November 09, 2012 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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November 9, 2012

100 and still hunting Centenarian shoots great buck.

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Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

November 9, 2012

Volume 9, Issue 6

Waterfowl opens with a bang

Inside

Gadwall, wigeon, teal in most bags

By John Keith

Lone Star outdoor newS

FLYING HIGH: Hunters reported solid shoots on opening weekend across much of the state, including the coast.

Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

❘❚ FISHING

Cool weather, biting cats

A week before duck season opened in the North and South Zones, a cold front made its way through much

of the state, to the delight of waterfowlers.

But warm temperatures quickly replaced the cool weather, leading it to feel more like teal season. However, many hunters still reported

See WATERFOWL, Page 14

Catfishing picking up across state.

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Bass fishers struggle through fall transition

A new roar Invasive lionfish found off Texas coast.

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❘❚ HUNTING

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

Bass fishing across the state has been hit or miss the past few weeks as unpredictable weather pushes bass into one pattern, only to change a day or two later.

On Lake Fork, guide Dennis Sheley of Lake Fork Guide Services said the fishing has been tough lately.

“The lake is still turning over a little bit, but we are about done with that,” he said. “We have been catching a few bass on Carolinarigged flukes. We are just letting them sit — don’t move it. Guys are also catching some fish with the Alabama rig in 22 to 30 feet of water.

“But all of the fish have been small.”

Sheley reported some schooling action near Bird Island, but the bigger fish remain elusive.

“I had a client catch an 8-pounder in a creek several weeks ago, but I think that was a fluke,” he said.

Need more roosters Pheasant numbers down from last season.

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Silent hunter Stephenville hunter takes deer with a suppressed rifle.

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good action, especially in the coastal prairies.

“We had 60 hunters out and one group of four didn’t shoot their limit,” said Todd Steele of Thunderbird Hunting Club near El Campo. “We

. . . . . . . . . . .

Page 32 Page 22 Page 10 Page 22 Page 12 Page 32 Page 33 Page 33 Page 15 Page 16 Page 22

STILL RUNNING AROUND: Several good bucks fell across the state on opening weekend, although warm temperatures and an abundance of natural browse kept hunters frustrated. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

See BASS FISHING, Page 20

Warm weather for deer opener Bucks beginning search for does up north

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS Temperatures were in the 60s and 70s for much of the state during the opening of the Texas general season.

However, plenty of hunters still made it into the woods and reports were positive on deer movement and hunter success.

“Really, really good,” was how Darrell Derringer of Woodbury Taxidermy’s deer processing department in Kerrville characterized the opening weekend in the Hill Country. “We had more than 100 deer come in, along with

a couple of really big ones. We had one buck come in this morning that will go over 200 inches.”

Derringer said the deer are in great shape thanks to some late rains. However, he said hunters were complaining about the natural browse that kept a lot of deer from coming to feeders.

“There are still a lot of acorns out there,” he said. “A few places up by Fredericksburg have reported some rutting activity, but I haven’t heard of a lot of rutting going on south of I-10.”

In North Texas around Seymour, Bob Wisniewski of

Winterhawk Outfitters said the opener was good, but not stellar.

“It was nothing special,” he said. “The weather was mild and the bucks aren’t rutting yet. They usually start that from mid-November through Thanksgiving.”

Wisniewski said his country doesn’t have a ton of oaks, but the rains produced enough natural forage to keep bucks away from feeders.

“They are coming to feeders to grab a free bite once in a while,” he said, “but it is just awful green See DEER OPENER, Page 14

TOUGH BITE: High pressure, mixed temperatures and finicky bass have made for some tough fall fishing for Texas anglers. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

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November 9, 2012

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November 9, 2012

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November 9, 2012

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HUNTING

Photo by Jason Craig.

Big birds dispersed Some geese have gone south, most holding well to the north

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News Reports point to just a sprinkling of specks, snows and Canada geese across most of the state, as hunters hope the Midwest drought and onset of cooler temperatures will bring the migrants down in force.

But for hunters around the Garwood and Eagle Lake prairies, good shooting has already been had.

“For this time of year we’ve actually seen more snows than in years past,” said area guide Matt Mauger. “Snows really start coming back the end of November. There’s lots of specklebellies right now, which is common.”

See GEESE, Page 30

BIG BUCK FOR GRANDMA: Mary Hundley proudly holds the antlers of the nice deer she harvested last season in South Texas.

The 100-year-old still makes it to the deer blind at least once each season, and recently took another big buck this year. Check LSONews.com for the newest pictures. Photo by Robert Hundley III.

Pheasant counts down from last season

Centenarian still shooting big bucks 100-year-old loves the deer lease

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Divine native Mary Roberta Hundley has been hunting deer longer than most.

Hundley, who turned 100 on Oct. 12, hasn’t missed a deer season in as long as anyone can remember.

“She shoots a nice deer every year,” said Robert Hundley III, Mary’s grandson. “We all grew up hunting on our deer lease. My uncle manages a ranch between Batesville and La Pryor, so we went out there last Tuesday.”

Robert said his grandmother needs a little help getting around, but she still makes it into the blind.

“We hunt the same blind in a

pasture,” he said. “We get her in it and wait for a nice deer to come out. She needs the right one. It’s hard to believe she can see well enough to look through the scope of her .243.”

The group, including Mary’s son George, spent the afternoon in the blind before the big buck came out.

“She was a little upset because she had missed a nice buck earlier in the afternoon,” Robert said. “This buck came out and we had to wait, because there were quite a few deer. We had to make sure she was on the right one.”

The big buck turned broadside, and Mary sent a well-placed shot downrange, anchoring the deer right there.

“It is really neat to still go hunting with her,” Robert said. “It is a blessing. She’s killed some bigger deer — this buck measured 138 inches, was 6 1/2 years old and field dressed 163 pounds.”

And Mary isn’t done!

Robert said the group plans to head back out the ranch in the near future for another shot at a bigger buck.

“We’ve seen some bigger ones, so we are going to take her back,” he said.

Robert said he is amazed by his grandmother, and hopes he can enjoy the outdoors as much as she does when he gets older.

“I hope I have that much enthusiasm at 80, let alone 100.”

ON THE DECLINE: Pheasant season is not shaping up to be good in Texas this year.

Drought and habitat shifts have caused a 10-year decline in numbers. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Texas pheasant hunters, much like their quail hunting brethren, have had a rough couple of years.

Don’t expect this season to be much better.

Although the Panhandle received timely spring rains in many places, the rains stopped in the early summer, halting much of the progress that had been made.

“Our surveys are halfway done right now, and from everything I have See PHEASANT, Page 29

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November 9, 2012

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Surprise from the termite mound blind

SILENT SHOT: With two deer in front of him, Stephenville hunter Robert Debord shot one with his suppressed rifle. The minimal sound confused the second deer, which turned and came closer to Debord instead of running away. Photo by Robert Debord.

Muffled muzzle Hunter takes deer with suppressor

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News Stephenville hunter Robert Debord saw the benefits of using a suppressor firsthand on opening weekend while hunting with his wife in Erath County.

He became one of the first hunters in Texas to harvest a deer under the newly legal suppressor laws.

“In under 10 minutes, we saw one doe being chased by three bucks, two bucks we thought were legal but were moving so fast they were gone before we knew it, he said. “And another buck stopped close to the blind and we couldn’t tell what it was because it was sideways to us and was more interested in keepSee SUPPRESSOR, Page 7

HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: Much like American hunters, African guides get creative when trying to build blinds that fit naturally into the terrain. Except for the windows, nobody would suspect this termite mound blind holds hunters. Photos by Craig Nyhus, LSON.

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News There are more natural-looking hunting blinds on the market these days, and homemade blinds often blend into their surroundings. In Namibia, one blind takes natural looking to another level.

Most have seen African termite mounds in print or on television, even if they haven’t been there. The impressive mounds tower up and up, and create unique shapes.

From a distance at Makadi Safaris in Namibia, one

Big city buck Dallas County deer doesn’t disappoint

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News The smell of success was poignant for Dallas hunter Chris Ryan after he bagged a 127 3/8-inch buck with his bow in Dallas County's newly opened deer season on Oct. 21.

“I took all the scent away steps; every step there is,” Ryan said. “I even used coon urine as a cover scent.”

Ryan was hunting a 153-acre piece of property used to run cattle, where he had never seen a high number of deer.

“We really hadn’t seen deer on it previously — maybe one here, two there,” he said. “We got out there and put three or four cameras out on some rubs and scrapes we had found, and basically two weeks before I shot my deer, we went out and found a good rub. I put a camera out and found five bucks.

But this one I shot wasn’t even on there.”

Sitting in a pop-up blind, the hunt came down to the wire for Ryan.

“About 5:30, a coyote came by and he came in behind me, but the only window I had open was the front window,” he said. “I was going to try to stick him, but he made it to about my 11 o’clock and winded me.”

After another hour of sitting

CONCRETE TO CROCKPOT: With only a 20-minute trip, Dallas hunter Chris Ryan took full advantage of the county being opened for deer hunting this year, bagging a 127 3/8-inch buck. Photo by Chris Ryan.

in the blind, the sun was starting to set and Ryan was running out of time.

“About 6:30 I thought I’d hit a doe bleat a few times before I got out of the stand,” he said.

“I hit it three times and about a minute later I heard something from my left and saw him. I decided that if he was going to come in, I would shoot him.

“He stopped on a dime and looked at me at the same spot the coyote did, and there were some limbs blocking him.”

Luckily for Ryan, the buck turned and with a well-placed shot the deer was down after 30 yards.

“I was pretty pumped,” Ryan said. “I’ve hunted West Texas my whole life and had plenty of opportunities to take deer

with my bow, but the only buck I’ve taken with my bow before this one was a little 6 point.”

The location of the hunt didn’t hurt, either.

“I enjoy it because I live in Dallas, so it’s only a 20-minute trip for me,” he said.

“Hopefully I get a bigger one because there are bigger ones out there.”

Dallas County Game Warden Mike Stephens said the overall level of success in the newly opened counties is hard to gauge.

“That’s the biggest one I’ve heard of so far,” Stephens said of Ryan’s buck. “Because there’s no deer camps and it’s all archery, no one has reported anything additionally to me.”

ground blind for bowhunters and rifle hunters unable to “spot and stalk” fools the eye of the hunters.

Sitting near a dry waterhole that was waiting for the January rainy season, springbok and hartebeest were still observed moving within bow range from the aptly named “termite mound blind.”

“I came up with the idea — I didn’t want a square box out there,” said owner Diethelm Metzger. “We made the blind from chicken wire and cement — the cement is about an inch thick. A door, a few windows and a vent hole at the top was all it took.”

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November 9, 2012

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Buck falls at hand of young hunter Perseverance pays off with first deer

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News Deer hunters know that patience can make all the difference between bagging a targeted buck, or going back to camp head down and empty-handed.

This was the lesson 11-year-old Zac Martinez, of Junction, was taught by his uncle, Glynn Underwood, who founded Koon Canyon Ranch south of Rocksprings.

“I’ve been living overseas the past nine years so I haven’t had a lot of time to show him how to shoot a gun or anything,” Underwood said. “I just moved back in June and decided this was the year he was ready for it.”

Underwood took his nephew to the shooting range, starting him off with a .17 Fireball, because he had the same model in a .308 that Martinez would use while hunting.

“He got better groupings than I did at the range,” Underwood said. “He did exceptionally well.”

The pair went to the 640-

FIRST-TIMER: Zac Martinez shot this mature 6 point hunting with his uncle on Koon Canyon Ranch south of Rocksprings. The deer only ran 30 yards before it fell. Photo by Glynn Underwood.

acre ranch, hoping to find a 6 point aged at 5 1/2. The first morning the buck didn’t show, and the patience of the two hunters was tested.

“There was one 3 1/2-yearold 8 point I was close to having him shoot, but decided to wait,” Underwood said.

“We went back out that afternoon and we figured

out the best way for him to shoot was to be standing because the chairs don’t go high enough.”

Next came a long waiting game, followed by a flurry of action.

“We sat there and sat there See YOUNG HUNTER, Page 21

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November 9, 2012

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Third CWD zone proposed

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News A lack of chronic wasting disease sampling in eastern New Mexico and West Texas counties have prompted Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials to propose a third CWD zone in West Texas counties.

“There has been very little sampling in New Mexico or in Texas along the Texas border to the north of where CWD was detected in the Hueco Mountains,” said Mitch Lockwood, TPWD’s big game program director.

The new Buffer Zone, recommended by the CWD Task Force and approved

by Texas’ White-tailed Deer Advisory Committee at its Oct. 31 meeting, wraps around the Containment Zone and extends northward along the Texas/New Mexico border. The new zone will allow testing in areas where little information has been gathered, Lockwood said.

Similar to the High Risk Zone, it will include voluntary check stations (planned in Sanderson, Alpine, Midland and Bakersfield) and will impose additional restrictions on deer breeders and movement of deer, although less restrictive than those in the Containment or High Risk zones.

There are currently no deer breeders in the Containment Zone, one in the High Risk Zone and approximately 12 in the proposed Buffer Zone, Lockwood said.

Although the proposed Containment Zone has expanded slightly along its southern boundary, much of the prior proposals have remained the same.

“The goal is to stop the unnatural movement of deer,” Lockwood said.

“Hopefully, the incidents of CWD are isolated and we can shrink the zones in the future.”

As previously proposed in the Containment Zone, mandatory check stations will be implemented in Van Horn and Cornudas, and there will be no transporting of deer. In the High Risk Zone, check stations will be voluntary.

“And we will post the results (by tag number) on the TPWD website as soon as we get them, within one to two weeks from harvest,” See CWD, Page 29

Suppressor Continued From Page 5

ing up with the others. We had some yearlings come over, and, of course, that’s the one we decided to take. I’m more of a trophy hunter, but my wife likes the yearling meat better.”

Debord was using an Ambush Arms .300 Blackout with a Yankee Hill Machine Phantom suppressor and a Magpul 5-round magazine with a Hornady 208-grain AMAX bullet.

“There were two yearlings when I shot,” he said. “The one I didn’t shoot turned and looked the opposite direction of us, and then ran toward us. The suppressor more or less confuses the animal.”

The quiet shot could mean that a big buck in the area wouldn’t get spooked, and could still come in after a hunter takes a deer for the freezer. Debord said the suppressor cuts the noise of the muzzle blast by more than half.

“My parents were 300 yards away at camp and we texted them and asked if they had heard anything, and they said no,” he said. “Usually when we shoot, they text us and ask what we got.”

Debord said that since suppressors reduce the sound so well, it can benefit other hunters nearby by not spooking the deer in the area. But he has words of advice for hunters wanting to get a suppressor.

“There’s so many variables,” he said. “If a rifle is sighted in and you put a suppressor on, it’ll change the point of impact. It’s almost like you have to have a note about each grain of bullet and its effect on the point of impact.”

Now that he has some meat for the freezer, Debord is looking forward to another hunt.

“I was looking into hunting with a suppressor ever since TPWD was even floating the idea around,” he said. “Once you start using suppressors, it’s hard to stop.

“But don’t get me wrong; I still have my .270 to hunt with.”

See video at LSONews.com

CALL HIM POKEY: Falls City hunter Charles Herber III harvested this 34-inch spike while hunting in Wilson County on the Bar None Ranch. It is entered in the Longest Spike Category in the Muy Grande Deer Contest. Muy Grande Founder Leonel “Muy” Garza said it was the largest spike he had ever seen in his 47 years at the contest. Photo by Muy Grande Deer Contest.

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November 9, 2012

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FISHING

Fishing for cats hitting peak time Cold weather brings better bite

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Lake Buchanan catfish guide Clancy Terrill was having a good morning on the boat when contacted by LSON last week.

“We just got done catching seven blues on cut gizzard shad,” he said. “The smallest was 8 pounds and the biggest was 17. We are using big bait right now and fishing rock piles in 12 feet of water.

“The fish have been in the rocks near a ledge.”

Terrill said the big cats come into the shallower water to feed before heading to deeper rock ledges to spend the day.

“As the water gets colder, the catfishing will get better and better,” he said. “I have the best consistency from December to March on those big blues.”

Terrill said he very rarely fishes in water deeper than 20 feet.

“Early mornings and late BIG MOUTH, TASTY EATING: Fishing for blue cats is picking up with the cooler weather. Channel catfish remain easy targets on many lakes. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

See CATFISH, Page 20

Lionfish found in Texas waters Invasive fish competes with natives

CLASHING WITH THE LOCALS: The invasive lionfish can have a very negative impact on the health of local fisheries, but though they have venomous spines protruding, they are regarded as good table fare. Photo by Matt Ajemian.

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News A ferocious and venomous invasive species, lionfish, have been spotted offshore of Port Aransas, which could be bad news for anglers as the fish compete with native species.

“The consensus is that they seem to be starting to spread westward,” said Dr. Matt Ajemian, postdoctoral research associate for the Harte Research Institute.

“Their origin is toward Miami. I’m not sure if everyone expected them to spread

this far, but we’re certainly starting to see them.

“It’s concerning because some studies show these guys are pretty vicious predators and can compete with some of the native species.”

The first lionfish was seen about 40 miles southeast of Port Aransas, and a second sighting was about the same distance from Port Aransas, but due east.

“Both sightings were in relatively deep water, almost 200 feet down,” Ajemian said. “Most divers probably won’t see them or interact with them, and I don’t

know how often anglers will get these on a hook. We just don’t know if this is just a small brood that made it over, or whether they’re really setting up camp out here.”

Ajemian said anglers who come into contact with the fish need to exercise caution.

“The lionfish themselves have a bunch of venomous spines on them, so unless properly handled you run the risk of hurting yourself,” he said. “Most people would like to see you keep the fish if you do catch it because of the potential threat they have to the rest of the reef fish community.”

Ajemian said researchers are going to continue to keep an eye out for a reproducing population of the fish, but said there may be a silver lining.

“I have a colleague in Bermuda and he says they’re extremely good tasting,” he said. “But, obviously, it requires a lot of careful preparation.”

Researchers have also discovered multiple lionfish around the Flower Garden National Marine Sanctuary, situated roughly 100 miles off the northern end of the Texas coast.

The USGS describes lionfish as a venomous invasive species normally found around structure such as wrecks or reefs, and can inhabit water depths as shallow as a shoreline, or as deep as 600 feet.

Anglers need to be as worried about the fish’s behavior as much as their venomous spines. Ferocious feeders, lionfish are reported to have reduced their fish prey by up to 90 percent in areas dense with the species.

CATCHING THEM IN NUMBERS: Flounder reports from up and down the coast have been good this month, with big fish being caught in the shallows. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.

Flounder being landed on lures November closure for gigging underway

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Sabine guide Randy Foreman loves catching flatfish, and he knows the time for big flounder is right around the corner.

“With each norther that blows in here, it just gets better and better,” he said. “We caught limits most days last week — one day we fell short. We are boxing a lot of fish over 4 pounds right now. We really need a good northwest wind to drain the lake a little bit.”

Foreman said the bigger fish were still in the bay system, but the little ones have moved to the channels.

“We have been throwing plastics at them in white with a chartreuse tail,” he said. “We are also tipping a mullet bait with shrimp or crab Fish Bites.”

Foreman said the water isn’t as clear as farther down the coast, so that has affected how he approached the fish.

“I am fishing points and drops in 2 to 4 feet of water,” he said.

Farther down south, Capt. Ozzie Arnold said the fishing was tremendous several weeks ago, but has slowed in his area along the north shore of East Bay. “We’re still getting some every time out, but it has slowed down,” he said. “I throw mullet or live shrimp, along with a 2-inch green split-tailed beetle. I like the 2-inch better, because a flounder seems to not bite all the way on a 3-inch.”

Arnold said he and clients were boating a lot of 4and 5-pound fish, but he is also seeing a lot of undersized fish.

“Most of the ones we are catching are in the 15- to 18-inch range,” he said. “But we are also catching a lot of 6- to 10-inchers as well. That looks really promising for the future.”

On South Padre, angler Rick Johnston has been catching his limit wade fishing in areas known for big trout.

“They are in here pretty good,” he said. “I have been using plastics — anything with some chartreuse has been working — and we have caught some good ones, as well. I really think the November closure of the gigging has really helped the flounder numbers.

“We can only keep two, but they are nice-sized and great to eat.”

Capt. Charlie Paradoski said he hasn’t been targeting flounder much in Matagorda Bay, but the guys who are “have been whacking them.”

“We have a great flounder hole in Matagorda by the locks, and the guys who are in there all the time have been really catching them,” he said.

Capt. Randy Foreman, (409) 719-6067 Capt. Ozzie Arnold, (979) 241-1946 Capt. Charlie Paradoski (713) 725-2401

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

Dealing with dredging

November 9, 2012

Little water, big fish

Is the practice to blame for slow fishing?

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News It’s not an uncommon sight for saltwater anglers: a dredger muddying its way along a piece of the coast, turning previously clear areas into something more like chocolate milk.

“I’ve been putting up with dredging all my life,” said Capt. Gabe Escobar.

“It’s something that has to be done, but it doesn’t help the fishing any.”

But Escobar said he doesn’t think it has any far-reaching effects on an area, though it can affect areas of shoreline that used to be accessible for wading.

“It hurts the fishing a little bit right there where they’re doing it, but I would say it really is a temporary kind of bother,” he said. “I would say it really doesn’t affect anything long term.”

Escobar said he usually moves around half a mile away from a dredging site to find better fishing and water quality.

“Just get away from that area; you

don’t have to be that far,” he said.

“But it does create shock waves in the water, so you want to get away from that. And the channel a good 500 yards either way is going to get muddied up pretty good.”

Fishing the Land Cut has been an average year, according to Escobar, even with the dredging.

“It’s a man-made thing and we have to keep people’s channels open, and it’s part of the economy as well, so it’s something fishermen just have to live with,” he said. “The other day I was fishing the Redfish Bay area, and they were dredging the Intracoastal.

The whole section out there got muddied up.”

Capt. Grant Coppin, who has a degree in marine biology, worries a little bit more about the effect of dredging.

“One of the things is the conditions of the dredge material will diminish See DREDGING, Page 24

DIRTY WATER: The real long-term effect of dredging may not be the stained water, but the loss of habitat for smaller baitfish. Photo by Niels Quist Peterson, Photos.com.

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QUALITY FISHERY: With good numbers of largemouth bass and slab crappie, anglers shouldn't overlook Aquilla Lake when planning a fishing trip. Photo by Mark Parker.

Aquilla Lake often overlooked

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News Simple but true — It’s not the size of the lake with the fish; it’s the size of the fish in the lake.

At 3,020 acres, Aquilla Lake in Hill County is roughly 20,000 acres smaller than its neighbor Lake Whitney, and a little more than half the size of nearby Navarro Mills Lake. But anglers who fish the lake say it can hang with the bigger bodies of water.

“It’s a great hidden entity,” said Hillsboro angler Rick Poteet. “It’s probably one of the best lakes near the DFW area

to catch 5-pounders all day long. As far as 3- to 6-pound fish, it’s just loaded with them.”

Poteet said anglers new to the lake need to be prepared to change their normal way of thinking when it comes to catching largemouth bass.

“It’s a frustrating lake at times,” he said. “It’s really temperamental, maybe because it’s so shallow. If you do what you think you should do in most tournaments on a seasonal pattern, you’re not going to do well.”

Poteet believes the shallowness keeps the bass from making many moves when it comes to

depth, but there are some characteristics that help to pattern the fish.

“When I first started fishing the lake, I was having some trouble trying to locate the bass,” he said.

“These fish are more residential fish, and they get in a pocket and stay there regardless of the season.”

The lake does have a good number of roadbeds that attract bass, including a good spot by the Dairy Hill ramp, and another by the east side of the dam.

“It’s not a lake where you pull into every cove and find a good (bass),” he said. “It’s not a lake where you’re going to go on a campout and get 8and 10-pounders, but you’re going to get 4s and 5s. It can be feast or famine.”

Poteet likes to throw top-waters or buzzbaits in the morning, and he also throws a lot of square-billed crankbaits. Later in the day he will switch to a shaky head or Texas rig.

“I’ve been using a light Carolina rig with real good success lately,” he said. “The water is stained pretty good, so they like a darker color like junebug.”

But the lake isn’t only touted for its largemouth fishing.

“It’s a great crappie lake,” he said.

“I’ve seen guys pulling out stringers that just have ungodly slabs of crappie on it.”

Area fishing guide Mark Parker agreed with the good crappie fishing.

“When I first started guiding in 2005, Aquilla was my main lake,” he said. “For me, it is a big crappie lake, and it has a lot of white bass too, which seems to surprise a lot of people.”

Parker said there are plenty of brush piles, including five big COE piles, with one being straight across See AQUILLA LAKE, Page 24

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Throw the spinners TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR — Both the weather and the fishing has been good, according to Ronnie Greer of Holly Park Marina.

“They’re catching quite a few bass and crappie,” Greer said.

“They’re catching them on spinner baits and flukes. Another guide said he was using a redbug worm and spinner baits.”

Other anglers have been catching good numbers of crappie, which Greer attributes to the weather.

“We’re supposed to get this cool front in, and that might be the reason the fish are biting,” she said. “It’s quite a bit better than it’s been.”

Greer said the lake is about 4 feet below pool, with a water temperature of about 68.

To contact Holly Park Marina, call (409) 625-4424.

Reds and blues CALAVERAS LAKE — Redfish have been strong on the lake, according to area guide Harry Lamb.

“We’ve been catching some reds anywhere from 24 to 30 inches,” he said. “I’m really surprised they’re still there because the spawn is really at the end. But on days when the

ATHENS: Water lightly stained; 68–75 degrees; 9.45’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on drop-shot rigs, shaky heads, Texas rigs, jigs and medium-running crankbaits in shad pattern. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait.

AMISTAD: Water clear; 77–81 degrees; 32.73’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits.

Striped bass are good on chartreuse striper jigs. Catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp and nightcrawlers over baited holes.

BASTROP: Water stained; 77–81 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon soft plastic worms and crankbaits. Crappie are good on live minnows. Channel and blue catfish are very good on shrimp and stinkbait.

BELTON: Water clear; 73–77 degrees; 5.07’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits and soft plastic worms. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. White bass are good on minnows. Crappie are excellent on minnows in 20 feet.

Channel and blue catfish are good on doughbait and bacon.

BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 5.13’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on white spinner baits and shallow crankbaits in shad pattern, with mostly small fish being caught, but the occasional pig. Crappie are good on jigs over brush piles.

BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and spinner baits in reeds. Redfish are good on shad, shrimp, tilapia and silver spoons. Channel catfish are good on nightcrawlers, shrimp and cut bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 67–73 degrees; 14.10’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged plastics fished around any shallow wood cover or isolated rock.

Shallow-running crankbaits and top-waters in shad patterns are good early in the day. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs.

BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 73–77 degrees; 9.96’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red soft plastic worms and white spinner baits over brush piles.

BUCHANAN: Water murky; 74–78

degrees; 27.06’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits, lipless crankbaits and crankbaits in 10–20 feet.

Striped bass are good on topwaters and plastic swim baits near Lighthouse Point at daylight.

Crappie are good on pink or chartreuse Curb’s crappie jigs and live minnows. Channel catfish are good on liver and cheesebait.

Yellow and blue catfish are good on live shad.

CADDO: Water stained; 69–74 degrees; 1.01’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics in green pumpkin or watermelon red. Black and blue flipping jigs are working as well.

White and yellow bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and trotlines.

CALAVERAS: Water clear.

Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms, spinner baits, and some top-waters around reed beds.

CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 69–74 degrees; 3.15’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and spinner baits around any shallow cover. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

FALCON: Water murky; 82–86 degrees; 34.53’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on stinkbait and cut bait upriver.

FAYETTE: Water stained.

Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and Carolinarigged soft plastics over grass. Red ear perch are good on worms.

FORK: Water clear; 67–72 degrees; 4.11’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits and small swimbaits shallow around stumps. Crappie are good on minnows around bridge columns.

Catfish are good on prepared bait.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear.

Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on stinkbait, nightcrawlers and live bait.

GRANBURY: Water stained; 74–78 degrees; 4.86’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red soft plastic worms and lipless crankbaits. Striped bass are good on silver striper jigs. Catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 80–84 degrees; 15.75’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse soft plastic worms and lizards over grass in 8–15 feet.

Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

GRANGER: Water clear; 75–79 degrees; 0.91’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse jigs over brush piles in 4–15 feet.

Blue catfish are good on prepared baits and on juglines baited with fresh shad. Yellow catfish to 70 pounds are good on trotlines baited with live perch.

COLEMAN: Water lightly stained; 75–79 degrees; 12.64’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits.

Hybrid striper are slow. Crappie are good on live minnows over brush piles.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 67–72 degrees; 6.23’ low. Largemouth bass are good on small crankbaits around main lake points. Texasrigged soft plastics are effective around marina docks. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs and jigs.

CONROE: Water clear; 75–79 degrees; 3.07’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon lipless crankbaits, spinner baits, and top-waters. Crappie are good on minnows and pink tube jigs.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 73–77 degrees; 0.40’ high.

Largemouth bass to 8 pounds are good on perch-colored crankbaits in 8 feet. Catfish are good on juglines baited with perch.

COOPER: Water clear; 67–73 degrees; 5.54’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut bait.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water offcolor; 68–74 degrees; 19.02’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters, crankbaits in shad pattern, Texas rigs and

weather has been out of the south and warm, they’ve been up on the dam spawning.”

Lamb said he has also had good luck with catfish, catching up to 27 channels and a few blues recently. He used cheesebait in 2 feet of water around cattails.

“I’m using all plastics for reds,” he said. “Gold with a white tail, 5-inches long. Some people have been catching them on spoons.”

To contact Capt. Harry Lamb, call (210) 559-8420.

Artificials across the board LAKE RAY ROBERTS — Use live bait for crappie and plastics for everything else, said area guide Gregory Reedy.

“The crappie are excellent, the white bass are excellent and the bass are good,” Reedy said. “I’m using plastics for largemouth.”

The white bass are biting well, but they’re sporadic in where they want to show up.

“I wouldn’t look for them on top,” he said. “The bites are coming off jigging spoons.”

Reedy said the lake is about 2 1/2 feet low, with a water temperature around 70 degrees.

To contact Gregory Reedy, call (940) 367-3262.

— John Keith

jigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

JOE POOL: Water clear; 68–72 degrees; 2.18’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastic creature baits in watermelon red. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

LAKE O' THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 68–73 degrees; 4.04’ low. Largemouth bass are good on white/chartreuse spinner baits around wood cover. Crappie are good on minnows.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 67–72 degrees; 8.24’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early and Texas-rigged craws around shallow cover.

White bass are good on slabs.

Crappie are good on minnows. .

LBJ: Water clear; 76–80 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass are good on white spinner baits, swim baits, and watermelon off creek points early. Striped bass and white bass are good on soft plastics at night. Channel catfish are good on minnows and liver.

Yellow and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with perch.

LEWISVILLE: Water clear; 67–71 degrees; 5.42’ low. Largemouth bass are good on weightless worms and shaky heads around marinas. Crappie are good on jigs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut shad.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 75–79 degrees; 0.39’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on perch-colored lipless crankbaits, crankbaits and soft plastics.

Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Blue catfish are good on shad and stinkbait.

MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 82–88 degrees; 1.37’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics and hollow body frogs around stumps and other shallow cover. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 75–79 degrees; 2.15’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits and soft plastics. Channel catfish are good on shrimp.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 68–75

degrees; 33.09’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on lipless crankbaits, Texas rigs, chatterbaits and shaky heads.

Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

PALESTINE: Water clear; 67–72 degrees; 1.61’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black/blue jigs and shaky heads around docks.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 67–75 degrees; 8.55’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair to good on shallow-running crankbaits, Texas rigs, jigs and drop-shot rigs.

Crappie are good on minnows.

PROCTOR: Water lightly stained; 74–78 degrees; 4.57’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse crankbaits and soft plastic worms. White bass are good on minnows and chartreuse spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs.

RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 67–71 degrees; 3.23’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early, switching to Texas-rigged plastics later in day around shallow docks. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

SEE MORE

■ Saltwater fishing reports: Page 16 crankbaits and spinner baits.

White bass are fair on minnows.

Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.

STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 74–78 degrees; 3.90’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, crankbaits and spinner baits. Channel and blue catfish are good on minnows, hot dogs and stinkbait.

TAWAKONI: Water stained; 69–74 degrees; 3.82’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white bladed jigs and flipping jigs around docks.

Crappie are good on minnows.

White bass are good on slabs.

TEXOMA: Water clear; 67–72 degrees; 4.00’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and small crankbaits along main lake points. Striped bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 67–73 degrees; 3.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged craw baits along edges of grass.

Catfish are good on prepared bait or live shad.

TRAVIS: Water clear; 75–79 degrees; 47.21’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms, top-waters and crankbaits in 8–15 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers and fresh cut bait.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water clear; 68–72 degrees; 3.83’ low. Largemouth bass are good on white spinner baits around docks at the mouths of creeks.

Hybrid striper are good on slabs and live shad. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

WEATHERFORD: Water clear; 68–73 degrees; 6.35’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on swimjigs and finesse baits around docks. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait. White bass are good on slabs and live minnows.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 74–78 degrees; 3.86’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse top-waters, soft plastic worms and crankbaits early. Crappie are good on live minnows.

Catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 75–79 degrees; 2.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse

WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 73–77 degrees; 8.45’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse spinner baits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits.

White bass are good on silver slabs, pet spoons and hellbenders. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs. Catfish are good on liver, stinkbait and nightcrawlers.

— TPWD

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Yamaha V MAX SHO 150

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS There’s no need to shy away from four strokes for bass boats with Yamaha’s new four-stroke, 150 horse V MAX outboard.

The in-line, four-cylinder engine is lighter, more fuel efficient, smoother and, of course, much quieter than its twostroke counterparts. And a new style will surely appeal to bass anglers preferring the aggressive look.

“It’s two-stroke performance with fourstroke benefits,” said Yamaha Application Engineer Jarrett Young. “It’s clean, quiet and smooth.

And it weighs less and uses less space.”

The motor sports a new, more aggressive style, accentuating the “V,” a 50-amp alternator, and it is “Hot Foot” compatible for those who

prefer the foot pedal accessory.

Anglers have often steered away from fourstrokes because of the heavier weight. But, at 480 pounds, the VMAX is only 12 pounds heavier than Yamaha’s two-stroke VZ 150.

And it outperforms both the two strokes and competitors’ four strokes.

“And you don’t need an external oil tank,” Young said. “That saves both weight and space.”

The importance of fuel efficiency can’t be understated, and the V MAX SHO 150 offers fuel consumption that is 30 to 40 percent better than two strokes.

And it’s fast. Tested on a 190 Skeeter, it reached 57.2 mph and, in the hole shot, it ran from 0 to 200 feet in 7.7 seconds.

On the Tennessee River in Bridgeport, Ala., LSON tested the new motor on a Phoenix 618 Pro, a Skeeter ZX190, a Triton 18 XS and a Maverick Mirage 18 HPX-V polSee YAMAHA, Page 18

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER TAG THOSE OVERSIZED REDS Galveston County Game Warden Mack Chambers filed five cases on recreational fishermen for failing to tag bull redfish. A total of eight bull redfish, two black drum, one red snapper and three sheepshead were seized. Cases pending.

POACHER TAKES BUCK IN WATERMELON PATCH Hardin County Game Warden Mike Boone responded to a call of shots being fired in the Batson area.

A subject was located and after an interview, Boone was able to locate a freshly killed 8-point buck shot in a watermelon patch. Citation issued and case pending.

THAT’S A BIG TEAL Refugio County Game Wardens Raul “Pinky” Gonzales and Danny Kelso were checking teal hunters when one hunter produced his bag and advised Kelso that he bagged the biggest teal he had ever seen.

Danny advised the hunter that the reason the duck was so big was that it was a mottled duck.

TAG THOSE OVERSIZED REDS #2 Refugio County Game Wardens Danny Kelso and Raul “Pinky” Gonzales finished checking dove hunters and headed over to Bayside to see how the fishermen were doing.

Two subjects pulling their boat out of Copano Bay advised they had one gar. One subject did all the talking while the other seemed in a hurry to get things loaded up. Gonzales asked them if they had caught any other fish. The subject stated they had a redfish that was almost 28 inches. Gonzales checked the ice chest and found one 26-inch redfish. The subjects also admitted to having two more redfish measuring 29 and 30 inches. The hurried

BULL SHOT, VIOLATORS CLAIM THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A HOG Red River County Game Warden Daniel Roraback received a call from a landowner regarding his cattle being shot. The bull had been shot in the hindquarter, the front shoulder and just below the eye socket.

Roraback dispatched the bull per landowner request.

A Southwestern Cattle Association ranger was brought in to investigate. The landowner got license plate

subject advised Gonzales that they would go ahead and tag their fish.

Gonzales advised both subjects that tags would be filled out after both subjects signed their citations.

MULE DEER SHOT FROM ALLEY Hutchinson County Game Warden Lance Lindley was contacted by the Borger Police Department about two men who had shot a deer. A code enforcement officer had noticed the two dragging the deer and called the Borger PD. Two PD officers had both subjects detained when Lindley arrived. Both subjects were interviewed, and they admitted to seeing the mule deer buck in the alley and shooting at it with a .22 rifle. After they injured the deer and it took off down into the canyon, they followed. The two men killed the deer in the bottom of the canyon and were dragging it back up to their house when they were spotted.

Cases and restitution pending on both subjects.

WARDENS ASSIST MEN INJURED BY TRACTOR Rains County Game Warden Dewayne Noble and Wood County Game Warden Derek Spitzer were traveling on Highway 69 when Noble noticed a tractor without an operator in a field going in circles.

numbers for occupants at a camp, and Roraback knew the individuals and their whereabouts. The subjects admitted to shooting the bull with a shotgun the night before while spotlighting, mistaking the 2,000-pound bull for a hog. The bull was estimated to be worth around $3,500. Criminal charges are pending until the landowner’s demands to replace the bull are met.

As Spitzer stopped the truck, both wardens noticed a man rolling on the ground trying to get away from the tractor, but before the wardens could reach him the mower portion of the tractor struck the man. The wardens were unable to safely board the tractor so they drug the man out of harm’s way and then returned to turn off the tractor. Then the wardens realized there had been two victims. The second victim had also been run over, was able to crawl back to his truck, which was about 30 yards away, but was unable to get to his phone. The two men were both transported by helicopter to a Tyler hospital.

WARDEN MAKES QUICK WORK OF SURBURBAN POACHERS On opening weekend of bow season, Bell County Game Warden Brandt Bernstein was notified by the Harker Heights Police Department that information had been received regarding suspects hunting from a vehicle and shooting deer off the road in a subdivision.

The witness had provided an out-ofstate license plate for the suspect vehicle, and the report showed that the owner of the vehicle had dealt with police in the past. Within eight hours, Bernstein had two suspect statements, all suspect names and

information and three deer that had been shot (two in Bell County, one in Coryell County). Within 24 hours there were three confessions and cases filed.

DWI SUSPECT HAS GUTTED DEER IN TRUCK BED Ellis County Game Warden Jeff Powell was patrolling for dove hunters when he was notified by the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office that a possible DWI driver was headed his way.

Powell waited about five minutes for the driver to pass. As the driver passed, Powell pulled him over and was assisted by the Ennis DWI task force. While the Ennis officer was performing field sobriety tests on the driver, Powell discovered a gutted deer on ice inside a barrel in the back of the truck. Multiple cases pending.

MORE MOTTLED DUCKS SHOT DURING TEAL SEASON Nueces County Game Wardens Saul Aguilar and Nicole Spatz received a call regarding a group of hunters who had harvested a pair of mottled ducks within a marsh area.

The wardens spotted the group and decided to observe the pair of hunters for several hours from a spoil island. Upon leaving the marsh area, the wardens made contact by

boat and interviewed the subjects.

The ducks had been breasted and were located in the pockets of one of the hunters along with a mourning dove. In addition to the hunting in closed season and unplugged shotgun violations, drug paraphernalia was found on one of the individuals.

Citations issued.

A POPULAR CREEK FOR SHOOTING McLennan County Game Warden Michael Serbanic received a trespass call, but was unable to locate the individuals and decided to wait in the area in case they returned.

A few hours later a vehicle stopped just down the road. A group of people got out of a truck with an AR-15 rifle and flashlight. They began to shoot off the road into a creek and into a field. Serbanic made contact with the group and issued a citation for discharging a firearm from a public road. No evidence of hunting from the road was found.

About 45 minutes later, another truck stopped in the same general area and a man got out of the truck with an AK-47 and fired numerous rounds into the creek. Serbanic made contact with the vehicle and found open containers within the vehicle. The subject stated he was testing his AK-47 on the turtles in the creek. No turtles were located.

Citations were issued.

WARDEN RESCUES DISTRESSED BOATERS IN BAY Aransas County Game Warden Richard “Marty” Martin responded to a call of two men whose boat had broken down in Swan Lake off Copano Bay. The subjects advised that both did not have their medications with them and would not be able to survive the night. Both men were very grateful.

LSONews.com

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Deer opener Continued From Page 1

in our area. The good thing is all of the deer are fat, sleek and healthy.”

Reports from the Pineywoods were decent, but warm weather shut down movement for a good part of the weekend. Several good bucks were seen, but many of them between 9 a.m. and noon as the bucks made their way around scrapes and doe groups.

In South Texas, Zach Akin of Los Cazadores in Pearsall said it was a pretty good weekend down in the brush country.

“There were some big deer killed this weekend,” he said. “I’d say it was a pretty good weekend overall. Hunters said they didn’t see a bunch of deer because of the warm weather, but that sure didn’t stop some hunters from killing some big bucks.”

Akin said the biggest buck brought in opening weekend scored 256 inches.

With the rut still being at least a month away, prospects are good for a banner year down south.

“All of the deer I’ve seen have been in great shape,” Akin added.

A HEALTHY HERD: Lots of natural forage have the Texas deer herd in great shape for this fall season. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.

Waterfowl Continued From Page 1

have plenty of birds, but the problem was a sunny, clear blue bird day on Saturday.

What happens when we scare them up in the clear weather is they just leave; but pretty much everyone shot their limits.”

Steele said the groups shot mostly blue-winged teal, with some gadwall and pintails. Greenwing teal were seen around, but not very many were shot.

“Luckily there weren’t a lot of shovelers around,” he said. “There’s plenty of mottled ducks around but you can’t shoot them, and it doesn’t take them long to get smart.”

Steele finally saw a good push of birds on Sunday.

“We kind of had a system come through,” he said. “On Sunday we had a massive migration, with the first significant waves of snows coming in, and big flights of pintails and other ducks migrating down from up north.”

The club may have to start pumping more water, as Steele said the area hasn’t had any

good rain for nearly two months. To keep the birds around, the club tries to hunt a pond no more than once a week.

Farther north, the success was varied.

Dallas hunter Marcus Morriss hunted northern Smith County opening weekend and said the birds in his area were mostly locals, with northern birds not yet reaching the area.

“We had a good hunt, but it was limited to wood ducks and a few local wigeon,” he said. “We didn’t see any mallards. The birds we did see checked out the decoys and provided some good shooting, but I expect it to get much better as it gets colder and pushes more birds in our direction.”

Hunters who set up on lakes around the DFW area saw decent numbers of ducks, but the birds seemed to already have a destination picked out away from the decoys. One hunter reported seeing gadwall, wigeon and pintail, in addition to a flock of eight canvasbacks. He also said that Sunday was a

SOLID SHOOTS: Hunters in North Texas had plenty of opportunities for success on wood ducks, gadwall and teal. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.

better day to be on the water.

Lone Star Outdoor News Executive Editor Craig Nyhus hunted near DeLeon, where

the gadwalls showed up on opening morning. Nyhus and two friends bagged their limits of gadwall and wigeon before 8 a.m.

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

November 9, 2012

Page 15

PRODUCTS SOFT-SIDED COOLER: Trophy Totes’ innovative cooler is ideal for transporting deer and other antlered animals from the field to the taxidermist while maintaining the integrity of the trophy’s cape.

Unlike standard ice chests, this cooler allows for sealing around the antlers. This helps protect the antlers by blocking the entryway for heat, which would melt the ice in the cooler and encourage bacterial growth. The cooler is available in Mossy Oak and sells for about $150.

(409) 781-2329 www.trophytotes.com

VAPOR MAX SHIRTS: Hunters can now stay cool when a cold morning turns warm. Browning’s Vapor Max Shirts, available in short- and long-sleeve versions, are made from a lightweight quick-drying fabric. This 100-percent polyester Vapor Max fabric draws moisture away from the hunter’s body.

To help control human odor, the shirts utilize “OdorSmart” technology, which uses silver ions to kill the bacteria that causes human odor. The shirts feature crew necks and are available in a variety of camo patterns. The long-sleeve shirt (shown) sells for about $38 and the short-sleeve shirt sells for about $32. (The larger sizes will cost more.)

>>

(800) 322-4626 www.browning.com

APO-TELEVID SPOTTING SCOPE: It’s back. This best-inclass spotting scope from Leica (offered in 82 mm and 65 mm) sports a true apochromatically-corrected lens system featuring four Fluorite crystal lens components. The company says this lens system delivers brilliant edge-to-edge color fidelity and clarity plus six percent more light transmission for the finest detail resolution and brightness possible in early dawn to late dusk. Its wide-angle eyepiece provides a wide field of view of more than 60 degrees across the zoom range and features an updated interchangeable bayonet system with automatic lock for secure scope attachment. Constructed with rubber armor-coated magnesium, the spotting scopes are rugged, lightweight, easy to carry, and quiet to operate. The eyepiece and scope bodies are nitrogen-filled and sealed, making them fog-proof and waterproof to a depth of 17 feet. Also, all exterior lens surfaces are protected by a coating that sheds water and dirt, even in the harshest environments. The spotting scopes are available in straight and angled bodies. The MSRP for the APO-Televid 82 mm Spotting Scope is $3,899.

ZILLA BRAID: Here’s the braid that should help anglers land those Godzillaesque fish. SpiderWire has melded its Dyneema and Cordura fibers to come up with a braid that features just the right stretch and strength to go after monster bass, stripers, sturgeon, catfish and more. The Zilla Braid comes in moss green to blend into murky green waters. Available in 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 65-, 80- and 100-pound test, a 1,500-yard spool sells for about $135 to $220.

Win Nikon 10x42 PROSTAFF 7 binoculars See a full selection of Nikon products at

Victoria All-Sports Center 1902 Houston Hwy. Victoria, TX 77901

(361) 575-0655 www.victoriaallsports.com

CALEB KORCZY NSKI, 8, of Vict oria had a succ ful youth weeke essnd hunt. While hunting with hi dad, big brothe s r and little sist er, he harveste first buck at 18 d his 0 yards. He was hunting on the family’s deer le ase in Refugio County. The de was aged at 7. er 5 years old, w as 20 1/2-inches wide and gros s scored 124 3/ 8. Caleb used dad's first deer his rifle to harvest the deer.

SLAMA SPOON: Johnson’s spoon has a wider profile for more wiggle in the wobble and built-in ribs for added oomph in the action. Anglers who cast or jig for trout, bass, pike and multiple species can add this spoon to their bait boxes. The spoon, which has a nickel hook, comes in nine colors and four sizes: 1/2 ounce, 3/4 ounce, 1 ounce and 1 1/4 ounces. It sells for about $4.50 to $6.50.

(800) 237-5539 www.johnsonfishing.com

>>

(877) 502-7743 www.spiderwire.com

>>

>>

(800) 222-0118 www.leica-sportoptics.com

>>

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November 9, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

Drum on a roll

PORT MANSFIELD — The fishing is on the upswing after a rough summer, according to area guide Roger Kohutek.

“The fishing has definitely picked up,” he said.

“The redfish are back, after we had a tough time with them during the summer. And there’s definitely action in the bay right now, with the commercial boys catching a lot of black drum.”

Kohutek said trout are good on channels around the East Cut. But that doesn’t mean the big fish will come easy.

“I wouldn’t say it’s real hot,” he said. “There’s a lot of small fish, but get out and work on it and you can catch some fish.”

Plastics and a few top-waters have been working.

To contact Capt. Roger Kohutek, call (956) 944-2150.

Loading them up REDFISH BAY — There’s a good population of fish around, and they aren’t small, according to area guide Dean Monroe.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “Every day we’ve been whacking them. We’ve been catching reds and trout pretty much every day.”

NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad on soft plastics.

Redfish and flounder are good in the marsh on shrimp.

Flounder are good on shrimp, shad and scented plastics at the mouths of bayous.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad. Redfish are good at the jetty on live bait and cracked crabs. Flounder are good on scented plastics around marsh drains.

BOLIVAR: Trout, black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. Trout are fair to good while drifting shell on plastics. Bull redfish are good on the beachfront.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good

for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on soft and scented plastics. Redfish are fair to good on the east shoreline on top-waters.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout and large Gulf trout are good for drifters working deep shell on plastics and fresh shrimp.

Redfish and flounder are fair to good in the marsh around drains on shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Bull redfish and flounder are good at San Luis Pass on shrimp and shad. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs.

TEXAS CITY: Gulf trout are good in the channel on fresh shrimp. Redfish are good in

Moses Lake on shrimp.

FREEPORT: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the reefs in Christmas Bay and Bastrop Bay. Bull redfish are good around Surfside and at the Quintana jetty on crabs, shrimp and mullet.

Monroe said he has been happy with the size of the fish, too.

“They’re nice ones,” he said. “They’re all 23-, 24-, 27-inch fish. I’m using live piggy perch for bait.”

The fish are being caught in the flats in about 3 feet of water, drifting while free-lining and casting the bait into potholes.

To contact Capt. Dean Monroe, call (361) 790-5250.

Fishing for the slam WEST BAY — Conditions have been good for a Texas slam, and the anglers are proving it, said Jermaine Pike of Fat Boys Bait and Tackle.

“It’s been pretty good where we are,” Pike said. “Flounder, redfish and trout have all been caught. They’re biting on shrimp and mud minnows.”

Pike said he has seen some big fish brought in. Top-waters are still eliciting some bites from redfish and trout, and scented plastics are working for all three species.

Some large redfish have been caught working the shorelines and under birds.

To contact Fat Boys Bait and Tackle, call (409) 655-5150.

— John Keith

Mad Island on the incoming tide. Flounder are fair around the locks on speck rigs.

tics. Bull redfish are good at the jetty and on the beachfront on natural baits.

PORT O'CONNOR: Bull redfish are good at the jetty on crabs, mullet and shad. Trout are good on the reefs in San Antonio Bay on live shrimp.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Bull redfish are good in the surf on mullet and shrimp. Trout are fair for waders working mud and grass on top-waters and scented plastics in Oso Bay.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good in the middle of the bay under birds. Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Trout and flounder are fair to good on muddy shorelines on soft plastics.

ROCKPORT: Trout are fair in the channel on free–lined shrimp. Redfish are good in Redfish Bay on mullet and crabs. Bull redfish are good in the Lydia Ann Channel and around Mud Island on shrimp and crabs.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and top-waters. Redfish are fair on live shrimp at Shell Island, Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and

PORT ARANSAS: Trout are fair on the drop–offs around Super Flat on top-waters.

Redfish are fair at Shamrock Cove and Pelican Island on top-waters and scented plas-

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on top-waters and plum plastics around rocks and grass near the Land Cut. Trout are good while drifting deep rocks on plum plastics. Flounder are good in the Land Cut on scented plastics and jigs tipped with shrimp.

PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are good while drifting potholes on top-waters and soft plastics under a popping cork.

Trout and redfish are fair to good on the spoils on small top-waters and gold spoons.

Flounder are fair to good at East Cut on scented plastics and shrimp.

SOUTH PADRE: Redfish are good in Airport Cove and on the Gas Well Flats on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics. Trout are fair to good in South Bay on top-waters and scented plastics under rattling corks.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are good over potholes and grass flats on scented baits and top-waters. Redfish and flounder are fair to good in Cullen Bay on scented plastics and small top-waters.

— TPWD

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

November 9, 2012

Page 17

Page 18

November 9, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Yamaha Continued From Page 11

ing skiff.

In the 18-foot, 6-inch Phoenix, professional bass angler Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., put the VMAX SHO 150 to the task, reaching and holding speeds of 60 mph despite temperatures in the 30s, a stiff north breeze and against 2 mph currents in the Tennessee River.

“It’s really agile and it will do whatever you want,” Lane said. “It’s all you need.”

The motor ran smooth, jumped out of the chute and was noticeably quiet compared with the roar of similarly powered two-stroke engines.

Lane donned a mask for the ride — a smart move.

“I always wear them when it’s cold,” he said.

The wind chill while travelling at 60 mph made his companions wish he had brought along extras.

See video at LSONews.com

Boone and Crockett releases top counties of all time In commemoration of its 125th anniversary, the Boone and Crocket Club recently released a list of the top 125 counties for producing record-book animals, and Texas has several entries on the list, led by Hudspeth County and its 106 pronghorns.

The list is based on Boone and Crockett big-game records-trophy data going back to 1830 and long used by conservationists to gauge outstanding habitat, strong recruitment of game animals into older age classes, sustainable harvest objectives and other elements of sound wildlife management and fair-chase hunting.

“Consistent trophy production over time is proof that conservation measures are working exceptionally well, and the 125 counties on this list stand out as historic models of success,” said Boone and Crockett Club President Ben Wallace. “But the good news extends well beyond the list. Trophy production appears to be trending upward with many species and across much of North America. In fact, last year our records program had 979 new entries, compared to 372 just 30 years ago.”

A few counties are recognized on the list for multiple categories of trophies.

1. Wyoming, Carbon County-282 pronghorn in B&C records 2. California, Mendocino County-190 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records 3. California, Trinity County-185 typical Columbia blacktail deer in B&C records 4. Wyoming, Sweetwater County-183 pronghorn in B&C records 5. Wyoming, Fremont County-153 pronghorn in B&C records 6. Nevada, Clark County-142 desert sheep in B&C records 7. Wyoming, Natrona County-142 pronghorn in B&C records 8. Montana, Granite County-134 bighorn sheep in B&C records 9. South Dakota, Custer County-134 bison in B&C records 10. Montana, Sanders County-132 bighorn sheep in B&C records Texas counties on the list: 16. Texas, Hudspeth County-106 pronghorn in B&C records 41. Texas, Webb County-49 typical whitetail deer in B&C records 48. Texas, Dimmit County-47 typical whitetail deer in B&C records 53. Texas, Maverick County-46 typical whitetail deer in B&C records 63. Texas, La Salle County-40 typical whitetail deer in B&C records 122. Texas, Culberson County-16 desert sheep in B&C records

— B&C

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Page 19

November 9, 2012

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Page 20

November 9, 2012

Bass fishing Continued From Page 1

Farther south, guide Robert McFarlane, of Double R Guide Service, said the fishing has been on and off recently on Falcon.

“Some days are good, some days are not so good,” McFarlane said.

“Some days we are catching stringers of 28 to 30 pounds, other days it is in the 10- to 15-pound range.”

McFarlane thinks pressure, more so than weather, is dictating the bite.

“A lot of it has to do with boat pressure,” he said. “It has kind of messed these fish up. I think the inconsistent fishing is because of pressure. These fish are lure and boat shy.”

McFarlane said multiple weekend tournaments, along with a lot of weekday traffic fishing the same areas of the lake, have created lureshy bass. But he hopes deer season, along with cooler temperatures, will lessen the pressure and get bass back to biting.

“With these cooler nights, the water temperature will cool down some and it should get going,” he said. “The shallow-water bite should be turning on and the bass will also start to push up into the creeks. We haven’t had any schooling yet.”

McFarlane said crankbaits are producing the best bites, but jigs and Carolina-rigged worms are also putting fish in the boat.

“We are using small baits to get bit right now, which is rare down here,” he said. “Jigs in the shallow water has been working, but the shallowwater bite has been spotty. The big fish will get more active with the cooler weather.”

Dennis Sheley, (903) 629-3826 Robert McFarlane, (956) 857-7314

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Catfish Continued From Page 8

afternoons are the prime time,” he added.

In North Texas, guide David Hanson said the blue cat bite on Lake Tawakoni has been slow, but the channel cats make up for it.

“The fall blue cat bite has been slower than normal,” Hanson said. “We’ve only got about a dozen today up to 16 pounds.

With the time change coming on, it will get better.”

Hanson said although the blue cat bite has been spotty, he has been loading the boat with channel cats.

“The channel cats are still wide open,” he said. “We are catching limits everyday.”

Cut bait has been getting blue bites on lake humps in 2 to 8 feet of water.

“The channels are anywhere you fish,” Hanson said. “If you can bait a hook and drop it between 10 and 30 feet, you’ll catch a channel cat.”

Hanson said he prefers to eat blue cats, but a lot of old-timers swear the channel cats taste the best.

West of the Metroplex on Lake Worth and Eagle Mountain Reservoir, reports said the fishing has been pretty spotty, although the blue cat bite is getting better with the falling water temperatures.

“The past couple of weeks we have caught some decent numbers on some days, but the fishing has been spotty,” said one guide. “With the water cooling off, it will get more consistent.”

For bait, anglers are using cut shad, but they need to be mobile to get on the fish right now.

“The baitfish are moving, so you’ve got to search a little bit,” the guide added. “Just stay mobile — we’ve caught them anywhere from 2 to 30 feet.”

Clancy Terrill, (512) 633-6742 David Hanson, (903) 662-5668

CHANNELS GALORE: Lake Tawakoni is producing easy limits of catfish right now, like the one guide Jim Taylor is holding. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Young hunter Continued From Page 6

and didn’t see anything,” he said. “Then the feeder goes off and all hell breaks loose. We ended up seeing 10 bucks.”

The 8 point that was passed on during the morning hunt came out, and Underwood decided to hold off again. Then a 170-class buck named Willy showed up.

“Zac got pretty excited seeing Willy, but we weren’t going to shoot him,” he said. “Then lo and behold, our buck comes walking up.”

Underwood said that even though the 6 point was two years older than Willy, he didn’t want to get anywhere near him.

“He just walked over to the water trough and grazes the field and I’ve got Zac trying to GOOD GROUPING: After a trip to the range, Glynn Underwood said he get him lined up, but the deer was outshot by his nephew Zac. Photo by Glynn Underwood. gets a little out of range from where we feel comfortable,” he said. “Then Zac gets him lined up but there’s other deer behind him. So finally everything steps clear and he gets broadside and I said ‘Zac, he’s lined up perfectly when you’re ready.’”

His nephew proved that his skills at the range were no fluke.

Tshe buck ran 30 yards after the 120-yard shot and went down.

“He rolled right over deader than a doornail,” Underwood said. “There was a lot of highfiving going on in the blind at that point. He was pretty eager to get out of the blind.”

Martinez couldn’t wait to go see the buck up close.

“I was excited because I knew I hit him, but I wasn’t sure about how well,” he said. “He ran off and then fell down and I was really happy. I was excited to see how big he was up close.”

And shooting a .308 didn’t even phase him.

“That gun is heavy so it doesn’t kick at all,” he said.

Website for wind helps hunters It’s taught early and repeated often; whether it’s ducks or deer, always hunt the wind.

But weather channels seem to put a lot more time and effort into deciphering the changing temperatures than helping hunters figure out if their south or north deer stand will be the best one to hunt, or if the western shore of the lake will have ducks landing face-first toward the hunters.

So short of licking your finger and testing the wind every morning you get out of the truck, what can hunters do to plan where to hunt in advance?

Weather-centered websites such as weather.com display the estimated forecast of winds and directions, but they are notorious for being inaccurate or changing as hunters head to the field.

A website that can help duck hunters estimate when the next push of waterfowl will head south is http://hint.fm/wind/. The map shows wind direction and speed across the entire United States, so that when a strong northern wind is blowing from Canada to Kansas, Texas hunters can assume new ducks will ride the currents down.

“These are near-term forecasts, revised once per hour,” the website explains. “So what you’re seeing is a living portrait.”

With the help of smart phones and multiple wind forecasting websites, hunters can make sure they’re downwind of deer and face to face with ducks.

— John Keith, LSON

November 9, 2012

Page 21

Page 22

November 9, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, jetty Date Time Nov 09 5:06 AM Nov 10 5:28 AM Nov 11 6:01 AM Nov 12 6:41 AM Nov 13 7:24 AM Nov 14 12:18 AM Nov 15 12:52 AM Nov 16 1:32 AM Nov 17 2:16 AM Nov 18 12:19 AM Nov 19 1:00 PM Nov 20 3:53 AM Nov 21 4:36 AM Nov 22 5:13 AM Nov 23 5:47 AM

Height 1.5L 1.0L 0.5L 0.0L -0.5L 2.9H 3.0H 3.0H 2.9H 2.6L 0.4L 1.9L 1.5L 1.0L 0.6L

Time 11:17 AM 12:32 PM 1:36 PM 2:35 PM 3:32 PM 8:12 AM 9:02 AM 9:55 AM 10:52 AM 3:07 AM 9:09 PM 7:11 AM 9:26 AM 11:20 AM 12:46 PM

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time Nov 09 5:32 AM Nov 10 5:54 AM Nov 11 6:27 AM Nov 12 12:15 AM Nov 13 12:37 AM Nov 14 1:05 AM Nov 15 1:39 AM Nov 16 2:19 AM Nov 17 3:03 AM Nov 18 12:45 AM Nov 19 1:26 PM Nov 20 4:19 AM Nov 21 5:02 AM Nov 22 5:39 AM Nov 23 6:13 AM

San Luis Pass Date Nov 09 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 19 Nov 20 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23

Time 12:01 AM 12:15 AM 12:29 AM 12:45 AM 1:07 AM 1:35 AM 2:09 AM 2:49 AM 12:12 AM 1:41 AM 2:22 PM 5:15 AM 5:58 AM 6:35 AM 7:09 AM

Freeport Harbor Date Nov 09 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 19 Nov 20 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23

Time 5:58 AM 6:11 AM 6:37 AM 12:06 AM 12:18 AM 8:38 AM 9:27 AM 10:20 AM 11:17 AM 12:18 PM 1:27 PM 4:36 AM 4:59 AM 5:28 AM 6:00 AM

Height 1.2L 0.8L 0.4L 2.1H 2.2H 2.3H 2.4H 2.4H 2.3H 2.1L 0.3L 1.5L 1.2L 0.8L 0.5L

Time 12:04 PM 1:19 PM 2:23 PM 7:07 AM 7:50 AM 8:38 AM 9:28 AM 10:21 AM 11:18 AM 3:54 AM 9:56 PM 7:58 AM 10:13 AM 12:07 PM 1:33 PM

Height 2.4H 2.7H 3.0H 3.2H 3.4H -0.7L -0.8L -0.7L -0.4L 2.7H 2.6H 2.1H 2.0H 2.1H 2.3H Height 1.9H 2.1H 2.4H 0.0L -0.4L -0.6L -0.6L -0.5L -0.3L 2.1H 2.1H 1.6H 1.6H 1.7H 1.8H

Time 4:40 PM 5:48 PM 6:48 PM 7:41 PM 8:28 PM 4:29 PM 5:27 PM 6:27 PM 7:27 PM 11:52 AM 2:17 PM 3:43 PM 5:05 PM 6:16 PM Time 5:06 PM 6:14 PM 7:14 PM 3:22 PM 4:19 PM 5:16 PM 6:14 PM 7:14 PM 8:14 PM 12:18 PM 2:43 PM 4:09 PM 5:31 PM 6:42 PM

Height 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3L 1.3L 0.2L 0.9L 0.7L 0.5L 0.3L

Time 6:28 AM 6:50 AM 7:23 AM 8:03 AM 8:46 AM 9:34 AM 10:24 AM 11:17 AM 3:33 AM 4:24 AM 10:26 PM 8:28 AM 10:43 AM 12:37 PM 2:03 PM

Height 0.7L 0.5L 0.2L 0.0L -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.3L 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.1H

Time 12:34 PM 1:49 PM 2:53 PM 3:52 PM 4:49 PM 5:46 PM 6:44 PM 7:44 PM 12:14 PM 1:14 PM

Height 0.9L 0.7L 0.4L 1.5H 1.5H -0.3L -0.4L -0.3L -0.2L 0.0L 0.3L 1.2L 1.0L 0.7L 0.5L

Time 11:49 AM 1:01 PM 2:05 PM 7:11 AM 7:52 AM 5:03 PM 6:03 PM 7:03 PM 8:01 PM 8:52 PM 9:32 PM 7:38 AM 9:51 AM 11:47 AM 1:15 PM

Height 1.5H 1.8H 2.0H 0.1L -0.1L 2.4H 2.4H 2.3H 2.1H 2.0H 1.8H 1.3H 1.3H 1.5H 1.6H

Height 1.6L 1.9L 2.2L 2.4L 2.6L 3.4H 3.3H 3.1H 3.0H -0.1L

Time 10:58 PM 11:12 PM 11:28 PM 11:50 PM

Height 2.6H 2.6H 2.6H 2.8H

9:11 PM 9:56 PM 10:50 PM

2.7L 2.8L 2.7L

8:23 PM

2.8H

0.8L 1.2L 1.5L 1.8L

9:45 PM 10:12 PM 10:34 PM 10:52 PM

2.5H 2.4H 2.3H 2.3H

Height 1.3L 1.5L 1.7L 2.6H 2.7H 2.7H 2.6H 2.5H 2.4H -0.1L

Time 11:45 PM 11:59 PM

Height 2.0H 2.0H

8:07 PM 8:54 PM 9:37 PM 10:22 PM 11:16 PM

1.9L 2.1L 2.2L 2.2L 2.2L

9:10 PM

2.2H

0.6L 0.9L 1.2L 1.4L

10:32 PM 10:59 PM 11:21 PM 11:39 PM

2.0H 1.9H 1.8H 1.8H

Height 1.1H 1.3H 1.4H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H -0.2L 0.0L

Time 6:02 PM 7:10 PM 8:10 PM 9:03 PM 9:50 PM 10:33 PM 11:18 PM

Height 0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.2L 1.3L 1.3L 1.3L

8:44 PM 9:40 PM

1.4H 1.3H

3:39 PM 5:05 PM 6:27 PM 7:38 PM

0.4L 0.6L 0.7L 0.9L

11:02 PM 11:29 PM 11:51 PM

1.2H 1.1H 1.1H

Time 5:41 PM 7:07 PM 8:28 PM 3:05 PM 4:03 PM

Height 1.1L 1.2L 1.3L 2.2H 2.3H

Time 11:30 PM 11:49 PM

Height 1.6H 1.5H

9:49 PM

1.4L

2:47 PM 4:20 PM 5:52 PM 7:17 PM

0.6L 0.9L 1.1L 1.2L

10:02 PM 10:25 PM 10:43 PM 10:59 PM

1.6H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H

LSONews.com

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases New

Date Nov 09 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 19 Nov 20 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23

Time 1:29 AM 12:11 AM 9:00 AM 9:34 AM 10:17 AM 11:07 AM 12:04 AM 1:06 AM 2:05 AM 2:51 AM 2:51 AM 1:57 AM 1:45 AM 1:11 AM 12:08 AM

Rockport Date Nov 09 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 19 Nov 20 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23

First

Nov. 14

Port O’Connor

Time 1:50 AM 1:18 AM 12:54 AM 12:46 AM 1:02 AM 1:38 AM 2:27 AM 3:25 AM 4:25 AM 5:25 AM 6:24 AM 7:22 AM 1:56 AM 12:36 AM 12:13 AM Time 5:26 AM 5:48 AM 6:19 AM 6:57 AM 7:39 AM 8:24 AM 9:13 AM 10:04 AM 10:57 AM 11:52 AM 12:49 PM 1:52 PM 4:27 AM 4:50 AM 5:20 AM

Time 5:21 AM 5:40 AM 6:11 AM 6:49 AM 7:32 AM 8:19 AM 9:09 AM 10:01 AM 10:54 AM 11:49 AM 12:46 PM 1:46 PM 4:17 AM 4:45 AM 5:20 AM

Dec. 6

Houston Height 1.1H 1.1H 0.6L 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1H 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H

Time 8:38 AM 8:39 AM 10:17 PM 10:17 PM 11:04 PM

Height 0.9L 0.7L 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H

12:04 PM 1:04 PM 2:05 PM 3:04 PM 3:58 PM 4:45 PM 5:19 PM 8:31 AM 8:43 AM

0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3L 0.4L 0.5L 0.6L 0.7L 0.5L

Height 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.5H

Time 9:10 AM 9:41 AM 10:19 AM 11:03 AM 11:52 AM 12:44 PM 1:38 PM 2:33 PM 3:24 PM 4:08 PM 4:43 PM 5:04 PM 5:20 AM 7:50 AM 8:49 AM

Height 0.5L 0.4L 0.4L 0.3L 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3L 0.3L 0.4L 0.4L 0.3L

Height 1.0L 0.8L 0.5L 0.2L 0.0L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.1L 0.2L 0.5L 1.0L 0.7L 0.5L

South Padre Island Date Nov 09 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 19 Nov 20 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23

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.

Last

Nov. 28

Nov. 20

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Date Nov 09 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 19 Nov 20 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23

Full

Height 1.1L 0.8L 0.4L 0.0L -0.3L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L -0.3L 0.0L 0.3L 0.7L 1.2L 0.9L 0.6L

Time

Height

11:04 PM

1.1H

11:12 PM

0.9H

Time 1:40 PM

Height 0.5H

Time

Height

Time 5:55 PM

Height 0.5L

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

A.M. Minor Major 12:42 6:54 1:25 7:37 2:10 8:23 2:59 9:13 3:54 10:09 4:55 11:11 6:01 11:41 7:10 12:54 8:17 2:03 9:21 3:07 10:19 4:06 11:10 4:58 11:56 5:44 12:15 6:26 12:55 7:06 1:33 7:44 2:12 8:24 2:53 9:05 3:37 9:49 4:23 10:35

Dallas

8:37 AM 11:19 AM

0.4H 0.4H

5:07 PM 4:37 PM

0.3L 0.4L

Time 12:00 PM 1:22 PM 2:30 PM 3:32 PM 4:32 PM 5:31 PM 6:29 PM 7:25 PM 8:14 PM 8:53 PM 9:21 PM 9:42 PM 9:10 AM 11:32 AM 1:08 PM

Height 1.7H 2.0H 2.3H 2.5H 2.7H 2.7H 2.6H 2.5H 2.3H 2.0H 1.8H 1.6H 1.2H 1.4H 1.6H

Time 5:09 PM 6:42 PM 8:23 PM

Height 1.4L 1.6L 1.8L

Time 10:44 PM 10:43 PM 10:29 PM

Height 1.8H 1.8H 1.9H

3:04 PM 4:32 PM 6:15 PM

0.8L 1.1L 1.3L

9:55 PM 10:01 PM 9:57 PM

1.5H 1.5H 1.4H

Time 11:38 AM 1:12 PM 2:27 PM 3:34 PM 4:39 PM 5:43 PM 6:45 PM 7:42 PM 8:30 PM 9:04 PM 9:25 PM 9:38 PM 8:58 AM 11:32 AM 1:19 PM

Height 1.6H 1.8H 1.9H 2.1H 2.2H 2.2H 2.2H 2.2H 2.1H 2.0H 1.9H 1.7H 1.4H 1.5H 1.6H

Time 4:56 PM 6:34 PM

Height 1.3L 1.4L

Time 10:27 PM 10:19 PM

Height 1.7H 1.6H

2:54 PM 4:16 PM 5:57 PM

1.0L 1.3L 1.5L

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

A.M. Minor Major 12:47 6:59 1:30 7:43 2:15 8:29 3:04 9:19 3:59 10:14 5:00 11:16 6:07 11:47 7:15 1:00 8:23 2:08 9:26 3:13 10:24 4:11 11:16 5:04 ----- 5:50 12:21 6:32 1:00 7:11 1:39 7:50 2:18 8:29 2:59 9:10 3:42 9:54 4:29 10:41

San Antonio

9:44 PM 9:44 PM 9:34 PM

1.7H 1.6H 1.6H

2012 A.M. Nov Minor Major 09 Fri 12:54 7:06 10 Sat 1:37 7:50 11 Sun 2:22 8:36 12 Mon > 3:11 9:26 13 Tue N 4:06 10:21 14 Wed > 5:07 11:23 15 Thu > 6:14 11:54 16 Fri > 7:22 1:07 17 Sat 8:30 2:15 18 Sun 9:33 3:20 19 Mon 10:31 4:18 20 Tue 11:23 5:11 21 Wed Q ----- 5:57 22 Thu 12:28 6:39 23 Fri 1:07 7:18 24 Sat 1:46 7:57 25 Sun 2:25 8:36 26 Mon 3:06 9:17 27 Tue > 3:49 10:01 28 Wed > 4:36 10:48

Amarillo

2012 A.M. Nov Minor 09 Fri 1:08 10 Sat 1:51 11 Sun 2:35 12 Mon > 3:25 13 Tue N 4:20 14 Wed > 5:21 15 Thu > 6:27 16 Fri > 7:36 17 Sat 8:43 18 Sun 9:47 19 Mon 10:45 20 Tue 11:36 21 Wed Q ----22 Thu 12:41 23 Fri 1:21 24 Sat 1:59 25 Sun 2:38 26 Mon 3:19 27 Tue > 4:03 28 Wed > 4:49

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS 1. Movement of an arrow in flight 4. The fishing gear 7. Term for part of a deer’s rack 9. Handy item in strange areas 10. Part of a bow 11. To analyze freshness of tracks 12. A freshwater catch 13. Wild one is the Dall 16. Found in the boathouse 18. Turbulent part of a stream 20. Cloth used to sharpen fishhooks 21. To construct a fly lure 22. A type of turkey call 24. The trapper's gear 25. The wild pig 27. The female deer 28. The camper’s resting place 29. Bowmen’s ammo 30. A species of the bighorn 32. Very good bear trap bait 34. A type of fishhook 35. Rifle part that ejects fired casing

Solution on Page 33

36. Shells, arrows 37. Holds powder charge in a shell 39. Expanded part of a shaft feather 42. Another name for the largemouth 43. Game, fish, fowl favorite areas DOWN 1. Tree favored by turkeys for roosting 2. A large wading bird 3. They reveal the age of some game 4. A protector, shooting ____ 5. A tasty fish when smoked 6. The gun safety 7. A kind of arrowhead 8. A gun choke adjustment 14. A valuable pelt for the trapper 15. A wingshooter’s quarry 17. An underwater growth 19. Force exerted by a shell on a target 23. Said to be very good bass bait material 24. A female bear

Major 7:20 8:03 8:49 9:39 10:35 11:37 12:11 1:20 2:29 3:33 4:32 5:24 6:10 6:52 7:32 8:10 8:50 9:31 10:14 11:01

P.M. Minor 1:06 1:50 2:36 3:27 4:24 5:27 6:33 7:41 8:47 9:49 10:44 11:34 ----12:37 1:17 1:55 2:35 3:16 4:00 4:47

Major 7:18 8:03 8:50 9:42 10:39 11:42 12:17 1:25 2:32 3:35 4:31 5:22 6:07 6:48 7:28 8:06 8:46 9:28 10:12 10:59

SUN Rises Sets 06:40 05:28 06:41 05:28 06:42 05:27 06:43 05:27 06:43 05:26 06:44 05:26 06:45 05:25 06:46 05:25 06:47 05:24 06:48 05:24 06:49 05:23 06:49 05:23 06:50 05:23 06:51 05:22 06:52 05:22 06:53 05:22 06:54 05:22 06:54 05:21 06:55 05:21 06:56 05:21

MOON Rises Sets 2:00a 2:24p 3:01a 3:02p 4:05a 3:44p 5:12a 4:30p 6:22a 5:22p 7:31a 6:20p 8:37a 7:22p 9:39a 8:28p 10:33a 9:34p 11:21a 10:38p 12:03p 11:39p 12:40p NoMoon 1:15p 12:38a 1:49p 1:34a 2:22p 2:28a 2:56p 3:22a 3:33p 4:16a 4:12p 5:10a 4:54p 6:03a 5:39p 6:55a

P.M. Minor Major 1:11 7:24 1:55 8:08 2:42 8:55 3:33 9:47 4:30 10:45 5:32 11:48 6:39 12:23 7:46 1:31 8:52 2:38 9:54 3:40 10:50 4:37 11:39 5:27 12:01 6:13 12:43 6:54 1:22 7:33 2:01 8:12 2:40 8:52 3:22 9:33 4:06 10:18 4:53 11:05

SUN Rises Sets 06:51 05:29 06:52 05:28 06:53 05:27 06:54 05:27 06:55 05:26 06:56 05:25 06:57 05:25 06:57 05:24 06:58 05:24 06:59 05:23 07:00 05:23 07:01 05:22 07:02 05:22 07:03 05:21 07:04 05:21 07:05 05:21 07:06 05:20 07:07 05:20 07:08 05:20 07:09 05:20

MOON Rises Sets 2:05a 2:29p 3:08a 3:06p 4:14a 3:46p 5:23a 4:31p 6:33a 5:22p 7:43a 6:19p 8:50a 7:21p 9:51a 8:27p 10:45a 9:34p 11:31a 10:39p 12:12p 11:42p 12:48p NoMoon 1:21p 12:42a 1:53p 1:40a 2:25p 2:36a 2:59p 3:31a 3:34p 4:26a 4:12p 5:21a 4:53p 6:15a 5:37p 7:07a

P.M. Minor Major 1:18 7:31 2:02 8:15 2:49 9:02 3:40 9:54 4:37 10:52 5:39 11:55 6:46 12:30 7:53 1:38 8:59 2:45 10:01 3:47 10:57 4:44 11:46 5:34 12:08 6:20 12:50 7:01 1:29 7:40 2:08 8:19 2:47 8:59 3:29 9:40 4:13 10:25 5:00 11:12

SUN Rises Sets 06:52 05:42 06:53 05:41 06:54 05:40 06:55 05:40 06:55 05:39 06:56 05:39 06:57 05:38 06:58 05:38 06:59 05:37 07:00 05:37 07:00 05:37 07:01 05:36 07:02 05:36 07:03 05:36 07:04 05:35 07:05 05:35 07:05 05:35 07:06 05:35 07:07 05:34 07:08 05:34

MOON Rises 2:13a 3:14a 4:18a 5:25a 6:34a 7:43a 8:50a 9:51a 10:46a 11:33a 12:15p 12:53p 1:28p 2:02p 2:35p 3:10p 3:46p 4:25p 5:07p 5:52p

Sets 2:37p 3:15p 3:57p 4:44p 5:36p 6:34p 7:36p 8:42p 9:47p 10:51p 11:52p NoMoon 12:51a 1:47a 2:41a 3:35a 4:28a 5:22a 6:15a 7:07a

P.M. Minor 1:32 2:16 3:02 3:53 4:50 5:52 6:59 8:07 9:13 10:14 11:10 ----12:22 1:03 1:43 2:21 3:01 3:42 4:26 5:13

SUN Rises 07:15 07:16 07:17 07:18 07:19 07:20 07:21 07:22 07:23 07:24 07:25 07:26 07:27 07:28 07:29 07:30 07:31 07:32 07:33 07:34

MOON Rises 2:26a 3:30a 4:37a 5:47a 6:59a 8:10a 9:17a 10:18a 11:11a 11:56a 12:35p 1:10p 1:43p 2:14p 2:45p 3:17p 3:51p 4:28p 5:09p 5:53p

Sets 2:50p 3:25p 4:04p 4:48p 5:38p 6:35p 7:37p 8:43p 9:51p 10:57p NoMoon 12:01a 1:02a 2:01a 2:58a 3:54a 4:50a 5:46a 6:41a 7:34a

Major 7:44 8:29 9:16 10:08 11:05 12:08 12:43 1:51 2:58 4:01 4:57 5:48 6:33 7:14 7:54 8:32 9:12 9:54 10:38 11:25

Sets 05:45 05:44 05:43 05:43 05:42 05:41 05:41 05:40 05:39 05:39 05:38 05:38 05:37 05:37 05:36 05:36 05:36 05:35 05:35 05:35

FOR THE TABLE Jalapeno stuffed tenderloin 1 venison backstrap 1 bottle Italian dressing Dale’s seasoning Hot sauce Cream cheese ~ peppers, sliced Jalapeno Large onion, sliced Bacon Cut the tenderloin into two equal pieces. In a large bowl, combine the dressing, seasoning to taste, and a few dashes of hot

sauce. Add to meat. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.

Remove the meat and butterfly each piece. Spread some cream cheese on one half and top with sliced peppers and onions. Fold the other half over the top, wrap the whole thing with bacon and secure with toothpicks. Repeat with the other piece. Grill or smoke over medium heat until medium rare. Serve.

— Backwoodsbound.com

Salmon creole

25. Add to lake water for safe drinking 26. A dinghy 27. Angler term for a casting stroke 31. The skin-like covering on antlers 32. Color worn by hunters

for safety 33. Name for part of a stag’s rack 38. A wood used in arrow shafts 40. Brings catch into the boat 41. The female Dall

2 pounds salmon fillets 1 16 oz. can V8 1/2 cup minced sweet bell pepper 1 small onion, chopped 1 1/2 tsps. oregano 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 1/2 tsps. sugar 1 tsp. cornstarch Salt, pepper to taste Creole seasoning

Arrange fillets on oven-safe dish and sprinkle with salt, pepper. Bake in 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, simmer V8, chopped pepper, onion, garlic powder, oregano and Creole seasoning for 15 minutes. Mix the cornstarch and water and put into sauce; simmer until thickened. Pour sauce over fish and broil until golden.

— Easyfishrecipes.com

*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

November 9, 2012

Page 23

NATIONAL

Oklahoma wounded warrior shoots base-record buck For Quinton Picone, 23, a native of Panola, Okla., first times seem to be the charm. At least first-time hunting trips, that is.

On his first deer hunt Oct. 12 on the 45,000-acre McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Picone harvested a 9-point buck that dressed out at 175 pounds.

The buck set a new base record for the heaviest deer taken on the property, and Picone's name now will appear first on that list.

“It was crazy,” said Picone, who was deer hunting through the Wounded Warriors in Action program along with two other Army buddies from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. “It was pretty exciting.”

This was the fourth year that Army and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation staff members have hosted a group of Wounded Warriors

at the controlled deer hunt. Picone’s fellow Army buddies Stephen Peterson and Roger Benton also took nice bucks over the weekend. And Picone was able to take a doe on the second day of the hunt.

Picone and Peterson are both undergoing rehabilitation after being wounded while serving in Afghanistan. Picone lost both his lower legs and suffered wounds to his right hand due to an Improvised Explosive Device in 2011, while Peterson lost one leg to an IED in 2010. Benton is their platoon sergeant and was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds he suffered during his Army service.

— ODWC

agents arrested a man for allegedly possessing a firearm by a convicted felon and migratory game bird violations in Terrebonne Parish.

Agents arrested Christopher Verdin, 35, for possessing a 12-gauge shotgun by a convicted felon. Verdin was convicted of distributing cocaine in 2006.

Agents received a complaint from the public about Verdin duck hunting in the Chauvin area. Agents arrived on the scene at 7 a.m. on Oct. 27 and observed Verdin hunting ducks.

At 8:30 a.m., agents made contact with Verdin and found him in possession of one mottled duck, one teal and four ibis.

Agents cited Verdin for hunting ducks during a closed season, taking ibis for which there is no season, violating the non-toxic shot requirement, field possession of migratory game birds, harvesting MGBs during a closed season, hunting MGBs without the required harvest information program (HIP) certification, hunting MGBs with an unplugged shotgun, hunting without a basic hunting license and hunting MGBs without state and federal duck stamps.

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a $1,000 to $5,000 fine and 10 to 20 years in jail. Hunting without a basic license brings a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail. For the remaining eight charges, Verdin faces a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each charge.

— LDWF

Louisiana man HD found in Louisiana deer arrested for The Louisiana Department of multiple violations Wildlife and Fisheries has received Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division

numerous reports of dead and dying white-tailed deer this fall.

The reports have come primarily from the parishes that border the Mississippi River in south Louisiana, but scattered reports have come in from all over the state. Many of these deaths can be attributed to hemorrhagic disease.

Hemorrhagic disease is a viral disease syndrome caused by either epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus or bluetongue virus. These Orbiviruses are related but are genetically different. They are spread by biting gnats of the genus Culicoides, resulting in seasonal occurrence of HD. Typically, factors that favor the vectors are a rainy spring followed by a dry June.

Events such as flooding which congregate deer also seem to worsen disease outbreaks.

— LDWF

Missouri hunter shoots wolf A hunter in Howard County shot what appears to possibly be a wolf while archery hunting for deer and coyote on Oct. 30 at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Franklin Island Conservation Area.

According to MDC, the hunter mistook the animal for a coyote, which are currently in season and for which he had a permit.

The hunter reported the kill to Conservation Agent Michael Abdon.

Agent Abdon took possession of the animal and turned it over to the MDC’s Resource Science Division for identification.

According to MDC Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer, the animal was male and weighed 81 pounds.

Beringer collected tissue samples and the animal’s DNA will be used to confirm the species and possible origin of the animal.

Also known as timber wolves, gray wolves once inhabited northern Missouri but were gone from the state by the late 1800s due to hunting and habitat loss. While there is no evidence of a breeding population in the state, wolves are listed as a protected species in Missouri.

— MDC

Two Louisiana men charged Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited two men for alleged night hunting violations and cruelty to animals on Oct. 27 in East Baton Rouge and East Feliciana parishes.

During the early morning hours of Oct. 27, agents received information of possible night hunting activity in the northern section of East Baton Rouge Parish. Agents investigated the area and found Ryan Stogner, 20, of Denham Springs, and Nicholas Tarver, 21, of Zachary, involved in night hunting activities.

Agents also learned that the two men had shot and killed a malamute husky belonging to a couple in East Feliciana Parish.

Agents cited the two men with two counts each for taking deer during illegal hours, taking deer from a public road, hunting from a moving vehicle, hunting without basic and big game licenses and violating deer tagging regulations in East Baton Rouge and East Feliciana parishes. Stogner was also cited for discharging a firearm from a public road in both parishes. Both men were also cited for aggravated cruelty to animals in East Feliciana Parish for killing the husky.

— LDWF

Page 24

November 9, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Aquilla lake

Dredging

Continued From Page 9

Continued From Page 9

from the Dairy Hill boat ramp.

“Some people complain about the lake being small, but that’s a good thing,” he said.

“The white bass are pretty easy to find — they school on top there like they do everywhere.

I think it’s still a great crappie lake; sometimes they seem to have a really good year of spawning.”

Parker said he caught a lot of blue cats on shad, and the crappie liked to be up either

arm of the lake.

Aquilla has two boat ramps open to the public. Dairy Hill ramp is located on the east shore, south of Peoria, near the southeast end of the FM 1947 bridge. The Old School ramp is on the west shore off FM 933 between Waco and Whitney. There is a fishing pier below the dam off Highway 310.

Mark Parker, (254) 479-0550

your shoreline plants, and that’s probably the main effect,” he said. “It trickles down from there. You start affecting the habitat, you’re going to start affecting the food chain.”

Dredging may also hurt the baitfish.

“When all of your baitfish are teeny tiny, they’re holding on to whatever vegetation they have,” he said. “In areas (where) they do dredge, it makes the water turbid and muddy and the fish tend to move out of those areas.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Ecosystem Leader for the Lower Laguna Madre, Mark Lingo, said dredging is probably not the reason for tough fishing along the southern Texas coast.

“The dredging would be very localized,” he said. “However, what we do

LSONews.com

have this year was, early in the year, the water raised above normal and has stayed that way until the last week or so. I think that’s the key of the whole deal, that fish have moved to other areas we don’t usually fish.”

Lingo said surveys done at night with gill nets have been normal, which could be a clue that anglers would have much better luck fishing at night when temperatures cool down.

“I talked to a few people who have kind of been fishing deeper water, and they’ve actually done pretty good this summer,” he said. “I think if a cold front comes through and really cools the water down, anglers will see the fishing pop back up again.”

Texas Team Trail season ends The final event featured 55 of the top teams of the season with the championship and Team of the Year titles on the line.

The winners of the event were Lendell Martin and Jason Moore with their two-day total of 35.66 pounds. The win netted the two anglers a payday of $46,880.

Jim Criswell and his wife, Gail, took second place, catching bass on top-water, jigs and crankbaits.

Big bass honors went to the team of Seth Kelm and Dee Trammell for their 9.66pound giant.

Teams qualified for the championship event by entering and fishing every event held this year. When the dust settled, Russell Cecil and Todd Castledine won the Lucas Oil Team of the Year rings. For their efforts, the duo will have their entry fees paid for 2013.

— Texas Team Trail

Dave Campbell inducted into NFF Hall of Fame

Photo by Google Maps.

David L. Campbell, a retired employee of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and longtime manager of TPWD’s ShareLunker program, has been notified of his induction into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wis., in recognition of his contributions to the sport and heritage of freshwater fishing.

Campbell will be inducted in the Special Recognition category, one of six categories in the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

Campbell worked for TPWD for 46 years, retiring at the end of March 2012. He was inducted into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2011.

— TPWD

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

November 9, 2012

Page 25

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November 9, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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Winners announced for Big Time Texas Hunts The winners of this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts seven hunt packages have been announced.

Texas hunters applied for the chance to win one of the adventures.

“When I received the letter I was excited but couldn’t remember which hunt I had put in for. I was hoping it was the Grand Slam,” said Victoria tobacco shop owner Roger Dean Theisen. “I’ve entered for a number of years — figured it was a good cause.”

The Big Time Texas Hunts raffle offers hunting packages ranging from guided white-tailed deer hunting, bird and gator hunts to the Grand Slam which treats the lucky winner and a non-hunting guest to food, lodging, taxidermy and a personal guide for four separate hunts for desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, pronghorn and desert mule deer. Theisen was the winner of this top package.

This year, the Big Time Texas Hunts drawing received 64,340 entries ($9/entry online or $10/entry by mail, phone or at license retailers) and raised $612,161. All proceeds will benefit wildlife conservation, research and public hunting in Texas.

The winners are: Texas Grand Slam Texas Whitetail Bonanza • Roger Dean Theisen, Yoakum • John M. Dagenhart, Blackwell • Garrie E. Struhall, Austin Texas Exotic Safari • Russell Neal Terral, Mertzon • Henry Frank Bell, Seguin • James Avery Low, Cherokee • Gaynard Ernest Wenglar, East Bernard • Kevin Lane Preston, Conroe • Craig A. Enright, Quinlan Texas Premium Buck • Patrick James Bailey, Corpus Christi • Melvin P. Solomon, Conroe • Robert M. Flatley, San Antonio Texas Waterfowl Adventure Texas Gator Hunt • Gary Wayne Lee, Conroe • Lee Andrew Friedman, Clayton, Calif.

Texas Big Time Bird Hunt • Riley Bruce Marsh, Yoakum — TPWD

Fairfield Lake coming back After multiple fish kills crippled the Fairfield Lake fishery, most anglers turned their boats toward smoother waters, leaving the lake behind them.

But although the fish populations still haven’t recovered, all hope for the lake isn’t lost, according to Fairfield Lake State Park Manager Mike Kleinert.

“I actually went out with fishery biologist Rick Ott recently and we conducted an electroshock survey, and actually did turn up a 30-inch redfish,” Kleinert said. “So there’s still one in there for sure.”

Kleinert said they also brought up some largemouth bass, though none were more than 18 inches, in addition to a single channel cat. Most of the bass were found near areas of hydrilla.

“I asked Rick Ott if the survey went how he expected, and he said it was better than he expected,” Kleinert said. “The survey the time before this one hardly any fish were collected.”

Most anglers frequenting the lake have been using a cast net for tilapia, but anglers earlier in

the year were having some luck on rod and reel for catfish.

“The majority of anglers right now are throwing cast nets,” he said. “I do know that one night three guys had 65 channel cats they caught on rod and reel.”

The reason Fairfield has experienced fish kills could be traced to the lack of any source of new water, according to Kleinert.

“We’re praying for a hurricane to come and park on top of us and kind of flush this thing,” he said. “That’s the problem; it doesn’t have a steady stream flowing in or out like most of your freshwater lakes. We’re kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Kleinert said that Texas Parks and Wildlife are keeping the suspension on stocking the lake in place.

“If you’re just wanting to wet a hook or line, yeah come fish,” he said. “But if you’re wanting to catch a good red, you might want to go to the coast.

Tilapia and catfish, I would say, are the predominant target species.”

— John Keith, LSON

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

November 9, 2012

Page 27

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November 9, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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Pheasant Continued From Page 4

TOUGH SLEDDING: Pheasants are running from nature these days in the Panhandle, as many hunters have quit hunting the birds due to low numbers. Photo by LSON.

seen so far, the survey numbers are down from last year,” said Todd Montandon, a private lands biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department near Canyon. “Most

of my (pheasant habitat) is on top of the caprock. I was hearing lots of birds calling in the spring. We had good rains throughout the nesting season, but by the end of June it quit

LoneOStar Outdoor News

raining and didn’t rain again.

“I think if there was a hatch, they didn’t make it through the summer.”

Montandon said his gut feeling tells him this year’s numbers will be worse than last season.

“Just like our quail surveys, which were the lowest this season that they have ever been, the pheasants have been declining in this area for the past 10 to 12 years. I think some of it is changing irrigation practices. The crops haven’t changed, so I don’t think it is that. There is lots of cover for the birds; I am just hoping for a wet winter.”

Jason Hardin, upland game bird biologist at TPWD, echoed those sentiments.

“Last year was horrible,” he said. “Between the heat and the drought, there was no production. But this year, grazing has knocked a lot of the grasses back and that should make it better for quail and pheasants. We had some decent spring rains, but we need another couple of good years.”

Multiple outfitters in the Panhandle contacted by LSON said they were not going to hunt pheasants this season, many for the second year in a row.

Although the reports were bleak, Internet message board chatter indicated there are some local pockets of birds remaining — mostly on private land.

Positive reports came in from around Floydada in some areas, although the reports from Petersburg were mostly poor.

November 9, 2012

Page 29

CWD Continued From Page 7

Map by TPWD

Lockwood said. “If there is a positive test, we will contact the hunter directly.”

Lockwood said hunters heading to far West Texas should not be alarmed by the regulations.

“There is no evidence CWD poses any risk to people,” he said. “And we can remove the obex from the brain without any damage to the cape, although we may lift the cape to capture some lymph nodes — staff has been trained to do this without damaging the cape.”

Carcasses of the animals may be removed from the sites, although officials recommend against the disposal of carcasses on other property.

Page 30

November 9, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Geese Continued From Page 4

SCATTERED SNOWS, SPECKS AND HONKERS: The prairies east of Houston have welcomed good numbers of geese — especially specklebellies — but most other areas of the state are still waiting on colder temperatures. Photo by Jason Craig.

Ten hunters shot their specklebelly limit on both days of the opener, Mauger said. He tries to set up according to which species he is seeing.

“If we’re targeting specks we’ll normally put the speck decoys on the downwind side of the spread and kind of sit right upwind of the specks,” he said. “But later in the season we’re targeting more snows. We’ll have some specks behind us, because sometimes those snows don’t like going over the specks.”

Mauger said he is hoping for a banner year, if the conditions stay ideal.

“Because of the drought last year, there might not have been enough water to hold the geese here,” he said. “We have plenty of water. We have more ducks than last year, and more geese than this time last year.”

Away from the prairies, hunters aren’t seeing the big numbers.

“We went on a four- or five-hour run the

other day and saw absolutely no geese,” said Jason Craig, who guides near the Red River.

“Yesterday, we had a nice wad of snows find a place to sit down around here, but they’re not going to stay. We don’t really start hunting geese until about the 15th of December.”

Craig said he has seen ducks moving in, but the geese just haven’t been consistent.

“Two weeks ago we saw specks for two days straight,” he said. “The next 10 days to two weeks we’ll start getting some. You’ll know when they get here; if they were here they’d be on the big tanks.”

Around the Panhandle, area guide Riley Shankle has seen Canada geese as the dominant species.

“There’s been quite a few birds in Amarillo, and we’ve seen quite a few around Plainview,” he said. “Not anything near peak, but the sandhill cranes are thick, and ducks are everywhere if you have water.”

LONE STAR MARKET

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

Shankle said specklebellies are the rarest bird he sees, but he has seen a few shot so far this season.

“Last year it was about 50/50 Canada geese and snows,” he said. “We usually judge off of one tank, and during the season it holds 35,000, but right now it has about 1,000.”

Shankle is hoping the drought in the Midwest brings more geese down, and for longer.

“I think they’re going to be in here earlier than they have been and stay longer than they have in the past,” he said. “They’ve already seen what’s up there and they know it’s not much. They just haven’t got the memo yet to move down.”

Matt Mauger, (832) 330-6770 Jason Craig, (940) 255-5279 Riley Shankle, (806) 367-0554

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LoneOStar 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.

November 9, 2012

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November 9, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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HEROES

CASON RAGSDALE, 7, was out fishing with his dad near Texas City when he caught his biggest fish to date — a 32-inch bull red.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE

ROBERT SPANGLER made two offshore trips recently and returned home with his first wahoo and a nice jack.

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

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

Madisonville hunter SUE LEWIS harvested her first elk in Colorado on Oct. 18. Hunting with Cotton Mesa Outfitters, Sue took the bull with a 237-yard shot with a .270.

MICHAEL PEREZ, JR. was fishing Baffin Bay on Oct. 6 with his dad, along with guide Noe Garza, when this 34-inch redfish hit a live shrimp under a popping cork.

The YO Ranch was where TORI NAYFA harvested this fallow deer at 90 yards with a .30-06.

Irving hunter HAYDEN STROUP, 12, took this low-fenced buck while hunting with his dad, Jody, on their deer lease in Albany. Hayden made a 110-yard shot with his Remington .243.

CLASSIFIEDS HUNTING PACKAGES AT LAKE FORK Hunt for wild hogs, quail, pheasant, chukar and ducks at one of the top fishing lodges in North America. Lake Fork Lodge (903) 473-7236 TEXASARCHERY.INFO LOOKING FOR DEER? Great Deal Native Whitetail Trophy and Management Hunts near Brady. Meals and lodging at Highpoint Ranch and exotics hunts are also still available. Brand new lodge and some of the best home cooking you will ever have. I’ll send you some game cam photos of our bucks. Like us on Facebook.

Call Sawyer Wright.

(254) 485-7069 DEER LEASE WANTED Lone Star Outdoor News is looking for a hunting and fishing lease with all hunt and fish rights.

Central or Northwest Texas.

Camphouse is needed.

(214) 361-2276

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BOW HUNTING ONLY HOG/WHITETAILS $50 primitive, $75 tent or $100 cabin. Two day minimum.

Cash only.

(713) 823-7139

TEXAS DUCK STAMP COLLECTION FOR SALE 1981 thru 2011.

Call Steve Barber at (817) 832-8078

DEER HUNTING IN CALDWELL COUNTY, TX $600 covers Friday evening through Sunday evening.

Up to a 130 Boone and Crockett buck included.

Primitive camping and fishing available.

Call (512) 689-5297

SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN Smith & Wesson Elite Gold 20-gauge, 26” BBL, English stock. In box, never fired.

(214) 361-2276 x 201

100 ACRES FOR SALE 100 rugged acres west of Ozona. Excellent hunting, comfortable camp-house.

Remote, very remote.

Wildlife exemption, taxes are $70.00/year. $150,000.

(210) 863-2719

UNIQUE CHRISTMAS GIFTS for the fisherman who has it all---except these: AERIAL VIEW FISHING ATLASES of the best fishing spots near Corpus Christi. Check them out at LanmonAerial.com or call (361) 289-1120

LEARN TO FLY FISH CASTING LESSONS Lessons by a certified casting instructor in Dallas.

Group lessons available.

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GREAT GIFT Game Warden Blotter Book LSON's #1 Best Selling Book. Buy it today. $14.95. www.LSONnews.com

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

November 9, 2012

Page 33

DATEBOOK November 8-10

4th Annual San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Expo Freeman Coliseum (210) 226-1177 farmandranchexpo.com

November 12

Ducks Unlimited Texas A&M Banquet Brazos Center, Bryan (972) 921-5655 ducks.org/Texas

November 16

Mule Deer Foundation Tri-County Chapter Banquet Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (817) 565-7121 muledeer.org

Ducks Unlimited Kilgore Banquet Bodacious BBQ (903) 984-8224 ducks.org/Texas

November 13

Ducks Unlimited Harlingen Banquet Longhorn Cattle Company, San Benito (956) 245-2463 ducks.org/Texas

Ducks Unlimited Calhoun County Banquet Bauer Community Center, Port Lavaca (361) 237-6803 ducks.org/Texas

November 15

November 17

Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Royal Oaks Country Club (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

Ducks Unlimited Sweetwater Dinner Sweetwater Elks Lodge (325) 428-8024 ducks.org/Texas

Delta Waterfowl Lake Fork/Alba Dinner AJ’s Fishhouse (903) 638-1426 deltawaterfowl.org

November 18

Ducks Unlimited Weatherford Dinner Weatherford National Guard Armory (817) 907-3403 ducks.org/Texas

Mule Deer Foundation Cameron County Chapter Banquet Wink’s Saloon, Grill and Roping Arena, Olmito (817) 565-7121 muledeer.org

November 20

December 4

Ducks Unlimited Tyler Dinner Harvey Hall Convention Center (903) 570-0214 ducks.org/Texas

December 6

Ducks Unlimited Austin Banquet Doubletree Hotel, Austin (512) 370-3237 ducks.org/Texas

November 24

Junction Chamber of Commerce 28th Junction Annual Wild Game Dinner Stevenson Center (325) 446-3190 junctiontexas.net

November 29

Delta Waterfowl Fort Worth Dinner 809 West Vickery Blvd (817) 475-9796 deltawaterfowl.org

November 30

Quail Coalition Rita Blanca Banquet Rita Blanca Coliseum, Dalhart (214) 534-4122 quailcoalition.org

Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Intern John Keith Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau

National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager

Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 21628300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues.

Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2012 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or e-mail them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Archery Trade Association 2012 Archery and Bowhunting Summit Gaylord Texas Resort, Grapevine (507) 233-8130 archerytrade.org

December 13

Dallas Woods and Waters Club Christmas Party Orvis Sporting Goods Store (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org

Dallas Safari Club 2013 Convention Dallas Convention Center (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

Graphics Editor Amy Moore

For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com (214) 361-2276

December 10-14

January 3

Associate Editor Mark England

Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail editor@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

Texas Knife and Gun Shows Amarillo Show Amarillo Civic Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

Dallas Safari Club New Year's Eve Party Ballroom, Dallas Convention Center (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

Executive Editor Craig Nyhus

David Draper Shannon Drawe Wilbur Lundeen Aaron Reed Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

December 8-9

December 31

Managing Editor Conor Harrison

Contributors Kyle Carter

Delta Waterfowl Brazos Valley Dinner Brazos Expo, Bryan (979) 575-8257 deltawaterfowl.org

Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting DSC office (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

Puzzle solution from Page 22

Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Ducks Unlimited Lamar University Waterfowl Hunt Party Beaumont (409) 782-6657 ducks.org/Texas

OUTDOOR BUSINESS

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November 9, 2012

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Hill Country anglers needed

PARTICIPATION WANTED: Anglers who enjoy fishing in the Hill Country are needed for a survey to enhance and expand access on area rivers. Photo by LSON.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Tech University are teaming up to conduct a fourmonth online survey among anglers who fish in Texas Hill Country rivers and streams.

Researchers will attempt to evaluate the economic impact of angling in rivers and streams in the region, and the survey findings will help guide future habitat restoration efforts, and opportunities to enhance and expand fishing access in the Texas Hill Country.

Anglers participating in the survey will be eligible to win a $200 spinning rod and reel combo or a $300 fly rod and reel combo. The drawing for both prizes will be held in January 2013. The angler must have fished in this region in the past 12 months, and must complete the 15-minute survey at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/ fish/ or directly at www.research.net/s/ HillCountryFishingSurvey.

A map depicting the areas being surveyed is included at the beginning of the survey.

— TPWD

Carp and buffalo tournament slated for Lake Fork Are carp and rough fish catch and release tournaments coming of age?

With Wild Carp Companies running a regular schedule of catch and release tournaments for several years, 2013 marks the second annual carp and buffalo tournament at Lake Fork.

The tournament was deliberately set up to showcase the sporting opportunities available to anglers who target rough fish species. In the inaugural tournament, lake records were broken, and re-broken, for carp and buffalo, with a 35-pound carp and 66-pound buffalo winning prize pots.

The record fish were given names by the competitors, “Woody” the carp and “Buffalo Bob” were instant celebrity fish.

The winning team for the Big 4 buffalo registered 208 pounds for four fish, and they were catching fish weighing close to 50 pounds that wouldn't even improve their score.

The 2013 Texas 44 is open for registrations and the tournament’s prize pot is $13,000.

Feb. 28 is check-in, March 1-3 is a peg draw and registration is open to all Nov.12.

— Wild Carp Companies

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