January 2012 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, family-owned outdoor publication in America. Owned by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & 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

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

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR BOWHUNTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR WEB CONTENT MANAGER

A D VE R T I S IN G

Ardia Neves

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Dennise Chavez ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR 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. Content is not to 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.

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CONTENTS FEATURES

BACKSEAT BASS

When two bass anglers team up to fish in a boat, the front angler generally gets first shot at any likely bass cover. But that doesn’t mean the front-seater always gets the biggest or most fish.

by John N. Felsher

ter Moore Photo: Ches

january 2012 • Volume XXVII • NO. 9

rules of the game: boats and boating

The first installment in our year-long series on the laws and regulations that rule your fishing, hunting and boating in Texas.

ON THE COVERS:

TOP SHOT TEXAN TF&G Blogger and Zavala, Texas native Dustin Ellermann tells how he beat 15 highly trained professional shooters to win Season 3 of the History Channel’s Top Shot series.

STORY:

by Chester Moore

by Lenny Rudow

ter Moore Photo: Ches

RUN, WHITEY, RUN

This year’s spring white bass run will depend on the barometer and the weather more than usual. But the fish will still follow the water wherever it flows the strongest.

by Reavis Wortham Slow Sinker vs. Topwater for Trout

The winter/spring pursuit of trophysized trout comes down to these two basic mullet-imitating lure tupes. Which one is the more productive?

STORY:

COLD WATER = BIG CATS

When Jack Frost drives water temps into the 50s and below, broad shouldered creatures go on the underwater prowl on Texas lakes. Venture into the cold and you might catch one of these titanic cats.

by Chester Moore

by Matt Williams 4 |

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CONTENTS COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

january 2012 • Volume XXVII • NO. 9

COLUMNS 10 Editor’s Notes

Please Don’t Feed the Women

by DON ZAIDLE TF&G Editor-in-Chief

20 Commentary

Quad Erat Demon Strandum by Kendal Hemphill TF&G Politcal Commentator

21 Texas Bow Hunting

Wind, Weather & Beyond

by Lou Marullo TF&G Bow Hunting Editor

14 Chester’s Notes Ageless Sportsmen

Scenes from the Season

8 letters 12 TF&G Report 12 big bags & catches

by CHESTER MOORE TF&G Executive Editor

by bob hood TF&G Hunting Editor

16 Doggett at Large

46 Texas Saltwater

department of defense

by JOE DOGGETT TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

by Calixto Gonzales TF&G Saltwater Editor

38 True green

17 Pike On the Edge

47 Texas Freshwater

by Doug Pike TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

by matt Williams TF&G Freshwater Editor

18 TexasWild

48 Open Season

by Ted nugent TF&G Editor At Large

by reavis wortham TF&G Humor Editor

Bearing Witness

Stamp of Disapproval

In the Jungle, Baby

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37 Hunt Texas

DEPARTMENTS

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Red Hot Lures

34 NEW! texas

Horror Story

Accidents Will Happen

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Letters to the Editor Jackalope Hunting Like Steve Lamascus, I enjoyed hunting the wily jackalopes in years past. However, I do think my Ackley original .22 Eargesplittenloudenboomer is enough gun. His .14 EGSLB wildcat is unnecessarily overpowered. Alas, chupacabras moving up from Chihuahua ate all the jackalopes on Uncle Bob’s 1000 section place in Brewster County. But, I have fond memories of shooting jackalopes from the front seat of Uncle Bob’s old J-3 hunting Cub as he flew from the rear seat listening to Willy on an 8-track and enjoying a some Wild Turkey from an old silver flask the got off a bandit he shot down Taxco way.

Jay Bute El Lago, Texas

I Had never thought of using a spray bottle of H2O2 when trying to follow a blood trail. And, that is easier to carry than a Coleman lantern. I have also tried the Carnivore blood tracking light but have not had good success with it. Of course, the answer is to drop a deer (or other game animal) in it’s tracks so you don’t have to follow a blood trail. But since I realize that is not always possible, any suggestions and tips are appreciated. My late husband and I tracked a deer over two sections of land a few years back —I think the deer was trying to cover every square inch of ground he could—and the blood spots were 20-30 feet apart (I had hit him, we found out later when we caught up with him, in the hock of the left rear leg so he wasn’t bleeding very much.) But we stuck it out and did put him down for good, not leaving a wounded deer to face survival out in West Texas were water holes are scarce and far between. I have a number of other tracking stories, including one for a hog that I literally had to crawl to see blood on the underside of tall grass and brush in order to trail. I could go

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Joyce D. Schaefer Port Lavaca

Editing a Wildfire I just got my Nov. issue of TF&G and was properly appreciative of you and the people like you who risked their lives willingly to aid in battling the wildfire(s). You and your fellow volunteers should be held in high esteem. I originally came from East Texas (Huntsville) and, since my Daddy was a forester and dealt with timber and the woods, I know first hand what destruction and havoc a fire can wreak. Thank you.

Joyce D. Schaefer Port Lavaca

Blood Trail Tips

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on and on, but I won’t. Will carry H2O2.

Bless Our Troops I couldn’t sleep this morning so I have been up for awhile trying to get caught up on business paperwork when I ran across this article when I got sidetracked for a minute. The December 2011 issue of Texas Fish & Game magazine mentions CMO and what it does to help our troops on page 21. The article is titled ‘God Bless Our Troops’ and was written by Kendal Hemphill. Thank you Kendal!!!

Mike Moore Via Email

Border Patrol Agent I just read this month’s issue of Texas Fish & Game. You have probably already gotten e-mails about how you did not give Agent Terry the correct title. You called him a BATF&E Agent. Sir, us U.S. Border Patrol Agents wear our title with pride. I appreciate that you are talking about Fast and Furious; however, could you get your titles correct the next time you talk about Agent Terry? At least you did not call him a “Border Guard” or “Border Agent” like some

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other news outlets and politicians call us. From a twenty year plus career U.S. Border Patrol Agent. Respectfully,

SBPA Andrew Rogers Del Rio Thank you for your note. Yours is the second I have received about my mistake, and I apologize. One of my best friends is a retired U.S. Border Patrol officer, and I regret that I incorrectly referred to officer Brian Terry as a BATF&E agent. I have no doubt Officer Terry was proud of being a U.S. Border Patrol officer. I sincerely hope that my mistake did no undue harm to his memory. In writing that story I drew from several sources, and just didn’t pay enough attention to catch it. Deadlines being what they are, I can’t promise that it won’t happen again. I can promise that it will never happen on purpose, and certainly never out of a lack of respect for our law enforcement community. Thank you, personally and collectively, for putting yourself (yourselves) in harm’s way for the rest of us. Kendal Hemphill

Honest Lawyer As a long time reader, sportsman and lawyer, I am offended by Mr. Hemphill’s characterization of all or most lawyers as dishonest. I know he was trying to be cute. He should stick to the subject, I am sure there is much more that needs to be unearthed. Regards,

Jeffry J. Wiley Via Email

Send Comments and Letters to: Editor, Texas Fish & Game 1745 Greens RD Houston, Texas 77032 Email: Editor@fishgame.com

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Editor’s Notes by Don Zaidle | TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Please Don’t Feed the Women Separation of the Sporting Sexes, Revisited

igh on two years ago, outdoors professional colleague Jim Shepherd, godfather of the Outdoor Wire family of news wires, announced he was consolidating the Women’s Outdoor Wire with other wires (essentially eliminating it), the only surprise was that it took so long. This was not by any stretch the first women-centric outdoors publication or organization to meet its demise. Bass ‘n Gal (the magazine and the organization), NRA Women’s Outlook magazine, BASS Women’s Bassmaster Tour, Women’s Bass Fishing Association, et al flashed, splashed, and crashed in relatively short order. Most attempts to cater to women with outdoor interests share similar patterns— and fallacies—based on stereotype: dumbed-down content, a recipes section, and everything from camouflage to cling wrap offered in predictable pink. The reasons for failure of women-centric outdoors offerings are myriad and include cool reception by the target audience, and lack of advertiser/sponsor support. Shepherd cited the latter for his decision. There is no doubt women are a growing contingent in hunting, fishing, and shooting sports, and some manufacturers address this growing market with accurately tailored products. Smith & Wesson was one of the first with its Ladysmith line of handguns designed for shooters with smaller hands; 10 |

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men with smaller hands welcomed the guns, too. A few years ago, a startup called She Safari (now She Outdoor Apparel) introduced a line of outdoors clothing for women. Women are anatomically different from men (vive la difference) in ways other than size, and She recognized and addressed this. If the growth of its booth size at the SHOT Show over the years is an indicator, She Outdoor Apparel is riding a wave of success. Every successful women’s outdoor product with which I am familiar is designed for function, not form. If it fits and works, women will buy it. If it is merely “feminized” with insipid “girly” trappings or reads like something out of a daycare how-to manual, women stay away in droves. Although much more is involved than merely slapping pink paint on existing inventory to create a women-centric product, some manufacturers have successful done just that with everything from pink-themed camo patterns to pink guns. Women who purchase these products seem to use them to send a message: “I’m a woman, I’m here, deal with it.” Indeed, in my experience and observations, women neither desire nor appreciate condescension, getting talked down to (or over), or special treatment. They do not want us (men) to take their fish off the hook or load their guns for them. They do not want information spoon-fed to them, or be expected to know more—or less— than anyone else of similar experience. Outdoorswomen want the same things men do: quality experiences, gear that works, and fun afield. Paraphrasing a line from Jurassic Park regarding Tyrannosaurus rex: Women do not want to be fed; women want to hunt. Before launching into this landmineladen topic, I sought to ensure I was not full of something one is usually obliged to avoid stepping in. I talked to Peggy Tartaro, executive editor of Women & Guns magazine. Published by the Second Amendment Foundation, W&G is the oldest magazine

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of its type, this year celebrating 22 years in print. Peggy not only franked my observations about outdoorswomen and women shooters, she provided some insight into why so many related genre women’s platforms fail—too specialized. “Women & Guns addresses an area that is both vertical and broad based,” she said. “Not all women have a hardcore interest in guns, but most women are interested in self defense, and that is a large component of our focus.” In other words, the target audience is large despite the vertical component. Consider: Many men are anglers, but not all of them are interested in competitive bass fishing. Fewer women are anglers, and fewer still are interested in competitive bass fishing. The secret, then, seems to be the philosophy we follow at Texas Fish & Game, and adopted by The Outdoor Wire: Provide good content, accurate information, and compelling photography within a vertical genre such as the outdoors, and they will come. Do not address women disproportionate to participation, nor exclude them. Show it and tell it like it is, without unrealistic or over-hyped “Omigod! Women are hunting and fishing now!” treatment. I have enjoyed sharing fishing boats and hunting grounds with the women in my family. My youngest daughter could out-shoot me from age seven, and my wife inevitably out-fishes me, but times afield with them are always golden and the most recounted on chill evenings around the fireplace; perhaps more a testament to my lack than their excellence, but in either case, it illustrates that their participation is an asset rather than liability—bruised male ego notwithstanding. If you are a man in whose life the women gravitate to the fields and waters, do not try to feed them; let them hunt for themselves. And if you are a woman unsatisfied with tethered goats, please remember that some of my best friends are lawyers. Email Don Zaidle at dzaidle@fishgame.com

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The TF&G Report

The Texas State Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation recently awarded two East Texas Texas high school students with valuable college scholarship monies in exchange for jobs well done in academics and their participation in various NWTF community outreach programs such as JAKES and Wheelin’ Sportsmen. The $2,000 first place scholarship was awarded to Chint Murdock of Texarkana, submitted by the West Bowie Chapter of NWTF. A senior at Pleasant Grove High School, Murdock ranked second out 150 students in his class. He plans to study accounting and pre-law and Southern Methodist University. The $1,500 second-

Photo: courtesy nwtf

Murdock, Sestak Wrangle NWTF Scholarships

place scholarship went to Dustin Sestak of Nacogoches, submitted by the April AWOL Chapter of NWTF. Sestak also received a $1,000 scholarship from the

Dustin Sestak of Nacogdoches (center) recently received a pair of college scholarships totaling $2,500 from the National Wild Turkey Federation. Pictured with Sestak are Craig White (left) and Shawn Roberts.

Big Bags&Catches

WHITETAIL BUCK

WARSAW GROUPER

Dilley

Lytton Springs

Port Aransas

Caroline Burkett, age 10, shot her first deer—a 12-point buck with 20-inch spread and two drop times—at her family’s lease in Dilley. She was using a Remington Model 700, 7mm-08. She was grinning ear to ear with pure excitement.

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Levi Hallowich, age 12, of Lytton Springs shot this 11-point, 150-pound buck with a 20-inch spread while hunting on his family’s property during the 2011-12 special youth-only season. He took the buck with one shot from his 25-06 at 80 yards.

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Adrian Wochnagg caught his first Warsaw grouper, fishing 75 miles east of Port Aransas. He was using cut bait.

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April AWOL Chapter. A graduate of Douglass High School, Sestak plans to study agricultural business at Stephen F. Austin State University. —Matt Williams

Increased CWD Vigilance Urged in Texas

The recent discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a captive deer in Missouri underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring whitetails and taking action when questionable deer are discovered in Texas captive breeding facilities. The animal that tested positive for CWD was a captive white-tailed deer inspected as part of Missouri’s CWD surveillance and testing program. Preliminary tests were conducted by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, and a “tested positive” result was disclosed last week. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has investigated several deer smuggling cases involving whitetails brought into the state from several states where CWD has been confirmed, including Missouri. “This is why we banned importation of deer from out of state and why we continue to monitor for illegal activity,” said Carter Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In February 2010 a case of CWD was confirmed in Linn County, Missouri, on a captive hunting preserve operated by the same entity, Heartland Wildlife Ranches, LLC. The Linn County facility was depopulated and no further infection was identified at that facility. The current case was identified through increased surveillance required by the management plan implemented from the previous CWD incident. Since TPWD implemented a CWD surveillance initiative 10 years ago, more than 35,000 deer have been tested in Texas; the results to date have all come back “not detected.” “The absence of any disease findings is by no means a reason to stop testing,” Smith said. “The best measures we can take are proactive ones, and our goal is to keep CWD out of the state at all costs.” CWD is a fatal disease of North American elk and deer, including whitePhoto: wiresec, canstock

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tailed deer and mule deer. There is no indication that CWD in deer can lead to disease in native livestock or people. Wildlife officials regard prevention as the primary and most effective tool to combat CWD. Once established in a wild population, diseases are extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to eradicate. TPWD has stepped up epidemiological investigations involving questionable deer held illegally in Texas with input and assistance from representatives of the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas Wildlife Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas Deer Association, private veterinarians and other stakeholders. “We take disease issues very seriously because of the potential impacts to Texas’ natural resources and the multi-million dollar hunting and deer breeding industries,” Smith said. “TPWD works collaboratively with deer breeders and other deer stakeholders to develop and implement rules to minimize the risk of CWD in Texas.” The implications from a CWD outbreak in Texas’ internationally recognized white-tailed deer population, both free-ranging and captive, would be significant. Deer hunting is an important cultural and recreational component of Texas lifestyle, pursued annually by more than 600,000 sportsmen, and has an economic impact to the state in excess of $2.2 billion a year, according to published reports. In addition, studies show deer breeding activities have an economic impact in Texas of about $650 million annually. CWD was originally described in captive animals 35 years ago in Colorado. However, over the last five years, the fatal disease has been detected in free-ranging and captive cervids in several surrounding states and Canada. The Missouri discovery places CWD in 20 states and Canadian provinces. The general deer hunting season in Texas opens Nov. 5 and TPWD biologists will be at locker plants and processing facilities collecting voluntarily-submitted hunter harvested deer tissue samples for CWD testing. Hunters can also contact their local TPWD wildlife biologist if they would like to offer samples for testing. A contact list of T E X A S

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TPWD biologists can be found online at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/ technical_guidance/biologists/. —Staff Report

Rainbow Trout Stocking Locations Set

Throw your rod and reel in the car and take the short drive to your local fishing hole, it’s time once again for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s annual winter rainbow trout stocking. Each year TPWD stocks roughly 250,000, 9-12 inch hatchery-reared rainbow trout in more than 100 neighborhood and state park locations across Texas as a part

Rainbow trout will be stocked in more than 100 Texas locations.

of the annual stocking program. Locations such as Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, Bullfrog Pond in Austin, Bob Sandlin State Park in Mt. Pleasant and Arena Park Pond in Marshall are some of the locations used by the program in past years. The program occurs in the winter due to the cooler water temperatures in Texas water bodies. While most of the popular locations will still get trout this year, stockings will be down about 10 percent from last year due to water level conditions at some sites, according to Todd Engeling, TPWD hatchery program director. “Trout stockings will be down, but not as bad as we initially anticipated,” Engeling said. “Our popular stocking sites should remain the same as long as there is sufficient water and those sites without enough water may not receive stockings.” —Staff Report

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Chester’s Notes by Chester Moore | TF&G Executive Editor

Ageless Sportsmen

“Y

ou want to know how long we’re going to keep working in the outdoors?” “Until it’s not fun anymore. That’s how long!” Those words, spoken in the trademark jovial, passionate voice of outdoors television icon and redfish tournament guru “Cajun” Phil Broussard boomed through the gazebo at Hackberry Charters on Lake Calcasieu. “That’s right and at the moment we’re having lots of fun,” said the gentleman sitting next to him. Oh, by the way, his name is Bill Dance. Yes, the Bill Dance who has thrilled and inspired millions with his incredible fishing skills and fun-loving attitude. I had the great honor and privilege of sitting down with these two living legends who helped set the standard for outdoors television beginning in the late 1960s. It was a pinch me moment for yours truly. These two are at the top of my list of early outdoors influences and trust me when I say the legends did not disappoint. The conversation began with the duo’s passionate pursuit of redfish, which has taken them from the Atlantic to the Texas coast over the years. “Redfish are such a great sport fish. They fight hard, taste good and are something people have access to. A lot of the blue water stuff you used to see on television is hard for a lot of people to relate to in this economy but redfish we can all go catch and they’re awesome,” Dance said. Broussard chimed in with his love for competitive redfish tournaments that he and his son Kevin have dominated in recent years. In 2009 alone, they won both the Redfish Cup championship and “Team of the Year.” More accolades have followed. “Competitive redfish tournaments are 14 |

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trout or hunting deer, something is wrong.” America is so youth-centric. We get the idea from movies, TV, social networks and even news coverage that anyone older than 40 (30 in most cases) is disposable. The fishing industry is one of the few “Cajun” Phil Broussard, Bill Dance and Chester Moore. places in which we see loads of fun and doing so well with my son older people still in the spotlight in the is just incredible. Now we’re going all over media. And while tournament angling does Texas and Louisiana talking to different get tougher as one gets older, there are still people about our winning strategies for serious competitors into their late 50s, 60s redfish. There is no slowing down,” he said. and even 70s. All of us who fish and hunt and are on the The fishing was tough on Calcasieu the day I visited them with murky waters, stiff younger side of the equation should embrace wind and an unfavorable tide. However, learning from those who came before us. By they grinded it out until 4 p.m. in 100 plus paying attention to their observations and degree heat to get the job of filming an epi- insights, we can learn so much and then in turn pass that on to the next generation. sode of Bill Dance Saltwater done. Conversely, you older outdoors lovers “It was tough until the tide switched and ‘Cajun’ took us to a spot in the channel should not feel like you have nothing to give. where he thought there might be some trout. Make it a point to get involved with younger And there were a bunch of them. Knowing people and mentor them with your outdoors the intimate details of an area and under- skills and life wisdom. I am making it a point in my life to honor standing how tides effect fish in an area can people and a high priority on that list is to give an angler an edge,” Dance said. honor those who are older than me. They And so does being persistent. “If you know the area and know your deserve our respect for paving the way for options and do your homework you can us, and those who are willing to sit down and make something happen but you have to share their triumphs, mistakes and observations deserve a special place of honor at our work at it sometimes,” Broussard said. That one day of fishing alone would have campfires and in our boats. Those with fragile egos, however, should wiped out most 20 year olds and then you pile on the incredible schedule they keep and beware. While it is may be true you cannot it is truly inspiring to see two men in their teach an old dog new tricks, most of these late 60s still doing what they do as good as outdoors veterans have enough tricks up their sleeves to outperform the younger genthey have ever done it. I was blessed to be able to share with eration in the field with no problem. That is just one more reason to pay them them the inspiration they had on my career and mentioned their enthusiasm was conta- our respect. gious to me at an impressionable age. “That’s it,” Broussard said. Catch Chester on the radio Fridays, 6pm “You have to be able to let people know on 560 KLVI Beaumont, (www.klvi.com) you’re having a good time and let’s face it if Email Chester Moore at Email him at cmoore@fishgame.com cmoore@fishgame.com you can’t do that while catching redfish or

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Doggett at Large by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Bearing Witness

a coastal grizzly on steroids—the long summer of high-protein gorging during the rich salmon runs. A monster boar can square 10 feet and top 1,500 pounds, but mature brown bears either side of a thousand pounds are common. And they are meat eaters with gigantic canine teeth and fixed-forward eyes. A bad bear is a terrible beast. A pack of timber wolves is the apex predator of the North, but one-on-one nothing can out-vibe a mature brown bear. I

yelled Newhalen Lodge guide Greg Schuerger from downstream. “Give him his space. Don’t panic. Talk to him. I’m heading your way!” “Hey, Bear! Ho, Bear! I’m leaving... I’m leaving. It’s all yours, buddy!” I pushed waist-deep and the flow was standing in the thigh-deep flow of bounced me nicely along. Greg ran around Alaska’s Kamishak River, with a pod of the corner. He was armed with a smooth “chromer” silver salmon out in front and baseball-sized river rock, not really what you a thick bank of alders at my back. I was want to see in a world replete with heavy in a zone, double-hauling the 8-weight fly magnum rifles and cartridges. Welcome to line across the flow and stripping the the Stone Age. bright streamer fly past the noses of He shouted and waved (on the the gray-green silhouettes. A strike subject of stones, not a bad perforwas imminent. mance). He turned the bear’s attenIt is true that my hearing has tion and hurled a rock. It bounced become a tad dulled during the past like a ping pong ball from the immo40 years. In fact, I’m deaf as a stone; bile shoulder. two out of three Pre-Cambrian rocks I now had 50 or 60 yards of river are more acute. cushion. I waded ashore and the bear What with the gurgling of the waddled out and started fishing. flow and the focus of the moment, Back at the lodge, I related the not to mention the wind in the trees, incident to Newhalen Lodge owner I certainly never heard the rustling and veteran Alaskan hunter, Bill of brush on the bank. Not a bloody, Sims. I stressed how large and round freaking clue. the fuzzy, furry head looked, easily A companion, farther downthird place in the World’s Biggest stream, waved and pointed. “Hey, Bear competition. I poured another Doggett, you deaf old man! Bear— drink. Maybe the runner-up. right behind you!” Sims smiled and shook his head. I turned and almost jumped out “No, that head is a tipoff. It was just of the Orvis chest waders. There, an average bear minding his own close enough to poke with the tip of business. They’re pretty happy right A Kodiak brown bear reclaims its fishing spot on the the 9-foot rod, was an XXL brown now, what with all the salmon. The Kamishak River, Alaska. bear. The beast had pushed through real big ones have bodies so big they the screening alders and stood watching. turned to face the gravel bar. A full-blown look pin-headed. If you’re hunting, that’s Apparently, I was poaching the fishing hole. brown bear had filled my world. I’m not what you look for—a pin-headed boar with The beady eyes and wet snout and bris- exaggerating—the brute was 10 feet away. a huge gut. Now you’ve got a monster bear.” tling ears affixed me. Saliva drooled from OK, maybe 12 feet. Deep down, far inside OK, maybe my encounter was with a the jaw and the musky aroma was very real. the red zone, you grapple with a primal and second stringer, but all brown bears are The bulging shoulders and huge legs and dreadful truth: This animal could kill me; it big. Some are just bigger than others. Not sagging belly rippled with golden-brown fur. could even eat me. to mention closer. And sharing the charged The wide paws and long claws speared the The bear just stood there, not defensive, gravel bar with such a horrific meat-eater was damp gravel. not aggressive—just there. A jacked brown a wilderness encounter I never will forget. The Kodiak brown bear of southeastern bear can outrun a horse on a short race over Alaska is claimed by some experts to be rough terrain. A furry bunny hop would the largest land carnivore in the world. A have had me. few polar bears might take exception but “Dear God,” I cried. “What do I do!” Email Joe Doggett at Email Joe Doggett at you won’t get any argument from me. It’s “Wade deeper and start backing down!” jdoggett@fishgame.com jdoggett@fishgame.com

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12/2/11 2:51 PM

Pike on the Edge by Doug Pike | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Stamp of Disapproval

he headline of a Nov. 29 story at SheWired.com read, “Lick Ellen DeGeneres and Joan Jett for a Cause Thanks to PETA and the US Postal Service.” Uh….no thanks. For the holiday season, maybe even now if they were selling fast enough to suit all parties involved, the USPS offered a sheet of 20 stamps, each of which depicts one of the 20 people deemed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to rank among the world’s most notable vegetarians. Not wonders of the world. Vegetarians. Gracing our nation’s postage now are those famous Americans Paul McCartney and Gandhi. Er…wait. They’re not Americans, and neither are they being recognized for remarkable musical talent or for a lifetime’s dedication to world peace. Reasonable cases might be made along those lines. Instead, they’re on our stamps because they choose beans over beef. Last time I checked, vegetarians made up a miniscule fraction of the American population. I move in social circles beyond the outdoors and live in the nation’s fourth-largest city – and still can count on both hands all the vegetarians I’ve known in my life. Three of them were asked recently if they intended to buy PETA’s vegetarian stamps, to which two replied, “What vegetarian stamps?” The third said, “You mean stamps with vegetables on them, right?” Which made me think about how close that statement was to being accurate. Granted, this nation’s postal service is in a major fiscal predicament. As the Internet and e-commerce grow, traditional lick-itand-stick-it revenue shrivels. The well is so dry, in fact, that our nation’s Congress this past fall considered a sizeable handout to

Stamp Reproduction: Peta.org

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keep letter carriers on their appointed rounds. (The Internet has done in relatively short time what rain, sleet snow and gloom of night could not accomplish over centuries.) As irksome as I find the notion of more federal bailouts, our postal service’s sellout to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals maddens me more. To its credit, always given where due under my byline, PETA merely identified a vulnerability within the USPS and capitalized on it. PETA’s offer should have been refused, but broke folks will do a lot of things that people with full pockets will not. I don’t know or care exactly how vegetarian-stamp profits will be split, either, but I do know there’s lots of money leftover when a sheet of 20 first-class stamps that bear a 44-cent face value costs $20. Presuming there were/are buyers, that’s a handsome profit margin. The collection, for the curious among you, features vegetable eaters dating back as far as Pythagoras (remember him from math class?) and as current as Natalie Portman. Others who now grace our envelopes include Woody Harrelson, Pamela Anderson, Russell Simmons and at least a half-dozen people whose names I did not recognize. I have no quarrel with any of them for their personal preferences. We each, in this nation, are entitled to live our lives freely. I can’t even fault PETA for setting the hook on an agency swimming in circles with its mouth open. PETA thought of it first, but the outdoors community almost has an obligation to grab that same ball and run with it. Let’s insist that the U.S. Postal Service grant outdoors enthusiasts our own series’ of stamps. Our passions as hunters, anglers and wild-game chefs are no less valid than those of vegetarians. The list of categories for which we could T e x a S

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drum up 10 or 20 good entries is long. How about cuts of meat? Or the top 20 biggame hunters of the world? Or maybe the best 20 paintings from Jack Cowan’s collection? The most popular rifles. Successful lures. Maybe even stamps of the editors and contributors to Texas Fish & Game magazine – we could make the glue taste like jerky. My guess is that few if any TF&G readers have PETA-vegetarian stamps in their homes. Be assured, however, that plenty are in circulation; PETA’s published “cause” is a popular and extremely well marketed one. Watch for those vegetarian stamps in your own mailbox, and think twice about your relationship with anybody who stuck one on a letter addressed to you. Again, we cannot fault PETA for its creativity. Instead, we should thank PETA for the idea and use it as precedent to ensure that our own celebration of the omnivorous lifestyle can be shared on commemorative postage stamps with all Americans. Even the vegetarians, if they like the art we select. I’d bet also that a well oiled effort to promote stamps spotlighting consumptive outdoor recreation – maybe backed by Ducks Unlimited, Coastal Conservation Association, the National Rifle Association and other sportsman’s groups – would generate considerably more revenue for the USPS than those 20-stamp veggie plates. If we come to the USPS table asking only for identical terms as those offered to PETA, there should be no resistance from the service. And if there is, maybe it’s time we learn to correspond, communicate and conduct our personal business electronically.

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12/5/11 2:05 PM

Ted’s TexasWild by Ted Nugent | TF&G Editor-at-Large

In the Jungle, Baby

h, the Big Apple. NYC. Manhattan. Über metro. Bright lights, big city, as big as it gets. The concrete jungle hellzone of them all. Jam packed with 11 million people, wall to wall madhouse. And I like it. No, really, I truly enjoy my crazy time in metropolitan mega-cities whenever I am there. After all, you can’t celebrate the ultimate nonstop outlando rock-n-roll career for over fifty years jamming on the farm or ranch. My high energy primal music is perfect for both the SpiritWild outdoors enthusiasts and the city folk from the inner sanctums of the modern jungle warfare. I am such a big tent kind of guy. And though I can’t imagine venturing off to New York City while my precious deer season continues into the winter months, when I can coordinate quality time with any of my more precious children, while maximizing the pro-hunt pro-gun pro-freedom anti-liberal message in the mega media, I suppose I can take a few days from my tree stands to kill flocks of birds with but a handful of stones. And so it was, following a most joyous family Holiday celebration at our 18 |

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wonderful Texas home, the invitations to spend three solid days on CNN’s Anderson Cooper’s 360 television show and join my good friend Governor Mike Huckabee on his great FOX show, while getting four solid days with my eldest son Fleetwood was just too cool to turn down. I share with you here a most positive and totally unique experience that should warm the coddles of your hunting and 2nd Amendment absolutist’s hearts. And I do mean exclusively unique, for you see, after a lifetime of dedicating myself to taking our common sense beliefs and message to the masses in the major media all around the world, everywhere I go the people recognize me as the gun guy and the hunting guy. And I could not be more proud. I am constantly approached by friendly, upbeat, bubbly people from every imaginable walk of life that are more than eager and comfortable striking up a conversation about guns and hunting. The beauty of it is that most of these people are not gunners or hunters themselves, but share with me most enthusiastically how they are fascinated and intrigued by things I say and do about these politically incorrect topics, here, there and everywhere. In every airport, restaurant, church, school, gas station, feed mill, florist, grocery store, deli, hardware store, Starbucks or movie theater, people could not be more friendly, pleasant and kind. I can’t remember an occasion at an eatery where the chef and staff didn’t come out to meet me and talk about venison, wildlife and guns and ammo. It is wonderful indeed. Even in the city of cities, New York, people of every demographic, ethnicity and persuasion wave, say hell-o and more often

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than not stop to shoot the bull with their ever-loving Uncle Ted. And I am more than pleased to reciprocate and give them the time. Even the younger kids with their rainbow hair and pierced body parts want to talk to me about our Spirit of the Wild TV show, my current writings, books or some of my recent interviews in the media. They want to know about guns, animals, and how they can get started in what I have conveyed to them is a whole lot of fun and excitement. The fact is, they may be stopping and communicating with their Uncle Ted, because they know me for my guns and hunting, but be it known that they are actually opening up to all of you who share my beliefs and passions. They don’t know you love your hunting and guns, but for more than 40 years of touring and traveling around the world, their positive energy towards me proves that they are; 1-comfortable with guns and hunting, and 2-genuinely interested in these subjects and activities. That spells recruitment not only by getting involved in the activities themselves, but being part of our conservation and 2nd Amendment army to stand up for and to fight for them as well. You have to love that. So I remind you all to make your love of guns and hunting as visible and obvious as possible. Wear your camo everywhere like I do, wear that NRA cap and jacket, keep that gun in the window rack, display that hunting sticker on your vehicle at the workplace, hang and transport that deer where it can be seen, write that letter to the editor to those non-hunting publications, be friendly and polite while showing off your colors. Be a walking billboard for these wonderful American freedoms and lifestyles. Be an ambassador to celebrate and promote that which we cherish. Be a positive force to crush the anti-gunners and animal rights loons by word, deed and action. Say it loud; I hunt and I’m proud! Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@fishgame.com Composite Photo: Texas Fish & Game

12/2/11 2:06 PM

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12/1/11 5:48 PM

Commentary by Kendal Hemphill | TF&G Political Commentator

oward the end of October the calls, emails, and texts started coming in faster, some days, than I could answer them. Family, friends, business associates, even acquaintances I barely knew wanted to ask me about Crockett Keller’s radio ad. It got so I could hardly get any work done, because I was too busy answering questions about an ad I had nothing to do with. Crockett Keller, in case you’ve been living outside the continental U.S. for the past few months, is a resident of Mason, Texas. People were calling me about Crockett’s ad because I also live in Mason and, as an outdoor writer, I’m expected to know everything that goes on in the wildlife/gun/hunting/ shooting community. I don’t, but you won’t catch me admitting that in print. The spot, which ran for several days on KHLB, Mason’s local radio station, advertised Keller’s Concealed Handgun class, which he has been teaching for several years. It runs just over a minute, and for the first forty-five seconds it sounds like your basic, garden variety radio commercial about a CHL class. The rest of the ad, however, caused a little controversy, in the same way politics causes a little debate. After his spiel about the class, Keller states, “If you are a socialist liberal, and/ or voted for the current campaigner-inchief, please do not take this class. You have already proven that you cannot make a knowledgeable and prudent decision, as required under the law.” Now, Mason County, and the surrounding area, is mostly conservative, but there are liberals available if you know where to look. Some of these people took offense at

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Within days the ad went viral, hence the stampede of people calling me.

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Quad Erat Demonstrandum

Keller’s statement that voting for President Obama was proof of poor judgment. Most folks agreed with him, but saying so at the coffee shop, among like-minded friends, and announcing such a belief in a radio advertisement are two very different things. Still, the dust might have settled fairly quickly if Keller had stopped there. But Keller didn’t stop there. After letting the liberals know exactly where they stood with him (somewhere below the salt, certainly) Keller continued, “Also, if you are a non-Christian Arab, or Muslim, I will not teach you the class.” He ended the spot with, “Once again, with no shame, I am Crockett Keller. Thank you, and God bless America.” Within a few days the ad went viral, hence the stampede of people calling me about it. But I, evidently, was idle compared

to Keller, who received calls from all over the country, one even from New York State. When the ad hit YouTube it came close to crashing servers, and several talk show hosts, including Michael Berry and Glenn Beck, interviewed Keller. Lauded by most, chastised by others, he refused to back down. Admittedly, Keller never expected anywhere near the kind of exposure he got from the ad. The radio station has a radius of only about fifty miles, and the liberal remarks were aimed mostly at Keller’s democrat friends, but, the age of communication being what it is, things got out of hand quickly. Keller was patted on the back and hailed as a hero, but he also found himself defending

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his beliefs, and his reasons for the semitongue-in-cheek exclusions. Although he has never, to date, actually refused to teach the CHL class to anyone, Keller’s reasons for singling out Obama voters might sound logical to those who oppose the president’s version of ‘hope and change.’ Keller explained to Beck that, “They (liberals) had over a year and a half to vet who they voted for president. Now how can I take ten hours and try to teach them a life and death decision in just a few seconds when they screwed it up after a year and a half?” Unfortunately for Keller, his license to teach the CHL class is issued by the Dept. of Public Safety, which proscribes him from discriminating on the basis of ‘race, ethnicity, or religion.’ As of this writing the DPS is investigating, and may revoke Keller’s license. Opinions on the subject are many and varied, as evidenced by the comments on numerous Internet stories about the saga. Some believe Keller has no business being in business. Others claim he has a right to voice his views under the First Amendment to the Constitution. All, it seems, are entertained. Keller remains adamant that he will not back down, because of the threat of terrorism, and his take is that licensing Muslims to carry guns is arming the enemy. Beck admonished him to judge individuals by character, but he was unmoved. One wonders, of course, what difference it might have made on September 11, 2001, if certain flight instructors had similarly refused to train certain student pilots on the basis of their race, ethnicity, or religion. It might have made no difference at all. Except to those particular flight instructors. One thing is sure. Whether you agree with Keller or not, he proved that a one minute ad on a tiny radio station in rural Texas can reach people all over America, and make them think. And thinking is a good thing, isn’t it? Email Kendal Hemphill at khemphill@fishgame.com

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12/1/11 5:52 PM

Texas Bowhunting by Lou Marullo | TF&G Title

Wind, Weather & Beyond

ny bow hunter worth his salt understands how important it is to respect the nose of that deer! A change in wind direction could ruin a hunt and ruin your day. Recently, I found a company that is the answer for any outdoor enthusiast. It does not matter if you are a hunter, fisherman, skier, or the type of person who just likes a good outdoor adventure. Before you spend any more time and money on your trip to the woods, check out ScoutLookweather.com. Cy Weichert, spokesperson and cofounder of the company along with Bill Little, spoke about his idea to his friend, Ron Brunozzi, who was so impressed that he immediately wanted to be included as a silent partner. Founded in December of 2009, ScoutLookweather.com was finally launched in November of 2010. Now you can see not only what the weather is doing in your hunting area, but also anywhere in the lower 48 states. Plans are being made to soon go International for those booking an African safari or a hunt in South America. So why is this so much different from any other weather forecast that you can find on many different websites? ScoutLook is the first and only site that offers a comprehensive look at the exact area you plan to be in. Other weather forecasts will give the general weather for a specific zip code, but ScoutLook gives you a detailed weather outlook for a specific location down to 3 square miles! How convenient is that? This writer thinks it is an invaluable tool for any outdoor person. That is just the beginning. They have a cool idea they call a Scent Cone. Once you

register on the site (at no cost to you), You can pinpoint all of your deer hunting stand locations and place an icon in the exact spot. Simply save it and ScoutLook does the rest. You can immediately see what the wind is doing at your stand site. If that isn’t cool enough, you can also check it to see if there are any changes up to 72 hours! It will tell you the wind direction and any other wind data that you may find useful. I can see myself checking what the wind will do once the sun comes up in my goose field. For example, if the wind is coming out of the north, but will change to west, then I can set my decoys right in the middle of that direction. It will work perfect for me until I limit out. Hey! This is not just for hunters. Oh no! As a matter of fact, Cy and company tried to consider what other outdoor enthusiasts would want and need. Once on the site, you will see five main categories including hunting, fishing, golf, skiing, and what they call outdoor adventure. Each category is equipped with sub-categories. For example, if you choose hunting, under the sub categories you will find turkey, waterfowl, elk, predators and of course whitetail deer. If you need to check out what the weather conditions are for skiing, ScoutLook has an impressive 577 different mountains to choose from! Needless to say, I was totally impressed with ScoutLook. Apparently, I am not the only one. There are a host of VIP’s of the outdoor world who were equally impressed. Suzy Whaley, the first woman golfer to play in a PGA event in 58 years, Tim Green, a college football Hall of Famer and author are two professionals that believe in this technology. Add three time Stanley Cup champion Scott Stevens to that list as well. Perhaps the most impressive VIP who uses ScoutLook on every hunt is television personality and professional hunter, Tom Miranda. Tom actually features ScoutLook on every episode! Check it out for yourself. Probably the coolest feature about this technology is that it is now available as an app for your Android phone or Iphone. T e x a S

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Imagine this… You are in the woods and suddenly you have found a nice primary scrape or you might locate a hidden food source in the middle of nowhere. Maybe you have stumbled upon an Elk wallow or just a well-used deer trail. You simply grab your phone and “pinpoint” it using their “ScoutMarx” function. Tap the phone and you can follow a blue dot that will bring you to that exact spot that you were trying to find. Think about how great that is! You could be following a blood trail that thins right out and decide to come back in the morning to continue your search. By using your phone, you can go to the same spot where you left off. Now, there will be some skeptics out there that will tell you a GPS unit will do the same thing. Let me ask you this question. Do you have enough gear to carry already? A phone is an essential piece of gear for obvious reasons, but now it can also serves as a GPS unit. Here is the real exciting part! Once you pinpoint these various locations on your Android phone or Iphone, It will automatically send that information to your PC or Mac computer back at your home. There you can take your time and review exactly what you have found and where it is in reference to any tree stands you already have. You may decide it is time to move a few stands around for a better location! In a nutshell, ScoutLookweather.com is another tool for the outdoors person. It is an invaluable tool that you need if you want to tip the scales in your favor to be successful in the bowhunting world. However, remember that this tool is not just for bowhunters. Golfers, hikers, campers and fishermen are all included as people that would enjoy having ScoutLook available to them. For more information, visit www. ScoutLookweather.com. Have fun and hunt safe out there.

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Email Lou Marullo at lmarullo@fishgame.com |

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texas fish & game composite; inset john n. Felsher

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BASS ANGLERS TRADITIONALLY double-team fish with one person casting from the bow and another from the stern. In general, the front angler gets the first shot at any likely bass cover, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the front-seater always gets the biggest or most fish. Frequently, the person in back, often called a coangler in tournament parlance, can capitalize on a few distinct advantages that position offers for any angler willing to try something new. “A co-angler has to be a lot more versatile than other fishermen,” explained Randy Sullivan, a tournament director for American Bass Anglers, which conducts two boater/co-angler format circuits in Texas. “Fishing from the back of the boat, they have to do something different than the person in front. They get the second shot at fish, while the boaters take the first shot. Co-anglers also have to look for water that hasn’t already been fished by the boater.”

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Hush, You’re Scaring the Fish! OLD TIME ANGLERS used to say, “Hush, you’re scaring the fish.” In fact, they were probably correct. Sound travels better in water than in air so fish depend upon sound, more specifically, sound vibrations, to hunt prey and hide from enemies. Among other things, fish use their “lateral lines” as a sort of sonar device to detect and identify sounds, but their entire bodies feel vibrations. Surrounded by a liquid “sound chamber,” fish stay far more attuned to sounds and vibrations than people because certain sounds literally mean life or death to fish. Some sounds stimulate fish to feed, the sounds of schooling shad for instance. Other sounds, especially any unnatural vibra-

tions, alert fish to potential danger. Sound also travels through boat hulls. If someone walks from bow to stern, the hull shakes and wobbles in even the most stable platforms. Those waves of vibrations radiate out from the boat in all directions. Bass can easily feel those sounds. Putting carpet over the deck reduces sounds while bare aluminum hulls notoriously blare noises, but all make some vibrations. All anglers should minimize the sounds they broadcast while fishing by limiting unnecessary movements and noises. A social event, fishing encourages conversation, but angling partners should talk in whispers. They should avoid banging things against the boat

sides, decks or bottoms. When opening ice chests, tackle boxes or similar objects, they should avoid dropping things on the deck. They should avoid blasting radios and keep clutter in the boat to a minimum to avoid accidentally bumping objects. Probably nothing, except outboard motors, makes more frightening noises to fish than trolling motors. Often indispensable for maneuvering boats, these devices trumpet vibrations into the water through whirling propellers. Whenever possible, drift with winds or currents and only use trolling motors sparingly to minimize noise.

In the biggest advantage for any backseater, the front-seater controls the boat position and direction. This may not seem like an advantage, but on a windy day or when fishing swift current, the front-seater might spend most of the day just keeping the boat in position instead of casting. Free from that worry, the back-seater can concentrate on fishing, keeping the bait in the water longer. “People in the front usually have albatrosses around their necks called trolling motors,” said Ron Castille, a bass tournament promoter and professional fisherman. “Many people who never fish in the front of a boat don’t appreciate all the work that goes into operating the trolling motor and keeping the boat in position, especially on a windy day.” Although anglers controlling the boat generally get the first crack at bass, they don’t always get the best or most shots at fish. Usually, the front-seater throws ahead and retrieves toward the boat, but bass hiding on the backside of cover may never see that lure. On the other hand, a back-seater can make repeated casts at cover from multiple directions without disturbing the front-seater. In another advantage, back-seaters can

easily observe how the front-seater fishes while front-seaters largely remain oblivious to anything occurring behind them. An astute back-seater can watch where and how the front-seater places the bait and notice how fish respond. Even if the front-seater picks the perfect lure, color and presentation, a back-seater can still do something somewhat

angler is doing,” said Barry Baldwin, a tournament competitor who often fishes from the back deck. “I usually throw a different color or switch to a different tactic altogether. I fan-cast around the boat, trying to target fish the front-seater is not keying on.” Frequently, fish strike at and miss baits or disrupt the water as baits pass through their

different, perhaps tossing a slightly different color or size bait. Sometimes, using the exact same lure, but hitting cover from another angle might prove highly effective. “I always keep an eye on what the front

area. An observant back-seater can quickly toss a lure to the spot where a fish appeared before the front-seater can retrieve the lure to make a second cast. In addition, a backseater fishing an entirely different bait will

—John N. Felsher

Back in Action

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Let Me Cast, Please! A GOOD PARTNER can make even a day when fish refuse all offerings a pleasurable experience, but a bad partner can make even a day when fish bite anything a miserable experience. Although a front-seater controls the boat and generally dictates how a fishing trip goes, both partners share responsibility for making the experience rewarding. A front-seater must allow the back-seater an opportunity to fish. The back-seater must help get the boat ready when time comes to leave and help keep clutter under control. Long ago, I fished a local bass tournament as a back-seater. My partner and I ventured way back into a Louisiana swamp to his prized honeyhole. Under

the best conditions, the area didn’t offer much room to fish. My partner made it worse. He wedged his boat between two trees in a narrow channel that opened to a beaver pond. Briers covered the stern, making casting by more than one person virtually impossible. Certain that his hole contained the tournament lunker, my partner repeatedly threw into that hole for more than two hours -- without getting a strike, I might add. I could not cast once. I could not even sit in the seat because of the overhanging briers ripping my clothes and skin. Therefore, in the warm spring sunshine, I curled up as tight as possible and took a nap in the bottom of the boat. That didn’t sit well with my partner

more likely entice a second strike. “It’s very difficult not to throw the same bait back into a hole where a fish struck, but bass very seldom hit the same lure twice,” explained Peter Thliveros, a professional bass angler. “I’ll drop what I’m throwing and pick up something different every time. One of my favorite ‘second chance’ baits

tantalizing fish. They may entice a reaction bite even from non-aggressive bass. Jerkbaits, Texas-rigged worms and jigs also make outstanding second-chance baits. In addition, anglers may target several bass in the same hole. What attracts one bass to a spot usually attracts others. If the back-seater doesn’t entice the first fish to strike again, perhaps another one will. “Bass are social creatures,” recalled bass pro Kenyon Hill. “I’ve been with biologists on shocking boats and we’ve never shocked up an individual bass. If one bass likes an LEFT: Vicki Holmes fights a big one she caught from the back of the boat. CENTER: Debra Hengst, a professional bass angler from San Antonio, lands a bass that struck a Strike King Pure Poison swimming jig, on the back deck. RIGHT: Mark Menendez, a professional bass angler from Kentucky, lands a bass fishing off the stern.

is a fluke. A fluke is a very natural, subtle presentation.” Soft and lifelike, flukes, senkos, wacky worms and similar slow-sinking soft plastic temptations stay in the strike zone longer

area, there are usually more bass in that area. The hardest part of catching bass is finding them. If we find where one bites, follow up with another lure or come back to that spot later.” Whenever possible, though, back-seat anglers should always try to fish “new” water. Even if working the same cover, watch where front-seaters throw their baits and pick slightly different spots. Hit the T e x a S

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who scolded me about the importance of winning the tournament and taking home that $5 trophy. I responded harshly with what I thought of this arrangement and never spoke to that individual again. Intense competition spawns intense feelings. However, I still frequently fish in the back seat. With a considerate partner, I thoroughly enjoy it because, that’s often where the action is! —John N. Felsher

cover from diverse angles or with different types of lures. If fishing a narrow canal or stream, throw to the opposite bank or fish the middle. Frequently, the best water sits under or behind the anglers. Moving forward, the front-seater can only fish a spot for so long before the boat moves out of position. However, a back-seater can drag something behind the boat all day without affecting the front-seater’s fishing. Dragging a Carolinaor Texas-rigged worm, lizard, fluke, craw or creature could put more fish in the back of the boat. Backseat anglers can even cast one lure and secure a second rod tipped with a different bait for dragging behind the boat. Fishing in deep water makes it easier on back-seaters. Quite often, deep fish congregate in bigger numbers in smaller areas. If vertically jigging over a ledge, brush pile, hole or other structure, the back of the boat could just as likely sit over the best spot as the front. Both the front-seater’s lure and the back-seater’s lure might bounce bottom next to each other, producing occasional “doubles.” Free from worrying about proper boat placement, a back-seater can usually put more thought into proper lure selection, placement and presentation. Sometimes, they must put more thought into fishing just to keep up with the front-seaters, but that all adds to the challenge and enjoyment of fishing Texas waters.

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TF&G Blogger and Zavala, Texas Native

Dustin Ellermann Tells How He Beat 15 Highly Trained Professional Shooters to Win Season 3 of the History Channel’s TOP SHOT Series

by chester moore T e x a S

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LAST FALL AN inspirational figure emerged on television. His name is Dustin Ellermann. The viewing public met him via the super popular History series “Top Shot,” a unique competition pitting a variety of shooting talents together to vie for $100,000 and the coveted series namesake title. From the moment his promo reel aired at History.com, viewers around the country lit up social media networks with declarations of support for the young man with virtually no formal training who beat out tens of thousands of other hopefuls for a chance to compete. And then he won. Yes, Dustin Ellermann, a blogger at fishgame.com since last August is the champion of “Top Shot” Season 3 and is currently the talk of the shooting industry. “It’s still sort of surreal. The series was shot a few months before the series started airing so by the time the final episode aired, it was not new to me anymore. We had to keep things quiet and go on with our lives,” Ellermann said. “However, once the public gave me such an amazing response of support an adulation all of those positive feelings came back like a flood. I am certainly very blessed to have

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been part of such a thing, much less to have won it.” He was pitted against 15 other contestants including a national revolver champion, two homeland security agents, a former Navy SEAL, two cops, a nurse and several firearms instructors. The 28-year-old Ellermann lives in Chester Moore spent a recent morning interviewing Dustin at his Christian youth retreat, Camp His Way, in Zavala. The video interviews appear at www.FishGame.com. ABOVE: Chester and Dustin talk shooting. BELOW LEFT: Dustin demonstrates the “golf ball” shot that amazed everyone on “Top Shot.” BELOW RIGHT: Dustin shows how a suppressor works.

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Zavalla and is the director of Camp His Way, a Christian children’s camp that has upwards of 2,000 Texas kids attend during summer. “Nobody saw the camp counselor coming and you know in a way you can’t blame them. No one really expects someone who has only had very minimal training to out last all of these incredible marksmen but somehow I did it,” he said. During the course of Season 3, the shooters had to display mastery of weapons from all eras of human history, from primitive rocks to sophisticated firearms. In addition, they had to endure grueling physical tests to stay in the game. High-speed, high-definition cameras captured the skillful execution of each test in extreme slow motion. Ellermann, a fan of the show, said he knew going in that practicing for any particular challenge would be impossible because every season things are different. “It’s a matter of being proficient with firearms and being able to make quick decisions with confidence or you will not make it very far into competition. Anyone who has seen ‘Top Shot’ knows it is not easy and I was

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very well aware of that going in,” he said. His approach for each challenge was to go in with an attitude that he was blessed to get to partake in each challenge and to have fun. “I would have paid to get to shoot a lot of these guns and do these things so I went in with the attitude of doing my best, focusing and living in the moment. That took some pressure off and definitely reduced some stress,” Ellermann said. The season’s most talked about episode was involved the “Wheel of Fire”, a spinning device that had them turning 360 degrees. “That one threw everyone a bit but I did pretty good,” he said. Pretty good is an understatement. He shot 12 of the targets in a row, in what appeared to be an almost effortless display of shooting. Although the season had its most of tense drama with certain competitors causing problems, Ellermann assures us it was not a reality show of the MTV variety. “It’s a program that is not so much a reality show but a true, very challenging competition. And the reason I applied was basically that it seemed like Disneyland with guns, which is of course right up my alley. Besides getting to “play with other people’s cool guns,” as he says, Ellermann’s biggest thrill was getting to show people that Christians can have fun and that firearms can be a positive thing. “Some people get the idea Christians can’t have a good time but anyone who is into shooting or hunting usually has a passion for it and I am one of many believers who pursue those things. I was just blessed to get an opportunity to live a dream like taking part in this amazing show,” he said. Ellermann is creating some shooting camps to teach youngsters firearms proficiency and safety. “We like to have a lot of fun around here

so it would be an exciting setting but we also know anything related to guns is very serious so we want to really focus on safety and ethics as well,” he said. The shooting camp brings him back to his roots when shooting was just a fun hobby that always allowed him to challenge himself and have fun. “Not all kids out there are good at sports like football or baseball or volleyball but you take some of those same kids and they can excel at something like shooting. It’s a great

way to learn goal setting, patience and focus and it is super fun.” There is something highly motivating about seeing someone, like Ellermann, who essentially has the odds stacked against him do their best, no matter the outcome. People can still rise to the best of their abilities and passions and accomplish great things, no matter if they are rich, poor or in between in this country. Dustin Ellermann is a shining example of that.

On the Web Check out Dustin and his shooting camps at: www.TopShotDustin.com See Dustin’s blog, plus his video interviews, shooting demos and tips at: www.FishGame.com T e x a S

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The First Installment of Our Year-Long Series on the Laws and Regulations that Rule Your Fishing, Hunting and Boating in Texas BY LENNY RUDOW 30 |

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Whether you believe man morphed from the monkeys or the Creator laid out the geological record as a test, one form of evolution is not debatable: the evolution of laws. We make them, we tweak them, and we add to themâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;sometimes, to the point of absurdity. Then, we usually make some more. This is true of criminal law, civil law, marital law, and yes, even of boatT e x a S

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ing law. Purges of outdated and ridiculous rules are few and far between, and there are plenty of boating laws most of us have never even heard about before. Which new ones have you overlooked? Why do these laws exist? And how does Texas rank in boating law reasonableness? Good questions, all. Let’s answer them.

THE NEW Several state-wide boating laws have been changed or added in the past year, and mostly for good reasons. The one that’s received the most publicity is known as the “Britteny Lindt” law. This new reg bans boaters from circling a person who is swimming, skiing, or engaged in a similar activity, excluding those who are retrieving a downed water-skier. This law seems a bit superfluous—common sense would tell you not to run in circles around a person in the water—but was developed after Britteny Lindt was killed by a (allegedly intoxicated) boater who circled and then struck her on Lake Lewisville, in August of 2006. The law adds to a prosecutor’s quiver if someone pulls such a disastrous, stupid stunt again in the future, and since it doesn’t place any additional burdens on boaters, we say no harm no foul. One new law which could add to your on-the-water responsibility, however, is a requirement for everyone born on or after September 1, 1993, to complete a boater safety course before operating motorboats and personal watercraft with 15 or more horsepower, without adult supervision. Previously, only those age 13 to 15 had to 32 |

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enroll in the course before going boating on their own. When one considers how clogged many waterways have become in this day and age, clearly, this is another regulation that makes sense. And, it’s worth noting, most states have similar laws on the books. The third major change in Texas boating law also targets the younger boaters among us. It requires all people under 13 to wear a life jacket, even on kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats. Past law already required life jacket use on powerboats under 26’, but didn’t specify that people on non-motorized boats were covered, as well. Again, this new tweak in an existing law is hard to argue with, particularly when one considers the improved comfort of modern PFD’s (personal floatation devices). So all of the newest Texas boating laws get a thumbs-up, right? Sure. But don’t think for one moment that this means you can stop paying attention. Legal “creep” is a perpetual problem in our society, and requiring people of one age to do something (such as wear a life jacket) is all too often followed up by extending the age group, or expanding the applicability. Five years from now will some legislative landlubber decide that Texas boater of all ages should be required to wear a life jacket? It’s a distinct possibility—this idea has been floated more than once on a national level—which we need to remain on guard for.

THE OLD Most of the boating laws which we all have to deal with on a daily basis have been on the books for years, and follow the general outline of USCG (United States Coast Guard) regulations. That’s a good thing, since USCG regs apply on all navigable waterways anyway, and having two different sets of laws would be more confusing than helpful. Take general life jacket requirements, for example. Texas law states that you must have a wearable PFD (Type I, II, or III) for everyone aboard, and you must also have a throw-able type IV on boats 16’ and over—which is identical to the USCG regulations. But there is one major exception to following USCG standards: BWI (boat-

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ing while intoxicated) laws. States regulate BWI individually, and it’s important to know that in the state of Texas, a blood alcohol level of .08 will get you into trouble, big-time. Open container laws don’t apply on boats, but violations on the water do apply to your ability to drive on the road; your driver’s license will be automatically suspended for 180 days if you’re arrested for BWI and the boat you’re operating has 50 or more horsepower, or if you refuse to provide breath or blood to determine your intoxication level. Additionally, it’s illegal to become intoxicated in public, and virtually everywhere we boat is considered to be in public. The state of Texas, of course, is a very big place with many additional regulatory bodies. We have over 5,000 square miles of inland freshwater waterways, and over 3,000 miles of tidal shoreline. So it should come as no surprise that many of these waters have area-specific regulations of their own. Let’s say, for example, you plan to spend a day on Possum Kingdom Lake. This body of water falls under the authority of the Brazos River Authority, which enforces its own regulations in addition to those of the state and the USCG. Or, what about Lake Austin? That falls under the Lower Colorado River Authority. Lake Houston? Now the Coastal Water Authority gets involved. In reality, TPWD officers, USCG personnel, and all of these other authorities are generally far more concerned with safety and reasonable enforcement than they are with adhering to each and every little letter of the law. Are you going to get a ticket for violating some minor regulation, if you do so by accident? Not likely, unless you give an officer some motivation to look for a reason to ticket you. But occasionally, you will run into that authority figure who just plain enjoys whipping out his ticket book. And you still need to be aware of regulations like these so you can do your best to act responsibly, no matter where you run your boat. Unfortunately, there are far too many regulatory authorities and far too many individual regulations to list them all here. So, how are you supposed to know about each and every little nuance in the law, in each and every different place you go boating?

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The TPWD offers an extremely helpful listing of their own regulations (as well as boat licensing and fee requirements) on their web site, at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/. From the same page, you can also find out what different organizations enforce regulations on specific bodies of water, use links to navigate to their external web sites, and see the listing of their additional regulations. Check it out, before you head to an unfamiliar launch ramp on a new body of water.

THE UGLY No matter how well-intentioned lawmakers may be—and considering that lawmakers are generally politicians we will question their intentions, thank you very much— they’re bound to develop some laws with some wordings that are less than fair to boaters. Did you think, for example, you could be in legal trouble if you accidentally ran aground? It’s a distinct possibility, if you do so in the Redfish Bay State Scientific Area outside near Aransas Pass. In 2006, a new law was passed stating that “no person shall

cause or allow any rooted seagrass plant to be uprooted or dug out from the bay bottom by a submerged propeller” in the Scientific Area, which covers over 50 square miles of prime fishing turf. The concept behind the law—protecting sea grasses—is understandable, laudable, and would surely garner the support of any dedicated coastal angler. But it also has to potential to create countless inadvertent violations. If you fish the shallows for reds and specks, have you ever run aground by accident? Yeah, we thought so. Now let’s return to the example of Possum Kingdom Lake. One of the Brazos regulations says that watercraft operating within 50 feet of the shoreline, a boathouse, dock, other lakeshore facility, or an occupied watercraft (among other things), shall be operated at a slow no-wake speed. The intent of the law is again obvious and laudable, but the way it’s written, if you cut around a deserted point of land while running at 20-mph and you come within 49 feet of the shoreline, you’re in violation. Or if you’re going one way down the middle of the lake and another boat’s going in the opposite direction, if you were to pass within 50 feet

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of each other, you’d both have to slow to a crawl to comply. Some laws that weren’t even written for boaters may also impinge on your ability to do as you see fit. Texas gun carry laws are the most obvious example; state regulations allowing a person to carry a handgun in their vehicle don’t extend to any other types of transportation. And according to Texas CHL (concealed handgun license) boats are specifically not included, unless they have a cabin designed for overnight stays and there is an intent to stay overnight, in which case it may be covered under the rules of a residence. Again, we should all recognize that generally speaking, boating laws are made for a reason and those charged with enforcing the laws are usually concerned with safety and maintaining the peace, not with making frivolous charges. Still, that said, considering the regulatory web we weave, it’s important to keep abreast of these laws, do your best to comply with them, and when necessary, pressure politicians for change—don’t trust evolution to do the job for you.

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Texas Department of Defense Types of Trigger Actions

he trigger is the mechanical device that makes a weapon fire. That is simple. To put it even more simplistically, as I heard an old Border Patrol instructor tell a not-so-firearms-bright trainee, “You hold the wooden part, point the end with the hole in it at the target, and pull the little metal dingus hanging out the bottom.” Today there often is not a “wooden part,” and the trigger may not be a “metal dingus”; however the concept is still valid. In revolvers there are, speaking practically, only two types of trigger mechanisms, trigger cocking (double-action DA), and thumb cocking (single-action SA). In semiautos, which are the most prevalent type of self-defense handgun on the modern

markets, there are several different types of triggers, and it is admittedly more difficult for the neophyte handgunner to determine which is best for his or her needs. Semi-auto handgun triggers can be lumped into four basic categories – singleaction, such as the trigger of the 1911 Colt; safe-action, as in the Glocks; double/single, as in the various 1st generation Smith & Wessons and many others; and doubleaction only, as in the Beretta that was Border Patrol issue, and the Heckler and Koch, which is current BP issue. We will now take a look at each of these and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. The Colt-type single-action trigger is generally accepted as the one that allows the most pure accuracy. It can be adjusted to light pull-weights with no creep or movement before the trigger sear lets go and the gun fires. That is the advantage if all you are looking for is accuracy, but can be a handicap in regards to safety. The disadvantage, if you want to call it that, is that it requires a safety to be safe. The Colt 1911 and copies thereof generally

| Self Defense | | Concealed Carry | | Tactical | by Steve LaMascus use two safeties; one is a thumb safety, the other is on the rear of the grip, called a grip safety, and is depressed by the web or palm of the hand. In the ready-to-use condition the gun is carried in a fully cocked condition with the thumb safety engaged. This is called cocked and locked, and while it looks dangerous as all get out, it really is a safe way to carry the old 1911, and is safer than carrying a round in the chamber and the hammer at half-cock. With practice these safeties can be released automatically as the gun is drawn, with little or no loss of speed. Many of the S.W.A.T. teams and Special Forces units use this type of gun. The Texas Rangers have used the Colt 1911 as the unofficial official sidearm for most of a hundred years now, and some more progressive police departments are either issuing the 1911 or allowing their officers to use personally owned guns. My daily carry guns are either a Colt Lightweight Commander or a Kimber Pro Carry II, both in.45 ACP. Is the single-action 1911 the best gun to carry for self-defense? That is for you to decide.

New 1911 Model Handguns THE JOHN BROWNING designed Model 1911 .45 ACP handgun turned 100 years old this last year, and is still one of the most popular handgun designs on the market. The extreme popularity of the 1911-type handguns is demonstrated by the number of firearms manufacturers who have recently brought out their own 1911s. Continued on page 36 u 34 |

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PhotO: G Sagi, canstock

The first design that I am aware of that stepped away from the Browning design of the single-action semi-auto, was the single/ double. This type of gun is carried with

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a round in the chamber and the hammer down, and requires that the first shot be fired by a long, hard, double-action pull of the trigger, but every shot after that first one

is a light single-action pull. This was a huge leap forward in handgun design because it allowed the gun to be carried fully loaded, with a round in the chamber, but with the hammer down and the safety disengaged. All that was required then was that the gun be drawn and the trigger pulled. The Walther PPK series were the first handguns to use this design, and the Walther P-38 was the first locked breech pistol to do so. Smith & Wesson was the first American firearms company that I know of to employ this type of trigger mechanism. The disadvantage of this design was the difficulty some shooters had, and have, transitioning from the long double-action pull of the first round to the light single-action pull of the others. I was one of those who struggled to shoot this type of action well, so I generally carried something else. In 1982, an Austrian engineer and expert in advanced synthetic polymers, Gaston Glock, assisted by several firearms design engineers, developed a handgun and entered it in the military trials to find a new service weapon for the Austrian military.

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Texas Department of Defense

t Continued from page 34 Browning has just introduced a reduced size (not a conversion kit, but a completely redesigned handgun) 1911 in .22 Long Rifle, the first such gun that I am aware of. Watch my “Texas Guns” column for a test report. Ruger too just introduced a 1911, and Smith & Wesson brought theirs out just a few short years ago. Kimber is renowned for their high quality 1911s and there are many more. Some of the better known are Taurus, Springfield, Colt, Dan Wesson, and Armscor, but there seems to be a new model on the market almost every week. By and large there is little or no difference in the design of any of these guns. In many instances the parts will interchange. However, the difference in quality is another matter. 36 |

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there are no safeties to engage or disengage and the trigger is the same each time. There is no simpler, safer design available and it takes real effort to effect an accidental dis-

“ The Glock was a sudden and immediate success.

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The result was the Glock 17, the Glock Safe Action Pistol. This gun, which has now been widely copied by other companies around the world, did not have a manual safety, but instead had a little doohickey on the trigger that prevented the weapon from being fired without the trigger being pulled. The Glock also had a polymer (plastic) frame, which reduced weight. In addition, it held 17 rounds in the double-stack magazine – thus the “17” in Glock 17. The Glock was a sudden and immediate success and before long it was being used by, well, by a whole lot of folks. I was one of them. I bought one of the original Glock 17s and carried it for several years in my duties as a U.S. Border Patrol agent. There are many of the original Glock 9mm handguns that have now had more than a quarter of a million rounds fired through them. If that isn’t dependability then I have never heard of it. The trigger takes a bit of getting used to, but can be fired very accurately. It feels like a cross between a double-action and a single-action. The double-action only design is the safest of the trigger designs. The reason the Border Patrol has mandated that its official issue handguns be double-action only is that

charge with this trigger design. The downside is that it is more difficult for most shooters to learn to shoot well; it is not as effective for shooters with small hands; only a few very highly trained and skilled shooters can shoot the DA only handgun as well as a single-action or single/double. If safety is your primary concern, do as the Border Patrol did and choose a DA only handgun. It will not be as precise as a SA only, but it is safer, no question about Price is also another matter entirely. The retail price of the standard guns can vary by as much as a thousand dollars. The more pedestrian of the pack, those that follow the basic design of the military 1911A1 with no modifications, like the Springfield Armory GI 45, will run from around $500 to $750. If you want a custom gun with all the bells and whistles you might pay more than $3000. Kimber became famous for providing a high quality gun, of the quality of some of the custom guns, but for a price that compared favorably with the standard models of Colt. Before long Kimber was selling 1911s like IHOP sells pancakes. That began, I believe, the 191l rush that is still going on. If you are new to the 1911, I strongly suggest you stay away from the custom guns. They are really great, but do not provide much bang for the beginners

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it, and it can be shot very well with practice. If pure accuracy is your goal, go with the SA only handgun like a custom Kimber, Smith & Wesson, Colt, or other target model 1911. If you want a combination of safety and accuracy on a gun that you will carry some and shoot targets with on occasion, you may want to go with one of the SA/DA models which can be thumb cocked for accuracy and carried hammer down for safety. And last, but definitely not least, if you wear a uniform and holster every day, you may want to consider one of the Glock Safe Actions or one of its clones. These guns are safest when carried in a standard police-type holster, offer superb accuracy, and have the advantage of extremely high capacity magazines. Or, you may decide on any of the other types, any of which can be shot with quite good accuracy after sufficient practice. As always we try to present the facts and let you make the final decision. If you have questions on specific models feel free to contact me at slamascus@fishgame.com.

buck. In fact, I don’t think they are necessary for anyone who does not intend to compete in the upper level of the various shooting sports where the 1911 is king. I have been very happy for many years, and have even won a few trophies, with standard quality 1911s. As I have said before, my daily carry guns are a Colt Lightweight Commander and a Kimber Custom Pro Carry II, both in .45 ACP. Both of these guns are the standard grade and are all I need or desire. All the major manufacturers offer such guns. —Steve LaMascus

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Hunt Texas by Bob Hood | TF&G Hunting Editor

Scenes from the Season

he drought took its toll on antler growth among whitetail deer this past season but it didn’t put a dent in the animals’ rutting and breeding activity, at least not in Lampasas County where I spend much of my time once the archeryonly and general firearms season open. One of the best things about the closing of any deer hunting season is recalling the events of the opener. And, if you are serious enough about it to take a camera along you can accumulate an album of photographs of the deer and other animals you saw while looking for that buck or doe you wanted to shoot. When the archery-only season’s curtain was about to fall last Nov. 4, bucks and does were hitting the feeders as heavily as I ever have been them. The drought that all but negated acorn production and resulted in a lack of moisture in vegetation, dried up stock tanks and other shallow-water sources and left many pastures baron of natural food sources put the deer on a road to stress but it didn’t turn them away from feeders in Lampasas County. When the general firearms season opened the day after the archery-only season closed, I spent more time hunting from an area where I could have a wide view rather than hunting extremely tight with a 30 to 40-yard or so perimeter with my crossbow as I prefer with that weapon. Just after daybreak on opening morning, I watched four different bucks work the same scrape about 50 yards from where I had taken up a stand. Two were nice eightpointers, the others a fork-horn and a spike. Each worked the scrape individually over the course of about an hour, pawing, mouthing

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A spike buck goes head-to-head with a six-pointer in Lampasas County.

the limbs of a mesquite above the scrape and urinating in it. Two of the bucks later returned and worked a second scrape about 25 yards from the first one. Because the scrapes were on the opposite side of the trees from where I had a view, I only got “marginal” photos of them but at least the photos were something to look back at as the season progressed. Deer behavior is, indeed, interesting to watch. Although I had seen many of it in the past, from bucks working scrapes, fighting one another, does and bucks raring up on their hind feet in “boxer” style to show their dominance, or stomp and short at the slightest scent of a hunter, this year’s opening weeks were especially full of those escapades. During the second week of the season, a six-pointer and spike pushed and shoved each other for more than 25 minutes near one of my blinds. The six-pointer clearly had the upper hand and shoved the little spike in a semi-circle for about 70 yards around the blind, but the little spike never hesitated to resume the skirmish in between occasional pauses in the action. Someone might question what’s the big deal about watching two small bucks sparing, or maybe seeing several bucks working the same scrape but it is a big deal with me. After all, hunting isn’t only about shootT e x a S

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ing an animal. It is about learning their characteristics, habits and tactics they use to survive, and how they associate with one another. And it is the same with hunting for ducks, geese, turkeys, predators, exotic animals, feral hogs, elk and any other species of animal that attracts hunters to the woods, fields, rivers and lakes. Many of the sights and scenes we see while hunting today can be captured on cell phone cameras which 90-plus hunters no doubt have with them every time they go hunting, but those cameras are almost useless when you want to take a photograph at distances further than a few arm’s length. No, you don’t need an expensive camera to take good photos, but satisfy your needs with anything above the above and you will not regret it. After all, recording the sights and scenes of our trips hunting, fishing, camping and enjoying other outdoors experiences are not shortened by memories alone but are extremely enhanced by just a little effort with the push of a camera’s shutter button. Teach a young hunter or novice this and you will teach them ways to fully enjoy their hunting experiences.

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TRUE GREEN (106,000) and tax revenue generated ($1.3 billion) by outdoor recreation in the state. In late September storage levels in the Highland Lakes (Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis), dropped to about 780,000 acre feet, less than 40% of the available capacity. At that time, the LCRA gave notice that conditions had deteriorated to the point that even the rice farmers would get pinched in spring 2012, and requested approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to deviate from an established drought management plan to an emergency plan that would reduce or eliminate the availability of water to rice farmers unless conditions improved significantly by March 2012.

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As historic drought conditions continue to plague Texas, river authorities throughout the state are struggling to balance the limited supply of water with the needs of various user groups, including agricultural, municipal, industrial, and wildlife management interests. Not an enviable task, as the hot, dry Texas summer continued on through September and into October, tensions also heated up among the many user groups. The Texas mid-coast rice production area lying in Colorado, Wharton, and Matagorda Counties and serviced by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has been extremely hard hit by the drought. Many hunters and outfitters rely on canal water to service their waterfowl management habitats. In late August, the LCRA announced that they would not be 38 |

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able to provide “supplemental” water to flood waterfowl management units. Ducks Unlimited is working to make certain that LCRA is aware that this decision has far greater impact than what may be seen on the surface. It is not simply a matter of local waterfowlers not having a place to hunt, though that, too, is a very important aspect of this drought crisis. The larger critical aspect is that in past winters nearly two million waterfowl and millions of other migratory birds and wildlife depended on managed wetlands in the Texas Mid-Coast region for habitat and food resources. This abundant wildlife produces significant economic benefits by bringing in hunters, anglers and bird watchers who spend money on equipment, lodging and food. In fact, according to a 2007 report, Texas leads the pack nationally with the most hunters and anglers (2.6 million), the most money spent ($6.6 billion) by sportsmen and women, and the most jobs supported

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Waterfowl without Water: Drought Damage Control

River authorities are struggling to balance limited suppy with the needs of user groups.

The LCRA provides water for about 60,000 acres of rice, approximately onethird of the entire Texas acreage. The loss of rice would be a substantial economic blow to the many farmers, communities, and service industries that have a nearly 100-year history with rice agriculture. With the widespread loss of freshwater prairie wetlands and coastal marshes, flooded rice fields provide critical resting and feeding habitat for waterfowl along the Gulf Coast. Of the two million waterfowl that may winter in the region annually, fully 75% of dabbling ducks and 90% of the geese wintering in the region depend on rice agricultural habitats. The loss of that habitat would impact waterfowl abundance and distribution along the Texas coast and likely impact their ability to return to northPhoto: ©Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.

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ern breeding grounds in a condition for optimum reproduction and survival. DU staff and volunteers have met with LCRA

The current drought in Texas has been brought on by one of the driest 12-month periods on record, but it’s still The Brazos River ran dry in overshadowed by the multiKnox County last summer. year drought that hit Texas in the mid-1950s. Since that time, however, the state population has increased from 8 million to over 25 million, with a majority of that population growth occurring in the Highland Lakes service area. The Texas population is expected to increase to 50 million people by 2050, making planning and providing for the availability of water the dominant issue facing Texas. Hard decisions have already been made, and more difficult ones are likely to come. It is vital that decision makers realize the farreaching impacts of water restrictions on agriculture, waterfowl and other wildlife, and DU is working to ensure that rice production and wildlife habitat interests are fully understood. to discuss the situation and to seek long—Staff Report «TG term solutions, none of which will come quickly or cheaply.

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12/2/11 4:20 PM

THE WHOLE THING IS PRETTY SIMPLE, really, after you finally identify the fish. In Texas they’re known as white bass, sand bass, barfish, silver bass, or sandies. Finding them during the spawn depends on the water. I know, that sounds like a ridiculous statement when we’re talking about fish. They need water, of course. But here, we’re talking about the volume of water. You can catch white bass from lakes year round, just watch the open reservoir and back of coves for circling birds diving for fish. They’re feeding on injured bait fish driven to the surface by hungry schools of sand bass. But the time to make hay is during the early spring white bass spawning run, and it can be as exciting as a Friday night high school football game. By early spring, I mean early, like maybe February in some portions of the state, when the action cranks up as the water temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees. Get your meteorologist involved, this year especially. You’ll also need to watch the barometric pressure. Dry weather, low lake levels and above-average temperatures are predicted for this winter. This will impact where you’ll find spawning fish. Last year, while on an outing with Professional Fishing Guide Carey Thorn, (469-528-0210 or thorn_alex@yahoo.com) I had my eyes opened with his assessment of barometric pressure and fish. “Fish really like falling barometers. That’s when they bite the best. I learned a lot about that by watching my pet crappie.” I couldn’t resist being drawn into the conversation. “You’re telling me you kept a crappie for a pet?” “Sure.” “Did you name it?” “Yep. Livingston. I had a five hundred gallon tank in my living room and he lived in there with some other fish. Five hundred gallons is pretty large for just one crappie.” “Of course.” “I learned to tell when the barometer was rising, by looking at him, because that’s when he leaned over with his head against the glass. I couldn’t get him to eat anything. Sometimes he just floated on his side, listless. I thought he was dead a couple of times, and then when the glass started to drop, he’d come back to his old self.” Carey is right, ask any angler and he’ll tell you the fish will get lockjaw during atmospheric changes, however, for every person

who says they bite best on a rising barometer, another will vote for falling pressure. An examination of sand bass behavior shows the spawn relies on moving water in the spring when they travel from deep wintering holes toward rivers and creeks. Following a rain, in a season when lake levels are average, white bass move into the upper reaches of larger rivers, nosing into creeks by the thousands. They continue upstream as long as they can feel the current. Alert anglers should plan trips within 48 hours of rainfall to intercept migrating fish. In drier years, water levels are lower. Smaller tributaries dry up or become so low and sluggish that the fish can’t feel moving water, so they remain in the larger streams that provide the only detectable current. As the current subsides even further, the fish move downstream. They won’t stay there if it rains. Once the flow begins, the sandies point their noses upstream once again. Some folks might call white bass picky during the spawn. Besides a current, however sluggish it may be, they prefer water with good visibility. Anglers can find them stacked up like sardines when muddy water begins to clear, often in 2 or 3 feet of water. Don’t get too carried away though, the minimum limit for sand bass is ten inches with a daily bag limit of 25. Boats aren’t necessary and can sometimes be a hindrance. Because of the predisposition of white bass to move steadily upstream, anyone with a good pair of legs can walk a brushy creek, casting a variety of baits with a slow, steady presentation. Once a fish is located, it’s a good bet there are many others in the same place.

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An effective method for boaters is a slow troll through the open creeks or channels until hookup. Then work the water keeping in mind that the trolling motor sometimes scatters the baitfish, causing a brief feeding frenzy. Once the bite dies off, repeat the procedure. If, as predicted, lake levels remain disappointingly low, the sandies won’t have enough water to migrate upstream in search of rocky or gravel bottoms. If this scenario occurs, they’ll spawn over windswept points where the wave action satisfies their need for flowing water. Again, look for sand, gravel, or a rocky bottom, all prime sand bass spawning areas. Jigs, soft plastic minnow imitations, inline spinners, Road Runners, all in the 1/8 oz. range work well. Rat-L-Traps, and similar baits can be upsized to ¼ oz. As usual, for traditionalists, good old live minnows produce once the water reaches optimum temperature. Two to eight pound test line is all you need, and when the water is exceptionally clear, the smaller line is less visible to the feeding fish. These fish are spawning, and though they’ll sometimes slam an aggressive retrieve, your best technique is to move the bait slowly, bumping lightly off the bottom. Cast, let the lure fall to the bottom, then retrieve by raising the rod tip a time or two, and reel as the bait falls. Jiggle the rod tip and wait for the strike. Don’t forget the flyrod, if you have one. A 4 wt or 5 wt works great for these aggressive fish. Floating line stays on the surface so the leader can drop into the strike zone with minimal detection. Of course, as any fly flicker can tell you, the Fuzzy on the end is a personal choice, but “them that know” tell me a clouser or minnow imitation, with sparkle and red work best when stripped and similarly bounced slowly along the bottom during the spring run. Finally, when you’re cleaning all 25 fish, remember to remove the dark red stripe along the back for better flavor. Have fun on the spring run.

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12/2/11 4:22 PM

DURING THE DEAD OF WINTER, when Jack Frost drives water temperatures into the 40s and 50s, broad shouldered creatures to shock the imagination go on the prowl on lakes across Texas. Weighing upwards of 50 pounds, these piscatorial titans of the deep beckon guys like Chad Ferguson and Dan Sestak to bundle up and put their catfishing goggles on while others stay behind closed doors next to a crackling fire. Ferguson is a Ft. Worth fishing guide who has been rod and reeling and making jug line sets for big catfish for most of his life. He spends a high percentage of his time on lakes Lewisville, Eagle Mountain and Worth, but also has experience on other big blue haunts like Tawakoni, Cedar Creek Richland Chambers, Texoma and Ray Hubbard. Sestak is a lumber salesman from Nacogdoches who takes his trotlining much more seriously than most. He has found success on several East Texas lakes and rivers, but Toledo Bend is his favorite. He does most of his fishing on the big water in the vicinity of Huxley Bay. Both men have landed multiple fish weighing upwards of 75 pounds and countless others in the 30-50 pound range. In other words, they know a thing or two about catching the fattest cats in a lake. I recently caught up with Ferguson and Sestak and asked them to share some fishing tips for targeting heavyweight blues and flatheads during the winter months. The anglers offered up plenty of good advice, so let’s get get right to it.

Location, Location, Location You may have heard the old saying that 90 percent of the fish live in 10 percent of the lake. That holds especially true of big, wintertime blues. Ferguson says the fish are very spot oriented during cold weather and they don’t move around much. The best areas are usually found in relation to some form of underwater structure and always in relation to roving pods of shad. “That’s primarily what I look for, whether I am rod and reeling or fishing with jugs,” said Ferguson. “The big blues are going to be where the food is, and that’s almost always to be around a hump, old roadbed or channel. I’ll idle around using my electronics until I find what I’m looking for, which could

be in 20 feet of water or the deepest water in the lake. Then I’ll start fishing.” Structure is the ticket for trotlining, as well. Sestak says he likes to make his sets along the shelves of the Sabine River, preferably in an area where the river makes a sharp bend or intersects with a creek or slough. The best depth range will be 10-18 feet on the shelf next to 50-55 feet of water. “Stretching the line across the river can be real productive if there is some current,” Sestak said. “Otherwise, I Iike to fish the edges of structure. It’s no different than bass fishing.”

Best Baits Both anglers agreed that the ideal bait for big cats is something fresh. Sestak prefers live perch 2-4 inches long for targeting flatheads. Cut perch, beef heart or shad for blue cat. He catches his perch from stock ponds near his home, then transports them to the lake in an aerated vat. “The lake water is just too cold in the winter for bream traps to be very effective,” he said. Ferguson uses fresh shad exclusively. He catches his bait each morning using a cast net weighted with 1 1/2 pounds per foot. The heavy weight is necessary because the shad are suspended in deep water. “It’s work, but it’s worth it,” he said.

Rigging Up Rod and Reel: Big cats demand tackle that can endure some serious stress. Ferguson uses Team Catfish 7-foot, 6-inch Thunder Cat rods paired with Abu Garcia 6500C3 reels that are spooled with 20-pound monofilament. He rigs his baits on a slip sinker rig or Santee rig. Both are similar to the Carolina rig used for bass fishing. What makes the Santee rig different is it calls for a two inch cork float about 3-4 inches above the hook to float the bait off bottom. Ferguson uses and 40-pound test T e x a S

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fluorocarbon leader (2-6 feet) and 8/0 Team Catfish circle hooks. He holds everything in place with a 1 1/2 or 2 ounce Team Catfish Smooth Operator sinker. Jug Lines: A jug line is basically an open water set line that relies on a white plastic gallon jug or some other floating device to suspend the main line and bait stagings vertical in the water. Its a great tactic for keeping kids or beginning anglers entertained. Up to five hooks can placed on the main line using stagings at varied depths; Ferguson advises using no more than three hooks per line. Lines can be drifted over open water weighted to bottom. Ferguson uses Redneck jugs, but you can get by with gallon bleach jugs. He builds the main line using No. 18 green braided nylon line and fashions stagings from No. 9 braided nylon stagings that are secured with 1/0 barrel swivels. The main line and stagings are different colors so they are easy untangle. Ferguson always recommends staying with your jugs or close by. Otherwise, you run the risk of fish or wind taking them astray. Trotline: Sestak advises steering clear of ready made lines available at the local sporting goods store. They will work for the little guys, but you need a man’s line for big cats. He builds his main lines using 3/16 inch curtain line available through poultry dealers. His stagings are 200-pound No. 21 tarred nylon. He doubles the stagings for extra strength and anchors them to the main line using 2/0 nickel Roscoe swivels. Sestak likes 9/0 or 10/0 stainless steel circle hooks by Eagle Claw. He places 15 hooks per line, usually about 15-18 feet apart. The idea behind the wide hook spacing is to cover as much water as possible and stay within the 100 hook per angler limit allowed by state law. No single line can contain more than 50 hooks.

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THE PURSUIT OF TROPHY-SIZED TROUT via artificial lures is all about mullet. At the end of the day the lures used to fool the truly big trout are mullet imitators because they are the key component in the diet of the select few specks. When trout get somewhere between 20-22 inches they change from being primarily a shrimp eater and small fish eater to being a connoisseur of larger mullet and other fish like croaker, sand trout and even small speckled trout. So, when it comes to pursuing them the angler that does the best mullet imitation wins the prize. During winter and early spring the largest trout are caught basically by two kinds of lures: slow-sinkers and topwaters. Both have their following and application but which is better? Or maybe the question should be, “Am I fishing them correctly?” This is the debate as I see it with a unique twist many anglers could benefit from. Slow-sinkers are as the name implies, lures that sink super slow with the goal of mimicking a wounded or slow moving baitfish. Big trout and baitfish alike have slow metabolism during winter months so something that is easy to catch is struck at much more than something they have to chase. Or at least that is the theory. The Corky is the granddaddy of all slow sinkers. Developed by lure innovator Paul Brown it has caught record fish as well as many lifetime trout for anglers in Texas and beyond. It looks like a medium-sized mullet, sinks at a snail pace and has an erratic action when jerked. Other slow sinkers include the Catch 2000 for Mirrolure and Bomber’s Badonkadonk SS. The key with these kinds of lures is making many, many casts and putting it right in front of a big fish. By virtue of their slow sinking nature, these lures cover very little ground and require incredible patience on behalf of the angler. The first time I fished a Corky was back in 1997 in Matagorda Bay and I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Moving so slow and methodically through the water and trying to get one or

two good bites all day was and remains a challenge. Topwaters on the other hand also produce big trout. The Super Spook, the various Top Dog models, the Skitter Walk and numerous mullet imitators by Sebile and others are effective during this period as well. Topwaters offer an advantage slow-sinkers do not and that is the ability to cover lots of ground. An angler can make incredibly long casts and literally make more ground in an hour of wadefishing than someone could do in a day of using a slow sinker in a boat. Most true big trout enthusiasts will tell you the slow-sinkers catch more big fish than do the topwaters in winter and spring but they break them out due to the addiction to the “blowup factor”. Watching a big trout strike at or slurp down a topwaters is one of the greatest feelings in fishing, and when worked with consistency and precision they can be effective. Many anglers however report that topwater action during this period results in a lot of blowups but very few hookups. A couple of years ago I noticed the same thing as I began to formulate my F.L.E.X. fishing system and put serious thought into catching big trout. If you look at many of the great big bass experts around the country, they rarely use slow-sinkers (and that could be a mistake which will be covered in a future article at fishgame.com) but instead utilizing swimbaits, large plastic worms and

topwaters. All of the above can cover water much quicker than a slow-sinker. Bass fishermen are all about covering water and eliminating unproductive areas. This inspired me to start off using topwaters to locate fish. The usual drill is to take a walking plug, make long casts and cover all of the key habitat in an area. I make very precision casts, paying special attention to walk the plug over the area well and even cut across at different angles. Sometimes this equals a caught fish but other times there are just those missed blowups. As I got the missed blowups I started carefully observing where they occurred and threw back at those spots with a slow-sinker (or a regular old) soft plastic. The result was far more fish caught. Think about it for a second. If a trout during the winter when their metabolism is at its lowest is aggressive enough to come up to the surface and strike at a plug, don’t you think the same fish would be willing to hit something put in it is face? In this regard the topwater can be used to eliminate water without aggressive fish and the slow-sinker to catch those that did not quite have enough in them to take down your plug. As noted earlier, I have done the same thing using regular soft plastics and Gulp and had great results. This might be a good option for those of you who are not fans of slow sinkers. Rig your plastics on light fluorocarbon line (8-10 lb) and on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jighead. I have found that after you know the fish is not going to come up again, you can literally drop that rod and throw right back into the spot and get bit. This formula actually works well all winter and in fact in the past a friend of mine and I would use it in tandem with one fishing a plastic and the other a surface plug. After each failed blowup the angler with the plastic would make an accurate cast right behind the plug and very often get bit. The truth is both slow sinkers and topwaters have an important role to play for anglers seeking big speckled trout. And in my opinion wise anglers will keep both handy and find ways to use them in conjunction with one another for the greatest results.

Best Baits for Big Specks? by chester moore T E X A S

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Texas Saltwater by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

Red Hot Lures

ooner or later, whether on a whim or in a deliberate attempt to expand skill sets, just about everyone who targets redfish will try lures. When that day comes (mine was on a spring morning in 1990 when the cord on my cast net snapped and sent my bait supplier to the bottom of a boat channel), and that stalwart angler walks into a big box store or a favorite tackle shop with money in hand, the culture shock may be staggering, even intimidating. That angler will find hundreds of lures in thousands of colors, patterns and shapes, all designed for the bronzed fish with the spot on his tail: long ones, short ones, hard ones, soft ones, metal ones, plastic ones. They dart and twitch, swim and wobble. They cover every section of the water column and include every color in the visible spectrum in an almost infinite variety of combinations. Even so, anglers throughout the redfish’s coastal range eventually gravitate toward a selection of soft plastics that seem to always produce. Fishermen from Sabine Lake to Padre Island never leave port without a healthy stock of these elite lures nestled in the trays and pouches of their tackle carriers. The overwhelming majority of lures place a distant second to these red-getters, even though they may be as effective. “It’s a confidence thing,” says Port Isabel, Texas, Captain Jimmy Martinez, who has thrown red-and-white cocahoe minnows for years. “If you know a certain lure is working, why are you going to change to some other lure?” It’s hard to argue with that logic. If a fisherman catches a redfish on a glow/chartreuse Bass Assassin, you aren’t going to get it away from him. He might try top waters or spinnerbaits, but he’s going to come back to that lure whenever conditions are tough. Ironically, the most popular redfish lure 46 |

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for decades was the gold spoon, and plenty of adherents still spoon-feed spot tails. You can make long casts with it, even into the wind, and swim it just over the grass beds. The redfish will absolutely hammer it when they won’t hit anything else. Gold spoons cover a lot of water in a short amount of time. Gold spoons also mimic the flash and movement of popular forage species such as scaled sardines and pinfish. Redfish can’t pass them up. Still, even though the gold spoon has earned its niche, soft plastics have blown by them as the lures for the bronze fish with the black spot. Soft plastics that closely resemble live bait sell throughout Texas, which is logical since many red-getters use live bait. Of all the different designs, shad tails reign. The two primary styles of shad tail represent classic patterns from the two best known tackle companies on the coast: H&H Tackle in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Rockport, Texas’ Norton Lures, Inc. H&H makes the cocahoe minnow, or rather the 4-inch Queen Cocahoe, a streamlined baitfish look-alike considered an absolute staple throughout Louisiana and Texas. Norton makes the Bull Minnow, a shorter (3-inch), stouter shad with a larger, bootshaped tail. “The Cocahoe has more of a wiggle with a rolling action,” said Martinez. “The bull minnow’s big tail gives it more vibration. Both work great, though I prefer to use the cocahoe on the flats when I have to cover a lot of water, and the bull minnow in deeper water or under a popping cork.” While these popular baits shapes seem to remain the same, color preferences do evolve. For years, anglers chose red-andwhite as the go-to color, said Rip Masters, former owner/operator of Hook Line and Sinker Tackle Shop. “Over the last few years, anything with chartreuse seems to sell.” Another popular color has always been chartreuse, which stands out well in both clear and stained water. Most anglers don’t go for the straight chartreuse, prefering the main body have one color (such as root beer

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or black), and the tail be chartreuse. Scented lures such as Berkley’s Gulp! and Logic Lures Texas Tandem baits have spawned the latest redfish rage throughout the Atlantic and Gulf regions, but particularly in areas with poor water clarity. “Lots of fishermen are buying more and more Gulp! baits these days,” said Masters. “They don’t smell pretty, but the redfish seem to like them.” Anglers fish these versatile lures along the bottom on a jig head, under a popping cork, or free-lined in current, much like a real shrimp. As with other soft baits, color becomes the main geographical distinction: South Texas Gulf Coast anglers prefer new penny and pearl; anglers further north prefer Rootbeer/ glitter and natural colors such as mullet and sardine (which are popular in the Mud Minnow design). Clear water anglers seem to also have an affinity for Nuclear Chicken, a combination of orange and chartreuse. Night fishermen swear by glow patterns. Other scented plastics declared popular during our survey included the Bass Assassin lines, including the Saltwater Assassin and BLURP, the Berkley Power Swim Shad and Power Jerk Shad, and the Gulp! Peeler Crab, which has found adherents who love crawling them through grass beds or fishing them in the surf. Ultimately, however, the lures that anglers use when chasing redfish comes down to what Martinez said: what is a fisherman most confident using? When he/ she is confident, they will throw the lure with greater aggression. It’s similar to a quarterback who is confident in his tight end’s catching ability. He will sling the ball to the big guy more readily than if the receiver had hands of stone. The more you believe, the more you throw. The more you throw, the greater your chances of success, and on and on. That’s when things get hot. Red hot. Email Cal Gonzales at cgonzales@fishgame.com

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Texas Freshwater by Matt Williams | TF&G Freshwater Editor

Horror Story

’ve heard my share of horror stories over the years. But none to compare with the spooky tale that Stan Burgay had to tell last fall. Listen up, TF&G readers. This is one that anyone who gets behind the steering wheel of a boat should heed, remember and learn from. Burgay is a retired police officer from Timpson, Tx., who loves to bass fish. While he can catch ‘em just about anywhere, Burgay is a particularly big stick on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. The horror story in question unfolded last fall on Sam Rayburn. Burgay has been fishing the 114,000-acre impoundment since it opened in the late-1960s. He probably knows the big lake as well as anyone. Problem is, ‘Rayburn isn’t so big anymore. Like other lakes across Texas, Sam Rayburn underwent an ugly transformation during the epic drought of 2011. As of Oct. 1, the lake had shrunk to nearly 50 percent of full capacity. The result was a watery sea of land mines such as stumps, bridges, sandbars and other obstacles brought precariously close to the surface by falling water levels. Burgay found one of the bombs shortly after the Day 1 takeoff for the 2011 Bass-NBucks Team Championship. The collision culminated in a freak accident that left him and his 14-year-old grandson, Chandler, counting their blessings. Here’s what happened. Just before 8 a.m., Burgay elected to make a short move from Indian Creek to nearby Harvey Creek. His 21-foot bass boat was moving about 30 m.p.h. when the lower unit on the outboard engine collided with a hard object beneath the surface. Then the unthinkable happened. The impact of the collision busted both motor mounts that secured the 225 horsepower

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engine to the jack plate. A split second later the 503-pound motor catapulted over the rear butt seat and crashed down on the back deck, just behind the cockpit. The engine’s cowling slammed so hard against the backrest of the driver’s seat that it stripped the mounting screws and shoved Burgay into the steering wheel. Burgay said the lower unit and prop came to rest on top of the passenger seat backrest, just inches from his grandson’s head. All this was going on as the boat spun a 180-degree turn that left it facing the same direction it had just come from.

it probably would have been all over us,” Burgay said. “Luckily, the motor had gotten knocked out of gear and the prop wasn’t turning. I turned the key and it shut down. Then we just looked each other. I started feeling sick to my stomach. It really scared me and Chandler both. The Lord was riding with us that day. That’s all I can say.” The motto to Burgay’s story is obvious. Things are constantly changing out there during a drought situation. Stumps and other obstructions flooded during the inundation process constantly reach upward as water levels drop, posing serious dangers to

A collision with a submerged object stripped this 225 HP outboard off its mounts, throwing it onto the boat’s rear deck, missing the occupants by inches.

Amazingly, both anglers escaped the accident without a scratch. “It happened really quick, but it almost seemed like it was in slow motion,” Burgay said. “I can remember getting pushed into the steering wheel. Chandler remembers looking back seeing the prop spinning as the motor went airborne. He was leaning forward trying to get away from it. That’s the only thing that kept him from getting hit when the motor came down.” What is even more scary is that the engine was still running when it landed in the boat. According to Burgay, the hydraulic steering cables were still attached, which is likely what kept the motor from landing on top of them in the cockpit. “The cables jerked it back, otherwise T e x a S

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even the most experienced boaters. In other words, just about any knowledge you have of a lake at pool level is virtually useless once the bottom falls out. “I used to think I knew Sam Rayburn pretty well, but I obviously don’t know it quite as well as I thought I did,” Burgay said. Editors Note: As of this writing many lakes across Texas were at or near their record lows. Unless heavy rains have come in the meantime, water levels will be even lower at the turn of the New Year. Be careful out there.

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Open Season by Reavis Wortham | TF&G Humor Editor

Accidents Will Happen

was cleaning my fingernails in the large round corner table of Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café, when Doc noticed the new cutlery. “That’s a good looking knife.” Turning my back toward the counter, lest Doreen see what I was doing and throw us out, I started to hand it to Doc, when Delbert P. Axelrod, the dullest wit in the knife drawer, yanked the blade out of my hand so he could see it first. “Yikes! Geetsch!” I yelped, feeling the razor edge cut my finger. The café instantly went into crisis mode. “We have a man hurt over here!” Willie announced at the top of his voice. “It wasn’t my fault,” Delbert defended and threw the knife onto the table amid coffee cups and dirty plates. “What was he doing with a pocket knife out in the first place?” Doreen called from behind the register. “He’d better not be cleaning his fingernails in my café.” “He was handing it to me when this fool jerked it out of his hand,” the Cap’n said. “Put direct pressure on it. That’ll stop the blood from gushing all over the table.” “It isn’t gushing,” I said, holding my thumb tightly. I hate to be cut and hadn’t yet looked at the wound. Jerry Wayne woke up from his nap and misinterpreted the severity of the situation. “I’ll call an ambulance.” Delbert stood in the seat and pointed toward the telephone on the counter. “Tell them I’ve already ordered a set of labs, but we need a full blood CMP workup and a trach tube. Don’t forget to tell them his blood pressure is up, his pulse is thready and we need someone here stat. Don’t waste any

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time. We might have to crack his chest.” He looked around. “I’ve always wanted to say something like that.” “Don’t call any ambulances here,” Doreen came around the counter with a dish cloth the size of a sail. “It’ll give my café a bad name. Here, use this to soak up the blood before anyone sees how badly you’re hurt. Then get out of here.” Herbert Mills, our resident octogenarian spun around on his stood at the counter. “My grandmother always soaked our cuts in kerosene. Get some coal oil and put his hand in it.” “We don’t serve coal oil here, Herbert.” Doreen returned to the counter. “No one has sold anything like that in a café since the mining days, hon. Now, turn around and eat your eggs before they get cold.” “Where are my teeth?” “In your pocket.” “This man is still hurt over here,” Willie reminded everyone. He likes to keep a good thing going. I tried to peek under the towel the Cap’n had wrapped around my entire hand. “I don’t think it’s all that bad.” “Bet you didn’t pay for the knife,” Woodrow said. “That’s why you got cut so bad. My old man said you pay for a knife with either money or blood.” “Did too,” I wanted to look at the stinging cut, but my arm looked like a Q-tip. “Turpentine,” Miss Emily Smalls declared. She isn’t much younger than Herbert. “My mother always kept a bottle of Spirits of Turpentine in her kitchen and whenever anyone got cut during hog killing time, she poured a generous amount of it over the cut and it wasn’t even sore the next day.” Her sister, Miss Corine, sipped at her hot tea as if we were at a formal occasion. “You know dear, she also kept Spirits of Camphor and we used that whenever anyone got a burn. I disremember a lot of things, but I do recall that a burn didn’t even blister up after that.” I looked over at Doc. “Doreen’s coffee

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sometimes tastes like all three of those things they just suggested.” Miss Corine turned to me. “Did you say something dear? My lands, Doreen, this fellow over here has a bath towel wrapped around his entire arm. Is he all right?” Doreen brought her another cup of tea and gave her a pat on the shoulder. “He’s just fine. He cut his finger and the boys have gotten all excited.” “Well, he should pour some Spirits of Camphor on it, then. Or maybe that was Spirits of Turpentine? Do you remember, Sister?” “We need a needle and thread over here,” Wrong Willie suggested. “I could tidy that cut up in a second with a good sharp needle.” “There,” Delbert said with satisfaction. He stuck the now re-folded knife into my front pocket. “I cleaned it up and it’s as good as new. Gotta go.” We watched him retreat through the front door and the café settled down. I took advantage of the lull and unwrapped my hand. There was only one tiny spot of blood on the towel and you could barely tell where the skin was cut, though it still stung. The boys gathered around, examined my injury with obvious disappointment, and returned to their places. Wrong Willie sighed. “You’re a baby. That wasn’t hardly a scratch.” “You made more out of it than I did.” The table was silent for a long while. “Now what do you want to do?” Doc asked. “We can have more coffee and see if Rev’s wound tears open and gushes blood, I guess,” Woodrow said. Doc opened his own knife and began cleaning his nails, with his back turned lest Doreen see. He jumped when he dug a little deep under his thumbnail, a spot of blood welled, and we were back into the fun.

Email Reavis Wortham at rwortham@fishgame.com

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Photos: Chester moore

speckled trout are the largemouth bass of saltwater. Not only are they the most commonly pursued species along the Gulf Coast, they also inspire the most artificial lures. From ultra-realistic shrimp imitations to titanic-sized topwaters, specks have spawned legions of lures, and for some, it can be a bit confusing. The following are five lure types that will give you a good foundation in pursuit of trout and allow you to target them during any season and circumstance. Shrimp Imitations: Nothing helps anglers zero in on speckled trout quicker than a shrimp-imitating lure. Well, the T F & G

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real thing might but since we are talking about plastics here, we will focus on realistic, super effective faux shrimp. colors: Glow, chartreuse, root beer, natural shrimp, clear (variations thereof) size: 3-5 inch with 4 inch probably being the most common F i s h

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TF&G ALMANAC Table of Contents GEARING UP SECTION

texas tested • Shimano, Yamaha Generators | by TF&G

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industry insider • Suzuki, NauticStar | by TF&G staff

staff

fish and game gear • Hot New Outdoor Gear | by TF&G staff

FISHING FORECAST SECTION

COVER STORY • Trout Lure Basics | by chester moore

HOW-TO SECTION

52 54 56 58

texas guns • Safety in Reloading | by steve lamascus texas boating • Your Phone and Your Boat | by lenny rudow texas kayaking • Winter Options | by greg berlocher paul’s tips • Cool Cats | by

hotspots focus: galveston • Happy New Year! | by capt. mike holmes

hotspots focus: matagorda • Lower Tides and Temps Push Fish Deeper | by bink grimes

hotspots focus: rockport • A Boy’s Favorite Fish | by capt.

hotspots focus: lower coast • Hunting Tatanka | by

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sportsman’s daybook • Tides & Prime Times | by TF&G staff

OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE SECTION

trophy quest • Grinding It Out | by tom behrens texas tasted • Sharp-Tailed Grouse | by bryan slaven freshwater tales • Bass Lure Basics | by matt williams OUTDOOR CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY • Guides, Gear and More | by TF&G staff tf&g Photos • Your Action Photos | by TF&G readers

mac gable

calixto gonzales

sensation of a big trout

“blow up” on a topwater. Trout begin to feed heavily on large finfish when they get around 22 inches and larger so surface lures imitating injured mullet and other baitfish can be super productive in their pursuit. colors: Bone, black/red, black/chartreuse, clear, red/white, chrome/black size: There are a variety of topwater plugs that come in sizes ranging from 3-7 inches. Most are in the 4-5 inch class. The more fish you want to catch, the smaller the plug. If you are holding out for the trout of a lifetime go with the larger ones. season: Year-Round application: Topwaters can work in varying capacities. The topwaters: Tens of thousands ideal is to work of Texas coastal over shalanglers are low flats The Top Dog, drawn to the or along Jr. is one of the water to simshorelines lined with Texas coast’s ply see, feel baitfish that has brought most popular and hear the in potentially large trout. topwaters. 2 0 1 2

hotspots focus: upper coast • Hot Winter Action | by capt. eddie hernandez

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seasons: Shrimp imitations work best in fall when shrimp are migrating out of bays and specks are feeding on them aggressively but they Bomber Saltcan be effective yearwater Grade round. makes one of application: many shrimp There are lots of ways imitations used to work these lures for trout on the but the all-time best is Texas Coast. under a popping cork. Rig one on a fluorocarbon leader and put it under a popping cork and you have something that sounds like a trout striking up top and food on the bottom. Many shrimp imitations come with pre-rigged jigheads in 1/8-oz class. For those that do not use 1/8 under a float but go with ¼ when using other techniques like crawling them across the bottom when you are fishing in areas with heavy current.

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www.FishGame.com “Walking the dog” is the most popular method which is bringing in the lure with a short side-to-side motion at a medium to fast pace. That is done with walking plugs like Top Dogs and Super Spooks. Chugging is another tactic that uses lures like Sebile’s Splasher to slowly chug along in a pop-sit (a few seconds)-pop motion. An important thing to keep in mind is not to set the hook too early. Let the fish actually take the plug under before attempting a hookset or there is a good chance it will get away. swimbaits: For years anglers have used lures called “cocahoe Swimbaits like the Stanley Wedgetail Mullet are gaining steam on the Gulf Coast.

minnows” and “swimmers” and not realized they were fishing swimbaits, which have become the gold standard for many bass fishermen. These are lures meant to swim under the surface and cover water to find trout. CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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Safety in Reloading

he longer we do a thing and the better we get at it, the more comfortable we get with it and the more lax we get. This seems to be some kind of natural law and I know of no exceptions to it. When I first began reloading I was afraid of the power of the things I was using, and I was so careful that the chance of a mishap attributable to oversight was almost inconceivable. Then the other day I found myself growing lax. I would open a reloading manual, glance at the highest load listed for the powder I wanted to use, and start dumping the powder into the shell. When I realized

what I was doing I stopped, regrouped, and started again from the beginning. There are all kinds of ways to cause damage when reloading, but all of them can be avoided with care and thought. For instance, you forgot to prime some cartridges before you put in the powder and bullets. What do you do now? Do you pull the bullets, dump the powder, and start all over? That will probably make the bullets unusable, and you will certainly have to remeasure all the powder charges, meaning more work than if you had started from the beginning. How about just going on and seating the primers in the already loaded cartridges? You have never had a primer pop when you were seating them, so it is not dangerous, for you, to seat the primers with the powder charge in place, is it? You bet it is! If one day you find you have forgotten to seat the primers first, and

you will, pull the cartridges down and start over from the beginning. It is much better than priming a small grenade a foot from your face. I had a mishap the other day that could have been bad, but wasn’t. I was trying a new load for my .243 Winchester. I checked several of the books, chose a load, loaded it up, and promptly blew a primer and opened the primer pocket. Why? Because I was preoccupied with something else. I looked up the data for a 70-grain bullet and loaded it under a 100-grain bullet. This is one reason that you have read a million times that you should always wear eye and ear protection. In this case, thanks to the strength and engineering of the post64 Winchester Model 70 XTR push-feed action, there was no escaping material, but I knew immediately that something was wrong. When I pried open the bolt and saw the greatly enlarged primer pocket staring

colors: Black/chartreuse, morning glory, natural mullet, smoke, white, chartreuse, copper size: 3-6 inches is best for trout although many freshwater-based companies make swimbaits up to a foot long. seasons: Winter/Spring Application: Throwing swimbaits over shallow mud flats and reefs can help anglers find big trout attracted to larger baitfish as well as cover lots of water. Start off swimming at a medium pace and then slow down if you do not get bit. slow sinkers: Big trout are often lethargic especially during water and early spring and sometimes want something moving slow and right on top of them. Enter slow-sinkers like Texas’ legendary Corky. 52 |

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These lures require a level of discipline to fish effectively but they can yield catches when others will not get the job done. colors: Pink, chartreuse, natural mullet, copper, white, bone size: 3-4 inches seasons: Winter/Early Spring application: These lures are for anglers looking for their lifetime trout. Fishing them is

Slow-sinkers like the Corky are popular with all big trout specialists.

slow, tedious and in many cases boring because you may only get a strike or two a day. On the other hand that strike might just be from a 10-pounder. These are best

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fished over scattered shell, mud flats on warm winter afternoons or other spots with a concentration of mullet and potential for

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Big trout are often lethargic and want something moving slow.

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big trout. Throw, let it sink a long time and twitch. Repeat process. Keep in mind you should be very mindful of the bite as big CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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back at me, I nearly wet my Wranglers. Of course I quit at that point and returned to my shop to determine what caused the event. I pulled the bullet from one of the rounds and weighed the powder charge. A quick look at the manual revealed my stupidity. I pulled the other bullets, dumped the powder, and started all over again. This time with my mind on my business. Remember this moment, because while most gun writers have made some such flubs, almost none of them will admit it. That I am doing so is an indication of the value we set on the truth in Texas Fish & Game magazine. And while we are on the subject of minds on business, if you are preoccupied, too tired, too angry, or too anything else, pick something else to do. Reloading is a wonderfully relaxing hobby, but you must be able to keep your mind on the business at hand, or you will have an accident. My son-in-law once pulled a boner when loading for a .357 Magnum. He was loading a relatively mild magnum load of Alliant

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2400 with 158-grain bullets. When he went to shoot his newly reloaded cartridges, the first one sounded like a 5-inch gun and froze the action of his revolver. When we finally got it freed up enough to recover some of the cartridges, we discovered that he had loaded Unique instead of 2400. If he had not been shooting one of the ultra-strong Ruger Blackhawk revolvers, it is likely that the gun would have blown sky high, taking his hand along with it. Long ago there was a man who thought he was more experienced, smarter, and careful than others. Because of his exceeding abilities he felt it was safe, for him but not for other mere mortals, to smoke while he was reloading. The result was, as another writer put it, “[He] ...ascended to heaven on a column of flame.” In addition to allowing you to shoot much superior ammunition, and giving you the satisfaction of taking game with ammunition you manufactured from scratch, reloading really is a safe pastime. It is considerably less dangerous than driving your family to the movies. However, you must use common

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sense. Don’t smoke when using powder. If you want a stogie while you are resizing rifle cases, go to it; but put the thing out when you get ready to charge the cases with powder. Follow the simplest safety rules and you will never have a problem. Reload when you are able to concentrate on what you are doing. Concentrating on reloading will often help me relax, as it forces me to concentrate on something other than my problems. If I find I cannot concentrate, I do something else, like hoeing the weeds out of the garden or cleaning the goop out of the horse trough. E-mail Steve LaMascus at SLamascus@fishgame.com

On the Web Read Steve LaMascus’s Shooting Blog at www.FishGame.com

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Your Phone and Your Boat

ell phones: love ‘em or hate ‘em, it’s time to admit that those little pocket communicators have wormed their way into nearly every facet of life—and that includes boating. Yeah, I know, we go boating, fishing, and hunting to escape from the “real” world, and these cellular tethers force us to stay connected to civilization even when we’re communing with nature. Bummer. But there’s a bright side to the smart-phone story: Whether you’re inseparable from an iPhone or you’re an Android addict, there are countless ways you can use that gizmo to be a better boater. Here are a few of the highlights:

3G GPS – While we’d never recommend replacing your chartplotter or handheld GPS with a cell phone (think water damage) your communications device can serve as a handy backup. EarthNC can actually turn your smartphone into a mini-chartplot-

ter, and the app includes marine charts, weather data, and real-time GPS tracking. Charts are a seamless version of NOAA’s raster-based chartography, and the app includes the complete NOAA library. The EarthNC database also includes marina, bridge, anchorage, and service listings, and was recently upgraded to include multipoint routing and chart downloads from Earth NC’s cloud-based chart and weather server. It can be used with both phone platforms, but it comes at the (relatively) hefty cost of $24.99. You can expand on your chartographic capabilities with iNAVX, a nav-app with similar chartplotter-like functions, which can be expanded with the X-Traverse service. That’ll cost you $10 a year, but gives you the ability to wirelessly transfer charting data from your PC or Mac to your phone, and vice-versa. It’s compatible with a wide range of charts including Navionics Gold, HotMaps, and Fish’N’Chip charts, plus topography maps for the US and Canada. But this one won’t go down the Android road, and it costs a bundle at $50 Navionics Mobile turns iPhones, iPads, and Androids into mini but fully functional chartplotters, with added data like wind forecasts, terrain overlays, panoramic pictures, and regular chartography updates. This is the standard-bearer in nav-apps, and

is the most downloaded one on the market. Its unique claim to fame, however, is the community layer of data. Boaters can add to the database as they discover things in the real world that aren’t reflected on the charts, such as silted-in channels, and un-charted rocks. This data shows up in a distinct layer so you can also choose to ignore it if you wish. But pricing is difficult to distinguish, because Navionics charges different rates for different chartography bundles and services; in any case, they start at $5 and go up (significantly) from there. KNOT A PROBLEM – You have a hard time remembering your knots? Pro Knot is the app for you, if you’re an iPhone user. This one has step-by-step instructions, along with large illustrations, for tying over 30 different knots. There’s also an animated version available, which covers 17 knots. And it’s cheap, with price ranging from $0.99 to $1.99 depending on which version you choose. REPEAT PERFORMANCE – A nifty and new use for iPhones on boats comes courtesy of Raymarine, with their new e7 multifunction display. Since the e7 offers multiconnectivity (via both WiFi and Bluetooth) you can use your iPhone (or iPad) as a remote viewer. Standing anywhere onboard,

t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52 trout will often just grab or tap a lure during this winter period. If you feel something odd, make adjustments and set the hook. Sometimes it is that monster trout you have been looking for. scented/flavored baits: Numerous lure companies have scented and flavored baits that not only spark fish to hold on but lure them in. Gulp! is the industry 54 |

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leader and described there are for the many varietshrimp The Gulp! Flats ies, however several companies imitations works great for these Worm is one of the have both scented and flavored and in fact many come in the latest entries in a lures popular with anglers. form of shrimp. Another undesuper popular line of size: 3-5 inches rutilized method is to rig on scented lures. season: Year-Round a Carolina rig and fish along application: These kinds of lures drop-offs in the channels and also in the surf are typically best rigged on a jighead and in the guts where big trout often dwell. either crawled along the bottom or fished under a popping cork. In fact, the method

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you can look at your fishfinder, chartplotter, or radar screen right on your phone. You can’t use your communications device to control the electronics—yet—but if you use it to play music on your boat’s stereo, you can also bring up the stereo controls on the e7’s screen. REMOTE CONTROL – The smart phone already seems to control your life, so why not turn control of your boat over to it as well? Systems like Siren Marine allow you to use your phone (either i’s or ‘Droids) to both monitor and control your boat via their app combined with onboard sensors. The monitoring part of the equation is simple: If you have a problem such as a dead battery, or a bilge pump runs non-stop, the system will send you a text message. More importantly, you can set it up so that you get a text if your boat starts moving without you onboard. Sure, you’ll know to call the cops. Better yet, you can send a text right back to your boat and tell it to shut down the engine. FUSION – Link, from Fusion stereos, is another way you can use your iPhone or Android to control your boat—or at least your boat’s stereo. The Fusion-Link interfaces with a wireless DHCP Ethernet router, auto-configures itself to the network, and connects the stereo and the phone via the FUSION-Link mobile app. From there on out, your phone becomes a remote control.

tion, and it’ll even provide you with turn-byturn directions to the water’s edge. WEATHER WONDERS – There are lots of apps that let you monitor the weather, often in real-time, with your smart phone. One of the most useful is Marine Weather, by Bluefin Engineering. It puts the weather radar for the coastal region you choose on your cell screen, so you can see incoming storms and rain before they hit. It also has forecasts, live buoy data, tide information, and sea surface temperature information, all provided by NOAA and Rutgers Coastal Ocean Observation Lab. This is a free app (our favorite kind!) but unfortunately, it’s Android-only. iPhone users will find a similar product in the Weather Channel app and Weather Eye App, both of which are also free. If you’re purely interested in wind data, check out Windbuoy. This is an extremely simple app for iPhones, which gives you a direct link to NOAA buoy data. Wind speed and direction, air and water temperature, wave period and height, and

atmospheric pressure are some of the things you can check out with Windbuoy, but this app costs four bucks to download. Okay, so maybe that cell phone can be annoying at times. Sure, we generally get on our boats to escape the real world, not to stay connected to it. But when you consider the possibilities, there’s no doubt about it—a smarter phone makes for a smarter boater. E-mail Lenny Rudow at boating@fishgame.com

On the Web Read Lenny Rudow’s Boating Blog at www.FishGame.com

SPEEDY SOLUTION – It’s a well-known fact that paddlewheel boat speedos rarely give you an accurate read on exactly how fast you’re going. If you want a fast way to check the accuracy of the speedometer on your boat, just dial up Speed. This application turns your iPhone into a GPS speedometer, and the price is a measly $0.99. Best of all, this app is so darn simple that even a chimp—or a fully-grown adult male—can use it. TRAILERING TREAT – Those of us who can go mobile with our boats as well as our phones will get a lot of use out of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s creation, the Ramps app. This one’s another freebie, it works with both Androids and iPhones, and it gives you the locations of over 35,000 boat ramps nationwide. You can search by zip code, city, or current locaT F & G

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Winter Options

Shin-deep flats warm quickly under bright, bluebird skies just after a cold front. Cold fronts huff and puff for 2 -3 days, eventually blowing themselves out. The next few days are dead calm and the lack of wind mixed with warm sunshine makes it pleasant to be outside; afternoons are especially delightful. Flats soak up the sun’s energy and by the afternoon a shallow expanse is a very inviting place to be, regardless whether you are a baitfish or predator. January fishing trips are afternoon affairs and nothing is gained by an early wake-up call. Kayaks are ideal for skimming coastal flats and provide sharpshooters significantly more range than if they were wading. Finding bait is always critical during winter months and the mobility of a kayak will help you eliminate a lot of dead water.

ed many farm ponds, literally evaporating thousands of small impoundments. While many lake bottoms lay bare and parched, a number of ponds and stock tanks survived. Most of the survivors were beneficiaries of benevolent rain storms, while others received supplemental pumping. Regardless of the source of rehydration, there are still some ponds on private property to fish. Farm ponds warm much more quickly than reservoirs, putting bass and bream on accelerated spawning schedules. Largemouth will start fanning nests later this month in the southern reaches of our state Farm ponds are ideal for kayak fishing. These waters are worked easily with just about any type of kayak. Since most farm ponds are just a few acres in size, you need not be concerned with hull efficiency or personal stamina. Pond fishing from a kayak is pure simplicity. No need to pack 12 rods and 3 shopping carts of lures for an afternoon paddle. Your favorite spinnerbait, topwater, and crankbait will cover just about all situations. If you want a little more diverse tackle selection, throw in a couple of plastic worms and a weedless silver spoon. The only downside to this type of fishing is getting approval beforehand. Always ask permission to go on private property. Bartering for fishing privileges is a seldom used tactic to gain access to promising fishing venues. The offer of a few hours of free labor in exchange for fishing privileges is something many landowners will seriously consider. Always be polite, even if you are turned down. If granted access, make sure you leave the area around the pond cleaner than you found it and make sure you close all gates securely behind you. Taking the land owner a bag of fillets after your fishing trip is not only polite but a good way to receive future fishing privileges.

Farm Ponds (Remember those)

Highway Bridges over Reservoirs

anuary is always a challenging month for me as I have grown to dislike cold weather. I haven’t always shunned cold weather, I used to embrace it; however, as decades passed, the joy of shivering in bone chilling weather has simply lost its appeal. Professional football games and boat shows in January hold my interest for a while but eventually my innate need to be outdoors overrides my disdain for frigid temperatures. Kayaking in cold water hardly helps the situation but there are a few areas that are bearable – some might even say comfortable – in the fist month of the year. Here are a few kayak venues to consider:

Coastal Flats

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barrage of cold fronts, you should target deep water haunts. One of my favorite January activities is fishing the pilings underneath highway bridges on major reservoirs. The combination of deep water and structure is a favorable one. Although long bridges, such as the FM 1097 bridge over Lake Conroe, are written about frequently, I like to seek out smaller bridges found away from the main lake. Although shorter in length, they offer quality fishing and allow you to hide from the wind if the bridge is oriented the right way. Crappie are my favorite January target. A shirt pocket full of marabou crappie jigs is all the tackle you need. The nimbleness of a kayak allows you to loiter next to a bridge piling and drop a jig straight down its algaecovered face.

Urban Lakes Many Texas towns are dotted with manmade lakes. They can be found in city parks and in many new neighborhoods; virtually all are kayak friendly. There are 3 small lakes in the neighborhood where I live and I am now on first name basis with most of the bass and bream that live in them. I believe our neighborhood fish are more much aggressive than their large reservoir brethren because they rarely see a lure or fly. There are several challenges to fishing neighborhood lakes which require a little planning: parking and lake access. Some neighborhood lakes have parks and other public access areas around them where you can park your vehicle and launch your kayak, but not all. Nothing will wear out your welcome like parking your car in front of a stranger’s house and then disappearing for several hours. It is always best to seek out a friend who lives on the water and park in their driveway and use their property to launch and take your kayak out of the water. Email Greg Berlocher at kayak@fishgame.com.

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know, it’s January, it’s cold, it hasn’t rained in months, every lake is dry and you don’t even want to think about fishing but that is exactly what we are going to do. Sooner or later the lakes will back to normal and you’ll want to catch

no-roll sinker. The float on the sinker leader will slide up the line when cast out and keep the threeway swivel off the bottom. This keeps it free from debris so that it will still rotate freely as the sunfish swims around. While you need to use heavy monofilament for your main line and the leader that goes to your hook and bait, the leader for the weight should be relatively light. Something in the eight to ten pound range works well. The reason is that this rig will be used around cover and the no-roll sinker

something so it’s best to be prepared now. Let’s talk catfish. They are one of the most popular game fish in the state, are fun to catch, and ready to bite on just about any day from the middle of winter to the dead of summer, if you know what you’re doing. Ken Allison, owner of North Texas Trophy Cats (a catch and release catfish tournament series, texastrophycats.com) definitely knows how to put catfish in the boat so I asked him to share a couple of his favorite fishing rigs. When asked what he uses for blues and channel cats, Ken pointed out that his favorite go to set-up is the Santee Cooper Rig. Think of the Santee Cooper rig as a basic Carolina rig with a twist, or rather a float. Start this set up by sliding a two-ounce no-roll sinker (instead of a bullet weight) on your main line. The no-roll sinker will hold its position and resist moving more than a standard bullet sinker of the same weight. This is especially valuable if you’re fishing in an area where there is a current in the water (rivers or lakes pounded by a stiff wind). After putting on the sinker, tie a

feeders they are often thought to be. Ken typically targets catfish big enough to eat small children so he uses large gear. His main line is 30 pound monofilament and the leader is made of 40-50 pound mono. This allows you the ability to winch a fish out of cover with fewer worries about breaking the line. His bait of choice is cut shad. When chasing flatheads Ken uses a different rig to fish live bait, and he adds a float to it as well in a way I never thought of. The flathead rig is your basic three-way rig. Start by tying your main line to one of the three legs on a three-way swivel. On one of the remaining legs tie on a short leader between 10 and 15 inches long. At the end of this leader tie on a 7/0 to 10/0 circle hook. For flatheads Ken typically uses a sunfish for bait. On the remaining leg of the three-way swivel tie on another short leader about a foot long. This is the leader where you will put your weight but before you do, slide a crappie float on the line but don’t peg it, just leave it loose. Now tie on a two ounce

can become lodged in rocks or forks of trees. If you get hung, you can break the weighted leader easier but will keep the rest of your rig intact. Just add another leader, float, and weight and you’ll be fishing again in a manner of minutes whereas if you break the main line, you’ll have to start over from scratch, which means tying five new knots which can take some time.

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barrel swivel onto the end of the main line. On the other end of the barrel swivel tie on a leader between 24 and 36 inches long. On the business end of the leader, tie on a circle hook somewhere between 7/0 and 9/0 in size. On a Carolina rig you’d be done but on this one you have to add one more part, a small crappie float. Peg the Styrofoam float on the leader about three to five inches away from the hook. This keeps the bait up off the bottom positioning it into the zone where the fish feed. Catfish are not always the bottom scrounging stink bait

E-mail Paul Bradshaw at freshrigs@fishgame.com

On the Web Read Paul Bradshaw’s Outdoor Tips Blog at www.FishGame.com

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Shimano Stradic

You like a reel that spins so smoothly you can hardly tell it’s turning? Then you need to check out Shimano’s Stradic FJ series. I tested out a 2500FJ (which is sized for 6 to 10 pound test mono or 10 to 30 pound test braid) while casting jigs for speckled trout, and found that this little spinning reel feels like it was machined by Swiss watch makers. There are seven new reels in this lineup, including the ST-1000FJ, 2500FJ, 3000FJ, 4000FJ, 5000FJ, 6000FJ and 8000FJ. This wide range of sizes allows you to choose a model that’s appropriate for everything from 10 to 65 pound test braid, and from bluegills to black drum. Pricing ranges from $179 for the smaller models to $379 for the larger ones. All of these Stradics have the features common to high-end Shimano spinners: the Propulsion Line Management System to reduce line twist and boost casting distance; Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement for tougher pinions and gears, Aerowrap II for optimal oscillation speed, Dyna-Balance to reduce rotor wobble, and Super Stopper II instant anti-reverse to eliminate back-play. They also have five S A-RB shielded bearings, and a one-way roller bearing. But the question remains: What makes these reels so much smoother than their predecessors? The addition of the X-Ship double bearing supported pinion gear is the secret. By supporting the pinion with double ball-bearings, pinion gear twist and rotor flex are virtually eliminated. Retrieves aren’t only smooth, they’re also fast—the gear ratio for all models in the Stradic line is 6.0:1. One major difference you’ll see between the different model sizes, however, is in the handle. The grip for each is designed to match the type of fish being fished. The 1000FJ and 2500FJ sizes, for example, have the paddle handles that are preferred for freshwater angling. 60 |

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Moving up to the 3000FJ and 4000FJ, you’ll find versatile T-shaped handles, and the 6000FJ and 8000FJ sizes have egg-shaped handles more useful for saltwater angling. These large briny models also eliminate the antireverse switch to help prevent the intrusion of saltwater. I never managed to hook a fish over one pound during my test of the 2500FJ, but I can’t say that was the reel’s fault (try as I might). What I can say for sure is that this spinner gets a big, fat thumbs-up—try cranking with one, and you won’t be disappointed. —Lenny Rudow

Quiet Power

Yamaha generator

What’s the worst thing about portable generators? Most of them make more commotion than a wild hog with an arrow in its ham. And if you sit one on the deck of a boat or the porch of a cabin, the vibrations they create can be incredibly annoying. That’s why I found Yamaha’s EF2400iSHC so darn impressive—even though it can put out a hefty 2,400 watts (max; rated output is 2,000 watts) you’ll be shocked at how quiet it is. The improved noise and vibration comes thanks to several different features. First off, even at full-tilt it only turns 3400 RPM. Secondly, a “smart” throttle controls engine speed and matches it to load, so it never runs harder than it needs to.

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Now add in the fact that it’s a single-cylinder four-stroke OHV engine encased in an aluminum die-cast frame, and you know why you can leave those ear plugs at home. You like solid numbers, instead of wishywashy claims? No problem—depending on load, this generator puts out between 53 and 60 dB-A. As a point of reference, a whisper-quiet four-stroke outboard puts out 54 to 58 dB-A at a dead idle. Another bonus of that smart throttle feature: running time can be extended since you never burn more fuel than you need at any given moment. In fact, at a quarterload the EF2400iSHC will chug along for over eight hours, on one fill-up of its 1.6-gallon gas tank. Rated AC current is 16.7 and max is 20 at 120V, and this little power pack comes along with a three-year warranty.

Photos: Shimano, Yamaha generator

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Displacement is 177cc, and the complete package is 20.8” long, 16.5” wide, and 18.2” tall. Yes, you read those specs correctly; even though this generator is powerful enough to run heavy loads like AC units up to 13,500-btu or microwave/ convection ovens, it’s compact enough to fit into the smallest camper, cuddy cabin, or pick-up cab. And lest you think it’s going to break the bank, note that MSRP is just $1,479. No matter how much you like peace and quiet, that’s something to shout about. —Lenny Rudow

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Suzuki Marine has announced it will extend its popular “Gimme Service” promotion, as well as include additional qualifying models. During the months of October 2011 through March 2012, all new unregistered Suzuki outboards from the DF115 all the way up to the Flagship DF300 that are sold at retail will receive their first 20-hour service check up at no charge to the customer. Whether that means buying a new boat or simply re-powering your existing vessel, Suzuki wants to help. That’s why Suzuki is offering “Gimme Service” to help customers with their first 20 hour Scheduled Maintenance Service covered at no charge “This is a great opportunity for Customers and Participating Dealers to build a lasting rapport,” says Larry Vandiver, Director of Marketing for Suzuki Marine. “With the expansion of the Gimme Service promotion from the DF115 to the DF300, even more people will qualify. Customers have up to 120 days from the date of purchase to make arrangements with a participating Suzuki Marine dealer to perform the first 20-hour service. They will receive at no charge, fresh engine oil and filter, fresh lower unit gear oil and additional maintenance inspections.” For more information and restrictions, visit online www.suzukimarine.com.

New NauticBay 2110SE Launched

that today’s buyers demand versatility, durability and value in their boating decisions. We have taken our most received model and added even more fishabilty and comfort features to deliver just that.” says NauticStar president Phil Faulkner. The 2110SE is 21’ long and 92” wide. This is the perfect size for both saltwater bays and fresh water lakes. The hull design is 15 degrees dead rise at the transom for stability and shallow water fishing. Forward is a deep V dead rise providing a soft ride in the bays and big reservoirs. This hull design also has a reverse chine that helps the boat to plane quickly, giving it more lift and a dry comfortable ride. Yamaha Marine has tested the 2110SE and has published some really attractive numbers. Powered with a four stroke F150TXR, the boat planed in 4.07 seconds had a top speed of 51 MPH with a fuel burn of only 4.2 GPH at cruise. The 2110SE is loaded with many innovative features: • Unique aft casting deck with 3 flip up jump seats. Under the starboard seat there is storage for a starting battery. Under the portside seat is built in tackle storage. Under the center flip up seat is a 27 gallon aerated release well. • Standard helm seating is an aluminum leaning post with a removable 94 qt. cooler. The center console is elevated making is easier to clean around. It also features a “toe kick” for more foot room. The captain’s station has a brushed pewter look dash with tachometer, speedometer and

fuel gauge. Flush mounted in the console is a radio box for electronics or storage. The 2110SE steers easily with a stainless steel wheel with power knob and hydraulic steering. The console is topped off with a removable windshield for easy cleaning and a stainless steel grab rail. • 20 gallon aerated bait well under the forward console seat. Tooled into the floor is a cast net storage that comes with a three gallon bucket. Forward insulated cooler in the step up to the casting deck. This cooler has an overboard drain so it can double as an additional fish box when the fish are really biting. The casting deck includes 2 top entry rod lockers and a 30 gallon insulated fish box. All live wells and fish boxes drain overboard so that no “fish water” gets in the boat. Forward on the bow casting deck is a molded in anchor locker. Not only does the 2110SE have the comfort and fishabilty features that you need, it is built to last. Construction features include: • Wood Free Construction • Water Tight deusch electrical connectors on all pumps and lights • One piece molded foam filled stringer system • Limited Lifetime Warranty For more information about the NauticStar 2110 Special Edition visit their website, www.nauticstarboats.com

PHOTO: NAUTICSTAR

Suzuki Expands ‘Gimme Service’

NauticStar’s new model NauticBay 2110 SE.

Relying on 25 years of manufacturing experience in the boating industry, NauticStar, LLC has introduced the all new NauticBay 2110 Special Edition. The 2110SE is the second generation of NauticStar’s all time best seller. “In our research of the boating market we found T F & G

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BOTE Paddleboards are designed to be the most versatile craft on the water. BOTE is a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) that redefines the way people fish, paddle and surf. While BOTE designs and manufactures several different styles of board, BOTE’s flagship board remains the 12’ Fishing model. A 12’ BOTE has several unique features that separate it from any other paddleboard on the market. Toward the tail end of the board, the BOTE has recessed receivers that are used to secure the BOTE Post in place. The BOTE Post is an industry first. Constructed of powder coated, marine-grade aluminum, it is extremely lightweight and installs in seconds to the recessed receivers. Once in place, the angler has a dry place to store their rods, bags and any other gear. In addition to the BOTE Post, there are cleats glassed and secured to the board that are used to strap your favorite 35-quart cooler securely to the board. The cooler can be used as a seat or for storing your catch. It can also be tricked out to carry rods, paddles and other accessories or simply used to carry some cold ones. For more information, visit www.boteboard.com

Magnalight Adds Camo HID Golight Larson Electronics’ Magnalight has announced the addition of the GL3085H-M magnetically mounted HID Golight Stryker spotlight to its line of high power remote controlled spotlights. This 3000 lumen

Magnalight Camo HID Golight.

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remote controlled spotlight produces a light beam up to 5,000 feet long and is equipped with a magnetic base for simple and versatile mounting. A UV and weather resistant housing, high durability HID bulb, high torque gearing, tough camouflage finish and available GLS-LREDA red lens makes this a powerful and durable spotlight solution that is ideal for hunting, fishing, utility work, law enforcement and military applications. The GL-3085H-M magnetically mounted remote controlled HID Golight Stryker from Magnalight produces 3,000 lumens and a 5000 foot+ long beam of intense light from a single 35 watt HID bulb. A weatherproof wireless remote control with 100 feet of range and a spotlight movement of 360 degrees of rotation, and 170 degrees of tilt, provides full remote control functionality and makes this unit ideal for applications where operators need the ability to operate a spotlight while

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away from the central unit. These camouflage Golights have weatherproof and UV resistant housings constructed of impact resistant materials and a thick glass lens to provide rugged durability that can withstand abusive outdoor environments. Magnalight has equipped these Golights with a 200lbs grip magnetic base and a 16 foot, 16 AWG zip cord terminated with a cigarette plug to create an extremely versatile spotlight that can be mounted almost anywhere and will stay in place even under aggressive driving conditions. Magnalight has also added an available optional GLS-LRED red lens that allows the user to convert the output of this spotlight to a powerful red light beam and use this remote controlled spotlight for hunting applications. This red lens is constructed of Mylar and is easily applied over the existing lens via an adhesive backing without tools or damage to the original Golight lens. The optional red lens makes this an ideal spotlight solution for hog hunters, nuisance predator control, and nighttime tracking activities where hunters wish to avoid spooking potential game animals. These units operate on 12 volts DC and pull a small 3 amps, providing efficient operation as well as high power. “This camouflage spotlight gives predator hunters 360 degrees of rotation and 140 degrees of tilt in a compact, portable magnetic mount form factor that can be positioned with a wireless remote up to 100 feet away. Available with an optional red lens, this wireless spotlight is ideal for hogs, coyotes and other predator hunting applications.” said Rob Bresnahan with Larson Electronics’ Magnalight.com. The full line of Larson Electronics’ spotlights can be seen by visiting Magnalight.com. Magnalight can meet special order lighting requirements and can be contacted by calling 1-800-369-6671 or 1-214-616-6180 for international inquiries.

Photos: Bote, Larson Magnalight, Igloo, Altus Brands

BOTE Stands and Delivers

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Igloo Introduces Yukon Coolers

Igloo’s Yukon cooler.

Igloo Products Corp. of Katy, Texas, the nation’s largest cooler manufacturer, has introduced a series of four new performance “Cold Lockers” that promise ultimate performance for the serious outdoorsman. The new roto-molded series, Yukon, comes in 50, 70, 150 and 250 quart sizes and was designed by and for hunting and fishing enthusiasts. According to Igloo executive vice president of brand and product, David Thornhill, the new Yukon series Cold Lockers is designed for maximum cooling over multi-day trips for the preservation of catch or kill. “Igloo has been the category leader for many years with well-engineered, high performance coolers for virtually every outdoor activity. From feedback our customers provided, we saw a need for a better high performance cooler for the serious outdoorsman,” he said. “These coolers employ all the Igloo technology that we’ve developed over 65 years and are rugged, will hold temperature for seven to fourteen full days and are virtually indestructible. Working with an advisory team of sportsmen, guides and seasoned users, our engineers have designed the ultimate cold locker with greater cold retention, more features and better hardware than anything on the market today.” The Yukon cold lockers feature rotomolded construction with a minimum of three inches of foam in a gasketed lid, and two inches of foam in the cooler’s body, providing seven-fourteen day cold performance, depending on the body size. They have rugged, wide-grip, integrated handles that accommodate large or gloved hands and can act as tiedown loops. The integrated handles are more stable to carry than swinging rope handles and make the cold locker harder to steal. Each model has an oversized tethered drain plug to prevent loss and for easy draining and cleaning. They also have a textured, non-skid working and standing surface integrated into their lids and unique dual, reversible skid/ T F & G

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antiskid pads on the bottom. The lid is secured with durable, yet flexible rubber latches with finger grips. All stainless steel hinges, hardware and dual lid locks provide maximum security and deter animals. All of these features make the Yukon series the most durable cold lockers in the woods or on the water. All four Yukon models are white and include a fully foamed lid with an integrated fish measurement ruler and UV inhibitors to guard against sun damage. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for thee coolers are: 50-quart, $329.99.; 70-quar, $389.99;150-quart, $569.99; and 250-quart, $639.99. The series will be available at retail January 1, 2012. For more information, visit www. igloocoolers.com.

Hearing Protection for Kids More than ever the youth of the world face potential hearing loss from a wide variety of sources. Now the professionals at Altus Brands have introduced

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an exciting new product, the ReVO line of hearing protection ear muffs specifically designed for smaller heads and smaller ears. Altus Brand’s EVP Charlie Ricci made the announcement: “Our children have been at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to quality hearing protection. Most “youth” hearing protection is either very uncomfortable or more of a children’s toy. With the hundreds of ways kids are exposed to hearing damaging noise levels, especially in their formative years, we at Pro Ears were determined to create a product kids would want to wear AND that provided an adult level of protection. Our new ReVO line of passive hearing protection muffs are made to fit smaller heads comfortably, offer protection and with knock out graphics every kid will want to wear. ReVO Hearing Protection is a major advancement for all our children exposed to dangerous noise levels such as the shooting sports, rock concerts, auto racing and many other circumstances where high or constant noise levels can cause progressive hearing damage.” New ReVO Passive Muffs feature: • NRR 26 Protection • Adult level of protection with smaller interior circumference ear seals for a better fit on smaller head and ears • Tighter, adjustable radius headband • Super-Sized ProForm leather ear cushions reduces potential gaps around smaller ears • Exciting graphics kids will love. • One Year Warranty • Made in the USA Pro Ears quality and rugged dependability in hearing protection designed for the smaller sports enthusiast. For more information, visit www.pro-ears.com.

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Hot Winter Action

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Those who write January off are missing some of the best fishing opportunities.

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et your alarm. Get out your coveralls, heavy jacket, gloves and earmuffs and let’s go fishing in the morning. No, I am not kidding. You may want to grab some hand warmers too because it’s gonna be pretty cold out there. Sometimes on days like these, opting to stay under those warm covers may not be your best bet. January is often an overlooked month by many anglers who either don’t want to brave the frigid conditions or think their chances of getting on some nice fish are not good enough. Whatever the reason, those people who write January off are missing out on some of the best fishing opportunities that Sabine

Lake has to offer. Most people know that winter fishing has the potential to produce serious trophy trout. I think the numbers of solid trout and slot reds that the Sabine ecosystem yields each January would surprise a lot of people, however. Fishing for trophy trout this month always has been and always will be a common occurrence up and down the coast. The idea of catching limits of trout

though, when the wind chill factor dips deep into the 30’s doesn’t enter lots of people’s minds simply because they don’t think it can be done. The truth is, it can and does happen on a fairly consistent basis. The fact that it’s January, and not any of the other months that start with the same letter means that you might have to work a little harder, but when you find yourself in the right place at the right time the results can be very similar. The difference will be in the overall quality of the fish. When we locate schools of trout in January they are usually very solid fish so we don’t have to weed through a bunch of small ones to get to the keepers. Catching a mess of fish in the 18 to 22 inch range is not at all uncommon. The redfish bite can also be very good this month with most running in the mid to upper echelon of the slot. Finding bait is not always easy this time of year but if you happen to stumble upon any it wouldn’t be a bad idea to work that area over pretty good. More times than not, when we do find bait, we catch fish, and sometimes strike gold. Try to concentrate your efforts in the clearest water you can find in areas that have a good mud bottom. You never know when you’ll find yourself in the right place at the right time. Besides, man’s gotta fish, so you might want to rethink staying under those warm covers.

the bank bite Location: Mesquite Point (south end of Sabine Lake at the Causeway) Species: Whiting, croaker, reds and black drum Bait: Fresh dead shrimp, cut bait Best Times: Moving Tides Contact Eddie Hernandez at, EHernandez@fishgame.com 64 |

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Happy New Year!

anuary is not a banner month for fishing on the upper Texas coast. I am tempted to add, “under normal weather conditions” but Texas has always been notorious for not sticking to normal weather patterns, and the last few years have really intensified this situation. Droughts and record heat in the summer, coupled with a colder than normal winter last year would have even Al Gore scratching his head, wondering what comes next. The average January over several years will see some of the coolest weather—although this might not mean a freeze on the immediate coast. There might also be considerable rain, and periodic strong northerly winds when fronts blow through. This can contribute to extremely low tides and days when it probably isn’t wise or comfortable to be on the water. As I write this, I am practically giddy over getting rain here in the Freeport area twice in the same day for the first time in recent memory. Both morning and evening rains came from fronts moving down and along the coast, which also cooled things down, quite a bit. The feeling of a possible return to normalcy was tempered by a news report this morning that the Texas State Climatologist, whomever that might be, suggests the current trend to drought or drought-like conditions may continue through 2020. I joked after the bad drought two summers ago that I liked it so much – no mud, mosquitoes, poison ivy or grass to mow – that I might move to the desert. If dry weather stretches that long, the desert will be moving to me. Severe lack of rain not only dries up freshwater ponds and lakes, and sometimes water wells, but it also adversely affects T F & G

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the saltwater ecology. Higher than normal salinities can draw offshore species into bay systems and rivers, but the bad news is most bay species and shellfish such as shrimp and oysters need some freshwater influx into their nursery areas for survival.The hot, dry weather also plays hell with oxygen content of the water, which can harm both fish and plants. Red tide outbreaks were more common than normal during the late summer and early fall of 2011, resulting in fish kills. It got so bad in the “New” Brazos River at Freeport in late September we could smell dead fish well into town. David Butler, Biologist and Assistant Area manager of the Justin Hurst WMA near Jones Creek, said that their marshes have been dry all summer, producing no forage plants for waterfowl. He suspects the 2011 teal season will go down as the worst in history, with a success rate of only 0.68 teal per hunter. To make it even worse, tides over the summer were so low there was not even saltwater in the mashes. These marshes

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are also nursery areas for fish and shrimp, so this is a double whammy. January is not always a dead month, of course. Many years ago I guided a good friend to a 30 pound bull red—his first—in the mouth of the “New” Brazos river on cut mullet, and the next morning we watched some local experts snag quite a few flounder along the bank in front of us. They were mostly walking their baits down the riverbank slowly on the shallow side of the drop to deeper water. Another January even further back I rowed big mullet baits out in the Galveston surf near San Luis Pass in my old 8 foot inflatable and got a nice red, plus a black tip shark in the 25 pound class. This was a warm weekend for January, and I also saw a 20-pound or so jack crevalle beached and caught a glimpse of a sizeable tarpon between breakers as I was hauling a bait out further than I could cast with a 14 foot

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Lower Tides and Temps Push Fish Deeper

old water, north winds, gray clouds and low tides are pictures of January. By now, many anglers have winterized their boats and tackle, tucking it in the corner of the closet or locking it away in storage until the first buds of spring. However, for those able to make a mad dash to the bay between cold fronts, January can be just as productive as its autumn pre-

decessors. It is all weather-dependent—if the weather allows you to fish, fish, if not, hunt. That has become the plight of many outdoorsmen and, because of the hunting option, the bays are often quiet from the lack of boats. The lack of boat traffic allows you to work whatever shoreline you want without worry about people running over you and

the fish. Muddy bottoms on the south shoreline of East Bay are an obvious player since mud is a few degrees warmer in the winter. Corkies are premiere winter baits, but topwaters get the nod on those warm, clear afternoon. By January, shrimp have left the bays and speckled trout adapt their diet to finfish. That’s when slow-sinking mullet imitation plugs like Catch 5s, Catch 2000s, MirrOlure 51Ms, 52Ms and Corkies go to work. Flipping mullet are tell-tale signs that specks are in the area; however, even though you don’t see active baitfish, that doesn’t mean the fish are not there. Work baits ultra-slow since cold weather turns fish in to methodical creatures. Locales receiving the most tidal flow often hold the majority of schools - that means reefs and mud flats adjacent to the Intracoastal in East Matagorda Bay. Brown Cedar Flats, Chinquapin Reefs, Bird Island, Half Moon Reef and the Log are all proven winter spots holding healthy specks.

GALVESTON t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 Fenwick surf rod. To paraphrase a marlin-fishing buddy of mine, “you have to fish where they live – and you must be present to win!” If a warm day presents itself—or if you don’t really mind duck hunting weather—go fishing!

the bank bite Location: Close to deep water: edges of channels, high tide surf Alternate Spot: Beachfront piers, rock groins, and jetties Species: Panfish such as croaker, sand trout and whiting, mixed with a “lucky” 66 |

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Photo: Texas Fish & Game

Carolina-rigged mullet or fresh table shrimp for redfish. Nocturnal anglers with access to a boat take their own lights and power up in 7-9 feet of water. The colder the better.

the bank bite

Fish seek deeper waters as the tides slow and the temperatures fall.

Location: Piers along the Colorado River

Baits: Glow Bass Assassins, TTF plastics, Norton plastics and Gulps When: Moving tide Capt. Bink Grimes owns and operates Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay (www. matagordasunriselodge.com). Contact him at BGrimes@fishgame.com

Drifting is also an option, especially with low-tide winter water levels. East Bay is often 2-3 feet below noral in January, depending how hard the north wind blows. Raymond Shoals, Boiler Bayou, Pipeline Reef and Cleveland Reef hold good fish during the winter; and, when tides are extremely low, shoreline redfish move off the flats to these reefs in the middle of the bay. When the wind really blows, never discount the Colorado River. Trout congregate in the deep, warm waters of the Colorado, and with the drought allowing salinity levels to rise several miles upstream, the entire river all the way to Bay City has potential. Low tides in West Bay drain the delta at the mouth of the Diversion Channel and funnel all fish to the deep channel. Anglers drift across the channel with plum, black or glow soft plastics or troll with heavyheaded jigs. Many boaters Power Pole down along the drop-off and fish Gulps for trout and redfish; and, live-baiters toss

FOCUS redfish, flounder, or speckled trout. Best Baits: Dead baits can be fished with fewer problems from crabs and small â&#x20AC;&#x153;bait stealers in cooler water, and provide a scent trail to attract more desirable species. When live bait is available, if is always worth a try. Best Times: Under warming sunshine, even in mid-day with a cooperative (moving) tide, but fishing under lights at night can pay off with speckled trout even in cold water. 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. T F & G

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A Boy’s Favorite Fish

was almost six years old and was accompanying my Dad and family as we floundered off of Galveston Island. Early morning, I heard the hiss of his Coleman lantern and I was up from my sleeping bag in the bed of his ‘59 Ford Pickup in hopes I could go with him as he waded the near shore for some really nice saddle blanket flounder. To ask to go would be futile, but rather if I helped get things ready, like the inner tube that carried the battery for the old car headlight or, if he preferred, the white gas Coleman lantern onto which he had strategically placed tin foil for optimum light reflection. I never really figured out why or when he used one light apparatus over the other but he always knew. Maybe if I let him know the homemade gaff was good and sharp, perhaps he would turn to me and say “Get your tennis shoes on and a shirt. Might need your help before the sun comes up.” As I watched him slowly disappear, lantern in hand, gaff on the ready, I knew I was on my own ‘til my Mom and siblings managed to get out of bed. A six-year-old on the long beaches of Galveston had no end to entertainment and, as luck would have it, I stumbled onto an old fishing line and gently pulled it from its sand grave as I walked. I coiled the line around a coke bottle — it seemed to be endless — and made an unusually straight line in the sand as it was unearthed. After what seemed like miles of unending coiling, the line became stuck. Having all the time in the world on my hands, I

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began to dig and, jackpot!, attached was a 1/2 ounce sinker and two J hooks, one of which was rusted so bad it fell apart when I handled it; the other, though, was rusty but good enough to put bait on. This youngster quickly had a plan, when Dad got back I would have some fish to add to the family ice chest. With the added discovery of a bag of old, smelly shrimp that someone had thrown away on the beach, I was in business. I walked to the nearest jetty and maneuvered half way out to the end of the giant granite squares. Taking the line and baited hook I twirled it over my head and plopped it neatly about 15 feet out in the water. The bite was immediate and, hand over hand, I pulled my first fish in and laid it squirming on the granite. I had no place to put it though, so I wrapped the line around its body to insure it would not get away, and quickly looked for a bucket or something to secure my catch. No buckets, no nets, no stringers. I did find an old piece of rope that was a bit fat for a stringer, but I made do with it. Throw after throw I caught fish and my improvised stringer was quickly heavy with over 20 of them. I was the man! My Mom would be proud, my Dad would take me with him next time as I proved my worth, my sister and older brother would be jealous as this fisherman—the younger of the three—was hauling the load for our family. Putting the fish on the fat rope stringer was no easy task and multiple times they finned me as I managed to get the rope through the gills and out of the mouth, but I was proud none of them escaped. The stringer became almost too heavy for me to carry, so I dragged it most of the way across the granite obstacle course, more than once almost losing the whole catch in cavernous cracks. By the time I reached the end of the jetty I was glad the rusty hook had finally broken, ending my catch; for at this point,

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dragging my treasure on the sand was the best I could do. The sun was now up and I could see my Dad had returned. He, my Mom and siblings were watching as I made my way to our beach camp. With every step I got more energy. The family would talk about this forever, the young boy and the sea. I could talk about this at show and tell at school. The meat it provided would let my Mom and Dad take a break and not work so hard. I could use my Dad’s special knife to clean them. The final few steps, I did not feel the weight of my stringer. I halted and let the stringer come to rest at the feet of my family. I never looked up, but rather waited for the verbal accolades. I waited. All was silent. After what seemed an eternity I looked up and, to my sheer joy, I saw an astonished look on their faces. I slowly said, “Do you think I can borrow your knife to clean these, Dad?” “Well son, uhhh,” he said, “of course you can.” My Mom said “and there are so many I am sure he will help you!” “No thanks,” I said, “I caught them. I will clean them, ain’t that right Dad?” “You bet!” he said, “but let me give you some clippers to cut those fins off, I don’t want them to fin you now.” “Ah,” I said, “they ain’t bad. See? They already got me quite a few times putting them on the stringer,” and I stuck out my hands to show them. Every finger was swollen up like a corn dog on a stick and the back of my hands were puffed up like cat head biscuits in an oven. My Mom eyes filled with tears as she turned away — guess that darn sand was blowing again. My Dad said “Don’t think I’ve seen a finer catch, ain’t that right?” as he looked at my sister and brother with a stern look. Quietly they agreed. I supposed they were still in shock at my grand catch. My Mom and Dad helped me clean the A L M A N A C

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fish as my arms, hands and fingers were too sore for me to do it alone. Mom then crushed up three aspirin in a spoon with a little sugar and gave it to me saying it would help with the swelling. At the supper table later there were two platters, one with my Dad’s catch and the other with my catch, of which I ate with the enthusiasm of a great fisherman. Upon my prodding, my folks would pull a piece off of my platter and eat it with oooos and ahhhs.

Aransas Bay — Grass Island Reef is good for trout using Berkley Gulp shrimp under a soft rattling cork. Subtle rattles is the key here as too much noise will adversely affect the bite action. Deadman Island is good for black drum using peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig. Cuts close/coming out of Big Island are great for trout on a falling tide using soft plastics in new penny and salt and pepper colors.

Fast forward to today... When new clients to saltwater fishing are on my boat and a lowly hardhead is on the hook, the question is almost always, “What is that?” and “Is it good to eat?” I smile, think back, and tell them “They ate good when I was a boy, but they are painful to clean.”

Carlos Bay — Carlos Dugout is good on the coldest days for trout and reds using deep running crank baits in bone and white and red colors. Throw them up next to the shell banks and let the crank bait work SLOWLY into deeper water. North side of Spalding Reef is good for trout on high tides using free lined shrimp.

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on’t let people tell you that no fish are caught in January; a slow and quiet approach is needed. This is trolling motor territory but if you are like me and don’t have a trolling motor then get the wind at your back and quietly drift into your chosen fishing spots. Or, get out and quietly pull your boat into your fishing spot like an old friend and master guide and fisherman Robert Brooks (1-361-7297170) taught me to do years ago.

Mesquite Bay — Wade fish the reefs on either side of Cedar Bayou entrance. This is soft plastic heaven with morning glory and pumpkin seed colors being my favorites for some nice trout. Beldon Dugout is good for reds using cut menhaden on a Carolina rig.

a strong north wind blows small amounts of bait are blown up to Ayres Reef where reds and trout feed just after the strong blow. Moving down the length of the reef until you find fish is the key here with live shrimp the preferred bait.

the bank bite Wading Fulton Beach in between the piers is good for nice trout using soft plastics and live shrimp. Use stout line here as most bites will come close over the many piers that are in this area and you will have to horse/strong arm the fish away from the pilings or get cut off. Be sure you have permission to cross property to get to the water as most of water access is privately owned here.

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

Ayers Bay — The black drum bite is good here against Ayers Island and Rattlesnake Island using cut squid or peeled shrimp. Ease in quietly as this is a closed in area and the fish are easily spooked. After

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

Copano Bay — On gin clear days I do well for trout here using soft plastics in morning glory and plum colors. On high tide close to grass lines that are adjacent to soft black mud bottoms, dig mud with your retrieves if you can see a slight mud trail behind your lure you’re on the game for reds. The west finger of Shell Bank Reef still holding trout with the above colors and live shrimp on a soft rattling cork. St. Charles Bay — On high tide the mouth of East Pocket close to the channel between Aransas Bay and St. Charles Bay is good for trout and reds using cut mullet for reds and live shrimp for trout. The rig of choice here is a rattle cork as the bottom is nothing but sharp oyster shell. On a waning tide the mouth of Cow Chip is the place for keeper reds. Mud minnows, if you can find them, are preferred but cut mullet and or sardines work as well. T F & G

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Hunting Tatanka

any anglers spend January at home cleaning tackle, getting caught up on their Honey Do’s or cursing their favorite football team that was out of the playoff hunt back in October. January’s up-and-down weather makes planning a fishing trip an iffy proposition at best, and even when you can get out, there is no guarantee that there will be trout or redfish around to make the run to

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the Lower Laguna Madre worth the effort. Anglers who are willing to modify their targets to a different quarry can have plenty of action, even when the weather is snotty. There is no need for specialized tackle or for neoprene waders that can withstand an Arctic Gale that would make Sg Hansen and the stalwart crew of the Northwestern pause. In fact, you may be at an advantage if you simplify your approach when hunting the tatanka of the coast, the black drum. Some sharpies along Lower Laguna Madre have taken to calling the schools of foraging black drum “Tatanka,” which as we all know from the Kevin Costner horse opera “Dances With Wolves,” is “bison” in the Lakota language. The name is not

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unjustified. Much like their wooly namesakes, black drum are burly, large, and they tend to roam the breadth and width of LLM foraging. Much like the bison, they may also be one of the toughest critters in their habitat. A 2-5 pound blackie can put up a stout fight on trout tackle, and tangling with one of the 30 to 40 pound beasts that lucky anglers sometimes latch into is often likened to reeling a bowling ball up a sharp incline. It isn’t difficult to find an area that produces good numbers of black drum. Just a little north and west of the Causeway is a broad flat near the current Pirate’s Fishing Pier, a long cast from the pier can easily reach the area. The best times to fish the

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area are the calm days after a cold front, and at night during the full moon. Large shrimp on a Carolina rig work well for these bruisers—most of the fish will be over the maximum 30-inch slot—but the best bait for large black drum are crab chunks with the carapace removed. Pass a 5/0 circle hook through a leg socket and out the top of the crab, chunk the whole rig out, and set the rod in a holder to wait. Many anglers have recently begun using sea lice—or mantis shrimp—for bait. In the winter, sea lice are easier to find than fresh shrimp. The trick is to remove the beasty’s head, peal back some of the carapace to let more scent ooze out of the body, thread it on a hook through the tail, and chuck it out. Experience has taught me that tatanka won’t pass up a sea lice as an easy meal. Another spot that often gets overlooked when it comes to hunting tatanka are the deeper holes that are formed around the fishing shacks along the edge of the ICW. Black drum tend to mill around in these holes when the tide is washing off the flats behind the shacks. The docks act as a current break, and crustaceans get washed into the areas. Drop your anchor or Power Pole next to the end of the shacks dock—usually on the North side—and cast into the deeper water in front of and parallel to the shack. It is considered bad form to tie off to a shack’s dock, except in the case of a real emergency. A standard free-line rig with a #3 split shot and size 1/0 Khale hook is a practical choice. Live or fresh shrimp is best, but again, crab isn’t a bad option if bugs aren’t easily available. If the run to the shacks is a bit long for you—it’s a 30 minute run with even a large motor—an easier-accessed spot is the mouth of South Bay. This spot is a quick 5-to-10 minute run from most put-in points. On an outgoing tide, anchor on the edge of the channel mouth that opens out of South Bay, and use the same free-lining techniques that you would on the ICW. Sometimes, the tidal flow is stronger than normal (especially during the full moon), so a heavier weight or even a ¼ ounce jighead tipped with shrimp is a necessity. If the current is forming and eddy at the end of the mouth, set up down current of the eddy, cast into it, and let your bait flow out to the fish. It won’t take too long before you feel that tell-tale “thump!” It isn’t a bad idea to use stouter 17-20 pound tackle for this application; there T F & G

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aren’t any real snags in the area, but it’s much easier to turn one of these finny bulldozers with the heavier stuff. Even when the weather sours, you will have some good fishing opportunities on the Lower Laguna Madre. Just put on your best Kevin Costner scowl, and go after a tatanka or two.

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the bank bite Location: Fish Bones Fishing Pier GPS: N26 04.39, W97 10.12 Species: Sheepshead, drum, whiting, sand trout. Techniques: Freelined live shrimp, fresh bait on the bottom. Contact Calixto Gonzales at CGonzales@fishgame.com

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UPPER GULF COAST GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes. minutes). Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information specific to your GPS device.

Hail Mary for Matagorda Reds by TOM BEHRENS tbehrens@fishgame.com

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: St. Mary’s Bayou GPS: N28 39.56802, W95 56.54298 (28.659467, -95.942383) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnow with a 1/4 or 3/8-ounce; lead head jig CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281450-4037 TIPS: Drift scattered shell bouncing Bull Minnows off the bottom. LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Catchall Basin GPS: N28 42.19698, W95 46.61202 (28.703283, -95.776867) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Corkys in a chartreuse color CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281450-4037 TIPS: Wade-fish for big speckled trout. LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Tabbs Bay GPS: N29 41.63502, W94 56.54202 (29.693917, -94.942367) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin soft plastics using a 1/16-ounce jigheads CONTACT: Capt. Steve Hillman, 409256-7937 TIPS: Calcasieu Brew or 10/40 are good colors for off colored water.

GPS: N29 58.6128, W93 49.527 (29.976880, -93.825450) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with 1/8ounce; jigheads CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins, 409673-9211 TIPS: Look for fish in the channel dropoffs. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Stewts Island GPS: N29 57.89898, W93 50.89998 (29.964983, -93.848333) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Corkys, Catch 5, and Catch 2000 CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins, 409673-9211 TIPS: The trout will be suspended over shell bottom in the deeper water. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Bessie Heights GPS: N30 1.99608, W93 56.07702 (30.033268, -93.934617) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Gulp with a 1/4-ounce jighead CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins, 409673-9211 TIPS: Redfish will be in 2-4 feet of water along the shorelines over mud and shell.

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HOTSPOT: Greens Cut GPS: N29 16.06002, W94 59.36502 (29.267667, -94.989417) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin soft plastics with a 1/16-ounce jigheads CONTACT: Capt. Steve Hillman, 409256-7937 TIPS: Drift color changes about a mile in front of Greens Cut. LOCATION: West Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Starvation Cove GPS: N29 14.18202, W94 56.46102 (29.236367, -94.941017) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Limetreuse Bass Assassin soft plastics with a 1/16-ounce jigheads CONTACT: Capt. Steve Hillman, 409256-7937 TIPS: Deep guts are the key for big trout. LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cottons Bayou GPS: N28 30.60198, W96 12.603 (28.510033, -96.210050) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: 51 or 52 series MirrOLures CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281450-4037 TIPS: The fish at this time of the year are feeding on finfish. Look for “streaky” water over scattered shell bottoms. LOCATION: Matagorda HOTSPOT: River Channel GPS: N28 41.75802, W95 58.67598 (28.695967, -95.977933) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Crème Lit’l Fishie in chartreuse or hot pink CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281450-4037 TIPS: The colder the water the deeper the fish will be in the river channel. Drift with the current trolling your lure. A L M A N A C

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4-5 feet of water.

MIDDLE GULF COAST

Nueces Specks Under the Birds by TOM BEHRENS tbehrens@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Nueces Bay HOTSPOT: Nueces Bay GPS: N27 51.89298, W97 21.13002 (27.864883, -97.352167) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Bill Sheka, 361-9917191 TIPS: Look for bird action. LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Big Slough GPS: N27 51.77424, W97 3.32982 (27.862904, -97.055497) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: dead shrimp and cut mullet CONTACT: Capt. Charles Newton 361729-8220 TIPS: The entrance to this Big Slough is an awesome place to catch redfish with dead shrimp or cut mullet. Anchor up and cast toward the slough, move up or down the channel till you find them.

LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Army Hole GPS: N28 19.75098, W96 28.45602 (28.329183, -96.474267) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Cut mullet CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 888677-4868 TIPS: Keep the bait on the bottom. LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: South Pass Lake GPS: N28 17.53398, W96 35.36502 (28.292233, -96.589417) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Bone colored topwater lures CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 888677-4868 TIPS: Wade the windward shorelines. Key on stained waters. LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Drum Hole GPS: N28 19.59798, W96 40.76202 (28.326633, -96.679367) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Plum or chartreuse soft plastics with 1/8-ounce; jigheads CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 888677-4868

TIPS: Drift fish area shell pads off the Victoria Barge Canal.

LOWER GULF COAST

Badlands Good News for Trouters by CALIXTO GONZALES cgonzales@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: The Badlands GPS: N27 18.228, W97 26.43498 (27.303800, -97.440583) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Corkies, large soft plastics in dark patterns, chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361449-7441 TIPS: A classic spot for winter trophy specks. Fish around and through color changes with lightly weighted soft plastics or with topwaters. The wading is a bit hairy because of soft mud, but a 25+-inch fish makes it worth the effort. HOTSPOT: Los Corrales GPS: N27 16.413, W97 29.94102 (27.273550, -97.499017)

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Indian Point GPS: N27 51.32598, W97 21.85002 (27.855433, -97.364167) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bubble Cork rigs CONTACT: Capt. Bill Sheka, 361-9917191 TIPS: Fish the edges of the reefs or drift flats LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Corpus Christi Bay Front GPS: N27 45.819, W97 22.43202 (27.763650, -97.373867) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Bill Sheka, 361-9917191 TIPS: Fish close to the rocks in about T F & G

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SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in plum/chartreuse, Morning Glory, Baffin Magic CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361449-7441 TIPS: When the wind is pushing out of the Southeast, Los Corrales becomes an area of focus. Fish soft plastics on the lightest heads possible and fish them slowly. Dark colors are best, especially with gold flake in them. LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Black’s Bluff GPS: N27 13.97202, W97 31.11198 (27.232867, -97.518533) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: live bait; Catch 5 or Catch 2000’s or Topwaters in chrome/blue, baby trout, soft plastics in Baffin Magic, Morning Glory, plum/chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361985-6089, 361-449-7441, brushcountrycharters.com TIPS: Aside from nervous bait, look for brown pelicans to tip you off on bait and fish. Once you find them, fish deep water with soft plastics and suspending plugs.

Work lures slowly and feel for light bites. Braid is very helpful for the latter. LOCATION: Brazos-Santiago Pass HOTSPOT: North Jetties GPS: N26 4.07256, W97 9.19548 (26.067876, -97.153258) SPECIES: sheepshead BEST BAITS: shrimp, fresh shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: The surf side of the North jetties holds sheepshead during January. Present live or fresh shrimp under a popping cork near the rocks. Use long rods (about 7 1/2 or 8-foot) for better leverage to hoist fish out from snags. LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Rattlesnake Cove GPS: N26 19.56, W97 19.57002 (26.326000, -97.326167) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Gold spoons, Topwaters in Bone CONTACT: Captain Steven Devries, 956289-3631 TIPS: Use a topwater near the shoreline

on a sunny morning. Switch to a gold spoon later in the day. Watch for bait and mud boils as clues to where the fish are. LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N26 27.64002, W97 22.24992 (26.460667, -97.370832) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Soft baits in Pearl/chartreuse, glow/chartreuse, purple/chartreuse, gold spoons CONTACT: Captain Steven Devries, 956289-3631 TIPS: Focus on warm days and use gold spoons, towaters, or jerkbaits in gold and chartreuse patterns. Watch for cruising schools of redfish disturbing water as they forage. If you don’t spot any fish, work deeper. LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Peyton’s Bay GPS: N26 24.528, W97 21.03 (26.408800, -97.350500) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft baits in Pearl/chartreuse, glow/chartreuse, purple/chartreuse, gold spoons CONTACT: Captain Steven Devries, 956289-3631 TIPS: Work around the sand edges and the color changes they form. When using topwaters, fish with a slow retrieve. Fish plastics on light jigheads near guts and edges. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Long Bar GPS: N26 12.16398, W97 15.957 (26.202733, -97.265950) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Logic Lure Texas Tandems in Tequila Gold, Root beer/gold flake, topwaters early CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956561- 4535 TIPS: Trout will hold in the deeper water around the edges of the Bar and the ICW. Bundle up and fish a Texas Tandem slowly near the bottom. If the weather warms up, then try working on the bar itself with a slightly faster retrieve.

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LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Queen Isabella Causeway GPS: N26 5.16486, W97 10.59972 (26.086081, -97.176662) SPECIES: black drum BEST BAITS: live or fresh shrimp, crab chunks CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: It isn’t difficult to find some good drum fishing near the Causeway in winter. Anchor on either side of the ICW near the causeway and fish the flats with shrimp or crab chunks on bottom rigs. Use a freeline rig with either bait and a 2/0 hook. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Port Isabel Turning Basin GPS: N26 3.65676, W97 12.873 (26.060946, -97.214550) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live shrimp/freeline rig, soft plastics CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: Cooler days send trout into deeper water. Fish the edge of the drop-off near the Banana Docks with live bait on split shot rig. You can also rig a Pearl Gulp! on a 1/4-ounce bait and fish near the bottom. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: Gaswell Flats GPS: N26 13.81098, W97 15.42198 (26.230183, -97.257033) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: live shrimp, cut bait, gold spoons, tandem rigs in black/glow, glow/ chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956561-3545 TIPS: When the north wind backs off and turns Southeast, fresh tides will flood the flat. Redfish follow the water and fee along grasslines. Fish a Tequila Gold tandem around potholes for best results. You can also sight fish reds sitting in potholes. LOCATION: South Padre Island HOTSPOT: The Shacks GPS: N26 14.38146, W97 16.79898 (26.239691, -97.279983) SPECIES: black drum BEST BAITS: live shrimp, fresh shrimp CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the deep holes in front of the T F & G

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docks of fishing shacks were with live or fresh shrimp on a split shot rig. Outgoing tide is best when current pushes off the flats behind the shacks. Keep a finger on your line. A nip could be a 20-pounder!

PINEY WOODS

Whites on White at Livingston by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: White Rock Creek GPS: N30 58.45476, W95 20.30172 (30.974246, -95.338362) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Roadrunners, Bear Paws Crippled Shad, Rat-L-Traps, Blue Fox, Sassy Shads CONTACT: David S. Cox, dave@palmettoguideservice.com, 936-291-9602, palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: The best time to fish here is following a warming trend after a 1-2-inch rain with the water temperature 60 degrees or warmer. Fish all the way up the creek until the water clears. Fish sand bars and points where they drop into deeper holes. LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N30 23.7141, W95 35.41422 (30.395235, -95.590237) SPECIES: hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: live shad, Storm Swim Shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch, admin@ fishdudetx.com, 936-291-1277, fishdudetx.com TIPS: The hybrid stripers are schooling around ledges along the river channel. Find the shad and you will find the hybrids. The hybrids will run the shad up on these ledges and then move out to 20-40 feet as the water temperatures drop. LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: East Side of Big Green Break GPS: N32 43.62186, W94 2.30862 (32.727031, -94.038477)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, Creature baits, lipless crankbaits CONTACT: Paul Keith, caddoguide1@ att.net, 318-455-3437, caddolakefishing. com TIPS: Fish the dark-colored jigs and Creature baits at the base of the cypress trees in 3-5 feet of water. Fish red lipless crankbaits over the grass on the flats in the same area. Also fish the lotus pads where you find them. LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Little Caney Creek GPS: N32 49.829, W95 33.703 SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: crappie jigs, minnows CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff, 903-5302201, ricky@rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Crappie will be good at the mouth of Little Caney on the humps. Remember, the crappie limits change on Fork during the winter months to “No cull” and first 25 you catch. LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: River Bend GPS: N30 45.31326, W95 8.09136 (30.755221, -95.134856) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh carp, buffalo fish, tilapia CONTACT: Dave Cox, dave@palmettoguideservice.com, 936-291-9602, palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Use a Carolina rig with 1/2 to 1-ounce egg sinker. Cut the bait into chunks or slices and drift it on the bottom in 12-feet deep water to where the river channel drops to 45 feet. Expect to catch huge blue catfish and flathead catfish here. LOCATION: Toledo Bend Res. HOTSPOT: Huxley Area River Channel GPS: N31 44.43198, W93 49.67796 (31.740533, -93.827966) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Shiners, jigs CONTACT: Greg Crafts, gregcrafts@ yahoo.com, 936-368-7151, toledobendguide.com TIPS: January is a time when most 76 |

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anglers are fishing main lake river channel ledges and drop-offs over planted or natural cover for our world-renowned crappie. Note that the creel limits have been reduced from 50 to 25 per person and no minimum length.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

Bass Go Flat on Palestine by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Flat Creek GPS: N32 13.02936, W95 32.91654 (32.217156, -95.548609) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Shimmy Shaker, Yellow Magic, spinnerbait, small crankbait, jig CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff, ricky@ rickysguideservice.com, 903-561-7299, rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Little has changed since December except maybe colder water temperatures. The bass still will be in the backs of the creeks on the bends in the channels. Smaller bass will be on main lake points. Docks with two to four feet of water also are good. LOCATION: Cedar Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N32 10.85448, W96 4.64646 (32.180908, -96.077441) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs, Berkley Crappie Nibbles CONTACT: Jason Barber, kingcreekadventures@yahoo.com, 903-887-7896, kingcreekadventures.com TIPS: Use a double rig and tip each 1/32 or 1/8-ounce jig with a Berkley Crappie Nibble. Experiment with various colors at different depths. Drift the jigs as slowly as possible across long stretches. When fish are found focus on that area.

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LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: Mud Bank GPS: N30 19.24392, W96 34.90596 (30.320732, -96.581766) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Cut bait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, weldon_ edna@hotmail.com, 979-229-3103, FishTalesGuideService.com TIPS: This is a good area for drift fishing through March. Use a Carolina rig with a 3-4-foot leader, small cork one-foot from the hook. Drift at 1/2 M.P.H. across the area for big blue catfish. This also is a good area to set jugs. LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: Hog Pond Trees GPS: N29 55.27806, W96 43.23294 (29.921301, -96.720549) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Stinkbait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, weldoon_ edna@hotmail.com, 979-229-3103, FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: These trees provide a good block from north winds. Catfish are in pre-spawn mode. Chum close to the boat and fish vertically. There are lots of stumps so bring the fish in as fast as possible. LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Gibbons Creek Channel GPS: N30 38.53794, W96 2.6787 (30.642299, -96.044645) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, fresh shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, weldon_ edna@hotmail.com, 979-229-3103, FishTalesGuideService.com TIPS: Gibbons Creek comes close to the shore here. There are lots of stumps in 12 feet of water. Tight line here for blue catfish using a Carolina rig. Use a 3/4-ounce egg sinker with No.4 treble hook for punch bait and 2-ought Kahle hook for shad. LOCATION: Lake Aquilla HOTSPOT: Deep Humps GPS: N31 54.72192, W97 12.3543 (31.912032, -97.205905) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Slabs A L M A N A C

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CONTACT: Randy Routh, teamredneck01@hotmail.com, 817-822-5539, teamredneck.net TIPS: Use your graph to locate schools of white bass on the edges of the humps. I start on the bottom lifting and dropping the Slab. Keep binoculars handy to find birds feeding over the schools. Try different columns of water until you get strikes. LOCATION: Lake Cooper HOTSPOT: Deep River Hole GPS: N33 18.7836, W95 40.18056 (33.313060, -95.669676) SPECIES: hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: Spoons, Slabs, Sassy Shads CONTACT: Tony Parker, tawakonifihing@yahoo.com, 903-348-1619, tonyparkerfishing.com TIPS: Expect the bite to be very slow. The best action will be in the deepest part of the lake off the sides of humps. Fish the lures dead-stick style by just lowering them and holding them still. Check boat ramp access ahead of your trip.

LOCATION: Lake Lewisville HOTSPOT: Old Lake Dallas Channel GPS: N33 7.4016, W96 59.7306 (33.123360, -96.995510) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh gizzard or threadfin shad CONTACT: Bobby Kubin, bobby@ bobby-catfishing.com, 817-455-2894, bobby-catfishing.com TIPS: Drift fishing still produces some catfish but your best bet is to anchor on the main lake humps and submerged creek channels 30-60 feet deep. Anchor over areas where you locate schools of shad. Use fresh gizzard or threadfin shad with Dead Red Blood. LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Henderson Point GPS: N32 11.7438, W95 29.1654 (32.195730, -95.486090) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Spoons, topwater lures CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff, ricky@ rickysguideservice.com, 903-561-7299,

www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Target Henderson Point early and then move to other major points further down the lake. Watch for bird activity over feeding schools of white bass. LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Big Creek Area GPS: N30 19.21812, W96 34.80648 (30.320302, -96.580108) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Shad, cut bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, weldon_ edna@hotmail.com, 979-229-3103, FishTales-GuideService.com TIPS: This is a good area to drift from now through March. Use a Carolina rig with 3-4-foot leader and a small cork onefoot above the hook. Drift at 1/2 M.P.H. to catch big blue catfish. This also is a good area to set jugs. LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni HOTSPOT: Main Lake Channel GPS: N32 52.98282, W95 58.92336 (32.883047, -95.982056)

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: The Dam GPS: N33 1.9791, W96 28.14 (33.032985, -96.469000) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: small minnows, crappie jigs CONTACT: Billy Kilpatrick, straightlineguide@yahoo.com, 214-232-7847, straightlineguide.com TIPS: Use sonar to find humps and brush piles along the dam. Small shadcolored jigs and small minnows work best. Expect non-aggressive bites. Use ultra-light rods with 6 or 8-pound test line. LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Power Plant GPS: N33 2.21976, W96 31.37904 (33.036996, -96.522984) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: live shad, punch bait CONTACT: Billy Kilpatrick, straightlineguide@yahoo.com, 214-232-7847, straightlineguide.com TIPS: Catfish are feeding around the power plant discharge. The bite may be slight so set the hook at any indication of a strike. Some very large blue catfish feed in this area. T F & G

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SPECIES: hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: Bass Assisan on lead head jig

CONTACT: Tony Parker, tawakonifishing@yahoo.com, 903-318-1619, tonyparkerfishing.com TIPS: The hybrid stripers are suspended in 20-24 feet of water around the main channel. Look for baitfish and birds to tip you off where the fish are. Use a oneounce lead head jig with shad-colored Bass Assassin or similar lure. Use trolling motor or drift. LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Paw Paw Creek GPS: N33 51.41022, W96 52.54374 (33.856837, -96.875729) SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, Roadrunners CONTACT: Bill Carey, bigfish@striperexpress.com, 877-786-4477, striperexpress.com TIPS: January is big fish month here. Stripers to 20-pounds plus will hold on structure. Use a one-ounce Roadrunner or 7-inch Sassy Shad on main-lake points, mouths of creeks and humps near deep

water. Baitfishing with shad also will catch them. LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: State Park Flats GPS: N31 54.94296, W97 21.57846 (31.915716, -97.359641) SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Wild Eyed Shad, Bass Assassin CONTACT: Randy Routh, teamredneck@hotmail.com, 817-822-5539, teamredneck.net TIPS: The cold temps have pushed the shad out of the creeks. Big schools of bait are roaming the flats. Make long casts behind the boat and slow-troll the lures. Move to the drop-offs when the sun is high. Chartreuse is the best color. Expect soft bites. LOCATION: Richland Chambers Res. HOTSPOT: 309 Flats GPS: N31 58.37718, W96 7.04508 (31.972953, -96.117418) SPECIES: hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: One-ounce Silver Glitter RSR Shad Slabs CONTACT: Royce and Adam Simmons,

royce@gonefishing.biz, 903-389-4117, www.gonefishing.biz TIPS: Watch for gulls and pelicans picking up shad off the surface. Concentrate on drop-offs and ridges here in 20-30 feet of water. Bounce the Slab off the bottom. Expect lots of white bass catches plus some big hybrid stripers.

PANHANDLE

Buzz Ivie for Grassy Bass by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: OH Ivie Res. HOTSPOT: Main Lake Grassbeds GPS: N31 32.62308, W99 39.82548 (31.543718, -99.663758) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, plastic worms CONTACT: Dave Caudle, fishinwithdave@aol.com, 325-365-1020, fishinwithdave.com TIPS: Bass continue to be in the grass beds. Work a buzzbait or spinnerbait over the grass beds early and then fish pockets and the edges of the grass with plastic worms once the early-morning bite slows. LOCATION: OH Ivie Res. HOTSPOT: River Channel GPS: N31 34.46184, W99 42.2769 (31.574364, -99.704615) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, spoons, Sassy Shads CONTACT: Dave Caudle, fishinwithdave@aol.com, 325-365-1020 TIPS: Look for white bass to be schooling near the main river channel in 10-12 feet of water. Jig the lures vertically or make them rise and fall on a retrieve. Many limits are possible. LOCATION: Possum Kingdom Res. HOTSPOT: Costello Island GPS: N32 54.98052, W98 27.43956 (32.916342, -98.457326)

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SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, jigs CONTACT: Dean Heffner, fav7734@ aceweb.com, 940-329-0036 TIPS: Target days when there is a cold front line on the Texas-Oklahoma border and the pressure is rising. Stick with Slabs and jigs and watch for bird activity. Fish the first 24 feet of water. Vary the retrieve to find what they want on a particular day.

BIG BEND

Amistad White Bass on the Pecos by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Pecos River GPS: N29 42.039, W101 22.3422 (29.700650, -101.372370) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, shallowdiving crankbaits CONTACT: Larry Scruggs, Amistad Lodge and Adventures, fisherofmenlrs@ hotmail.com, 210-789-1645 TIPS: White bass stage in this area before making their annual spawning run toward the upper portions of the Pecos River. Another good place to find them is at the mouth of the Devil’s River.

CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria, kandie@ gvtc.com, 210-823-2153 TIPS: This point has fish attractor. Fish both sides of the points. I use a 1/4-ounce Picasso Shakey Head with 4 1/2-inch blue fleck Rattlesnake on 8-pound test line on a 6 1/2-foot Castaway spinning rod. Also try a Carolina-rigged Watermelon Fluke. LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Mouth of the River GPS: N29 53.87334, W98 17.7036 (29.897889, -98.295060) SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Spoons, Shad Rap CONTACT: Steve Nixon, steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com, 210-573-1230, sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Troll the lures in the river channel until you locate the schools of striped bass and white bass staging for the spawn run. LOCATION: Lake Granger HOTSPOT: Main Lake Open Waters GPS: N30 41.85372, W97 21.13536 (30.697562, -97.352256) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh shad, perch, cut bait, Zote Soap CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell, crappie1@ hotmail.com, 512-365-7761, www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Blue catfish like cold, messy weather. Some anglers back their trucks down to the water facing north and fish off their tailgates. This is a good time to set jug lines to really stock up on catfish. Use a 11/0 circle hook to catch the larger fish.

HILL COUNTRY

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

Pack Your Jigs for Camp Largemouth by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Cox Camp GPS: N26 43.57434, W99 9.71952 (26.726239, -99.161992) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs with soft plastic trailers CONTACT: Robert Amaya, robertsfishntackle@gmail.com, 956-765-1442, robertsfishntackle.com TIPS: Work black-blue or red-blue jigs in the brush in the cove and around the island. Also fish the roadbed just to the north as well as any brush close to deepwater drop-offs near or on points. LOCATION: Lake Calaveras HOTSPOT: Train Bridge GPS: N29 18.0909, W98 20.22444 (29.301515, -98.337074) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Big Marv’s Cheese Bait CONTACT: Steve Nixon, steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com, 210-573-1230, sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Fish the cheese on the bottom in 5-10 feet of water along the riprap of the bridge. The south side produces the best catches.

Put it in Park for Canyon Bass by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Point East of North Park GPS: N29 52.51752, W98 12.55392 (29.875292, -98.209232) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Picasso Shakey Head with Rattlesnake, Flukes, Senkos T F & G

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Tides and Prime Times

JANUARY 2012

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.

T9 T8 T7

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

T6 T17

T15

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below. SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species.

T13 T5

T14

T16

T3 T2 T1

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

T18

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

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month. PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

Tide Correction Table

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

KEY PLACE T1 Sabine Bank Lighthouse T2 Sabine Pass Jetty T3 Sabine Pass T4 Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass T5 Galveston Bay, S. Jetty T6 Port Bolivar

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

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

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

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

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

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

LOW +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:33 +2:31 -1:06

KEY PLACE San Luis Pass T18 Freeport Harbor T19 Pass Cavallo T20 Aransas Pass T21 Padre Island (So. End) T22 Port Isabel T23

HIGH -0.09 -0:44 0:00 -0:03 -0:24 +1:02

LOW -0.09 -1:02 -1:20 -1:31 -1:45 -0:42

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE GRAPH:

Yellow: Daylight

12a

Tab: Peak Fishing Period

12p

12a

Light Blue: Nighttime

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Green: Falling Tide

Gold Fish: Best Time

Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

Blue Fish: Good Time

MINOR Feeding Periods (+/- 1.5 Hrs.) Time Moon is at its Highest Point in the Sky

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY:

12a

AM/PM Timeline

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AM/PM Timeline

AM Minor: 1:20a

PM Minor: 1:45p

AM Major: 7:32a

PM Major: 7:57p

Moon Overhead: 8:50a 6a

12p

12a

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

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MAJOR Feeding Periods (+/- 2 Hrs.) Time Moon is Directly Underfoot (at its peak on opposite side of the earth)

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Best Day SUNDAY

= Peak Fishing 7:45-9:40 AM Period BEST:

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:26p Moonrise: 8:40a Set: 7:48p

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:27p Moonrise: 9:21a Set: 8:48p

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:27p Moonrise: 9:57a Set: 9:45p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

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THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:28p Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:29p Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:29p Moonrise: 10:31a Set: 10:40p Moonrise: 11:02a Set: 11:33p Moonrise: 11:33a Set: None

º Jan 1

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:30p Moonrise: 12:06p Set: 3:13p

AM Minor: 6:19a

PM Minor: 6:45p

AM Minor: 7:16a

PM Minor: 7:41p

AM Minor: 8:10a

PM Minor: 8:33p

AM Minor: 9:01a

PM Minor: 9:23p

AM Minor: 9:49a

PM Minor: 10:10p

AM Minor: 10:33a

PM Minor: 10:54p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 11:16a

AM Major: 12:05p

PM Major: 12:32p

AM Major: 1:04a

PM Major: 1:28p

AM Major: 1:59a

PM Major: 2:22p

AM Major: 2:50a

PM Major: 3:12p

AM Major: 3:38a

PM Major: 3:59p

AM Major: 4:23a

PM Major: 4:44p

AM Major: 5:05a

PM Major: 5:27p

Moon Overhead: 2:12p 6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 3:49p

Moon Overhead: 3:02p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:33p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:57p

Moon Overhead: 5:15p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:40p 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

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12a

Tides and Prime Times for JANUARY 2012

12a

feet

Moon Underfoot: 1:45a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

High Tide: 2:42 am Low Tide: 11:03 am High Tide: 7:14 pm Low Tide: 11:53 pm

BEST:

8:00 — 10:00AM

1.16ft. High Tide: 3:46 am 1.05ft. -0.76ft. Low Tide: 11:47 am -0.56ft. 1.17ft. High Tide: 7:45 pm 1.07ft. 0.94ft.

Low Tide: 12:48 am High Tide: 4:55 am Low Tide: 12:29 pm High Tide: 8:12 pm

Moon Underfoot: 4:11a BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 AM

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Moon Underfoot: 3:26a

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 AM

0.79ft. 0.92ft. -0.33ft. 0.99ft.

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Low Tide: 1:51 am High Tide: 6:15 am Low Tide: 1:09 pm High Tide: 8:37 pm

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Moon Underfoot: 4:54a

BEST:

10:00A — 12:00P

0.62ft. 0.77ft. -0.08ft. 0.91ft.

0.44ft. 0.65ft. 0.18ft. 0.86ft.

Low Tide: 3:57 am High Tide: 9:43 am Low Tide: 2:17 pm High Tide: 9:19 pm

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Moon Underfoot: 6:18a

+2.0

BEST:

11:00A — 1:00P

Low Tide: 2:57 am High Tide: 7:51 am Low Tide: 1:45 pm High Tide: 8:58 pm

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Moon Underfoot: 5:36a

12:00 — 2:00 AM

0.26ft. 0.60ft. 0.41ft. 0.85ft.

J A N U A R Y

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 2:37a

Low Tide: 5:54 am High Tide: 12:51 pm Low Tide: 3:42 pm High Tide: 10:37 pm

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0.08ft. 0.64ft. 0.61ft. 0.84ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

12/22/11 1:02 PM

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:32p Moonrise: 1:16p Set: 5:07p

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:32p Moonrise: 1:56p Set: 6:06p

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:33p Moonrise: 2:41p Set: 7:04p

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:34p Moonrise: 3:31p Set: 8:01p

«3

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:31p Moonrise: 12:39p Set: 4:09p

«5

«6

SATURDAY

«7

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:35p Moonrise: 4:24p Set: 8:55p

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:35p Moonrise: 5:21p Set: 9:47p

AM Minor: 11:36a

PM Minor: 11:58a

AM Minor: 12:16a

PM Minor: 12:39p

AM Minor: 12:58a

PM Minor: 1:21p

AM Minor: 1:40a

PM Minor: 2:05p

AM Minor: 2:25a

PM Minor: 2:50p

AM Minor: 3:12a

PM Minor: 3:38p

AM Minor: 4:01a

PM Minor: 4:27p

AM Major: 5:47a

PM Major: 6:09p

AM Major: 6:28a

PM Major: 6:50p

AM Major: 7:09a

PM Major: 7:33p

AM Major: 7:53a

PM Major: 8:17p

AM Major: 8:38a

PM Major: 9:03p

AM Major: 9:25a

PM Major: 9:51p

AM Major: 10:14a

PM Major: 10:40p

Moon Overhead: 7:23p

12a

TUESDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 8:57p

Moon Overhead: 8:09p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 9:47p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: None

Moon Overhead: 10:38p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: -12:30a 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for JANUARY 2012

12a

feet

Moon Underfoot: 7:01a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

-0.07 ft. Low Tide: 6:21 am 0.85 ft. High Tide: 4:18 pm Low Tide: 7:32 pm High Tide: 10:07 pm

J A N U A R Y

ALMANAC Digital.indd 82

2 0 1 2

Moon Underfoot: 9:22a

BEST:

6:00 — 8:00 AM

Low Tide: 5:40 am High Tide: 9:53 pm

82 |

Moon Underfoot: 8:33a

BEST:

7:00 — 9:00 AM

-0.20 ft. 0.87 ft. 0.87 ft. 0.88 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

Low Tide: 6:58 am High Tide: 4:05 pm Low Tide: 8:59 pm High Tide: 10:25 pm

T e x a S

-0.32 ft. 0.95 ft. 0.92 ft. 0.92 ft.

F i s h

Low Tide: 7:34 am High Tide: 4:22 pm Low Tide: 9:16 pm High Tide: 11:04 pm

-0.43 ft. 1.00 ft. 0.95 ft. 0.95 ft.

G a m e ®

Moon Underfoot: 10:12a

Moon Underfoot: 11:04a

BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 PM

Low Tide: 8:09 am High Tide: 4:44 pm Low Tide: 9:03 pm High Tide: 11:53 pm

T F & G

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 11:57a

-0.52 ft. Low Tide: 8:42 am 1.04 ft. High Tide: 5:08 pm 0.96 ft. Low Tide: 9:16 pm 0.98 ft.

+2.0

BEST:

10:00P — 12:00A 10:30A — 12:30P

-0.59 ft. High Tide: 12:42 am 1.07 ft. Low Tide: 9:17 am 0.95 ft. High Tide: 5:35 pm Low Tide: 9:45 pm

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 7:46a

1.00 ft. -0.64 ft. 1.09 ft. 0.92 ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

12/22/11 1:02 PM

ALMANAC Digital.indd 83

12/22/11 1:02 PM

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:36p Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:37p Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:38p Moonrise: 6:21p Set: 10:39p Moonrise: 7:21p Set: 11:30p Moonrise: 8:22p Set: None

FRIDAY

º 12

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:38p Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:39p Moonrise: 9:23p Set: 12:24a Moonrise: 10:25p Set: 1:18a

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:40p Moonrise: 12:33p Set: 2:15a

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:41p Moonrise: None Set: 3:14a

AM Minor: 4:53a

PM Minor: 5:19p

AM Minor: 5:46a

PM Minor: 6:11p

AM Minor: 6:40a

PM Minor: 7:05p

AM Minor: 7:34a

PM Minor: 7:59p

AM Minor: 8:29a

PM Minor: 8:53p

AM Minor: 9:24a

PM Minor: 9:48p

AM Minor: 10:18a

PM Minor: 10:44p

AM Major: -----

PM Major: 11:06a

AM Major: 11:33a

PM Major: 11:58a

AM Major: 12:27a

PM Major: 12:52p

AM Major: 1:22a

PM Major: 1:47p

AM Major: 2:17a

PM Major: 2:41p

AM Major: 3:11a

PM Major: 3:36p

AM Major: 4:05a

PM Major: 4:31p

Moon Overhead: 12:23a

12a

THURSDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 2:04a

Moon Overhead: 1:14a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 2:54a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:31a

Moon Overhead: 3:42a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:21a 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for JANUARY 2012

12a

feet

Moon Underfoot: 12:49p

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

BEST:

6:00 — 8:00 AM

1.00 ft. -0.66 ft. 1.08 ft. 0.85 ft.

High Tide: 2:22 am Low Tide: 10:28 am High Tide: 6:30 pm Low Tide: 11:03 pm

J A N U A R Y

ALMANAC Digital.indd 84

2 0 1 2

Moon Underfoot: 3:18p

BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 AM

High Tide: 1:30 am Low Tide: 9:51 am High Tide: 6:02 pm Low Tide: 10:22 pm

84 |

Moon Underfoot: 2:29p

BEST:

8:00 — 10:00 AM

0.97 ft. -0.63 ft. 1.06 ft. 0.76 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

High Tide: 3:20 am Low Tide: 11:05 am High Tide: 6:56 pm Low Tide: 11:50 pm

T e x a S

Moon Underfoot: 4:06p BEST:

G a m e ®

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 PM

0.91 ft. High Tide: 4:28 am 0.82 ft. Low Tide: 12:40 am -0.54 ft. Low Tide: 11:44 am -0.38 ft. High Tide: 5:52 am 1.01 ft. High Tide: 7:19 pm 0.95 ft. Low Tide: 12:24 pm High Tide: 7:40 pm 0.61 ft.

F i s h

Moon Underfoot: 4:56p

T F & G

0.43 ft. 0.72 ft. -0.16 ft. 0.89 ft.

Moon Underfoot: 5:47p

Low Tide: 1:36 am High Tide: 7:34 am Low Tide: 1:05 pm High Tide: 7:59 pm

0.21 ft. 0.63 ft. 0.10 ft. 0.85 ft.

+2.0

BEST:

10:00P — 12:00 A 10:30A — 12:30P

Low Tide: 2:37 am High Tide: 9:31 am Low Tide: 1:48 pm High Tide: 8:15 pm

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 1:39p

-0.03 ft. 0.62 ft. 0.38 ft. 0.84 ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

12/22/11 1:02 PM

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Best Day SUNDAY

Tides and Prime Times for JANUARY 2012

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:42p Moonrise: 12:32a Set: 4:12a

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:43p Moonrise: 1:37a Set: 5:10a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:44p Moonrise: 2:43a Set: 6:04a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:44p Moonrise: 3:47a Set: 6:54a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:45p Moonrise: 4:47a Set: 7:39a

«17

¡ 19

¡ 20

«21

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:46p Moonrise: 5:42a Set: 8:20a

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:47p Moonrise: 6:31a Set: 8:58a

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 11:12a

AM Minor: 11:37a

PM Minor: 12:06p

AM Minor: 12:30a

PM Minor: 12:59p

AM Minor: 1:23a

PM Minor: 1:53p

AM Minor: 2:16a

PM Minor: 2:46p

AM Minor: 3:10a

PM Minor: 3:38p

AM Minor: 4:03a

PM Minor: 4:30p

AM Major: 4:58a

PM Major: 5:25p

AM Major: 5:52a

PM Major: 6:20p

AM Major: 6:45a

PM Major: 7:14p

AM Major: 7:38a

PM Major: 8:08p

AM Major: 8:31a

PM Major: 9:01p

AM Major: 9:24a

PM Major: 9:53p

AM Major: 10:16a

PM Major: 10:44p

Moon Overhead: 6:14a

12a

«18

SATURDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 8:07a

Moon Overhead: 7:09a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 9:07a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 11:04a

Moon Overhead: 10:06a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 11:59a 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

12a

feet

Moon Underfoot: 6:41p

+2.0

BEST:

-1.0

Low Tide: 3:42 am High Tide: 11:37 am Low Tide: 2:38 pm High Tide: 8:30 pm

BEST:

12:30 — 2:30 AM

TIDE LEVELS

-0.28 ft. 0.70 ft. 0.63 ft. 0.86 ft.

Low Tide: 4:47 am High Tide: 1:39 pm Low Tide: 3:53 pm High Tide: 8:44 pm

-0.51 ft. 0.85 ft. 0.84 ft. 0.91 ft.

Low Tide: 5:51 am High Tide: 3:01 pm Low Tide: 7:37 pm High Tide: 9:10 pm

Moon Underfoot: 9:37p BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 AM

T F & G

ALMANAC Digital.indd 85

Moon Underfoot: 8:37p

2:00 — 4:00 AM

-0.70 ft. 0.99 ft. 0.94 ft. 0.94 ft.

A L M A N A C

Low Tide: 6:50 am High Tide: 3:48 pm Low Tide: 8:47 pm High Tide: 10:34 pm

T e x a S

Moon Underfoot: 10:35p BEST:

BEST:

\3:00 — 5:00 AM

-0.94 ft. High Tide: 12:00 am 1.08 ft. Low Tide: 8:36 am 0.92 ft. High Tide: 4:55 pm Low Tide: 9:32 pm

G a m e ®

Moon Underfoot: -12:28a

+2.0

BEST:

4:00 — 6:00 AM

-0.85 ft. Low Tide: 7:45 am 1.06 ft. High Tide: 4:24 pm 0.96 ft. Low Tide: 9:09 pm 0.96 ft.

F i s h

Moon Underfoot: None

5:00 — 7:00 AM

0.97 ft. -0.96 ft. 1.05 ft. 0.85 ft.

J A N U A R Y

TIDE LEVELS

12:00 — 2:00 AM

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 7:38p

High Tide: 1:13 am Low Tide: 9:23 am High Tide: 5:22 pm Low Tide: 10:01 pm

0.97 ft. -0.90 ft. 0.99 ft. 0.74 ft.

2 0 1 2

+1.0 0 -1.0

12/22/11 1:02 PM

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:48p Moonrise: 7:15a Set: 9:35a

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

» 26

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:49p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:50p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:50p Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:51p Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:52p Moonrise: 7:53a Set: 10:12a Moonrise: 8:28a Set: 10:51a Moonrise: 9:01a Set: 11:33a Moonrise: 9:32a Set: 12:19p Moonrise: 10:04a Set: 1:09p

SUNDAY

Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:53p Moonrise: 10:38a Set: 2:03p

AM Minor: 4:55a

PM Minor: 5:21p

AM Minor: 5:47a

PM Minor: 6:11p

AM Minor: 6:38a

PM Minor: 7:01p

AM Minor: 7:28a

PM Minor: 7:49p

AM Minor: 8:16a

PM Minor: 8:38p

AM Minor: 9:04a

PM Minor: 9:25p

AM Minor: 9:51a

PM Minor: 10:13p

AM Major: -----

PM Major: 11:34a

AM Major: 11:35a

PM Major: 11:59a

AM Major: 12:27a

PM Major: 12:49p

AM Major: 1:17a

PM Major: 1:39p

AM Major: 2:06a

PM Major: 2:27p

AM Major: 2:53a

PM Major: 3:15p

AM Major: 3:40a

PM Major: 4:02p

Moon Overhead: 12:51p

12a

WEDNESDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 2:25p

Moon Overhead: 1:40p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 3:09p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:34p

Moon Overhead: 3:51p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:17p 12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for JANUARY 2012

12a

feet

Moon Underfoot: 12:26a

+2.0 TIDE LEVELS

BEST:

-1.0

BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 AM

0.94 ft. -0.79 ft. 0.92 ft. 0.61 ft.

Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 5:54p Moonrise: 11:13a Set: 3:00p

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 AM

High Tide: 3:21 am Low Tide: 10:47 am High Tide: 6:12 pm Low Tide: 11:14 pm

0.89 ft. -0.62 ft. 0.86 ft. 0.47 ft.

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 5:55p Moonrise: 11:52a Set: 3:58p

Moon Underfoot: 3:30a BEST:

8:00 — 10:00 AM

High Tide: 4:22 am Low Tide: 11:24 am High Tide: 6:34 pm Low Tide: 11:56 pm

0.20 ft. 0.64 ft. 0.03 ft. 0.73 ft.

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 5:56p Moonrise: 12:34p Set: 4:55p

Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 5:57p Moonrise: 1:21p Set: 5:52p

Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 5:57p Moonrise: 2:12p Set: 6:47p

10:00P — 12:00A

Low Tide: 1:30 am High Tide: 7:54 am Low Tide: 12:51 pm High Tide: 7:33 pm

0.09 ft. 0.57 ft. 0.25 ft. 0.71 ft.

Low Tide: 2:25 am High Tide: 9:31 am Low Tide: 1:06 pm High Tide: 7:45 pm

SATURDAY

«4

Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 5:58p Moonrise: 3:08p Set: 7:40p

«5

Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 5:59p Moonrise: 4:07p Set: 8:31p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 11:23a

AM Minor: 11:45a

PM Minor: 12:09p

AM Minor: 12:30a

PM Minor: 12:55p

AM Minor: 1:15a

PM Minor: 1:41p

AM Minor: 2:02a

PM Minor: 2:28p

AM Minor: 2:49a

PM Minor: 3:15p

AM Major: 4:26a

PM Major: 4:48p

AM Major: 5:11a

PM Major: 5:35p

AM Major: 5:57a

PM Major: 6:21p

AM Major: 6:42a

PM Major: 7:08p

AM Major: 7:28a

PM Major: 7:54p

AM Major: 8:15a

PM Major: 8:41p

AM Major: 9:02a

PM Major: 9:28p

12p

Moon Overhead: 7:37p

12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 8:28p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 10:12p

Moon Overhead: 9:19p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: None 12a

12p

12a

feet

Moon Underfoot: 5:40a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 6:25a

Moon Underfoot: 7:13a

BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 AM

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 AM

Low Tide: 3:26 am High Tide: 11:48 am Low Tide: 12:53 pm High Tide: 7:46 pm

BEST:

8:00 — 10:00 AM

-0.10 ft. Low Tide: 4:29 am 0.58 ft. High Tide: 6:33 pm 0.58 ft. 0.74 ft.

Tide Correction Table

Moon Underfoot: 8:02a

KEY PLACE

HIGH LOW

KEY PLACE

HIGH LOW

Sabine Bank Lighthouse -1:46

-1:31

Galveston Channel/Bays

Sabine Pass Jetty

-1:26

-1:31

Sabine Pass

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the T4 Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine T5 the adjustment from the time shown for Galves- T6 ton Channel in the calendars.

-0.37 ft. Low Tide: 7:03 am 0.88 ft. High Tide: 4:08 pm Low Tide: 9:34 pm High Tide: 10:08 pm

Moon Underfoot: 10:38a

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

-0.28 ft. Low Tide: 6:19 am 0.84 ft. High Tide: 5:37 pm

Moon Underfoot: 9:45a

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 AM

-0.19 ft. Low Tide: 5:28 am 0.79 ft. High Tide: 5:58 pm

Moon Underfoot: 8:53a

-0.46 ft. 0.92 ft. 0.87 ft. 0.87 ft.

KEY PLACE

Low Tide: 7:42 am High Tide: 4:12 pm Low Tide: 8:23 pm High Tide: 11:52 pm

HIGH LOW

-0.54 ft. Low Tide: 8:19 am 0.95 ft. High Tide: 4:28 pm 0.86 ft. Low Tide: 8:40 pm 0.90 ft.

HIGH LOW

San Luis Pass

-0.09

+3:16 +4:18

T18 T19

Freeport Harbor

-0:44

-1:02

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay +5:48 +4:43

Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +0:41

Gilchrist, East Bay

3:30 — 5:30 AM

KEY PLACE

T12 T13

-1:00

-1:15

Eagle Point

+3:54 +4:15

T14

Jamaica Beach, W. Bay +2:38 +3:31

T20

Pass Cavallo

0:00

-1:20

Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass -0:04

-0:25

Clear Lake

+6:05 +6:40

T15

Alligator Point, W. Bay +2:39 +2:33

T21

Aransas Pass

-0:03

-1:31

Galveston Bay, S. Jetty -0:39

-1:05

T10 T11

Morgans Point

+10:21 +5:19

T16 T17

Christmas Pt

T22 T23

Padre Island (So. End) -0:24

-1:45

Port Bolivar

+0:14 -0:06

Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39 +5:15

+2:32 +2:31

Galveston Pleasure Pier -1:06

-1:06

Port Isabel

+2.0

BEST:

2:30 — 4:30 AM

-0.59 ft. 0.97 ft. 0.80 ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

SUNDAY

PM Minor: -----

Moon Overhead: 6:49p

+1.0

-1.0

-0.01 ft. 0.54 ft. 0.43 ft. 0.72 ft.

AM Minor: 10:37a

Moon Overhead: 6:02p

+2.0

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 AM

WEDNESDAY

«2

Moon Underfoot: 4:56a

BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 AM

0.82 ft. High Tide: 5:25 am 0.73 ft. Low Tide: 12:41 am -0.42 ft. Low Tide: 11:57 am -0.19 ft. High Tide: 6:34 am 0.80 ft. High Tide: 6:56 pm 0.76 ft. Low Tide: 12:27 pm High Tide: 7:16 pm 0.33 ft.

«Feb 1

Moon Underfoot: 4:13a

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Moon Underfoot: 2:47a

BEST:

7:00 — 9:00AM

High Tide: 2:19 am Low Tide: 10:07 am High Tide: 5:48 pm Low Tide: 10:35 pm

12a

Moon Underfoot: 2:03a

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 1:16a

+1.0 0 -1.0

+1:02 -0:42

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION 86 |

J A N U A R Y

ALMANAC Digital.indd 86

2 0 1 2

T e x a S

F i s h

G a m e ®

T F & G

A L M A N A C

12/22/11 1:02 PM

trong winds along the middle Texas coast can muddy the waters in the bays real quick. That same wind can turn fishing into a challenge, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t going to catch some fish. Constant grinding and a good fishing guide can assure some fish for the livewell. Trophy Quest winner James Gibson of Budda and his fishing neighbor, Wes Collins, were fishing with guide, Capt. Tommy Countz in East Matagorda Bay. “The weather reports said the wind was blowing 10-15 mph when we arrived on Wednesday, but it was stronger than that,” said Gibson. They had accommodation set up for them at Karankawa Village Lodge & Cattails in Matagorda. “The accommodations were wonderful,” said Gibson. Their Trophy Quest trip was on Thursday. As it always happens, on Friday the waters began clearing and the wind dropped. ”Friday would have been a great day if the wind had stayed down,” added Gibson. Countz agreed it was a pretty slow day. Countz suggested that Gibson and Collins

Trip winner James Gibson overcame challenging conditions at Matagorda with help from guide Tommy Countz.

might want to fish with live shrimp to help trout find their hooks in the off-colored water, but Gipson and Collins wanted to throw soft plastics. “We ended up with six or seven keeper trout and a few undersized fish,” said Countz. “It was one of those days we use for grinding. Some of the other guys who were throwing shrimp did a little better. I finally switched them over to Gulp and we started catching a few fish. It was just one of those slow days.” Before the Gulp, they were using Norton Bull Minnows. Toward the end of the fishing trip— they started a 6:00 a.m. and finished at 2:00 p.m.—they made some drifts over reefs close to the entrance of the Inntracoastal canal. Collins made the comment that he

HOW YOU CAN WIN!

TROPHY QUEST winners enjoy free guided hunting or fishing trips within the state of Texas. The package includes a guided trip for two people, one night’s lodging and all food and beverage (nonalcohol). Winners are responsible for all travel expenses getting to and from the destination point. If you are a SUBSCRIBER to the TEXAS FISH & GAME DAILY EMAIL NEWSLETTER, your name is automatically entered into our next Trophy Quest Trip drawing. To SUBSCRIBE, log on to the Texas Fish & Game website, www.FishGame.com and click the NEWSLETTER link in the left column. x x e Td Fi t& iG o n A x LM x A AN lAmC a n T a e c

ALMANAC Digital.indd 87

Photo: Capt. Tommy countz

Grinding It Out

would like to get a picture of himself with some fish for his mother. “My mother always says she wants me to bring her a picture of me catching a fish,” said Collins. “Next cast if he didn’t stick a nice trout,” said Countz. “Then he stuck another one that jumped off when it was almost to the boat. I told him, why don’t you need a picture for your sister and keep this thing going. It was like the fish were listening. Gipson and Collins took home seven trout ranging from 15-17 inches in length. Collins said he would be back again to try his luck.

Trip information:

What: Speckled trout Where: Matagorda East Bay Fishing Guide: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281-450-4037, www.matagordafishing. com/Tommy.htm Accommodations: Karankawa Village, Lodge & Cattails, 22996 , Hwy. 60, Matagorda, TX, 979-863-7737, www. karankawavillage.com Restaurant: Lighthouse BBQ & Café, 18411 State Hwy 60 S, Matagorda, TX, www.lighthousebbqcafe.com —by Tom Behrens

Or, go directly to http://FishGame.com/newsletter.htm. Best of all, IT’S FREE and you will receive daily updates on important Fishing and Hunting news, information and topics of interest. One winner is chosen at random. The winner must be available to go on one of two pre-set scheduled dates. If the winner is unable to attend on either date 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. REGISTER AT:

www.FishGame.com/newsletter.htm

J A® NU i As Rs Yu e2 x0 x1 x 2 x aT Se xFai S s hF i&s hG a&m e G® a m e

12/22/11 1:02 PM

Tides and Prime Times

MONDAY

TUESDAY

JANUARY 2012

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

SYMBOL KEY

First Quarter

New Moon

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 5:40 am High Tide: 9:53 pm

-0.07 ft. 0.85 ft.

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:45p Moonrise: 6:07a Set: 4:23p AM Minor: 3:20a AM Major: 9:34a PM Minor: 3:48p PM Major: 10:02p Moon Overhead: 11:15a Moon Underfoot: 11:43p

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 1:30 am Low Tide: 9:51 am High Tide: 6:02 pm Low Tide: 10:22 pm

1.00 ft. -0.66 ft. 1.08 ft. 0.85 ft.

6:00 — 8:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:50p Moonrise: 10:33a Set: 10:58p AM Minor: 9:12a AM Major: 3:02a PM Minor: 9:32p PM Major: 3:22p Moon Overhead: 4:43p Moon Underfoot: 4:23a

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 3:42 am High Tide: 11:37 am Low Tide: 2:38 pm High Tide: 8:30 pm

-0.28 ft. 0.70 ft. 0.63 ft. 0.86 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:56p Moonrise: 2:56p Set: 4:36a AM Minor: 2:01a AM Major: 8:15a PM Minor: 2:29p PM Major: 8:43p Moon Overhead: 10:15p Moon Underfoot: 9:46a

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 2:19 am Low Tide: 10:07 am High Tide: 5:48 pm Low Tide: 10:35 pm

0.94 ft. -0.79 ft. 0.92 ft. 0.61 ft.

6:30 — 8:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 6:03p Moonrise: 10:40p Set: 9:53a AM Minor: 8:32a AM Major: 2:19a PM Minor: 8:57p PM Major: 2:45p Moon Overhead: 3:47a Moon Underfoot: 4:13p

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Low Tide: 6:21 am High Tide: 4:18 pm Low Tide: 7:32 pm High Tide: 10:07 pm

Full Moon

Last Quarter Good Day

PRIME TIME -0.20 ft. 0.87 ft. 0.87 ft. 0.88 ft.

6:00 — 8:00 AM

High Tide: 2:22 am Low Tide: 10:28 am High Tide: 6:30 pm Low Tide: 11:03 pm

PRIME TIME

best days

PRIME TIME -0.32 ft. 0.95 ft. 0.92 ft. 0.92 ft.

7:00 — 9:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:46p Moonrise: 7:47a Set: 6:21p AM Minor: 5:06a AM Major: 11:19a PM Minor: 5:32p PM Major: 11:45p Moon Overhead: 1:02p Moon Underfoot: 12:37a

PRIME TIME 0.97 ft. -0.63 ft. 1.06 ft. 0.76 ft.

Low Tide: 6:58 am High Tide: 4:05 pm Low Tide: 8:59 pm High Tide: 10:25 pm

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:46p Moonrise: 7:00a Set: 5:22p AM Minor: 4:13a AM Major: 10:26a PM Minor: 4:40p PM Major: 10:54p Moon Overhead: 12:10p Moon Underfoot: None

High Tide: 3:20 am Low Tide: 11:05 am High Tide: 6:56 pm Low Tide: 11:50 pm

6:30 — 8:30 AM

PRIME TIME 0.91 ft. -0.54 ft. 1.01 ft. 0.61 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 AM

5«

Low Tide: 7:34 am High Tide: 4:22 pm Low Tide: 9:16 pm High Tide: 11:04 pm

PRIME TIME -0.43 ft. 1.00 ft. 0.95 ft. 0.95 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:47p Moonrise: 8:28a Set: 7:20p AM Minor: 5:58a AM Major: 11:42a PM Minor: 6:22p PM Major: 12:10p Moon Overhead: 1:52p Moon Underfoot: 1:28a

12 º

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 4:28 am 0.82 ft. Low Tide: 11:44 am -0.38 ft. High Tide: 7:19 pm 0.95 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:51p Moonrise: 11:01a Set: 11:51p AM Minor: 9:56a AM Major: 3:46a PM Minor: 10:16p PM Major: 4:06p Moon Overhead: 5:23p Moon Underfoot: 5:03a

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:52p Moonrise: 11:30a Set: None AM Minor: 10:40a AM Major: 4:29a PM Minor: 11:01p PM Major: 4:50p Moon Overhead: 6:04p Moon Underfoot: 5:43a

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:53p Moonrise: 12:01p Set: 12:45a AM Minor: 11:23a AM Major: 5:12a PM Minor: 11:45p PM Major: 5:34p Moon Overhead: 6:48p Moon Underfoot: 6:26a

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18«

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Low Tide: 4:47 am High Tide: 1:39 pm Low Tide: 3:53 pm High Tide: 8:44 pm

PRIME TIME -0.51 ft. 0.85 ft. 0.84 ft. 0.91 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 AM

Low Tide: 5:51 am High Tide: 3:01 pm Low Tide: 7:37 pm High Tide: 9:10 pm

High Tide: 3:21 am Low Tide: 10:47 am High Tide: 6:12 pm Low Tide: 11:14 pm

PRIME TIME 0.89 ft. -0.62 ft. 0.86 ft. 0.47 ft.

7:00 — 9:00AM

Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 6:03p Moonrise: 11:47p Set: 10:29a AM Minor: 9:29a AM Major: 3:16a PM Minor: 9:55p PM Major: 3:42p Moon Overhead: 4:38a Moon Underfoot: 5:04p

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1:00 — 3:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:58p Moonrise: 5:01p Set: 6:27a AM Minor: 3:45a AM Major: 10:00a PM Minor: 4:15p PM Major: 10:29p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:42a

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:57p Moonrise: 3:56p Set: 5:33a AM Minor: 2:52a AM Major: 9:06a PM Minor: 3:21p PM Major: 9:35p Moon Overhead: 11:13p Moon Underfoot: 10:44a

PRIME TIME -0.70 ft. 0.99 ft. 0.94 ft. 0.94 ft.

High Tide: 4:22 am Low Tide: 11:24 am High Tide: 6:34 pm Low Tide: 11:56 pm

PRIME TIME 0.82 ft. -0.42 ft. 0.80 ft. 0.33 ft.

7:30 — 9:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 6:04p Moonrise: None Set: 11:07a AM Minor: 10:25a AM Major: 4:12a PM Minor: 10:52p PM Major: 4:39p Moon Overhead: 5:30a Moon Underfoot: 5:57p

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Low Tide: 6:50 am High Tide: 3:48 pm Low Tide: 8:47 pm High Tide: 10:34 pm

PRIME TIME -0.85 ft. 1.06 ft. 0.96 ft. 0.96 ft.

2:00 — 4:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:59p Moonrise: 6:09p Set: 7:16a AM Minor: 4:41a AM Major: 10:55a PM Minor: 5:10p PM Major: 11:24p Moon Overhead: 12:12a Moon Underfoot: 12:40p

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High Tide: 5:25 am 0.73 ft. Low Tide: 11:57 am -0.19 ft. High Tide: 6:56 pm 0.76 ft.

PRIME TIME 8:00 — 10:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 6:05p Moonrise: 12:53a Set: 11:49a AM Minor: 11:21a AM Major: 5:07a PM Minor: 11:48p PM Major: 5:34p Moon Overhead: 6:24a Moon Underfoot: 6:51p

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Tides and Prime Times

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

JANUARY 2012

SUNDAY

Jan 1

Low Tide: 4:54 am High Tide: 11:51 am Low Tide: 2:42 pm High Tide: 9:37 pm

Tide Correction Table PRIME TIME

0.08 ft. 0.64 ft. 0.61 ft. 0.84 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:44p Moonrise: 5:09a Set: 3:28p AM Minor: 2:29a AM Major: 8:43a PM Minor: 2:57p PM Major: 9:11p Moon Overhead: 10:19a Moon Underfoot: 10:47p

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Low Tide: 8:09 am High Tide: 4:44 pm Low Tide: 9:03 pm High Tide: 11:53 pm

PRIME TIME -0.52 ft. 1.04 ft. 0.96 ft. 0.98 ft.

8:30 — 10:30 PM

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:48p Moonrise: 9:04a Set: 8:17p AM Minor: 6:49a AM Major: 12:38a PM Minor: 7:12p PM Major: 1:01p Moon Overhead: 2:38p Moon Underfoot: 2:15a

Low Tide: 12:40 am High Tide: 5:52 am Low Tide: 12:24 pm High Tide: 7:40 pm

PRIME TIME 0.43 ft. 0.72 ft. -0.16 ft. 0.89 ft.

9:00 — 11:00 PM

7«

Low Tide: 8:42 am High Tide: 5:08 pm Low Tide: 9:16 pm

PRIME TIME -0.59 ft. 1.07 ft. 0.95 ft.

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:49p Moonrise: 9:36a Set: 9:12p AM Minor: 7:39a AM Major: 1:28a PM Minor: 8:00p PM Major: 1:49p Moon Overhead: 3:21p Moon Underfoot: 3:00a

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 1:36 am High Tide: 7:34 am Low Tide: 1:05 pm High Tide: 7:59 pm

0.21 ft. 0.63 ft. 0.10 ft. 0.85 ft.

10:00P — 12:00 A

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:54p Moonrise: 12:37p Set: 1:41a AM Minor: ----- AM Major: 5:56a PM Minor: 12:07p PM Major: 6:19p Moon Overhead: 7:35p Moon Underfoot: 7:11a

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:54p Moonrise: 1:17p Set: 2:38a AM Minor: 12:28a AM Major: 6:40a PM Minor: 12:53p PM Major: 7:05p Moon Overhead: 8:25p Moon Underfoot: 7:59a

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21«

Low Tide: 7:45 am High Tide: 4:24 pm Low Tide: 9:09 pm

PRIME TIME -0.94 ft. 1.08 ft. 0.92 ft.

3:00 — 5:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 6:00p Moonrise: 7:19p Set: 8:00a AM Minor: 5:38a AM Major: 11:52a PM Minor: 6:06p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:09a Moon Underfoot: 1:36p

Low Tide: 12:41 am High Tide: 6:34 am Low Tide: 12:27 pm High Tide: 7:16 pm

PRIME TIME 0.20 ft. 0.64 ft. 0.03 ft. 0.73 ft.

8:30 — 10:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 6:06p Moonrise: 1:59a Set: 12:34p AM Minor: ----- AM Major: 6:00a PM Minor: 12:14p PM Major: 6:28p Moon Overhead: 7:18a Moon Underfoot: 7:46p

High Tide: 12:00 am Low Tide: 8:36 am High Tide: 4:55 pm Low Tide: 9:32 pm

4:00 — 6:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 6:01p Moonrise: 8:27p Set: 8:40a AM Minor: 6:36a AM Major: 12:23a PM Minor: 7:03p PM Major: 12:49p Moon Overhead: 2:03a Moon Underfoot: 2:30p

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 1:30 am High Tide: 7:54 am Low Tide: 12:51 pm High Tide: 7:33 pm

0.09 ft. 0.57 ft. 0.25 ft. 0.71 ft.

9:00 — 11:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 6:07p Moonrise: 3:02a Set: 1:24p AM Minor: 12:38a AM Major: 6:52a PM Minor: 1:06p PM Major: 7:20p Moon Overhead: 8:14a Moon Underfoot: 8:42p

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PRIME TIME 0.97 ft. -0.96 ft. 1.05 ft. 0.85 ft.

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PRIME TIME

High Tide: 12:42 am Low Tide: 9:17 am High Tide: 5:35 pm Low Tide: 9:45 pm

1.00 ft. -0.64 ft. 1.09 ft. 0.92 ft.

10:30A — 12:30P

Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 5:49p Moonrise: 10:05a Set: 10:06p AM Minor: 8:26a AM Major: 2:16a PM Minor: 8:47p PM Major: 2:37p Moon Overhead: 4:02p Moon Underfoot: 3:42a

Low Tide: 2:37 am High Tide: 9:31 am Low Tide: 1:48 pm High Tide: 8:15 pm

PRIME TIME -0.03 ft. 0.62 ft. 0.38 ft. 0.84 ft.

10:30A — 12:30P

Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 5:55p Moonrise: 2:03p Set: 3:37a AM Minor: 1:13a AM Major: 7:26a PM Minor: 1:40p PM Major: 7:53p Moon Overhead: 9:18p Moon Underfoot: 8:51a

High Tide: 1:13 am Low Tide: 9:23 am High Tide: 5:22 pm Low Tide: 10:01 pm

PRIME TIME 0.97 ft. -0.90 ft. 0.99 ft. 0.74 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 6:02p Moonrise: 9:34p Set: 9:17a AM Minor: 7:34a AM Major: 1:21a PM Minor: 8:00p PM Major: 1:47p Moon Overhead: 2:56a Moon Underfoot: 3:22p

Low Tide: 2:25 am High Tide: 9:31 am Low Tide: 1:06 pm High Tide: 7:45 pm

PRIME TIME -0.01 ft. 0.54 ft. 0.43 ft. 0.72 ft.

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 6:08p Moonrise: 4:01a Set: 2:18p AM Minor: 1:29a AM Major: 7:43a PM Minor: 1:57p PM Major: 8:10p Moon Overhead: 9:10a Moon Underfoot: 9:37p

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PLACE

HIGH LOW

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)

30 MON

Low Tide: 3:26 am High Tide: 11:48 am Low Tide: 12:53 pm High Tide: 7:46 pm

-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

PRIME TIME -0.10 ft. 0.58 ft. 0.58 ft. 0.74 ft.

6:30 — 8:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 6:09p Moonrise: 4:55a Set: 3:15p AM Minor: 2:18a AM Major: 8:32a PM Minor: 2:45p PM Major: 8:59p Moon Overhead: 10:04a Moon Underfoot: 10:31p

31 TUE

Low Tide: 4:29 am High Tide: 6:33 pm

PRIME TIME -0.19 ft. 0.79 ft.

7:30 — 9:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 6:10p Moonrise: 5:43a Set: 4:13p AM Minor: 3:07a AM Major: 9:19a PM Minor: 3:32p PM Major: 9:45p Moon Overhead: 10:56a Moon Underfoot: 11:22p

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he following is a letter I received from a TFG fan that was asking about specific preparation for a Sharp Tailed Grouse or “Sharpie” as they are known as by seasoned upland bird hunters.

I am planning to serve your Texas wagon wheels for a group of my hunting buddies. I would like to use pheasant and sharp-tail grouse in lieu of chicken. Would you change anything in the recipe for this substitution? Thanks, Scott

Photo: Mark Duffy, Bigstock

SharpTailed Grouse

Thanks for your request, Scott. I have done some research and have created a recipe for the Sharpie that I think you will enjoy. As for the pheasant, my Wagon Wheel recipe will work well with the white meat breasts, just be gentle when pounding with the stipple-faced mallet and use a sheet of Saran wrap under and on top of the meat when tenderizing. I look forward to hearing back from you with the results from your dinner. Please send us a photo or two as well. Good luck and good hunting to you. Hunting the Sharp Tailed Grouse is not an easy hunt as they tend to be skittish, often flushing well out of shotgun range. They fly considerable distances before landing, sometimes well out of sight, even on flat prairies. They don’t usually alert hunters with a noisy takeoff, as ruffed grouse do. They are hunted with a permit in Wisconsin, and are not easy to bring down. The meat is dark red like dove or duck, so follow my instructions on how to prep the meat for grilling and the basting glaze we use to not

only keep the meat moist but also to stand up to the strong flavor that is inherent in this species. This recipe is for Sharp- Tailed Grouse, but can be used for duck or goose as well. I have recommended a brining for the meat, as it is a dark red meat and will benefit from the treatment.

Preparation:

Prepare 4 servings of long grain and wild rice. When preparing: Use chicken broth instead of water, and add a ¼ stick of unsalted butter Coarsely chop the following: 8 oz. of Portabella mushrooms (sauté the mushrooms & onions in a stick of unsalted clarified butter) 3 green onions ¾ cups pecans 1 cup of dried cranberries Cook the mushrooms & green onions until soft, add cranberries and pecans-stir for 2 minutes. Now add the chicken broth. (The instructions on the rice package will tell 90 |

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you how much rice and water to use for the 4 servings. Be sure to substitute broth for water.) After adding the broth stir well, bring to a boil and add the rice. Stir well to blend, add ½ TSPN of rubbed Sage, stir again, cover and reduce heat to a simmer and cook until rice is tender. Remove from heat.

Preparing the Grouse

The Grouse by its very nature tends to have dark red meat on the legs and breasts, and due to their frequent flights and diet, they contain a strong tasting meat. I highly recommend a light ice water brining session over several hours and changing the water out at least once or twice to remove most all of the blood and adrenaline from the meat. This recipe will require 4 boned Grouse breasts. Using a light stippled mallet, place the breast on a piece of plastic wrap on a good flat cutting board or surface, then cover with another piece of plastic wrap (to prevent spraying the meat’s juices) and pound the breast to tenderize but be careful not to put holes in the meat. Take the pounded breast, one at a t time, place 3/4 cup of the cooked rice on the breast. Roll the breast meat around the rice mixture and wrap with 2 strips of thin sliced bacon. Be sure to wrap tightly and then seal with toothpicks. Place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap to protect and return to the refrigerator until ready to grill. Combine the following ingredients and heat over medium high heat until brought to a boil.

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Baste every 5-6 minutes, keep lid closed when not basting. Cook until meat is nicely caramelized and juices run clear (10-12 minutes). Remove from grill and transfer to a platter and cover tightly with a piece of foil for 5-7 minutes to rest and to aid in the redistribution of juices. Carefully remove toothpicks before serving.

Suggested Sides Brussel Sprouts

Steam brussel sprouts for about 15 minutes. Then stir fry the sprouts with fresh garlic, crispy bacon and black pepper, and a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.

ter and Sweet Chipotle Season All Rinse and slice 3 medium size sweet potatoes into ¼” thick slices. Arrange at an angle in a glass pyrex just big enough to hold them. Slice a cold stick of butter into 1/8” pats and place in between slices. Sprinkle with Texas Gourmet’s Sweet Chipotle Season All. Cover and seal with foil. Place in preheated oven @400 degrees for approx. 20 to 25 minutes. Check for tenderness. When done, remove from oven but keep covered until ready to serve. Bon Appetit! Email Bryan Slaven, “The Texas Gourmet,” at texas-tasted@fishgame.com

Sliced sweet potatoes with unsalted but-

1 Cup Shiraz Wine (I like the peppery flavor of this wine, Merlot can be used as well. ½ jar -Texas Gourmet’s Jalapeno-Kiwi Jelly 1- Teaspoon- Rubbed Sage 2 cloves – Garlic minced 2 TBSPNS- Olive Oil- Extra Virgin would be preferred 1/3 Teaspoon- freshly cracked black pepper Once boiling, stir well for about 3 to 4 minutes then remove from heat and reserve for basting and glazing. Grill the wrapped meat indirectly over mesquite charcoal (or apple wood if available) at about 375 degrees. T F & G

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by matt williams

PHOTOS: MATT WILLIAMS

THERE IS A LONG LIST of techniques that anglers rely on to fool bass. But there is an even larger army of fishing lures that Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fish have been known to bite. So many, in fact, that stocking a tackle box for bass fishing can be a daunting task for someone who is new to the game and just beginning to assemble an arsenal. It also can get expensive pretty quick, especially if you are a sucker for lures portrayed as magic bullets.

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Photo: Matt williams

You don’t need 10 of every bait style out there, in every color under the sun, just to catch a few bass. The secret here is to stick to the basics. In the segments that follow, I’ll discuss several styles of baits that every bass angler should always have handy, and offer some proven advice for fishing with each one.

Crankbaits

Crankbaits are great tools for catching schooling bass in open water, but they also can be highly effective when searching for fish around cover such as grass, bushes or logs, or underwater structure like rock piles and channel ledges. Best colors for crankbaits are crawfish, shad and bluegill. There are two families of crankbaits, billed and lipless. Billed plugs have a plastic nose bill that protrudes at a downward angle off the bait’s nose, thus causing the bait to dive and wobble side-to-side. Some produce a tight wobble, others a wider, more pronounced wobble. Billed plugs come in assorted sizes and three diving depth ranges -- shallow (1-5 feet), medium (6-12

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feet) and deep (12-20 plus feet). Most are equipped with two treble hooks, one up front and one off the tail. Fishing Tip: Always pay close attention to what the bait is doing as it comes through

the water. If it bumps a limb or grass, pause the retrieve to allow the bait to float free before the trebles bury in the cover. The lipless crankbait is flat sided, has no bill and does not float. Its elongated body is

12/22/11 1:02 PM

filled with small BBs to create a distinctive rattling noise as it speeds through the water column with an enticing quiver on a steady retrieve. It is available in sizes ranging 1/4 to 1 ounce; 1/2 and 3/4 ounce are the most popular sizes. Fishing Tip: Lipless cranks are deadly when worked over submerged grass during during winter and early spring. The key is to work the bait fast enough to keep it ticking the top of the grass; most strikes occur as it tears free.

Spinnerbait & Chatterbait

The spinnerbait is equipped with a rubber skirt that pulsates and blades that spin on a wire frame as it moves through the water. Fish see the flash, hear the sounds and feel the vibrations of the spinning blades cutting the water. It will work in muddy water or clear, deep water or shallow, or

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in areas with heavy or sparse cover. You can fish it vertically around ledges, pitch it to stumps and bushes, or slow roll it along fallen logs and over grass. Spinnerbaits come in several frame sizes ranging 1/8 up 2 ounces, with 3/8 to 3/4 ounce being the most popular for standard applications. Blades are available in three styles, but willowleaf (elongated like a leaf) and Colorado (oval shaped) are blades are the most preferred. Willow blades provide flash and give the bait some “lift,” which helps in shallow water situations that involve fishing around grass, brush and other cover.

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The Colorado is favored in deep or muddy water, because it displaces more vibration the bass can see and hear. White, chartreuse/white and chartreuse are color chart staples. Fishing Tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment with painted blades, especially in offcolor water when standard copper or silver just don’t seem to be cutting it. The Chatterbait combines the flash and vibration of a spinnerbait and the profile of a skirted jig. The hook protrudes from a lead head with a keeper that allows for changing skirt colors quickly. A flat blade pivots off the head, which promotes unique wobble and tons of vibration, which makes it a great choice in clear, stained or muddy water. It works best when retrieved at slow or medium speeds over submerged grass, around docks or shallow stumps. Best colors are black, white, red and watermelon. Available in four sizes, 1/4 to 5/8 ounce; 3/8 and 1/2 ounce are ideal for most shallow applications. Fishing Tip: Trimming the skirt about an inch long and threading a small swim bait like a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper on the hook gives the bait a larger profile that at times will make it more appealing to big fish. Use a drop of super glue or a

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Soft Plastics

There are thousands of soft plastic worms, crawfish, lizards, creatures and jerkbaits that be can used for various rigging applications including Texas, Carolina, wacky, drop shot, shaky head or weightless. Smaller profile plastics measuring six inches or less tend to produce the most bites, but larger plastics sometimes yield the bigger fish. Many anglers prefer plastics for fishing around heavy cover, mainly because they can be fished slowly and methodically with less risk for snagging. The best colors can vary from lake-tolake in according with water clarity and the season of the year. Some heavy favorites include watermelon/red,watermelon pumpkin, green/pumpkin, red bug and junebug. Fishing Tip: It is a good idea to peg the slip sinker against the baitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head using a rubber T-stop or bead when flipping or pitching in heavy brush or grass. This will

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help the bait achieve a truer fall and prevent looping that can cause hang-ups.

Topwaters

and sizes. There are hard body topwaters such as the Pop R and Zara Spook, and soft plastic topwaters like the floating lizard, hollow body frog and buzz frog. Another popular style of topwater is the buzz bait. Like the buzz frog, the buzz bait requires forward movement to stay afloat. Certain conditions are more conducive to better results on some topwaters. Cup nose chugger-stye lures like the Pop R or Yellow Magic are the best choice in calm waters, whereas buzz baits and stick baits like the Zara Spook can be the ticket when there is some wind to put some chop on the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface. Fishing Tip: Never use fluorocarbon fishing line in combination with a hard body topwater plug. Fluorocarbon sinks and will impair the action. Monofilament is ideal for most topwaters, although braid is heavily preferred for frog fishing.

Photos: Matt williams

Hitch Series keeper hold the swim bait snug to the head.

Topwater lures will produce year-round, but bass are most prone to look up during late spring, late summer and early fall, when water temperatures are moderate The baits are available in many styles

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TEXAS HUNTING

TEXAS SALTWATER

SOUTH TEXAS

GALVESTON

TEXAS HUNTING Hillman Guide Service

NORTH EAST TEXAS White Oak Outfitters

Captain Akins Guide Service

BAFFIN BAY

White Oak Outfitters

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Ben, Frank and Ken Calabrese Rockport Red Runner

Perkins Family Redfish Charters

TEXAS SALTWATER

TEXAS FRESHWATER

ROCKPORT

MIDDLE Coast

LAKE AMISTAD

Upper Coast (Sabine Lake)

FISHandGAMEgear.COM

WWW.FISHGAME.COM

SPOTLIGHT: ROCKPORT RED RUNNERS

Rockport RedRunner - where we are making memories for a lifetime every day.

I realized at a young age a true love for fishing. I remember catching thousands of trout while fishing with my grandpa and my dad under working birds or wading the shorelines throwing shrimp tails or gold spoons for reds. This is why I love my job. It’s about building memories and teaching the skills I was taught along my thirty years of fishing the Texas Gulf Coast. Its about seeing the excitement of the young and old as they reel their first redfish or trout to the boat with the rod doubled over almost touching the water. I also love to hear from young customers that choose to go fishing with me for their birthday gift from parents above any other gift year after year after year. I have made not only customers but many, many friends with my full time charter business and give thanks each and everyday that I’m able to do what I truly love and share this love with others. Although I am familiar and fish other areas - Rockport, Port A, and Corpus are the areas I specialize in but have a true passion for chasing trophy fish in Baffin as well. Give me a call at (361) 463-6545 or visit rockportredrunner.com to make memories for your family they will never forget!!! - USCG Licensed Captain Chad Verburgt Rockport RedRunnerT F & G

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Whitetail | Rusk

King mackerel | Port Aransas

Shark | Galveston

Fisher Woodcock, age 12, shot this 12 point with his brother’s rifle 243. at his grandpa’s place in Rusk.

Andy Polk, 15, of Allen, Texas, with a small shark that he caught while fishing on the Gulf side of the North Jetty in Galveston.

Austin Mangum, age 10, of Wharton snagged this 29-inch, 13-pound kingfish while on his first offshore fishing trip, at Port Aransas. He caught two others the same size.

Whitetail Port Mansfield “The Deer Whisperer,” James Robert Little, age 3, feeds an 8-point buck at the home of his grandparents, Frank and Marion Romano, in Port Mansfield.

Redfish | Corpus Christi Efren Beltran Jr., age 9, caught his first redfish while fishing with his family in Corpus Christi.

Speckled trout Lower Laguna Madre Jennifer Otsuki caught her first fish while fishing on her Paw Paw’s boat on the Lower Laguna Madre.

Whitetail Welfare, TX Triston Morris, age 9, with his first deer, an 8-point buck he took while hunting at Smith Ranch in Welfare, Texas.

CATFISH Lake Walter Long Kyle Mares, age 13, of Pflugerville, with a 15-pound yellow catfish he caught on a jug line with live perch, on Lake Walter Long.

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Whitetail | Encino Rene Loredo got this nice 6-point buck while hunting near Encino.

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MAIL TO: TFG PHOTOS 1745 Greens Rd, Houston TX 77032 NOTE: Print photos can not be returned.

EMAIL: photos@FishGame.com

For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

Whitetail

crappie | Lake Lavon Seven-year-old Joey Pivarnik of McKinney caught this hard-fighting 1-pound, 7-oz. black crappie on a 100-degree day at Lake Lavon, fishing with live shiner. It was his best crappie to date.

Duval Co.

Wild Turkey | Winters Bryson Busch, age 12, shot his first two turkeys in Winters, Texas, with his new Thompson-Center .243.

Victoria Salinas got her first 9-point buck on the family A.B.E.S.Y.L. Ranch in Duval County.

Bobcat

Feral Hog

San Angelo

Huntsville

Reid McIntyre of San Angelo is pictured with one of three bobcats and two grey foxes he caught in a three-day period.

Kyle Williams, age 13, of Spring took his first boar feral hog near Huntsville, with a Remington .243 rifle. The Hog weighed 110 pounds.

Speckled Trout | Brazos River Ryan Grissett, 16, of Sugar Land caught this 26-inch, 6.5 pound speck in the Brazos River from his Paw Paw’s fishing pier.

Whitetail Rusk Hunter Woodcock, age 14, with his first bowhunting kill, at his grandpa’s house in Rusk.

Bass Lake Fork

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Shark

Roman Daub, age 6, caught his first bass, at Lake Fork. He caught the bass with a buzz bait.

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Galveston Cooper Stone, age 6, of Brownwood hooked this bull shark with a little help from Jim, Jody and Justin Pack. He caught it off Bird Island in Galveston Bay.

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