December 2008 by Texas Fish & Game

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www.fishgame.com Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent, familyowned outdoor publication in America. Owned by Ron and Stephanie Ward and Roy and Ardia Neves.

ROY NEVES PUBLISHER

DON ZAIDLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CHESTER

MOORE

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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

MATT WILLIAMS • BOB HOOD • TED NUGENT • LOU MARULLO • REAVIS WORTHAM • JOE DOGGETT • KENDAL HEMPHILL • DOUG PIKE • CAPT. MIKE HOLMES • LENNY RUDOW • GREG BERLOCHER • STEVE LAMASCUS • PATRICK LEMIRE • PAUL BRADSHAW • HERMAN BRUNE • WAYNE C. WATSON • BARRY ST. CLAIR • JIMMY D. MOORE • CALIXTO GONZALES • MARI HENRY • TOM BEHRENS •

FRESHWATER EDITOR HUNTING EDITOR BOWHUNTING EDITOR ASSOC. BOWHUNTING EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR SENIOR OFFSHORE EDITOR ASSOC. OFFSHORE EDITOR BOATING EDITOR KAYAKING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SALTWATER RIGS EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR LEGAL AFFAIRS EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR NORTH HOTSPOTS EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR TROPHY QUEST COORDINATOR

P R O D U C T I O N

JIMMY BORNE ART DIRECTOR

LINDSAY WHITMAN YEATES GRAPHIC DESIGNER

A D V E R T I S I N G

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MICHELLE WARD ADMINISTRATOR TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. ©Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response. Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing address label when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Email change of address to: dhruzek@fishgame.com Email new orders to: dhruzek@fishgame.com Email subscription questions to: dhruzek@fishgame.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX 77267-9946 and at additional mailing offices.

MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS

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DECEMBER 2008 • Volume XXIV • NO.8 CHRISTMAS IN THE DEER WOODS

Snow doesn’t come often at Christmas in Texas, but when it does, the white, fluffy scenery it paints certainly adds something special to a special celebration, whether you are with friends or at a deer camp.

by Bob Hood CHRISTMAS BLUES

Cody Mullennix, a blue catfish world record holder, sums up the keys to finding big cats in cold weather with two words: structure and bait.

by Matt Williams FLIGHT OF THE SNOW GOOSE

ON THE COVERS:

Ever wonder what might be going through the minds of those high-flying snow geese who annually make the flight from Canada to Texas?

COASTAL: A trio of snow geese, frozen in time while executing a formation take-off.

Photo by Russell Graves INLAND/NORTH: You can almost

by Bink Grimes THE WINTER OF OUR RED CONTENT

count the seasons this timbersavvy buck has survived by the battle scars on his rack.

When cool north winds move over the bays and Gulf of Mexico in the winter, many people stop fishing. But as water temps drop, fishing for red snapper and slot-sized red drum heats up in Texas waters.

ALSO IN DECEMBER:

Photo by Gerald Burleigh

by Mike Price FISHING WITH SANTA ON CHRISTMAS BAY

Fishing with Santa is a real treat, especially on his favorite bay. Decked out in vivid red waders and bright white wading boots, the Main Man was a splendid sight...

by Greg Berlocher 4

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PREDATOR CALLING THEN & NOW An “addicted” predator caller remembers his first hunt. by Steve LaMascus

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DECEMBER 2008 • Volume XXIV • NO.8

COLUMNS 10 Editor’s Notes Birding & Sasquatch

52 Texas Bowhunter Reverence For the Beast

by DON ZAIDLE TF&G Editor-in-Chief

16 Commentary

by TED NUGENT TF&G Bowhunting Editor

57 Texas Deer Hunting 8 What If CWD

The Rock

Came To Texas?

by KENDAL HEMPHILL TF&G Commentator

by PAUL BRADSHAW TF&G Contributing Editor

18 Chester’s Notes Hunters Can Feed the Hungry

Stalking, Still-Hunting, & Shooting Sticks

YOUR LETTERS

TF&G REPORT

BIG BAGS & CATCHES

TROPHY QUEST

WINGS OVER TEXAS

TF&G ON CAMPUS

58 Texas Offshore Surgery, Aviation, & Fishing Reels

by CHESTER MOORE TF&G Executive Editor

20 Doggett at Large

DEPARTMENTS

by DOUG PIKE TF&G Offshore Editor

59 Texas Saltwater The Year In Review

by JOE DOGGETT TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

by CALIXTO GONZALES TF&G Saltwater Editor

48 Texas Freshwater The Legacy Of Texas Mammoth Bass by MATT WILLIAMS TF&G Freshwater Editor

50 TF&G Test Pilot Mako 184CC; Skeeter ZX 22 Bay

62 Open Season The Convert

by JOE DOGGETT TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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by REAVIS WORTHAM TF&G Humor Editor

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CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP NO CRYBABIES I just came across one of your mottled duck posters and wanted to thank you for caring so much about waterfowl. Mottled ducks are very important to a lot of us who grew up on the marsh and the fact we don’t see as many as we used to is very concerning. The place I saw the poster told me that Chester Moore himself brought in the posters, and that shows me you guys are really out there doing it. It’s obvious when people are honest and really care, and I know Mr. Moore and Texas Fish & Game are the real deal. Keep up the good work. Rocky Tarnowski Via email I would like to personally thank Chester Moore and Texas Fish & Game for the awesome conservation work you do. I read in Chester’s column about the mottled duck and black bear posters and think that is something sorely needed. Our state does a good job with wildlife, but private enterprise always does better and you guys are leading the way in a big, big way. Taking species like mottled duck and black bear that truly need help shows your vision for real conservation and not just trying to promote growing the next Frankenbuck in a pen or some other thing that has nothing to do with really helping our resources. Thank you for what you do. As of now, I will be buying only the products that advertise with you so I can support your mission. I used to be in publishing years ago and know how hard it is, especially today. Your conservation work is not going unnoticed. Kenneth Hagee Austin, TX

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Mike O’Bryan’s letter in the October 2008 issue was just another stanza from a crybaby who wants a free ride from the government to take the place of a little money or some time and effort on his part. If he wants to go squirrel hunting “without a long drive,” he might consider living in some shrunk-up state where the squirrel woods are down the street instead of a few counties away. He seems to be pretty proud of Arkansas where, as I recall, the whole state except for a few blocks of downtown Little Rock is pretty much all squirrel woods. I am from Arkansas and my dad taught me to squirrel hunt along the Sabine River in deep East Texas after we moved to Texas. A few hundred acres of prime hardwood bottomland was leased for a lot less than $500 per year. Not exactly “a fortune” in anybody’s book. October squirrel hunts were the perfect tune-up for deer hunting elsewhere in the state, as there were not many deer on the Sabine back then. Now, I truly look forward to the five- or six-hour drive out to one place we hunt deer in Schleicher County. The three or four hours to Brown County for another deer hunt is also one of the most enjoyable drives of my year. By the way, both deer hunts are free thanks to the hospitality of some friends. We offer help on the ranches and are pleased to treat their property better than our own when we are out there. If Mike O’Bryan spent less time whining about what the State of Texas ought to do to make life easier for him and more time making friends in the greatest hunting state in the country, he might find some folks who would value his company enough to let him and his son hunt a little. And if you can’t enjoy a few hours driving through this great state in the fall of the year, you are probably living in the wrong state. F i s h

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By the way, if I really had to kill some squirrels to be happy, I might try to contact some pecan growers around San Saba or Mason and try to work something out. Leave the whining about how New York and Arkansas are better than Texas at home, though. I don’t think that act will play very well in the Hill Country. Richard Ogden Via email

CROSSBOWS ARE COOL I read Don Zaidle’s editorial in the October issue (Editor’s Notes, “Crossbows: A Boon for Hunting”) and found it very interesting. I am 64 years old, and from Wisconsin. I have been bowhunting for over 30 years, so like Zaidle, I have had my share of hunting bows. My first was a Bear recurve back in the 1950s. I was just old enough and strong enough to pull the thing back, but shot it daily. We lived on a farm, so I just piled up some straw bales and fired away with the two arrows I had and cherished dearly. We never had a deer season in southern Wisconsin until about 1962. I cannot remember when our bow season started, but it seems it was a short time after that. The main reason I am writing you is about my experience with the crossbow. I have developed a real shoulder problem in the last couple of years, so there are times it hurts like hell to pull my compound back, but thus far, I can still do it, but can shoot only a couple of practice arrows a day. So, I started checking around on different crossbows. I ended up buying an Excalibur Vortex. Three of my friends have 10 Point crossbows. The reason I bought the Excalibur is for its simplicity, and much

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lighter weight. It is not a compound but a recurve, but it is every bit as accurate and lethal. The Excalibur comes with a hooded fiber optic sight in front, with a peep type sight in the rear. I can shoot as well as the guys with the scoped crossbows. Why anyone needs a scope to shoot 20 yards or a little more is beyond me. The fiber optic setup is really slick. Zaidle is right on the money with his take on the comparison to the compound. I have to crank my crossbow (click, click, click); you better make that first shot count. Noisy—yes they are. Scared the hell out of me when I first shot the thing. As far as long-range shooting with a crossbow, Zaidle is right about that, too. Even at 50 pounds draw weight, my compound will shoot as accurate as my crossbow out to 30 yards, although I rarely will take a shot over 20. Here in Wisconsin, you cannot hunt with a crossbow until you are age 65 or get a disability permit from your doctor. Then you

must jump through the Department of Natural Resources hoops to get a permit. So, I do not hunt with my crossbow right now, but come next year (I turn 65 in April), I will have that option. Ron Schuppy Via email

PINKSTON CRAPPIE

Jacob Weems Via email

I recently read Matt Williams’ article, “Summer Crappie Strategies,” in the August 2008 issue about crappie at Lake Pinkston and was amazed at the crappie he caught. I have lived in Nacogdoches all my life (all 21 years, so far) and just discovered Pinkston two years ago. All of the kids my age that fish care nothing about crappie and won’t crappie-fish with me, but I have become quite addicted. I have taken three trips crappie fishing to Pinkston and came up with zero crappie.

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Could you give me a place to start? Are there any old fencerows or deep ledges anywhere on the lake? I have looked everywhere for a map, but I guess people figure it’s too small to deal with. I am planning on going this Saturday to try again with some jigs and minnows. Also, I have always fished the right fork from the dam. Is the left the same type of stuff or is there less timber to run over? Thank you so much for your time.

F i s h

The best crappie fishing on Pinkston in summer and fall typically occurs around man-made brush piles. Unless you know the location of some of these honey holes, you will be limited to fishing standing timber along creeks. During late spring, try fishing a Road Runner or lightweight jig along outside grass lines. —Matt Williams

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Birding & Sasquatch UNDING, OR LACK THEREOF, IS A FREQUENT catalyst of “oh- me, oh-my” lament from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. TPWD grew too big for its financial britches the very

TF&G FIRST moment in 1963 when the Texas Legislature dissolved the Texas Game and Fish Commission and hung the albatross parks department around the newly-created entity’s neck. State parks became and remain a collective fiscal black hole that sucks money into oblivion and produces little or nothing in return. I have written before of the need for and value of TPWD divesting itself of state park responsibility, but that requires a literal act of congress (well, the Texas Legislature, anyway) and is therefore unlikely to happen unless a few true statesmen won last month’s election. It therefore remains for TPWD to rely on its own devices to raise operating funds, which largely comes from license, stamp, and permit fees paid by hunters, fishermen, and trappers—i.e., “consumptive users” of resources under TPWD auspices. I have no problem with resource users paying for TPWD services, so long as the funds go to resource management, enforcement, and projects that benefit the “consumptive users” source of said funds. However, a growing phalanx of “non-consumptive users” taxes TPWD resources while contributing little or nothing to the coffers— bird-watchers, hikers, campers, equestrian enthusiasts, mountain bikers, et al. I therefore offer two modest proposals whereby TPWD could enjoy positive cash flow while 10

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simultaneously ensuring that non-consumptive users pay their fair share: The Sasquatch Stamp: Texas is not excluded from the worldwide phenomenon of tales, lore, and legend of hairy ape-like creatures lurking in all the best lurkingplaces. Known variously as Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Yeti, Skunk Ape, and other monikers around the world, the Boggy Creek Monster, a.k.a. the “Fouke Monster,” immortalized in the movie “The Legend of Boggy Creek” is easily the most famous in Texas. Lesser Texas cryptids such as the “Greer Island Monster” or “Goat Man” lend support if not credence to the legend. As my colleague and cryptozoology scholar, executive editor Chester Moore, points out, the only acceptable proof of Sasquatchian existence is “when somebody shoots one and brings in the carcass.” Since such an act lands squarely amidst legal limbo (is it murder, hunting, or killing an endangered species?), it behooves TPWD to legitimize such activity while capitalizing monetarily by issuing a Sasquatch Stamp. Before dismissing this out-of-hand as the ramblings of a sesquipedalian, pseudo-erudite suffering from cephalopathic delusions, consider: (a) all sorts of people besides hunters would buy the stamps for the novelty value or as a means of contributing to TPWD; (b) funds thus garnered could apply to non-game or other non-consumptive administration; (c) it would demonstrate that TPWD and the minions thereof have a sense of humor, thus improving its/their collective public image; (d) the resulting publicity would elicit stamp purchases from outof-state buyers that do not even use Texas resources; (e) it would bolster Texas’ bombastic reputation as a conservation leader and innovator. Obviously, TPWD must craft bag limits and legal harvest means regulations, but such is a trifle compared to the potential gains. The Bird Watching Stamp: Bird watching is a growth industry in Texas, F i s h

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albeit not a profitable one as far as TPWD is concerned. According to a Texas A&M study, in 2006 at one popular bird watching destination, Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, TPWD spent $860,735 against park-generated revenues of $141,352 for a net loss of $719,383. Since bird watching is an unlicensed and unmonitored activity, no one knows how many bird watchers are in Texas, but the numbers could easily reach six figures—hundreds of thousands of freeloaders enjoying state resources at the expense of hunters, fishermen, and trappers. It is therefore incumbent on TPWD to mandate a Bird Watching Stamp (affixed to a valid hunting license) for all participants in the activity. Of course, enforcement would be a bit problematic. Imagine this scenario: Two men walking along a state park trail are suddenly accosted by a game warden leaping from the bushes. Warden: All right, you two, let me see your Bird Watching Stamps. Man 1: Bird Watching Stamp? We are not bird watchers, we are just hiking. Warden: Don’t lie to me. I saw you looking at those birds back there on the trail. Now, do you have a Bird Watching Stamp or not? Man 2: Well, I have a hunting license. Will that do? Warden: Not unless it has a Bird Watching Stamp on it. Man 2: Well, no, it doesn’t actually. Warden: Then you are in violation. Let’s see some ID. I am sure TPWD could work out such small problems. After all, it is good for the resource—and good for the coffers—so well worth the effort.

E-mail Don Zaidle at editor@fishgame.com

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OUTHERN FLOUNDER POPULATIONS IN TEXAS have decreased 56 percent since 1986. That is despite a large decrease in shrimpingrelated by-catch and restrictions placed on both recreational and commercial anglers. So, what is the problem? According to fisheries biologists with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), warming water temperatures might be the biggest culprit of all. “We’ve had a warming trend in Texas waters over the last decade, and that has correlated to smaller catch rates for southern flounder,” said Robin Riechers of the TPWD coastal fisheries division. Flounder do not spawn as successfully in waters even a few degrees warmer than normal, and some evidence suggests fewer flounder might be leaving the bays in the fall. Looking at a timeline created by TPWD to show temperature/population decreases makes a convincing argument for the theory. For example, during 2006-07, there was a shift back toward cooler waters, and that made for a strong spawn. This year anglers are seeing the benefits of that with better flounder catches, which is also reflected in TPWD gill net surveys. However that was only a small spike, of which there have been several over the last decade, while the overall trend has been steady decline. “We obviously can’t control bay temperatures, but we can help control the impact of fishing pressure on the population. Right now we are looking at a variety of measures that could have a positive impact,” Riechers said. Will new regulations make a difference if the ones already in place have not stopped a 12

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PHOTO COURTESY OF TPWD

Warming Waters “X-Factor” For Flounders S

According to a TPWD study, warmer waters negatively impact flounder spawns. declining fishery? The consensus is that without the measures enacted by TPWD, particularly with a push toward by-catch reduction, things would be much worse than they are now. “If we allow more fish to spawn, then we can see some results with changes in regulations in as soon as three years,” said TPWD biologist Art Morris. “This is a fishery that has some unique problems and we are working hard to make sure we do the right thing to help it.” —Chester Moore F i s h

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TPWD Examines Non-toxic Shot for Dove While Texas hunters were dusting off shotguns and stocking up on ammunition in advance of the 1 September dove season opener in most of Texas, a research team was out two days prior to the season collecting bird specimens for a research study on the

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effectiveness of various shotshells, including non-lead shot. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department wildlife biologists are in the first year of a multi-year study to determine the effectiveness of different load types on wild mourning doves using trained observers and volunteer shooters. This study is the first of its kind for doves and is based on a similar lethality research project in Missouri and Louisiana on waterfowl in the 1980s. “The main premise of this research is to clarify if there is a difference between perception and reality in wounding rates and killing efficiency of lead shot and non lead shot on mourning dove,” said Jay Roberson, TPWD dove program leader and the study organizer. “TPWD does not have a position for or against non lead shot for doves, but we recognize the importance of this issue. Our objective is to replace perceptions with facts.” The study design calls for three consecutive sessions using the same shooters paired with the same observers to ensure consistency across three types of shotshell loads. The

research objective is to obtain under a controlled study environment 500 mourning dove specimens killed with one shot in each of the next 2-3 years. Collections are being conducted by permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This year, 22 volunteer shooters participated in each of two collection sessions on 30 August and produced about 400 specimens. However, due to questions raised 30 August about the department’s decision to conduct collection efforts prior to the 1 September dove season opener, TPWD suspended collection for 31 August. The department received complaints those activities would negatively impact hunter opportunity on adjacent property. Collection efforts resumed on 1 September and the goal of 500 total specimens was reached. Timing for the collection was critical to achieve the study objectives in an effective and efficient manner. The 30-31 August dates were chosen for collections because of the need for typical representative feeding field shooting conditions and collecting efficiency.

“We needed the confluence of lots of doves with adequate number of shooters,” explained Roberson. According to Roberson, during last year’s pilot phase of the study, dove specimen collection for the research project took place on opening weekend of the hunting season, Saturday 1 September and Sunday 2 September. This year, 1 September fell on a Monday, so 30-31 August were chosen for collections because of the need for typical representative feeding field shooting conditions and collecting efficiency. If the collection was delayed until opening day this year, project organizers foresaw several potential problems that would jeopardize the study’s validity. “We could have spread the collection effort over several weekends during the season,” Roberson said. “Using results from last year’s pilot, it would have required a minimum of five to six weekend efforts, which meant travel costs and weekend commitments from 24 trained observers. “We also saw a problem getting 24 volunteer shooters to travel at their own expense to

BIG BAGS & CATCHES

HALIBUT—Alaska

BASS—Lake Fork

CATFISH—Lake Whitney

Jim Reid of Magnolia, Texas, caught this 138pound halibut while on a fishing trip to Alaska. He and his fishing buddies brought home 75 pounds of filets of varying species.

Warren Willey caught this bass post-spawn on a live waterdog in Lake Fork, Texas. Picture submitted by friend Andrew Taylor.

Shane Suarez of Brownwood, Texas, caught this 37-pound catfish at Lake Whitney. The cat was 44 inches long.

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Central Texas to participate in a multi-day collection over the course of several weekends,” he added. “It would be unrealistic for us to expect the same group of volunteers and observers to commit to that kind of protracted schedule.” And there are other important reasons researchers concluded the collection needed to occur before opening day. They needed to collect doves that had not previously been struck and carrying pellets from other shot types. Waiting until after the opener would have risked collecting doves that had been hit, but not killed, by hunters that were not part of the research effort. Researchers also needed to closely estimate the wounding rates and killing efficiencies of Texas-produced doves that would occur on an opening weekend when the majority of doves are harvested. Researchers were concerned about a perception that dove collection for the project might reduce hunting opportunity on adjacent property. For this reason, the research contract specified that the test be conducted as far away as possible from adjacent landowners, who were notified in advance and gave informed consent. “Our intent was never to reduce hunting opportunity on adjacent landowner property,” said Scott Boruff, TPWD deputy director of operations. “We understand the perception that our collection effort may have been poorly timed. We are listening to concerns and will factor them into future decisions regarding our research processes.” It is worth noting that these research project collections are very small in relation to total harvest, hunters, and land area hunted annually in Texas. There are about 5 million doves taken in Texas each year. There are nearly 600,000 acres in Brown County. The research project contract was limited to 550 acres for 30-31 August and carried out in an 80-acre pasture. Tom Stephenson, Dallas-based outfitter, was awarded the contract with a winning bid of $32,390. For his role, Stephenson was required to provide fields, facilities and associated services. In particular, Stephenson had to provide at least five fields totaling 400 acres during 24-29 August for training observers. 14

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PHOTO COURTESY OF TPWD

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TPWD is conducting research on the effectiveness of non-toxic shot for dove. Does this portend things to come?

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In addition, Stephenson was required to provide a minimum of 150 acres well-populated with mourning doves providing a high probability that 24 volunteer shooters will accumulate at least 300, one-shot killed specimens over six separate morning and afternoon shooting sessions on 30-31 August. Stephenson also provided on site lodging and facilities and resources for observers and support staff throughout the training phase. Stephenson was also responsible for recruiting 24 volunteer shooters representing a diverse demographic. There was no stipulation in the contract prohibiting Stephenson from assessing a fee to ensure or enhance participation. Tom Roster, an international ballistics consultant and recognized as the world’s foremost authority on migratory game bird wounding mortality and shotshell performance, trained and certified 22 observers during that six-day period. Roster serves as a consultant with the Cooperative North American Shotgunning Education Program (CONSEP), whose lab will handle x-ray and necropsies on the dove specimens collecting during the study. CONSEP has been paid $35,000 for necropsies and x-rays of 100 carcasses collected during the pilot phase last year and $5,295 for tests of anomalous wad opening on patterns. They will be paid an additional $15,000 this year for training of observers. Total budget for the multi-year study is slightly more than $500,000. “This is the first year in a multi-year study,” said Boruff. “Texas has the largest contingent of dove hunters in the nation and this scientific information will be invaluable in the future when our leadership is faced with making decisions about dove management.” TPWD is conducting a number of studies related to dove hunting in addition to the shot lethality research. These studies are ongoing and no conclusions are anticipated in the near future. In addition to the dove shot lethality study, research efforts include: • A lead toxicity prevalence study to identify the proportion of doves with toxic levels of lead in bone and tissues across the state.

• A dove banding and recovery study to provide estimates of survival rates before and after implementation on non-lead shot in experimental areas. • A human dimensions study to gauge dove hunter attitudes toward non-lead shot. No proposal for hunting regulation rule change regarding the use of different types of shot for mourning dove is anticipated in the

near future. Any TPWD proposals for rule making will be based upon good science with ample opportunity and time for public review and comment, said Roberson. “It will probably be several years before we have sufficient information to provide answers to questions agency leadership and stakeholders may ask regarding dove shot effectiveness,” Roberson said.

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The Rock I

T WAS A CASUAL OVERNIGHT CAMPOUT/FLOAT trip on the Llano River in Mason County. My youngest son was about to turn 13, and being a little too old for a party with balloons and paper hats, he asked if he could invite a couple of friends on a camping trip instead. The father of one of the other boys came along, and the five of us set out on a Friday evening for a perfectly ordinary float. The boys, as boys will, splashed one another with their paddles, rammed their kayaks together, and raced until their arms were tired. By the time we reached our campsite, a sandbar across the river from some high, granite bluffs, everyone was ready for a rest. We laid out a tarp to put our sleeping bags on, built a driftwood fire, and heated chili and hot dogs for supper. Per tradition, we made the obligatory s’mores for dessert. As we sat around the campfire talking, with wet socks draped over logs and rocks to dry, I asked one of the boys if he was having fun. He said, “Yeah, this is great. I’ve never done this before.” I knew he had camped out before, because he had done it with me. I said, “What do you mean? You’ve never gone on an overnight river campout before?” He said, “No. I’ve never been kayaking or canoeing at all.” That night, lying in my sleeping bag looking up at the Big Dipper, I thought about that. This young man was 13 years old. He lives within eight miles of what is probably the finest floating river in Texas, and he had never been on it. And if he was missing out on that, what else was he missing? The next morning, we swam and drifted a few more miles to our takeout, and the boys had a great time. They fished without catching anything, splashed each other some more, and caught frogs and ribbon snakes in 16

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Some kids never know the adventure of canoeing or kayaking a river—or even camping.

the shallows. There was nothing special about the trip, nothing to distinguish it from any other river trip, but I suddenly saw it in a new light. It was a special trip for me, because it was one boy’s first. I thought back almost 10 years, to my first father/son river campout with my oldest son, who was eight then. We had done the same things on that trip as this one, and when we got to the takeout and started to put our gear in the pickup, I noticed my son walking along the riverbank, looking at the rocks. He finally selected one and came and showed it to me. It was completely ordinary, no different from thousands of others within sight. I said, “What are you going to do with that rock?” My son looked up at me, smiled, and said, “I’m going to take it home and put it on my dresser, and keep it, and it will remind me of the best time I ever had.” As the commercial says, there are some things money just can’t buy. F i s h

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During the week after the birthday campout with my youngest, I asked questions of some of my sons’ other friends, and though I probably shouldn’t have been surprised, I was. Several of these teenaged boys, who live in one of the most outdoors oriented areas of Texas, had never been camping. Some had never hunted. A few had never even shot a gun. From my standpoint, an important part of their youth was being missed. Today’s world is different from the one I grew up in. Microwave ovens, cell phones, and palm pilots help us spend less time performing mundane tasks, so we can maximize our potential and get more done. Gratification is instant, and wasting time is a thing of the past. Pity. Parents talk of spending quality time with their children and, giving credit where credit is due, they honestly try to do that. But the thing about quality time is that it usually comes during quantity time. You never know when the quality part will show up. If you try to force it, it generally doesn’t. Christmas is a good example. We rush around buying gifts, going to parties, decorating, and traveling to visit relatives. Every minute seems to be filled with responsibilities and obligations. By the time the New Year rolls around, we’re exhausted, and it’s rare that we’ve spent more than a few minutes with our children, other than watching them open presents. This year, make a commitment to give something to your kids that can’t be wrapped and slid under a tree. Give them yourself. Spend time with them hunting, fishing, camping, or just sitting and talking. Do it on an individual basis, and listen to what they have to say. Give them your time. Our children are worth the loss of whatever we have to give up in order to be a part of their lives. One day the time you’ve spent with your kids will make up the best memories of your life. I know, because on a dresser at my house there is a rock…

E-mail Kendal Hemphill at commentary@fishgame.com PHOTO BY GRADY ALLEN

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Hunters Can Feed the Hungry O ONE LIKED SCHOOL FOOD WHEN I WAS kid. What was supposed to be burger meat tasted like plastic, and to this day, the identity of some of the concoctions put on plates where I went to school remains a mystery. It was gross and I was glad my mom packed me a lunch. I say no kids liked the school food, but actually, there was one that was very enthusiastic about eating it. We will call him Johnny. Johnny got to school on the early bus every morning and ate the free breakfast. I remember mom dropping me off early a few times and seeing him run toward the cafeteria. In fact, he frequently got in trouble for running down the hallway to get breakfast and lunch. Once the cafeteria was serving some sort of nasty looking beef stew, and none of the kids was eating it. That is, none of the kids but Johnny. He was asking other kids for theirs. You might be thinking Johnny was an overeater and simply gluttonous, but he was thin as a rail and sickly. One day, I overheard a couple of the teachers talking about him and learned he lived with his abusive, alcoholic father, and most of the time never got fed at home unless the church brought by some food. At the time I knew Johnny, he was only eight years old. I tell you this story in the context of an outdoors column because there are ways you can help kids like Johnny. Take Hunters for the Hungry for example. This program accepts donations of heart-healthy venison and uses it to feed the hungry throughout not only Texas but also the nation.

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Nowadays, it is easy to be hard-hearted about the issue of hunger in America. Yes, there are people who put themselves in bleak situations via drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other human foibles, and I will leave it to you to decide whether they deserve their lot in life. However, there is not a single child in this country who wants to be hungry and certainly none who deserve an empty stomach. Just because a child’s parent or parents made poor choices does not mean the children should starve. And, yes, some starve here. No, we do not have famine like in Africa, India, Bangladesh, or a host other Third World countries, but there are children whose stomachs cry out for nourishment right here in Texas. I know, because I used to be classmates with one. Hunters for the Hungry allows us as outdoors lovers to share the bounty of the whitetailed deer population with those less fortunate. Most hunters I know, including myself, throw away deer meat every year because of freezer burn. That means we are wasting meat that could be used to feed the hungry. And while this program takes only deer meat, various local soup kitchens and homeless shelters will take other wild game. I have even donated fish in the past, so you might want to ask around your area. This year, if you shoot a deer consider donating to this very worthy cause. You will be helping kids like Johnny and putting food in the mouths of needy adults as well. It is not a handout, but a hand up, and any of us could find ourselves in that situation. Seriously, how many paychecks away are you from poverty? We are in the midst of the Christmas season, and many of us, including myself, realize it is not about Santa Claus and elves, although that is certainly fun for the children. It is a celebration of Jesus Christ, hence the word “Christ-mas.” His legacy could and does fill volumes, but one of the most endearing components of his time on Earth was inspiring people to take care of one another as in 1 John 3:1718: “If anyone has material possessions and F i s h

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sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” That action could be simply donating meat that you will let freezer burn anyway to people who desperately need it. Good luck out in the field, and keep those who are less fortunate in mind in the coming Christmas season. For more information on Texas Hunters for the Hungry,call 800-992-9767 ext. 506, or, (www.tacaa.org/HFTHhome.htm)

E-mail Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com

Feeding Fellow Texans - In the 2005-2006 season (the last for which stats were available), Texas hunters and meat processors donated a record 179,273 pounds, or more than 717,092 quarter-pound servings, of wild game to fellow Texans in need. - More than 100 food assistance providers distributed and served the wild game to Texans in need of food and nutrition assistance. - The number of meat processors increased by 15 percent to 86 meat processors in 65 counties. - Eight high schools participated statewide to give hands-on meat processing experience to students.

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Stalking, Still-Hunting, & Shooting Sticks ESERT MULE DEER IN THE MOUNTAINS Of West Texas offer many opportunities for hunting on foot, a pleasant contrast to the typical stand session for white-tailed deer. You can spot-and-stalk or still-hunt at random, hoping to jump game from the canyons, arroyos, and rim rocks. I was exercising the latter option (literally) by slipping slowly into the wind. The 7mm Remington Magnum was over my shoulder and a walking stick was in my right hand. The heavy staff was a useful accessory against the sloping terrain and loose rocks. I was easing across a greasewood-covered bench when movement low and to the left caught my eye. A 5x5 buck broke cover about 75 yards away. The image of robust body and tall dark antlers was gorgeous in the late-afternoon light. The buck bounced away in the odd mule deer gait then paused on a ridge to look back from 125 yards. I dropped to a hurried kneeling position, planted the staff in the ground, and braced the fore end of the rifle against it. The Leupold crosshairs settled low behind the shoulder and the lung-shot buck lurched forward and collapsed. The mature buck grossed in the upper 150s, easily qualifying for the Texas Big Game Awards. I was proud of the deer—and of the circumstances. The hunt on Bill Carter’s Wild Horse Ranch near Van Horn occurred during the early 1990s, and the shot was my first from a stick. But the success only partially compensated for a previous miss at a similar distance at a 180-class buck—an absolute monster Texas mule deer. Carter and I topped a ridge and the big buck was standing in a shadowed draw. I sat down, drew a wobbly offhand sight—and fired just under the broadside buck. Carter shook his head as a cascade of powdered rocks and dust

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exploded below and behind the startled deer. Significant to this discussion, the shot was taken with no support for the rifle. It was an easy shot for any accomplished rifleman, but I muffed it. Panting breath, whipping wind, and a serious dose of “buck ague” conspired to send the 160-grain Remington Extended Range bullet at least a foot below the intended point of aim. The unscathed mule deer had big ears under the sweeping rack as it took one mighty bound and vanished in a tangled arroyo, but I can assure you the goat ears I wore on the long hike back to the Bronco were considerably larger. The point here is that without commitment to regular offhand practice, it is horrifyingly easy to miss even at chip-shot distance under the drama of a serious hunt. And the average Texas deer hunter does scant practice other than the obligatory pre-season sighting-in session from a 100-yard benchrest. The bench is fine preparation for the typical shot from a box blind or tripod stand, where the hunter has the luxury of bracing the rifle and taking a steady rest. But that drill does little for filling a tag while hunting on foot. Unless you practically make a living with a rifle, or a point-blank deer is attempting to climb into a mesquite motte with you, offhand shots should be avoided. And, thanks to today’s hunting market, they are unnecessary. The proliferation of commercially manufactured shooting sticks puts a reasonably secure rest within the hands—and budget—of virtually all big-game hunters. Fifteen years ago, while I was nurturing the pair of B&C-class goat ears, almost no deer hunters in Texas toted shooting sticks. That was something you did on safari in Botswana or Tanzania. Today, most major sporting goods stores carry selections of shooting sticks. The best, in my experience, are the telescopic bipods and

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tripods offered by Bog-Pod and Stoney Point. The quality product of aluminum tubing is light but stable, featuring secure twist-type locks on the adjustable legs and a rubberized cradle to support the rifle stock. The tripod design might offer a padded handgrip on one leg. Based on high-country mule deer hunts, I prefer the more-compact bipod for extended treks. As a big advantage, the twin legs can be placed together and adjusted to the proper length for a streamlined walking staff. When properly employed, with legs spread wide and tilted forward, a no-nonsense bipod can be surprisingly stable. Also a consideration, it is faster on the draw than a tripod for the seated position—usually preferable if circumstances allow. But the standing shot can be legitimate. Two seasons ago, I dropped a 175-class Colorado mule deer at 225 yards by leaning with a .300 Weatherby into a properly adjusted Stoney Point bipod rig. I was anticipating a standing shot (to reach over screening hillside brush), and had the legs pre-set to the correct length. The tripod is bulkier and heavier than a bipod, but a fine choice whenever long or difficult walking is not required. For example, when horn rattling for whitetails, you usually hike a short distance and set up in advance. The wide tripod from the seated position can be a deadly ally. Or, if you are driving ranch roads and a “shooter” breaks cover and disappears over a nearby ridge, you pull the tripod from the back of the vehicle, slip over the ridge, and take care of business. Well, maybe. Practice should be mandatory with any set of shooting sticks. You need to get the feel for positioning the legs and leaning into the shot. An excellent tool for improve marksmanship is a scoped bolt-action .22 rifle. The rimfire can be used with minimal impact at the deer lease if a small-bore range is not readily available, and squeezing off a few boxes can make a major difference when the brush faces a clutch shot from the sticks.

E-mail Joe Doggett at doggett@fishgame.com

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by Bob Hood

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now doesn’t come often at Christmas in Texas, but when it does, the white, fluffy scenery it paints certainly adds something special to a special celebration, whether you are spending it with friends or alone at a deer camp. Snow, of course, is only icing on the cake, something that sweetens an important occasion. Many hunters spend Christmas at home or with friends and relatives, but there are special rewards that can come from spending Christmas in the deer woods, snow or no snow. Many of those special rewards are the memories. I don’t think there is a better time than Christmas to dwell on what we have been given. Those hunters who think mostly of material things will think about new hunting rifles, hunting equipment and other gift items as the highlights of the occasion. I hope more hunters will think more deeply. There certainly is nothing wrong in experiencing and/or remembering the joys of receiving a new hunting rifle or other hunting items at Christmas but some of the fondest memories come from spending Christmas in the deer woods with friends and families, especially those that involve a bit of humor along with those that involve great achievements. I remember one Christmas I spent with a hunting buddy on a deer lease near Junction in the Hill Country. Rather than cooking up a fancy Christmas noon meal, we had decided to warm up some stew my buddy’s wife had made for us. She had frozen the stew in an empty butter container and had placed it in my buddy’s ice chest. I found the butter container in the ice chest and headed for our campfire to warm up the stew in a pot my buddy had placed next to the fire. My buddy must have realized the shock and disappoint on my face when I lifted the lid from the container. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I hope you like butter,” I answered as I stared into a full container of “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter,” wishing all the time it were true. Looking back at the occasion, I 24

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think this was about the time I learned about backups, as in sardines, Vienna sausages, and crackers. Despite the misfire on the noon dinner menu that Christmas, it turned out to be a memorable occasion. It had snowed on Christmas Eve, which was very rare for the Texas Hill Country and fresh deer tracks never were more easily to be found. I shot a nine-pointer that Christmas evening. The snow already had begun to thaw, but there was enough of it on the ground to help make dragging the buck down a sloping ridge to my truck a fairly easy chore. Although the whitetail rutting-season is over in most regions of the state before Christmas arrives, it is at or near its peak in South Texas in late December. That alone is one reason many hunters spend the Christmas holidays hunting deer south of San Antonio in late December. But even in regions where the rutting season is over, spending time in a deer camp on Christmas can be rewarding. If the temperatures are cold, there’s nothing like a good campfire and conversations with friends to sooth tired muscles and minds, especially if there is an unusual sheet of snow on the ground. If the temperatures are unseasonably warm or mild, the same campfire and conversations with friends still can do the same. It’s all about how you accept them. Most Texas hunters aren’t likely to see snow covering their deer woods on Christmas this year, but there still are lots of things to marvel about for those of us who are fortunate enough to spend Christmas in the deer woods. Like mice. Yes, mice. One Christmas morning several years ago, while I was still-hunting for deer on a ranch near Catarina south of Carrizo Springs in the Southwest Texas Brush Country, I stopped at a tree line on a pasture road next to a barbed wire fence and sat down in the fork of one of the young mesquites. There was a deep whitebrush and blackbrush draw nearby, and I had seen several deer tracks in the pasture road that crossed through it. It looked like a good place to see deer at the moment, and the fork in the mesquite tree seemed like a great place to sit down and take a break. As I sat there, I noticed a string of corn in the road. It was obvious a ranch hand had corned the road to attract deer close to a box F i s h

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blind that stood about 150 yards to the south. There was a large pile of brush next to the fence, and suddenly, a tiny mouse emerged from an opening in it. It paused at the entrance and then raced out, grabbed a kernel of corn in its mouth, and raced back to the brush pile, disappearing through the tiny entrance hole. Seconds later, the mouse appeared again at the entrance to the brush pile, raced out, grabbed a kernel of corn, and splinted back to its brush pile hideout. This went on again and again. I marveled at how fast the mouse was in getting a kernel of corn, racing back to the brush pile, and then doing it all over again in a matter of seconds. Suddenly, the mouse raced out again, grabbed a kernel of corn, and headed back to the entrance. Only this time, a second mouse raced from the entrance and ran head-on into the first mouse. It was obvious the two fellows were well aware of the dangers of their acts, with avian predators and snakes no doubt in the area and looking for their own dinners of Christmas mice. Minutes later, a lone javelina appeared in the road crossing at the whitebrush and blackbrush draw. The javelina was limping heavily on his right rear leg and a coyote was cautiously and patiently following behind it from about 30 yards. It was evident what the coyote would have for his Christmas dinner. Those two events— the two mice using their wits and quickness to get a meal without being caught by a predator, and the injured javelina’s apparent sealed fate to serve as a meal for the coyote—brought a lot of things into perspective as I sat in the fork of that mesquite tree and watched a Christmas morning going down. I couldn’t do much for the javelina because it and the coyote passed into the thickness of the draw in a matter of seconds. However, when I decided to continue on my way, I picked up a handful of kernels of corn from the road, piled them in front of the entrance to the mice’s brush pile, and whispered a soft, “Merry Christmas.” Even mice deserve some appreciation for their role in the outdoors that we all love to experience and share with one another, especially on special occasions like Christmas in the deer woods.

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by Matt Williams T E X A S

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ody Mullennix of Howe, Texas, has caught his share of big blue cats from a number of Texas lakes over the years. But it was the was the piscatorial giant he reeled in from the depths of Lake Texoma on a chilly winter day in January 2004 that made his a household name among hardcore catfish junkies around the globe. The way the story goes, Mullennix had taken the day off from his house-moving job do a little bank fishing from the shores of the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in the Big Mineral arm of the 89,000-acre reservoir. He hadn’t been there for long when he hauled in a 56-pound blue that for a short time ranked as his personal best. Just moments after releasing the trophyclass cat, Mullennix noticed the tip on another one of his 14-foot Shakespeare surf rods dancing in the wind. The bite was subtle at first, then all hell broke loose. “I was moving towards the rod when it all of the sudden it layed all the way over in the rod holder,” Mullennix recalled. “The tip of the rod almost touched the water.” It is not a wonder. The fish had some meat between its shoulders. Mullennix’s prize cat weighed a whopping 121-1/2 pounds. It ranked as a world record by rod and reel until Illinois angler Tim Pruitt stole the title with a 124-pounder caught from the Mississippi River in May 2005. To date, Mullennix’s blue cat stands as the rod and reel state record for that species. In fact, it is the biggest catfish of any kind ever caught in the state of Texas by any means, including trotlines, jug lines and stump hooks. Mullennix knew a lot about catching big blues before he caught the former world record. He knows a lot more about them now, and he has applied that knowledge to the tune of five more blues in the 70-pound range since that memorable January morning five years ago. Like many blue cat connoisseurs, the 32year old fishing guide was quick to agree that winter ranks as the prime season to catch big blues on Texas lakes, especially on rod and reel. The keys to finding them? Mullennix summarized it in two words — structure and bait. The common denominators that link the two are high quality electronics and a working 30

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TF&G executive editor Chester Moore feeds Splash, the former world record blue catfish housed at the Freshwater Fisheries center before she died.

knowledge of how to use them. “Good electronics are critical to catching big blue cat on any lake during the winter months, especially when fishing in deep water,” he said. “Electronics will draw you a good picture of the structure. More importantly, it will tell you if any bait (shad) is present and how that bait is relating to the structure. The blues go where the bait goes.”

Structure Connection On Texoma, Mullennix will spend a high percentage of his time targeting the Red River channel, creek channels, points, drop offs, ridges and humps in water depths of 36-60 feet. Rather than hunting thick wads of bait, he likes scattered clouds of shad with some large V’s or arches in the vicinity. “This tells me the wads of shad have been busted up by feeding fish,” Mullennix said. The idea is to drop a bait in amongst the melee and ultimately entice a strike. Mullennix usually has the best results by positioning his bait in close proximity to the dividing line between shallower water and deep water. He casts a Carolina-style rig 100 percent of the time. “Bait placement can at times be a big key,” he said. “I always try to fish the edge of the structure, no matter if I am fishing a channel break, drop off, point, or hump.” F i s h

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Covering The Bases When Mullennix locates an area that looks good he covers it like a glove. The guide generally uses no fewer than six rods, regardless if he is fishing from the shore or a boat. He staggers his baits at varied distances in order to cover as much water as possible. The amount of time Mullennix will spend on a spot can vary with its history. He will dedicate the most time to areas that have produced big fish before or those that look especially good. “About 45 minutes, maybe an hour is tops when I’m in the boat,” Mullennix said. “If nothing happens in that time frame, I’m gone.”

Bait Choices Blue cat have been known to eat a variety of natural and prepared baits. During the dead of winter, when water temperatures are in the 40s, Mullennix likes to go natural using threadfin shad, gizzard shad or cut bait from perch, buffalo, or carp. He prefers a fairly small bait when it is cold outside. “I will use some bigger baits during spring, summer fall, when the water is warmer,” he explained. “But as a rule the smaller baits just

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seem to get the most bites during the winter months.” Mullennix’s 121-pounder adds credence to the theory. The fish ate a three-inch gizzard shad.

Big Fish = Heavy Artillery It is not smart to go bear hunting with a switch. Nor is it a good idea to go after big blue cat with tackle that is not up to the task. At the heart of Mullennix’s offshore rig are a heavy- action rod and a Pflueger Trion 66 round reel spooled with 65-pound test Power Pro braid. The braid connects to 50-pound test Cajun red leader using a 225-pound test Crane black swivel. His hook of choice is a Double Action Team Catfish circle hook that ranges in size from 3/0 to 8/0, depending on the size of the bait. Wind intensity dictates weight size. The lightest weight he will use is 1 ounce; the heaviest, 4 ounces. For bank fishing, Mullennix uses a similar terminal tackle set-up in combination with a long surf rod and heavy-duty spinning reel. The long rod and spinning reel make it possible to launch baits up to 100 yards from shore and play large fish to exhaustion.

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Limb Lining Above the Saltwater Line Though some anglers may rank rod and reel as the most entertaining way to catch winter blues, it is not the always the best way to fill a freezer. At times, trotlines, jug lines, and limb lines can be highly effective as well. Often in locations where you might least expect. TF&G executive editor Chester Moore has experienced some outstanding results using limb lines and cut mullet just above the saltwater line on the Sabine River. The idea, says Moore, is to use an overhanging limb to suspend the bait a foot or so beneath the surface. A heavy-duty nylon line and stout, circle-style hook is recommended. The best time to try it is from December to January. “This is not a numbers game, but we do catch a lot of 15-25 pounders,” Moore said. “The fishing seems to be best when the air temperature is cold, in the mid30s.” —Matt Williams

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Skinny Water Brutes Tempting as it may be to look to 40 feet of water to soak baits for heavyweight blues, deep is not always the best place to be when it is cold enough to freeze the water in your rod guides. Mullennix caught his 121-pounder out of seven water. He has caught countless other fat cats off wind blown points and shorelines in water shallow enough to wade in. “Don’t be afraid fish shallow during the winter,” he said. “Those big blues will move into 2-3 feet of water and not think twice about it, especially when there is warming trend in the weather or a high wind that pushes the fish against the bank. If they move up there and start gorging, you can wear them out.” Jason Barber echoed Mullennix’s opinion about skinny water blues. Barber, 33, lives along the shores of Cedar Creek Reservoir in Gun Barrel City, where he runs a successful guiding business targeting multiple species. The blue cat gets top billing during the winter months.

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“Cedar Creek is full of them,” Barber said. “You can catch them all over the lake at a variety of depths, but the shallow bite is something I have really come to love. Seeing that 20-pounder’s tail thrashing around when you set the hook in 2 feet of water will grow on you.”

Poop-Eating Blues Barber spends most of his time fishing north of the Farm-to-Market Rd. 334 bridge in the vicinity of Lacy, King, and Cedar creeks. The main attraction there are the fields of old snags and fat stumps, which are utilized as roosts by thousands of double-crested cormorants that migrate to the reservoir each fall and winter. Much of the wood is found in 26 feet of water. The cormorants disperse to open water areas to feed on shad, then return to the roosts intermittently to rest during the day. All that protein has to go somewhere. It is sort of disgusting to think about, but blue cats will gather beneath the roost trees and feed on when the poop when birds relieve themselves.

Big Cat Guides • Cody Mullennix, Texoma, Tawakoni, and Lavon, 903-815-0273, www.texascatfishingguide.com. • Jason Barber, Cedar Creek, Richland Chambers, and Tawakoni, 903-603-2047, www.kingscreekadventures.com. • Gary Paris, Lake Fork, 903-763-2801, www.garyparisoutdoors. • George Rule, Tawakoni, 214-202-6641, www.trophycats.com.

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One of Barber’s favorite ways to capitalize around roosts is to pitch weightless chicken gizzards to individual trees or stumps using a heavy-duty bass rig matched with braided line. The tough chicken gizzard simulates the sound of bird crap slapping the water. “It’s is almost like flippin’ for bass, except you are going after catfish,” Barber said. “One will usually grab the bait as soon as it hits the water. It can get wild when a 20pound blue rockets out of the water like a largemouth.” Another good way to capitalize around the roosts is to anchor upwind and cast a Carolina rig to the outskirts using fresh shad for bait. Barber will utilize this technique when he has novice clients or it is too windy to flip the trees effectively. “The main keys are to be real quiet, then lay the bait out there so the scent drifts towards the tree draw the fish out,” Barber said. “Blues tend to run in groups. So it is fairly common to catch several off one spot before you have to move.”

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don’t know how I do it year after year. I have to admit, it is a lot less stressful than my first flight some 16 years ago. Back then, it was an all or nothing flight: either you were strong enough to fly from the Dakotas to Texas in one day, or you died trying—literally. I have had plenty of friends and family plummet to Earth in mid-flight from exhaustion, their waning bodies completely fall out of our V-formation before we even cross the Mason-Dixon Line. It is much easier now, what with all the available rest stops. There are a couple in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. Heck, even Oklahoma and North Texas have fields to rest weary wings and

TF&G FIRST refuel with water and grain. Last night’s flight was not a bad one at all. The jet stream was swooping through the Midwest, so we caught a bit of a tail wind and rode it all the way through Kansas. The bright moon and clear skies helped, too, giving me and 2000 of my cohorts plenty of illumination. We thought about making a stop in a north Oklahoma field, but we were making such good time, we decided to keep going and cross the Red River and fly another two hours to our Colorado County winter home. Things haven’t changed much since last November; just a little less rice and more corn and milo. It feels good to finally rest, drink some water, and preen my weary feathers. The area must have received buckets of rain in October because the roost is brim full. We passed a nice rice field just north of the field we grazed last November, and it had standing water in the tractor ruts. Must have been a wet August, too, with all the deep tire tracks. I’ll bet those farmers hated harvesting that rice when it was so wet. The wetness bodes well for us, as most of the rice fields that weren’t meant to be second cropped are volunteering new heads of grain with the standing water. Should be plenty to eat. When the sun rises, we will fly over there and get some breakfast. Boy, it is noisy on the roost. I wish some of those young ganders would pipe it down 36

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so we can get a little rest. I know they are antsy with their new surrounding, and their stomachs must be growling. We will eat soon enough when the sun comes up. We must be very cautious on the Texas prairie—it is hunting season, you know. “Hey, cool it over there. It’s just a cow. They are herbivores. Yeah, that means they don’t eat geese.” What a bunch of rookies. That’s what you get when conditions on the tundra are ideal and most of our hatched goslings survive—kids running all over the place. We estimated close to 15 percent of the flock to be first-timers; that more than triples last year’s newborns that were pegged at less than 5 percent. As the sun creeps over the horizon, I herd my trio along with their father, a mature eagle-head blue goose, and bounce a couple of fence lines over to the 200-acre rice field we passed inbound just outside of Eagle Lake. “You kids stay on my wing,” I preach. “You are not ready to do this on you own, yet.” Half of the concentration is already there, head down and grazing in the middle of the field. We join them and immediately go to munching. “This rice sure is better than those old plants and sprouts we ate up north,” said my only boy of the bunch. “Why don’t we live here all year?” “Eat your food, boy. I will explain all that later.” We stay in the field nearly the entire day. There is no reason to leave: we have food, water, and security. As the sun begins to hide below the west horizon, our flock begins to trickle back to the roost. Most of us rest and squat in water just deep enough to cover our pink feet, while the older birds of the bunch stand guard on the perimeter. At sunup, we fly out to feed again. “Mom, are we going to the same field as yesterday?” asked my youngest. “If it looks safe, we will,” I answer. As we lift off the water and fly southeast into the morning sun, something does not look right. The four large flocks ahead of my family are skirting wide of the field. As we approach, I know why—hunters. Do they really think they can fool a mature snow goose with white bags draped F i s h

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over a stick? Come on, they have to know we are smarter than that. Those things look like a sick cattle egret. Nevertheless, like always, some young, gullible, gray bird gets separated from its family and takes the bait, plunging helpless to Earth. Hopefully, those hunters have crooked barrels. “See that kids,” I say. “Those are not real snow geese. Stay high, at least 120 yards above. Hunters can’t keep still that long and usually show their shining pie faces.” My mom and dad said those same words 15 autumns ago. I guess I heeded their warning pretty well; I am one of the older geese in the bunch aside from Leo, who turned 20 in June. Two weeks aground in the Lone Star state without any casualties from my lineage, though the entire concentration is losing an average of 15 gray-feathered birds per day to hunters. Are those youngsters that dumb or do their parents just not care enough to teach them? It baffles me every fall. A stiff, 25-knot north wind blows across the prairie, so we must stay lower to the ground to maneuver from field to field. The brisk north breeze is a good reason to go exploring new feeding grounds, so we ride the gale south to Wharton County to an unmolested stubble field with a few specklebellies grazing in it. “What’s a ‘special-belly’?” my curious blue goose asked. “A friend you do not want to have,” I lamented. “They will only get you in trouble. Kids, if you want to live a short life, hang out with specklebellies and cacklers [Canada geese]. They will dive-bomb a field and mistake their own for large clumps of black clay. If a hunter is good with a call and can yodel loud enough, they are history. They like to hang out with us because it makes them feel safe. Be nice to them—just don’t fly with them.” The wind switches back to the southeast, so our concentration trickles north, back to Garwood and Eagle Lake. It’s December now, and many of the rice fields still have enough food, but most of it is on the outside perimeter near the road and canals. December feeds are not near as safe as November; you never know if a bunch of kids are going to crawl in the canal and pop

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up with guns blazing, or a poacher is going to shoot a rifle from the road. Feeding on the outside of the field is much more stressful. As the calendar nears Christmas, most of our diet is on green sprouts of clover, rye, and wheat. We are still in rice from time to time, if green grass is growing between the stubble. Farmers over-seed rice fields with rye grass, then let their cattle graze the winter vegetation. We must be careful, though— the farmers hate to see us in their field because we can eat their rye or wheat to the ground and leave nothing for the cows. Often, they use propane guns that emit large booms every 10 minutes to try and run us out of the field. That works for only a day or two, then we get back in the field and actually feed next to the canon. Farmers also have tried flying large orange flags in the middle of the field to keep us out. The flags only help us locate the fields better from afar. When they break off rifle rounds from their trucks, that is a different story. We leave until the truck is a small blip in the distance, then circle back and graze the field until dark. Wheat and rye grass have been the demise of several of my friends. Like a buck in the rut, we geese lose our heads when the dinner bell rings, especially in January when we are feeding on the green. Wheat or rye to geese is like peach cobbler and ice cream to humans—you just can’t get enough. Hunters have taken notice and regularly set their foolery in a green field where we have been feeding the day before. “Stop! Don’t go there!” can only be screamed so loudly over a gaggle of hungry, cackling snow geese. Many learn the hard way, especially on a foggy morning. Wary, wise, “old crows” as we are often termed, know to stay put on the roost during bouts of limited visibility. I can talk until my beak turns blue, but many of the young geese must learn for themselves before it sinks in. Wait another two hours and the fog burns off, then everyone navigates safely. Yet, many choose to test the waters. I shudder and shake my head throughout the morning as I hear rumbles of gunfire in the distance. Yesterday it rained all day, 6 inches in some areas. This helped our flock especially, since less than an inch of rain in December dried up many of the shallow duck ponds

and roosts in the area, concentrating the brunt of my brethren on one 75-acre roost in Garwood. It was tight quarters, to say the least. More importantly, many geese were dying of cholera due to scarce water supply. We were using the same water for excrement and hydration...sounds tasty, doesn’t it. Now there is water everywhere and we can disperse the flock all over the coastal prairie. Hunters hate it, but we like it. Maybe the rain will disperse the eagles as well. With all of us jam-packed on one roost, a bald eagle and its harem have been giving us fits. I haven’t had an afternoon nap in two weeks. They glide over us trying to determine the weak, then swoop down for the kill. Of course, the whole flock goes nuts trying to protect their offspring. The stress wears on you. I actually saw one young blue goose grabbed in flight by a big “baldie.” Its talons grabbed the youngster behind the neck and flew off with it. I wish they would leave us alone and find a rabbit or dead pig in a field and feast on that. After a good rain, we like to head to a freshly plowed field and graze on fresh new sprouts that have appeared. The rain also loosens the dirt and makes it much easier to dig our beaks deep in the dirt and root out insects. There are many fields to choose from with fresh dirt, since farmers have been plowing daily before the rain in preparation for spring planting. We head for a field near El Campo, and as we get closer, I hear what sounds like thousands of geese on the ground. A closer look reveals only 200 white spots of the ground. I think to myself, How could 200 geese be making all that racket? A dozen of us drop down 80 feet, telling our young to remain at cruising altitude. As we get lower, the sound is deafening, blaring with scratching mixed in like a bad recording. Wait a minute—it is a recording! I can see them now, hiding in that deep ditch. “It’s a trap, it’s a trap! Get out! Electronic callers!” I thought those were not legal until next week. Cheaters. I wish that man in the green truck would show up and bust those guys.

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hen cool north winds move over the bays and Gulf of Mexico in the winter, many people stop fishing. But as water temperatures drop, fishing for red snapper and slot-sized red drum in Texas waters (up to nine miles offshore) heats up. Dr. Larry McKinney, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Director of Aquatic Resources, said: “Fish follow the cool water because of its higher oxygen content. That is why snapper are in Texas waters during the winter, and hard to find when the water warms up.” Captain Mike Segall, owner of Reel Threel Charter Service out of Freeport, (www.reelthreel.com), said: “When the water cools, redfish leave the bays and go out to deeper water because the water is warmer out there than in the bays.” So, for about four months (DecemberMarch), you can catch both red snapper and slot-sized redfish less than nine miles from the Texas coastline. Chip Holmesly, owner and captain of the 32-foot SeeVee, Chip’s Toy, motored slowly while watching his sounder. He had fished here before, knew that if he could find a favorite drop-off, he would probably find fish. We were at Middle Bank, 11 miles south/southwest of Freeport and within nine nautical miles of the beach in Texas waters. The reef runs southeast to northwest, is about a mile long, and the depth changes from 40 to 60 feet. Fish stacked like a Christmas tree appeared on the screen, and he marked the spot. We made a circle and set up a drift. I stood by with my snapper rig ready to drop, and before long, Chip hollered, “Now!” I took my thumb off the reel, and the weighted line with two baited hooks hurried toward the bottom. As soon as the weight touched, I tightened the line. In the same instant, the bait was taken. I raised the rod tip and reeled simultaneously, so that while the fish swam one way, my circle hook went the opposite direction and lodged in the side of its mouth. After putting the 17-inch red snapper into the ice chest, we decided to circle around again, anchor, and then seriously fish this promising location. Positioning the boat in the right place was tricky because the wind was going one way, and a strong current was go40

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Winter redfish provide anglers with red contentment.

ing the opposite direction, but we managed to get over the fish and caught three more snapper and two redfish. The redfish were oversized (larger than 28 inches), so we released them. Most of the redfish offshore are well over the 28-inch maximum length allowed in Texas’ waters. This is because redfish move offshore to spawn when they reach 28 or 29 inches, and then stay offshore and continue to grow. However, some slot-sized reds (20-28 inches) find their way offshore and inhabit the same areas as red snapper. We used a similar search pattern several more times and came home with a couple shy of our snapper limit. Several factors contributed to a satisfying January day of fishing for red snapper in state waters. The water was the right color (green) and a cool 53 degrees. The moving current was stimulating feeding, and Chip found structure and fish with his electronics. However, we did not catch any slot-sized reds, possibly because we did not fish the rigs. Capt. Mike Segall said: “I did well last winter on snapper and redfish in state waters. When the fishing pressure slows down, snapper come in closer to shore, and school around

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the rocks and reefs. You get the slot-sized redfish on the upcurrent side of some of the rigs. Every year, in the winter, you can catch them. It is warmer offshore, especially on the bottom. Once the water warms, I think they move back into the bays.” On a February trip, Segall’s anglers fished Middle Bank and East Bank but did not get any action, so they moved on to the rig nearby. At the rig, they put out seven lines and caught seven redfish. All but one was slot-sized. They kept three and released the rest. In late March, at Middle Bank, when the water temperature approached 70 degrees, Segall’s customers caught 20 snapper, one bull red, 10 triggerfish, and two mangrove snapper (one was 8 pounds), but no slot-sized reds. Apparently, the water had warmed enough so that the slot-sized redfish left the close-in offshore waters and went back into the bays. Rik Jacobsen has been finding and recording snapper locations in the Gulf of Mexico for 35 years. He published his first book of snapper fishing locations, Advanced Red Snapper Fishing (www.redsnapperfishing.com) 20 years ago, and updates it each year. Jacobsen said: “Usually, if you catch a couple of slot reds

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there will be several more the same size at that spot. There are state water spots that are virgin, with almost unlimited snapper. It is just a matter of doing your homework and finding the places. You really have to look hard, but the more you look, the more spots you find and catalog.” One source of snapper fishing locations is shrimpers. Shrimpers know every square inch of the ocean floor, especially the places where their nets hang. Jacobsen recommended that you carry beer along to trade with shrimpers—not for shrimp, but for the GPS or Loran numbers of their hangs. “Some of my absolute best places, that I don’t even talk about, are spots that I have gotten from shrimp boats,” he said. One of the problems with shrimp boat numbers is that many shrimpers still use Loran. But a program to convert from Loran to GPS is available at www.andren.com. “If a fisherman wants to mark his own spots, the smart thing to do is start getting ‘Notice to Mariners’ from the Coast Guard (www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/). Every rig that has been removed, every wellhead, every sunken boat, is a target and the government information is right on the money, except for wrecks,” Jacobsen said. “If you find underwater structure that has not been fished, the fish will appear differently on your sonar screen. After a spot has been fished, it looks like a Christmas tree, but if the fish have never seen a hook, most of the snapper will be way up in the water column instead of on the bottom. They are very aggressive and not scared of anything; in fact, they run other fish off. When you find a bunch of snapper on a virgin spot, you won’t find bottlenose dolphin, triggerfish, or grouper.” In the winter, you can catch snapper and redfish along the entire Texas coast, but the farther south you go, the easier it will be because the water depth becomes greater as you move toward the Lower Coast. One of Jacobsen’s favorite spots in state waters is a rubber ship that was blown up and sunk by a submarine during the war. It is eight or nine miles out of Port O’Connor. Off Port Mansfield, there are snapper and redfish spots only two to four miles offshore. Clear water and rock structure on the bottom attract fish. Jacobsen said the rocks and fish are spread out over a large area, so the best way to fish this area is to anchor up and put out a chum line: “Use herring or mackerel— soft, oily fish. It usually takes 20 minutes to an hour to attract fish.” Of course, you don’t catch fish every day

in Texas waters, especially on the Upper Coast. Brian Tulloch, Mark Van Ness, and I were in search of snapper and redfish out of Matagorda in February. It was so cold when I got up (40 degrees) that I put on my long underwear, and I wore it most of the day. We stopped at a rig six miles offshore, but it was early in the morning and foggy, so we couldn’t see if the water was stained brown or green. No fish showed up on the sonar, but we dropped our lines anyway. After a period of no action, we moved farther offshore. Returning later in the day, a river of brown water from five to ten miles out was clearly visible. Obviously, the fish ran from the brown water. During the cold months, a combination of silt-filled river water and turbulent seas often cause off-colored water to dominate close to shore. Relatively clear green or blue water is one of the primary conditions needed to catch fish. Strong currents stimulate feeding, and if you don’t have moving water in one location, try a different spot a few miles away because offshore currents are circular and can vary in speed. Everyone hits the known spots, so try some of the more obscure structures listed in Rik Jacobsen’s book. Or better yet, develop a series of productive waypoints that only you and a few close friends know about. Last April, I was in the post operation recovery room at St. Luke’s Hospital and the conversation turned away from my physical problem to a far more pleasant subject—fishing. Shirley, my nurse, said, “We like to go red snapper fishing and we have a 26-foot center console boat, but we no longer go snapper fishing in the winter because of the cost of fuel and the season being closed in federal waters.” I told her, “In Texas waters, up to nine miles offshore, you can keep four snapper that are a minimum size of 15 inches, and they move closer to shore in the winter. You can also keep three slot-sized redfish (20-28 inches), and some reds move out of the bays to the offshore waters in the colder months.” As I was being pushed out in a wheelchair, nurse Shirley shook my hand and said, “You made my day.” She helped me and I felt good about helping Shirley and her husband plan an offshore trip in Texas waters to catch two coveted species of red colored fish. I just wish Ethan Hawley had known about the winter red snapper and redfish action in Texas. Things might have worked out better for him....

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ave you ever wondered what bay is Santa’s favorite? It’s Christmas Bay, of course. A few months back, Santa added some rod holders to his sleigh and was doing some flight-testing when I was fortunate to catch up with the jolly old elf as he made a swing by the Upper Coast of Texas. It was just prior to his busy season and we enjoyed a few hours together on Christmas Bay catching speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. I must admit, fishing with Santa is a real treat, especially on his favorite bay. Hanging out with celebrities is one of the perks of being an award-winning outdoor writer. Decked out in vivid red waders and bright white wading boots, the Main Man was a splendid sight. The Polarized lenses of his sunglasses couldn’t hide the twinkle in his eyes.

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I met Santa at the agreed rendezvous spot off the Bluewater Highway between Surfside and San Louis Pass. The road was pretty well torn up after Hurricane Ike and I had to drive on the sand; fortunately it was all hardpacked and I didn’t get stuck. After a few howdy-dos and inquiries as to the well being of Mrs. Clause and Cletus (the head elf), who has been at Santa’s side for many a year, we stepped off into the bay and started casting red and white soft plastics. As we were shuffling and casting, Santa hummed Christmas carols, being interrupted occasionally by a sharp thump at the end of his line. As he set the hook on his second big redfish, it dawned on me that I couldn’t recall any interviews Santa had ever given on outdoor topics, although he has left countless rods, reels, shotguns, and rifles under Christmas trees. “Hey, Santa, mind if I ask you a few questions about Christmas Bay?” I inquired while we fished. “Of course you can,” he chortled. “Fire away.” To the best of my knowledge, this is the first bona fide interview of Santa Clause on fishing Christmas Bay. GB: Why do you like Christmas Bay so much? SC: You know, Greg, Christmas Bay is a very special place. It is a small bay, roughly 1.5 miles wide and 3 miles long. Bastrop Bay feeds Christmas Bay with salty or brackish water, and nutrients washed downstream from Bastrop Bayou. Those nutrients provide lots of food for the oyster beds. Christmas Bay also connects to the Gulf of Mexico via Cold Pass, which tees off San Louis Pass less than a mile from the Gulf. All that good tidal interchange helps clean up the water in case it gets too salty or too sweet. In addition to oyster beds, Christmas Bay also has some seagrass. For many years it was the only seagrass left on the upper coast but that is changing now. You, of all people, know how I love seeing redfish rooting around in the shallows, dashing for crabs and shrimp like five year olds seeing their first Barbie doll under the tree. The wind blows hard down here on the Texas coast, almost as hard as at the North Pole. The south shoreline usually holds a thin strip of “trout clear” water, even when the wind is pumping. The bottom is pretty solid, which is a blessing for my old feet. Making all those toys sure takes a toll on your arches and wading in shin-deep mud is tougher than it used to be. I switch to the north shoreline during the winter. Look for trout feeding under diving birds all through the summer until late fall. 44

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Titlum-Tatlum and Churchill bayous are always worth checking out. Christmas Point is always worth serious investigation. Since Cold Pass is a conduit to the Gulf, you can catch everything here. The bayous and the pass hold lots of flounder—especially during November and December. Fish the dropoffs with soft plastics, gold spoons, or fish a mud minnow on a fish-finder rig for flatties. Casting a heavier spoon or jig into the deep water and “swimming” it back with the tidal flow is one of my favorite tricks. Christmas Bay reminds me of the way the Upper Coast used to be. The Bluewater Highway between Surfside and San Louis Pass really got hammered by the storm, but I am not going to let that grinch Ike spoil a fishing trip. Your daddy and his best friend, Bill Dowen, used to drive the beach back in the 1950s, all the way from Surfside to San Louis Pass, just to gig flounder in Cold Pass and fish the dawn. You can still do that today if you are careful. The little sand roads off the blacktop leading to the bay are still there, but the storm really changed things. Look for debris left by the storm...rattlesnakes like to curl up inside, although I expect most of them to be hibernating by December. Be especially careful about driving over boards, as they probably have nails in them. Also, be careful not to get stuck in any soft sand. GB: What strategies work the best for fishing Christmas Bay? SC: Oh, it depends, Greg. Sometimes I work the shorelines from my kayak, while other times I like to wade. Mrs. Clause likes to drift-fish and cast live shrimp under a popping cork, but I always relish the chance to get out of the boat and wade. Jigheads in 1/4- and 3/16-ounce sizes are just right for Christmas Bay. Most of the water is 3 feet or less, although it can get up to 6 feet in the middle of the bay, depending on the tides. Drum Bay to the west is super shallow—just right for kayaks. Don’t forget to check out the spartina grass that lines the southern shoreline. Redfish love to root around in the grass and chase baitfishes. At other times, they will lie right against the grass and wait for a bait to be pulled out into the open by a falling tide. Big reds leave an impressive wake, so keep your eyes open. Because Christmas Bay is so small, a handful of boats running through it will shut down the bite quicker than a poacher gets a lump of coal in his stocking. The best time to catch fish is during the week when regular folks are at work. GB: Do you think Christmas Bay is a fitting name?

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SC: It’s the perfect name. The bay is pristine, like a beautifully wrapped package under the tree, waiting to be discovered. Keep in mind that Christmas Bay can be both naughty and nice. Anyone who tells you that they catch fish here on every outing is going to get a bundle of switches in their stocking. Christmas Bay can give up great catches, but it is naughty just as often as it is nice. Even when the catching isn’t great I enjoy the scenery and the solitude. In a lot of ways, Christmas Bay reminds me of the North Pole. Texas doesn’t have a lot of blizzards, but Christmas Bay has whiteouts every year. That’s right, honest to goodness whiteouts. No, not blizzards—fog. Thick banks of sea fog roll over Follet’s Island, that little strip of land separating the bay from the Gulf. I remember one November I was wadefishing for flounder and the fog rolled in and swallowed me up. It was so thick I lost my bearings and I wandered around for several hours trying to find where I parked the sleigh. I pin a little compass on my shirt now so I know which way I am heading. You know, there is nothing quite like the mosquitoes that live in a salt marsh. My goodness, they are so big on Christmas Bay! After my last trip, I had some special harnesses made for those mosquitoes in case some of the reindeer take ill at the last minute. Yes, Christmas Bay is the perfect name for my favorite bay. It has it all: coastal beauty, good water exchange with the Gulf, seagrass, oyster beds, and plenty of trout, reds, flounder, drum, croaker, and sheepshead. It is a gift that we can all enjoy for years to come—if we are good stewards. Take care of my favorite bay for me while I am back at the North Pole. It will provide your family and friends wonderful catches and plenty of great memories— much like those from Christmas mornings. Calling it a day, Santa and I sauntered up out of the bay and he pulled off our waders. “Man, these breathable waders sure are nice,” Santa sighed. “I didn’t even break a sweat.” With that, Santa climbed up into his sleigh and he was out of sight in the blink of an eye, his voice trailing off in the distance: “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” Editor’s note: Despite considerable effort to learn why Christmas Bay is so named, no one seems to know—not even Santa. —DZ

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The Legacy Of Texas Mammoth Bass OUGHLY ONE MONTH FROM NOW— January 24—marks the 17-year anniversary of Texas’ current state record bass. The 18.18-pound giant was caught by TF&G contributor Barry St. Clair, who at the time was a farmer/cattle rancher from Klondike in Northeast Texas. Interestingly, St. Clair was not targeting bass when he caught the heaviest largemouth ever reported in Texas. He was crappie fishing with buddies at the time, soaking minnows over deep water near the Lake Fork dam when the fish gobbled up his shiner. St. Clair’s is not the first heavyweight Texas bass to be caught on live bait—nor will it be the last. Regardless, the fat fish will always be remembered as the one that removed Lake Fork fishing guide Mark Stevenson from a lofty pedestal he had occupied since November 1986, when he caught a 17.67-pound state record that, to this day, is arguably the most famous fish in Texas freshwater fishing history. Stevenson’s fish is famous for several reasons: For starters, it was the inaugural entry into the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s Budweiser ShareLunker program. The program solicits anglers to put giant Texas-caught bass on loan to the TPWD so they can be used for spawning and genetics

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research that biologists hope will someday unravel some of the mysteries behind big bass DNA. Obviously, TPWD’s timely decision to accept a state record as the program’s first entry worked to the program’s advantage. According to program curator David Campbell, more than 10,000 people stopped by to see the fish during its six-month stay at the antiquated state fish hatchery in Tyler. In the beginning, no one thought the program would work. Despite the misgivings, to date, Bud ShareLunker has taken in more than 450 entries weighing upward of 13 pounds, and other state agencies are using it as a model to build similar programs. As word of Stevenson’s catch spread throughout Texas and beyond, so did the

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popularity of “catch and release.” The fish also added some credence to the belief that the late Bob Kemp, former TPWD Inland Fisheries Division Director, knew exactly what he was doing when he sneaked the first batch of Florida bass fingerlings into Texas back in the early 1970s. Stevenson gave his fish the nickname “Ethel” and subsequently put her on loan to another bass giant in Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri. The fish lived out her life cruising in a huge display aquarium, where she marveled visitors with her tremendous size and added to the facility’s appeal as one of the region’s most popular tourist destinations. F i s h

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Ethel was so popular with visitors that Bass Pro felt compelled to give her a memorial service when she died there at the ripe old age of 19. Word is more than 1000 people showed up for the funeral, including Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris and dozens of members of the press. Morris’ appreciation for the big bass extended well beyond the 1994 memorial service. In 2004, he provided a $650,000 challenge grant to aid in the construction of the $2 million classroom/conservation center at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. He dedicated the contribution in Ethel’s name. Stevenson’s bass was the first in a long list of giant bass caught from Lake Fork during a heyday that lasted well into the 1990s. Between 1988 and 1991, the lake produced four more bass in excess of 17 pounds. The lake is currently responsible for 35 of the Top 50 heaviest bass ever caught in the state. Though St. Clair’s bass is bigger, Ethel remains the heaviest Texas bass ever caught on an artificial lure by an angler who was actually fishing for a bass when he caught it—big stuff in the eyes of Texas bass junkies. Stevenson used a Stanley Jig matched with a crawworm trailer to catch the former state record. He was guiding two customers at the time and the bass had not been biting particularly well on the tails of a major cold front. The men were working their lures along the edge of a creek channel and Stevenson made a pitch into a jungle of underwater brush. That was when the bite came, one that ultimately changed his life, Lake Fork, and the scope of Texas bass and Texas bass fishing forever.

E-mail Matt Williams at freshwater@fishgame.com

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HERE ARE “BLACK PANTHERS” IN TEXAS. This isn’t a theory, but a verifiable, undeniable fact.

No, science hasn’t discovered a new cat species to explain alleged “black panther” sightings. However, yes, there are mysterious, dark-colored cats in the United States, but believing in their existence does not require a leap of faith. It just calls for a new look at a known albeit obscure species—the jaguarundi. The jaguarundi (Felis yagouaroundi) is known to range from South America to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. And although not widely known by the public, jaguarundi are prime candidates for spawning “black panther” reports. They are a medium-sized cat with a mean body size of 102 centimeters for females and 114 for males according to Mexican researcher Arturo Caso. Other sources list them as ranging from 100 to 120 centimeters with the tail making up the greatest part of the length. Most specimens are about 20 centimeters PHOTO BY CHESTER MOORE

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tall and sport a dark gray color while others are chocolate brown or blonde. A large jaguarundi crossing a road in front of a motorist or appearing before an unsuspecting hunter could easily be labeled a “black panther.” Since very few people are aware of jaguarundi, it’s highly unlikely they would report seeing one. The term “black panther” is quick and easy to report to others.

by Chester Moore Everyone can relate to a “black panther.” As previously noted, jaguarundi are known to range from South America to the Mexican borders of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. The key word here is “known.” That means scientists have observed or captured the species within those areas, however, they are reported to range much farther north in the Lone Star State and perhaps elsewhere. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials solicited information A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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from the public and received numerous reports of the species in the 1960s, including several sightings from central and east Texas. Additional sightings were reported from as far away as Florida, Oklahoma, and Colorado. In a study conducted in 1984, TPWD biologists noted a string of unconfirmed jaguarundi sightings in Brazoria County, which corners the hugely populated areas of both Houston and Galveston. Brazoria County is more than 200 miles north of the counties of Cameron and Willacy, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has designated as being the only confirmed areas of Texas that house jaguarundi. In my opinion, this is a great oversight by researchers who wrongly believe this cat to inhabit only a specific type of habitat. Jaguarundi are listed as an endangered species by the Service and fall under federal jurisdiction. And for the most part, what the federal government says goes with endangered species. A study conducted by Arizona and federal scientists states that jaguarundi habitat, especially in South

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In This Issue

COVER STORY • Jaguarundi Jive | BY CHESTER MOORE

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: CORPUS TO BAFFIN BAYS • December Means Few Limits, Huge Trout | BY CAPT. JIM ONDERDONK

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: LOWER COAST • Red Christmas | BY CALIXTO GONZALES SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK • Tides, Solunar Table, Best Hunting/Fishing Times | BY TF&G STAFF

HOW-TO SECTION

HOTSPOTS & TIDES SECTION

TEXAS HOTSPOTS • Texas’ Hottest Fishing Spots | BY CALIXTO GONZALES & JD MOORE

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: UPPER COAST • December Looks Good on Sabine Lake | BY CAPT. SKIP JAMES

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: GALVESTON COMPLEX • “Lining Up” for Christmas Conservation | BY CAPT. MIKE HOLMES

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: MATAGORDA & MID COAST • Falling Temps Send Trout to Mud and Shell | BY BINK GRIMES

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HOTSPOTS FOCUS: ROCKPORT TO PORT ARANSAS • Note to Self… | BY CAPT. MAC GABLE

Texas, includes dense, thorny thickets of mesquite and stunted acacias known as chaparral. It also states less than one percent of this type of habitat is left along the U.S.Mexico border. That is true, but jaguarundi are known to live in a variety of habitats, including rainforests, prairie, deciduous forests and marshland. It could very well be that very few jaguarundi live in that zone because of a lack of habitat. Most of that area has been converted to farmland. The game and habitat-rich areas along the Texas coast along with the Pineywoods and Hill Country region could be housing a population of jaguarundi that have slipped under the radar screen of federal officials. If there’s any validity to the 1960s TPWD report, sightings have been recorded in several states bordering Texas as well. My interest in the jaguarundi connection to “black panther” sightings comes from a sighting that took place in the summer of 2001 near Port Arthur. At around 9 a.m. while driving in a rural area I witnessed a long, slender, gray-colored animal emerging from the brush on the side of the road at a distance of about 75 yards. When I approached to within 30 yards the animal slowly walked in the middle of the road and C2

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TEXAS BOATING • Ready to Abandon Ship? | BY LENNY RUDOW SALTWATER BAITS & RIGS • Breakaway Deep-Shot | BY PATRICK LEMIRE FRESHWATER BAITS & RIGS • Biffle-O | BY PAUL BRADSHAW TEXAS KAYAKING • Christmas Wishes of a Well Behaved Kayaker | BY GREG BERLOCHER HUNT TEXAS • Never Insult Another Man’s Gun | BY BOB HOOD TEXAS GUNS & GEAR • New Vs. Old Cartridges | BY STEVE LAMASCUS AFIELD WITH BARRY • Outdoors with Old Friends | BY BARRY ST. CLAIR WOO’S CORNER • Fishing Upper Ends of Lakes | BY WOO DAVES WILDERNESS TRAILS • Christmas 2008 | BY HERMAN W. BRUNE

GEARING UP SECTION

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TEXAS TESTED • Pak-Lite; Mercury; Guest | BY TF&G STAFF NEW PRODUCTS • What’s New from Top Outdoor Manufacturers | BY TF&G STAFF INDUSTRY INSIDER • “Deal of the Century” | BY TF&G STAFF SHOOT THIS • Sightron Big Sky SII Hunter Holdover Reticle | BY STEVE LAMASCUS

OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE

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HURRICANE COVERAGE • Continuing Coverage | BY TF&G STAFF TROPHY FEVER • Special Hunting Section | BY TF&G STAFF 2008 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | BY TF&G STAFF TOURNAMENT INSIDER • Faircloth’s Fairytale Has Unhappy Ending | BY MATT WILLIAMS

CCA TEXAS • CCA STAR Tournament C63 INSIDE Another Great Success | L G TASTED • Jalapeno Kiwi Glazed Ham C66 TEXAS | B S DISCOVER THE OUTDOORS • C68 Classifieds | TF&G S ALBUM • Your Action Photos | C70 PHOTO TF&G S BY UKE

crossed into a brushy area on the other side. Having worked with more than 11 species of wild cats at the Exotic Cat & Wildlife Refuge in Kirbyville, Texas, and spent time observing the cats at the Texas Zoo in Victoria, I immediately identified the cat as a jaguarundi. Is the jaguarundi responsible for all “black panther” reports in the United States? That’s not likely. There are a couple of problems associated with this whole phenomenon and one of them is there is no such species as a “black panther.” All of the black cats you see on television in circuses and zoos are either black leopards or jaguars. Both species frequently throw melanistic or black offspring. Of the two species, jaguars are native to Texas while leopards are cats of the Old World. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the jaguar’s coat color ranges from pale yellow to reddish brown, with a much paler (often white) underbelly. “It has spots on the neck, body and limbs that form rosettes, which contain black markings within them. On the head and under parts, the spots are simple black dots. Black jaguars are not uncommon, and even they possess darker rosette markings that are F i s h

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RYAN LAVEN

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visible in bright light. Compared to a leopard, the jaguar is stocky and more powerfully built. The square jaw and prominent cheeks, along with robust, muscular limbs give evidence of immense strength.” As the Cat Haven group notes in their profile of the jaguar, “The term ‘Black Panther’ is commonly use for those cats because their coats appear to look black but this is not the correct terminology for two reasons. First, both the jaguar and the leopard can appear to look black but the coat is actually dark brown and has black rosettes (spots) like the yellow version.” If you see a black jaguar (or leopard) in person, the spots are easily visible at a close range, especially in good light. However, at a distance the animal appears solid black. Could the reports of “black panthers” be the result of jaguars? While native to Texas, there is no verified population here although there probably are some crossing into Texas along the Mexican border in the Trans Pecos region. Both New Mexico and Arizona wildlife and border officials have captured photos of jaguars entering their states in recent years. None of them, however, was black.

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Great PostIke Fishing Predicted OR THOSE ANGLERS WHO HAVE FOUND A WAY onto Galveston Bay since Hurricane Ike passed through in September, fishing reportedly has been better than average. “Our gill nets are still producing good catches of spotted seatrout and red drum, and the birds are working the bait schools in the bay,” said Bill Balboa, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Galveston Bay ecosystem leader. However, be careful when boating across the bays. Debris hazards are still a significant issue and it is even possible the storm changed bay bottom topography. “I fished about two weeks after Rita passed through,” said Scott Hickman, a Galveston inshore fishing guide. “We just had to go slow all day long, really slow. There was just so much stuff in the water.” If anglers do not heed Hickman’s advice,

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they stand a good chance of poking holes through their boat’s hull on debris not there before the storm. Anglers venturing out into the bay system should check their inventory of artificial lures. If they do not toss artificial baits, this is a good time to learn. Live shrimp and other live baits are probably going to be hard to find, or non-existent. “Commercial shrimpers and shrimpers who do nothing but catch live bait are going to have problems dragging their nets,” Hickman said. “There is going to be so much junk to hang their nets on. It’s going to be a long time before live bait is readily available.” Hickman also predicted the snapper fishing offshore would be tremendous after the storm: “You get a tremendous amount of fish that are pushed in with the storm surge, big fish, lots of big fish, by the thousands. When we are able to get offshore and fish, the action will be incredible.” Getting offshore to the snapper is probably the biggest challenge. Serviceable launch ramps need to be located, and the bays are not the only locations with floating and submerged storm debris. There was a reported debris field offshore measured at 40 miles long and 25 miles wide, drifting with the prevailing winds and currents toward the South Texas coastline.

“You see all kinds of imaginable things out there, everything from Coke machines, fuel tanks, barrels, refrigerators, scrap wood...you name it,” said Jarrett Woodrow of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Much of the large stuff is ending up on the beaches at Corpus Christi and Padre Island National Seashore.” In terms of impact to offshore sport fish, there seems to be little danger. “I don’t think it could do anything to them unless there was a large chemical spill, introduction of some manmade substance into the deep water habitat,” TPWD’s Bal-

COVER STORY Continued from Page C2 Are jaguarundi the source of many of these sightings in Texas? There is no doubt in my mind. Besides the obvious physical characteristics that match them to “black panther” sightings, there are some habits of the species that also lend credence to this theory. Jaguarundi are diurnal, meaning they hunt mostly in daylight hours, and this C4

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goes along with many reports I have collected of “black panthers.” Several eyewitnesses insisted the cat they saw was not a cougar or bobcat because they saw it in the middle of the day. They said they got a good look at a dark, long-tailed cat. Bobcats and cougars are chiefly nocturnal while the jaguarundi is a daylight dweller. Looking back, it is funny that for years I lamented at never seeing one of the “black panthers” I so frequently hear F i s h

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about. It seemed as if I was living in a mecca for mystery cat sightings, but a glimpse of the cat itself always eluded me. Then I saw a jaguarundi cross the road in front of me. It took a little researching and thinking time for it to sink in, but I finally figured out I had seen a “black panther.” It just came in a slightly different package than I was expecting.

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boa said. “There were some reports of barrels floating out there of some unknown origin. We haven’t received any confirmation of that. My guess is that those “animals” are so deep, most of them, I doubt the hurricane would have a huge impact on them.” —Tom Behrens •••

they have closed indefinitely the bays for oyster harvest. —TB •••

Toxic Chemicals in Bays a Concern

When Hurricane Ike roared ashore on the upper Texas Coast, it left behind a wide swath of destruction that was felt for several hundred miles inland as sustained hurricane force winds toppled trees, wrecked homes, and downed power lines, leaving millions of people across Southeast Texas without electricity for weeks. Ike’s powerful winds blew several hundred miles inland as the Category 2 storm barreled across the Pineywoods district. Though thousands of trees uprooted, most survived the storm after a good shaking that wildlife biologists believe will have a significant impact on this fall’s acorn crop. Acorns prematurely jarred from oaks will not ripen on the ground. Green acorns not attacked by bugs will usually rot, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) District 6 wildlife biologist Gary Calkins of Jasper. Calkins said certain forestlands across eastern Texas were more badly damaged by the storm than others. Counties along the western edge were the hardest hit. “Walker, Montgomery, Houston, and

Concerns over whether Hurricane Ike stirred up bottom sediments and released buried contaminants into the bays remains an open question. “The answer is something we will probably find out somewhere down the road after more tissue samples are collected, and sediment and water quality testing is done,” said Bill Balboa, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) ecosystem leader for Galveston Bay. Shrimp are another concern since they are such an important food item along the coast for both humans and game fish. “Generally, shrimp only live one year, basically an annual crop,” Balboa said. “The chemicals that have been reported in fish tissue have been accumulating over a period of time. If shrimp assimilate some of these substances into their flesh, it’s not going to be much because they are only in the bay for a few months out of their lives.” Oysters are well prepared to survive calamities like hurricanes. They can even change their sex from year to year to increase production if the environment demands it. What they cannot do is get out of the way, and sedimentation over oyster reefs is a real concern. “We have some side scan sonar data we’ve been collecting of oyster reefs,” said Lance Robinson, a TPWD coastal biologist. “We’ll re-do those on some transects to see if there was an impact on oyster reefs.” On the Texas Coast, there are always enough oyster larvae, but sometimes not enough hard substrate for them to attach to and grow to maturity. Water quality in Galveston Bay, with numerous small oil and fuel spills as well as organic contaminants from decomposing livestock and flooded septic systems, is a concern and is monitored by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Currently,

Damage Extends North of Coast

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Cherokee counties took a pretty good whack,” Calkins said. “Parts of Liberty and Hardin counties in the southern Pineywoods are looking pretty wicked, too.” Calkins described the damage in other parts of the region as “patchy.” He said field staff reported significant damage in parts of the Sam Houston National Forest in Montgomery County, while other portions of the forest in San Jacinto and Polk counties fared better. Ike’s wrath prompted the temporary closure of the Angelina, Sabine, Davy Crockett, and Sam Houston national forests so crews could assess damage, clear roadways, and perform necessary repairs before allowing the public to enter. The four forests have since reopened, except for specified areas noted on the National Forests and Grasslands of Texas website (www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas). The powerful storm also pounded the Lake Conroe area in Montgomery County, causing significant damage to private property as well as the lake’s dam, according to Sarah Morris with the San Jacinto River Authority. Morris said the SJRA in late September dropped the lake level more than a foot to assess the damage done to riprap and blanket material. “The damage is significant, but not as extensive as we saw during Hurricane Rita,” Morris said. —Matt Williams

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by Calixto Gonzales, South Zone Fishing Editor & JD Moore, North Zone Fishing Editor

New Causeway Drum LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: New Causeway (bank access)

GPS: N26 4.970, W97 12.060 SPECIES: black drum BEST BAITS: live shrimp, fresh shrimp, frozen crab CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956551-9581 TIPS: Some drum in the upper end of the slot limit (14-30 inches) roam this broad flat, which can be reached by shore-bound anglers from Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier. More of the fish will be big uglies in the 2030 pound range, which you’ll have to release. The will stretch a line, though. Fishing the edges of the Intracoastal Waterway with either live shrimp, or fresh crab, shrimp, or sea lice on a dropper or Carolina Rig works. Old school fishermen use big Penns with the clicker. It’s always exciting when it starts to buzz. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Long Bar GPS: N26 12.164, N97 15.957 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live bait, Gulp! Shrimp/Mauler combos, topwaters, gold spoons CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956551-9581 TIPS: Trout congregate around the dropoffs in winter and come up on the top of the bar on warm days. Live bait/popping cork rigs are best here. These fish like meat. If C6

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the tide is down, or cooler weather is prevailing, then fish the edges and deeper water. The slower, more methodical retrieve keeps the bait in the fish’s face longer and may prompt it to strike. Glow and pearl are good choices to fish this time of year. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Marker 95 GPS: N26 04.080, W97 09.221 SPECIES: redfish, black drum BEST BAITS: live bait, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Glow, gold spinnerbaits with red/white tail CONTACT: Captain Ruben Garcia, 956459-3286 TIPS: A long drift will locate redfish that tend to spread out along these flats. Some are good-sized fish. During a warm trend, fish spinnerbaits in shallower water. If you want to mix it up a bit, live shrimp under a popping or rattling float will find both reds and eating-sized black drum. Scented baits will also work. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Andie Bowie Park Shoreline (bank access) GPS: N26 11.541, W97 10.327 SPECIES: pompano, whiting BEST BAITS: live or fresh shrimp, Fish Bites strips in shrimp CONTACT: Quick Stop, 956-943-1159 TIPS: Fried or baked fish and fish soup taste really good on cold days. The Padre Island surf is full of whiting and pompano that will fit the gustatory bill perfectly. Fish two-hook rigs with 1- to 2-ounce sinkers (spider weights are best if the surf is sloppy) in the first or second gut (the latter on an outgoing tide) to target all them. You can purchase live shrimp and keep them alive in sawdust for easy portability, or fresh shrimp. Many fishermen are starting to use Fish Bite strips because of the no-muss, no-fuss principal behind it. Use long-shank hooks. F i s h

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You’ll be impressed by the size of some of these “bull” whiting. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Brownsville Ship Channel GPS: N26 02.302, W97 12.799 SPECIES: black drum, sheepshead, mangrove snapper BEST BAITS: live shrimp, fresh shrimp CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956551-9581 TIPS: Deeper water holds a plethora of species that will bite eagerly when more popular game species are more reluctant. Locate the edges and drop-offs along points in the Ship Channel and fish them with live or dead shrimp on a free-line rig. Braided line is recommended, because most fish strike lightly; except the mangrove snapper, of course. They’ll try and rip the rod out of your hands. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N26 28.149, W97 23.874 SPECIES: redfish, speckled trout BEST BAITS: live bait, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny; soft plastics in red/white, New Penny, Rootbeer CONTACT: Captain Ruben Garcia, 956459-3286 TIPS: Work the edges of potholes to tempt trout that lie in ambush for whatever prey they can nail. Redfish will be pushing bulges of water in front of them as they cruise around and scaring up small fish and crabs. A live shrimp or finger mullet can be fished under a popping cork, or sight-cast into the holes themselves. Try a faux shrimp or shad tail on a 1/8-ounce jighead or safety pin style spinnerbait. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Dunkin Channel GPS: N26 20.170, W97 17.273 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish

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BEST BAITS: live shrimp, live finger mullet, Gulp! Shad, Shrimp, or Jerkbaits CONTACT: Captain Ruben Garcia, 956459-3286 TIPS: Post-frontal low tides will concentrate speckled trout in deeper water. Dunkin Channel and the nearby Intracoastal Waterway are two good spots to look for trout concentrations. Free-line a shrimp or a live finger mullet (3-4 inches) right along the dropoffs. If the tide is ripping out, fish the outer eddies and add a split shot. Redfish will be on the flats around the spoil islands. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Unnecessary Island. GPS: N26 22.002, W97 18.824 SPECIES: redfish, speckled trout, black drum BEST BAITS: live bait, cut bait, soft plastics in red/white, New Penny, Rootbeer CONTACT: Captain Ruben Garcia, 956459-3286 TIPS: Tuck into the leeward side of Unnecessary and drift the length of the flats near the ICW. Trout may be scattered, but they’re usually good fish. Redfish and black drum intermingle and grub around for meals. Watch for mud-boils to cue you into where to fish for them. Live shrimp is good, so are scented soft plastics. Cut Bait is always an asset. LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Land Cut Spoils GPS: N26 47.750, W97 32.604 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: topwaters, Catch 5 in Smoke, Pinfish patterns; soft plastics in red/white, bone/chartreuse; gold or chrome spoons CONTACT: Captain Terry Neal, 956-9442559 TIPS: Fish topwaters early on mild days, and throughout the whole trip when clouds dominate. If the fish are sitting deeper, switch to suspending plugs in natural patterns, or soft plastics on small (1/16 to 1/8ounce) jigheads. Smoke and Texas Shad are good colors to work with.

Baffin Badlands Trout LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: The Badlands

holding in the deeper holes. Work the lures as slowly as you can for a subtle presentation. Light line and a light tip are needed for this situation. GPS: N27 18.228, W97 24.338 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: topwaters early, soft plastics in Limetreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse, Corky CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361-9856089, 361-449-7441, brushcountrycharters.com TIPS: When a north wind limits your options, set up a wade on this popular winter spot. The mud bottom retains warmth more effectively than sand, and trout and redfish, as well as forage species, gravitate to it. Fish around and through color changes with lightly weighted soft plastics. The wading is a bit tough because of the soft mud, but he quality fish make it worth the effort. LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Black’s Bluff GPS: N28 14.237, W97 33.935 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: soft plastics in Limetreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361-9856089, 361-449-7441, brushcountrycharters.com TIPS: Look for nervous bait popping about near drop-offs. That’s usually a sign that there are predators lurking. Plastics should be fished on light jigs. 1/8th ounce is good. 1/16th is even better. Once you begin working the area, fish deeper water with soft plastics and suspending plugs for both trout and redfish. Work your lures slowly, and pay attention. The bites can be very, very subtle. LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Emmord’s Hole GPS: N27 29.754, W97 19.970 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in strawberry/black back, Plum/chartreuse, Rootbeer/red flake, Morning Glory, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361-9856089, 361-449-7441, brushcountrycharters.com TIPS: Emmord’s has a combination of grasslines and edges along deeper water, which is ideal fish habitat in the winter. Fish the 3-4’ breakline with slow-sinking eel-style baits for best results. Trout will normally be A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Pelican Island GPS: N28 11430, W96 92.50 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: live shrimp, croaker; small topwaters, gold spoons; soft plastics in Avocado/chartreuse, Motor Oil/chartreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain George Rose, 361727-9227, 361-463-7700 TIPS: Again, fish drop-offs with live bait for best results. Work live bait under a popping cork, or on a free-line rig if you’re using baitfish. Watch for some bait activity early in the morning and focus on the general areas. When you’re fishing deeper water, keep a soft touch. That mouse-tap could be a big fish. LOCATION: Rockport/Fulton HOTSPOT: Surf Front (bank access) GPS: N27 94.850, W96 94.78 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: live shrimp/popping cork, topwaters; gold spoons; soft plastics in Avocado/chartreuse, Motor Oil/chartreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain George Rose, 361727-9227, 361-463-7700 TIPS: Action along the surf begins to pick up for trout and redfish during July. Shorebound anglers and kayakers can partake of the bounty. Watch for diving birds to cue you in on where fish might be active. Start by fishing the wade gut and slowly work your way out to deeper water. Topwaters work well early but move to deeper running baits through midmorning. LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N27 57.058, W96 5.331 SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters and soft plastics in chartreuse. Live bait, cut bait. CONTACT: Captain George Rose, 361727-9227, 361-463-7700 TIPS: redfish are the predominant target species on Estes in December. Use topwaters in the shallows early in the morning, but back up and use soft plastics as the day gets longer. Large live shrimp, cut mullet, and

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crab chunks fished on a bottom rig are also effective this time of year.

Cajun Shoreline Specks LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Louisiana Shoreline GPS: N29 42.365, W93 48.764 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: soft plastics in Red Shad,

Morning Glory, Black/Chartreuse; topwaters in bone CONTACT: Captain Bill Watkins, 409-7862018, 409-673-2018, www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: When days are mild, or there’s a stretch of mild weather, the Louisiana shoreline is a good area to focus on for speckled trout and redfish. Cast topwaters toward the shallows early in the morning, or on an incoming tide. Work soft plastics along the depth line into deeper water as the day stretches on. Keep an eye out for fish strafing bait along the shoreline. I can’t remind the readers enough: you need a state license to fish Louisiana waters. A three-day permit is available for a nominal fee. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N29 49.449, W93 49.929 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: topwaters, Catch 2000 Series III in darker patterns; Old Bayside Shadlyn in Smoke, Pearl/chartreuse, Glow/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Bill Watkins, 409-7862018, 409-673-2018, www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Trout are starting to key in on small shad that are schooling up in the bayou. Soft plastic shad tails will draw attacks from trout strafing these shad. A Series III worked ultra-slowly (when you think you are fishing it too slow, slow it down some more) C8

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will get the attention of some of the bigger trout. Make long casts and fish in 2-3 feet of water. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: East Pass GPS: N29 58.920, W93 48.940 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in Red Shad, Morning Glory, Black/Chart CONTACT: Captain Bill Watkins, 409-7862018, 409-673-2018, www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Wintertime trout tend to congregate in deeper passes, especially when immoderate temperatures are the norm. Look for these fish to be holding along edges and current breaks during mild days. In post-frontal conditions, focus on deeper water and fish with 1/4-ounce jigheads. Slow and steady is the key. LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Whitehead Reef GPS: N29 28.200, W94 49.220 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live bait; topwaters early, soft plastics CONTACT: Captain Shane Chesson, 409284-8616, www.thedrakeplantation.com TIPS: Watch for birds working over slicks on top and around reefs in the bay during winter. Topwaters should be fished around edges and in the shallows early in the morning. Live bait also works well, especially when fish are holding around the edges. Fish soft plastics around the slicks. LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Big Pasture/Yates Bayou GPS: N29 30.247, W95 41.493 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live bait; topwaters early, soft plastics CONTACT: Captain Shane Chesson, 409284-8616, www.thedrakeplantation.com TIPS: Redfish will be up in the mouth of bayous this time of year. Fish live bait such as shrimp and finger mullet around grasslines that trace the shoreline. Don’t neglect the pockets the indent the shoreline. On cooler days, or on a falling tide, fish the deeper water in the mouth of the bayou. F i s h

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Goose Bay Bass LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Goose Bay GPS: N26 29.151, W99 8.247

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms and flipping tubes in red, red watermelon, red bug. CONTACT: Mike Hawkes, 210-275-1309 TIPS: Do not be surprised if bass are already in spawning mode. Most will be, especially if the winter has been thus far mild. The higher water levels will push bass into the brush around the shallows. Texasrig your worms and tubes, and toss along the edges of the brush. Watch for bedding bass. This requires stout (20-25 pound) gear. LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Big Tiger GPS: N26 44.326, W99 8.750 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms in red, red watermelon, grape. Flipping tubes. CONTACT: Mike Hawkes, 210-275-1309 TIPS: Fish back up in the creeks and all around primary and secondary points during the spawning season. You can pretty much leave your cranking and spinnerbait sticks at home. This is going to be close-in work with a flipping rod. Keep an eye out for bedding bass along shallow gravel. The idea is to put the lure right in the fish’s nest so that it’ll get angry enough to whack it. LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Cow Creek GPS: N29 31.944, W101 12.813 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: jigs, large spinnerbaits, 4-inch Roboworm/drop-shot CONTACT: Mike Hawkes, 210-275-1309 TIPS: The operative word this time of year is deep. Set up your boat in the deeper water, and fish up on the top of the ledge, which is in slightly shallower water. Use larger white spinnerbaits with Carolina

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blades, or dark colored jigs with a trailer. A drop-shot worm is also strong medicine on these bass. Have a venting tool handy, in case any bass come up with suffering from decompression trauma. LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: 277 Bridge GPS: N29 30.142, W100 54.249 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: 4-inch Roboworm/drop-shot CONTACT: Mike Hawkes, 210-275-1309 TIPS: Fish vertically in the deep water around the pilings. Use your electronics to find where the bass are holding in the deeper water and send a worm down on a dropshot rig. 10-15 pound braid works well here because of the no stretch and the thin diameter, which allow you to detect some of the subtler strikes you’ll encounter.

Fork Bass See Red LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Hydrilla Beds GPS: N32 55.208, W95 31.950

PK Stripers of whites as they push the shad to the surface. Make long casts with slabs and/or RatL-Traps, retrieving through the schools of shad. BANK ACCESS: Tailrace Fishing Pier, white bass

Canyon Smallies

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Just North of Costello Island GPS: N32 54.142, W98 28.068 SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad CONTACT: Dean Heffner, 940-779-2597, fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Winter is here and it’s time to slow down your fishing, your retrieves or whatev-

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek Cove GPS: N29 51.885, W98 13.274

SPECIES: smallmouth bass BEST BAITS: 1/4-ounce Bleeding Shad Rat-L-Trap, 1/4-ounce Secret Weapon, small profile spinnerbait, rootbeer or tomato red JDC Grub on jigheads, Pumpkin Devil’s Tongues on split shot rigs along edges CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria, 210-8232153, kandie@gvtc.com TIPS: Smallmouth are good to 4 pounds, off points with rocks near Turkey Creek BANK ACCESS: Comal Park, largemouth bass, catfish

er type fishing you’re doing. Watch for working gulls. When you find them, sneak up quietly with your trolling motor and throw your choice of shallow running lures past them and hop it back to the boat. You can also work the 20-foot breaklines with slabs. BANK ACCESS: Willow Beach RV Park, ask for permission, largemouth, white and striped bass Contact South Regional Fishing Editor Calixto Gonzales by email at cgonzales@fishgame.com Contact North Regional Fishing Editor JD Moore by email at hotspotsnorth@fishgame.com

Hump Rats LOCATION: Lake Aquilla HOTSPOT: Deep Humps GPS: N31 54.214, W97 12.178 SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, Slabs CONTACT: Randy Routh, 817-822-5539, www.teamredneck.com TIPS: Watch the lake for working gulls and cranes. They will lead you to large schools A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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December Looks Good on Sabine Lake ECEMBER IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MONTHS to fish the Sabine Lake System. It’s not too cold and there is little fishing pressure. Looking back over this fall’s action, our early winter fishing has all the earmarks of being one of those to remember. We had great fishing in October and November with excellent population dynamics in terms of specks and reds. The flounder bite did not turn out as well as I had hoped. Perhaps the reason was it was so hard to ignore flocks of gulls and surfacing fish, or it could have been damage caused by Hurricane Ike. If you plan to fish the “forgotten bay” this holiday season, here are some helpful, time-tested techniques and areas to work:

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Causeway Bridge on the south end of the lake SPECIES: reds BAIT: fresh, dead shrimp

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For specks and reds, simply fish near the north end of the lake. The locals call the area between Stewarts Island and Sydney Island “fish alley.” The Neches River dumps in around Stewarts Island and the Sabine River dumps in at Sidney Island— a lot of current, a lot of bait purging out of the surrounding marshes, and many fish. Make sure you have some good binoculars with you. Some years we have birds working as late as February. Probably the most productive rig to use is a straight tail plastic 4-7 inches long. We prefer Old BaySide Shadlyn in purple. We fish this rig on a 3/8-ounce leadhead if it is windy. If it is not windy, we throw it on 1/4ounce lead. If you are looking for a big red or speck, you want to throw a MirrOlure Catch 2000 in Electric Chicken or, as the old salts around here called it, “old pinky.” This is a slow-sinking jerkbait, so work it with your rod tip pointed down. Do not move the rod tip, simply turn the reel handle one-half turn and let the bait glide just under the surface. Last December, I had a father and son fishing with me and we were at the mouth of East Pass. I put the son on the trolling motor chasing surfacing shrimp and hungry trout. Because his dad was older and needed help, I put my rod down and spent my time helping him. We got out right around daylight and immediately started seeing a lot of surfacing trout with some reds mixed in. The dad looked at me at about 8:00 a.m. and said,” I sure like fishing with you.” I asked why and he said, “Because we’ll be limited on specks and reds by 9:30 a.m., and after you clean the fish, we’ll be eating breakfast at the Waffle House by 10:30 a.m.” He was right, and we were some of the few anglers on the lake that day.

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Contact: Skip James 409-886-5341, jjames@gt.rr.com.

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“Lining Up” for Christmas Conservation EVERAL YEARS AGO, MY WIFE AND I WERE IN Palacios shooting pictures for an article assignment. On the “T” head of the community fishing pier, I saw a strange object—a PVC pipe about 4 inches in diameter and 3 feet in length with a cap on the bottom and an elbow on the top

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Most popular winter fishing spots around Galveston might not be accessible this December, due to Hurricane Ike’s fury. The rock groins along the beach should still be fishable, and any spot where there is still sand in front of the surf is worth a try. ALTERNATE SPOT: While boat ramps and bait camps might not be open, many spots along the bay front can be waded. The bay side of San Luis Pass is a good spot, but it must be approached from the island, as the road leading to Surfside was destroyed for about a four-mile stretch. SPECIES: Panfishes such as croaker, sand trout, and whiting will be spiced by the occasional redfish and flounder. An off-season bull red might strike along the beachfront. Speckled trout are where you find them. BEST BAITS: Because commercially sold bait will be hard to find, savvy anglers who don’t throw artificials will use a cast net or mud minnow trap to capture small baitfishes from croaker to mullet to, well, mud minnows, for live and dead bait. BEST TIMES: Warmer, sunny days with good tidal movement.

attached to the pier supports. It was a monofilament fishing line recycling container. This seemed to me a wonderful idea, much better than having loops of used mono blowing down the beach, gathering between jetty rocks, or sinking in the water. Recently, I met John O’Connell of The Texas A&M Sea Grant program and the marine County Extension Agent for Matagorda County in Freeport, and discovered he was the man behind the recycling effort and that it is a lot more effective than I thought. Monofilament, as the name implies, is a line spun from melted plastic in a single strand. High-density polyethylene is a popular material for fishing lines, and some grades of polypropylene are used. Gel-spun HDPE is tough enough to be substituted for Kevlar in producing bulletproof vests, and makes a very effective fishing line. These plastic lines have the same environmental problems all plastics do: except for some specially formulated to be biodegradable, they last practically forever. HDPE, if kept out of direct sunlight, has been estimated to be able to last for 600 years. This longevity is increased in low oxygen situations, as when submerged in saltwater. In other words, improperly discarded line can be around for a long time, entangling fish, birds, and other animals, often leading to death. Putting your large balls of old mono in the household garbage after respooling a bunch of reels is not a good answer, either, as it lasts just as long in a landfill and poses similar problems there. What the Texas Monofilament Recovery A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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& Recycling program does is collect old mono in the PVC containers I mentioned at participating tackle stores, bait shops, and marinas, and even from individual anglers who mail in their mono. Berkley, through their parent group Pure Fishing, does the actual recycling, melting the old line and using it for a variety of purposes. Send cleaned monofilament line directly Pure Fishing at 1900 18th St., Spirit Lake, IA 51360-1041; on the internet, www.berkley-fishing.com/home.cfm; or call 1-800-Berkley for more information. You can find recycling bins in the Galveston/Freeport area at the following locations: Freeport - Bridge Harbor Yacht Club Commissary Dickenson - 1502 FM 517 East Dickenson Baytown - 1724 Market, Baytown Nature Center Baytown - 6313 Baytown Dr. Eddie Gray Wetlands Center Anahuac - Fort Anahuac Park Lake Jackson - Sea Center (3 bins) Philips Lake Rod & Gun Club Quintana - Quintana Beach Fishing pier Quintana Beach Co. Park If you were thinking of giving your favorite fishes some line for Christmas, recycle it instead of tossing it on the ground. To learn more about MMRP, contact John P. O’Connell, j-oconnell@tamu.edu, or check out the website at http://mrrp.tamu.edu.

Capt. Mike Holmes runs tarpon, shark, and bluewater trips on a classic 31 Bertram. To book a trip, call 979-415-0535. Email him at mholmes@fishgame.com.

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Falling Temps Send Trout to Mud and Shell ITTERED WITH CLUMPS OF LIVE OYSTER BEDS throughout its muddy floor, San Antonio Bay is a minefield of reefs.

“Just keep working the reefs until you find the trout,” said guide Lynn Smith. “If they are not on this reef, go to the next. If not there, then go to the next. You will eventually find them.” A reef is a natural attractant to pods of

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finger mullet and shrimp. Beds of oyster are cover for marine life low on the food chain. Though the shell is a hideout, predators like specks, reds, and flounder know where to dine for forage in the open bay. Smith said the oyster farmers have left deep drop-offs around the shell from years of harvesting. He marks those reefs the oyster boats work in the winter with a GPS and comes back and fishes them later.

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Palacios Pavilion SPECIES: speckled trout BAITS: Corkies, Catch 5s, Catch 2000s “When the tides are low in the winter, you can mark a lot of shell. There are lots of reefs that lie just below the surface; it can be dangerous if you do not know where you are going,” he said. Traditionally, specks use mud when mercury readings dip below 63 degrees, as is the case in December. Mud holds warmth and acts as an insulating blanket. As the sun

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Now let’s check out this months hot spots:

Note to Self... ID YOU TAKE A MEMO? IF YOU DIDN’T, THEN maybe you should. This is a time for assessing angling success for the year, and for me, a big part of that comes with documentation. Some guides can remember in detail, but for me, taking notes is crucial. Yes, it is hard to do after a long day on the water, but it pays off. My clients have seen me making notes and leaving memos for myself on my voice mail. I like to record water clarity, wind speed, water temperature, barometric pressure, tidal movement, and significant changes that coincide with fish biting. And this is not just for anglers with boats. I know one land-bound angler that has never owned a boat and never will, and his success with what we call the “bank bite” is so prolific others avoid him at fish cleaning stations. When asked his secret to bank fishing he said, “I document everything I notice and have for 20 years.”

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ST CHARLES BAY: The cuts just off “Meile Dietrich Point” are good places to drift across for reds and trout. Kelly shrimp tails in Electric Grape and New Penny are good choices. Free-lined shrimp in the cut between St. Charles and Aransas will produce keeper trout. COPANO BAY: Line Reef will hold trout on the deeper edges, and reds closer to the reef in shallow water. This reef works with any wind, so allow the wind to drift you into casting range. Piggy perch or cut bait on a Carolina rig is preferred here. Lap Reef using free-lined shrimp or piggies should produce some good trout action. ARANSAS BAY: During the cold days of December, this bay is a good bet for action. The many deep pockets allow fish thermocline protection on the colder days, and on the warmer days, the shallow reef heads are key feeding areas. I like Hamilton’s Reef this time of year as it’s close to the Intracoastal Canal (deep water) and has a lot of good shell structure. Cut bait on a fish-finder rig or a popping cork and shrimp produce well in this area. CARLOS BAY: Think deep water here, like the cut close to Poverty Reef or Carlos Dugout. A Rat-L-Trap worked in these cuts has produced a lot of nice fish over the

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years. A long drift across Carlos Lake using sand eels in Watermelon or red/white will put some trout in the box. MESQUITE BAY: Our famous December north winds are perfect for drifting into or trolling Third Chain Islands. This is a good place for midday action as the water temperature rises. Reds looking for an easy meal will take cut bait under a cork or on a Carolina rig. Try to work the full length of this reef and be patient. AYRES BAY: Find reefs adjacent to the darker mud bottoms. On the colder days, fish the mud; on warmer days, fish the oyster shell. I use an old rod to probe the bottom until I find what I’m looking for. Light jigheads and grubs in Electric Chartreuse and white are the ticket here, or free-lining live shrimp. Contact: Capt. Mac Gable, Mac Attack Guide Service, 512-809-2681, 361-790-9601

THE BANK BITE The beach adjacent to Lamar Beach road is a good place to be, as the winds are usually in your favor allowing for longer casts. The mud bottoms warm the water near shore, attracting reds and trout. Piggy perch or finger mullet on a Carolina rig is a good choice. The bottom in this area has cuts and weed lines; a small move of 15 feet or so can mean the difference between no bites and hot action. If you fish this area and need bait, go see Gerald Eaves or Keith at Seagun Bait (361-727-2220). They are located on the north end of the LBJ causeway, and often have bait when no one else does.

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December Means Few Limits, Huge Trout ECEMBER IS HERE AND BY NOW, MOST sportsmen have swapped their rod and reels for shotguns and rifles. With deer, quail, and waterfowl seasons open, you won’t see much fishing pressure now. Personally, I will be fishing for a Baffin Big Girl in the morning and quail hunting in the afternoon. Fishing this time of year is going to be on quality fish, not quantity, so do not expect quick limits. If that happens, the Lord was fishing with you. You cannot ask for a better time to hunt for your trout of a lifetime, but they will be rare. Water temperatures are cooler, so pull out your waders and re-spool your reels and get to fishing. My arsenal will include 1/16-ounce screw lock jigheads, and soft plastics like Browns Devil Eyes and Bass Assassins in Plum, Rootbeer, Morning Glory, and Chartreuse. In addition, I will have on hand some Super Spooks in case the topwater bite turns on, and some suspending plugs. Starting from Corpus down, whenever the water temperature is cold, fish the canals on the island. The canals have a good soft mud bottom, which trout thrive over during cold spells. Start by throwing soft plastics. You are going to want to work them slowly— I mean very slowly—just bumping it on the bottom. Trout are not aggressive this time of year because the colder water has slowed down their metabolisms; the bite will be very light. Work down the Intracoastal Canal, too. Fish the west side drop-off and other little channels that lead into the Intracoastal. Try the Pure Oil Channel. Work the channels that have deeper water around them to find

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Padre Island National Seashore SPECIES: sand trout, whiting, black drum BEST BAITS: dead shrimp, squid BEST TIMES: high tides

big trout lying on the bottom, staying in close range to the ditch. Hit the drop-offs and deeper areas of Compuerta’s Pass. The Baffin Badlands will be hosting some great fishing this time of the year. You will want to work the outside edges, where the deeper water is. East Kleberg Point has always been one of my favorite wintertime spots. It has so much to offer—deep water, shallow water, structure (rocks), drop-offs, and mud on the deeper side of the reef. If the north wind is blowing, plan to stay on the north shoreline and fish the deeper rocks between East Kleberg and Starvation Point. Key in on the baitfishes in the area. If you don’t have luck with soft plastics, switch over

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to a suspending bait or topwater. I have had days I could not buy a fish on a soft plastic, but as soon as I switched to topwaters, things changed. Peak trophy trout months will soon be here, and Baffin Bay has had a good flush of freshwater, so this should be a great year. I am looking forward to putting some of my clients on their personal bests this upcoming year. I hope a newly designed Haynie Boat will fit in my Christmas stocking.

Contact: Capt. Jim “Donk” Onderdonk, 361-774-7710, www.pocolocolodge.com.

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Red Christmas N THE LOWER TEXAS COAST, THE END OF FEDERAL Red Snapper Season back in September does not mean that fishing for the “rare” species is over. It also doesn’t mean that you have to prepare for an expedition. The 30-mile trips out into the Gulf of Mexico, where you fish in depths up to 300 feet, are not required to find the crimson reef fish. Let’s face it, running three hours to get a couple of hours of fishing in before you run three hours back to port—which, late in the summer, as fish move further and further off shore, becomes the norm—isn’t always fun. In this day of Federal limits of two snapper per person, it also becomes impractical for even private boat owners to spent the gas or diesel required to get to some of the better reefs and wrecks. There is plenty of good fishing for red snapper within Texas state waters (within nine nautical miles of shore) in December. The

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combination near-shore oil and gas drilling rigs, rock-piles, wrecks, and holes, plus the rapid slope to deeper water, combine to create a red snapper fishery that is within easy access of both large boats and the “mosquito fleet.” On a calm day, in fact, it isn’t that uncommon to find several bay and flats boats out as far as five miles offshore. “The great thing about (snapper) fishing in Texas is that you can make a morning run out to one of a couple of dozen spots north or south of the jetties, catch your state limit of snapper, and be back at the dock before noon,” said Danny Leal, who has been a hand on a variety of privately owned boats in Port Mansfield. “Or, you can catch your snapper to keep the skunk off the boat, if the tuna and kings aren’t biting. It’s nice to have options like that.” “A lot of people aren’t even aware of these fish,” said Captain Frank Vazquez (956-6427040). “They just run right over them headed offshore. We have a lot of good snapper nearby, in shallower water (less than 100 feet). These are fish that are there year around. Especially in the winter. Winter is the best time to fish for them. You have to pick your days because of the weather, but when you get out there, you’re going to find lots of

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Dolphin Cove GPS: N26 4.02, W97 9.42 SPECIES: black drum, sheepshead, whiting BAITS: Fish with shrimp or crab on a bottom rig or split shot rig. Use 20pound line or heavier for big uglies. BEST TIME: Moving tide. nice snapper.” “Nice snapper” usually means fish in the 18- to 22-inch range, with a few getting even bigger. You won’t find any of the 30-pound sows that inhabit wrecks and reefs farther out in Federal waters, but you will get an occasional 20, according to Vasquez. “That’s plenty big for my clients,” he said. A closed commercial shrimping season (which generally runs from July until May) historically would help reduce by-catch pressure on red snapper for two months out of the year. Recently, the by-catch issue was reduced even further because of “lack of effort” caused by more shrimpers staying in port. The double whammy of falling prices for shrimp and rising prices for diesel has combined to drasti-

HOTSPOTS FOCUS: MATAGORDA & MID COAST Continued from Page C12 shines and water temperatures warm, trout move to the skinny shorelines of mud, shell, and grass. Sunlight warms the shallows quickly, prompting mullet and other finfishes to seek the warmth. “On shiny days, there is no better bait than a red flash Bass Assassin,” Smith said. The south shoreline of San Antonio Bay has miles of humps, guts, undulations, and shoal grass, which are all the amenities trout desire to ambush prey during warm months. As tides rise and fall, shrimp, mullet, and other baitfishes fall on and off C16

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the bars and reefs. During the winter, things get quiet on the bay. Deer hunters who double as anglers are on South Texas ranches, and there is little to no boat traffic. As water heats up in the afternoon, fish head to the mud flats to warm up. Corkies, Catch 2000s, Catch 5s, and soft plastics rigged on light jigheads are best when worked over every piece of shell. “The reefs along the Intracoastal are all players,” Smith said. “Big trout fall on and off these reefs from the deep waters of the ICW.” Not known as a rooter, trout adapt their diet over mud. Though trout would much F i s h

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rather inhale a large mullet and live off its energy for several days, mullet often are hard to come by in winter. Mussels and other invertebrates that burrow in the mud keep trout going during hard times. Muddy edges of reefs with drop-offs and a strong moving current are great locales to find a chilly meal. “Most of the reefs drop off pretty quick and the better fish are always found hanging in the deeper water on the edge of the shell.”

Contact: Bink Grimes, www.binkgrimesoutdoors.com.

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cally cut into many shrimpers’ profit margins. Simply put, there are fewer shrimp boats on the water because it is too expensive. The red snapper benefit from this drop in pressure, and more and more fish grow to maturity. It might not be as simple as finding a calm day, running three miles out of the Mansfield or Brazos Santiago jetties, and catching a cooler full of snapper, but it isn’t prohibitive for the recreational angler with a good set of electronics to locate some fish. Many of the local maps that you can find at tackle shops and big box sporting goods outlets list the GPS numbers for some of the more popular near-offshore spots from the mouth of the Rio Grande to the Padre Island National Seashore. Many of these spots are in 50-70 feet of water and easily within sight of the beach. The shallower water allows fishermen to shelve the Penn Senator reels and white fiberglass rods and use tackle more reserved for redfish. Vazquez prefers using 20-pound-class tackle for these beach-combing snapper. His go-to rigs are usually 7-foot Ugly Stik Tiger Rods and Pflueger Trion 66 bait-casting reels loaded with 20-pound mono. Terminal tackle includes 50-pound leaders, egg sinkers, and 5/0 circle hooks. The sinkers range from 1 to 4 ounces if the current is on the strong side. On one winter trip with Vazquez, my friends Anibal Gorena and David Rutledge, my wife Sandie, and I battled snapper to 18 pounds on trout tackle. I used a 7-foot, 2-inch Shimano Crucial and Curado 300 DSV, and those snapper wore me out. Any finfish will work as bait for up-close snapper. Menhaden is the most available bait this time of year, but you can also use pinfish, whiting, sand trout, or yellowtail perch (those pesky littlie bait stealers that look like white bass). I also had a great deal of success with a 6-inch Gulp! Curlytail Grub pinned on a 3ounce Spro Bucktail, both in chartreuse. Typically, these snapper will be suspended from the bottom to within 20 feet of the surface, so work your bait or lure from the bottom up. If nothing happens, send your rig back down to the bottom and start over. Chances are, however, if you locate the fish, something will happen before you work for too long. Contact: Calixto Gonzales by email at cgonzales@fishgame.com.

A L M A N A C / T E X A S

F i s h

G a m e ® / D E C E M B E R

2 0 0 8

•

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Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008 USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Channel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).

T12

T11

T10

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

T13 T7

T6 T5 T17

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE below to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

T15 T16

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

T14 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

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.

T20

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 right of 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

T22 T23

View TIDE PREDICTIONS for all Texas Coastal Tide Stations and DATES at...

• D E C E M B E R

2 0 0 8 /

KEY PLACE T12 Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay T13 Gilchrist, East Bay T14 Jamaica Beach, W. Bay T15 Alligator Point, W. Bay T16 Christmas Pt T17 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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

C18

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 a wide variety of wildlife species.

T9 T8

T3 T2 T1

T E X A S

F i s h

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

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

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

D ec 1

2 Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 5:16p Moonrise: 10:45a Set: 9:35p

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 5:16p Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 5:17p Set: 5:16p Sunrise: 6:55a Moonrise: 11:19a Set: 10:32p Moonrise: 11:49a Set: 11:28p Moonrise: 12:19p Set: None

= New Moon = Fi r s t Q u a r te r = Fu l l M o o n = Last Quarter = Best Day

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 6:56a Set: 5:17p Sunrise: 6:57a Moonrise: 12:48p Set: 12:24a Moonrise: 1:19p

Set: 5:17p Set: 1:22a

AM Minor: 7:39a

PM Minor: 8:04p

AM Minor: 8:32a

PM Minor: 8:55p

AM Minor: 9:22a

PM Minor: 9:44p

AM Minor: 10:10a

PM Minor: 10:31p

AM Minor: 10:54a

PM Minor: 11:16p

AM Minor: 11:37a

PM Minor: ——-

AM Minor: ——-

PM Minor: 12:19p

AM Major: 1:27a

PM Major: 1:52p

AM Major: 2:20a

PM Major: 2:44p

AM Major: 3:11a

PM Major: 3:33p

AM Major: 3:59a

PM Major: 4:20p

AM Major: 4:44a

PM Major: 5:05p

AM Major: 5:26a

PM Major: 5:48p

AM Major: 6:08a

PM Major: 6:31p

Moon Overhead: 3:21p 6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:52p

Moon Overhead: 4:08p

12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:35p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 7:02p

Moon Overhead: 6:18p

12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 5:16p Moonrise: 10:08a Set: 8:38p

12a

Moon Overhead: 7:48p 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 2:57a

Moon Underfoot: 5:14a

Moon Underfoot: 5:57a

Moon Underfoot: 6:40a

Moon Underfoot: 7:24a +2.0

BEST:

1:45-3:30 PM

2:40-4:15 PM

3:25-5:00 PM

4:15-5:45 PM

5:00-6:30 PM

5:40-7:10 PM

6:20-8:00 PM TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 4:30a

TIDE LEVELS

+2.0

Moon Underfoot: 3:45a

-1.0

+1.0

-1.0 High Tide: 12:35 am 1.40 ft Low Tide: 12:33 pm -0.06 ft Low Tide: 1:12 pm 0.05 ft Low Tide: 11:56 am -0.14 ft High Tide: 9:45 pm 1.38 ft High Tide: 10:08 pm 1.33 ft High Tide: 9:14 pm 1.41 ft

Low Tide: 1:52 pm 0.20 ft High Tide: 10:24 pm 1.27 ft

Low Tide: 2:38 pm 0.38 ft High Tide: 10:35 pm 1.20 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:24 am 10:38 am 3:32 pm 10:41 pm

0.67 ft 0.86 ft 0.59 ft 1.15 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:35 am 12:32 pm 4:39 pm 10:42 pm

0.38 ft 1.00 ft 0.82 ft 1.14 ft

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE LE VEL GRAPH: Yellow: Daylight Tab: Peak Fishing Period Green: Falling Tide Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

12a

BEST:

7:05-9:40 PM

12p

SOLUNAR AC TIVIT Y: 12a

AM/PM Timeline Light Blue: Nighttime

MINOR Feeding Periods (+/- 1.5 Hrs.)

AM Minor: 1:20a

PM Minor: 1:45p

AM Major: 7:32a

PM Major: 7:57p

Time Moon is at its Highest Point in the 12a Sky

Moon Overhead: 8:50a

Gold Fish: Best Time Blue Fish: Good Time

AM/PM Timeline

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

12p

A L M A N A C / T E X A S

MOON PHASE SYMBOLS MAJOR Feeding Periods (+/- 2 Hrs.)

12a

Time Moon is Directly Underfoot (at its peak on opposite side of the earth)

F i s h

= New Moon = First Quarter = Full Moon = L a s t Q u a r te r = B es t Da y

G a m e ® / D E C E M B E R

2 0 0 8

•

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

= Peak Fishing Period

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

= New Moon = Fi r s t Q u a r te r = Fu l l M o o n = Last Quarter = Best Day

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 6:57a Moonrise: 1:53p

Set: 5:17p Set: 2:24a

Sunrise: 6:58a Moonrise: 2:32p

Set: 5:17p Set: 3:30a

Sunrise: 6:59a Moonrise: 3:19p

Set: 5:17p Set: 4:41a

Sunrise: 6:59a Moonrise: 4:15p

Set: 5:17p Set: 5:54a

Sunrise: 7:00a Moonrise: 5:19p

Set: 5:18p Set: 7:04a

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 6:30p

Set: 5:18p Set: 8:09a

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 7:43p

Set: 5:18p Set: 9:06a

AM Minor: 12:38a

PM Minor: 1:03p

AM Minor: 1:22a

PM Minor: 1:49p

AM Minor: 2:11a

PM Minor: 2:41p

AM Minor: 3:06a

PM Minor: 3:39p

AM Minor: 4:09a

PM Minor: 4:42p

AM Minor: 5:16a

PM Minor: 5:49p

AM Minor: 6:25a

PM Minor: 6:57p

AM Major: 6:50a

PM Major: 7:15p

AM Major: 7:36a

PM Major: 8:03p

AM Major: 8:26a

PM Major: 8:56p

AM Major: 9:23a

PM Major: 9:55p

AM Major: 10:25a

PM Major: 10:59p

AM Major: 11:32a

PM Major: ——-

AM Major: 12:09a

PM Major: 12:41p

Moon Overhead: 8:38p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 10:33p

Moon Overhead: 9:33p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 11:38p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 12:45a

Moon Overhead: None 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 1:51a 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 8:12a +2.0

-1.0

BEST:

7:55-9:40 PM

Moon Underfoot: 11:05a

BEST:

8:45-10:50 PM

Moon Underfoot: 12:12p BEST:

9:50-11:50 PM

4:05-6:15 AM

Moon Underfoot: 1:18p BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 2:22p +2.0

BEST:

12:00-12:55 AM

12:05-2:05 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST:

7:05-8:45 PM

Moon Underfoot: 10:02a

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 9:04a

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

C20

6:06 am 1:59 pm 6:00 pm 10:40 pm

0.05 ft 1.19 ft 1.04 ft 1.18 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

• D E C E M B E R

6:46 am 3:10 pm 7:28 pm 10:39 pm

-0.27 ft 1.38 ft 1.22 ft 1.26 ft

2 0 0 8 /

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

7:31 am 4:13 pm 8:48 pm 10:49 pm

T E X A S

-0.56 ft 1.53 ft 1.35 ft 1.36 ft

F i s h

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

8:21 am 5:12 pm 9:46 pm 11:23 pm

-0.80 ft Low Tide: 9:13 am -0.95 ft 1.61 ft High Tide: 6:09 pm 1.63 ft 1.44 ft Low Tide: 10:24 pm 1.47 ft 1.45 ft

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:21 am 10:07 am 7:03 pm 11:03 pm

1.48 ft -0.99 ft 1.58 ft 1.44 ft

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:27 am 11:01 am 7:51 pm 11:57 pm

1.46 ft -0.94 ft 1.49 ft 1.34 ft

+1.0

-1.0

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 7:02a Moonrise: 8:54p

Set: 5:19p Set: 9:54a

AM Minor: 7:32a

PM Minor: 8:02p

AM Minor: 8:36a

PM Minor: 9:02p

AM Minor: 9:33a

PM Minor: 9:57p

AM Major: 1:18a

PM Major: 1:47p

AM Major: 2:22a

PM Major: 2:49p

AM Major: 3:20a

PM Major: 3:45p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:40a

Moon Overhead: 3:49a 12a

12p

12a

12p

SATURDAY

Set: 5:19p Sunrise: 7:04a Sunrise: 7:02a Set: 5:19p Sunrise: 7:03a Moonrise: 10:02p Set: 10:35a Moonrise: 11:05p Set: 11:10a Moonrise: None

Moon Overhead: 2:53a

FRIDAY

Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 11:42a Moonrise: 12:04a Set: 12:12p Moonrise: 1:02a

Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 12:42p Moonrise: 1:59a

Set: 5:21p Set: 1:13p

AM Minor: 10:23a

PM Minor: 10:46p

AM Minor: 11:09a

PM Minor: 11:31p

AM Minor: 11:51a

PM Minor: ——-

AM Minor: 12:10a

PM Minor: 12:32p

AM Major: 4:12a

PM Major: 4:35p

AM Major: 4:58a

PM Major: 5:20p

AM Major: 5:41a

PM Major: 6:02p

AM Major: 6:21a

PM Major: 6:43p

Moon Overhead: 5:27a 12a

SUNDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:55a

Moon Overhead: 6:11a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 7:38a 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 3:21p +2.0

-1.0

Moon Underfoot: 5:50p

Moon Underfoot: 6:33p

Moon Underfoot: 7:17p

Moon Underfoot: 8:01p +2.0

BEST:

1:10-3:00 AM

2:15-4:05 AM

3:10-4:55 AM

4:00-5:40 AM

4:40-6:20 AM

5:30-7:05 AM

6:10-7:50 AM

TIDE LEVELS

Moon Underfoot: 5:04p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 4:15p

High Tide: 2:38 am 1.37 ft Low Tide: 1:10 am Low Tide: 11:55 am -0.78 ft High Tide: 4:02 am High Tide: 8:31 pm 1.37 ft Low Tide: 12:49 pm High Tide: 9:03 pm

C22

• D E C E M B E R

1.17 ft 1.21 ft -0.54 ft 1.24 ft

2 0 0 8 /

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

T E X A S

2:33 am 5:52 am 1:43 pm 9:29 pm

0.94 ft 1.00 ft -0.23 ft 1.12 ft

F i s h

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:43 am 8:00 am 2:39 pm 9:50 pm

0.66 ft 0.83 ft 0.10 ft 1.03 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:38 am 10:11 am 3:42 pm 10:08 pm

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

0.36 ft 0.77 ft 0.43 ft 0.96 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:26 am 12:21 pm 5:13 pm 10:21 pm

0.09 ft 0.85 ft 0.70 ft 0.94 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:09 am 2:17 pm 7:22 pm 10:26 pm

-0.15 ft 1.00 ft 0.88 ft 0.94 ft

+1.0

-1.0

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Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008 MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: 2:56a

Set: 5:21p Set: 1:46p

Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: 3:53a

Set: 5:22p Set: 2:23p

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 4:50a

Set: 5:22p Set: 3:05p

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 5:45a

Set: 5:23p Set: 3:51p

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 6:37a

Set: 5:24p Set: 4:42p

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 7:25a

Set: 5:24p Set: 5:37p

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 8:08a

Set: 5:25p Set: 6:33p

AM Minor: 12:49a

PM Minor: 1:12p

AM Minor: 1:30a

PM Minor: 1:54p

AM Minor: 2:12a

PM Minor: 2:37p

AM Minor: 2:58a

PM Minor: 3:23p

AM Minor: 3:45a

PM Minor: 4:10p

AM Minor: 4:35a

PM Minor: 5:00p

AM Minor: 5:25a

PM Minor: 5:50p

AM Major: 7:01a

PM Major: 7:24p

AM Major: 7:42a

PM Major: 8:05p

AM Major: 8:25a

PM Major: 8:49p

AM Major: 9:10a

PM Major: 9:35p

AM Major: 9:58a

PM Major: 10:23p

AM Major: 10:47a

PM Major: 11:12p

AM Major: 11:37a

PM Major: ——-

Moon Overhead: 8:23a

12a

FRIDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 9:59a

Moon Overhead: 9:10a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 10:49a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 12:30p

Moon Overhead: 11:39a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 1:19p 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

THURSDAY

= New Moon = Fi r s t Q u a r te r = Fu l l M o o n = Last Quarter = Best Day

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 8:47p

-1.0

Moon Underfoot: 11:14p

Moon Underfoot: None

Moon Underfoot: 12:05a

Moon Underfoot: 12:54a

BEST:

6:45-8:40 AM

1:20-3:15 AM

2:00-4:30 AM

2:45-6:00 AM

3:30-6:20 AM

4:30-6:30 AM

5:20-6:30 AM

+2.0

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 10:24p

TIDE LEVELS

+2.0

Moon Underfoot: 9:34p

Low Tide: 6:49 am High Tide: 3:38 pm

-0.32 ft Low Tide: 7:28 am 1.13 ft High Tide: 4:32 pm

-0.45 ft Low Tide: 8:06 am 1.21 ft High Tide: 5:13 pm

-0.53 ft Low Tide: 8:42 am 1.23 ft High Tide: 5:47 pm

-0.57 ft Low Tide: 9:18 am 1.22 ft High Tide: 6:17 pm

-0.59 ft Low Tide: 9:53 am -0.58 ft High Tide: 12:33 am 1.20 ft High Tide: 6:44 pm 1.16 ft Low Tide: 10:27 am Low Tide: 11:01 pm 1.09 ft High Tide: 7:10 pm Low Tide: 11:04 pm

1.09 ft -0.56 ft 1.14 ft 1.04 ft

+1.0

-1.0

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

= Peak Fishing Period

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

= New Moon = Fi r s t Q u a r te r = Fu l l M o o n = Last Quarter = Best Day

SATURDAY

3 1 JA N 1 / 0 9

SUNDAY

Set: 5:25p Set: 7:30p

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 9:21a

Set: 5:26p Set: 8:27p

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 9:52a

Set: 5:27p Set: 9:22p

AM Minor: 6:16a

PM Minor: 6:40p

AM Minor: 7:07a

PM Minor: 7:29p

AM Minor: 7:56a

PM Minor: 8:18p

AM Minor: 8:46a

PM Minor: 9:07p

AM Minor: 9:33a

PM Minor: 9:54p

AM Minor: 10:19a

PM Minor: 10:40p

AM Minor: 11:05a

PM Minor: 11:28p

AM Major: 12:05a

PM Major: 12:28p

AM Major: 12:56a

PM Major: 1:18p

AM Major: 1:45a

PM Major: 2:07p

AM Major: 2:35a

PM Major: 2:56p

AM Major: 3:22a

PM Major: 3:43p

AM Major: 4:08a

PM Major: 4:29p

AM Major: 4:53a

PM Major: 5:16p

Moon Overhead: 2:06p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 3:34p

Moon Overhead: 2:51p 12a

12p

Set: 5:30p Sunrise: 7:11a Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:29p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:31p Moonrise: 10:23a Set: 10:20p Moonrise: 10:52a Set: 11:15p Moonrise: 11:21a Set: None

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 8:46a

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:18p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:44p

Moon Overhead: 5:00p 12a

12p

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:32p Moonrise: 11:53a Set: 12:14a

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:30p 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 1:43a +2.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 3:57a

Moon Underfoot: 4:39a

Moon Underfoot: 5:22a

Moon Underfoot: 6:07a +2.0

BEST:

1:05-3:10 PM

2:00-3:50 PM

2:40-4:35 PM

3:30-5:15 PM

4:10-6:05 PM

5:00-6:45 PM TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 3:13a

TIDE LEVELS

12:10-2:25 PM

Moon Underfoot: 2:29a

-1.0

+1.0

-1.0 High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

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1.06 ft High Tide: 2:04 am 1.00 ft Low Tide: -0.51 ft Low Tide: 11:30 am -0.43 ft High Tide: 1.11 ft High Tide: 7:59 pm 1.07 ft Low Tide: 0.98 ft High Tide:

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0.54 ft 0.64 ft 0.10 ft 0.87 ft

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0.32 ft 0.59 ft 0.34 ft 0.84 ft

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0.06 ft 0.67 ft 0.59 ft 0.86 ft

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Pak-Lite Brilliance There is a new product on the market that is one of those wonders that come along once in a very great while. It is called a PakLite, and is one of those simple inventions that when you see it for the first time, it makes you slap your forehead and wonder, Why didn’t I think of that? Pak-Lite is a simple little light made of two LED bulbs, contained in a tiny plastic case, with a simple switch that allows settings of off, low or high. The little light simply snaps onto the end of a 9-volt battery. So simple it astounds. Also astounding is the run time of this little light. On low setting, depending on whether you have the standard Pak-Lite or the Super Pak-Lite, can run from 600 to 1200 hours, depending on the battery. That’s right, it’s not a typo, 1200 hours. On the low setting the light provides enough light to see a few feet, read a book or a map, or other simple chores. On the high setting, again depending on which model you have, run time can be from 50 to 200 hours. Highest run time is obviously highest with the best quality lithium batteries. On the high setting the light is strong enough to get around easily outside in the dark and do almost anything you want inside. It is about as bright as a standard 2cell flashlight, is about a fourth the size, and has about 20 times the battery life. T h e

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Pal-Lite comes is standard white light, red, green, ultraviolet, infrared, and several more colors. The red and infrared should be of special interest to the military and law enforcement. I have some of both ordered that I am going to give to my Border Patrol agent son-in-law, so that he can test them for me under actually field conditions. Bottom line is that if you spend much time outdoors at night, this is one little light that will make life much, much simpler for you. And it even comes with a little ballistic nylon belt pouch. Also available are accessories that allow to you clip the light to a wall, wear it on a headband, and other neat devices that extend the services of the PakLite. Price runs from about $15 to $30 depending on which model and color your order. Contact: Pak-Lite Company, 877-7154448, www.9voltlight.com —Steve LaMascus

Smooth Running Merc Tiller I have the perfect wife. For my 40th birthday, she presented me with a brand-spanking-new Mercury 15-hp four-stroke tiller-steer outboard. So it’s not exactly a V-8 powerhouse and it didn’t cost a million bucks—how many wives lay a new outboard on you for your birthday? And, getting this motor has given me an unexpected opportunity, because being oriented to fishing boats from 18 feet and up, it’s rare I get to test a powerplant this small. The first thing that struck me about the Mercury was its weight. At 115 pounds, it’s not exactly a lightweight. But, consider this: Some modern twostroke 15-hp outboards tip the scales

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at 114 pounds; so much for the theory that two-strokes save weight compared to fourstrokes. And most competitors come in over the 100-pound mark, so by today’s standards, the Merc is right in line with the competition. Unlike much of the competition, however, the Merc comes armed with an 11-amp alternator. It also has an over-rev limiter and a low oil alarm, adding to the list of features usually found on larger, more expensive motors. Starting can be as easy as a pull with the manual cord, or upgrading to an electric start is also an option. This in-linetwo, 21.4-cid mighty-mite has a 2.15:1 gear ratio, and a two-valve single overhead cam. It carries a three-star CARB rating, and a three-year warranty. Mounted on my 14-foot Polar Kraft aluminum waterfowling boat, the 15 breaks a plane quickly and hits 22 mph. Although remote controls are available for the motor, tiller steering gives you laser-fast handling and better maneuverability at the dock. It’s also easier to mount this way; I only had to drill two boltholes and tighten the hand screws to get this rig ready to run. The shifter is longer than those found on older motors and is easy to reach from a sitting position, but handling and use is enhanced most by a nifty little steering friction adjustment lever, which allows you to dial in the amount of pressure it takes to move the tiller arm. But the best thing about Mercury’s 15 four-stroke is the quiet, smoke-free performance. High-tech two-stroke systems like E-TEC and Optimax aren’t available on motors this small, so if you don’t choose

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a four-stroke like the Mercury 15, you’ll be breathing those clouds of blue smoke and listening to the old-school two-stroke roar. That makes the Mercury 15 a pleasure to run each and every time—for everyone except the ducks, that is. Contact: Mercury Marine, 920-9295040, www.mercurymarine.com —Lenny Rudow

All Amped Up You’re within a few ounces of winning the tournament when your trolling motor batteries die. Sure, you’ll keep on casting, but without the ability to creep along silently your catch rate plummets-and you come in second place. As you run back to the dock, you realize that the energy being directed to your full-charged starting battery could have been used to recharge your trolling motor’s power source, if only there were a battery charger that could do this trick. Too bad you didn’t know about Guest’s new ChargePro Plus, a system that combines a Guest charger with an alternator power module. Once your alternator has charged up your starting battery, the ChargePro Plus shifts the additional energy created by your outboard to the boat’s trolling motor battery banks. I tested out a ChargePro Plus running through my boat’s system with a 140-hp Suzuki four-stroke outboard, and it handled the job with no problem. The 140’s alternator puts out 40 amps, and the ChargePro Plus is rated to flow a current up to 70 amps. That means it will be able to keep up with the vast majority of outboards on the market since most put out 50 amps or less. The system has both 12- and 24-volt modules, and feeds 8 or 20 amps (depending on the model you choose) of power to the batteries when in use. Surprise benefit: since your trolling motor batteries spend less time drained, they’ll enjoy a longer overall life span. Installing the ChargePro Plus was a piece of cake; the alternator module unit is relatively small and light at 4x7x3 inches and 2 pounds, and the

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charger is 6x7x3 inches and weighs 6 pounds. It has two separate outputs, so you can even charge different 12- and 24-volt battery banks at the same time. And, although I didn’t test one on my system, you can purchase a separate remote indicator for your dash, which will tell you what’s being charged and when it’s fully juiced up. Another thing I really liked about the system was being able to charge up the batteries on the run home, without even having to think about it. After days of relatively light trolling

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motor use and long runs home, I didn’t even have to plug in my onboard charger when I got back to the house because the ChargePro Plus had already done the job for me. For serious tournament anglers (and lazybones like me) who use their trolling motors until the juice runs out, the ChargePro Plus will give you a serious advantage. Contact: Marinco Electrical Group, 707-226-9600, www.marinco.com —LR

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After 55 years Ande is proud to introduce “Fresh Water by Weaver Ande”. Fresh Water is rail compatible, weapons mount. The smooth and easy to cast. The 85450 Floating Shotgun Case pro- Fresh Water is Ultra Sensitive Sightmark Q5 Triple complete package retails for under $120.00. tects your firearm in most foul weather situ- and Strong for Tough Fishing Duty Flashlight Sightmark is headquartered in ations. Hunting can get rough sometimes Conditions. Like all Mansfield, TX U.S.A. For and the last thing you need is to lose or damAnde line, Fresh more information on the Sightmark Q5 age your gun. Water, comes Triple Duty Flashlight and other products, The 85450 Floating Shotgun Case with High log on to www.sightmark.com. Please confeatures a heavy-duty water-resistant Abrasion tact Bobby Owen at 817.225.0310 for exterior and closed cell foam Resistance, more information. padding, making this case Excellent Knot floatable. Both Strength and is super Soft. a n Ande has provided Great Line to anglers Plano 85450 Floating the world over, for all fishing Shotgun Case conditions, at a reasonable adjustable price for over 55 years. shoulder strap and Ande “The Line of champions” Talegator Distributors, LLC has proheavy duty Velcro® closure handle make it Ande duced the ultimate tailgate seating solution. secure and easy to carry. A D-ring is 5409 Australian Avenue, West Palm The Talegator is the only comfortable twoattached for easy hanging and drying. Beach, Florida 33407 seater product of its kind specifically created The 85450 Floating Shotgun Case 561-842-2474 and designed to fit the back of most pickup measures 54”L, is available in RealTree™ E-mail: Andeline@Bellsouth.net. trucks. Lightweight (approximately 6 lbs.), Max 4 and retails for $34.99. For more fitted with two cupholders and a food cominformation contact Douglas Riewski at partment, and easy to install, the Talegator driewski@planomolding.com or visit is the ideal product for tailgaters, hunters, www.planomolding.com. picnickers, campers, construction workers, or anyone requiring comfortable seating The Sightmark Q5 Triple Duty Flash- while outside of their pickup. The company has licensed with Ford light utilizes the best in LED technology Motor Co. to produce a Ford Edition of with the use of a XR-E Cree® LED which their product, which is available through creates 280 lumens of extremely bright light. After 55 years the “Best Line in the The Q5 is water-proof and will work even your local Ford dealership. Other automakWorld”, six years running, just got when frozen in water. The flashlight better! will operate continuously for 24 Ande has more Curhours with the use of lithium rent (547) IGFA CR-123A batteries. This Fresh Water World flashlight comes with all Records than any of the accessories needline compaed, including a pushny…Period! Ande button end cap, touch didn’t even have a activated pressure pad, fresh water line. lanyard, removable clip,

Plano Floats New Idea in a Gun Case

Tailgator Hangs Out in Style

Ande Launches Fresh Water Line

Flashlight Does Triple Duty

three-prong glass breaking ring, batteries and an off-set,

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er editions will be available soon. Talegator Distributors, LLC is also licensed with the Florida Gators and Marshall University. Other college choices will be coming soon. For more information on the Talegator and available brand licensing opportunities, lon on at www.thetalegator.com or call 86667GATOR. You may also contact them at: TaleGator Distributors, LLC 13271 Mt. Elliott Detroit, MI 48212-2549 Email: sales@thetalegator.com

Tough Waterproof Binoculars for Boaters Columbia Sportswear Company’s Bonehead binoculars are U.S. engineered to meet the demands of boaters and anglers. These rugged 7x50 binoculars are o-ring sealed and nitrogen filled for effective pro-

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Kruger Optical, LLC, a full-service optics provider. Headquartered in Sisters, OR, and Walnut, CA, Kruger Optical supplies innovative binoculars, spotting scopes, riflescopes and other optical products, as well as engineering services. Information about the company is available from their website, www.krugeroptical.com.

Climate Control Sunglasses

Shatterproof Filter 8™ polarized Selinite™ lenses feature 8-layer construction including advanced scratch-resistant, antireflective, and hydrophobic coatings. All Wiley X eyewear is ANSI certified as occupational eye protection. Tests to earn this rating include withstanding the impact from a 1.1 pound weight dropped 50 inches and a .25 caliber ball shot at each lens ten times at 150 ft/s. With hazards to eyes such as insects or debris encountered when running at high speeds and dodging lures as airborne projectiles, impact “insurance” is very wise. More eye injuries occur while fishing than any other recreational activity. With a 21-year history of developing standard issue eyewear for U.S. Armed Services, Wiley X provides anglers with the highest levels of eyewear performance and protection.

Wiley X’s patented, removable Facial Cavity™ Seal is a soft, comfortable, breathable gasket that seals out wind, dust, pollen, debris, and peripheral light to reduce eye fatigue and keep glasses secure when running boats. Without the gasket, eyes would be exposed to damaging UV rays streaming in from around and behind lenses. This unobstructed sunlight also reduces the effectiveness of Wiley X polarized lenses, making it difficult to see underwater. So the For more Facial Cavity™ Seal vastly improves sight- information, call 800-776-7842. Or online, fishing capabilities. www.wileyx.com.

Columbia Sportswear Bonehead Binoculars tection from moisture and fogging. Large objectives and advanced, fully multicoated optics provide a bright, clear image even in low light. H2C™ coating protects external lenses from scratches and repels water, for clear viewing in wet, rough conditions. Binoculars are sold with a protective, molded case and a versatile Velcro mounting system, which can attached to a boat’s dashboard or other surface. A moisture-wicking CoolNeck binocular strap is also included. Bonehead binoculars are part of a complete optics collection introduced this year by Columbia Sportswear Co. The company’s optics line was developed by licensee A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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ton Boat Lift System, visit the Cypress Lifts and Marine web site at www.cypressmarine.com or call 1-866LIFTS-66.

Greaseless, Maintenance-Free Boat Lift Don’t climb down... send the Tree Talon!

Cypress Lifts and Marine of Scroggins, Texas, announces the introduction of the Triton gear box for overhead lifting of boats and personal watercraft. The unique design has no belts or pulleys and does not require grease or other maintenance. The fullyenclosed aluminum housing and stainless steel motor provides a sleek look and quiet operation.

The Triton maintenance-free boat lift. The greaseless feature keeps your boat free of messy grease drips. The Triton lift is not only convenient and attractive, it is also powerful. When paired with a Triton VSeries cradle lift, the system can lift boats up to 40,000 pounds at a lift speed of up to three feet per minute. The Triton lift system boasts other superior features such as extruded cable pulleys, aircraft quality stainless steel cable, all-aluminum cradle construction and more. The system is fully adjustable to accommodate all types of watercraft, from fishing, ski and wakeboard boats to pontoon and sail boats. For a complete overview of the Tri C30

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We’ve all done it… dropped our release, a glove, a grunt call while perched in our tree stand. Which leave us two choices - do without for the remainder of the hunt or unhook your safety belt and climb down risking that we’ll spook game. Tree Talon solves this problem quickly and quietly. Now you can get your item without getting down. With the Tree Talon You simply pull back the arm or “Talon”’ and cock it at 90 degrees. Lower the unit so it lands next to your dropped item. Once the Tree Talon hits the ground, the impact activated “talon” grabs your dropped item for you to pull back up! Tree Talon is strong and built to hold up to 35 lbs. You can even use Tree Talon when first climbing into your stand to haul up your bow or pack or to lift tree stands. With an adjustable “foot” at the bottom of Tree Talon you avoid grabbing leaves and other forest litter when picking items up. An internal rubber bumper stifles noise when the “Talon” closes, while a serrated edge and specially designed teeth enhance grip on objects. Pick up

The Tree Talon

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your gloves, arrows, releases, hats, calls, facemasks, binoculars, packs, etc. Virtually anything you didn’t mean to drop. Don’t go hunting without your TreeTalon. For more information visit www.treetalon.com.

Wireless Wildlife Monitoring Save time, money and gas by not traveling to your trail cameras just to check the pictures. The Smart Scouter Cellular Surveillance System allows hunters to monitor their favorite hidden post without entering or disrupting the woods. The Smart Scouter features fast trigger speeds, colored day photos and

The 50 LED infrared invisible flash extends the nighttime range to 50 feet. Smart Scouter wirelessly sends images to a user’s cell phone and personal account at www.smartscouter.com. The menu is user friendly and navigates quickly. From the website the user can manage their Smart Scouter unit and view pictures. Great for groups, clubs and outfitters because photos can be shared in real time. The Smart Scouter System can also be used as a non wireless trail camera similar to other products on the market today, as well as a remote security system. For $649 an individual can purchase the unit, backend website account, battery, charger and a ready to

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operate cellular system. A low monthly wireless fee of $14.99 can be froze to $7.99 for non-active months. A $.04 per image uploaded charges to the users account for small resolution images. Looking at the cost of gas, valued time and intelligent tactics implied, this is a no-brainer for people serious about their wildlife monitoring. Visit www.smartscouter.com or call 888-70SCOUT (1-800-707-2688).

The Hog Slammer build a large coral style pen to control these destructive predators. Each gate comes with a free bag of Biologic Hog Addiction. Visit www.hogslammer.com to see the Hog Slammer in action or call 662-2955702

Verizon Phone, Like a Rock The G’zOne Boulder from Verizon Wireless is designed with the rugged outdoorsman in mind. The device is built to military specifications for water immersion, durability and heat resistance, and the MILSTD-810F test standards against which the Boulder was measured closely resemble the

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‘Deal of the Century’ ENTURY BOAT COMPANY, INC. HAS ANNOUNCED its annual “Deal of the Century” event, one of the company’s largest and richest retail promotions in its history, offering up to $14,000 in cash rebates and free electronics upgrades. The “Deal of the Century” sales promotion runs from through 21 December 2008, and is available on select models, including Century’s leading models: 3200 Offshore powered by Yamaha’s new F350 outboards; 2202 Inshore and family friendly 2350 Dual Console; as well as the 2900 Express with Optional Tower, or the 2400 Inshore, a boat made to take on inshore and near-offshore fishing waters. In addition to cash rebates, Century is offering a free Raymarine electronics package on Century twin-engine models, including upgrades from a standard Raymarine E80 unit to single or dual E-120 units, which might include a GPS Antenna, Ray 54 VHF Radio, 1KW Transducer DSM 300, and Sea Talk Network Switch.

challenges that typical hunting and fishing environments bring. Specifically, the phone can withstand being submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes, can survive being dropped from a height of 1.5 meters onto hard surfaces like plywood, concrete and steel and will still function when exposed to temperatures ranging from 95120 degrees Fahrenheit for 72 consecutive hours. Its Push to Talk capabilities give you instant access to your contacts to easily share stories of the latest catch or kill, and you can

“We launched our first ‘Deal of the Century’ promotion in 2007 with great rebates, which lead to tremendous success at the dealer level,” said Century’s National Sales Manager, Richie Rodgers. “We have continued to expand on this promotion, and here we are entering the 2009 boat show season with even greater deals. Our dealers have embraced Century’s efforts to drive retail traffic during challenging economic times, and consumers are responding by taking advantage of these great savings being offered by Century.” Century continues to expand its product offering, and for 2009, the company boasts its most complete line-up to date, including a wide selection of center consoles, walkarounds, dual consoles, and inshores, as well as the company’s 3200 Offshore and 2900 Express. Century Boat Company, Inc. has a long history of high-quality boats designed and built for boaters and anglers who demand fishability, luxury, and reliability. Today, Century Boat Company, Inc is a leading manufacturer of walk-arounds, center consoles, and inshores. Contact: Century Boat Company, Inc., 850-769-0311, www.centuryboats.com

even send photos of your successes to family and friends using the 1.3 megapixel camera. The Boulder doubles as a media source when away from television and radio, allowing you to download and listen to your favorite songs while waiting for the perfect bite or buck. This rough and tough phone starts at $149.99 after rebate, and is available in orange/black or black/silver—whichever best compliments your camo. For more information visit www.verizonwireless.com.

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Sightron Big Sky SII Hunter Holdover Reticle IGHTRON MAKES A GREAT RIFLESCOPE. NOW, with the addition of the new Hunter Holdover Reticle, it is even better. The HHR Consists of a center crosshair and dot for primary aiming, then below the main aiming point are two more crosshairs that extend just a very short way on each side of the lower reticle. The three aiming points are intended for sighting at 200, 300, and 400 yards. This will work reasonably well with any cartridge that produces from about 2800 to 3200 feet per second, and with some cartridges will be exact. Charts on sighting are included with the scope and have data for more common cartridges and bullet weights. I mounted the SII with HHR on my pet T/C Icon .308. According to the charts, with the loads I was using, I needed to sight it in 1.8 inches high at 100 yards for the secondary reticles to be sighted at 300 and 400 yards. This sighting actually makes the primary crosshairs on zero at 200 yards. It was late in the day and the wind was literally howling across my range,

so I just put up a target and shot over the hood of my pickup for preliminary sighting. A few shots had the scope generally on target, and I called it a day. Still the few shots I fired convinced me that of the quality of the scope. I have always felt that the Sightron Big Sky SII scopes were as good as any scope on the market and better than most, and that is saying a lot. A couple of days passed before the wind and my round tuit (my late mother-in-law, bless her heart, gave me a round tuit one Christmas, so that I would never again have to say that I just never got around to it) came together. I gathered up a couple of boxes of Federal Premium Vital-Shok loaded with 165-grain Nosler AccuBond bullets and headed out to see how the new scope worked. The wind was still whipping pretty good, but getting a calm day in this end of Texas is about like waiting for rain. It will probably be a very long wait. However, I hunt in these conditions, so I figured I might as well test the scope in the same conditions. Actually, it was

a very mild day for July. The temperature was bumping 90 rather than 110, so the range work was not the survival test it usually is at this time of year. I sighted the gun in 2 inches high at 100 yards. The first group, using the center dot and crosshair, was just slightly less than an inch, just what I have come to expect from the Icon. With the scope sighted in, I moved back to 300 yards. The first 3-shot group at 300 was 3 inches high and about 4 inches right, but it measured just at 4 inches. Not bad for a windy day with plenty of mirage. I blame the wind for the windage error, and the chart had indicated that the scope needed to be set 1.8 inches high at 100 to be center at 300. I dialed in two clicks left and two clicks down and fired another 3-shot group. This group was center for elevation, still about 3 inches right, and again measured about 4 inches across. I was plenty pleased with the results. The wind and the mirage had both increased between the first and second groups at 300 yards, making it more difficult to be positive of my hold. Still a deer, or even a jackrabbit, would be cold cuts at that range. I don’t have 400 yards on my range, but I have no doubt that the 400-yard crosshair would deliver the goods at that range, just as advertised. If you want to know more specifics, you can find all you want on the Sightron website www.sightron.com. I have shot the Sightron Big Sky SII with Hunter Holdover Reticle a lot more and am even more impressed with the quality of the scope. The HHR makes shooting at long range much, much easier. This scope would be great for West Texas mule deer, pronghorns, or just shooting whitetails down those endless South Texas senderos. The Sightron Big Sky SII HHR scope will generally sell for around $400.00.

E-mail Steve LaMascus at guns@fishgame.com.

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Texas Fall Turkey Trophies HE WORLD SEEMED PERFECT AS A SWOLLEN, orange sun peeked over the granite and limestone hills of Real County, Texas.

Located on the fringe of the Hill Country, Trans-Pecos, and Brush Country regions, this

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unique area has always seemed like a miniature Colorado to me, complete with free-ranging elk that have escaped from nearby exotic ranches, occasionally seen grazing along the farm roads and cooling themselves in the crystal clear streams. And although this spot wasn’t nearly as high in elevation as virtually any locale in the Rockies, it seemed just as close to heaven to this outdoor writer.

by Chester Moore My reason for being up at dawn in this remote location was to hunt the elusive Rio Grande turkey that inhabit the particular property. I say “elusive” because at this point in the hunt, bird sign was everywhere, but they somehow managed to use the rugged terrain and

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their incredible senses to dodge falling victim to my 12-gauge loaded with No. 4 Remington Hevi Shot. I suppose that is what I get for hunting them in November. Yes, that’s right—I was purposely hunting turkey in Texas during deer season. My friends told me I was crazy, or to at least set up at a corn feeder and use a rifle to get my birds. However, I was determined to forego the normal course of action and score on a nice bearded bird on my own terms, but now it looked as if it was on the bird’s terms instead. Scouting led me to a rock outcrop overlooking a roost positioned less than 50 yards from a beautiful natural spring, which was a magnet for wildlife in this arid part of the state. So far this morning, I had seen a porcupine and a few whitetail deer stop by for a drink, and even

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Special Hunting Section

Trophy Fever

got a look at a monstrous Texas longhorn bull, but no turkey. The birds either got off the roost in the middle of the night, or simply slept somewhere else. My grand plan had been to catch the birds as they moved uphill to feed on the acorns in the oak grove above. They had been using a thin trail that weaved through the cactus, which would have given me a 25-yard shot if they had stuck to their old habits. Knowing the birds were not down below, I opted to move even farther uphill and see if I could glass some birds feeding in the distance. At least that way, I might be able to watch their line of feeding and set up a stalk. On the way up, I crossed through a cedar thicket and heard something to my left. As I turned around, I saw a hen running across a ledge toward another thicket. Opting to follow her and thinking she might lead to other birds, I kept in mind the advice given me by TF&G associate bowhunting editor Lou Marullo: “One of the best ways to hunt these fall birds is looking for the flock and breaking them up. I do not mean just walk in on them. You need to make them fly in every direction, scared out of their wits. That might mean that after you

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locate the birds, running after them hollering as loud as you can. I mean acting crazy for a few seconds so that if someone watched a silent film of this, they would institutionalize you. The whole point here is to scatter the birds in every direction and then sit up against a tree close to where they dispersed in the first place.” As I stealthily moved along the hill, I saw the spooked hen and six other turkey scratching around a cactus. Seeing that I was out of range and there was no way I could close the distance to them, I opted to spook them. So, I lay down my shotgun, took a deep breath, and ran toward the birds screaming like a lunatic. At first, the birds just stood there dumbfounded as if thinking, Who is this idiot? But then they fled and, to my joy, in different directions. Three birds shot straight across the hill, two went uphill, and the other two left so quickly I had no idea where they went. Before this hunt, Marullo told me hunters who decide to break up groups of turkey have about 20 minutes to find a good spot before you attempt to make a sound. Although it’s not the breeding season, turkey broken up into small groups want to find their mates. “The first call you make should be as soft as you can,” Marullo had told me. “The ‘keekee-run’, also called the ‘lost turkey call’, is the call you want to use. After a while, you will hear other birds answer you as they try to reassemble. The calls should get louder and louder as the birds feel more confident that everything is safe. Just try to sound like all the other birds and eventually one will head your way.” Taking his advice, I went back to get my gun, positioned myself where I would be well hidden and could see the birds well, waited 15 minutes (I’m not as patient as Lou), and immediately got an answer back. This bird could not have been farther than 50 yards away, so I gently called again, and it came running out as if someone rang the dinner bell, and stood looking directly at me at a distance of 18 yards. I already had my shotgun in position, so before it could decide the “stump” it was looking at was a human, a volley of Hevi Shot found its mark and Thanksgiving dinner was in the bag. The next morning, I returned to the property to try my luck again. I had two more tags left and having a bird come in to a call like that was extremely gratifying. Cloud cover postponed the arrival of the sun that morning, but as soon as it illuminated this grove of live oaks, a bunch of javelina moved in. These unique animals typically feed for an hour early in the morning and return to the same

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area in the evenings to feed again. In the distance, I heard turkey, which was a great sign. Now, all I had to do was wait—or so I thought. Eventually, the javelina left and I fully expected the birds to move right in. I could hear them getting closer, but they hung up a couple of hundred yards out, so I decided to gobble. I can mock a gobbler almost spot-on with just my mouth and a little imagination, so I tried it. A gobbler sounded off in the distance and my heart began pounding like a jackhammer. If you think having one talk back to you in the spring is great, you should try it in the fall. It’s simply awesome. I gobbled a few more times and switched over to my diaphragm, imitating a hen. That seemed to drive the gobbler mad because it sounded like it was on a dead run. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement and looked to see literally dozens of turkey walking into the oak grove, feeding. They didn’t seem to care at all about the calling, but I did have a big problem. A gobbler was coming toward me, and now I had several dozen sets of eyes looking my way. My problem was my shotgun was in my lap and this bird was sounding off as if it wanted to spur me to death. The feeding birds were spread out from 40 to 75 yards from my position, so I thought I might be able to get my gun up without them seeing, so I began the slow process. Lifting a gun in slow motion is always nerve-wracking, and right now, it was downright frustrating because I had my heart set on taking the calling gobbler, and the other birds were out of range. I let out a final gobble, and all of a sudden felt as if someone were watching me—or I should say, a bunch of somethings were watching me. As I slowly turned my head, every single turkey within my line of sight was fixed on me. There was no way of getting around the fact I was busted and busted big time. I had no idea what was going through their heads, but I thought I might as well go out in a blaze of glory. There was a nice bearded hen within shooting distance at this point, and I had a tag for one. So, I clicked off my safety, swung around quickly, and scared every single bird away before I could get a shot. I could have fired, but the shot wasn’t 100 percent and there was no use taking a chance on wounding a bird—or in this situation, hitting several of them. Being so close to so many turkey was an amazing experience, but I guess in the end it was too much of a good thing, if that’s possible.

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Time to Buy for Your Hunting Guy HRISTMAS! NEXT TO BOW SEASON, IT IS THE second most wonderful time of the year. It is the time friends and family flip through our hunting catalogues looking for gifts for the hunters on their list. Around mid-summer, my wife starts to hide my catalogs, but her efforts are futile. In fact, I leave my wish list in inconspicuous places so she might stumble across them. The side of the fridge works well, but on top of her pillow every night really gets the point across. When I first started bowhunting, all that was needed was arrows, a quiver, and gas money. The bowhunter of today, however, needs these items and much, much more. And if you are looking to buy for a special bowhunter in your life or want to get started in the sport yourself this holiday season, read on. One thing the bowhunter will always need is new arrows. They range from wooden to carbon with many different spines available, depending on if a longbow, recurve, or compound is used. I would suggest you borrow one of the arrows your hunter has now and take it to a pro shop for a new dozen. It is important to get the correct measurements to match the hunter’s draw length. A good target is another great idea. It should be one that can withstand the power and speed of today’s bows. Lifelike 3-D tar-

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gets made in the form of wild game are always a good gift, as it better simulates the conditions hunters will find in the wild. Make sure you get one with a replaceable kill-zone area. A good rangefinder is always a welcomed gift for the bowhunter. They are very accurate in measuring the correct distance to your target, and are very light and compact. A few yards off here or there could cost you the trophy of a lifetime. Quality, comfortable camouflage is also a must. The bowhunter needs to be quiet and has to blend into many different types of

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The bowhunter will always need new arrows.

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habitat. I have found that Medalist answers the call when it comes to hunting apparel, and with them, you get the bonus of lightand scent-absorbing materials. They have killer stuff. Nothing can make a day in the field feel more miserable than cold, wet feet. A few good pairs of lightweight rubber boots always make a good gift. Leather boots are nice, but they do hold scent. A bowhunter always has to be aware of human scent. Rubber boots help control this problem. A nice 16-inch boot is recommended for bowhunters. This allows them to tuck their pant legs inside the boot to help control scent. A small, sharp knife will also bring a smile to your bowhunter. He does not need a 12-inch Bowie knife, just one that can skin and field dress a deer in an easy manner. In this department, the smaller the better. A compact, powerful flashlight is always great to have. Not only will it get you to and A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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from your stand safely, but you could also use this to help find your trophy after the shot. There are many to choose from. I like to use one that has many lumens, one that will throw a beam if needed so I can see the hog that is chasing me. How about a nice backpack? Some of the modern varieties include a spot for a water bottle with a tube to take a sip whenever you need it. Just make sure all you use is water. A portable GPS unit makes a great gift. They are highly useful for hunters helping them locate tree stands in the dark without the use of marking tape, and marking that last blood without fear of losing the blood trail. In addition, marking where your fallen deer lies while you get your friends to help drag it out is always a plus. A hunter can never have too many tree stands. There are many to choose from. Maybe the hunter on your Christmas list already has a few hang-on stands; if he hunts in the Pineywoods, you can never go wrong with a nice, quality, climbing stand. Summit makes a great product you can feel safe in. Hunters Specialties has a wide variety of products that should be in every hunter’s backpack. A wonderful gift for bowhunters is their Scent Eliminator Kit that includes everything from funk-zapping underarm deodorant to Fresh Earth wafers. You really cannot go wrong with anything you might choose from this company. These are just a few of the many items available for bowhunters. I am sure that, with a little prodding, you can entice your hunter to reveal some of the things they would really like. Now you will have to excuse me while I slip this little note on my wife’s pillow. Goodnight, and Merry Christmas.

E-mail Lou Marullo at lmarullo@fishgame.com.

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Ready to Abandon Ship? EMPTATION OVERCAME SENSIBILITY, AND WE ran through the inlet even though it was so dark I couldn’t see waves 10 feet off the bow. Steering purely on electronics, we made 16 knots with my buddy’s 22-foot center console running at minimum planing speed. It was only 12 miles to the wreck, and we knew that big, tasty cobia were there, just waiting for us to catch them. Sure, it was rough, but the weatherman called for the winds to drop and the seas to subside later in the day. Too bad we wouldn’t find out if he was right. We reached the hotspot right as the horizon’s first hints of neon pink backlit two big sportfishers, already on-site. As soon as we slowed up, we knew we were in trouble. Running with the seas, they hadn’t seemed so bad, but now that we could see the 4- and 5-foot waves, we could see that they were cresting with foamy beards well above the gunwale of our boat. My fishing buddy and I had a strong urge to go home and plant our feet on terra firma. It was obvious that running back we would take a serious beating, and as we discussed our options, he put the boat into neutral and allowed it to drift. Bad move. As soon as we lost headway one of those oddball rogues twice the size of the surrounding seas loomed up over the outboards, then dumped into the cockpit. There would be no time to bail. With 2000 pounds of water now inside the gunwales, we hardly rose at all as the next wave, then the one after it, rolled right into the boat. In less than a minute, we went from cruising to completely swamped. We both

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had the presence of mind to pull the rip chord on our life belts and duck into the collars as the PFDs inflated. Instinctively, I reached for the VHF mic next, but it was already dead. Water gushing into the bilge had fried the battery, and we were without power. That meant no recovery, at least not on our own. We needed the cavalry, bigtime. Think fast: Where’s the back-up radio? In the ditch bag…along with the extra flares, satellite messenger, and all the other stuff that might just save our butts. As it turned out, the gear inside our ditch bag didn’t save us. One of the sportfishers saw that we were in trouble and came to our rescue before we even had the chance to call for help. Half an hour later, a towboat arrived with a dewatering pump, saved the boat, and towed it back to the inlet. But if the captain of that sportfisher hadn’t seen us and come running, the items inside that ditch bag would have been our only hope— and I was glad I had it ready to use, if need be. Very glad. Many boaters think that a ditch bag is a necessity only if they are equipped with a life raft and they run offshore, but this is not necessarily true. The contents of a ditch bag can save you whether you’re in a raft, standing on the overturned hull of your boat, or laying in a marsh miles from civilization. Do you have a ditch bag ready to go? If not, make one up today. Here is what you need. - A bag that’s highly visible, watertight, and floats. A good example is ACR’s Rapid Ditch Bag ($100, www.acrelectronics.com). Another option is the Ready Freddy Emergency Preparedness Kit ($150, www.readyfreddy.com). This bag is water resistant and comes stocked with supplies in sealed inner compartments, divided into categories like food/water (it has a three-day supply), communications (including a hand-cranked cell phone charger, flashlight, and hand-cranked radio), and first-aid kit. Since the Ready Freddy is designed as a general-purpose emergency kit, however, mariners will need to add a few

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items to make a real ditch bag out of it, as follows. - A handheld, submersible VHF. Nearly all of the major radio manufacturers offer quality models, often for $150 or less. Be sure to charge it regularly, and if it takes store-bought batteries, also carry spares. Having a handheld GPS in your ditch bag is another good idea, and you can kill two birds with one stone by opting for a radio like the new Standard Horizon HX850S ($210, www.standardhorizon.com). This unit has an integrated GPS and DSC capabilities, so anyone with DSC who hears your Mayday will be able to pinpoint your location. And if they don’t have DSC capabilities, a glance at the screen will tell you the latitude/longitude numbers you need to relay. - A long-range emergency signaling device. This can be an EPIRB, though some offshore boats will already be outfitted with a separate EPIRB. Whether yours is or not, consider adding a secondary emergency broadcasting device like a satellite messenger. A good example is the SPOT satellite messenger ($150 plus $50 yearly activation fee, www.findmespot.com). The SPOT is submersible and floats. It beams a distress call including your current GPS coordinates to the GEOS international emergency response center, and can also be used to send pre-programmed emergency email messages, such as “I’m broken down but safe.” Units like this depend on AA batteries for their power, so again, add a pack of spares. - Close-range signaling devices. These include flares, a signaling mirror, and collapsible visible targets such as a thin orange sheet of plastic that packs into a case the size of a deck of cards, but unfolds into a 20-foot long strip that can be spotted easily. Yellow emergency ponchos also work well for this purpose. Your ditch bag should also have some form of sound-signaling device such as a whistle or an air horn to aid searchers in low-visibility conditions. - An inflatable life vest. Pack in more

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than one if there is room in your bag. If a life or death decision comes down to seconds and you have to choose between grabbing a life jacket or grabbing your ditch bag, you will be able to do both at once. - Minimal food and water. Add a few packs of dehydrated, vacuum-sealed food and vacuum-sealed water pouches to your ditch bag. This is particularly important if you boat far from land or deep in the backcountry, where help might be a while in coming. If this applies to you, it is also worth considering a mini fishing kit with hooks, a spool of line, and a lure or two. If you add this into the mix, be absolutely sure the hooks are packaged in a rigid case that will not allow for accidents. The last thing you need in an emergency is a fishhook stuck into your inflatable life vest, or your thumb. - First Aid kit. No explanation necessary for this one. As an extra safety measure, add a foil packet of high-SPF suntan lotion. - Waterproof flashlight. This will come in handy for signaling purposes and overnight survival. But don’t buy the usual batterypowered flashlight. Instead, opt for a “shaker” style flashlight, powered by a magnet that you shake through an induction coil. A minute of shaking will get you two or three minutes of light with most models, and these flashlights are very inexpensive; a 7-inch model costs just $15 at www.flashlightcenter.com. Also, make sure the “bulb” is an LED and not a fallible/breakable incandescent lamp. A handful of chemical light sticks are another good illumination device to have in the ditch bag. They do not rely on batteries and most have an eyelet that allows you to attach them to a life jacket or wrist thong.

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or even better, an above-deck location where it can be secured with a marine-grade Velcro strap or another quick-release mounting system. If your boat is equipped with a life raft, pick a location close to it for immediate access. When guests come onboard, be sure to point out the ditch bag’s location, describe its contents, and explain how to free it of its mounting (if any) before you leave the dock. Yes, I know, this will lengthen your safety talk (you do give all guests coming aboard a

safety talk, don’t you?) causing a delay. And most of the time when you get to the boat you feel the driving urge to leap onboard, cast off the mooring lines, and get underway. But sometimes, you are a lot better off if you resist temptation. Trust me, I know.

E-mail Lenny Rudow at boating@fishgame.com.

You have a ditch bag all packed up and ready to go? Good job. Now throw the darn thing overboard. No, we haven’t gone crazy, we just want you to test the bag and make sure it is waterproof as advertised, and that it floats. Sometimes manufacturers make a mistake, and other times adding too much gear to a ditch bag can turn it into a sinker. In either case, it will not do you one iota of good, and it is a whole lot better to discover this during a test than during an emergency. Next, you need to choose the proper onboard stowage location. Having a ditch bag will not do you any good if it is buried in a cabin locker or underneath a pile of junk. Pick an easily accessible compartment, A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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Breakaway Deep-Shot HE BREAKAWAY DEEP SHOT IS MY VARIATION of the drop-shot rig used in bass fishing. The differences in my version are larger monofilament, hook attachment, and implementing the dropshot effect. “Breakaway” refers to the 40pound mono loop connecting the bottom of the leader to the weight. It can break away when hung in structure. The standard knot used in drop-shot rigs, the Palomar, is difficult to tie in heavy mono, so I suggest crimping it. Materials needed include the following: 10 feet of 300-pound mono, double barrel crimps, Spro Power Swivels in 2/0 at 550 pounds, a circle hook such as an 18/0 Owner L2045R, and Super Glue. To build my crimped-at-thehook version, start by tightly bending the 10-foot length of mono 180 degrees at the 6-foot mark. From what will be the top end, thread your circle hook on the mono, going through the eye twice, stopping at the bent mono marker. The bend side of the hook must be toward the 6-foot end, up. Now slide a double crimp onto both ends of the mono. Push the double barrel sleeve as close to the mono as you can, making sure that the wraps of the twice through the hook’s eye aren’t crossed. For crimping, make an 18-inch tied loop with a piece of heavy cord, looping the cord over the hook bend and then around your

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left shoe bottom. Loop both strands of mono around your left hand several times, place the crimp tool on the crimp; pull hard on the double mono to tighten the mono turns on the hook’s eyes. Start firmly crimping to close, pushing the sleeve a bit farther toward the hook eye. With the crimp as close to the hook’s eye as you can get and with max pull tension on both strands of mono, crimp tight, starting at the end of the crimp away from the hook’s eye. Finish the crimping, working your way

toward the hook’s eye. This tightening procedure “walks” the pressure toward the hook’s eye, giving a tighter double loop. The next steps are to form and crimp an eye on the top and bottom of the mono with one of the swivels in each one. The purpose of the swivel above the breakaway loop is to prevent breakage of the 40-pound mono when you use multiple

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weights. They will spin without the swivel and the 40-pound mono will twist and break, stopping your drop. At times, the 300-pound mono isn’t tight enough at the hook eye. The solution that holds the circle hook 90 degrees from the vertical section of mono is to carefully secure it in that position with liquid Super Glue. To get this done, rotate your hook 45 degrees out of position and carefully apply a small amount of the glue to the area of the wraps at the eye. Quickly rotate back, stopping at the desired 90 degrees from vertical. Wipe away excess glue. The length of mono above the hook is for abrasion resistance. A hooked grouper’s first move is to try to reach a hole in which the mono will save a cutoff. Torpedo sinkers, whichever size you need to use, from 12- to 24-ounce will help you avoid hang-ups. This vertical fishing brings up the importance of Spectra for your main line. Its high strength for its small diameter allows you to load more line on your reel and gets to deep bottom with less sinker weight. It’s much less affected by the current that’s trying to push it off vertical. Spectra’s main performance factor is its lack of stretch, which gives a greater feel for what ’s going on at your bait, plus increased hooking power. This combination places immediate pressure on a big bottom fish such as a grouper. Rod tip twitches will almost make your bait come alive. A strip bait will send a scent cone down current that will call the big one in. Hang on for that deep rod bowing strike when your Breakaway Deep-Shot rig has done its job. E-mail Patrick Lemire at saltrigs@fishgame.com. ILLUSTRATION BY PATRICK LEMIRE

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Biffle-O UST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE SEEN everything that a lure manufacturer could ever dream of producing, out comes another soft plastic bait that breaks the mold. Some are so overly burden with legs and tentacles it makes it is difficult to understand why any self-respecting bass would eat them. Others are simple, appearing to be nothing more than a sliver of plastic in the package but come alive once they hit the water. The Biffle-O by Gene Larew falls into that second category because if you look at it through the bag is just appears to be a tube with a tail. Realistically, that’s all it is, but that tail turns this non-descript bait into a versatile fish catching machine. It is difficult to classify the Biffle-O as a tube bait, worm, or soft jerkbait since, depending on how you choose to rig it, it is versatile enough to be used in multiple situations, performing equally impressively in each. Most lures can’t boast this, but any situation in which you would use a worm, tube, or jerkbait you can use the Biffle-O or Biffle-O Jr. In the deep winter months, most bass are suspended deep, not really interested in feeding aggressively, so a slow presentation is mandatory and finesse baits rule the water. This is when the Biffle-O Jr. shines. Most anglers drop-shot with a small 4-inch finesse worm that does nothing but sit horizontally. If you trade your finesse worm for a Biffle-O Jr., the bait will still lay horizontally in the water but the tail, that very important tail, will wave with the slightest twitch of the rod tip. That small amount of movement is all it takes to entice even lethargic largemouth bass into biting. In early spring when bass are moving out of the deep water into a pre-spawn phase, the Biffle-O is just as equally impressive. Instead of making vertical presentations on a drop-shot, use it like a jerkbait to catch fish that are aggressively feeding. I use a spinning rod with

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12-pound line and a 5/0 wide gap hook to fish the bait through and around grass, weeds, and boathouses. The Biffle-O is very buoyant, so with just a hook it will ride near or on the surface, sliding over and through grass easily. If you want to get it a little deeper, crimp a split shot on your line a few inches above the bait. If you would prefer not to have a weight crimped to your line that will hang on cover then you can actually put the weights up in the hollow tube body. When rigged like this the Biffle-O acts just like a soft jerkbait. Any twitch of the rod tip will send the bait darting a few feet to one side. By twitching the rod tip repeatedly, you will get an underwater walk-the-dog type action. Expect it to get hammered. Later in the spring, this bait is equally impressive on spawning fish but instead of rigging it weightless, you need to use it with a jighead. I rig mine on a shaky head jig but since

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the main body is a hollow tube you can also use an in the body type tube jig. Armed with a Biffle-O and jig combination on a heavy action rod and 17-pound line, I cruise down the bank looking for bedding bass. Once one is located, I toss the Biffle-O into the middle of the bed and wait. Don’t hop it, don’t bounce it, don’t twitch it, just wait. The jig will pull the nose of the bait down into the bed and the tail will stick up, waiving around making the presentation appear to be a small fish stealing eggs. A bass guarding the bed won’t be able to resist the urge to remove the offending fish, and when it does, you cross its eyes. There are few baits on the market versatile enough to be used year round, on multiple rigs, and in so many different applications. The Biffle-O is one of the few that can do it all, and do it well. E-mail Paul Bradshaw at freshrigs@fishgame.com.

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Christmas Wishes of a Well Behaved Kayaker Dear Santa: ONTRARY TO WHAT MY WIFE MIGHT TELL you, I have been a very good boy this year. Please take with a grain of salt her comments about leaving the seat up and never mowing the grass. I have gone the extra mile this year being a good steward of the outdoors, picking up other people’s

trash, and being courteous on the water. No potlicking here. No, sir! Since I have been so good, I am sending you an expanded Christmas list. Since I am having a hard time picking just one thing, I decided to send you everything and let you choose for me. Any of these things would really be cool under the tree. You know, Santa, a fellow can never have

too many kayaks. I know, I know; I do own a bunch already, but maybe just one more— pretty please. I really like the new Ocean Kayak Trident 13. What a sweet boat! It is a smaller version of the Trident Big Game that I like so much. It has the huge Rod Pod in the middle, which makes it easy to stow rods below deck. The shorter hull length makes it lighter and easier to transport. Plus, I think I would look dashing in one. Of course, a new 14-foot Tarpon from Wilderness Systems would be very cool, too. My old Tarpon is still an awesome hull, but the design is a little long in the tooth—at least that is what the whipper-snappers I fish with say. They always have cool new toys and I was so excited to hear that the Tarpon has been freshened up and a bunch of new

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features added. Please keep it in mind for me. Every now and then, Santa, I really enjoy hanging out at the beach. My wife thinks I go to look at the young ladies, but that would be very naughty, so I don’t. No, I go to the beach to play in the surf like everyone else. But my fishing hulls are kind of sluggish in the surf. To tame some nasty waves, I would absolutely love the Mysto from Ocean Kayak. It is a little over 9 feet

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You know, Santa, a fellow can never have too many kayaks.

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long and is a blast to horse around with in the suds. We got a new Vizsla puppy this year and I love her to death, but she is teething and chewed up one of the blades of my best paddle. I could really use a new one. I promise I will mow the yard for a whole month without complaining if you bring me one of those composite carbon paddles that Werner makes. They are so much lighter and are a real joy to paddle with. I don’t understand why, Santa, but my clothes don’t seem to fit as well as they did last year. The personal flotation device you gave me two years ago seems a little snug, too, these days. It must have shrunk. Do you think you could bring me another one? I really like the PFDs for kayakers. You know, the ones with large armholes and lots of pockets for gear and stuff. Unless you wanted to bring me an inflatable suspenderstyle PFD. I can’t make up my mind, so please help me out. Now about my stocking: I got a really big one and threw out that little one I used last year. It must have shrunk, too. First, I would like to outfit my new hull with an anchor trolley. The trolley system is like an old-time clothesline and you can adjust the tie position of your anchor. By pulling on the cord, I can bring the end of the anchor rope back to me where I am seated. Isn’t that cool! It will probably keep me from capsizing in deep water. I hear YakGear makes kits that include all the pulleys,

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fasteners, and trolley cord, all in one little bag. Surely, that won’t take up much room in my stocking. I am sure you would agree that every kayaker needs to be highly visible, like Rudolph’s nose. A flashing LED light would help get the attention of power boaters and let them know there is a kayak ahead. A fellow can’t be too careful. Next, a few laminated maps would fit in the stocking, too; a waterproof compass would be a great companion gift. A new dis-

tress whistle would be a nice addition, too; my old one disappeared. Remind me to check the puppy’s crate. Any of these items would be a great gift. I can hardly wait to see what you decide to leave under the tree. The milk and cookies will be in the usual place. Merry Christmas to you and the Missus.

Email Greg Berlocher at kayak@fishgame.com.

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Never Insult Another Man’s Gun HILE SITTING IN A CABIN WITH several other hunters at a Webb County deer camp one night several years ago, someone brought up the subject of rifle calibers and which one is the best for hunting deer. Such discussions are almost like talking politics. Sooner or later, the talk is likely to become heated, especially if one hunter degrades a caliber favored by another.

Sure enough, one of the guys said a .243 was a “woman’s gun” and that the 7mm magnum shot farther, handled a larger bullet, and had more “knock-down power” than the “little .243.” I took it as an insult to my choice of rifles for medium-sized game animals and looked him square in the face. “In my opinion,” I said, “a large caliber is mere compensation for poor accuracy.” The guy huffed back but didn’t carry the conversation

any further. In fact, the subject changed to something else. Actually, the statement about a large caliber being mere compensation for poor accuracy had been stated earlier in a magazine by a well-known rifle expert whose name isn’t important. What is important is that one hunter’s choice of caliber for whitetail deer or any game animal is exactly that—one hunter’s choice of caliber. Regardless of what the caliber is, magnum or light, it is how effec-

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One of the guys said a .243 was a ‘woman’s gun’ and that the 7mm magnum shot farther.

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tively it kills the game that is important, and most of that is determined by the accuracy of the person who fires it. If there is any one caliber that can claim fame to being the tradition in big game hunting circles around the world it is the .30-06 Springfield. My first “deer rifle” was a Springfield O3-A3 rifle that I bought for $50 from a barrel full of military surplus rifles at Leonard’s Department Store in downtown Fort Worth in the early 1960s. It had peep sights and I shot my first buck, a 10-pointer, with it at Carrizo Springs in Southwest Texas. A few years later, I was given a Herter’s .243 barreled action as a Christmas present, and after having it put on a sport hunting stock, I fell in love with the caliber. I hunted whitetails, mule deer, antelope, and predators with it from Texas, to New Mexico, ColC42

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orado, Wyoming, and Canada. On occasion, I have shot magnum calibers, too, and have experienced their effectiveness for many game animals, especially larger game such as elk and moose. However, I also am a firm believer that the true weight of a rifle’s effectiveness isn’t just in the bullet, but also in where the bullet is placed in the animal by the shooter. Your choice of rifle and caliber for any hunting situation is entirely your business. The rifle that will perform best for you should be the one you have the most confidence in, and confidence is built by handling and shooting it often. I built a lot of confidence in that Herter’s .243 over the years, or maybe it was vice versa. I never saw a reason to switch to a different gun until 1983 when Remington came out with its Model 7 bolt-action rifle, a short, lightweight firearm that has become my personal favorite of all the rifles I own or have shot. The Remington Model 7 is available in several calibers, including .223 Remington (the .222 Remington was deleted from the lineup in 1984), .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, .308 Winchester, and one that I am surprised that has not gained the fame of several of the other calibers for most North American game animals, the 7mm-08 Winchester that has been designated as the chambering in this year’s 25th anniversary commemorative Remington Model 7 rifle. What drew my attention to the Model 7 was its length. Although magnum caliber Model 7s come with 20- and 22-inch barrels, my original .243 Model 7 has a barrel length of a mere 18-1/2 inches. Its overall length from the tip of the barrel to the butt plate is only 37-1/2 inches and the whole package weighs only 7-1/2 pounds with a mounted scope (6-1/4 pounds without a scope). You can’t beat a short, featherweight rifle for carrying in rugged terrain over several miles of rough country, or for climbing into tripod blinds, tree stands, or box blinds. Although I never have fallen in love with synthetic stocks like those reinforced with DuPont Kevlar (I prefer the more aesthetically pleasing look of wood stocks), I realize the Kevlar stock is practically indestructible and will reduce the overall weight of the Model 7 by about a pound. That’s certainly something for any hunter to consider when choosing a firearm. Although Remington has slightly altered some of its Model 7s, such as added barrel length for the magnum calibers and additions

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in stock material and designs, the rifle fills the bill for a lightweight, quick-pointing gun for those hunters who seek those qualities in a firearm.

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will fare better than its more muscular ancestor, the 6.5 Remington Magnum, or Winchester’s hotrod .264 Winchester Magnum, both of which are rarely seen these days. Now, the questions regarding the 7mm-08 and .260 are: Why were these cartridges introduced; why are they doing so well; do they fill a niche that needed a new cartridge, or were there already cartridges that would get the job done? In the case of the 7mm-08, it is ballistically similar to the old, but very good, 7x57 Mauser. In modern rifles with good handloads, the 7x57 is slightly faster than the 7mm-08 and will handle heavier bullets better. Since the 7x57 has been with us for over a century, what was the impetus for the 7mm-08? The .260 Remington faces the same situation. It is ballistically very similar to the Swedish 6.5x55, which has been a popular hunting cartridge in the Scandinavian countries since it was first adopted by the Swedish military in 1894. It actually has a sizeable, almost cult-like following here in the United States. So, again I ask, why did we need the .260 Remington?

The same can be asked of a number of recently introduced U.S. cartridges that merely crowd into a spot already occupied by older cartridges, either factory or wildcat. There have been no real breakthroughs since the introduction of smokeless powder, jacketed bullets, and bottlenecked rifle cartridges. The powders are cleaner, burn slower and cooler, and generate higher velocities with lower pressures. The bullets are better designed, more dependable, and certainly more accurate. The brass is better quality and will withstand higher pressures. But, there have been no truly Earth shaking discoveries or advances in the field of ballistics in the last hundred years. Depressing, isn’t it? But, there really are valid reasons for introducing a new cartridge that is no better than a very old one. Probably the best reason is that the older cartridges are chambered in many old, poorly maintained, mechanically and metallurgically inferior, weaker actions. The ammunition companies have to consider this when they load these old calibers and cannot load them to the same pressures as more modern cartridges. Thus, the older cartridges are usually loaded to maximum pressures of, say, 45,000 to 50,000 PSI, whereas the newer cartridges, in newer rifles, can be loaded to pressures as high as 65,000 PSI. The venerable cartridge itself may have greater capabilities, but the firearms that shoot it are, possibly, dangerous. Thus, the factory introduces the .260 Remington in a modern rifle rather than taking a chance of blowing up an old, rusty Krag-Jorgenson—and thereby getting sued— by increasing the working pressures of the 6.5x55. If you are a handloader and want to go to the trouble of having a custom rifle built, or of having a new firearm re-chambered or rebarreled to one of the old classics, or if you find one of the high quality Model 98 Mausers that are mechanically sound and capable of withstanding modern pressures, you can have a real jewel, but most of us are going to buy the new gun for the new caliber and be happy. E-mail Steve LaMascus at guns@fishgame.com.

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AccuSharp Knife Sharpeners

Fishing Lights, Etc.

AFTCO Bluewater

Lake Fork Trophy Bait and Tackle

American Rodsmiths

Mathews Archery

Bioline

George Strait

Bird Works Taxidermy

Pro-Sell Image Sunglasses

Cover Your Bass, Inc.

Randolph Engineering

CZ-USA

Shimano

Ego Nets

Stanley Jigs

ELCAN Optical Technologies

Swift Hitch

Faultline Outdoors

Texas Best Meats

Fish Vision

Thermacell/Schawbel Inc.

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Unsportsmanlike Gifts For reasons understood only by psychobabblists and portly great aunts, many sportsmen become uneasy at Christmastime. Actually, I

understand this phenomenon as well, because I have studied for years the glazed expressions, facial ticks, and fits of irritable bowel that

afflict outdoorsmen during the holidays and reach their zenith on Christmas morning. I have concluded that the affliction sources in the gifts received from well-meaning but illinformed relatives and friends. Take my friend, Izdorf Smelley, “Izzy Smelley” to his friends, as an example. One year, his sister, Melba, married her high school sweetheart, Pittman Peachbottom, and thus became Melba Peachbottom. When Christmas rolled around, Melba informed Pitt that they would be spending Christmas with Izzy (a confirmed bachelor) and were obligated to provide an appropriate gift. Knowing that

by Don Zaidle Izzy was the consummate outdoorsman, Melba and Pitt descended on the mall in search of the perfect gift. “I know he really likes to hunt,” Melba cooed sweetly to Pitt. “And he is always talking about some kind of ‘signs’ that led him to whatever it was he was hunting for. So, maybe something to do with signs would be good.” For reasons unknown, Melba and Pitt wound up in the plumbing department of a mall store, which seems odd in itself since a plumbing fixture store nestled between Sears and Fredericks of Hollywood does not demonstrate the best positioning for such an enterprise, but they were there just the same. After considerable time searching and querying various sales staff, they happily made a selection for Izzy and had it gift-wrapped. On Christmas morning, Melba and Pitt presented Izzy with the intricately wrapped but oddly shaped package. Not quite sure what to expect, Izzy unwrapped the gift with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, at last uncovering... ...a toilet seat. You must understand it was no ordinary toilet seat, but a transparent model made of Lexan or something, in which was embedded genuine samples of “sign” from various game and furbearer animals. There was deer “sign,” raccoon “sign,” elk “sign,” and what looked suspiciously like Sasquatch “sign.” Izzy stared at it for a while, couldn’t decide whether to “sign” or go blind, so opted to drink the entire magnum of dinner wine, whereupon he curled up in a fetal position in the backyard dog kenC46

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nel and went to sleep sucking his thumb. To this day, Izzy will pay a total stranger $10 to reconnoiter unfamiliar bathroom facilities to check for sign on or in the toilet seat before he enters. Another acquaintance, a backpacker, once received multiple rolls of camouflage print toilet paper, while another received a box of toilet paper-colored elm leaves. For a time I suspected the gift-givers suffered from issues related to their childhood potty training, but later realized that non-outdoorsmen harbor the delusion that all outdoorsmen have an affinity for anything “outdoorsy” no matter how inappropriate. I, for instance, have a drawer full of neckties printed with various animals and fish, including a pink one bearing green largemouth bass in various states of leaping, flailing, gill flaring, and frog-eating. The fact I never wear neckties apparently did not figure in the selection process.

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Since my grandfather and I were the only true outdoorsmen in our family, we were frequent and exclusive recipients of unsportsmanlike gifts. These included but were not necessarily limited to: - Grasshopper Life Preservers: “The ultimate gift for the live bait fisherman!”

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- The Musical Fish Stringer: Plays the theme from Flipper every time you string a fish. If you exceed your limit, it plays Elvis singing “You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog.” - The Musical Fishing Reel: Similar to the Musical Fish Stringer, but plays “He Ain’t

Heavy, He’s My Lunker” whenever the drag slips, and switches to “All of Me” if you liprip a crappie. - Aunt Fannie’s Hand-made Gun Warmer: Ostensibly a gun sock knitted from multicolor yarn that would have made Joseph’s brothers even more fratricidal with envy, or perhaps converted them to mercy killers. Aside from these specific examples, a good rule of thumb is to never buy for a sportsman anything hawked via infomercial after midnight on the All Sushi Channel, advertised in the classifieds in the back of a comic book, or that has the word “ultimate” in the product name or related literature. A safer venue for finding the ideal gift for the sportsman in your life is within the pages of this special Gift Guide. Meanwhile, both to inspire you and to provide examples of how, when, and where sportsmen use appropriate and valued Christmas gifts, we have included reprints of articles from past December/Christmas issues of Texas Fish & Game that we felt epitomize how to not select unsportsmanlike gifts. —Don Zaidle •••

Late Season Whitetail Tactics A glance inside the serious deer hunter’s “tool box” (December 2002) It’s December, the bewitching month for Texas white-tailed deer and deer hunters. I call it the “bewitching month” because of the evil spells it casts on man and beast alike. Deer hunters, especially those with access C50

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to primo South Texas real estate, always get excited when December rolls around. That’s because now is when Brush Country brutes go under the influence of testosterone—a dan-

by Matt Williams gerous male hormone that can dull a buck’s senses and make it do things it normally wouldn’t, and visit places it usually wouldn’t. Like kids are lured to Santa’s lap to reveal their Christmas wishes, South Texas deer hunters sit in towering blinds with high hopes of receiving their fondest wish—a shot at a rut-crazed whopper too big for St. Nick’s bag. Hunters in other areas of the state may be less optimistic. With peak rutting activity well behind them, Pineywoods and Post Oak hunters who haven’t spent their buck tags grow more impatient by the day. Some teeter on the brink of throwing in the towel as deer movements wane and mature animals fade into the woods like ghosts in the darkness. No matter where you hunt in Texas, December marks a time to make serious changes in strategy. The most common hunting method is sitting in a stand and waiting

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quietly for a deer to come by. As productive as it has been for some, it is safe to assume other hunters have spent countless hours waiting for a special buck that never showed.

Here is a rundown of some useful tools to boost your chances for a broadside shot before the season ends: Make Some Noise: Most hunters think

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making noise is a non-no, but savvy deerslayers know the right noise at the right time can work magic on a rut-crazed buck. Rattling is a deadly trick to play when bucks have girls on their minds. The idea is to clash a pair of shed antlers together to simulate the sound of a pair of bucks fighting over territory. It is most effec-

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tive when performed on managed land with a low buck/doe ratio, but it also works on unmanaged property—if the timing is right. According to Randy Ivy, a whitetail hunting expert from Nacogdoches, the best times to rattle are just prior to and after the rut when bucks are searching and competing for does:

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“You have to catch the deer in the right frame of mind in order to get the best response from rattling. I have had better rattling success in South Texas as opposed to East Texas, but that’s just been my personal experience. It will work East Texas.” Rattling is a technique anyone can perform

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successfully with a little schooling. The first thing to remember is that the whitetail’s first line of defense is its nose. Always position yourself downwind from where you expect the buck to appear. Some hunters prefer to rattle alone, while others like to rattle in teams—a rattler and a shooter with the rattler out in front. The idea is for the shooter to remain unnoticed while the rattler attracts attention. Take great care to know exactly where the rattler is positioned. Accidents can happen under the influence of adrenaline-fueled buck fever. Deer make other noises to communicate amongst themselves. Learn to duplicate those sounds and when to make them. Bucks sometimes grunt sound when chasing or tending does in estrus. A number of commercially available calls duplicate the deep-pitched sound. Belching into cupped hands makes a fair imitation, too. When neighboring whitetails hear the grunt, they often come to investigate. “White-tailed deer are very curious animals,” explained David Whitehouse, a wildlife biologist with International Paper. “When they hear a deer make a noise, they’ll

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usually go to see where the noise is coming from. The grunt call is one of the most effective calls a hunter can use, not only for luring deer in, but for stopping them in their tracks.”

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enthusiastic: “Grunt calls can work anytime, but during the rut is when you’ll get the quickest response. I’ve grunted up deer all season long, but it just seems to take a little longer after the major rut is over.” Two other deer calls worth having in your toolbox are doe bleat and fawn bleat calls.

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These are distress calls that arouse the curiosity of does and bucks. The fawn bleat is a high-pitched call that sounds similar to a wounded-rabbit predator call. It mocks the cry of a fawn that lost, injured, or under attack. The doe bleat is much deeper and mimics a doe that is injured or looking for company.

Make A Stink: One of the misconceptions about deer scents—especially estrus scents—is that you can pour it on a bush and the bucks will come running. ‘Tain’t so. Scent is part of the deer communication network, and hunters use scents to tap in. Different scents communicate different messages, so make sure you use one that fits the “conversation” going on in the woods. Otherwise, you do more harm than good. Sammy Clifton has a wealth of experience with deer scents. He is one of the state’s 300plus scientific deer breeders and has close to 200 whitetails behind high fence at his small deer farming operation near Garrison. He also collects their urine and bottles it under the name Get-A-Buck Supreme. Products include Doe-In-Heat, Buck-In-Rut, and Great Scrape. According to Clifton, a good deer scent works wonders when conditions are right. He said doe-in-heat potions are most productive a week or so before the rut kicks into gear. Another peak time is after the rut winds down: “This will tell a buck that at least one doe hasn’t been bred, and he might come around the check it out.” An El Campo hunter once told Clifton that he made three mock scrapes and doused each one with Great Scrape, which contains a 50/50 mixture of doe urine and buck urine. Shortly thereafter, a 10 pointer showed up and began working the scrapes. Just as he was about to shoot the deer, the hunter noticed a much larger 14-pointer approaching from behind. The 10-pointer bowed out and the bruiser buck took over where it left off. The big buck actually laid down in the third scrape and the hunter had to wait until it got up to shoot it. The antlers grossed more than 160 B&C. Coy Decoys: If deer decoys have a place in the bowhunting scheme, I haven’t found it. Granted, I have used a decoy only once, but once was enough to convince me to stuff the dummy in the bushes. The fake doe spooked every real deer that saw it. In contrast, I have heard stories from other hunters who experienced much better results. North Texas hunter Tom Fisher, son-in-law of TF&G managing editor Don Zaidle, left a doe decoy slathered in doe-in-heat scent out overnight. The next morning, it looked a refugee from Custer’s

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Last Stand with all the holes and gouges from the ministrations of confused bucks. Buck rather than doe decoys seem to work best in areas where there are good deer densities and buck/doe ratios are relatively close. They also seem most effective during the rut when bucks are travelling and competing for the ladies. A tough guy might even come close enough to take a sucker punch at a decoy, just to impress the girls. If you do use a deer decoy, let your hunting buddies know about it and make sure they know where you are hunting. The better the communication among hunters, the less chance an accident. •••

Something Under the Tree Crappie make the nicest “tree” ornaments (December, 2003) I know it is too early to be thinking about taking down the Christmas tree you just finished decorating. It’s hard to summon the enthusiasm to unstring five thousand twinkling lights after spending hours checking them, bulb by bulb, to find the defective culprit that caused the entire string to short out. A month from now you’ll see pickups full of sad looking brown trees, lacking needles but still glittery with leftover foil icicles (and that

by Reavis Z. Wortham one string of lights that refused to cooperate). The dead trees formerly aglitter in living rooms will soon make great hangouts for brush-loving crappie—once you sink them, of course. Winter is not the most popular time for anglers to catch crappie, which is fine for those who enjoy what should be a solitary endeavor.

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It’s better when the fish are gregarious, and not the fishermen. You don’t have to build your own crappie haunts to catch slabs. Simply find the right spot in the three-dimensional chess game called a lake and you will find fish. That sounds obscenely simple, sort of like “buy a lottery ticket and become a millionaire.” Common Sense Rule No. 1: Find the structure and you will find fish. Pinpointing the right underwater configurations that attract crappie is not as difficult as

it once was. Texas lakes now come with maps. You can find them at most sporting goods stores or in bait houses adjacent to your favorite body of water. Most are detailed enough to help locate submerged brush piles, trees, creek channels, and drop-offs. Better still, you can get dozens of maps with the hotspots already marked in the Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas. Tom Allison, a longtime guide on lake Ray Roberts, is a walking encyclopedia of vital information for both novice and experi-

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enced anglers. While engineers built the lake, he spent hundreds of hours flying over the bottomlands that would someday be underwater. “Heavy structure is just what the doctor ordered for crappie,” Allison declared. “Areas of standing timber, submerged stock tanks, drop-offs, creek and river channels, and man-

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made structures such as brush piles anchored to the bottom are all good fish attractors.” Crappie are structure-oriented and standing timber in drowned real estate attract crappie like blue hair to little old ladies, taking much of the guesswork out of locating slabs.

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The size of some impoundments is overwhelming, especially for first-timers. The solution is relatively simple if maps are not available. If you cannot see underwater structure, look for topographical clues that disappear into the water. This approach works when points of land or projecting treetops reveal similar sunken geography. Take a good look at the water and pinpoint the feeder creeks. That is where you will find the big crappie, in or near the deeper channels, from December through June. Now we know where the fish reside, but the next step can be a little more difficult. Depending on the water temperature, they hang at a variety of depths. Once they find a thermocline to their liking, they are disinclined to move. In cooler weather, opportunistic panfish will barely budge more than a few inches in any direction to hit a lure or minnow. Sometimes you need to get close enough to cross their eyes. “Crappie don’t like to move in the winter,” Allison said. “The idea is to get a lure in front of their nose, and you’ll get a strike. One foot in either direction or up or down will be futile.” He isn’t the only crappie angler who finds them deep in cold weather. Alton Jones, a one-time bass guide turned professional fisherman, relaxes from the pressures of tournament life by fishing for crappie between competitions. Go figure. You would think he would get tired of fish. “Ninety percent of the battle is simply finding them,” he said. Jones likes to fish Richland Chambers, his impoundment of choice. “In relatively new lakes, crappie hold in 28- to 35-foot deep forests when it’s cold, and the only way to reach them is by jigging vertically. The fish are actually hiding in the branches of the large diameter trees.” A heavier weight attached to the line makes it easier to get the bait to the fish faster, and helps negotiate the tangle below. Some anglers put enough weight on the line that it sounds like a Buick falling off a bridge when it hits the water. “Down there in the submerged forest are both plenty of cover and abundant forage,” Jones said. “Don’t be surprised if you hook up with a bass; the largemouths share the same

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territory and they will strip off line in a heartbeat. “You get to those deep fish by tight-lining, or fishing vertically. Simply play out the line until the lure falls through the limbs or brush to the bottom, then raise and lower the bait as you work toward the surface. You’re going to lose your rig several times, but no matter if you’re using a jig or live minnows, this technique is deadly.” If there is a crappie in the woodpile, it will bite. Common Sense Rule No. 2: Once you have located good structure, and therefore ostensibly the fish, do not drop your anchor directly into the cover—it annoys them and they move elsewhere. One sure-fire way of finding fish is by sinking your own brush piles. Some anglers swear by discarded Christmas trees, while others argue that the deciduous plants put out a repelling aroma or taste. Fallen limbs after an ice storm, manageable limbs from tree trimming, or downed wood collected from permissible areas make dandy hangouts for loafing fish.

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Common Sense Rule No. 3: Don’t just chunk a few limbs in the water and expect fish to swoop in like grackles. Additionally, the limbs must have some “volume” to attract fish.

Your manmade reef should include jutting limbs with forks and branches to attract the interest of crappie. There is no question that perch fishing is

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usually an ultralight sport, but in heavy cover, you need a bigger gun. Common Sense Rule No. 4: Use a rod with some backbone, because you are going to hang up. Aberdeen style hooks with long shanks are easier to recover if you snag on the brush. The long, thin wire of the hook

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bends easily. The longer shank will also let you get the hook out of the fish’s mouth much easier than the shorter hooks crappie fishermen typically use. Setting the hook should be more a matter of finesse than strength. A hard yank often pulls the bait out of a papermouth’s mouth.

Heaving backward as if an anchor was on the other end will tear the hook free. When you feel a tug, simply lift the rod upward and maintain the pressure. You aren’t bass fishing, so instead of trying to dance with your new friend, get it out of the brush as fast as possible. Crappie can wrap your line around a limb faster than a teenager can fall in love. Those crappie hanging like ornaments in the submerged brush piles or trees do not hit a lure with the explosion bass anglers have come to expect. White or black perch are more delicate in their strikes. Reel and jig slowly until they give you a tap, which can sometimes be so light that the rod tip barely registers the contact. Several years ago, a well-known Crappie Personality became so frustrated with my own personally developed and highly perfected technique that he offered to pitch me out of the boat. “Are you going to set that hook, or are you waiting for the fish to gain another pound or two before you pull him in?” he asked, obviously annoyed. I stared at the rod tip six feet away. A hooked housefly would have given it more action. “You think there’s a fish on there?” “Raise your rod tip up and find out.” I did and the fish came alive on the other end. Baits are as varied as the fishermen who purchase them. Many of today’s high tech anglers insist that jigs are the answer and will spend an entire latte break passionately arguing the merits of leadhead lures over fresh sushi. Colors such as yellow, bright greens (chartreuse), and anything fluorescent have value on certain days. Use black, white, chartreuse, or dark colors in early morning, late evening, and cloudy days. Use jet-black if fishing at night. I know it makes no sense, but Crappiedom has its own set of rules. Jigs should be small; 1/32-ounce sizes work best, but if the fish are deep, it takes too long for the lightweight lure to fall. That is when it is time listen to the old cane pole, cool-weather anglers who propose that the only effective bait in cold water is a weighted live minnow— proven deadly at any time of the year.

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Faircloth’s Fairytale Has Unhappy Ending ASPER BASS PRO TODD FAIRCLOTH SAW A fairytale season come to a nightmarish ending at the 2008 BASS Elite Series finale on Oneida Lake in Syracuse, N.Y. Faircloth entered the tournament riding a season-long hot streak that saw him collect checks in 10 straight events, including a fat one worth $102,000 for a win at Amistad last April. The banner year added up to enough points to put Faircloth in good position to win his first BASS Angler of the Year title since turning pro in 1999. All he had to do at Oneida was catch enough bass to protect the 21-point lead he had built over Kevin VanDam and ultimately seal the deal. Faircloth liked his chances going in. In fact, he felt like he was on the fish to make the Top 12 cut and possibly even capture his second victory of the grueling 11-tournament season. Then the wheels came off of the train. “I found several deep spots during practice, one that I felt particularly about,” Faircloth recalled. “I caught 15-17 pounds off the spot in 15 minutes and left them alone. I really thought I had found the mother lode.” The thick-shouldered Oneida smallmouths had other ideas. Or so it turned out. The bass seemingly vanished come tournament time, leaving Faircloth scrambling with the sport’s most dangerous angler nipping at his heels. “I don’t know what happened to those fish,” Faircloth said. “I checked the spot three times during the first two days and they never showed up. I was really frustrated after that and just didn’t feel comfortable

doing anything else.” Faircloth eventually turned in his worst finish in two fishing seasons—93rd. VanDam, meanwhile, registered a 38th-place finish that earned him his fourth AOY title and a $250,000 check that came with it. Faircloth took home $100,000 for finishing second in the AOY standings, but was understandably disappointed by the outcome. “The $100,000 was nice,” Faircloth said. “But the way I see it, I lost $150,000 (by not winning the AOY title). It was within my grasp, but I let it slip away.” •••

FLW Crowns $1 Million Fantasy Fishing Winner How do you win $1 million dabbling in professional bass fishing tournaments without ever wetting a hook? Just ask Michael Thompson of St. Michael, Minn. Thompson, 33, is a stay-at-home dad who made fantasy-sports history when he was the named as the first overall points winner in FLW Outdoors’ new online fantasy fishing game, www.FantasyFishing.com. The title came with a $1 million grand prize. It is the largest payday in fantasy sports history, including football and baseball. Thousands of contestants from around the world logged on to participate in the A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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Internet fantasy sports game over the course of the 2008 FLW Tour season. Participants earned points based on where their angler picks finished in each tournament. Thompson positioned himself to grab the golden nugget by making consistently good picks during all six FLW Tour qualifying events. He iced it at the Forrest Wood Cup held on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C. by hitting a pair of exacta picks, which included the tournament winner, Michael Bennett of Lincoln, Calif. “This is unbelievable, I simply can’t believe it… it’s a dream come true,” Thompson said. “I simply started playing FLW Fantasy Fishing because I love fishing and because it was fun. We have a lot of dreams and this will help us make many of them come true.” An avid angler with two young children, Thompson has big plans for the $1 million. The first orders of business are paying off his Ranger Z20, buying his wife, Penny, a new car, building a new home and setting some money aside to pay for college for his kids. While Thompson won the big cigar, he wasn’t the only player to cash in on a long list of valuable prizes on the line. Second place won a fully rigged Ranger bass boat valued at $52,000; third, a $40,000 Chevrolet pickup. The fourth-winner, Carl Trussell, has Texas ties. Trussell lives in Orange. He won a fully-rigged Ranger Boat—with a few clicks of the mouse. The 2009 Fantasy Fishing season begins in February when the FLW Tour gets underway on Lake Guntersville. It costs nothing to play. A $100,000 jackpot goes to the top points finisher in each of six qualifying event. For more info, check www.fantasyfishing.com.

E-mail Matt Williams at freshwater@fishgame.com.

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Outdoors with Old Friends NE OF THE GREATEST PLEASURES IN LIFE IS friendship. Euripides said, “One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.” I don’t believe that most of us have ten thousand relatives—which is a good thing because family reunions would be a nightmare—but Euripides made a

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valid observation. Having good friends is a blessing. Mark Twain might have summed it up best when he made the comment, “The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are wrong. Nearly everybody will side with you when you are right.” I got a chance to visit and—best of all—go fishing

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with an old friend the other day. Joe and I have shared 20 years of friendship. A lot can happen in 20 years, and so it has been for us—some good, some bad, and we both have had our share of each. But one thing that has always tied us together has been our enjoyment of fishing and hunting expeditions we have shared over the years. Joe is considerably younger than I am. I suppose our relationship has been somewhat akin to that of an older/younger brother without the usual sibling rivalry that seems to accompany most blood relationships. We have been able to interact without rancor. Strengths have been shared and weaknesses tolerated. Most good friendships incorporate a large amount of tolerance. “It is one of the blessings of friends

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that you can afford to be stupid with them,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. I introduced Joe to duck hunting years ago. We had some very good, very memorable mornings on the water. When I asked if he wanted to go to New Mexico mule deer hunting, he never hesitated. We probably had the best hunt either of us will ever get to enjoy. Life changes led both of us to different cities and jobs. Joe and I had not seen

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Sharing an outdoor experience can be therapeudic for maintaining friendship.

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fish on the other end of the line was slapping the rod against the bottom of the boat. “Get that rod before it breaks,” I hollered at him. He scrambled to comply. The deep bow of the rod and the high pitched whine of monofilament line peeling from the reel was evidence enough that we had found what we were looking for—hungry trophy hybrids. It is great fun to watch someone battling a big fish. The emotions experienced are plainly written across their faces as the battle progresses. Sheer elation, panic, doubt, and determination change places as fast a chameleon changes colors. Landing fish as aggressive and hard-fighting as hybrid stripers requires skill. Large hybrids cannot be horsed to the boat or they will escape. Taking the time to let the fish tire themselves and then land them is foreign to many fishermen used to catching smaller fish. Most first-timers want to get them in the boat as quickly as possible—usually a mistake. Before Joe could bring the big hybrid to the net, another rod went to the water on the other side of the boat. I grabbed it and set the hook. Joe’s fish was tiring and coming to

the boat, so we swapped rods. I netted the first fish while he battled the second one. We were both giddy with excitement. In the space of 20 minutes, we hooked, battled, and landed four huge hybrid stripers ranging in weight from 8 to 10 pounds. It was simply spectacular fishing. To borrow a phrase from one of the best dramatic movies of all times, “Forest Gump,” Joe and I fit together like peas and carrots. It is usually like that for old friends. The passage of years makes no difference in the relationship. You just pick up where you left off the last time. It does not matter whether it was last week, last year, or a decade ago. Old friends are timeless and none of us would be complete without them.

E-mail Barry St. Clair at bstclair@fishgame.com.

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each other in a few years. That sort of thing happens to old friends sometimes. Sharing an outdoor experience can be therapeutic for maintaining friendship. It has often been so for us. One thing Joe and I had never experienced together was an opportunity to go trophy hybrid striper fishing. We got a chance to correct that deficiency the other day. Cedar Creek Reservoir is one of the best impoundments in Texas to catch trophy hybrid stripers. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries Division has done an excellent job of providing thousands of anglers with the opportunity to catch the hard-fighting hybrid striped bass. Repeated stockings in Cedar Creek have resulted in an excellent population of hybrid striped bass. They fight like no other freshwater fish and can destroy lightweight tackle. Learning their habits is the key to catching them. They prefer open water areas and finding hybrids requires patience, luck, and skill reading a depth finder. “What’s wrong with that rod?” Joe hollered excitedly. I was bent over my shad tank trying to catch one of the speedy baitfish and looked up to see a fishing rod bent over double. The tip of the rod was in the water and under the boat. Each lunge by the A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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Fishing Upper Ends of Lakes IRST, WE ARE LOOKING AT SHALLOWER water, probably 10 feet or less. Usually, the lakes are down the later part of the year. There are three areas I am looking for when I go upriver: flats, creeks, and ledges. One of these areas will usually produce bass. Let’s start with flats and what we are looking for. First would be wood in the form of laydowns, brush piles, and stumps. Usually, these structures are isolated, so that gives the bass an ambush point. Keep your MotorGuide on a low setting, approaching the structure with the thought of: How can I present my lure the best way on the first cast? I almost always throw a Bagley shallow B or an XPS Nitro super-shallow crankbait. I follow this with a Bagley spinnerbait in shad color, and then a Zoom Mag11 or finesse worm.

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The main key to fishing isolated structure on flats is to enter with extreme caution, make repeated casts, and offer a variety of lure techniques. I sometimes make 30 to 40 casts at one target. I see so many fishermen make one or two casts and move on. You can usually come right in behind them and catch fish. You have to make these fish bite by getting a reaction strike, and then you can get two or three bass off of one structure. I always think: This is the only structure around and the bass have to be here, so make them bite. Another thing about flats in late fall and early winter is they will warm up later in the day. The shad will move up shallow, creating a late day bite. So, make sure and give the area a chance in the afternoon. A Bass Pro Shops Lazer Buzzmaster will also produce well on the flats. Upriver creeks are also a good place to look, as shad will migrate back in these areas. I first go as far back as possible and work out. Look at your map, and if it is a long creek and you run into shallow water, get out and wade. See if you can get across some way into deeper water, as this can be a dynamic area. When I start at the back, I look for the channel bends. I fish these with a mediumrunning Bagley Killer B11 or Bagley lipless crankbait. If you come to a laydown or bank change (e.g., rock to dirt), flip a jig or spin-

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nerbait into the structure. Remember: the water is usually down and there will be isolated structures, which need to be thoroughly soused with baits. Sometimes you can find one or two creeks that have a lot more bait in them, and the bass will also be there. I think the bass are running shad and chase them into a creek. I try to go into as many creeks as possible, looking for the best one and then spend quality time there. Next come river ledges and creek mouths up the river. Look for birds as you go upriver, as this is the best sign that shad are in the area. Pay close attention to your Raymarine unit to see if the baitfish are balled up in the channel bends. This is a good place to use a Carolina-rigged Zoom lizard or Trick Worm. I never pass up a creek mouth, as this is always a great place to start. Throw a Bagley deep-diving Killer B11 or DB111, especially if there is current, because this is a prime spot for shad to gather. If you catch bass in a creek mouth and they stop biting, it is time to offer a variety of techniques to see if you can turn them back on. If you get a pattern going up a river, it can usually be duplicated in look-alike areas. One thing about fishing upriver in a tournament is usually there are a lot of boats. Once the tournament starts, you almost always have less pressure. I think this is because everybody thinks everybody else is going up there, and there is not enough fish to go around. So, very few go, leaving the easy picking to a few. Late fall and early winter fishing can be good anywhere on the lake, so take out your Nitro and enjoy the sights, sounds, and great fishing. Give a pair of Woo shoes to someone for Christmas and create a friend for life. Good luck, and may God bless.

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CCA STAR Tournament Another Great Success HE 2008 CCA FORD/TEXAS STATE Bank/Tilson Homes State of Texas Angler’s Rodeo ended on Labor Day at 5 p.m. This year’s event was highlighted by the large amount of reported tagged redfish catches (the second highest on record) in the Texas Ford Dealers Tagged Redfish Division. At the close of the event, a total of 17 had been reported, but like last year, only three winners will be

by Luke Giles driving home the awesome Ford F-150 Texas Edition truck/Triton 22LTS boat/Mercury 150EFI motor/McClain trailer package. Fourteen unfortunate anglers forgot or neglected to sign up this year and it cost them dearly—to the tune of about $60,000 each. What’s really amazing is the 17 caught out of 60 released is a 28 percent recapture rate in three months. When TPWD releases tagged redfish, their recapture rate is only 3 percent annually.

Another exciting highlight this year was in the Offshore Division. Dorado winner, Ryan Foster, not only won this division with a new STAR record, but his catch is also the new record for the Lone Star State. Of the 110 prizes won this year, a total of 23 top prizes were awarded at the STAR Awards Ceremony on October 2 at the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center in Houston. It has been another great year for CCA Texas and STAR. Many thanks to our fine sponsors weigh stations and tickets stations, and to the many volunteers for their hard work and dedication to enhancing our marine resources. Of course, without you there would be no STAR, and we are most

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grateful to you—especially those who added kids to their fishing experience. Major sponsors for the 19th annual CCA Texas/STAR Tournament include: Ford, Texas State Bank, Tilson Home Corporation, Texas Ford Dealers, Mercury Marine, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Columbia Sportswear, Napa Auto Parts, Nestle Pure Life, NRG Texas, Fox Sports Net Southwest, Time Warner Cable, Houston Community Newspapers, Whataburger, Triton Boats, Shoalwater Boats, Contender Boats, Cobia Boats, Texas Fish & Game Magazine, LMC Marine, Texas Oilman’s Charity Fishing Tournament, McClain Trailers, Mt. Houston Marine and Texas Sportfishing Yacht Sales. Please keep them in mind when planning your next trip on the water. For more information, including a list of weigh-in stations, instant-entry registration locations in your area, and weekly leader board update, visit www.ccatexas.org.

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Christmas 2008 HE TENT FLAP LIFTED AND FELL. A BLACK form padded into the guides’ quarters. There was no sound within the dark canvas. The inhabitants lay on their cots like mummies in a cold tomb, their heads pulled inside sleeping bags and beneath mante tarps. The stillness perpetuated the eerie silence. The freezing air magnified the sleepers’ deathlike trances. The stained walls emphasized the closeness. The animal moved forward zeroing in on its quarry. Sniffing and shuffling it plowed through dirty clothes, stopping to smell and identify each human. It hesitated for long seconds staring at Ed Stidolph. Something seemed to be wrong with the man, his demeanor was peaceful as

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a corpse, but his breathing was ragged. Then Ed let out a gasping snore and broke the unnatural quiet. Each breath sucked more wind producing louder wooden nasal growls, and several guides rolled in their bunks burrowing deeper into their bags. The animal jerked back and perked its ears. The noise transformed the tent. No longer did it seem unnatural in its silence. The sound awoke the stink of rank socks, the stench of unwashed bodies, and the guides’ groans from hurt backs. In one sucking snort, the tent moved from being a stoic wilderness fixture to being a normal human abode. The animal turned and came to my nest. Nosing and pushing, its nose found my cheek. Then a snaking tongue found my eye and then my ear and a questioning paw tangled in my hair. “Boo, what are you doing?” My coat was wadded into a pillow and I searched in its folds for my flashlight. The border collie pup eyed me and stretched its nose forward once more. My mind was clearing and I

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shined a weak beam at the pocket watch that was hanging on my boot—midnight. “Oh, so you’re my messenger. Do we have company?” The young dog wagged its tail and whined. Then Ed rasped another snore and Joe Gray, another guide, answered with his own girlish wheeze. “My goodness, dog, let’s get out of here. This place ain’t fit for clean-living souls like us.” My clothes lay in a systematic stack, and within a minute I was dressed and into the night. The moon was waning but the starlight illuminated the trail to the cook tent and beyond the makeshift corrals. On the meadow above camp, about 300 yards away, a campfire flickered. “You know, Boo, there was a day that I would have run all the way to that camp. Shoot, now I can barely muster a trot. C’mon.” The tall grass was yellow and by morning would be hanging with frost. Snow from several days earlier had marked the coming of fall and turned the leaves on the aspens. But the past two days were clear and sunny, and the outfitter Todd Jones speculated that elk hunting didn’t require bad weather. My visitor puttered with the coffeepot as I slowed my pace within the ring of firelight. “Hello, cowboy, you look like you’re still in one piece. Good to see that they didn’t eat you down in Mexico.” “Where’s everybody else? You come by yourself this year?” “Yeah, I sort of wanted to make a run on my own. Dadgum, my old lady has been on some kind of kick making me eat healthier this year. All that organic crap tastes like plastic. Isn’t that a conflict of ideas? Society is frowning on plastic in the environment but most of their food tastes like the stuff. I needed to take a tour and eat some grub fried in bacon grease. I wanted to get out here with the menfolk.” “Well, I don’t know how much longer our world is going to exist. Maybe it was only a figment of our imaginations. This wilderness is getting too civilized. The col-

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lege-educated nincompoops that added Canadian timber wolves to this country don’t realize that they diminished the quality of these wildlands. They didn’t make this country better, they just highlighted the ability to implement government control—anywhere, anytime. Then again, it also shows how urban we’ve become and the lazy attitude that folks have towards each other. As long as something doesn’t affect people, they don’t care. They don’t care what happens to their country neighbors as long as it fulfills their own childish romantic notions.” “What about Mexico? Isn’t that still open country where the best man comes out on top?” “Naw, folks turn their heads and let the bad guys win. Then they wonder why the economy is bad and why Americans have a dim view of their southern neighbor. There’s an attitude that you leave the drug runners alone and they’ll leave you alone—and then there’s the confounding argument that it’s our fault for providing a demand. But… it’s beautiful country. I like the desert. I like the people, and I like the primitive lifestyle— and there ain’t no telephones. But sometimes it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. In the case of the northern wildernesses, the good guys may be the bad guys. In Mexico the difference is a little clearer.” “Well, what are you going to do?” “I’ve got a list of projects. I’ve been sitting on my thumbs for a year figuring it out. There’s some writing I need to finish and some ranch endeavors that should set up my daughter with a modicum of independence. As far as I’m concerned, I just want to make sure everyone is taken care of and then pick up my saddle and go somewhere that I can’t be bothered. Carroll Johnson says there’s a cow outfit in Utah that’s the size of Rhode Island. Maybe me and him will make a swing that direction.” “Y’all are sort of a pair.” “Yeah, I took a picture of him the other day on a mule, riding another man’s saddle, and wearing a backpack. He sure cussed me for being mean—I wish I could catch him in short pants.” “I’ve also noticed that y’all are having fun with your new wrangler.” “Yeah, I’m not sure we’re doing that kid, Tyler, no favors. There ain’t much future in cowboying, guiding, or packing mules. But he reads a lot and wants me to look at some of his writing. You know, I’m afraid that I

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can’t help myself if a fella shows interest in the few things that I know about. There ain’t many boys in that generation that appreciate the old ways. Look at the age of all our guides, hell, most of them are in their 50’s… maybe Tyler can take my place.” The old Christmas legend pulled a jug out from under the seat of his sleigh and chuckled. “You’ve got a lot of trails left to cover, cowboy. Don’t count yourself out yet. Here… Mama hasn’t cut me off from the

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snakebite medicine. Let’s sit down and lay out the plans for the coming year.” Two friends reclined on their haunches, began drawing in the dirt with a stick, sipped their whiskey, and confided in each other the way compadres do at a campfire. Boo sat attentive listening to the voices.

E-mail Herman W. Brune at wilderness@fishgame.com.

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Jalapeno Kiwi Glazed Ham HE HOLIDAYS ARE A GREAT TIME FOR traveling to see friends, relatives, or your buddies at deer camp. Bringing along a great dish that can be heated and served after a drive can be a challenge. I have prepared and shared this recipe for many years and I hope you will enjoy it with your favorite people this season.

1 bone-in 8- to 10-lb. or larger shank ham 1 jar Texas Gourmet’s Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly 1-1/2 cup sherry 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 Tbs soy sauce 2 Tbs chopped rosemary leaves 3 Tbs black pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the ham on a wire rack in a baking pan. Score the ham on all sides to about 1/2-inch deep. Cover with foil and bake for approx 1 hour with nothing on the ham, then baste the ham liberally with the Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly. Cover with foil again and bake for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until the ham starts to pull away from the bone. Remove foil and baste with collected S P O N S O R E D BY:

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Sugar Cured Feral Hog Ham

1/2 to 2 gallons of cold water. Stir until all salt is dissolved. Place the ham in a large disposable plastic bag. Using your turkey injector, draw up two to three full syringes of the solution and inject it in next to the bone in several places on the ham. (This will help the curing process to get to the places most vulnerable to spoiling when on a pit.) Then pour the rest of the cure solution in the bag with the ham. Squeeze all of the air out of the bag and tie it up tight and close to the meat. Place the bag in a refrigerator or a cooler lined with plenty of ice and allow it to sit in the solution for 24 to 48 hours. Remove the ham from the bag, rinse it off, and it is ready for the pit.

The Sugar Cure

Pit Instructions

For a 6- to 10-pound ham: Mix 1 pint each of sugar and sea or kosher salt into 1-

After preheating your pit (I like to start with about 5 pounds of lump hardwood

juices and jelly in pan. Increase the temp to 400 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 more minutes, basting every 10 to 15 minutes until a glaze begins to form on the ham. Remove from the oven and allow the ham to rest with a piece of foil loosely draped over it for 20 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Remove foil and slice ham into 2- to 3-inch pieces, and lay them in the juices until ready to serve.

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PHOTO BY JIM OLIVE

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charcoal, then add seasoned pecan, post oak, and a little hickory wood for smoke and flavor enhancement), place the ham in the pit at the far end from the firebox with the temperature at about 250 to 275 degrees, and baste every 45 minutes or so. Flip the ham every 1-1/2 hours and continue basting. (Use 45 minutes to the pound as a guide for smoking time, or until a meat thermometer inserted next to the bone registers 160 degrees.) Remove from the pit to a platter and drape a loose piece of foil over the ham for 30 to 45 minutes before carving. Heat the remaining baste to a boil on the stove, then use it as a sauce when serving. Try not to hurt yourself by attempting to eat the whole ham while carving it. Enjoy with your favorite sides.

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quickly pull out cookie sheet with pecans and sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar and place back in the oven for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the pecans to a cool surface in the open air for 30 minutes to 1 hour. They can now be served or used in recipes. If storing, be sure to seal in a Mason jar or Zip Loc bag. Bryan Slaven, The Texas Gourmet, is now booking weekends this season for wild game dinners and instruction at your ranch

or in your home. A great way to entertain customers or family and friends. Call today, as dates are limited: 832-875-9433.

Contact Bryan Slaven, "The Texas Gourmet," at 888-234-7883, www.thetexasgourmet.com; or by email at texas-tasted@fishgame.com.

BASTE FOR THE HAM: 1 jar Texas Gourmet’s Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly

Sweet Potato Bar This is a fun way to serve a healthy and flavorful dish that allows everyone to have it just the way they like it. Pick small, fresh sweet potatoes, wash and rinse, then spray or rub the outsides with butter and lightly sprinkle with salt. Wrap each sweet potato in foil and bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, or until soft to the touch. Remove from oven and serve with butter, baby marshmallows, glazed pecans (recipe follows), brown sugar, cinnamon sugar, baked sweetened coconut flakes, and orange zest arranged on a condiment tray.

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TEXAS SALTWATER

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Ted Gaylord 6.25-pound Speckled Trout Hillman Guide Servi ce

ersary Trip The Masons Anniv Limit of Reds Redfish Charters

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ADVERTISERS, MAIL IN YOUR PHOTOS TODAY!

Captain Larry E. Akins is USAF Retired. Other than the twenty years I spent in the Air Force, I grew up here on the Gulf Coast. I started fishing these waters when I was too young to remember. My father got me started fishing in Galveston Bay, and as I grew older I ventured out. I am at home anywhere from Sabine Lake to Port Isabel. Fishing is all I do now. I started guiding about six years ago and became full-time two years ago. Most of my guiding expertise has been at special request. I have guided people from Washington state, South Africa, and Holland. I have guided people from all over Texas. The reason I like guiding is because I have traveled all over the US and the world fishing. I have caught a lot of fish and now I gain the most satisfaction from seeing other people catch fish. I especially enjoy seeing young people catch fish. I don’t help young people by reeling in their fish, I encourage them. I was with a young man of eight, Matt, when he reeled in his first trophy trout. He did it and that is something no one can take away from him. That day he caught eight trout, the smallest being 19 inches. I would rather help someone catch a record fish, than I would to catch it while out fishing alone. In Montana, I also guided some hunting trips and there are a lot of people who have trophy mounts because of my guiding and their shooting ability. I would rather be guiding. One of the things about traveling so much is that I always make friends everywhere I go. In 2006, I took eight weeks and traveled the Rockies. I fly-fished everywhere; call me and we can talk about it. — Captain Larry Akins, 409-267-5486 (cell) Email me at capt.akins@yahoo.com A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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TROUT AND REDFISH—EAST MATAGORDA BAY, TEXAS

HOGS—REGAN WELLS, TEXAS

Mr. Tony Maza of Richwood, Texas, caught this limit of trout and one redfish while wade-fishing in East Matagorda Bay with Darrell Adell of Adell’s Guide Service.

Paul Heughan took these two pigs with one shot from his Browning .270 at 165 yards in Regan Wells, Texas.

SKIPJACK—PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS

REDFISH—SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS

Rachel Gallagher, age 5, of Sandia, Texas, shows MT Riley, age 9, of Dallas, Texas, caught this 31off this 22-inch skipjack that she caught in Port inch redfish in the bay of South Padre Island, Aransas during a tournament. She was fishing Texas. with dead shrimp.

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TF&G PHOTO ALBUM 1745 Greens Road Houston, Texas 77032 OR BY EMAIL: photos@fishgame.com

REDFISH—JETTIES, TEXAS Bobby Ballard took his wife Sharon and motherin-law Charlene Lehde to the Jetties where they landed 15 redfish, 4 Spanish mackerel and one flounder. The reds were all released successfully.

PLEASE INCLUDE NAME, HOMETOWN, WHEN & WHERE CAUGHT, SIZE AND WEIGHT

Note: All non-digital photos submitted become the property of Texas Fish & Game and will not be returned. TF&G makes no guarantee when or if any submitted photo will be published. F i s h

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REDFISH—LAKE FAIRFIELD, TEXAS

ROCK PERCH—TEXARKANA, TEXAS

Rachel, age 4, caught this bass while fishing with Josh Munoz, 12 years old, of Fairfield, Texas, Gavin Blair, age 4, of Texarkana, Texas, caught and her mom at their pond in Angleton, Texas. Rachel caught this redfish on Lake Fairfield. The red mea- released his first rock perch while fishing with his was using a Shakespeare micro graphite ultralight sured 36 inches long and weighed 15 pounds. grandfather Ronnie Blair in a private pond. action 4-foot, 6-inch rod with a green and yellow Heddon topwater. The bass loved it!

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’M NOT SURE WHO FIRST CAME UP WITH THE concept of combining hunting and fishing trips together into a single activity, but it’s safe to say that man was a genius. Cast and blast excursions, as these trips have become known over the years, take advantage of the fact that you are already near water duck-hunting, so you might as well carry along a few rods and catch a fish or two before heading home. The typical cast and blast trip consists of a coastal duck hunt for divers followed by a trip into the marsh chasing saltwater species. However, the boys on the coast aren’t the only ones who can get in on the action. There is no hard and fast rule saying that a cast and blast trip needs to start with redheads bombing the decoys in the morning and end with tailing redfish under a setting sun. Those of us hundreds of miles from the nearest saltwater marsh can enjoy some of the finest hunting and fishing in the state on the same day (and on the same body of water). The best part is we have the opportunity to shoot greenheads instead of divers

COMPOSITE PHOTOS BY GRADY ALLEN

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and follow that up with catfish, crappie, or bass. Those of you living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area have my sympathies. Living in an area that grows concrete would drive me stark raving mad. The only saving grace to those that call the D/FW metromess home is that there are multiple man-made reservoirs in the area that not only serve as a water supply to the multitudes but also provide

by Paul Bradshaw rest areas for migrating waterfowl. They are also filled to the banks with fish, making them ideal candidates for a North Texas cast and blast. With all the reservoirs within an hour’s drive of downtown, choosing one to target on any given winter day might be a little overwhelming, but if you have to narrow it down to just one, Kings Creek Adventure guide Jason Barber recommends hitting Cedar Creek Reservoir. As a matter of fact, when his clients ask about a possible combiA L M A N A C / T E X A S

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nation trip, Cedar Creek is where he takes them. “On our cast and blast trips I spend most of my time on Cedar Creek,” Jason shared. “We’ll start out at daylight chasing ducks, come back in for a quick meal, catch our breath, and then head back out to catch catfish.” How can you beat a day like that? As you might have assumed from the name of his guide service, Jason’s favorite part of Cedar Creek Reservoir is up King’s Creek, not only for ducks but for overstuffed trophy blue cats as well. Well before daylight he’ll load his big white center console fishing boat with clients, shotguns, dogs, and decoys to motor up Kings Creek to a large shallow flat where he’ll start the day. Dropping off gear in the hunting location, Jason will leave the clients to construct a makeshift blind out of natural vegetation as he moves the boat down the bank a few hundred yards away. The big white boat that ferried them there is parked strategically to deter birds from dropping into an area out of range, hopefully pushing them into his spread. G a m e ® / D E C E M B E R

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In This Issue

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INDUSTRY INSIDER • “Deal of the Century” | BY TF&G STAFF NEW PRODUCTS • What’s New from Top Outdoor Manufacturers | BY TF&G STAFF SHOOT THIS • Sightron Big Sky SII Hunter Holdover Reticle | BY STEVE LAMASCUS

HOW-TO SECTION

COVER STORY • North Texas Cast & Blast | BY PAUL BRADSHAW

HOTSPOTS & TIDES SECTION

TEXAS HOTSPOTS • Texas’ Hottest Fishing Spots | BY CALIXTO GONZALES & JD MOORE

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SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK • Tides, Solunar Table, Best Hunting/Fishing Times | BY TF&G STAFF

GEARING UP SECTION

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TEXAS TESTED • Pak-Lite; Mercury; Guest | BY TF&G STAFF

Sometimes it helps when the birds can see your boat. Like I mentioned earlier, coastal hunters are limited to chasing divers and teal in the marsh but on Cedar Creek you are sure to see teal, gadwall, widgeon, mallards, and wood ducks. “We’ll usually shoot a ton of teal but sometimes you can’t keep the widgeon out of the decoys,” Jason advised while preparing for an early morning fishing trip. That’s a problem I wouldn’t mind having. After a quick limit of ducks, Jason moves onto blue cats, but probably isn’t fishing in the areas of the lake you would think. While

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TEXAS BOATING • Ready to Abandon Ship? | BY LENNY RUDOW

SALTWATER BAITS & RIGS • Breakaway Deep-Shot | BY PATRICK LEMIRE

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HURRICANE COVERAGE • Continuing Coverage | BY TF&G STAFF TROPHY FEVER • Special Hunting Section | BY TF&G STAFF 2008 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | BY TF&G STAFF

TOURNAMENT INSIDER • Faircloth’s Fairytale Has Unhappy Ending | BY MATT WILLIAMS

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TEXAS TASTED • Jalapeno Kiwi Glazed Ham | BY BRYAN SLAVEN

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DISCOVER THE OUTDOORS • Classifieds | BY TF&G STAFF

FRESHWATER BAITS & RIGS • Biffle-O | BY PAUL BRADSHAW TEXAS KAYAKING • A Kayaker’s Christmas Wishes | BY GREG BERLOCHER HUNT TEXAS • Never Insult Another Man’s Gun | BY BOB HOOD TEXAS GUNS & GEAR • New Vs. Old Cartridges | BY STEVE LAMASCUS WILDERNESS TRAILS • Christmas 2008 | BY HERMAN W. BRUNE

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PHOTO ALBUM • Your Action Photos | BY TF&G STAFF

same place you shot ducks, Jason recommends heading to the north end of the lake and looking for shallow, stumpy flats with a silty bottom. If you can find an area like this with some standing timber holding roosting birds then you will find fish. As unpalatable as it sounds the blues will hang out feeding underneath the roost trees on the pieces of undigested fish. To catch these fish Jason will anchor upwind from the roosts and cast cut shad underneath them. If you’re going to try this method be prepared to go through a lot of bait because the fish will be there, some pushing 30 pounds, but most will be good eating size. Use a cast net to catch bait and once you think you have enough, catch a few more because you will use every one of them. “It’s a good day when you fill the baitwell full of shad and then use every bit of it because you know you’ve caught a lot of catfish.” The best piece of advice Jason had was that if you plan a cast and blast trip on Cedar Creek then avoid weekends and holidays. “The opening weekend, first weekend after the split, and all holidays, it gets busy on Cedar Creek but if you come during the middle of the week you might not hear another shot fired on the whole lake.”

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Over in Northeast Texas there is a small impoundment you might have heard of called Lake Fork. While Fork is world famous for bass, it is also one of the premier Northeast Texas destinations for waterfowlers, providing them with the opportunity to take everything from canvasbacks, to teal, to mallards. My first duck-hunting trip on Fork was more than a decade ago and it was one of those days a hunter never forgets. Standing in waist deep water, my two hunter partners and I wore out a retriever as he worked all morning bringing to hand three mixed limits of gadwall and mallards. Duck hunters are a tight lipped bunch so asking a group of them where the birds are located on Fork will get you a blank stare, but luckily, there are very few bad spots to chase ducks on the 27,000-acre reservoir. If you want to spend your time chasing puddle ducks then head to the north end of the lake, setting up in shallow stump infested grass flats. The flats you caught spawning bass on last spring will hold birds in the winter. Massive decoy spreads are not required. Some of our best hunts on Fork were over a spread of less than a dozen faux ducks. If you want to take your one canvasback for the day, head south towards the dam, hunting the open water near the mouths of creeks and on main lake points. The key to hunting Fork is to get there early because it will draw a crowd on weekends of not only duck hunters but also anglers, which brings us to the casting part of the trip. While Fork is home to the state record bass, it might be the crappie fishing that draws the most anglers in the winter months. The key to finding crappie on Lake Fork in the winter is to head deep and locate balls of shad with your electronics. The most productive area of the lake during the cold months is down by the dam. You can’t go wrong fishing in front of the Sabine River Authority Point. Schools of shad are suspended in the deeper water with crappie hanging out beneath them. Find a school and use your trolling motor to stay with the fish, drifting minnows through the school to pick up a few slabs. Since the crappie are deep and often die from being brought to the surface quickly this time of year, Lake Fork anglers are required to keep the first 25

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they catch from December 1st through the end of February. Folks on the coast aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of multiple hunting or fishing opportunities in a single trip. With the price of gas today it only makes sense to combine trips for ducks and fish into an all

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day cast and blast excursion to maximize time outdoors while minimizing expenses. At least, that’s the line I use to sell it to my wife.

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issue and it is even possible the storm changed bay bottom topography. “I fished about two weeks after Rita passed through,” said Scott Hickman, a Galveston inshore fishing guide. “We just had to go slow all day long, really slow. There was just so much stuff in the water.” If anglers do not heed Hickman’s advice, they stand a good chance of poking holes through their boat’s hull on debris not there before the storm. Anglers venturing out into the bay system should check their inventory of artificial lures. If they do not toss artificial baits, this is a good time to learn. Live shrimp and other live baits are probably going to be hard to find, or non-existent. “Commercial shrimpers and shrimpers who do nothing but catch live bait are going to have problems dragging their nets,” Hickman said. “There is going to be so much junk to hang their nets on. It’s going to be a long time before live bait is readily available.”

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Hickman also predicted the snapper fishing offshore would be tremendous after the storm: “You get a tremendous amount of fish that are pushed in with the storm surge, big fish, lots of big fish, by the thousands. When we are able to get offshore and fish, the action will be incredible.” Getting offshore to the snapper is probably the biggest challenge. Serviceable launch ramps need to be located, and the bays are not the only locations with floating and submerged storm debris. There was a reported debris field offshore measured at 40 miles long and 25 miles wide, drifting with the prevailing winds and currents toward the South Texas coastline. “You see all kinds of imaginable things out there, everything from Coke machines, fuel tanks, barrels, refrigerators, scrap wood...you name it,” said Jarrett Woodrow of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Much of the large stuff is ending up on the beaches at Corpus Christi and Padre Island National Seashore.” In terms of impact to offshore sport fish, there seems to be little danger. “I don’t think it could do anything to them unless there was a large chemical spill, introduction of some manmade substance into the deep water habitat,” TPWD’s Bal-

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they have closed indefinitely the bays for oyster harvest. —TB •••

Toxic Chemicals in Bays a Concern

Damage Extends North of Coast

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by Calixto Gonzales, South Zone Fishing Editor & JD Moore, North Zone Fishing Editor

New Causeway Drum LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: New Causeway (bank access) GPS: N26 4.970, W97 12.060 SPECIES: black drum

BEST BAITS: live shrimp, fresh shrimp, frozen crab CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956551-9581 TIPS: Some drum in the upper end of the slot limit (14-30 inches) roam this broad flat, which can be reached by shore-bound anglers from Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier. More of the fish will be big uglies in the 2030 pound range, which you’ll have to release. The will stretch a line, though. Fishing the edges of the Intracoastal Waterway with either live shrimp, or fresh crab, shrimp, or sea lice on a dropper or Carolina Rig works. Old school fishermen use big Penns with the clicker. It’s always exciting when it starts to buzz. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Long Bar GPS: N26 12.164, N97 15.957 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live bait, Gulp! Shrimp/Mauler combos, topwaters, gold spoons CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956551-9581 TIPS: Trout congregate around the dropoffs in winter and come up on the top of the bar on warm days. Live bait/popping cork I6

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rigs are best here. These fish like meat. If the tide is down, or cooler weather is prevailing, then fish the edges and deeper water. The slower, more methodical retrieve keeps the bait in the fish’s face longer and may prompt it to strike. Glow and pearl are good choices to fish this time of year. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Marker 95 GPS: N26 04.080, W97 09.221 SPECIES: redfish, black drum BEST BAITS: live bait, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Glow, gold spinnerbaits with red/white tail CONTACT: Captain Ruben Garcia, 956459-3286 TIPS: A long drift will locate redfish that tend to spread out along these flats. Some are good-sized fish. During a warm trend, fish spinnerbaits in shallower water. If you want to mix it up a bit, live shrimp under a popping or rattling float will find both reds and eating-sized black drum. Scented baits will also work. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Andie Bowie Park Shoreline (bank access) GPS: N26 11.541, W97 10.327 SPECIES: pompano, whiting BEST BAITS: live or fresh shrimp, Fish Bites strips in shrimp CONTACT: Quick Stop, 956-943-1159 TIPS: Fried or baked fish and fish soup taste really good on cold days. The Padre Island surf is full of whiting and pompano that will fit the gustatory bill perfectly. Fish two-hook rigs with 1- to 2-ounce sinkers (spider weights are best if the surf is sloppy) in the first or second gut (the latter on an outgoing tide) to target all them. You can purchase live shrimp and keep them alive in sawdust for easy portability, or fresh shrimp. Many fishermen are starting to use Fish Bite strips because of the no-muss, no-fuss F i s h

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principal behind it. Use long-shank hooks. You’ll be impressed by the size of some of these “bull” whiting. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Brownsville Ship Channel GPS: N26 02.302, W97 12.799 SPECIES: black drum, sheepshead, mangrove snapper BEST BAITS: live shrimp, fresh shrimp CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956551-9581 TIPS: Deeper water holds a plethora of species that will bite eagerly when more popular game species are more reluctant. Locate the edges and drop-offs along points in the Ship Channel and fish them with live or dead shrimp on a free-line rig. Braided line is recommended, because most fish strike lightly; except the mangrove snapper, of course. They’ll try and rip the rod out of your hands. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N26 28.149, W97 23.874 SPECIES: redfish, speckled trout BEST BAITS: live bait, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny; soft plastics in red/white, New Penny, Rootbeer CONTACT: Captain Ruben Garcia, 956459-3286 TIPS: Work the edges of potholes to tempt trout that lie in ambush for whatever prey they can nail. Redfish will be pushing bulges of water in front of them as they cruise around and scaring up small fish and crabs. A live shrimp or finger mullet can be fished under a popping cork, or sight-cast into the holes themselves. Try a faux shrimp or shad tail on a 1/8-ounce jighead or safety pin style spinnerbait. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Dunkin Channel GPS: N26 20.170, W97 17.273

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SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: live shrimp, live finger mullet, Gulp! Shad, Shrimp, or Jerkbaits CONTACT: Captain Ruben Garcia, 956459-3286 TIPS: Post-frontal low tides will concentrate speckled trout in deeper water. Dunkin Channel and the nearby Intracoastal Waterway are two good spots to look for trout concentrations. Free-line a shrimp or a live finger mullet (3-4 inches) right along the dropoffs. If the tide is ripping out, fish the outer eddies and add a split shot. Redfish will be on the flats around the spoil islands.

Baffin Badlands Trout

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Unnecessary Island. GPS: N26 22.002, W97 18.824 SPECIES: redfish, speckled trout, black drum BEST BAITS: live bait, cut bait, soft plastics in red/white, New Penny, Rootbeer CONTACT: Captain Ruben Garcia, 956459-3286 TIPS: Tuck into the leeward side of Unnecessary and drift the length of the flats near the ICW. Trout may be scattered, but they’re usually good fish. Redfish and black drum intermingle and grub around for meals. Watch for mud-boils to cue you into where to fish for them. Live shrimp is good, so are scented soft plastics. Cut Bait is always an asset.

SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: topwaters early, soft plastics in Limetreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse, Corky CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361-9856089, 361-449-7441, brushcountrycharters.com TIPS: When a north wind limits your options, set up a wade on this popular winter spot. The mud bottom retains warmth more effectively than sand, and trout and redfish, as well as forage species, gravitate to it. Fish around and through color changes with lightly weighted soft plastics. The wading is a bit tough because of the soft mud, but he quality fish make it worth the effort.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Land Cut Spoils GPS: N26 47.750, W97 32.604 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: topwaters, Catch 5 in Smoke, Pinfish patterns; soft plastics in red/white, bone/chartreuse; gold or chrome spoons CONTACT: Captain Terry Neal, 956-9442559 TIPS: Fish topwaters early on mild days, and throughout the whole trip when clouds dominate. If the fish are sitting deeper, switch to suspending plugs in natural patterns, or soft plastics on small (1/16 to 1/8ounce) jigheads. Smoke and Texas Shad are good colors to work with.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: The Badlands GPS: N27 18.228, W97 24.338

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Black’s Bluff GPS: N28 14.237, W97 33.935 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: soft plastics in Limetreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361-9856089, 361-449-7441, brushcountrycharters.com TIPS: Look for nervous bait popping about near drop-offs. That’s usually a sign that there are predators lurking. Plastics should be fished on light jigs. 1/8th ounce is good. 1/16th is even better. Once you begin working the area, fish deeper water with soft plastics and suspending plugs for both trout and redfish. Work your lures slowly, and pay attention. The bites can be very, very subtle. LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Emmord’s Hole

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GPS: N27 29.754, W97 19.970 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in strawberry/black back, Plum/chartreuse, Rootbeer/red flake, Morning Glory, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361-9856089, 361-449-7441, brushcountrycharters.com TIPS: Emmord’s has a combination of grasslines and edges along deeper water, which is ideal fish habitat in the winter. Fish the 3-4’ breakline with slow-sinking eel-style baits for best results. Trout will normally be holding in the deeper holes. Work the lures as slowly as you can for a subtle presentation. Light line and a light tip are needed for this situation. LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Pelican Island GPS: N28 11430, W96 92.50 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: live shrimp, croaker; small topwaters, gold spoons; soft plastics in Avocado/chartreuse, Motor Oil/chartreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain George Rose, 361727-9227, 361-463-7700 TIPS: Again, fish drop-offs with live bait for best results. Work live bait under a popping cork, or on a free-line rig if you’re using baitfish. Watch for some bait activity early in the morning and focus on the general areas. When you’re fishing deeper water, keep a soft touch. That mouse-tap could be a big fish. LOCATION: Rockport/Fulton HOTSPOT: Surf Front (bank access) GPS: N27 94.850, W96 94.78 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: live shrimp/popping cork, topwaters; gold spoons; soft plastics in Avocado/chartreuse, Motor Oil/chartreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain George Rose, 361727-9227, 361-463-7700 TIPS: Action along the surf begins to pick up for trout and redfish during July. Shorebound anglers and kayakers can partake of the bounty. Watch for diving birds to cue you in on where fish might be active. Start

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by fishing the wade gut and slowly work your way out to deeper water. Topwaters work well early but move to deeper running baits through midmorning. LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N27 57.058, W96 5.331 SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters and soft plastics in chartreuse. Live bait, cut bait. CONTACT: Captain George Rose, 361727-9227, 361-463-7700 TIPS: redfish are the predominant target species on Estes in December. Use topwaters in the shallows early in the morning, but back up and use soft plastics as the day gets longer. Large live shrimp, cut mullet, and crab chunks fished on a bottom rig are also effective this time of year.

Cajun Shoreline Specks LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Louisiana Shoreline GPS: N29 42.365, W93 48.764

with 1/4-ounce jigheads. Slow and steady is the key.

GPS: N29 49.449, W93 49.929 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: topwaters, Catch 2000 Series III in darker patterns; Old Bayside Shadlyn in Smoke, Pearl/chartreuse, Glow/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Bill Watkins, 409-7862018, 409-673-2018, www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Trout are starting to key in on small shad that are schooling up in the bayou. Soft plastic shad tails will draw attacks from trout strafing these shad. A Series III worked ultra-slowly (when you think you are fishing it too slow, slow it down some more) will get the attention of some of the bigger trout. Make long casts and fish in 2-3 feet of water.

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Whitehead Reef GPS: N29 28.200, W94 49.220 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live bait; topwaters early, soft plastics CONTACT: Captain Shane Chesson, 409284-8616, www.thedrakeplantation.com TIPS: Watch for birds working over slicks on top and around reefs in the bay during winter. Topwaters should be fished around edges and in the shallows early in the morning. Live bait also works well, especially when fish are holding around the edges. Fish soft plastics around the slicks.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: East Pass GPS: N29 58.920, W93 48.940 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in Red Shad, Morning Glory, Black/Chart CONTACT: Captain Bill Watkins, 409-7862018, 409-673-2018, www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Wintertime trout tend to congregate in deeper passes, especially when immoderate temperatures are the norm. Look for these fish to be holding along edges and current breaks during mild days. In post-frontal conditions, focus on deeper water and fish

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Big Pasture/Yates Bayou GPS: N29 30.247, W95 41.493 SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live bait; topwaters early, soft plastics CONTACT: Captain Shane Chesson, 409284-8616, www.thedrakeplantation.com TIPS: Redfish will be up in the mouth of bayous this time of year. Fish live bait such as shrimp and finger mullet around grasslines that trace the shoreline. Don’t neglect the pockets the indent the shoreline. On cooler days, or on a falling tide, fish the deeper water in the mouth of the bayou.

SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: soft plastics in Red Shad, Morning Glory, Black/Chartreuse; topwaters in bone CONTACT: Captain Bill Watkins, 409-7862018, 409-673-2018, www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: When days are mild, or there’s a stretch of mild weather, the Louisiana shoreline is a good area to focus on for speckled trout and redfish. Cast topwaters toward the shallows early in the morning, or on an incoming tide. Work soft plastics along the depth line into deeper water as the day stretches on. Keep an eye out for fish strafing bait along the shoreline. I can’t remind the readers enough: you need a state license to fish Louisiana waters. A three-day permit is available for a nominal fee. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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which is in slightly shallower water. Use larger white spinnerbaits with Carolina blades, or dark colored jigs with a trailer. A drop-shot worm is also strong medicine on these bass. Have a venting tool handy, in case any bass come up with suffering from decompression trauma.

Goose Bay Bass LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Goose Bay GPS: N26 29.151, W99 8.247

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LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: 277 Bridge GPS: N29 30.142, W100 54.249 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: 4-inch Roboworm/drop-shot CONTACT: Mike Hawkes, 210-275-1309 TIPS: Fish vertically in the deep water around the pilings. Use your electronics to find where the bass are holding in the deeper water and send a worm down on a dropshot rig. 10-15 pound braid works well here because of the no stretch and the thin diameter, which allow you to detect some of the subtler strikes you’ll encounter.

Fork Bass See Red LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Hydrilla Beds GPS: N32 55.208, W95 31.950

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BEST BAITS: Plastic worms in Watermelon Red or black CONTACT: Jeff Kirkwood, 972-853-0949, www.fishinwithjeff.com TIPS: December is the start of the spawn. This is a power plant lake and the December spawn will be small, so you need to know the lake well in order to find the spawning bass. The dam area will be a good place to start. Texas-rig or Carolina-rig your worm. Either has its place along the dam. Finding nothing here, move on to mouths of Smith or Blundale Creek and repeat pattern BANK ACCESS: Titus County Park, largemouth bass LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: 147 Bridge Area GPS: N31 14.563, W94 07.248 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Nichols Spinnerbait, Rattle Shad CONTACT: Don Mattern, Sr. 903-4782633, www.matternguideservice.fghp.com TIPS: This area is loaded with bass and hydrilla. Nichols Spinnerbaits will catch some big bass. Rattle Shads in reds and crawfish colors will produce some pre-spawn big bass. Work the edges of the hydrilla and around the sand spots in the inside of the islands near the bridge area. BANK ACCESS: Powell Park Marina, largemouth bass, catfish, white and striped bass

Rats on the Humps LOCATION: Lake Aquilla HOTSPOT: Deep Humps GPS: N31 54.214, W97 12.178

SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, Slabs CONTACT: Randy Routh, 817-822-5539, www.teamredneck.com TIPS: Watch the lake for working gulls and cranes. They will lead you to large schools

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ALL GPS COORDINATES VERIFIED BY

of whites as they push the shad to the surface. Make long casts with slabs and/or RatL-Traps, retrieving through the schools of shad. BANK ACCESS: Tailrace Fishing Pier, white bass LOCATION: Lake Belton HOTSPOT: Leon River arm at Mid-Point GPS: N31 09.388, W97 30.514 SPECIES: white bass and hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: white slabs, Chartreuse slabs CONTACT: Bob Maindelle, 254-368-7411, Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com TIPS: Shore birds begin to point the way to fish this month. Gulls, loons, and terns will be working over schools of roaming fish, pushing shad to the surface. Evenings are best. White slabs if water is clear; Chartreuse slabs if water is stained. BANK ACCESS: Temple Lake Park, largemouth bass, catfish, white bass LOCATION: Lake Fayette County HOTSPOT: Camp’s Pond Dam GPS: N29 56.300, W96 44.989

SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: shrimp, worms, Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, 979-229-3103, www.FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: An old pond here with a dam has a creek bed just below the dam. The water depth below the dam is 20 feet and an old roadbed runs SW to NE just below the dam. Fish Carolina rig with #4 treble hook for Punch Bait and #2 Kahle hook for shrimp and worms. Chumming is always a good idea to speed up the bite. If not using chum, allow 15-20 minutes for the cats to come to the smell of your bait. Where the creek bed crosses the old roadway, just below the dam is a great spot. BANK ACCESS: Junkyard Cove, largemouth bass

www.FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: Hog Island has a shallow side and a deeper side. Anchor or tie off to a tree on the lake side of the island. Cast into the lake where the water will be 7-15 feet deep. Catfish traveling Gibbons Creek channel feed in this area. Big blue cats mixed with channel cats are possible here. Using fresh shad or worms might catch any species this time of year. Fish on bottom with 1-ounce weight and #2 Kahle hook, unless using Punch Bait, then use a #4 treble hook. If a North wind is blowing, this is a good place to fish without the wind bothering you CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, 979-229-3103, www.FishTales-GuideService.com BANK ACCESS: Hwy 175 Bridge East, largemouth bass, crappie

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Hog Island GPS: N30 37.992, W96 03.502 SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch Bait, fresh shad, worms

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Old bridge off Highsaw Creek Channel GPS: N32 07.490, W95 29.136 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Green Pumpkin, red flake Gambler worm CONTACT: Don Mattern, Sr. 903-478-

CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, 979-229-3103,

A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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2633, www.matternguideservice.fghp.com TIPS: The old bridge off Highsaw Creek Channel on the main lake side holds schools of solid bass this time of year. I use a spinning rig set up with a drop-shot on 10pound fluorocarbon line. I like the Green Pumpkin, red flake Gambler worm. Flip

your drop-shot towards the old bridge and slowly shake the rig until you feel the bass. Be cautious in setting the hook. At times, this place will be teeming with bass. Use your electronics to see the old 155 roadbed, then follow it to the bridge, just out from the east bridge facing Hwy 155.

BANK ACCESS: Dam Park, largemouth bass, crappie, fish pockets and rock wall. LOCATION: Richland Chambers Reservoir HOTSPOT: Wood Creek, Tree Top GPS: N32 4.260, W96 17.910 \ N32 4.20 W96 14.430 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: jigs, Watermelon and blue/black CONTACT: Steve Schmidt, 682-518-8252, www.schmidtsbigbass.com TIPS: As the weather is cold and the bite is tough, I suggest you take a jig and some type of trailer; pork or plastic will do. The boat docks would be my first stop. You’ll find these docks at the mouths of creeks. Wood and Tree Top have lots of timber and stumps in them. Just flip your jig among the docks and stumps. It might take several tries before you get a bit, so you need to be patient and take your time. Things are moving more slowly because of the cold water. So, fish slowly. You might only get only one or two bites but they’ll be quality fish. BANK ACCESS: Midway Landing, fish bank on either side of boat ramp. Also, fish shoreline of cove to left of ramp when facing lake, largemouth, crappie, catfish LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Tire Reef GPS: N30 18.440, W96 33.691 SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch Bait, fresh shad; shrimp

For MORE HOTSPOT listings, go to our website and click CURRENT ISSUE ARTICLES

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CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, 979-229-3103, www.FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: A submerged tire reef runs from 6 to 2 feet deep. Fish along the tires starting shallow and moving out to deeper water until you find the fish biting. Be prepared for possibly hanging into a larger catfish here. Blue cats are moving to the deeper water and a big yellow cat could be lying around these old tires, as well as hybrid bass. Channel cats will take the Punch Bait. If you hook a large fish, take your time landing him as you are in open water and have little for the fish to hang up on. BANK ACCESS: Big Creek Marina, catfish, largemouth bass, crappie LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir

HOTSPOT: Dana Peak Peninsula East Side GPS: N31 01.209, W97 36.252 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: small dark jigs; hair jigs with pork CONTACT: Bob Maindelle, 254-368-7411, Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com TIPS: Fish the jigs slowly as you work the several tapering points along the east side of this peninsula. Work jigs with short hops and then watch your line for a tick as the jig falls on a tight line. BANK ACCESS: Stillhouse Park, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, smallmouth bass LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Juniper Point East GPS: N33 51.892, W96 49.883

A L M A N A C / T E X A S

F i s h

SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Road Runners and Sassy Shad jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey, 817-786-4477, bigfish@striperexpress.com TIPS: Few anglers know how good the Texoma fishing is in December. Cool water temps make the fish go into a feeding frenzy. Large fish up to 20 pounds will be on the prowl. A 4 to 6 inch Sass Shad on a 1ounce jighead works best. White Glow and Chartreuse are the colors of choice. Road Runner 1-ounce jigs are deadly on big fish holding on structure. Fish the main lake points, mouths of creeks and humps near deep water. Keep your eyes on the gulls. Large schools of stripers can be under the birds.

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BANK ACCESS: Juniper Point LOCATION: Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: redfish Point GPS: M31 33.834, W96 56. 919 SPECIES: red drum BEST BAITS: medium running crankbaits CONTACT: Jimmy D. Moore, 254-7442104, rayado@earthlink.net TIPS: Cast crankbaits into and follow the creek channel that surrounds redfish Point. You can also troll mid-morning through afternoon. Troll slowly 10 -12 feet deep, thoroughly working deep diving crankbaits along the bottom of the old creek channel which surrounds point, if no action with the above pattern, head for the dam and repeat along the rip rap. Remember, Tradinghouse is a power plant lake and when power is being generated, the lake is quite warm, even in winter. BANK ACCESS: South Levee, catfish on worms, stinkbait, chicken guts. LOCATION: Lake Waco HOTSPOT: Hwy 185 Bridge GPS: N31 36.084, W97 17.610 SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch Bait, chicken guts, chicken livers CONTACT: Jimmy D. Moore, 254-7442104, rayado@earthlink.net TIPS: Fish the bottom under the Hwy 185 bridge, starting at one end and ending at the other. Be sure to work around bridge supports. Chumming with cattle cubes will draw the big cats. Use a one-ounce weight and #2 Kahle hook, unless using Punch Bait, then use a #4 treble hook, which holds the Punch Bait firmly. Don’t skimp on the chicken guts and livers. Big gobs really get their attention. BANK ACCESS: Reynolds Creek Special fishing shoreline, to the right of main boat ramp LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Cedron Creek GPS: N31 57.404, W97 25.451 SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad, leadhead jigs CONTACT: Randy Routh, 817-822-5539, www.teamredneck.com I14

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T E X A S

TIPS: The birds are here and the fish are chasing big schools of bait. In fishing around Cedron Creek, use leadhead jigs with trailers and Sassy Shad, making long casts. At the mouth of the Nolan River, dead stick Bass Assassins. Drop bait to bottom and lift about 10 inches off bottom and do nothing, but slow trolling with trolling motor into the current. BANK ACCESS: Loafer’s Bend Shoreline, stripers, whites, largemouth bass.

Canyon Smallies LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek Cove GPS: N29 51.885, W98 13.274 SPECIES: smallmouth bass BEST BAITS: 1/4-ounce Bleeding Shad Rat-L-Trap, 1/4-ounce Secret Weapon, small profile spinnerbait, rootbeer or tomato red JDC Grub on jigheads, Pumpkin Devil’s Tongues on split shot rigs along edges CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria, 210-8232153, kandie@gvtc.com TIPS: Smallmouth are good to 4 pounds, off points with rocks near Turkey Creek BANK ACCESS: Comal Park, largemouth bass, catfish LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Striper Rim

GPS: N29 51.191, W98 12.549 SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: 3-inch Spoiler Shads and Zara Spook Jr., Pirk Minnows, white bucktails CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria, 210-8232153, kandie@gvtc.com TIPS: Once surface activity slows or stops try jigging silver or blue Pirk Minnows and white bucktails with plastic trailers. BANK ACCESS: Comal Park, largemouth bass, catfish LOCATION: Lake Granger F i s h

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

HOTSPOT: Main River Channel GPS: N30 39.539, W97 24.297 SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: crappie jigs, any color will do CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell, 512-3657761, www.txfishing.com/tidwell/index.htm TIPS: crappie are relating to schools of shad located near the main lake river channel where sharp bends occur. Use your electronics to find brush, etc. on the bottom of the river channel. This is where you’ll find the crappie. Use a slip-cork set up and when you find the productive depth, peg the cork and fish at this depth. BANK ACCESS: Wilson Fox Fishing Dock, crappie on live minnows fished straight down off dock.

PK Stripers LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Just North of Costello Island

GPS: N32 54.142, W98 28.068 SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad CONTACT: Dean Heffner, 940-779-2597, fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Winter is here and it’s time to slow down your fishing, your retrieves or whatever type fishing you’re doing. Watch for working gulls. When you find them, sneak up quietly with your trolling motor and throw your choice of shallow running lures past them and hop it back to the boat. You can also work the 20-foot breaklines with slabs. BANK ACCESS: Willow Beach RV Park, ask for permission, largemouth, white and striped bass Contact South Regional Fishing Editor Calixto Gonzales by email at cgonzales@fishgame.com Contact North Regional Fishing Editor JD Moore by email at hotspotsnorth@fishgame.com

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Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008 USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Channel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).

T12

T11

T10

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

T13 T7

T6 T5 T17

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE below to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

T15 T16

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

T14 T18

T19

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.

T20

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE Add or subtract the time shown at the right of 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

T22 T23

View TIDE PREDICTIONS for all Texas Coastal Tide Stations and DATES at...

www.FishGame.com • D E C E M B E R

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KEY PLACE T12 Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay T13 Gilchrist, East Bay T14 Jamaica Beach, W. Bay T15 Alligator Point, W. Bay T16 Christmas Pt T17 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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

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T9 T8

T3 T2 T1

T E X A S

F i s h

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

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

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

D ec 1

2 Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 5:16p Moonrise: 10:45a Set: 9:35p

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 5:16p Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 5:17p Set: 5:16p Sunrise: 6:55a Moonrise: 11:19a Set: 10:32p Moonrise: 11:49a Set: 11:28p Moonrise: 12:19p Set: None

= New Moon = Fi r s t Q u a r te r = Fu l l M o o n = Last Quarter = Best Day

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 6:56a Set: 5:17p Sunrise: 6:57a Moonrise: 12:48p Set: 12:24a Moonrise: 1:19p

Set: 5:17p Set: 1:22a

AM Minor: 7:39a

PM Minor: 8:04p

AM Minor: 8:32a

PM Minor: 8:55p

AM Minor: 9:22a

PM Minor: 9:44p

AM Minor: 10:10a

PM Minor: 10:31p

AM Minor: 10:54a

PM Minor: 11:16p

AM Minor: 11:37a

PM Minor: ——-

AM Minor: ——-

PM Minor: 12:19p

AM Major: 1:27a

PM Major: 1:52p

AM Major: 2:20a

PM Major: 2:44p

AM Major: 3:11a

PM Major: 3:33p

AM Major: 3:59a

PM Major: 4:20p

AM Major: 4:44a

PM Major: 5:05p

AM Major: 5:26a

PM Major: 5:48p

AM Major: 6:08a

PM Major: 6:31p

Moon Overhead: 3:21p 6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:52p

Moon Overhead: 4:08p

12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:35p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 7:02p

Moon Overhead: 6:18p

12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 5:16p Moonrise: 10:08a Set: 8:38p

12a

Moon Overhead: 7:48p 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 2:57a

Moon Underfoot: 5:14a

Moon Underfoot: 5:57a

Moon Underfoot: 6:40a

Moon Underfoot: 7:24a +2.0

BEST:

1:45-3:30 PM

2:40-4:15 PM

3:25-5:00 PM

4:15-5:45 PM

5:00-6:30 PM

5:40-7:10 PM

6:20-8:00 PM TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 4:30a

TIDE LEVELS

+2.0

Moon Underfoot: 3:45a

-1.0

+1.0

-1.0 High Tide: 12:35 am 1.40 ft Low Tide: 12:33 pm -0.06 ft Low Tide: 1:12 pm 0.05 ft Low Tide: 11:56 am -0.14 ft High Tide: 9:45 pm 1.38 ft High Tide: 10:08 pm 1.33 ft High Tide: 9:14 pm 1.41 ft

Low Tide: 1:52 pm 0.20 ft High Tide: 10:24 pm 1.27 ft

Low Tide: 2:38 pm 0.38 ft High Tide: 10:35 pm 1.20 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:24 am 10:38 am 3:32 pm 10:41 pm

0.67 ft 0.86 ft 0.59 ft 1.15 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:35 am 12:32 pm 4:39 pm 10:42 pm

0.38 ft 1.00 ft 0.82 ft 1.14 ft

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE LE VEL GRAPH: Yellow: Daylight Tab: Peak Fishing Period Green: Falling Tide Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

12a

BEST:

7:05-9:40 PM

12p

SOLUNAR AC TIVIT Y: 12a

AM/PM Timeline Light Blue: Nighttime

MINOR Feeding Periods (+/- 1.5 Hrs.)

AM Minor: 1:20a

PM Minor: 1:45p

AM Major: 7:32a

PM Major: 7:57p

Time Moon is at its Highest Point in the 12a Sky

Moon Overhead: 8:50a

Gold Fish: Best Time Blue Fish: Good Time

AM/PM Timeline

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

12p

A L M A N A C / T E X A S

MOON PHASE SYMBOLS MAJOR Feeding Periods (+/- 2 Hrs.)

12a

Time Moon is Directly Underfoot (at its peak on opposite side of the earth)

F i s h

= New Moon = First Quarter = Full Moon = L a s t Q u a r te r = B es t Da y

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

= Peak Fishing Period

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

= New Moon = Fi r s t Q u a r te r = Fu l l M o o n = Last Quarter = Best Day

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 6:57a Moonrise: 1:53p

Set: 5:17p Set: 2:24a

Sunrise: 6:58a Moonrise: 2:32p

Set: 5:17p Set: 3:30a

Sunrise: 6:59a Moonrise: 3:19p

Set: 5:17p Set: 4:41a

Sunrise: 6:59a Moonrise: 4:15p

Set: 5:17p Set: 5:54a

Sunrise: 7:00a Moonrise: 5:19p

Set: 5:18p Set: 7:04a

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 6:30p

Set: 5:18p Set: 8:09a

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 7:43p

Set: 5:18p Set: 9:06a

AM Minor: 12:38a

PM Minor: 1:03p

AM Minor: 1:22a

PM Minor: 1:49p

AM Minor: 2:11a

PM Minor: 2:41p

AM Minor: 3:06a

PM Minor: 3:39p

AM Minor: 4:09a

PM Minor: 4:42p

AM Minor: 5:16a

PM Minor: 5:49p

AM Minor: 6:25a

PM Minor: 6:57p

AM Major: 6:50a

PM Major: 7:15p

AM Major: 7:36a

PM Major: 8:03p

AM Major: 8:26a

PM Major: 8:56p

AM Major: 9:23a

PM Major: 9:55p

AM Major: 10:25a

PM Major: 10:59p

AM Major: 11:32a

PM Major: ——-

AM Major: 12:09a

PM Major: 12:41p

Moon Overhead: 8:38p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 10:33p

Moon Overhead: 9:33p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 11:38p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 12:45a

Moon Overhead: None 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 1:51a 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 8:12a +2.0

-1.0

BEST:

7:55-9:40 PM

Moon Underfoot: 11:05a

BEST:

8:45-10:50 PM

Moon Underfoot: 12:12p BEST:

9:50-11:50 PM

4:05-6:15 AM

Moon Underfoot: 1:18p BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 2:22p +2.0

BEST:

12:00-12:55 AM

12:05-2:05 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST:

7:05-8:45 PM

Moon Underfoot: 10:02a

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 9:04a

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

I18

6:06 am 1:59 pm 6:00 pm 10:40 pm

0.05 ft 1.19 ft 1.04 ft 1.18 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

• D E C E M B E R

6:46 am 3:10 pm 7:28 pm 10:39 pm

-0.27 ft 1.38 ft 1.22 ft 1.26 ft

2 0 0 8 /

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

T E X A S

7:31 am 4:13 pm 8:48 pm 10:49 pm

-0.56 ft 1.53 ft 1.35 ft 1.36 ft

F i s h

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

8:21 am 5:12 pm 9:46 pm 11:23 pm

-0.80 ft Low Tide: 9:13 am -0.95 ft 1.61 ft High Tide: 6:09 pm 1.63 ft 1.44 ft Low Tide: 10:24 pm 1.47 ft 1.45 ft

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:21 am 10:07 am 7:03 pm 11:03 pm

1.48 ft -0.99 ft 1.58 ft 1.44 ft

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:27 am 11:01 am 7:51 pm 11:57 pm

1.46 ft -0.94 ft 1.49 ft 1.34 ft

+1.0

-1.0

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 7:02a Moonrise: 8:54p

Set: 5:19p Set: 9:54a

AM Minor: 7:32a

PM Minor: 8:02p

AM Minor: 8:36a

PM Minor: 9:02p

AM Minor: 9:33a

PM Minor: 9:57p

AM Major: 1:18a

PM Major: 1:47p

AM Major: 2:22a

PM Major: 2:49p

AM Major: 3:20a

PM Major: 3:45p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:40a

Moon Overhead: 3:49a 12a

12p

12a

12p

SATURDAY

Set: 5:19p Sunrise: 7:04a Sunrise: 7:02a Set: 5:19p Sunrise: 7:03a Moonrise: 10:02p Set: 10:35a Moonrise: 11:05p Set: 11:10a Moonrise: None

Moon Overhead: 2:53a

FRIDAY

Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 11:42a Moonrise: 12:04a Set: 12:12p Moonrise: 1:02a

Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 12:42p Moonrise: 1:59a

Set: 5:21p Set: 1:13p

AM Minor: 10:23a

PM Minor: 10:46p

AM Minor: 11:09a

PM Minor: 11:31p

AM Minor: 11:51a

PM Minor: ——-

AM Minor: 12:10a

PM Minor: 12:32p

AM Major: 4:12a

PM Major: 4:35p

AM Major: 4:58a

PM Major: 5:20p

AM Major: 5:41a

PM Major: 6:02p

AM Major: 6:21a

PM Major: 6:43p

Moon Overhead: 5:27a 12a

SUNDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:55a

Moon Overhead: 6:11a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 7:38a 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 3:21p +2.0

-1.0

Moon Underfoot: 5:50p

Moon Underfoot: 6:33p

Moon Underfoot: 7:17p

Moon Underfoot: 8:01p +2.0

BEST:

1:10-3:00 AM

2:15-4:05 AM

3:10-4:55 AM

4:00-5:40 AM

4:40-6:20 AM

5:30-7:05 AM

6:10-7:50 AM

TIDE LEVELS

Moon Underfoot: 5:04p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 4:15p

High Tide: 2:38 am 1.37 ft Low Tide: 1:10 am Low Tide: 11:55 am -0.78 ft High Tide: 4:02 am High Tide: 8:31 pm 1.37 ft Low Tide: 12:49 pm High Tide: 9:03 pm

I20

• D E C E M B E R

1.17 ft 1.21 ft -0.54 ft 1.24 ft

2 0 0 8 /

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

T E X A S

2:33 am 5:52 am 1:43 pm 9:29 pm

0.94 ft 1.00 ft -0.23 ft 1.12 ft

F i s h

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:43 am 8:00 am 2:39 pm 9:50 pm

0.66 ft 0.83 ft 0.10 ft 1.03 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:38 am 10:11 am 3:42 pm 10:08 pm

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

0.36 ft 0.77 ft 0.43 ft 0.96 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:26 am 12:21 pm 5:13 pm 10:21 pm

0.09 ft 0.85 ft 0.70 ft 0.94 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:09 am 2:17 pm 7:22 pm 10:26 pm

-0.15 ft 1.00 ft 0.88 ft 0.94 ft

+1.0

-1.0

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Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008 MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: 2:56a

Set: 5:21p Set: 1:46p

Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: 3:53a

Set: 5:22p Set: 2:23p

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 4:50a

Set: 5:22p Set: 3:05p

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 5:45a

Set: 5:23p Set: 3:51p

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 6:37a

Set: 5:24p Set: 4:42p

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 7:25a

Set: 5:24p Set: 5:37p

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 8:08a

Set: 5:25p Set: 6:33p

AM Minor: 12:49a

PM Minor: 1:12p

AM Minor: 1:30a

PM Minor: 1:54p

AM Minor: 2:12a

PM Minor: 2:37p

AM Minor: 2:58a

PM Minor: 3:23p

AM Minor: 3:45a

PM Minor: 4:10p

AM Minor: 4:35a

PM Minor: 5:00p

AM Minor: 5:25a

PM Minor: 5:50p

AM Major: 7:01a

PM Major: 7:24p

AM Major: 7:42a

PM Major: 8:05p

AM Major: 8:25a

PM Major: 8:49p

AM Major: 9:10a

PM Major: 9:35p

AM Major: 9:58a

PM Major: 10:23p

AM Major: 10:47a

PM Major: 11:12p

AM Major: 11:37a

PM Major: ——-

Moon Overhead: 8:23a

12a

FRIDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 9:59a

Moon Overhead: 9:10a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 10:49a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 12:30p

Moon Overhead: 11:39a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 1:19p 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

THURSDAY

= New Moon = Fi r s t Q u a r te r = Fu l l M o o n = Last Quarter = Best Day

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 8:47p

-1.0

Moon Underfoot: 11:14p

Moon Underfoot: None

Moon Underfoot: 12:05a

Moon Underfoot: 12:54a

BEST:

6:45-8:40 AM

1:20-3:15 AM

2:00-4:30 AM

2:45-6:00 AM

3:30-6:20 AM

4:30-6:30 AM

5:20-6:30 AM

+2.0

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 10:24p

TIDE LEVELS

+2.0

Moon Underfoot: 9:34p

Low Tide: 6:49 am High Tide: 3:38 pm

-0.32 ft Low Tide: 7:28 am 1.13 ft High Tide: 4:32 pm

-0.45 ft Low Tide: 8:06 am 1.21 ft High Tide: 5:13 pm

-0.53 ft Low Tide: 8:42 am 1.23 ft High Tide: 5:47 pm

-0.57 ft Low Tide: 9:18 am 1.22 ft High Tide: 6:17 pm

-0.59 ft Low Tide: 9:53 am -0.58 ft High Tide: 12:33 am 1.20 ft High Tide: 6:44 pm 1.16 ft Low Tide: 10:27 am Low Tide: 11:01 pm 1.09 ft High Tide: 7:10 pm Low Tide: 11:04 pm

1.09 ft -0.56 ft 1.14 ft 1.04 ft

+1.0

-1.0

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

= Peak Fishing Period

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2008

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

= New Moon = Fi r s t Q u a r te r = Fu l l M o o n = Last Quarter = Best Day

SATURDAY

3 1 JA N 1 / 0 9

SUNDAY

Set: 5:25p Set: 7:30p

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 9:21a

Set: 5:26p Set: 8:27p

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 9:52a

Set: 5:27p Set: 9:22p

AM Minor: 6:16a

PM Minor: 6:40p

AM Minor: 7:07a

PM Minor: 7:29p

AM Minor: 7:56a

PM Minor: 8:18p

AM Minor: 8:46a

PM Minor: 9:07p

AM Minor: 9:33a

PM Minor: 9:54p

AM Minor: 10:19a

PM Minor: 10:40p

AM Minor: 11:05a

PM Minor: 11:28p

AM Major: 12:05a

PM Major: 12:28p

AM Major: 12:56a

PM Major: 1:18p

AM Major: 1:45a

PM Major: 2:07p

AM Major: 2:35a

PM Major: 2:56p

AM Major: 3:22a

PM Major: 3:43p

AM Major: 4:08a

PM Major: 4:29p

AM Major: 4:53a

PM Major: 5:16p

Moon Overhead: 2:06p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 3:34p

Moon Overhead: 2:51p 12a

12p

Set: 5:30p Sunrise: 7:11a Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:29p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:31p Moonrise: 10:23a Set: 10:20p Moonrise: 10:52a Set: 11:15p Moonrise: 11:21a Set: None

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 8:46a

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:18p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:44p

Moon Overhead: 5:00p 12a

12p

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:32p Moonrise: 11:53a Set: 12:14a

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:30p 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 1:43a +2.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 3:57a

Moon Underfoot: 4:39a

Moon Underfoot: 5:22a

Moon Underfoot: 6:07a +2.0

BEST:

1:05-3:10 PM

2:00-3:50 PM

2:40-4:35 PM

3:30-5:15 PM

4:10-6:05 PM

5:00-6:45 PM TIDE LEVELS

Moon Underfoot: 3:13a

TIDE LEVELS

12:10-2:25 PM

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 2:29a

-1.0

+1.0

-1.0 High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

I22

1:26 am 10:59 am 7:35 pm 11:44 pm

1.06 ft High Tide: 2:04 am 1.00 ft Low Tide: -0.51 ft Low Tide: 11:30 am -0.43 ft High Tide: 1.11 ft High Tide: 7:59 pm 1.07 ft Low Tide: 0.98 ft High Tide:

• D E C E M B E R

2 0 0 8 /

T E X A S

12:37 am 2:48 am 12:00 pm 8:11 pm

0.89 ft 0.90 ft -0.32 ft 0.99 ft

F i s h

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:08 AM 4:32 AM 12:31 PM 8:27 PM

0.72 ft 0.77 ft -0.11 ft 0.93 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:59 AM 6:33 AM 1:05 PM 8:36 PM

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

0.54 ft 0.64 ft 0.10 ft 0.87 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

2:49 AM 8:57 AM 1:42 PM 8:37 PM

0.32 ft 0.59 ft 0.34 ft 0.84 ft

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:39 AM 11:15 AM 2:25 PM 8:26 PM

0.06 ft 0.67 ft 0.59 ft 0.86 ft

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Pak-Lite Brilliance There is a new product on the market that is one of those wonders that come along once in a very great while. It is called a Pak-Lite, and is one of those simple inventions that when you see it for the first time, it makes you slap your forehead and wonder, Why didn’t I think of that? Pak-Lite is a simple little light made of two LED bulbs, contained in a tiny plastic case, with a simple switch that allows settings of off, low or high. The little light simply snaps onto the end of a 9-volt battery. So simple it astounds. Also astounding is the run time of this little light. On low setting, depending on whether you have the standard Pak-Lite or the Super Pak-

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• D E C E M B E R

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T E X A S

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Lite, can run from 600 to 1200 hours, depending on the battery. That’s right, it’s not a typo, 1200 hours. On the low setting the light provides enough light to see a few feet, read a book or a map, or other simple chores. On the high setting, again depending on which model you have, run time can be from 50 to 200 hours. Highest run time is obviously highest with the best quality lithium batteries. On the high setting the light is strong enough to get around easily outside in the dark and do almost anything you want inside. It is about as bright as a standard 2-cell flashlight, is about a fourth the size, and has about 20 times the battery life. The Pal-Lite comes is standard white light, red, green, ultraviolet, infrared, and several more colors. The red and infrared should be of special interest to the military and law enforcement. I have some of both ordered that I am going to give to my Border Patrol agent son-inlaw, so that he can test them for me under actually field conditions. Bottom line is that if you spend much time outdoors at night, this is one little light that will make life much, much simpler for you. And it even comes with a little ballistic nylon belt pouch. Also available are accessories that allow to you clip the light to a wall, wear it on a headband, and other neat devices that

F i s h

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

extend the services of the Pak-Lite. Price runs from about $15 to $30 depending on which model and color your order. Contact: Pak-Lite Company, 877-7154448, www.9voltlight.com —Steve LaMascus

Smooth Running Merc Tiller I have the perfect wife. For my 40th birthday, she presented me with a brand-spankingnew Mercury 15-hp four-stroke tiller-steer outboard. So it’s not exactly a V-8 powerhouse and it didn’t cost a million bucks—how many wives lay a new outboard on you for your birthday? And, getting this motor has given me an unexpected opportunity, because being oriented to fishing boats from 18 feet and up, it’s rare I get to test a powerplant this small. The first thing that struck me about the Mercury was its weight. At 115 pounds, it’s not exactly a lightweight. But, consider this: Some modern two-stroke 15-hp outboards tip the scales at 114 pounds; so much for the theory that two-strokes save weight compared to four-strokes. And most competitors come in over the 100-pound mark, so by today’s standards, the Merc is right in line with the competition. Unlike much of the competition, however, the Merc comes armed with an 11-amp alternator. It also has an over-rev limiter and a low oil alarm, adding to the list of features usually found on larger, more expensive motors. Starting can be as easy as a pull with the manual cord, or upgrading to an electric start is also an option. This in-line-two, 21.4-cid mightymite has a 2.15:1 gear ratio, and a two-valve single overhead cam. It carries a three-star CARB rating, and a three-year warranty. Mounted on my 14-foot Polar Kraft aluminum waterfowling boat, the 15 breaks a plane quickly and hits 22 mph. Although remote controls are available for the motor,

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tiller steering gives you laser-fast handling and better maneuverability at the dock. It’s also easier to mount this way; I only had to drill two boltholes and tighten the hand screws to get this rig ready to run. The shifter is longer than those found on older motors and is easy to reach from a sitting position, but handling and use is enhanced most by a nifty little steering friction adjustment lever, which allows you to dial in the amount of pressure it takes to move the tiller arm. But the best thing about Mercury’s 15 four-stroke is the quiet, smoke-free performance. High-tech two-stroke systems like ETEC and Optimax aren’t available on motors this small, so if you don’t choose a four-stroke like the Mercury 15, you’ll be breathing those clouds of blue smoke and listening to the oldschool two-stroke roar. That makes the Mercury 15 a pleasure to run each and every time—for everyone except the ducks, that is. Contact: Mercury Marine, 920-9295040, www.mercurymarine.com —Lenny Rudow

ChargePro Gets You All Amped Up You’re within a few ounces of winning the tournament when your trolling motor batteries die. Sure, you’ll keep on casting, but without the ability to creep along silently your catch rate plummets-and you come in second place. As you run back to the dock, you realize that the energy being directed to your full-charged starting battery could have been used to recharge your trolling motor’s power source, if only there were a battery charger that could do this trick. Too bad you didn’t know about Guest’s new ChargePro Plus, a system that combines a Guest charger with an alternator power module. Once your alternator has charged up your starting battery, the ChargePro Plus shifts the additional energy created by your outboard to the boat’s trolling motor battery banks. I tested out a ChargePro Plus running through my boat’s system with a 140-hp Suzuki four-stroke

Page I25

outboard, and it handled the job with no problem. The 140’s alternator puts out 40 amps, and the ChargePro Plus is rated to flow a current up to 70 amps. That means it will be able to keep up with the vast majority of outboards on the market since most put out 50 amps or less. The system has both 12- and 24-volt modules, and feeds 8 or 20 amps (depending on the model you choose) of power to the batteries when in use. Surprise benefit: since your trolling motor batteries spend less time drained, they’ll enjoy a longer overall life span. Installing the ChargePro Plus was a piece of cake; the alternator module unit is relatively small and light at 4x7x3 inches and 2 pounds, and the charger is 6x7x3 inches and weighs 6 pounds. It has two separate outputs, so you can even charge different 12- and 24volt battery banks at the same time. And, A L M A N A C / T E X A S

F i s h

although I didn’t test one on my system, you can purchase a separate remote indicator for your dash, which will tell you what’s being charged and when it’s fully juiced up. Another thing I really liked about the system was being able to charge up the batteries on the run home, without even having to think about it. After days of relatively light trolling motor use and long runs home, I didn’t even have to plug in my onboard charger when I got back to the house because the ChargePro Plus had already done the job for me. For serious tournament anglers (and lazy-bones like me) who use their trolling motors until the juice runs out, the ChargePro Plus will give you a serious advantage. Contact: Marinco Electrical Group, 707226-9600, www.marinco.com. —LR

G a m e ® / D E C E M B E R

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•

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Floating Gun Case The 85450 Floating Shotgun Case protects your firearm in most foul weather situations. Hunting can get rough sometimes and the last thing you need is to lose or damage your gun. The 85450 Floating Shotgun Case features a heavy-duty water-resistant exterior and closed cell foam padding, making this case floatable. Both an adjustable shoulder strap and heavy duty Velcro® closure handle make it secure and easy to carry. A D-ring is attached for easy hanging and drying. The 85450 Floating Shotgun Case measures 54”L, is available in RealTree™ Max 4 and retails for $34.99. For more information contact Douglas Riewski at driewski@planomolding.com or visit www.planomolding.com.

Ande Fresh Water After 55 years the “Best Line in the World”, six years running, just got better! Ande has more Current (547) IGFA Fresh Water World Records than any line company…Period! Ande didn’t even have a fresh water line. After 55 years Ande is proud to introduce “Fresh Water by Ande”. Fresh Water is smooth and easy to cast. Fresh Water is Ultra Sensitive and Strong for Tough Fishing Conditions. Like all Ande line, Fresh Water, comes with High Abrasion Resistance, Excellent Knot Strength and is super Soft. Ande has provided Great Line to anglers the world over, for all fishing conditions, at a reasonable price for over 55 years. Contact: Ande, 5409 Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407 561-842-2474 E-mail: Andeline@Bellsouth.net.

Triple Duty Light The Sightmark Q5 Triple Duty Flashlight utilizes the best in LED technology with I26

• D E C E M B E R

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T E X A S

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the use of a XR-E Cree® LED which creates 280 lumens of extremely bright light. The Q5 is water-proof and will work even when frozen in water. The flashlight will operate continuously for 24 hours with the use of lithium CR-123A batteries. This flashlight comes with all of the accessories needed, including a push-button end cap, touch activated pressure pad, lanyard, removable clip, three-prong glass breaking ring, batteries and an off-set, Weaver rail compatible, weapons mount. The complete package retails for under $120.00. Sightmark is headquartered in Mansfield, TX U.S.A. For more information on the Sightmark Q5 Triple Duty Flashlight and other products, log on to www.sightmark.com. Please contact Bobby Owen at 817.225.0310 for more information.

Tailgate Seating Talegator Distributors, LLC has produced the ultimate tailgate seating solution. The Talegator is the only comfortable twoseater product of its kind specifically created and designed to fit the back of most pickup trucks. Lightweight (approximately 6 lbs.), fitted with two cupholders and a food compartment, and easy to install, the Talegator is the ideal product for tailgaters, hunters, picnickers, campers, construction workers, or anyone requiring comfortable seating while outside of their pickup. The company has licensed with Ford Motor Co. to produce a Ford Edition of their product, which is available through your local Ford dealership. Other automaker editions will be available soon. Talegator Distributors, LLC is also licensed with the Florida Gators and Marshall University. Other college choices will be coming soon. For more information on the Talegator and available brand licensing opportunities, lon on at www.thetalegator.com or call 86667GATOR. You may also contact them at: TaleGator Distributors, LLC, 13271 Mt. Elliott, Detroit, MI 48212-2549 Email: sales@thetalegator.com F i s h

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

Waterproof Binocs Columbia Sportswear Company’s Bonehead binoculars are U.S. engineered to meet the demands of boaters and anglers. These rugged 7x50 binoculars are o-ring sealed and nitrogen filled for effective protection from moisture and fogging. Large objectives and advanced, fully multicoated optics provide a bright, clear image even in low light. H2C™ coating protects external lenses from scratches and repels water, for clear viewing in wet, rough conditions. Binoculars are sold with a protective, molded case and a versatile Velcro mounting system, which can attached to a boat’s dashboard or other surface. A moisture-wicking CoolNeck binocular strap is also included. Bonehead binoculars are part of a complete optics collection introduced this year by Columbia Sportswear Co. The company’s optics line was developed by licensee Kruger Optical, LLC, a full-service optics provider. Headquartered in Sisters, OR, and Walnut, CA, Kruger Optical supplies innovative binoculars, spotting scopes, riflescopes and other optical products, as well as engineering services. Information about the company is available from their website, www.krugeroptical.com.

Wiley X Sun Specs Wiley X’s patented, removable Facial Cavity™ Seal is a soft, comfortable, breathable gasket that seals out wind, dust, pollen, debris, and peripheral light to reduce eye fatigue and keep glasses secure when running boats. Without the gasket, eyes would be exposed to damaging UV rays streaming in from around and behind lenses. This unobstructed sunlight also reduces the effectiveness of polarized lenses, making it difficult to see underwater. So the Facial Cavity™ Seal vastly improves sight-fishing capabilities. Shatterproof Filter 8™ polarized Selinite™ lenses feature 8-layer construction

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including advanced scratch-resistant, antireflective, and hydrophobic coatings. All Wiley X eyewear is ANSI certified as occupational eye protection. Tests to earn this rating include withstanding the impact from a 1.1 pound weight dropped 50 inches and a .25 caliber ball shot at each lens ten times at 150 ft/s. With hazards to eyes such as insects or debris encountered when running at high speeds and dodging lures as airborne projectiles, impact “insurance” is very wise. More eye injuries occur while fishing than any other recreational activity. With a 21-year history of developing standard issue eyewear for U.S. Armed Services, Wiley X provides anglers with the highest levels of eyewear performance and protection. For more information, call 800-776-7842. Or online, www.wileyx.com.

Trouble Free Lift Cypress Lifts and Marine of Scroggins, Texas, announces the introduction of the Triton gear box for overhead lifting of boats and personal watercraft. The unique design has no belts or pulleys and does not require grease or other maintenance. The fully-enclosed aluminum housing and stainless steel motor provides a sleek look and quiet operation. The greaseless feature keeps your boat free of messy grease drips. The Triton lift is not only convenient and attractive, it is also powerful. When paired with a Triton V-Series cradle lift, the system can lift boats up to 40,000 pounds at a lift speed of up to three feet per minute. The Triton lift system boasts other superior features such as extruded cable pulleys, aircraft quality stainless steel cable, all-aluminum cradle construction and more. The system is fully adjustable to accommodate all types of watercraft, from fishing, ski and wakeboard boats to pontoon and sail boats. For a complete overview of the Triton Boat Lift System, visit the Cypress Lifts and Marine web site at www.cypressmarine.com or call 1-866-LIFTS-66.

Tree Talon We’ve all done it… dropped our release, a glove, a grunt call while perched in our tree stand. Which leave us two choices - do without for the remainder of the hunt or unhook your safety belt and climb down risking that

Page I27

we’ll spook game. Tree Talon solves this problem quickly and quietly. Now you can get your item without getting down. With the Tree Talon You simply pull back the arm or “Talon”’ and cock it at 90 degrees. Lower the unit so it lands next to your dropped item. Once the Tree Talon hits the ground, the impact activated “talon” grabs your dropped item for you to pull back up! Tree Talon is strong and built to hold up to 35 lbs. You can even use Tree Talon when first climbing into your stand to haul up your bow or pack or to lift tree stands. With an adjustable “foot” at the bottom of Tree Talon you avoid grabbing leaves and other forest litter when picking items up. An internal rubber bumper stifles noise when the “Talon” closes, while a serrated edge and specially designed teeth enhance grip on objects. Pick up your gloves, arrows, releases, hats, calls, facemasks, binoculars, packs, etc. Virtually anything you didn’t mean to drop. Don’t go hunting without your TreeTalon. For more information visit www.treetalon.com.

Wireless Game Cam Save time, money and gas by not traveling to your trail cameras just to check the pictures. The Smart Scouter Cellular Surveillance System allows hunters to monitor their favorite hidden post without entering or disrupting the woods. The Smart Scouter features fast trigger speeds, colored day photos and The 50 LED infrared invisible flash extends the nighttime range to 50 feet. Smart Scouter wirelessly sends images to a user’s cell phone and personal account at www.smartscouter.com. The menu is user friendly and navigates quickly. From the website the user can manage their Smart Scouter unit and view pictures. Great for groups, clubs and outfitters because photos can be shared in real time. The Smart Scouter System can also be used as a non wireless trail camera similar to other products on the market today, as well as a remote security system. For $649 an individual can purchase the unit, backend website account, battery, charger and a ready to operate cellular system. A low monthly wireless fee of $14.99 can be froze to $7.99 for non-active months. A $.04 per image uploaded charges to the users account for small resolution images. Looking at the A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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cost of gas, valued time and intelligent tactics implied, this is a no-brainer for people serious about their wildlife monitoring. Visit www.smartscouter.com or call 888-70SCOUT (1-800-707-2688).

Grand Slammer Southern Outdoor Technologies is proud to introduce the Hog Slammer, a saloon style gate designed to help control the exploding wild hog population. Made from tough steel with a dura paint coated in camo pattern, this gate helps the landowner build a large coral style pen to control these destructive predators. Each gate comes with a free bag of Biologic Hog Addiction. Visit www.hogslammer.com to see the Hog Slammer in action or call 662-2955702

Verizon G’zOne The G’zOne Boulder from Verizon Wireless is designed with the rugged outdoorsman in mind. The device is built to military specifications for water immersion, durability and heat resistance, and the MIL-STD-810F test standards against which the Boulder was measured closely resemble the challenges that typical hunting and fishing environments bring. Specifically, the phone can withstand being submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes, can survive being dropped from a height of 1.5 meters onto hard surfaces like plywood, concrete and steel and will still function when exposed to temperatures ranging from 95-120 degrees Fahrenheit for 72 consecutive hours. Its Push to Talk capabilities give you instant access to your contacts to easily share stories of the latest catch or kill, and you can even send photos of your successes to family and friends using the 1.3 megapixel camera. The Boulder doubles as a media source when away from television and radio, allowing you to download and listen to your favorite songs while waiting for the perfect bite or buck. This rough and tough phone starts at $149.99 after rebate, and is available in orange/black or black/silver—whichever best compliments your camo. For more information visit www.verizonwireless.com.

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E-mail Steve LaMascus at guns@fishgame.com.

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Texas Fall Turkey Trophies HE WORLD SEEMED PERFECT AS A SWOLLEN, orange sun peeked over the granite and limestone hills of Real County, Texas.

Located on the fringe of the Hill Country, Trans-Pecos, and Brush Country regions, this

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Special Hunting Section

Trophy Fever

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“

The bowhunter will always need new arrows.

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E-mail Lou Marullo at lmarullo@fishgame.com.

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E-mail Lenny Rudow at boating@fishgame.com.

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ILLUSTRATION BY PAUL BRADSHAW

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A Kayaker’s Christmas Wishes Dear Santa:

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ONTRARY TO WHAT MY WIFE MIGHT TELL you, I have been a very good boy this year. Please take with a grain of salt her comments about leaving the seat

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up and never mowing the grass. I have gone the extra mile this year being a good steward of the outdoors, picking up other people’s trash, and being courteous on the water. No potlicking here. No, sir! Since I have been so good, I am sending you an expanded Christmas list. Since I am having a hard time picking just one thing, I decided to send you everything and let you choose for me. Any of these things would really be cool under the tree. You know, Santa, a fellow can never have too many kayaks. I know, I know; I do own a bunch already, but maybe just one more— pretty please. I really like the new Ocean Kayak Trident 13. What a sweet boat! It is a smaller version of the Trident Big Game

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that I like so much. It has the huge Rod Pod in the middle, which makes it easy to stow rods below deck. The shorter hull length makes it lighter and easier to transport. Plus, I think I would look dashing in one. Of course, a new 14-foot Tarpon from Wilderness Systems would be very cool, too. My old Tarpon is still an awesome hull, but the design is a little long in the tooth—at least that is what the whipper-snappers I fish with say. They always have cool new toys and I was so excited to hear that the Tarpon has been freshened up and a bunch of new features added. Please keep it in mind for me. Every now and then, Santa, I really enjoy hanging out at the beach. My wife thinks I go to look at the young ladies, but that

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would be very naughty, so I don’t. No, I go to the beach to play in the surf like everyone else. But my fishing hulls are kind of sluggish in the surf. To tame some nasty waves, I would absolutely love the Mysto from Ocean Kayak. It is a little over 9 feet long and is a blast to horse around with in the suds. We got a new Vizsla puppy this year and I love her to death, but she is teething and chewed up one of the blades of my best paddle. I could really use a new one. I promise

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I will mow the yard for a whole month without complaining if you bring me one of those composite carbon paddles that Werner makes. They are so much lighter and are a real joy to paddle with. I don’t understand why, Santa, but my clothes don’t seem to fit as well as they did last year. The personal flotation device you gave me two years ago seems a little snug, too, these days. It must have shrunk. Do you think you could bring me another one? I really like the PFDs for kayakers. You know, the ones with large armholes and lots of pockets for gear and stuff. Unless you wanted to bring me an inflatable suspenderstyle PFD. I can’t make up my mind, so please help me out. Now about my stocking: I got a really big one and threw out that little one I used last year. It must have shrunk, too. First, I would like to outfit my new hull with an anchor trolley. The trolley system is like an old-time clothesline and you can adjust the tie position of your anchor. By pulling on the cord, I can bring the end of the anchor rope back to me where I am seated. Isn’t that cool! It will probably keep me from capsizing in deep water. I hear YakGear makes kits that include all the pulleys, fasteners, and trolley cord, all in one little bag. Surely, that won’t take up much room in my stocking. I am sure you would agree that every kayaker needs to be highly visible, like

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Rudolph’s nose. A flashing LED light would help get the attention of power boaters and let them know there is a kayak ahead. A fellow can’t be too careful. Next, a few laminated maps would fit in the stocking, too; a waterproof compass would be a great companion gift. A new distress whistle would be a nice addition, too; my old one disappeared. Remind me to check the puppy’s crate. Any of these items would be a great gift. I can hardly wait to see what you decide to leave under the tree. The milk and cookies will be in the usual place. Merry Christmas to you and the Missus. Email Greg Berlocher at kayak@fishgame.com.

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“

One of the guys said a .243 was a ‘woman’s gun’ and that the 7mm magnum shot farther.

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in stock material and designs, the rifle fills the bill for a lightweight, quick-pointing gun for those hunters who seek those qualities in a firearm.

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E-mail Bob Hood at hunting@fishgame.com.

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AccuSharp Knife Sharpeners

Fishing Lights, Etc.

AFTCO Bluewater

Lake Fork Trophy Bait and Tackle

American Rodsmiths

Mathews Archery

Bioline

George Strait

Bird Works Taxidermy

Pro-Sell Image Sunglasses

Cover Your Bass, Inc.

Randolph Engineering

CZ-USA

Shimano

Ego Nets

Stanley Jigs

ELCAN Optical Technologies

Swift Hitch

Faultline Outdoors

Texas Best Meats

Fish Vision

Thermacell/Schawbel Inc.

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Unsportsmanlike Gifts For reasons understood only by psychobabblists and portly great aunts, many sportsmen become uneasy at Christmastime. Actually, I

understand this phenomenon as well, because I have studied for years the glazed expressions, facial ticks, and fits of irritable bowel that

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to primo South Texas real estate, always get excited when December rolls around. That’s because now is when Brush Country brutes go under the influence of testosterone—a dan-

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quietly for a deer to come by. As productive as it has been for some, it is safe to assume other hunters have spent countless hours waiting for a special buck that never showed.

Here is a rundown of some useful tools to boost your chances for a broadside shot before the season ends: Make Some Noise: Most hunters think

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usually go to see where the noise is coming from. The grunt call is one of the most effective calls a hunter can use, not only for luring deer in, but for stopping them in their tracks.”

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Ivy has successfully used grunt calls on a number of occasions, and believes them most effective during the rut. The grunt call also works after the rut, but the response is not as

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Common Sense Rule No. 3: Don’t just chunk a few limbs in the water and expect fish to swoop in like grackles. Additionally, the limbs must have some “volume” to attract fish.

Your manmade reef should include jutting limbs with forks and branches to attract the interest of crappie. There is no question that perch fishing is

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E-mail Matt Williams at freshwater@fishgame.com.

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E-mail Herman W. Brune at wilderness@fishgame.com.

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many years and I hope you will enjoy it with your favorite people this season. 1 bone-in 8- to 10-lb. or larger shank ham 1 jar Texas Gourmet’s Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly 1-1/2 cup sherry 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 Tbs soy sauce 2 Tbs chopped rosemary leaves 3 Tbs black pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the ham on a wire rack in a baking pan. Score the ham on all sides to about 1/2-inch deep. Cover with foil and bake for approx 1 hour with nothing on the ham, then baste the ham liberally with the Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly. Cover with foil again and bake for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until the ham starts to pull away from the bone. Remove foil and baste with collected juices and jelly in pan. Increase the temp to 400 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 more minutes, basting every 10 to 15 minutes until a glaze begins to form on the ham. Remove from the oven and allow the ham to rest with a piece of foil loosely draped over it for 20 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Remove foil and slice ham into 2- to 3-inch pieces, and lay them in the juices until ready to serve.

Sugar Cured Feral Hog Ham

in several places on the ham. (This will help the curing process to get to the places most vulnerable to spoiling when on a pit.) Then pour the rest of the cure solution in the bag with the ham. Squeeze all of the air out of the bag and tie it up tight and close to the meat. Place the bag in a refrigerator or a cooler lined with plenty of ice and allow it to sit in the solution for 24 to 48 hours. Remove the ham from the bag, rinse it off, and it is ready for the pit.

Pit Instructions The Sugar Cure For a 6- to 10-pound ham: Mix 1 pint each of sugar and sea or kosher salt into 11/2 to 2 gallons of cold water. Stir until all salt is dissolved. Place the ham in a large disposable plastic bag. Using your turkey injector, draw up two to three full syringes of the solution and inject it in next to the bone I58

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After preheating your pit (I like to start with about 5 pounds of lump hardwood charcoal, then add seasoned pecan, post oak, and a little hickory wood for smoke and flavor enhancement), place the ham in the pit at the far end from the firebox with the temperature at about 250 to 275 degrees, and baste every 45 minutes or so. Flip the ham every 1-1/2 hours and continue bastPHOTO BY JIM OLIVE

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ing. (Use 45 minutes to the pound as a guide for smoking time, or until a meat thermometer inserted next to the bone registers 160 degrees.) Remove from the pit to a platter and drape a loose piece of foil over the ham for 30 to 45 minutes before carving. Heat the remaining baste to a boil on the stove, then use it as a sauce when serving. Try not to hurt yourself by attempting to eat the whole ham while carving it. Enjoy with your favorite sides. BASTE FOR THE HAM: 1 jar Texas Gourmetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly

Glazed Pecans 1 lb. fresh pecans 3/4 stick of butter, melted Texas Gourmetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sweet Chipotle Season All cinnamon sugar parchment paper Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a bowl, mix the pecan halves with the butter. Sprinkle the pecans generously with 2 Tbs Sweet Chipotle Season All. Stir well then pour them onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the pecans out evenly. S P O N S O R E D BY:

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Bake for 20 minutes, then open oven and quickly pull out cookie sheet with pecans and sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar and place back in the oven for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the pecans to a cool surface in the open air for 30 minutes to 1 hour. They can now be served or used in recipes. If storing, be sure to seal in a Mason jar or Zip Loc bag. Bryan Slaven, The Texas Gourmet, is now booking weekends this season for wild

game dinners and instruction at your ranch or in your home. A great way to entertain customers or family and friends. Call today, as dates are limited: 832-875-9433. Contact Bryan Slaven, "The Texas Gourmet," at 888-234-7883, www.thetexasgourmet.com; or by email at texas-tasted@fishgame.com.

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TEXAS SALTWATER

Stephen Redfish Hugo Ford Guide Serv ice

ROCKPORT

GALVESTON

TEXAS FRESHWATER LAKE TEXOMA

BAFFIN BAY

For Classified Rates and Information call Dennise at 1-800-750-4678, ext. 5579. Casey view uality Re Axis Angling Q d n a g n Hunti

Dallas D. and Je Kingsville na C VB

LAKE AMISTAD

CORPUS CHRISTI

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Ted Gaylord 6.25-pound Speckled Trout Hillman Guide Servi ce

ersary Trip The Masons Anniv Limit of Reds Redfish Charters

OUTDOOR SHOPPER

WA Don from Seattle, Speckled Trout ide Service Akins Saltwater Gu

OUTDOOR SHOPPER

TEXAS HUNTING

AKINS SALTWATER GUIDE SERVICE

ADVERTISERS, MAIL IN YOUR PHOTOS TODAY!

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TROUT AND REDFISH—EAST MATAGORDA BAY, TEXAS

HOGS—REGAN WELLS, TEXAS

Mr. Tony Maza of Richwood, Texas, caught this limit of trout and one redfish while wade-fishing in East Matagorda Bay with Darrell Adell of Adell’s Guide Service.

Paul Heughan took these two pigs with one shot from his Browning .270 at 165 yards in Regan Wells, Texas.

SKIPJACK—PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS

REDFISH—SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS

SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO: I62

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TF&G PHOTO ALBUM 1745 Greens Road Houston, Texas 77032 OR BY EMAIL: photos@fishgame.com

PLEASE INCLUDE NAME, HOMETOWN, WHEN & WHERE CAUGHT, SIZE AND WEIGHT

Note: All non-digital photos submitted become the property of Texas Fish & Game and will not be returned. TF&G makes no guarantee when or if any submitted photo will be published. F i s h

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REDFISH—LAKE FAIRFIELD, TEXAS

ROCK PERCH—TEXARKANA, TEXAS

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COMPOSITE PHOTOS BY GRADY ALLEN

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In This Issue GEARING UP SECTION

N14 N15 N16 N18

TEXAS TESTED • Pak-Lite; Mercury; Guest | BY TF&G STAFF INDUSTRY INSIDER • “Deal of the Century” | BY TF&G STAFF NEW PRODUCTS • What’s New from Top Outdoor Manufacturers | BY TF&G STAFF SHOOT THIS • Sightron Big Sky SII Hunter Holdover Reticle | BY STEVE LAMASCUS

HOW-TO SECTION

COVER STORY • North Texas Cast & Blast | BY PAUL BRADSHAW

HOTSPOTS & TIDES SECTION

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK • Tides, Solunar Table, Best Hunting/Fishing Times | BY TF&G STAFF

TEXAS HOTSPOTS • Texas’ Hottest Fishing Spots | BY CALIXTO GONZALES & JD MOORE

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N22 N24 N25 N26 N27 N28 N43

HURRICANE COVERAGE • Continuing Coverage | BY TF&G STAFF

N4 N19 N29 N44 N46

2008 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | BY TF&G STAFF

N47

PHOTO ALBUM • Your Action Photos | BY TF&G STAFF

TROPHY FEVER • Special Hunting Section | BY TF&G STAFF

DISCOVER THE OUTDOORS • Classifieds | BY TF&G STAFF TEXAS TASTED • Jalapeno Kiwi Ham | BY BRYAN SLAVEN

TEXAS BOATING • Ready to Abandon Ship? | BY LENNY RUDOW SALTWATER BAITS & RIGS • Breakaway Deep-Shot | BY PATRICK LEMIRE FRESHWATER BAITS & RIGS • Biffle-O | BY PAUL BRADSHAW WILDERNESS TRAILS • Christmas ‘08 | BY HERMAN W. BRUNE HUNT TEXAS • Never Insult Another Man’s Gun | BY BOB HOOD TEXAS KAYAKING • Dear Santa | BY GREG BERLOCHER TEXAS GUNS & GEAR • New Vs. Old Cartridges | BY STEVE LAMASCUS

teal but sometimes you can’t keep the widgeon out of the decoys,” Jason advised while preparing for an early morning fishing trip. That’s a problem I wouldn’t mind having. After a quick limit of ducks, Jason moves onto blue cats, but probably isn’t fishing in the areas of the lake you would think. While

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most anglers are probing the deepest parts of the lake hoping to find catfish stacked up in a hole, Jason is staying shallow. Actually, he typically chases the cats in the same area he was shooting ducks just a few hours earlier. “Most people think all the blue cats move deep during the winter, and some do, but there are still a lot of big fish up on the flats between two and six feet deep. If it wasn’t such a hazard to the dogs and hunters we could set out rods while shooting ducks and catch some big blues.” If you don’t want to fish for blues in the same place you shot ducks, Jason recommends heading to the north end of the lake and looking for shallow, stumpy flats with a silty bottom. If you can find an area like this with some standing timber holding roosting birds then you will find fish. As unpalatable as it sounds the blues will hang out feeding underneath the roost trees on the pieces of undigested fish. To catch these fish Jason will anchor upwind from the roosts and cast cut shad underneath them. If you’re going to try this method be prepared to go through a lot of bait because the fish will be there, some pushing 30 pounds, but most will be good eating size. Use a cast net to catch bait and once you think you

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have enough, catch a few more because you will use every one of them. “It’s a good day when you fill the baitwell full of shad and then use every bit of it because you know you’ve caught a lot of catfish.” The best piece of advice Jason had was that if you plan a cast and blast trip on Cedar Creek then avoid weekends and holidays. “The opening weekend, first weekend after the split, and all holidays, it gets busy on Cedar Creek but if you come during the middle of the week you might not hear another shot fired on the whole lake.” Over in Northeast Texas there is a small impoundment you might have heard of called Lake Fork. While Fork is world famous for bass, it is also one of the premier Northeast Texas destinations for waterfowlers, providing them with the opportunity to take everything from canvasbacks, to teal, to mallards. My first duck-hunting trip on Fork was more than a decade ago and it was one of those days a hunter never forgets. Standing in waist deep water, my two hunter partners and I wore out a retriever as he worked all morning bringing to hand

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three mixed limits of gadwall and mallards. Duck hunters are a tight lipped bunch so asking a group of them where the birds are located on Fork will get you a blank stare, but luckily, there are very few bad spots to chase ducks on the 27,000-acre reservoir. If you want to spend your time chasing puddle ducks then head to the north end of the lake, setting up in shallow stump infested grass flats. The flats you caught spawning bass on last spring will hold birds in the winter. Massive decoy spreads are not required. Some of our best hunts on Fork were over a spread of less than a dozen faux ducks. If you want to take your one canvasback for the day, head south towards the dam, hunting the open water near the mouths of creeks and on main lake points. The key to hunting Fork is to get there early because it will draw a crowd on weekends of not only duck hunters but also anglers, which brings us to the casting part of the trip. While Fork is home to the state record bass, it might be the crappie fishing that draws the most anglers in the winter months. The key to finding crappie on Lake Fork in the winter is to head deep and locate balls of

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shad with your electronics. The most productive area of the lake during the cold months is down by the dam. You can’t go wrong fishing in front of the Sabine River Authority Point. Schools of shad are suspended in the deeper water with crappie hanging out beneath them. Find a school and use your trolling motor to stay with the fish, drifting minnows through the school to pick up a few slabs. Since the crappie are deep and often die from being brought to the surface quickly this time of year, Lake Fork anglers are required to keep the first 25 they catch from December 1st through the end of February. Folks on the coast aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of multiple hunting or fishing opportunities in a single trip. With the price of gas today it only makes sense to combine trips for ducks and fish into an all day cast and blast excursion to maximize time outdoors while minimizing expenses. At least, that’s the line I use to sell it to my wife.

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Toxic Chemicals in Bays a Concern Concerns over whether Hurricane Ike stirred up bottom sediments and released buried contaminants into the bays remains an open question. N4

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“The answer is something we will probably find out somewhere down the road after more tissue samples are collected, and sediment and water quality testing is done,” said Bill Balboa, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) ecosystem leader for Galveston Bay. Shrimp are another concern since they are such an important food item along the coast for both humans and game fish. “Generally, shrimp only live one year, basically an annual crop,” Balboa said. “The chemicals that have been reported in fish tissue have been accumulating over a period of time. If shrimp assimilate some of these substances into their flesh, it’s not going to be much because they are only in the bay for a few months out of their lives.” Oysters are well prepared to survive calamities like hurricanes. They can even change their sex from year to year to increase production if the environment demands it. What they cannot do is get out of the way, and sedimentation over oyster reefs is a real concern. “We have some side scan sonar data we’ve been collecting of oyster reefs,” said Lance Robinson, a TPWD coastal biologist. “We’ll re-do those on some transects to see if there was an impact on oyster reefs.” On the Texas Coast, there are always enough oyster larvae, but sometimes not enough hard substrate for them to attach to and grow to maturity. Water quality in Galveston Bay, with numerous small oil and fuel spills as well as organic contaminants from decomposing livestock and flooded septic systems, is a concern and is monitored by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Currently, they have closed indefinitely the bays for oyster harvest. —TB •••

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dred miles inland as the Category 2 storm barreled across the Pineywoods district. Though thousands of trees uprooted, most survived the storm after a good shaking that wildlife biologists believe will have a significant impact on this fall’s acorn crop. Acorns prematurely jarred from oaks will not ripen on the ground. Green acorns not attacked by bugs will usually rot, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) District 6 wildlife biologist Gary Calkins of Jasper. Calkins said certain forestlands across eastern Texas were more badly damaged by the storm than others. Counties along the western edge were the hardest hit. “Walker, Montgomery, Houston, and Cherokee counties took a pretty good whack,” Calkins said. “Parts of Liberty and Hardin counties in the southern Pineywoods are looking pretty wicked, too.” Calkins described the damage in other parts of the region as “patchy.” He said field staff reported significant damage in parts of the Sam Houston National Forest in Montgomery County, while other portions of the forest in San Jacinto and Polk counties fared better. Ike’s wrath prompted the temporary closure of the Angelina, Sabine, Davy Crockett, and Sam Houston national forests so crews could assess damage, clear roadways, and perform necessary repairs before allowing the public to enter. The four forests have since reopened, except for specified areas noted on the National Forests and Grasslands of Texas website (www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas). The powerful storm also pounded the Lake Conroe area in Montgomery County,

causing significant damage to private property as well as the lake’s dam, according to Sarah Morris with the San Jacinto River Authority. Morris said the SJRA in late September dropped the lake level more than a foot to assess the damage done to riprap and blanket material. “The damage is significant, but not as extensive as we saw during Hurricane Rita,” Morris said. —Matt Williams

Damage Extends North of Coast When Hurricane Ike roared ashore on the upper Texas Coast, it left behind a wide swath of destruction that was felt for several hundred miles inland as sustained hurricane force winds toppled trees, wrecked homes, and downed power lines, leaving millions of people across Southeast Texas without electricity for weeks. Ike’s powerful winds blew several hunA L M A N A C / T E X A S

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Tides and Solunar Table for DECEMBER 2008 MONDAY

1 High Tide: 12:35 am 1.40 ft Low Tide: 11:56 am -0.14 ft High Tide: 9:14 pm 1.41 ft

TUESDAY PRIME TIME

3:55pm – 5:20pm

Low Tide: 12:33 pm -0.06 ft High Tide: 9:45 pm 1.38 ft

WEDNESDAY PRIME TIME

4:10pm – 5:35pm

Low Tide: 1:12 pm 0.05 ft High Tide: 10:08 pm 1.33 ft

THURSDAY PRIME TIME

PRIME TIME

3:30pm – 4:50pm

Low Tide: 1:52 pm 0.20 ft High Tide: 10:24 pm 1.27 ft

3:15pm – 4:45pm

Sunrise: 7:20a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 10:38a Set: 8:59p AM Minor: 8:03a AM Major: 1:51a PM Minor: 8:28p PM Major: 2:16p Moon Overhead: 3:46p Moon Underfoot: 3:22a

Sunrise: 7:21a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 11:14a Set: 9:57p AM Minor: 8:56a AM Major: 2:44a PM Minor: 9:19p PM Major: 3:08p Moon Overhead: 4:33p Moon Underfoot: 4:10a

Sunrise: 7:22a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 11:46a Set: 10:54p AM Minor: 9:46a AM Major: 3:35a PM Minor: 10:08p PM Major: 3:57p Moon Overhead: 5:17p Moon Underfoot: 4:55a

PRIME TIME

8:10am – 9:20am

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

8:25am – 9:50am*

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:06 am 1:59 pm 6:00 pm 10:40 pm

0.05 ft 1.19 ft 1.04 ft 1.18 ft

High Tide: 2:38 am 1.37 ft Low Tide: 11:55 am -0.78 ft High Tide: 8:31 pm 1.37 ft

-0.27 ft 1.38 ft 1.22 ft 1.26 ft

7:31 am 4:13 pm 8:48 pm 10:49 pm

-0.56 ft 1.53 ft 1.35 ft 1.36 ft

PRIME TIME

8:40am – 10:15am*

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

PRIME TIME

3:00pm – 4:20pm

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:10pm – 4:35pm

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:30pm – 4:50pm

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:10 am 4:02 am 12:49 pm 9:03 pm

1.17 ft 1.21 ft -0.54 ft 1.24 ft

2:33 am 5:52 am 1:43 pm 9:29 pm

0.94 ft 1.00 ft -0.23 ft 1.12 ft

Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 5:39p Moonrise: 11:29p Set: 11:36a AM Minor: 9:57a AM Major: 3:44a PM Minor: 10:21p PM Major: 4:09p Moon Overhead: 5:05a Moon Underfoot: 5:29p

PRIME TIME 9:00am – 10:15am

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:26 am 10:59 am 7:35 pm 11:44 pm

1.06 ft -0.51 ft 1.11 ft 0.98 ft

PRIME TIME -0.45 ft 1.21 ft

9:05am – 10:20am

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 8:06 am High Tide: 5:13 pm

-0.53 ft 1.23 ft

9:30am – 10:50am*

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:42p Moonrise: 5:20a Set: 3:24p AM Minor: 2:36a AM Major: 8:49a PM Minor: 3:01p PM Major: 9:13p Moon Overhead: 10:24a Moon Underfoot: 10:48p

PRIME TIME

3:00pm – 4:35pm

High Tide: 2:04 am 1.00 ft Low Tide: 11:30 am -0.43 ft High Tide: 7:59 pm 1.07 ft

3:10pm – 4:45pm

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

Sunrise: 7:37a Set: 5:45p Moonrise: 9:15a Set: 7:51p AM Minor: 6:40a AM Major: 12:29a PM Minor: 7:04p PM Major: 12:52p Moon Overhead: 2:31p Moon Underfoot: 2:07a

Low Tide: 7:28 am High Tide: 4:32 pm

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:41p Moonrise: 4:23a Set: 2:43p AM Minor: 1:54a AM Major: 8:06a PM Minor: 2:18p PM Major: 8:29p Moon Overhead: 9:35a Moon Underfoot: 9:59p

Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 5:41p Moonrise: 3:24a Set: 2:07p AM Minor: 1:13a AM Major: 7:25a PM Minor: 1:36p PM Major: 7:48p Moon Overhead: 8:48a Moon Underfoot: 9:11p

9:30am – 10:50am

Sunrise: 7:28a Set: 5:37p Moonrise: 4:34p Set: 6:24a AM Minor: 3:30a AM Major: 9:47a PM Minor: 4:03p PM Major: 10:19p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:31a

Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 5:38p Moonrise: 10:25p Set: 11:02a AM Minor: 9:00a AM Major: 2:46a PM Minor: 9:26p PM Major: 3:13p Moon Overhead: 4:14a Moon Underfoot: 4:40p

-0.32 ft 1.13 ft

-0.80 ft 1.61 ft 1.44 ft 1.45 ft

Sunrise: 7:27a Set: 5:37p Moonrise: 3:39p Set: 5:11a AM Minor: 2:35a AM Major: 8:50a PM Minor: 3:05p PM Major: 9:20p Moon Overhead: 10:58p Moon Underfoot: 10:27a

Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 5:38p Moonrise: 9:16p Set: 10:23a AM Minor: 7:56a AM Major: 1:42a PM Minor: 8:26p PM Major: 2:11p Moon Overhead: 3:18a Moon Underfoot: 3:46p Low Tide: 6:49 am High Tide: 3:38 pm

PRIME TIME 8:21 am 5:12 pm 9:46 pm 11:23 pm

Sunrise: 7:26a Set: 5:37p Moonrise: 2:53p Set: 3:59a AM Minor: 1:46a AM Major: 8:00a PM Minor: 2:13p PM Major: 8:27p Moon Overhead: 9:58p Moon Underfoot: 9:29a

Sunrise: 7:26a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 2:15p Set: 2:51a AM Minor: 1:02a AM Major: 7:14a PM Minor: 1:27p PM Major: 7:39p Moon Overhead: 9:02p Moon Underfoot: 8:37a

6:46 am 3:10 pm 7:28 pm 10:39 pm

Sunrise: 7:23a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 12:16p Set: 11:51p AM Minor: 10:34a AM Major: 4:23a PM Minor: 10:55p PM Major: 4:44p Moon Overhead: 6:00p Moon Underfoot: 5:39a

• D E C E M B E R

Sunrise: 7:37a Set: 5:45p Moonrise: 9:48a Set: 8:49p AM Minor: 7:31a AM Major: 1:20a PM Minor: 7:53p PM Major: 1:42p Moon Overhead: 3:16p Moon Underfoot: 2:53a

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PRIME TIME 12:37 am 2:48 am 12:00 pm 8:11 pm

0.89 ft 0.90 ft -0.32 ft 0.99 ft

3:35pm – 5:00pm

Sunrise: 7:37a Set: 5:46p Moonrise: 10:19a Set: 9:46p AM Minor: 8:20a AM Major: 2:09a PM Minor: 8:42p PM Major: 2:31p Moon Overhead: 3:59p Moon Underfoot: 3:38a

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

PRIME TIME 3:43 am 8:00 am 2:39 pm 9:50 pm

0.66 ft 0.83 ft 0.10 ft 1.03 ft

3:35pm – 4:55pm*

Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 5:39p Moonrise: None Set: 12:07p AM Minor: 10:47a AM Major: 4:36a PM Minor: 11:10p PM Major: 4:59p Moon Overhead: 5:52a Moon Underfoot: 6:14p

Low Tide: 8:42 am High Tide: 5:47 pm

PRIME TIME -0.57 ft 1.22 ft

9:40am – 11:15am

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:42p Moonrise: 6:15a Set: 4:11p AM Minor: 3:22a AM Major: 9:34a PM Minor: 3:47p PM Major: 9:59p Moon Overhead: 11:13a Moon Underfoot: 11:39p

PRIME TIME

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Tides and Solunar Table for DECEMBER 2008 FRIDAY

5 Low Tide: 2:38 pm 0.38 ft High Tide: 10:35 pm 1.20 ft

SATURDAY PRIME TIME

3:00pm – 4:40pm

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

Sunrise: 7:23a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 12:44p Set: None AM Minor: 11:18a AM Major: 5:08a PM Minor: 11:40p PM Major: 5:29p Moon Overhead: 6:43p Moon Underfoot: 6:21a

Low Tide: 9:13 am -0.95 ft High Tide: 6:09 pm 1.63 ft Low Tide: 10:24 pm 1.47 ft

19 Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:38 am 10:11 am 3:42 pm 10:08 pm

0.36 ft 0.77 ft 0.43 ft 0.96 ft

0.67 ft 0.86 ft 0.59 ft 1.15 ft

PRIME TIME

2:50pm – 4:20pm

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

Sunrise: 7:24a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 1:12p Set: 12:49a AM Minor: ----AM Major: 5:50a PM Minor: 12:01p PM Major: 6:12p Moon Overhead: 7:26p Moon Underfoot: 7:04a

PRIME TIME

2:00pm – 3:20pm

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Sunrise: 7:28a Set: 5:37p Moonrise: 5:38p Set: 7:35a AM Minor: 4:33a AM Major: 10:49a PM Minor: 5:06p PM Major: 11:23p Moon Overhead: 12:04a Moon Underfoot: 12:37p

5:24 am 10:38 am 3:32 pm 10:41 pm

SUNDAY

12:21 am 10:07 am 7:03 pm 11:03 pm

1.48 ft -0.99 ft 1.58 ft 1.44 ft

PRIME TIME

4:00pm – 5:10pm

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:26 am 12:21 pm 5:13 pm 10:21 pm

0.09 ft 0.85 ft 0.70 ft 0.94 ft

0.38 ft 1.00 ft 0.82 ft 1.14 ft

8:00am – 9:15am

Sunrise: 7:25a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 1:42p Set: 1:48a AM Minor: 12:21a AM Major: 6:32a PM Minor: 12:43p PM Major: 6:55p Moon Overhead: 8:12p Moon Underfoot: 7:49a

PRIME TIME

2:10pm – 3:40pm

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Sunrise: 7:29a Set: 5:37p Moonrise: 6:49p Set: 8:40a AM Minor: 5:40a AM Major: 11:56a PM Minor: 6:13p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:10a Moon Underfoot: 1:43p

PRIME TIME 5:35 am 12:32 pm 4:39 pm 10:42 pm

PRIME TIME 1:27 am 11:01 am 7:51 pm 11:57 pm

1.46 ft -0.94 ft 1.49 ft 1.34 ft

2:30pm – 3:50pm

Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 5:38p Moonrise: 8:04p Set: 9:36a AM Minor: 6:49a AM Major: 12:33a PM Minor: 7:21p PM Major: 1:05p Moon Overhead: 2:16a Moon Underfoot: 2:47p

PRIME TIME

8:00am – 9:10am

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

PRIME TIME 6:09 am 2:17 pm 7:22 pm 10:26 pm

-0.15 ft 1.00 ft 0.88 ft 0.94 ft

8:05am – 9:20am

Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 5:39p Moonrise: 12:29a Set: 12:36p AM Minor: 11:33a AM Major: 5:22a PM Minor: 11:55p PM Major: 5:44p Moon Overhead: 6:36a Moon Underfoot: 6:58p

Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 5:40p Moonrise: 1:28a Set: 1:04p AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:05a PM Minor: 12:15p PM Major: 6:26p Moon Overhead: 7:20a Moon Underfoot: 7:41p

PRIME TIME

Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 5:40p Moonrise: 2:26a Set: 1:34p AM Minor: 12:34a AM Major: 6:45a PM Minor: 12:56p PM Major: 7:07p Moon Overhead: 8:03a Moon Underfoot: 8:25p

PRIME TIME

1:45pm – 3:00pm

Low Tide: 9:53 am -0.58 ft High Tide: 6:44 pm 1.16 ft Low Tide: 11:01 pm 1.09 ft

2:20pm – 3:40pm*

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Low Tide: 9:18 am High Tide: 6:17 pm

-0.59 ft 1.20 ft

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:43p Moonrise: 7:07a Set: 5:02p AM Minor: 4:09a AM Major: 10:22a PM Minor: 4:34p PM Major: 10:47p Moon Overhead: 12:04p Moon Underfoot: None

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:44p Moonrise: 7:55a Set: 5:56p AM Minor: 4:59a AM Major: 11:11a PM Minor: 5:24p PM Major: 11:36p Moon Overhead: 12:54p Moon Underfoot: 12:29a

PRIME TIME

New Moon

First Quarter

12:33 am 10:27 am 7:10 pm 11:04 pm

1.09 ft -0.56 ft 1.14 ft 1.04 ft

2:50pm – 4:20pm

Sunrise: 7:37a Set: 5:44p Moonrise: 8:37a Set: 6:53p AM Minor: 5:49a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:14p PM Major: 12:01p Moon Overhead: 1:43p Moon Underfoot: 1:19a

PRIME TIME SYMBOL KEY

Full Moon

Last Quarter

PRIME TIME

Good Day

A L M A N A C / T E X A S

PRIME TIME

BEST DAYS

F i s h

TIDE STATION CORRECTION TABLE (Adjust High & Low Tide times listed in the Calendar by the amounts below for each keyed location)

NOT FOR NAVIGATION PLACE SABINE BANK LIGHTHOUSE (29.47° N, 93.72° W) SABINE PASS JETTY (29.65° N, 93.83° W) SABINE PASS (29.73° N, 93.87°W) MESQUITE PT, SABINE PASS (29.77° N, 93.9° W) GALV. BAY, SO. JETTY (29.34° N, 94.7° W) PORT BOLIVAR (29.36° N, 94.77° W) TX CITY TURNING BASIN (29.38° N, 94.88° W) EAGLE POINT (29.5° N, 94.91° W) CLEAR LAKE (29.56° N, 95.06° W) MORGANS POINT (29.68° N, 94.98° W) ROUND PT, TRINITY BAY (29.71° N, 94.69° W) PT. BARROW, TRIN. BAY (29.74° N, 94.83° W) GILCHRIST, E. BAY (29.52° N, 94.48° W) JAMAICA BCH., W. BAY (29.2° N, 94.98° W) ALLIGATOR PT., W. BAY (29.17° N, 94.13° W) CHRISTMAS PT, CHR. BAY (29.08° N, 94.17° W) GALV. PLEASURE PIER (29.29° N, 94.79° W) SAN LUIS PASS (29.08° N, 95.12° W) FREEPORT HARBOR (28.95° N, 95.31° W) PASS CAVALLO (28.37° N, 96.4° W) ARANSAS PASS (27.84° N, 97.05° W) PADRE ISL.(SO. END) (26.07° N, 97.16° W) PORT ISABEL (26.06° N, 97.22° W)

G a m e ® / D E C E M B E R

HIGH

LOW

-1:46

-1:31

-1:26

-1:31

-1:00

-1:15

-0:04

-0:25

-0:39

-1:05

+0:14

-0:06

+0:33

+0:41

+3:54

+4:15

+6:05

+6:40

+10:21

+5:19

+10:39

+5:15

+5:48

+4:43

+3:16

+4:18

+2:38

+3:31

+2:39

+2:33

+2:32

+2:31

-1:06

-0.09

-0:44

-1:02

0:00

-1:20

-0:03

-1:31

-0:24

-1:45

+1:02

-0:42

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by JD Moore, North Zone Fishing Editor & Calixto Gonzales, South Zone Fishing Editor

Fork Bass See Red LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Hydrilla Beds GPS: N32 55.208, W95 31.950

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Red or crawfish colored RatL-Trap CONTACT: Rick Carter, 903-765-3474 TIPS: I start with the shallow water Trap bite and look for the best hydrilla I can find and start burning a Rat-L-Trap over the grass. This is usually the dominant December pattern. In the grass on Glade Creek, you can also use a small jig in front of the grass to catch them. BANK ACCESS: Fishing Pier at Minnow Bucket Bait Stand, crappie, largemouth bass. LOCATION: Lake Monticello HOTSPOT: Dam area GPS: N33 05.104, W95 02.417 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms in Watermelon Red or black CONTACT: Jeff Kirkwood, 972-853-0949, www.fishinwithjeff.com TIPS: December is the start of the spawn. This is a power plant lake and the December spawn will be small, so you need to know the lake well in order to find the spawning bass. The dam area will be a good place to start. Texas-rig or Carolina-rig your worm. Either has its place along the dam. Finding nothing here, move on to mouths of Smith or Blundale Creek and repeat pattern BANK ACCESS: Titus County Park, largemouth bass N8

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LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: 147 Bridge Area GPS: N31 14.563, W94 07.248 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Nichols Spinnerbait, Rattle Shad CONTACT: Don Mattern, Sr. 903-4782633, www.matternguideservice.fghp.com TIPS: This area is loaded with bass and hydrilla. Nichols Spinnerbaits will catch some big bass. Rattle Shads in reds and crawfish colors will produce some pre-spawn big bass. Work the edges of the hydrilla and around the sand spots in the inside of the islands near the bridge area. BANK ACCESS: Powell Park Marina, largemouth bass, catfish, white and striped bass

Rats on the Humps LOCATION: Lake Aquilla HOTSPOT: Deep Humps GPS: N31 54.214, W97 12.178

SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, Slabs CONTACT: Randy Routh, 817-822-5539, www.teamredneck.com TIPS: Watch the lake for working gulls and cranes. They will lead you to large schools of whites as they push the shad to the surface. Make long casts with slabs and/or RatL-Traps, retrieving through the schools of shad. BANK ACCESS: Tailrace Fishing Pier, white bass

F i s h

G a m e ® / A L M A N A C

JD MOORE

CALIXTO GONZALES

LOCATION: Lake Belton HOTSPOT: Leon River arm at Mid-Point GPS: N31 09.388, W97 30.514 SPECIES: white bass and hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: white slabs, Chartreuse slabs CONTACT: Bob Maindelle, 254-368-7411, Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com TIPS: Shore birds begin to point the way to fish this month. Gulls, loons, and terns will be working over schools of roaming fish, pushing shad to the surface. Evenings are best. White slabs if water is clear; Chartreuse slabs if water is stained. BANK ACCESS: Temple Lake Park, largemouth bass, catfish, white bass LOCATION: Lake Fayette County HOTSPOT: Camp’s Pond Dam GPS: N29 56.300, W96 44.989 SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: shrimp, worms, Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, 979-229-3103, www.FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: An old pond here with a dam has a creek bed just below the dam. The water depth below the dam is 20 feet and an old roadbed runs SW to NE just below the dam. Fish Carolina rig with #4 treble hook for Punch Bait and #2 Kahle hook for shrimp and worms. Chumming is always a good idea to speed up the bite. If not using chum, allow 15-20 minutes for the cats to come to the smell of your bait. Where the creek bed crosses the old roadway, just below the dam is a great spot. BANK ACCESS: Junkyard Cove, largemouth bass LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Hog Island GPS: N30 37.992, W96 03.502 SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch Bait, fresh shad, worms

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ALL GPS COORDINATES VERIFIED BY

CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, 979-229-3103, www.FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: Hog Island has a shallow side and a deeper side. Anchor or tie off to a tree on the lake side of the island. Cast into the lake where the water will be 7-15 feet deep. Catfish traveling Gibbons Creek channel feed in this area. Big blue cats mixed with channel cats are possible here. Using fresh shad or worms might catch any species this time of year. Fish on bottom with 1-ounce weight and #2 Kahle hook, unless using Punch Bait, then use a #4 treble hook. If a North wind is blowing, this is a good place to fish without the wind bothering you CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, 979-229-3103, www.FishTales-GuideService.com BANK ACCESS: Hwy 175 Bridge East, largemouth bass, crappie LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Fireman’s Hump GPS: N32 37.551, W97 01.045 BEST BAITS: drop-shot and Texas-rigged jigs SPECIES: largemouth bass CONTACT: Randy Maxwell, 817-3132878, www.getagripguide.com TIPS: Start probing Fireman’s Hump and deep points that come out to the creek channels, using drop-shot and Texas rigged jigs. Just like the summer months, you need to do a lot of graphing of the key areas to find the concentrations of fish. Because of the cold water, you need to slow your presentation down and expect fewer bites. However, the anticipation of a big fish should keep you on the water. BANK ACCESS: crappie Dock, crappie with live minnows LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Old bridge off Highsaw Creek Channel GPS: N32 07.490, W95 29.136 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Green Pumpkin, red flake Gambler worm CONTACT: Don Mattern, Sr. 903-4782633, www.matternguideservice.fghp.com TIPS: The old bridge off Highsaw Creek Channel on the main lake side holds schools of solid bass this time of year. I use a spinN10

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ning rig set up with a drop-shot on 10pound fluorocarbon line. I like the Green Pumpkin, red flake Gambler worm. Flip your drop-shot towards the old bridge and slowly shake the rig until you feel the bass. Be cautious in setting the hook. At times, this place will be teeming with bass. Use your electronics to see the old 155 roadbed, then follow it to the bridge, just out from the east bridge facing Hwy 155. BANK ACCESS: Dam Park, largemouth bass, crappie, fish pockets and rock wall. LOCATION: Richland Chambers Reservoir HOTSPOT: Windsock Point GPS: N31 57.280, W96 06.643 SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: silver or Chartreuse Slab CONTACT: Royce Simmons, 903-3894117, www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: During early winter months, you’ll be one of only half a dozen boats on this 45,000-acre lake. It’s like having your own private lake loaded with white bass. The whites will be stacked up on major lake points, humps, and roadbeds, and will be about as large as they get all year as they prepare for their winter/early spring spawn. Drop a silver or Chartreuse Slab to the bottom and raise it ever so slowly. You’ll feel the thump and the battle is on with Magnum whites. BANK ACCESS: Midway Landing, fish bank on either side of boat ramp. Also, fish shoreline of cove to left of ramp when facing lake, largemouth, crappie, catfish LOCATION: Richland Chambers Reservoir HOTSPOT: Wood Creek, Tree Top GPS: N32 4.260, W96 17.910 \ N32 4.20 W96 14.430 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: jigs, Watermelon and blue/black CONTACT: Steve Schmidt, 682-518-8252, www.schmidtsbigbass.com TIPS: As the weather is cold and the bite is tough, I suggest you take a jig and some type of trailer; pork or plastic will do. The boat docks would be my first stop. You’ll find these docks at the mouths of creeks. Wood and Tree Top have lots of timber and stumps in them. Just flip your jig among the

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docks and stumps. It might take several tries before you get a bit, so you need to be patient and take your time. Things are moving more slowly because of the cold water. So, fish slowly. You might only get only one or two bites but they’ll be quality fish. BANK ACCESS: Midway Landing, fish bank on either side of boat ramp. Also, fish shoreline of cove to left of ramp when facing lake, largemouth, crappie, catfish LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Tire Reef GPS: N30 18.440, W96 33.691 SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch Bait, fresh shad; shrimp CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, 979-229-3103, www.FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: A submerged tire reef runs from 6 to 2 feet deep. Fish along the tires starting shallow and moving out to deeper water until you find the fish biting. Be prepared for possibly hanging into a larger catfish here. Blue cats are moving to the deeper water and a big yellow cat could be lying around these old tires, as well as hybrid bass. Channel cats will take the Punch Bait. If you hook a large fish, take your time landing him as you are in open water and have little for the fish to hang up on. BANK ACCESS: Big Creek Marina, catfish, largemouth bass, crappie LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir HOTSPOT: Dana Peak Peninsula East Side GPS: N31 01.209, W97 36.252 SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: small dark jigs; hair jigs with pork CONTACT: Bob Maindelle, 254-368-7411, Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com TIPS: Fish the jigs slowly as you work the several tapering points along the east side of this peninsula. Work jigs with short hops and then watch your line for a tick as the jig falls on a tight line. BANK ACCESS: Stillhouse Park, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, smallmouth bass LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Juniper Point East GPS: N33 51.892, W96 49.883

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is a power plant lake and when power is being generated, the lake is quite warm, even in winter. BANK ACCESS: South Levee, catfish on worms, stinkbait, chicken guts. LOCATION: Lake Waco HOTSPOT: Hwy 185 Bridge GPS: N31 36.084, W97 17.610 SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch Bait, chicken guts, chicken livers CONTACT: Jimmy D. Moore, 254-7442104, rayado@earthlink.net TIPS: Fish the bottom under the Hwy 185 bridge, starting at one end and ending at the other. Be sure to work around bridge supports. Chumming with cattle cubes will

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draw the big cats. Use a one-ounce weight and #2 Kahle hook, unless using Punch Bait, then use a #4 treble hook, which holds the Punch Bait firmly. Don’t skimp on the chicken guts and livers. Big gobs really get their attention. BANK ACCESS: Reynolds Creek Special fishing shoreline, to the right of main boat ramp LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Cedron Creek GPS: N31 57.404, W97 25.451 SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad, leadhead jigs CONTACT: Randy Routh, 817-822-5539, www.teamredneck.com TIPS: The birds are here and the fish are chasing big schools of bait. In fishing around Cedron Creek, use leadhead jigs with trailers and Sassy Shad, making long casts. At the mouth of the Nolan River, dead stick Bass Assassins. Drop bait to bottom and lift about 10 inches off bottom and do nothing, but slow trolling with trolling motor into the current. BANK ACCESS: Loafer’s Bend Shoreline, stripers, whites, largemouth bass.

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BEST BAITS: 3-inch Spoiler Shads and Zara Spook Jr., Pirk Minnows, white bucktails CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria, 210-8232153, kandie@gvtc.com TIPS: Once surface activity slows or stops try jigging silver or blue Pirk Minnows and white bucktails with plastic trailers. BANK ACCESS: Comal Park, largemouth bass, catfish LOCATION: Lake Granger HOTSPOT: Main River Channel GPS: N30 39.539, W97 24.297 SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: crappie jigs, any color will do CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell, 512-3657761, www.txfishing.com/tidwell/index.htm TIPS: crappie are relating to schools of shad located near the main lake river channel where sharp bends occur. Use your electronics to find brush, etc. on the bottom of the river channel. This is where you’ll find the crappie. Use a slip-cork set up and when you find the productive depth, peg the cork and fish at this depth. BANK ACCESS: Wilson Fox Fishing Dock, crappie on live minnows fished straight down off dock.

PK Stripers LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Just North of Costello Island GPS: N32 54.142, W98 28.068

Causeway Drum LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre

HOTSPOT: New Causeway (bank access) GPS: N26 4.970, W97 12.060 SPECIES: black drum BEST BAITS: live shrimp, fresh shrimp, frozen crab CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956551-9581 TIPS: Some drum in the upper end of the slot limit (14-30 inches) roam this broad flat, which can be reached by shore-bound anglers from Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier. More of the fish will be big uglies in the 2030 pound range, which you’ll have to release. The will stretch a line, though. Fishing the edges of the Intracoastal Waterway with either live shrimp, or fresh crab, shrimp, or sea lice on a dropper or Carolina Rig works. Old school fishermen use big Penns with the clicker. It’s always exciting when it starts to buzz.

Baffin Trout SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad CONTACT: Dean Heffner, 940-779-2597, fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Winter is here and it’s time to slow down your fishing, your retrieves or whatev-

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LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: The Badlands GPS: N27 18.228, W97 24.338 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: topwaters early, soft plastics in Limetreuse, Pumpkinseed/chartreuse, Corky CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361-985-

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6089, 361-449-7441, brushcountrycharters.com TIPS: When a north wind limits your options, set up a wade on this popular winter spot. The mud bottom retains warmth

more effectively than sand, and trout and redfish, as well as forage species, gravitate to it. Fish around and through color changes with lightly weighted soft plastics. The wading is a bit tough because of the soft mud, but he quality fish make it worth the effort.

trout and redfish. Cast topwaters toward the shallows early in the morning, or on an incoming tide. Work soft plastics along the depth line into deeper water as the day stretches on. Keep an eye out for fish strafing bait along the shoreline. I can’t remind the readers enough: you need a state license to fish Louisiana waters. A three-day permit is available for a nominal fee.

Goose Bay Bass

Contact North Regional Fishing Editor JD Moore by email at hotspotsnorth@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Goose Bay GPS: N26 29.151, W99 8.247

Contact South Regional Fishing Editor Calixto Gonzales by email at cgonzales@fishgame.com.

Cajun Specks LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Louisiana Shoreline GPS: N29 42.365, W93 48.764 SPECIES: speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: soft plastics in Red Shad, Morning Glory, Black/Chartreuse; topwaters in bone

TIPS: Do not be surprised if bass are already in spawning mode. Most will be, especially if the winter has been thus far mild. The higher water levels will push bass into the brush around the shallows. Texasrig your worms and tubes, and toss along the edges of the brush. Watch for bedding bass. This requires stout (20-25 pound) gear.

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms and flipping tubes in red, red watermelon, red bug. CONTACT: Mike Hawkes, 210-275-1309

CONTACT: Captain Bill Watkins, 409-7862018, 409-673-2018, www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: When days are mild, or there’s a stretch of mild weather, the Louisiana shoreline is a good area to focus on for speckled

For MORE HOTSPOT listings, go to our website and click CURRENT ISSUE ARTICLES

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feet, read a book or a map, or other simple chores. On the high setting, again depending on which model you have, run time can be from 50 to 200 hours. Highest run time is obviously highest with the best quality lithium batteries. On the high setting the light is strong enough to get around easily outside in the dark and do almost anything you want inside. It is about as bright as a standard 2-cell flashlight, is about a fourth the size, and has about 20 times the battery life. The Pal-Lite comes is standard white light, red, green, ultraviolet, infrared, and several more colors. The red and infrared should be of special interest to the military and law enforcement. I have some of both ordered that I am going to give to my Border Patrol agent son-in-law, so that he can test them for me under actually field conditions. Bottom line is that if you spend much time outdoors at night, this is one little light that will make life much, much simpler for you. And it even comes with a little ballistic nylon belt pouch. Also available are accessories that

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allow to you clip the light to a wall, wear it on a headband, and other neat devices that extend the services of the Pak-Lite. Price runs from about $15 to $30 depending on which model and color your order. Contact: Pak-Lite Company, 877-7154448, www.9voltlight.com —Steve LaMascus

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plane quickly and hits 22 mph. Although remote controls are available for the motor, tiller steering gives you laser-fast handling and better maneuverability at the dock. It’s also easier to mount this way; I only had to drill two boltholes and tighten the hand screws to get this rig ready to run. The shifter is longer than those found on older motors and is easy to reach from a sitting position, but handling and use is enhanced most by a nifty little steering friction adjustment lever, which allows you to dial in the amount of pressure it takes to move the tiller arm. But the best thing about Mercury’s 15 four-stroke is the quiet, smoke-free performance. High-tech two-stroke systems like ETEC and Optimax aren’t available on motors this small, so if you don’t choose a four-stroke like the Mercury 15, you’ll be breathing those clouds of blue smoke and listening to the oldschool two-stroke roar. That makes the Mercury 15 a pleasure to run each and every time—for everyone except the ducks, that is. Contact: Mercury Marine, 920-9295040, www.mercurymarine.com —Lenny Rudow

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means it will be able to keep up with the vast majority of outboards on the market since most put out 50 amps or less. The system has both 12- and 24-volt modules, and feeds 8 or 20 amps (depending on the model you choose) of power to the batteries when in use. Surprise benefit: since your trolling motor batteries spend less time drained, they’ll enjoy a longer overall life span. Installing the ChargePro Plus was a piece of cake; the alternator module unit is relatively small and light at 4x7x3 inches and 2 pounds, and the charger is 6x7x3 inches and weighs 6 pounds. It has two separate outputs, so you can even charge different 12- and 24volt battery banks at the same time. And, although I didn’t test one on my system, you can purchase a separate remote indicator for your dash, which will tell you what’s being A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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charged and when it’s fully juiced up. Another thing I really liked about the system was being able to charge up the batteries on the run home, without even having to think about it. After days of relatively light trolling motor use and long runs home, I didn’t even have to plug in my onboard charger when I got back to the house because the ChargePro Plus had already done the job for me. For serious tournament anglers (and lazy-bones like me) who use their trolling motors until the juice runs out, the ChargePro Plus will give you a serious advantage. Contact: Marinco Electrical Group, 707226-9600, www.marinco.com. —LR

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Triple Duty Light The Sightmark Q5 Triple Duty Flashlight utilizes the best in LED technology with the use of a XR-E Cree® LED which creN16

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ates 280 lumens of extremely bright light. The Q5 is water-proof and will work even when frozen in water. The flashlight will operate continuously for 24 hours with the use of lithium CR-123A batteries. This flashlight comes with all of the accessories needed, including a push-button end cap, touch activated pressure pad, lanyard, removable clip, three-prong glass breaking ring, batteries and an off-set, Weaver rail compatible, weapons mount. The complete package retails for under $120.00. Sightmark is headquartered in Mansfield, TX U.S.A. For more information on the Sightmark Q5 Triple Duty Flashlight and other products, log on to www.sightmark.com. Please contact Bobby Owen at 817.225.0310 for more information.

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cost of gas, valued time and intelligent tactics implied, this is a no-brainer for people serious about their wildlife monitoring. Visit www.smartscouter.com or call 888-70SCOUT (1-800-707-2688).

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E-mail Steve LaMascus at guns@fishgame.com.

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Texas Fall Turkey Trophies HE WORLD SEEMED PERFECT AS A SWOLLEN, orange sun peeked over the granite and limestone hills of Real County, Texas.

Located on the fringe of the Hill Country, Trans-Pecos, and Brush Country regions, this

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Special Hunting Section

Trophy Fever

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The bowhunter will always need new arrows.

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E-mail Lou Marullo at lmarullo@fishgame.com.

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E-mail Lenny Rudow at boating@fishgame.com.

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because if you look at it through the bag is just appears to be a tube with a tail. Realistically, that’s all it is, but that tail turns this non-descript bait into a versatile fish catching machine. It is difficult to classify the Biffle-O as a tube bait, worm, or soft jerkbait since, depending on how you choose to rig it, it is versatile enough to be used in multiple situations, performing equally impressively in each. Most lures can’t boast this, but any situation in which you would use a worm, tube, or jerkbait you can use the Biffle-O or BiffleO Jr. In the deep winter months, most bass are suspended deep, not really interested in feeding aggressively, so a slow presentation is mandatory and finesse baits rule the water. This is when the Biffle-O Jr. shines. Most anglers drop-shot with a small 4-inch finesse worm that does nothing but sit horizontally. If you trade your finesse worm for a Biffle-O Jr., the bait will still lay horizontally in the waILLUSTRATION BY PAUL BRADSHAW

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ter but the tail, that very important tail, will wave with the slightest twitch of the rod tip. That small amount of movement is all it takes to entice even lethargic largemouth bass into biting. In early spring when bass are moving out of the deep water into a pre-spawn phase, the Biffle-O is just as equally impressive. Instead of making vertical presentations on a drop-shot, use it like a jerkbait to catch fish that are aggressively feeding. I use a spinning rod with 12-pound line and a 5/0 wide gap hook to fish the bait through and around grass, weeds, and boathouses. The Biffle-O is very buoyant, so with just a hook it will ride near or on the surface, sliding over and through grass easily. If you want to get it a little deeper, crimp a split shot on your line a few inches above the bait. If you would prefer not to

Later in the spring, this bait is equally impressive on spawning fish but instead of rigging it weightless, you need to use it with a jighead. I rig mine on a shaky head jig but since the main body is a hollow tube you can also use an in the body type tube jig. Armed with a Biffle-O and jig combination on a heavy action rod and 17-pound line, I cruise down the bank looking for bedding bass. Once one is located, I toss the Biffle-O into the middle of the bed and wait. Don’t hop it, don’t bounce it, don’t twitch it, just wait. The jig will pull the nose of the bait down into the bed and the tail will stick up, waiving around making the presentation appear to be a small fish stealing eggs. A bass guarding the bed won’t be able to resist the urge to remove the offending fish, and when it does, you cross its eyes.

have a weight crimped to your line that will hang on cover then you can actually put the weights up in the hollow tube body. When rigged like this the Biffle-O acts just like a soft jerkbait. Any twitch of the rod tip will send the bait darting a few feet to one side. By twitching the rod tip repeatedly, you will get an underwater walk-the-dog type action. Expect it to get hammered.

There are few baits on the market versatile enough to be used year round, on multiple rigs, and in so many different applications. The Biffle-O is one of the few that can do it all, and do it well.

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E-mail Paul Bradshaw at freshrigs@fishgame.com.

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Christmas ‘08 HE TENT FLAP LIFTED AND FELL. A BLACK form padded into the guides’ quarters. There was no sound within the dark canvas. The inhabitants lay on their cots like mummies in a cold tomb, their heads pulled inside sleeping bags and beneath mante tarps. The stillness perpetuated the eerie silence. The freezing air magnified the sleepers’ deathlike trances. The stained walls emphasized the closeness. The animal moved forward zeroing in on its quarry. Sniffing and shuffling it plowed through dirty clothes, stopping to smell and identify each human. It hesitated for long seconds staring at Ed Stidolph. Something seemed to be wrong with the man, his demeanor was peaceful as a corpse, but his breathing was ragged. Then Ed let out a gasping snore and broke the unnatural quiet. Each breath sucked more wind producing louder wooden nasal growls, and several guides rolled in their bunks burrowing deeper into their bags. The animal jerked back and perked its ears. The noise transformed the tent. No longer did it seem unnatural in its silence. The sound awoke the stink of rank socks, the stench of unwashed bodies, and the guides’ groans from hurt backs. In one sucking snort, the tent moved from being a stoic wilderness fixture to being a normal human abode. The animal turned and came to my nest. Nosing and pushing, its nose found my cheek. Then a snaking tongue found my eye and then my ear and a questioning paw tangled in my hair. “Boo, what are you doing?” My coat was wadded into a pillow and I searched in its folds for my flashlight. The border collie pup eyed me and stretched its nose forward once more. My mind was clearing and I shined a weak beam at the pocket watch that was hanging on my boot—midnight. “Oh, so you’re my messenger. Do we have

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company?” The young dog wagged its tail and whined. Then Ed rasped another snore and Joe Gray, another guide, answered with his own girlish wheeze. “My goodness, dog, let’s get out of here. This place ain’t fit for clean-living souls like us.” My clothes lay in a systematic stack, and within a minute I was dressed and into the night. The moon was waning but the starlight illuminated the trail to the cook tent and beyond the makeshift corrals. On the meadow above camp, about 300 yards away, a campfire flickered. “You know, Boo, there was a day I would have run all the way to that camp. Shoot, now I can barely muster a trot. C’mon.” The tall grass was yellow and by morning would be hanging with frost. Snow from several days earlier had marked the coming of fall and turned the leaves on the aspens. But the past two days were clear and sunny, and the outfitter Todd Jones speculated that elk hunting didn’t require bad weather. My visitor puttered with the coffeepot as I slowed my pace within the ring of firelight. “Hello, cowboy, you look like you’re still in one piece. Good to see that they didn’t eat you down in Mexico.” “Where’s everybody else? You come by yourself this year?” “Yeah, I sort of wanted to make a run on my own. Dadgum, my old lady has been on some kind of kick making me eat healthier this year. All that organic crap tastes like plastic. Isn’t that a conflict of ideas? Society is frowning on plastic in the environment but most of their food tastes like the stuff. I needed to take a tour and eat some grub fried in bacon grease. I wanted to get out here with the menfolk.” “Well, I don’t know how much longer our world is going to exist. Maybe it was only a figment of our imaginations. This wilderness is getting too civilized. The college-educated nincompoops that added Canadian timber wolves to this country don’t realize that they diminished the quality of these wildlands. They didn’t make this country better, they just

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highlighted the ability to implement government control—anywhere, anytime. Then again, it also shows how urban we’ve become and the lazy attitude that folks have towards each other. As long as something doesn’t affect people, they don’t care. They don’t care what happens to their country neighbors as long as it fulfills their own childish romantic notions.” “What about Mexico? Isn’t that still open country where the best man comes out on top?” “Naw, folks turn their heads and let the bad guys win. Then they wonder why the economy is bad and why Americans have a dim view of their southern neighbor. There’s an attitude that you leave the drug runners alone and they’ll leave you alone—and then there’s the confounding argument that it’s our fault for providing a demand. But… it’s beautiful country. I like the desert. I like the people, and I like the primitive lifestyle—and there ain’t no telephones. But sometimes it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. In the case of the northern wildernesses, the good guys may be the bad guys. In Mexico the difference is a little clearer.” “Well, what are you going to do?” “I’ve got a list of projects. I’ve been sitting on my thumbs for a year figuring it out. There’s some writing I need to finish and some ranch endeavors that should set up my daughter with a modicum of independence. As far as I’m concerned, I just want to make sure everyone is taken care of and then pick up my saddle and go somewhere that I can’t be bothered. Carroll Johnson says there’s a cow outfit in Utah that’s the size of Rhode Island. Maybe me and him will make a swing that direction.” “Y’all are sort of a pair.” “Yeah, I took a picture of him the other day on a mule, riding another man’s saddle, and wearing a backpack. He sure cussed me for being mean—I wish I could catch him in short pants.”

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Never Insult Another Man’s Gun

rifles at Leonard’s Department Store in downtown Fort Worth in the early 1960s. It had peep sights and I shot my first buck, a 10-pointer, with it at Carrizo Springs in Southwest Texas. A few years later, I was given a Herter’s .243 barreled action as a Christmas present, and after having it put on a sport hunting

“

One of the guys said a .243 was a ‘woman’s gun.’

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HILE SITTING IN A CABIN WITH several other hunters at a Webb County deer camp one night several years ago, someone brought up the subject of rifle calibers and which one is the best for hunting deer. Such discussions are almost like talking politics. Sooner or later, the talk is likely to become heated, especially if one hunter degrades a caliber favored by another. Sure enough, one of the guys said a .243 was a “woman’s gun” and that the 7mm magnum shot farther, handled a larger bullet, and had more “knock-down power” than the “little .243.” I took it as an insult to my choice of rifles for medium-sized game animals and looked him square in the face. “In my opinion,” I said, “a large caliber is mere compensation for poor accuracy.” The guy huffed back but didn’t carry the conversation any further. In fact, the subject changed to something else. Actually, the statement about a large caliber being mere compensation for poor accuracy had been stated earlier in a magazine by a well-known rifle expert whose name isn’t important. What is important is that one hunter’s choice of caliber for whitetail deer or any game animal is exactly that—one hunter’s choice of caliber. Regardless of what the caliber is, magnum or light, it is how effectively it kills the game that is important, and most of that is determined by the accuracy of the person who fires it. If there is any one caliber that can claim fame to being the tradition in big game hunting circles around the world it is the .30-06 Springfield. My first “deer rifle” was a Springfield O3-A3 rifle that I bought for $50 from a barrel full of military surplus

stock, I fell in love with the caliber. I hunted whitetails, mule deer, antelope, and predators with it from Texas, to New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Canada. On occasion, I have shot magnum calibers, too, and have experienced their effectiveness for many game animals, especially larger game such as elk and moose. However, I also am a firm believer that the true weight of a rifle’s effectiveness isn’t just in the bullet, but also in where the bullet is placed in the animal by the shooter. Your choice of rifle and caliber for any hunting situation is entirely your business. The rifle that will perform best for you should be the one you have the most confidence in, and confidence is built by handling and shooting it often. I built a lot of confidence in that Herter’s .243 over the years, or maybe it was vice versa. I never saw a reason to switch to a different gun until 1983 when A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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Remington came out with its Model 7 boltaction rifle, a short, lightweight firearm that has become my personal favorite of all the rifles I own or have shot. The Remington Model 7 is available in several calibers, including .223 Remington (the .222 Remington was deleted from the lineup in 1984), .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, .308 Winchester, and one that I am surprised that has not gained the fame of several of the other calibers for most North American game animals, the 7mm-08 Winchester that has been designated as the chambering in this year’s 25th anniversary commemorative Remington Model 7 rifle. What drew my attention to the Model 7 was its length. Although magnum caliber Model 7s come with 20- and 22-inch barrels, my original .243 Model 7 has a barrel length of a mere 18-1/2 inches. Its overall length from the tip of the barrel to the butt plate is only 37-1/2 inches and the whole package weighs only 7-1/2 pounds with a mounted scope (6-1/4 pounds without a scope). You can’t beat a short, featherweight rifle for carrying in rugged terrain over several miles of rough country, or for climbing into tripod blinds, tree stands, or box blinds. Although I never have fallen in love with synthetic stocks like those reinforced with DuPont Kevlar (I prefer the more aesthetically pleasing look of wood stocks), I realize the Kevlar stock is practically indestructible and will reduce the overall weight of the Model 7 by about a pound. That’s certainly something for any hunter to consider when choosing a firearm. Although Remington has slightly altered some of its Model 7s, such as added barrel length for the magnum calibers and additions in stock material and designs, the rifle fills the bill for a lightweight, quick-pointing gun for those hunters who seek those qualities in a firearm. E-mail Bob Hood at hunting@fishgame.com.

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Dear Santa ONTRARY TO WHAT MY WIFE MIGHT TELL you, I have been a very good boy this year. Please take with a grain of salt her comments about leaving the seat up and never mowing the grass. I have gone the extra mile this year being a good steward of the outdoors, picking up other people’s trash, and being courteous on the water. No potlicking here. No, sir! Since I have been so good, I am sending you an expanded Christmas list. Since I am having a hard time picking just one thing, I decided to send you everything and let you choose for me. Any of these things would really be cool under the tree. You know, Santa, a fellow can never have too many kayaks. I know, I know; I do own a bunch already, but maybe just one more— pretty please. I really like the new Ocean Kayak Trident 13. What a sweet boat! It is a smaller version of the Trident Big Game that I like so much. It has the huge Rod Pod in the middle, which makes it easy to stow rods below deck. The shorter hull length makes it lighter and easier to transport. Plus, I think I would look dashing in one. Of course, a new 14-foot Tarpon from Wilderness Systems would be very cool, too. My old Tarpon is still an awesome hull, but the design is a little long in the tooth—at least

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that is what the whipper-snappers I fish with say. They always have cool new toys and I was so excited to hear that the Tarpon has been freshened up and a bunch of new features added. Please keep it in mind for me. Every now and then, Santa, I really enjoy hanging out at the beach. My wife thinks I go to look at the young ladies, but that would be very naughty, so I don’t. No, I go to the beach to play in the surf like everyone else. But my fishing hulls are kind of sluggish in the surf. To tame some nasty waves, I would absolutely love the Mysto from Ocean Kayak. It is a little over 9 feet long and is a blast to horse around with in the suds. We got a new Vizsla puppy this year and I love her to death, but she is teething and chewed up one of the blades of my best paddle. I could really use a new one. I promise I will mow the yard for a whole month without complaining if you bring me one of those composite carbon paddles that Werner makes. They are so much lighter and are a real joy to paddle with. I don’t understand why, Santa, but my clothes don’t seem to fit as well as they did last year. The personal flotation device you gave me two years ago seems a little snug, too, these days. It must have shrunk. Do you think you could bring me another one? I really like the PFDs for kayakers. You know, the ones with large armholes and lots of pockets for gear and stuff. Unless you wanted to bring me an inflatable suspender-style PFD. I can’t make up my mind, so please help me out.

Now about my stocking: I got a really big one and threw out that little one I used last year. It must have shrunk, too. First, I would like to outfit my new hull with an anchor trolley. The trolley system is like an old-time clothesline and you can adjust the tie position of your anchor. By pulling on the cord, I can bring the end of the anchor rope back to me where I am seated. Isn’t that cool! It will probably keep me from capsizing in deep water. I hear Yak-Gear makes kits that include all the pulleys, fasteners, and trolley cord, all in one little bag. Surely, that won’t take up much room in my stocking. I am sure you would agree that every kayaker needs to be highly visible, like Rudolph’s nose. A flashing LED light would help get the attention of power boaters and let them know there is a kayak ahead. A fellow can’t be too careful. Next, a few laminated maps would fit in the stocking, too; a waterproof compass would be a great companion gift. A new distress whistle would be a nice addition, too; my old one disappeared. Remind me to check the puppy’s crate. Any of these items would be a great gift. I can hardly wait to see what you decide to leave under the tree. The milk and cookies will be in the usual place. Merry Christmas to you and the Missus. Email Greg Berlocher at kayak@fishgame.com.

WILDERNESS TRAILS Continued from Page N26 “I’ve also noticed that y’all are having fun with your new wrangler.” “Yeah, I’m not sure we’re doing that kid, Tyler, no favors. There ain’t much future in cowboying, guiding, or packing mules. But he reads a lot and wants me to look at some of his writing. You know, I’m afraid that I can’t help myself if a fella shows interest in N28

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the few things that I know about. There ain’t many boys in that generation that appreciate the old ways. Look at the age of all our guides, hell, most of them are in their 50’s… maybe Tyler can take my place.” The old Christmas legend pulled a jug out from under the seat of his sleigh and chuckled. “You’ve got a lot of trails left to cover, cowboy. Don’t count yourself out yet. F i s h

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Here… Mama hasn’t cut me off from the snakebite medicine. Let’s sit down and lay out the plans for the coming year.” Two friends reclined on their haunches, began drawing in the dirt with a stick, sipped their whiskey, and confided in each other the way compadres do at a campfire. Boo sat attentive listening to the voices. E-mail Herman W. Brune at wilderness@fishgame.com.

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AccuSharp Knife Sharpeners

Fishing Lights, Etc.

AFTCO Bluewater

Lake Fork Trophy Bait and Tackle

American Rodsmiths

Mathews Archery

Bioline

George Strait

Bird Works Taxidermy

Pro-Sell Image Sunglasses

Cover Your Bass, Inc.

Randolph Engineering

CZ-USA

Shimano

Ego Nets

Stanley Jigs

ELCAN Optical Technologies

Swift Hitch

Faultline Outdoors

Texas Best Meats

Fish Vision

Thermacell/Schawbel Inc.

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Unsportsmanlike Gifts For reasons understood only by psychobabblists and portly great aunts, many sportsmen become uneasy at Christmastime. Actually, I

understand this phenomenon as well, because I have studied for years the glazed expressions, facial ticks, and fits of irritable bowel that

by Don Zaidle Melba and Pitt descended on the mall in search of the perfect gift. “I know he really likes to hunt,” Melba cooed sweetly to Pitt. “And he is always talking about some kind of ‘signs’ that led him to whatever it was he was hunting for. So, maybe something to do with signs would be good.” For reasons unknown, Melba and Pitt wound up in the plumbing department of a mall store, which seems odd in itself since a plumbing fixture store nestled between Sears and Fredericks of Hollywood does not demonstrate the best positioning for such an enterprise, but they were there just the same. After considerable time searching and querying various sales staff, they happily made a selection for Izzy and had it gift-wrapped. On Christmas morning, Melba and Pitt presented Izzy with the intricately wrapped but oddly shaped package. Not quite sure what to expect, Izzy unwrapped the gift with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, at last uncovering... ...a toilet seat. You must understand it was no ordinary toilet seat, but a transparent model made of Lexan or something, in which was embedded genuine samples of “sign” from various game and furbearer animals. There was deer “sign,” raccoon “sign,” elk “sign,” and what looked suspiciously like Sasquatch “sign.” Izzy stared at it for a while, couldn’t decide whether to “sign” or go blind, so opted to drink the entire magnum of dinner wine, whereupon he curled up in a fetal position in the backyard dog kenN30

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to primo South Texas real estate, always get excited when December rolls around. That’s because now is when Brush Country brutes go under the influence of testosterone—a dan-

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quietly for a deer to come by. As productive as it has been for some, it is safe to assume other hunters have spent countless hours waiting for a special buck that never showed.

Here is a rundown of some useful tools to boost your chances for a broadside shot before the season ends: Make Some Noise: Most hunters think

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usually go to see where the noise is coming from. The grunt call is one of the most effective calls a hunter can use, not only for luring deer in, but for stopping them in their tracks.”

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Ivy has successfully used grunt calls on a number of occasions, and believes them most effective during the rut. The grunt call also works after the rut, but the response is not as

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Common Sense Rule No. 3: Don’t just chunk a few limbs in the water and expect fish to swoop in like grackles. Additionally, the limbs must have some “volume” to attract fish.

Your manmade reef should include jutting limbs with forks and branches to attract the interest of crappie. There is no question that perch fishing is

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New Vs. Old Cartridges WO OF THE NEWEST CARTRIDGES IN THE Remington stable are the 7mm-08 and the .260 Remington. Both of these are good, mild hunting cartridges, perfect for game such as white-tailed deer and wild hogs. Both are popular with the hunting public. Both are based on the parent .308 Winchester cartridge. The 7mm-08 (itself a former wildcat) was, like so many of Remington’s cartridges an instant success when it was introduced commercially by Remington in 1980 and has continued to sell well for nearly 30 years. Currently, the .260 (introduced by Remington in 1997) is also doing well, but in the past, the 6.5 mm caliber, one of the most popular in Europe, has had a rough time gaining acceptance in the United States. Time will tell if the .260 will fare better than its more muscular ancestor, the 6.5 Remington Magnum, or Winchester’s hotrod .264 Winchester Magnum, both of which are rarely seen these days. Now, the questions regarding the 7mm08 and .260 are: Why were these cartridges introduced; why are they doing so well; do they fill a niche that needed a new cartridge, or were there already cartridges that would get the job done? In the case of the 7mm-08, it is ballistically similar to the old, but very good, 7x57 Mauser. In modern rifles with good handloads, the 7x57 is slightly faster than the 7mm-08 and will handle heavier bullets better. Since the 7x57 has been with us for over a century, what was the impetus for the 7mm-08? The .260 Remington faces the same situation. It is ballistically very similar to the Swedish 6.5x55, which has been a popular

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There have been no Earth shaking discoveries in a hundred years.

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hunting cartridge in the Scandinavian countries since it was first adopted by the Swedish military in 1894. It actually has a sizeable, almost cult-like following here in the United States. So, again I ask, why did we need the .260 Remington? The same can be asked of a number of recently introduced U.S. cartridges that merely crowd into a spot already occupied by older cartridges, either factory or wildcat. Now, don’t get me wrong—I like new stuff. However, I don’t believe for a second that the newest cartridge out there is some ballistic miracle that will jump through hoops and clean and fetch the game you shoot. Largely, barring some new discovery in the field of propellants or ballistics, just about everything that can be done with a rifle cartridge has already been done. There have been no real breakthroughs since the introduction of smokeless powder, jacketed bullets, and bottlenecked rifle cartridges. The powders are cleaner, burn slower and cooler, and generate higher velocities with lower pressures. The bullets are better designed, more dependable, and certainly more accurate. The brass is better quality and will withstand higher pressures. But, there have been no truly Earth shaking discoveries or advances in the field of ballistics in a hundred years. Depressing, isn’t it? But, there really are valid reasons for introducing a new cartridge that is no better than a very old one. Probably the best reason is that the older cartridges are chambered in many old, poorly maintained, mechanically and metallurgically inferior, weaker actions. A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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The ammunition companies have to consider this when they load these old calibers and cannot load them to the same pressures as more modern cartridges. Thus, the older cartridges are usually loaded to maximum pressures of, say, 45,000 to 50,000 PSI, whereas the newer cartridges, in newer rifles, can be loaded to pressures as high as 65,000 PSI. The venerable cartridge itself may have greater capabilities, but the firearms that shoot it are, possibly, dangerous. Thus, the factory introduces the .260 Remington in a modern rifle rather than taking a chance of blowing up an old, rusty Krag-Jorgenson— and thereby getting sued—by increasing the working pressures of the 6.5x55. If you are a handloader and want to go to the trouble of having a custom rifle built, or of having a new firearm re-chambered or rebarreled to one of the old classics, or if you find one of the high quality Model 98 Mausers that are mechanically sound and capable of withstanding modern pressures, you can have a real jewel, but most of us are going to buy the new gun for the new caliber and be happy. So, the next time someone tells you that the old .287 Nitro Express is just as good as the new 7.3 mm Superwide Manglem, you’ll know the whole truth. E-mail Steve LaMascus at guns@fishgame.com.

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TEXAS SALTWATER

Stephen Redfish Hugo Ford Guide Serv ice

ROCKPORT

GALVESTON

TEXAS FRESHWATER LAKE TEXOMA

BAFFIN BAY

For Classified Rates and Information call Dennise at 1-800-750-4678, ext. 5579. Casey view uality Re Axis Angling Q d n a g n Hunti

Dallas D. and Je Kingsville na C VB

LAKE AMISTAD

CORPUS CHRISTI

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Ted Gaylord 6.25-pound Speckled Trout Hillman Guide Servi ce

ersary Trip The Masons Anniv Limit of Reds Redfish Charters

OUTDOOR SHOPPER

WA Don from Seattle, Speckled Trout ide Service Akins Saltwater Gu

OUTDOOR SHOPPER

TEXAS HUNTING

AKINS SALTWATER GUIDE SERVICE

ADVERTISERS, MAIL IN YOUR PHOTOS TODAY!

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a piece of foil loosely draped over it for 20 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Remove foil and slice ham into 2- to 3-inch pieces, and lay them in the juices until ready to serve.

Jalapeno Kiwi Ham HE HOLIDAYS ARE A GREAT TIME FOR traveling to see friends, relatives, or your buddies at deer camp. Bringing along a great dish that can be heated and served after a drive can be a challenge. I have prepared and shared this recipe for many years and I hope you will enjoy it with your favorite people this season.

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Sugar Cured Feral Hog Ham THE SUGAR CURE: For a 6- to 10-pound ham: Mix 1 pint each of sugar and sea or kosher salt into 1-1/2 to 2 gallons of cold water. Stir until all salt is dissolved. Place the ham in a large disposable plastic bag. Using your turkey injector, draw up two to three full syringes of the solution and inject it in next to the bone in several places on the ham. (This will help the curing process to get to the places most vulnerable to spoiling when on a pit.) Then pour the rest of the cure solution in the bag with the ham. Squeeze all of the air out of the bag and tie it up tight and close to the meat. Place the bag in a refrigerator or a cooler lined with plenty of ice and allow it to sit in the solution for 24 to 48 hours. Remove the ham from the bag, rinse it off, and it is ready for the pit. PIT INSTRUCTIONS: After preheating your pit (I like to start with about 5 pounds of lump hardwood charcoal, then add seasoned pecan, post oak, and a little hickory wood for smoke and flavor enhancement), place the ham in the pit at the far end from the firebox with the temperature at about 250 to 275 degrees, and baste every 45 minutes or so. Flip the ham every 1-1/2 hours and continue basting. (Use 45 minutes to the pound as a guide for smoking time, or until a meat thermometer inserted next to the bone registers 160 degrees.) Remove from the pit to a platter and drape a loose piece of foil over the ham for 30 to 45 minutes before carving. Heat the remaining baste to a boil on the stove, then use it as a sauce when serving. Try not to hurt yourself by attempting to eat the whole ham while carving it. Enjoy with your favorite sides.

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BASTE FOR THE HAM: 1 jar Texas Gourmet’s Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly

Glazed Pecans 1 lb. fresh pecans 3/4 stick of butter, melted Texas Gourmet’s Sweet Chipotle Season All cinnamon sugar parchment paper Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a bowl, mix the pecan halves with the butter. Sprinkle the pecans generously with 2 Tbs Sweet Chipotle Season All. Stir well then pour them onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the pecans out evenly. Bake for 20 minutes, then open oven and quickly pull out cookie sheet with pecans and sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar and place back in the oven for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the pecans to a cool surface in the open air for 30 minutes to 1 hour. They can now be served or used in recipes. If storing, be sure to seal in a Mason jar or Zip Loc bag. Contact Bryan Slaven, "The Texas Gourmet," at 888-234-7883, www.thetexasgourmet.com; or by email at texas-tasted@fishgame.com.

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TROUT AND REDFISH—EAST MATAGORDA BAY, TEXAS

HOGS—REGAN WELLS, TEXAS

Mr. Tony Maza of Richwood, Texas, caught this limit of trout and one redfish while wade-fishing in East Matagorda Bay with Darrell Adell of Adell’s Guide Service.

Paul Heughan took these two pigs with one shot from his Browning .270 at 165 yards in Regan Wells, Texas.

SKIPJACK—PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS

REDFISH—SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS

REDFISH—JETTIES, TEXAS

Bobby Ballard took his wife Sharon and motherin-law Charlene Lehde to the Jetties where they landed 15 redfish, 4 Spanish mackerel and one flounder. The reds were all released successfully.

BASS—ANGLETON, TEXAS

ROCK PERCH—TEXARKANA, TEXAS

REDFISH—LAKE FAIRFIELD, TEXAS

Rachel, age 4, caught this bass fishing with her Josh Munoz, 12 years old, of Fairfield, Texas, Gavin Blair, age 4, of Texarkana, Texas, caught and mom at their pond in Angleton. She used a Shake- caught this redfish on Lake Fairfield. The red mea- released his first rock perch while fishing with his speare micro graphite ultralight rod with a green sured 36 inches long and weighed 15 pounds. grandfather Ronnie Blair in a private pond. and yellow Heddon topwater. The bass loved it! A L M A N A C / T E X A S

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This Ain’t Like Bass Fishing AVID MCLAUCHLIN IS A SEASONED LARGEmouth bass fishing angler who has never had a chance to fish for big stripers. When he learned that he was the Lake Texoma striper-fishing trip Trophy Quest winner in September, his response was, “Let me check with my bass fishing buddy if he wants to go with me.”

by Tom Behrens

David McLauchlin, (right) and George Woods, experienced largemouth bass anglers, had the chance to experience what striper and sand bass fishing is like on Lake Texoma. —Courtesy David McLauchlin

David and George Woods spent a halfday on Lake Texoma with striper guide Chris Carey of Striper Express. They were concentrating their fishing efforts around the Highport Marina area. The trio was on the striper action right at daybreak and steady topwater action continued for about an hour after the sun came up. “The way they (Chris and Bill Carey) talked when we got there, it wasn’t going to be a very good day,” said McLauchlin. Bill Carey is Chris’ dad and owner of Striper Express. “The stripers weren’t biting that good,” said Bill Carey. “They popped a few early in

the morning on topwaters, missed a whole bunch when short-striking. To a topwater fisherman, the main thing is to land a few fish. Even when you miss a strike, it’s still a hoot.” McLauchlin and Woods boated 12 stripers with the biggest fish going 7 pounds. “Ten to 20 fish is what we call a tough day; we are very spoiled on this lake,” said Bill Carey. The duo was blind-casting into topwater schooling fish. The artificial lure used was a 6-inch Cordell Pencil Popper in a blue/silver foil color.

HOW YOU CAN WIN! TEXAS FISH & GAME HAS GIVEN AWAY OVER 200 TROPHY QUEST TRIPS. TROPHY QUEST is free guided hunting or fishing trips within the state of PHOTO BY TOM BEHRENS

Texas. The package includes a guided trip for two people, one night's lodging and all food and beverage (non-alcohol). Winners are responsible for all travel expenses getting to and from the destination point. HERE'S HOW YOU WIN! If you are a TF&G subscriber, your name is automatically entered on our monthly Trophy Quest Trip drawing. If you are a subscriber and would like

After the stripers quite biting, Chris Carey put the anglers on non-stop sand bass action. “He is great,” said McLauchlin of Chris. “He kept us on fish the entire day. We had some wind in the morning, but his center console boat handled the wind with no problem.” By around 12:15 p.m., they had placed 46 sand bass weighing up to 1-1/2 pounds into the cooler, in addition to the 12 stripers. Chris said he learned a new fishing technique from McLaughlin and Woods. “When they were making their retrieve and got their strike, they would push the spool release button on the reels to make them free-spool. We pause the retrieve, but they pushed the button. It definitely stops the lure right in its tracks.” “George and I enjoyed the trip,” concluded McLaughlin. “We had never fished for stripers before—a lot different than catching largemouth bass.” He said the restaurant, (De Happy Cajun) where Woods and he received a complimentary meal, even stocked them up with a snack to take with them while out fishing. SPECIES: stripers and sand bass LOCATION: Lake Texoma GUIDE: Chris Carey, Striper Express, 877-786-4477, www.striperexpress.com LODGING: Last Chance Hideout, 903786-4980, Pottsboro, TX, www.laketexomahideout.com FOOD & DRINK: De Happy Cajun, 903786-4909, Pottsboro, TX

your name entered 15 more times in our next monthly drawing, simply send us an email with your name, address and phone number* to trophyquest@fishgame.com. You can still win even if you are NOT a subscriber. Simply email us with your name, address, and phone number* to trophyquest@fishgame.com and you're entered in our next drawing. One winner is chosen at random each

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month. The winner must be available to go on one of two previously scheduled dates. If the winner is unable to attend on either dates scheduled for the TROPHY QUEST TRIP, the winner's name will be returned to the pool for future drawings and another winner will be drawn. *Phone numbers will ONLY be used to contact the winners and will not be used for any other purpose.

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Mako 184CC HAT’S SLEEK, FAST, AND STRIKES FEAR into the heart of any fish in the sea? A Mako—both the shark and the boat. When I tested Mako’s new 184CC with an Optimax 115 on the transom, it was clear why any fish in

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on the mind may opt for the forward bow deck cushion package. (Family comfort bonus: a pair of aft jump seats make for a pleasant ride out, but fold out of the way once you arrive at your fishing destination.) Also take note of the dash, designed with enough space to mount a GPS/chartplotter/fishfinder with a 7-inch display screen, and the console has a standard Ritchie compass mounted on a recess. Touches like this will tempt you to leave the

lons, so you’ll have the range you need whether you’re hunting snapper at the rigs or shark on the shoals. As well as fishing well, the 184CC looks good, with the Mako logo stitched into the cushions and molded into the standard gunwale-mount rod holders. The bow rail is the sleek, low profile variety, and switches at the dash are all lighted rockers. Even more reasons why fish are afraid when they see a Mako. Contact: Mako Boats, 417-873-4555, www.mako-boats.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAKO

Skeeter ZX 22 Bay

MAKO 184CC Category: Center Console Length:

18 ft. 4 in.

Hull:

Deep-V

Beam: 8 ft. 2 in.

its right mind would inlet in your wake, Max HP: 150 Draft: 12 in. be worried: this boat and with a relatively Capacity: 5 people/1,072 lbs is designed for one steep 18-degree website: www.mako-boats.com thing and one thing deadrise, this hull only, and that’s catchcan handle choppy ing more fish. waters. In fact, when we ran our test, heavy The 184 has fishy details ranging from boat traffic in and out the inlet made for hook-holders built into the cup holders, to a mixed-up seas to 2 feet, which we blasted 24-gallon livewell in front of the center con- across without slamming or jarring. And sole, and dual rod racks. You can opt to have even with the sharp V in the hull, draft isn’t the boat fitted with a leaning post or twin out of sight at 1 foot even. The Mako also pedestal seats, and those with family fishing has a hefty fuel capacity for its size at 56 gal50

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OU WANT A BOAT WITH HEAD-SNAPPING acceleration off the line? One that will get you to the hotspot before the competition, bust through a chop without beating your crew, and float in less than a foot of water? Then check out Skeeter’s ZX 22. When we ran our test rig, the wind was howling and a storm was coming, and this boat proved its mettle. Slugging through waves, the Skeeter feels rock-solid thanks to engineering and design touches that are spin-offs from the aerospace industry. The deck, for example, is a single piece constructed of sandwiched layers of PVC cross-linked foam and fiberglass. Hatches are injection-molded, and aircraftgrade structural aluminum ties the stringers and transom together. I could feel the results while wave-hopping in a 20-knot breeze at over 55-mph. When the ZX 22 Bay comes

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SKEETER ZX 22 BAY Category: Bay Boat Length:

21 ft. 10 in.

Hull:

Deep V-Bottom

Beam: 8 ft. 2 in.

down, there’s no ratcases, they run the Max HP: 250 Draft: 11 in. tling, vibration, or length of the hatch. Capacity: 8 people/1,851 lbs shaking, and it felt Now look at the website: www.skeeterboats.com like Gibraltar underhatches themselves foot. and you’ll note Look to the hinges of this boat for anoth- recessed drains, rubber gaskets, and overer example of construction quality. In most sized stainless-steel latches. Look more

closely and you’ll discover that Skeeter even uses tiny aluminum plates for some wire supports, where every other builder would use plastic. And 12-inch aluminum plates are laminated into the deck to anchor the T-top supports and the center console. Okay, so the ZX 22 Bay is built a cut above most other boats. But, how well does it fish? The usual features are present and accounted for: there are three vertical rodholders on either side of the console, a 28gallon release well in the aft deck, a 15-gallon livewell in front of the console (both with recirculating pumps and timers), a 94-quart cooler under the leaning post, and trolling motor pre-wiring. The 2008 model also has wider gunwales then previous ZX 22 Bays, so you can cast from 360-degrees around the boat. The rig also comes with a standard Magic-Tilt trailer, so you can get to whatever fishing hotspot you like—even when the wind’s howling, and a storm is on the horizon. Contact: Skeeter Boats, 903-984-0541, www.skeeterboats.com

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Reverence For the Beast Y AMAZING BAND OF SNARLING, LAUGHing, gifted virtuosos were throttling me yet again into hopeless, sweaty submission. And I liked it. After all, if you are going to jam with Uncle Ted on such universally appreciated, deeply emotional love songs such as “Wango Tango,” “Stranglehold,” “Fred Bear,” and “Love Grenade,” you best be world-class dangerous on your instrument, be brimming over with heart and soul, and it helps to have the stamina of an angry stallion. Check, check, and double-check. We were rocking like men possessed and all was good. Giddy-up. There is no doubt that Mick Brown on the thunderdrums and Greg Smith on the TRex bass guitar give it all they got no matter who they perform for or with, but I have firsthand, reliable eye-witnessed testimony regarding their impetuous delivery of severely over the top sonic bombast whenever we rehearse for upcoming NugeMusic gitdowns. You see, just outside the studio windows of both our Michigan and Texas rehearsal chambers of horrors smolders a beautiful, large, black grilling system that, like my bandmates themselves, seems to have a continuous plume of smoke swirling up from its depths. Where there is smoke, there is fire, baby, and we got nonstop flameage erupting from all fronts during any and all Nugent maneuvers, I assure you. For you see, my band and professional touring crew simply crave the daily rituals of sacred flesh treatment on the grill, and there is no more inspiring motivation on earth than a full on Uncle Ted venison BloodBrother

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grilling orgy. Meat for the masses, I always say, and my boys love it. Everyone paying attention has certainly figured out the self-evident truth that wild venison is surely the unequaled, supreme health food rocket fuel from God of all times. There is quite literally no better food on Earth. None healthier, none more organic, and certainly none more nutritious or more enjoyable to procure, handle, prepare, and eat. This is a fact. Over the last 40-plus years, most of my musical cohorts have either never tasted wild game meat before, or worse, had experienced improperly handled game flesh and responded unfavorably. I am afraid this is usually the case. Though the Nugent family, and all the hunting families we know, learned how to properly kill, process, handle, and cook venison a long time ago, sadly, many people still have not learned the basics. We who so cherish this sacred renewable protein must do all we can to teach upgrade to all who would benefit from the ultra simple rituals that guarantee the greatest meals ever. Of course, a clean kill is essential, hence the gung-ho dedication to be the deadliest, most accurate “reasoning predator” we can be. Once that animal is down, it is critically important to continue the spiritual aspects of our aboriginal ancestors by showing respect to the creature as a gift from God that it surely is. A moment of silence and prayer goes a long way in teaching this respect to our children and friends. Plus, it helps to calm us down for the essential knife work in the field under usually less than ideal conditions. A careful and efficient yet speedy gutting procedure must be adhered to in order to completely remove all innards and any meattainting body fluids as quickly as possible. With nearby water and or grasses, a thorough cleaning of the body cavity is vital for the goal of delicious meat. Transporting the cleaned carcass back to camp and or home, covered to keep dirt and debris off the carcass, where the removal of the skin expedites the cooling and the beginning of the enzyme breakdown process. If a walk-in cooler is not available, quartering or F i s h

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even boning the meat for placement into a refrigerator or in large ice chests is very important for optimal palatability. Removing all the cartilage, fat, and silver membrane tissue is critical because venison fat is not sweet like domestic beef fat. Clean, cold, and aged are the Big Three for yummy venison. Remember that. After the aging process, where ideally a week to 10 days in 33 to 40 degrees will adequately tenderize this sacred flesh, reducing the cuts into family sized portions is not that difficult of a task. A qualified local professional butcher can help show you the fundamentals, and the butchering process is quite gratifying for an individual. Freezing meal-sized packages properly labeled is the final process other than cooking and consuming. For the most part, cooking and grilling venison like you would beef or lamb is about right, except for the fact that without decent palatable fat, the meat tends to dry out quicker. We make it a point to either marinade the meat overnight in a bath of Vernors Ginger Ale and olive oil, or simply add some pork fat during the cooking procedure. Bacon-wrapped backstrap is heaven on Earth. Singed but pink inside is key. We have many tried and true delicious recipes in our book Kill It & Grill It, but let your imagination be your guide. This fine day of intense rock and roll jamming, we had the phenomenal filet mignon backstraps from a big axis stag, and as they singed delightfully on both sides, my band and crew dug in like starving dogs, an entire half of a deer gone in a flash. Smothered in red, green, and gold peppers, big shards of white onion, a puddle of Old West Barbecue sauce topping the whole deal off, and I swear when we picked up our instruments after the dinner break, the music grew horns, and took on a life of its own. I am sure it was the spirit of the beast as brought full circle by its primal gift of protein for the hunter and his friends. Venison Rock. There’s nothing like it. E-mail Ted Nugent at bowhunting@fishgame.com

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by Steve Lamascus

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he place was the badlands just a few miles west of Benjamin, Texas. I was seated comfortably under a juniper bush on the edge of a low bluff. My father sat under a similar bush just to my left, and a little farther over, Van Green, an ex-government trapper, was making disturbing sounds on a gadget that looked like a toy whistle made out of a goat’s horn and a thin brass shim. The coyote stood on the red clay mound about 40 yards to my right. The coyote looked across the 40 yards and deep into my soul. The yellow eyes were full of primal anticipation of a free meal; a red tongue lolled between needlesharp teeth. Suddenly, my mouth was dry and my hands were sweaty. Cold chills ran up and down my spine and the hair on the back of my neck stood erect. In my

hands was a semi-sporterized WWI battle rifle, a 1917 Enfield .30-06 made by Eddystone, whoever that was. I could shoot the coyote and it would be my first. Or, I could do as I had been ordered and tell the adults. They had said to tell them if I saw one, but even at the tender age of 12, I knew that I would never get a shot if I made any noise. My ingrained obedience to my elders eventually won out and I said, “There’s one!” The coyote left so fast it whizzed. In a microsecond, there was nothing there but a small puff of red dust settling in the afternoon breeze. The first thing Van said was, “Why didn’t you shoot him?” I explained—probably petulantly, certainly disappointedly—that they had been very specific about my telling them if a coyote showed up, and that as soon as I had done so, the coyote had skedaddled. “Okay,” Van said. “Well, next time,

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just shoot the coyote and tell us later.” Later that afternoon, Van called in another coyote. This one, however, came in on Van’s side. I heard the shot from his little .222 and looked that way just in time to see a very scared coyote leaving in a big hurry. It headed out across a wide clearing in the breaks, running low to the ground, wide open and headed for safer places. “Get ‘im!” Van yelled. I raised the old rifle, peered through the big aperture sight, and snatched at the trigger. The coyote rolled to a stop in a cloud of red dust. By some act of providence, the coyote and the bullet had come together at about 125 yards. A predator-calling addict was added to the rolls that day. Today, more than 40 years later, I am still just as hopelessly addicted as I was then. May it never end. Things have changed a lot since that day in 1963. In those days, we made most of our

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own calls; there were very few commercial calls. I remember Burnham Brothers, Circe, and Weems, and I once had a neat little call made out of a ballpoint pen and a sewing thimble. The calls we made were fashioned from cow and goat horns, deer antlers, screwdriver handles, anything that we could whittle into shape. They were open reed calls with the reeds made of thin pieces of hard plastic. Today, electronic calls are the rage. There is a mind-numbing array of electronic callers on the market, and most of them will get the job done. Some are good, some are just barely adequate, and some are astoundingly good. I have used most of them over the years, both for magazine articles and for my own pleasure. Electronic callers are especially good for night calling of gray foxes and bobcats, because there are sounds available that I simply cannot imitate with a mouth call, such as the famous woodpecker in distress. The country was typical of the area along the edge of the Edwards Plateau escarpment. Broken canyons and hills interspersed with large brushy flats that faded away into the Rio Grande Plain farther south. Here and there, dry creek beds meandered across the landscape, and the occasional copse of live oak stood above the juniper and mesquite. This was fox and bobcat country, and we were hoping for some of both. The spotlight sported a red filter. It was not as bright as some would want, but I have found that a spotlight can be too bright. Too much spotlight will spook the animals before they get within range, but a dimmer light will still make eyes shine like fireflies. We set up on the north end of a stock pond. If you are looking for bobcat, look around water and heavy brush. On the west side of this tank, the brush was thick and luxuriant—just the type of place a bobcat would choose for a home. I turned on the

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electronic caller that was sitting on the cab of the truck, and the frantic screams of a panicked woodpecker filled the dark silence. Everyone sat still and quiet in the back of the pickup. After a minute or so, I picked up the spotlight, flicked the switch, and played the beam quickly around the truck. No eyes glowed in the darkness. I kept the light working, allowing just the bottom edge of the beam to touch the ground. If you hit a predator square in the face, even with a red-filtered spotlight, it is likely to balk or turn around and leave. If you keep the beam up, playing just the edge of the light on the ground, a predator’s eyes will still show clearly, but the light won’t spook the animal. After a few minutes, I spotted eyes moving slowly toward us from the depths of the thicket. I wiggled the light in the air above the approaching predator to let the shooters know we had company and that they should be prepared to shoot. The eyes got closer until, finally, the animal slunk loose-shouldered and belly to the ground into a clearing 25 yards to the left front of the truck. That was when I hit the animal with the full beam. The bright light confirmed what I already knew—it was a large bobcat. When the beam hit the bobcat in the face, it immediately turned its head away. I could tell that it was about to leave. I hoped fervently that my shooter wouldn’t tarry too long, and wished we had brought a shotgun loaded with BB buckshot in addition to the scopesighted varmint rifle. I need not have worried. Before the bobcat could make up its mind to leave, the muzzle blast of my buddy’s .223 fractured the night. The handloaded 55-grain Hornady VMax bullet hit the bobcat squarely between the front legs and collapsed it like a dynamited bridge. On the other side of the truck, our host, the rancher, was whooping with joy. This bobcat had been preying on his sheep for several weeks. This wasn’t just sport for him, it was basic survival. We threw the bobcat into the back of the pickup and went looking for another good calling location. The night was still young and the weather, moon phase, and time of year were perfect for calling. The major differences between the various electronic callers are the quality of the F i s h

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sounds and the quality of the machines. I have heard some sounds that were obviously about two seconds of recorded sound repeated over and over until it became annoying. I have heard others that had so much extraneous noise and static that you had trouble picking out the animal sounds. Another was obviously some guy blowing on a mouth call—poorly, I might add. Some machines are fragile, poorly constructed, and have almost no volume. Seldom is very high volume necessary, but I certainly want to have the option of playing it loud if I so desire. I also want a machine I can turn off and on instantly—and silently. I want one that can change sounds instantly, like from a rabbit in distress to the ki-yi sound of a coyote pup in distress, and go instantly from low-volume mouse to high-volume ki-yi, as is sometimes necessary after a shot where more than one coyote came to the call. Further, I want a machine that has a lot of sounds, or on which I can change sound chips easily and in the dark. In some instances, remote control is an absolute necessity, so I want that option, too. Last, I want a machine that is durable. At the cost of electronics these days, I don’t want to have to buy a new one every six months. I want the thing to last forever and be able to endure rough treatment, which is going to happen when predator calling. These are tough guidelines, but there are electronic callers out there that fill the bill. The best I have ever used is the new Fox Pro FX-5. It is durable, waterproof, plenty loud, remotely controlled, full of great new options, and has the ability to hold 200 different sounds. It has two high-quality speakers that are individually controlled (you can use one or both). The remote is easily operated and displays the various sounds on a liquid crystal screen. In addition, it is programmable for four different sounds and volumes that can be switched to instantly from any other sound. You can program it to your own calling needs. I have two coaxer sounds and two loud calling sounds on my priority buttons. All in all, it is the best of the best in all categories— including the purest sounds I have ever heard. It is not cheap, but it is worth every penny. Knowing the guys from Fox Pro, however, I would bet that they are already working on something even better. This is one company that is not content to rest on past successes.

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What IF CWD Came To Texas? ACK IN AUGUST, MOST OF US WERE JUST starting to think about deer season. Weekends were consumed with filling feeders, cutting shooting lanes, and setting up stands. It was a great time, kind of like the week before Christmas when you were a kid. The anticipation and preparation for the event is almost as fun as actually participating in it. While down here in God’s country, we were looking forward to another season in the deer stand our brethren up in Michigan were worried that theirs might be sidetracked by a disease with three little initials—CWD. Just mentioning Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is enough to make most biologists shudder, and with good reason. CWD is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (I’m not that smart, I had to look it up) that leaves no survivors. What’s worse is that nobody knows it’s origin, how it is spread, and it’s incubation period can be up to 36 months, meaning it is possible for an infected animal to not show any signs for up to three years. To avoid any panic, I want to make it perfectly clear that there has never been a documented case of CWD in Texas in either freerange or captive deer or elk. Although there have been cases in neighboring states (Oklahoma in a captive animal and New Mexico in free-ranging). However, to the dismay of Michigan hunters, at the end of August, CWD was detected in a captive whitetail doe in their state, which sent a panic throughout their ranks. So much so that it prompted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to pull out their CWD emergency action plan, which had a step that is potentially devastating to hunters.

The first step MDNR implemented was to “depopulate” the entire deer farm. That’s a nice way of saying kill all the animals to test for further spread. Second, they quarantine all captive cervid (deer) facilities. Next, they banned the transportation of all deer. Along with these steps, MDNR banned the feeding or baiting of deer in the entire southern peninsula, whether they were free ranging or captive, and this is where things get sticky. Keep in mind that nobody can state definitively how CWD originated or how it is transmitted. Some theorize that it is transmitted through bodily fluid, but again that’s just a theory, and feeding deer makes it easier for a bodily fluid exchange so their thought process led to the elimination of baiting. Less than a month before deer season opened, MDNR took away a tool that millions of Michigan hunters rely on to take a deer. I’m not saying MDNR is wrong, but this is a case where a little common sense could have gone a long way. Now, up north, the elimination of feeding might not seem like such a big deal. It is estimated that Michigan deer hunters spend a little over $30 million annually on bait (corn, carrots, beats, etc.), but could you imagine the outrage this same decision would cause among Texas hunters? Deer hunting in Texas revolves around yellow gold being flung from feeders or poured out along a sendero. Last year over 50 million dollars were spent on deer corn alone in Texas, not to mention protein, food plots, and other supplemental feeds. So, an outright ban on feeding would have a huge economic impact. With this in mind, I approached the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department with a few questions about their contingency plan (which I assume they had) if CWD was ever discovered in our state. Luckily, the folks in charge of TPWD have a clearer idea of what should be done and by planning ahead have put together a plan that will have a lesser impact on hunters and the economy but still implements measures that should help mitigate the spread of the disease throughout the state. Building a plan after CWD is discovered is like wondering where the life jackT E X A S

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ets are stored after the boat is on fire. You might get lucky and find one before the ship sinks but in reality, you’ll probably just end up hanging onto whatever debris will keep you afloat. All of this information is available on the TPWD website but in case you don’t want to pour through the volumes of data to get the jest, I’ll hit the highlights. As much as many of us disapprove of the practice of high fencing, it will continue to happen and many landowners will continue to stock their pens with animals from out of state. TPWD and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) put together a set of rules making it possible for owners to import deer, but minimizing the chance of importation of CWD. Depending on the state of origin and their own CWD prevention plan, the imported deer cannot come from a herd that is not part of a stringent CWD testing program for at least three years, or keeps meticulous herd records (deaths, laboratory results, sales, etc.) for a minimum of five years. TPWD and TAHC are attempting to keep CWD out of the state while still allowing landowners to use their property as they see fit. If CWD is ever discovered in Texas, TPWD and TAHC will begin additional testing to see how widespread the disease is, along with implementing other management strategies that could include reduction or eradication of a herd, or further sampling. In other words, I couldn’t find anywhere in the plan where it said feeding would be eliminated statewide or even in a pre-designated area as was done in Michigan, although it might be appropriate on a local level after further sampling. As much as I disagree with TPWD on issues, and believe me I do quite often, I think they got this one right. Thank goodness we have some folks in charge who were blessed with some good old-fashioned southern common sense.

E-mail Paul Bradshaw at deerhunting@fishgame.com

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on drag washers between trips minimizes risk of the balking and stuttering that can cause break-offs. Lever-drag reels might need professional attention, especially if they have been through an especially rough trip or season. Expensive reels, like expensive cars, aren’t meant to be diagnosed and repaired by amateurs. THER THAN MEDICINE AND FLYING, THERE “Anything gold” is how Regnier aren’t many fields in which amateurs described reels that probably are better off in can make an irreversible mess of the hands of an expert, and now is the time things so quickly as they can in reel to put those fishing tools in the shop. maintenance. Now is the time, depending on In winter, when most fishermen are idle, your stomach for innards, either to disassemturnaround time for thorough cleanings and ble balking reels for overhaul, or hand them simple repairs is only a couple of weeks. off to the pros. Come spring, as the dust is knocked off reels Count me among fishermen whose stomthat have rested in dark corners achs churn more at the sight of for months, it can take 6-8 tiny parts than over sloppy seas. weeks to get the same work I can peel back the first layer or done. two of a reel without so much as A final bit of advice for better a wince, but have trouble with fishing: Replace your line. wholesale dissection. Actually, Regnier said he is amazed at it’s not taking things apart that how many fishermen are willing causes problems—it’s putting to spend enormous sums of them back together. money on their boats, rods, and “Unless you know what reels, then spend more every you’re doing, don’t go inside,” trip on fuel, ice, and bait, but said John Regnier of Fishing won’t pay a couple more dollars Tackle Unlimited in Houston. to re-spool regularly with fresh Sounds more like an assessment of a burning building, but Experts warn, “don’t go inside if you don’t know what you are doing” when it line. Frequent fishermen should rethe reference is to reels, surgery comes to reel maintenance. spool every couple of months. on which is best left to the steady Casual anglers might get away hands of reel surgeons. with changing lines once or twice annually, If you’re like most fishermen and don’t Offshore reels, from light and mid-sized but they risk losing a really good fish over the have the time or inclination to unbutton a models geared for king mackerel to the gleaming, precise mechanisms built to tame reel onto a workbench until it looks exactly cost of a deli sandwich. Unless you have immediate plans to go giant blue marlin, are engineered these days like the diagram in the owner’s manual, to exact tolerances. We pay more for that doing nothing is better than doing the wrong offshore, refill your reels this month and give high and precise technology, and we get thing. The right thing, Regnier said, is sim- them a thorough cleaning. And when you ply to wipe a reel with a damp cloth and realize there are still parts on the bench after more. you tighten what you thought was the last “Reels are practically bulletproof now,” lubricate it sparingly. “Put one drop of light oil—not two—on screw, do what most fishermen do—drop Regnier said. “The best thing you can probeverything into a plastic bag and take the reel ably do is just leave them alone and let them anything that moves,” he said. It pays also, especially for offshore fisher- to an expert. work.” Regnier said that many of the reels admit- men, to back a reel’s drag down to nothing ted to his “hospital” suffer from owner- before stashing them in a closet. Resetting a E-mail Doug Pike at drag takes only a minute on the way to the inflicted wounds. offshore@fishgame.com For all the things we can do to damage a fishing grounds, and eliminating the pressure reel, one of the worst also happens to be among the most common. “Keep the hose away from your reels,” he said. “Most of our work comes from people who squirted their reels.” Water isn’t necessarily bad for any piece of fishing equipment, even reels, and the pressure of a hose is good for knocking the salt off a fishing rod’s non-moving parts. When aimed at a reel, however, water under pressure blasts moisture into places it doesn’t belong, and actually may push dirt and salt deep beyond the frame rather than rinse it away.

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The Year In Review M I THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS LIKE 2008 lasted longer than 12 months? It seems like an extra month was slipped in somewhere (if it were up to Zaidle, that month would’ve extended deer season). The last third seemed especially long, with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the global economic crisis, and the presidential election really putting the screws to us. Thank goodness that 2008 is finally in the books, and we can turn the page once and for all. In fairness, I will admit that 2008 was an...eventful year. A lot happened that made a serious impression, some good, some bad. Some lessons were learned, and I hope that I was edified for the experiences. Even so, it left a lot to ponder: For anyone who still believes that coastal fishing guides have a pretty easy lifestyle because “they get to fish for a living,” consider that these captains have been taking a real throttling over the past year. First, skyrocketing fuel prices completely exploded their overhead. Second, those same high fuel costs hacked away at their base of potential (and even regular) clientele by making traveling to the coast an expensive proposition for tourists. The afore-mentioned financial crisis that has been bogging down the American and world economies hasn’t helped put bodies in the hotels and on the docks. Hurricanes Dolly and Ike absolutely mauled the coasts’ respective infrastructures (Ike was especially destructive to Galveston and Bolivar; it will take years for both communities to recover). For good measure, throw in the Galveston Bay Trout Consumption Advisory and the Federal red snapper season boondoggle.

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The result is that the coastal for-hire sector is hurting, especially in the north and south, and the captains still on the water are eating a lot of what they catch. In good times, these guides might be flush (and deservedly so), but in the lean times, like now, they are as close to busted as anyone can ever get. I know an old gentleman who is always fishing the North Brazos Jetties (South Padre Island) whenever I go out there. He sits in an old folding lawn chair, uses the same metal Plano tacklebox he’s probably had for 30 years, and fishes with the same Zebco 888 spin-casting combo. He always uses live bait (sometimes finger mullet, but usually live shrimp) under a cork and fishes the same spot if he can. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without a few fish on a long yellow stringer. I’ve seen him catch a variety of fish, too— trout, redfish, flounder, mangrove snapper, sheepshead...he never gets skunked. I walked up to him once and started a palaver. “How have you become so successful?” I asked, expecting some sort of piscatorial secret from a wizened angler. I got a slight grin (I noticed he was missing two bottom teeth) and the words, “I catch what’s biting, boy. That’s all.” Catch what’s biting. That old dude might be onto something. In June, a very dear friend of mine, John Farr, was murdered in his apartment. I knew him since I was 12. He was a teacher, a mentor, and a great friend. He was flamboyant and charismatic, and high school students flocked to him like he was a latter day Pied Piper. They adored him, and he nurtured, cajoled, taught, and protected them. He left us too soon. I learned of John’s death the day before I was supposed to go offshore with Captain Steve Stromeyer on a photo trip. Naturally, I didn’t want to go. If my wife Sandie hadn’t talked me into it by reminding me of my obligations, I wouldn’t have gone. The next day, around noon, I caught the T E X A S

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first sailfish of my life. It was a beautiful, flamboyant fish and I was awestruck as we released him and he swam off back into the Gulf. I like to think that was John’s way of telling me he was ok. I always like to get story ideas from readers. Some story ideas are based around a personal experience. I always recommend that the reader try a hand at writing a nonfiction narrative and submit for consideration for our Almanac section. We love reader contributions. After all, you are the ones who know what you like. After the work they did as part of the search and rescue operations after Ike, I don’t think enough praise can be heaped on the agents of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. These men and women put themselves in harm’s way in the aftermath of the worst tropical cyclone to hit Galveston since the Hurricane of 1900 to help the Coast Guard, National Guard, and state and local law enforcement and emergency crews in rescue efforts. Many of them had their own families to worry about, but they never forgot their public oath and performed their duty admirably. Contrast with the New Orleans public servants who turned in their badges in after Hurricane Katrina, and the Texas guy’s contribution stands out even more. Good job, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you. Finally, 2008 had its good times and bad times, but close friends and family seem to make the good better and the bad tolerable. Whether you are sharing your big brother’s home with five other people because your power went down during a hurricane, or you’re munching barbecued wings with them during a Longhorns game, those closest to you are a boon. Never forget that. You might need them in 2009.

E-mail Calixto Gonzales cgonzales@fishgame.com

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DU Seeks Post-Hurricane Habitat Restoration Aid Ducks Unlimited urges Congress to act quickly to help state and federal wildlife agencies, farmers, and ranchers recover from the damage done by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike by funding restoration and recovery efforts that will enable them to continue with farming, ranching, or other habitat programs that provide critically important wetland habitat on their lands. Waterfowl, other migratory birds, and resident wildlife species depend heavily on habitat provided on public and private lands in the storm-impacted areas. “The storms damaged many levees and water control structures and other infrastructure that will need to be repaired to provide quality habitat, and that is critical to ongoing partnerships and conservation efforts among public agencies and private landowners,” said Todd Merendino, Manager of Conservation Programs in Texas for Ducks Unlimited. Following the 2005 hurricanes, DU supported efforts like Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) funding to assist 60

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local governments with recovery. EWP also assists farmers and ranchers with debris removal, repairing conservation measures, and other restoration efforts. DU also supported funding for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge cleanup and repairs. “We believe similar emergency funding is needed for restoration efforts after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike,” said Bob Dew, Manager of Conservation Programs in Louisiana for DU. “The storm surge from Ike was close to that of Rita’s in places like Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, and several feet higher than Rita’s in some areas. Lacassine NWR is over 22 miles from the coastline. The impacts of Ike’s storm surge on farmers and ranchers could be similar to Hurricane Rita in Louisiana, and Rita caused a nearly 60 percent reduction in planted rice acres in Vermillion

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Parish.” “Hurricane Ike had much greater impacts to Texas farmers and ranchers than did Hurricane Rita,” Merendino said. “The agricultural areas affected by Ike’s storm surge in Louisiana and Texas represent some of the most important habitat for wintering waterfowl in North America.” Conser ving coastal habitat is not only important for wildlife, but also vital to controlling flooding and decreasing storm surges. Coastal wetlands are self-maintaining “horizontal levees” that provide $23.2 billion worth of protection from hurricane-related flooding in the U.S. each year, according to a recent study conducted by Robert Costanza, director of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont. But coastal wetlands are disappearing into the Gulf in both

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Texas and Louisiana. Over 1 million acres of coastal marshes along the Gulf Coast have ceased being surge-absorbing, protective barriers and have instead become open water, essentially “rolling out the red carpet” for saltwater intrusion and storm surges. “DU has worked with a variety of partners to restore hundreds of thousands of acres along the Texas and Louisiana coasts, but the rate of marsh disappearance is outpacing restoration efforts,” Dew said. “When you add hurricane damage to navigation canals, saltwater intrusion, erosion, and subsidence, the causes of wetland loss far outweigh restoration efforts. It’s a vicious cycle. The more marsh you lose, the more marsh you will lose. Each acre that becomes open water exposes more acres to marsh-destroying factors.” With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands—nature’s most productive ecosystem— and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.

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Razorbacks Take National Collegiate Bass Fishing Title HEN THE DAY BEGAN, IT WAS A UNIVERSITY of Arkansas team positioned to be the lone spoiler among the five finalists capable of keeping a Texas school from again taking home the BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship trophy. Included in the final-day shootout were Arkansas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and defending champion Texas A&M. All teams started the day with a score of zero and the equal beginning seemed to keep the anglers patient, focused, and fishing to their strengths. By weigh-in, several keeper bass had found the way to livewells and the stage at Sneaky Pete’s Marina. The crowd of fans and onlookers that had gathered were wowed once more by impressive catches that have become the norm for the week. The Arkansas team did outlast the Texas finalists, with Kazuki Kitajima and Bodie Drake claiming the championship for the Razorbacks with five bass weighing 17.37 pounds, anchored by two near 4-pounders. “We chased shad the whole time and were fishing a depth range of 5-14 feet,” said Kitajima. “We concentrated on a short point with some foundations and rock that had a subtle break. Our key bait was a Berkley Power Finesse Worm in blue flake. We also caught a couple on a War Eagle jig, some on a deep crankbait, but caught most of our fish on a shakey head. To win this one means a lot.” “We have a strong fishing club at the University, and this win is great for our school and the club,” said partner Drake. “It’s been a great experience for both of us.” The Arkansas team’s total was just enough to hold off last year’s winner Justin Rackley and new partner Andy Shafer, from Texas

A&M. They had five bass totaling 16 pounds. Rounding out the top five teams who advanced to the third and final day of the championship were: 3rd place - Texas Tech’s Ryan Dupriest and Laramie Coggan with five fish weighing 11.98 pounds; 4th place Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Jerod Hawkes and Daniel Brock with 5 bass weighing 11.17 pounds; and 5th place - Baylor’s Jay Holland and Chris Gass with two bass totaling 3.34 pounds. The Arkansas team takes home a $14,000 scholarship check to their fishing club. Texas A&M was awarded $8000, Texas Tech received $5000, Texas A&M Kingsville took $3000 and Baylor won $2000. The five, all fishing from tournament-provided Ranger boats equally equipped with Yamaha outboards, Garmin electronics and MotorGuide trolling motors, had advanced to the championship round by being the top five among all 194 anglers competed during the previous two days. The full field represented 23 states and 51 schools of all sizes and conferences. Finishing in the top 10 for the tournament and also receiving scholarship cash prizes for their respective school fishing clubs are: 6th place - Faulkner University (Ala.), Kyle Tindol and Michael Eubanks, $1000; 7th place - Northwestern State University (La.), Zack Gagnard and Paul Rini, $700; 8th place - Murray State University (Ky.), Dan Langton and Cory Carr, $600; 9th place - Stephen F. Austin (Texas), Ryan Watkins and Andrew Upshaw, $400; and 10th place - University of Alabama-Birmingham, Tim Waits and Braxton Setzer, $300. Of the daily incentive awards, Texas Tech’s T E X A S

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Coggan received the daily Abu Garcia Big Bass $1000 scholarship for his 4.29 pounder. Arkansas’ Kitajima and Drake were awarded the Berkley Big Bag award receiving $1500 in merchandise for today’s heaviest total catch. For the heaviest bag of the entire tournament, the American Rodsmiths Big Bag award of $500 went to Baylor for Holland and Gass’ 22.05-pound bag from yesterday. Throughout the tournament, the entire group of talented anglers smashed all previous NCBFC records for numbers of fish caught, heaviest limits and total weight. There were 622 bass caught, including 69 limits, totaling 1455.36 pounds. The tournament was filmed extensively throughout the week as part of the BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship television series began airing on Fox College Sports and affiliated networks in October. Check local listings for air times. Visit www.collegiatebasschampionship.com to view full field results. The 2008 BoatU.S. NCBFC is sponsored by BoatU.S., BoatU.S. Angler, Ranger Boats, Cabela’s, American Rodsmiths, Anglers’ Legacy, Abu Garcia, Aviva Fishin’ Buddy, Berkley, Costa Del Mar, EPIC Sports Video Cam, Falcon FTO tackle organizers, Fenwick, Frogg Toggs, Garmin, Gemini Sport Marketing, Lago Vista Lodge, Gene Larew Lures, MotorGuide, Power-Pole, Rapala’s Fishing Frenzy, Sebile, Sperry TopSider, Stearns, TruckVault, Witz Sportcases, Yamaha, City of Lewisville, Sneaky Pete’s Marina and Fox College Sports.

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“That’s all right.” The Club exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak. “Can I make it up to you?” He shook his head and grinned wider. “You don’t have to, now.” The Cap’n couldn’t help himself. He turned in the booth to face the couple. “Uh, excuse me, but to keep us from embarrassing ourselves, could you guys give us an idea about why you’re so happy?” “Sure,” the young lady said. “I shot a buck this morning that was bigger than the one he killed yesterday and things couldn’t be better.” She launched into the story. “He’s been saying that he could get a bigger deer if he had a new scope. I made him explain over and over again how a new scope would produce a large buck, but I simply didn’t understand his explanations. “We’ve had discussions over new camo. My boy here says that his old camo was designed for the woodlands, and these days he primarily hunts in mesquite.” “That’s right,” he offered. “You guys know that woodland camo is just a dark blob out in South Texas.” We agreed. She continued. “He’s always wanting a better scope and new camo, a new knife or a new rifle. He said the .243 he had used all these years wasn’t enough and he needed a .270. He said he would shoot better with a new Remington. “I kind of held him back on those things,

The Convert HE HUNTING CLUB WATCHED THE DRIZZLE through the large windows of Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café.

The door opened with a rush and a young couple we had never seen entered embroiled in a decidedly animated discussion. Seeing our hunting clothes, the young man rushed over to our large corner table and, with unrestrained enthusiasm, highfived us all. Grinning, we slapped his hand and waited. “It’s a beautiful day!” he shouted. “It sure is!” We agreed, grinning like we had good sense. We waited. The young lady slid into the booth next to us. When he didn’t volunteer any more information, Doc took it upon himself to try to elicit more input. “You guys look like you’re in a pretty good mood.” “We are,” the young man said, smiling brightly. We waited some more. “I’m Doc.” “Good to meet you Doc!” They shook hands vigorously. We smiled some more in the long silence. I raised an eyebrow, hoping to indicate that the stranger should say something more or to give us a clue as to why he was so happy. Without another word, he gave us a cheerful wave and slid into the booth across from his partner. Feeling let down, we sipped coffee and strained to hear their conversation. “Are you mad?” she asked. “Of course not,” he answered. “But yours isn’t that big.” 62

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because he already had all of them. Then it was a new deer stand. His old stand just wouldn’t do. It needed to be one of those new sheet metal stands with a porch and steps instead of a ladder leading into a hole in the side. “Well, of course. I didn’t think he really

needed all that stuff, but a couple of days ago I started thinking that it’s his money, he earns it, and so what could I say?” We examined the young lady, wondering what could possibly be wrong with her to agree so quickly with his suggestions. We had never seen anyone who was so pretty, so

smart, and so agreeable to an outdoorsman’s needs. “So then I decided I wanted to hunt, too,” she continued her story. “He was always gone on the weekends and during vacations. It was a great way for me to share something he loves so much.” Behind the counter, Doreen stifled a retch. “He’s so sweet. Last weekend he showed me how to shoot his rifle and we practiced for half an hour or so. Then, this morning I put on some of his old camo. He gave me his .243 rifle, took me into his old stand, the one the owl had been nesting in, and we waited together. “A six-pointer walked out into the open. He said it had a huge body and so I shot it and it fell straight down and when we got there he said ‘omigosh this deer is bigger than my four-pointer and I bet it outweighs my buck by at least forty pounds’ and he called me a great hunter.” She smiled at him with love in her eyes. Wrong Willie’s own eyes narrowed with sudden understanding. “So we compared them and my deer is bigger than his and now I just love hunting and I understand what he’s talking about. It’s all so clear. He’s right. I know how he feels. I think I have the Hunting Bug. We both need better rifles, with those highpower adjustable scopes and some new camo for the different places we’re going to hunt and I saw the cutest deer stand on the way here to the café. I guess I’m a convert!” Doreen angrily slammed pots and pans behind the counter as we jumped out of the booth and slapped him on the back while welcoming a new convert to the world of hunting and congratulating her on her first deer. The guy is a genius. He’s our new hero.

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