March 9, 2012 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

March 9, 2012

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Rhino bust Texan suspected of trafficking black rhino horns.

Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

March 9, 2012

Volume 8, Issue 14

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East is a beast, west is not (yet)

Inside

❘❚ HUNTING

By Conor Harrison

Turkey forecast

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Lots of young toms, but few jakes.

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Forb-cast Forb Density Index could help predict next season’s antler quality.

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❘❚ FISHING

SOME HOT, SOME NOT: Big bass are being pulled from East Texas lakes as the big females move into spawning positions. Some eastern lakes have already seen the spawn come and go. Out west, anglers are waiting for bass to move shallow after a slow winter of fishing. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON. See Falcon fishing report, page 10.

Numbers up Speckled trout population improving on Texas Coast.

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Bites on Updates on white bass, river trout.

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Lunkers landed

Send a press release that calls for curbing the growth of deer breeding in the U.S. and you’ll pick a fight in Texas.

The Quality Deer Management Association expected pushback when it posted a Feb. 22 statement that claimed breeding gives hunters a bad image and risks the

Tournaments also produce huge bass.

Pages 11 and 20

❘❚ CONTENTS

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See BEAST, Page 24

Deer group stirs breeding debate

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Classifieds . . . . . . . .

Crossword . . . . . . . .

Freshwater Fishing Report Saltwater Fishing Report .

For the Table. . . . . . .

Game Warden Blotter . . .

Heroes. . . . . . . . . .

Outdoor Datebook . . . .

Outdoor Business . . . .

Products . . . . . . . . .

Sun, Moon and Tide data .

Largemouth bass anglers in East Texas are enjoying a good early spring, especially on Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Lake Fork.

Anglers in West Texas are having a tougher go — so far.

That could change in the next several weeks, as bass finish up spawning on lakes east of I-35, and western lakes, such as O.H. Ivie, come into the spawning season.

Tournament angler Ryan Pinkston, from Center, recently boated a 14.20-pound bass Feb. 25 during a tournament on

Toledo Bend. That fish hit a jig in 5 feet of water.

Toledo Bend guide Joe Joslin wrote in his online fishing report that some bass have already spawned.

“I have never seen a partial spawn on the south end of the lake this early (February),” Joslin wrote, “but low water conditions, and then rising levels, plus a very mild winter were factors.”

Joslin said anglers were catching bass on multiple patterns.

“Some of the most productive (patterns) being jigs and Carolina rigs on points and ridges in 12-15 feet,” Joslin said. “Another

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spread of fatal diseases.

The conservation group also urged hunters in seven states to oppose deer breeder legislation.

Texas is not one of them, yet a lot of its whitetail raisers were riled.

“My phone has been pretty hot,” said Brian Murphy, QDMA’s chief executive officer. “A number of calls have been from deer breeders in Texas, and I’m not surprised.

“We knew it was not going to be a popular action with people in that industry.”

Internet chatter has mentioned boycotts of businesses that support QDMA. The group’s own Web site forum has been swelling with comments, including some from members of the group who don’t agree with the stance.

Many applauded it, but one writer from Oklahoma stated, “I cannot appreciate the ignorance involved to attack our fellow outdoorsmen.

We should be redirecting these efforts toward the anti groups against our hunting heritage, our guns, our ethics and so much more.”

Karl Kinsel, executive See SHOWDOWN, Page 15

Black drum congregating in deep channels

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Tino Mendietta knows how to catch big black drum during their annual late winter run on his home waters in Baffin Bay. The 20-year-old Kingsville native enjoys nothing more than hopping on his kayak and heading to the bay in search of the big uglies.

“January through March, I will anchor up in windy weather throwing out multiple (five to six) rods at a time with a double-drop leader to catch my drum,” Mendietta said. “I use nothing but Fishbites Fish'n Strips for bait. The clearer water is producing about the same or a little better See BLACK DRUM, Page 15

DRUM RUN: Guide Scott Isbell holds a black drum caught in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel on a cracked crab. The big drum are running in channels up and down the coast. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

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March 9, 2012

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March 9, 2012

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HUNTING

Plenty of 2-year-old toms expected for turkey season

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS After a 2011 spring of searing temperatures and no rain, there won’t be many jakes running around the turkey woods this spring thanks to almost no nesting last year.

But that could be OK for hunters, because the spring of 2010 was a banner year for turkey production, and many of those now-mature birds will be ready to get in on breeding this spring.

That spells opportunity for the hunter.

“It’s looking green out there already,” said Jason Hardin, turkey biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “We had almost no production last year, except maybe a little bit in the eastern Panhandle. I’m happy to see the early greenup and I’m hoping it stays green long enough to get some nests going.”

Hardin said he has already heard reports of gobbling, but said it isn’t unusual for toms to start early. He also said the hens won’t be ready to breed for a few weeks.

“It might kick off a little early this year,” Hardin said.

“Maybe a few days early, but

not a month early. There is some gobbling activity but not many of the hens are interested. The gobblers are always a little early.”

Hardin predicted hunter success in two regions.

“The eastern Panhandle always gets production, even in drought,” he said. “There is a better age structure out there with lots of birds and lots of gobblers in those river bottoms.

“The Hill Country would be my second choice. There are more hunters there, but there is a lot of water, good roosting sites and a lot of birds.”

Reports out of the eastern Panhandle prove that Hardin is correct. Lots of mature birds have been seen around Stinnett and other ranches with water and roosting sites.

Reports of early gobbling have also come from the San Angelo and Abilene areas.

Hunters are reminded several regulation changes take effect for the 2012 season. TPWD closed spring turkey hunting in the following 15 East Texas counties in response to low eastern turkey populations and harvest numbers: Cherokee, Delta, Gregg, Hardin, Houston, Hunt, Liberty, Montgomery, See TURKEY SEASON, Page 18

TIME FOR GOBBLING: Hunters can expect plenty of gobbling action from older toms this season. But after a dry 2011, poult production was severely limited, meaning hunters won’t see many jakes. Photos by David J. Sams, LSON.

A numbers game Pronghorn transplant program on hold after harsh 2011

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS “We have to get out of the drought,” said Dr. Louis Harveson of the Borderland Research Institute at Sul Ross State University.

That is the sentiment of a group of researchers involved in moving herds of pronghorn antelope from the Panhandle to the Trans-Pecos region, where numbers have dwindled over the past 20 years from a high of 17,226 animals in 1987 to the current number of 3,745.

The group released 194 animals last year, and watched as the pronghorns succumbed to disease, predation and starvation due to poor range conditions.

“We started out a little late and just had some really bad luck,” Harveson said.

“When we made the decision to relocate in 2010, range conditions were pretty good.”

Harveson said a number of factors contributed to the decline, including parasitic worms, predation by coyotes and bobcats, stress from the move and lack of nutrition. Forty animals were fitted with radio collars, but 26 died within eight weeks of

BAD YEAR: Researchers and biologists are disappointed in the results of transplanting pronghorn last year. Dr. Louis Harveson said when better conditions arise, the transplant program will begin again. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.

being released. Another 26 fawns were fitted with collars, but only two made it past six months.

“Fawn survival was almost zero across the entire range,” Harveson said. “That is one of the most concerning things because we

can’t get numbers up without fawn recruitment. We are wasting our time if no fawns survive.”

See PRONGHORN TRANSPLANT, Page 23

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March 9, 2012

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Want to predict next deer season’s success?

Try the FDI (Forb Diversity Index)

PROTOTYPE: Nicknamed “Patti Marie,” this bobwhite quail was used to make a discovery that might help scientists find ways to reverse the specie’s drastic population decline. Photo by Joe Crafton.

Genetic ‘breakthrough’ might aid quail recovery

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS “Patti Marie” was the nickname given to a female bobwhite quail harvested last summer by special permit at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch near Roby.

But unlike other chicknurturing hens, she might be remembered for a different contribution — a scientific breakthrough that researchers hope may someday help reverse dwindling populations of bobwhite quail in Texas.

Pattie Marie became

the “prototype specimen” for a RPQRR project that found the first complete sequencing of the bobwhite quail genome.

An animal’s genome, researchers explain, is the total of all hereditary information that is encoded within its DNA. Researchers hope similar data from other quail will help identify quail lineages with robust genes that resist stressors, especially diseases.

See GENETIC, Page 18

ber of forbs and the number of species of forbs in a square meter,” Huey said.

“But I felt like forb diversity was important as well.

Whitetails have pointy noses, and every animal with a pointy nose is a selective feeder — the more choices, the better.”

Since the Chaparrosa is so huge, Huey uses 17 different posts set one mile apart to get a more complete set of information. A grid is placed at the post and the counting starts.

Huey has performed these counts of the species and numbers of forbs at these locations for each of the past 14 years.

“Then I take the number of species and divide by the square root of the total number of forbs,” he said.

“The number will come out to something less than HOW MANY? Chris Huey prepares to count forbs (herbaceous plants that are not grasses) in a one-meter square one, so 0.1 to 0.5 is not set at one of 17 posts on the Chaparrosa Ranch. Huey’s formula allows him to predict next deer season’s sucgood, and 0.9 is real good.” cess. Photo by Chris Huey.

The counts have varied widely over the years. antler development and imenting, Chris Huey, wildBy Craig Nyhus “Last year it was zero,” life biologist at the 85,000- fawn survival to see whether LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS acre Chaparrosa Ranch in we could use it as an indica- Huey said, noting the drought. “In 2010 there Wildlife biologists are Zavala County, may have tor for white-tailed deer.” always looking for new and come up with the answer.

The process is simple, weren’t the fall rains to creative ways to predict the “A forb index has been although the formula is a help the plants germinate, so even though there were success of the deer herd and used annually by the quail little more complex. the hunting season.

“Similar to the quail index, researchers,” Huey said. “I And after 14 years of exper- started applying things like we count the total numSee PREDICT, Page 22

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March 9, 2012

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Texan arrested on black rhino horn trafficking charges

Photo by USFWS.

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

CRASH: Federal agents have seized dozens of black rhino horns and millions of dollars in assets in “Operation Crash.” The term “crash” is used for a herd of rhinos. Photo by Lili Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

A black market ring accused in the illegal trafficking of endangered black rhinoceros horns was disrupted in February with arrests of several suspects around the U.S., including a man from Texas.

Federal agents arrested Jarrod Wade Steffen, 32, of Hico in an undercover investigation called “Operation Crash.”

Steffen, other suspects on both coasts, and a man from China are accused of knowingly selling horns from African black rhinos, which are protected by the Endangered Species Act. Demand for these horns accelerated tremendously in recent years to supply growing markets, principally in Asia, according to the federal criminal complaint.

“There’s a huge demand in China and Vietnam right now,” said Special Agent Mike Merida of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Fort Worth.

“Several years ago a Vietnamese official came out and said he cured his

cancer with rhino horn and the demand exploded from there.”

But black rhino horns have no known medicinal benefits, Merida said.

“It’s just made from keratin, which the same stuff your fingernails are made out of,” he said.

Nevertheless, Merida said, demand for the rhino horns has spurred an tremendous growth in poaching in Africa.

The criminal complaint alleges that the suspects conspired to traffic black rhino horns from August 2011 until their arrests in early February.

It further claims that Steffen would purchase and resell the horns, “sometimes by use of a straw buyer to conceal the interstate nature of the transaction.”

For example, undercover agents observed Steffen in October 2011 outside a reputable trophy mount auction in Fort Worth. In the parking lot, he met with another man who bought three rhino shoulder mounts at the auction.

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The burly white -tailed buck ha d made regula all summer long r appearances . When hunting on trail camera season came to County, HANNAH photos the 2K Poole Ra LAURENCE, 10 nch in San Saba , of Thorndale eight-pointer. Sh had high expect e closed the de ations of taggin al with a 64-gra rifle. “She hit it g the in bonded bulle right behind th t from a .223-c e shoulder and dad, Joe Molde aliber it only ran abou nhour. Joe adde t 50 yards,” sa d that Hannah shoulder mount id her is especially ex will be on the wa cited that her de ll with trophies er's taken by the re st of the family .

Those horns, according to the complaint, were subsequently intercepted by agents from a package shipped by Steffen’s wife to a nail salon in Southern California.

That business allegedly received several horn shipments from other suspects in the case.

The ESA outlaws the sale of black rhino horns across state lines, although it is legal to buy and possess them within a state where they are purchased, Merida said.

Black rhino horn can fetch as much as $25,000 per pound on the black market, according to the complaint.

Agents acting on a tip stopped Steffen on Feb. 9 at the Long Beach Airport in California. A search of his luggage turned up $337,000 in cash.

Arrests of the other suspects followed in California, New Jersey and New York.

Merida confirmed that Steffen had competed in rodeos and that he was allowed to continue back to Texas where he was arrested Feb. 18 in Hico.

Steffen’s wife and mother were with him in California. They were not arrested as of late February, but the investigation was continuing, Merida said.

During raids of California businesses, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement found 37 rhino horns, gold bars, diamonds and Rolex watches. Agents also seized about $1 million in cash and another $1 million in gold ingots, officials said.

The charges carry maximum penalties of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy; five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for Lacey Act violations; and up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for violations of the ESA.

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Wildlife tax exemption ins and outs

By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Livestock has often been the answer for landowners to obtain an agricultural tax exemption. Owners of hunting property, though, don’t always want cattle on their property, at least not all of the time.

For several years, the opportunity to claim a wildlife appraisal to obtain a tax exemption on property has been in place. But the process can be daunting.

“There are rules in several different places, the Tax Code, the Texas Administrative Code, and there are comptroller-created rules to go along with the guidelines created

by TPWD,” said Keith Olenick, senior biologist at Texas Wildlife Company.

“It can be hard for a landowner making the switch to a wildlife exemption.”

An existing agricultural valuation is necessary before converting to a wildlife exemption, and then an application form and a wildlife management plan must be submitted to the appropriate central appraisal district.

“The application is available online, and the plan is based on a Texas Parks and Wildlife-created form, about 10 pages long,” Olenick said.

The landowner can complete the form, but a biologist-prepared form covers the bases a landowner might miss that result in the application being denied, Olenick said.

“A lot of appraisal districts want more than the basic information,” he explained.

“They want to see maps and descriptions of the activities that will take place. They aren’t always quick to agree to reduced taxes on thousands of acres in their district.”

The Texas Tax Code includes wildlife management in the definition of agricultural uses of land and defines wildlife management.

“Basically, the plan must designate a targeted, native species and the practices need to benefit that species,” Olenick said. “This is the reason most plans are denied.”

“You can’t get the exemption for exotics or fish. But smaller properties have obtained plans for dove, rabbits, squirrels, songbirds, even butterflies.

“If the property is small, deer wouldn’t be the

right choice. Appraisal districts don’t like to see plans for deer if the land is less than 100 acres.”

The landowner then must set out specific activities that will “propagate a sustaining breeding, migrating, or wintering population of indigenous wild animals for human use, including food, medicine or recreation,” according to the Tax Code.

For land to qualify under Wildlife Management Use, the landowner must implement at least three of seven approved practices: habitat control, erosion control, predator control, supplemental supplies of water, supplemental supplies of food, providing shelter and making census counts.

Habitat control includes things like brush management, prescribed burning and even deer harvesting since too many deer can destroy a lot of habitat, Olenick said.

Predator control seems like an easy item, but approval requires more than just ridding the property of a few hogs or coyotes.

“The guidelines aren’t clear, but if you’re trapping hogs, they will look at how many traps and how often it’s being done. It needs to have an impact on what you are trying to control,” Olenick said.

“A shoot-on-sight policy for hogs might be enough if there is hunting going on throughout the year, whereas weekend hunters there for five weekends each year may not be enough.”

Supplemental water includes items such as rainwater collection systems, livestock troughs if they are modified to allow the targeted species to get water (especially in cases of wild turkey and quail) and building wetlands for migratory birds.

Owners planning to apply for a wildlife exemption this year may want to get busy.

Applications to central appraisal districts are due by April 30. If the plan is approved, it is retroactive to Jan. 1.

“So the landowner needs to start doing the practices in the plan right away, like brush management and surveys,” Olenick said.

Olenick offered a final tip.

“Don’t be afraid to work with your appraisal district and tell them what you are doing,” he said. “Then, when they receive the plan, they will have expected it. That is looked at differently than a plan that is received without notice on April 30.”

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FISHING

White bass bite on across Texas

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Trout numbers on the rise up and down coast Ask almost any guide who fishes the Laguna Madre these days and they’ll tell you: Trout numbers have never been better.

That might be expected with a lower, five-fish limit in the Laguna Madre, but trout numbers are rising from South Padre to Sabine Lake, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists.

“What the guides are reporting is accurate,” said Mark Fisher, science director for TPWD. “We saw the biggest increases in our bag seine surveys along the middle coast this year.”

Fisher said low trout production before 2010 set the stage for the explosion of juvenile trout in the bay systems the past three years.

“The last three years we have been at or broken new records for numbers of juvenile trout,” he said. “We’ve now had three very strong classes. I think the lack of competition for the young trout has helped them rebound. When they don’t have to compete as hard for food with other, bigger trout, it makes it easier for them to grow.”

Fisher said the winter kill several years ago probably added to the earlier decline, but trout numbers were declining even before those bad freezes.

Anglers should expect trout born in 2010 to be of legal size this season “It takes two years for a female fish to get to legal size,” he said. “The males take a little longer, but anglers should be seeing the results of these good classes soon.”

—Conor Harrison

The two anglers hunted all morning for just the right spot on a creek near the Trinity River just north of Lake Livingston.

After fishing for more than three hours on a cold, windy morning, guide Simon Cosper and his angler had caught a lot of white bass, but they were all small males.

“This cold weather might have bumped them back toward the main Trinity River, but they are stacked up somewhere,” Cosper said. “We’ll find the females eventually.”

And they did.

Around 1 p.m., they found a riverbank lined with reeds and a small sandbar that dropped into a deeper channel about 5 feet from the bank. The females were stacked against the drop-off, and the pair caught their limits during the next two hours.

Small white grubs on a 1/4-ounce jig head and Panther Martin spinner baits put most of the fish in the boat.

The white bass run is in full swing across most of the state, with good catches of males and females reported along the Trinity and Sabine rivers, Cedar Creek, and several North Texas creeks.

However, low water stunted the run at the popular Highway 59 bridge on the Nueces River.

“In the past three days of fishing, we’ve put 400 in the boat,” said Sabine River guide Rusty Ivy. “We are catching both males and females on Road Runners.”

Ivy said chartreuse and white were the colors that have been the most effective.

Ivy said he expects the run in his area around Carthage to last a few more weeks.

“I hope it does,” he said. “I don’t think it will fall off that fast as long as the weather stays the same.”

In North Texas, reports of the run were starting to trickle in from places like Denton Creek, north of Grapevine Lake, and Cedar Creek.

Angler Doyle Holman posted on the Texas Fishing Forum that he had a good day recently on Cedar Creek, catching lots of whites in

20-25 feet of water midday working rainbow silver shad slabs slowly along the bottom.

Reports had the action heating up on Denton Creek, with limits of males being caught recently with word that the females were headed up the creek and should be at the prime fishing spots by mid-March.

Many anglers park near the U.S. 377 Bridge and walk upstream to the better holes.

Guide Simon Cosper, (936) 355-2889 Guide Rusty Ivy, (903) 692-1193

READY FOR A FISH FRY: The annual white bass run is peaking in rivers across the state this month. Large catches have been reported from the Sabine River to Denton Creek. Photos by Conor Harrison, LSON.

Improved habitat, stocking enhances Guadalupe trout

By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Memories of a rainbow trout fishing trip on the Guadalupe River in the early 1980s brought Terry Bagley of Houston back to the river late last month for the first time in more than 30 years to renew his battle of angler versus fish.

The memory of fishing was not so much on his mind as the picture of a big rainbow he caught in those younger days.

“We cooked it and ate it that night and it fed the four of us with no problem,” he said. “That is when I looked at it and realized it stretched all the way across the grill.

“That trout must have been at least 24 inches long and probably was a river record.”

Like a good number of anglers who take advantage of the southernmost freshwater trout fishery in the United States, Bagley and his 24-year-old son, Bryan Bagley of San Antonio, discovered they had a good chance of hooking into an eating-size trout this year.

With the area suffering from an extended drought last year, there has been no flooding, which flushes BACK TO THE GUADALUPE: Bryan Bagley of San Antonio joins his father, Terry Bagley of Houston (background), in pursuit stocked rainbows from deeper holes of rainbow trout on the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country. Terry wanted to fish the spot where he landed a 24inch trout back in the 1980s. Photo by Ralph Winingham for LSON. and eddies.

Good numbers of fish are being reported in many areas along the river in late winter.

Mark Dillow, president of the Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, said that without the typical annual flooding, there has been more vegetation retained along the river and that has resulted in trout forage hatches unseen for nearly 20 years.

“There has been a return of scuds and insect hatches of mayflies and stoneflies,” Dillow said. “The trout have good food sources but still need a place to hide from predators.

“That is why we are working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on the possible development of improved habitat along the river. We love to see those big cyprus trees where the trout can hide in their roots, but a good alternative is timbers driven into the bank that creates an undercurrent for the fish.’’

Steve Magnelia, in-stream flow studies leader for TPWD, said that habitat restoration has been discussed.

“Typically, the river is not a good habitat for aquatic insects. The flooding See GUADALUPE TROUT, Page 23

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Barnacle bandits caught in POC

SUCCESS: According to guide Curtiss Cash, the first POC Sheepshead tournament was a success, with plenty of fish caught for a fish fry, money raised for the local fire department and anglers’ spending boosted the local economy. Photo by LSON.

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Despite drizzling rain and wind, the first annual Port O’Connor Barnacle Bandit Blowout Sheepshead Tournament Feb. 25 was a success, said tournament director Capt. Curtiss Cash.

“It went better than expected,” Cash said. “The weather was not very desirable, but we had 26 teams comprised of 70 anglers. It was drizzling rain and in the

50s, so a lot of teams waited until noon to go out.”

Two teams ran away with the top prizes.

Team Byrd, led by Fort Worth angler Jerry Crosby, took first place for biggest fish with a 5.78-pound sheepshead.

Team Rodholder, led

by Tom Aguilar from San Antonio, took first place in the largest five-fish stringer and heaviest total donation of fish with 71.96 pounds.

“It was a great tournament,” Crosby said. “It was a

bit miserable weather-wise, though. It actually sleeted on us as we headed out. The first fish we caught was the big fish winner.”

Crosby said his boat was using live shrimp with a splitshot rig in 8 feet of water.

“They were pounding it,” he said. “This tournament was for a good cause, and we will definitely be fishing it next year.”

The money raised was donated to the Port O’Connor Fire Department and the leftover fish from the afternoon fish fry went to the local Meals on Wheels. A total of 540 pounds of fish were turned in for the fish fry and donation.

Aguilar agreed that the tournament was a lot of fun and his team will be participating next year.

“It was a very good tournament except for the weather,” Aguilar said. “We caught all of the fish on dead shrimp. We usually fish for sheepshead in the winter because we kind of know where they hang out.

“We also caught some redfish and black drum.”

Cash said the community really got behind the tournament, which brought needed revenue to Port O’Connor.

“Three weeks ago, I wasn’t sure if this was going to happen,” he said. “We got a very positive response from the community, and they really came out and helped.

“Most of the anglers came from out of town and gave a boost to the local economy.

“I can’t wait to do it again next year.”

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Whites hot on Buchanan LAKE BUCHANAN — Guide Ray Williamson said the fishWillia i has been good the ing past few weeks for white bass, stripers and hybrids.

“Th “The whites are running and full of eggs,” Williamson said. “I’m using white and chartreuse jigs near the bottom in about 27 feet of water.”

Williamson said the stripers have been active using gizzard and threadfin shad about 4-5 inches long.

“Drifting over treetops has been good,” he said. “They are coming up out of the trees to hammer the shad.”

Williamson said he hasn’t been fishing for largemouth bass, but has seen them on the beds in shallow water.

Water temperatures on the lake are between 54 and 58 degrees.

To contact Ray Williamson, call (512) 825-8746.

Falcon still solid FALC FALCON FALCO RESERVOIR —O One of the hottest bass lakes in the state, and maybe the entire c country, just keeps producing.

Guide Mike Moody, who normally fishes his home lake, Lake Fork, said he has gone south with clients to Falcon the past month.

“It’s crowded but the fishing has been unbelievable, like it normally is this time of year down here,” he said. “Most of the fish I have been catching are post-spawn from 10 to 15 feet and even out deeper than that.”

Moody said crankbaits such as the DD22 and Carolina-rigged worms have been the best for him.

“We’ve had a few 10-pounders,” he said. “All of the bass have good size on them, though.”

The water is stained and between 58 and 62 degrees.

To contact Mike Moody, call (903) 839-1511.

Spawn on at Caddo CADDO LAKE — Some big bass have come out of Caddo Lake the past few years, and guide Paul Keith said the big females are makpu right now to ing a push spawn. sp pa “It’s been pretty good,” Keith said.

“I’ve been out “ the past few days and we are catching some nice fish. We already had one spawn around the first of February with the warm weather which was a little unusual, but there is currently another big push on right now.”

Keith said a lot of bass are in 1-3 feet of water, and anglers are catching them using soft plastics, flukes and jigs.

“Things like Senkos in watermelon red and swim jigs in chartreuse and white are working,” he said. “Also, when the water is dirty, spinner baits have been catching fish, especially around Cypress trees.”

Several 9- and 10-pounders have been caught in the lake the past week, according to Keith.

The water temperature is between 51 and 56 degrees.

To contact Paul Keith, call (318) 455-3437.

—Conor Harrison

AMISTAD: Water clear; 52–58 degrees; 17.02’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jerkbaits, spinner baits, crankbaits, swimbaits, soft plastics and jigs. Catfish are fair on cheesebait, shrimp and nightcrawlers over baited holes.

ARROWHEAD: Water off-color; 49–55 degrees; 8.33’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs, spinner baits and shaky heads. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Blue catfish are good on live shad.

ATHENS: Water clear, 52–57 degrees; 3.05’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on watermelon shaky-head worms and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

BASTROP: Water clear; 54–58 degrees.

Largemouth bass are fair on dark soft plastics, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.

BELTON: Water clear; 53–56 degrees; 4.09’ low. Largemouth bass are good on dark soft plastic worms. Hybrid striper are good on live shad early.

White bass are good on minnows and blue tube jigs. Crappie are good on minnows under lights at night in 25–30 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on doughbait and hot dogs.

Yellow catfish are good on trotlines and throwlines baited with live perch.

BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 52–57 degrees; 6.78’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on black/blue jigs, shaky heads with finesse worms and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on live minnows and jigs. White bass are good on top-waters. Catfish are fair to good on trotlines or juglines with soap.

BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on dark soft plastic worms near the jetty and dam. Striped bass are fair on minnows and shad.

BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained; 57–55 degrees; 8.62’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jerkbaits along main lake points and watermelon candy worms around deeper docks. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs (best action midday).

BROWNWOOD: Water lightly stained; 51–55 degrees; 11.59’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed jigs, black/chartreuse soft plastics and perch-colored crankbaits.

White bass are good on shad-colored crankbaits. Crappie are fair on white tube jigs over brush piles.

CALAVERAS: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse soft plastic worms, spinner baits and crankbaits in reed beds. Striped bass are good on silver spoons and jigs near the crappie wall.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 54–58 degrees; 9.41’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse jerkbaits, watermelon jigs and plastic worms along break lines and ledges in 12–20 feet. White bass are good on minnows along the main river channel in 30 feet. Smallmouth bass are good on pumpkinseed curl tail grubs, smoke/red flake tubes and chartreuse drop-shot worms over rock piles in 10–20 feet.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 52–57 degrees; 2.86’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits, shaky heads and black/blue finesse jigs around docks. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. Crappie are fair to good on minnows.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 57–61 degrees; 12.30’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, crankbaits and buzzbaits in grass. White bass are good on minnows and jigs. Crappie are

fair on minnows and blue tube jigs.

Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and live perch.

COLEMAN: Water clear; 53–57 degrees; 15.75’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits and crankbaits.

Hybrid striper are good on perch-colored striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and pink tube jigs. Channel catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.

COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 2.32’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits and soft plastics in 10–20 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with nightcrawlers, liver and shrimp in 8–15 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch in 8–20 feet.

CONROE: Water fairly clear; 54–58 degrees; 4.40’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastics and spinner baits. Striped bass are fair on minnows and green striper jigs.

Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Catfish are good on stinkbait, cut bait and shrimp.

COOPER: Water lightly stained; 51–55 degrees; 7.32’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse shallowrunning crankbaits and Texas-rigged craw worms later in the day. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair to good on Sassy Shad and live shad.

Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut bait.

FAYETTE: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp, minnows, and stinkbait.

FORK: Water fairly clear; 52–58 degrees; 5.51’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black/blue or green pumpkin flipping jigs rigged with beaver-type baits — concentrate on the wood cover near creek channel bends. Bladed jigs with small swimbait trailers are also working. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad and prepared bait.

FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 51–55 degrees; 9.87’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on shallow crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, Texas rigs and jigs.

Crappie are fair to good on live minnows. White bass are fair to good on slabs and small spoons. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear.

Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on shrimp, cut bait, and liver.

GRANBURY: Water clear; 52–56 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass are very good on chartreuse/red soft plastics and spinner baits over grass.

Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs.

GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 51–55 degrees; Full pool. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon Texasrigged worms, watermelon finesse jigs, lipless crankbaits, and jerkbaits along main lake points. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 60–64 degrees; 1.66’ low. Largemouth bass to 9 pounds are excellent on spinner baits, crankbaits, buzzbaits and soft plastic lizards around points, coves, drop-offs, stumps and along sandy banks in 4–7 feet. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs around piers and rocks near the dam. Channel and blue catfish to 7 pounds are good on juglines baited with chicken hearts.

creature baits, square-bill crankbaits, HUBBARD CREEK: 50–57 degrees; 14.5’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits. White bass are shaky heads with 7” worms, jigs and excellent on humps in 17–23 feet with Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and hybrids mixed in. Catfish are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on prepared prepared baits. bait and nightcrawlers.

RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 51–57 51–56 degrees; 2.00’ low. Largemouth degrees; 0.95’ high. Largemouth bass bass are slow, most bites coming on are good on Texas-rigged creature black/blue 1/2 oz. jigs around standing baits, lipless crankbaits, and smaller timber near creek channels. White jigs — midday bite has been best. bass are fair in 35 feet of water on 1 Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. oz. slabs fished very slowly.

White bass are good on slabs. Catfish RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water stained; are fair to good on prepared baits.

51–56 degrees; 2.67’ low. Largemouth LAKE O' THE PINES: Water lightly stained; bass are good on shaky heads and 52–56 degrees; 2.55’ low. Largemouth creature baits around docks. Squarebass are good on Texas-rigged worms, billed crankbaits are producing spinner baits and shallow crankbaits numbers as well. Catfish are fair on along main lake points. Isolated cover is prepared bait and nightcrawlers. the key. Crappie are good on minnows SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad.

54–57 degrees; 7.02’ low. Largemouth LAVON: Water lightly stained; 52–38 bass are good on green pumpkin and degrees; 4.52’ low. Largemouth bass watermelon soft plastics, crankbaits are good on Texas-rigged creature baits, and buzzbaits. White bass are good on black/brown jigs and square-billed live minnows and chartreuse jigs. Crapcrankbaits. White bass are good on pie are good on minnows and pink tube slabs. Crappie are good on minnows jigs. Catfish are good on shrimp, liver and jigs around bridge columns. Catfish and cut bait. are good on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 52–56 deLBJ: Water clear; 53–57 degrees; 0.19’ grees; 2.83’ low. Largemouth bass are low. Largemouth bass are good on fair on minnows. Crappie are excellent watermelon jigs and chartreuse lipless on minnows and pink tube jigs. Chancrankbaits from docks. White bass nel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp are good on silver spoons and Spoiler and stinkbait.

Shads in main lake channels. Crappie TAWAKONI: Water stained; 52–57 are fair on minnows over brush piles. degrees; 3.75’ low. Largemouth bass LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 51–56 are good on black/blue 1/2 oz. jigs and degrees; 0.81’ low. Largemouth bass are sun perch-colored chatter jigs. Crappie slow on medium-running crankbaits and are fair on 1/16 oz. curl tail grubs and suspending jerkbaits along riprap near the small minnows on docks, bridge pildam. Larger rock along main lake points ings and deep timber. White bass are are producing as well. Later in the day, excellent on white slabs and tailspins watermelon finesse jigs in the same areas — schooling on points early and late. are effective. Crappie are fair on minnows Striped bass and hybrid striper are and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. good on 4” to 6” white or shad-pattern Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and Sassy Sassy Shad in the shallows early then Shad. Catfish are good on prepared bait. suspending deep during the day — LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 55–59 drifting live bait is also producing. degrees; 0.18’ high. Largemouth bass Catfish are excellent in deep water are very good on chartreuse crankbaits, drifting cut bait and fresh shad. soft plastics, spinner baits, slabs and TEXOMA: Water fairly clear; 51–55 jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. degrees; 1.22’ low. Largemouth bass Blue catfish are good on shad. are fair on suspending jerkbaits and O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 51–57 medium-running crankbaits along rocky degrees; 37.94’ low. Largemouth bass points with larger rock. Striped bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, jigs and and hybrid striper are good on slabs. spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 53–57 and jigs. White bass are fair to good degrees; 5.53’ low. Largemouth bass on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on are good on watermelon and charnightcrawlers. treuse soft plastics, spinner baits and OAK CREEK: Water stained; 50–56 lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on degrees; 14.24’ low. Largemouth minnows and pink tube jigs. Bream are bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, good on worms. chatterbaits and shaky heads. CrapTRAVIS: Water lightly stained; 53–57 pie are fair to good on live minnows degrees; 50.15’ low. Largemouth and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on bass are fair on buzzbaits, flukes and nightcrawlers. crawfish crankbaits in 6–18 feet.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; White bass are good on chartreuse 52–57 degrees; 2.51’ low. Largemouth crankbaits, white grubs and minnows bass are good on black and blue jigs, in 10–25 feet. Crappie are good on shaky heads and bladed jigs. The jig minnows in 10–20 feet. bite is consistent around docks that WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. have deeper water as well as isolated Largemouth bass are good on minnows cover along points. Crappie are good and watermelon soft plastics. Hybrid on minnows and jigs. White bass are striper are good on minnows and white fair to good on slabs and minnows. striper jigs. White bass are very good Catfish are good on prepared bait. on minnows and Li’l Fishies.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 51–56 50–58 degrees; 10.67’ low. Largemouth degrees; 2.40’ low. Largemouth bass bass are fair on jigs, chatterbaits and are slow on shallow-running crankbaits, Texas rigs. Crappie are fair to good on shaky heads and Texas rig creature minnows and jigs. White bass are fair baits — target any shallow cover. Crapto good on slabs and small swimbaits. pie are good on minnows and jigs.

Striped bass are fair to good on live WHITNEY: Water stained; 52–56 degrees; shad. Catfish are fair to good on 2.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on nightcrawlers. swimbaits and chartreuse RAY HUBBARD: Water soft plastic lizards along fairly clear; 51–55 ■ See Saltwater fishing break lines. White bass are degrees; 1.87’ low. fair on silver Pirk Minnows. reports: Page 14 Largemouth bass are —TPWD good on Texas-rigged

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March 9, 2012

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It’s not just for bass anymore Lake Fork carp and buffalo tournament sets records

By Shannon Drawe FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Carp fishing and Lake Fork aren’t often used in the same sentence. Fork, known internationally for its largemouth bass, isn’t well known for carp or smallmouth buffalo fishing.

However, if the results from the inaugural Lake Fork Carp and Buffalo Challenge March 1-3 are any indication, that reputation could change.

The two standing water-body records for buffalo and common carp fell during the tournament with new records of 66 pounds and 35 pounds, respectively.

The team of Mario Damian and Miguel Ruiz of Los Angeles, Calif. landed the lake record smallmouth buffalo at 58 pounds, 1 ounce. But the record stood for mere hours until the team of Mihai Acui and Bogdan Bucur of Chicago, Ill., topped it with a 66-pound behemoth. The

BIG CATCH: Ryan Pinkston of Center caught this 14.20-pound largemouth Feb. 25 while fishing in the Bass-N-Bucks tournament on Toledo Bend Reservoir.

He won the tournament with a total bag of 36.06 pounds. Photo by Bass-N-Bucks.

Kicker helps to win tournament

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Fishing’s fandom on Feb. 25 was focused on the Red River in Louisiana, where elite anglers battled for the Bassmaster Classic trophy — the holy grail of professional fishing.

The biggest fish caught there was 6.13 pounds, boated by Keith Poche of Alabama. Meanwhile, about 83 miles south of the Classic, a Bass-N-Bucks tournament was underway on Toledo Bend Reservoir, where the top fish bested Poche’s bass by 8 pounds.

Ryan Pinkston, 31, of Center caught the 14.20-pound lunker while fishing alone on the Texas side of the immense reservoir on the border with Louisiana. The bass helped Pinkston win the tournament and the event’s biggest fish award.

While fishing on the “midto-north end” of the lake, the big fish hit on Pinkston’s Jewel heavy cover football jig with a homemade black-and-blue skirt.

The stump-studded water was 60 degrees and about 5 feet deep, and the angler had a fight on his hands as she darted beneath the boat.

The big bass made the bulk of Pinkston’s 36-pound bag that won first place and $6,820 in prize money.

Pinkston wanted to donate the fish to the state’s breeding program, so he took it to a holding tank at the Toledo Town and Tackle in Many, La. But the wrong fish, an 11.7-pounder, was accidentally picked up and Pinkston’s fish was released. TPWD officials said the fish was still a valid entry into the program because it was weighed on a certified scale.

“My main concern was the fish getting back into Toledo Bend alive, and ultimately, that is what happened,” said Pinkston.

water-body common carp record fell as well, with a 35-pounder landed by the team of Paul Dinea and Ioan Iacob, also from Chicago.

The 44-hour tournament sports a style unusual to most fishermen. Teams are assigned “pegs,” precise spots where they will be fishing and camping for the duration of the tournament. The day before the event begins, they are allowed to bait their areas with concoctions that they hope will draw carp and buffalo into their areas.

The bait concoctions, often secret, vary from corn of all kinds, handmade organic baits, cereal, spices and other ingredients. Launched from slingshots and rocket-shaped containers, the baits travel more than 100 yards from shore.

The unique gear enables the angler to cast large balls of carp bait as far as 150 yards with a modest amount of effort — using 12-foot rods and spinning reels specifically designed for Euro-Style carp fishing.

Once the bait is set out, typically with three rods per fisherman, the rods are placed in cradles with line alarms on them that make an audible noise when a potential carp is starting to take the bait.

Then the waiting begins. Fishing contin-

RIGGED UP: Austin Anderson, of Coppell, the youngest tournament participant at age 16, sets one of his rods just after sunrise on Lake Fork. Photo by Shannon Drawe, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

ues, both day and night, while participants catch naps, launch chum, sleep, eat and live on their pegs in hopes of catching huge common carp and buffalo smallmouth.

“It’s camping with a purpose,” contestant Erick Maybury of Dallas said. “Bass fishing is a quick in-and-out thing where there’s not a lot of time or opportunity for families to bond like on a camping trip. This is camping with the common bond of fishing.”

Other participants want the shot at a big fish.

“It’s pretty much the only way to catch a carp over 50 pounds,” said Austin Anderson of Coppell, the youngest participant at age 16.

The final numbers proved that big bass and big carp can coexist. The Dinea/Iacob team topped the Big 4 Carp category with 116 pounds, 1 ounce. In the Big 4 Buffalo category, the Damian/Ruiz team took the top prize with 213 pounds, 1 ounce.

Tournament officials believe the tournament will put Lake Fork on the Euro Carp fishing map.

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March 9, 2012

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER TRESPASSING POACHERS SUSPECTED OF ARSON, BURGLARY Llano County Game Warden Kevin Webb received information on two subjects who had been hunting without consent on a Llano County ranch. The investigation revealed the pair had trespassed and killed a doe. Also, the investigation revealed multiple other felonies including arson and burglary in at least three counties. One subject has been located and the other is still at large.

Other cases including hunting without consent and waste of game will be filed.

WARDENS OUTSMART ARTIFACT DIGGERS Gillespie County Game Warden Scott Krueger was contacted by a rancher regarding trespassers who had been digging on his Kimble County ranch for Indian artifacts.

Krueger, his partner Sam Harris, and Kimble County Game Warden Lee Morrison set up a trail camera and began surveillance of the area. As Krueger walked to the site, he saw four subjects actively digging. He backed off and called Morrison for assistance. The two wardens walked in from opposite directions and took the four into custody without incident. When Krueger drove in to the ranch to transport everyone out, he saw another subject running through the brush. Krueger apprehended their lookout after a short foot chase.

Of the five, the three adults were convicted felons and a juvenile had recently been released from juvenile detention and was on probation. The five told the wardens their plan was to split up and run if confronted, “but y’all were good and got on us before we could even think about running.”

The four adults were booked into Kimble County Jail and the juvenile was released to his mother.

WARDEN’S QUICK ACTION NABS THIEVES AT BOAT RAMP LOT, RECOVERS PROPERTY Jackson County Game Warden Kevin Stancik observed a car next to two vehicles with boat trailers in the parking lot of the FM 616–Lavaca River public boat ramp.

Stancik observed two people jump into the car and leave quickly. Next to the one of the vehicle-trailers was a speaker and speaker box on the ground. Stancik caught up to the suspect car and noticed it had no taillights, so he conducted a traffic stop. As Stancik approached the driver side of the vehicle, he noticed a stereo and other electronic equipment lying on the back seat. About that time, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher THREE CAUGHT FISHING ON MINING PROPERTY Titus County Game Warden Jerry Ash caught two men trespassing on Luminant Mining property and fishing without consent. Later that evening in a different area of Luminant, Ash caught another man trespassing.

Non-consent affidavits were signed

by Luminant and all were cited.

UNDERSIZED CATFISH DON’T GET COOKED Austin County Game Warden Sonny Alaniz observed two subjects fishing in the late hours of the day at Lake Somerville. The two men were talking about how they were going to cook the catfish they had caught. When he checked the pair, Alaniz found a stringer full of catfish, some of which were undersized. The subjects claimed they were going to release them after they took a picture. A citation was issued for possession of undersized catfish, and the fish were released.

EAST TEXAS BUCK TAKEN AT NIGHT Nacogdoches County Game Wardens Heath Bragg and Randy Stovall cited two men for killing a

contacted Stancik via radio and advised that the owner of a vehicle under the bridge had just called to report that someone had broken into his truck and stolen a stereo and other stuff. Stancik detained the two suspects and waited for sheriff’s deputy backup. Both suspects were arrested for burglary of a motor vehicle and the missing property was identified by the owner. Items recovered were a $600 stereo, amplifier, GPS, radar detector, two large books of CDs with the owner’s name on them, cell phone and chargers and speakers. The outside door locks on the truck had been punched and pried open.

white-tailed deer with the aid of artificial light. The deer scored 128 inches. Case and civil restitution pending.

SPOTLIGHTERS GET LAW ENFORCEMENT SURPRISE Archer County Game Warden Richard Key was on routine patrol when he observed a vehicle turn onto a county road and immediately begin shining a spotlight. Key proceeded to follow the vehicle and observed it for about 45 minutes. The Archer County Sheriff’s Office, DPS and Holliday police all responded. Three individuals were identified and numerous loaded firearms were found along with two spotlights. The three individuals conceded that they had been hunting from the road. Citations were issued for hunting from a public road. Cases pending.

RUNNING FROM WARDENS RESULTS IN NIGHT IN JAIL Bexar County Game Wardens Kathleen Stuman, David Solis and David Chavez were patrolling Calaveras Lake by boat and observed a group of people fishing on private

property. As the wardens made their approach, one man began to walk away from the area. After Chavez repeatedly shouted commands, the man began to run toward his vehicle parked on the neighboring property.

Chavez and Solis gave chase and caught the individual shortly after.

The man was placed under arrest for evading arrest or detention and agricultural trespass, and then taken to San Antonio’s jail, where he spent the night. Other members of the party were issued citations and then escorted off the property.

ROAD HUNTERS SHOOT PAST WAITING WARDEN Wharton County Game Warden Chris Bird was patrolling for waterfowl hunting activity when he received information about several subjects hunting waterfowl from their vehicle on private property. As Bird watched, a vehicle came parallel to his location and stopped on the county road. Not knowing that Bird and his vehicle were only 100 yards away and in line with their target, the subjects fired several rounds from a .223-caliber AR-15.

The subjects were issued citations

for hunting from a public road and no hunter education. Cases pending.

STOLEN FOUR-WHEELER RECOVERED AFTER FLEA MARKET SALE Leon County Game Warden Oscar Henson responded to a four-wheeler complaint on a local county road.

Henson was unable to locate the ATVs on the road but did notice a small campfire and loud music coming from a camp just off the roadway. Henson along with a Leon County deputy checked with the camp occupants and found a Polaris four-wheeler with a broken key switch. One man claimed it was his and that he bought it from a man on the side of the road, later changing his story to eBay. After running the VIN number, the four-wheeler came back stolen in 2010. The man finally confessed he bought it at a flea market. The ATV was seized and the man claiming ownership was taken into custody. Cases pending.

CANOE THIEF GETS LUCKY Grayson County Game Warden Dale Moses passed a pickup with a kayak and a canoe in the bed leaving Lake Texoma. A few hundred yards down the road, a vehicle flagged him down. The driver told Moses that the pickup he had just passed had stolen his canoe. When he caught up with the pickup, Moses asked the driver if the canoe was his and he said, “No, I found it on the lake.”

The owner decided not to prosecute since he got his canoe back.

SELLER OF GAME FISH A man selling game fish was reported to Trinity County Game Wardens Sam Shanafelt and Randy Watts. The man had sold crappie and flathead catfish. The wardens interviewed the subject and issued citations for no commercial fishing license and illegal sale of protected freshwater fish.

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March 9, 2012

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March 9, 2012

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

Trout on shell SABINE LAKE — According to Capt. Randy Foreman, the fishing has been good the past week, especially on the south end of Sabine Lake for trout and redfish.

“The trout are moving in from the Gulf right now,” he said.

“We are catching fish up to 5 and 6 pounds.

The best bite is on an incoming tide at the start and end of high tide. We are fishing shell humps where the fish are running eels which are running glass minnows.”

Foreman said 5-inch plastics in red shad with black and chartreuse tails are working.

“The redfish are also mixed in there,” he said. “The best bite is on the high tide in 8 feet of water. I have also been catching a lot of them in 3-5 feet of water.”

Foreman noted the influx of freshwater in February pushed the bite to the southern edge of the lake. Foreman said the water was clear.

To contact Capt. Randy Foreman, call (409) 719-6067.

Drum, sheepshead and reds biting INDIANOLA — Caleb Bates, manager at the Indianola Fishing Marina on Lavaca Bay, said the trout fishing has been steady

NORTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are fair while drifting mud and shell. Waders have taken better trout on the Louisiana shoreline on slow–sinking plugs.

fair to good on the north shoreline on scented plastics. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp.

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on slow–sinking plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Waders have taken trout in the mud and shell on hard baits in the afternoon. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs.

Flounder have been showing on the shorelines.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair to good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on soft, scented plastics. Redfish are fair to good at the spillway on crabs and mullet.

Recent runoff has made much of the shorelines near the mouth of the Trinity River fresh.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are

TEXAS CITY: Redfish are fair in Moses Lake on shrimp and crabs.

Pier anglers have taken sand trout, black drum and mangrove snapper on fresh shrimp.

the past few days, along with some oversized black drum and redfish.

“There has been a few trout caught,” he said, “but sheepshead are really hot at the moment. We also had a guy that caught a big black drum this weekend. I weighed it myself and it weighed 54.2 pounds. A lot of gafftop are also being caught.”

Bates said the water temperature was around 60 degrees and the waterr was clear.

“The trout are all being caught on artificials,” he said. “The big drum are definitely moving in. We’d fish with crab, but we haven’t been able to get any lately. The guys are out today checking their traps, and if they have any, I will be buying it.”

To contact Indianola Fishing Marina, call (361) 552-5350.

Fish up shallow ARROYO CITY — Capt. Tony David said he had d sseveral groups recently, and when rec the t wind dies down, the t fishing has been pretty good. p

FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Redfish are fair to good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. Redfish are fair to good at the mouths of drains on plastics and shrimp.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell.

Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal and at the mouths of drains on scented plastics and jigs tipped with shrimp.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the south shoreline in the guts and bayous.

Trout are fair in the guts on the

David said trout and redfish were the main species being targeted, and both are being caught in shallow water less than 3 feet deep on scented plastics and spoons.

“The water is pretty muddy right now,” he said. “The water temperature is between 62 and 64 degrees. Along with the reds and trout, I’ve caught a few snook and tarpon the past few days in some secret holes out of the bay.”

To contact Capt. Tony David, call (956) 299-0447.

Lower latitude rumors HOUSTON — The crew from Lone Star Outdoor News spent the March 2-4 weekend at the Houston Fishing Show where there were rumors of big trout along the south coast. g Despite many guides being o ood tight-lipped about how good the action has been, Lower Laguna Madre pros are catching loads of trout up to 10 pounds in very shallow water on big and small top-waters, corkies, Kick-A-Mullets and spooks.

The best weather to catch big trout is on cloudy days.

— Conor Harrison

incoming tide. Sheepshead are good at the jetty on shrimp.

good on shrimp in the channel.

Sheepshead are good at the jetty.

PORT O'CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp and top-waters. Redfish are good at the mouths of drains on plastics in streaky water.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the flats on live shrimp, scented plastics and plastics shrimp. Redfish have been found in the guts running parallel to the shorelines.

ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on the edge of the ICW on glow DOA Shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in California Hole on mullet and shrimp. Trout are fair on the shell in Copano Bay on slow–sinking plugs.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on chatterbaits and spoons. Trout are fair to good in the guts along the King Ranch shoreline on chatterbaits. Redfish are fair around spoils on live bait.

PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good on the ledges of the channel on mullet. Sand trout are

PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair to good on shrimp and scented plastics under a popping cork around grass holes. Trout are fair

to good on mud along the edge of the ICW on chatterbaits and plastics. Sheepshead are good at the jetty on shrimp.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal and at Gas Well Flats on scented plastics. Redfish, black drum and mangrove snapper are fair to good in the channel on shrimp.

PORT ISABEL: Trout are fair on the edge of the flats on soft plastics under popping corks and scented plastics around Cullen Bay and deep grass flats. Redfish are good in the holes and guts on plastics, shrimp and scented baits.

—TPWD

LSONews.com

Showdown Continued From Page 1

director of the Texas Deer Association, also took a lot of calls.

But his group supports Texas deer breeding.

“My inbox runneth over,” Kinsel said. “I respect and appreciate QDMA, but our first response to this was, ‘Come on, really?’

“We’re dealing with hysteria and a witch hunt.

I hope it will die and go away, but right now it’s gaining fuel.”

QDMA’s press release states “captive deer facilities where controlled artificial breeding technology is used primarily to produce whitetail bucks with enormous, often grotesque antlers — an industry that includes sales of semen, artificially impregnated does, and live bucks to other breeders or to captive deer shooting facilities.”

Murphy said the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance has mapped instances of CWD in captive deer.

According to the press release, this data “suggests the disease likely arrived in several new states through transportation of live deer, either legally or illegally, and not through natural deer movements.”

Kinsel argued there is no evidence proving that.

“We say show me where a pen deer brought the disease to the wild,” he said.

“So far it’s all in the wild.”

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Murphy pointed to Missouri, where CWD was detected on a deer breeding facility last fall; later it was found in wild deer during hunting season.

In the press release, Murphy said deer breeding undermines “the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation in which wildlife is a public resource.”

Kinsel countered that landowners should be allowed to keep managing natural resources on their ranches.

He added that the breeding industry “creates for the small landowner what once was only available for the large landowner.”

“We do want rights to deal with animals as we see fit,” Kinsel said, “but that’s not ownership per se.”

TDA members take stewardship seriously, and the group demands strict ethics, Kinsel said. Nineteen members, including two breeders who pleaded guilty to deer smuggling, were kicked out of the group.

Murphy, a Texas native, said he applauded the TDA for setting high standards.

“I recognize fully that the majority of deer breeders are good, honest people obeying the rules,” he said. “One misconception with the press release is that we’re going after all people with high fences.

That’s not correct.”

But the group does protest high-fence operations that allow “put-and-take” hunts in which pen-raised

deer are hunted shortly after they’re released into pastures.

Stocker bucks in Texas cannot be released 10 days before the start of a season or during the course of a season, unless their antlers have been cut off, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code.

“I recognize they’re not all rogues,” Murphy said of breeders, “but you can’t say there’s no risk, and even a small risk can risk everything.”

Kinsel said the issue could drive a wedge among hunters, and give fodder to animal rights groups that oppose the sport.

“Fragmentation of land is something we’ve always been afraid of,” Kinsel said. “We felt our biggest enemy was the bulldozer.

“But if this issue fragments people, it will be worse than fragmenting land. It will hurt wildlife.”

Odessa lawyer Cal Hendrick, an ardent hunter, said the debate is not healthy. He deer hunts on a ranch in Tom Green County, but he is not a breeder.

“I just hate we’re fussing at each other,” said Hendrick, who is on the board of the Texas Wildlife Association.

“We need to tighten our fraternity, to be a brotherhood and do what’s best without infighting.

“We all have a right to choose methodology. That doesn’t make me wrong or you wrong. In the end we’re both deer hunters.”

March 9, 2012

Page 15

Black drum Continued From Page 1

with dead shrimp on the bottom, but Baffin is always dirty, so the Fish’n Strips have been dominating over dead shrimp. This is the time of the year where the drum are trying to make there way up the guts to spawn at Baffin, and they usually won’t move until the fronts stop.”

Mendietta said the big drum are stacking up in deeper water around the mouths of guts.

“The daytime bite for drum has been decent with 15-20 slot drum days,” he said.

“At night is when the bite really picks up and it becomes a circus act trying to handle six rods on a kayak while they are all hooked up.”

Mendietta said wind is key when looking to catch a big drum.

“The bite will stay steady as long as the wind is kicking up, but once it gets glassy there is no movement and you are in for a long day of fishing,” he said.

“The average size of the drum we are catching right now is about 20 inches. Getting out to the deeper water has made a difference — bank fisherman only able to throw into 3 feet of water are ending up one or two short of a limit, while kayakers and boaters are finding 10-plus drum easy in a few hours.”

Mendietta said friends fishing Corpus Christi Bay have been on a steady bite for big drum since early February.

“They are kayaking the ICW at night using half-crab as bait,” he said. “Around Baffin, there are scattered reports and photos of big drum from 37 inches and up. I have one friend fishing a private pier pulling up drum to 40 inches pretty regularly using crab Fishbites.”

Guides in the Rockport/Ingleside area

said the run is on and they are catching lots of big drum right now.

“We had seven on Friday, Feb. 24,” said one guide. “It has been pretty easy so far and we are going again this weekend. So far, sea lice has been the ticket (for bait). I’ve heard they are in the Humble Channel in Corpus Christi also.”

Reports from some fishing piers were solid.

According to Randy Doud, manager of the Red Dot pier in Corpus Christi, the big drum are being caught on just about everything.

“We are catching a lot of oversized drum, sand trout and whiting, but mostly the really big drum over 45 inches,” he said.

“They are being caught on crabs, sea lice, Fishbites, live shrimp, dead shrimp — just about anything.”

Doud said the water has been clear and anglers had been catching nice drum until last week, when the big ones moved in.

“Everything lately has been over 40 inches,” he said.

Reports from other piers around the midcoast were not as rosey. Few drum were being caught as of press time.

Page 16

March 9, 2012

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

HEROES This Anderson County buck was taken last season by MIKE BALLOW, 9, of Athens. The 11-point buck was estimated to be about 7 years old. Mike used a .243-caliber Remington Model 700 rifle.

LES HOGAN of Euless (left) used a .300 Weatherby Magnum rifle to drop this mule deer last season near Alpine. The five-byfive buck was about 5 1/2 years old.

Joining Les in the photo is his guide, Richard Motta.

KEN GRAY of Madison, Miss., formerly of San Antonio, returned to Texas for a deer hunt on the Rolling “O” Ranch in Zavala County. Hunting with guide Tommy Olafson, he harvested this 7 1/2-year-old buck that scored 171 and 5/8. The big deer was dropped at 125 yards with a 7mm-08-caliber rifle.

Who wants to fish when it’s 40 degrees with a north wind blowing? LARRY STEVENSON of Fort Worth did so Feb. 4 on Eagle Mountain Lake and his perseverance paid off with a 12.15-pound largemouth, about 75 yards from his boat dock. His bait was a blue-flecked soft plastic worm.

The Hutchison family of Dallas recently hosted family and friends on buffalo harvests in Comanche County. Everyone gets to use a Browning Model 1886 rifle in .45/70. “The buffalo hunts are more of a meat harvest, as the whole family comes along and celebrates the shooter,” said BILL HUTCHISON. Shown here are ELIZABETH HUTCHISON (top) of Norman, Okla., and KATIE GORDON of Santa Fe, N.M.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE ■ Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers?

E-mail them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

RYAN DRY of Plano recently caught this largemouth bass, weighing 4 pounds, 14 ounces, while fishing at West Lakes in Wood County.

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides Height 2.2H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H -0.6L -0.6L -0.5L -0.3L -0.2L 0.0L 2.1H 2.1H 2.2H 2.2H 2.3H

Time 9:15 AM 10:02 AM 11:51 AM 12:45 PM 9:37 AM 11:12 AM 12:35 PM 1:29 PM 2:04 PM 2:28 PM 7:58 AM 8:42 AM 9:19 AM 9:52 AM 10:21 AM

Height 0.6L 1.0L 1.4L 1.8L 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.2H 2.1H 0.2L 0.5L 0.7L 1.0L 1.3L

Time 3:08 PM 3:26 PM 4:44 PM 5:02 PM 2:00 PM

Height 1.8H 1.8H 1.9H 2.0H 2.0L

Time Height 9:13 PM 0.0L 10:04 PM -0.3L 11:59 PM -0.5L 5:16 PM

2.1H

7:06 PM 7:29 PM 7:55 PM 2:47 PM 3:02 PM 3:16 PM 3:29 PM 3:42 PM

1.9L 1.7L 1.5L 2.0H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H

9:50 PM 11:27 PM

2.0H 2.0H

8:21 PM 8:46 PM 9:12 PM 9:38 PM 10:07 PM

1.2L 1.0L 0.7L 0.5L 0.3L

Height 0.5L 0.8L 1.2L 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 0.0L 0.2L 0.4L 0.6L 0.8L 1.0L

Time 3:55 PM 4:13 PM 5:31 PM 1:11 PM 2:26 PM

Height 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4L 1.6L

Time Height 9:39 PM 0.0L 10:30 PM -0.3L

Height 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H -0.4L -0.5L -0.4L -0.4L -0.3L -0.2L 1.6H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.8H 1.8H

Time 9:41 AM 10:28 AM 12:17 PM 8:54 AM 10:24 AM 11:59 AM 1:22 PM 2:16 PM 2:51 PM 7:32 AM 8:24 AM 9:08 AM 9:45 AM 10:18 AM 10:47 AM

5:49 PM 6:03 PM

1.6H 1.7H

7:32 PM 7:55 PM 3:15 PM 3:34 PM 3:49 PM 4:03 PM 4:16 PM 4:29 PM

1.5L 1.4L 1.7H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H 1.6H

10:37 PM

1.6H

8:21 PM 8:47 PM 9:12 PM 9:38 PM 10:04 PM 10:33 PM

1.2L 1.0L 0.8L 0.6L 0.4L 0.3L

Height 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.1H 1.1H

Time 10:37 AM 11:24 AM 1:13 PM 9:24 AM 10:54 AM 2:29 PM 1:52 PM 2:46 PM 3:21 PM 8:28 AM 9:20 AM 10:04 AM 10:41 AM 11:14 AM 11:43 AM

Height 0.3L 0.5L 0.7L 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.0H 0.0L 0.1L 0.2L 0.4L 0.5L 0.6L

Time 4:25 PM 4:43 PM 6:01 PM 2:07 PM 3:22 PM

Height 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9L 1.0L

Time Height 10:35 PM 0.0L 11:26 PM -0.2L 6:19 PM 6:33 PM

1.0H 1.0H

8:28 PM 8:51 PM 3:45 PM 4:04 PM 4:19 PM 4:33 PM 4:46 PM 4:59 PM

0.9L 0.8L 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H

11:07 PM

1.0H

9:17 PM 9:43 PM 10:08 PM 10:34 PM 11:00 PM 11:29 PM

0.7L 0.6L 0.5L 0.4L 0.2L 0.2L

Height 1.4H 1.5H 1.6H -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.1L 0.0L 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H

Time 10:18 AM 11:18 AM 1:31 PM 8:31 AM 10:01 AM 11:38 AM 1:03 PM 2:01 PM 2:39 PM 3:05 PM 8:34 AM 9:26 AM 10:13 AM 10:58 AM 11:44 AM

Height 0.4L 0.6L 0.9L 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.4H 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.6L 0.8L

Time 3:54 PM 4:10 PM 5:21 PM

Height 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H

Time Height 9:55 PM 0.1L 10:37 PM -0.1L

Houston Height 0.3H 0.3H -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.2L 0.1L

Time 12:43 PM 1:25 PM 11:53 AM 4:54 PM 5:38 PM 6:33 PM 7:31 PM 8:30 PM 9:37 PM 7:53 PM 11:06 AM 11:47 AM 12:20 PM 7:53 AM 9:09 AM

Height 0.1L 0.3L 0.4H 0.5H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.5H 0.4H 0.0L 0.1L 0.2L 0.4H 0.5H

Height 0.0H -0.1L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.0L

Time 12:38 PM 4:42 PM 6:06 PM 6:58 PM 8:03 PM 9:16 PM 10:29 PM 11:42 PM

Height 0.0L 0.1H 0.1H 0.1H 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H

10:30 AM 11:11 AM 11:41 AM 12:02 PM 12:10 PM 9:20 AM

-0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2H

Time 4:06 PM 3:44 PM

Height 0.2H 0.3H

10:03 PM 7:20 PM 7:15 PM 6:03 PM 12:48 PM 1:18 PM

0.4L 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3L 0.4L

Time 4:58 PM

Height 0.0H

Time Height 11:44 PM -0.1L

10:51 PM 11:29 PM

0.3L 0.3L

5:06 PM 3:56 PM

0.4H 0.4H

Date Time Mar 09 7:18 AM Mar 10 1:00 AM Mar 11 3:12 AM Mar 12 4:18 AM Mar 13 5:24 AM Mar 14 6:30 AM Mar 15 7:36 AM Mar 16 8:41 AM Mar 17 9:40 AM Mar 18 12:52 AM Mar 19 2:04 AM Mar 20 3:22 AM Mar 21 4:56 AM Mar 22 6:51 AM Mar 23 12:27 AM

Time

Height

8:43 PM 8:58 PM 3:23 PM 3:37 PM 3:49 PM 4:01 PM 4:13 PM

1.0L 0.9L 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H

11:47 PM

1.1H

9:18 PM 9:39 PM 10:00 PM 10:22 PM 10:44 PM

0.7L 0.6L 0.4L 0.3L 0.2L

Date Time Mar 09 3:38 AM Mar 10 4:59 AM Mar 11 7:26 AM Mar 12 12:15 AM Mar 13 1:12 AM Mar 14 2:17 AM Mar 15 3:28 AM Mar 16 4:41 AM Mar 17 5:51 AM Mar 18 6:55 AM Mar 19 12:15 AM Mar 20 1:44 AM Mar 21 2:56 AM Mar 22 4:00 AM Mar 23 5:00 AM

Height 1.3H 1.4H 1.5H -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L -0.4L -0.3L 1.0H 1.0H 1.1H 1.2H 1.3H

Date Time Mar 09 3:28 AM Mar 10 4:51 AM Mar 11 7:21 AM Mar 12 12:06 AM Mar 13 1:04 AM Mar 14 2:10 AM Mar 15 3:21 AM Mar 16 4:35 AM Mar 17 5:46 AM Mar 18 6:52 AM Mar 19 12:08 AM Mar 20 1:41 AM Mar 21 2:57 AM Mar 22 4:04 AM Mar 23 5:06 AM

Height 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L -0.5L -0.4L -0.2L 0.0L 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H

2012 Mar 09 Fri > 10 Sat > 11 Sun 12 Mon 13 Tue 14 Wed 15 Thu Q 16 Fri 17 Sat 18 Sun 19 Mon 20 Tue 21 Wed > 22 Thu N 23 Fri > 24 Sat > 25 Sun > 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed

A.M. Minor Major 5:41 11:54 6:39 12:25 8:41 2:27 9:45 3:31 10:50 4:35 11:53 5:38 12:22 6:37 1:17 7:31 2:06 8:19 2:52 9:04 3:33 9:45 4:14 10:25 4:54 11:05 5:35 11:46 6:19 12:08 7:05 12:54 7:54 1:43 8:45 2:34 9:38 3:26 10:31 4:19

P.M. Minor 6:07 7:06 9:10 10:15 11:20 ----12:51 1:44 2:32 3:16 3:56 4:36 5:15 5:57 6:41 7:27 8:17 9:09 10:02 10:55

Major ----12:53 2:55 4:00 5:05 6:07 7:05 7:58 8:45 9:28 10:08 10:46 11:26 12:07 12:30 1:16 2:06 2:57 3:50 4:43

SUN Rises Sets 06:37 06:25 06:36 06:26 07:35 07:26 07:34 07:27 07:32 07:28 07:31 07:28 07:30 07:29 07:29 07:30 07:28 07:30 07:26 07:31 07:25 07:31 07:24 07:32 07:23 07:32 07:22 07:33 07:20 07:34 07:19 07:34 07:18 07:35 07:17 07:35 07:16 07:36 07:14 07:37

MOON Rises 8:11p 9:19p 11:28p NoMoon 12:34a 1:37a 2:35a 3:27a 4:12a 4:52a 5:28a 6:02a 6:34a 7:05a 7:38a 8:12a 8:48a 9:27a 10:10a 10:56a

Sets 7:07a 7:48a 9:33a 10:23a 11:17a 12:14p 1:14p 2:15p 3:15p 4:14p 5:11p 6:06p 7:00p 7:53p 8:47p 9:41p 10:35p 11:28p NoMoon 12:20a

Dallas

5:37 PM 4:54 PM 4:43 PM 11:52 AM

0.1H 0.1H 0.1H 0.2L

9:01 PM 11:04 PM 4:48 PM

0.1L 0.1L 0.2

Time 9:51 AM 10:48 AM 12:56 PM 9:03 AM 10:48 AM 12:19 PM 1:23 PM 2:06 PM 2:37 PM 3:00 PM 7:52 AM 8:45 AM 9:35 AM 10:23 AM 11:12 AM

Height 0.4L 0.8L 1.1L 1.6H 1.6H 1.7H 1.6H 1.5H 1.3H 1.2H -0.2L 0.0L 0.2L 0.5L 0.7L

Time 3:16 PM 3:14 PM 4:02 PM

Height 1.0H 1.1H 1.2H

8:17 PM 3:16 PM 3:28 PM 3:34 PM 3:34 PM 3:27 PM

0.8L 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H

Time 9:57 AM 10:57 AM 1:08 PM 9:02 AM 10:53 AM 12:34 PM 1:41 PM 2:22 PM 2:48 PM 3:04 PM 7:52 AM 8:46 AM 9:37 AM 10:26 AM 11:15 AM

Height 0.4L 0.6L 0.9L 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 0.2L 0.3L 0.5L 0.7L 0.8L

Time 3:03 PM 2:55 PM 3:36 PM

Height 0.8H 0.8H 0.9H

7:55 PM 3:14 PM 3:20 PM 3:21 PM 3:18 PM 3:08 PM

1.0L 1.2H 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H

Time Height 9:41 PM 0.0L 10:25 PM -0.2L

8:31 PM 8:52 PM 9:17 PM 9:44 PM 10:12 PM

0.6L 0.4L 0.3L 0.2L 0.1L

South Padre Island

Freeport Harbor Date Time Mar 09 3:50 AM Mar 10 4:59 AM Mar 11 7:11 AM Mar 12 12:25 AM Mar 13 1:22 AM Mar 14 2:30 AM Mar 15 3:48 AM Mar 16 5:12 AM Mar 17 6:29 AM Mar 18 7:36 AM Mar 19 1:15 AM Mar 20 2:27 AM Mar 21 3:28 AM Mar 22 4:23 AM Mar 23 5:14 AM

Date Time Mar 09 6:07 AM Mar 10 8:06 AM Mar 11 12:36 AM Mar 12 2:34 AM Mar 13 3:41 AM Mar 14 4:57 AM Mar 15 6:23 AM Mar 16 7:49 AM Mar 17 9:07 AM Mar 18 10:13 AM Mar 19 12:20 AM Mar 20 4:02 AM Mar 21 6:08 AM Mar 22 12:00 AM Mar 23 12:25 AM

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier

San Luis Pass Date Time Mar 09 4:34 AM Mar 10 5:46 AM Mar 11 8:02 AM Mar 12 1:21 AM Mar 13 2:23 AM Mar 14 3:33 AM Mar 15 4:51 AM Mar 16 6:12 AM Mar 17 7:25 AM Mar 18 12:44 AM Mar 19 2:02 AM Mar 20 3:09 AM Mar 21 4:08 AM Mar 22 5:03 AM Mar 23 5:54 AM

April 6

March 30

Rockport

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time Mar 09 4:04 AM Mar 10 5:16 AM Mar 11 7:32 AM Mar 12 12:25 AM Mar 13 1:27 AM Mar 14 2:37 AM Mar 15 3:55 AM Mar 16 5:16 AM Mar 17 6:29 AM Mar 18 12:14 AM Mar 19 1:32 AM Mar 20 2:39 AM Mar 21 3:38 AM Mar 22 4:33 AM Mar 23 5:24 AM

March 22

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. F=Full Moon, N=New Moon, Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

Full

First

Port O’Connor

Sabine Pass, jetty Date Time Mar 09 3:17 AM Mar 10 4:29 AM Mar 11 6:45 AM Mar 12 8:07 AM Mar 13 1:01 AM Mar 14 2:11 AM Mar 15 3:29 AM Mar 16 4:50 AM Mar 17 6:03 AM Mar 18 7:06 AM Mar 19 12:45 AM Mar 20 1:52 AM Mar 21 2:51 AM Mar 22 3:46 AM Mar 23 4:37 AM

New

Last

Page 17

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases March 15

Texas Coast Tides

March 9, 2012

Time Height 9:28 PM 0.0L 10:14 PM -0.3L

8:17 PM 8:45 PM 9:15 PM 9:45 PM 10:15 PM

0.9L 0.7L 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L

2012 Mar 09 Fri > 10 Sat > 11 Sun 12 Mon 13 Tue 14 Wed 15 Thu Q 16 Fri 17 Sat 18 Sun 19 Mon 20 Tue 21 Wed > 22 Thu N 23 Fri > 24 Sat > 25 Sun > 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed

A.M. Minor Major 5:46 ----6:44 12:31 8:46 2:32 9:51 3:36 10:56 4:41 11:58 5:43 12:28 6:42 1:22 7:36 2:12 8:25 2:57 9:09 3:39 9:50 4:19 10:30 4:59 11:10 5:41 11:52 6:24 12:14 7:11 1:00 8:00 1:48 8:51 2:39 9:43 3:31 10:36 4:24

P.M. Minor Major 6:13 12:00 7:12 12:58 9:15 3:01 10:20 4:06 11:26 5:11 ----- 6:13 12:56 7:11 1:50 8:03 2:37 8:50 3:21 9:33 4:02 10:13 4:41 10:52 5:21 11:31 6:02 12:13 6:46 12:35 7:33 1:22 8:23 2:11 9:14 3:03 10:07 3:55 11:01 4:49

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 06:44 06:29 8:20p 7:11a 06:43 06:30 9:30p 7:50a 07:41 07:31 11:39p 9:34a 07:40 07:32 NoMoon 10:22a 07:39 07:32 12:47a 11:15a 07:37 07:33 1:51a 12:12p 07:36 07:34 2:48a 1:13p 07:35 07:35 3:39a 2:15p 07:34 07:35 4:23a 3:16p 07:32 07:36 5:02a 4:16p 07:31 07:37 5:37a 5:14p 07:30 07:37 6:09a 6:11p 07:28 07:38 6:39a 7:06p 07:27 07:39 7:10a 8:01p 07:26 07:39 7:40a 8:56p 07:24 07:40 8:13a 9:52p 07:23 07:41 8:48a 10:46p 07:22 07:42 9:27a 11:40p 07:20 07:42 10:09a NoMoon 07:19 07:43 10:55a 12:33a

P.M. Minor Major 6:20 12:07 7:19 1:05 9:22 3:08 10:27 4:13 11:33 5:18 12:05 6:20 1:03 7:18 1:57 8:10 2:44 8:57 3:28 9:40 4:09 10:20 4:48 10:59 5:28 11:38 6:09 12:20 6:53 12:42 7:40 1:29 8:30 2:18 9:21 3:10 10:14 4:02 11:08 4:56

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 06:49 06:38 8:24p 7:20a 06:48 06:38 9:32p 8:01a 07:47 07:39 11:40p 9:47a 07:46 07:40 NoMoon 10:36a 07:45 07:40 12:47a 11:30a 07:44 07:41 1:50a 12:28p 07:42 07:41 2:47a 1:28p 07:41 07:42 3:39a 2:29p 07:40 07:43 4:24a 3:29p 07:39 07:43 5:05a 4:27p 07:38 07:44 5:41a 5:24p 07:37 07:44 6:14a 6:19p 07:35 07:45 6:47a 7:13p 07:34 07:46 7:18a 8:06p 07:33 07:46 7:51a 9:00p 07:32 07:47 8:25a 9:53p 07:31 07:47 9:01a 10:47p 07:29 07:48 9:41a 11:40p 07:28 07:48 10:24a NoMoon 07:27 07:49 11:10a 12:32a

P.M. Minor 6:33 7:32 9:35 10:41 11:46 12:19 1:17 2:10 2:58 3:41 4:22 5:01 5:41 6:23 7:07 7:53 8:43 9:35 10:28 11:21

SUN Rises 07:05 07:04 08:02 08:01 08:00 07:58 07:57 07:56 07:54 07:53 07:51 07:50 07:49 07:47 07:46 07:44 07:43 07:42 07:40 07:39

San Antonio 2012 A.M. Mar Minor Major 09 Fri > 5:53 ----10 Sat > 6:51 12:38 11 Sun 8:53 2:39 12 Mon 9:58 3:43 13 Tue 11:03 4:48 14 Wed ----- 5:50 15 Thu Q 12:35 6:49 16 Fri 1:29 7:43 17 Sat 2:19 8:32 18 Sun 3:04 9:16 19 Mon 3:46 9:57 20 Tue 4:26 10:37 21 Wed > 5:06 11:17 22 Thu N 5:48 11:59 23 Fri > 6:31 12:21 24 Sat > 7:18 1:07 25 Sun > 8:07 1:55 26 Mon 8:58 2:46 27 Tue 9:50 3:38 28 Wed 10:43 4:31

Amarillo 2012 A.M. Mar Minor 09 Fri > 6:07 10 Sat > 7:05 11 Sun 9:07 12 Mon 10:11 13 Tue 11:16 14 Wed ----15 Thu Q 12:48 16 Fri 1:43 17 Sat 2:32 18 Sun 3:17 19 Mon 3:59 20 Tue 4:40 21 Wed > 5:20 22 Thu N 6:01 23 Fri > 6:45 24 Sat > 7:31 25 Sun > 8:20 26 Mon 9:11 27 Tue 10:04 28 Wed 10:57

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS 1. Game, wildfowl having young 4. Old one is termed a “loner” 8. A field area 9. Electronic device on a hunting dog 10. A bait used for brown trout 11. Appendages on a turkey’s feet 13. A species of goose 14. A large grouping of animals 15. Term for a certain casting method 21. To analyze the age of a track 22. A breed of gundog 23. To hunt with arrows 25. Name for a certain bass species 26. The jungle tree swinger 27. The male turkey 28. Very large on the muley 29. The bob_____ quail 32. The camp shelter 35. Valuable to the fur seeker

DOWN 37. A female bear 1. A part on a bow 40. A game bird 2. Chinook or king 41. Name for the 3. Woodie is a whiteHawaiian goose tail of the _____ 42. A lake bird 4. Term used in a 43. Failure of a firearm to function shoot contest

Solution on Page 23

5. Term for a casting method 6. A sound made by wild turkeys 7. Animal resting places

12. Lab name for fish eggs 15. A family of small fish 16. Another name for turkey sounds 17. An edible saltwater fish 18. A habit game tends to follow 19. Deer are classed as this 20. An area favored by certain animals 22. A type of lure 24. They are getting more into shooting sports 26. A good bear scent lure 29. A type of fly 30. A need for packing the day's catch 31. A brand of bow 33. Find quail in this field area 34. A type of gunsight 35. A good trap bait 36. A species of duck 38. A very good catfish bait 39. A handy item to have in hunting kit

Major ----12:51 2:52 3:57 5:01 6:04 7:03 7:56 8:45 9:29 10:11 10:51 11:31 ----12:34 1:20 2:09 3:00 3:52 4:45

Major 12:20 1:19 3:21 4:26 5:31 6:33 7:31 8:24 9:11 9:53 10:33 11:12 11:52 12:33 12:56 1:42 2:32 3:23 4:16 5:09

Sets 06:49 06:50 07:50 07:51 07:52 07:53 07:54 07:55 07:55 07:56 07:57 07:58 07:58 07:59 08:00 08:01 08:02 08:02 08:03 08:04

MOON Rises 8:44p 9:55p NoMoon 12:06a 1:14a 2:18a 3:15a 4:05a 4:49a 5:27a 6:00a 6:31a 7:00a 7:29a 7:59a 8:31a 9:05a 9:43a 10:24a 11:10a

Sets 7:30a 8:08a 9:51a 10:38a 11:30a 12:28p 1:29p 2:31p 3:33p 4:34p 5:34p 6:31p 7:28p 8:24p 9:20p 10:17p 11:12p NoMoon 12:07a 12:59a

FOR THE TABLE Trout tacos 8-10 speckled trout fillets, cut into 4 x 1-inch strips Kosher or sea salt as desired Cayenne pepper as desired 1 cup all purpose flour 1 tsp. kosher or sea salt 1 cup dark or amber Mexican beer, room temperature 2 egg whites beaten to soft peaks 2 quarts canola oil for frying Purple cabbage Fill a 12-inch, deep-sided, nonstick skillet with canola oil to about 1-1/4 inches deep. Slowly heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees. Prepare the fish batter by mixing together the flour and salt in a medium bowl then

gradually stir in the beer until the resultant batter turns smooth. Gently fold in the beaten egg whites. Be careful not to deflate the whites — you want the coating on the fish to be light yet crusty.

Liberally season the fish with salt and cayenne pepper and dip each piece in the batter, allowing time for any excess batter to drip off.

Submerge the battered fish in hot oil, and fry until it becomes golden brown (which should take about 5 to 6 minutes per batch). Add cabbage, tortillas and favorite sauce like pico de gallo or a garlic yogurt sauce.

— Easyfishrecipes.com

Barbecue wild turkey 2 wild turkey breasts 1 stick margarine 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 tbsp. thyme and savory, mixed 1 cup broth 3 tbsps. parsley Cut turkey into pieces across the grain. Cook onions until tender in butter, add other ingredients. Bring to a full boil. Cover each piece of turkey with this mixture. Place on medium-hot grill and baste often. Cook 45 to 55 minutes or until done.

— Wildturkeyzone.com

*E-mail LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Page 18

March 9, 2012

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Turkey season

Spring Turkey Season

Continued From Page 4

Rains, Rusk, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Tyler and Walker.

Also new this season, hunters may harvest gobblers and bearded hens during the spring season in counties having a bag limit of four turkeys.

Charlie Klein, president of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Alamo Chapter in San Antonio, said his members are all seeing the same thing — plenty of 2-yearolds and no jakes.

“The drought is going to hurt us in the future,” Klein said. “But this year there will be plenty of toms around. There might be a few poults or jakes out there right now, but very few people have seen them.”

Klein said he expects a good hunting season this spring.

“I’m hearing a lot of jakes from last season have matured and that should make for good hunting this year,” he said.

North Zone (101 counties) Mar. 31-May 13, 2012 * Special Youth Season Mar. 24-25 and May 19-20, 2012 South Zone (54 counties) Mar. 17-Apr. 29, 2012 * Special Youth Season Mar. 10-11 and May 5-6, 2012 1 - Turkey Bag Limit (8 counties) April 1-30, 2012 * No Special Youth Season Consult Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for more information and bag limits in your county.

Genetic Continued From Page 5

Dr. Chris Seabury at Texas A&M University’s Department of Veterinary Pathobiology supervised the genetic work.

Dallas-based Park Cities Quail funded half of the $70,000 project. Joe Crafton, the group’s chairman, paid the other half.

The discovery was announced March 8 at the group’s annual fund-raiser in Dallas.

Crafton is the hunter who harvested the prototype specimen, which he named for his mother, Pattie Marie, who happily encouraged her family’s quail hunting

trips in Tennessee.

“It was one of the greatest things I’ve been involved with,” Crafton said on the genome project. “There are only a few wildlife species that had a complete sequencing of their genome.”

Most of this genetic work has focused on domestic livestock, Crafton said.

“It had to be hunters and sportsmen who did it,” Crafton said, “because there is no commercial application, like with pork, poultry and beef — the bulk of the genetic work.”

There could be several applications for the data.

Dr. Dale Rollins, executive director of the RPQRR, said if it helps identify populations of disease-resistant quail, their offspring might be used to repopulate other areas.

But that’s not as easy as it may sound.

Rollins said he’s aware of only a couple instances that wild quail were trapped and relocated, and only one was deemed a success.

Those efforts, he said, might have brought better results, “if we could’ve selected a more hardy bird.”

Crafton said the data would be shared widely with researchers concerned about quail.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

March 9, 2012

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March 9, 2012

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TEXAS BIG BITES BIG BASS WINNER: Stan Lawing of Poetry caught this 13.06-pound bass March 3 on Lake Ray Roberts. He used a spinner bait during a Bass Champs tournament, for which he won third place and the “big bass” award. Photo by Larry D. Hodge, TPWD.

Arkansas sets new largemouth bass record A single ounce ushered in a new Arkansas’ largemouth bass state record, a feat that went unbroken for nearly 36 years.

On Feb. 28, Paul Crowder of Forrest City set the new record on Lake Dunn near Wynne.

Crowder’s lunker weighed 16 pounds, 5 ounces.

Aaron Mardis of Memphis had held the state record since March 2, 1976. His 16pound, 4-ounce fish was caught on Mallard Lake near Manila in Mississippi County.

Crowder broke the record on a plastic 6-inch Mann’s jelly worm with a bullet sinker and plastic rattle in tequila sunrise.

He was using an Enigma rod and reel combo purchased from Bass Pro Shops.

Crowder caught the fish on 14-pound test line.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Fisheries biologist Lee Holt certified the fish on a certified scale at Hayes Market in Wynne.

The fish measured 26 1/2 inches in length and was 22 3/4 inches in girth.

Crowder said that he had been fishing all day for catfish without any luck.

“I made a cast and set the rod down to take a look at my catfish rods when I noticed the rod was just about out of the boat,” he said. “I was able to grab it just before it went out of the boat.”

It was the only fish he caught all day.

It only took about eight minutes for Crowder to reel the record into the boat.

“I didn’t have a net, so it took me five or six tries before I was able to lip it and get in the boat,” he explained.

— Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

NEW RECORD: Paul Crowder of Forrest City, Ark., set his state’s new record largemouth bass record on Lake Dunn near Wynne. The fish, at 16 pounds, 5 ounces, was one ounce heavier than the previous record set in 1976.

Photo by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

LSONews.com

NEW RECORD: Paul Crowder of Forrest City , Ark. set his state’ Arkansas s new recordGame largemouth on Lake and bass Fishrecord Commission Dunn near Wynne. The fi sh, 16 pounds 5 ounces, was one ounce heavier than the record in fish Fisheries Biologist Leeprevious Holt certifi edset the 1976. Photo by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. on a certified scale at Hayes Market in Wynne.

The fish measured 26 1/2 inches in length and was 22 3/4 inches in girth.

A single ounce ushered in a new Arkansas’ Crowder said that he had been fishing all largemouth bass state record, a feat that went day for catfish without any luck. unbroken for nearly 36 years.

“I made a cast and set the rod down to take On Feb. 28, Paul Crowder of Forrest City set the new record on Lake Dunn near Wynne. a look at my catfish rods when I noticed the rod Crowder’s lunker weighed 16 pounds 5 ounces. was just about out of the boat,” he said. “I was able to grab it just before it went out of the boat.”

Aaron Mardis of Memphis had held the It was the only fish he caught all day. state record since March 2, 1976. His 16 It only took about eight minutes for Crowder pound 4 ounce fish was caught on Mallard to reel the record into the boat.

Lake near Manila in Mississippi County.

“I didn’t have a net, so it took me five or six Crowder broke the record on a plastic tries before I was able to lip it and get in the 6-inch Mann’s jelly worm with a bullet sinker boat,” he explained. and plastic rattle in tequila sunrise.

The 80-acre lake is located in Village Creek He was using an Enigma rod and reel combo State Park in Cross County, about 50 miles purchased from Bass Pro Shops. Crowder northwest of Memphis Tenn. caught the fish on 14-pound test line.

—Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Arkansas sets new largemouth bass record

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

March 9, 2012

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March 9, 2012

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DATEBOOK March 15

March 23-24

Dallas Safari Club Annual Meeting Wyndham Hotel, Dallas (214) 980-9800 biggame.org

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Bass Management Workshop Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens (979) 845-2604 tpwd.state.tx.us

March 15-17

March 23-25

North American Deer Farmers Association 23rd Annual NADeFA Conference, Dallas (330) 454-3944 nadefa.org

SCI North Texas Chapter Outdoor Expo Show Bass Pro Shops, Grapevine (940) 612-1928 scinorthtexas.com

Coastal Conservation Association 34th Annual Corpus Christi Banquet American Bank Center (361) 563-2010 ccatexas.org

March 30

March 22

Ducks Unlimited Lone Star Flyway Shoot American Shooting Center, Houston (713) 724-2237 ducks.org

April 4

Coastal Conservation Association Colorado Valley Chapter Annual Banquet KC Hall, La Grange (979) 966-2649 ccatexas.org

March 26 Coastal Conservation Association West Texas Chapter Annual Banquet Midland Country Club (432) 682-3499 ccatexas.org

March 23

March 29

Coastal Conservation Association Texas A&M Chapter Annual Banquet Brazos Valley Civic Center, Bryan (559) 901-9783 ccatexas.org

Coastal Conservation Association Brazoria County Chapter Banquet Lake Jackson Civic Center (979) 266-9104 ccatexas.org

Los Cazadores hog tournament brings home the bacon A group of Texas men brought more than 880 pounds of pork to the scales to win the 2012 Los Cazadores Marranos Muertos hog tournament, March 2-4.

The team of Eric Ruiz, Phillip Zamzow, Evan Brown and John Gonzales harvested 11 hogs in Atascosa County, totaling 886 pounds to win the first place prize of $4,000 and champion belt buckles.

“We were hunting the 74 Ranch near Campbellton,” said Zamzow. “We caught two of our bigger hogs over there. They weighed 286 and 282 pounds. Both of them were caught in creeks. We then switched ranches and went south and caught three more before heading back to the 74 Ranch.

“We did have one big one get away from us.”

The biggest pig of the tournament was a 308.5-pound sow.

Tournament rules stated that all hogs had to be caught with dogs and killed with a knife by a team member. Hogs had to be caught between 6 p.m. Fri., March 2 and 2 p.m. Sun., March 4.

“We had some nice dog work and it was just an excellent hunt,” Zamzow said. “And none of the dogs got cut up too bad.”

What was billed as a “Battle for the belt” between team Pigman and Bayed Solid Magazine ended up going to Bayed Solid, which brought in 509 pounds.

Team Pigman, which featured television personality Brian “Pigman” Quaca, managed 473.5 pounds.

A total of 52 teams took part in the tournament, and event organizer Zach Akin said the number of teams competing took him by surprise.

“It turned out really good,” Akin said of the tournament, now in its second year. “The great turnout was really surprising. We doubled the number of teams from last year.”

— Conor Harrison

Predict

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■ Forb Diversity Index: # forb species ÷ √ total forbs (per square meter)

winter and spring rains, the counts weren’t that good. But 2012 looks real good so far; we had both the September/ October rains for germination and rains early this year.”

After plotting the numbers and adding parameters such as fawn survival, the number of whitetails scoring above 150 and general antler development over 14 years, Huey was happily surprised with the results.

“I started using it not caring if it was going to prove to be wrong or right,” he said. “But I have 10,000 bucks in my data set, and it’s right better than 90 percent of the time.”

Huey said the results charted “perfectly linear,” leading him to conclude that the results of the plant counts on April 1 of each year may be used to predict the success of the upcoming season.

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April 12

Continued From Page 5

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“You need to start with a baseline so you have something to compare the results with, but looking at it, it was, ‘lo and behold, we have a correlation.’”

Would his South Texas results correlate to Central and North Texas ranches?

“I’m not 100 percent sure,” he said. “They have later freezes so the timing of the count may be a little later. But the quail index counts are done at that time in North Texas, so it may still be the right time.”

Landowners and hunters may want to give the newfound formula a try.

“It was my own little experiment, but based on the April 1 information, you can pretty much tell how the deer herd is going to do,” Huey said. “And that’s what wildlife management is all about, predicting what’s going to happen with the herd.”

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Guadalupe trout Continued From Page 8

events scouring out the riverbed hurt a lot more than a drought,’’ he said.

GRTU is mainly focused on maintaining the trophy trout stretch of the Guadalupe River that runs 10 miles downstream from the Canyon Dam tailrace.

But some of the fish they stock also reach areas where anglers can take home up to five trout of any size per day.

In the trophy trout stretch, anglers are limited to one

trout at least 18 inches in length each day, which must be caught on an artificial lure.

“What we would really like to see is about 8-10 years with no drought and no floods. That would get us a good production stream,’’ Dillow said.

Adding to the improved fishing this year has been a change in the TPWD winter stocking procedure in which about 250,000 trout were released at more than 100 areas.

This year, slightly larger trout in the 14-to-15-inch range were stocked rather than the typical rainbows in the range of 8-10 inches.

The GRTU released about 12,000 pounds of trout measuring 19 inches or longer.

While there is little evidence that any trout reproduction is taking place in the cool waters of the Guadalupe River, quite a few of the stocked fish manage to survive in the waters.

Pronghorn transplant Continued From Page 4

Harveson said fawn mortality was the No. 1 indication that vegetation was extremely poor.

“The fawns had body weights that were so far below normal,” he said. “It would be like having a full-term baby that has the weight of a premature baby. Nutrition for the mother is critical, and it just wasn’t there this year.”

Harveson said his team also found a high number of barber pole worms, a parasite, in the transplanted pronghorn — something he also contributes to poor range conditions.

“They were pretty clean when we moved them,” he said. “Within four months, we did fecal tests and found they had ridiculous numbers of worms. We could tell exactly where the pronghorn were concentrated because of the radio collars, and they were concentrated in shallow depressions that held some moisture. Unfortunately, that was also where the worms were concentrated because that is where the forbs were.

“In a wet year, the antelope will spread out DATEBOOK

20 word minimum CLASSIFIEDS 2 issues minimum

and eat everywhere and that will go down.”

Barriers such as fences also prevented pronghorn from traveling to find what little moisture existed.

“From a genetic standpoint, it really isn’t that big of a deal,” Harveson said. “It is a big deal for movement and survival to get to new pastures. We found large clusters of animals in corners of fences they couldn’t cross. We are working with landowners to build pronghorn-friendly fences.”

Harveson said one advantage of the fires last year was the burning of a lot of fences, and landowners have been helpful in replacing old fences with ones that have an 18-inch gap from the ground and no barbed wire on the lowest strand to allow easier passage.

“We have enough money to move another 200 to 300 animals,” he said. “It is sitting on hold right now waiting for a better time with better range conditions. Maybe next February we’ll release those animals. It’s just a numbers game. The more you can get out there with super stocking, the better chance you have.”

Puzzle solution from Page 17

March 9, 2012

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March 9, 2012

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Beast Continued From Page 1

is working jigs like the Stanley Swim-Max on the outside edge of the main grass line, which is from 9 to 12 feet depending on where you are in the lake. Grass is deeper on the clear, south end.

“Other patterns are working wacky and shaky-head rigs on top of the grass line, inside the grass line and on the outside edge of the grassline.”

In West Texas, the fishing on O.H. Ivie has not been good, although that could change as the weather warms.

“That lake is deader than a doornail,” said Ivie guide Tommy Hagler. “You could spend two or three days out there right now and not get a bite.”

Hagler had a unique reason why he thinks the fish aren’t biting, and it has to do with the low water levels.

“The low water pushed the shad into the river channel, and they have no place to hide,”

he said. “The bass are following them around and eating whenever they want to. You can fish with a jig upriver, but a crankbait might catch a fish in the main lake.

“I’m worried about it.”

Hagler said water temperatures were still about two weeks from where they need to be for the bass to start spawning.

“Looking back at last year, I caught 18 double-digit bass in March,” he said. “I think in two weeks, it will be on big-time.”

O.H. Ivie’s Elm Creek Village and Marina manager Jerry Hunter agreed.

“It’s been slow,” Hunter said, “but the lake temperature has only been about 56 degrees.

The bass are just now starting to move around.

Most of the bass are being caught on crankbaits.

“It’s been real strange this year.

“There just hasn’t been many big fish caught.”

Hunter said the lake was fishing small because of the drought.

“We’re 40 feet low,” he said. “But we’ll have some ShareLunkers this season. It will just be a little later.”

Joe Joslin, (337) 463-3848 Tommy Hagler, (325) 529-4720

>>

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March 9, 2012

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Alabama’s Lane wins ‘Classic,’ two Texans make top 10

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Texas anglers couldn’t take advantage of fishing near home waters, and only two of the seven of them finished in the top 10 of the 2012 Bassmaster Classic late last month on the Red River.

Alton Jones finished fourth and Todd Faircloth came in ninth.

It was an angler from Alabama, Chris Lane of Guntersville, who won the Classic Feb. 26 by more than 3 pounds, fending off hard-charging Greg Vinson, a fellow Alabaman.

Lane brought in 51 pounds, 6 ounces to the scales over three days to claim the $500,000 first-place prize. It was his first Classic win.

Vinson, of Wetumpka, Ala., had a total of 47 pounds, 15 ounces. Finishing third was first-day leader Keith Poche of Pike Road, Ala., with 45 pounds, 15 ounces.

Fourth was Jones with 45 pounds, 14 ounces. Ott DeFoe of Knoxville, Tenn., shot from 15th into fifth with 44 pounds, 14 ounces.

Lane started strong and stayed strong in the Red River competition that pitted 49 of the world’s best anglers against each other. Lane was sixth after the first day — tied at 16 pounds, 4 ounces with his brother and fellow Elite Series pro Bobby Lane — then moved up into the lead after the second day with a 1-pound lead over Vinson.

Lane credited two lures for helping him to his Classic vic-

tory: a Luck “E” Strike G4, a tube with an inner laminate of a contrasting chartreuse color that he helped design, and a Gambler Ugly Otter. He flipped the tube in shallow, stained water; he worked the Otter in clearer water.

Texas anglers in the Classic: 4th place: Alton Jones, Woodway 9th place: Todd Faircloth, Jasper 15th place: Takahiro Omori, Emory 16th place: Keith Combs, Huntington 19th place: Matt Reed, Madisonville 31st place: Andrew Upshaw, Hemphill 45th place: Tom Jessop, Dalhart

TOURNAMENT BRIEFS Jasper angler takes 2nd on Sam Rayburn Bill Rogers of Jasper managed to catch 20 pounds at the Walmart Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Feb. 25, but it wasn’t enough to catch winner Chad Wiley of Pineville, La. Wiley weighed a five-bass limit totaling 25 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win and earned $4,632.

“It was a last-minute decision to go deep, but it paid off,” Wiley said. “I had pre-fished shallow and I really couldn’t get nothing going.

The fish were biting, but they were the smaller males and only around 2 pounds apiece. I knew I could easily catch 10 pounds fishing shallow, but that wouldn’t be enough to win. So I swung for the fence and completely changed my strategy and went deep.”

The decision turned out to be a good one for Wiley, as he won by 5 pounds, 1/2 ounce over his closest competitor.

“I fished deep off the main river ledges,” Wiley continued. “I would find certain ledges that would serve as a ditch for late spawners coming out of the river to go into spawn, so that’s what I targeted. I was using a 3/4-ounce Oldham’s Jig in black and blue. Whenever I would find structure that it would get hung up on, I switched to a 1/2-ounce Sniper Lures Trigger Craw because I knew it wouldn’t get hung up. I was able to catch around 20 fish total throughout the day.”

Glenn Robertson of Shreveport, La., finished third with 19 pounds, followed by Alan Fitts of Hemphill, and Matthew Delaney of Pollock, La. —Staff report

Gilbert wins on Belton PRODUCTS

Killeen angler Craig Gilbert won the Skeeter Bass Champs Central Region Feb. 25 for his fourth win in eight years on the tour.

It was a tough day on Belton, and every angler worked hard for every fish caught.

“It started out pretty slow, but picked up as the day warmed up,” Gilbert said. “I had been on some fish in practice, but the recent cold front had pushed those fish back. I had to go to plan B.” Picking up a Carolina-rigged small green pumpkin finesse worm, Gilbert

started targeting deep points.

“I went back and forth across each point that I hit in about 20-25 feet of water,” he said. “It took nearly all day to put a limit together.”

His best five fish of the day weighed 16.29 pounds, which included a 4.96-pound kicker.

—Staff report

Louisiana Tech tops college field on Sam Rayburn The Louisiana Tech University team won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Southern Conference event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Feb. 26 with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces.

The win helped them advance to the Southern Conference Regional Championship.

“We were targeting major spawning pockets,” said Matthew Loetscher, a sophomore in construction engineering. “We knew the fish were going to be scattered, so our plan was to catch one fish at a time hoping to be able to find the spawning bass. We were able to find one pocket that really paid off for us today. It was a recently flooded bank with hay grass and we pretty much stayed there all day.

“All of our bass were caught in less than 5 feet of water using Carolina- and Texas-rigged Zoom Speed Craws.”

Rounding out the top five teams and also advancing to the regional championship were: 2nd: University of Louisiana-Monroe — Brian Eaton and Nick Ladart, both of Monroe, La. (five bass, 13-8) 3rd: Central Arkansas — Robert Bartoszek, Conway, Ark., and Justin Harrell, Mayflower, Ark. (five bass, 12-11) 4th: Stephen F. Austin — Kyle Turner, Tyler, and Robert ‘Blaze’ Platt, Azle (five bass, 10-3) 5th: University of Louisiana-Lafayette — Neil Arnaud, Lafayette, La., and Cody McCrary, Baton Rouge, La. (five bass, 9-10) —Staff report

OUTDOOR BUSINESS

Bass management clinic March 23-24 at TFFC Methods for growing big fish will be shared at “Bass Tech: The Technology to Manage for Success,” March 23-24 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

A wide range of topics is slated, such as “Basic Pond Ecology” and “Better Bass Fishing Through Genetics.”

Instructors include biologists from AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and American Sport Fish Hatchery.

People attending can watch a crew from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department “electrofish” on Lake Athens. They will demonstrate how this technique gives data for managing bass.

Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicator license holders can earn one continuing education unit in integrated pest management.

Registration will be from 7-8 a.m. on March 24. The symposium will conclude at 5 p.m. A catered lunch and break refreshments are included in the registration fee.

Participants may register online at http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu (enter the keyword “bass”) or by calling (979) 845-2604. Fee is $70.

—TWPD

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March 9, 2012

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LONE STAR MARKET

To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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