Texas Fish & Game March April 2022 by Texas Fish & Game

March/April 2022 | $4.99

Story of a Real Outdoors Woman Conroe: Unlikely Big Bass Machine Secrets of the Sabine Calendar 2203-MarApr-Cover-DIG.indd 1

Gear: Salt Proven, Fresh Ready Bass: Match the Rod to Match the Hatch

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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

Just Kidding. Seriously.

PUBLISHERS

CHESTER MOORE

EDITOR IN CHIEF

IDS ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS. THE BULL YOUTH MARKET HAS BEEN AN unstoppable force since the Baby Boom—the offspring of which now have grand kids and even great-grand kids of their own to lavish attention, and dollars, upon. Once the Boom unleashed its tidal wave of toddlers, preschoolers, tweeners, and... cha-ching ...teenagers, American culture and its economy changed forever. Before Boomers, spoiled kids were so rare they served as comic relief in classic novels and early movies. Now, any kid living above the poverty line lives with everyday expectations that would have turned any of those classic Little Fontleroys green with envy. Doting parents, grandparents, and—thanks to modern medicine—great-grandparents have been the engine driving this dynamo of cultural and economic power. Whole industries formed in the expanding universe of youthful indulgence. Toys, clothing, electronics, media and entertainment, amusement parks, and even cruise lines crowded into this evergreen market with gusto. Because of the physiology of human growth, the pace of consumer renewal in the market is breathtaking. No wonder the Child’s Play Industrial Complex is so bullish. Beyond industry, youth culture has also flourished. The parental drive to indulge kids, to keep them occupied and entertained, spawned a giant web of extracurricular activity networks. Little leagues for every sport and schools for dance, art, acting and other expressive aptitudes filled the after-school hours of generations of kids. Aftershocks of this cultural shift include that advance in automotive design known as the Mini Van and the rebranding of beleaguered housewives as Soccer Moms. Over here in the outdoors industry and culture, youth has always played a major role. For eons, elders mentored the young in the skills and traditions of outdoors pursuits. As fishing and hunting evolved from necessary pursuits into recreational sports, mentoring newer generations lost its urgency. Here again, it fell to the parents and grandparents, in families where passions for the sports remained high, to do the passing on of traditions and skills. In an ever-expanding galaxy of economic and cultural options filling the ever-constant limit of available time, it’s a wonder ANY kids have time to fish or hunt, let alone have the attention spans to develop any interest in the sports. But it is happening, on a scale that is both impressive and inspiring. In our We’ve covered high last issue, Jan/Feb 2022, we had a story about our High School Conservation school and college Challenge, in conjunction with St. Croix Rod and various high school bass bass since 2007. associations across the state. School bass clubs are a phenomenon that we have been covering for a decade and a half. College and high school bass teams have grown at an exponential rate since we ran our first cover story on the then-new concept in 2007. Texas is a hotbed of this action, with four hundred schools and thousands of kids competing in tournaments. It’s not Interscholastic League level... yet. But, maybe soon, those who oversee Texas High School Sports, a massive domain that encompasses everything from football to pole vaulting, will take note of the growing interest and passion for this sport and begin to recognize bass fishing competitions as interscholastic sports. Hopefully, bass fishing will make it before Pickleball. We expect more great things from high school bass, and have high hopes for what it means to the future of outdoors sports in general. And, we will continue to cover it and promote it.

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C O N T R I B U T O R S JOE DOGGETT DOUG PIKE LENNY RUDOW MATT WILLIAMS PETE ROBBINS KELLY GROCE LOU MARULLO LARRY WEISHUHN DUSTIN ELLERMANN REAVIS WORTHAM GRANT GISEL STAN SKINNER LISA MOORE

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SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR BASS FISHING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR HUNTING EDITOR WHITETAIL EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR DIGITAL CONTRIBUTOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published bi-monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 3431 Rayford Road, Suite 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, Suite 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, Suite 200-408, Spring, TX 77386. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 3431 Rayford Road, Suite 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 772679946 and at additional mailing offices.

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March/April 2022 | Vol. 38 • No. 6

FEATURE ARTICLES

UNLIKELY BASS MACHINE By normal standards, Lake Conroe should not be much of a bass producer. Yet, it cranks out monster bass on par with the most elite lakes in the country.

by TF&G Staff

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COVER STORY TURKEY TRACKERS Tracking the mysteries of the Piney Woods’ thriving Eastern turkeys.

Story and cover photo by Chester Moore

ALSO... STORY OF AN OUTDOORS WOMAN Our Women in the Outdoors series continues with Brooklee Grant’s story of her own life in the outdoors.

by Brooklee Grant

COLUMNS

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Pike on the Edge by DOUG PIKE

Texas Boating by LENNY RUDOW

The TF&G Report and Texas HotShots Fish & Game Forecast Center: Saltwater

Bare Bones Hunting

MATCH THE ROD “Matching the Hatch” means anticipating what bait bass want at any given moment. To help deliver the goods, it’s wise to also pick the right rod.

by TF&G Staff

SALT PROVEN, FRESH READY Fishing gear that holds up in salt will also do well in freshwater. This is especially important to Texas anglers.

by TF&G Staff

GUADALUPES ON THE NUECES Fishing for Guadalupe bass on the Nueces River can be compared to chasing rainbow trout in Colorado.

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Fish & Game Forecast Center: Freshwater Sportsman’s Daybook

DEPARTMENTS

by LOU MARULLO

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Texas Tactical

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Open Season

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM

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by TF&G Staff

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

by CHESTER MOORE

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Sabine Lake is one of the most unique bodies of all of Texas’s major bay systems. Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of some of its secrets.

by Steve LaMascus

Editor’s Notes

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SECRETS OF THE SABINE

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Letters

from TF&G Readers

Outdoor Directory

Fish & Game Photos by TF&G Readers

Guides, Outfitters & More

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LETTERS to the Editor Second Big Freeze? I REMEMBER IN 2020, READING your story about the big freezes of the past on the Texas Coast and saying that we were due another. Well, as we all know in February 2021 we got it, and it caused much damage to fisheries, especially trout, on the Middle and Lower Coasts. My question is what if we get another one this year, or maybe next year? What type of impact will that have in terms of recovery and regulations?

little pricey, but maybe something for the future. Anything we can have to boost conservation, while at the same time getting young people involved in the sport, is a plus.

Lana Schmidt

E-Newsletter Elk I READ A STORY IN YOUR E-NEWSletter (which I love) about elk in Texas and found it fascinating. I had no idea they once ranged into the eastern part of the state. My question is, do you ever think the state will restock elk in East Texas?

Evan Wolf Editor: This is a great question and one I have pondered quite a bit. Our weather patterns are just completely out of whack in America right now. Honestly, it would not surprise me if we do get hit with something comparable in the next few years. It generally takes about three years for a fishery to recover without more stresses such as a giant freeze or red tide event, so it would set things back. Of course, it depends on the scale of kill. If it were something like we experience in 2021, it would be bad. On the regulation front, I have no inside information, but it is my opinion if we had another mega freeze with as many or more trout killed as last year, we would see some sort of permanent regulation change at least in the areas that had the most devastation.

J. Brockman Editor: That was a fun story to research. I do not believe state officials will ever restock elk in the Piney Woods. Elk are not considered a game animal in Texas, so our state has no real

authority over them. Interestingly, elk populations out in West Texas seem to be on the rise according to multiple sources, and there are elk in fair numbers in parts of Southwest Texas. The ones in West Texas seem to trade between there and New Mexico. The ones in Southwest Texas are likely a result from high fenced ranch escapes. Either way it would be great to see free-ranging elk in Texas. I do know of an area in the southern part of the Piney Woods that has a small population of elk from a high fence escape scenario. I have seen multiple game camera photos from the area. These elk will likely be killed, but if they were left alone, it’s possible a small population could be established well enough to thrive.

 Email your comments to: editor@ﬁshgame.com

Green Hunts I ENJOYED YOUR STORY ON GREEN hunts and found it very interesting. I can definitely see the opportunity to get young people involved in those kinds of things. I appreciated the way you honored your late mentor in that story. That was a nice touch.

Freddy Gibson THE GREEN HUNTS STORY WAS A lot of fun! It made me want to go out and help ranchers do that kind of work. It also made me look into the green hunts in Africa for rhinos, which is pretty amazing. It’s a 6

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PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

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

Beards, Bighorns and a Big Change of Perspective

N OUR FAMILY, THE PURSUIT OF wildlife was as natural as breathing. Whether dragging mud minnows for flounders or hunting whitetails in the wilderness growing up, we always focused our energies on wild things. As I stood at 10,000 feet glassing a ridge for bighorns, both breath and energy were in short supply. Days of hiking and glassing in the high country left this coastal Texan exhausted. Then, out of the corner of my eye, he appeared. A beautiful bighorn ram emerged from a steep slope and made its way toward me. Frustration turned to excitement, and suddenly, the air didn’t feel quite so thin. I raised my camera, focused on the full-curled ram, and pushed the shutter button in this serene setting among snow-covered peaks where I and my wife Lisa celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2019. A few months later, I had dinner with my friend Thompson Temple and slid him one of the photos . “I might never get drawn for a bighorn tag, but I sure had fun shooting this big ram with my camera,” I said. “Chester, you know in the Bible, we learned that David snuck into King Saul’s tent and cut a piece of his robe off while he slept. He could’ve killed Saul, but he still got a victory,” Temple said. “When you do all of that work, and you get within photo range, pushing the shutter on your camera is just like squeezing the trigger of your rifle. You made your shot.” At that moment, something clicked. I had always dreamed of pursuing sheep, involving drawing a tag and going on an epic hunt. However, going full bore after sheep with my camera would have another powerful benefit—conservation. My career as a wildlife journalist affords me a voice here in Texas Fish & Game and on many media platforms. That could be beneficial for sheep and other wildlife. The final puzzle piece fell into place after I found a box of old scrapbooks at my mother’s house.

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When I was a kid, used copies of Sports Afield, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and other outdoor publications were a nickel apiece at the local thrift store. I would go in and buy them out. Then Dad and I would sit together and make scrapbooks of our favorite pictures and dream grand hunts together. My Dad passed away from natural causes while deer hunting with me in South Texas in 2014, so this was like getting back part of my favorite hunting partner. After flipping through the first book, I was blown away by the presence of sheep. There were desert bighorns, Stone sheep, Dall sheep, Rocky Mountain bighorns, and even urials There were more sheep than any other animal. Then, there were turkeys. Lots of them. There were shots of hunters with big-bearded gobblers, strutting gobblers, flying turkeys and even a shot of a hen with poults. I have always used photo-journalism as an awareness-raising mechanism, but this revelation gave me new purpose and created two projects. The first is “Turkey Revolution,” which seeks to raise awareness about wild turkeys, their conservation challenges and their habitat. In year one, my goal was to photograph the Grand Slam, which I did and reported on here in these pages. Year two was about photographing an Eastern turkey in East Texas, which was super challenging and happened in May 2020 in Newton County near the Sabine River. Year three was a quest to find Gould’s turkeys in Arizona, and I had the incredible privilege of photographing two massive gobblers in the Sky Islands area in March 2021. For 2022, the goal is to involve you. The more people who realize we have Eastern turkeys in Texas, the more light we can shine on the great work done by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and National Wild Turkey FederationTexas to restore them. Also, the more we discuss |

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the need for quality habitat for turkeys, benefits everything from whitetails to woodpeckers. So, I have created a new “Eastern Turkey Aware” challenge token. If you have photographed Eastern turkeys in East Texas or Louisiana on a game camera or by traditional photography, email the photos with the county or parish the photo was taken to chester@chestermoore.com. We will share these photos in posts in our e-newsletter, post them at fishgame.com, and they will go in the Turkey Revolution photo gallery at highercalling.net. In addition, my Sheep Scrapbook project is ongoing. If you have photographed wild sheep (native American wild sheep—not exotics such as mouflon or aoudad) email them to chester@ chestermoore.com. Include the state where you photographed them with as much information as you would like to share. These photos will also be shared through our e-newsletter and in a special gallery at highercalling.net. Everyone who contributes a photo gets a special challenge token. The goal is to raise the profile of wild sheep and tell the story about the literal pandemic they have faced for the last 150 years through encountering pneumonia-infected domestic sheep. I still love to hunt turkeys, and I would probably faint if I drew one of the desert bighorn tags I apply for every year. However, I get as much thrill by capturing photos of these and other animals. I have little room for taxidermy where I live now, so my walls have but a few animals on them. Instead, they are mainly covered with photos of turkeys, sheep, elk, moose, bears and other animals I “shot” with my Canon camera. Many things in life are about the perspective we choose in pursuing them. In this case it has increased my love of encountering wildlife. It’s a blessing to be a part of Texas Fish & Game where conservation-centric ideas like this are embraced by the publisher and engaged by the readers. I look forward to seeing your Eastern turkey and sheep photos.

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Email Chester Moore at cmoore@ﬁshgame.com

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

The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Last Year’s Troubles

ET’S TAKE A LOOK, SHALL we, at the short- and long-term impacts of COVID 19 and the 2021 February freeze on Texas’s fisheries and fishermen. When the world shut down because of COVID, local, state and national lawmakers felt rightfully obliged to keep us all safe—from each other, of course. However, in many cases also from ourselves. It was as if we weren’t able to protect ourselves without supervision. I’m entirely convinced that most Texans, given the choice, would have made good personal-health decisions as they watched a dreadful disease kill tens of thousands of people around the country. The obvious good that came from those early, oddball and hard-to-understand restrictions was the undeniable avoidance of some unknown number of infections and deaths. The bad was that more than a few local jurisdictions felt compelled to join the shutdown parade. They exercised kneejerk options to deny access to such relatively safe places as boat ramps, beaches and parks. All three rank among the safest places we could have gone during that time. When we desperately needed fresh air and sunshine, we were told to stay home. That was not good for our emotional health. The ugly started when outdoors-loving Texans who are accustomed to moving freely around their beloved state were told “No!” to enjoying its natural resources. But for the occasional trip to the grocery store in search of toilet paper, we were under house arrest. We needed access to the outdoors. As always, it offers families and their close, trusted friends opportunities to stretch their bodies and minds beyond the suddenly depressing confines of home. Closed beaches? That was somewhat ridic-

ulous. I’ve fished the beachfront hundreds of times and not once, ever, stood for 15 minutes or more within six feet of anyone. Nor can I recollect any time when I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with someone at a boat ramp for a quarter-hour. I’d guess that even at coastal bait camps, in a summertime line for live croakers, fishermen wouldn’t have minded putting two yards between themselves as they waited to fill their buckets. Fast forward to February of 2021 and the horrific failure of this state’s power suppliers to supply power during one of the worst freezes in recorded history. It was, for hours or days—or even weeks in some areas, not unlike living in the Stone Age. Except that people who lived then didn’t know what was missing as the temperature dropped and the sun set. They just dealt with it or died. However, we made it, relatively unscathed in most households. Also, we learned a lot about how tough we could get when the chips are frozen. Inland fisheries survived the deep freeze with relatively minor loss. Not so, our coastal fisheries, however.They hadn’t dealt with such temperature extremes since the 1980s. We held our breath as temperatures rose and dead fish floated. Not long afterward, speculation began on every coastal corner about how many fish we’d lost—especially speckled trout, the perennial favorite of coastal fishermen whatever the weather. We’ll never know precisely how many Texas trout succumbed to the cold, but it’s fair to say there was notable loss from the Sabine River mouth to the Rio Grande. The good that came from this was a lasting revival and onset of interest in conservation. This happened even among people who might not have leaned that way prior to the freeze. They saw the dead fish, whether in person or T E X A S

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in pictures. They heard about dead trout from friends and neighbors and guides and podcasts and radio shows. The ugliest aspect of that event showed up in photographs of people continuing to string full limits of trout almost immediately after weather abated. There was no shortage of photos of dead fish on decks or conversation among fishermen deluding themselves that they did no harm by continuing to fish as if nothing had changed. Despite being told how important it was to wait before killing more fish until we learned what the freeze had claimed, some people just kept on grinding. They took what they considered to be their fair share on a regular basis. The freeze revealed who actually cared about the resource—and who cared more about personal bragging rights. It was also interesting to see how many people’s stringer shots and boastful posts were NOT met with the level of constructive criticism I expected. Conservationists on social media applauded each other for not keeping trout while the others continued to make themselves look more selfish—but were not called to task for doing so. Now, we’re a year past the freeze and two years into what history books likely will recall as another major pandemic. Now, we’re better at dealing with cold, and we’re better at continuing to function during a global pandemic. That is good. We’re also talking more about conserving and rebuilding our natural resources. As a lifelong Texan, I think that’s great.

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Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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AKE CONROE IS AN anomaly. Covering approximately 20,000 acres and 21 miles from the dam to the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, it is indeed a large lake. But it’s nowhere the size of mammoth Texas reservoirs such as Sam Rayburn and Texoma. It is also a reservoir with sparse natural vegetation and has more shoreline development than any other major Texas water body. Yet, it continues to produce monstersized fish on a regular basis. From Scott Stephen’s 14.25 pounder ShareLunker largemouth caught in 2021 to regular 8 to 10 pounders caught in local and national tournaments, it is a phenomenal bass fishery. Ditto for catfish, crappie and bream, both in abundance and size. We have investigated Lake Conroe and have found some fascinating factors regarding why it continues to give up

world-class bass and will likely continue to do so in the coming years. NUMBERS AND COVER Conroe’s early struggles with grass carp introduction are well-documented. However, the historical outflow of that with the response of anglers and fisheries managers is part of the lake’s success. During a fishing trip and photo shoot with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Keith Combs, we were able to get some great insight on the lake. Combs, who won two Toyota Texas Bass Classics (world championships) on the lake, has a truly unique perspective on its trophy bass fishery. “Conroe has lots of bass, but compared to some of the grass-heavy lakes, I don’t think the population is as big,” he said. And I think that’s what helps it produce so many big bass. There are lots of prey fish and not quite as many competitors for them.” The current lake record largemouth bass, caught in January 2009, weighed 15.93 pounds and measured 27 inches in length. That was one of four fish entered into the Toyota ShareLunker Program (for bass 13 pounds or larger) in the 2008/2009 season. Overall, at the time of this writing, Conroe has produced 19 fish for that program.

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The aforementioned grass carp issue inspired anglers early on to put out manmade reefs and structure. This has helped the bass as many amateur anglers are not as familiar with catching largemouths in deeper manmade structure as they are around docks and grasslands. That gives big bass, which spend much of their time in deep water, an edge. In our investigation, we came across an old study on Lake Conroe’s bass that spanned seven years. The study related to preying on fish specifically during the juvenile phase. The study found that when the lake had more natural cover, little bass consumed few fish. In fact, few bass measuring four inches or smaller ate fish and did not start doing so frequently until reaching five inches. “Following the elimination of all submerged vegetation by grass carp, fish were consumed by most largemouth bass 2.5 inches or longer. The initiation of piscivorous (preying specifically on fish) behavior at smaller sizes resulted in significantly faster first-year growth for all largemouth bass year-classes produced after vegetation removal. Although shifts in the structure of the forage fish community occurred, ample fish prey existed for largemouth bass before and after vegetation removal.”

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PHOTO: ADOBE

Lake Conroe Has Giant Catfish, Too! IT’S NOT JUST BIG BASS THAT DRAWS ANGLERS TO CONROE. Catfish are the most abundant sportfish on the lake. The lake record channel catfish weighed a whopping 18.50 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. Flatheads roam the lake as well and way back in 1990, Jimmie Lee Johnson bagged an absolutely monstrous 86 pounder.

Tinkering with nature can have many results. It is entirely possible that all of the factors that have fallen into place on Lake Conroe have helped it become a premier big bass destination.

Speaking of enhancing what nature has to offer, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

THE PANFISH CONNECTION Conroe is a top-tier panfish lake. The lake has some of the biggest bream to be found anywhere in Texas with one-pound fish not uncommon. The crappie fishery is also phenomenal in fish size and abundance, both. Big perch are a great prey species for big bass. Studies show that large bass often change their dietary preferences to larger fish. Calorically, It makes more sense to eat a one-pound bream instead of chasing a hundred shad. With bass, bream and crappie often inhabiting the same manmade cover on the lake, Conroe’s giant bass don’t have to go

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Keith Combs lands a nice bass near a dock on Conroe.

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(TPWD) officials have actively stocked Conroe with Florida bass for decades. TPWD has stocked more than two million Florida bass fingerlings into the lake since 2010, boosting not only its population, but genetic potential for monster fish. Strategically releasing them into areas with the best cover has provided strong survival opportunities and yielded big bass on the lake. On top of that according to (TPWD) officials over the last 15 years have worked diligently on habitat management actions. This includes maintenance of the native aquatic vegetation nursery below Lake Conroe and the deployment of large fish attractor structures at 14 sites. In addition, they have planted a five-mile stretch of shoreline in the Caney Creek arm with native vegetation. This has helped mitigate some of the negative impacts of shoreline development.

STOCKING

When it comes to catfish, Conroe has an incredible amount to offer and is one of the closest things to a guarantee that anglers can find in Texas. For more information on connecting with fishing opportunities on Lake Conroe, go to www.visitconroe.com.

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far to grab a giant protein-rich meal that sustains them and helps them grow to epic proportions. Additionally, this panfish fishery offers excellent opportunities for families and serious perch aficionados to catch a mess of fish for the frying pan. But beware, if you tie on a shiner to catch a slab crappie, a lunker largemouth might just take it from you. HOT STREAK Lake Conroe is coming off a hot streak in 2021 with more than 20 fish entered in the ShareLunker’s Elite, Lunker and Legacy categories. The smallest fish recognized here is eight pounds. However, many anglers are not aware the program has expanded beyond its 13-pound-plus origins. Looking at local tournament weigh-ins, it’s easy to see Lake Conroe is cranking out quality fish on a frequent basis. There’s plenty of evidence to suggest more true monstersized fish are hiding around the deep docks, reefs and riprap on the lake. The lake has often been referred to as “Houston’s Playground” for its popularity among all levels of water recreation, but it’s definitely a legitimate home for some of the biggest bass found in Texas. On the surface, perhaps it should not be, but after examining the mysteries of Lake Conroe’s continual big bass production, it comes as no surprise to us. For more information on connecting with fishing opportunities on Lake Conroe, go to www.visitconroe.com.

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BOTTOM PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

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ABINE LAKE, LOCATED OUT OF PORT Arthur on the Texas/Louisiana border, is a unique ecosystem with incredible fishing opportunities for redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and other species. Add Keith Lake, the Bessie Heights Marsh complex, and Sabine Pass, and this region offers hundreds of square miles of top-level saltwater action. However, in many ways, the area remains a mystery to most anglers other than locals who understand the intricacies of Texas’s smallest major bay. Fed by two major rivers and surrounded by a massive complex of marsh estuary, Sabine Lake is the epicenter of a diverse regional fishery. Let’s take a month-by-month look at fishing highlights and strategies for the Sabine Lake region. JANUARY: Cold weather doesn’t stop the bite on Sabine. In fact, at the Sabine Jetties, the sheepshead action is on fire this month. Anglers vertical jigging dead shrimp on a ¼-ounce jig head can score on limits of big sheepshead. Fish tight to the rocks anywhere from the Texas boat cut to the southern tip of the

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Get a Free Sabine Area Fishing Guide WANT TO STUDY UP ON THE SABINE AREA BEFORE YOUR FISHing trip? Go online to VisitPortArthurTx.com and click on the “ﬁshing” link to download a digital copy of the Sabine Lake Area Waterways Guide. You can also order a physical version via a form on the site.

If you’re interested in staying up to date on all things ﬁshing-related in Port Arthur, don’t forget to sign up for the Visit Port Arthur newsletter, also available at VisitPortArthurTx.com.com.

 are highly effective, especially lighter patterns such as bone. Keep an eye on tidal movements; it’s easy to get stuck in the farther reaches of this area.

rocks. The action tends to be better on the Gulf side, but when waters run clear the channel produces as well. On warm afternoons anglers begin to catch big trout on the wading flats south of Stewts Island as big fish move from the warmer depths of the Intracoastal Canal onto the flats to feed. Slow-sinking soft plastics are the most effective, but topwaters will produce, especially on unseasonably warm days when there’s just a slight ripple on the water. FEBRUARY: Giant black drum are present here year-round, but more of them show up this month from the jetties into both the intake and outfall side of the Entergy Canal on the Neches River. Dead shrimp and crab fished around deep holes on the bottom are best. Trout action continues on the wading flats and improves going into marsh. However, trout are also to be found in the deep bayous on the southern half of the Louisiana shoreline. Anglers should look for deeper parts of the canals and fish soft plastics imitating mullet crawled slowly across the bottom.

end of Sabine at Mesquite Point heats up in years with much freshwater inflow. Anglers fishing eel-imitating soft plastics in colors such as burnt orange, firetiger, and other obtrusive patterns on ¼- to ⅜-ounce jig heads to drag the bottom will entice big trout bites. The reef is the deepest spot on the lake. Because saltwater is heavier than fresh, this area is a sanctuary during spring floods. APRIL: The Keith Lake system located just across the Sabine-Neches Waterway from Sabine Lake is great for redfish this month. Anglers in shallow-water accessible bay boats, skiffs, and kayaks can find good tailing action in the interior of this estuary. Topwaters

MARCH: One of the keys to Sabine is understanding water flow. The big reef on the south

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JUNE: The red snapper fishery in federal waters is scheduled to kick off June 1. Anglers venturing to the rigs can score on big ones beginning at about 25 miles offshore. Ling (cobia), king mackerel, and tripletails are also abundant. Many anglers on their way back to shore stop at buoys and weed lines that might hold these cover-loving predators. JULY: Sharks are on the scene in a big way this month. The jetties and nearshore oil platforms are loaded with blacktips, spinners, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks. Anglers fishing the Sea Rim surf also do good on sharks this month and those who fish overnight have over the last few years caught fair numbers of large bull sharks and a few lemon sharks as well. We’re talking big ones.

Sabine Lake has held the state record for ﬂounder since 1976. The 13-pound ﬁsh caught by Herbert Endicott is on display at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur.

MAY: Sabine jetty action gets really good this month. On the Texas and Louisiana side for trout. Early-rising anglers would do well to get to the jetties pre-dawn and fish topwaters along the rocks, especially toward the southern tip and around washouts. Don’t be surprised if you get cut off. Spanish mackerel are also present. If you’re so inclined, they make a welcome addition to the morning’s catch. If you want to seek them specifically, use a wire leader and tie on a silver spoon. You’ll have all the action you can handle.

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AUGUST: The peak of summer offers great Sabine Lake redfish action. On super-hot days when the lake slicks off in the early afternoon is a great time to find schooling reds. Anglers fishing the mid-lake area and anywhere from a quarter to one mile from the Louisiana shoreline can find big schools of

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reds that will hit virtually anything you throw at them. There are two things to remember here. The first is to not run right up to the school. Try to drift in if you can. If not, use your trolling motor. Big motors spook them. Secondly, the best time to seek these schools is when everyone else is coming in for the day. Peak heat is peak redfish time. SEPTEMBER: The surf at Sea Rim State Park is one of the best places in the state to land the bull redfish of a lifetime in September. As the big bulls start gathering to spawn, thousands swim along this stretch of Upper Coast shoreline. Look for high tides with a falling barometer for the best action. Dead mullet is the standard-issue bait, but anglers that can get (or catch for themselves) live croakers up to 10 inches long have a big chance of hanging into the biggest redfish of their lives. OCTOBER: Things start to get serious for flounders this month. The mouth of the bayous along the Louisiana shoreline starts to load up with fish. Although most anglers fish the

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A strong catch-and-release ethic has grown among big trout specialists at Sabine Lake and has helped the region continually produce solid fish.

outgoing tide, incoming flows often outproduce up until the first big cold fronts. Live mud minnows and Gulp! Swimming mullets are popular local flounder baits here. NOVEMBER: November is the peak time to catch trout and redfish under the birds. Anglers watching for diving gulls on the north and south end of the lake can get serious rodbending action all month. The biggest trout are typically caught on the outer edges of schools as are redfish. Sand trout often mix in with the specks, and some of them are big enough for the frying pan.

If you catch one sandie after another, move on. They often beat specks to your bait. DECEMBER: Redfish action is good in the Bessie Heights Marsh area as well as in the northern tier of the Louisiana marsh in areas like Blacks Bayou. Dead mullet fished on the bottom around the shell is the best offering. Big, freshwater blue cats are abundant as well and inhabit some of the same areas as the reds. They make a nice addition to a bag limit of reds.

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EVER BRING A KNIFE TO A GUNFIGHT.” “Never shoot a gnat with an elephant gun.” “Don’t get caught with your pants down.” Those cliches describe being ill-equipped and unprepared, which translates to frustration in the world of fishing. Bass fishing in particular, is super challenging, especially in pursuing big fish because of the largemouth’s finicky nature. Florida bass introductions have created larger fish across Texas and much of the United States. However, Florida bass are even more temperamental than native strains, which made bass fishing more challenging. That means anglers who consistently catch big bass need to be able to “match the hatch” or figure out exactly what the fish want in a specific time window. Although cueing on the size and color of lures involves virtually endless options, anglers have only a few styles of rods to match those choices. Flipping a jig with your grandfather’s rod may be sentimental, but is it worth missing fish when you’re working a Carolina-rigged worm? We’ve catalogued types of lures and bass fishing techniques to create a guide to help you match the rod to the hatch. JIGS Jigs are probably the best big bass lures as they are great for everything from working shallow docks to swimming across deep main lake structures.

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fish lakes such as Conroe, Toledo Bend, and Sam Rayburn. Savvy bass anglers understand the best crankbait rods are not made of graphite. Graphite makes bite detection easy because of its super-sensitive nature, but it’s too sensitive for crankbaits. Bass will swim quickly to chase a crankbait, and the water the bass pushes onto the bait can signal a strike with a graphite rod. Glass rods are not as sensitive and allow for the fish to actually have the lure in its mouth before you feel the strike. A six foot, teninch or seven-foot, two-inch Mojo Bass Glass rod is perfect for crankbait fishing. These rods can service everything from standard-sized squarebills to larger deep divers. Additionally, glass rods can be excellent for topwater fishing. Although relatively few anglers use them for surface fishing. Many anglers miss topwater strikes by setting the hook too fast. With a glass rod, (if you can train yourself to “feel” the strike instead of going by the visual cue of the

Sometimes you need to bust out the spinning rod to score on big bass.

For jig fishing, you need a “flippin’ stick.” A flippin’ stick is made for baitcasting reels and typically is seven or seven and a half feet long and is medium-heavy or heavy action. Splitting the difference between both standard flippin’ stick sizes is the seven-foot, three-inch heavy action/moderate-fast Bass X Rod from St. Croix. These well-balanced rods are comfortable to fish with and have the proper backbone and tip action to allow anglers to engage in effective jig fishing.

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Bass X casting rods come in numerous models made for a variety of applications from ﬂipping jigs to throwing spinners. THE ST. CROIX BASS X LINE OF RODS IS FOR EVERYONE BIG ON BASS, BUT NOT big on budget. The Bass X series is an exceptional value, providing a comprehensive collection of rods that deliver legendary St. Croix performance. These rods come with premium quality SCII graphite, hard aluminum-oxide guides with black frames; a Fuji DPS reel seat with a black hood; and a split-grip/ premium-grade cork handle. They are also backed by the St. Croix Superstar Service ﬁve-year warranty.

CRANKBAITS: Texas is crankbait country. Legends such as Tommy Martin and Rick Clunn have made careers on their crankbait skills. They |

TEXAS RIG FISHING: The Texas rig has probably caught more bass than anything else in Texas waters. After all, it IS a called the Texas rig. The simple bullet weight/hook/worm combo is easy to fish, and it’s super effective. The seven-foot three-inch medium/heavy, moderate/fast Victory casting rod is excellent for this application, with the combination of enough backbone and action to make the technique impactful. Texas rig fishing is a great way to graduate kids from bream fishing with nightcrawlers and bobbers to bass fishing owing to its simple nature and the opportunity to get lots of bites. Rod selection can be a fun process. There’s no exact formula, but these suggestions can put you on your path to match the lure style to the proper gear. By investing in rods specifically made for your favorite techniques, you can increase your odds of success and increase the chance of catching your dream fish.

The X Factor

FINESSE FISHING: Going to the complete other side of the bass-fishing spectrum is finesse fishing. This requires the use of smaller lures and lighter lines and is the main reason pro bass fishermen always have spinning combos on board. For this you need a medium/extra fast rod such as the six-foot, eight-inch Victory spinning rod. This is perfect for vertical fishing small drop shot rigs, chunking tube jigs around docks, and delivering small swimbaits when the bass are keyed in on smaller shad. No bass fishing arsenal is complete without a rig for finesse-style fishing. That means even the most diehard casting rod aficionado needs to shop for spinning gear.

blowup only), then you have put yourself in a position to make an effective hookset.

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

Sprucing Up Your Old Boat

2. PREVENT MOLD and/or mildew from infecting your vinyl seat cushions, padding, and coaming bolsters. Once those little black dots begin to appear, you can bet they’ll rapidly multiply. This is true even after you clean them off the exterior surfaces because mold and mildew can settle into the foam cushion underneath the vinyl. Then, it’ll repopulate from the inside out. The very best way to prevent mold and mildew growth is simply to keep your vinyl clean. Those microbes don’t actually start out by growing on the vinyl itself. New vinyl usually is coated with some form of anti-microbial at the factory. Rather, the microbes attach to bits of dirt, dried liquid spills, or bird droppings. Then as they grow and reproduce, work their way into the material. Fighting against mold and mildew growth is sort of a never-ending battle, which you’ll never completely win. Yet, by washing down the boat’s vinyl with a gentle soap as often as possible, you can hold those microbes at bay.

HEY SAY THE TWO HAPPIest days in a boater’s life are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells it. However, selling your boat can feel like you’re sawing your leg off. One way you can make that day happier than it might otherwise be, is to get top dollar for that old boat. To do that, the key to resale value is a well-maintained boat. In fact, there are a few specific measures you can take that will have a disproportionate impact on just how good your boat looks, how much your boat sells for, and how big your smile is as you head for the bank. 1. GIVE YOUR OUTBOARD engine cowl a never-ending beauty treatment. This starts off with two thick, protective coats of paste wax at the beginning of the season. Then, after each trip, give it a wash with a soft mitt and gentle soap. Never ever, under any circumstances let a scrub brush touch the cowl. Brushes can make micro-scratches in the finish that give it a hazy or cloudy look. If your boat is stored outdoors and you don’t use it for a couple of weeks, give the outboard a quick wash-down anyway. Bird droppings, pollen, and other contaminants will settle on the finish and can cause staining or discoloration if allowed to sit there for weeks on end. Midway through the season, give the outboard a more substantial wash and then give it another coat of wax. Over time waxes break down. Reapplying it eery six months should be considered the bare minimum. Follow this regimen, and a decade later that outboard will still be gleaming — and any buyer who comes to look at your boat will be wowed from the start. 22

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3. PROTECT THE PLASTICS. Almost all boats have a plastic piece or part here or there, and while today’s plastics are much more UV resistant than those of the past, they can still take a beating from the elements. Eventually they become brittle and then break, and nothing looks shabbier than a cracked hatch or a broken plastic knob. Lots of plastic cleaner/protectants are available. They seal the pores in plastics and create a clear barrier coat. This defends against yellowing, becoming brittle, and discoloration from oils or other contaminants. At least once a month hit all the plastic parts of you boat with this stuff, and it’ll improve the plastic’s looks and longevity. 4. REGULARLY WAX the sides of the hull and all smooth topside gel-coated surfaces. Like most other glossy finishes, gel coat is to some degree porous. Waxing with a paste wax as a base coat, followed by wash-downs with a boat soap containing carnauba wax will fill those pores and prevent oxidation. Like that |

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outboard cowl the fiberglass should get protective paste wax at least a couple of times a season. Otherwise, it will wear away after months on end in the sun and weather. An added bonus of keeping the topsides thoroughly waxed is that fish blood and chum stains will be a lot easier to scrub away. Remember that aggressive scrub-downs can remove the wax coating even as they remove the mess. If you have a few particularly messy trips in a row that require lots of scrubbing at the end of the day, consider hitting the topsides with an extra coat of paste wax in addition to your bi-annual wax jobs. 5. ONCE A YEAR, treat any unpainted surface that can corrode with a corrosion inhibitor. Which you choose is important because there are some snake oils out there. Make sure to get one that meets MIL-PRF (military performance specs) for naval and aviation use. These products can radically slow corrosion and in some cases displace corrosion from the metal at a molecular level, keeping items looking like new for years on end, even when they’re used in the saltwater environment. That said, don’t just spray corrosion inhibitors willy-nilly all over your boat. Many can stain fiberglass and discolor soft goods. Instead, get a rag and soak down small sections with this stuff. Then dab or wipe it on the metal surfaces. Keep a second clean rag handy, and when you accidentally swipe some of the inhibitor on fiberglass (which is bound to happen) immediately wipe it away. The good news? Use all five of these maintenance tips and your boat will look great when you go to sell it. The bad news? Not only will a great-looking boat bring a higher price, it’ll also sell faster. This means you won’t have a boat to go fishing in anymore. Of course, that isn’t really bad news, because we’re pretty darn sure that you’ll take all the money you just pocketed and use it as a downpayment on your brand-new fishing machine.

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Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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ISHING GEAR IS NOT ALL CREATED equal. There are so many fish species, techniques, and strategies that demand different kinds of gear to accomplish the task of simply catching a fish. Soaking a pound hunk of cut stingray on a widegapped circle hook for sharks in the surf for example is radically different from drifting a tiny “midge” fly that is as small as a

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grain of rice to catch a brown trout. But at the end of the day, it’s all fishing. The great dividing lines in tackle stores are between salt and freshwater equipment. But in reality, blurring that line can have real advantages for fishermen, especially freshwater fishermen. Gear that is made to survive salty water, sand, rough seas, and toothy predators can easily sustain the pressures of bass or crappie fishing. Also, by its more durable nature, it outlasts much of the equipment designed for freshwater applications.

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We have broken down some of the myriad tackle choices available at Calcuttaoutdoors.com and made some suggestions for the opportunity to crossover from salt to fresh.

includes four tackle trays. External pockets provide additional storage. Exterior pliers holster is located on a side pocket for easy tool access. Easy-grip zipper pulls are provided for effortless opening, even with wet hands. It also has a padded, adjustable shoulder strap for hands-free transport. Dimensions: 13.5 inches x 9.5 inches x 10inches. There is plenty of room for worms, weights, beads, spinners, and swimbaits here.

EXPLORER TACKLE BAG Organize your tackle efficiently and securely with the Explorer Tackle Bags. The main storage compartment

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BAIT BINDER The Explorer Bait Binder keeps your tackle organized and easily accessible, and it’s perfect for organizing soft plastic worms and jig trailers. Durable 420D ripstop nylon construction holds up under extreme conditions. Includes five removable plastic sleeves. The locking ring system allows you to quickly add or remove sleeves. It comes with eight internal semi-transparent zipper pockets for additional storage.

Saltwater Proven Shades CALCUTTA BIMINI: THESE SHADES ARE designed with the sportsman in mind. Fade-resistant ﬁnishes are tough enough to handle all kinds of weather and conditions. Calcutta has designed its rugged sunglasses to allow a wider ﬁeld of vision while providing superior optics with a retail price of

WATERPROOF TACKLE TRAYS These waterproof 4-Latch tackle trays are built to handle all your tackle storage needs, including crankbaits, jigs, and spinners. The tackle trays are designed to be secure and waterproof. Every box features a secure four latch system, a watertight seal to keep water and moisture out, and a gray tint to help protect lures from fading. This is important for bass fishermen as they often lay their trays on the deck for easy access while trying to figure out exactly what the fish wants. They are customizable from six to 21 compartments for the 3700 and five to 13 compartments for the 3600. There are two trays per pack.

bass angler with more rod choices than your local tackle shop, these are a great option to save that important investment in tackle. ROUND HANDLE DE-HOOKERS These can help you save the life of the bass you catch or help you get that deep-hooked catfish off without you getting finned. The dual-density round handle allows for a firm, non-slip tool. Shafts are made from heavy-duty stainless steel. “S” sharper head is designed to allow you to push or pull out hooks. Lanyard included.

ROD WRAPS Squall Rod Wraps are built with a soft foam backing to protect your rods. Hook and loop closure allows for easy adjustability. Wraps are made of durable 420-denier rip-stop fabric with Mossy Oak® Coastal Shoreline pattern. With these wraps, you can secure up to five rods for storage and transport. Whether you’re on a pontoon boat crappie trip with the family or you’re a solo 26

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ALUMINUM SPLIT RING PLIERS If you’re looking for a tool that provides you with performance,

comfort, and durability under the toughest conditions, this is a great choice. Designed and tested by experienced and demanding anglers, these tools feature

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under $30. Durable 1.0mm Triacetate (TAC) Polarized lenses that virtually eliminate blinding reﬂected glare One year limited warranty.

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aluminum construction with split ring plier tips and crimper. The carbide cutter is great for mono and braid so it will work with both your crankbait and worming setup. A spring-loaded handle makes it easy to open and close. FILLET KNIFE KIT The Calcutta Squall Torque Series fish fillet knife kit includes three knives, a nineinch curved knife, a seven-inch fillet knife, and a six-inch boning knife. Also included is a sharpener, plastic sheath, and zip-up carrying case. All knives feature a torque comfort grip providing a high level of traction, even when wet. We have tested this setup and found it to be great for redfish and sheepshead we’ve cleaned. This translates to making easy work of crappie and sand bass. FIVE-INCH BRAID SCISSORS What bass fishermen doesn’t use braid? It has numerous applications that make it standard-edition gear. These scissors will cut

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the smallest to the largest diameter braid. And the oversized handles make handling easy. FIGHTING BELT You might not think of a fighting belt for freshwater. However, with the growing popularity of catch-and-release alligator garfish and the pursuit of trophy-sized catfish in Texas, you just might need one. This fish fight belt is

available with a 12 ½-inch or 15-inch plate constructed from a specially formulated impact-resistant polymer shell. Foam padded backing keeps the belt from slipping. There’s also an adjustable heavy-duty mesh belt with a quick-release buckle for a secure fit and easy removal.

Tackle purchases are an investment in the limited recreation time we have. So, why not consider some saltwater-proven gear that can easily get the job done on lakes, rivers, and streams across Texas? Check out these products and much, much more at www.calcuttaoutdoors.com.

RENEGADE FISH COOLER Perfect for the crappie and bream fishermen, Renegade Fish Cooler bags feature a high-quality waterproof zipper and a wide opening for easy access when loading or unloading ice and fish. They’re also loaded with open-cell foam insulation for superior insulating properties to keep your catch cool and fresh. Material skin is durable, tough, and lightweight. Strong carry handles and a padded shoulder strap make for easy transport.

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

Oh Yeah, It’s Turkey Time

there in the blind! I had my eyes closed and kept waiting to hear a gobbler sound off. That never happened, but still I was not disappointed. There he was! He was about 100 yards from me when I first saw him, and he was quickly coming to my decoys as quiet as a church mouse. I barely had time to put my facemask on and move into position for a shot. That was my turkey hunt last year, and I cannot tell you how excited I am about this year. I have already seen plenty of sign while I was deer hunting—more than usual. My decoy set up was not unlike many others I have seen, except for one thing that I add. I have a couple of hen decoys, and I also have a full body plastic hen that I place on the ground with no stake. I simply use a few small rocks on either side to keep it upright. Then I place anything I can find in the field to lift the back end of the decoy up a little. This simulates a hen that is ready to mate. Sounds pretty cool so far, yeah? But wait! There is one more thing I do. I have a tom turkey decoy as well. This is one that you attach the tail feathers to the body. With a nylon string that is also attached, you can move the full fan up and down or just bring it up halfway like I have seen so many birds do. All I have to do is pull on the string and “viola” instant movement! The tail fan that came with this decoy made it look like an adult tom. I thought it might be better if I made it look like a young jake trying to mate that hen. One of my hunting buddies had a few jake fans that he laid out so they stay open. He was gracious enough to give me one and when I told him that I used that fan instead of the adult one, he tried it himself. I have to say, it is a much more believable set-up and has fooled many tom turkeys to commit to those last few steps that bring them into range. For those novice turkey hunters out there, let me explain. When an adult tom fans out his tail feathers, the feathers are all even in length. However, when a jake or young male

UNRISE WAS GOING TO BE early—way too early—and I was tired. To be honest, I was exhausted. Too many mornings out in the woods searching for any turkey sign. Feathers, droppings, scratchings, anything that would tell me turkeys are definitely in the area. I found very little, but I knew this area usually had nice toms on it. It rained hard all night but turned to a cold drizzle by the time I needed to be in the Redneck blind. The saturated field was nothing but mud. The steep climb to the blind was difficult at best. However, I knew that my chances were better in this field rather than in my warm, cozy bed. By the time I reached my destination, I must have had 20 extra pounds of mud on each boot. I decided to hunt the same field that I took Chester Moore to a few years earlier. On that hunt, we heard a few gobbles in the morning and I was able to call a nice tom into shotgun range. It was his first Eastern bird, and when the 12-gauge Remington 1187 went boom, a beautiful tom turkey was down. But this was a different day and certainly a different hunt. I sat in the blind and waited for sunrise. Finally, it was light enough to start my turkey hunting routine. Tree calling, no response. Fly down, no response. Yelps and cackles, still no response. I stared at my decoy set up and wondered if I was wasting my time. I was determined not to give up, so I yelped every 20 minutes to let any gobbler in the area know that I was there. To be honest, when it started raining, I found myself closing my eyes and almost fell asleep right 28

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turkey raises his tail feathers, the middle three or four feathers are always a little longer than the rest. Believe me, if an adult tom sees a jake trying to take his girl away from him, that bird will come into your decoys with a fight on his mind. If you can muster up the willpower to wait a while before you shoot, you very well may see a tom turkey claw at that youngster. When the decoy falls over, he will peck at it to make sure he is the victor. I have seen it and it is worth seeing even if you don’t get a shot off. As with deer hunting, the “hunt” is over when you have fooled the animal into your known accuracy range. Pulling the trigger is just a means to an end. Then the work begins. It’s the same with turkey hunting. Once you have fooled that bird to come in close to your decoy set-up, the hunt is over. Pulling the trigger is a whole new ballgame. One other thing you might want to know. If it’s a nice sunny day, the male birds will find a place where they can strut and wait for the hens to come to them. That might be in a field, or it might be in a woodlot. As a matter of fact, the tom gobbles to let the hens know where he is and waits for them to find him. If it’s raining out, those birds will always seek a field; one where they can see predators from a distance because the rain will help hide any sounds in the woods. Turkey hunting is one of my favorite times of the year. Remember, you are not hunting them, they are hunting you. Good luck and don’t forget to send in your turkey pictures. Have fun and hunt safe.

 Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

Crimson Trace RAD Sight

The newest Crimson Trace RAD electronic sight line

N ELECTRONIC RED DOT optic mounted on a pistol slide is becoming as popular as having a magnified optic on a hunting rifle. If a firearm manufacturer releases a handgun without an optics cut, it will be quickly criticized and lose footing in the market. Crimson Trace has expanded their electronic sight offerings with their new Rapid Aiming Dot (RAD) series. Coming in three sizes, with green or red aiming dot options, and two series, the RAD optic line should have something for everyone. I recently was able to attend a weekend at Gunsite in Arizona where we ran the Crimson Trace RAD optics through their paces. Using the CT RAD Pro mounted on a Gen 5 Glock 19 and the CT RAD Max Pro on a Radian AR15 we ran drills on the flat range, down dry creek beds, shoot houses, and even night drills. The RADs kept up with the pace just fine. I’m picky when it comes to red dots. I’ve been shooting with them since custom gunsmiths were first pioneering milling slides for the Trijicon RMRs. I have a list of requirements before I’ll sign off on them. First is battery life. It’s gotta last a few years without my worrying about it. The RADs claim a 20,000-hour battery life on just one 1632 battery. The Pro series automatically adjusts to ambient light and shuts down after two minutes of no motion. Then it will wake itself up again as soon as it senses movement. This obviously extends the battery life even further. I was quite pleased with the ambient light setting and how well calibrated it was. Many times, with other optics I choose to dial the PHOTO: DUSTIN ELLERMAN

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downrange. The larger frame of the Max Pro accepts a 2032 battery which increases battery life to 50,000 hours (nearly six years). I was pleased that all the RAD series, even the “non-Max” versions, support night vision along with the other eight brightness settings. As far as mounting is concerned, the larger Max is compatible with 1913 picatinny rails, the RAD has a Docter opticsfootprint, while the smallest Micro works with Shield RMS and JPoint footprints. Retail prices of the RAD line range from $224 to $449. You can find out more at crimsontrace.com and even watch a video of me running them over at topshotdustin.com.

dot down a setting or two, in order to have a little more precision and less of a “bloom” on my dot. However, the RAD optics seemed to be so well adjusted I never touched the manual buttons. Yet, what if you need to shoot from a dark spot into a brighter area? The RADs also have manual buttons for you to have as much control over the 3 MOA dot as you wish. Yet, even during the night shoot while using white lights to illuminate the targets downrange, I was able to rely on the automatic ambient setting. The RAD series also includes features such as easy zeroing adjustments ensuring you don’t have to fiddle with “lock screws” or special tools. And while you don’t have to replace the battery often, you also won’t have to remove the optic from its mount to do so (with the exception of the “micro” model). I also fell in love with the RAD Max Pro’s larger window, which offered a fantastic view T E X A S

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 Email Dustin Ellermann at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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F YOU ARE A FLY FISHER, AS I am, the Nueces River north of Uvalde looks so much like one of the freestone rivers of Colorado, Montana, or Idaho. The Nueces will make you expect to see brown and rainbow trout in the bend pools. You can count the rocks on the bottom in 10 feet of water, and the pecan trees and sycamores can bear a resemblance to the cottonwoods and aspens along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. Instead of trout, however, perch and bass are numerous. Some of the bass are largemouths, but the best are the many pure strain Guadalupe bass. The Guadalupes are not native to the Nueces, but they are right at home there and are fantastic quarry for the fly fisher. They will readily take a fly and sometimes are suckers for a small streamer. What more do you need? My friend Kathy Bader, my daughter Lindy Orozco, and I were there with our fly rods looking for Guadalupes in some of my favorite spots.

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We began at the big hole just downstream from the 19 Mile Bridge. This is good water but gets a lot of fishing pressure from bait and spin fishers, so the fish can be skittish, especially under the bright skies we had that day. After an hour, we had taken a few perch and one or two small Guadalupes. It was time to move on. The Nueces is considered a navigable river, so as long as you stay in the river, you can walk, raft, or canoe as far as you want. Until recently, you could fourwheel in the river bed, but the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has outlawed that. As we worked farther north up the river the fishing improved, probably more from the light getting off the water than anything else. Finally, at one of my favorite pools we started to catch Guadalupe bass. One small pool at the tail of a riffle was full of Guadalupes up to about a foot long. Lindy found them and made the most of the situation with a small white Clouser minnow.

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north of Uvalde to north of Campwood is great water. There are numerous crossings of the county roads that give access to the river and above most of these crossings are good pools.

PHOTO: TPWD

By the time the little bass figured out that the Clouser really wasn’t edible, Lindy had landed a half-dozen. Sadly, Kathy and I were not having such luck, but that is fishing. The Upper Nueces, from about 15 miles

Guadalupe bass are different from largemouth bass in that they prefer moving water. Sometimes, because of this propensity, they are called Texas brook trout. Generally, you will catch fish from six inches to about a foot long, but there are bigger fish in the water. The largest Guadalupe I ever caught would not have missed two pounds by much. For general fly fishing a five- or six-weight nine-foot rod is just right. On calm days a three- or four-weight will give you great sport. If you are lucky you may even stumble onto one of the rare mayfly hatches and get some great dry fly fishing. In summer a grasshopper can bring smashing strikes. So, if you are looking for some great fly fishing and don’t feel like driving to Colorado, give the Nueces a look. You may be pleasantly surprised.

 Lindy Orozco and Kathy Bader ﬁshing a great Guadalupe bass hole on the Nueces.

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onsibility, severance, patience, discipline, and resp unting and fishing are and the als as well as instill a deep respect for anim simply part of the culture when environment. you grow up in the Piney Woods and our With everything going on in the world of East Texas. about cked country today, many people are pani ng are ide Along with agriculture, hunting and fishi prov to food shortages and uncertain on how een my may le a huge part of my family’s heritage. Betw for their families. Regardless of how peop e, I began n USA, grandparents, parents, brother, and uncl talk about those who live in rural small-tow ng before I know learning the basics of hunting and fishi folks I can tell you one thing - the country even started school. where our food is coming from. are often Some of my earliest and fondest memories People in urban areas especially are , whether lly loca associated with spending time outdoors thy, found searching for a reliable, heal exploring, ernit be gardening, walking in the woods, mod t obtained, sustainable food source. Mos I rememcamping, hunting, fishing, or shooting. outsourcday meat-eaters are all too familiar with infamous eness of ber getting to hunt with my dad in our ing the dirty work. The ease and inoffensiv plastic “pine tree stand.” bing dropping by the grocery store and grab was That was when I was much smaller, Dad ess of proc wrapped meat is much preferred to the nimbler your much younger, and we were both a lot ess having to hunt, harvest, clean and proc ed some and more flexible. Looking back, we shar own food. lly pine, uming awesome memories up in that old loblo Although hunting can be a time- cons firsted including my first ever whitetail deer. and labor-intensive task, I have experienc e still vanThe older I get, the more I appreciat disad hand how the benefits far outweigh the brother, free t, being able to deer hunt with my dad and mea tages. Wild game is healthful, natural each Fall. know and chase ducks with my crazy cousins You s. of hormones, steroids, and antibiotic something The fellowship and quality time doing diet, and exactly where your food came from, its reason I I love with the people I love is the main exactly what’s in it. animal hunt. You can also rest easy knowing the nature na It’s hard to beat making memories in Whe . wild lived a humane, free-range life in the gender, pass als with family and friends. Regardless of age, anim hunter follows ethical practices, most fs, one of left up religion, background, or political belie away much more humanely than if it were is how it the beautiful things about the outdoors to mother nature’s fate. childhood inues brings people together. Throughout my Spending time active in the outdoors cont h me perand formative years, hunting helped teac

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PHOTOS COURTESY BROOKLEE GRANT

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and wildto heighten my appreciation for nature e world entir life. One of my favorite things in the e duck whil r is watching the sun rise over the wate as the day hunting and getting to witness the new . world wakes up right before my eyes imposWhen you’re immersed in nature, it is le and hust the sible to be stressed or worried about oors outd the bustle of everyday life. The impact ate educ help has made on my life motivates me to

r possible, others and get them involved wheneve example good a set and ts, effor tion aid in conserva fishermen. for the next generation of hunters and

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WHY DO EASTERN TURKEYS THRIVE IN SOME areas of the Pineywoods and struggle in others? Is there a hidden key that could unlock the secret of successful flocks versus those that gradually disappear? Researchers from Louisiana State University (LSU) and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) hope to answer those questions and others in a new study that involves fitting turkeys with GPS tracking units. “We can gain a tremendous amount of information from turkeys with these devices. A similar study has been going on in Louisiana for a decade, and we have learned much about them in the Kisatchie National Forest and

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other areas,” said LSU’s Dr. Bret Collier. In January, LSU graduate student Chad Argabright and the TPWD Wildlife District 6 leader Rusty Wood and his crew set rocket nets and captured turkeys on a hunting club near the northern tier of the Angelina National Forest. “This area has consistently had strong turkey numbers compared to many other locations in East Texas, yet it is not classic turkey habitat. TPWD partnered with the landowners and leaseholders here and made arrangements to capture and study these birds with the GPS units,” Wood said.

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PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

2/16/22 4:45 PM

EASTERN 36  TRACKING TURKEY Story by Chester Moore

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

& GAME 42  FISH HOTSHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

& GAME 44  FISH FORECAST CENTER SALTWATER

Reported by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Derek York, Capt. Mark Talasek, Capt. Mac Gable, Capt. Joey Farah and Capt. Gerad Meritt

& GAME 54  FISH FORECAST CENTER FRESHWATER

Reported by TF&G Staff

62  SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

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Sean Willis of the Texas Parks & W/ildlife Department oversees a release of 27 Eastern turkeys from Maine on a tract of land in Angelina County.

Dr. Collier said the collars give 17 location points throughout the day and are especially

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LSU Graduate Student Chad Argabright tests the transmitter as Marc Moss holds on tightly to this East Texas Eastern turkey they captured just a few minutes earlier.

helpful with providing data on issues like travel distance and discovering where hens

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feed with their poults. “There is a ton of published research on wild turkey and their habitat requirements. However, this elusive bird still seems to thrive in some areas while struggling in other areas with perceived useable space,” said TPWD Turkey Program Leader Jason Hardin. “The information gained from this study will be value-added to wild turkey management in East Texas and potentially across a much larger portion of the birds range.” According to Hardin, TPWD is continuing its translocation of turkeys in the region. They recently completed a stocking project with 13 Maine birds in Franklin County and added 27 birds from Maine to the Middle Neches Eastern Turkey Cooperative in Angelina County. “Restocking began in the 1930s and went through several iterations of releasing Rios and pen-reared birds. Block stocking using exclusively wild trapped birds began in 1979 but didn’t get legs until the mid-1980s with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Target 2000 program. Block stockPHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

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ing ended in 2003, but with mixed results,” Hardin said. The agency under his leadership has moved forward with “super stockings” of turkeys with a minimum of 80 birds stocked in a location with a male/female ratio that allows for optimal population expansion. “TPWD started the super stocking effort in 2014, and we have released close to 1,000 birds since,” he added. In January, numerous birds (mainly adult hens) from the Angelina County stocking were fitted with transmitters, which began sending data to researchers upon release. This will give researchers valuable information on the successes and challenges of turkey restoration in East Texas. “TPWD hopes to continue with the current program until we can daisy chain restocked and established populations across our Neches and Sulphur River Priority Areas in order to create a large range of connected populations capable of exchanging popula-

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Rocket nets were used to catch ﬁve turkeys near Lufkin in the ﬁrst efforts of this study.

tions over time,” Hardin said. Texas Fish & Game will continue coverage on this important project here in the maga-

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zine, at fishgame.com, and in our e-newsletter.

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PHOTOO: CHESTER MOORE

2/16/22 4:46 PM

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The NATIONAL

O.H. Ivie Starts 2022 with a Bang

News of TEXAS

single Divine 3.8 Swimbait in about 20-feet of water. ShareLunker 614 weighed 13.37 pounds once Cannon got the fish on the scales. “Catching one ShareLunker is an unbelievable accomplishment, but catching two is a long shot,” said Cannon. “I decided to see if I could try my luck again on the best lake in the country. On my five-hour drive to OH Ivie, I daydreamed of catching another ShareLunker, but truthfully just wanted a shot at another double-digit.” Cannon said the first few days were a grind and although he saw some big fish, they seemed to be very pressured. In the afternoon on the third day, Cannon decided to go look for some untapped water and it paid off. At around 4:30 that afternoon he found a group of fish on top of a tree. He proceeded to catch an eight- and seven-

O.H. IVIE RESERVOIR PRODUCED another Legacy Class largemouth bass to close out the first month of the 2022 Toyota ShareLunker season. Brett Cannon of Willis, Texas, who reeled in ShareLunker 593 in 2021, got back on the board Thursday Jan. 27 to become the second angler this season to catch a Legacy Lunker in back-to-back campaigns. Josh Jones, who caught two Lunkers a year ago, brought 14.13-pound ShareLunker 612 into his boat earlier in the month. The month of January saw six total Lunkers caught by anglers from across the nation, five of which were from O.H. Ivie that boasted 12 in 2021. The six Lunkers outpaced last year’s January total of four. Cannon hooked his second career Legacy Lunker Thursday Jan. 27 using a

Brett Cannon with ShareLunker 612

pound fish on back-to-back casts. He knew there was a giant fish in that area and fired the bait towards the tree once again. Cannon hooked it and at the time thought it could be the new world record. “This fish pulled harder than any fish I’ve ever caught,” added Cannon. “At this moment, I began

LEMON SHARK

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Bolivar

McKenzie Res.

Cody Davis brought this nine-foot, two-inch lemon shark to shore while ﬁshing the beach at Bolivar Peninsula.

Bryan Gonzales boated his personal best largemouth while ﬁshing on McKenzie Reservoir.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your own TEXAS HOT SHOTS 42

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season but, we also had several Lunkers to pray that she wouldn’t come off. Hooking Caption that were very close to that 13-pound mark. a fish of this size is half the battle because If this pace is maintained, 2022 could be so many things can go wrong. After what another season for the record books.” seemed to be a 30-minute fight, which During the first three months of the turned out to be only a few minutes, I netseason (Jan. 1 through March 31), anglers ted this giant! I started to freak out, shake, who reel in a 13+ pound bass can loan it to scream, and began talking to myself out TPWD for the ShareLunker selective breedloud! I knew it was a ShareLunker, but I ing and stocking program. These anglers can didn’t know if I was a 13 or 15 pounder. I call the ShareLunker hotline at (903) 681put it in the live well so fast and hauled it to 0550 to report their catch 24/7 until April 1. Elm Creek. Anglers who catch and donate one of Once Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries biol- these 13+ lunkers earn Legacy Class status, receive a catch kit filled with merchandise, a ogists were notified, they quickly got on the 13+ pound Legacy decal for their vehicle or road to collect and transport ShareLunker boat, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker 614 to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Annual Awards event and a high-quality Center in Athens, where biologists are proreplica mount of their Lunker fish from viding it top-notch care. Biologists plan to Lake Fork Taxidermy. These anglers will attempt to spawn her with a male offspring also receive entries into two separate drawof a prior ShareLunker to make bigger, betings – a Legacy Class Drawing and the yearter bass to stock in and enhance fishing in end Grand Prize Drawing. Both drawings Texas lakes. will award the winner a $5,000 Bass Pro “This January has been an incredible Shops shopping spree and an annual fishing month for the 2022 collection season,” license. said Kyle Brookshear Toyota ShareLunker The year-round Toyota ShareLunker Program Manager. “Not only did we surpass program offers four levels of participation our total from January of last year’s record

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for catching bass over eight pounds or 24 inches in Texas. The 2022 season offers an opportunity to join the special club of premier anglers who have submitted a Legacy Class ShareLunker. Anglers who enter data for any lunker they catch greater than eight pounds or 24 inches during the calendar year 2022 also receive a catch kit, a decal for their vehicle or boat and an entry into the yearend Grand Prize Drawing to win a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree and annual fishing license. ShareLunker entry classes include the Lunker Class (8lb+), Elite Class (10lb+), and Legend Class (13lb+). Once a lunker is reeled in, anglers need to enter the catch data on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile app – available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play – or on the Toyota ShareLunker online app at TexasSharelunker.com. In addition to providing basic catch information, anglers can also provide a DNA scale sample from their lunker bass to TPWD researchers for genetic analysis.

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Spring is Breaking on the Upper Coast ing and productive for fishing along the upper Texas coast. Green water is beginning to make its way to Sabine more consistently. Big tides and southerly winds are assisting the baitfish and shrimp on their journey into our beautiful ecosystem. Young shad, mullet, shrimp, crabs and sand eels are enjoying their new stomping grounds, and the big, mean, bully fish are more than happy to see them. Finding this bait is becoming increasingly easier for us. That, in turn, means finding the predators more consistently is becoming a little easier also. The early morning topwater bite is good and will continue to get better. Various points in the ship channel and the mouths of most bayous on the eastern shoreline of the lake are good starting points. Fish the back side of an incoming tide and you should be in business. Walking the dog in two to five feet of water with a trusty topwater should entice some serious blowups. Soft plastics rigged on ¼- or 1/8ounce lead heads should also produce CAPT. HERNANDEZ strikes.

SABINE Reported by CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

HIS IS PROBABLY THE most anticipated time of the year for most coastal anglers. March and April signify the end of another winter fishing season and the beginning of new hope, new life and new goals. On March 20th, winter will officially be behind us, and we will all welcome spring 2022 like a long-lost friend. With every new day the air and water temperatures will continue to rise. This spring is shaping up to be very excit-

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Trout, reds and flounder that are aggressively feeding will gladly accept plastics like Zoom Super Flukes, Down South Lures, H&H Cocaho Minnows and GULP Swimming Mullet and Shrimp. Great colors are glow, chartruese, Laguna Glass and Texas Roach. Another high-percentage area should be from Blue Buck Point northward to Big Four Bayou. This is prime bait- and fish-holding real estate in early to mid-spring. Hungry redfish and trout will cruise this shoreline as the baitfish ride the tide around Blue Buck Point. Soft plastics on ¼-ounce heads or rigged underneath a popping cork will get good results. Give it some good hard pops to get their attention and entice them to strike. The flounder bite is also gaining momentum as big numbers are making their way back into the bay. Slowly dragging finger mullet or mud minnows in one to four feet of water over a mud point or ledge is always a safe bet. If fishing with live bait is not your thing, dragging or softly bouncing soft plastics tipped with fresh dead shrimp should also work well. GULP Shrimp and Swimming Mullet with a single or tandem rigged set up is a great choice. Colors that work well are White, New Penny and Chartreuse. Look for these fish to be near the points on either side of the mouths of the bayous on the eastern side of the lake or around the Causeway Bridge in two to six feet of water.

•••

A Great Time to be a Drifter GALVESTON Reported by CAPT. DEREK YORK

UNTING SEASON IS NOW over, and the weather still transitioning into Spring. If you can get out when the weather is right and get some warmer tem-

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peratures and calmer days, March and April offer some of the best fishing of the year in the bay and at the jetties. In early springtime, redfish and spotted seatrout can be found on both mud and shell. I drift-fish most days with either shrimp under a popping cork or throwing soft plastics. My presentation is slower on the colder days and a little faster when the sun is out and the temps are climbing. Mid-morning and early afternoon usually produce more when the water is warming up. West Galveston Bay and some of the smaller bays in the upper Houston Ship Channel are still good this time of year. The wind doesn’t affect the water quality there as much as the rest of the bay system. However, the open water reefs are starting to hold good numbers of trout again, and the marshes and shoreline structure are great to target for those redfish. The black drum spawn is in full swing this time of year. They can be targeted in most areas of deeper water around the jetties, gas wells and ship channels. Cracked blue crab is the bait of choice soaked on the bottom. Use medium to heavy gear, as some of these fish can reach more than 50 pounds. Large circle hooks and two- to six-ounce bank sinkers are key to keeping your bait in the strike zone. These bigger fish are usually located with a good sonar machine on the bottom. Check your baits often and make sure you have fresh bait because it makes all the difference in the world most days. Springtime is also when sheepsheads start their spawning season around the passes. Both the north and south Galveston jetties provide some of the best sheepshead fishing there is. Some of the heaviest fish are being caught this time of year. The past several years we have landed multiple fish over 10

CAPT. YORK

spotstalkerﬁshing@yahoo.com

pounds on my boat. I usually target these fish with live

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West Galveston Bay

HOTSPOTLIGHT

CHOCOLATE BAY

CHOCOLATE BAY IS THE MOUTH OF CHOCOLATE BAYOU, WHERE IT EMPTIES INTO West Galveston Bay. Selected HOTSPOTS are in the table below, and on the map. SPECKLED TROUT KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

Chocolate Bay Shoreline

REDFISH

Chocolate Bay Shoreline

Chocolate Bayou Cove

Chocolate Bayou

The Narrows

Mud Cut Flats

FLOUNDER

Alligator Point

Chocolate Bayou

FACILITIES

GPS

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

N 29 10.392, kW 95 09.005

Soft plastics; areas with small baitﬁsh normally have big trout; May-Sep, all day

N 29 10.392, kW 95 09.005 N 29 12.450, kW 95 11.544 N 29 11.622, kW 95 09.948 N 29 10.983, kW 95 06.400 N 29 07.797, kW 95 09.540

Troll down shoreline with red/white jigs under cork; all year, dawn-am, aftn-dusk

N 29 10.289, kW 95 06.879 N 29 11.621, kW 95 09.948

Live mud minnows, anchor on the point, ﬁsh bottom; Apr-Nov, avoid midday, night

GPS

LOCATION

Reds are schooling, chasing shrimp; May-Oct, dawnam, aftn-dusk Use topwaters early, other times use shrimp w cork; all year, dawn-am, aftn-dusk Anchor on the points, use live shrimp under cork; all year, dawn-am, aftn-dusk Drift the ﬂat, look for sandholes, nervous mullet, grass; all year, dawn thru morn, dusk

DOA shrimp, Bass Assassin Sea Shad, shrimp; Spring, Fall

KEY

FACILITY NAME

N 29 12.733, W North side of FM 2004 Bridge Chocolate Bayou Ramp 95 12.504 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2021

shrimp under a popping cork right next to the rocks or on a bottom rig. For the bottom rig, I typically use a short section of leader around 10 to 15 inches, a small 1/0 circle hook and a ¼- to ½-ounce weight depending on the current. I usually tell people they bite like crapT E X A S

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PHONE

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pie, usually a very light bite, but once hooked they put up a tremendous fight. And they make great table fare despite their “good looks.” With all these options this time of year, it is a great time to get the kids out on the bay during Spring Break and make some memories! |

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favorite top water slowly over the grass beds. Glass minnows migrate along the grass on incoming tides. Trout and red fish fill up their bellies after a long winter. Flounder migrate in from deeper gulf waters. They are one of the only fish that go offshore to lay eggs with the help of water pressure. The bay is revitalized. Temperatures are mild. It’s a great time to be on the water.

UPPER COAST •••

It’s Show Time MATAGORDA

time to meet new friends and talk fishing. Stop by and come see us. It’s a great way to see all the new fishing gear as well. Cold fronts come less frequently. Water temperatures start to rise. A new hatch of shrimp hits the marshes. Bait fish refill the bay systems. Who wouldn’t get excited about working a top water along the shoreline after being cooped up most of the winter? A lot of the sow trout lay their eggs this time of the year. Your chances of landing a personal best are CAPT. TALASEK higher. MarkTalasek@sbcglobal.net Work your

Reported by CAPT. MARK TALASEK

’M DEFINITELY A FAN OF THE warmer months. Hibernation during the winter is not my favorite time of the year. My desired wardrobe consists of shorts, t shirt and flip-flops. I growl when I have to walk out of the house with a coat. There is a limited amount of maintenance that can be done on your equipment before boredom begins to set in. I usually head south of the border a time or two to escape the cold. You guessed it. I can’t wait for spring to roll around. The Houston Fishing Show kicks off the start of a new season. I have been attending these for more than 30 years—since my dad started guiding in the 70s. It’s a good

•••

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 brewersguideservice.com TIPS: A lot of times the redﬁsh will start feeding in the afternoon as the glass minnows start moving in. It’s usually a big feed up to sundown. LOCATION: Chocolate Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 29 10.0065, W 95 9 (29.1668, -95.1500)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Norton Soft Plastics SOURCE: Capt. Greg Brewer 832-435-3020 brewersguideservice.com TIPS: It it’s cold, use a paddle tail because it will have action on the retrieve. He uses a 3/8 oz. jig head mainly because he can cast it further. LOCATION: Galveston Bay

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HOTSPOT: Texas City Dike GPS: N 29 23.0034, W 94 52.0064 (29.3834, -94.8668)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkys or Topwaters SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 galvestonfishinguides.com TIPS: Use chartreuse and pearl with tons of gold. Pink is a second choice, with tons of gold. LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Yates Bayou GPS: N 29 29.0091, W 94 36.0001 (29.4835, -94.6000)

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Anahuac Wildlife Refuge GPS: N 29 33.0095, W 94 32.0044 (29.5502, -94.5334)

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

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkys or Topwaters SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 galvestonfishinguides.com TIPS: For a north wind, fish the north shoreline of East Bay, a south wind, south shoreline of West Bay.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkys or Topwaters SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 galvestonfishinguides.com TIPS: The last 30 minutes of the day, any day, is the best time because most of the time that’s when the water is going to be the warmest. LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Levee Flats GPS: N 29 26.0102, W 94 54.0052 (29.4335, -94.9001)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwater baits and soft plastic shrimp tails SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Capt. Marcaccio likes MirrOlure She Dogs and Baby Spooks in chartreuse or silver colors. LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 29 32.0038, W 94 30.0058 (29.5334, -94.5001)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkys or Topwaters SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 galvestonfishinguides.com TIPS: Records show March is prime time for big trout.

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UPPER COAST

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Fresh frozen crab, dead or live shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 galvestonﬁshinguides.com TIPS: Big time of the year, something that kids can catch on spring break.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics SOURCE: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennsguideservice.com TIPS: When ﬁshing soft plastics, ﬁsh them a little bit deeper, using a quarter ounce jig head.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Chinquapin Reef GPS: N 28 43.0165, W 95 47.0159 (28.7169, -95.7836)

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Green Island GPS: N 28 29.0134, W 96 14.0044 (28.4836, -96.2334)

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Anderson Ways GPS: N 29 15.016, W 94 53.0158 (29.2503, -94.8836) SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South and Norton soft plastics, Super Spook Juniors SOURCE: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennsguideservice.com TIPS: In March the biggest issue is wind. Don’t let it scare you off. Think where you can ﬁnd clear water.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkys or Topwaters SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 galvestonfishinguides.com TIPS: 98 percent of the time, state-record-caliber fish will come when you are wade fishing.

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

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

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Offats Bayou GPS: N 29 16.680, W 94 51.079 (29.2779, -94.8513)

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

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkys or Topwaters SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 galvestonﬁshinguides.com TIPS: You aren’t going to get that close to big trout in a boat. No matter what boat you are in, you’ve got to be stealthy. It’s almost like hunting deer on a ﬂat.

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LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Peninsula Shoreline GPS: N 28 28.0133, W 96 15.0125 (28.4669, -96.2502) |

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corky Fat Boys SOURCE: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennsguideservice.com TIPS: The ﬁsh are eating mullet. There are not that much shrimp in the bay.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Egret Vudu under a popping cork SOURCE: Capt. Adam Jaynes 409-988-3901 justﬁshsabine.com TIPS: There is no reason to use a scented bait to catch speckled trout. Speckled trout feed more on proﬁle, what it looks like.

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A Lasting Bond that Skipped a Generation

ROCKPORT AREA Reported by CAPT. MAC GABLE

T WAS EARLY AND I WAS SIPping some chai latte tea because my wife suggested I branch out and try new things. After the first several sips, I had to admit it was pretty tasty. No one was at the boat ramp except my tea, me, and God. I prefer it this way, even though a more rounded person (I was told) would embrace meeting people, I must admit as the years go by, I seem to drift farther and farther from that ideal. A 1970 Ford truck pulled up; I could tell it wasn’t a newer truck by its headlights. The truck was well kept and obviously someone’s pride and joy. An elderly man (like me) exited the driver’s side and a young boy the other. “Go introduce yourself,” the man said to the young boy. “And offer a handshake.” “I’m Troy” he said, sticking out his hand to me. “Are you our guide?” “Must be,” I said, “as the three of us are all that’s here this morning! You’re not too young to catch fish are you?” I ask him. “No sir, I been fishing for almost two years now” he said as he puffed his chest out. “Great!” I said, “you can take me and your ...” I waited for him to tell me.

“That’s my Papaw!” he said. “He’s paying for the trip, but I have to pay him back my half.” “So, you’re fishing on credit today?” I asked. He pondered the question. “Well, you’re gonna be fishing with no bait. I can’t supply bait on credit!” He looked very concerned. “Unless, your Papaw says I can.” “You gonna pay me back, boy?” came the response from the older man. “Yes sir I promise!” I went to help with their ice chest, and the boy said “No, let me do that. It’s how I earn an allowance to help pay for the fishing trip!” After getting them settled on my boat and fitting the boy with a PFD we were off. The day was going to be CAPT. GABLE windy and the ContactUs@Fishgame.com waters murky, but I knew a spot somewhat protected from the south wind with a small reef that holds fish. The action would not be fast nor furious, but hopefully consistent. The boy was seated in front of the center console, and Papaw was standing next to me at the helm. He gave me the impression he wanted to talk so I went slow. “He’s my grandson,” he said. “I would appreciate it if you focused on him today and I will mostly just watch.” “How about I get you both catching fish and you can take turns watching?” I said. “It’s the best way to teach him, if he sees his Papaw fishing a certain way and catching fish, I can almost guarantee he will copy you!” So, I started with the old man, showed him the rigging and technique. His first cast landed an 18-inch trout; now we had the young boy’s lasered attention. T E X A S

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I netted the fish and then whispered to the old man. “Now, show your grandson how to do it.” He knew exactly the reason why and what it would mean to the two of them. Papaw took the boy’s rod, tied the knots I showed him and baited the hook. Then he worked with his grandson on the cast, the target area and then the technique after the bait was in the water. Three casts later, another nice trout! The boy was in his own world now, and if he had questions, he asked Papaw. The grandfather grabbed a thermos and sat down watching the boy from a distance. Out of ear shot he told me he was raising this young man. “My wife passed away and my son is not financially or emotionally up to taking care of Troy,” he said. “The boy’s mother was a meth addict, and I knew if that little guy was to have half a chance it was up to me, his Papaw. “Not exactly how I planned my retirement,” he said, “but honestly it’s given me a

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purpose, and with my wife gone, the silence in the house was deafening. “It’s sure nice to hear the sound of Troy in our home. Maybe I’m forcing myself to look at the glass half full, but really I don’t mind. “He didn’t like me much at first, said I was too strict, but I think I’m growing on him.” He half smiled and looked down. “He definitely looks up to you,” I said, “and after today not only do you have a grandson you have a lifetime fishing partner.” In the United States, 2.7 million grandparents are raising their grandkids, with more than 6 million children/young adults living in their households. My advice to the younger generation is simple: if you can’t keep up with responsibilities that go with sex, then don’t step up to the act. I’m not sure how heaven works, but there must be a special crown or place for people like Papaw and Mamaw there. ••• LIVE BAIT, LIVE BAIT, LIVE BAIT! Be it shrimp, mud minnows, croaker or the rare “live” menhaden, this is a golden time |

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HOTSPOTLIGHT

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Nueces Bay

MIDDLE COAST

Corpus Christi Bay 2

NUECES BAY

NUECES BAY IS THE NORTHWESTERN EXTENSION OF CORPUS CHRISTI BAY Where US 281 crosses between Corpus Christi and Portland. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map. SPECKLED TROUT KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

Nueces / Indian Point

The Rocks

REDFISH

Nueces Bay

Indian Pt./ Portland Shoreline

FLOUNDER Nueces Bay Bridge

WADEFISHING

Indian Point / Nueces Bay

FACILITIES KEY

FACILITY NAME

Indian Point Pier

B C

GPS

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

N 27 51.326, W 97 21.850 N 27 48.195, W 97 23.040

Topwaters, croaker, assassins, ﬁsh reef edges or drift ﬂats; Nov-Apr, dawn thru morning

N 27 51.893, W 97 21.130 N 27 51.010, W 97 20.927

Live croaker, ﬁsh the reef, use caution navigating; All Year, dawn thru dusk

N 27 50.643, W 97 22.145

Fish the guts & channels leading to bay, live bait, C-rig; Jan-Feb, Oct-Dec, all day

N 27 51.023, W 97 21.455

At daylight use bone tops, later use gold weedless spn; Apr-Jul; dawn thru morning

GPS

LOCATION

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PHONE

800-766-2322 361-883-2248 361-826-3460

ARANSAS BAY: The deep edges of Nine Mile Point are a great spot for trout using free-lined croaker. A south wind works best. Half Moon Reef is a good spot for reds and black drums. Use finger mullet on a light Carolina rig for reds and free-lined live shrimp for trout. A moving tide is best. CARLOS BAY: Cape Carlos is a great wade spot for reds. Use sand eels in new penny and morning glory colors. The edges of Cape Carlos Dugout are good spots for trout using free-lined live shrimp. MESQUITE BAY: The shoreline of Roddy Island is a good spot to wade for a variety of species. A bucket of live shrimp is the ticket with free-lined preferred, or under a rattle cork. In Bray Cove the mouth of Little Brundrett Lake is a great spot for reds and trout. Croaker is the best bait here or mud minnows either free-lined or on a light Carolina rig. AYERS BAY: Some great sheepshead action on the shoreline of Rattlesnake Island. A silent cork works best with fresh dead shrimp. Set the hook at the slightest tap. East shoreline is a great wade for trout, using croakers. Position yourself deep enough so you can cast 360 degrees. Move slowly and be patient, some reds hang here as well. BANK BITE: This is the time of year to wade the shoreline on Fulton Beach Rd. The private piers in this area as well as the many small reefs hold some nice trout making their way into our bay systems from the gulf. Nuclear chicken and morning glory colors work best. Please be respectful of private property.

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croaker. ST. CHARLES BAY: Egg Point is a good drift spot for reds using bubble corks and imitation Berkley shrimp. This area has some heavy grass, and I suggest multiple drifts to determine depth of bite action. Little Sharp Point is the spot for reds, use finger

COPANO BAY: The mouth of Mission Bay is the place to be for reds and black drums. For reds use finger mullet free-lined or on a light Carolina rig. Lap Reef is a good spot for trout using free-lined live shrimp or |

Anchor or wade along shoreline, hit the guts/breaks; May-Oct, dawn thru midday

N 27 51.031, Off US 181 W 97 21.271 N 27 50.227, Marinaville Bait Stand 5151 W. Causeway W 97 22.853 N 27 47.512, Sherrill Park Ramp S. Shoreline Blvd. W 97 23.361 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2022

to get your bait locked, cocked and ready to rock.

Live croaker, piggy perch, anchor and cast to rocks; May-Sep, dawn thru morn, dusk

mullet on a light Carolina rig on high tide.

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Floods of Bait and Schools of Trout

falling tide. Look for live shrimp and finger mullet to be best along the edges of these channels as the water falls off the shallow flats. The Laguna Madre is famous for Spring fishing. We will have waves of migrating black drum, trout, and redfish moving into the area from the big open bays and the beach front. The edges of the ICW channel are the first place to start. Live shrimp on the bottom, and

CORPUS CHRISTI BAY Reported by JOEY FARAH

ARCH AND APRIL HERE in the Coastal Bend is a spring explosion of activity in our coastal fishing.

There are so many opportunities for anglers with and without boats. You can access great fishing grounds to land your limit of highquality gameCAPT. FARAH fish. jfarah@yahoo.com Corpus Christi Bay will be receiving a flood of bait and gamefish as loads of shrimp will be pouring into the area. Schools of sand and speckled trout will be thick around all the gas wells in Corpus Bay. Live shrimp under a popping cork, or freelining shrimp with a light pinch weight is your best bet. Lots of gaff-tops, black drums, and whiting will also be there. The marshes and back lakes of Shamrock Cove and the back side of Mustang Island are just about endless. There are many walk in spots between Port A and North Padre to get back into these shallow back areas. Wade-fishing or drifting in a shallow water boat is excellent for anglers who throw top-waters and soft plastics. Sight casting along the beaches and top-waters at first light are my favorite times here in this area. The many deeper channels in Shamrock Cove will offer some great fishing for those staying in the boat, especially during a hard

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GPS: N 28 06.627, W 96 49.833 (28.110456, -96.830552)

MIDDLE COAST for the really giant drums a half of crab. Look for the eroded edges of the channel where white sand is visible. This is exposed gravel sand, the favorite bottom of the black drums. If you are getting dead grass on your baits move down the channel. Trout and redfish are also hot this spring. Topwater explosions at sunrise along the famous King Ranch shoreline cannot be beat. A long cast and stop and go action is a solid bet to hook up with a giant. I like throwing colors that I can see at long distances. This improves my action and response time. Drift fishing is by far the most popular and successful method of fishing this time of season, covering lots of water and varied depths. Do not always expect the best areas to be the protected shorelines. Drifting up to windy beaches where bait is being pushed is a classic strategy for spring hookups. Redfish like windy conditions. Live shrimp under a popping cork on a windy day is a sure thing to hook you into a big fish fight. April is when those giant trout move up through the Land Cut and into the Baffin Bay Area to spawn. Working the edge with soft plastics is some of the most technical and exciting ways to land true trophy trout. Many times, I sight cast to giant 30-inch plus trout as they are tailing along the shallow edge. My favorite choices for spring soft plastics are the Down South Lures Super Model in Bone/Diamond and Super Natural. Pair this on a ¼-ounce jig head when fishing from the boat along the side of the channel. For wade-fishing I use the same plastic, but I lighten up to a 1/16 to 1/8th ounce jig head. With the lighter set up I can slowly swim the bait across the flats. Then I slowly let it fall into the various sand pockets and grass lines. The fishing here during the spring months can be windy or calm at any time. Cold fronts are weak. However, they change the direction of flow and tide levels, throwing anglers off predicted fishing patterns. Concentrate on areas rich in bait and diverse bird activity. Good water clarity is good, but not all important. Smell and vibration are just as important. Come down and fish some new and diverse water. Our bays are healthy, and our water conditions are great. Let me help you learn new techniques and strategies. 52

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MIDDLE COAST HOTSPOTS

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

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Mud Island Shoreline GPS: N 27 56.013, W 97 1.009 (27.9336, -97.0168)

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 migrating back into the bays. LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: Copano Reef GPS: N 28 6.0117, W 97 6.0067 (28.1002, -97.1001)

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou T E X A S

F I S H

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 TIPS: Shorelines are always a good bet with cut menhaden and perch head. LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Panther Reef GPS: N 28 13.0105, W 96 41.0139 (28.2168, -96.6836)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 TIPS: With cut perch head, you have a good chance of picking up a nice size trout along the bank.

SPECIES: Redﬁsh and Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 TIPS: As the water warms head a little south toward Copano Bay. It it’s even warmer, move to Estes Flat.

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier 409-354-3865 TIPS: In a north wind, ﬁsh Matagorda Island, between Panther Island and Cedar Bayou.

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Accepting the Early Spring Challenge BAFFIN BAY Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

ARCH AND APRIL FISHing in Baffin Bay can best be described as an enjoyable challenge. The bay is gradually becoming warmer. Development of cold fronts happen less often, but are slightly more predictable. In addition, the wind and rain will continue to be spotty. For live bait trips throughout the spring, I personally prefer shrimp. The two bait shops located near Baffin Bay are routinely bringing in live shrimp this time of year and will continue to do so for the remainder of the spring and summer. This can be CAPT. MERRITT geradmerritt@gmail.com a great option to use under a popping cork whether you are fishing from a boat, pier, or wading. When using shrimp under a popping cork, I look to grass lines and rock structures to find trout and redfish. It is best to begin by working the cork every 10-15 seconds. After a fish has taken the cork completely underwater, wait 3-4 seconds before setting the hook to ensure a good hook set. On clear, calm days when the sun is just right, sight casting with artificial bait in shallow flats can be a lot of fun. An important factor to remember on favorable days is if you can see the fish clearly, they can also see you. Throughout this season, choosing a lure of soft plastic with good shine or a spoon would be my first choice. Gulps and corky lures are also a few of my favorites. Although these can be used in a variety of ways, they will also do well under a popping cork. I suggest drifting across flats, rocks,

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with live shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas 281-869-5511 TIPS: Fish live shrimp or Gulp in a Nuclear Chicken color …. Iridescent, light green, and pink/reddish.

drop offs, and grass lines. Make sure when doing this, to work contouring lines and good-sized structures. Keep in mind that most of these fish are ambush predators, and these fish need a reason to be there. This year, I have observed a remarkable influx of blue crabs throughout our entire bay system. I have also noticed that when you are fishing with shrimp, and the cork is just slowly going under and then popping back up, there is usually a crab picking away at the shrimp. Although blue crabs are good to eat and exciting to catch, make sure you understand all the rules and regulations for catching them. There are endless opportunities when it comes to enjoying the marine life in Baffin Bay. Regardless of the fishing method you choose, it is important to enjoy the experience and make lifelong memories with your family and friends.

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LOWER COAST HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Kennedy Shoreline GPS: N 27 14.0094, W 97 25.0076 (27.2335, -97.4168)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwater baits and MirrOlure soft plastics SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net TIPS: Key on baitﬁsh, slicks working around the rock areas. Sometimes some pretty big ﬁsh come from this area. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Stover Point GPS: N 26 12.0031, W 97 17.0117 (26.2001, -97.2835)

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: Duncan’s Channel GPS: N 26 19.0099, W 97 18.0098 (26.3168, -97.3002)

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HOTSPOTLIGHT GPS: N 26 5.0155, W 97 12.0163 (26.0836, -97.2003)

10 6

7 8

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Weedless quarter ounce Johnson Gold Spoon SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas 281-869-5511 TIPS: In clear water use a weedless gold spoon. Work the deeper ﬂats, deep edges along the channel.

Baffin Bay

2 3

1 5

LOCATION: Port Mansﬁeld HOTSPOT: Land Cut GPS: N 26 47.0116, W 97 26.0166 (26.7835, -97.4336)

MOUTH OF BAFFIN BAY

BAFFIN BAY OFFERS SOME OF THE BEST FISHING ACTION ON THE TEXAS COAST, if not the entire world. Find elected HOTSPOTS are in the table and on the map. SPECKLED TROUT KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

GPS

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

N 27 18.382, W 97 26.263 N 27 16.599, W 97 25.003 N 27 15.672, W 97 25.290 N 27 15.942, W 97 27.401

Fish outside edge rocks with live croaker, sink to bottom.; May-Aug, dawn thru midday

N 27 19.503, W 97 24.425 N 27 18.228, The Badlands 7 W 97 24.338 N 27 18.248, Tide Gauge Bar 8 W 97 27.593 N 27 15.555, Spoil Banks of Penascal Point 9 W 97 25.154 FLOUNDER N 27 19.762, ICW / Compuerta Pass 10 W 97 23.944 N 27 19.066, ICW next to Palms 11 W 97 24.052 N 27 17.392, Between ICW Spoils 12 W 97 24.510 WADEFISHING N 27 16.386, 1 Badlands South W 97 25.266 N 27 18.388, 2 Tide Gauge Bar W 97 27.540

Wade or Drift shallows along shoreline w shrimp, topwaters; Jul-Oct, morning-midday

Cat Head

Rocks at 4

Penescal

Green 9

REDFISH

Compuerta Pass

SPECIES: Black drum and redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 www.MatagordaFishing.com TIPS: Live shrimp can catch a lot of black drum and redﬁsh as they move in from the Jetties.

Live shrimp, anchor upwind of rocks, cast to edge; May-Jul, morning, dusk Topwaters, wade under a full moon, large trout action; Feb-May, night Shrimp, with SE wind, Drift shoreline to Marker 9; AprMay, morning thru midday

Wade or Drift targeting nervous water or bait moving; Jun-Oct, morning-midday

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

At daylight use bone topwaters, later use gold weedless spn; Apr-Jul, dawn Freeline live bait, work east dropoff, work bait slowly; May-Aug, dawn thru midday Mud minnows, best w moving tide or w S or SE wind; Jul-Oct, dawn-morn, dusk-night Finger mullet, best w moving tide or w S or SE wind; Jul-Oct, dawn-morn, dusk-night Mud minnows, best w moving tide or w S or SE wind; Jul-Oct, dawn-morn, dusk-night Speckled trout, redﬁsh, black drum, live shrimp, mullet; Apr-Nov; dawn thru morn

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Spook Junior SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas 281-869-5511 TIPS: Fish a 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.

At daylight use bone tops, later use gold weedless spn; Apr-Jul; dawn thru morning

SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2021

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with live shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas 281-869-5511 TIPS: In open water, fish the flood tides. In smaller

bays ﬁsh an ebb tide because the nutrients are being ﬂushed out of the small bays and channels. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: West of Spoil Bank T E X A S

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

Spring Spawns Hit High Gear on East Lakes BEST BAITS: Live bait, topwaters SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Darkness is your friend and nighttime is the best time to ﬁsh this spot. LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Ames Basin and Clinton Lake areas GPS: N 32 42.6059, W 94 5.214 (32.7101, -94.0869)

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad or Storm Swim Shad SOURCE: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: The hybrid stripers are doing great now, and this is the time to catch trophy fish. They will be all around the lake on main lake points and humps. The use of electronics is a necessity! Find the schools of shad and you will find the Hybrids. This time of year, they will range in the water column from 28 foot to 40 feet. Find the depth the bait fish are in, and you will find the fish. One mistake a lot of people make in doing this is they don’t constantly watch what depth the fish are in. These fish move up and down in the water column hour to hour and if you don’t follow them, you will soon stop catching fish. Live shad will be the bait of choice, but the swim shad will work if you can control the depth. LOCATION: Lake Cooper HOTSPOT: Doctors Creek GPS: N 33 21.036, W 95 42.073 (33.3506, -95.7012)

Reported by TF&G STAFF SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Black colored frogs, Texas-rigged Worms in colors of black/blue or June bug SOURCE: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 www.caddolakeﬁshing.com TIPS: The spawn is in full gear in April. I like to throw black colored frogs over the shallow vegetation and around the base of the cypress trees in 1-3 feet of water. Pitching the large Texas rigged worms in 3-5 feet of water around the base of the cypress trees is also a good choice for April. Worm colors of black/ blue or June bug with a 3/8 to 1/2 oz weight are good choices for Caddo Lake.

EAST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Bob Sandlin HOTSPOT: Brushy Creek GPS: N 33 0.395, W 95 9.204 (33.0066, -95.1534)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-593-5077 TIPS: This is a great spawning area. Fish weed beds with minnows. Morning through afternoon.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass

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CURRENT LAKE LEVELS LAKE

EAST TEXAS

As of 2/7/2022

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.66,458 -n.a.180,423 7,945 29,898 30,055 401,642 8,061 61,364 456,684 130,147 17,113 25,670 195,411 230,390 1,741,867 27,246 38,285 34,422 367,303 100,270 2,483,098 16,934 10,058 1,984,610 122,593

% FULL -n.a.96% -n.a.94% 72% 100% 97% 98% 88% 92% 76% 100% 100% 100% 75% 96% 100% 78% 100% 87% 100% 88% 87% 100% 57% 89% 100%

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LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creeks GPS: N 32 50.652, W 95 33.5579 (32.8442, -95.5593)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Texas-rigged watermelon red or green pumpkin baby brush hog, wacky worm in same colors, lizards in the same colors and the Senko type baits. SOURCE: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: April is known as the spawn month on Lake Fork. Many different baits will catch those bass in shallow water. Look for protected areas from a north wind and a strong south wind in 1-7 feet deep. You can find this type of areas in Burch, Little Caney, and Bell Creek. You will find bass on beds in the month of April. Fish slow and you will find that trophy bass!

Located 10 mi. west of Center, TX.

Lake Pinkston

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE PINKSTON LOCATION: On Sandy Creek 10 miles west of Center on State Highway 7 SURFACE AREA: 523 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 45 feet IMPOUNDED: 1976 DON’T LET PINKSTON’S SMALL SIZE fool you. It is capable of turning out huge largemouth bass. In fact, the lake record is a whopping 16.9 pounds. The lake is not as well known for

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LOCATION: Lake Houston HOTSPOT: Riverbed GPS: N 29 57.01, W 95 9.367 (29.9502, -95.1561)

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Harmon Creek GPS: N 30 51.582, W 95 26.2739 (30.8597, -95.4379)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut minnows, use Mudcat flagging juglines SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas TIPS: Cut minnows, use Mudcat flagging juglines

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Jigs and Rat-L-Traps SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Cast jigs and chrome/blue Rat-L-Traps in the CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 

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crappie, but here again, the fish that are caught tend to be larger. Catfish have been stocked in the reservoir, but their numbers are not high. There is a strong bluegill fishery, providing excellent action for young anglers. Standing timber and hydrilla provide the major habitat vegetation, along with native coontail, pondweed and lily pads.

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CENTRAL TEXAS deep holes off sandy points. Troll the deep holes with the same baits. LOCATION: Lake Murvaul HOTSPOT: CR 175 at Sands Creek GPS: N 32 2.055, W 94 27.667 (32.0343, -94.4611)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits, frogs SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office 409-698-9114 TIPS: Look for spawners in hydrilla and cottontails. Avoid midday. LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Hijacker Point GPS: N 32 51.335, W 94 41.941 (32.8556, -94.6990) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear TIPS: Fish the deep bank along road, flip to vegetation; dawn, morning, dusk; dawn, morning, dusk LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches HOTSPOT: 1st Cove GPS: N 31 35.925, W 94 49.304 (31.5988, -94.8217)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Hard baits, topwaters, wacky worms SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-938-1007 TIPS: Use hard baits and cast into grass. Work topwaters and medium wacky worms on the grassline. Dawn through midday.

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a fast-moving bait like a Rat-L-Trap or spinnerbait to cover a lot of water to locate the ﬁsh. If you catch one, slow down because there will usually be more ﬁsh in the same area.

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

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut bait, night crawlers SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Fish in 5- to 25-foot water. LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Wilson Creek (the Polly Farm) GPS: N 31 38.7239, W 93 50.958 (31.6454, -93.8493)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, soft plastics, frogs, tubes, jigs, spinnerbaits, top water baits, stick baits and shallow diving crank baits. Just about anything in your tackle box. SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear TIPS: Statistics over the last five years have shown that more lunkers” (bass weighing 10lbs or more) are caught in March than any other month of the year. If you are lucky enough to land a lunker” and have it weighed and certified at a registered Toledo Bend Lake Association station, the TBLA will give you a mounted replica. what a deal! Visit the TBLA website for more information. The bass are in shallow water moving in and out of the spawning flats. If a cold front moves in, the fish will stay in the same area but will move out to the closest drop into deep water. Start off with

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman HOTSPOT: Burns Island GPS: N 33 15.011, W 94 20.781 (33.2502, -94.3464)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-938-1007 TIPS: This is a great spawning area. Fish weed beds with minnows. Morning through afternoon.

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Rising Water Temps Ramp Up the Action BEST BAITS: Top water lures: Zaro Spook, Red ﬁn, Long A bomber or Pencil poppers SOURCE: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: Stripers will be on windy points where shad are running. Fish topwater baits. White bass will be in these areas as well.

TIPS: Fish a small Carolina rig on the bottom near main lake retaining walls and points. LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 43.812, W 97 10.38 (28.7302, -97.1730)

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Guadalupe River Area GPS: N 29 53.514, W 98 19.302 (29.8919, -98.3217)

Reported by TF&G STAFF

CENTRAL TEXAS HOTSPOTS

SPECIES: Crappie & Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crappie: soft plastic baits 2”-3” long and minnows | Bass: crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits and top water lures SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshgamegear TIPS: Water temperature will vary from the mid 50’s to mid 60’s in March and this is the time of year for the bass and crappie to be spawning. Look for prime areas for spawning in shallow water. Fish the back of coves and other shallow water areas. Bass and crappie will hit just about anything during spawning season.

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Emma Long Park GPS: N 30 19.498, W 97 50.546 (30.3250, -97.8424)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Crankbaits work best; all day; All year, all day

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Main Lake Retaining Walls and Points GPS: N 32 16.3979, W 96 7.7219 (32.2733, -96.1287)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits in white with small Colorado blades (brass blades), jig and craw combo SOURCE: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-250-3959 www.coletocreekguideﬁshing.com TIPS: Spawn in South Texas depends on how winter is going. On most lakes the pre-spawn starts in February. Often, it starts in March at Coleto. Don’t discount the very back of the creeks for lunkers. Focus on creek mouths, slow rolling the spinner. . LOCATION: Lake Corpus Christi HOTSPOT: Nueces River Channel at Dam GPS: N 28 2.55, W 97 52.132 (28.0425, -97.8689)

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake Windy Points GPS: N 30 48.1499, W 98 26.0099 (30.8025, -98.4335)

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Live Shad SOURCE: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 www.kingscreekadventures.com

SPECIES: Striped Bass

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live minnow, perch SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Live or cut shad, cheesebait, use bottom rigs; March thru November LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake

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HOTSPOTLIGHT: CURRENT LAKE LEVELS

CENTRAL TEXAS

LAKE

As of 2/7/2022

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 9,615 49,827 8,583 439,559 788,167 1,087,839 150,293 227,771 871,685 159,566 1,243,801 1,113,348 72,073 189,418 10,780 17,812 553,344 24,419

CURRENT

(Acre Feet)

38,549 29,691 29,503 23,081 45,092 402,563 65,671 755,404 373,370 595,607 280,766 193,795 160,927 28,702 20,593 51,822 154,187 5,329 22,611 12,967 164,172 327,830 512,061 194,694 111,248 6,825 64,496 64,253 22,850 8,493 44,007 7,654 405,030 759,851 1,002,568 150,293 210,888 790,611 159,566 1,196,170 778,597 72,073 159,741 8,640 14,599 504,839 17,295

HOTSPOT: Pelican Island GPS: N 32 54.418, W 97 29.789 (32.906973, -97.496489)

% FULL 89% 74% 100% 96% 98% 93% 77% 88% 99% 92% 42% 76% 90% 78% 80% 100% 95% 88% 94% 93% 93% 81% 91% 96% 97% 99% 85% 25% 100% 88% 88% 89% 92% 96% 92% 100% 93% 91% 100% 96% 70% 100% 84% 80% 82% 91% 71%

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15 mi. w-southwest of Victoria

eto l o C ek Cre s. Re

COLETO CREEK RES. LOCATION: 15 miles west-southwest of Victoria off U.S. 59. SURFACE AREA: 3,100 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 46 feet IMPOUNDED: 1980

at five to 8 pounds. The lake also has an excellent population of crappie. Blue, flathead and channel catfish are also there in good numbers. Coleto Creek has steep rocky banks, flooded timber and several creek channels. It is in the Guadalupe River Basin.

COLETO CREEK RESERVIOR IS A cooling pond for the Coleto Creek Power Station. The reservoir has excellent bass ﬁshing, with largemouth catches regularly weighing in

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SPECIES: Blue catfish BEST BAITS: Cut bait SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service 814-243-5858 kolbymkuhn@gmail.com TIPS: When the water starts to warm up, the bait moves to shallower water. The blue catfish will follow the bait. Look for wind-blown points and shoreline with cover such as brush or lay downs mixed in. The best way to catch these fish is by anchoring the boat and casting several lines with cut bait out on the bottom on the edge of the brush.

(32.9304727, -97.4969096)

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: slabs SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service 814-243-5858 kolbymkuhn@gmail.com TIPS: Once water temps reach the upper 50’s and lower 60’s, the white bass will begin spawning. Some will run up the river and some will spawn on wind

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Main lake hump GPS: N 32 55.828, W 97 29.815 T E X A S

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Live minnows, yellow/white jigs SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Fish treetops; all day

CENTRAL TEXAS blown main lake points and humps. Look for ﬁsh to be on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water. These ﬁsh can be caught by vertical jigging slabs off the bottom.

LOCATION: Lake Limestone HOTSPOT: Big Creek GPS: N 31 26.798, W 96 21.132 (31.4466, -96.3522)

LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Intake Corner GPS: N 29 55.2779, W 96 44.8379 (29.9213, -96.7473)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Stink bait, worms SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fish are eating Algae and bait fish along the rocks and are also spawning there. Fish rocks and cattails along intake. Dawn to mid-morning.

SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 whitebassﬁshingtexas.com TIPS: Fish minnows along the edges of the creek and intersection roadbed. Morning to late afternoon. LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Shallow Coves and Humps GPS: N 33 3.33, W 96 26.952 (33.0555, -96.4492)

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Lone Tree East of Hog Point GPS: N 30 37.8808, W 96 3.781 (30.6313, -96.0630)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad, carp, or buffalo SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 whitebassfishingtexas.com TIPS: Fish shallow coves in 1-to-4-foot depths floating cut bait. Also, drift fish the main lake humps.

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad, Crawfish, Punch bait SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fishing is great when south winds blow into the bank here. Fish tight line or cork set shallow. Cast close to shore. The bite can be fast so ready!

LOCATION: Lake Lewisville HOTSPOT: Hickory Creek GPS: N 33 5.924, W 97 3.121 (33.0987, -97.0520)

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Roadbed crosses Creek Trees GPS: N 32 32.924, W 97 02.866 (32.5487, -97.0478)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Fish a worm around boat houses and isolated trees SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Fish a worm around boat houses and isolated trees; dawn thru dusk LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Kickapoo Creek, Chimney Creek Cove GPS: N 32 4.9379, W 95 24.942 (32.0823, -95.4157)

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

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LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard HOTSPOT: 66 Cattails GPS: N 32 53.537, W 96 32.852 (32.8923, -96.5475)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/8 oz. bright color jigs, use long pole & jig cattails SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: 1/8 oz. bright color jigs, use long pole & jig cattails; all day

BEST BAITS: 1 oz. Silver Glitter RSR Shad Slabs (www.rsrlures.com) SOURCE: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 www.goneﬁshin.biz TIPS: Watch for the gulls and pelicans dipping down to pick up shad off the surface. Concentrate on drop-offs and Ridges in the 309 ﬂats area in water depths ranging from 20’30’. Bounce the Slab off the bottom and when the strike occurs, HOLD ON! It might be a BIG Ol’ Hybrid!

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Fish live minnows under cork SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Fish live minnows under cork; all day

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Yegua creek channel GPS: N 30 18.1499, W 96 39.204 (30.3025, -96.6534)

LOCATION: Lake Waco HOTSPOT: Entrance to Waco Marina GPS: N 31 33.277, W 97 14.072 (31.5546, -97.2345)

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

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits, crankbaits SOURCE: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 TIPS: 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 the lake. The fish on the north end of the lake will start to guard fry. Start the day wiorking hite buzzbaits along the grass edges and secondary points in the Northern creeks. Square bill cranks and weightless flukes will get bites. Watermelon flukes and shad-colored crankbaits usually fair well. LOCATION: Richland-Chambers Res. HOTSPOT: 309 Flats Area GPS: N 31 58.4699, W 96 7.6259 (31.9745, -96.1271)

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers and White Bass

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Shad or CJ’s punch bait SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Water is warming, and it warms faster in shallow areas here. There is a slight drop off in the middle of this area. Spread chum and cast several lines out with tight lines here.

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Nolan at the Brazos GPS: N 32 5.202, W 97 28.1459 (32.0867, -97.4691)

LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni HOTSPOT: Rainbow Point GPS: N 32 55.176, W 96 3.37 (32.9196, -96.0562)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad and Flea Fly SOURCE: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 www.teamredneck.net TIPS: This is good time to head up river to the mouth of the Nolan River for spawning whites but they can also be caught main lake. Use a small swim bait and tie a ﬂea ﬂy about 10” above it and make long casts up on points and bounce up and down along edge of point back to boat. Catch them two at a time!

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Chum the area then drift with Live or Cut shad, shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Chum the area then drift with Live or Cut shad, shrimp; January-April, dawn-afternoon. LOCATION: Lake Texana HOTSPOT: 530 Bridge GPS: N 29 1.889, W 96 37.267 (29.0315, -96.6211) T E X A S

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Tournament ﬁsh release point, Work the jetty to the south point; dawn-morn, afternoon-dusk

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Stripers, Hybrids & White Bass Get Frisky LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Evans Creek GPS: N 29 32.058, W 101 03.579 (29.5343, -101.0597)

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

Reported by DEAN HEFFNER

WEST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Arrowhead HOTSPOT: Deer Creek Causeway GPS: N 33 40.279, W 98 23.076 (33.6713, -98.3846)

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creeks and Small Coves GPS: N 33 3.456, W 101 4.914 (33.0576, -101.0819)

BEST BAITS: Slabs and Mepps spinner baits worked vertically. Chartruese and silver are producing best. SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 www.unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: By April, Granbury water temperatures will be rising into the 70s and the spring spawning patterns will continue for many species. The white bass spawn will be essentially finished, and these fish will return to the main lake. The weather will heat up and the summertime patterns will be in full force shortly. White bass are good on slabs on or near feeding flats all over the lake. Stripers are on the upper ends but will be moving to the lower ends as the water heats up. Best bait for stripers is live shad fished near channel ledges mid-lake and on the lower ends. When schooling, any shad imitation bait like rattletraps and swimbaits worked through feeding fish will work. LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Peanut Patch GPS: N 32 53.376, W 98 29.440 (32.8896, -98.490667)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/ﬁshandgamegear TIPS: Focus on corners of the bridge. Dawn through dusk.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Soft baits, jigs, weightless Senkos SOURCE: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: April will find the bass getting ready to spawn. When the water hits 60 degrees, you will start finding buck bass preparing the bed for the females. When the water hits about 64 degrees, the females will move up on the bed. Find a good flat with water in the 3-to-15-foot depth and run a soft bait or jig slowly through the bed. This is also a good time to slowly run a weightless Senko type soft bait. Bedding bass will spawn first up the creek because that is where you will find the warmest water. Bass on the upper end of the lake will spawn first and last at the dam end of the lake. Hit the small coves first and hit the larger creeks later.

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LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake GPS: N 32 24.327, W 97 44.648 (32.4055, -97.7441)

SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass, Hybrids BEST BAITS: RatLTraps, crankbaits SOURCE: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 Fav7734@gmail.com TIPS: Look for fish to be stacked on the 20- or 30-foot breaklines. We are still slabbin` but also starting to catch fish on ‘Traps and cranks. if the fish’s fins are white and blue, then use blueback baits instead of black. Stripers, white bass and hybrids are all feeding on shad, so use shad or stick with white and/or chartreuse color artificials. Watch the birds—they are still

SPECIES: Striped/White Bass

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CURRENT LAKE LEVELS LAKE

WEST TEXAS

As of 2/7/2022

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

CAPACITY

(Acre Feet)

7,900 96,207 1,840,849 19,266 230,359 28,808 366,236 130,868 41,580 40,094 29,003 38,075 30,758 517,272 1,985,900 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 9,615 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)

5,749 84,744 888,525 18,555 195,442 16,367 319,952 118,972 28,752 40,094 25,017 35,183 22,403 126,297 200,179 362,232 65,064 38,377 129,549 9,697 3,400 270,583 77,447 205,803 63,820 23,774 11,447 3,515 171,273 22,743 5,042 8,493 18,532 12,112 6,917 297,565 26,554 393 25,490 19,976 513,507 46,979 113,133 151,250 43,975 9,765 94,231 5,548

% FULL 73% 88% 48% 96% 85% 57% 87% 91% 69% 100% 86% 92% 73% 24% 10% 23% 93% 85% 97% 16% 42% 86% 39% 84% 74% 86% 96% 8% 34% 85% 96% 88% 86% 79% 6% 54% 68% 1% 95% 77% 95% 86% 75% 100% 85% 80% 52% 19%

•

here. If you see any floodwaters coming in, get closer to the mouth of the Brazos or Cedar Creek. If there is water flowing, fish will head to it.

••

•••

e k La ona c o N

8 mi. northeast of Nocona

HOTSPOTLIGHT

LAKE NOCONA LOCATION: 8 miles northeast of the city of Nocona, off FM 2634 SURFACE AREA: 1,362 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 80 feet IMPOUNDED: 1961 LARGEMOUTH BASS ARE THE MAIN draw at Lake Nocona. It’s a big bass lake and the ﬁshing is good throughout the year. Crappie share the spotlight with largemouth, with catches of big slabs common. The large number of boat-

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2203-DIG.indd 65

houses on the lake are prime crappie habitat. White bass ﬁshing is good, especially in the spring when they make their run up Farmers Creek at the southern end of the lake. Channel and blue catﬁsh action is fair in the lake. Flooded timber, shoreline vegetation, and the many docks and boat houses provide excellent cover in the lake.

F I S H

G A M E ®

•

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

2/16/22 4:47 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MARCH/APRIL 2022

Tides and Prime Times The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for our Base Point, Galveston Channel (N 29.317, W 94.88) Tidal movement and the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of inﬂuence on many ﬁsh and game species. AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.

TIDE CONVERSION TABLE HIGH

SABINE AREA T1 Sabine Bank Lighthouse

LOW

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

LOW

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

Eagle Point

+3:54 +4:15

T17

Galveston Pleasure Pier

-1:06 -1:06

Clear Lake

+6:05 +6:40

T18

San Luis Pass

-0.09 -0.09

Sabine Pass Jetty

-1:26 -1:31

T10

Morgans Point

+10:21 +5:19

Sabine Pass

-1:00 -1:15

T11

Round Pt, Trinity Bay

+10:39 +5:15

T12

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay

+5:48 +4:43

T20

Pass Cavallo

0:00

-0:04 -0:25

T13

Gilchrist, East Bay

+3:16 +4:18

T21

Aransas Pass

-0:03 -1:31

LOWER COAST T22 Padre Island (So. End)

-0:24 -1:45

GALVESTON BAY AREA T4 Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass T5

Galveston Bay, S. Jetty

-0:39 -1:05

T14

Jamaica Beach, W. Bay

+2:38 +3:31

Port Bolivar

+0:14 -0:06

T15

Alligator Point, W. Bay

+2:39 +2:33

Texas City Turning Basin

+0:33 +0:41

T16

Christmas Pt

+2:32 +2:31

MONDAY

Low Tide: 8:24a High Tide: 4:38p Low Tide: 9:17p

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

FEET

1:16a 9:16a 4:57p 9:38p

2

1.13ft. -0.69ft. 1.09ft. 0.78ft.

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

2:33a 10:02a 5:15p 10:10p

3 High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

3:43a 10:45a 5:32p 10:48p

12a

Sunrise: 7:31a Sunset: 6:33p Moonrise: 3:55a Moon Set: 4:46p

AM Minor: 2:45a AM Major: 8:57a PM Minor: 3:09p PM Major: 9:21p

Austin

Port Arthur

Houston San Antonio

Galveston Port O’Connor

Freeport

Aransas Pass



Corpus Christi

BASE POINT: GALVESTON CHANNEL (N 29.317, W 94.880)

-1:20 Port Isabel

+1:02 -0:42

THURSDAY

1.13ft. -0.51ft. 1.00ft. 0.58ft.

Dallas

-0:44 -1:02

Port Isabel

T23

WEDNESDAY

Mar 1 

-0.79ft. 1.19ft. 0.96ft.

Fort Worth

LOW

-1:46 -1:31

UPPER MIDDLE COAST T19 Freeport Harbor

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 10:25a Moon Underfoot: 10:49p

TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the White Area MONDAY at the top of the Calendar Pages. You can use the Nov 1 High Tide: 2:36a 1.63 ft. CONVERSION TABLE below to make adjustments. Low Tide: 8:33a 1.03 ft. High Tide: 2:05p 1.46 ft. It is keyed to 23 other tide stations along the Texas Low Tide: 8:10p 0.71 ft. Coast (see these map icons: T1 ). Adjust low and high tide times, plus or minus in minutes, from the times given for the Base Point at Galveston Channel.

While tides are not a direct factor in FRESHWATER FISHING, SoLunar Activity still accounts for increased feeding activity in freshwater species. It is also a prime factor in the movement and feeding habits of game species.

10:00a — 12:00p

Lubbock

SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE

PEAK TIMES: Our Forecast Calendar uses both Tide and SoLunar projections to predict the best fishing times and days. Generally, if a SoLunar Period (Major/Minor) falls within an hour of sunrise or sunset, fishing conditions should be better. On certain days where Tidal Activity is stronger, the best fishing times may fall ouside the normal SoLunar range.

PLACE

12a

Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE on the map below to adjust times for points East and West of our Base Point at Galveston Channel.

Amarillo

(See Instructions for reading the Graphs on the opposite page)

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.

KEY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the Green Boxes on the Calendar pages. Moon Overhead and Underfoot times are given in the SoLunar Box and illustrated on the Fishing Graph.

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

1.12ft. -0.27ft. 0.93ft. 0.37ft.

FRIDAY

4 High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:51a 11:26a 5:46p 11:28p

1.08ft. 0.01ft. 0.88ft. 0.19ft.

SATURDAY

5

High Tide: 6:01a Low Tide: 12:04p High Tide: 5:59p

1.03ft. 0.29ft. 0.86ft.

SUNDAY

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

12:09a 7:16a 12:40p 6:05p

0.05ft. 0.99ft. 0.55ft. 0.85ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

10:00A — 12:00P Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 6:17p Moonrise: 5:38a Moon Set: 4:19p

AM Minor: 3:03a AM Major: 9:18a PM Minor: 3:32p PM Major: 9:47p

Moon Overhead: 10:56a Moon Underfoot: 11:24p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 6:18p Moonrise: 6:22a Moon Set: 5:27p

AM Minor: 3:56a AM Major: 10:10a PM Minor: 4:23p PM Major: 10:37p Moon Overhead: 11:51a Moon Underfoot: None

M A R C H / A P R I L

TexasOutdoorNation-2203-DIG.indd 66

2 0 2 2

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 6:18p Moonrise: 7:00a Moon Set: 6:31p

AM Minor: 4:47a AM Major: 11:00a PM Minor: 5:12p PM Major: 11:25p

12a

12:30 — 2:30 PM

1:00 — 3:00 PM

AM Minor: 6:26a AM Major: 12:15a PM Minor: 6:49p PM Major: 12:37p

Moon Overhead: 1:30p Moon Underfoot: 1:07a

F I S H

12p

Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 6:20p Moonrise: 8:05a Moon Set: 8:31p

AM Minor: 5:37a AM Major: 11:21a PM Minor: 6:00p PM Major: -----

T E X A S

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:42a Sunset: 6:19p Moonrise: 7:34a Moon Set: 7:33p

Moon Overhead: 12:42p Moon Underfoot: 12:17a

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 2:15p Moon Underfoot: 1:53a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 6:20p Moonrise: 8:35a Moon Set: 9:29p

AM Minor: 7:16a AM Major: 1:05a PM Minor: 7:37p PM Major: 1:27p

Moon Overhead: 2:59p Moon Underfoot: 2:37a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 PM Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 6:21p Moonrise: 9:06a Moon Set: 10:26p

AM Minor: 8:05a AM Major: 1:54a PM Minor: 8:27p PM Major: 2:16p

Moon Overhead: 3:43p Moon Underfoot: 3:21a

G A M E ®

2/16/22 4:47 PM

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

7 FEET

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

12:53a 8:41a 1:13p 5:52p

TUESDAY

-0.04ft. 0.97ft. 0.77ft. 0.88ft.

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

1:43a 10:29a 1:30p 3:50p

WEDNESDAY

-0.09ft. 0.99ft. 0.95ft. 0.96ft.

Low Tide: 2:41a High Tide: 3:06p

THURSDAY

10 

-0.10ft. 1.07ft.

Low Tide: 3:51a High Tide: 3:24p

FRIDAY

-0.10ft. 1.15ft.

Low Tide: 5:07a High Tide: 3:43p

SATURDAY

-0.11ft. 1.18ft.

Low Tide: 6:13a High Tide: 3:50p

-0.14ft. 1.19ft.

SUNDAY

13 Beg DST Low Tide: 8:05a High Tide: 4:51p Low Tide: 10:48p

-0.16ft. 1.18ft. 1.04ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

3:30 — 5:30 PM

12p

12a

5:00 — 7:00 AM

1.05ft. -0.18ft. 1.17ft. 1.01ft.

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

1:32a 9:23a 5:05p 9:47p

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

2:35a 9:57a 5:17p 10:06p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30P — 12:30A Sunrise: 6:33a Sunset: 6:24p Moonrise: 12:22p Moon Set: 2:10a

1:30 — 3:30 AM

AM Minor: 12:35a AM Major: 6:48a PM Minor: 1:00p PM Major: 7:13p

Moon Overhead: 7:41p Moon Underfoot: 7:16a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:32a Sunset: 6:25p Moonrise: 1:13p Moon Set: 3:01a

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:00a PM Minor: 12:13p PM Major: 6:25p

Moon Overhead: 6:51p Moon Underfoot: 6:26a

2:30 — 4:30 AM Sunrise: 7:30a Sunset: 7:25p Moonrise: 3:09p Moon Set: 4:49a

AM Minor: 2:21a AM Major: 8:34a PM Minor: 2:47p PM Major: 8:59p

Moon Overhead: 8:32p Moon Underfoot: 8:07a

Moon Overhead: 10:23p Moon Underfoot: 9:58a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

16 

12a

AM Minor: 11:24a AM Major: 5:12a PM Minor: 11:49p PM Major: 5:36p

Moon Overhead: 6:02p Moon Underfoot: 5:38a

1.09ft. -0.17ft. 1.16ft. 0.92ft.

6:00 — 8:00 PM

AM Minor: 10:35a AM Major: 4:23a PM Minor: 10:59p PM Major: 4:47p

TUESDAY

12p

Sunrise: 6:34a Sunset: 6:23p Moonrise: 11:34a Moon Set: 1:16a

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

MONDAY

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:35a Sunset: 6:23p Moonrise: 10:52a Moon Set: 12:20a

Moon Overhead: 5:14p Moon Underfoot: 4:51a

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 9:45a AM Major: 3:33a PM Minor: 10:08p PM Major: 3:56p

Moon Overhead: 4:27p Moon Underfoot: 4:05a

12:04a 8:47a 4:56p 9:53p

12a

Sunrise: 6:36a Sunset: 6:22p Moonrise: 10:13a Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 8:55a AM Major: 2:44a PM Minor: 9:17p PM Major: 3:06p

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

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 6:22p Moonrise: 9:38a Moon Set: 11:23p

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

17 

1.14ft. -0.12ft. 1.14ft. 0.78ft.

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



3:35a 10:32a 5:31p 10:35p

 = New Moon  = Full Moon = First Quarter   = Last Quarter  = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

18 

1.18ft. -0.03ft. 1.11ft. 0.61ft.

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

4:35a 11:08a 5:43p 11:08p

1.22ft. 0.13ft. 1.07ft. 0.40ft.

SATURDAY

19  High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:38a 11:46a 5:52p 11:46p

1.25ft. 0.33ft. 1.04ft. 0.19ft.

SUNDAY

20 

High Tide: 6:47a Low Tide: 12:27p High Tide: 5:56p

1.27ft. 0.58ft. 1.04ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM Sunrise: 7:29a Sunset: 7:26p Moonrise: 4:07p Moon Set: 5:32a

AM Minor: 3:07a AM Major: 9:19a PM Minor: 3:32p PM Major: 9:44p

Moon Overhead: 11:13p Moon Underfoot: 10:48a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

10:00P — 12:00A Sunrise: 7:28a Sunset: 7:26p Moonrise: 5:07p Moon Set: 6:11a

AM Minor: 3:51a AM Major: 10:03a PM Minor: 4:15p PM Major: 10:27p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:37a

12p

10:30P — 12:30A Sunrise: 7:27a Sunset: 7:27p Moonrise: 6:08p Moon Set: 6:47a

AM Minor: 4:35a AM Major: 10:47a PM Minor: 4:58p PM Major: 11:10p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:24p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2203-DIG.indd 67

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:00 — 7:00 AM

11:00P — 1:00A Sunrise: 7:25a Sunset: 7:28p Moonrise: 8:08p Moon Set: 7:52a

AM Minor: 5:19a AM Major: 11:30a PM Minor: 5:42p PM Major: 11:53p

AM Minor: 6:04a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:27p PM Major: 12:15p

Moon Overhead: 12:48a Moon Underfoot: 1:11p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:26a Sunset: 7:28p Moonrise: 7:08p Moon Set: 7:20a

F I S H

Moon Overhead: 1:34a Moon Underfoot: 1:56p

G A M E ®

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 7:23a Sunset: 7:29p Moonrise: 9:09p Moon Set: 8:23a

AM Minor: 6:51a AM Major: 12:40a PM Minor: 7:14p PM Major: 1:03p Moon Overhead: 2:19a Moon Underfoot: 2:43p M A R C H / A P R I L

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 7:22a Sunset: 7:29p Moonrise: 10:13p Moon Set: 8:56a

AM Minor: 7:42a AM Major: 1:30a PM Minor: 8:07p PM Major: 1:55p

Moon Overhead: 3:06a Moon Underfoot: 3:31p 2 0 2 2

2/16/22 4:47 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

21 FEET

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

12:29a 8:04a 1:10p 5:50p

TUESDAY

-0.01ft. 1.29ft. 0.84ft. 1.07ft.

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

1:17a 9:34a 1:58p 5:24p

WEDNESDAY

-0.18ft. 1.32ft. 1.08ft. 1.16ft.

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

2:13a 11:22a 3:05p 4:21p

THURSDAY

-0.30ft. 1.37ft. 1.29ft. 1.29ft.

Low Tide: 3:20a High Tide: 1:27p

FRIDAY

25 

-0.36ft. 1.45ft.

Low Tide: 4:37a High Tide: 2:51p

SATURDAY

-0.38ft. 1.50ft.

Low Tide: 5:59a High Tide: 3:31p

-0.38ft. 1.49ft.

SUNDAY

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

7:15a 3:56p 9:55p 11:53p

-0.36ft. 1.43ft. 1.16ft. 1.19ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 AM

12a

12p

12a

5:00 — 7:00 AM

-0.29ft. 1.34ft. 1.02ft.

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

FEET

1:42a 9:16a 4:30p 9:48p

30  High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

3:02a 10:05a 4:44p 10:13p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 7:16a Sunset: 7:32p Moonrise: 2:41a Moon Set: 12:53p

1:00 — 3:00 AM

AM Minor: 1:13a AM Major: 7:28a PM Minor: 1:44p PM Major: 7:59p

Moon Overhead: 7:47a Moon Underfoot: 8:18p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:15a Sunset: 7:33p Moonrise: 3:41a Moon Set: 1:58p

AM Minor: 12:21a AM Major: 6:29a PM Minor: 12:45p PM Major: 7:00p

Moon Overhead: 6:46a Moon Underfoot: 7:16p

2:00 — 4:00 AM Sunrise: 7:14a Sunset: 7:33p Moonrise: 4:33a Moon Set: 3:05p

AM Minor: 2:09a AM Major: 8:23a PM Minor: 2:38p PM Major: 8:52p

Moon Overhead: 8:48a Moon Underfoot: 9:18p

Moon Overhead: 9:47a Moon Underfoot: 10:15p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

1.23ft. -0.16ft. 1.24ft. 0.82ft.

12a

AM Minor: 11:43a AM Major: 5:27a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:58p

Moon Overhead: 5:46a Moon Underfoot: 6:15p

TUESDAY

5:30 — 7:30 AM

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

MONDAY

12p

Sunrise: 7:18a Sunset: 7:32p Moonrise: 1:36a Moon Set: 11:53a

AM Minor: 10:39a AM Major: 4:25a PM Minor: 11:09p PM Major: 4:54p

Moon Overhead: 4:49a Moon Underfoot: 5:17p

READING THE GRAPH

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:19a Sunset: 7:31p Moonrise: 12:28a Moon Set: 11:00a

AM Minor: 9:37a AM Major: 3:23a PM Minor: 10:05p PM Major: 3:51p

Moon Overhead: 3:56a Moon Underfoot: 4:22p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:20a Sunset: 7:31p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 10:13a

AM Minor: 8:38a AM Major: 2:25a PM Minor: 9:04p PM Major: 2:51p

Low Tide: 8:20a High Tide: 4:15p Low Tide: 9:35p

4:00 — 6:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:21a Sunset: 7:30p Moonrise: 11:19p Moon Set: 9:32a

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

31 

1.28ft. 0.03ft. 1.17ft. 0.59ft.

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



4:11a 10:51a 4:57p 10:42p

 = New Moon  = Full Moon = First Quarter   = Last Quarter  = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

Apr 1 

1.33ft. 0.25ft. 1.11ft. 0.38ft.

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

5:15a 11:32a 5:08p 11:15p

1.36ft. 0.49ft. 1.08ft. 0.20ft.

SATURDAY

2 High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:18a 12:13p 5:17p 11:49p

1.38ft. 0.72ft. 1.08ft. 0.08ft.

SUNDAY

3

High Tide: 7:20a Low Tide: 12:54p High Tide: 5:18p

1.38ft. 0.92ft. 1.10ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

10:00A — 12:00P Sunrise: 7:13a Sunset: 7:34p Moonrise: 5:18a Moon Set: 4:12p

AM Minor: 3:00a AM Major: 9:14a PM Minor: 3:27p PM Major: 9:41p

Moon Overhead: 10:43a Moon Underfoot: 11:09p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 7:12a Sunset: 7:34p Moonrise: 5:57a Moon Set: 5:17p

AM Minor: 3:48a AM Major: 10:00a PM Minor: 4:13p PM Major: 10:25p Moon Overhead: 11:34a Moon Underfoot: None

M A R C H / A P R I L

TexasOutdoorNation-2203-DIG.indd 68

2 0 2 2

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 7:10a Sunset: 7:35p Moonrise: 6:32a Moon Set: 6:18p

AM Minor: 4:32a AM Major: 10:44a PM Minor: 4:56p PM Major: 11:07p

12a

12:30 — 2:30 PM

1:00 — 3:00 PM

AM Minor: 5:59a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:21p PM Major: 12:32p

Moon Overhead: 1:07p Moon Underfoot: 12:45a

F I S H

12p

Sunrise: 7:08a Sunset: 7:36p Moonrise: 7:34a Moon Set: 8:15p

AM Minor: 5:15a AM Major: 11:27a PM Minor: 5:38p PM Major: 11:49p

T E X A S

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:09a Sunset: 7:36p Moonrise: 7:03a Moon Set: 7:17p

Moon Overhead: 12:22p Moon Underfoot: None

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 1:51p Moon Underfoot: 1:29a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 PM Sunrise: 7:07a Sunset: 7:37p Moonrise: 8:04a Moon Set: 9:13p

AM Minor: 6:45a AM Major: 12:34a PM Minor: 7:07p PM Major: 12:56p Moon Overhead: 2:35p Moon Underfoot: 2:13a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM Sunrise: 7:06a Sunset: 7:37p Moonrise: 8:36a Moon Set: 10:10p

AM Minor: 7:33a AM Major: 1:21a PM Minor: 7:55p PM Major: 1:44p

Moon Overhead: 3:20p Moon Underfoot: 2:57a

G A M E ®

2/16/22 4:47 PM

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

4 FEET

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

12:25a 8:26a 1:36p 4:56p

0.01ft. 1.37ft. 1.09ft. 1.14ft.

TUESDAY

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

1:04a 9:40a 2:43p 2:55p

-0.01ft. 1.36ft. 1.22ft. 1.22ft.

WEDNESDAY

Low Tide: 1:48a High Tide: 11:11a

0.02ft. 1.35ft.

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 2:42a High Tide: 1:55p

0.08ft. 1.37ft.

FRIDAY

8

Low Tide: 3:47a High Tide: 3:03p

0.14ft. 1.39ft.

SATURDAY

Low Tide: 5:02a High Tide: 3:11p

0.18ft. 1.39ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 6:13a High Tide: 3:15p

0.20ft. 1.38ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 PM Sunrise: 7:05a Sunset: 7:38p Moonrise: 9:09a Moon Set: 11:08p

AM Minor: 8:23a AM Major: 2:11a PM Minor: 8:46p PM Major: 2:35p

Moon Overhead: 4:06p Moon Underfoot: 3:42a

12p

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM Sunrise: 7:04a Sunset: 7:38p Moonrise: 9:47a Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 9:16a AM Major: 3:04a PM Minor: 9:40p PM Major: 3:28p

Moon Overhead: 4:54p Moon Underfoot: 4:30a

TexasOutdoorNation-2203-DIG.indd 69

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12a

12p

BEST TIME

10:00P — 12:00A 5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 7:02a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 10:28a Moon Set: 12:05a

AM Minor: 10:09a AM Major: 3:57a PM Minor: 10:34p PM Major: 4:21p

Moon Overhead: 5:43p Moon Underfoot: 5:18a

Sunrise: 7:01a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: 11:13a Moon Set: 1:01a

AM Minor: 11:03a AM Major: 4:50a PM Minor: 11:28p PM Major: 5:15p

Moon Overhead: 6:33p Moon Underfoot: 6:08a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

11:00P — 1:00A Sunrise: 7:00a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: 12:03p Moon Set: 1:53a

AM Minor: 11:55a AM Major: 5:43a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:08p

Moon Overhead: 7:23p Moon Underfoot: 6:58a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 6:59a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 12:57p Moon Set: 2:42a

AM Minor: 12:21a AM Major: 6:33a PM Minor: 12:46p PM Major: 6:58p

Moon Overhead: 8:13p Moon Underfoot: 7:48a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 6:58a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 1:53p Moon Set: 3:26a

AM Minor: 1:09a AM Major: 7:22a PM Minor: 1:34p PM Major: 7:47p

Moon Overhead: 9:03p Moon Underfoot: 8:38a

2/16/22 4:47 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

Low Tide: 7:11a High Tide: 3:22p Low Tide: 9:33p

0.21ft. 1.36ft. 1.12ft.

FEET

TUESDAY

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

12:24a 7:58a 3:32p 9:00p

WEDNESDAY

1.17ft. 0.25ft. 1.33ft. 1.01ft.

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

1:47a 8:41a 3:43p 9:06p

THURSDAY

14 

1.24ft. 0.31ft. 1.30ft. 0.83ft.

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

2:55a 9:23a 3:53p 9:30p

FRIDAY

15 

1.32ft. 0.42ft. 1.26ft. 0.60ft.

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

3:59a 10:06a 4:03p 10:01p

SATURDAY

16 

1.42ft. 0.58ft. 1.24ft. 0.35ft.

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

5:03a 10:51a 4:10p 10:38p

SUNDAY

17 

1.53ft. 0.77ft. 1.23ft. 0.10ft.

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

6:08a 11:40a 4:13p 11:19p

1.62ft. 0.99ft. 1.25ft. -0.11ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 AM Sunrise: 6:57a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 2:52p Moon Set: 4:07a

AM Minor: 1:56a AM Major: 8:08a PM Minor: 2:20p PM Major: 8:32p

12a

12p

10:00P — 12:00A

1.68ft. 1.20ft. 1.32ft.

10:30P — 12:30A

FEET

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

12:05a 8:32a 1:37p 3:43p

Low Tide: 12:58a High Tide: 9:56a

12a

-0.36ft. 1.72ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30P — 1:30A

12p

12a

12:00 — 2:00 AM

12a

12:30 — 2:30 AM Sunrise: 6:50a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 9:05p Moon Set: 7:29a

AM Minor: 5:28a AM Major: 11:40a PM Minor: 5:52p PM Major: -----

Moon Overhead: 12:10a Moon Underfoot: 12:33p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:51a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 7:58p Moon Set: 6:53a

AM Minor: 4:43a AM Major: 10:55a PM Minor: 5:06p PM Major: 11:18p

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:47a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 7:44p Moonrise: 6:54p Moon Set: 6:21a

AM Minor: 4:01a AM Major: 10:13a PM Minor: 4:24p PM Major: 10:36p

AM Minor: 6:18a AM Major: 12:05a PM Minor: 6:44p PM Major: 12:31p

Moon Overhead: 12:57a Moon Underfoot: 1:22p

Moon Overhead: 1:47a Moon Underfoot: 2:13p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

-0.27ft. 1.71ft. 1.39ft. 1.41ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Moon Overhead: 11:24p Moon Underfoot: 11:01a

TUESDAY

12p

Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:44p Moonrise: 5:52p Moon Set: 5:49a

AM Minor: 3:21a AM Major: 9:32a PM Minor: 3:44p PM Major: 9:55p

Moon Overhead: 10:38p Moon Underfoot: 10:15a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 4:52p Moon Set: 5:17a

AM Minor: 2:39a AM Major: 8:51a PM Minor: 3:03p PM Major: 9:14p

MONDAY

12a

BEST TIME

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

READING THE GRAPH

High Tide: 7:17a Low Tide: 12:33p High Tide: 4:08p

Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 3:52p Moon Set: 4:43a

Moon Overhead: 9:51p Moon Underfoot: 9:27a

18 

12p

BEST TIME



Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 1:58a High Tide: 11:28a

-0.36ft. 1.72ft.

 = New Moon  = Full Moon = First Quarter   = Last Quarter  = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

Low Tide: 3:06a High Tide: 12:51p

-0.30ft. 1.70ft.

SATURDAY

23 

Low Tide: 4:23a High Tide: 1:46p

-0.19ft. 1.64ft.

SUNDAY

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

5:43a 2:19p 9:03p 10:54p

-0.07ft. 1.55ft. 1.18ft. 1.20ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 AM Sunrise: 6:49a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 10:15p Moon Set: 8:08a

AM Minor: 7:14a AM Major: 1:00a PM Minor: 7:42p PM Major: 1:28p

Moon Overhead: 2:40a Moon Underfoot: 3:08p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 AM Sunrise: 6:48a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 11:25p Moon Set: 8:54a

AM Minor: 8:17a AM Major: 2:02a PM Minor: 8:46p PM Major: 2:31p

Moon Overhead: 3:37a Moon Underfoot: 4:07p

M A R C H / A P R I L

TexasOutdoorNation-2203-DIG.indd 70

2 0 2 2

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM Sunrise: 6:47a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 9:47a

AM Minor: 9:23a AM Major: 3:08a PM Minor: 9:54p PM Major: 3:39p

12a

10:30P — 12:30A

AM Minor: 10:32a AM Major: 4:16a PM Minor: 11:03p PM Major: 4:47p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 5:40a Moon Underfoot: 6:11p

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:46a Sunset: 7:48p Moonrise: 12:34a Moon Set: 10:46a

Moon Overhead: 4:38a Moon Underfoot: 5:09p

12p

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 7:48p Moonrise: 1:36a Moon Set: 11:50a

AM Minor: 11:38a AM Major: 5:23a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:53p

Moon Overhead: 6:42a Moon Underfoot: 7:13p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

11:30P — 1:30A Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: 2:31a Moon Set: 12:57p

AM Minor: 12:15a AM Major: 6:25a PM Minor: 12:39p PM Major: 6:54p

Moon Overhead: 7:42a Moon Underfoot: 8:11p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 7:50p Moonrise: 3:18a Moon Set: 2:04p

AM Minor: 1:07a AM Major: 7:21a PM Minor: 1:34p PM Major: 7:48p

Moon Overhead: 8:39a Moon Underfoot: 9:05p

G A M E ®

2/16/22 4:47 PM

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

Low Tide: 6:59a High Tide: 2:41p Low Tide: 8:46p

TUESDAY

0.08ft. 1.44ft. 0.99ft.

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

FEET

12:59a 8:05a 2:57p 8:59p

WEDNESDAY

1.23ft. 0.26ft. 1.34ft. 0.76ft.

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

2:28a 9:03a 3:11p 9:21p

THURSDAY

1.31ft. 0.47ft. 1.27ft. 0.52ft.

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

3:41a 9:56a 3:21p 9:47p

FRIDAY

29 

1.40ft. 0.68ft. 1.23ft. 0.30ft.

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

4:46a 10:46a 3:30p 10:15p

SATURDAY

30 

1.48ft. 0.88ft. 1.22ft. 0.13ft.

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

5:45a 11:36a 3:35p 10:45p

SUNDAY

May 1 

1.55ft. 1.06ft. 1.23ft. 0.01ft.

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

6:40a 12:29p 3:29p 11:17p

1.59ft. 1.20ft. 1.26ft. -0.06ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 AM Sunrise: 6:42a Sunset: 7:50p Moonrise: 3:58a Moon Set: 3:09p

AM Minor: 1:58a AM Major: 8:10a PM Minor: 2:23p PM Major: 8:35p

Moon Overhead: 9:30a Moon Underfoot: 9:55p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 AM Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 4:33a Moon Set: 4:10p

AM Minor: 2:42a AM Major: 8:54a PM Minor: 3:05p PM Major: 9:17p

Moon Overhead: 10:18a Moon Underfoot: 10:41p

12p

10:00A — 12:00P Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 5:05a Moon Set: 5:09p

AM Minor: 3:22a AM Major: 9:34a PM Minor: 3:45p PM Major: 9:56p

Moon Overhead: 11:03a Moon Underfoot: 11:25p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2203-DIG.indd 71

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P

12a

11:30A — 1:30P Sunrise: 6:39a Sunset: 7:53p Moonrise: 6:04a Moon Set: 7:02p

AM Minor: 4:01a AM Major: 10:12a PM Minor: 4:23p PM Major: 10:33p

AM Minor: 4:40a AM Major: 10:51a PM Minor: 5:02p PM Major: 11:13p

Moon Overhead: 11:47a Moon Underfoot: None

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 7:52p Moonrise: 5:34a Moon Set: 6:06p

F I S H

Moon Overhead: 12:30p Moon Underfoot: 12:08a

G A M E ®

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 7:53p Moonrise: 6:35a Moon Set: 7:59p

AM Minor: 5:22a AM Major: 11:33a PM Minor: 5:44p PM Major: 11:55p Moon Overhead: 1:13p Moon Underfoot: 12:51a

M A R C H / A P R I L

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: 7:07a Moon Set: 8:57p

AM Minor: 6:07a AM Major: 11:51a PM Minor: 6:30p PM Major: 12:18p Moon Overhead: 1:59p Moon Underfoot: 1:36a

2 0 2 2

2/16/22 4:47 PM

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

Yelps and Free Coffee

tha?” Doc shrugged. “I really don’t know where it came from.” Delbert P. Axelrod came inside. His jeans were wet from the thighs down. Instead of joining us in the booth, he pulled out a chair and sat at the table beside us. “Hi guys.” He glanced down. “My waders have a hole in them.” I wanted to ask him why he was wearing waders, but the conversation was interrupted when Willie tried the mouth call. Instead of a soft cluck that he intended, a shrill yelp filled the café that immediately went silent. A beat passed before Doreen came roaring around the counter. “Which one of you is disturbing my customers with a turkey call? I warned y’all about that last year!” To a man, we held up our hands to prove our innocence. I pointed. “I think it was Delbert’s chair that scraped on the floor.” Her head whipped down to his wet pants. “Well, it could have been that. Delbert, why’re you getting my floor wet?” “There’s a hole in my waders.” It was a simple, and accurate answer that still hadn’t been answered. “You get this floor muddy, and you’ll find yourself on the business end of a mop.” “Yessum.” “I’ll be back with your coffee.” A loud turkey yelp made us all jump. It was the best call I’ve ever heard, but the source was unidentifiable. Doreen whirled and frosted the table. “Not me,” I said. Jerry Wayne held up both hands. “Innocent.” Woodrow’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he cleared his throat. “I don’t own a turkey call.” Doc raised an eyebrow. “It might have been that chair again.” Suspicious, Doreen looked at the floor, at Delbert, then swept the table. Her attention finally focused on Willie’s still-full mug, and the way his unnatural grin made him look as if he were having a stroke. “Spit it out.” He raised an eyebrow in question.

HE HUNTING CLUB MEMbership gathered in the large round corner booth of Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café to sip coffee and ready ourselves for turkey season. Wrong Willie withdrew a turkey call from his shirt pocket. I watched him place it in his mouth and adjust the device with his tongue. “I wouldn’t blow that thing in here. Doreen’ll have a conniption fit.” She took that moment to come by with the coffee pot. Doc, Woodrow, and Jerry Wayne joined me in holding up our mugs. We all thanked her, but when Willie didn’t seem inclined to want a refill, she did it anyway. Unable to properly speak with the turkey call in his mouth, he grinned and nodded. A thundercloud rolled across her face. “You lose your manners, Willie?” Doc couldn’t help it. “Yeah. Your mama’d be ashamed of you for not saying thanks.” My admiration for Willie’s quick thinking rose when he mumbled around the hard plastic and latex, “Tha lath kup wasth hot. Burn my thonge.” Her eyes softened. “Aw hon. Sorry about that. Let this cool for a minute, and it’s on the house today.” She saw our expressions. “Just him.” She walked away. “I can barely make ends meet with y’all sitting there all day, drinking…” A soft turkey call floated across our end of the café, but it didn’t come from Willie. I watched him stiffen in shock as Doc cocked his head like a puppy listening to a new sound. Jerry Wayne leaned forward on the table and laced his fingers while Woodrow’s bearded chin rested on his fist. Several other patrons looked around the room to identify the source but resumed eating. Doreen glanced up from behind the counter. I caught her eye and raised the mug in thanks. She smiled, but lines crossed her forehead before she went into the kitchen. Willie spoke around the device. “Who wath

2203-Humor Col.indd 68

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T E X A S

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“Spit. It. Out.” I don’t know how he did it, but he opened his mouth. “Nothing here.” She deflated and turned back to Delbert. “It must be that chair. Get those wet feet back outside. I hate that sound.” She was back behind the counter when the loudest turkey yelp I’ve ever heard shocked the entire café into silence once again. Someone at the other end laughed and everyone went back to eating. Doreen pointed a fork at Delbert. “Out! Now!” Chastised, he rose. “But I only wanted some coffee and to talk for a few minutes.” “Come back with dry pants on, then.” She disappeared into the kitchen as he slipped out the door like a whipped pup. I turned to Willie. “How’d you do that?” He opened his hand to display the wet call. “That wasn’t me.” Woodrow frowned. “Then who was it? The sound came from under the table.” Palms flat on the surface, Doc grinned. “Jerry Wayne?” “Not me.” “That was the most perfect turkey yelp I’ve ever heard.” I shook my head in awe. Doreen returned with a to-go cup of coffee and handed it to Doc. “I feel bad about yelling at Delbert. Would you give this to him?” “Free coffee?” She shrugged. “It wasn’t really his fault, and you guys should be nicer to him.” She froze as the call came again and this time, we located the source. A dad with twin ten-year-old boys were sitting not far away, and both the kids had box calls in their hands. Doreen softened at the sight and then addressed us. “Y’all are off the hook this time, but don’t let this fool you. I still hate that sound in here.” She paused, looking at Delbert sitting on the tailgate of his truck. “Coffee’s free today for all y’all. Just. This. Once.” And that’s how we found out how to get free coffee.



Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

G A M E ®

2/11/22 5:16 PM

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Statement of ownership, management and circulation 1. Publication title: Texas Fish & Game. 2. Publication number: 7577-70. 3. Filing Date: 10/16/2020. 4. Issue freq: Monthly. 5. No. Issues Annually: 6. 6. Annual subscr. price: $24.95. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication (not printer): 3431 Rayford Rd Ste 200-408 Spring TX 77386-3649; Contact Person, Roy Neves; Tel, 281-227-3001. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher (not printer): Same. 9. Full names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor and managing editor: Publisher, Roy Neves, 3431 Rayford Rd Ste 200-408 Spring TX 77386-3649; editor: Chester Moore, 3431 Rayford Rd Ste 200-408 Spring TX 77386-3649; managing editor: n/a. 10. Owner: Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co. LLC; See Uploaded Owner File on the PS Form 3526 - Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation. 11. Known bondholders, Mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1% or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages of other securities: none. 12. Tax status has not changed during preceding 12 months. 13. Publication title: Texas Fish & Game. 14. Issue date for circulation data below: November 1, 2021. 15. Extent and nature of circulation: Total published Avg. no. copies each issue during preceding 12 mos., 79,944; No. copies of single Issue published nearest to filing date, 91,697. a. Total number of copies (net press run): Avg. no. copies each issue during preceding 12 mos. 21,848; No. copies of single Issue published nearest to filing date, 22,178. b. Paid Circulation (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 19,662; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 19,832. (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies): 0. (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS®, Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 2,132; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 2,290; (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS®: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0. c. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 21,794; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 22,122. d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside County Copies included on PS Form 3541: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 54; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 56 (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0 (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS®: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0. (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0. e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (sum of 15d (1), (2), (3), and (4)): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 54; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 56. f. Total Distribution (sum 15c and 15e): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 21,848; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 22,178. g. Copies not Distributed: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0. h. Total (sum 15f and g): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 21,848; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 22,178. i. Percent paid: (15c divided by 15f times 100) Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 99.75%; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 99.75%. 16. Electronic Copy Circulation a. Paid Electronic Copies: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 58,096; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 69,519. b. Total Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 79,890; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 91,641. c. Total Print Distribution (Line 15f) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 79,944; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 91,697. d. Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies) (16 b divided by 16c x 100): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 99.0%; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 99.0%. 17. Publication of statement of ownership required. Will be printed in November/December 2020 issue of this publication 18. Signature and title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager or Owner: Roy Neves, publisher, Date 10/16/2020.

T E X A S

2203-Outdoor Directory.indd 69

F I S H

G A M E ®

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

2/11/22 5:18 PM

WHITETAIL Salado Nine-year-old Kase Miles of Salado shot this spike, for his first deer. REDFISH South Padre Ten-year-old Landry Moreno of Eldorado reeled in his first redfish, a nice 27-inch fighter. He used mullet while fishing at South Padre.

LARGEMOUTH BASS Flynn Ten-year-old Connor Chlebek caught this largemouth at his grandparents’ pond in Flynn. He caught the 7.5-pound bass on a white spinner.

M A R C H / A P R I L

2203-Reader Photos.indd 70

2 0 2 2

T E X A S

F I S H

REDFISH East Galveston Bay Jennifer Perry with one of the “bronze beauties” caught and released on East Galveston Bay.

G A M E ®

2/11/22 5:19 PM

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

No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

WHITETAIL Nacogdoches Seventeen-year-old Jagger Allen took this nice eight-point buck bowhunting on opening day in Nacogdoches County.

REDFISH Rockport Thirteen-year-old Savannah Rose Doerr caught her first redfish while fishing with her grandfather, Bill Gabehart out of Rockport.

CATFISH

WHITETAIL

Sam Rayburn

Brookeland

Mona Hamby caught this blue catﬁsh on rod and reel while ﬁshing at Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

Peyton Hunt took her ﬁrst crossbow deer while hunting with her father, Paul, in the Angelina National Forest near Brookeland.

T E X A S

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F I S H

G A M E ®

M A R C H / A P R I L

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Texas Fish & Game March April 2022

Articles inside

Pike on the Edge

Bare Bones Hunting

Texas Boating

Editor’s Notes

Letters