of us opt for aluT F & G

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minum because we want our boat to do double-duty, for both fishing and hunting.

No worries; the Bay series can be had in standard colors, or a camo pattern. So you could use the 1860 or 2072 Bay Boat to

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go after drum one day, and ducks the next.

Visit alumacraft.com.

—Lenny Rudow

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Fish and Game Gear

Bass Pro Stalker Packs a Bunch, Including Lunch BASS PRO SHOPS STALKER BACKPACK Tackle System ensures total organization and easy carrying for the angler on the go. Whether you access your secret fishing spots via a white-knuckled ride in a friend’s bass boat, a silent sunrise paddle in a canoe, or a GPS-guided hike to a remote mountain lake, the Stalker Tackle Backpack makes it easy to arrive with all the tackle you need secure and organized.

And its large insulated upper compartment

polyester. It can be purchased separately for you to fill with tackle boxes you already own, or as the Bass Pro Shops Stalker Backpack Tackle System with three 360 utility boxes included. Whichever way — and wherever — you decide to go, the Stalker is available exclusively from Bass Pro Shops stores or online at basspro.com.

Texas Tackle Super-Sizes Split Ring Pliers

TEXAS TACKLE INTRODUCES IT’S XLXH, Extra Large, Extra Heavy, patented model of its split ring pliers series. These blue handle pliers are designed for the 300pound tuna split rings used to battle giant blue fin tuna up to 800 pounds, so you know it’s rugged and strong.

The SR-5XLXH model features high quality surgical stainless steel, box joint construction, Stalker hardened and polished wedge backpack  tackle for easy, smooth operation, and system spring loaded handles. Retail price $22.99.

Of course, if these are a little much for your needs, there are 3 other sizes that cover smaller size keeps your breakfast or lunch hot or cold. rings The generously padded back support down Texas and shoulder straps will keep you comfortto the Tackle able on the way to all your favorite fishing small XLXH split holes. The lower compartment will hold est ring plier five 360 utility boxes. To maximize storage capacity and easy-access organization, there are exterior pockets for accessories, a line spooling pocket, a molded integrated lure case, a pocket for jarred baits, and a mesh accessory compartment. used in jewelry making.

The bag is constructed of heavyFor more information contact Texas duty, 600-denier water-resistant 72 |

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Tackle, PO Box 831239, Richardson, Texas 75083, (800) 437-3521.

LOK’D & LETHAL EAST ALTON, ILL.—UPLAND HUNTERS RELY on long-range lethality when it comes to flushing ringnecks. Winchester Ammunition is proud to introduce its most innovative pheasant load, the new Rooster XR.

Featuring the same Shot-Lok Technology as found in Winchester Long Beard XR, Rooster XR delivers more consistent and tighter patterns at longer ranges. It also includes deeper penetration and extreme knockdown power.

Winchester Rooster XR will be offered in the following specifications: Shot Gauge RDS/BX Length Velocity Wt. 12 12

15 15

3 2¾

1300 1300

1½ 1¼

Shot Size 4, 5, 6 4, 5, 6

Shot-Lok Technology, found in Rooster XR, is a hardened resin that eliminates air space around the pellets preventing movement, which ultimately leads to virtually no pellet deformation.

Shot-Lok technology protects shot during in-bore acceleration. Shot launches from the barrel near perfectly round for extremely tight long-range patterns. It allows greater penetration over standard lead loads beyond 50 yards, with devastating terminal on-target performances

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“Rooster XR is the most innovative Winchester pheasant load ever developed,” said Brett Flaugher, vice president of sales, marketing and strategy for Winchester Ammunition. “We are thrilled to get this product in the hands of upland hunters, as they will immediately recognize a difference and instantly aspire to be successful, especially when challenging shots are taken into account.”

For more information about Winchester Ammunition, visit winchester.com.

Connect with The American Legend on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterAmmunition.

New Blue Jean Knife Series FOR 141 YEARS, BLUE JEANS HAVE BEEN comfortable, durable favorites for men, starting with miners and cowboys, and now outdoorsmen, workers and more. Honoring that heritage, Bear & Son Cutlery is introducing a 10-knife Blue Jean Series for 2014.

Reflecting this American tradition, these knives are comfortable to carry in your pocket and durable for long-life reliability.

To visually fit their name, all ten have rugged blue G10 handles, with an embedded back pocket shield etched with B&S. There also is a Bear & Son tang stamp, for assurance these knives are made in America.

The highly polished blades are made of high carbon stainless steel.

All are folders, five of them with lockback safety.

Three of the Blue Jeans are traditional favorites. Two Trappers – one 3-1/2 inch, with 2-3/4 inch blade; the other, a larger 4-1/8 inch with 3-1/2-inch blade. The third is a 3-7/8 inch Stockman, with clip, sheepsfoot and spey blades.

There are two Farmhand models; one a rugged 4-5/8-inch with a 3-5/8-inch blade; the other, a more compact 3-5/8-inch handle with a 3-1/2-inch blade.

The five locking models are the 3-7/8 inch Cowhand with a 2-7/8 inch blade and a pocket clip; the 4-1/8 inch Bear T F & G

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Rancher with a 3-1/2 inch blade and a pocket clip; a full 5 inch Lockback with a 3-3/4 inch clip blade comes with a leather sheath; a compact 3-3/4 inch Lockback with a 2-5/8 inch blade; and a new variation of Bear’s popular Sideliners, with a 3-1/2 inch blade in a redesigned 4-1/8 inch body, including a handy pocket clip.

Prices range from $44 to $118. All ten of the new Bear & Son knives are made in the USA, and are backed by Bear’s Lifetime Warranty.

For more about their full line of quality knives, visit bearandsoncutlery.com

Limited Edition OCEARCH Gear from Costa DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – FEB. 18, 2014 – Costa Sunglasses continues its ongoing partnership with OCEARCH, a non-profit organization actively researching great white sharks and other oceanic apex predators, with the release of custom designed, limited edition gear supporting the program. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Costa’s OCEARCH shirts and hats benefits the organization’s collaborative research expeditions around the world to study and advance knowledge on the ocean’s giants.

OCEARCH is known for its groundbreaking tagging of great white sharks and other apex predators, working with world-class fishermen, researchers and corporations like Costa in an effort to support governments and their fisheries in need of hands-on access to large, mature sharks.

Its online Shark Tracker allows scientists, researchers and educators a first-hand look at the species’ migratory patterns and other data. Tagged great white sharks Mary Lee and Katherine, both originally spotted in the A L M A N A C

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waters off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass., have routinely pinged in up and down the Atlantic coast, near locations including Charleston, S.C., Savannah, Ga. and Jacksonville, Fla. In 2014, OCEARCH is on a mission to South America, visiting the Galapagos Islands, Chile, and Brazil to expand its tagging efforts to include yellow fin tuna, wahoo, rainbow runner, skip jack, while also working with White sharks and Tiger, Hammerhead, Bull, Blacktip and Silky sharks, among other species.

“Costa’s support allows us to create video content so that the world can see what happens on expedition. They see it on the Expedition Blog and by following Costa and OCEARCH on Facebook and Twitter. Costa brings our collaborative shark research into everyone’s home and onto their mobile device, in near real time,” says Chris Fischer, OCEARCH Founding Chairman and Expedition Leader. “With the new line of Costa Limited Edition OCEARCH gear they are expanding their support so more work can be done for the ocean.”

Most recently, in the Galapagos Islands, the OCEARCH team tagged a mature female Blacktip shark, weighing 186 pounds and measuring over seven feet long.

Costa named the shark “Judy,” after Judy Ferguson, one of Costa’s founders.

Costa custom designed the new t-shirts, and a limited edition OCEARCH trucker mesh hat, to raise awareness and proceeds for the research tagging program.

These exclusive short sleeve t-shirts range from small to XXL, and retail for $24.

The navy blue trucker hat, depicting an image of a great white shark, retails for $17.

“We support the OCEARCH mission to replace fear with facts when it comes to learning more about the ocean’s giants,” said Al Perkinson, vice president of marketing for Costa Sunglasses. “The more we can understand about how the oceans function, the better equipped we’ll be to help protect them.”

Costa’s limited edition OCEARCH gear is available now at costadelmar.com.

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Hotspots Focus: Upper Coast

by Capt. Eddie Hernandez | TF&G Contributor

The Beginning of Spring

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S THE BEGINNING OF SPRING invades the Texas coast with the arrival of April, and warmer air and water temperatures begin to become the rule rather than the exception, anglers across this great state are being blessed with more and more opportunities for targeting trout, redfish and flounder.

For those of us who fish the upper coast, and in particular, here on Sabine Lake, we are no longer limited to the main lake and other areas north of Sabine Pass.

Sporadic reports of nice stringers from the jetties and the Sabine Neches waterway are

slowly beginning to trickle down through the grapevine.

The shoreline from LNG to the old jetties has some of the best fish-holding bottom on the entire Texas coast. With a perfect mixture of sand, mud, shell and riprap it provides plenty of protection, and the predators are numerous.

Trout, reds and flounder move onto the shallow shoreline in pursuit of the abundant forage. There they will stuff themselves full of mullet, shad, shrimp and crab. Keeping the boat in about seven feet of water and fan casting parallel with and towards the bank should present more opportunity for strikes.

The early morning topwater bite is good and will only continue to get better. Fish the tail end of a good incoming tide and you should be in the money. Walking the dog in two to five feet of water with big topwater plugs like She Dog’s and Super Spooks should produce some impressive blowups.

Soft plastics rigged on1/4 oz. lead heads will also get their attention.

Trout, reds and flounders will feed aggressively when the spring tides push the green water into the channel and will gladly accept plastics like Flounder Pounders’ CT Shad and H&H Cocahoe Minnow. Good colors are limetreuse, glow and pumpkin/ chartreuse. Another high percentage area should be from Blue Buck Point north to Big Four Bayou. This is a prime bait and fish-holding area in early spring. Hungry redfish and trout will cruise this shoreline as the baitfish make their way around Blue Buck Point with the incoming tide. Again, plastics on 1/4 or 1/8 oz. lead heads or rigged under a popping cork will get good results. Work this setup aggressively to get their attention and entice them to strike.

The flounder bite should also be gaining momentum as big numbers are making their way back into the bay. Slowly dragging mud minnows or finger mullet is always killer.

If that’s not an option, curl tail grubs like GULP! Swimming Mullet and Flounder Pounders’ CT Shad will also get serious results. Good places to locate these tasty flatfish are the points on either side of the mouths of the bayous on the eastern side of the lake or around the Causeway Bridge in three to six feet of water.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: North Levy Road SPECIES: Trout, Reds and Flounder BAITS/LURES: Topwaters, Soft Plastics, Live Shrimp BEST TIMES: Mornings and Evenings

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Hotspots Focus: Galveston

by Capt. Mike Holmes | TF&G Contributor

Hoping April Showers Are a Reality!

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S I WRITE THIS, THE TV NEWS PEOple are still lamenting lack of rain on the upper Texas coast, and moaning about the continuing drought. Oh, it is also raining at my house.

The winter has seen quite a bit of rain, maybe not enough to satisfy the drought index, but certainly enough to make my woods property just inland from the coast in Brazoria County a little boggy and muddy.

Although I have had an aversion to hard rain ever since the 40+ inches fell on the Alvin-Liverpool area in 1979 and put over ten feet of water onto my lot on the banks of Chocolate Bayou – and two feet of that IN my house – it would be helpful to the marine environment to have a “normal” level of rain for the spring.

Freshwater influx into our bays tempers the salinity and aids in the growth of forage species such as shrimp and various baitfish that our speckled trout, redfish, and flounders depend on. High salinities such as those seen in the San Bernard River over the winter (which sometimes reached a level higher than normal Gulf of Mexico salinity) are also not good for oysters and crabs – although the high salt content might lure game fish more often seen in “outside waters” to venture inside the passes and river outlets temporarily.

On the subject of the poor San Bernard River, which has suffered so much, Jan Edwards sent me what should be some very good news for the river. Jan and her husband, Roy, live on the river near where it crosses the ICW. Theyhave long been involved in the struggle to “make right” the wrong committed against this stream when the Brazos River channel was diverted and the original river mouth jettied to create the T F & G

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Freeport Harbor. Unfortunately, this sort of “mucked up” the normal current flow down the beach.

Under the federal R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Act, the Gulf States will share in the fine and penalty money that will be paid by BP for its oil spill “oopsie”. This money is mandated to be used on projects: “within 25 miles of the coast, within 25 miles of the coastal zone, or within 25 miles of the

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tidally influenced section of a stream, river, or bayou.”

The San Bernard mouth fits this description perfectly, and the portion of the loot Texas is expected to receive should be around $2 billion! Opening the river mouth is listed by Brazoria County as the top priority for their portion of the federal monies.

In addition the San Bernard River mouth is listed on the NOAA/Texas Sea Grant Hydrological Inventory of Coastal Projects.

With this sort of money on the table, a jetty or jetty system to protect the river mouth from sand that the currents bring down from the Surfside Beach area might CONTINUED ON PAGE 77

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Hotspots Focus: Matagorda

by Mike Price | TF&G Contributor

April Lessons

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WAS IN A COVE THAT WAS ALSO THE entrance to a bayou on the south side of West Matagorda Bay, watching mullet moving in schools and getting busted by predators, when I saw a pattern of mullet desperately trying to escape from a hungry redfish smashing along the shoreline. The fish was within casting distance.

I had a spinning outfit and a fly rod on my kayak,and I selected the fly rod, thinking that

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a lightweight Clouser Minnow fly would float over the shallow oysters that lined the shore where the fish was feeding. The chartreuse Clouser dropped in front of the 26-inch redfish, was immediately snatched, and the fish took off. My eight weight Loomis fly rod bent nearly double at times, and the drag on my Ross reel got quite a work out as the big red darted into the holes, over the reefs, and even out into the bay attempting to shake the fly, but I finally netted it.

It was the middle of April and the first time that year that I had seen mullet in large numbers. Much of the time in April the wind comes from the east at 15 mph or greater, churning up the mud and sand bottom, and reducing visibility in the water. But on this

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day, the wind was light and from the southeast. Other conditions that contributed to a fun and productive day of fishing were a falling barometric pressure, high water, a strong incoming tide, and water temperatures that encouraged fish feeding (67-71°F).

On another April day, I learned that when you get a solid hit, you should methodically fish the area. In late April my son Andy and I were fishing Long Fence Bayou in West Matagorda Bay. The water was seriously off color so we were using gold spoons tipped with small pieces of shrimp flavored Fishbite. Since there was very little visibility, spoons rigged this way gave us the advantage of attracting fish with sound and smell. I was wading back to the boat when a big redfish hit, but didn’t take the spoon. Then the same fish followed the lure until it made eye contact with me and darted off.

I told Andy what had happened and then waded back to the boat. Andy went to the spot where the fish had hit my spoon, thoroughly fished the area and came back with a 22-inch red, plus he had an additional strike.

In April I have consistently found trout that measured over 20 inches on the south shore of East Matagorda Bay, between Kane Cove and Burkhart Cove. Creeping along the shoreline in a kayak and swimming a pumpkinseed/chartreuse Bass Assassin as close as possible to the edge of the cord grass, I felt a light pull.

Rather than set the hook immediately, I waited until the fish started swimming away and then used enough force to pull the sharp hook through the fish’s mouth. At that point, the 26-inch trout shifted into fight mode.

After giving me a worthy scrap, I worked the lunker into my net, and then I released it.

Unlike the fall months, when fish are aggressively looking for food in schools, they tend to be dispersed and less aggressive in the spring unless they are stimulated by masses of concentrated bait. However, if you wade patiently, kayak, or drift enough water, most likely you will catch several good-sized fish.

If you intend to fish from a boat at anchor

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GALVESTON FOCUS because the wind is too strong to drift, you will have a smaller area to fish. In this circumstance, live shrimp or live baitfish will yield the best results.

THE BANK BITE CHINQUAPIN is a small fishing community on East Matagorda Bay. From FM 521 go 10.3 miles south on CR 262 (at the T-junction, turn left) to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). There are several places where you can drive up to the ICW and fish from the bank. The bait store in Chinquapin is closed so be sure to bring bait with you, or use a cast net to get baitfish. If you are kayaking, there is a launch spot near a bridge 9 miles from 521. Go to the right (south) and then the bayou turns east and connects to Live Oak Bayou after a 15-minute paddle. If you go left in Live Oak Bayou you will eventually get into Lake Austin, if you go right you will pass Chinquapin, the ICW, and be able access East Matagorda Bay.

Contact Mike Price at MPrice@fishgame.com

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 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 75 be possible. This would be excellent news and might avoid future closures. Of course, that would be sort of ironic, since the Freeport Jetties are blamed for the closure in the first place.

Back to April, with a more normal spring rainfall and warmer weather, April becomes one of the most pleasant months for fishing the beaches, bays, and coastal streams. All the warm weather species will be back – and hungry. Live bait should be available at camps, or you can get a cast net and catch your own. The Easter Bunny might not bring goodies to adults this month, but the Gulf of Mexico likely will.

Species: Speckled trout, redfish, flounder – and the reds can run from barely legal to those in the “bull” class. A few black drum may also be found, along with sheepshead around rocks and pilings.

Sand trout and croaker should also be in the surf.

BEST BAITS: Live or “fresh dead” shrimp and small forage species like mullet, shad, even squid. When seeking sheepshead or big drum, small crabs might be best. Sometimes barnacles can be scraped off pilings to “chum” up sheepshead. It is best to use a float when fishing near the rocks to avoid constant hang-ups, but bottom rigs are better when fishing deeper spots away from the jetty. Artificial lures can work as well, and many fishermen use multiple rods to try their luck with both.

BEST TIMES: Target tidal movement, if possible.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Galveston and Freeport jetties, beachfront piers and rock groins.

Contact Mike Holmes at MHolmes@fishgame.com.

3/22/14 2:19 PM

Hotspots Focus: Upper Mid Coast

by Capt. Chris Martin | TF&G Contributor

Spring Fever

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T’S APRIL, AND A LOT OF US PROBABLY thought it would never get here. We’ve been waiting all winter for spring to arrive by listening to the weather man every day, by mentally perusing our fishing maps each time our mind wanders, and by reviewing the arsenal of new and used baits in our tackle box at least a couple times each weekend.

It’s like a fever that can’t be restrained.

It’s an uncontrollable urge to hunt for trophy speckled trout, an opportunity that may not present itself until such time that area bay water temperatures reach that magical 68-72 degrees this month. It’s a disabling sickness that torments many coastal anglers, and it seems to happen around this time each year when the new flowers begin to blossom with all their color and aroma.

It is spring, and the speckled trout fishing delirium that many of us have been experiencing all winter should definitely begin to heighten this month, especially once the word spreads throughout the fishing community that some of the first “big gals” of the season

have been landed.

To catch these fish, you need to know that when it comes to food, they tend to feed on what is readily available to them in the water during any particular time or season. Trout that measure a foot in length, or less, usually eat a variety of foods like adolescent shrimp and other crustaceans. But as the trout get older and grow, their food preference shifts to fish, first to smaller fish such as shad and shrimp, then to larger fish such as mullet, croaker, or menhaden.

Another of the natural-baits, the glass minnow, is often forgotten and neglected by coastal anglers. They are plentiful this time of the year, but they are very delicate and don’t live long out of the water or even in most bait wells. A lot of “old-salts” swear by them, especially when using them beneath lights at nighttime. However, most any of the experienced coastal trophy speck hunters will agree that the action for big trout truly doesn’t start until the schooled-mullet start showing up along coastal beaches and in local bays beginning this month and next. This is when things start to get fun around here.

Everyone has their own preferences and methods for bait when chasing big trout, but I like to go with what most closely resembles the food they’re hungry for when the waters are warming and they’re entering their spawning period. That’s why I will be throwing mullet

imitation plugs almost exclusively this month and next. If I happen upon schools of mullet blanketing the surface of the water, I’ll throw top water baits into the clusters of mullet to see whether I can draw a strike. If I find the rafts of mullet to be congregating below the surface of the water, I’ll toss a slow-sinking or suspending mullet imitation plug.

But as I said, right now these big trout can express some rather voracious appetites as they come out of the winter months and in to the springtime spawn. They will be craving and consuming large amounts of food, and at times can seem downright eager to accept your artificial presentation.

Because of this, my love for working top water baits often takes over and places me on autopilot. I just can’t help myself. There’s something special about seeing your lure being tossed high into the air when a big sow trout tries to eat it.

I can’t resist the feeling I get when challenging my surface walker against the wits of the fish, like when the fish bumps the lure but doesn’t inhale it. I have to let the bait sit undisturbed for a few moments before giving it two or three ever-so-subtle twitches in anticipation of drawing the strike from the predator below.

I also find it very satisfying whenever I’m forced to adjust my retrieve in order to match the preference of the feeding fish – I like the challenge of trying to figure it all out. It just doesn’t get any better than top water fishing in springtime!

Whatever you choose as your bait this month, keep in mind that if it is trophy trout you are after, you will probably benefit from using some of the larger baits. For top water choices I particularly like the She Dog and the Super Spook, and for the suspending baits I usually go with the Corky, the Corky FatBoy, or the Corky Devil. Have fun, and keep grindin’!

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

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Hotspots Focus: Rockport

by Capt. Mac Gable | TF&G Contributor

Hazards of the Trade

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E TOLD ME THE SPOT ON HIS NECK didn’t hurt and that it just sort of appeared one day and just wouldn’t go away. He wasn’t too concerned; after all he practiced good sun protection and was religious about using the very best sunscreen. He would have it look at on his next doctor’s visit (whenever that might be) for it was the peak of the fishing season and he just couldn’t afford to take time off.

After things slowed down he went to his doctor for another unrelated issue. The doc cuffed his arm, looked into his ears, eyes and nose and then applied the cold stethoscope to his back and told him to take a deep breath. That’s when the doctor said, “Well, that doesn’t look good” as he focused on the spot that was still apparently still there. The doctor asked how long it had been there.

At least three months was the reply. “We need to get that checked,” was the doctor’s response. The diagnosis was skin cancer that required surgery and some reconstruction to make up for loss of tissue.

“The pain is mostly in my lower back and hip area” was what yet another fellow guide told me, and he just couldn’t sleep in bed but had to sleep sitting up to get any rest at all. After a long line of chiropractors and soothsayers he went to an orthopedic surgeon who after x-rays, CT and MRI scans, it was discovered he had a compression fracture as well as a herniated disc that required procedures (surgery) and a year of rehab.

And then again a fellow guide told me he was tired all the time, he just wasn’t sure where his energy went and that he seemed to be in a mental fog most of the day. He was tense all the time and not a very nice person to be around (according to his wife T F & G

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and friends) and had no appetite. After giving enough blood to fill the blood bank and being tested from stem to stern there was nothing physically wrong with him. As a last ditch effort he went to see a pastor at one of the local churches and of course the pastor asked about his relationship with the higher power (God) to which he replied “they were tighter than two coats of paint.” The phone rang, the pastor taking the call noticed that the guide seem agitated and the longer he talked the more steamed the guide became.

Finally reading the signs, the pastor hung up the phone and ask the guide if he was OK. He replied, “talk to me or talk to the phone I imagine the results will be the same either way.” The pastor drew a deep breath said a silent prayer to himself and asked the guide how he was sleeping.

“Let me get this straight,” the guide, said, “I’m drowning here and you want me to describe the water?” “Are you sleeping well, sir,” came the question again. “No,” came the response, “if I’m lucky maybe five

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or six hours then I drink coffee all day to stay alert.”

He was living a guide’s life up early and to bed late and consuming vast quantities of one of the last legal drugs: caffeine. Sleep deprived and over the span of years his body was telling him it needed a rest, but the caffeine was telling his brain to go the extra mile.

I know several guides who either left parts of their bodies in/on the water or had them removed at hospitals for various reasons – mostly infections attributed to their profession. Every year I get calls that one or another of my fellow guides is either in intensive care due to a mishap or in the emergency room awaiting treatment.

Try as we might, it’s hard to take care of oneself in the guiding business. Most don’t eat right, but get whatever day old wiener or sandwich is left over at the local Stop ‘n’ Go and eat it while running and gunning/ casting.

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Rockport Focus If you are lucky and have a supporting wife who has the time to cook a good supper (which is usually their best meal of the day) one tends to over eat as your body craves the calories, then immediately fall face first into your empty plate asleep (or into bed). Not a good habit as the years add up.

Making one’s health a priority is VERY hard to do in this profession. The eyes take a pounding as well and after 30 plus years cataracts are the norm for most of us.

Pressures a guide feels can have an accumulative effect, as well.

Guides I know who have been in this business any time that matters have a vice, or several of them, be it drinking, smoking, addiction to pain killers, junk food binges etc. All of which usually shows up in some form of heart disease.

I remember one cold November day, a good friend/guide was sitting in his truck awaiting his clients. His boat wasn’t launched and he waved me over asking if I could help him launch his boat. He said my chest feels like I was hit by an 18 wheeler and he was pale and freezing.

After a tense conversation he agreed he had no business being on the water especially with clients. Luckily I had only two people that day and was able to take his clients with me and make it work.

It was his heart. He’d been guiding many years, and the guiding life had taken its toll.

He passed away not too long after that. Of the guides I know, most have been divorced at least once. What significant other wants to crawl in bed with someone that always smells like bait or filleted fish? Yeah, that’ll work for building a good strong relationship and romance.

For those of you who have worked for a living, like you we go to work sick, and we work sometimes when we are injured, this not playing to us, it’s our livelihood. It’s our way of life. We chose this way of life and don’t ask for handouts, but it’s an insult to us when unknowing people think all we are doing is play at making a living.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Most of us have a lot invested in our profession. It’s not just in the homes and the boats, equipment, license, fees and other credentials needed to sustain our livelihood.

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It’s also in our blood, sweat and tears.

Our rates aren’t cheap. We know that, but we earn every penny, and most guides, me included, will not negotiate our fee. I was told at a young age that a rich man is one that can make a living at what he loves to do.

I dare say that most of the guides I know consider themselves rich by that definition, but folks, it’s still making a living. It’s hard work. It takes its toll on our bodies, our minds and our relationships. Go talk to a 40-plus-year saltwater guide, and I think you will see the hazards that lie herein.

When you add it all up a good guide is truly a bargain, indeed.

• • • You gotta love April! The bait is coming back into the bays, the plankton bloom is turning the gin-clear water into the off colored green we all know and have come to love. If there ever was a month for shrimp, April and May have to be it. If I can find it, live shrimp or fresh dead is my choice of bait.

COPANO BAY—The mouth of Port Bay where the deeper water transitions to the shallow water is the right place to be on a falling tide. I like a silent cork and live shrimp here for trout and reds. In very early April this is a good place for black drum as well. Tide movement is the key here. The shell reefs close to Bayside are a good spot for trout using free lined shrimp or Berkley gulp shrimp in new penny color.

ARANSAS BAY—The shoreline just off Allyns Lake is good for reds using finger mullet or cut menhaden on a medium Carolina rig. Look for large pockets here and try to cast into the middle. Mud Island is hard to beat this time of year for reds.

Commit yourself here and fish the island 360 degrees using finger mullet. A good approach is being as quiet as possible and be patient. The reds move around this landmass using the cuts and pockets to ambush bait.

ST CHARLES BAY—The spring bait run usually makes its way to this bay in late April so for early April use peeled shrimp under a cork for black drum close to the F I S H

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mouths a Devils Bayou. Don’t get in a hurry. On colder days the drum will often hold the bait in their mouth with little or no movement. When in question count to 10 and set the hook. The cut between St Charles and Aransas Bay is good this time of year especially on a moving tide. Free lined live shrimp works well here for trout and reds.

CARLOS BAY—Use the wind to make slow drifts across Carlos Lake using soft plastics in new penny and morning glory colors for trout. The southwest side of Carlos Lake or the back side of Cedar Reef is a good place to set up for reds using mud minnows on a light Carolina rig or free lined.

MESQUITE BAY—The spoil area just off of Roddy Island has been holding sheep head using a #2 Kahle hook and peeled shrimp. Most bites come close to the spoil area within 2 feet or so. The pocket close to Bludworth Island is a good wade for reds using soft plastics in salt and pepper color as well as electric chicken.

AYERS BAY —Ayres Point is good for reds using mud minnows on a Carolina rig. It’s critical to approach silently here in a boat, wading is preferred. The shoreline off of Rattlesnake Island is a good wade for reds using Berkley jerk shad in pearl white and pink shine colors.

Here’s Wishing You Tight Lines Bent Poles and Plenty of Bait!

THE BANK BITE THE HIGHWAY 188 bridge on Port Bay is a good place for reds on a high tide using mud minnows. Be careful wading here as the mud in this area can be deep and hard to manage. A light Carolina rig is the key here. If the wind allows, free lined is even better. High tide or a falling tide is best. Work both sides of the bank close to the bridge.

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

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Hotspots Focus: Lower Coast

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

A Touch of Color

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PRING IS A WELCOME CHANGE TO the Lower Laguna Madre after the long, hard winter of 2014. As spring begins to serenade Lower Laguna Madre with soft southeasterly winds after the howling gales of repeated polar vortices, fishermen begin thinking about old and beloved fishing haunts.

Boats will be zipping off towards Gaswells, or Cullen Bay, or Dunkin’s, Shack or Three Island, or Green Island looking for schools of hungry speckled trout and redfish that have been playing hide and seek all winter long.

Some will be hunting the parking-lot sized schools of black drum that start roaming around Bennie’s Shack.

The savvy fisherman, or at least he ones reading this, will know that such a long trip isn’t necessary to find good action. All it takes is a short jaunt to a really productive, but underfished, spot.

The color change that forms where the grass flats near the South Padre Island Convention Center meet up with the sand and spoils of the ICW is an excellent springtime fishing spot. Speckled trout and redfish, both, utilize the change in water clarity – which switches from gin-clear to “trout green” so abruptly that a sharply defined boundary is formed – as cover to ambush prey. The color change also provides fish with a safety zone they can easily retreat to when they are cruising the grass flats.

A great feature about the Color Change is that it is a short hop from most marinas in Port Isabel and South Padre Island. The northernmost end of the area is also a reasonable run from Arroyo City. It isn’t difficult to find, because there aren’t any obscure landmarks you have to remember. If the bite is on, as it often is in April, you don’t have to burn T F & G

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more gas looking for a more productive area.

The ease of returning to port also makes the Color Change a great area to bring children fishing. If they get tired, a short run back, and they’re back in their air conditioned hotel room or condo and ready to go to the beach.

The key word when fishing the Color Change is “slow.” A long slow drift is the most effective strategy to adopt because it allows you to cover the zone between the clear and sandy water efficiently. Begin your drift just inside of the boundary, and allow the wind to dictate your direction.

A straight southerly wind will push you parallel with the boundary line, and a southeasterly will create a more perpendicular drift. If the wind is a little stiffer than usual, use a drift sock to slow your drift.

Predators will be feeding mostly on youngof-the-year baitfish and shrimp in April, so it’s important that the bait and lures you use reflect that trend. Live shrimp is always going to work. This is a classic shrimp-andpopping-cork scenario. I prefer to fish with a three-inch Alameda float, or Mansfield Mauler. When worked, they not only provide the “bloop” of a good popping cork, but the rattles add to the racket and continue to provide sound while the rig is at rest. Fish key in on the rattle corks more effectively.

A 24-inch, 20-pound fluorocarbon leader, #3 split shot and a 2/0 Kahle hook rounds out the popping cork rig. The Kahle hook is much better than the typical treble hook because it is less likely to tear a fish up.

Mostly, the hook lodges in the top of a fish’s mouth or in the corner of the jaw, making release much easier.

If you don’t want to drop a double saw-buck on a quart of live shrimp, shrimp imitators are just as effective. The main go-to artificial that most coastal fishermen are turning to is the Gulp! Three-Inch Shrimp. You can fish the tail on a 1/8 ounce jighead, or on the same live shrimp rig. Shrimp tails are also effective bounced along the bottom. Fish them slowly with about a two-second pause between twitches.

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Do not eschew larger plastics such as the Kelly Wigglers Ball Shad or Down Sputh Lures Shad. Mullet are still a major food source for trout. They will readily strike these longer tails, which give off more action than traditional eel-type baits and offer a target for fish to key-in on in murky water. Glow/chartreuse and glow are very effective in the sandy green water of the Color Change. Clear/gold flake and Clear/silver flake are effective on sunny days. If fish are moving out onto the grass flats, switch to chartreuse.

Traditional shad tails are also very effective around the Color Change. The throbbing “boot tail” of a Norton Bull minnow, H&H Queen Cocahoe, or Gulp! Mullet is an effective fish attractor. Again, colors such as glow/chartreuse, pearl chartreuse, or the ageless strawberry and white are the standards you’ll want to load your tackle box with.

When the sun gets higher in the sky, later in the morning, keep an eye out for dark patches of weeds scattered throughout the sandy bottom inside the Color Change.

These clumps of grass offer still another ambush point that speckled trout utilize when feeding. Cast over or parallel to these patches and work your bait through or by them. Again, the key word is slow, so make sure your drift doesn’t take you by them too quickly. Don’t discount a clump as being too small. I once caught a 27-inch trout that ambushed my bait from a weed clump the size of a garbage can lid.

A short run, easy location, and good fishing. What more could you want from a fishing spot?

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Pirates Landing Fishing Pier SPECIES: Speckled Trout TIP: Night fish with live shrimp on a freeline rig.

Contact Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com G A M E ®

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UPPER GULF COAST

Fat Chances for East Bay Reds

by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: East Galveston HOTSPOT: Fat Rat Pass GPS: N29 28.46196 W94 38.67294 (29.474366, -94.644549) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Weedless 1/4 ounce gold spoons CONTACT: Captain Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: The weedless spoon is gaining in popularity with redfish anglers. It tends to come across the bottom with less hang-ups.

LOCATION: East Galveston HOTSPOT: Rollover Pass GPS: N29 30.70698 W94 30.08898 (29.511783, -94.501483) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Small topwater baits such as the She Pup or Baby Spook; chrome, chrome/black back, chrome/blue back colors CONTACT: Captain Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Watch your water temperature. When water temp reaches 65 degrees, the topwater bite should be on.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Three Beacon Reef GPS: N28 40.767 W95 53.37798 (28.67945, -95.889633) SPECIES: speckled trout

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a salt/pepper or a white color as the sun rises.

CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Alexander 979-709-8242 captalexander@yahoo.com alexanderguideservice.com TIPS: Chicken on a Chain is another good color for early morning fishing.

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.

BEST BAITS: Soft plastic paddle tails in 3—4 inch lengths; a Texas Roach with a chartreuse tail works best in early morning and then switch of to a salt/pepper or a white color as the sun rises.

CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Alexander 979-709-8242 captalexander@yahoo.com alexanderguideservice.com TIPS: Fish see darker colors better at night or early morning.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Chinquapin Reef GPS: N28 43.99398 W95 47.95398 (28.733233, -95.799233) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic paddle tails in 3—4 inch lengths; a Texas Roach with a chartreuse tail works best in early morning and then switch off to a salt/pepper or a white color as the sun rises CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Alexander 979-709-8242 captalexander@yahoo.com alexanderguideservice.com TIPS: Focus on shell in about four feet of water... look for mullet and shad action LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Long Reef GPS: N28 40.38798 W95 53.08998 (28.673133, -95.884833) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic paddle tails in 3—4 inch lengths; a Texas Roach with a chartreuse tail works best in early morning and then switch of to F I S H

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LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Willow Bayou GPS: N29 51.66 W93 46.91496 (29.861, -93.781916) SPECIES: flounder BEST BAITS: White or chartreuse Gulp; live mud minnows; or curl tail white or chartreuse soft plastics, tipped with a piece of shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409.673.9211 97862018@sbcglobal.net fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Use a Carolina rig with about a 12 inch leader. “If I’m fishing plastic I use a quarter ounce jig head, tipped with a piece of shrimp, and fish it very slow, just as if you were worm fishing for black bass...massage the bottom,” says Watkins.

“The scent of shrimp diffused out into the water, draws the fish to the bait or lure.”

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Mid South Levee GPS: N29 50.51898 W93 55.23396 (29.841983, -93.920566) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Quarter ounce jig heads with soft plastics in white or clear colors CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409.673.9211 97862018@sbcglobal.net fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Presentation...”I use a lot of twitch, twitch,” says Watkins. “When twitching the bait, I don’t reel. The reel is used to just take up the line slack.

Twitch, twitch, reel, reel, reel, twitch, twitch...not big sweeping twitches. Don’t twitch your rod over 12 inches; slow down. I try to give it a lot of action, darting from side to side, imitating a crippled bait

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fish.”

LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Dickenson Bayou GPS: N29 27.61896 W94 55.79994 (29.460316, -94.929999) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin, 5 inch Jerk Shads in Slammin Chicken, plum/chartreuse or pearl/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Fish drains or bayous that empty into Trinity Bay. Trout will we waiting at ambush points to pick up bait draining back into the bay.

LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Marsh Point GPS: N29 31.83396 W94 34.33896 (29.530566, -94.572316) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: She Pup or Baby Spook in chrome, chrome/black back, or chrome/blue back CONTACT: Captain Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Warmer water temps will bring trout and redfish up into the shallows. Afternoons continue to be the best fishing time.

LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Anahuac Channel GPS: N29 44.00796 W94 43.272 (29.733466, -94.721200) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin, 5 inch Jerk Shad in Slammin Chicken, plum/chartreuse or pearl/ chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: April is prime wade fishing time along in Trinity Bay. Match your fishing trip with an outgoing tide in the afternoon LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Spillway GPS: N29 45.22296 W94 48.85692 (29.753716, -94.814282) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Corky Devil, MirrOLure 51 or the Catch 2000; black back/orange belly, or solid T F & G

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chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Fish should be on the feed from midday to late evening, sometimes continuing to about an hour before sunset.

LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Moses Lake GPS: N29 26.808 W94 55.71198 (29.4468, -94.928533) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: She Pup or Baby Spook in chrome, chrome/black back, chrome/blue back CONTACT: Captain Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: The trout should be moving shallow. “The sun has penetrated the mud associated with the shell allowing it to warm up and they (trout) get their little soft bellies in the mud and enjoy that warmth while they munch on a mullet or shad, and our lures.” .... Capt. Paul Marcaccio

979-709-8242 captalexander@yahoo.com alexanderguideservice.com TIPS: “On topwater colors, I personally like a blue back, not sure why. I think it’s more a personal thing. People fishing with black backs right beside me catch are also catching fish.” ...Capt. Tommy Alexander LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cotton Bayou Shoreline GPS: N28 31.34196

LOCATION: West Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Peninsula Shoreline GPS: N28 28.80096 W96 15.753 (28.480016, -96.262550) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook Juniors, Skitter Walk Juniors, She Pups; traditional colors-black/ chartreuse head early morning and switch to chrome or silver as the sun comes up CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Alexander 979-709-8242 captalexander@yahoo.com alexanderguideservice.com TIPS: Begin your fishing trip early in the morning instead of in the afternoon as you did in March.

Speckled trout are moving up along the south shoreline, LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N28 29.73798 W96 13.56498 (28.495633, -96.226083) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook Juniors, Skitter Walk Juniors, She Pups; traditional colors-black/ chartreuse head early morning and switch to chrome or silver as the sun comes up CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Alexander A L M A N A C

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Texas Hotspots W96 12.48894 (28.522366, -96.208149) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook Juniors, Skitter Walk Juniors, She Pups; traditional colors-black/ chartreuse head early morning and switch to chrome or silver as the sun comes up CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Alexander 979-709-8242 captalexander@yahoo.com alexanderguideservice.com TIPS: Speckled trout are chasing small glass minnows in grass beds in April.

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Green Island GPS: N28 29.80494 W96 14.265 (28.496749, -96.23775) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook Junior, Skitter Walk Junior, and She Pups; traditional colors-black/ chartreuse head early morning and switch to chrome or silver as the sun comes up.

CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Alexander 979-709-8242 captalexander@yahoo.com alexanderguideservice.com TIPS: Trout will be moving up along the south shoreline in April—look for grass beds and glass minnows.

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Hilbert’s Bayou GPS: N28 29.97696 W96 13.24992 (28.499616, -96.220832) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook Juniors, Skitter Walk Juniors, She Pups; traditional colors-black/ chartreuse head early morning and switch to chrome or silver as the sun comes up.

CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Alexander 979-709-8242 captalexander@yahoo.com alexanderguideservice.com TIPS: April is the start of the good topwater bite early in the morning. The trout are keying on small glass minnows...the reason for small topwater lures.

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MIDDLE GULF COAST

Island Hopping for Port A Specks

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and CAPT. CHRIS MARTIN LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Stedman Island GPS: N27 53.24496 W97 6.831 (27.887416, -97.113850) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live, 5 inch croaker CONTACT: Capt. Kevin McCoy 361-775-2027 reelmccoy@cableone.net reelmccoyguideservice.com TIPS: “I’m fishing the outside beaches of the different islands around Port Aransas in April. If I’m dealing with a low tide, I back off the bank and fish the next line of structure. On high tides I fish close in to the bank. Keep up with tide flow charts. Do your homework.” ....Capt. McCoy LOCATION: Corpus Christi HOTSPOT: East Flats GPS: N27 49.13496 W97 6.26592 (27.818916, -97.104432) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live croaker, live shrimp, mullet, piggy perch CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com bigmfishingcharters.com TIPS: “The best way to catch trout is to freeline live croaker,” says Engel. At this time of the year he fishes water anywhere from 2 - 6 feet deep along the windward side of islands. “You are looking for sand pockets and deep holes.”

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Lydia Ann Channel GPS: N27 51.73596 W97 3.2979 (27.862266, -97.054965) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live mullet, shrimp or sea lice CONTACT: F I S H

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Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com bigmfishingcharters.com TIPS: “Once the spring tides roll in, I switch over to trout fishing.” Capt. Engel freelines live bait exclusively with whatever bait he uses. If it’s real windy he places a 3/8 oz. egg weight above the leader to keep the live bait where he wants it.

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Traylor Island GPS: N27 56.841 W97 4.263 (27.94735, -97.071050) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live, 5 inch croaker CONTACT: Capt. Kevin McCoy 361-775-2027 reelmccoy@cableone.net reelmccoyguideservice.com TIPS: Croaker need to be around five inches long. Hook the croaker above the anal fin, below the lateral line, and then free line.

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: East Flats GPS: N27 48.99096 W97 7.13898 (27.816516, -97.118983) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live, 5 inch croaker CONTACT: Capt. Kevin McCoy 361-775-2027 reelmccoy@cableone.net reelmccoyguideservice.com TIPS: Tides...”If the water is super high I’m probably not going to fish the outside edge, move up on the flat closer to the bank, fish the tighter edge” ... Capt. McCoy. LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Mud Island GPS: N27 56.37996 W97 0.76296 (27.939666, -97.012716) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live, 5 inch croaker CONTACT: Capt. Kevin McCoy 361-775-2027 reelmccoy@cableone.net reelmccoyguideservice.com TIPS: April is usually when the trout show up. “I’ll start fishing the outside beaches.” ... Capt. McCoy

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LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Dagger Island GPS: N27 50.217 W97 9.9669 (27.83695, -97.166115) SPECIES: black drum BEST BAITS: Live mullet, shrimp or sea lice CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com bigmfishingcharters.com TIPS: Black drum love sea lice. Engel recommends hooking the bait in the middle so they can still pop and make noise. Also, slice the back part of the body so they will put out some scent in the water to help draw fish.

LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Dagger Flats GPS: N27 49.75398 W97 10.60992 (27.829233, -97.176832) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Live baits such as pin perch, sea lice, mullet, and shad CONTACT: Capt. Kevin McCoy 361-775-2027 reelmccoy@cableone.net reelmccoyguideservice.com TIPS: In early April for redfish, 90 percent of the time, McCoy will be fishing shallow water, throwing live baits in the potholes in the flats.

LOWER GULF COAST

let on a split shot rig. Gulp! shrimp or shad are good artificials to use.

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 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: Cullen Channel GPS: N26 15.159 W97 17.27298 (26.252650, -97.287883) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: live shrimp, Gulp! shrimp in

Spoiling for South Padre Flounder

by CALIXTO GONZALES 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 mulT F & G

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Texas Hotspots 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.

PINEY WOODS

Hybrids Go to School in Conroe

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Conroe HOTSPOT: Points and Sandy Bottoms GPS: N30 27.222 W95 34.40994 (30.4537, -95.573499) SPECIES: hybrid striper BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com fishdudetx.com TIPS: The hybrid stripers will begin to school on the surface in the morning and will be easy to catch on surface bait’s and swim shad. They will be all around the lake on main lake points that have shallow sandy bottoms. Find the schools of shad and you will find the Hybrids. This time of year they will run shad up on these points early and late and during mid day they will move deeper. Find the depth the bait is in and you will find the fish. There are times when they will stay on the surface for the biggest part of the morning. This usually happens when it is overcast and calm. Live shad will be the bait of choice in deeper water but the swim shad will be the one to catch bigger fish in the shallower water. Bank Access: Stowaway Marina.

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

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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 Fork HOTSPOT: Chaney Creek GPS: N32 47.848 W95 33.603 (32.797467, -95.56005) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: spinnerbait, Shimmy Shakers, Long A’s, and Mister Twister Comida worms in Watermelon Red flake and black/blue flake CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Bass are beginning their spawn and can be found in main lake pockets and in the back of main lake creek channels.

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: Livingston HOTSPOT: White Rock Creek GPS: N30 57.59328 W95 20.0943 (30.959888, -95.334905) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Live minnows and black/chartreuse jigs CONTACT: David S Cox - Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 F I S H

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dave@palmettoguideservice.com palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Start fishing north of the marina.

Concentrate on brush and on cut banks to fish over and use live bait or minnows.

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.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

Windy Whites and Hybrids on B Port

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Bridgeport HOTSPOT: Windy Point GPS: N33 13.175 W97 50.367 (33.219583, -97.83945) SPECIES: White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live Shad, Slabs and Crankbaits will produce.

CONTACT: Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service 940-577-0363 bridgeportguide@yahoo.com lakebridgeportguideservice.com TIPS: This is a long submerged point. Fish the sides and end of this feature. Great area for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass also.

LOCATION: Aquilla HOTSPOT: White Bass at Snake Island and Triplet Point

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GPS: N31 55.36062 W97 12.8475 (31.922677, -97.214125) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: 2” chartreuse and black 2” swim baits from RSR Lures, white or chartreuse 3/4 oz. slabs CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: Early morning and late afternoon make long cast up on the edges of the island and triplet point. The white bass will be running along the edges chasing small threadfin shad. Be sure and take a pair of binoculars and watch for diving gulls and herons along the shallows. They will point you to schooling fish. After the sun comes up back off and use either white or chartreuse 3/4 oz. slabs and work them bouncing off the bottom in the deeper water on the edges and ledges of the island and point.

LOCATION: Lake Bridgeport HOTSPOT: Lower Unit Point GPS: N33 15.018 W97 51.255 (33.250302, -97.854258) SPECIES: White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Chartreuse Slabs and Rattletraps are the preferred baits.

CONTACT: Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service 940-577-0363 bridgeportguide@yahoo.com lakebridgeportguideservice.com TIPS: Great area for “stacked up” Sand Bass and Hybrids. 17-22 feet of water. Watch for low water in this area.

GPS: N30 38.40582 W96 3.23028 (30.640097, -96.053838) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, crawfish, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: Use a tight line or a cork with a 2/0 Kahle hook or No. 4 treble hook and fish close to the bank. You will catch more fish by using only one rod. Stay on the move, fishing slowly and moving about 50 yards at a time until you locate pockets of fish.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: 377 Hwy Bridge GPS: N32.3805 W97.7096 (32.3805, -97.7096) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs and small minnows CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta 817-578-0023 michael.acosta@att.net

unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Granbury is 9.25 feet low and continues to fall. Access is available at Rough Creek Park and the launch by the Hilton. Fish deeper water.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Western Hills Subdivision GPS: N32.4232 W97.7542 (32.4232, -97.7542) SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: slabs and small jigs CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta 817-578-0023 michael.acosta@att.net unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Sandbass are staging for the spring spawn and are fair to good near channel ledges LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Mid-lake Docks GPS: N32.4042 W97.7227 (32.4042, -97.7227) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: soft plastics CONTACT:

LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: Main Point GPS: N29 56.31696 W96 44.217 (29.938616, -96.736950) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Shad, stinkbait, chicken liver CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: Most of the stumps here are under water.

Use your electronics to anchor in the stumps.

Throw out chum around the boat. It will take about 30 minutes for the chum to bring in the fish. Fish with a tight line on or just off the bottom at about 13 feet.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Diversion Canal T F & G

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Texas Hotspots Michael W. Acosta 817-578-0023 michael.acosta@att.net unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Black bass continue to be good to 5 pounds on soft plastics fished near deeper docks near mid-lake and on the lower ends.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Lower End GPS: N32.3805 W97.7096 (32.3805, -97.7096) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: cut shad, prepared bait CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta 817-578-0023 michael.acosta@att.net unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Best catfish catches are being reported in deeper water on the lower ends.

LOCATION: Lavon HOTSPOT: Mallard Park GPS: N33 03.025 W96 26.512 (33.050418, -96.441864) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Small minnows, black and chartreuse 2 inch, jigs, 1/8-ounce heads CONTACT: Billy Kilpatrick - StraightLine Guide Service 214-232-7847 Straightlineguide@yahoo.com straightlineguide.com TIPS: This time of year is good for nighttime fishing under green lights or lanterns. The fish move shallow looking for warmer waters as shallow as 2 ft. but 3 to 6 ft. is a good place to start, move shallower as needed. Concentrate on the RR trestle near Mallard Park as well as all up and down the dam and the coves at the marinas.

LOCATION: Palestine HOTSPOT: Villages Marina Area GPS: N32 13.22544 W95 28.2147 (32.220424, -95.470245) SPECIES: all species BEST BAITS: Bass—Texas spinner bait shimmy shaker in the sexy shad color, Texas Spinnerbait Company Big Eye jig 1/4 oz. in black/ brown/amber color, black/ blue Mr. Twister lizard.

White Bass—chrome & blue Rat’L’Traps and small casting spoons. Crappie—jigs. Catfish—chicken livers CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff

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903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Water should be clear south of the Villages marina and stained north of the Villages with water temps as high as 68 degrees.

Bass fishing is good up north and northwest of the Villages marina. Fish depths of 2 to 6 foot and fish standing timber and brush along the ridges close to the islands. Down at the south end of the lake, you will need to move back into the main lake pockets or creeks. Some good creeks will be the Flat Creek area and Cobb creek. Crappie will be good on jigs in the main lake pockets in about 1 to 4 foot. Fish slow and work the pockets out good covering every inch . White bass good on the main lake points early and late. Catfish are good in the shallows on chicken liver and you will find them under boat docks in about 3 foot of water. Some good docks will be the docks on the east side of the lake just south of the Villages marina.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Johnson Branch GPS: N33 24.399 W97 03.183 (33.406647, -97.05305) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shad colored squarebill crankbaits, lipless cranks, and Gene Larew Biffle Bugs in Watermelon/Goldfish CONTACT: Dannie Golden, Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 get-bit.com TIPS: Concentrate on secondary rocky points, grass edges, and brush piles. There will still be a lot of spawning fish on the Southern end of the lake. Look to the holes and edges of the grass, for spawning fish.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Coves GPS: N31 56.4567 W96 7.30722 (31.940945, -96.121787) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Small jigs or live minnows CONTACT: Royce & Adam Simmons, Gone Fishin’ Guide Service 903-389-4117 royce@gonefishin.biz gonefishin.biz TIPS: April is the most consistent month of the spring for catching really big spawning Crappie on Richland Chambers. Small Jigs or Minnows F I S H

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under a Cork in 1’-3’ water will catch these fish in the many Coves and Creek. Tributaries on both the Richland Arm and Chambers Arm of the Lake.

Look for grassy areas in the backs of the Coves and any laydowns or timber that is visible along the shoreline. Bank fisherman will find the Crappie in both the Coves at Fisherman’s Point Marina on the far SE Corner of the Lake. GPS Coordinates for Fisherman’s Point Marina Coves: N3156297, W9607472 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: Stillhouse Hollow HOTSPOT: Stillhouse Park GPS: N31 2.06412 W97 32.77404 (31.034402, -97.546234) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: small crankbaits, 1/4 oz. spinnerbaits, weightless lizard, wacky rigged Senko CONTACT: Henry Niemiec 254-368-0294 surestrikeguideservice@yahoo.com surestrikeguideservice.com TIPS: April can be a tricky time of the year for catching Bass. Early in the month will still provide you with an opportunity to catch one of the larger female up on the bed, however here in Central Texas for the most part the spawn is over. Now is the time to use a weightless lizard or wacky rigged Senko up shallow around the beds. The smaller males have moved back in to protect the beds and will attack anything that falls on or close to the bed. Towards the end of the month the Bass will become much more active, feeding early in the morning and towards evening. At this time small crankbaits and 1/4 oz. spinnerbaits work great.

You will want to work the shallows around laydowns and spawning flats. This is the time of the year to catch more numbers then size.

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LOCATION: Tawakoni HOTSPOT: Shook Point GPS: N32 51.9057, W95 55.8642 (32.865095, -95.931070) 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: The Island and Willafa Woods GPS: N33 53.99598 W96 34.55796 (33.899933, -96.575966) SPECIES: striper BEST BAITS: Coho minnows, Sassy Shad jigs in White-Glo and chartreuse colors, topwater plugs and stick baits CONTACT: Bill Carey 877-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com striperexpress.com TIPS: In April large schools of stripers are roaming the lake. You can locate stripers on the flats, and main lake points in 5’ to 30’ depths. Cast 3/4 oz. to 1oz Coho minnows and Sassy Shad jigs in White-Glo and chartreuse colors. Mid month, try casting topwater plugs and stick baits on the banks for great topwater action. You can land some egg laden sows that will tip the scales at 20 lbs. April is the beginning of the great spring fishing at Lake Texoma.

the boat. Great way to load the boat with a lot of fillets!

LOCATION: Whitney HOTSPOT: The Canyons GPS: N31 56.0022 W97 26.13588 (31.93337, -97.435598) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: 3/4 ounce chartreuse slab CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: Go out from the Canyons and turn south and watch graph for all the humps. The white bass will be stacked up on the edges of the humps.

Drop the slab (RSR Lures) down and bounce it off the bottom staying in contact with your bait on the fall. White bass normally hit the lure on the fall.

BEST BAITS: Gizzard shad, Pencil Popper (top water baits) and chartreuse swim baits.

CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: In the early morning, ease along side this long point throwing big top water baits like the pencil popper. Stay off from the point and make long casts and work the bait all the way to the boat. Don’t go if you have a weak heart! These big stripers will definitely wake you up when they explode on top. Using 4”chartreuse swim baits from RSR Lures rigged with a 3/4 ounce led head and casting them up shallow and making a medium to fast retrieve back to the boat is also working well. After the sun starts getting high, back off and anchor up. Use big cut and live gizzard shad, make long casts up along edge of point and leave the reel in free spool, when the fish hits it, let him run for a second then make a sweeping hook set.

LOCATION: Whitney HOTSPOT: Striper on Whitney Hump Point GPS: N32 0.29238 W97 26.00712 (32.004873, -97.433452) SPECIES: striper

LOCATION: Whitney HOTSPOT: Whitney Flats GPS: N31 54.0177 W97 22.35078 (31.900295, -97.372513) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Chartreuse 3/4 Oz slabs CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: The sand bass are roaming the flats early and late gorging on shad. Using 3/4 chartreuse slabs from RSR Lures and dropping them to the bottom and catching these big white bass. Watch for schooling activity and make long cast with the slabs. Let them flutter down and retrieve back to T F & G

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Texas Hotspots PANHANDLE

Crappie Scatter on Low Hubbard

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 47.833 W 98 59.115 (32.797225, -98.985252) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Slab buster jigs and small minnows. Best colors seem to be electric chicken and black/silver.

CONTACT: Lorie and Jason Rohloff 254-559-1155 brushcreekbaittackle.com TIPS: Crappie are scattered at 20-foot depths.

The boat ramps at the dam are still open for unloading your boats. Just back off both slow. despite the low lake levels, we are all still fishing.

LOCATION: O.H. Ivie HOTSPOT: Rock Shorelines GPS: N31 31.423 W99 39.334 (31.523721, -99.65556) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: spinnerbaits CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com fishhound.com TIPS: bass will be either spawning on rock shorelines or in the trees. Watch for baitfish scattering.

Watch walking along the bank as you might step into a mud hole that will be hard to get back out of.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Caddo Creek GPS: N32 51.500 W98 32.862 (32.858339, -98.547707) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: live shad, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, white-tailed jig or sassy shad CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com

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fishhound.com TIPS: Usually right at daylight we start catching crappie then the black bass take over. The later the day gets, the deeper we fish. White bass and stripers bite here later in the day. Watch for fish feeding on actively spawning shad against the banks. The lake is still low so call ahead to see which boat ramps are open but usually north and south D&D are open.

BIG BEND

Bass Boxed into Amistad Canyons

by DUSTIN WARNCKE 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 sunrise, fish Carolina-rigged plastics over the grass beds close to where the grass drops off into deeper water near the channels.

HILL COUNTRY

Fish Fest on Upper Buchanan

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Buchanan HOTSPOT: Upper End of Lake Buch GPS: N30 50.11098 W98 24.97278 (30.835183, -98.416213) SPECIES: all species F I S H

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BEST BAITS: White Bass, Stripers & hybrids— live shad, slabs, and jigs. Catfish—cut bait.

Crappie—live minnows and jigs CONTACT: Ken Milam - Striper Fever 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net striperfever.com/ TIPS: White bass are starting to move towards the upper end of the lake along the humps and tree lines. Stripers and hybrids are along the upper end of the main lake. Catfish will generally be in 20 to 30 feet of water. Crappie will be on the rocky sides of the creeks leading into the main lake.

LOCATION: Buchanan HOTSPOT: Garrett Island GPS: N30 50.32314 W98 24.91608 (30.838719, -98.415268) SPECIES: Stripers, White Bass BEST BAITS: Stripers—live shad. White Bass— white or chartreuse jigs CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Stripers, white bass, and catfish are excellent. Fish in 25 feet of water in early morning and late afternoon. Fish in 40 feet mid-day. Use live shad for stripers. Anchor or drift until you find the fish. For white bass use white or chartreuse jigs.

Concentrate mid -lake from Rocky Point to Garrett Island. Be careful as the lake is still low.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Divers Point GPS: N 29 52.450 W 98 12.717 (29.874167, -98.211944) SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: 7-inch Redfin chrome w/ blue back CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Start on the point and work your way out to deeper water fan casting the Redfin when you find the fish stay at that depth level, they will come from as deep as 30 foot to get the Redfin on top.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Mystic Shores GPS: N29 54.56958, W98 17.7987 (29.909493, -98.296645)

A L M A N A C

3/19/14 4:34 PM

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Shakey Heads, Bass Kandie worms, Senkos CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria 210-823-2153 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.

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.

GPS: N 29 18.583 W 98 18.450 (29.309722, -98.3075) SPECIES: Freshwater Redfish BEST BAITS: Queen Cocahoe Minnow glow or chartreuse CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Troll the Cocahoe on downriggers over the top of the road bed from 10 foot deep to 15 foot deep, most strikes come on the drop off of the road bed.

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.

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Veleno Creek GPS: N26 53.60664 W99 14.57088 (26.893444, -99.242848) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Lake Fork swimbaits, Skinny Deepers, 10-inch plastic worms, magnum plastic lizards CONTACT: Robert Amaya 956-765-1442 robertsfishntackle@gmail.com robertsfishntackle.com TIPS: Veleno Creek is a big bass haven in the early spring. Fish the flats close to the main creek channel and tributary creek channels. You will find post-spawn bass there along with spawning bluegills. The best lure colors are Watermelon red.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Stump Field and Grass GPS: N30 36.551 W98 24.579 (30.609183, -98.40965) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Watermelon red soft jerkbaits, Watermelon red lizards, Texas-rigged Watermelon red Whacky Sticks, and creature baits with chartreuse tails CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria 210-823-2153 kandie@gvtc.com, TIPS: Largemouth bass are good to 7 pounds along stumps and laydowns on break lines of 5-9 feet deep flats. Also look at adjacent grass beds.

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

Calaveras Reds Take the Low Road

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Calaveras Lake HOTSPOT: North Road Bed T F & G

ALMANAC Digital.indd 91

A L M A N A C

T E X A S

F I S H

&

G A M E ®

A P R I L

2 0 1 4

|

91

3/19/14 4:34 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook APRIL 2014

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

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

T12

T4

T11

T10

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 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

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

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

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

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

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

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

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

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

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

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

PLACE 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

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

92 |

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 92

12p

2 0 1 4

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

F I S H

&

G A M E ®

T F & G

A L M A N A C

3/19/14 4:34 PM

SYMBOL KEY

 = New Moon  = First Quarter  = Full Moon  = Last Quarter  = Good Day  = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

31 

Sunrise: 7:10a Moonrise: 7:40a

TUESDAY

Apr 1 

Set: 7:36p Set: 8:51p

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 8:23a

2

Set: 7:36p Set: 9:51p

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 9:07a

3

THURSDAY

Set: 7:37p Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 10:50p Moonrise: 9:53a

4

FRIDAY

Set: 7:38p Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 7:38p Set: 11:45p Moonrise: 10:41a Set: None

5

SATURDAY

6

Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 7:39p Sunrise: 7:03a Set: 7:39p Moonrise: 11:30a Set: 12:37a Moonrise: 12:20p Set: 1:25a

AM Minor: 6:18a

PM Minor: 6:44p

AM Minor: 7:13a

PM Minor: 7:39p

AM Minor: 8:10a

PM Minor: 8:36p

AM Minor: 9:07a

PM Minor: 9:33p

AM Minor: 10:04a

PM Minor: 10:29p

AM Minor: 10:58a

PM Minor: 11:22p

AM Minor: 11:49a

PM Minor: ——-

AM Major: 12:05a

PM Major: 12:31p

AM Major: 1:00a

PM Major: 1:26p

AM Major: 1:57a

PM Major: 2:23p

AM Major: 2:54a

PM Major: 3:20p

AM Major: 3:51a

PM Major: 4:16p

AM Major: 4:45a

PM Major: 5:10p

AM Major: 5:37a

PM Major: 6:01p

Moon Overhead: 2:13p

12a

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:57p

Moon Overhead: 3:05p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 4:48p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 6:28p

Moon Overhead: 5:39p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:16p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2014

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 1:47a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:49 AM 11:42 AM 5:02 PM 11:34 PM

ALMANAC Digital.indd 93

Moon Underfoot: 3:31a

BEST:

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 PM

1.41ft. High Tide: 6:50 AM 0.62ft. Low Tide: 12:28 PM 1.15ft. High Tide: 5:26 PM -0.04ft.

1.41ft.

0.80ft.

1.16ft.

Moon Underfoot: 4:23a BEST:

2:30 — 4:30 PM

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:18 AM 7:53 AM 1:13 PM 5:49 PM

-0.09ft.

1.38ft.

0.94ft.

1.16ft.

Moon Underfoot: 5:14a BEST:

3:30 — 5:30 PM

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:04 AM 9:00 AM 2:02 PM 6:08 PM

-0.08ft.

1.34ft.

1.06ft.

1.16ft.

Moon Underfoot: 6:03a BEST:

1:54 AM 10:13 AM 3:18 PM 6:06 PM

-0.02ft. Low Tide: 2:50 AM 1.29ft. High Tide: 11:32 AM 1.14ft.

1.15ft.

+2.0

BEST:

9:30 — 11:30 PM 5:30 — 7:30 AM

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

Moon Underfoot: 6:52a 12:00 — 2:00 AM

0.07ft.

1.26ft.

Low Tide: 3:54 AM High Tide: 12:49 PM

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 2:39a

0.17ft.

1.25ft

+1.0 0 -1.0

3/19/14 4:34 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook

SYMBOL KEY

 = New Moon  = First Quarter  = Full Moon  = Last Quarter  = Good Day  = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

7

Sunrise: 7:02a Moonrise: 1:11p

Set: 7:40p Set: 2:08a

8

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 2:03p

WEDNESDAY

9

Set: 7:40p Set: 2:49a

Sunrise: 6:59a Moonrise: 2:55p

THURSDAY

10

Set: 7:41p Set: 3:27a

Sunrise: 6:58a Moonrise: 3:47p

Set: 7:42p Set: 4:03a

FRIDAY

11

Sunrise: 6:57a Moonrise: 4:40p

SATURDAY

Set: 7:42p Set: 4:38a

12

Sunrise: 6:56a Moonrise: 5:34p

13 

Set: 7:43p Set: 5:12a

Sunrise: 6:55a Moonrise: 6:29p

Set: 7:43p Set: 5:47a

AM Minor: 12:12a

PM Minor: 12:36p

AM Minor: 12:58a

PM Minor: 1:21p

AM Minor: 1:40a

PM Minor: 2:02p

AM Minor: 2:20a

PM Minor: 2:42p

AM Minor: 2:58a

PM Minor: 3:20p

AM Minor: 3:37a

PM Minor: 3:59p

AM Minor: 4:17a

PM Minor: 4:40p

AM Major: 6:25a

PM Major: 6:48p

AM Major: 7:09a

PM Major: 7:32p

AM Major: 7:51a

PM Major: 8:13p

AM Major: 8:31a

PM Major: 8:53p

AM Major: 9:09a

PM Major: 9:31p

AM Major: 9:48a

PM Major: 10:10p

AM Major: 10:28a

PM Major: 10:51p

Moon Overhead: 8:02p

12a

TUESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 9:31p

Moon Overhead: 8:47p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 10:15p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 11:43p

Moon Overhead: 10:58p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2014

Moon Overhead: None 6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 7:39a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

12:30 — 2:30 AM

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

94 |

0.25ft.

1.24ft.

1.06ft.

1.07ft.

A P R I L

ALMANAC Digital.indd 94

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:19 AM 2:10 PM 8:30 PM 11:57 PM

2 0 1 4

Moon Underfoot: 9:53a

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 AM

5:08 AM 1:40 PM 8:37 PM 10:14 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:09a

BEST:

10:00A — 12:00P

0.33ft.

1.22ft.

1.00ft.

1.09ft.

Low Tide: 7:20 AM High Tide: 2:30 PM Low Tide: 8:33 PM

T E X A S

BEST:

10:30A — 12:30P

0.39ft.

1.21ft.

0.91ft.

F I S H

&

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:13 AM 8:07 AM 2:49 PM 8:41 PM

G A M E ®

Moon Underfoot: 10:37a

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

T F & G

Moon Underfoot: 12:06p

BEST:

11:00A — 1:00P

1.14ft.

0.46ft.

1.20ft.

0.81ft.

Moon Underfoot: 11:21a

2:15 AM 8:47 AM 3:06 PM 8:57 PM

1.21ft.

0.53ft.

1.20ft.

0.68ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

3:10 AM 9:22 AM 3:25 PM 9:20 PM

+2.0

BEST:

11:30A — 1:30P

5:00 — 7:00 PM

1.29ft.

0.62ft.

1.21ft.

0.53ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:01 AM 9:57 AM 3:42 PM 9:49 PM

1.37ft.

0.71ft.

1.22ft.

0.39ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 8:25a

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

3/19/14 4:34 PM

ALMANAC Digital.indd 95

3/19/14 4:34 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

14 

Sunrise: 6:54a Moonrise: 7:26p

TUESDAY

15 

Set: 7:44p Set: 6:24a

Sunrise: 6:53a Moonrise: 8:25p

16 

Set: 7:44p Set: 7:04a

Sunrise: 6:52a Moonrise: 9:25p

Set: 7:45p Set: 7:46a

THURSDAY

17 

Sunrise: 6:51a Set: 7:46p Moonrise: 10:25p Set: 8:33a

18

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

19

Sunrise: 6:50a Set: 7:46p Moonrise: 11:25p Set: 9:24a

Sunrise: 6:49a Moonrise: None

20

SUNDAY

Set: 7:47p Sunrise: 6:48a Set: 7:47p Set: 10:19a Moonrise: 12:22a Set: 11:18a

AM Minor: 5:00a

PM Minor: 5:24p

AM Minor: 5:47a

PM Minor: 6:12p

AM Minor: 6:39a

PM Minor: 7:05p

AM Minor: 7:36a

PM Minor: 8:03p

AM Minor: 8:37a

PM Minor: 9:05p

AM Minor: 9:39a

PM Minor: 10:08p

AM Minor: 10:42a

PM Minor: 11:11p

AM Major: 11:12a

PM Major: 11:36p

AM Major: -----

PM Major: 12:00p

AM Major: 12:26a

PM Major: 12:52p

AM Major: 1:22a

PM Major: 1:50p

AM Major: 2:23a

PM Major: 2:51p

AM Major: 3:25a

PM Major: 3:54p

AM Major: 4:28a

PM Major: 4:56p

Moon Overhead: 12:29a

12a

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 2:07a

Moon Overhead: 1:17a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:00a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 4:52a

Moon Overhead: 3:55a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:49a 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2014

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 12:53p

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

BEST:

6:00 — 8:00 PM

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:51 AM 10:32 AM 3:59 PM 10:21 PM

ALMANAC Digital.indd 96

1.44ft.

0.81ft.

1.23ft.

0.25ft.

Moon Underfoot: 2:34p BEST:

BEST:

7:00 — 9:00 PM 10:00A — 12:00P

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:42 AM 11:10 AM 4:15 PM 10:57 PM

1.50ft.

0.92ft.

1.25ft.

0.12ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:35 AM 11:50 AM 4:27 PM 11:37 PM

Moon Underfoot: 3:28p

High Tide: 7:32 AM Low Tide: 12:32 PM High Tide: 4:37 PM

Moon Underfoot: 5:21p

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

1.54ft.

1.04ft.

1.27ft.

0.01ft.

Moon Underfoot: 4:24p

BEST:

3:00 — 5:00 AM

1.56ft.

1.15ft.

1.30ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:21 AM 8:35 AM 1:21 PM 4:44 PM

9:30 — 11:30 PM

-0.06ft.

1.57ft.

1.26ft.

1.33ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:11 AM 9:43 AM 2:23 PM 4:47 PM

Moon Underfoot: 6:18p

+2.0

BEST:

10:30P — 12:30A

-0.09ft. Low Tide: 2:07 AM 1.56ft. High Tide: 10:52 AM 1.32ft.

1.35ft.

-0.07ft.

1.54ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 1:42p

+1.0 0 -1.0

3/19/14 4:34 PM

SYMBOL KEY

 = New Moon  = First Quarter  = Full Moon  = Last Quarter  = Good Day  = Best Day SUNDAY

21

MONDAY

Sunrise: 6:47a Moonrise: 1:15a

TUESDAY

22 

Set: 7:48p Sunrise: 6:46a Set: 12:20p Moonrise: 2:04a

23

Sunrise: 6:45a Moonrise: 2:50a

Set: 7:49p Set: 2:27p

THURSDAY

24

Sunrise: 6:44a Moonrise: 3:33a

Set: 7:50p Set: 3:30p

25

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 6:43a Moonrise: 4:14a

SATURDAY

Set: 7:51p Set: 4:32p

26

Sunrise: 6:42a Moonrise: 4:54a

27 

Set: 7:51p Set: 5:34p

Sunrise: 6:41a Moonrise: 5:34a

Set: 7:52p Set: 6:35p

AM Minor: 11:43a

PM Minor: -----

AM Minor: 12:15a

PM Minor: 12:39p

AM Minor: 1:05a

PM Minor: 1:32p

AM Minor: 1:54a

PM Minor: 2:20p

AM Minor: 2:40a

PM Minor: 3:06p

AM Minor: 3:25a

PM Minor: 3:50p

AM Minor: 4:11a

PM Minor: 4:36p

AM Major: 5:28a

PM Major: 5:57p

AM Major: 6:26a

PM Major: 6:53p

AM Major: 7:18a

PM Major: 7:45p

AM Major: 8:07a

PM Major: 8:33p

AM Major: 8:53a

PM Major: 9:19p

AM Major: 9:38a

PM Major: 10:03p

AM Major: 10:23a

PM Major: 10:49p

Moon Overhead: 6:46a

12a

Set: 7:49p Set: 1:24p

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 8:36a

Moon Overhead: 7:42a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 9:29a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 11:11a

Moon Overhead: 10:20a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 12:02p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2014

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 7:14p

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

Low Tide: 3:10 AM High Tide: 11:53 AM

ALMANAC Digital.indd 97

BEST:

BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 AM

-0.01ft. Low Tide: 1.51ft. High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:21 AM 12:41 PM 7:17 PM 10:15 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:03p

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 AM

0.10ft.

1.46ft.

1.10ft.

1.15ft.

Low Tide: 5:38 AM High Tide: 1:19 PM Low Tide: 7:32 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:54p

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

0.23ft.

1.41ft.

0.91ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:16 AM 6:53 AM 1:49 PM 8:02 PM

Moon Underfoot: 10:46p

BEST:

9:30 — 11:30 AM

1.18ft.

0.37ft.

1.36ft.

0.69ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:47 AM 8:02 AM 2:16 PM 8:37 PM

Moon Underfoot: 11:36p

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

3:03 AM 9:05 AM 2:41 PM 9:14 PM

+2.0

BEST:

10:30A — 12:30P

1.27ft.

0.53ft.

1.31ft.

0.45ft.

Moon Underfoot: None 11:00A — 1:00P

1.38ft.

0.69ft.

1.29ft.

0.23ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:10 AM 10:01 AM 3:06 PM 9:52 PM

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

11:30P — 1:30A

Moon Underfoot: 8:09p

1.49ft.

0.84ft.

1.29ft.

0.05ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

3/19/14 4:34 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook

SYMBOL KEY

 = New Moon  = First Quarter  = Full Moon  = Last Quarter  = Good Day  = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

28 

Sunrise: 6:40a Moonrise: 6:16a

TUESDAY

29 

Set: 7:52p Set: 7:35p

Sunrise: 6:39a Moonrise: 6:59a

30 

Set: 7:53p Set: 8:35p

Sunrise: 6:38a Moonrise: 7:44a

THURSDAY

May 1 

Set: 7:54p Set: 9:32p

Sunrise: 6:37a Moonrise: 8:32a

FRIDAY

2

Set: 7:54p Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 10:26p Moonrise: 9:21a

3

SATURDAY

4

Set: 7:55p Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 7:56p Set: 11:16p Moonrise: 10:11a Set: None

Sunrise: 6:35a Set: 7:56p Moonrise: 11:02a Set: 12:02a

AM Minor: 4:58a

PM Minor: 5:24p

AM Minor: 5:49a

PM Minor: 6:15p

AM Minor: 6:43a

PM Minor: 7:09p

AM Minor: 7:38a

PM Minor: 8:04p

AM Minor: 8:34a

PM Minor: 8:59p

AM Minor: 9:29a

PM Minor: 9:54p

AM Minor: 10:23a

PM Minor: 10:46p

AM Major: 11:11a

PM Major: 11:37p

AM Major: -----

PM Major: 12:28p

AM Major: 12:30a

PM Major: 12:56p

AM Major: 1:25a

PM Major: 1:51p

AM Major: 2:22a

PM Major: 2:47p

AM Major: 3:17a

PM Major: 3:42p

AM Major: 4:11a

PM Major: 4:34p

Moon Overhead: 12:53p

12a

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 2:37p

Moon Overhead: 1:45p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:28p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:08p

Moon Overhead: 4:18p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:55p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for APRIL 2014

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 12:28a

+2.0

-1.0

BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 PM

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

98 |

5:10 AM 10:54 AM 3:30 PM 10:31 PM

1.56ft.

0.98ft.

1.29ft.

-0.06ft.

A P R I L

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Moon Underfoot: 2:11a BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 PM

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:06 AM 11:43 AM 3:54 PM 11:10 PM

2 0 1 4

1.59ft.

1.10ft.

1.30ft.

-0.12ft.

Moon Underfoot: 3:03a

1:30 — 3:30 PM

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

T E X A S

7:01 AM 12:31 PM 4:16 PM 11:50 PM

BEST:

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G A M E ®

1.57ft.

1.25ft.

1.30ft.

Moon Underfoot: 4:43a

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 PM

1.60ft. High Tide: 7:54 AM 1.19ft. Low Tide: 1:22 PM 1.31ft. High Tide: 4:34 PM -0.11ft.

F I S H

Moon Underfoot: 3:53a 8:30 — 10:30 PM

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

T F & G

12:32 AM 8:49 AM 2:31 PM 4:34 PM

BEST:

9:30 — 11:30 PM

-0.05ft. Low Tide: 1:15 AM 1.52ft. High Tide: 9:45 AM 1.28ft.

1.29ft.

0.04ft.

1.47ft.

+2.0

BEST:

10:30P — 12:30A

Low Tide: 2:02 AM High Tide: 10:40 AM

0.16ft.

1.42ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 1:19a

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

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Texas Tasted

Slaven’s Venison Stew

T

2-3 minutes, stirring. Add wine and heat to boiling, stirring until browned bits are loosened from bottom of pan. (The browned bits that form on the bottom of the pan add tremendous flavor. This is known as the “fond.”)

HIS TRADITIONAL DISH serves as a great meal all on its own. It can be baked in the oven if desired.

Yields: 8 main-dish servings Total Time: 2 hr 30 min Prep Time: 45 min Cook Time: 1 hr 30 min

Ingredients 2 lb. of venison backstrap and 2 lb. boneless beef sirloin tip or chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch chunks (2 pounds of lean eye of round or other type roast can be substituted for the venison, but you still need a total of 4 pounds of meat) 2 Tbs. olive oil 2 Tbs. unsalted butter 3 large carrots cut into 1-inch pieces 3 large parsnips cut into 1/4-inch slices 2 ears of sweet corn, shucked and cut off of the cob fresh 6 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced thin (this results in a smoother flavor) 1 large onion, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 10 small boiler onions peeled and left whole 10 small new potatoes rinsed, cleaned, and quartered 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour 1 29-oz. can diced tomatoes 2 14-oz. cans of low sodium beef broth 1 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper 2 cups dry red wine (I really like the pep100 |

A P R I L

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T E X A S

pery taste of a Shiraz for the stew) 4 sprigs fresh or 1 tsp. dried thyme 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. dried or fresh basil 2 pints fresh mushrooms sliced into 1/2inch thick pieces 1 red bell pepper sliced into 3/4-inch pieces 1/2 lb. of fresh green beans cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces 1 bag (16-oz.) frozen peas

Return meat and any meat juices in bowl to Dutch oven. Add thyme, basil, cumin, and the rest of the vegetables except the peas; heat to boiling. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 1-1/2 hours or until meat is fork tender, stirring a few times. Discard thyme sprigs if using fresh thyme. Just before stew is done, stir in peas and allow them to heat through for 4-5 minutes.

If baking the stew, cover and bake at 350 for 1-1/2 hours, stirring once.

Enjoy with some fresh yeast rolls. (Some like to serve the stew over egg noodles.)

Bon appétit!

Email Bryan Slaven, “The Texas Gourmet,” at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

Directions In 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, heat oil on medium-high until hot. Pat beef dry with paper towels. Add beef in small batches (do not crowd the meat in the pan) and cook 5-6 minutes per batch or until well browned on all sides. With slotted spoon, transfer beef to medium bowl. (The meat pieces must be pat dry and not touching to brown properly.)

To drippings in Dutch oven, add chopped onion and cook 10 minutes or until onion is browned and tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour, canned tomatoes, and 1/2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper; cook F I S H

&

G A M E ®

T F & G

PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

by Bryan Slaven | The Texas Gourmet

CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE for many of the seasonings and other ingrdients used in TEXAS TASTED recipes.

Visit FishandGameGear.com

A L M A N A C

3/19/14 4:34 PM

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UPPER COAST (SABINE LAKE)

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Courtesy: RedямБsh www.FishandGameGear.com Charters

WWW.FISHGAME.COM

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REDFISH

SHARK

Padre Island

Crystal Beach

Haley Wasson Zarubas caught this bull redfish while fishing at the Padre Island National Seashore.

Nine-year-old Nathan Dunaway, with his first “big” shark, caught at Crystal Beach.

SHEEPSHEAD

FERAL HOG Corpus Christi

Palacios

Brandon Williams shot this hog while hunting with his father-in-law Ken Taveres at his lease near Corpus Christi. The hog was with eight others, and was the biggest Brandon has seen on the property.

This is Aidan Johnson’s (see photo, left) twin sister Ciaran Johnson with her catch of the day, a sheepshead. Their proud family calls them the fishing twins.

REDFISH Laguna Madre Eric Ramirez from Donna caught his limit of Redfish while wading the flats of the Lower Laguna Madre using artificial lures.

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A P R I L

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T E X A S

BLACK DRUM

F I S H

WHITETAIL

Palacios

Stonewall

Nine-year-old Aidan Johnson with his biggest catch ever. It was a 40-inch 50-pound black drum that he caught in Palacios.

Rylan Wisdom, age 5, from Austin with his first deer, a 6-point buck he shot with his 22-250 at 100 yards near Stonewall.

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G A M E ®

T F & G

A L M A N A C

3/19/14 4:34 PM

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

EMAIL: photos@FishGame.com

For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

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

REDFISH Galveston Jetties

SPECKLED TROUT

Ivan Boots of Alvin told coworker Tom Wollam that he had never caught a keeper redfish, so Tom took him to the Galveston South Jetty and he landed this 39-inch red.

East Galveston Bay Emma Butler caught this speckled trout while fishing in East Galveston Bay.

BASS Seguin Elliana Perez of Seguin shows off her first bass.

BLACK DRUM Packery Channel

REDFISH

SIKA DEER

Matagorda Locks

Kimble County Tucker Mathews bagged this sika deer, his first exotic, while hunting in Kimble County.

Twelve-year-old Justin McCarty of Cedar Park caught and landed his first “Big Ugly” at the Packery Channel jetty, fishing with medium action spinning gear and 15-pound test braided line, using dead shrimp. The drum was released to fight another day.

Ron Kemp caught this 38-inch redfish with a girth of 18.5 inches at the Matagorda locks, using dead shrimp as bait.

SPECKLED TROUT Neches River Kason Comeaux, 8, caught this 6.25pound speck while fishing the mouth of Bessie Heights in the Neches River out of Port Neches.

T F & G

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A L M A N A C

T E X A S

F I S H

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G A M E ®

A P R I L

2 0 1 4

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