November 2011

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

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

Roy Neves PUBLISHER

Don Zaidle EDITOR-in-chief

Chester moore Executive EDITOR

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

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

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A D VE R T I S IN G

Ardia Neves

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CONTENTS FEATURES

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WINTER CRAPPIE

Cold-weather crappie fishing tips for those times when the only thing that is biting is the north wind.

by Matt Williams

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creations photo: dcw

november 2011 • Volume XXVII • NO. 7

THE SPIKE DEBATE Spike bucks. Are they inferior deer that never will grow trophy antlers, are they just young deer with a slow start, or are they deer with poor genetics that need to be removed from the breeding cycle?

ON THE COVER:

TEXAS’ NO. 1 WHITETAIL Judging the alltime best whitetail trophy taken in Texas is a complicated enterprise. When you take into account all the controversies (high fences, baiting) and antiLone Star prejudices, the contest for Top Buck makes the asteriskdotted record books of Major League Baseball look pristine by comparison.

STORY: STORY:

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by Paul Bradshaw

by Bob Hood

ALSO IN NOVEMBER:

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DUCK FACTS & FIGURES

Intercontinental migration alone makes waterfowl a unique game species. When you factor in their biological diversity, things get even more interesting.

by Chester Moore STORY:

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Speck Tactics for Fall If you’re tired of catching smallish trout in the fall, this article has some alternative strategies for trophy autumn specks.

STORY:

The TF&G deer quiz You have hunted them, watched them on TV, and read about them.

Now is a good time to test yourself on what you know about deer and how to hunt them.

by Chester Moore

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CONTENTS COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

november 2011 • Volume XXVII • NO. 7

COLUMNS

19 Commentary Still Runnin’ and Gunnin’

by Kendal Hemphill TF&G Politcal Commentator

10 Editor’s Notes

25 Texas Bow Hunting

by DON ZAIDLE TF&G Editor-in-Chief

by Lou Marullo TF&G Bow Hunting Editor

14 Chester’s Notes

29 Hunt Texas

Editing a

Wildfire

Let the Games Begin

Texas

Jaguars

Welcome Hunters!

by CHESTER MOORE TF&G Executive Editor

by bob hood TF&G Hunting Editor

16 Doggett at Large

33 Texas Freshwater

by JOE DOGGETT TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

by matt Williams TF&G Freshwater Editor

17 Pike On the Edge

37 Texas Saltwater

by Doug Pike TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

by Calixto Gonzales TF&G Saltwater Editor

18 TexasWild

48 Open Season

by Ted nugent TF&G Editor At Large

by reavis wortham TF&G Humor Editor

Barbed

Comments

Payback, Hell; It’s Time for Pushback

The Reluctant

Rookie

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Assault on Batteries

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26 NEW! texas

department of defense

38 True green

Seeing

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DEPARTMENTS

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Letters to the Editor Runnin’ and Gunnin’ Kendal, thank you so much for standing up and exposing another incompetent government office that operates with impunity (Commentary, October 2011). Most media sources don’t have the integrity to publish the truth and I really respect you clearly stating the facts.

Thanks for having the courage to take stand and let’s hope more Americans realize what’s happening to our country and join together to save the greatest place on earth!

Steve Hampton Boerne, Texas

Hard Questions Await Hunters Here are some of my opinions on your article (Chester’s Notes, October 2011): #3 The trophy whitetail craze has almost put a stop to this old retired Air Force person’s deer hunting because of the expenses. I was raised up hunting and fishing in Texas.

Coming from a fairly poor family we hunted for food first and sport second.

I still love to hunt and enjoy processing and eating any deer I am lucky enough to get. I have not hunted with any of my guns in over 9 years. I bow hunt on public lands because I cannot justify paying the money required for a respectable place to gun hunt.

My son used to love to hunt, but he does not go anymore. Like so many others I talk to, he says it is just too expensive and too much hassle. Unfortunately this is happening far too often and we will not be teaching our children the values of hunting. A lot of the people that can afford the big high fence managed leases are teaching the next generation that the only thing that counts is a trophy buck and that is a shame.

That brings us to the 13-inch inside spread regulation. I believe the whole reason for this regulation is to improve the quality of deer in Texas so there are more trophy class 8 |

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bucks and more dollars spent hunting them.

I would challenge the best that support this regulation to accurately judge a 13-inch spread under field conditions and get it right 50% of the time.

I know there are big dollars in trophy deer and a big voice from the people with the big bucks (pun intended). I say let them have their high fence, high dollar trophy lease where they feed the deer special diets, import genetically engineered deer and only kill monster bucks, but do not impose regulations to produce more trophy deer on the rest of us who just like to hunt.

I believe the best thing we could do is to pass to the next generation so they can learn some real values and be just as proud of taking a 4 point buck as taking a 140 class trophy.

Bill Jennings Via Email

Janice Haak Via Email 1. I would agree that the federal government has done more to limit hunting opportunity than the antis. I also believe that it is a matter of time before the antis eventually outlaw all hunting. Texas is becoming more urban all the time. As a child in the 50s and 60s in Paris, Texas almost everyone I knew hunted or had hunted. As an adult in San Antonio, most of the people I know do not hunt.

2. I agree that allowing crossbows during the archery only season was a good thing.

We all benefit from more Texans becoming hunters.

3. The trophy whitetail craze has made deer hunting beyond the means of many hunters or former hunters. The high priced lease and package hunt process just about makes it impossible for a non-hunter to try deer hunting.

4. CWD is a big deal. Parks & Wildlife has done a good job keeping it out of Texas.

5. I would rather see Parks & Wildlife Commissioners appointed. We can hold the governor responsible for bad appointments.

Most Texans don’t know anything about

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the judges that they vote for. I think elected commissioners would be a disaster.

6. Somebody must watch the hunting TV shows and they are welcome to them.

7. Agree 8. I don’t have any idea why Texas is not in the top ten in bow hunting. I am not sure that it is a problem.

9. Having to visually measure the spread on a whitetail seems unreasonable, makes an illegal kill a crap shoot.

10. It’s hard to be a hunting mentor when you struggle to find a place to hunt. I do mentor clay target shooters.

I think hunting leases are pricing the average hunter out of the sport. I have a grand daughter that I hope to take hunting.

I have serious doubts that hunting will be an option for her children.

Jesus a Vegetarian?

Bravo! Thanks so much for that article (Commentary, September 2011). I no longer live in Texas, but I do still love reading about the fishing and hunting there. I know many have probably told you this but there is actually an account of Jesus frying fish! John 21:9 speaks of how Jesus prepared breakfast of fish and bread for his disciples.

I, as you, have no problem with whatever anyone decides to eat or not to eat. It is when these are used as disguises of a political agenda I have a problem. It’s time Christians no longer be defined by the others but by the love of Christ.

Thanks for not getting into a shouting contest with that guy and standing your “our” ground. God’s blessings to you and your family and a safe hunting season!

Hugh “Buster” Brown Shiloh, GA (Texan at heart)

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Editor’s Notes

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

Editing a Wildfire

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s I write this, I am still waiting for my butt to catch up with me. It is still somewhere out in the brush where I fought wildfire this week of August 2011. Should anyone find it, they will recognize it by the 16-penny sledgehammer pucker.

My volunteer fire department was fighting one of the largest wildfires to occur in our district this season—consuming more than 500 acres. I was first on-scene in our department’s light brush truck. Incident Command assigned me to attack the west flank, which was moving rapidly into heavy brush and woods.

Skirting the edge of the treeline, I attacked the fire with the remote-controlled bumper monitor. I was making good progress knocking down the flames, when the wind shifted.

The flames were now backing into unburned fuel, driving a 20-foot wall of flame straight toward me. I needed to get out or into “the black” of already consumed fuel.

But, there was a problem.

I was so preoccupied navigating the truck and fighting fire, I did not notice my path had led me into deep woods and heavy brush. Surround by trees, there was no room to turn around—and even had there been, towering flames and cracking brush stood between me and my original entry path.

The only escape was through the black— a post-apocalyptic landscape of white ash, embers, and naked tree trunks, stark and blazing in a haze of yellow-brown smoke.

I aimed for the smallest flaming treetrunk I thought I could knock over with the brush truck, and gunned the engine. Nothing. The truck’s engine was overheated and the control computer had engaged safeties to reduce power and prevent engine damage. There wasn’t enough power to untrack the heavy truck in the soft sand of the forest floor.

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I popped the hood latch, jumped out into the blast-furnace heat, pulled a “red line” fire hose from the reel on the rear around to the front of the truck, and sprayed water on the radiator to cool the engine. That accomplished, I slammed the hood, threw the hose across the top of the truck, and jumped back in to make a dash for safety.

The truck knocked over the small tree in Zaidle’s truck, with the “redline” hose he used to cool its over-heated engine stretched over the hood.

Below: TF&G’s editor at the wheel.

a shower of flames and embers. I could see daylight ahead through the smoke and thought I was home free. Then I hit the stump.

My truck was trapped astride a stump unseen in the smoke and ash clouds. Rocking back and forth to break free, I almost made it before the truck overheated again.

The flames were even closer now and the heat unbearable, but I had no choice but to jump outside again to cool down the engine.

The noise of snapping trees and roaring flames was deafening as the fireline bore down on me. Then, I felt more than heard a thump and rumble from upwind and saw the tops of trees swaying with greater violence than the wind could account. What the hell was trying to kill me now?

Alarm and puzzlement melted into relief when the muzzle of our department’s huge attack truck, a converted military 5-ton 6x6, slowly materialized from the yellowtinged miasma—a lumbering, prehistoric metal hippo, smashing through brush and

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snapping trees like twigs, snorting 1000 gallons of water per minute 40 feet in four directions at once.

The attack truck stopped the flames less than 25 feet from my position, but now I was half-blind in a steam cloud instead of convection heat. I might cook, but I wouldn’t burn.

The engine cooled off now, I jumped inside, grabbed a gear, and floored it. The truck popped over the stump and I drove like a bat-out-of-wildfire for clear ground, raising a plume of ash, embers, and dirt in my wake.

That was one of several what the fire service officially labels “close calls” I experienced over the next 24 hours. Later, when inspecting the truck for damage, I realized just how close it was— the bristles had melted off the wide pushbrooms mounted at the rear of the truck.

My department, along with a score of others—including aerial “fire bomber” aircraft—fought the fire for the next 36 hours, firefighters catching bits of sleep here and there as we could.

We killed the fire, and of hundreds of homes exposed and threatened, lost only two.

All of this happened when we were in the middle of producing the October issue.

Obviously, I got behind in my editorial duties, but caught up as best I could after sleeping a few hours.

If your October issue arrived in the mail later than usual, now you know why.

Email Don Zaidle at dzaidle@fishgame.com Email Don Zaidle at dzaidle@fishgame.com PhotOs: Joe Duty/Wise County Messenger

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The TF&G Report Charges Dropped, Accused Gator Hunter Speaks Out How can state game wardens slap a man with charges for breaking Texas game laws, when in reality he is in an entirely different state, more than 1,000 miles away, on the day the offenses allegedly took place?

Sam Lovell of Kennard may go to his grave trying to figure that one out.

Lovell was among four men who were charged by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens in July for allegedly killing two American alligators on private property in Leon County without landowner consent.

Lovell yelled foul from the get-go.

Interestingly, Leon County Attorney Jim Witt dismissed the charges against Lovell on

Aug. 30. Witt said the dismissal came after new evidence surfaced to indicate that Lovell was working in Michigan on the days Texas game wardens had accused him of being up to no good on the Trinity.

One of the alligators in question was a monster 880-pounder measuring more than 13 feet in length. It was shot on June 11 by Dallas attorney Levi McCathern.

McCathern was guided by outfitter Steve Barclay and his deckhand, Ryan Burton, both of Kennard. All three men have entered not guilty pleas in a Leon County court.

Barclay is Lovell’s brother-in-law. The two men have run a successful guide business on the Trinity for several years targeting American alligators and alligator gar. Thus their collective name: “The Gar Guys.”

Word of the McCathern’s huge ‘gator spread quickly in newspapers and on television stations around the state. That’s when sparks started to fly.

On July 20, the TPWD news and information staff released a story announcing that state game wardens had filed charges against Barclay, Lovell, Burton and McCathern for taking wildlife on private property without landowner permission.

The story went out to dozens of news outlets across Texas and beyond. The writer of the story, Mike Cox, said via e-mail that he wrote the news release after receiving “numerous media calls.”

According to the game warden captain for that district, Capt. Gary Dugan, the charges against the four men came on the heels of an investigation carried out after a Leon County landowner reported that the big alligator was killed on his property without his permission on June 11. The landowner also said a smaller alligator was taken on the property the day before. The investigation was conducted by Leon county game wardens Oscar Henson and Logan

Big Bags&Catches

Black Drum

REDFISH

Whitetail buck

Bayside

Bayside

Palo Pinto County

Jacob Kennedy, age 7 at the time, with a 49-1/2-inch black drum. Jacob, his dad Glyn, and brother Joseph were fishing near Bayside when Jacob hooked what he first thought was a rock. Ten minutes (and a sore crotch from riding the butt of his rod) later, Jacob landed the monster drum.

Joseph Kennedy (Jacob’s brother—see photo on left) caught this 39-inch redfish at sunset, with the last cast of the day.

This catch was made the day before brother Jacob’s catch, in the same spot, and like Jacob’s, this was the biggest fish of Joseph’s life.

Dr. Jeff Hulstein took this 10 point buck while hunting in Gordon, Texas, in Palo Pinto county. Dr. Hulstein shot the buck at about 130 yards.

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“

It makes no sense, because Sam wasn’t there.

“

Griffin, and Houston County wardens Zack Benge and Eddie Lear.

Two TPWD Non-Consent Affidavits obtained through an open records request to the Leon County Clerk’s office name Michael Brown as the landowner who filed the complaints against Lovell. The affidavits, both sworn under oath, describe the property in question as “Brown Farm” in Leon County.

Both affidavits signed by Brown on June 24, 2011 state: “Sam Lovell did not have permission or consent to hunt, fish, enter on the above described property on or about 6-11-11 and 6-10-11. It is my wish that criminal charges be filed against the above named person (Sam Lovell). I am aware that I may be called upon to testify in court.”

The documents are signed by Leon County game warden, Oscar Henson.

This is where things begin to get cloudy.

But not just because Barclay claims that he and Lovell have had permission to hunt on the private property in question for about three years.

For starters, Lovell said he was on a river last June 10-11, but it darned sure wasn’t the Trinity.

Since April, he says he has been working 10-12 hour shifts doing oil spill clean-up on the Kalamazoo River in Michigan.

Affidavits from Lovell’s employer, along with phone records obtained by subpoena, convinced Witt that Lovell was telling the truth. Thus the grounds for dismissal.

“The evidence I acquired after the case was submitted to me following the investigation (by TPWD game wardens) indicated that Sam Lovell was someplace else and not in Leon County on the days in question,” Witt said. “After reviewing that evidence I felt the case needed to be dismissed.”

How did TPWD’s investigation implicate Lovell in the case in the first place?

It seems odd. But according to Dugan, Barclay is the one who placed Lovell at the Trinity River on the days in question.

“The reason the warrants were issued (for Lovell) was because of a statement that Steve Barclay made to a game warden (Zack Benge of Houston County) that implicated Sam Lovell,” Dugan said. “He (Barclay) can deny it, but I don’t believe that game warden would make something like that up.

“Obviously, he (Lovell) was not there,” Dugan added. “I don’t know if Zack may

have misunderstood him about something else or what, but that statement was made and we went with the evidence we had.”

Dugan indicated that attempts were made to interview the men after the charges were filed, but they refused to talk.

“They lawyered up right off the bat,” he said. “We tried to investigate it and they weren’t cooperating.”

Barclay claims he never told Benge that Lovell was on the Trinity River on either of the days in question.

“It makes no sense,” Barclay said, “because Sam wasn’t there. I did have a phone conversation with Zack Benge and I told him he should contact Sam in Michigan, because Sam knew we had permission to hunt on that property.”

Lovell said the phone call from Benge never came.

“The only phone call I got from TPWD was a message recording from a Leon County game warden asking me to arrange a time to come turn myself in,” Lovell said.

“I never heard anything from TPWD before the charges were filed. My first knowledge of the charges being filed came when Steve called and told me I had warrants out for my arrest. That truly came as a shock. I have been in Michigan since April and didn’t set foot back in Texas until this past Labor Day weekend.”

This isn’t Lovell’s first run in with TPWD game wardens on the Trinity River.

In 2007, he, Barclay and a Lufkin hunter were charged in another case in which an alligator was allegedly taken by illegal means or methods in that the alligator was shot while in public water. Those charges were dismissed as well.

Lovell’s attorney, David Hammit of Normangee, says he was glad to see his client cleared in the case. However, he is disappointed with the manner in which game wardens carried out their investigation.

“Mr. Witt did the right thing in disT e x a S

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missing the charges,” Hammit said in an e-mail statement. “I do not fault Mr. Witt in filing the formal information originally, as he was acting off a sworn probable cause affidavit, signed by a peace officer, that said he believed that Mr. Lovell had committed a crime. How a peace officer, in this case, came up with such a belief is beyond me.

“Further, what is even as interesting, is another sworn under oath document, a Non-Consent Affidavit, signed by Michael Brown, which in addition to stating that Sam Lovell didn’t have permission to hunt, fish, or enter; it goes on to state that the signor wishes to have criminal charges filed against, in this case, Sam Lovell,” Hammit added. “As mentioned, both instruments, furnished to Mr. Witt, are sworn to under oath. It would be very interesting to discover how or why Mr. Brown had personal knowledge that Sam Lovell was present on his property, when obviously he was in Michigan at the time.”

Phone calls to Brown were unreturned at press deadline.

“This whole situation has been quite frustrating for Mr. Lovell,” Hammit added.

“Not only has it been expensive for him in legal fees, it has directly affected him economically as far as sponsorship and has damaged his reputation. It is somewhat disturbing and unfortunate that absolutely nothing will happen to the public servant or servants that created this mess for Sam.” When asked if TPWD would issue another press release clearing Lovell’s name, Cox said that probably won’t happen.

“Charges filed are a public record,” Cox said via e-mail. “The decision to dismiss a complaint is up to a prosecutor, and in my view, it would be up to the prosecutor to announce that if he or she wanted to do so.”

TPWD executive director Carter Smith reiterated the stance taken by the agency’s news and information branch.

“While I regret that he was ever brought into this, as he clearly was found to be out of state and not present at the time of the alleged offense, it is ultimately up to the County Attorney to issue anything further on this matter,” Smith said via e-mail. “The case is in his hands, and we will respect his jurisdiction and decisions about what to release or not release.”

—Matt Williams

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Chester’s Notes

by Chester Moore | TF&G Executive Editor

Texas Jaguars

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few years back a friend asked me what would be the first thing I would buy if I inherited a vast fortune or otherwise came into being filthy rich.

“A jaguar,” I replied.

The friend looked a bit confused and replied, “A jaguar? I always had pegged as more of a truck guy, not a luxury sports car buff.”

“No I meant, an actual jaguar. You know the kind with the beautiful spotted coat and big, razor sharp claws.”

I love big cats and if I had to narrow down a favorite it would be the jaguar.

Tigers are a close second but there is something about jaguars that have captivated me in a profound way for the last couple of decades.

A big part of it has to do with having the amazing blessing of getting to work with captive jaguars for a couple of years while I was in college. One cat in particular named “Tasha” stole my heart as we used her as an ambassador animal for the refuge where she resided. I even got to take her to get root canal surgery once.

By being in close contact with these amazing cats, it was evident they are smart.

As detailed in John James Audubon’s book Quadrupeds of North America, the jaguar actually goes fishing. No, not just

hunting down fish in shallow streams, but also actually luring them in on purpose.

“The jaguar is reported to stand in the water out of the stream and drop its saliva, which, floating on the surface, draws the fish after it within reach, when it seizes them with the paw, and throws them ashore for food,” Audubon said.

The Arizona Fish and Game Department’s official profile of the species notes that they are a patient hunter of fish.

Jaguars are reported to wait by the edge of the water and hit the surface with their tail to lure fish into range of their paws.

The intelligence of the jaguar is legendary. Audubon noted that military officials said if jaguars attacked them, they would always take out the leader in the group first as to confuse the rest. While that is a bit of a

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stretch, it does show the uniqueness of these cats has been evident for many years and even then they were enshrouded in mystery.

And they still are.

Did you know jaguars are native to Texas? They were once known to range as far north as the Red River region and extend their territory into Louisiana. After studying the species for the last couple of decades, I believe there are jaguars in Texas now, or at least they are crossing into the state from New Mexico and Mexico.

Yes, I know that is controversial and the current wildlife guidebooks don’t show that, but animals don’t read maps, and they go where the darn well please.

Both New Mexico and Arizona have verified through a focused trail camera program the migration of jaguars into both states. And when you consider how vast and uninhabited the Trans Pecos region is, there is no reason for the cats not to exist there.

In fact, it wouldn’t make sense if they were not there.

One very experienced hunter who wishes to remain anonymous told me of watching one through his scope for about five minutes walking down a sendero in Webb County.

There are many reports of “black panthers” in Texas annually, and while I believe many of these can be attributed to the jaguarundi, another misunderstood and rarely known native cat, the possibility exists some reports could very well be jaguars.

There is no such species as a “black panther” but both leopards (native to Africa and Asia) produce black or melanistic offspring as do jaguars. And while I always discounted “black panther” sightings as possibly being jaguars because I never got reports or had good data on spotted specimens, that has changed in the last two years.

I am working on a project involving these cats that will be announced at a later date and have some very interesting data along with a growing list of people who are starting to question Texas’ jaguar status.

It would be very easy to tow the official line and say there is no way these great cats could still be in the state and that anyone who sees a “black panther” is either crazy or is seeing a house cat.

I am just too curious to not look into this and after many years of study and experiences of my own seeing both cougars and jaguarundis where they are not supposed to be, I realize there are exciting possibilities.

I am currently in search of jaguar sighting reports anywhere in the United States (particularly in Texas) as well game camera photos, historical records and newspaper clippings from the past.

If you have any of the above, contact me at cmoore@fishgame.com And for a bit more information on mysterious animals, you can visit my new website at www.cmooreoutdoors.com. Click on the “Mysterious Wildlife” link.

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A healthy dose of skepticism is wise, but professional skeptics never have any fun.

I however am smiling just thinking about jaguars and am filled with great joy at the thought that technological advances in game cameras could prove their existence in Texas.

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Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Barbed Comments

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solid hook-set is the goal of every light-tackle angler. Well, this is assuming the contact occurs below the surface.

A hook-set above the water is maybe not so good. Frankly, it can be a miserable experience. Getting barbed is a possibility all anglers must risk—every day, each venue, the threat is real.

With plug or spin gear, a close-quarters fumble or miscalculation with a hooked fish can result in a big spike on the “Ouch!” meter. You miss a grab or the fish flounces and a hook is embedded in a finger or hand.

Occasionally, against abrupt pressure from a tight line, a fish may pull free and the lure or bait hook shoots straight back.

With fly tackle, a common barbing occurs on the forward stroke following an ill-advised or poorly executed backcast. A stiff wind blowing at right angles into the casting arm aids and abets the fiasco by carrying the line and trailing leader into your air space.

This can happen to the best amid the frantic drama of a quick chance on a good fish.

Rare, indeed, is the veteran fly angler who hasn’t at least once had a fly driven by a desperate double haul hit with a resounding “Whap!” in the back of the head or on the square of the back. All this is reason enough to wear a hooded parka.

Most barbings are relatively minor _ painful and inconvenient, yes, but not lifethreatening or permanently damaging. The exception, of course, is a hook in the eye.

The consequences can be awful.

Right now, remember this: Wear large sunglasses with quality wrap-around lenses.

Glare-cutting capabilities aside, the shades can save an eye from an errant hook.

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ion. The casting motion and initial trajectory often are on a line (no pun intended) with your upper torso.

“Working the birds” (gulls over surfacefeeding fish) especially is risky because the excitement is peaking, the time is fleeting, and all hands are trying to cast into the same area.

Side-arm casts sweeping through the boat account for most barbings, but even an overhand cast can be a trip-wrecker if you happen to stray behind the line of fire. It is the caster’s responsibility to know his space but, in this case, you may be guilty of careless inattention.

Stay clear of the casting radius _ but bark loudly at any reckless side-arm swings through the centerline of the boat. More than one deck-clearing sweep should be grounds for temporary cessation of action followed by a heart-felt conversation. You’ve got a wild cannon on board. Incidentally, age has no bearing.

Regardless of who’s at fault, the impact from a point-blank barbing can be excruciating. This is because the force from the initial effort is extreme; you are catching the full power of an aggressive swing.

Most dangerous are the elongated 4to 5-inch baitfish-imitation plugs with two or three sets of dangling trebles. But a plastic-tail jig with a large single hook can really gaff you. A spoon with a single hook is somewhere in between. The metal body might whack your head, knocking you semiunconscious but maybe you’ll miss the hook.

The live-bait rig under a cork is perhaps least dangerous. Chances are, you’ll intercept the leading cork while the trailing bait hook flaps behind. If it’s a circle hook, all the safer. Also worth note, a foam cork upside the head is alarming but not particularly punishing.

In 50-plus years of fishing, I’ve witnessed various barbings but only suffered one. And, to the best of my recollection, I’ve never given one. I’d like to attribute that record to cat-like reflexes and ever-vigil awareness but a lot of luck was involved.

My barbing occurred with my own rig

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while fly fishing at night. I’ve never enjoyed night fishing; my timing totally goes to hell.

A lame backcast was followed by frantic haul to compensate for lost line speed and I knew something bad was going to happen.

The “something bad” was a black woolly bugger streamer. The long-shanked hook whammed to the bend in the top of my wrist.

Fortunately, a nearby angler waded over and assessed the situation.

He looped a length of fly line around the bend of the hook and depressed the shank— Ouch! —to approximate the entry channel. Then he gave a quick yank and the hook was out. The actual line-yank was quick and painless, a slick trick for any hook in firm flesh.

Incidentally, I can give as well as take. I used the same procedure to pull a large bait hook from a guy’s hand when we were fishing cut mullet for bull redfish at “Fleanor’s Flat” at the Galveston Jetties. He vowed the operation was (almost) painless.

Just use line or string heavy enough for grip and purchase and don’t waffle. Go for it.

Actually, I was barbed one other time, this time in Alaska. My fly fishing companion drove a wind-whipped cast over our drift boat and the outgoing No. 10 hook struck my ear lobe.

The extreme force ripped the small hook right through the fleshy lobe; after I stopped hopping and cussing and bleeding, the result resembled a lousy attempt at ear piercing.

And I recall a close call with a plughooked speck in the surf near San Luis Pass. I reached, focused on the landing detail, and a sneaker wave smacked everything out of control. I lost my grip and a treble stuck my index finger. Fortunately, the barb failed to penetrate.

I hate to say it, but fish long enough and you’ll get the point. Literally. I don’t mean to make light of this. Pay attention and be careful; a barbing, especially to the face, can be a devastating experience on either end of the rod.

Email Joe Doggett at jdoggett@fishgame.com

G a m e ®

9/30/11 4:54 PM

Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Payback, Hell; It’s Time for Pushback

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f you saw a fire ant crawling on your pant leg and were in a particularly good mood, you might just brush it away.

You’d recognize it as a threat, but not much of one as compared to tripping and falling into a bed of the beasts.

Or the single mosquito that buzzes both ears then lands briefly on the sun-hardened back of your hand. It gets a light flick, but you don’t issue the full-speed slap you’d aim at a third or fourth mosquito to puncture or penetrate and fatten itself with your blood.

In single doses, big potential threats can appear minimal. That guy at work who wants you to stop fishing can’t do anything to take the rod-and-reel out of your hands.

And the woman on the corner the other day, the one with the sign that said hunting is wrong. Think she’s just some harmless, lonely woman simply looking for attention?

Not hardly.

One person, if he or she speaks to enough undecided people who aren’t hearing anything to the contrary, can be staggeringly influential. To understand the power of eloquent speech, listen to a few political debates in the coming year. Or look back at recent elections.

To our own detriment, we outdoorsmen are about as vocal in public, where it really counts, as we are when we’re still hunting for deer or trying to put a fly in front of a skinny-water trout.

The folks who would rip away our hunting and fishing privileges – not rights, privileges – are some of the least sensitive, most vocal people you ever could meet. A few are Billboard image: Peta

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meek followers, as are the majority on our side, but the folks on the front lines of the anti-outdoors message are loud and proud.

And unafraid of being controversial or politically incorrect, having no concern for poorly their actions are received or who they might offend in the name of the cause.

Case in point: A Florida boy was bitten and seriously injured by a bull shark this past September. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals reaction? A billboard, which they hoped to place near where the attack took place, that depicted a great white shark with a human leg hanging from its mouth. Text on the billboard read: Payback is Hell; Go Vegan.

The concept of that billboard earned countless headlines and sound bites by being obnoxious, outrageous and heartless in the eyes of average, compassionate people. It upset the victim’s family, and that family’s pain made the story interesting to news directors everywhere.

Again, PETA capitalized on sensationalism, and make no mistake that it does a sensational job of getting itself into the news.

The shark billboard was classic PETA. When the story broke, PETA claimed it hadn’t yet decided where to place the billboard for maximum social impact. In fact, it had. That billboard, although not along any roadside, appeared on millions of computer monitors and television screens. And at no cost, except for production cost on the artwork.

What was the outdoors community’s response? Silence has been the customary counterpunch to PETA’s low blows, and outside outdoors circles, I didn’t see anything else. That’s our own fault and potentially our downfall. Because fishermen and hunters weren’t threatened directly by the billboard, they dismissed it as that lone ant or mosquito.

As I and so many others have written in these pages and scores of other publications, the agenda of so-called animal rights groups seldom is about animals or any calm discussion of their rights. Peel away the propaganT e x a S

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da, and you’ll find that one after the other of these organizations spends its money – the true test of any corporate entity’s mission – on campaigns designed either to abolish consumptive outdoor recreation or disparage the tradition. PETA’s sensationalist billboard didn’t cost them a penny.

Extremists among them don’t want us to wear or eat animal products of any kind, or even to cure dreadful human diseases at the cost of a single animal’s life. And collectively, they collect hundreds of millions of dollars annually to forward their causes.

We buy fishing and hunting licenses, which pay state fish and game departments, but only a few pennies of those dollars are earmarked for recruitment or the shining of favorable light on the sports we so love.

Beyond PETA and its grandstanding, there are groups that operate quietly within the bureaucratic system to change little things. Like the drops of water that eventually formed the Grand Canyon, they earn their tiny victories one at a time.

Minor limit reductions, shortened seasons, gear exclusions and hunting prohibitions don’t collapse the empire singularly, but they each claim a few “tired of all the hassle” folks.

Consumptive outdoor recreation is under attack. I’ll stand up front. I like hunting and fishing enough to express those likes openly and, if need be, loudly.

Next time you’re at a social gathering and someone takes a cheap shot at outdoors enthusiasts, no matter how casual the remark or how big the smile through which it’s delivered, your passion for hooks and bullets will be tested by the way you react.

G a m e ®

Email Doug Pike at dpike@fishgame.com |

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10/4/11 2:22 PM

Ted’s TexasWild

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

The Reluctant Rookie

to constantly remind everyone, everywhere, everytime.

I am all too often amazed at the number of otherwise experienced sporters who continue to make rookie mistakes and conduct themselves in such a manner as if they never learned the basics.

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love rookies. I was a rookie for a long, long time, but eventually, after a protracted and painfully extended learning curve, I manned up and graduated.

Rookies are like immigrants; there would be no America The Beautiful if it were not for immigrants seeking freedom and The American Way, but we all know there is a right way to immigrate and a wrong way to immigrate.

And if not for rookie sporters, we would have no recruitment or necessary growth in our beloved outdoor recreation lifestyle.

Newcomers to all endeavors are going to be a little clumsy during the assimilation process, and those of us that remember what it was like to stumble, must be patient and understanding as we reach out to assist those who seek the joys of our chosen shooting and hunting activities.

It is one thing to throw a baseball inaccurately for the first days of practice, but another consideration altogether when we are training with a firearm or bow and arrow. There is no room for inattentiveness when bullets and arrows are the equipment of choice. The shooting sports are a deadly serious business and must always be treated and approached as such. Mistakes don’t happen, they are caused. In fact, there are no accidents with guns or bows, only negligence due to human error as a direct result of not paying attention or not dedicating one’s self and always focusing on safety.

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Only a rookie has his pocket knife in the truck. That wouldn’t be a pocket knife; that would be a truck knife.

Only a rookie fails to bring toilet paper, water, 1st aid, a flashlight, large handkerchief, knife and certain basics with him on every outing.

Only a rookie still shoots a bow that he has to point to the sky in order to draw it back.

Only a rookie walks about with an arrow on the string ready to shoot when there is no need to be ready to shoot.

Only a rookie fails to have a proper arrow quiver and carries a fistful of arrows to his stand.

Only a rookie fails to search and scour the area where he shot at game with bow or gun simply because the animal didn’t show any sign of being hit.

Only a rookie would set up a treestand or groundblind facing east in the morning or west in the afternoon unless there is complete sun shielding cover.

Only a rookie would defoliate everything around his stand instead of minimally and selectively trimming specific shooting lanes.

Only a rookie would climb back into a noisy, squeaky or unsafe stand.

Only a rookie would fail to adequately practice with his scoped firearm so that he can instantaneously find his crosshairs on target.

It takes a rookie to introduce a new shooter without proper ear and eye protection.

It is so rookie to not practice with their bow enough so that the drawing, aiming and release process is smooth, graceful and second nature.

It is painfully rookie, downright dumb and frighteningly dangerous for gangs of hunters to drive around together with loaded

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guns drinking beer and shooting randomly at the same animal with muzzles dangerously close to other’s ears and faces.

It is the sure sign of a rookie who only takes photos with their game in the back of trucks, on a bloody concrete slab or hanging on the gamepole instead of a respectful shot arranged with care in the field.

It is the act of a rookie and confirmed dolt that thinks it is funny introducing a new shooter to a hard kicking firearm.

It is totally rookie to not have fresh and spare batteries in a quality flashlight and to fail to charge cellphone batteries each night.

It is a sure sign of a rookie and ghetto fool to not know empty corn bags and trash will blow out of the back of your truck to litter everywhere. Don’t mess with Texas indeed.

It is the sign of a rookie to have the gas gauge on E. It is pure rookie to put a hunter in a stand with the wind at his back.

The list goes on and on, as we all know.

Rookies can be taught. Most rookies can be fixed. It is up to those of us who know and care enough to constantly remind our fellow sporters that upgrade is simple and beneficial to everyone.

Bring on the rookies, but do not remain a rookie for long.

Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@fishgame.com

On the Web For Uncle Ted updates and more of his writings, visit: www.TedNugent.com

Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@fishgame.com

G a m e ®

10/4/11 4:46 PM

Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill | TF&G Political Commentator

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friend and I were watching a rerun of the Bruce Willis movie Die Hard on television once, and he commented on a scene in which police sergeant Al Powell was being severely denigrated by his boss, Deputy Police Chief Dwayne Robinson. My friend, who was a Texas DPS trooper at the time, and is now a Texas DPS Sergeant, said, “That doesn’t happen. Idiots like that don’t end up in charge.”

He was wrong. Idiots like that do end up in charge. As evidence of this I submit the recent BATF&E scandal known popularly as ‘Fast & Furious,’ in which straw buyers were allowed to illegally purchase guns and pass them along to the bad guys, both in the United States and Mexico.

Last month’s column about this fiasco was not meant to be the first of a two part series, but this story continues to unfold, and more evidence constantly comes to light.

So, in order to present a few new facts, and perhaps clear up a misunderstanding or two, I’ve decided to revisit the issue.

My last article about Fast & Furious may have seemed to paint the entire BATF&E with the brush of incompetence. The fault, if that was the case, is entirely mine. I would like to point out that the evidence so far places the blame for the debacle almost entirely on those in charge, and very little if any of it belongs to the field agents involved.

Like Chief Robinson in Die Hard, the bosses involved in the Fast & Furious scandal seem to have shouted down the objections of their ‘inferiors,’ making themselves

look, collectively, like the south end of a north-bound donkey. And the field agents, while objecting to the poor decisions and potential danger of their actions, had to say “Yes, sir” and do what they were told, like sergeant Powell.

What they were told was wrong. Field agents, who were evidently worried about losing their jobs if they made waves, and rightfully so, were told to keep their mouths shut when they complained about the illegal activities they were involved in. They finally had enough and some talked, but not before a large number of guns were funneled to the drug cartels in Mexico.

One of those guns was quickly identified at the scene of a shootout in which Brian Terry, a BATF&E agent, was killed. Since then at least one more of the illegal guns the feds knew about, and possibly another, have been identified as being involved in that shootout. Our past, it seems, comes back to haunt us. Unfortunately, it also haunts others.

Trying to find a gun dealer who, under federal instructions, sold illegal guns and will talk about it is like trying to find an honest lawyer. Bill Carter, of Carter’s Country gun store in Houston, is one of the dealers involved. When I called Mr. Carter he politely told me he couldn’t say anything about the case, but pointed out that all the charges against him have been dropped.

Those charges, as near as I’ve been able to piece together, were filed against Carter’s Country for making illegal guns sales that the BATF&E told Carter’s Country to make. It should come as no surprise that the federal left hand has no idea what the federal right hand is doing.

But the BATF&E was not the only government agency involved in Fast & Furious.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Interneal Revenue Service all had a hand in the jar. And the Department of Justice, apparantly, supplied the overall stamp of approval to the disaster.

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with me on condition of anonymity, said that he knew of over 300 guns that Carter’s Country had sold, at BATF&E request, that were known to be headed for Mexico, along with a batch of over 10,000 rounds of .223 ammunition, and 150 AK-47 magazines. The ammo ended up being apprehended by Mexican police “ten feet inside Mexico.” The Federales kept the ammunition, and the man who was arrested with it was found dead later, legless, hanging from a bridge. He was supposed to have been in Mexican federal custody. We are not dealing with the cast of Sesame Street, here.

The question of who knew about Fast & Furious, and when they knew, is at the forefront, but is difficult to answer. Someone very high up, and maybe several someones, had to authorize the plan. But asking a bureaucrat to voluntarily fess up to a faux pas of this magnitude is like asking Bill Maher to vote Republican. Ain’t gonna happen.

There is also the possibility that this whole fiasco was designed, not to combat the illegal gun trade, but to support the anti-gun agenda fomenting of late. Making gun dealers look bad is definitely good for the Brady Bunch and others, and those who oppose guns are using the scandal to their advantage. Of course, I would be astounded if they didn’t.

The end of the story, it seems, is not yet in sight. The only thing proven so far is that, no matter how bad the illegal gun situation was in Mexico before the BATF&E and their pals got involved, it’s far worse now.

G a m e ®

Email Kendal Hemphill at khemphill@fishgame.com

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9/30/11 4:52 PM

What’s the Number-One Whitetail Killed in Texas?

Good Question...

by paul bradshaw

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Photos MAIN INSET courtesy Texas Big Game Awards, LOWER INSETS,TEXAS FISH & GAME

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WANT TO WASTE THE BETTER part of an afternoon? Get on the internet and try to search for the largest white-tails (based on the Boone & Crockett scoring system) ever killed in Texas. Go ahead, I dare you. I’ll be here when you get back.

For those of you not inclined to look let me share what I found. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department keeps records of some of the largest deer ever taken in the state via the Texas Big Game Awards program, but that program is only 20 years old so it doesn’t have a very large sample size. The largest typical whitetail ever entered into the program was taken by Steven O’Carroll and scored 190 and 2/8 inches. At just over 23 inches shy of the world record, that’s a big white-tail no matter where it was taken. The largest non-typical in the program, scoring 269 and 2/8 was entered by Marko Barrett.

The Los Cazadores contest has been around for over 20 years and is the largest big buck contest in the world—yes, everything is truly bigger in Texas. If you kill a monster buck in our state, this is where you take it to get it scored because it is the gold standard of big buck contests. Over the past few years it has even expanded to include deer taken outside our borders. The largest Texas buck ever entered at Los Cazadores came just last year and sported over 300 inches of bone on its head. The 32 point buck taken by Mark Barrett easily topped the former biggest Texas buck entered by his son, Marko Barrett (you’ll recognize his name from the above mention in the Texas Big Game Awards). Although, the elder Barrett’s buck was a native Texas deer it lived out its life behind a high fence.

Then there is the oldest big buck contest in the world, the Muy Grande. This contest is so popular that just about any big buck taken in Texas is affectionately called a “Muy Grande.” This past season Steve Sahinen entered a low fence buck with a 33 inch inside spread that gross scored 181 and 1/8th inches. Truly a monster white-tail.

While it is an honor to have your name and trophy listed in any of these record books the absolute ultimate goal is to be entered in the book that started it all, The Record Book of the Boone and Crockett Club.

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Boone and Crockett is a 196 and 4/8 inch beast taken in Maverick County by Tom McCulloch almost 50 years ago. The largest non-typical Texas buck in the book scored 284 and 3/8 inches and was killed in McCulloch County in 1892 by an unknown hunter. That’s right, in an age where the score of a buck is all most hunters care about, we don’t even know the name of the hunter who took the largest non-typical Texas buck ever entered in Boone & Crockett. This information was provided by the Boone & Crockett Club www.boone-crockett.org.

With monster bucks seemingly hiding behind every mesquite bush, pine tree, and fence post, why is it that you rarely hear about big Texas bucks on a national level?

When national publications write about record book bucks, and deer in general, they rarely mention our state. Makes you feel shunned, doesn’t it?

So why is Texas on the black list? There are a few reasons, but let’s hit the big one first. I gave you a few hints to it earlier.

Where was the Barrett buck taken? Where was the Sahinen buck taken? More specifically, what kind of fence surrounded the hunting area of each? Barrett’s was taken behind a high fence while Sahinen’s was killed on a low fence hunting area. The fact that we have to distinguish between the two is one of our major problems.

From the outside looking in, hunters in other states see us as one gigantic petting zoo. Even within our own borders there is conflict among hunters on whether or not hunting inside a fence is a means of excluding others or a management tool when properly utilized. One man’s quality deer management is another’s elitism. To take it a step further, Barrett’s buck is often distinguished as being a native Texas deer.

Why? Because a lot of the deer killed in Texas each year didn’t originate here. Their genetic make-up is influenced by deer semen brought in from northern states to artificially inseminate native doe in an effort to improve localized deer herds.

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Fences are such a big issue that Boone and Crockett will not allow a deer killed behind one to be entered into their record books. So, while every year there are plenty of Texas deer killed with well over 200 inches of antler, according to the Boone & Crockett scoring system, none of them will ever see the book due to the fence they are shot behind.

This leads to the second problem, the length of time it has been since Texas has had a record breaking buck legitimized by the Boone & Crockett Club. I don’t mean just included in the book, but being the top Texas buck in the book. Our top typical buck was taken almost 50 years ago and our top non-typical was killed 120 years ago.

What have we done lately?

Nebraska broke their record for typical buck in 2010, Ohio did it in 2004, and Kansas broke theirs in 1999. When you look at non-typicals you see Iowa set a new state record in 2003, Illinois in 2001, Nebraska in 2009, and even our neighbor to the east Louisiana did it in 1994. Everyone is breaking records but us. Well, we’re not doing so in a manner approved by the record keepers anyway.

The last reason I think we receive little national attention is sitting in your deer feeder right now. Those little golden pellets that we all hunt over are disdained by a lot of the hunters nation wide. Heck, in a lot of states it is illegal to hunt over bait and those hunters compare shooting a deer at a feeder to fishing with dynamite in a bathtub.

To them it’s cheating. To us, it’s all a lot of us know.

There is no doubt in my mind that deer hunting in Texas is second to none. There are trophy animals taken each year from every region between the Red River and the Rio Grande. There is also no doubt in my mind that we will continue to be the little brother in the deer hunting world because other states will always look down at us not only because of the locations but also the methods we choose to hunt.

PHOTO SPREAD, previous pages: Mark Barrett’s 2010 non-typical buck (main inset); the still-current Texas non-typical record holder killed in 1892 (lower left inset); Tom McCulloch’s top typical buck, taken in 1963 (lower right inset).

G a m e ®

10/4/11 5:17 PM

Texas Bowhunting

by Lou Marullo | TF&G Title

Let the Games Begin

B

y now I am sure the readers of this column know that I love to hunt with different scents. Much has been written here about the nose of the whitetail and although the argument about whether or not to use scent attractors or scent eliminators will go on for years after I am gone, I, for one, believe in them.

I think that if a hunter believes that a product they are using is working for them, it will give them the confidence they need to get the job done. After all, there is enough to think about when that buck of a lifetime comes into range. Just believing that that deer has his mind on the subject in his nostrils instead of the subject in the tree stand, should give you the time you need to draw, anchor and release with one smooth motion resulting in a freezer full of venison.

It is true that you do not need these scent products to be successful. I am sure that for as many hunters out there that use it, there are those that would rather hunt “au natural.” I guess as long as they are having fun in the woods, then good for them.

Call it “fooling the nose of the deer” if you like. I just love the game, and it is a game we play. We, as bow hunters, have all the pawns in place, but the King that we are after has his defenses as well, and to be quite honest, he usually wins in the bowhunting world.

Personally, I love the Hunter’s Specialty product line for scent control. I use it religiously and have had much success fooling that weary whitetail. I make sure I shower before every hunt using their scent free soap products and then, after I reach my destination, I put on my camo that has already been washed in a scent free laundry soap. By the

time I spray myself down with some ScentA-Way, I am as scent free as I can be and ready for a great hunt. I think that this year I might add a little bit to the mix. Hunter’s Specialties introduced an aerosol spray mist of different scents. The fact that it can be set to spray at different times and as often as you would like would put a cool spin on “fooling that whitetail”.

By November, our Texas deer are getting pretty wise to the ways of a bow hunter. It sometimes seems to get harder and harder to see them, let alone get a shot close enough for a bow. Time to bring out your bag of tricks.

For those of you reading this that have never hunted with the aid of a deer decoy, I would have to ask: What are you waiting for? When you hunt geese, do you not spend hours putting out goose decoys? Duck hunters lose hours of precious sleep just to have their duck decoys ready at first light. Coyotes have been fooled for years with a good caller and a decoy to close the deal of deception.

Why wouldn’t you try deer decoys, especially in November?

Most of the 3D plastic molds look pretty good. Primos has one out there called Scarface. One of Flambeau’s newer versions of decoy magic is called their Master Series.

I actually saw one of these from across the room when I attended the SHOT show in Vegas. It looked realistic enough to draw me over for a better look! Carry Lite is another decoy company that has been around for years. I actually owned one of these.

Some decoys are positioned looking in one direction. I found that sometimes this pose puts a whitetail on alert. What is that deer looking at? Why is he so still? They have decoys that look like they are feeding as well, a much better option in my humble opinion.

Here is the problem I found with those plastic 3D decoys. Quite frankly, they are bulky and a little heavy to lug out in the field.

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climbing stand…unless you make another trip to set that up!

There are many deer decoys to choose from, plastic 3D models to a photograph of a whitetail on a flat surface just to name two.

But there is one decoy that was introduced last year by Tinks that was different from all the rest. They call it their Miss November.

Tinks has found the answer. Miss November is, for lack of a better term, a blow- up doll for hunters. Stop laughing.

It looks so realistic it is scary. The reason it looks so realistic is because it is an actual picture of a whitetail that has been transformed onto material. This material fits over the heavy duty vinyl nice and tight and I have to say I was very impressed with the results.

The first time I used it, I had many deer come in to my set-up from across the length of a field to check her out.

It comes with 2 extra large blow up valves to make it easy to get it set up in a jiffy, but I found it much easier to simply use my compressor and blow it up before I left for the hunt. It is super light and does not have any parts that can fall off the decoy like some of their competitors. I added a few white feathers that I attached in the ears and on the tail for a little extra movement, but it really was not needed. After I staked it in the ground and sprayed it with scent eliminator, I was ready for a fantastic hunt.

With all the success of Miss November, Tinks has decided to introduce Mr. October.

It is their blow-up male version complete with an impressive set of antlers! I cannot wait to give that a try!

Hunting with decoys is nothing new, but it can be a new way you choose to hunt if you want to have some fun out there n the field.

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Email Lou Marullo at lmarullo@fishgame.com

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Texas Department of Defense Quick on the Draw

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he proper method of execution of the fast draw, or as it is more commonly referred to in these politically correct times, the “presentation,” is a matter of some difference of opinion. Over the years the technique used in getting a holstered handgun into action as quickly as possible has changed a lot. Over the four decades or so since I first became interested in handguns, I have tried to learn from those I respect and incorporate the best aspects of their programs into something that works for me.

Gun hawk extraordinaire, Bill Jordan, wrote: “Regardless of the starting position

No Second Place LYING ON MY DESK is a book that every adult American citizen should be required to read. It was written a long time ago by a man that I admired greatly, former Border Patrol agent, Bill Jordan.

Bill was a former Marine combat veteran and one of the best handgunners that every lived. He did things with a six-gun that most of us can only dream about. I know this to be true because I have tried for the last 40-plus years to match his speed and accuracy and cannot do it. I quit. I 26 |

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| Self Defense | | Concealed Carry | | Tactical |

by Steve LaMascus

of your hand, make its movement continuous. With thumbs hooked in belt, your hand describes a circle. From hanging by your side it goes forward or back and up in a arc, depending on starting position. From a ‘hands up’ position, down and around in a circle. Always one movement.”

This was valid advice, at that time, for uniformed officers who carried a standard holster with strap snapped over the gun’s hammer or sight, but it changed somewhat when the thumb-break became popular, and modern holster designers are seemingly more interested in keeping the gun from being lost or taken away than they are in allowing a fast draw. Modern holsters with their many retention devices do not allow the smooth circular movement that made Jordan so incredibly fast. Concealed carry, also, necessitates a somewhat

different approach. This in no way lessens the value of Jordan’s book, No Second Place Winner, which is one of the best books ever written on the subject of gunfighting. If you don’t have a copy, get one!

My advice is to move your hand from wherever it may be at the moment, directly to the grip, without any unnecessary movement, circular or otherwise. Grip the gun firmly (and I do mean firmly. A weak grip on the gun is not conducive to a quick draw.

Grip that gun, as my old friend, the late Bill Waldrop, used to say, “‘til the sap drips out of the handles”). The trigger finger should be straight along the side of the gun, not inside the trigger guard. Then, once you have a firm grip on the gun, draw it and point it at your target or assailant, placing the trigger finger on the trigger only after the gun has cleared the

give. Uncle! I admit that he was better than I will ever be and let it go at that.

His book, No Second Place Winner, is one of the finest tomes written on the art of gunfighting, but it is not the only such book. Also a great book is Principles of Personal Defense,

by Jeff Cooper, another of the alltime great pistoleros, who learned his art in combat. Principles of Personal Defense was one of the first books that dealt with the mental aspects of selfdefense. Jeff Cooper was also a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel who served in both WWII and Korea.

Last and undoubtedly best is The Modern Day Gunslinger, by Don Mann, a former Navy SEAL. Mr. Mann lays it out plain and easy

to understand. This book should be issued along with every badge and handgun license.

The most important thing you will read here is this: Bill Jordan was precisely and absolutely right when he titled his book on gunfighting No Second Place Winner. You see, in a gunfight you are fighting for life itself. Second place means dead, or at the best, grievously wounded. It is nothing like a contest where if Joe beats you by two-tenths of a second you still get a nice trophy. In real life, if Joe beats you by two-tenths you get a nasty hole in your belly.

Gunfighting takes mental preparedness as well as physical skill. These books can help you attain both.

—Steve LaMascus

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Photo Courtesy Photo Bill Jordan credit

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holster and the line of your body, at the same time bringing the off hand up to clear clothing, grip the gun, or fend off the attacker, until you can release the safety, press the trigger, and put lead on target. With practice this method will allow you to move from any position, clear intervening clothing, draw your weapon, and place shots on target in less than 2 seconds. And that 2 seconds should be your gold standard. If you can’t do it that quickly, and preferably faster than that, copious practice is indicated.

This may be the most important point I will make here, so pay attention. Since your gun is carried concealed, when you practice, you will need to start your draw with the gun concealed, as you wear it every day. If you wear it under a tee-shirt, practice with it under a tee-shirt. If you wear a photographer’s vest, practice that way. The same with a suit coat, or whatever type of clothing you wear every day and under which your gun is normally concealed. If you wear a fanny pack holster, practice with it, not with a fast draw holster. It does you no good whatsoever to practice with a fast-draw rig

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when you carry your gun concealed. We will cover more of this in future issues.

Important note: If you are to practice with your concealed carry holster, and you absolutely must practice with it if you are to be able to use your weapon in an armed encounter, you require a holster that has a mouth that is reinforced in some way, to facilitate re-holstering. You need to be able to re-holster with one hand. Unless concealment is of paramount importance, overruling useability, do not -- DO NOT -- use one of the flimsy holsters that collapses shut when the gun is drawn. More on this when we discuss holsters.

Practice regularly, and practice realistic positions and scenarios. A vital truth is that you almost never need to practice what you are best at, but what you are worst at, and that may save your life, and that definitely includes practicing weak hand shooting.

Standing in front of a target and carefully shooting little bitty groups teaches you nothing but how to stand in front of a target and shoot little bitty groups. Practice something else!

Police agencies generally teach the student to stand square to the target with toes on the shooting line and arms extended in what is known as the isosceles stance. This is done for a couple of reasons. One, and the one that I think is uppermost in the minds of the instructors of said law enforcement agencies, is because it is safer than having a group of students standing at varying angles to the target, whereby their guns may accidentally sweep the person to either side during the draw. Two is because ballistic vests are now standard equipment and they believe that the officer standing squarely facing his adversary is better shielded by the vest. A third, but much lesser reason is that they can teach only one standardized technique.

Since I know of no ordinary citizen who habitually wears a bullet proof vest, reason number two is not valid for our purposes.

Neither are we interested in what is safest for large groups of inexperienced police trainees on a long firing line, but only what is the best way to save our own lives, so we will take the first reason with a few grains of salt. Number 3 we are going to ignore completely.

9/30/11 4:03 PM

Texas Department of Defense I personally do not like the isosceles shooting stance (photo1). I prefer to stand quartering to my target, where I can use my left hand for defense, as in the Field Interrogation Stance that I was taught in the Border Patrol Academy lo those many years ago (photo 2), and for clearing my

right to draw my gun and shoot (photo 3).

This is called the Weaver Stance (or some modified version thereof) and is, I believe, a more viable position for most purposes, and easier to use in the shoot and move maneuvers, which you should practice like your life depended on it, which it may.

1: Isosceles stance

2: Field Interrogation Stance

3: Weaver stance

Now, that said, many of the best combat shooters in the world today use the isosceles stance, so there is, obviously, some merit to it. It is up to you to decide what is best for you. Much of what we share with you here is not written in stone, it is just our opinion, based on many years of field experience and what works best for us. You, and you alone, have to decide what works best for you.

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Hunt Texas

by Bob Hood | TF&G Hunting Editor

Welcome, Hunters!

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ome things never change and when it comes to small town chambers of commerce, hunting retailers, firefighters, landowners and other good ol’ country folks that’s a good thing. After all, without their appreciations for hunters our travels, stopovers, shopping and other things that lead us to our hunting destinations just wouldn’t be as enjoyable.

I have traveled all major thoroughfares and scores of back roads throughout Texas on hunting trips for more than 50 years and while reaching a final destination such as a ranch I would hunt always has been the icing on the cake, the people I have met along the way never have been forgotten.

They have worked at small-town cafes, chambers of commerce, city police and county sheriffs’ offices, auto and tire repair businesses, gas stations, convenience and grocery stores and much more and they have provided my travels with pure enjoyment.

It is sad to see much fewer “Welcome Hunters” signs stretched across the major roads through small rural towns that we saw in the 1950s, 1060s and 1970s but when you do see one you immediately know you have entered a community who appreciates hunters, the business they bring to them and the friendships that often evolve from repeat business.

Throughout the year, I often travel south from my home at Possum Kingdom Lake through Strawn, DeLeon, Comanche, Goldthwaite, Lometa and Lampasas to hunting areas. That route along State Highway 16 and U.S. 183 is just an example of the many other routes I have taken through rural communities that open their arms to hunters, especially during the Photo: Bob Hood

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archery-only and general firearms hunting seasons.

Every year at Goldthwaite, I pass under a “Welcome Hunters” banner near its county courthouse, visit the Mills County General Store to pick up needed hunting gear from its large selection of items or to see what new products they may have on their shelves, dine at Goldthwaite’s eateries, or simply stop beneath the shade trees in its city park to take a break.

I have done the same at many other rural

Every year, the town of Goldthwaite puts out a big welcome to hunters.

towns throughout the state for decades and encourage others to do so, too. After all, life is short and if you don’t take the time to enjoy it you never will know what you have missed and your life of rural enjoyment will be even shorter.

During the “off season” while filling feeders, checking trail cameras, trimming limbs around blinds or simply sitting in a hunting cabin with friends, I have made it a personal commitment to learn when and where various town festivals, chili cook offs and similar events are scheduled and to fit them into a trip to a hunting area.

Almost all rural towns have outdoor community events sometime during the year. I often have wondered why any hunter would not want to fit them into their schedule, especially if their wives, children or other relatives and friends were traveling with them.

One day not long ago on the way to a ranch in Lampasas County I checked my map and took a shortcut on FM 580 south T e x a S

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of Lometa to my hunting destination. I saw a sign that read “Fiesta Winery” and another that read “Wine Tasting Room Open” at the entrance of a working cattle ranch. I haven’t tasted more than a few sips of wine in my life but decided one day to stop in and check it out, if for nothing else to learn a little more about turkeys, deer and hogs in the area from the ranch owner.

The result was making acquaintance with Stephen and Sally Baxter, owners of the ranch and winery. It was a great break from my trip and I learned much about the history of the ranch and its wildlife just off the Colorado River not far from Bend, Tex., a renowned sand bass hot spot.

Fiesta Winery is just a good example of places that are out there in the country where a traveling hunter can take a break, make new friends and look forward to returning to the next time they travel that route. Small-town cafes, sporting goods stores, town square festivals, antique shops and more are all out there to enjoy.

Today’s internet access to information about many destinations is incredible and finding something you are interested in on your way to a hunting destination is just a click away. Take a ride through the list of information available, include some places and sites along the way in your plans and stretch your hunting travels to include more than just getting there.

And just as important, don’t drive fast through these rural communities. Many elderly local residents travel the same highways, town streets and county roads at a very much slower speed every day year-round.

If you are in a hurry to get to your hunting lease, slow down when you pass through these rural towns or, better yet, just leave home earlier and don’t be in a rush to get there.

G a m e ®

Email Bob Hood at bhood@fishgame.com |

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IF THERE IS ONE THING a fisherman never forgets, it is a good butt whipping. I’ve had a few in my life, but none to compare with the thrashing the late June Morton dished out on a frigid winter day back in 1988.

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Morton was a casual angler from Etoile who knew the upper reaches of Sam Rayburn like a road map. I was only two years out of college when he invited me down for a morning of crappie fishing.

There, the old man schooled me like I have never been schooled before, or since. In three hours fishing Morton caught 60 crappie, all of them weighing upwards of 1 1/4 pounds. I only caught one!

To this day I have not figured out for sure what I did wrong.

Our rod tips were just feet apart. We baited with live shiners rigged the exact same way with identical weights and hooks.

Perhaps I just suck at crappie fishing, but I don’t believe that.

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Photo: Texas fish & Game

9/30/11 9:08 AM

Knowing what I know now, I’m thinking I was just fishing too deep and didn’t adjust.

Toledo Bend crappie guide Stephen Johnston chuckled when he heard the tale. He agreed that my lack of success could likely be attributed to breaking one of winter crappie fishing’s cardinal rules: Soaking the bait out of the strike zone.

“Crappie can get be real finicky about that, especially during the winter months when the water dips into the 40s and 50s,” Johnston said. “They tend to suspend a lot in big schools during the winter months, and it is critical that the bait be put in or just above that window. Otherwise, you won’t get bit. These fish can T e x a S

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be real lethargic. They will sometimes come up to get a bait, but they will rarely go down.”

Location, Location, Location The depth at which crappie will suspend during winter can vary from one lake to the next. In some cases, the area of a lake up for discussion also can make a huge difference in where the fish locate, and how easy they are to find.

Toledo Bend is a classic example of the latter. Down south, where deep water is vast, Johnston said schools of crappie will scatter and suspend on the heels of roving pods of shad. These fish F i s h

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can difficult to pattern, because they tend to be here today and there tomorrow.

In contrast, fish in the midlake and northern reaches are much more reliable, so long as the water remains clear and current in minimal. One of the best midlake areas is called the “Chicken Coop.” It consists of a series of sharp bends in the Sabine River channel, which provides water as deep as 85 feet.

“What makes that area so good is it is shallow on both sides,” Johnston said.

“When the water gets cold, it forces the crappie and shad off the adjacent flats and pins them in the river channel. They have no place else to go.”

Hunt and Peck Johnston uses his Humminbird electronics to look for clouds of shad hovering over the river channel, which may be 75-90 feet deep. When he finds shad, crappie are usually nearby. He said 20-33 feet is usually the best window, but he has found them suspended as deep as 35 feet in extreme cold.

Farther north, where the water is significantly shallower, the fish usually find their comfort zone closer to bottom. Bill’s Landing owner Charlie Shively said he routinely locates big schools of winter crappie holding about a foot off bottom in 18-22 feet of water. Like Johnston, he relies heavily on his depth finder to help him find the hotspots.

“They are usually right along the first shelf in the river channel,” explained Shively.

“But they are not always hanging around the shad. These fish tend to key more on underwater brush and old logs.”

Lake Fork in northeast Texas is an entirely different story. The fish often stick to

bridge pilings and brush piles until early-tomid-December. Then, large congregations set up camp on main lake points, around underwater depressions and brush in the vicinity of the dam. Best water depths can range from 22 to 50 feet.

“It’s that way every year,” says fishing guide Gary Paris. “Sometimes you’ll find them right on bottom in 25 feet of water and other times they might suspend 10 feet off bottom in 35 feet of water. The keys are to cover water with your electronics until you find them.”

Mark Your Spot Paris says it is a good idea to mark an area that is holding fish with one or more marker buoys. However, it might be wise to catch a few first to make sure the spot is worthwhile. It could be bunch of small crappie, or a roving band of white bass.

“You’ll usually find out pretty quick if they are feeding,” Paris said. “If you are only catching small fish, you’ll be better off moving on and looking for others.”

Timely Tactics There are all sorts of tactics for catching wintertime slabs. The most common are associated with using live shiners or small jigs for bait.

Paris will use both at Lake Fork. One of his favorite jig methods is to drop the bait down to the desired depth, then use the power of the trolling motor to move the boat and bait along at a turtle’s pace. Deep strolling is an excellent way to cover underwater water breaks, ridges and points at Fork. It also has proven effective along the edges of Big Cypress Bayou at nearby Lake O’ The

Winter Crappie Hotspots • LAKE FORK SIZE: 27,000 acres HOTSPOTS: SRA Point and Bird Island can be especially good from now through February.

LIMITS: 25 fish per day, no culling between Dec. 1 and February 28.

• TOLEDO BEND SIZE: 186,000 acres HOTSPOTS: Midlake bends in the Sabine River around the “Chicken Coop” area routinely kick good numbers 32 |

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of winter slabs.

LIMITS: Beginning Sept. 1, 2011, the daily bag limit changed from 50 to 25 with no minimum length limit. The “no cull” winter regulation was removed.

• LAKE O’ THE PINES SIZE: 17,000 acres HOTSPOTS: Flooded timber adjacent to the Big Cypress Creek channel near Watt’s Island at the lake’s south end as a rich history with cold weather crappie buffs.

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Pines, and on rocky main lake points and ledges at Lake Ray Roberts near Dallas.

“I’ll cast sometimes, too,” Paris said.

“The key is to let it sink on a tight line until it reaches bottom, then I’ll move it 3-4 cranks and let it fall again. Most of the time they’ll hit it on the fall.”

Johnston likes to fish a jig on T-Bend when he can get away with it, but he says winter slabs tend to be more fond of minnows.

The shiner rig Johnston uses is simple to build. He places a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce smash weight on the main line then ties on a No. 1 Aberdeen hook about 12 inches below it.

“The heavier weight comes in handy if you get out there in a big wind, otherwise I like to stick with the 1/4 ounce.” Johnston said. “It’s also a good idea to keep your rod in a rod holder as opposed to holding it.

That keeps the shiner from dancing around as much and seems to make a big difference in the number of bites you’ll get.”

Line Marking Johnston always marks the line in his reel spool at varied lengths from 20-35 feet so he can keep close tabs on how deep he is suspending his bait. He uses different colors of Spike It dye to do the job -- red at 20 feet, chartreuse at 25 feet, etc…

“When your line is marked it eliminates the guessing game of count the bait down to the right depth,” he said. “That way you know exactly how deep you are fishing at all times. That’s real important.”

No argument, here.

LIMITS: 25 fish per day, “no cull” between Dec. 1-Feb. 28. Otherwise, 25 fish, 10 inches.

• LAKE RAY ROBERTS SIZE:25,600 acres HOTSPOTS: Live shiners strolled around deep, points and ledges near the dam will produce steady limits when the wind allows you to fish. A good LCR is essential for pinpointing the fish.

LIMITS: 25 fish, 10 inches —Matt Williams

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Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams | TF&G Freshwater Editor

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ut of sight and out of mind.”

Amazingly, that is the careless mind-set all-to-often shared by anglers of all kinds when it comes to marine batteries. Many don’t even think about the life of the party until they hear the proverbial “click” or drone of a dragging ignition when they attempt to fire-up the outboard, or their trolling motor seems to lack the power it had last time out.

I used to be member of that club. But not anymore.

After having a fishing trip or two cut short by battery problems that could have been prevented, I finally became a believer: Take care of your batteries, and your batteries will take care of you, most of the time.

It is impossible to forecast the life span of any battery. Based on my experience, the maximum life of a quality marine power cell is about 2-4 years.

That is not to say properly maintained batteries won’t last longer. In some cases, they will. But the simple truth is that no battery will last forever. Neglect your power cells and I will guarantee they will die well before their time.

Here are some proven tips you can follow to help maximize the life or your marine batteries:

Use It, Charge It

One of the worst, yet most common mistakes made with regard to battery care is allowing a drained battery to sit idle for an extended period time before recharging.

Here’s the common drill. You spend all day fishing, dump the boat in the driveway and don’t worry about hooking up the charger until the next time you go fishing.

This is bad business. Delayed recharging can result in the formation of sulfates on the interior plates of a lead acid battery. In time,

Quality Charger

When you charge your batteries, always try to use a good quality “float” charger.

A float charger will replenish the batteries slowly and then cut off or reduce the charging level to minimum when it senses the battery has reached a full charge. This eliminates the possibility of overcharging, which can damage the batteries.

“ Make a habit of putting the batteries on charge as soon as you come off the water.

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Assault on Batteries

sulphation can eventually prevent batteries from accepting a full charge and drastically reduce performance.

The lesson here? Always make a habit of putting the batteries on charge as soon as possible after you come off the water, while the individual cells are still activating and have time to settle. This will ensure a good, clean charge.

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If your boat is equipped with wet cell batteries (those with maintenance caps on top), be sure to check the fluid levels on a regular basis, preferably while the batteries are at full charge. The idea is make sure the lead plates in each cell are submerged in an electrolyte solution comprised of water and sulfuric acid.

If the fluid level gets low, it should be replenished using distilled water ONLY. Tap water may contain minerals or chemicals that could damage the battery.

Hydro Check

If you own a boat equipped with a 24 or 36-volt system, an on-board charger is definitely the way to go. The beauty of an on-board charger is two-fold.

For starters, it mounts conveniently inside the battery compartment, so it is always right there when you need it. Secondly, an on-board charger is capable of charging multiple batteries at the same time.

While there are a number of good chargers on the market, Minn Kota makes some of the best that money can buy. I recently installed the MK460D on my bass boat and T e x a S

it is a true workhorse.

The 60 amp charger is designed for 36 volt systems -- those with three trolling motor batteries and a cranking battery. The unit displaces a whopping 15 amps of charging power to each battery. This results in significantly faster battery recovery times (3-5 hours) than produced with a standard 40 amp, 36-volt charger.

Another cool feature about the digital charger is its auto-pilot nature. It monitors battery temperatures, current and voltage as it gradually charges the power cells.

Once the unit senses the charging cycle is complete, it automatically stops delivering current until it senses battery voltage has dropped below 12.6 volts. Then it automatically starts delivering power again.

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Another good maintenance procedure is to keep a regular check on the rate of charge in each battery cell. This can be done using an inexpensive tool called a hydrometer.

You can pick one up at an auto parts store for around $10. If one or more cells shows a significantly lower rate of charge than the others, it could mean the battery is shorted out, or running on its last leg and needs to be replaced.

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Email Matt Williams at mwilliams@fishgame.com |

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9/30/11 9:06 AM

SPIKE BUCKS. ARE THEY INFERIOR deer that never will grow trophy antlers, are they just young deer that got off to a slow start, or are they “undesired” deer with poor genetics that need to be removed from the breeding cycle?

by bob hood Photo: DEEP SPACE DAVE, CANSTOCK

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The answer to those questions has been a debate among hunters, wildlife biologists and managers that has been going on for decades, spurring a variety of studies by everyone from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to Texas A&M, Stephen F. Austin University, private land managers and others. The subject at the center of the debate is whether spike bucks should be classified as cull bucks and removed from the herd to improve the quality of the deer.

In reality, the answer likely is all of the above. The only way to find answers to those questions is to pen deer that are spikes or three-pointers, breed them, mark and monitor their offspring and see what happens as the bucks they produce age. The main problem there is that deer antler and body growth are determined mainly by age, genetics and nutrition, although their mothers’ nurturing abilities probably play a role in the latter of the three when the young bucks are nursing.

The “results” of studies that have been made on captured and penned deer are cloudy. For one, the number of bucks used to find the answers have varied in various studies from different size groups of spike and forked yearlings. Also, deer used in the studies have come from different regions of Texas.

The comparisons in some studies have compared only five 1 ½-year-old yearlings as spikes with five deer of the same age class that had 4, 5, 6 and 8 point antlers. Larger numbers of deer need to be studies to get a more accurate assessment. Also, considerations should be made involving the targeted deer. After all, deer from regions like South Texas that typically produce larger antlered bucks likely will draw a different result than deer from the Hill Country where the average racks are smaller.

Studies made in penned or high-fenced enclosures have shed some light on the controversy but have not answered questions about the spike buck dilemma of deer ranging in the wild. One question that has not been addressed is how much an effect in-breeding has on antler growth. After all, in-breeding definitely has a way of downsizing body size. Creating miniature animals 36 |

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of many species from dogs to horses, donkeys and other animals through that process is a testament to that. Does in-breeding affect a buck’s ability to grow large antlers?

Probably so because that’s where the genetic factor is involved.

It only seems practical that if there is a genetic link to a yearling produced by a doe that that was the result of her mother being bred with her son of inferior quality and the grandmother produced the same way, antler development could be diminished

Most studies show that spike yearlings often develop good antlers later in their lives, but an older spike is not likely to improve.

just as well as body size. The extremely high population of smaller whitetail deer in the Hill Country and any other overpopulated deer areas came about because of poor management practices, or the lack of any management, and not Mother Nature alone. The Hill Country’s overall deer population has steadily began producing deer with increased body and antler size because of increased management practices by landowners (harvesting, food plots, land

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improvements, etc.). Anyone who hunted that region prior to the 1980s can remember when many landowners did not let hunters shoot does because they looked at them as deer factories and if the does were shot they would have less deer on their property.

They were right in one thing. The result was more deer, but also smaller deer due to in-breeding and heavy competition for the available food sources.

Although nutrition definitely has an effect upon a deer’s antler growth, it is genetics which apparently play the largest role. After all, if that were not so, today’s deer breeders who pay big money for live bucks as well as semen from trophy bucks would not consistently produce monster buck after monster buck in their facilities.

Nevertheless, the basic question for hunters and landowners is whether spike bucks need to be culled from their deer population to improve the quality of the deer. Most studies have shown that spike bucks as yearlings often produce good antlers at 4 ½ years of age and older. Just because they are spikes as yearlings doesn’t mean they can’t catch up and even surpass yearlings their same age that began with 4-8 points as they grow older.

However, a 3 ½ and older buck that still is only a spike or 3-pointer likely will not become much more. Is that deer an inferior as a breeder? Draw your own conclusion.

The words inferior and superior still are at the center of the controversy. Many would rather classify spikes as “desirable or undesirable.”

Photo: SONYAL, BIGSTOCK

9/30/11 9:06 AM

Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

Seeing Plaid

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ne of my favorite students came to me last year after a particularly fastpaced give and take about Grendel and Beowulf and said, “What we love about you Mr. G is you don’t see things the way most teachers do. Most of our teachers look at things in black and white… you look at things in plaid.”

It was an esoteric comment from a very esoteric student (she graduated #2 out of 530 and is in the midst of her first semester at the University of Texas-Austin as I write this), but I got what she was saying. I don’t necessarily look at things from typical angles and perspectives. I come from a long line of thinkers who look at things a bit…differently (if you remember the opening montage of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” and the picture of Vincent Donora looking at a suspect sideways, you get what I mean).

I’ll throw an eephus pitch, use a Hook and Ladder on the first play from scrimmage. If reading to my students from Death in the Tall Grass helps them understand that, yes, monsters do exist in the world, I’ll do it.

The very nature of successful anglers necessitates an occasional plaid view to their pastime. There are times where all the old tricks don’t work. Sometimes, fish want something other than your offering, and you’d better find a solution quick or it’s pizza for dinner. Walk the Dog doesn’t always work, nor does twitch-twitch-pause.

Red and white don’t always treat you right.

At times when the orthodox don’t produce, you need to dust off your eephus and let it rip. In short, look at things a little differently, and try different things, the sort of things your partner will look at and ask, “What in the world are you doing?”

Let Fly: Over the years, I’ve stolen quite liberally from freshwater anglers. This is

straight out of the bass playbook. We have all worked topwaters over feeding trout, only to have them either short strike or ignore our offerings all together. We’ve all been advised to have a weightless jerkbait rigged for such an event. If the fish misses the topwater, reel in, pitch out your jerkbait, and wait for the strike.

There are two problems with the premise.

First, more often than not, all you do is wait because Ol’ Mustardmouth has moved on.

Secondly, if you are wade fishing, toting a second rod can be problematic even with a wading belt with rod holder.

Bass fishermen have had the same issue with short-striking bass. Some sharpie along the way came up with the idea of tying a length of leader material to the trailing hook and attach a fly to the leader. As the topwater glides along the surface, the fly darts behind and underneath it, presenting a second target for a fish to key in on. In saltwater, the same principal can be effective on fickle trout. In lieu of a fly, I tie on a 3’ white curlytail grub on a 3/0 weedless hook (or a standard Sproat, if floating grass isn’t a problem). It is the same principal, but a different application. It can also be pretty wild when a 20-inch trout nails the topwater, and his twin latches onto the grub!

The Best of Both WorldS: I am genuinely surprised that more coastal anglers haven’t adopted this technique. When walleye get a bit snotty, some northern and Great Lakes fishermen take to tipping bucktail jigs with a live minnow and fish them slowly along the bottom. It seems to work, because they can turn a slow day into a memorable one pretty quickly. Offshore anglers have a similar technique. Many eschew the typical squid bait and tie on a large bucktail or a Snapper Slapper, then pin a cigar minnow or pogy onto the hook and send the whole setup down to where the lunkers lurk. It works, too; I’ve seen some monstrous red snapper and grouper fall for a tipped jig.

There is no reason that a fisherman on Laguna Madre, or Matagorda, or East Galveston Bay can’t use a similar technique.

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The ¼ ounce bucktail made by Bomber or Spro, or even half a speck rig are lights out when tipped with a live shrimp or finger mullet. Flounder, trout, and redfish won’t pass up the combination of action and smell that a tipped bucktail offers. Try a mud minnow, too. I caught a 5 pound flounder with such a rig in the East Cut recently. The jig/bait combo provides a more direct link between angler and bait—more so than a standard free-line or fish-finder rig—which allows better feel for those really light strikes.

Go Big or Go Home: Sometimes, a predator wants a big meal. In fall and winter, fish look for more protein to help compensate for both the scarcity of prey and the harsh conditions that sometimes roll in during winter. Anglers habitually throw big topwaters such as the Super Spook and Top Dog, or Corkies to give what the big trout and redfish want. Even then, most fishermen can probably go bigger than that.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with swimbaits as big as 7, 8, and even 9 inches long. The results have been very impressive. Soft plastics such as the Castaic Ayu, Zoom Super Fluke (rigged in tandem on a Logic Lures Texas Twister), and DOA Big Fish Lure have proven very effective for winter trout that are looking for an XXL meal. The size of the lures requires a slower retrieve, which is exactly what is needed to get a cold fish to notice and strike. I’ve fished side by side with anglers throwing smaller, similar plastics and I have out fished them almost every time. By the end of the morning, they’re trying to sling the industrial-sized baits with their light, whippy trout rods. You can rightly infer that you will need stiffer, slightly heavier rods for this application, which is good because you have an excuse to go buy a new outfit.

Fishing isn’t always a cut and dry endeavor. Sometimes you need to change your views, or at least start seeing the plaid for the colors.

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10/3/11 3:14 PM

TRUE GREEN Million-Duck Season Waterfowl hunters in Texas harvested nearly 1 million ducks last season, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

photo: Texas Parks & Wildlife

Piranha Caught Near Houston A rare catch of a red-breasted piranha in a community lake near Houston recently illustrates the need for prohibition of invasive aquatic species in Texas waters.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials an actual piranha is a very rare occurrence in the wild—only 2 documented specimens in 30 years—and possessing and releasing live piranhas and dozens of other exotic or potentially harmful fish species is prohibited by Texas law.

Dave Terre, management and research chief with TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division, said the 23-acre Tom Bass Park community lake in Pearland on the outskirts of Houston where the piranha was caught on Aug. 27 remains a great place to go fishing and is completely safe to go fishing there.

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isolated catch,” said Terre. “Our biologists will do an electrofishing survey of the lake to confirm this.”

Biologists say piranha are unlikely to survive the winter and will not reproduce.

Terre said it is possible someone held this specimen in captivity illegally and disposed of the fish in the lake.

Possession of prohibited fish species is a Class C misdemeanor in Texas, with a maximum $500 fine.

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Gadwall, blue-winged teal and green-winged teal by far made up the majority of Texas duck hunter bags, accounting for more than 50 percent of total ducks harvested.

Approximately 67,000 duck hunters harvested 986,000 ducks across the Lone Star State. Total goose harvest was 252,100, up more than 55,000 from the 2009-10 season. While duck hunter numbers PHOTO: DUCKS UNLIMITED remained about the same from the previous season, goose hunter numbers increased by nearly 10,000 in the 2010-11 waterJake Merendino fowl season. and his granddad Edwin Merendino “Texas’ at Mad Island. duck harvest accounts for around 44 percent of the Central Flyway total harvest, and Texas’ goose take accounts for around 32 percent of Central Flyway goose harvest,” Todd Merendino, DU Manager of Conservation Programs, said. “That clearly illustrates the importance of Texas habitat for wintering and migrating waterfowl and resident mottled duck populations.”

—Staff Report «TG

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10/4/11 4:18 PM

TRUE GREEN Restoring Near-Shore Oyster Reefs The Galveston Bay Foundation (“GBF”) worked with residents from several communities along Galveston Bay this summer as part of GBF’s communitybased oyster reef restoration program. The program was reinstated as a result of the devastation to native oyster populations from Hurricane Ike in 2008, when sediments were deposited across reefs, suffocating 50% of ficially-constructed reef pads nearby where they will flourish as part of a restored oyster reef. Because these restored oyster reefs are located within 200 feet of the shoreline, they are not for consumption, but only for

Photo: Galveston Bay Foundation

Galveston Bay’s oysters.

Volunteers in San Leon, Bayview, and Kemah, Texas, joined together to restore Galveston Bay’s oysters and became “oyster gardeners,” raising oysters that will be used to seed nearby reef restoration sites.

In September, community members in San Leon removed the oyster gardening bags from their piers and placed the live, gardened oysters on several adjacent constructed reef pads in an effort to expedite colonization by oysters. This particular reef restoration site is five acres and extends along the north shore of Eagle Point. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department constructed the reef pads, and GBF is aiding with community involvement. On the reef pads, the oysters become mature within their first year and will quickly begin spawning to further the reefs’ development.

For the past three summers, volunteers in the community of San Leon have been gardening oysters to help restore reefs and have witnessed the results firsthand—better fishing and cleaner water. This summer, Kemah and Bayview residents have joined the oyster gardening effort.

Residents who participate in oyster gardening first hang bags of reclaimed oyster shell from their piers over the summer months. They then monitor the growth of baby oysters, called spat, which naturally attach to the shells inside the oyster gardening bags. As part of their monitoring and maintenance of the bags, volunteers also remove algae and predators from the bags.

After months of growth and development, the oysters are removed from the piers and their bags, and are distributed across arti-

ecosystem services such as water quality, habitat creation, and shoreline protection.

A recent study of the state of oyster reefs found that about 85% of the world’s oyster reefs have been destroyed, making them the most endangered of all marine habitat types. We are fortunate to have some of the world’s remaining healthy oyster reefs in Galveston Bay, but it is imperative that we tend and nurture these reefs to ensure their survival across Galveston Bay. Oyster reefs are critical for Galveston Bay’s health—they filter the water, provide T e x a S

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habitat for numerous bottom dwelling fish and invertebrates which in turn are food for larger game fish, they protect our shores, and provide economical benefits to the region.

Galveston Bay Foundation’s Community-Based Oyster Reef Restoration program is made possible through various grantors and supporters, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Texas Coastal Management Program, Restore America’s Estuaries, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, ConocoPhillips, ERM Foundation, Hillcrest Foundation, KBR, Samson Lone Star LLC, and The Dow Chemical Company.

The mission of the Galveston Bay Foundation is to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the Galveston Bay estuarine system and its

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Volunteer “oyster gardners” will move these live oysters from their garden pier to nearby reef pads.

tributaries for present users and for posterity. The Foundation was incorporated in 1987, and is a non-profit organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. GBF is located at 17330 Highway 3 in Webster, Texas. For further information, contact GBF at 281-3323381, or visit the website at www.galvbay. org.

—Staff Report «TG

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Speck

Tactics for

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PHOTO: GRADY ALLEN

9/30/11 9:20 AM

TIRED OF CATCHING small specks all fall?

Sick of simply relying on the birds to lead you to fish?

If so, you lucked out because I am about to give you some unique strategies that will change your fall fishing habits. Fall on the Texas Gulf Coast is an amazing time that produces incredible numbers of fish that are relatively easy to catch.

However, chasing the birds and competing with other boats gets old quick and many of the commonly used strategies fall short in terms of catching big fish.

The first mistake anglers make is focusing their efforts after cold fronts. Yes, the fronts purge our marshes and backwaters and bring out shrimp, menhaden and other prey that drive specks, reds and flounder crazy. But chances are if you reading this publication you already know about that.

What about fishing before the front?

Yes, fishing before the front can be incredible. Before fronts arrive, barometric pressure drops and a falling barometer always means fish bite. The problem is this usually means big winds (usually from the south) so some of the key areas on the bay systems will be off limits, however, if you are able to find protected areas in the preliminary stages of a front, you will find fish willing to accept your offerings of soft plastics or perhaps real shrimp cocktail under a popping cork.

Anglers are often disappointed when they arrive on the water the day after a front comes through because they expect the serene, calm conditions to spark fish to jump in the boat. The truth is these “blue bird” days feature high barometric pressure and in turn a slow bite.

There is no denying the effectiveness of glassing for birds and letting them point you to specks and reds. Most of this is done on the open bays as shrimp and menhaden are purged from the marshes.

This fall try getting closer to the shorelines along the drains, bayous and canals and pay special attention to what is happening from 10-100 yards from the bank. I have found some of the biggest trout are taking advantage of the purge by hammering the shrimp in the shallows. We are not talking about giant specks here but those quality 18-20-inch fish that dwarf what is usually caught under dozens of diving gulls.

Look for shrimp skipping along the water’s surface, small boils in the water and

yes, even birds. One or two birds diving on a shrimp close to a shoreline is much more exciting to me than a giant flock over 12-inch trout.

A popping cork like the Texas Rattlin’ Rig or the Paradise Popper X-Treme with a live shrimp or a Gulp shrimp or Swimming Mullet is the perfect rig for this kind off fishing. You can cast it a long distance and the cork itself imitates the feeding sound of the trout.

On the other hand, when the fish are in super skinny water, this is a bit cumbersome.

Rig up a spinning reel with fluorocarbon line in the 8-10-pound class and rig up a shrimp imitation like the Killer Diller from Crème or even a Corky and cast right to where you see the action.

Keep in mind, these are not big schools of trout. They are small pods of larger fish and they move quickly. You might get a couple of fish in the boat and then the action ends. Keep making pattern casts in the area to try and locate them while never allowing yourself to be distracted from watching for more scared shrimp.

If it is redfish you want, an old favorite method of mine involves taking a ½-ounce gold spoon rigged on 50-pound braided line and getting on the outside or behind the larger schools of small trout feeding under the birds. Reds have a habit of staying deep and will gather just down current of the specks. Make long casts and keep the spoon as close to the bottom as possible.

Fall reds often move super fast.

If you are out and see some birds moving at what seems like the speed of sound, barely able to dive down before bait is jumping 20 yards in front of them you can be assured you are dealing with redfish. Again, spoons are important here because of the casting distance. Also consider trying to guess their trajectory and getting far ahead of the fish T e x a S

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and casting toward where you saw them last. This has worked for me several times although it is a bit frustrating when you have stopped and realized they are already ahead of you.

With flounder do not solely rely on migration to find fish. Not all of the fish leave our bays via the network of passes on the coast at the same time. In fact, not all of them ever leave.

Target some of the deeper shorelines, cuts and bayous that you would fish the rest of the year but focus your efforts on the bay side and move through an area quickly.

Flounder feed aggressively during the fall period so they usually require little finesse.

Move through key spots quickly and only stop when you have found some cooperative fish.

Earlier I mentioned the time before a front is productive. This is especially true for flounder. Some of my best fishing has been during super strong winds and rough waters when the fish fed in an almost frenzy-like status. Tropical storms offer the very best flounder fishing but the times before a front can rival that at times.

For these rough conditions use curl-tailed grubs tipped with shrimp in colors like pink, chartreuse or glow. My rig for rough water flounder fishing consists of Spider Wire Fluoro braid (50 pound) rigged attached to a 3/8-ounce jighead with the grub listed above. The fluoro braid sinks and keeps your line from whipping all over the water by waves and wind and keeps a little better contact with the lure to feel those bites.

Remember, there are many options in the fall. Never fall for the same old same old when exciting new methods await.

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9/30/11 9:21 AM

A BIG PART OF MY FASCINATION with waterfowl is there are so many intriguing facets to their life history, biology and conservation.

Think about it for a second. How many times have you argued with your friends in the blind about which duck species is the fastest or pondered just how quickly those specklebellies migrated down from Canada?

The trait of intercontinental migration alone makes waterfowl unique among the species we hunt and when you factor in the biological diversity among the species, things get interesting, as you will read in the following text.

Ducks

Unlimited (DU)

charted band return data from 1990 to 2000 for all duck species banded north of Texas during the breeding season, and then identified the top five duck production areas for the state.

Of the 5,403 duck bands reported in Texas, DU officials said 37 percent were banded in Saskatchewan, 19 percent in Alberta, 6 percent in Manitoba, 5 percent in North Dakota, and 5 percent in Montana.

Mallards represented the majority (41 percent) of banded birds harvested in Texas.

Blue-winged teal (16 percent), wood ducks (12 percent), and pintails (10 percent) were the next closest species.

DU officials noted it quickly becomes apparent how important mallards, bluewinged teal and wood ducks are to Texas duck hunters when over 69 percent of band recoveries come from these three species.

Just about every county in Texas produced at least one band recovery. However, the counties located along the Texas coast reported the most band recoveries. The top five counties were 1. Jefferson 2. Fort Bend 3. Wharton 4. Calhoun and 5. Chambers.

Duck eggshells have tiny holes (pores) that allow it to breathe.

According to the Provincial Museum of Alberta, “a hen’s eggs can have 7500 pores, most found at the blunt end of the egg.

Respiratory gasses as well as water vapor travel through these pores allowing the egg to breathe.”

A popular urban legend concerning ducks is, “a duck’s quack doesn’t echo.” This is not true, and a team from the University of Salford in England proved it with a research project.

The lifespan of a mallard is typically two to three years although wild specimens have been found living longer than 10 years and one domestic mallard hung around until it was 27.

An adult Canada goose can eat up to four pounds of grass in one day. Can you imagine the damage a flock of 1,000 can do to a field?

An article in Southeastern Naturalist reported on a study by Ruth M. Elsey, Phillip L. Trosclair III and Jeb T. Linscombe on the predation of mottled ducks on alligators.

“Although the alligator has been noted to prey upon mottled ducks, evidence of Mottled Duck consumption is rare in numerous studies of alligator food habits. This may be due to the season and habitat from which alligators were collected for evaluation (often autumn samples from deep water habitats preferred by adult alligators). We examined stomach contents of alligators in summer (when Mottled Duck broods and molting adults are flightless) from shallow water habitats preferred by Mottled Ducks. Mottled Duck remains were found in 20.9 percent of 43 alligator stomachs examined, far more than the highest frequency occurrence previously reported (1.27%). Unexpectedly, three relatively small alligators (1.51–1.70 m total length) consumed Mottled Ducks and the sixteen largest alligators did not.

This study underscores the importance of season and location of collections when evaluating stomach content data.”

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According to Cornell University researchers, snow Goose hunting in the eastern United States was stopped in 1916 because of low population levels.

“Hunting was allowed again in 1975 after populations had increased. Populations have been growing so large that the geese are destroying nesting habitat,” they reported.

According to the popular website, planet101.com, the fastest waterfowl species in flight is the Asian spurwinged goose, which has been clocked at 88 miles per hour. The red-breasted merganser is a close second with 80 mile per hour flights. The canvasback although being one of the largest ducks can hit an amazing 72 miles per hour. Eiders are good for up to 70 miles an hour while teal can hit 68. Mallards and pintails are both tied with 65 mile per hour speeds. I was able to independently verify the speeds for most of these species and found that when these birds are flying high, tail winds can push them to even more amazing speeds. The red-breasted merganser for example was clocked by researches flying 100 miles per hour with the help of tail winds.

According to researchers Michael R. Miller, John Y. Takekawa, Joseph P. Fleskes, Dennis L. Orthmyer, David A. Haukos and William M. Perry, pintails migrate with an average groundspeed of 77 kilometers an hour (53 kilometers an hour in headwinds, 82 in tailwinds).

Canada geese can live up to 24 years and mate for life. If their mate is lost they will usually find another mate, but some research suggest other geese never do.

Cornell

researchers

have conducted research on snow goose genetics. What they found out about the dark color of the blue morph is fascinating.

“If a pure dark goose mates with a white goose, the offspring will all be dark (possibly with white bellies). If two white geese mate, they have only white offspring. If two dark geese mate, they will have mostly dark offspring, but might have a few white ones too,” they said.

Order Chester Moore’s book Texas Waterfowl or any of the Texas Fish & Game books, call 1-800-750-4678 or go to www.FishandGameGear.com

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you have hunted them, watched them on television, and read articles about them so now is as good time as any to test yourself on what you know about them and how you hunt them: 5. Is a person required to provide his or her Social Security number when purchasing a hunting license:

8. Is it legal to retrieve and keep a deer that has been hit by a motor vehicle.

4. Because human scent will spook deer, a hunter’s best protection from being detected by a deer is:

A) Yes. B) No. C) Only if the deer was hit on private property

17. ANSWER: B) It is unlawful to hunt prior to one half hour before sunrise or later than one half hour after sunset. during the general deer season but firearms are prohibited in all deer seasons in Grayson County with one exception: crossbows are allowed during the archery-only season in that county only by persons with upper limb disabilities that prohibit them from using a longbow, compound bow or recurved bow.

21. ANSWER: B) The brow tine nearest the skull is the G1. The G2 is the next tine on the main beam closest to the brow tine and usually the longest tine on a typical whitetail deer.

20. ANSWER: B) A buck often “mouths” and breaks the ends of small limbs and leafs hanging above his scrape to further mark his territory. during the breeding period. |

18. ANSWER: B) No rimfire ammunition of any caliber may be used to hunt deer.

22. ANSWER: B) In counties with special antler restrictions, hunters are allowed to take two bucks. A legal buck in those counties is defined as one that has at least one unbranched antler or one with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater.

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19. ANSWER: C) A buck normally scrapes the ground in a circular-type pattern and urinates in it to mark his territory as well as to attract does

A) To use a cover-up scent.

B) Bathe well before hunting.

C) Hunt into the wind.

D) Wear clean clothing.

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A) True.

B) False.

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11. Which is the most important gear a deer hunter should carry into the woods in addition to his firearm: A) A field-dressing knife.

B) A pair of binoculars C) Bottled water and snacks D) Cell phone 12. When hunting with a crossbow you should: A) Cock the string before climbing into an elevated stand.

B) Cock it only after securing yourself in the stand.

C) Wait until you see a deer and then cock it.

most useful tool while hunting and will help you identify your target.

A) Just behind the front shoulder.

B) In the center of the front shoulder C) At the base of the neck where it meets the body in front of the shoulder.

7. When approaching a stand or blind it is OK to drive a four-wheel or other vehicle right up to your stand because it only spooks the smaller deer and not big bucks:

A) A point that is at least two inches long.

B) A point that is at least one inch long.

C) Any point that a ring can be hung on.

12. ANSWER: B) The safest time to cock a crossbow is after you have gotten into your tripod or other stand.

3. Where is the best place on a deer’s body to make a more instant kill:

A) A buck’s track will be wider than a doe’s track.

B) The buck’s track will show dew claws.

C) A buck’s track will have hind feet closer to the front feet.

D) None of the above.

10. What is the defined legal length of a point on a deer’s antler:

13. ANSWER: C) The sudoriferous gland is located on the forehead and secretes an oily substance that the buck uses to rub on brush and trees to mark his territory

6. A buck’s track can be best distinguished from that of a doe because:

A) At mid-day when most hunters have left their hunting area and are back at camp.

B) In late-evening when hunters are leaving the area, heading home and spooking deer.

C) In the morning when the other hunters’ traffic is moving the deer.

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A) 10 yards-15 yards..

B) 20-35yards.

C) 40-50 yards.

14. ANSWER: B) Most hunters hang their deer from the back legs before skinning it.

2. When hunting deer on a ranch with high hunter presence, one of your best times to kill a deer is:

A) Yes B) No

15. ANSWER: C) The deer’s sense of smell is its most dominant defense mechanism.

A) Keep both eyes open.

B) Aim through your dominant eye with the other eye closed.

9. What is the average distance most archery hunters expect to shoot at a deer.

16. ANSWER: C) Crossbows may be used

1. When aiming through a rifle scope, you should:

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15. Which is the deer’s most prominent defense: A) Eyesight.

B) Sense of hearing.

C) Sense of smell.

16. Which is the only county that allows only traditional archery equipment to be used during the archeryonly season and outlaws crossbows during the archery-only season and firearms during any season: A) Kerr County B) Dimmit County.

C) Grayson County D) Jasper County.

A) Daylight until sunset B) One half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset.

C) Any time it is light enough to shoot.

22. In counties that have special antler restrictions , one buck must have:

19. Which of these is a buck scrape:

10. ANSWER: B) A legal point is any point that extends at least one inch from the edge of the main beam or another tine.

5. ANSWER: A) Yes, Social Security numbers are required by law. The collection of the Social Security number is s mandated by the federal government for the purpose of child support collection enforcement. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department cannot force you to provide your Social Security number, but will not sell you a license if is not provided.

4. ANSWER: C) Although the other protections are important, your best way to avoid being scented is to stay downwind of the deer. is the largest and a shot there usually results in a deer dropping in its tracks.

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1. ANSWER: A) Shooting instructors encourage hunters to focus on their target with both eyes open and lift the scope into position while continuing to focus on the target.

11. ANSWER: B) Although the other items may come in handy, a pair of binoculars is the

6. ANSWER: B) Although not all buck tracks show the dew claws, many of them, especially

9. ANSWER: B) The average shot made by an archer at a deer is between 20 and 35 yards.

8. ANSWER: B) It is unlawful to possess a deer or any part of a deer that has been hit by a vehicle.

7. ANSWER: B) False The noise of any vehicle whose motor is running near any wild deer will alert it of possible danger. those of large bucks, do.

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Flip the Page for the Correct Answers 2. ANSWER: A) Many deer sense hunter presence and often move actively at mid-day when the areas they travel are not being disturbed by motorized vehicles or people traveling through the woods.

A) The neck.

B) The back legs C) From its center.

A) A small sapling, tree or bush with the bark scraped off.

B) A long, narrow scraped mark on the ground.

C) A small circular or semi-circular cleared area on the ground.

3. ANSWER: C) That area is where the spine

14. When skinning a deer, most hunters hang it from:

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21. Which tine is called a G1 in Boone and Crockett’s scoring system for deer antlers:

A) An outside spread of at least 13 inches or greater.

B) An inside spread of at least 13 inches or greater.

C) Antlers that measure at least 13 inches or greater from the tip of one beam to the tip of the second beam.

18. Is it legal to hunt a deer with a .22 caliber rifle or pistol.

A) Yes. B) No.

A) Preorbital B) Nasal C) Sudoriferous D) Metatarsal

A) Bite marks at the base of a nearby bush or tree.

B) Broken branches and leafs on an overhanging limb.

C) Pawed out marks in a trail 20 yards from the scrape.

A) The tip of the main beam.

B) The first antler near the skull that’s also called the brow tine.

C) The first antler closest to the brow tine.

D) The first antler closest to the tip of the main beam.

17. What are the legal hours for hunting deer:

13. Which of the following glands on a deer is most involved when a buck makes a scrape:

20. What other sign of a buck’s presence is located near a scrape he has made:

ANSWERS

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9/30/11 9:29 AM

Open Season

by Reavis Wortham | TF&G Humor Editor

Lefty

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he hunting club was huddled around the big round corner table in Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Cafe. We were looking at a map of our hunting lease in East Texas. Wrong Willie had gotten it off the Internet.

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing at a straight line.

“It’s the highline wire going through the lease. This darn map has everything.”

Doc’s attention was divided between our map and the couple in the booth next to us.

They’d snuggled up in the seat behind ours and were making googoo eyes at each other. “Do you love me, honey?” she asked.

He sort of glanced over at us and sighed. “Of course I do, babycakes.”

Wrong Willie stifled a retch.

“Right here is where your deer stand is, and this broad line is the highway.”

I looked at the line, surprised at how close the highway was to my stand.

We could actually see the little draw below where I was hunting, and the ridge below which I was sure the deer would follow.

The couple’s conversation turned more serious. We couldn’t help overhearing what was being said. “If I die before you,” she asked, “would you bring your new girlfriend

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to our house?”

We cringed. He handled it well.

“No darling. I couldn’t live in a house full of your memories. I’d have to sell it and live in an apartment.”

The Club sighed. “What are all these hatchmarks?” I asked Wrong Willie, pointing to a section that looked to be less than half a mile from my stand.

“It looks like the checkering on a gunstock,” Doc said.

“Those are little roads. I just found out there’s a housing addition just on the other side of those trees.”

I thought about how easy it would be for an unscrupulous hunter to step across the road and hunt our lease.

“If I died before you, darling,” continued the lady, “would you let your new girlfriend drive my car?”

She was making us nervous and I was concerned.

Her husband wasn’t paying close enough attention to their conversation and was trying to see the map on our table without being noticed.

“No dear,” he answered, a little too fast if you asked me.

“I couldn’t bear to look at your car and remember your delicate hands on the wheel.

I’d sell it and donate the money to a charity in your name.”

I was getting nauseous. Doreen and Trixie, who is....sumptuous, were eating

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it up. They leaned over the counter and sighed. ‘’You mean those houses and all that traffic are only a few hundred yards from where we’re hunting?” I asked, trying not to listen to the conversation behind us.

“Yup,” said Wrong Willie. ‘’You can’t tell the houses are there from the road, and when we were driving around looking at the lease, no one thought to investigate that side of the highway. Looks like we’re hunting in the suburbs.”

“No wonder I haven’t seen much deer sign out there,” I mused.

“And darling,” she continued. “If I die before you, would you find a new girlfriend and take her fishing with my bamboo f1yrod?”

“Not at all,” he answered, really getting into making her feel good.

“I’d put the flyrod on the wall so I could see it each evening as I sat by the fire and remembered the good times we had on those Colorado mountain streams.”

Every lady in the cafe sighed at such a romantic notion. ‘’We’re not going to see a deer this year,” I said. “Look, there’s an entire cluster of trailer houses not half a mile from Doc’s stand.”

“And darling,” she continued. “If I die before you, would you let your new girlfriend shoot my Remington 20 gauge?”

“Naw,” he said without thinking, distracted by our map. “She’s left handed. The shell would eject across in front of herrrrr...”

The explosion behind us was short and vicious. The guy frowned at his rapidly disappearing wife and all the women glaring at him from around the cafe.

Doc turned and faced him. “Darling, since you’re gonna be alone this season, wanna buyout our part of the deer lease?”

“Can I live there, too?”

“Sure,” I answered and handed him the map. “Pick out a trailer.”

Email Reavis Wortham at rwortham@fishgame.com ILLUSTRATION: TEXAS FISH & GAME

10/5/11 10:06 AM

Getting a Second Shot and Making it Count

by ken frazier

PHOTO COURTESY KEN FRAZIER

The Chance of a lifetime doesn’t come very often for a great buck. I’ll never forget when my son was 10 years old, my opportunity came.

We were in South Texas, eight miles south of Carrizo Springs, perched on an old windmill. Kenny, my son, sat on some boards below me while I was in the triangle at the top.

Boy, was I uncomfortable and couldn’t see very well because it was so foggy.

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There was a ravine on the right side which meandered to the front of us while brush and mesquite filled the somewhat open terrain. I heard Kenny below me whisper with excitement about a huge buck darting from cover to cover. I searched diligently, but never could find it in the light fog.

About forty-five minutes later as the fog was lifting, we spotted several doe 200 yards out. Then, out of the ravine came the most magnificent monster of a buck we had ever seen. He carried what looked like a 26” spread, Ken Frazier waited a long — really heavy base 12 point long — time for a shot at this magsquare perfect rack. nificent San Saba trophy.

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DIGITAL ALMANAC Table of Contents GEARING UP SECTION

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industry insider • Springfield Armory, Yamaha, Xpress, South Texas Catfish | by TF&G staff texas tested • G&H, Ono’s, Dahlgren | by TF&G staff fish and game gear • Hot New Outdoor Gear | by TF&G

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COVER STORY • The Buck of a Lifetime | by ken frazier

texas boating • Save the Day | by lenny rudow texas kayaking • Dry Spots | by greg berlocher

paul’s tips • Blood Trailing Tips | by paul bradshaw texas guns & gear • Browning 1911-22 | by steve lamascus

looked 13” high and we figured he was at least a 190 B&C. We both almost fell out of the windmill with excitement.

Until then, I had never missed a buck with my trusty Sako 270 rifle. This gun just always seemed to fit me like a glove while sporting the latest and greatest 3x9 Leupold scope. I just felt cocky about my ability to handle this “state of the art” rifle. The monster gave me a perfect side shot. To steady myself, I pressed my rifle with my left thumb up against the angled side of the bar, which caused the rifle to be somewhat cockeyed. I then carefully put the crosshairs on his huge shoulder and eased off what I thought was the perfect shot. KABOOM! I expected to hear a thud, but instead I saw a big cloud of dirt explode right under his chest. He yanked his head high into the air and showed all of his magnificence while looking straight at us and then bolted.

Dejected, I asked myself, “How did I miss the buck of a lifetime?” I tried to blame the angled windmill bar, but the bottom line was, “I missed him!”

That was 26 years ago and I figured my chance for a great buck had passed. Too many years of hunting and killing average deer have come and gone. I no longer had any desire to shoot another deer. I just loved 50 |

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hotspots focus: upper coast • The Deer Can Wait: Let’s Fish | by capt. eddie hernandez

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hotspots focus: galveston • About as Good as it Gets | by capt. mike holmes

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hotspots focus: matagorda • No Better Place to Be | by

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hotspots focus: rockport • November is a Real Corker | by capt. mac gable

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hotspots focus: lower coast • Play Ball | by calixto

hood

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

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sporting tales • Trophies in the Attic | by reavis wortham texas tasted • Sugar Cured Wild Turkey | by bryan slaven OUTDOOR CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY • Guides, Gear and More | by TF&G staff tf&g Photos • Your Action Photos | by TF&G readers

bink grimes

gonzales

to sit and look. Nature is so beautiful.

In September of last year, Kenny bought a beautiful Hill Country free-range ranch out of San Saba. It is only an hour and twenty minutes from Austin. This makes it convenient to run up and back. We figured it would be a great place for the family and friends to enjoy while hunting small deer and enjoying the beauty of that area.

A month before deer season, Kenny mounted cameras at select feeders. A few weeks later, he checked them and called me, elated. He showed me a picture of the most beautiful rack I have ever seen on a deer.

Wow! How could a low fence buck be that big in the Hill Country? He was coming out at night, so we didn’t really expect to get him. He didn’t get that big without being very smart.

Bow season started soon after this and Kenny hunted him every time he had a chance. He never showed up.

Opening day of rifle season arrived, and my desire to kill again had been revived. If only that buck were to cross my sights. I must admit, I thought my chances were nil or next to none of getting a shot at “Mr. Magnificent.”

I also never dreamed that one day I would be hunting on my son’s ranch. Turn

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www.FishGame.com about is fair play. I took him and now he takes me. Love is spelled T-I-M-E. Love your kids, get them involved in something wholesome like hunting and fishing and see how it helps keep them out of trouble.

They will respect and love you for it. I mean girls and boys. It’s a great place to have private meaningful talk and make lifelong memories.

I was late getting into the stand closest to the camp house. I guess that’s called aging! Being retired does that to me. My fast-paced life is behind me. I took my Sako only to shoot a coyote or pig. I didn’t think Big Boy would show up here because he had only been seen a half mile away.

Four doe came out about 20 minutes after I got settled in the blind. I was also watching 8 quail and a turkey when I spotted movement 40 yards into the brush and trees to my right. I thought I saw signs of tines, but wasn’t sure. Too much cover.

Several minutes later, a buck appeared, but with the feeder being set so far back in the brush and trees, I did not see the grandeur of the gorgeous animal until he turned sideways and trotted back into the darkness of the trees. I almost fainted when I realized

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Save the Day

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xperience is what sets great captains apart from the good ones. If you’ve been there and done that, you already have an idea of how to handle the situation. And the more you been and done, the better prepared you are to deal with whatever “that” may be. Some of us, of course, lack experience because we simply can’t spend as much time on the boat as we’d like. We have to worry about more mundane things like paying the bills and mowing the grass. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from the experience of others. You want to be a great captain? Then take advantage of someone else’s sea time, and put these day-saving tips to good use.

Shallow Thinking

You run the shoals, to get to skinnywater hotspots? Then you’d better be able to get back out. When idling into the shal-

lows, one mistake many people make is to tilt their outdrive as far up as possible. Do so, and you don’t have any tilt left in case you run aground. Always make sure you leave the drive an extra inch or two down, and if you run aground, you can use that leeway to get back out.

Now let’s say you can idle without hitting bottom, but you can’t get on plane without scraping the sand when the stern squats down. You have a long way to go, so you don’t want to putt along at slow speeds.

No problem. Simply turn your wheel hardover. Then throw down the throttle; since the boat immediately leans into the turn, the drive gets cocked slightly sideways, reducing draft significantly. As soon as the stern gains some lift, straighten the wheel out and you’ll be up on plane and running. Note: Don’t forget to warn everyone aboard what you’re about to do and have them hold on tightly, or you could toss a passenger over the side.

In our final shallow water scenario, you ran aground and now, the outboard’s tell-tale seems to have run dry. You know the water pump is still working because the engine isn’t overheating, so chances are you sucked up some grit when you hit the

hard, and now the tell-tale is simply clogged shut. An easy way to clear it is to take some monofilament fishing line (50 pound test is about right) and thread it into the telltale’s hole as far as it will go. Then, spin it between your fingertips. Most of the time, that’s sufficient to break the clog free.

Emergency Measures

If you’re going to be a great captain, you’ll need to know how to keep the crew alive when stranded at sea. First things first: You need fresh water. You can make it, with a piece of plastic, vinyl, or canvass, and a container of any sort. Roll the material into a cone shape, making it as large and wide as possible. Then, insert the end of the cone into some sort of container; an empty bottle, jar, can, or cup will do the trick. Let your cone-shaped contraption sit out overnight, and at dawn, the inside of the cone will be covered in dew. Shake or tap the cone so the dew droplets run down the sides and into the container, and you’ll have a life-sustaining drink. And if you have fishing tackle onboard, you can also get emergency fresh water from the fish you catch—their

Cover Story t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50 the size of the buck that had appeared for about 8 seconds, and then disappeared.

All he did was look at the doe and leave me in shock. I was not prepared to make a quick shot.

I thought to myself, “It has happened again.” The Hill Country Buck of a Lifetime!

The buck on the camera had shown up at my feeder and vanished right before my eyes. Oh, what a disappointment. What was Kenny going to say when I told him what happened? I then relived the disaster of South Texas again.

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I am a believer in prayer, so I went to praying with all earnest for the Lord to give me another chance.

About 15 minutes later, (after I had prepared myself and positioned my gun just in case “Mr. Magnificent” came out again), he appeared from the other side of the feeder at a fast walk. I had a split second to fire before he vanished again, but this time, my gun was not cockeyed, but perfect. I placed the crosshairs on his shoulders and...Kaboom! The .270 slug found its mark and he dropped in his tracks. Praise the Lord! I shouted so loud, it hurt my ears. My heart was pounding, and I was jumping up and down in the blind shouting, “I got Him!”

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On the ground, 95 yards out was my buck of a lifetime. It had become a reality. I called Kenny and shouted, “I got him, get over here fast!” He, too, shouted with joy.

We both went crazy with excitement, hugging and shouting. We could not believe he came out on opening morning, and where we didn’t expect him.

He measured 147-7/8, had 10 almost perfect cylindrical points, and was 5 years old.

It’s hard to believe that 26 years after missing my buck of a lifetime, I would get another chance on my own son’s ranch. The only difference this time is, “I got him!”

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eyes are over 90-percent water. Yeah, it sounds gross, but popping ‘em out and eating them is worth it, if it keeps you alive.

What if you can’t catch any fish, and you need food? Virtually all leafy green seaweeds are edible. Sargassum can be eaten too, though it’s extremely hard to digest.

Chew it thoroughly, and most importantly, don’t even think about eating it if you don’t have fresh water on hand (or your body won’t be able to digest it, and it can do more harm than good).

Stormy Seamanship

Storms are always a threat when you’re on the water, and how you handle your boat can make the difference between getting home and getting swamped—or worse. The best way to handle a storm is to avoid it; don’t wait until it’s right on top of you to start running. When the edge of a fast-moving storm is a few miles away, you’ve already waited too long. Lightening can strike from as far as eight miles, and nearly 30-percent

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Lightning can strike from as far as eight miles, and 30 percent of victims report being under blue skies.

to navigate by.

Also make sure you check your GPS, and take note of your position. If a lightning strike fries your electronics and you need to call for help, you won’t be able to relay your position unless you had the forethought to record it.

If the rainfall is so extreme that you can’t see what’s in front of you or the wind is so strong you can’t maintain headway, putting out an anchor or sea anchor is the next best move. This will at least keep the pointy end of the boat aimed at the waves, and prevent you from being turned beam-to and potentially rolling. Sea anchors are preferable in this situation, but if you have to drop the hook, you should have at least seven feet of rode for every foot of water depth.

Ramp and Dock Follies

You might be a great captain, but you won’t look like one if you slam a piling or drive your boat into a trailer fender. Make your docking look good, by always stopping the boat and allowing it to drift for a moment or two, before you plan your final approach. This will give you a good idea of how the current and wind will affect you, when you get close to the ramp or dock.

Before you apply power during any docking or loading procedure, aim the outdrive. If you shift into gear first and then try to point the prop, you’ll already have

applied power in the wrong direction, and made your job tougher.

In heavy wind situations, you can even the odds of a successful approach by reducing your boat’s windage. Lower the Bimini top, remove clear plastic curtains, and utilize the up-wind side of the slip or ramp if possible, so the dock blocks some of the breeze.

Finally, make sure you always keep your engine(s) running until the boat’s hitting the bow stop or all the lines are cleated.

Shutting down the powerplant too early is a rookie mistake, and you’ll look like a beginner if you get blown out of kilter and have to race back to the helm to re-start the engine.

You’ve got all these informational tidbits tucked away in your brain? Excellent. Now, there’s one more thing you can do to become a great boater: get out on the water more often, and earn some experience first-hand.

The bills and the grass can wait.

E-mail Lenny Rudow at boating@fishgame.com

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

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of all lightning strike victims report being under blue skies. So watch it until you can accurately judge the storm’s track, then get out of the way ASAP. If avoiding the storm simply isn’t possible, reduce speed and maintain just enough throttle to keep headway. Try to keep the bow on a 45-degree angle to the waves, and hand out life jackets to everyone onboard.

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Dry Spots

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he extended drought has left out state parched, crispy, and brown.

The changing of the seasons has put a merciful end to the record string of 100 degree days we witnessed this summer but while the thermometer readings are mercifully lower, the severe drought still grips out state. Much has been written on the effects of the drought on wildlife but not so much on its effects on lakes and reservoirs, or more specifically, anglers who frequent those reservoirs.

Evaporation caused by incessant heat, combined with the lack of precipitation, and, in many cases, increased water usage by municipalities, has had a profound effect on our states reservoirs, dropping water levels to historic lows. Low water levels have exposed sunken timber, sand bars, and islands previously unseen by generations. In some lakes, like Texana near Ganado, vast sections have completely dried up. As the water level in lakes retreated, the distance between the water’s edge and launching ramps increased, making them unusable.

Enter the kayak.

One of the beauties of a kayak is the craft’s versatility as a hunting and fishing platform. They are easy to transport, most are hauled around on vehicle rooftops, and can be launched without the aid of a trailer.

This flexibility allows the outdoorsman to drive to the where the water is and then walk their craft into the water.

Keep in mind that the water need not be deep to accommodate a kayak. While you don’t intend on fishing in water measured in inches, there isn’t anything wrong with using a shallow area as a shortcut. A few inches of water is enough to float a plastic hull, allowing you to launch in water-starved

Keep in mind that the water need not be deep to accommodate a kayak.

creeks, which are close to the prime spots you intend to fish.

Even though drought stricken reservoirs are gaunt, vaguely resembling their former swollen selves, a good map of the lake, such as those found in Texas Lakes and Bays, is a valued ally. Not only do the maps help you target prime areas that will hold fish in the contracted lake, they also help you locate drive up launch spots that are within paddling distance.

Even if you own a boat, kayaks are great for exploring new water. Emaciated reservoirs are ripe with submerged danger to passing props and lower units. The everdropping water levels constantly bring new dangers into play. What may have been safe water to motor through a week before may now be ripe with hazards. Consider taking a paddling tour of a promising looking area, thereby limiting the risks to both boats and boaters.

Exploratory trips during low water conditions, whether by kayak or boat, are a necessary investment that all serious anglers must make. While topographic maps are great for suggesting bottom contours of major reservoirs, the contours change over time. Erosion, floods, strong currents, and the build up of alluvial deposits simply change the lake bottom. There is nothing better than eye-balling the actual structure,

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allowing you to observe undercut shorelines, blow downs, and tangles of timber that maps simply don’t show up on maps. I find it easier to visualize the path of a winding creek channel later after first observing it weaving and winding across the exposed lake bottom.

Drought and wild fires keep nature in balance. When lakes recede for prolonged periods, grasses quickly sprout. If the drought continues, woody plants take up residence, adding to the collection of new vegetation. Drawing on the residual moisture of the lake bottom, the new sprouts grow quickly, creating a lush green carpet.

Eventually, when the lake refills, the new vegetation is flooded and eventually decays, supercharging the lake with new nutrients, thereby setting off a fishing renascence. You need to look no further than Lake Falcon as proof. Naysayers used to tell me the lake level was so low that a hurricane squatting on the border couldn’t refill the gaunt Falcon. They were wrong. The lake refilled and fishing flourished. When the current drought breaks, our lakes will refill and fish populations will flourish.

This isn’t the first drought that Texas has experienced and it won’t be the last. Low water conditions present unique opportunities for Texas anglers. Fishing your favorite “spot” just won’t get it anymore as it is likely now on dry land. Anglers must fish smart, with preparation and exploration paying dividends for the angler willing to put in the extra time.

Sometimes a different strategy is called for. Kayaks are a great option when you’re your favorite launching ramp is out of commission. Or, a paddling expedition may be called for when you want to explore a creek which you once knew intimately knew but is now a distant memory. Times change and so do techniques.

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here are many things that I’m no good at. Listing them all would take more space than I’m allotted here so I’ll just list one. My name is Paul and I’m terrible at blood trailing wounded deer.

Now, I have an excuse for why I am lacking in this particular area. I’m color blind.

No, not like a dog where I only see black, white, and shades of grey. I’m red/green color blind meaning I see colors they’re just not always the right ones. I use this excuse when I don’t want to paint the house claiming I’ll use the wrong color so it does have its occasional advantages.

On the down side, I can’t see all the colors in a rainbow, my clothes seldom match, and I can’t see blood on leaves or grass to save my life. Due to this, I have to track deer a little differently that the average hunter and I’m sure you will benefit from reading how I do it.

First and foremost, when I shoot a deer I have to make 100% sure that I mark where it was standing, the path it left on, and the spot it went out of sight. This starts before the shot is ever taken. It’s not enough to know that the deer was standing somewhere close to a small tree. I must know that the deer was two feet to the left and six feet in front of the small cedar tree on my left.

Then, after the shot I remain absolutely still and quiet so if the deer falls within earshot I can mark the location. There’s no fist pumping or celebration until the deer is found. These might seem like common sense suggestions but when a monster buck walks up and the adrenalin starts flowing C O A S T A L

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Another tracking tip to help the visually challenged among us is the use of modern medicine to help to locate blood. Remember when you were young, wrecked your bike jumping the dog, scraped every joint on your body and your mom used hydrogen peroxide to clean the wounds.

The peroxide would bubble when it hit the wound. It does the same thing when it comes in contact with blood droplets on leaves and grass.

Take a small spray bottle filled with hydrogen peroxide and keep it in your backpack. When a deer is shot, spray the area and any blood droplets will start to foam. Keep in mind that once the seal on the peroxide bottle is broken it will only has a shelf life of about 30 days before it will stop foaming on contact with blood so replace it at the beginning of every month.

There’s no shame in not being able to track a deer like a bloodhound. However, you owe it to the animal to use whatever legal means possible to make sure you recover it quickly.

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Blood Trailing Tips

it is very easy to forget what you’re doing.

The next part of my tracking technique involves getting help. That’s right; when I need to track down a deer I call my wife because she can see blood. I’ve taken her to help hunting buddies find their deer too because she’s pretty good at it. Even those of you who can see the full spectrum of colors can benefit from having a hunting companion along side you while tracking. It never hurts to have a second set of eyes when drops of blood are sparse and with two trackers one can stay with the last drop of blood located while the other searches around him/her in an ever widening circle.

However, sometimes I shoot a deer that runs and my wife’s not around so I’m on my own. This is when I put any and all tracking tricks into play. When a tracking job stretches into the night it is imperative you have a good light. I personally use a Carnivore blood tracking light, which makes a small difference to me but to everyone else I ask they make the blood clearly more visible.

A trick you’ll learn from most old school hunters is that if you don’t have a blood light, then a regular old Coleman lantern is a great substitute. Lanterns are the original late night blood tracking tools because the white light given off by the lantern really makes the blood drops stand out. To keep from being blinded by the light while tracking use some aluminum foil to one side of the globe. This reflects the light that would normally go into your eyes back out in front of you.

E-mail Paul Bradshaw at freshrigs@fishgame.com

On the Web Read Paul Bradshaw’s Blog at: www.FishGame.com N O V E M B E R

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rowning has just introduced a handgun that has someone should have thought of 50 years ago. The 1911-22 is a small, light, I’m tempted to say cute, .22 handgun. It is an almost exact copy in miniature (85%) of the famous combat handgun the Colt 1911-A1.

Why such a handgun was not thought of until now is anybody’s guess.

The one I got to play with was a pre-

Photos: Steve LaMascus

Browning 1911-22

production model. It came with a 10-round magazine, but everything else appeared to be full military design, including the too small grip safety that has allowed every military 1911 .45 I’ve ever fired to bite a chunk out of the web of my hand.

However, this little gem The Browning 1911does not have sufficient 22 (top) with a Colt recoil to do so. Also, Commander .45. instead of the locked The gun is incredibly light due breach design of the original, this little one to its almost total aluminum configuration. is of straight-blowback design.

Only the barrel and some of the internal parts are of steel or other materials. The slide is of milled aluminum and the frame is listed only as “alloy.” The finish is matt black and the grips are brown-checkered plastic. If an old soldier was shown a photo of the 1911-22, he would not be able to tell that it was not a full-sized gun .45 ACP. The statistics of the 1911-222, those that are published are: Barrel 4 ¼” Over all length 7 1/16” Weight 1 pound (16 ounces) Sight Radius 5 ½” In field tests the little gun proved very accurate. I shot it side by side with my Browning Buckmark and while the larger Buckmark proved to be easier to shoot well and was a bit more accurate, the 1911-22 held its own. The only thing I would change is the trigger, which on the test gun was far from good. It was creepy, had a bad glitch right at the front, and was, at 6 pounds and 3 ounces, as measured on my Lyman digital trigger pull gauge, about 2 pounds too heavy. Still, once I got used to it I was able to shoot it reasonably well.

Okay, now the conclusions: The 1911-22 is too small, too light, and ill suited for the average man to use for

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10 rounds in its magazine, compared to 6 in the cylinders of the S&W and Ruger, and being lighter in weight, the 1911-22 should be considered by those interested in buying a gun for such purposes as the Kit Guns are put.

I don’t know how will they will sell — very well, I suspect — but I do believe Browning has hit a home run with this one.

Way to go guys!

The Browning 191122 (top) alongside a Smith & Wesson Model 63.

E-mail Steve LaMascus at SLamascus@fishgame.com

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

a serious target gun or for hunting squirrels and rabbits. It will never take the place of the Smith and Wesson Model 41 or the old High Standard Citation that I loved so much. However, that is not its forte.

As a knockabout or “kit gun” it may be the best ever introduced. It is highly functional. The one I tested never once malfunctioned, which I find quite remarkable, and may be attributable to the oddly designed magazine, which offsets the rims

Browning’s 191122 (bottom) and a Colt 1908.

of the .22 long rifle cartridges. It weighs a bit of nothing and fits very nicely, if a bit snugly, into the holster I sometimes use for my Colt’s Model 1908 Hammerless .380.

Carried on the belt in a holster the 1911-22 is to be forgotten, until needed for a rabid skunk or truculent rattlesnake.

For many years the perfect kit gun was considered to be something on the order of the Ruger Bearcat or the Smith & Wesson 22-32 Kit Guns. Those guns are made mostly of steel and are hefty for the size, although not so much so that they are burdensome. I have carried a Smith & Wesson Model 63 a few thousand miles over the hills and through the brush without hardship, and I probably will not trade my little Kit Gun for a 1911-22.

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Springfield Armory’s XD(M) competition pistol, now in .45 ACP

ing 13 rounds of what is arguably the best defensive pistol cartridge ever devised.

seen accuracy from a factory stock polymer pistol. Rob Leatham believes this model is accurate enough, out of the box, to win at events like the Bianchi Cup, The Steel Challenge and the USPSA and IDPA Nationals, and he plans on testing this Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has belief out in upcoming competitions. announced the all-new Grizzly 300 2WD Other things like barrel locking points utility ATV combining best-in-class techthat are further apart may help with the nology with a value price at $4,099. This accuracy also, but it is really the sum of all new light utility ATV has a smooth and of the changes that make these pistols so powerful engine and is the only model in special. its class with a fully automatic dual range As with all XD(M)’s, this model has transmission. very high magazine capacity.

The GrizIn addition to all the features of it’s little zly 300 is brother, the 9mm, the XD(M) powered by 5.25 Competition Series .45 offers increased Accuracy, Speed and Power.

Sometimes .45’s get too unwieldy when using double stack magazines.

Not so with the 2012 Yamaha Grizzly 300, in compact XD(M) Hunter Green. .45 grip, while carry-

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After launching the best, out of the box, competition handgun in 9mm just a few months ago, Springfield Armory is announcing that the XD(M) Competition Series pistol is now available in .45ACP. With the enthusiastic acceptance of the 9mm, Springfield just had to get the major caliber version out ASAP. The XD(M) 5.25 Competition Series pistols feature refinements in accuracy and shoot-ability which aid in speed and precision shooting applications.

The longer slide and barrel offer a longer sighting radius. This makes it is easier to see alignment errors and correct them.

This leads to enhanced human accuracy.

The part you can control. It allows you to aim better. It is also easier to shoot fast when you have a longer sighting plane.

It comes down to a thing called “pointability”.

The new, adjustable precision target rear, and fiber optic insert serrated front sights are better than most options that can be installed by a custom shop. Springfield’s professional shooter, multi-time World Champion, Rob Leatham says, “This is the best rear sight I’ve seen on this category of gun. Makes anything before it obsolete.”

The lightening cut reduces slide and reciprocating mass. Competition shooters are always looking for an edge, and lightening slides, when permitted by the rules of competition, allow a wider variety of ammunition to function properly. A longer slide normally means more weight, but the engineers on this project were able to lighten moving parts to weigh the same as Springfield’s shorter 4.5 inch barrel length XD(M)’s. Plus they look really cool!

When looking for increased accuracy, a lot of shooters hunt for custom match grade barrels with improved fit. This “enhanced barrel fit” provides never before

PHOTO: springfield armory

Springfield Adds .45 to Popular Line

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PHOTO: xpress boats

a 287cc single overhead cam four stroke engine. Its class-exclusive liquid cooling provides precise temperature control and long engine life even in extreme environments. At the center of its lightweight and durable chassis is a power plant with a 32mm carburetor that delivers smooth power.

“This all-new Grizzly 300 is built for the landowner who needs a durable, dependable light utility vehicle or rider who wants a fun two-wheel-drive recreational ATV,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV and SxS group marketing manager.

“Grizzly styling and reliability combined with all of its great features make this new 300 the best machine in its class.”

Feature for feature, the Grizzly 300 easily out performs any similarly priced competing model. The durable engine and dual range transmission offers Hi range for light duty and trail riding plus Low range for tougher chores and towing. This bear can pull more than 720 pounds and carry more than 140 combined pounds on the ATV’s front and rear racks. It features separate hydraulic front and rear disc brakes and 22-inch Maxxis® tires with a rugged lug pattern for optimum traction and durability.

More than five inches of clearance allows it to cover rugged ground, and its double wishbone front suspension system with 5.9 inches of travel and a rear swingarm with 6.5 inches of travel provide maximum terrainability. All of this is wrapped around a reliable, low-maintenance shaft drive.

Creature comforts include a plush seat, push-button electronic start, water resistant under seat storage box, and large front and rear fenders with full floorboards for mud/splash protection. Under seat marine grade electrical components ensure protection from the elements, and the 2.8 gallon fuel tank provides ample range for chores or trail rides.

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The all new Grizzly 300 will be available in December 2011 and comes in Steel Blue and Hunter Green. More information about this and other Yamaha utility ATVs is www.YamahaOutdoors.com.

Xpress Teams with Drake Drake Waterfowl and Xpress Boats have teamed up to create the ultimate series of duck boats. The 2012 Xpress Boats Drake 16 and 18 foot duck boats, inspired by the needs of television’s Drake Migration Nation. The serious hunter requires a comfortable, stable platform, designed for

virtually any hunting condition. For years, the Xpress HD Duck Boat hull has been the gold standard for rugged, hard-nosed boating. The Drake 16 and 18 is that perfect blend of functionality and versatility. These boats are a direct result of what dealers and customers have been looking for. A rugged, maneuverable boat built to be sturdy and comfortable. J. Paul Jackson, host of the Sportsman Channel’s “Drake’s Migration Nation is thrilled what has been accomplished: “As host of the of Drake’s Migration Nation television show for the last two years, if I have learned anything about the good folks at Drake Waterfowl Systems during that time, it is that they take the company motto, “Innovators in Waterfowl Hunting”, very seriously. Every product in the Drake line features innovations that the competition just can’t match. At Drake, we are constantly striving to build new

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products that are of the highest quality and functionality. Therefore, when we decided that we wanted to partner with a boat manufacturer to build the ultimate boat for the Migration Nation, Xpress Boats was the obvious choice. From their quality all welded designs to their smart standard features and useful optional accessories; Xpress Boats has truly become America’s premier aluminum boat manufacturer.

The result of combining Drake’s innovation with Xpress’ superior quality and craftsmanship produced a boat that even exceeded my high expectations, the new Limited Edition Drake’s Migration Nation Boat by Xpress.”

Like most Xpress customers and dealers, Jackson looks for products that provide maximum versatility and durability, and this new boat really delivers on both. Its innovative hull design makes it suitable for both outboard and surface drive motors, and combines the handling capabilities of an Xpress bass boat with the durability and timber toughness that made Xpress duck boats famous. In addition, its Xtreme Coat paint, longitudinal rib construction, all welded design, foam injected floors and floatation pods make it virtually indestructible and unsinkable. The result is a craft that can run in the ice, through the mud and timber, and on the open water.

Jackson adds, “Perhaps the most impressive feature of the boat is the fact that it has been designed as a multifunctional platform that I can use for hunting, fishing and pleasure. It provides an ease of use for a dog that as a professional retriever trainer I can really appreciate, and it is adaptable to any hunting environment, from shallow water with mud and stumps, to the biggest open water lakes. The front deck, trolling motor mount and extra connections make a great fishing boat, too.

Finally, it has great storage space and the ability to accept a myriad of accessories, making it wonderful for all of my uses,

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and resistance to stress.

Why should the excitement begin after you reach your hunting spot? Whether you’re skimming mud flats, weaving through timber or roaring down a deep channel, your new Xpress Boats Drake 16 or 18 will give you the same hunting experience you see weekly on the Sportsman Channel. Join the Migration Nation team in an Xpress Boat. Visit www.xpressboats. com to see more and find an Xpress Boat dealer near you.

South Texas Cats The South Texas Catfish Association officially started on August 3, 2010.

The South Texas Catfish Association or STCA is a 501(c)(7) tax-exempt nonprofit member run club. The membership votes in a Board of Directors annually to run the club operations. The STCA is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

The STCA was conceived to provide catfish anglers in South Texas with a tournament series to compete in while fostering a friendly brotherhood. This year’s tournament series will start in October 2011 and end in May 2012 with the “Classic” event.

2011/2012 Points Series Schedule:

October 22, 2011 – Calaveras Lake November 19, 2011 – Braunig Lake December 17, 2011 – Choke Canyon January 14, 2012 – Guadalupe River/ Dunlap Lake February 11, 2012 – Somerville Lake March 24, 2012 – Corpus Christi Lake April 7, 2012 – Calaveras Lake May 5, 2012 – The Classic at Calaveras Lake STCA’s mission statement is: “The STCA was started with the purpose to coordinate and support catfish tournaments and foster fellowship among South Texas catfish anglers; to promote the responsible use of our public waters; help protect our right to enjoy our sport; and to bring together people who enjoy the common sport of catfish fishing”.

In addition to the tournament series, STCA conducts an annual Wounded Warriors Day On The Water where the membership, with the help of sponsors, take these warriors and their families out on Calaveras Lake, for a morning of fishing followed by an afternoon cookout. At this year’s event due to the kind donations and sponsors,

each participant was able to walk away with a new rod and reel combo.

New for the coming year, in the spring, STCA will conduct a Youth Tournament.

There will be no registration fee as the tournament will be free to enter. This tournament will be open to all youths ages 3 to 16 with two divisions. Each participant will receive a gift and there will be a cookout following the tournament. During the hot summer months STCA organizes “Beat The Heat” night tournaments, these tournaments are not a part of the point’s series and are just a fun way for members to get together and spend a night fishing, with the possibility of winning some cash too.

STCA is working hard to be more than just a tournament series club; there is a new section on the webpage intended for anglers new to catfishing, with tips and tactics from tournament fishermen. This page is constantly being updated. We are also looking into some additional ideas to get more anglers involved, events such as a “Bank Only” tournament were all participants would have to fish from the bank, and even an “Anything But Catfish” tournament where catfish will not count.

Benefits of STCA membership include a quarterly newsletter, an association decal, the ability to fish the tournaments and win cash and other prizes, and access to a member’s only area where the tournament winners share their winning tactics and techniques for each tournament. Membership cost $20 a year.

STCA would have a very difficult time doing the things it does if not for a few loyal sponsors; Cliff Hill of Hill Country Fishin’ Guide Service www.hillcountryfishin.com; The Boat Shop – www. theboatshopsa.com and the designers of the South Texas Catfish Logo, Catfish Designs – www.catfishdesigns.com .

To learn more about STCA, visit www.southtexascatfish.org or email STCA at info@southtexascatfish.org. logo: south texas catfish association

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New lures hit the market every season, but it’s not often a lure company introduces an entirely new rig. Such is the case, however, with G & H Offshore Lures.

G & H has long made the Mojo ($18), that squid-like heavyweight (16, 20, and 28 ounce) that allows you to troll deep without setting out miles of line. The lure’s nylon skirt and Mylar strips attract the attention of

predators, while the jointed swinging hook keeps fish locked on tight once they strike. The Mojo is commonly rigged in tandem, with a lighter lure above the heavier one.

The news from G & H is their re-introduction of the Homer Leblanc Swim Whizz, which was originally designed for musky fishing way back in 1956, in new saltwater versions ($17.95).

These lipped plugs are available in both straight and jointed versions, in eight and 10-inch models. Since the lip is an integral part of the plug, it can’t come loose or fall out, and it has two different attachment points for both shallow and deep running.

Red/white, blue/white, chartreuse/pink, red/chartreuse, and black/pearl color combos round out the choices. The saltwater versions feature cad-plated Mustad hooks, and heavy-duty stainless split-rings.

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and a re-introduced classic? The way G & H discovered how to put these lures together, into one fish-catching trolling rig. With your main line attached to a triple-swivel, an upper leader of nine feet of monofilament trails a Swim Whizz. A lower leader six feet long terminates in a Mojo. Putting the two lures together onto one rig lets you pull the lipped plug down deep, as though it were weighted down with a pound or more of in-line lead. Fish have their choice between the swimming plug and the wiggling Mojo, while the two lures separate by several feet, increasing the rig’s visibility through the water column.

C&H Offshore Lures’ new Mojo can be tandem-rigged with a lighter lure on top.

While testing out this rig in offshore waters, I made an interesting discovery of my own: mahi-mahi can’t resist the side-toside wiggle of the Swim Whizz, and weighted down with the Mojo, you can pull this plug just under the surface without it breaking and spinning (as most plugs do when run near surface at high trolling speeds). That allows you to literally watch the colorful speedsters dart in and attack—bringing a very new twist to a very old lure design.

Check them out at www.ghlures.com.

—Lenny Rudow

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Earnest Vision Ernest Hemmingway will live on forever thanks to books like The Old Man and the Sea, but could his writing improve your vision? No—but invoking his name might have that effect, thanks to Ono’s Trading Company’s new line of Ernest Hemmingway sunglasses.

These glasses are high-end, and they carry a high-end price tag of $189. But you get what you pay for, and in this case, you’re paying for crystal-clear optics via HI-VEX resin lenses which offer 100-percent UVA and UVB protection. They also meet ANSI Z87.1 impact specs, which means they’re tough enough to qualify as protective eyewear.

I tried out the Irati style, one of five in the Hemmingway line.

Thick arms feature a leaping marlin inset over an “H”, and Hemmingway’s signature can be found inscribed on the inside. Frames are Grilimad TR-90, which you can bend, squeeze, or sit on, without damaging. And they’re vented along the top, to reduce fogging when you walk from an air-conditioned environment into the humid outdoors. The frames also feature a rubber non-slip nose pad, ear tips, and brow pad. I found them comfortable, light, and form-fitting enough to block out the sunlight that often creeps in around the edges of some

styles.

My favorite feature of the Ernest Hemmingway Irati, however, is the ability to order it in both single and “reader” versions. The reader versions have a small 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 magnifier CONTINUED ON PAGE 63

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Double Down with G&H Offshore Lure

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Buck Chairman Series Folding Hunter

2-5/8” to 3-7/8”, and MSRPs from $40 to $54.

For more information visit www.buckknives.com, or call (800) 3262825.

The new 110 Chairman Series Folding Hunter from Buck Knives starts with the basic features of their legendary Folding Hunter, but it offers a lot more. It has a beautiful Cherrywood Dymondwood handle, accented with gleaming nickel-silver bolsters, and comes in a specially designed, American-made, black genuine distressed leather sheath, with gray stitching.

The final touch, which sets this 110 Chairman apart from any other Folding Hunter – it has Chuck Buck’s signature on the handle. Surely, for many avid knife fans it will be a collectible, yet the MSRP is only $100.

While it may be the star of the show, this new 110 plays only the leading role in the whole Buck Chairman ComfortCraft Series. There are now five pocket knives, all designed and crafted in the USA with special attention to detail and hand-finished so they fit comfortably in your pocket and in your hand.

Because this entire series was created with design counsel Chuck Buck’s from Chuck Buck, signature foldthey all feature ing hunter. his signature on the Cherrywood Dymondwood handles,

framed with nickel-silver bolsters. Newest addition is the 302 Solitaire CW, with a single 2-7/8” clip blade that folds into its 3-7/8” body.

MSRP, $40.

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Fastest Log Splitters on the Market Everywhere, families are rediscovering the money-saving benefits of burning renewable wood. There’s nothing better than sitting in front of the woodstove as the snow falls and saving on fuel bills. But, burning firewood used to take a lot of time and effort.

New DR RapidFire and DualAction log splitters reinvent log splitting with speed and power!

Achieving unheard-of productivity, customers can put a tractor to work with a DR 3-Point Hitch Model, split indoors with the 10-Ton Electric Model, or process up to 8 cords a day with the DRRapidFire model.

• The

groundbreaking DRRapidFire Log Splitter replaces hydraulics with a rack and pinion system that delivers overwhelming speed and power. The engine spins two 74 pound, cast iron flywheels and releases energy in a burst, hurtling the log through the splitting wedge in one second—up to six times faster than conventional hydraulic splitters. (CHP jpg) • DR Dual-Action Models—available in gas, electric and 3-Point hitch—elimi-

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nate downtime by splitting wood in both directions. They feature the X2 Ram—a double-edged splitting wedge that splits on the extend and retract strokes. Splitting times are fastest with the 3-point hitch model ranging from 3-12 seconds.

(CHP2 jpg) DR Log Splitters start at $999.

DR offers a 1 Year HandsOn

DR log splitter with optional work table.

Trial, a 2 year warranty on Dual-Action Splitters and a 2-year commercial warranty on RapidFire Splitters.

For more information, please visit www. drlogsplitters.com, or call 877.200.8817 and get your free DVD & Catalog.

Thermacell Outdoor Lantern The ThermaCELL Outdoor InsectRepellent Lantern is the best option for keeping mosquitoes and other insects in any outdoor camping setting. The Patio Lantern is both a powerful insect repellent device and a functional and portable, long-lasting outdoor LED lantern, with both functions being usable separately or together.

Providing a 15x15 ft mosquito-free zone, it is 98% effective (tested and used by the Department of Defense and the

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which powers the mosquito repellent provides 12 hours of power and is located on the interior for aesthetics and ease-of-use.

8 LEDs provide the light from the lantern, which has two settings controlled by a switch that is located on the base of the lantern and is powered by 4 AA batteries.

The lantern retails for $31.99, it can be purchased online at www.mosquitorepellent.com, via phone at 866-753-3837 or at retailers throughout North America.

any taste or budget: Yellow Delrin (KC378) MSRP: $61.99 Black Delrin (KC278) MSRP: $61.99 Ram’s Horn (KC978) MSRP: $69.99 Tobacco Bone (KC678BR) MSRP: $69.99 Stag (KC578) MSRP: $99.99

A Robert Klaas Classic

insect-repellent lantern.

Since 1834, the Robert Klaas name has represented hand crafted quality and tradition. As part of HallMark Cutlery’s hunting series, the Classic Hunter is the perfect size for your next hunt. The knife

For more information, or to request a free catalog – contact: HallMark Cutlery Toll-Free: 866-583-3912 info@hallmarkcutlery.com; PO Box 220, Kodak, TN 37764

backyards, decks, picnics and barbecues. Rather than a harmful toxin, ThermaCELL utilizes allethrin, an artificial version of a natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers.

The Lantern provides not only unmatched protection from biting insects, but ambient lighting for the campsite or other outdoor setting. Designed with a frosted globe, the lantern offers two illumination settings. The butane cartridge

PHOTOs: buck knives;country home products;thermacell; hallmark cutlery

United States Army), making it the most effective insect repellent device on the market. It is also non-toxic, safe and non-intrusive, being DEET-free, silent, portable and odor free. Weighs only 13 ounces.

Perfect for campsites, but also great for patios, ThermaCELL

On the Web

measures 7-3/4” overall length, with a 3-1/2” clip point blade. The Classic Hunter features a nickel silver guard, 440A stainless steel blade and embossed genuine leather, holster style sheath.

Available in five handle versions to suit

www.BuckKnives.com www.DRlogsplitters.com www.MosquitoRepellent.com www.HallmarkCutlery.com

TEXAS TESTED t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61 section at the bottom of the lens. Sure, this could come in handy if you plan to kick back with a copy of The Sun Also Rises in broad daylight, but of more interest to you and me is the magnification’s usefulness when tying knots. Especially with light monofilament, seeing the line can be tough for those of us with aged eyes. But the 2.5 magnification makes finding and threading that tag-end a breeze. You need prescription lenses? No problem. They can be ordered directly off of Ono’s web site (www.onos.com), in both standard and bifocal versions. Added bonus: A rigid case and padded retainers come free.

—LR

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Dahlgren Means Comfort Comfort is something that every hunter strives for when he or she leaves for a hunt in the field. After all, bitter cold winds and heavy rains should not stop us from pursuing the sport we love.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to try a pair of socks from a high quality company called Dahlgren. At first, I must admit, I thought that these socks that are made from Alpacas would be much too warm for my feet. I was wrong. They are the most comfortable pair of socks I own and I look forward to putting them on my tired feet.

Dahlgren uses a patented technology called Dri-Stride to remove moisture. All I

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can tell you is that it works and works well.

They offer two different types of socks.

One is called the Expedition, which is a thicker, warmer sock for the cold days of winter. The other is a Light Hiking sock for the warmer months.

I tried the Light Hiking ones during this past summer and was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they actually were. My feet have a tendency to sweat easily, but not so with this sock.

I know that traditional wool socks helped to keep your feet warm in the past, but move over….this is a new technology and it is the future. I love them and I am sure I will for years to come!

Check them out at www.dahlgrenfootwear.com.

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The Deer Can Wait: Let’s Fish

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t’s pre-dawn on a brisk November morning. The cold front that brought a stiff northeast wind two days earlier seems like ancient history. I find myself thinking about my friends and everyone else across Texas who are settling into blinds in the woods, marsh, and rice fields. I can relate to their excitement as I pull into the boat ramp.

We’ve still got northeast winds, but it’s dropped about 20 mph since the front blew through. I pour a fresh cup of coffee and step out of the truck while I wait to greet today’s clients. Light winds and high pres-

sure are in order for the day and that is exactly what you hope for on Sabine Lake in November. If you’re lucky enough to take advantage of these conditions, by all means, do.

On days like this you should have no problem finding flocks of seagulls hovering over large schools of trout and reds. These fish have huge pods of shrimp pushed to the surface and are gorging on them from below while the gulls are picking them off from above.

If this is your style of fishing, you owe it to yourself to get down here on days like today. The only real dilemma we usually have is deciding which group of birds we want to fish. Most schools will be loaded with trout, while others will have a mixture of trout and reds. If you hit enough groups you will likely run into a couple that are holding redfish only Good bait choices are generally whatever you feel like throwing or what you already have tied on. Soft plastics are typically our

baits of choice simply so we don’t have to deal with trebles after every cast. However, if you don’t mind breaking out the pliers on every fish, topwaters, hoginars, rattletraps and Corky’s will all get serious results.

These baits, at times, produce some of the larger fish of the day.

Color doesn’t seem to matter much either when you’re sitting within casting distance of what seems like an acre of aggressively feeding fish, but glow, red shad and morning glory usually get it done for us.

If flounder are on your menu, some of our best of the year are caught in November. The mouths of East and West Pass traditionally produce some real nice saddle blankets trying to make it to the gulf. Give them some wobble with a curl tail like CT Shad by Flounder Pounder tipped with fresh shrimp. Glow and grape are excellent color choices.

I think I’ll just go fishing in these conditions. I can hunt later.

the bank bite Location: North Revetment Road: Pleasure Island Species: Specks, Reds, Flounder Baits/Lures: DOA Shrimp under popping cork, topwaters, finger mullet Best Times: Early and late with moving tide Contact Eddie Hernandez at, EHernandez@fishgame.com

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About As Good As It Gets

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f the summer drought extends all though the fall, the end of the earth as we know it may be within sight. More likely, though, fall will bring at least a bit cooler temperatures, and some needed rain. As bad as things looked in July, they can burst into productivity almost overnight.

The relief we hoped to get, within reason, from Tropical Storm Don (and I, for one, had put great hopes on a storm named after our esteemed editor, Don Zaidle), was almost a complete no-show. The day after the so-called storm made landfall close to Brownsville, there was a brief period of heavy rain and thunder at my home in Oyster Creek. It only lasted 30 – 45 minutes, but at it’s most intense I saw the half-grown cottontail rabbit my wife provides food and water to in our backyard out in the middle of the deluge, calmly munching Bermuda grass. I am assuming the rabbit was young enough that it had never seen rain before, as we had only experienced a couple of rain events since February.

As disappointing as the lack of rain was, it could have been worse. In 1979, a dying Tropical Storm named Claudette dumped around 47 inches or so of rain on the area I lived in along Chocolate Bayou in 24 hours – which I think is still listed in the Guinness Book of Records. That rain pushed the bayou far beyond its normal banks, flooded homes and businesses – including my own – drowned my new 4WD truck, and made a general mess of things for some time.

On the flip side of that flooding, it flushed the bayou and West Galveston Bay cleaner than it had been in decades.

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Residential sewage, industrial wastes, agricultural pollution, and many years worth of sediment – along with a few buildings, some large household appliances and the gas dock from Lute’s Marina – through Chocolate Bay into West Bay. Much of it then went into the Gulf through San Luis Pass. The bayou was left with clean sand bottom in many areas that had held only mud before, and the whole system was rejuvenated. Fishing and shrimping were very improved that fall, as is usually the case after a major rainfall event. Except for one spot coming out of a curve in the bayou where something had settled that most outdrives would “bump” on during low tide, conditions were much improved.

We did not get that sort of relief so far in 2011, and as one who has lost trucks, boats, and homes to nature’s fury in the past, I am not too quick to jump in and “wish” for a storm to break the drought. Still, fall is the best of times on the Texas coast, with normally mild weather, less congestion from

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various human users of the resource, and plenty of targets for the fisherman. If enough rain falls to return back bay salinities to a semblance of normal, forage species like shrimp, mullet, and menhaden should be abundant, drawing redfish, trout and flounder. Lack of rainfall does increase water clarity, which can be good or bad, depending on other factors, but always makes a day on the bay more visually stimulating.

Drought conditions also increase salinity, so if the rain does not come, look for more species that usually stay in the Gulf to enter bay systems. This would include – but not be limited to – Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, bull sharks, gafftop catfish, and possibly tarpon. In spite of the TV reports about bull sharks in the summer that treated catches of them in the surf as unusual and even stated that they might have been close to shore due to increased salinity, this species has a very high tolerance for fresh water,

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No Better Place to Be

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t feels good picking up the paper in the November morning. The first real cold front of the fall will appear this month, rejuvenating with chilly air and the breathtaking portrait of clear, autumn sunrises.

With fresh recruits of nippy air blowing

from the north, water temperatures plunge, tides recede and marshes dumped this year’s hatch of shrimp, shad and crabs.

The next month should provide the best fishing opportunities of the year, and there is not bay system in Texas more prolific than Matagorda in November. Here are a few hangouts to target: Obviously, the mouths of bayous and marshes on a falling tide are fall hotspots.

Places like Oyster Lake, Crab Lake, Horse Trailer Lake, Boggy Lake and Lake Austin are good choice. Live shrimp under a popping cork, roach-colored plastics or small topwaters worked across points are choice offerings.

Don’t be surprised if birds work in the

back lakes, especially on an ardent falling tide. Stay back from the pack and gingerly work the covey so not to spook the fish. I can recount past autumns where one flock of birds filled a limit of both trout and reds.

“ I can recall past autumns where one flock of birds filled a limit of both trout and reds.

“

Waders should work the same terrains, but more methodically. In East Matagorda Bay, Boiler Bayou, Kain Cove, Hog Island,

GALVESTON t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 and will often enter bays and rivers in Catch-All and Brown Cedar Flats “normal”Basin conditions.

It is probably our hold solid trout since all of thesespecies, spots have most common inshore shark and a the mudsummer bottom.after Super Spooks, Shesaw Pups, the ’79 flood we one SkitterWalks, Catch 5s and hanging around in the bayouyour nearfavorite lute’s soft plastic gets the job (new) fuel dock, far done. from the Gulf – or If you prefer staying in the boat and even the ICW.

the bank bite anchoring with live thePass, fall offers excelLocation: Sanbait, Luis Galveston lent andJetties black drum action. Shell andredfish Freeport Island, Twin Island, Island and Alternate Spot:Mad Any spotCutwhere any other streams piece of shell fish with coastal enter holds the Gulf or live the shrimp a popping Watch will for ICW.under If rainfall returns,cork. bay species oyster boats dredging shellwater, and and remember temporarily seek saltier if the that spot for another species day. Harvested drought continues, normally reefs preare especially good the next day when 66 |

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Photo: Dole, Canstock

around the locks is always a hotspot. Don’t forget the flounder limit drops to two per person per day in November, and gigging is not allowed.

the bank bite Location: South shoreline of East Bay Species: Trout and redfish Baits: Soft plastics, spoons, topwaters

How to Fish: Look for birds working over shrimp for trout, if tides are high, work tight to the grass for redfish.

Capt. Bink Grimes owns and operates Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay (www. matagordasunriselodge.com).

Contact him at BGrimes@fishgame.com

Look for birds working the back lakes.

things have settled out after being overturned by the dredging.

There is always the bull redfish run if you prefer to tangle with a brute. Large reds are caught at the jetties and passes on cracked crabs.

Sight-casting to redfish along a muddy grass-line is always fun, too. Watch for ripples, wakes and jumping shrimp near the grass and wait for the freight train to pass.

Then toss a spoon, shrimp or soft plastic in front of the school and loosen your drag.

Listen for crunching jaws when a large school of reds work through the grass. Small crabs do not have a chance.

For flounder, work soft plastics, Gulps or soft plastics tipped with shrimp over muddy bottoms of marsh drains and bayous.

Tandem-rigged grubs tipped with shrimp

FOCUS ferring the Gulf will come inshore.

Species: The usual bay targets: speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and croaker – along with jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, and small shark species.

Best Baits: Live or dead baits “flipflop” on effectiveness. Small jigs, silver spoons, and top water plugs can provide exciting action.

Best Times: Moving tides are always best, and early morning/late afternoon adds to the appeal of those conditions.

Capt. Mike Holmes runs tarpon, shark, and bluewater trips on a classic 31 Bertram.

To book a trip, call 979-415-0535.

Email him at mholmes@fishgame.com.

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November is a Real Corker

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ovember is what I affectionately call a cork time of year. For the previous 3 or 4 months you won’t find anything that floats on my boat, especially a cork with bait under it. As conditions change so goes the way of the in-tune angler.

How does one know to go to the widely used and very familiar cork, and what types of corks and rigs are best for this time of year? Water temperature and water depth are two of the biggest reasons I elect to make the transition to floating baits above structure. With 90-degree water temperatures in the heat of the summer, baits fished close

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to the bottom of water columns are more productive, as reds and trout frequent the lower quadrant of deeper water. Thermo cline offers some consistency from temperature changes and from warm—almost sauna-like—water temperatures. As the water cools down in November, a predator fish’s metabolism gradually slows to conserve energy and accommodate fewer feeding opportunities. Fish that seemed to be on gas-guzzling turbochargers slow to an almost hybrid style fuel-saving feeding speed. This calls for much more precise bait presentation.

During the summer the predators come to the bait. As winter rolls in, bringing the bait to the predators is a very productive tactic. In the latter part of a cold November and early December, trout and reds tend to hole up in areas close to reefs adjacent to dark mud bottoms. The reefs offer bait feeding opportunities and the dark mud bottoms offer heat collection which provides protection from colder water temperatures.

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Find these areas close to deep holes (say 10 to 20 feet) and you’ve found an area that will produce fish for several weeks. These are prime target areas for cork fishing.

Water depths can change drastically this time of year with hard north winds pushing as much as two feet of water off the top of reefs causing reds, trout and black drum to congregate in areas that are just not practical for Carolina, fish finder or other bottom rigs.

As with fly fishing, croaker fishing or lure fishing, there is somewhat of an art to cork fishing. The type of cork makes a difference.

There are four types of corks anglers use most frequently: the silent cork, the rattle cork, the weighted cork and the nonweighted cork. All are productive based on time of year and conditions.

For November a rattle cork fished very slowly is what I prefer. The cork suspends the bait above the structure and when fished properly can be used to cover a lot of water, which is useful in locating fish.

The most common mistake with a cork is the immediate reaction to set the hook.

Once the cork goes under on active feeding days this technique works well, but for most days in November and December a hook-set delay until pressure is felt is best. In really shallow water the cork may not go under at all but rather might tip up slightly or seem to take off left, right or straight back at the angler. Reel quickly but smoothly and wait for a steady pressure on the line before setting the hook. A cold-water feeding fish grasps the bait more slowly and swims off slower before taking the second, or what I like to call the “true feeding bite or gulp.”

Most people pull the bait out of the mouth of the feeding fish (especially reds and black drum) this time of year.

The action you put on the cork is important as well. Too much rattle can spook fish.

Not enough and they can’t or don’t find the bait. Rule of thumb for action: very clam days—little to no rattling; 10 to 15 mph winds—moderate rattling; 15 mph and above—ring the rattle like it is a dinner bell.

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The color of the cork is also to be considered. Case in point: three guide boats all on the same reef, all using shrimp under a rattle cork. The conditions were gin clear water with 7 to 9 mph winds. One guide appeared to be almost sinking his boat with the fish they were catching. The other two may as well have been fishing in a five gallon bucket. The difference after exchanging notes was the cork color: two were using orange fluorescent corks the other an old standard white that looked similar to the bait color being used that day. On other days, especially windy days with murky water, the bright red/orange colors seem to work their magic.

Adjusting the leader length is probably the most important part of fishing a cork effectively. Deeper reefs require a longer leader while shallow reefs require the reverse. I use weighted corks this time of year for distance casting as moving in too close can blow the fish out of a given area.

colors being the preferred bait.

Ayres Bay - The best action is black drum on the west shoreline using peeled shrimp on a very light Carolina rig or silent cork. There should be keeper trout on midbay reefs using a rattle cork and live shrimp.

areas once open for bank fishermen is closed due to construction. The northwest end (fishing pier side) is still a good wade for reds using small finger mullet free lined or under a silent cork

the bank bite The new LBJ causeway is now under construction, the northeast and southeast

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

Copano Bay - The back of Copano close to Turtle Pens is good for some keeper reds and black drum, using peeled shrimp under a cork. Free lined finger mullet are the ticket for reds. Lap Reef is still holding some keeper trout using live shrimp under a rattle cork.

Aransas Bay - New Penny sand eels are good for trout and reds on the ICW side of Deadman’s Reef. Work the eels slowly and set the hook at the slightest tap. The spoil area close to the mouth of Dunham Bay is good for sheep head with a few nice reds as a bonus. Cast closely next to the spoil edges using peeled shrimp under a shallow rigged cork.

St. Charles Bay - The west shoreline close to Cavasso Creek is a good wade for reds using small finger mullet free lined or under a silent cork. Drift across the point of Cow Chip using Berkley jerk shads for reds and some keeper trout.

Carlos Bay - On high tide fish the shell edges of Cedar Reef using live shrimp, preferably under a rattle cork. Free lined shrimp work well here, just keep the bait moving and the bottom to avoid hang-ups.

Mesquite Bay - The south edge of Ayres Reef is good for reds on high tide using a Berkley Gulp crab on a clear bubble cork.

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Play Ball

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ost Lower Coast anglers will tell you that their favorite month to hit the water is November.

There are fewer anglers because hunting season is in full swing, the weather is much more moderate and transitioning between the searing heat of summer and early fall and the weekly cold fronts of winter. Most appealing to all about the Turkey Month is that the fishing takes off. Redfish and trout cover the flats, flounder move to the edge of passes in anticipation of their migration, black drum start to show up in prodigious numbers and sizes, and pelagics such as blackfin tuna, kingfish, and even wahoo are within easy reach of a short jaunt.

The most exciting part of the entire November fishing experience, however, happens along the beachfront. Vast schools of small baitfish—usually pilchards, scaled sardines or the diminutive rain minnow—are corralled by various predators such as the aforementioned kingfish, Spanish mackerel, bonita, large speckled trout and redfish, skipjack, and tarpon. These voracious apex hunters tear into these schools with abandon. It’s quite a sight to behold, with bait spraying and jumping, large fish splashing, and gulls and pelicans joining in on the fun.

“The fishing is absolutely awesome under those (baitballs),” said Captain Richard Bailey. “It starts to take off in October, but November is when you’ll find the most balls up and down the beach.”

Bailey says that an angler with knowledge of how to run a boat in the surf and a sturdy bay boat can get in on the action.

Choose a calm day and cruise within a quarter mile from the beachfront. The baitballs are usually visible as dark shadows on the water that hold stationary as the waves

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and current roll over them. Sometimes it’s even easier to spot the balls because bait is crashing into it and birds are hovering and diving over them.

The prize quarry that hangs under these baitballs is the tarpon. Silver kings ranging from 40-pound juveniles to monster pushing 180 or even 200 pounds cruise around and slurp down wads and wads of bait from these swimming buffets. It is easy to spot them rolling or flashing in the clear water of a calm November day. Bailey says that they can be easily fooled, IF an angler plays the situation properly.

As with any other schooling situation, anglers should ease up to a baitball from the up-wind side and drift in when possible (a trolling motor is a great asset, because it will allow you to hold your position and prevent you having to come back around over and over). Sight casting towards an area where a tarpon was immediately spotted either rolling or darting under the surface is the preferred method, but plenty of anglers hookup while blind casting.

The lures for baitball tarpon are pretty straightforward: anything that can adequately match the hatch should be fine. The old standard is a ¼ ounce Johnson Sprite or Tony Acetta Spoon in chrome. The smaller size and silver flash mimic a rain minnow or white bait quite well. Of course, the smaller hardware can be a liability if a really big tarpon or a kingfish grabs your offering. Bailey says that some fishermen will switch out the small treble hook with a larger Sproat or O’Shaugnessy hook for a better hookup. White bucktails such as ½ ounce Roadrunner or Spro jig or a white, clear/glitter or pearl soft plastic is also lethal.

The old standard is the curly-tail grub, but shad tails and boot-tailed swimbaits work fine too. Whatever you throw, rig a short piece of wire to the bait. Spanish Mackerel and kings also love these baits.

It may be tough to get under the smaller fish that are tearing the baitball to pieces, but Baily says it is worth the effort, because

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the larger fish hand out below the chaos.

A soft plastic is ideal for this application because you can use a heavier jighead (such as ½ or ¾ ounce) to get the bait down more quickly while still using the same sized tail.

Big tarpon aren’t the only critters hiding under the school of harried baitfish. There are usually some good-sized redfish and even speckled trout sitting near the bottom and picking off any wounded or dead morsels that fall from above. As every angler out there knows, these gamefish will not turn their nose up towards a soft plastic.

Fly anglers should have a blast fishing these baitballs. A standard eighth or nineweight fly rod with a sinking fly line is ideal.

White or silver flies such as a small Tarpon Bunny or Chicken Feather replace the white jig or spoon. Again a short segment of soft wire is a good idea to prevent or mitigate bite-offs. Plenty of backing is a must, because a big tarpon or king can take a lot of line when they greyhound for the horizon.

the bank bite Location: South Mansfield Jetties (accessible via South Padre Island Access Point 6) Species: Redfish, tarpon, mangrove snapper.

Tips: Fish bait or soft plastics among the rocks for snapper, in the first and second guts for reds and poons.

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Contact Calixto Gonzales at CGonzales@fishgame.com

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UPPER GULF COAST

Peppered Specks on East Bay

by TOM BEHRENS tbehrens@fishgame.com

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Pepper Grove Cove GPS: N29 27.87402, W94 41.54502 (29.464567, -94.692417) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: She Pup topwater lures in chrome/black or chartreuse colors CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio, 281788-4041 TIPS: Wade early in skinny water.

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Richards Reef GPS: N29 31.42902, W94 45.32298 (29.523817, -94.755383) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassins in Pumpkinseed, plum or Pearl colors along with 1/8-ounce jigheads CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio, 281788-4041 TIPS: Quality wadefishing on the north shoreline from Robinson Bayou back to Smith Point. Key on scattered bait or slicks.

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Siever’s Cut GPS: N29 26.07402, W94 42.69198 (29.434567, -94.711533) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin in Pumpkinseed, plum or Pearl colors along with 1/4-ounce; jigheads CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio, 281788-4041 TIPS: Fish the south shoreline after 72 |

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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.

fronts have passed. Siever’s Cut should offer safe haven from the south winds.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: St. Mary’s Bayou GPS: N28 39.56802, W95 56.54298 (28.659467, -95.942383) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows in Black Magic, Chicken on a Chain and Tequila Rocks colors CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281450-4037 TIPS: Drift the deep shell on the west end of the Bay. LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoal GPS: N28 40.449, W95 53.898 (28.674150, -95.898300) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows in Black Magic, Chicken on a Chain and Tequila Rocks colors CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281450-4037 TIPS: Drift the area while casting soft plastics.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Willow Bayou GPS: N29 51.72702, W93 46.90698 (29.862117, -93.781783) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Skitter Walk and She Dog topwater lures

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CONTACT: Capt. Eddie Hernandez, 409-721-5467, or 409-673-3100 TIPS: Find the fish by following the birds then walk the dog.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: East Pass GPS: N29 58.92, W93 47.13498 (29.982000, -93.785583) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Bass Assassins in Red shad color CONTACT: Capt. Eddie Hernandez, 409-721-5467, 409-673-3100 TIPS: Drift and cast to the bank; you can also find flounder in this area while fishing for redfish.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Bridge Bayou GPS: N29 54.14802, W93 46.272 (29.902467, -93.771200) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Skitter Walk and She Dog topwater lures CONTACT: Capt. Edie Hernandez, 409721-5467, or 409-673-3100 TIPS: The mouth of Bridge Bayou is good location for an early morning bite using topwater lures.

LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef GPS: N29 28.70298, W94 45.70302 (29.478383, -94.761717) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin in Pumpkinseed, plum or Pearl colors along with 1/4-ounce; jigheads CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio, 2 81-788-4041 TIPS: Drift fish in mid morning.

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N28 29.88702, W96 14.202 (28.498117, -96.236700) SPECIES: speckled trout

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BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows in Black Magic, Chicken on a Chain and Tequila Rocks colors CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281450-4037 TIPS: Wade-fish close to the shore. Concentrate on the drains and grass beds.

LOCATION: Matagorda HOTSPOT: Colorado River Channel GPS: N28 41.75802, W95 58.67598 (28.695967, -95.977933) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows in Black Magic and Chicken on a Chain colors CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281450-4037 TIPS: The latter part of the month could see the speckled trout moving up the river. Night fishermen, fishing under lights, should catch a lot of trout.

MIDDLE GULF COAST

Speckled Trout from SA to JFK

by TOM BEHRENS tbehrens@fishgame.com

TIPS: Work the Gulp very, very slow along the bottom while using a 1/4 to 3/8ounce jighead. Work the current.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Marker 11 Reef GPS: N28 18.72, W96 41.70996 (28.312000, -96.695166) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: TTF plum or chartreuse soft plastics; topwater lures CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 361785-2686 TIPS: Fish the south end of the reef; Bone colored topwater lures work good late in the day.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Steamboat Hole Reef GPS: N28 17.91, W96 37.95996 (28.298500, -96.632666) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: TTF red and white soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 361785-2686 TIPS: Wade-fish along the deep boat cut while casting into deep water. Work the lure slowly across shell pad.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Panther Lake Reefs GPS: N28 18, W96 43.19802

(28.300000, -96.719967) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Roach or chartreuse colored TTF soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 361785-2686 TIPS: Work lower water column with short rod pumps.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Los Corrallos GPS: N27 14.80698, W97 29.904 (27.246783, -97.498400) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Bone colored Skitter Walks and Top Dog Juniors; Berkley Gulp in a Rootbeer or Glow color fished under an Alameda Rattler popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Bill Sheka, 361-9917191 TIPS: Cooler water temperatures should start the shrimp moving. Look for feeding birds. Don’t forget the side channels for flounder.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Emmords Hole GPS: N27 30.057, W97 19.54602 (27.500950, -97.325767) SPECIES: black drum BEST BAITS: live shrimp or Berkley Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Bill Sheka, 361-991-

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: JFK Causeway GPS: N27 38.07102, W97 14.46102 (27.634517, -97.241017) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp in a Rootbeer or Glow color fished under an Alameda Rattler popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Bill Sheka, 361-9917191 TIPS: Cooler water temperatures should start the shrimp moving. Look for feeding birds.

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Packery Channel GPS: N27 37.48602, W97 12.88302 (27.624767, -97.214717) SPECIES: flounder BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Bill Sheka, 361-9917191 D I G I T A L

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7191 TIPS: Target grass bed areas that have sand close by.

LOWER GULF COAST

Baffin Reds OK in ‘The Corrals’

by CALIXTO GONZALES cgonzales@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Los Corrales GPS: N27 16.413, W97 29.94102 (27.273550, -97.499017) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Corkies, large soft plastics in dark patterns, chartreuse CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361449-7441 TIPS: Look for tailing reds working.

Live bait under floats or on Texas Rattlin’ Rigs are a good first choice. When the water is off-colored, use darker baits with chartreuse mixed in.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Center Reef GPS: N27 16.206, W97 24.36198 (27.270100, -97.406033) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in strawberry/ white, black back, plum/chartreuse, rootbeer/red flake, Morning Glory CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361449-7441 TIPS: Trout start moving into their fall and winter haunts in September. Live bait free-lined around the down current side of the rocks. Soft plastics in the 4-5-inch range also make effective offerings, especially when fish are aggressive.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Kenedy Point GPS: N27 16.33698, W97 27.44202 (27.272283, -97.457367) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Corkies, large soft plastics in dark patterns, chartreuse 74 |

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CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361449-7441 TIPS: Fish with topwaters in shallow water early in the morning. You can continue with topwaters when the wind is mild. If the wind does pick up, then back off and fish with soft plastics or Corkies in deeper water.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Holly Beach GPS: N26 8.83002, W97 17.75502 (26.147167, -97.295917) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: live Bait, Logic Bait tandems in Tequila Gold, clear, red glitter, wounded mullet CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956561-4535 TIPS: Holly Beach gets a great deal of mention because of its productivity. Fish the channel that is marked by the two rows of PVC pipes. Fish the mid to lower levels with live bait or soft plastics. Look for big trout in the shallows early.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Convention Center Shoreline GPS: N26 8.24454, W97 10.743 (26.137409, -97.179050) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in red/white, cut ballyhoo, live shrimp CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-551-9581 TIPS: A popular wading spot for drive up fishermen. Fish the sand early and late with topwaters, then fish grass and potholes with soft plastics or natural bait under a popping cork as the day gets warmer. Use bright colors on post-front days.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N26 21.49398, W97 19.233 (26.358233, -97.320550) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Logic Tandems in Tequila Gold, Rootbeer/Chartreuse, live bait CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956561-4535 TIPS: Look for redfish pods east of the island in the shallows. Weedless jerkbaits

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such as the tandems should be slid through the grass along the bottom. If reds are chasing bait, skip the baits just under the surface. Live bait like finger mullet works.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Beachfront GPS: N26 34.08654, W97 16.38726 (26.568109, -97.273121) SPECIES: tarpon BEST BAITS: live mullet, soft plastic swimbaits, NirrOLure Mirrodines CONTACT: Capt. Richard Baily, 956369-5090 TIPS: Cruise the beachfront on a calm day and look for baitballs. Where the bait is, you will find tarpon crashing. Drift a live mullet through the maelstrom. Work lures or plastics on the perimeters for larger fish that don’t like crowds.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N26 33.8931, W97 16.4985 (26.564885, -97.274975) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: live mullet, cut mullet, crabs, large shrimp CONTACT: Captain Richard Bailey, 956369-5090 TIPS: Fish the color change 40 yards north of the jetties for the jumbo redfish that are feeding before moving offshore.

Bait chunks or live bait on a fishfinder rig is the way to go.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: King Ranch GPS: N26 46.30602, W97 28.35198 (26.771767, -97.472533) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft baits in Pearl/chartreuse, glow/chartreuse, purple/chartreuse Topwaters in baby trout, mullet, Bone CONTACT: Captain Steven Devries, 956289-3631 TIPS: Throw topwaters and soft plastics near the weedlines to locate big trout that are cruising along there. Use a soft plastic in chartreuse or Pearl patterns on a 1/8ounce jighead in deeper water later in the day.

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LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: The Targets GPS: N26 30.91302, W97 24.78702 (26.515217, -97.413117) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Soft baits in Pearl/chartreuse, glow/chartreuse, purple/chartreuse, gold spoons CONTACT: Captain Steven Devries, 956289-3631 TIPS: The first two hours of daylight is the best time to work this area. Topwaters should be worked close and parallel to the shoreline at a moderate pace. Watch for nervous bait.

PINEY WOODS

Wyndell’s Hot for White Bass

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Wyndell’s Hot Hole GPS: N30 45.3, W95 8.05014 (30.755000, -95.134169) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, live shad CONTACT: David S. Cox, dave@palmettoguideservice.com, 936-291-9602, palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Jig slabs off the bottom at this place. Keep the tension on your line tight and be ready for strikes as the bait falls.

Governor’s Point, Point Blank and the boat ramp area on the west side of the Highway 190 bridge have bank access.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N30 23.7141, W95 35.41422 (30.395235, -95.590237) SPECIES: hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: live shad, Storm Swim Shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch, admin@ fishdudetx.com, 936-291-1277, fishdudetx.com TIPS: Hybrids will school along the ledges of the river channel. Search for the depth they are in on various days. The Swim Shad will work good when you can keep it at shallow to medium depth. Live shad is best in deeper water.

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: East Point Little Caney Creek GPS: N32 49.208, W95 32.884 SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: 1/8-ounce jigs in contrasting colors; minnows CONTACT: Gene Snider, 903-383-7668 TIPS: As the water cools in the creeks, crappie start moving to deeper water by the dam. The east point of Little Caney is a good place to intercept them. Look for schools of shad on the move along the 25- to 35-foot breaklines off the tip of the point. Drop a jig or minnow to the bottom and gradually work it toward the surface

until a fish is caught. Then mark the line at that depth with a permanent ink marker.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend Res. HOTSPOT: Huxley Crappie Hole GPS: N31 47.142, W93 50.11698 (31.785700, -93.835283) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: live shiners, artificial jigs CONTACT: Greg Crafts, gregcrafts@ yahoo.com, 936-368-7151, toledobendguide.com TIPS: Toledo Bend is ranked one of the best crappie lakes in the nation with 4-pound fish and a 25-fish limit per person. As the water temperature falls, crappie will move to the drops and ledges along the old river channel. Fish vertically over brush.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

Rake the Mud for Fayette Cats

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: Mud Bank

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Big Cypress Bayou GPS: N32 42.5907, W94 6.9642 (32.709845, -94.116070) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Flukes, Senkos, topwater lures, crankbaits CONTACT: Paul Keith, caddoguide1@ att.net, 318-455-3437, caddolakefishing. com TIPS: November usually is my favorite time of the year. Watch for fish schooling along the river channel and in the river cuts, especially if there is a current.

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GPS: N29 55.21098, W96 43.095 (29.920183, -96.718250) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shrimp CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, weldon_ edna@hotmail.com, 979-229-3103, FishTalesGuideService.com TIPS: Gibbons Creek is close to shore here. Anchor and fish the channel and around the trees. If the lake is low, cast into the channel with one rod and fish straight down another. Chum straight down. Use shad in the channel and punch bait straight down.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Twin Creeks Boat Docks GPS: N32 17.5188, W96 7.57812 (32.291980, -96.126302) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, jigs, crankbaits CONTACT: Jason Barber, kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com, 903-603-2047, www.kingcreekadventures.com TIPS: Target the bass around and under the boat docks in one to eight feet of water. Throw the spinnerbaits and jigs on 20-pound line and the crankbaits on 15-pound line. Vary your retrieve and cover lots of water until you find a duplicate pattern.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Eagle Point South Side GPS: N30 37.92204, W96 2.79204 (30.632034, -96.046534)

SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, fresh shad, shrimp CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, weldon_ edna@hotmail.com, 979-229-3103, FishTalesGuideService.com TIPS: Fish the outer edges of the line of trees here in 6-8 feet of water. There is a lot of submerged timber out from the trees.

Chum the area. If the south wind is blowing use a cork and let the bait drift toward the bank for blues and channels shallow.

LOCATION: Lake Aquilla HOTSPOT: Deep Humps GPS: N31 54.72192, W97 12.3543 (31.912032, -97.205905) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: One-ounce Slabs CONTACT: Randy Routh, teamredneck01@hotmail.com, 817-822-5539, teamredneck.net TIPS: Watch your graph along humps and look for white bass stacked on the edges. Drop chartreuse slabs to the bottom and bounce them, feeling for contact with fish as they fall. Use binoculars to check for birds diving on shad to locate surfacing action.

LOCATION: Lake Belton HOTSPOT: Dam Face and Tie-in GPS: N31 6.50742, W97 28.47636 (31.108457, -97.474606) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Charlie Brewer 4-inch Slider worms on light jigheads

CONTACT: Bob Maindelle, Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com, 254-3687411, HoldingTheLineGuideService.com TIPS: Use sonar while running perpendicular to the dam to find riprap \”steps\” until fish are located. Keep a slab spoon ready in case fish appear on your graph directly beneath the boat.

LOCATION: Lake Cooper HOTSPOT: Dam End GPS: N33 19.3431, W95 38.73864 (33.322385, -95.645644) SPECIES: hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: Four-inch Sassy Shad and 3/4-ounce jighead CONTACT: Tony Parker, tawakonifihing@yahoo.com, 903-348-1619, tonyparkerfishing.com TIPS: Look for hybrid stripers to be schooling on the lower end of the lake.

Watch for gulls over the schools. Just cast and retrieve back through the schools at various depths.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Face of Dam GPS: N33 2.01798, W96 27.62826 (33.033633, -96.460471) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Small minnows, black and blue jigs CONTACT: Billy Kilpatrick, straightlineguide@yahoo.com, 214-232-7847, straightlineguide.com TIPS: Use a spider rig and fish along the face of the dam in 16-21 feet of water.

The pump stations also will be holding fish at this time of the year.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Pump House GPS: N33 2.29866, W96 31.4805 (33.038311, -96.524675) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: live minnows, small slabs, Sassy Shads CONTACT: Billy Kilpatrick, straightlineguide@yahoo.com, 214-232-7847, straightlineguide.com TIPS: Sand bass will be moving into the warm water discharge at the power plant as well as around pump stations. Some

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catfish also may be in the same areas chasing shad.

LOCATION: Lake Lewisville HOTSPOT: Old Lake Dallas Channel GPS: N33 7.4016, W96 59.7306 (33.123360, -96.995510) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh gizzard or threadfin shad CONTACT: Bobby Kubin, bobby@ bobby-catfishing.com, 817-455-2894, bobby-catfishing.com TIPS: Drift fish the old river channel north of the Old Lake Dallas dam. Fish the bait on Santee-Cooper rig with a oneounce weight, 36-inch leader and 3 to 5-0 circle hook. For larger blues, use an 8-0 hook and large bait. Drift at about 1/2 m.p.h.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Main Lake Boat Houses GPS: N32 6.21504, W95 26.5029 (32.103584, -95.441715) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Shimmy Shakers, Thunder worms, small Bomber 6As, topwater lures CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff, ricky@ rickysguideservice.com, 903-561-7299, www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Use shad-colored crankbaits and topwaters or red shad Thunder worms rigged Texas style. Fish all the boathouses you can find in this area. Blackburn Bay point near the dam also should produce some fish.

(30.295069, -96.573929) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, fresh shad, shrimp.

CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, weldon_ edna@hotmail.com, 979-229-3103, FishTales-Guide Service.com TIPS: A small creek with lily pads comes out on the west side of this point.

Fish the outer edge of the pads or nearby timber in 3-5 feet of water. Chum to speed up the bite. If you don’t have chum, cut shrimp into small pieces and throw into the water.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Skinny Point GPS: N30 17.70414, W96 34.43574 (30.295069, -96.573929) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, fresh shad, shrimp.

CONTACT: Weldon Kirk, weldon_ edna@hotmail.com, 979-229-3103, FishTales-Guide Service.com TIPS: A small creek with lily pads comes out on the west side of this point.

Fish the outer edge of the pads or nearby timber in 3-5 feet of water. Chum to speed up the bite. If you don’t have chum, cut shrimp into small pieces and throw into the water.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Five Creeks GPS: N33 54.83598, W96 42.40098 (33.913933, -96.706683) SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad, live shad CONTACT: Bill Carey, bigfish@striperexpress.com, 877-786-477, striperexpress. com TIPS: Stripers are running in large schools. Pay close attention to the seagulls.

Use a 4-inch Sassy Shad on a one-ounce jighead. White, glow-white and chartreuse fleck are the best colors. Live shad also works well.

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Mouth of Big Rocky Creek GPS: N31 52.95948, W97 23.46306 (31.882658, -97.391051) SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Storm Wild-Eye Shad, 1/2-ounce bucktail jigs with Snake Tail Trailers CONTACT: Randy Routh, teamredneck01@hotmail.com, 817-822-5539, teamredneck.com TIPS: Cast out into 30 feet of water behind the boat and then use trolling motor on medium speed to drag bait behind the boat at the mouth of the creek and the hump just out from the mouth of the creek. Stripers will push the baitfish into that area.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Saline Bay Point GPS: N32 10.24446, W95 26.52864 (32.170741, -95.442144) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Jigging spoons, Rat-LTraps CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff, ricky@ rickysguideservice.com, 903-561-7299, www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: White bass will be chasing shad onto the point during the early-morning and late-evening hours. Chrome with blue backs is the best color. Henderson Point also produces schooling fish early and late.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Skinny Point GPS: N30 17.70414, W96 34.43574 D I G I T A L

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LOCATION: Richland-Chambers Res. HOTSPOT: Windsock Point GPS: N31 56.42784, W96 7.1991 (31.940464, -96.119985) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: One-ounce RSR Shad Slabs, Rat-L-Traps CONTACT: Royce and Adam Simmons, royce@gonefishing.biz, 903-389-4117, www.gonefishing.biz TIPS: Watch for gulls and pelicans diving for shad at the surface. Fish the sides of Windsock Point at 20-30 feet depths.

Bounce silver glitter slabs off the bottom.

Expect to catch some big hybrid stripers here, too. For surfacing fish use Rat-LTraps.

LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake HOTSPOT: Midlake Timber GPS: N31 1.27698, W97 36.846 (31.021283, -97.614100) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Medium-size fresh shiner minnows CONTACT: Bob Maindelle, Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService, 254-368-7411, HoldingTheLineGuideService.com TIPS: Fish the outside edges of the timber adjacent to the island. Use spreader jigs. Keep boat noise to a minimum. Use multiple rods set at multiple depths.

PANHANDLE

Peanutty Possum Whites LOCATION: Possum Kingdom Res. HOTSPOT: Peanut Patch GPS: N32 53.59266, W98 30.63252 (32.893211, -98.510542) SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: live shad, jigs, slabs CONTACT: Dean Heffner, fav7734@ aceweb.com, 940-329-0036 N O V E M B E R

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LOCATION: OH Ivie Res. HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N31 33.09702, W99 40.8555 (31.551617, -99.680925) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: topwater lures, Texas and Carolina-rigged worms CONTACT: Dave Caudle, fishinwithdave@aol.com, 325-365-1020, fishinwithdave.com TIPS: Fish topwaters and worms early along the shallow ledges. Later in the day, move out to 25-40 feet of water and fish large worms off the points.

LOCATION: OH Ivie Res. HOTSPOT: River Channel Trees GPS: N31 35.01018, W99 44.6046 (31.583503, -99.743410) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, 1/8-ounce jigs CONTACT: Dave Caudle, fishinwithdave@aol.com, 325-365-1020, fishinwithdave.com TIPS: Crappie are holding in the trees along the main river channel at about 14 feet. White jigs are the best choice and fish vertically in the trees. Be very careful when boating in shallow water to avoid underwater rocks and stumps.

BIG BEND

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

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TIPS: Live bait is best but colder weather also will produce lots of catches on slabs and jigs. Stick to 20-foot breaklines. Rely on the birds to locate schools of fish. I like to place my rods in rod holders and pull curly-tail grubs across the flats.

Take the Highway to Amistad Bass

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Highway 190 Point GPS: N29 28.75662, W101 1.8756 (29.479277, -101.031260)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Top-water lures, crank baits, Texas-rigged worms CONTACT: Larry Scruggs, Amistad Lodge and Adventures, fisherofmenlrs@ hotmail.com, 210-789-1645 TIPS: Start early with top-water lures and crank baits. Fish the back of this area in three to six feet of water and gradually work out to the end of the point. When the bite slows, switch to a Texas-rigged worm.

Also try the nearby small coves.

HILL COUNTRY

Stripers Up a Creek at Canyon

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Potter’s Creek GPS: N29 54.43146, W98 16.72002 (29.907191, -98.278667) SPECIES: striped bass BEST BAITS: Rapala Shad Rap CONTACT: Steve Nixon, steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com, 210-573-1230, sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Use a silver Shad Rap and troll it in the main creek channel in 10 to 30 feet of water. The south side of the channel usually produces the best catches.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Drop Shot Hole GPS: N29 54.41598, W98 15.0069 (29.906933, -98.250115) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Crème Big Pig, Jewel Jig with Fluke trailer CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria, kandie@ gvtc.com, 210-823-2153 TIPS: Good colors for this time of the year are blue flecks, June Bug, and Watermelon Candy if the sun is high and green Pumpkin if the skies are overcast. Castaways’ new Microwave spinning rod is my favorite for fishing a drop-shot rig.

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LOCATION: Lake Granger HOTSPOT: Main Lake Open Waters GPS: N30 42.20802, W97 21.10962 (30.703467, -97.351827) SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: live shad, cut bait, Zote soap, punch bait CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell, crappie1@ hotmail.com, 512-365-7761, www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Cold fronts trigger a feeding pattern for blue catfish. Shallow, wind-blown points are very good for both rod and reel and jug lines. Zote soap and live shad are best for jug lines, especially when baited and left overnight.

to 15 feet of water slowly using black-blue jigs, red shad worms and 3/4-ounce spinnerbaits with Carolina and willow leaf blades. Work the area thoroughly and fish all the drops of this and other points.

LOCATION: Lake Calaveras HOTSPOT: 181 Cove GPS: N29 16.94112, W98 19.51374 (29.282352, -98.325229) SPECIES: redfish

BEST BAITS: live shad, shrimp.

CONTACT: Steve Nixon, steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com, 210-573-1230, sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Fish the live shad and dead shrimp on the bottom near the main creek channel and drop-off. The south side of the cove usually produces the most fish.

LOCATION: Lake Travis HOTSPOT: Hurst Creek Hump GPS: N30 23.264, W97 57.472 SPECIES: catfish Best Bait: Fresh cut bait; dip and punch baits CONTACT: Shane Holmes, 512/6566659 TIPS: Most catfish, especially blues, prefer food that they’re familiar with, such as a fresh chunk of shad (if the guts are hanging out, so much the better). Channels will settle for a ringworm dipped in some kind of prepared bait, especially cheese baits that include blood. These will be smaller cats, though, 1 to 2 pounds. The bigger ones want meat.

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

Bass on Point at Falcon Lake

by BOB HOOD bhood@fishgame.com

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Beckwith Point GPS: N26 43.89324, W99 9.02946 (26.731554, -99.150491) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, plastic worms, spinnerbaits CONTACT: Robert Amaya, robertsfishntackle@gmail.com, 956-765-1442, robertsfishntackle.com TIPS: Fish the brush and timber in 8 D I G I T A L

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Tides and Prime Times

november 2011

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

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below.

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species.

T13 T5

T14

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

T18

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

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month.

PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

Tide Correction Table

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

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

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

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

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

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

KEY PLACE

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay T12

Gilchrist, East Bay T13 Jamaica Beach, W. Bay T14

Alligator Point, W. Bay T15

Christmas Pt T16

Galveston Pleasure Pier T17

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

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

KEY PLACE

San Luis Pass T18

Freeport Harbor T19

Pass Cavallo T20

Aransas Pass T21

Padre Island (So. End) T22

Port Isabel T23

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

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE GRAPH:

Yellow: Daylight

12a

Tab: Peak Fishing Period

6a

12p

6p

12a

Light Blue: Nighttime

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Green: Falling Tide

Gold Fish: Best Time

Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

Blue Fish: Good Time

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

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY:

12a

AM/PM Timeline

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AM/PM Timeline

AM Minor: 1:20a

PM Minor: 1:45p

AM Major: 7:32a

PM Major: 7:57p

Moon Overhead: 8:50a 6a

12p

6p

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

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

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NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Oct 31

TUESDAY

Tides and Prime Times for november 2011

1

Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 6:33p Moonrise: 12:29p Set: 11:18p Moonrise: 1:14p Set: None Sunrise: 7:29a

Set: 6:34p

THURSDAY

2

º3

Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 6:32p Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 6:32p Moonrise: 1:54p Set: 12:19a Moonrise: 2:28p Set: 1:16a

FRIDAY

4

Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 6:31p Moonrise: 3:00p Set: 2:11a

SATURDAY

5

Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 6:30p Moonrise: 3:31p Set: 3:04a

Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 6:29p Moonrise: 4:01p Set: 3:56a

AM Minor: 10:16a

PM Minor: 10:44p

AM Minor: 11:14a

PM Minor: 11:40p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:06p

AM Minor: 12:30p

PM Minor: 12:52p

AM Minor: 1:12a

PM Minor: 1:33p

AM Minor: 1:50a

PM Minor: 2:10p

AM Minor: 2:26a

PM Minor: 2:46p

AM Major: 4:02a

PM Major: 4:30p

AM Major: 5:01a

PM Major: 5:27p

AM Major: 5:54a

PM Major: 6:18p

AM Major: 6:41a

PM Major: 7:03p

AM Major: 7:22a

PM Major: 7:43p

AM Major: 8:00a

PM Major: 8:20p

AM Major: 8:36a

PM Major: 8:56p

Moon Overhead: 5:52p

12a

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:33p

Moon Overhead: 6:45p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 8:17p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 9:41p

Moon Overhead: 9:00p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 10:21p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Best Day SUNDAY END DST 6

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

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 5:25a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

11:30A — 1:30P

Low Tide: 2:29 pm -0.03ft. Low Tide: 3:36 pm High Tide: 11:29 pm 1.76ft.

Nov

0.16ft.

D I G I T A L

ALMANAC Digital.indd 81

Moon Underfoot: 7:09a

Moon Underfoot: 7:55a

BEST:

BEST:

12:30 — 2:30 PM

High Tide: 12:19 am 1.68ft.

Low Tide: 4:46 pm 0.35ft.

A L M A N A C

Moon Underfoot: 8:39a BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 PM

High Tide: 12:52 am Low Tide: 7:33 am High Tide: 10:36 am Low Tide: 5:58 pm

T e x a S

1.60ft.

1.22ft.

1.30ft.

0.54ft.

F i s h

3:00 — 5:00 PM

High Tide: 1:15 am Low Tide: 7:52 am High Tide: 12:25 pm Low Tide: 7:04 pm

&

1.52ft.

1.03ft.

1.30ft.

0.73ft.

G a m e ®

Moon Underfoot: 9:20a

Moon Underfoot: 10:01a

BEST:

High Tide: 1:33 am Low Tide: 8:14 am High Tide: 1:52 pm Low Tide: 8:03 pm

1.46ft.

0.84ft.

1.36ft.

0.89ft.

N O V E M B E R

+2.0

BEST:

4:00 — 6:00 PM

5:00 — 6:00 PM

High Tide: 1:48 am Low Tide: 7:36 am High Tide: 2:03 pm Low Tide: 7:54 pm

2 0 1 1

|

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 6:19a

1.42ft.

0.66ft.

1.44ft.

1.05ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

81

10/21/11 4:39 PM

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

TUESDAY

7

Sunrise: 6:35a Set: 5:29p Moonrise: 3:32p Set: 3:48a

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 5:27p Moonrise: 4:40p Set: 5:34a

Sunrise: 6:37a Set: 5:27p Moonrise: 5:20p Set: 6:28a

Sunrise: 6:38a Set: 5:26p Moonrise: 6:03p Set: 7:22a

«9

Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 5:28p Moonrise: 4:05p Set: 4:40a

« 10

¡ 11

SATURDAY

« 12

Sunrise: 6:39a Set: 5:26p Moonrise: 6:51p Set: 8:15a

SUNDAY

«13

Sunrise: 6:40a Set: 5:25p Moonrise: 7:43p Set: 9:07a

AM Minor: 2:01a

PM Minor: 2:22p

AM Minor: 2:39a

PM Minor: 3:00p

AM Minor: 3:19a

PM Minor: 3:41p

AM Minor: 4:02a

PM Minor: 4:26p

AM Minor: 4:50a

PM Minor: 5:14p

AM Minor: 5:41a

PM Minor: 6:06p

AM Minor: 6:36a

PM Minor: 7:01p

AM Major: 8:12a

PM Major: 8:32p

AM Major: 8:49a

PM Major: 9:11p

AM Major: 9:30a

PM Major: 9:52p

AM Major: 10:14a

PM Major: 10:37p

AM Major: 11:02a

PM Major: 11:27p

AM Major: 11:54a

PM Major: -----

AM Major: 12:23p

PM Major: 12:48p

Moon Overhead: 10:03p

12a

8

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 11:32p

Moon Overhead: 10:47p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: None 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 1:09a

Moon Overhead: 12:19a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 1:59a 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for NOVEMBER 2011

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 9:42a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

4:00 — 6:00 AM

82 |

BEST:

4:30 — 630 AM

High Tide: 1:01 am Low Tide: 7:58 am High Tide: 3:01 pm Low Tide: 8:37 pm

1.41ft.

0.50ft.

1.52ft.

1.18ft.

ALMANAC Digital.indd 82

1.42ft.

0.36ft.

1.58ft.

1.28ft.

2 0 1 1

Moon Underfoot: 11:55a BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

High Tide: 1:13 am Low Tide: 8:22 am High Tide: 3:51 pm Low Tide: 9:11 pm

N O V E M B E R

Moon Underfoot: 11:09a

BEST:

6:00 — 8:00 AM

High Tide: 1:25 am Low Tide: 8:48 am High Tide: 4:37 pm Low Tide: 9:39 pm

1.44ft.

0.25ft.

1.62ft.

1.36ft.

T e x a S

F i s h

1.47ft.

0.17ft.

1.64ft.

1.42ft.

High Tide: 1:41 am Low Tide: 9:49 am High Tide: 6:08 pm Low Tide: 10:27 pm

G a m e ®

Moon Underfoot: 1:34p BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 AM

High Tide: 1:35 am Low Tide: 9:17 am High Tide: 5:21 pm Low Tide: 10:02 pm

&

Moon Underfoot: 12:44p

D I G I T A L

High Tide: 1:41 am Low Tide: 10:24 am High Tide: 6:57 pm Low Tide: 10:57 pm

+2.0

BEST:

7:00 — 9:00 AM

1.49ft.

0.11ft.

1.65ft.

1.47ft.

Moon Underfoot: 2:24p 7:30 — 9:30 AM

1.52ft.

0.07ft.

1.66ft.

1.51ft.

High Tide: 1:38 am Low Tide: 11:01 am High Tide: 7:50 pm Low Tide: 11:36 pm

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 10:25a

1.54ft.

0.05ft.

1.65ft.

1.54ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

10/21/11 4:39 PM

ALMANAC Digital.indd 83

10/21/11 4:39 PM

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

TUESDAY

14

Sunrise: 6:41a Set: 5:25p Moonrise: 8:37p Set: 9:56a

15

16

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

17

» 18

SATURDAY

19

Sunrise: 6:41a Set: 5:24p Sunrise: 6:42a Set: 5:24p Sunrise: 6:43a Set: 5:23p Sunrise: 6:44a Set: 5:23p Sunrise: 6:45a Set: 5:22p Moonrise: 9:35p Set: 10:41a Moonrise: 10:34p Set: 11:23a Moonrise: 11:34p Set: 12:02p Moonrise: None Set: 12:39p Moonrise: 12:35a Set: 1:16p

SUNDAY

20

Sunrise: 6:46a Set: 5:22p Moonrise: 1:37a Set: 1:53p

AM Minor: 7:32a

PM Minor: 7:57p

AM Minor: 8:28a

PM Minor: 8:53p

AM Minor: 9:23a

PM Minor: 9:48p

AM Minor: 10:17a

PM Minor: 10:41p

AM Minor: 11:07a

PM Minor: 11:32p

AM Minor: 11:55a

PM Minor: -----

AM Minor: 12:17p

PM Minor: 12:42p

AM Major: 1:19a

PM Major: 1:44p

AM Major: 2:15a

PM Major: 2:41p

AM Major: 3:11a

PM Major: 3:36p

AM Major: 4:04a

PM Major: 4:29p

AM Major: 4:55a

PM Major: 5:20p

AM Major: 5:43a

PM Major: 6:08p

AM Major: 6:29a

PM Major: 6:54p

Moon Overhead: 2:50a

12a

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 4:31a

Moon Overhead: 3:41a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:21a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 6:59a

Moon Overhead: 6:10a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:48a 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times for NOVEMBER 2011

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 3:15p

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 AM

84 |

ALMANAC Digital.indd 84

1.55ft.

1.55ft.

0.09ft.

1.63ft.

2 0 1 1

BEST:

10:00A — 12:00P

Low Tide: 1:11 pm 0.15ft.

High Tide: 10:11 pm 1.59ft.

T e x a S

Moon Underfoot: 6:34p

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 AM

Low Tide: 12:39 am High Tide: 1:39 am Low Tide: 12:23 pm High Tide: 9:34 pm

N O V E M B E R

Moon Underfoot: 5:45p

BEST:

8:00 — 10:00 AM

High Tide: 1:40 am 1.56ft.

Low Tide: 11:40 am 0.06ft.

High Tide: 8:45 pm 1.64ft.

Moon Underfoot: 4:56p

Low Tide: 2:03 pm 0.27ft.

High Tide: 10:39 pm 1.53ft.

F i s h

&

11:00A — 1:00P

Low Tide: 3:01 pm 0.43ft.

High Tide: 11:00 pm 1.46ft.

G a m e ®

D I G I T A L

Moon Underfoot: 7:23p BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 PM

Low Tide: 5:28 am High Tide: 10:21 am Low Tide: 4:07 pm High Tide: 11:17 pm

0.94ft.

1.13ft.

0.63ft.

1.40ft.

Moon Underfoot: 8:13p

+2.0

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Low Tide: 5:50 am High Tide: 12:14 pm Low Tide: 5:20 pm High Tide: 11:33 pm

0.63ft.

1.23ft.

0.85ft.

1.37ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 4:06p

+1.0 0 -1.0

A L M A N A C

10/21/11 4:39 PM

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

Tides and Prime Times for NOVEMBER 2011

21

Sunrise: 6:46a Set: 5:22p Moonrise: 2:41a Set: 2:32p

TUESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 6:48a Set: 5:21p Moonrise: 4:58a Set: 4:02p

Sunrise: 6:49a Set: 5:21p Moonrise: 6:07a Set: 4:56p

Sunrise: 6:50a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 7:16a Set: 5:54p

«23

«24

l 25

SATURDAY

«26

Sunrise: 6:51a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 8:19a Set: 6:57p

«27

Sunrise: 6:51a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 9:16a Set: 8:01p

AM Minor: 1:01a

PM Minor: 1:28p

AM Minor: 1:48a

PM Minor: 2:16p

AM Minor: 2:38a

PM Minor: 3:08p

AM Minor: 3:33a

PM Minor: 4:04p

AM Minor: 4:34a

PM Minor: 5:05p

AM Minor: 5:38a

PM Minor: 6:09p

AM Minor: 6:44a

PM Minor: 7:14p

AM Major: 7:15a

PM Major: 7:41p

AM Major: 8:02a

PM Major: 8:30p

AM Major: 8:53a

PM Major: 9:22p

AM Major: 9:49a

PM Major: 10:20p

AM Major: 10:50a

PM Major: 11:21p

AM Major: 11:19a

PM Major: -----

AM Major: 12:29p

PM Major: 12:59p

Moon Overhead: 8:40a

12a

22

Sunrise: 6:47a Set: 5:21p Moonrise: 3:48a Set: 3:14p

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 10:32a

Moon Overhead: 9:34a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 11:33a

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 1:38p

Moon Overhead: 12:35p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 2:37p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 9:06p

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

1:30 — 3:30 AM

Low Tide: 6:27 am High Tide: 1:42 pm Low Tide: 6:35 pm High Tide: 11:50 pm

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

0.29ft.

1.40ft.

1.06ft.

1.39ft.

Low Tide: 7:10 am High Tide: 2:56 pm Low Tide: 7:47 pm

-0.04ft. High Tide: 12:09 am 1.56ft. Low Tide: 7:55 am 1.23ft. High Tide: 4:02 pm Low Tide: 8:51 pm

A L M A N A C

Moon Underfoot: None BEST:

3:00 — 5:00 AM

D I G I T A L

ALMANAC Digital.indd 85

Moon Underfoot: 11:02p

BEST:

4:00 — 6:00 AM

1.43ft.

-0.32ft.

1.69ft.

1.37ft.

1.49ft.

-0.52ft.

1.75ft.

1.46ft.

F i s h

High Tide: 1:03 am Low Tide: 9:33 am High Tide: 6:02 pm Low Tide: 10:39 pm

&

Moon Underfoot: 1:07a

Moon Underfoot: 2:08a

BEST:

5:30 — 7:00 AM

High Tide: 12:33 am Low Tide: 8:43 am High Tide: 5:03 pm Low Tide: 9:48 pm

T e x a S

Moon Underfoot: 12:04a

1.54ft.

-0.63ft.

1.74ft.

1.50ft.

G a m e ®

High Tide: 1:40 am Low Tide: 10:24 am High Tide: 6:58 pm Low Tide: 11:30 pm

+2.0

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 PM

1:30 — 3:30 PM

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 10:03p

1.56ft. High Tide: 2:22 am 1.53ft.

-0.64ft. Low Tide: 11:16 am -0.55ft.

1.69ft. High Tide: 7:52 pm 1.61ft.

1.49ft.

N O V E M B E R

2 0 1 1

|

+1.0 0 -1.0

85

10/21/11 4:39 PM

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best Good Score Graph Score Score

MONDAY

TUESDAY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

29

THURSDAY

30

Dec 1

Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:55a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 10:49a Set: 10:05p Moonrise: 11:27a Set: 11:02p Moonrise: 12:01p Set: None

FRIDAY

º2

Sunrise: 6:55a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 12:32p Set: None

SATURDAY

3

SUNDAY

4

Sunrise: 6:56a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 1:03p Set: 12:50a Moonrise: 1:33p Set: 1:42a

AM Minor: 7:48a

PM Minor: 8:15p

AM Minor: 8:48a

PM Minor: 9:13p

AM Minor: 9:42a

PM Minor: 10:06p

AM Minor: 10:31a

PM Minor: 10:53p

AM Minor: 11:15a

PM Minor: 11:36p

AM Minor: 11:55a

PM Minor: -----

AM Minor: 12:13p

PM Minor: 12:34p

AM Major: 1:34a

PM Major: 2:02p

AM Major: 2:35a

PM Major: 3:00p

AM Major: 3:30a

PM Major: 3:54p

AM Major: 4:20a

PM Major: 4:42p

AM Major: 5:04a

PM Major: 5:25p

AM Major: 5:45a

PM Major: 6:06p

AM Major: 6:23a

PM Major: 6:44p

Moon Overhead: 3:33p

12a

WEDNESDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:12p

Moon Overhead: 4:25p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:56p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:19p

Moon Overhead: 6:38p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 8:01p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

«28

Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 10:06a Set: 9:04p

Tides and Prime Times for NOVEMBER 2011

12a

feet

feet

Moon Underfoot: 3:06a

+2.0

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 AM

Low Tide: 12:35 am High Tide: 3:07 am Low Tide: 12:08 pm High Tide: 8:41 pm

ALMANAC Digital.indd 86

BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 AM

1.43ft.

1.45ft.

-0.40ft.

1.51ft.

Low Tide: 2:13 am High Tide: 4:00 am Low Tide: 1:01 pm High Tide: 9:24 pm

Moon Underfoot: 4:49a

BEST:

10:00A — 12:00P

1.31ft.

1.32ft.

-0.20ft.

1.41ft.

Low Tide: 3:56 am High Tide: 5:32 am Low Tide: 1:54 pm High Tide: 9:58 pm

Moon Underfoot: 5:34a

BEST:

11:00A — 1:00P

1.15ft.

1.15ft.

0.04ft.

1.31ft.

Low Tide: 4:48 am High Tide: 7:41 am Low Tide: 2:49 pm High Tide: 10:26 pm

Moon Underfoot: 6:17a

BEST:

11:30A — 1:30P

0.95ft.

1.00ft.

0.29ft.

1.23ft.

Low Tide: 5:26 am High Tide: 9:46 am Low Tide: 3:50 pm High Tide: 10:48 pm

Moon Underfoot: 6:59a

Moon Underfoot: 7:40a

0.74ft.

0.93ft.

0.52ft.

1.17ft.

Low Tide: 5:59 am High Tide: 11:40 am Low Tide: 5:01 pm High Tide: 11:06 pm

0.54ft.

0.95ft.

0.73ft.

1.13ft.

+2.0

BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 PM 9:30 — 11:30 AM

Low Tide: 6:30 am High Tide: 1:17 pm Low Tide: 6:21 pm High Tide: 11:22 pm

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 3:59a

0.34ft.

1.05ft.

0.90ft.

1.12ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

10/21/11 4:39 PM

ALMANAC Digital.indd 87

10/21/11 4:39 PM

Tides and Prime Times

MONDAY

Sunrise: 7:51a Moonrise: 1:37p AM Minor: 11:33a PM Minor: 11:59p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

PRIME TIME 1:01 am 7:58 am 3:01 pm 8:37 pm

1.41ft.

0.50ft.

1.52ft.

1.18ft.

Sunrise: 6:56a Moonrise: 3:49p AM Minor: 2:20a PM Minor: 2:40p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

14

Set: 5:44p Set: 4:08a AM Major: 8:30a PM Major: 8:51p 10:22p 10:01a

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 1:40 am 1.56ft.

Low Tide: 11:40 am 0.06ft.

High Tide: 8:45 pm 1.64ft.

Sunrise: 7:02a Moonrise: 8:53p AM Minor: 7:50a PM Minor: 8:16p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

21

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

28 «

Set: 5:40p Set: 10:19a AM Major: 1:37a PM Major: 2:03p 3:09a 3:35p

0.29ft.

1.40ft.

1.06ft.

1.39ft.

12:35 am 3:07 am 12:08 pm 8:41 pm

1:30 — 3:30 AM

Set: 5:36p Set: 2:49p AM Major: 7:33a PM Major: 7:59p 8:59a 9:25p

PRIME TIME 1.43ft.

1.45ft.

-0.40ft.

1.51ft.

Sunrise: 7:14a Moonrise: 10:28a AM Minor: 8:06a PM Minor: 8:34p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

88 |

7:30 — 9:30 AM

PRIME TIME 6:27 am 1:42 pm 6:35 pm 11:50 pm

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 3:02a AM Minor: 1:20a PM Minor: 1:46p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

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

4:00 — 6:00 AM

7:30 — 9:30 AM

Set: 5:34p Set: 9:20p AM Major: 1:52a PM Major: 2:20p 3:52p 3:25a

N O V E M B E R

ALMANAC Digital.indd 88

8

1:13 am 8:22 am 3:51 pm 9:11 pm

Set: 6:49p Set: None AM Major: 5:20a PM Major: 5:46p 7:04p 6:38a

1.42ft.

0.36ft.

1.58ft.

1.28ft.

Sunrise: 6:57a Moonrise: 4:21p AM Minor: 2:57a PM Minor: 3:18p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

15

12:39 am 1:39 am 12:23 pm 9:34 pm

Set: 5:44p Set: 5:01a AM Major: 9:08a PM Major: 9:29p 11:06p 10:44a

1.55ft.

1.55ft.

0.09ft.

1.63ft.

Sunrise: 7:03a Moonrise: 9:50p AM Minor: 8:46a PM Minor: 9:12p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

22

PRIME TIME

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 4:10a AM Minor: 2:06a PM Minor: 2:34p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

Set: 5:36p Set: 3:31p AM Major: 8:20a PM Major: 8:48p 9:53a 10:22p

PRIME TIME

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

2:13 am 4:00 am 1:01 pm 9:24 pm

1.31ft.

1.32ft.

-0.20ft.

1.41ft.

Sunrise: 7:15a Moonrise: 11:11a AM Minor: 9:06a PM Minor: 9:32p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

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8:00 — 10:00 AM

Set: 5:39p Set: 11:04a AM Major: 2:34a PM Major: 2:59p 4:00a 4:25p

Low Tide: 7:10 am -0.04ft.

High Tide: 2:56 pm 1.56ft.

Low Tide: 7:47 pm 1.23ft.

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8:30 — 10:30 AM

Set: 5:34p Set: 10:21p AM Major: 2:53a PM Major: 3:19p 4:44p 4:18a

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High Tide: 12:19 am 1.68ft.

Low Tide: 4:46 pm 0.35ft.

Sunrise: 7:52a Moonrise: 2:15p AM Minor: 12:01a PM Minor: 12:25p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

9«

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

4:30 — 630 AM

PRIME TIME

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

29

11:30A — 1:30P

PRIME TIME

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

NOVEMBER 2011

WEDNESDAY PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 3:36 pm 0.16ft.

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

TUESDAY

1

7

1:25 am 8:48 am 4:37 pm 9:39 pm

Set: 6:48p Set: 12:35a AM Major: 6:13a PM Major: 6:37p 7:52p 7:28a

PRIME TIME 1.44ft.

0.25ft.

1.62ft.

1.36ft.

Sunrise: 6:58a Moonrise: 4:56p AM Minor: 3:37a PM Minor: 3:59p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 1:11 pm 0.15ft.

High Tide: 10:11 pm 1.59ft.

Sunrise: 7:04a Moonrise: 10:50p AM Minor: 9:42a PM Minor: 10:07p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

23 «

12:09 am 7:55 am 4:02 pm 8:51 pm

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

9:00 — 11:00 AM

Set: 5:39p Set: 11:45a AM Major: 3:29a PM Major: 3:54p 4:50a 5:15p

PRIME TIME 1.43ft.

-0.32ft.

1.69ft.

1.37ft.

Sunrise: 7:10a Moonrise: 5:20a AM Minor: 2:56a PM Minor: 3:26p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

30

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Set: 5:43p Set: 5:56a AM Major: 9:48a PM Major: 10:11p 11:51p 11:28a

16

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

12:30 — 2:30 PM

3:00 — 5:00 AM

Set: 5:36p Set: 4:18p AM Major: 9:11a PM Major: 9:41p 10:51a 11:21p

THURSDAY

3º

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

PRIME TIME 12:52 am 7:33 am 10:36 am 5:58 pm

Sunrise: 7:53a Moonrise: 2:49p AM Minor: 12:48a PM Minor: 1:10p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

10 «

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

1:35 am 9:17 am 5:21 pm 10:02 pm

1.15ft.

1.15ft.

0.04ft.

1.31ft.

Sunrise: 7:16a Moonrise: 11:48a AM Minor: 10:00a PM Minor: 10:24p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

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PRIME TIME 6:00 — 8:00 AM

Set: 5:42p Set: 6:50a AM Major: 10:32a PM Major: 10:56p None 12:14p

17

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: 2:03 pm 0.27ft.

High Tide: 10:39 pm 1.53ft.

Sunrise: 7:05a Moonrise: 11:51p AM Minor: 10:35a PM Minor: 11:00p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

24 «

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

2:00 — 4:00 PM

Set: 6:47p Set: 1:33a AM Major: 6:59a PM Major: 7:22p 8:36p 8:14a

1.47ft.

0.17ft.

1.64ft.

1.42ft.

Sunrise: 6:59a Moonrise: 5:35p AM Minor: 4:21a PM Minor: 4:44p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

12:33 am 8:43 am 5:03 pm 9:48 pm

Sunrise: 7:11a Moonrise: 6:31a AM Minor: 3:52a PM Minor: 4:23p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

PRIME TIME 3:56 am 5:32 am 1:54 pm 9:58 pm

1.60ft.

1.22ft.

1.30ft.

0.54ft.

10:00A — 12:00P

Set: 5:38p Set: 12:23p AM Major: 4:23a PM Major: 4:47p 5:40a 6:04p

PRIME TIME 1.49ft.

-0.52ft.

1.75ft.

1.46ft.

4:00 — 6:00 AM

Set: 5:35p Set: 5:11p AM Major: 10:07a PM Major: 10:38p 11:52a None

PRIME TIME

10:00A — 12:00P

Set: 5:34p Set: 11:20p AM Major: 3:49a PM Major: 4:12p 5:31p 5:08a

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Tides and Prime Times

FRIDAY

4

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

1.52ft.

1.03ft.

1.30ft.

0.73ft.

Sunrise: 7:53a Moonrise: 3:20p AM Minor: 1:30a PM Minor: 1:51p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

11 ¡ High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:41 am 9:49 am 6:08 pm 10:27 pm

PRIME TIME

Sunrise: 7:00a Moonrise: 6:18p AM Minor: 5:08a PM Minor: 5:33p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

18 »

PRIME TIME

Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: None AM Minor: 11:26a PM Minor: 11:50p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

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

6:30 — 8:30 AM

Set: 5:41p Set: 7:45a AM Major: 11:21a PM Major: 11:45p 12:38a 1:03p

Low Tide: 3:01 pm 0.43ft.

High Tide: 11:00 pm 1.46ft.

25

3:00 — 5:00 PM

Set: 6:47p Set: 2:29a AM Major: 7:40a PM Major: 8:02p 9:18p 8:58a

1.49ft.

0.11ft.

1.65ft.

1.47ft.

11:00A — 1:00P

Set: 5:38p Set: 1:00p AM Major: 5:14a PM Major: 5:38p 6:29a 6:53p

PRIME TIME 1:03 am 9:33 am 6:02 pm 10:39 pm

1.54ft.

-0.63ft.

1.74ft.

1.50ft.

Sunrise: 7:12a Moonrise: 7:39a AM Minor: 4:52a PM Minor: 5:24p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

SATURDAY PRIME TIME

1:15 am 7:52 am 12:25 pm 7:04 pm

5:30 — 7:00 AM

Set: 5:35p Set: 6:09p AM Major: 11:08a PM Major: 11:39p 12:55p 12:23a

5

SUNDAY

6 End DST

PRIME TIME

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

1:33 am 8:14 am 1:52 pm 8:03 pm

1.46ft.

0.84ft.

1.36ft.

0.89ft.

12 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:00 — 6:00 PM

1.52ft.

0.07ft.

1.66ft.

1.51ft.

13 «

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

7:00 — 9:00 AM

Set: 5:41p Set: 8:39a AM Major: ----PM Major: 12:12p 1:28a 1:53p

PRIME TIME

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

5:28 am 10:21 am 4:07 pm 11:17 pm

0.94ft.

1.13ft.

0.63ft.

1.40ft.

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 12:53a AM Minor: ----- PM Minor: 12:14p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

26 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:00 — 2:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:13a Moonrise: 8:43a AM Minor: 5:57a PM Minor: 6:28p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

1.54ft.

0.05ft.

1.65ft.

1.54ft.

7:30 — 9:30 AM

Set: 5:40p Set: 9:30a AM Major: 12:41a PM Major: 1:07p 2:18a 2:43p

PRIME TIME 5:50 am 12:14 pm 5:20 pm 11:33 pm

0.63ft.

1.23ft.

0.85ft.

1.37ft.

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Set: 5:37p Set: 2:11p AM Major: 6:47a PM Major: 7:13p 8:07a 8:33p

PRIME TIME

High Tide: 2:22 am 1.53ft.

Low Tide: 11:16 am -0.55ft.

High Tide: 7:52 pm 1.61ft.

Set: 5:35p Set: 7:12p AM Major: 11:38a PM Major: 12:12p 1:57p 1:26a

5:00 — 6:00 PM

PRIME TIME

1:38 am 11:01 am 7:50 pm 11:36 pm

27 «

1:00 — 3:00 PM

PRIME TIME

20

PRIME TIME

Set: 6:45p Set: 4:16a AM Major: 8:54a PM Major: 9:15p 10:40p 10:20a

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 1:56a AM Minor: 12:35a PM Minor: 1:00p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

Set: 5:37p Set: 1:35p AM Major: 6:02a PM Major: 6:26p 7:18a 7:42p

1.56ft.

-0.64ft.

1.69ft.

1.49ft.

1.42ft.

0.66ft.

1.44ft.

1.05ft.

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 7:57p AM Minor: 6:54a PM Minor: 7:20p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

PRIME TIME

1:40 am 10:24 am 6:58 pm 11:30 pm

1:48 am 7:36 am 2:03 pm 7:54 pm

Sunrise: 7:55a Moonrise: 4:19p AM Minor: 2:44a PM Minor: 3:04p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

PRIME TIME

1:41 am 10:24 am 6:57 pm 10:57 pm

Sunrise: 7:00a Moonrise: 7:06p AM Minor: 6:00a PM Minor: 6:25p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

19

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

Set: 6:46p Set: 3:23a AM Major: 8:18a PM Major: 8:39p 9:59p 9:39a

Sunrise: 7:54a Moonrise: 3:49p AM Minor: 2:08a PM Minor: 2:28p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

NOVEMBER 2011

Sunrise: 7:14a Moonrise: 9:39a AM Minor: 7:02a PM Minor: 7:32p Moon Overhead: Moon Underfoot:

1:30 — 3:30 PM

Set: 5:35p Set: 8:16p AM Major: 12:48a PM Major: 1:17p 2:56p 2:27a

PRIME TIME

PRIME TIME

SYMBOL KEY

l

New Moon

º

First Quarter

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¡

Full Moon

»

«

Last Quarter Good Day

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Tide Station Correction Table (Adjust High & Low Tide times listed in the Calendar by the amounts below for each keyed location)

NOT FOR NAVIGATION

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse (29.47° N, 93.72° W) Sabine Pass Jetty (29.65° N, 93.83° W) Sabine Pass (29.73° N, 93.87°W) Mesquite Pt, Sabine Pass (29.77° N, 93.9° W) Galv. Bay, So. Jetty (29.34° N, 94.7° W) Port Bolivar (29.36° N, 94.77° W) TX City Turning Basin (29.38° N, 94.88° W) Eagle Point (29.5° N, 94.91° W) Clear Lake (29.56° N, 95.06° W) Morgans Point (29.68° N, 94.98° W) Round Pt, Trinity Bay (29.71° N, 94.69° W) Pt. Barrow, Trin. Bay (29.74° N, 94.83° W) Gilchrist, E. Bay (29.52° N, 94.48° W) Jamaica Bch., W. Bay (29.2° N, 94.98° W) Alligator Pt., W. Bay (29.17° N, 94.13° W) Christmas Pt, Chr. Bay (29.08° N, 94.17° W) Galv. Pleasure Pier (29.29° N, 94.79° W) San Luis Pass (29.08° N, 95.12° W) Freeport Harbor (28.95° N, 95.31° W) Pass Cavallo (28.37° N, 96.4° W) Aransas Pass (27.84° N, 97.05° W) Padre Isl.(So. End) (26.07° N, 97.16° W) Port Isabel (26.06° N, 97.22° W)

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HIGH LOW -1:46

-1:31

-1:26

-1:31

-1:00

-1:15

-0:04

-0:25

-0:39

-1:05

+0:14

-0:06

+0:33

+0:41

+3:54

+4:15

+6:05

+6:40

+10:21

+5:19

+10:39

+5:15

+5:48

+4:43

+3:16

+4:18

+2:38

+3:31

+2:39

+2:33

+2:32

+2:31

-1:06

-1:06

-0.09

-0.09

-0:44

-1:02

0:00

-1:20

-0:03

-1:31

-0:24

-1:45

+1:02

-0:42

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Composite graphic: texas fish & Game

by reavis z. wortham

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I WOULD SUSPECT THAT almost every sporting family has an accumulation of what they either consider junk or memorabilia somewhere in the house.

It might be in the attic, closet, basement, rented storage facility, or even in the barn.

Some hang on walls and others are secured behind picture frames, while a few collections reside in shadow boxes or in my case, are scattered on shelves through the house.

Most of us are pack rats in a sense, as is evidenced by the explosion of storage complexes across the country. It makes you wonder what surprises are hidden in a dusty tin tackle box in a forgotten corner of the garage?

A recent archaeological dig in my own attic produced a number of surprising results, and sent me into a frenzy of research. Unfortunately, I didn’t find an unfished Heddon worth thousands of dollars, but I did discover small trophies that are part of my heritage and have led me to this sporting life I enjoy so much. Many of these items came into my hands after consolidating the contents of three houses when relatives passed away.

For example, a half-full box of 1920s vintage 20 gauge Monark Shot Shells, from the Federal Cartridge company in Minneapolis lists online at a starting bid of $95.

In near mint condition, with a flying mallard drake on the box, it’s worth more than that to me, because it belonged to Grandad. I see it every day, sitting on the bookshelf behind my desk.

A bottle of Pfleuger Speede Reel Oil, Number 379, is a tiny momento of the old men who taught me to fish. They religiously oiled their reels after every outing, in the days when a reel was a well-cared-for machine. Before WWII, a reel might cost five or ten dollars, and I guarantee they operated, when I was a boy, as smoothly as the day they came out of the box. On Ebay, the little bottle of oil sells for only four dollars, but I wouldn’t sell it for ten times that amount.

The contents of that little bottle was most likely used to lubricate an Ocean City No. 35 fly reel. As we cleaned out the garage, I found the post war reel on a rafter, wrapped in a piece of oily ‘toe sack, the Old Man’s homemade storage solution.

Ocean City became True Temper, and D I G I T A L

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their reels were workhorses for returning veterans who wanted only to return to a peaceful world without war. No doubt it’s collectable, but not rare. It was attached to a heavily used bamboo Cascade rod and the whole combination is probably worth only about a hundred dollars. Would I sell it?

Nah. It adorned the wall of my office until I retired a couple of months ago. Now it hangs in a place of honor above the curved entrance to my home office, along with the Old Man’s battered felt hat.

Old hunting and fishing vests contain other treasures that remind one of place and time. As I shook out the vests and coats, I discovered three vintage double blade Barlow knives.

The fourth knife was a pleasant surprise.

The Old Man must have delighted in the razor-sharp bright red two-blade promotional Coca-Cola knife. I’m sure it isn’t an antique, mostly likely vintage 1970, but to me it’s an example of his subtle sense of humor and it is a rare peek into his interests other than hunting and fishing.

An oft-honed butcher knife turned up in Grandad’s gear. The word “Ontario” is almost worn away on a blade that is ground to less than a quarter in thickness. I wonder how many deer were cleaned and butchered with this utilitarian blade.

Those old people weren’t much interested in today’s name brands. A knife was good if it held an edge. Period. My grandmother would use no other, and I have the thin remnants of three such knives that she used to cut up rabbits, squirrels, or venison.

She always said, “I despise a dull knife,” a statement evidenced by the time-worn sharpening stone I found in Grandad’s coat pocket. He used it to keep every blade in the house sharp. I’m afraid to use it, because it is so thin now, but it looks great in a shadow box.

A pair of upland Browning Featherweight boots purchased in 1970 still keep my feet comfortable on mild weather days and remind me of dove and quail hunts with uncles and friends.

Resting in a safe many miles from my desk are my Grandad’s Colt 32.20 and .38,

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the same pistols he used as a constable. I’ll never sell them, though they are turn of the century vintage and could sell for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

And on those cold winter days, when rain or snow drives even the most adventurous sportsman inside, a little reading can still keep us in the outdoors. Those same archaeological digs that produced knives, shells, vests, lures and reels also revealed the following books: My Dark Companions and Their Strange Stories by Henry M. Stanley, 1893; Trader Horn, volumes one and two,

by Alfred Aloysius Horn and Etherlreda Lewis, 1927; Oh, Shoot! Confessions of an Agitated Sportsman, by Rex Beach, 1921; a 1947 printing of My Health is Better in November by Havilah Babcock; Nine ManEaters by Kenneth Anderson, 1954; and Coconut Oil by Corey Ford, from 1931.

There are small treasures to find, also.

Uncle Fred might have an arrowhead in his vest, from an outing before you were a glimmer. I’ve found the following in old tackleboxes and clothing worn by my elders: a powdery, unfired .45 from the turn of the century; a vintage 1968 Lohman No. 110 turkey call; a duck identification booklet from the 1950s; an original well-used metal Thomas quail call; or the most interesting, an1848 penny as large as a half dollar.

Many of these treasures may or may not be considered an antique. Websters defines antique as: (of a collectible object) Having a high value because of considerable age.

It’s the high value that is in question. Do we establish the value in monetary terms?

Buying and selling antique fishing lures can provide a satisfactory income. I recently heard about a guy selling three lures for $32,000. Forgotten wooden lures, especially in their original boxes, surely reside in attics and garages across this country.

Even plastic Heddon lures from the 1950s and 60s are worth $20 or more. You might know someone who is still fishing with them.

But for me it is the value of a memory, thought, smell, or feel. When I see a handcarved hunting horn, a gift from my Uncle Ike, an old duck call, or when I slip on the Old Man’s canvas coat, stuff my feet in a pair of forty-year old Browning boots and pick up Grandad’s double barrel Stevens twelve gauge, I am transported to another time and place.

That’s the value of these treasures.

G a m e ®

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photo: shelley little, bigstock

Sugar Cured Wild Turkey

W

hat better way could there be to observe Thanksgiving than by serving a turkey harvested in the wild by your own skill as a hunter? The challenge is serving a main dish that is a fitting centerpiece to a traditional meal while not sacrificing the flavor everyone expects at the Thanksgiving table. Here’s a recipe that fits that bill.

First, as with any wild game, it is important that great care is taken from the moment

Nothing is more traditional than hunting your own Thanksgiving turkey. Here’s a great way to serve it.

you bag your bird.

Be sure to cool the turkey quickly and

keep it cool. Remove all internal organs.

Make sure you remove the crop—where a turkey’s food is stored before going into its stomach—windpipe and esophagus. Completely drain or wipe the empty body cavity and, as soon as you can, put ice in the cavity. If you are going to filet the turkey, or prepare it as with the following recipe, there is no need to pluck the feathers; just skin the bird. Plucking the feathers allows you to keep the skin on, providing more moisture when cooked whole. There are more than 5,000 feathers on a turkey. The easiest way to pluck them off is to dip the turkey in hot water. They come off easier and are easier to handle.

INGREDIENTS

1 wild turkey (domestic may be substituted) cleaned, skinned and thawed out 1 large disposable plastic bag, large enough to hold a 10 - 12 lb. turkey and 1-1/2 gallons of water.

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Texas Gourmet’s Sweet Chipotle Season All Texas Gourmet’s Riverbed Steak Seasoning Cheesecloth, 4 layers 10” x 10” for the oven and 6” - 10” x 6’ for the pit 1 pint sugar 1 pint kosher salt

BASTE FOR TURKEY

3 sticks butter or margarine 1 tsp black pepper 1 cup of olive oil 2 tbs crushed dried rosemary leaves 2 cloves of minced garlic 1 tsp dried Thyme leaves 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp honey Juice of 1/2 lemon Heat ingredients to a boil. Use this to baste the turkey.

OVEN INSTRUCTIONS

Place the bird on a rack over a baking

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pan—breast side up. Place 4 layers of cheesecloth over the breast. Place bird in preheated oven at 325 degrees, bake for 3-1/2 - 4 hours or until meat thermometer inserted into fleshy part of inner thigh— not touching bone—reaches 180 degrees.

Remove from oven, discard the cheesecloth, and drape a piece of foil loosely over the bird and allow it 25 - 30 minutes to rest before carving. Serve with Texas Gourmet’s Black Bean Pico de Gallo and your favorite sides.

PIT INSTRUCTIONS

Wrap the entire bird with 4 to 5 layers of cheesecloth. This will keep out excessive smoke and allow the baste to keep the bird moist during smoking. Use about 5 lbs. of charcoal to start, then add pecan & hickory

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wood, or a combination of them. Preheat the pit to about 300 degrees. Place the bird, breast side up on the pit on the far end from the firebox, baste with basting sauce every 45 minutes, smoke at 275 300 degrees for 5 - 6 hours or until meat thermometer inserted into fleshy part of inner thigh—not touching bone—reaches 180 degrees. Remove from pit, and drape a piece of foil over the bird for 30-40 minutes to rest the meat. Then remove and discard the cheesecloth, carve and serve with Texas Gourmet’s Black Bean Pico de Gallo and your favorite sides.

Bon appétit.

G a m e ®

Email Bryan Slaven, “The Texas Gourmet,” at texas-tasted@fishgame.com

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OUTDOOR SHOPPER

TEXAS SALTWATER BAFFIN BAY

Bev, Scott and Tam Akins Saltwater Guide Service

GALVESTON

Captain Charlie Newton Redfish Charters

TEXAS SALTWATER ROCKPORT

TEXAS FRESHWATER LAKE AMISTAD

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MIDDLE Coast

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Upper Coast (Sabine Lake)

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Wendee Hotlcamp Striper Express Guide Service

Berg Family - Limits of Trout and Reds Rockport Redrunner

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SPOTLIGHT: DEL RIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Lake Amistad is one of Del Rio’s main attractions, offering a wide expanse of clear, turquoise-colored water on the Texas/Mexico Border. The lake is part of the Amistad National Recreation Area managed by the National Park Service. Amistad is the Spanish word for friendship, and the international lake and dam are centered by two bronze eagles, symbolizing the strong ties between the U.S. and Mexico.

Amistad National Recreation Area offers great opportunities for boating, houseboat vacations, camping, water sports, fishing, bow hunting for deer, and bird watching.

Surrounding Del Rio is the Seminole Canyon State Park and Historical Site, Shumla School, Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center, San Felipe Springs, Val Verde Winery, Whitehead Memorial Museum, Laughlin Heritage Foundation Museum and the home of Laughlin Air Force Base.

Del Rio is a multi-cultural town with many opportunities to live, work and Play. Del Rio is one of the safest cities along the Texas/Mexico Border and Lake Amistad is among of the safest lakes for all of your recreational enjoyments. For additional information check out www.drchamber.com or call 1-800-889-8149 and see why we invite you to “Explore Del Rio – Home of Lake Amistad”.

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Carl Otsuki of San Benito caught this black drum while fishing in the Laguna Madre near South Padre Island.

Megan Schoppe of La Porte caught this 27-inch redfish off her grandmother’s pier, also in La Porte.

Catfish | Lake Buchanan

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Lauren Emily Gredicek, 9, of Austin caught this catfish – her first – while fishing with her Aunt Jackie on Lake Buchanan. This is only one of the 17 fish she caught that day.

Wild turkey | Bee County Gentry Fox, 8, of Pettus killed his first turkey while hunting with his dad on the family ranch in Bee County. His tom had a 10-inch beard.

Coyote Dimmit County Carl Otsuki Addison Sells, 10, of Helotes shot this large coyote while hunting with his grandfather, Robert Lee James, in Dimmit County. Addison shot the coyote in the neck with a 30.06 rifle at 150 yards.

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Largemouth bass Lake Lavon

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REDFISH La Porte

Black Drum Laguna Madre

Joey Pivarnik, 7, of McKinney caught this 3.8pound largemouth bass while crappie fishing at Lake Lavon. It was his biggest fish ever.

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Speckled Trout | Arroyo City

Largemouth bass Lake Lavon

Case Semmler, 4, and his sister Avery, 7, caught their first largemouth bass, fishing with Yum Dingers on a private pond in Gillespe County.

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Valient Rodriguez, 5, of Brownsville, is pictured with his 19-inch speckled trout, caught while night fishing off his grandpa’s dock in Arroyo City. Proud mom Monique sent the photo.

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Redfish | Port O’Connor Courtney Canion, 9, of San Antonio caught this 7-pound redfish at Port O’Connor while fishing with her parents, Keith and Sharon Canion.

Proud grandparents Phil and Delores Schneider sent in the photo.

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Redfish | Port Aransas Blake Friar, 7-1/2, of Leon Springs, caught his first (26 inches) and second (27 inches) redfish at the Port Aransas jetties on his first fishing trip. He is a member of CCA; too bad this one wasn’t tagged!

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

Mixed stringer | Sargent

Five year old Nathan Aronovich shows off his limit of redfish and some speckled trout caught in Sargent while fishing with his Pawpaw, Great Grandpaw and Uncle Alex.

Feral hog Grapeland

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Logan Marullo, age 16, f Damon, Texas, shot his first feral hog with his great grandpa’s .308 Rifle while hunting with his dad Steven in Grapeland.

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Crab | Chinquapin Caitlyn Stone with a crab she caught near Chinquapin, hoping it will make the 5-inch limit. It did.

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catfish | Guadalupe River Matt Hillman and Ty Tinsley caught this 25-pound channel catfish and 23-pound yellow catfish in the Guadalupe River in Gonzales while on Spring Break.

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Largemouth bass | Stockdale Pictured are Pat and J.W. Rice’s great grandkids (and their coaches) at the Rice Bass Fishing Tournament in Stockdale

largemouth Bass Purtis Creek

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Jacob McLane, 7, of Bullard caught this 3-pound largemouth bass with his “Pepaw” at Purtis Creek State Park. Jacob caught the bass off the east pier, and released it shortly after taking this picture.

WhitetaileD deer | Waring John Metzger, Jr., 10, killed his first deer near Waring, Texas, with a Browning .223 cal. He was guided by his dad, John Sr. Also pictured is his hunting buddy, three-year-old Bryce Webb IV.

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