Texas Fish & Game November 2015 by Texas Fish & Game

THE TEXAS OUTDOOR AUTHORITY SPECIAL: New Gun Laws for Texas

November 2015 $3.95

Heat-Seeking

Reds & Specks Winter Bass

in the Shallows Killing Predators:

Good Game Management? Lone Star Hip Hop: Be Vewwwy,

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Winning the

Whitetail Game Quality Trout

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2016 EDITION

NOW AVAILABLE

BIGGER. BETTER. 60 FRESH & SALTWATER LOCATIONS OVER 2500 GPS FISHING SPOTS

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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.

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CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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

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

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. ©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 $19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. 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, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Email change of address to: subscriptions@fishgame.com Email new orders to: subscriptions@ fishgame.com Email subscription questions to: subscriptions@fishgame.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX 77267-9946 and at additional mailing offices.

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Table of

NOVEMBER 2015 Volume 32 • NO. 7

Contents FEATURES

QUALITY TROUT UNDER THE BIRDS

COVER STORY: Gaming Nature

You have to outplay nature to execute a winning game plan to outwit whitetails.

Catching trout under birds is easy. Catching quality-sized fish under them is not. Here are a few tips for following the feathers to better specks.

by Chester Moore

Story by Chester Moore Photo: ©Lyn B, Bigstock

LONE STAR HIP HOP

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Rabbit hunters in Texas have several options, from the almost identical eastern cottontail and swamp rabbits to the lesser-pursued jackrabbit.

by John N. Felsher Shallow Winter Bass

Chilly weather tends to u drive bass deeper, but they also seek cover in the grassy shallows.

Story by Matt Williams

PREDATORS AND POPULATION CONTROL Intinsive predator control actions such as aerial shooting, poisoning and trapping are on the rise. Is this justified? Or should there be even more predator control?

by Steve Shaffer

HEAT SEEKING REDS & SPECKS

Carrying in Texas

New gun laws take effect this January, raising a number of questions for Texas gun owners.

by Chester Moore

Story by Chester Moore

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...and flounder and even catfish. The colder the water, the more productive the fishing is around power plant and other warm-water discharges

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Contents (continued)

Inside FISH & GAME

COLUMNS

9 by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

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T E X A S

F I S H

by Joe Doggett

Pike on the Edge by Doug Pike

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Nugent in the Wild by Ted Nugent

TF&G Editor At Large

Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

TF&G Political Commentator

Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo

TF&G Hunting Editor

Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales

TF&G Saltwater Editor

Texas Freshwater by Matt Williams

TF&G Freshwater Editor

Open Season

by Reavis Wortham

TF&G Freshwater Editor

Texas Boating by Lenny Rudow

TF&G Boating Editor

Practical Angler by Greg Berlocher

TF&G Contributing Editor

Texas Guns

8 LETTERS 10 TF&G REPORT 10 BIG BAGS & CATCHES

28 TEXAS

DEPT. OF DEFENSE

38 TRUE GREEN 60 TEXAS TESTED 62 INDUSTRY INSIDER

64 FISH AND GAME GEAR

66 HOTSPOT FOCUS

74 TEXAS

HOTSPOTS

by Steve LaMascus

86 TIDES &

Texas Tasted

94 TF&G PHOTOS

TF&G Firearms Editor

DEPARTMENTS

by Bryan Slaven

PRIME TIMES

The Texas Gourmet

www.FishGame.com

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Doggett at Large TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

OU MIGHT THINK THAT ONE THING TEXANS should be able to take for granted is their almost sovereign right to fish and hunt. In a state with such a vast and abundant resource, a state that is also about as firetruck-red as it could get in the political rainbow, that its hunters and anglers might be excused for feeling overly secure. But in a world that seems to favor abrupt and unsympathetic change, we shouldn’t count on anything. Which is why on November 3 you should vote for Proposition 6, the Texas Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Amendment. The Texas population is growing faster than that of any other state in the country. The masses streaming across our borders are bringing with them social and political sensibilities formed in different environments—many of which are in total opposition to the typical viewpoints of native and “naturalized” Texans. This is not to imply that Texas hospitality toward those seeking refuge here should be dampened or denied. We just need to get used to a greater diversity of thought, and speak up when we disagree or feel the need to protect traditions and institutions that define us. Newcomers do include many who embrace those traditions, and, of course, there has always been a contingent here who never did. So, it’s hard to know with certainty what the future of the Texas Outdoors looks like. Prop 6 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that will guarantee Texans the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife by adding those rights to the Texas Constitution’s Bill of Rights. The measure will also designate hunting and fishing as “preferred methods of managing and controlling wildlife.” It won’t affect trespass laws, property rights, or Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s authority over enforcement and license fees. The amendment was sponsored by State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) and was passed by a resounding majority of both the State Senate and Legislature; only four “no” votes were registered from both houses. This may make the passage of the amendment seem like a slam dunk, but why take anything for granted? Sportsmen appear to be the brunt of much negative commentary, as in the drama surrounding Cecil the Lion. If we fail to unite in support, and if non-hunters and non-anglers go to the polls with any sense of animosity toward a “frivolous” act to preserve rights to a “bloody pastime” (as charged by one PETA critic), it could result in the amendment’s defeat. Failure may not signal impending doom, but it might be the beginning of a perilous slide that could end with substantial erosion of our rights to control and enjoy the bounty of this wildlife-rich home of ours. And that result would itself damage this wonderful resource. We know that to sustain a wildlife resource, it takes a symbiotic relationship between sportsmen and the fish and game they pursue and cherish. Opponents deny this reality. It is the uninformed who have power they don’t even realize they have. Don’t take anything for granted. Get out and vote. Stand up for our rights.

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by Chester Moore

TF&G Editor in Chief

Vote for Your Rights

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Editor’s Notes

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LETTERS to the Editor Question on Fish Kills Wyoming Wetlands? WHY DON’T WE SEE FISH KILLS ON freshwater like we do in saltwater? It seems freezes or red tides kill fish all the time on the coasts. James Snyder Editor: There are kills in freshwater. The biggest killer is golden algae outbreaks that have taken millions of fish at a time on lakes like Possum Kingdom. There are also freezerelated kills in small ponds and freshwater marshes that are rarely reported. The big reservoirs in Texas, like the Gulf of Mexico, have deep enough water that fish can easily get into a safe zone of sorts. Saltwater freeze kills are based on fish being trapped in shallows, often after a warming trend, and then being exposed to quickly falling temperatures.

‘The Awakening’ still resonates DEAR CHESTER, A COUPLE OF years ago you wrote a column called “The Awakening” about how your eyes were sort of opened to the real problems in the outdoor world. I was mad at you at first. I even thought you might be going “green” on me until I read a story a few issues back about the Trans-Texas Corridor project and how politicans had planned to destroy so many acres of Texas wildlife habitat. The only publication I have ever seen on this kind of writing in is Texas Fish & Game, and I commend you for taking chances and printing some articles that go a little deeper than normal. I am beginning to see some things differently as well and wanted to share. G. Breaux Editor: Thanks so much for sticking with us and for sharing how you are starting to see things. It is getting quite interesting out there and we all must keep our eyes focused on the real problems. 8 |

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THIS NOTE IS FOR THE EDITOR and is in regards to the endangerment of our wetlands; in a century, plus a few years, we have lost over 50 percent of them! They are important, they provide habitats for hundreds of creatures and sub-creatures, all needed for a healthy planet, they provide jobs, recreation, such as photography, hiking, etc., They are endangered due to lack of interest, pesticides, herbicides, invasive flora species, disrespect for the land/planet, herbicides, pesticides and other conditions brought on by poor government activities such as environmental pollution. What I was interested in asking you is: would you please come to WY and do an article on the beautiful wetland just out of Lovell, WY. I see tourists photographing it, smiling and talking about its beauty, yet, there are problems with it..invasive species that need removed. My idea is two-fold, to re-acquaint those that read your publication regularly to read about the wetlands, how important they are, show them how pretty they are and what they can mean to a community or state, what they truly mean to the entire nation. Barbara Anderson Editor: Thanks for your letter Barbara. Wetland eradication is a huge problem and you are right that all of those factors make a distressing situation for the environment. I’d love to come to Wyoming but being that we’re a Texas publication we will focus our efforts on the wetlands we are losing right here as well as in the prairie pothole region of the United States and Canada where many of our waterfowl are produced. Keep up the good fight and keep raising awareness.

Submitting Articles I AM INTERESTED IN STARTING TO have my outdoor articles published. What T E X A S

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steps do I need to take to submit my articles for review? Phillip Welch Editor: This is a question we get a lot. The fact is we work with a pretty small group of writers but are always open to new talent. Send an email to cmoore@fishgame.com with links to published articles and a few story ideas. We do not take full submissions that are not requested by yours truly. If we like your ideas and your style and we have room in our editorial calendar and budget we’ll get back with you. If not, keep sending ideas to publications and even send us more in the future. I got turned down many times before I got published in a magazine.

Trash Fish Comment DEAR CHESTER, I HEARD SOMEwhere where you said everything is a trash fish but a flounder. Do you really feel that way? Joe Hanna Editor: No, I don’t. Let me be clear I think everything is a trash fish but a flounder and a crappie. All kidding aside, I love catching pretty much anything but flounders and crappies are by far my favorites.

Send Your Comments to: Texas Fish & Game 1745 Greens Rd Houston TX 77032 editor@ﬁshgame.com

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10/8/15 4:33 PM

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

Things You Can’t Unsee

HE THINGS WE SEE AND hear, become part of who we are. Whether we like it or not, our experiences are things we either confront and overcome or they overcome us. With a world filled with hate, negativity, gossip, lack of honor and much worse, it is easy to become something we never intended. There is a threshold we cross at times where we see things that we can’t unsee. These are often doorways we open to paths in life that lead to destruction, or perhaps we were at a particular place at a particular moment and saw something that we can’t shake. I hate those moments. I hate that I have guided myself to a few in the past and stumbled upon a couple along the way. But there are good moments that we can’t unsee and many of those take place in the deer blind, duck blind and on the water. These are the moments that remind us of God’s grand Creation and that inspire us to get up early, get out into the field and encounter something spectacular. I can’t unsee the first herd of whitetail deer I saw in 1986 on my first trip to the Texas Hill Country. Numbering more than 50 they were running alongside Highway 71 just outside of Columbus, led by a really big buck. I knew that was a signal that would be an exciting time in my life as I hit the hills for three days with my Dad and my Uncle Jackie Moore. I can’t unsee the cougar that locked eyes

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with me in Orange County just a few hundred yards behind our home when I was 14. To be so close to such a powerful, majestic predator was life changing. If I could hit a button and print out the picture I see in my brain, it would blow you away too. Stunning. I can’t unsee the Giant Canada goose I saw with Ducks’ Unlimited’s Tim Soderquist on a DU property in South Dakota in 2007. It was half again as big as any goose I have ever seen and looked like a mutant amongst its brethren. I can’t unsee the great-horned owl that flew just a couple of feet over the head of me and my friend Chris Villadsen when we were 12 years old. Out rabbit hunting with our Sheridan pellet guns, we came down a trail that cut through a thicket. To us it looked as big as Godzilla’s ally Mothra. I can’t unsee the gorgeous toucan I got to handfeed in the rainforest of Venezuela. As I cracked jokes about Fruit Loops, my fellow adventurers thought I was crazy, but I was smiling ear to ear. I can’t unsee the 7 foot 2 inch alligator garfish my Dad caught in 1979. Having just seen Moby Dick the movie, I aptly named the beast after the white whale, and I guess in some ways it has been my white whale. I have never caught one that big. I can’t unsee the smile on my wife’s face when she shot her first buck in 1995 on a deer lease in Brady or the gigantic grin on my daughter’s face a few years ago, when she caught

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her first fish, a two pound bass. There are many things I’ve encountered in the great outdoors that I can’t unsee, and I literally thank God for them. The last year has been a tough one for the Moore household with three deaths and other challenges. Stepping into the outdoors and knowing that I will see something exciting and hear the Lord’s still, small voice has been healing. There are great things ahead. There are animals to see. There are big crappies and flounder to catch. There are big bucks to seek. There are things coming that I will not be able to unsee and that is a very good thing. If you have had a tough year or simply need to cleanse yourself of the grime of life, step outdoors. Venture into the wild and let new experiences renew you, refresh you and create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Hunting season is here. Just remember, the most important things to hear are spoken quietly, and the grandest sights are for those who can be still and let nature take its course. Email Chester Moore at CMoore@ﬁshgame.com

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The TF G Report Survey Examines Coastal Bass Regulations OFFICIALS WITH THE TEXAS Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) are seeking angler opinions on the bass fishery in the Sabine and Neches Rivers as well as Taylor/Hillebrandt Bayou systems. Recently, black bass tournaments have increased on these waters, prompting complaints from tournament anglers regarding a perceived low abundance of largemouth bass longer than the current 14-inch minimum length limit. During the summer of 2015, TPWD officials reported that estimated size structure, age structure, and mortality rates of largemouth bass from these systems and determined that less restrictive length limits could be biologically

appropriate. Current data indicate largemouth bass in these three systems are relatively abundant, but have slow growth and high mortality rates. “On average, largemouth bass reach

14 inches in length at 3.9 years,” officials reported. “For reference, largemouth bass at Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend reservoirs reach 14 inches at approximately 2.5 years. Slow growth and high mortality rates are common to coastal estuary populations (primarily due to influences of variable salinity and availability of quality forage) and result in few fish of larger sizes. Only seven percent of the largemouth bass we sampled from these three systems were greater than 14 inches in length. “TPWD could manage the largemouth bass populations using various regulations to provide fishing opportunities based on what anglers prefer. The current 14-inch minimum length limit is the Texas statewide standard regulation, but less restrictive regulations could be implemented to increase harvest opportunities and fish available for tournament weigh-ins.” TPWD biologist Todd

BIG BAGS CATCHES

AOUDAD

AMBERJACK

Pumpville

South Padre

Bob Helms of The Woodlands bagged this 30-inch aoudad while hunting on the Devil’s Canyon Ranch at Pumpville.

Eric and Nadine Ybarra with one of the huge amberjacks they brought in while ﬁshing at South Padre Island.

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Driscoll said information gained from this questionnaire will help TPWD make an informed decision regarding a potential harvest regulation change that would be consistent with the needs and desires of all anglers. “Your cooperation is important for the successful completion of this research study,” he said. “Your responses will not be connected with your name and all information you provide will remain strictly confidential. Some of the questions are as follows: • How many times have you fished for largemouth bass in the Lower Sabine, Lower Neches, or the Taylor/Big Hill/Hillebrandt bayou systems during the previous 12 months? • How many times have you fished a black bass tournament at the Lower Sabine, Lower Neches, or the Taylor/Big Hill/Hillebrandt systems during the previous 12 months? It also asks how satisfied anglers are with the local fishery and gauges support for size limit changes along

with various other questions. This survey can be completed online at http://tinyurl.com/bayousurvey. — Chester Moore

••• Possible Record Whitewing Season

CONDITIONS ARE PRIME FOR record harvest of white-winged doves during the 2015 season. Department surveys indicate significant increases observed in white-winged dove breeding populations in South Texas, which should equate to more birds in the air during the season. “Expectations are for a record harvest of white-winged doves throughout the state based on TPWD breeding survey information and observations on production from biologists around the state,” said Shaun Oldenburger, TPWD’s dove program leader.

JAVELINA Duval County

“For mourning doves, increases were observed in breeding populations in South Texas,” he said. “But with the increased water and seeds on the landscape thanks to precipitation this spring and into summer, mourning doves may be more widespread than previous years. Furthermore, production was fair to good for mourning doves in many locations in South Texas, so if enough scouting and field preparation occurred in a location, opening day should produce satisfactory results.” Hunters are reminded that a current hunting license, a Migratory Game Bird endorsement and Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification are required to hunt dove. HIP certification involves a brief survey of your previous year’s migratory bird hunting success and is conducted at the time licenses are purchased. They can be purchased through the agency’s 28 field offices, more than 50 state parks and at over 1,700 retailers across the state. Licenses may also be purchased online through the TPWD website at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/buy or by phone at 1-800-895-4248. Call center hours are Monday through Friday, 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. and there is a required $5 administrative fee for each phone or online transaction. The online transaction system is available 24/7. For online and phone orders, a physical license will be mailed within three business days. During that time period, a transaction receipt will be provided via email that will be sufficient proof of hunting license and required endorsements that can be used for dove hunting, though it will not be allowed for the take of fish or wildlife that require a tag. In addition to a hunting license, anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education training course or purchase a one-time deferral good for one license year in order to hunt legally in Texas. The certification is valid for life and is honored in all other states and provinces. More information on hunter education certification is available online at www. tpwd.state.tx.us/outdoor-learning/huntereducation. — From staff repots

Thirteen-year-old Gabriel Lozano of San Antonio shot these two javelinas with a single shot while hunting with his dad in Duval County. He lined up a perfect head shot on the two javelinas with a Weatherby .300 mag. They were his ﬁrst javalina kills.

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DOGGETT at Large by JOE DOGGETT :: TF&G Contributing Editor

More Bang! Y FIRST SHOTGUN WAS not the best choice for a kid who, as the old timers might say, was “as green as a red blackberry.” It was a single-shot 12-gauge with a 30-inch barrel. The hammer gun was all the budget could afford, and I was determined to make the one “Bang!” count. The no-frills gun delivered vicious recoil. A 2 3/4-inch Peters or Winchester “High Brass” lead load definitely rocked my young world. And, as Tennessee Ernie Ford sang in Shotgun Boogie, “He’s gotta 12 gauge choked down like a rifle.” Naturally, I opted for a full choke; it just sounded better. The combination of terrible flinch, tight bore, and a limited concept of wingshooting principles collaborated for many shameful misses during the next few seasons in the dove fields and duck marshes around Houston. The single-shot action is, in fact, a reasonable choice for a starter gun, but a smaller gauge and a shorter barrel would have been a more practical selection. And a modified or, better yet, improved cylinder choke would have increased the hit percentages on marginal swings. In short, I had too much gun for a young beginner. Despite the ill-advised start, I graduated to many different shotguns for upland and waterfowl hunting. For what it’s worth, here are some observations on selecting a smaller gauge for a pre-teen’s first shotgun. (Incidentally, the important question of how young is too young must be left to the responsible adult. The kid’s maturity and physical size are obvious factors.) The trim, dainty .410 is pleasant to shoot, but a poor selection for the young wingshooter. It is an expert’s gun. The hunters I’ve known who use them regularly are skilled and disciplined shots. They have realistic expectations and don’t tote the little guns where they don’t belong, where they encourage repeated misses and, worse, cripples. For a close quail rise (wild or, better yet,

slower pen-raised birds) over a steady point, or for incoming doves putting on the brakes over a water hole, the .410 is a legitimate choice in the hands of a veteran shooter. For a kid trying to get his feet under him as a wingshooter—no. The “scant pattern” can be too demoralizing. Let me back up; the .410 is fine for the youngster learning proper gun handling and getting accustomed to noise and recoil while popping away at stationary targets. But, if kick is that big of a problem, I submit that maybe the kid is too little to even be out there shooting a shotgun. An air rifle or a .22 might be a better break-in choice. The 28 gauge is a different issue. This little gun is a great hunting tool. It probably doesn’t get the overall respect it deserves. Many hunters consider the 28 to be nothing but a quail gun, but it’s got horsepower to burn. For example, last November I enjoyed several days of greenhead mallard hunting with Jack Brittingham on his Oklahoma ranch. Incidentally, these were wild ducks migrating down the Central Flyway. Brittingham prefers 28s over decoys in the flooded timber. His reasoning is that most chances inside the treetops are within 30 to 35 honest yards, and the reduction in noise (compared to big, booming 12s) is less alarming to nearby flocks. I took my only 28, a 26-inch side-by-side “bird gun” with a straight English-style stock and fixed chokes of improved cylinder and modified. The little gun looked woefully out of place on a duck hunt, especially for big greenheads. I was skeptical going in, but the little 28s loaded with Bismuth 6s were thunder and lightning on mallards working the timber. If the big duck looked killable and you put a decent swing on it , down it toppled. Don’t underestimate the often-ignored 28. It will surprise the uninitiated. The light recoil and trim profile make it a good choice for the young shooter. The drawbacks are cost and availability of shells. The 20 gauge probably is the best all-around selection for a kid’s first shotgun. The 20 is at least adequate for every wingshooting application this side of pass shooting at geese. Frankly, with proper loads, it excels in most situations.

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Most 20s are light enough for young hands to wield smoothly and the shirtsleeve recoil typically is comfortable—well, at least tolerable. You’re not being kicked all over the dove field or duck blind with standard 2 3/4-inch loads. If more punch is needed, many 20s are chambered for 3-inch shells. Regardless of gauge, safety in the field is of primary importance. For this reason, a pump-action gun is a great way to go for the beginner of any age. Following the first “Bang!” the pump gun is inherently safe. The excited and inexperienced shooter must make a conscious effort to run the slide arm back and forward to eject the spent shell and chamber another round. A live shell is not just sitting there waiting for the beginner to make a mistake. Autoloaders and double guns are ready to rock against a knucklejerk reaction—a potentially terrible situation amid the drama of whirring wings. Making the young rookie work to “jack” another round into the chamber helps teach shooting discipline. It provides lag time to refocus and regroup. Yes, a gas-operated autoloader generates less perceived recoil, but having to absorb a bit more pop is cheap insurance against a devastating lapse. If you discount the single shot, the pump is the least expensive of all standard shotgun actions. It’s also arguably the most reliable. Regardless of action, gun fit is important. The length of pull of approximately 14 1/2 inches on the typical shotgun stock is too long for the short arms and small frame of the average pre-teen. Various “youth models” with shorter stocks are available and some synthetic stocks are adjustable. Worse case, a competent gunsmith can cut an inch or so from a standard wood stock and refit the recoil pad. Barrel length is a judgment call. A longer, heavier barrel smoothes the swing and encourages follow-through. But it might be a bit awkward and cumbersome for a little kid to wield. Of course, they all grow. And, on that note, within a few years you might need to make room under the Christmas tree for a “Sweet 16” or a 12. I just wouldn’t start out with one.

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10/8/15 3:16 PM

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

What Does It Matter?

HERE WAS A CLEANINGtable discussion back in September, same as in the 500 or so months prior, about whether bag limits and seasonal restrictions impact coastal fisheries. For the record, and fortunately for all of us who fish, they do. Our resource managers at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are among the best anywhere, and I base that assertion not on a guess but on personal interaction, over decades, with people from two dozen states’ equivalent departments. TPWD is charged, among many other things, with managing and regulating our fisheries. It does so through the collective efforts of office and field personnel whose jobs depend on their ability to make sound, science-based decisions. No knee-jerks reactions, no emotional influence. Just careful, conservative decisions based on the best available data at the time. For the most part, TPWD does its job quite well. Not that all fishing regulations are good or even sensible on the surface. Their absence, however, would render marine resources vulnerable to potential for irreversible damage from more than a single threat. I haven’t agreed with every rule and restriction that rolled out of Austin over the years, but I’ve had no problem enjoying the results of TPWD’s decisions. Except for relatively short periods after two severe freezes in my lifetime, coastal fishing in Texas has been pretty good off my rod tip. Running opposite to my line of thought are anglers who point to the cyclical nature of fisheries as being ultimately, unchangeably responsible for fish populations. They’re convinced, without hearing the science, that reduced bag limits and closed seasons do fish no long-term favors. “What’s it matter if you keep five or 10?” an experienced guide asked me once. “In good years, it’s easy to get limits for everybody on my boat, and in bad years, you’d have a hard time catching three. You live long enough, you get some of both.” Rather than persuade me in the least, that sort

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of thinking—and I’ve heard it from more than one person who’s fished long and hard in Texas saltwater—reveals a speaker awash in apathy and skepticism. What’s it matter? That’s something people who don’t care say, as they throw their hands in the air. It’s an utterance of hopelessness. It does matter that we regulate coastal fisheries, and it matters how cautiously we do so. It matters so that each of us has the opportunity, at least, to bring home some fish for the table or maybe the wall. Good cycle or bad, up cycle or down, it matters because we’re so much better today than yesterday at catching fish and because there are so many more of us out there picking and plucking at the resource. It matters because without limits, a wet-mop slap from a bad run of weather could bring down a fishery. I’m convinced that rod-and-reel fishing under reasonable regulation cannot destroy a fishery. Not by itself. It could however, contribute to an eventual, catastrophic collapse if one or two other bad cards were dealt our way. Imagine unlimited coastal fisheries. Keep all you want, fish how you want. I and others my age experienced just such a free-for-all, and we routinely boxed hundreds of trout each while commercial anglers netted thousands. We did that with inferior equipment, by today’s standards, and without electronic navigation or trolling motors or shallow-draft boats. There were that many fish then. And even if there are that many fish now, or more, we’ve added so many fishermen to the mix that the resource couldn’t possibly absorb unregulated pressure. As more—and more and more and more— people move to the Texas coast, it gets a little harder each weekend to find a school of trout or reds that doesn’t already have a boat shadowing it. It got harder, then impossible without a sleeping bag and camp stove, to be first out of the boat along a prime shoreline for wading. Major freezes in the 1980s killed millions of speckled trout. The “blackened redfish” craze nearly wiped out that species’ Gulf breeding stocks. Both situations were reminders that fisheries are renewable resources, not bottomless pits. With pressure always on the rise and the threats from freeze, pollution and habitat loss constantly in

play, it’s critical that we position fisheries so that they can rebound quickly after the inevitable next “situation” that knocks it for a loop. We need cushions in these populations, if possible an outright abundance of them all so that when some unexpected event carves a chunk from a fishery, enough individual fish remain to expedite a recovery. The greater the reserve, the more survivors are in place to reproduce the species back to health. Fish populations do fluctuate, and sometimes dramatically so. Same as deer and ducks and even rats. Always have and always will. I don’t care so much about the rats. When it comes to sportfish and game animals, however, I want rules in place to keep that harvest just a percentage point or two short of what nature can reproduce in a year. Whether that affords me a chance to haul home one fish or 10, one deer or a half dozen, isn’t especially important. I won’t starve if the limit is one, and I’m not going to save the world if I catch 10 of something and share half. What matters is that so long as I stop on the number and nothing dreadful comes along, there should be at least as many fish out there waiting to eat my bait tomorrow as there were today.

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The Bad and the Ugly OUR TEXAS PARKS AND Wildlife Department, in establishing fisheries regulations, takes into account the unlawful catches of poachers. You and I pay, in reduced bag or possession limits, for the actions of thieves. It’s similar to the reason retailers charge you and me extra to offset shoplifting losses. Next time you see someone “shoplifting” our fish, call Operation Game Thief. The number’s on your fishing license. You do have a fishing license, right?

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NUGENT in the Wild by TED NUGENT :: TF&G Editor-at-Large

Honest Animal Lovers vs. Dishonest Animal Deniers

“A

RAT IS A PIG IS A dog is a boy.” Really think about that one for a moment if you dare. Those are the words of the animal rights and anti-hunting hero and guru Ingrid Newkirk. And she means it, as do her zombie like, soulless, criminal followers and fellow scam artists. Equating the life of a human being with creatures we slaughter and eat on an hourly basis across the planet must surely represent the ongoing criminality of political correctness gone berserk. When asked whether she would save a drowning child or a dog, this subhuman monster and leader of Peta and the Humane Society of the United States casually expressed uncertainty, once again devaluing human life to that of a pet. Meanwhile all my hunting buddies and I along with educated, thinking people around the world believe that wildlife is indeed a precious renewable resource to which we have a profound stewardship responsibility to maintain and manage in the asset column instead of the liability column. To us, human life is sacred, while animal life is to be respected and utilized in a responsible manner, exactly like our heroes Cochise and Geronimo did. We are appalled at the insane uproar over the Zimbabwean lion kill. Much like the dishonesty of the “black lives matter” hysteria, the only reason people are overreacting to this kill is due to the fact that this particular lion was given a name and a spotlight. All those thousands and thousands of lions, leopards, bears and other animals killed in the same manner during the essential and legal annual harvest of these surplus critters apparently didn’t matter so much, much like the daily slaughter of blacks in Chicago,

New York, Newark, Detroit, South Central, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, St Louis and elsewhere. Not a peep. The dumbing down of humankind has never been more graphic and offensive and downright embarrassing. Hunting lions in this manner is perfectly legal and proven to be essential across Africa. Like putting worms on hooks to “lure” fish and duck decoys to “lure” mallards, in order to harvest these dangerous livestock and people killing lions and leopards is the historically proven methodology how all those other lions were killed that no one complained about. This might not be something a city kid will ever understand, but villagers in Africa do, so the city kids should just shut up and go about their safe air conditioned lives and stay out of African’s lives with their presumptuous comfortably numb “Bambi” nonsense. And of course the lion was killed on legal hunting grounds outside the Hwange Park, because like all finite habitat, such areas can only support so much wildlife and the surplus must be harvested annually as a valuable, huntable, commodity, or said habitat will be destroyed in short order. Does anyone actually believe that the sustain yield, habitat carrying capacity science does not apply to lions and giraffes like it does for deer and elk? Really? Though photographs prove and nobody can possibly claim the radio telemetry collar was visible on this lion, the jury is indeed still out on what happened to the collar after the kill. This important technology is utilized and paid for mostly by hunting revenues to help manage wildlife for health and balance. Again, how ignorant does one have to be to not know this? Dictated by laws conceived and written

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by hunters and the biologists we hire and enforced with hunting revenues, wonton waste is never tolerated and every speck of sacred and cherished protein, bone, sinew, body fluids, skin, teeth, fangs and claws must be utilized. This is commonsense except for uneducated or foolish people. And “beloved”? As if all wildlife isn’t beloved, even those without names. Evidence already shows that Zimbabwe villagers are not upset by the killing of this lion, but are upset that the annual increase in lion numbers that threaten their lives and livestock may not be properly managed with proper harvests due to the ignorant, emotional overreaction to this standard procedure. Only people who live with lions should dictate lion policy. A lion is a deer is a giraffe is an elk. Write that down. Wildlife biology 101 has brought back the healthiest thriving populations of deer, elk, moose, pronghorn, wild sheep and goats, muskox, bear, cougar, turkey, geese and other game animals in North America due to the simple and proven sustain yield value system that guarantees their value. Where hunting is regulated, wildlife thrives. Where it is banned there is no money for game departments, game wardens, radio telemetry, jeeps, helicopters or anti-poaching forces, and wildlife suffers and is often decimated. You have to pick one, and when you do, you will show whether wildlife matters to you or only those with cute names. Lion: the other white meat.

Email Ted Nugent at TNugent@ﬁshgame.com

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TF&G COMMENTARY by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

Decisions, Decisions

HEN FOURTEEN-YEARold MacArthur High School freshman Ahmed Mohamed took his homemade clock to school in Irving, Texas in September, he created a maelstrom of debate about terrorism, racism, zero tolerance policies in public schools, tolerance in general, and common sense. School officials took Ahmed in hand, police were called, and the boy was arrested, because the clock was made up of various components wired together in a small briefcase, and resembled the average, garden variety suitcase bomb used by antagonists on television and in movies. Ahmed was reportedly less than forthcoming with information when questioned, adding to the confusion. The clock turned out to be just that—a clock—with no bomb attached, which sent social media into a tizzy. MacArthur school administrators were blasted for their perceived anti-Islamic attitude, since Ahmed happens to be a Muslim. Irving police were taken to task for handcuffing a child over nothing more than a harmless digital clock. This would never have happened, shouted the masses, if the boy had been white. But there were other masses, of course, claiming school officials and police had no choice, given their responsibility to protect all the other children. Few outside of your friendly, neighborhood bomb squad have any idea what a suitcase bomb looks like, and since we live in dangerous times, when juveniles sometimes commit heinous crimes causing multiple casualties, those in charge could not afford to assume the clock was just a clock. Police and school administrators, for their part, pointed out that they would have handled the situation no differently, whatever the student’s name, ethnic orientation, or appearance. Then there is the history of a recent terrorist attack in Garland, Texas by radical Muslims over a cartoon contest. Garland is next to Irving, and

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tensions may be running understandably high in the area. Common sense, it was claimed, should have precluded Ahmed’s parents from allowing him to show up at school with a clock that could, even remotely, be mistaken for an improvised explosive device. Which brings us to the next claim on the list, that Ahmed’s father, a staunch defender of Islamic rights, may have intentionally sent his son to school with the nefarious-looking clock in order to create the situation that, in fact, arose. This scenario is aided by the suspicion that Ahmed didn’t build the clock to begin with. An electrical engineer has pointed out that what Ahmed took to school closely resembles a particular 1970s Radio Shack alarm clock with its housing removed. Since some of these claims have, at present, not been proved, it is probably best to look at this incident from a purely practical perspective. Even police officers are unlikely to be able to discern whether a conglomerate of wires, circuit boards, and LED displays is a bomb, unless they’ve received specific training in the discipline. The average high school principal certainly hasn’t had bomb training. Any parent would be livid upon discovering that a potential threat at his or her child’s school had been ignored. Administrators had no choice but to err on the side of caution. In their shoes I would rather explain why I thought the clock was a bomb than, later, have to answer questions of why I assumed it wasn’t, and allowed it to explode. Damaged feelings are temporary. Death is permanent. So the outrage against the Irving police and MacArthur ISD is ridiculous. Hindsight is always a great general, and we should be thankful the clock was a clock, instead of second-guessing the people responsible. The fact remains, however, that MacArthur High School handled the situation almost as badly as it could have been handled, and the Irving PD handled it far worse. If school administrators had assumed the clock was just a clock, and was not a threat, then Ahmed should not have even been removed from the classroom, and the entire incident would not have occurred. They obviously believed the clock was a

potential threat, so they called police, questioned Ahmed, and wrung their hands. What they should have done is evacuate the school immediately, leaving the clock sitting where it was when the threat was originally perceived. When Irving police chief Larry Boyd was apprised of the situation, he should have ordered the evacuation immediately, including the area surrounding the school, and called in a bomb squad. That failure, if the clock had actually been a bomb, could have resulted in the deaths of no telling how many kids, instead of the embarrassment of one. Boyd, by his own admission, had no idea whether the clock was a threat. He was quoted in the Dallas Morning News as saying the device was “certainly suspicious in nature.” Boyd was asked if the teen’s religious beliefs factored into his arrest. The chief said no, that his reaction “would have been the same” under any circumstances. In other words, if this happens again, and the device is actually a bomb, a lot of people will probably die, if Irving police handle the next incident the way they handled this one. Chief Larry Boyd admitted later, in a MSNBC interview, that police determined right away that there was no bomb threat involved, and also that Ahmed never implied in any way that the clock was anything but a clock. When asked why, then, the boy was arrested, Chief Boyd said, “They (the police officers involved) made the best decision that they had at that point in time.” They made the wrong decision. Profiling has come to be considered a violation of human rights, but it is often the best way, sometimes the only way, for police to do their jobs correctly. That statement can also apply to school administrators. As the saying goes, if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. In this case the item being profiled was a clock that looked remarkably like a bomb. The only thing worse than criticizing school and police officials for recognizing the potential threat is not criticizing them for their deplorable reaction to it.

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You Must Outplay Nature to Outwit Deer story by Chester Moore 16 |

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PHOTO COMPOSITE: TF&G

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Wary bucks are unforgiving of the slightest mistakes by a hunter.

hate crows. Well, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really hate them, but the dislike is powerful since they have caused me to lose shots a couple of times. I did everything right. I wore camo, set up my stand with the prevailing wind to my advantage and used scent killing sprays by Hunter Specialties. My tripod was even extremely well hidden from the deer with no real way they could spot me. However, in hindsight, there was one weakness.

Although the cover below the stand was great, I was exposed above it. No deer would be able to view me, but I was in the wide open for the crows. You see, it is not just important to fool whitetails, feral hogs, elk or whatever big game you are hunting. You must fool all wild creatures. Wild animals understand the distress

signals of others and will flee or approach an area extremely cautiously when an alarm is sounded. For hunters who believe they can enter the field wearing cologne, using no sort of camouflage and certainly not paying attention to scent maskers, here are some things to think about.

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Even though you might play the wind, you cannot be certain your deer will come from the direction you wish. Even if it does, a hog might come up the trail just about the time you are about to squeeze the trigger, and let out a grunt as it winds you. Your opportunity has passed you by. For those who go the extra mile in using PHOTO: LYNN B/BIGSTOCK

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A sight all too familiar to many hunters, even those who have taken care to mask their presence.

pattern-breaking camouflage and are experts at scent control, there are other things to think about as well. How well are you hidden from above? As shown in the earlier example, birds such as crows can and will bust you, announcing your presence to everything in the woods. Hiding from them requires some using camouflage draping or natural vegetation to conceal you and your movements. Hunters using box blinds may want to attach sticks and limbs from the legs to the top to break the “boxy” look and create something that looks more like a tree. An area I have always believed Texas hunters (myself included) have really dropped the ball in fooling wildlife involves repetition. We hunt the same stands, day after day, season after season. Wildlife, particularly deer and hogs have this figured out. “If you hunt the same stand three days in a row or more, the deer have you patterned. PHOTOS: OASIS WILDLIFE; BIGSTOCK

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We have proved this in our research, and it is a big stumbling block to some hunters’ success,” said renowned deer biologist Dr. James Kroll. Feeders are a huge part of this equation as they are the primary way hunters score on big game in Texas. However game camera technology lets us know that the largest and wisest deer, hogs and even exotics will visit feeders only when the hunters are not there. Although I believe corn feeders can give hunters an advantage, they can also weigh them down because their use is so commonplace. What if there was something deer needed as much or more than food that could be dispensed similarly? Enter the Oasis Wildlife Water System. At first appearing like a standard fluid storage barrel it utilizes a provisionally patented vacuum system to automatically replenish water to the tray as the animals drink from it. “Our water system has been field tested effectively in East, Central, South, and Southwest Texas with great results,” said Beaumont-based Jack McElroy. “As you consider improvements in wildlife management on your land or lease, remember: water is a key ingredient to your success. Just having available water may not be the complete answer. Being able to provide water to your wildlife where and when you choose aids you in growing healthier animals as well as holding them closer to your target areas.” It is something animals do not expect. Travel west and you’ll find hunters who routinely hunt over water sources, but rarely in Texas. In a drought year such as the one we are experiencing, a water source will draw game in. This is true whether it’s artificial

such as the Oasis system or a natural one. With antler restrictions in place in much of the state and more hunters attempting to score on large bucks, the game is turning from killing a deer to killing a wise, mature deer. Those are two entirely different things. I remember the first time I hunted with my good friend TF&G Editor-At-Large Ted Nugent. We were on a piece of property that was inundated with hogs. Most hunters targeted feeders but Nugent preferred backing away from them and using pruning shears to make shooting lanes. “You find all of these trails coming into feeders,” he said. “By studying the travel patterns and habits of the game in your area, you can clip out some shooting lanes in the thick areas and score on the smarter animals.” “Texas hunters are spoiled because of the incredible game populations we have here, so it is easy to get complacent and not pay attention to the little details. If you can pattern an animal, it can pattern you—so we must outthink them.” These days very few of us have much disposable time to invest in our hunting. The limited time we spend afield must be more productive than ever, and that requires fooling all of the wild, not just deer. After all it does not matter if a spooked rabbit clears the area or a wise old buck sniffs you out, the opportunity is gone. However, a few creative ideas can help hunters make those opportunities pay off instead of passing you by.

DIGITAL EDITION EXTRA: A video demonstrating the Oasis Wildlife Water System.

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story by Chester Moore 20 |

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BACKGROUND AND INSET PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER

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the Birds

S SOON AS THE big cold fronts start blowing through the Gulf Coast, the fishing gets less technical and far more fun. That is when trout are biting under the birds. The truth is catching trout under the birds is easy, but catching qualitysized fish there is not.

Let’s talk protocol first. The only technical part to fall fishing under the birds is not to run up on the birds (or the fish beneath them) with the big motor. Stop at least 50 yards away and use a trolling motor or the wind to move in close. Also, respect other anglers fishing the schools. It is highly disrespectful T E X A S

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to fish right next to them. Fishing the same school is fine, but getting close enough to shake hands is rude and may earn you a good look at a middle finger—or maybe the whole fist. These schooling trout will hit just about anything, including spoons, soft plastics, topwaters, and lipless crankbaits. |

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Pete Martinez points to some birds diving on baitfish while fishing in Laguna Madre near Port Mansfield.

Sarah Rodrigue with a nice trout. The bigger ﬁsh tend to hang on the outskirts of a feeding frenzy.

Something I have noticed over the last few years is sometimes the trout want a fast retrieve—and I do mean fast. Most anglers fishing soft plastics hop the bait up and down, but during the fall, sometimes the trout will hit only if you throw it out and reel it in as fast as possible. If you find a flock of birds obviously feeding verrout and cannot get the fish to hit, try this method. It usually works when nothing else does. By nature, the biggest specimens of speckled trout are lazy. They are old, fat, and seem to have lost their vigor for fighting the young ones for shrimp and menhaden. That means when you run into a school of specks feeding in the fall, the biggest specks will be belly-to-the-bottom. Instead of fishing a soft plastic lure on a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce jighead, simply upgrade the head to 1/2-ounce so it sinks to the bottom quickly.

I personally prefer fishing with a 1/2ounce silver spoon or deep-diving crankbait such as the Fat Free Shad. I have started catching good numbers of trout on the Shad, which most anglers use for largemouth bass. It and other deep divers work for trout and are great for getting past the smaller surface feeders. Another way to get bigger trout as well as reds is to fish on the outside of the feeding frenzy. If I have had my fill of smallish trout or are simply hungry for some tasty redfish fillets, I pull up about 20 yards farther out than you would for trout fishing under the birds, and then make pattern casts around the school with a Rat-L-Trap or a 1/2ounce silver spoon. Live baiters can score by free-lining a live finger mullet or small blue crab on a circle or Kahle hook. Anglers rarely use live crabs

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in Texas waters, but it is very popular in Florida. It works here, too. Fiddler crabs will also work wonders, but they are very difficult to catch, and I do not know of any bait camps that carry them. A few years ago while fishing with Mike Tennian of L&S Lures, I headed to the banks between Whisky Bayou and the Pines on Sabine Lake and found trout literally stacked against the shore. Most of the time, trout are known for working out from the shorelines. This time, they were so tight to the bank that my partners and I were getting hits literally inches from the mud line. Small groups of birds (one to three) were diving over these small schools, which were holding much bigger trout than on the main lake. We were fishing with the Mirrolure Catch 5 and a variety of topwaters and caught the most fish by fishing them with a PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER

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Flocks of sea birds attack baitﬁsh in the Gulf of Mexico. Concentrations of birds often mean a school of feeding ﬁsh in the area.

fast retrieve parallel to the shoreline. Most of the time you will cast toward the shore, but once we figured out the fish were literally hugging the bank, we took James’s advice and switched to casting down the shoreline to maximize the fishing action. The areas that held the most trout were where there was a concentration of shad mixed in with shrimp. We found many shad with minimal trout, but when some shrimp were skipping the top of the water as well, the specks were present. By the time this article hits, most of the shad will be gone; so shrimp and mullet will be the primary source for the fall trout. The whole scenario had me scratching my head because my theory has been that trout prefer easy access to hard work. On the main body of the bay, I could have swum like a fish and caught shad in my mouth. That is

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how thick they were. The next week I returned to do some wade fishing in that area and noticed something interesting about the bottom in this location. Over about a hundred-yard stretch between two well-defined points, the bottom dropped off steeply into some big potholes. I went from waist deep to chest deep and then rose up to my knees. What I realized is that when Hurricane Rita blew through a couple of years earlier, it changed the bottom in this spot and made it deeper. Then I got to looking at the cuts coming from the marsh. At the time, the tide was coming in strongly and was quite high. This was the same situation that Tennian and I encountered before. I noticed a couple of small eddies close to the new ridges and potholes formed in the storm. The trout were feeding there because the

shrimp and shad gathered in the eddy, and at that point were probably trapped there by the feeding trout. This made perfect sense. Louisiana shoreline tends to form eddies on tides on incoming tides around cuts, but they are usually small and filled with flounders. Because this location had several small cuts and major changes in topography, it formed a large eddy making one giant pot of seafood gumbo for marauding specks. The key was looking for birds (and trout of course) away from the fracas on the main bay and keying in on shorelines. Chances are you will not catch a 30-inch trout under the birds, but if you follow these tips, you will improve your chances of bagging quality keepers.

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PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

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e vewwy, vewwy kwiet; we’wwe hunting wabbits,” said that icon of hunting, Elmer Fudd. However, ol’ Elmer, despite enjoying folklore status as one of the best known nimrods around, never bagged his bunny. Of course, very few rabbit hunters in Texas ever went head to head against a talking rabbit with a Bronx accent who walked upright and could pull just about anything out of his pocket. Texas sportsmen have two main

species of rabbits, eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) and swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus). Neither stands upright, but both species occur statewide and often overlap. They look almost identical except that swamp rabbits typically grow slightly larger, about 3 to 6.5 pounds compared to 1.5 to 3.5 pounds. Jackrabbits are also legal game in Texas but few hunters pursue them in comparison to the other species. In general, darker swamp rabbits tend to show more brown and

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black on their fur and sport a dark ring around their eyes. In contrast, grayish-reddish cottontails exhibit a pale cream-colored ring around their eyes and show more whitish fur. Cottontails typically prefer upland habitat, while swamp rabbits readily take the wetlands. A few Texas rabbit hunters use dogs, preferably trained beagles, to flush the “long-eared varmints,” as Yosemite Sam might say, from impenetrable thickets. Not everyone can afford to feed, house and maintain a pack of beagles or even wants to go through that much effort.

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A swamp rabbit hides in heavy cover.

Enoch Drozda and J.W. Bolton compare rabbits they killed.

Short of landing an invitation to join a rabbit drive, most sportsmen must resort to their own efforts to jump rabbits or ambush bunnies another way. That often takes considerable work, luck and sometimes, contrary to Fudd’s Fundamentals, a little noise. Rabbit hunters usually work in teams. They walk line abreast across a field of likely cover, each kicking every clump they encounter. They jump on fallen trees, which provide excellent cover for hiding bunnies. Sometimes, a person might carry a stick to poke around in grass clumps while others watch with ready shotguns. When a rabbit bolts from cover, shooters must react fast and throw a lot of lead in the direction of the bounding furball. It doesn’t take much shot to bring down a thin-skinned rabbit, but it takes significant skill or luck to hit one. Use open choke shotguns loaded with No. 6, 7.5 or 8 lead shot. Almost any shotgun might bag a bunny. Many people prefer a fast, light 20-gauge pump or semi-automatic. Hunters don’t need much knockdown power, but they should use light, short-barreled shotguns that can swing quickly. Shots typically occur within about 20 to 25 yards or less, so leave the T-shot magnums at home. While hunters might see dozens of rabbits, most won’t offer shots and few offer a second shot. One or two hops from those powerful hind legs and they disappear into heavy brush quickly. When hunting heavy brush, teams of hunters need to communicate. They should wear orange to keep each other in sight. In the rush of the moment when a rabbit hops into the open, they need to know whether they can safely shoot in that direction. A hunter should never fire unless he can positively identify his targets and what remains in

the field of fire behind the targets. Hunters should also wear heavy canvas pants or briar chaps to bust through thick cover while flushing rabbits. Briars can easily rip light cotton and skin to shreds. Without dogs, look for areas that limit the territory where a rabbit can roam. Many hunters bag rabbits while walking along levees bordering flooded rice fields or spoil banks lining canals in a marsh. Some natural bayous flowing through marshes offer a strip of high, firm ground that can hold rabbits. Providing the only high ground surrounded by water, these levees, ridges and spoil banks congregate rabbits in huge numbers. Limited room to maneuver on a constricted levee or spoil bank allows hunters to concentrate on areas that might provide the best shooting. Frequently, if someone kicks up a rabbit on a narrow ridge, the hunter might flush the same rabbit a few feet farther down the ridge because it cannot run to the side. Jumped rabbits sometimes circle back to their original locations. They don’t like to leave familiar home territories for very long. In their home thicket, they know several holes or escape routes to use to vanish quickly when danger approaches. After jumping a rabbit, pause a while to see if it circles back home and presents a shot. A new clear-cut or recently burned forest with new green sprouts makes an excellent place to look for cottontails. Fires or clearcuts reduce the amount of cover available to rabbits, forcing them to congregate into what remains. Often, a brush fire burns so quickly that it cannot consume everything. It leaves a few remaining clumps that might hold several rabbits. Rabbits also like to nibble on the new shoots springing up after a fire or in a clear-

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cut. In the evening, they sometimes emerge from heavy cover to gorge on new sprouts. People walking slowly along a path might keep an eye out for rabbits at the edges. Look for the ears, tail or eyes, which stick out more than the camouflaged fur. They also feed heavily on plants growing next to roads and trails. Sometimes, a lucky hunter bags a bunny by walking along such trails. In one day many years ago, I bagged three rabbits that way. Two fell to the same shot. I spotted two rabbits on the side of a trail, a few yards apart. One disappeared quickly, while the other hopped along the bunny trail a short distance before it disappeared. As I crept close to where the rabbits vanished, I noticed a grayish brown silhouette sitting broadside to me at the edge of a small clearing in the weeds. I crept a little closer until I could make out the distinctive outline of my long-eared quarry about 35 yards away. One sure thing beat two possibles, so I squeezed the trigger. At the single report from my 20-gauge, the lone silhouette crumpled. A load of Number 6 shot finished the task quickly. As I approached, I discovered not a single dead rabbit—but two! Apparently, the second cottontail had hopped along the trail until it found its buddy and sat next to it. From where I shot, I could only see one rabbit. The other rabbit must have rested unseen next to the first one like oxen in a yoke. Pellets from the blast hit each rabbit in the head, killing them both instantly. That’s one way to save on costly ammunition!

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10/8/15 1:56 PM

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

The Magical Month

OVEMBER. When hunters hear that word, most will immediately think of the rut or breeding season for whitetail deer. I have to admit it is and has been for as long as I can remember, my favorite month of the year. I am sure that many hunters reading this right now will agree with me. The woods and fields seem to be alive with bucks chasing does. Where I hail from, the peak of the rut falls during the first two weeks of November. I have had the best luck from November 7 through 12 every year. That’s right. Every year at the same time the rut seems to kick into high gear. It is the same wherever you live in Texas. The peak dates may be different according to where you live, but wherever you live, those dates will remain the same every year. Why is that? What causes deer to mate at the same time every year? I ask that same question to my students during my bow hunting classes, and I get the same answers; “the colder weather triggers the bucks to mate.” “The bucks are just waiting for the does to go into estrous.” Finally this one really caught me off guard: “As the food sources dwindle, the bucks know that it is time for another activity.” All I can say to that last one is…Wow! The real reason is simply the loss of daylight. Every day in the autumn months, the sun goes down a little earlier. When the sunlight finally diminishes to a certain point, it kickstarts the glands of both the bucks and does, and the rut begins. That explains why it’s the same time year after year. Granted, the bucks will show much more

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activity, much earlier than the does. Eventually, the does go into estrous, and they are receptive to any bucks in the area for just a few days. If the does do not get bred at that time, then usually the does will go back into estrous in 28 days. This is what is commonly known as the secondary rut. Texas is such a huge state that there is more than just one peak of the rut. I recently read an article from the Texas Parks and Wildlife site that outlined the different zones in Texas and the different peaks of the rut for that particular area. I found it fascinating and thought I would share some of my findings with you. In this article, they say that the Gulf prairies and marshes are the place where the earliest breeding happens. Early action starts around August 24 and lasts until the end of November with peak breeding of September 30 in the north and the end of October in the south. In the Post Oak Savannah region, peak dates were November 10 and 11. The Piney Woods area peaks a little later. November 22 is the golden date here, however, some breeding takes place October 21 to January 5. In the Rolling Plains once again, two areas were mentioned, the north region and the southern region. Peak dates for the northern region proved to be around December 3. While in the south, November 20 was the best day. The Edwards Plateau region, which is rated the highest for deer production in the state, was also divided into three different areas. The east, central and west with the dates November 7, November 24, and December 5. In the north-central part of Texas, peak breeding usually takes place around November 15, while in the Trans-Pecos, although much breeding is done in November, here the date for peak breeding is right around December 8. In South Texas, it is no surprise that this area has the latest rut in the state. Consequently, the peak breeding dates were from December 16 to Christmas Eve. These dates that dictate the peak of the

rut will be fairly consistent every year—good to know if you have some vacation time still unused for the year. Heck, I know guys who plan vacations around the rut in their area. One of my friends gets some kind of “hunter’s flu” every year on November 10. I guess the fresh air and tree stands help in his recovery because he feels much better after a few days in the woods. No matter where you are in these United States, there will be a time that is known as the October Lull. Much is written about this phenomenon, and it occurs every year just before the peak of the rut in the area. I have witnessed what actually happens at this time. All of a sudden, the woods seem to quiet down, and the deer that were all over the woods just a few days earlier, are now seemingly absent. The bucks have now located does that are about to go into estrous, and they will bed down next to them and wait for their opportunity to mount them. As the does get hungry and stand up to feed, the bucks are immediately next to them trying to mount. If the doe is not ready yet, she will bed right back down, and so will the buck. This scenario goes on and on for a few days until the doe finally does go into estrous and submits to the buck. That explains why we, the hunters, cannot see any deer movement for about a week. If this ever happens to you, do not give up hope. This lull only means that any day now the bucks will again be in full swing and on the prowl for another doe. Once they start moving again, the bucks will be chasing does everywhere. This is the peak of the rut. This is the best time to be in the woods and your best time to be successful on bagging a big boy. I have always said that patients are made for doctors, but in this case, patience will be the key to a great day in the deer woods. Have fun and hunt safe out there.

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TEXAS Dept. of DEFENSE by STEVE LAMASCUS & DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Self Defense Tactical :: Concealed Carry

What to Carry in Addition to Your Sidearm

FEW DAYS AGO I WAS talking to my son-in-law, who is a Border Patrol agent. He opined that something along the lines of what a person needs to carry, in addition to the standard handgun, would probably be an appropriate subject for a Department of Defense article. I agree, so here it is. First, and most often overlooked, is the type of belt you need if you are going to carry a handgun on it. It needs to be heavy and stiff. I prefer one made of ballistic nylon, but there are several very good belts made from heavy chap leather. If you intend carrying an inside-thewaistband holster on it, it also needs to be either a couple of sizes too large, or better, it should have some device that allows you

Another item that I consider indispensible if you are out after dark is a good, small flashlight. Those I like best are made

“

to adjust it almost to infinity. That is why I usually wear one with a sliding buckle with a locking device that clamps down on the belt at whatever point you desire, rather than one with a standard hole and pin buckle. The next thing is some way to carry extra ammo or an extra magazine. I have discovered that one of the nylon pouches made for Leatherman tools is perfect for carrying an extra magazine. It is not obvious as a lot of people carry such things today. For a revolver I carry a leather pouch in my pocket that will hold six spare rounds, or I carry an HKS speed loader in my right hand pants pocket. I carry the magazine pouch on the side opposite my firearm, just in front of my left hip. This way I can reach it with either hand.

by Surefire. They are small, but incredibly bright, and are operated by a button on the back of the light, which allows you to operate

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL great choices for concealed carry firearms we all end up settling on one model for one reason or another. Years back I settled with my single stack Walther PPS and since then I’ve carried it so much the front of the slide hardly has any finish left on it. Back in 2007 while Walther was being imported under the license of Smith and Wesson it didn’t get the attention it deserved, and the PPS flew under the radar. However, the PPS was one of the early arrivals of

the single stack compact polymer pistols before the XDS and Shield were mainstream. Since I was a Walther fanboy, I was waiting to get my hands on it as soon as they announced it. I had really grown to appreciate the crisp factory trigger of my Walther P99AS, but it was uncomfortable to carry full time. The PPS is different. Slim is actually what the “S” in PPS stands for. Police Pistol Slim. When you carry a firearm 24/7, you’ll discover that comfort can take the place of capacity. I find the very slim frame to be quite comfortable in daily wear. Now I will agree that the PPS isn’t the best looking firearm. It can look a bit choppy or squatty with the extreme angles of the frame. But the user search-

es for function in a concealed firearm, not beauty; and that’s what the PPS gives me. The slim advantage of the PPS also is the disadvantage of a lower capacity. The .40 S&W model holds up to seven rounds and the 9mm, eight rounds. The reason I say “up to” when speaking of the PPS magazine capacity is because you can purchase three different magazines for the PPS in each caliber. All of the magazines have the same body, however the floor plate and springs are extended for each one. The .40 S&W mags come in five, six, or seven rounds. The five-rounder will fit flush with the grip, but give no grip space for your pinky finger, the sixround mag will give about half a pinky purchase, and the seven-round mag

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My Carry Choice

Another item that I consider indispensible if you are out after dark is a good, small ﬂashlight.

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it in the ice pick position. Surefire makes several two-cell models, and a couple that use only one battery. These are generally smaller than any of the rechargeable lights I have seen. I carry a flashlight anytime I am out after dark. Most cops will tell you that they would just as soon go out without their gun as without a good flashlight. And when I say a good flashlight, I mean a good one. If you can’t see a hundred yards with it, get one you can, and keep fresh batteries in it. You can carry it in your pocket or in a pouch on your belt. I recommend carrying on your belt, but it really doesn’t matter.

Another great item is a small can of pepper spray. It is much more likely you will need pepper spray than it is you will need your gun. If you are faced with a belligerent drunk, you don’t want to have to shoot him when dousing him with pepper spray will do the job. I especially recommend this for the ladies. Next on my list is a good knife. You can opt for either a fixed blade or an assisted opening type, with either a standard blade or the serrated type. I prefer the standard blade and keep mine sharp enough to shave. Several very good knives are on the market that can be carried on the belt, or

even behind the belt. I recommend a sheath that lies horizontal to the belt rather than vertical. This is more comfortable when you are sitting, and just as quick to get into action when you need it. Dye the sheath black or dark brown and it will generally go unnoticed. Gerber and Buck, as well as many more, make extremely good knives that will fit the bill as an emergency tool or a last ditch weapon. Many men today carry a knife clipped to the pocket of their pants. This too is a good way to carry a knife. I have one, an assisted opening model made by Kershaw that is small and handy. I have some use for it almost every day. That is my list. You may find other things you feel are necessary, such as a multi-tool or Swiss Army Knife, and most of us feel totally naked without our cell phones. But watch out, or you may end up needing a larger belt, and most of us do not need to gain any more weight. —Steve LaMascus

The author’s well worn Walther PPS in .40S&W. The different magazine capacities allow the user to adapt depth of concealment as necessary.

has plenty of grip area and even hooks forward a little to give plenty of recoil control. Of course the five-round mag will also give the greatest concealment, but it’s so small I never use it. I usually carry the six-rounder in the gun, and keep a sevenround mag on my belt for backup, which I highly recommend for pistols with lower capacity. You will need to remember to lift your pinky out of the way for magazine changes, or it’s very possible that you will pinch it when seating them. The mag release is the longer

European style lever so it will require a bit more training so you don’t fumble for an imaginary mag button. But as long as you use your trigger finger to activate it, you will appreciate the design. As I prefer, there are no external safeties to forget about in a defensive situation, and the trigger still has a Glock style hinged trigger block. The six-pound trigger isn’t as crisp and short as its P99AS and PPQ brothers, but it’s better than several other brands out there. It’s plenty accurate for defensive work. The other day I was hitting a sixT E X A S

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inch steel plate constantly from 15 yards, and fiveyard paper drills were onehole groups. Occasionally I’ll toy around from 25 and 50 yards with steel silhouettes and eightinch plates, but I don’t do near as well as I do with my full size competition pistols. The PPS became my go-to carry gun because of brand loyalty, fit, and comfort. Here’s my advice: Find which handgun works for you and wear the finish clean off of it. —Dustin Ellermann

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Is the Targeting of Predators Across Texas the Best Game Management Strategy?

story by Steve Schaffer

HERE IS NO QUESTION

in particular are the target of aerial shooting, poison-

some areas of Texas have too many deer.

ing, trapping and intense hunting in certain areas.

Certain parts of the Texas Hill Country, along the coast and in the

Is this justified? Or should we do even more preda-

South Texas plains are above their car-

tor control?

rying capacity. It has been a long time since Texas has seen a massive disease outbreak and die-off, but it

Although some areas have too many deer, others are seeing a decrease. Are predators to blame?

could certainly happen in some areas.

It is always best to look at scientific studies on

Predator control is something being discussed more

issues such as these. I would like to examine coyote

and more as deer hunting has transformed from a pur-

and other animal predation in low fence areas. High-

suit to a full-on multi-million dollar industry. Coyotes

fenced zones are a whole â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nother scenario.

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Golden eagles were found to have preyed on young fawns in West Texas and New Mexico.

Let’s start with an interesting paper I came across. It was put together by Terry Blankenship of the Welder Wildlife Foundation, and it looks at a variety of predation. “Studies conducted in the Big Bend region of Texas indicate desert mule deer were found in 24 percent of bobcat scat from 1972-74. A decline in deer populations and an increase in rabbit populations resulted in a decline to three percent for deer and an increase of rabbit in the scat from 51 to 78 percent. (Leopold and Krausman 1986).” “Beasom and Moore (1977) recorded white-tailed deer in six percent of stomachs examined in south Texas during 1971. However, no deer were recorded the following year. Cotton rats and cottontails increased in abundance during the second year. Beasom and Moore (1977) suggested bobcats concentrated food gathering efforts on the more abundant cotton rats and cottontails.” He noted that research conducted on the Welder Wildlife Foundation from 19931998 indicate deer were found in bobcat scat from May through August. Deer were found in 5, 32, 24, and 4 percent of bobcat scat collected in May, June, July, and August, respectively (Blankenship 2000).” “This corresponds to the fawn drop on the Welder Wildlife Foundation. Data show the birth period begins in May with the majority born in June.” The golden eagle was another predator examined in this paper. “Larger mammals (e.g. deer) may be important in the diet as carrion. Young fawns are more likely targets if they are hunted as prey. The remains of young deer were found in four of 41 golden eagle nests from west Texas and New Mexico and comprised

0.4 percent of the food items identified. The major food items in the golden eagle diet were rabbits (69 percent) and squirrels.” Scott Henke of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute put together an interesting treatise on coyote control. “Although white-tailed deer and bobwhite quail reproductive success increased with coyote removal, overall population densities for both species remained unchanged. This implies that a compensatory mortality mechanism is involved with these populations and that potential population increases of certain game species due to coyote removal are short-lived. All studies indicated that coyote control caused an immigration of coyotes into the removal areas. Coyote population densities returned to pre-removal levels typically within three months after removal efforts ceased.” Another study he noted involved aerial gunning from a helicopter and ground calling to remove coyotes from two randomlyselected study sites every three months for two successive years. “Intensity of removal efforts per season was 27 helicopter hours and 25 man-hours of hunting. Linear distance between coyote removal and non-removal areas was 12 miles. Coyotes also were removed from a three-mile buffer zone surrounding each site. Animal abundance and densities were assessed from the center of the removal and non-removal areas.” Henke wrote that Texas studies that involved short-term coyote removal programs

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did not note differences in rodent and lagomorph populations. However, those studies that consistently removed coyotes throughout the year began to realize populationlevel changes after a minimum of nine months of coyote removal. Noted biologist/deer researcher and outdoor writer Bob Zaiglin wrote about an interesting study conducted in South Texas in the 1980s. “A genuine concern when protecting coyotes in order to enhance herd control is the indiscriminant manner in which they kill. Obviously, most deer managers prefer to select which animal (at least sex) that is harvested,” he wrote. “The coyote is a non-selective predator and will kill adult post-rutting bucks as well as doe and buck fawns. However, for those landholdings closed to sport hunting, the coyote may be the only population control factor (other than the climate) and thus must be understood and utilized.” He noted in the study that based on the overall information discovered in the story, “Our harvest scheme, which included coyotes as a harvesting mechanism, impacted the herd dynamics initially, i.e., doe numbers decreased and buck numbers increased. However, once the doe harvest was reduced in 1990, it became obvious that coyotes alone could not hold this population at a static level.” “In conclusion, it is my opinion that predation by coyotes, in conjunction with low intensity doe harvests (typical in this area), can control deer numbers on large (non high-fenced) management areas. Thus, on land tracts owned by individuals unwilling to allow adequate hunters on the land to reduce doe numbers, the coyote represents a viable tool in deer harvest management.” These studies were presented so you can make decisions on predator control on the properties you hunt and manage. Without question, coyotes, bobcats and other predators prey on deer and other game animals. How much impact they have varies and so does the impact of predator control. It is best to move forward with your management with all of the facts, not just speculation. Maybe you have too many coyotes. Then again maybe the coyotes are your best friend if you have too many deer on large tracts of land.

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It looked way too cold to go fishing. A thin blanket of ice carpeted the ground, and small flurries of snow drifted down from the gray skies. Had I been in Minnesota this would have been prime time for ice fishing, but heading into such frigid conditions in Texas earns scrutinizing stares from onlookers. “Only a crazy man would venture into such nasty weather,” the man at the boat launch told us. “You guys need straight jackets.”

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Blue catﬁsh are a bonus catch from deeper holes near coastal discharge plants, since they can tolerate moderate levels of saltwater.

My cousin Frank Moore and I smiled and mumbled some little white lie like “It ain’t that bad.” But it’s safe to say we both agreed with the man as we headed out into the 33-degree, stinging cold morning. We would have worn straight jackets if they could’ve kept us warmer. The only “good” thing about the weather was there was no wind to speak of. The water in the Neches River was as smooth as glass, so the 16-foot aluminum boat glided across it with great ease. When we reached our destination it seemed as if we were in some sort of strange, twisted, winter dream. Icicles dangled from the high lines above as steam rose from the water. At times it was so thick and rose so high that we had to slow down to a virtual crawl to avoid a collision with the bank or another boat. Being only half-awake, I kept thinking this might be some sort of strange purgatory, halfway between fishing heaven and hell. Finally, I snapped back into reality when Frank motioned for me to stop as we came up to a big chain that blocked the canal. In the middle of the chain was a sign that read: “No Trespassing; Property of Entergy Corporation.” We had reached the outflow station of the Neches River Entergy Power Plant.

“We should catch some fish,” Frank said as he dipped his hand in the water. “The water’s really warm, so they must be pumping out a lot today.” This Energy Plant is like several similar outfits along the Texas Gulf Coast. The plant cools its turbines by pumping water from one canal and expelling it to another. In this case, the water comes from a marsh that borders the Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area near Bridge City and exits into a canal that leads to the mouth of the Neches River—both of which usually hold salty water during winter. Baitfish congregate in such warm water during cold spells, making them a sort of buffet for a host of large predators like redfish and speckled trout. They’re great for human predators, too, since the coldblooded fish become much more active feeders in these spots than in the much colder surrounding waters. Frank and I were the only anglers present in the canal that day, but there were plenty of fish. In fact, we limited on redfish and black drum and caught more than a dozen speckled trout. Not bad for fishing in an ice storm.

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plants that spew out thousands of gallons of warm water per minute or they can be small drainage pipes or culverts that have a very light flow. Oftentimes chemical refineries will have small pump stations that produce warmwater flow that diverts into underwater pipes. Any of these areas can hold a surprising amount of fish, but it’s safe to say that the more flow and the warmer the water in comparison to the surrounding water, the more fish there will be. An interesting phenomenon in these areas is that different species favor various degrees of warmth or current. For example, speckled trout and redfish are often found right next to the outflow pipes and prefer the areas where the water is warmest. However, other species may act differently. Flounders often wait down current, and can be found in the eddies that form near drop-offs. Since small baitfish can’t negotiate current very well, they often get stuck in those eddies, and the flounders will stack up and gulp up the shad, shrimp and whatever else ends up there. Black drum can often be caught in the deeper holes in these canals. I’m not sure why, but I’ve caught many black drums in the very deepest hole in the Entergy Canal. Sometimes you can drop the line right over PHOTO: TF&G

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Flounder can be caught in the eddies near drop-offs down current from a discharge.

Warm-water discharges come in many forms along the coast, as well as on a number of freshwater lakes.

the boat and get hit as soon as the bait hits the bottom. Sheepshead often feed this way, too. Another unexpected bonus: The deeper holes in the canal may also hold lots of freshwater catfish. Blue catfish in particular can tolerate moderate levels of saltwater, so they’re often caught right alongside saltwater species. Dead shrimp will catch a mess of one- to two-pound cats, but use cut bait if it’s the big

cats you’re after. I’ve found squid to be an effective alternative. It’s got the right smell, and its almost luminescent color gives it an added visual appeal in dark water. If that isn’t enough, striped bass and their cousins, white bass, yellow bass and hybrid bass sometimes move into saltwater outfall canals in impressive numbers. These voracious predators can be found wherever the bait is. In Galveston Bay, many of them migrate

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down the Trinity River; in the Sabine area they migrate down from below Toledo Bend Reservoir. But there are also striped bass that live in our bay systems. If you don’t believe these particular saltwater areas can hold some big stripers, then take into account that the saltwater state record for striped bass is 28 pounds and it was caught in Galveston Bay. That’s a big striper by anyone’s standards. Something else to keep in mind: Even small flows from a single drainpipe can draw fish. They may not hold massive schools of fish for long periods of time, but even a slight warming in water temperature can make a substantial difference during cold weather. It’s very important to look for the little things in these spots, since very often that’s all it takes to attract gamefish. I’ve been a fan of fishing warm-water discharges for a long time, and have enjoyed numerous memorable outings on days when the “intelligent” thing to do was to stay home where it’s warm. But actually, if catching fish makes you happy, and the lack of consistent winter action is bugging you, it might be wise to check out some of the warm-water discharges in your neck of the woods. They usually hold lots of fish—fish that, not incidentally, can otherwise be very hard to find during this weather-crazy time of year.

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True GREEN TF&G Conservation Editor

Edited by WILL LESCHPER

Bad Bloom REENHOUSES AND NURSeries are the best places to find bright, lively wintertime flowers, however, there’s another bloom that fisheries biologists and others associated with the fishing industry in Texas would rather not have to lay eyes on. This bloom represents the spread of golden alga, a highly toxic, microscopic organism that can be lethal to all types of gill-breathers, most notably fish, but also some arthropods and amphibians. Prymnesium parvum turns water a yellowish-copper color when it blooms. It already has accounted for fish kills in five Texas river basins—the Canadian, Red, Brazos, Colorado and Rio Grande chains—and probably will affect others in the future. Though the bloom, a substantial increase of the species, has killed many

gilled organisms and seems to thrive in colder temperatures, no humans or other mammals have been affected by the alga. According to TPWD reports, affected fish can recover from the early effects of the alga if they are able to swim to an area free of toxins. TPWD biologists also have reported that golden alga is mostly a brackish water-living alga which causes fish kills when the pH level is high and conditions are more conducive to its growth. It usually takes place in pockets and coves, not on a lakewide basis, officials said. Since 2001, golden alga blooms have caused more than 130 major fish kills and resulted in the loss of more than 34 million fish valued at more than $14 million. According to TPWD reports, Lake Whitney saw the largest one-day fish kill in recorded history, a 4.9 million kill in February 2005. More than 4 million fish also were killed as a result of golden alga on Lake Granbury in the winter of 2004 and spring of 2005.

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Reports show the heaviest hit to the statewide fishery occurred in 2001 at the Dundee State Fish Hatchery in the Red River Basin. The hatchery, the largest in the state, is among the sites where TPWD produces stripers and hybrid stripers that are then stocked into lakes for anglers to catch. Stripers don’t reproduce in fresh water lakes that don’t have readily available rivers running into them such as Lake Texoma, so TPWD grows fry, fingerlings and larger fish in a series of ponds. Golden alga got into those shallow ponds and before it could be stopped or the fish moved, the organism had killed an entire year’s worth of striper production, more than 5 million fish. It is not known whether golden alga is a native species or one that was accidentally brought to North America. According to TPWD, Texas biologists were the first to document the occurrence of the alga in fresh water in the Western Hemisphere. Among other southern states that have been affected by golden alga are Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Other states that have been impacted and are thousands of miles away include Hawaii, Maine, Washington and Wyoming. Golden alga research efforts have been coordinated in different areas of the state to monitor, study and prevent large outbreaks. These include surveys, genetic studies, historic assessments and control mechanism studies. Despite major fish kills and the loss of angling opportunities and revenues, the state is continuing its push to find out what makes golden alga tick and what it can do to protect a major Texas industry. With luck, the future won’t be bright for one particular menace. For more information, visit TPWD’s golden alga resource page at tpwd.texas. gov/landwater/water/environconcerns/hab/ga.

Email Will Leschper at WillLeschperOutdoors@gmail.com

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Texans Win NOAA Award NOAA’S RESTORE ACT SCIENCE Program recently completed its first funding competition and awarded approximately $2.7 million to seven research teams, including multiple teams in Texas. Each of the teams will address one or more of the Science Program’s short-term priorities for the Gulf of Mexico, which focus on assessing ecosystem modeling, evaluating indicators

for Gulf conditions, and assessing and developing recommendations for monitoring and observing in the Gulf. The Texas awards are as follows: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi ($398,349): To develop and test a set of indicators and an approach for using them based on specific management needs in the Gulf. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi ($395,000): To work with

Solar Wells Improve Public Lands

ORKING WITH THE Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Ducks Unlimited has installed four solar wells on state public lands and has another two planned. These wells are shallow, low-flow systems that will provide adequate water supplies to small (2-15 acres) wetlands. Due to continued coastal wetland losses and concerns with droughts in Texas, wetland managers are implementing strategies, such as solar-well-fed wetlands, to provide freshwater habitats to assist resident and

migratory waterfowl with all life cycle needs. Small wetlands such as these can be extremely valuable for mottled ducks during pairing, nesting, brood rearing and molting phases that occur during spring and summer months, in addition to providing a variety of year-round benefits to waterfowl and many other species. The four wells already installed were put on Mustang Island State Park and Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area and were funded through TPWD’s Migratory Game Bird Habitat Program, which is primarily supported with the sale of

Kendal Keyes (TPWD Regional Natural Resource Coordinator) inspects the Mustang Island SP solar well. She originally approached DU to partner/deliver this well.

PHOTO: DUCKS UNLIMITED

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resource managers and other researchers to test and align ecosystem models with management needs and restoration activities in the Gulf. University of Texas at Austin ($391,021): To work with experts from academia, federal and state government, and non-governmental organizations to compile and evaluate existing information on fish spawning aggregations in the Gulf. This information should aid in the conservation and management of the region’s fisheries.

State Migratory Game Bird Endorsements (State Bird Stamps). The Mustang Island well was also supported with funding from the Coastal Bend and Bays Estuary Program and Koch/Flint Hills. The three wells on Justin Hurst WMA were further supported by Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation and Phillips 66. Plans are underway for installation of a new solar well at Mad Island WMA supported by the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and one at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge supported by Phillips 66. Incorporating a green technology such as solar power reduces annual operation costs for the TPWD, and allows for project implementation in remote locations far from power lines.

—Andi Cooper

Small, shallow freshwater wetlands provide critical habitat for many bird species along the Texas Coast.

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Texas SALTWATER by CALIXTO GONZALES :: TF&G Saltwater Editor

More Cool Stuff AST MONTH, I WROTE AT length about some of the truly cool innovations in fishing line that the saltwater angler should keep an eye out for in 2016. We all know that, if you have line, you’ve got to have reels to string it on, and a lure to tie to it. Anglers will be pleased to know there are enough new such products to keep you dizzy with anticipation. Some are already on the market, so you can start leaving catalogs with circles items lying around to make sure that you get just the right gift. There’s also birthdays, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Girl Day and Boy Day (the latter two are 3/3 and 4/4 respectively; tell your folks you’re embracing an international point of view). Penn has been re-inventing the top-ofthe-line reels in their lineup. Most notably, they offer the Clash as their new workhorse reel. The Clash is designed from a full-metal body loaded with features. The aluminum bail wire is thicker than normal, which increases the durability and life. The drive train is built on Penn’s Dura-Gear, which means that it’s as durable as the body. The slow oscillation system means the braided line is laid down smoothly and efficiently. Nine-shelled ball bearing means that the reel gears work smoothly, and a braid-ready spool fill out the features of the Clash. Of course, a top-end Penn reel isn’t complete without a Penn rod—in this case, the Carnage II. The rod, which is available in both spinning and conventional models, is built on the SLS3 blank, which makes it surprisingly light for a rod of its durability and strength. The Carnage II is especially

well-suited for braided line and can handle the remarkable amounts of pressure that anglers can produce while using braid and going knuckle and skull with a big fish. The Clash/Carnage II combo is a formidable combo. When matched up with a braid such as Spiderline’s new Camo Blue, you have a serious fish buster in the combo. Not to be outdone, Shimano has redesigned their flagship Stradic and introduces the FK. The FK has the same popular features of its predecessors, but is lighter while still as durable and dependable. The revolutionary X-Ship drivetrain system is combined with a new hagane body. Hagane is the same sort of steel that is used to make fine quality knives and provides a lighter body. The drive train is also composed of Hagane. The Stradic FK has been available on the market for some time, and feedback has been very positive from light tackle anglers up and down the Texas Coast. Abu Garcia joined the premium reel fray with the Premier, their new flagship spinning reel to the Revo lineup. Revo is best known for the low-profile reels that bear the name and are renowned for both quality and function. What few realize—and should—is that Revo’s spinning reels carry similar bona fides. The frame of the Revo Premier is designed with NanoShield technology. NanoShield means that the reel is approximately 300 percent stronger while actually being 50 percent lighter. NanoShield also means that the reel will not flex under pressure, which makes it ideal to use with braided lines. The gearbox, which is machined from a single block of aluminum decreases the overall weight even more. A total of 10 shield ball bearings and one roller bearing gives the Revo Premier unmatched smoothness. This is definitely another reel that light tackle specialists who chase trout, redfish, flounder, and snook should give a very close look. So now you have your great reel and

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some kicking fishing line. Now what? What do you tie to the whole setup, to become the bane of fish everywhere? 2015 is going to see some remarkable lures to use with all your new terminal tackle. Soft bait enthusiasts will be very excited with the new line of soft baits in the Berkley Powerbait line. The three-inch Curlytail grub offers just the right amount of action in a popular size that has visual and olfactory appeal to game fish up and down the coast. This is the sort of bait that screams popping cork usage. Many lures refer to themselves as being an unfair advantage, but only one refers to itself as Unfair. Unfair Lures offers a unique line of lures that are unique in design, but effective in function. The one that should capture anglers’ fancy is Paul’s Unfair Shrimp. The bait has a remarkably lifelike action derived from the tie-swivel that is mounted in the bait’s tail section. The swivel facilitates a darting, backward swimming action that mimics a fleeing shrimp. When you give it some slack line, the bait drops in a natural head-forward style that also mimics a shrimp’s natural movement. Paul’s Unfair Shrimp comes in two models, floating and sinking, and 11 colors. A lot of truly cool stuff is coming out in 2015 for anglers of all stripes. In the past two columns, I’ve listed but a few of those that caught my eye. Rest assured, they aren’t the only ones out there, however. Again, there are enough that will set even the most frugal angler to cracking open their wallet to add to their tackle box.

Email Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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Texas FRESHWATER by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&G Freshwater Editor

The Incredible, Edible, Lipless Crankbait

F ALL THE ARTIFICIAL lures bass anglers use to fish for bass, not many produce the consistently good results or provide the versatility that a lipless crankbait does. It will work in cold or warm water that is stained, clear or muddy, at varied depths from shallow to deep, and in areas with abundant or sparse cover. Another positive fact that can’t be disputed is its user-friendly nature. Anyone can catch bass with one of these plugs regardless of their fishing skills. Just chunk it, wind it and hold on tight. That’s why pro anglers sometimes refer to it as a “monkey bait.” The lipless crankbait is so simple to fish with that a monkey could probably catch one on it. So named because it does not have a nose bill or lip like other styles of crankbaits, the lipless crankbait is an elongated, flat-sided lure. It is usually equipped with two treble hooks and a built-in rattle chamber that contains one or more BBs of varied sizes. The line tie is generally positioned slightly forward on the bait’s back, which causes it to ride nose down as it speeds through the water column with an enticing wiggle and a rowdy rattling commotion that draws bass from afar. Lipless baits will catch fish year around, but they shine particularly bright during the winter and early spring months. This is especially true of East Texas lakes that offer a bounty of hydrilla for the bass to prowl in. Veteran Toledo Bend fishing guide and tournament pro Stephen Johnston knows all too well how deadly the lipless crankbait can be on grass lakes during the winter months. He says two of the main keys are to target areas where there is a two- to five-foot void between the top of the grass and the water’s surface and to retrieve the bait at a speed just

fast enough to keep it ticking the top stalks of grass on the way in. Often times, the bait tearing free of the grass is what triggers the “reaction strike.” “What happens is the grass stops the bait for a split second and then it breaks free,” explained Johnston. “When that happens it causes the bait to react wildly and causes a sudden fluttering sound. That’s usually when they’ll hammer it.” Johnston has learned through experience that specific rod actions/lengths, line types/ size and reel gear ratios work better for lipless crankbait fishing than others do. Some other key factors to consider are bait size, brand and color. “There is a lot more to it than walking into a tackle shop and buying a red Rat-L-Trap and going out and chunking it,” he said. I recently spent a day on the water with Johnston and asked him to break down the specifics: • ROD CHOICE: Johnston prefers a rod that is 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet long with a medium/heavy action. He says the long rod helps him launch long casts, while the stiff action allows him to “pop” or “rip” the bait free when it connects with the grass. “If you use too limber a rod the bait will load up in the grass and foul,” he said. “You won’t catch many fish if you’re reeling in a big wad of grass every other cast.” • LINE: Johnston uses fluorocarbon line exclusively on his lipless cranks. Fluorocarbon does not stretch like monofilament line, which aids in popping baits free from the grass. Johnston prefers 12-14 pound test line on 1/4 and 1/2 ounce lures, 16-20 pound test on 3/4 and one-ounce baits. • REEL: A bait-casting reel with proper T E X A S

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reel ratio is essential for lipless crankbait fishing. Reel ratio dictates the speed at which the line is gathered on the line spool with each revolution of the reel handle. A reel with 8.1:1 reel ratio gathers line significantly faster that one with a 6.3:1 ratio. Johnston says it is important to use a reel that moves the bait at a speed that allows it stay in contact with the grass, but not so fast or slow that it is counterproductive. “The first thing most people do when they aren’t getting bit on a lipless crankbait is speed up their retrieve,” he explained. “But that’s the wrong thing to do. You should always slow down. A reel with slower gear ratio forces you to do that. When choosing a reel, choose one with a gear ratio that allows you to work the bait at the speed the fish want it and at the proper depth.” • BAIT SIZE: Lipless baits come in variety of sizes. Baits weighing 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and one ounce are the most popular for bass fishing. Johnston always takes the depth of the grass into consideration when choosing a lipless crank. The smaller the void between the surface and the grass, the lighter the bait he uses. • COLOR: Johnston prefers to stick with basics. He says a ‘Rayburn red is hard to beat on grass lakes with relatively clear water. He also likes a Zombie color or chrome/blue. In off-color water he always switches to something with some chartreuse in it, because the fish can see it better. • SOUND: All lipless crankbaits are equipped with rattles, but no two brands sound exactly the same. At times, Johnston says the pitch of the sound can make a difference in the number of bites you’ll get. Fishing a lipless crankbait isn’t rocket science, but helps to know little bit about lure selection and other gear when you are truly serious about using it to catch fish.

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URING THE DEAD OF WINTER, when Jack Frost puts a choke hold on the water temperatures on lakes across Texas, many bass anglers make the mistake of stashing their fishing gear until the first hint of spring. I call it a mistake because that’s exactly what it is. Some of the year’s very best bass fishing rolls around during the Texas version of the big chill. Depending on the lake, the best bite won’t necessarily be confined to deep water, either. In looking back, some of the most memorable wintertime experiences I’ve had casting for bass have come in water skinny enough to wade in, many of them on days when there was a blustery north wind accompanied by overcast skies and maybe even a little snow, sleet or drizzle dancing in the air. Shift to winter of 2010. A couple of my best fishing buds—Tommy Bartholomew and Kerry Karlix—came to visit for the Christmas holiday. Rather that exchanging presents around the tree, we hooked up to my Ranger at first light and headed to nearby Lake Nacogdoches. There was light drizzle falling and the outside temperature was about 40 degrees, though a brisk north breeze made it seem much colder. But the weather didn’t seem to bother the fish. Together we landed 52 bass up to six pounds that day, all of them coming on lipless crankbaits. The fish were relating to scattered hydrilla beds on a shallow flat in two to five feet of water adjacent to well-defined creek channels. The fast action in skinny water on such a nasty weather day didn’t come as much of a surprise. I had duplicated the exact pattern many times before,and I’ve done it many times since. T E X A S

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Caption In chilly water, bass are attracted to the cover of hydrilla and other vegetation in shallow water.

Longview bass pro Jim Tutt knows all too well how productive fishing shallow can be when things are looking a lot like Christmas outside. That holds especially true when discussing East Texas lakes with an abundance of hydrilla, a non-native aquatic plant found in a number of impoundments across the region. “Hydrilla is the ultimate cover for bass,” Tutt said. “They won’t ever leave it no matter hold cold it gets, especially lakes where the water that has a little bit of color to it. I’m not really sure why, but I would guess it provides a little warmth. Plus, it attracts bream and shad and provides the bass with the perfect cover for ambushing their prey. There are times when they will move out over open grassy flats to feed and other times when they want to be where the vegetation meets with deeper water like a channel swing or a drop off at the tip of a point. Covering water is a big key.” Commonly referred to “grass,” hydrilla can be found in any number of lakes across Texas, but is most prevalent in East Texas

impoundments such as Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend, Nacogdoches, Lake O’ the Pines and a host of others. In a normal year, the grass forms a surface canopy by fall, then gradually dies back several feet beneath the surface once winter sets in. This creates a window of open water between water’s surface and top of the grass, which is ideal for throwing a lipless crankbait like a Livingston Pro Ripper or a Rat-L-Trap. The trick is to make a lengthy cast, then retrieve the bait at a speed just fast enough to keep it ticking or grabbing the top stalks of grass on the way in without burying up and fouling. Often times, the bait tearing free of the grass is what triggers the “reaction strike.” Deadly as it is, the lipless crankbait isn’t the only style of lure that will work around shallow grass during the winter months. Some other good choices include square bill crankbaits, jerk baits, bladed jigs, soft jerk baits, swim jigs, swim baits and spinnerbaits. According to Tutt, there are also times when a buzz bait will work like magic.

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“I’ve crushed them on buzz bait right up the middle of January before,” he said. “There isn’t really any rhyme or reason to it. But there are times when something weird like that will work.” As much as bass like to hang out around hydrilla, it is not entirely necessary to have grass in order to find fish up shallow when it is cold outside. There are other forms of cover and/or structure that will hold fish in skinny water during the winter months, as well.

Rocks, Gravel and Rip-Rap Underwater rocks and shoreline rip-raff found at bridge crossings or break waters absorb heat from the sun and displace it back into the water. This may cause the water temperature in the immediate area to be a degree or two warmer than everything else around it. Although a couple of degrees PHOTO: MATT WILLIAMS

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may not sound like much, it can mean a lot when it comes to attracting and holding bass in cold water. Any number of baits will produce around the hard stuff, but it is tough to beat a billed crankbait (crawfish pattern) or a jig. Both lures do a great job of bumping, banging and grinding their way through the rock while while simulating one the bass’ primary wintertime/early spring forages—crawfish.

Stumps, Laydowns and Docks Stumps, laydown logs and boat dock support pilings also absorb and displace heat back into the water. Plus, they provide the fish with adequate cover for hiding from bait fish until it is too late. Crashing a square bill crankbait into hard objects such as these will cause the lure to deflect to the side, resulting in an erratic action that will sometimes trigger a strike when an otherwise straight retrieve might fail.

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Power Plant Bass When the mercury tumbles, the shallow water bass fishing action always heats up on select Texas power plant lakes. That’s because of a little factor called “thermal enrichment.” Here’s how it works. Power plants produce electricity. The colder it gets outside, the higher the demand for electricity in cities and towns adjacent to the power plant. In order to produce the electricity, however, the power plant must suck water out of the impoundment to cool its turbines before discharging it back into the lake at a much warmer temperature than it was when it went in. It is no different from running hot water into a bathtub of cold water. Only difference is, the bathtub is much smaller. The water temperature on certain sections of a power plant reservoir may be 20 degrees warmer than on neighboring coldwater reservoirs. This explains why power plant bass might be significantly more active in skinny water during the winter months

than those in cold-water impoundments. It also explains why it is possible to find fish on spawning beds in two feet of water on a power plant lake when two inches of ice is lining the shoreline. East Texas is home to most of the state’s most reputable power plant bass fisheries. Among them are are Monticello (2,000 acres), Welsh (1,365 acres), Brandy Branch (1,242 acres), Gibbons Creek (2,500 acres) and Martin Creek (5,000 acres). Although some of these reservoirs may be as much as 100 miles apart, they all have one key characteristic in common. They are small in size, which promotes maximum influence by a lakeside generating plant. For years bass anglers have been taught that fishing deep is the way to go when Jack Frost shows his craggy face in Texas. While that is certainly not bad advice, it is not the only way to go. There are times when going against the grain may produce some banner results you won’t soon forget.

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

Simultaneous Stalk

Y EIGHT-YEAR-OLD cousin pointed toward the hay barn. “Let’s shoot that bird.” I closed the loading port on my BB gun. “Don’t scare it.” The field lark worked its way through the grass toward the barn in the autumn chill. Like the hunters we were destined to be, Cousin and I slipped off the porch and used Grandpa’s car for cover. Veterans of such great television series such as Combat and Daniel Boone, we’d learned the art of the Phantom Sneak. I’ve used it hundreds of times since, sometimes successfully. Once, on my deer lease outside of Breckenridge, Texas, I crept up on a flock of wild turkeys dusting in the shade… …but the two of us kids in that day crawled effortlessly across the mowed yard toward the gas pump Grandpa used to fill his tractors... …in Breckenridge, fifty years later, I caught glimpse of the flock as they worked along a fence row toward a grove of live oaks… …where Cousin and I rose with our backs against the pump. Grandpa saw us through the kitchen window. “You boys don’t be messin’ around over there…” …and the Breckenridge gobbler chirruped and yelped as he pecked at the ground… …“Shhhh!” I acted like I was shushing Cousin, but I really meant it for Grandpa. I also did the army wave to get him to clam up… …behind the flock, a bug lit on my mustache, almost making me sneeze. I slapped my own face and it flew off, probably to be consumed by the big gobbler I’d targeted… … while the field lark kept an eye on us boys and wandered across the mowed track in the tall grass. It disappeared from view and I...

…and joined the flock in the shade where they settled in for a while. I dropped to my 58-year-old knees and crawled behind several low bushes full of stickers and … …I yelped at the same time Cousin hissed from the sandburs in his hand. We backed up, picked off them off and took an alternate Sneak across the mowed grass and gravel drive leading to the barn... … and after learning from past experience when I was a boy, I backed away from the Breckenridge goatheads and moved to the side to follow a rocky wash, … … belly crawling on our stomachs toward the tall grass hiding our prey that stopped to whistle and I saw its head rise above the grass… … and I knew when one hen raised her head and yelped on a slight rise toward the resting flock that I might have been seen.. …with our faces inches from the ground I whispered in Cousin’s ear. “Did it see us?”… …I kept my head low and paused, hoping a rattlesnake wasn’t using those same rocks to warm up, but I figured the turkeys would have warned me before... …Cousin whispered back. “I don’t think so.” We resumed our crawl… …I moved again, keeping several low bushes between myself and the suddenly nervous flock… …and somehow the meadowlark became suspicious. We made our way up the hill to the edge of the tall grass. Together, Cousin and I sloooowly raised our heads to see where the field lark might be… ...only forty yards away, I couldn’t see them through the thick brush. To aim, I had to raise my head and find the big gobbler… …and the hidden field lark made some noise, so we raised higher... … and a turkey hen made a putt sound, so I raised up on my elbows.... …and suddenly Cousin and I were face

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to face with a barn cat that had been stalking the bird. Only a yard away, its eyes widened and it yowled, launching itself… …just like the stalking bobcat did years later. Only a yard away, its eyes widened and it yowled, and went… …straight up in the air, like a hot-air balloon, up and up… …like a rocket. Cousin and I leaped to our feet at the same time the bird floated on the still air currents to settle in the pasture fifty yards away… …I strung a couple of words together and threw myself backward, trying to bring the shotgun to bear on the big cat that rocketed through the flock which exploded in all directions... …and seconds later Cousin and I stood there, hearts beating… …frantically, I thought I was going to have a stroke in a Breckenridge pasture while the… …field lark wandered away as if nothing had happened and… …the flock of turkeys disappeared into landscape and… …Cousin and I wondered whether to follow… …or to go back to the truck to… …change our underwear and debate… …the lesson I’d learned once again. I hope I don’t have a refresher course waiting in the wings.

Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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EGINNING JAN. 1, 2016 open carry of handguns will become legal in Texas. Those who already have concealed carry licenses will have the option of being able to carry out in the open. Newly licensed applicants beginning in January will undergo slightly modified

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training in comparison to the current concealed carry course. Whether you think that is a good or bad thing, it is obvious on the issues of gun rights Texas is heading in the opposite direction of the rest of the country. And I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind saying that is a good thing.

As an outdoor journalist of 23 years (started when I was 19), I have seen many changes in gun laws, gun culture and have heard every conceivable argument for and against carrying. I would like to take this space to shoot from the hip so to speak to take down some misconceptions and

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Special SECTION perhaps start conversations on this important and serious issue.

Point #1: To reiterate my opening statements, the blessing of having carry options in Texas is that we are going against the grain of many states. On top of concealed and open carry, we now have campus carry which in a world where college shootings seemingly happen on a monthly basis, there will now be a balancing factor at hand.

Point #2: Concealed carry hasn’t made Texas the “Wild West” as anti-gunners always claimed it would, and neither will open carry. There will certainly be a more inter-

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esting period of adjustment to open carry, but it will become part of the culture and will certainly not contribute to any more shoot-outs than we already have. In fact, it will probably contribute to fewer.

Point #3: Those planning to start carrying for the first time would do best to go with something they can easily handle and maneuver. A .38 special revolver is a good option for first timers and also for ladies who might not feel comfortable with a semi-automatic or larger caliber. It might not be the flavor of the week, but it will get the job done.

Point #4: According to the National Institute of

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Justice is is estimated that the percentage of completed or attempted rape victimization among women in higher educational institutions may be between 20 and 25 percent over the course of a college career. However fewer than five percent of rape victims report the crime. Additional studies show that freshman and sophomores are more likely to be raped than juniors and seniors. The bad guys always go after the most vulnerable. This statistic alone should have us considering getting our daughters and granddaughters trained with a handgun and licensed to carry. There are many handguns and holsters designed with a woman’s touch so this would be a great starting point

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of conversation with a young girl. As a father, I would certainly rather get the call saying my daughter shot a guy who tried to rape her, than she is in the hospital after a rape. I know you would too.

Point #5 Training is important. Being proficient with your weapon is crucial because being able to draw and fire it under high stress puts you in the zone to make mistakes. No one wants to have to use their weapon, but it is certainly better than getting killed by a maniac. Someone with a cool head who is competent in the mechanics of their handgun will fare better than others shooting in different situations.

Point #6: An article on politifact.com cites some interesting statistics on violent crime in

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People, especially new shooters, should practice diligently and learn the mechanics of their weapons.

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Special SECTION Texas since concealed carry went into play in 1996. “From the CDC, we found reports online covering 1996-2010, drawn from death certificate information reported by medical professionals and coroners, and we got 1996-2012 data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, most recently updated September 16, 2013, with information on murders and other crimes known to law enforcement agencies.” “By the CDC tally, the rate of firearms homicides in Texas 1996-2010 fell 32.2 percent. Calculating with the FBI data for 1996-2012, the rate fell 42 percent.”

Point 7: A poll conducted by usacarry.com gleaned some interesting facts about preferred concealed carry calibers. The 9mm was first with 39 percent, .45 ACP with 29, .40 S&W had 25 percent, .380 had 13 percent and .38 special had five. A variety of other calibers had much lower favorable ratings

Point 8: Carrying is not just about protecting oneself from muggers, murderers and rapists. It can help save you from animal attack. A few years back I used my concealed handgun to defend myself from a pit bull attack. Dog attacks are increasingly common in Texas, and I daresay you have a better chance fighting off a knife-wielding mugger than a rabid Rottweiler, pit or other big, powerful dog.

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and should know that firearms are not to be feared—but that they should also not be handled without an adult around for supervision. Drill into their heads that they should assume that any gun is loaded. As we all unfortunately know, many have been killed by “unloaded” guns.

Point #10: It’s better to have the option to defend yourself or our family than to wish you had that option when it’s crunch time. Carrying can save lives. Texas has a rich history of gun culture and with the advent of social media we have many so-called “experts” running around espousing their techniques, opinions, etc. Carrying isn’t about being macho. It is not about a political statement. It is about defending life. Therefore we should take it very seriously. We at TEXAS FISH & GAME are dedicated to providing monthly features like our Department of Defense and continuing coverage of the latest in firearms news. Fish and game are our forte but we have long recognized the importance

not only of firearms, but the right to keep and bear them.

PHOTOS: BIGSTOCK

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• • • Open Carry Law House Bill 910 Effective: January 1, 2016

unloaded, must be carried in a shoulder or belt holster. Individuals who hold a valid CHL may continue to carry with valid existing license.

A separate license will not be required to open carry. No additional fee will be required. Individuals currently licensed will not be required to attend additional training.

Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun; creating criminal offense. AUTHORIZES UTHORIZES INDIVIDUALS TO obtain a license to openly carry a handgun in the same places that allow the licensed carrying of a concealed handgun with some exceptions. (See “Exceptions” below for more information.) Unconcealed handguns, loaded or

The .38 special revolver is a popular choice for many concealed carry citizens.

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Special SECTION Training curriculum for new applicants will be updated to reflect the new training requirements related to the use of restraint holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying of openly carried handguns. The

new curriculum will be required for all classes beginning January 1, 2016. The eligibility criteria to obtain a license to carry do not change. The department will be updating web-

site, forms and training materials to reference License to Carry (LTC) instead of Concealed Handgun License (CHL). Changes to the laminated license are being developed and will be implemented at a later date.

Signage: Private businesses may post signs to indicate entry on the property with a handgun by a license holder is forbidden. Penal Code Section 30.06 provides the language to be included on signs to indicate license holders are forbidden to carry concealed. Penal Code Section 30.07 provides the language to be included on signs to indicate license holders are forbidden to open carry. Posting of both signs is an indication by the business that license holders are forbidden to carry concealed or openly.

Exceptions: Open carry is not permitted by a license holder regardless of whether the handgun is holstered: On the premises of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education On any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage or other parking area of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education By an individual who is acting as a personal protection officer under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code and is not wearing a uniform.

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• • •

Campus Carry

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Senate Bill 11 Effective: August 1, 2016

Authorizes a concealed handgun on the campus of an institution of higher learning.

Relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education; providing a criminal penalty.

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Authorizes a license holder to carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder’s person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state. Open carrying of handguns is still prohibited at these locations. Authorizes an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state to establish rules, regulation, or other provisions concerning the storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential facilities that are owned or leased and operated by the institution and located on the campus of the institution. Requires the president or other chief executive officer of an institution of higher education in this state to establish reasonable rules, regulations, or other provisions regarding the carrying of concealed handguns by license holders on the campus or on specific premises located on the campus. Authorizes posting of a sign under Penal Code Section 30.06 with respect to

any portion of a premises on which license holders may not carry. The effective date of this law for a

public junior college is August 1, 2017.

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10/11/15 3:23 PM

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

HUGE NUMBER OF US ARE not just boaters, but trailer-boaters. We keep our fishing and hunting machines in our driveways or back yards, and each and every time we hit the water there’s a trip down the road both before and after. Yet even those of us who rigorously maintain our boats tend, for the most part, to ignore our trailers. And while a break-down on land isn’t nearly as inconvenient as it is at sea, it can still cause quite a problem—even an accident. So ask yourself, when’s the last time you: CHECKED THE PRESSURE on your trailer tires. Since trailers sit for longer periods than cars or trucks, in-between uses they go through more temperature changes (affecting your tire pressure). And often, we don’t notice when trailer tires get low because we just don’t pay as much attention to them; it’s far easier to stay on top of the four wheels you drive around with each and every day. Note that keeping your trailer tires properly inflated really is a big deal. They support quite a bit of weight and will wear terribly if you pull your boat with them low.

ignored until it’s either nearly impossible to use, or it breaks. Depending on the type you have on your trailer it may need to be greased or it may need other lubrication, but either way, treat it right and your trailering life will be easier.

LUBRICATED THE HITCH. This is one spot almost no one pays attention to. But, do you have to wiggle-jiggle-fight to get your hitch latched? You shouldn’t have to. Give it a spritz of Boeshield T-9 or

PERFORMED A FULL LIGHT check. Quite often we don’t even know it when a trailer light goes out. And while most reasonable officers will just give you a warning or a heads-up, you are risking a ticket if your lights aren’t functioning properly. On top of that, as you almost surely know already, trailer lights fail at a spectacularly high rate. The only way to deal with them is to perform a lights check, every time you hit the road.

“ Yet even those of us who rigorously maintain our boats tend, for the most part, to ignore our trailers.

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Trailer Tribulations

ing should also be opened up and given a thorough visual inspection. If your trailer has oil-filled bearings, this won’t be possible. Instead, with these, just look at the hubs to make sure they have the proper oil level and no obvious water contamination.

CorrosionX, then work the latch open and closed a few times. Not only will this make it easier to operate the latch, it’ll protect the metal, as well. Note that the coupler should also get a bit of lubrication. It’ll make it easier for the ball to fall into place when you’re hitching up, and also gets rid of a lot of the annoying squeaks and groans you hear while trailering.

GREASED THE WHEEL BEARINGS. Most manufacturers believe you should give them a squirt every few thousand miles, but this is hard to keep track of since your trailer doesn’t have an odometer. So it’s better to play this one safe; make a habit of greasing at least once each spring and fall, and again after you make a significant road-trip. At least once every other season, or every season if you tow extensively, wheel bear-

LUBRICATED THE JACK STAND. Here’s another item that usually gets

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INSPECTED YOUR BRAKES system. A true story from many years back: I couldn’t figure out what that banging sensation was every time I stopped while trailering, until I finally noticed that the hydraulic ram in the surge brakes was moving completely freely, with no resistance whatsoever. The reason? A brake line had sprung a leak, and there wasn’t a drop of fluid left in the system. Since I always allow extra distance when trailering, and hadn’t applied the brakes in a very forceful manner, I hadn’t even noticed the difference in my truck’s braking ability. But if I’d needed to stop suddenly… The short story is, check your brake system’s fluid levels regularly, and also slap an eyeball on the brakes themselves once in a while. And if you happen to feel a banging every time you brake, you’ll know what to look for. REMOVED THE LUG NUTS. This one’s a biggie, folks. Many people tow their trailer for years, believing that having a spare tire onboard means they can fix a flat. But quite often, especially on boats used in saltwater, within a few years those lug nuts get corroded in place and you’ll need an PHOTO: CREDIT

10/8/15 4:12 PM

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Texas BOATING Keeping the hitch lubricated is one item many boaters forget.

impact wrench (or possibly even a torch) to get them off. Unless you carry those tools everywhere you go, merely having the spare tire won’t help you one bit. The solution to this problem is simple: at least once a year, loosen the lug nuts, treat

them for corrosion if necessary, then tighten them back down. As long as you don’t let years at a time go by between spinning those nuts, you should have no problem removing them when you really need to.

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WASHED YOUR TRAILER DOWN with freshwater. If you have a bass boat or a pontoon you only run at the lake, skip right on over this one. But each and every time your trailer sees saltwater, it should get a thorough rinse-down afterwards. Make sure to blast off the whole thing, but pay extra attention to the brakes, lug nuts, lights, and license plate, all of which are particular trouble spots. If you keep up with all these maintenance items, will your trailer remain trouble-free for years to come? Nah. In my experience, no matter how well you keep it maintained you can still expect to hit a few bumps along the road. But with a contentiously-maintained trailer, those bumps will be smaller, fewer, and much easier to handle.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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The Practical ANGLER by GREG BERLOCHER | TF&G Contributing Editor

OVEMBER IS MY FAVORITE month to fish the Texas coast. Ducks, deer, and quail are a powerful elixir, causing many sportsmen to opt for rifles and smoothbores over fishing tackle. Football season is another diversion that distracts anglers. This mass exodus from the bays, combined with glorious fall weather, makes for some outstanding fishing expeditions. The first strong cold fronts of the year arrive in November. Stout north winds supercharge outgoing tides, pushing more bay water than normal during an outgoing tide into the Gulf. As a result, water levels drop about a foot lower than they normally do on a normal outgoing tide. The retreating water leaves marsh lakes and skinny flats high and dry. Baitfish, crabs, and shrimp residing in the shallows have no choice other than to relocate. Imagine the amount of biomass that lives on a ten-acre coastal flat? All of that marine life is suddenly displaced within a handful of hours. The wise angler follows the bait. I like to target areas where a skinny flat meets a sharp drop-off. Ideally, there will be three to four feet of water next to the flat. Lacking the protection the skinny water provides, the bait is naked and exposed once it passes the drop-off. In several days, tide levels return to normal and the bait will seek out the shelter of the shallows again, but until that time, apex predators feed heavily on the concentration of groceries. Keep in mind that an area that is three feet deep during summer months won’t be three feet deep after a hand cold front. If you want to do some scouting ahead of time, look for areas that are four to five feet deep.

“ The ﬁrst strong cold fronts of the year arrive in November.

“

Taking A Hard Fall

After the cold front passes, the depth will be just right. I prefer to wade these drop-offs rather than fish from a boat. Bait and game fish will roam back and forth along the edge, and you can quietly move along with them if they decide to relocate. Although wading is always a profitable activity when stealth is concerned, fishing on foot, rather than afloat, provides other subtle advantages to the angler. First, you are able to adjust your depth easily just by

shuffling a few steps toward or away from the drop-off. You don’t have to mess with anchors, electric anchoring devices, or trolling motors—or the stray noise you might accidentally cause with them. The sensory feedback you get while wading is just as important as stealth. Let me be direct here: you will learn more about a bay system by walking across it instead of looking at a depth finder. As you shuffle across the bay bottom, your feet detect the texture or the bottom; is it hard sand or soft mud? Your feet also detect changes in depth. Small guts, even a few inches deep, can be T E X A S

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detected when you are wading. Your brain registers and acknowledges this feedback even if you are focused on a fish slick that popped up in front of you. When fishing a drop-off, I will start my wade about 30 feet out, allowing me to fan cast, from the shallow water out into the deep. As I ease down the edge, I scan the water for swirls, shrimp flipping out of the water, or fish slicks. If you see a slick, ease out quietly until you are at the same depth and then resume your wade, shuffling parallel to the drop-off. Keep your lure or live bait in the same depth water where the slick popped up. If you catch a fish in one spot, don’t leave it until you are satisfied there aren’t any other fish in the area. When fishing with friends, spread out so you can cover more water. Have everyone start his or her wade at a different depth. When a school is located, everyone can slide in or out to the same depth. Offering the fish a variety of lures, in different colors, is another productive technique. If the fish decide they like soft plastics that day, everyone can knot on jig heads and join the action. Cooperative fishing increases the chances for mutual success. Hard cold fronts will become regular visitors to the Texas coast this month; supercharging outgoing tides and dropping both water temperatures and water levels. The next time you look at a coastal flat left high and dry after a passing norther, think opportunity. Follow the bait. It will be near the closest drop-off.

Email Greg Berlocher at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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Texas GUNS by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

The .243 Calibers NTIL RECENTLY I HAD never been a fan of the 6mms. I don’t know why, but they just never tripped my trigger. Even though my buddy, Wyman Meinzer, wore out three barrels shooting coyotes with a little ’98 Mauser chambered for .243 Winchester, I never did a lot of hunting with one. If I wanted a small gun I went to one of the .22s, and if I wanted a combination varmint/deer rifle I preferred a .25-06 or a .257 Roberts. I put about as many rounds down range with various .25-06s as Wyman did with his .243. In recent years, however, I have changed my mind. I still believe the .25-06 is a better all around gun for Texas game, but for white-tailed deer and predators, the 6mms are right there among the best. As I write this there are four factory 6mms on the American market. They are the .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum, and .240 Weatherby Magnum. If you reload you can add to these the 6mm BR Remington and the 6mm PPC USA, but for this article we will leave them out. The .243 Winchester and the 6mm Remington were both introduced in 1955. Both were birthed through the efforts of Warren Page, who used various wildcat 6mms and knew what they were capable of. The .243 Winchester is based on the .308 Winchester and the 6mm Remington’s parent was the venerable 7mm Mauser. Both are great dual-purpose rounds, but the velocity ribbon goes to the 6mm Remington. If Remington had been a bit more openminded their 6mm might be the cartridge you see in all the gun shops today. Sadly,

when Remington introduced the 6mm they felt that the American shooter wanted a pure varmint cartridge. Thus the original version of the Remington cartridge was called the .244 Remington and the rifle for it was made with a barrel using a 1-in12-twist rate. Because of this it would not stabilize bullets heavier than about 90 grains. It turned out that the boys and girls wanted a dual-purpose deer/varmint rifle, so the .243 Winchester with 1-in-10 barrels that would stabilize 100- or 105-grain bullets sold like snow cones while the .244 languished on the dealers’ shelves. Remington eventually realized the mistake, changed the barrel twist for the .244 to 1-in-9, and renamed the cartridge 6mm Remington. But by then the damage had been done and the 6mm has never caught up with the .243 in popularity. Actually, the 6mm is a better cartridge than the .243. It offers a bit more velocity and has a longer neck, which is appreciated by reloaders. In 2003, Winchester introduced the .243 WSSM. This little cartridge takes the short, fat cartridge fad and carries it beyond the extreme. I will make no excuses for the fact that I have never liked this cartridge. At first glance it appears that the cartridge was made and then the teeny-weeny neck was stuck on as an afterthought. It gets about 150 feet per second more velocity than the .243, pretty much matches the 6mm Remington, and comes in second behind the .240 Weatherby Magnum. I do not know why Winchester went to all the trouble and expense to produce the WSSMs; there were plenty of wildcats on the market that would have given Winchester the ballistics they were looking for and still provide a fit cartridge for reloaders. I do not know if it is true or not, but I have heard from reliable sources that the research and development of the WSSM line of cartridges was a nightmare. I have, however, shot hogs and coyotes with the .243 WSSM and it performs very well. I

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just don’t feel it filled a niche that needed filling. It is touted as a cartridge that can be had in an ultra-short, super-light carbine but, again, I don’t see the need. It works fine as a factory cartridge, but reloading it is difficult. Take my advice and buy a 6mm Remington instead. The 6mms I currently own are a .243 Ackley Improved and a .240 Weatherby Magnum. The accuracy of my .243 AI is astounding. I had it built by Ted Borg of Ted’s Custom Guns in Weatherford, OK. It has a 26-inch Hart barrel and is the only rifle I own that will consistently shoot 1/2-inch groups. The .240 Weatherby is a little stainless/synthetic MK V. It will not shoot as well as the .243 AI, but will average groups of about one inch, which is plenty good for anything I will use it for. The velocity the two get is almost identical—about 3,250 fps with 95- or 100grain bullets. If I were going to run out today and buy a factory 6mm, I think I would opt for a 6mm Remington—mainly because I reload, and the Remington cartridge is better for that purpose. If you are looking for a hunting round, any of them will get the job done. Don’t let anyone tell you that the 6mms are not enough gun for deer. I have shot deer and seen deer shot with all of the above, and if you hit it in the right spot, with the right bullet, you will be eating venison. But, you do have to choose your bullets carefully. Most of the horror stories of wounded and lost deer are caused by the hunters shooting deer with varmint bullets. Choose a bullet intended for hunting big game and the deer will never know if you shot it with a 6mm or a .300 Weatherby.

Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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Texas TESTED Work Sharp’s Ken Onion Edition Knife Sharpener

IT WAS A MEDIUM-SIZED BUCK folding knife with a black composite handle. Its edge had been badly abused, which was hard to do with a Buck knife. This brand is well-known for its exceptionally hard and durable blades. It belongs to a good friend and fellow gun nut who had obtained it as part of a convoluted gun trade. He is a self-proclaimed disaster at knife sharpening, and he

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wanted me to rescue this blade, which he said “…couldn’t cut warm butter.” Anyone who has attempted to touch-up the edge on a Buck knife will tell you its durable edge resists sharpening as much as it resists getting dull in the first place. This one would need more than a touch-up. I would need to cut a new bevel, and that meant removing a fair amount of hardened steel. I had all the usual sharpening stuff Arkansas bench stone, diamond hone, ceramic sharpening sticks, but the prospect The author used three very different knives in his test (from top): Buckfolding knife; Small Damascus bowie; and Cold Steel Trailmaster II.

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of cutting a new bevel with any of these, ranged from dismal to “It ain’t happenin’.” Fortunately, I had something better way better. I had a Ken Onion edition knife sharpener by Work Sharp® <worksharptools.com>. This sharpener uses miniature abrasive belts and an adjustable sharpening angle guide to hone knives of all shapes and sizes to a keen convex edge (which is more durable than the flat, factory edge) tailored to the kind of cutting the knife is designed for. The sharpening angle guide is adjustable in one degree increments from 15 to 30 degrees, allowing you to keep the desired blade angle as you hone the edge.

PHOTOS: STAN SKINNER

10/8/15 4:12 PM

The belts vary from extra coarse to extra fine and are easily changed as you work to an ever finer edge. A well-written instruction manual guides you through each step with easily-understood instructions. It also offers helpful tips on how best to sharpen a wide variety of blade shapes on kitchen and outdoor knives. It can also be reconfigured to do gut hooks, serrated knives even scissors. To cut a new bevel on this Buck knife, I selected a 25 degree angle and the extra coarse grit for quick stock removal. With my right hand, I placed the blade against the right-hand sharpening guide while it rested gently against the blade guide. With my left index finger I pulled a trigger to start the belt as my right hand slowly drew the blade back using no down force except the weight of the blade. Because of the abused edge, this step took more passes than usual across the extra coarse belt before the new bevel was cut all the way to the edge. Once that was done, I worked through three progressively finer belts, feeling for the burr on the edge as the instruction manual advised. Now I had a serviceable, fine convex edge with no nicks, which would be useful for general cutting chores for a long time. I could take it farther, with the extra fine belt, but this would just be gilding the lily on a working blade like this. I repeated the process with a small, damascus-pattern bowie without a finished

The Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition uses a miniature abrasive belt and an adjustable edge guide to produce a keen, convex edge on knives and other edged tools.

edge. Once again, the result was a nice durable, convex edge. I decided to put a shiny sharp edge on my Cold Steel Trailmaster II bowie, made with the company’s Carbon V steel. This is an excellent, edge-holding chrome vanadium alloy that unfortunately appears to have been discontinued. A good blade steel such as this deserves a shaving-sharp edge. The blade has a black waterproof coating that leaves only the steel of the edge bevel itself exposed. This blade was still sharp enough to be serviceable, but could use a touch-up. However, I would be altering the edge to a convex bevel, so I began with the coarse belt. I was careful to keep the blade against the edge guide to avoid marring the blade coating. After achieving a burr on both sides I switched to the medium, then fine belts. With the fine belt in place, I alternated sides on each stroke and quickly achieved a shaving-sharp edge. The Work Sharp Ken Onion edition knife sharpener is a bit more expensive than many powered knife sharpeners. However, compared to the cost of a fine black Arkansas bench stone or a similar diamond hone, it is not too bad. Plus, it will save a lot of time and effort to produce an edge that is T E X A S

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equal or superior to the traditional sharpening methods. —by STAN SKINNER

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Industry INSIDER Tiny Houses Are Everywhere

Legacy Housing is looking for dealers for their Tiny House brand of homes and hunting cabins.

THESE UNIQUE LIVING STRUCtures are showing up in abundance on prime time television, in magazines, popular websites, CNN and Fox News, not to mention, the front page of the New York Times. In just a short time, Tiny House living have become a pop culture phenomenon unlike any other. As such, the demand for these structures has risen to an all-time high. The financial independence they bring, along with their low monthly payments and small ecological footprint, have folks all across America seeking out the “Tiny Home Lifestyle.” Legacy Housing, based in Fort Worth, has retrofitted a factory to build 3 unique Texas-sized Tiny House models, including a brand new Tiny Hunting Cabin. Coming in at just under 399 square feet and completely finished out, these highly functional structures offer consumers more room and more bang for their buck than conventional tiny houses, but at prices thousands less, starting at just $15,999 retail. One such floorplan, their Tiny Duplex hunting cabin model, has been a huge hit with hunters and avid outdoorsmen across the south. Featuring space for 3 Beds and a variety of custom room upgrades, this tiny house is the perfect weekend hunting lodge and can fit almost anywhere. Due to this explosion in demand, Legacy is actively seeking retail partners across the country to sell Tiny Houses direct to local consumers. They offer successful business owners an opportunity to enter a market that is virtually untapped, and the profits are anything but tiny!. Legacy also offers in-house financing to their dealers’ retail consumers and even floorplanning to their wholesale partners. Legacy is committed to their dealers’ business needs and future growth in the Tiny

House retail market. If anyone with an existing hunting business or retail location would like to sell Tiny Houses, Legacy has many dealer packages available for businesses of every kind, both internet and physical retailers. To setup business as a retailer, contact

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Casey Mack at 817-879-3869 or by email at casey@tinyhousedirect.com. Legacy Housing, LTD was named to Inc 5000’s exclusive list of America’s fastest growing companies four out of the last five years. Legacy Housing is one of America’s top brands in home manufacturing. Based in Fort Worth and operating two sprawling home factories, Legacy builds over 3,000 homes per year and is considered an authority in the manufacturing business. Visit www.legacyhousingltd.com or contact Casey Mack at 817-879-3869 to find out more info today!

Eagle Claw Celebrates 90 Years of Fishhook Success

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THIS YEAR, EAGLE CLAW IS proud to celebrate their 90th year of manufacturing American-made fishhooks. Quality, creativity, and tradition come together to produce a product that is often duplicated yet remains unmatched. Perceived as the most innovative fishhook company in the world, Eagle Claw develops new and technique-specific products that PHOTOS: LEGACY HOUSING, LTD.; EAGLE CLAW

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cater to a vast array of anglers, species, and skill levels. The company’s rich history dates back 90 years and began in the mid 1920’s with two young anglers, Drew McGill and Stan Wright, in Denver, Colorado. What is now Eagle Claw all started when Mr. McGill was fly-fishing the upper Colorado River. The morning’s fishing had not been as good as it could have been, and it seemed that even though the rainbows and native trout were rising, they were difficult to hook. As he rested, Mr. McGill noticed the effortless flight of two large eagles flying above him. One of the eagles slowly spiralled downward and landed in the top of a dead cottonwood, its sharp pointed talons pierced effortlessly through the weathered wood. Mr. McGill then recalled the eagle’s amazing ability to catch fish in its talons mid-flight over water and his thoughts turned to the penetrating power of those lethal claws, in comparison to the penetrating ability of the fishhooks he held in his hand. That day Mr. McGill modified his fishhooks to resemble an eagle’s talons. From there, Mr. McGill teamed up with his business partner, Mr. Wright, and together they parlayed the experience on the river into one of the most successful fishing manufacturing companies to date. Eagle Claw has and will always be

based on tradition and driven by innovation. The company originally began by identifying a problem anglers face and found a solution. Today, Eagle Claw continues to do just that by having guides in the field and expert anglers who report back on problems they are facing on the water and holes that could be filled when it comes to tackle and gear. Today Eagle Claw continues to be an industry leader, developing hooks that go above and beyond when it comes to quality, performance, and lasting capabilities. Everything from the initial design of the hook, to the materials used, to the actual production of the hook is done with great care and attention to detail. Skilled American workers create each Eagle Claw branded hook in a manufacturing facility in Denver, Colorado, leaving Eagle Claw as

the only American fishhook manufacturer to date. Eagle Claw continues to identify needs in the fishing industry and answers those needs with unique product introductions. New and advanced products include circle hooks, kahle hooks, red hooks, the Surgically Sharpened Technology used to make the three-sided precision point of the Eagle Claw TroKar line of hooks, as well as a new and improved line of bass hooks that uses polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) a hook coating that allows for ultra-fast hookups. Many have asked what the secret behind Eagle Claw’s 90 year of success is. The answer is straightforward—Eagle Claw hooks are the only fishhooks manufactured in the U.S.A. today. Eagle Claw fishhooks are built with integrity, honesty, and top-of-the-line materials that are made to last. Eagle Claw also believes in providing a quality product to their consumers at an affordable and fair price and is proud to stand behind their products from start to finish—from initial development, to the manufacturing process, to getting them in angler’s hands and on the end of their rod. For more information about Eagle Claw visit www.eagleclaw.com, find us on Facebook, or call 720-941-8700.

Eagle Claw has been producing American-made hooks and ﬁshing gear since 1925.

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Fish and Game GEAR New Lighted Dog LED Collar and Leash

Brite-Strike LED collar

LOVE YOUR HUNTING DOG? Check out the new Brite-Strike Dog LED Collar. Technologically designed helping to locate, protect and identify your canine companion, this unique collar incorporates LED technology that powers internal fiber optic tubes around the length of the collar providing illumination during low light conditions. The technologically advanced collar is also rechargeable by a durable small solar panel integrated on the collar’s buckle that fully recharges the battery within eight hours. It also features a USB port that allows users to charge the collar in three hours. Protect your canine in the field, on the job, or around the home by providing a visible indicator that can be seen up to a mile away. Shockproof, waterproof, and dustproof, the collar retails for $50.00. To learn more about the Lighted Dog LED Collar and Leash or other Brite-Strike products, please visit www.britestrike.com.

New Livingston Lures Series of Advanced Baits

Here’s a brief look at the new offerings that Livingston unveiled at ICAST: B VIPER AND B VENOM: Designed by Team Livingston pro and swimbait pioneer Byron Velvick, the 6- and 8-inch B Viper and B Venom swimbaits will be the first lures in the world to incorporate BlueTooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, and connectivity to a smartphone app that will allow the angler to choose between

30 EBS sounds. The baits are equally revolutionary in their design, with uniquely lifelike action, removable/adjustable ballast weight systems that will allow them to be fished from the surface down to 25 feet, and details (360-degree rotating hooks, sideways line tie, etc.) that only a swimbait master like Velvick could design. WALKING BOSS PART II: This bait has already proven to be a difference-maker

New high-tech baits from Livingston.

AS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR THE past several years, Livingston Lures wowed the fishing world at the recent International Convention of Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) convention in Orlando, Florida. Already the world leaders in bait technology thanks to Electronic Baitfish Sounds (EBS) and EBS MultiTouch, Livingston unveiled a series of exciting new baits and technologies that will again change the way we fish, including the world’s first BlueTooth-compatible lures. 64 |

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for several Team Livingston pros throwing early-run models for post-spawners. The Walking Boss II takes the elongated walking-bait body of the original Walking Boss, adds a second/jointed body section and a flared, double-cupped lip and dressed treble hooks, and ties it all together with EBS MultiTouch to produces the most unique, sashaying/plopping/bubbling topwater action and sound anyone has ever seen. HOWELLER DEEP PLUS: Attentive fans of the sport will recognize this 4 ¼-inch, 1.76-ounce ultra-deep diver from BASSFest on Kentucky Lake and Lake Chickamauga, where Livingston pro Stetson Blaylock piled up a handful of 21-pluspound bags cranking the Howeller Deep Plus on the deep ledges of these two Tennessee River fisheries. The Deep Plus takes the wicked action of the original Howeller Dream Master Classic body, dives to the 25- to 30-foot range, and enhances it all with EBS MultiTouch to create the most unique combination ever unleashed on deep-structure fish. DEEP IMPACT 6 & 12: The Deep Impact 18 was a slight departure for Livingston in 2014, with smoother lines, a slightly wider wobble, and a different EBS “footprint” than baits like the PrimeTyme and Howellers, but the DI 18 was a smashing success for mid/deep cranking. New for 2015-16, the Deep Impact 6 and 12 bring the original 18’s EBS MultiTouchenhanced action to a wider range of depths and applications.

FLATMASTER: Built on the hard-vibrating foundation of the PrimeTyme 2.0 SQ and then compressed into a tight-wobbling flatsided form that Team Livingston pro Jacob Powroznik developed prior to the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, the FlatMaster is your new best weapon in the cold waters of late fall and winter. The FlatMaster will run slightly deeper than similar baits – 7 to 9 feet on 10-pound fluorocarbon – and brings the added attraction of EBS MultiTouch (Original or Shad in clear water, Craw in stained water). SPINMASTER: The hand-carved propbait is a staple in topwater tackle boxes throughout the South, but the Team Livingston SpinMaster takes the old triedand-true prop and adds the following: the PrimeTyme body, which imparts more action than the old, elongated wooden bodies; castability on windy days, where the old wooden models are brutally uncastable; EBS MultiTouch, which allows the bait to draw fish in with both the commotion of the bait’s two propellers, and at rest as EBS Shad or EBS Original call the fish to the bait. WALK N POP 65: When the Walk N Pop 77 hit the market early this year, it instantly became THE popper of choice for serious topwater anglers, thanks to its design and the power of EBS MultiTouch. Now the smaller Walk N Pop 65 provides the same dramatic topwater commotion and sound technology, but in a smaller body that provides even more pinpoint accuracy and increased castability into isolated windows (under docks and overhangs, small openings in lily pads, etc.). For more information, log on to www.livingstonlures.com. Follow Team Livingston on Facebook at www.faceboook.com/ LivingstonLures.

ACME Kastmaster

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New Glow UV Kastmasters

THE ACME KASTMASTER, PROduced by Hard and Soft Fishing, has been an icon in the fishing industry for decades. No attention to detail has been spared in the jewel-like-finish lure that catches all species of fish in fresh, salt, hard, and open waters. But now, they are taking that jewel-like finish and making is shine even brighter! New for 2015 are the Glow and UV Series Kastmasters available in 1/24 ounce up to 3/8 ounce models. Months in testing has led ACME’s field testers to believe that these spoons could be one of the best new baits for 2015. “Whether you are fishing deep, in stained water, or at night,” said Matt Bichanich, the National Sales Manager for Hard and Soft Fishing. “The new GLOW and UV Kastmasters are going to produce. Forget about adding tape to spoons or doctoring them up. They are ready to go right out of the box in sizes that will catch anything that swims.” Natural daylight will “energize” the spoons but anglers can also speed up the process by shining a bright flashlight on them, or even using a light in a cell phone. Fish can see the baits for a long way and will come in ready to pulverize. Hard & Soft Fishing has roots dating back to 1922, when their first brand, Uncle Josh, began manufacturing in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. They have grown to represent nearly every tackle category on the market for both ice and open-water fishing. From the Pacific to the Atlantic and all the lakes and rivers in-between, they produce bait and tackle that has been helping anglers catch more fish for decades. Employees don’t simply produce tackle, they use it on the weekends. Visit www.unclejosh.com www.unclejosh.com..

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SABINE Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Doesn’t Get Much Better

ELL, IT APPEARS THAT one of my favorite all-time months has found its way to the Texas coast, and that means it’s time to switch from fishing mode to catching mode. The arrival of the much-anticipated month of November means that the shrimp, shad and crab have been on the move from the marsh to the bay for some time now. The fish and birds have them figured out, and the action in the bay is in full swing. With the fall flounder run in the very near future, the only obstacles we’ve got standing in our way are the cold fronts that will

continue to intensify as we edge closer to the Christmas season. Ironically, it’s these cold fronts that make November one of the best fishing months of the year on Sabine. We need the fronts and the low tides that come with them to pull the shrimp and other bait from the marsh and add fuel to the feeding frenzy fire. Make no mistake, you don’t want any part of Sabine, or any other bay system when a front is actually bullying its way through. You do, however, want to be here a couple days later, once things have settled down and we’ve got light north winds. That is exactly what you hope for on Sabine Lake in November. If you’re lucky enough to take advantage of these conditions, by all means, do. On days like this you should have no problem finding flocks of seagulls hovering over large schools of trout and reds. These fish have huge pods of shrimp pushed to the surface and are gorging on them from below while the gulls are picking them off from above. If this is your style of fishing,

you owe it to yourself to get down here on days like today. Most schools will be loaded with trout, and others will have a mixture of trout and reds. If you hit enough groups, you will likely run into a couple that are holding reds only, or the beloved gaff-top. Excellent bait choices are usually anything you feel like throwing or whatever you already have tied on. These fish are in a frenzy and would probably hit a bare hook. Soft plastics are typically our baits of choice simply so we don’t have to deal with trebles on every fish. Multi-barbed baits like hoginars, topwaters and Corky’s will however, produce serious results. These baits sometimes produce some of the larger fish of the day. Color doesn’t seem to matter much either when you’re sitting within casting distance of what seems like an acre of aggressively feeding fish. Morning Glory, limetreuse and Red Shad work well for us. There’s no better time then now to put supper in the ice chest so I’ll be looking for you and hope to see you on Sabine soon.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: North Revetment Road (Pleasure Island) SPECIES: Specks, Reds, Flounder BAITS/LURES: GULP swimming mullet; topwaters, ﬁnger mullet BEST TIMES: All day—as long as there’s tidal movement

Email Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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GALVESTON Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

Just About Seen It all, in the Last Few Years

T IS AMUSING TO WATCH HOUSton-area TV weather and news folks reacting to the weather on the upper Texas coast. Seeing that, folks not “from around here” would be justified in feeling that the drastic weather changes Texas natives have grown up with are something to hold in awe and wonder. Looking back only a short time, we have seen extreme drought and heat that consumed many inland lakes and severely reduced the flow of rivers to the Gulf. Less rainfall is followed by poor plant growth, which inflicts a double whammy to game animals and domestic stock. The reduced amount of freshwater ending up in the Gulf causes high salinities in coastal estuaries. This is harmful to aquatic vegetation and forage species from shellfish to finfish. Quick quiz: what often follows immediately after a period of drought in Texas?— HEAVY rainfall. In the aftermath of the 2014-2015 drought, we had a wetter than normal winter, then a tropical storm in early summer, and a lot more rain following that. Rain is good after a drought, but not necessarily long-term, flooding rain. Going into mid summer and early fall, not many lakes, rivers, or bays were still in need of rain. There’s an old tale from west Texas that went “Yeah, we only get about 10 inches of rain a year here, but you ought to be here the day it falls!” That tale actually has a basis in hard fact. These weather extremes should bode well for the Galveston Bay system, as the flushing action of the heavy rains will clean out a lot of sludge and pollutants. This will also scour a lot of smaller channels through the sand

bars behind San Luis Pass and across the extreme end of West Bay. If we get back to a more “normal” weather pattern for the fall, fishing should benefit a lot from this wet period. Of course, should the bays still be overly fresh, the best action will be in the surf, around the jetties, and just offshore. Flounders will be preparing for their winter offshore vacation, anyway, so a lot of fresh water may speed up that migration. Specks and reds are usually good in the surf, even in “normal” rainfall years. Bait choices may have to be modified, as shrimp are not big fans of fresh water, but nearly all species of baitfish in the bays thrive in brackish water. In case there are some reading this who remember when we could

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actually fish for red snapper, this might be good news: Alexandria, VA, June 16, 2015: The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved Sen. Richard Shelby’s (R-Ala.) proposed Fiscal Year 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill. The bill included a number of provisions to address the ongoing mismanagement of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery that has resulted in the current 10-day season for private recreational anglers. Scott Gudes, vice president, Government Affairs for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) said, “Senator Shelby’s provisions mark significant progress in addressing the combination of insufficient angler data collection, an inaccurate stock assessment and poor management decisions. This has all but eliminated private anglers’ access in federal waters to the wildly popular and economically critical red snapper fishery. Once again, Senator Shelby CONTINUED ON PAGE

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MATAGORDA Area Hotspot Focus :: by MIKE PRICE

The Sheriff and His Kin Fishing on the Beach

ALKING ON THE BEACH in mid-November, I saw several people checking fishing rods in rod holders at the water’s edge. It looked like these folks had come to the beach for some serious fishing. As I strolled along, I saw three redfish landed within a few minutes. One of the fishermen asked me if I was from Matagorda, and I told him that we lived in one of the houses on the beach. His name was Doug Lloyd, and he said that he and his wife, come from Fort Worth to Matagorda every year, joining friends and family from Shreveport, LA, Longview, TX, Oklahoma, and Bay City, TX. They arrive the first of November and stay until the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

He suggested that I say hello to his cousin, Skipper Osborne the Matagorda County sheriff. Skipper was relaxing in a chair with a fishing rod in his hands and a grin on his face. He said, “I spent Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday finding and arresting a guy, and I am enjoying this break.” He told me that Hubert and Donna Lou Johnson from Bay City bring their RV to the LCRA RV Park, and others either bring an RV or rent a house for the month. He likes to fish, but because of his duties as Sheriff of Matagorda County, he only fishes on weekends and when he can get away during the week. Skipper said, “We have 14 people who have been doing this for 30 years.

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We fish by putting 24 to 30 rods in rod holders in the sand. The way that we rig the leader is to attach a swivel to the line and then tie a 30-pound-test leader to the swivel, leaving about a foot of line at the swivel, to which we attach a circle hook. The leader is 2½ feet long and has a snap swivel attached at the end. We leave a foot of leader line for a second circle hook. An eight ounce weight is attached to the snap swivel. So you end up with two circle hooks above the weight and that way you can feel the bite. We like circle hooks because they hang on the side of the redfish’s mouth, which makes it easy to remove the hook and release bull reds. We never keep redfish over 28 inches. You know those big reds are breeding stock and it is best to leave them out there. Our preferred bait is freshly caught cut mullet, but sometimes it is hard to find mullet. When that happens, we buy frozen cigar minnows and cut them up.” He said, “Fishing for redfish is best on an outgoing tide We have done very well all along the beach from the Matagorda jetties to Mitchell’s Cut, 23 miles down the beach, near Sargent. We have many stories from our years of fishing on the beach, and I’ll share one with you: “Ten years ago, my mother and Donna Lou were ten miles down the beach and they got stuck in the sand. A helicopter came over, and the ladies flagged it down. The helicopter landed, two guys got out, and helped my mother and Donna Lou dig out of the sand. Then they pushed the truck out of the sand, got back into their helicopter and flew away.” Skipper said, “Last year my cousin Doug Lloyd went home with 87 redfish and put on a big fish fry for their friends and the employees of their trucking company, Alpine Trucking. We start at daybreak and fish until noon, it’s great.”

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Focus: GALVESTON THE BANK BITE THE JETTIES: The east jetty at Matagorda Beach is easy to access by four wheel drive vehicle, or you can park at Matagorda Bay Nature Park and walk to the jetty. There is a very good possibility that you will catch redfish when fishing from the jetty in November, and many are bull reds (over 28 inches). You are allowed to keep one bull red by attaching the tag from your fishing license to the redfish right after you catch it. Even people who rarely go fishing know that you should read the Texas Parks and Wildlife fishing regulations and buy a fishing license before venturing out to fish. My wife and I were walking along the little cove adjacent to the pier that attaches to the weir jetty one morning. We saw a game warden park his truck on the sand by the steps from the weir jetty to the pier and step out. At the same time we saw a man on the pier abruptly stop fishing, grab the handle to his ice chest with wheels and start trucking toward the park-

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has demonstrated his leadership and his expertise in the legislative process to help anglers and recreational fishing-dependent businesses across the Gulf of Mexico.” Personally, I was happy to see someone still concerned about the raw deal being given to red snapper fishermen, instead of what goes up whose flagpole.

THE BANK BITE

SPECIES: Speckled trout, redfish, and flounder are the darlings of the fall, and should hold that title for this year. BEST BAITS: Shrimp may be scarce; so various small finfish should be used. BEST TIMES: Temperatures will be cooling down into fall’s delightful range, so all day fishing will not be so difficult.

Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

LOCATION: Depending on rainfall, the jetties, river passes, and surf might be the best choices. ing lot. By this time the game warden was on the pier and in hot pursuit. Soon the man and his buddy were back at the game warden’s truck answering questions and signing something. No doubt they had illegal ﬁsh and/or no ﬁshing license. If you see someone taking illegal

ﬁsh call Operation Game Thief at 800-7924263.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

10/8/15 4:12 PM

UPPER MID Coast Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. CHRIS MARTIN

The Fish Don’t Know It’s Hunting Season

HAT DOES THE MONTH of November generally mean to outdoor sportsmen in Texas? It generally means that it is time for the start of hunting season, regardless of the type—deer, duck, goose, quail, etc. But what happens to coastal fishing in November? Does the bite just “turn-off,” or do the fish leave our bay waters simply because hunting season has arrived? Absolutely not! The fish are still here, as they don’t even realize that hunting season should be an issue to them. With you being the avid coastal angler that you are, you shouldn’t pay attention to the fact that it’s now hunting season either. Grab a fishing partner this month and give November fishing along the Coastal Bend a chance. November is usually the first month of the year when we can honestly say that the weather is turning colder on a somewhat regular basis. Things all over tend to slow-down as a direct result. From a fishing perspective, and since hunting season is in full swing, the amount of boat traffic on area bays will generally be slowing down. Consequently, the intense fishing pressure of the previous warm months will all of a sudden become notably less. Even the days in November will appear as if they are slowing down a bit because the sun will begin taking a little longer each morning to rise above the horizon. The fish will start to do things in a much more slow-moving manner also as area bay waters continue to cool on a regular basis. The fish will start looking for an environment that suits their taste from a body temperature standpoint. They’ll probably settle in a bit deeper water just above a bottom area with enough thick mud to store warmth from the day’s sunlight hours. They’ll move around from spot to spot on an

as-needed basis only and will use just enough energy to forage for daily prey. In a nutshell, their bodies will naturally slow their metabolism rate. This allows them to work and move as little as possible while their bodies struggle to survive the colder conditions. As anglers, we also tend to slow things down with the advent of cooler weather. For example, one thing anglers typically can do differently during the colder months is to take their time in getting out on the water each morning. If nothing else, this gives the fish an opportunity to relocate from their overnight depths to that of adjacent and warming mud flats as the sun makes its way high into the morning sky. Another thing anglers can do is to slow down the speed they retrieve their lures. When tossing top water baits, try to let it sit where it lands while counting to ten. Once the retrieve is underway, do three to four slow lifts of the rod tip before leaving the alone to sit still on the water’s surface. As mentioned earlier, these cold-water trout will be lethargic and will move slowly, so it will be much easier for them to hit a stationary target rather than one that’s ripping across the surface. Try practicing this same level of patience whenever working plastic baits across the bay floor in cold water. Move the rod tip very slowly and smoothly. Try to imagine your bait dragging the mud to the point to where it is creating a small mud cloud behind the lure. The cold-water bite on plastics can sometimes be very slight in nature, so anglers should make it a practice to “set the hook” when you feel just a vague tug at the other end of the line. Another thing to consider during colder months is the increased number of low-light hours at this time of year. The days are getting shorter, thereby reducing the total amount of daylight each day. We are also much more likely

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to experience a lot of cloud cover during these months. When this happens, adjustments in our bait presentation can often spell success for us on those otherwise challenging, dark days. Most fish are able to see their prey because they are able to pick out a silhouette as a contrast against various colored backgrounds. However, the level of contrast can depend on a lot of things such as the time of day, the make-up of the bottom, the water condition, and whether it’s a cloudy day or a sunny day. You can spend some fun time experimenting with different lure colors as you search for the right color or color combination. You should always try to think of what your lure might look like at the depth you are using. When fishing in shallow water, you may find it beneficial to throw a lure with red on it, as red is the first color to be absorbed in the light spectrum. Blue is the last color to be absorbed, so toss a lure with blue on it when fishing in deeper water. A lot of fish feed by looking up toward the surface of the water. In doing this, however, they have trouble distinguishing specific colors, and the contrast of the prey against the surface becomes more important. When a feeding fish is looking up, a dark silhouette (even against a dark sky) provides the maximum contrast and is attractive to predators. If you pick a lure based on contrast instead of color you might just have a much greater chance at getting the fish to strike. Black is the least transparent color and gives the best silhouette and is probably the most visible color under most conditions. Give it a try next time. Regardless of what you may come across this month, or your changes to your tactics, keep this in mind: Just because it’s hunting season doesn’t mean you have to stop fishing altogether—especially in November, and especially along our Texas coast. Go get ‘em!

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

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ROCKPORT Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

The Much Snubbed and Ignored Mud Minnow

WEAK COLD FRONT HAD pushed some slow moving storms on top of our well-meant fishing intentions that morning. My clients wisely decided to go for an early breakfast and see whether the storms would dissipate. As is often the case the storm let loose and by 8:30 a.m. the skies were clearing with a nice dry north breeze that was going to be with us for the rest of the day. My clients called and asked if the rest of the day was fishable to which I jokingly chided “not sitting in a restaurant drinking coffee”. “If you’re waiting on us you’re backing up,” the man told me. “I will meet you at the boat ramp at 9 a.m.,” I said. At the bait stand a few folks were milling around, most trying to decide whether to go home and watch football or go fishing. One gentleman in particular was with his son. I could tell he was on a mission to most definitely fish. It’s not hard to spot these guys. Most are in a nervous hurry, slamming, tossing and in general trying to set a new bait stand land speed record to get on the water. His son was going by every live well tank fascinated with the different types of bait, much to the chagrin of the bait stand owner. Bait stand owners in general do not want anyone near their bait tanks, especially a fascinated young’un who has the look that begs to dip his sun-screened, insect-repellent-sprayed and/or scented suntan lotion hand into the bait tank. Doing so can be the lethal end of hundreds of dollars in live bait. “Daddy,” the young man hollered “I want to fish with some of these!” he said pointing at a tank in the back of the building. “Get over here,” the Dad said. “We are gonna use shrimp and finger mullet.” “But we hardly ever catch anything” the

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young man protested. “We always catch fish” the man puffed his chest out and said. “I don’t even know what those are anyway. Probably some bait they are over stocked on, besides they are in the back so nobody fishes with them.” I, not really wanting to get into the discussion but having had too much coffee, said “You might want to listen to the boy, sir, those are muds and they work pretty well this time of year.” “Muds? Sounds like trash fish bait to me” he said. “No sir, they are called mud minnows,” I said. “We call them muds, and they have a lot of nicknames,” “Never heard of them, and I fish down here all the time.”

“Yes sir,” I replied. “I guess it’s best to stick to what you have confidence in.” “Captain Mac,” the bait attendant said with a grin. “What can I get you this LATE morning?” “Six dozen mud minnows please,” I replied. Just the name “mudminnow” (Fundulus grandis) is enough to turn a lot of anglers off. Visions of mud cats come to mind or bottom suckers like carp and buffalo; but whatever it is, the mudminnow is not at the top of most anglers’ bait list. The mudminnow is actually not a minnow at all. It’s rather more closely related to the pike species. They have been called bull minnows, mud fish, cocahoe, chub and even finger mullet. They are omnivorous, meaning they are opportunistic, feeders on just about everything, including other fish. Males are a darker color with spots, and the female is often an off-color gray. Females lay only a few eggs at a time (around 10 or so), but spawn multiple times between spring and fall. The

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Focus: ROCKPORT eggs are usually fertilized very quickly. It is not true the muds like and prefer fresh water. Brackish water between 8 and 20 ppt is their optimum choice. However, they tolerate zero to as high as 40ppt or more. A one-year-old mud is one-inch long a two-year-old is 2.6 inches long and most reach sexual maturity between 1.5 to 2 inches. Muds can be and are raised in captivity, and they do well in the wild when released. Their name, many believe, comes from their ability or tendency to burrow into muddy bottoms to hide from predators or to wait out poor water quality periods (Biology 101, thank you very much). But what are their practical uses, how do you fish them—and when? My advice is to first examine one of these little rascals. Upon holding it in your hand you will, or rather you should, feel an immediate difference from other coastal baits. It has a soft almost pollywog feel to it. It’s very hardy, meaning they stay alive a long time in your live well. One can easily leave them overnight in a live well. Further, our mud species in the coastal bend has a rounded nose and healthy ones have a pudgy fat look that runs all the way to their tail. This is important if you are a fanatic on how you hook live bait. Predator fish will in fact almost always swallow most hard scaled baits with very stiff fins head first, allowing for easier passage into the stomach. With mud minnows I have seen them in the throat and stomach tail first, sideways, almost any direction or angle you can name. What does this mean? It means they are easy to swallow and digest. It also means where you hook them is not nearly as important as with other bait. However, because of their softer tissue they can be stripped from a hook fairly easily. That said, I like hooking them much farther toward the tail than other fin fish bait. Free-lined is best or a very light Carolina rig. Beginning around August I start putting a few in my live well until I see hook ups or hits on a regular basis. This varies by year with a variety of factors. Given the limited scope of this article I won’t venture into them. What will bite on a mud minnow you ask? I have caught every species of fish

ST. CHARLES BAY: Cavasso Creek is a great place for some keeper flounders using mud minnows and a light Carolina rig. There are some reds here as well, so hold tight to your rod. The mouth of McHugh Bayou is good for reds using cut mullet

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including black drum, they are deadly on flounders, reds prefer them late in the year and trout will knock a rod out of your hand in the colder days of November and December when a mud is on the hook. The lowly mudminnow is not magic bait, nor is it a year round preferred bait like shrimp or mullet, but as with other things in this life there is a time and a season. Wise anglers who stop looking down their noses at these soft morsels will find on our cold days some fine fishing often begins and ends with the mud. It’s either here or it’s coming soon. I’m talking about the cold. Remember when ambient temperature drops the water temperature by more than 10 to 15 degrees the bite is good, but for the next few days it slows way down, then on day three or four the bite gets very good. COPANO BAY: The grass lines adjacent to Newcomb point is good for reds using cut mullet or cut menhaden. Copano Reef is good for trout using new penny colored jerk shad and imitation shrimp like the Vudu shrimp. Sheepshead numbers are good on the pilings of LBJ Causeway. If you’re fishing from a boat, throw into the southeast side close to the pilings using cut squid or frozen shrimp free-lined. ARANSAS BAY: Grass Island Reef is good for trout using live shrimp or Berkley gulp shrimp under a cork. New spoil area at the mouth of Dunham Bay is good for sheepshead and black drum using live or fresh dead shrimp free-lined or under a cork. Some nice red action exists off the shoreline of Blackjack Peninsula. Wading here is best using morning glory or newpenny colored jerk shad. On high tide if you’re fishing from a boat, get within casting distance of the salt grass and be patient. There are egresses from the grass, and the reds feed in and out of these cuts.

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and mudminnows free-lined. Some black drum are back at Twin Creeks. Use peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig. CARLOS BAY: The Carlos Bay side of Cedar Reef is the place for reds using finger mullet or cut menhaden on a light Carolina rig. Wading the shoreline of Ballou Island is good for reds and trout using Vudu Shrimp and Berkley Gulp jerk shad in anchovy color. MESQUITE BAY: The mouth of Cedar Bayou is a good wade for trout using live shrimp free-lined. Work the shell on both sides of Cedar’s mouth here. Drifts across Bray’s Cove are good for floundes using lightweight grubs and jig heads tipped with squid. With a north wind, Third Chain is a good place for reds using finger mullet or mud minnows free-lined. AYERS BAY: Fish the shoreline of Rattlesnake Island using peeled shrimp on a light Carolina for black drum and some keeper reds. Second Chain is a good spot for black drum using peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig. One needs to be patient here. Some gafftops are still lurking on Bent Pipe Reef. Use live shrimp on a medium to heavy Fish Finder rig.

THE BANK BITE THE LBJ CAUSEWAY fishing pier is best game in town. The sheepshead action is good here using peeled shrimp free-lined. There is a bit of an art to this fishing, and one needs to have the right rig. Using braided line, walk your bait down the pier, dragging it by the pilings on both sides. There are some reds that frequent this area, but be advised if your line is not strong enough or resists abrasions like braided line does, you will break off the bigger fish before you can lift them up and over the railing onto the pier.

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

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LOWER Coast Hotspot Focus :: by CALIXTO GONZALES

Stretch Your Legs

HE PARKING LOT AT THE Lower Laguna Madre not withstanding, not everyone owns a boat. Various and sundry factors such as grocery bills, mortgages, school, and reluctant spouses tend to get in the way of making a big-ticket purchase such as the latest shallow-running wonder. A boat is a prohibitive expense with which many anglers may not want to encumber themselves. Be that as it may, Lower Laguna Madre anglers can still find great fishing without a boat. Some may try the various fishing piers that dot the coast from Padre to Port Mansfield. The rough, weather-beaten boards and salt-washed concrete offer excellent November fishing opportunities for the landbound angler, especially for night fishing. Nighttime anglers find cooperative species such as croaker (which are growing in size and numbers every year) sand trout, whiting, Gafftop catfish, and black drum ranging from slot-sized puppy drum to big old uglies in that can weigh over 40 pounds. Also present are game fish such as speckled trout, redfish, and even snook. Don’t sniff at the idea of trying to catch good fish off these piers. Plank walkers have caught some impressive trophies off these piers. I have seen some eye-popping trout hovering in the shadows just beyond the lights at Fred Stone Park in Port Mansfield. Those trout don’t always bite, but a sow gets caught every once in a while. An angler can pretty much take his pick how to fish one of these piers. Some anglers fish live bait underneath the lights either with a popping cork or a free-line, others will throw chunks of cut bait, dead shrimp, crab, or other goodies into the dark to try and find something big. Plenty of anglers have found great success

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with glow and pearl soft plastics, small minnow plugs, topwaters, and—as the aforementioned Winter Texan illustrated—flies. Still, some anglers would rather avoid the crowds on the piers and find a good, quiet spot to wade. There are plenty along the LLM, too. One of the most popular bank-accessible wading spots on the Lower Laguna Madre, for example, is the Community Bar in Port Mansfield. Wade fishermen can gain access to the area via Fred Stone Park, which is adjacent to the King Ranch. There is a pedestrian entrance set up on the ranch fence line that allows for fishermen to walk along the shoreline for the ¾ of a mile to the Bar’s general area. That’s just a good stretch of the legs for the average Texan. Over the years, rainfall and floods have created a muddy, boggy ditch that separates the access point from the parking lot. Some resourceful fishermen place pallets and boards across the ditch, but it may be easier to wade in and around the end of the fence line and back onto shore. Then you can hoof the rest of the way on dry land. When you reach Community Bar, you can wade out toward the bar and start fishing. Don’t head straight out into deeper water immediately. It doesn’t hurt to work parallel to the shoreline, especially on a high tide. Redfish and trout will cruise close in during low-light conditions. Work the area with smaller topwaters such as a Zara Spook, Top Dog, or Chugging Spook. Gold spoons such as ¼ ounce Johnson Silver Minnow or a Nemire Red Ripper are also excellent choices for working the early morning shallows. Between the shoreline and Community Bar is a deep gut that speckled trout use as a migration route up and down Laguna Madre. The wide gut deepens until you are in neck-deep water, which can make a fisherman pretty nervous. It’s easy to spot where the really deep stuff is, though, because local commercial crabbers set their traps at the bottom of the gut, and the white buoys make excellent channel markers.

Shrimp worked under a popping cork rig is the top fish producer, but many fishermen who would rather avoid lugging a bait bucket switch over the either a Gulp! Shrimp in Glow or New Penny. Both are very effective under a popping cork or Mauler. (Port Mansfield, by the way, is the birthplace of the famous Bob Fuston Mansfield Mauler Float, which is the prototype for countless other versions that have followed) A Pauls Unfair Shrimp sweetened with Pro Cure Gel is an excellent alternative, as are any of the classic patterns produced by Norton Lures or H&H Lures. Make sure your leader is 18-24 inches long, and that your rod is long enough (7-7 ½ feet) to facilitate long casts into the gut. Swimbaits such as the Gulp! Shad or Queen Cocahoe are also good choices to fish the gut. The throbbing shad tail puts off plenty of vibration that can get a trout’s attention from a long way away. Fan cast an area, and if you don’t find any fish, move a few feet to your left or right, and keep working the deeper water until you hit pay dirt. Some adventurous fishermen are willing to negotiate the deeper water to cross the gut and reach the actual Community Bar. Then they will either fish on top of the grassy top for redfish (with gold spoons again being the #1 choice), or they turn around and fish the edge of the depth break. The latter method is quite popular because it allows you to fish the deeper water with the wind at your back—and there will almost always be a stiff breeze pushing off the Gulf of Mexico by the middle of the day. A word of caution: Community Bar’s close proximity to Port Mansfield means that you’ll find heavy boat traffic, especially on the weekends. For the most part, boaters are considerate enough to give the area wide berth. Some aren’t. You might have a hard time walking back out though, if the fish are there…

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Email Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com N O V E M B E R

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Texas HOTSPOTS

UPPER COAST

Sabine Specks In the Middle by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Mid Lake 3 GPS: N 29 51.2069, W 93 49.755 (29.8535, -93.8293)

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LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cedar Lakes GPS: N 28 49.2486, W 95 32.6138 (28.8208, -95.5436)

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 28 43.86, W 95 45.6169 (28.7310, -95.7603)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Topwater lures CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-4871 kendallkersh@gmail.com

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwater lures CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-4871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.com TIPS: “November is a good time of the year for schooling redfish as the fish are migrating out of marshes.” Capt. Kersh

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-4871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.com TIPS: Making drifts around scattered oysN O V E M B E R

www.puresaltadventures.com TIPS: “Pink is a great color for a topwater bait. Pink is one of the hardest colors for a redﬁsh to see. They will hit it hard.” Capt. Kersh LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoal GPS: N 28 40.4519, W 95 53.898 (28.6742, -95.8983)

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ter shell for both redﬁsh and trout

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 9782018@sbcglobal.net www.ﬁshsabinelake.com TIPS: If the November temps are dropping pull back from the shorelines and focus on the deeper water. LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Tripod GPS: N 28 40.39, W 95 55.8002 (28.6732, -95.9300)

GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes). Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information speciﬁc to your GPS device.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “When I’m throwing lead heads and soft plastics I like to use glow/chartreuse MirrOlure. They’re scented which helps the redﬁsh hang on to the bait,” says Countz. He uses a 1/8-ounce lead head. LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Lake Austin GPS: N 28 47.58, W 95 47.5619 (28.7930, -95.7927)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Heavier lead heads with soft plastic baits CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “In East Bay until it gets really cooler, the water stays a little off-color anytime the wind blows. The brighter colored tails seem to work better.” Capt. Countz

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Robinson Bayou GPS: N 29 35.0637, W 94 34.4947 (29.5844, -94.5749)

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281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com www.goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: “Along the shorelines, topwaters still work good in November if the water temp is 65 or above.” Capt. Paul Marcaccio

GPS: N 29 28.92, W 94 43.6559 (29.4820, -94.7276)

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LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Three days prior to the new moon and full moon phases should provide excellent fishing.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Deep Reef GPS: N 29 30.802, W 94 40.58 (29.513367, -94.676333)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “in November fishing should be good along north and south shorelines from Rollover Pass to Sting Ray Marina.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge Reef GPS: N 29 28.179, W 94 41.941 (29.4697, -94.6990)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwater lures CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio T E X A S

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Texas HOTSPOTS SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: If the winds are coming out of the south, Marcaccio chooses to fish the shoreline on East Bay. Look for drains and bayous to fish.” LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Sun Oil Lease GPS: N 29 38.934, W 94 48.4379 (29.6489, -94.8073)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com www.goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: “When drifting the Trinity Bay wells I use a 3/8 ounce or 1/4 ounce lead head for the soft plastic I use. It all depends on the surface water temp. If it’s below 65 degrees I tie on 3/8 ounce jig head.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: C Lease GPS: N 29 40.446, W 94 45.5819 (29.6741, -94.7597)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Drift around a well, cast all sides. If you get hit or catch a fish, go back around … use the same strategy on all the wells.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay

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HOTSPOT: Gas Wells GPS: N 29 42.984, W 94 43.1399 (29.7164, -94.7190)

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CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “If November brings in cold weather, don’t forget the Colorado River. The trout gang up in the river because of the deeper depths. Any kind of boat will work.” Capt. Countz

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com www.goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: “If you see a slick pop up in front of you, cast in to it. But in any other direction, cast behind it. It all depends on wind and current.” Capt. Marcaccio

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 28 37.2109, W 96 5.7829 (28.6202, -96.0964)

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Trinity Bay Wells GPS: N 29 41.688, W 94 47.3279 (29.6948, -94.7888)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Topwater lures CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-4871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.com TIPS: Kersh like the Skitter Walk for his topwater go-to lure. “I use a knocking rattle that the ﬁsh seem to love.”

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com www.goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: “The size of the trout caught from along the shorelines in November should be in 6-8 pound range. Focus on drains and bayous. It’s dynamite on incoming tides.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Matagorda HOTSPOT: Colorado River GPS: N 28 39.018, W 95 59.3039 (28.6503, -95.9884)

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LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Mad Island Reef GPS: N 28 37.2109, W 96 5.7829 (28.6202, -96.0964)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Pink Skitter Walks CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Redfish grow almost an inch a month. In October they weren’t legal. In November redfish should be in the 20 1/2 to 21 inch size.” Capt. Countz

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic baits with a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce lead head T E X A S

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Texas HOTSPOTS CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 Billyfreudensprung@gmail.com TIPS: “When I do throw soft plastics I like the purple/chartreuse tail Down South lure,” says Capt. Freuensprung. He also likes the Fat Boy bait because it sinks slowly.

MIDDLE COAST

Open a Can of Pringle Reds by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Pringle Lake GPS: N 28 18.984, W 96 30.865 (28.3164, -96.5144)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Soft plastic baits

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LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: Copano Reef GPS: N 28 7.5019, W 97 4.737 (28.1250, -97.0790)

treblejcharters@yahoo.com treblejcharters@yahoo.com TIPS: Start early along the shore, and then work out toward the open bay as the temperature begins to heat up. LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: Long Lake GPS: N 28 16.912, W 96 35.776 (28.2819, -96.5963)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 Billyfreudensprung@gmail.com TIPS: Freudensprung prefers the Mid Coast Popping Cork because they make a

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Texas HOTSPOTS 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: McPartland is looking for isolated sand pocket in the grass.

lot of sound and are durable. LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay HOTSPOT: South Pass Lake GPS: N 28 17.5339, W 96 35.365 (28.2922, -96.5894)

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut Crab CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 Billyfreudensprung@gmail.com TIPS: “I free line the crab using a #6 Eagle Claw Circle Hook, with no weight. Redﬁsh pretty much hook themselves.” Capt. Freudensprung LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 27 56.1799, W 97 4.471 (27.9363, -97.0745)

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

LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Newcomb Shoreline GPS: N 28 8.793, W 97 1.446 (28.1466, -97.0241)

Go Long for Laguna Specks by CALIXTO GONZALES and TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Long Bar GPS: N 26 8.349, W 97 14.194 (26.1392, -97.2366)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treblejcharters@yahoo.com TIPS: Free line the shrimp with the lightest weight that will keep the bait where it should be. LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Half Moon Reef GPS: N 28 20.274, W 96 46.347 (28.3379, -96.7725)

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LOWER COAST

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, Shrimp tail/popping cork, and soft plastics in red/white, Tequila Gold. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Sharpshoot potholes with the bait or shrimptail under a Mauler or rattle cork. Try fan casting with soft plastics during low-light conditions. LOCATION: Gulf of Mexico HOTSPOT: Port Isabel Reef GPS: N 25 57.736, W 97 3.577 (25.9623, -97.0596)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 Billyfreudensprung@gmail.com TIPS: In November Capt. Freudensprung is looking for shell structure.

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SPECIES: Mangrove Snapper BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut squid, White bucktails. CONTACT: Captain Layne Levens 281-705-5537 TIPS: Use live ﬁnger mullet to latch into some bigger than average mangrove snapper. Judicious use of chum will bring them to the surface, where you can freeline your bait. Use ﬂuorocarbon leaders.

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut Mullet or crab CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Brownsville Ship Channel GPS: N 26 2.214, W 97 13.108 u TAP FOR (26.0369, -97.2185)

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: South Bay GPS: N 26 1.694, W 97 10.327 (26.0282, -97.1721)

SPECIES: Mangrove Snapper BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, ﬁnger mullet CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Cast towards dock pilings and rip wrap to ﬁnd both snook and some large (3-5 pound) mangrove snapper. Anchor or drift about 30-50 feet off the shoreline to give yourself some casting room.

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, fresh shrimp. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish the edge of the channels with live or fresh bait. A split shot helps the bait descend slowly. If the current is running, you may need a bottom rig.

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 26 3.83, W 97 9.92 (26.0638, -97.1653)

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SPECIES: flounder BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, live finger mullet. Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Ivory. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: The best time to fish this area is during an early morning high tide. Fish both live shrimp and soft plastics under a popping cork. If you want to try and tempt any flatties in the area, then fish Gulp! Shrimp on a ¼ ounce jighead and bounce it along the bottom.

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Three Islands GPS: N 26 16.95, W 97 14.194 (26.2825, -97.2366)

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TIPS: Tarpon will be cruising up and down the beachfront in the summer. When the wind is down and “ice cream” conditions prevail, an angler can run his boat out and watch for the shallows of these silver marauders LOCATION: Port Mansﬁeld HOTSPOT: Marker 151 GPS: N 26 31.89, W 97 23.26 (26.5315, -97.3877)

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live bait, gold spoons, and soft plastics. CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish soft plastics on 1/8 ounce or 1/16 once jigs. If you are having a problem with ﬂoating grass try a weedless gold spoon. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Marker 67 GPS: N 26 13.877, W 97 16.178 (26.2313, -97.2696)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Gold Spoons, soft plastics in LSU CONTACT: Captain Jeff Neu 979-942-0164 TIPS: Wade or drift the deep potholes in the area with topwaters, soft plastics, spoons, or your favorite redfish lures to find pods of reds cruising the flats in this area.

PINEY WOODS SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live bait, soft plastics in pearl, Smoke. CONTACT: Captain Mike Knox 956-243-0039 TIPS: Fish the weedline along the edge of the ICW. Look for cuts into the weeks and sharpshoot into them. Use a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jighead and ﬁsh slowly. LOCATION: Port Mansﬁeld HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N 26 28.134, W 97 23.667 (26.4689, -97.3945)

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: River Bends GPS: N 31 44.52, W 93 49.764 (31.7420, -93.8294)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Shiners & Crappie Jigs CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com |

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Big Cypress Channel GPS: N 32 41.844, W 94 5.6159 (32.6974, -94.0936)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M Pacemaker swim jig, V&M Thunder Shad, Umbrella rigs CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/ Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: Look for shad and schooling bass in the channel and on nearby flats near the channel and creeks. Stick with shad colored lures. This is my favorite time of the year for finding quality-sized bass feeding up for the winter. Crappie are usually starting to gang up too. LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 26.226, W 95 35.502 (30.4371, -95.5917)

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SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Topwaters, soft plastics in LSU, Black/Chartreuse, Gold spoons. CONTACT: Captain Jeff Neu 979-942-0164

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Toledo Crappie Get the Bends

TIPS: November is my favorite month of the year to be fishing on Toledo Bend. Besides the weather being pleasant with cool mornings and warm afternoons, the vista of the lake can be mesmerizing with the fall foliage and waterfowl migration. Besides soaking in all the glorious surroundings of nature, the fish will be feeding like crazy bulking up for winter. On the north end of the lake the Crappie will start moving and bunching up along the ledges of the river channel. Use your electronics to locate the baitfish in natural cover or drop your own brush tops. As the water temperature falls the Crappie will move deeper. Either shiners or jigs will load up an ice chest full of Crappie.

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SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers, Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim

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Texas HOTSPOTS shad, stink bait CONTACT: Richard Tatsch (936) 291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: The larger catfish will start feeding in the 15 to 25 foot depth ranges. Some days you may not catch a lot but they will be worth your while. The hybrids will also begin their aggressive feeding habits also and should be in the 15 to 25 foot range along the channel edges and humps on the main lake. Use live shad to be more productive. Artificial baits like swim shad also work well if you find a good school of fish. LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Wyndell’s Hot Hole GPS: N 30 45.09, W 95 10.284 (30.7515, -95.1714)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Tsunami Zombie Eye Slabs and live shad CONTACT: David S Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Jig slabs off the bottom. Look for water depths 11 - 14 feet. Keep line tension tight as the slab falls. Be ready for strikes on falling bait. BANK ACCESS: Governor’s Point at Point Blank or the public ramp on west side of 190 Bridge.

(32.3056, -96.1787)

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SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Chatterbaits, square &, lipless crankbaits, jigs CONTACT: Dannie Golden, Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: “November is a great on Ray Roberts. Not a ton of pressure on the lake and the ﬁsh usually are biting. Bass will still be in shallow water. A chartreuse/ white 5/8 oz. Chatterbait ﬁshed around shallow vegetation and standing timber is a great place to start. Work the backs of the creeks out to the mouths. Square bill crankbaits and lipless crankbaits are a good choice as well. Make sure you have a jig tied on as well. Flipping the shallow timber, that is close to a channel swing or where the channel bumps close to the bank, can result in some big bites.”

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs CONTACT: Jason Barber (903) 603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Try every dock with ample water throughout the main lake and in pockets. Experiment with baits. Some days the moving baits work best and some days the jig is the ticket! LOCATION: Cooper/Chapman Lake HOTSPOT: Barrow Pits near the Dam GPS: N 33 19.7219, W 95 37.7759 u TAP FOR (33.3287, -95.6296)

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LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Docks GPS: N 32 18.3359, W 96 10.722

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Stripers

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PRAIRIES & LAKES

Tioga Party for Roberts Bass by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Tioga GPS: N 33 27.3861, W 96 55.8885 (33.4564, -96.9315)

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Texas HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Zoom Super Fluke on a 1-1 1/2 oz. jig head CONTACT: Tony Parker’s Guide Service (903) 348-1619 tawakoniﬁshing@yahoo.com facebook.com/tonyparker.ﬁshingguide TIPS: “November will bring cooler temperatures. The hybrids and white bass will start grouping up around the barrow pits close to

the dam. I will look for large groups of shad along with schools of hybrids and white bass suspended in the deeper pits. I will drop a soft stick bait down to the depth I marked the schools of ﬁsh, holding the bait right above the school. This is a technique we call dead sticking. This is fast becoming my favorite time of year on Cooper Lake.” LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Cedar Creek Bridge pilings GPS: N 29 56.448, W 96 44.562 u TAP FOR (29.9408, -96.7427)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cj’s Punch bait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: 40 foot of water here. Toss a buoy marker and chum close to buoy. Anchor boat and cast close to buoy. Or anchor boat close to buoy and fish straight down around bridge. LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Intake Channel GPS: N 30 37.02, W 96 4.3319 (30.6170, -96.0722)

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LOCATION: Granbury HOTSPOT: Striper Alley GPS: N 32 24.16, W 97 41.236

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SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, Swim baits and Jigging slabs in chartreuse and silver CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 www.unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Look for bird action to point you to active fish early. Later, look for schools of bait around 20 feet down on humps and ridges near access to deeper water. Drift live shad drifted near feeding flats. Use a balloon to get your bait away from the boat near shallower points where fish are feeding. Winter fishing mode is quickly approaching. Water temperatures are in the 60’s and continue to fall. Incoming cool fronts continue to dominate the weather patterns with the best fishing right before the front. Submerged brush close to deeper water continues to be a hot spot for black bass and sunfish. LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats GPS: N 30 41.166, W 97 20.9039 (30.6861, -97.3484)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Anchor in stumps left side of channel in 4-5 foot water. Tight line cast into channel where deeper water is located. Cooler moving water is here. Chumming always helps.

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(32.4027, -97.6873)

SPECIES: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh shad, cut bait, Zote soap CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell (512) 365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Now is a good time to stock up your freezer with tasty blue cat filets. They are feeding heavily and can be caught on jug lines fished in 10 to 20 feet of water. A good place to put your jugs is along windy shorelines where the shad are being blown in. Another good place is shallow flats that have concentrations of fresh water muscles. The blue cats really like them.

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Texas HOTSPOTS Normally 2 hooks per line are all you need. Put one hook about 4 feet from the top and one about 4 feet off the bottom. That will cover both locations. I use 11/0 Mustad tuna circle hooks. They work real well with Zote soap. Good luck and good ﬁshing. LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 3.5939, W 96 27.2999 (33.0599, -96.4550)

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TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Crappie can be found in 7-18 feet of water around timber or brush. White bass are traveling in groups of 15 - 25 ﬁsh. Concentrate on ﬁshing in 4 - 15 feet of water.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points and Creeks GPS: N 32 11.5019, W 95 29.3759 u TAP FOR (32.1917, -95.4896)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Crappie: Jigs in black or white and chartreuse or salt and pepper color/White Bass: Slabs and live shad. CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Big Eye Jig trailed with a Mr. Twister Pocket Craw in black/blue and Shimmy Shaker in white CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 OR 903-530-2201

ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: “Bass fishing is good both up on north end in KickAPoo Creek and down south as well. Fish Kickapoo’s creek channel with a Big Eye Jig and also fish the Shimmy Shaker along the shallow banks of the creek. Fish 3 to 10 foot of water and fish slow for best results. Down south you will need to fish the back of your main creeks and in all your pockets early and as the day goes on fish the main lake points. You will need to start with the creeks close to the dam like Chimney Creek and Cobb Creek as both are very good at this time.” LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard HOTSPOT: South of Robertson Park GPS: N 32 51.948, W 96 31.212 (32.8658, -96.5202)

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LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: North Island Area, West to the Willis Bridge GPS: N 33 52.218, W 96 41.3699 u TAP FOR (33.8703, -96.6895)

LOCATION: Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: State Park GPS: N 33 22.2603, W 97 1.6381 (33.3710, -97.0273)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: 4” Sassy Shad and 1oz RatL-Traps. CONTACT: The Cajun Guide/Johnny Procell (972) 814-8942 cajunguide@att.net www.johnnyprocell.com TIPS: Hybrid Striped Bass will be the big thing this month. Find these 5 to 15 ﬁsh under the birds at the south tip of Robinson Park and at the north tip of the hot water jetty just south of Bass Pro Shop. Find the birds working on a windy day and it is a simple matter of chunking and winding. One can also expect to catch a number of magnum sandies and the occasional ten to twenty pound blue catﬁsh. LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Yegua Park west Shoreline GPS: N 30 17.76, W 96 32.784 u TAP FOR (30.2960, -96.5464)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs:1-ounce jig head with a 4-inch whiteglo or chartreuse soft plastic tail CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: November fishing on Lake Texoma is a prime time to go striper fishing. Huge schools of striped bass are roaming the lake. Some of the fish will tip the scales at 15+ lbs. The water has cooled down and you can go fishing anytime of the day. You need a good pair of binoculars to locate the different schools of fish that the birds are “working”. LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Big Rocky Ledge GPS: N 31 53.238, W 97 23.1059 (31.8873, -97.3851)

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, blades CONTACT: Dannie Golden, Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: November is also a good month to put some meat in the freezer. The sand bass will be locked on their deep humps & ridges. Look for them in 30-35 feet of water to start. Sometimes they will be a little shallower. A 1oz slab bounced close to the bottom is a good start. You can also drop a 1/2-oz. blade bait and work it close to the bottom. Don’t be surprised if you catch some quality blue cats mixed in with the sand bass. They will also hit that slab.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Heavy Timbered Areas in the Richland Creek Arm GPS: N 32 0.2279, W 96 11.3459 u TAP FOR (32.0038, -96.1891)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad, Liver, Cj’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Best with a slight north wind. Fish shallow and near vegetation. Baitfish are here before heading deep for the winter. Use cork, bait a foot off bottom.

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live Threadfin Shad, 1/2oz Stripaholic Lead Heads and chartreuse Swim Baits from RSRLures.com CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: If the birds are working and diving on shad, us chartreuse Swim Baits and cast out behind the boat. Use the trolling motor to slow troll or “stroll” the jigs along the edge of the fish. You can also make long casts and make a medium retrieve. Look along the ledge in 20’ to 30’ of water out from the island. You can also use live bait and fish 10’ to 21’ suspended below the boat. |

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SPECIES: Channel and Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Danny King’s punch bait CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: Find any timbered areas where the cormorants roost. Fish in 15-25 feet of water. Use a # 4 treble hook with punch bait. Keep a net handy as you’ll catch LOTS of 1 to 3 lb. fish, but you’re subject to hooking a MONSTER Blue Cat!

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PANHANDLE

Island Stripers, Whites & Hybrids by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Costello Island North GPS: N 32 56.337, W 98 25.987 (32.9390, -98.4331)

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SPECIES: White, striped & hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: Jigs & slabs CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Costello Island on the north side will be where the fish have just transitioned from 50 feet of water to the old riverbed and 40 feet or less of water because the water is stained back here and warmer. It’s the nursery of the lake with plenty to eat as fish move into position for wintering here till the early spring. Look for days with the cold front line right on the Texas/Oklahoma border, as the pressure will be on the rise. Look for sandies, stripers & hybrids under the birds or on the sand flats in 10 feet or less. They will push balls of baitfish on to them to feed. Chrome chartreuse and neon greens work great on slabs, but stick to white and chartreuse (or occasionally yellow) on the Jigs. Remember to get into rhythm with the: if they are slow, present slow. But most of the time, a fast two-foot jerk followed slowly back to bottom will get all the hits. LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Gobbler Creek GPS: N 33 2.9879, W 101 3.63 (33.0498, -101.0605)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shad colored crank baits, top water lures and soft plastics. CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net http://www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_ clayton.htm TIPS: “November is one of the greatest times of the year to be on the lake. The bass will be moving up the creeks following the shad as the water cools down. The crankbait bite really turns on this time of the year but the Shaky Heads bite is also really good if you put a shad colored Fluke on the Shaky Head. The top water bite will also pick up as the water becomes cooler with the cool fronts rolling through. Look for a good bite up Gobbler, Big Grape, Little Grape, Rocky, and Ince Creeks. Start shallow and at the mouth of the creeks working further back into the creed until you ﬁnd the bass. Then, you can go to other creeks and start about the same distance back into the creeks. You should ﬁnd the bass by great numbers.”

BIG BEND

Back to Bed for Amistad Bass by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Grassbeds GPS: N29 30.5052, W100 58.062 (29.508420, -100.967700)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Zara Spooks, Pop Rs, Ribbit Frogs, soft plastics CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl, stan@amistadbass.com, 830-768-3648, amistadbass.com TIPS: Cooler weather has put the bass on the move, feeding around the many small islands with grassbeds nearby. Try ”silent” topwaters such as the Ribbit Frogs or soft plastic jerkbaits early. Switch to a Zara Spook or Pop R if you are not getting hit.

HILL COUNTRY

Lyndon Likes Bass & Crappie by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Barnett Cove Area GPS: N 30 35.778, W 98 23.874 (30.5963, -98.3979)

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SPECIES: Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: 0 CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: This area has a good break lines and is convenient to shallow water for crowding baitfish. Work slowly moving up and down the break lines while watching your electronics and look for schools of fish breaking the surface. Fall fishing can be one of the most productive times of year. In the fall, bass and crappie chase baitfish into the shallower water, so finding wind protected coves just might be an excellent choice. Following the cove’s creek structure, cover and secondary points should yield good results. LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake

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Texas HOTSPOTS GPS: N 29 54.414, W 98 15.0719 (29.9069, -98.2512)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: “Drop Shot: use Picasso Tungsten weights and rig on a Denali Lithium drop shot rod 7’ or Carolina Rig w/ ¾ wt., ¾ oz. Jewel Jig w/fluke trailer in Texas Craw color or Baby Brush hogs in pumpkin with a dipped chartreuse tail.” CONTACT: KC’S Bassin’ Guide Service 210-823-2153 kandie@gvtc.com www.kcbassinguide.com TIPS: Denali Rods makes the perfect Drop Shot rod. It casts a country mile and paired up with the Lews’ LFS TS series spinning reels and you are a “happy camper”! It’s a must have in one’s arsenal for fishing Canyon Lake. Good colors for this time of year are your blue flecks, June Bug and Watermelon Candy if the sun is high and bright and Green Pumpkin if overcast.

GPS: N 29 54.1739, W 98 16.14 (29.9029, -98.2690)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: 1 oz. Red Jigging Spoon CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantonioﬁshingguides.com www.sanantonioﬁshingguides.com TIPS: Fish from the point back to the swim beach casting out the spoon and try to maintain a depth of 20 to 40 feet. The Striped Bass and White Bass like to school in this area this time of year. LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Cordova Bend area GPS: N 29 53.88, W 98 18.75 (29.8980, -98.3125)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie BEST BAITS: Top water lures, spinnerbaits, square-billed crankbaits, and wackyrigged worms CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: This river bend area has lots of cover and shallows adjacent to deep water. Fall fishing can be one of the most productive times of year. In the fall, bass and crappie chase baitfish into the shallower water, so finding wind protected coves just might be an excellent choice. Following the cove’s creek structure, cover and secondary points should yield good results. LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 19.482, W 97 50.37 (30.3247, -97.8395)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Picasso spinnerbaits, Double Underspins, V&M Delta Bug, Wild Thang CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 lakeaustinfishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: November at Lake Austin can be somewhat tricky because of feeding patterns of the bass. Some days they will bite just about anything they find and some days it’s hard to get them to eat. With that in mind, I will start with Picasso spinnerbaits and Double Underspins around the docks and shallow flats. If the moving baits aren’t successful I switch over to a V&M Delta Bug or Wild Thang. I like to pay attention to how the bass eat. If they crush the bait, I know they are in a good feeding mode.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Potter’s Creek Park

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake Ridges and Trees GPS: N 30 48.798, W 98 26.184 (30.8133, -98.4364)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Striped Bass BEST BAITS: 1oz jigs or live bait CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasﬁshing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasﬁshing.com TIPS: Troll 1/2 jigs or drift live bait. Fish shallow ridges early and move out to the tops of trees later in the day. LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Garret and Shaw Islands GPS: N 30 50.352, W 98 24.7739 u TAP FOR (30.8392, -98.4129)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: “Stripers should be on the upper end of the main lake around the Garret or Shaw Island area. Also watch for gulls feeding in on the surface. Under these birds could be feeding stripers, hybrids or white bass. Just get out there and be ready to have a great time catching ﬁsh!! Some of the best catching on Lake Buchanan is this time of year!”

(29.2946, -98.3019)

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SPECIES: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Drift fishing shad close to the bottom at a depth of 15 to 25 feet in this area produces some good catches of Blue Cats. LOCATION: Choke Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 29.886, W 98 22.074 (28.4981, -98.3679)

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Punch bait, cut bait CONTACT: Charlie Brown 830-780-2162 TIPS: Fish around grass and willows in shallow water. Use a ﬂoat rigged to 3-5 feet and move to another spot if you don’t get a bite within 10-15 minutes. LOCATION: Choke Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Mason Point Area GPS: N 28 28.518, W 98 21.7739 (28.4753, -98.3629)

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SOUTH TEXAS

Calaveras Cats on a Picnic by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Calaveras Lake HOTSPOT: Picnic Point GPS: N 29 17.6759, W 98 18.114

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits in chartreuse and black patterns CONTACT: Scott Springer 361-274-4899 outﬁtterscott@yahoo.com TIPS: Choke Canyon is still over 20 feet low at the time of this report. A few T E X A S

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areas have shallow hydrilla, mostly in the Mason Point area. With the water cooling, ﬁsh should be moving into these areas. Secondary points in the Four Fingers area should be active. LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 45.054, W 97 11.5799 (28.7509, -97.1930)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Big crankbaits, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 www.coletocreekguideﬁshing.com TIPS: Fish are feeding hard, getting ready for winter. Big bulky baits can be very productive this time year. Big bass like opportunity for big bites. Shad and perch are on the menu this time of year. Find the edges of the grass and the ﬁsh will be there. LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 26 41.166, W 99 10.7759 (26.6861, -99.1796)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinner baits and plastics CONTACT: Scott Springer 361-274-4899 outﬁtterscott@yahoo.com TIPS: Water temperature will be cooling down to the 70’s and the ﬁshing should really improve. Crank baits and spinners should be players but plastics will still be your best bet.

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK NOVEMBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

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

T12

T11

T10 T9

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

T13 T7

T6 T17

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

T15 T16

T14 T18

T19

T20

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

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

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

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

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

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

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

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

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

T3 T2 T1

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below. SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species. AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours. 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. PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month. PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 min to an hr of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these pds will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Sol. Pd, expect the best action of the season.

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

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

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

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

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

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE GRAPH:

Yellow: Daylight

Tab: Peak Fishing Period Green: Falling Tide

12a

12p

12a

AM/PM Timeline

Light Blue: Nighttime

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Gold Fish: Best Time

Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

Blue Fish: Good Time

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY:

AM PM MINOR Minor: 1:20a Minor: 1:45p Feeding Periods AM PM (+/- 1.5 Hrs.) Major: 7:32a Major: 7:57p Time Moon is at its Moon Overhead: 8:50a Highest Point in the Sky 12a

AM/PM Timeline

88 |

12p

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

N O V E M B E R

ALMANAC-1511-NovDIG.indd 88

MAJOR Feeding Periods (+/- 2 Hrs.)

12a

Time Moon is Directly Underfoot (at its peak on opposite side of the earth)

2 0 1 5

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

10/29/15 2:10 PM

SYMBOL KEY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day NOVEMBER 2015 n = Best Day FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY DIGITAL EXTRA Tap for Customized Tide Charts

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

26 «

Tides and Prime Times

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

27 «

THURSDAY

28 ¡

29 «

Oct 31

30 «

Nov 1

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 4:28a

PM Minor: 4:56p

AM Minor: 5:23a

PM Minor: 5:51p

AM Minor: 6:21a

PM Minor: 6:50p

AM Minor: 7:23a

PM Minor: 7:52p

AM Minor: 8:27a

PM Minor: 8:56p

AM Minor: 9:30a

PM Minor: 9:57p

AM Minor: 10:29a

PM Minor: 10:56p

AM Major: 10:42a

PM Major: 11:10p

AM Major: 11:37a

PM Major: -----

AM Major: 12:07a

PM Major: 12:36p

AM Major: 1:09a

PM Major: 1:38p

AM Major: 2:13a

PM Major: 2:41p

AM Major: 3:16a

PM Major: 3:43p

AM Major: 4:16a

PM Major: 4:43p

Moon Overhead: None 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 1:50a

Moon Overhead: 12:53a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 2:48a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:42a

Moon Overhead: 3:46a 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Sunrise: 7:26a Set: 6:39p Sunrise: 7:27a Set: 6:38p Sunrise: 7:28a Set: 6:37p Sunrise: 7:28a Set: 6:36p Sunrise: 7:29a Set: 6:35p Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 6:34p Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 6:34p Moonrise: 6:21p Set: 6:22a Moonrise: 7:08p Set: 7:30a Moonrise: 7:58p Set: 8:36a Moonrise: 8:50p Set: 9:41a Moonrise: 9:45p Set: 10:43a Moonrise: 10:40p Set: 11:40a Moonrise: 11:36p Set: 12:31p

Moon Overhead: 5:37a 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 12:24p

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 12:30 — 2:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 3:17p BEST: 1:00 — 3:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 4:14p

Moon Underfoot: 5:10p

BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 AM

BEST: 8:30 — 10:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 6:03p

High Tide 3:07 AM Low Tide 9:37 AM High Tide 4:42 PM Low Tide 10:13 PM

+2.0

BEST: 9:00 — 11:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST: 6:00 — 8:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 2:19p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST: 5:00 — 7:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 1:21p

1.62 ft 0.34 ft 1.80 ft 1.09 ft

High Tide 3:32 AM Low Tide 10:22 AM High Tide 5:47 PM Low Tide 11:06 PM

1.63 ft 0.13 ft 1.86 ft 1.25 ft

High Tide 3:58 AM Low Tide 11:09 AM High Tide 6:52 PM Low Tide 11:59 PM

1.64 ft High Tide 4:26 AM 1.64 ft Low Tide 12:58 AM -0.02 ft Low Tide 11:58 AM -0.08 ft High Tide 4:53 AM 1.87 ft High Tide 7:58 PM 1.85 ft Low Tide 12:49 PM 1.39 ft High Tide 9:06 PM

T E X A S

ALMANAC-1511-NovDIG.indd 89

F I S H

G A M E ®

1.49 ft 1.62 ft -0.06 ft 1.81 ft

Low Tide 2:17 AM High Tide 5:15 AM Low Tide 1:44 PM High Tide 10:15 PM

1.54 ft Low Tide 1:43 PM 0.16 ft 1.58 ft High Tide 10:21 PM 1.70 ft 0.02 ft 1.75 ft

N O V E M B E R

2 0 1 5

+1.0

-1.0

10/29/15 2:10 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

TUESDAY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

4»

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day NOVEMBER 2015 n = Best Day FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

Set: 5:32p Sunrise: 6:33a Set: 5:31p Sunrise: 6:34a Set: 5:30p Sunrise: 6:34a Set: 5:30p Sunrise: 6:35a Set: 5:29p Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 5:28p Set: 12:59p Moonrise: 12:26a Set: 1:38p Moonrise: 1:18a Set: 2:13p Moonrise: 2:10a Set: 2:48p Moonrise: 3:01a Set: 3:21p Moonrise: 3:52a Set: 3:55p

AM Minor: 10:24a

PM Minor: 10:50p

AM Minor: 11:15a

PM Minor: 11:38p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:00p

AM Minor: 12:20a

PM Minor: 12:42p

AM Minor: 12:59a

PM Minor: 1:20p

AM Minor: 1:37a

PM Minor: 1:58p

AM Minor: 2:14a

PM Minor: 2:35p

AM Major: 4:12a

PM Major: 4:37p

AM Major: 5:03a

PM Major: 5:27p

AM Major: 5:49a

PM Major: 6:11p

AM Major: 6:31a

PM Major: 6:53p

AM Major: 7:10a

PM Major: 7:31p

AM Major: 7:47a

PM Major: 8:08p

AM Major: 8:24a

PM Major: 8:46p

Moon Overhead: 5:28a 6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 7:04a

Moon Overhead: 6:17a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 7:48a

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 9:13a

Moon Overhead: 8:31a

12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Sunrise: 6:31a Set: 5:33p Sunrise: 6:32a Moonrise: 11:32p Set: 12:17p Moonrise: None

12a

Tides and Prime Times

SYMBOL KEY

Moon Overhead: 9:56a 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 5:53p

+2.0

BEST: 12:00 — 2:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 8:10p

BEST: 1:00 — 3:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 8:52p

BEST: 2:00 — 4:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:34p

Moon Underfoot: 10:17p

BEST: BEST: 10:30P — 12:00A 11:00A — 1:00P

+2.0

BEST: 4:00 — 6:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST: 11:00A — 1:00p

Moon Underfoot: 7:26p

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 6:41p

Low Tide 2:48 PM 0.31 ft Low Tide 6:49 AM High Tide 11:15 PM 1.64 ft High Tide 7:54 AM Low Tide 3:58 PM High Tide 11:56 PM

MONDAY

1.28 ft Low Tide 6:55 AM 1.16 ft High Tide 12:25 AM 1.29 ft High Tide 10:03 AM 1.24 ft Low Tide 7:14 AM 0.46 ft Low Tide 5:08 PM 0.60 ft High Tide 11:38 AM 1.58 ft Low Tide 6:10 PM

TUESDAY

9«

WEDNESDAY

10 «

1.53 ft 1.02 ft 1.26 ft 0.73 ft

THURSDAY

11 l

High Tide 12:48 AM Low Tide 7:33 AM High Tide 12:54 PM Low Tide 7:02 PM

1.48 ft 0.88 ft 1.32 ft 0.85 ft

FRIDAY

12 «

High Tide 1:07 AM Low Tide 7:51 AM High Tide 1:56 PM Low Tide 7:45 PM

1.45 ft 0.74 ft 1.39 ft 0.97 ft

SATURDAY

13 «

High Tide 1:25 AM Low Tide 8:10 AM High Tide 2:49 PM Low Tide 8:20 PM

SUNDAY

14 «

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

PM Minor: 3:14p

AM Minor: 3:33a

PM Minor: 3:55p

AM Minor: 4:16a

PM Minor: 4:39p

AM Minor: 5:03a

PM Minor: 5:27p

AM Minor: 5:54a

PM Minor: 6:19p

AM Minor: 6:49a

PM Minor: 7:14p

AM Minor: 7:45a

PM Minor: 8:11p

AM Major: 9:03a

PM Major: 9:25p

AM Major: 9:44a

PM Major: 10:06p

AM Major: 10:28a

PM Major: 10:51p

AM Major: 10:48a

PM Major: -----

AM Major: 11:38a

PM Major: 12:07p

AM Major: 12:36a

PM Major: 1:01p

AM Major: 1:32a

PM Major: 1:58p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 12:09p

12a

12p

12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 2:36p

Moon Overhead: 1:46p

Moon Overhead: 12:57p 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 2:52a

Moon Overhead: 11:23a

Moon Overhead: 3:28p 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 11:01p

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 4:00 — 6:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: None

Moon Underfoot: 12:33a

BEST: 4:30 — 6:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 1:21a

BEST: 5:00 — 7:00 AM

BEST: 5:30 — 7:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 2:11a BEST: 6:00 — 8:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 3:02a

+2.0

BEST: 7:00 — 9:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST: 3:00 — 5:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 11:46p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

-1.0

1.44 ft 0.60 ft 1.46 ft 1.07 ft

Sunrise: 6:37a Set: 5:28p Sunrise: 6:38a Set: 5:27p Sunrise: 6:38a Set: 5:27p Sunrise: 6:39a Set: 5:26p Sunrise: 6:40a Set: 5:25p Sunrise: 6:41a Set: 5:25p Sunrise: 6:42a Set: 5:24p Moonrise: 4:43a Set: 4:30p Moonrise: 5:36a Set: 5:07p Moonrise: 6:29a Set: 5:46p Moonrise: 7:22a Set: 6:29p Moonrise: 8:16a Set: 7:15p Moonrise: 9:08a Set: 8:04p Moonrise: 10:00a Set: 8:57p

Moon Overhead: 10:39a

+1.0

High Tide 1:42 AM Low Tide 8:31 AM High Tide 3:37 PM Low Tide 8:52 PM

1.44 ft 0.47 ft 1.52 ft 1.15 ft

High Tide 1:59 AM Low Tide 8:56 AM High Tide 4:22 PM Low Tide 9:22 PM

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

1.45 ft 0.36 ft 1.57 ft 1.23 ft

High Tide 2:15 AM Low Tide 9:24 AM High Tide 5:07 PM Low Tide 9:54 PM

1.46 ft 0.26 ft 1.61 ft 1.29 ft

High Tide 2:27 AM Low Tide 9:55 AM High Tide 5:54 PM Low Tide 10:29 PM

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

LOW

KEY

Sabine Bank Lighthouse -1:46

-1:31

Galveston Channel/Bays

Sabine Pass Jetty

-1:26

-1:31

Sabine Pass

-1:00

-1:15

Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass -0:04

-0:25

Galveston Bay, S. Jetty -0:39

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the T4 Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine T5 the adjustment from the time shown for GALVES- T6 TON CHANNEL in the calendars.

Port Bolivar

PLACE

1.46 ft 0.18 ft 1.63 ft 1.35 ft

HIGH

LOW

High Tide 2:34 AM Low Tide 10:30 AM High Tide 6:44 PM Low Tide 11:09 PM

1.47 ft 0.12 ft 1.64 ft 1.41 ft

High Tide 2:33 AM Low Tide 11:07 AM High Tide 7:38 PM Low Tide 11:57 PM

HIGH

LOW

1.48 ft High Tide 2:31 AM 1.48 ft 0.09 ft Low Tide 11:49 AM 0.08 ft 1.65 ft High Tide 8:33 PM 1.64 ft 1.45 ft

KEY

PLACE

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

LOW

T12

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay +5:48 +4:43

T18

San Luis Pass

-0.09

Texas City Turning Basin+0:33 +0:41

T13

Gilchrist, East Bay

+3:16 +4:18

T19

Freeport Harbor

-0:44

-1:02

Eagle Point

+3:54 +4:15

T14

Jamaica Beach, W. Bay+2:38 +3:31

T20

Pass Cavallo

0:00

-1:20

Clear Lake

+6:05 +6:40

T15

Alligator Point, W. Bay +2:39 +2:33

T21

Aransas Pass

-0:03

-1:31

-1:05

T10

Morgans Point

+10:21 +5:19

T16

Christmas Pt

T22

Padre Island (So. End) -0:24

-1:45

+0:14 -0:06

T11

Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39 +5:15

T17

Galveston Pleasure Pier -1:06

T23

Port Isabel

+2:32 +2:31 -1:06

+1.0

-1.0

+1:02 -0:42

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION 90 |

N O V E M B E R

ALMANAC-1511-NovDIG.indd 90

2 0 1 5

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

10/29/15 2:10 PM

ALMANAC-1511-NovDIG.indd 91

10/29/15 2:10 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day NOVEMBER 2015 n = Best Day FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

Tides and Prime Times

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

18 º

SYMBOL KEY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 8:43a

PM Minor: 9:09p

AM Minor: 9:40a

PM Minor: 10:06p

AM Minor: 10:36a

PM Minor: 11:02p

AM Minor: 11:29a

PM Minor: 11:55p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:20p

AM Minor: 12:42a

PM Minor: 1:08p

AM Minor: 1:29a

PM Minor: 1:56p

AM Major: 2:30a

PM Major: 2:56p

AM Major: 3:27a

PM Major: 3:53p

AM Major: 4:23a

PM Major: 4:49p

AM Major: 5:16a

PM Major: 5:42p

AM Major: 6:07a

PM Major: 6:33p

AM Major: 6:55a

PM Major: 7:22p

AM Major: 7:43a

PM Major: 8:10p

Moon Overhead: 4:20p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:05p

Moon Overhead: 5:13p 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:58p 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 8:44p

Moon Overhead: 7:50p 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Sunrise: 6:43a Set: 5:24p Sunrise: 6:43a Set: 5:23p Sunrise: 6:44a Set: 5:23p Sunrise: 6:45a Set: 5:23p Sunrise: 6:46a Set: 5:22p Sunrise: 6:47a Set: 5:22p Sunrise: 6:48a Set: 5:22p Moonrise: 10:49a Set: 9:54p Moonrise: 11:36a Set: 10:53p Moonrise: 12:21p Set: 11:54p Moonrise: 1:04p Set: None Moonrise: 1:47p Set: 12:56a Moonrise: 2:29p Set: 2:00a Moonrise: 3:12p Set: 3:04a

Moon Overhead: 9:38p 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 3:54a

+2.0

BEST: 9:00 — 11:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 6:32a

BEST: 10:00A — 12:00P

Moon Underfoot: 7:24a

BEST: 12:00 — 2:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 8:17a

BEST: 12:30 — 2:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 9:11a

+2.0

BEST: BEST: 1:30 — 3:30 PM 2:00 — 4:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 5:39a

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 4:47a

Low Tide 1:07 AM High Tide 2:26 AM Low Tide 12:34 PM High Tide 9:25 PM

1.46 ft Low Tide 1:26 PM 0.17 ft Low Tide 2:24 PM 0.27 ft Low Tide 6:10 AM 1.46 ft High Tide 10:11 PM 1.59 ft High Tide 10:48 PM 1.54 ft High Tide 8:25 AM 0.10 ft Low Tide 3:29 PM 1.62 ft High Tide 11:19 PM

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

24 «

1.10 ft 1.11 ft 0.41 ft 1.48 ft

THURSDAY

25 «

Low Tide 5:54 AM High Tide 10:53 AM Low Tide 4:40 PM High Tide 11:46 PM

0.87 ft Low Tide 6:22 AM 0.59 ft High Tide 12:12 AM 1.12 ft High Tide 12:32 PM 1.23 ft Low Tide 6:59 AM 0.58 ft Low Tide 5:53 PM 0.75 ft High Tide 1:52 PM 1.43 ft Low Tide 7:03 PM

FRIDAY

26 ¡

SATURDAY

27 «

SUNDAY

28 «

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

PM Minor: 2:45p

AM Minor: 3:07a

PM Minor: 3:35p

AM Minor: 4:01a

PM Minor: 4:30p

AM Minor: 4:59a

PM Minor: 5:27p

AM Minor: 5:59a

PM Minor: 6:27p

AM Minor: 7:00a

PM Minor: 7:28p

AM Minor: 8:00a

PM Minor: 8:27p

AM Major: 8:31a

PM Major: 8:58p

AM Major: 9:21a

PM Major: 9:50p

AM Major: 10:15a

PM Major: 10:44p

AM Major: 11:13a

PM Major: 11:42p

AM Major: -----

PM Major: 12:13p

AM Major: 12:46a

PM Major: 1:14p

AM Major: 1:47a

PM Major: 2:14p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: None

12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 12:28a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 2:22a

Moon Overhead: 1:26a 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 2:17a

Moon Overhead: 11:30p

Moon Overhead: 3:17a 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 10:06a

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 3:30 — 5:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 11:59a BEST: 4:30 — 6:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 12:57p

Moon Underfoot: 1:54p

BEST: 12:00 — 2:00 AM

BEST: 5:30 — 7:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 2:50p BEST: 6:30 — 8:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 3:43p BEST: 9:00 — 11:00 PM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST: 3:00 — 5:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 11:02a

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

-1.0

1.40 ft 0.30 ft 1.37 ft 0.91 ft

Sunrise: 6:48a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 6:49a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 6:50a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 6:51a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 5:20p Moonrise: 3:57p Set: 4:09a Moonrise: 4:45p Set: 5:15a Moonrise: 5:35p Set: 6:20a Moonrise: 6:29p Set: 7:24a Moonrise: 7:25p Set: 8:24a Moonrise: 8:22p Set: 9:19a Moonrise: 9:19p Set: 10:09a

Moon Overhead: 10:34p

+1.0

High Tide 12:37 AM Low Tide 7:40 AM High Tide 3:01 PM Low Tide 8:08 PM

1.40 ft 0.02 ft 1.50 ft 1.06 ft

High Tide 1:04 AM Low Tide 8:24 AM High Tide 4:04 PM Low Tide 9:07 PM

1.41 ft -0.22 ft 1.59 ft 1.17 ft

High Tide 1:33 AM Low Tide 9:09 AM High Tide 5:03 PM Low Tide 10:02 PM

1.43 ft -0.38 ft 1.63 ft 1.26 ft

High Tide 2:05 AM Low Tide 9:55 AM High Tide 6:00 PM Low Tide 10:57 PM

1.43 ft -0.45 ft 1.63 ft 1.30 ft

High Tide 2:39 AM Low Tide 10:42 AM High Tide 6:55 PM Low Tide 11:56 PM

1.42 ft High Tide 3:13 AM 1.37 ft Low Tide 1:13 AM -0.45 ft Low Tide 11:29 AM -0.37 ft High Tide 3:47 AM 1.59 ft High Tide 7:48 PM 1.53 ft Low Tide 12:18 PM High Tide 8:39 PM 1.30 ft

1.27 ft 1.29 ft -0.23 ft 1.46 ft

+2.0

+1.0

-1.0

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

92 |

N O V E M B E R

ALMANAC-1511-NovDIG.indd 92

2 0 1 5

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

10/29/15 2:10 PM

SYMBOL KEY

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

Dec 1

Tides and Prime Times WEDNESDAY

Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:55a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:56a Moonrise: 10:15p Set: 10:54a Moonrise: 11:09p Set: 11:35a Moonrise: None

3»

Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:58a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:59a Set: 5:20p Set: 12:12p Moonrise: 12:02a Set: 12:48p Moonrise: 12:54a Set: 1:22p Moonrise: 1:45a Set: 1:55p Moonrise: 2:36a Set: 2:30p

AM Minor: 8:58a

PM Minor: 9:23p

AM Minor: 9:51a

PM Minor: 10:15p

AM Minor: 10:40a

PM Minor: 11:02p

AM Minor: 11:25a

PM Minor: 11:46p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:06p

AM Minor: 12:24a

PM Minor: 12:45p

AM Minor: 1:02a

PM Minor: 1:24p

AM Major: 2:45a

PM Major: 3:10p

AM Major: 3:39a

PM Major: 4:03p

AM Major: 4:29a

PM Major: 4:51p

AM Major: 5:14a

PM Major: 5:35p

AM Major: 5:56a

PM Major: 6:17p

AM Major: 6:35a

PM Major: 6:56p

AM Major: 7:13a

PM Major: 7:34p

Moon Overhead: 4:08a 12a

THURSDAY

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:43a

Moon Overhead: 4:57a 12a

12p

12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 6:27a 12a

12p

Moon Overhead: 7:52a

Moon Overhead: 7:10a 12a

12p

12a

12p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Nov 30

TUESDAY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day NOVEMBER 2015 n = Best Day FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY DIGITAL EXTRA Tap for Customized Tide Charts

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

Moon Overhead: 8:35a 12a

12p

12a

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 4:33p

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 10:00A — 12:00P

Moon Underfoot: 6:49p BEST: 11:00A — 1:00P

Moon Underfoot: 7:31p BEST: 7:30 — 9:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 8:13p

Moon Underfoot: 8:56p

+2.0

BEST: BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 PM 1:00 — 3:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

BEST: 9:00 — 11:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 6:05p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 5:20p

Low Tide 3:27 AM High Tide 4:13 AM Low Tide 1:07 PM High Tide 9:27 PM

1.18 ft Low Tide 1:57 PM 0.12 ft Low Tide 5:38 AM 1.18 ft High Tide 10:07 PM 1.31 ft High Tide 7:52 AM -0.06 ft Low Tide 2:50 PM 1.38 ft High Tide 10:41 PM

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0.90 ft 0.93 ft 0.32 ft 1.24 ft

Low Tide 6:04 AM High Tide 9:52 AM Low Tide 3:49 PM High Tide 11:09 PM

0.75 ft 0.87 ft 0.50 ft 1.19 ft

Low Tide 6:29 AM High Tide 11:35 AM Low Tide 4:52 PM High Tide 11:33 PM

0.59 ft 0.90 ft 0.66 ft 1.16 ft

Low Tide 6:52 AM High Tide 1:00 PM Low Tide 5:57 PM High Tide 11:54 PM

0.43 ft Low Tide 7:14 AM 0.98 ft High Tide 2:07 PM 0.79 ft Low Tide 6:55 PM 1.15 ft

0.28 ft 1.07 ft 0.89 ft

+1.0

-1.0

10/29/15 2:10 PM

Texas TASTED by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Venison Medallions

ACKSTRAP OF VENISON IS a delicacy and should be treated as such in preparation. This recipe allows for maximum flavor while keeping the meat moist, I hope you enjoy with family and friends.

Ingredients 1 backstrap of venison- 2-3 pounds 1 lb portabello mushrooms- sliced thin 1 red bell pepper-sliced thin 1 yellow bell pepper-sliced thin 1 t fresh or dried basil leaves 3 t olive oil 3 cloves garlic-minced 2 t brined green peppercorns 2 cups shiraz wine (or a good red of your choice) 2 t brown sugar ½ jar Texas Gourmet jalapeno kiwi jelly 1-14 oz. can beef broth 2 t soy sauce 1 t thyme leaves crushed sea salt pepper to taste Beef tenderloin may be used as a substitute for the venison. Be sure to remove any membrane or silver skin. Cut meat into 1 1/2 inch thick steaks.

Preparation GENTLY RUB STEAKS WITH OLIVE oil, 1 t minced garlic, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper in that order. Place the steaks on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and place back in refrigerator for 45 minutes to one hour. 94 |

N O V E M B E R

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Venison Medallions with a Cabernet/Green Peppercorn Reduction Sauce

Pour 2 cups of wine into a sauce pot, add green peppercorns, brown sugar, soy sauce, beef broth, texas gourmet jalapeno kiwi jelly and thyme. Cook over low heat, uncovered until original amount is reduced to ¾ of a cup, approx 45 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside for later.

For the peppers and mushrooms PLACE A STICK OF BUTTER IN A skillet {heavy cast iron if available} over medium heat until melted. Add 1 t minced garlic, saute, stirring often until clear, add mushrooms and peppers. Stir to coat with butter, add basil, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to simmer and cover for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

GRILL VENISON MEDALLIONS INDIrectly over a hot fire for 4-6 minutes, turning once. Remove from heat to a platter and cover for 5 to 8 minutes with a piece of foil to rest the meat. REHEAT MUSHROOMS AND REDUCtion sauce. Ladle 2-3 t of sauce in center of heated plate, arrange 2 medallions over the sauce, serve with the mushroom and pepper medly. Bon appetit!

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

10/29/15 2:10 PM

TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS SALTWATER

HUNTING

LAKE AMISTAD

UPPER TEXAS COAST

SOUTH TEXAS

MIDDLE TEXAS COAST

DFW METROPLEX

LAKE TEXOMA

NEW 2016 EDITION OUTDOOR SHOPPER

Happy Turkey Day! NOW AVAILABLE www.FishandGameGear.com T E X A S

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F I S H

G A M E 速

N O V E M B E R

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10/29/15 2:10 PM

WHITETAIL Concho County Thirteen-yearold Kaitlyn Weidemann took this nice buck with her dad near Eden in Concho County, using her trusty .243 riﬂe.

LARGEMOUTH BASS Magnolia Twelve-year-old Christian Jensen caught four nice largemouth bass and two good sized bluegill perch while ﬁshing at a friend’s farm pond near Magnolia with his Granddad, Mike Burks.

REDFISH Port O’Connor Coy LaBuhn caught this 27.5-inch redfish while fishing at Port O’Connor. This was his first redfish.

REDFISH Sabine Bill White caught and released this 39.5-inch redﬁsh while ﬁshing at Battleground Park in Sabine.

SPECKLED TROUT Lower Laguna Madre

N O V E M B E R

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Lower Laguna Madre

Greens Lake

Travis Rozacky caught this 28.5-inch, 7-pound speckled trout on a lure while ﬁshing the Lower Laguna Madre with Capt. Kevin Cochran and friends.

96 |

SPECKLED TROUT

REDFISH

Hector Guerra caught this 33-inch speckled trout in the Laguna Madre Channel. The speck weighed over 10 pounds.

Camryn Smith caught this 21 inch redﬁsh in Green’s Lake.

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

10/29/15 2:10 PM

MAIL TO: TFG PHOTOS 1745 Greens Rd, Houston TX 77032

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

NOTE: Print photos can not be returned.

EMAIL: photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital ﬁles only, please.

BLACK DRUM BASS

Baffin Bay Twelve-year-old Aidan Cardona caught and released this 40-inch black drum at Starvation Point on Baffin Bay, using green shrimp Fishbites. His party caught and released five oversized drum, but still limited out within two hours.

Navasota Four-year-old Gage Kennedy of Santa Fe, Texas shows off his first fish caught all by himself on an artificial lure. He caught the bass in his Pa Pa’s farm pond near Navasota.

MULLETT Galveston Six-year-old Anna Fling caught this “world record” mullet using a hook and dead shrimp at Sea Isle in Galveston.

BLACKBUCK San Saba County Debbie Palermo harvested her ﬁrst blackbuck while hunting on the Buck Horn Ranch in San Saba County. She used a 6MM.

WHITETAIL South Texas Adrian Trevino of Edinburg shot this 8-point buck with his late grandfather’s .30-06 Springﬁeld.

T E X A S

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F I S H

G A M E ®

N O V E M B E R

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