Fishing Annual 2024

PULLING THE TRIGGER ON THAT NEW BOAT

OKUMA’S INSPIRA ISX

IGNITES REVOLUTION IN

SPINNING REEL INNOVATION

Inspira ISX spinning reels are constructed using Okuma’s Torsion Control Armor (TCA) technology. Compared to traditional single side designs, TCA uses C-40X carbon fiber and a double arm design to offer higher torsion and flex resistance under heavy pressure. This in turn makes the Inspira ISX stronger and keeps your internals in perfect alignment.

Inspira ISX also boasts Okuma’s Proprietary Flite Drive system that enhances gear stability and smoothness. It features a multi-disc carbonite and stainless-steel drag washer system, 8BB+1RB stainless steel bearings, and a Quick-Set antireverse roller bearing that enables quick and easy hooksets.

Starting at 7.1 ounces, the Inspira ISX puts out up to 24-lbs. of maximum drag. An oversized HDG-II main gear with a machine-cut brass pinion gear ensures supreme reliability. The reel also utilizes a machined aluminum screw-in handle design and lightweight, TPE handle knobs for maximum comfort while out on the water. The reel showcases an extra-light, machined aluminum, braided line-ready spool equipped with a rubber spool band to prevent line slippage. A heavy-duty, solid aluminum bail wire ensures smooth line management and casting performance.

There are four total high-speed models within the Inspira ISX lineup of spinning reels. The 2000 and 3000 sizes all feature 6.0:1 standard gear ratio, while the 4000 and 5000 models feature a 6.2:1 gear ratio.

KEY FEATURES:

KEY FEATURES:

Premium Digital Timer with 5 Year Warranty

Premium Digital Timer with 5 Year Warranty

Dual motors and a patented high velocity air

Dual motors and a patented high velocity air

of

or

or

FROM WORK TO PLAY

WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

PULLING THE TRIGGER ON THAT NEW BOAT

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

The time has come. You’ve always wanted one, but it was never in the cards. Now you’re willing to bite the bullet.

You’re buying a new boat.

You’ve worked hard for years, maybe decades. Your career is established and items like family, housing and vehicles are settled. You even have the place to store it.

It’s time to pull the trigger, even though you know the price tag may be more than your first house.

A few years ago, you noticed new boats were few and far between. That has changed. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, inventories are back up as boat sales cooled slightly from the pandemic-induced frenzy, and manufacturers have caught up. Boats are available, some coming with promotions and discounts.

You’re a member of a bass club and regularly fish tournaments. You’re intrigued by Skeeter’s available incentive programs that pay anglers for placing, even in smaller, local or regional events with as few as 30 total anglers; and with interest rates up, the financing and/or discount promotions that end March 31.

There are a host of decisions to be made, beyond whether to go fiberglass vs. aluminum, or two-stroke vs. four-stroke.

From outboard horsepower to Power-Poles and batteries, you’ve done your homework.

And then there are the electronics. You’re going all in, and you’ve factored in the cost of forward facing sonar and the lithium battery to go with it to make sure you can keep fishing all day.

Now, you’re headed to the dealer to make a decision. Your nearly lifelong goal is being achieved.

You’re getting that new boat.

Skeeter Boats

TEST THE SAWGRASS FISHING RODS

By David J. Sams Lone Star outdoor newS

There are a lot of choices when it comes to buying a fishing rod, and my aging collection was ready for an update. There is a made-inTexas rod company mak ing some waves in the rod building industry, and I went to their office in Dal las to take a look.

Manager Collins Illich showed me around the Sawgrass warehouse and put five different rods in my hand. The first rod re minded me of a favorite, with super strength in the backbone and a sensitive, light tip. I commented it felt exactly like my old G. Loomis GLX. Illich had a big smile on his face.

“Just keep looking and let me show you some more rods,” he said.

Later, I was out the door with a few new additions to my collection, and I couldn’t wait to cast one of them.

The first one I picked up was a Bois D’Arc 7‘3“ ML (medium light action) Spinning Rod ($499.95), and I spooled it with 12-pound mono. On the second cast on a West Texas pond, I hooked and landed my first bass. After two hours of fishing, I had landed 14 bass and one bluegill, caught on various weights and sizes of lures.

I threw a heavy buzzbait, an ultralight stick bait and a small spinner bait — all into a 1520 mph wind with no issues.

The smaller stick bait and spinner bait were working the best in the farm pond as the bass were slow with their strike, as the water is still very cool in West Texas. Of the 14 bass, seven of them were 6-8 inches long, and I could feel them hit with the same sensation as if you were using braided line because of the super sensitive light action of the rod. With the larger fish, I had plenty of backbone to horse them in.

Bois D’Arc bass rods are made with North Fork Composites HM blanks, REC components and premium cork. You will know if it’s grass, if you are coming through hardwoods, or if it’s a fish. The rods are covered by Sawgrass’ limited lifetime warranty.

Illich has found his calling with this new rod company. You can order the rods online at sawgrassrods.com or go by their shop for happy hour on the second Thursday of each month. They have plenty of beer and you can handle all the rods they offer for sale.

Fishing for Willacy County students

Mark your calendar for Memorial Day weekend, beginning Friday, May 24. The 2024 Young Farmers Fishing Tournament is coming back to Port Mansfield, so get your gear ready for the annual event held that awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to graduating high school students from Willacy County and to a number of nonprofit organizations.

Other proceeds from the annual event go to youngsters and teenagers who enter show animals in the local Livestock Show and Fair. Last year, more than $7,800 was distributed as add-ons to the nearly 180 students who participated in the premium sale. The tournament, which began 40 years ago, includes three categories — the Piggy, Bay and Offshore divisions. There also will be a live and a silent auction, an award ceremony, music and plenty of camaraderie.

Email johnj_butler@yahoo.com for more information or keep an eye on the Willacy County Young Farmers Facebook page for a link to get signed up.

WILLACY COUNTY YOUNG FARMERS

FACEBOOK.COM/P/WILLACYCOUNTY-YOUNG-FARMERS

David J. Sams

THE BEST FISHING IN THE WORLD, AND MORE

Tropic Star Lodge, nestled in the pristine Darien jungle of Piñas Bay, Panama, stands as a beacon for anglers seeking the ultimate fishing adventure. Celebrated for hosting more IGFA fishing world records than any other resort, its location, a mere 150 miles southeast of Panama City, offers direct access to some of the world’s most fertile fishing grounds, with the Zane Grey reef just 20 minutes away.

This remote paradise is famed for its rich variety of game fish, including black marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, dorado, roosterfish, yellowfin tuna and cubera snapper, attracting enthusiasts globally.

Beyond the unparalleled fishing, Tropic Star Lodge offers a luxurious escape, with accommodations ranging from classic double-occupancy rooms to fourbedroom villas, offering stunning modern architecture and breathtaking views. The resort’s culinary delights promise a journey from the Bayview Restaurant to the casual Marlin Bar and the enchanting Jungle Pool.

Tropic Star is privately owned, with a dedicated team taking care of every aspect of your trip, making a visit to the lodge a highly personal and memorable experience.

Tropic Star is and always will be a fishing destination, but beyond that — it’s an invitation to immerse in a world of adventure and relaxation. The lodge’s rich history, shore-side activities, and Rainforest Spa provide a harmonious blend of excitement and tranquility, ensuring that every guest experiences the essence of paradise. Whether it’s the thrill of the catch, the allure of the jungle, or the simple joy of luxury in a remote setting, Tropic Star Lodge delivers an unmatched adventure that starts the moment you arrive.

☎

YOUR NEXT FISHING STORY STARTS HERE.

TROPIC STAR LODGE HAS BEEN PROVIDING ANGLERS WITH WORLD-CLASS FISHING ADVENTURES SINCE 1963. OVER 60 YEARS OF ROD-BENDING, RECORD-BREAKING, & THRILL-SEEKING SHARED WITH AVID ANGLERS LIKE YOU.

Located in Piñas Bay, Panama , Tropic Star Lodge is a full-service fishing resort that caters to anglers of all skill levels. With a world-class team, an impressive fleet, and a luxurious resort offering - it is an ideal spot for intensive fishing expeditions, family getaways, special milestone celebrations, or the pursuit of your next record catch.

With 3 seasons from November - September , anglers head to Tropic Star for coveted trophy fish such as Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, & Monster Dorado amongst other offshore species, as well as 15+ inshore species, including Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper and Bluefin Trevally.

Visit us Jan - Feb for highly targeted Black Marlin fishing, March - May for massive inshore variety, and June - September / November - December for the best of both inshore and offshore fishing, depending on your species wish list.

ONE TRIP TO CATCH THEM ALL! START PLANNING YOUR TROPIC STAR ADVENTURE TODAY.

CONTACT US ON BOOK@TROPICSTAR.NET OR 800-682-3424 OR BY CREATING A TRIP PLAN ON OUR WEBSITE AT TROPICSTAR.COM

WHEN BOOKING, ASK ABOUT THE LONESTAR DEAL AND YOU’LL GET YOUR PANAMA CITY HOTEL STAY ON US.

NUMBER ONE FOR MANY REASONS

history and heritage of Skeeter Boats. For over 75 years, generations of anglers have trusted Skeeter for their best fishing memories. Our production process uses advanced manufacturing techniques and materials, many of which were first used in aerospace applications. Skeeter’s X-Treme and EX-Cell composite construction ensure a smooth, dry and safe trip to your favorite fishing hole.

Skeeter’s goal, to build boats that are engineered like no other, permeates everything we do — from our design and manufacturing methods to the courtesy we extend each time you walk into a dealership. From no-corners-cut construction all the way to the winner’s circle, Skeeter’s pursuit of perfection is evident in the bestengineered bass boats on the water today.

“I make my living on the water and for my entire professional career I have trusted Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Outboards to help me achieve success,” said Bassmaster Elite Series pro and two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk. “My Skeeter is engineered for performance.”

At Skeeter, our focus is on our customer. With 22 consecutive National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) Customer Service awards to our credit, no matter if you are fishing a tournament, fishing for fun or taking the family out for the day to ski and swim, our focus is on you.

Skeeter was the name on the first US Coast Guard-approved bass boat. Many other industry firsts include the first V-Hull pad design, the first Sponson hull concept, the first production bass boat and much more. At Skeeter we boast a full line of bass boats from our 18’ and 19’ models in the ZX line, to our most popular ZXR models to our top-of-the line FXR Apex and limited models, we have your bass boat needs met.

The Deep-V Line includes boats for fishing and play. While our WX and WXR lines are your work-hard boats, designed for the roughest of waters and fishing conditions, our Solera models give you the flexibility to play a little more when the fishing day is done.

Finally, the Skeeter saltwater lineup of center console bay boats are easily the bestriding bay boats on the market. With models from 21’ to 24’6” we have you covered for all your inshore and close-to-shore offshore fishing needs.

With the new model year approaching this summer, at Skeeter we have plans to update many of the current models you see on our dealer’s showroom floor or out on the water, and continue our tradition of building boats that are engineered like no other to the next level.

To learn more about Skeeter boats, you can log on to Skeeterboats.com or scan the QR Code. Follow us on all major social media platforms as well.

SKEETER BOATS SKEETERBOATS.COM

Big bass bonanza

Thirteen largemouth bass weighing more than 13 pounds were registered with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in its ShareLunker program as of March 15.

Most of the lunkers were caught after the fish were spotted using forward facing sonar, including the largemouth caught by 11-year-old Stetson Davis, of Tuttle, Oklahoma, who landed a 13.31-pound largemouth, topping the junior angler waterbody record for largemouth bass by more than 5 pounds. Davis joined his father, Brodey, who landed a 17.06-pounder from O.H. Ivie in 2022, in the record books.

Some new lakes joined the party this year, with J.B. Thomas Reservoir, in Scurry County, Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir near Abilene and Inks Lake in the Hill Country producing 13-pound-plus lunkers.

Lawrence Lee of Temple reeled in ShareLunker 651 on Jan. 17 to kick off the 2024 collection season and became the first ever Legacy Class fish from J.B. Thomas. It registered 13.79 pounds, measured 24.25 inches and set a new waterbody record for largemouth bass.

Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir, just north of Abilene, joined the list of public reservoirs in Texas that have produced a Legacy Class ShareLunker largemouth bass. Eric Lewis of Haskell reeled in 13.33-pound ShareLunker 660 Sunday as Fort Phantom Hill became the 77th public waterbody to achieve that feat.

Lewis didn’t rely on forward facing sonar to spot his fish.

“I was just simply pitching and flipping like everyone knows how to do,” he said.

2024 lunkers: March 11 Larry Walker Irving

Darryl Hanson

Eric Lewis

Josh Hiler

Stetson Davis

Aaron Suess

Larry Walker

Tracy Adair

Ben Milliken

Lane Olson

Lawrence Lee

Thaddeus Galey

Alec Morrison

Bobby Waldon

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Alpine Shooting Range

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