Lone Star Outdoor News 030824

Bass spawn begins

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Largemouth bass are moving up shallow to spawn across many lakes, and anglers are taking advantage. On some bodies of water, the largest fish are up on beds among schools of smaller bass, while on other lakes, the bigger bass seem to be staging in deeper water.

Professional tournament bass angler, Josh Bensema, and his teammate, Juan Monroy, won first place in the Brandon Belt “The Show” Team Series event on Lake Conroe recently. Bensema said that their success came from a 50-yard stretch of water that was 2-3 feet deep.

Chatterbaits, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits did the trick for the team.

“There were some bass up shallow on beds and spawning, and there were a lot of bass still in a pre-spawn pattern,” Bensema said. “There seemed to be more and more bass moving towards shallow water as the days wore on during the tournament. The spawn is definitely kicking into gear on Conroe.”

Record setting fires

What has become the largest wildfire in Texas history hit the Panhandle beginning Feb. 26, with devastating impacts to pastures, buildings and cattle, and causing two reported deaths. The impact on wildlife

est Service, as of March 4 the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which began in Hutchison County and has spread from the Panhandle into Oklahoma, has burned 1,076,638 acres and is 15-percent contained.

Burning close to Miami

burning hundreds of acres surrounding the area. Hemphill County emergency officials told The Associated Press that about 40 homes were burned around Canadian’s perimeter. In the county alone, more than 400,000 acres burned.

Cattle losses are estimated in ing to the U.S. Farm Report. tension agent Andy Holloway told The Canadian Record. “I know one rancher near Canadian who lost 280 mama cows. They were calving so many of those are pairs. Another rancher lost more than 300 and one lost 50 or more 2-year-old

Economic value of Texas whitetail hunting

By Mike Bodenchuk

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Whitetail deer are the most hunted big game animal in Texas, but what is the value of deer and deer hunting to the state?

A group of researchers from the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute surveyed hunters and landowners to gauge their ex-

penses and to estimate the contribution of deer hunting to the Texas economy. Using standard survey tools, researchers estimated there were 554,900 deer hunters in Texas in 2022 who spent an average of $3,348 on deer hunting alone. Of these hunters, 52 percent hunted primarily on family or a friend’s land, 41 percent leased

hunting rights, 5 percent hunted on public land and 2 percent used an outfitter. The average deer lease fee in 2022 was $2,904 per hunter.

Landowner expenses were much higher, averaging $18,812, but landowner revenue averaged $20,658. Researchers estimate 198,500 landowners participate in white-tailed deer hunting

Kacey Tilley landed this 8-pound bass while fishing a ditch leading to a shallow flat on Lake O’ The Pines.

Photo from Kacey Tilley.

A coyote suffering from burns was observed on the parched landscape from the Smokehouse Creek Fire. Photo by Pecos Hagler. Above, fires moved at a fast pace across a deer feeder pen near White Deer, Texas. Photo by Daniel Arias.

White-tailed deer hunting in Texas has an economic impact of $9.6 billion annually, according to a Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute study. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

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

Gearing up for out-of-state

By Mike Bodenchuk For Lone Star outdoor newS

Hunters tend to think of time in seasons — autumn, spring, dove season, deer season. But the early part of the calendar year marks another season for traveling hunters — the hunt application season.

Western public land states have a generous number of big game species, but demand always outweighs supply. As such, they hold various lotteries for hunt permits usually with limited opportunities for nonresidents. Hunters wishing to take advantage of these opportunities need to be studying the application rules and applying now for some of the best opportunities in a lifetime of hunting. Deadlines for some hunts have already passed, but the majority of hunt drawings are open right now.

The first step, perhaps, is deciding what you want to hunt and where you want to hunt it. If you are a strong do-it-yourself hunter with time and equipment on your hands, there are lots of opportunities. If your uncle has a cabin in Colorado that you want to use, then there is really only one choice. Obviously, some species are more limited than others, so it’s easier to draw a general elk tag than it is to draw a Rocky Mountain bighorn or mountain goat tag. Making these decisions is the first step.

Most states require an applicant to buy some sort of hunting license to enter into the draw. This can range from Montana’s $10 Conservation License to Arizona’s $160 Nonresident Hunting and Fishing Combo License. The steep cost of the license is easier to swallow if you intend to hunt or fish in that state despite the draw results, but it’s the essential step in applying for a special permit.

The cost of the prerequisite license isn’t the only financial consideration. In New Mexico and Wyoming, you put the entire cost of the permit on your credit card at the time of the application. Other states charge just an application fee and will charge your credit card if you are successful in the draw. Since the permits are often expensive, it’s a good idea to stagger your applications and apply only as the deadline nears so as to not overextend your card.

Understanding the rules for the draw is also important. If your application is drawn in Arizona, for example, they will look at your first two hunt choices to see if the quota is filled before moving on to the next applicant. In Utah, they only look at one choice and you can only draw

Expect plenty of jakes, some older birds

By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Wild Turkey Program leader Jason Hardin, turkey hunters should expect to encounter lots of jakes, or young gobblers, this spring. Rio Grande turkey production last spring was incredible, due to timely rains and optimal pasture conditions.

“There are a ton of juvenile birds across the landscape this year,” Hardin said. “In addition to jakes, hunters should also find plenty of jennies, or young hens, out and about as well.”

Recent TPWD trapping data confirmed the significant boom in the population of young turkeys from last spring to this spring.

“In 2023, juveniles only accounted for about 30 percent of the amount of birds we trapped,” Hardin explained. “This year, juveniles have accounted for nearly 70 per-

cent. It’s really a night-and-day difference between last season and this season in terms of how many young birds are out there.”

Trapping efforts are used to band birds and to test for certain diseases that could contribute to population declines over time. The majority of these efforts are taking place in the Hill Country and in South Texas. So far, TPWD has not encountered any disease concerns among the state’s Rio Grande turkey populations.

Although the abundance of jakes may frustrate some turkey hunters in search of a mature gobbler, Hardin said there will also be a good number of older birds for hunters to pursue.

“What we will be lacking in 2-year-old birds, due to poor production in the spring of 2022, we will definitely make up for with gobblers 3 years old or older,” Hardin said. “We have banding data that documents turkeys living to be 6 years old and sometimes

Estimating deer ratios in helicopter surveys

Research shown effective for management, less so for science

By Mike Bodenchuk

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Helicopter deer surveys are a popular way for hunters and landowners to keep track of their deer and are a cost-effective way to do so on large properties. An issue with the surveys is that they are a single point estimate, and statistically the results don’t meet the rigors of science without some treatment.

Hunters, though, care most about whether they can rely on the results on their ranch.

At the recent Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Deer Research Meeting, Dr. Aaron Foley presented the results of a scientific investigation on the accuracy of helicopter surveys to capture ratio data for deer herds. The examination found estimates of buck:doe and doe:fawn ratios were accurate for deer management, but not as reliable for buck:mature buck ratios.

older. There is a large amount of carryover among our Rio Grande turkey populations in Texas, and I expect hunters to have plenty of mature gobblers to chase this season. The thing about older birds, is that they are smart and can be tough to trick into coming within shotgun range.”

Hardin said a large population of juvenile birds is great news for future seasons.

“This spring has started off much like last spring did, with timely rains in many areas, and good range conditions,” Hardin said. “I expect the birds to have great production again this spring. Back-to-back years of productive breeding seasons will definitely help our state’s population of Rio Grande turkeys continue to grow and thrive.”

With the early spring green-up we are experiencing across most of the state, Hardin said gobblers have already begun strutting.

“The birds have already started splitting up,” he said. “Gobblers are not gobbling

A helicopter survey is flown at a relatively low level to flush deer, and the crew count and classify deer

Navigating all of the western states regulations for applying for big game hunts can be daunting, and many deadlines approach. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Spring turkey hunters can expect to see plenty of jakes this spring, due to a productive hatch last season. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Helicopter surveys are reliable for deer managers when looking for buck:fawn and doe:fawn ratios, and not so much for looking for buck:mature buck ratios. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Massive dollar night

By David J Sams Lone Star outdoor newS

It’s a far cry from the small events at a local country club when the Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth began in the 1950s. On Thursday, Feb. 29, the club held its Wild Game Dinner, an annual fundraising banquet, at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. This year, more than 1,200 tickets were sold with an empty seat being nearly impossible to find.

Guests walked-through a hallway with hundreds of silent auction items before entering the big arena, where they were able to visit with some outfitters from around the world.

The buffet-style meal was easy and held no long lines and the prime rib was delicious. The live auction started around 7:30 p.m. and everything sold went for almost twice the value, including a fallow deer hunt at the Squaw Mountain Ranch hunting with Dallas Cowboys Tyron Smith selling for $50,000; a West Texas mule deer hunt for $28,000 and a Namibian photo safari for $13,000. A four-gun set of Winchester rifles brought $18,000.

Like at many hunting auctions, raffle sales conducted by the Julie Freeman Agency were setting records, while participants traded hunting stories, with some hoping for business connections during the event.

One board member said the event was the biggest ever and raised more money than they ever have.

The Fort Worth Sportsmen’s Club is an all-volunteer organization that raises money for area nonprofits, focusing on youth in the outdoors, including supporting youth involvement in hunting, fishing and wildlife conservation.

TTHA, SCI co-brand new show

Texas Trophy Hunters Association announced the expansion of the Hunters Extravaganza series to include its “Outdoors Extravaganza” in Dallas in January 2025.

TTHA, together with Safari Club International, promises a showcase of hunting, fishing and camping experiences at the Outdoors Extravaganza. The event will gather guides and outfitters from around the globe, presenting a unique opportunity for enthusiasts to explore a diverse range of outdoor pursuits.

The Outdoors Extravaganza will feature:

1. Global Hunting Adventures: Connect with seasoned guides and outfitters from diverse corners of the world, offering a spectrum of hunting experiences.

2. Cutting-edge Hunting Products: Discover the latest and most innovative hunting gear, ensuring enthusiasts are well-equipped for their next outdoor expedition.

3. International Fishing Guides and Outfitters: Explore fishing opportunities beyond borders, as experts from around the world share their insights and offerings.

4. Camping Products Showcase: From essential camping gear to cutting-edge equipment, the event will provide a one-stop-shop for all camping needs.

“Now, with the Outdoors Extravaganza, TTHA can reach even more outdoors and wildlife enthusiasts, and provide access to products, gear and experts in all things outdoors,” said W. Laird Hamberlin, Chief Executive Officer of Safari Club International.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 50th year in business,” said Christina Pittman, President and CEO of TTHA. “This show not only promises an extraordinary experience, but also fills a void in the outdoor community.”

The event is planned for Jan. 10-12, 2025 at Dallas’ Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Bass Pro headed to Midland/Odessa

Bass Pro Shops announced updated plans for a new retail store location to serve the Odessa and Midland markets.

The opening of Bass Pro Shops’ newest location will be the company’s 17th in Texas. The new design will allow the company to expand the previously planned 65,000-square-foot location to a 100,000-square-foot destination retail store building.

The store, expected to open in spring 2025, will be located between Yukon Road and Mission Boulevard, fronting Highway 191 in Midland County, adjacent to the Cinergy Family Entertainment Center.

—Bass Pro

Big crowds gathered at Dickies Arena for the Fort Worth Sportsmen’s Club Wild Game Dinner Feb. 29, which raised money for area outdoor and youth programs. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Applying for hunts

Continued from page 4

one limited entry or once-in-a-lifetime hunt during the draw.

Finally, understanding the odds can help you draw a tag sooner. Many states give you a preference or bonus point for every year you are unsuccessful in the draw. A certain number of tags may be set aside for those hunters with the maximum number of preference points (better odds) while bonus points add your name into the drawing an additional time for each point. Both can increase your odds of being drawn, but if you don’t have a lot of points, it’s best to apply in units with fewer tags, where the points don’t favor other hunters.

Texas has its own public hunting process which includes drawn hunts for a number of species including pronghorn, nilgai, aoudad, mule deer and more. The Texas application process comes later in the year, with the first deadlines in August and the last deadlines in October. There is no license required to apply and the cost is $3-$10 per applicant.

If you study the regulations, calculate the odds and are willing to travel to scout and hunt, drawing an out-of-state tag can be a great experience. If you find it all overwhelming, there are several services who apply for tags for you. These include Epic Outdoors, Hunting Fool and WTA TAGS Service. The odds may be poor, but you are guaranteed to not draw 100 percent of the tags you don’t apply for.

Hunt application dates

States have their own application processes and some states have multiple deadlines, depending on species. The following are 2024 deadlines. For more information check state regulations.

Alaska Dec. 15

Arizona

Elk and antelope Feb. 6

Sheep, bison, deer June 4

Bison, turkey, javelina Early October

Colorado April 2

Idaho

Sheep, moose, goat April 30

Deer, elk, antelope June 5

Montana

Elk, deer April 1

Sheep, moose, goat, bison May 1

New Mexico March 20

Nevada Early May

Oregon May 15

Utah April 25

Wyoming

Elk Jan. 31

Sheep, moose, goat, bison April 30

Deer and pronghorn May 31

Turkey outlook

a whole lot on the ground right now, because they have such a vast audience of hens nearby. This will be an obstacle for hunters early in the season, but that should change as more and more hens are bred.”

Hardin expects hens to be nesting earlier than normal this year, due to the onset of warmer weather.

Regarding eastern turkeys, Hardin said the birds also had high reproduction success last year due to good range conditions and a phenomenal acorn crop in East Texas. Therefore, there will be a good number of jakes roaming in counties where eastern turkey populations exist.

Some hunters in different regions of the state have already reported hearing birds gobble or seeing gobblers strutting while out shed hunting or scouting for the upcoming spring turkey season. Only time will tell as to whether they will be able to get past gangs of jakes to lure in a longbeard. as they are observed. The data gathered are used to estimate ratios within herds, commonly buck:doe ratios and doe:fawn ratios. In some more intensive management programs, surveyers also try to classify bucks further into young bucks and older, mature bucks in order to estimate the recruitment into the trophy class. Survey flights are conducted along flight transects with the goal of observing between 25 and 50 percent of the habitat in the area.

Using survey data from the King Ranch in South Texas, Foley and his researchers examined survey data for statistical variance in the three ratio groups to determine how much effort is necessary to provide research level data and management level data. To be considered scientific enough for research publication, the data from the counts must fall within no more than 25-percent variance, while for data on ratios to be useful for management purposes, they must have no more than 50-percent variance.

Looking at doe:fawn ratios, the scientists found only 31 percent of the surveys were accurate enough to meet the research threshold, but 90 percent of the surveys were accurate enough for management purposes. Buck:doe ratio analysis showed 36 percent of the surveys adequate for re-

search, but an astounding 99 percent were accurate for management use.

Using these numbers, they also looked at the number of unique observations necessary to monitor the ratio within the herd. A unique observation is an individual sighting at a single point, whether that is a single deer or a herd or family group. They found that a survey must have between 45 and 60 unique observations to meet the standard for management, but between 210 and 230 unique observations to be research-grade data.

For this reason, most of the young buck:mature buck data failed to be useful at any level. Finding 45-60 bucks in a survey is difficult, finding 210-230 is almost impossible.

Foley pointed out that environmental conditions can also alter the accuracy of survey data. During drought years, surveys may need to be more intensive because the individual sightings may be lower. Landowners may be tempted to increase the number of survey lines to obtain a higher number of observations, but run the risk of double-counting, which makes the data unusable.

Surveys are frequently flown in September to meet the management planning of landowners and hunters.

At the Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area, the Smokehouse Creek fire encompassed 98 percent of the WMA, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, but did not affect major infrastructure.

Fires in the Panhandle, by far the largest being the Smokehouse Creek Fire, have impacted 20 Texas counties. Ed Andrade with the National Weather Service said high winds, low humidities and well-above normal temperatures were factors in the development and size of the fires.

The previous largest fire in Texas was the East Amarillo Complex Fire in 2006, which consumed 907,245 acres.

Wildlife

Direct impacts to wildlife have yet to be determined. According to TPWD, wild animals are equipped by nature to take care of themselves in most situations. Most big game animals such as white-tailed deer and pronghorn can evade fire, burrowing animals seek refuge underground and birds fly out of harm’s way. Some ranchers observed coveys of quail that were unable to escape.

According to Dale Rollins of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, direct mortalities of quail are typically limited but can occur with wildfires because of the vastness and speed of the fires involved.

“A more serious threat to quail are mortalities that will occur over the next several months because of limited escape cover,” he said.

Quail hunters north of Interstate 40 in the Texas Panhandle enjoyed an improved quail season after receiving above average rainfall over the past year, and range conditions were good to excellent.

“Unfortunately, excellent range conditions in this area also equate to an increased risk of wildfires when red-flag conditions reign,” he said.

The response of quail to similar large-scale wildfires was examined by Rollins, and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service monitored bobwhite response for three years following large wildfires in 2006 and 2011.

“Bobwhites on sites characterized by sandy soils bounced back after 2 years following the burn, whereas quail abundance on “tighter” soils (e.g., clay loams) showed a much slower recovery,” Rollins said.

Rains are expected later this week which could help habitat rebound.

SAF to fight for sportsmen in court

The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation hired two in-house attorneys and created a new Office of Litigation Counsel within its Government Affairs Division. Michael Jean has been hired to lead the office as Litigation Counsel, joined by Torin Miller as Associate Litigation Counsel. Together, the in-house litigation team will begin a rapid expansion of SAF’s litigation efforts throughout the nation.

“We’re excited about this expansion, and it comes at a perfect time as the North American Model of Conservation is under attack at every level. These two outstanding lawyers are ready, willing, and eager to bring the fight to every legal arena necessary to protect our way of life,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president of SAF.

Recent litigation efforts include SAF’s challenge to a Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioner who is violating state law by sitting on a county planning commission, an obvious conflict of interest. SAF won that challenge at trial but, for political reasons, the state has appealed, with oral arguments scheduled in the state supreme court in May.

“There are too many instances where game commissions have gone off the rails, crazy rules are implemented, and a general disregard of sportsmen is becoming the status quo,” said Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “While sportsmen may have no chance in some legislatures, the rule of law still exists in this country, and we’ll go to the third branch of government — the judiciary — to protect our interests..”

—SAF

Deer and dollars

Continued from page 1

statewide.

Running the survey results through a Texas economic model, the researchers determined hunting whitetail deer alone was responsible for a $9.6 billion annual economic contribution to the economy of Texas. Deer hunting supports 35,000 jobs and generated $446 million in local, state and federal taxes.

Helicopters from Cedar Ridge Aviation joined the firefighting efforts by dropping water in an attempt to slow the progression of the Smokehouse Creek Fire. Photo by Georgia Ann Tucker.

Lake Fork bass moving in

By Robert Sloan For Lone Star

outdoor newS

At a recent Bass Champs tournament, things kind of went south in a hurry, but for the first-place team of Seth Kelm and Mike Bates, the crazy weather didn’t curb their enthusiasm. They were on a load of bass.

“The Friday before the tournament it was sunny and 57 degrees,” Bates, a bass fishing guide on Choke Canyon Lake in South Texas, said. “But overnight all that changed. A front came in and we had a 27-degree wind chill factor with a 30 mile per hour wind. It was

miserable.”

Kelm and Bates were fishing in Little Caney Creek and finding bass at the mouths of ditches.

“The thing about fishing after a cold front moves through is that the big bass are not affected the first day after the front moves through,” said Bates, who also is a biologist. “The smaller males will not feed hardly at all with the cold weather change. But the heavier bass will continue to feed, and that’s especially true for the big females moving up to spawn.”

They proved that by catching a 10.71-pound bass and going on to win

the event.

“The big female bass had just begun to move up in the shallows,” Bates said. “During the tournament we were fishing in 2 to 3 feet of water. A lot of the other anglers were livescoping small bass in the deeper water in the timber.”

Fishing shallow was the team’s ticket to a win.

“The big females on Fork were just moving up,” Bates said. “They should be on the beds now. For the past several years the lake was low due to work being done at the dam. But now the lake is up, and bass are spawning about two weeks earlier than they have been for

Please

Running for white bass

By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS

White bass are running — sort of. Water levels are down in a lot of lakes, and with cold fronts between warmer weather, anglers have been looking for the fish both in creeks and in the main water bodies.

At Lake Somerville, Tony Morrison, with TM Guide Service, said recent rains have filled the lake again. It hasn’t made fishing easy, though.

“You have to get lucky with the weather pattern,” he said. “Something that worked yesterday won’t work the next.”

In early February there were white bass in the creeks because of the rain, but the bite has slowed.

“A few guys are catching them trolling,” Morrison said. “Spoons, rattletraps and crankbaits, anything that looks like a bait fish is working.”

The odd conditions from cold to hot and hot to cold have the fish doing something different every day.

“It’s hard to say when they will spawn here. Last year it was in May, before that March,” Morrison said. “The water temp needs to get to 65 degrees and stay there.”

Parts of the Trinity River system have experienced the white bass run at its best.

“Fishing in the Trinity River system has been on since the beginning of February,” said Dave Cox with Palmetto Guide Service. “The early rain got the fish running way up into the river and into the many creeks feeding into the Trinity River and Lake Livingston.”

Between rains as the river flow fluctuates, the fish have been moving up and

Trout and reds drifting Sabine Lake

By Robert Sloan For Lone Star outdoor newS

Sabine Lake is among the best coastal areas at producing excellent numbers of trout and reds. This time of year, drift-fishing with artificial lures is a prime way to tap into the action.

Jerry Norris has been a guide on Sabine Lake for decades. His style of fishing is to find the bait, set up a drift and start chunking lures.

“I mostly fish with soft plastics, especially during the cold-water months,” he said. “Just recently two of us guides had two boats on the water and in two days

had caught around 100 trout and reds. That should give you an idea of how good the fishing is here.”

Sabine is off the beaten path. It’s located near Port Arthur. Half the lake is in Louisiana and the other half is in southeast Texas. It doesn’t get as much fishing pressure as the Galveston bay system.

Most anglers use lures in the area, as live bait is tough to come by.

“The bite on slow-sinking mullet imitation lures can be good right about now on sunny days,” Norris said. “The trick is to put your trolling motor in the water and ease along the shoreline while fishing in 3 to 5 feet of wa-

ter. Or you can head to Coffee Ground cove and drift fish for miles. This is one big shallow flat that’s fed by bayous. What you want to do here is find some mul let. Find the mullet and you will find the fish.”

Austin Dishman, of Beaumont, has fished here for many years. He keeps a boat at the marina in Sabine Pass. That area of the pass is where you’ll find a huge cove covered with oysters. It’s a bigtime attractor of reds.

“I like being able to push a but ton, lower our boat into the water and take off to the lake. Or you can fish the edge of Lighthouse Cove where it drops off from 2

down the river. Cox has been catching white bass on inline spinners and swimbaits. When they are being particularly picky, trolling swimbaits on the bottom has been successful.

“Barring any crazy weather, and if the Trinity River clears out, the fishing is going to get even better,” he said.

From Lake LBJ, white bass have already moved up into the Llano and Colorado rivers. Hunter Denette with ATX Bass Guide has seen good numbers despite the low water levels.

“It has been a day-to-day adjustment to get them to bite,” he said.

Live bait, jigging spoons and swimbaits have been the most effective.

At Lake Buchanan, previous spawns have been good and the population of white bass is good as a result.

“The fish will be spawning at the end of March into April,” Denette said. Now, fish are still deep and grouped up in the 20- to 40-foot range.”

Some white bass movement is occurring at Lake Ray Roberts, according to guide Justin Wilson.

“Fish are split up the creek and in the main lake,” he said. “A couple of warm sunny days and some rain might get them up the creeks more.”

Wilson is still fishing the lakes though, at depths around 20 feet with slabs. Checking the creeks, he has been finding some sandies on rooster tails and bright belly spinners.

“Pretty much drag anything through them and you will pick up a few,” he said. “At Texoma, though, it still needs to warm up.”

The team of Mike Bates and Seth Kelm won the Bass Champs event on Lake Fork, largely thanks to this 10-pound bass caught on a swimbait. Photo from Mike Bates.

White bass are running up in the creeks and rivers that feed Lake Livingston.

Photo from Dave Cox.

Soft plastics catch both trout and reds on Sabine Lake, Anglers drifting and fishing along the north and south revetment walls are finding fish. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Coastal guide cut his teeth in freshwater

By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS

Like many coastal fishing guides, Capt. Ryan Aguirre’s affinity for chasing inshore saltwater gamefish runs deep. However, his passion for the sport of fishing was initially sparked in freshwater, as he grew up targeting crappie and bass.

“I grew up near Lake Brownwood, and my dad always had a bass boat,” Aguirre said. “I fell in love with fishing for bass and crappie at a young age. I can remember being about 5 years old and catching stringers of crappie alongside old men at night under the lights of the crappie docks at the lake.”

Aguirre really didn’t get into saltwater fishing until he was an adult, when an oil field job brought him closer to the coast.

“It was one of those deals where I just started fishing the coast because it was the most convenient place for me to go fishing,” Aguirre said. “Before I knew it I was eaten up with it. I started with a little bay boat, and then got myself a bigger bay boat, and just kept trying to learn knew areas and network with locals who also loved to fish.”

Aguirre has been a full-time fishing guide for two years, and is based out of Port Aransas, where he specializes in wade-fishing for speckled trout and redfish with artificial lures from Port A to Baffin Bay.

Aguirre started his guiding career in the Seadrift area, where he was running a variety of different types of inshore fishing trips, including live bait and artificial, and both wading or fishing from the boat. He still offers boat trips for those that are not interested in wading, but his focus has shifted to wading for trophy-sized speckled trout.

“I really felt like relocating to Port Aransas was going to help me achieve my goal of becoming a better trophy trout fishing guide,” Aguirre said. “My wife supported this deci-

sion and wanted to help me live my dream, so we made the move and haven’t looked back. It also helps that she loves to fish.”

Aguirre said learning how to read the tides and adjust his game plan accordingly has been the biggest challenge in making the switch from freshwater to saltwater fishing.

“You don’t have to deal with tides on a lake,” he admitted. “Getting out of the boat and wade-fishing was also something new, but I immediately fell in love with it. I like being in the water and feeling the bay bottom beneath my boots. It shows you what’s beneath the surface and I think it makes you a better angler.”

Capt Ryan Aguirre grew up fishing for crappie and bass in freshwater reservoirs, and now uses those skills to better himself as a coastal fishing guide.

Photo from Ryan Aguirre.

TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 49 degrees; 4.11’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

AMISTAD: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 64.98’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, wacky worms, drop shots, spinner baits, and Texas-rigged lizards. White bass are good on blade baits and spoons. Stripers are slow.

ARLINGTON: Water stained; 61 degrees; 0.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on creature baits and moving baits.

ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 8.06’ low. Catfish are good on cut bait.

ATHENS: Water lightly stained; 61 degrees; 0.46’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on small moving baits, underspins and jerkbaits. Crappie are slow.

AUSTIN: Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 0.73’ low. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms, lizards, jigs and small weedless swimbaits.

B A STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.60’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared bait.

BASTROP: Water stained; 60 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on creature baits, flukes, craws and weightless swimbaits.

BELTON: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 12.31’ low. White bass and hybrid stripers are good on slabs. Catfish are good on live perch, shad and punch bait.

BENBROOK: Water stained; 64 degrees; 0.53’ high. Largemouth bass are good on shallow crankbaits, jigs and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.34’ high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and Texasrigged lizards. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.

BRAUNIG: Water stained, 63 degrees. Red drum are fair on cut bait, shad and crawfish-scented baits. Catfish are fair on cheese bait, liver and frozen shrimp.

BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 15.37’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and craws. White bass and hybrids are good on slabs.

Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad.

BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 59 degrees; 8.85’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jigs, jerkbaits and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are good on crankbaits and Alabama rigs. Catfish are good on cut or prepared bait.

BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 59 degrees; 25.58’ low. White bass are good on vertical jigs and trolled crankbaits. Stripers are good on jigs and live bait.

CADDO: Water stained; 61 degrees; 1.19’ high. Largemouth bass are good on flukes, senkos, chatter baits and swim jigs.

CALAVERAS: Water slightly stained, 57 degrees. Red drum are fair on frozen shrimp, cut bait and crawfish scented baits. Blue catfish and channel catfish are fair on cheese bait, frozen shrimp and liver.

CANYON: Water clear to lightly stained; 63 degrees; 21.28’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, chatter baits and swimbaits.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.15’ low. White bass are good on jigs and bladed baits. Hybrids are good on deadsticking baits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 65 degrees; 28.03’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina- or Texasrigged worms and swimbaits. Crappie are good on live minnows or jigs. Catfish are fair on stink bait or cut bait.

COMANCHE CREEK: Water stained. 65 degrees; 0.08’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Tilapia are fair on worms. Catfish are good on prepared baits and cut shad.

CONROE: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.02’ high. Hybrids are good on slabs and live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs with a cork. Catfish are good on shad, liver and punch bait.

stained; 61 degrees; 5.93’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.

FALCON: Water stained; 70 degrees; 34.44’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits and jigs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared bait.

FAYETTE: Water stained; 57 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina rigs and finesse worms.

FORK: Water stained; 61 degrees; 0.24’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits, spinner baits, jigs, soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

FT PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 63 degrees; 6.50’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, worms and chatter baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait.

GRANBURY: Water clear; 57 degrees; 0.12’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and jigs. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs.

GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.33’ high. Largemouth bass are good on jigs. Crappie are good on jigs and small swimbaits. White bass are good on jigs and bladed baits. Catfish are good on shad.

GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on jigs.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 65 degrees; 0.18’ high. Largemouth bass are good on wacky worms, weightless Texas rigs and swim jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows.

HUBBARD

COOPER: Water stained; 57 degrees: 1.00’ low. Catfish are good on shad.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 60 degrees; 8.07’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are slow. Catfish are good on worms, cheese bait and cut carp.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water

CREEK: Water stained; 63 degrees; 11.88’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, jigs and spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.21’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 58 degrees; 1.37’ high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless

crankbaits, spinner baits, Texas-rigged lizards and chatter baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on small spinners. Catfish are good on cut bait.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.37’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on small jigs, rooster tails, inline spinners and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.

LBJ: Water stained; 63 degrees; 0.27’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 0.01’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair on slabs, jigs and live bait. Hybrid stripers are fair on slabs and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

LIMESTONE: Water stained; 67 degrees; 0.04’ high. Largemouth bass are good on swim jigs, Texas rigs, spinner baits and chatter baits. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on silver jigging spoons. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.29’ high. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

O H IVIE: Water stained; 58 degrees; 30.77’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits, creature baits and soft plastics. White bass are fair on rattletraps and spinner baits. Catfish are good on shrimp and chicken liver.

PALESTINE: Water stained; 62 degrees; 0.13’ high. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Hybrid stripers are fair on spoons and roadrunners. Catfish are good on shrimp and live minnows.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 58 degrees; 0.37’ low. Striped bass are fair on swimbaits and Alabama rigs. White bass are fair on slabs and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad.

RAY HUB-

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.08’ low. White bass are good on jigs and bladed baits. Hybrid stripers are slow.

MARTIN CREEK: Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.05’ high. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, lipless crankbaits and wacky worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.

MEREDITH: Water stained; 44 degrees; 45.20’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows and artificials. White bass are fair on minnows and slabs. Walleye are fair on minnows and grubs. Catfish are fair on crawlers, minnows, chicken liver and frozen shad.

NACOGDOCHES: Water stained; 55-59 degrees; 0.16’ high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless and square-billed crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs.

NACONICHE: Water lightly stained; 59 degrees; 0.50’ high. Largemouth bass are good on square-billed crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are slow.

NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 57 degrees. 0.42’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good

BARD: Water lightly stained; 63 degrees; 0.01’ low. White bass are good on jigs, in-line spinners and slabs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.45’ low. White bass are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut gizzard shad.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water clear; 53 degrees; 0.06’ high. White bass and hybrid stripers are fair on slabs and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on punch bait and cut shad.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 58-63 degrees; 0.84’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina or Texas rigs, chatter baits, weightless flukes and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are slow. White bass are good on jigs and bladed baits.

SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 59 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits and jerkbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on pet spoons and jigs. Hybrids are fair on cut bait and jigs. Catfish are fair on worms, cut bait and stink bait.

SPENCE: Water stained; 59 degrees. 47.14’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and swim jigs.

n Saltwater reports Page 15

Catfish are fair on cut bait.

STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 58 degrees; 16.79’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and jigs.

TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 0.34’ high. Largemouth bass are good on brush hogs and small flukes. Hybrid stripers and white bass are fair on soft plastics and swimbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait.

TEXOMA: Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.01’ low. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair on swimbaits. Striped bass are fair on Alabama rigs and swimbaits. Catfish are slow.

TOLEDO BEND: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 0.38’ low. Largemouth bass are good on weightless senkos, chatter baits, Carolina-rigged lizards and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and live minnows.

TRAVIS: Water stained; 58 degrees; 49.14’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinner baits.

TWIN BUTTES: Water stained; 54 degrees; 32.27’ low. Crappie are slow. White bass are good on bladed baits and roadrunners. Catfish are slow.

WACO: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.06’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass and hybrid stripers are fair on jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on live shad and cut bait.

WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.56’ high. Hybrid stripers are fair on live bait, trolling swimbaits and umbrella rigs.

WORTH: Water lightly stained; 61 degrees; 3.06’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 55 degrees; 3.40’ high. Crappie are good on minnows. —TPWD

Kayak Long Cut Natural is packed with satisfaction that doesn’t back down. Are you ready? Grab a refreshingly bold can of Kayak and kick off your next adventure. You’ll come out on the other side ready to do it all again.

WARNING:

This product can cause gum disease and tooth loss.

BOAT WITH TWO ABOARD TAKES ON WATER

A distress call and mayday call were received by Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston from the operators of a 31-foot vessel stating the boat was rapidly taking on water. The boaters reported the vessel had suffered severe mechanical issues and was taking on water at a rate well beyond the bilge pumps’ capacity. A response boat and crew, along with a helicopter crew, were launched. Once on scene, the response boat crew took aboard the boaters and used a pump to partially dewater the craft. The Coast Guard crew then transported the man and woman aboard safely to Station Sabine. No injuries were reported.

WARDENS HOST HUNTS

An Anderson County game warden assisted with a Managed Lands Deer Program Youth Hunt at the Redtown Ranch. He coordinated with the Texas Youth Hunting Program to facilitate the hunt. Four young hunters from across

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER

the state participated in the three-day hunt, bagging three does in the process. At the Las Raices Ranch in Webb County, the annual Patterson Family Hunt was held in honor of fallen Texas Game Warden Ty Patterson. Patterson’s family was treated to a weekend of hunting and relaxation at the ranch. The family enjoyed time with wardens and harvested a white-tailed deer. Johnson County Game Warden Teyran “Ty” Patterson died in the line of duty when his boat capsized on the Paluxy River during a search-and-rescue operation on May 30, 2007.

SKIFF OVERTURNS WITH FOUR ABOARD

Four people were rescued near the Texas City Dike after their skiff overturned. The Coast Guard received a report from a Texas City Police Department dispatcher stating a vessel was taking on water with four people aboard. Two response boats were launched to respond. Texas City Fire Department personnel located

the vessel, and the Coast Guard response boat arrived on scene and discovered that the skiff had capsized. The boat crew approached, embarked the boaters and safely transferred them to emergency medical services personnel waiting on shore. No injuries were reported.

GOOD LUCK BLACK CATS

While assessing the rubble left behind from the Panhandle wildfires, a little black cat crossed the path of a Lubbock area game warden, followed by several more. After following the trail of kittens, the warden observed one of them was suffering from singed fur and an injured paw. A Texas Task Force One medic attended to the kitten and determined its injuries were not life threatening. Since the area was evacuated during the fire, the cat’s owners could not be located. Water and food were provided and the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team is checking the kittens.

Panhandle-area game wardens responded to the Smokehouse Creek Fire. With the fires moving rapidly through the eastern Panhandle area, resources were cut off to large portions of Roberts and Hemphill counties and local wardens were among the first group of emergency responders in these areas. Wardens assisted the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office to evacuate the town of Miami and block roadways deemed unsafe due to the wildfires. Also, responding to a request from the Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office, wardens moved quickly to locate stranded motorists and notify residents in the rural portions of the county about the need to evacuate immediately. The responding wardens used their knowledge of the area, including ranch and home locations, to block unsafe routes and assist families evacuating the area. Once fire services were able to access the areas, sheriff’s deputies and additional agencies connected with wardens to support the needs and safety of the communities affected. Wardens continue to respond to the fire in coordination with multiple law enforcement and fire agencies.

AN AMERICAN LEGEND

100-pound limits on Toledo Bend, Fork

Fujita, McKinney win Elite Series events

Lone Star outdoor newS

Kyoya Fujita won the first tournament of the Bassmaster Elite Series on Toledo Bend Reservoir with a massive total weight of 100 pounds, 13 ounces. The next week at Lake Fork, Trey McKinney, a 19-year-old from Carbondale, Illinois, topped the field with 130 pounds, 15 ounces.

Fujita held the lead after the first day with a huge bag of 31 pounds, 3 ounces, but was overtaken by Wisconsin pro Pat Schlapper on Day 2. However, the Japanese angler made a furious comeback in the final round by catching 28 pounds, 13 ounces — a bag almost entirely made up of 6-pounders.

Most of the week, Fujita targeted pre-

spawn bass suspended in deep standing timber to earn the $100,000 top prize and his second Elite Series title in 10 events. Before coming to America, he won four Angler of the Year titles in Japan as well as six major tournaments.

On Fork, McKinney became the youngest winner in Elite Series history, fishing his second event. He adjusted to rapidly changing conditions each day on Fork.

The winning anglers both said they relied on their forward-facing sonar to locate and target specific fish.

At Fork, each of the 10 anglers who made the final day cut caught more than 100 pounds of bass over four days, which happened only once, at Falcon Lake in 2008.

Ben Milliken, of New Caney, made the cut at both events, finishing fifth at Toledo Bend and eighth at Lake Fork, winning a total of $38,000.

Ashley Biffle took her first buck on her first hunt at a friend’s ranch near Granbury.

Brock Barton, of Corpus Christi, caught this speckled trout on a ball tail shad.

Gunner Frazier, 11, shot this 8-pointer in Zavala County at 126 yards using a .556 caliber rifle.

Wade Ritchey, 10, of Bulverde, shot his first whitetail buck in Zavala County using a .308.

Joshua Stroud, of San Antonio, caught this largemouth bass on Canyon Lake while fishing with guide Tyler Stanley

SABINE LAKE: 62 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp under a popping cork in the ICW and marshes. Black drum are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork and live shrimp on a Carolina rig along the ship channel and jetties.

BOLIVAR: 60 degrees. Flounder, whiting, redfish, black drum and sheepshead have been fair to good on shrimp along the north jetty. Black drum and redfish have been good in the surf on cut bait and cracked crab. Speckled trout and redfish have been good on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits on the bayside. Flounder, whiting, redfish, black drum and sheepshead have been fair to good on shrimp along the north jetty.

TRINITY BAY: 67 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp under a cork and soft plastics in Tabbs Bay. Black drum are fair on live shrimp around shell reefs. Redfish are good on live shrimp and soft plastics. Flounder are fair on scented shrimp soft plastics.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: 65 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp and soft plastics near bayous and marsh drains. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits. Black drum are fair on live shrimp.

GALVESTON BAY: 69 degrees. Speckled trout are slow. Black drum and sheepshead are fair on live shrimp under a cork or fished along the bottom.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: 66 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits. Redfish are good on live shrimp and soft plastics. Black drum are good on live shrimp under a popping cork.

TEXAS CITY: 65 degrees. Oversized black drum are good on cracked crab. Sheepshead are good on live shrimp. Redfish are fair on live shrimp. Speckled trout are slow.

FREEPORT: 62 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish are good on live shrimp.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 62 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits over shell.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 62 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet. Speckled trout are slow.

PORT O’CONNOR: 63 degrees. Speckled trout are slow. Oversized black drum are good on shrimp and blue crab. Redfish are fair on Spanish sardines.

SAN ANTONIO BAY: 62 degrees. Redfish are good on top-waters and spoons along main bay shorelines and mud flats. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and top-waters along guts adjacent to mud flats and shorelines.

ROCKPORT: 63 degrees. Bull redfish and slot redfish are good on live shrimp and cut mullet. Speckled trout are fair on free lined live shrimp. Black drum are good on live or dead shrimp.

PORT ARANSAS: 63 degrees. Bull redfish and slot redfish are good on live shrimp and cut mullet. Speckled trout are fair on free-lined live shrimp. Black drum are good on live or dead shrimp.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 66 degrees. Redfish are good on sardines. Black drum are good on dead shrimp. Speckled trout and sand trout are fair on live shrimp.

BAFFIN BAY: 64 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits. Redfish are fair on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits.

PORT MANSFIELD: 71 degrees. Speckled trout are good on top-waters, suspending twitch baits and soft plastics. Redfish are good on soft plastics and top-waters.

SOUTH PADRE: 67 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp and shrimp-imitation soft plastics. Redfish are good on live shrimp under a popping cork and gold spoons. Sheepshead are good on live and dead shrimp.

Sales agency for Liberty

Liberty Ammunition retained Odle Sales to represent the company in the eastern twothirds of the United States.

Thomas joins FL Outdoor

Hal Thomas was hired as the marketing brand manager for Kelly’s Outdoor division of FL Outdoor.

WarBird hires agency

WarBird Protection Group hired Chevalier Advertising as its public relations agency.

Sales group for Hydra

Hydra Weaponry retained Total Sales & Marketing to represent its product line throughout 13 western states, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Partnership extended

Toyota Motor North America and B.A.S.S. extended their partnership through 2026.

Valdez joins Southwick

Dr. Rene X. Valdez joined Southwick Associates as senior research analyst.

Offer for Vista Outdoor

Investment firm MNC Capital has offered to buy sporting goods and outdoor products company Vista Outdoor for $2.9 billion including debt, or $35 per share, challenging Vista’s planned sale of its sporting goods/ammunition business to Czechoslovak Group (CSG). Vista rejected the offer.

Bergara sales VP

BPI Outdoors/Bergara Rifles promoted Dakota Russell to vice president of sales for its Bergara Division.

Fleming named president of Vigilant

Vigilant Gear, owner of Primary Weapons Systems and Lone Wolf Arms, named Ben Fleming as its new president.

Working the drift

Continued from page 8

feet of water to 20 to 30 feet of water in the ship channel.”

Norris said two areas that produce good numbers of cold-water trout on Sabine are along the north and south revetment walls. They are basically built like jetties except you can drive on them and fish wherever you want from the rocks. But for the most part you’ll do best from a boat, according to Norris. He said the best tactic for fishing along the revetment walls is to put your trolling motor down and slowly ease along the rocks.

Shotgun brand

32) Coastal bay

33) The arrow holder

34) Livingston’s county

35) Port Lavaca’s county

37) Safari destination

39) The appendage on the turkey’s beak

40) Riflescope brand

42) Popular shot size for turkey hunting

5 ozs. red snapper

2 limes

1 Scotch bonnet pepper, chopped

Salt and pepper

6 ozs. coconut milk

2 ozs. shredded coconut

5 ozs. panko breadcrumbs

1 egg, beaten Extra virgin olive oil (for frying)

Wash fish with lime juice. Marinate fish in sea-

soned coconut milk with salt, pepper and Scotch bonnet pepper. Place fish in egg wash, coat with coconut and breadcrumbs. Pan fry fish in olive oil in hot skillet until golden brown on each side. If desired, place in oven at 250 degrees for 5 minutes.

—Miss. Dept. of Marine Resources

1 wild turkey breast 2 cups buttermilk 2/3 cup Sriracha hot sauce

Flour seasoned with salt and pepper

1 egg

Seasoned breadcrumbs

Slice breast across the grain into 1/2-inch cubes. Mix buttermilk and hot sauce in bowl and marinate breast slices for 2-4 hours in

Soft plastics like a split tail shad Assassin rigged on a 1/4-ounce jig head are tough to beat. He’ll also use a 6-inch Assassin Sea Shad. That’s basically a swimbait that can be fished slowly in the cold water. Norris said top colors are red/shad, electric chicken and glow with a chartreuse tail.

“If the water is really cold, like just after a front moves through, it’s best to slow down your retrieve with the soft plastics,” Norris said. “And for a slower retrieve go with a 1/8-ounce jig head.”

From the lake to the bay

Continued from page 9

Aguirre said his dad has enjoyed coming to the coast to fish with him over the past few years.

“It’s been fun to show him the differences and similarities between saltwater and freshwater fishing,” Aguirre said. “He has embraced a lot of it, but he still will not get out of the boat and wade fish. He always reminds me that he has caught bigger bass than I have, and never had to get out of the boat to do it. That has made for some fun jokes while fishing the coast together.”

Aguirre’s favorite thing about guiding is

refrigerator. Combine egg with water to make thin egg wash. Remove breast pieces and drain. Dip into breadcrumbs and let rest a few minutes. Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in cast iron skillet. Fry cutlets 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Let drain on paper towels.

—Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

seeing his clients catch fish that they are excited about.

“There’s nothing like seeing folks get pumped up about catching their personal best trout,” he said. “My goal is to help as many folks as possible make unforgettable memories on the water like that.”

Even in his free time, you’re most likely to find Aguirre on the water, trying to become a better angler. When his boat is in the shop for service, he will find a spot to walk in and wade fish, just to spend more time perfecting his craft.

Lake Fork bass

Continued from page 8

the past few years because of the low water.”

Bates, of Calliham, and Kelm, of Canyon Lake, were mainly fishing the dead water hyacinth in the channel. The heaviest bass they caught was on a Reaction Innovation Skinny Dipper. The lure is a soft plastic swimbait you can fish over just about any type of structure. They can be fished with a weighted hook, a jig head or even weightless. Bates said they were fishing them with a very small weight on a 3/0 hook and small 3-inch plastic.

The team topped the 254-team field with four bass weighing 14.68 pounds, winning $26,300. During the tourney three double digit bass were caught.

Tyler and Steven Walker, both of Burton, finished second with three fish totaling 14.23 pounds, including a largemouth weighing 10.74 pounds, winning $10,000.

Tommy Sikes, of Como, and Mark Howard, of Emory, only weighed in one fish, but it was the big bass of the event at 10.96 pounds. With the Skeeter and other bonuses, along with money for third place and the big bass, the team won $17,250.

Bates said the tournament was his first trip to Lake Fork.

“Being a biologist, I know a thing or two about fish,” he said. “The bass I saw on this lake were healthy and fat.”

ARKANSAS

Mallard numbers dip

In the final aerial survey of the 2023-24 waterfowl season, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists estimated a Delta mallard population that was more than a halfmillion mallards below the 2009-2024 late January long-term average and the lowest late January survey estimate on record since the 2009 start of transect-based surveys. Also, total duck population estimates were nearly 480,000 birds below the long-term average, largely due to the low number of mallards.

On average, mallards account for about 55 percent of all ducks in the Delta during late January surveys. During this survey period, however, mallards made up only 33 percent of the total duck estimate.

of media content for JM Associates, will join his late father, Jerry, in the Hall of Fame to form the first father-son duo to be inducted.

Reese, who hails from Auburn, California, is still an active competitor on Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour, but he made his name on lakes out west before rocketing to stardom on the Bassmaster tournament circuits during the 2000s and 2010s.

Williams, 76, rose above racial barriers and served as an inspiration for other African American anglers. Upon his return from a tour in the Vietnam War, he became the first African American angler to compete in the Bassmaster Classic, finishing 10th at the Ohio River.

Biologists faced challenging weather conditions to conduct surveys this season, and especially so for the final survey of the season. The typical second January survey follows the early January annual Midwinter Survey by two weeks, but this year the state was hit with an Arctic blast, leaving few days to fly.

Arctic goose population estimates totaled 645,607 light geese and 189,406 greater white-fronted geese in the Delta. Total goose estimates topped duck counts in the Delta throughout the season. —AGFC

ALABAMA

Record blue marlin

The Orange Beach boat Best Trait brought in a blue marlin officially weighing 1,145.6 pounds, a potential Alabama and Gulf of Mexico record. The marlin easily eclipses the Alabama state record of 851.9 pounds caught in 2020 by Ginger Myers. The Gulf record was set in 2002 in Mississippi by Barry Carr at 1,054 pounds.

Scott “Scooter” Anderson, a 32-year-old from Houston, Texas, reeled in the fish in two hours. An hour into the fight, the marlin died and began to sink.

The boat’s crew had to call another boat to help pull the marlin onto the boat.

—Staff report

MISSOURI

Five to join Bass Fishing HOF

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will enshrine Fred Arbogast, Mike McKinnis, Skeet Reese, Alfred Williams and Mark Zona Sept. 26 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri.

Arbogast invented iconic lures such as the Jitterbug and Hula Popper, the latter of which was among the first baits to be adorned with a skirt made of rubber, a nod to his background working at Goodyear and B.F. Goodrich. Arbogast passed away at the age of 53 in 1947.

McKinnis, 60, currently the vice president

Zona, 51, has been one of the leading voices and personalities in bass fishing since the early 2000s, either in his role as analyst for Bassmaster tournaments or as host of “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show.”

—Bass Fishing HOF

MINNESOTA

Deer harvest drops

Hunters harvested 158,678 deer during the 2023 hunting season, a lower total harvest than in recent years. Harvest was down 8 percent compared to the 2022 season and 14 percent less than the 5-year average.

The greatest decreases were in the northern part of the state after two severe winters and wolf population increases.

—MDNR

OREGON

Sturgeon poachers convicted

Three men owe thousands in fines, and one served jail time after a felony conviction for poaching five oversized sturgeon fish, including one giant white sturgeon, in Scappoose Bay.

The original incident gained attention in 2022 when sportsmen fishing along the banks of Scappoose Bay noticed people fishing from a boat had caught a sturgeon but did not release it as required by law. After two days of surveillance, troopers approached the men where they were moored at the dock.

The subjects claimed they had not caught any fish. However, troopers could see two lines extending from the dock into the water. When they pulled up the lines, they found four live sturgeon ranging in size from 5 feet to more than 7 feet long. All four were secured under water so they would remain alive. While inspecting the boat, troopers found an additional large white sturgeon.

Penalties included jail time, community service and fines, equipment forfeitures and all three men were suspended from fishing for three years.

All five sturgeon were released back into the bay alive. —OSP

MARCH 9

TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT

Trinity Flyfest

Acme Brick Headquarters Fort Worth trinityflyfest.com

JOURNEY RANCH MINISTRIES

Sporting Clays Shoot

American Shooting Centers, Houston (832) 547-7272

journeyranchministries.com

MARCH 14

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

Cowtown Banquet Ashton Depot (817) 709-3291

rmef.org

MARCH 15

DELTA WATERFOWL

Lamar County Banquet

Love Civic Center, Paris (903) 249-2480 deltawaterfowl.org

MARCH 16

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

Greater Hill Country Banquet Gillespie County Fairgrounds Fredericksburg (210) 240-0214 rmef.org

Moving in

MARCH 16-17

KIMBLE COUNTY CHAMBER

Predator Calling Contest R.A.M. Outdoor Accessories Junction junctiontexas.com

TEXAS GUN AND KNIFE SHOWS Abilene Convention Center (830) 285-0575

texasgunandknifeshows.com

MARCH 21

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Helotes Banquet Pedrotti’s Ranch (210) 535-6810

ccatexas.org

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

Cowtown Strutters Ruckus River Ranch (817) 308-7160

nwtf.org

MARCH 23

DUCKS UNLIMITED Kaufman County Dinner Kaufman Civic Center (469) 732-1581 ducks.org

MARCH 28

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB

Crawfish Boil DSC Headquarters (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

WHITETAILS UNLIMITED

North Texas Deer Camp Myers Park Show Barn McKinney (512) 657-9943 whitetailsunlimited.com

MARCH 29 OPERATION GAME THIEF

Houston Clay Stoppers Shootout (800) 792-4263 ogttx.org

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

Palo Pinto Banquet

Palo Pinto Sheriff’s Posse Mineral Wells (940) 452-8430 nwtf.org

APRIL 3

DUCKS UNLIMITED Texas A&M Kingsville Banquet Knights of Columbus Hall (830) 391-7300 ducks.org

APRIL 4

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Greater Sugar Land Banquet Stafford Centre (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org

APRIL 5

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

New Braunfels Banquet Reneau Farms (832) 655-3180 rmef.org

APRIL 6

DSC SOUTH TEXAS Annual Gala Pedrotti’s Ranch, Helotes dscsouthtexas.org

DELTA WATERFOWL North Texas Dinner

Sports Academy at The Star Frisco (903) 806-9117 deltawaterfowl.org

APRIL 7

TECHRON MEGA BASS Lake Fork Marina (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com

Bensema felt the fish they caught during the tournament had just recently moved into shallow water. The team was consistently catching bass in the 4-6 pound range.

Kacey Tilley, of Fish Perfect Guides and Outfitters, said the spawn is in full force on Lake O’ the Pines. The largest bass have been staging along ditches and drains leading into the back of the flats in about 4-8 feet of water.

“We just started catching quite a few fish in the 7- to 9-pound range,” Tilley said. “Covering water has been key. The more ditches that you can cover, the better your odds of catching a big bass.”

Chatterbaits, moving baits, spinner baits, reactions baits and top-water lures have all been producing strikes.

Continued from page 1 BUY

“Smaller fish in the 1- to 4-pound range have been extremely shallow up on the beds,” he said. “You can go down the bank and catch as many bass as you want right now.”

On Lake LBJ, guide Jerad Pool said the bass are in a full-blown spawning pattern. Sight-fishing for trophy sized largemouths with soft plastics in 1-5 feet of water has been consistently producing fish weighing up to 10 pounds over the last week or so for his clients.

“The south end of the lake by Horseshoe Bay has held the best action so far,” Pool said. “There are a lot of small bass up shallow, mixed in with the larger fish.”

Lake Fork guide Justin Priest has been finding bass in all water depths on Lake Fork.

“There are bass up shallow in inches of water on beds, and then there are also fish out suspended over stumps along pre-spawn points that are as deep as 30 feet of water,” he said. “The bass out in deeper water are more isolated and can be found on forward facing sonar. There are plenty of big bass up shallow on beds now, too, you just have to weed through the smaller fish to catch them. There are a ton of small buck bass up shallow.”

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