Texas Fish & Game April 2016

THE TEXAS OUTDOOR AUTHORITY

Shooting Dolphins and

Other Strange Saltwater Management Ideas

April 2016 | $3.95

THE

Year Round Reds:

Texas

Running with the Bulls

BRAND OF

Bass Javelina: Creatures of the Cactus

Baby Boomer Sportsmen: Time to Slow Down?

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Best Bets For

Flathead Catfish Giants

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2016 EDITION

NOW AVAILABLE

BIGGER. BETTER. 60 FRESH & SALTWATER LOCATIONS OVER 2500 GPS FISHING SPOTS

ACADEMY • WALMART • FISHANDGAMEGEAR.COM

www.FishGame.com Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent, family-owned outdoor publication in America.

Owned by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & Ardia Neves.

ROY NEVES PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

C O N T R I B U T O R S JOE DOGGETT DOUG PIKE TED NUGENT LOU MARULLO MATT WILLIAMS CALIXTO GONZALES LENNY RUDOW STEVE LAMASCUS DUSTIN ELLERMANN KENDAL HEMPHILL WILL LESCHPER REAVIS WORTHAM TOM BEHRENS GREG BERLOCHER PAUL BRADSHAW CAPT. MIKE HOLMES DUSTIN WARNCKE STAN SKINNER LISA MOORE

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SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR CONSERVATION EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR

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(281) 869-5549

EMAIL: ANEVES@FISHGAME.COM DUSTIN WARNCKE • ADVERTISING SALES DIRECT PHONE:

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. ©Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response.

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Table of

APRIL 2016 Volume 32 • NO. 12

Contents FEATURES

RUNNING WITH THE BULLS, YEAR-ROUND

Bull redfish are normally targeted in the fall, but the jetty systems along the entire Texas coast provide opportunities throughout the whole year.

COVER STORY: The Texas Brand of Bass

The Texas largemouth u bass fishery has produced spectacular results, as evidenced by the decades long success of TPWD’s Toyota ShareLunker program.

Does this mean the Texas brand of bass fishing is the best in America?

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TF&G Staff Report JAVELINA! CREATURE OF THE CACTUS

No animal is more symbolic of the arid regions of Texas than the collared peccary, more commonly known as javelina. Shrouded in mystery, these smallish mammals have a reputation that preceeds them.

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by Chester Moore

TF&G Staff Report Cover Photo by Chester Moore

SHOOTING DOLPHINS

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

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Saltwater management plans, some actually implemented, others simply considered and—thankfully—rejected, have included some of the most hairbrained ideas imagineable.

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by Chester Moore Slowing Down

A large segment of the u fishing and hunting community is made up of members of the Baby Boom generation. As Boomers begin to reach retirement age, many of them are forced to acknowledge the wear and tear on that bulletproof invincibility they once thought would last forever.

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TOPS FOR OPS

Best Texas locations for tangling with a giant flathead—yellow or opelousas (“op” for short)—catfish. These monsters rule the deep, eating like kings and growing to impressive size.

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by Matt Williams

by Joe Doggett

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Inside FISH & GAME

Contents (continued) COLUMNS

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by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

Gunning for You

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Email Roy and Ardia Neves at ContactUs@fishgame.com A P R I L

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T E X A S

by Chester Moore

TF&G Editor in Chief

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Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

FEW READERS HAVE RECENTLY ASKED, AND more of you may have wondered, why a fishing and hunting magazine such as TEXAS FISH & GAME would devote regular space each month to tactical weaponry and self-defense. These topics are covered primarily by Steve LaMascus and Dustin Ellermann in monthly installments of our Texas Department of Defense and Steve’s Texas Guns Column. But the question is, why?

The prevailing 24-hour/365-day newsfeed has minted a perception that our chances of facing violent crime are increasing. This perceived threat is further inflamed by high-profile coverage of mass shootings in schools, theaters, offices and other public gathering places.

There have always been lunatics in America, ticking time bombs that ultimately explode in random acts of unthinkable violence. These events of violence will, tragically, continue, no matter how many laws are passed to control either the guns or the lunatics. Meanwhile, violent crimes against individuals in the U.S. continue to fall—with the exception of war-zone pockets within a few mismanaged larger cities. The truth is, your odds of becoming a victim of violence are probably lower than those of breaking your neck in the shower.

And yet, if confronted with a situation where having a gun—and knowing how to use it—might save your life, having the gun is a no-brainer.

To us, “knowing how to use it” is the important part of that statement.

As sportsmen, most of our readers are already gun owners and are quite proficient in all aspects of the safe handling of firearms. So, to us it was a logical extension to add self defense to the set of skills and gear discussed within our pages.

Dustin Ellermann’s expertise with guns has been well documented.

He captivated national attention by winning the third season of The History Channel’s popular reality show, Top Shot. He teaches responsible shooting skills in a series of Marksman Camps for kids. As a highly respected firearms expert, he has been recruited by leading manufacturers to test and evaluate weapons and accessories. This experience has given him unique and invaluable insights into the best tactical gear and techniques for self defense.

Steve LaMascus has drawn from a long career in one of the most dangerous fields of law enforcement there is... patrolling the Texas-Mexico border.

He has been in life or death situations, for real. There is a big difference between the concept most people have of a “shoot out” and the reality of one.

Steve knows that distinction first hand. His knowledge of handguns, ammunition, tactical gear and hunting rifles helps set our gun and defense coverage apart from other publications.

With this level of expertise behind it, our carefully considered and well crafted advice on self defense is worth reading. At least, it is if you have an interest in protecting your family, other innocents, or your own life, should you find yourself in the unlikely scenario of a violent attack.

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Editor’s Notes

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Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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Nugent in the Wild

by Ted Nugent

TF&G Editor At Large

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Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

TF&G Political Commentator

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Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales

TF&G Saltwater Editor

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Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo

DEPARTMENTS

8 LETTERS 12 TF&G REPORT 12 BIG BAGS & CATCHES

36 TEXAS

DEPT. OF DEFENSE

TF&G Hunting Editor

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Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams

TF&G Freshwater Editor

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Open Season

by Reavis Wortham

TF&G Freshwater Editor

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Texas Boating

44 TRUE GREEN 64 INDUSTRY INSIDER

66 FISH AND GAME GEAR

by Lenny Rudow

68 HOTSPOT

Practical Angler

76 TEXAS

TF&G Contributing Editor

86 TIDES &

FOCUS

TF&G Boating Editor

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HOTSPOTS

by Paul Bradshaw

Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus

TF&G Firearms Editor

PRIME TIMES

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TF&G PHOTOS

92 Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven

The Texas Gourmet

www.FishGame.com

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NTS

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LETTERS to the Editor Dwarf Deer THE STORY IN CHESTER MOORE’S column about “dwarf deer” in Texas was very interesting. I have personally never seen one, but have always found it interesting that in any species you can have absolutely huge specimens and tiny ones. Moore probably does a better job of creating interest in Texas’s wildlife than anyone else out there, and I always appreciate seeing things in this magazine that show reverence for the natural world we hunt and fish in.

K. Darby I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OF THE dwarf whitetails but have had a chance to see key deer in Florida. I have also seen

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the 350-pound deer in Minnesota that are such a huge contrast to that. Thanks for an interesting bit on these tiny deer. I’ll be on the lookout.

Shane Beard

Editor Question #1 DEAR CHESTER I WAS WONDERING what you thought about solutions for bank fishing access for freshwater locations in Texas. I know you have written a lot about bank fishing in the past, and I do appreciate that. What do you think are solutions for bank fishing in fresh water areas?

Dale Royce

Editor: Thanks so much for the kind words. Bank fishing is important because not everyone can afford a boat, and many people just choose not to have one. I grew up fishing from the bank because we didn’t get a boat until I was about nine years old.

As far as solutions for bank fishing problems in fresh water, this is a very interesting question. Much of the land around Texas reservoirs is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Forest Service or agencies like the Lower Colorado River Authority. There is some access available but it requires way too much work.

Most of the lands along Texas rivers are privately owned or in some cases in East Texas managed by the federal government through the Forest Service. I think what you are asking about is easy access and that

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would probably require activism at the local level.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has leased various river bed lands for access, and I think it might be to an angler’s advantage to approach local cities and counties about getting some of the same kind of leasing agreements for land along rivers, small lakes and other waterways. Texas’s vast amount of private land is a good thing but it can make things like getting access to prime bank fishing a challenge.

some people tend to blame for problems like axis and fallow deer are not more “exotic” than cattle, goats and domestic house cats.

All of these certainly compete with native wildlife. Management is certainly the key, and the good thing is that means collecting more axis, nilgai and blackbuck backstrap.

Editor Question #2

Send Your Comments to:

DO YOU THINK THE INTRODUCtion of exotic animals like axis deer and aoudad into Texas has caused great damage to our game animals?

Texas Fish & Game 1745 Greens Rd Houston TX 77032

Jerry Knighten Editor: At some level there might be a decrease in some areas but Texas has maintained the highest levels of whitetail deer, Rio Grande turkey and javelina in the United States on top of all of the exotics. There could

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possibly be some issues with bighorn sheep and aoudad but that is highly debatable.

Something to consider is that the exotics

editor@fishgame.com

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EDITOR’S Notes

by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Cougar Encounters

T

HERE ARE MOMENTS IN your life you cannot unsee.

I wrote about that a few months ago One of those amazing times for me came in 1997.

My friend and hunting show host Keith Warren invited me out to appear on an episode about cougars in Encinal.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) had a radio collaring to track the cats movements in the Lone Star State. We accompanied TPWD One of the biologist Jim Hillje baby cougars and his team into this collared and large field with matted, released. waist high grass. He held a radio receiver and when we got about 150 yards into the field it sounded off.

“Beep. Beep. Beep.”

A slow but steady series of beeps according to Hillje revealed the cat was within 500 yards, and the closer we got the faster the beeps would be.

“Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.”

A quicker series came when we crossed over a ravine in the field. I was believed this female had cubs because she had not moved more than a mile in several months, and cougars typically move long distances. The rock crevices in this spot would an ideal spot to raise babies. We did find her tracks here, but she had set up somewhere else.

Coming out of the ravine, the beeps intensified and Hillje asked me the strangest question.

“Chester, do you wade-fish in the bays?”

“Yes sir.“Well, I am sure you shuffle your feet so you do not step on the stingrays.”

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“I sure do.”

“Shuffle your feet here. This cat is in that thick grass, and she might not move until we’re right on top of her or step on her,” he said.

I began executing the absolute perfect foot shuffling which in wadefishing allows you to kick the stingray instead of stepping on it.

Being hit by a ray would hurt. Getting hit by a cougar might be fatal, so shuffle I did.

The receiver was going crazy beeping, and Hillje said we were within 50 yards. Tensions mounted as the team looked for the cat, which they hoped, would be with her young, not out on the hunt. The goal was to fit them with radio collars that would grow with them for a period of months, then recapture them to put a permanent collar on at adulthood.

“Look there!” Hillje said pointing at a deep hole in the grass.

He poked a large metal rod in there and the classic boat motor-sounding growl of a cougar sounded back. She then jumped out of the hole and stood less than 10 feet away from the six of us. It was a tense moment, but the cat opted to retreat and shot down through a faint trail in the grass.

The team found two cubs in the den and immediately got to work fitting them with collars. I have always felt that baby cougars are the cutest of any animal as they have big ears, beautiful eyes and a gorgeous spotted pattern that they gradually lose growing into adulthood.

We wore thick gloves and wrapped the cubs in burlap sacks to take pictures with them so that we would not get our scent on them. They look darling, as you can in the accompanying photo. The truth is they were vicious little creatures and were trying to rip our faces off.

Beautiful but wild after all.

Around the same time, I brought a cougar of the South American variety on a live television program. They are the smallest of the cougars and at the time Mariah probably weighed 80 pounds. My job was to pet the cat and keep her calm while the owner of the refuge where it lived did the interview.

When we got to the station, the owner said

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she needed to go to the bathroom and wanted to bring Mariah with her. I handed the leash to her, and she winked at me.

I knew why shortly when a lady came storming out of the bathroom.

“There’s a leopard in the bathroom!

There’s a leopard in the bathroom!”

I would have never pulled that prank and to this day never use any of my animals to scare anyone, but I laughed my head off and so did frequent TEXAS FISH & GAME photographer Gerald Burleigh who drove the cat to the taping.

I have written numerous articles on cougars, bobcats, jaguarundis and even jaguars for this publication. I do this because I think it is important that hunters and fishermen need to have a deep understanding of the role these creatures play in the environment.

I do a lot of outreach to non-hunters, and it is never the deer, turkeys or largemouth bass that grab their attention. It’s the cats, coyotes and rattlesnakes that instill in them a sense of awe. Many of these people will never buy a hunting license but they might support hunting at the ballot box if they have had a positive experience with a hunter who also shows awe of nature.

We should never apologize for what we do, but showing them photos of the prairie dog you blew to tiny pieces will not win us any respect. A true understanding of nature and people can go a long way into keeping this outdoor lifestyle thing we have going.

And that’s one reason I would like to ask if you have any photos of cougars, bobcats, jaguarundis and perhaps even jaguars from your game cameras that you would like to share with our readers.

By far the biggest response to any article we have gotten since I have been involved with this publication was the Texas Lynx article I wrote three yeas ago. People dig the wild cats and love to see photos.

Send your pics to cmoore@fishgame.com and let’s share a bit of Texas wildness with our brothers and sisters.

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The TF G Report Parks to Get Most of Sport Sales Tax LEGISLATION PASSED BY THE 84th Texas Legislature is providing a significant increase in dedicated funding for Texas state parks. House Bill 158 dedicates 94 percent of state sales tax revenue attributed to sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for state park facilities and operations, plus funds to help cities and counties across the state build and improve community parks.

“Every Texan deserves a world class state park system,” said Rep. Lyle Larson of San Antonio, who co-authored HB158. “The dedication of the sporting goods sales tax to parks will transform our state park system, making it the nation’s best.”

In the 20162017 biennium,

the money will be used for much-needed state park capital repairs and improvements, addressing a backlog of deteriorating facilities through water and wastewater projects, visitor center upgrades, restroom replacements, electric utility modernization and other improvements.

“We were able to lay out a case where state leaders could fully understand the scale and gravity of what we are confronting and agree on the value of investing in parks,” said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director, describing interactions with lawmakers in the session. “The legislative support for addressing the needs of local and state parks was simply overwhelming.

“In the short-term, a big part of our efforts will focus on addressing capital repairs,” Smith said, “including repairing facilities

damaged by floods, hurricanes and wildfires over the past seven years, such as the breached dam at Bastrop State Park and the popular visitor center at McKinney Falls State Park. Into the future, this session put in place a funding stream that’s been vitally needed for effective long-term budgeting and planning to serve our rapidly growing Texas population.”

For the current biennium, lawmakers allocated the full 94 percent of sporting goods sales tax revenue to TPWD, totaling $261.1 million for state park operations and capital repairs, local park grants and bond debt service. All told for this biennium, lawmakers allocated $90.6 million for state park capital repairs, far surpassing capital funding from previous sessions, including $11 million in 2014 and $23 million in 2012. As a result, the agency now has more than 80 capital repair projects to improve state parks

BIG BAGS CATCHES

JACK

AMBERJACK

Sabine Pass

Matagorda

Aaron Carlin and Jake Carlin with a jack crevalle they caught while fishing at the Sabine Pass jetties.

On Kyle Pierce’s first offshore fishing trip, the first fish he caught was this 80-pound amberjack. Kyle was out with Capt. Mark Holland of MatagordaSportFishing.com and commented that it was “a wonderful trip.”

Visit FishGame.com to upload your Big Bags & Catches Photos and Vote for our next Winners 12 |

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over the next five years, using a combination of new appropriations and funding from previous sessions.

Several state park headquarters and visitor centers will be replaced, including at Mission Tejas and Tyler state parks. Nineteen restrooms will be replaced at state parks such as Pedernales Falls, Guadalupe River, Government Canyon, Ray Roberts Lake, Mustang Island, and Inks Lake.

Modern utility upgrades, such as water, wastewater and electrical system renovations, will take place at Big Bend Ranch, Brazos Bend, Copper Breaks, Fairfield Lake, Garner, Hill Country, Lake Brownwood, Lake Somerville, Lost Maples, Martin Creek, Palo Duro Canyon, Possum Kingdom and Stephen F. Austin.

Many state park facilities are historic, including dozens originally built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the new funding will address many needs at historic buildings and sites. For example, renovations are slated for the Balmorhea State Park historic motor court and the Huntsville CCC boathouse and lodge terrace walls.

Other improvements include new roofs at Fort Leaton, renovation of the Kreische House and brewery structures, repair of the

BASS Lake Palestine Ricky Vandergriff, a regular contributor to TF&G’s Hotspots department and successful fishing guide on Lake Palestine, caught this 12-pound bass on his home lake in February.

exterior plaster at Indian Lodge, planning and design for renovation of the Abilene CCC swimming pool and bathhouse, repairs to the Port Isabel Lighthouse and repair of the CCC rock tabernacle at Mother Neff.

Legislators specifically allocated about $2.7 million for the design and engineering phase of a new park, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Lawmakers also provided $500,000 for new cabins and other improvements at Fort Boggy State Park, located off I-45 between Dallas and Houston. And, $3.5 million is slated for a new visitor center at Franklin Mountains State Park near El Paso.

Boat ramp repairs to improve water recreation access will take place at Choke Canyon, Inks Lake, Ray Roberts Lake and Fort Parker. The group barracks will be renovated at Bastrop State Park. The dam at Huntsville State Park will be fortified and repaired, and five park staff residences that support onsite visitor safety and emergency response will be replaced or repaired.

Two of the highest profile projects of the biennium are the redevelopment of Galveston Island and further repairs to the Battleship TEXAS. At Galveston Island, a more than $15 million plan will redevelop the beach side of the park destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008.

With funding from various sources (depending in part on future legislative appropriations), the transformational plan includes restrooms, boardwalks to the beach, tent camping platforms, multi-use campsites with electric and water service, group shelters and day use picnic shelters. A beach side visitor check-in station is also included, plus new roadways and parking areas.

Battleship TEXAS will benefit from $25 million in legislative allocations to repair and replace structural components of the ship, following an earlier phase of similar work completed in January 2015.

Many facility improvements will support park visitor experiences and programs. For example, new campgrounds at Sheldon Lake State Park in Houston that will be used by the Texas Outdoor Family program to help urban families learn outdoor skills like setting up a campsite, cooking on an open fire and various outdoor recreational activities. Besides improved facilities, in the T E X A S

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future new and expanded educational and interpretive experiences will be possible with the increased funding.

• • • CWD Case Found in Captive Deer

A 3 1/2-YEAR-OLD CAPTIVE-RAISED white-tailed buck taken in early January by a hunter from a release site on a ranch in Medina and Uvalde counties has been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). The deer’s origin has been identified as an onsite deer breeding facility.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) are conducting an epidemiological investigation.

Tissue samples revealed the presence of CWD prions during testing at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station.

The samples were submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which validated the suspect findings.

The disease was first recognized in 1967 in captive mule deer in Colorado. CWD has also been documented in captive and/or freeranging deer in 23 states and two Canadian provinces.

In Texas, the disease was first discovered in 2012 in free-ranging mule deer along a remote area of the Hueco Mountains near the Texas-New Mexico border, and last summer was detected in two captive whitetailed deer breeding facilities in Medina and Lavaca counties.

CWD among cervids is a progressive, fatal disease that commonly results in altered behavior as a result of microscopic changes made to the brain of affected animals.

An animal may carry the disease for years without outward indication, but in the latter stages, signs may include listlessness, lowering of the head, weight loss, repetitive walking in set patterns, and a lack of responsiveness. To date there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk to humans or noncervids. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend not to consume meat from infected animals.

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DOGGETT at Large

by JOE DOGGETT :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Snakes!

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OST BIG SNAKES, LIKE many big deer and all big fish, tend to grow with the telling.

Put another way, there’s no such thing as a 10-foot snake this side of a Central American rain forest. Or, realistically, even a nine-footer.

Disclaimer: We’re talking about snakes native to North America, not the exotic pythons infesting swampy portions of South Florida.

Come to think of it, you would be hard pressed amid the thornbrush of South Texas or the rim rocks of West Texas or the palmetto bottoms of the Piney Woods to document an honest eight-foot native snake.

In the real world statistically removed from campfire smoke, a seven-foot snake is exceptional. This statement is based on scientific research compiled by qualified herpetologists.

Texas Snakes, a 437-page text published in 2000 by John Werler and James Dixon, is an authoritative source. Werler was curator of the Houston Zoological Garden for many years and a childhood hero of mine; he was a “snake man” in the class of Carl Kauffeld, Bill Haast, Ross Allen, and the great Raymond Ditmars.

Werler and Dixon credit the diverse scope of Texas with 72 snake species, more than any other state. Most, of course, are small, less than three or four feet, non-venomous and pose zero threat to humans.

I ran a rough tally of big snakes native to the Lone Star State known to exceed six feet.

And of that number I could find only five species documented by Werler and Dixon that topped seven feet.

In order of length, here are our Big Five: 1. TEXAS INDIGO SNAKE— The glossy Texas indigo, is native to the brush country of extreme South Texas and northern Mexico.

It may not be quite as large as the eastern indigo of Florida, but it is a bona fide showstopper, one of the most impressive snakes in North America.

The usual adult size is between 5 and 6 1/2 feet and, according to the text; the accepted maximum length is 8 feet, 4 1/4 inches (Conant and Collins, 1991). A 9-foot, 5-inch specimen was reported in 1986 (Vermersch and Kuntz), but could not be conclusively documented.

2. BULL SNAKE— The stocky bull snake threatens the indigo for the title, reaching a maximum known length of more than eight feet. The average adult is between four and five feet. Based on the average adult length,

Texas Indigo Snake

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the nod goes to the indigo.

The bull snake thrives in brushy, rocky terrain across the middle swath of the state, ranging from South Texas through the Hill Country and into the Panhandle. It is a striking snake (pun intended), with a pattern of bold dark blotches, and often stirred into action when cornered or irritated.

The gopher snake, a subspecies of the bull snake native to extreme West Texas, has been documented at 7 feet, 8 inches. But this is a regional variation of the same snake.

3. EASTERN COACHWHIP— An eastern coachwhip was documented at approximately 8 1/2 feet, but the average specimen is between and 3 1/2 and 5 feet in length. It is native to East Texas and prefers grasslands, prairies and broken hillsides.

The adult coachwhip looks like, well, an old coachwhip. Or maybe a bullwhip. The comparison is created by the smooth scales and tan coloration (turning darker, almost black, on the head and neck). The slim snake is hyper but harmless.

4. WESTERN DIAMOND-BACKED RATTLESNAKE— The range of this formidable pit viper is roughly the western half of the state. The diamondback averages three to four feet, and the mother lode of big snakes remains on the large ranches of deep South Texas—brush country turkey hunters and quail hunters take note.

South Texas diamondbacks occasionally attain an honest five or six feet and the generally accepted maximum, according to Werler and Dixon, is 7 feet, 4 inches. Mind, this was a true measurement and not a bogus mark taken from a stretched skin (which can increase the length by more than 30 percent).

But what the diamondback lacks in topend length, it more than makes up for in displacement. The girth of a six-footer can be awesome, far outclassing any of non-venomous contenders. This truly is a spectacular creature, but our measuring stick here is tip of tail to end of snout.

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Among the realm of rattlers, the Texas diamondback is exceeded in size only by the eastern diamondback of the coastal lowlands of the southeastern United States. The scarce canebrake rattler of southeast Texas is an imposing snake but few topping six feet have been documented. None taping seven has been authenticated.

5. TEXAS RAT SNAKE— The Texas (Lindheimer’s) rat snake barely makes the cut, with a 7-foot, 2-inch specimen. But it is a large snake averaging 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet, and honest six footers are fairly common, especially in southeast Texas. The overall range is generally considered to be the eastern half of the state.

The Texas rat snake is a handsome snake, with colorful blotches and a bulk similar to the bull snake. It prefers wooded and brushy areas, especially near bayous and ponds, and is the most common big snake in many urban environs.

These are the Big Five in Texas. Worth repeating, four of the Big Five are harmless.

Each can be a dramatic eyeful to the inex-

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perienced observer, although none probably measures up to lore and legend.

But the rare genetic fluke can happen. For example, the Guinness Record Book lists the tallest human alive today, Chandra Bahadur Dangi of Nepal, at 8 feet 3 inches.

Presumably, a “supersnake” could exist.

For example, a grainy black-and-white photo reportedly taken in 1919 near West Palm Beach, Fla., shows five adult men standing Texas Rat Snake

shoulder-to-shoulder and holding a dead eastern diamond-backed rattlesnake claimed to be 11 feet 4 inches. It clearly looks 10. The old snapshot was published in the November 1972, issue of Sports Afield.

Granted, computer generated hoaxes are frequent today but the provenance of that old image makes it worthy of a serious second glance. I’m not saying “yes,” but, considering the dusty annals of Florida’s palmetto county 100 years ago, it’s a legitimate “maybe.” The region is, after all, the epicenter of big eastern diamondbacks.

A truly monstrous Texas snake might be a reality. If so, it most likely thrives in a remote pasture of a large South Texas ranch or in the back reaches of a state or national park far removed from shovel-bearing, rock-chunking, gun-cocking traffic.

And if an honest 10-foot native snake is out there, I’d bet on a world-class, mondogiant indigo.

Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@fishgame.com

3/8/16 11:00 AM

PIKE on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Snapper SNAFU

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E’RE NOT QUITE THERE but are closing the gap daily on what promises to be a major battle over red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.

Best possible outcome is that a legitimate solution, entirely unforeseen at the time of this writing, will present itself before the user groups turn irreversibly against each other.

Fingers are crossed, of course, but I currently am not optimistic.

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For a decade and change now, recreational and commercial red snapper fishermen have shared almost equally our federal regulators’ “total allowable catch” each year of the species.

Recreational anglers knew and kind of, sort of understood that the handful of commercial snapper boats in the Gulf of Mexico was catching lots of red snappers, but most of us couldn’t have defined “lots” on a bet.

We can now.

When “red snappers” first popped onto the call-screener during my radio show this year, back in February, I had an idea what prompted the call and where the conversation was headed. And I was right.

The call coincided closely with launch of a reality show called Big Fish, Texas, which

follows the daily doings of a large commercial operation, Katie’s Seafood Market, in Galveston.

I’ve never visited the place, but I accept it as presented – in favorable light – on the show. One of Texas’ largest seafood suppliers, Katie’s moves tons of red snappers and other fresh Gulf seafood. There’s a good chance I’ve eaten a red snapper (or 20) that first made landfall there. For fillets all those that ultimately were buried beneath lump crabmeat and thick, creamy sauce, I thank everyone who works at Katie’s.

And make no mistake that commercial fishing, every position in the industry, is hard work. Make no mistake either that the overwhelming majority of fish-house operators conduct business entirely within a long and

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growing list of complex regulations. There’s more than enough at stake for those men and women to keep them on the right side of the rules.

It’s not my intention to knock any commercial fisherman or fish-house operator who plays by the rules. My “knock,” if you will, is with the convoluted, ruptured system by which red snappers are managed.

After watching Big Fish, Texas, I‘m left scratching my head over the differences in how and when commercial and recreational anglers can target the species.

Commercial crews – lawfully, remember, so don’t aim your gripes at them – leave port with orders to return tons of fresh red snappers to the dock. Until the handful of licensed red snapper fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico hit their total allowable catch, it’s my understanding that they can fish when and where they want.

And then there’s the recreational red snapper fishery, made of men and women who target the species for fun. They get a couple weeks of open season and a couple fish each per trip. And it costs a ton of money, per pound or per mile or however you count it up, to land those two fish. And if weather’s bad for half that short season, then the season’s just shorter.

If I were to flip on a television while cleaning the one ice chest of red snappers my four friends and I were allowed for a 12-hour, 50-gallon, 100-mile-round-trip day on the water and see a commercial boat off-loading four tons of the same fish that it caught in a couple of great sets, I’d probably be a lot more than a little irritated. And I’d have a right to be.

Charter captains used to feel more or less the same about commercial fishermen. Then a few of them found a new way to play the game. And now, instead of just two players, there are three.

For a price – a significant price – a handful of charter skippers have bought fractions of the commercial allocation.

The way I understand it, they book a trip with a few people who want to go offshore and catch fish. Only instead of paying the captain for the trip, they agree to buy back from the fish house that will receive this “commercial catch” a portion of the haul.

The captain, in this scenario, must note by required radio transmission when he or she leaves and when he or she returns, and all the day’s catch must be tallied and offloaded at a

commercial fish dock – where the anglers who caught the fish then buy back what they want.

That boat’s total catch is counted against the commercial side’s annual allowance.

It’s an end-around, to be certain, either brilliant or sneaky depending on who you ask.

But again, same as the commercial boat that lands 15,000 pounds or the recreational boat that brings home half a dozen fish, it’s legal.

Nobody knows how many red snappers are in the Gulf, but everybody who lays claim to a piece of that resource knows its manage-

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ment is imperfect.

Apologies for reaching the end of this page without presenting a solution. I know what’s wrong but don’t know quite how to fix it. Sort of like staring at a bad computer. Only in this case, the IT department had a hand in breaking the machine.

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Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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3/8/16 11:20 AM

NUGENT in the Wild

by TED NUGENT :: TF&G Editor-at-Large

Never Give Up; Never Give In; Never Backdown

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EERHUNTING SURELY REPresents one of life’s greatest challenges. In fact, more than just a sporting challenge, my lifetime of gungho deerhunting proves beyond a shadow of a doubt to this old backstrapper that it is much more than just an extremely fun outdoor challenge, but more appropriately a virtual life test unto itself.

That pesky old alarm clock can really get on a guy’s nerves after the 100th morning in the season, but in order to pass the deerhunting dedication test, I smack it hard and get up anyway.

I have to believe that my deerhunting experiences are for the most part very much like most American deerhunter’s experiences, and we struggle through many a morning and afternoon without much critter action to make our patience testing vigils oftentimes a difficult endeavor to say the least.

Now of course we must be honest and keep these tests in contextual perspective, for even a series of skunked outings is far superior on a deerstand as compared to many other activities available to us in life, that’s for sure.

Point being, after a 20 day run of no shots offered, I bet many of us are real tempted to say the hell with it and not put forth the substantial effort necessary just to subject ourselves to another long critterless outing.

Boring!

That being said, history shows that those deerhunters that remain focused and diligent and never giveup do indeed eventually celebrate that highest of highs when the backstrapper of our dreams finally shows up and that “right place right time” magic all comes together.

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remember with fewer deer sightings and fewer deer encounters than I thought I could withstand.

Still dealing with the devastating deer losses from the 2012 and 2013 EHD dieoff, there were many mornings I just thought it wasn’t worth it to go through all the effort to hit my favorite Michigan stands, but did so anyway.

My grandson Jack’s birthday is November 5, and of course this day falls squarely within that magical window of rutting insanity, so I pre-heated my thermos and filled it with hot java and headed for the mystical east marsh Tamarac river stand, cocked, locked and oh so ready to rock, doc!

SpiritWild VidCamDude Kris Helms made the trip from Texas and was with me in Michigan as we buckled our Spider safety harnesses to the ancient coniferous ambush tree. The beautiful babbling brook wound beneath us through the marsh grasses and reeds as the rising sun tickled our little fen paradise.

My favorite SpiritWild soundtrack of geese, wood-ducks, crows, woodpeckers and hoot-owls provided the ultimate earthtone melodies to enhance the eye-candy all around us as a light fog drifted up from the bog.

This is how I get high! It is literally perfection!

A young buck snuck nearby, deep inside a puckerbrush hell of gray dogwood and multiflora Rose tangles, and another immature buck cruised the big timber across the creek.

Then Kris elbowed me hard again as a bulky, tawny form emerged from our north headed our way on a prime kill trail.

Lord have mercy, a damn beast was coming!

This was a huge mature swamp-stud, and Kris and I were locked on him to make him

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a Spirit of the Wild TV star sure as can be.

But of course there is no sure as can be in deerhunting, and as the trophy buck was about to finally make that last step necessary to offer a shot, he stopped abruptly and jerked his horse-like head straight into our predator eyeballs for a psyche testing “game over, gotchya” pain in the you know what deerhunting moment.

Dammit!

The giant buck instantly swapped ends and in a flash bounded 50 yards into the thick, deadfall strewn timber, but Lord have mercy, he stopped to look back.

My Mathews Halon was already at fulldraw and as the 45 yard pin settled on his massive chest, my glowing orange Lumenok’d Gold Tip arrow was on its way.

And oh what a lovely arrow it was, the beautiful laser-like orange trace of the Lumenok accenting the already mystical flight of my arrow as it arched up and over on a direct collision course with the buck’s sweet spot.

Unfortunately, my 45 yard estimation turned out to be five yards short, and the orange glow zipped harmlessly under his pumpstation filled armpit for a clean miss.

Did I mention dammit!

Kris and I simultaneously let out a harmonized ohhhhhhh….. as the buck gathered himself for a whitetail waving adios MoFo! Gone in a flash.

Sure, I was upset, but I was much more excited and intrigued than upset, for it was a wonderful encounter with a spectacular beast on a gorgeous morning in a breathtaking setting, a fine predator ballet by Kris and I to get in killer position, a real good arrow, and a very, very close call.

The only things missing were a gutpile, backstraps and a wild celebrating dance!

I’m telling you I feel so sorry for the nonhunting public who will never know the series of intense soul cleansing feelings that this moment provides those of us who deerhunt.

It can best be described as out of body, soul stirring magic.

Being senior members of the Never

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and hammered away in the distance.

After only thirty minutes or so, Kris gave me another hard elbow and pointed downstream.

Yikes! Here comes a very big deer with very big antlers walking towards us right up the middle of the waterway.

Oh Lord let it be!

This bruiser buck was taking his good old time as he slowly strode our way, stopping and peering off into the woods and swamp obviously looking for some wang, dang sweet doe tang!

Torturing us to the maxx, this huge beast dared me to draw as he swung south at twenty yards, but stopped with his vitals covered by a lowly tangle! So what else is new!

Then as he turned back to the creek, Kris and I swung ultra-carefully and silently to our right and as the doe-whipped breeder paused below our golden Tamarac. I found a hole through the branches and unleashed my heat seeking missile.

The glowing Lumenok tells no lies and my Rage tipped Gold Tip sliced hard through his upper shoulder and exited the left armpit as the giant leapt his last into the tangle down below, dead in seconds!

Lord have mercy and pass the nerve quelling spirit tranquilizers!

I can only feel sorry for my fellow man that never gets to take this emotional physics of spirituality bowhunting roller coaster ride to backstrap redemption. The intensity of the bowhunting struggle is directly attributable to the glory of the backstrap celebration.

The SpiritWild bloodtrailing was a party to reckon with and the moment of infamy with the beast in my arms was a reward like no other.

It was another magical, mystical FUN, SPORT, MEAT, TOPHY moment in time. The beast was dead, long live the mighty beast in my belly and in my soul.

GiveUP Club, we didn’t dwell on this wild moment very long as I nocked another arrow and we settled in for a possible and hopeful repeat.

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It was November 5th afterall.

Sandhill cranes raised some hell. More crows squawked and bickered about. A beautiful pair of big Pileated woodpeckers yelped T E X A S

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3/8/16 11:19 AM

TF&G COMMENTARY

by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

The Cecil Effect

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NLY THOSE WITH extremely short memories, such as politicians and goldfish, could have already forgotten the most publicized and criticized African death in recent years, that of Cecil the Lion.

According to a Washington Post piece written by Lindsey Bever, Cecil was “one of Africa’s most beloved lions,” before he was killed by Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer.

Although later exonerated by Zimbabwe officials, Palmer has been vigorously ridiculed for engaging in a perfectly legal hunt.

Lion hunting is a huge source of income for countries in Africa, and hunting revenue is essential to wildlife conservation. Without the money from legal hunts, many indigenous species might have already become extinct. The funds pay for wildlife habitat conservation, research and development of conservation practices, and, perhaps most important, game law enforcement. Without the people vilified by international press as “rich trophy hunters,” African wildlife is probably doomed.

The question is not whether hunting should be allowed. Hunting in Africa is impossible to stop. Black markets abound for various animal parts, some of which come from endangered species, and those animals cannot be protected from poachers without adequate funding, which in turn has to come from legal hunting fees and taxes.

The relationship between saving wildlife and legal hunting is symbiotic—neither can exist without the other.

This fact is lost on those whose only aim is to stop all hunting at all costs, because they have no idea what the costs are. They seem also to work hard at misunderstanding the situation, blinded by their preconceived

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impression that killing animals is wrong, no matter the circumstances.

So much noise was made over the death of Cecil the lion that airlines began refusing to fly “trophy” animals out of Africa, which had an immediate effect on hunting revenue.

Hunters began choosing to avoid Africa lest they suffer the same fate as Palmer, and the stream of money into Zimbabwe, and other African hunting destinations, began to dry up overnight.

The lifeblood of African wildlife was being cut off by those who would do anything to save the animals—anything except learn the facts.

As a result of the dearth of paying lion hunters since Cecil’s death, the predator population in Zimbabwe, particularly the Bubye Valley Conservancy, has gotten out of hand. Wildlife officials are looking for a way to get rid of at least 200 lions, in order to bring balance. The goal is to find a new home in which to relocate the lions, but if a suitable place isn’t found—and soon—managers plan to kill them.

The Huffington Post recently quoted a spokesman from World Animal Protection (the name should be changed to “Irony Personified”) as saying, “Bubye Valley Conservancy should never have relied on commercial big game hunting to manage its wild lion populations. This is not only cruel, but entirely unnecessary. For example, education programmers can help to increase community tolerance for lions, preventing unnecessary deaths of people and their livestock.”

Certainly, there are alternatives, none of which bring in ten percent of the revenue raised by hunting, which is itself often inadequate. Pointing fingers is de rigueur among the anti-hunters, but alternate plans generally begin with, “raise lots of money, from, uh, someplace.”

As in most areas of life, altruism goes only so far, and generally stops short of the bank.

The last part of the WAP quote, how-

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ever, is the most perplexing. One wonders if the “education programmers” would include teaching the lions not to eat Zimbabweans, or teaching the Zimbabweans to better tolerate their children being eaten by lions.

It’s always easier to preach tolerance for alligators if you’re not standing belly deep in the swamp.

Our old friends at PETA have also chimed in, condemning the idea that the lions should be thinned out. Their position is that nature will provide a balance, if left alone. And I agree completely.

Man, however, happens to be as much a part of nature as lions. Man also happens to be the only natural enemy the African lion has. I would submit that PETA is trying to upset the natural balance of nature by taking hunting out of the mix. It is the animal rights activist, not the hunter that upends the apple cart.

But the feline has already exited the burlap, and now 200 lions must be dealt with, possibly killed, because of the hue and cry of the credulous cretins. And instead of charging wealthy trophy hunters to thin the pride, thereby filling the coffers that pay to keep all the wildlife healthy, officials will have to spend money they don’t have to get the job done. With little cash left for law enforcement, the poachers will see a clear path to help themselves to the rest of Africa’s bounty.

The irony is that those who shouted loudest to save the lions have killed them, and made their mascot a martyr in reverse.

Cecil the Lion died, so that others may die.

Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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The Texas Bass Fishery...

Best in America?

TF&G Staff Report AT THE TIME OF THIS WRIT-

on fire in the Lone Star State. Toledo

United States, but also to exceed its

ing, the Toyota Sharelunker season

Bend for example has been produc-

own lofty expectations for trophy bass

was slow. In fact, it only had one

ing large numbers of 10-pound bass.

production.

entry, leaving some anglers to wonder

Other lakes are cranking out plenty of

what was going on.

double-digit fish as well.

While the Sharelunker program is

“We’re seeing some pretty amazing things happen with largemouth

The Lone Star State enters 2011

bass in Texas right now,” said Texas

a great indicator of the gigantic fish

not only positioned as the number one

Parks & Wildlife Department Inland

being caught, truly big bass have been

overall location for bass fishing in the

Fisheries director Craig Bonds.

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Bonds said one of the best parts of this equation is access to these fish is wide open, and anglers in any part of the state can make a short drive to seeing their dreams realized.

“There is not a single populated area in the state where anglers have to make a long drive to find lunker largemouths,” Bonds said.

And this shows in the statistics.

In 1990, there were only 64 reservoirs with record bass weighing 10 pounds or more. By 2016, there were more than 160 with the state record at a whopping 18.18 pounds.

Let’s take a closer look at Texas’ incredible bass fishery and the factors making it tops by a long shot.

Trophy largemouth bass lurk in waters from all regions—Piney Woods to Panhandle—of the Lone Star State.

Lake Fork’s Whopping Survey Inland Fisheries officials conduct electroshock surveys to study largemouth bass populations statewide. However, they often give little insight to how many lunker fish dwell in certain lakes.

Take legendary Lake Fork for example.

We found a report in our archives dating back to 2010 that speaks volumes.

Comparing the numbers of fish caught by electrofishing with the angler-based Lake Fork Trophy Bass Survey, shows a stark contrast.

Combined catches in all spring and fall electrofishing surveys have yielded 3,137 fish, only three of which were 24 inches or longer, and 12 weighed seven pounds or more. In the same seven-year period anglers have reported catching 11,141 fish seven pounds or heavier or 24 inches or longer.

Biologist Kevin Storey said the figures show the state’s management of the lake with a 16- to 24-inch slot limit works.

“Of the 11,141 fish reported in the survey, 83 percent were weighed, and of those, 15.6 percent weighed 10 pounds or more.”

“Anglers measured the length of 64 percent of the fish, and one-third of those were 24 inches or longer. The slot limit is producing impressive numbers of fish above the slot, as it was intended to do.”

North, South, East and West Unlike many states with only a few topnotch waterways to find trophy largemouth in abundance, Texas has lots of them.

A whole lot of them in fact.

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The Toyota Sharelunker program, which seeks donations of live largemouths weighing 13 pounds or larger has taken 564 entries since its inception in 1986.

What is more impressive however is the number of water bodies producing these mammoth fish and where some of them are located.

Some 65 public water bodies have produced Sharelunker fish, and yes, lakes like

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Fork, Sam Rayburn and Conroe in East Texas are at the tops in overall fish donated.

However, Alan Henry and Baylor Creek in North Texas, Falcon and Casa Blanca in South Texas and O.H. Ivie out West have produced impressive numbers of these prized fish. Some of these are out of commission now, due to drought; but when waters come back, the quality bass fishing will no doubt return as well.

PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

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Add to that dozens more water bodies ranging from state park ponds to Toledo Bend have also given up fish big enough to keep anglers up at night.

Hot Streaks The Sharelunker program typically goes in streaks. In other words certain lakes will be red hot for a while and looking at those, it is obvious, particular lakes were the place to be during certain stretches of time.

According to TPWD, a search of the ShareLunker archives on the official web page reveals that while streaks are exciting and generate a lot of “That lake is on fire!” comments, they aren’t that uncommon,” they reported.

“Sam Rayburn Reservoir had a run of six ShareLunkers between January 21, 1998 and March 22, 1998. Choke Canyon Reservoir had a six-fish streak from January 21, 2009 to April 26, 2009. Lake Alan Henry spouted nine ShareLunkers between January 29, 2005 and April 15, 2005. And then there’s those nine fish from O.H. Ivie this season.”

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They went on to report, however, that Lake Fork, which has produced about half the total number of ShareLunkers, is the undisputed king of the streak. Its first came in 1988 and 1989, when it produced 18 ShareLunkers. The next season it produced 17, the following year 22, and from January 8, 1992 to April 25, 1992, another 21, including the current state record of 18.18 pounds.

“The following four seasons Lake Fork produced 17, 16, 23 and 21 ShareLunkers.

After a two-year break in 1997 and 1998, Fork started streaking again, but with lower numbers: 10 fish in the 1998-99 season and eight the following season. Following another low production year in 2002, Fork’s output of ShareLunkers hit seven in 20022003, seven in 2003-2004, seven in 20042005 and eight in 2006-2007.”

What the Pros Say

and seven time Angler of the Year said, “Texas is no doubt the best bass state and should be commended for its attitude toward conservation.”

The 2008 Classic winner Alton Jones might seem biased since he hails from the Lone Star State, but he said there is no doubt to Texas’s domination of bass fishing.

“There are lots of good bass states, but none like Texas,” Jones said.

Women’s Bassmaster Tour Champion Judy Wong said the sheer amount of lakes that produce big bass in Texas is “amazing.”

And tournament legend Denny Brauer said he picks Texas as the top bass state as well.

Kind of hard to argue with the best of the best isn’t it? California may produce more mutant-sized fish when it comes to overall trophy bass, Texas is at the top of the list.

Case closed.

So you don’t think Texas is the top destination for largemouth bass?

Well, take that up with Kevin Van Dam. The four-time Bassmaster Classic winner

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PHOTO: GRADY ALLEN

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JETTIES ARE HUGE GRANITE PILES PLACED strategically along the edge of shipping lanes in the Gulf to aid large vessels entering a channel or bay system.

For Texas anglers, jetties represent easy to target structures that draw in fish from nearshore waters as well as inland systems. For those seeking redfish, jetties are one of the top spots along the coast to find big fish for the frying pan and to photograph and measure for a taxidermist to produce a replica.

Jetties can be accessed by shore in some instances (Port Aransas) and at other locations are boat only (Sabine Pass) but they can provide action for big redfish year-round.

On outgoing tides, one of the best spots to target is actually the mouths of cuts just north of jetties and shorelines lined with shell.

What you are looking for is reds from the Gulf that came in to feed in the marsh on the tides when the first signs of the tide dropping begin.

Big reds will feed right along the edge of the rocks at the boat cut on the larger jetty systems, which is a difficult spot to fish as the current is strong and boats are constantly moving through.

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Successful catch and release of bull reds begins with the type of hook used.

Anglers should consider using a gold spoon here and line the boat up parallel with the rocks, cutting across the current to hit both sides of the boat cut.

With a heavy spoon anglers can cast a long way and pick up 20 or so yards of the opposite side, then race it across the current.

This will usually pick up the fish just as the spoon makes my side of the cut.

When tides are moving in, the Gulf side of the jetties is generally much better to fish, and this requires some different tactics.

The most productive and least pressure spot for redfish big enough to put in the frying pan is at the very southern tip of the jetties. These spots are super current-laden.

If you take the time to check them out with your electronics, you will see all kinds of fascinating structures to fish.

The first thing to consider is that the rocks you see on top are only 1/3 of what is on the bottom. At any jetty, there are usually even more rocks at the very end. These last few rocks are a great spot to throw big gold spoons and let them flutter toward the bottom, or troll through with a crankbait. Reds will stage right along these rocks before they begin moving into the bay system.

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are great spots to catch super-sized bull redfish in excess of 40 inches. Since redfish have been banned from commercial harvest, the big breeders have really built up a large population and they tend to gather in these deep holes.

There are many ways to catch these monster reds, but a large live bait is best.

Croaker is by far the best because it not only gives the reds something they can smell and see but something they can hear. A croaker anywhere from eight to 12-inches is perfect. It should be fished on the bottom with a steel leader.

The leader does two things, it helps you keep from breaking off if you happen to land a shark instead of a red. Also, it will save you from losing reds if they get into the rocks.

Mullet also works great as does crab. If you cannot get live bait, cut bait will do fine; but you will hook into more gafftops and small sharks that way.

It is important to use a circle hook or one of the offset circle-type hooks. They are designed to set in the corner of a fish’s mouth, which will allow you to release fish you don’t wish to keep, and it increases the hook set to land ratio greatly. When using these hooks you do not have to set the hook.

Once the fish makes a heavy run, all you have to do is pick up the rod, gently raise the

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tip and start reeling.

Angler Marcus Heflin of Christian Surf Fishing Adventures said the bull redfish is the most underrated fish on the Texas coast.

“We can take someone, give them minimal instruction with the right equipment and easily put them on fish bigger than most people in our country ever catch,” Heflin said. “It is not difficult to catch redfish in the 20-30 pound class from our jetty systems as well as our beaches.”

While bull redfish definitely stay around jetties in larger numbers than they do the surf during spring and summer, they are always in the surf to some extent, awaiting the patient angler.

“I have been amazed at the joy catching these big fish bring to anglers. We have people from all walks of life coming out to our events and some have never caught a fish much less a bull red. We have a wonderful resource right here in Texas that is easy to access,” Heflin said.

Heflin will be teaching clinics this spring at Sea Rim State Park. The clinics are free and focus on all aspects of surf fishing including the pursuit of bulls.

If you would like more information call 409-659-9437.

PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

3/8/16 11:30 AM

Texas SALTWATER

by CALIXTO GONZALES :: TF&G Saltwater Editor

Other Lures

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O THERE I AM, SITTING with my wife one rainy Saturday in January, watching westerns on INSP. During a particularly gripping episode of The Virginian (more gripping for Sandie, since it featured a very young Robert Redford), there was a commercial for a particular lure that the talking head swore would revolutionize my fishing.

It came with all sorts of add-ons and all sorts of fish would suck it down like Purina Fish Chow.

“Well, just when you thought you’d seen everything in fishing lures...” Sandie said.

Then Robert Redford came back on the tube, sans shirt, and she got quiet all over again.

Being the unapologetic literature major that I am, I appreciated the symbolism of the open-ended statement my Immortal Beloved left hanging in the air. It seems every time I’ve thought I’ve seen every permutation and version of an artificial bait to fool fish, another one pops up to prove me wrong. If it is true that the good Lord loves variety, then He has to be a fisherman, because there is certainly variety in lures.

Still, there are a selection of old stalwarts that have been pushed to the back of the fishing shelf by all the other new and purdy stuff. It doesn’t mean they no longer work (in fact, some still work spectacularly well), just that they’ve been bumped aside by what’s new and flashy.

The bucktail jig is a great example. Hair jigs were a major part of every angler’s arsenal up and down the coast for decades. First in natural, and later dyed in various colors (white and yellow being the most popular, with pink pulling a close third), leadheads

dress with various types of hair and feathers became popular staples among anglers.

They slowly lost popularity as soft plastics became increasingly prevalent among briny lure fishermen. Now, unless you see someone tossing the venerable yellow/white Speck Rig under the lights (and even those are often dressed with a plastic tail), you will never see a bucktail hanging from a fishing pole.

That’s too bad, because the bucktail has never lost its fish-catching mojo. The flaring and pulsing of hair or feathers give a lifelike “throb” to a jig that soft plastics lack. They also have a stealthier delivery and don’t make much noise landing, an advantage when stalking spooky redfish on a shallow flat. They can be fished under a popping cork, much like a soft plastic, or fished along the bottom with a strip of belly or pork rind for flounder.

I used a pink ¼ ounce Spro Jig tipped with a live shrimp this past summer to absolutely wear out the black drum. The same rig was absolute death for a variety of species along the jetties in the fall. A large, white bucktail with a curlytail grub will catch several different nearshore species such as cobia, snapper, and grouper. Bucktails may not get the love other lures get, but they’re still very effective.

Joining bucktails in the realm of the neglected is one of my all-time favorite surf lures: the Kastmaster spoon. If ever a lure was made to sling in the Texas surf, it was the Kastmaster. The stout chunk of stamped metal is wonderfully aerodynamic, and it casts a mile. Even with a stout southeast wind, which is typical of the Texas Coast in summer, you can punch it out into the second gut with little effort (even farther if you know what you’re doing). The design of the Kastmaster enables you to fish anywhere in the water column, so it is equally effective jigged down deep around the jetties, or burned over the flats in the bay.

They catch fish, too. For years, my favorite trout spoon was a chrome Kastmaster T E X A S

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with a red bucktail trailer. In my teens, there used to be a ½ ounce chrome/blue version with a white bucktail tied to a 3/0 Siwash hook. I caught lots of trout around the Brazos Santiago jetties with that until a Spanish Mackerel nailed it and parted my mono leader with nary a “how do you do?” I’ve never found another version of that setup.

A third old producer that has been relegated to the bench for newer, sexier lures is the broken back minnow. For decades, the Cotton Cordell Jointed Redfin was a renowned big trout lure among Texas grinders. It boasted a state record trout.

One of the older how-to videos in Academy on catching big trout on the Texas Coast features Mike Williams landing a 12-pound Baffin Bay trout that he hooked on a Texas Chicken, the famed Pink/Gold/Silver Jointed Redfin.

On the Lower Laguna Madre, a redhead/white-bodied, jointed Long A was a popular snook plug in summer. The erratic, non-mechanical action of the segmented body sends off vibrations that mimic a wounded baitfish, and the body shape resembles a mullet. What’s not to like?

There are other lures that don’t get as much attention as they used to. How many shrimp tails do you see hanging from rod tips? Curlytailed grubs? Rat-L-Traps? You see them on the shelves every time you go to your favorite tackle shot or big box store, but they just sit on the shelves. If for no other reason than nostalgia, you should buy a couple and take them out for a spin.

A little retro is good for the soul, and it would give a whole new meaning to the phrase “throw-back.”

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Email Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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O ANIMAL IS MORE SYMBOLIC OF THE arid regions of Texas than the collared peccary more commonly known as javelina. An animal enshrouded in mystery, these medium-sized mammals have a reputation that precedes them.

For starters, they have an identity crisis. Lumped in with feral hogs as a species of swine, they are not pigs in the sense we think of pigs. According to biologists with Texas A&M

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University at Kingsville, a “javelina is not a pig, a feral hog or a wild boar. Although similar in appearance to a pig, it is a collared peccary.”

Both javelinas and pigs are members of the order artiodactyla and the suborder suiformes and share a common ancestry.

Because of key anatomical and genetic differences, however taxonomists placed them in separate families: javelina in tayassuidae and pigs in suidae.

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Texas A&M, Kingsville biologists said the confusion probably started as soon as European explorers arrived in the New World.

“The javelina is native to the Western Hemisphere, while true pigs developed in the Eastern Hemisphere,” the biologists said. “Distinguishing characteristics include size. Javelinas are small and compact, weighing from 30 to 55 pounds, while adult feral hogs can reach 100 pounds or more.

“Javelinas are a grizzled brown and black with a white band of coarse hair, its ‘collar,’ around the neck. Feral hogs come in a variety of colors and combinations of colors.

Less obvious differences include that the javelina has fourhoofed toes on its front feet, but only three-hoofed toes on the hind feet, where the outer dewclaw present on a pig is absent in javelinas. Javelinas also have shorter tails and their canine teeth or ‘tusks’ grow vertically rather than away from the face.”

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Javelinas range from southern Texas to Arizona, and into the northern tier of South America.

Javelinas weigh from 30-60 pounds and stand about 1.5 feet tall at maturity. When seen at a distance they look much larger, but upon closer examination their diminutive size is obvious. They range from southern Texas across the deserts to Arizona, throughout Mexico and into the northern tier of South America.

The name “javelina” comes from the word Spanish word “javelin” which they used to describe the teeth of the animal.

“Peccary” comes from a Brazilian tribal word meaning “many paths through the woods.” Anyone who hunts in javelina country can attest to the myriad well-worn paths dotted by tiny hoof prints.

According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) official profile of the species, “Javelinas have long held an undeserved reputation for ferocity.”

“They have poor eyesight and will often remain around humans longer than other wildlife when startled. When cornered, they can defend themselves very effectively with sharp canine teeth or ‘tusks.’ Many dogs have been crippled or killed while trying to attack javelinas. Yet aggressive encounters with humans are very, very rare.”

Despite a nasty reputation, I have only seen one javelina charge a human, and it was well deserved.

It was back in 1995, and my family was visiting Choke Canyon State Park to shoot wildlife photos. I located a big male javelina rooting around in a drainage ditch there.

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a young pre-teen boy rolled up on a bicycle.

He pulled some rocks out of his pocket and began throwing them at the animal.

“Hey kid, you better not do that. You’re going to get yourself in trouble,” I said.

“No, I won’t,” the boy replied snidely.

The first rock missed the javelina as the boy who despite being big quite large threw like a little girl. In fact, my daughter Faith who is five at the time of this writing throws much better than this kid does.

“I’ll get him this time,” he said.

The rock connected with the javelina spurring it to instantly bristle up its back hairs, pop its his teeth and charge the perpetrator.

I am not sure what the record for a 100yard dash is on a bicycle but I have a good idea he would have been a contender that day. I still laugh out loud thinking about it, although some incidents involving javelinas are not funny at all.

An article in the December 8, 2006 edition of the Arizona Daily Star details a super rare attack that was more serious.

“It was supposed to be a 15-minute walk down East Snyder Road with the dogs before taking off to yoga class,” Tracy Gordon said.

“But Gordon’s quick morning trip turned into a day-long nightmare. At 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, Gordon and her three Chihuahuas were attacked by a pack of javelinas. It was an unusual moment because Gordon’s previous encounters with javelinas on her daily walks were always uneventful.

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It started with one sighting on Snyder, near North Sabino Canyon Road. A javelina charged across the street, and though it seemed that the animal wasn’t about to attack them, Gordon’s dogs had assumed a confrontational stance.”

“The hair went up on their backs, and they had puffed up their chests,” Gordon said.

Seconds after she picked up her dogs to protect them, 11 more javelinas seemed to appear out of thin air and surrounded Gordon.

“The attack was a blur, she said. One javelina bit her leg, which caused her to fall and drop the dogs. One or more javelinas had trampled her. Noticing that one of the dogs, Peatree, became a main target and was “being thrown like a rag doll,” Gordon ran to a neighbor’s home to call her husband, Greg, for help. Another dog, Tino, suffered a large bite on the neck. The other Chihuahua, Bebe, was not injured.”

The above cases all deal with javelinas either harassed, semi domesticated in an urban situation, or sick. I do not know a single (veteran) hunter in Texas that is truly scared of javelinas. We give them respect as they have the potential to do damage but realize they are simply one of the unique animals that calls Texas its home.

PHOTO: DPC

3/8/16 11:31 AM

Bare Bones HUNTING

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

Turkey Fever

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T IS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT is turkey time again—already!

I love turkey hunting. I have to admit that when I am out in the woods, hunting turkeys is even more exciting than hunting whitetail deer.

I know for some readers that may be difficult to understand, but if you think about it, it really can be true. The thing I love most about turkey hunting is that you are not hunting the turkey—the turkey is hunting you.

Once you locate a gobbler, you call to him like a lonely, love-sick hen. If he answers with a loud gobble, the hunt is on! It takes a little bit of strategy to know when to call and when to stop calling so he’ll come into your setup looking for that hen. That is the fun part.

Does it work every time? No, of course not, but when it does, the memory of each hunt is enough to get you out of a warm bed at dark thirty in the morning and out in the turkey woods year after year.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE deer hunting. It was how I was introduced to this outdoor sport. And every year I prepare as best I can, and wait patiently for whitetail season to begin. But that is not until the fall.

A good spring turkey hunt is exactly what the doctor ordered to get the heart pumping with excitement (at least in the woods!).

I have been asked many times if it is better for me to hunt these birds with a bow or my shotgun. I have just as much fun with both. It is just a question of how much time I want to put into the hunt.

It is, without a doubt, much more challenging to take a bird with a bow. The hearing and especially the eyesight of a wild turkey is absolutely unbelievable. The move-

ment of drawing a bowstring back without the turkey seeing you presents its own challenge. With a shotgun, you can rest the gun up on your knee, simply wait for the bird to come into range, pick your shot, and the entire hunt is soon a memory.

Also, remember the range that a shotgun would have compared to a well-placed arrow. A 40- or even 50-yard shot with a gun is not unheard of as long as you have a three-inch magnum turkey load shotgun shell, combined with a super tight choke on the end of your gun. A clean bowshot is usually no longer than 20 yards. Longer shots have been taken with some success, but the average bow hunter is much more accurate at this closer range.

So now the question remains about where the best-shot placement on a turkey would be. Again, the answer to this, would depend on whether you are using a gun or bow.

If a shotgun is your firearm of choice, then the perfect shot is to aim for the bottom part of the head. Using this as your aiming point will allow a number 4 or number 5, threeinch shell to spread the BB load to cover the neck and head.

It is the most humane shot as it will kill the bird immediately, and will not ruin any of the delicious meat. I have heard some horror stories of hunters that aim for the broadside of the turkey at questionable distances and have wounded the animal. At 40+ yards the BBs might have a hard time penetrating the amount of feathers that are covering the vitals.

You might not believe that, but remember the bird has his wings covering the vital area, plus the feathers under that wing.

Consequently, a coyote, fox or any other meat-eating critter will thank you for the fine meal that they found.

If, however, you decide to use a bow for your quarry, then you should aim for the base of the wing where it meets the turkey’s body. A turkey has a small kill zone and a well-placed arrow at the base of the wing will do the deed nicely.

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I would suggest that if you are hunting these birds with a bow and arrow, invest in a pop-up blind. Turkeys pay no attention at all to these “new” bushes in their living room and it will totally conceal any movement as you draw back your bow. A few decoys 15 yards or so in front of your blind will make your set up more realistic and will help ensure a successful hunt.

There is one other deadly spot to aim if you have a bow.

Once, while hunting with Keith Warren and filming for Keith Warren Outdoors hunting and fishing adventure television show, Keith called in a beautiful, mature gobbler. The bird came in all fanned out and started his strutting parade for our decoy.

It was fun to watch and Keith wanted me to wait for a little while so he could get more of this big boy on film. Finally, the gobbler turned toward the decoy and away from us as he continued to fan out his tail feathers.

Keith whispered to me to “go ahead and shoot him right up the butt.” I must admit it brought a smile to my face at the time, but it worked.

That big turkey had no idea he was about to have a bad day. After I shot, as if on cue, he flew directly toward the camera with a razor sharp broadhead embedded deep in his vitals. With his tail feathers in full strut, there was no way he would be able to see any movement from my bow. Perfect!

A wild turkey is not only good for you, but some consider it to be the best tasting wild game in the woods, and I agree. So good luck all you turkey hunters. The gobblers are calling for you. Don’t disappoint them.

Have fun and hunt safe out there.

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Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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TEXAS Dept. of DEFENSE

by STEVE LAMASCUS & DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Self Defense Tactical :: Concealed Carry

Handguns for Practice

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LEARNED MOST OF WHATEVER skill I have with a handgun by shooting targets, and most of that was in practice for matches we once had at the Uvalde Gun Club.

Back in the 1970s the UGC was very active. We held several kinds of monthly matches in rifle, handgun, and shotgun.

Our handgun matches were of two types: standard bullseye, using one-hand for slow-, timed-, and rapid-fire at 25- and 50-yard targets; and a very simple combat match based very loosely on the old Border Patrol qualification course fired at 7, 15, 25, and 50 yards.

The handguns I used in these matches were a High Standard Citation .22 cal., an Ithaca-made 1911 A1 in .45 ACP,

Tiny Guns THE MARKET FOR SMALL HANDguns has grown with the legalization of concealed carry throughout the country. Folks want something small, concealable, and comfortable to carry.

Although I do own a few of these myself, the more I shoot these small handguns and train others who bring them to lessons, the less I care for them and the more I prefer a larger pistol.

This isn’t to say that all small handguns are bad, for they certainly have their place. But if you are serious about defensive handgun use, you’ll want to find the best tool for the job.

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and a six-inch Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357, in which I shot .38 Special wadcutters. I won’t say I won many matches, but I will say that I was competitive. And I truly loved the competition. Not only that, but I learned to shoot, really shoot, in those little monthly club matches.

Today far too many people go to the gun shop, buy a high capacity 9mm and a couple of boxes of cartridges. They shoot one box in “practice” and keep the other for carrying. They probably don’t shoot a hundred rounds a year in practice. They learn nothing. During the time I and my friends shot in those club matches we probably shot a hundred rounds a week in practice in each of our handguns.

That is how you learn to shoot a handgun. If you are serious. If you practice intelligently, you learn trigger control. And you learn that you cannot hold a gun completely still, but that you must line up the sights and squeeze the trigger until the gun goes off. If the sights are properly aligned and you don’t jerk the trigger, the shot will be

close. If it is not close, you probably jerked the trigger.

To feed my shooting habit, I learned to cast lead bullets from scrap tire weights to shoot in the .45 and .38. Twenty-two ammunition was relatively cheap in those days, so I shot a lot more .22s than the others. A buddy and I would spend a couple of nights a week reloading .38 Specials.

By all this I mean to convey the idea that you don’t have to break the bank buying high priced ammunition, but you can learn to shoot using cheap handloads and relatively cheap .22 Long Rifle ammunition. If you are smart you will do the practice and learn to shoot a handgun.

There are plenty of good, accurate .22 handguns on the market today. Almost every major manufacturer that makes handguns makes at least one such .22, and many make several models.

Some are relatively inexpensive and some are very expensive. Two examples are the Smith & Wesson Model 41, which is quite expensive and very good, and the

Many times I find that husbands have purchased their wives these tiny pistols because it’s “cute,” and they can carry them in their purses. Off-person carry is a different subject, and even though a small size is advantageous, there is a point when the firearm is too small to shoot, manipulate, and control skillfully.

And that’s my first point—recoil control. Heavier guns recoil less. It’s physics. Also, heavier guns are inherently larger and have more surface area to spread the perceived recoil across your hands.

Shooting a single-stack compact gun with a thin backstrap, such as the Bersa Thunder—even in a smaller .380 caliber—can be downright uncomfortable, and it delivers a shocking jolt to your palms.

Even if you find the recoil doesn’t cause pain, smaller guns are difficult to grip correctly. Without a proper grip, your follow-up shots can miss their mark. Fit and feel are extremely important in a handgun, and I highly recommend actually shooting the pistol before you purchase it.

The next disadvantage of smaller handguns is difficulty of manipulation.

Racking the slide is only one of the main requirements of running a pistol.

However on tiny guns you have a very small grip area, and if you have a weaker grip it will be even more challenging.

Compound that with sweaty, muddy, or bloody fingers and charging the slide of something like a Ruger LCP becomes

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various models of the Ruger semi-auto, which is not very expensive and is still very accurate.

High Standard is back in business.

Browning also makes a fine .22 semi-auto.

Ruger even makes a .22 with the same grip dimensions as a 1911. Also available are kits that allow you to shoot .22s using your 1911 frame. In addition to these semiautos, there are a number of high quality .22 revolvers available, so you can take your pick.

If you carry a handgun you would be

wise to use a .22 for practice. You will gain much in the experience and save a lot of money as compared to what you would spend buying centerfire ammunition. Even at today’s prices you can find .22 Long Rifle ammunition priced at $25 for 500 rounds. That is 500 rounds of practice for the same price—or less—that you would pay for one box of centerfire ammunition.

Almost since the beginning of selfcontained ammunition, the .22 rimfire has been the teacher of shooting skills. The first Smith & Wesson handgun was chambered

in .22 short.

Every kid who grew up in the country, or whose parents or grandparents were hunters, had a .22, and most hunters and fishermen had a .22 handgun of some kind.

Today the .22 is still the best teacher of shooting skills that has ever been invented.

You would be wise to take advantage of its qualities.

several super compact models.

Even on larger compact guns such as the Walther PPS I’ve pinched my fingers below the short magwell when slamming a magazine home. When you can only fit two fingers on the pistol grip, pinching a finger easy to do. Nevertheless, training to reload is very necessary when you consider the diminished magazine capacity of an ultra compact handgun.

And finally, the triggers on these tiny peashooters are difficult to master.

Some triggers might be smoother than

others, but the majority have a long and heavy double action pull that requires thousands of rounds in training to place shots as accurately as you would with a shorter, more crisp trigger.

Once again, this isn’t to say these belly guns don’t have a place. However I would think twice before having a compact pistol as my primary defense weapon.

—Dustin Ellermann

—Steve LaMascus

The smaller the pistol the more difficult it is to shoot fast and accurately.

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next to impossible. In a worse case scenario, you might have a double feed malfunction where you need to rack the slide vigorously. With a small ejection port added into the situation, it could be problematic getting your pistol back in the fight.

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...and Other Strange Saltwater Management Ideas story by Chester Moore DURING THE FLOUNDER REG-

“They are always out there in the

“So, you’re saying we should shoot

ulation debate in 2008, an interesting

passes flipping those flounders out of

Flipper to save the flounder,” I asked.

theory was being propagated on the

the water and eating them. The dol-

Internet. It was a way to help boost

phins are getting more populous and

Somehow the idea of setting up dol-

flounder numbers without changing

they eat more flounders than we ever

phin sharpshooters in our bays and

bag limits, and I got to hear it in

kill, so we should enact some dolphin

passes did not seem like it would fly

person.

population control.”

with the Texas Parks & Wildlife

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“Yes, pretty much.”

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Commission (TPWC) or the general public for that matter.

“Come to the Texas coast where we blew away 500 dolphins last year!”

Not exactly good Chamber of Commerce material, is it?

Soon however, the tide turned away from dolphin eradication to redfish annihilation.

“There are just too many redfish. They are eating all of the baby flounder. That is why flounder numbers are down.”

Once again, I wrote this off and ended up hearing the same thing from several people.

One even suggested doubling the redfish bag limit, dropping the minimum size and ending all red drum stocking. The same has been said recently about the impact of redfish on speckled trout.

“The trout are declining because the reds are eating all their food.”

“The reds are eating everything in their path.”

This is reminiscent of the late 1990s when commercial fishermen in Louisiana tried to get gill and strike nets legalized for redfish once again because the reds were “wiping out the crabs.”

A decline in blue crab numbers could not possibly have been related to the insane number of crab traps set in Bayou State waters but had to have been redfish, which as far as we know have been co-existing with crabs forever.

There is a tendency in fisheries management to seek scapegoats when there are population problems or regulation debates.

These kinds of arguments and others like them do nothing but move the attention from the real issues, taking the fishing public down rabbit trails with no end. More importantly, it takes the focus off the side of the conservation equation we can control: ourselves.

There is a reason size and bag limits are put in place. Of the myriad factors that go into management of a species including drought, flood, salinity levels and freezes, our take of that resource is the one thing we can control. TPWC members cannot pass a measure deeming salinity levels above 60 parts per thousand.

Well, they could but it would have zero impact.

Changing bag and size limits however does have an effect and along with stock enhancement are the only cost effective mechanisms we have to impact sport fish numbers.

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Sanctioned annihilation of redfish has also been suggested as a solution for declines in both flounder and speckled trout populations.

A good, straightforward debate on whether or not we should make changes and the value we place on things like trout availability and trophy size is something we should discuss. However, we should do so without relegating redfish back to 1970s status when their primary purpose was an ingredient in a Chef Paul Prudhomme recipe. They deserve more respect than that.

Speaking of redfish, there have been rumblings in recent years about opening commercial activity for redfish in the Gulf of Mexico. I am not sure how that would work since President George W. Bush enacted an executive order in his last weeks in office

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to prohibit commercial redfish harvest in the Gulf but there is definitely an interest on the commercial side to make such a thing a reality.

Going back for a moment to the 2008 flounder changes, I had a very animated discussion with a man who commercially fished flounder who not happy of my support of the new regulations. I understood what he was saying and respected his opinion.

Then he said, “We should have never banned the gillnets in the first place.”

At some point, we simply have to look at science. For many years, I have studied the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s creel, PHOTOS: REDFISH, TERRY UPTON; CRAB, DPC

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In Louisiana in the 1990s, a blue crab decline was blamed on redďŹ sh by commercial ďŹ shermen, who apparently ignored the fact that an insane number of crab traps were being deployed there.

purse seine and gillnet survey results. They are by far the most thorough of any state in the nation and in my opinion as legitimate an account of what is happening in our bays as we can get. The raw numbers are real or at least as real as anything else out there.

When the TPWC goes by science, just by the raw numbers they do a good job of regulating the state. However, there have been times when certain issues had little to do with science and more with public opin-

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ion or commerce.

If we keep our focus on the science, examine it and question every aspect, then true conservation usually wins out.

The state and the fishing public owe it to our resource to fight it out over the facts,

but suggesting decreasing one resource to benefit another does not help trout, flounder or anything else.

That is a disservice to the resource and the future of our beloved outdoors lifestyle.

3/8/16 11:32 AM

True GREEN TF&G Conservation Editor

Edited by WILL LESCHPER

The Pig Problem

along the Texas coast during the summer.

Simply put, we Texans have a pig problem, and it’s not going anywhere

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’VE SEEN THEM WHILE HUNTing Rio Grande turkeys in the spring, my back pressed squarely up against an oak tree, hoping that they wouldn’t scare off a mature gobbler.

I’ve seen them while hunting whitetails in the fall, raiding deer feeders and devouring all the corn aimed primarily at attracting a different species.

I’ve seen them while hunting bobwhites in the winter, scaring off sounder after sounder as the pointing dogs kicked up furry critters instead of feathered coveys.

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anytime soon.

The main concern from the rise in hog numbers is the damage they cause, specifically as a result of rooting and trampling that makes those associated areas unsuitable for crop production or livestock grazing.

Feral hogs also are a direct competitor for any forage they can reach, which even includes other wildlife such as ground-nesting birds and their eggs, biologists say.

Here’s a passage from a TPWD report, which pretty well sums up just how prodigious feral hogs are at being the most invasive species we will ever see: “Feral hogs compete directly with livestock as well as game and nongame wildlife species for food. However, the main damage caused to livestock and wildlife is indirect destruction of habitat and agriculture commodities,” the report opines.

“Rooting and trampling activity for food can damage agricultural crops, fields and livestock feeding and watering facilities. Often wildlife feeders are damaged or destroyed. They also destabilize wetland areas, springs, creeks and tanks by excessive rooting and wallowing. In addition to habitat destruction and alteration, hogs can destroy forestry plantings and damage trees.”

And then there’s this final portion of the report, which shows how hogs even have a knack for being detrimental to some of our most prized game species: “While not active predators, wild hogs may prey on fawns, young lambs and kid goats.

If the opportunity arises, they may also destroy and consume eggs of ground nesting birds, such as turkeys and quail.”

Another concern cited by biologists is the possibility of diseases being spread to livestock and other wildlife. Though the diseases from feral hogs don’t pose a significant threat to humans, the notable illnesses that have been documented in feral hog populations include swine brucellosis, tuberculosis, bubonic plague and anthrax.

Feral hogs also are known to harbor a variety of external parasites, including ticks and fleas, which also can carry diseases, so PHOTO: CANSTOCK

3/8/16 11:27 AM

Gulf Center Approved THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY System Board of Regents recently approved the establishment of the Texas OneGulf Center at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi within the

Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. Texas OneGulf is the first and only multi-institutional, multidisciplinary consortium in Texas combining the expertise of top marine science and health institutions to focus on the physical Gulf environment and the interactions of humans with that environment.

It is one of two approved Centers of Excellence designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the

Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies (RESTORE) of the Gulf Coast States Act. The RESTORE Act was passed in 2012 in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, and it directs penalties into a trust fund that supports efforts to restore and protect the environment and economy in the Gulf Coast region.

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use latex or surgical gloves when possible if you’re cleaning one.

However, for all the negatives associated with these swine—and as you can see there are plenty—the two great things about feral hogs for hunters is that they’re among the most challenging and wily game animals you’ll ever find, and they can be cooked up in countless ways. That’s what biologists and land managers hope for, that Texas hunters continue to rack up the harvest totals. That’s something with which we’re proficient.

Why not, since they can be hunted all year without bag limits using the most liberal of means and methods. The best part about pursuing feral hogs is that it plays right into the hands of the average hunter, with costs much lower than other trophy game animals.

“Pork chopping” and the helicopter ride can be costly, running into the thousands of dollars based on flight time. However, there are plenty of day lease options and public hunting options tailor-made to bringing home the bacon.

There are some great public hunting options on multiple Wildlife Management Areas. For just the $48 cost of a public hunting permit, you can have access to roughly 1 million acres of land to hunt hogs on this year. The great part is that with such a proliferation of pork, you almost can’t go wrong in picking the right public hunt option for you and your family.

It’s no secret that we’ve got too many hogs, and it’s likely only going to get worse before it even remotely gets better. However, it’s also no secret that they offer a great hunting experience and an affordable one, too.

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Email Will Leschper at WillLeschperOutdoors@gmail.com

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TPWD Exec Earns National Recognition

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OSS MELINCHUK, TEXAS cies were noticed by others. He subsequently Parks and Wildlife Department’s served as the first NAWMP Coordinator Deputy Executive Director for for the International Association of Fish and Natural Resources, was selected Wildlife Agencies (now AFWA). as the Ducks Unlimited 2016 Melinchuk played a parWetland Conservation Achieveticularly important role in ment Award winner in the State/ shepherding the expansion of Provincial Agency Employee AFWA’s State Contributions to category.

NAWMP/NAWCA Projects in The award was presented Canada Program. In this role, he during the 81st North American saddressed the challenge of genWildlife and Natural Resources erating the non-federal matching Conference held in Pittsburg, fund requirements of NAWCA. Ross Melinchuk Pennsylvania. Melinchuk was His efforts demonstrated the selected for his significant and long-term promise and great success of delivering wetcontributions to the conservation of North land habitat conservation through partnerAmerica‘s wetlands and waterfowl resources ships. for more than three decades.

Melinchuk became Ducks Unlimited’s “Ross has focused his career on facilitatNAWMP Coordinator in 1992, and he ing and increasing wetlands conservation remained with the world leader in wetlands across North America,” said DU Chief conservation for 17 years.

Conservation Officer Paul Schmidt. “He In 1995, Melinchuk relocated to DU’s has personally made significant and meanSouthern Regional Office where, in addition ingful contributions from the Canadian Prai- to continued focus on the state contributions ries to the Texas Gulf Coast and wintering to Canada program, he contributed his great areas in Mexico, and he continues to do so. talents in coalition-building to a wide variety There is no question that he is very deservof efforts.l These were focused on the end ing of this award,” goal of conserving wetlands and other waterBorn and raised in the Canadian prairie fowl habitats across the South. province of Saskatchewan, the land of the In 2003, recognizing the need for sound living skies, Melinchuk developed a love of policy to grow wetland conservation, Melinwaterfowl, wildlife and their natural habitats chuk put his people skills to work providing from the start. Armed with two degrees in strategic guidance for public policy work in wildlife science, he dove into work for the fifteen states, including Texas. He also conSaskatchewan Environment and Renewable tinued his commitment to raise funding supResources Department in 1980. port for NAWCA projects in partnership Melinchuk really hit his stride when with AFWA and state agency leadership. the North American Waterfowl ManageIn 2009, Melinchuk moved to the Lone ment Plan (NAWMP) emerged, and he Star State and became Deputy Executive became the Saskatchewan department’s first Director for Natural Resources for the NAWMP Coordinator. In this position, TPWD and remains there today. In this his natural talents and the people skills for role, he oversees the department’s Wildlife, which he is so well-known became evident Coastal and Inland Fisheries Division. to many.

His talents in pulling together diverse —Andi Cooper coalitions and partnerships along with his ability to work productively with state agen-

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HERE ARE ALL KINDS OF FISH FINNING around in our freshwater lakes and rivers. If I were among them, I’d want to be one with long whiskers, a fat belly, dapple olive skin and a head shaped like a gravel shovel.

Those are all distinctive characteristics of a flathead

catfish with a serious weight problem, which is one more good reason to be one. These denizens of the deep eat like kings. They do it largely on a healthy diet of crawfish, bream, shad, crappie, bass, other catfish—or just about any other lively critter that happens to swim dangerously close when the dinner bell rings. Many anglers believe the flathead’s preference for live prey is the reason why it is the most highly prized of all catfishes when it comes to table fare.

The flathead catfish is recognized as one of the biggest freshwater fish in North America and is an apex predator wherever it swims. These piscatorial titans have intrigued anglers and inspired tales both tall and true since the dawn of fishing. Though the flathead lacks the storybook lore of the great white, it is widely known as the ultimate trophy among hardcore catfishers all across the South.

Native to many waters across Texas, flatheads do best in large river systems and major reservoirs that offer good habitat and plentiful forage to sustain their voracious appetites.

So, how big do they get?

The IGFA all tackle world record caught in 1998 from from Elk City Reservoir in Kansas weighed 123 pounds. The biggest one ever hauled in from Texas waters was a trotline brute from Lake Livingston weighing 114 pounds. The heaviest ever caught by rod and reel in Texas was a 98.5 pounder from Lake Palestine.

Fish exceeding 50 pounds are registered as lake records at numerous other Texas impoundments.

While the flathead shares some of the traits seen in its more abundant cousins—the blue cat and channel cat—they also have some unique physical features that make them easily identifiable. The most striking are the flat, wide, shovel-shaped head and a wide mouth with a serious underbite. The fish also has a unique skin coloration that can range from a mottled olive, yellow or brown, thus earning it the nicknames yellow cat, opelousas cat or “op” for short.

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BEST BETS FOR BIG CATS story & photos by MATT WILLIAMS T E X A S

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Top Texas Waters for Flatheads • Lake Palestine • Lake Tawakoni • Toledo Bend Reservoir • Lake Livingston

• Lake Lewisville • Choke Canyon Reservoir • Lake Wright Patman

The differences don’t end there.

Although blues and channels are social butterflies that often roam in open water in large schools, the flathead is prone to lead a solitary lifestyle rather than running with a pack. That fact, coupled with its large size, raw power, love for fresh meat and affinity for thick, gnarly cover make it much more difficult to fool and even tougher to catch than much more abundant blue cats, especially on rod and reel.

“A big flathead is an entirely different animal from a blue cat and way more of a challenge to find and catch,” says Kris Bodine, a TPWD research scientist based the Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center in Mountain Home. “It’s an apex predator, very territorial and will eat just about anything that swims. It takes more space to harbor these individuals and there are fewer of them out there.

They also like live bait. That’s why you hear about trotliners catching them so often, but not that many on rod and reel.

Trotliners leave their lines out all night long.

Most rod and reelers don’t have the patience to do that.”

That’s not to say rod and reelers haven’t caught some whopper flatheads in Texas.

They have. But many of them have been caught by total accident. To wit: The 98 1/2 pound state rod and reel record ate a live shiner that James Laster had placed on a crappie hook. Laster was probably crappie fishing at the time. Meanwhile, the 80.25 pound Richland Chambers lake record was caught on a flipping tube that A.J. Putejovosky was using to fish for bass.

I know of several other outsize flatheads caught on artificial lures that were obviously mistaken for something alive. Two of the biggest—a 98 pounder from Lake Lewisville and a 92 pounder from Toledo Bend—were fooled by jigging spoons.

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collect 255 flathead cats, about half of which were 30-52 inches long.

• Lake Sam • The Lower The fish were tagged for easy idenRayburn Guadalupe River tification and released. Anglers who • Lake Ray • Red River re-caught one of the study fish during Roberts • Sabine River the following 12 months were offered • Lake Arrowhead • Trinity River a cash reward for reporting it.

Bodine said harvest data from the study indicated an annual harvest rate on flatheads of about three to four percent.

Biologists also determined that Palestine boasts an outstanding flathead population estimated to be between 4,000-8,000 fish, which Bodine called “phenomenal.”

The biologist says plans are underway to begin using the same low frequency shocking techniques to sample flathead and other catfish populations on other lakes around the state. Once those studies get underway, he claims he won’t be shocked if multiple five star flathead populations are documented elsewhere.

“I have no doubts that there are other lakes out there that are as good or better than Palestine,” Bodine said. “The irony of it is that we historically haven’t had a lot of our anglers going after them.”

TPWD angler surveys shore up that statement. Surveys indicate that catfish rank second behind largemouth bass in terms of angler popularity statewide. However, only Flathead skin coloration ranges from 12 percent of the anglers surveyed said they yellow to mottled olive and brown. target flatheads. The most popular is channel cat with 51 percent, followed by blue cat, move to preferred areas to spawn.

35 percent.

Legalized in Texas during 2011, the “Generally speaking, our flathead catfish practice involves reaching a bare or gloved fisheries are probably one of the most underhand into a hollow log, an under cut bank or utilized fisheries we offer,” Bodine said. “A boat ramp, rock hollow or any other cavity very small portion of our angling constituwhere the fish like to nest. The idea is to ency actively pursue flatheads, despite havprovoke the territorial flathead into eating ing quality angling opportunities statewide. your hand. Once that happens, a wild one- The flathead catfish is one of the biggest on-one battle begins. freshwater fish in North America. Fishing TPWD launched an intensive study at for flatheads is an excellent opportunity to Lake Palestine a few years back. Concerned catch some trophies. That is of course, if that hand fishing pressure might disrupt the you’re up to the challenge. spawning cycles of too many fish and harm “Catfish have become more and more the flathead fishery. What they learned in popular with our anglers over the last several the process is that the 26,000-acre East years, and we are putting more effort into Texas reservoir supports a bountiful popula- learning more about our catfish population of trophy flatheads (fish 30 inches or tions we can better manage them to meet greater) and that hand fishing and other the needs of our anglers,” Bodine added. legal methods for taking them pose no threat “We’ve launched the first catfish manageto the fishery. If anything, the resource is way ment plan, and our aim is build on that underutilized. based on what our surveys have told us Bodine, who was the point man in the that our catfish anglers want. It’s a work in effort, says the recent study involved using progress.” new low frequency electrofishing gear to

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Texas FRESHWATER

by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&G Freshwater Editor

Seeing Spots or Alabama Bass?

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TIP OF THE HAT GOES OUT to Josh Helmstetler of Big Spring.

For those who may not have heard, the 29-year old angler was fishing at Lake Alan Henry Reservoir near Lubbock on January 9 when he hooked and landed a bass that was subsequently certified as the heaviest spotted bass ever reported in the Lone Star State.

Interestingly, however, Helmstetler’s catch has since raised some questions with TPWD inland fisheries biologists. The questions revolve around the fact that the fish was verified to be an Alabama bass instead of a native spotted bass and whether or not the department should create separate state and lake record categories for that species.

Either way, the fish will rank as a new state record of some sort. More on that later.

First, here’s the details behind Helmsteler’s fish.

Placed on certified scales at Klemke’s Sausage Haus in Slaton, the bass weighed a whopping 5.98 pounds. As of this writing, the fish tops the former state record spot of 5.62 pounds that was set in 2011, also at Alan Henry, by Erik Atkins of Lubbock.

The Atkins bass was particularly noteworthy at the time because it beat out a 5.56 pound state record from Lake O’ The Pines that had stood for 45 years.

There’s a pretty good fish tale behind Helmstetler’s lunker. For starters, the prize catch couldn’t have been more timely.

The angler caught it while competing in

a Big Spring Bass Club team tournament.

Club rules allow each team to weigh in three bass per day. The combined weight of the record spot and two other keepers that Helmstetler and his partner, Justin Gard, brought the scales that day weighed 10.97 pounds. They easily grabbed the victory.

To hear Helmstetler tell it, the weather was cold and blustery the day the record class fish came calling. It was so cold that he broke out the snow ski gear he wears when he hits slopes each winter in Ruidoso, N.M. “I even had my goggles on,” he said. “The high was supposed to be about 37 degrees that day, but don’t think it ever made it.”

Helmstetler said he and Gard were fishing over at a large flat bordering Big Grape Creek when they got into a group of fish in about 10 feet of water. They had caught about a dozen bass using Rat-L-Traps and suspending jerk baits before the bite began to wane.

Thinking the school of fish may have relocated, the anglers decided to move farther out on the flat closer to the creek channel.

Their intuitions were correct. Not long after making the move Helmstetler felt the rap-tap of a bass inhaling his jerk bait, a 5/8 ounce LIVETARGET Glass Minnow BaitBall in a silver natural color pattern.

“She hammered it,” he recalled. “At first I thought I had hold of the biggest bass of my life, because it was fighting so hard. Once I got it up to the boat I was sort of disappointed because it didn’t look very big. But when got it out of the net I was like, ‘holy crap, this is a huge spot!’”

Or at least that’s what Helmstetler thought, as did Atkins when he reeled in his 5.62 pound former record five years ago.

Actually, neither fish was determined to be a spotted bass, which are native to many watersheds around eastern Texas. Instead, TPWD fisheries biologists determined that both fish were the descendants of the 150 adult Alabama bass that were stocked at Alan Henry in 1996 as part of an experiment to see how the fish would fare in the T E X A S

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deep, rocky impoundment near Justiceburg.

According to Charlie Munger, the TPWD fisheries biologist who oversees Alan Henry, spotted bass and Alabama bass bear a striking resemblance to one another in that they both have a short jaw and distinctive tongue patch.

However, that is about as far as the similarities go. In fact, the biologist said the American Fisheries Society designated the Alabama bass as a species unto its own about a year and a half ago. Prior to that, the Alabama bass was considered a subspecies the spotted bass.

In light of that finding, and the fact that high water on Alan Henry last spring may have flushed some of the Alabama bass downstream and into reservoirs with spotted bass populations, Munger says the department is kicking around the idea of creating a records category strictly for Alabama bass.

“At this point I don’t know how it is going to be handled,” Munger said. “It’s a problem we’re aware of and one that we are addressing. As of right now it (Helmstetler’s fish) will be listed as a spotted bass record, though based on what the impetus is from some of our district biologists, Austin staff and genetics lab it potentially could be retroactively made into an Alabama bass state record.”

If that’s the case, Munger says the 5.56 pounder caught from Lake O’ The Pines in 1966 will likely be reinstated as the Texas state record for that species.

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BACK WHEN I WAS “mobile, agile and hostile” no hill was too steep and no marsh was too deep; but now that I am increasingly “fragile, senile and docile” some days it’s all I can do to flip the TV remote from one cable outdoor show to another.

Sad but true, we slow down. This is hard to accept but, with the hot breath of the big 7-0 on my aching back, it is reality. We camo-clad “Boomers” increasingly must face the passage of time and the faltering of pace.

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COMPOSITE IMAGE: TF&G

3/8/16 11:34 AM

When A Boomer Sportsman’s Self Confidence Collides with Reality story by Joe Doggett And, worth note, these graying and balding ranks comprise a significant portion of the anglers and hunters in Texas. I cannot provide an accurate number, but Boomers are out there in legion.

Situations and circumstances vary, but the common thread is this: It’s easier to stumble and harder to recover.

If you sprain something or pull something or break something, the down time can be excruciatingly long.

A fine example occurred last September. I was wade fishing for steel-

head on the Kispiox River in British Columbia. Steelheads are sea-run rainbow trout, and the rugged, remote Kispiox is famed for producing a strain of exceptionally large fish. The fly angler has a legitimate shot at a worldclass fish in the 20-plus pound class.

I shuffled across the rocky thighdeep flow and flicked out a cast with a seven-weight switch rod. The line surged tight, and a huge buck steelhead came straight out of the water.

The scarlet-slashed fish made two broadside jumps, giving me an eye-

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ful—25 pounds!—then swapped ends and raced downstream.

Backing line tore from the reel as I scrambled across the flow in a frantic dash to follow the fish. I charged across a narrow chest-deep side channel, shipping water over the wader bib.

I reached the bank and ran flat-out, stumbling and fumbling over jumbles of boulders as the line curved 100 yards down through a chute of whitewater. Somewhere during the frantic obstacle course I wrenched my right knee and pulled my lower back.

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I was wearing a heavy wool sweater and began overheating and hyperventilating.

About 400 yards down the river the tired steelhead finally eased into the shallows, where the following guide was able to “tail” it.

The “CPR” (Catch, Photo, Release) image shows me hoisting the largest steelhead I’ll most likely ever catch, but I was the one potentially in need of real CPR. I fell to my knees and pulled off the heavy sweater and truly worried that a stroke might be imminent.

I suppose I won the fight, but the massive steelhead won the war. The fish put me in bed most of the next day— utterly whipped.

The knee required three months of physical therapy and I still have recurring bouts with the back muscles.

But sometimes outdoors, where timeouts do not exist, you do what you have to do and hope nothing blows.

All things else aside, the loss of flexibility is a frequent result of the ever-turning calendar. A reminder of this occurred during last fall’s dove season. I dropped a mourner on the far side of a four-strand barbed-wire fence and, with no dog handy, had no choice but to retrieve the bird myself. No big deal, I thought, recalling my celebrated “cat-like reflexes.”

I placed the Model 12 on the ground and approached the fence alongside one of the posts. A firm hand gripped the post and a confident boot stepped on the first taut wire.

The fence creaked and swayed, somehow becoming very unstable. Shaky balance teetered as “oxen-like reflexes” faltered on the top strand.

I got over the fence without falling or dangling upside down, but the barbed wire cut my wrist and tore the crotch of a perfectly good pair of Carhartt hunting pants.

Fortunately, that’s all that was sliced. I was so unnerved by the lack of coordination in the clutch that I walked 100 yards to a cattle guard to cross back into the grain field.

Waterfowl hunting can be brutal even during prime years. The so-called “golden years” are fraught with fatigue and ripe for disaster. This especially is true in the goo-pie muck of the coastal marshes. I used to joke that if I had not spent my formative years slogging to the back potholes in the deep marsh of the Barrow’s Hunting Preserve, I would be six-foot-six and with a full head of hair.

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miserable drill. After ramrod Joe Lagow’s pre-dawn check-in at the ranch gate, you drove the long cattle levee and parked by the windmill cattle guard. You shouldered your gear and gun and started humping through the graying Anahuac marsh.

And, of course, several hours later you had to stagger back out the same way.

We did it often during school years, using young legs and deep lungs to push as far as we could before tossing short sacks of decoys and hoping ducks routed from nearby prairies would filter in to roost. The Barrow Marsh truly was “no country for old men.”

I was reminded of that grim and mudcaked program this past waterfowl season when I knocked down a gadwall from a marsh pit blind in Louisiana. The bird fell crippled and began swimming across the open water of the big pond. No dog was readily available so I climbed out and started trudging through the knee-deep water.

No problem, I thought, conjuring the long-ago gladiatorial charges beyond Lagow’s gate.

The bottom was soft and each determined step bogged and lurched. The duck kept swimming and I shot twice, three times, but failed to anchor it (unless you hit the tiny head, a swimming duck at 60 or 70 yards is hard to anchor, even with three-inch No. 4 Black Clouds).

I pressed harder, huffing and puffing, and could not close the distance. Each flagging step sank to a knee in the sucking bottom.

The effort increasingly was taxing, even dangerous, and I was forced to quit. I cursed, soaked in sweat and splattered in mud, only to realize there was no option but to retrace the 100-yard ordeal across the pond.

The miserable episode was a cruel reminder. I felt terrible about the duck but was grateful to finally collapse in the blind.

These are three incidents of slowing down that those of you who remember when “Bonanza” was on prime-time Sunday nights might appreciate. The common denominator is “Jeez, I’m just not as tough as I used to be.”

It goes without saying that several of the primary senses begin eroding about the time your hair starts graying and thinning. I am clinically half-deaf (do the math: 60 percent loss in one ear, 40 in the other), and I look good alongside several of my longtime Boomer friends. Incidentally, “Boomer” might be taken literally, as with the repeated discharges of shotguns and rifles. Back in

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1960’s and 1970’s, few shooters paid much attention to hearing protection.

A high-dollar hearing aid makes total sense, but I continue to rebel against the hassle of wearing such a contraption. This, of course, is a stupid stance because impaired hearing can hamper your outdoor program; for example, failing to decipher a hushed voice might be an issue. When faced with a 28-yard Cape buffalo in Zimbabwe’s thick mopani scrub about 10 years ago, I did not promptly heed the Professional Hunter’s whispered directive.

“Eh?” I replied. “What?”

“SHOOT!” Poor hearing certainly can make detecting the approach of nearby wildlife a challenge. This maybe isn’t so important if we’re talking about a chattering squirrel, or maybe a strutting gobbler, but missing a point-blank 800-pound Alaskan brown bear is a different issue.

On several occasions, I’ve had fellow anglers shriek warnings as a lumbering bear pushed and crackled through streamside brush and alders. I mean, sly Mr. Big was right there, maybe 15 or 20 yards away while I concentrated on a cast, oblivious to the noise and nearness behind me.

But these are extreme examples. All things considered, I believe I’m in decent physical condition. Everything seems to work and the routine aches and pains are manageable. A regular workout and stretching program has helped.

On that note, the Boomer might consider getting checked out by a doctor and starting a sensible exercise plan. This takes commitment but the results can help keep you upright. The goal is to have some sort of a reasonable fitness base, so you don’t start virtually on empty during a potential overload “out there.”

Common situations that come to mind are a prolonged wade over soft bottom or a long hike amid rough and irregular terrain.

Either exercise under hot sun only adds to the burnout factor.

Remember, it can be easy to start pushing things beyond comfortable limits when you get caught up in the drama of the experience. And, I don’t care if your mother was Wonder Woman and your father was Tarzan, it becomes harder to cast or shoot with an AARP card in one hand and a Medicare card in the other.

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3/8/16 11:34 AM

Open SEASON

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM :: TF&G Humor Editor

Simultaneous Stalk Cousin and I dropped to our knees and crawled under the fence to find the grass on the other side was full of sand burrs.

The grass behind the bushes on the Breckenridge lease was full of sand burrs.

Cousin yelped at the same time I shrieked like a little girl. We backed up, picked off the stickers, and resumed our sneak across

“ Our prey stopped to whistle, and I saw its head rise above the grass.

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Y EIGHT-YEAR-OLD cousin pointed toward the hay barn. “Let’s shoot that bird.”

I closed the loading port on my BB gun and nodded. “Don’t scare it.”

The field lark worked its way through the grass toward the barn in the autumn chill. Like the hunters we were destined to be, he and I slipped off the porch and used Grandpa’s car for cover. Veterans of such great television series such as Combat and Daniel Boone, we’d learned the art of the Phantom Sneak.

I’ve used it hundreds of times since, sometimes successfully. Once, on my deer lease outside of Breckenridge, Texas, I crawled up on a flock of wild turkeys dusting in the shade.

In 1964 Cousin and I crawled across the mowed yard toward the gas pump Grandpa used to fill his tractors.

But in Breckenridge, I caught glimpse of the flock as they worked along a fence row toward a grove of live oaks.

We rose with our backs against the pump.

Grandpa saw us through the kitchen window.

“You boys don’t be messin’ around over there!”

The Breckenridge turkey chirruped and yelped, talking to each other as they pecked at the ground.

“Shhhh!” I acted like I was shushing Cousin, but I really meant it for Grandpa. I also did the army wave to get him to clam up.

Following the flock, a bug lit on my mustache, almost making me sneeze. I slapped my own face and it flew off, probably to be consumed by the big gobbler I’d targeted.

The field lark wandered across the track to Grandpa’s barn in the tall grass. It disappeared from view.

The Breckenridge flock gathered in the shade and settled in for a while. I dropped to my knees and began to crawl behind several low bushes full of stickers.

the mowed grass and gravel drive leading to the barn.

I backed away from the stickers and picked them out of my hands and knees, then moved to the side to follow a rocky wash.

Once under the gate, Cousin and I creepycrawled on our stomachs toward the tall grass.

Our prey stopped to whistle, and I saw its head rise above the grass.

The wash led to a slight rise toward the resting flock. One hen raised her head and yelped.

We lay on our stomachs, our faces on the ground. “Did it see us?” I whispered.

I kept my head low, hoping a rattlesnake wasn’t using those same rocks to warm up.

Cousin whispered back. “I don’t think so.”

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We resumed our crawl.

I didn’t think the turkey saw me, so I resumed my sneak, keeping several low bushes between myself and the flock.

We made our way up the hill to the edge of the tall grass. Together, Cousin and I sloooowly raised our heads to see where the field lark might be.

I crawled up the incline to within forty yards of where the turkeys were resting. The brush was thick, so I couldn’t see them. I had to raise my head and find the big gobbler.

The hidden field lark made some noise, so we raised higher.

The hidden turkey made some noise, so I raised up on my elbows.

Suddenly, Cousin and I were face to face with a cat that had been stalking the bird.

Only a yard away, its eyes widened and it yowled and leaped.

Suddenly, I was face to face with a bobcat that had been stalking the turkeys. Only a yard away, its eyes widened and it yowled, launching itself straight up in the air, like a hot-air balloon, it went up and up.

Cousin and I leaped to our feet at the same time the bird rocketed skyward. It floated away to settle in the pasture fifty yards away.

I strung a couple of words together and threw myself backward, trying to bring the shotgun to bear at the big cat that shot through the turkey and the flock exploded in all directions.

In seconds, Cousin and I stood there, hearts beating frantically, I thought I was going to have a heart attack in a Breckenridge pasture while the field lark wandered away as if nothing had happened, and the flock of turkeys disappeared into the landscape.

Cousin and I wondered whether to follow or to go back to the truck to change our underwear and debate the lesson I’d learned once again.

I hope I don’t have a refresher course waiting in the wings.

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Texas BOATING

by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

A Good App-titude

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ET’S GET ONE THING straight right up-front: I hate cell phones.

Believe me, I empathize with you folks who think they’re a major distraction from life; that they lead to impolite behavior and social exclusion.

They could in fact be the root of many modern cultural evils. But today’s uberpowerful cell phones are also navigational and safety devices that can come in quite

handy for we boaters. They can help us get where we’re going faster, stay out on the water longer, and as a result, possibly even help us catch more fish.

Most important, they can serve as lifesaving devices in an emergency—if, that is, you have the right apps. Whether you love smart phones or hate ’em, you’ll want to have some or all of these 10 apps on your device.

Apps for Safety BOATUS – The BoatUS app lets you “call” for a tow with a swipe of your finger. If you establish contact in this way, the BoatUS towing service receives your details automatically—the size and type of boat you have, your exact location, what type of safety gear you have onboard, and more. That’s assum-

ing, of course, that you’re a BoatUS member.

And if you’re a Sea Tow fan instead, don’t worry; Sea Tow has a similar app of their own. In both cases, the app is a freebie.

LIGHTNINGFINDER — This app costs $5.99 per year, but if you push it to the limits when you’re out on the water, it could become quite valuable. It not only shows you the location of lightning strikes in real-time, it allows you to set up a distance-based alarm. You want to keep casting until the lightning produced by that storm front is exactly 10 miles away? You’ll get a text, the first time lightning strikes inside your pre-established “fence.”

MORSE SOS – This one’s like the flashlight app that so many people have, but instead of shining non-stop it blinks out an SOS. As a signaling device, the utility is obvious, and this app has already been credited with more than one rescue on the water. Plus, this one’s another freebie for both iOS and Android users.

COAST GUARD – Yes, even the USCG now has its own boating safety app. They remind us never to rely on a cell phone as your primary means of emergency communications on a boat, (of course!) but if you have a cell phone with this app installed onboard you can use it to get their attention in a hurry.

You can also use it to file a float plan, request a USCG Auxiliary safety inspection, check state-by-state boating regs, and more. Yes, this one’s cost-free, too

Apps for Navigation NAVIONICS – This is the stand-by king of all nav apps. It essentially turns your cell phone or tablet into a fully functional chartplotter. Not only does it use Navionics chartography, it also has a community layer with real-world updates from users. The latest advance is SonarChart Live, which can pull depth soundings and GPS position from a fishfinder via WiFi and create realtime chartography updates. Pricing starts at

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Texas BOATING $14.99 but charts for certain areas (outside of the US) cost more. These are also some advanced functions, like auto-routing, which result in additional charges.

PLAN2NAV – C-Map (a Jeppesen company) has their own way to turn your device into a chartplotter. With Plan2Nav ($12.99) you get the basic chartplotting functions, but also aerial photos and diagrams, contour data, and tides and current data.

SHIP FINDER – For most of us, buying a full-blown AIS (automatic identification system) for our boat doesn’t make sense.

But there may still be times when you’d like to know the course and bearing of a ship coming through the bay, or the location of a commercial boat. With Ship Finder you get it, right on your phone, in real time. Ship Finder also shows you data such as the vessel’s speed, name, MMSI number, and more.

Cost is $3.99.

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Assorted Others BOAT RAMPS – Created by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the Boat Ramps app will show you the closest ramp to your current location, or to a destination you want to visit. It lists over 35,000 ramps across the nation, and also has information such as services and phone numbers for marinas. This one’s another freebie.

RADAR NOW/WEATHER UNDERGROUND/WEATHERBUG – There are a ton of weather apps out there, some of which are free and others that carry a fee. Everyone seems to have their favorite— the important thing is just that you have one.

Real-time weather radar, wind forecasts, and sunrise/sunset/tidal information are some of the big benefits.

PRO-KNOT – With this app on your phone, the next time some wise-guy bets you can’t tie

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a Bimini Twist you can prove him wrong— with a little help from your phone, of course.

For the $1.99 cost of this app you can see step-by-step illustrations on how to tie 122 different knots.

If none of these 10 apps does exactly what you want, don’t worry—there’s almost one or three or 50 out there that you’ll find useful.

In fact, there are literally dozens of apps that fall into each of these categories. Just go to the App Store or Google Play, and well, start playing. That said, I can vouch for the usefulness of all the apps included here. They’ve all been around long enough to be tested and vetted, and all are extremely helpful—even if you absolutely, positively hate cell phones.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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The Practical ANGLER

by PAUL BRADSHAW | TF&G Contributing Editor

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CAUGHT MY FIRST LARGEmouth bass on an artificial lure more than three decades ago. Dang, I’m old.

Anyway, I had access to a local farm pond loaded with bass and after borrowing some lures from my dad’s tackle box (I may or may not have asked for permission, the details are a little fuzzy), I took off to see if I could persuade any of the fish to come home with me.

I don’t recall exactly how many bass I caught that day—we’ll just assume it’s a lot since it’s my story, and I can tell it how I want—or how many lures I lost. Let’s just

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will be a test at the end so take notes.

The Jitterbug was created in 1938, and although it has gone

“ So a lure that was invented before most of our parents were born is still in production and still catching fish.

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Dancing the Jitterbug

assume none, because again it’s my story. I do recall that one of the lures I used that day was a Jitterbug, and it worked awesome even though I had no idea what I was doing.

It’s time for a brief history lesson—there

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through a few minor changes it has been in production ever since. I’ll do the math for you. That was 78 years ago.

Interesting facts about 1938: This is the same year the ballpoint pen was invented, and the last time that TCU was named the NCAA football champion by the Associated Press. Use that to impress your friends, unless you’re a TCU fan. Then you’ll probably not want to mention this to anyone.

So a lure that was invented before most of our parents were born is still in production and still catching fish. Kind of makes you feel dumb for spending all that money on every new lure that comes out doesn’t it? It’s OK, I won’t tell your wife how much you’ve spent.

Let’s get to the real point of this article before I get you in trouble. How exactly does one fish a Jitterbug? and what can you do to ILLUSTRATION: TF&G

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this is key.

However, there are times when you want the bait to run slightly to one side or the other in order to stay close to the edge of a grass bed or boat dock. Making it run in a particular direction is as easy as bending the wing on that side down slightly.

Want it to move right?

Bend the right wing down. Want it to move left? Bend the left wing down. When you are done, just bend it back up, and the Jitterbug will run straight again.

Just be careful when you bend it down.

D o n ’ t make it too drastic or it will act like a rudder dragging the bait underwater and make it spin.

Modern baits are great with their holographic graphics and space age designs, but there is something satisfying about fooling a bass with a bait that has been around longer than you’ve been alive.

Email Paul Bradshaw at ContactUs@fishgame.com

make it work better for different situations? Fishing a Jitterbug is easy, you just chunk and wind, very slowly—I mean really slowly. Reel as slow as you can, and then slow down some more. The Jitterbug will spit, pop, and walk its way back to you.

Although a Jitterbug will work just fine straight out of the package, you can tweak it to make it work better. The key to the Jitterbug’s fish catching action is the blade on the nose. Since it’s made out of metal you manipulate it to change the action.

The first tweak to make is to bend the tip of each wing on the blade down slightly. This will make the Jitterbug bounce back and forth slightly more erratically. Be sure to bend the wings down the same amount to make sure it still runs straight. More on this later.

The second adjustment is to bend the back edge of each wing down slightly. This will make the bait ride higher in the water while pushing more water for a larger disturbance.

This will also make more noise to attract more fish if the water is a little bit murky.

Back to the point about bending the tips of the wings down the same amount. If you want the bait to move straight back to you,

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Texas GUNS

by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

Hand Loading Handbooks

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HE FIRST THING YOU NEED to begin reloading is a set of two or three reloading manuals. I prefer those published by Hodgdon, Hornady, Speer, and Nosler. I have found that they are the most dependable when giving loads and velocities.

If you are using Barnes bullets you will need a Barnes manual, also, because Barnes bullets are of completely different construction.

Once you have your manuals, read them from cover to cover. They have a lot of very valuable information on reloading in general and on the specific cartridges you will reload. When you start working up any new load, consult all the manuals to see whether they agree. Often they do not. If not, pick the one with the lowest recommended starting load and work up from there. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Never start with the top load. A blown up gun is not pleasant.

After the reloading manuals, you will need to buy either a starter kit or gather the equipment you will need to start reloading.

At first you will need a press, a powder scale, a loading block to hold the cartridges you are working on, a set of dies for the correct caliber, and a set of brushes to clean and lubricate the inside of the case necks on rifle cartridges.

With these few tools you can begin reloading your own cartridges. I began with just that. I poured my powder into a porcelain bowl and dipped it out with a spoon, to spoon it into the pan on the powder scale.

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there are other gadgets that make it much easier to reload your ammo. I would recommend a powder trickler, a powder measure, a case trimmer, primer pocket cleaning tool, dial caliper, a case chamfering and deburring tool, and a lube pad. A caliper, case trimmer and deburring tool will be mandatory in short order if you are loading rifle ammo, as your rifle cases will lengthen and require trimming.

First thing you do, once you have all your tools, is to set the dies. This is easy when you know how, but can be awfully tricky if you have never done it before. It is, however, well described in most of the reloading manuals, and most dies come with instructions in the box.

After you have your dies set, the first thing is to resize your fired brass. If you are using new unprimed brass, check to see that all the case mouths are nice and round. If you are using fired brass, brush and very, very lightly lubricate the inside of the case —a tiny amount of case lube rubbed on the brush is the best way.

Now lubricate the sides of the case, but not the shoulder, resize it in the resizing die, then check to see whether it is the correct length. It probably won’t be, so separate the cases that are too long and trim them back to proper length, making certain they are all the same length. Differing lengths in a batch of brass will generally not shoot well, and brass that is too long will raise chamber pressure.

Now that you have all your brass trimmed to the right length, deburr the inside and outside of the case mouth, wipe the sizing lubricant from the case (I use an old cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol), and replace the primers.

Be absolutely certain that you do not get any lubricant on the primer, as that can render it inert in a hurry. Now you have cases that are ready to reload with powder and bullets.

Again go to your reloading manuals and choose a powder that balances well with the caliber and bullets you have chosen. For

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instance, I use a 130-grain Speer bullet in my .270, and my favorite powder in this situation is Hodgdon’s H-4831.

Pick the starting load, set your powder scale, and load, say, 10 rounds with the starting load. Then fire the loads, looking for signs of over pressure and accuracy. If you like the performance of the load, and there are no signs of excessive pressure, you can then begin working your way up, loading a half-grain more powder each time—each time looking for signs of too much pressure.

When you get to a point where you get the velocity you desire, record the load and make notes of its performance. Such as: 12/12/15 - .270 Winchester - Model 700 Remington 130-grain Speer Hot-Cor - Winchester brass - CCI 200 primers.

58.0 grains of H-4831 - Over All Length (OAL) 3.350 inches Estimated muzzle velocity 2,850 - no signs of over pressure - accuracy 1.2-inch average for three shots @ 100 yards.

As you progress, you will probably decide you need a chronograph because you will discover that the reloading manuals do not always agree on the velocity a certain load produces.

In fact, it is darned seldom they agree with each other, and even more seldom that the velocity listed in the manual is the same as the actual velocity produced in your rifle.

Each rifle is different. Half the fun is working up loads to find the one your particular rifle likes best. Almost never does a rifle shoot best with factory ammunition.

That’s all for now, but be sure and check next month’s Texas Fish and Game magazine for my article on Advanced Reloading.

If you have any questions you can contact me at the email address below.

Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Industry INSIDER Blue Wave Sets a New Standard

BLUE WAVE BOATS BY PARKS Manufacturing located in Seminole, Oklahoma has an exciting new model that is

have offered us a sneak peak of what they have been up too.

The Pure Bay - RS1 has taken standard equipment and cutting edge hull designs to a whole new level. This project was an accumulation of 3 years of research, development, engineering, design and test-

step reduces the hull’s surface contact with the water which improves efficiency over the entire speed range. This reduction in friction gives the RS1 a leading edge in fuel efficiency and performance.

Kevlar has also been used within the manufacturing process to add further

Development of the RS1 from concept to reality was a three year project for Blue Wave.

Rigorous testing played a critical in the three-year development of the RS1

Assembling the deck and hull.

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ing. The RS1 hull is designed to introduce aerated water under the running surface.

This cushion of air that occurs behind the

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unparalleled strength by using state of the art materials.

The acrylic dash comes standard with PHOTOS: PARKS MFG.

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a Garmin 7610XSV and Wet Sounds Blue Tooth Stealth 6 Speaker Sound Bar flush mounted by the manufacturer.

These components along with the Navigation lights, 3 stage Livewell System, Bilge Pumps and accessory lighting are all driven

by C-Zone’s fully integrated digital network interface and allows touch screen control for the boats switching and display of engine information.

The innovative new option for the Clear Vision fore live well gives the ability to monitor bait or the condition of your catch in the live well from the front deck (and, quite frankly, just looks incredible). Stainless Steel Friction hinges are used through-

lockers with integrated rod racks, anchor box and enormous storage areas that are not only insulated but also feature 1 1/2” drains that are plumbed directly overboard.

The front deck step doubles as an over engineered fish box, correctly named PermaCooler. The PermaCooler can be used as storage, cooler or fish box and has the high density insulation, design and structural integrity that rivals the high end cooler brands.

The rear deck features jump seats with arm rest and are both appointed by personal storage areas on each side with double LED back lit USB ports, cup holders and custom billet aluminum grab

multiple mobile devices at the same time while also keeping their personal effects out of harm’s way. Two additional rear storage boxes keep gear and safety equipment easily accessible and clutter free. The drain through soft matts at the bottom of each storage box and anchor box give your items a great cushion to keep them in place and not banging around. The aft live well has what is considered the perfect size opening, pro air, recirculating pump and a 3” drain.

The bilge area has a dedicated lid for easy pump inspection and access.

Overall length is twenty two feet eight inches with a beam of eight foot six inches. The Pure Bay - RS1 has many

The RS1 hull creates a cushion of air to reduce friction.

Popping the new hull from its mold.

Innovations abound in the RS1.

out which alleviated the need for cables or shocks to keep each lid open.

The front fishing platform has 2 rod

handles that fit flush with the walk around gunnel. These personal storage areas allow your guests to have their own area to charge T E X A S

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Owners Richard and Steven Parks.

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never before seen features and is rated for 300HP.

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Fish and Game GEAR Leupold VX-3i

hunters have the VX-3i zeroed, they can remain confident that it’s good to go.

DESIGNED, MACHINED AND assembled in the United States, the new Leupold VX-3i is designed to deliver a finely balanced optical performance and to help keep hunters in the field longer. More than just light transmission, the Twilight Max light management system balances light across the visible spectrum, leading to a brighter, crisper image. The Twilight Max system also eliminates the washed-out image than can come from direct sunlight.

Leupold’s innovation in light management, the Twilight Max light management system, enhances brightness, color and clarity, especially in low-light conditions.

By balancing the available light across the entire spectrum, the VX-3i allows for enhanced target acquisition, identification and shot placement in diminished light. From the end of the day, to heavy overcast to deep canyons, the Twilight Max light management system will let hunters see, identify and deliver a precise shot on game animals in lowlight settings.

The VX-3i also features an easier-to-turn power selector, with a more aggressive knurl, making adjustments easy to operate, even when wearing heavy gloves. A bold tactile power indicator lets hunters know what magnification the VX-3i is set at, without having to raise their heads.

A new dual spring precision adjustment system provides match-grade accuracy adjustments, while maintaining its in-thefield ruggedness and durability. Once 66 |

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Boss H Drive

BOSS DRIVES, LLC IN SULPHUR, LA is manufacturing a powerful new gear driven surface drive shallow water outboard, the Boss H Drive, with three models to choose from, the H3500, H3700EFI and a high performance model, the H4400. The H3500 and H3700EFI models are powered by a 993 cc Briggs & Stratton Four Stroke VanLeupold VX-3i guard engine.

The H4400 is a High Performance model with a Briggs engine that has been modified by Arkmos Engineering. The H4400 features a 42mm Mikuni Carburetor, Iron Mountain Heads and a Stainless BPS Hi Flow “Q” Muffler. Boss motors are “mud churning, stump grinding, impact balanced beasts” and all models are loaded with exclusive standard features such as Mercury Bravo gears rated for 500 h.p., “on the fly” ForwardNeutral-Reverse, Mercury-built 8,300 lb. Hydraulic Trim, 12” Stainless Big Blade Propellers and a host of other features to help sportsmen get to and from places

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where other outboard motors would dare not go. All BOSS Drive models can now be rigged with an innovative, industry leading remote steering system. Boss motors are available in Standard Paint, Boss Grass and Boss Nat Gear. Visit www. bossdrives.com to locate a dealer near you.

Changing the Way You Buy Optics

TRACT OPTICS IS DOING THINGS differently. Period. As an optics company producing quality binoculars and riflescopes for a reasonable price, we have created a business model that makes the customer’s experience a top priority. The direct to consumer model cuts out the middleman and gives the consumer a higher quality product with a higher value at a price that is hundreds of dollars less then comparable product sold through retail stores. Since TRACT product cannot be found in stores and are only available on our website, we developed the 7 day In-Field Trial for potential cus-

tomTract ers to binocular be able to take their time and experience the product first hand.

“The 7 day In-Field Trial allows you to test a pair of binoculars for a full week at no cost,” said Jon Allen, CoFounder.

“If you like them, keep them. Pretty simple.”

Plus, the TRACT Trust

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Assurance guarantees the functionality of the product for the duration of its lifetime whether you’re the original owner or not.

We believe the customer’s experience is our responsibility.

If it’s binoculars you need, choose between the flagship TORIC or TEKOA workhorse model, both of which come in 8x42 or 10x42 versions.

TRACT’s Ultra High Definition technology is maximized by all of the elements that are part of the optical system, including Extra Low Dispersion Glass, Super High Reflection Dielectric Coated and Phase Correction Coated Prisms, Fully Multicoated Lenses and Prisms. These ingredients in a sleek design and Super-tough rubber armored body make TRACT binoculars easy to pack and extremely durable while producing crystal clear imagery in virtually any lighting situation.

A full line of hunting riflescopes as well as AR caliber specific scopes and rimfire models will be available in May. “I am sure there are people who think we are crazy for trying to start our own company in the already saturated optics market,” said CoFounder Jon LaCorte, “But this is a different kind of company with a different way of doing business and in many ways we think it’s the future of product purchases in America.”

TRACT’s comprehensive, educational website will serve as a resource for the optics community through blogs, videos and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Riflescopes will be available in early 2016.

Visit TractOptics.com to learn more.

McCain Rods and Line Cutterz Join Forces

MCCAIN HIGH PERFORMANCE (MHP) Rods announced it will partner with Texas-based Line Cutterz to offer a complimentary line-cutting ring with every MHP Rod purchased.

Line Cutterz is a sleek, fully-adjustable ring designed to quickly and effortlessly cut through the toughest mono-filament and braided fishing lines like butter. Line Cutterz rings are perfect for offshore and in-shore anglers alike, and make line-cutting

a snap. Users simply hold the lure and line in one hand and slide the eyelet of the lure through the ring’s top, leaving just the right amount of line to ensure the knot will not pull out, then they’re back in action for another cast.

“When every cast counts, you need the right tools at your disposal,” said Morgan McCain of MHP Rods. “MHP Rods are designed from the inside-out to offer serious tools for serious fishermen, and we’re thrilled to partner with the incredible team at Line Cutterz to share this exceptional technology with our customers.”

An Electric Knife Sharpener for Sportsmen

CHEF’SCHOICE UNVEILLED A NEW and innovative electric knife sharpener at the SHOT Show this January. The ruggedly built Chef’sChoice Sportsman Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener Xtreme 317 was developed specifically with the outdoor enthusiast in mind.

The Xtreme 317 electric knife sharp-

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ener is the ultimate sharpening solution for applying hairsplitting sharp edges to virtually all knives, including the heavier, thicker hunting, pocket and tactical knives.

The advanced Xtreme knife guide system is optimized for accurate control of sharpening angles on thick AND thin blades. Eliminating all guesswork, it ensures uniformly sharp edges from tip to bolster on even the thickest of knives. .

Using two sharpening stages, the Xtreme 317 applies a double-bevel, archshaped edge that is stronger and more durable than conventional edges. Stage One uses 100% diamond abrasives for sharpening and honing and Stage two finishes the edge using flexible stropping/polishing disks. This two stage process results in a microscopically flawless polished edge that is superbly sharp and parallel to none.

The Xtreme 317 quickly and easily sharpens both straight edge and serrated blades as well as double-sided and singlesided style knives. It’s ideal for sharpening sports, tactical, household and pocket knives.

The Chef’sChoice Sportsman Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener Xtreme 317 will be available in February 2016 in leading sporting goods, department, cutlery, hardware and specialty stores, mail-order catalogs and online retailers at a suggested retail price of $99.99.

EdgeCraft Corporation, home of Chef’sChoice, offers a complete selection of “field to table” products for game & food preparation. Headquartered in Avondale, PA and marketed in over 70 countries around the world under the Chef’sChoice brand, products are sold in leading department, cutlery, sporting goods, cookware, specialty, commercial food service, hardware stores and mail-order and online stores.

ChefsChoice Sportsman

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SABINE Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Regaining Stability

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EATHER PATTERNS AND conditions become more stable and predictable in April. Here on Sabine Lake that translates into plenty of fishing opportunity with the exception of the intense winds (which will occasionally give you a break) and the possibility of a few severe storms.

It marks the beginning of some muchawaited consistency for putting fish in the ice chest. Young shad, mullet and shrimp will

ride in with the big tides to enjoy their short lives, and the predators won’t be doing any complaining.

With these young baitfish invading the entire system, your odds of having a successful trip are pretty high from the north end of the lake to south of the Causeway Bridge.

Anglers shouldn’t have to work very hard to catch fish in the ship channel.

A good starting point is the LNG plant about a mile south of the Causeway. Bumping plastics off the bottom in about three to seven feet of water usually works well.

Trout, reds and flounders will hang out on this bank because of the abundance of bait and the makeup of the bottom structure.

The trout, flounders and reds move onto the shallow shoreline and stuff themselves full of

mullet, shad, shrimp and crabs.

It is a good idea to keep the boat in about seven feet of water and fan-cast parallel with and toward the bank. Throwing top waters is never a bad idea here. At times some really nice trout are stacked in here and are more than willing to attack a mullet at the top of the water column.

Another proven technique is to rig a soft plastic under a good, loud popping cork such as a Paradise Popper or Cajun Thunder.

Both of these are very cast-friendly and are real attention getters. Rig it with 18-24 inches of leader and give it a couple of pops. I always have one ready to go and all I have to do is open my rod box and take it out.

Dragging a GULP swimming mullet or other curl tail grubs tipped with fresh shrimp does the most damage on flounder. We sometimes catch them as deep as 10 feet, but the most consistent bite is usually from the bank to about four feet deep.

Live mud minnows and finger mullet are also very effective when targeting these tasty flatfish. Keep an eye out for nervous pods of very small shad exploding right on the bank. When you see it, cast on top of them.

Sometimes we see flounders come completely out of the water with them. That’s when you know they’re feeding aggressively.

We work this area over well before continuing south toward Light House Cove and beyond. We continue down the channel, hitting various points. The channel bite gets consistent around mid April and lasts well into the late summer months. This is always a good place to start the day before continuing on your southbound trek.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: North Levy Road SPECIES: Trout, Reds, and Flounder BEST BAITS: Topwaters, soft plastics, live shrimp BEST TIMES: Mornings and evenings

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GALVESTON Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

April Showers? No Thanks — Please?

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T IS HARD TO REMEMBER THE drought Texas suffered through in the recent past, with heavy rain and flooding leading off the news most days.

Although there was a dry spell during the summer of 2015, it was squeezed between two periods of heavy, even excessive rainfall.

Autumn was also very wet, so most rivers and coastal streams hit flood stage.

Luckily, our only real hurricane threat was from a storm in the Pacific that made landfall on the Mexican coast, setting records both for strength and intensity. It resulted in an amazing lack of real damage or loss of human life. Of course, Texas got more rain from this system. Even those who really wanted and needed rain were not prepared to handle it.

With rivers, bayous, and creeks running hard to the Gulf, the bay systems got the flushing they occasionally need. The removal of collected silt and sediment and the toxins they may have carried, along with the water exchange that helps maintain “proper” salinity go a long way towards keeping the bays healthy for all their inhabitants – from shellfish to finfish.

The downside might be off-colored water, but that normally bothers fishermen more than fish. The entire salt water environment exhibits many apparent contradictions, and muddy water is one of them.

For inshore locations, especially, the muddy, off-color water will often be freshwater runoff, and since freshwater is less dense than salt water, it may exist as a top level “layer’, with salt water beneath—and much less murky, maybe even clear.

Of course, this isn’t usually the case during a flood, but it happens more often after the flood currents begin to slow and tidal action works against them. We still won’t

see the salt water “wedge” along the bottom common in drier periods that can extend many miles inland, but it does mean a lure or bait worked a bit deeper might be in water holding more fish.

This is not to say clear, green water should not beckon, in the surf, especially; and April is the month when these conditions become more common.

Coupled with warming currents and active tides – and we hope—with less flooding rainfall, speckled trout begin showing in numbers around jetties and passes, then along the beachfront. This happens before they might be found in the same quantities in the bays and inland streams.

Because the main food source drawing them in is probably a fresh shrimp spawn,

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shrimp should be the go-to bait—or lures that imitate shrimp. It has long been known that larger specks feed mostly on small fish.

Lures designed to emulate mullet, shad, and piggy perch are good bets for targeting a “trophy” spec, but for numbers, go with the shrimp dinner.

Redfish and even flounders, will actually thrive in freshwater, if properly conditioned.

They do not mind an occasional period of muddy, brackish water. For their normal manner of feeding, off color water is probably a benefit, because scent is more important to these hunters than sight.

An active, live bait is still the top tempter, whether mud minnow or finger mullet – we won’t discuss live croakers here, to avoid controversy. A fresh dead bait that releases its juices in the current is almost as good.

Although there are different theories about when and why adult redfish come to the surf —different from my opinion, at least—there WILL be some big reds prowling the guts and bars during April.

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MATAGORDA Area Hotspot Focus :: by MIKE PRICE

Bait Galore

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IND THE BAIT, AND you will find trout, redfish, and flounder,” said Jeremy Wiggins, a long time bay fisherman. I have heard Jeremy and other fishermen and women say the same thing, but I am a kayak fisherman, and my inclination is to head for the backwaters first, even if I see bait in the bay, and that is what I did one morning last April. We were fishing on the west end of West Matagorda Bay where there are several lakes adjacent to the bay.

There were millions and millions of mullet, menhaden, glass minnows and other species of bait fish on the flats in the bay. Eddie Vacek said, “I think I know a good spot to fish in these circumstances, come with me.” I should have opted to go with Eddie and two other fishermen, but I headed for the back lakes in my kayak.

When I got into the lake, I saw a dozen

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redfish with their dorsal fins sticking out of the water and caught one 18-inch red on a Chicken on a Chain Bass Assassin. But I didn’t see any concentrations of baitfish and didn’t catch any more fish.

In the meantime, Eddie, Mike Miller, and Roger Hauck were wade fishing 50 to 100 yards out into the bay among the baitfish, and they were having a banner day. When they returned, their smiles were bigger than their faces as they went on about how many reds, flounders, and trout they had caught.

Starting in March and lasting into May, shrimp, crab, and finfish spawn, and their offspring end up in the estuaries and the bays.

Eddie, Mike and Roger happened upon a massive concentration of these little critters with trout, redfish, and flounders feeding on them. The next day I opted to go wade fishing with Eddie. We went to the same places where they caught fish the previous day. Bait and predator fish were still concentrated over the flats, so I enjoyed a great day of fishing, but thunderstorms were a problem.

The night before our first day on West

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Roger Hauck, Mike Miller and Eddie Vacek on West Matagorda Bay.

Matagorda Bay, a severe thunderstorm with 85 mph winds had blown through. We opted to go even though the weather was unstable.

While fishing on the second day we were standing in the water holding our lightningattracting, graphite rods and looking at a dark mass of clouds. Eddie said, “If the storm is moving toward you, its lightning will be vertical.” It was vertical, and lightning strikes hit the water as the angry storm came toward us.

Fortunately the storm moved on and everyone was OK, but standing in the water when a lightning storm comes over is not a comfortable place to be, and not a good idea.

Be sure to check the weather before you go out in April, a month when severe weather on the bays is possible. The reason that we decided to go on this unstable weather weekend is that Eddie has a cabin, where we knew we would be safe. On the other end of that weather equation, the unstable weather and the abundance of baitfish really stimulated the action. This trip was in late April.

Early April can be challenging because large schools of baitfish may not yet be in the bays. Even so, predators are hungry. If you can find them, you can still have a good day.

My wife and I went to a deep bayou in West Matagorda Bay in early April on a strong incoming tide, and found hungry trout.

Fresh water inflow is always a consideration in West Matagorda Bay. I fished in Maverick Bayou about half way between Matagorda and Port O’Connor, not long after several inches of rain poured muddy PHOTO: MIKE PRICE

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water into the east end of West Matagorda Bay. I only caught two small redfish.

The water was light brown-colored instead of the color I like, trout green. This indicates the presence of fresh water. While fishing, I noticed a white boat with a big black engine speeding west. When I got back to Matagorda Harbor, the fisherman in that boat asked how I had done, and I told him.

He said, “I caught about 40 redfish in that pretty green water west of you.”

When you head for the bays in early April, hunt for baitfish. In middle to late April, you probably will not have to hunt for baitfish because they will be abundant, so look for baitfish being chased by predators. Check the weather and do your best to avoid thunderstorms—and look for trout-green water.

THE BANK BITE CHINQUAPIN feels like a really out of the way place, even though it is no harder to get to than many other bank and kayak fishing locations in Matagorda County.

To get there, turn south off FM 521 onto

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Along with bull reds, jackfish, and stingrays for those who like to fish for them (and I DO), some tarpon will visit the shoreline. Sharks will be common as soon as the surface water temperature range stays in the 70s.

April is the month to really gear up for coastal fishing—if you have not already.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Surf, beachfront piers, jetties and rock groins. Fishing the shorelines of the passes would be considered “surf” FM 262 and then turn right on 237. The distance from 521 to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is 10.3 miles, and you can bank fish in several places on the ICW. Kayak fishers can launch near a bridge nine miles from 521. Stay to the right and

for our purposes.

SPECIES: Trout, redfish and flounders will all be on the menu, along with some sharks and various “panfish.”

BEST BAITS: “Match the hatch” both with baits and with lures. Shrimp and small finfish are most in demand. Live and fresh dead will produce.

BEST TIMES: Because daytime temperatures are moderate to downright pleasant this month, time of day is not as important as tidal movement. Fish more seriously during times of peak movement, either in or out, and take a break during slack tide.

you will get to the channel, which leads to Lake Austin on the left and the ICW on the right after a 15 minute paddle. There is no place to buy bait or anything else in Chinquapin.

3/8/16 10:55 AM

UPPER MID Coast Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. CHRIS MARTIN

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HE APRIL WIND IS GOING TO be the one thing that decides for you where you’re going to fish on any given day along the Texas coast.

That’s why it is so very important for you to learn to fish the existing conditions, and not just fish in a spot simply because you’re familiar with it.

Now that it’s springtime means you’ll benefit from learning about many different places you can fish when the wind decides to blow from many different directions. Over the course of any single week in April, it will not be uncommon for you to see winds blowing from SSE, S, NNW, NNE, ESE, SE, SW, or SSW. In situations like this, it can be very helpful to have previously picked more than one alternative for each of the wind conditions.

It may also be beneficial for you to incorporate additional scouting as you strive to overcome this month’s challenging wind conditions. If possible, spend some extra time out on the water in April looking for shorelines and structure that support favorable fishing conditions in various winds. If you have kept a fishing log over the years, use it. Review your log to remind yourself where you fished successfully in a certain wind.

If a fishing log isn’t available, you can still manage to stay a step ahead by always listening to the weather forecast, then plotting new destinations and alternate locations via your favorite hotspot fishing map or your GPS unit. With many of the days registering winds between 15mph and 30mph, with even stronger gusts, it becomes almost imperative for April anglers to have more than one backup plan when it comes to the wind.

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You should begin noticing more bait in the water.

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A Windy Spawn

bite in the “wind-of-the-day.”

Regardless of where you finally position yourself with regard to the day’s wind, keep in mind that this is April, and that there are a number of changes taking place this month.

One change is that you should now begin noticing much more bait in the water over that of the previous cooler months.

Look for bait that is jumping and flipping out of the water chased by predators. You’ll experience days when the bait appears to be widespread, and then days when the bait

looks to be more concentrated in one general area. One day you’ll find the bait in muddy water along a windward shoreline, and the next day in clear water along a leeward shoreline.

Another change depicted by the onset of April is much warmer air and water temperatures, a characteristic that sets off the biological clock within speckled trout and tells them this is the start of their annual spawning season. This takes place primarily over a hard, sandy bottom structure, and generally means we should also begin seeing a marked increase in the formation of slicks along sandy shorelines as the month progresses. These sandy shorelines are where the heavy female trout carrying eggs will frequent during the spawn. So, always remember to approach such areas very slowly and quietly, always idling your boat upwind of where you want to start wading.

Just before exiting the boat for your first wading session of the day, you may wish to

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share a few springtime rules just before you step out into the water. The first item on the list is the importance for your party to wade at a slow pace. Another is to saturate the immediate area with a number of casts before making any movement—forward or sideways.

A third rule is that you should never move at all once you start catching fish. Every time you move your feet, you create clouds of sand and sediment that can possibly startle the fish.

As to which artificial baits to throw in April, many anglers might recommend working plastic sand eels and plastic tails along a sandy bottom. Fishing these plastics over the sand allows you to reduce the rate of your retrieve compared to fishing over a mud bottom. This is great because bigger female trout like to sit in the area just above the sandy bottom while they are spawning. This can be fun and rewarding. Anyone can learn to work plastic baits along the bottom with just a little practice and some patience.

Top water baits also begin to turn on strong this month. If you haven’t been throwing any of your surface walkers lately, wipe ’em off and get ’em in shape. Next time you’re out on the boat, practice tossing with the wind, across the wind, and into the wind just to get used to it once again.

Now, find some active baitfish along a sandy shoreline and give it your best shot. If you happen into a top water bite where the fish seem to be interested in your lure, but simply aren’t inhaling it, try experimenting with different lures and retrieval speeds.

When you find a combination that works in the area just above the sandy bottom, such as the steady walk-the-dog retrieve, or the “let it sit for a few seconds and just give it a quick twitch, or two” retrieve. Nine out ten times they’ll come right back to it! Good luck to all, and keep grindin’!

Contact Capt. Chris Martin at bayflatslodge@gmail.com or visit bayflatslodge.com

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ROCKPORT Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

The Sixth Sense of Fishing

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WAS ON HALIBUT CHARTER fishing out of Homer Alaska. I was a client on a custom aluminum 30-foot boat built by Silver Streak Boats from Vancouver Island.

It was going to be a rough day, and the three other clients did not have their sea legs.

At least that was my impression before we boarded the boat.

Fed by weather in the Gulf of Alaska, Katchemak Bay where we were fishing was indeed rough with four to six foot waves.

Within 30 minutes the boat captain had his hands full with all three of the other clients hurling their guts out down below deck.

He (the captain) seemed seasoned and experienced but at this point was a bit harried. He didn’t have help this day as his first mate tied one on the night before and couldn’t make the trip (he was hung over).

He quickly noticed I seemed to be quite comfortable and appeared to know my way around a boat and fishing gear. “So you’ve fished these waters before?” he asked.

“No,” I replied, “I am a fishing guide in Texas.”

“Fresh water or salt water?”

“Salt” I replied.

“So you have credentials?”

“Yes, I have a Coast Guard license” I responded.

“How would you like to work for me today?” he pleaded. “I need a first mate, your charter is free and I will pay you. I could really use the help,” he said, pointing to the sick clients below.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Take care of the fishing end, and I will pilot the boat.”

“OK,” I said. It wasn’t rocket science — heavy rods, lots of weight and large circle hooks baited with salmon, herring, and octopus.

“Let the line out ’til it hits the bottom and wait for a bite.”

I used octopus as it seemed tougher to get off the hook than the herring or the salmon, and in the rough conditions this equaled less work. I set the lines/reels out and tried to get the clients focused on fishing, but to little avail.

All three appeared to be down for the count (sea sickness has a tendency to do that). To add insult to injury the fish weren’t biting.

The Capt. came to me, “Anything?” he asked.

“No bites” I replied.

“Look” he said, “if you get a bite catch the fish and put it in the box. You might have to catch their fish for them too.”

“Will do” I said, “but we need to find the fish first!” I quipped.

“No sh…” he mumbled.

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Forty-five minutes later, still no fish. The captain came and sat down next to me and began talking more to him than me. “The fish have been on this shelf in deep water 12 days in a row,” he said quietly. “I have close to 20 thousand dollars in electronics, which say they should be here, but nada! It’s hard to know what to do. “Ever been there?”

“Yes sir” I respectfully replied. “ Get a cup of coffee, relax and see what your instincts tell you.” In sizing him up I could tell this was far from his first day on the water. He was a seasoned veteran probably in his sixties and had forgotten more about halibut fishing than I would ever know.

Twenty minutes later he appeared and told me to reel ‘em up. I had boxed one chicken (a small halibut).

“There is no reason for the fish to be in the inland waters,” he said. “None at all, the water temp is wrong there, the bait is not there, and the depth is just plain wrong to get a good bite going, but I think that’s exactly where they are today” We were under way and after about 10

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Focus: ROCKPORT miles went from 200 feet of water to 30 feet.

The inland waters were protected from the waves, so not only did the fish bite but two of the clients actually caught their own limit.

What prompted this halibut captain to change his game plan? Instinct? ESP? Desperation? A sixth sense?

I was in Carlos Bay with clients. We were drift fishing for trout taking advantage of a light south wind, and after repeated drifts we had a pretty nice box of the speckled wonders.

I was focused on re-positioning the boat when a feeling came over me that something wasn’t quite right. I quickly checked the mechanics of the boat and all the gear, but all was good. Still, the feeling persisted.

The feeling was so strong I no longer could hear my clients talking to me. What the heck was going on? I scanned the waters around us, and I saw something was out of place far to the east.

My client said “WOW.... that’s a big wave!”

“Reel up!” I hollered “and sit down!”

I fired the Mercury up. Luckily we were not on anchor. A pile of waves was coming at us about 3/4 of a mile out on Mesquite Bay. Straight-line winds pushed by a squall line thunderstorm had dipped down out of the upper atmosphere and were roaring toward us. The winds were in excess of 70 mph and were pushing waves in excess of four to six feet.

Luckily we made the west side of Dunham Island when the wind hit and were able to get ashore while the wind and storm tore items from the island and blew them over our heads.

So what cued me to this storm? Instinct?

ESP? A sixth sense?

How about this one: The croaker bite had been incredible with quick limits in just a few hours. This had been going for almost a month. I was readying my boat in the wee hours of the morning and a feeling came over me to leave the croaker rigs at home and throw soft plastics.

“This is truly insane,” I said to myself as I drove to the boat ramp. “I must just be lazy and not want to make the drive for bait today.” Yet I knew it was more than that.

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Whatever IT WAS, my common sense was being overruled. The first cast set the stage for an incredible day of fishing. I looked like a hero back at the dock as the croaker fishermen had all but zeroed out.

What was it that prompted me to make such a decision? Instinct? ESP? A sixth sense?

Laziness?

And yet another: A fellow guide had booked trips 15 days in a row, and he thanked God because he needed the money.

After two of the fifteen days, while pulling his boat out of the water, he got this uncomfortable feeling he should not go out the next day.

At home that evening he kept having the feeling and even told his wife about it. She said, “Listen to your inner voice, and maybe there’s a reason.”

“Aw,” he huffed “I’m tired.”

The next afternoon he didn’t show up at the dock from his trip. After a long night and most of the next day he and his clients were found dehydrated and worn out from exposure but otherwise okay.

When I talked to him later he simply said, “Something told me not to go out. I knew something was wrong or missing.” He forgot to put oil in his two-stroke engine, and his alarm had not gone off. His motor burned up, causing him and his clients to spend almost 40 hours in the elements out on the water.

I could go on and on about experiences like these, but more than likely you know what I’m talking about. Something — an inner voice, a sign, spiritual discernment, an irrepressible thought, or maybe a loved one or friend tells you “to do or not to do” something.

Fish here or fish there — don’t go out today — shrimp instead of mullet — monofilament instead of braid. The list goes on. What is the answer to these seemingly strange anecdotes?

Of course I will try to be balanced; so yes, there is a scientific explanation as well as a spiritual one. We have five physical senses which allow us to experience the world: smell, sight, taste, touch and hearing.

If you are a person of faith you believe and try to see life experiences from a spiritual sense. The hard-core religious community

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scoffs at PURE science and PURE science often doesn’t recognize the spiritual world but rather refers to it as the “subtle world,” (that which is outside the realm of the five senses).

Now consider the human brain and all its capabilities as well as its unknowns. We know the brain has the best storage capability of anything currently in existence. Even the so-called super computer of our day can’t compete.

The brain stores almost everything our five senses experience, even items we are not consciously aware of. The knowledge of our faith is stored there as well, that which we believe and that which we don’t.

Here’s the rub: we have the absolute best memory device known to date in our hard heads, but unlike a mechanical computer recalling data from storage, our memory is triggered in ways we still don’t fully understand.

We’ve learned we remember data from deeply felt experiences or events or even memorable geographic locations, but what about all that other data we’ve stored?

Could it be this sixth sense phenomenon is twofold? Our wonderfully created brain’s ability to recall subconsciously stores data based on input from our five senses AND from input that comes from our subtle/ spiritual side?

If I have lost you here let me explain.

My ability to read the coming of the storm in the above scenario was partly because I had experienced straight-line winds much earlier in my life. My five senses were subconsciously storing and comparing that data to what was happening at the time.

BINGO! My conscious mind was alerted. How about the guide who was stranded with his clients on the water?

He told me he had set the jug of two stroke oil on his boat at the boat ramp the day before with full intention of filling his oil reservoir. But he had gotten distracted and drove off. After the event, he later recalled hearing the gallon of oil hitting the ground beside his boat as he drove off.

Furthermore, this was the second time he had burned a motor up due to lack of oil.

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LOWER Coast Hotspot Focus :: by CALIXTO GONZALES

A Bit of Color

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NCE SPRING REALLY starts kicking into gear in April, business begins to pick up on the Lower Laguna Madre.

Every flats boat that can will be zipping off towards the long flats of Gaswells, or Cullen Bay, or Dunkin’s, or Three Island, or Green Island. Their expressed purpose is to look for schools of hungry speckled trout and redfish that have been playing hide and seek all winter long.

Anglers around Port Mansfield will make the run to the Saucer and Bennie’s for the same reason. The savvy fisherman, or at least the ones reading this, will know that such a long trip isn’t necessary to find good action.

All it takes is a short jaunt to a really productive, but under fished, spot.

The color change that forms where the grass flats near he South Padre Island Convention Center meets up with the sand and spoils of the ICW is an excellent springtime fishing spot.

Speckled trout and redfish both use the change in water clarity—which switches from gin-clear to “trout green” so abruptly that a sharply defined boundary is formed—as cover to ambush prey. The color change also provides fish with a safety zone they can easily retreat to when they are cruising the grass flats.

A great feature about the color change is that it is a short hop from Jim’s Pier, or any other marina where you put in. It isn’t difficult to find, because there aren’t any obscure landmarks you have to remember. If the bite is on, as it often is in April, you don’t have to burn more gas looking for a more productive area.

The ease of returning to port also makes the color change a great area to bring children fishing. If they get tired, a short run back, and they’re back in their air-conditioned hotel

room or condo, watching NETFLIX (you might even be able to sneak back for another hour or two of fishing).

The key word when fishing the color change is “slow.” A long slow drift is the most effective strategy to adopt because it allows you to efficiently cover the zone between the clear and sandy water.

Begin your drift just inside of the boundary, and allow the wind to dictate your direction. A straight southerly wind will push you on a parallel with the boundary line, and a southeasterly will create a more perpendicular drift. If the wind is a little stiffer than usual, a drift sock will slow you down to a more efficient speed.

Predators will be feeding mostly on youngof-the year baitfish and shrimp in April, so it’s important that the bait and lures you use reflect that trend. Live shrimp is always going to work.

This is a classic shrimp-and-popping cork scenario. I prefer to fish with a Cajun Thunder or a Bomber Paradise Popper.

The latter of the two has a concave top, which makes a loud “pop” when pulled through the water. When worked, they not only provide the “bloop” of a good popping cork, but the rattles add to the racket and continue to provide sound while the rig is at rest.

Fish key in on the rattle corks more effectively. The Paradise Popper is built on a flexible titanium wire, which means it won’t bend or tangle after extended use, which is a plus.

A 24-inch, 20 pound fluorocarbon leader, #3 split shot and a 2/0 Kahle hook rounds out the popping cork rig. The Kahle hook is much better than the typical treble hook because it is less prone to tearing a fish up.

Mostly, the hook lodges in the top of a fish’s mouth or in the corner of the jaw, making release much easier.

If you don’t want to drop a double sawbuck on a quart of live shrimp, shrimp imitators are just as effective. The main go-to artificial that most coastal fishermen are turning to is the Gulp! 3” Shrimp.

You can fish the tail on a 1/8-ounce jighead, or on the same live shrimp rig. Shrimp T E X A S

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tails are also effective bouncing along the bottom. Fish them slowly with about a two second pause between twitches.

I’ve been experiencing a great deal of success using Gulp’s Ripple Shad underneath my rattle floats. Glow/chartreuse and glow are very effective in the sandy green water of the color change. White/Pepper flake and Rootbeer/chartreuse are effective on sunny days. If fish are moving out onto the grass flats, switch to chartreuse.

To finish off the illusion, liberally slather on a shrimp-flavored scent such as Carolina Lunker Sauce. The scent also leaves a slick behind the bait that trout and redfish will follow.

Shad tails are also very effective around the color change. The throbbing “boot tail” of a Norton Bull minnow, DownSouth Lures shad, or Gulp! Ripple Mullet is an effective fish attractor. If trout are keying on a more subtle action, use a Kelly Wigglers Balltail Shad.

Again, colors such as glow/chartreuse, pearl chartreuse, or the ageless strawberry and whit are the standards you’ll want to load your tackle box with.

Later in the morning when the sun gets higher in the sky, keep an eye out for dark patches of weeds scattered throughout the sandy bottom inside the Color Change.

These clumps of grass offer still another ambush point that speckled trout use when feeding. Cast over or parallel to these patches and work your bait through or by them.

Again, the key word is slow, so make sure your drift doesn’t take you by them too quickly. Don’t discount a clump as being too small. I once caught a 27-inch trout that ambushed my bait from a weed clump the size of a garbage can lid.

A short run, easy location, and good fishing…what more could you want from a fishing spot?

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Texas HOTSPOTS

UPPER COAST

GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes).

Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information specific to your GPS device.

Anahuac Trout Take Refuge

by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Anahuac Refuge Flats GPS: N 29 33.804, W 94 32.374 (29.5634, -94.5396)

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kmr668@yahoo.com TIPS: Favorite colors: To Roberts colors are not as important as presentation.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 29 33.1439, W 94 37.785 (29.5524, -94.6298)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook or One Knocker topwater CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook or One Knocker topwater CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com TIPS: The spring the topwater bite is going to be unbelievable. Roberts starts with Super Spook or a One Knocker. The One Knocker has a different pitch than the Super Spook that everyone throws.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Anahuac Wildlife Refuge GPS: N 29 33.573, W 94 32.266 (29.5596, -94.5378)

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eclipse was happening that day; and many years prior I had a similar experience with my daughters where soft plastic lures were irresistible to the trout.

The evening before the trip, I had scanned past a heading in the newspaper that an eclipse was to occur the next day — the day of my trip. Upon waking my instinct/ESP/sixth sense was invoked even though it made no logical sense to me at the time.

I have read articles, and even charts and graphs indicating one has to have some “spiritual percentage or level” before a level of six sense can be attained.

Hmmmmmm!

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every rock or with every breath taken, it can be dangerous, misleading and unhealthy.

I think as a person of faith, God or, if you will, a higher power, can and does use this gift, endowment, or capacity to help us in our lives.

Should you choose to go fishing with me, please don’t show with up a crystal ball in hand, as this will conjure up visions of the wicked witch of the east and flying monkeys from the land of OZ. In that case this guide might just decide to stay at home, drink some coffee and eat pancakes (-;

the far reaches of our bays. The croaker bite is just getting started, and even top water lures as well as soft plastics work well, giving many options to the dedicated angler. Fishing tide movement periods this time of year is key to success.

COPANO BAY — Black drum is good just off of Hannibal Point using a silent cork and fresh dead shrimp. Peeling the shrimp is a good tactic here. Some keeper trout are on Lap Reef. Use free-lined croaker or Berkley gulp shrimp on a light jig head.

The mouth of Mission Bay is still a good spot for reds using free-lined finger mullet.

• • • APRIL IS A SETTLING MONTH HERE on the Texas coast. Bait is usually plentiful which brings schools of reds and trout into

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Super Spook or One Knocker topwater CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com TIPS: Walking-the-dog: Speed it up, slow it down, pause, repeat…constantly changing your retrieve until you find what the fish like.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Fat Rat Flats GPS: N 29 32.4289, W 94 31.3609 (29.5405, -94.5227)

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TIPS: “If the trout are coming up and slapping at the topwater, but not getting hooked, I’ll go with a Corky and slow down the retrieve, just under the surface… works about 99 percent of the time.” —Capt. Roberts LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Morgan’s Point GPS: N 29 40.5089, W 94 58.861 (29.6752, -94.9810)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corky CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com TIPS: Roberts believes that color does make a difference when fishing with a Corky. In dark waters he uses a dark colored bait, like an 808, or black/pink.

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Upper San Jacinto Bay GPS: N 29 43.1039, W 95 2.641 (29.7184, -95.0440)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corky CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corky CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com TIPS: Corky colors in fairly clear waters: Roberts normally will use a sparkly pink, or Texas Chicken. In the spring he likes the Texas Chicken a lot.

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Burnett Bay GPS: N 29 46.1136, W 95 3.0425 (29.7686, -95.0507)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com

HOTSPOT FOCUS: ROCKPORT retrieving slowly and set the hook at the slightest tap.

Halfmoon Reef is good for trout using live shrimp or free-lined croaker. The deeper edges are best at mid-day. Some keeper reds and trout may be found on Long Reef using mud minnows or finger mullet on a light Carolina rig.

ST. CHARLES BAY — Good numbers of small trout should be on the west shoreline, with some keepers mixed in the schools.

Finger mullet work well here. It’s also a decent place for an occasional keeper red.

Black drum action is still good in the back parts of Cavasso Creek. The key here is a silent approach and squid or shrimp on a light Carolina rig.

CARLOS BAY — The shoreline of Ballou

Island is a good wade for reds and some keeper trout using soft plastics in morning glory and pepper chartreuse colors. Berkley Jerk shad works well here. Schools of black drum are still frequenting the Cedar Point area. Good choices are peeled shrimp freelined or on a Light Carolina.

MESQUITE BAY — Belden Dugout is a good place for reds using mud minnows or finger mullet free-lined. Roddy Island is good for trout using free-lined croaker.

Some flounders may be found at the mouth of Little Brundrett Lake using live shrimp free-lined or jig heads tipped with squid.

AYERS BAY — Some large black drum hang in this area with cracked crab on a light Carolina rig being a good choice of bait.

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reds using live shrimp under a silent cork.

THE BANK BITE LITTLE BAY is a place that is easily accessible. On high tide it’s a good place to fish finger mullet on a light Carolina rig. New structure has been added here just off the shoreline behind McDonald’s and will eventually hold fish. With a northwest wind, this is a good place to free-line LARGE live shrimp as well. Some nice trout and large reds have been caught here.

Contact Capt. Mac Gable at Mac Attack Guide Service, 512-809-2681, 361-790-9601 captmac@macattackguideservice.com

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Texas HOTSPOTS TIPS: “If I’m drift fishing in deeper water, I will be throwing soft plastics or a live shrimp under a popping cork.” — Capt. Roberts LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Lake GPS: N 29 16.248, W 94 59.538 (29.2708, -94.9923)

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TIPS: “Sometimes I will have my clients freeline a soft plastic with a jig head. On others we will use a popping cork with about an 18-inch leader under the cork. It all depends on the angler’s fishing skills. Both methods will catch fish.” Capt. Critendon LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Cleveland Reef GPS: N 28 39.8329, W 95 51.7009 (28.6639, -95.8617)

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FOR E MAP

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Roberts 281-796-4647 kmr668@yahoo.com TIPS: Try to find a pattern: Watch the birds and the slicks. Look for structure—scattered shell, a lot of little islands, a lot of rocks. You have to spend a lot of time to find the stuff.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: 3 Beacon Reef GPS: N 28 40.767, W 95 53.3779 (28.6795, -95.8896)

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Oyster Reef GPS: N 29 46.198, W 93 54.781 (29.7700, -93.9130)

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FOR E MAP

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Smaller Corky soft body CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: Favorite colors in the new bait is pink and pearl.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: You are normally looking for school-sized trout in the middle of the bay.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/16 oz. jig head CONTACT: Capt. Eddie Hernandez 409-673-3100 www.goldenhookguide.com TIPS: The April trout bite in Sabine lake will be the same as in the other locations along the coast. Key in on shell reefs. Birds and slicks is an added plus.

MIDDLE COAST

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Kilbride Reef GPS: N 28 43.416, W 95 49.992 (28.7236, -95.8332)

Reef Madness at Port Lavaca

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by TOM BEHRENS SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886

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LOCATION: Port Lavaca HOTSPOT: Cadual Reef GPS: N 28 38.107, W 96 19.594 (28.6351, -96.3266) |

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: Look for structure…reefs out in the middle of the bay, spoil banks.

LOCATION: Port Lavaca HOTSPOT: Garrett Reef GPS: N 28 39.814, W 96 22.455 (28.6636, -96.3743)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: On the spoil banks look for subtle structure breaks, such a gaps between the banks.

LOCATION: Port Lavaca HOTSPOT: Lavaca Reefs GPS: N 28 36.274, W 96 36.681 (28.6046, -96.6114)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: Capt. Critendon likes the small DOA shrimp tail, three inches, in pearl/gold flaked. It seems like the bigger soft plastic almost intimidates the trout.

LOCATION: Palacios HOTSPOT: South Shoreline GPS: N 28 33.0649, W 96 8.7769 (28.5511, -96.1463)

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Texas HOTSPOTS (28.6789, -96.2191)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Smaller Corky soft body CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: The new Cork soft body is awesome, says Capt.

Van Critendon. They swallow it half the time. Favorite colors are pink and pearl. Capt. Critendon

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics or Berkley Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: Capt. Critendon recommends starting the day wading close to the shoreline and then moving out to deeper water until you find the fish.

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Mack Reef GPS: N 28 5.2279, W 96 58.6309 (28.0871, -96.9772)

LOCATION: Port O’Connor HOTSPOT: New Half Moon Reef GPS: N 28 33.7999, W 96 14.5309 (28.5633, -96.2422)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/16 oz. jig head CONTACT: Capt. Billie Kocian 361-688-8859 billiekocian@yahoo.com www.sportfishingtexas.com TIPS: The trout should be working over the shell reefs in the bay. Color choice is determined by water quality.

LOCATION: Palacios HOTSPOT: Greeens Bayou GPS: N 28 29.65, W 96 13.5649 (28.4942, -96.2261)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corkies or Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Chad Verburgt 361-463-6545 TIPS: A Berkley Gulp in a pearl color also works great in the clearer water.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Rocky Slough GPS: N 27 9.903, W 97 26.716 (27.1651, -97.4453)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics or Berkley Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: The new Half Moon is close to the coordinates for the old Half Moon Reef.

LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Spalding Reef GPS: N 28 6.2689, W 96 54.4709 (28.1045, -96.9079)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8 jig head CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com TIPS: For wade fishermen, use a 1/8 oz. jig head with a Norton Sand Eel, working sand spots and the rocks.

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Colorado Reds and Specks

by CALIXTO GONZALES and TOM BEHRENS

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Van Critendon 361-648-1886 TIPS: If the water is clear, I like to use a DOA, three-inch soft plastic in a clear or pearl color. Capt.

Critendon LOCATION: Palacios HOTSPOT: Tres Palacios Bay GPS: N 28 40.7329, W 96 13.1479

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corkies or Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Chad Verburgt 361-463-6545 TIPS: Not all structure is visible above the water.

Using your sonar locate well pads that the superstructure has been removed from.

LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Bay Oil Wells and Pads GPS: N 28 2.742, W 96 57.8339 (28.0457, -96.9639)

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LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: Peyton Bay GPS: N 26 26.122, W 97 22.3519 (26.4354, -97.3725)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

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Texas HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 jramosjr@gmail.com TIPS: Bounce the bait off the grass a little. Use a clear 18-20 inch monofilament leader under the cork. Give it two solid pops and let it sit for five or six seconds.

Then move it and repeat the popping.

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: East of Green Island GPS: N 26 23.5379, W 97 19.465 (26.3923, -97.3244)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwater artificials CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com TIPS: End of March, beginning of April is a good bait to catch big trout for wade fishermen.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Cayo de Gruello Bay GPS: N 27 20.686, W 97 40.6602 (27.3448, -97.6777)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 jramosjr@gmail.com TIPS: “If the water is too flat, I don’t want to spook the fish. I toss the cork out and barely pop it.” — Capt.

Ramos LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Pensacal Point Rocks GPS: N 27 16.153, W 97 25.387 (27.2692, -97.4231)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8-jig head CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com

TIPS: “If I have wade fishermen, we will be using soft plastics, working the grass and sand spots and up along the rocks. We will be in the back of de Gruello to get away from all the boat traffic.“ —Capt. Little LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: The Badlands GPS: N 27 18.447, W 97 25.993 (27.3075, -97.4332)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8-jig head CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com TIPS: There’s not much traffic back in here; it’s pretty laid back. You see two or three boats in a day as compared to 20-30 boats.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Alazan Bay GPS: N 27 19.686, W 97 31.249 (27.3281, -97.5208)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or Croaker CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com TIPS: “If anglers don’t know how to fish a topwater, I will switch them over to a popping cork with live shrimp or croaker, depending on what’s available.

Capt. Little’s wife caught a 10 lb. plus trout last year using a popping cork.” — Capt. Ramos LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Badlands South GPS: N 27 17.152, W 97 25.053 (27.2859, -97.4176)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8-jig head CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com TIPS: Fish the different fingers that come into the bay to get away from the boat traffic.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Gaswell Flats GPS: N 26 12.138, W 97 17.8489 (26.2023, -97.2975)

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a popping cork, or without the popping cork. The 1/16 oz. jig head keeps the bait in the water column longer.

You will find bass on beds in the month of April. Fish slow and you will find that trophy bass!

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Three Islands GPS: N 26 16.621, W 97 17.7319 (26.2770, -97.2955)

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Ames Basin and Clinton Lake areas GPS: N 32 42.6059, W 94 5.214 u TAP FOR (32.7101, -94.0869)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics with a 1/8 oz. jig head CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 jramosjr@gmail.com TIPS: Ramos uses the 1/8 oz. jig head so that he can keep the bait in the water column, doesn’t sink as fast.

PINEY WOODS

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 jramosjr@gmail.com TIPS: “In April I would be fishing grass, grass beds for redfish and speckled trout, plus along the spoil banks…all shallow water anywhere from 18 inches to about two feet deep.” —Capt. Ramos LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Horse Island GPS: N 26 20.3539, W 97 20.2489 (26.3392, -97.3375)

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creeks GPS: N 32 50.652, W 95 33.5579 (32.8442, -95.5593)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Texas-rigged watermelon red or green pumpkin baby brush hog, wacky worm in same colors, lizards in the same colors and the Senko type baits.

CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: April is known as the spawn month on Lake Fork. Many different baits will catch those bass in shallow water. Look for protected areas from a north wind and a strong south wind in 1-7 feet deep. You can find this type of areas in Burch, Little Caney and Bell Creek.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Black colored frogs, Texas-rigged Worms in colors of black/blue or junebug CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: The spawn is in full gear in April. I like to throw black colored frogs over the shallow vegetation and around the base of the cypress trees in 1-3 feet of water. Pitching the large Texas rigged worms in 3-5 feet of water around the base of the cypress trees is also a good choice for April. Worm colors of black/ blue or Junebug with a 3/8 to 1/2 oz. weight are good choices for Caddo Lake.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 28.992, W 95 35.064 (30.4832, -95.5844)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 jramosjr@gmail.com TIPS: Ramos likes to use a three-inch Berkley Gulp in different colors, along with a 1/16 oz. jig head under

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Primos Dipping bait CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: Locate stumps lining the river channel edge and tie off in 20 to 25 foot of water. Use a bag of cattle cubes to bring the fish to you. I will dump a half bag of cubes on two different locations and come back to the first, tie up and get my boat back in the same position. Using a spinning reel with a treble hook, an 1/8 ounce egg sinker and a piece of cut sponge wrapped around it; dip it in the bait and drop it to the bottom.

Stay in contact with the bottom raising the bait up and down slowly until I feel some resistance then set the hook. You can catch limits of fish in just a few hours.

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 54.0899, W 95 31.6079 (32.9015, -95.5268)

on mid lake humps 12’-17’ in mid to late April. BANK ACCESS: Bethy Creek Resort

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LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Bear Creek Area GPS: N 31 48.114, W 93 50.7419 (31.8019, -93.8457) SPECIES: White Bass

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Grande Bass AirTail Flash, walking baits, topwater poppers and frogs CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: April on Lake Fork is my favorite time of year.

There is a ton of fish spread out in shallow cover and ready to eat top water lures. Walking baits like the Provoke Bully fished in points get big bites. Topwater poppers and frogs catch them in the cover. If they are not eating topwater lures, a weightless Grande Bass AirTail Flash is the ticket. Rig it with a 3/0 hook weightless and put a rattle in the tail. Cast in shallow grass let sink and slow twitch it back. Hang on!

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: The Pocket GPS: N 30 55.662, W 95 15.0479 (30.9277, -95.2508)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Largemouth Bass: Soft plastics, Charlie’s June Bug large crawfish, 1/4 0z. black blue jigs; White Bass: 1oz. slabs and trolled pet spoons CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Flip lay downs and docks in the Pocket for Largemouth Bass. Cut 1/4 off Charlie’s large crawfish to shorten the bait. Key on the docks close to or in 4’-6’ water. Look for docks with brush piles. In the mornings, fish the sunny side of the Pocket first. April can be a transition month for White Bass and Black Bass on Livingston.

White Bass can be caught in April any where from the creeks and river on the north to the humps in mid and lower lake. Look for the Whites to start stacking up T E X A S

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Texas HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: The White bass will be moving back into the main lake returning from the river after their spawn.

Work the north end river channel sand bars with slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits.

Use your electronics to locate the baitfish and watch for the birds. When you do you will find the Whites. Try to locate a number of schools and rotate fishing those areas so as not to over fish one location. The Whites will remain in those locations unless we have a weather change or the location is over fished.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs with a fly 12-inch above tail spinner or swim bait when they are surfacing or chasing shad.

CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnysguideservice.com TIPS: This area is a shallow sunken Island. This sunken Island is 6 to 9 feet deep. This time of the year many times the white bass will chase shad along the edge of this island. If the fish are surfacing throw a tail spinner or a bright swim bait like a hot spot. If they are still in the area but not surfacing. Run along the edge of this sunken island using your electronics. When you find them A slab and a fly will work well.

LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Bridge GPS: N 32 51.576, W 96 51.378 (32.8596, -96.8563)

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Pelican Flies with the Eagle

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Ridge South of Pelican Island GPS: N 32 53.998, W 97 30.454 (32.9000, -97.5076)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/16th jig in white and chartreuse or black and chartreuse under a 2 inch pegged bobber CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Under the bridge, are all sorts of trees stuck on the pylons. They are sitting anywhere from 5 to 6 foot of water some a bit shallower. The Whataburger side, West, right up against the bank is anywhere from 6 to 9 foot. The east side of the bridge is 2 to 4 foot.

So standing on the west side is best. Under the bridge behind Whataburger is good all day, but night time

from 8 pm-4 am is killer with a 1/16 jig-head white and chartreuse or black and chartreuse, under a 2 inch pegged bobber, but replace the peg with a glow stick.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Main Lake Retaining Walls and Points GPS: N 32 16.3979, W 96 7.7219 u TAP FOR (32.2733, -96.1287)

ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Live Shad CONTACT: Jason Barber (903) 603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Fish a small Carolina rig on the bottom near main lake retaining walls and points.

LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Dam Rocks GPS: N 29 55.05, W 96 44.5559 (29.9175, -96.7426)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fish are spawning around the rocks now. Use slip cork to fish above the rocks. You can also move down the dam all along the rocks. Use a #6 treble hook.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Spillway Point GPS: N 30 37.242, W 96 3.06 (30.6207, -96.0510)

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Texas HOTSPOTS SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows/chartreuse jigs CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fish the large cedar tree on the point. Use a slip cork or fish straight down around trees or rocks.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats and Shallow Wind Blown Banks GPS: N 30 41.904, W 97 22.0559 u TAP FOR (30.6984, -97.3676) ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Blue Catfish and Yellow Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad for Blues and live perch for Yellows CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell (512) 365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Right now the blue catfish are spawning all over the lake. The blues are in shallow timbered areas and windy banks. Fresh shad work for most but a variety of baits will also produce. Lots of fishermen are using jug lines to catch them but rod and reel will also work well. A good bait for jug lines is Zote soap. It is easy to handle and easier to get than shad. I like to use it whenever I put out jug lines. I use Mustad #11/0 circle hooks and blues rarely get off when hooked. Now is also the best time to catch some of the big yellow cats that are plentiful in the lake. The good places for them are up river on trotlines and in the wooded areas at the mouth of the river and Willis Creek. Most use live perch or goldfish to catch these good eating fish.

Good luck and good fishing.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake GPS: N 32 24.327, W 97 44.648 (32.4055, -97.7441)

CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 www.unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Granbury water temperatures are rising into the 70s and the spring spawning patterns continue for many species. The white bass spawn is essentially finished and these fish are returning to the main lake. The weather is heating up and the summer time patterns will be in full force shortly. White bass are good on slabs on or near feeding flats all over the lake. Stripers are on the upper ends but will be moving to the lower ends as the water heats up. Best bait for stripers is live shad fished near channel ledges mid-lake and on the lower ends. When schooling, any shad imitation bait like rattletraps and swimbaits worked through feeding fish will work.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Feeder Creeks GPS: N 33 10.878, W 96 24.9359 (33.1813, -96.4156)

thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Sand Bass will start their migration up north into the feeder creeks to do their spawn. If there is water coming out of the power plant, make sure you stop there first. Otherwise, find windblown banks with rocks. Cohoes and chartreuse slabs should put a couple in the boat. Before they start their migration of feeder creeks, they will start gorging on schools of shad. Check all around the island and around the cut through the island. Use extreme caution cutting through the island. There are severe concrete blocks right in the cut. I suggest taking the extra two minutes and going around the island.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Kickapoo Creek and Chimney Creek Cove GPS: N 32 4.9379, W 95 24.942 u TAP FOR (32.0823, -95.4157) ONLINE MAP

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Cohoe Minnows and chartreuse slabs CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Best lure will be fishing shallow with a black/brown Amber Big Eye Jig, a Shimmy Shaker and the Mr. Twister Comida worm.

CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com

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SPECIES: Striped/White Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs and Mepps spinner baits worked vertically. Chartreuse and silver are producing best.

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Texas HOTSPOTS www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Fishing will be very good in both the north end in Kickapoo Creek and down south in the Chimney Creek cove. Fish the shallow pockets in your creeks and fish very slowly.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: South End GPS: N 33 21.5069, W 97 4.2175 (33.3584, -97.0703)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits, crankbaits CONTACT: Dannie Golden 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: With a warmer winter, April will be a good month to fish for largemouth bass on Ray Roberts. Fish will be spawning and the topwater bite will be on. The

spawning fish will be on the South End of the lake. The fish on the north end of the lake will start to guard fry.

A white buzzbait worked along the grass edges and secondary points in the Northern creeks is a great way to start the day. Squarebill cranks and weightless flukes will continue to get bites. Watermelon flukes and shad colored crankbaits usually fair well. Fish will be starting to relate to the humps and main lake points.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Flats GPS: N 33 22.5834, W 97 3.4896 (33.3764, -97.0582)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Topwaters, swimbaits CONTACT: Dannie Golden 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: The white bass will be getting close to the end of their spawn and be looking to fatten back up. The shad spawn will be starting in April and this is a great time to fill the freezer with fillets. Flats and main lake points are great places to fish for white bass. Some schooling will start to happen on the flats too. A clear Torpedo worked over the top of the schooling fish will get you bit. Also a small swimbait on a 3/16oz jighead will work if you don’t want to mess with treble hooks.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Big Creek East Shoreline GPS: N 30 19.992, W 96 33.882 (30.3332, -96.5647)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait/Crawdad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: This is a windy shore and the shad run shallow.

Use tight line or slip corks and fish close to the weeds.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: The Islands and Willafa Woods GPS: N 33 53.994, W 96 34.554

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: 3/4oz to 1oz Coho Minnows and Sassy Shad jigs in White Glo and Chartreuse CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: In April large schools of stripers are roaming the lake. You can locate stripers on the flats and main lake points in 5’ to 30’ depths. Cast a 3/4oz to 1oz Coho minnow and Sassy Shad jig in White Glo and Chartreuse colors. Mid month, try casting topwater plugs and stick baits on the banks for great topwater action. You can land some egg laden sows that will tip the scales at 20 lbs. April is the beginning of the great spring fishing at Lake Texoma.

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Striper Point GPS: N 31 57.1139, W 97 25.2119 (31.9519, -97.4202)

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SPECIES: Stripers and White Bass BEST BAITS: Swim baits and live shad CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: The big stripers are running shallow. Start early throwing chartreuse swim baits and ripping them back to the boat in 3 to 10 of water. The big sow stripers are up shallow gorging on shad. Small swim baits and Rat’L’Traps will put a lot of white bass in the boat in the same area as well. After the sun comes up, back off and anchor up and use a Carolina rig and cast live gizzard shad up shallow along the grass and hang on!

Big sow stripers are roaming flats and will pick up the bait and run!

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Fisherman’s Point Marina GPS: N 31 56.3699, W 96 7.4459 (31.9395, -96.1241)

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Texas HOTSPOTS u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Crappie, White Bass and Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Crappie: small minnows or jigs, Whites and Hybrids Striper: silver slabs and a blue/ chrome Rat-L-Traps CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: Seems that every Spring is a little different in regard to when the fishing and catching busts wide open! However, I believe April is historically the BEST month of the spring season to catch shoreline spawning Crappie, main lake White Bass and Hybrid Stripers on the Flats! The Crappie will be in shallow water in the many Coves and Creek Tributaries on the lake. Small minnows or jigs fished under a cork and placed beside any structure will work best. Even the bank fishermen can get in on the Crappie action as the two Coves at Fisherman’s Point Marina. The White Bass will be on the Main Lake areas in locations such as the Windsock Point and Pelican Island, and the Hybrid Stripers will normally hold in the 15’ to 25’ off the 309 Flats. For both the Whites and Hybrids, keep a Silver Slab and a Blue/Chrome Rat-L-Trap handy.

LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 1.9499, W 97 35.0519 (31.0325, -97.5842)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Weightless lizards, wacky-rigged Senkos, crankbaits and spinnerbaits CONTACT: Henry Niemiec (254) 368-0294 surestrikeguideservice@yahoo.com TIPS: April can be a tricky time of the year for catching Bass. Early in the month, there is still an opportunity to catch one of the larger female up on the bed, however here in Central Texas for the most part the spawn is almost over. Now is the time to use a weightless Lizard or wacky rigged Senko up shallow around the beds. The smaller males have moved back in to protect the beds and will attack anything that falls on

or close to the bed. Towards the end of the month the Bass will become much more active, feeding early in the morning and towards evening. At this time crankbaits and spinnerbaits will work great. You will want to work the shallows around lay-downs and spawning flats. This is the time of the year to catch more in the way of numbers, rather than size.

PANHANDLE

Stripes and Whites Go Nuts

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Peanut Patch GPS: N 32 53.43, W 98 29.998 (32.8905, -98.5000)

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creeks and Small Coves GPS: N 33 3.456, W 101 4.914 u TAP FOR (33.0576, -101.0819)

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SPECIES: Hybrid, Striped Bass, White Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, RatLTraps, jigs, live shad.

CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: It`s time for most of the fish to be spawned or spawning. Look for Stripers, Hybrids and white bass to be back in the main lake and finished spawning.

So they will be on main lake points and feeding in the mouths of the many coves and sand flats. That is why on a cloudy day the Peanut patch might light up for hours with schooling/feeding fish. You can flatline (troll) crankbaits and RatLTraps this time of month and fish jigs and topwaters, but the best bait is live shad!.

Bait is easy at PK and most of the time you can catch fish right out in front of wherever you get the bait.

LOCATION: Kirby Lake HOTSPOT: Dam GPS: N 32 23.1205, W 99 44.0777 (32.3853, -99.7346)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Live or cut carp, sunfish, punch baits CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.

325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Kirby Lake is a catfishing gem in the Big Country. The reservoir is home to productive blue and flathead catfishes. While winds often blow from the south toward the dam, rigging your line heavy will allow you to cast in the windiest of days. Fishing off the dam can yield a catch of a large fish hanging out in the deeper waters. Cut carp, shad, or sunfish on slip sinker, three-way, or slip bobber rigs work well for landing big blues. However, use of live 3-5 carp or live sunfish works well for landing flatheads. Punch baits, cut shad, and carp also work well for landing smaller fish. Be sure to use heavy test line and round sinkers to avoid getting snagged on the rocks too badly—it’s going to happen.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Soft baits, jigs, weightless Senkos CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: April will find the bass getting ready to spawn.

When the water hits 60 degrees, you will start finding buck bass preparing the bed for the females. When the water hits about 64 degrees, the females will move up on the bed. Find a good flat with water in the 3 to 15 foot depth, and run a soft bait or jig slowly through the bed. This is also a good time to slowly run a weightless Senko type soft bait. To find the bedding bass, you look for the water in the right temperature to have bedding bass. They will spawn first up the creek because that is where you will find the warmest water. The bass will start spawning on the upper end of the lake, and the bass at the dam end of the lake will spawn last where the water is slower to warm up. Hit the small coves first, and hit the larger creeks later.

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Texas HOTSPOTS BIG BEND

Amistad Bass Hit the Highway

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Highway 90 Area GPS: N 29 32.1409, W 101 3.6095 (29.5357, -101.0602)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jerkbaits, swimbaits, spinnerbaits CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com amistadbass.com TIPS: Spawning bass will be in the backs of the creeks everywhere from eight to 25 feet of water. Make long casts and reel the lures slowly. The bass will be very aggressive while spawning.

HILL COUNTRY

Smorgasbord of Canyon Fishing

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Canyon Park Area GPS: N 29 54.0959, W 98 14.1659 (29.9016, -98.2361)

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LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 29 54.468, W 98 17.3759 (29.9078, -98.2896)

www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Water temperature will vary from the mid 60’s to mid 70’s in April. This is the best times of the year to fish shallow. Some bass and crappie will have already spawned while others have not. Those fish will be moving out of the shallows into a little deeper water and scattering out. Look for vegetation, slight breaks, and changes in the bottom constitution.

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake Inlets and Flats GPS: N 30 23.202, W 97 54.816 (30.3867, -97.9136)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass, White Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Radar 10 in chrome blue or chartreuse CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Troll the Luhr-Jensen Radar 10 in the main river channel from the rapids of the river to the mouth of the lake until you locate the fish. Then fish the area of the river you find them in. This is one of my favorite times of year on Canyon Lake, on any cast you may catch a White Bass, Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Crappie or even Catfish.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Picasso Shock Blade mated with a V&M Thunder Shad, V&M Mag Finesse and J-Proz Magnum worms, and V&M Swamp Hog CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 lakeaustinfishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: Typically the last spawners will be in the back of creeks or the shallow flats during April and the post spawners will be gorging just a little bit deeper. I will typically throw the Shock Blade as much as I can until I spot spawners. Then I will load up a V&M Mag Finesse or J-Proz Magnum or Swamp Hog and try to throw in their vicinity as they are typically either feeding or protecting their young. Take advantage of this time to search for schools of big fish as they like to feed together.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Potter’s Creek Park Area GPS: N 29 54.0959, W 98 16.596 (29.9016, -98.2766)

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake Ridges and Humps GPS: N 30 49.374, W 98 23.0279 (30.8229, -98.3838)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Flick Shake, 1/8oz Picasso Shakey

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Head, Trick Worms Zoom Baits, 1/32 Creme Whaky Sticks, Jewel Jig in Texas Craw color, 1/2oz spinnerbaits in white CONTACT: KC’S Bassin’ Guide Service 210-823-2153 kandie@gvtc.com www.kcbassinguide.com TIPS: Fish 5-10 feet deep. Concentrate on backs of creeks as the Bass are on the move where the sun warms the water early. Some Bass may be on the beds during the first part of April. Check the bluff wall on the right after the point. Jig early and the day and remember to jig slow and steady.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Hard plastic jerk baits, soft plastic jerk baits, top-water lures, spinnerbaits, lipless or squarebill crank baits and soft plastics CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net

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Texas HOTSPOTS near ridges and humps. Concentrate on the upper half of the lake from Rocky Point/Chisholm Bay towards Garrett Island.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake Windy Points GPS: N 30 48.1499, W 98 26.0099 (30.8025, -98.4335)

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SOUTH TEXAS

Coleto Crappie Dance to a Jig

by DUSTIN WARNCKE

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures: Zara Spook, Red fin, Long A bomber or Pencil poppers CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: Stripers will be on windy points where shad are running. Fish topwater baits. White bass will be in these areas as well.

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Shallow Areas GPS: N 28 44.4959, W 97 10.8299 (28.7416, -97.1805)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs and crappie niblets in chartreuse

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or small minnows CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: April can be a great time to be on the lake.

Warmer water means more active fish. I get excited about the crappie spawn. I love trolling the shallow water with a crappie jig and long ultra lite rod and reel.

I use 8lb-braided line, preferably white. I troll along the banks and drop it in every nook and cranny. Some prefer minnows with small split shot. The females get up along the banks where the water is a little more clear to hatch their eggs. The reason I use white or other colored line is because I watch my line drop and a lot of times I see the bite before I feel it.

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK APRIL 2016

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Channel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).

T12

T4

T11

T10

T3 T2 T1

T9

TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the upper white boxes on the Calendar Pages. Use the Correction Table below, which is keyed to 23 other tide stations, to adjust low and high tide times.

T8

T13 T7

T6 T17

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE below to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

T15 T16

T5

T14 T18

T19

T20

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine the adjustment from the time shown for GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine the adjustment from the time shown for GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass Jetty Sabine Pass Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass Galveston Bay, S. Jetty Port Bolivar

HIGH -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14

LOW -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06

KEY PLACE HIGH Galveston Channel/Bays T7 Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +3:54 T8 Eagle Point +6:05 T9 Clear Lake +10:21 T10 Morgans Point T11 Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39

LOW +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below.

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species.

AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.

AM & PM MAJOR phases occur when the moon reaches its highest point overhead as well as when it is “underfoot” or at its highest pt on the exact opposite side of the earth from your positoin (or literally under your feet). Most days have two Major Feeding Phases, each lasting about 2 hours.

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influence of the month.

PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 mins to an hr of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these pds will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

PLACE Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, W. Bay Alligator Point, W. Bay Christmas Pt Galveston Pleasure Pier

HIGH +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -1:06

LOW +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:33 +2:31 -1:06

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

PLACE HIGH San Luis Pass -0.09 Freeport Harbor -0:44 Pass Cavallo 0:00 Aransas Pass -0:03 Padre Island (So. End) -0:24 Port Isabel +1:02

LOW -0.09 -1:02 -1:20 -1:31 -1:45 -0:42

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

READING THE GRAPH

Moon l Moon Overhead l Underfoot

Fishing Score Graph

n

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 90 |

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MONDAY

28 Low Tide: FEET

1:12 AM High Tide: 8:44 AM Low Tide: 1:56 PM High Tide: 5:38 PM

TUESDAY

29 Low Tide:

0.30ft.

1.38ft.

1.16ft.

1.25ft.

1:58 AM High Tide: 10:08 AM Low Tide: 3:03 PM High Tide: 5:19 PM

0.31ft.

1.38ft.

1.25ft.

1.27ft.

WEDNESDAY

30 Low Tide:

2:50 AM 0.31ft.

High Tide: 11:46 AM 1.41ft.

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Mar 31 1 Apr Low Tide: 3:48 AM 0.31ft. Low Tide: 4:50 AM High Tide: 12:53 PM 1.45ft.

High Tide: 1:32 PM Low Tide: 7:14 PM High Tide: 9:30 PM

SATURDAY 0.29ft.

1.48ft.

1.25ft.

1.26ft.

2 Low Tide:

5:52 AM High Tide: 1:59 PM Low Tide: 7:17 PM High Tide: 11:51 PM

0.26ft.

1.51ft.

1.16ft.

1.34ft.

SUNDAY

3 Low Tide:

6:51 AM High Tide: 2:23 PM Low Tide: 7:45 PM

0.25ft.

1.52ft.

1.02ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM

5:00 — 7:00 AM

11:00P — 1:00A

11:30P — 1:30A

12:30 — 2:30 AM

1:30 — 3:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 7:34p Moonrise: None Set: 10:29a AM Minor: 9:46a AM Major: 3:34a PM Minor: 10:09p PM Major: 3:57p Moon Overhead: 4:57a Moon Underfoot: 5:20p

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 7:35p Moonrise: 12:14a Set: 11:13a AM Minor: 10:37a AM Major: 4:25a PM Minor: 11:01p PM Major: 4:49p Moon Overhead: 5:44a Moon Underfoot: 6:08p

Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 7:36p Moonrise: 1:05a Set: 12:00p AM Minor: 11:29a AM Major: 5:17a PM Minor: 11:54p PM Major: 5:42p Moon Overhead: 6:33a Moon Underfoot: 6:58p

Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 7:36p Moonrise: 1:55a Set: 12:52p AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:08a PM Minor: 12:21p PM Major: 6:34p Moon Overhead: 7:23a Moon Underfoot: 7:49p

Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 7:37p Moonrise: 2:45a Set: 1:47p AM Minor: 12:46a AM Major: 6:59a PM Minor: 1:12p PM Major: 7:25p Moon Overhead: 8:15a Moon Underfoot: 8:41p

Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 7:37p Moonrise: 3:33a Set: 2:47p AM Minor: 1:35a AM Major: 7:49a PM Minor: 2:02p PM Major: 8:15p Moon Overhead: 9:08a Moon Underfoot: 9:35p

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12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

2:30 — 3:30 AM Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 7:38p Moonrise: 4:19a Set: 3:49p AM Minor: 2:24a AM Major: 8:37a PM Minor: 2:51p PM Major: 9:04p Moon Overhead: 10:02a Moon Underfoot: 10:29p

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

4 High Tide: 1:10 AM FEET

Low Tide: 7:46 AM High Tide: 2:48 PM Low Tide: 8:20 PM

TUESDAY

5 « High Tide: 2:16 AM

1.48ft.

0.26ft.

1.53ft.

0.82ft.

Low Tide: 8:39 AM High Tide: 3:14 PM Low Tide: 9:00 PM

WEDNESDAY

6 « High Tide: 3:17 AM

1.63ft.

0.32ft.

1.53ft.

0.60ft.

THURSDAY

7 l High Tide: 4:17 AM

1.76ft.

0.44ft.

1.53ft.

0.37ft.

Low Tide: 9:31 AM High Tide: 3:42 PM Low Tide: 9:44 PM

1.86ft.

Low Tide: 10:22 AM 0.59ft.

High Tide: 4:11 PM 1.53ft.

Low Tide: 10:29 PM 0.18ft.

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

8 « High Tide: 5:17 AM

9 « High Tide: 6:19 AM

1.92ft.

Low Tide: 11:13 AM 0.78ft.

High Tide: 4:41 PM 1.52ft.

Low Tide: 11:17 PM 0.04ft.

1.92ft.

Low Tide: 12:06 PM 0.96ft.

High Tide: 5:13 PM 1.51ft.

SUNDAY

10 Low Tide:

12:08 AM High Tide: 7:24 AM Low Tide: 1:01 PM High Tide: 5:47 PM

-0.02ft.

1.88ft.

1.13ft.

1.48ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

4:00 — 6:00 AM

5:00 — 7:00 AM

12:00 — 2:00 PM

1:00 — 3:00 PM

1:30 — 3:30 PM

2:30 — 4:30 PM

3:00 — 5:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:03a Set: 7:39p Moonrise: 5:49a Set: 6:00p AM Minor: 4:01a AM Major: 10:14a PM Minor: 4:28p PM Major: 10:42p Moon Overhead: 11:52a Moon Underfoot: None

Sunrise: 7:02a Set: 7:40p Moonrise: 6:33a Set: 7:07p AM Minor: 4:51a AM Major: 11:05a PM Minor: 5:19p PM Major: 11:33p Moon Overhead: 12:47p Moon Underfoot: 12:20a

Sunrise: 7:01a Set: 7:40p Moonrise: 7:18a Set: 8:15p AM Minor: 5:45a AM Major: 11:59a PM Minor: 6:14p PM Major: 12:28p Moon Overhead: 1:44p Moon Underfoot: 1:15a

Sunrise: 7:00a Set: 7:41p Moonrise: 8:05a Set: 9:22p AM Minor: 6:44a AM Major: 12:29a PM Minor: 7:12p PM Major: 12:58p Moon Overhead: 2:41p Moon Underfoot: 2:12a

Sunrise: 6:59a Set: 7:41p Moonrise: 8:53a Set: 10:29p AM Minor: 7:46a AM Major: 1:31a PM Minor: 8:15p PM Major: 2:00p Moon Overhead: 3:39p Moon Underfoot: 3:10a

Sunrise: 6:58a Set: 7:42p Moonrise: 9:44a Set: 11:33p AM Minor: 8:50a AM Major: 2:36a PM Minor: 9:19p PM Major: 3:05p Moon Overhead: 4:37p Moon Underfoot: 4:08a

MOON PHASES

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS Moon l Overhead l Moon Underfoot

MONDAY

11 Low Tide:

1:03 AM High Tide: 8:35 AM Low Tide: 2:05 PM High Tide: 6:25 PM

TUESDAY

Fishing Score Graph

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

12 Low Tide: 2:02 AM

-0.01ft.

1.80ft.

1.25ft.

1.44ft.

0.07ft.

High Tide: 9:54 AM 1.73ft.

Low Tide: 3:30 PM 1.32ft.

High Tide: 7:17 PM 1.39ft.

12a

PRIME TIME

Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 7:38p Moonrise: 5:05a Set: 4:54p AM Minor: 3:12a AM Major: 9:26a PM Minor: 3:39p PM Major: 9:53p Moon Overhead: 10:57a Moon Underfoot: 11:24p

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

6a

13 Low Tide: 3:07 AM

0.19ft.

High Tide: 11:15 AM 1.67ft.

Low Tide: 5:34 PM 1.30ft.

High Tide: 9:08 PM 1.34ft.

n

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

14 º Low Tide: 4:17 AM

0.31ft.

High Tide: 12:25 PM 1.63ft.

Low Tide: 6:50 PM 1.22ft.

High Tide: 11:03 PM 1.35ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

15 Low Tide: 5:29 AM

0.42ft.

High Tide: 1:17 PM 1.59ft.

Low Tide: 7:26 PM 1.12ft.

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

16 17 High Tide: 12:27 AM 1.42ft. High Tide: 1:34 AM Low Tide: 6:36 AM 0.51ft.

High Tide: 1:55 PM 1.56ft.

Low Tide: 7:51 PM 1.00ft.

1.50ft.

Low Tide: 7:34 AM 0.59ft.

High Tide: 2:24 PM 1.53ft.

Low Tide: 8:14 PM 0.87ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

4:30 — 6:30 AM

11:30A — 1:30P

11:30P — 1:30A

12:00 — 2:00 AM

1:00 — 3:00 AM

2:00 — 4:00 AM

10:30A — 12:30P

Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 7:42p Moonrise: 10:38a Set: None AM Minor: 9:55a AM Major: 3:40a PM Minor: 10:24p PM Major: 4:09p Moon Overhead: 5:35p Moon Underfoot: 5:06a

Sunrise: 6:55a Set: 7:43p Moonrise: 11:33a Set: 12:33a AM Minor: 10:57a AM Major: 4:43a PM Minor: 11:25p PM Major: 5:11p Moon Overhead: 6:31p Moon Underfoot: 6:03a

Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 7:44p Moonrise: 12:30p Set: 1:28a AM Minor: 11:55a AM Major: 5:41a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:08p Moon Overhead: 7:25p Moon Underfoot: 6:58a

Sunrise: 6:53a Set: 7:44p Moonrise: 1:26p Set: 2:17a AM Minor: 12:22a AM Major: 6:35a PM Minor: 12:48p PM Major: 7:00p Moon Overhead: 8:16p Moon Underfoot: 7:51a

Sunrise: 6:52a Set: 7:45p Moonrise: 2:22p Set: 3:02a AM Minor: 1:11a AM Major: 7:23a PM Minor: 1:35p PM Major: 7:48p Moon Overhead: 9:04p Moon Underfoot: 8:40a

Sunrise: 6:51a Set: 7:45p Moonrise: 3:16p Set: 3:42a AM Minor: 1:56a AM Major: 8:07a PM Minor: 2:19p PM Major: 8:30p Moon Overhead: 9:50p Moon Underfoot: 9:27a

Sunrise: 6:50a Set: 7:46p Moonrise: 4:09p Set: 4:20a AM Minor: 2:37a AM Major: 8:48a PM Minor: 2:59p PM Major: 9:10p Moon Overhead: 10:34p Moon Underfoot: 10:12a

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

TUESDAY

18 High Tide: 2:30 AM FEET

WEDNESDAY

19 High Tide: 3:19 AM

1.57ft.

Low Tide: 8:24 AM 0.69ft.

High Tide: 2:47 PM 1.51ft.

Low Tide: 8:39 PM 0.73ft.

THURSDAY

20 « High Tide: 4:04 AM

1.63ft.

Low Tide: 9:07 AM 0.78ft.

High Tide: 3:08 PM 1.50ft.

Low Tide: 9:06 PM 0.60ft.

FRIDAY

21 « High Tide: 4:45 AM

1.67ft.

Low Tide: 9:47 AM 0.89ft.

High Tide: 3:28 PM 1.49ft.

Low Tide: 9:36 PM 0.47ft.

22 ¡ High Tide: 5:26 AM

1.70ft.

Low Tide: 10:24 AM 0.99ft.

High Tide: 3:47 PM 1.49ft.

Low Tide: 10:07 PM 0.38ft.

1.72ft.

Low Tide: 11:02 AM 1.09ft.

High Tide: 4:03 PM 1.47ft.

Low Tide: 10:41 PM 0.31ft.

SATURDAY

23 « High Tide: 6:05 AM

1.72ft.

Low Tide: 11:40 AM 1.18ft.

High Tide: 4:15 PM 1.45ft.

Low Tide: 11:16 PM 0.28ft.

SUNDAY

24 « High Tide: 6:46 AM

1.71ft.

Low Tide: 12:21 PM 1.27ft.

High Tide: 4:18 PM 1.42ft.

Low Tide: 11:52 PM 0.28ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

11:30A — 1:30P

12:00 — 2:00 PM

12:30 — 2:30 PM

1:30 — 3:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:49a Set: 7:47p Moonrise: 5:01p Set: 4:55a AM Minor: 3:16a AM Major: 9:27a PM Minor: 3:37p PM Major: 9:48p Moon Overhead: 11:17p Moon Underfoot: 10:56a

Sunrise: 6:48a Set: 7:47p Moonrise: 5:52p Set: 5:29a AM Minor: 3:54a AM Major: 10:05a PM Minor: 4:15p PM Major: 10:26p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:38a

Sunrise: 6:47a Set: 7:48p Moonrise: 6:43p Set: 6:03a AM Minor: 4:33a AM Major: 10:43a PM Minor: 4:54p PM Major: 11:04p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:21p

Sunrise: 6:46a Set: 7:48p Moonrise: 7:35p Set: 6:37a AM Minor: 5:13a AM Major: 11:24a PM Minor: 5:34p PM Major: 11:45p Moon Overhead: 12:42a Moon Underfoot: 1:04p

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T E X A S

6a

PRIME TIME

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6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

7:00 — 9:00 PM

7:30 — 9:30 PM

8:00 — 10:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:45a Set: 7:49p Moonrise: 8:26p Set: 7:13a AM Minor: 5:56a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:18p PM Major: 12:07p Moon Overhead: 1:25a Moon Underfoot: 1:47p

Sunrise: 6:44a Set: 7:50p Moonrise: 9:18p Set: 7:50a AM Minor: 6:42a AM Major: 12:30a PM Minor: 7:04p PM Major: 12:53p Moon Overhead: 2:10a Moon Underfoot: 2:32p

Sunrise: 6:43a Set: 7:50p Moonrise: 10:10p Set: 8:29a AM Minor: 7:30a AM Major: 1:19a PM Minor: 7:53p PM Major: 1:42p Moon Overhead: 2:55a Moon Underfoot: 3:18p

G A M E ®

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MONDAY

TUESDAY

25 High Tide: 7:31 AM

WEDNESDAY

26 27 Low Tide: 12:32 AM 0.30ft. Low Tide: 1:15 AM

1.69ft.

Low Tide: 1:06 PM 1.35ft.

High Tide: 4:12 PM 1.42ft.

High Tide: 8:24 AM 1.67ft.

Low Tide: 2:07 PM 1.41ft.

High Tide: 3:58 PM 1.42ft.

FEET

0.34ft.

High Tide: 9:28 AM 1.65ft.

THURSDAY

28 Low Tide: 2:06 AM

0.38ft.

High Tide: 10:40 AM 1.64ft.

FRIDAY

29 » Low Tide: 3:04 AM

0.43ft.

High Tide: 11:38 AM 1.64ft.

SATURDAY

30 Low Tide: 4:08 AM

0.48ft.

High Tide: 12:17 PM 1.64ft.

Low Tide: 6:21 PM 1.23ft.

High Tide: 10:19 PM 1.32ft.

SUNDAY

1 May Low Tide: 5:15 AM

0.53ft.

High Tide: 12:48 PM 1.63ft.

Low Tide: 6:43 PM 1.05ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

8:00 — 10:00 PM

8:30 — 10:30 PM

9:00 — 11:00 PM

5:00 — 7:00 AM

12:00 — 2:00 AM

12:30 — 2:30 AM

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:42a Set: 7:51p Moonrise: 11:01p Set: 9:11a AM Minor: 8:21a AM Major: 2:10a PM Minor: 8:45p PM Major: 2:33p Moon Overhead: 3:42a Moon Underfoot: 4:05p

Sunrise: 6:41a Set: 7:51p Moonrise: 11:51p Set: 9:57a AM Minor: 9:15a AM Major: 3:02a PM Minor: 9:39p PM Major: 3:27p Moon Overhead: 4:29a Moon Underfoot: 4:54p

Sunrise: 6:40a Set: 7:52p Moonrise: None Set: 10:46a AM Minor: 10:09a AM Major: 3:56a PM Minor: 10:34p PM Major: 4:21p Moon Overhead: 5:19a Moon Underfoot: 5:44p

Sunrise: 6:39a Set: 7:53p Moonrise: 12:40a Set: 11:39a AM Minor: 11:03a AM Major: 4:51a PM Minor: 11:29p PM Major: 5:16p Moon Overhead: 6:09a Moon Underfoot: 6:34p

Sunrise: 6:39a Set: 7:53p Moonrise: 1:27a Set: 12:35p AM Minor: 11:57a AM Major: 5:44a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:10p Moon Overhead: 7:00a Moon Underfoot: 7:26p

Sunrise: 6:38a Set: 7:54p Moonrise: 2:13a Set: 1:34p AM Minor: 12:23a AM Major: 6:36a PM Minor: 12:49p PM Major: 7:02p Moon Overhead: 7:52a Moon Underfoot: 8:18p

Sunrise: 6:37a Set: 7:55p Moonrise: 2:57a Set: 2:36p AM Minor: 1:13a AM Major: 7:27a PM Minor: 1:40p PM Major: 7:53p Moon Overhead: 8:44a Moon Underfoot: 9:11p

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3/17/16 10:46 AM

Texas TASTED

by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Cajun-Style Venison Meatloaf

M

PREPARATION 1. Preheat the oven to 375F. In a medium sized bowl, mix the onion, celery, bell pepper, green chilies, garlic, cumin, black pepper, Sweet Chipotle Season All, nutmeg, and Worcestershire sauce.

2. Melt the butter in a heavy 10 inch skillet over moderate heat. Add the above

ered tightly with aluminum foil & stored.

Refrigerate for up to four days. Freeze for up to three months. (Place the covered meatloaf in the freezer. When frozen, remove from the pan, wrap in heavy duty aluminum foil, label and return to freezer) 4. Bake the meatloaf, thawed and uncovered, for 30 minutes covered and 25 minutes uncovered or until nicely browned and pulls

EATLOAF IS A GREAT comfort food and can be made a variety of ways. This recipe is a detachment from the one that mom made, but it’s still really tasty, just a bit spicy. You can substitute ground venison for the beef, but still use the pork shoulder for moisture. The squash casserole is easy to make and goes well with the meatloaf. I hope you enjoy it!

INGREDIENTS 1 medium yellow onion — chopped 1 stalk celery — chopped ½ medium red bell pepper — core, seed, chop 2 green onions – chopped small 1 small can – diced green chiles- tasty and not too hot 1 clove garlic — minced ½ t ground cumin 3 T Texas Gourmet’s Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly ½ t black pepper – finely ground ¼ t nutmeg 2 T Worcestershire sauce 2 T Texas Gourmet’s Sweet Chipotle Season All 2 T unsalted butter ¼ cup canned milk 1 cup bread crumbs — fine, dry 1 lb lean ground beef (or substitute with venison) ½ lb lean ground pork shoulder 2 eggs — slightly beaten

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Cajun-style venison meatloaf with tomato gravy.

vegetable/spice mixture, & cook, uncovered, for 6 minutes, stirring constantly, until the onions & peppers are soft. Remove from the heat and let cool until warm to the touch.

Mix in the milk, ½ of the ketchup, & bread crumbs. (Use your hands to mix well) 3. In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, eggs, and the bread crumb and sautéed vegetable mixture. Pack the meatloaf mixture into a greased, 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining ketchup with the Texas Gourmet’s Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly, then spread over the meatloaf.

At this point the meatloaf can be cov-

T E X A S

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away from the sides of the pan. Allow 10 minutes to rest then slice to desired thickness and serve with mashed potatoes and tomato gravy and squash casserole. Now that is some darn good, and truly delicious cooking!

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

3/17/16 10:46 AM

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www.FishandGameGear.com T E X A S

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WHITETAIL Real County Christy Ogles shot her first Whitetail harvest, a nine-point Hill Country buck while hunting in Real County. The buck was taken with a Browning Eurobolt chambered in .243 Remington, fitted with a Vortex 4-16 scope, and Hornady 95 grain SST bullet.

TURKEY Montague County Caitlyn Carter shot her first turkey last spring in Montague County, using a 20 gauge shotgun. After shooting her turkey, she told her Dad, “I am hooked on hunting.”

REDFISH Galveston Bay Leon Buenger caught and released a nice 28-inch red drum while fishing Yacht Club Reef in Galveston Bay.

SPECKLED TROUT Aransas Pass WHITETAIL Dripping Springs Eleven-yearold Macey Guynes of Wimberley shot her first spike buck at 108 yards with her .243 while hunting with her Dad, Russell, on the Storm Ranch at Dripping Springs.

CATFISH Lake Ray Roberts Bailey McWilliam with a 20-pound catfish caught while striper fishing at Lake Ray Roberts.

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Eight-year-old Addyson Offalter of Aransas Pass caught her first keeper trout on her new pole while fishing with her dad and Grandpa.

F I S H

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3/17/16 10:46 AM

MAIL TO: TFG PHOTOS 1745 Greens Rd, Houston TX 77032

NOTE: Print photos can not be returned.

EMAIL: photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

WHITETAIL

No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

BLACK DRUM

Ozona

Baffin Bay

Eleven-yearold Kaleb Morovsky is all smiles after taking his first deer with a neck shot. Kaleb was hunting in 20-degree weather on his Nanni and Pop’s ranch at Ozona, with his dad, Jeremy, and brother Jaylan.

Brian Villarreal, 15, caught this 36-inch black drum on a recent fishing trip with his dad at Site 55 near Baffin Bay.

REDFISH Galveston Bay Melissa Saucier caught and released this beautiful Red in Galveston Bay with Capt. Ray Saucier.

REDFISH Burnet Bay Duncan Pendleton, 11, of Spring, caught this 27-inch redfish in Burnet Bay.

STRIPED BASS Lake Tawakoni J.R. Solomon caught this striper while drifting with live shad in 32-feet of water, in front of the Dallas Pump Station on lake Tawakoni.

WHITETAIL Sterling City Peyton Pfeiffer shot this big buck while hunting the Purple Heart Ranch near Sterling City.

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