Texas Fish & Game March/April 2021 by Texas Fish & Game

March/April 2021 | $3.95

New Regs for Texas Catfish Conroe: Hot Bass, Scalding Catfishing 2013-MarApr-Cover-DIG.indd 1

A Squirrel Hunting Comeback

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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

It’s as if Rand McNally Fished

PUBLISHERS

CHESTER MOORE

Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas • 2021 •

E HAVE BEEN PUBLISHING OUR ANNUAL FISHING ATLAS, APTLY TITLED TEXAS LAKES & BAYS, since 1988. In its earliest editions, TL&B modestly presented maps and profiles of all the major bay systems down the Texas coast, plus a selection of freshwater lakes across the state. The first couple of annual issues, just like our monthly flagship TF&G back in the early days, were printed on newsprint. As FISH & GAME matured into a glossy full color magazine, LAKES & BAYS grew with it. The first year we went “slick” with TL&B—the 1991 edition—we also released it on newsstands across Texas. It sold like snow cones outside a sweat lodge. The old LAKES & BAYS offered a lot of good information, and the maps—drawn by Nancy Spivey, the wife of TF&G’s founding editor Marvin Spivey—provided reference points to facilities and general locations for the best fishing. Each location was profiled in an article by one of our contributing writers who was knowledgable about the lake or bay and its unique Still Only $ 95 9 MAPS | HOTSPOTS | GPS | DEPTHS | RAMPS | RULES | TIDES characteristics. Basic, solid info for the travelling fisherman. An atlas for anglers. As LAKES & BAYS evolved, we tinkered with its content. We added a year-long tide forecast. We added pages, which enabled us to feature more and more lakes. Then, in 2003, we took a significant turn. That year, we Where, to How When & re Than re-formatted the book. We enlarged its physical size—the Fish Mo “trim”—from the standard 8- x 11-inch magazine size to a larger 60Salt Fresh & ns GPS for tio Destina 9 x 11. This let us enlarge all the maps. Using NOAA charts and 3,000+ Detailed Fishing Depth Contour Hotspots USGS topographic maps, we built digital versions on which we Maps Charted by could then overlay our own information. 1 1 NEW LAKES We also added a twist that was a game changer. We + THE ENTIRE TEXAS COAST recruited experienced fishing guides from each area and asked Texas Lakes & Bays, them to submit specific “hot spots” with detailed information 2021 Edition including the species, best time of year (since this was an annual book) and the best baits and techniques for fishing each spot. The kicker was that they also gave us the GPS coordinates for each spot. Every year, we would add new fishing spots, in addition to adding new lakes (we already had every bay). The book grew fatter and more packed with fishing holes for anglers who liked to hit the road and try lakes or bays they might not be familiar with. In 2011, we made another significant shift—and totally overhauled the maps again. We partnered with Navionics, which enabled us to include depth contours for all the water bodies. We have continued to hone and fine tune the content of TEXAS LAKES & BAYS in the succeeding editions. This year, due to economic and Covid related factors, the new edition is being released a bit later than normal. As you read this, the 2021 edition is now available. You can find it at Academy Sports + Outdoors, Walmart, HEB, and most places that still have newsstands. It’s even sold at Tractor Supply stores. Or, you can go online and order it directly from us at fishgame.com/fishgamegear. This year’s edition, again due to the stresses and realities of the day, has been streamlined to a svelte 224 pages. It may be smaller in page count, but it actually has fourteen lakes that were not included last year—and still has all of the Texas bays. We just had to do another complete map overhaul to make all the information fit... and happily ended up with a more functional presentation. This edition of TEXAS LAKES & BAYS has five dozen freshwater and saltwater maps, loaded with a wealth of fishing information. If you were to purchase a fishing map separately for all these locations—if they were even available for all of them—you would have to spend $600 to $800. We have it all wrapped up for you in one easy to use package... all for a nickle under ten bucks.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

C O N T R I B U T O R S JOE DOGGETT DOUG PIKE LOU MARULLO MATT WILLIAMS LENNY RUDOW DUSTIN ELLERMANN REAVIS WORTHAM STAN SKINNER NICOLE BECKA CYNDI DALENA LISA MOORE

• • • • • • • • • • •

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR HUMOR 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., 3431 Rayford Road, Ste 200-408, Spring, TX 77386. ©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, 3431 Rayford Road, Ste 200-408, Spring, TX 77386. 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, 3431 Rayford Road, Ste 200-408, Spring, TX 77386. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 3431 Rayford Road, Ste 200-408, Spring, TX 77386. 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 March/April 2021 | Vol. 37 • No. 7

FEATURE ARTICLES

THE CATFISH PLAN Why Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. is rewriting the book on fishing for catfish, considering a host of new regulations.

by Matt Williams

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BUSHY LEAGUE COMEBACK How fun new rimfires and a growing population of bushytails in Texas is fueling a rebirth of squirrel hunting.

COVER STORY

by TF&G Staff

FLOUNDER QUEST

CONROE CATS

TF&G’s Editor-in-Chief literally wrote the book on flounder fishing, and has now revived his other flatfish enterprise, Flounder Revolution, with new incentives.

Lake Conroe has become famous lately for its lunker bass production. But it has always been legendary for its catfish.

by TF&G Staff

story by Chester Moore

COLUMNS

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

Editor’s Notes

Pike on the Edge

Texas Tactical

Bare Bones Hunting

Texas Boating

Bass University

Open Season

by CHESTER MOORE

GUNS OF LITTLE BIG HORN George Armstrong Custer’s own guns were on display in Uvalde.

by Steve LaMascus

by DOUG PIKE

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by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

by LOU MARULLO

Fish & Game Forecast Center

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by PETE ROBBINS

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM

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Sportsman’s Daybook Fish & Game Hunting Center

DEPARTMENTS

by LENNY RUDOW

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TF&G Report + HotShots

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Letters

from TF&G Readers

Texas Tasted by Lenny Rudow

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Outdoor Directory

Guides, Outfitters & More

Fish & Game Photos by TFG Readers

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LETTERS to the Editor Kudos to Lamascus YOUR ARTICLE AT FISHGAME.COM on defining power was exactly what some of us were thinking, but not sure how to say. Thank you for putting your experience and insight into plain English. I have had a very similar experience when hunting deer here in Texas. I only have two hunting rifles, a Marlin .357 and a Remington .270. I have physical limitations on how far that I can walk and track a wounded animal. I bought some Hornady for my .270 to go mule deer hunting in Colorado They worked as expected. I think Hornady is a good ammo manufacturer, if you use the correct bullet for the correct animal you’re hunting. I returned to Texas to hunt whitetail using the Hornady ammo that I bought for mule deer there was a completely different outcome. The Hornady ammo that I used for mule deer was too powerful for the whitetail down here in Texas. Just like you said in your article, it went right through without expanding. I changed bullets several years ago and ended up using the exact same bullet that you mentioned in your article with a greater recovery rate than the more powerful ammo of the same size.

Rancho del Mar, from Doggett’s January/February 2021 column.

Rancho del Mar DEAR JOE DOGGETT, Wow! That really tugged at my heart strings. It was the stuff I dreamed of reading the Chronicle growing up in Sharpstown, which was the civilized edge of the planet back then best I could tell. The main lanes of US 59 ended at Bissonnet where you were relegated to feeder roads all the way to Victoria. I would absolutely devour the Outdoors Section of the Chronicle, every Sunday and any other day you and Bob [Brister, long time Houston Chronicle Outdoor Editor] had an expanded report or story. Bob’s and your style really does leave us wanting to go wherever the heck you had been—Barrow’s Ranch, Champions Lake, Bolivar Peninsula, Rockport—man, what an endless list of great places, most of which I’ve been to or close to chasing tails or feathers. I loved the section of Rob Sawyer’s latest book, Images of the Hunt: A Photographic History of Texas Waterfowling. There’s a good section on the east side of Houston, in particular, Barrow’s Ranch, which I never did get to hunt. Your story has an air of foreboding in it for those of us that crave the edge. There’s not much left, at least around these parts. With flats boats, cat boats, tunnel boats, airboats, mud motors and jets—not to mention the internet cyber scouting, GPS and

Steve

Gonzalez Still Impacting Readers DAMN THAT WAS A GOOD AND powerful article! It struck a chord with me for sure. Great job in tying the trials of 2020 to being more Christ-like without sounding too preachy. Tight lines. Sigue adelante!

Gerardo Huerta Editor: Cal was a brave man and a really good one. Even though he is no longer with us, his words are still impacting people. Thanks for sharing Gerardo. 6

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drones—no critter is safe anywhere at any time. It seems as though there is hardly a technology that could improve our odds of success. It is more about how you get there and in what style than about actually doing it well. Though I still have a bird lease on the edge of the Katy Prairie, I am old enough to know that it is not even a shadow of what it was “back in the day.” It hurts my heart to drive home when I can actually see the so called progress instead of just the lights on the way out in the early morning. You guys did it well. Keep writing and telling those stories with Ray, Popo and Lou for the rest of us. I can still dream of the edge.

Jim Gregory

« Send Your Comments to: Texas Fish & Game 3431 Rayford Rd Suite 200-408 Houston, TX 77386 editor@ﬁshgame.com PHOTO: JOE DOGGETT

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

Remember ‘The Forgotten Sea’ (and the Flounder)

OOKING DOWN THE DECK OF the New Buccaneer, I could see rods doubled over. Virtually all of them. We had hit a pocket of snappers that was pretty epic. I had just finished my limit, including my biggest ever for that time, a 15-pounder, and I was celebrating with my favorite strong drink—a Dr. Pepper. Suddenly, what looked like the biggest dolphin I ever saw surfaced about 30 yards from the boat. The big marine mammal came up again and swam slowly alongside the boat, looking for any bycatch, when I realized it was not a dolphin but a beaked whale. At first glance, they look sort of like a steroided-up Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, but upon the closer glance you see there are quite a few differences. Here I was catching a limit with a nice limit of snapper with my Dad and our friend Dean Dyson looking at a whale. How cool is that? Encounters like that frequently happen in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not that seeing beaked whales is commonplace. That’s the only one I have ever seen but seeing fantastic wildlife in the Gulf’s waters happens frequently. A few years ago, I wrote a column called “The Forgotten Sea” about the Gulf’s myriad creatures and how mainstream wildlife media ignores it. That’s why I created a new podcast called “HIgher Calling Gulf Coast” that you can connect with via the TF&G e-newsletter and fishgame.com. 8

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Although I communicated with people on fisheries globally, I wanted to focus specifically on the Gulf Coast from the back bays to the bluewater and take my style of investigative wildlife journalism and deep enthusiasm for fishing and put it into a show.

We’ve already run a three-part series on speckled trout that goes deeper into the topic of big trout than anything I” ve heard with incredible guests Pat Murray, Shane Bonnot, and Bruce Shuler. You can check that out at the archives at thehighercalling.podbean.com where you can get both “Higher Calling Gulf Coast” and the “Higher Calling Wildlife” podcasts. You can also find the show on iTunes, Iheartradio and Googleplay. In March, we debut a three-part series on |

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flounders you won’t want to miss. Since I’m the original flounder revolutionary, we put a lot into this one and have some shocking and inspiring information. And as you’ll see in one of our features, “Flounder Revolution” is back! The flounder catch-and-release conservation program I ran from 2008 to 2013 has been reborn with a new twist. We are giving some amazing conservation challenge coins to every angler that submits proof of a flounder of more than 20 inches that they released to produce more of its kind. This is our Flounder Revolution “Catch, Release & Conserve Award” and for anglers who have caught and released a flounder of 24 inches or better, we have another coin called the “Save the Saddle Blanket” award. All anglers who enter fish get into a drawing for special prizes, and there is an opportunity for a lucky angler to get a replica of their catch at the end of the year. Get all the information at www.flounderrevolution.com. Flounder Revolution’s awards are sponsored by CCATexas, which has been very generous in funding our awards. They look so good. I’m going to have to go catch and release a big flounder to earn one. My goal this year is to inspire more people to get involved with conservation and to go fishing. The Lord put on my heart when I dealt with some difficulties in the fall of 2020 to fish more. The results have been less stress, more joy, and renewed commitment for our Gulf region fisheries. We are blessed to be in such a wonderful coastal region where fishing dreams can come true, and adventure is easily accessible. It’s truly time to remember the forgotten sea.

Email Chester Moore at cmoore@ﬁshgame.com ILLUSTRATION: CHESTER MOORE

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

Freshwater Strategies: Crappie

RAPPIE ARE LITTLE SLICES of angel food cake with fins. Few things that swim taste as good, and most are more difficult to catch. I caught dozens of crappie before ever fishing for them on purpose. As it turns out, they will eat a lot of small, inexpensive bass lures, the kind an aspiring bass fisherman can afford on a modest allowance. My young friends and I probably would have caught more crappie, too, except that our hookset technique was not altogether compatible with the species’ delicate mouths. We were big fans of the live minnow back then, and liked to get our money’s worth. Rather than pay a premium for bigger baits, we spent less per dozen on smaller minnows but got more dozens. We called ourselves “bass fishermen” when anyone asked, but in hindsight, we were not. It wasn’t until I was older, well into my teens and toting a driver’s license, that deliberately fishing for crappie sounded like much of a good idea. Before then, I considered crappie an ideal species for the young and the frail, fishermen who didn’t know enough to catch bass and couldn’t stand the smell of a proper catfish bait. Also, before then, I hadn’t eaten many crappie. One of the first trips on which I targeted white perch specifically took place in a lake on the golf course at Quail Valley Country Club in Missouri City. One of the area’s first courses that wound through a neighborhood, QVCC had no fences to dissuade young fishermen, and it was easy enough to elude the occasional course marshal. Better yet, a couple of guys who lived in the master-planned community had already laid the groundwork

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best crappie fishermen in the state. One of many good things about crappie is that the law allows a generous daily sack of the prolific breeders; a single trip can satisfy kitchen needs for weeks or months, depending on the size of your fish, your family, and your freezer. Since they are not worth squat for sport, there is really no reason to go crappie fishing again until you have depleted current fillet stocks. Much of a lake’s reputation for crappie fishing depends on the success of people who fish it regularly. Larry King lived up to his regal name among crappie fishermen at Sam Rayburn and was in great part responsible for the lake’s high standing among crappie anglers through the ‘80s and ‘90s. Butch Terpe was as good as they got on Lake Conroe; his hundreds of brush piles produce thousands of fish through the course of any season, and people sometimes give excessive credit to the lake for its fine crappie fishing, when it was Terpe’s expertise that loaded their boxes. Every reservoir has its share of good crappie fishermen, but usually no more than two or three anglers achieve local legend status as the best on the pond. Those fishermen seem to be lucky more often than not, although luck plays virtually no part in the time they spend around cleaning tables. Follow their leads, and you can enjoy fresh crappie most any time you want it.

and figured out where to park our cars so they would not be ticketed or towed. My friends and I fished a lot of private and semi-private water without permission. We fancied ourselves quite the rebels when, in truth, we weren’t doing anything so wrong that anyone cared about stopping us. The best crappie spot at QVCC was beneath a big willow tree that hung over a wide oxbow lake, the still remains of a creek that wandered across what was once a cow pasture and now a fairway. Course architects had placed the hazard just beyond the area where smart and good golfers’ 3-wood tee shots landed. They hit lay-ups to the water’s edge and then were left with midiron approaches to a receptive green. It was an easy hole if you knew not to hit driver off the tee. Better players were usually in a good mood as they approached down the lush fairway. They asked what we were catching and wanted to look at our stringers. Members and guests who overcooked their tee shots and bounced them into the water could be counted on to shake fists and give us a list of reasons why we couldn’t stay. We acted as though we were gathering our tackle until they finished out the hole and went to the next tee, then got back to fishing. The crappie we hauled home from that golf course were some of the best-tasting fish I ever ate. In hindsight, it could have been that their flesh was loaded with fertilizer and pesticide runoff from the maintenance of all that thick Bermuda grass. More optimistically, maybe the fish got unusually high amounts of a specific food, like June bugs or grasshoppers, in their diets. I ate a lot of fresh crappie until my friends and I got too old to pretend we were just innocent little kids who didn’t know any better than to be where we were. Since then, I’ve done a fair amount of crappie fishing on several of the finest reservoirs in the state, and a few more lakes too small to be on any maps but nonetheless held great populations of white perch. Importantly, I received instruction on most of those trips from some of the F I S H

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Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com Note: This is an excerpt from the chapter on crappie from Pike’s book Freshwater Strategies: A Practical Approach to Texas Freshwater Fishing. You can get it—and our many other titles—from our online store at fishgame.com/product-category/books.

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ISTEN UP, TEXAS CATFISH JUNKIES. Changes in harvest regulations on the tasty whiskered fish could soon be coming to a lake near you. Fisheries scientists with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are whittling down the long list of daily bag and length limits on channel and blue catfish. TPWD’s focus is to simplify catfish limits and eliminate confusion about Texas’s diverse catfish fisheries. The goal is optimum quality without infringing on those looking to stock their freezer or host a weekend fish fry. As this issue of TF&G was put to bed in late winter, there were still nearly a dozen different sets of channel and blue catfish regulations on the books. This includes a statewide rule that allows anglers to retain 25 fish daily with a 12-inch minimum length limit. The current statewide regulation applies to about 85 percent of Texas’s public waters. The remaining reservoirs, rivers and small lakes have “special limits” that can be confusing. According to TPWD fisheries biologist John Tibbs, the inland fisheries division is looking to take a more standardized approach. This would combine regulations for channels and blues, while reducing the number of catfish regulations. Tibbs is a Waco-based inland fisheries district supervisor who heads up TPWD’s statewide catfish management efforts. He and other TPWD fisheries biologists have built a plan to simplify current catfish regulations and make them more biologically relevant. As part of the process, TPWD looked to the public for valuable input. The agency found it last spring through an informal catfish advisory committee comprised of guides, trotliners, jug liners, bank fishermen, trophy anglers and tournament pros. The committee was formed to engage in discussions and provide constructive feedback to inland fisheries staff.

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Last June, those anglers were invited to participate in a series of online webinars and hear presentations from TPWD staff on possible changes to the state’s catfish management plan. Tibbs said about 30 anglers actively participated in the webinars. The biologist claims the feedback was almost uniformly positive. “If there was anything, they were critical of,” Tibbs said, “it was that they wanted to see more reservoirs with a quality/trophy regulation. The take-home message there is just because you slap a trophy regulation on a lake doesn’t mean it will be a trophy lake.” The suite of possible options presented to the catfish committee included a revised statewide limit that would do away the 12-inch minimum length but still allow anglers to retain 25 daily with no more than 10 fish 20 inches or longer. The remaining “special” options are geared towards addressing trophy fishery management, large reservoirs where harvest is abundant and waters with a history of excessive harvest and/or limited recruitment.

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Tibbs added that possible changes will not impact current regulations on flathead catfish, community fishing lakes or Interjurisdictional fisheries (Texoma, Toledo Bend and Caddo) that are shared with Oklahoma or Louisiana. Shift to January 2021. Inland fisheries staff presented a series of proposed catfish regulation changes to the TPW Commission ahead of a lengthy public comment period that will still be progress when this issue of TF&G hits the streets in late February or March. The commission will vote to accept, amend or reject the proposals during its annual regulatory hearing set for March 24-25. If passed, the new regulations will go into effect September 1. Here is a summary of the proposals, an explanation of each one and to which waters they will apply. An online presentation with narrative to illustrate the possible changes is available for viewing YouTube, www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ATHcqF1uJSk. Tibbs said the video should be quite useful in helping anglers better understand the

benefits of streamlining catfish regulations and the strategies behind them. “We’re talking about a whole lot of less regulations, so automatically there would be fewer regulations for anglers to know,” he said. “I think that will make it easier for wardens enforce the regulations. Plus, we believe the regulations will be more effective as far as managing for quality and trophy fish down the road. It will definitely make things better.” PROPOSED REGS TO GO BY: NO 1: • Statewide Limit • The Proposal: Daily bag of 25 fish in any combination, no more than 10 fish 20 inches or longer. • The Game Plan: Eliminates the minimum length limit and has the potential to increase numbers of quality-sized fish in some reservoirs. Applicable for waters with abundant blue/channel cat populations in situations where more restrictive regulations aren’t desired or appropriate. Biologists say eliminating the 12-inch minimum length limit prevents makes it less likely that new and casual anglers might acci-

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dentally break the law by retaining short fish. • Where it Applies: About 80-85 percent of Texas’s reservoirs and rivers fit the bill. NO. 2 • 50 fish daily, no minimum length limit; no more than five fish 30 inches or longer. • The Game Plan: The regulation would limit the take of large numbers of trophy class fish on waters where catfish populations are robust, growth is good and anglers routinely harvest lots of fish using trotlines, jug lines and other passive techniques. The rule is not designed to improve catfish populations, just to protect what is there. • Where It Applies: The regulation is currently in effect on Toledo Bend and Caddo, but has been proposed for Sam Rayburn and Livingston, as well. NO 3. • 15 fish, 14-inch minimum length limit. • The Game Plan: Applicable for waters where excessive harvest is a possible problem, or where spawning and recruitment is low. • Proposed for lakes Braunig, Calaveras,

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Choke Canyon, Fayette, and Proctor. NO. 4 • 25 fish daily, no minimum length limit; no more than five fish 20 inches or longer, only one of which may be 30 inches or longer. • The Game Plan: Data indicates this regulation would impact mostly blue catfish anglers. Designed to increase numbers of fish over 20 inches, especially those over 30 inches. Applicable on lakes where anglers want to target trophy fish. Directs harvest toward smaller fish while protecting qualitysized fish in the 20-30-inch range resulting in increased numbers of quality and trophy blue catfish. • Where It Applies: Proposed for lakes Belton, Bob Sandlin, Conroe, Hubbard Creek, Kirby, Lavon, Lewisville, Palestine, Ray Hubbard, Richland Chambers, Tawakoni, and Waco. This regulation will replace all current quality and trophy regulations. Tibbs pointed out that two other special regulations will remain unchanged: • Lake Texoma (Cooke and Grayson

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counties) and the Red River (Grayson County) from Denison Dam to and including Shawnee Creek (Grayson County: • Daily bag limit: 15 (in any combination) • No minimum length limits • No more than one blue catfish 30 inches or greater in length may be retained each day • Trinity River (Polk and San Jacinto counties) from the Lake Livingston dam downstream to the F.M. 3278 bridge • Daily bag limit: 10 (in any combination) • Minimum length limit: 12 inches No more than two channel or blue catfish 24 inches or greater in length may be retained each day. Note: Public comment on the proposed changes will accepted throughout most of March leading up to the TPW Commission regulatory meeting. Comments should be addressed to ken.kurzawski@tpwd.texas.gov or john.tibbs@tpwd.texas.gov.

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story by CHESTER MOORE THERE MAY BE NOTHING MORE impressive on the Texas Gulf Coast than seeing a big saddle-blanket-sized flounder slide into your net. That experience has two points of excitement. The first is seeing such a big flounder. The second is that it actually made it into the net. No fish is better at getting to the boat, almost in the net and then spitting the hook. For the fishery, the most important 14

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thing for such a flounder is the decision on what to do next. In 2008, I called for a Flounder Revolution and for anglers to release all flounder measuring 20 inches or better. Anglers can only keep one oversized bull redfish a year. They will get shamed for keeping a huge trout and we even protect oversized black drum, but it has been OK to keep big, breeding-sized flounder. I shame no one for keeping any |

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legal fish, but I do promote putting big flounder back for the sake of the fishery. They produce more eggs than smaller ones, and those eggs have genetic potential to produce more big flounder. It’s a concept bass fishermen have mastered. I believe while flounder fisheries are at a record low in numbers it’s time, we remember to conserve the bigger fish. That’s why the Flounder Revolution is back! G A M E ®

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Flounder Revolution is back, with a new, more inclusive format.

PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

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TOKEN EFFORT:

Anglers can earn these special collector’s coins for catchand-release of ﬂounder measuring 20 inches or more.

The flounder catch-and-release conservation program I ran between 2008 to 2013 has been reborn with a new twist. We are giving some amazing conservation challenge coins to every angler that submits proof of a flounder over 20 inches that they

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PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

COINS OF THE REALM:

released to produce more of its kind. This is our Flounder Revolution “Catch, Release & Conserve Award.” For anglers who have caught and released a flounder 24 inches or better, we have another coin called the “Save the Saddle Blanket” award.

Youth age 18 or younger can earn one of these special “First Flounder” tokens if they have caught a ﬂounder for the ﬁrst time since the beginning of 2020.

All anglers who submit fish get a super cool flounder decal as well. All anglers who enter fish receive an entry for a drawing of special prizes There is an opportunity for a lucky angler to get a replica of their catch at the end of the year. Get all of

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PHOTO: TF&G

On top of that we have special wooden token challenge coins for kids who catch their first flounder. If you send a photo of a kid age 17 or under with their first flounder caught anytime from 2020 on, email the photo to chester@chestermoore.com with their name, age and a mailing address. They will get one of these collector’s edition tokens and a decal. Flounder have a short life cycle in comparison to redfish or speckled trout, living six to seven years. Some might argue they might as well keep a 24-inch flounder because it will probably be its last year anyway. I say, why not release that fish and give it one more chance to spawn. Eat the smaller flounder. I do. Release the big ones and you can help sustain the fishery for the future and win some awesome prizes. Viva La Revolution!

Flounder are just too dang tasty to release them all, but a little discipline can go a long way toward protecting the ﬁshery.

the information at flounderrevolution.com. Flounder Revolution’s awards are sponsored by CCA-Texas, who have been very

generous in funding our awards. They look so good. I’m going to have to catch and release a big flounder to earn one.

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“The flesh is sweeter, where the creature has some chance for its life; for that reason, I always use a single ball, even if it be at a bird or a squirrel; besides, it saves lead, for, when a body knows how to shoot, one piece of lead is enough for all, except hard-lived animals.” – James Fenimore Cooper

Easy Access

EARLY 19TH CENTURY WRITER James Fenimore Cooper, known best for The Last of the Mohicans, captured what many serious modern squirrel hunters understand in their reality. Hunting with a shotgun is great, but

Squirrel hunting is fun, affordable, and very much accessible. Did you know the best squirrel hunting region of Texas, the Pineywoods, has a spring season May 1 to 31 in 51 East Texas Counties? That’s right, and hunters have an

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hunting squirrels with a .22 takes it to a new level. In an era when people are looking for new challenges in the outdoors, getting back to the old challenge of squirrel hunting may very well be the solution.

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opportunity for some of the finest small game hunting anywhere. Also, it’s in a region of the state with much public land. Whether it’s the Davy Crockett, Sabine, Angelina or Sam Houston national forest, or a myriad of Texas Parks & Wildlife Departmentmanaged public hunting land, this region is ripe for super spring squirrel hunting. The Pineywoods is the heart of squirrel hunting in Texas. It’s deep traditions run back to when schools would close the opening day of the fall squirrel season.

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The gray or “cat” squirrel is the most common squirrel in the Pineywoods region and can be a very wary quarry.

fantastic sport animals.

But that doesn’t mean great opportunities do not exist elsewhere. Some 157 Texas counties have no season or bag limit on squirrels, so there is always an opportunity to score on some fast-paced action for these

Perfect Game for a .22 Squirrels are super sporty where pressured in the Pineywoods and more open ter-

Suppressor-Ready, Set, Go Gunning for Varmints THE CZ 457 PRO VARMINT SUPPRESSORReady is one of CZ’s most popular Varmint models. The Pro Varmint has a heavy 16.5-inch barrel threaded 1/2×28 for use with a suppressor or other muzzle device. Riding in a black-painted laminate stock, it incorporates features found on much more expensive stocks without pushing the riﬂe’s price through the roof. One thing the previous rimﬁre platforms were lacking was an American-

style push-to-ﬁre safety — something Hunter’s Education instructors and 4-H shooting coaches have begged CZ to incorporate for years. Though that was the most obvious change, they also took the opportunity to tweak a load of small things at the same time. In addition to the receiver-mounted, push-to-ﬁre safety, they chopped almost

rain in areas like the Hill Country and Cross Timbers offer shot opportunities beyond shotgun range. The CZ 457 platform and its numerous models are great for hunters serious about their squirrels. Always one of CZ popular Varmint models, the Pro Varmint has a heavy 16.5-inch barrel threaded 1/2×28 for use with a suppressor or other muzzle device. Riding in a black-painted, laminate stock, it incorporates features found on much more expensive stocks without pushing the rifle’s price through the roof. The short barrel gives plenty of time for the cartridge to get a full burn while increasing the barrel’s rigidity, resulting in a rifle that drives tacks—quietly. That means more shots when multiple squirrels are on the scene. The CZ American Synthetic Suppressorready is a variant of the 457 that sports a newly-designed synthetic stock that borrows ergonomics and styling cues from the popular 557 American Synthetic. That synthetic stock, paired with the 457’s nitride finish, makes the rifle near impervious to the elements. 1/2×28 threads and CZ’s especially tight chamber tolerances make this rifle an ideal suppressor host. This rifle has 11mm dovetails milled directly into the CNCed billet action for the solid mounting of rails or rings. It also features a cold-hammer-forged barrel, fully adjustable trigger, push-to-fire safety, and an

an inch of length from the action and slab-sided it to reduce its footprint and weight. The stamped bottom metal of the 455 is gone, swapped for a classy two-piece interlocking system. To make scope fitting easier, CZ ditched the 90-degree bolt rotation in favor of 60 degrees, allowing for larger ocular bell diameters with lower ring heights. To top it all off, the 457 now features a trigger that’s adjustable for weight, creep, and over-travel. With the exact 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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The fox squirrel is the largest squirrel in Texas and is found in a wide range but prefers more open forests.

interchangeable barrel system. The CZ 457 Jaguar is a choice for those who love a long sight radius, the Jaguar pairs crisp iron sights with a 28.6-inch barrel. The rear tangent sight is easily adjusted for distances from 25 to 200 meters, and the muzzle is threaded 1/2×28 for a suppressor. With a beechwood stock ideal for open sights, it has grip stippling that follows with the Jaguar motif.

The Quarry Texas is a squirrel-rich state. We have ground squirrels, flying squirrels, and even black squirrels, but the two that hunters pursue most in the state are the fox and gray squirrel. Fox squirrels are the state’s large tree squirrels. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials said because of their ability to adapt to a wide range of forest habitats, they are Texas’s most common squirrel. “Their greatest numbers occur in the open upland forest with a mixture of oak and nut trees,” officials said. “Fox squirrels are an important game animal, but their fondness for corn and pecans often cause them to be considered pests by farmers.”

The eastern gray squirrel is a mediumsized brown or gray tree squirrel with inner yellowish-rusty and gray or white-tipped hairs; has lighter underparts and a brushy tail with varying dark hairs tipped white or yellow. They are a resident of East Texas and, according to TPWD, prefer hardwood forests, river bottoms, and some pine forests interspersed with hardwoods and clearings. These squirrels are typically active early in the morning and late in the evening, about 30 minutes before sunset. Fox squirrels will be found feeding more during the middle of the day than their smaller cousin, but both typically follow a morning/evening feeding routine. Most squirrel hunting is in East Texas, so the squirrels tend to be warier, especially in the southeastern and northeastern river bottoms. Fox squirrels in the Central and Western parts of the state aren’t typically just as shy, but learn quickly. Picking them off with virtually no recoil, precision-shooting .22s can score tasty squirrels for cooking.

Reviving Hunting Hunting license sales soared in virtually T E X A S

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every state, including Texas, during year one of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many sought solace in the woods, and according to numerous wildlife officials, small game hunting, especially squirrel hunting, saw an uptick in interest. In discussions with people at the highest level of the hunting industry, TF&G has had numerous officials tell us that it is vital to get young kids hooked on small game, mostly squirrels and rabbits. Expecting an eight-year-old to be able to judge whether a buck is a two or four-yearold or make a 300-yard shot at a pronghorn is putting undue pressure on them. Taking them out with a .22 in pursuit of squirrels gives them a potentially actionpacked adventure that provides quality food and a chance to get confident with a firearm. For adults, it’s a great way to spend some off-season fun and maybe revive the pure love of hunting they had when their parents took them hunting for the very first time.

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

FK BRNO 7.5FK PSD

tem because of the price of ammo. Remember, the PSD handgun is multi-caliber capable. The FK PSD (Police, Sport, Defense) pistol is designed to shoot 7.5FK, 10mm/.40S&W, or 9mm ammunition. Within just a few seconds you can convert it to the caliber of your choice. For 10mm/.40 S&W you need only to swap the barrel. In fact, I staggered 40 S&W and 10mm rounds in the same magazine and it fired flawlessly. However, the magazines normally hold 16 rounds of 7.5FK. but they will only hold 10 rounds of 10mm. To fire 9mm out of the PSD you swap the barrel, recoil spring and magazine. Either way, in a matter of seconds you have a training pistol that shoots more readily available ammunition. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the 10mm only dropped a few inches from my 50 yard 7.5FK zero. In fact, it lined up with the bottom of the Holosun ring reticle for a convenient second zero. The PSD also has a patented recoil attenuating system that utilizes a five-ounce weight

HAT IF YOU COULD wield the firepower of a rifle in your handgun? That’s what FK BRNO set out to accomplish when they designed the 7.5 FK cartridge. To fill the void between 9mm and 5.56mm for combat engagements from 50 to 150 yards, FK designed a 95 grain 7.5 caliber round that would zip through the air at 2,000 FPS with impressive ballistic results. FK BRNO has developed and patented a “Dynamic Shock Index” formula for measuring the efficacy of handgun cartridges. To this author, it seems to be a mathematical equivalent to the age-old cliché “knock down power.” To the skeptic it might look like a marketing ploy to award the highest number to the designer. However, my doubt was removed when I watched the video posted on the FKBRNO website of numerous single-shot drops of 400-pound boars. FK BRNO claims the 7.5 FK round has similar penetration and wound cavities as a .30 caliber rifle. So obviously, with such power it would also be an amazing defensive weapon. The 7.5 FK cartridge itself looks like a necked-down 10mm round, although the casing is longer. There are three different bullets available. The F9 is all copper with a wide, flat nose designed to hunt medium game up to 300 pounds within 100 yards and dangerous game up to 500 pounds within 50 yards. The S95 is a Sierra-manufactured, jacketed hollow point designed to explode and shatter on medium game up to 100 pounds within 100 yards. The F5 copper monolithic nose-discarding hollow point I tested is accurate and effective for defense and game up to 200 pounds within 100 yards. Prices range by load from $1.20 to $1.50 per round. However, don’t discount the entire sys22

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optics ready for several compatible mounting footprints as well as several different iron sight options, all zeroed for 100 meters. The PSD’s single action trigger breaks clean right around five pounds, and the safety locks the hammer as well as the slide. The ergonomics of the textured grip are my only complaint since it feels roughly the same as grabbing a two by four while the sharper edge stabs my palm. At the range I shot a clean 1.09-inch, fiveshot group with the 7.5FK at 25 yards, and four of those rounds were only 0.6 inches apart. Taking it back to 100 yards yielded a 9-inch, five-shot group. Three of those rounds were within 4.5 inches with no noticeable drop from the 25 yard zero. The only malfunction occurred as an empty case got caught in the ejection port when I shot it without a magazine. Although holster options are still limited, I hope the PSD gains momentum because I’d love to carry it more and get some firsthand experience dropping some medium-sized Texas game with it. The The FK BRNO PSD handgun is a completely different take on firepower. Its powerful 7.5FK cartridge is comparable to a .30 caliber rifle, yet with a simple barrel swap you can also fire 10mm, .40S&W, and 9mm.

tucked away in the front of the dust cover. Thus, the large, odd shape of the handgun. This helps dampen muzzle flip and perceived recoil since the 7.5FK round can be powerful. One thing is for sure, when I shoot the 7.5FK it sounds like a rifle going off. The PSD is |

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MSRP is $1,650, and you can find out more at https://fkbrnous.com.

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

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

Let Turkey Season Begin

T WAS PRE-DAWN. IT WAS STILL dark, and it was opening day of turkey season. The cool morning air surrounded me as I sat against a tree on the edge of a green field. Last night the gobblers sounded off as they flew to their nearby roost. I sat in anticipation of the turkey serenade as the dark night sky slowly turned into morning light. I was not disappointed. All around me, the toms gobbled as they began to wake. Let the Turkey season begin! I LOVE this time of year. Winter is now a memory and spring has sprung! As a matter of fact, I am not sure what I like more—deer hunting or turkey hunting. Don’t get me wrong, I love being perched up in a tree stand waiting for the whitetail deer I saw on my camera. But turkey hunting is totally different. You are not hunting the turkey; he is hunting you. You sit still, either in a blind or against a tree and try to sound like a hen that is ready for action! Using the call of your choosing, you get the most seductive hen turkey sounds you can make and try to drive that gobbler wild. Many turkey hunters out there make the mistake of calling too much. Number one, that just is not natural and number two, by calling too much, the tom will stop gobbling and that will frustrate the hunter. Chances are, the hunter will get up and move thinking the gobbler moved on when in fact, he is actually coming right to you without making a sound. Busted! If you call and immediately hear a response from a tom, then he knows right where you are. He will gobble every once in

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ing for you. However, if he already has hens with him, he will stay with the hens. Most of the time, the hens will lead him away from you. If he is alone, he will gobble, waiting for you to come to him. Do not answer him every time he gobbles. I know you want to but show some restraint. He will soon think you have walked off and he will come looking. As a matter of fact, if I hear a gobbler and he hangs up in the field and will not come any closer, I will softly yelp and turn my head away from the bird, so he thinks the hen has no interest. This will drive him crazy. He may double or triple gobble. Don’t answer him. Make him come looking for you. Occasionally, a smart old gobbler will refuse to come any closer and will just gobble and strut back and forth until he just walks away. He has seen this movie before and already knows the ending. Oh well, that is why they call it hunting and not shopping. As I sat with my back against a tree, the gobbling stopped. I waited and waited and waited some more. I would not make a sound and I would not move at all. That gobbler was around somewhere. Suddenly, without any notice at all, I heard footsteps right behind me—I mean RIGHT behind me. The tom was looking at my decoys in the field in front of me but would not move another step. It seemed like forever when finally, he made his move. While he stood there less than three feet from my position, his neck stretched out. He gobbled so loud it startled me, and I jumped a little. All I heard were the footsteps of a turkey running off. It was a great hunt—no bird, but a great hunt. Have fun and hunt safe.

a while, to let you know where he is, and the game begins. It is natural for the hen to go to the sound of the gobbler, but as hunters, we try to turn things around and go against what is natural. We want that bird to come closer and closer to us until he is in range. Sounds pretty simple doesn’t it? I hate to disappoint you, but these birds are pretty smart and more than likely you will go home empty handed. When I go after a bird, I have a sequence of calls that seem to work. Not all the time, but I have called in a few in my day. When Chester was with me in a blind, he got to witness my techniques. Sometimes it was hard not to laugh. Let me explain. The first call I make is a very soft tree call and I wait until I can see my sights before I start. If a gobbler answers you right away, get ready he is coming in and coming in fast. If there is no response, then I start to make soft hen clucks as if I am just waking up and getting ready to fly down. I make these calls and cup my mouth in different directions to simulate more than one hen. This next step in my bag of tricks really caught Chester off guard, and we had to cover our mouths so we would not laugh out loud. I want to sound like a bird flying off the roost. I take my hat and flap it over my leg as fast as I can and gradually slow down. I can tell you; this REALLY sounds like the wings of a bird. I also add a cackle to my scenario and cup my mouth as I turn my head. Any gobbler listening might think I flew down in a certain direction. Of course, that direction was right to where my decoys are set up. After my cackling stops, I wait about 10 seconds and then do a soft yelp as if to let any birds in the area know that all is well and come on in and join the party! I finish my charade by scratching up some leaves to simulate a hen looking for food. The only other call I make is a yelp every 20 minutes or so. Once a gobbler responds to my calls, I quiet right down. If he is alone and searching for a hen, then he will come huntF I S H

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AKE CONROE IS synonymous with catfish. Yes, hosting events like the Bassmaster Classic and Toyota Texas Bass Classic have put the spotlight on its super-sized, lunker largemouths. The lake is great for hybrid stripers 2 4 | M

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and crappie, but local anglers know that if they want a mess of catfish to eat or to catch a rod-bending trophy cat, Lake Conroe is the place to go.

Catfish Species & Records Lake Conroe has viable populations of all three of the main catfish species

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of Texas and the rod and reel records as recorded by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) are impressive. The lake record channel catfish weighed a whopping 18.5 pounds and was caught by Jody Baughman in 2011. The record blue came in 2019 on gizzard shad and weighed 67 pounds. The lucky angler was Morris Taymon.

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Lake Conroe, in north Montgomery County, is home to some huge blue catﬁsh.

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Lake Conroe: Getting on the Water THE NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE PROVIDES TWO PAVED PUBlic boat ramps and a small boat launch at the Stubbleﬁeld Lake picnic area and campground. The service charges a fee for use of the paved ramps. Regular visitors can purchase an annual pass. Visit the Forest Service website for fees and other information. Privately owned marinas also offer boat launch facilities for a fee. For details, choose a point on the map or a name in the chart below.

STOW-A-WAY MARINA • From Willis, go north on IH 45 approximately two miles. Exit Calvary Road, turn west and travel approximately ﬁve miles to marina on right. • Three-lane concrete ramp accommodates all boat types. • Fee required • Open all year • Privately operated (936) 856-4531

STUBBLEFIELD LAKE • Located in the Sam Houston National Forest. From the Lake Conroe bridge on FM 1375 travel west approximately for miles, turn right on Stubbleﬁeld Lake Road, and go about ﬁve miles to the boat ramp. • Dirt ramp for small boats only • No fee for boat launch; day use fee for campground and picnic area • Open all year • Operated by the National Forest Service (936) 344-6205

SCOTT’S RIDGE • From the FM 1097 bridge, go west approximately 1.5 miles

Looking into the all-tackle record which would include trotlines, you see the blue catfish all-time record is an amazing 99 pounds caught by angler Joe Lynch.

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Flatheads roam the lake as well and way back in 1990, Jimmie Lee Johnson bagged an absolutely monstrous 86-pounder. But there’s more.

CAGLE RECREATION AREA • Located in the Sam Houston National Forest. From the Lake Conroe bridge on FM 1375 travel east approximately one mile and turn right at the boat ramp sign. • Two-lane concrete ramp, accommodates all boat types • Fee required • Open all year • Operated by the National Forest Service (936) 344-6205

Channel catfish are the main target at Lake Conroe and according to TPWD officials, they are caught year-round in good numbers. “Most successful anglers use stink baits or cut shad,” officials said. “Rod-and-reel anglers do just about as well as those using trotlines in this reservoir.” Anglers fishing this San Jacinto River Authority lake for the first time need to understand it’s not a typical East Texas lake in terms of grass and timber cover.” “The catfish, the almighty catfish is one of the most exciting fish there is,” said guide Richard Tatsch of The FishDude’s Guide Service. “I say this because of the numbers of them you catch and because in the cooler months from October through April you can catch larger fish and a lot of them. “In the warmer months, the catfish tend to be a little smaller but are there in numbers. Catfish in the cooler months generally run two to eight pounds and warmer months two to four pounds.”

A Little More About the Lake Lake Conroe is dominated by open water in the lower two-thirds of the reservoir, with some standing timber still present along the river channel in the upper reaches. TPWD

Smiling faces and ﬁshing fun is what targeting catﬁsh on Lake Conroe is all about.

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and turn right at the boat ramp sign. • Two-lane concrete ramp accommodates all boat types • Fee required • Open all year • Operated by the National Forest Service (936) 344-6205

PIER 105 • Located on Texas 105, 8.5 miles west of IH 45 • Three-lane concrete ramp accommodates all boat types. • Fee required • Open all year • Privately operated

FM 830 RAMP • From Conroe, take IH 45 North and exit FM 830. Go west ﬁve miles to the cul de sac at the end of the road. • Two concrete ramps accommodate all boat types. • No fee required • Open all year • Maintained by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. PHOTO COURTESY APRIL PLAZA MARINA

APRIL PLAZA MARINA • From Conroe, travel west 10.5 miles on Texas 105 to marina on the right. • Three-lane concrete ramp accommodates all boat types. • Fee required • Open all year • Privately operated (936) 588-1144

LAKEVIEW MARINA • From IH 45, travel 7.5 miles west on Texas 105. Turn right on Beachwalk Blvd. • Two, two-lane concrete ramps accommodate all boat types. • Fee required • Open all year • Privately operated (936) 588-3190

April Plaza Marina

PHOTO: USFWS

A Family-Friendly Place

This is Lake Conroe’s bread and butter: eating sized channel catﬁsh.

officials said most of the standing timber is slightly submerged when the lake is at conservation pool, making navigation hazardous in these areas. “Bulkheads with boat docks dominate the shore in the lower reservoir; the upper reservoir (the portion lying within the Sam Houston National Forest) is primarily featureless shoreline.” TPWD officials said substrates range

from sandy to silty, both of which work just fine for the local cats. “Man-made structures have been used to create four fish-attractor “reefs” in this reservoir. The attractors were placed by TPWD in cooperation with the San Jacinto River Authority, local Friends of Reservoirs groups, and other partners. Anglers may use GPS in conjunction with a fish finder to locate these reefs.” T E X A S

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Lake Conroe has plenty of easy access points and anglers can score on catfish without having to be super-skilled anglers. Veteran guide Texas Bonin said he fishes with lots of young people and loves doing it. “We spend a few hours on the lake in the comfort of my fully equipped pontoon boat. There is plenty of room to walk around and be comfortable for an entire family. We are blessed with a lake that is just full of wonderful fish to eat as well as our sport fishing,” he said. “I can teach you to fish if you have never been fishing, or I can help you improve your existing fishing skills. I love being on the water and you can bet you will too.” Fishing has become a place of solitude in the era of COVID-19. But before “social-distancing” was in our vocabulary, anglers were getting away from it all just a few miles from Houston, and they were catching bunches of catfish on beautiful Lake Conroe. Spring is here. The catfish are biting. Don’t you think it’s time to give catfish on Lake Conroe a try?

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

Covid Chaos at the Ramp

political power expands alongside. Don’t forget that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD) budget consists in large part of funds raised by things such as boat and dealer registration and sales taxes, fishing and hunting license sales, and state park income. In the 2019 fiscal year, 46.4 percent of the TPWD’s budget was generated by these dedicated funds. In the long run, the boating boom will come back to us in the form of new and/or improved boat ramps, better access to the water, and better park facilities. This is a fantastic reversal of the declines we’ve seen in the popularity of our favorite forms of outdoor recreation. Generations of potential anglers and hunters have been more interested in video games and the latest apps than in getting out onto the water. The catch, of course, is that an awful lot of people haven’t yet learned the ropes. Our mission as responsible sportsmen and women should be to lend a helping hand. Don’t grow irate and start yelling when a newbie clogs up the boat ramp. The next time you get ready to launch and you see something that irks you, remember to smile, speak politely, and let those inexperienced folks learn. • When you arrive at the boat ramp, pull out of the way to prep your gear rather than blocking the launch. Load up the gear, remove the straps, and put in the drain plug prior to backing down the ramp itself. In this way, others can continue using the ramp while you get ready, and the actual launching procedure takes just moments. • If you have a mechanical issue after launching, walk the boat to the far side of the pier or to the end, if possible. Get it out of everyone else’s way while you remedy the situation. Note: When you see an inexperienced boater having problems, this is a great opportunity for old salts to lend a hand and help someone out. Half the time, a new boater doesn’t know about the simplest snafus that can shut a boat down, such as having the throttle out of neutral, forgetting to put the

OST OF US HAVE HEARD so dang much about Covid-19 at this point that when we see this disease’s name in print, our eyes glaze over. We long for the day when this topic fades into a distant memory. Well sorry, folks. It has had such a massive impact on the boating and fishing world that we’d be negligent to ignore it. Case in point, a new outbreak of Covidgenerated boat ramp follies: We’ve covered boat ramp etiquette in the past, but it was in the distant past. The fact of the matter is that a slew of new boat owners have hit the water since the spread of Covid 19. In the past, countless people had only toyed with the idea of getting a new center console or a bay boat. Now, many have realized there is no better, safer form of recreation than a naturally social-distant fishing trip. Countless others found that with the commute and after school sports eliminated from the equation, they suddenly had enough time to enjoy things like fishing and hunting. So, they pulled the trigger on the new boat purchase they had been holding back on. Although this has been a boon for the boating and fishing industries, there’s also been an unintended consequence—a whole lot of chaos, at the local boat ramps. Traffic volume is way up, and average experience (and thus competence) levels are way down. To all you experienced boaters and fishers, have some patience. The sudden bump in traffic and more crowded fishing areas may be an aggravation, but we need to remember that as our fishing community grows, our

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safety lanyard clip on the kill switch, having a loose fuel line fitting, or forgetting to pump the ball. Five minutes of your time could save these folks five hours of distress and an unnecessary trip to the mechanic, while giving you a serious karma-boost. • When you’re pulling the boat in busy conditions, nose it up to a pier or dock so the person driving the tow vehicle can step off. Then, back the boat out of the way rather than tying it off to the pier. This way the slot remains open for others to use while the driver retrieves the tow vehicle. • When you pull the boat out, move several hundred feet before you stop to put the straps on, move gear around, and get the rig road ready. Inexperienced trailer-boaters sometimes forget that other folks, potentially with larger rigs, will need lots of extra room to pull forward and align their tow vehicle and trailer before backing down the ramp. • After cleaning fish at a fish-cleaning station, clean up your mess. If it’s in an area where fish carcasses get tossed into the water, run the fillet knife through the eyes and slice the belly open so they sink and become chow for the bottom feeders, instead of floating around the docks and stinking up the area. No matter how nice you are about it, is there a chance you’ll encounter some pushback here and there? Maybe. There are jerks and know-it-alls in this world. But the vast majority of the newbies will be incredibly thankful for the help and even more thankful for a pleasant attitude, because chances are, they’ve had to deal with a jerk or two along the way themselves. Remember folks, virtually every boat ramp folly that delays your launch is a matter of inexperience, not ill-will. The family that you help out today will be helping to pay for that new boat ramp you’ll be using tomorrow.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

Bird Goes with Moving Baits on the Highways

WO DECADES AGO, CODY Bird established himself as one of the best sight fishermen not just in Texas, but in the world. Homing his craft onto north Texas lakes such as Possum Kingdom and Texoma, he learned how to tempt the fish that he was looking at. Even when he can’t see them because of water color or other weather conditions, he still loves to fish during the spawn, casting a wacky worm or a jig to likely spots. Although he’ll rush to the bank as soon Caption as the bass get there, he’s not necessarily in a hurry. Some of his favorite fishing of the year occurs when they’re still not quite there. In March, if he doesn’t think they’re on the beds yet, he’ll look for spawning “highways” – drains, ditches and depressions leading to the promised land, and he noted that “there’s a big difference here in Texas between the beginning of the month and the end of the month.” Before the bass officially start the spawning ritual, he has a ritual of his own, and it involves looking for channel swings that lead into a flat. He wants to find deep water intersections

Cody Bird PHOTO: BASS UNIVERSITY

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always a half ounce, model. He knows that many pros like to drop down to a 3/8 in shallow water, but he said that the slightly heavier lure allows him to fish fast and cover water. It, too, is usually a perch color with a black blade. His preferred trailer is a Lake Fork Magic Shad, usually in watermelon, sometimes with a dash of orange. The key docks are often the first ones inside or outside the transition zone from shallow to deep. To cover water, Bird picks them apart with just enough casts to get full covering. “I’m throwing right to the inside corner, then underneath the back,” he said. “I might pick up a jig along the front, but then I’ll go back to the square bill to go under the walkway and inside the other corner. And I’m scanning for brush the whole time.” Most of the time, he’ll pick up that brush on his Humminbird units, but occasionally he’ll spot a branch or two visually. One of the keys is to deflect off the available cover in high-percentage areas to trigger strikes. Both of these horizontally moving baits come through cover well, bouncing off dock posts and grinding through bushes. He uses a 6-foot,10-inch Castaway spinnerbait rod for both of them, paired with an Abu-Garcia Revo (6.6:1). He relies almost exclusively on 15-pound test Trilene 100 percent fluorocarbon, a line which is exceptionally abrasion-resistant, but still allows his lures to act naturally. Among Texas tournament anglers and fans who’ve followed his career, the 2021 Bassmaster Classic qualifier is known for making long runs up an impoundment’s river to get away from the crowds. During the prespawn bite of March, however, he bucks that expectation. “I do fish those places in the summer and the fall,” he explained. “But in March, I usually fish the middle and lower sections of most of our Texas lakes. The bigger fish live down there, and the average size definitely tends to be better than on the lower end of the lakes.”

that give the fish options to move up when the right water temperatures and amount of daylight provide that option, but also enough protection to keep them safe. “It’s all about water depth,” he explained. He scans topo maps or map chips to find them on new lakes, noting that “the chips are all so good now” that you can do much of your homework at home. But even without those aids he can often tell the key areas with his eyes, just by looking at the bank for likely areas—“like places where it transitions from a rock bluff to a flatter bank,” he explained. In those zones, he’ll seek out stumps and vegetation and other holding cover, but on venues like his home waters of Lake Granbury, that can often mean docks. Just like any other pattern, docks can be picked apart and compared to make the process easier. “There are all sorts of dock patterns,” he said. “Walkways can be a pattern in itself. Sometimes a jig on a ladder can be a pattern.” While the jig is a noted big fish bait, and excels when a slower presentation is required, Bird primarily uses two moving baits to pick apart the cover. The first is a square bill crankbait such as the 6th Sense Crush 50X. In the fall, red is in play over vegetation and shad colors are his favorites. In March he tends to lean on “more of a perch color.” He also uses a vibrating jig extensively, either the popular Evergreen Jack Hammer or else a homemade version that he constructs of various parts from other models. In either case, it’s almost T E X A S

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Email Pete Robbins at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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Y PHONE RANG. IT WAS RODNEY Doersam, an old buddy who now runs the gun shop at Oasis Outback, the big sporting goods store, gun shop, and restaurant in Uvalde, www.oasisoutback.com, 830278-4000. “Steve! Drop whatever you have in line for tomorrow and be here at Outback between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.” “I can’t Rodney, I have a doctor’s appointment in San Antonio tomorrow.” “Cancel it! “If you aren’t here you will regret it for the rest of your life. I know you’re interested in this stuff, and a man is going to have a collection of guns on display that were actually documented to have been used at the Little Big Horn, including one of Custer’s revolvers.” I canceled my doctor’s appointment and was at Oasis 30

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Outback at the appointed time. Rodney was right, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life if I had missed it. It was, literally, awe inspiring. Lying on a table were more than a dozen—I didn’t count them, I was too busy drooling— rifles, carbines and revolvers. Before me were 1873 and 1866 Winchesters. Henrys, Spencers, Colts, Smith & Wessons, and one nickel plated Webley .455. On the metal plate on the bottom of the Webley’s grip was engraved, G.A. Custer. Few over the age of ten have not heard of the battle of the Little Big Horn—or Greasy Grass, as it was called by the Sioux and Cheyenne. On June 25, 1876, the Centennial Year, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer (brevet major general) and the 7th Cavalry attacked the largest concentration of Native American warriors ever assembled—between 1,200 and 1,800 warriors from the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes.

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

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

& GAME 36  FISH FORECAST CENTER SALTWATER

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

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FISH & GAME FORECAST CENTER FRESHWATER Reported by TF&G Staff

56  SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

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FISH & GAME HUNTING CENTER by Chester Moore

COMPOSITE PHOTO: TF&G

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sale. Uvalde is being considered as the home of a new museum featuring the guns. The Sioux Nation wants to sell the guns and George Custer’s Webley revolvers are displayed by Wendell Grangaard (left) and another gentleman.

use the money, I understand, for projects for the betterment of the tribe. I walked around the table. Many of the old guns were in remarkable condition, some were pretty badly rusted and pitted, but all of them told a story of fantastic violence and desperation. Most people believe Custer carried a 7 1/2-inch .45 Colt Single Action Army, like you see in the movies. Not true. He carried a pair of nickel plated, .455 caliber, British Webley Bulldog revolvers. The one on display had ivory grips, which looked to me like walrus ivory rather than elephant. Elephant ivory becomes yellow with age and use, but the grip on this gun was still white. The nickel was worn, but the gun was still in very good condition. Lieutenant Colonel Custer, in addition to his two Webley revolvers, probably had with him his favorite Remington rolling block rifle in .50-70 caliber. He was so fond of this rifle that he had written to Remington extolling its virtues. It is unknown whether he used it in the battle, but it is probable. Crazy Horse, arguably the most famous of the war chiefs, carried an 1873 Winchester that day, but he also had a Sharps carbine and, possibly, a Spencer. The Winchester was found by soldiers when they searched his lodge during his surrender. Crazy Horse surrendered the Sharps, but it was returned to him when he enlisted as a scout. When he was arrested and killed, the Sharps was given to Sitting Elk, another Oglala scout. Crazy Horse took another Sharps, serial number 16632 from a soldier in Reno’s Company A, which was hidden by his family. It was later recovered and sold. Captain Tom Custer, George’s brother, used a sporting model Spencer repeating rifle. Tom was killed close to his brother by Cheyenne war chief Little Horse, who took

Not all of the 7th Cavalry was wiped out that day, as is often thought. Custer had split his force of approximately 700, including Indian scouts, into three battle groups. He led the largest, and Major Marcus Reno and Captain Frederick Benteen led the other two. Reno’s and Benteen’s forces survived, though with grievous casualties; Custer’s was wiped out to a man—or was it? There is evidence that two soldiers escaped and never rejoined the army, but you’ll have to follow that rabbit hole yourself. The battle has been retold many times in movies and books, but most of them have portrayed Custer as a great hero and the last man standing. All of them have taken great literary license with the facts. I have been a student of the battle for more than 30 years, reading everything I could get my hands on. Because almost everything I read were second-hand accounts of surviving cavalrymen, I never thought I would know the actual specifics of the battle. These stories disregarded testimonies of the Native Americans who were in the battle. That has now been rectified—but back to the guns. These guns are in the custody of Mr. Wendell Grangaard. Grangaard’s story is itself an epic, but we will leave most of that for another time. Or better yet, you can read it yourself in his book, Documenting the Weapons Used at the Little Big Horn, from which much of this information was taken. Grangaard spent many years in construction in North and South Dakota and Wyoming, where he became acquainted with many of the descendants of warriors who fought at Little Big Horn. He became interested in collecting the guns and, more important, the oral histories related to the Battle of The Little Big Horn. The guns were at that time (early October) being shown in Texas because they were for 32

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the rifle, serial number 61391. It was recovered from Little Horse’s lodge on November 25, 1876, at the Dull Knife battle. Little Big Man, Crazy Horse’s cousin and one of his chief lieutenants, and who was, strangely enough, instrumental in Crazy Horse’s death, carried Sharps carbine number 34275 in the battle. He had taken the carbine from a Crow scout at the Battle of the Rosebud. He also used the carbine at the battles of Slim Buttes and Wolf Mountain. Some of the guns used by the Native Americans at the battle were taken as booty at the battle of the Rosebud on June 17, when the warriors fought General Crook’s detachment to a standstill and made Crook retreat. In fact, the warriors probably were better armed than the troopers of the 7th Cavalry. Some of the troopers were killed with bows, lances and war clubs, especially at the very end. However, the majority of the Native American warriors did not use bows and arrows. They were armed with repeating rifles. Among them were Winchester ’66s and ’73s, Spencers, Henrys, and Springfields, Sharps carbines and buffalo guns. The troopers were primarily armed with single-shot, trap door Springfields, Sharps carbines and revolvers. Because of the copper (not brass) cases of the military ammunition, the trooper’s Springfields were prone to freeze up when they got too hot, which they undoubtedly did that fateful day in June 1876. Another fact left out of the movies is that George Custer was wounded at the beginning of the engagement. He was shot high through the shoulder when trying to cross the Little Big Horn into the Native American camp at Medicine Tail Coulee ford. He was knocked off his horse, but was assisted into the saddle. He then called a retreat. CONTINUED ON PAGE

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PHOTOS: STEVE LAMASCUS

3/1/21 3:45 PM

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The NATIONAL

Program Ensures Poachers Will Pay

News of TEXAS

also develop template legislation that could be carried in state houses to help state agencies fight wildlife crime. B&C also announced that it is actively seeking additional sponsorship from the outdoor industry and other organizations to help fund Poach & Pay research and outreach in the coming years. Boone and Crockett Club President Timothy C. Brady noted “Poaching goes against all that we hold sacred as law-abiding sportsmen and women and undermines the entire foundation of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. However, the media often uses the terms hunting and poaching interchangeably, dragging all hunters down with the crimes of poachers. “In addition, with little consistency among states in terms of fines and restitution, poach-

DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING OF the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC), the Boone and Crockett Club announced its plans to lead a long-term Poach & Pay campaign against poaching. Through Poach & Pay, the club will work with state wildlife agencies, legislators, and the judicial system to improve the detection and conviction of poachers and to ensure that the fines being assessed for this illegal killing are in line with the value society places on wildlife. Poach & Pay has received initial financial support through Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. The program will include detailed research and a public outreach campaign to actively engage the sportsmens’ community against poaching. Poach & Pay will

ers often get away with little penalty. This emboldens them and other poachers to steal our public trust resources–and potentially the future of hunting.” In 2016, the Boone and Crockett Club conducted research on the state restitution systems for illegal take of big game species through Phase I of the Poach & Pay project. This review found that 42 states currently have restitution programs—many include trophy restitution—however there is little apparent standardization of restitution costs, either within or among states. Surveyed state conservation officers believed that poaching penalties accurately reflect the crime and current values of illegally taken animals. However, the survey found that the judicial system often was the primary obstacle in convicting and punishing poachers. In fact,

MIXED STRINGER

RED SNAPPER

Aransas Pass

Port Mansﬁeld

Nina Garrett caught a limit of reds plus this nice trout on a recent wadeﬁshing trip around Mud Island near Aransas Pass and Rockport. To top off the day, their boatride back was escorted by a pod of dolphins that stayed with them for 20 minutes.

Carlos Marcel Gamboa landed this snapper fishing out of Port Mansfield with Big Dawg Outfitters. The fight only took three minutes. It was Carlos’s first red snapper.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your own TEXAS HOT SHOTS 34

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wildlife cases are disproportionately dismissed, and penalties are often applied inconsistently. This suggests that there is a lack of understanding of wildlife laws and the perception that poaching is a victimless crime. “As responsible sportsmen and women, we must do all we can to prevent wildlife crime and preserve the integrity of hunting,” said Bob Ziehmer, Senior Director of Conservation at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. “We thank our customers who, by rounding up purchases in our stores and online in support of the Outdoor Fund, are directly contributing to the fight against poachers through the Boone and Crockett Club’s Poach & Pay project.” The next phase of the Poach & Pay research will be conducted by Dr. Kristie Blevins and Dr. Jonathan Gassett with the Wildlife Management Institute. As a criminologist (Blevins) and a former director of a state wildlife agency (Gassett), they are uniquely positioned to lead the Poach & Pay research. Their investigation will assess the barriers to prosecuting wildlife crime, evaluate the detection rate and conservation impacts of wildlife crime, describe the motivational factors and potential deterrents that influence poachers, and provide solutions to improving prosecution and conviction rates, as well as a defensible framework for poaching penalties. “The Poach & Pay research will be the largest, most extensive study on poaching that has ever been done in North America,” commented Gassett. “The first component of the research will focus on trying to get a handle on the ‘dark figure’ of wildlife crime – the amount of poaching that occurs that goes undetected. We reviewed statewide wildlife crime citation and court data in Kentucky from 2006 to 2017 to evaluate the real cost of illegal take violations and restitution and fines in the state. Previous studies on deer poaching have estimated that the detection rate is only around two percent. This suggests that 98 percent of wildlife crimes may go undetected, and the real cost of undetected crimes to Kentucky may approach $43 million annually.” The research conducted through Poach & Pay will be the first of its kind to use modern statistical, scientific, and sociological methodology to describe the complex issue of poaching and other wildlife crimes in North America. More important, the Boone and Crockett Club will develop justifiable recommenda-

 CONTINUED FROM PAGE

He was shot by a young Oglala brave named White Cow Bull, with a Sharps buffalo rifle. A Cheyenne war chief named Two Moon claimed to have killed Custer later. After taking Custer’s handgun away from him in desperate hand-to-hand combat, he shot Custer in the head with Custer’s own revolver. That is the story of just a few of the weapons known to have been used at the Little Big Horn. The complete collection numbers more than 150 weapons and artifacts. The collection names the warriors who owned them, and in some cases where the weapons were obtained and from whom. This subject could be the study of volumes, not just a short piece in a magazine. tions for reducing offenses by attacking the motivations for committing those crimes. With the information gathered through the research, the Club plans to work with our partners to reduce the barriers to the prosecution and conviction of poachers, as well as increase the penalties for poaching to deter the crime.

The Native Americans were very good, and very truthful, in passing down oral histories of the battle —and the weapons used there and taken as booty. The facts contained herein are not completely indisputable, but if I did not believe them to be true, I would not have included them. You study the subject and reach your own conclusions, but first find a copy Wendell Grangaard’s book, Documenting the Weapons Used at the Little Big Horn, by Mariah Press. In it you can read of Black Elk, Kills Two, Crow King, Rain in the Face, Gall, and others. Anpétu wăsté (Lakota greeting, “good day”).

« In addition, the Poach & Pay outreach campaign will arm U.S. sportsmen and women with real poaching data that clearly separates poaching from hunting. —Staff Reports

PHOTO COURTESY BOONE & CROCKETT CLUB

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Spring Brings Fishing Action to a Slow Boil sporadic reports of nice stringers from the jetties and up and down the ship channel. On Sabine, the shoreline from Cheniere to the old jetties is some of the best real estate on the entire coast. Its bottom contour is made up of a perfect blend of sand, mud, shell and riprap which provides plenty of protection for baitfish. Trout, redfish and flounders move onto the shallow shorelines in the channels of Galveston and Sabine in pursuit of the abundant forage. There they will stuff themselves full of mullet, shad, shrimp and crab. Keeping the boat in about seven feet of water and fan casting parallel with and toward the bank should present the most opportunity for strikes. The early morning topwater bite is good and will continue to progress through early spring. If you fish the tail end of an incoming tide or a nice outgoing tide you should be in business. Walking the Dog in two to five feet of water with big, loud topwater plugs such as She Dogs and CAPT. HERNANDEZ Super Spooks ContactUs@Fishgame.com should really

Reported by CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

ITH THE SPRING SEAson slowly but surely beginning to take hold of the Texas Gulf Coast, warmer air and water temperatures are gradually becoming the rule rather than the exception. The arrival of the early spring months gives anglers across the state more and more opportunities for targeting trout, redfish and flounders. Those of us who fish the upper coast are no longer limited to the main lake or other areas north of the ship channel. Through the grapevine we are hearing

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get their attention. Soft plastics rigged with 1/4 ounce lead heads will also produce good results. Trout, reds and flounders will feed aggressively when the spring tides push the green water into the channel and will gladly accept offerings such as H & H Cocahoe Minnows, Down South Lures, Assassins and Zoom Super Flukes. Great colors are limetreuse, glow, pumpkin and chartreuse. High percentage areas in the bays should be on the protected shorelines if you’ve got some tidal help and decent water. Key on areas that are near the mouths of cuts, drains or bayous. Hungry trout and redfish will cruise these areas looking for an easy meal as the baitfish go with the flow of the tide. Flounders will also stack up here and use various areas for ambush points. As big numbers of these tasty flat fish continue making their way back into the bays, the flounder bite should continue gaining momentum for the next few months. Slowly dragging mud minnows or finger mullet has always been a great option, but curl tail grubs like Gulp Swimming Mullet and others tipped with fresh dead shrimp will also get serious results.

• • •

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 SOURCE: Capt. Greg Brewer 832-435-3020 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. LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Anahuac Refuge Flats

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HOTSPOTLIGHT: GPS: N 29 33.804, W 94 32.374 (29.5634-94.5396)

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SPECIES: Redfish Best Bait: Live and artificial redfish bait SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear TIPS: Wade near grass, casting to mullet pods and shad; Spring, Fall, avoid midday, night

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LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Anahuac Wildlife Refuge GPS: N 29 33.573, W 94 32.266 (29.5596-94.5378)

UPPER WEST BAY

WEST GALVESTON BAY is a long inlet of Galveston Bay in Galveston and Brazoria counties that nearly runs the length west of Galveston Island. The upper end of West Bay is bounded by the Galveston Causeway, where West Bay joins the southwest end of Galveston Bay. At this end of the bay is an extension, Jones Bay, on the north shore and several bayous, including Offats Bayou on the south shoreline. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map. SPECKLED TROUT

GPS

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

Jones Bay Shoreline

N 29 18.684, W 94 55.555

Live Croaker, shrimp, ﬁsh grass & cast to sandpockets; Oct-Apr, avoid midday

North Deer Island

N 29 16.964, W 94 56.223

Live Croaker, shrimp, ﬁsh grass & cast to sandpockets; Oct-Apr, avoid midday

Confederate Reef

Live Croaker, shrimp under cork, drift reef edge; FebJun, Sep-Nov, avoid midday

Anderson Ways

N 29 15.755, W 94 55.177 N 29 15.962, W 94 53.948 N 29 18.525, W 94 56.406 N 29 16.363, W 94 54.582

Live shrimp under cork short leader, work grass points; all year, dawn-am, aftn-dusk

N 29 18.670, W 94 55.652 N 29 17.664, W 94 52.651

Live mud minnows, work grass and points; Oct-Dec, dawn thru dusk

N 29 17.664, W 94 52.651 N 29 17.487, W 94 54.883

Live or dead shrimp under cork, work close to pilings; all year, all day

REDFISH

Jones Bay Shoreline

West Bay Shell

FLOUNDER

Jones Bay Shoreline

Railroad Bridge

SHEEPSHEAD

Tiki Island

Railroad Bridge

WADEFISHING

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SPECIES: Flounder Best Bait: Mud minnows, shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Fish shoreline, wade; dawn-afternoon LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Big Pasture Bayou GPS: N 29 30.322, W 94 35.78 (29.5054-94.5963)

Live Croaker, shrimp, drift while working color changes; Spring, Fall, avoid midday

Kelly Wiggler soft plastics, shrimp. Key on slicks.; All year; Early, Midday

Red/white Flounder Pounder, must have moving tide; Sep-Nov, avoid night

SPECIES: Redfish Best Bait: Live and artificial redfish bait SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear TIPS: Best with outgoing tide, drift back cove forward to mouth; avoid midday, night

Live or dead shrimp under cor, work close to structure; all year, all day

N 29 17.301, W Trout, Corkys & live croaker, fish the drops, sight cast; November thru February 94 55.776 N 29 16.798, W Trout, topwaters & spoons, fish with a moving tide; Teichman Point May thru August 94 52.952 N 29 15.921, W Trout, topwaters, fish the drops and sand holes; March Anderson Ways thru May 94 54.067 N 29 15.565, W Trout, reds, flounder; shrimp under cork, fish dropoffs; Gangs Bayou Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct; avoid midday, night 94 54.950 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020 North Deer Island

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LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 28.703, W 94 45.703 (29.4784-94.7617)

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SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Wade or drift slowly; avoid midday

UPPER COAST

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Trinity Bay Wreck GPS: N 29 40.871, W 94 45.409 (29.6812-94.7568)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Bait: Live and artiﬁcial trout bait SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Drift/anchor with moving tide, low wind; avoid midday, night

(29.7695-94.7539)

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Ving-et-un GPS: N 29 32.92, W 94 46.419 (29.5487-94.7737)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Bait: Suspending twitch baits SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Wade shallow early, drift later morning.

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

SPECIES: Redﬁsh Best Bait: Live shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Fish shrimp 2-3 feet under popping cork, anchor or drift; dawn through afternoon

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Camp House GPS: N 29 46.171, W 94 45.232

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SPECIES: Flounder Best Bait: Live mud minnows, soft plastics 2 0 2 1

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: 5” soft plastics baits SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 TIPS: The shorter paddle tail baits don’t work at this time of the year. LOCATION: Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Middle Ground GPS: N 28 31.727, W 96 11.620 (28.528777, -96.193661)

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Lone Oak Cove GPS: N 29 36.702, W 94 42.892 (29.6117-94.7149)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkys or Topwaters SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 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.

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Carancahua Cove GPS: N 29 12.3312, W 94 58.6619 (29.2055, -94.9777)

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Halfway Reef GPS: N 29 33.406, W 94 58.207 (29.5568-94.9701)

SPECIES: Flounder Best Bait: Live mud minnows, soft plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Wade or drift slowly; avoid midday

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Bait: Live croaker, shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Fish the rocks, best with tides; all day

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnow or Lit’l Fishie SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 TIPS: Concentrate on the guts coming out of the

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peninsula while throwing 1/8-ounce lead head or a weedless gold spoon. LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Cleveland Reef GPS: N 28 39.8329, W 95 51.7009 (28.6639, -95.8617)

HOTSPOT: Blacks Bayou GPS: N 29 59.866, W 93 45.1819 (29.9978, -93.7530)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Corky, Corky Devil SOURCE: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 4097862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: If the water temps drop below 50 degrees, shift from soft plastics to the Corky.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Smaller Corky soft body SOURCE: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: Favorite colors are pink and pearl. LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Kilbride Reef GPS: N 28 43.416, W 95 49.992 (28.7236, -95.8332)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics SOURCE: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: Freeline a soft plastic with a jig head. On others we will use a popping cork with about an 18-inch leader under the cork. LOCATION: Palacios HOTSPOT: South Shoreline GPS: N 28 33.0649, W 96 8.7769 (28.5511, -96.1463)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Smaller Corky soft body SOURCE: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: Favorite Corky colors are pink and pearl. LOCATION: Sabine Lake

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A Dose of Daylight Spurs Spring Specks During summertime, for example, water temps rise to an extreme, which is uncomfortable for the trout. The hot summer sun warms the water and the CAPT. MARTIN bayﬂatslodge@gmail.com trout become less active, and they go through slack eating periods. In this instance, overcast skies provide shade and cover from the sun, thereby providing cooler water temps. All this often results in a greater trout bite that lasts longer during overcast conditions. During fall, winter, and spring, overcast skies mean something entirely different to the speckled trout. This time of the year overcast skies signal the approach of a cold front. Many will have you believe the fish can feel the difference between high and low air pressure. Others will say the fish really can’t feel any difference in pressure. The fish can, however, tell when ambient light dims because of overcast skies prior to a front. This signals it’s time to eat. The third speculation is that overcast skies allow the trout to see their prey easier. Sounds crazy, right? But think about it. It’s easy to understand how a bright sky might make feeding difficult for the trout. Bright sunlight glaring down through clear water makes it extremely difficult for the trout to see any prey above them. Overcast skies make it much easier for trout to pick out their food source, which means a prolonged feeding period.

SAN ANTONIO BAY AREA Reported by CAPT. CHRIS MARTIN

HE SPRING PATTERN FOR Texas speckled trout begins in March and April, but is dependent on water temperatures and sun-

light. Conditions that spur the spring pattern include water temps in the 60s and a little more daylight with each passing day. Different weather scenarios, such as cold fronts, can also have an influence on the spring pattern. As a frontal passage blows across the coast, water levels drop, temperatures cool, water clarity darkens, and clear skies follow. These frontal changes cause the trout to react accordingly. One key thing you should pay close attention to is light conditions. The amount of light present in the water is a huge influence on how the fish eat, especially for speckled trout.

Overcast Skies

Location

There are probably any number of speculations why some may say that speckled trout prefer overcast skies. Not knowing what all those are, here are just a few for you to think about.

You can find an easier springtime trout bite in low-light conditions. This is when the trout feed more actively, especially in locations with clear water. Big trout will have ridden out the cold-

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est parts of winter in deep channels or large basins providing deep water. They feed on other fish, so after a cold front, they’ll be found wherever the mullet stage. Typically, these feeding areas will be a shoreline or some other prime real estate near deep water. Along our Texas coast, such shorelines are often tapering mud flats adjacent to deep water. Large trout will stay deep overnight, then follow mullet to the shallows as the water warms from the sun. Any number of big trout can be found in these same areas. If you catch one, don’t give up on the location. Work it over good before moving on. Chances are good there are more big trout right there where you found the first one.

Best Bet Big March and April trout have been caught on days not suitable for fishing— cold, wet, and miserable. As discussed, the available food source for these trout just coming out of winter is mullet. To stay alive, the mullet will seek muddy, shallow water because it warms the quickest after cold nighttime temps. You can drift these shallows, but most trophy trout enthusiasts prefer wading. You’ll need to be quiet, and you’ll need to cast as far as possible. When you’re tossing baits in the shallows, you might not want to use a lure with a rattle. These big trout didn’t get big by chance, and they are spooked easily. Any of the MirrOlure floating Paul Brown baits will be good choices in these conditions. A good rule of thumb is to throw bright colors in clear water, and dark colors in muddy water. If you’re fishing in muddy conditions, try a top water bait such as a Super Spook or She Dog. Be aggressive with your hookset, and don’t let up on the drag until you have the

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situation under control. Use a rod that can toss big trout lures a long distance, but one that is subtle enough to telegraph the slightest bump.

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ROCKPORT AREA

Reported by CAPT. MAC GABLE

HAT DOESN’T KILL YOU makes you stronger.” “Hard times don’t last, tough people do.” These are phrases I often heard growing up. “Most problems can be fixed with a little elbow grease and patience,” was another that echoed through my head as I looked out across Lynn Channel. No this isn’t a secret water way in Texas, but a deep gorge in Southeast Alaska. My wife and I, being frequent visitors to the Frozen North state, found ourselves in a small cabin 30 miles deep in the Haines, Alaska State Forest. Although it was not the plan, it became our refuge to wait out the craziness of the pandemic, the riots and the ongoing saga of the 2020 election. With Hurricane Harvey forever etched in our minds and hearts, we often wondered why such calamities happen. We got our answer, never imagining we’d be living a feeling of déjà vu. In December we found ourselves in the throes of another community disaster. Snow often blankets Southeast Alaska. It did so in late November in Haines, giving way to the global warming trends now affecting our planet the first few days in December. More than 10 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours, creating flooding and landslides the likes of which this community had never seen. As I looked out on a mountain called Mt. Riley, a 600-foot gash was cut from the top of the mountain to the Lynn Channel shoreline. The slide hit the channel with such force it created a tidal wave, wreaking havoc in its wake. Many homes were affected and much like Harvey, the horrible question was “Where did the homes and people go that were wiped off the face of the earth?”. Many were thought to be missing. In the end two people lost their lives, forever buried in the deep sediment of Mt. Riley. I had recently been recruited to work a

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HOTSPOTLIGHT:

MESQUITE BAY

MESQUITE BAY IS west of St. Joseph Island, between Ayers Bay and Carlos Bay, principally in Aransas County It may be entered from the Gulf of Mexico through Cedar Bayou, a cut between St. Joseph and Matagorda islands. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map. SPECKLED TROUT KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

Fish Camp Cove

Southeast Shore

North Cedar Bay

Third Chain of Islands

Cedar Bayou Flats

REDFISH

North Fish Camp

North Cedar Bay

Bray Cove

Cedar Bayou Flats

FLOUNDER

Ayers Dugout

Little Brundrett Lake

Ballou Island Cut

Cedar Bayou

WADEFISHING

GPS

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

N 28 10.118, W 96 49.183 N 28 09.655, W 96 49.242 N 28 09.191, W 96 53.191 N 28 08.337, W 96 52.374 N 28 07.317, W 96 49.323

Sink magarita Bull Minnows or Live croaker in holes; Feb-Aug; dawn-midday, dusk

N 28 09.944, W 96 49.541 N 28 09.191, W 96 53.191 N 28 08.465, W 96 48.270 N 28 07.317, W 96 49.323

Live shrimp under pop-n cork, anchor, ﬁsh the shell; Sep-Dec; dawn thru midday

N 28 09.952, W 96 50.054 N 28 08.565, W 96 48.584 N 28 07.453, W 96 51.809 N 28 06.708, W 96 49.812

Mud minnows, shrimp tipped jig, work bottom slowly; Mar-May, Aug-Oct; avoid midday

Lime green topwaters, Corkys, croakers, work shell & mud; Feb-April; dawn-midday, dusk Pearl/chartreuse tops early, Corky, work shell and mud; Apr-Mar, Sep-Oct; morn-midday Live croaker, look for jump bait ﬁsh, wade waist-deep; May-Aug; dawn thru morning Work early with tops & plastics, midday use croaker; Mar-Oct; dawn thru midday

Pearl/chartreuse topwaters, Corkys, work the shell/ mud; Apr-Mar, Sep-Oct; morn-midday Work tops early along shoreline, work Live bait later; Sep-Nov; dawn thru morn Live mullet, crab, anchor/Drift, ﬁsh up against grass; Sep-Oct; dawn-morn, dusk

Work bottom grass ﬂats, great night gigging w lights; Mar-May, Aug-Oct; avoid midday Drift mud minnow on bottom slowly, night gigging; Sep-Nov; dawn, night Finger mullet, Car. rig, cast down shoreline, drag bottom; May-Jun, Nov-Dec; dawn-morn

N 28 07.313, Reds, trout, a few flounder; clear water, pumpkin, chart plastics; December thru September W 96 48.893 N 28 06.831,W Redfish, trout & a few flounder; croaker, perch; December thru September 96 50.314 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020

Conservancy Shoreline

Cedar Flats

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our fellow man and woman, wherever that may be. This article is dedicated to those lost in the recent landslides and floods in our sister state of the far north, Alaska.

MIDDLE COAST few days at a local Sport Shop, owned by the newly elected mayor because he heard about my background and thought I’d be a natural fit. Having just retired, I really wasn’t interested in working again, especially on the other side of a retail counter, but the mayor was persistent, and I reluctantly agreed. Lisa and I cried heart felt tears as we saw the fear and the confusion in the eyes of our neighbors, the same we’d experienced just a few years before in Rockport. Our instincts kicked in. We had been there and knew how to help. As it turned out there were many slides in the area that day. The small Alaskan community was cut off from fuel oil and was running for who knew how long on a backup generator for emergency electricity. The slides cut off the ferries and barges that were the lifeline of this community. Water mains were severed. Although help was on the way, one night in the far north where temperatures can drop below zero

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could put many lives in definite danger. The new mayor, doing his best, stated he didn’t have all the right answers. “Sometimes there are no right answers,” I told him, “but what is needed is leadership. Even if it’s not the perfect CAPT. GABLE answer, the ContactUs@Fishgame.com community will rally and make it the right answer. “You are the leader this town needs. Go back to the basics—food, water, and warmth. It’s all any of us truly need in the short term, day to day.” “No, minute to minute is more like it,” he replied. What Lisa and I could give was hope, knowing there is a tomorrow. Those lost did not perish for no reason. Much like Rockport, the community was split on many (mostly political) issues. However—just like Rockport—those differences were put aside, and people rolled up their sleeves and got to work. The outdoor men and women were the first to step up; what was a hunting and fishing hobby was being called upon to sustain life, and they delivered big time. Food was plentiful. Help from as far away as, yes, Texas was offered. This Texan could not be prouder of the Lone Star State. Mostly I listened as folks came into the Sport Shop just to talk. I could share our story and tell them not only would Haines bounce back, but the community as a whole would be better and stronger than ever before. Much like this old salt, they one day would understand why it happened—to help |

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March and April are the months most anglers wait for. The access to bait, which has been rare all winter, can suddenly appear these two months, mostly in April, but over the last several years March has seen the availability of shrimp increase. A good tactic is to use live bait to locate the bite, then switch to soft plastics, which can be phenomenal. COPANO BAY: The mouth of Mission Bay is a go-to spot for black drum and some keeper reds. I like live shrimp under a popping cork. Adjacent Shell Bank Reef is a good spot for trout using a bubble cork and an imitation Berkley shrimp. ST. CHARLES BAY: Indian Head Point is a good spot for trout. This area is a good wade spot with mixed sand and mud. Free-lined live shrimp are the ticket in new penny jerk shad. On high tide, Bergentine Creek is a good spot for reds. Finger mullet works best on a light Carolina rig. If live mullet is not available, use cut mullet. ARANSAS BAY: Half Moon Reef is a good spot for trout using a rattle cork and live shrimp. This area has some deep edges, and I like to start deep then work my way closer to the reef. Drifts down Traylor Island or via trolling motor is good for trout and reds. This area is a natural fish pass. The key here is patience. One can drift for half a mile and not get a bite, then within a 50-yard stretch, limit out. If croaker is available, this is a good spot to use them, otherwise use live shrimp free-lined. CARLOS BAY: On colder days, Carlos Trench is a good spot for trout. I use shrimp on a free line weighted with a few split shots to get the bait down in the current. MESQUITE BAY: The shoreline of Big Brundrett Lake is a good spot for reds and a few flounders using live shrimp jigged across the bottom. Reds will knock the rod out of your hand here; flounders will usu-

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ally give you a slight tap. If you don’t set the hook, they often ingest the bait and bury up in the sand, leading some to believe they are hung up. If this happens draw the line tight and twang the line like a guitar string. Usually, the flounder will turn loose and attempt to swim off. AYERS BAY: The area close to Second Chain Island is a good spot for reds using finger mullet free-lined. Let the mullet swim, and don’t reel in until you get a bite. This is a heavy shell area, and you can break off. The shoreline close to Ayers Point is a good wade for trout using a rattle cork and shrimp or free-lined croaker. Fish deeper than you think here and cast 360 degrees, moving slowly. BANK BITE: In late March and April wades off Goose Island shoreline can produce some nice trout and reds. This area can be accessed via the park entrance off Park Road 13. It is paid access. The area holds some good fish, especially on late north wind days. I like a mixture of live shrimp and finger mullet. This area is good for bank anglers as well, using a light Carolina rig.

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CORPUS CHRISTI BAY Reported by JOEY FARAH

HE WINDS OF CHANGE from winter to spring will roar through many a day in March, here in the Corpus Christi area of the Coastal Bend. High winds will open up opportunities for fishermen to land big boxes of black drum and redfish. Live shrimp will be available at most marinas and bait camps, and are your best bet for tight lines. Look towards the ICW, or Intracoastal canal for great action from an CAPT. FARAH jfarah@yahoo.com anchored boat.

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we will be landing some of the biggest trout of the year in the land cut. Using the trolling motor along the edge of the channel here produces insane explosions from spawning speckled trout. The south shore of Baffin Bay is a legendary place for wade fishermen to hunt the largest trout in the state with topwater plugs. Come down to the Coastal Bend for a wide range of public access fishing as well. The Indian Point pier and Portland Causeway is a great place to start. Nighttime bottom fishing on the pier is a sure thing for black drum, and trout under the lights on live shrimp and soft plastic lures. Wade the shallows along the back side of Padre Island starting at the Bird Island boat ramp inside the Padre Island National Seashore. March and April bring a festival of coastal fishing here. Head down for a visit and Get Wet!

Fishing both the leeward and windward sides of the channel can be productive. On the leeward side, quietly slide the boat up into the shallows carefully avoid disturbing the bottom, and anchor. Cast out toward deeper water then let the bait roll against the edge of the drop off with the current. Along the windy side, one must anchor out deep and cast to the current swept edge. Look for abnormal changes in the channel and sandy spots along the drop off. Carolina rigs with OWNER #4 to #6 circle hooks, using a 1/4- to 3/4-ounce slide weight is your best set up. I use 30- to 40-pound mono leader. Live shrimp works best. At times peeling live shrimp, threading it on the hook, then adding another shrimp hooked in the head produces a presentation that cannot be passed up. Drifting the flats on windy days can be as fun as a rock and roll concert, and as rough! When the winds are pushing the boat along, boat noise is hidden in the waves and live shrimp under a popping cork stands as a Texas Fishing Tradition. Match your drop to the depth of the water, keeping the bait just above the bottom. Different styles, cork sounds, length of drop, and colored beads may make a difference, so experiment. Deploying a drift sock or even a bucket on a rope can slow your drift down and make it easier to fish. Make grid patterns with your drifts searching for groups of gamefish. Avoid running the boat through the fishing area. Live shrimp fishing in March and April is at its best. Target the shallow rock piles and oyster reefs of Baffin Bay and Nueces Bay for insane action. The spring topwater bite is on fire as well as the use of soft plastics along the Coastal Bend’s bay systems. March holds a few calm days and weather patterns will improve greatly in April. These are the times to hunt massive sow trout with lures. The Laguna Madre has miles of flats three to five inches deep. Probe the mixed sand pockets along the King Ranch shoreline. The spoil islands south of Bird Island will keep you in a great soft plastic bite for trout and redfish. Color patterns may vary but throwing the three-inch DOA Cal Shad on a 1/4-ounce jig head will produce gamefish all month long. The topwater bite will be at a peak in April as F I S H

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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: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/16 oz jig head SOURCE: Capt. Billie Kocian 361-688-8859 TIPS: The trout should be working over 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 |

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BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 TIPS: Rigging: a 4/0 offset croaker hook…a drop rig. If you are ﬁshing with live bait, just hook it in the tail. Perch heads, hook it through the top part of the skull. When using menhaden, make sure it’s fresh… slime on it.

MIDDLE COAST BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 TIPS: With the cut perch head you have a good chance of picking up one or two nice size trout, just casting it along the bank where redﬁsh like to concentrate.

LOCATION: Port Lavaca HOTSPOT: Cadual Reef GPS: N 28 38.107, W 96 19.594 (28.6351, -96.3266)

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Ingleside Cove GPS: N 27 50.3179, W 97 13.816 (27.8386, -97.2303)

SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Gigging SOURCE: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 TIPS: At this time of the year, almost any shoreline on a channel should be holding ﬂounder.

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut and live mullet SOURCE: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 TIPS: 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: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Lydia Ann GPS: N 27 52.218, W 97 2.883 (27.8703, -97.0481)

LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Bay Oil Wells and Pads GPS: N 28 2.742, W 96 57.8339 (28.0457, -96.9639)

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou Flats GPS: N 28 7.0052, W 96 49.0053 (28.1168, -96.8168)

SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Gigging SOURCE: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 TIPS: Tidal movement and moon phases can affect when to start gigging.

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 TIPS: Cedar Bayou provides a pretty good wade fishing spot. The redfish are starting to migrate back into the bays, and usually we will catch some good limits wading the surf at Cedar Bayou.

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Outside Mud Island GPS: N 27 56.0139, W 97 1.0036 (27.9336, -97.0167)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corkys or Soft Plastics SOURCE: Capt. Chad Verburgt 361-463-6545 TIPS: A Berkley Gulp in a pearl color also works great in the clearer water.

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LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N 27 56.541, W 97 5.944 (27.9424, -97.0991)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics SOURCE: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: Look for structure…reefs out in the middle of the bay, spoil banks.

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SPECIES: Black Drum

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Fish Bafﬁn Now and Prepare to Be Amazed BAFFIN BAY

ISHING BAFFIN BAY IN March and April can be amazing. The water temperature is starting to rise, and the fish are in a healthy, heavier condition as they begin to transition from a winter to a spring environment.

LOWER COAST HOTSPOTS

Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

Although there are many techniques to try, these have produced the most fish for me during this season. You can begin by walking through grass flats and finding the sandy pockets to work your lure in. It is important to remember; sight casting and shallow water fishing are more about encounters. It is critical to keep your lure in the water as much as possible. When one or two fish see CAPT. MERRITT your lure and geradmerritt@gmail.com don’t strike, it is time to change the color options. One of my favorite choices is a simple silver or gold spoon. In my opinion, top waters can be exciting and lead to endless possibilities with the number of lure selections available to anglers today. Another great option is live bait. During this season, the fish are feeding on live shrimp, and they will soon switch to croaker. Using live shrimp under a popping cork can be an excellent indicator of any fish around. Game fish, including black drum, do not discriminate against live shrimp, so each catch might be a surprise. Due to the use of the popping cork, your live shrimp may not stay as lively and active and may die after several casts. Although the shrimp may have expired, you can continue to work it under the popping cork as long as you are mindful and do not jerk the shrimp off.

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: East of Green Island GPS: N 26 23.5379, W 97 19.465 (26.3923, -97.3244)

When I use live shrimp in Baffin Bay, I still tend to work drop-offs and rocks. The fish are slowly moving to more prominent structures, and you have to decipher what structures and part of the bay the fish are feeding in for that particular day. If you don’t know precisely where a drop-off is and don’t want to troll over it, you can pole around and find it. Another option that I have used in the past is casting out with a weight and feel for it to hit the bottom or structure. Try fishing shallow to deep, and then deep to shallow, to get a sense whether or not the fish are moving to the shallow flats or coming out of them. With these techniques and time of year, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to catch a wide variety of saltwater fish that inhabit our bay system. I highly encourage anglers of all ages to get outdoors. You never really know what might await you on the other end of that hook.

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Black Bluff GPS: N 27 13.7029, W 97 31.8829 (27.2284, -97.5314)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Corky Fat Boy SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 TIPS: If the wind is out of the south, go over to the Kennedy side and work Los Coralles, Black Bluff and South Rocks.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork SOURCE: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 TIPS: If the water is too flat, I don’t spook the fish. Toss the cork out and barely pop it.

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Laguna Madre

5 LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Cayo de Gruello Bay GPS: N 27 20.686, W 97 40.6602 (27.3448, -97.6777)

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

HOLLY BEACH AREA

THE LAGUNA MADRE SYSTEM IS THE ONLY HYPER-SALINE COASTAL LAGOON IN North America and one of only five in the world. The Laguna stretches from the lower end of Corpus Christi Bay to below the mouth of the Rio Grande River. The lower end, below Port Mansfield offers some of the most active fishing waters along the Gulf Coast. On the Laguna Madre’s western shoreline above Port Isabel is the Holly Beach area, which provides access to a number of good fishing spots. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map. SPECKLED TROUT KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

GPS

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

N 26 10.226, W 97 18.012 N 26 08.839, W 97 16.377 N 26 09.242, W 97 14.573 N 26 08.902, W 97 14.352

Red/black topwaters, live bait, Wade mouth on outgoing tide; Jan-Mar, Jun-Sep, dawn-midday

N 26 08.349, W 97 14.144 N 26 08.392, W 97 17.257 N 26 07.211, W 97 17.767

Live ﬁnger mullet, soft plastics w 118/4 to 118/8 oz. jigs hds.; All Year, dawn thru midday

Loma de la Grulla

N 26 07.139, W 97 16.931

Live shrimp, ﬁnger mullet, drift between shore & spoils; Jul-Oct, morning thru afternoon

Texaco Channel

N 26 07.424, W 97 16.638

Large live shrimp on slip shot leader, ﬁsh edges; MayNov, morning-afternoon

Bayside Drive

Islands at Holly Beach

Spoils at Marker 97

Long Bar

REDFISH

Long Bar @ ICW edge

Holly Beach

Laguna Vista Cove

FLOUNDER

8 SNOOK

WADEFISHING 1 2 3

Live shrimp under cork, drift, best after cold front; MarSep, dawn, midday, dusk

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8 jig head SOURCE: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 TIPS: If you wade, use soft plastics, working the grass and sand spots and up along the rocks. Stay in the back of de Gruello to get away from all the boat traffic. LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Center Reef GPS: N 27 16.206, W 97 34.362 (27.2701, -97.5727)

Cut bait, live shrimp, anchor between spoils @ night; May-Oct, dawn-midday, night Live shrimp, pinﬁsh, red/wht. plastics, drift the area; All Year, dawn thru dusk

Live bait, spoons, Wade/drift in 2-3’, Work mouth w tide; Mar-Nov, morning thru afternoon Live mullet, ﬁsh cove mouth outgoing tide, back incoming; Mar-Apr, Jun-Nov, morn.-midday

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in dark patterns, Corkys SOURCE: Captain Joey Farah 361-442-8145 TIPS: Trout prefer to forage around areas that can provide cover. Fish the deeper edges of the reef with soft plastics and Corkys.

N 26 10.199, Trout & redfish, soft plastics with 1/4-1/8 oz. jig heads; March thru November W 97 18.083 N 26 08.190, Trout & redfish, same as above or use spoons, topwaHolly Beach ters; March thru November W 97 17.507 N 26 07.343, Trout & redfish, soft plastics with 1/4-1/8 oz. jig heads; Laguna Vista Cove March thru November W 97 17.782 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020 Airport Cove

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Fishing Shacks GPS: N 26 26.4756, W 97 20.591 (26.4413, -97.3432)

LOCATION: Port Mansﬁeld HOTSPOT: Green Island GPS: N 26 30.0049, W 97 24.0035 (26.5001, -97.4001)

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Horse Island GPS: N 26 20.3539, W 97 20.2489 (26.3392, -97.3375)

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, Fresh Shrimp. SOURCE: LG Outfitters 956-371-0220 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.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Spook Junior SOURCE: Capt. Mitch Richmond 956-944-4000 TIPS: Fish the Spook Jr. with a slow walk-the-dog, extended pause retrieve, maybe four or ﬁve walks, and then an extended pause, then walk it again. Don’t keep it moving all the time.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 TIPS: Ramos likes to use a three-inch Berkley Gulp in different colors, along with a 1/16 oz. jig head under a popping cork, or without the popping cork. The 1/16 oz. jig head keeps the bait in the water column longer.

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piles. You can work them all day! LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 54.0899, W 95 31.6079 (32.9015, -95.5268)

Bass, Cats, Crappie & Sandies on the Move BEST BAITS: Primos Dipping bait SOURCE: Richard Tatsch 936)291-1277 TIPS: Locate stumps lining the river channel edge and tie off in 20 to 25 foot of water. Use a bag of cattle cubes to bring the fish to you. I will dump a half bag of cubes on two different locations and come back to the first, tie up and get my boat back in the same position. Using a spinning reel with a treble hook, an 1/8-ounce egg sinker and a piece of cut sponge wrapped around it; dip it in the bait and drop it to the bottom. Stay in contact with the bottom raising the bait up and down slowly until I feel some resistance then set the hook. You can on most days catch limits of fish in just a few hours. LOCATION: Lake Chapman (Cooper) HOTSPOT: Brush Piles GPS: N 33 18.363, W 95 37.242 (33.3061, -95.6207)

Reported by TF&G STAFF

EAST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 28.992, W 95 35.064 (30.4832, -95.5844)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-593-5077 TIPS: Look for the buoys and you’ll ﬁnd the brush

SPECIES: Catﬁsh

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Grande Bass AirTail Flash, walking baits, topwater poppers and frogs SOURCE: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 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: Largemouth Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Largemouth Bass: Soft plastics, Charlie’s June Bug large crawfish, 1/4 0z. black/blue jigs; White Bass: 1oz. slabs and trolled pet spoons SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 TIPS: Flip lay downs and docks in the Pocket for Largemouth Bass. Cut 1/4 off Charlie’s large crawfish to shorten the bait. Key on the docks close to or in 4’-6’ water. Look for docks with brush piles. In the mornings, fish the sunny side of the Pocket first. April can be a transition month for White Bass and Black Bass on Livingston. White Bass can be caught in April anywhere 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.

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CURRENT LAKE LEVELS LAKE

EAST TEXAS

As of 2/08/2021

Addicks B A Steinhagen Barker Bob Sandlin Bonham Caddo Coleto Creek Conroe Crook Cypress Springs Fork Houston Houston County Jacksonville Jim Chapman Lake O’ the Pines Livingston Monticello Murvaul Nacogdoches Palestine Pat Mayse Sam Rayburn Striker Sulphur Springs Toledo Bend Wright Patman

CAPACITY

(Acre Feet)

-n.a.69,186 -n.a.192,417 11,027 29,898 31,040 410,988 9,195 66,756 605,061 130,147 17,113 25,670 260,332 241,363 1,741,867 34,740 38,285 39,522 367,303 113,683 2,857,077 16,934 17,747 2,236,450 122,593

CURRENT

(Acre Feet)

-n.a.65,166 -n.a.192,417 10,744 29,898 21,275 410,604 8,986 66,756 585,480 129,359 17,113 25,670 248,951 241,363 1,736,955 30,430 38,285 35,658 367,303 113,683 2,675,870 16,934 17,747 1,977,001 122,593

% FULL -n.a.94% -n.a.100% 97% 100% 69% 100% 98% 100% 97% 99% 100% 100% 96% 100% 100% 88% 100% 90% 100% 100% 94% 100% 100% 88% 100%

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LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches HOTSPOT: Big Brush Pile GPS: N 31 37.795, W 94 48.512 (31.6299, -94.8085)

10 miles southwest of Mount Pleasant

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE MONTICELLO LOCATION: in Titus County on Blundell and Smith Creeks in the Cypress River Basin, approximately 10 miles southwest of Mount Pleasant SURFACE AREA: 2,001 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 40 feet IMPOUNDED: 1972

from 14-21 inches to 14-24 inches in an effort to protect larger fish and possibly increase trophy fishing opportunities. Channel catfish are also popular at Lake Monticello Structural habitat is comprised of inundated timber, brush, and creek channels. Aquatic vegetation also provides cover.

LAKE MONTICELLO IS ONE OF THE most popular largemouth bass ﬁsheries in Texas. On September 1, 1998, the slot length limit was changed

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LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Main Lake off of Lakeside GPS: N 32 45.272, W 94 32.009 (32.7545, -94.5335)

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Five Fingers GPS: N 31 08.071, W 94 07.210 (31.1345, -94.1202)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-938-1007 TIPS: Troll slowly with jigs or dropshot minnows. Morning through afternoon.

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, Roadrunners SOURCE: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 TIPS: Work 4- to 6-foot water with white/chartreuse Roadrunners or live minnows. Dawn to late morning, dusk and night.

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 409-698-9114 TIPS: Fish live minnows or white/chartreuse jigs. Troll brush piles. Morning through afternoon.

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on the bars and the inside bends of the river sandbars. If the current is running, look for the “eddies” where the water is still. The Whites will bunch up in the still water. If the river is high, work the flooded sloughs. A ¼ ounce Rat-L-Trap, or Road Runner lets you cover a lot of water to locate the fish. Chartreuse or chrome colors usually work great. If you catch one, slow down because there are usually more fish in the same area.

EAST TEXAS LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Bear Creek Area GPS: N 31 48.114, W 93 50.7419 (31.8019, -93.8457)

LOCATION: Toledo-Bend Reservoir HOTSPOT: Sabine River, Government Ditch GPS: N 31 53.5319, W 93 55.896 (31.8922, -93.9316)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office 936-569-8547 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.

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, shallow diving square bill crankbaits, Road Runners, Tail Spinners and slab spoons SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 936-569-8547 TIPS: The White Bass will be in the river proper making their annual river migration to spawn. Concentrate

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman HOTSPOT: Burns Island / Oil Well Slough GPS: N 33 14.773, W 94 20.785 (33.2462, -94.3464)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-938-1007 Fish black/red tube jigs or watermelon red jigs. Fish slowly; avoid midday.

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The Spawn is On for Central Texas Lakes V&M Super Shakeyhead, Amphibia Sports Eyegear

Reported by TF&G STAFF

SOURCE: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 TIPS: March is highly considered the month for all anglers because of the size of the spawning bass in Texas lakes. I personally do not search out beds on a regular basis but when a client asks to do so, I tie on swim jigs and shakeyheads, clean my high clarity Amphibia sunglasses and begin to work the flats, shallows, and docks in shallow water. I typically like to use a bluegill or sunfish pattern swim jig as these are the predominate egg eaters in these situations on Lake Austin. When using the shakeyheads, I will use a V&M Thunder Shad as this will resemble a small fish devouring the eggs and produced strikes from the males and females.

CENTRAL TEXAS HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats, Shallows and Docks GPS: N 30 20.484, W 97 50.7719 (30.3414, -97.8462)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Picasso Swim Jig, Picasso Shake E Football, V&M Pulse Swim Jig, V&M Thunder Shad,

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LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014 |

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(32.8531, -96.8669)

SPECIES: Crappie and Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crappie: jigs and minnows / Bass: G A M E ®

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CURRENT LAKE LEVELS

CENTRAL TEXAS

LAKE

As of 2/08/2021

Aquilla Arlington Athens Austin Bardwell Belton Benbrook Buchanan Canyon Cedar Creek Choke Canyon Corpus Christi Eagle Mountain Georgetown Gibbons Creek 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-Chamb. Somerville Stillhouse Hollow Tawakoni Texana Texoma Travis Tyler 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 25,721 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 39,522 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 72,073 189,418 10,780 17,812 553,344 553,344

CURRENT

(Acre Feet)

40,157 33,125 29,503 22,788 46,122 428,217 79,186 717,476 334,787 644,686 229,516 62,618 165,878 24,433 23,068 50,439 163,064 5,247 23,821 13,035 165,612 406,388 563,228 202,664 110,697 6,847 75,726 101,533 22,850 35,658 49,827 8,583 434,981 774,347 1,083,558 127,109 227,771 871,685 156,091 1,221,458 747,023 72,073 184,113 10,417 16,108 502,523 502,523

% FULL 93% 83% 100% 95% 100% 98% 93% 83% 88% 100% 35% 25% 92% 66% 90% 97% 100% 87% 99% 93% 94% 100% 100% 100% 96% 99% 100% 40% 100% 90% 100% 100% 99% 98% 100% 85% 100% 100% 98% 98% 67% 100% 97% 97% 90% 91% 91%

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10” red and black worms Carolina rigged SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 TIPS: Bass and crappie prospects are good early and late in the day. Bass are in 1 to 5 feet of water and are gorging in the shallows in the evening and morning. At the time of this report, we pulled 8 crappie out of this lake in a couple of hours.

8 miles East of Edna

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE TEXANA LOCATION: On the Navidad River in Jackson County, eight miles east of Edna, Texas on US 59 SURFACE AREA: 9,727 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 58 feet IMPOUNDED: 1980 BLUE CATFISH AND LARGEMOUTH bass are the most popular sportfish in the reservoir. Blue catfish are abundant with frequent reports of large stringers. Flathead and channel catfish also provide noteworthy fisheries. Fishing for largemouth bass

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has improved in recent months. White bass provide excellent angling opportunities in the Navidad and Sandy Creek channels during the cooler months and in the main reservoir near the dam during summer. Although crappie ﬁshing can be tough in the summer, respectable catches are not uncommon during the spring. Most of the reservoir contains submerged timber and numerous stumps, ideal structure for catﬁsh.

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nerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics around all shoreline cover in 1’ to 3’.

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

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Ridge South of Pelican Island GPS: N 32 53.998, W 97 30.454 (32.9000, -97.5076)

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Tom Creek Area GPS: N 29 52.128, W 98 16.1459 (29.8688, -98.2691)

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 SOURCE: Bob Maindelle 254- 368-7411 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.

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Small crankbaits and jigs or live minnows SOURCE: Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 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. 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.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Upper End of Main Lake GPS: N 30 50.466, W 98 23.7779 (30.8411, -98.3963)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut bait SOURCE: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 TIPS: Big blue cats are excellent on rod and reel in coves near trees or rocks. Fish the upper end of the lake early or late using cut bait. Remember to use a big bait to increase the possibilities of catching a bigger fish. We have been catching numerous 20 and 30 lb. fish so far. Jug lines are a good method if you are wanting smaller fish to eat. Jugs good also if you are wanting smaller fish to eat.

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

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs with a fly 12-inch above tail spinner or swim bait when they are surfacing or chasing shad. SOURCE: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 TIPS: This area is a shallow sunken Island. This sunken Island is 6 to 9 feet deep. This time of the year many times the white bass will chase shad along the edge of this island. If the fish are surfacing throw a tail spinner or a bright swim bait like a hot spot. If they are still in the area but not surfacing. Run along the edge of this sunken island using your electronics. When you find them A slab and a fly will work well. LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Dam Rocks GPS: N 29 55.05, W 96 44.5559 (29.9175, -96.7426)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 TIPS: Fish are spawning around the rocks now. Use slip cork to ﬁsh above the rocks. You can also move down the dam all along the rocks. Use a #6 treble hook.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics SOURCE: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 TIPS: This month we’re power ﬁshing. Fish all spawning coves as far back as possible. Throw spin-

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LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Diversion canal GPS: N 30 37.9079, W 96 4.584 (30.6318, -96.0764)

and windy banks. Fresh shad work for most, but a variety of baits will also produce. Lots of fishermen are using jug lines to catch them but rod and reel will also work well. A good bait for jug lines is Zote soap. It is easy to handle and easier to get than shad. I like to use it whenever I put out jug lines. I use Mustad #11/0 circle hooks and blues rarely get off when hooked. Now is also the best time to catch some of the big yellow cats that are plentiful in the lake. The good places for them are upriver on trotlines and in the wooded areas at the mouth of the river and Willis Creek. Most use live perch or goldfish to catch these good eating fish. Good luck and good fishing.

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Shad / CJ’s punch bait SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 TIPS: Lily pads grow in this area in the summer but for now you can ﬁsh close to the shore. Use only one rod for a better hook up ratio. Use cork set two foot deep.

SPECIES: Blue Catﬁsh and Yellow Catﬁsh

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats and Shallow WindBlown Banks GPS: N 30 41.904, W 97 22.0559 (30.6984, -97.3676)

BEST BAITS: Shad for Blues and live perch for Yellows SOURCE: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 TIPS: Right now the blue catﬁsh are spawning all over the lake. The blues are in shallow timbered areas

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LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Lynn Creek Bridge GPS: N 32 37.377, W 97 02.338 (32.6230, -97.0390)

3/1/21 3:46 PM

SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 TIPS: Crappie will be shallow in the 2–5-foot range this time of year. You will find them in the small pockets in the Stone Chimney Creek area down on the East side of the lake near the dam. Crappie will be good in most of the creeks on the lake, but Stone Chimney Creek will be one very good one. Rig jigs up with a slip bobber so that you can set the depth that you will want to fish. Minnows will work good as well fished just like the jigs. I like to use an 8 ft rod so that I can reach out over grass or brush to place my Bait in a hole in the cover I’m fishing. Fish your areas slow giving your fish time to find your bait. I like to look for water temps ranging in low to mid 60’s.

CENTRAL TEXAS SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 TIPS: Fish minnows. Use your graph on pilings for depth then tie to pillars. Avoid midday. LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Bowman Creek Grass Flat GPS: N 32 37.194, W 97 03.161 (32.6199, -97.0527)

LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Dry Creek Area GPS: N 30 36.18, W 98 23.4179 (30.6030, -98.3903)

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 32 49.7459, W 96 32.166 (32.8291, -96.5361) SPECIES: Largemouth BEST BAITS: Topwaters, ﬂukes SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 TIPS: Fish red bug topwaters or weightless ﬂukes. Fish grass mats early, and along edges later in the day. Avoid midday.

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 SOURCE: Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 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.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Feeder Creeks GPS: N 33 10.878, W 96 24.9359 (33.1813, -96.4156)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Cohoe Minnows and chartreuse slabs SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 TIPS: Sand Bass will start their migration up north into the feeder creeks to do their spawn. If there is water coming out of the powerplant, make sure you stop there ﬁrst. Otherwise, ﬁnd windblown banks with rocks. Cohoes and chartreuse slabs should put a couple in the boat. Before they start their migration of feeder creeks, they will start gorging on schools of shad. Check all around the island and around the cut through the island. Use extreme caution cutting through the island. There are severe concrete blocks right in the cut. I suggest taking the extra two minutes and going around the island.

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut shad or buffalo SOURCE: The Cajun Guide/Johnny Procell 972- 814-8942 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 form the Power Plant on the lake side.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: South End GPS: N 33 21.5069, W 97 4.2175 (33.3584, -97.0703)

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Stone Chimney Creek GPS: N 32 5.202, W 95 24.4199 (32.0867, -95.4070)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Pink/white and yellow/white jigs in 1/16 oz size and live minnows |

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits, crankbaits SOURCE: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 TIPS: With a warmer winter, April will be a good month to ﬁsh for largemouth bass on Ray Roberts. Fish will be spawning and the topwater bite will be on. The spawning ﬁsh will be on the South End of

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the lake. The fish on the north end of the lake will start to guard fry. A white buzzbait worked along the grass edges and secondary points in the Northern creeks is a great way to start the day. Squarebill cranks and weightless flukes will continue to get bites. Watermelon flukes and shad colored crankbaits usually fair well. Fish will be starting to relate to the humps and main lake points. LOCATION: Lake Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Timbered Areas of Richland Creek Arm GPS: N 31 58.95, W 96 10.9241 (31.9825, -96.1821)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Danny King’s Blood Punch Bait SOURCE: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 TIPS: If the winter hangs on into spring and the crappie and whites still aren’t biting, the catfish will be. Water temperature is the key to getting most fish interested in the spring spawn, but the catfish love the cold water and will bite all Winter through early spring. Fish punch bait on a #4 treble hook in 15-25 feet of water. LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Big Creek East Shoreline GPS: N 30 19.992, W 96 33.882 (30.3332, -96.5647)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait/Crawdad SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 TIPS: This is a windy shore and the shad run shallow. Use tight line or slip corks and ﬁsh close to the weeds.

SOURCE: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 TIPS: Stripers are staging up the main tributaries. Structure like main lake points, ditches and creeks will hold stripers. 1oz. RoadRunner and Sassy Shad jigs in white or chartreuse will work best. Fish the creeks in 12’ to 20’ of water with a slow retrieve for fish up to 20lbs. Pay attention to the seagulls, they can be your best fish finder. When you are fishing under the birds keep your lure in the top 15’ of 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: Slickem Slough, Paw Paw creek

LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 1.9499, W 97 35.0519 (31.0325, -97.5842)

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Striper Point GPS: N 31 57.1139, W 97 25.2119 (31.9519, -97.4202)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Weightless lizards, wacky-rigged Senkos, crankbaits and spinnerbaits SOURCE: Henry Niemiec 254-368-0294 TIPS: April can be a tricky time of the year for catching Bass. Early in the month, there is still an opportunity to catch one of the larger female up on the bed, however here in Central Texas for the most part the spawn is almost over. Now is the time to use a weightless Lizard or wacky rigged Senko up shallow around the beds. The smaller males have moved back in to protect the beds and will attack anything that falls on or close to the bed. Towards the end of the month the Bass will become much more active, feeding early in the morning and towards evening. At this time crankbaits and spinnerbaits will work great. You will want to work the shallows around lay-downs and spawning ﬂats. This is the time of the year to catch more in the way of numbers, rather than size.

SPECIES: Stripers and White Bass BEST BAITS: Swim baits and live shad SOURCE: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 TIPS: The big stripers are running shallow. Start early throwing chartreuse swim baits and ripping them back to the boat in 3 to 10 of water. The big sow stripers are up shallow gorging on shad. Small swim baits and RatLTraps will put a lot of white bass in the boat in the same area as well. After the sun comes up, back off and anchor up and use a Carolina rig and cast live gizzard shad up shallow along the grass and hang on! Big sow stripers are roaming ﬂats and will pick up the bait and run!

••

•••

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Mill Creek cut GPS: N 33 49.7879, W 96 45.3059 (33.8298, -96.7551)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: RoadRunner and Sassy Shad jigs T E X A S

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Now is the Time to Be Out on the Water Watch for spring rains, and work the headwaters of creeks for all spawning species.

• • •

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)

TIPS: Fish the shallow pockets in the various arms off the river channel. Start at the mouths of the coves and work your way to the back of them slowly. On bright days, make long casts with soft plastic jerkbaits and Carolina-rigged worms. LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: East Side of Devil’s River GPS: N 29 30.708, W 100 58.256 (29.5118, -100.9709)

Reported by DEAN HEFFNER

ATER TEMPERATURES on West Texas Lakes are getting into the 60s and fish are spawning and migrating. So are the baitfish. Now is the time to be out on the water. Stripers, hybrids, largemouth and others are either spawning or fixing to. Stick to natural colors, but mainly fish the right length baits to up your catch numbers. On the bigger lakes, such as Possum Kingdom and Amistad, watch the birds, as many of them haven’t migrated yet. Blue herons will put you on fish. So will turtles. Catfish action is great on cut shad and hotdogs fished under deeper docks and creek entrances. Black bass action is excellent on soft plastics worked near bedding grounds. In April, crappie will be at peak activity. Bring jigs in white and chartreuse, pink, red and pearl. Their spawn is nearing its end on most water bodies, and these tasty species are moving out to deeper docks and structure. Best bait for crappie are small jigs or small minnows. Catfish are spawning and can be found in the backs of creeks and are good on cut shad, worms and prepared baits. Passing cold and storm fronts will continue dominate the weather patterns through March.

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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 SOURCE: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 TIPS: Look for the warmest water you can ﬁnd, and you will ﬁnd the bass. Even though Big Grape is a south creek, it still is one of the warmest creeks in the early spring. 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 and worm. LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Rough Canyon Area GPS: N29 34.20456, W100 58.4892 (29.570076, -100.974820)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, plastic worms, crankbaits, soft plastic jerkbaits CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 |

T E X A S

F I S H

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jerkbaits, crankbaits SOURCE: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 TIPS: Fish ﬂats to the back during spawn, early morning through the afternoon. LOCATION: Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir HOTSPOT: Old Water Intake GPS: N 32 34.833, W 99 41.197 (32.580545, -99.686617)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Ghost minnows, crappie tube jigs SOURCE: Natalie Goldstrohm, TPWD Natural Resources Specialist 325-692-0921 TIPS: Springtime is great crappie ﬁshing at Fort Phantom Hill. The old water intake facility is only accessible by boat. Fishing this spot while the water temperatures are still below 65° might pay off big if

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 SEE INSET

CURRENT LAKE LEVELS LAKE

WEST TEXAS

As of 2/08/2021

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 30,758 517,272 179,880 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 12,267 182,454 29,880

CURRENT

(Acre Feet)

5,397 83,950 1,164,489 18,002 227,901 19,544 322,507 111,969 24,330 40,094 22,946 32,614 11,213 114,981 165,878 1,551,007 61,565 42,584 132,297 9,842 4,306 275,614 26,780 208,855 69,932 25,497 11,434 4,129 177,921 26,702 5,273 26,421 20,018 14,859 7,245 337,639 30,326 901 23,064 21,920 530,833 52,977 74,256 151,187 51,570 10,021 99,009 3,660

% FULL 68% 87% 63% 93% 99% 68% 88% 86% 59% 100% 79% 86% 37% 22% 92% 100% 88% 94% 100% 16% 53% 88% 13% 85% 81% 92% 96% 9% 36% 100% 100% 48% 93% 97% 6% 61% 77% 2% 86% 84% 99% 97% 49% 100% 100% 82% 54% 12%

55 miles east of Abiline

B  SEE INSET

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE CISCO LOCATION: On Sandy Creek 55 miles east of Abilene and 5 miles north of Cisco SURFACE AREA: 1,050 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 70 feet IMPOUNDED: 1923

The steep-sided nature of Lake Cisco provides windy-weather ﬁshing opportunities. Willow trees in the upper end of the north arm and the Sandy Creek arm line the creek channel. The reservoir is also loaded with dead ﬂooded brush, boat docks, and rocky bluffs and points. In 2016, TPWD worked with local partner organizations to install brush piles made of recycled Christmas trees.

LARGEMOUTH BASS FISHING IS GOOD to excellent for numbers of ﬁsh. Florida-strain largemouths were introduced 1991. Redear and redbreast sunﬁsh are underutilized at Lake Cisco.

•

LOCATION: Lake Falcon HOTSPOT: Rio Grande River/San Ignacio GPS: N 26 54.949, W 99 19.230 (26.9158, -99.3205)

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: River Near Tin Top GPS: N 32 34.559, W 97 49.295 (32.575983, -97.821583)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut shad, worms, shrimp SOURCE: Robert Amaya, Robert’s Fishing Tackle 956-765-1442 TIPS: Rig your bait to ﬁsh the bottom.

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Small jigs with soft plastics in Electric Chicken and Chartreuse colors worked near structure near banks/docks SOURCE: MichaelAcosta, Unfair Advantage Charters

•

the crappie are still in deeper water. Fishing ghost minnows works well, but if you don’t have bait try ﬁshing a crappie jig tube in purple glitter with chartreuse.

T E X A S

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LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Lower Creek Arm GPS: N 32 45.468, W 99 0.6751 (32.7578, -99.0113)

WEST TEXAS 254-396-4855 TIPS: Swim or bounce your jigs across the bottom. Work the bends in the river and look for ﬁsh either in the deeper holes and when active on top of ﬂats adjacent to the deeper water. Crappie will be spawning creeks and sloughs all over the lake and in the river.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Mid Lake GPS: N 32 24.324, W 97 44.648 (32.4054, -97.744133)

SPECIES: White Crappie BEST BAITS: jigs, small spinnerbaits SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 325-692-0921 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.

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, spinnerbaits SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 254-396-4855 TIPS: Look for schools of baitﬁsh holding on the bottom and bounce your slab off the bottom to draw the bite. Work spinnerbaits vertically. Chartreuse and silver are best colors. When surface schooling, chrome and white spinners and Little Georges are effective.

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to be fishing live shad. Also, downrigging, trolling and various artificials are working this time of year. We are tipping our jigs with Mister Twister curly tails and also trolling RatLTraps and crankbaits. Live shad for multiple species and fresh dead cut shad for catfish.

LOCATION: Kirby Lake HOTSPOT: Dam GPS: N 32 23.1205, W 99 44.0777 (32.3853, -99.7346)

••

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Live or cut carp, sunfish, punch baits SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office 325-692-0921 TIPS: Kirby Lake is a catfishing gem in the Big 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. Live 3-5” carp or live sunfish works for flatheads. Punch baits, cut shad, and carp also work well for smaller fish. Be sure to use heavy test line and round sinkers to avoid getting snagged on the rocks too badly. LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Sand Flats GPS: N 32 53.200, W 98 30.988 (32.886667, -98.516467)

•••

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Cedar Creek GPS: N 32 49.897, W 98 33.323 (32.831621, -98.55539)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Live shad, jigs, Sassy Shad, RatLTraps, crankbaits, minnows SOURCE: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 TIPS: Crappie jigs in white, chartreuse, pink, red and pearl. With all that said, live shad is always your best bet, with minnows next. Fish them on bobber and split shot, 18-24 inches below the bobber in 2 to 5 feet and deeper in the trees. LOCATION: Possum Kingdom Res. HOTSPOT: Pickwick Bridge GPS: N 32 54.777, W 98 27.939 (32.91295, -98.46565)

SPECIES: Striped Bass, Hybrids BEST BAITS: Jigs, slabs SOURCE: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 TIPS: Fish are spawning as well as the baitfish. Slabs with Mister Twister Curly Tails are mainstays. Troll crankbaits and RatLTraps. Swimbaits can help find fish.

SPECIES: All species BEST BAITS: Jigs, RatLTraps, crankbaits, live shad CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 TIPS: The spawn is on, so either ﬁsh are running upstream or coming back into the lake from spawning. Of course, all of this depends on rainwater coming in and temperatures. But the mighty Brazos is the main tributary. Some ﬁsh spawn up Cedar and other creeks coming into the lake, but most are staged up to go up the Brazos. The lake is full of shad and now is the time T E X A S

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MARCH/APRIL 2021

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

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

T12

T11

T10 T9

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

T8 T17

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

T15 T16

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

T13 T6

T3 T2 T1

T14

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

T18

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

T19

T20

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

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

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

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

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

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

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

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

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

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

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

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

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

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

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

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

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

READING THE GRAPH

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   = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 60

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MARCH/APRIL 2021

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

Mar 1 « FEET

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

5:03a 11:28a 6:02p 11:45p

1.07 ft. -0.02 ft. 0.94 ft. 0.14 ft.

TUESDAY

High Tide: 6:24a Low Tide: 12:13p High Tide: 6:14p

1.04 ft. 0.28 ft. 0.91 ft.

WEDNESDAY

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

12:37a 7:56a 1:00p 6:21p

-0.08 ft. 1.02 ft. 0.59 ft. 0.92 ft.

THURSDAY

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

1:35a 9:44a 1:53p 6:09p

-0.27 ft. 1.05 ft. 0.87 ft. 0.98 ft.

FRIDAY

Low Tide: 2:41a High Tide: 11:51a

-0.40 ft. 1.14 ft.

SATURDAY

6

Low Tide: 3:55a High Tide: 1:52p

-0.49 ft. 1.25 ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 5:13a High Tide: 2:53p

-0.54 ft. 1.31 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 6:18p Moonrise: 9:05p Moon Set: 8:29a

AM Minor: 6:55a AM Major: 12:42a PM Minor: 7:19p PM Major: 1:07p Moon Overhead: 2:18a Moon Underfoot: 2:43p

12p

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 AM Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 6:19p Moonrise: 10:11p Moon Set: 9:05a

AM Minor: 7:51a AM Major: 1:38a PM Minor: 8:16p PM Major: 2:03p

Moon Overhead: 3:08a Moon Underfoot: 3:34p

TexasOutdoorNation-2103-DIG.indd 61

12a

12p

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 AM Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 6:19p Moonrise: 11:18p Moon Set: 9:42a

AM Minor: 8:49a AM Major: 2:35a PM Minor: 9:15p PM Major: 3:02p

Moon Overhead: 4:00a Moon Underfoot: 4:26p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 AM Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 6:20p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 10:24a

AM Minor: 9:48a AM Major: 3:34a PM Minor: 10:15p PM Major: 4:01p

Moon Overhead: 4:53a Moon Underfoot: 5:21p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

5:00 — 7:00 AM Sunrise: 6:39a Sunset: 6:21p Moonrise: 12:26a Moon Set: 11:09a

AM Minor: 10:47a AM Major: 4:33a PM Minor: 11:15p PM Major: 5:01p

Moon Overhead: 5:50a Moon Underfoot: 6:18p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

11:00P — 1:00A Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 6:21p Moonrise: 1:32a Moon Set: 12:01p

AM Minor: 11:45a AM Major: 5:30a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:00p

Moon Overhead: 6:48a Moon Underfoot: 7:17p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 6:22p Moonrise: 2:36a Moon Set: 12:57p

AM Minor: 12:12a AM Major: 6:27a PM Minor: 12:41p PM Major: 6:56p

Moon Overhead: 7:46a Moon Underfoot: 8:16p

3/1/21 3:46 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

Low Tide: 6:25a High Tide: 3:31p

-0.57 ft. 1.30 ft.

TUESDAY

Low Tide: 7:29a High Tide: 3:58p Low Tide: 9:21p

WEDNESDAY

-0.55 ft. 1.25 ft. 1.01 ft.

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

FEET

12:06a 8:22a 4:19p 9:20p

THURSDAY

11 «

1.07 ft. -0.48 ft. 1.17 ft. 0.91 ft.

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

1:25a 9:09a 4:35p 9:31p

FRIDAY

12 «

1.11 ft. -0.37 ft. 1.09 ft. 0.78 ft.

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

2:29a 9:50a 4:49p 9:51p

SATURDAY

13 l

1.14 ft. -0.21 ft. 1.02 ft. 0.63 ft.

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

3:29a 10:26a 5:02p 10:16p

SUNDAY

14 « Beg. DST

1.15 ft. -0.02 ft. 0.97 ft. 0.48 ft.

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

5:25a 11:59a 6:14p 11:46p

1.14 ft. 0.18 ft. 0.93 ft. 0.34 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 6:36a Sunset: 6:22p Moonrise: 3:34a Moon Set: 1:56p

AM Minor: 1:06a AM Major: 7:20a PM Minor: 1:35p PM Major: 7:49p

2:00 — 4:00 AM

15 «

High Tide: 6:23a Low Tide: 12:29p High Tide: 6:25p

1.12 ft. 0.39 ft. 0.92 ft.

FEET

16 « Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:18a 7:23a 12:58p 6:30p

0.23 ft. 1.10 ft. 0.59 ft. 0.92 ft.

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

12:54a 8:30a 1:25p 6:21p

0.14 ft. 1.09 ft. 0.78 ft. 0.94 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30A — 1:30P

12a

Sunrise: 7:29a Sunset: 7:26p Moonrise: 8:27a Moon Set: 8:46p

AM Minor: 5:01a AM Major: 11:11a PM Minor: 5:22p PM Major: 11:33p

Moon Overhead: 12:09p Moon Underfoot: None

1:30 — 3:30

Sunrise: 6:30a Sunset: 6:25p Moonrise: 6:58a Moon Set: 6:52p

AM Minor: 4:17a AM Major: 10:28a PM Minor: 4:40p PM Major: 10:51p

12p

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:31a Sunset: 6:25p Moonrise: 6:26a Moon Set: 5:57p

Moon Overhead: 11:23a Moon Underfoot: 11:46p

AM Minor: 6:44a AM Major: 12:34a PM Minor: 7:05p PM Major: 12:55p

Moon Overhead: 12:52p Moon Underfoot: 12:31a

Moon Overhead: 2:34p Moon Underfoot: 2:13a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

12a

AM Minor: 3:32a AM Major: 9:44a PM Minor: 3:57p PM Major: 10:09p

Moon Overhead: 10:33a Moon Underfoot: 10:58p

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:33a Sunset: 6:24p Moonrise: 5:51a Moon Set: 4:59p

AM Minor: 2:46a AM Major: 8:59a PM Minor: 3:12p PM Major: 9:25p

Moon Overhead: 9:40a Moon Underfoot: 10:07p

12p

4:30 — 6:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:34a Sunset: 6:24p Moonrise: 5:12a Moon Set: 3:59p

AM Minor: 1:57a AM Major: 8:11a PM Minor: 2:25p PM Major: 8:39p

MONDAY

BEST TIME

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

READING THE GRAPH

12a

11:30A — 1:30P

Sunrise: 6:35a Sunset: 6:23p Moonrise: 4:26a Moon Set: 2:58p

Moon Overhead: 8:45a Moon Underfoot: 9:13p

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

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

1:34a 9:48a 1:50p 5:32p

0.09 ft. 1.08 ft. 0.94 ft. 1.00 ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter   = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

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

2:20a 11:26a 2:09p 4:44p

0.07 ft. 1.10 ft. 1.07 ft. 1.09 ft.

SATURDAY

20 

Low Tide: 3:15a High Tide: 4:27p

0.06 ft. 1.18 ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 4:21a High Tide: 3:50p

0.05 ft. 1.25 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 PM Sunrise: 7:28a Sunset: 7:27p Moonrise: 8:56a Moon Set: 9:39p

AM Minor: 7:29a AM Major: 1:18a PM Minor: 7:49p PM Major: 1:39p

Moon Overhead: 3:14p Moon Underfoot: 2:54a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 PM

AM Minor: 8:14a AM Major: 2:04a PM Minor: 8:35p PM Major: 2:24p

3:30 — 5:30 PM Sunrise: 7:26a Sunset: 7:28p Moonrise: 9:56a Moon Set: 11:26p

AM Minor: 9:01a AM Major: 2:50a PM Minor: 9:22p PM Major: 3:12p

Moon Overhead: 3:56p Moon Underfoot: 3:35a

TexasOutdoorNation-2103-DIG.indd 62

12p

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:27a Sunset: 7:27p Moonrise: 9:25a Moon Set: 10:32p

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 1

12a

9:00 — 11:00 PM

AM Minor: 9:50a AM Major: 3:38a PM Minor: 10:12p PM Major: 4:01p

T E X A S

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

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:24a Sunset: 7:28p Moonrise: 10:29a Moon Set: None

Moon Overhead: 4:38p Moon Underfoot: 4:17a

12p

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM Sunrise: 7:23a Sunset: 7:29p Moonrise: 11:06a Moon Set: 12:21a

AM Minor: 10:39a AM Major: 4:28a PM Minor: 11:02p PM Major: 4:51p

Moon Overhead: 6:09p Moon Underfoot: 5:45a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

6:30 — 8:30 AM Sunrise: 7:22a Sunset: 7:30p Moonrise: 11:47a Moon Set: 1:17a

AM Minor: 11:30a AM Major: 5:18a PM Minor: 11:54p PM Major: 5:42p

Moon Overhead: 6:58p Moon Underfoot: 6:33a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 AM Sunrise: 7:21a Sunset: 7:30p Moonrise: 12:34p Moon Set: 2:11a

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:08a PM Minor: 12:21p PM Major: 6:34p

Moon Overhead: 7:49p Moon Underfoot: 7:23a

G A M E ®

3/1/21 3:46 PM

MARCH/APRIL 2021

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

Low Tide: 5:34a High Tide: 3:38p

0.01 ft. 1.30 ft.

TUESDAY

Low Tide: 6:41a High Tide: 3:50p

-0.05 ft. 1.33 ft.

WEDNESDAY

Low Tide: 7:38a High Tide: 4:05p Low Tide: 9:46p

THURSDAY

-0.10 ft. 1.33 ft. 1.13 ft.

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

FEET

12:16a 8:28a 4:21p 9:15p

FRIDAY

26 «

1.15 ft. -0.13 ft. 1.31 ft. 1.02 ft.

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

1:51a 9:14a 4:38p 9:35p

SATURDAY

27 «

1.22 ft. -0.10 ft. 1.27 ft. 0.84 ft.

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

3:06a 10:01a 4:53p 10:07p

SUNDAY

28 l

1.31 ft. 0.01 ft. 1.22 ft. 0.60 ft.

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

4:16a 10:46a 5:09p 10:46p

1.38 ft. 0.19 ft. 1.17 ft. 0.34 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 AM Sunrise: 7:20a Sunset: 7:31p Moonrise: 1:26p Moon Set: 3:05a

AM Minor: 12:46a AM Major: 6:59a PM Minor: 1:12p PM Major: 7:25p

FEET

12p

1.44 ft. 0.43 ft. 1.14 ft. 0.08 ft.

AM Minor: 1:36a AM Major: 7:49a PM Minor: 2:03p PM Major: 8:16p

2:30 — 4:30 AM

High Tide: 6:40a Low Tide: 12:23p High Tide: 5:34p

1.48 ft. 0.70 ft. 1.15 ft.

12:17a 7:59a 1:16p 5:39p

12a

-0.14 ft. 1.49 ft. 0.97 ft. 1.19 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:00 — 11:00 AM

12a

10:30P — 1:30A

12a

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 7:13a Sunset: 7:34p Moonrise: 7:47p Moon Set: 7:24a

AM Minor: 4:48a AM Major: 11:01a PM Minor: 5:14p PM Major: 11:26p

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:49a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:14a Sunset: 7:33p Moonrise: 6:41p Moon Set: 6:48a

AM Minor: 4:01a AM Major: 10:14a PM Minor: 4:27p PM Major: 10:40p

Moon Overhead: 11:23p Moon Underfoot: 10:57a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:15a Sunset: 7:33p Moonrise: 5:35p Moon Set: 6:10a

AM Minor: 3:13a AM Major: 9:26a PM Minor: 3:40p PM Major: 9:53p

AM Minor: 5:37a AM Major: 11:49a PM Minor: 6:02p PM Major: -----

Moon Overhead: 12:15a Moon Underfoot: 12:41p

Moon Overhead: 1:06a Moon Underfoot: 1:32p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

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

10:30P — 12:30A

Moon Overhead: 10:30p Moon Underfoot: 10:03a

12p

Sunrise: 7:16a Sunset: 7:32p Moonrise: 4:29p Moon Set: 5:29a

AM Minor: 2:25a AM Major: 8:38a PM Minor: 2:52p PM Major: 9:05p

TUESDAY

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:17a Sunset: 7:32p Moonrise: 3:24p Moon Set: 4:45a

Moon Overhead: 9:36p Moon Underfoot: 9:09a

30 «

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 AM

MONDAY 5:27a 11:34a 5:23p 11:29p

12a

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

READING THE GRAPH

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

Sunrise: 7:18a Sunset: 7:31p Moonrise: 2:23p Moon Set: 3:56a

Moon Overhead: 8:42p Moon Underfoot: 8:15a

29 «

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Day Overall

THURSDAY

Apr 1 Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:09a 9:25a 2:21p 5:25p

-0.28 ft. 1.50 ft. 1.20 ft. 1.25 ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter   = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

FRIDAY

Low Tide: 2:08a High Tide: 11:04a

SATURDAY

-0.35 ft. 1.51 ft.

Low Tide: 3:16a High Tide: 12:51p

-0.34 ft. 1.53 ft.

SUNDAY

4

Low Tide: 4:33a High Tide: 2:13p

-0.28 ft. 1.54 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 7:11a Sunset: 7:35p Moonrise: 8:54p Moon Set: 8:00a

AM Minor: 6:28a AM Major: 12:15a PM Minor: 6:54p PM Major: 12:41p Moon Overhead: 1:57a Moon Underfoot: 2:23p

12p

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00AM Sunrise: 7:10a Sunset: 7:35p Moonrise: 10:03p Moon Set: 8:38a

AM Minor: 7:24a AM Major: 1:10a PM Minor: 7:51p PM Major: 1:37p

Moon Overhead: 2:49a Moon Underfoot: 3:16p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 AM Sunrise: 7:09a Sunset: 7:36p Moonrise: 11:13p Moon Set: 9:19a

AM Minor: 8:24a AM Major: 2:10a PM Minor: 8:52p PM Major: 2:38p

Moon Overhead: 3:44a Moon Underfoot: 4:12p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2103-DIG.indd 63

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 AM

12a

10:30P — 12:30A

5:30 — 7:30 AM

AM Minor: 11:37a AM Major: 5:22a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:52p

Moon Overhead: 5:40a Moon Underfoot: 6:10p

G A M E ®

12p

Sunrise: 7:06a Sunset: 7:37p Moonrise: 1:29a Moon Set: 11:51a

AM Minor: 10:33a AM Major: 4:18a PM Minor: 11:03p PM Major: 4:48p

Moon Overhead: 4:41a Moon Underfoot: 5:10p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:07a Sunset: 7:37p Moonrise: 12:22a Moon Set: 10:55a

AM Minor: 9:28a AM Major: 3:13a PM Minor: 9:57p PM Major: 3:42p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:08a Sunset: 7:36p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 10:04a

F I S H

Moon Overhead: 6:40a Moon Underfoot: 7:10p

M A R C H / A P R I L

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 7:04a Sunset: 7:38p Moonrise: 2:30a Moon Set: 12:50p

AM Minor: 12:13a AM Major: 6:22a PM Minor: 12:37p PM Major: 6:52p

Moon Overhead: 7:40a Moon Underfoot: 8:09p 2 0 2 1

3/1/21 3:46 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

Low Tide: 5:56a High Tide: 3:01p

-0.21 ft. 1.50 ft.

TUESDAY

Low Tide: 7:12a High Tide: 3:32p Low Tide: 9:31p

-0.13 ft. 1.42 ft. 1.10 ft.

FEET

WEDNESDAY

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

12:20a 8:16a 3:52p 9:32p

THURSDAY

1.16 ft. -0.02 ft. 1.33 ft. 0.97 ft.

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

1:48a 9:10a 4:06p 9:43p

FRIDAY

1.22 ft. 0.11 ft. 1.25 ft. 0.81 ft.

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

2:58a 9:55a 4:18p 9:59p

SATURDAY

10 «

1.28 ft. 0.27 ft. 1.18 ft. 0.65 ft.

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

3:59a 10:35a 4:29p 10:20p

SUNDAY

11 «

1.33 ft. 0.45 ft. 1.14 ft. 0.49 ft.

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

4:54a 11:11a 4:38p 10:44p

1.38 ft. 0.64 ft. 1.13 ft. 0.34 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:30 — 2:30 AM Sunrise: 7:03a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 3:24a Moon Set: 1:52p

AM Minor: 1:05a AM Major: 7:19a PM Minor: 1:33p PM Major: 7:46p

12a

12p

2:30 — 4:30 AM

AM Minor: 1:56a AM Major: 8:09a PM Minor: 2:22p PM Major: 8:35p

12 l

5:47a 11:44a 4:46p 11:11p

1.41 ft. 0.81 ft. 1.13 ft. 0.23 ft.

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

6:41a 12:17p 4:47p 11:41p

1.44 ft. 0.96 ft. 1.14 ft. 0.15 ft.

12p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30A — 1:30P 12:00 — 2:00 PM 5:00 — 7:00 AM 12:00 — 2:00 PM 12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 7:00a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: 5:28a Moon Set: 4:51p

AM Minor: 2:43a AM Major: 8:55a PM Minor: 3:07p PM Major: 9:19p

High Tide: 7:35a Low Tide: 12:50p High Tide: 4:33p

1.45 ft. 1.10 ft. 1.18 ft.

Sunrise: 6:58a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 6:29a Moon Set: 6:40p

AM Minor: 4:05a AM Major: 10:16a PM Minor: 4:26p PM Major: 10:37p

Moon Overhead: 11:06a Moon Underfoot: 11:28p

Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 6:58a Moon Set: 7:32p

AM Minor: 4:43a AM Major: 10:54a PM Minor: 5:04p PM Major: 11:14p

Moon Overhead: 11:50a Moon Underfoot: None

AM Minor: 5:22a AM Major: 11:32a PM Minor: 5:43p PM Major: 11:53p

Moon Overhead: 12:31p Moon Underfoot: 12:11a

Moon Overhead: 1:12p Moon Underfoot: 12:52a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

14 «

Sunrise: 6:59a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 6:00a Moon Set: 5:46p

AM Minor: 3:25a AM Major: 9:37a PM Minor: 3:48p PM Major: 9:59p

Moon Overhead: 10:20a Moon Underfoot: 10:44p

TUESDAY

13 «

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:01a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: 4:52a Moon Set: 3:53p

Moon Overhead: 9:30a Moon Underfoot: 9:56p

MONDAY

12a

BEST TIME

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

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

Sunrise: 7:02a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 4:11a Moon Set: 2:53p

Moon Overhead: 8:37a Moon Underfoot: 9:04p

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

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

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

12:15a 8:34a 1:25p 3:45p

0.11 ft. 1.44 ft. 1.22 ft. 1.23 ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter   = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

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

12:53a 9:42a 2:10p 2:58p

0.11 ft. 1.44 ft. 1.31 ft. 1.31 ft.

SATURDAY

Low Tide: 1:36a High Tide: 11:02a

0.12 ft. 1.45 ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 2:27a High Tide: 12:30p

0.15 ft. 1.47 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 7:27a Moon Set: 8:26p

AM Minor: 6:03a AM Major: 11:49a PM Minor: 6:23p PM Major: 12:13p Moon Overhead: 1:53p Moon Underfoot: 1:32a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 PM Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 7:56a Moon Set: 9:19p

AM Minor: 6:46a AM Major: 12:35a PM Minor: 7:07p PM Major: 12:57p

TexasOutdoorNation-2103-DIG.indd 64

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

BEST TIME

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM 8:30 — 10:30 PM 9:00 — 11:00 PM 10:00P — 12:00A 10:30A — 12:30P Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:44p Moonrise: 8:29a Moon Set: 10:14p

AM Minor: 7:32a AM Major: 1:21a PM Minor: 7:54p PM Major: 1:43p

Moon Overhead: 2:35p Moon Underfoot: 2:14a

M A R C H / A P R I L

12p

BEST TIME

2 0 2 1

Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 7:44p Moonrise: 9:04a Moon Set: 11:09p

AM Minor: 8:22a AM Major: 2:10a PM Minor: 8:45p PM Major: 2:33p

Moon Overhead: 3:19p Moon Underfoot: 2:56a

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 4:04p Moon Underfoot: 3:41a

F I S H

Sunrise: 6:51a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 9:44a Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 9:14a AM Major: 3:02a PM Minor: 9:38p PM Major: 3:26p

Moon Overhead: 4:52p Moon Underfoot: 4:28a

Sunrise: 6:50a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 10:28a Moon Set: 12:04a

AM Minor: 10:07a AM Major: 3:55a PM Minor: 10:32p PM Major: 4:20p

Moon Overhead: 5:42p Moon Underfoot: 5:17a

Sunrise: 6:49a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 11:17a Moon Set: 12:58a

AM Minor: 11:02a AM Major: 4:49a PM Minor: 11:27p PM Major: 5:15p

Moon Overhead: 6:33p Moon Underfoot: 6:07a

G A M E ®

3/1/21 3:46 PM

MARCH/APRIL 2021

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

19 

Low Tide: 3:27a High Tide: 1:34p

TUESDAY

0.17 ft. 1.50 ft.

Low Tide: 4:35a High Tide: 2:08p

0.18 ft. 1.51 ft.

WEDNESDAY

Low Tide: 5:44a High Tide: 2:29p

0.19 ft. 1.49 ft.

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 6:49a High Tide: 2:46p Low Tide: 8:29p

FRIDAY

0.22 ft. 1.44 ft. 1.08 ft.

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

FEET

12:52a 7:48a 3:02p 8:34p

SATURDAY

1.24 ft. 0.30 ft. 1.39 ft. 0.85 ft.

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

2:20a 8:44a 3:16p 9:02p

SUNDAY

25 «

1.35 ft. 0.43 ft. 1.33 ft. 0.56 ft.

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

3:35a 9:39a 3:29p 9:39p

1.49 ft. 0.61 ft. 1.30 ft. 0.24 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:47a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 1:09p Moon Set: 2:37a

AM Minor: 11:56a AM Major: 5:43a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:09p

AM Minor: 12:23a AM Major: 6:36a PM Minor: 12:49p PM Major: 7:02p

Moon Overhead: 7:25p Moon Underfoot: 6:59a

MONDAY

FEET

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

4:46a 10:34a 3:41p 10:21p

AM Minor: 1:14a AM Major: 7:27a PM Minor: 1:40p PM Major: 7:53p

TUESDAY

27 l

1.62 ft. 0.84 ft. 1.29 ft. -0.05 ft.

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

5:56a 11:30a 3:52p 11:07p

1.73 ft. 1.07 ft. 1.33 ft. -0.28 ft.

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

7:07a 12:31p 3:58p 11:57p

12a

1.79 ft. 1.28 ft. 1.38 ft. -0.41 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 AM 10:00P — 12:00A 10:30P — 12:30P 11:30A — 1:30P Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: 4:19p Moon Set: 4:41a

AM Minor: 2:02a AM Major: 8:15a PM Minor: 2:28p PM Major: 8:41p

Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 7:50p Moonrise: 5:24p Moon Set: 5:17a

AM Minor: 2:48a AM Major: 9:01a PM Minor: 3:13p PM Major: 9:26p

Moon Overhead: 10:01p Moon Underfoot: 9:36a

Sunrise: 6:42a Sunset: 7:50p Moonrise: 6:31p Moon Set: 5:53a

AM Minor: 3:32a AM Major: 9:45a PM Minor: 3:58p PM Major: 10:10p

Moon Overhead: 10:52p Moon Underfoot: 10:27a

AM Minor: 4:17a AM Major: 10:30a PM Minor: 4:43p PM Major: 10:56p

Moon Overhead: 11:42p Moon Underfoot: 11:17a

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:08p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

28 «

Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: 3:14p Moon Set: 4:03a

Moon Overhead: 9:10p Moon Underfoot: 8:44a

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

READING THE GRAPH

26 «

Sunrise: 6:46a Sunset: 7:48p Moonrise: 2:10p Moon Set: 3:22a

Moon Overhead: 8:18p Moon Underfoot: 7:51a

12p

BEST TIME

11:00P — 2:00A 12:00 — 2:00 AM 1:30 — 3:30 AM Sunrise: 6:48a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 12:11p Moon Set: 1:49a

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

29 «

High Tide: 8:21a Low Tide: 1:51p High Tide: 3:46p

1.81 ft. 1.43 ft. 1.45 ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter   = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

Apr 30 Low Tide: 12:51a High Tide: 9:40a

SATURDAY

-0.45 ft. 1.78 ft.

May 1 Low Tide: 1:50a High Tide: 11:01a

-0.39 ft. 1.74 ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 2:57a High Tide: 12:17p

-0.27 ft. 1.68 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM 1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 7:40p Moon Set: 6:30a

AM Minor: 5:05a AM Major: 11:18a PM Minor: 5:32p PM Major: 11:45p Moon Overhead: 12:34a Moon Underfoot: 1:00p

Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 7:52p Moonrise: 8:51p Moon Set: 7:09a

AM Minor: 5:58a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:26p PM Major: 12:12p Moon Overhead: 1:28a Moon Underfoot: 1:56p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

BEST TIME

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 PM 8:00 — 10:00 PM 9:00 — 11:00 PM 10:00P — 12:00A 5:30 — 7:40 AM Sunrise: 6:39a Sunset: 7:52p Moonrise: 10:03p Moon Set: 7:54a

AM Minor: 6:58a AM Major: 12:43a PM Minor: 7:28p PM Major: 1:13p

Moon Overhead: 2:25a Moon Underfoot: 2:55p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2103-DIG.indd 65

12a

Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 7:53p Moonrise: 11:14p Moon Set: 8:43a

Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 9:39a

AM Minor: 8:03a AM Major: 1:48a PM Minor: 8:34p PM Major: 2:19p

AM Minor: 9:12a AM Major: 2:56a PM Minor: 9:43p PM Major: 3:27p

Moon Overhead: 3:25a Moon Underfoot: 3:56p

F I S H

Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: 12:20a Moon Set: 10:40a

AM Minor: 10:20a AM Major: 4:05a PM Minor: 10:51p PM Major: 4:35p

Moon Overhead: 4:28a Moon Underfoot: 4:59p

G A M E ®

Moon Overhead: 5:30a Moon Underfoot: 6:00p

M A R C H / A P R I L

Sunrise: 6:36a Sunset: 7:55p Moonrise: 1:19a Moon Set: 11:43a

AM Minor: 11:25a AM Major: 5:10a PM Minor: 11:54p PM Major: 5:39p

Moon Overhead: 6:30a Moon Underfoot: 6:58p 2 0 2 1

3/1/21 3:46 PM

Delta Waterfowl Asks, ‘Where Are the Ducks?’

WATERFOWLING CONTRAdiction has emerged in recent years: While three of the past five USFWS Waterfowl Population Status Reports have estimated record

As revealed in the Winter Issue of Delta Waterfowl magazine, The Duck Hunters Organization intends to unravel this mystery with its Lower Mississippi Dabbler Tracking project — an exciting study monitoring the movements of mallards, green-winged teal and wigeon using extremely lightweight (1/3ounce), backpack-style GPS transmitters. “Everyone in the South is asking, ‘Where are the ducks?’” said Dr. Chris Nicolai, a

story by DELTA WATERFOWL

breeding duck populations and good production, many southern hunters have reported lackluster duck seasons.

Delta Waterfowl biologist. “This research will help inform whether the ducks are truly arriving late to the southern wintering grounds or simply avoiding hunters. The impact of hunting pressure and where ducks go once the shooting starts tends to be erratic, and we don’t fully understand it. We hope to answer the question, ‘If the ducks aren’t over my decoys, then where are they?’” In partnership with Dr. Douglas Osborne of the University of Arkansas, a total of 30 ducks — an even mix of the three target species — were trapped late last winter, with another 90 dabblers scheduled for radio-tagging this fall. During this multi-year research project, the radio-tagged ducks will provide Delta Waterfowl with a mountain of data, including how frequently — or infrequently — the ducks hop between rest areas and hunting areas, and what types of habitats they prefer during the hunting season. It will also reveal if a lack of food resources on the southern landscape is resulting in fewer ducks over decoys. “These micro-movements during the hunting season are important to hunters as well as waterfowl managers,” Nicolai said. “It will help inform biologists about the best resources to put on the landscape to attract ducks and benefit ducks and duck hunters in the South.” Another intriguing aspect of the study is its ability to track southern-wintering ducks as they return to their respective breeding grounds in the prairie pothole region. In partnership with Dr. Mitch Weegman of the University of Missouri, Delta wants to add to its understanding of each species’ breeding ranges, along with the speed, stopovers and path to core nesting areas. “One of the big questions is what proportion of the birds are breeding each year and whether you can relate successes and failures to the body condition of the ducks,” Nicolai said. “And by further zeroing in on their core breeding areas, Delta can enhance the efficiency of what it does best: make ducks.” How will Delta know whether the ducks nested? The innovative backpacks enable researchers to tell whether ducks are flying, swimming, sitting on a nest, and more. “If a radio-tagged duck were to fly in your window and land on your couch, I could tell you which cushion it’s on,” said Nicolai. “The transmitters are that precise.”

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Bear Bill Would Do More Harm Than Good

ALIFORNIA STATE SENAtor Scott Weiner’s “Bear Protection Act” would have ended all hunting of black bears in Cali-

fornia.

story by CHESTER MOORE

He withdrew the bill after a vast opposition from wildlife managers, conservation organizations, and hunters. Bear Trust International’s Executive Director Logan Young said his group strongly opposed the legislation as it was based “100 percent off emotion and had zero scientific data to back it up”. “Sportsmen and conservationists rallied together to display the true biological facts and proven negative outcomes of what they were proposing. The right decision was

made,” Young said. Under a management system where hunting is one of the tools, black bear populations in California have increased from 10,000 in 1982 to 40,000 in 2021. And that’s factoring in vastly more people and development that has eaten up their habitat in the last 40 years. California officials tightly regulate bear hunting with a cap put on harvest annually based on surveys. Last year fewer than 1,000 bears were harvested. As bear populations have grown in the Golden State, so has the issuance of depredation permits where state officials deem a bear can be terminated due to livestock attacks or dangerous behavior around people. In 2018 (the last year stats were available), more than 300 depredation permits were

issued, which is a full third of the usual harvest in the state. Banning hunting would certainly increase human-bear and livestock-bear conflicts, ending in more killing of bears. Science should dictate wildlife management, and what California is doing now works so the Bear Protection Act was unnecessary.

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Jaguar Crosses North of Mexico Border

TRAIL CAMERA CAPTURED the image of a jaguar in Arizona’s Chiricahua/Dos Cabezas mountain range Jan. 6.

story by CHESTER MOORE

According to officials with the Chiricahua National Monument, it is the same male that has been photographed in the area off and on since 2016. Both Arizona and New Mexico have verified jaguar migration into their jurisdictions through a trail camera project over the last 15 years. Although chiefly associated with South America and tropical rainforests, jaguars occupy a variety of habitats that once included Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. There are even historical accounts of them in Louisiana. Jaguars face a host of problems including increased poaching. The Asian black market for tiger parts, such as claws for traditional medicines, PHOTOS: CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL MONUMENT; WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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has depleted most of Asia’s tiger populations. Due to having direct links because of thousands of workers in South and Central American countries, they are targeting jaguars-in particular for their claws and heads. According to a study published in Conservation Biology, jaguar poaching, as noted by seizures of their parts by wildlife officials and customs agents, increased 200-

Jaguar parts have increased in value on the black market.

fold in South America in five years. Jaguar parts have increased in value on the black market. Hunting of these big cats is illegal in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, the United States, and Venezuela. Ecotourism has proven a valuable asset to wildlife in areas where it is feasible but only in Brazil’s Pantanal region is the jaguar a factor. It’s the only place on Earth where ecotourists see them regularly. Otherwise, they are one of the planet’s most elusive animals.

A trail camera captured the image of a jaguar north of the Mexican border.

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Savannah Elephants Make a Comeback

OR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been undergoing an unexpectedly rapid transformation thanks to an aggregated herd of about 580 African elephants that have crossed into the park from bordering Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park— and stuck around.

when I flew over this area—just rebels,” said Anthony Caere, an anti-poaching pilot at Virunga National Park. “Now not only are we seeing the elephants, which is an unbelievable sight from above, but we’re noticing the impact of such a big herd on the park. They’re restoring everything back to what it was 50 years ago and doing so much faster than we could have imagined. If the elephants continue to stay here in these numbers, this place will look totally different in just a few years.” In recent decades, smaller numbers of elephants would move naturally back and forth between Queen Elizabeth National Park and Virunga, which was the first national park to be established in Africa and is home to more species of birds, reptiles, and mammals than any other protected area on the continent. In recent years, however, the presence of armed militia who hunt the animals and illegal agriculture in Virunga scared away most of the savanna elephants. To address these threats, Virunga rangers and staff have focused on securing the area from militia presence and working on development initiatives with the local community. “This is a really incredible example of rewilding our planet by giving nature a bit of

story by GLOBAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Together with the 120 or so elephants already in Virunga, this current group of elephants makes up at least 700 individuals. After decades of poaching across the continent, groups of this size are increasingly rare. The move to Virunga is not only the result of the park’s recent and critical conservation efforts in its central savanna, but as the elephants tear through the trees and pummel invasive bushes, they are also transforming the landscape back to a true grassland savanna, allowing the return of grazers and other wildlife species that have been absent from the park for the last two decades: buffalo, Ugandan kob, warthogs, topi, and even a pair of lions. “For years I haven’t seen any animals 68

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help and then letting the elephants, in this case, take care of the rest,” said Wes Sechrest, Global Wildlife Conservation chief scientist, and CEO. “Providing the conditions for nature to recover is critical to the future of our planet as we tackle climate change, wildlife extinction, and pandemics. Virunga is demonstrating that it is possible for us to not only protect wildlife and wildlands but to restore them in ways that will help ensure a healthier planet.” The joyous return of the elephants at these numbers comes during a particularly tough year for Virunga, which has been closed to tourism since March and, as a result, has struggled to sustain its critical functions. In addition, on April, 12 Virunga rangers, a driver, and four members of the local community lost their lives in a ferociously violent attack by a militia group, the deadliest known attack on park rangers on the African continent in recent history. All of this while rangers and staff have been managing the impacts of both Ebola and COVID-19 on the park and local communities. The park, with support from Leonardo DiCaprio, Global Wildlife Conservation, Emerson Collective, and the European Commission, launched a Virunga Fund earlier this year to provide urgent support to the park to deliver critical disease prevention efforts, law enforcement, and the protection of its wildlife, in addition to supporting the families of rangers who have fallen in the line of duty. Donations can be made at https:// www.globalwildlife.org/virunga-fund/. “The return of large elephant herds to Virunga is the outcome of decades of extraordinary efforts on the part of Congo’s park rangers,” said Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park. “Considerable work remains to ensure that the park makes a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the local community.”

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3/1/21 3:46 PM

Rhino Poaching Relief

ORLD WILDLIFE FUND (WWF) welcomes the news today of a 33 percent reduction in the number of rhinos lost to poaching in South Africa in 2020 and ongoing decline in the number of rhinos lost annually to poaching over the last six years.

story by WORLD WILDLIFE FUND

Three hundred and ninety-four rhinos were poached for their horn in South Africa during 2020, marking the sixth consecutive year showing a decline in poaching. In 2019, 594 rhinos were poached for their horn in South Africa. However, WWF is very aware that the apparent reprise provided by lockdown restrictions due to Covid-19 in 2020 was only a temporary pause and that the pressure on rhino populations, particularly in Kruger National Park, remains very high. At the same time, it is critical to note the decline of almost 70 percent in the number

criminal behavior to proliferate locally need to be addressed, including lack of local opportunities, high levels of inequality and breakdowns in social norms and values in societies around conservation areas. Dr. Jo Shaw, Senior Manager Wildlife Program, WWF South Africa, said “We welcome the news today of a 33 percent reduction in the number of rhinos lost to poaching in South Africa last year and ongoing decline in the number of rhinos lost annually to poaching over the last six years. However, we are very aware that the apparent reprise provided by lockdown restrictions in 2020 was only a temporary pause and that the pressure on our rhino populations, particularly in Kruger National Park, remains very high. “To stop rhino poaching, we need to address the factors that enable wildlife trafficking syndicates to operate. We must ensure skills, equipment, tools and resources are dedicated to fully implementing an approved National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking. We must commit to root out corruption, which continues to jeopardize efforts to break the illicit value chain for rhino horn. At the same time, we need to address the factors known to cause criminal behavior to proliferate locally, such as lack of opportunities, high levels of inequality and breakdowns in social norms and values.”

of rhinos in the Kruger National Park over the last ten years due to a combination of drought and poaching, as reflected in the recent SANParks 2019/20 annual report. The situation could be far worse, were it not for the hard work and dedication of South Africa’s rangers and other law enforcement officials in state, private and community-owned parks to prevent, detect and prosecute wildlife crimes in the field and apprehend suspected poachers. In order to amplify these efforts on the ground and fully turn the numbers around, the factors that enable transnational crime syndicates to operate need to be addressed. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy referenced the draft National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (NISCWT), which prioritizes the need for collaboration to break the illicit value chain of wildlife trafficking. WWF looks forward to the formal approval of this strategy and investment in the skills, equipment, tools and resources to fully bring it to life. Corruption goes hand in hand with organized crime networks and continues to undermine the last decade of implementation of various strategies to combat rhino poaching in South Africa. There needs to be focused attention on rooting out corrupt individuals who facilitate these crimes. In addition, the factors known to cause

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Here’s Where to See Red Wolves in Texas

HE RED WOLF, CANIS rufus, is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Declared extinct in the wild in 1980, they faced hybridization with more adaptable coyotes. Now a number of scientists believe the species is actually a fertile hybrid of gray wolf and coyote, to begin with, but the red wolf at this point is still declared a unique species. story by CHESTER MOORE

The Texas Zoo is one of the first in the nation to take part in the captive breeding program that has produced offspring that have been stocked at several locations in the Southeast including North Carolina’s PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

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Alligator National Wildlife Refuge. The wolves there are kept in a spacious, naturalistic enclosure where with a good camera with a solid telephoto lens and fast shutter speed you have a good shot at capturing images like the one above. One of the best parts of the wolf exhibit is that it is located close to a coyote exhibit. Coyotes are often mistaken to be wolves and here you can see a clear contrast and also note the similarities. The vast majority of the animals at the Texas Zoo are Texas natives but there are also tigers and other exotics now included to give some variety for visitors. If you are ever near Victoria, which is situated off of I-59 between Houston and Corpus T E X A S

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A red wolf recently photograped by the author at Texas Zoo in Victoria.

Christi, stop by and see the red wolves and the other wild creatures that call it home. It’s got a nice collection of animals and charm the size of the Lone Star State. For more information to go Texaszoo.org.

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

Sweet & Sour Flounder Sandwich; Plus Drum Stix ONE OF THE REASONS FLOUNDER is so popular is its clean, fresh taste. There’s little of the fishiness that permeates the meat of some other species, and flounder readily adapts to whatever spice or flavor is applied to it. As such, it works well with combinations of flavors that might otherwise be drowned out by stronger, meatier fish. Cook up a batch of Sweet and Sour Flounder Sandwiches, and you’ll notice that the meat seems to soak up[ the flavors without losing its own input.

of meat you’ll get off this fish’s flanks is amazing. Either way, when a redfish comes over the gunwales the evening’s meal is

Fry the bacon in a pan. When it’s done remove the bacon strips but leave the grease in the pan. In a bowl, mix the flour, pepper, and salt. Dredge the fish through the milk, and then through the flour and spices. Prepare all the strips for frying before you begin cooking them, so they all get equal cooking time. When the fish is prepped, place the drum stix in the hot bacon grease and fry them

established. And if you’ll be cooking in the usual camping fashion (with limited supplies) Drum Stix is the way to go.

for about two minutes per side. Slice into a test strip to ensure it’s cooked all the way through, drain, and serve.

2 tablespoons lime juice ½ pound flounder fillet 1 egg ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup baking mix (such as Bisquick) Vegetable oil 1 tablespoon orange marmalade Pour the lime juice over the fish and allow it to marinate in the refrigerator for half an hour. Beat the egg in a small bowl, and dredge the fish in it. Mix the salt into the baking mix, then dredge the fish through it. Heat the oil in a saucepan on mediumhigh heat. Fry the flounder until it’s crispy brown. Remove and drain the fish, and top it with the orange marmalade before placing on a bun and serving. Note: this recipe also works well if you substitute a mint sauce for the marmalade.

4 strips bacon 1 cup flour 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 to 2 pounds redfish fillets, cut into finger-sized strips 1 cup whole milk

• • • CATCH SOME NICE REDFISH WHEN you’re on an extended fishing trip and you’d better have plenty of ice on hand. That or a lot of hungry mouths, because the amount 70

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« From Lenny’s book, OFF THE HOOK: Rudow’s Recipes for Cooking Your Catch, published by Schiffer Publishing and available at schillerbooks.com PHOTO: LENNY RUDOW

2/11/21 1:04 PM

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

Acid Indigestion

Axelrod came through the door with a half-grown lab puppy on a long leash. Smiles bloomed around our table, and a few female customers squealed with delight at his big floppy feet, long wet tongue, and adorable antics. I’m talking about the puppy, not Delbert. Doreen wheeled around. “Get that dog outta here.” “Aw, he’s just a puppy. He’ll behave himself.” Delbert gave the dog some line when the pup saw 90-year-old Miss Pennington and her daughter having lunch at a nearby table. Miss P’s reactions are a bit slow, and she’s hard of hearing, but her mind is still as sharp as it ever was. She paused in her dissection of a chicken fried steak and pushed back from the table. She extended her long, bony hand to the puppy, who ran over on his clown feet to get some attention. She rubbed on him for a few seconds, then scratched his ears, murmuring baby talk. He settled down in a half-sit, half-flop position on one hip and closed his eyes. The second she quit scratching his ear, with his eyes still closed, the pup’s nose flexed, and he scented Miss P’s gravy-covered steak only a foot away. His eyes snapped open. We could see it coming from our booth. On the opposite side of the table, Miss P’s daughter recognized the danger as well. “Mama, you better scoot up closer.” “What hon?” “Howdy boys,” Delbert said with his back to Miss P’s table. The air turned thick as molasses. In slow motion, Doc extended one hand, “Noooo…” Miss P’s daughter’s eyes widened, and she also held out a hand. “Mom…” Wrong Willie hid his eyes. Woodrow hollered, and it came out slow and distorted…“Stoooooppp!!!” Mouth in a silent O, Miss P pulled back her head. At the same time, the 20-pound lab pup launched himself with the dexterity of a scud missile, all out of control and flailing around. He bounced from her lap to the tabletop, his rear in her face, and Miss P’s nose right in his. . . Anyway, like a blow from a baseball bat, the dog’s tail slapped Miss P’s glasses completely off her head. They flew away in slow motion. That’s when the pup became as perfectly coor-

HE HUNTING CLUB MEMBERship seated in the round corner table of Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café was unusually quiet. For once no one was complaining about the wind, the humidity, or Doreen’s coffee. My stomach rumbled, and I dug out a bottle of antacid. Doc watched me shake one into my hand. “I didn’t think you took medicine like the rest of us.” “I have to take a blood pressure pill every day, but lately I’ve had to pop these to keep my stomach acid down.” Doreen hollered from behind the counter. “Your blood pressure’s high from hanging around with those guys all the time.” Wrong Willie sipped at his coffee. “I have stomach acid, too. I think it’s from drinking too much coffee.” “Probably the coffee in here,” Woodrow mumbled. “What was that!!!???” came from Doreen’s direction. He recovered quickly. “Uh, I said we probably need more coffee over here.” She came around with the pot in one hand and an aggravated look in her eye. “That’s not what I heard.” Doc burped, “Well, too much fried food gives me acid.” I looked at his greasy plate. Twenty minutes earlier, it was stacked with fried catfish, French fries, and fried okra. “You should have ordered something else.” He held out a hand, “Too late now. The good thing is these days you can enjoy what you want, and then pop a little modern chemistry and you’re good to go.” I shared a pill as Doreen glared across the round table at Jerry Wayne. “What gives you stomach acid?” “You, being mad at me.” I was about to comment, when Delbert P. 72

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dinated as a rattlesnake strike, and time resumed normal speed. He snatched the steak off the plate and bolted for the nearest safe location to consume his manna from heaven. It was right under our feet. Gasps. Screams. Curses. Struggles in our booth to evacuate lest the guys incur Doreen’s wrath. Trapped in the center, I froze in place and pretended to be part of the red vinyl booth. Feet slapped on tile as the Hunting Club membership launched themselves out the front door. Doreen lunged for the dog as Delbert crawled under the table on his hands and knees, whether to grab the dog or hide from Doreen, no one knew. I raised my feet out of the way. Doreen kicked him in the rear and Delbert flattened on the floor. The dog evacuated from his safe haven, slinging gravy across the tile and walls, then charged around behind the counter to finish his chicken fried. Delbert finally gathered himself and grabbed the long leash, reeling the pup in like a struggling bass. Eyes bugging from the strain, the pup appeared around the corner. Delbert stood. “Sorry Doreen. We’re leaving.” “You bet you are.” The dog swallowed the last bite of steak and looked around. Then nature took its course. Obviously, some training was in place, because as soon as the pup licked his lips one last time, he had to do what comes naturally “Uh oh,” I said. “What?” Doreen spun to see the dog hunker beside Miss P’s table and leave a warm deposit. Doreen’s legs gave out and she dropped into the booth beside me. She stuck out her hand. “I tell you what gives me acid. You guys.” Standing outside and looking in, the boys pointed at their stomachs, then at the pill bottle in my hand. Instead of defending myself, I dropped an antacid into her palm and slid my water glass over. “I completely understand, and that’s why I take ‘em, too.”

Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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GAFFTOPSAIL CATFISH

BASS

Galveston

East Texas

Darren Pyfer of North Richland Hills shows off the Gafftop Sail catﬁsh that he caught while ﬁshing with his family near the Pelican Island Bridge in Galveston.

Paxton Jarvis of Greenville caught this East Texas “heartbreaker” on a spinnerbait while ﬁshing with his Popa.

CATFISH Dripping Springs

WHITETAIL San Augustine County Eleven-year-old Christian Mathews took down this eight-point buck on the Mathews Ranch in San Augustine County. His dad, Bryan, was his guide.

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Twelve-year-old Grant Reagan caught this 24.26 pound catﬁsh at a friend’s private pond near Dripping Springs. It continues to hold the pond catﬁsh record.

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

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

BLACK DRUM High Island FERAL HOG

Jay Gonzales caught this black drum while ﬁshing at High Island. He was excited because it was the biggest ﬁsh he has caught thus far on the Gulf Coast.

Robertson County Eleven-year-old Kohen Christopher of Montgomery shot his ﬁrst hog while hunting with his Pops, Charlie Swan of Hemphill, in Robertson County. He shot the near-200-pound hog at 159 yards.

RACOON Rusk County Eight-year-old Grayson Holland killed this boar coon while hunting with his mom in Rusk County.

BLACK DRUM West Galveston Bay Bobby Polk of Argyle shows off one of the several baby black drum caught while ﬁshing the West Galveston Bay with his two sons.

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Texas Fish & Game March/April 2021

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