June 23, 2017 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas

June 23, 2017

Texas lakes have fish, lack habitat

Volume 13, Issue 21

Port M serving up reds, trout

By Mark England

Lone Star Outdoor News

By Robert Sloan

As Texas’ reservoirs age, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has had one dedicated funding mechanism to deal with fish habitat restoration — sales from its bass conservation license plates. However, $30,000 or so only goes so far in a state with 188 major reservoirs: those with a normal capacity of 5,000 acrefeet or larger. But help may be on the way after Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 573, in which the Legislature authorizes TPWD to spend money raised from the sale of the Freshwater Fishing Stamp for purposes other than maintaining its fish hatcheries, specifically habitat restoration. The stamp brings in more than $6 million annually. How much of that will go to refreshing reservoirs across the state remains to be seen. “It’s not stipulated in the bill,” said Craig Bonds, head of Inland Fisheries. “Frankly, it’s too early to discuss what it means long-term. It hasn’t been determined. All this bill does is open up some opportunities for us to pursue in the future.” TPWD until now has had to be creative trying to ensure the renown of Texas’ fisheries. Besides the license plate funds, it’s depended on grants from groups such as the Friends of Reservoirs. A $20,000 grant from the group helped build rock piles at Lake Austin to improve fish habitat.

For Lone Star Outdoor News It’s the classic angler’s choice on the Laguna Madre flats out of Port Mansfield. Drift the flats, wade the various shallow sand bars, sight-cast at the Land Cut or fly-fish for tailing reds along the spoil islands — anglers have so many options and more water than anyone can ever fish. “We’ve got a lot of fishing options,” said Mike Sutton, who owns and operates Getaway Adventures Lodge in Port Mansfield. “But lately it’s been a test to hit the right spot at the right time. Some of the best fishing for trout is along isolated sand bars and structures from here to the Land Cut. At dawn, it’s doing best with topwater lures fished in about 2 to 3 feet of water. But as the sun hits the water and things

heat up, we’ll switch over to soft plastics and ease out to deeper water. Right now about 90 percent of the trout are caught on plastics fished with 1/8-ounce jig heads in 3 to 4 feet of water.” A popular lure choice on the Laguna flats right now is a Kwiggler Ball Tail Shad in electric sunrise or the Mansfield margarita. Sutton said they are rigging those tails on 1/8-ounce Kwiggler spring lock jig heads. But if fishing really shallow over grass, he recommends a 1/16-ounce jig head. Reds have been tougher to pin down on the open flats. However, the area down around Peyton’s Bay and the spoil islands a few miles south of the Mansfield channel have been giving up good numbers of tailing reds feeding on shrimp. This is where wading or using a polling skiff Please turn to page 11

Redfish have been abundant around the spoil islands a few miles south of the Port Mansfield Channel. Isolated sand bars and structure have been best for speckled trout. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

From complex to simple

Texas negotiates snapper extension

Using exposed turret scopes

By Darlene McCormick Sanchez

By Craig Nyhus

Frustration with the shortest federal red snapper season on record prompted Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials to cut a deal to extend the private recreational snapper season in federal waters this summer while preserving the state’s fall snapper season. Texas and the other Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce, had to agree unanimously in

Lone Star Outdoor News

Lone Star Outdoor News Looking through the reticle of a modernized scope can be overwhelming. Lines everywhere, both horizontally and vertically, aren’t always confidence building. Customers and retailers may get con- Once learned, the new style of scopes like the Nikon Black line can be simpler and easier to use. Photo by fused. When the new Nikon Black David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News. line of scopes came out, their sales rep group in the area, brought in Eric Omans, of Stretchin’ Owens Outdoor Sales, did something the Limits Long Range Shooting about it. Academy, to train the team. Knowing customers would need The line of scopes says so long to to be educated about the new and the days of the holdover on marks or different equipment, owner Waylan circles on the reticle. In the end, it Owens got his team together and simplifies long-range shooting.

While recreational anglers are enjoying an extended federal summer snapper season, there’s a chance the entire season could be canceled in 2018. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

order for the plan to move forward. Two options were on the table, one that would add 27 days over two-day weekends and another that would add 39 days over three-day week-

Please turn to page 27 Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 11 Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 18 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 25 Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Page 26

Please turn to page 14

HUNTING

INSIDE

CONTENTS

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

Please turn to page 23

FISHING

Millennials and hunting

(Pg. 4)

Stripers back at Whitney

Sustainable food attracts young.

Locals feel lake is tops in state this year.

Quail award

Fishing the surf

(Pg. 6)

Rick Snipes to receive recognition.

(Pg. 8)

When seas calm, trout cooperate.

(Pg. 8)


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