Texas Fish & Game April 2020 by Texas Fish & Game

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So... You Want to Catch a Monster Black Drum Spring Forward for Crappie Varmint Hunting for Fun & Wildlife Management 2004-Apr-CoverDIG.indd 1

Pursuing the State Bass of Texas

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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 AND ARDIA NEVES

Godspeed, Steve LaMascus

PUBLISHERS

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

UR LATE, GREAT, EDITOR DON ZAIDLE GAVE HIM A CHOICE: “STEVE, WHAT do you want to write about—hunting, or about guns?” That was pretty much the entire job interview, back in late 2003, shortly before Steve LaMascus became Texas Fish & Game’s Firearms Editor. After several years of passing the hat for firearms coverage to a round robin of talented outdoor writers such as Todd Woodard and Jim Foster, Don had finally decided to re-establish a monthly column dedicated to the art and science of firearms and shooting, and to fill the oversized boots originally worn by Hal Swiggett. Swiggett, a legend among outdoor writers and in the shooting world, had inaugurated a monthly guns column in Issue Number One of this magazine and that column ran until Larry Bozka took the editorial reins in the late Nineties and moved the overall content mix a little more in the fishing direction. And so, with the January 2004 issue, after he made the decision Zaidle had laid on him, Steve authored his first Texas Guns column. Since then, he has written just shy of 200 of these columns. Columns about anything as mechanically complex as modern firearms can easily get bogged down in a mire of technical jargon and specifications. But Steve brought to his monthly assignment not only a lifetime of experience, training, and knowledge in the manufacture, use and care of just about every type of gun and ammo there is, he also possessed the literary skills of a gifted writer. His columns were not just technically informative, they were also a joy to read, and often very entertaining. During his long association with us, Steve also authored many feature articles, and for several years did double monthly duty penning a column on self defense. In classic LaMascus up-fronted ness, when he felt he had shared everything that he could about the subject, he resigned from the Defense column. (These columns are still available, and still quite LaMascus, with Sweety, his longtime relevant, on fishgame.com). hunting companion. He also co-authored a book for us, “The Texas Deer Book,” with the late Greg Rodriguez. The Deer Book is also available online. Just go to the TF&G online store at fishgame.com/fishandgamegear. You can also find it at Academy Sports + Outdoors. To say Steve knows what he is talking about is the very definition of an understatement. He is a retired U.S. Border Patrol agent, with a great many years spent keeping the peace on arguably the roughest, most dangerous beat in America: the Texas-Mexico border. His service, along with a lifetime love of hunting, shooting and reloading, made him ideal for his tenure at Fish & Game. Sadly, Steve recently told us that family obligations were forcing him to retire from his monthly duties. Steve is a big, tough guy. From afar, he can still appear intimidating—a valuable trait for a lawman. It is up close that you see his thoughtful, intelligent, and caring side. He is definitely the guy you want beside you if things go wrong. But he is also someone with whom to enjoy a lively conversation on just about any subject—hunting, shooting, fishing, or the world. Godspeed, LaMascus. We will miss your monthly contributions.

E-mail Roy at rneves@ﬁshgame.com and Ardia at aneves@ﬁshgame.com 2

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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 REAVIS WORTHAM KENDAL HEMPHILL TOM BEHRENS GREG BERLOCHER RAZOR DOBBS CAPT. MIKE HOLMES STAN SKINNER NICOLE BECKA CYNDI DELANA LISA MOORE

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DIGITAL CONTRIBUTOR DIGITAL CONTRIBUTOR 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 April 2020 | Vol. 36 • No. 12

FEATURE ARTICLES

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Our Editor-in-Chief continues the saga of his quest to photograph (and hopefully bag for the table) one each of the North American turkey subspecies. This installment focuses on the Eastern and Osceola birds.

by CHESTER MOORE

Pike on the Edge by DOUG PIKE

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Bare Bones Hunting

Here are three keys to catching monster black drum. We’re not talking 10-pounders. How about 30-, 50-, even 70-pounders!

by Lenny Rudow

by LENNY RUDOW

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by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

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Taking foxes, coyotes, squirrels—even mink—for fun, and for sound wildlife management practices.

by TF&G Staff

THE STATE BASS Pursuing the State Bass of Texas, the Guadalupe.

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REPORT: NEWS 34u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

& GAME 34u FISH HOTSHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

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FISH & GAME FORECAST CENTER FRESHWATER

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FISH & GAME HUNTING CENTER

Reported by TF&G Staff

Fish & Game Forecast Center

Letters

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has been estimated at more than$50 million a year, Of those anglers, 42 percent targeted Guadalupe bass. Cousins Amos and Jaxon are part of the Wild Wishes program that grants wildlife encounters to children with a critical illness or loss of a parent or sibling. Last summer, they got a chance to go on a special Guadalupe bass catch-and-release conservation mission. The goal was to raise awareness of the species along with stream health in Texas.

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by Chester Moore

58u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

This was the pilot project for a new branch of Wild Wishes called Higher Calling Wild Wishes Expeditions. It involves taking kids from the Wild Wishes programs on expeditions to train them to become wildlife conservationists. Their trip started off in Lost Maples State Natural Area, a gorgeous tract that is considered a sanctuary for Guadalupe bass. However, despite catching numerous largemouths, we found no Guadalupes. PHOTO: TPWD

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DEPARTMENTS Outdoor Directory

by Bryan Slaven

HE NUECES RIVER FLOWS OUT OF some of Texas’s most beautiful landscapes in Real County. From 2,400 foot elevations of limestoneencrusted mountains to open valleys, the area is a treat for the eyes. Plus, in the waters that flow through here lives the state’s most unique freshwater fish— the Guadalupe bass. Dwelling in only a handful of river drainages in the Edwards Plateau, This is a small bass with the state record weighing just 3.71 pounds. The Guadalupe bass, like other “black bass” including largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, is not a true bass at all but a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials, economic impact from fishing in Hill Country streams

54 Sportsman’s Daybook Fish & Game 58 j Hunting Center

Texas Tasted F I S H

The TF&G Report • News of the Nation Texas HotShots • Trophy Photos

FISH & GAME FORECAST CENTER SALTWATER

Reported by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Capt. Chris Martin, Capt. Mac Gable, and Capt. Gerad Merritt

by Chester Moore

Texas Tactical A P R I L

VARMINT HUNTING

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

by LOU MARULLO

PLAYING THE BIG DRUM

Editor’s Notes

Texas Boating

by Matt Williams

GOBBLER QUEST

COLUMNS

April is prime crappie time. Here are tips on locating the sweet spots for those spring papermouths.

COVER STORY

story & cover photo by Chester Moore

SPRING CRAPPIE

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Fish & Game Photos by TFG Readers

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LETTERS to the Editor Human Dangers In The Woods—Blog Response

A Texas Lion

Reader Russell Koenig submitted this game camera shot of a very mature male mountain lion about 14 miles southwest of Concan in Uvalde County, Cougars are present in Texas.

MY WIFE, MYSELF AND OUR TWO young boys were rough camping in an isolated spot on Caney Creek (there are a number of Caney Creeks in Texas), in the Sam Houston National Forest Northeast of Huntsville. We had our tent set up about a quarter mile down a seldom-used dirt road off of the main dirt road through the forest. About midnight we were awakened by gunfire and loud yelling, good old boys riding the back roads and drinking. Nothing happened that night, but it was several hours before I put my pistol down and went back to sleep. My boys are grown and gone now; my wife and I still talk about these incidents from time to time and think we were lucky. Nowadays, these “incidents” could lead to big trouble.

Charlie Laird

all animals (degree in biology and me and spouse both animal shelter advocates), supporter of common sense conservation.)

Animal Apologists Column Strikes A Chord

CHESTER, YOUR ARTICLE IN THE February Texas Fish & Game was excellent. You are right on when it comes to hunters and fishermen versus animal apologists. I did kill a vegan hog, gluten free and, I believe, on a diet. He tasted like chicken not bacon. I do not recommend them; they are the one wearing lipstick.

CHESTER, JUST A QUICK NOTE TO thank you for such a well balanced discussion of these subjects. No reader of TF&G could ever doubt your staunch love of all things wild, but also your equal love of conservation and common sense approach to each, which embraces hunting and, yes, even animal control when they threaten humans. I am also sick and tired of victims being blamed when they are attacked by either animals or other humans. Your voice is sorely needed. Please keep doing what you’re doing.

Love you Brother!!! Brad Cornell YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD with the column on animal apologists. It’s rare to see someone in the “hook and bullet” sector use such a balanced approach. I applaud you for that and appreciate you not minding to tell people in the industry they’re messing up just as quickly as you would animal rights people. Your voice needs to be heard, and I hope

Regards, Martin Smith (Lifelong Texan and hunter, lover of 6

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TFG readers understand they are not just getting regular old articles, but some deep stuff here. I love how you talked about how to deal with mountain lions on playgrounds. That needed to be said as in Texas with our population exploding, this type of thing will happen with coyotes, hogs and perhaps even mountain lions in certain areas. I really appreciate it maybe more than most because I watched a video of you playing with baby mountain lions, which you obviously showed great appreciation for, but didn’t mind saying any cougar dangerous to humans should be removed. Thank you for helping take us to a different level of understanding.

Cameron Jeffries

« Email your comments to: editor@ﬁshgame.com PHOTO COURTESY RUSSELL KOENIG

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

Meeting Ted Bundy in the Woods

ED BUNDY—IT’S A NAME that invokes horror some 40 years after his despicable reign of terror. And that was the name carved into a tree deep in a national forest in Utah where Josh Slone was bowhunting mule deer. “It was an old inscription and it was chilling, especially knowing Bundy lived in Utah and killed people there,” Slone said. There are other alleged Bundy tree carvings, but this one was far, far off the beaten path. Had one of the most evil people who ever walked the planet actually carved that into the tree? There is no way to tell, but there is no question that bad people often do the worst things in remote places. I recently wrote about this at fishgame.com and got a huge response, so I decided to expand on it here. A couple of years ago someone asked me “What was the most dangerous thing to encounter in the woods?”. I’ve written and broadcasted extensively on cougars, snakes, feral hogs and bears, so they were expecting one of those as the answer. “People, ” I said. “There is nothing more dangerous than people, especially in remote forests and mountainous regions.” The answer came from collecting stories as a journalist over the years and my own personal experiences, which I will discuss in upcoming posts and broadcasts. The stories are omnipresent. Take for example, the caller to my radio program, Moore Outdoors on Newstalk AM 560, KLVI. He found a body burning while teal hunting with his son south of Houston. Another caller revealed that in the ’70s he and his father were out night fishing near High Island, Texas when he saw someone against the shoreline burying something and decided to leave. Turns out it was monstrous killer,

Dean Corll, who tortured and killed dozens of boys east of Houston. Remote areas are often the most peaceful, but because of the isolation, can be extremely dangerous. My goal is to educate people about what can happen in these areas and how to be prepared, so all deep woods hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing trips are safe. That will require bringing to light some uncomfortable facts. It will also involve creating a system of proactive safety. I see these human-related threats falling into four categories: IDIOT HUNTERS: These are rare, unethical, clueless hunters who should not be in the woods (and give the rest of us a bad name). Every year, we hear stories of people shooting someone because they heard something coming through the bushes. Statistically, this is probably the most dangerous human threat because of the widespread numbers of hunters in America. POACHERS: Encountering a poacher in the woods can be dangerous if the poacher assumes you will turn him in—or if you make the mistake of confronting them instead of allowing law enforcement to handle the duties. This is not as dangerous as in Africa where organized crime and even terror cells are involved in high stakes rhino and elephant poaching, but it is a potential threat. DRUG TRADE: Finding meth labs and pot farms is not good. People do not want their operations found out and will go to any length to stop someone from squealing.

« Email Chester Moore at cmoore@ﬁshgame.com

PREDATORS: This is the highest level of danger—someone hunting humans whether to rape, kill or terrorize. T E X A S

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There is no way to tell whether the Bundy inscription at the beginning of this story was actually carved by that monster. But think about what would have happened if you had stumbled upon him with a knife in his hand. Would you be ready to defend yourself? Would you even suspect this person? The corporate wildlife media, both on the hook and bullet and the straight wildlife side, won’t touch this issue. I don’t know whether it’s ignorance—or that they don’t want to spook potential customers and donors. I, for one, have had enough bizarre and dangerous human encounters to make me keenly aware about what is possible. Anyone who has spent any time with me can attest that I am the most cautious, safe, non-confrontation person you can imagine in the outdoors, but I keep having close calls. After much evaluation, I have concluded the reason is I have spent much time in very remote spots, including at night when crazy stuff seems to happen. If your entire hunting experience is on a private 10,000-acre ranch with a mansion for a camp, I’m happy for you. However, the chance of running into weirdos isn’t as high for you as it is two miles from the nearest dirt road in the Angelina National Forest. I’m working on a set of protocols to distribute to outdoor lovers who frequent these kinds of areas and will share them here in TFG and at fishgame.com. I’m still studying a few pieces of technology and game plans that I believe can help save lives. Additionally, there are lots of questions that need answering, and we will do that here and on my radio program. If you have any scary tales of human encounters in the outdoors, email cmoore@fishgame.com.

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

Stop the Petition

coast with staggering efficiency. That efficiency increased, too, when nylon nets gave way to nearly invisible monofilament gill nets. Eventually, as it had to for the sake of inshore resources, the law prohibited those nets. For years afterward, however, some gillnetters continued their toll on our fisheries under cover of darkness. I remember trying to fish some seasonally productive shorelines, on numerous occasions. I had to idle through mazes of gill nets so as not to foul my prop and further ruin a day already tainted by the sight of so many fish hanging dead or nearly so in nets. While that took place inshore, airplanes (drones weren’t a thing yet) and spotter boats were being used in the Gulf of Mexico to locate schools of spawning-class redfish. When those huge concentrations of fish were found, their locations were relayed to crews aboard huge purse-seining vessels that, in a single set, could wipe out thousands of 20- to 35-year old redfish. In the years B.B. (Before Blackened), those super-sized fish had nearly no commercial value—except to the cat-food industry. Unbeknownst to most people outside commercial and recreational fishing circles, the spawning biomass of a highly important species was being sold for pennies a pound to feed house cats. Every year, sportsmen saw fewer and fewer redfish. My good friend, Capt. Scott Null, said he and his friends fished Texas bays almost daily through childhood summers that coincided with the worst of that netting activity. During too many of those summers, if anyone in his group caught even a single redfish, that event was cause for celebratory phone calls and confirming photos. Maybe a couple of purse-seine seasons and one hard freeze from no return, it became clear that our redfish population stood on the brink. That’s when conservationists stepped up. Thanks in great part to the efforts and donations of folks from Coastal Conservation Association and others who got involved,

ARLIER THIS YEAR, I CAME across an online petition by a Texas sportsman who believes this state should allow gigging and bowfishing for redfish. No thanks. I believe the man means well, but I don’t believe he thought through the potential damage—short- and long-term—that could come from reducing one of our greatest inshore gamefish to the status of carp and gar. His change.org petition had nearly 300 electronic signatures at the time I saw it. It might or might not, have more by now. I don’t know because I haven’t looked. I haven’t looked, because I trust our Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to politely, but firmly, reject that idea should it ever reach Austin. An avid bowhunter (like many of us), this fellow contends that everyone should be able to take redfish by some other means than rod and reel. Why? What statute, right or privilege gives sportsmen and women the option to choose how we take our share of redfish? Why should TPWD grant special privileges to groups of people who opt out of currently allowable means and methods? Even if all those questions were answered in favor of this plan, how would those who gigged or arrowed redfish distinguish the length of their fish prior to sticking them? They couldn’t, of course, and that would require TPWD to establish yet another exception to current rules. The restrictions and limits now in place for the taking of redfish make good use of the species’ population, which is at its best in a while. It’s been worse. I came into outdoor writing around the time that speckled trout and redfish were being gill-netted up and down the Texas

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TPWD ultimately stocked millions upon millions of redfish fry and fingerlings into Texas bays. This essentially bridged the gap while nature worked to replenish itself. Fast forward to today, long after redfish were granted “gamefish” status in Texas and spared entanglement in the net. We have emerged from that darkness into a time when enough redfish have grown into maturity to replenish themselves into the future. We’ve done what we could, and we’ve done it quite well, leaving our bays and beachfronts with much improved numbers of reds. Not as many as there once were, perhaps, but enough that we can hook and string three in a day without threatening the stock’s ability to keep up. Texas sportsmen have grown to appreciate having so many fish to catch, even if not to keep. When a proposal was floated not long ago to boost the daily bag limit on reds up from three fish to five, recreational fishermen showed little interest. Three’s enough for most, for now. I recognize that our friends to the east, in Louisiana, allow bowfishing for redfish. That’s within their right, and I wouldn’t try to convince them otherwise. Their fishery is theirs to regulate, and they seem to be doing a fine job of that. If Texans want to maintain a redfish population that continues to provide more and bigger reds into the future, we’ve got to do what’s best for our fish and the fishermen who chase them. The gigging and bowfishing of reds, at least for now, doesn’t check that box.

« Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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HERE AREN’T MANY HARD AND fast rules in crappie fishing, but here’s a meaningful verse that papermouth junkies can bet the farm on—crappie are only where you find them. Also, just because you locate a springtime sweet spot one day is no guarantee it won’t go sour overnight. If this April is like most, there will probably be quite a few fish crowding traditional spawning areas such as flats, shorelines and secondary points in the backs of creeks, coves and pockets. This is where the bottom composition and cover are suitable for the tasty panfish to build beds and make babies. PHOTO: GRADY ALLEN

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Covering water and fan-casting with Roadrunners or small jigs (fished alone or beneath a cork) with light spinning gear or dabbling live shiners or jigs on a long pole rule are good ways to connect with these fish. This is particularly true for wading where crappie are ganged up and doing their thing around weedbeds, stumps, flooded bushes, brush and other attractive cover. Speaking of wading, it’s never a bad idea get your feet wet when the right conditions are present. In fact, there may be times when wade fishing is one of the best gigs going. My good friend Lendell Martin, Jr., of Nacogdoches has enjoyed some outstanding days wade fishing for crappie during early April on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. &

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PHOTO: MATT WILLIAMS

crappie on a lot of Texas reservoirs. It’s the time when the spawn starts to wind down. The fish will make the move toward deeper water where they will spend the heat of the summer in a suspended state around brush piles, standing timber and structure far from shore. Papermouth junkies know it isn’t a move that occurs overnight, though. Instead, it is a gradual shift that occurs in stages, usually in accordance with warming temperatures.

On the Move Crappie on a lightweight jig.

He says the conditions are always best when the water level is several feet above normal and the thick woods and brush adjacent to the big lake are flooded by several feet of water. “The places I like to fish are way too thick to get a boat into,” he said. “I’ll take my metal boat and go up in there as far as I can, then I’ll grab my long pole and a few jigs and just

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take off. They get around the buck brush and cypress knees, but they’ll spawn around the pines if the water gets high enough.” Enjoyable as dabbling for spawning crappie can be, it won’t be long until things to begin change. Depending on the lake up for discussion, change may already be underway. As a rule, April is a month of transition for

If you are unsuccessful at finding fish in skinny water this month, it would be a good idea to check areas nearby that offer the “cover nuts” some sort of available shelter at mid-range depths. This is usually along a creek, drainage or some other sort of pathway that connects shallow water to deep. Some of the same areas that held prespawn crappie in February and March might hold post spawners from late April through part of June. Brush piles, bridge pilings, grass beds and stump fields in the mouths of spawning coves

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can be a big draw for groups of post spawn crappie. Try lakes such as Cedar Creek, Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend, Tawakoni, Richland Chambers, Fork and Granger. Deep boat docks in the mouths of feeder creeks on the main lake also hold plenty of potential, especially those that have been doctored with willows, Christmas trees or other types of brush. When you explore docks, keep an eye peeled for rod holders, minnow buckets dangling off the side and night-lights. These could be good signs a dock may be “doctored” with brush to attract crappie. As earlier mentioned, crappie are only where you find them. You might hit a dozen such spots without a bite, then stumble across the mother lode in a different location that closely resembles all the rest. There aren’t many secrets to the most effective baits for fishing around docks, wood or bridges. Jigs and minnows rule in crappie fishing arenas. It’s how you present the bait that can make all the difference about whether you get bit or not. Although shiners soaked around brush and bridge pilings have caught a ton of crap-

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pie, it can be about as fun as watching grass grow when the bite is slow. Casting lightweight jigs on ultra-light gear is a lot more fun, and super effective in certain situations. The same is true for “shooting.” It’s a popular jig fishing technique used around boat docks— sort of like skipping a rock. Texas crappie pro Wally Marshall has had great success with the technique on lakes all over the country. Fishing guide Jason Barber uses the tactic a lot during late spring and early summer on Cedar Creek. Done correctly, Barber says the jig will sail just above the surface and reach isolated places beneath a dock that you can’t reach with conventional casting. Barber says boat docks are a huge deal on Cedar Creek. There are hundreds of docks to choose from, but some are historically better than others during the post spawn. He’s seen times when the bigger, deeper docks will hold fish through much of June until warmer water temperatures push them to brush piles in deeper water farther from shore. “They love the shade,” Barber said. “It also helps if there’s some sort of drop off under

the dock or near by.” Jigs can be equally effective around bridge pilings and the cross members that connect them, usually 10 to 15 feet beneath the surface. The key here is to fish parallel with the structure and allow the bait to sink to the depth the fish are holding. Then begin a slow retrieve. Anglers at lakes Fork, Toledo, Cedar Creek and Palestine use this tactic with considerable success around various road crossings. Jigs also can be deadly medicine on postspawn crappie in May and June when fished in relation to deeper, outside grass edges formed by hydrilla beds on known “grass lakes” such as Nacogdoches, Sam Rayburn, Kurth, Pinkston and Naconiche in eastern Texas. Grass lines in 8 to12 feet are fairly common in years when the hydrilla is in good shape on the aforementioned lakes. However, availability can vary from one year to the next and lake-to-lake. Toledo Bend usually offers some of the best hydrilla around, but the grass has been really sparse there over the last couple of years. One of the best jig techniques for target-

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PHOTO: MATT WILLIAMS

Mister Crappie, Wally Marshall, has had great success “shooting” jigs into hard to reach places.

ing grass lines is “strolling. To do it, use a depth finder to pinpoint the outermost edge of underwater vegetation. Rather than casting a jig to the grass and retrieving it to the boat, cast the bait 30 to 40 feet behind the boat and rely on the trolling motor to move the boat and keep the jig crawling along at a slow pace. It is important to watch the depth finder and keep the boat positioned right on

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the edge of the grass. This keeps the bait in the strike zone. Once June gives way to July, crappie get into a full-blown summer mode. On most lakes, that means targeting man-made brush piles, standing timber and bridge structure found at depths beyond 20 to 25 feet using jigs as well as shiners. Another good option is plastic fish struc-

tures that have been strategically placed on more than 50 public lakes by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Find a full list of all the lakes and structures along with the GPS coordinates at tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/ recreational/lakes/fish_attractorsphtml. Lake Fork guide Gary Paris says summertime crappie tend to suspend around brush piles and standing timber. He says the depth at which they will suspend can vary depending the time of day, cloud cover and water temperature. The guide says having good electronics will go a long way toward helping you pinpoint exact depth and how the fish are positioned around the cover. Paris is a Garmin guy and he’s become a firm believer in their Live Scope technology, which shows fish in real time using a transducer that mounts to the trolling motor. “Not only does it show you the fish, but it also shows you how they are reacting to your bait,” he said. “It’s the most awesome technology I’ve ever seen.”

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

Storage Disasters

NE OF THE WORST THINGS you can do to a modern outboardpowered boat is to let it sit on a trailer or in a slip, unused, where it will slowly deteriorate. Outboard engines like to be run on a regular basis, moving parts need to move to remain lubricated and corrosion-free, and pumps need to be run now and again or they won’t run when you need them most. Unfortunately, between work schedules and weather there will be times when your pride and joy may be forced to sit for weeks or even months at a time. If this is true in your case, take careful measures to be sure you avoid these boat storage disasters.

FEELING BLUE: You think it might be a good idea to cover up that boat with one of those cheap blue tarps? Covering a boat so it’s protected from the sun and weather is a smart move, but think again when it comes to what you choose to cover it with. Those blue tarps may be a lot less expensive than a properly fitted custom canvas cover, but they can also do severe damage to a boat’s gel coat, teak and brightwork—and the paint job on an outboard. That checkerboard-pattern of filaments you can feel on those tarps is ever so slightly abrasive. If a tarp isn’t secured well it can shift back and forth in the breeze for days on end. If you haven’t covered the part of the boat being subjected to this abuse with an added layer of protection (such as wrapping the outboard cowl or a teak rail with an old towel or sheet) eventually, that tarp will wear away the very finish you were trying to preserve. ANGLE OF ATTACK: Whenever you park your boat trailer, we certainly hope you make sure the bow is angled up. Otherwise, water

ALL CHARGED UP: The number-one difficulty boat owners report after an extended lay-up is a dead battery. Even if you turned the battery switch off, this will often be an issue. Fortunately, it’s an easy issue to solve. Any time the boat’s going to sit unused for a while, remove the battery(s) and put them on a trickle charge. Side note: Considering how common battery problems are and how small today’s jump-starters are, there’s really no excuse for not tossing a jumper pack into the glove box. Chances are it will save the day more than once whether your boat sits around a lot, or not.

TILTED PERSPECTIVE: If your outboard boat is going to be left on dry land for a while and you leave the motor tilted up, you might be in for a rude awakening. Outboard motors are designed to drain completely in the tilted-down position. If you tilt up on the ramp, tow the boat home, and leave it that way, parts of the cooling system will hold water from then on. Not only can this speed corrosion, but if you live in an area subject to freezing temperatures, freeze damage can occur. (A note about trailering with the outboard motor up—make sure you use a transom saver. Otherwise the weight of the powerhead and lower unit swinging fore and aft creates a fulcrum as the boat bounces down the road. This can stress the transom to the point of causing serious damage.)

RUN FOR THE MONEY: If your boat sits in a wet slip, even the best anti-fouling paints usually allow a coat of slime or a layer of growth to eventually form on the bottom after a long period of time. Many paints also require motion to “sluff” off microscopic layers, which exposes fresh biocide. In any case, actually moving the hull through the water is the only way to keep it slick. So if the boat’s going to sit, cast off the lines every couple of weeks. Run it up to planing speed for a minute or two, just to “scrub” the bottom clean. That last item, folks, is the most important one—because running the boat solves most of these issues or at least helps to some degree. It also gives you a chance to eyeball the boat’s condition and discover whether anything’s gone amiss. If it’s completely impossible for you to run your boat, think about asking a friend to do so. The worst thing that can happen to an outboard boat is to sit there unused, slowly deteriorating.

INACTION KILLS: The very worst thing about letting an outboard boat sit is letting outboard motor sit idle. Seals dry out, and parts lock up. Whatever you do, don’t allow this to happen. If you can’t use the boat for an extended period, at least hook the engine up to a sufficient freshwater supply and crank it over. Let it run until it comes up to a normal operating temperature. You should do so at least once a month, no matter what. CRITTER CONUNDRUM: Just imaging covering your boat up tight for an extended slumber, then when you can finally get back to using it, puling the cover off to discover that some critter has made the boat its home – and it’s chewed on the helm wiring, seat cushions, and bilge pump hoses. This is a lot more common than one might think, and it can result in substantial damage to T E X A S

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your boat. Just how you’ll prevent it depends to some degree on where you live and what lives around you. However, you should be aware of the issue and be prepared to deal with it. That might mean getting a few glue traps to place in the boat, or spritzing peppermint oil around the perimeter every so often.

won’t drain properly, and you could end up with what amounts to a very expensive tadpole pond in your driveway. While we’re at it, we mighty as well remind everyone to pull the drain plugs (or the boat won’t be able to drain in the first place) and also remove the plugs from livewells, integrated coolers, and other parts of the boat that might hold water.

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OU WANT TO CATCH A MONSTER BLACK DRUM? We’re not talking about a 10-pounder, here. We’re not talking about a 30-pounder, or even a 50-pound drum. But a true beast of a black, 70 to 80 pounds or even larger. Of course, you do! A black drum of this size isn’t very good to eat. They usually have worms in their meat, which is very tough anyway. Also, catch-photo-release is required in Texas because of regulations on huge drum. Still, battling with one of these monster blacks is a serious adrenaline rush. Ready to make it happen? These three tips will help. 1) USE AN ENTIRE SOFT CRAB FOR BAIT. Drums love eating shellfish, but crustaceans that have shed their shell are like candy for them—and you’ve already taken off the wrapper. Don’t get stingy with the bait. A fish of this size won’t bother with tidbits. It wants to chow down on the entire crab. Just make sure your hook goes into the soft crab via the knuckle of a swim fin, which is just about the stiffest spot on a freshly shed crab. This will help keep the bait intact and on the hook.

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PHOTO: LENNY RUDOW

Now is the time to target big—as in 30-plus pounds big—black drum in Texas waters.

2) USE CIRCLE HOOKS. Put your crab bait on a whopping-big circle hook. Again, remember, we’re going for monsters here. A 10/0 hook should be considered the minimum and a 12/0 is not out of line. Will using one of these massive hooks cause you to miss some bites from smaller fish? You bet it will. But it will also give you a better chance of hooking up solidly, if and when Bubba the Black shows up.

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3) TRY NIGHT FISHING. Big blacks often become quite active at night. Sometimes you’ll even hear them drumming from beneath the water’s surface. Yes, you can still target them in broad daylight, but fishing the night bite will give you a bit of an edge. BONUS TIP: Be sure you rig up with a “fishfinder” style rig or an egg sinker, either

of which will allow the drum to take some line without feeling the weight so long as you release all tension on the initial bite. Black drums have notoriously sensitive mouths. If they feel any resistance, they will often spit the bait prior to hooking up.

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HE OLD SAYING THAT foxes are sly is not a misnomer. Red foxes, in particular, are crafty, patient and persistent and when left unchecked can wreak havoc on farms. “The foxes will come in and start taking out my chickens and ducks and then we start noticing our swamp rabbits on the 20 |

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property disappearing,” said Josh Slone of Deweyville. “That’s why we always do our best to manage them with a little predator calling-which is effective and fun.” The Slones’ property near the Sabine River is inhabited and visited by everything from foxes to coyotes and mink and many other varmints. “Hunting varmints is part of what we |

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have to do to manage not only our farm but the deer lease we manage as well. And it’s great off-season fun for me, my son and family.” Most animals considered varmints in Texas fall under the category of “furbearing animals”. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials, a person who possesses a hunting license may take

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a fur-bearing animal (furbearer), provided the furbearer (or any part thereof) is not to be sold or exchanged for anything of value. “There is no bag or possession limit on furbearers.” Legally-defined furbearers are badger, beaver, fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, otter, skunk and ring-tailed cat. PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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The CZ 457 Varmint Precision Chassis comes in .22 LR and pairs heavy-barreled 457 action with an aluminum chassis of CZ’s design. Equipped with an adjustable Luth-AR stock, an AR-style grip, QD sling sockets and plenty of M-LOK slots, proper fit and customization are easy to accomplish for those hunters wanting to make precision shots at varmints. T E X A S

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For most varmints a well-placed shot from a .22 LR is effective and being cheap to shoot and essentially recoil free is a great way to get kids involvement in hunting and managing game and stock. “We always keep a .22 LR around for varmints and have drawn down on many coons, foxes and other critters trying to take our animals,” Slone said.

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Coyotes and other “non-game animals” have no closed seasons or bag limits, offering year round opportunities to hunt and to help farms and wildlife.

incorporate for years.” Squirrels are a highly sought after game animal in East Texas with a long fall season and a May 1-31 spring season. In most other counties, there is a year-round squirrel

CZ officials said they have made some modifications to the Varmint Precision Chassis that make it even safer for the young and young at heart. “If we were to pick one thing that our

Believe it or not, furbearers such as minks are huntable in Texas.

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Squirrels can be a nuissance to farmers, but great sport for varmint hunters.

season with no seasons or bag limits and many hunting opportunities. Squirrels are a nuisance around pecan farms where they cause major damage and

previous rimfire platforms were lacking, it was an American-style push-to-fire safety — something Hunter’s Education instructors and 4-H shooting coaches have begged us to

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many property owners welcome hunters to thin the population. The Varmint Precision Chassis gives hunters a truly precision tool to take out spooky squirrels in often open terrain where shotguns can limit success.

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Another class of varmint in Texas is “nongame animals”. A hunting license is required for the taking of nongame species. There are no closed seasons, bag limits or

PHOTOS: LEFT, CANSTOCK; RIGHT, CZ-USA

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Precision Counts in Varmint Shooting

RECISION RIMFIRE RIFLE COMPETITIONS HAVE BEEN gaining steam in the last few years and CZ rifles have been go-to equipment for the sport. Expanding on their premium offerings, the Varmint Precision Chassis pairs our heavy-barreled 457 action with an aluminum chassis of their design. Equipped with an adjustable Luth-AR stock, an AR-style grip, QD sling sockets and plenty of M-LOK slots, proper fit and customization are easy to accomplish. CZ officials took the opportunity to tweak a load of small things at the same time. In addition to the receivermounted, push-

possession limits; and, they may be hunted at any time by any lawful means or methods on private property. These include coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, armadillos, porcupines and prairie dogs. “There are lots of opportunities to take varmints and not only help out a farm like ours but a place like our deer lease where we hunt whitetail. Coyotes can have an impact and then when you think about wild turkeys that are coming back in the Pineywoods thanks to TPWD and the National Wild Turkey Federation you have to look at the impact of predators there too,” Slone said. According to Kip Adams, a wildlife biologist with the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), a significant decline in fawn survival has occurred in the last 15 years. “Overall, fawn recruitment rates have declined from an average of 0.81 fawns/ doe in the U.S. in 2000 to 0.58 fawns/doe in 2015. That’s significant,” he said. As of 2015, the Northeast U.S. averaged 0.48 fawns/doe, the Southeast averaged 0.50 fawns/doe, and the Midwest averaged 0.82 fawns/doe. “I believe the main cause is increased predation on fawns,” Adams said. “Deer herds with high fawn recruitment

control considerations, the rest are not. And while predator control is not the be-allend-all of wildlife management, it does have a role and is a choice individual hunters, landowners and wildlife managers have to make. It can also be fun. Noted wildlife photographer Gerald Burleigh has been involved heavily in hog and predator management on an Upper Coast ranch for five years and said it has revitalized a love of hunting. “Varmint hunting keeps you in practice and is a great reason to stay out in the wild hunting, shooting and enjoying life,” he said. Burleigh who has trapped and shot more than 500 hogs on that property and has taken everything from melanistic (black) coyotes to bobcats said it reminds him of having to keep predators in check on the farm he grew up on. “All of these animals have a place in our ecosystem but we have to manage them properly and varmint hunting is a fun way to do that and in Texas, we can do it 365 days a year.” “How fun is that?”

CZ-USA’s Varmint Precision Chassis

rates are very resilient to severe weather, disease outbreaks, and over-harvest. This provides a nice buffer in deer management programs. Significantly reduced fawn recruitment rates remove this buffer and make deer herds more vulnerable to the above factors.” A 2007 Texas A&M study showed significant damage to wild turkey nests by varmints when setting remote cameras on turkey nests. “We found that 19 of 22 (86%) wild turkey nests with cameras failed as compared to 17 of 20 (85%) wild turkey nests without cameras in the Edwards Plateau study area and 4 of 5 (80%) wild turkey nests in the South Texas Plains.” “The most common nest predators photographed in the Edwards Plateau study were common ravens, raccoons, and feral hogs, in that order, and each predator species had a different preference for particular nest types. The most common nest predators photographed in the South Texas Plains study were green jays, crested caracaras, and armadillos.” While the birds are off the list for predator T E X A S

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to-fire safety, they chopped almost an inch of length from the action and slab-sided it to reduce its footprint and weight. To make scope fitment easier, they ditched the 90° bolt rotation in favor of 60°, allowing for larger ocular bell diameters with lower ring heights. To top it all off, the 457 now features a trigger adjustable for weight, creep and over-travel. With the same swappable barrel system as the 455 and the same reliable polymer magazine system, the 457 is without a doubt the best rimfire platform CZ has ever fielded.

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AD, THIS FRIED CHICKEN IS

great! I’m going to get some more,” exclaimed my 12-year-old daughter Faith. “That’s not chicken kiddo. That’s the eastern turkey I shot when I was in New York Wednesday,” I replied. “Ooh gross!” she said while marching toward the kitchen to get more. That’s classic Faith—a fine mix of enthusiasm and sarcasm, along with a desire to give Daddy a hard time. She’s right—the turkey was awesome—battered and fried. It felt proper to celebrate it with a nice dinner. After all, taking this bird was a dream come true. I have always wanted to take the Grand Slam—Rio Grande, Merriam’s, Osceola and Eastern. On May 1, 2019, I realized this dream by taking a 20-pound gobbler with a nine-inch beard on a farm in Cato, New York called in by TF&G Hunting Editor Lou Marullo.

PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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PHOTO: NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Hill Country. The Eastern came from rolling hills and farmland in New York, an area that any turkey hunter would mark as a prime location. Sarasota, Florida—The swamps along the edge of Florida’s Myakka River in the heart of Osceola turkey country are teeming with life. From alligators to Seminole whitetails to mottled ducks, the wildlands just outside of Sarasota are rich in biodiversity. The short, thin pines reminded me a bit of the habitat on the Upper Coast of Texas where I live, but it looked uniquely Florida.

An Osceola in full strut.

A pair of Osceolas in Florida

conservation right—especially in relation to their habitat—America’s forests will be dramatically healthier and all wildlife will benefit. Turkey Revolution is a project I founded to raise awareness of turkey conservation. As turkeys go, so do America’s forests. I found the Rio Grande along a very remote roadway among many hundreds of thousands of undeveloped acres in the Texas

Bagging the bird was awesome, but the greater mission was to capture a good photo of an Eastern gobbler to help complete my quest to capture photos of the Grand Slam in 2019. In the March issue, we detailed the search for the Rio Grande. My aim is to raise awareness of turkey conservation triumphs and concerns. It is my belief after much study, that if we get turkey 26

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With scattered palms and thick palmettos, this place looked subtropical. It would have been easy to get lost in the majesty of it all, but I was on a mission. That mission was to get a photo of an Osceola turkey. As noted in the March issue in 2019 I set out to get quality photos of the “Grand Slam” of turkeys which are the Rio Grande, Eastern, Osceola and Merriam’s. This was number three to scratch off the list as I had already gotten the Rio Grande and Eastern, but in my mind those made sense in terms of location. Because I am doing this all on my coin, I was low on time. I had from sunrise to noon to make something happen. One particular area looked seriously promising, and within 30 minutes there I spied my prize. Two Osceola turkey hens escorted a brood along the edge of the river. They made their way into a clearing and fed down toward the edge of the river. It was

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PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

The author with a big Eastern goobler he shot while hunting with TF&G Hunting Editor Lou Marullo near Cato, New York.

great to see a brood because much of this habitat was thicker than I had suspected it would be. Prime turkey habitat has relatively open forest. The suppression of natural fires has created enormous undergrowth. That allows predators a better shot at turkeys and destroys some of the turkey’s best forage opportunities. Things changed once I found myself along the banks of the Myakka River. It felt wild although I was only three miles away from a subdivision. It was an interesting dichotomy—tourist Florida vs. turkey Florida. I had done many studies to end up in this location to find Osceola turkeys. I have always dreamed of hunting the Merriam’s, but I don’t think even taking one could match what I captured with my telephoto lens. More to come next issue...

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

Talking Turkey

3) Putt. This is the warning call that tells any turkeys that trouble is brewing and to get away fast. 4) Purr. When a bird stops his approach and is just strutting back and forth out of range, this call will bring them in fast. It tells a bird that you’re a hen and you are ready for him. This is a little harder to do, but with a little finesse, the box call works great. It requires a very light amount of pressure on the handle to the top of the box. I find it easier to do on a slate.

URKEY SEASON IS IN FULL swing now, and I for one, absolutely love this time of year. Spring turkey hunting is one of the most exciting hunts you can have. One of the reasons is that you are not hunting that turkey, he is hunting for you! Yes, that’s right. Although you’re the one who dragged all that gear out to your favorite turkey haven, once you’ve located a bird, he is looking for you. The only thing that’s so bad about spring turkey hunting is that dawn comes so early— and it is earlier every day. However, I guarantee that once you hear your first morning gobble and the sound gets closer and closer, those early mornings will not even be on your radar. It doesn’t matter whether you hunt with a bow, gun, slingshot or pea shooter. The excitement is the same. However, it’s probably a good idea to make sure you use a legal weapon to bag a turkey. Turkeys have seven basic calls they use when they communicate with each other. It would be wise for any turkey hunter to know them and know what each means. These calls in no specific order are:

5) Kee Kee Run. This call is best used in the fall but I have called in birds in the spring as well using this call. It is the sound that hens will make when it is lost or away from other hens. In the fall, when you scatter the birds, after 15 minutes, a soft Kee Kee Run will fool any hen and bring her in along with a gobbler that may be with her. 6) Cackle. I like to use this call when I simulate a bird flying off the roost. I combine this sound with my hat slapping up against my leg to simulate the wings of a turkey on fly down. It sounds great. I usually cup my hand on the side of my mouth and move away from where I hear the gobbler to sound like the bird is flying in the opposite direction and not to him at all. The cackle also is the sound that an excited hen will use. That usually fires off a gobble or two. 7) Gobble. As you might expect, this is only done by the male turkey. I do not like to use this sound because it might bring any hunter within earshot to your location and is not safe at all.

1) Yelp. The easiest to master and the most common call of a hen turkey. A novice using a box call can duplicate this sound fairly easily. A slow and steady slide followed by four or five shorter slides of the handle across the top of the box is all you need to do.

So, what actually happens naturally during the spring mating season? In the early morning hours, a gobbler will sound off from his roost. Basically, he is letting any hens around know that it is time to get up. After a short time, he’ll fly down and gobble again when he hits the ground. If any hens are near the tom turkey’s roost, they will yelp after they fly down to let him know they are there. Mother Nature dictates that the hen will

2) Cluck. This is used to simulate a bird that is calm and just walking in the woods looking for food. If you take the handle of a box call and simply hit the top of the box with it will sound like a cluck. Be careful though. If you do more than one cluck at a time, it will sound like a warning call to any bird in the area. 28

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come to the gobbler. He will simply find a place to let his tail fan out and strut back and forth while he gobbles every few minutes. This is why I love turkey season so much. The hunter does his best to try to fool that tom to come to him instead of what he expects. Many hunters make the mistake of calling too much. As a matter of fact, some guys will yelp after he hears a gobble—every time! That’s not natural, and the bird will sneak in to your calls without gobbling, or turn tail and leave the area. Let him gobble a few times, looking for you. Call sparingly. He will soon get frustrated and reveal his location as he gets closer and closer to you. The only thing that could get in the way of your hunt is a real hen. If a hen is around, she will go to the gobbler, and they will walk away from you. Turkey decoys really work great in the spring. Here too, I think too many hunters out there use the same set up all the time (two hens and a jake). I think these smart birds get alerted whenever they see it. It doesn’t hurt to mix it up a bit and try four or more hens alone. A tom turkey, knowing he has all those hens to himself, will be fooled into coming in. I even take it a step further. I’ll set one of my decoys on the ground with no stake to hold it up. This represents a hen that is ready to mate. I used this set up last spring when Chester came to New York to hunt eastern turkeys. It worked like a charm for him, and it will work for you. Understanding the language of a turkey is paramount if you want to be successful. You do not have to be a professional caller. A simple yelp will bring birds in for a good shot. Just like anything else, practice makes perfect. However, make sure your wife isn’t home while you practice. Spoiler alert—it’ll also drive your dog crazy! Good luck. Have fun and hunt safe.

« Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

Diablo Double Barreled

HE 12-GAUGE, DOUBLE BARrel Diablo handgun is quite unlike anything I’ve ever tested. In fact, it’s quite unlike anything else out there. It’s most compatible to Howdah handguns of the past that were mostly used for close contact dangerous game by elephant riders and hunters. At first glance the Diablo might look like it requires a tax stamp for ownership. And that would be correct if it were not for one simple detail—it’s a muzzleloader. Therefore, not only does it not require a tax stamp. Nor does it require a 4473 FFL transfer for ownership. It ships right to your door like any other muzzleloader since federal regulations don’t consider muzzleloaders “firearms.” The Diablo might be a feasible defensive weapon for those traveling in otherwise restricted areas or states with infringements in place. For the rest of us, it can just be a fun and interesting range toy or even a challenging hunting gun. Because it’s a shotgun, you are only limited by your imagination and safety limits for what you wish to shoot from it. My favorite loads were solid single .715-inch, 1.25 ounce lead slugs weighing in around 530 grains. My chronograph showed these massive balls of lead moving approximately 300fps when launched with 60 grains of Triple 7 FFG powder. From 10 yards I learned my hold to be able to put them in the center of silhouette targets from 10 yards. Because the Diablo has two barrels with a center bead sight I found two drastically different holds. The right barrel hits right, so I had to aim around 12 inches left at 10 yards, and the opposite with the other barrel. Not ideal for defense, to have to keep

PHOTO: DUSTIN ELLERMAN

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Twelve gauge Diablos shown with handcrafted crossdraw holsters and assortment of shot loading options.

and stock options as well as longer-barreled, railed versions for hunting with double triggers and percussion cap options. You can find out more at americanguncraft.com and see me firing it on YouTube with a simple search or this direct link for our digital readers: https:// youtu.be/wUB4apRcsek.

that in mind, but perfectly fine on the range or in a close hunting situation. Because there is no choke, 00 and 000 buckshot had a fast spread without a wad. I had to keep closer than 10 yards to keep all eight pellets on an IPSC target in an effort to see a rounded pattern. At close range, the Diablo would pack quite a punch. Of course, you would need to have a very clear background to put down a bad guy without collateral damage. The mix of #8/#9 shot was also fun to fire. Because of the close range and quick spread, it was the most fun to hand throw sporting clays into the air to vaporize—even though it was hard to see the clay shatter because of the billowing white smoke cloud generated by the shot. The Diablo has a single trigger and hammer; with the hammer including a selector allowing you to choose which barrel you want to fire. Loading process is the same as any muzzle loading shotgun requiring manual loading of powder, overshot cards, cushion wads, shot, overshot cards and finally, the primer. The primer nipples are easily removed with a 3/8inch socket in order to clean or safely unload a barrel. The Diablo starts at $479 from American Gun Craft and comes in few choices of finishes T E X A S

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REPORT: NEWS 34u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

& GAME 34u FISH HOTSHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

& GAME 36u FISH FORECAST CENTER SALTWATER

Reported by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Capt. Chris Martin, Capt. Mac Gable, and Capt. Gerad Merritt

& GAME 46u FISH FORECAST CENTER FRESHWATER

Reported by TF&G Staff

54u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

& GAME 58u FISH HUNTING CENTER by Chester Moore

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The next stop was in a roadside stream near Camp Wood, and once again we found no Guadalupes. However, we did find an incredible concentration of gorgeous Rio Grande cichlids and had a great time catching and releasing them. Jaxon was super happy to catch a huge Rio Grande cichlid. Our next step was a stretch of the Nueces River just outside of Barksdale. This river had plenty of flow which is the preferred haunt of this species. Within 10 minutes Jaxon’s father Josh caught a Guadalupe. Jaxon followed suit five minutes later. Within two hours we all had caught a Guadalupe bass. While I stood next to Amos in the stream, he reflected on the day. “This is such a beautiful place Mr. Chester. I thank God we got to fish it.” “Indeed my friend,” I replied. The boys were surprised to learn that introduced smallmouth bass have caused

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hybridization problems with this uniquely Texas species. After spending time in these streams, the boys were concerned about stream health. They asked deep questions about water quality, pollution and the impact of dams and drought. Young people can ask big questions about nature if you give them the opportunity, and that was what this inaugural Higher Calling Wild Wishes Expedition was about. Through these two boy’s hearts for fishing and wildlife thousands of people will learn about the Guadalupe bass and maybe even decide to take a trip to the Hill Country in pursuit of them. They are, after all, the Texas State Fish and deserve not only to survive, but thrive. So do children. When they go through tragedies or face

health trials spending quality time in God’s Creation can do wonders. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with this wonderful family and pursue this Texas original fish with them. Most important, it gave everyone time to reflect on how pursuing simple stream fishing can heal wounds in young people and not-soyoung people, alike. When Jaxon released his first Guadalupe bass back into the clear waters of the Nueces, he looked up and said, “This is awesome!” Yes, it is, little buddy. Yes it is. For more information on Higher Calling Wild Wishes Expeditions go to www.wildwishes.org.

3/18/20 1:07 PM

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3/18/20 1:07 PM

The NATIONAL

Wardens Make Shark Finning Bust

News of TEXAS

The charges, which are being filed with the Harris and Dallas County District Attorney’s offices, are the result of an extensive investigation involving several businesses allegedly participating in the illegal commercialization of fins from various protected shark species. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Special Investigations Unit and game wardens from the Houston and Dallas area executed multiple search warrants, which led to evidence seizures in both cities. Additionally, Harris County game wardens are wrapping up an investigation from December 2019 that resulted in Class A and Class B misdemeanor charges on multiple retail and wholesale fish dealers in the Houston and Seabrook area. Charges include possession of a shark without the fins and the unlawful commercial sale or

TEXAS GAME WARDENS ARE FILING several Class B misdemeanor charges on 10 restaurants and markets in the Houston and Dallas area for selling shark fins and shark fin products. “Protecting the many shark species residing and migrating through the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the illegally trafficked sharks from around the world, offered for sale in Texas is one of our highest priorities,” said Col. Grahame Jones, Law Enforcement Director at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Texas Game Wardens will continue to proactively work investigations related to illegal shark fin products and violations against the many species of wildlife found throughout the state.”

Alan Henry Reawakens With Sharelunker Catch JUST DAYS AFTER BEING BLANKETed in snow, West Texas lake Alan Henry Reservoir produced the first Legacy Class largemouth bass entry of the 2020 Toyota ShareLunker season on February 9. Angler Blake Cockrell of Lubbock caught

BASS

WHITETAIL

Lake Conroe

Central Texas

Jeff Taggart caught this 14.2-pound lunker at Walden on Lake Conroe in February. Rob Hill manned the net on this impressive catch. The bass was immediately released after photos were shot.

purchase of aquatic products. During the investigation, about 30,000 pounds of shark carcasses were found to have been sold and several hundred pounds were seized by wardens. All charges are being filed through the Harris County District Attorney’s office.

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Connor Hulstien made a great shot while hunting a Central Texas ranch with his dad, Jeff. He was using a Tikka .270 on a 100-yard shot.

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the 14.36 pound, 26.25 inch largemouth bass on a crankbait in five to ten feet of water while targeting spotted bass on the lake. “When I put my hands on her to lift her out of the water and land her in the boat, I was in disbelief,” Cockrell said. “I said out loud, ‘you’re something special.’ At that moment I knew this fish was bigger than anything I’ve ever caught.” After notifying the Toyota ShareLunker program of his catch, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries biologists were quickly dispatched to collect and transport “ShareLunker 582” to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens., There, biologists will attempt to spawn her and produce bigger, better bass to stock in and enhance fishing in Texas lakes. Cockrell said loaning the fish to TPWD for the selective breeding program was important to him because he’s seen firsthand what stocking ShareLunker offspring has done for the bass fisheries in nearby lakes. “We have a lake by us called J.B. Thomas that has been stocked with ShareLunker bass, and they are growing three to four pounds a year,” Cockrell said. “I’ve seen what the program has done in the past and the things it has done for people.” East Texas typically produces the Toyota ShareLunker program’s first and biggest entries most years. However, TPWD fisheries biologists urge anglers not to overlook West Texas as a bass fishing destination. In 2019, O.H. Ivie Reservoir near San Angelo was among the top five ShareLunker producing lakes for the year. Alan Henry Reservoir has produced 28 ShareLunker entries ranging from 13 to 15 pounds since 2000. “We are very excited that Alan Henry Reservoir has produced the first—and so far, the biggest—Toyota ShareLunker entry of the year,” said Caleb Huber, TPWD Inland Fisheries District Supervisor for Amarillo. “This proves you shouldn’t underestimate West Texas if you want to catch the fish of a lifetime. “Although our lakes are prone to fluctuating water levels and drought, increased rainfall over the last few years has greatly improved water levels and the production of larger bass. I’m hopeful of more good things to come.” Every angler who loans a 13-pound or

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ShareLunker website, https://texassharelunker.com/. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Toyota ShareLunker Program has been selectively breeding and stocking angler-caught largemouth bass of more than 13 pounds since 1986 with the goal of increasing the production of trophy-sized fish in Texas reservoirs. The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible in part by the generous sponsorship of Toyota. Toyota is a longtime supporter of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The company provides major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects. Prize sponsors Bass Pro Shops, Lake Fork Taxidermy, American Fishing Tackle Co. and Stanley Jigs provide additional support for this program.

larger Legacy Class bass to the Toyota ShareLunker program during the spawning period January. 1 to March 31 will receive a Toyota ShareLunker Catch Kit containing branded merchandise and fishing tackle items, a 13-pound+ Legacy decal, VIP access to awards programming at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, a replica of their fish, and an entry into the year-end ShareLunker Prize Drawing to win a $5,000 shopping spree and an annual fishing license. These anglers will also be entered into the Legacy Class Prize Drawing for a $5,000 shopping spree and an annual fishing license at the end of the spawning period March 31. You can enter by calling the program directly—any time of day—at (903) 681-0550. Anglers who catch a largemouth bass over eight pounds or 24 inches can also enter their fish into the program yearround for recognition and prizes and to provide catch and genetic data that helps fisheries biologists better manage lunker bass in Texas lakes. These entries can be submitted on the Toyota ShareLunker app—available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play—or on the Toyota

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from TPWD

3/18/20 1:07 PM

Winter is Finally in the Rearview Mirror April is shaping up to be a very exciting and productive month for fishermen from Galveston to Sabine. Air and water temperatures are continuing to rise, and green water is beginning to make its way to the upper coast more consistently. The big tides of spring are assisting in the distribution of baitfish and shrimp throughout the ecosystems. Young menhaden, mullet, croaker, shrimp and other bait species are enjoying their short lives, and the game fish aren’t complaining a bit. Finding bait is becoming increasingly easier, which means finding fish on a more consistent basis is becoming a little easier as well. The dominant southerly winds coupled with big spring tides will allow the pretty water to venture deep into the far reaches of the estuaries. Baitfish that had been hanging tight to their comrades will begin to scatter and venture throughout the system, thus opening the window of opportunity for predator fish and anglers alike. We now have the green light to fish basically anywhere we want, and do it with some level of confidence. With the increasing water temperatures, sand and grass are once again areas to key on in pursuit of trout and reds. Mud bottoms will hold fish year-round, but as the water continues to warm, more and more fish will move from the shelter

SABINE Reported by CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

INALLY, THE FIRST REAL month of spring has found its way to the upper coast of Texas. It’s been a long wait, but April has arrived, and lots of coastal anglers couldn’t be happier. It is now time to put those strong northers in the rear CAPT. HERNANDEZ view mirror. ContactUs@Fishgame.com

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of deeper water. Predators will follow bait to sandy flats, beachfronts, and shorelines. This is the first chance we’ve had in a while to catch trout in the surf and at the jetties. A lot of them will stage here before making their way down the channel and into the bay. Shorelines and reefs from San Luis Pass to East Pass have the potential to come alive this month. Also, bumping soft plastics near underwater structure such as pilings and platforms can pay off in a big way. The flounder bite should also be gaining momentum as big numbers are making their way back into the bay. Slowly dragging mud minnows or finger mullet in one to five feet of water is always a safe bet. If throwing live bait is not an option for you, dragging soft plastics tipped with fresh shrimp should also work well. Three- or four-inch GULP! Shrimp in new penny or white as well as green Swimming Mullet are hard to beat. Look for these tasty flatfish to be on the points of either side of the mouths of bayous and cuts on a nice, protected shoreline.

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GALVESTON Reported by CAPT. MIKE HOLMES

N APRIL, SPRING IS JUST around the corner, and some of its attributes are beginning to be seen. Both air and water temperatures have become much more pleasant, and fish species are reacting to the favorable weather as much as those who seek them. Winds have normally become less of an everyday force to be reasoned with. In some cases, CAPT. HOLMES ContactUs@Fishgame.com wind switches from foe to friend for the coastal fisherman. Bay anglers find water much more “friendly.” All but open stretches of bays can be navigated much of the time in smaller boats. Shallow waters suitable for wading are starting to lure fish and fishermen. Depth changes near sandbars and deeper channels near passes to the Gulf and the ICW will not yet have transitioned

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MATAGORDA Reported by MIKE PRICE

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

T WAS APRIL 19TH, THE WATER and air were both 70°F. I was kayaking on the south shore of West Matagorda Bay in clear water. I watched the big redfish follow my gold spoon and hit it; but the fish did not hook up. So, I let the spoon drop to the sand “wounded.” The redfish pounced on PRICE it and swam away, ContactUs@Fishgame.com Then I set the hook. On that day the water level was low, the tide was outgoing gently, and I caught two more redfish and a flounder. An abundance of baitfish flows into West Matagorda Bay in the springtime, and that is one reason predators are active there. On a middle April evening, Jeff Wiley and I arrived on the south shore of West Matagorda Bay at 4:30 p.m. We launched our kayaks from my boat, and I paddled against the roaring 20 mph southeast wind to reach the protection of the shoreline. Suddenly, a dozen small bait fish blasted out of the water, no doubt being chased by a flounder or redfish. I beached the kayak and waded, watching two dozen mullet scurry off. The bayou I was near and the south shore, were loaded with baitfish. Jeff and I fished as the sun lowered in the western sky. A chorus of coyotes yipped and howled. When they went silent, we were entertained by many birds carrying on simultaneous conversations. We returned to the boat after the sun had set with four redfish and a flounder. In the beginning of April, you will find water temperatures in the low 60s; by the end of the month water temperatures can reach 80°F. These temperatures are ideal for fishing, as they stimulate the fish to move and feed. April is also a pleasant month to be on the bays because air temperatures vary from 50 to 80°F. Some trout migrate offshore in the winter. If you are fishing the jetties when they return to the bays in late April or early May, you will probably be treated to multiple hook ups with trout over 20-inches.

TEXAS CITY DIKE

The Texas City Dike is one of the most popular and productive ﬁshing locations on the Texas Coast. Below are key facilities and ﬁshing hotspots, with GPS coordinates. FISHING HOTSPOTS: 1

Halfmoon Shoal

WADEFISHING SPOTS

FISH ICONS:

Levee Shoreline

Redﬁsh

Mosquito Island Flats

Speckled Trout Flounder

FACILITIES

Sheepshead

All: Dike Rd, off Bay St. North Phone: 409-948-3111

Mosquito Island Flats

A Welch Public Ramp N 29 22.481, W 94 50.186

Upper Dike

B Dike Ramp 1 N 29 23.000, W 94 52.014

Dike Flats

C Dike Ramp 2 N 29 23.429, W 94 53.085 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020

from warm havens to summer’s cool spots. However, the changes are beginning. Gulf outlets such as jettied passes, river mouths and natural passes with no man made “protections” will see increased traffic. This includes shrimp, baitfish and the sportfish that feed on them. Mullet and shad join with other bait species to invade the surf. Anything from croakers and sand trout to monster sharks and trophy tarpon will be found hunting their meals in the nearshore waters. My personal heaviest bull reds were landed in May, but big reds will be found in the April surf. Weather conditions vary from year to year, so the big bulls may begin to show up earlier if water and bait are to their liking. Smaller sportfish such as Spanish mackerel and ladyfish will provide good light tackle action using silver spoons and tandem-rigged jigs in gentle surf. Shrimp and small baitfish, both dead and alive also pay off. “Rat” reds are not uncommon catches this month, and speckled trout can also be found in the surf. Anglers who seek sport more than meat can get what they need from big jack crevalles. Although the big jacks are not as active as in warmer water, they will chase mullet

into nearshore waters on sunny afternoons. Boating fishermen who have enough hull beneath them to venture a bit farther from shore will find all these species around nearshore oil rigs, various buoys, and over reefs. They’ll also chase schools of bait species in open water. Drifting with a chum slick has always been one of my favorite methods of finding such fish, and it can pay off well this time of year. Bottom fishing on natural and manmade structure can result in good catches of red snappers closer to shore than in “hot” weather—and in shallower water, as well. Deep water reefs, wrecks, and “holes” might produce some heavy snappers, a few groupers, and maybe some amberjacks. April is not, of course, one of the best months for coastal fishing, but it is also not the worst month to give our Texas saltwater a try. If for no other reason, the weather will mostly be pleasant—often downright delightful! Much better to be out enjoying the first approach of spring than to be inside watching TV—or even reading fishing magazines.

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UPPER COAST

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Boiler Bayou GPS: N 28 38.0114, W 95 54.0011 (28.6335, - 95.9000)

We lived in a beach house for two years and every morning we walked on Matagorda Beach and the jetties. One morning, we watched Scott Stevens from El Campo catch a 23-inch trout on the beach near the weir jetty using live shrimp. He put the fish on the sand next to three other speckled trout about the same size. The next morning, we walked the jetties and nearly every person fishing was hooked up. But the following day no one had a fish on. Trout spawn when water temperatures are between 75 and 86°F. A single 25-inch female may drop a million eggs in channels and holes near grass flats. Of course, this attracts male trout. Fertilized eggs need salinity to be 28 parts per thousand in order to float and survive. So you will not find spawning trout in areas of the bays inundated with fresh water from springtime rains. If you consistently find trout in a certain place, they will likely be there on another trip because they stay near their spawning area. However, trout will migrate up to several miles with changing conditions, such as an over abundance of fresh water. On April 22, there was a light wind from the south, a strong incoming tide, and clear 74°F water. I was wade fishing in a bayou on the south shore of West Matagorda Bay. Almost all the bayous have a gut that has been formed by tidal movement. The gut in this bayou ran south to north. It was loaded with trout ripping the water and feeding vigorously. I was fishing with a white/chartreuse Rapala Original Floater lure. The first five casts yielded four trout, 22, 20, 18, and 16 inches. This special fishing experience was made even better because the sky, which had been solid clouds, opened a bit, and the sun shining through focused a single golden ray that went from the shoreline to me. April is a great month to get out on the water with a fishing rod in your hand. The weather is enjoyable, there is a lot of active bait in the bays, trout are spawning, and redfish and flounder and feeding.

UPPER COAST HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Bastrop Bay HOTSPOT: Bastrop Bay Shell GPS: N 29 6.0005, W 95 10.0045 (29.1000, - 95.1667)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Norton Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Greg Brewer 832-435-3020 captgregbrewer@gmail.com www.brewersguideservice.com TIPS: A lot of times the redﬁsh will start feeding in the afternoon as the glass minnows start moving in. It’s usually a big feed up to sundown. Capt. Brewer

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Norton Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Greg Brewer 832-435-3020 captgregbrewer@gmail.com www.brewersguideservice.com TIPS: Brewer likes Trick or Treat and the Red Magic colors. It it’s cold, he uses a paddle tail because it will have action on the retrieve. He uses a 3/8 oz. jig head mainly because he can cast it further.

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LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 29 33.1439, W 94 37.785 (29.5524, - 94.6298)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook or a One Knocker topwater CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com TIPS: The spring the topwater bite is going to be unbelievable. I start with Super Spook or a One Knocker. The One Knocker has a different pitch than the Super Spook that everyone throws. Capt. Roberts

LOCATION: Chocolate Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 29 10.0065, W 95 9 (29.1668, - 95.1500)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: She Dogs topwaters & Corky Fat Boys CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: When there is an east wind blowing, it’s just tough. If you have southeast wind you have to ﬁsh that end of the bay where it’s protected and try to ﬁnd some clean water. Capt. Ging

LOCATION: Galveston Jetties HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 29 21.0045, W 94 43.0015 (29.3501, - 94.7167)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkies or Topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 ﬁshing@pdq.net www.galvestonﬁshinguides.com TIPS: The last 30 minutes of the day, any day, is the best time because most of the time that’s when the water is going to be the warmest. Capt. Williams LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Upper San Jacinto Bay GPS: N 29 43.1039, W 95 2.641 (29.7184, - 95.0440)

BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnow or Lit’l Fishie CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: The Colorado River started producing early for us this year. In February, the cool or cold weather should put trout in the river. Capt. Tommy Countz

TIPS: Corky colors in fairly clear waters: I’m probably going to go with a sparkly pink, or Texas Chicken. In the spring I like the Texas Chicken a lot. Capt. Roberts

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Oyster Reef GPS: N 29 46.0033, W 93 54.013 (29.7667, - 93.9002)

LOCATION: Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Colorado River GPS: N 28 40.5419, W 95 58.08 (28.6757, - 95.9680)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corky CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com

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SPECIES: Speckled trout and redﬁsh

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Egret Vudu under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Adam Jaynes 409-988-3901 amjaynes@gmail.com www.justﬁshsabine.com

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www.goﬁshgalveston.com

UPPER COAST

TIPS: The shorter paddle tail baits don’t work at this time of the year. The bigger lure looks like a mullet which the bigger trout are feeding on. Capt. Paul Marcaccio

TIPS: The Egret shrimp looks a lot more realistic. In my opinion there is no reason to use a scented bait to catch speckled trout. Speckled trout fee more on proﬁle, what it looks like. Capt. Jaynes

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cotton Bayou GPS: N 28 30.45, W 96 12.3816 (28.5075, -96.2064)

LOCATION: Texas City HOTSPOT: Texas City Dike GPS: N 29 23.0034, W 94 52.0064 (29.3834, - 94.8668) LOCATION: West Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Carancahua Cove GPS: N 29 12.3312, W 94 58.6619 (29.2055, - 94.9777)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Mirrolure 52 CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: A couple days after a Norther has blown through, while the water is still low, wade fishing for redfish can be outstanding. Capt. Tommy Countz

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkies or Topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 ﬁshing@pdq.net www.galvestonﬁshinguides.com TIPS: Lure Colors: Something with shades of chartreuse and pearl with tone of gold. Pink is going to be my second choice with tons of gold. Capt. Williams

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: 5” soft plastics baits CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com

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April Signals Return of Big Trout to Mid Coast SAN ANTONIO BAY AREA Reported by CAPT. CHRIS MARTIN

T’S SPRINGTIME, AND YOU’VE got an uncontrollable itch to get back into the speckled trout game after sitting on the bench the past few months. You’ve been watching all your favorite social media channels and have noticed that the guys who fish yearround are now beginning to land some really nice trout, some of which are nothing short of true trophies. However, as nice as the online photos look, they do little in CAPT. MARTIN educating you as to bayﬂatslodge@gmail.com

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where, when, and how these big springtime trout are being taken. These larger female trout are preparing for the springtime spawn, which typically |

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begins around the end of April or the first part of May. Some folks claim that it’s May’s full moon that signals the start of this annual event, but there are other factors involved, such as water temperature, salinity levels, and even the amount of daylight hours. Without getting too scientific here, mid-coast anglers often begin connecting with some big sows on a more regular basis as water temperatures approach the 70ºF mark. April also marks the time when rafts of mullet will once again start to appear along flats and shorelines in neighboring bays. This becomes another contributing factor in catching big springtime trout, as schooling mullet provide an ample food source for the big trout. Some of these bigger fish may have become used to eating just once a day throughout the winter months and much colder water temperatures. Warming water triggers more activity for the trout. As they become more active, they exert more energy. To keep their energy up, they’ll need to start eating more often. So, anglers should keep that in mind this month as they set out in search of big trout.

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HOTSPOTLIGHT: FISH ICONS: Redﬁsh Speckled Trout

topwater bait. This lessens the chance you’ll spook the fish you’re casting to. Save the larger model baits for a bit deeper water and for windier conditions. If you happen to be in water that’s nearly waist-deep, tie on one of the slowsinking baits such as a Corky, a FatBoy, or a MirrOdine that you can work a lot of the water column with. You can experiment with different retrieves to determine where within the water column the bite is taking place. If the bite happens after you’ve let your slow-sinker rest in the water while sinking, replace your slow-sinker with a plastic tail bait. The plastic tails allow you to work the lower portion of the water column quite thoroughly. That should be your go-to bait if the bite is happening at or near the bay floor. If you want to be an overachiever at catching a big trout this month and next, experiment with night fishing using topwater baits a few days before and after the full moon. Fishing at night can present some challenges as you might can imagine. It can also be some of the most exciting methods of catching a big trout you’ll ever experience, especially if you’re a topwater enthusiast. Just remember that traveling across an open bay at night and fishing in the dark requires an additional level of safety. Plan accordingly, take your time, and be very careful.

Flounder Black Drum Sheepshead

MISSION BAY

MISSION BAY IS LOCATED ON THE northwestern shore of Copano Bay. Access is primarily by water, from the town of Bayside, on FM 136 north of Texas 188. Fishing hotspots are indicated below and on the map. FISHING HOTSPOTS:

Mission Bay Cut

Copano Reef

Middle Copano Reef

West Copano Shoreline

Mission Bay Shell Reefs

Northwest Shoreline

Northwest Copano Shoreline

Copano Reef

Outer Copano Reef

Bayside Shoreline

Copano Reef Near Shoreline

Bigfoot Reef

Copano Reef Middle

Little Shellbank Reef

7 9

Shell Bank Reef

WADEFISHING SPOTS

Mission Bay Cut

Mission Bay

SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020

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Even though things are starting to warm up a bit right now, the Texas coast has been known to undergo a cold front in April. When this happens, anglers will need to make necessary adjustments to meet the situation. Try starting after sunrise, atop a flats area situated close to deeper water. As the sun rises into the morning sky, the mullet will make their way out of the depths into the shallows in search of warmer surroundings. Instinctively, the trout will also look to the morning shallows for some quick warmth, where they’ll also find mullet for breakfast. Consequently, anglers who place themselves here will greatly increase their odds at finding a big trout this month and next. Since the mullet will be back on the scene, anglers who use artificial baits might consider using one or two of the more popular mulletimitating topwater baits such as the She-Dog or Super Spook. However, if you’re fishing over a shallow flat and the wind is calm, it might be a good idea to downsize to a smaller T E X A S

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97 06 .604. This is one of the longest reefs in the bay system. Even though croaker is the favorite for many, I think live shrimp is the ticket here on a free line. Black drums are still plentiful in this bay and a great spot is N28 07 346 W 97 10.104. Live Shrimp under a cork is good here, but don’t pop the cork too much.

MIDDLE COAST

ROCKPORT AREA Reported by CAPT. MAC GABLE

VERY ANGLER I KNOW loves the month of April April. Although it’s not even in my top five months to fish, there is a lot to be said for this month. Weather changes, be they natural or manCAPT. GABLE made, have captmac@macattackguideservice.com definitely affected our bay’s seasonal changes. Many who are of a younger age than yours truly are not aware changes on a global level are afoot. However, any mature/old timer who stays abreast of the weather will love to tell you about it.

For our bays, the changing weather has meant a shift in when some major events take place. Take the bull tides. Yes, I know the tides are mostly affected by lunar pull, but the decrease in strong north winds do affect the bay’s ebb and flow. This past year has seen unusually higher tides in our area. Some doomsayers believe this is because of polar melt; some experts disagree. I think the answer is where most phenomenon fall, somewhere in the middle. I remember the days when May saw many of the changes we are now seeing in April. There are reams of scientific data to back this up, but this is not a science article. So… May is pretty much now April for these seasonal changes, and the astute angler knows to put this into his/her strategy plan. Phytoplankton blooms trigger many of these changes. Those who are used to fishing the gin clear water of the colder months are greeted with an army green or effervescent water color in April. These microscopic algae are the foundation for aquatic life all over our planet. These special critters are fed by sunlight and are temperature sensitive. They lure bait fish, from glass minnows, mullet, piggies to rain minnows. The list is long and distinguished. Of course, the baitfish bring the predators anglers love to catch. An interesting tidbit— more blue water fish are being caught now as well such as jack crevalle, spinner sharks, red snappers, and bonnet head sharks. I know of one sailfish landed in upper San Antonio Bay. This shift in our bay seasons has seen the early arrival of croakers too. This past year was a great year for the sheer number of these golden sounders at favorite bait stations. April is the live bait master’s homecoming. The wise angler puts the lures aside and adapts to the changes in our bay. COPANO BAY: Copano Reef is a great go-to spot this time of year, N 28 06 .07, W

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ST. CHARLES BAY: The east shoreline toward East Pocket N 28 08.446 W 96 57 .200 is a good spot for reds. Finger mullet work, and/or mud minnows free-lined work best. Salt Creek is still holding some black drums. Peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig is best. ARANSAS BAY: This bay feeds a lot of sister bays, and the movement of bait and the predators chasing the bait are ever changing. The area just off Traylor N 27 55 .995 W 97 04 .634 is a good spot to start using freelined croaker. As the days progress, move farther north in this bay toward Half Moon Reef N28 04 .455 W 96 59 .084; stick with free-lined croaker. CARLOS BAY: The southeast shoreline N 28 07 .099 W 96 53 .244 is a good spot for trout. Approach quietly via wading. If in a boat, use the wind or a trolling motor to position the boat. Croakers are good here free-lined. I also use Jerk Shad in new penny color. Drifts in a boat from this location north is good for reds and trout using a bubble cork and live shrimp. CARLOS BAY: Third Chain Islands N 28 08 .337 W 96 52 .374 are great with a north wind. This area is good for reds and a few trout. Finger mullet works best, free-lined or on a light Carolina rig. “S” Reef is a good spot for trout and reds, using live shrimp free-lined. AYERS BAY: Wades on the northeast shoreline N 28 10 .900 W 98 46 .270 are good for some nice trout. Wade slow, casing 360 degrees. The area near Rattlesnake Island N 28 11 .294 W 96 50 .175 is a good spot for sheepshead. Small pieces of cut squid or shrimp on a small kahle hook work well here. A free line with a small split shot is the ticket.

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MIDDLE COAST HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Mack Reef GPS: N 28 5.2279, W 96 58.6309 (28.0871, - 96.9772)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cut and live mullet CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: McPartland says let the cut bait sit until a redfish decides to take it. Use a weight only to keep the live mullet from out of the pocket.

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Ingleside Point GPS: N 27 50.0869, W 97 14.4799 (27.8348, -97.2413)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/16 oz jig head CONTACT: Capt. Billie Kocian 361-688-8859 billiekocian@yahoo.com www.sportfishingtexas.com TIPS: Trout should be working over the shell reefs in the bay. Color choice is determined by water quality. LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: Copano Reef GPS: N 28 6.0117, W 97 6.0067 (28.1002, - 97.1001)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 info@rockportguideadventures.com www.rockportguidedadventures.com TIPS: Cut perch head allows a good chance of picking up one or two nice size trout, just casting it along the bank where redfish like to concentrate. LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Ingleside Cove GPS: N 27 50.3179, W 97 13.816 (27.8386, - 97.2303)

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LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Panther Reef GPS: N 28 13.0105, W 96 41.0139 (28.2168, - 96.6836)

MIDDLE COAST SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cut and live mullet CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: The redfish should be on the flats unless we have some horrible freeze…I will be fishing the sand pot holes. Capt. Jack McPartland LOCATION: Mesquite Bay HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou GPS: N 28 06.657, W 96 49.833 (28.110945, -96.830552)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh and Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 info@rockportguideadventures.com www.rockportguidedadventures.com TIPS: As the water warms, I’ll start migrating a little more south toward Copano Bay. It it’s even warmer I’ll start moving to Estes Flat. Capt. Frazier

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Southeast Mud Island Shoreline GPS: N 27 56.006, W 97 1.0041 (27.9334, -97.0167)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 info@rockportguideadventures.com www.rockportguidedadventures.com TIPS: March is for redfish fishing, says Capt. Frazier. If it’s a north wind, I will be fishing Matagorda Island, anywhere between Panther Island and Cedar Bayou.

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 info@rockportguideadventures.com www.rockportguidedadventures.com TIPS: If you are looking for a meat haul you can catch a whole lot of black drum off the reefs of San Antonio if the wind is low. You can catch trout also on the reefs. Capt. Frazier

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Rocky Slough GPS: N 27 9.903, W 97 26.716 (27.1651, - 97.4453)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8 jig head CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com TIPS: For wade ﬁshermen, use a 1/8 oz. jig head with a Norton Sand Eel, working sand spots and the rocks. Capt. Little

LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Spalding Reef GPS: N 28 6.2689, W 96 54.4709 (28.1045, - 96.9079)

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: St. Joes Island GPS: N 27 51.132, W 97 03.232 (27.852194, -97.053872)

•• SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corkies or Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Chad Verburgt 361-463-6545 TIPS: Not all structure is visible above the water. Using your sonar locate well pads that the superstructure has been removed from.

SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Gigging CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Flounder should be making their return trip from the Gulf. Rockport, Corpus, Port Aransas, and Ingleside should all be good places to try your luck.

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The Chase is on for Bull Reds and Trophy Trout

ISHING IN APRIL CAN BE nothing short of challenging, but it will ultimately prove rewarding while chasing trophy trout and big bull redfish around Baffin Bay.

LOWER COAST HOTSPOTS

Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

When the occasion presents itself, an angler needs to take full advantage of these opportunities. During this time of year, when the barometric pressure takes a drastic drop or rises, fish tend to change their normal patterns. Your main stratCAPT. MERRITT egy for this time of geradmerritt@gmail.com year should be targeting warmer waters. This can be accomplished by finding shallow flats or using deeper structures to your advantage when the temperature is falling. Although fishing from the boat proves a little easier, spring wade fishing is a preferred method to help you land that substantially larger trout. While doing this, you will want to fish in “waist deep” water, while targeting the top and bottom of your chosen structure lines. My lure preference this time of year would be a soft, slow-sinking plastic. Using this type of lure allows you to keep it on top of the water if you desire, but also permits the opportunity for a slow sink, where it can be bounced off the bottom. During spring, my favorite live bait is live shrimp under a popping cork. If you’re a live bait kind of person, you may have a more successful “meat haul,” but will find it tougher to target the bigger fish, as it will be harder to hide your presence. Due to the nature of bait fishing this time of year, you will end up catching a greater amount of fish, but you will struggle to control the size of your catch. While bait fishing in Baffin Bay, you will be using similar techniques to lure fishing, but you will have to adjust your cork depth and shaker size/noise. At times, these fish will avoid areas of loud noises, which plays 46

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LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: Peyton Bay GPS: N 26 26.122, W 97 22.3519 (26.4354, - 97.3725)

into your technique while fishing with live bait. Think of a gentle tap on an aquarium in your house versus a more intense knock. When using live bait under a popping cork, many people make the mistake of a hard, drastic “pop.” Sometimes it works, other times it disappoints. My belief of this theory is that once you find a spot holding fish, you want to make the least amount of noise possible. Once you have hooked a fish or two, you will need to back off on your speed and popping of the cork. By using this method, you will increase the rate of strikes, as you are no longer “spooking” the fish. In other words, this means the fish know you are there and instead of considering you a threat, they are focusing on the easily edible meal you are providing. Once your bite has slowed down, it is time to move. Many anglers make the mistake of catching a large quantity of fish, followed by a long period of trying to force a bite. Similar to finishing dinner at your favorite restaurant, when the group is full, the meal is over, and it is time to leave. Although fishing during this season comes with many challenges and questions, you can take these simple approaches to search for that incredible Baffin Bay catch!

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 jramosjr@gmail.com TIPS: I like to bounce the bait off the grass a little. I use a clear 18-20-inch monofilament leader under the cork. Give it two solid pops and let it sit for five or six seconds. Then move it and repeat the popping. LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Badlands South GPS: N 27 17.152, W 97 25.053 (27.2859, - 97.4176)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwater artificials CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com TIPS: End of March, beginning of April is a good bait to catch big trout for wade fishermen. Capt. Little

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LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: East Cleburne Rocks GPS: N 27 16.198, W 97 30.5069 (27.2700, -97.5085) FISH ICONS: Redﬁsh Speckled Trout Flounder Snook

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Corky Fat Boy CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: The pink Fat Boy has always been a good producer for big fish. Work the bait really slow. You are fishing in about 3 feet of water. Capt. Tommy Countz LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Atascosa Wildlife Refuge Shoreline GPS: N 26 10.244, W 97 18.155 (26.1707, - 97.3026)

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

SOUTH BAY

SOUTH BAY IS LOCATED AT THE BOTtom of the Lower Laguna Madre, between the Brownsville Ship Channel and the Rio Grande River. FISHING HOTSPOTS: 1

South Bay Main Body

South Bay Channels

East Table Top

Mangroves

West Mangroves

Northeast Corner

SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020

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GPS: N 26 49.0094, W 97 28.0021 (26.8168, - 97.4667)

TIPS: Capt. Caron ﬁshes a custom Corky: green belly, clear gold along the sides, and a black back. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Marker 63 GPS: N 26 14.343, W 97 16.482 (26.2391, - 97.2747)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Catch 2000 or Corkys CONTACT: Capt. Mitch Richmond 956-944-4000 www.getawayadventures.com TIPS: The Catch 2000 and Corkys are suspending baits…just a slow twitch, keep them above the grass. Favorite colors are pink/chartreuse for a Catch 2000 and a pearl/green on the Corky. Capt. Richmond

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live bait, Gulp Shrimp, twitch baits. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the flats just west of the Marker. Trout and redfish hang out around the potholes in 3- to 4-feet of water. Traditional live bait and soft plastics work well. LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Land Cut Spoils T E X A S

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Mouth of South Bay

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Land Cut GPS: N 26 48.0102, W 97 28.0023 (26.8002, - 97.4667)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corky Fat Boys CONTACT: Capt. Brett Caron 361-290-8442

South Bay Pass

WADEFISHING SPOTS

brettcaron@rocketmail.com SPECIES: redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, topwaters in Bone, Gold spoons CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the mud/sand transitions in deeper water along the shoreline. Trout will mingle in the warmer water. Redﬁsh will be prowling shallower water.

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TIPS: Anchor up near a set of pilings marks where a shack used to be, or where on may still be standing, and toss a live shrimp or fresh shrimp out on a ﬁsh ﬁnder or split-shot rig towards the edge of the ICW. If the current is pulling hard, you may want to go with the heavier weight of the former.

LOWER COAST LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Atascosa Wildlife Refuge Shoreline GPS: N 26 10.244, W 97 18.155 (26.1707, -97.3026)

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Three Islands GPS: N 26 16.621, W 97 17.7319 (26.2770, -97.2955) (26.44126 -97.3432)

SPECIES: redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, topwaters in Bone, Gold spons CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the mud/sand transitions in deeper water along the shoreline. Trout will mingle in the warmer water. Redﬁsh will be prowling shallower water.

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, Fresh Srhimp. CONTACT: LG Outfitters 956-371-0220 lgonzales@lgoutfitters.com lgoutfitters.com

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Fishing Shacks GPS: N 26 26.4756, W 97 20.591

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with a 1/8 oz jig head CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 jramosjr@gmail.com TIPS: I use the 1/8 oz. jig head so that I can keep the bait in the water column, doesn’t sink as fast. LOCATION: Port Mansﬁeld HOTSPOT: Glady’s Hole GPS: N 26 49.0006, W 97 30.0075 (26.8167, -97.5001)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Egret Zombie Ghost Walker, Super Spook Jr. and One Knocker CONTACT: Capt. Paul Johnson 979-308-5168 captainpaul1814@yahoo.com TIPS: Captain Johnson said in windy conditions the spoils north and south of Port Mansﬁeld are good places to ﬁsh. You could probably wade for miles on the submerged south spoils.

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Live minnows, jigs CONTACT: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-593-5077 TIPS: Fish live minnows or white/chartreuse jigs. Troll the brush piles. Morning through afternoon.

No Fooling: April Puts a Spring in Your Fishing

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad or Storm Swim Shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: The hybrid stripers are doing great now, and this is the time to catch trophy fish. They will be all around the lake on main lake points and humps. The use of electronics is a necessity! Find the schools of shad and you will find the Hybrids. This time of year, they will range in the water column from 28 foot to 40 feet. Find the depth the bait fish are in and you will find the fish. One mistake a lot of people make in doing this is they don’t constantly watch what depth the fish are in. These fish move up and down in the water column hour to hour and if you don’t follow them you will soon stop catching fish. Live shad will be the bait of choice, but the swim shad will work if you can control the depth.

Reported by TF&G STAFF

PRIL SHOWERS OR NOT, springtime is definitely here in East Texas. Largemouth bass are spawning, white bass are running, crappie are biting and hybrids are matriculating in schools.

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EAST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Cooper HOTSPOT: Brush Piles GPS: N 33 18.323, W 95 38.286 (33.3054, - 95.6381)

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 24.7379, W 95 34.9259 (30.4123, - 95.5821)

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LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 54.0899, W 95 31.6079 (32.9015, - 95.5268)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Grande Bass AirTail Flash, walking baits, topwater poppers and frogs CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “April on Lake Fork is my favorite time of year. There are a ton of ﬁsh spread out in shallow cover and ready to eat top water lures. Walking baits like the Provoke Bully ﬁshed in points get big bites. Topwater poppers and frogs catch them in the cover. If they are not eating topwater lures, a weightless Grande Bass AirTail Flash is the ticket. Rig it with a 3/0 hook weightless and put a rattle in the tail. Cast in shallow grass let sink and slow twitch it back. Hang on!” LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: The Pocket GPS: N 30 55.662, W 95 15.0479 (30.9277, -95.2508)

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: 1oz. slabs and trolled pet spoons

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CURRENT LAKE LEVELS LAKE

EAST TEXAS

CAPACITY AC. FT. Addicks -n.a.B A Steinhagen 69,186 Barker -n.a.Bob Sandlin 192,417 Bonham 11,027 Caddo 29,898 Coleto Creek 31,040 Conroe 410,988 Crook 9,195 Cypress Springs 66,756 Fork 605,061 Houston 130,147 Houston County 17,113 Jacksonville 25,670 Jim Chapman 260,332 Lake O’ the Pines 241,363 Livingston 1,741,867 Monticello 34,740 Murvaul 38,285 Nacogdoches 39,522 Palestine 367,303 Pat Mayse 113,683 Sam Rayburn 2,857,077 Striker 16,934 Sulphur Springs 17,747 Toledo Bend 2,236,450 Tyler 72,073 Wright Patman 553,344 As of 3/9/2020

CURRENT AC. FT. -n.a.66,157 -n.a.192,417 10,942 29,898 22,359 383,870 9,174 66,756 595,848 129,246 17,113 25,670 260,332 241,363 1,741,867 30,320 38,285 39,522 367,303 113,683 2,857,077 16,934 16,088 2,229,586 72,073 479,254

% FULL -n.a.96% -n.a.100% 99% 100% 72% 93% 100% 100% 99% 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 87% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 91% 100% 100% 87%

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CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: April can be a transition month for White Bass and Black Bass on Livingston. White Bass can be caught in April any where from the creeks and river on the north to the humps in mid and lower lake. Look for the Whites to start stacking up on mid lake humps 12’-17’ in mid to late April. LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Billy Bass Slough GPS: N 32 53.261, W 94 42.763 (32.8877, -94.7127)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Lizards CONTACT: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE TYLER LOCATION: On Mud and Prairie creeks, 12 miles southeast of Tyler off Texas Hwy 64. SURFACE AREA: 2,224 acres (Tyler West) 2,276 acres (Tyler East) MAXIMUM DEPTH: 40 feet IMPOUNDED: 1949 (West) 1966 East

lakes, but size distribution us usually good and few need to be released due to small size. Sunfishes (bluegill, redear, and redbreast) provide excellent opportunity for bait or fly fishing anglers. More recent additions to the fishery are chain pickerel and white bass. Chain pickerel, a smaller cousin of the northern pike, is frequently sought by anglers because of its sporting qualities. Aquatic vegetation is abundant in the upper end of both lakes.

A CANAL CONNECTS LAKE TYLER EAST with Lake Tyler West. Both lakes have a great reputation as consistent largemouth bass ﬁsheries. Most ﬁsh are in the 2- to 8-lb class with a few over 10 lbs. Crappie are not as abundant as at some other

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CONTACT: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-938-1007 TIPS: Watch for surface boils and birds. Dawn through midday.

903-938-1007 TIPS: Blind cast Carolina-rigged green/pumpkin lizards. Morning through midday. LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Lone Star Landing Area GPS: N 32 53.410, W 94 42.311 (32.8902, - 94.7052)

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches HOTSPOT: Hidden Point GPS: N 31 36.173, W 94 49.400 (31.6029, - 94.8233)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Minnows, spinnerbaits T E X A S

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12 mi. Southeast of Tyler

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EAST TEXAS BEST BAITS: Just about any artificial CONTACT: TPWD District Fisheries Office 409-698-9114 TIPS: Try your entire artificial arsenal until you find what works. Fish deep & shallow until you find the bass. Avoid midday. LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Back of Pophers Creek GPS: N 31 11.893, W 94 23.527 (31.1982, - 94.3921)

www.easttxﬁshingguide.com TIPS: Run frogs over the acres of lily pads in this area. Dawn to late morning and dusk are best times. LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Bear Creek Area GPS: N 31 48.114, W 93 50.7419 (31.8019, - 93.8457)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: The White bass will be moving back into the main lake returning from the river after their spawn. Work the north end river channel sand bars with slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits. Use your electronics to locate the baitfish and watch for the birds. When you do you will find the Whites. Try to locate a number of schools and rotate fishing those areas so as not to over fish one location. The Whites will remain in those locations unless we have a weather change, or the location is over fished.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Frogs, plastics CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com

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Fishing Comes Alive in Central Texas in April

HE CENTRAL REGION comes alive this month, all the way from Texoma on the northern state line down to the southern plains at Coleto Creek.

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrids BEST BAITS: Storm Thin Fin in Silver Shad color or a 2.75” Storm Smash Shad in Rainbow Smelt color CONTACT: Bob Maindelle/Holding the Line Guide Service 254- 368-7411 Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

Reported by TF&G STAFF

Striper action on Texoma, Buchanan and Canyon, hybrids on Belton, white bass on Canyon, Eagle Mountain, Stillhouse and Whitney, crappie on Coleto, LBJ and Richland-Chambers, and largemouth on Cedar Creek, Joe Pool, Palestine and Ray Roberts, and catfish on Ray Hubbard and Somerville are just a few highlights of all the fishing action in store for April anglers.

TIPS: Focus on the middle section of the Cowhouse Creek arm, near the old creek channel. Watch sonar closely for suspended pods of fish and fish the Storm Thin Fin on a downrigger if the fish are deep or fish a Smash Shad on a flat line if the fish are within 12 feet of the surface.

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CENTRAL TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Belton Lake HOTSPOT: Cowhouse Creek Arm GPS: N 31 8.7899, W 97 32.088 (31.1465, - 97.5348)

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CURRENT LAKE LEVELS

CENTRAL TEXAS

LAKE

As of 3/09/2020

Aquilla Arlington Athens Austin Bardwell Belton Benbrook Buchanan Canyon Cedar Creek Choke Canyon Corpus Christi Eagle Mountain Georgetown Granger Grapevine Halbert Hubert H Moss Inks Joe Pool Lavon Lewisville Limestone Lyndon B Johnson Marble Falls Martin Medina Mountain Creek Nasworthy Navarro Mills New Terrell City Ray Hubbard Ray Roberts Richland-Chanb. Somerville Stillhouse Hollow Tawakoni Texana Texoma Travis Waco Waxahachie Weatherford Whitney Worth

CAPACITY

(Acre Feet)

43,243 40,157 29,503 23,972 46,122 435,225 85,648 860,607 378,781 644,686 662,820 256,062 179,880 36,823 51,822 163,064 6,033 24,058 13,962 175,800 406,388 563,228 203,780 115,249 6,901 75,726 254,823 22,850 9,615 49,827 8,583 439,559 788,167 1,087,839 150,293 227,771 871,685 159,566 1,243,801 1,113,348 189,418 10,780 17,812 553,344 553,344

CURRENT

(Acre Feet)

43,243 40,060 29,503 22,405 46,122 423,181 84,658 769,598 354,590 644,686 290,343 180,115 179,880 26,306 51,822 163,064 5,483 24,058 13,005 175,800 406,388 563,228 203,780 111,187 6,901 74,493 189,062 22,850 8,418 49,827 8,583 439,141 788,167 1,087,839 150,293 208,940 871,685 109,280 1,173,948 915,460 189,418 10,780 17,812 479,254 479,254

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake Ridges and Humps GPS: N 30 49.374, W 98 23.0279 (30.8229, - 98.3838)

% FULL 100% 100% 100% 94% 100% 97% 99% 89% 94% 100% 44% 70% 100% 71% 100% 100% 91% 100% 93% 100% 100% 100% 100% 97% 100% 98% 74% 100% 88% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 92% 100% 69% 94% 82% 100% 100% 100% 87% 87%

•

12 miles west of Burnet

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

INKS LAKE LOCATION: On the Colorado River, 10 miles west of Burnet on Texas 29. SURFACE AREA: 831 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 60 feet IMPOUNDED: 1938 INKS LAKE IS NOTED FOR ITS PICTUResque scenery, but ﬁshing can be good as well. It contains under-rated largemouth bass and Guadalupe bass populations, along with several species of bream. White bass are regularly caught in the reservoir, and crappie are present. Channel and ﬂathead cat-

•

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Live Shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Striper and White Bass fishing should be excellent using live bait and fishing in 30-40 feet of water near ridges and humps. Concentrate on the upper half of the lake from Rocky Point/Chisholm Bay towards Garrett Island.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Cranes Mill Point GPS: N 29 53.742, W 98 17.0759 (29.8957, - 98.2846)

SPECIES: White Bass and Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Sebile Onduspoon Spoon in Halo Color CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantonioﬁshingguides.com www.sanantonioﬁshingguides.com TIPS: “The west shoreline seems to produce the best catches. Fishing the spoon in 15 to 30 feet of water.” T E X A S

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fish occur throughout the reservoir. Inks Lake offers a variety of cover and structure. The shoreline contains numerous rock piles, ledges, and chunk rock banks. Brush piles and gravel beds have been placed near fishing piers and other locations. Several private boat docks, especially on the west side of the lake, hold fish year-round. Inks is near constant level with clear water, but little vegetation.

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CENTRAL TEXAS LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Spawning Coves GPS: N 32 19.392, W 96 6.0539 (32.3232, - 96.1009)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: This month we’re power ﬁshing. Fish all spawning coves as far back as possible. Throw spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics around all shoreline cover in 1’ to 3’.

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LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Shallow Areas GPS: N 28 44.4959, W 97 10.8299 (28.7416, -97.1805)

CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: April can be a great time to be on the lake. Warmer water means more active ﬁsh. I get excited about the crappie spawn. I love trolling the shallow water with a crappie jig and long ultra lite rod and reel. I use 8lb braided line, perferability white. I troll along the banks and drop it in every nook and cranny. Some prefer minnows with small split shot. The females get up along the banks where the water is a little more clear to hatch their eggs. The reason I use white or other colored line is because I watch my line drop and a lot of times I see the bite before I feel it. LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Mud Flats east of Church Point GPS: N 32 55.492, W 97 30.051 (32.9249, -97.5009)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs and crappie niblets in chartruese or small minnows

3/18/20 1:08 PM

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab with a fly 12 in. above. A spinner with a shiny blade on it CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnystevens@1scon.net TIPS: This area is composed of many humps and slopes. Water depth is normally 12 to 24 ft. deep. When the water approaches 60 degrees many sand Bass will spawn on these slopes and humps. Look on each slope and hump with your electronics until you see what appears to be a series of fire ant mounds. Throw out a marker and anchor over them and jig up and down with a slab and a fly about 12 above it. On many occasions you will catch two at a time. Another productive method is to cast to the hump with a lure that has a shiny blade on it.

469-528-0210 whitebassfishingtexas@gmail.com whitebassfishingtexas.com TIPS: Drop shot flukes or finesse worms on Texas rig in 10-15 feet of water. Avoid midday. LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Dry Creek Area GPS: N 30 36.18, W 98 23.4179 (30.6030, -98.3903) LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Haul Road GPS: N 32 38.123, W 97 01.015 (32.6354, - 97.0169)

SPECIES: Largemouth BEST BAITS: Flukes, worms CONTACT: Carey Thorn

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SPECIES: Crappie and Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crappie: 1” to 2” small crank baits and jigs or live minnows, Bass: hard plastic jerk baits, soft plastic jerk baits, top-water, slow-rolling spinnerbaits, lipless or square-bill crankbaits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123

3/18/20 1:08 PM

CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.goneﬁshin.biz TIPS: Check out the Coves at the marina for early spawning Crappie. Small minnows or jigs in the 2 feet of water could result in a nice catch!

UPPER COAST barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Look for prime areas for spawning in shallow water. This is one of the best times of the year to fish the back of coves and other shallow water areas. Bass and crappie will hit just about anything during the spawning season. The main difference in lure selection is the sizes. The best fishing occurs just before frontal passage and then a couple days after when the winds return from the south. Generally, the best fishing is in the afternoons on north banks protected from the north winds and areas which receive lots of sunshine.

972- 814-8942 cajunguide@att.net www.johnnyprocell.com TIPS: “Catﬁsh will be on a tear and will hit cut shad or buffalo in 2 to 8 feet of water off all the main points. Good areas are the two points below Bass Pro and the one out from the Power Plant on the lake side.”

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Kickapoo Creek and Chimney Creek Cove GPS: N 32 4.9379, W 95 24.942 (32.0823, - 95.4157)

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Sand Branch GPS: N 33 22.850, W 96 59.478 (33.380834, -96.991307)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Best lure will be ﬁshing shallow with a blk/brown Amber Big Eye Jig, a Shimmy Shaker and the Mr. Twister Comida worm. CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Fishing will be very good in both the north end in Kickapoo Creek and down south in the Chimney Creek cove. Fish the shallow pockets in your creeks and ﬁsh very slow.

LOCATION: Lake Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Coves at Fisherman’s Point Marina GPS: N 31 56.2799, W 96 7.404 (31.9380, - 96.1234)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut shad or buffalo CONTACT: The Cajun Guide/Johnny Procell |

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Shad, Punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fish the south side of this island with wind blowing into shore. Shad should be gathering shallow now. Us tight line and cast close to shore.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: jerk baits, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and square bill crankbaits CONTACT: Jim Walling 940-391-5534 jimwwalling@icloud.com TIPS: Sand Branch has historically been one of the best places on the lake for catching Largemouth Bass at this time of year. It has produced many trophy size fish over the years, especially in March. Fish the flats from where they drop into the feeder creeks up to the bank to locate fish.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 32 49.7459, W 96 32.166 (32.8291, - 96.5361)

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Snake Island GPS: N 30 18.75, W 96 35.634 (30.3125, - 96.5939)

T E X A S

F I S H

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: 2.75” Storm Smash Shad in Rainbow Smelt color CONTACT: Bob Maindelle/Holding the Line Guide Service 254- 368-7411 Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com TIPS: Troll along the edges of the old river channel, maintaining your bearings using sonar. If you catch ﬁsh consistently in the same area, focus just on that area until the ﬁsh quit. LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Paw Paw Creek & Mill Creek Cut GPS: N 33 53.9879, W 96 53.796

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Small minnows or jigs |

LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake HOTSPOT: Upper End of Main Lake GPS: N 31 0.4218, W 97 38.8559 (31.0070, - 97.6476)

G A M E ®

3/18/20 1:08 PM

(33.8998, - 96.8966)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Road Runner and Sassy Shad jigs in white or chartreuse CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: In March, the white bass have already spawned, and the stripers are staging up the main tributaries. Structure like main lake points, ditches and creeks will hold stripers. Fish the creeks in 12’ to 20’ of water with a slow retrieve for fish up to 20 pounds. Pay attention to the seagulls as they can be your fish finder. When you are fishing under the birds keep your lure in the top 15’ of the water. Most activity will be west of the Willis bridge and north of the railroad bridge on the Washita arm of the lake. Bank Access:

TexasOutdoorNation-2004-DIG.indd 57

BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad and Flea Fly CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: This is good time to head upriver to the mouth of the Nolan river for spawning whites, but they can also be caught main lake. Use a small swim bait and tie a ﬂea ﬂy about 10 above it and make long casts up on points and bounce up and down along edge of point back to boat. Catch them two at a time! Slickem Slough or Paw Paw Creek. LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Nolan at the Brazos GPS: N 32 5.202, W 97 28.1459 (32.0867, - 97.4691)

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•••

SPECIES: White Bass

3/18/20 1:08 PM

Time to Get Out There and Do Some Fishing! WEST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Gobbler and Ince Creeks GPS: N 33 1.506, W 101 9.3179 (33.0251, - 101.1553)

BEST BAITS: Grubs, minnows, jigs CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com www.amistadbass.com TIPS: Use grubs, live minnows, tube jigs. Work the grass and rocks. Dawn to mid-morning; dusk.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shad colored crankbaits, Shakey Head jigs with a blue, camo, or green pumpkin worm, Bomber Fat Free Shad in Foxy Shad Color, Strike King XDS in Sexy Shad color CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: March is when I get out my shad colored crankbaits and a shakey head jig. Look for the warmest water you can find, and you will find the bass. The northwest creek will warm up first except for Big Grape Creek. Even though Big Grape is a south creek, it still is one of the warmest creeks in the early spring. Creeks to check out in March are Gobbler, Ince, and the northwest smaller creeks and coves. If you do not have any luck in the creeks, go to the steep banks close to deep water, and throw a shaky head jig with a blue, camo, or green pumpkin worm. Almost any steep bank will work, but the most productive will be the steep banks up the creeks. Also try the steep banks on the main lake area.

Reported by DEAN HEFFNER

T’S TIME TO GET OUT AND enjoy spring. Everything has spawned or is spawning. Look for stripers, white bass and hybrids, plus catfish and, of course, largemouth. On Possum Kingdom, stripers are biting at the 20 foot breaklines. Water temperatures are in the upper 70’s depending on the location and spring patterns are definitely here. The passage of cool fronts continues to dominant the weather patterns around spring thunderstorms. Most wintering birds have left. White bass and crappie spawns are generally complete but the catfish and black bass are still in spawn. Striped bass are transitioning back to warmer weather locales. Catfish catches can be good on prepared baits, hot dogs or cut shad, best near creek channels.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jerkbaits, crankbaits CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com www.amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish ﬂats to the back during spawn, early morning through the afternoon. LOCATION: Lake Falcon HOTSPOT: Benevides Creek/Marker 5 GPS: N 26 41.724, W 99 9.51 (26.6954, - 99.1585)

LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: California Creek GPS: N 29 32.856, W 101 00.898 (29.5476, - 101.0150)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Texas-rigged Rage Tail Menace in Green Pumpkin color and a half oz. Jobaby spinnerbait in “Falcon Special” color CONTACT: Jim Behnken 210-414-8048

SPECIES: Catﬁsh

LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: East Side of Devil’s River GPS: N 29 30.708, W 100 58.256 (29.5118, - 100.9709)

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T E X A S

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CURRENT LAKE LEVELS LAKE

WEST TEXAS

As of 3/09/2020

Abilene Alan Henry Amistad Amon G Carter Arrowhead Brady Creek Bridgeport Brownwood Champion Creek Cherokee Cisco Coleman Colorado City E V Spence Elephant Butte Falcon Fort Phantom Hill Graham Granbury Greenbelt Hords Creek Hubbard Creek J B Thomas Kemp Kickapoo Leon Lost Creek Mackenzie Meredith Millers Creek Mineral Wells Natural Dam Nocona N. Fork Buffalo Cr. O C Fisher O H Ivie Oak Creek Palo Duro Palo Pinto Pat Cleburne Possum Kingdom Proctor Red Bluff Squaw Creek Stamford Sweetwater Twin Buttes White River

CAPACITY

(Acre Feet)

7,900 96,207 1,840,849 19,266 230,359 28,808 366,236 130,868 41,580 40,094 29,003 38,075 30,758 517,272 1,973,358 1,551,007 70,030 45,288 132,949 59,968 8,109 313,298 199,931 245,307 86,345 27,762 11,950 46,450 500,000 26,768 5,273 54,560 21,444 15,400 115,742 554,340 39,210 61,066 26,766 26,008 538,139 54,762 151,110 151,250 51,570 -n.a.182,454 29,880

CURRENT

(Acre Feet)

6,177 91,067 1,226,843 19,266 207,810 25,459 329,767 110,119 27,735 40,094 25,442 33,559 13,934 139,507 603,337 501,857 70,030 40,453 132,949 12,120 6,356 278,224 48,465 221,597 72,131 24,794 11,950 5,272 209,716 24,075 5,273 26,421 21,444 11,968 10,834 392,121 35,854 2,727 20,307 26,008 537,244 42,783 101,475 147,892 49,711 367 122,419 5,369

% FULL 78% 95% 67% 100% 90% 88% 90% 84% 67% 100% 88% 88% 45% 27% 31% 32% 100% 89% 100% 20% 78% 89% 24% 90% 84% 89% 100% 11% 42% 90% 100% 48% 100% 78% 9% 71% 91% 5% 76% 100% 100% 78% 67% 98% 96% -n.a.67% 18%

43 Miles west of Denton

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE BRIDGEPORT LOCATION: On the West Fork Trinity River in Jack and Wise counties, off US Highway 380, 43 miles west of Denton. SURFACE AREA: 11,954 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 85 feet IMPOUNDED: 1932, renovated in 1972 with a new spillway

MOST OF LAKE BRIDGEPORT’S 170mile shoreline is good bass habitat, with 7 miles of rip-rap, 90 miles of boulders, and many coves and points. Crappie are caught most often when the ﬁsh school around structure in

•

(26.6881, - 99.1485)

back. Work the trees. LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Near Blue Water Shores on the lower ends GPS: N 32 23.189, W 97 42.441 (32 23.189, 97 42.441)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits CONTACT: Robert Amaya, Robert’s Fishing Tackle 956-765-1442 www.robertsﬁshntackle.com TIPS: Fish chartreuse/white crankbaits with green T E X A S

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deep water in the winter and in the spring when they come into shallow water to spawn. Channel catfish are best in the spring when tributaries are running, and again in summer when the fish concentrate atop submerged flats. White bass fishing is best during the spring spawning run. All main-lake points and any inflowing tributaries are good producers. Black basses in this lake include largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth.

•

jimbehnken@hotmail.com www.ﬁshlakefalcon.com TIPS: Flip the Rage Tail Menace to bushes on the points at the mouth of the creeks, and slow roll the spinnerbait down the center of the creeks. LOCATION: Lake Falcon HOTSPOT: Little Tiger GPS: N 26 41.285, W 99 08.912

SEE INSET BELOW

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Country. The reservoir is home to productive blue and flathead catfishes. While winds often blow from the south toward the dam, rigging your line heavy will allow you to cast in the windiest of days. Fishing off the dam can yield a catch of a large fish hanging out in the deeper waters. Cut carp, shad, or sunfish on slip sinker, three-way, or slip bobber rigs work well for landing big blues. However, use of live 3-5” carp or live sunfish works well for landing flatheads. Punch baits, cut shad, and carp also work well for landing smaller fish. Be sure to use heavy test line and round sinkers to avoid getting snagged on the rocks too badly—it’s going to happen.

UPPER COAST SPECIES: White bass (sandbass) BEST BAITS: Chartruese and Silver 1oz holographic slabs CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: Jig points and humps off the main channel. Tie crappie jigs about 15 inches above the slab to get more action. LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Lower Creek Arm GPS: N 32 45.468, W 99 0.6751 (32.7578, - 99.0113)

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Peanut Patch GPS: N 32 53.43, W 98 29.998 (32.8905, - 98.5000)

SPECIES: White Crappie BEST BAITS: jigs, small spinnerbaits CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: With Hubbard Creek Reservoir catching full in 2016, the crappie production is expected to be substantial in 2017. Historically, anglers have reported catching great numbers of crappie in the lower creek arm in the southern end of the reservoir. Fishing the submersed brush and vegetation with curly-tailed jigs and small spinners may yield a bite. LOCATION: Kirby Lake HOTSPOT: Dam GPS: N 32 23.1205, W 99 44.0777 (32.3853, -99.7346)

SPECIES: Hybrid, Striped Bass, White Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, RatLTraps, jigs, live shad. CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: It`s time for most of the fish to be spawned or spawning. Look for Stripers, Hybrids and white bass to be back in the main lake and finished spawning. So, they will be on main lake points and feeding in the mouths of the many coves and sand flats. That is why on a cloudy day the Peanut patch might light up for hours with schooling/feeding fish. You can flatline (troll) crankbaits and RatLTraps this time of month and fish jigs and topwaters, but the best bait is live shad. Bait is easy at PK and most of the time you can catch fish right out in front of wherever you get the bait.

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•••

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Live or cut carp, sunfish, punch baits CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Kirby Lake is a catfishing gem in the Big

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T E X A S

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK APRIL 2020

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

T3 T2 T1

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 T6 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

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 T7

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below.

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

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

Moon Underfoot

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase T E X A S

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

Low Tide: 12:41a High Tide: 10:55a

TUESDAY

31 º

-0.09 ft. 1.42 ft.

Low Tide: 1:38a High Tide: 12:17p

WEDNESDAY

Apr 1

-0.15 ft. 1.54 ft.

Low Tide: 2:45a High Tide: 1:18p

-0.19 ft. 1.64 ft.

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 3:59a High Tide: 2:04p

-0.20 ft. 1.70 ft.

FRIDAY

Low Tide: 5:13a High Tide: 2:40p

SATURDAY

-0.18 ft. 1.68 ft.

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

FEET

6:23a 3:03p 8:48p 11:04p

SUNDAY

-0.12 ft. 1.57 ft. 1.22 ft. 1.25 ft.

Low Tide: 7:29a High Tide: 3:16p Low Tide: 8:28p

0.01 ft. 1.40 ft. 1.01 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:00P — 1:00A

12p

12:00 — 2:00 AM

AM Minor: 12:11a AM Major: 6:21a PM Minor: 12:35p PM Major: 6:49p

TUESDAY

7«

1.32 ft. 0.19 ft. 1.20 ft. 0.68 ft.

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

2:52a 9:38a 3:16p 9:15p

8l High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:20a 10:46a 3:05p 9:54p

12p

12a

1.50 ft. 0.68 ft. 0.95 ft. -0.07 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM

2:00 — 4:00 AM

12a

10:00P — 12:00A

12a

11:00P — 1:00A Sunrise: 7:03a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 5:15p Moon Set: 5:40a

AM Minor: 2:47a AM Major: 9:01a PM Minor: 3:15p PM Major: 9:29p

Moon Overhead: 10:00p Moon Underfoot: 9:31a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:04a Sunset: 7:38p Moonrise: 4:06p Moon Set: 4:56a

AM Minor: 1:55a AM Major: 8:09a PM Minor: 2:24p PM Major: 8:38p

Moon Overhead: 9:02p Moon Underfoot: 8:34a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:05a Sunset: 7:38p Moonrise: 2:58p Moon Set: 4:08a

AM Minor: 1:01a AM Major: 7:16a PM Minor: 1:30p PM Major: 7:44p

AM Minor: 3:37a AM Major: 9:51a PM Minor: 4:04p PM Major: 10:18p

Moon Overhead: 10:56p Moon Underfoot: 10:28a

Moon Overhead: 11:52p Moon Underfoot: 11:24a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

1.41 ft. 0.43 ft. 1.04 ft. 0.30 ft.

Sunrise: 7:06a Sunset: 7:37p Moonrise: 1:53p Moon Set: 3:16a

Moon Overhead: 8:05p Moon Underfoot: 7:37a

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

MONDAY

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:08a Sunset: 7:36p Moonrise: 12:53p Moon Set: 2:21a

Moon Overhead: 7:09p Moon Underfoot: 6:42a

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 11:39a AM Major: 5:26a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:53p

Moon Overhead: 6:16p Moon Underfoot: 5:50a

1:15a 8:33a 3:20p 8:45p

12a

Sunrise: 7:09a Sunset: 7:36p Moonrise: 11:58a Moon Set: 1:25a

AM Minor: 10:44a AM Major: 4:32a PM Minor: 11:09p PM Major: 4:57p

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

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:10a Sunset: 7:35p Moonrise: 11:10a Moon Set: 12:28a

6«

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

9« High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:44a 12:08p 2:39p 10:37p

1.57 ft. 0.93 ft. 0.98 ft. -0.36 ft.

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

10 «

High Tide: 7:09a Low Tide: 11:25p

1.62 ft. -0.54 ft.

SATURDAY

High Tide: 8:38a

1.64 ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 12:18a High Tide: 10:08a

-0.60 ft. 1.66 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

6:00 — 8:00 PM Sunrise: 7:02a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 6:24p Moon Set: 6:20a

12a

12:00 — 2:00 AM

AM Minor: 5:16a AM Major: 11:29a PM Minor: 5:43p PM Major: 11:56p

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:19p

Sunrise: 7:01a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: 7:32p Moon Set: 7:00a

AM Minor: 4:26a AM Major: 10:39a PM Minor: 4:53p PM Major: 11:06p

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 12:45a Moon Underfoot: 1:12p

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12p

12a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 6:09a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:36p PM Major: 12:22p

12a

1:30 — 3:30 AM

AM Minor: 7:05a AM Major: 12:52a PM Minor: 7:33p PM Major: 1:19p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 2:33a Moon Underfoot: 3:00p

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:58a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 9:49p Moon Set: 8:19a

Moon Overhead: 1:39a Moon Underfoot: 2:05p

12p

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 AM Sunrise: 7:00a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: 8:40p Moon Set: 7:38a

2:30 — 4:30 AM Sunrise: 6:57a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 10:57p Moon Set: 9:02a

AM Minor: 8:06a AM Major: 1:52a PM Minor: 8:34p PM Major: 2:20p

Moon Overhead: 3:28a Moon Underfoot: 3:56p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

3:30 — 5:30 AM Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 9:48a

AM Minor: 9:09a AM Major: 2:55a PM Minor: 9:38p PM Major: 3:23p Moon Overhead: 4:25a Moon Underfoot: 4:53p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 PM Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 12:03a Moon Set: 10:39a

AM Minor: 10:12a AM Major: 3:58a PM Minor: 10:41p PM Major: 4:27p Moon Overhead: 5:22a Moon Underfoot: 5:50p

G A M E ®

3/18/20 1:09 PM

APRIL 2020

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

Low Tide: 1:17a High Tide: 11:32a

-0.53 ft. 1.66 ft.

TUESDAY

Low Tide: 2:22a High Tide: 12:39p

-0.38 ft. 1.65 ft.

WEDNESDAY

15 »

Low Tide: 3:33a High Tide: 1:28p

-0.18 ft. 1.61 ft.

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 4:47a High Tide: 2:02p

0.04 ft. 1.55 ft.

FEET

FRIDAY

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

5:58a 2:24p 8:20p 11:20p

SATURDAY

0.24 ft. 1.47 ft. 1.14 ft. 1.19 ft.

Low Tide: 7:02a High Tide: 2:36p Low Tide: 8:13p

SUNDAY

0.43 ft. 1.38 ft. 1.02 ft.

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

1:08a 7:59a 2:40p 8:25p

1.26 ft. 0.61 ft. 1.28 ft. 0.85 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 1:04a Moon Set: 11:33a

AM Minor: 11:14a AM Major: 5:00a PM Minor: 11:42p PM Major: 5:28p Moon Overhead: 6:19a Moon Underfoot: 6:47p

12p

BEST TIME

11:00P — 1:00A Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:44p Moonrise: 2:00a Moon Set: 12:29p

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 5:57a PM Minor: 12:11p PM Major: 6:24p Moon Overhead: 7:14a Moon Underfoot: 7:40p

TexasOutdoorNation-2004-DIG.indd 63

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 7:44p Moonrise: 2:50a Moon Set: 1:25p

AM Minor: 12:38a AM Major: 6:51a PM Minor: 1:03p PM Major: 7:16p Moon Overhead: 8:06a Moon Underfoot: 8:31p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 6:51a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 3:34a Moon Set: 2:22p

AM Minor: 1:26a AM Major: 7:39a PM Minor: 1:51p PM Major: 8:03p Moon Overhead: 8:56a Moon Underfoot: 9:20p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 AM Sunrise: 6:50a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 4:12a Moon Set: 3:17p

AM Minor: 2:11a AM Major: 8:22a PM Minor: 2:33p PM Major: 8:45p Moon Overhead: 9:42a Moon Underfoot: 10:05p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 6:49a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 4:47a Moon Set: 4:11p

AM Minor: 2:51a AM Major: 9:02a PM Minor: 3:12p PM Major: 9:23p Moon Overhead: 10:26a Moon Underfoot: 10:47p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30A — 1:30P Sunrise: 6:48a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 5:18a Moon Set: 5:03p

AM Minor: 3:28a AM Major: 9:39a PM Minor: 3:49p PM Major: 9:59p Moon Overhead: 11:08a Moon Underfoot: 11:29p

3/18/20 1:09 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

20 FEET

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

2:27a 8:51a 2:34p 8:42p

TUESDAY

21 «

1.33 ft. 0.76 ft. 1.18 ft. 0.65 ft.

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

3:32a 9:44a 2:21p 9:01p

WEDNESDAY

22 l

1.37 ft. 0.88 ft. 1.10 ft. 0.45 ft.

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

4:30a 10:41a 1:55p 9:22p

THURSDAY

23 «

1.41 ft. 0.98 ft. 1.05 ft. 0.25 ft.

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

5:25a 12:17p 12:50p 9:45p

1.43 ft. 1.05 ft. 1.05 ft. 0.07 ft.

FRIDAY

24 «

High Tide: 6:19a Low Tide: 10:12p

SATURDAY

1.45 ft. -0.09 ft.

25 «

High Tide: 7:15a Low Tide: 10:44p

1.49 ft. -0.21 ft.

SUNDAY

High Tide: 8:18a Low Tide: 11:23p

1.54 ft. -0.28 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:00 — 7:00 AM

12a

12:00 — 2:00 PM

MONDAY 1.61 ft.

Low Tide: 12:10a High Tide: 10:37a

-0.30 ft. 1.70 ft.

Low Tide: 1:06a High Tide: 11:38a

12a

-0.27 ft. 1.76 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 6:01a AM Major: 11:47a PM Minor: 6:23p PM Major: 12:12p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:42a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 8:27a Moon Set: 10:24p

AM Minor: 6:46a AM Major: 12:35a PM Minor: 7:09p PM Major: 12:57p

AM Minor: 7:35a AM Major: 1:24a PM Minor: 7:59p PM Major: 1:47p

Moon Overhead: 2:36p Moon Underfoot: 2:14a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 7:50p Moonrise: 7:51a Moon Set: 9:28p

Moon Overhead: 1:52p Moon Underfoot: 1:31a

8:00 — 10:00 PM Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 9:08a Moon Set: 11:21p

AM Minor: 8:28a AM Major: 2:16a PM Minor: 8:53p PM Major: 2:41p

Moon Overhead: 3:23p Moon Underfoot: 2:59a

Moon Overhead: 4:13p Moon Underfoot: 3:48a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

1:00 — 3:00 PM

Moon Overhead: 1:10p Moon Underfoot: 12:49a

TUESDAY

12p

Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: 7:17a Moon Set: 8:33p

AM Minor: 5:20a AM Major: 11:30a PM Minor: 5:40p PM Major: 11:51p

Moon Overhead: 12:29p Moon Underfoot: 12:09a

BEST TIME

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

READING THE GRAPH

12a

Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: 6:47a Moon Set: 7:39p

AM Minor: 4:42a AM Major: 10:52a PM Minor: 5:02p PM Major: 11:12p

Moon Overhead: 11:49a Moon Underfoot: None

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:46a Sunset: 7:48p Moonrise: 6:17a Moon Set: 6:47p

AM Minor: 4:05a AM Major: 10:15a PM Minor: 4:25p PM Major: 10:35p

High Tide: 9:28a

11:30A — 1:30P

Sunrise: 6:47a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 5:48a Moon Set: 5:55p

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

30 º

Low Tide: 2:11a High Tide: 12:25p

-0.20 ft. 1.78 ft.

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

May 1

Low Tide: 3:23a High Tide: 12:57p

-0.07 ft. 1.71 ft.

FEET

SATURDAY

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

4:39a 1:17p 8:04p 10:08p

0.09 ft. 1.57 ft. 1.07 ft. 1.09 ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 5:57a High Tide: 1:26p Low Tide: 7:29p

0.29 ft. 1.38 ft. 0.80 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:00 — 11:00 PM Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 7:52p Moonrise: 9:55a Moon Set: None

9:00P — 12:00A

AM Minor: 10:23a AM Major: 4:09a PM Minor: 10:50p PM Major: 4:36p

Moon Overhead: 5:05p Moon Underfoot: 4:38a

Sunrise: 6:39a Sunset: 7:52p Moonrise: 10:46a Moon Set: 12:17a

AM Minor: 9:25a AM Major: 3:12a PM Minor: 9:51p PM Major: 3:38p

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 5:59p Moon Underfoot: 5:32a

A P R I L

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2 0 2 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 11:22a AM Major: 5:08a PM Minor: 11:49p PM Major: 5:35p

12a

11:30P — 1:30A

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:05a PM Minor: 12:19p PM Major: 6:33p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 7:50p Moon Underfoot: 7:22a

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: 12:45p Moon Set: 2:02a

Moon Overhead: 6:54p Moon Underfoot: 6:26a

12p

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 7:53p Moonrise: 11:44a Moon Set: 1:11a

12:30 — 2:30 AM Sunrise: 6:36a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: 1:50p Moon Set: 2:49a

AM Minor: 12:47a AM Major: 7:01a PM Minor: 1:14p PM Major: 7:28p Moon Overhead: 8:45p Moon Underfoot: 8:17a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 AM Sunrise: 6:36a Sunset: 7:55p Moonrise: 2:56p Moon Set: 3:33a

AM Minor: 1:39a AM Major: 7:52a PM Minor: 2:06p PM Major: 8:19p Moon Overhead: 9:38p Moon Underfoot: 9:12a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM Sunrise: 6:35a Sunset: 7:56p Moonrise: 4:03p Moon Set: 4:14a

AM Minor: 2:27a AM Major: 8:41a PM Minor: 2:54p PM Major: 9:07p Moon Overhead: 10:31p Moon Underfoot: 10:05a

G A M E ®

3/18/20 1:09 PM

Untitled-4

The American Sportfishing Association Leading the Way for Sportfishing’s Future

“Whether it’s by yourself, or with your friends and family, fishing is about enjoying the outdoors, being one with nature, bonding with the people you love and participating in the best recreational activity ever created.” Glenn Hughes, President American Sportfishing Association The American Sportfishing Association encourages all anglers to get outside and enjoy some time on the water. Please check your state’s natural resource agency website to ensure you’ll stay safe and healthy. www.ASAFishing.org TexasOutdoorNation-2004-DIG.indd 65 Untitled-4 1

3/18/20 1:09 PM 3/18/20 1:45 PM

Why Bringing Wolves to Colorado is a Bad Idea

OLORADO’S ECONOMY, elk population, conservation funding, hunting industry and resident taxpayer dollars are in the crosshairs. An environmental extremistdriven ballot initiative story by ROCKY aims to force an introMOUNTAIN ELK duction of wolves onto FOUNDATION the Colorado landscape even though Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed a natural migrating, active pack in the northwest part of the state. “Ballot box biology is reckless. In this particular case, it totally undermines the authority of Colorado’s wildlife professionals who have said time and time again over several decades that a forced wolf introduction is a bad idea,” said Kyle Weaver, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation president and CEO. “As an organization, RMEF pledges to do all in our power to educate voters about the significant, real-life, detrimental impacts of such an effort.” RMEF first warned about the initiative proposal three years ago. Since then, environmental extremists have raised more than $1 million, the lion’s share of it from out-of-state donors, to gather and deliver 215,000 (of nearly six million residents) petition signatures to the Colorado secretary of state. Staffers later deemed 76,037 or 35.3 percent of projected signatures as invalid but approved the measure for the 2020 ballot by

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in North America, yet researchers in the southwest part of the state are trying to figure out why elk recruitment is ailing. RMEF has a long history in Colorado. Since 1987, RMEF and its partners completed 782 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects with a combined value of more than $177.7 million. These projects protected or enhanced 468,068 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 122,107 acres. There are also more than 17,000 RMEF members and 28 chapters in the state. “Proponents are offering zero funding for wolf management, livestock or pet depredation, deterrent measures, research or other costs. Yet they expect Colorado taxpayers and hunters to foot a bill that will be millions upon millions of dollars. As outdoorsmen and women who care about wildlife and our wild landscapes, we must unite and fight against this measure,” added Weaver.

a projected margin of 1.8 percent. Colorado is home to the largest elk herd

•

Colorado is home to the largest elk herd in North America

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

3/18/20 1:09 PM

Black Bears Win in Court

U.S. FEDERAL DISTRICT court in Washington, D.C. has dismissed a case challenging the removal of the Louisiana black bear from the federal threatened and endangered species list. Plaintiffs sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) over the 2016 delisting, and Safari Club International (SCI) successfully intervened to defend the USFWS’s science-based decision. The court relied on SCI’s arguments in dismissing the suit. The recovery of the Louisiana black bear is a conservation success story. Louisiana black bears are one of 16 subspecies of the American black bear found throughout North America, but they are the only subspecies to have been listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The bears were listed as “threatened” in 1992 due to a reduced population and concerns regarding the loss of suitable habitat, which had declined by more than 80% across their historical range which includes the Pineywoods of East Texas. Considerable resources have been dedicated to restoring habitat, and more than 600,000 acres of habitat has been protected. By 2016, the population met the criteria in the species’ recovery plan and the USFWS removed the bears from the threatened species list and returned management of the species back to the State of Louisiana. Suitable habitat for the bears has expanded by over 400% and previously isolated populations are now interconnected, which will help the bears to thrive. Independent research funded by the USFWS found an almost 100% probability of the bear populations sustainably existing for the next 100 years. In 2018, the delisting of the Louisiana black bear was challenged in court by multiple organizations and individuals. SCI was the only organization that intervened to defend the USFWS’s decision to delist the bears. In dismissing the suit, the court relied on arguments that only SCI put forward. The

A louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) roots for insects.

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TexasOutdoorNation-2004-DIG.indd 67

lized throughout North America to effectively manage bear populations. While long-term sustainability of the population is the agency’s first priority, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hopes to provide bear hunting opportunities in Louisiana in the future, in accordance with their state bear management plan. “After basing its decision completely on SCI’s arguments, a U.S. federal district court delivered a victory for conservation and hunters. SCI is proud to have stepped in to defend the Fish and Wildlife Service’s science-based decision to delist the Louisiana black bear as a threatened species under the ESA. The ESA was created to recover populations from the brink of extinction, and the Louisiana black bear is now a resounding success story. SCI celebrates this impressive victory for wildlife and science-based conservation,” said SCI CEO Laird Hamberlin.

court ruled that the plaintiffs had not shown that delisting the bears caused any demonstrable decline in their population and that plaintiffs failed to prove any injury to their interests from potential development in the Atchafalaya Basin. This case is a prime example of SCI’s value as a partner to the USFWS and state fish and wildlife agencies. SCI is honored and excited to have successfully defended science-based decision-making and played a key role in keeping the ESA from being further weaponized as a tool for anti-hunters. SCI will work with local SCI chapters, partner organizations, and the State to move towards reopening bear hunting in Louisiana. Although the State is unlikely to schedule a hunt in the near future, delisting is an important first step in implementing a hunt as a management technique. As the bear population continues to grow, minimizing human-bear conflicts will be a necessary component of successful management. Regulated bear harvests have been utiF I S H

G A M E ®

by SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL

•

A P R I L

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3/18/20 1:09 PM

Texas TASTED by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Homemade Tortilla Soup

HIS IS A HEARTY SOUP THAT is sure to warm up you and your family on a cold winter day. (Makes up about 4 to 6 bowls. Double it if your kids eat like ours.)

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup chopped onions 2 teaspoons chopped garlic 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon 1 poblano pepper—seeded and chopped, and 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped 1 zucchini squash—sliced into ¼” slices 1 can diced tomatoes 1 lb. fresh mushrooms—sliced thin 1 ear of corn—shucked and cut fresh from the cob

for garnish.

2 teaspoons ground cumin ½ teaspoon ground coriander 2 tablespoons tomato paste 6 cups chicken stock 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

In a Dutch oven or large cast iron pot, heat the oil on medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic, peppers, salt, cumin, and coriander for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, be sure and stir as you go. Add the chicken stock, and then add the rest of the vegetables. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add the chicken and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add the cilantro and lime juice, and stir well. Add a teaspoon of chicken bouillon for richness, cover and simmer for another 20 minutes, then remove from the heat and cover to keep warm. Heat the oil in a heavy

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves 1 teaspoon fresh limejuice 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying 6 stale corn tortillas cut into 1/4-inchthick strips 1 teaspoon Texas gourmet’s sidewinder searing spice 1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and chopped, 68

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pot to 350 degrees. Add the tortilla strips in batches and fry until golden and crisp, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season to taste with the Texas gourmet’s sidewinder searing spice. Ladle the soup into 4 or 6 serving bowls. Garnish each serving with the diced avocado, the fried tortilla strips, green onion tops, grated Monterrey jack cheese, and chopped cilantro. Wow, let’s eat! Bon appetit!

« Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

3/11/20 4:09 PM

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F I S H

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REDFISH Galveston Owen Balzer caught this 37-inch red drum off the coast at Galveston. He caught the big red on cut bait.

WHITETAIL Waskom Eleven-year-old Holt Tunstall killed this nice seven-point buck while hunting at Waskom.

BLUE CATFISH Private Pond

GAFFTOPSAIL CATFISH

Brayson Urbanczyk caught this 49.6 pound blue catfish while fishing with his Grandpa, Eli Urbanczyk, on Grandpa’s pond. He caught the big blue, his biggest fish ever, on one cast with a shrimp as bait.

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Port Bolivar Brooklyn Polk shows of one of the many gafftops she caught while ﬁshing with her family near Port Bolivar.

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

3/18/20 2:11 PM

SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital ﬁles only, please.

Also Enter our PHOTO CONTEST: FishGame.com/HotShots No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

FERAL HOG Somerset Christopher Clary shot this wild hog while hunting on private property near Somerset.

MAHI MAHI Offshore Emmett Pack caught this nice Mahi Mahi on a recent offshore trip.

ANTELOPE Dalhart Hatcher Railsback shot this Antelope with a 22.250 while hunting with his dad, Keven, near Dalhart.

REDFISH Swan Lake John Torres caught this nice 23-inch redﬁsh on Swan Lake. He was ﬁshing with dead bait.

RAINBOW TROUT Guadalupe River Emily Dulin is photographed pulling in an 18-inch rodbending rainbow trout after a nearly four-minute ﬁght. She released the ﬁsh.

MULE DEER Colorado Jerry Manning shot this 250-pound 4 x 4 mule deer while on a hunt near Aspen, Colorado.

T E X A S

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