May 2014

Coastal Edition 30th Anniversary Issue

May 2014 | VOL. 31 • NO. 1 | $3.95

Gear Up and

Thick it Out for Bass An Honest Look at

The Coyotes

Frogging for

Redfish

A Guide to

Saltwater Bank Fishing Texas’ Best-Kept

Wildlife Secret

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Digital Edition 30th Anniversary Issue

May 2014 | VOL. 31 • NO. 1 | $3.95

Thick it Out for

Bass Texas’ Best-Kept

Wildlife Secret

Frogging for Reds An Honest Look at

Coyotes A Guide to

Coastal Bank Fishing INLAND COVER

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

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

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

roy neves PUBLISHER

chester moore EDITOR IN CHIEF

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

Joe Doggett Doug Pike Ted Nugent Lou Marullo Matt Williams Calixto Gonzales Lenny Rudow Steve LaMascus Dustin Ellermann Kendal Hemphill Will Leschper Reavis Wortham Tom Behrens Greg Berlocher Paul Bradshaw Capt. Mike Holmes Dustin Warncke Stan Skinner Lisa Moore John Gisel

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR CONSERVATION EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR STRATEGIC ADVISOR

A D V E R T I S I N G ardia neves

VICE PRESIDENT/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR viga hall • NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES tonisha shields • ADVERTISING COORDINATOR 1745 Greens Road Houston, TX 77032 Phone: 281/227-3001 • Fax 281/227-3002

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GRAPHIC DESIGNER DIGITAL ISSUES DESIGNER

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032 Phone 800/725-1134

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duane hruzek PRESIDENT

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.

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Paid Distribution of over 90,000 Verified by Independent Audit

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Table of

MAY 2014 Volume 31 • NO. 1

Contents Features

INLAND/NORTH COVER: Gear Up & Thick it Out The mention of Big Bass in Texas conjures thoughts of heavy cover— hydrilla, lily pads, underwater brush—and the need to bulk up your tackle before rumbling in that jungle.

Story and Cover Photo by Matt Williams

STORY:

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AN HONEST LOOK AT COYOTES Coyote attacks on humans in urban areas are on the rise. How serious is the threat and what can—and should—be done about it?

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by Chester Moore

THIRTY YEARS OF TF&G An inside look at the first 30 years of this magazine—its genesis, the characters behind it, and the major events that culminated in what you now hold in your hands.

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by Roy Neves

WALK-UP SALTWATER Not every fisherman owns a boat. For those who don’t, here are some shoreline access points for great saltwater bank fishing—from Sabine Lake to South Padre Island.

COASTAL COVER: FROGGING FOR REDS Redfish and frogs STORY: live in different worlds. That doesn’t mean a buzzy soft plastic frog lure won’t tempt an opportunistic red— especially when other baits don’t even register.

Story by John Felsher Cover Photo: Bigstock

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by Chester Moore

THE BEST KEPT WILDLIFE SECRET IN TEXAS Our Wild in Texas photo essay series makes a stop at a Central Texas landmark (and wildlife jewel), the Snake Farm on IH-35 in New Braunfels.

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Inside Fish&Game

by Roy & Ardia Neves | TF&G Owners

The Definition of Legacy

D

AVID MENDEZ WAS A GUY YOU COULDN’T help but like the instant you met him. He had a winning personality—friendly, outgoing, always smiling. But there was more there. Much more.

He had a way of making you want to join him and help make whatever he was engaged in successful. He put this quality to good use when he decided several years ago to create an event that would introduce fishing to new generations of South Texas kids.

We first met David in May 2012 when he asked us to help promote the third annual Hooked for Life, Kids Gone Fish’n tournament in Brownsville.

The inaugural event in 2010 had been more successful than he could have hoped: over 550 children signed up to fish, most of them for the first time. This inspired David to go all out for the second year, and he was so successful at recruiting young anglers that the Guinness Book of World Records sent a judge down and declared the event the largest fishing tournament in the world. More than 2200 children showed up that year and fished for stocked David Mendez catfish in the the Brownsville Event Center Resaca (canal)—lining the banks for more than a mile on each side.

As last year’s fourth annual event approached, David was battling a lymphoma diagnosis. Weakened by chemotherapy, he found the strength to lead the 2013 tournament. He passed away on January 19 of this year.

And so his leadership of the Hooked for Life Foundation now takes spiritual form. David’s passion for fishing and strong leadership have inspired his community to carry his vision forward, beginning with the Fifth Annual Hooked for Life, Kids Gone Fish’n tournament this May 17 at the Brownsville Event Center (visit hooked4life.org for information).

There is plenty of talk in our industry about the urgent need to bring young people into fishing and hunting. But few people have the vision, the drive, and the will to give enough of themselves and to actually take action on a scale that makes a difference.

David Mendez was such a person. He is gone, but he left a mark. His lasting impact will be seen in the radiant faces of children catching their very first fish, and in the lifetime of outdoors enjoyment the gift of that first experience will bring to many of them. That is a legacy.

Contents (continued) Columns

Editor’s Notes 10 The Awakening

by CHESTER MOORE

TF&G Editor in Chief

Doggett at Large 14 Collateral Contacts

by JOE DOGGETT

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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Pike on the Edge 18

When Oil and Water

Do Mix

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

by DOUG PIKE

TexasWild 20

The Ultimate Texas

Bonedemonium Safari

TF&G Editor At Large

by TED NUGENT

Commentary 21

Dumb and Dumber

by KENDAL HEMPHILL

TF&G Politcal Commentator

Bare Bones Hunting 39

The First Deer

is the Hardest

TF&G Hunting Editor

by LOU MARULLO

Texas Saltwater 58

Slow and Steady

by CALIXTO GONZALES

TF&G Saltwater Editor

Texas Freshwater 46

Electronics Reel in Big

Tournament Wins

TF&G Freshwater Editor

by MATT WILLIAMS

Open Season 64 Cold

Departments 8 LETTERS 12 TF&G REPORT 12 BIG BAGS

& CATCHES

36 TEXAS DEPT.

OF DEFENSE

48 TRUE GREEN

Nosed

by REAVIS WORTHAM

TF&G Humor Editor

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

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Letters to the Editor WILD IN TEXAS APPRECIATION

TIME TO BE A TEXAN

THANK YOU FOR THE SERIES “WILD in Texas.” It has been great seeing all of the photos and learning so much about the wildlife in the state. I was particularly interested in the wolf article. It was so good to see something like that in a hunting and fishing publication.

Dan Schmidt I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE VARIETY of wolves that inhabited the Lone Star State until I saw the wolf article in your magazine.

I loved the photos and the obscure information. Good stuff!

Leslie Dean

WELL-SAID CHESTER! I, TOO, WAS once an environmentalist, and became a conservationist, but I’ll always be a Texan.

Bill Hobson

BEAR ATTACKS ON THE RISE I RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO THAT someone did some statistical breakdowns, and a black bear attack was far more likely to be fatal than that of a grizzly, because black bears will press the attack, whereas grizzlies more often make their point and leave. That being said, I’d far prefer to take on a 300

lb. black than an 800 lb. grizzly. When you are in bear country, you’d best be prepared for an encounter that goes bad, regardless how rare it is.

Kevin Calogne

Lingerie on the Bay THE ENCLOSED PHOTO SHOWS THE stringer our team caught wade fishing in East Matagorda Bay while competing in the Lingerie on the Bay tournament. The catch was good for first place in the tournament.

Pictured left to right are: Sammie Alford, Jeri Hickl, Elida DeWitt, Lupe Villanueva We all had a blast!

Elida DeWitt

Send your Comments to: Editor, Texas Fish & Game 1745 Greens Rd Houston TX 77032 Email: editor@fishgame.com 8 |

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Editor’s Editor’s Notes

by Chester Moore | TF&G Editor in Chief

C

HANGE IS IN THE AIR. I don’t know if you can feel it but I certainly can and judging from events taking place in our communities, throughout the state and yes worldwide, we are living in transformative times.

Decisions made now will have tremendous impact on future generations, more so than in many previous eras due to a number of historically significant factors. I could fill this magazine with my thoughts on the various affairs taking place, but our duty is to inform you on the outdoor side of things, especially those that impact the Lone Star State.

I would like to start with an apology.

You see I, along with many members of the outdoors industry, have missed it.

Although we have dedicated untold amounts of space and time to the alleged threats of animal rights protesters, much bigger problems have been slowly rising to the surface with little attention paid to them.

Sure, the protestors are annoying and have in certain ways impacted our lifestyle, but the real boogeyman is much more frightening.

This boogeyman’s name is indifference, and most, if not all of us who love consumptive outdoors practices have been a part of it.

In the early 2000s, I dedicated four columns in a two-year span to the speckled trout controversy of the day. I was fired up about the push to ban croaker as a live bait and an elitist attitude that seemed to drive sectors of that fishery. I still feel the same way today but can’t make that a big priority when there are enough PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins in Galveston Bay to cause the Texas Department of Health to issue warnings on consuming trout. Similar warnings exist for gafftops in Sabine Lake and various species both in salt water and in fresh water around the state.

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Decisions made now will impact future generations.

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The Awakening

Isn’t there time and room enough to cover potential cancer-causing agents in our water and fishing regulation changes?

You see though, it is not just me. It is us.

When we did run a brief news story on the Galveston trout advisory we had a grand total of three emails. One trout/croaker story I did in 2002 generated nearly 100.

When an oil spill impacted Galveston Bay last March, the breaking story on it generated 300 page views on our website.

Two days later, a story about a man getting busted after posting a picture of illegal redfish he took generated 14,000 in the same time span. We are glad to get that traffic and

will continue to post the most interesting, unique and entertaining outdoors stories out there, but we feel the big issues also deserve coverage.

As much as I disagree with the minimum 13-inch spread rule that has taken over all of East Texas and other parts of the state, it really means nothing in comparison to the habitat loss we are facing with development and will face with the numerous gigantic reservoirs on tap for the Pineywoods. These factors are already causing deer leases to literally disappear; lease prices to skyrocket and wildlife to decline, but people seem indifferent.

Why is that the outdoors community has seemingly unlimited energy for fighting antler restrictions and fish bag limits but virtually none for the reservoir expansion, water pollution and loss of habitat?

Is it that we as outdoor media have F I S H

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not done a good enough job informing you? That is probably part of it, and it has changed at Texas Fish & Game and Fishgame.com. We are digging deeper than ever to get you this important information and will continue to do so.

Perhaps part of it is what I described in the March edition as an issue of generally conservative-minded people being afraid to have any affiliation with issues (such as pollution) that are attached to the radical environmental movement. We need to get over that because there is nothing radical about wanting to eat fish without cancer concerns.

As gloomy as all of this sounds we have an opportunity to make a real difference. If we can figure out our priorities and put habitat and clean water at the forefront while still keeping a watchful eye on rights issues, we can make the future of Texas’s great outdoor lovers a bright one. Through decisive and consistent communication and by redirecting some of our energies we can make a real stand against the problems facing Texas.

We have done a great job on gun issues here, but we have frankly slipped on some true conservation concerns. The good news is there is an awakening taking place. I have had one over the last two years and judging from communications I have had face to face at various Texas Fish & Game, so have many of you.

As we enter our 30th year of publication, it is wise to reflect on what got us here.

This has always been a forward thinking publication that upheld the rich outdoors traditions while taking a hard, honest look at the future.

That is what we are doing and although it will probably challenge all of us, great strides can be made only by taking bold steps.

Here we go.

E-mail Chester Moore at cmooreoutdoors@gmail.com.

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

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The TF&G Report Potential World Record Guadalupe Bass Caught in Colorado River A 3.71-POUND, 17-INCH GUADALUPE Bass caught from the Colorado River below Austin appears to qualify as a new state and world record in several categories.

Dr. Bryan Townsend of Austin was fly-fishing with guide Shea McClanahan on Saturday, February 1, when he landed the largest specimen of the state fish of Texas reported caught.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries biologist Marcos De Jesus met the party at the river and assist-

ed in transporting the fish to the Cabela’s in Buda, where it was weighed on a certified scale.

DNA testing confirmed the fish is pure Guadalupe bass.

Townsend elected to donate the fish to TPWD for display at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. The fish can be seen in the dive tank in the theater.

“The Colorado River below Austin, from Longhorn Dam to La Grange, has been a special bass fishery for many years,” said De Jesus. “Productive waters and excellent habitat have helped support a healthy black bass population composed of largemouth bass and Guadalupe bass. Recently, with reduced pulses due to drought, aquatic vegetation exploded all over this river

Big Bags&Catches

segment. Flood events in October flushed a lot of it downstream, making it easier to fish.”

De Jesus noted that many large Guadalupe and largemouth bass are caught by anglers every year from this stretch of river. Guadalupe bass in the two- to threepound range are frequently reported and documented by fishing guides in their web pages. Reports of 50- to 100-fish trips are not uncommon.

“Spring and fall are good times to catch large numbers of fish,” De Jesus said.

“TPWD has been working with local governments and private landowners to develop public river access in this stretch to allow paddlers to enjoy this resource. There are a number of public access points available, including the Bastrop paddling trail.”

For information on access points, visit tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails shboat/boat/paddlingtrails.

Townsend’s fish qualifies as the new

STRIPED BASS

WHITETAIL

WAHOO

Lake Austin

George West

Packery Channel

Sean Kohlmeyer caught this “monster” striper—42 inches, 25-inch girth, 33.1 pounds—while fishing a crankbait for bass in Lake Austin.

Noah Dimick, age 9, of San Antonio, shot a late season 9-pointer with a .270 on The Cactus Ranch, south of George West, while hunting with his dad and granddad.

He wanted to thank guide Perry Neichoy of Fauna Lodge Outfitters.

Thomas Mullenix caught this nice Wahoo while fishing offshore from Packery Channel aboard the Reelax with Capt Jerry Bravenec.

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

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state and water body weight and water body and state fly-fishing records. It may qualify for International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world records as well.

Flexibility Given in Gator Management

information by email at amos.cooper@tpwd. state.tx.us. Prospective permittees can also contact Amos Cooper at (409) 726-3625 (office) or (409) 293-2836 (cell) to receive an application in the mail. All applications must be returned by June 30 to the Alligator Program, 10 Parks and Wildlife Drive, Port Arthur, Texas 77640.

The next scheduled classes are set for August 15-16 depending on the number of applicants. For information on the rules

and regulations governing alligator go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations click on Alligators In Texas and a 32-page booklet will appear. For information on Alligator Farming and all PWD form associated with the Alligator Program go to www.tpwd. state.tx.us/business/permits/ click on Alligator Permits and all forms will be displayed.

Go to fishgame.com for up to the minute coverage.

LANDOWNERS ARE NOW ABLE TO contract directly with nuisance alligator hunters under new rules adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The new protocol will authorize a permitted control hunter to contract directly with a landowner or landowner’s agent (including a political subdivision, governmental entity, or property owner’s association) for a fee or other compensation for the removal of nuisance alligators.

By allowing control hunters to contract directly with landowners, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hopes to simplify the process and allow permittees to retain captured alligators and process or sell them.

The new protocol would allow alligators to be released in suitable habitat with the approval of the department and the landowner of the property where the release would take place.

During the past 20 years, once imperiled alligator populations in Texas have rebounded spectacularly. Increased suburban, exurban, an industrial development in an adjacent to coastal counties, particularly along the mid- and upper coast, has resulted in increasing number of nuisance alligator complaints, especially in areas biologically characterized by diminishing or little to no habitat.

Each nuisance alligator control hunter must complete a certification process that includes (1) an application to TPWD, (2) a department administered nuisance alligator control course, (3) a written exam on nuisance alligator control, and (4) a live alligator handling exam. Additionally, an annual permit fee of $252 is required. No one in Texas is excluded from having a valid nuisance control permit issued by TPWD Alligator Program for the capture and release of American alligators, including local animal control officers.

Persons interested in the nuisance alligator control hunter program can request

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Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Collateral Contacts

O



NE OF THE FEW ABSOLUTES IN ANGLING is this: When you go fishing you are trying to catch a fish. Regardless of tackle or technique or location, the goal of casting a lure or bait is to hook something with fins and scales. Or at least gills.

This does not always happen. Fish long enough and you can bend the rod on a variety of collateral contacts. These hook-ups might be unintended but, well, here are a few examples: I was fly fishing for Atlantic salmon on the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec. Fishing

with another angler. The dark mound of a beaver house was against the far bank and the logs and branches helped define the deep holding water for resting salmon. I made a long cast just below the mound and allowed the slowly sinking fly to start swinging.

A heavy boil and a great splash yanked the line tight. “I’ve got one! A big one!” I yelled as line jetted smoothly from the reel. I followed, wallowing and splashing along the gravel bank. Moments later, the rod sprang back.

I stripped the slack line in, devastated.

I grabbed the leader and inspected the Orange Francis fly. The small double hook was impaled in a sodden mass of wet fur.

During the fishy sweep, I had snagged the resident beaver.

The hairy rodent surfaced against the far bank, glaring at me with beady eyes and

Curious seabirds such as this booby can get tangled in a cast. Pay attention when birds are working close.

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long whiskers and yellow buckteeth. It was, indeed, it was a “big one.” Counting the outrageous tail, at least 30 pounds.

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dent occurred while wade fishing for snook in the Florida Everglades. We were shuffling waist deep and casting lead-head jigs on the outgoing tide near the mouth of a river.

I made a smooth cast across the tanninstained current and began a snappy stopand-go. The two-handed 7-foot casting rod doubled against a no-nonsense surge and line buzzed from the reel. The weight was unrelenting.

“This is a monster!” I shouted.

I put serious thumb heat on the spool. A homely wrinkled head and incredible brown bulk breached the surface. I had snagged a passing manatee. The ponderous “sea cow” lumbered off, stirring a sandy cloud, and the puny jig hook pulled free from the rubbery hide.

I don’t know how much the standardissue manatee weighs but it was a lot bigger than me. Most shocking, I had no idea a creature that large was so close.

Air space is far-removed from a streambed or bay bottom, so you would think a cast across open sky would be free of interference. Not always so.

Christmas Island is an atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, premier fly-fishing destinations for bonefish. I was wading a pristine white flat, maybe a mile of sparkling, shimmering nothingness. The flat terminated in a crescent of dry sand studded with scrubby vegetation. The nub of high ground was a rookery for dozens of seabirds, mainly boobies and frigates. These are big birds with severe beaks and long wings and wide webbed feet, awkward on land but graceful in the air.

As I neared the island, many of the residents took flight, sailing and soaring and squawking displeasure at the encroachment.

Just ahead, a big bonefish tail popped up, waggling and fluttering and flashing in the shin-deep water. The inverted fish was rooting and feeding on bottom.

The setup was classic. I could drop the No. 8 Christmas Island Special right next to the preoccupied fish and the hookup would be automatic. I shuffled quietly to the right, improving the wind angle, and made PHOTO: JOE DOGGETT

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Doggett at Large my play at 60 feet. Ice cream, I thought. It doesn’t get any better.

I put a tight loop in the air. The line sailed behind while I focused on the gleaming tail and waited for the telltale tug of the straightening loop. No tug occurred. The weight of the torpedo taper vanished as if the line had been cut in midair.

I turned and looked up.

A booby was tangled in the loop. The wide-eyed gannet flapped for altitude then, as the fly line pulled tight, began a slanting descent.

There’s no way this is going to end well, I thought.

The tethered booby splashed onto the flat about 10 yards from the previously happy bonefish. The bird shook free and launched amid a thrashing of wings and webs. The odds of catching a bonefish while using a live booby for bait are not real good and I never saw that fish again.

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On the subject of bonefish, I once hooked a dandy near the edge of a dropoff. The sixpounder raced across the knee-deep flat and into the green channel. I followed frantically with the 9-foot rod held high, hoping to keep the line from cutting against coral rubble along the abrupt dropoff.

As I neared the edge, the line angled up, not down, an unusual tactic for a non-jumping bonefish. A large sea turtle surfaced. A heavy flipper was wrapped in the fly line.

The turtle eyed me uncertainly and plodded glumly along while the juiced-up bonefish continued to rip line from the reel.

The sea turtle rocked back and forth, being pulled between despairing angler and determined fish.

There’s no way this is going to—well, you’ve heard it before.

The bonefish made a redoubled rush and snapped the leader. The wallowing turtle dove for safety and slack line trailed back.

These are examples of collateral contact.

I have others. I could tell you about a bear and an alligator and a black-and-white cow, but don’t want to be accused of being an outright liar.

The record should note that, to the best of my knowledge, none of these creatures was significantly injured. They were either too furry or too big, or they simply got tangled in the line.

These encounters also underline another worldwide absolute in angling: When a cast is made, you never know for certain what might happen.

Contact Joe Doggettl at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

O

N A FOGGY DAY THIS PAST MARCH, A ship and barge collided in the Galveston Ship Channel, spilling tens of thousands of gallons of fuel oil into the bay. The outcome should have been better and could have been worse.

First things first. How a modern ship and barge couldn’t manage to avoid each other in relatively open water will be determined— not soon enough for some, and perhaps a little too soon for others.

Given the amount of electronic navigation equipment that should have been in place and operable on both vessels, it seems either that the gear failed or someone in charge of watching it did. I don’t know which, and I wouldn’t fathom a guess. That’s someone else’s issue to resolve, likely in the form of a 40- or 50-page (if not longer) report.

Bottom line: Somehow, a ship hit a barge, and lots of oil hit the water.

Not that there’s ever a good time for an ecological disaster, but this particular one might have garnered slightly less attention had it not occurred at nearly the peak of the spring migration and nesting seasons for many, many, many shorebirds and songbirds.

Dozens of birds were oiled. Critical habitat was cloaked in goo. It was a mess.

At least one local television network affiliate ricocheted off the plights of oily birds and narrowed focus to something it believed would be of greater concern to Houstonians: the cost of gasoline.

“Will the catastrophic, cataclysmic oil spill in Galveston Bay impact gas prices?

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When Oil and Water Do Mix

commuters onto their collective heels.

I never saw that same question asked on air after the first day of coverage. Even third graders knew the answer, and the answer was “No.” That much oil, if it were converted to regular unleaded gasoline, is probably burned every half hour on Loop 610.

The anchor may as well have asked if we thought Galveston’s beaches were near collapse because a toddler hauled away a pail of sand.

Darn that spill. Just when Galveston Bay was really cleaning up, too. We hated to see it happen, and we were glad that so many trained responders were on the scene

so quickly. It seemed in so many live shots from the scene as if the right people were in charge and the right things were being done—and they were.

There was immediate reaction also from environmentalists and birders, not all of whom had as much sympathy for the ship and barge operators as they did for the birds, beaches and sea life impacted by the spill. Those people are important to cleanup efforts in these situations, as well. Industry responders see the oil, and environmentalists see the oily feathers. Both must be addressed quickly to minimize long-term impact.

We need that oil. Have since the first time an internal-combustion engine chugged to life. And we’ll need it for a long time to come.

Having grown up in Houston on the paychecks of a father who was in the oil industry, I greatly appreciate the value of oil and gas and the things they can provide for a family.

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I’d beat a tambourine for alternatives to gasoline if they made more sense, but I don’t see a long future for ethanol and its kin. Other than political or financial gain, why would anyone champion the production of a fuel (heavily subsidized to offset losses) that costs more to produce than the fuel it’s intended to replace? Hats off to corn farmers who are reaping great reward from this experiment, but I wonder how many of their combines run on ethanol—or electricity.

The truth is, our environment always has been and always will be a fragile place where we, as top-of-the-chain occupants, are never more than a blink from gumming it up.

The better we get at tapping, gathering and transporting the planet’s remaining resources to end users, the greater the chance that one thing loaded with another thing will hit yet a third thing loaded with something else. And something will spill out into the water or air or onto the land.

When that happens, as the world’s most intelligent animals and de facto stewards of everything, our primary mission is to clean up.

If I hear a jelly jar drop in the kitchen, I don’t spend an hour trying to figure out who dropped it, how it happened, or whether the red of the raspberry is going to stain the tile.

Instead, I grab a new roll of paper towels, a broom and a dust pan, and I make sure every shard of glass and sticky bit of jelly is off the floor before anyone takes another step. Then we sort out the details.

Some folks tend to forget the order in which things should happen when an accident occurs. They get caught up in fingerpointing and blame-laying and “things,” generally, that don’t really get the jelly off the floor.

Ultimately, what is said of us in history books that won’t be written for another hundred years won’t look so much at the messes we made as at how well, or not, we cleaned them up.

Contact Doug Pike at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Ted’s TexasWild

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

The Ultimate Texas Bonedemonium Safari

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UCKY, LUCKY ME. HUNT, HUNT, HUNT, rock, rock, rock, and hunt and rock some more. I do believe The Dream has me in a doggone stranglehold, baby!

Well praise the Lord, I believe I’ve earned it and He certainly knows how much I dearly appreciate such a blessed life.

You see, my double-edged, two-pronged American Dream erupted spontaneously by the time I could walk, way back in 1949.

In the primal glow of Chuck Berry’s soulthrottling music and Fred Bear’s reinvigorated mystical flight of the arrow, there was simply no question what I wanted out of life.

Gung-ho hunting and over the top rock-n-roll called my name from day one, and I haven’t looked back since.

The maniacal intensity of my music is the perfect soundboard counterbalance to the silent spirituality of my hunting lifestyle.

Though my hunting is also wildly intense and my music deeply spiritual, they are mostly such opposites as to ultimately complement and enhance the other. Loud, quiet, slow, fast, athletic, stealthy and everything in between—and beyond. Who could ask for more?

Not me.

And so the fall equinox churned on in the glorious hunt season 2013, with me in my favorite ambush tree every morning and afternoon, following the greatest musical adventure of my life. It started rather slow in hot conditions in New Mexico’s elk mountains, and continued frustratingly in the greenest, acorn carpeted whitetail acres ever.

It remained hit and miss well into November, but then with the always welcome rutting activity building steam, critter encounters and well-placed arrows kicked my backstrap dreams well into high gear.

Many very handsome does were bagged, tagged and dragged in Michigan and Texas,

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and some very impressive bucks made enough mistakes to make this old bowhunter very, very happy. The ultimate dream of backstraps and massive headbone was materializing rather nicely, along with a fixed smile on my face.

As with all the hunters I know, those magical moments when things go right, totally wipe out the many frustrating days afield when everything seems to go wrong. If you’re not the eternal optimist, I don’t think deer hunting is for you. I don’t know exactly what the percentage is between kills and getting skunked, but I am confident it is not encouraging on paper. Hence, the immeasurable invigoration we experience each and every hunt, no matter the outcome. When the straps do eventually come, the joy overshadows any and all frustration beforehand.

It is the hunter’s adage that the joys of success are directly linked to the effort applied.

Speaking as a road warrior musician and bowhunter, no truer words have been spoken.

And then something miraculous happened in South Texas.

A rare opportunity to accept kind invitations to hunt some friends’ ranches in this famed whitetail country, Spirit of the Wild VidCamDude Kris Helms and I loaded up the TundraOffRoad.com pickup and pointed her south toward Carrizzo Springs, Texas, first stop the beautiful Eslabon Ranch.

Blood brother and avid whitetail hunter Greg Genitempo, along with ace ranch hands and guides Travis and Ryan had been diligently monitoring animal activity with trailcams and ever-watchful eyes, and had things set up perfectly for our arrival. With welcomed cold weather, confidence ran high as Kris and I climbed into our ladder stand for the first afternoon hunt.

Eslabon Ranch is a whitetail dream come true for Greg and his family, and the quality of deer we saw this evening was a testament F I S H

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to the quality deer management pioneered in Texas for so many years.

Passing on truly phenomenal, giant, two and three year old bucks was about driving me crazy, but a specific old, non-typical buck was our target animal, so we waited patiently.

With dusk approaching, the three-hour vigil was coming to an end when the deer before us jerked their heads to attention and turned their gaze to the north. A stunning, mature old South Texas monarch strolled in like he owned the place. As Kris steadied the SpiritWild vidcam, I took a deep breath in a feeble attempt to control my wildly pulsating runaway heartbeat.

Intent on the does to our left, the old stud walked boldly in front of us, and as he slightly passed our ambush, my Mathews came back like butter. In an instant the glowing Lumenok disappeared square into the magic pump station crease as if stabbed by the hand of God. I swear, the simultaneous whooshed breath of relief from Kris and me broke the silence, and much joyous knuckle punching celebration erupted in our tall mesquite tree in the lap of God. I knew the buck was done with such a perfect arrow, and we took up the substantial bloodtrail within minutes, recovering the dream buck after a short trail.

Greg and the ranch hands joined us for happy photos and the reliving of every minute of this very exciting hunt. The celebration continued around the dinner table that evening with Texas Representative Sid Miller and guests, as nonstop exhilarating stories of Texas deer hunting went on late into the night.

Well, at least that’s what all my friends told me, for I hit the sack right after dinner, knowing that we would head for the world famous Perlitz Ranch and amazing Rancho Encantado the next few days for what would turn out to be more of the most exciting big buck deer hunting a guy could ever dream of.

Backstraps and big antlers go together in Texas like guns and freedom. I had the feeling we weren’t even warmed up yet.

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Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill | TF&G Political Commentator

Dumb and Dumber

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FREE MARKET, NATURALLY DRIVEN BY the laws of supply and demand, allows attractive products to proliferate, and quickly weeds out the trash no one wants. Every commodity offered for sale in such an environment is judged by consumers, and either accepted or rejected on its merits, and the needs and desires of the buyers. Guns are no exception.

The free market still rules in most of America in relation to most products. Build a better mousetrap, it’s said, and the world will beat a path to your door. But if the government restricts mousetrap sales to only those with certain features, the market is no longer free, capitalism is dead, and the consumers no longer determine the value of goods. This is what has happened in California, and is being considered in other states. Not with mousetraps, but with regard to guns.

California passed a law several years ago to require all new guns sold in the state to imprint a unique code onto each cartridge casing fired. The idea is to help police identify guns used in crimes, and aid in apprehending the criminals responsible.

This is called ‘micro-stamping,’ and it’s a fantastic idea—in theory. Unfortunately there are more holes in the application than in Swiss cheese. A few obvious reasons why this concept will not work come immediately to mind.

One, people who want to commit crimes don’t have to use a gun that micro-stamps its primers. There are plenty of other guns available. Pick one—or a thousand. Plus, revolvers are exempt from the law, so there’s that.

Two, criminals don’t have to leave their fired casings lying around on the ground.

They can pick them up and carry them off.

It’s easy. I’ve picked up spent brass myself, lots of times.

Also, criminals are not smart, but they’re smarter than guns. A clever bad guy could pick up some brass fired from someone else’s gun at a range, and then leave it at the scene of his crime, thereby making it look like a gun that was never there was involved.

Three, criminals can easily get firing pins from out of state, and replace the coded ones. Or just shoot a few hundred rounds, and the code is worn off. Or use a file for one minute. No more micro-stamp. Or they can swipe someone else’s gun, use it in a crime, and then put it back, thereby misleading police.

Even if criminals don’t do any of that, and police find spent brass with the code still readable on the primers, so they know which gun was used, and even if they know who bought the gun, that does not prove the guy who bought the gun committed a crime.

They still have to find the gun, or have a witness, or some kind of hard evidence.

So micro stamping is a fine idea in theory, but in practice it’s about as dumb as a submarine with screen doors. Even so, micro stamping is akin to rocket science compared to the concept of the “smart gun.”

A “smart gun” is a gun that works just like a regular gun, as long as it’s in close proximity to an electronic device that activates it. The common device is a wristwatch.

Unless the gun and the watch are within, say, ten inches of one another, the gun goes click—if that.

This is beyond ridiculous, despite what you may have heard from brilliant idiots. Brilliant because the system works at all. Idiots because it has more flaws than Obamacare. Well, almost.

One, batteries power the system. ’Nuff said there.

Two, if someone steals the gun, they can easily get the watch at the same time, thereby negating the idea of keeping guns out of the wrong hands.

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fails. Right? Especially when you need it most. Right? Yeah.

Four, the cost of smart guns is prohibitive, which serves those who want to disarm us, not make us safe. I can’t afford one. Not that I’d buy one, but still.

And if the watch is damaged in any way, bumped against a doorway, say, or the ground, or a head as hard as mine, it can quit.

That’s a biggie, since records of incidents where people shoot at one another will tell you a lot of folks get shot in the hands during a gunfight. This is because we have a natural tendency to shoot where we’re looking, and when someone is pointing a gun at you, it’s hard not to look at that gun, whether they’re shooting or not. So a watch in a gunfight is in the line of fire, and when the watch is hit, you’re basically holding a rock. And it’s not a good idea to bring a rock to a gunfight.

Another little factor to consider is the fact that, if police can use an electronic jammer to interrupt cell service, and they can, then they can do the same thing to smart guns at their leisure. That’s fine if they’re just after the bad guys, but if I happen to be in the process of getting mugged a street over at the time, it might not be so great for me.

The best way to make this incredibly stupid idea go away is for all of us to just say no. A product that doesn’t sell won’t be on the market for long. Don’t buy a smart gun.

As Jackie Gleeson said in Smokey and the Bandit, “You can think about it, but don’t do it.”

Because the only thing dumber than a “smart gun” is the guy holding it.

Contact Kendal Hemphill at Khemphill@fishgame.com

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Gear Up and

Thick I Don’t Go Into the Big Bass Jungle Under-Gunned

WHEN I THINK OF BIG TEXAS BASS, MY MIND NATURALLY conjures up thoughts of some sort of cover — hydrilla beds, lily pads, cattail stands, pepper grass, underwater brush piles, flooded bushes or anything else where a big fish might seek out security or take refuge to wait for an unsuspecting bait fish to swim dangerously close.

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4/8/14 6:32 PM

k It Out Story and photos by Matt Williams

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It also takes me back to some meaningful words Charlie Haralson once shared as we crawled our baits through underwater jungles of huisache and mesquite bushes along the banks of Salinas Creek on the Mexico side of Lake Falcon. Haralson is a former Falcon guide from Laredo who has logged countless hours on the popular South Texas fishery and boated more 10-pound bass than most anglers could catch in 50 lifetimes. He has also lost his share of big fish, but knowing Haralson like I know him, you can bet it wasn’t for lack of preparation.

“When you hook a fish that you can do absolutely nothing with — one that breaks you down, wraps you up and leaves you wondering if it was even a bass — now that’s frustrating,” Haralson said. “A lot of guys can’t comprehend the feeling because they have never experienced it. But it happens at places like Falcon and Sugar Lake (in Mexico) pretty often. These lakes are different than most; there is no telling what the next bite will be. You need to be prepared so that when the opportunity presents itself you can capitalize on it the best you can.”

So it goes with any lake known for producing big bass around jungles of thick cover. Go at it unprepared and sooner or later you are going to get whipped.

What follows is a bass angler’s gear guide for targeting thick-shouldered green fish in places where the sun doesn’t shine very often. Follow it and you will increase the odds of winning the battle in tight places when the big bite comes: LINE MANAGEMENT: Fishing line is the critical link between you and the fish. If there is a weak spot in the link, a big bass in heavy cover will help you find it.

Two words of advice, here. Think heavy.

Braided line like Sufix 832 with a breaking strength of 50 pounds or more is heavily preferred for tossing jigs, plastics and frogs around aquatic vegetation like hydrilla, lily pads, pepper grass, etc…

One of the main reasons is this line is super strong, and, like many other braids, is very small diameter with zero stretch.

Matched with the proper rod, braid allows for turning a big fish quickly and horsing it in before it can wrap up in the muck. Another benefit is braid will actually slice through vegetation like a knife, which helps prevent big wads of grass from balling around the line.

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of guys prefer not to use it when fishing around wood cover. “I use fluorocarbon for everything else, whether I’m flipping around docks, brush or rock,” said Florida bass pro Randall Tharp. “Braid makes a sawing noise when it comes over limbs. Plus, it will actually dig into wood and cause you to lose fish.”

ROD CHOICES: It wouldn’t be wise to go to a gunfight with pocketknife, sort of like it wouldn’t be smart to dabble a bait around heavy cover using a rod with the flex of a flyswatter. Long handle rods that are at least 6 1/2-feet long with a medium/heavy or heavy action are the preferred choices when casting or punchin’ in heavy cover. Matched with big line and a quality bait-casting reel, a proper rod will provide critical backbone for horsing bass out of thick vegetation, bushes or brush.

HIGH SPEED REEL: Reels with a high-speed gear ratio get the nod over slow speed reels, especially for tight quarters tactics like pitching and flipping. A 7.0:1 or faster reel will allow you to gather line and set the hook quickly when a bite is detected.

Plus, the higher speed cuts down on wasted time spent retrieving the bait once it is out the strike zone. This adds up to more flips or pitches over the course of the day.

TUNGSTEN VS. LEAD: Most hardcore anglers opt for tungsten slip sinkers over lead these days, especially for close range techniques like flipping in bushes or lily pads or punching creature baits through dense mats of hydrilla or water hyacinth. Tungsten is considerably heavier than lead, which equals a weight that is much smaller in profile than a lead weight of the equal size. The smaller weight passes through cover easier and is less visible to bass.

California bass pro Ish Monroe pointed out that he likes prefers tungsten over lead for another reason, as well. “Tungsten is also louder than lead,” he said. “It makes a ‘thunk’ when it hits hard bottom, rock or a limb. That will sometimes trigger those reaction strikes.”

PEG IT: When fishing with plastics in heavy cover, it is best use some sort of bobber stop or piece of rubber band to hold the slip sinker snug against the head of the bait.

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Loaded for Jungle Bass: Heavy line, a stiff long handled rod and fast reel.

on the fall; when the weight penetrates the cover, it takes the bait right along with it.

MAGNUM HOOKS: Short range flipping and pitching with plastics and jigs is usually synonymous with big line, a stout rod and a star drag that is locked down tight to prevent slippage to prevent fish from getting the upper hand. Another key part of this “power system” is a stout hook.

Steer clear of thin-wire finesse style hooks and go with a heavy wire hook that won’t flex or bend on a violent hookset. When using braid, be sure to use a “Superline” hook with the line tie welded shut to prevent slippage.

Perhaps the best way to prepare for a trip to big bass nirvana is by doing a serious tackle check. Hook, line, rod, reel — everything needs be geared for bear when gunning for bass on lakes with reputations known for producing the big bite.

“When you hook a big bass down here it is usually going to be in a bush or no less than five feet from one,” Haralson said.

“The idea is to get the fish coming your way and to keep applying heat so it hopefully won’t wrap you up. There is nothing finesse about it.”

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PHOTO CREDIT

4/8/14 6:35 PM

HUNKERED DOWN IN THICK cover, a large pot-bellied fish tracked the silhouette of a frog flitting across matted grass just two feet above its head as it waited for the opportune time to strike.

The creature briefly paused atop the grass and then hopped gently into a tiny pocket of open water.

It remained motionless for a moment before slowly sinking. Quivering as it descended about a foot, it regained its composure and climbed over another grass clump.

Finally, the hungry predator could stand it no longer. The fish opened its mouth and lunged at the frog still sitting on the matted grass. As if a bomb exploded beneath the surface, water erupted and spewed frothy weeds across the shallow flat. The 15-pound beast gulped the frog and part of the vegetation in the process. However, instead of slurping succulent frog steaks, the surprised redfish sucked down a mouthful of plastic punctured by a steel hook.

REDFISH LIVE IN BRACKISH TO SALTY water and frogs typically prefer sweeter environments. The two species rarely meet in nature. Although redfish seldom intentionally target frogs, a hungry redfish might eat just about anything. Buzzing soft-plastic frogs can entice hard-to-catch spottailed marsh marauders that few other lures even tempt.

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PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

q A hooked redfish fights for freedom at the side of the boat after striking a soft-plastic frog.

“A redfish is an opportunistic feeder,” explained Jimmie Dooms, a redfish pro from Portland, Texas. “Redfish are not necessarily targeting frogs. They just see something in the water that looks good to eat and attack it. Up the Sabine River and the marshes around Sabine Lake, there are lots of frogs. I’ve also used frogs successfully around Matagorda Island and Port O’Connor. The Colorado and Guadalupe river deltas are good areas to use frogs.”

River deltas nourish brackish wetlands, encouraging abundant aquatic plant growth.

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3/0 to 5/0 wide gap hook inserted into the body, a soft plastic frog can go through the thickest vegetation without fouling.

Frequently, redfish erupt through the grass to attack these baits.

“The beauty of a frog is that it can get into areas that other lures cannot reach,” advised Shane Dubose, a professional redfish angler from Tomball. “Redfish like to hide in thick grass and ambush baitfish. I can throw a frog over the top of any cover that I want to fish and not worry about it hanging up. I have used frogs to catch redfish in the marshes around Sabine Lake and in the East Bay of the Trinity-Galveston Bay area.”

Anglers can fish frogs in several ways.

Some frogs slowly sink and others float. In

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very shallow water or extremely thick weeds, a steady buzzing retrieve across the surface makes a great way to search for redfish. Even if a fish doesn’t explode on the bait, it might move and give away its position. Then, anglers can follow up with equally deadly Texas-rigged soft plastics that slither slowly across the surface.

“One time, I saw a redfish within casting range,” recalled Mike Gallo, a professional redfish angler. “The other angler with me cast behind it and brought the frog steadily toward it. I could see the redfish lower himself in the water so it could tilt its head upward and look behind him because it could hear the lure coming. A frog puts off great vibrations. The redfish waited for the frog to pass over it and then attacked it from behind.”

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the openings in the grass and stop it. I’ll let it sit over the openings for a while and then pull it out. When a big redfish explodes on a frog, it’s one of the Weedless most exciting things in fishing.” soft plastic frogs When fishing sinking frogs, make excellent temptations for redfish that anglers may use the “stop, sink are hunkered down in and go” approach. Pop the thick grassy cover. bait or pull it several feet across the surface. At open water pockets, let the bait sink. As the frog slowly sinks, its appendages may twitch

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The “hop and pop” method also works, particularly with floating frogs. With this method, move the bait a few feet and then stop. Let it “crawl” over vegetation and pause briefly. This technique works best when fished in broken, patchy vegetation.

“I like to fish floating frogs,” Dubose said. “It’s like fishing a topwater bait, but it can go way back in the thickest cover. I work it just fast enough to get the legs flapping or causing little bubbles. I also like the start and stop retrieve. I work a floating frog into

or quiver, driving redfish nuts. Seeing the opportunity to strike, a big red might rush in to gulp the temptation.

When targeting fish not feeding aggressively, work a buzzing frog almost like a conventional topwater bait. Let it sit on the surface for a few moments and then pop it PHOTO: JOHN N FELSHER

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working a frog, I like to pull it toward me two to five times and then stop. Then, I’ll just twitch it. That imitates how a frog actually swims. When I’m sight fishing, I don’t like to throw at the fish. I throw it about 10 to 15 feet ahead of it.”

Most anglers fish buzzing frogs without weights so the baits naturally hop across vegetation. However, windy days in the marsh could make casting difficult. Some people attach small split-shots to the line. Others use keel-weighted hooks to add casting heft.

In addition, use braided lines to yank big fish out of thick, entangling cover.

Nearly impenetrable canopies of grass could intimidate many anglers, but these vegetative thickets frequently hold the biggest fish. Catch the buzz this spring to put more lunkers in the boat where others can’t even tempt fish.

vigorously. Let it sit again until the concentric rings clear and then pop it again. The commotion simulates a live frog splashing across the surface.

“I like the floaters best,” Dooms advised.

“I pop it along almost like a topwater bait, but I let it sit still more often. When I’m

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An Honest Look at

Coyotes Story by Chester Moore

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PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

4/8/14 6:33 PM

A RECENT TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY featured the sad story of Canadian folk singer Taylor Mitchell who was killed by coyotes in a park in her native country.

The 19-year-old’s tragic death in 2009 via the recent program has spawned lots of questions about the potential danger of coyotes to humans.

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This is an issue we first tackled on these pages in the May 2005 edition in an article entitled, “Coyote Attacks on the Rise.” Dozens of attacks in California and on the East Coast mainly on children show that the coyote is an animal we should respect as a possible but not necessarily probable predator of us.

In Texas largest urban centers there are huge coyote populations. I have personally seen them in the city limits of San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. The closer coyotes get to the cities, the harder it is to control their numbers. Hunting is illegal within most city limits and most areas on the outskirts of major metropolitan areas are closed to hunting.

This gives coyotes an area to flourish with no mechanism to keep their populations in check.

Most people mistake them for dogs on the rare occasion someone sees one during daylight hours in the city and others welcome coyotes into their backyards with open arms. I have had letters from people who were feeding them dog food and scraps.

In a paper entitled “Coyote Attacks: An Increasing Urban Problem,” written by a group of California researchers, it is revealed there have been numerous attacks in the Golden State.

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Coyote attacks on humans, once thought to be rare, have increased in frequency over the past decade, the authors said.

In the course of the study, they queried representatives of various federal, state, county, and city agencies and private wildlife control companies about coyote attacks on humans since 1978.

“From the information gathered, we now list 89 coyote attacks in California (incidents when one or more coyotes made physical contact with a child or adult, or attacked a pet while in close proximity to its owner. In 56 of these attacks, one or more persons suffered an injury. In 77 additional encounters, coyotes stalked children, chased individuals, or aggressively threatened adults.

“In 35 incidents, where coyotes stalked or attacked small children, the possibility of serious or fatal injury seems likely if the child had not been rescued. Because no single agency maintains data on such attacks, and some agencies and organizations are reluctant to discuss such incidents, we recognize that we do not have data on all attacks that have occurred.”

The kind of activity that took place in California in the 1970s, prior to the rash of attacks reported above is taking place now here in the Lone Star State.

In the paper, “Coyotes in Urban Areas: A Status Report” by Jan E. Loven, District Supervisor, Texas Animal Damage Control Service in Ft. Worth, the author gives a thorough overview of the coyote problems in the area.

“Damages from coyotes range from fear of rabies, to fear of being in close proximity to carnivores, to property, pet, and livestock damage. Several complaints have been received from joggers who are amazed at the boldness of these animals and are fearful of attack,” he said.

As with the original article I wrote on this topic, it is not meant to scare anyone. It is meant however to get people thinking about what they are doing that might lead to coyote attacks in the future. The main thing is people should not feed these animals under any circumstances.

Feeding any predatory animal is a very bad idea because it conditions them to consider humans for food and makes them lose their fear of us.

Coyotes are magnificent animals that are much, much more adaptable than their closely related cousins the red and gray wolf.

I have encountered red wolf-type animals and coyotes at near point blank range in Southeast Texas and elsewhere. Every time I was near one of the wolf-type animals, I could tell they were scared of me.

The coyotes I have been around near the cities, however, were not always scared.

Their body language showed they just viewed my presence as an annoyance.

City coyotes tend to be very bold and will raid garbage cans, steal your dog’s food and might even steal (eat) your dog.

In Los Angeles, an estimated

5,000 coyotes live in the city limits. There are no official estimates in Texas’s largest cities but I would not doubt some of our urban centers rival that.

Informed people are better off, which is why we always try to give the latest in information about all wildlife. For those living near wooded areas or around marshes and fields, do not be afraid; but certainly give coyotes some distance if you see them; and do not contribute to the possibility of them being naughty by giving them free meals.

The statistics show that is a very bad idea.

Coyotes are beautiful, intelligent animals with a serious penchant for surviving in just about any situation. Where hunting is not an option (city limits) we should let them survive without any help from us, because in the end it is not worth it for man or beast. ( (Editor’s Note: If you have had any aggressive coyote encounters, email me at shame.com cmoore@fishame.com.)

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Texas Department of Defense I

T WAS A HOT SUMMER DAY NEAR NOON when Joe Martinez and I pulled up to the high chain link fence around the backside of the orphanage on the south side of Laredo. We were there because the area of the fence provided a good view of a couple of miles of the Rio Grande River, and we used it often for watching for illegal aliens or dope smugglers entering the U.S. This time when we pulled up to the fence the first thing we saw was a rubber raft on the Mexican side of the river, being loaded with suitcases. Thinking that it was a group of illegal aliens about to cross the river, we split

Every-DayCarry (EDC) WE ALL HAVE AN EDC KIT, AND we all have made different decisions of what we carry and why. We all have different lifestyles that also make an impression of what we stuff in our pockets and it can even change from day to day. But it’s always a good idea to rethink what we lug around, why, and how we could better improve our setup.

Of course we have the bare necessities that won’t bear much mention. We all have a wallet, keys, phone and hopefully a writing instrument of some sort. But beyond that the possibilities are endless.

My first suggestion is to have a knife.

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by Steve LaMascus & Dustin Ellermann

up to cover different parts of the trail that ran up and down the riverbank for many miles.

This time I went downstream while Joe went upstream. The high fence around the orphanage and the open grounds of the orphanage itself would prevent the aliens from coming that way and if we covered the trail above and below the ends of the fence, one of us should encounter the aliens.

I found a cut in the bank a couple of hundred yards downstream from where we expected the aliens to land and hid to await either the illegal entrants or a call from Joe on his walkie talkie telling me he had them in custody.

About five minutes after I had hidden I heard the scuffling sound of feet on the soft sand of the riverbank. When the people I could hear got to my hiding place I very nonchalantly stepped out and told them to stop, that I was a federal

officer, and they were under arrest. That was when I noticed the evil looking cholo in the lead had a nickel plated semi-auto handgun in his belt, carried butt to the front in the common “Mexican carry.” That’s when I made the mistake that should have cost me my life.

Instead of stepping back, drawing my handgun, and yelling for them to all put up their hands, I foolishly reacted by reaching out with my right hand (my shooting hand) and grasping the butt of the leader’s handgun.

When I did that the leader grabbed my hand and reached out and grabbed the butt of my .357. Suddenly I went from being in charge to being 100 percent defensive. I grabbed the thumb break on my holster with my left hand to keep him from getting my gun, and suddenly found myself in a teeth, head-butting, knees and feet fight. We rolled around on the ground, each trying to get the other’s gun, for, oh, about a year or two. Then I managed to

The author’s EDC Kit features a 5.11 Belt, Streamlight Tac Light, Leatherman OHT Multitool, Dark Angel Medical Kit and more.

We all need a cutting tool of some sort on a daily basis. I still remember a horrible story of a car accident in California where bystanders tried their hardest to free a young child in a burning vehicle but couldn’t because the belts were jammed and no one had a knife. Whenever I’m out of the house, even if I’m in running shorts or a swimsuit, I will have a folding knife clipped on me somewhere. While I’m still on my quest for the perfect folder, I currently carry a Cold Steel Recon that has a rather large blade, very strong locking mechanism, yet has a small discreet profile while clipped in your pocket, and

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a clip that allows it to be carried pointed downwards.

Next I recommend always carrying a flashlight. I used to only carry one after dark, but found that I used a flashlight several times a day looking into dark places, power outages, dark theaters, working underneath vehicles, signaling Continued on page 38  PHOTO: DUSTIN PHOTO ELLERMAN CREDIT

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Texas Department of Defense pull the cholo’s gun out of his belt and end the fight.

The only reason that I am alive today is that the other two men with the one I was fighting ran away instead of shooting me in the head as I wrestled with their leader. Come to find out, they weren’t simple illegal aliens.

The suitcases were all stuffed with marijuana, and all three of the mules were armed. Only divine intervention and the fact that I was bigger and stronger than the cholo I was fighting kept me alive that day. As I write this I am shaking, and my pulse is racing just from the memory of it. Thank you God. The bad guy doesn’t have to have a gun to kill you. I have always been told that a man with a knife that is within seven yards of you is almost certainly going to cut you with his knife before you can draw and shoot him. I don’t know if this is true or not, since I have never had to put it to the test, but I live by the rule that if he has a knife I am going to shoot him if he does not immediately drop it. I have seen the terrible wounds inflicted by a sharp knife and don’t want to be a victim.

Every-Day-Carry  Continued from page 36 to get someone’s attention or even while crossing a busy highway while aiding in a roadside accident. An EDC light needs to be lightweight, dependable, and small enough to carry comfortably. Lately I’ve  Continued from page xx ProTac 2L. enjoyed using the Streamlight It’s all the above and then some.

The belt clip makes it easy to stick in my pocket, the 2-123 lithium batteries keep it powered for a long time. Its high beam of 260 lumens help scan and blind when needed, the strobe is great for signaling or disorienting, and the low beam is what I use for finding my way around.

The next thing you can always find on my belt is a multitool. Ever since I was a young Royal Ranger I adopted their motto to always be “Ready for Anything”.

A multitool can save you much time during the day as you roam around searching for the correct tool for the job. Recently I’ve used the new Leatherman OHT

Story Jump

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The moral of the above is this: the only way to stay safe in this evil, old ball of mud is to be aware of your surroundings, be prepared for any eventuality, and keep some distance between you and any threat. In the above story I was in control until I reacted stupidly and reached out for the bad guy’s gun. I had both distance and cover and failed to use either. From that day on I kept my distance as much as the job allowed, and met each possible threat with my hand on my gun.

That is not possible for the concealed carry licensee. You simply cannot draw your gun at each perceived threat. Thus you must keep distance and cover between you and a threat.

If you are leaving the mall after dark and see someone purposely walking toward you, especially if he has his hands in his pockets, keep a car between you. If he goes on by and gets in another car, all well and good, you can then go get in yours. If he really does have evil intentions, you have the car between you to keep him at a distance and to use for cover.

If you are on a deserted street and see someone walking toward you and get that

strange feeling in your gut that all is not right, change sides of the street. If he, too, changes sides, then tell him, clearly and loudly, that you are armed and for him to stay away or you will shoot, then start yelling for help. If he continues, draw your gun. A .45 caliber muzzle tends to suck the water out of most evildoers. If he is one that is not frightened by the sight of a gun, you must be ready to shoot him. The real trick is knowing when to shoot and when not to. That is something I cannot tell you, because each incident is different.

And to shoot an innocent, unarmed citizen is something too horrible to contemplate.

As I said in the title of this piece, distance is life. Never let a threat get within arm’s reach of you. Back up, side step, run like hell, whatever you need to do. If all else fails, draw your weapon and be prepared to repel boarders. Just remember distance and cover, and try to never be alone on a deserted street—or the bank of a river.

(One Hand Operable Tool) that allows me to open the pliers with a flick of the wrist. It has all the standard Leatherman goodies, a few cutting blades, screwdrivers, and wirecutters to keep me working more efficiently. And best of all, with the 25-year warranty I don’t have to worry about breaking the tool, because they will replace it for free.

Then for my defensive gear I like to carry a Walther PPS as my primary concealed handgun. This in turn is holstered in a Crossbreed Supertuck formed out of leather and kydex. This holster combined with a single stack slim pistol gives me a comfortable and secure package.

Since it only holds around 7 rounds I also have a spare magazines in a Comp-Tac carrier beside my Leatherman.

Occasionally I also like to tuck a non-lethal defensive spray in my pocket.

The Kimber Pepper Blaster in case of a defensive situation where I wouldn’t need to use deadly force, or for those instances where a clueless property owner finds the need to disarm law abiding citizens with

a no CHL carriers allowed 30.06 sign.

Finally, at times when I have an empty cargo pocket I like to stuff a Dark Angel Medical D.A.R.K. (Direct Action Response Kit) in it. This kit contains a vacuum packed tourniquet, wound clotting agent, duct tape, and medical gloves.

These few items could save a life by keeping an injured person breathing and beating.

Of course this gear has to go somewhere, and I’ve always been a fan of 5.11 Tactical Tac-lite pants. They have just the right amount of pockets to carry everything I need and a strong reinforced belt is also a necessity to secure more weighty items. The belt I chose is a 5.11 Tactical Trainer belt with a 6,000 lb. rated buckle that also can be used as an emergency harness. And like I stated earlier, everyone’s EDC will vary due to their lifestyle, but I encourage you to always be ready for anything.

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—Dustin Ellermann

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Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo | TF&G Hunting Editor

The First Deer is the Hardest

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HIS MONTH, I PLAN ON WRITING ABOUT something a little different. I ask your indulgence while I stick my chest out and boast just a little about a recent hunt I had with my grandchild.

Justin and I have been shooting our bows together since he was able to draw a bowstring back. I have tried to instill in him the love of hunting with a bow and arrow and I think I have succeeded. He really does love the whole concept of taking an animal with a bow. As a matter of fact, he now comes to some of my bow safety classes and teaches the blood trailing section as a Junior Instructor. However, so far, the only luck he has had while hunting whitetails with his bow has been bad luck. This past year, unfortunately, would not be any different— at least with the bow.

In the area we hunt, he had his choice to hunt with a rifle or slugged shotgun (from my collection) and he chose the latter. He explained to me that he liked the idea of being closer to the animal for the shot. With a 20 gauge youth model pump shotgun, his furthest shot could be no longer than 100 yards, but he limited himself to shots much closer than that. Much closer.

Prior to the opening day of gun season, there was a weekend dedicated to youth gun hunting. Of course we planned to be out there trying our luck. He could not hunt alone and needed an experienced adult with him and I was his wing man.

We made sure that we arrived at out hunting location long before sunrise so that we could be fully prepared for the hunt.

30 minutes into daylight and the first deer appeared. 35 yards to our left but was turned away offering us no decent shot.

Even though I watched as he shook with adrenaline, he let her go and it was the right, ethical thing to do. I was proud of him for not taking the shot.

As we watched a group of does over 100 yards away heading in our direction, Justin tapped my leg and gestured that a deer was just in front of our blind. She was looking at Miss November, a decoy from Tink’s, and had no idea that a gun barrel was starring at her. Justin took the shot at 13 yards away and I smiled as he tagged his first deer.

Anticipation of opening day was at an all time high now and it could not come fast enough for either of us. Again, he chose his 20 gauge shotgun and I brought along my 12 gauge Remington. I am not sure why I even brought it with me because I had no intention of using it. This was Justin’s hunt and I was just there for the smiles.

The alarm sounded and I woke Justin (although, am not sure he had ever even gone to sleep). The excitement was like Christmas morning. We arrived at our hunting location and I introduced him to the rest of our hunting party. All of the grizzled veteran hunters welcomed Justin and wished him luck as we headed for our spot.

We settled ourselves in the stand long before the sun decided to peek through the morning clouds. I reminded Justin about muzzle control and to always be safe first as we waited for any action. That fact has been drilled into his head for years now and I have no worries with him at all.

It had been almost two hours with no deer sightings at all. Finally, I saw a four-pointer in the swail field in front of us. He was about 150 yards away—and that is about where he stayed for 30 more minutes. We tried grunting him in closer, but he wanted no part of us. Then I noticed movement next to him and there, in the tall grass, was a doe.

He was not about to leave her side for love or money! At least I thought they would provide some entertainment for us. It was better than not seeing anything at all.

Suddenly, I heard a shot from one of the guys in our hunting party a few fields to the north. Not long after that I heard T E X A S

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another rifle blast from a stand in the next field from us and I heard a voice come over the radio: “going to Lou and Justin.” That is all I heard. I had no idea what it was, but my eyes were glued to the north edge of a thicket.

There he was! A magnificent eightpointer stepped into the clearing 150 yards away and stopped to check for any danger.

Immediately I tapped Justin’s leg and he told me he already saw it. The big buck stood there what seemed to be an eternity.

Then as fate would have it, he started to walk in our direction. I whispered to Justin “muzzle control…get your gun ready.” The big bruiser stopped in a clearing quartering towards us at 35 yards. As quietly as I could I told the lad to shoot. He responded with “not yet”. I said to myself…”self… it is his hunt, his call.”

The big whitetail was headed towards another thicket just 30 yards from us when all of a sudden he picked up his nose and sniffed the air. He caught wind of the Trail’s End 307 from Wildlife Research Center that I had put out when we first arrived.

He walked in toward that scent wick like a fish on a line and never knew he was about to have a bad day. Finally, the 20 gauge blasted the slug toward the buck and he went down. Amazingly, it was in the exact same spot where Justin took his doe a few weeks earlier…13 yards away.

After a few congratulatory handshakes and pats on his back, the tag was filled, field dressing was done, and all that was left was to show the “veterans” what they shot at and missed! (smiles)—and a trip to the taxidermist.

All in all, it was a great opening day and one that both of us will never forget. A prouder moment I cannot remember. I am just glad that I was able to share that special moment with my grandson. The deer season is now over, but Justin wanted to know when turkey season opened. ”Soon Justin, very soon now.”

Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fishgame.com &

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THIRTY YEARS OF THE YEAR 1984, LIKE THE YEAR 2000, WAS ONCE USED AS A SORT of symbolic shorthand to describe the world of a distant future.

In the case of 1984, that world was always dark and foreboding, thanks to the pessimist writer George Orwell.

We are now 30 years beyond that oncedistant future—the year itself is almost as far back in our past as it was ahead in Orwell’s future when his dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty Four was published in 1949.

Looking back, the year wasn’t dark or dystopian. The raging inflation of the late 1970s had been whipped. Reagan was president and he had the Soviets quaking in their American-made boots. NASA was launching space shuttles like they were Southwest flights. “Ghostbusters” and “Beverly Hills Cop” were the blockbuster movies (and Blockbuster was as big as Netflix is today).

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Mark Zuckerberg, who would engineer a twist on the “big brother” theme of Orwell’s novel by creating Facebook, was born that year. It was also the year Chrysler introduced the mini-van and Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh.

And in Marble Falls, Texas, an outdoor magazine called Texas Fish & Game published its first issue. Or, rather, a group of people at the area’s weekly newspaper published it. I was one of them, and so was my wife, Ardia.

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has been a driving force in our lives. And like our actual children, the magazine has been a source of both breathtaking anxiety and immense pride.

The magazine would not exist if not for the almost impulsive actions of three men: Marvin Spivey, Dan Alvey, and Bill Bray.

IN LATE 1980 MARVIN WAS THE editor the state’s then-leading outdoor magazine, Texas Fisherman, which was headquartered in Houston. Marvin’s wife, Nancy, a talented artist who contributed regularly to that magazine, and would also contribute GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION: TF&G

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FISH GAME Story by Roy Neves

later to Fish & Game, suffered with severe asthma and was miserable in the humid southeast Texas climate.

At that time in Marble Falls, The Highlander was, according to the Texas Press Association, the largest weekly newspaper in Texas. Being situated in the heart of the Highland Lakes region (Lakes Travis, Marble Falls, LBJ, Inks and Buchanan) and covering news in Llano County, Deer Capital of Texas, the newspaper naturally had a strong outdoor interest in its readership.

Bill Bray owned The Highlander and Dan Alvey was its publisher. In 1980, I had been there several years as advertising manager. A.W. “Mac” McLaughlin, a veteran sports and outdoor writer, served as outdoor editor on a freelance basis.

As our coverage of the booming outdoor scene kept ramping upward, A.W. was becoming more interested in slowing things

down for himself, and so he decided to retire.

In seeking a replacement, Alvey, Bray and I decided that we had reached the point where we could justify a full-time editor for the outdoor section. At the time, The Highlander employed an unusually large staff of writers and editors for a rural community weekly—which typically have an editor/publisher and maybe one multitasking reporter. In addition to an editor and managing editor, the newspaper had two reporters covering local news from its Marble Falls office, a news editor and satellite office in Burnet, 15 miles north, and another satellite office and news editor in Llano County, 20 miles to the west. It also had a full time sports editor covering three school districts.

Now, we felt we also needed a full-time outdoor editor.

Alvey interviewed a kid from Houston named Larry Bozka. Bozka had graduated T E X A S

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from the University of Houston and had worked in the outdoor and sports sections of The Houston Post and Houston Chronicle and served as editor of Gulf Tide (the forerunner of CCA’s Tide magazine). Bozka had both a passion and abundant talent for outdoor writing and photography. He seemed like the right person to fill the new job and was as good as hired.

Then Marvin got wind of the deal and made Bozka a proposition he could not refuse. The editorship of Texas Fisherman was a dream opportunity for someone like Larry—as opposed to editing the outdoor section of a weekly paper, way the heck out west of Austin. Meanwhile, Marvin was desperate to escape the oppressive humidity of Houston and find relief for Nancy.

When Alvey learned that Larry was taking the other job and had recommended Marvin as a consolation hire, we were delighted. We would have been happy to &

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First Issue as First ABC Audit: Texas Fish 20,000 & Game, subscribers May 1984

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Texas Lakes & Bays Launched March 1986

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TF&G Timeline

Began printing on “slick” paper, January 1988

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turn the reins over to young, enthusiastic and obviously talented Bozka. But the chance to have the editor of the state’s top outdoor magazine take over was even better.

So Marvin and Nancy moved to Marble Falls and Marvin started putting together a weekly outdoor section covering the fishing and hunting action in the two-county area straddling the Highland Lakes and the “Deer Capital” of Texas.

Compared to covering all the fishing action in the entire state, the job was considerably less taxing—and less challenging.

Soon Marvin began get a little restless.

Alvey was a born promoter. This guy

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TF&G moves to San Antonio, June 1990

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TF&G takes over Texas Fisherman, April 1991 Paid Distribution breaks 100,000

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Roy and Ardia Neves initiate management takeover of TF&G TF&G Moves to Houston, October 1992

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could persuade the Chamber of Commerce in Tombstone, Arizona that they needed a summer ice festival and they’d buy it—and it would be a success. We were always coming up with novel promotions to prod the local businesses into spending more ad dollars with the big weekly newspaper.

Visitors Guides, Industrial Appreciation Guides, Graduation Guides (when you sell sponsorships of graduate mug shots for three decent-size high schools to boosteroriented businesses—not to mention parents and grandparents—how do you not make money?). One of my favorites was “Midnight Madness” where we got most

TF&G launches a Book Division

TF&G website FishGame.com is launched

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of the Marble Falls retail community to stay open past midnight—dressed up in Halloween costumes—back in the days before 24-hour Walmarts.

WHEN MARVIN STARTED WONdering out loud about ways we could leverage the local outdoor resource into a more ambitious marketing opportunity, Alvey and I both reflexively answered, “Sure, why not?”

Soon after, The Highland Lakes Sportsman was born, as a quarterly insert in the paper. We first targeted local boat dealers and sporting goods shops—like the

TIMELINE GRAPHIC: TF&G

Major Events in the

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TF&G launches the Almanac, Jan. 1999

2000

Don Zaidle replaces Larry Bozka as editor

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TF&G’s Best Selling cover: Nov 2001, first issue after 9/11

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Texas Lakes & Bays becomes the best selling pub on Texas newsstands

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old Burnham Brothers store on U.S. 281, the one with the live rattlesnakes in the front window.

The quarterly was fun to produce, modestly successful, and well-enough received by the local readers that it inspired a secondround of ambitious “what-if” brainstorming.

Why not take The Highland Lakes Sportsman statewide?

We had the former editor of the state’s premier fishing magazine. We had some of the state’s hottest fishing and hunting action right in our back yard. And the outdoor business was booming all across the country, especially in Texas. Plus, we were young

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TF&G Coastal Edition launched, Jan 2007

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WITH BRAY’S BLESSING, WE rolled out in early 1984. The first few issues were actually published under the masthead Texas All Outdoors. (Texas Sportsman was already taken). Then, another magazine with a similar nameplate cried foul, and we were forced to come up with yet another new name.

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334th Issue published on TF&G’s 30th Anniversary

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After retooling, we charged back out the gate with Texas Fish & Game in May 1984.

For Ardia and me, it has been a wild ride ever since.

She was still working primarily for The Highlander, having replaced me as advertising director when I stepped up to replace Alvey as the paper’s publisher. Now that we were becoming a multi-title publishing company, Alvey assumed executive duties over the larger operation. But both Ardia and I pitched in on Fish & Game ad sales and circulation marketing while holding our day jobs with the newspaper.

For the first six months or so, we made

marketing geniuses. We couldn’t lose.

We also had a secret weapon: an owner with more ego, guts, and competitive drive than rest of us combined. And a bank account, which would make Herculean contributions to the cause.

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First Mobile Editions Published, Oct 2012

Chester Moore replaces the late Don Zaidle as editor

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slow progress, maybe getting up to 1,500 monthly paid copies—most of which were sold over the counter in Hill Country retail shops, which MAGAZINE in turn generated TRIM SIZE 1986 a few hundred subscriptions from signed up with the Audit people who had TABLOID Bureau of Circulations, or picked it up when NEWSPRINT ABC. To be taken seri1984 passing through the ously by major national area.

Then we decided to get serious. Alvey advertisers, a magazine needed an ABC had done research into magazine circulation pedigree—the publishing world’s equivalent marketing and quickly found that it was of the Nielson ratings used in TV. The done mainly through direct mail methodol- major difference was that Nielsen measured raw viewership and nobody paid for the TV ogy executed with rocket science precision.

First, you had to get a mailing list—a big shows they watched Even with today’s payone, since two-percent returns were consid- TV model, audiences are not measured by ered “home runs.” If you wanted thousands whether they pay or not. With magazines, of subscribers, this meant you needed hun- if the subscription wasn’t paid for, it wasn’t counted. dreds of thousands of prospects.

ABC auditors were tough. They used To us—naive young hotshots—the obvious source of mailing lists for a Texas to chase IRS auditors down and steal their outdoor magazine would be the state’s huge lunch money. If you were missing a copy of lists of fishing and hunting licenses and a check for a single subscription in the audit boat registrations: they hunt, they fish, and sample, it could cost you not just that one subscriber, but maybe a hundred more. But they’re well-off enough to own a boat.

But when we called Texas Parks & it was a price for playing in the big leagues, Wildlife and asked them to send us the lists, and so we did it. ABC is now known as we were told they weren’t available... they Alliance for Audited Media, or AAM. In early 1986, Alvey left to start his own did not share them with the public. They did, of course, use the lists liberally to pro- printing business, and I stepped up to manmote their own products and services, one age the magazine and newspaper. Three years later, Bray sold The Highlander and of which was their own monthly magazine.

We stewed briefly over this, then Alvey asked Ardia and me to stay with Fish & hit on a clever idea. The state had passed Game, and continue building it into a major an open records law in 1982, so we a filed statewide publication. We chose to do so, an open records request for the lists. Texas and moved the operation to San Antonio.

Attorney General Jim Mattox agreed that these were, indeed, public records and AS OUR SUBSCRIBER MARKETING should be provided to us, forthwith. I think efforts continued to bear fruit, and our it cost us $250 to get 500,000 names, the numbers broke the 50,000-subscriber level, state’s cost of transferring them to magnetic we began to create competitive friction with Marvin’s old employer, Texas Fisherman. tape.

By 1991, Texas Fisherman had changed With that initial mailing—we still had to print a whole package of materials and pay owners, falling into the hands of a crafty postage on the 500,000 pieces that went businessman named Mike Henry, of Tulsa, into the mail, so aside from the cheap list, Oklahoma. Bozka was no longer there, havit was a very expensive effort—we got some- ing left to pursue a freelance career. In fact, thing like 3.5 percent response. This shot Fisherman was being published without an us from almost zero to 20,000 subscribers editor. Its publisher and chief ad salesman, Mike Haines, was handling the story assignliterally overnight.

Once we were reaching so many paying ments as well as selling the ads.

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NEW LOGO 1990

“SLICK” PAPER 1988

 The magazine’s look has evolved over thirty years.

twice-a-year direct mail efforts to build circulation. This forced Fisherman to follow suit in order to stay ahead of us and maintain their advantage with advertisers. This highstakes competition got more and more costly for both companies. When we reached the 70,000 mark—within spitting distance of their 76,000—we got a phone call from Mike Henry who wanted to feel us out on the notion of a merger.

One very interesting, long weekend meeting convinced everyone that Henry and Bray would not work well as partners and that one company would have to buy out the other.

Henry was a businessman who happened to be in publishing. We were publishers. So it was clear that we wanted the combined enterprise more than he did, and a deal was struck. We took over Texas Fisherman and absorbed it into Texas Fish & Game with the April, 1991 issue.

After merging the two subscriber lists and purging the high number of duplications on both lists, Texas Fish & Game’s paid distribution ballooned to over 100,000—making us the second largest magazine in Texas, behind only Texas Monthly, which targeted more of a mass audience.

For about a year, we operated from offices in two cities, Houston where Mike Haines had been running Fisherman, and San Antonio. In late 1992 we decided to bring the offices together and relocate to the larger city, which was also more central to the bulk of our subscriber base.

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE worked to build Texas Fish & Game’s national profile while keeping our paid distribution in the mid-90,000 range.

Maintaining such a large list was almost as costly as building it. Bray began to tire of the havoc this wreaked on the bottom line TF&G COVERS: TEXAS FISH & GAME PUBLISHING CO., LLC

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NEW LOGO 1991 NEW DESIGN 1991

and in early 1996 he began talking about finding a buyer.

Ardia and I both knew that this was where we wanted to stay for the rest of our careers. Concerned that Bray might sell to a big publishing conglomerate, and that we would not feel comfortable — perhaps not even welcome — in such an alien culture, we decided to mount a management takeover.

Ardia’s sister, Stephanie, and her husband, Ron Ward, had listened for years with interest as we recounted the fortunes of working in the outdoor industry. Ron had grown up on a fishing resort in northern Wisconsin, and has been an avid sportsman his entire life. After retiring early from a successful career in oral surgery, he had been investing in small businesses for a number of years. One of those businesses was a big game outfitter and guide service in Montana.

Ron’s outdoor background and his interest in small business attracted him to Texas Fish & Game, and so he and Stephanie signed on to back our venture.

On New Year’s Eve, 1996, we closed the deal and took over TF&G from Bray.

Marvin had never been happy about the move back to Houston and wanted to return to the Highland Lakes, where he still had a house on Lake LBJ. Meanwhile, after the Fisherman/Fish & Game merger, Larry Bozka had begun doing a lot of freelance writing for us. In fact, he was the host of a TV show that Fisherman had launched before our takeover, and which we inherited.

The show didn’t last, but our working relationship with Bozka did.

After the management takeover, Marvin retired and Bozka came aboard as editor.

Bozka was instrumental in one of our major ventures—book publishing. Actually, it was his bad luck that enabled us to get our first book off the press. We had talked about publishing a book for more than a year, but Larry could never find time to settle down and write the thing. Then, one fateful day in 1998, he was at a Fast Lube waiting for

NEW DESIGN 1994

his car when he stepped on a slippery floor mat, did a Three Stooges pratfall, and broke his hip. Laid up on his couch for three months, he finally had time to write Saltwater Strategies, the first of more than 15 books that we have since published.

In 2001, Larry once again got the itch to be a freelance outdoor writer and he left the company. Don Zaidle, then serving as assistant editor, took over as editor.

One of the many changes Don oversaw in his dozen years as editor was the launch of our Coastal, Inland and North Texas regional editions in 2007. Not long after implementing those editions, we also elevated Chester Moore, a longtime TF&G contributor, to the role of executive editor.

Zaidle also played a significant role in our shift from ink-on-paper publishing to multi-media outdoors information platform.

He took direct charge of programming and design of our website, which had floundered in the hands of technical nitwits for years.

He also was instrumental in the conversion of our print issues into the enhanced digital versions that are now available on iPads, Android tablets and Kindles.

When Don passed away suddenly last year, Chester stepped up and took the reins as editor-in-chief. Chester’s long association with the magazine, first as regular contributor, then as saltwater editor, and then executive editor has made this transition almost seamless. While Don was a big act to follow, Chester has brought an impressive résumé of his own to the position. Not only is he an accomplished nationally-recognized writer in his own right, he has become a skilled radio, TV and video host. And, of the 15 books in the TF&G library mentioned above, he has authored six of the titles himself.

I CANNOT END THIS OBSERVANCE of our 30-year milestone without paying due tribute to the people who really made it all possible: you, our loyal and treasured readers. Whenever Ardia or I encounter subscribers out in the field, we can’t describe the joy it gives us to hear so many of you say you read every copy of Texas Fish & Game cover to cover. Even when someone calls to complain about a missed or damaged issue, or even to disagree with some position we’ve taken, they almost always add how much they like the magazine.

If you were going to make something your life’s work, as we have with Fish & Game, you couldn’t ask for a better experience than the one you have made possible for us.

Thank you all. I can’t wait to see what I get to write at TF&G 40.

THROUGH THE YEARS, WE HAVE been fortunate that some of the most talented writers and photographers have contribT E X A S

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uted to the pages of our magazine and books. In the beginning there was Russell Tinsley, Byron Dalrymple, Hal Swiggett, Buddy Gough, A.C. Becker, Bob Hood and Joe Doggett Other talented CURRENT writers and phoDESIGN 2014 tographers have joined the ranks, including Doug Pike, Matt Williams, Reavis Wortham, Ted Nugent, Lenny Rudow, Steve LaMascus, Lou Marullo, Greg Berlocher, Cal Gonzales, Kendal Hemphill, and Dustin Ellermann.

Many others contribute to each issue and the other entities that make up Texas Fish & Game Publishing Company, LLC. Elliott Donnelly has assumed responsibilities for web and digital ventures and has already made light years of progress on what Don started. Viga Hall is indispensable as Ardia’s right-hand man in ad sales.

With Chester behind the wheel and our solid cast of supporters on the magazine, the web and various digital and video incarnations of Texas Fish & Game, our book division, and other exciting ventures we have planned for the near future, the coming years promise to be just as exciting and rewarding as the first 30.

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4/10/14 6:04 PM

Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams | TF&G Freshwater Editor

Electronics Reel in Big Tournament Wins

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HERE WAS A TIME IN PRO LEVEL BASS fishing when the guys with the home lake advantage stood the best chance of taking home the fattest checks come tournament time. But that’s not necessarily the case anymore.

Modern pros anglers are better schooled and better equipped than ever before. With so many great tools at their fingertips, the smart ones can sometimes level the playing field in a hurry when it comes to finding and catching fish - even when they are 1,500 miles from home.

Glowing examples surfaced last February during the inaugural Bassmaster Central Open and Wal-Mart FLW Tour events of 2014. The Bassmaster event was held on Lake Amistad in far southwest Texas, the FLW Tour derby on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee.

Amistad was fishing tougher than it has in years, but Andrew Young found the proper combination to nail down the win with a three-day total of 39 pounds, 6 ounces. In doing so, Young whipped a number of local sticks that have probably forgotten more about about Amistad than he will ever know. He also grabbed a $47,000 payday and punched a ticket to compete in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

Interestingly, Young lives about 1,400 miles away from Amistad in Mound, Minn., where he works as a fishing guide on Lake Minnetonka. He credited his experience on that northern fishery as a big key to his Amistad win, mainly because it contains a lot of deep structure (sheer drops and big rock) like Amistad and fishes very similar.

Furthermore, Young spends a considerable amount of time ice fishing up north during the winter months. Unlike much of the Amistad field, he felt right at home when cold, nasty weather set in just before

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the event got underway.

Young wasn’t the only out-of-stater to grab a fat check at Amistad. In fact, there were only two anglers with Texas addresses in the Top 10. The other five, excluding Young, represented California, Alabama and Arkansas. Included in the mix were Jordon and Matt Lee, who fish for Auburn University’s bass fishing team. The brothers finished fifth and seventh, respectively.

Like Young, Arizona’s Brett Hite cut his teeth-snatching bass out of deep, rocky lakes. But the likable pro also proved he can also catch them in a shallow water slugfest as he walked away with the $125,000 top prize in FLW’s season opener held February 6 through 9 on Okeechobee. Hite reeled in a four-day total of 88 pounds, 14 ounces on 20 bass; most of them caught from thick vegetation in water skinny enough to wade in.

Hite topped a star-studded field lined with local hammers and shallow water experts like Scott Martin, Roland Martin, J.T. Kenney and Randall Tharp to grab his fourth FLW win, further illustrating the fact that a guy doesn’t always need an intimate knowledge of a fishery in order to do well there when the money is on the line.

One of the main reasons why is the incredible advances in electronic technology in recent times by industry icons Lowrance and Humminbird. Although both companies continue to produce basic fish finders, it is their top-end units that have been the real game changers in the freshwater world, particularly when it comes to finding sweet spots far from shore that are loaded with unmolested fish.

There is not enough space here to fully describe all the cool features these units bring to the table, but I can summarize in once sentence what they have done in countless freshwater arenas. These babies are so F I S H

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good that there are hardly any secrets left out there on the water anymore, particularly when it comes to pinpointing offshore fishing holes.

It is truly amazing what these units can do when placed in the hands of an angler who is willing to invest the time it takes to learn how to interpret the wealth of data shows up on the screen and to navigate the bounty of useful options. To hear pro angler Jim Tutt tell it, comparing the traditional depth finding units most TF&G readers grew up with to the high-tech units available today is like comparing apples to oranges.

“There is no comparison—it’s like night and day,” says Tutt, a veteran Lowrance pro staffer from Longview. “The level of detail the Lowrance HDS units equipped with StructureScan technology provide is incredible. Not only does it cut way down on the amount of time that it takes to evaluate a potential fishing area, but it also takes all the guesswork out of what you are looking it.”

To wit: With traditional sonar you might see a big blob under the boat and not know for sure if it is a brush pile or something else. With StructureScan, Tutt says there is absolutely no question.

“If it’s a brush pile, you can actually see the individual limbs and even the leaves on those limbs if there are any,” he added.

“The detail is so good you can even see individual fish and how they are positioned down there. It’ll definitely make you more efficient on the water and improve your fishing by a huge margin.”

In future issues I’ll delve into the key functions of this new technology (DownScan and SideScan) and share some insight on how they can help the average angler take his or fishing to the next level.

Contact Matt Williams at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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4/8/14 3:33 PM

TRUE GREEN

Edited by Will Leschper

GPS Tracks Whooping Crane Migration A STUDY CONDUCTED BY A partnership of researchers is using lightweight GPS devices to track individual whooping cranes of the Aransas and Wood Buffalo population, the only naturally wild flock of the cranes in existence.

CCA-Texas Has Record Turnout IF THE ATTENDANCE AT THE Coastal Conservation Association’s Corpus Christi chapter banquet in March was any indicator, the grass-roots support for saltwater fishing and conservation efforts has never been stronger.

More than 2,200 people – the largest CCA gathering in the country – packed into the American Bank Center for the event, which has become synonymous with hefty fundraising aimed at improving habitat and angling opportunities, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. In fact, it’s just another feather in the cap for a group standing united and resolute in getting things done, even when the task appears daunting. It also doesn’t hurt that it has helped raise the state and national profiles of the organization.

CCA-Texas threw its support behind the dredging of Cedar Bayou early in the process of the undertaking years in the making that is set to improve water quality and 48 |

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fishing in the area near Rockport, among other conservation-related issues. Cedar Bayou is a natural pass that historically has linked the Gulf of Mexico with a number of bay systems, providing significant resources to a number of species that depend on tidal movement to reproduce and mature.

Previous efforts to reopen the pass have been fraught with issues, notably those involving funding. The ongoing effort to fund dredging, which began in April, has helped to now generate the necessary $9 million needed to begin work. CCA has helped provide more than $1.5 million of that total to date.

Other notable projects that the group has helped back and their contributions are: • 130-acre oyster restoration project in East Galveston Bay, $500,000 • Nearshore artificial reefs out of Sargent, Freeport, Port Mansfield, Port O’Connor and Corpus Christi, $500,000 • Marsh protection projects at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge and J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area, $250,000 In total CCA-Texas has provided nearly $3.5 million since 2009 toward the protection and restoration of habitat for future anglers.

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Efforts have focused on putting tracking devices on adult whooping cranes captured on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where the birds winter on the Texas coast, and on chicks at Wood Buffalo National Park, the birds’ nesting grounds in Canada. To date, 68 birds have had tracking devices attached.

The GPS units are attached to a Continued on page 50 u

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4/8/14 3:41 PM

TRUE GREEN Texas Dominates Fundraising Efforts WITH 18 PRESIDENT’S ELITE AND 11 Top 100 chapters, Texas Ducks Unlimited volunteers dominated the national fundraising efforts for the world leader in wetlands conservation.

“These fundraising events are the backbone of DU’s habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the force driving DU and helping make a difference for North American waterfowl populations,” said DU President George Dunklin. “It takes a great deal of effort to break into these rankings, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors.”

The Top 100 list is comprised of

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the top 100 fundraising chapters in the United States that raise up to $100,000 through fundraising activities in their communities. The Gregg County, Central Texas, Matagorda County, Brazos Valley, Rockport-Fulton, Katy-Brookshire, Ft. Bend County, Weatherford, Pearland, McKinney and Frisco chapters earned a spot on the Top 100 list out of the more than 2,600 DU chapters nationwide.

The President’s Elite are among Ducks Unlimited’s most prestigious volunteer chapters throughout the nation. Every year, the list is reserved for the chapters that raise $100,000 or more for DU’s habitat conservation work. The Denton, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, Galveston, Sabine, San

Antonio, Corpus Christi, Ellis County, Midland, Shelby County, Big Thicket, Winnie-Stowell, Tomball, Navasota, Mexia, Aggieland and Lamar University chapters earned a spot in the President’s Elite list.

“DU chapters across the country are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and the wetlands that filter our drinking water and protect us from flooding are important to them and to their communities,” Dunklin said. “The more money we raise, the more habitat we can conserve and the closer we are to preserving our waterfowl hunting heritage.

DU’s event fundraising system has become a model for other conservation organizations around the world and has funded a significant portion of the more than 13 million acres of wetlands and associated habitat DU has conserved since 1937.

—by Andi Cooper «TG

4/8/14 3:41 PM

TRUE GREEN CONTINUED...

Work Begins on Project to Open Cedar Bayou AFTER BEING SEALED IN THE 1970s and decades of negative impacts from siltation and low water flows, an estimated $9.4M effort will be required to open Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough.

This historic effort will create the vital connection from Mesquite and Aransas Bays to the Gulf of Mexico. With Aransas County kicking off the campaign in 2009, Coastal Conservation Association Texas initiated a new effort in 2012 with a $500,000 matching grant to help open these iconic and environmentally significant passes.

Cedar Bayou is a natural pass that separates San Jose Island from Matagorda Island. Dredging efforts date back to the 1930s, but partial efforts, siltation and misplacement of spoil materials have eventually led to the pass and adjacent Vinson Slough being sealed.

“It is not often that there is an opportunity to reopen vital passes like these,” said Robby Byers, CCA Texas executive director. “It has been a monumental fundraising

CCA t Continued from page 48 It also takes political clout to help push through conservation issues, something that CCA also has in its favor. The group has the ear of plenty of elected officials who carry sway and also has formed notable partnerships with state agencies such as Texas Parks & Wildlife and the General Land Office. CCA also has taken a rigid stance in the red snapper debate, ensuring that its resounding voice will be heard in the allocation of the recreational vs. commercial angler quota.

The organization’s grass-roots efforts also are focused on marsh restoration, a subject that also has drawn interest and aid from groups including Ducks Unlim50 |

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campaign, but through the partnership of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Aransas County, General Land Office, CCA and so many generous supporters, the project will begin.”

Aransas County Judge Burt Mills signed the dredging permit for Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough on August 3 of 2011. Although the pass has been dredged numerous times through history, this is the largest and most comprehensive effort slated to date.

“Re-opening the historic Fish Pass will undoubtedly provide additional high qual-

Crane Tracking t Continued from page 48 bird’s upper leg and record four to five locations every 24 hours, information that is uploaded to a satellite every two and half days. These data

ited, and freshwater inflows, which continue to be a vital component of a healthy saltwater ecosystem.

There also has been substantial educational outreach, with the group giving $100,000 this year to the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, another partner in the mission of protection of habitat based on sound science and research.

Conservation issues have never been more important, especially as there is more demand to partake in recreational opportunities. The Texas coast has become a hotbed not only for fishing but also the concerns that come with an influx of traffic. CCA isn’t the only group that’s out there fighting to ensure sustainable fisheries and opportunities, but it is among the most successful, something that everyone F I S H

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ity recreational opportunities for Texas’ anglers to enjoy the bountiful outdoor resources for which this stretch of the coast is so well known,” said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director.

“Opening a pass between the Gulf and bay is never easy, and raising the funds to complete it can be even more daunting,” said Mark Ray, CCA Texas Chairman.

“As the scope of the project and the associated costs have grown, every partner has stepped to the plate again and again to ensure we reach our goal. It is a great day for the Texas coast and the recreational anglers who enjoy our shared coastal resources.”

— Kim Ogonosky, CCA «TG

reveal migration routes, habitat use, nesting locations, and much more.

Biologists in the United States and Canada will use the results of this work to identify management and conservation priorities in both countries.

—Staff Report «TG

involved with coastal habitat conservation should focus on and build upon in the future.

It has been proven that teamwork is vital to building a lasting framework when it comes to addressing future issues whether it’s related to sea grass, bag limits or any other topic that can bring up concerns among the masses. It’s up to the current generation to lay the foundation for future outdoor prospects, something that clearly is a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

—by Will Leschper «TG Will Leschper’s work has won state and national awards. Contact him at leschperw@yahoo.com

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Coastal Venues for Fishermen on Foot Story by Chester Moore

NOT ALL ANGLERS HAVE BOATS. THAT IS SOMETHING TEXAS Fish & Game has known for a long time, which is why we include bank-fishing locations on all of our coastal Hot Spots Focus columns every month.

And while there are a fair number of quality bank fishing destinations on the coast, many anglers are not aware of them.

We get questions all the time from anglers asking the location of certain spots they might have heard of or where to fish when on vacation.

This is a collection of some of the very best of these destinations ranging from the obvious to the obscure. We realize for Walkabout Anglers access is key and this

is our way of continuing and upgrading this coverage.

Before we get into these many locations, there are some important things to remember when fishing from the shore in saltwater venues.

Many anglers complain of rarely catching legal-sized game fish from the bank and I believe a big reason for this is their choice of bait. Dead shrimp is by far the easiest bait to get and it will catch everything but that is T E X A S

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just the problem. It catches hardheads, small croaker, sand trout and lots of undesirables.

My advice is to bring one rod rigged with dead shrimp (let kids use it if they are fishing) and use just the croaker, sand trout and piggy perch you might catch as live or cut bait.

Also, learn to throw a cast net and catch mullet, mud minnows and baby croaker. All of these fished on a Carolina rig will catch reds, specks and flounder and the beauty of &

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Sabine Lake Area

Best Season/Time: Fall and Spring on outgoing and incoming times respectively.

2 MCFADDIN BEACH Location: Off of Highway 87 past Sabine Pass Species: Redfish Lures/Baits: Live croaker, mullet or whole crab Best Season/Time: On high tides during the summer and fall.

LOWER NECHES WILD3 LIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WEST SIDE)

5 BOLIVAR POCKET Location: Off of Highway 87 near the jetties Species: Speckled trout Lures/Baits: Topwaters and silver spoons Best Season/Times: Summer during early morning hours on high tides is good as is late, calm evenings

Matagorda Area BEACH & 6 LIGHTHOUSE BIRD SANCTUARY

Location: Highway 87 between Bridge City and Port Arthur

Location: 700 Lighthouse Beach Drive, Port Lavaca

Species: Redfish

Species: Redfish

Location: At Pleasure Island on SH 82 at the causeway bridge.

Lures/Baits: Cut and live mullet, dead shrimp

Lures/Baits: Crab

Species: Flounder

Best Season/Times: Summer and fall on outgoing tides

BRIDGE/ 1 CAUSEWAY UMPHREY PIER

Lures/Baits: Live mud minnows, finger mullet and jigs tipped with shrimp

Galveston Area 4 ROLLOVER PASS

Sabine

Location: Highway 87 between High Island and Port Bolivar Species: Flounder

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Best Season/Times: On the last half of rising tides.

7 FOLEY RESERVE PARK Location: East Bayshore/Palacios Species: Flounder Lures/Baits: Live mud minnows Best Season/Time: First hour of falling and last hour of rising tides in spring and fall

EAST GALVESTON BAY

PORT ARTHUR

MAP GRAPHICS: TF&G

using a cast net is you do not have to pay for your bait. Of course it is a lot of work but it will save you money.

Something else to consider is using a popping cork. There are lots of snags along shorelines and when fishing on bottom you are bound to get snagged. By using corks you can fish just above the bottom and avoid most snags while at the same time have the advantage of being able to draw attention to your bait by utilizing the popping action of the cork. Little details like these can go a long way when your fishing these saltwater walk up venues.

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SABINE LAKE BOLIVAR PENINSULA

GULF OF MEXICO

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Galveston

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GULF OF MEXICO

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8 JETTY PARK Location: End of FM 2031, Matagorda Species: Speckled trout, redfish F I S H

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Coastal Bend

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EAST MATAGORDA BAY

PORT LAVACA

COPANO BAY ROCKPORTFULTON

8 WEST MATAGORDA BAY PORT O’CONNOR

Lures/Baits: Live shrimp Best Season Times: When light winds are blowing and waters are running clear in summer for trout. Fall for redfish.

Coastal Bend Area 9 COPANO BAY BRIDGE

Lures/Baits: Soft plastic shrimp and shad imitations and live mud minnows Best Season/Times: The fishing tends to be best on outgoing tides. Summer and fall.

ISLAND 10 MUSTANG STATE PARK

12

CORPUS CHRISTI BAY

PORT ARANSAS

CORPUS CHRISTI

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GULF OF MEXICO

Location: SH 361 Port Aransas

Location: FM 136, Bayside

Species: Redfish

Species: Speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead

Lures/Baits: Live mullet, croaker, Gulp!

Crabs and cracked crabs

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13

ARANSAS BAY

GULF OF MEXICO

Matagorda

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Best Season/Times: High tides during summer and fall

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Lower Coast 11 JFK CAUSEWAY Location: At Humble Channel in Corpus Christi Species: Black drum Lures/Baits: Dead shrimp, sea lice Best Season/Times: Spring, Winter

KINGSVILLE

14 BAFFIN BAY

12 HIGHWAY 188 Location: At Port Bay in Rockport Species: Redfish

GULF OF MEXICO

Lures/Baits: Cracked crab, cut mullet Best Season/Time: Look for high tides in summer and fall to provide the best fishing.

13 FULTON FISHING PIER Location: 250 Deforest Loop, Rockport Species: Speckled trout Lures/Baits: Live shrimp Best Season/Time: At night and early in the morning in spring, summer and fall

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Lower Coast 14 BAFFIN BAY, CR 1145 SOUTH

Lures/Baits: Crabs, dead shrimp, mullet Best Season/Times: Early in the morning in spring, summer and fall

Location: Kingsville

15 SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

Species: Redfish

Location: North end of Park Road 100

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Species: Speckled Trout

Lures/Baits: Live croaker and mullet

Lures/Baits: Live shrimp

Lures/Baits: Soft plastics fished under a popping cork, topwaters

Best Season/Times: Early in the morning and late in the evening in summer and fall

Best Season/Times: First hour of outgoing, last of incoming tides during spring and summer

Best Season/Times: Evenings on strong, moving tides in spring, summer and fall

FISHING 16 PIRATE’S PIER

ROAD 100 BAY 17 PARK ACCESS 1

Location: 204 North Garcia

Location: Across from Edwin King Atwood Park, South Padre Island

Lower Coast

MAP GRAPHICS: TF&G

Species: Speckled Trout, Redfish

Species: Redfish, trout

GULF OF MEXICO

PORT MANSFIELD

LAGUNA MADRE

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SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

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PORT ISABEL

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Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

Slow and Steady

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OU’VE GOT TO LOVE SPRINGTIME ON the Texas Coast. It isn’t because the fishing is better in the spring; as you’ve seen in the pages of this magazine, fishing is always good on the coast for the fishermen in the know. Spring is special, more because of the sense of renewal that seems to permeate the air. The sun feels truly warm again, and blue skies are predominant. There may still be a wind (even though there are more days with soft breezes, than unmitigated gales), but it is out of the southeast (except when you get one of those unexpected fronts that come in once in a while). Even the water seems better, with emerald green replacing the sandy, dun colors of winter. Fishing in the winter can be good, even great, but spring just feels better.

No—spring feels right.

It should be no surprise, then, that fishing styles become more aggressive. I’ve shared many a boat with fishermen who wing out long casts and start working a lure—especially soft plastics—with an almost frantic, fast retrieve. The rod tip is up and whipping and the jig darts along. If they’re fishing topwaters, they snap them along in tight wiggles that make internal rattles sound off tickticktickticktick. As Micky told Rock in Rocky II, “what we need is speed!”

These fast, pedal to the metal strategy catches lots of fish. Trout and redfish are starting to work the winter kinks out of their bodies, and they are beginning to key in on young and emerging baits. They’re hungry, and very aggressive. Anglers box a lot of these fish.

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they were busting our quick-worked Gulp!

Ripple Shads. The wind was light, and the clarity along the transition zone of the change was good enough to sometimes see the fish strike. I was passing my lure over a sand bar and a saw a larger trout—about 22 inches— come up and follow my bait.

In a moment of panic, I sped my bait up just a bit, and the three-pound fish turned off and disappeared. On spec, I shot another cast into the same pothole and worked the bait back at a winter-slow pace. This time I felt a solid thump! After a brief struggle, I flipped the bigger trout into the boat.

How many comparable or better fish have I missed like that during spring trips? How many have we all missed?

“The bigger trout don’t like chasing down their food,” said Captain Mike Hart. “They prefer to ambush slower-moving wounded or dying baitfish. Even in spring and summer, the bigger trout don’t like moving too much.”

So the key to maximizing the opportunities at larger trout is to slow down your presentations. In winter, the use of twitch baits such as the Mirrolure Catch 5, Catch 2000 and the B&L Corky call for ultra-slow presentations. Ditto for some of the swimbaits that several fishermen on the North Texas Coast are starting to use more and more often for big trout. The slow presentation allows fish that have become sluggish because of cooler water temperatures to key in on the lures. The same principle applies year-round.

When I take anglers out, especially lessexperienced ones, I prefer to rig their soft plastics under a Comal Float. The float offers an added element of sound to the setup.

More important, it forces an angler to slow down the presentation. The bait stays in a bigger fish’s strike zone much longer, and Ol’ Mustardmouth doesn’t have to go chasing dinner.

Another favored technique among guides and veteran trout hunters is to use lighter jigheads than the standard ¼ and 1/8th ounce.

Heads weighing as little as 1/16th and even 1/32nd ounce aren’t uncommon. The smaller jigheads allow the baits to descend in the water column more slowly, thus allowing for F I S H

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slower presentations. This technique is especially lethal along color changes and potholes on grass flats.

I’ve also been experimenting with rigging my eel-style tails on screw-lock hooks such as the Daiichi Buttdragger. These hooks come in various weights that allow you to tailor your presentation both to speed and to depth. This setup was very successful on snook and large speckled trout in South Bay and Mexequita Flats on Lower Laguna Madre. The slow presentation even goaded a three foot tarpon into striking. The experience was brief and intense, but enough to convince me that a slow presentation could be very successful.

If you are a topwater aficionado, a slow, steady presentation is worth a try. Unlike a quick retrieve, which creates the familiar tight walk-the-dog wiggle and clackclackclack rattle, a working your Top Dog or Badonka Donk slowly creates a wider, gliding slide to slide action and a louder clack—clack— clack. The slower dance also simulates a wounded baitfish, which stimulates a more aggressive strike. A topwater that I’ve become somewhat infatuated with is the River2Sea Wide Glide. It’s a bigger plug—the smaller is 7/8th of an ounce—but you can fish it very slowly and get the wide swinging action that I’ve mentioned.

Sometimes the best slow retrieve is no retrieve at all. Captain Larry Corbett once taught me a technique with jointed minnows called “The Houma Hustle” (or as I term it, “The Big Wiggle). After a cast, rather than starting a retrieve, point your rod directly at your bait and start shaking your rod tip. The vibrations telegraph down the line and into the bait begins a stationary vibration. Though the lure wiggles back and forth, it stays in one spot. I’ve had many a trout and snook blast a plug while it was doing the Hustle.

A slow presentation doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to have Job-like patience.

Big predators may not chase, but they still have to eat.

Contact Calixto Gonzales at CGonzalez@fishgame.com

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q JUSTIN BERGE AND HIS BROTHER Shane got a special treat when they got to meet a monkey. Education and outreach is an important part of this unique and historic Texas must see.

IF YOU’VE DRIVEN DOWN I-35 IN New Braunfels much over the last few decades you have probably noticed the big sign that says “Snake Farm.”

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WANT TO SEE HYENAS in an up close setting? Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo offers that chance plus they do a cool hyena feeding show. For more information go to www.exoticanimalworld.com or call 830-608-9270.

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THE FACILITY HAS an amazing collection of snakes including an impressive rattlesnake pit. This is a five foot western diamondback I photographed there. They have the top 10 most deadly snakes on the planet as well as every variety of venomous snake found in Texas.

THE CLASSIC SNAKE FARM look is undergoing a transformation. The facility is expanding into new acreage and Trager has plans to bring in many exotic and unique species.

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THE NEWEST show stoppers at the Snake Farm are the white lion cubs, a male and female imported from South Africa. White lions are super rare and visitors can see them daily during the “Ghosts of the Jungle” show at 11 a.m.

kids at hear as well as a staff dedicated to educating people on wildlife. If you want an experience, come check us out,” Trager said.

Our ministry, Children’s Kingdom Ministries, contacted the facility to help grant a “Wild Wish,” one of our outreaches where we grant the wish of animal

encounters for children who are facing a challenge. We were honored to work with the Berge family whose sons Shane and Justin wanted to meet a wolf.

Trager and his staff did that and a whole lot more. They rolled out the red carpet and allowed them to meet everything from wolves to monkeys and gave them some memories that will last a lifetime.

The facility is not only fun to visit, but the people behind it are top notch. Enjoy these photos from my recent trips to the Snake Farm.

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It is a landmark in the region, having opened its doors in 1967, and I fondly remember stopping there many years ago to check out the various creepy crawlies.

The facility for the last nine years has been under the ownership of Eric Trager and has been transformed into something new and exciting—Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo. “We’ve kept the charm of the snake farm and greatly expanded our inhabitants,” Trager said.

“From white lions to the top 10 most dangerous snakes we have them all. We have daily shows that will thrill kids and

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Open Season

by Reavis Wortham | TF&G Humor Editor

Cold Nosed

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RAHAM KEENE USED HIS RIGHT HAND to push open the door to Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café, because his left arm was in a fresh cast.

The Hunting Club members noticed the cast right off. We’re quick that way. “What happened to your arm?” Doc asked.

Graham settled into our large corner booth with a sigh. “I’m gonna get this out of the way and tell it one time, because the whole story is embarrassing. After that, I don’t want to hear one question or one word.”

Doreen immediately came over and refilled our coffee cups. She and Trixie then pulled chairs up to the booth and the entire café waited for the story.

Graham sighed. “All the guys who hunt on our lease bring their own trailers, because their wives come with us too. Y’all know that.”

We nodded. Theirs is a special arrangement. Where most of our guys go to the deer lease sans wives, Graham’s group is different. Bringing their individual trailers, they circle them like a wagon train. A fire pit in the center is the communal hangout, and when someone gets tired, they simply go “home” and hit the sack.

“Well, the last weekend of spring turkey season we’d stayed up with the gang until around midnight, talking and visiting until I got tired,” Graham explained. “Linda and I went into the trailer and I decided to take a shower before going to bed. I was standing there, in a stream of nice hot water, when I heard Linda scream from the living room.

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She’d seen a snake crawl under the sofa.”

Doc immediately shuddered. He hates any kind of snake.

“Without even grabbing a towel, and dripping water, I went running in there, and she hollered that a snake was under the couch. I didn’t believe her, but I got down on all fours to look.”

The rest of us shuddered at the mental image.

“Linda’s little Dachshund was passing through about that time and when he saw me on all fours, he cold-nosed me somewhere that we aren’t going to discuss.”

We broke up. Graham had to wait until we regained control of ourselves. “What did you do, fall forward and break your arm?”

Wrong Willie giggled.

“I wish. I jumped forward and cracked my head against the wooden arm on the couch and passed out for a minute. Linda didn’t see what happened and thought the snake had bitten me and caused me to have a heart attack, so she hurried to the door and called the guys to come help.”

It was hard for Graham to continue the story, because we were giggling and snickering so much.

“The guys hurried in to get me and take me to the emergency room. They made a stretcher out of a blanket and were carrying a naked Me out the door when Winston saw the snake poke his head out from between the couch’s cushions, and it scared him and he dropped his end as they went out the door.

That’s how I broke my arm.”

Snorts and guffaws filled the café.

Wiping her eyes, Trixie returned with the coffee pot and refilled our mugs. “Did y’all kill the snake?”

“You’ve only heard half of it,” Graham said. “While they were gone with me to the hospital, Hubert stayed behind to kill the snake. He looked the trailer over and couldn’t find the stinking thing, so he told Linda it was gone. She was worried sick, so without thinking she sat down on the couch and when one of those little throw pillows fell over she saw the snake and fainted dead away.”

Graham kinda smiled himself on that one.

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I was afraid some of the guys were going to pass out from laughing so much.

“Hubert jumped up and killed the snake and then, seeing Linda passed out, he thought she’d had a heart attack and laid her on the floor to start CPR on her. Hubert’s wife walked in right about then to check on Linda, but when she saw them on the floor, him with his mouth on Linda’s, she picked up the stick he’d killed the snake with and laid him out.”

We were breathless.

“Then Linda woke up with Hubert laid across her chest, bleeding from the scalp. She turned her head and saw the dead snake lying beside her and screamed bloody murder.

Hubert’s wife then saw the snake on the floor, heard Linda screaming and commenced to whapping the snake some more and in her excitement, missed a few times and accidentally hit Linda once.

“About that time the highway patrol rolled up to check on everyone since they’d heard about what happened at the hospital and when they heard the commotion in the trailer they saw Linda screaming on the ground with Hubert laying across her and his wife standing there with a big stick. There was blood everywhere, so they cuffed everyone for the next two hours until they worked out what happened.”

Our sides hurt from laughing so much. Graham had to wait until things finally settled down.

“So now you’ve heard the story and I ain’t telling it again.”

“What kind of snake was it?” I wheezed.

Graham looked embarrassed. “It was a milk snake, and by the way, does anyone want to buy a camping trailer with a hole in the floor. One of the cops saw the dead snake and shot it with a shotgun.” He paused. “I’ll sell it cheap.”

Contact Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@fishgame.com

PHOTOS: BIGSTOCK

4/8/14 3:36 PM

Digital Edition

Offshore Bass by chester moore KELLY JORDON IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST SIGHT-FISHermen on the pro tour, but he is also a skilled practitioner of “offshore” bass fishing in the deeper recesses of a lake.

THE FORMER PRE-MED STUDENT HAS BEEN FISHING PROFESsionally for more than 11 years, winning more than $1.5

PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

million along the way. He has fished in eight Bassmaster Classics.

Jordon is a Texas-based pro who calls Lake Fork his home lake.

Jordon fished Lake Conroe with TF&G Executive Editor

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Chester Moore recently and talked about bass fishing, and particularly about his affinity for the deep water.

Chester Moore: “You’re an “offshore” bass fisherman?”

Kelly Jordon: “Yeah. I like it all, but I love it when I can catch ‘em offshore.”

CM: “I was up on Lake Fork probably five or six years ago

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TF&G Almanac Table of Contents GEARING UP SECTION

INDUSTRY INSIDER New Youth Gou Fishing Ventures | • FISH AND GAME GEAR• Hot New Gou Outdoor Gear | TEXAS TESTED • NauticStar and Ranger | by tfg staff

Gou

by tfg staff

by tfg staff

Gou

Gou

FOCUS: GALVES HOTSPOTS TON • Springing into Saltwater Season | . by capt mike holmes

HOW-TO SECTION

Gou

TEXAS KAYAKING • Tips for BetGou ter Kayaking | PAUL’S TIPS Shallow Drop Gou Shotting | • TEXAS GUNS & GEAR • The Big Gou Sevens | Gou

TEXAS BOATING • Out with the Old | by lenny rudow

by greg berlocher

by paul bradshaw

by steve lamascus

with a guide who lives up there. He was telling me just how many of those bigger bass like to spawn in much deeper water than people give them credit for. Have you found that to be true?”

KJ: “A lot of fish spawn deeper, of course. You wonder where they all go.

There’s also a lot of talk, and some biologists say this as well, that some of the really big fish in a lake may never come up and spawn. Maybe that’s why they’re big.

They’re abnormal bass. Whatever’s wrong with them, they stay out there all year.

“There’s always some bass deep in a lake that has deep structure. It’s a comfort zone.

They have a lot more water, a lot more bait.

The pressure is not as much. Although guys do know where the sweet spots are and pick on them pretty good, but there’s so much offshore stuff, places the fish can be; it’s shelter out there. Most lakes, where the fish go deep, there are going to be more big ones out there than in shallow water.”

CM: “Is there one trick, any one thing an angler who wants to fish offshore for bass should pay attention to, to start them off?”

KJ: “I’d say there is a one-two combo.

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Gou Gou

by chester moore

by tfg

Gou

HOTSPOTS FOCUS: UPPER COAST • May the Bite Be With You | .

Gou

HOTSPOTS FOCUS: MATAGORDA • Pier Pit Stop | by

by tfg staff

staff

FISHING FORECAST SECTION

by capt eddie hernandez

COVER STORY • Offshore Bass |

HOTSPOTS • Texas’ Hot TEXAS test Fishing Spots | SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK • Gou Tides & Prime Times |

Gou

SPECIAL SECTION • Fishing & Hunting with Dad | by chester

moore

TEXAS TASTED • Trout with Shrimp Topping | OUTDOOR CLASSIFIED Gou DIRECTORY • Guides, Gear and More |

by bryan slaven

by tfg staff

Gou

TF&G PHOTOS • Your Action Photos | by tfg readers

mike price

FOCUS: UPPER MID HOTSPOTS COAST • ‘Old Reliable | . by capt

chris martin

HOTSPOTS FOCUS: ROCKPORT

Gou • May is a Blow Hard | by capt. mac gable

Gou

FOCUS: LOWER HOTSPOTS COAST • Holly |

by cal gonzales

what’s out there. That’s your guide. One of the best things to come along in a while is the Navionics chip. It has the contour lines built in right on your graph. Now, guys can go out and find stuff that took others years to find. It exposes the whole lake.

“Learning how to read that and what to look for is key. You can read magazines or go online, there are so many resources available now where you can get an idea what to look for, but nothing replaces your own experience and your own successes and failures out on the water. It comes through trial and error, and that’s the joy of bass fishing—figuring the puzzle out.

“The map is key, but for your map to be any good at all you have to have good electronics. You gotta have a good graph where you can read what’s down there and you can get to where you’re familiar with what you’re looking at, whether you’re looking at bass or you’re seeing a brush pile on your graph.

“Probably the best way to get a crash course is to go out with a really good guide on a lake somewhere. Most of the ‘bass factories’ in Texas have a huge number of fantastic fishing guides that can take you out and put you way ahead of the game. I would highly recommend that investment. It’s not that much, say, $250 to $350 is typically

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www.FishGame.com what a guide runs a day. I promise it will be well worth it and save you a lot of hours on your own and get you ahead of the game.

“But, fishing offshore, a map and a graph are the two most critical pieces of equipment.”

CM: “Are there a lot of times, for maybe no particular reason, you’ll find bass just simply on one piece of structure on a larger structure?”

KJ: “Absolutely. It’s just like what you said, a ‘spot within the spot.’ The sweet spot. That exists. Not on every spot.

How you find that is with your electronics. You can see the fish down there.

My Humminbird [Side Imaging Sonar] is ridiculous. You can see everything down there and say, ‘Wow. I didn’t know there were three cinder blocks on this corner of one side of this drop here.’ And that’s where they always seem to sit. But the best way to find out where they like to sit on a piece of structure is by fishing—see where you catch them.

“And then, when you catch a fish offshore, you want to be able to cast exactly back where you caught that fish, and that’s hard to

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Texas Boating

by Lenny Rudow | TF&G Boating Editor

Out with the Old

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OU MAY HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT boat—as if such a thing really exists—but it’s little more than a redneck lawn ornament if the engine doesn’t run. And eventually, most engines don’t. That’s why many of us face repowering a boat, sooner or later.

If that newly deceased engine happens to be an outboard, count your blessings.

Re-powering an outboard is actually a fairly easy job, and once the new motor has been paid for, it’s not incredibly expensive to have it mounted. “Not expensive” is, of course, a relative term—especially if you’ve

just dropped 10 or 20 grand on a new eggbeater.

If you need to stretch every dollar to get the engine you want and there isn’t much left in your boating budget, how will you get it onto the transom? First off, raid the kid’s college fund.

Oops, I forgot, you did that to buy the new engine in the first place.

I applaud your priorities, and have a partial solution for you: remove and dispose of the

old outboard, yourself.

Actually hanging the engine on the transom—something you should always pay a dealer to do, to maintain the manufacturer’s warranty—

COVER STORY: Offshore Bass t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 do when you have nothing around.

“You can throw a marker buoy—and a quick note on that: Don’t ever throw your marker on top of the spot you want to fish; always throw it to the side and then know if it’s 10 feet or 20 feet to the left or right of it.

Then you don’t have to worry about hooking your buoy, or hooking your fish and it swims around your buoy line, messing it up. That being said, it’s critical to learn how to repeat your cast.

“You can get a couple of lines and triangulate yourself on a spot. Finding the line you caught your fish on is as simple as [lining up a nearby] point [with some fixed landmark] that’s a mile behind it. You can move your head and see that line change. If you’ve got that line, you can repeat that cast and you can make your lure hit the same exact spot on the bottom—in 30 feet of water—cast after cast after cast.

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“You always want to throw exactly back where you caught that fish, because a lot of times, those fish are in schools, and there might be a school of three or four bass, or there might be a school of 500. And that lets you know if you found a spot within a spot.”

CM: “And you’re eliminating water that way?”

KJ: “Exactly, and you’re repeating a productive cast as well.”

CM: “If you’re fishing offshore and you had to pick one kind of lure, what would you fish?”

KJ: “Deep-diving crankbait.”

CM: “Deep-diving crankbait. Okay, why?”

cover water fast, you can bump into whatever is down there, stump or rock, or rip it out of grass.

“There are a lot of ways to trigger a strike when they otherwise might not be biting very well, and you have to nurse ‘em to get them to bite your Carolina rig or your 10-inch worm or whatever else you’re throwing in there. A crankbait can fire up a school of bass, and if you can get ‘em going, you can catch ‘em every cast, cast after cast, until you either catch ‘em all or they move on.

“The Lucky Craft D20 crankbait is the bait I helped design. It dives down to 20 feet; you can hit 16 to 18 feet consistently on a long cast, and you can hit 20 feet as well on a super long cast. Getting that crankbait down there and having contact with the bottom and having a bait that will hit that deep is the important thing.”

KJ: “A crankbait, year-round, is the most deadly offshore bait for not only catching numbers, but for catching big ones. You can

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Texas Boating only costs around $500 (though this figure can vary quite a bit depending on your location and the size of the engine). It’s the additional costs that eat your budget for breakfast: Another $500 or so to remove and dispose of the old outboard, several hundred more to remove and replace controls and cables, and the cost of replacing accessory items like external filters, water separators, and fuel lines.

Fortunately, most of the cable and accessory work can be done by any competent do-it-yourselfer. Unfortunately, removing a several-hundred-pound chunk of bulky metal from the transom without doing any harm to the boat or yourself can be a bit of a challenge. Trust me, though, you can

p The author removed two 360-pound outboards in one afternoon.

do it easily enough as long as you know the process—I pulled a pair of 360-pounders off of my current boat, in a single afternoon.

Here’s the drill.

Step I: Prepping for Dismissal

Before a dead outboard can be removed

from a live boat, you have to disconnect the dearly departed. This is actually a bit more involved than it sounds; you have to disconnect and remove the battery cables, disconnect the steering and control cables (but leave them in place if you’ll be re-using them), and disconnect the fuel lines. Take this opportunity to closely inspect any components you plan to re-use for wear and tear.

Next, pull the gauges and controls off of the helm station and remove their wiring harnesses. But be careful as you do so–they have value. If any of the harnesses run through a wiring chase, tie a piece of string to the end of the wires before you remove them and pull it through the chase as you pull the harness out. That way, when you need to pull the new wires through the chase the string will be there waiting for you, and you won’t need to use a fish-wire.

The final part of the prep stage is draining the engine’s fluids. Engine oil, fuel, and lower unit oil should be drained and properly disposed of, so they don’t spill out during removal or transportation.

Stage II: Air Support

Now, you need an overhead support that is several feet higher than the engine, and is able to support its full weight. The easiest way to do this is to back your boat under a sufficiently large tree limb of the appropriate height. If that’s not an option, you need to build a gantry (a frame you can hoist from). A basic gantry needs four legs, a main transverse beam, and cross-bracing.

Six-by-two lumber will work for the legs and cross-bracers, and a four-by-four works well for the transverse beam.

Don’t depend on nails. Drill and through-bolt the sections together, to make sure the structure is sound. As long as you use hardwood in good shape, the rig will support 500-pounds without a problem.

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screwing cross-braces to each of the legs.

Stage III: Engine Elevation

Ready to winch that messed-up motor right off the transom? Use a webbed strap to hang a come-along from the center of the gantry’s transverse beam. Check the comealong’s capacity rating first, but most can handle at least a ton so the one sitting in your garage can probably get the job done.

Next, hook to the motor through its lifting eye. (Note: some brands have the lifting eye permanently mounted on the motor, some others require a screw-in eye.) Once it’s all hooked up, ratchet the come-along until there’s tension on the strap.

With the strap tensioned you can start removing the nuts from the bolts in the motor mount. Once they’re off, you need to get a friend’s help; the next part is a twoman operation. Jump into your tow vehicle, and pull the boat forward very slowly while your buddy holds the motor, lifting and lowering the lower unit back and forth, to help jiggle the bolts free. Once they’re all the way out, pull the boat out of the way.

Now stop—before you do anything else, use some caulk to seal the holes in the boat’s transom immediately. Otherwise, moisture could invade your boat’s transom core and cause problems down the road.

Stage IV: Kiss It Good-bye

Now you can pull a motor horse, pickup, or utility trailer under the motor, and set it down with the come-along. The job may seem finished, but there’s one more thing to do—list the dead engine, its gauges, and controls on eBay. Virtually every outboard has some amount of value for its parts, and you can usually make back several hundred dollars to defray the cost of mounting the new engine on the transom. Who knows?

You might even have some money left over to put back into the kid’s college fund.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com Get more boating tips in LENNY RUDOW’s Texas Boating Blog at www.Fishgame.com/blogs

Texas Kayaking

by Greg Berlocher | TF&G Kayaking Editor

Tips for Better Kayaking

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UMMER HOLIDAYS SERVE AS SIREN calls, invigorating casual paddlers to dig kayaks out from under mountains of garage debris and head to the nearest lake, bay, river, or stream. If you haven’t fished from your ’yak in a while, here are a few tips to make your next expedition more enjoyable.

Stretch: Multimillion dollar athletes would never consider playing without stretching and warming up before a game.

Kayak anglers should be no different. You should stretch the muscles in your arms, shoulders, and torso for a good 15 to 20 minutes before venturing out onto the water.

Stretching helps prevent sore muscles and tendonitis. Stretching after a paddle also helps improve your overall flexibility.

Do a variety of arm stretches that work all of the muscles around the shoulder joints.

Neck rolls and shrugs are a good way to loosen up the neck and muscles between the shoulders. Twist and flex torso muscles as well. Stretch to the point where you feel it but don’t go overboard. Hold each stretch for 15 seconds or so and then relax. Three repetitions of each stretch are sufficient for most paddlers.

Good Seatback: Sit-on-top kayaks are tough on your lower back, and a good seatback is worth its weight in gold, or 93 octane gasoline if you prefer. You can dispense with a seatback if you are going to use your kayak as a water toy, but anglers who remain seated for several hours should never leave the bank without one.

Seatbacks come in different heights and should be fitted to the individual paddler’s

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torso height. A seatback for someone who is six feet tall probably isn’t a good choice for a paddler who is a foot shorter. A seatback that is too tall rides up under your arms and is very uncomfortable. Seatbacks connect to the pad eyes on the hull, fore and aft of your kayak’s seat. Straps are then adjusted to create a wrap-around back support.

PFDs: Life vests (which have a funny name since they won’t save your life if you are unconscious and floating face down in the water) are hot and uncomfortable to wear, but are a necessary evil. Paddling enthusiasts refer to these devices as personal floatation devices, or PFDs. Wearing the proper style and size PFD decreases the “nuisance factor” associated with PFDs. This includes special PFDs with oversized arm holes that are designed for paddlers. These PFDs allow your arms to move about freely. Other styles of PFDs will certainly work, but will rub the undersides of your arms, leaving them chafed and raw.

If your budget allows, consider a set of inflatable, suspender-style PFDs. Regardless of the style you choose, make sure you wear a PFD while you are on the water. You can be sure that the one thing you will never find at the bottom of a lake or bay is a flotation device.

Hydrate: Beginning kayakers tend to wiggle-waggle their way across the water and aren’t as efficient going from Point A to Point B as someone who has been paddling many years. Neophytes will average about three miles per hour on the water and will take roughly 1,000 strokes to go a mile. Seasoned veterans need only 500 or so strokes to cover the same distance.

The bodies both of pupil and practiced paddler give off a lot of sweat, and it imperative that you maintain your fluid level. Water is the best thing to drink as it is quickly absorbed and quenches your thirst.

Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks as they are counter productive when it comes to rehydrating your body.

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Clothes, Hat & Sunscreen: Cover exposed skin with lightweight clothing and sunscreen. Even if you aren’t folliclely challenged, wear a hat to keep the glaring rays off ears and neck. Sun gloves are a great way to protect the backs of your hands from the sun. Unlike sunscreen, which will get washed off while paddling, sun gloves provide the necessary protection, but leave tactile fingertips exposed.

Less is More: One of the simple joys of kayak fishing is its minimalist nature. You don’t need to carry eight rods pre-rigged for everything from bass to bowfin. One or two rods and shirt pocket full of terminal tackle or lures is ample for most trips. A small molded box with your top three lures will work surprisingly well.

This is often the hardest part for some anglers as they pore over 72 different size and color combinations of the same lure, trying to choose just one. You can jam lots of gear in the milk crate on the stern, but ask yourself: When was the last time you changed lures more than three times on a kayak trip? Concentrate on the fish and not the gear.

Use Common Sense: Kayak angling is a safe and rewarding activity if you use common sense and know your limitations.

Unfortunately, people die every year in kayaks because they did something silly, like overextend their range, paddle in unsafe conditions, or get into trouble while paddling alone. Avoid paddling in or across busy boat lanes, especially in low light conditions. Check weather forecasts and tides before going into the water. Always use the buddy system and file a game plan with a friend or loved one. Know your realistic range and don’t try to exceed it.

If you follow these simple rules, you will have a better time, both on the water and afterwards.

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Email Greg Berlocher at ContactUs@fishgame.com.

Paul’s Tips

Shallow Drop Shotting

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ORM FISHING HAS COME A long way in the past 50 years.

The original Crème soft plastic worm came pre-rigged with hooks, ready to fish straight out of the package. Since then, we have fished them on Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, weightless, wacky-rigged, with split shot, and in the past decade, just about half the anglers you talk to that fish a worm deep will have a dropshot rig tied on.

For the few who don’t know, drop-shots are finesse rigs originally used to present small baits to finicky fish in deep water.

There is some debate over whether it began in California’s gin clear fish bowl lakes, or in Japan where lakes are crowded. Either way, it is an outstanding way to present bait horizontally to sensitive fish.

In an interview I did with Jay Yelas a few years back, he said one of the few rigs he kept in his boat on all trips was the drop-shot. It seems that this finesse rig has replaced traditional methods of fishing a worm and has become a favorite of tournament anglers as well.

The horizontal presentation noted earlier is because, originally, all anglers using a drop-shot would simply drop it over the side of the boat into a school of fish relating to deep-water humps and points. If the fish were shallow, these same anglers would put away the drop-shot in favor of a wacky worm or soft plastic jerk-bait, both of which work great if the fish are in a feeding mood. If the fish are shallow but not aggressive, there was a problem because these two methods of fishing move the bait quite a bit with just a

slight twitch of the rod tip.

Complacent fish are not going to chase a bait far, so anglers needed a method of presenting a worm that would keep the bait in the strike zone for an extended time. A few anglers with some gray matter between their ears decided to try a drop-shot in shallow water for these bass, and much to their surprise, it worked with delightful frequency.

The main reason it works is because you can put the bait in a specific spot and leave it there as long as you like. You can jiggle your rod tip and make small twitches, but the bait stays in one spot, anchored by the weight, and irritates the fish so much they strike out of anger rather than hunger.

A drop-shot for deep-water fishing and one for shallow water are the same rig with one minor difference—the distance between the weight at the end of the line and the hook. For deep-water applications, this measures anywhere from two to eight feet.

For shallow water, this distance is measured in inches with no more than 12 inches between the two.

Tying a drop-shot is simple, since there are no leaders involved.

Start by tying a short shank drop-shot hook on your main line with a Palomar knot, leaving the tag end about 18 inches

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long. With the point of the hook facing up, run the tag end back through the eye of the hook from the top side. This will help the hook point stay upright while fishing. This seems like a small thing, but will increase your hook-ups and decrease snagging on grass.

On the tag end of the line, slide on a drop-shot weight. The line tie on these weights is specifically designed for the line to be pushed through, then pulled up into the smaller section of the eye. This holds the line in place without tying, which allows you to slide the weight up and down the tag end to adjust the depth of the worm without having to retie. It also lets the weight slip off the line if it gets hung up. That way, you lose only the weight and not the entire rig.

Selecting a worm to drop-shot is a matter of personal preference, but in general, you should use small worms in basic colors like Watermelon and Pumpkinseed. This is not the time to bust out with an 18-inch megaworm in Electric Chicken.

The best way to rig the worm is to nosehook it by pushing the point of the hook though the nose from the bottom, leaving the point exposed.

Email Paul Bradshaw at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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ILLISTRATION BY PAUL BRADSHAW

by Paul Bradshaw | TF&G Contributing Editor

Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus | TF&G Shooting Editor

The Big Sevens

F

OR MANY YEARS DURING THE 1940S, 1950s, and early1960s, a furor arose in the shooting world over the need for a factory 7mm Magnum. Numerous wildcats such as the 7mm Mashburn Magnums, long and short, the 7mm Ackley Magnum, the 7x61 Sharp & Hart, and several others were touted as the answer to a gun lover’s prayers. Almost mystical powers were attributed to them.

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The late Warren Page, longtime shooting editor of Field and Stream, sang the praises of the 7mm Mashburn Magnum and took game all over the world with his pet rifle, “Old Betsy,” in that caliber. His was one of the loudest voices wanting a “factory” 7mm Magnum.

Then in 1962 Remington answered the cries of the multitude with the 7mm Remington Magnum. The big Remington was an instant smash success and has been one of the most popular cartridges in the Remington lineup ever since, at one time, I understand, outselling even the always popular .30-06.

All of this has always been somewhat of a mystery to me, because during this time,

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all during the cry and clamor for a Magnum 7mm, one was already out there. It was a very good one that was even faster and more powerful than the 7mm Remington Magnum. You see, the 7mm Weatherby Magnum was introduced to the shooting public by Roy Weatherby between 1940 and 1944. (Note from author: I have seen both dates stated as the date of introduction.

I tend to believe it is the latter, but the exact date is something of a mystery because it happened during the years of WWII.)Why it was overlooked or ignored by the shooting public, which continued to scream and wail and gnash its teeth for a 7mm Magnum, is a question which puzzles me greatly.

The 7mm Remington Magnum is a fine cartridge. It can with carefully assembled handloads push a 175-grain bullet to just about 3,000 feet per second. But the 7mm Weatherby Magnum, which beat Remington to the draw by about 20 years, is even faster, pushing a 175-grain bullet to at least a hundred feet per second higher velocity. Not only that, but the big Weatherby cartridge is better for reloading because it has a longer neck, which allows the heavier bullets to be seated farther out, making better use of the powder capacity of the cartridge case.

Jack O’Connor, recognized as the dean of gun writers, past and present, had this to say about the 7mm Weatherby: “Best bullets are the 145-grain and 160-grain (Jack was a lover of Speer bullets), which in the 7mm [Weatherby] Magnum out-class the standard .270 WCF as much as the modern jet fighter is ahead of a World War II P-51.”

Considering the fact that Jack O’Connor was known as the godfather of the .270, that is saying a lot.

Actually, the factory ammunition of today’s 7mm Weatherby is not loaded quite as hot as it was a few decades ago. I think there are several reasons for this. One is that we have much better equipment for measuring chamber pressures. Some of the loads I see listed for the Weatherby in old reloading manuals must have been pushing absolutely

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massive chamber pressures. Considering the velocities that are given, they would have to be. One load I see in one of my old books gives the velocity of one load with a 140grain bullet of over 3,500 feet per second.

And that was before the invention of modern, ultra-slow burning powders. What the pressure of that load must have been, I can only imagine—and cringe. (My engineer friend, Jay Bute, pulled out his slide rule and came up with approximately 78,500 pounds per square inch of chamber pressure. So don’t try it at home. All you’ll get is a blown up gun.) Also there are guns other than the Weatherbys that are, or have been, offered in that caliber, and some are not as strong as the Weatherby Mark V. Today there are a couple of factory 7mms that produce a bit more velocity than the 7mm Weatherby, but they don’t beat it by much, and they use immense amounts of powder to do so. When you stop to consider that the Weatherby was invented 70 years ago, it really does shine a big spotlight on the genius of Roy Weatherby.

Today we can choose from a pretty

wide selection of big sevens. We have the 7mm Shooting Times Westerner, the 7mm Remington Ultra-Magnum, the 7mm Winchester Short Magnum, and several more that are essentially proprietary. However, none that I know of are as well balanced and well rounded, with the many abilities and few disadvantages as the Weatherby 7mm Magnum. As I said, I like the 7mm Remington Magnum. And the reality of the situation is that there is so little difference between the abilities of the Remington and Weatherby offerings that either will do about what the other will do. However, the Weatherby is, by a small margin, faster and more powerful than the Remington, and we simply don’t want to choose a second best, even if it is by a tiny amount. Do we?

Of the larger offerings – the 7mm STW and 7mm RUM – they burn a whole lot more powder for a very small increase in velocity. They are hard on barrels, foul barrels much more, and generally haven’t enough advantage to justify their shortcomings. Not only that, they kick more than most

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can handle and still shoot with utmost precision. Because, you see, the real advantage of the 7mm Magnums, of whatever flavor we choose, is their ability to hit hard at extreme range, and without kicking the shooter out from under his hat. This is why I believe the 7mm Weatherby is the very upper end of the scale for most of us. It shoots as flat as a laser and carries lots of energy to the far end of realistic shooting distances. It is powerful enough for any North American game and most game in the world, with the obvious exceptions of the really big stuff like the Pleistocene leftovers in Africa. However, I would not feel terribly under-gunned if I were forced to take a shot at a big lion with a 7mm Weatherby Magnum, assuming I had the right bullets in the gun, and it would be just about perfect as a plains game rifle.

So you see, the moral of this story is that Roy Weatherby got it exactly right all those years ago.

Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Texas Tested

NauticStar 244 XTS IF YOU WANT TO BLAST ACROSS THE BAY at speeds of around 60 mph, get a small boat with a big motor. If you want to blast across the bay at speeds of around 60 mph in comfort even when there’s a chop, slay fish like a tournament pro, enjoy 57 total gallons of livewell capacity, float in barely more than a foot of water, and look good

while you’re doing it, check out the Nautic Star 244 XTS. This model replaced Nautic Star’s 2400 TE, and is now the flagship of their bay boat fleet.

Note: this is no average semi-V hull inshore boat. The hull has air-assist chines, which boost speeds and enhance handling.

It also has a sharp deep-V style entry in the bow, with plenty of flair to knock down spray. And construction is all-composite, with parts such as hatches that are RTMmolded (which ensures an ideal resin-tofiberglass ratio, maximizing strength while minimizing weight). If you’ve ever set foot on a Nautic Star you already know these boats are solid, and the company believes so strongly in their construction methods that the 244 XTS carries a lifetime limited hull warranty.

Another thing you’ll love about the way this boat is put together is the helm. The switch panel is rugged, beautiful, and easy to service, there’s plenty of room for electronics at the helm, and the console houses a Hose Coil wash-down that reaches every inch of the244 XTS. The boat’s well thought-out for fishability, too. There’s cast net stowage built into the floor, the 30-gallon fishbox drains 76 |

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directly overboard, and livewells (there’s a 20-gallon well forward and a 37-gallon well aft) are fully insulated. Of course, you need fishing rods to catch fish. Lots of rods. So the 244 XTS has eight stainless-steel rod holders, horizontal under-gunwale rod stowage for three rods per side, and a pair of locking rod boxes that house 10 rods each.

Despite the fact that this is a rather large bay boat at 24 feet, 6 inches long and 2,500 pounds, it still manages to float in just 14 inches of water. Running draft is less, and can be further improved along with performance by adding the optional six-inch Atlas hydraulic jack plate. Another option you’ll want is the Power Pole II. If I were getting this boat I’d add the Tournament Pro Pack—it gets you additional hull color and courtesy lights, a pair of under-water LED lights (Cool!), a leaning post with bucket seats, a Yeti cooler with slide, and Flow Rite pump-out sprayers on the livewells.

So, are you ready for that blast across the bay? You will be—and beyond, thanks to 80 gallons of fuel capacity—if you’re on the Nautic Star 244 XTS.

Ranger Z520C Intracoastal NO FORM OF COMPETITIVE FISHING HAS ever matched bass fishing, both for popularity and for paychecks, and as a result, bass boats are among the most finely honed, species-specific weapons on the water.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had saltwater boats this well-tuned? In 2014, we do— thanks to Ranger. The Z520C Intracoastal, patterned after its freshwater cousin the Z520C Comanche, is now ready to launch.

Like the Comanche, the Intracoastal is bred to run and run hard. It’s just 20 feet, 9 inches long, yet can take a whopping 250

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horses on the transom. That means this should be a 70-plus mph boat, with max power. And it also means it’s built with the same construction touches Ranger is known for, the pultruded transom (extruded, heated, and tensioned through a die for added strength); high-density urethane foam cores; and foam-cored stringer grids.

But there are also some special touches, made just for the saltwater guys. First off, the “Soft Touch” interior is skid-resistant, and more comfortable to stand or kneel on.

Rod stowage boxes have gel-coated liners, and are plumbed to a ventilation system with a blower. The helm is sized to accept a 12-inch electronics display. And measuring boards and tool holders are integrated into the steps.

Lessons from bass tournament fishing that carried over include integrated tackle stowage, livewell dividers, a dedicated spot at the bow for a second electronics screen, and a remote drain plug. But perhaps the most important lesson learned by the tournament guys comes from their experiences on

land— specifically, on the asphalt. Like Ranger bass boats, the Z520C comes with a custom-matched trailer to ensure safe travel. It’s a tandemaxle rig with torsion axle suspension, a swing-away tongue, LED lights, aluminum wheels, and integrated tie-downs.

The Z520C was introduced just this past February at the Miami International Boat Show, so most folks haven’t had the chance to lay an eyeball on one yet. Do so, however, and you’ll suddenly understand how popularity and paychecks can bring things into focus—even for a boat builder.

—Lenny Rudow

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Industry Insider

FAITH ANGLER NETWORK HAS ANNOUNCED the launch of the FAN High School Fishing Series in 2014.

FAN High School Fishing has grown tremendously in the past 24 months in Central Texas. This time last year there were three high school programs, and today more than 30 programs actively participate in FAN High School Fishing Events and new programs are starting up weekly.

“Our decision to move into this new and exciting arena of FAN High School Fishing was prompted by the sheer joy the kids have being on the water and learning everything they can about bass fishing,” stated Scott Anderson, Director of FAN High school Fishing Programs.

“High school youth are the most impressionable,” Scott said. “We feel as a faith-based organization we could have a big impact on them with our focus on Christian principles, by providing boat captains that can also serve as mentors, and coaching them bass fishing techniques.

Academics, character, and sportsmanship are our key focal points, and they will be strictly guarded.

“We will also be introducing the FAN High School Speaker Series, where top FLW and BASS pros will provide an intimate setting exclusively for the high school anglers and speak on a variety of topics, revolving on the theme Faith, Family, Fishing.”

The FAN High School Fishing Series will include three qualifying events, an open tournament, and a championship in the fall where more than $5,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

FAN’s goal is to create a fun, yet competitive environment that offers the feel of a professionally-run tournament trail. Top finishing anglers will receive trophies and tournament-quality fishing gear, in addition

to other products.

FAN also wants to recognize the captains and will have incentives and prizes especially for them.

The 2014 season kicked off on Lake Travis March 1 with follow-up events on Lake Austin and LBJ included.

Faith Angler Network is a 501c3 non-profit organization serving the Central Texas area with youth fishing events, Charity events, military-supported awareness events and professionally run bass tournaments. For more information visit their website at faithanglernetwork.com or on Facebook.

Future Anglers Association MAKING MEMORABLE MOMENTS FOR youth and the future, Future Anglers Association was founded and developed by Capt. Jesse Francisco in the early months of 2013.

Capt. Francisco and co-founder Jerry Acosta are friends who share a passion for fishing. This friendship has grown as the two anglers fished local saltwater tournaments around the Galveston Bay Complex together. It was while fishing these events that the two began discussing the idea of a youth saltwater series.

Future Anglers Association excludes no angler, regardless of age or skill. The organization’s mission is to provide a conduit for the development of youth and tournament anglers who are willing to commit themselves to the highest challenges of fishing.

Their goal is to introduce sport fishing to youth, and to guide the young anglers to become sponsored participants in local and national competitions.

Future Anglers Association will host four captain’s meeting and four tournament events this year in a series of youth saltwater tournaments with three divisions.

The tournament dates are July 12,

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PHOTO: FUTURE ANGLERS ASSOCIATION

FAN High School Fishing Series

p Future Anglers Association is hosting a number of youth fishing events in 2014.

August 9, September 13, and October 11, 2014 with the captain’s meeting dates set for two days before each tournament date (July 10, August 7, Septe,ber 11, and October 9, 2014).

Participating anglers will range from pre-K through 12th grade which will break down into the following divisions: Division 1, Pre-K–3rd Grade; Division 2, 4th–8th Grades; and Division 3, 9th–12th Grades.

The weigh-in location for the first tournament on July 12 will be at Latitudes, 1817 Avenue K, San Leon, 281-339-1110.

The captain’s meeting, which is an event for anglers and their families to ask questions and register in person, will be held July 10, 2014 at BAAD Marine, 18300 E HWY 6 Santa Fe, Texas 77511 281-317-7329.

Future Anglers Association will continue to grow as young anglers come out to a fun day with sponsored booth stations featuring moon walks, snow cone machines and Texas Parks And Wildlife attractions.

For more information, contact Capt.

Jesse Francisco at 832-896-6794. Visit online at futureanglersassociation.com or email texasfaa@gmail.com.

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Fish and Game Gear

Larson Bar Clamp LED Spotlight

entire line of lighting on the web at larsonelectronics.com. You can also call 1-800369-6671 to learn more or call 1-903-4983363 for international inquiries.

THE BCML-LEDP-2X10WRE OFFERS HIGH output in a durable, low profile housing.

The bar clamp mount on this light makes it the perfect mounting solution for any ATV, UTV, and boat. The 20-watt LED light produces 1,720 lumens with 12-32 volt compatibility providing operators with a versatile and powerful LED lighting solution. Power is provided by a 16-foot coil cord that ends in a cigarette plug.

The two 10-watt LEDs produce a tight 10 degree spot beam. Ruggedly designed, these LED spotlights are IP68 rated, sealed against intrusion by dirt and constructed to withstand demanding environments. The BCML-LEDP2X10WRE is mounted on the end of a 10-inch shaft.

The top portion of the mount has a through hole that enables the operator to pass one of two ¼-20 bolts through it and secure that stud with a Nylock nut. Small machine screws secure the bottom half of the clamp to the top portion.

“This bar clamp mounted spotlight is the perfect solution for owners of ATVs,” Rob Bresnahan, with larsonelectronics. com said. “The mounting is simple and the light is capable of withstanding the rough terrain that is normally acquired with riding.”

Larson BCMLLEDP2X10WRE

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rods). The leaning post has a back rest, flip-up bolsters and rocket launchers. There are five pull-up cleats.

The console features Yamaha digital gauges with room to flush-mount a large screen GPS/depthfinder. It comes with SeaStar hydraulic steering and a stainless wheel with turning knob.

It has easy access to large storage inside. The boat’s all composite construction and superior build quality, with premium hardware results in spectacular performance, ride, handling, comfort.

The nicely equipped “214 SBX” is

Tournament 214 Bay DESIGNED WITH THE HELP OF TEXAS FISHermen, it’s the perfect platform for fishing our Texas coastline. Some standard features include Extended Plane running surface and Enhanced Transom Angle

Sportman’s Tournament 214 Bay

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for added performance and a quicker hole shot; 10-inch draft to get you in the back bays.

“Total Access” provides a safe and comfortable ¾ rear bench seat for two to three adults. Seating inboard as compared to corner jump seats found on most bay boats is safer, more comfortable and protects your passengers from direct wind, spray and rain. The seat bottom opens to massive lockable storage and easy access to the bilge pump, livewell, fuel systems and the engine’s electrical and mechanical.

The boat also features two aerated livewells plus an aerated release well/ third livewell, large fish box, anchor locker, two locking rod lockers (10

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available at $27,641 (plus trailer, freight and prep).

Length: 21 feet 4 inches, Beam: 8 feet, Dry weight: 2,000 pounds, Fuel: 64 gallons, Deadrise: 15 degrees, Draft: 10 inches.

Learn more about the 214 online at sportsmanboatsmfg.com or visit your local Sportsman Dealer.

Sun Coast Marine Teams with Suzuki SUN COAST MARINE WORKS, LLC HAS been a staple in the Bay Area since 2008.

Providing outboard repair services only for several years, recently they have become

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p Suzuki Sales at Sun Coast Marine

a full service, warranty and re-power center as the Bay Area’s leading Sales and Repair Center for Suzuki Marine.

Over the years, Suzuki Marine has repeatedly led the industry with Innovation and award winning new products. With the ultimate goal of providing its users with a “wow,” Suzuki designers and engineers continue to explore the possibilities of outboard power, introducing new products, new features and new systems that make boating easier, more economical—and simply more fun.

Even with a focus on Suzuki Sales, Sun Coast strives to remain one of the leading marine repair facilities for all make and model outboard motors. They treat each customer as a true friend and always strive for that “quick turnaround” time to get customers back on the water as quickly as possible. Stop by or call 409-938-3523 or visit suncoastmarineworks.com.

Zombie Slayer Choke NEW FOR 2014, THE TRULOCK TACTICAL Zombie Slayer Choke is available by special order as part of the Tactical Choke Tube line. Available in zombie hunter green, the Zombie Slayer Choke is designed to give optimum performance with breaching rounds; buckshot and rifled slugs to eliminate the need to change muzzle devices when alternating ammunition from breaching rounds to buckshot or rifled slugs.

The crenelated muzzle ensures positive grip when used as a standoff tool. More than just a breaching tool, this new design goes beyond single purpose. The Trulock Tactical Zombie Slayer produces improved downrange accuracy and performance for buckshot or rifled slug applications.

Like all Trulock Chokes, the Tactical Zombie Slayer is resistant to cracking, abrasion wear, corrosion and damage from common gun cleaning chemicals. The Tactical Zombie Slayer is backed by Trulock’s lifetime warranty and its 60-day satisfaction guarantee.

For more information on Trulock Choke Tubes, visit http://www.trulockchokes.com, or call 800 293-9402.

Keep Game Fresh for Weeks ALTHOUGH HARVESTING GAME IS THE goal of all hunters, maintaining the integrity of the meat once the animal is cleaned is equally as important. This is no small matter when hunting from remote camps, where there is no electricity or access to ice.

This is precisely the scenario that Canyon Coolers® considered when designing its new 125 Outfitter. When packed properly, ice— and the game it keeps fresh—can last weeks.

How did Canyon Coolers create the perfect product for hunters?

First, they considered the outside dimensions for transport and use in hunting camp. The 125 Outfitter has been optimized for truck beds and 4x4 use with its very square corners for easy packing, convenient skid plates for sliding in and out of truck beds and trailers, 100 percent recessed hinges and latches, as well as a cable lock system that will keep contents safe while on the hunt.

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As for its ability to hold ice for a ridiculously long time, the 125 Outfitter’s 2 3/4 inches of wall thickness includes premium polyurethane (injected under pressure) within all wall cavities and the lid. Ice retention time is listed from nine days, up to 20 days depending on conditions.

The 125 Outfitter is built to last. The cooler is made of super tough polyethylene plastic. A marine-grade, stainless steel hinge pin eliminates worries of hinge failure. A solid neoprene gasket rims the lid, which not only adds to ice retention, but also is incredibly durable. The skid plates and thick rope handles are built for a lifetime of moving and maneuvering this cooler. Plus, the drain plug is tethered, which will keep it from getting lost.

To learn more about Canyon Coolers’ full-line of premium, ridiculously cold and seriously tough coolers, contact Canyon Coolers at 555 S. Blackbird Roost, Suite

p 125 Outfitter by Canyon Coolers®

10, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Telephone: 866558-3267, canyoncoolers.com.

Trulock’s Tactical Zombie Slayer Choke

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

www.FishandGameGear.com A L M A N A C

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Hotspots Focus: Upper Coast

by Capt. Eddie Hernandez | TF&G Contributor

May the Bite Be With You

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OW THAT SPRING HAS SETTLED IN quite nicely, and with summer knocking on the door, ecosystems up and down the Texas coast are beginning to open themselves up with options aplenty for anglers seeking some serious rod bending action. Here on Sabine Lake the bite is on from the marsh and bayous, to the Gulf of Mexico.

All anglers should welcome the month of May with open arms as we will reap the benefits of the ever-increasing water temperatures and stable weather conditions that this month brings. With the wind finally

starting to settle somewhat, and the mercury continuing to climb, the fishing just keeps getting better.

The jetty bite will heat up this month with nice boxes of trout and reds being taken on both the Texas and Louisiana sides.

If the wind is predominantly east, we fish the more protected west (Texas) jetty. If it has got a lot of west in it, we fish the east (Louisiana) side.

Both the channel and the Gulf sides are productive, but the outside is usually more consistent, especially for trout. A Louisiana license is a must if you plan on fishing anywhere on the east jetty. Work the rocks thoroughly until you locate the fish. More often than not, the reds will be stacked up around the rock piles.

The trout are usually scattered all along the wall with the most consistent action coming near the washouts. Tidal movement is very important with incoming and outgoing tides equally productive.

Work both sides until you find the fish,

throwing topwaters and swim baits. Lightcolored soft plastics rigged on 1/4 oz. lead heads are also hard to beat if you’ve got pretty water. A DOA shrimp or Voodoo shrimp should also fool some nice trout, which will be holding close to the rocks. The action should be equally as good in the lake.

The North Revetment on Pleasure Island is a good place to start.

Throwing topwaters early on calm mornings can result in some serious blowups.

Incoming tides should be your best bet, but as long as you’ve got moving water, you should be in business, especially if there’s bait present. Again, soft plastics and bone or pink/silver topwaters are very hard for these hefty trout to resist.

If you want to get serious about flounder, then key on the mouths of the bayous and cuts on the Louisiana shoreline. Work these areas over well as you work your way slowly down the bank. The stretch from Willow Bayou to Garrison Ridge is prime real estate for flounder in May. Mud minnows or curl-tail grubs topped with fresh shrimp should be all you need to entice these tasty flatfish to bite.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: North Revetment (Pleasure Island) SPECIES: Trout Reds Flounder BAITS/LURES: Topwaters, Soft plastics, Mud minnows BEST TIMES: Moving tides

Contact Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Hotspots Focus: Galveston

by Capt. Mike Holmes | TF&G Contributor

Springing Into Saltwater Season

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AY IS WHEN IT ALL GETS STARTed with fishing in the Galveston area. Fall is a wonderful time to fish the salt, but I’ve always been partial to Spring.

For many years, I caught my first bull red of the year in the Galveston surf on the first weekend of May, and my largest red was also taken on the 2nd of May – a 41-pounder. That one was memorable not only because of its size, but also the circumstances.

There was no wind and very little tidal movement that weekend, so I “swam” baits out for myself and my buddy a little beyond the third bar off the beach – several rods, from our redfish rigs on 14-foot Fenwick surf rods to our big shark rigs using 10/0 and 12/0 reels and baits as large as half a good-sized jack crevalle. I actually used a small rubber raft and a pair of swim fins to get the baits out so far, but by dark I was worn out - yet still hoping for some action.

Dave was the first to score, with a 30-pound bull red, then he cranked in a 46-pound black tip shark on his 10/0—not much of a fight, but still worth doing.

When my turn came, I found myself bound to a heavy fish by some old 30# mono I should have changed before ever taking that rod out of the rack. It was also on an older reel I had “retired,” but needed to use after a newer reel developed problems.

After a vigorous tug-of-war, I thought I had things going my way, but the poor old reel locked up—with the fish almost in sight of the beach. I felt my only option at this point was to back up towards the dunes and pull the fish with me—knowing I would probably break the line. The line did hold, although the reel had to be REALLY

THE BANK BITE

retired after this fight, and Dave gaffed the 48-inch red that was instantly the best I’d ever taken. Later my buddy wrestled a stingray that weighed 105 pounds to shore on his own long, Fenwick “redfish” rod. We were both pretty much whipped at this point, but happy—and early May has been a special time of year for me ever since!

Temperatures are milder in May, winds are light, and marine critters are becoming more active. Bait is getting easier to obtain, and all is right with the fishing world. In 2014, if the oil “spill” in Galveston Bay has been contained and did not cause significant damage to the eco-system, this should be as good a month as any past May.

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LOCATION: The surf, reefs and flats in the bays within wading or casting distance, and tidal streams emptying into either bay or Gulf.

Beachfront piers should also start producing good fish.

SPECIES: Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, croaker, gaff top catfish (and stingrays).

BEST BAITS: Live or dead bait will draw hits almost equally well. Artificials - especially jigs and spoons will also pay off, and top waters can produce exciting catches.

BEST TIMES: USUALLY, May tides give good water movement – rising or falling.

Contact Mike Holmes at ContactUs@fishgame.com.

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Hotspots Focus: Matagorda

by Mike Price | TF&G Contributor

Big Gulf Trout Make a Pit Stop at the Pier

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HE SURF WAS BLUE AND CALM. MINnows were thick in the first gut, constantly getting busted, and gulls, terns and pelicans were feasting. It was early May last year, and I was walking on the beach just after sunrise. Under the Gulf of Mexico fishing pier that goes out from Matagorda Bay Nature Park, is a cove. Normally it is all churned up, spitting brown water, but on this day it was calm

and blue, like the surf. A weir jetty runs parallel to the pier with about a foot of water over its rocks, separating the cove from the surf, and that’s where the big trout were.

I walked under the pier and around the cove and saw six trout lying on the beach.

Two fishermen were hooked up and concentrating on bringing in more trout. I waited until they landed their fish, and while they were wading out for another cast we talked.

Scott Stephenson and Mark Welfel, from El Campo, have been fishing together for six years. Scott said, “Mark is a die hard, he keeps me trying to catch that elusive eightplus pound trout, and maybe a tournament winner. It’s always an exciting experience to try and find that big one, but most of all it is enjoying beautiful days like this.” Scott and Mark each caught their limit of trout on that morning.

I asked how they rigged their tackle and Scott explained that they attach their three-foot leaders to their lines with a small swivel. The leaders had a bead between the swivel and a shot weight set about six inches down from the swivel that produced

“ Scott and Mark each caught their limit on that morning.

“ a clicking sound like a shrimp. Their hooks were Kahle VMC wide gap 3/0 and Scott fished with large live shrimp, while Mark used Gulp. Scott would put a lively shrimp on, toss it out near the weir jetty rocks, and let it drop, hold his rod tip high with a tight line and wait. Soon he would feel a tap-tap, and then he would rear back with the rod to set the hook on the trout.

Why were trout in the cove on that morning in early May? Texas Parks and Wildlife posts this on their website: “As water temperatures decline during fall, trout move into deeper bay waters and the Gulf of Mexico. As water temperatures warm in the spring, the fish return to the shallows of the 82 |

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primary and secondary bays.” So these trout were returning from the Gulf of Mexico to East and West Matagorda Bays by way of the Old Colorado River. They were in the cove because bait fish and shrimp were in the cove, and the trout were using the jetty rocks to ambush their prey. Scott and Mark had decided to go fishing when a perfect set of circumstances all came together, and they went to exactly the right place.

After watching Scott and Mark do so well catching trout, I walked to the jetties and counted a dozen boats, all fishing on the west side and most of them held fishermen who were hooked up. They were in on the trout fest as well. The next day the usual four or five boats were fishing between the jetties, and no one was hooked up.

On some days In May, high Spring tides flood onto lakes and marsh areas adjacent to the bays. This allows small fish, shrimp, and crabs to move into these shallow waters and of course they are pursued by redfish and other large predators. Last May I paddled my kayak into one of these marsh areas on the south side of West Matagorda Bay. I

heard a splash and looked at a small pool on my left. There were four or five redfish tailing and chasing shrimp and bait fish. As I moved through the lakes and narrow cuts this scene repeated itself several times, but I only managed to catch four undersized reds.

Then I fished in the bay and hit a serious feeding period.

I caught and released four more reds that were less than 20 inches, missed two fish because my line broke on oyster reefs, caught two keeper trout, and two keeper redfish, had a very large trout spit my lure out as it jumped out of the water, and lost a 21-inch flounder. I had the flounder in the net, on my lap in the kayak when it jumped, spit the hook and took off. It was great fun.

According to this magazine’s Solunar table for that day, May 23, 2013, the time that the fish turned on corresponded with a “Major” period, 10:57 a.m.

May is one of the best months of the year to fish the bays and the surf, if you can catch the right conditions. The water and air temperatures are ideal both for fish and fishermen. High tides push enough water

into shallow lakes and marsh areas so that you can get back in there with a boat or kayak, and the surf and jetties can be very productive. May weekends can get very busy on the water so remember to be courteous; do unto other fishermen as you would have them do unto you.

THE BANK BITE A NEW BOAT RAMP, dock and pier have been installed at the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Nature Park in Matagorda. It is located next to the LCRA metal storage building and the RV Park. The pier extends into the Old Colorado River. A single launch ramp is next to the pier and a parking area for vehicles and boats is across FM 2031. The addition of the new pier makes a total of three piers on the river and one pier extending into the Gulf of Mexico that are available to the public for fishing.

Contact Mike Price at ContactUs@fishgame.com

Hotspots Focus: Upper Mid Coast

by Capt. Chris Martin | TF&G Contributor

‘Old Reliable’

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SPENT A RECENT RAINY DAY ORGANIZing and cleaning out my fishing closet at home. You wouldn’t believe (or maybe some of you would) everything I found in that closet. I bet I have on my closet shelves at least one of everything that’s offered in the fishing department at my local Academy store. It’s really out of control, if there is such a thing. But I’m not going to bore you with specific contents of the closet.

This is a brief tale of history, and of how some things continue to work just as well today as they did yesteryear.

My Dad introduced me at a very early age to the art of wade-fishing with artificial baits, so I grew up learning different ways of presenting and retrieving plugs, spoons,

surface walkers, and plastics. We lived close enough to the water that we could take advantage of a few free hours in the afternoon by hopping in the car for a quick fishing trip and then still be home in time for supper and, a lot of times, with fresh fish for the table. Those were good times, and good memories, all.

It wasn’t until I began rifling through all the “stuff” in my fishing closet that it suddenly dawned on me just how far away I have since then detoured from the basics that I learned in those early years when I fished with my Dad. Things were just a lot simpler back then. I remember having three different Queen Bingo lures that I used religiously, one was for fishing in clear water and on bright days, the other for fishing in dirty water or on cloudy days, and the third one was the one I used for wintertime fishing. I also had a seemingly endless supply of gold and silver Johnson Sprite spoons. And if I presented the Bingos and the spoons to the fish without them showing any interest

whatsoever, all I had to do at that point is revert to my trusty go-to bait, a plastic strawberry shrimp tail with the tail painted white.

That was it. It was that simple.

That was more than some forty years ago, and now I would be hard-pressed to tell you how and why I strayed from those particular basic concepts of fishing. Things change, however, and so do people’s ideas.

Ideas about what are the best methods for catching trout, and what are the latest, and by far the absolute greatest new lures that are currently taking the market by storm.

In today’s age of almost-instant communication via our current social media capabilities, it doesn’t take long before a lot of people can learn about the landing of a huge trout that was taken on one of those new lures, and all of a sudden, everyone has to have one of those new lures (me included). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve responded like this, but I can tell you that this is one of the main reasons why there are so many items on the shelves in my fishing closet, some of which have never been used.

It’s a shame really, and I’m just as guilty as the next guy in all of this!

This bothered me enough to the point that it made me want to do something about it. I wanted to test a theory that had been floating around in my head ever since I started cleaning out the fishing closet. I was interested in knowing (or in my case, proving) whether my old go-to bait would still do the trick in today’s fishing environment. So, I grabbed a couple of five-packs of strawberry-colored Kelly Wiggler shrimp tails and dipped their tails in some white tail-dip a few times. I let them dry overnight, and the next morning I tossed them in my shirt pocket on the way out the door.

I made my way across the bay to a favorite sandy, muddy flat containing occasional shell in about four feet of water. With recent water temperatures warming to the 70s, and with the presence of quite a bit of active bait, CONTINUED ON PAGE 88

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Hotspots Focus: Rockport

by Capt. Mac Gable | TF&G Contributor

May is a Blow Hard

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HIS MONTH THE WIND IS A FORCE to be reckoned with as experienced and not-so-experienced anglers seem to get in trouble with the coastal May gales. Good kite flying weather for sure, but those refreshing gusts can make for a challenging day for the coastal angler or the hard working guide. I’d venture to say that more coastal anglers look at wind predictions than any other weather-related item. The talk this time of year at any bait stand is “How’s the wind look today? Have you heard the latest wind forecast? She’s gonna really blow today, wonder how much?”

This is not about meteorology. It’s about some common sense recommendations as you wander out in this blustery month. How is the wind/weather predicted for us 24 hours to 10 days in advance—and just how accurate are these predictions? With terms like Beaufort wind scale, gradient, anemometer, Coriolis effect, troposphere, jet stream, micro bursts, macro bursts, heat bursts, solar radiation, mapped isobars, the list goes on.

A wet finger stuck in the air is a thing of the past, as are hurting joints to predict a cold front, or spiders going into their webbed dens for cover. The science behind the predictions we set our angling activities to is off most folk’s radar screen. However, if one wishes to invest time in research and phone calls, one can determine just how accurate these forecasts have been. From amateurs who track NOAA, the NOAA data itself as well as various college papers, some trends come to the surface. After more than 40+ years of my livelihood being affected by such predictions, I think they are correct about 40 percent of the time. I was wrong based on those that have the mental tenacity and wherewithal to track actual

predictions.

The numbers vary but in a nut shell look about like this: One day out predictions are about 50 to 69 percent accurate; Five days out, 30 to 40 percent; Ten days out, wet your finger.

Now this is for overall weather including precipitation, temperature and sky cover.

Strangely enough wind predictions and their accuracy are hard to come by. Those who have tracked wind prediction accuracy claim it is 50 percent less than the previously mentioned percentages, but again this is not a scientifically wide view. It is fair to say that there are so many global and celestial factors impacting our weather that I can’t really understand how anyone would want to put their name and reputation on the line.

Where am I going with this? The phone rings: it’s a client or a relative with tickets to fly from out of state to go fishing with you and wants to know if the weather is going to be good for fishing.

Most guides I know use three sources

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and then take the average of the three: NOAA, Weather Underground, The Weather Channel. In addition those like me plug into some off shore buoys to see what the conditions look like in the water.

The answer to venture safely out is based the data we see at that moment in time.

Tickets are bought, hotels reservations are made, fishing equipment purchased, bait reserved—again the list goes on. An unexplained phenomenon occurs when this 30 to 70 percent prediction becomes the boat owner’s or guide’s fault when it’s wrong (that’s another article).

So, May is WINDY. I have experienced straight line winds which could have flipped my boat had it not been anchored. I’ve been on the bad end of a missed forecast which quickly ended fishing trips. I’ve navigated six- to eight-foot waves with frightened customers to get back to the boat ramp, and I’ve been coerced in my earlier years to taking folks fishing when conditions dictated staying at the dock.

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Rockport Focus These and other happenings have made me a little more thorough in gathering weather data. I have found the new smart phone apps are helpful, especially as a last minute check before leaving the dock. They are, however, only about as accurate as other web-based tools. In addition, I have a few contacts I check with, especially if weather conditions seem ominous—friends around the area or family who have clued me in about changing conditions. I’ve found it is worth a phone call or two.

If you can brave the wind changes and deal with the reeling and casting challenges a high wind creates, there is a plus side as well. Coastal bay bait is often blown with the high wave action into reefs and downwind/leeward shorelines that attract the predators we love to catch.

If I have a stiff wind in excess of 20 knots blowing for eight hours or more, I will usually forego my reef honey holes and do some probing/casting into downwind shorelines that offer sea grass protection. The bait, as well as other sport fish, often find a haven like this close to shell reefs giving the angler some really good rod-bending action.

Should the winds miss the predicted speed or arrival times, which as you can see happens more than we might suspect, a few tips will help get you back without issue.

High winds create high waves and these white capping beauties can hide reefs that would otherwise be visible. This can play havoc on a lower unit and or hull.

I try to stay in the deeper channels while underway because they have fewer obstacles to hit. The waves in the deeper channels tend to be smaller and less frequent. Know your boat, how it handles and how to run it in windy conditions. A rough wet ride is hard on everything from people to equipment. Some boats work better with the motor tilted up which, in most boats, raises the bow and shields one from the bigger wind-blown waves. My Haynie works best with the bow down and my steering just a tad loose. Experiment in calmer conditions with your boat, and you’ll be surprised how it helps you when the wind is blowing the tops off the waves.

Don’t be in a hurry in rough conditions.

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tion on the throttle. Be on the lookout for debris as high winds will almost always loosen objects from upwind shorelines. My boat works better with a full tank of gas in these conditions as it adds weight, having a stabilizing affect.

Make sure lures and hooks are fastened securely to the rod for it’s a guarantee that if a hook’s gonna come loose from a rod and find purchase in human flesh, it is when it is windy.

One last thing: When you are back at the dock, your boat’s loaded and supper’s calling your name, take just a few minutes to ensure everything in your boat and truck is secure. Many of the causeways and bridges are notorious for funneled winds that love to rip rods, ice chests, life jackets, motor cowlings, rain gear from boats and vehicles during or after a hard blow.

If you don’t fish in the wind you’re probably not gonna be fishing much in Rockport, Texas. It’s a dead nuts fact of life here.

Take a few precautions and you just might make the winds blow your way.

ST. CHARLES BAY — The mouth of Cavasso Creek is good for some keeper trout using free lined live shrimp. Slow drifts through this area are very effective. The west shoreline close to Salt Creek is good for reds using finger mullet, free lined or on a light Carolina rig. The black drum bite is slowing but a few are still hanging in the area close to the Boy Scout hole. Fresh dead shrimp on a light Carolina or fish finder rig work well here.

CARLOS BAY — Slow drifts or wades across Carlos Lake are good for trout and reds using soft plastics in nuclear chicken and morning glory colors. The sand close to Cedar Point is good for a few flounders using white jigged grubs tipped with small squid or shrimp pieces.

MESQUITE BAY — Rattlesnake Reef is a good place for reds using cut mullet or menhaden, free lined is best or on a light Carolina rig. The new spoil area just off Roddy Island is good for sheepshead using fresh dead shrimp under a popping cork.

Fish close to the rocks/concrete.

• • • May brings the croaker bite, and most folks will be trying to get those golden wonders for trout and reds. But don’t put away your artificials for this can be the best time for top water action.

COPANO BAY — High tide early morning is a good time for reds at the mouth of Mission Bay using mud minnows freelined or on a light Carolina rig. Lap Reef is holding some trout, and on calm days, try a good top-water lure like the Rattlin Chug Bug or a Super Pop-R in red or metallic blue color.

ARANSAS BAY — Cut mullet is hard to beat this time of year for red fish on the grass lines just off of Goose Island State Park. If you can find some good croaker, Grass Island Reef is the place to be. High tide is best — second best, a falling tide.

There is still some sheep head action just off the LBJ causeway using dead shrimp; be careful of the construction of our new bridge.

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AYERS BAY — A few trout can be caught off of Ayers Reef using free-lined croaker. The north end of Second Chain is good for black drum using a light Carolina rig, small Kahle hooks and peeled shrimp.

THE BANK BITE A WADE TO NEWCOMB POINT just off the north end of the LBJ causeway is good for trout and reds using new-penny-colored jerk shads.

This is also a good place to throw a croaker. Go see Gerald at the Sea Gun bait stand just across the highway 361 727 2220 for bait. Some of the shoreline is private property so be respectful and mindful of that.

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

Hotspots Focus: Lower Coast

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

Holly in Spring

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FTER A HARSH WINTER AND A steady diet of north winds, steady drizzle and temperatures in the 50s, May seems tailor made for anglers who want to get out, get some sun and warmth, and catch a few cooperative fish to boot. Water reaches the magical 75 degree mark early in the month, and fish that were starting to get active in April start to be uber-aggressive.

Contrary to what some believe, however, catching fish in May isn’t simply a matter of grabbing a your rod, some lure, a couple of baloney sandwiches, and simply showing up at the water’s edge. A little effort IS required.

Speckled trout tend to concentrate along deeper guts and drop-offs to feed on schooling young-of-the-year baitfish. Trout, much like other fish, tend to gravitate towards areas that provide both forage and an easy escape route in case of threats (such as Herman, an old, gnarly dolphin that is a fixture on the Lower Laguna Madre and has populated the bay with his brood). If you can locate one of these guts or drop-offs, you will find these trout.

One excellent choice for fishermen looking for trout living structured lives is Holly Beach. The ankle-deep, silty mud that makes wading the area a tribulation during the summer, but Holly Beach is a marquee spot for springtime trout. After a series of days with mild wind (an anomaly in May), speckled trout will spread out on the flats to forage.

As cold-blooded trout warm up in Spring, they become more active, and look for easy meals. An eel-style soft plastic such as a Gulp! Jerk Shad or Kelly Wiggler Ball Shad on a 4/0 offset worm hook is very

effective, especially if there are mullet in the area. A 1/8th ounce jigheads work just as effectively. Light colors such as pearl/pink, chartreuse/white or even LSU are popular colors. Down South Lures has some unique color patterns that are also worth a try.

Should a north wind drive a cold front down from Canada (which is actually more common than you may think in May, and could actually be an issue in this very atypical year) , the trout will back off into the relatively deeper water of a now-defunct barge channel that bisects the waters off Holly Beach.

In that case, you can fish the edge of the dropoff with a Mansfield Mauler/jig combo. Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny or Ivory are the go-to baits for post-frontal trout. The Mauler allows you to slow down your retrieve, and keeps the lure in one spot for a longer time. The klick-klack of the Mauler provides the sound factor that trout find so attractive, and the length of the leader between it and the lure keeps the latter in the strike zone. These fish are in a neutral mood due to the weather change (fortunately, a springtime front won’t drop the water temperature, so they won’t be in a Winter-type of funk), and the longer you can keep a lure in their faces, the better your chances at drawing a strike.

Even though trout will be more aggressive because it is spring, there is no sense in fishing with your hair on fire. Fish the area slowly as you can. If you don’t mind the hard slog, you can anchor-up and wade the area. Kayakers have also developed a fondness for the area, and a ’yak can cover water neither waders nor boaters can. Focus on an area of darker bottom or deeper water and fish the area as thoroughly as you can.

You’d be surprised at how often water you previously covered will actually have fish in it.

If redfish is your preference, then Holly Beach also fits the bill. Redfish are not as picky about weather conditions as the speckled trout, but they do love Holly in

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Spring. They’ll roam all over the flats, even when the aforementioned surprise front drives trout off. The ¼ ounce gold spoon is a preferred lure to gain their attention. If the water is murked-up from a north wind, then you may want to deploy the same Mauler/ Gulp! combo that was working on the trout along the edges of the bar.

Artificial crabs such as the new Z-Man Ultra Crabz If you spot any tailing reds, flip an Ultra Crabz in front of them, wait for the redfish to be in the bait’s range, and start skittering the faux crustacean back across the bottom.

Slather some crab-flavored Carolina Lunker Sauce onto the lure to complete the illusion.

The scent should get the fish’s attention, and when he’s within range, the lifelike appearance should finish the sale.

If you do intend to fish for redfish, then outfit yourselves accordingly. You don’t need to break out the war club and well rope for these fish, but a solid, high capacity spinning or baitcasting reel loaded with at least 15 pound mono (I prefer 10/40 or 12/50 braid) on a solid medium to medium heavy rod is a good pick. Some of these reds can push the upper-end of the slot.

Most anglers have been waiting all winter long for some great days to get a good fishing trip and a nice tan. May is a great month for such a trip, even if you are decking out in Holly.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Dolphin Cove SPECIES: Panfish, sheepshead.

TECHNIQUES: Live or fresh dead shrimp.

Fish near the rocks with a float rig for sheepies, further out in the deeper water for drum.

Contact Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@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.

Hunt Deer for Galveston Specks

by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: North Deer Island GPS: N 29 17.337

W 94 55.539

(29.288944, -94.925652) SPECIES: Speckled trout CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-723-1911 galvestonguides.com BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a Popping cork TIPS: “Add whatever weight you need about 18” below the cork, then add about 12-14” of 15 pound test monofilament as leader, and then tie the #8 Mustad hook.” Capt. Mike Williams LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: End of Jetties

GPS: N 29 38.603

W 93 49.584

(29.643383, -93.8264) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Bass Assassins and Zoom Fluke soft plastic rat-tail baits; also MirrOLure Soft Shad and Bass Assassin Sea Shad soft plastic swim tail baits.

CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 97862018@sbcglobal.net fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Soft plastic colors: “I know I am totally backwards in what most guides and fishermen tell you…throw dark bait on a dark day. I start out with a white or a glow, the most visible lure I can get.

UPPER MID COAST FOCUS t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 84 I couldn’t think of a better place to test my theory. Tying that strawberry plastic shrimp tail on the end of my line that day and tossing it as far away from me as possible was like reliving my very first contact with the sport of saltwater fishing—it was a wonderful experience that immediately brought back fond memories.

beautiful limit of trout, and even kept a couple reds that I took while using one of my tried-n-true Johnson silver spoons.

Who ever said you can’t go back? Have fun, and keep grindin’.

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

I had already released three undersized trout by the time my brain finally remembered the proper cadence at which I was supposed to be retrieving the plastic shrimp.

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In dark water there is nothing more visible than white. I like sparkles in my lures…gold or silver sparkles.”

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Beach front GPS: N 29 05.719

W 95 04.919

(29.095317, -95.081983) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Free shrimping live shrimp on #8 Mustad treble hook CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-723-1911 galvestonguides.com TIPS: May is undoubtedly one of the best times to go fishing along the Galveston beach front.

Trout are in the surf, pouring through the passes, and into the bay system.

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Mouth of Swan Lake GPS: N 29 20.659

W 94 53.489

(29.344324, -94.891491) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a Popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-723-1911 galvestonguides.com TIPS: “The popping cork in the surf is probably the most overlooked method of catching springtime trout. Most people either want to fish on the bottom or fish with artificial baits.” Capt. Mike Williams LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Rollover GPS: N 29 30.707

W 94 30.089

(29.511783, -94.501483) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a Popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-723-1911 galvestonguides.com TIPS: When fishing the passes you are dealing with current. As the current increases or decreas-

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es adjust the weights on your rigs. However, you don’t want to anchor it down that it sinks to the bottom like a rock.

LOCATION: Galveston HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 29 21.352

W 94 43.150

(29.355867, -94.719167) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Free lined live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-723-1911 galvestonguides.com TIPS: Throw it out and let it sit. If you start moving the bait around you are going to get hung up.

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: San Louis Pass Bridge GPS: N 29 04.957

W 95 07.425

(29 04.957, -95 07.425) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Fish finder rig: your main line, swivel and on the swivel end going to the hook you use about 30 lb test, above the swivel use maybe a ¼ oz weight as much as 2 oz. of weight, depending on the current CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-723-1911 galvestonguides.com TIPS: Basically use the same rig as you would for trout, but put enough weight on it so will go to the bottom, anchor you weight to the bottom, as much as 2 oz of weight to hold it down on the bottom

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a Popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-723-1911 galvestonguides.com TIPS: Drift within casting distance of the rocks.

Rig the shrimp so it’s just above the rocks.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoals GPS: N 28 39.836

W 95 54.670

(28.663931, -95.91116) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Popping cork with soft plastics; Norton Sand Eels or Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Ken Marshall 713-560-6000 captken@fishmatagorda.com matagordabay.com TIPS: Drifting live shrimp under a popping cork is the most productive way to catch fish in the summer, but soft plastics under a popping cork work just as well. Gulp works because of the scent it gives off. Sand Eels work when the water is clear and they can see the lure.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 28 43.728

W 95 45.918

(28.7288, -95.7653) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Popping cork with live shrimp, or Norton Sand Eels or Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Ken Marshall 713-560-6000 captken@fishmatagorda.com matagordabay.com TIPS: Rigging the popping cork: “If it’s live shrimp, I use no weight; if it’s a Gulp or other soft plastic, I’m using a jig head anywhere from 1/32 – 1/16…the lightest one I can find. If the fish are staying deep, I might use a 3/8 oz. The most popular size is a ¼ oz.” Capt. Ken Marshall LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Boiler Bayou GPS: N 28 38.580

W 95 54.062

(28.642992, -95.901031) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: In clear water, the Super Spook

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: San Luis Pass GPS: N 29 04.851

W 95 06.776

(29.08085, -95.112933) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: 51M MirrOLure in Texas Chicken…pink back, silver side and a yellow belly: Bass Assassins in chartreuse and pearl CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-723-1911 galvestonguides.com TIPS: Probably the best month of the year to throw an artificial bait for large trout is November.

The second best month is May….in the surf for big trout.

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: South Jetty GPS: N 29 19.670

W 94 41.411

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Texas Hotspots Junior in a Baby Trout color; dirty water, use a chartreuse/silver CONTACT: Capt. Ken Marshall 713-560-6000 captken@fishmatagorda.com matagordabay.com TIPS: If you are drifting an area and haven’t seen a mullet in an hour, chances are you are in the wrong area. Get over the side and start wading, looking for redfish.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Brown Cedar Flats GPS: N 28 43.847

W 95 42.660 (28.730783, -95.711) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Super Spook Juniors in Baby Trout color pattern; Norton Sand Eels in orange, Roach, Pumpkin Seed or Tequila Gold CONTACT: Capt. Ken Marshall 713-560-6000 captken@fishmatagorda.com matagordabay.com TIPS: “May is the kickoff to summer fishing, everything changes,” said Capt. Ken Marshall. “If it gets too windy to effectively drift mid-bay for trout, switch off to wading for redfish in some bayou or drain.”

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Oyster Farms GPS: N 28 41.470

W 95 48.521 (28.691167, -95.808683) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels; best colors are Roach, orange, Pumpkin Seed, green and Tequila Gold CONTACT: Capt. Ken Marshall 713-560-6000 captken@fishmatagorda.com matagordabay.com TIPS: Colors…Roach, orange, Pumpkin Seed in off-color water; Tequila Golds, Pumpkin Seed and anything in green in clear water. Green works in both dirty and clear water.

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Cotton Bayou GPS: N 28 30.450

W 96 12.381 (28.5075, -96.20635) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Bass Assassins in

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Red Shad and Pumpkin Seed/chartreuse CONTACT: Capt. Ken Marshall 713-560-6000 captken@fishmatagorda.com matagordabay.com TIPS: Wade the grass and sand bars along the south shoreline of West Bay from Cotton’s Bayou to Pass Cavallo. “If it’s a slow bite on the bottom, work the soft plastic slow on the bottom; an aggressive bite on the surface, work it fast…every situation is different…whatever way they want to eat it.” Capt. Ken Marshall LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N 28 29.738

W 96 13.565 (28.495633, -96.226083) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Norton Sand Eels and Bass Assassins CONTACT: Capt. Ken Marshall 713-560-6000 captken@fishmatagorda.com matagordabay.com TIPS: Wade the grass and sand bars. Marshall prefers a shorter bait when wading, such as the Norton Bull Minnow.

MIDDLE GULF COAST

Sight Casting for Redfish Reds

by TOM BEHRENS and DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Dagger Island GPS: N 27 50.217

W 97 09.967 (27.83695, -97.166117) SPECIES: Redfish CONTACT: Captain Charles Bujan 361-739-7684 cbbeacon81@gmail.com, beaconcharterservice.com BEST BAITS: Live shrimp fished under a small, clear torpedo float, with about 13” leader.

TIPS: Capt. Charles Bujan likes to sight fish for redfish in May, drifting, looking for redfish in 1 – 2’

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of water. If the conditions aren’t right for drifting, he will anchor up in places such as Shamrock Cove and East Flats.

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Traylor Island Shoreline GPS: N 27 55.995

W 97 04.494 (27.93325, -97.0749) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live croaker, freelined CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com texasfishingguides.org/bigm/ TIPS: Good area to fish with a southeast wind on an incoming tide LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Hogg Island GPS: N 27 54.284

W 97 06.002 (27.904733, -97.100033) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Free lined live croaker with a 4/0 Guide Series hook CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com texasfishingguides.org/bigm/ TIPS: Cast to the windward shoreline, boat anchored in 4-6’ of water, casting back into 3’ of water where you can see the sand and grass holes LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Inside Mud Island GPS: N 27 54.750

W 97 03.783 (27.9125, -97.06305) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com texasfishingguides.org/bigm/ TIPS: Cast into the sand pockets, moving from sand pocket to sand pocket until you find the trout LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Quarantine Shoreline GPS: N 27 54.733

W 97 03.502 (27.912217, -97.058367) SPECIES: Speckled trout

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BEST BAITS: Free lined live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com texasfishingguides.org/bigm/ TIPS: Cast the croaker out and pop it every 20-30 seconds, reel in the slack so you can feel the trout bite and then pop it again

LOWER GULF COAST

Head South for Mangrove Snook

by CALIXTO GONZALES

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Super Flats GPS: N 27 54.669

W 97 02.196 (27.91115, -97.0366) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Free lined croaker CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com texasfishingguides.org/bigm/ TIPS: Hook the croaker under the anal fin, cast to the sand pocket and let it sit there.

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: North Mud Island Shoreline GPS: N 27 56.780

W 97 01.540 (27.946333, -97.025667) SPECIES: Speckled tout BEST BAITS: Free lined croaker with 4/0 Guide Series hook CONTACT: Capt. Marvin Engel 361-658-6674 CaptMarvinEngel@yahoo.com texasfishingguides.org/bigm/ TIPS: To cut down line twist when using an open face spinning reel, quit using a barrel swivel and switch to a ball bearing swivel

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: South Bay Mangroves GPS: N 26 01.105

W 97 13.846 (26.018411, -97.230775)) SPECIES: Snook BEST BAITS: Spook, Jr.’s in Speckled Trout, red/white. Kelly Wiggler Ball Shad in pearl/pink, Lagunaflage, red/white. Live pinfish, finger mullet.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Cast topwaters and jerkbaits along mangrove edges. Watch for nervous bait and torpedoshaped shadows. Live pinfish and finger mullet are also very deadly.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Mexequita Flats GPS: N 26 03.542

W 97 11.320 (26.059031, -97.188663) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters in Bone, red/white, black/chartreuse head, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Molt, Texas Chicken. Gold ½ ounce spoons. Cut bait.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Make long drifts the length of the flats for redfish. Use topwaters early in the morning or during low-light conditions. As the sun gets higher, switch to a Gulp! Shrimp rigged on a Daiichi Buttdragger worm hook (Texposed-style) and cast it into potholes. If water is murky, switch to meat such as cut ballyhoo or mullet.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: North Brazos Jetty GPS: N 26 04.050

W 97 09.217 (26.067494, -97.153622) SPECIES: Speckled Trout

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N 27 57.058

W 97 05.331 (27.950967, -97.08885) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics fished under a small, clear torpedo float, with about 13” leader.

CONTACT: Captain Charles Bujan 361-739-7684 cbbeacon81@gmail.com beaconcharterservice.com TIPS: Using a soft plastic also works as bait. “It gives a little bit more weight to the line, easier to cast.” Captain Charles Bujan

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Texas Hotspots BEST BAITS: Pop-R’s and Chug Bugs in red/ white, Baby Trout. Kelly Wiggler Ball Shad in red/ white, pearl/chartreuse, Green Apple.

Quick Stop, 956-943-1159 TIPS: May’s moderate temperatures means that speckled trout start cruising along the rocks and foraging. These fish don’t see much fishing pressure because few anglers target jetty trout this far south. Start by fishing the corner where the beach and rocks intersect and form a slightly deeper hole. Continue working parallel to the jetties and fish the natural channel that forms.

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, soft plastics in red/ white, pink, chartreuse.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Drift the deeper channel during early morning hours. Live shrimp/popping cork rigs are the classic choice, but soft plastics swum near the bottom, or under a noisy float can be very productive. Fish slowly and methodically. When you hit shallow water, don’t turn back right off. Some big trout cruise near the shoreline.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Queen Isabella Causeway Flats GPS: N 26 05.011

W 97 10.178 (26.08352, -97.16964) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live bait. Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Electric Chicken, Rootbeer/Chartreuse.

CONTACT: Captain Carlos Garcia 956-433-8094 TIPS: Fish the gut into the back bay immediately south of the Causeway. Redfish travel in and out of the tidal flat via this gut, and also set up and feed on bait that flows out during an outgoing tide.

Live shrimp and finger mullet produce the most fish, but a slowly worked 4” Shrimp tail is very effective, too. Try using Mansfield Mauler-type float to make a little noise.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N 26 28.000

W 97 22.250 (26.46667, -97.3708323) SPECIES: Speckled Trout Soft plastics in pearl/pink, purple/chartreuse, red/ white. Topwaters in Baby Trout, Bone, Mullet.

CONTACT: Captain Danny Neu 979-942-0165 TIPS: Target speckled trout that are cruising the shallows and attacking young-of-the-year finfish.

Smaller topwaters such as a Super Spook, Jr. or Top Pup are effective. If the fish move into deeper water during the day, back off and work an eelstyle plastic on a 1/8th ounce jighead.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Long Bar Spoils GPS: N 26 06.731

W 97 13.284 (26.112177, -97.221404) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut bait. Gold ¼ ounce spoons.

CONTACT: Captain Carlos Garcia 956-433-8094 TIPS: Your best option is to anchor up around one of the huge potholes (actually submerged spoil banks) that dot the area and cast live shrimp or finger mullet and cut ballyhoo into them. The shallower water will tip you off to where the redfish are cruising. During a flood tide, you can drift, in which case a gold spoon is a great option.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Texaco Channel GPS: N 26 13.891

W 97 19.137 (26.231518, -97.318954) SPECIES: Trout

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LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Century Point GPS: N 26 38.506

W 97 26.768 (26.641767, -97.446133) SPECIES: Speckled Trout Topwaters in Bone, red/white, black/chartreuse head. Soft Plastics in purple/chartreuse, LSU, red/ white.

CONTACT: Captain Danny Neu 979-942-0165 TIPS: Fish topwaters near the cut early in the morning or during an outgoing tide. Later the day or on a slack tide will find the fish in deeper water.

Focus on grasslines near the crab traps.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Starvation Point GPS: N 27 17.566

W 97 32.870 (27.292767, -97.547830) SPECIES: Speckled Trout Live Bait; soft plastics in dark patterns, red/white.

CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart 361-449-7441

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TIPS: Fish the depth breaks early in the morning.

Live bait on a Texas Rattling Rig is always effective. If the trout are spread out over the flats, you can cover more water casting soft plastics pinned on a 1/8th ounce jighead. Fish with an erratic retrieve to mimic panicked baitfish.

PINEY WOODS

Bay and Bell Bass on Lake Fork

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Glade Bay and Bell Branch GPS: N 32 53.833

W 95 31.514 (32.897215, -95.525239) SPECIES: Largmouth Bass BEST BAITS: Buzz baits, topwater lures such as the River2Sea Whopper Plopper 130, Carolina rigged plastics such as Ring Frys and Hyper Sticks CONTACT: Rick Carter 903-765-3474 flwpro@peoplescom.net FLWpro.com TIPS: May on Lake Fork will be great fishing.

Start off with your favorite topwater lure such as buzz baits. Good areas are Glade Bay on the first drop offs and a good place to hit some deeper water with Carolina rigs is the mouth of Bell Branch. Mid day fish plastics on the points that meet the road bed for the best results.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Lewis Creek GPS: N 30 24.931

W 95 34.595 (30.415519, -95.576591) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows and crappie jigs CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com fishdudetx.com TIPS: The crappie will be finished spawning and move out to the brush piles this time of year.

Focus on brush in 12 to 14 foot of water early in the mornings and as the day wears on move out to the 16 to 20 foot brush piles. Use minnows

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rigged up on a slip bobber with a bobber stop tied to the line so you can adjust the depth so the minnow swims just above the brush. This method has proved itself over several years and helps you avoid snagging in the brush. When using a jig, you can know the shallowest point of brush by using the countdown method. 1001,1002, and so on; this keeps the bait where you want it without hanging up. The kicker to the whole thing is if you get distracted you will probably hang it up. For jig fishing, use a 6-8 pound line so there is not much room for error. Good luck and good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: The Lump GPS: N 30 41.172

W 95 05.662 (30.6862, -95.094367) SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Jigging White Slabs, trolled Pet Spoons on downrigger. Tsunami Zombie Eye Jigs (1 oz pink/silver glow).

CONTACT: David S Cox - Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice,com palmettoguideservice.com

TIPS: Fish the slope of the drop off, jig the slabs and Tsunami Zombie Eyes right off the bottom.

Feel for strikes on the falling jig. BANK ACCESS: Beacon Bay Marina LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: Pretty Point GPS: N 31 45.796

W 93 50.817 (31.763267, -93.84695) SPECIES: Bream BEST BAITS: Crickets, earth worms & meal worms CONTACT: Greg Crafts - Toledo Bend Guide Service, 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com toledobendguide.com TIPS: May is the month to take a kid fishing, and the best way to get a kid hooked on fishing is to take him bream fishing. In May the bream will be on the beds in shallow water. Cruise the shoreline and look for honeycomb circles along sandy banks. Once you find a bed, pick off the fish from outside to inside so you don’t spook the fish. The White Bass will also be ganging up on the north end sand bars.

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Get the Lowdown on Granbury Cats

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Lower end GPS: N 32 22.519

W 97 41.719 (32.375322, -97.695322) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad and prepared baits CONTACT: Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Best catfish catches are being reported in deeper water on the lower ends.

LOCATION: Lake Aquilla HOTSPOT: Snake Island

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Texas Hotspots GPS: N 31 55.215

W 97 12.891 (31.92025, -97.21485) SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Little George and Rat-L-Trap in chrome and blue colors.

CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: White bass are running along edge of Island chasing shad early and late. Position boat alongside Island and make long casts, working lure back to the boat. Carry binoculars and glass the lake occasionally, watching for the birds to be diving on shad. The White Bass push the shad to the surface and quick limits are coming from under the birds.

LOCATION: Lake Bridgeport HOTSPOT: Windy Point GPS: N 33 15.099

W 97 51.337 (33.251644, -97.855611) SPECIES: Smallmouth Bass BEST BAITS: flat billed crankbaits, jerkbaits, curly-tailed grubs.

CONTACT: Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service 940-577-0363 TIPS: Fish around the rocks. Spot is especially effective with a south wind blowing in on the point.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Docks GPS: N 32 17.697

W 96 10.815 (32.294956, -96.180251) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Try 1/16 and 1/8 oz. crappie baits, (multiple colors will work) CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047/903-887-7896 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com kingscreekadventures.com/ TIPS: Equip yourself with a couple 6’ or less medium action spinning outfits with 4-6 lb line and shoot, pitch and flip your bait way under any shaded areas beneath the docks with 5 or more feet of water on them.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Midlake GPS: N 32.4165

W 97.6917 (32.4165, -97.6917)

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SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: soft plastics CONTACT: Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Largemouth bass continue to be good to 5 pounds on soft plastics fished near deeper docks near midlake and on the lower ends. Some top water action may occur early and more often on overcast days. Keep a topwater lure, rattle trap or a swim bait rigged for this action.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: KickApoo Creek GPS: N 32 17.509

W 95 30.185 (32.291821, -95.50309) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Texas Spinner Bait BIG EYE JIG 3/8 oz. in Christmas amber color and trailed with a Mister Twister 4” Flipping out watermelon red/pearl trailer, Football Shimmy Shaker in Sexy Shad color.

CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-530-2201 Ricky@Rickysguideservice.com rickysguideservice.com TIPS: The lake is in good shape from spring rains stained up in the Neiches River area and also stained in the Kick A Poo Creek, the old folks play ground and Flat Creek areas. These waters are stained but most always the same color year round unless we get big rains and then it will turn to a chocolate color. Bass will come from spawn to post spawn and when this happens you will find them moving into the deeper areas just out from their spawning grounds. Move out to the larger trees along the spawning grounds and this will be where you find the big girls.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: North Shore GPS: N 33 26.590

W 96 58.537 (33.443175, -96.975611) SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Topwater Pop-r’s, Carolina rigged Gene Larew Salt Flick’r CONTACT: Dannie Golden, Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: Topwater Pop-r’s early around main lake and secondary points. Grass or rock is key. The Carolina Rig bite is very good in May. Carolina rigged Gene Larew Salt Flick’r on humps and

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LOCATION: Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: 309 Flats GPS: N 31 55.080

W 96 20.597 (31.917999, -96.343279) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Small minnows, jigs, Rat-L-Traps and 1 oz. silver slabs CONTACT: Royce & Adam Simmons, Gone Fishin’ Guide Service 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com gonefishin.biz TIPS: May can be an AWESOME month on RC as the last of the Crappie Spawn will still be occurring in the Creeks and Coves in early May. Crappie will be in the shallow water on the far Southeast end of the Lake and bank fishermen will be able to catch them in the Coves around Fisherman’s Point Marina. Small minnows or jigs below a slip cork work well. Rat-L-Traps and 1oz.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: 309 Flats GPS: N 31 55.080

W 96 20.597 (31.917999, -96.343279) SPECIES: Hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: Small minnows, jigs, Rat-L-Traps and 1oz. silver slabs CONTACT: Royce & Adam Simmons, Gone Fishin’ Guide Service 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com gonefishin.biz TIPS: Hybrid stripers and white bass will be going great guns in the Main Lake area all month long.

Small minnows or jigs below a slip cork work well.

Rat-L-Traps and 1oz. Silver Slabs fished in 20’-30’ water off the 309 Flats will result in lots of White Bass action and the occasional LARGE hybrid striper. Look for the Gulls to help locate the baitfish that the Whites are feeding on.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 58.430

W 96 11.921 (31.973828, -96.198691) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Danny King’s Punch Bait CONTACT: Royce & Adam Simmons, Gone Fishin’ Guide Service

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903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com gonefishin.biz TIPS: Catfishing continues to be good most days resulting in boxes of 25-50 keepers in a trip. Fish in the timbered areas of the Richland Creek Arm in water around 20 feet deep.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: The North End GPS: N 33 52.072

W 96 41.672 (33.867867, -96.694533) SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers and Chugbugs), live shad CONTACT: Bill Carey 877-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com striperexpress.com TIPS: May is the favorite month of the year for most fishermen on Lake Texoma. Most of the stripers are finished with the spawn and are roaming the lake. Large schools of post spawn fish are hungry and will strike on artificial lures and live bait. Cast Pencil Poppers and big Chugbugs on the shallow banks early in the mornings. After the topwater bite, switch to 1oz white glo Sassy Shad jigs or live shad. Work the jigs on main lake ledges to depths of 30 feet. Drift or anchor with live shad on the same ledges.

LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake HOTSPOT: Flats and Wooded points GPS: N 31 00.874

W 97 35.982 (31.014561, -97.599704) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M and Picasso Spinnerbaits, V&M and Picasso Buzz Baits, Picasso V-rig Bait Ball CONTACT: Brian Parker, Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 LakeAustinFishing@yahoo.com LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS:The grass at Stillhouse Hollow Lake is returning after a 3 year hiatus due to flooding and then a 2 year drought. With the return of the grass comes big bass as the grass holds forage and shelter from the sun. One of the best ways to pull fish from these areas is to throw loud crackling buzz baits. I use the double bladed Picasso Buzz Saw in light wind and the Picasso Dinn-R-Bell in windy conditions. If I feel the fish are holding on the edges of the grass in deeper water, I throw the V&M Bow Bend Buzz Bait. If I see shad and minnows, I’ll add the Picasso V-rig Bait Ball loaded with V&M Thunder Shad Jr’s on Picasso jig heads.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma

HOTSPOT: Washita Point GPS: N 33 55.395

W 96 35.400 (33.92325, -96.5900) SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers and Chugbugs), live shad CONTACT: Bill Carey 877-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com striperexpress.com TIPS: Limits of fish are common and May is an exciting month on Lake Texoma. Cast Pencil Poppers and big Chugbugs on the shallow banks early in the mornings. After the topwater bite, switch to 1oz white glo Sassy Shad jigs or live shad. Work the jigs on main lake ledges to depths of 30 feet. Drift or anchor with live shad on the same ledges.

GPS: N 33 02.821

W 101 03.730

(33.047012, -101.06216) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crank baits, buzz baits, topwaters, Shaky Heads, drop shots, Texas rigs, jigs.

CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: May on Lake Alan Henry is a great time

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Whitney Point GPS: N 31 54.781

W 97 20.939 (31.913019, -97.348983) SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: Live gizzard shad, Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: The edge of Whitney Hump can be awesome this time of year for big stripers. Look in 24 to 36 foot of water along the edge of the hump and drop live shad on a Carolina rig straight down to the bottom, reel up 3 turns off the bottom.

Stripers are coming off the hump and also in the deeper water alongside the hump. Keep a good set of binoculars handy and watch the shallow water between Towash and Whitney creek from the hump. If you see bait fish flipping and birds lining the shallows, go run the shallow flats and throw top water baits like Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks for great top water action. Bank Access: Lake Whitney State Park

PANHANDLE

Henry Heats Up for May Bass

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Brazos River

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Texas Hotspots to fish for bass because it’s hard to find a place where you can’t catch bass. If you don’t catch fish in one cove, move to another. Fish crank baits, buzz baits, top waters, shaky hears, drop shots, texas rigs, and jigs. If you are fishing up the Brazos River, and not catching anything, changing locations can really help. Go to the dam area coves and points.

LOCATION: Lake Arrowhead HOTSPOT: Lake Arrowhead State Park GPS: N 33 45.661

W 98 21.801 (33.761025, -98.363342) SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs CONTACT: Robert Mauk 940-766-2383 TIPS: Lake Arrowhead as of this writing is currently 17.4 feet low and at 25.2% capacity.

Boaters should call ahead to determine if any boat ramps are useable. White bass are easily caught this time of year at the dam and near main and secondary points.

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Big Sandy Creek GPS: N 32 49.349

W 98 57.788 (32.82248, -98.963127) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Jugs with perch and Black Saltys CONTACT: Lorie Rohloff, Bush Creek Bait & Tackle 254-559-1155 texasfishnhunt@aol.com TIPS: Jugging is in full swing for catfish in front of dam around 12-18 feet. The boat launch is being reworked so even bass boats can unload now. Word is they are going to extend the ramp out farther.

LOCATION: Lake Graham HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 09.391

W 98 37.701 (33.156516, -98.628352) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: perch, Black Saltys CONTACT: Lorie Rohloff, Bush Creek Bait & Tackle 254-559-1155 texasfishnhunt@aol.com TIPS: Catfish are being caught that are close to the lake record on perch and Black Saltys.

HOTSPOT: Docks GPS: N 32 22.259

W 98 42.545 (32.370988, -98.709077) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: black/silver sparkle slab buster jigs CONTACT: Lorie Rohloff, Bush Creek Bait & Tackle 254-559-1155 texasfishnhunt@aol.com TIPS: Crappie are moving in under cover around boat docks biting good on black/silver sparkle slab buster jigs.

LOCATION: Lake Leon HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 22.181

W 98 42.740 (32.369683, -98.712338) SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Pink jigheads CONTACT: Lorie Rohloff, Bush Creek Bait & Tackle 254-559-1155 texasfishnhunt@aol.com TIPS: Lake is so full that you have to duck going under the bridge. Several bass tournaments are being held on the lake at this time.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Midlake at Cedar and Caddo Creeks GPS: N32 52.74

W98 31.809 (32.879, -98.53015) SPECIES: Striped, Hybrid Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Fresh cut shad, trolling crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, Pop-R/Spittin Image Shad topwaters, jigs, slabs, sassy shad CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: The fish will readily take fresh live shad which are plentiful in may. Fish the breaklines at around 20 feet deep and fish a couple of cranks off bottom. If you mark fish in 50 feet of water, then fish the mid-column at exactly 24 feet and either the striper, hybrids and sandbass will be at the 20 foot breaklines or at that magical number, 24. If the lake stays low from the drought, there is less water to hunt them, so look for mouths of coves, second and third points out in front of coves and also the birds are still helping point to where the fish are.

LOCATION: Lake Leon

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BIG BEND

Bass Holed Up in Amistad’s Castle

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Castle Canyon GPS: N29 31.60608,

W100 58.8906 (29.526768, -100.981510) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, plastic worms plastic jerkbaits, topwaters, swimbaits, spinnerbaits CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com www.amistadbass.com TIPS: This is the time of the year when just about any lure will catch bass. I prefer topwaters because of the explosive bites. Texas-rigged worms are a guarantee. All major creek channels will hold fish.

HILL COUNTRY

Parking Stripes on Canyon Lake

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Canyon Park Point GPS: N 29 53.260

W 98 13.640 (29.887667, -98.227333) SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Hogies 4” Super Shad Pearl / Black Back CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Look for the Striped Bass to be shallow (20-40 feet). They will be suspending over the river channel and feeding on the point in this area.

A L M A N A C

Fishing the Super Shad close to the bottom produces fish in this area.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Parardise Point and Silver Creek GPS: N 30 51.028

W 98 25.157 (30.850463, -98.419287) SPECIES: White Bass, Striper, and Catfish BEST BAITS: Catfish: cut shad, perch or carp; Striper/Hybrid: Zara Spooks or Pencil Poppers, live shad; White Bass: medium diving shad colored baits CONTACT: Ken Milam (325) 379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www. striperfever.com TIPS: White bass on the upper end of the lake around Paradise Point area and Silver Creek.

Troll medium diving shad colored baits along the tree line around Garret Island. Blue Catfish in 4 to 10 ft. of water on the windy points. Stripers and hybrids are on the upper end of the main lake, fish humps and ridges in 18 to 25 feet. Early morning throw Zara Spooks, pencil poppers or any kind of noisy top water lure. Find the threadfin shad running the banks and HANG ON because all kinds of fish will be chasing them!

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Mid to Upper Lake Ridges GPS: N 30 52.411

W 98 27.055 (30.873518, -98.45091) SPECIES: White Bass, Striper & Catfish BEST BAITS: Live shad or large shiners for white bass and striper, cut shad for catfish.

CONTACT: Clancy’s Fishing Guide Service 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Fishing for white bass and striper is improving each week at the mid to upper end of the lake in 20-25 feet. Fish on ridges early and late in the day and in 35-40 feet just off those ridges near the trees in the middle of the day.

Catfish are good on jug lines and rod/reel in 15-20 feet on cut shad.

Brian Parker, Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 LakeAustinFishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: May and June are post spawn feeding months and there should be lots of feeding going on in preparation for summer. In the mornings, start with the Picasso Top Water buzz baits until they stop eating on the flats. Then move off the bank into about 6-10’ of water and work that column with V&M and Picasso Spinnerbaits and the Picasso Bait Ball Extreme loaded with White Ice, Blue Racer, or Sexy Shad V&M Thunder Shad Jr’s or Hula Shad’s.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main lake GPS: N 30 41.936

W 97 20.729 (30.698936, -97.345491) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: May normally kicks off the start of the prime crappie fishing of the year at Granger Lake.

While at most lakes, the spring is the best time for crappie, the hot summertime is the best at Granger. Most of the fish have spawned and are moving to the main lake brush piles and manmade structure. Crappie are now in every spot in the lake with cover and that is a depth of from 4 to 15 feet deep. With all the shallow cover in the

lake, lots of the males are still shallow but there are plenty of big females in the brush piles to fill a stringer. Vertical fish right over the brush. They are so hungry this time of year that jigs will work as good or better than minnows. Drop the jig down into the brush and hold it very still. If a fish doesn’t bite, move it a few feet and try the same. After about 5 minutes, if something doesn’t hit, move.

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

Calaveras Crappie Hit the Wall

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Calaveras Lake HOTSPOT: Crappie Wall Flats GPS: N 29 17.557

W 98 18.736 (29.292612, -98.312273) SPECIES: Freshwater Redfish BEST BAITS: Pet Spoon CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Trolling with downriggers set at 10 to 15 foot deep will produce some good catches of Redfish in this area.

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Flats Close to Deep Water GPS: N 30 21.021

W 97 47.782 (30.350353, -97.796368) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M Ledge Roller Spinnerbaits, Picasso Dinn-R-Bell & Buzz Saw, Picasso Bait Ball Extreme, V&M Thunder Shad Jr, Fringe Tackle Swim Baits CONTACT: T F & G

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Sportsman’s Daybook Tides and Prime Times

MAY 2014

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

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

T12

T4

T11

T10

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

T3 T2 T1

T9 T8 T7

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

T15 T16

T6 T17

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species.

T13 T5

T14

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

T18

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

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month.

PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

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

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

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

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

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

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

T22 T23

TAP HERE For

CUSTOMIZED TIDE CHARTS from the TF&G TIDE FORECASTER

M A Y

2 0 1 4

T E X A S

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

98 |

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below.

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T F & G

A L M A N A C

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

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

SYMBOL KEY 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

28 «

WEDNESDAY

29 l

Sunrise: 6:40a Set: 7:52p Moonrise: 6:16a Set: 7:35p

THURSDAY

30 «

Sunrise: 6:39a Set: 7:53p Moonrise: 6:59a Set: 8:35p

FRIDAY

May 1 «

Sunrise: 6:38a Set: 7:54p Moonrise: 7:44a Set: 9:32p

SATURDAY

2

3

4

Sunrise: 6:37a Set: 7:54p Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 7:55p Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 7:56p Moonrise: 8:32a Set: 10:26p Moonrise: 9:21a Set: 11:16p Moonrise: 10:11a Set: None

Sunrise: 6:35a Set: 7:56p Moonrise: 11:02a Set: 12:02a

AM Minor: 4:58a

PM Minor: 5:24p

AM Minor: 5:49a

PM Minor: 6:15p

AM Minor: 6:43a

PM Minor: 7:09p

AM Minor: 7:38a

PM Minor: 8:04p

AM Minor: 8:34a

PM Minor: 8:59p

AM Minor: 9:29a

PM Minor: 9:54p

AM Minor: 10:23a

PM Minor: 10:46p

AM Major: 11:11a

PM Major: 11:37p

AM Major: -----

PM Major: 12:28p

AM Major: 12:30a

PM Major: 12:56p

AM Major: 1:25a

PM Major: 1:51p

AM Major: 2:22a

PM Major: 2:47p

AM Major: 3:17a

PM Major: 3:42p

AM Major: 4:11a

PM Major: 4:34p

Moon Overhead: 12:53p

12a

Tides and Prime Times for MAY 2014

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 2:37p

Moon Overhead: 1:45p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:28p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:08p

Moon Overhead: 4:18p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:55p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

= New Moon l

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

Tap for Customized Tide Charts

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 12:28a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

High Tide: 5:10 AM Low Tide: 10:54 AM High Tide: 3:30 PM Low Tide: 10:31 PM

1.56ft.

0.98ft.

1.29ft.

-0.06ft.

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 PM

High Tide: 6:06 AM Low Tide: 11:43 AM High Tide: 3:54 PM Low Tide: 11:10 PM

1.59ft.

1.10ft.

1.30ft.

-0.12ft.

Moon Underfoot: 2:11a BEST:

1:30 — 3:30 PM

High Tide: 7:01 AM Low Tide: 12:31 PM High Tide: 4:16 PM Low Tide: 11:50 PM

Moon Underfoot: 3:03a BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 PM

1.60ft. High Tide: 7:54 AM 1.19ft. Low Tide: 1:22 PM 1.31ft. High Tide: 4:34 PM -0.11ft.

1.57ft.

1.25ft.

1.30ft.

Moon Underfoot: 3:53a BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 PM

Low Tide: 12:32 AM High Tide: 8:49 AM Low Tide: 2:31 PM High Tide: 4:34 PM

Moon Underfoot: 4:43a BEST:

9:30 — 11:30 PM

-0.05ft. Low Tide: 1:15 AM 1.52ft. High Tide: 9:45 AM 1.28ft.

1.29ft.

0.04ft.

1.47ft.

+2.0

BEST:

10:30P — 12:30A

Low Tide: 2:02 AM 0.16ft.

High Tide: 10:40 AM 1.42ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 1:19a

+1.0 0 -1.0

Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

5

TUESDAY

6 º

Sunrise: 6:34a Set: 7:57p Sunrise: 6:33a Set: 7:57p Moonrise: 11:54a Set: 12:45a Moonrise: 12:46p Set: 1:24a

WEDNESDAY

7

Sunrise: 6:32a Set: 7:58p Moonrise: 1:37p Set: 2:00a

THURSDAY

8

Sunrise: 6:32a Set: 7:59p Moonrise: 2:29p Set: 2:35a

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

9

Sunrise: 6:31a Set: 7:59p Moonrise: 3:22p Set: 3:10a

10

11

Sunrise: 6:30a Set: 8:00p Moonrise: 4:16p Set: 3:44a

Sunrise: 6:30a Set: 8:01p Moonrise: 5:12p Set: 4:20a

AM Minor: 11:13a

PM Minor: 11:36p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:00p

AM Minor: 12:23a

PM Minor: 12:44p

AM Minor: 1:04a

PM Minor: 1:26p

AM Minor: 1:44a

PM Minor: 2:06p

AM Minor: 2:23a

PM Minor: 2:45p

AM Minor: 3:03a

PM Minor: 3:26p

AM Major: 5:02a

PM Major: 5:24p

AM Major: 5:49a

PM Major: 6:11p

AM Major: 6:33a

PM Major: 6:55p

AM Major: 7:15a

PM Major: 7:37p

AM Major: 7:55a

PM Major: 8:17p

AM Major: 8:34a

PM Major: 8:57p

AM Major: 9:14a

PM Major: 9:38p

Moon Overhead: 6:41p

12a

Tides and Prime Times for MAY 2014

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 8:09p

Moon Overhead: 7:25p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 8:52p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 10:20p

Moon Overhead: 9:35p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

= New Moon l

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

Tap for Customized Tide Charts

= Peak Fishing Period

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

SYMBOL KEY

Moon Overhead: 11:08p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 6:18a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

Low Tide: 2:52 AM 0.29ft.

High Tide: 11:29 AM 1.38ft.

BEST:

BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Low Tide: 3:47 AM High Tide: 12:09 PM Low Tide: 7:54 PM High Tide: 9:53 PM

Moon Underfoot: 7:47a

BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 AM

0.42ft.

1.35ft.

1.05ft.

1.06ft.

Low Tide: 4:47 AM High Tide: 12:39 PM Low Tide: 7:44 PM High Tide: 11:47 PM

Moon Underfoot: 8:30a

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 AM

0.55ft.

1.32ft.

0.94ft.

1.07ft.

Low Tide: 5:50 AM High Tide: 1:04 PM Low Tide: 7:47 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:14a

BEST:

10:00A — 12:00P

0.67ft.

1.30ft.

0.82ft.

High Tide: 1:11 AM Low Tide: 6:51 AM High Tide: 1:25 PM Low Tide: 7:59 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:58a 3:00 — 5:00 PM

1.14ft.

0.77ft.

1.29ft.

0.67ft.

High Tide: 2:19 AM Low Tide: 7:46 AM High Tide: 1:44 PM Low Tide: 8:19 PM

1.23ft.

0.87ft.

1.28ft.

0.50ft.

Moon Underfoot: 10:44a

+2.0

BEST:

4:00 — 6:00 PM

High Tide: 3:17 AM Low Tide: 8:36 AM High Tide: 2:02 PM Low Tide: 8:46 PM

1.34ft.

0.97ft.

1.29ft.

0.32ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 7:03a

+1.0 0 -1.0

Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

Tides and Prime Times for MAY 2014

TUESDAY

12 «

WEDNESDAY

13 «

Sunrise: 6:29a Set: 8:01p Moonrise: 6:11p Set: 4:58a

THURSDAY

14 ¡

Sunrise: 6:28a Set: 8:02p Moonrise: 7:11p Set: 5:40a

15 «

Sunrise: 6:28a Set: 8:03p Moonrise: 8:13p Set: 6:25a

Sunrise: 6:27a Set: 8:03p Moonrise: 9:14p Set: 7:16a

FRIDAY

16 «

Sunrise: 6:27a Set: 8:04p Moonrise: 10:14p Set: 8:11a

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

17

18

Sunrise: 6:26a Set: 8:04p Moonrise: 11:10p Set: 9:10a

Sunrise: 6:25a Set: 8:05p Moonrise: None Set: 10:12a

AM Minor: 3:44a

PM Minor: 4:09p

AM Minor: 4:30a

PM Minor: 4:56p

AM Minor: 5:20a

PM Minor: 5:48p

AM Minor: 6:16a

PM Minor: 6:45p

AM Minor: 7:17a

PM Minor: 7:46p

AM Minor: 8:21a

PM Minor: 8:50p

AM Minor: 9:25a

PM Minor: 9:54p

AM Major: 9:57a

PM Major: 10:21p

AM Major: 10:43a

PM Major: 11:09p

AM Major: 11:34a

PM Major: -----

AM Major: 12:02a

PM Major: 12:30p

AM Major: 1:02a

PM Major: 1:31p

AM Major: 2:06a

PM Major: 2:35p

AM Major: 3:11a

PM Major: 3:40p

Moon Overhead: None 6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 12:50a

Moon Overhead: None 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 1:45a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:42a

Moon Overhead: 2:43a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 4:40a 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

12a

Tap for Customized Tide Charts

= Peak Fishing Period

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 11:32a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

High Tide: 4:09 AM Low Tide: 9:24 AM High Tide: 2:19 PM Low Tide: 9:19 PM

1.46ft.

1.06ft.

1.31ft.

0.14ft.

BEST:

6:00 — 8:00 PM

High Tide: 5:00 AM Low Tide: 10:11 AM High Tide: 2:36 PM Low Tide: 9:55 PM

1.56ft.

1.15ft.

1.33ft.

-0.02ft.

Moon Underfoot: 1:17p BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 2:14p BEST:

7:00 — 9:00 PM 1:00 — 3:00 AM

High Tide: 5:50 AM Low Tide: 10:58 AM High Tide: 2:54 PM Low Tide: 10:35 PM

1.64ft.

1.23ft.

1.36ft.

-0.16ft.

High Tide: 6:42 AM Low Tide: 11:46 AM High Tide: 3:14 PM Low Tide: 11:19 PM

Moon Underfoot: 3:12p BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

1.70ft. High Tide: 7:36 AM 1.72ft.

1.30ft. Low Tide: 12:38 PM 1.35ft.

1.39ft. High Tide: 3:38 PM 1.41ft.

-0.24ft.

Moon Underfoot: 4:11p BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 PM

Low Tide: 12:07 AM High Tide: 8:31 AM Low Tide: 1:40 PM High Tide: 4:05 PM

-0.27ft.

1.70ft.

1.37ft.

1.39ft.

Moon Underfoot: 5:09p

+2.0

BEST:

9:30 — 11:30 PM

Low Tide: 12:57 AM High Tide: 9:26 AM Low Tide: 3:08 PM High Tide: 4:38 PM

-0.24ft.

1.66ft.

1.32ft.

1.33ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

5:00 — 7:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 12:23p

+1.0 0 -1.0

SYMBOL KEY = New Moon l

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

Tap for Customized Tide Charts

Tides and Prime Times for MAY 2014

19

TUESDAY

20

WEDNESDAY

21 »

Sunrise: 6:25a Set: 8:06p Sunrise: 6:24a Set: 8:06p Sunrise: 6:24a Set: 8:07p Moonrise: 12:02a Set: 11:16a Moonrise: 12:49a Set: 12:20p Moonrise: 1:33a Set: 1:23p

22

Sunrise: 6:23a Set: 8:08p Moonrise: 2:14a Set: 2:25p

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

23

Sunrise: 6:23a Set: 8:08p Moonrise: 2:54a Set: 3:25p

24

Sunrise: 6:23a Set: 8:09p Moonrise: 3:33a Set: 4:25p

25

Sunrise: 6:22a Set: 8:09p Moonrise: 4:13a Set: 5:25p

AM Minor: 10:28a

PM Minor: 10:56p

AM Minor: 11:28a

PM Minor: 11:55p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:23p

AM Minor: 12:48a

PM Minor: 1:13p

AM Minor: 1:35a

PM Minor: 2:00p

AM Minor: 2:19a

PM Minor: 2:44p

AM Minor: 3:03a

PM Minor: 3:28p

AM Major: 4:14a

PM Major: 4:42p

AM Major: 5:14a

PM Major: 5:41p

AM Major: 6:10a

PM Major: 6:36p

AM Major: 7:00a

PM Major: 7:26p

AM Major: 7:47a

PM Major: 8:12p

AM Major: 8:32a

PM Major: 8:56p

AM Major: 9:15a

PM Major: 9:41p

Moon Overhead: 5:37a

12a

THURSDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:25a

Moon Overhead: 6:32a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 8:17a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 9:57a

Moon Overhead: 9:07a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 10:47a 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 6:05p

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

11:00A — 1:00P

Low Tide: 1:52 AM High Tide: 10:17 AM Low Tide: 5:05 PM High Tide: 6:05 PM

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

-0.13ft.

1.60ft.

1.21ft.

1.21ft.

Low Tide: 2:51 AM High Tide: 11:02 AM Low Tide: 5:45 PM High Tide: 8:56 PM

Moon Underfoot: 7:51p

BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 AM

0.04ft.

1.52ft.

1.03ft.

1.09ft.

Low Tide: 3:55 AM High Tide: 11:40 AM Low Tide: 6:23 PM High Tide: 11:06 PM

Moon Underfoot: 8:42p 7:30 — 9:30 AM

0.25ft.

1.44ft.

0.81ft.

1.06ft.

Low Tide: 5:08 AM 0.48ft.

High Tide: 12:13 PM 1.37ft.

Low Tide: 7:02 PM 0.56ft.

Moon Underfoot: 9:32p BEST:

BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 AM

High Tide: 12:54 AM Low Tide: 6:27 AM High Tide: 12:42 PM Low Tide: 7:41 PM

Moon Underfoot: 10:21p

High Tide: 2:23 AM Low Tide: 7:48 AM High Tide: 1:09 PM Low Tide: 8:20 PM

+2.0

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 AM

1.13ft.

0.69ft.

1.32ft.

0.31ft.

Moon Underfoot: 11:12p 10:00A — 12:00P

1.25ft.

0.88ft.

1.29ft.

0.09ft.

High Tide: 3:37 AM Low Tide: 9:03 AM High Tide: 1:34 PM Low Tide: 8:59 PM

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 6:59p

1.38ft.

1.03ft.

1.28ft.

-0.08ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

26

Sunrise: 6:22a Set: 8:10p Moonrise: 4:55a Set: 6:23p

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

27 «

THURSDAY

28 «

Sunrise: 6:22a Set: 8:10p Moonrise: 5:38a Set: 7:21p

FRIDAY

29 l

Sunrise: 6:21a Set: 8:11p Moonrise: 6:24a Set: 8:15p

SATURDAY

30 «

Sunrise: 6:21a Set: 8:12p Moonrise: 7:12a Set: 9:07p

31 «

Sunrise: 6:21a Set: 8:12p Moonrise: 8:02a Set: 9:56p

Jun 1

Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:13p Sunrise: 6:20a Set: 8:13p Moonrise: 8:53a Set: 10:40p Moonrise: 9:45a Set: 11:21p

AM Minor: 3:48a

PM Minor: 4:13p

AM Minor: 4:34a

PM Minor: 5:00p

AM Minor: 5:23a

PM Minor: 5:49p

AM Minor: 6:15a

PM Minor: 6:40p

AM Minor: 7:08a

PM Minor: 7:33p

AM Minor: 8:01a

PM Minor: 8:25p

AM Minor: 8:54a

PM Minor: 9:17p

AM Major: 10:00a

PM Major: 10:26p

AM Major: 10:47a

PM Major: 11:13p

AM Major: 11:36a

PM Major: 12:02p

AM Major: 12:02a

PM Major: 12:27p

AM Major: 12:55a

PM Major: 1:20p

AM Major: 1:49a

PM Major: 2:13p

AM Major: 2:42a

PM Major: 3:05p

Moon Overhead: 11:37a

12a

Tides and Prime Times for MAY 2014

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 1:19p

Moon Overhead: 12:28p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 2:10p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:48p

Moon Overhead: 2:59p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 4:34p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

= New Moon l

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

Tap for Customized Tide Charts

= Peak Fishing Period

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

SYMBOL KEY

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: None

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

11:00A — 1:00P

High Tide: 4:39 AM Low Tide: 10:10 AM High Tide: 1:59 PM Low Tide: 9:37 PM

Moon Underfoot: 12:53a

12:00 — 2:00 PM

1.48ft.

1.13ft.

1.29ft.

-0.19ft.

High Tide: 5:33 AM Low Tide: 11:08 AM High Tide: 2:23 PM Low Tide: 10:15 PM

1.54ft.

1.21ft.

1.30ft.

-0.25ft.

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 PM

High Tide: 6:20 AM Low Tide: 12:00 PM High Tide: 2:48 PM Low Tide: 10:52 PM

1.56ft.

1.25ft.

1.30ft.

-0.25ft.

Moon Underfoot: 1:44a BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 PM

High Tide: 7:05 AM Low Tide: 12:47 PM High Tide: 3:11 PM Low Tide: 11:29 PM

Moon Underfoot: 2:35a BEST:

3:00 — 5:00 PM

1.55ft. High Tide: 7:47 AM 1.27ft. Low Tide: 1:36 PM 1.30ft. High Tide: 3:31 PM -0.21ft.

1.52ft.

1.27ft.

1.28ft.

Moon Underfoot: 3:24a BEST:

4:00 — 6:00 PM

Low Tide: 12:07 AM High Tide: 8:29 AM Low Tide: 3:05 PM High Tide: 3:14 PM

Moon Underfoot: 4:11a

+2.0

BEST:

5:00 — 7:00 PM

-0.13ft. Low Tide: 12:44 AM -0.03ft.

1.48ft. High Tide: 9:09 AM 1.43ft.

1.24ft.

1.24ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 12:02a

+1.0 0 -1.0

A.G. Russell Knives

Page 106

Fishing Tackle Unlimited

Page 109

Black Hills Ammunition

Page 114

Gulf Coast Fishing Rod Holder Page 113

CORBON/Glaser

Page 108

KT Coolers

Page 115

Cortland Line Co., Inc.

Page 111

Lansky Sharpeners

Page 113

Country Home Products

Page 114

Nighthawk Custom

Page 107

DeSantis Holsters

Page 110

Tayga Tactical Flashlights

Page 112

Faultline

Page 115

Texas Mobile Shrink Wrap

Page 112

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Fishing Hunting with Dad

Give Time on Father’s Day

M 106 |

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y first Hill Country

Llano County, which

deer hunt was very

allowed me to take my

special.

first-ever deer, a young

My parents

doe. I of course could

by Chester Moore

Looking back it was only partly about the encounter with deer.

Much of it had to do

saved up and paid

not have been more

for three days of

excited if it had been a record book buck.

with my Dad. Time is a precious commod-

deer hunting on the

At twelve-years old, even seeing a deer was

ity, especially with our family.

Winkle Ranch in

a big thing for me.

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with the time I spent

One of the greatest gifts you can give a

T F & G

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&

Fishing Hunting with Dad person is your time, either spending it with them or using your hands and ingenuity to create a special gift.

I know there are people reading this article who can barely afford their mortgage, much less expensive electronic gadgets and other things they think are high on a Dad’s wish list. If you can afford them that’s great but never underestimate the gift of time.

My advice is to be honest with them and let them know the economic reality but then follow it with an invitation to go on

Bryce Pilley was 14 when he shot this buck—his first—while hunting with his dad, Mike Pilley. Both are from Marble Falls.

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Fishing Hunting with Dad a special fishing trip or an opportunity to go out to a old, familiar hunting ground.

Thank them for the outdoors experiences

Proud dad Chad Rogowicz sent in this photo of his daughter Miram with her first black drum, a 14-pounder she caught on Copano Bay in 2011.

they gave you.

And fathers, right now is when you need to start investing in outdoors experi-

ences with your children.

Kids crave our time.

Over the last couple of years, my wife Lisa and I have had the great privilege and honor of serving as volunteers in our church’s children’s ministry, and have seen this first hand.

CERTAIN KIDS LIGHT UP WHEN you simply pat them on the head, say “hello” and let the know you are glad they are there. And as much as it warms my heart to see them smile it also breaks it.

If that little attention from someone they see for a few hours a week, gives them that much joy, what are they missing at home?

Most of our kids come from great, loving 110 |

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Fishing Hunting with Dad families but some are dropped off as soon

Giving the gift of time is not just for the

as church doors open and picked up after

economically disadvantaged but also for

the rest of the kids are already home.

anyone. I have known several people who

It goes without saying their home life is lacking.

had plenty of money and went hunting and fishing all the time but spent very little of it

with their kids.

Someone who logs 100 days on the water but only a few if any are with his or her children does not impress me. That is not a passion for the outdoors, but the very definition a self-centered individual. If this is you, change course on this Father’s Day, put your family in focus and see what real living is all about.

FORTY YEARS FROM NOW WHEN you are in ill health, those big bucks you shot are not going to matter much. However, the time you spent with your children will mean everything and will dictate what kind of relationship you have as they take up the role of caretaker.

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absentee in their lives and their path

Kolten Rathburn, left, and Trenten Rathburn, right, caught this 15.8pound, 33-inch redfish with their dad, Bruce Rathburn, at Calaveras Lake in San Antonio in 2009.

was different. Drugs, alcohol, loneliness, depression were all part of the equation.

And while I believe after a certain age of accountability we should answer for our own actions, there is no question the

Dad gives with his heart.

lack of a father played a huge role in influ-

Several friends my age had fathers who

encing to walk down a dark, dismal road.

were either entirely absent or extremely

I say these things not to judge anyone but to offer sound advice and also remind myself of life’s true priorities.

Speaking of which, take time to make traditions. Explain to your children that it truly is better to give than receive and teach them about blessing others with the wild meat you take or the fish you catch.

Teach them to use their time to make a gift for someone less fortunate or spend time with those in need.

In my opinion, the reason our country is in the shape it is in now is because we lost priority and linked our happiness to money and possessions when in reality true gifts come from within.

I am continually blessed because my T F & G

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&

Fishing Hunting with Dad

Bureau, children in father-absent homes

So, fathers invest time in your children

are almost four times more likely to be

and those of you who have fathers who

poor. In 2011, 12 percent of children in

blessed you in the great outdoors or oth-

married-couple families were living in pov-

erwise, take time this year. Literally, take

erty, compared to 44 percent of children in

time to spend.

mother-only families.

It is the greatest gift you can give to

There is no denying the world shaping

father or child.

power of fathers.

Kirk Smith of Santa Fe, Texas shot his first deer from a stand in Livingston in 2011. His proud Dad is pictured with him, relishing the moment.

Statistics sadly prove this to be true.

A 2002 Department of Justice survey of 7,000 inmates revealed that 39 percent of jail inmates lived in mother-only households. Approximately forty-six percent of jail inmates in 2002 had a previously incarcerated family member. One-fifth experienced a father in prison or jail.

In a study of 6,500 children from the ADDHEALTH database, father closeness was negatively correlated with the number of a child’s friends who smoke, drink, and smoke marijuana. Closeness was also correlated with a child’s use of alcohol, cigarettes, and hard drugs and was connected to family structure. Intact families ranked higher on father closeness than single-parent families.

And according to the U.S. Census T F & G

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Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven | The Texas Gourmet

Speckled Trout with a Crawfish Topping

W

E LOVE CATCHING TROUT ALL year and cook it a variety of ways. This is a simple and quick dish you can prepare using some left over crawfish tails from a crawfish boil or use fresh ones if you like.

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. To make topping first, in a medium skillet, heat olive oil and add butter.

3. When no longer foaming, add green onions, capers and garlic and sauté for 3 to

PHOTOS:BRYAN SLAVEN

6 speckled trout or redfish filets flour 2 oz. butter 2 Tbs. olive oil Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice Topping

1 lb crawfish tails 2 oz butter 1 Tbs. olive oil 1/4 cup green onion tops 3 teaspoons - capers 2 cloves of garlic, pressed Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice

4 minutes, then add the crawfish tails. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes and keep stirring until crawfish are heated through but don’t overcook.

6. Remove from heat but keep on warm part of stove-top.

7. Dust fish on both sides with the Searing Spice 8. Dredge in flour and remove excess.

9. Heat oil on medium-high heat in ovenproof skillet large enough to hold all fillets and add butter.

10. When no longer foaming, add fish.

11. Cook on one side for two minutes, then flip and cook for one minute.

12. Put pan in oven and cook for 6 minutes.

13. Remove from oven, top with crawfish and serve immediately.

Serves six Note: You may substitute fresh shrimp for the crawfish. Use medium to small shrimp (40 to 50 count) and saute shrimp slightly longer.

Email Bryan Slaven, “The Texas Gourmet,” at BSlaven@fishgame.com

CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE for many of the seasonings and other ingrdients used in TEXAS TASTED recipes.

Visit FishandGameGear.com 116 |

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TEXAS FRESHWATER

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Courtesy: Redfish www.FishandGameGear.com Charters

WWW.FISHGAME.COM T F & G

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F I S H

&

G A M E 速

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REDFISH Trinity Bay Lillian Howell of Mont Belvieu, 10, caught her first redfish on artificial while on a father/daughter fishing trip on Trinity Bay. She used a pink Corky (matching her outfit).

CRAPPIE Toledo Bend Fisher Bryant (left) and Tate Bryant of Cypress with their first fish, a Crappie caught in the Sandy Creek area on Toledo Bend.

REDFISH South Bay Jon Farar and his six-year-old son Jake Farar took this nice 27-7/8-inch redfish in South Bay while fishing with Mark Maxwell.

This was Jake’s first trip on an Airboat. Jake decided to fish with his ear muffs on!

SPECKLED TROUT San Antonio Bay Jeremy Daigle caught this five-pound speckled trout while fishing with live shrimp on San Antonio Bay

SPECKLED TROUT Texas Coast Mia Wood caught her first speckled trout while fishing with her dad, Kevin.

BLACK DRUM Upper Laguna Madre Angela Woolery caught this 39-inch black drum in the Intracoastal Waterway just south of JFK Causeway on the Upper Laguna Madre, using live shrimp.

The drum was photographed and released.

REDFISH Cocodrie, La. Jacob Kassman caught this 31-inch redfish from his kayak while fishing a marsh at Cocodrie, Louisiana.

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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.

BLACK DRUM Rockport Mary Taylor, who is “75 years young” caught this black drum in the California Hole area at Rockport. It measured 39-inches long and weighed approximately 35 pounds. She released the fish.

SPECKLED TROUT Galveston Bay Cal Kirkpatrick caught this 22-inch speckled trout two days before his sixth birthday. He was fishing on Galveston Bay and used a Norton Sand Eel Chicken on a Chain.

WHITETAIL San Patricio Ten-year-old Wade French of Portland (in the cowboy hat) shot his first deer, a doe, at 75 yards with his brand new .243 while hunting with his older brother Rig and father Chris in San Patricio County.

WHITETAIL SPECKLED TROUT

San Saba

Sabine Lake

Braxton Dahse, age 7, shot his first deer, a doe, while hunting in San Saba County.

Paige Hurlburt caught this 25.5-inch speckled trout in the north end of Sabine Lake.

BASS

REDFISH

Dallas

Lower Laguna Madre

Lindsay Rush caught this bass while fishing in a Dallas area creek.

Sophia Marroquin, Alethea Cruz and Ashley Byrd with redfish they caught in the Lower Laguna Madre.

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