Texas Fish & Game December 2018 by Texas Fish & Game

December 2018 | $3.95

Gifts for Tech Savvy Fishermen Texas Dove Virus? Time for Duck Giving Joe Doggett Remembers: The Red Reel 1812-December-CoverDIG.indd 1

Have a Blue Catfish Christmas

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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

Digital Evolution

PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

HE PUBLISHING BUSINESS HAS KEPT EVOLVING, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT still relies on a primitive innovation from the fifteenth century to manufacture its main product by pressing an oil-like substance onto sheets of material derived from wood pulp. While this still accounts for the core delivery medium of our product—this magazine—we have never thought of its physical form as the final product. What those of us in publishing actually produce is information. Books, newspapers, and magazines of all varieties—from news to entertainment to special interest—have delivered their information in the same basic form for half a millennium. The technology has changed, of course, and dramatically so. From hand-laid type and manual presses to steam-powered presses and Linotype machines, on to computer typesetting and offset printing on high-gloss paper, the manufacturing process has evolved to keep pace with the demand for better quality, higher print runs, and faster delivery. But the advances in the evolution of the printing industry have not been enough to sustain publishing, because our true industry is communications. If our true product is information, then we are in the same business as TV, radio, and some guy who produces a podcast about catfish noodling. Because of the explosion of internet based information sources, and especially because of the nuclear explosion of smart phone use (actually, “use” isn’t right... smart phone “addiction” is more fitting), consumers have abandoned old information delivery forms in droves. And so we’ve had to evolve into a hybrid. For more than ten years we’ve produced digital versions of our monthly issues in one form or another. Our first efforts were what they now call “Replica” versions— simply electronic reproductions of the pages as printed. These replicas look very nice on a big desktop computer screen. But when you try to read one of them on a phone—even if it’s the latest Apple X-point-10-point-10 model with a Retina screen the size of a chicken fried steak, good luck. And, so, we have taken great pains to design additional versions of our issues so that they can be easily read on the smallest mobile devices. And by Great Pains, we mean hours and hours of work and piles and piles of cash to both develop these editions and then put each issue together every month. Nov. Digital Edition Opening Slide Show We have been publishing mobile-optimized versions for about half a dozen years now, and to be honest, we have never been satisfied with them. They all relied on “platforms” provided by outside vendors. These platforms were either monumentally complicated, or monumentally expensive, or both. Cue another evolutionary step. Beginning in November, we began publishing our digital editions ourselves, totally. They are now web-based, housed on our own website. Construction of each issue is now totally under our control and the simplification of the production process has finally presented us with the ability to focus on enhancing these editions (before, as we said, just getting the things out took all our focus, and then some). This means adding things not possible in print such as videos, photo galleries, audio and other interactive stuff. We could add those things before, and did, but frankly never had the luxury of time (and the reserved energy) to plan and execute much more than a token effort. But now we can. And you can check it out at fishgame.com/1812-december-issue. This month’s issue is being offered as a free preview to all visitors. Later, a subscription will be required to read our current issues (past issues will remain open to all). So please, join the evolution!

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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 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 HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 247 Airtex Dr. Houston, TX 77090. ©Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $24.95; 2 years $42.95; 3 years $58.95. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 247 Airtex Dr. Houston, TX 77090. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response. Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing address label when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 247 Airtex Dr. Houston, TX 77090. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 247 Airtex Dr. Houston, TX 77090. Email change of address to: subscriptions@fishgame.com. Email new orders to: subscriptions@fishgame.com. Email subscription questions to: subscriptions@fishgame.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX 77267-9946 and at additional mailing offices.

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Contents December 2018 | Vol. 35 • No. 8

FEATURE ARTICLES

THE GIFT OF DUCKS Ecological and economic threats are looming for duck breeding grounds. Time to give back.

by Chester Moore

THE RED REEL Joe Doggett shares a cherished memory of his first exposure to the classic baitcaster.

by Joe Doggett

COVER STORY

MAJESTIC AND MYSTERIOUS Whitetail deer have a well deserved reputation as the most popular game animal in America.

story by Chester Moore photos by Grady Allen

COLUMNS

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Editor’s Notes

by CHESTER MOORE

Pike on the Edge

by PETE ROBBINS

Texas Boating

A guide to the best lakes for going after blue catfish in cold weather.

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Bare Bones Hunting by LOU MARULLO

Open Season by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM

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Looking for the perfect gift for anglers on your list? Here are a few ideas for gadget loving fishermen.

by Dustin Warncke

Coastal Focus Columns

by TF&G Staff

Texas Hotspots

News of the Nation + Texas HotShots

Sportsman’s Daybook

TEXAS DOVE VIRUS? Infections detected in West Texas birds.

Tides & Prime Fishing Times

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GIFTS FOR THE TECH SAVVY ANGLER

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

by LENNY RUDOW

Texas Tactical

by Matt Williams

by DOUG PIKE

Bass University

HAVE A BLUE CHRISTMAS

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Letters

by TFG Readers

Special Section by TFG Staff

Industry Insider by TFG Staff

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Fish & Game Gear by TF&G Staff

Outdoor Directory Fish & Game Photos by TFG Readers

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LETTERS to the Editor Conservation Kudos THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSERVAtion awareness that you post publicly! Many people think I’m liberal because I’m green. I always ask why don’t conservatives believe in conservation anymore? I believe 100 percent in the word conservative, so it affects my beliefs on politics and the environment, too. I just think it is amazing you have the guts to speak about the little guys, the animals that are vanishing as a conservative. Preach! You have an audience and a passion to protect the voiceless. There are folks fighting for the rainforest, I’m very much in tune with those organizations, so I see it every day, but your perspective is enlightening that mainstream people have been steered away from conservation by political issues. I will be pondering in this. Thank you for the thoughts. The small conservation groups you speak of do need help. They are up against deceived people who would identify as “conservatives” with deep pockets who seek to clear land and suck dry the oceans for profit no matter the losses. Clear-cutting, mining on pristine salmon hatcheries, over fishing, isn’t that a liberal use of resources? Killing without reason, isn’t that a liberal use of life... yet these are the choices of so called “conservatives”.... I could write a blog on that. Ha-ha. You can and do put a human relationship on the issue. This is so vital to conservation of species, enlightening good people that will care if only they become aware of the issues from someone they can relate to in our polarized world. Your blog made me aware that sawfish are critically endangered, I had no clue and I consider myself informed on this stuff, so I can only imagine what you are doing for others. I just had to stop and write you some encouragement. Keep up the good work! The good fight! Sincerely,

Editor-in-Chief Moore believes Texas Fish & Game has been a powerful voice for wildlife conservation and will continue to be for years to come. He has personally been involved with conservation efforts for years. Here he is getting to release a banded blue-winged teal when his friend wildlife conservation artist extraordinaire Calvin Carter invited him to cover a US Geological Survey banding effort at Beaumont, TX.

Editor: I can’t think you enough for what you said here. It has not been easy speaking these views in a world where many people think if you perhaps simply choose not to kill a certain type of animal that you are an animal rights activist. True green means true conservation. and we have the opportunity to lead the way in this in the hunting and fishing community, but I think we have to include species that we don’t hunt or fish for to make a big impact. Thank you for recognizing this.

Reavis Rocks! TO REAVIS, I’ve been welding steps and a platform in order to avoid using a ladder to get up into my deer blind come this next season. August, mid-day on a clear day on a concrete driveway is actually the best time of the year to do this kind of work. Cuts down on people coming over to “help” or to offer advice. Cuts down on how much beer they mooch as well. Anyway, I got to a good stopping place at about 1:30. Headed for the back porch under a fan with 2 cold beers (and counting) to read today’s mail. I was pleased to find the newest TFG. As always, I start at the

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back. Looked at some kids making memories, then read your latest missive. That could have been me in that story. Remember when you came running home that time bleeding freely and your mom yelled “ get outta the house...you’re bleeding on the carpet! Out! Out!”? Maybe it didn’t happen that way for you, but it did for me.... more than once. A correction to a statement you made. You said teachers look forward to the beginning of school. Not true sir. I taught high school for 32 years. Not once was I eager to go back. It was a great career. But I was the one the other teachers asked, “How many more Mondays?” I always kept up with how many more until the next extended holiday or summer break. Great story, sir. Keep it up! Thank you!

Larry Caldwell

Email your comments to: editor@ﬁshgame.com

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EDITOR’S Notes by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Thoughts From the Blind

“It is distinguished from the striped skunk by a white spot on the forehead and one in front of each ear. On its ventral side, it presents six stripes on the anterior of the body, and a pair of interrupted white stripes on the posterior along with paired spots on the rump and base of the tail.”

Hunting Pressure

RECENTLY CAME ACROSS SOME notes I took on one of the last trips I took with my father in early December 2014. We spent a couple of days with my buddy Josh Slone and longtime friend and rancher Thompson Temple on his Rocky Top Ranch. The goal was to document Temple’s exciting Hill Country Bighorn (sheep) project which I later wrote about here, but when I came across these notes I realize I had some thoughts I have not shared with you. And it gave me a glimpse of what I think about when I’m in peace in the great outdoors. These are some of the random and possibly deep thoughts that came out of the peaceful time in the rocky, rolling hills.

THE QUICKEST way to score on a big specimen of any animal is to go to the area with the least hunting pressure. Very few hunters go more than 100 yards off of a road or logging trail. By finding the part of a hunted property with the least human traffic, you can virtually guarantee encounters with big deer and other game. IF YOU TOOK an early Native American hunter, one from a remote tribe in South America for example, and stacked their hunting skills against ours, we would look seriously inadequate. Their very survival relied on their ability to get close to game and kill with bow, spear and blowgun. We can’t get the job done half the time with rifles that can easily take out game at 300-plus yards. By taking on all of the technological conveniences we have lost something, and I believe it is instinct and intimate study of nature. The late Tony Houseman once told me of shooting a kudu in Africa and not being able to find it. The next day they were nearly two miles away, and the local trackers said they found the footprint of that very kudu. He balked (as I would have) and thought there is no way they can tell by the footprint. A few minutes later they found the animal dead 100 yards away where a leopard had gotten hold of it. That’s the kind of things we have lost.

Ringtails THE RINGTAIL (OFTEN mistakenly called “ringtail cat”) have to be one of the most elusive creatures in Texas. They are common in the Hill Country and Trans Pecos but rarely seen. They are also one of two mammals in Texas often called “cats” that are not really cats at all. My friend’s ranch has plenty of ringtail sign, but he has never seen one there in 25 plus years. If you catch a glimpse of one count yourself fortunate. The other “non-cat” is the “civet cat”. The spotted skunk is sometimes called a “civet cat” although they are no cat at all. According to the Texas Wildlife Diversity program, spotted skunks are the smallest skunk, and fairly slender and weasel-like with males normally less than two pounds and females at around one pound. 6

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THERE ARE TIMES a fisherman needs to simply go to a pond or local bayou and soak an earthworm under a bobber and see what bites. If we ever lose the excitement of watching a bobber go under, something is |

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seriously wrong. When I was a kid, virtually every bobber at the tackle shop was the classic red and white with the blue stem. If you put a little weight below it, the red would barely show as it floated in the water with a hunk of nightcrawler below it. I have been into the technical side of fishing for a number of years and enjoy the intricacies of figuring out which lure is best to fish on the exact kind of line, rod and reel. But I also like to sit in a lawn chair on the bank and watch a bobber move along in the current until something pulls it under. As a child, it was all about catching the longnose gar at the gully down the street from my house. The bobber would start moving back and forth and usually swim down the canal before the gar decided to pull it under. Later it was catching crappie over brush piles. No fish (even my beloved flounder) excited me more than a sac-a-lit so it is always with great anticipation to have one of those spotted beauties suck one under. I OFTEN HEAR PEOPLE talk about wild game meat being “gamey.” My honest opinion? The meat has either been handled wrong or the gamey taste is in the person’s head. Deer tastes like deer not beef, and for that I am glad. On the trip these notes came from, Josh Slone fixed Dad and me some patties made of Corsican ram, ibex and Catalina goat and they tasted wonderful. Variety is the spice of life and if you hunt and fish, you have plenty of variety in meats to choose from, none of which are “gamey” in my opinion.

« Email Chester Moore at cmoore@ﬁshgame.com

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PIKE on the Edge by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

In the Bag

HETHER THE DAILY BAG limit on speckled trout needs an overhaul depends on who you ask and what they know. Change or no change, count on half of Texas’ coastal anglers getting their feathers ruffled every time the subject arises. I’ve lived long enough to see daily bag limits on speckled trout go from all you can carry, to 20, to 10 and, along the lower coast, currently five. I witnessed firsthand, from Galveston to Port Mansfield, devastating blows dealt the species by major freezes in 1983 and 1989. For years after each of those events, we found speckled trout few and far between along the entirety of Texas’s long, long coastline. Behind the 1989 deep-freeze, some folks wondered if the species ever would recover. Of course it would. Nature doesn’t like voids. I reaped the benefit of that fishery’s longterm rebound in the late 1990s, on a lateJanuary afternoon in Baffin Bay with Capt. Cliff Webb. In maybe two hours fishing, under cold fog and rain, we caught more than two dozen trout heavier—much heavier—than eight pounds. By length, five of those fish were longer than 30 inches. The last fish I released, with Webb insisting we head home or risk having to do so in darkness, was 32.25 inches long and fat as a football. It’s worth noting, those fish were feeding on their own kind and mullet in the 12- to 14-inch range—and still grabbing our plugs. Did I mention we caught them all on topwaters? Fast forward to now, because today matters far more than an old man’s “fishtory” lesson. How many trout should we be allowed to catch now—Today? Or tomorrow, for the forward thinkers? Before we debate limits on modern terms, however, let’s not consider historical trends resulting from freeze or drought or flood—or chemical runoff or petroleum spill. All of these upset the short-term population trends of trout

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the same as our lower coast has from a five-fish daily bag limit on speckled trout? Probably yes, almost without doubt, yes. By simple math, leaving more fish in the water cannot help but bolster the population, come rain or shine, drought or freeze. Furthermore, I don’t believe that any competent, conservation-minded fishing guide’s business would suffer in the least from the reduction. I support a move toward five trout daily as a statewide mandate, but I want the idea to be delivered with the full support of scientists at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It is they who have studied decades of data. They have no financial dog in the fight. There’s credence also in the opinions of fishing guides. Their hands-on, day-to-day interactions with the resource are every bit as credible as gillnet or boat-ramp surveys logged onto clipboards and laptops. I’ve never been one to blindly agree with departmental suggestions or the musings of any specific guide. However, I’ve known professionals from both camps well enough and long enough to believe they want the same thing. It’s what we all want—more and bigger trout in our bays, plus more reds and flounders. So will limits change soon? Probably not, at least not until 2018’s bumper crop of yearling trout gets a chance to show its true size and scope. Do they need to change soon? Probably not, unless nature swings a giant, unexpected hammer and lands it squarely on the coast. We all want the same thing. It doesn’t matter whether we wind up a year or three from now with a five-fish statewide limit, a slot limit for trout similar to that in place for redfish, some new rule that’s yet to presented and turns out to be genius, or no change at all. We simply disagree sometimes on how to make it happen. Sometimes, it’s okay for folks who disagree to just gas up the boat, set the debate aside for a while, and fish.

and every other marine species. Natural disasters happen every few years. Man makes fishery-wrecking goofs, too, although not as frequently. Over time, however, throughout history, damage from both has been repaired either naturally or by restocking. This year’s perceived sag in trout numbers, based on what I’ve heard from people I most trust, was a shortfall in keeper trout. Loads of undersized keepers were and are in Texas bays. In time, barring any major issue, those fish will mature at least to the state’s minimum length. Give it two years, said one guide I’ve known for decades, and we’ll be covered up with catchable trout. A currently popular blame catcher for trout numbers and, thus, trout limits, is the use of croakers as summertime bait. Veteran bay guides—even some who use the little finfish to keep customers happy—are convinced that baiting with croakers could slap a long-lasting dent in the trout population. The method targets prime spawners in the population, fish in that prolific two- to four-pound range, and that’s worrisome. Painting with the broadest of brushes, an obvious reason for fewer available trout is more fishermen on the water who are exponentially more skilled (Thanks, Internet) than those from a single generation earlier. The boats are better, the motors, the rods and reels and braid and fluorocarbon. Trolling motors, the ability to anchor with the push of a button, side-scan sonar, even secondary things, such as quality sunglasses and lightweight foulweather gear all add up to a better fishing experience and, in theory at least, more fish caught. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, however, even all that new gear still hasn’t moved the needle much on the average fisherman’s stringer. Last time I looked, the dedicated pursuit of spotted seatrout in Texas results in the taking of fewer than two keepers daily. That consistent result among amateurs— remember we’re already wagging fingers at charter guides for their croaker-soaking hauls—leads us to yet another front-burner question. Would the upper Texas coast benefit F I S H

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N 2013, WATERFOWL hunters on the prairies of the Middle Coast suffered the first real casualty of drought in many years among Texas’s hunting community. For a time, the Lower Colorado River Authority prohibited “duck water” being sold to landowners and leaseholders. In other words, there was not enough water for extracurricular activities. This sent shockwaves throughout

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the Lone Star State, as several of the counties involved are the most heavily hunted in the state. Groups such as Ducks Unlimited (DU) got involved because it affected tens of thousands of acres of wetlands and scores of hunters. Water is the new gold. With Texas’s population growing at a rapid pace, its value will continue to increase, and the struggle between wildlife and sporting needs will pop up all over the state. It is not a matter of if, but when. The fact of the matter is, people’s needs T E X A S

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will win every time. Something like this is coming on a much grander scale. It centers on the prairie pothole region of North Dakota, South Dakota and prairie Canada. That region has been at least fairly wet (and in recent year very wet) for better than two decades, and that will not hold. At some point, perhaps in the very near future, the region will suffer a drought. When it does, what happened a few years back in the LCRA counties will look like a minor squabble. D E C E M B E R

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rules and cause problems will probably focus their attention elsewhere. However, it also could be a breaking point for the long-standing and conservation-centered tradition of duck hunting. That’s why it’s vitally important to teach your children about the value of wetlands and how migration itself, works. These are the hunters who will enjoy their quest no matter the season length or limit. They’ll wait until a wet cycle returns and rejoice. I hope we never have that giant Great Plains drought, but history tells us we are due. When will it happen? It could be next year, or it could be 10 years from now, but in the interim, we should do our best to educate this generation about waterfowl conservation. We do have some reason for concern. The prairies were dry this year and numerous species were down by fairly large percentages. What will happen if there are dry prairies for three years? Five years? I believe there are five key things we can do to give back ducks.

The vast majority of mallards, pintails, gadwall, shovelers and other key waterfowl in the Central Flyway is born and raised there. When a prolonged drought comes, duck production goes down in a major way. That will translate to two immediate things—smaller bag limits and a shorter season. It will probably cause a drop in duck hunter numbers. I started duck hunting 22 years ago. Not a single hunter who started during that timeframe has ever experienced anything less than a five-bird limit or long seasons. How many will keep hunting if the limit is cut to three and the season is shortened to, say—30 days? My suspicion is a good portion of these hunters, particularly those under age 30, will use it as an excuse to bail on an increasingly expensive sport. That will translate to fewer duck stamps sold and less money for conservation along with a host of other problems. We have raised at least two generations of totally limit-driven hunters, who instead of learning about conservation and ecology, many are now more worried about tweeting “Five man limit this morning!” Every generation has had limit-driven hunters, but this one has social media to push it to a new level. I have discussed this with several leaders in local, regional and national waterfowl circles and everyone is concerned. A few have said, “Good, it will get rid of the riff raff.” To a certain point that is true. The handful of unethical hunters who disobey the

1. BUY A DUCK STAMP: This story’s sidebar will explain in more detail the impact of duck stamps, but whether you duck hunt or not, buying a duck stamp has a rich history of aiding waterfowl conservation in a measurable way. 2. SUPPORT CONSERVATION GROUPS: Supporting groups such as Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl, not only means habitat is positively conserved and enhanced, but that

policy is dealt with that impacts wetlands and prairies in Washington, Austin and in Canada where many of our ducks come from. Even supporting the Coastal Conservation Association aids ducks indirectly as efforts to bolster seagrass makes a big difference for redheads and other species of the grass flats. 3. PASS ON HENS: When species that are well below the long-term average take a population dip, making a concerted effort to not shoot hens could make a difference. In boom years it may not matter, but in bust years it can make a difference. Passing on species such as mottled ducks that are already greatly restricted would help. 4. VOLUNTEER: Volunteering for habitat restoration and enhancement projects on federal and state refuges helps agencies already strapped for cash to do things that would otherwise be impossible. We can be agents of change for the sake of wildlife, if we put some skin in the game. 5. RAISE AWARENESS: Use social media and even conversations to spread the news of waterfowl conservation and let others know the importance of healthy wetlands. #Hashtags can help waterfowl and other wildlife if combined with cash and creativity. This is a vitally important issue, not only for the ducks, but for all creatures that utilize the wetlands we conserve in their name. We can all step up to the plate and make a real difference.

Why You Need to Buy a Duck Stamp FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND ON FEDeral Duck Stamps, 98 cents goes directly to purchase vital habitat or acquire conservation easements for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, six million acres have been acquired using Federal Duck Stamp revenues. More than 300 national wildlife refuges were created or have been expanded using Federal Duck Stamp dollars. At least one refuge in nearly every state has

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beneﬁtted from Duck Stamp dollars. By law, proceeds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps are deposited into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which was established speciﬁcally to provide the Department of the Interior with monies to acquire migratory bird habitat. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission oversees the expenditure of Federal Duck Stamp funds and other monies |

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in the fund to purchase and lease wetland habitat. The commission also reviews the use of Federal Duck Stamp dollars to purchase small natural wetlands and associated uplands for preservation as Waterfowl Production Areas.

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EXAS HAS A DISTINGUISHED REPUTATION FOR doing things up big, and we’re not just talking about the obvious stuff like cowboy hats, wide-open spaces and oil fields, either. Blue cats have a way ringing the bell around here, too. In fact, some of the nation’s most hallowed hotspots for producing the

piscatorial titans are found in Texas, or in waters we share with our neighbors in Oklahoma and Louisiana. Sometimes referred to as a “highfin” or “hump-back” because of its elevated dorsal fin, the blue cat is one of five catfish species found in Texas lakes and rivers, and one of three, including channel cats and flatheads, that are highly sought after by freshwater anglers for food, sport or a combination of both. Although all three are excellent in the skillet, blues and flatheads are genetically wired to develop the most serious weight problems later in life. Both have been known to grow beyond 100 pounds, but the blue cat is recognized as the larger of the two. Texas lakes and rivers have kicked out some giant blues over the years, including a former world record 121.50 pounder caught in January 2004 from Lake Texoma by shore fisherman Cody Mullennix of Howe. According to TPWD records, 12 reservoirs have posted blue cat records in the 70-pound class, five in the 80s and three in the 90-pound range. Dozens of lakes have lake records upwards of 40 pounds.

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Though trotliners and jugliners account for a high percentage of blue cats that cross a cleaning table, anglers are discovering the thrills of going after them with a hook and line. The allure is particularly strong on heavy hitting fisheries such as Texoma, Tawakoni, Palestine, Richland Chambers, Toledo Bend, Lewisville and Waco, Special limits have been put in place in recent times to help protect larger, trophy class fish from over harvest. Chad Ferguson knows the drill well. Ferguson is a Ft. Worth-based fishing guide who specializes in putting his clients on big whiskered fish in North Texas and beyond. His personal best rod and reel blue cat weighed 77 pounds, and he claims one of his clients landed a blue that unofficially topped 80 pounds. Ferguson’s son, Lane, now 19 years old, owns the Junior Angler State rod and reel record with a 66.20 pounder caught from 3,500-acre Lake Worth in Dec. 2011. Ferguson, 45, has been fishing most of his life and turned his attention almost exclusively to chasing catfish at the age of 20. He says he has put his hands of more blue catfish in the 20- to 40-pound range than he can remember. “Most fisherman have never caught a 20 pounder, but we’ve caught a bunch of them. They are pretty common in a lot of the lakes I fish.” Ferguson has gotten the game down to an art form in knowing where big blues live and how to catch them. He also has narrowed down when the fish are most easily fooled on a succulent piece of fresh shad carefully placed on a wide gap circle hook. That time is now. “Winter is definitely the most consistent,” Ferguson said. “Blue catfish of all sizes are easier to pattern in the winter months when the water is cold. They don’t move around as much, or as often, as they do during the warmer months. The baitfish congregate in larger (and often tighter) groups and are limited to where they can be, especially when it gets really cold. Bottom line: the blues are easier to find, and they will usually stay put longer when you find them.”

Tawakoni guide Andrew Taylor’s clients have boated a lot of giants like this.

catfishermen you need to be a shad expert. Learning what shad do, where they go, how they move and when will always keep you in fresh bait. It will also teach you a lot about their movements. Blue catfish are eating machines. Find the bait, you find the fish.” Plenty of trophy blues are caught along wind-blown shore lines and skinny water points during winter, so guys like Ferguson spend most of their time using their electronics to pinpoint large fish relating to balls of bait around deeper main lake structure such as points, humps, channels or old roadbeds. Good electronics draw a detailed image of the structure, where the bait fish holding in relation to it and—more important— whether any big blues are patrolling the area. “Big blues are a heck of a lot easier to find than most other freshwater fish,” Ferguson said. “If you’re looking at a fish finder you can identify a 50-pound blue catfish a heck of a lot easier than a two-pound fish. Big blues definitely stand out.” Ferguson employs a variety of strategies to target big blues. He likes to drag big

Find the Bait A common mantra among trophy cat captains is this: Find the bait and the big blues won’t be far away. “The best piece of advice I can offer is on bait,” Ferguson said. “If you want to be a 14

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chunks of shad, carp or buffalo for fish holding near the bottom, and he will suspend the bait to get at blues that are higher in the water column. He still drops anchor on occasion, but most often relies on his Minn Kota trolling motor’s Spot Lock feature when he wants to hold the boat steady. The Ulterra also has I-Pilot Link and autopilot features to help him be more efficient than drifting with the wind when fish are positioned along define break lines. Patience also is a virtue, the guide says. “One of the biggest mistakes I see some beginning catfish anglers make is they expect immediate results. They want it to be like bass fishing or crappie fishing—drop the line in and pull one in. It just doesn’t work like that. Big blues are easy to find, but they’re a lot more particular than smaller fish. They pay more attention; they’re older and smarter. You have to be more patient, pay more attention to presentation etc.…” So, you wanna catch a big blue? As earlier mentioned, Texas is home to a number great PHOTO: ANDREW TAYLOR

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fisheries. The best ones are usually fairly large in size with a rich forage base and may be fed by one or two large river systems. I asked Texas Parks and Wildlife Department inland fisheries regional directors Spencer Dumont and Brian VanZee to name the state’s top lakes for trophy-sized fish and numbers of quality-sized blues. Here are their picks: • Trophy Blues: Toledo Bend, Tawakoni, Palestine, Lake Lewisville, Lake Waco, Lake Texoma, Lake Buchanan and Lake Conroe. • Numbers of Quality Fish: Choke Canyon, Palestine, Richland Chambers, Tawakoni, Cooper, Livingston, Lavon, Arrowhead, Eagle Mountain Lake, Aquilla, Granger and Kirby. Ferguson has soaked baits and reeled in big blues from many of those lakes. He’s also a wintertime fan of Cedar Creek, Worth, Hubbard Creek and Possum Kingdom. Here are his thoughts on what he considers to be the top lakes for trophy cats upwards of 60 pounds and numbers in the 20- to 40-pound range:

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• Texoma: “It’s got amazing numbers of fish in the 80- to 100-pound class, and a lot more of them are caught than people hear about, he said. “I know some guys who catch them pretty consistently, but keep the catch pretty close to their vests. Texoma is the top lake for producing the biggest fish. It wouldn’t surprise me if another world record comes out of there in the future.” • Tawakoni: “It produces some giants, but it also takes a pounding by a lot guys who know what they are doing. Tawakoni produces good numbers of big fish as well as quality and is definitely one of the best lakes in Texas for blues. It also gets a tremendous amount of hype.” • Waco: “It’s got a healthy population of fish 40- to 50-pounds and up, but it seems be lacking in the numbers 20- to 30-pounders. It’s a good pick if you’re after a really big fish.” • Cedar Creek: “It doesn’t produce the 60- to 80-pounders, but fish in the 20- to40pound range are plentiful.” • Eagle Mountain: “You won’t catch the 60- to 70-pounders, but for 30- to 40-pounders I’d put it up against any lake out there.”

• Arrowhead: “It’s not going to produce the 60- to 80-pounders that Tawakoni and Texoma do, but it’s a great lake if you want to catch fish in the upper teens to 30 pounds.” • Ray Roberts: “It’s packed with good quality fish, but doesn’t get much pressure at all. It’s full of 30- to 40-pounders.” • Lewisville: “Lewisville doesn’t seem to produce the 15- to 30-pounders it used to, but it still has lots of big fish. • Possum Kingdom: It’s definitely a lake worth fishing. It’s a great lake with better numbers of fish in the low teens, but it doesn’t seem to have the numbers of bigger fish it used to have because of algae bloom and fish kill several years ago.” • Worth: “It’s got some big fish, but not a lot of numbers. It’s seems to have taken a hit in recent years.” • Hubbard Creek: “It’s a sleeper that doesn’t get a lot of hype. They’ve been catching a lot of 40- to 50-pounders the last few years.”

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RED REEL WAS THE MOST beautiful casting reel I had ever seen. It was on display in a glass counter in the old Oshman’s Sporting Goods in Palms Center in Houston. I was 11 years old. Christmas Day 1957, was several weeks away. The Red Reel was the original Garcia Ambassadeur 5000. During the mid-’50s, advertisements were prominent in the Big Three outdoor magazines—Field & Stream, Sports Afield, Outdoor Life—but I never had seen the real product. I was transfixed. One full-page ad had proclaimed: “Garcia Ambassadeur 5000! By far, the finest baitcasting reel ever made—anywhere in the world!” It was true. Of all places, it came from Sweden—an odd twist since baitcasting is the only truly American form of angling (having evolved from the simple

“Kentucky reels” of the mid-1800s). The anodized aluminum frame glowed softly in the display case. The cranberry finish and the marbled handle grips were not gaudy; rather they whispered an aura of understated excellence. The reel rested alongside its fitted and latched saddleleather case. The case was equipped with stitched loops for a reel wrench, spare parts kit, and a tube of lubricating oil. A small gold crest was embossed on the case, and just above the latch a flourish of script said “Ambassadeur Sweden.”

Rudy “The Plugger” Grigar and Joe Doggett sport Ambassadeur 5000 reels while hoisting a string of specks and reds, circa 1973.

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Junior is stoked over a Mitchell 300 spinning reel while Dad eyes the real prize, the Ambassadeur 5000 casting reel.

A mint ﬁrst-generation Ambassadeur 5000 is backed by Doggett’s ﬁrst one, purchased in 1964.

new monofilament line that was dominating the light-tackle market. Most of the old direct-drive reels with steel spools simply were not compatible with the coiled “memory” of mono. The inertia of the heavy spool wanted to keep the shaft spinning as the mono boiled under a frantic thumb—often resulting in the celebrated “professional overrun.” In fairness, a few old models sported narrow frames and aluminum spools; they were fast and smooth in the hands of experts, but did require considerable oiling and cleaning. They performed best with light, limp braid and were under-gunned for any fish with real horsepower. Through several patents, the Garcia Corporation and Abu Sweden were able to protect the design through the ’50s and into the ‘60s. The first-generation Red Reel stood alone, above all else on the market. Of course, none of this made much sense to me back then; I just knew I was looking at the future of fishing. I stared and stared and stared until my impatient dad pulled me away. The Red Reel looked expensive—and it was. The retail price for a 5000 during the mid-’50s was $48. To put that into perspective, the apartment in which we lived rented

The import boasted several major innovations over the traditional level-wind casting reels offered by established companies such as Shakespeare, Heddon, South Bend, Langley, and Pflueger. The best of the old freewheeling reels were fine products, but within a few years became increasingly obsolete. Most important, the Red Reel offered a free-spool lever. The stainless gadget was located on the rear of the right sideplate, within comfortable reach of the casting thumb. When pushed, the lever somehow disengaged the spool from the shaft of the handle. Or maybe it was the other way around. Don’t ask me. I didn’t design the thing. Regardless, with a simple click—Shazam! The handle was locked in neutral, and the friction from all associated moving parts was eliminated during the cast. The whirring blur of the unfettered spool could be finely managed by counter-balanced weights placed on a cross shaft inside the reel. When the handle was turned, the reel locked into an anti-reverse mode, and an easily adjustable star drag regulated tension against a strong fish. Also significant—huge, in fact—the lightweight plastic spool could tame the springy 18

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for approximately $80 per month. Low-end, but functional casting reels could be had for $5. Most top-shelf models sold for $10 to $20. Shakespeare’s finest product, the President, and Pflueger’s Supreme retailed for approximately $35. No way Santa could afford to Ho-Ho-Ho down the chimney with a Red Reel in his sack. The grand reel would have been overkill, anyway. My Zebco 33 spincast rig was more than adequate for fledgling bluegill and bullhead forays in urban ponds. The fact that I was more apt to get soot, switches and lumps of coal on Christmas morning was beside the point. As a matter of fact, Santa sort of split the difference. Under the tree was a Daisy Model 25 BB gun, the hard-hitting model with the long pumping arm, a $10 gift that was wonderful. I walked away from Oshman’s gleaming display case, knowing that the Red Reel was out of reach. Yet I sincerely thought—“One day!” I was not misguided—nor alone—in my assessment. Despite the cost, serious fresh and saltwater anglers embraced the Red Reel; within a few years Texas became the largest Ambassadeur market in the world, a ranking it held into the ’70s. Southeast Texas especially was Red Reel IMAGES: LEFT, PURE FISHING/ABU GARCIA; RIGHT, JOE DOGGETT

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Country. The murky green bays of the upper and middle coast, and the expanding potential of flooded-timber reservoirs were ideal for the heavy-handed approach of baitcasting. The Red Reel ruled—either while bottom bumping with Texas-rigged worms (“Cross his eyes and play him in the boat!”) or lobbing shrimp under popping corks. And, of course, it was excellent for casting the 1/2to 3/4-ounce plugs and spoons popular for specks, reds, and bass. I purchased my first Ambassadeur 5000, serial number 538519, during the spring of 1964. I was 17. The price had dropped to $40, still ruinous to a young wallet but within reach of scrimping and saving. Wow, it was a thing of beauty, and it was mine—all mine! Just carrying the reel upped my game, and I carried it near and far through the decade of the ’60s, from as near as Galveston Bay to as far as the Gulf of Tonkin. I still have that old reel, long retired from active duty, but still capable of making muster. The performance is rough, but I could catch a trout or a bass on it tomorrow.

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Through the sentimentality of the decades it remains one of my prized outdoor possessions. During the late ‘60s I bought a second Red Reel just to own another one. It reposes in my den, never having seen line, much less water. It remains mint. It sits on a wooden base inside a clear dome and glows with the same understated cranberry elegance. I reckon I’ve owned several hundred fishing reels and that is the only one on permanent display. I look at it now and then. I suppose it is a fond reminder of the Christmas present I knew could not happen. In truth, as measured against the ongoing parade of whiz-bang, low-profile super reels currently available, the first-generation Ambassadeur 5000 was a bit of a clunker. The retrieve ratio was a mediocre 3-to-1, the handle knobs were tiny, the drag was sticky, the anti-reverse was slow to engage, and the steel thumb lever was awkward. But, like a good assault rifle, the Red Reel had loose tolerances and could keep firing under sustained abuse or neglect. Mikhail Kalashnikov had nothing on the Swedish engineers. If a Red Reel was dropped into

sand or mud, the hard-charging angler could vigorously jam the rod butt up and down in the water, flushing the reel, then keep on chunking. The Red Reel was reasonably easy to field strip. The red parts went here, the stainless parts went there, and the brass gears were placed in between. So long as the reassembly sequence was accurate, the odds were good the cranky machine would function after a hurried cleaning—well, most of the time. Some younger anglers might scoff at this celebration of an outdated product, but I was there. I witnessed the transformation. Consider this as a history lesson and understand this: Every modern casting reel— every one owes its core to the original Garcia Ambassadeur 5000. The Red Reel was, in my opinion, the most important single item in the advancement of light-tackle sport fishing, as we Texans know it.

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The BASS University by PETE ROBBINS :: for TF&G and Bass University

Elam Not Surprised by Suspenders

HILE HE WAS STILL COMpeting for Oklahoma State University, Elite Series pro James Elam and his partner Brandon Pedigo found success during the fall at Lake Lewisville, north of Dallas. In an event plagued by cold fronts and high winds, they ended up in third place out of 41 teams. That effort lit a fire under the young angler, who is now 32 and has qualified for multiple Bassmaster Classics. Although the Elite Series doesn’t typically compete under true autumn conditions, that trial-by-fire fostered Elam’s confidence when things are tough. The first thing you have to consider at that time of year “is what the weather trends are,” he said. “It’s normally fairly tough because it’s a transition time, and the fish are suspended on bait. They’re roaming. That makes them hard to target and hard to catch.” At Lewisville, the team used their electronics to find big wads of bait relating to timber in a pocket off of the main lake. Elam likes to find vertical cover along which the fish will suspend in groups. That includes timber, but he also frequently keys on the shade created by docks, as well as upright bridge pilings. He’ll utilize his highly detailed Lowrance HDS Carbon graphs set on sonar and downscan to pinpoint key zones. Most anglers prefer to put down the trolling motor and fish as quickly as possible. However, he said, “A few hours of idling, or more if you have multiple days to prefish, can pay huge dividends by locating substantial schools, rather than picking off a fish or two here or there.” Although an overabundance of baitfish can make this search as difficult as a lack of shad, Elam said that modern electronics allow him to assess the attitude of the bait |

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and further determine whether they’re under siege. “With downscan you can tell the size of the shad and what kind they are,” he said. “If they’re balled up off the bottom in a defense mode, you know it’s going to happen.” He’ll start by searching wind-blown areas with something containing them (such as a cove) that essentially function as “a big trap” for

baitfish. He recalled that at Lewisville, he and Pedigo could not get the fish to react to lures that had any horizontal momentum. It had to be a strictly vertical presentation. A cast made beyond the fish-holding timber would disrupt the harmony of the situation and alert the bass that something was amiss. “You could also go out and catch some on a shaky head or a small crankbait,” he said, but those tended not to be winning-caliber fish. “The timber thing was what most of the |

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big fish were doing.” He believes it’s a good way to attack any Texas lake at this time of year—not necessarily searching for standing timber, but for other cover that mimics its effects. His best tools are often a single bladed spinnerbait with a big thumping blade or a bulky jig featuring a trailer “with a lot of action.” When they don’t want such an aggressive approach, he’ll favor a straighttailed finesse worm such as a 5.5-inch Molix Sligone. It features a bulky body but a subtle, natural motion, and is infused with salt and scent to make finicky fish attack and hold on. The primary exception to his preference for vertical presentations is in clear to lightly-stained water where the fish are not suspended quite as deep. Because the bass are so keyed in on shad at this time of year, they’ll often pummel a topwater. While Plopper-style lures have gained notoriety for their effectiveness in the fall, and a popper is also a good tool, Elam finds himself reaching for a walking-style topwater most frequently. Once again, he favors a product from Molix, the WTD (Walk the Dog) 110. “You can’t cover water as fast as you can with the Plopper,” he said. “But this lure has a loud rattle that really draws bass up, even from deep water.” Of course, just because you find them one day doesn’t mean they’ll be there the next. You may need to get back behind the console and start idling the area again, but in late fall bass need to feed up. Once you unlock the depth they are using and the location of the bait, it can often be easy pickings.

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Texas BOATING by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

Outboards: Are Two Props Better than One?

HE SUZUKI DF350A MADE big headlines when it was introduced, not only because this V6 powerhouse is the biggest Suzuki outboard ever built, but also because it has not one but two propellers spinning behind the lower unit. Then this past spring, Seven Marine, the builder of high-end uber-powerful outboards which was recently acquired by Volvo Penta, introduced a new gear case which also spins twin props and is adaptable to three different models. What gives? Anyone who’s ever run stern drive boats is probably familiar with the Volvo Penta DuoProp and the Mercruiser Bravo III. Both incorporate twin propellers spinning on the same single shaft. This has a number of advantages. It increases blade area and reduces prop slip, allowing an engine to push a heavier load up onto plane faster and more efficiently. It greatly enhances dockside maneuverability, especially in reverse, and it provides more lift at the stern. This prevents excessive bow rise while running. These same advantages can be felt at the helm of an outboard-powered boat with twin propellers, too. One detail to note: although many people refer to these rigs as having “counter rotating” propellers, they’re properly called “contra rotating.” This is because the props are on a single shaft. Counter rotating props are on two different shafts and spin in different directions. Thus, a boat with twins, one spinning clockwise and the other spinning counter-clockwise, is properly called counter rotating, while these single engine rigs are not. Why split hairs? That’s because these contra-rotating rigs gain you many of the same advantages—but with the single engine. This

is an important difference because it means less initial cost, lower operating expenses, and less maintenance cost in the future. So, what about those advantages? First, consider the ability to push heavy loads. Many mid-sized center console boats up into the 22to 26-foot range perform just fine when they leave the showroom floor with a single engine. Now let’s say the weather looks good, and you want to run far offshore in search of big game. When you load that same boat up with full fuel and water, 100-plus pounds of ice, full gear, and five friends, there’s a good chance it will struggle to get on plane Also, as you climb the backs of large offshore waves, the boat may well bog down and lose speed. If the outboard has contra rotating propellers, however, you’ll notice much less of a performance difference—if any at all— between the loaded and unloaded boat. Then look at maneuverability. With all that extra bite, the boat responds to commands at the wheel faster. When docking or maneuvering in close quarters, your turning radius will be tighter, and your ability to fight the wind will be enhanced. In reverse this difference is even more noticeable, because all propellers lose some bite as the through-hub exhaust gasses pass over the blades and cause slip. On top of those traits, the contra-rotating props counteract steering torque. The engine won’t pull to one side nor the other, without the need for an added trim tab as is usually the case. Finally, consider running angle. When a single engine pushes a heavy load, bow rise is often a problem. The boat may plow with its nose high in the air even when trimmed down. However, the twin propellers provide a lot more lift at the transom, which helps you keep the boat running on an even keel. Put this factor together with the ability to jump on plane T E X A S

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faster when loaded, and bay boat or flats boat anglers will be able to probe slightly shallower areas. Because the engine doesn’t suck the stern down when you nail the throttle, you’ll have fewer issues trying to get out of the hole in the shallows. In some places, a boat that squats may rub bottom and be unable to jump on plane. Yet the boat with twin props may well have no issues popping up and running. Everything on boats is a trade-off, so what’s the down-side to spinning twins on one shaft? More blade area does equal more drag. In some cases (such as running with a light load) a boat equipped with a single prop outboard of equivalent horsepower will have a slight topend advantage. This amounts to one to three mph and possibly one or two at cruise. These contra rotating rigs also require a bit more effort in the design department as well as the extra propeller, which is bound to push pricing up a hair. Your choices are quite limited in this department. As of right now, Suzuki and Seven Marine are the only manufacturers offering them. We should point out that putting a contra rotating drive on an outboard is not exactly a new idea. Yamaha tried it years ago (they called it TRP, for Twin Rotating Propellers), but it didn’t survive in the marketplace. For whatever reason, today the advantages seem to outweigh any hesitation among yesterday’s boat buyers. This is a good thing, but don’t take our word for it. Get behind the helm of a boat rigged with one of these motors, and go for a sea trial. We’d bet dollars to doughnuts that the difference you feel is so substantial, you quickly become a fan. Yes, it does often seem that two props are better than one.

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T WAS THE BIGGEST WHITETAIL buck I had ever seen. Crossing the road with its head held high, the buck’s antlers towered over it as it slipped into the woods and disappeared into the night. I have seen and hunted whitetail in the trophy antler rich South Texas brush country, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Michigan and upstate New York and I have never seen a big buck this big. It was tallest rack I had seen and at least 24 inches wide, perhaps wider and most likely sporting 12 points. And it crossed a road in a heavily wooded area only a few miles from my home. I had been out documenting how the floods from Hurricane Harvey impacted local wildlife and wildlife habitat, expecting to see feral hogs and raccoons not the buck of a lifetime. And just as darkness fell on the landscape the buck slipped across the road and it obviously slipped out of the grip of the catastrophic flood. The encounter made me ponder what this regal creature experienced during the 54 inches of rain that flooded the region in 24 hours and how many other times it escaped death over its lifetime. This buck was no doubt at the prime of its life and in this area not only had to survive hunters, poachers, coyotes, bobcats and the occasional cougar but also a busy highway that it obviously crossed. No game animal captures the hearts and imaginations of hunters like the whitetail and I believe much of it has to do with their survival instinct and that all of them are different. Go into a wealthy hunter’s trophy room and they might have a zebra, elephant tusks, 30 different kinds of antelope, an elk and a moose but they probably have 20 whitetails. It’s not that they are any more beautiful than an impala for example but there is something distinct about the character of the creature itself. It’s almost an intangible. Maybe it’s because they are all different. The first deer lease I was on as an actual member was in Menard County. We would drive eight hours to get there on weekends and it was loaded with deer. My stand was on a creek and to my right was a barbed wire fence about 100 yards away. Several times I watched

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deer walk up and down the fence for up to five minutes looking for a hole to crawl under. It was a three-foot fence. They could easily jump over and in fact I saw that happen as well. Were these deer the ones that have that super survival instinct to not take unnecessary risks? Perhaps. I will never forget pheasant hunting in South Dakota and watching a big buck bolt out of a tiny wood thicket that was maybe ½ an acre. It was in the middle of nowhere and there was actually more cover not too far away, but that buck felt comfortable there. Maybe it instinctively knew this area was frequented by people shooting pheasants, not deer. There is no doubt whitetails are survivors. In 1900 there were an estimated 500,000 whitetails scattered throughout North America. Unregulated hunting that involved market hunting decimated their numbers. Now there are 3.6 million of them in Texas alone with more than 25 million nationwide. A lot of the increase has to do with regulated hunting as well as some agriculture benefitting the species. But the rest in my opinion is about their survival instinct. Mule deer are regulated too but their numbers are decreasing. One area in northwestern Colorado called the “mule deer factory” once had a population of more than 100,000. Now it’s down to 32,000 according to the National Wildlife Federation. There are pockets of whitetail decline out there too, but they are still increasing in some areas and there is evidence of even pushing back muleys in some zones. The antlers are impressive. The battles for territory during rut are epic. Their faces are all unique a show character. But I believe what most hunters are really pursuing with whitetails is that intangible. It’s the instinct that pushes them to survive and thrive where other deer fail. It’s the smarts to outwit predators but human and animal. And it’s the surprise factor of seeing the biggest buck in your life in a place you’ve been a thousand times like me last year. There is no animal like the whitetail deer.

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Texas TACTICAL by DUSTIN ELLERMANN :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Light it up!

pose. One direction of the paddle will activate the light to constant on, and the other direction will only activate it momentarily. Or perhaps holding the bumper will activate momentarily and tapping it will bring it to constant on. Some switches can be loose and easy to acti-

DENTIFYING YOUR TARGET IS paramount for defensive shooting. Furthermore, being able to see the threat in the first place can make the difference between life or death. Statistics show that the vast majority of criminal activity occurs in darkness, so it is increasingly commonplace to have a weapon light on one’s firearm of choice.

purchasing a light is to find a compatible holster.

Training Finally, don’t just slap on a light and never hit the range with it. Even if your range doesn’t

A good quality weapon light can give you the defensive advantage. There are several options to consider in ﬁnding a best ﬁt for you.

All the Lumens Weapon lights are constantly shrinking in size and increasing in brightness. Now it seems that nearly every light manufacturer is offering something near the 1,000-lumen range and beyond as the industry chases all the lumens. Defensive firearms instructors are now recommending the brightest lights as the best option to blind attackers and give defenders the upper hand.

Mounting Most weapon lights will easily attach to the railed dustcover on your handgun. However, be aware that some manufactures such as H&K or Sig might have proprietary mounts that require an adapter. Glock is popular enough that every light I’ve owned came both with standard picatinny rail and Glock adapters. Smaller compact pistols might require a smaller compact light to fit under the dustcover. Also, decide what style locking mechanism you prefer. Some lights have locking levers that are quick, but might not always be the most snug. Some offer quick tabs that snap right into place. Some will have a tension screw that needs a coin or screwdriver to torque the light into place.

vate. Some are quite stiff to avoid accidental activation. On my Streamlight TLR-1s, double tapping the lever activates a strobe designed with a flash rate to disorient an attacker. Some lights such as Viridian and Surefire offer companion holsters that activate the light on the draw. With so many options, it takes a bit of research and thought to choose what best fits your needs.

Holster The most common reason I hear for not having a light on a defensive handgun is the hassle of having to find another holster that fits with the light mounted. If you have a pistol as just a “nightstand gun” (safely secured of course), this isn’t as much of an issue. However as stated earlier, with the growing popularity of weapon lights many manufacturers make holsters—even concealable IWB models— matched to your weapon and light. So yet another option you should think about before

Activation The most popular style of switches are ambidextrous levers or bumpers that can be reached with your support hand to activate the light. Furthermore, most of these are dual pur24

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allow night shooting you can at least train with the light to ensure it is reliable and doesn’t break or fall off your pistol while being used in live fire. Dry fire training is free—set up a safe scenario with an unloaded firearm and simulate working the controls until it is second nature. Live fire training will reveal even more, such as the smoke of your shot reflecting the light and half blinding you or actually being able to see your bullet fly through the air becausethe light reflects off the tail end. Safety first—never use your weapon light as a flashlight. Never point your muzzle at anything you don’t wish to destroy. Whatever light you choose, weapon light or even a handheld, train and be proficient to be as safe as possible in darkness.

Email Dustin Ellermann at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com PHOTO: DUSTIN ELLERMAN

11/10/18 5:00 PM

Bare Bones HUNTING by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

ET ME START THIS MONTH’S column by wishing you Happy Holidays. This is the time of year when hunters and non -hunters alike strive to make this world a better place to live in. It is a time of reflection on your past hunts and achievements and also a time to sit back and ponder about the times when you could have done better. In past years, I have reserved the December column for a listing of gifts that your hunter or huntress might love to have. One of the many gifts I wrote about was the precious gift of your time—time to spend with a young one who loves the outdoors. In a sense, this column is also about a gift to give, but with a little twist. When I wore a younger man’s clothes, I could not wait for the mail to arrive with one of my many hunting magazines. I would sit for hours and read with enthusiasm about every hunt. It did not matter to me if it was about a local hunt or one that was off in a new area, one that demanded a different way to hunt and be successful. I was so deeply involved in the stories that I imagined myself on one of those hunts. Yes, I would often dream about being on a hunt with a guide far away from my local jaunts. It was not until I was an older adult (I prefer to call it a “distinguished” adult) that I was finally able to experience a hunt in a far away place. It was exciting to know I would be seeing different animals that do not exist in my home state. I am not a professional hunter by any stretch of the imagination. I consider myself just an everyday type of guy with a very different kind of job that allows me to travel. During my travels, I have been blessed with many opportunities to hunt while away from home. I have not only hunted here in Texas, but I

“ This column is about a gift to give, but with a little twist.

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Once in a Lifetime

elk hunt in Colorado. Any trip like that would be a gift he or she would remember for the rest of their life. Some hunts that could keep the cost down to a minimum, or you could spend quite a bit. It all depends on your situation and how deep your pockets are. I would recommend not trying to hunt without a guide who is familiar with the area. You could spend days trying to find the game you are after. Or worse, never even see the game you are hunting, if you choose to forego a guide. If you get the chance to hunt Merriam turkeys in South Dakota, you would be wise to try to hunt on the Sioux Indian reservation if you can. Your guide would be a Native American very familiar with the reservation. I can assure you that you WILL see plenty of turkeys there. During my hunt, it was not uncommon to see at least 50 tom turkeys in full strut and gobT E X A S

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bling their heads off. You might find a plane ticket to New York in your stocking this year. If you do, plan on a whitetail hunt in central New York. It is not uncommon to field dress a 180- to 200-pound deer there. Big does and huge bucks are all over the Finger Lakes area. Bring along your fishing pole too. When you score on a nice deer, spend the rest of your time fishing either one of the Finger Lakes or Lake Ontario for some King salmon. I know that hunting is a big business here in Texas, but can you imagine shooting a big bruiser on public land? It can be done. With the right guide, it is almost a guarantee. I would like to remind everyone that if you do get to travel and go on your hunt of a lifetime, remember to take a few shots with your bow or rifle once you arrive at your destination. Even if you sighted-in the night before your trip, strange things can happen during the flight, somehow. I am a firm believer of Murphy’s Law with one exception… with me, when something can go wrong… it most certainly WILL go wrong. Once on a trip to Indiana for a televised turkey hunt, I made the mistake of not shooting my bow before I headed out with the camera crew. I managed to make a fool out of myself by missing a nice gobbler by a mile. Once I arrived back at camp, I discovered that some clown at the baggage section of the airport thought it would be funny and moved my sights. Not Good! In any event, the surprised look on the face of your hunter when he or she opens up that gift on Christmas morning to discover those plane tickets will be worth it all. It would be a once in a lifetime trip for them, and make no mistake about it. This would be a once in a lifetime gift from you as well Once again, my wish is that you all enjoy a wonderful holiday season spent with the ones you love the most. Merry Christmas, have fun and hunt safe.

have been fortunate enough to hunt and fish in New York, Montana, Missouri, Colorado and South Dakota to mention a few. I cannot say I was successful filling my freezer from all those hunts, but I can say that on every outing, I had an absolute great time and therefore, the hunt itself was successful. A wonderful gift that not many people would think of would be a hunting trip of a lifetime for the hunter in your life. It might be a whitetail hunt in Missouri near the Kansas border, or a Merriam turkey hunt in South Dakota. Your hunter may have dreamt of an

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Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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HE AMAZING AND INNOvative technology that has helped anglers catch more fish and have more fun out on the water continues to evolve. We have witnessed these developments progress over time. Some of the coolest things aren’t coming someday in the future—many of them are already here! A short rundown of some of the technology-driven gear can help you lift up your game as an angler as well as good gift ideas for the angler in your life.

tems first hand in Buras, Louisiana at an event I attended last year. Both of these products are engineered by one of the most successful boating accessories companies in the world, JL Marine. The VISION is an Android based multi-media control module for your boat’s accessories, which of course includes your Power-Pole shallow water anchor. With a super bright screen, enhanced map imaging, Android OS (think of all your apps) and a built-in camera, this system makes your boating experience better than ever before. The CHARGE system basically manages your power usage, so you can get the maximum efficiency out of your marine accessories and maximum life from all of your batteries on board throughout the day or night.

Castable Wireless Sonars/Fish Finders Not everyone has an expensive bass or bay boat so I started with this item for that reason. Castable sonars offers products such as ReelSonar’s iBobber. Simply cast this unit and almost immediately get feedback on your smartphone or tablet. Data you’ll get includes water temperature, structure, fish in the area and much more. This is great for bank fishing. It’s really stealthy for kayak fishermen who want to get Intel about an area before they paddle up to it. Most of these personal sonars priced around $89 to $149 and are a great value. They make fishing more accessible to those of us either fishing on a boat or right from the shoreline.

GoFish Cam One of the most innovative camera products I have seen is this wireless underwater camera that simply connects to your fishing line. It works with all kinds of fishing styles and captures the action as it happens underwater. It has night vision, a tough armor casing and stabilized design and it captures full HD video. What’s more is there is an app for this fishing action camera so you can easily share the videos while you are on the water. The videos come to your phone after you reel in your line. I have been following this company since their official start up a few years ago and I am impressed with what they have been doing. How cool! You can see

Power-Pole VISION and CHARGE Systems: I got to experience both of these sys26 |

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the hits and misses as they happen in the water right above your bait.

Digital Bluetooth Scales At ICAST this year I was genuinely impressed with the iBobber Bluetooth Scale with Fish Gripper, which was just being introduced to the fishing market at that time. Now you can accurately get the weight and length of your catches and record it all on your Smartphone. What a concept!

Fishing Apps A multitude of fishing apps are available for download on your smartphone or tablet no matter what kind of device you own. My personal two favorites are My Fin Finder (myfinfinder.com), which is based right here in Texas, and NetFish (netfish.io). Not only can you share your fishing photos with a network of other anglers, you can also see other fishermens’ photos and find some pretty good fishing spots. Obviously, you can also share your own hot spot locations (if you feel so inclined) and fishing experiences. No matter what you do using this cutting-edge fishing technology, they’re a way to up your game during your time out on the water. Fish hard and stay safe out there.

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« GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION: TF&G

11/8/18 1:45 PM

by Dustin Vaughn Warncke T E X A S

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RECENTLY, A NUMBER OF EURASIAN collared doves near El Paso have tested positive for avian paramyxovirus, specifically Pigeon Paramyxovirus-1, or PPMV-1. Dead doves have also been reported in Alpine. Past outbreaks have been observed in the vicinity of many of the larger urban centers of the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions such as Midland, Lubbock, and Alpine, but outbreaks may occur elsewhere within these regions. The majority of PPMV-1 outbreaks in wild birds in the United States have involved Eurasian collared doves and rock doves (pigeons). Symptoms include a dove becoming lethargic and reluctant to 28

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move, producing green diarrhea, or having difficulty in standing or holding its head upright. The virus can cause conjunctivitis (pink eye) in humans. Therefore, if you encounter multiple dead or dying doves, do not handle the birds without hand and eye protection. There is no known risk to cats or dogs from PPMV-1, but we recommend keeping pets away from infected birds. Some strains of PPMV-1 have been shown to cause disease and death in domestic poultry. Chickens can contract the disease from indirect contact such as dove feces in chicken feeding areas. Therefore, backyard chicken owners Above, a Eurasian may want to take precautions to minimize potencollard tial contact between chickens and doves. dove. If an outbreak occurs in your area, the Texas

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11/8/18 1:40 PM

REPORT: NEWS 30 u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 30 u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

32 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

42 u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

50 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data Parks and Wildlife Department recommends discontinuing feeding and watering wild birds to decrease possible transmission between doves and other birds. If multiple sick or dying doves are located in your area, please contact a local TPWD biologist or Don Kahl (phone: 806-475-1308; email: don.kahl@tpwd.texas.gov). Additionally, we advise the use of protective gloves, masks, and glasses if you handle sick or dying birds in these areas. Reporting any kind of incident that might be related to this could be of great help to researchers and potentially help stop the spread of what could become much bigger problem for our doves.

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11/8/18 1:30 PM

The NATIONAL

Lake Austin Gets Fish Habitat Enhancement

News of TEXAS

thrive began on September 25. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) fisheries biologists and volunteers from the Texas Tournament Zone Friends of Reservoirs (FOR) chapter began to supplement fish habitat with artificial fish attractors. “Until natural aquatic vegetation becomes established again in Lake Austin, these fish habitat structures will provide target areas for anglers to improve their chances of catching fish,” said Marcos De Jesus, TPWD Inland Fisheries District Supervisor for San MarcosAustin. The fish habitat structures sunk at 13 sites on Tuesday include artificial Mossback trophy trees, which were secured by custom heavy anchors and marked with buoys and GPS coordinates. These long-lasting, environmentally friendly structures are made from PVC and composite materials. They

LAKE AUSTIN WAS ONCE CONSIDered to be one of the top trophy bass fishing destinations in the nation. Unfortunately, it has undergone a decline in natural fish habitat in recent years because of efforts to control nuisance aquatic vegetation. Without plentiful habitat it can be a challenge for anglers to target sport fish that seek cover in vegetation, such as largemouth bass. An effort to restore balance to the reservoir and provide the habitat that sport fish need to

attract concentrations of sport fish by providing cover and food for prey fish in the small spaces between the branches. This habitat complements a project conducted by TPWD fisheries biologists and partners in April, which included the sinking of 50 concrete pillars near the dam at Lake Austin. The heavy five by three-foot pillars, originally used as Camp Swift barrack foundations, create an artificial reef environment that will withstand currents during flood events. “Habitat structures need heavy anchoring to withstand strong water current during flood pulses in this riverine system,” De Jesus said. “The heavy concrete pillars and the anchored artificial fish attractors that we placed this year should provide anglers with high quality fishing opportunities for many years to come. Anglers who want to target these locations can find GPS coordinates on our Locations of Fish Attractors webpage.” The artificial fish structure project

SPECKLED TROUT

ALLIGATOR GAR

Corpus Christi Bay

Carancahua Bay

Five-year-old Evan Anderson caught this 31-inch trout while ﬁshing on Corpus Christi Bay.

Bruce Smith caught this 50-inch alligator gar fishing in Carancahua, using cut bait. The giant gar was the biggest fish he has caught in the bay. He released it after winning the fight.

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NEWS PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

11/9/18 11:11 AM

WRESTLING FOR A GREAT CAUSE TF&G EDITOR IN CHIEF CHESTER Moore’s Kingdom Zoo Wildlife Center® is partnering with Hurricane Pro Wrestling for a special event Sat. Dec. 22 at the Beaumont Civic Center. “We have started a program called World Wildlife Champions where kids in our Wild Wishes program and other parts of our ministry are gathering change to help endangered wildlife. We have issued them a challenge to raise $1,000 by Dec. 22 to give to the Amos Research Keep (ARK) that does sea turtle rescue and rehab in Port Aransas and the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo’s raptor work in Israel,” Moore said. “If they meet this goal they will be presented a special World Wildlife Champions belt by wrestlers in the ring that they can then take to events and raise awareness and funds for wildlife conservation.” In addition a portion of proceeds

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from the event will go to beneﬁt Kingdom Zoo Wildlife Center’s programs. “I’m a huge wrestling fan and Hurricane Pro Wrestling is awesome. We can’t wait for the kids to rise to the challenge and do great things for wildlife and get recognized in the ring,” Moore said. In addition all kids who participate in the program will get a digital subscription to Texas Fish & Game. For more info on the event go to hurricanepro.info.

—TFG Staff Report

was funded in part by a $20,000 grant from the Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership/ FOR and matching dollars from Bass Pro Shops in Round Rock and proceeds from sales of TPWD’s Largemouth Bass Conservation License Plate. Lake Austin, considered the eighth most popular trophy bass destination in the nation by B.A.S.S. in 2014, is also home to the 24th largest bass ever caught in Texas on the statewide list of Top 50 largemouth bass. Additionally, the lake is home to good quality bluegill, redbreast, and redear fishing, and has low-density populations of flathead and blue catfish. Lake Austin is classified as infested with zebra mussels. Anglers are reminded to clean, drain and dry boats, trailers, livewells/ bait buckets, and other gear before traveling to another water body. Draining water is required by law and possession and transport of zebra mussels is illegal. —TFG Staff Report

11/8/18 1:31 PM

Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Keep Plugging in December

frequently toward the Texas Gulf Coast, a lot of anglers simply throw in the towel and dedicate themselves to activities more suitable for harsh conditions. Granted, there will be days in December when you’d have to be a fool to be on the water, but there will also be days when it would be almost foolish not to be. After all, this is the Texas Gulf Coast, and sometimes down here, Mother Nature seems to forget what season we are in. Comfortable temperatures and fishable winds can result in some hefty stringers in the early winter months. Here on Sabine Lake, we usually have a two to three week extension of the fall pattern we’ve been milking for awhile. What that boils down to is, you’ve still

ECEMBER IS TYPICALLY the month when a lot of fishermen decide to winterize their boats and tuck them away nicely in storage so they can hibernate peacefully for a few months. With the holidays weighing heavily and strong cold fronts beginning to bully more

got a little time to catch some trout and reds schooling under birds as well as some nice flounders on the shorelines and the mouths of the bayous. The north end of the lake, from the North Revetment to Coffee Ground Cove is usually where we find the most bird activity once December gets here. Make the most out of this while it lasts, because when it’s over, it’s over. You probably won’t be able to take advantage of this again until March if you’re lucky. The good news is there are still plenty of fish to be caught. The redfish bite is always good in December .After the phenomenal year we’ve had with them, it’s exciting to think what this winter holds in store. Wading or drifting the mouths of the bayous on the eastern bank has produced big time for us over the years. Red Shad, Limetreuse and Glow soft plastics on ¼ ounce lead heads have gotten serious rod bending results for us. The mouth of Madame Johnson Bayou has always been a favorite “go to” spot for winter reds, especially in December. Don’t be foolish, stay off the water on the unsafe days, but by all means, take advantage of the good ones and keep plugging in December.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Walter Umphrey State Park Fishing Pier SPECIES: Whiting, Redﬁsh, Black Drum BAITS/LURES: Fresh Dead Shrimp, Cut Bait, Finger Mullet BEST TIMES: All Day

Email Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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11/8/18 1:31 PM

Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

What Will Santa Bring US This Year?

ECEMBER ON THE UPPER Texas coast can be a changing situation for fishermen. Mostly, the temperatures will be fairly mild and probably more comfortable than deep summer. This allows both fish and fishermen to roam more than at other times of the year. There is, however, always the chance of a cold front and chilly weather that changes the game plan. In cooler weather, fish deep, fish slow, and fish carefully. Pick your spots according to water depth and temperature, available sunshine, and wind. There can be many sunny, calm days this month. So, fishing the surface over reefs and even sand bars in the surf can be good—especially if there is a good bait presence. With a “good” outgoing tide near where a tidal stream enters a bay, or on the gulf side of a pass, fish will often be waiting for their next meal to float out. Incoming tides are usually not as strong as in warmer months, but normally will still put enough water over potential feeding grounds to make them worth trying. Live bait, if available, is still a top choice, but might be best when the angler “helps” to move them around a bit—by selective casting to slightly different spots. With either live or fresh dead bait, move it slowly. Marine species in our temperate zone tend to slow down in cold water. When you use a lure, soft plastics might be the very best—especially those with scents built in. However, at times a flashy spoon wobbled slowly in a current will be irresistible. On calm, sunny days, top water lures might pay off—especially for reds in weed beds. Offshore, most of the action in cold weath-

er will be deeper than in warmer months, but in water just a bit cool, upper portions of the water column will hold bait and attract the fish that feed on them. Around rigs, if may not be necessary to bottom for snappers. Sometimes a live or fresh dead bait drifted in the current with just enough weight to keep it several feet below the surface will produce steady and consistent strikes. Fishing over or near structure, chumming will always increase your chances—especially if schools of Spanish mackerel are seen working the surface. This is also a chance for trolling surface lures to be productive—not that common in cold weather. In steady weather conditions, a boat blessed both with speed and sea-keeping

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abilities, try deeper reefs and rigs. They will attract and hold somewhat not only good snappers, but groupers—and even tuna. Most tuna off Texas are probably caught as a “bonus” fish while trolling for billfish, but they are worth being selectively targeted. A “plus” to tuna is that they can be caught on bait or jigs as well as by trolling. Blackfin tuna are fun and good for the table. Hefty yellowfins are a serious sportfish and can be freezer-fillers. If you focus on the weather conditions, December can be a productive time to be on, or near, the water. It is also a time when fresh fish—whether croakers, sheepsheads, or Gulf trout—can be a welcome main course on a dinner menu/

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: December is the beginning of winter on the upper Texas coast, so weather is a big factor. Watch tides carefully, ﬁsh deeper water than in warmer periods, and be temperature sensitive in CONTINUED ON PAGE

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11/8/18 1:31 PM

Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

When the North Wind Blows

but this time they were attacking baitfish that were swimming into the lake with the incoming tide. The depth change from three feet to one foot created a place where redfish trapped baitfish before they could get into the shallow, narrow entrance to the lake. Tidal movement, either in or out will greatly help your chances of getting into fish. When you plan your fishing trip, it is helpful to check the Sportsman’s Daybook section of Texas Fish & Game for tidal movement information. Other factors to key on are Minor and Major Fish Score. These are times when the fish are likely to be feeding. In the abovedescribed situation with redfish aggressively feeding, I saw the action at 1:30 p.m. and the PM Minor in Sportsman’s Daybook was 1:37 p.m. In early December when the water temperature is around 65°F, you will find redfish very actively feeding in bayous and on shorelines. When the water temperature drops to around 50°F in late December, the redfish seek out water four feet or more in depth

HERE IS NOTHING SUBTLE about redfish feeding. They corner baitfish and shrimp, and then smash into them with gusto, tossing water everywhere. I paddled my kayak down a bayou in middle December and heard reds feeding, but didn’t see them. Then I rounded a bend and witnessed several redfish smashing bait at a point where water flowed from a three- to four-foot deep bayou into a narrow entrance to a lake, which was one foot deep. Usually redfish are waiting at the intersection of a bayou and the bay for bait being pushed by the outgoing tidal movement,

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because it is a bit warmer on the bottom. However, they will come out of those holes in search of a meal when the daytime sun warms the shallow water a few degrees. The 12-foot-deep Intracoastal Waterway, adjacent to the south side of Oyster Lake, is a good deep spot for fish to find a little warmer water. They come out of that deep water into Oyster Lake in search of prey, making Oyster Lake a good place to fish on a sunny winter day. If you open the stomach when you clean your fish, it helps you understand what the fish are eating and what lure or bait to use. One December afternoon I was kayak fishing in Keller Creek when I saw a redfish bashing the water near the limb of a tree protruding above the water by the shoreline. I turned my kayak around, paddled over that way and made the cast. The 23-inch redfish put up a good fight. When I put it on the stringer, I saw that its mouth was full of mud. Apparently it was getting shrimp out of the mud because when I cleaned it, the fish’s stomach had shrimp and a couple of twoto three-inch baitfish in it. The lure I was using was a 3.5-inch Egret Baits Wedge Tail Minnow, colored black with a yellow tail. On many December days the wind is coming from the north. Depending how strong the wind is, it could stir up the bay and make for muddy, low visibility conditions on the south side. It might be uncomfortably rough water on the south side. However, fishing on the north side where you have protection from the wind can produce well. On East Matagorda Bay, drift fishing on the northeast side between Bird Island and Chinquapin can produce sizeable trout. On West Matagorda Bay, Shell Island Reef near Mad Island Cut and Half Moon Reef near Palacios Point are good drift fishing places on a north wind. On days when the wind is light from the south or southeast, the water gets super clear. This happens because algae falls out of the water when the water temperature is low, and the bottom is not stirred up.

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If you can see a fish through the water from a distance, rest assured that the fish can see you, too. Make long casts and use a realistic lure because the fish see it better than in low visibility situations. Remember that a lure going over a fish will cast a shadow and spook the fish. I was fly fishing near Oyster Reef Farms on a calm, clear water day. I saw a school of redfish in shallow water. I cast my fly over the school, the shadow of the fly scared the fish, and they took off. Another December consideration is duck hunters. The duck hunting season is open the entire month with the exception of the first eight days. If you go out early in the morning, look for spreads of decoys and avoid that area. Most duck hunters are off the water by 10 a.m. so you may want to wait until after 10 a.m. or go fishing in the afternoon.

THE BANK BITE FISHING FROM PIERS for Trout at River Parks There are two parks on rivers in Matagorda County that can be good places for catching speckled trout

Focus: GALVESTON t CONTINUED FROM PAGE

selecting ﬁshing spots as well as techniques. SPECIES: All common bay species will be around in some numbers, trout, reds, ﬂounders, and croakers, mostly. Offshore focus on bottom species will be more productive, such as snapper and grouper.

Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

BAIT: Live baits work very well, but are more difﬁcult to obtain and keep alive in colder weather. Dead baits, cut to attract better by scent trails, when the water is cool in winter months. They are FM 521 Park and Cark Park. The conditions that may produce a trout bite are very little fresh water inﬂuence and water temperatures less than 55°F. FM 521 Park is located where 521 crosses the Colorado River. It has a pier, porta-can rest rooms and is wheel chair accessible. Carl Park, on the Tres Palacios River is close to the intersection of FM 2853 and FM 521. There is a long boardwalk along

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usually do a good job. Artiﬁcial lures that imitate natural baits that are available can be good, but normally require a slow presentation. BEST TIME: Tides and other current ﬂows are more important than time of day, water movement is always key to movement of bait species.

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the river for ﬁshing, and a launch ramp. The park has picnic tables, but no rest rooms.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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11/8/18 1:31 PM

Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt. CHRIS MARTIN

Big Baits Equal Big Trout

of truth surrounding that statement, it is a widely known fact within the coastal angling community that large wintertime speckled trout eat big baitfish. With that said, there will be no better way to catch behemoth trout this month than by throwing big lures at them. This is the time of the year when trout in the 20-plus inch range stop eating shrimp and small baitfish and begin hunting for larger baitfish as the mainstay in their diet. This change in their food consumption can often make them harder to be found, as they go from eating a large number of shrimp each day to one, or maybe a couple, of eight to twelve-inch baitfish. There are several different kinds of baitfish available to the trout, but their favorite morsel most often seems to be the mullet, which definitely makes up a large part of a big trout’s diet. If you’re looking to be productive this winter in your search for the big gals, learn to work fake, mullet-type baits in areas where you find a gathering of the real thing. Locate an area where there’s live mullet activity, and work your mullet imitator right alongside. The effect of your lure needs to closely reflect that of a wounded mullet, so try different twitches and different retrieves until you find what works best for you. The water will be cold, so remember not to be in a hurry to race your plug back to you. One retrieve that routinely produces wintertime strikes is the BMW (Bump While Waiting) retrieve. You simply let your surface walker sit still while you slowly count to five, then give it a subtle twitch or two before counting to five again These big fish slow down in the coldness of winter and reserve their energy for the collection of their daily meals. A lure that’s sitting still is a lot easier for them to consume than one that is moving. Because of winter’s cold water, the trout will go deep. However, on a high-tide afternoon with the sun shining bright, these fish will often return to the shallow flats to soak up some much-needed warmth and to grab a

F YOU HAVE BEEN FISHING THE estuaries and bays along the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico for any period of time, you may have had someone mention to you that the size of the speckled trout that you catch is determined by the size of the bait that you use. Although there’s probably a certain level

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quick bite to eat. The mud atop the flats soaks up and retains warmth from the sun, which in turn attracts baitfish such as mullet, which in turn attracts predators like the big trout. The amount of the baitfish in the area shouldn’t matter to you. If you notice only a small school of mullet atop a wintertime flats area, you should stop and fish the area, if possible. If you’re not seeing any action with your top water baits, work the top of the flats with a slow-sinking bait that will hover in the water column somewhere between the bottom of the bay floor and the water’s surface. As we discussed earlier, the trout slow down considerably when the water gets cold, and these sub-surface lures that typically resemble a wounded mullet can be a very productive tool for you atop a mud flat in cold conditions. They usually sink at a very slow rate, and they tend to took just like a mullet that’s easy to catch! There are a lot of different artificial baits to choose from in today’s marketplace, which can make it extremely difficult as you try to make a buying decision. From a historical standpoint, some of the key producers in the top water bait segment include the Top Dog, She Dog, Skitter Walk, Super Spook, Badonk-A-Donk, and the Matrix Mullet. Try tossing plastic tails in darker colors from any of the more popular manufacturers—Gambler, Norton, DOA, Paul Brown, Bass Assassin, Down South Lures, and the Berkley Powerbaits to name just a few. In the end, however, and regardless of the bait you choose, locating wintertime trophy speckled trout comes right down to you being able to successfully imitate a mullet, so go find you some mullet atop a mud flat and give it a try this month. Remember, big baits equal big trout.

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

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11/8/18 1:31 PM

Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

Run for Your Lives!

HERE IS A MENACE THAT lurks among us. It is dreaded by all, feared by most and downright disgusting to those who have been attacked. As of this writing you won’t see Rockport residents whiling away in their yards or sipping coffee on the front porch. One recent visitor to our beloved area asked, “Why do local residents seem so rude!?” “I don’t find them that way at all” I responded, “so excuse me if I’m a little baffled.” “Well, I stopped to talk to some folks who had just gotten out of their car, and they hurriedly avoided me by running into their house,” the visitor said. “Then the same thing happened at the store, and then I’ll be dadgum if it didn’t happen again at our favorite restaurant! Is there something wrong with the water or is there a stomach bug going around and they must sprint to the great white throne (commode)? “Is that what has made people here so anti-social?” When he turned around I was no longer there, but headed for my truck in rapid fashion. I quickly jumped in, slammed the truck door, then drove over to him as he shook his head with a look of what-the-heck!? At the boat ramp the usual verbal dribble is quiet. Even though the trucks and trailers and boats are there, the anglers appear to be gone; but on closer inspection you can see the little white lights inside as they huddle over their cell phones, texting from one vehicle to the other. This sterile way of communicating (Yes, I hate texting) seems to be running rampant here in Rockportville these days. Even my favorite bait shop owner is huddled inside his vehicle as if the Predator from my favorite movie (Yes, I love the Predator movies) is lurking outside ready to do a human head mount of him (you gotta love it!).

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these guys makes its way to unprotected skin. The nunnery down the road has recently set a record in Hail Marys for this very reason. Upon close inspection, this little guy is truly a fascinating study. Of course, they are insects, so they have all the body parts most of us know about: antennae, wings, head, thorax, legs, abdomen etc. But how about that mouth that does all the biting? This straw-like feature of the mosquito is what distinguishes it. It’s called the proboscis, and is actually six different needles that work in harmony to make it a true blood-sucking machine. The first pair is like serrated teeth and do the cutting of our skin. The second pair of needles is much like clamps that hold the newformed wound channel open. The next two needles are the true horror of this beast. One needle is a sensory device that detects and finds our blood vessels, detecting chemicals our vessels give off, and is used to slurp away our tasty blood. The last needle is the worst. It injects an anticoagulant to keep our luscious blood from clogging the workings of the proboscis. It is also what leaves the itchy bumps when the mosquito leaves. While she (only females drink blood) fills up with our blood, she eliminates waste from her body on our skin to hold more of our blood. Great! Feed on me. Now use the bathroom on me. If that’s not the thing nightmares are made of, tell me what is. It ain’t over yet. She then literally throws up her saliva on us, leaving a parting gift that contains viruses such as dengue, West Nile virus, Zika, and chikungunya. These diseases kill hundreds of thousands of people each year. This little girl is the deadliest animal on our planet, bar none. The female uses the iron and protein in our blood to make her eggs. The male and female mate—usually in the air— but they can mate while grounded too. It is believed the wing beat frequency of the female is what attracts the male for mating. Males live only about two weeks, but females can live up to two months. The eggs need water to hatch and even a

What has invaded our peaceful town, and will it ever go away? The nemesis seemed to have come with the record rains we had this year. All was well and good as we went through a drought in the early part of 2018, but when it got wet a black cloud seemed to park itself over our coastal community. Just to answer a few questions here, the nemesis has been here for over 100 million years, and it ain’t going away. More than likely, it will be here long after us carbon units (humans) are long gone. This demon has invaded every aspect of life from cutting lawns, to getting bait, shopping, barbecuing, eating, sleeping and even breathing. The demographics for the area is pretty much a retired/aging/mature group of folks. Like me, they detest texting but have become quite skilled of late in this insular way of communicating due to fear of being eaten alive. I bet you thought this was going to be an article about getting into shape as the heading might suggest. It is anything but! Even though it is the closing of the year (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, by the way), and we all could use a little conditioning tune-up. The devilish creature I speak of is of course Culicidae. The one, but not only, mosquito. Eighty-five species exist here in Texas and three thousand on our blood-rich planet. They were here before the dinosaurs, after the dinosaurs; and my bet is they will outlast us, too. They have evolved to resist many pesticides, and the only complete eradication of these miniature winged bloodsuckers involves chemicals that will eradicate us as well. Further, science has all but given up trying to repel/kill them, rather embracing a new strategy of “let’s all hide from them.” Current repellents (inaccurate term) now seek to make us invisible to the sharp-beaked blood seekers. If this doesn’t suggest we really don’t have an effective way of ridding mankind of this bug, which will inevitably see our demise, nothing will. I am pretty sure the good Lord put these things on our planet to test our predilection to use colorful metaphors. Even the saintliest among us is gonna cuss when one of F I S H

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Forecast: ROCKPORT just about all there is. Some attract mosquitos, while others work just marginally well. Try and buy. Any new repellent I buy in a small can. Then I get into mosquitos and spray it directly on mosquitoes flying around me and watch its effect. If the little bugger doesn’t take a nosedive or get completely disoriented, I get my money back. The best defense I’ve found is the wind. Get much above 12 knots, and you’re gonna be pretty much freed from these pests. They are great fliers, but not strong fliers, so just about any breeze helps. At temperatures below 50 degrees, most mosquitos are rendered inactive or die. So, the cooler the better, which is almost never where we live here on the Texas coast. On the positive side, if there is one, a high concentration of mosquitos and larvae means baitfish, because they feed voraciously on the hateful things. The baitfish bring the predator fish as well, so fishing often is pretty good. So, cover up, dope up and swat often, but don’t forget to set the hook.

small plastic bag with a spoonful of water can work. The egg to adult cycle is from 4 to 14 days depending on conditions. The myth that mosquitos breed only in fresh water is false— some require fresh water, others use saltwater, still others can breed in both. What’s the point here, you ask? Simple. You fish here you’re gonna get bit. All the bug dope in the world is no guarantee. Some of the bug dope is questionably worse for you than the mosquito. Is there any hope? Several studies are in process, such as releasing sterile male mosquitos into an infested area in hope the competition between sterile and non-sterile will help drive the sheer number of hatched mosquitos down. The males in this process will be irradiated (exposed to radiation) rending them sterile. Another process is introducing a bacterium called Wolbachia into a male mosquito. When released into the wild, this male will mate with a female, but the bacteria will prevent the eggs from hatching. I’ll not hold my breath on either of these, but do wish them the best of luck. What attracts Culicidae to humans? Honestly, just about everything we are and do—smells, vibrations, lactic acid, carbon dioxide, sweating. Some body chemistry is more prone to attracting mosquitos than others. Strangely, frequent swatting at them seems to help, as if they sense aggression as a bad thing. Other practical advice comes from a guy who has spent many years in mosquito country, including Alaska and its tundra, which is some of the worst on the planet: Cover your skin! Yes, it gets hot, but better hot than bitten. Deet is the only chemical I have had continued success with. It, however, is not healthful for humans. When used regularly, it can irritate the skin as well as breathing passages. Spraying clothes with it instead of your skin, works well for me. The higher the percentage of Deet concentrate, the better it works. Anything that can hold rainwater, including weeds, needs to be removed. Heated repellents such as Thermacell work okay, but not in the wind. If you can’t smell it, it ain’t working. The long-term effect of smelling may not be good for you. As for green sprays, I’ve used 38

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••• DECEMBER—THE WATER TEMPERAture will hover around 68 degrees and with the cooler temperatures deep-water egresses are the best spot to be. This is cut bait country or if you can find it, live shrimp. Deeper water (seven feet or more) has protective qualities that hold fish. Patience is a virtue here, so pack a thermos, dress warm, put your rod in a rod holder and wait’em out. COPANO BAY: My favorite spot this time of year is the mouth of Mission Bay. Black drum and red fish frequent this area because it offers protection from wind and the mud bottoms hold warmth. This, of course, holds fish. Finger mullet free-lined works well here or cut menhaden on a light Carolina rig. Some good action for sheepsheads can be had on the old pilings near the LBJ Causeway. Small kahle hooks tipped with shrimp or cut squid is the ticket here. Free-lined is best. ARANSAS BAY: Wades down Blackjack are a good spot for reds using new penny-colored Jerk Shad. Work parallel with the bank about 20 yards off shore. On warm days the reds will |

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be near the shoreline grass; colder days out in deeper water. There are some keeper trout on the ICW side of Dunham Bay. Live shrimp under a popping cork works well here.

ST. CHARLES BAY: Twin Creeks area is still holding some black drum. Use a light Carolina Rig with fresh peeled shrimp. The cut between St. Charles Bay and Aransas Bay is the place to be for trout. New penny and watermelon-colored Jerk Shad work well here. Cast into the deep water of the cut and work the edges of the shell. CARLOS BAY: Carlos Dugout is the best spot this time of year as the deep water holds fish.Deep running lures in bone and red colors work well, as do free lined Gulp shrimp. MESQUITE BAY: Cedar Bayou is a good spot for trout and a few flounders. Light Carolina rigs work well here with mud minnows being the preferred bait. Live shrimp is a close second. The north shoreline near Roddy Island is a good spot for black drum and sheepshead. Fish near the new spoil area for sheepshead and farther south near the shoreline for drum. Peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig is good for this area. AYERS BAY: Wades down Rattlesnake Island are good for reds using soft plastics in morning glory and electric chicken colors. Several reefs run off the shoreline at a 90-degree angle. Working these reefs from deep end to shallow usually produces fish. Happy holidays!

THE BANK BITE THE ST. CHARLES BAY SHORELINE near the Big Tree is a good spot to wade for reds. Wade northeast and work the old fence lines in this area. A bubble cork with Berkley Gulp shrimp work here or use live shrimp if available.

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

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11/8/18 1:31 PM

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

Angler’s Choice

HAT’S YOUR FAVORITE soft plastic bait and color for the Texas coast? —a good question for the “colder” months of the year. Live bait can be hard to find. The choices are numerous. Down South, Egret Vudu, Saltwater Assassin, Yum, H&H Saltwater, Storm Soft Plastics, Z-Man, Kelley Wigglers, MirrOlures, Texas Tackle Factory, Berkley Gulp, Home Wrecker etc. —just a few to get the conversation going. I’m sure I left someone’s favorite out. The soft plastic under a popping cork produces good results. The following are some of the answers given to the question on a popular internet fishing talk page. Egret Wedge Tail—great action at slower retrieves, tough, and great vibration at higher speeds that provokes reaction strikes when the bite is slow. Or, how about the Norton Bull Minnow and the Sand Shad Jr.? “I love the action and the colors available,” was one angler’s reply.“Norton baits have been in my box for a long time.” Lindsey said, “Norton Bull Minnows because of their durability, great action, and they catch a lot of fish.” Durability was a big plus to many of the responding anglers. Built in action was another plus. “With even the slightest current or tide change, with a light jig head they practically work themselves.” Bass Anglers’ six-inch curly tail worms, rigged with a 1/8 ounce lead weight, rigged weedless, works well for one angler. Most of the guides favorite lures are whatever some company is giving them for free, but they won’t stay on their favorite list if they are not catching fish. Guide Tommy Countz started off with Hogies many years ago. “They were great lures and still are, he said. “I then went to Gambler, throwing the Gamblers with the flapping tail. Bass Assassin came along in the 80s. Bass Assassin and Gamblers are so soft you went through so many of them. Then I got on the Norton. About four years ago I started throwing MirrOlures,

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it, swim it. “You just have to find out what works best. Five years ago, the favorite color would probably have been purple/white tail. Ten years ago, it would have been red/white tail. Today it’s Limetreuse, probably thrown more than any other color, especially if the water’s off color.” Do fish get used to seeing a certain color, and it loses its catching effectiveness? “I would think that would be it,” said Capt. Ralph Frazier. “Then again, one of my guides told me he caught 16 on pink/ clear, red/white tails. I talk to biologists, and they tell me that we know more than they do about why the fish chose one color, and then change to another. When we think we know something the fish will prove us wrong.” It seems like new soft plastic baits and different colors show up frequently. Some of the new colors are awesome. Whether they will catch fish, only time will tell. I do not recommend any one soft plastic. Like the guides all echoed, everybody has their own favorite.

which I have been throwing for four or five years.” Capt. Jack McPartland in the winter months throws a Pumpkin Seed/Chartreuse tailed soft plastic. “I don’t leave the ramp without that color,” said Capt. McPartland. “When I first started fishing down here, we didn’t have Kelley Wiggler, Hogie and Nortons and stuff like that. Most people threw Speck Rigs, and just little straight worms. Most of them were double rigged. Most of the people back then had either gold or silver spoons and Bingos. Then you had all these others come on the market. “At this time of the year the shrimp have pretty much migrated out to the Gulf. Bait in the water is bait fish … little mullet, little shad. We try to imitate it. The best way to imitate it is throwing the soft paddle tail, the minnow and shad types.” “Limetreuse, and for some reason the Texas Roach, is a really hot color,” says Capt. Countz. “I’m a firm believer that color makes a difference about two percent of the time when fish react to the bait. “The reason the Bass Assassin Sea Shad is so good is because you don’t have to know anything. You can just reel, and the action is built into the bait, one of the few baits available that is like that. The bass guys call them swim baits. You can work

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Email Tom Behrens at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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11/8/18 1:31 PM

Coastal Focus: BAFFIN BAY :: by Capt. SALLY BLACK

Time Flies When the Fish Bite

Spend real money on the very best waders, base layers, waterproof jackets, hats and gloves and anything else that guarantees comfort under any conditions. It’s better to take it off when it gets warm than to not have it if it gets cold or wet. Being comfortable makes everything better while hunting or fishing in the winter. Baffin Bay has had lots rain this year. The condition of the Bay and the mass expanses of shoreline grass in all bay segments are perfect for a great duck season. Sitting on camo captain’s chairs behind brand new state-ofthe-art panel blinds on the bank is a comfortable and effective way to hunt. Guides at BBR&G hunt “where the ducks want to be,” meaning, in their flyways between the fresh water tanks on the King and Kenedy ranches, and the grassy saltwater shorelines of the Cayo del Grullo, Alazan and Baffin Bays. It’s all about those retrievers, however. Watching those Labs work and have fun retrieving ducks makes the entire day a joy. It’s time to get serious about wade fishing for trophy trout on Baffin Bay. Low and slow is one of the best ways to target big fish who are generally shallow (knee deep to waist deep). Whether tossing bigger paddle tails like the fat, five-inch Saltwater Assassin Die Dapper, or a Corky, the big fish hang on the bottom and move slowly in ambush areas such as potholes, edges and drops. Top water lures can be deadly on the right days. Where there’s visible action on the top of the water or lots of nervous mullet churning about, tie on a Super Spook, Jr, or a Yozuri 3DB if it’s relatively quiet, or a loud Skitterwalk, One Knocker Spook, or an obnoxious She Dog for some big blow-ups if it’s cloudy and windy. Color is less important than the sound that the top water makes. The solunar tables and the moon phases are just as important to fishing as they are to hunting. Baffin Bay has no tide, but it does have wind that blows the water around (in essence, a “tide”). Weather and barometric pressure can also

HE YEAR HAS BEEN A BLUR here at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun as we’ve been blessed to host lots of guests here to share the cycle of life on the bay. From the end of duck season last year in January and the beginning of trophy trout in February to the celebration of spring beginning in March, the first part of the year flew by. Trophy trout continued through early May, with lots of hard-core fishing focusing on that one thing—a Baffin Bay Big Girl. Kids got out of school, and summer fun rolled into full swing, with the lodge full of families and pool-side activities. Legendary fall fishing and dove hunting began and moved into mid-October when the first cold fronts of late fall began. Water temperatures start to fall, then duck season begins, and the cycle of life on Baffin Bay moves on. Living life through the seasons of Baffin Bay is an interesting experience with lots of wonder and excitement. December is packed with duck hunting and trophy trout fishing combined into an adventure called a “Blast and Cast.” Cramming two full days of hunting and fishing into one day is a challenge. Beginning in the pitch-black dark, and ending near sunset, this is a super-full day of outdoor adventure. Baffin Bay Rod and Gun offers more than just a “Blast and Cast,” however. A morning duck hunt without a fishing trip in the afternoon is called a “Blast and Nap,”, and a full day of fishing without a duck hunt is also on the menu. Bringing the right gear is critical to having fun all day. Being cold and wet sucks. 40

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be an indication of feeding activity. Putting all of this information together while making a fishing game plan for the day can really make a difference. The guides at BBR&G are the very best at using this information effectively, all the while teaching their clients the importance of paying attention to the signs. Then, don’t forget about the Christmas. One of the best Christmas presents that you can give is a gift certificate for hunting and/or fishing at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun. Between Christmas and New Years, BBR&G is open to host anyone who needs a quick get-a-way, or even a last minute fishing trip. Just call. Merry Christmas to the outdoorsmen of Texas. We can’t wait to start a new year and begin again to enjoy the cycle of life and the “seasons” on Baffin Bay. Whether you’re seeking trophy trout or some wall-hanger ducks, or both, Baffin Bay Rod and Gun is home base for both activities. Please give us a call to see what this is all about, and to live a five-star experience and adventure at BBR&G. See you soon at “The Last Best Place on the Texas Coast”. Capt. Sally Black; Professional Fishing and Hunting Guide since 1998, and co-owner, Baffin Bay Rod and Gun.

« 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

The Other White Meat

HE VAST MAJORITY OF WINter visitors who come to South Texas during the cold months of the year cannot afford a boat. It simply is not in the budget of a retiree. Not only that, with gas prices tickling $3 per gallon, the cost of schlepping a boat all the way down from the Great White North is prohibitive. A boat is simply not in a budget-minded winter Texan’s equation. Unfortunately, that makes many of the classic Laguna Madre fishing spots beyond their reach. Some will hop aboard a head boat for the opportunity to catch of few of the residential red snappers that congregate in state waters. But it’s a crapshoot because of the cold fronts that blow down here every three or four days. Again, even the reduced rate of a winter party boat can put a crimp in a winter Texan’s wallet. Still, these elderly ladies and gentlemen catch their share of fish every year. Sometimes, they do better than some of the longtime residents. Their secret?—a little sand, a little silver, and a taste for white meat. Winter Texans take advantage of the South Padre Island surf for the sort of fishing action they crave. Take a drive down Padre Boulevard on SPI, or up and down Highway 100 through Port Isabel. You’ll see a plethora of out of state license plates on trucks with pvc rod racks battened to their front grills, all of them bristling with 8- to 12-foot long surf rods. Clusters of these trucks are parked up and down the island in February. Their occupants are sitting in lawn chairs, their rods now off the truck grill and in wrought-iron rodholders, baits out among the suds. Sooner than later, a rod begins bucking, and another fish is hauled onto the beach. The surf offers a great fishing opportunity for the land-bound angler, or even for the boat

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delicacy worthy of an Iron Chef (although Morimoto-san would probably turn it into ice cream or gelato, or some such abomination). Neither the whiting or the pompano are difficult to catch. A 7 ½- to 9-foot surf rod is ideal. Match it with a 4000- to 6000-sized spinning reel spooled with 14- to 20-pound line. Most of the fishing is in the wade gut or up against the first bar, so pyramid and disc sinkers in the one- to two-ounce range are fine. A box of #2 (not 2/0) Eagle Claw 066N 2X-Long shank hooks should cover your needs. Most fishermen get the pre-fabricated, double-stage leaders at Wal Mart or at the bait shop by the dozen for their terminal tackle. However, many wily fishermen know that a hand-made, 30-pound mono leader is more effective in fooling leader-shy pompanos. Simply pin a peeled bit of shrimp on each hook and flip your rig near the bar where the waves are breaking. It normally doesn’t take too long for a whiting to find your rig and give it a yank. Sometimes, a second whiting grabs the other bait while you’re reeling the first one in, and the double header is good for a few whoops when you drag it onto the sand. If you hook into a pompano, then the whoops get even louder. A very good reason to rig with heavier line is redfish. Some of these bad boys are still roaming the surf, and they’ll grab one of your little whiting/pompano rigs out of pure meanness and make the drag on your spinning reel sing. That’s when the whooping gets loudest of all.

owner who wants a change of pace along with saving a few bucks in gas money. The same four wheel drive vehicle that you take to the deer lease is well-suited to negotiate the sand of the beach. Also, the sand along the high-tide line is packed down enough that some two-wheel drive vehicles can get out to the suds. Take a shovel with you, though, just in case you need to dig yourself out of a soft spot. A variety of fish will readily grab a bait presented by even the most inexperienced neophyte angler, almost all of them excellent table fare. The most common fish that swims up and down guts and bars of the Padre Island surf in February are the two types of whiting, the Southern and Gulf. The Gulf Whiting is most common in the surf, and is silver in color, with a sleeker profile. The stouter, squatter Southern Whiting is more common in the bay and around passes, but is also present in the surf, especially around the Brazos-Santiago jetties. These are strong fish that will give a good hard yank when first hooked. Then, after a token resistance, they will obediently come along when they realize resistance is futile. These guys are plentiful—it doesn’t take long to catch enough of them for even the biggest fish fry. They are surprisingly large, averaging 12 to 13 inches. Still, it isn’t uncommon to catch a half dozen bull whiting between 18 and 20 inches, and the clean white fillets fry up beautifully. A second fish worth every surf fisherman’s attention is actually a prize catch on any trip, the Florida Pompano. These scrappy cousins of the thuggish jackfish and the cosmopolitan permit zoom up and down the surf in search of shrimp and sand fleas. Sometimes they’ll grab a baited hook. Pompanos average between one and three pounds, but their short, powerful bursts and bulldog determination make for sport on all but the stoutest Hatteras Heaver. As for their table qualities, a whole pompy baked inside a paper bag with butter, white wine, green onions, and mushrooms is a F I S H

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Dolphin Cove SPECIES: Black Drum, Sand Trout TECHNIQUES: Fish with shrimp or crab on a bottom rig. Use heavier tackle if you’re after drum.

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

SALTWATER Keep Up with the Jones’s Trout

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.

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Old Gulf Cut GPS: N 28 42.919, W 95 53.21 (28.7153, -95.8868)

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Jones Bay Shoreline GPS: N 29 18.684, W 94 55.555 (29.3114, -94.9259)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddletail baits CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “In colder water we key off-color water. You don’t want to fish the crystal-clear water. A lot of times the Off colored water is made by baitfish stirring up the bottom. The fish are in that water trying to feed on them.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin Sea Shad CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “I will throw a topwater bait, trying to get a reaction bite. Then I know the ﬁsh are there, and I will switch to the Bass Assassin Sea Shad, Corky or MirrOdine.” LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoal GPS: N 28 40.449, W 95 53.898 (28.6742, -95.8983)

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Burnett Bay GPS: N 29 46.246, W 95 03.174 (29.770772, -95.052897)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddletail baits CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “We do a lot of drifts, west end of East Bay because it’s pretty much scattered shell.”

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drop to the bottom and then slowly retrieve it.” LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Scotts Bay GPS: N 29 44.37, W 95 2.21 (29.7395, -95.0368)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “A number of Sylvan Beach piers are in 12 feet of water providing deep water for the fish to escape water temperature fluctuations. Little Cedar Bayou is a good ambush point on a falling tide.” LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Shell Island Reef GPS: N 29 11.983, W 95 0.932 (29.1997, -95.0155)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin Sea Shad CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “If they miss the topwater, I’ll switch to something that will get down deeper, something I can work slow.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: “The two bays are deep water. Let your bait |

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Campbell Reef GPS: N 29 21, W 94 52.325 (29.3500, -94.8721)

LOCATION: Matagorda HOTSPOT: Colorado River GPS: N 28 40.32, W 95 58.04 (28.6720, -95.9673)

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Black Bayou GPS: N 29 59.818, W 93 45.432 (29.996966, -93.757192)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin Sea Shad CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Favorite colors in the Bass Assassin are Limetreuse and Texas Roach

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddletail baits CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “We go up the river to Selkirk Island, looking for bait activity. If it hasn’t got really cold, I will drift the current and cast the banks. You have shell and sand bars along the edges of the banks, and then drop off. A lot of the times the ﬁsh will be right at the drop offs.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Super Spooks or She Dogs topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Adam Jaynes 409-988-3601 amjaynes@gmail.com www.justfishsabine.com TIPS: “Black Bayou is good place to fish if the winds pick up. If the birds are still working, you can find action up down the Bayou.”

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou Shoreline GPS: N 28 31.342, W 96 12.489 (28.5224, -96.2082)

Take a Gander at Goose Isle Redsﬁsh

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Goose Island GPS: N 28 7.579, W 96 59.427 (28.1263, -96.9905)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddletail baits CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: Wade fishing….”Dropping water temps, shrimp are going back to the Gulf. We go from chasing birds to finding the fish without any help.”

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic baits or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Mainly fishing for redfish in water, flats, four feet or less. “Watch your tides as they fluctuate with the cold fronts. It can change every day because of the cold fronts passing through.”

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Tres Palacious Bay GPS: N 28 42.452, W 96 12.346 (28.7075, -96.2058)

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Long Reef GPS: N 28 3.618, W 96 57.679 (28.0603, -96.9613)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddletail baits CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Redfish will come out the back areas because of no water caused by strong north wind. Once you find them you can spend hours catching them until you feel like your arms are going to fall off.”

••

LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: Outer Lap Reef GPS: N 28 7.502, W 97 4.737 (28.1250, -97.0790)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic baits or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “In December we will be using soft plastic probably because live bait is hard to find. If you can find shad, menhaden, that will work.”

•••

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic baits or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Capt. McPartland like soft plastics in either a strawberry or watermelon color, fished on a 1/8 oz. jig head. “The only time I use a jig head heavier than 1/8 oz. is when I fish close to Port Aransas, because of the currents.” LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Pringle Lake GPS: N 28 19.083, W 96 30.425 (28.3181, -96.5071)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Down South Soft Plastics and Corky Fat Boys CONTACT: Capt. Mark Robinson 361-550-1081 fishmpt@aol.com www.edgewateroutfitters.com TIPS: “Redfish in the back lakes, trout good along the shorelines over shell. The surf will be good whenever it’s been calm.” LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Farwell Island GPS: N 28 21.61, W 96 27.652 (28.3602, -96.4609)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Down South Soft Plastics and Corky

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11/26/18 9:33 AM

FISHING HOTSPOTS Fat Boys CONTACT: Capt. Mark Robinson 361-550-1081 ﬁshmpt@aol.com www.edgewateroutﬁtters.com TIPS: Favorite colors: Down South - plum/chartreuse….”Doesn’t matter what the water color is. It always works.” LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Packery Flats GPS: N 27 37.46, W 97 12.41 (27.6243, -97.2068)

TIPS: “I usually use a lighter jig head, 1/8 oz, as they don’t sink as fast and don’t get caught up in the grass.”

••

Laguna Reds & Specks Strike Oil

•••

by Tom Behrens

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Berkley Gulp CONTACT: Capt. George Strader 956-434-9971 gfcsfishing@yahoo.com splcharterfishing.com TIPS: “Trout and redfish will be on gas wells if the winds are under 14 mph.” LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Yarborough Pass GPS: N 27 12.14, W 97 21.57 (27.2023, -97.3595)

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Oil Field Flats GPS: N 26 15.079, W 97 15.943 (26.2513, -97.2657)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Gold Spinner Bait CONTACT: Capt. Royce Macha 979-429-0406 rimamlm@live.com

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Fly ﬁshing with a Clouser or crab imitation baits CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-553-2058

11/26/18 9:33 AM

FISHING HOTSPOTS Randhyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadrereslghtcasters.com TIPS: Capt. Best is sight casting for speckled trout, looking for sand pockets in the grass.

white bass will be on the channel sandbars. LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Ames Spring Basin GPS: N 32 42.7499, W 94 5.394 (32.7125, -94.0899)

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Cat Head GPS: N 27 18.382, W 97 26.263 (27.3064, -97.4377)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net TIPS: Capt. Little advises using live shrimp, if available, or Berkley Gulp under a popping cork while drifting

••• FRESHWATER ••

Merry Christmas from Toledo

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: “Fisherman’s Wharf” River Ledge/Bar GPS: N 31 46.644, W 93 49.602 (31.7774, -93.8267)

SPECIES: White Bass & Crappie BEST BAITS: Slab spoons & Rat-L-Traps for the sandies and shiners and jigs for the crappie. CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: My annual Christmas gift to you: two “Hotspot” species in one location. Catch both crappie and white bass. Here on Toledo Bend we are blessed to be able to fish year-round. December is the time to kill two birds with one stone, or I should say two limits of fish with one rod and two baits in the same relative location. December is a prime month to be fishing on the north-end of the lake for both crappie and white bass. The crappie will be bunched up on the main lake river channel ledges over planted and natural brush. The

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakeﬁshing.com TIPS: Fish the cypress trees with 1/2 oz. black/blue jigs in 4-5 foot of water. Fish shad or white colored 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits and chatterbaits over the grass ﬂats and in the pad stems. Another option is to throw umbrella rigs in the river and creek bends this time of the year. LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 23.7119, W 95 35.496 (30.3952, -95.5916)

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 will begin to school along ledges by the river channel. Find the schools of shad and you will find the hybrids. This time of year, they will run shad up on these ridges during the day they will move deeper around the area. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. Live shad will be the bait of choice in deeper water, but the swim shad will work as long as you can control your retrieve to keep the bait in the depth the fish are going to be in. The depths will vary from one day to the next. Today they may be in 20 foot of water and tomorrow they may be in 40 foot. It all depends on the schools of shad. Good luck and good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina”

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11/26/18 9:33 AM

FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Dale and Little Caney Creek GPS: N 32 49.6199, W 95 33.444 (32.8270, -95.5574)

area to the damn. Water temperature is a little warmer on the lower end of the lake. So, look at Dale, Little Caney, Ray, and Bell creeks for brush piles close to a main lake point of creek channel. I look at the 20-to16-foot range for the best bite. LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake Humps and Points GPS: N 32 50.232, W 95 36.636 (32.8372, -95.6106)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Electric chicken colored jig (pink/ chartreuse), live minnows CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: November is big crappie month on Lake Fork. The water is cooling off and the crappie bite is always very good and aggressive as they feed up for winter. I am still ﬁshing brush piles until the water hits the mid 50’s. At that point, I will move to the deeper humps. I have brush piles all over the lake but the ones this time of year that produce the best will be from the mid-lake

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TIPS: “November is the time for bass to feed up for winter. Early morning bite will be shallow around grass with spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Later in the day the deep fish get active on humps and points. Fish 20 to 30-feet deep with spoons on the bottom. Watch for schooling fish. Later in the afternoon, catch them with an underspin with a swimbait on it like a flash blade with a Grandebass Hammer Jammer. Cast this set up past schooling fish and reel it to them for jam up action. Good fishin’ all!” LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Harmon Creek Area GPS: N 30 51.4379, W 95 26.43 (30.8573, -95.4405)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, swimbaits, underspin rigged swimbaits with a ﬂash blade like a Grandebass Hammer Jammer CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Fresh shad, cut or whole CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service

11/26/18 9:33 AM

FISHING HOTSPOTS 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: “There is a lot happening this month here on Lake Livingston in East Texas. It’s a sportsman’s paradise! The falling or rising lake level can dictate your fishing or duck hunting plans. Fishing out of Harmon Creek Marina and Resort this time of year for blue cats can be outstanding. Fish around the old standing dead timber under the bird roost at Harmon Creek. Rig a Legend popping cork on 20lb. test with a 3-5ft. drop baited with fresh shad. Throw the cork up against the base of the dead tree and pop it. Just like fishing for Reds or Trout. Good luck fishing Lake Livingston! BANK ACCESS: Harmon Creek Marina and Resort”

channel bends in the back half of major creek arms in 8 to 15 feet. Best baits are weighted ﬂukes/swimbaits or drop shots. If cold, with water temperatures below 50 degrees, use 1/2 to 3/4 oz. football jigs in along the main river channel ledges in 15 to 30 feet.

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 8.4599, W 94 7.7459 (31.1410, -94.1291)

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Hog Creek GPS: N 30 37.284, W 96 4.122 (30.6214, -96.0687)

••

Gibbons Catﬁsh Hog the Spotlight

HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 18.906, W 96 9.72 (32.3151, -96.1620)

•••

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad or rough fish CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: The technique we are using this month is drift fishing for catfish. Fish long stretches in deep water throughout the lake. Fresh cut shad or rough fish is the best bait. Just cover lots of water in various depths from 20’ to 40’ deep. Use big tackle for big fish! LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Twin Points Humps GPS: N 32 53.16, W 97 29.672 (32.8860, -97.4945)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jerkbaits, 3/4 oz. lipless crankbaits CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxfishingguide.com TIPS: Fish the drains of side coves in major bays with suspending jerkbaits and 3/4 oz. lipless crankbaits. If deep hydrilla is found in these side coves, the fishing will be even better. Late December is a perfect time to catch a double-digit fish!

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Punch bait, fresh shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Hog Creek comes close to Pelican Island, with 13’ water. Fish the edge of creek, close to lily pads, for the best results. Big blue cats cruise through here. LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Upper Lake GPS: N 32 51.588, W 96 51.2639 (32.8598, -96.8544)

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 17.838, W 93 45.036 (31.2973, -93.7506)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps | Crappie: minnows and jigs CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: For bass, throw spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps along the weed line. Crappie are under the bridge this time of year. Minnows and jigs are your best bet now. LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Weighted flukes/swimbaits, drop shots, 1/2 to 3/4 oz. football jigs CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxfishingguide.com TIPS: The fishing this time of year is very dependent on mild weather. Fish should be holding on creek

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Slabs with a fly 12” above CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnystevens@1scom.net johnnysguideservice.com TIPS: This area has two very large humps surrounded by deeper water. During the late fall shad congregate around these humps and sand bass follow. I find the shad and fish on my electronics and jig straight up and down with the slab and the fly and many times you will get a double. For people who like to cast. Fan cast over the humps and work the slab slowly back to the boat. LOCATION: Fayette County Reservoir HOTSPOT: Intake Cattails GPS: N 29 55.398, W 96 44.8859 (29.9233, -96.7481)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh

G A M E ®

11/26/18 9:33 AM

FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Punch bait, worms, shrimp CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: At the right side of the intake you will find cattails in 5 foot of water. Chum along the cattails and fish early mornings and evenings here. LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 42.2939, W 97 20.9279 (30.7049, -97.3488)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad, Zote Soap, cut bait and perch CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Now is a transition time at Granger Lake and the crappie fishing and white bass fishing is fading off. However, the blue catfish are going strong and the high-water conditions from all the rain has helped to turn on the blue cat bite. Shad is the preferred bait by most but cut bait and perch are also good. I like to use Zote Soap because the gar will not bother it and it normally catches the good eating sized fish. Use 11/0 tuna circle hooks and the blues will not get off as easy as with other hooks. Good luck and good fishing. LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Rough Creek GPS: N 32 24.9354, W 97 47.2602 (32.4156, - -97.7877)

SPECIES: White and Black Crappie BEST BAITS: Live minnows and small jigs (electric chicken, blue ghost, and chartreuse and white CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: Work over structure slowly, work deeper until you locate the best depth. Bridge pilings can also be a great choice on those colder days. Fish may be suspended. LOCATION: Lake Lavon

HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 5.5079, W 96 28.6799 (33.0918, -96.4780)

SPECIES: White Bass & Crappie BEST BAITS: Flukes and crappie jigs CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Both white bass and crappie will be suspended in about 18-25 feet this time of year. Tapping on the boat with a rubber mallet or a broom stick will usually call them in as they will come to investigate the noise. Dead sticking ﬂukes is usually the best bet.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Tire Reef GPS: N 30 18.438, W 96 33.6899 (30.3073, -96.5615)

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Main Lake Bridges and Brush Piles GPS: N 32 8.904, W 95 28.008 (32.1484, -95.4668) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh shad, shrimp CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: There is a tire reef from 6’-23’ here. Start shallow and move out deeper for the bite. Colder water tires hold more shad, attracting lots of cats. Carolina rig here and allow plenty of time to land big fish in open water.

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs in pink/white, small minnows CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www. rickysguideservice.com TIPS: “Crappie ﬁshing prospects are very good on brush piles and under the main lake bridges. Best depth is between 17-24 feet of water. Fish bridge piles and the beams down from the surface.”

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Richland Creek Channel Near Crab Creek GPS: N 31 58.434, W 96 18.708 (31.9739, -96.3118)

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Main Lake Point GPS: N 33 22.545, W 97 3.076 (33.3758, -97.0513) SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Danny King’s Blood punch bait, cut bait, shad CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.goneﬁshin.biz TIPS: The heavy timber along the Richland Creek

SPECIES: Crappie, white bass BEST BAITS: Minnows, 3/4- to 1-oz. slabs T E X A S

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CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780 justinwilson371@yahoo.com TIPS: Colder weather is here but that doesn’t mean the fish aren’t biting. White bass bite has been consistent. Look for big schools of fish off the main lake points in 20-40 foot of water. Once you find them, slabs jigged off the bottom usually make quick work of filling a cooler. The crappie bite has been better than the past months and more keeper fish are being caught. Look for these fish holding close to brush piles in 25-30 foot of water or deeper. Jigs are working well but the quality of fish seem to be better on minnows. Brighter color slabs and jigs have been a very good key to success.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS channel of the lake and near the Crab Creek area is loaded with blue cats as early winter arrives. These fish (both the eaters and BIG ONES over 30 pounds) will be there all winter long and actually get easier to catch in January & February. While we use Danny Kings Blood Punch Bait on a # 4 treble hook and target the 1- to 5-pound fish, other fishermen like to use shad or cut bait on a circle hook and go for the trophy catfish. You will find catfish in the clustered timber in 15 to 20 feet of water as well as along the creek channel drop off in 30 feet of water. Spool up with a heavier line and hang on as you just might catch “The Fish of a Lifetime!”

817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: Winter time fishing is here. The water is cold, and the bite is hot! The cold-water temperatures have pushed the bait from the creeks and the they have ganged up in a “safety in numbers” type of deal in the main lake. Some of the satellite schools of stripers have merged into larger schools and are trapping the bait to the surface and up in the cuts along the shoreline as well as in the mouths of some of the creeks. This has been trapping the bait between colder shallow water and the open water. With the 3/4 oz. lead head and swim bait you can make long casts and count your bait down about a foot per second. Then make a medium to slow retrieve and really load the boat. On days that the fish aren’t pushing the bait to the surface we are making long casts with the swim baits and slow trolling (strolling) with the trolling motor set on a medium slow speed. Remember the water is cold and the shad are lethargic. When you think you’re fishing slow enough, slow down a little more. RSR Lure’s 1 oz. chartreuse and holographic and the white with holographic slabs are producing a lot of white bass. Find the schools on ledges and edges and drop the slab to the bottom, bouncing it up and down. Remember to work it slowly and try different columns of the water to figure out which depth produces fish.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Juniper Point East GPS: N 33 51.888, W 96 49.8779 (33.8648, -96.8313)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Road Runner and Sassy Shad jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfishlaketexoma@gmail.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: “Few anglers know how good the fishing is in December. Cool water temperatures make the fish go into a feeding frenzy. Large fish up to 20 pounds will be on the prowl. Fishing a 4-inch to a 6-inch Sassy Shad on a 1 oz. jig head will work the best. Texoma’s stripers prefer white glow and chartreuse colors. Road Runner 1-ounce white jigs with a 7-inch worm are deadly on the big fish holding structure. Fish the main lake points, mouths of creeks and humps near deep water. Always keep your eyes on the seagulls. Large schools of stripers can be under the birds. Bank Access: Juniper Point East”

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Henry Bass Load Up for Winter

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LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Mushroom Tree GPS: N 32 56.785, W 98 26.281 (32.9464, -98.4380)

SPECIES: Striped bass, hybrids BEST BAITS: Shad, jigs CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Fish are wintering back here because of warmer water, plenty to eat, and they are gearing up to make the early spring spawn run up the Brazos. Shad are best if you can get them, but they are usually deep this time of year. This is slabbin` season. So, break out your slabs and jigs, and your teasers and Mister Twister Curly Tails, because the fish will stack up on bottom on break lines and drop-offs off the old river channel. White, yellow, chartreuse, and neon green will be the favored colors. The old mushroom tree across from bird island is what we line up on to find the flat. About the middle, from both landmarks, you look for 20 feet deep off that flat. That’s the magic number a lot but one day it could be 18 feet and the next 36 feet, but they will run that depth like a natural highway. Once you find it, you’ll catch a lot of fish!

••

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shaky head jigs, crankbaits, swimbaits, and jerkbaits in shad or perch color. CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/ﬁshing-guides.html

SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass BEST BAITS: 1/2 oz. Stripaholic jigs from www.rsrlures.com with 4” chartreuse swimbaits, 1 oz. slabs CONTACT: Randy Routh

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 2.4239, W 101 3.7919 (33.0404, -101.0632)

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 54.8279, W 97 21.1019 (31.9138, -97.3517)

•••

TIPS: “December will find the bass gorging themselves getting ready for the water to get cold over the winter. Most of the time in December the water temps will still be above 50 degrees and the bass will be feeding. Some of the fish will still be up the creeks and some will be on the steep banks where they can drop off into deeper water when the cold fronts roll through. If you can’t catch fish up the creeks, move to the steep banks that the sun is hitting.”

Amistad Bass Like to Burn Bridges

•••

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Bridge Pilings GPS: N 29 29.124, W 101 01.984 (29.4854, -101.033067)

G A M E ®

11/26/18 9:33 AM

FISHING HOTSPOTS

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: soft plastics CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com www.amistadbass.com TIPS: Afternoon is best. Drop-shot with a 4-inch worm.

••

•••

Striper Paradise on Lake Buchanan

billed crankbaits, and wacky-rigged worms CONTACT: Barry Dodd - Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service 210-771-0123 barrydodd.tetf@gmail.com www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: The water temperature will fall into the low 60’s in December. Both bass and crappie are still chasing schools of baitfish so they are in one place today and another place tomorrow. The cool fronts are becoming more influential on the surface water temperature and can drop several degrees overnight. Game fish respond to prefrontal conditions with feeding frenzies but can have lockjaw for a couple days with postfrontal conditions. Remember that neither largemouth bass nor crappie prefer places in direct north wind or strong current.

SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass BEST BAITS: 1 oz. red jigging spoon CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 capt.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: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main River Channel GPS: N 30 50.016, W 98 24.324 (30.8336, -98.4054)

The Bass are Binge Eating on Coleto

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Paradise Point and Garrett Island GPS: N 30 50.7899, W 98 24.918 (30.8465, -98.4153)

SPECIES: Stripers, Hybrid Bass & White Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, jigs or shad colored crankbaits CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: December is a great month on Buchanan because the stripers are moving up towards the upper end of the lake and even up the river! For stripers, white bass, Hybrids ﬁsh around Garret Island and Paradise Point areas. Troll either jigs are shad colored crank baits. Just have a great time on our lakes and leave them with a boat load of good EATING!

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, Carolina rigs, Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or soft plastic lizards CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: Fish should be feeding all they can, especially on those warmer days. This is the time of year they start getting on all the fat they can before the fry gets scarce. It is dog-eat-dog in the underworld, or should I say fish-eat-fish! Ha! Fish will still be shallow on warmer days. On windy days the spinnerbait is a good choice and calmer days a Carolina rig can be very productive. In South Texas, one of my favorite colors is always watermelon red dipped slightly in chartreuse. I like Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or lizards. Brush hogs are always my first choice. Have a little more patience and focus on main water grass. You’ll be sure to get some big bites.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Guadalupe River Area GPS: N 29 53.892, W 98 18.7199 (29.8982, -98.3120)

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Potters Creek Park Area GPS: N 29 54.1799, W 98 16.14 (29.9030, -98.2690) SPECIES: Crappie & largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures, spinnerbaits, square-

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F I S H

G A M E ®

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 45.792, W 97 11.3219 (28.7632, -97.1887)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: “Water temperature is on the way down this time of year so remember, cold water holds oxygen better than hot water. Therefore, the fishing should be improving. Stripers will be in transition moving from the lower half to the upper half of the lake. The main river channel and the humps and ridges nearby are good target areas. Drifting or anchored with 4-to6-inch live shad is a good tactic, keeping your bait just above the fish you are marking on your graph.”

T E X A S

•••

D E C E M B E R

2 0 1 8

11/26/18 9:33 AM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK DECEMBER 2018

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

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

T12

T11

T10 T9

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

T8 T17

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

T15 T16

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

T13 T6

T3 T2 T1

T14

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

T18

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

T19

T20

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

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

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

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass Jetty Sabine Pass Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass Galveston Bay, S. Jetty Port Bolivar

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

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

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

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

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

PLACE Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, W. Bay Alligator Point, W. Bay Christmas Pt Galveston Pleasure Pier

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

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

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

PLACE HIGH San Luis Pass -0.09 Freeport Harbor -0:44 Pass Cavallo 0:00 Aransas Pass -0:03 Padre Island (So. End) -0:24 Port Isabel +1:02

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

READING THE GRAPH

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

Moon Overhead

Fishing Score Graph

Moon Underfoot

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 52

D E C E M B E R

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2 0 1 8

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

11/26/18 9:33 AM

DECEMBER 2018

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

26 FEET

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

12:19 AM 2:26 AM 11:55 AM 8:42 PM

1.45 ft. 1.47 ft. -0.39 ft. 1.66 ft.

TUESDAY

Low Tide: 12:50 PM -0.32 ft. High Tide: 9:39 PM 1.61 ft.

WEDNESDAY

Low Tide: 1:51 PM -0.18 ft. High Tide: 10:28 PM 1.53 ft.

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 2:56 PM 0.01 ft. High Tide: 11:06 PM 1.44 ft.

FRIDAY

30 » Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:08 AM 9:21 AM 4:07 PM 11:37 PM

0.90 ft. 0.98 ft. 0.23 ft. 1.35 ft.

SATURDAY

Dec 1

Low Tide: 6:26 AM 0.64 ft. High Tide: 11:24 AM 1.00 ft. Low Tide: 5:22 PM 0.45 ft.

SUNDAY

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

12:04 AM 6:56 AM 1:02 PM 6:36 PM

1.28 ft. 0.37 ft. 1.09 ft. 0.65 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

BEST TIME

7:30 — 8:30 AM Sunrise: 6:51a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 9:00p Moon Set: 10:11a

AM Minor: 7:47a AM Major: 1:31a PM Minor: 8:17p PM Major: 2:02p

Moon Overhead: 3:04a Moon Underfoot: 3:35p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 AM Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 10:05p Moon Set: 11:07a

AM Minor: 8:53a AM Major: 2:38a PM Minor: 9:23p PM Major: 3:08p

Moon Overhead: 4:05a Moon Underfoot: 4:35p

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12a

12p

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 AM Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 11:11p Moon Set: 11:57a

AM Minor: 9:57a AM Major: 3:43a PM Minor: 10:26p PM Major: 4:12p

Moon Overhead: 5:04a Moon Underfoot: 5:32p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

10:30A — 12:30P Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 12:43p

AM Minor: 10:57a AM Major: 4:43a PM Minor: 11:24p PM Major: 5:10p

Moon Overhead: 6:00a Moon Underfoot: 6:27p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

11:30A — 1:30P Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 12:16a Moon Set: 1:24p

AM Minor: 11:50a AM Major: 5:37a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:03p

Moon Overhead: 6:53a Moon Underfoot: 7:18p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12:30 — 3:30 PM Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 1:18a Moon Set: 2:02p

AM Minor: 12:13a AM Major: 6:25a PM Minor: 12:38p PM Major: 6:50p Moon Overhead: 7:43a Moon Underfoot: 8:07p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:00 — 10:00 AM Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 2:19a Moon Set: 2:38p

AM Minor: 12:58a AM Major: 7:10a PM Minor: 1:21p PM Major: 7:33p Moon Overhead: 8:31a Moon Underfoot: 8:55p

11/26/18 9:33 AM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

3 FEET

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

12:27 AM 7:29 AM 2:22 PM 7:45 PM

TUESDAY

1.23 ft. 0.12 ft. 1.21 ft. 0.83 ft.

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

12:48 AM 8:04 AM 3:28 PM 8:49 PM

WEDNESDAY

1.20 ft. -0.10 ft. 1.31 ft. 0.97 ft.

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

1:08 AM 8:38 AM 4:26 PM 9:46 PM

THURSDAY

6«

1.20 ft. -0.25 ft. 1.38 ft. 1.08 ft.

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

1:26 AM 9:13 AM 5:18 PM 10:39 PM

FRIDAY

1.20 ft. -0.35 ft. 1.42 ft. 1.15 ft.

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

1:41 AM 9:49 AM 6:06 PM 11:29 PM

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

8«

1.20 ft. -0.39 ft. 1.42 ft. 1.19 ft.

9«

High Tide: 1:50 AM 1.21 ft. Low Tide: 10:25 AM -0.39 ft. High Tide: 6:52 PM 1.39 ft.

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

12:31 AM 1:34 AM 11:02 AM 7:38 PM

1.20 ft. 1.20 ft. -0.34 ft. 1.35 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:00 — 11:00 AM Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 3:18a Moon Set: 3:14p

AM Minor: 1:40a AM Major: 7:51a PM Minor: 2:03p PM Major: 8:15p

9:30 — 11:30 AM

10 «

Low Tide: 11:39 AM -0.27 ft. High Tide: 8:24 PM 1.30 ft.

Low Tide: 12:18 PM -0.17 ft. High Tide: 9:07 PM 1.26 ft.

12a

Low Tide: 12:57 PM -0.05 ft. High Tide: 9:44 PM 1.21 ft.

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM

12a

Sunrise: 7:01a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 8:55a Moon Set: 7:34p

AM Minor: 5:31a AM Major: 11:14a PM Minor: 5:56p PM Major: -----

Moon Overhead: 12:34p Moon Underfoot: 12:09a

6:30 — 8:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:00a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 8:04a Moon Set: 6:44p

AM Minor: 4:39a AM Major: 10:51a PM Minor: 5:04p PM Major: 11:17p

12p

BEST TIME

6:00 — 8:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:59a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 7:10a Moon Set: 5:56p

Moon Overhead: 11:44a Moon Underfoot: None

AM Minor: 6:24a AM Major: 12:12a PM Minor: 6:49p PM Major: 12:37p

Moon Overhead: 1:24p Moon Underfoot: 12:59a

Moon Overhead: 2:15p Moon Underfoot: 1:50a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

12p

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 3:50a AM Major: 10:02a PM Minor: 4:15p PM Major: 10:27p

Moon Overhead: 10:55a Moon Underfoot: 11:19p

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:59a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 6:13a Moon Set: 5:11p

AM Minor: 3:04a AM Major: 9:16a PM Minor: 3:28p PM Major: 9:41p

Moon Overhead: 10:06a Moon Underfoot: 10:30p

12p

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:58a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 5:15a Moon Set: 4:30p

AM Minor: 2:21a AM Major: 8:33a PM Minor: 2:45p PM Major: 8:57p

MONDAY

BEST TIME

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS Fishing Score Moon Moon Graph Overhead Underfoot

READING THE GRAPH

12a

10:30A — 12:30P

Sunrise: 6:57a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 4:17a Moon Set: 3:51p

Moon Overhead: 9:19a Moon Underfoot: 9:42p

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 1:37 PM 0.08 ft. High Tide: 10:16 PM 1.17 ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

Low Tide: 2:20 PM 0.22 ft. High Tide: 10:43 PM 1.13 ft.

FEET

SATURDAY

15 º Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:51 AM 9:27 AM 3:08 PM 11:04 PM

0.67 ft. 0.70 ft. 0.36 ft. 1.09 ft.

SUNDAY

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

6:25 AM 11:27 AM 4:03 PM 11:22 PM

0.51 ft. 0.73 ft. 0.51 ft. 1.06 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

BEST TIME

7:00 — 9:00 AM Sunrise: 7:02a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 9:43a Moon Set: 8:26p

AM Minor: 7:19a AM Major: 1:06a PM Minor: 7:43p PM Major: 1:31p

Moon Overhead: 3:04p Moon Underfoot: 2:39a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 AM Sunrise: 7:02a Sunset: 5:20p Moonrise: 10:26a Moon Set: 9:19p

AM Minor: 8:12a AM Major: 2:01a PM Minor: 8:36p PM Major: 2:24p

Moon Overhead: 3:52p Moon Underfoot: 3:28a

D E C E M B E R

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2 0 1 8

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 AM Sunrise: 7:03a Sunset: 5:21p Moonrise: 11:06a Moon Set: 10:12p

AM Minor: 9:05a AM Major: 2:53a PM Minor: 9:28p PM Major: 3:16p

12a

9:30 — 11:30 AM

AM Minor: 9:54a AM Major: 3:43a PM Minor: 10:16p PM Major: 4:05p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 5:22p Moon Underfoot: 5:00a

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:04a Sunset: 5:21p Moonrise: 11:43a Moon Set: 11:05p

Moon Overhead: 4:38p Moon Underfoot: 4:15a

12p

BEST TIME

10:30A — 12:30P Sunrise: 7:04a Sunset: 5:21p Moonrise: 12:17p Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 10:41a AM Major: 4:30a PM Minor: 11:02p PM Major: 4:52p

Moon Overhead: 6:06p Moon Underfoot: 5:44a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 7:05a Sunset: 5:22p Moonrise: 12:50p Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 11:25a AM Major: 5:14a PM Minor: 11:46p PM Major: 5:35p

Moon Overhead: 6:48p Moon Underfoot: 6:27a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

6:30 — 8:30 PM Sunrise: 7:05a Sunset: 5:22p Moonrise: 1:23p Moon Set: 12:52a

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 5:56a PM Minor: 12:07p PM Major: 6:17p

Moon Overhead: 7:32p Moon Underfoot: 7:10a

G A M E ®

11/26/18 9:33 AM

1812 Texas Outdoor Nation-ISSUU.indd 55

11/26/18 9:33 AM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

17 FEET

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

6:28 AM 12:54 PM 5:07 PM 11:38 PM

0.31 ft. 0.84 ft. 0.66 ft. 1.05 ft.

TUESDAY

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

6:47 AM 2:04 PM 6:16 PM 11:52 PM

0.09 ft. 0.98 ft. 0.79 ft. 1.06 ft.

WEDNESDAY

Low Tide: 7:17 AM -0.15 ft. High Tide: 3:03 PM 1.12 ft. Low Tide: 7:22 PM 0.90 ft.

THURSDAY

20 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:08 AM 7:53 AM 3:57 PM 8:23 PM

FRIDAY

21 «

1.09 ft. -0.38 ft. 1.25 ft. 1.00 ft.

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

12:28 AM 8:34 AM 4:49 PM 9:18 PM

SATURDAY

22 l

1.13 ft. -0.59 ft. 1.34 ft. 1.08 ft.

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

12:56 AM 9:18 AM 5:40 PM 10:09 PM

SUNDAY

23 «

1.18 ft. -0.75 ft. 1.39 ft. 1.12 ft.

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

1:32 AM 10:06 AM 6:31 PM 11:01 PM

1.21 ft. -0.84 ft. 1.40 ft. 1.13 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

7:00 — 9:00 PM Sunrise: 7:06a Sunset: 5:22p Moonrise: 1:56p Moon Set: 1:46a

AM Minor: 12:25a AM Major: 6:36a PM Minor: 12:48p PM Major: 6:59p

12p

2:15 AM 10:55 AM 7:21 PM 11:59 PM

1.20 ft. -0.85 ft. 1.36 ft. 1.08 ft.

12a

BEST TIME

8:00 — 10:00 PM

AM Minor: 1:05a AM Major: 7:17a PM Minor: 1:29p PM Major: 7:40p

9:00 — 11:00 PM

AM Minor: 1:47a AM Major: 7:59a PM Minor: 2:12p PM Major: 8:24p

High Tide: 3:08 AM 1.14 ft. Low Tide: 11:46 AM -0.76 ft. High Tide: 8:08 PM 1.29 ft.

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

1:10 AM 4:15 AM 12:39 PM 8:50 PM

12a

0.97 ft. 1.02 ft. -0.59 ft. 1.19 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM

10:30P — 12:30A

12p

12a

5:00 — 7:00 AM

12a

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 7:09a Sunset: 5:25p Moonrise: 6:44p Moon Set: 7:56a

AM Minor: 4:17a AM Major: 10:33a PM Minor: 4:48p PM Major: 11:03p

Moon Overhead: 11:47p Moon Underfoot: 11:17a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:09a Sunset: 5:24p Moonrise: 5:41p Moon Set: 6:53a

AM Minor: 3:22a AM Major: 9:36a PM Minor: 3:50p PM Major: 10:05p

Moon Overhead: 10:49p Moon Underfoot: 10:21a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:08a Sunset: 5:24p Moonrise: 4:44p Moon Set: 5:48a

AM Minor: 2:32a AM Major: 8:45a PM Minor: 2:59p PM Major: 9:12p

AM Minor: 5:19a AM Major: 11:35a PM Minor: 5:50p PM Major: -----

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:18p

Moon Overhead: 12:49a Moon Underfoot: 1:20p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

Sunrise: 7:08a Sunset: 5:23p Moonrise: 3:54p Moon Set: 4:43a

Moon Overhead: 9:54p Moon Underfoot: 9:28a

TUESDAY

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:07a Sunset: 5:23p Moonrise: 3:10p Moon Set: 3:41a

Moon Overhead: 9:03p Moon Underfoot: 8:39a

MONDAY

FEET

12a

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS Fishing Score Moon Moon Graph Overhead Underfoot

READING THE GRAPH

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

Sunrise: 7:07a Sunset: 5:23p Moonrise: 2:32p Moon Set: 2:42a

Moon Overhead: 8:16p Moon Underfoot: 7:54a

24 «

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

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

2:33 AM 5:52 AM 1:34 PM 9:28 PM

0.80 ft. 0.86 ft. -0.36 ft. 1.10 ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

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

3:49 AM 7:56 AM 2:33 PM 10:01 PM

0.57 ft. 0.71 ft. -0.08 ft. 1.01 ft.

SATURDAY

29 » Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:49 AM 10:00 AM 3:39 PM 10:30 PM

0.30 ft. 0.66 ft. 0.20 ft. 0.94 ft.

SUNDAY

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

5:39 AM 11:58 AM 5:01 PM 10:57 PM

0.03 ft. 0.72 ft. 0.45 ft. 0.90 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

BEST TIME

6:00 — 8:00 AM Sunrise: 7:10a Sunset: 5:25p Moonrise: 7:50p Moon Set: 8:56a

AM Minor: 6:25a AM Major: 12:09a PM Minor: 6:56p PM Major: 12:41p Moon Overhead: 1:51a Moon Underfoot: 2:22p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

7:00 — 9:00 AM Sunrise: 7:10a Sunset: 5:26p Moonrise: 8:58p Moon Set: 9:51a

AM Minor: 7:32a AM Major: 1:17a PM Minor: 8:02p PM Major: 1:47p

Moon Overhead: 2:53a Moon Underfoot: 3:23p

D E C E M B E R

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12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 8:38a AM Major: 2:24a PM Minor: 9:07p PM Major: 2:52p

12a

3:30 — 5:30 AM

AM Minor: 9:40a AM Major: 3:26a PM Minor: 10:07p PM Major: 3:53p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 4:48a Moon Underfoot: 5:14p

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:11a Sunset: 5:27p Moonrise: 11:11p Moon Set: 11:23a

Moon Overhead: 3:52a Moon Underfoot: 4:20p

12p

BEST TIME

8:00 — 10:00 AM Sunrise: 7:10a Sunset: 5:26p Moonrise: 10:06p Moon Set: 10:40a

4:30 — 6:30 AM Sunrise: 7:11a Sunset: 5:28p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 12:03p

AM Minor: 10:36a AM Major: 4:23a PM Minor: 11:01p PM Major: 4:49p

Moon Overhead: 5:40a Moon Underfoot: 6:05p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 7:11a Sunset: 5:28p Moonrise: 12:13a Moon Set: 12:40p

AM Minor: 11:27a AM Major: 5:15a PM Minor: 11:51p PM Major: 5:39p

Moon Overhead: 6:30a Moon Underfoot: 6:54p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

7:00 — 9:00 PM Sunrise: 7:12a Sunset: 5:29p Moonrise: 1:13a Moon Set: 1:16p

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:02a PM Minor: 12:13p PM Major: 6:25p Moon Overhead: 7:17a Moon Underfoot: 7:41p

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DECEMBER 2018

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

31 FEET

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

6:25 AM 1:39 PM 6:14 PM 11:20 PM

-0.21 ft. 0.84 ft. 0.66 ft. 0.90 ft.

TUESDAY

Jan 1 Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

7:08 AM 3:04 PM 8:06 PM 11:41 PM

-0.42 ft. 0.97 ft. 0.80 ft. 0.91 ft.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 7:47 AM -0.57 ft. High Tide: 4:05 PM 1.06 ft. Low Tide: 9:22 PM 0.88 ft.

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

12:01 AM 8:25 AM 4:53 PM 10:20 PM

FRIDAY

4«

0.92 ft. -0.66 ft. 1.11 ft. 0.93 ft.

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

12:24 AM 9:02 AM 5:34 PM 10:55 PM

SATURDAY

5«

0.94 ft. -0.70 ft. 1.11 ft. 0.95 ft.

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

12:52 AM 9:38 AM 6:09 PM 11:06 PM

SUNDAY

0.96 ft. -0.69 ft. 1.09 ft. 0.95 ft.

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

1:26 AM 10:13 AM 6:42 PM 11:06 PM

0.97 ft. -0.66 ft. 1.05 ft. 0.92 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 PM Sunrise: 7:12a Sunset: 5:29p Moonrise: 2:12a Moon Set: 1:52p

AM Minor: 12:33a AM Major: 6:45a PM Minor: 12:57p PM Major: 7:09p Moon Overhead: 8:04a Moon Underfoot: 8:28p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 AM Sunrise: 7:12a Sunset: 5:30p Moonrise: 3:10a Moon Set: 2:29p

AM Minor: 1:15a AM Major: 7:27a PM Minor: 1:39p PM Major: 7:51p

Moon Overhead: 8:52a Moon Underfoot: 9:16p

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12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:00 — 11:00 AM Sunrise: 7:13a Sunset: 5:31p Moonrise: 4:07a Moon Set: 3:09p

AM Minor: 1:58a AM Major: 8:10a PM Minor: 2:22p PM Major: 8:34p

Moon Overhead: 9:40a Moon Underfoot: 10:04p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 AM Sunrise: 7:13a Sunset: 5:32p Moonrise: 5:03a Moon Set: 3:52p

AM Minor: 2:41a AM Major: 8:53a PM Minor: 3:06p PM Major: 9:18p

Moon Overhead: 10:29a Moon Underfoot: 10:54p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

4:30 — 6:30 AM Sunrise: 7:13a Sunset: 5:32p Moonrise: 5:58a Moon Set: 4:39p

AM Minor: 3:26a AM Major: 9:39a PM Minor: 3:51p PM Major: 10:04p Moon Overhead: 11:19a Moon Underfoot: 11:44p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:00 — 7:00 AM Sunrise: 7:13a Sunset: 5:33p Moonrise: 6:50a Moon Set: 5:28p

AM Minor: 4:14a AM Major: 10:27a PM Minor: 4:39p PM Major: 10:52p Moon Overhead: 12:09p Moon Underfoot: None

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 7:13a Sunset: 5:34p Moonrise: 7:38a Moon Set: 6:19p

AM Minor: 5:04a AM Major: 10:48a PM Minor: 5:28p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 12:58p Moon Underfoot: 12:34a

11/26/18 9:34 AM

HRISTMAS IS VERY much a special time of year. No matter how much certain interests have tried to strip the first five letters from the word, the intent of the holiday is very much alive, and the giving spirit transcends societal 58

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trends and political debates. Every year we try to come up with something new for you during this season and this year we have a list of places doing some special themed celebrations as well just Christmas type places to go.

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Christmas on the Bay First up for the fishing purists is the Christmas Bay Coastal Preserve, in Brazoria County. It is a shallow 4,173-acre embayment in the southwestern portion of the Galveston Bay system according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials. PHOTO COMPOSITE: TFG

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PHOTO: NPS

Christmas Bay Coastal Preserve

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“The bay is a unique high-quality subsystem of estuary that has not yet been greatly altered by human activity,” officials said. “The waters of Christmas Bay to the mean high tide line constitute the preserve. It is approximately 5,700 acres in area. The preserve is one of the most ecologically productive bays of the Galveston complex. “Nearly level prairies are contiguous to extensive fresh and saline marshes and are transected by meandering streams that flow southeast into the western Galveston Bay estuary. Christmas Bay benefits from Brazoria NWR, a 42,000-acre protected wetland, which contributes to the preserve’s productivity and helps protect its water quality.”

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PHOTO: KERVILLE CVB

Sculpture and Prayer Garden

Kerville’s “Empty Cross.”

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A unique and truly beautiful place to celebrate the Christmas season is The Coming King Sculpture and Prayer Garden off of Interstate 10 in Kerrville. “The non-profit, non-denominational, Christian art garden, which is not a church or ministry, is drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from all 50 states and at least 44 countries,” according to their reports. The 24.5-acre art park is the only place in the world where the 77-foot, 7-inch contemporary sculpture called “The Empty Cross” can be seen. It is the “Most Symbolic Cross Sculpture in the World”

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according to the organization. “In addition, seven other monumental sculptures can also be viewed at this location. It is also the only place in the world where all of Greiner’s monumental sculptures are on display. A ‘Path To Heaven’ uses 77 scriptures, in multiple

The event also contributes to the economic vitality of the Concho Valley area by providing and promoting a destination event which brings people into the City of San Angelo. The first Concho Christmas was established as a walking tour in the El Paseo de Santa Angela

Concho Christmas Celebration

languages, to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The free garden is open from 7 a.m. until midnight, 365 days a year. Tax deductible donations are welcomed to help complete the garden.”

Concho River River lovers will enjoy the Concho Christmas Celebration that was founded in 1994 to enhance the enjoyment of the Christmas Season by providing an annual light display.

area featuring several lighted scenes and 21 sponsored Christmas cards. “Today, the light display, or ‘Tour of Lights’ as it is known, has grown into a 2.5-mile drive along the banks of the Concho River and features over 3 million lights. Concho Christmas has evolved its programming from a small static light display, to consist of a Live Nativity scene; the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony; the Lights of Christmas Parade; Bike Through

PHOTO: SANANGELOLIVE.COM

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Zoo Lights

the Lights, a bicycle ride with Santa; Run Rudolph Run, a walk/run event; the annual Tuba Christmas concert, FM radio broadcast and an extraordinary light show.”

Those in the Houston area will love to see the Houston Zoo transformed into a winter wonderland during their annual Zoo Lights event.

“Sip hot chocolate as you stroll through the beautiful Houston Zoo grounds and take in the sights and sounds of the season,” zoo officials said. “Fifteen miles of earth-friendly LED lighting illuminates our ancient oak trees and decorates the paths to light your way. “Sights to delight you include our giant Holiday Tree presented by TransCanada. Other features include the Holiday Train Exlore a Christmas tree forest.

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PHOTOS: TOP, HOUSTON ZOO; BOTTOM, CANSTOCK

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The Elgin Tree Farm is listed as one of the top places in the state to do this and offers a unique opportunity for families. “We grow Virginia Pine in the field and Leyland Cypress, according to management. “We have a very limited supply of Leylands. We provide a bow saw and shake and bale your tree. We have twine

for use in tying jt down to your vehicle. For our customers who love Fraser Firs since they don’t grow in Texas. We import them from North Carolina from a friend’s farm. They come freshly cut (cold storage transport). and we immediately put them in water, so they can stay nice and fresh until you get home.”

The Houston Zoo

Village presented by Macy’s, the Enchanted Forest presented by King & Spalding, and Candy, the interactive talking zebra, presented by H-E-B.”

Tree Farm And finally, you might consider an oldfashioned Christmas tree cutting with the family.

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More Gift Ideas for Anglers

When you arrive, you will be given a tag and once you cut and find your perfect tree, you will cut it then tag it. A nice hayride will take you out to the cutting fields, so you can begin your search. Someone will pick your tree up once you cut it, your tree will be shaken and baled and ready for its ride home. There are many more Christmasthemed outdoor opportunities around the state, but we found these particularly interesting and staying with the theme of the most wonderful time of year-especially for those who love the great outdoors.

FINDING CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR the angler in your life can be challenging. Most anglers will be satisfied with a new landing net or a few packs of their favorite lures. However, you might want to do something spectacular for your favorite fishermen. If you’re the big gift giver of the family you might want to think about going high tech. Several different kinds of gifts in

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the technological realm could make an angler’s Christmas bright and his fishing

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scales are a must. The good news is they are relatively inexpensive and you don’t need a rocket science degree to use them.

might think, “Well, my favorite fisherman doesn’t have a boat.” That’s OK. Several fish finders for bank fishermen can be thrown out like a bobber. For the first time in history bank fishermen can now scan the water as well as those in boats.

Fish Finder Every angler needs a fish finder of some type. The ability to locate fish and analyze cover and structure is vital in catching more and bigger fish. You

Fish ﬁnders aren’t just for boats any more.

trips more successful.

Digital Scale Serious anglers need a digital scale. Whether they fish weekend tournaments or simply want to be accurate in bragging on the weight of their catches, digital

Digital scale

PHOTOS: HUMMINBIRD; BERKLEY

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Waterproof Phone Case

waterproof case for yours can save both money and frustration. Take that from someone who once jumped into the water to wadefish with a phone still in my pocket.

This isn’t high tech, but it protects high tech. Everyone has a smart phone, so finding a quality

Gift Card An App Store gift card can be a real hit for your fisherman. Many fun and effective fishing apps are available, and every tech lover enjoys the time spent learning new ones. Whether it’s a digital fishing logbook app or special weather app, your gift card might be the ultimate stocking stuffer for the growing number of high-tech anglers.

• • •

Holiday Recipes

Venison Chili THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO COOK venison, this chili recipe will warm you up on a cold winter day and makes for great football game day food as well. This is great the day you prepare it, but I think its twice as good the next day, it freezes well too.

Ingredients 2 lbs. “Chili Grind ” Beef Chuck Roast 1 lb. blackstrap- cubed in 3/4 inch pieces, you can use top of round instead, if you so desire. Bag #1 4 tbs Chili Powder-(Dark Ancho, It’s rich in flavor) Substitution shown at bottom 3 cloves of garlic 1 medium white onion 1/2 tsp.-Black Pepper, 1/2 tsp.-Salt 1/2 tsp.-Cayenne Pepper For a milder flavor use 2 dried Ancho peppers and 1 dried New Mexico Red instead of the powder. Remove The stems and seeds, chop coarsely and boil for 15 to 20 minutes in 3/4 cup of water, then transfer all to food processor and blend into a paste. Then add to recipe. Bag #2

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Venison chili

3 tbs Texas Gourmet’s Sweet Chipotle Season All 3 tbs.-Cumin

PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

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2 tsp.-Garlic Powder 1/16th tsp.-cinnamon 1/2 tsp.-Oregano Leaf

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2 Fresh Jalapenos- seeded and chopped

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Other Ingredients: 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Swanson Chicken Broth 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Swanson Beef Broth 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Stewed Tomatoes 1 can (8 oz.) Hunts “No Salt Added” Tomato 1 Knorr Beef Bullion Cube 1 Tspn Light Brown Sugar 1 Beer Bock Style]

Preparation Add “room temperature” meat to a hot cast iron skillet. Brown it until it starts to make its own juice. Stir continuously; add both cans of broth, and Bag #1. Cook covered at a

medium boil for 45 minutes. Uncover and stir every 10 minutes. Add water and beer as needed. Drink one or two for me. Add tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes and add Bag #2. Add 1 Beef bullion cube. Add 1/2 tsp. light brown sugar. Use the following to season to taste: Salt Cayenne Pepper – for hot front taste White Pepper – for hot front taste Brown Sugar – for a sweeter taste Ready to eat—Better next day! Bon Appétit! —Bryan Slaven, The Texas Gourmet

•••

Venison Roast This one comes from the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio. • 2½-3 pound venison roast • Creole butter marinade, injected • Lawry’s seasoning salt • Pepper • Potatoes • Onion Inject creole butter marinade into the roast. Add the seasoning salt and pepper and place the roast into a medium sized cooking bag with potatoes. Cook the roast for 1½ hours. Remove the roast from the bag, cut and serve.

••• Wild Boar Schnitzel Another recipe from TPWD • 2 lbs. raw, boneless loin of boar (makes 6 medallions) • 2 tablespoons Smoke Rub • 2 cups breadcrumbs • 2 eggs, beaten • 1-cup milk

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Heat the clarified butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering (325º -- 350º). Carefully lay in 3 cutlets and cook 1-1/2 to 2 minutes per side until the crust is set and golden. Turn and cook the other side for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and hold warm. Repeat with remaining cutlets. Combine Apple Cider Brandy sauce and julienned apples in a saucepan and warm through. Spoon onto plate and top with schnitzel.

one. 1-1/2 lbs. redfish fillets 1-cup milk 2 cup yellow cornmeal 1 tsp. hot sauce 1/2 tsp. salt 1 stick unsalted butter 1/4-cup vegetable oil 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup chopped parsley 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice Wash fillets under cold running water and place in a bowl with milk, hot sauce, and salt. Allow to sit 15 minutes at room temperature. Heat 2 Tbs. butter and veg-

••• Crispy Pecan Redfish Venison Roast

• 1-cup flour • ½ cup clarified butter • Salt and pepper to taste • 1-1/2 cups Hudson’s Apple Cider Brandy Sauce (see below) • 1 Granny Smith apple, julienned Season the loin with the Smoke Rub and smoke it 1 to 1-1/2 hours until medium rare to medium, an internal temperature of 140º. Slow smoking helps to tenderize and imparts a delicious flavor. Remove from smoker and refrigerate whole. Grind dried breadcrumbs in food processor. We use crumbs from our pumpkin bread, but a dried French loaf or sourdough is fine. Slice loin into medallions ½” to ¾” thick. Between plastic wrap, pound with a mallet to an even ¼” thickness. Season the pounded medallions with salt and pepper. Combine eggs and milk and beat to make egg wash. Pass seasoned medallion through flour, then egg wash and then breadcrumbs. PHOTO: OHIO DNR

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etable oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Drain fillets and dredge in cornmeal. Fry until crispy and brown, about two minutes on a side; do not crowd the pan.

For those who love fish, I had to throw this one in. It is one me and my wife Lisa found years ago searching out ways to cook the red we were catching. It’s a good

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Pour grease out of skillet and add remaining butter. Place over medium heat, add nuts when butter melts. Stir constantly while the nuts brown.

Add parsley and lemon juice, stir to combine. Pour sauce over fillets and serve immediately.

•••

There are a number of delicious ways to prepare quail.

Texas Bandera Smoked Quail This is a cool one from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Serves: 6-8 • 6 boneless smoked quail, small dice • ¼ cup Bronze Rub • ½ cup diced green chilies, Hatch or Anaheims • ½ cup goat cheese • 1 tablespoon shallots, minced • 2 tablespoons garlic, minced • ½ cup jicama, small dice • 1 bunch green onion tops, fine dice • 2 bunches cilantro leaves, roughly chopped • 2 limes, juiced • 1-teaspoon salt 74

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spoon jicama mixture. Fold egg roll wrappers around fillings. Follow the directions on the package. Brush last fold with egg wash to seal. Deep fry in oil until golden brown. Do this in batches of 4 so the oil doesn’t cool down. The egg rolls will float, so you will have to keep turning them to get even

browning. It will probably take a couple of minutes to crisp the outside and heat the innards. If rolls have been refrigerated, increase cooking time to 3 -- 4 minutes.

• 1 egg • ½ cup milk • 16 eggs roll wrappers • 1-quart canola or vegetable oil Smoke quail using ½ Bronze Rub. Set aside. Dice the smoked quail and mix with remaining Bronze Rub. Combine chilies, goat cheese, shallots, and garlic and reserve. Mix jicama, green onion, chopped cilantro, limejuice, and salt and reserve. Whisk the egg with the mil to make egg wash. In center of each egg roll wrapper, place 1-tablespoon quail mixture, 1-tablespoon goat cheese mixture, and 1-tablePHOTO: BIGSTOCK

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Industry INSIDER What Boat or RV is Best for You? CAN’T DECIDE WHICH BOAT OR RV to buy? It all depends on your tastes, your budget and your needs. With trends changing, more features are added to boats and RVs, and the range of styles expand each year. For outdoor enthusiasts, the more you know about next year’s trends now, the better off you’ll be when summer arrives. It’s important to consider all your options and stay open-minded. Going to boat shows and expos is helpful to see the different types, sizes and colors of boats in person, instead of shopping for them online or in catalogs. Industry experts from Texas

have revealed trends they’re already seeing, including what families are looking for, popular styles and brands, and even how much the industry has changed over time. Buzz Watkins of Sail and Ski in Austin, Texas will be exhibiting at the 2019 Austin Boat and Travel Trailer Show in January,

and has attended for over a decade. He said buying a boat didn’t used to be so complicated. “The most interesting thing is that I’ve been doing this for 40 years and it used to be pretty simple. We might have one kind of boat that was popular in four or five sizes,” Watkins said. “Now, there are six or seven kinds of boats and a lot more sizes to choose from, not to mention the different colors and motor styles.” By attending shows and seeing different models, you’re able to order your perfect boat with amenities that are perfect for you and your family (while prices are lower and the selection is bigger), and it will be ready to ride just in time for summer. The Austin Boat and Travel Trailer Show is docking at the Austin Convention Center from January 4-6, 2019, bringing unbeatable deals on the most popular watercraft. For more information, visit www.austinboatshow.com.

—by JENNIFER MCKINNEY

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Fish and Game GEAR Textron Prowler Procrew THE NEW, SIX-PASSENGER PROWLer Pro Crew XT brings quiet power and performance to the multi-passenger market with seating for six people. The vehicle is powered by a whisper-quiet, 50-horsepower, 812cc EFI engine offering plenty of power. As a true work partner, the Prowler Pro Crew XT has 10 inches of front and 9.5 inches of rear suspension travel, 10 inches of ground clearance, and 26-inch Pro Terrain tires for a comfortable ride for all occupants. A 2,000-pound towing capacity, 1,500-pound payload and 1,000-pound cargo box capacity allows the vehicle to easily haul six people along with all the gear needed for a long day on the hunt. For added versatility, the

vehicle’s six-person bench seating features removable passenger seats for additional storage space inside the cab. For ease of

maintenance, the Prowler Pro Crew XT has toolless service components with easyaccess panels, so the vehicle can spend more

The Prowler Pro Crew XT, in Dynamic Charcoal and Fire Red. Ideal for work or sporting use.

time at the hunt camp. The vehicle comes pre-wired to easily add accessories, and its standard 75-amp alternator provides plenty of power to operate various accessories and implements at once. The Prowler Pro Crew XT joins the three-passenger Prowler Pro XT as part of the lineup’s electronic power steering (EPS) offering. Both vehicles are available in Dynamic Charcoal and Fire Red.

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Open SEASON by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM :: TF&G Humor Editor

House Call

Henry held one up. “Who wants a free puppy?” “There ain’t no such thing,” Wrong Willie said, joining the crowd and lifting out a pup. “They all come with hidden costs.” “Ain’t that the truth?” Henry agreed. “That’s why I’m here. I was on the way to Scott’s office to get them vaccinated, but when I saw his truck in the parking lot, I figured I’d stop by.” Willie put the inquisitive puppy on the floor, where it immediately made a puddle. “Get that up,” Doreen ordered. “People eat in here.”

HE HUNTING CLUB MEMBERship was gathered one morning around the large corner booth in Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Cafe when Henry Winstead reached the glass doors with what appeared to be a large box full of shifting weights. He worried the doors open and slipped inside. Henry gave us a nod and wide grin as he crossed to a table in the center of the cafe. Setting the box down, he waved at us, Scott Arney, our local vet, and Morgan Tomlinson, the Baptist preacher. Doreen came around the counter to hug Henry’s neck. We hadn’t seen him in months. “Whatcha got in there?” “Christmas presents. Who wants one?” Hands went up around the cafe as Henry opened the box. Tiny black heads popped up when he removed the lid, and eight black Lab puppies struggled to get out. Doreen usually squealed whenever a live animal came into the cafe, and that often included individuals such as Delbert P. Axelrod, a man with the intelligence quotient of a slug. This time, though, she squealed in delight and picked up one of the pups. Trixie the waitress, who is…splendid, hurried across the room and hugged a fat, wiggling puppy to her chest as it tried to lick her face. We envied the puppy. She held the pup to her nose and breathed deeply. “She’s so keyuuuttteee! Puppy breath!” Club members inhaled as one, some recalling how puppies smelled, others watching her face. |

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She held the pup to her nose and breathed deeply. ‘She’s so keyuuuttteee! Puppy breath!’

“

‘em back in the box here. Henry, I can’t vaccinate them here for this kind of house call, but I’ll give ‘em a look right now and that’ll speed things up when we get to the office.” While Willie mopped up the puddle, the customers dropped the puppies back into the large box where they joined their wriggling brothers and sisters. The eight black puppies were carbon copies of each other, and the only way I could have told them apart was by rolling them over for a brief examination of their nether regions. Scott selected a pup and poked and prodded for a moment, then paused. “This isn’t going to work. The minute I put it back in the box, he’ll get mixed up with the others. For all I know, I’ll check the same one two or three times. Why don’t we do this at the office?” Preacher Tomlinson stepped forward with a glass of water in his hand. “Let me help.” He dipped his fingertips in the water and wet the puppy’s head. “There you go.” Scott grinned. “I could use you at the office. All right, let’s get to it.” As he finished examining each Lab puppy, Morgan wet the little head and put it back into the box. They were halfway through when a female customer I’d never seen tugged at my arm. “Excuse me, can you tell me something?” “What’s that?” “Does it cost more to have the puppies baptized?” I shrugged. “You’ll have to ask the Dream Team there. I’m just an observer of Life.”

Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

“Not off the floor.” She glared at Doc. “There’s something called the Health Department that drops in from time to time.” “Couldn’t tell it,” he mumbled. “What was that?” “Cute puppy.” Scott finished his breakfast and joined the growing crowd at the center table. “Y’all drop |

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Outdoor DIRECTORY Guides & Outfitters

Lodging

Destinations

TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS SALTWATER

LAKE TEXOMA

MID TEXAS COAST

Real Estate :: Gear

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

DFW METROPLEX

LAKE LIVINGSTON

LOWER TEXAS COAST

TEXAS SALTWATER

HUNTING

UPPER TEXAS COAST

SOUTH TEXAS

GIVE THE NEW 2019 TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FOR CHRISTMAS!! T E X A S

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BLACKBUCK ANTELOPE REDFISH

Real County Jordan Kelton bagged this blackbuck antelope while hunting in Real County with Thompson Temple Hunts.

Aransas Bay Seven-year-old Abryanna Rivera of Timberwood Park caught this 16-inch red on live shrimp while ﬁshing from a pier on Aransas Bay.

SHEEPSHEAD

CATFISH

Galveston

Lake Tawakoni

Wes Pyfer of Irving caught this nice sheepshead and several others while free lining live shrimp along the North Jetty near Galveston.

Lisa Barnet of New London caught this 41-pound catﬁsh on a guided ﬁshing trip on Lake Tawakoni.

BASS Lake Nacogdoches

REDFISH

Mandy Allen caught this 8-pound, 25-inch largemouth while ﬁshing in 20 feet of water on Lake Nacogdoches, using a Senko.

Matagorda Earl Touchstone caught this 30-inch red while ﬁshing on Matagorda Bay.

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AXIS Real County Ron Kelton took this axis deer while hunting in Real County with Thompson Temple Hunts. His son got a nice blackbuck on the same hunt (see photo, left page.).

BASS Athens Rylan Grates (L) and Anderson Casey (R), both of Lake Highlands, Dallas, worked together to maneuver and position the boat, cast, reel and land this nice bass on private water south of Athens. They worked well together and a lifelong ﬁshing bond was made.

CATFISH Toledo Bend

SHARK

Fourteen-year-old Justin Womack, of Deer Park, and his Grandpa, Doug Womack of Milam, caught this 38-pound ﬂathead and 20-pound blue catﬁsh, along with 8-, 16-, and 30-pound blues on a good two-night run on Lake Toledo Bend.

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Galveston Andy Polk of Boulder, Colorado caught and released this small Atlantic sharpnose shark while ﬁshing with his family along the Galveston North Jetty. Andy makes the long trip from Colorado each Summer to ﬁsh along the Texas Gulf Coast.

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