Texas Fish & Game February 2018

February 2018 | $3.95

Winter Surf Options Bass Hot Streaks The Diet of Winter Trout Thinking Snow Geese Harbingers of Monster Trout 1802-Feb-Cover-DIG.indd 1

Swimbaits for Specks & Reds

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Inside FISH & GAME 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.

by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

ROY NEVES

Writer’s Block

PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

S

HORTLY AFTER HE TOOK THE REINS AS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, CHESTER MOORE suggested we start writing this monthly column. His idea was to give readers a peek behind the curtain, to help them know a little more about the people responsible for getting TEXAS FISH & GAME into your hands every thirty days and some of the challenges, technology and strategies involved in accomplishing that monthly mission. “Sure,” we thought. “Sounds like fun.” And so, off we went, merrily sharing, probably over-sharing more often than not, everything we could think of that might help illuminate the process of publishing our magazine.

Since launching the effort, we have used this space to discuss some of our history, the advances that technology has fostered, the retreats that economics and technology have also fostered, some of the organizations that we’ve partered with, some of the people who have earned our respect and a few who have riled our anger. We’ve used it to post alerts about unscrupulous individuals and organizations sending out fraudulent renewal notices (i.e. some of the s.o.b.s mentioned in the previous sentence) and also occasionally to comment on issues that had stirred our interest.

One thing we haven’t really discussed is the writing itself. This tiny corner of each issue represents a miniscule fraction of the words that are composed every month by the contributors who occupy the masthead in the right column of this very page.

But every month as deadline approaches, the empty white space sitting here, waiting for us to fill it with something informative and at least readable, can look as big as the Grand Canyon. Ernest Hemingway nailed it—as he almost always did—when he observed that “There is nothing to writing. All you have to do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

Yet, that is what our contributors do, month in and month out. Together, they produce something like 30,000 words for any given issue. Some best-selling novels are that length. The task that each of them faces starts with an empty screen and a keyboard (every bit as daunting as the blank paper rolled into Hemingway’s typewriter) and the question, “What am I going to write?” Of course, for many of them, there is a story assignment or a recurring column topic such as Freshwater Fishing or Whitetail Hunting. But there is still that blank screen, demanding words. Good words. Words that are plucked from the vocabulary and put down, one after another, in the order required to convey not only readable sentences but sentences that also convey useful information that rewards the reader with some new knowledge or insight, or at least entertains them enough to warrant the investment of their time spent in the reading.

Based on the comments that come in unsolicited by phone, email and other means of communication, it appears that the men and women who contribute their writing to the pages of each issue of TEXAS FISH & GAME are making that reading investment pay off for our readers.

But it is not easy. A fifteen-hundred-word feature on Little Lakes for Big Bass, or a thousand-word article on The Winter Diet of Speckled Trout, or a concise 850-word column must be crafted. It takes research, a significant degree of accumulated knowledge and skill in wordcraft to produce something that holds attention and delivers a message that meets—hopefully exceeds—the expectations each reader had when attracted to the first paragraph.

Writing comes in almost as many forms as conversation does. Poetry. Academic Text. Fiction. Non-Fiction. Essays on everything from philosophy to politics to science to spiritual introspection. Scripts for stage and screen. Even Advertising. In our world, the writing tends to cross a lot of lines between forms. Our text is instructive, often scientific and sometimes philosophical—even spiritual, and at times political. We don’t do much fiction, aside from Reavis’s larger-than-life Open Season columns. But going through the process of organizing and designing the pages of each issue, we read every word artfully crafted by our contributors. This experience is one of the best parts of being in our busiess. It amazes us, even after almost 35 years of doing this, how interesting and engaging our writers can make the stories they create. The true test of a writer’s skill, again according to Hemingway, is that a story should cause a reader to remember it “not as a story he has read, but something that happened to himself.” Sharing outdoor experiences or knowledge is a perfect venue for such a test of skill, and we think our writers measure up. It takes talent to accomplish this, but it also takes good old fashioned hard work.

Being responsible for filling this small two-column-wide space every month has given us an honest appreciation of the skill and discipline with which every one of our contributors attacks the blank screens that stand between them and the completion of their monthly assignments. We hope that you feel the same sense of appreciation for what they produce.

From the comments we regularly get from many of you, we have to believe that you do.

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T E X A S

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

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

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Contents February 2018 | Vol. 33 No. 10

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COVER STORY LITTLE LAKES... BIG BASS

FEATURE ARTICLES WINTER SURF OPTIONS Options you might consder strange for fishing the winter surf.

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by TF&G Staff

THINK SNOW A cougar sighting in his youth left a lifelong impression on this writer.

by Chester Moore

Some of Texas’s smallest lakes routinely produce monster largemouth.

story by Matt Williams

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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

PLAY HOT STREAKS FOR MONSTER BASS

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When a lake is hot, it’s HOT.

by TF&G Staff

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HARBINGERS OF BIG TROUT

A TROUT’S DIET IN WINTER What speckled trout DO eat and what they WILL eat in winter.

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by TF&G Staff

SWIMMING WITH THE SPECKS Swimbaits and eel immitations for speckled trout (and reds).

by TF&G Staff

Signs of big specks to look for.

story by Chester Moore

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COLUMNS Editor’s Notes

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by CHESTER MOORE

Pike on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE

Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

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Texas Boating

by LENNY RUDOW

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

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Coastal Focus Columns

from John N. Felsher

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Texas Hotspots

News of the Nation + Texas HotShots

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Sportsman’s Daybook

INTO THE COLD BLUE WINTER Chilly offshore fishing brings hot results.

Defense

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

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Bare Bones Hunting

by LOU MARULLO

Bass University

by PETE ROBBINS

Open Season

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM

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Letters

by TFG Readers

DEPARTMENTS Texas Tasted

Industry Insider

by TFG Staff

Fish & Game Gear

by TFG Staff

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Tides & Prime Fishing Times

84 85 88

by Bryan Slaven

Outdoor Directory Fish & Game Photos

by TFG Readers

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LETTERS to the Editor Neck Shots

is alluring to ducks, and when one of those two parts of the equation virtually disappears, the number of ducks decline.

KENDAL HEMPHILL, I WAS OVERjoyed when you talked about neck shots and small caliber rifles. Being a small woman, I have hunted deer with a .243 for 50 years and have used a .222 to take down a 250 pound hog more than once (while turkey hunting).

I try for a neck shot (although for the hogs I shoot for the ear or eye), and have also not lost a buck with a shot in the neck.

I have lost several deer that ran until the blood trail vanished after taking a body mass shot.

I also took an Alberta whitetail and an Alberta mulie with neck shots from a 30-06—much to the chagrin of the guide who said I couldn’t or shouldn’t do that. As you said, it’s called “placing your shot.”

And, Chester, I agree about the coyotes. A pair has taken up residence at an on-demand feeder at my Sanderson, Texas property, and they appear on camera like clock-work every day around 8:30 a.m.— except the four mornings I sat on a high hill overlooking the feeder when they were noshow. Smart and crafty and remarkable.

Trophy Flounder?

CHESTER, I HAVE READ YOUR flounder articles for years and appreciate your knowledge of the species. Can you tell me what you consider a trophy flounder to be?

Jim Williams Editor: Honestly, to me a trophy is whatever the angler considers it to be. It might be a first fish or a 16-incher that is really thick and has a gnarly looking head.

I know what you are asking, and that is what size I consider a trophy flounder to be. I will put it in terms similar to deer hunting. A 20-inch flounder is sort of like shooting a buck that would make the Pope & Young record book.

According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, they represent something like 1/2 of one percent of flounder catches in Texas.

They are an impressive fish.

Then, when you get one 24 inches or better you have a true monster. That would be like

Joyce D. Schaefer

A trophy is what the angler, or hunter, considers it to be.

one that makes the Boone & Crockett books for deer, which many whitetail hunters consider the be all, end all. For me, it is all about having fun and if I catch a monster great. If not, as long as I get that “thump” I am happy.

« Email your comments to: editor@fishgame.com

Editor: Coyotes are smart indeed. Thanks for the feedback. We love the fact you appreciate the work we do in this publication.

Lack of Pintails WHY DON’T WE GET AS MANY PINtails flying into Upper Coast marshes as we did back in the ’70s, ’80s and even ’90s?

Kevin Horn Editor: There are two reasons. The first is there aren’t nearly as many pintails as there used to be. They have pitifully low nesting success in prairie Canada and are facing a host of other problems. Secondly, like all other duck species they were drawn to the rice agriculture.

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PHOTOS: TOP, CHESTER MOORE; BOTTOM, CANSTOCK

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EDITOR’S Notes

by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

The Most Dangerous Thing in the Woods

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T WAS A PERFECT SETUP FOR the mission.

That mission was to try out our new night vision goggles and to record night wildlife sounds in the stunningly beautiful mountains near Willow Creek, California.

When I tell you this was in the middle of nowhere it might be hard for you to imagine just how far unless you’ve been to that part of the world.

My father and I were running late and pulled up a few minutes after the sun set. We planned to set up camp and stay through the night.

As Dad started taking out the equipment, I walked over to a good viewing spot to look down into the valley with the night vision goggles. There was a full moon. If anything came into the clearings below we should get a glimpse, I thought. Then I saw it.

A beam of light shot up toward our position. “Dad did you see that?” I asked as I pulled off the goggles.

“What?”

“A light beam just shone toward us,” I replied.

“I didn’t see it, he said.” Neither did I now that the goggles were off.

I put them back on, and a few seconds later I could see the light beam moving up toward us. I took them off and couldn’t see the light.

Immediately I knew that someone was below, traveling with night vision goggles and using an infrared light only visible with night vision goggles. I had been warned this area was a favorite of drug traffickers, so it didn’t take long to put two and two together.

Just as I shouted for Dad to throw the gear back in the SUV, headlights of a vehicle came on about 3/4 mile ahead of us.

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side of the mountain road. Someone had been signaled.

We shoved our gear into the SUV and sped out of there, but by the time we hit the road so did the truck from the other side. Tthey were headed straight for us. At one point I was going 80 down the mountain, and they were just a few feet away—literally an arms length from hitting us. I knew that was their goal.

We had disturbed some sort of illicit activity. After what seemed like forever we got to the base of the mountain on one of the main roads going toward Willow Creek. As soon as we turned back toward that little city, they turned back up the mountain.

Had I not been aware that something was wrong and known about the activity in those areas, we might have been killed or at least gotten into a very tense situation. Well, being chased down a mountain is pretty tense isn’t it?

Over the years I have learned a few things about staying safe in the woods from people with bad intentions. Please share this with others. It could save their lives. #1. BAD VIBES: If you feel bad about going into an area don’t go. I am a follower of Christ. I believe sometimes this is the Holy Spirit telling me to stay away. You may not believe that, but just call it a “gut feeling” and go with it. #2. NEVER ALONE: As much as I love to be in the distant forest alone with my camera—don’t you do it. Always bring someone with you. Preferably someone who is experienced in the woods. You are far more likely to get hurt by evil people if you are alone. #3. PACK HEAT: If it’s legal where you are then use your Second Amendment right, and carry a firearm. Make sure you are trained in its use and be prepared to do what is necessary.

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than become a statistic. Also carry a large knife with you. In close quarters it could save your life. #4. STUDY THE AREA: The Internet is a great tool for studying areas. If you find out an area is a high drug trafficker area for, example; avoid it like the plague.

Stay away!

I have several areas I no longer frequent because of this issue. #5. STAY CALM: If you do encounter people in the woods who seem uneasy or a bit shifty, stay calm. Getting angry or showing fear is a good way to trigger someone who has violent tendencies. #6. TRAVEL PLAN: Leave your spouse or close friends a travel plan and let them know the points you plan to explore. Give them a time frame. Let them know to call for help if you have not returned by a certain time or day. #7. STRATEGIC PARKING: Always park your vehicle facing out of the area as you check out. Iin a tight spot, you don’t want to have to back up and turn around during a retreat. Also park in a spot in a clear area that you can see from a distance. If someone is waiting on you or has moved into the spot, it will give you a chance to assess the situation and prepare. #8. DON’T TRY TO BE A HERO: If you see strangers poaching in the woods at night, don’t be a hero and try to stop them.

They are armed and probably will use their weapons on you if you try to stop them. Call and report activity to local game wardens and get out as quickly as possible.

Seeking wildlife in the forest is one of the most exciting things a person can do, but it has its share of dangers. Keep these tips in mind and you should be available to avoid any serious trouble.

« Email Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com

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PIKE on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Go For It

not a season passed—not a week passed—without a hunter tilting an uncovered face into bright sun just as a group of birds was almost in range.

I’m back there calling my brains out, blowing until I hyperventilate behind my face mask, and some freckle-faced guy from Ohio can’t help but take a peek—and it’s over. Birds flare. Reset and try again.

On the bright side, more Texas goose hunters are shooting now from those ground-hugging, flip-open blinds that hide your whole body.

You’re on your back and able to watch the entire show, even if it is through bits of straw and stubble.

T

O PEE, OR NOT TO PEE. That is the question.

It’s actually not a question, but that thought certainly was on the minds of countless foot-tapping deer hunters this past season.

On that burning issue—bad choice of words—On that issue and others faced routinely by Texas outdoorsmen, I’ll shed a little light in this space.

Around the time we opened the 2017 deer season here, I came across a piece written months earlier by Darren Warren in which he disclosed the results of studies on urinating from or near deer stands. The story caught my eye because, as a fan of hydration in general and coffee specifically, I’ve been on many deer hunts that outlasted my bladder.

When I was young and had no clue, I’d relieve myself into screw-top bottles and dispose of the unwanted liquid later. The older I got, though, the more I thought about how many animals are urinating in the woods and that deer probably weren’t likely to associate the different smells of urine with specific animals. They know what it is, but they don’t know what left it there or whether the “urinator” is still nearby.

Research done by Warren, Dr. James Kroll and Dr. Karl Miller, independent of each other, confirmed my unscientific conclusions. Urine tells a great deal about animals, especially during reproductive cycles, and many species certainly can discern between urine left by their kind and urine deposited by other creatures.

In the woods, though, day to day, deer don’t get spooked by every piddle and puddle they encounter. That goes for bucks and does, too.

So, if you have to go…go.

Something else I’ve heard debated often is whether waterfowl, especially snow geese, are spooked by hunters’ shining faces. If you’re among those who don’t think a goose can spot a human face among 800 rags and decoys, you’re wrong.

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In the woods... deer don’t get spooked by every piddle and puddle they encounter.

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If those blinds had been available back when I guided, along with 200 other pros on the goose-stacked prairies east and west of Houston, we might never have experienced an overpopulation of snow geese.

We shot our share—my best strap of birds taken within 25 yards was 70-something geese and at least two dozen ducks. That was over nothing but rags.

One note that should relax a few goose hunters, is the false notion that movement flares geese. Contemporary spreads are loaded with motion—same as live flocks.

Decoys with flapping wings, decoys on carousels, guys waving rags on sticks. That takes a lot of heat off hunters to remains still when birds are on final approach.

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or at least shaded—and for goodness sakes, no mirror sunglasses.

The late Lyle Jordan, a pioneer of goose hunting on the Katy Prairie, welcomed his grandchildren and anyone else’s children into his spreads. He dressed them in kid-sized white parkas and encouraged them to run and holler—in that high-pitched, children’s way— among the decoys. Geese that guessed wrong rarely finished their low passes through his spreads.

One of the oldest rules in fishing says you’ve got to be quiet to be successful. Depending on the type of noise, that statement’s either true, false or a little of both.

A study done about 25 years ago with electronically tagged bass (by whom I’ve long forgotten), proved two things: 1. Bass aren’t much bothered by the sound of fishermen talking, even loudly, in a bass boat.

2. When a big bass hears the sharp thud of something like a paddle or tackle box hit a boat deck, that fish shifts into high gear and may swim several hundred feet before coasting to a comfortable stop.

I’m convinced that the same holds true, generally, in saltwater. Topside conversation doesn’t seem to bother trout or reds much.

However, drop an unopened soft drink or beer can on the deck, and the whole school will hug bottom and shut their mouths for a while.

One more point of frequent discussion around outdoorsmen’s tables is the question, does loud music on boats scare fish?

Maybe—but probably not as much as it irritates nearby fishermen.

If it looks as if the guy in the next boat is screaming at you, but you can’t hear his voice, your music is too loud.

Turn it down.

Long-term, that’ll protect your hearing, so you can hear that big buck sneaking up behind the deer stand while you’re hosing down the grass beneath it.

« Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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TF&G COMMENTARY

by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

RIP, BSA

ing off Frank’s oxygen bottle? You just concentrate on your own macaroni pencil holder.”

So, I intend to take another shot at scouting in the near future. This time I’ll try to be more careful with a hatchet because toes don’t grow back.

The board’s decision to admit girls into the Boy Scouts is fantastic—except for the fact that it’s insane.

Girls, for those of you who haven’t noticed, are not boys. Despite the progressive attitude that there is no difference between boys and girls, and they’re all basically the same except for a few minor plumbing variations, the gen-

B

ACK IN THE EARLY 1970S when I was a kid, I was one of the 6.5 million American boys who belonged to the Boy Scouts of America. Actually, I never made Boy Scout.

I was the scouting version of Beetle Bailey.

He was a perpetual private. I never got past Cub Scout.

The Boy Scouts got to go on fun camping trips, earning Merit Badges for stuff like canoeing, whittling, not dying, weenie roasting, parachuting, rappelling, and building shelters the size of elephants. In Cub Scouts we focused mainly on gluing macaroni to tin cans and pouring Kool-Aid down one another’s pants.

But it was fun, because we got to do stuff with our friends, when we weren’t getting in trouble for accidentally setting our friends on fire. We went to meetings at the Scout Hut in Mason, Texas, which consisted mostly of our Den Mother telling us to stop that.

After the meetings we were free to play outside, as long as we didn’t go near the creek that ran behind the Scout Hut. We spent all our free time in the creek.

My one regret in life is that I never made Eagle Scout. Well, that’s not technically true. I also regret never having been the first human to climb Mt. Everest. Edmund Hillary beat me to that one in 1953, so Everest is out. But there’s still hope for the Eagle Scout thing.

There’s hope because the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America recently voted to allow girls into the organization.

Now, before you get ahead of things here, let me point out that I’m not, at present, an adolescent girl. Nor do I plan to make any drastic changes in that department. But I figure if the BSA is going to allow girls to join, it’s only a matter of time before they relax the rules even further, and throw out the age limitations.

Before long they’ll have a geriatric contingent, and the Cub Scout meetings will be held in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

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Once girls are inducted into the BSA, it won’t be the BSA anymore.

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ders are not interchangeable.

Thank goodness.

Once girls are inducted into the BSA, it won’t be the BSA anymore. I have no idea what it will be, maybe the NSA, the Neuter Scouts of America. That’s probably the direction the progressives want us all heading, anyway.

Unfortunately, there’s already an NSA. They’re the people reading your mail and listening to your phone calls to protect you from terrorism. Pity they don’t protect us from dingbatism.

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just as wrong as this one. Girls mature faster than boys, and some girls are really great at ball games. That’s wonderful, but they need their own league.

Little boys have enough problems without losing their position to girls. And we wonder why some boys grow up to become dysfunctional men. Duh. Now, before I get a lot of unsolicited, spittle-flecked hate mail written in crayon, I’d like to point out that I’m no misogynist. Some of my favorite people happen to be women of the female gender, including my wife. I’m also thankful—abundantly thankful—that women are so very different from men. And I don’t mean just physically, either.

The reason Robert Baden-Powell started the Boy Scouts in 1908 to begin with, was because he could see that boys needed time to be boys, to do boy stuff, and hopefully survive to become men. They still do, and the BSA provides that environment. Or it did, until now.

Sure, a lot of girls also like camping, and gluing macaroni to tin cans, and chopping down trees with hatchets, but they don’t have to join the BSA to do those things. That’s what the Girl Scouts are for. Well, that and providing me with some great cookies.

Before you whine about those things not being offered in the Girl Scouts, let me say that, if they’re not offered, they could be.

Besides, Kathy Hannan agrees with me.

She’s the president of GSUSA, and she’s almost as disgusted with the BSA as I am, calling the decision “dangerous” and “reckless.”

Granted, she never saw me using a hatchet, but she’s got a point.

OK, now you can start sending me the hate mail. But bear in mind that I reserve the right, as a Cub Scout, to pour Kool-Aid down your pants.

« Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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HERE ARE A NUMber of hard and fast rules to keep in mind if you want to boost the odds of catching a heavyweight bass in Texas. Choosing to soak your baits in big waters over small, isn’t one of them.

Some of Texas’s smallest lakes are steeped in big bass history, and a num-

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ber of others routinely produce outsize fish that are kept quiet by tight-lipped locals who reel them in.

Several lakes naturally popped up on the radar when this assignment first crossed my desk. Some of them span fewer surface acres than the Harvey Creek arm at Sam Rayburn or Salinas Creek at Lake Falcon.

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Below is a rundown on some of the “Best Little Big-Bass Lakes” in Texas. To gain insight on each fishery, we asked for input from the fisheries experts who oversee them: LAKE: Naconiche SIZE: 692 acres HISTORY: Located in northern Nacogdoches County, Naconiche opened for fishing in 2012. It’s considered by many fisheries biologists to be a top-shelf pick to produce the next state record largemouth. The little lake has been heavily stocked since 2009 with Florida strain largemouths, ShareLunker offNaconiche spring and dozens of adult females retired from Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Florida bass program.

The little lake has already produced a lake record upwards of 14 pounds and several others topping 12 pounds. TPWD fisheries biologist Todd Driscoll is predict-

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ing a big bass explosion at Naconiche within the next five years as more and more year classes of fish come of age and reach trophy size.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The lake is extremely fertile, with scads of flooded timber and plenty of hydrilla that provide forage and great cover. Steep banks and flooded timber make it difficult to get around, while the inclination of the bass to suspend can make them difficult to pattern. Naconiche is governed by a five fish, 16-inch maximum length limit.

LAKE: Hords Creek SIZE: 510 acres HISTORY: Located in Coleman County, Hords Creek may be the best little lake some readers have never heard of. It’s one the state’s oldest little lakes and also among the most productive for lunkers in the five- to ten-pound range, according to Spencer Dumont, TPWD Region 2 Inland Fisheries Director.

“It’s never produced a ShareLunker, but the number of five- to ten-pound bass swimming around in that lake has always

been remarkable,” he said.

“There are so many big bass in there that Hords Creek even I have managed to catch three over 10 pounds.

I think it’s always maintained that quality population because of its small size, but also because of the frequent “resets” where water level drops for a couple to a few years, promoting lots of terrestrial plant growth, followed by a year or two of stable water levels. It’s very productive and deep enough to weather the drought periods and provide that deep-water habitat those larger fish often desire.”

WHAT TO EXPECT: The lake harbors a variety of cover and structure including aquatic vegetation, submerged brush, black willow trees, rocky ledges and points. It’s worth nothing that TPWD and the Still Water Bass Club combined efforts to place several fish structures in the lake. GPS coordinates for these structures are available at tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/ lakes/hords_creek/structure.phtml.

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PHOTO: MATT WILLIAMS

Lake Naconichie is loaded with flooded timber and plenty of hydrilla for cover and forage.

LAKE: Kurth SIZE: 726 acres HISTORY: Kurth was originally built by a local paper mill in the 1950s before being purchased by the City of Lufkin in Angelina County in 2009. There is no lake record on file with TPWD, but several double-digit fish have been caught there

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during the last decade. These have gone unreported, probably in hopes of keeping the lake’s big fish potential a secret.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The lake is extremely clear.

It’s one of the few places in Texas where anglers will find hydrilla growing at depths beyond 20 feet. Dumont says Kurth this offers premium sight

fishing opportunities during spring and excellent deep flipping options from summer through fall. The lake is governed by a 16-inch maximum length limit and is accessible only by permit purchased through the City of Lufkin.

LAKE: Bellwood SIZE: 160 acres HISTORY: Located near Tyler, Bellwood is one of TPWD’s selective

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he said. “If you’re a kayaker, you can’t go wrong on this lake.”

breeding program research lakes using ShareLunker offspring. Dumont says reports of six- to eight-pounders being caught circulate pretty frequently, but even bigger ones are out there. The lake record stands at 12 pounds, 14 ounces.

“Although it’s too early to know anything about how the research bass are doing there, even without selectivelybred bass, this lake always amazes our biologists when they sample it,” Bellwood Dumont said. “It’s typically rare for us to collect five-poundplus bass by electrofishing in most lakes, but that’s not the case on Bellwood.”

WHAT TO EXPECT: Dumont pointed out that Bellwood is a shallow lake that has an abundance of vegetation, mostly lily pads and “billions of shad.” This provides the fish with plenty to eat over the course of the year. The bass are currently protected by an 18-inch minimum length limit, but the lake is being considered for a 16-inch maximum.

LAKE: Pinkston SIZE: 520 acres HISTORY: Located in Shelby County, Pinkston was among the first Texas lakes stocked with Florida bass in the 1970s. It has since become a premier destination for anglers looking to crack the double digits.

Pinkston produced a former state record of 16.9 pounds in 1986. It currently maintains a quality bass population that is arguably one of the most abundant in the state.

WHAT TO EXPECT: You can dump a big boat in at either of two ramps.

However, the lake is perfectly suited for jon boats, kayaks and Pinkston other shallow draft rigs. “Pinkston has lots of offshore timber and creek channels, is very dendritic (lots of coves and creek arms), and is often ringed with hydrilla,” Dumont said. “You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful lake in Texas.”

Pinkston bass are protected by a five fish, 14- to 21-inch slot limit. Both ramps are remote and reachable by rural county roads off State Highway 7.

LAKE: Tyler State Park SIZE: 65 acres HISTORY: At 65 acres, this pond is proof that big things can come in little packages. The lake has produced two Sharelunkers, including a lake record 14.5 pounder caught in March 2008. Dumont says the lake doesn’t maintain an overly abundant bass population, but it obviously has what it takes to grow some big ones. Several other fish just shy of 13 pounds have been reported from the little Smith County impoundment.

Tyler State Park “Bass abundance is low, but forage is such that some of these bass get to very large sizes,” Dumont said.

LAKE: Brandy Branch SIZE: 1,242 acres HISTORY: Known locally as “Perky,” Brandy Branch is a power plant reservoir in Harrison County that is well known for producing lots of bites and big fish, particularly during the dead of winter through early spring when spawning occurs. It has kicked out numerous fish upwards of 10 pounds, including a 13.97 lake record in 1994 and several other fatties that have gone unreported by locals in hopes of keeping the lake off the radar.

TPWD fisheries biologist Tim Bister of Marshall says the lake maintains a consistently high population of Florida bass with purity levels as high as 90 percent. He believes the fish attain faster growth rates because of the thermal enrichment factor associated with the lakeside power plant.

WHAT TO EXPECT: It’s a little lake, so getting around and finding good stuff

WHAT TO EXPECT: Dumont says big fish potential isn’t the only thing the little lake has going for it. He thinks it is one of the prettiest lakes in the region, as well.

“Outside of being one of the most scenic lakes I’ve ever seen, it reminds me of some of those California lakes—deep and clear,” 18

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to fish isn’t a problem. The lake has an abundance of hydrilla and Brandy Branch other vegetation that cover as much as 50-60 percent of the surface area as well as submerged timber and brush. TPWD also has worked with managing authorities to create additional habitat using recycled Christmas trees. The GPS locations are available at tpwd.texas. gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/ brandy_branch/structure.phtml.

LAKE: Welsh SIZE: 1,269 acres HISTORY: Welsh is steeped in big bass history dating back more than three decades to December 1983 when the 15.23-pound lake record was reeled in by fishing guide Bill Ockerhausen. The power plant lake has produced several fish in double digits since then, but surprisingly, no ShareLunkers.

Bister thinks the lack of 13 pounders may be attributed to their extremely fast growth rates.

“One result of this is that bass longevity is lower than other lakes,” he said.

“Many fish just don’t live long enough to get to 13 pounds; the same thing happens at Brandy Branch.

However, there are plenty of fish that Welsh achieve “big bass” size. The 18-inch minimum length limit at Lake Welsh does a good job protecting fish from harvest until they can reach these larger sizes. As a matter of fact, if I had to pick the best bass lake in my district right now, it would be Lake Welsh.”

WHAT TO EXPECT: Welsh contains an abundance of hydrilla and other cover/ structure such as brush, stump fields and well-defined creek channels. Additionally, a half dozen Christmas tree piles on the lake’s bottom were placed to create additional habitat. The GPS coordinates of the brush piles are available at tpwd.texas.gov/ fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/welsh/ structure.phtml.

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INTER AND SURF FISHing might seem a bit odd together in the same sentence.

After all, most surf fishing is done during the spring and summer when warm Gulf temperatures allow for comfortable wading and fishing for speckled trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel and sharks.

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However extremely good surf fishing action is to be found during winter, but you have to look past the popular species for a few small, barble species that some might even consider strange.

The following is a guide to some of the winter surf’s best options, the baits to catch them on and even a few easily accessible fishing locations.

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TF&G Staff Report

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Best Baits for Barbel Fish

SHRIMP AND CUT BAIT ARE A NATURAL

A number of bait camps along the coast carry these disgusting looking creatures. Besides drum, they are effective for croakers and whiting at times.

SEA LICE—These strange looking creatures are marine parasites that feed on the mucus, skin and blood of host fish. They look like a crab crossed with something from the Alien films, and they make great bait for black drum, especially the really big ones.

FIDDLER CRABS—The little crabs with one giant pincher and another small one

to fish during winter, but the following are some that can score on the above species

Hot Spots

Rollover Pass Location: Highway 87 between High Island and Port Bolivar Bolivar Pocket Location: Off of Highway 87 near the jetties MIDCOAST Mustang Island State Park Location: SH 361 Port Aransas JFK Causeway Location: At Humble Channel in Corpus Christi Jetty Park Location: End of FM 2031, Matagorda

SILVER SEATROUT (Gulf Trout): TPWD describes silver seatrout as bright silver all over with no stripes, bars or other marks. The only place you’re likely to find color on these fish is inside their mouths, which are orange. They live mostly in the Gulf where they feed on fish and shellfish but they do come into bays in the winter.

They go for the same baits as their close cousins the sand trout.

Highway 188 Location: At Port Bay in Rockport Foley Reserve Park Location: East Bayshore/Palacios LOWER COAST South Padre Island Location: North end of Park Road 100

BLACK DRUM ((Bull Drum): ): There is no mistaking these giants. Oversized black drum move into the surf beginning in early winter, with more and more fish coming in toward the spring spawning period. Crab with the shell taken off and large dead shrimp are great baits to score on these bruisers.

● schools in the surf along the Texas coast.

“Young kingfish sometimes move into the shallows in coastal bays. Like their relatives the southern kingfish, Gulf kingfish feed on bottom-dwelling animals such as worms, clams and other shellfish.”

Winter brings lots of whiting to beachfronts and the beautiful thing about catching them is simplicity. A dead shrimp or small chunk of cut bait fished on the bottom is usually enough to get their attention.

GULF KINGFISH (Whiting): Gulf kingfish, also called Gulf whiting according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, live in small |

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UPPER COAST Sea Rim State Park Location: Off of Highway 87 past Sabine Pass

SAND SEATROUT ((Sand Trout): ): Sand seatrout are silvery with a pinkish color on the upper sides according to TPWD. Their large mouths are orange on the inside and have with one or two rounded teeth at the front of the upper jaw. Although common in deeper bays, channels and the shallow Gulf, sand seatrout are found nowhere else. Live whiting, dead shrimp and cut bait are the way to go for bait.

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are perhaps the best bait for sheepshead. They are hard to take off a hook, and sheepshead will seemingly take them before they will anything else.

Some anglers catch fiddler crabs in dip nets, and others set traps. They are not so easy to catch, but if it’s sheepshead you want, fiddlers are the golden ticket. Black drum have a fondness for them too.

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ATLANTIC CROAKER: Atlantic croaker are about 12 inches long and weigh 1/2 to 2 pounds on average according to TPWD. “Its distinguishing characteristics include three to five pairs of small barbels or ‘whiskers’ on their chins to help them feel for food on the sea floor; a lateral line that extends to the tip of its caudal (tail) fin; inferior mouth (located to the bottom of the head facing the ground), and brown vertical stripes on its sides. Adults are silver with a pinkish cast. Young are silvery and iridescent. Older fish are brassy in color with vertical brown streaks formed by spots that are on their scales.”

Croakers are also simple to catch and take to dead shrimp quickly. When they are abundant in the surf, croakers will gladly take scented lures like Gulp! and also hit small spoons and spinnerbaits especially if you find some of the bigger ones.

Angling Solitude On the warmer days of winter, the temperatures are extremely comfortable on our beaches. Although wading into the water is not an option, there is plenty of space for kids to roam free, fly kites and look for seashells.

The best part is you might be alone. Very few use the surf during winter. That means you can spend quality family time in solitude.

This type of fishing is not rocket science, but it sure is fun. We defy anyone to find anything that tastes better than freshly caught whiting or sand trout.

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PHOTOS: FISH, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; OPPOSITE, CANSTOCK

1/8/18 11:10 AM

Texas BOATING

by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

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OSING A PASSENGER OVER the side of your boat is one of those things we think will never happen to us. But if you run a boat long enough, you’ll see it happen.

I’ve had four MOB experiences through the years, fortunately never resulting in any harm or injury. Still, any time someone ends up in the drink, the potential for disaster is very real.

Three out of four times, the person who fell off my boat went overboard because they were leaning over the side. In one case it was one of my sons.

He was five at the time, and had been warned over and over again never to lean over the gunwale and let his feet leave the deck. So naturally, one beautiful, calm, sunny afternoon as he leaned over the rail he flashed me a devious grin, and picked his feet up—just to be smart.

In one second flat he flipped right over the side. I was watching it happen, so I was able to grab him by the life jacket and hoist him right back aboard.

The second and third times a passenger went over the rail it was for an identical reason, They leaned far over the gunwale to wash their hands off in the water.

We do a lot of fishing on my boats (shocker), so whenever bait or chum is involved, washing your hands is quite often a necessity.

After the second event, at the beginning of every fishing trip I started dipping a rag in the bay to soak it down, and hanging it around the backrest support on my leaning post.

At the start of the trip when I give my safety talk I warn everyone aboard not to lean over the gunwales to wash their hands off, but instead, use that rag.

Side note: you do have a standard safety talk you give every time a new angler steps aboard your boat, right? One where you tell him or

“ Three out of four times, the person who fell off my boat went overboard because they were leaning over the side.

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Man Overboard!

and the last, involved kids. Kids are the leastlikely crewmembers to follow instruction (especially your own children).

At the same time, they often don’t have the coordination and balance of an adult. In both of these cases the kids were wearing life jackets and were back aboard the boat in moments.

Texas state law requires that all children under 13 years of age wear a USCG-approved Type I, I, III, or V PFD while underway on any vessel under 26 feet in length.

That’s a good start, but on my boat it doesn’t matter if we’re underway, at anchor, or even tied up at the dock. Any kids aboard have to be T E X A S

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wearing that life jacket at all times. Even when I’m captaining a boat over 26 feet, I enforce a strict PFDs must-wear rule.

The second bit of important information we can glean from these MOB situations is the fact that leaning over the side of a boat is a great way to end up in the drink. We will stipulate that on some boats, such as flats boats or very low-gunwale bay boats, you don’t really have to lean over the side to dip your hands in the water. So, the same hazard-level isn’t present.

As stated earlier, you can end the handwashing issue by planning ahead with a wet rag or a bucket. Still, from what I’ve seen, many experienced boaters are used to reaching down to wash their hands and will continue to do so, no matter how many times you ask them not to.

I usually give them a warning or two, then just try to keep an eye on them for the remainder of the trip. I’ve also seen this become an issue when people are lipping fish, as opposed to netting them or swinging them aboard Again, the type of boat you’re on certainly has an impact on how dangerous this may or may not be. But if you have a boat with a deep cockpit and tall gunwales, look out.

The third lesson is probably the most important. In all four of these cases, we were in calm sea conditions. You tend to let your guard down when it’s calm, as opposed to when the waves are kicking.

Those still, sunny days are the times when you might let that kid get away with no life jacket. Or, you might not bother correcting someone who leans too far over the side.

But if you think you can stop being careful for a moment or two when you’re captaining a boat, think again.

her where the emergency gear is, and how to call for help on the VHF in case you become incapacitated? If not, you should. Non-boaters often have no clue what to do in an emergency on the water. At the very least, they certainly need to know where to find a life jacket and how to call for help.

The final time someone fell off my boat it was due to a plain and simple stumble. The young angler was stepping up onto the aft casting deck. He quite simply missed and went tumbling right off the back of the boat.

What can we learn from these four overboard events? First off, half of them, the first

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ATCHING BIG SPECKLED TROUT ON LOCAL WATERS requires an entirely different approach than most of us are used to applying to our fishing.

Big trout are different from their smaller counterparts in many ways and the anglers that consistently catch them tap into these peculiarities.

The first difference is diet. When trout get between 20 and 22 inches they change from being primarily a shrimp eater and small fish eater to feeding primarily on larger finfish.

Big speckled trout feed heavily on ribbonfish (cutlassfish) when they move into bays from the Gulf. Find ribbonfish scurrying to the surface in panic, and you will find big trout. At a distance, ribbbonfish can be spotted by their silver flashes as they breach.

The largest trout eat the largest prey. Researchers in Texas and Mississippi have found mullet to be the preferred food of the biggest trout.

Frequently the mullet is half or two-thirds the size of the trout. So, when it comes to pursuing them the angler that does the best mullet imitation wins the prize.

Slow-sinkers like the legendary Corky are go-to winter lures on the Texas Coast and for good reason. They are extremely effective at fooling big trout in the winter when their metabolism is down and they are moving slowly.

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Topwaters such as Super Spooks and Top Dogs, along with slow-sinkers such as the Corky are standard issue along the Texas coast for big trout hunters.

Swimbaits have gained a following among local anglers over the last few years, and I am one of them. The Stanley Wedgetail Mullet has proved itself to me as it very accurately imitates a mullet and allows the angler to cover water.

The problem with slow-sinkers, for example, is they are great at pinpoint accuracy fishing when you are targeting a small reef or an inlet, However, for covering water, they are no good. They simply take too long to sink. Swimbaits moved at even a slow pace cover vastly more water than sinkers, which fits my style of fishing.

Learning which lures to fish is not the only thing you need to understand trophy trout during winter. Here are some facts that should help you get a better understanding of them.

• Trout are not big on migration, but there is some movement between the nearshore Gulf and southern tier of bay and chan-

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nel systems. Researchers at Louisiana State University say the biggest trout are found in the Gulf, particularly during summer and fall. Nearshore oil and gas platforms as well as boat wrecks can house true monsters. I believe there are big trout at these rigs in winter that no one pursues. I hope I’ll get to prove that point soon.

• According to TPWD, speckled trout spend most of their lives within five miles of where they were born. Nearly 90 percent of all fish recovered in a tagging program came from the same bay in which they were tagged.

Although many trout move into deeper water during cold weather, there is no scientific evidence of a winter migration to the Gulf. Research shows that some fish may move to the Gulf to escape blowing northers, but this is temporary, and the fish return once weather abates.

• Salinity can be a factor in locating trophy trout. Researchers with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have found that adult trout tend to prefer water

that is close in salinity to seawater compared to more brackish water. In winter, Texas bays tend to have high levels of fresh water, so keep this in mind when scheduling trophy trout trips.

• A study in Barataria Bay in Louisiana concluded larger trout are most likely to be found over shell or soft (mud) bottom when the water temperature is 75 degrees or higher. Does that mean they are on sand, rock and shell in the winter?

• Trout have a layer of tissue that allows them to see in low light conditions and be superior night feeders. Fishing the pre-dawn hours and using lures or baits with a luminescent quality or that create a stark silhouette can help you exploit this quality and score on big trout. I know of no one who fishes trout at night in winter but maybe it is time.

• Sagittae are the sound receptors in fish, and trout have large ones. They are very keen to sounds made by humans and other fish.

Throwing lures delicately and working lures and popping corks in a fashion mimicking

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PHOTO: MIKE PRICE

When trout reach 20 to 22 inches, they switch their diet from shrimp and smaller fish to larger finfish.

natural sounds can go a long way to helping anglers catch more big, wary trout.

rocarbon can help eliminate loss of potential big trout catches.

• Trout are sensitive to sound and visual cues, both. So, the ability to make long, delicate casts is absolutely crucial in the pursuit of big trout.

• Trout have a keen sense of smell and taste, which work together simultaneously.

Being able to make the right connection when a big trout takes a lure is important, as the big fish can be sensitive to non-organic material like plastic.

• Trout have clear, color vision and are super line shy in clear water. The use of fluo-

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Big trout are truly elusive, strange fish that do not fit into a particular mold. They are much like giant largemouth bass in that once they reach a certain size their habits change dramatically. Anglers who take the time to study big trout and realize they will have to trade catching lots of trout for the chance to get one big one, will score on their personal fish of a lifetime.

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK/MICHAEL MILL

1/8/18 11:12 AM

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LEARNED A HUGE LESson about snow geese while hunting with Will Beatty of Central Flyway Outfitters near Winnie in 1999. It was on the very first day the “conservation order” allowing electronic calls was put in to play.

We hit the field at 4 a.m. to set up a huge decoy spread consisting of close to 1,000 shells, rags and silhouettes.

Nearby was a roost of 10,000-plus geese that had been flying right over this field every morning.

After we completed the task of setting up the huge spread, Beatty put us about 125 yards away from the spread itself. I questioned the logic in this, but he was confident about the tactic.

“I’m telling you the geese will see the spread and then immediately veer away from it,” he said. “Hopefully they will veer toward us hidden in this brush and give us a chance at them.”

As the huge flock rose off the roost, the formerly quiet morning was now filled with the near deafening sound of calling geese. About 1,000 of them moved in our direction. Almost as if someone programmed them to do so, the geese veered directly away from the decoys and flew right over toward us.

The calls were set up in a spot where the decoys were, and we were away from the calls and decoys.

“See, these birds are smart. You just have to try your best to be smarter than they are,” Beatty said as our party fired and a bunch of geese fell to the ground.

Sometimes being smarter than the geese is easier said than done. Those first shots were the only ones we took that day. This taught me a great lesson about electronic calls and geese and set the tone for what we are experiencing in Texas today.

Although we used the calls and decoys, they had minimum effect. We had to actually set up away from the decoys to get a shot. Also, this was the first time the calls were legal, and the birds were not just falling into the decoys.

The conservation order was intended to help reduce snow goose populations, which had grown so large they threatened to literally eat themselves out of house and home on their arctic nesting grounds. So, how good of a job has it done in that regard?

According to a paper titled, “Harvest, Survival and Abundance of Midcontinent Lesser Snow Geese Relative to Population Reduction Efforts,” the answer might just shock many hunters.The researchers in this paper represented everyone from the Canadian Wildlife Service to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

They wrote, “Overall, all three populations of light geese now exceed numbers present when the conservation order was initiated. We are confident that the abundance and population growth rate of midcontinent snow geese (as well as by Ross’s and greater snow geese ) currently exceeds the ability of existing numbers of hunters to exert harvest pressure that is necessary to impose sufficient additive mortality and thus effectively influence population growth.

“We suggest that abundance of midcontinent snow geese was seriously underestimated in the past, and that this underestimate may have contributed to an overconfidence which suggested harvest levels could achieve a goal of reduced survival and population reduction.

More geese should equal more goose hunting opportunities, right?

Wrong!—especially in Texas.

We first addressed the decline six years ago where we detailed a unique testimony given by then TPWD Migratory Bird Program Leader Dave Morrison before the TPWD Commission where he detailed how Texas’s population is decreasing while other states such as Kansas are on the rise. “…They (Kansas) had 350- to 400,000 birds in their state, they killed 15,000. They are not putting pressure on their birds like we do. We had a

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mid-winter estimate of around 350- to 400,000 the year before last, and we shot about 250,000 birds.”

Texas hunters shot more than half of the light geese that wintered in Texas while Kansas only took a very small portion.

“Now that’s a direct relationship.

I understand, that is just the indices compared to population estimates, he testified. “But the decline—you can see the decline—what’s going on. Now, understand that the intent was to cause birds to go down. That was the intent of the expanded and liberal seasons.

But the continental population has not gone down. It’s simply a Texas problem.”

The wisest waterfowler I have ever hunted with is William L. (Bill) Sherrill who operates in Wharton County. I am not one to throw the word “guru” around, but if there is a waterfowl guru in Texas, he is it.

For years, he has put a strict limit on the number of geese taken and has been vocal over disapproval of the conservation order since its inception.

“There is a such thing as putting too much pressure on the birds, and with geese it seems like that’s exactly what we’re doing,” he said.

So, what about those stories of hunters taking hundreds of snows on one hunt?

They happen every once in a while, but with far less frequency in the past simply because there are not as many geese, and the ones we are hunting have been shot at from November through March throughout the Central Flyway.

In short, snow geese are adapting to hunting pressure; and it seems in large part, Texas is becoming a much less important part of their wintering plans.

That is not to say there aren’t huntable populations, because there are.

Those populations however are far lower than the “glory days” of the past and probably will not improve with time.

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Self DEFENSE

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN :: TF&G Contributing Editor

The Overpopular Glock 19

relief as well as a traction enhancing stippling job on the frame. Normally custom work like this removes the finger grooves completely but since I was used to them on my G34 I wanted to keep them. After this work I could fit my hands on the pistol, but I feel that if I even

magazines also fits my CMMG Guard rifle and competition G34.

Did I end up loving the G19? Hardly. I still carry my custom M&P, Shield, Walther PPS M2, and stock H&K VP9 long before I settle on the G19. Maybe this will change further

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ITHOUT A DOUBT, THE Glock 19 is one of the most popular handguns for concealed carry and even duty use.

And after hearing countless trainers and gun shop owners say “just get a Glock 19” I finally broke down and bought one just to see what all the fuss was about. I’ve never been much of a Glock fan, primarily because I’m repelled by over popularity of any one thing. However after shooting a Taran Tactical Innovations enhanced Glock 34 for several 3 Gun competitions I figured I should give the G19 a run for defensive training.

Breaking my first rule of “Try before you buy” I ordered a G19. It as a Gen 3 model because industry friends told me the trigger tends to be better before and even after modification than the Gen 4 and the Gen 5 had yet to be released. The Glock 19 is a compact version of the full sized 17 in 9mm. The 19 is roughly three quarters of an inch shorter in length and a half inch shorter in height than its full sized brother. Instead of holding 17 rounds it holds 15 rounds with flush fitting magazines.

Legendary Glock versatility means the G19 also accepts 17 and even 33 round extended magazines. The G19 isn’t a small gun, yet it bridges the gap between a full sized duty handgun and subcompact concealed carry pistol.

As soon as I got my G19 home I had regrets of not fondling one before I purchased. I don’t have huge Sasquatch hands, but they aren’t small either. My middle finger was downright cramped and uncomfortable between the factory finger grooves and fat trigger guard. I sent it off to Andrew at Patrick’s Gun Shop in Shreveport, LA to get a little TLC. An undercut was given to give my middle finger some 30

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The Glock 19 is one of the most popular handguns for duty and carry, but is it the perfect “one size fits all” answer?

don latex gloves I would once again be too cramped. Glock realizes this as well since Gen 5 pistols do not have finger grooves.

After a few magazines worth through the pistol I hate the trigger safety that always protrudes from the trigger and wears a deep aching groove in my trigger finger. Sure this wouldn’t be a problem in a defensive scenario with only a few rounds fired in a high adrenaline situation. However after a half-day and several hundred round training sessions you might have a temporary indention in your finger.

However the beautiful thing about popular firearms like Glock is aftermarket parts are in ample supply. Hundreds of choices in holsters, magazines, triggers, sights, small parts, etc. are readily available at every store and website.

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down the road if I improve the trigger and purchase a threaded barrel.

We are able to choose from an amazing variety of handguns that are reliable and accurate. Before you settle on the popularly recommended model I would suggest you try several others focusing on what feels best in your hand. Next ensure you can reach all the controls, and finally that you like the trigger.

Make sure it’s reliable and accurate, train hard, shoot straight, and stay safe.

« Email Dustin Ellermann at ContactUs@fishgame.com

PHOTO: DUSTIN ELLERMAN

1/8/18 9:56 AM

Bare Bones HUNTING

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

W

ITH TEXAS’S MAIN HUNTing seasons winding down it is time to review what works and what doesn’t. This past season a friend of mine found a unique way to integrate readily available technology and deer hunting.

There are many different roads to success in the deer woods, but technology has given us a different avenue. The many apps available on a smart phone have proved to help hunters pinpoint exactly when and where the deer should be. Please notice I said SHOULD be.

Rob Abraham, a hunting buddy of mine, took the time this year to prove that exact point. We all know how much weather can affect deer movement. A good hunting app on your phone (and there are many to choose from) will not only give you the weather forecast, but barometric pressure, rise or fall in temperature, moon phases and much more.

Rob has adopted a phrase he heard from a renowned hunter: “When temperature and pressure meet, bucks will be on their feet!”

For the past two years, Rob has kept a deer log, recording time of day, moon phase, barometric pressure and temperature for every whitetail he saw while on stand. He also paid close attention to any deer he caught on camera and the statistics that went with that picture.

He concluded that when there’s a 10 to 15 degree drop in temperature—which happens after a storm moves out and barometric pressure starts to rise—it’s the best chance to score on a nice whitetail. A bad storm will keep deer hunkered down, and they will be looking for food as soon as it clears. Big bucks know that when does are feeding, that’s the time to check

“ When Temperature and pressure meet, bucks will be on their feet.

“

Smart Use Of A Smart Phone

Nothing would make him shoot the doe.

After all, she was live bait in the field. “When you go fishing, do you kill the worm first?”

Not too long after that, the does became nervous. Rob knew they hadn’t winded him.

He was careful about scent control, and he made sure the wind was in his face that day.

He noticed the deer were looking back at something. Sure enough, it was a nice “shooter” buck that entered the same field about 150 yards upwind.

Slowly, the big bruiser headed toward the three does. The perfect hunt was beginning to take shape as the does moved within 10 yards of the stand. Finally, after many hours (at least T E X A S

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that’s what it felt like), the buck followed the does right by Rob’s stand.

At just 10 yards, he was sure the big boy could hear his heart pounding. Already at full draw, he let the arrow fly. It flew true and right through.

Waiting 30 minutes in the stand seemed like an eternity, but he did not want to jump this big buck. Instead, he called his fiancée and quietly told her to pick up his father and bring the truck—there is tracking to do!

Over and over he relived the shot as he stared at the bloody arrow that lay on the ground. Finally, he decided he could take it no longer and climbed out of the stand to look for blood.

At first, there was none at all. He walked at least 25 yards, and not a drop of blood to be found. Rob walked back to where the arrow was to inspect it. He was sure it was a solid hit, but he started to second-guess himself.

Shooting light was almost gone. Rob had to go back to his vehicle to grab a flashlight and leave his bow. By then, his dad and fiancé, Allison, showed up to help him locate the deer.

The foamy, bright red blood was very easy to follow. The big buck was found after a 20 minute tracking job.

Everything worked out in Rob’s words “just like it was supposed to.” The wind was right, temperature dropped, barometric pressure rose, and the buck was down and dead.

All that hard work that Rob did paid off.

Two years of keeping a close eye on all the data every time he went out hunting brought him success in the whitetail world.

Unfortunately, not all hunting adventures have a happy ending. Most of the time, we come home empty handed; but now with the technology available to us, we might be able to bring home the venison, if we put in the time and keep up with the data.

Have fun and hunt safe.

to see if any of them are still in estrous and ready to mate.

After checking the cameras to see which stand held the most activity, Rob decided this was the day because all the numbers lined up.

The rain was ending, temperature dropped the right amount and pressure was rising.

This was the day to be in the stand. This was the day to hunt. At 2:30, Rob was secure in his stand. He spent the afternoon enjoying the scenery expecting that venison would be in the freezer that night.

It was 5 p.m. when some does finally started to filter in the field. Some came as close as 20 yards, tempting him to let an arrow fly. In earlier years, he would have, but after all the data he kept, he was after a good–sized buck.

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GREAT WAY TO COVER WATER AND mimic what big trout are eating this time of year is is to use swimbaits.

Swimbaits are essentially soft plastic crankbaits that allow anglers to cover lots of water and fish with a simple retrieve to target big fish. Most major tackle companies have some sort of swimbait on the market now, ranging from the foot-long $40 trout mimicking Castaic Lures to much more affordable fare.

“Swimbaits have been invaluable for me fishing on Lake Falcon,” said 2008 Bassmaster Classic winner Alton Jones.

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done. I have seen big fish get up and follow a big swimbait when they seemingly get lockjaw in clear water.”

The Jones quote might seem out of place, but when largemouth bass and speckled trout reach a certain size they switch to eating almost exclusively large fin fish. Numerous anglers have reported similar reactions to using swimbaits for specks by producing big fish when other lures do not.

This could be a product of “newness.” Most trout have never seen a swimbait, the aforementioned attribute of water coverage, or both.

The Texas Coast has many oyster reefs from large natural ones to small and medium-sized manmade reefs. The reefs on

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the south end of bay systems tend to get hot as spring wears on, and they all hold big fish.

One of the keys to fishing these reefs is to match the hatch.

During spring, sand eels are prevalent on the reefs, which is why using eel imitations such as Mr. Twister’s Slimy Slug and the Norton Sand Eel can produce.

The most important thing to keep in mind about any of these lures is to fish them on the right size jig head. Fishing with 1/8ounce jig heads is great for shallow reefs with light currents.

However, you need something heavier that will get down to the bottom and be able to fight heavy spring currents. So, use 1/4ounce.

Drift with the current and let the lure bounce, bump and crash into the oyster reef. Water conditions during spring usually range from off-colored to murky to just plain nasty. So, anything that might grab the attention of a trout is worth trying.

Make sure you have enough line out, so you are not fishing vertically. The lure will not be able to work properly that way.

In addition, it is important to keep contact with the lure.

Springtime trout are not overly aggressive, and they often hit soft plastic lures lightly. Use a super-sensitive monofilament or braided line for best results.

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NLIKE MANY states with only a few top-notch waterways to find trophy largemouth in abundance, Texas has lots of them—a whole lot of them in fact.

The Toyota Sharelunker program, which seeks donations of live largemouths weighing 13 pounds or larger has taken at the time of his writing, 570 entries since its inception in 1986.

What is more impressive, however, is the number of water bodies producing these mammoth fish and where some of them are located. Some 68 public water bodies have produced Sharelunker fish.

Yes, lakes such as Fork, Sam Rayburn, and Conroe in East Texas are at the top in overall fish donated.

However, Alan Henry and Baylor Creek in North Texas, Falcon and Casa Blanca in South Texas, and O.H. Ivie out west, have produced impressive numbers of these prized fish. Some of these are out of commission now because of drought, but when waters come back, the quality bass fishing will no doubt return as well.

Add to that, dozens more water bodies ranging from state park ponds to Toledo Bend have also given up fish big enough to keep anglers up at night.

For anglers who want to get the best shot at catching one of these monsters need to look for “hot steaks.”

The Sharelunker program typically goes in streaks. In other words certain lakes will be red hot for a while. It’s obvious, those particular lakes were the place to be during certain stretches of time.

According to TPWD, a search of the ShareLunker archives on the official web

PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

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page reveals that although streaks are exciting and generate a lot of “That lake is on fire!” comments, they aren’t that uncommon,” they reported.

“Sam Rayburn Reservoir had a run of six ShareLunkers between January 21, 1998 and March 22, 1998. Choke Canyon Reservoir had a six-fish streak from January 21, 2009 to April 26, 2009. Lake Alan Henry sprouted nine ShareLunkers between January 29, 2005 and April 15, 2005. Then, there’s those nine fish from O.H. Ivie this (2010) season.”

They went on to report that Lake Fork, which has produced about half the total number of ShareLunkers, is the undisputed king of the streak. Its first came in 1988 and 1989, when it produced 18 ShareLunkers. The next season, it produced 17, the following year 22, and from January 8, 1992 to April 25, 1992, another 21, including the current state record of 18.18 pounds.

“The following four seasons, Lake Fork produced 17, 16, 23, and 21 ShareLunkers,” TPWD reported. ”After a two-year break in 1997 and 1998, Fork started streaking again, but with lower numbers: 10 fish in the 1998-99 season and eight the following season.

Following another low production year in 2002, Fork’s output of ShareLunkers hit seven in 2002-2003, seven in 20032004, seven in 2004-2005 and eight in 2006-2007.”

If you see a “hot streak” emerging, it’s time to target that lake for focused trophy bass fishing.

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story by CHESTER MOORE

B

IG SPECKLED TROUT are truly elusive fish.

Although the Texas coast has a huge trout population and a healthy number of large fish, the habits of truly large trout are still mysterious in many ways.

However, over the years I have noticed through my own experience as well as communication with anglers, biologists and other experts that certain harbingers are

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there that can signal the presence of big trout.

Here are some of the most interesting.

• Numerous anglers have observed a symbiotic-type relationship between big trout and alligator garfish during the winter in deep, isolated canals. Gars and trout are seen right next to each other seemingly hanging together like a shark and its remo-

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ras. Could it be the trout are eating the gar’s scraps? Are they simply sharing a similar habitat when their metabolism is low (and the gars won’t eat them)? Be mindful of gars in the backwaters during winter months.

• Researchers in Louisiana have found that manmade reefs attract trout because they concentrate baitfish and help them conserve energy by not having to move much to feed. All big fish prefer not to move

PHOTO: CANSTOCK

1/8/18 11:19 AM

more than they have to.

These reefs have a constant source of larger finfish that big trout prey upon. So, artificial reefs whether placed to attract trout or simply a byproduct of a boat wreck, can be a great spot to find big specks.

• Male trout make a “croaking” noise.

If you catch a bunch of males in an area, you should return there in the evening and prepare to fish late. Males will gather in a

• Big trout often suck topwaters under the surface, instead of “blowing up” on it. If this happens to you, wait a second before setting the hook to give the trout a chance to take it in.

Also, if you are fishing in a spot and you hear the “slurping” sound, perhaps followed

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by an emerging slick, big trout are there.

• The biggest trout almost never school.

A study conducted by researcher D.C. Tabb found that nearly all trout in excess of six years of age are large, semi-solitary females.

These are the giants we dream of catching. If you pay attention to these unusual harbingers, your chance of catching them will rise.

spawning aggregation and croak en masse to attract females. This is a highly overlooked time to find big trout at their peak weight.

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1/8/18 11:19 AM

Red Snapper

OR MANY TEXANS, their annual offshore fishing

Texans don’t need to wait for the federal

experience begins and ends

government to tell them when they can fish

with the brief federal red

for red snappers. In state waters,

snapper season in the summer.

which extend out to nine

However, with frosty condi-

miles from shore, anglers

www.reelrushcharters.com) in Bay City. “The big sows come into shallower waters in the win-

can catch

ter. In February, we normally fish in water

tions looming and many sportsmen hunting

red snappers any month, but check the

60 to 70 feet deep about eight miles from

instead of fishing, dedicated offshore anglers

regulations for more specific guidance.

the coast. I’ve had winter days when we

often find themselves alone over the best

“Winter is an awesome time to fish for

spots and enjoying some of the best action

red snappers,” advised Capt. Mike Kubecka

of the year during the winter.

of Reel Rush Charters (979-240-9490,

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didn’t catch anything weighing less than 20 pounds in state waters.”

Snappers love hard structure such as

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL KUBECKA

1/15/18 2:33 PM

REPORT: NEWS 42 u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 42 u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

44 u TEXAS COASTAL FORECAST

by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Capt. Chris Martin, Capt. Mac Gable, Tom Behrens, Capt. Sally Black and Calixto Gonzales

54 u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

66 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

rocky reefs, petroleum platforms and sunken vessels where they can snatch bait. In

quick internet search could reveal the coordinates of many structures that could hold good fish all year long.

“We usually fish in 45 to 50 feet of

many places along the entire Texas

water, looking at the beach the whole

coast, anglers can find good structure

time,” remarked Capt. Kevin Martin

in state waters. Frequently, anglers in

with Surfside Beach Saltwater Charters

smaller inshore boats can easily reach

(979-299-4771, www.surfsidebeachchar-

places that might hold snappers, redfish,

ters.com) in Freeport.

black drum and many other species. A

PHOTO:

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Mason Hester with a red snapper he caught in the Gulf of Mexico.

formations only three to four miles from shore. The state also established an artificial reef about seven miles from the jetty. These structures hold snappers and many other species.

“Our success rate for snappers is extremely high in the winter,” stated Capt. Chad Kinney with Bamm Bamm Charters (956802-2269, bammbammfishing.com) in Port Mansfield. “We limit out about 99 percent of the time. Around here, we have a lot of natural structure in state waters 50 to 90 feet deep. When a norther blows through, we

“In shallow waters, snapperss often swim right up to the surface. Even when the current is moving, I try to use the smallest weight I can. We usually fish the East Bank, Middle Bank and West Bank out of Freeport.

We can get there in 20 minutes.”

Over a good reef, most snapper anglers simply drop a tempting meat chunk to the bottom. Popular baits include cigar minnows, menhaden (also called pogies), mullet chunks and squid. Anglers can also catch their own bait. Sand trout make excellent bait for snappers, tuna and many other species.

“We drop down sand trout, Spanish sardines and squid,” Kubecka said. “Sand trout are not considered game fish, so they are legal to use for bait in Texas. They are really soft and snappers like soft baits they can chew up easily.”

From Sabine Pass southward to Brownsville, Texas anglers can find deeper waters nearer to shore as the continental shelf comes closer to the coastline. For instance, Brownsville anglers can find good snapper waters not far past the jetties. An artificial reef sits about five miles from shore.

In addition, the state began construction on a new reef in Texas waters about 12 miles north of Brownsville.

About 13 to 20 miles north of Port Mansfield, anglers can fish some natural rock

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can’t go fishing offshore in the winter, but two days after a norther, the fishing is much better.”

When the water calms down after a winter storm, snapper generally move higher in the water column. Kinney tempts them with free lines or by ripping jigs through the water.

While fishing for snapper in state waters, Kinney also catches sharks, other reef fish and occasional grouper, depending upon the water depth.

“The snapper population is so good that sometimes it’s hard to catch anything else,” Kinney said. “If we find some good blue water without current ripping too badly, we use naked jigs or tip them with squid or belly strips. The lighter the jighead, the better. If we can get away with it, I use a one- or twoounce head tipped with a paddle-tail. Every once in a while, we might catch a gag or strawberry grouper when fishing state waters.

We’ve even caught a few Warsaw groupers.”

Grouper

Except during the federal season, anglers can’t take red snappers more than nine miles from shore, even if they catch them legally in state waters. Therefore, many anglers maximize their day by heading farther out in the morning to find groupers and other fish in season. On the way back to port, they hit a few snapper holes to complete the trip.

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Colby Simms caught this scamp grouper fishing in with Bamm Bamm Charters out of Port Mansfield.

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PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER

1/15/18 2:33 PM

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1/15/18 2:33 PM

The NATIONAL

Richland Creek WMA Gets a Hand from DU

News of TEXAS

Trinity River floodplain. As such, the WMA is subject to periodic and prolonged flooding. The enhancement work will improve management infrastructure so that staff can optimize habitat for wetland dependent wildlife, including waterfowl.

Numerous marshes and sloughs provide habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl, wading birds and shore birds. In addition, the area’s bottomland hardwood forests serve as nesting and brood rearing habitat for many species of neotropical birds and wood ducks.

TPWD manages Richland Creek WMA to provide quality consumptive and nonconsumptive recreational opportunities for the public. It sits on the southeast side of

DUCKS UNLIMITED AND THE TEXAS Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are working to improve wetland habitat on Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area’s South Unit.

The first phase of the project was completed in July 2017, and the second phase began in November. Together, the two phases will enhance more than 400 acres of wetland habitat. The project is being funded

by TPWD with State Migratory Game Bird Stamp funds, and this area is included in their annual public hunting program.

Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) lies almost entirely within the

Richland Creek spillway.

the Richland Chambers Reservoir about an hour and a half south of Dallas.

Goose Island State Park Re-Opened FOUR MONTHS AFTER HARVEY struck the coast of Texas, Goose Island State Park will reopen part of the site to day use visitors. On Jan. 1, a portion of the island will be available for park goers to

WHITETAIL

REDFISH

Montgomery County

Galveston Jetties

Fifteen-year-old Taylor Bohac got a nice Buck opening weekend of youth season 2017 while hunting with her Dad in Montgomery county. The symmetrical 8-point, had a 15 ¼-inch spread. Taylor was using a 6.5 Creedmore at 180 yards.

Adam Estupiñan caught and released this “monsta” bull red while fishing at the Galveston North Jetty. The big red measured 47 inches.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your own TEXAS HOT SHOTS and Vote for our next Winners 42

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recreate and enjoy in the new year.

“Park staff and volunteers have been working tirelessly with contractors to clean up and repair the park so we can welcome visitors back to the island,” said Robbie Merritt, superintendent of Goose Island State Park.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. and close at 10:00 PM daily. Visitors will have access to the boat ramp, day use picnic area and the west end of the island to fish, picnic and birdwatch.

The park will also be hosting two guided First Day Hike programs at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to celebrate the reopening of the park.

The east end of the island, the fishing pier and the wooded camping areas will remain closed until repairs are completed.

All overnight camping at the park also remains closed until further notice.

For reopening statuses of all parks impacted by Harvey, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website.

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Winter Offshore t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40

“Many groupers move shallower in the winter, but it’s hard to get away from snappers because there are so many big ones out there,” Kubecka explained. “When we’re targeting groupers, we need to use bigger baits and heavier weights that get to the bottom fast before a snapper can eat it.

We try to jig up some blue runners for bait.

That’s my favorite grouper bait.”

For the best gag grouper fishing, start looking for hard bottom structure in about 225 feet of water, although anglers do catch some gags, and even Warsaws in shallower waters during the winter. Warsaws generally prefer water at least 250 to 400 feet deep.

Anglers might also catch some yellowedge groupers, scamp and other species.

“For big groupers, we have to go at least 30 miles out,” Kinney said. “February is a good time to fish for Warsaw groupers.

In January, February and through early March, some big Warsaws move into shallower water. I’ve caught a few smaller Warsaws, those in the 40- to 50-pound range, in state waters.”

about 150 miles from the coast on overnight trips when the weather remains calm for several days. At the floaters, he chums or jigs for tuna at night. During the day, he trolls big cedar plugs or rigged ballyhoo.

Sometimes, he catches dolphin, wahoo or billfish while trolling.

“On the sounder, we’ll find tunas about 100 to 400 feet down and start chumming with bonito cut into one-inch squares,” Kinney explained. “Then, we’ll free-line a live bait or bonito chunk in the middle of the chum. Sometimes, we turn on the underwater lights. If tunas get really aggressive, they’ll come up behind the boat.

Sometimes, we get really lucky and a tuna starts busting things on top. That’s when we throw topwater baits and really have a good time!”

Flying fish also come to the lights at night. To a tuna, nothing tastes better than a flying fish. Keep a dip net handy and watch for flying fish to come near the surface. With a flying fish, put a black 7/0 A blackfin tuna comes to the boat in the Gulf of Mexico.

Tuna

FLOUNDER Texas City Thirteen-year-old Morgan Sellers has been fishing with her dad for over eight years. Last November, she caught a 7.22-pounder covered in dolphin tooth marks. It was her personal best.

NEWS PHOTO: KEITH WESLEY, DUCKS UNLIMITED; STORY PHOTO: JOHN N. FESHER

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Even farther out, anglers might tangle with blackfin or yellowfin tuna and other large pelagic fish. Currents naturally circulate through the Gulf of Mexico in a clockwise pattern. The Loop Current flows through the warm Caribbean Sea and then pushes northward through the Yucatan Channel between Cuba and Mexico. Some of that warm water flows westward along the Yucatan Peninsula and up the Mexican coast into Texas waters.

“If we can catch the water temperatures at 78 degrees or higher in the winter, we have a chance at catching some big pelagic species,” Kinney advised. “It’s definitely a good time for wahoo and yellowfins. We generally catch bigger yellowfins in the winter than in the summer. It’s not uncommon to catch yellowfins averaging 60 pounds with several in the 100-pound class or bigger.”

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to 9/0 live bait hook through its nose and free-line it into the chum slick. When a tuna takes a bait, let it run four or five seconds before setting the hook.

Always bring a variety of baits to see what fish want to eat that day. Besides flying fish, anglers could also use mullets, squid or pogies. Anglers can also catch bonito and cut them up for bait or chum.

For big fish, use big baits.

“For tuna, I like to use sand trout or cut pogies,” Kubecka said. “I’ll fish around the piers at night and catch a bunch of sand trout to take offshore for bait. Tunas really love them.”

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt.

EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Figuring Out February Fish

rather than taking on the elements in the open bay. The fact is, some days this month, the better choice is to stay home.

However, on some other days, getting out there and exposing yourself can pay off big for putting fish in the ice chest. Even some of the “iffy” days when people look at you as if you’re crazy to go fishing, can produce for you in a big way.

The key to locating and catching fish in February is to fish the warmest water possible. For this reason, deep channels, outfall canals and mud flats are places you want to hit once the mid-morning sun begins to feel good on the back of your neck.

The term deep is used loosely here because most of the channels I’m referring to have a depth of no more than seven feet. The deeper water will maintain a more consistent, slightly warmer temperature than shallow water, and it won’t fluctuate as often or as quickly when the air temperature drops.

The slightest variation in water temperature can make a big difference in whether a particular area, or depth, will hold fish. While

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OASTAL FISHING IN THE month of February is written off by lots of anglers for several reasons. The obvious one being that it has notoriously earned the reputation as the coldest month of the year.

That, and others such as: “The fish just don’t bite in February.” “The weather is just too unpredictable.” Or, “I can think of several much better things to do.”

These are a few of the reasons people opt for staying closer to the comforts of home

you fish the flats, it is important to experiment within the different levels of the water column.

We usually start by slowly bouncing soft plastics on ¼-ounce lead heads along the bottom. If this approach entices a few strikes, stick with it and experiment with different colors or baits.

If it’s not working, try the mid-range levels by throwing slow sinkers like Corkys and swim baits. If you’re still not having any success, switch to a good ol’ mullet-imitating top water plug like a Skitterwalk or Super Spook.

If any fish are in the vicinity, one of these tactics should get the job done. I think the numbers of solid trout that the Sabine ecosystem gives up in February would surprise a lot of people.

Fishing for trophy trout this month is commonplace up and down the coast.

The idea of catching limits of solid trout in February, however, doesn’t enter lots of people’s minds simply because they don’t think it can be done.

The truth is, it can and does happen fairly consistently You just have to fish the right places and figure out where they are in the water column.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: McFaddin Beach SPECIES: Redfish, Black Drum, Croaker and Whiting BAITS: Fresh dead shrimp, cut bait and soft plastics BEST TIMES: Early with incoming tide

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Email Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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1/15/18 2:33 PM

Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt.

MIKE HOLMES

Here We Go, Again!

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N 1979, I LIVED THROUGH THE record rainfall and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Claudette on Chocolate Bayou, below Alvin. In those days I didn’t have as much to lose as I do today, but still I lost most of it.

In trying to look for a good side to this natural “disaster,” I noted how the bayou was affected. The flood waters flushed out decades of silt and pollutants and actually left clean sand bottoms in some spots. Fishing in the months after the flood was the best in many years—and not just in the bayou.

West Galveston Bay all the way to San Luis Pass and beyond also felt the cleansing of the flood.

The massive rainfall from Hurricane Harvey should produce even more noticeable changes to the bays and coastal bayous, as well as the San Jacinto, Brazos, San Bernard, and Colorado Rivers.

When I drove around immediately after the storm, in the Freeport area, at least, the storm surge appeared to have been minimal.

Since the winds on the upper coast were not excessive, most damage is/was from freshwater—no drought to end 2017 and begin 2018.

As such things often do, Harvey has changed residents’ lives in many ways. My wife and I were prepared to evacuate from Oyster Creek, but cautiously. The levees around us protect from even a massive storm surge, and also from flooding of Oyster Creek.

At the highest point during the storm, our front yard had merged with the roadside ditch, and was steadily creeping towards the house. Fortunately, it stopped and began to recede in the middle of the night, and it was practically gone by morning.

This house was built in 1954. It has only

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27-pound king mackerel. This is a big reason I don’t believe even a tremendous flood changes the Gulf salinity much—or, at least, not enough to chase “offshore” fish species to deeper water.

Offshore fishing will also be different after this weather event. Fingers of lower salinity freshwater will reach into the Gulf, but these bring nutrients not normally found in these spots, which brings baitfish species that, in turn, bring sportfish. Overall salinity should not change much, and only temporarily if it does, but some inshore reefs might also be “pressure washed” by the flow from the receding storm tides.

had water in it once, during Hurricane Carla in 1961, before the levees were built. We have had damage from a tornado since we’ve lived here, and I lost my boat in Oyster Creek to Ike, but otherwise it has been a safe place to live.

We have been looking for a place to live farther from the coast and its storms.

Ironically, most of the spots we were considering from West Columbia southward had much more flooding than we did in Oyster Creek. My thinking now is how beautiful those hills/mountains around Gatesville are!

One thing we had considered was to build on our acreage outside of Brazoria, but several days after the storm passed the county road (CR 244) was barricaded and underwater over a mile away from my drive. I’m expecting damage to my tractor, mule, and RV when I finally do get in.

I suspect this flooding was due to a drainage creek leading to the Colorado River backing up a couple of miles beyond my back deer stand. As far as I know, this has never happened to this extent before.

All this water in the Galveston Bays and tributary streams will have a long-term effect on fishing, shrimping, and crabbing.

Historically, this should mostly be good.

Flooding storms are nature’s way of cleansing the watershed.

Perhaps the old lady has sent us a message that more cleansing was needed than usual?

Sandbars and channels will be moved, shell reefs re-arranged, and new cuts formed.

In some cases, this could be very good news. For example, if the water re-opens the closed mouth of the San Bernard or “cuts” a new course to the Gulf through the marshes and barrier island. Having that Gulf outlet closed only intensified the flooding upstream on that river, some of which will probably flow past my stands.

After Claudette, “cuts” were formed through the beach below Freeport, and these certainly extended through the nearshore sandbars as well. While surf fishing for reds at one of these points the week after the storm, I hooked and landed—from the beach—a F I S H

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Keeping the time of year and temperature of both air and water in mind, look for changes in the bottom—new or deeper channels, cuts, or sand in spots that were deeper before. All these sorts of changes can attract and hold fish.

Major channels, such as jettied passes, should be better than they were in the recent past, and with deeper “holes” for cold water protection.

SPECIES: Trout, reds, flounders and various pan fish should all be available, and the black drum run is likely to be very good this year.

BAIT: As always in winter, live bait is good, but not always available. Blue crabs are a traditional drum favorite, but they will also eagerly take the oversize cousins of shrimp known as “se-bobs.”

BEST TIME: Whenever it’s comfortable to get out. The occasional sunny, calm day in February is a welcome reminder that our mild winter is about over.

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Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

Avoid West Winds

such as oyster reefs and depth changes, facing into the current, waiting for bait fish.

Jeff was sitting on a log, casting up current, and I was in my kayak on the east side of the island.

“You should try that reef out from the corner of your kayak,” he said. “I have seen some action there.”

In winter months, you have much less bait fish activity than during warm water months.

It’s important to pay attention to the bait fish movement you see because, quite likely, the bait fish moved because they were being pursued by a trout or redfish.

I lobbed a yellow Sparkle Beetle from H&H Lure Company into swirls on the surface, and laid into a 22-inch redfish. We caught several undersized reds and one more 23-inch red, and then called it a successful “Fishing Super Bowl.”

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T WAS SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, the Patriots were playing the Falcons, but Jeff Wiley and I decided to have our own Super Bowl in West Matagorda Bay. We went fishing on a beautiful day with a southeast wind at 10 to 15 mph, incoming tide, clear, trout-green water that went from 60°F to 66°F, and air temperatures that warmed from 68°F to 77°F. I anchored the boat near an island on the south shore. When there is an incoming tide, water flows from the bay around both sides of the island. Predator fish stage near habitat

Wind is always a factor when planning a fishing trip. In February, if you go fishing on a day when the wind is over 15 mph, especially if there is any hint of west in it, your chances of catching fish are reduced because the water is off color. So look for light winds without the dreaded “W” in them.

On February 18 last year, Bob Turner and I went to the south shore of West Matagorda Bay on a day when the winds were variable from south to southeast at seven mph.

Bob fished where the lakes and bayous meet the bay, while I paddled my kayak to a lake near the beach. Even though the water temperature was only 58°F, Bob found active redfish, and he caught his limit of three.

The lake I was fishing in is 12 feet deep in some areas. Trout like deeper water when the water temperatures are below 65°F. I drifted the lake and got a hit or catch on each drift.

Artificial reef pyramids specially built to serve as habitat.

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PHOTO: MIKE PRICE

1/15/18 2:33 PM

Offshore Red snapper are partial to cool water.

This is why as summer progresses and water temperatures warm to over 80°F to a depth of 100 feet, you have to go farther offshore in deeper water to find them. However, when sub-65°F water makes its way to the beach, you will find red snapper less than nine miles offshore in Texas-regulated waters. You can

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“ Red snapper are partial to cool water.

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Two big trout evaded my net by shaking their heads and throwing my soft plastic lures, but I landed 16- and 18-inch keepers.

February is the month that flounders begin to return to the bays after going offshore to spawn. I was wade fishing in the lake in two feet of water when I hooked something large and flat.

I thought, “I hope it’s a flounder, not a stingray.” It was a flounder. In order not to scare the fish, I put my net deep into the water so the flounder would not see it, worked the fish over the net and landed the 19-inch flounder. On the way back to where Bob was fishing, I picked up a redfish, so I had bragging rights to a Texas Triple.

legally keep four snapper per person, as long as they are at least 15-inches.

So if you find habitat (structure), you will find red snapper. We have some rigs that are visible from Matagorda Beach, and they could hold snapper. In addition, an artificial reef is now completely finished and beckoning you to fish it.

The reef is called Matagorda Brazos A-439 and is located seven nautical miles directly offshore from Matagorda Beach or about nine miles from the Matagorda Jetties. The

reef covers 160 acres and has 1,600 eightfoot-high pyramids. Water depth is 60 feet.

Small fish can swim in and out of holes in the pyramids, and one side of each pyramid has the top half open to allow turtles to move in and out.

THE BANK BITE THE DRUM RUN AT THE JETTIES: February is when black drums gather near the jetties before spawning. To fish for them from the Matagorda Jetties, use a light slip sinker weight (from ¼ ounce to ½ ounce) so the bait bounces just over the bottom with the current, a Kahle type circle hook (size 4 or 5) and cut fish or shrimp for bait. When using a circle hook, wait until you feel the fish swimming, then slowly raise your rod and start reeling. The circle hook catches in the side of the fish’s mouth, and it is easy to remove once the fish has been landed.

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Email Mike Price at ContactUs@fishgame.com

1/15/18 2:33 PM

Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt.

CHRIS MARTIN

February’s Mid-Coast Specifics

market today. However, those won’t be the only weapons used in February’s arsenal, as a variety of top water plugs and soft plastics will certainly yield full stringers right now.

From a top water perspective, many oldsalts choose to throw smaller surface walkers because they’re often much easier to work in high-wind conditions. However, one of the key things is you need to find a lure you have utmost confidence in, regardless of the type, then stick with it throughout the course of the entire day.

If you fish with the same lure all day, you minimize your number of lure changes.

Consequently, you’ll maximize your comfort level with your pre-selected bait, especially when you feel there are fish in the area.

February fish may only feed once a day, so don’t let anxiety get the best of you by expecting a lot of hits. Just keep grinding.

When choosing soft plastics this month, you might find it beneficial to use a much lighter presentation. Wintertime trout tend to be rather lethargic this time of year, so substitute your 1/8-ounce head for a 1/16ounce head, and re-spool your reel with any one of the popular braids to enhance the bite substantially.

Anglers looking for a trophy should be less concerned with the color of the water, and more focused on bait in the immediate area. During this time of the year, the color of the water does not play as big a role in the day’s outcome as does the actual presence of natural bait. If you travel a particular shoreline and witness a single sign of natural bait, stop the boat and fish the area.

Whether you work the back lakes, coves, or drains, look for fish to hold over mud and shell. You should concentrate on mud bottom this time of year because it serves as a solar panel that soaks up the day’s heat and releases the heat throughout the night.

Because of this, fish stay close to the mud bottom. Shell, too, offers protection and cover for small baitfish. If the bait is hiding within the shell, you can almost always be certain that trout have gathered in the area.

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ANY ENTHUSIASTS OF artificials elect to specifically target big trout in February, and they will throw anything and everything they have at the fish.

Many of those guys will opt to toss suspending lures such as the Corky Fat Boy, or any of a myriad of similar slow-sinkers on the

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February anglers who target redfish should key on the same basic environmental and structural elements—shell, mud, and bait. However, you need to look in a bit more shallow depths. Redfish are much hardier than trout, and they do not suffer the same cold-water consequences as do trout.

Reds will generally roam the shallows, so take your hunt to the shallowest portions of the back lakes and shorelines. Many times during this time of the year, wading anglers can locate reds that travel in the bayous and channels as they follow baitfish from one lake to another.

As the day and the water begin to warm, the fish venture onto the flats in close proximity to these channels, so it is advantageous to locate flats that are close to nearby dropoffs and deep water.

The month of February traditionally presents some of the coldest days of the year. For this reason, anglers can take advantage of the solitude offered by the absence of other boats, an opportunity significant success.

Because this month can be cold, you should remember to layer your clothing, and include such items as a stocking cap and a pair of warm gloves. To keep water out of your waders in the event of an unanticipated slip or fall, use a belt around your waistline.

You would hate to have to cut your big-speck career-day short because you’re too cold and too uncomfortable.

The more comfortable you are, the longer you will be able to fish. Be quiet, and remember to fish slowly. Tight lines to all!

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

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1/15/18 2:33 PM

Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt.

MAC GABLE

Getting Re-Aquainted with Rockport

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HEN YOU VISIT ROCKport, it’s not hard to see that the area has gone through a major event.

The words most uttered after seeing our area are: “I knew you had a bad storm, but I had no idea how bad it really was.”

Others are speechless. The hordes of debris trucks, reclamation equipment and the constant grind of grapplers, shredders, and maintainers send the message loud and clear. We are in the process of healing, rebuilding, and will be for quite some time.

Even storm-hardened veterans who have visited our wounded town from areas such as Dade County Florida, say it’s as bad as they’ve seen. An EF5 tornado survivor who came to share his story of rebuilding and recovery said it was like the worst tornado you’ve ever seen.

It doesn’t stop after a mile or half- mile— it goes on for more than 40 to 50 square miles. When you go into our restaurants and stores, you will see most locals are dirty and tired. They live with the dirt. They work in the dirt and these dirty conditions that come with rebuilding. They have their meals in the dirt, but at night shower the grime off, say their prayers, and pray for strength in the coming days, often cursing the force that keeps them going.

A trip down the Hwy 35 corridor through town actually looks almost familiar. Much progress has been made, and every day small steps give us glimpses of the old Rockport.

The bays look, for the most part, normal and visitors glancing across them would be hard pressed to see anything to suggest a CAT4 hurricane had hit our area. They see the beauty and peacefulness of the waves and it soothes them.

We, however, see and know what’s beneath. What we see and feel is the confusion of a community not able to predict its future, a community eager to laugh, devoted to family and dedicated to rebuilding.

The words that come to mind—”Persistent Harmony.”

I have fished the waters since the storm and spent many hours making detailed notes of the changes. Some of the changes are subtle, others are drastic and defy explanation.

As I ease my Haynie (my boat) along, I am ever cautious. Reefs I marked have shifted as much as 30 to 40 yards. Others are bigger.

Many haven’t moved at all, and some are completely gone.

The Haynie, thank God, runs well. As I make my way I see dark shadows looming from the depths. I investigate—pieces of roof tops, car hoods, car doors, a china cabinet with dishes still in it, children’s toys, the remains of family pets, cattle and wildlife.

My eye catches a movement not far off shore. It’s a hog that seems to be struggling in the water. I ease closer and see its back legs were crushed. It’s been alive probably for weeks, dragging itself along the shore line with crabs feeding on its paralyzed hind quarters.

No animal, even a feral hog, deserves this kind of demise. I only have a fillet knife. So, I dispatch the animal as quickly as I can and send it into the murky depths of the ICW. I will carry a gun from now on, for it’s not the only injured animal I find.

As I make my way to Carlos Bay, I quickly realize the map I have in my head is for the most part, irrelevant. Much has changed.

The waters that have nurtured me and my way of life are healing, as well as and much more quickly than our community. It has

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become a changed entity.

Well, of course it has, what other option was there? I can feel my Haynie rise over some objects. Its tunnel hull rides on the water, protecting my hull from submerged objects in skinny water.

Many of the cuts through reefs and between islands have changed. Many of the landmarks I use to set up on fish are gone. I realize my GPS at this point can be dangerous—it simply records where things WERE not necessarily where they are today. A threeyard shift in a well-known GPS-recorded cut can spell a busted hull, ruined prop and lower unit, and God forbid, injuries for those on board.

I was as at home on these waters as I was in my own living room, maybe even more.

The beauty was still there but the back-ofmy-hand familiarity I was so comfortable with had deteriorated. Of my 300-plus, GPSmarked spots, many have shifted and some are gone altogether.

As unnerving as this was, the bays seemed cleaner than before, the water quality better.

I saw bait fish in most places and the salt grasses seemed new with much vitality.

This day I was going to fish, for we wanted fish to eat and our freezer was completely empty. After a long trailer/boat tow I found a few croakers and a quart of shrimp. The black drum should be biting, and we enjoy their delicious filets.

My black drum spot seemed intact, the same—and yet somehow different. On my first cast, I put the rod in the rod holder, knowing it would take a while for the drum school to lock-in on the scent; besides, I needed some coffee.

Reaching for my thermos I heard the squeal of my old Quantum Kinetic reel (given to me by a dear friend and fellow guide, Danny Goyen, as a present. It was still my favorite comfort reel). The rod was bent double, and the drag was a steady scream.

Man, I love to hear a drag squeal!

This was NOT a black drum, it was too fast. Many years on the water have enabled

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Forecast: ROCKPORT My mind shifted to details—trying to see what other differences our bays now embraced. The differences were vast, especially when one looked close.

Deep water reefs were now shallow water reefs. Shallow water reefs were either gone or now too shallow to fish. There were deep water reefs where none had existed before.

When I use the word “reef,” I mean a shoal or bulge in the bottom, not necessarily oyster shell) where none existed before.

When I think it through, it makes complete sense—shallow reefs pounded by 170plus mph winds and no telling what wave height, were either wiped away or stood their ground and became very shallow areas.

Deep water reefs were filled in, becoming shallow reefs. The new deep-water shoals/ reefs were probably small outcroppings not large enough until the storm forced enough shell, mud and sand upon them to become habitat-potential reefs.

Mother Nature finds a way. The old bay I had grown to love was still partially there, but it was forced to change its dynamics in some areas. This meant only one thing—it was time for me to reacquaint myself with an old/new friend.

me to tell, with about 95 percent accuracy, what type of fish I’ve hooked by the feel of the action on the rod. This was a big red, but never—and I mean NEVER—had I caught a red in this spot.

Netted, the red measured 31 inches and was quickly returned to the water (I seldom keep oversized reds). The 21- and 24-inch reds are the ones I like to eat. I hurriedly made cast number two, and again the coffee was calling my name.

This time I almost lost the rod as I went to place it in the rod holder. The transition from hand to rod holder can be and has been the demise of a lot of good rods and reels. If you place the rod in the holder with your fingers you’re asking for a lost rod. Keep a full grip on the rod until it is fully anchored in the bottom of the rod holder.

Cast number two, red number two, this one 23 inches. I could taste the throat meat already—one of my FAVS! “There are no reds here EVER” I said out loud, “not in 25 years!” My coffee by now was cold, and I couldn’t care less. Cast number three, this time the Quantum reel and Falcon rod never left my hand.

The next hit, I was pretty sure, was gonna pull my Haynie off its power pole anchor.

Cast number three, red number 3; 25 inches.

“I think, therefore I am confused,” was the look I had on my face. I slowed my mind down, finally got some coffee, and put my Oakley sunglasses on.

Now I could see the small reef I was fishing wasn’t small anymore. It was three times its original length. Mostly sand, mixed with shell, the reef, obviously piled upon by the storm and its surge, was now a different habitat than before.

I eased the power pole up and drifted down a few hundred yards and anchored.

Cast number four was an 18-inch black drum.

Five black drums later I made another move—this time to the new end of the reef.

Five casts, five trout, all in the 17- to 19-inch range. I don’t know what I don’t know.

I told myself this deserves further investigation. Having plenty of fish for my wife, me, our grown kids and grandkids, I fished a few more reefs and fishing spots with similar results. The location had changed and the species had changed.

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••• BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT DANger, I will only write about the bays I personally have investigated, so I ask your patience.

As time moves forward I will be able to navigate/fish the others I normally write about.

As of this writing, hotels are re-opening, other businesses continue to re-open and restaurants are returning. Some may open and then must close because of things outside their control. More bait stands are offering limited bait, open one day, maybe closed the next.

For now, bring a cast net as backup. Thank you for supporting us as we rebuild.

ST. CHARLES BAY: Stay in the middle of the bay while navigating. There are a few black drums at the mouth of Twins Creeks with peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig the bait of choice. Cavasso Creek has some flounders in the back-area, close to Hwy 35.

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Rig. CARLOS BAY: This bay for the most part, is clear of debris. Drifts across Carlos Lake are good for trout and a few reds, using live shrimp under a subtle popping cork.

MESQUITE BAY: The bay has a few hazards, but they are very visible. That doesn’t mean it is completely clear. We continue to mark the hazards as we find them. The east shoreline is a good spot for reds free-lined using finger mullet. The mouth of Cedar Bayou is a good wade for trout, using soft plastics in new penny and electric chicken colors. There are a few gators in this area, but they do not seem to be a nuisance.

COPANO BAY: In my opinion it is still hazardous for those not familiar with its structures.

AYERS BAY: I traversed the bay but spent very little time in it. It looks remarkably clean in the areas I could see. Proceed with caution.

ARANSAS BAY: The northeast side close to Goose Island has some hazards, especially close to the shorelines. Midbay looks pretty clear, but go slowly and be ever watchful.

THE BANK BITE LIVE OAK POINT: The area just off Live Oak Point is the place to be. Use cut mullet free-lined or on a light Carolina Rig for reds. Free-lined live shrimp are good for trout here as well.

Goose Island State Park is open to for launching boats ONLY.

« Contact Capt. Mac Gable at Mac Attack Guide Service, 512-809-2681, 361-790-9601 captmac@macattackguideservice.com

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1/15/18 2:34 PM

Coastal Focus: ARANSAS/CORPUS :: by Contributing Editor TOM BEHRENS

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HE FLATS, FROM CARLOS Bay all the way to the Laguna Madre, should be holding redfish in February,” says Capt. Jack McPartland, a guide who fishes the Texas mid-coast area.

Some of the flats have well known names such as Estes Flats, Inside Dagger Island or Traylor, but most of the locations do not have GPS names.

“We have nicknames for them, but you won’t find them on a map,” continued McPartland in reference to guide speak. “I have some flats that I call the “football field,” the “Pig Pen.” These are names from the old days before cell phones. We would communicate with each other using VHF, like the CB of the water.”

Capt. Jack won’t give you the GPS of the hard-earned places he has discovered, but he will teach you how to find your own hot spots.

“I tell people if they pull up a map and look at the depths noted by the little numbers, they will figure out what I mean by the flats,” he said. “Almost all of what I call flats have a sand bar, a chain of spoils, or little islands that usually separate what I consider flats. Most of these places you can see, some you can’t.”

Bait or lure of choice is cut mullet, live mullet and live shrimp. Fish the live shrimp under a popping cork and adjust the length of leader for water depth.

“The main thing is to keep the shrimp just above the grass level on the floor of the bay,” Capt. Jack said. “If you can’t find a bait stand with bait, a gold spoon or Berkley Gulp in

“ Capt. Jack’s hook of choice is the 6/0 circle hook when using cut bait.

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Fish the Flats in February

THE BANK BITE

“I don’t care for the circle hook with live bait because it’s a thicker hook,” he said. “I’ve had a problem when the bait wiggles. They bore a hole in their body, and the bait actually falls off the hook.” When fishing with a live mullet he uses 4/0 Kahle hook.

He prefers finger mullet for live bait. “The only reason I differentiate finger mullet is that I have had some people catch mullet 12 inches long and try to fish them. Finger mullet is about the length of your finger.”

McPartland fishes live finger mullet on a Carolina rig. “Mullet are hyper,” he said. “If

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I throw a mullet into a pot hole, I don’t want them running off. I will use about an 18-inch leader with a swivel and about a ½ ounce egg weight above the swivel so when you throw it out there, he can’t just swim off.”

He has some little tricks for fishing mullet or pin perch. “With pin perch I usually try to free-line them. I cut the tails off them so they can’t swim off. Perch will live through that; mullet won’t.”

The dorsal fins on a perch are hard bone.

“If you are not catching fish on perch, Capt.

Jack said, “trim off that dorsal fin and all of sudden the fish will start eating.

“If the fish are aggressive they don’t give a dang, and they just eat, but I can’t count how many times we are working perch and we can’t get a fish. I know the fish are there.

Trim that fin off, throw it back out there, jig it a couple of times, and thump, here we go. So, we start trimming off the dorsal fins.

“I had one client cut off every single fin.

It looked like he had a wiggly silver dollar on the end of his line. He was giving the perch a fin manicure.”

Capt Jack has one last bit of advice for fishing the flats in February. “Check how high or how low the tides are, especially when fishing after a front blows through. It’s real easy to get grounded in skinny water, or worse, damage your boat and motor.”

white or New Penny will work.”

Braided line is on the spools of his reel, with monofilament for leader material. “I use an 18-inch monofilament leader, tied line to line, no swivel” he told us. “You can’t hardly break braid. With the monofilament leader I can break it off, if one of my clients snags something other than a fish. I can tie another hook on three or four times, usually, before I have to tie on a whole new leader.”

Capt. Jack’s hook of choice for redfish is a 6/0 circle hook when using cut bait. “The circle hook will work fine for black drum also.

You might go a little smaller for them. The main thing about the circle hook is that if the rod is in the rod holder, and they just bang it, the hook will self-set.

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HOTSPOT: Fish Pass, Mustang Island SPECIES: Trout, redfish flounder TIPS: Wade the flats.

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Coastal Focus: BAFFIN BAY :: by Capt.

SALLY BLACK

Trophy Trout!

our Black’s Magic 1/32 ounce jig heads. This super light jig head lets that big bodied Die Dapper paddle tail work like a suspending lure and a lot like a natural bait, which is the key to the presentation of all artificial lures.

Do not take the top water lure off of the table. Warming trends will create massive top water strikes. So, throw them when the time is right, or when top water feeding action is seen in packs of mullet or along a shoreline.

Bigger topwaters, like the Skitterwalk, One-Knocker Spook or the Super Spook can sometimes bring really big trout to the top with vengeance. On calm days, bring it down a bit with a smaller top water lure such as the one-knocker Yozuri 3DB, the Super Spook, Jr and the smaller baby Skitterwalk.

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HE HUNT FOR THE TROPHY trout is in full swing on Baffin Bay and the results here speak for themselves.

Big trout up to 11 pounds have already been landed by the guides and anglers at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun, and the future looks great for some really hefty trout in the months upcoming.

The conditions on the bay are stunning and bait is plentiful, leading to high optimism for a new state record.

The good winter weather has added to the excitement here, with lots of opportunity in all parts of the bay, including the back bays of Baffin, the Laguna Salada and the Cayo del Grullo, as well as the ever-mysterious Alazan Bay. This year, Baffin Bay has grown a bumper crop of grass in all areas, deep and shallow.

Clear water is abundant, and the rocks are easy to see on most days.

Water temperatures are fluctuating between warm (70) and pretty chilly (50s) and on really warm, sunny days, can go up even higher. Big trout do like to hang out shallow, so key on the warmer, shallower water on nice, sunny days.

However, when the water temperatures drop, Mother Nature is sending the signal to the predators that cold weather is coming.

When big fish get that notice, they start to eat. During warming trends, they eat a lot.

When it’s colder, they move really slow, trying to retain all of the energy they can.

To match that activity, trophy trout hunters must present the lure slowly. This is where Corky’s, Catch 2000, and other slow sinkers work well. Also, use larger paddle tails such as Saltwater Assassin’s Die Dapper (We like “Snowstorm” and “Morning Glory”) on |

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Baffin Bay has grown a bumper crop of grass in all areas.

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When it’s colder, everything moves slower. Anglers move lures slower and lower to match the activity of the big predators they seek. Low and slow is the motto when waters are cold.

This month is technically the end of winter on the Texas Coast, and anglers really anticipate the upcoming spring. Soon, the winds of March will arrive, but so will more really big trout. March and April have historically been the months where the heaviest trout have been caught here on Baffin.

We’re not saying that the new state record |

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can’t be caught in any other month, however.

The two previous state record holders, Jim Wallace who caught his trophy in February, ’96, and Mike Blackwood who caught his trophy in early March, ’75, started the quest to hunt for the state record trout in Baffin Bay. If you have ever wanted to fish Baffin Bay, this is going to be the year. Book a trip with the trophy trout specialists and teaching guides at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun, so you can have the absolute best shot at your personal best catch.

Give Marcie, our booking manager, a call and she will help you design a trip that will suit your needs. Whether, it’s a trip for a group of friends, or that corporate outing you’ve been wanting to arrange, the time is now.

Building loyalty and creating lasting memories together will keep your employees or best clients totally engaged. When you walk into Baffin Bay Rod and Gun Lodge, the thinking is over, and the fun begins.

Everything is taken care of, and the private, tropical atmosphere is inviting and warm. A fire ring, outdoor bar, covered entertaining area with a television, swimming pool, quality chef and a fantastic staff will make your group of up to 20 cherished people feel connected like never before.

BAFFIN BAY ROD AND GUN IS THE ONLY Orvis Endorsed Lodge on the Texas Coast and the ONLY dual-endorsed lodge in Texas, so you can expect a quality experience.

See you soon to experience the awesome opportunities available to fishermen and hunters at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun.

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Contact Capt. Sally Black at 361-205-0624 Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com Web: www.BaffinBayRodandGun.com Facebook: Baffin Bay Rod and Gun Twitter: @CaptainSally Instagram: baffin_bay_rod_and_gun

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Coastal Focus: LOWER COAST :: by Saltwater Editor CALIXTO GONZALES

Comfort Zone

S

O YOU WAKE UP AND LOOK out the window to discover that that the cold front that was supposed to blow in late in the afternoon got a little momentum and roared in 12 hours early.

The wind is howling, the temperature has dropped 20 degrees, and the leaves on the tree next to the house are dripping. The conditions are going to be tough, and the fishing tougher, so why bother right?

The room is warm,and the bed soft. Your lab looks up at you and wags his tail as if to say, “You not really getting up, are you Daddy? I love you, but I’m staying RIGHT here.”

Tempting, yes?

Half that equation may be accurate because conditions might be below our comfort level, but cold weather fishing can be quite rewarding, even memorable.

Trout and redfish don’t go into hibernation when water temperatures dip below 65 degrees. In fact, I try to provide as many spots that are popular trout haunts in the monthly Hot Spots. Sitting here in front of my laptop, I can think of Long Bar, The Pasture, and Holly Beach. If we move north to the Arroyo City area, then you can add Green Island, the Arroyo Mouth, and the Second Color Change.

However, sometimes, a serious cold snap turns weather colder than the usual winter fare, and water temperatures will dip down below 60 degrees. The November cold fronts that barreled down into South Texas, for example, pushed LLM water temperatures down to 60 degrees for three or four days.

When that happens, cold-blooded trout will abandon their shallow water haunts and seek the warmer, more comfortable environment of deeper water.

Fishermen being fishermen, some of us are willing to crawl out of bed, bundle up, and

brave 50-, 40-, even high 30-degree weather to wet a line, especially if we’ve had a trip to the coast planned for quite some time. Our wives will stay buried under the blankets and mumble that we’re crazy, and our dogs won’t even get up and follow us to the kitchen.

Stella and Luna, our labs, barely even lift their heads anymore, but we’ll grab rods and tackle box, hitch up the Dargel, and make the run to the coast. The only thing that will keep us in bed is a howling north wind. No one will buck that.

If you are among the happy few that will brave drizzle, even rain, and cold temperatures to have a shot at some trout, there are plenty of deep water spots to turn your attention to, and some of them are not very far from most Port Isabel and South Padre Island boat ramps.

One spot that anglers that don’t want to venture too far from port should consider is the Port Isabel Turning Basin. The deep water of the turning basin is a major fish magnet after a serious cold snap, and can offer some excellent fishing.

Speckled trout will hold along the drop off near the shoreline. A depth finder can be very useful here, because it will pinpoint the depth break.

Some anglers prefer anchoring in the shallows and casting out toward the drop off, but I’ve been more successful dogging-up in deeper water and casting up to the edge and easing the bait or lure along the depth break.

Tackle and techniques are relatively simple.

A live shrimp on a #1/0 Octopus 14 inches below a #3 split shot will present a very natural offering that a trout won’t pass up. Let the bait fall along the edge on a semi-slack line. When you feel a bump or see the line jump, ease the rod up until the line comes tight, and you’re hooked up.

Faux shrimp, such as the 3-inch Gulp!

Shrimp are good choices too. Glow and Pearl seem to work best, although I have one partner who swears by Nuclear Chicken and does well with it. Fish them the same way you would a live bait, along the depth break, and let your offering fall into deeper water.

Another good cold-water trout spot is the Y, T E X A S

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which is the confluence of the Port Isabel Boat Channel and the Brownsville Ship Channel.

The drop-offs along the inner channel edges and the points have structure that trout congregate around in cooler weather.

The mangroves on the channel and center island shorelines are also keen trout and redfish spots when the weather is warmer and fish move up to forage. If you choose to work the shallows on a mild day, a gold spoon, Topwater in Bone or Pearl, or a swimbait such as a Berkley Money Minnow are tough to beat.

If you want to go a little old school, try using a classic 4-inch Kelly Wigglers Shrimp on a ¼ ball for a football-style jighead and bounce it along the bottom. If trout are holding in deeper water, one will come along and pick it up. Feel for a very subtle tap or even a heavy feel to your line.

One last thing, this is structure-oriented fishing. Do not be surprised if you run into a variety of structure-loving species during your outing. It is not uncommon to find sheepshead, mangrove snapper, black drum, or even a flounder keeping company with the trout in your cooler.

All these fish gravitate to deep-water structure at one point or another during foul weather. On one trip, my fishing partner Jim Brewster and I were catching dink trout after dink trout. On speculation, I eased my boat farther away from the dropoff and located a school of keeper-sized drum cruising along the bottom of the depth-break.

Still, the trout were there, and they will be, pretty much all winter when the weather goes in the toilet. THAT is their comfort zone.

THE BANK BITE HOTSPOT: Dolphin Point SPECIES: Sheepshead, Black Drum TIPS: Fish live or fresh shrimp under a popping cork. Work near the rocks. Fish the bottom for drum

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Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Saltwater: n Upper Coast n Mid Coast n Lower Coast Freshwater: n Piney Woods

Freshwater: n Prairies & Lakes n Panhandle n Big Bend n Hill Country n South Texas

UPPER COAST

GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes).

Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information specific to your GPS device.

Specks Boil on East Matagorda

by TOM BEHRENS

TIPS: “Another good bait that a lot of people don’t use anymore are the 51 or 52 MirrOlures. Over the years these baits have produced a bigger sized fish.

Chartreuse/gold, chartreuse.”

LOCATION: Galveston Chocolate Bay HOTSPOT: The Narrows GPS: N 29 10.983, W 95 6.4 (29.1831, -95.1067)

two places, Raymond Shoal and Boiler Bayou.”

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Boiler Bayou GPS: N 28 38.685, W 95 54.067 (28.6448, -95.9011)

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Half Moon Shoal GPS: N 28 43.371, W 95 46.228 (28.7229, -95.7705)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with 1/4 ounce lead head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “This area has shell reefs. We are looking for off-color water next to clear water. The fish don’t like to be in really clear water.”

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoal GPS: N 28 40.449, W 95 53.898 (28.6742, -95.8983)

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 28 43.86, W 95 45.617 (28.7310, -95.7603)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with 1/4 ounce lead head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “By February we have no bird action. One of our mainstays is drifting East Matagorda Bay over one of

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with 1/4 ounce lead head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Make long drifts throwing heavy lead heads.

Usually I throw nothing lighter than a 1/4 ounce; lot of times it’s a 3/8 ounce. I like to use a bright color soft plastic, like a Limetreuse or a hot pink that shows up good in the off-color water.”

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with 1/4 ounce lead head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com |

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics or Corkys CONTACT: Capt. Nick Dykes 409-599-6804 TIPS: Capt. Dykes says there is an oyster shell reef near the channel that comes down to West Bay, towards San Luis Pass. “There is a good shell reef that comes off the deep water reef, 4-5 feet of water.”

LOCATION: Galveston Christmas Bay HOTSPOT: Cold Pass GPS: N 29 4.834, W 95 8.335 (29.0806, -95.1389)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics or Corkys CONTACT: Capt. Nick Dykes 409-599-6804 TIPS: “If we get northwest winds, the water will wash out of the marshes, pulling the bait into the bay and the birds will start working. The trout will be waiting for the outwash.”

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: TPWD Artificial Reef GPS: N 29 30.44, W 94 39.54 (29.5073, -94.6590)

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be all right. Most of the retrieve should be a slow retrieve along the bottom.”

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Upper San Jacinto Bay GPS: N 29 42.378, W 95 2.694 (29.7063, -95.0449)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Smaller soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “The key in February in finding fish is finding scattered mullet . An occasional mullet is better than nothing.”

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Clear Lake GPS: N 29 33.133, W 95 1.945 (29.5522, -95.0324)

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LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Moses Lake GPS: N 29 26.808, W 94 55.712 (29.4468, -94.9285)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Smaller soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Anything above 30.30 pressure , if you can get them to eat, that’s special. But below 30.30 you should

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: East Pass GPS: N 29 59.027, W 93 46.562 (29.9838, -93.7760)

LOCATION: Matagorda HOTSPOT: Colorado River GPS: N 28 47.143, W 95 59.456 (28.7857, -95.9909)

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LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cottons Bayou GPS: N 28 30.45, W 96 12.381 (28.5075, -96.2064)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout or Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with lighter jig head, or a weedless gold Johnson Sprite Spoon CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “After a Norther blows through and the tides are super low I like to fish the drains. The fish have to come out, creating some phenomenal redfish fishing.”

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Crystal Minnows, Kick A Mullet Jr., or Corky Fat Boy CONTACT: Capt. Adam Jaynes 409-883-0945 amjaynes@gmail.com justfishsabine.com TIPS: “Look for baitfish action. All the hard baits I work are mullet imitators. I use suspension plugs when I observe not much surface activity.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with 1/4 ounce lead head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “If we have really cold weather, the fish will be more in the middle, down deeper because the deeper water is warmer. Feed the bait out behind the boat in the current and bump it at different depths until we find where the fish are located.”

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Smaller soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Capt. Marcaccio recommends soft plastic tails, 3 1/2 inches, Favorite colors are plum, Slammin Chicken, Limetreuse, or pearl.

LOCATION: Matagorda HOTSPOT: Colorado River GPS: N 28 55.196, W 96 00.998 (28.919935, -96.016632)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Smaller soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Capt. Marcaccio recommends fishing reefs where the water is 6-8 feet deep. When a front blows through water levels might drop 2-4 feet.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with 1/4 ounce lead head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “If the water is not very cold we will drift along with current and plug up against the west bank. There are some sand bars that work off of it. Throw up on the sand bars and let your bait come back and let it fall through the drop.”

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FISHING HOTSPOTS MIDDLE COAST

Come in Second for Redfish

by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Second Chain of Islands GPS: N 28 6.207, W 96 56.127 (28.1035, -96.9355)

Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “I fish with braided line on my reels and monofilament line for the leader.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: South Jay Bird GPS: N 28 4.129, W 96 56.127 (28.0688, -96.9355)

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Mack Reef GPS: N 28 4.467, W 96 58.019 (28.0745, -96.9670)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold

treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “A 6/0 Circle Hook works best when using cut bait.”

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Live Mullet …”I usually Carolina Rig live mullet…18 inch leader, swivel and a 1/2 ounce egg sinker.”

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Upper Estes Flats GPS: N 27 57.058, W 97 5.331 (27.9510, -97.0889)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Capt. McPartland uses Mid Coast Popping Corks or the Cajun Thunder Corks …. “kind of looks like and egg with beads on them.”

LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: Newcomb’s Bend GPS: N 28 9.27, W 97 1.123 (28.1545, -97.0187)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “If there is no live shrimp available, don’t be afraid to try Gulp…either white or New Penny, but in February any color usually works.”

LOCATION: St. Charles Bay HOTSPOT: Inside Dagger Island GPS: N 28 8.446, W 96 57.2 (28.1408, -96.9533)

treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Fish the popping cork with live shrimp in either shallow or deep water…just adjust the length of the leader.”

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline GPS: N 27 29.134, W 97 21.108

(27.4856, -97.3518)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Almost all of what we call flats do have a sand bar, a chain of spoils, or little islands that usually separate what we consider flats. Most of these you can see, some you can’t.”

LOCATION: St. Charles Bay HOTSPOT: North Cedar Bay GPS: N 28 7.675, W 96 57.809 (28.1279, -96.9635)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with lighter jig head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Along the King Ranch you have about 20 miles before you get to Baffin Bay.” LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge Bar GPS: N 27 18.109, W 97 28.051 (27.3018, -97.4675)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Pay attention to the tides…”When you launch, look where the water level in on the ramp as a guide to how much tide change you have experienced. Just don’t go flying around like you know the place

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with lighter jig head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Once I get down in Baffin it depends on what the wind is doing. If we have a north wind, I will be on the north side fishing the Tide Gauge Bar. When you have north winds at Tide Gauge, it’s a lot like fishing the surf. Work your way along the bar, throwing out into deeper water, working the bait slow.”

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Intracoastal Waterway GPS: N 28 25.048, W 96 27.844 (28.4175, -96.4641)

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Packery Flats GPS: N 27 37.776, W 97 12.787 (27.6296, -97.2131)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Most of the duck blinds were wiped out by the storm, but their legs are still there, broke off just below water level, another thing to be very aware of.”

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LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Sulphur Flats GPS: N 27 37.584, W 97 15.747 (27.6264, -97.2625)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with 1/4 ounce lead head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Use your trolling motor and work the edges starting just south of Corpus. There are little channels off the canal that a lot of times produce fish.”

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Mangroves at Mansfield

by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: East Cut Sloughs GPS: N 26 33.62, W 97 17.403 (26.5603, -97.2901)

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SPECIES: Mangrove Snapper BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Douglas Dunkin 956-873-3850 dunkinguide@gmail.com dunkinguide.com TIPS: Capt. Dunkin’s free line rig includes a 2/0 hook, a split shot, and live shrimp.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Los Corrales GPS: N 27 14.503, W 97 30.066 (27.2417, -97.5011)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or mullet, cut bait, Gold Spoons CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Laguna Flats GPS: N 27 33.402, W 97 17.868 (27.5567, -97.2978)

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treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “There are lot of times when you ran all over the place, but you have never been here two days after the passage of a major front. All of sudden you run aground because we have lost 18 inches of water.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with lighter jig head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “If the tide is low and the water is clear it

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FISHING HOTSPOTS enhances your chances of catching a big trout because you can see the trout next to the rocks, or in between rocks.”

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: White Bluff Rocks GPS: N 27 14.725, W 97 35.87 (27.2454, -97.5978)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with lighter jig head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “When the sun comes out the rocks are going to heat up making the water warmer around them. They are like magnets drawing fish to them.”

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Brownsville Ship Channel GPS: N 26 0.405, W 97 16.465 (26.0068, -97.2744)

SPECIES: Mangrove Snapper BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Douglas Dunkin 956-873-3850 dunkinguide@gmail.com dunkinguide.com TIPS: “In February there are a lot of Mango Snapper in the Brownsville Ship Channel. I free line live shrimp along the rocks and piers.”

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: East Cut GPS: N 26 33.8, W 97 17.029 (26.5633, -97.2838)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Douglas Dunkin 956-873-3850 dunkinguide@gmail.com dunkinguide.com TIPS: For redfish, Capt. Dunkin uses Norton soft plastics in pumpkin/chartreuse color. “I just run until I find the fish and retrieve just fast enough to keep the lure above the grass.”

LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Redfish Shoreline GPS: N 26 36.868, W 97 26.532 (26.6145, -97.4422)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Douglas Dunkin 956-873-3850 dunkinguide@gmail.com dunkinguide.com TIPS: Fishing cold fronts: “If there is a hard front blowing I probably won’t be out on the water until generally a day or two after the front passes.”

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, flipping jigs, lipless crankbaits CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: This is the month that bass will usually start staging to come in for the spawn in the next couple months. I like to keep an eye on water temps in February. Once I see the water temps rising to the mid to upper 50’s then you can begin using search baits like bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits over the shallow grass flats. Anything colder than that use your flipping jigs on the trees. Once the water gets to 60 degrees I will usually stick to the cypress trees where the bass spawn on Caddo Lake. Stick with your jigs and spinnerbaits here.

PINEY WOODS

Tickle the Arm & Belly for Bass

by DUSTIN WARNCKE

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 22.9799, W 95 34.9259 (30.3830, -95.5821)

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Jackson’s Arm and Red Belly GPS: N 32 43.1699, W 94 5.4359 (32.7195, -94.0906)

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SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-661-7920 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: “The hybrid stripers are in full swing now; they will be all around the lake on main lake points and humps. The use of electronics is a necessity! Find the schools of shad and you will find the hybrids. This time of year they will range in the water column from 12 foot to 30 feet. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. Live shad will be the bait of choice but the swim shad or shad colored crankbaits will work if you can control the depth. Good luck and good fishing!

Bank Access: Stowaway Marina.”

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Little Caney Creek GPS: N 32 49.686, W 95 33.42 (32.8281, -95.5570)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs in pink/chartreuse CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: February is the last month on Lake Fork that you keep the first 25 per person crappie you catch no matter the size. March starts back to a 10” length limit. The crappie will be starting to move from their winter holding pattern, which is on the deeper ridges and humps, and start moving towards shallower water.

But early February check the deeper flats in the mouth of Little Caney, humps in front of the damn and start your search in 30-45 feet of water. Here is where good electronics will help you locate baitfish and the schools of crappie feeding in the deeper water. Use two jigs on your pole. One will cover the bottom and one will cover the suspended crappie. The bite is normally light in the cold water but this is when you can catch some really nice sized fish.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 32 54.954, W 95 38.79 (32.9159, -95.6465)

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LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: Sabine River (Grand Cane Bayou) GPS: N 31 56.0939, W 93 58.8 u TAP FOR (31.9349, -93.9800)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Pro Model Thumper from Finch Nasty Jigs with a Grandebass Kickback Swim’r, weightless Grandebass 6.5 inch Rattlesnake CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “February is go time for big sows to start spawning so I’m fishing shallow when the weather is windy and cloudy. A bladed swim jig like the Pro Model Thumper from Finch Nasty Jigs with a Grandebass Kickback Swim’r around heavy cover in spawning areas and points leading to spawning areas is hard to beat. When wind is slow casting a weightless Grandebass 6.5 inch Rattlesnake or the new Air Tail Pro with a 4/0 hook and 17-lb. fluorocarbon is also good.

Fish it slow next standing timber and around grass beds big ones luv this technique. Good fishing to all.”

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: White Rock Creek GPS: N 30 58.1159, W 95 20.07 (30.9686, -95.3345)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, Road Runners, Crank Baits, Slab Spoons and live Crawfish CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: In February I’ll be spending the majority of my time on the Sabine River loading up the boat with white bass. The whites will be making their annual river run up the river to spawn. Locating the whites is contingent on a number of factors: river level, current and clarity.

If the river is out of its bank, work the flooded sloughs and find some clear water. If the river is at normal or below normal stages, you can usually find the whites on the inside bend sandbars. If the river has a lot of current, look for still water where the fish can get out of the current. Look for the eddies formed on the down side of the inside bends of the river. When you locate the fish, they will be bunched up and feeding heavy. Be extremely careful running the river. A lot of under water hazards, mainly submerged logs and debris, can show up at any time.

PRAIRIES & LAKES SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: 1/4 oz. Tsunami Cocktail Spinners White, Bear Paws- White Bleeding Ribbed Shad, 1/8 or ¼ oz. Rattletraps, Bluefox, Sassy Shad, CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: “The major White Bass run up the Trinity should be starting now. The Trinity River produces some of the best white bass fishing in the world. Best time is following a warming trend after a 1 -2 inch local rain with the water temperature getting up over 60 degrees.

Go all the way up the creek until the water begins to clear and fish the sandbars and points where they drop off into deeper holes. Fish slowly downstream until you find the fish. BANK ACCESS: White Rock City or Hwy 94 Public Ramp. A special thank you to: Charlie’s Worms, Tsunami Lures & Tsunami Airwave Rods.”

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Dam Rock Area GPS: N 29 55.05, W 96 44.55 (29.9175, -96.7425)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Water is warming. Channel cats and yellow cats hang out in these rocks. Anchor up in 12’-15’ water and use a cork to drift your bait through the rocks.

LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014 (32.8531, -96.8669)

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Docks GPS: N 32 17.928, W 96 8.556 (32.2988, -96.1426)

www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: This month we are skipping docks! Fish all docks throughout the lake with 1/4 to 3/8 oz. jigs on 14lb to 20lb line. Skip and flip bait under and around docks and fish super slow.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: South Of Pelican Island GPS: N 32 54.302, W 97 30.237 (32.9050, -97.5040)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps | Crappie: minnows and jigs CONTACT: Carey Thorn

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469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: For bass, throw spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps along the weed lines. Bass fishing is especially good at the dam, by the banks and near the timber under the bridge. Crappie are under the bridge at night this time of year. Minnows and jigs are your best bet right now.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: 1/4 oz. - 3/8 oz. bass jigs CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com

SPECIES: Blue cats BEST BAITS: Cut or whole shad CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnystevens@1scom.net johnnysguideservice.com TIPS: This area is surrounded by two channels— Walnut Creek on the west and the Trinity River on the

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FISHING HOTSPOTS east. Depth is from 4 to 10 ft. The water warms up during the day. The shad will go to the warm water and blue cats will follow. I like to anchor the front and the back of the boat to eliminate sway. I use a Carolina rig with circle hooks. If you don’t get a bite in a short time, move until you find them. In this area they tend to stack up in one spot.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Discharge Point GPS: N 30 38.2679, W 96 3.162 (30.6378, -96.0527)

(32.5760, -97.8216)

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: ¼-oz jig heads with spinners (roadrunners) with 5-inch swimbaits/jerkbaits in blue/ chartreuse CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: Best Tactics: Swim or bounce your jigs across the bottom. Work the bends in the river and look for fish either in the deeper holes and when active on top of flats adjacent to the deeper water.

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut Shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Power Plant is shut down so there is no flow right now. However, water drops off into discharge in deeper water. Look for blue cats in deep water.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: River Sloughs GPS: N 30 39.984, W 97 23.2679 (30.6664, -97.3878)

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LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Dam Area Ledges GPS: N 33 1.9379, W 96 28.7639 (33.0323, -96.4794)

SPECIES: Crappie and White Bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, Road Runners, crankbaits CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: This month is a lot like January except that around the middle of February, the white bass start moving up the creek and river. Fish just like you would during the spawn using moving baits. Crappie also move into the shallow sloughs on warm days and can be caught with slip bobbers fished in two feet of water.

If you get 3 warm nights in a row, try for the shallow crappie. Good luck and good fishing.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Kickapoo Creek GPS: N 32 17.7299, W 95 30.2699 (32.2955, -95.5045)

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Lodge Point GPS: N 33 24.787, W 96 59.658 (33.4131, -96.9943)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Creature baits Texas rigged or Carolina rigged and DD 22s crankbaits CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Is February going to be cold, warm or hot?

I think it’s going to be freezing. In February I would probably be bass fishing the dam using DD 22’s and creature baits along the ledges that run parallel along the dam. These fish could be 3 foot deep or they could be 25 foot. You just have to find their pattern. It could be freezing cold outside and they could be tucked up in some boulders in 4 feet of water. You just never know.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Texas Spinnerbait Company spinnerbaits in chartreuse and white, the famous Shimmy Shakers in Skeeter color, 3/8 oz. Big Eye Jig in black/ blue, Mister Twister Swim Station in black/blue CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: “Bass fishing is now and in the beginning of the spawn. Fish your Big Eye Jig along the creek channels and backwaters around the islands and on the river.

Fish the stumps and any brush you can find in two to four foot. Fish slow for best results.”

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SPECIES: Crappie, white bass BEST BAITS: Minnows, white/chartreuse spinners, white/shad colored crankbaits CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780 TIPS: Winter temperatures are here and the fish are eating! The white bass bite has been consistent and we’ve been catching quality fish. Look for schools of fish stacking up on points and humps close to creek channels in 20-30 feet of water. Diving gulls have been making it easy to find these schools. Slabs off the bottom are working, but this time of year I like using lighter tackle and anchoring down beside the schools and running a bait right through them. I like to throw some kind of jig with a spinner, whether it’s a roadrunner or a Little George-type bait, or just about any shadcolored crankbait. The crappie bite has still been good.

We’re having to cover some water to find schools of better fish, but they are there; we just have to bounce around to find the keepers. Crappie have been on brush piles and bridge pillars in 15-25 feet of water. Jigs are working well, but the quality of fish seem to be better on minnows.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Deer Island GPS: N 30 17.904, W 96 35.3099 (30.2984, -96.5885)

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: River Near Tin Top GPS: N 32 34.559, W 97 49.295

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait/Crawdad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fish the sunny side of the island where the water is warming and the wind is blowing into the island. Use a tight line and cast toward the stumps nearby.

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Road Runner jigs, Sassy Shad jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: “Winter fishing on Lake Texoma is legendary.

Chances of landing trophy striper in February are in your favor. Road Runner 1-ounce white buck tail jigs with a 7-inch soft plastic worm are deadly on the big fish holding structure. Always keep your eyes on the seagulls. Cast your 1-inch white-glo Sassy Shad jigs under the birds where large schools of stripers can be feeding. Multiple hook-ups are common with lots of action in the open water. Bank Access: Sand Point (N 33 51.545, W 96 51.823).”

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Slickem Slough GPS: N 33 51.5339, W 96 52.686 (33.8589, -96.8781)

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LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Big Rocky Creek GPS: N 31 52.794, W 97 23.682 (31.8799, -97.3947)

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SPECIES: Striped bass & white bass BEST BAITS: 3/4 oz. Lead Heads and 4” chartreuse swim baits and jerk baits from www.rsrlures.com, 1/2 oz. Bucktail jigs CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: The stripers are moving back into the creeks like Big and Little Rocky Creeks trapping the bait from the mouth and escaping to the open water. We are using the Lead Head jigs and swim baits and are making long casts behind the boat while using the trolling motor on a slow to med slow speed, dragging

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FISHING HOTSPOTS the baits through the fish. When marking a big school of fish I am stopping the boat and switching to a Lead Head with a Bass Assassin swim bait and dropping the baits down and doing nothing. This is called dead sticking. Wait for the small tap on the line and set the hook. Keep in mind the water is cold and when you think you’re fishing slow enough, slow down some more. On mornings when the bite in the creeks slows down we are heading out to the main lake and using our binoculars, looking for diving birds or flocks of gulls flying low over the water. Using swim baits or 1/2 oz. white Bucktail jigs with 7” snake worm trailers from www.stripersnipertackle.com. Cast toward the birds and let the bait fall down below the baitfish and smaller fish on the surface. Then slow roll them along the bottom catching the larger fish that are laying in wait on the injured bait that the smaller faster fish are injuring and dropping to the bottom. If no bird action then make long casts and slow troll (stroll with trolling motor, and drag the baits behind the boat. Wait for that THUMP and set the hook! It’s a great time to be on Lake Whitney!

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: 309 Flats and Windsock Point

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GPS: N 31 59.3039, W 96 8.4659 (31.9884, -96.1411)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, 1oz. Silver Slabs CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: February can be a really tough month on RC or it can be a month when you catch the trophy fish you’ve always fished for! It all depends on what’s happening with the weather and water temperatures. If we don’t have much of a winter or have an early spring warm up period, the water temps will begin to move into the low 50’s and the fish will turn on! Sassy Shads and 1oz. Silver Slabs fished in 20’-30’ water off the 309 Flats will result in lots of white bass action and the occasional LARGE hybrid striper. Don’t forget the really

deep water (40’ plus) off the end of the Windsock Point. Look for the gulls to help locate the baitfish that the whites are feeding on. Not many fishermen will brave the cold temperatures you usually experience in February, but those that do are often rewarded with the BIGGEST fish of the year!

LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake HOTSPOT: Upper End of Main Lake GPS: N 31 0.174, W 97 38.76 (31.0029, -97.6460)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Redneck Fishin’ Jigs model 180 slab — 3/4 oz. silver/white for vertical work; Reef Runner Cicada, 1/2 oz. Threadfin Shad color for horizontal work CONTACT: Bob Maindelle/Holding the Line Guide Service (254) 368-7411

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com TIPS: Valentine’s Day is typically the date the spring fishing turns on due to increasing temperatures and daylight length. Bird activity should continue to be helpful. Most fishing will take place in the upper end of the lake as fish stage to spawn in the Lampasas River.

806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: “In February I will start looking for bass up the creeks with crankbaits and jigs. If I can’t find the bass up the creeks, I will look for bass on the steep banks at the mouth of any creek using shaky head jigs, crank baits, jigs, and jerk baits. Any of the creeks can be good, but look in the northwest creeks first for they will have the warmest water. Look up Rocky, Gobbler, Ince, Little Grape, and Big Grape. Also the backs of the northwest coves can hold bass. Look for the warmest water. Fish fun and fish safe!”

PANHANDLE

Crappie on Old Mother Hubbard

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Oil Well Slough GPS: N 32 50.735, W 98 27.315 (32.845578, -98.455248)

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 45.7988, W 99 0.6078 (32.7633, -99.0101)

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SPECIES: White bass, stripers BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut shad, crankbaits, jigs, slabs CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: The fish are fat with eggs and looking to dump them up the Brazos River, so any flood run-off will send them upstream. Live bait is always best, but this is a good time of year to troll RatLTraps and crankbaits.

Slabbin’ and jiggin’ also is still hot, and I stick with Mister Twister curly tails on the small and big jigs. If the water turns red from run-off, fish with fresh dead cut shad. This is the time of year the white bass will be as big as they will ever get. Most species will be like that or getting that way now, so beef up your gear or you’ll get busted off.

BIG BEND

Pencil In Some Bass Action

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Pencil Point GPS: N29 36.35118, W100 58.4484

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shaky head jigs, jerk baits, crankbaits.

CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Carolina-rigged worms, jigs, deepdiving crankbaits CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish the under-water ledges and end of the narrow point with a deep-diving crankbait early, slowly working the lure across the end of the point for feeding fish. After the sun rises, work the under-water brush and stumps with Carolina-rigged worms.

HILL COUNTRY

SPECIES: White crappie BEST BAITS: live minnows, worms, and jigs CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Hubbard Creek Reservoir has seen a resurgence of its crappie since catching full. February may provide a great opportunity to catch the early spawning crappie.

Lures such as 1/16-1/8 oz. jigs in white or chartreuse may produce a bite. Live minnows and worms may also serve well as a bait.

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Northwest Main Creeks GPS: N 33 3.3719, W 101 4.248 (33.0562, -101.0708)

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Silver Creek and Paradise Point GPS: N 30 50.5139, W 98 24.942 (30.8419, -98.4157)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass, Hybrid Striper and White Bass BEST BAITS: Large shiner, live perch, 1oz or 1/2 oz. silver or chartreuse slabs, Large Zara Spooks, Pencil Poppers or any other topwater lure that splashes.

CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: The stripers will be on the upper end of the lake around the Silver Creek and Paradise Point area as well as around Shaw and Garret Islands. Watch for feeding seagulls. White bass will be in the river channel. Troll shad colored diving baits.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Upper Main Lake GPS: N 30 49.9739, W 98 25.512 (30.8329, -98.4252)

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SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: Live shad and small perch or slab lures.

CONTACT: Ken Milam’s Guide Service 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com TIPS: White bass will be headed up the river staging for the spring run due to low lake they will be around the Paradise point area. Troll around the trees along the river channel and fish with live shad and small perch as well as slab lures.

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Striper: Live shad |White Bass: 2”-4” shad, white or chartreuse slabs CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: For striper: Fish the upper half of lake drifting or anchored with 4”-6 “ shad on top of ridges and humps. Fish 25’ down in 30’-40’ of water. For White Bass: Fish the upper half of lake drifting or anchored with 2”-4” shad or jigging with white or chartreuse lead slabs on top of ridges and humps near bottom in 25’-35’ of water.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: River Channel GPS: N 29 53.4479, W 98 17.778 (29.8908, -98.2963) u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Paradise Point GPS: N30 51.14778, W98 25.64742 (30.852463, -98.427457)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: 1 oz. KT jigging spoon in white and sliver CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com http://www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: “Fish from the point back to the river channel casting out the spoon and try to maintain a depth of 20 to 40 feet, the Striped Bass and White Bass like to school in this area this time of year, preparing for the spawn run. Tight lines and fish on!”

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Potters Creek Park GPS: N 29 54.1739, W 98 16.134 (29.9029, -98.2689)

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SPECIES: Stripers and White Bass BEST BAITS: 1 oz. red jigging spoon CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Fish from the point back to the swim beach casting out the spoon and try to maintain a depth of 20 to 40 feet, the Striped Bass and White Bass like to school in this area this time of year.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Jacob’s Creek Area GPS: N 29 53.778, W 98 13.3739 (29.8963, -98.2229)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Hard plastic jerk baits, soft plastic jerk baits, slow rolling spinnerbaits, lipless and square bill crankbaits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: This area offers protection from the north wind and receives lots of sunshine to warm the water. There is no vegetation but there are stick-ups and this area

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FISHING HOTSPOTS has deep water not far away. Because this area has a lot of shallower water, it’s a good area to throw the suggested baits above.

SOUTH TEXAS

Coleto Powers Through Winter

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 28 43.4879, W 97 11.328 (28.7248, -97.1888)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Zoom pearl white or watermelon fluke using a 4/0 worm hook rigged weedless and weightless, 7” Zoom watermelon lizards, small Colorado blade spinnerbaits CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: As I said in my last report, Coleto being a power plant lake means water temperatures are warmer in winter months. This means fish have to feed more through the cold season. On bright sunny days I like throwing my weightless fluke around grass (hydrilla) in 4-8 foot of water. Let it sink real slow. Now wait for line to start moving. Pull back to feel weight then set the hook. I do the same with 7” Zoom watermelon lizards, dipped slightly in chartreuse. Don’t discount small Colorado blade spinnerbaits . Slow roll them along shallow water stumps lay downs or shallow grass edges. You’re sure to pick up some good hits with these tips. Good fishing and good luck.

LOCATION: Lake Falcon HOTSPOT: Little Tiger Creek GPS: N 26 53.112, W 99 15.5099 (26.8852, -99.2585)

TexasOutdoorNation-1802-Dig.indd 71

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: “War eagle spinnerbaits — Screaming Eagle in Gold Shiner color.

CONTACT: Jim Behnken 210-414-8048 jimbehnken@hotmail.com www.fishlakefalcon.com TIPS: Place your boat in the creek channel and vary your casts from the center of the channel up onto the edges of the creek channel. Slowroll the spinner bait making as much contact with underwater bushes and trees as possible. Occasionally flutter the bait to attract bites.

«

1/15/18 2:34 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

MONDAY

29

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

8:04 AM 4:27 PM 9:04 PM

-0.99 ft.

1.14 ft.

0.91 ft.

10:00P — 12:00A

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 4:10p AM Minor: 2:48a PM Minor: 3:19p

Set: 5:53p Set: 5:15a AM Major: 9:04a PM Major: 9:35p

30 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 11:14p Moon Underfoot: 10:42a

FEET

PRIME TIME 12:36 AM 8:57 AM 5:07 PM 9:43 PM

1.00 ft.

-1.05 ft.

1.13 ft.

0.84 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 5:16p AM Minor: 3:46a PM Minor: 4:17p

Set: 5:54p Set: 6:16a AM Major: 10:01a PM Major: 10:32p

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:45a

FEET

2«

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

WEDNESDAY

31 «

PRIME TIME

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

1:47 AM 9:48 AM 5:44 PM 10:25 PM

1.02 ft.

-1.02 ft.

1.08 ft.

0.73 ft.

11:00P — 1:00A

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 6:24p AM Minor: 4:45a PM Minor: 5:16p

Set: 5:55p Set: 7:11a AM Major: 11:00a PM Major: 11:31p

Moon Overhead: 12:16a Moon Underfoot: 12:46p

FEET

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Feb 1 l High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:56 AM 10:38 AM 6:18 PM 11:11 PM

PRIME TIME 0.99 ft.

-0.89 ft.

1.00 ft.

0.58 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 7:31p AM Minor: 5:46a PM Minor: 6:15p

Set: 5:56p Set: 8:01a AM Major: ----PM Major: 12:00p

Moon Overhead: 1:15a Moon Underfoot: 1:44p

FEET

4

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

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

72

6a

|

9a

12p

F E B R U A R Y

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6p

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T E X A S

12a 12a

F I S H

3a

&

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

G A M E ®

1/15/18 2:34 PM

FRIDAY

4p 6a : 10:01a : 10:32p

2«

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:05 AM 11:25 AM 6:50 PM

0.93 ft.

-0.69 ft.

0.92 ft.

1:00 — 3:00 AM

SATURDAY Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 8:36p AM Minor: 6:46a PM Minor: 7:13p

Set: 5:57p Set: 8:46a AM Major: 12:33a PM Major: 1:00p

Moon Overhead: 2:12a Moon Underfoot: 2:38p

FEET

3«

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

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

12:02 AM 5:16 AM 12:12 PM 7:21 PM

0.42 ft.

0.83 ft.

-0.44 ft.

0.85 ft.

2:00 — 4:00 AM

9p

12a 12a

3a

Set: 5:58p Set: 9:27a AM Major: 1:32a PM Major: 1:58p

Moon Overhead: 3:04a Moon Underfoot: 3:29p

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: 9:37p AM Minor: 7:45a PM Minor: 8:10p

PRIME TIME

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a

SUNDAY

6p 1a : ----: 12:00p

4

PRIME TIME

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

12:58 AM 6:34 AM 12:57 PM 7:49 PM

0.26 ft.

0.73 ft.

-0.15 ft.

0.78 ft.

3:00 — 5:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: 10:36p AM Minor: 8:41a PM Minor: 9:05p

Set: 5:58p Set: 10:05a AM Major: 2:29a PM Major: 2:53p

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

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead: 3:54a Moon Underfoot: 4:18p

FEET

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon

0

º

= First Quarter

l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

«= Good Day by Moon Phase 12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-1802-Dig.indd 73

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12a

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1/15/18 2:34 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

MONDAY

5

PRIME TIME

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

1:59 AM 8:03 AM 1:43 PM 8:16 PM

0.10 ft.

0.64 ft.

0.13 ft.

0.74 ft.

3:00 — 5:00 AM

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 7:05a Moonrise: 11:33p AM Minor: 9:34a PM Minor: 9:57p

Set: 5:59p Set: 10:41a AM Major: 3:22a PM Major: 3:46p

Moon Overhead: 4:41a Moon Underfoot: 5:05p

FEET

6

PRIME TIME

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

3:04 AM 9:45 AM 2:32 PM 8:41 PM

-0.04 ft.

0.61 ft.

0.38 ft.

0.71 ft.

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 7:04a Moonrise: None AM Minor: 10:24a PM Minor: 10:47p

Set: 6:00p Set: 11:17a AM Major: 4:12a PM Major: 4:35p

9

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

Moon Overhead: 5:28a Moon Underfoot: 5:50p

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

12a 12a

9p

3a

6a

9a

WEDNESDAY

7»

PRIME TIME

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

4:10 AM 11:46 AM 3:49 PM 9:05 PM

-0.16 ft.

0.65 ft.

0.59 ft.

0.71 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:04a Moonrise: 12:29a AM Minor: 11:11a PM Minor: 11:34p

Set: 6:01p Set: 11:54a AM Major: 4:59a PM Major: 5:22p

Moon Overhead: 6:13a Moon Underfoot: 6:36p

FEET

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

8

PRIME TIME

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

5:12 AM 1:57 PM 7:06 PM 9:29 PM

-0.26 ft.

0.76 ft.

0.70 ft.

0.73 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:03a Moonrise: 1:23a AM Minor: 11:56a PM Minor: -----

Set: 6:02p Set: 12:32p AM Major: 5:44a PM Major: 6:07p

11

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

Moon Overhead: 6:59a Moon Underfoot: 7:22p

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

74

6a

|

9a

12p

F E B R U A R Y

TexasOutdoorNation-1802-Dig.indd 74

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6p

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9p

T E X A S

12a 12a

F I S H

3a

&

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

G A M E ®

1/15/18 2:34 PM

0p 17a : 4:12a : 4:35p

2p 32p : 5:44a : 6:07p

FRIDAY

9

PRIME TIME

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

6:08 AM 3:12 PM 8:44 PM 10:01 PM

-0.35 ft.

0.85 ft.

0.75 ft.

0.75 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 AM

SATURDAY Sunrise: 7:02a Moonrise: 2:16a AM Minor: 12:16a PM Minor: 12:39p

Set: 6:03p Set: 1:12p AM Major: 6:28a PM Major: 6:51p

10

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

Moon Overhead: 7:45a Moon Underfoot: 8:08p

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

6:57 AM 3:48 PM 9:22 PM 10:56 PM

-0.41 ft.

0.91 ft.

0.78 ft.

0.79 ft.

1:30 — 3:30 AM

9p

12a 12a

3a

Set: 6:03p Set: 1:55p AM Major: 7:10a PM Major: 7:34p

Moon Overhead: 8:32a Moon Underfoot: 8:56p

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 3:07a AM Minor: 12:59a PM Minor: 1:22p

PRIME TIME

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a

SUNDAY

11

PRIME TIME

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

7:40 AM 4:11 PM 9:31 PM 11:55 PM

-0.45 ft.

0.93 ft.

0.80 ft.

0.83 ft.

2:30 — 4:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 3:57a AM Minor: 1:41a PM Minor: 2:05p

Set: 6:04p Set: 2:42p AM Major: 7:53a PM Major: 8:17p

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

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead: 9:20a Moon Underfoot: 9:44p

FEET

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon

0

º

= First Quarter

l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

«= Good Day by Moon Phase 12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

T E X A S

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1/15/18 2:34 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

MONDAY

12

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

8:18 AM 4:29 PM 9:26 PM

-0.47 ft.

0.94 ft.

0.80 ft.

11:00A — 1:00P

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 7:00a Moonrise: 4:45a AM Minor: 2:24a PM Minor: 2:48p

Set: 6:05p Set: 3:31p AM Major: 8:36a PM Major: 9:00p

13 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 10:08a Moon Underfoot: 10:32p

FEET

PRIME TIME 12:49 AM 8:51 AM 4:48 PM 9:23 PM

0.87 ft.

-0.48 ft.

0.94 ft.

0.77 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:59a Moonrise: 5:30a AM Minor: 3:07a PM Minor: 3:31p

Set: 6:06p Set: 4:23p AM Major: 9:19a PM Major: 9:43p

16 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 10:56a Moon Underfoot: 11:20p

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

WEDNESDAY

14 «

PRIME TIME

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

1:37 AM 9:23 AM 5:08 PM 9:38 PM

0.91 ft.

-0.46 ft.

0.94 ft.

0.72 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:58a Moonrise: 6:14a AM Minor: 3:52a PM Minor: 4:16p

Set: 6:07p Set: 5:17p AM Major: 10:04a PM Major: 10:28p

Moon Overhead: 11:44a Moon Underfoot: None

FEET

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

15 l High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

PRIME TIME 2:22 AM 9:53 AM 5:30 PM 10:05 PM

0.92 ft.

-0.42 ft.

0.94 ft.

0.66 ft.

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:57a Moonrise: 6:54a AM Minor: 4:38a PM Minor: 5:01p

Set: 6:07p Set: 6:11p AM Major: 10:49a PM Major: 11:13p

Moon Overhead: 12:31p Moon Underfoot: 12:08a

FEET

18

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

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

76

6a

|

9a

12p

F E B R U A R Y

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6p

|

9p

T E X A S

12a 12a

F I S H

3a

&

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

G A M E ®

1/15/18 2:34 PM

FRIDAY

6p 3p : 9:19a : 9:43p

16 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

PRIME TIME 3:07 AM 10:23 AM 5:53 PM 10:37 PM

0.92 ft.

-0.36 ft.

0.93 ft.

0.58 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 PM

SATURDAY Sunrise: 6:56a Moonrise: 7:33a AM Minor: 5:25a PM Minor: 5:48p

Set: 6:08p Set: 7:07p AM Major: 11:09a PM Major: -----

Moon Overhead: 1:17p Moon Underfoot: 12:54a

FEET

17 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

3:55 AM 10:53 AM 6:16 PM 11:13 PM

0.89 ft.

-0.26 ft.

0.91 ft.

0.48 ft.

1:00 — 3:00 PM

9p

12a 12a

3a

Set: 6:09p Set: 8:02p AM Major: 12:02a PM Major: 12:25p

Moon Overhead: 2:03p Moon Underfoot: 1:40a

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:56a Moonrise: 8:09a AM Minor: 6:13a PM Minor: 6:36p

PRIME TIME

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a

SUNDAY

7p 1p : 10:49a : 11:13p

18

PRIME TIME

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

4:48 AM 11:26 AM 6:36 PM 11:53 PM

0.86 ft.

-0.12 ft.

0.88 ft.

0.35 ft.

2:00 — 4:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:55a Moonrise: 8:44a AM Minor: 7:03a PM Minor: 7:26p

Set: 6:10p Set: 8:58p AM Major: 12:52a PM Major: 1:14p

Moon Overhead: 2:49p Moon Underfoot: 2:26a

FEET

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

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon

0

º

= First Quarter

l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

«= Good Day by Moon Phase 12a 12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-1802-Dig.indd 77

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1/15/18 2:34 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

MONDAY

19

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:52 AM 12:01 PM 6:53 PM

0.81 ft.

0.06 ft.

0.84 ft.

2:30 — 4:30 PM

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:54a Moonrise: 9:20a AM Minor: 7:54a PM Minor: 8:17p

Set: 6:11p Set: 9:55p AM Major: 1:43a PM Major: 2:06p

Moon Overhead: 3:35p Moon Underfoot: 3:12a

FEET

20

PRIME TIME

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

12:38 AM 7:10 AM 12:38 PM 7:05 PM

0.21 ft.

0.78 ft.

0.27 ft.

0.82 ft.

3:30 — 5:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:53a Moonrise: 9:56a AM Minor: 8:46a PM Minor: 9:10p

Set: 6:11p Set: 10:53p AM Major: 2:35a PM Major: 2:58p

23

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

Moon Overhead: 4:22p Moon Underfoot: 3:58a

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

12a 12a

9p

3a

6a

9a

WEDNESDAY

21

PRIME TIME

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

1:29 AM 8:47 AM 1:20 PM 7:10 PM

0.05 ft.

0.77 ft.

0.49 ft.

0.83 ft.

4:00 — 6:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:52a Moonrise: 10:34a AM Minor: 9:40a PM Minor: 10:04p

Set: 6:12p Set: 11:54p AM Major: 3:27a PM Major: 3:52p

Moon Overhead: 5:11p Moon Underfoot: 4:46a

FEET

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

22 º

PRIME TIME

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

2:28 AM 10:37 AM 2:09 PM 7:06 PM

-0.12 ft.

0.83 ft.

0.71 ft.

0.87 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:51a Moonrise: 11:16a AM Minor: 10:34a PM Minor: 11:00p

Set: 6:13p Set: None AM Major: 4:21a PM Major: 4:47p

25

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

Moon Overhead: 6:04p Moon Underfoot: 5:37a

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

78

6a

|

9a

12p

F E B R U A R Y

TexasOutdoorNation-1802-Dig.indd 78

3p 2 0 1 8

6p

|

9p

T E X A S

12a 12a

F I S H

3a

&

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

G A M E ®

1/15/18 2:34 PM

1p 53p : 2:35a : 2:58p

3p e : 4:21a : 4:47p

FRIDAY

23

PRIME TIME

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

3:35 AM 12:27 PM 3:25 PM 6:48 PM

-0.28 ft.

0.95 ft.

0.90 ft.

0.93 ft.

11:30P — 1:30A

SATURDAY Sunrise: 6:50a Moonrise: 12:03p AM Minor: 11:29a PM Minor: 11:57p

Set: 6:14p Set: 12:56a AM Major: 5:15a PM Major: 5:43p

24

Low Tide: High Tide:

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

3a

6a

9a

12p

-0.44 ft.

1.07 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 AM

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

Set: 6:14p Set: 1:59a AM Major: 6:10a PM Major: 6:39p

Moon Overhead: 7:58p Moon Underfoot: 7:28a

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

4:46 AM 1:51 PM

Moon Overhead: 6:59p Moon Underfoot: 6:31a

FEET

Sunrise: 6:49a Moonrise: 12:56p AM Minor: 12:00a PM Minor: 12:24p

PRIME TIME

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

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SUNDAY

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

5:55 AM 2:44 PM 8:58 PM 9:23 PM

-0.57 ft.

1.16 ft.

1.00 ft.

1.00 ft.

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:48a Moonrise: 1:54p AM Minor: 12:49a PM Minor: 1:19p

Set: 6:15p Set: 3:01a AM Major: 7:04a PM Major: 7:34p

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

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead: 8:58p Moon Underfoot: 8:28a

FEET

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

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l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

MONDAY

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PRIME TIME

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

6:58 AM 3:23 PM 8:27 PM 11:42 PM

-0.67 ft.

1.19 ft.

0.96 ft.

1.03 ft.

2:00 — 4:00 AM

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:47a Moonrise: 2:57p AM Minor: 1:43a PM Minor: 2:14p

Set: 6:16p Set: 4:01a AM Major: 7:59a PM Major: 8:29p

27

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

Moon Overhead: 9:59p Moon Underfoot: 9:28a

FEET

PRIME TIME 7:56 AM 3:57 PM 8:48 PM

-0.71 ft.

1.17 ft.

0.87 ft.

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 6:46a Moonrise: 4:03p AM Minor: 2:38a PM Minor: 3:08p

Set: 6:16p Set: 4:57a AM Major: 8:53a PM Major: 9:23p

2l

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

Moon Overhead: 10:58p Moon Underfoot: 10:29a

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

0

0

12a

3a

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

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12a 12a

3a

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WEDNESDAY

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PRIME TIME

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

1:06 AM 8:50 AM 4:27 PM 9:20 PM

1.08 ft.

-0.67 ft.

1.12 ft.

0.73 ft.

4:30 — 6:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:45a Moonrise: 5:10p AM Minor: 3:32a PM Minor: 4:01p

Set: 6:17p Set: 5:49a AM Major: 9:46a PM Major: 10:15p

Moon Overhead: 11:56p Moon Underfoot: 11:27a

FEET

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Mar 1 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:18 AM 9:40 AM 4:55 PM 9:57 PM

PRIME TIME 1.11 ft.

-0.55 ft.

1.06 ft.

0.56 ft.

11:00P — 1:00A

Sunrise: 6:44a Moonrise: 6:15p AM Minor: 4:26a PM Minor: 4:53p

Set: 6:18p Set: 6:36a AM Major: 10:40a PM Major: 11:07p

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:23p

FEET

4« Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

+1.0

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FRIDAY

6p 7a : 8:53a : 9:23p

2l

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:05 AM 11:25 AM 6:50 PM

0.93 ft.

-0.69 ft.

0.92 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 AM

SATURDAY Sunrise: 6:43a Moonrise: 7:19p AM Minor: 5:20a PM Minor: 5:46p

Set: 6:18p Set: 7:19a AM Major: 11:33a PM Major: -----

Moon Overhead: 12:50a Moon Underfoot: 1:16p

FEET

3« Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

+3.0

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+2.0

+1.0

+1.0

0

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12:02 AM 5:16 AM 12:12 PM 7:21 PM

0.42 ft.

0.83 ft.

-0.44 ft.

0.85 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 AM

9p

12a 12a

3a

Set: 6:19p Set: 7:58a AM Major: 12:02a PM Major: 12:27p

Moon Overhead: 1:41a Moon Underfoot: 2:06p

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:42a Moonrise: 8:20p AM Minor: 6:14a PM Minor: 6:39p

PRIME TIME

6a

9a

12p

3p

6p

9p

12a

SUNDAY

8p 6a : 10:40a : 11:07p

4«

PRIME TIME

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

12:58 AM 6:34 AM 12:57 PM 7:49 PM

0.26 ft.

0.73 ft.

-0.15 ft.

0.78 ft.

1:30 — 3:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:41a Moonrise: 9:19p AM Minor: 7:08a PM Minor: 7:32p

Set: 6:20p Set: 8:36a AM Major: 12:56a PM Major: 1:20p

Moon Overhead: 2:31a Moon Underfoot: 2:55p

FEET

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

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon

0

º

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l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

«= Good Day by Moon Phase 12a 12a

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Industry INSIDER Investing in Texas

ation of multiple factors, both by the lender and the buyer. As the marketplace evolves, its becomes increasingly important to identify short- and long-term strategies for maximizing your investment. One example, according to Riff, is finding added value in areas often overlooked. “In our state, we’re very versed in water rights,” Riff said. “Understanding that niche is critical to adding value to our borrowers, as well as understanding how to monetize those water rights when it’s necessary or how to protect those water rights. We help our bor-

THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL about having a piece of the Texas countryside to call your own. At Capital Farm Credit, they understand that purchasing land is more than just buying acreage — it’s an investment in your future. Whether you’re looking for a weekend escape to forge lasting memories with family and friends, expanding an existing operation or diversifying your holdings, your land is an extension of yourself. And finding the perfect place for yourself is easier with the right partner.

Experience Matters As a cooperative, Capital Farm Credit is owned by the customers they serve. Each and every customer has a seat at the table — and better yet, shares the earnings. Brett Riff, a senior branch manager with Capital Farm Credit’s Hondo Credit Office, says this relationship between banker and customer is unique to the industry.

“Ag and land financing are our sole focus and primary to our success as well as our customers’ success,” Riff said. “We’ve developed a team of very knowledgeable lending associates and team members, and we’re able to do a number of things that add value beyond the interest rate — whether that’s assisting with long- and short-term strategy or creating a custom, tailored set of terms that complement the borrower’s objectives.”

Working with them means you don’t just get a lender or a loan to be underwritten, you get a partnership for the long haul; one that’s reciprocal and serves only your best interest.

“If you borrow from us, I’m coming along, for better or worse,” Riff added.

rowers walk that line and understand the value in changing water rights from a static asset to a transferrable asset.”

Staying Ahead of the Curve The demand for Texas real estate is as high as ever. After all, they’re not making more of it. Market factors over the years, however, have started to reshape the current landscape and given way to new trends in the marketplace. “When you move closer to urban areas, there’s definitely pressure as far as demand, and it’s resulting in the fragmentation of larger ranches. We’re seeing smaller parcels

Finding an Edge in the Market Purchasing land, whether for recreational or business purposes, requires the consider82

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the closer you get to metropolitan areas,” Riff said. “We’re also seeing premiums paid for live water. In aesthetic areas, such as Texas Hill Country, water is king. It will always be king.”

Location, Location, Location As with any big purchase, it’s natural to feel a sense of trepidation or hesitancy. It’s a big investment, and it should be approached with knowledge and due diligence. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a real estate novice, having the right team in your corner can ease the process and give you peace of mind.

“Find that person that can help you make those critical decisions, identify the right opportunities and help you circumvent potential mistakes,” Riff said. “Build an advisory team that can improve your property every step of the way.” Capital Farm Credit’s team of experienced advisors can help you navigate the process when you’re ready to buy. With more than 66 locations across the state, our Texas roots run deep, and we understand that each area of the state has its own peculiarities that present different opportunities and make it unique. From the Coastal Plains all the way to the Panhandle, we’ll be there to work with you, side by side. “We want you to walk away knowing that you’re in control and have a hand in this,” Riff said. “We want you to know that this is tailored for you, so you’re comfortable making your choices.”

The process starts with a simple conversation. If you’re interested in talking with their advisory team, stop by your local branch, visit their website or call (877) 944-5500.

« PHOTO: CAPITAL FARM CREDIT

1/12/18 11:57 AM

Fish and Game GEAR Wolverine X4 YAMAHA INTRODUCED THE ALLnew four-passenger Wolverine X4™ Side-bySide (SxS) vehicle, providing superior Capability, Comfort and Confidence to deliver performancethat is truly Proven Off-Road.

The all-new Wolverine X4 delivers superior handling, especially on tight, technical trails, combined with legendary Real World Tough Yamaha durability and reliability.

Smooth, quiet power comes from an all-new 847-cc twin cylinder engine while a compact, nimble chassis cradles the most versatile cab in its class with industry-exclusive stow-away full-size rear seats for expanded cargo capacity on demand.

Yamaha Real World Tech driver-centric features include On-Command four-wheel drive (4WD), ultra-reliable Ultramatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and industry-leading, speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering (EPS). Advanced self-leveling rear shocks provide a plush ride, as well as help maintain optimized ground clearance based on the terrain and cargo. And built for all weather situations, the Wolverine X4 is also the only four-seat SxS to feature a true full hard cab option available direct from the manufacturer.

“The Wolverine X4 sets a new standard in recreational off-roading, combining Yamaha’s industry-leading durability and reliability with proven off-road capability in a quiet, compact and nimble four-seat Side-by-Side chassis,” said Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s ATV & SxS group vice president. “Yamaha designs, engineers, manufactures and tests its ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles in the real world, allowing Wolverine X4 owners to confidently realize their off-road adventures with family and friends.”

All combined, the Yamaha Wolverine X4 is the most off-road Capable, Comfortable and Confidence-inspiring four-seat trail exploring SxS.

built, fishing shoe ever created.

It’s called “Attack” for a reason and brings pure performance features for the serious fisherman who needs equipment as serious as they are. Unique traction, bullet-proof durability, all day comfort and support - Huk Attack footwear delivers innovation from the top to bottom.

JP Signature Lures

Huk New Footwear Line HUK PERFORMANCE FISHING HAS once again set the bar high in performance fishing apparel with its launch of innovative footwear lines and welcomes all attendees of the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) show to visit booths 1100/1101 to see first-hand the new collection.

The Huk Attack shoe, style #H8011000, retails for $84.99. Available in sizes: 7-12, 13.

It is the most engineered, purpose-

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JP SIGNATURE LURES IS A SMALL company that hand crafts each bait one at a time. These balsa crank baits are made with the anglers personal wants, needs, and desires incorporated into every bait. From size, weight, depth, color and action, each bait is Taylor made just for you, the angler! Balsa has a very unique buoyancy that gives the bait a more realistic action, and with over 15 dif-

Standard Wolverine X4 color options include Graphite (MSRP $15,999), Yamaha Blue with overfenders and cast aluminum wheels (MSRP $16,499), and Realtree Xtra camo with overfenders and cast aluminum wheels (MSRP $16,899). Donning overfenders, painted bodywork, color-matched interior and shock springs, and cast aluminum wheels, Special Edition (SE) models are available in Matte Silver and Matte Carbon (MSRP $17,249).

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ferent styles of baits, JP Signature Lures can cover almost any situation. These baits come with a continuous wire tie system that runs throughout the entire bait. This feature allows you to winch in your catch without worry of pulling out a conventional line tie stud. JP Signature Lures are 100% custom made baits that won’t break the bank. With lures prices ranging from $13 to $50, JP has something for everyone. Please look us up on Facebook at JP Signature Lures. Go custom, and go catching!

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1/8/18 10:01 AM

Texas TASTED

by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Gumbo

2 tsp. black pepper 2 tsp. white pepper 2 Tbs. Texas Gourmet Sidewinder Searing Spice 3 bay leaves 1 tsp. thyme leaves 2 16-oz. cans stewed tomatoes, chopped filé gumbo powder

G

UMBO IS PROBABLY MY all-time favorite recipe. I have had the good fortune of being in the company of some great Louisiana cooks and a chef or two that have helped develop my gumbo over the years. The recipes below detail a seafood gumbo and a chicken and sausage gumbo, and I have poured all of my love into them both.

Gumbo can be made with a variety of meats and vegetables. My two favorites are Seafood Gumbo and Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. The seafood variety is delicious, but can be expensive depending on your choice of ingredients.

For those who don’t care for seafood, or want something less expensive and just as delicious, the chicken and sausage gumbo is a hit.

Making gumbo is not for the fast food cook, as it takes time to prepare the vegetables, stock, and roux. If you can prepare them ahead of time, the process will be cut down to about one hour.

The base for the rich and wholesome flavor of gumbo begins with a good stock. Shortcuts can be taken with canned broth or bullion, but I allow at least two to three hours.

When making a large batch of stock, I strain the liquid, cool it down, then freeze it in containers large enough for a soup for later.

The roux is the base for the texture and flavor of the gumbo. It will require your undivided attention, so clear the kitchen. Get a good large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven, a long spatula that can get into the corners of the skillet or pan, and all of your patience.

Chicken Stock 2 chickens (whole) with giblets 2 lbs. raw link sausage (if using smoked sausage, boil for 20 minutes before adding) 1 onion, quartered 2 carrots cut in big chunks 3 stalks celery, chopped coarse with leaves 4 garlic cloves, peeled 1/2 tsp. black peppercorns pinch of salt 5 bay leaves In a stockpot, add enough water to cover the chicken by about two to three inches, then add the rest of the ingredients.

Boil for 30 minutes, then cover and cook at medium heat until the meat falls off of the bone.

Remove the chicken and continue cooking the remaining liquid for two more hours to reduce it by about 1/3. Strain through a fine colander.

Seafood Stock This stock can be made using shrimp shells and/or fish bones and head, using the same method and base ingredients as the chicken stock (minus the chicken).

Roux Start with equal parts oil and flour. Use light olive oil because of its high flash point, about 3/4 cup of each over a medium fire, and stir with your spatula or roux spoon every 10 to 15 seconds.

With each stirring (careful--it’s very hot) you will start to notice the mixture browning as you stir. It should brown very slowly; if it browns too quickly, it will burn, and you will notice black chunks. If this happens, you have to start over.

When the roux is about the color of caramel, I like to add a stick of butter. As the roux darkens, you need to gradually lower your fire.

Ingredients:

(for both varieties) 3/4 cup flour 3/4 cup light olive oil 1 stick salted butter 2 large onions, chopped 4 ribs celery, chopped 2-3 green onions, chopped 3 cups okra, cut into 1/2-inch-thick pieces 3 cloves garlic, chopped 3 large tomatoes, chopped 3 cubes chicken bullion

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You can store the roux in the refrigerator for two weeks or longer to use later in stocks, sauces, or gumbo. I like to have a pot of stock waiting right by the roux because when the color is right, I add a couple ladles of stock to slightly cool the roux, then add the chopped vegetables (except the okra).

Increase the fire slightly, adding more stock as needed to be able to stir the mixture, and cook this for 45 minutes to an hour to caramelize the vegetables. This mixture will have a beautiful chocolate brown color and a nutty smell to it.

Now add the roux and vegetable mixture to the pot of reserved stock over medium heat, stirring well to combine. Then add your chicken or seafood and other favorite gumbo ingredients.

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo 2 chickens, whole (cooked down in the stock, cooled, and the meat picked carefully from the bone and hand shredded; you can substitute 6 bone-in breasts if you like only white meat).

2-3 lbs. Andouille (Cajun) sausage; boiled 20 minutes then sliced in 1/4-inch slices; add to gumbo. You can substitute venison (if using smoked sausage, boil for 20 minutes to remove heavy smoke taste; too much smoke flavor adversely affects flavor); add remaining ingredients for the gumbo.

Seafood Gumbo (Serves 10-12) 5 lbs. shrimp 2 lbs. crabmeat 1 lb. bay scallops 1-quart oysters with juice I always add my seafood last after all the vegetables, roux, and stock have cooked together for about an hour or two. After adding the seafood, boil the gumbo for about 15-20 minutes, then reduce to a low simmer until ready to serve.

Serve over rice and sprinkle on a little bit of green onion and filé gumbo powder.

For more recipes and seasoning products, see www. thetexasgourmet.com.

«

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

G A M E ®

1/8/18 10:08 AM

Outdoor DIRECTORY Guides & Outfitters

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Lodging

Destinations

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Real Estate :: Gear

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LAKE AMISTAD

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HUNTING SOUTH TEXAS

DFW METROPLEX MID TEXAS COAST

NEW 2018 EDITION LAKE LIVINGSTON

TEXAS STRONG

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The BASS University

by PETE ROBBINS :: for TF&G and Bass University

How ‘Boom Boom’ Tackles February in Texas

W

HEN BASS START TO Roumbanis said that the fish he finds in ditches move into spawning areas and drains when it’s cold in the morning, may throughout the Lone Star move themselves up to the bordering flats in State, you can usually find the afternoon as it warms up. When they’re Bass University instructor Fred “Boom down in the draws, the key is to retrieve the lure slowly with an eye toward the topography.

Boom” Roumbanis slinging a swimbait.

“What I’m trying to do is keep the bait right Although a red Rat-L-Trap is legendary for Texas bass in February, and a Chatterbait has in that ditch zone. It’s really just a staging area,” made a run at the title over the last decade, he said.

His current favorite lure for this time of year Roumbanis knows that any time there’s at least a couple of feet of visibility a swimbait is the is his namesake Boom Boom swimbait from tool for tracking down larger-than-average fish. Optimum, both the six-inch standard size and Roumbanis says this fact dates back to the the 4 ½ inch “baby.” It’s an improved version first Elite Series event on Amistad, in which he of a discontinued Bass Pro Shops swimbait finished second with more than 101 pounds that Fred, Takahiro Omori and Steve Kennedy of bass. This applies whether it’s south Texas, used to win hundreds of thousands of dollars north Texas or east Texas, or anywhere in over the years.

One advantage of this lure is that it comes between. in both a rigged version with a treble hook “It’s still a little early on some lakes, but they’ll still relate to the drains,” on the belly and a weedless model that fits said the two-time Bassmaster an Owner 6/0 or 8/0 swimbait hook perwinner. “Look at any pocket or fectly. On Sam Rayburn a few years go any creek on your GPS. Find Roumbanis found the water clarity to the blue lines and follow those. be on the verge of being too dingy for Sometimes they lead to running this presentation, but the fish still water and other times they wanted it when they could find it. completely dead end. I’ll usuHe used an Owner ally start somewhere off Flashy Swimmer—a of a secondary point swimbait hook and work my way with a trailback. At some ing willowleaf point there will blade—and be a section that increased where they will his catch ratio be piled up.” substantially.

While those Lately, he’s bass are travelbeen relying ing to spawning heavily on a grounds, don’t swimbait expect them to hook from be in the same Hayabusa Boom Boom Roumbanis places all day. that |

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features a fluorine coating which helps the hook to penetrate both the plastic and the mouth of the fish.

Often, he’ll also add a paste-type scent to enhance the attraction to following fish.

Indeed, this lure attracts a lot of followers, and converting them to eaters can be tough.

Roumbanis said that’s why he often hesitates in the middle of his slow roll: “Kill it, let it go back down, and they’ll come up and eat it.”

Regardless of which version he’s fishing, he employs the same rod, an IRod Air 754, a 7 foot 5 inch heavy rod that he also uses for frog fishing. Many other heavy action rods in this class are “too stiff and too rigid” to allow the fish to get the whole bait in their mouth, but this one has a sufficiently soft tip to get the job done.

Most of the time, he said that 20 pound fluorocarbon gets the call, because it’s strong enough to handle big clear water bass, but also allows the lure to get maximum thump. It also has sufficient abrasion resistance to stand up to the bushes and pole timber from behind which bass will dart out and engulf his lure. In thick grass, though, he’ll upsize to 50-pound braid.

Of course the key is to match your lure to the forage present in the lake you’re fishing, but if you’re looking to start out with a representative sample, Roumbanis said his favorite is PB Shad (light belly, purple back, gold tones), closely followed by Ghost Minnow and Hitch.

Indeed, this is a fairly simple presentation.

The largest hurdle—even for anglers in the Lone Star State used to catching monster bass—may be getting overwhelmed by the sheer bulk of the lure.

“Don’t be overwhelmed by its size,” Roumbanis cautioned. “When you think about it, it’s no bigger than a six-inch Senkos. Once you overcome that fear, and you combine it with the fact that you know the big females are moving into their pre-spawn areas, it’s obvious that this is a prime time way to get your arm ripped off.”

«

Email Pete Robbins at ContactUs@fishgame.com PHOTO COURTESY OPTIMUM BAITS

1/12/18 10:19 AM

Open SEASON

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM :: TF&G Humor Editor

Hard of Hearing

C

HILLY RAIN SLAPPED THE windows of Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café. The sound evolved into sharp cracks, and the Hunting Club members in the round corner booth ogled in all directions to look out, reminding me of baby birds in a nest.

“Hail.” Doc turned back to his coffee.

“Y’all watch your language over there!” Doreen flapped a stained dishcloth in our direction. “You know I don’t put up with no cussin’!”

Woodrow sighed. “You’re losing your hearing, girl.”

“What!!!???”

Jerry Wayne adjusted the volume of the hearing aid in his right ear. “That cracking sound goes right through my head,” he said.

“The cracking sound of what?” Woodrow looked up from his newspaper and shook it. He’s the only one who still reads a physical paper.

“The hail,” I replied, shaking a few grains of salt into Doreen’s unusually strong coffee.

“I said y’all quit talking ugly, or I’ll kick you out.”

Doc raised his voice. “It’s hailing!”

The door flew open and Delbert P. Axelrod rushed inside like a linebacker, clutching something in his shirt. He dodged around tables full of customers, spraying water like a sprinkler.

“I’m on deadline!”

Several large drops splashed into Harlan Conway’s coffee cup and he absently stirred it in, trying to avoid his wife’s incessant conversation.

I wondered if he’d turned his own hearing aids all the way off.

Harlan once joined us at our booth while Miss Clara was talking. She never stopped, thinking he and the boys were interested in what she was saying.

At one point in her dialogue, she insisted that she’d taken over most of the household duties because Earl was deaf and couldn’t understand her orders.

Harlan caught my eye and winked, and I knew the old boy was just fine. His hearing loss was noth-

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tapped the screen. It was time to change the subject before I throttled Delbert.

“You guys realize that at the end of this month we don’t have anything to hunt until spring turkey season.”

Wrong Willie shook his head. “We can go down to South Texas for the tail end of goose season.”

“We don’t have to go that far,” Doc said. “I know a secret place out by the lake where the snow geese are so thick, you don’t have to aim. I’ve kinda kept the field a secret until now, but it looks like the right time to go.”

“Where is it?” Jerry Wayne chimed in.

Doc explained exactly which cove he was talking about.

“We can drive over there in the morning and get our limit. No guide fees, like down in South Texas, no crowds, and we can hit that same place a couple of times before the birds move, because there’s only a few of us.”

We huzzahed and high-fived.

We made plans as Delbert finished his blog. He punched at his screen.

“There. Another successful blog that’s completely original. You guys inspired me.” Delbert hit the send button and leaned back. “I wrote about goose hunting in Doc’s secret spot.”

“What!!!???” Wrong Willie spilled his coffee.

“Did you say where it was?”

“Sure. I had to write 600 words, and his description helped.”

I resisted the temptation to pour coffee all over Delbert’s iPad. “Now there’ll be a hundred people out there in the morning, if he’s right about his numbers.”

Keeping up his charade, Old Bud’s loud voice cut me off as he spoke to his son on a flip phone.

“Yep, just found out for you. Get your boys out there, ‘cause the snow geese are thicker’n fleas right now in that secret field I just heard about. It won’t be that way day after tomorrow.”

Woodrow sighed and held up his cup. “Doreen, you missed me.”

She didn’t hear him, because she was on the phone, ordering a hearing aid.

ing but self-defense, and I realized the 92-year-old was brilliant.

Delbert shoved his way into the booth, and we adjusted accordingly. Wrong Willie pointed at his damp shirt.

“What are you hiding under there?”

He revealed an iPad. “I’m a blogger now.”

I raised an eyebrow. “So that’s what you meant when you said you were on deadline.”

“We don’t have anything to log around here.”

Doreen arrived to refill our cups. “You have to go to East Texas, though Bud Dallas’ll cut some of your trees if you don’t watch out.”

“He said he’s a blogger,” I said, hitting the letter B hard and moving my hand out of the way lest she scald it again. Doreen’s bad about spilling.

Doc studied the iPad’s bright screen as Delbert poked at it with two fingers.

“What do you have to say?”

“A lot! I already have more than a thousand subscribers here in this area alone.”

We waited for him to explain the subject of his blogs while hail continued to rattle the windows.

And we waited some more.

“Uh, Delbert.” Doc frowned at Delbert’s screen.

“You didn’t answer. What are you blogging about that so many people are interested in?”

“It’s a secret.”

I could feel the top of my head flying off.

“Blogging isn’t a secret! You put your thoughts and ideas out there for others to read.”

“Well, I don’t want to tell you guys. You have to read it, but I’d wait until next week, so you can see the comments.”

Wrong Willie leaned back. “The idea is to read your thoughts and then check back to see other people’s comments. Now, what’s it about” Delbert paused, “Our outdoor adventures.”

“Rev already does that,” Jerry Wayne said. “He’s been doing it for nearly thirty years.”

“Right, and I’m kind of an amplifier. I take his stuff, add my own ideas and opinions, and send it out.”

“I figured it was something like that,” I sighed.

“It’s called plagiarism.”

“No. I’m re-writing it like we did in high school and adding my own ideas.

The hail slacked off, and the rain increased, running in rivulets down the glass. I sighed as Delbert F I S H

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REDFISH

TURKEY

Trinity Bay On the first trip to Trinity Bay after Hurricane Harvey, Debbie and John Perry were the only fishing boat in the water. They caught 20 reds near the shoreline on white and chartreuse Bass Assassins and Gulps. The water was super muddy but the reds were hungry.

Debbie caught this nice keeper.

Gatesville Braxton Richards bagged his first nine-inch bearded turkey in December while hunting near Gatesville.

He shot the bird at 70 yards with his 22-250.

MIXED STRINGER East Galveston Bay Nine-year-old Noah Hobbs of Tomball, fishing East Bay in November with his Dad and Papa, caught his first limit of reds with live shrimp, fished on the bottom on a spin cast reel with no help. The smallest was 25 inches.

ALLIGATOR GAR Richmond Daniel Fought was bow fishing in a neighborhood retention pond in Richmond and snagged this alligator gar.

He had no idea it was this big and had to call for help to get it landed.

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SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

Also Enter our PHOTO CONTEST: FishGame.com/texas-hotsots-upload No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

BASS Honey Grove Bobby Reid and his son Travis took this selfie after they both caught nice bass at the same time on a private pond in Honey Grove.

REDFISH Ingleside Jared Smith caught this redfish on a Gulp! shrimp while wadefishing at Ingleside.

JACK CREVALLE

WHITETAIL

San Luis Pass

Irion County

Travis Tarver caught this San Luis Pass jack while fishing with his own dad, James Tarver, and Travis’s sons, Kyle and Ian. The boys wanted to catch sharks and stingrays but this was a bonus. They caught a mixed bag of trout and redfish for a good fish fry.

Twelve-year-old Rivers McConaughey took down her second bow buck while hunting on the family’s LP Ranch in Irion County. She made a clean shot on the six-and-a-halfyear-old buck.

WHITETAIL

REDFISH

Burnet County

Laguna Madre

Corinne Upchurch took this selfie of her and a nice buck she shot while hunting on public land near Burnet.

Krysta Kay caught her first limit of reds wadefishing on the Laguna Madre near Marker 69. She has since gone crazy over bay fishing. Her father-in-law, Reagan Garrett, once said to her, “You can’t go fishing every weekend.” She replied, “Yes I can.”

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