Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX 77267-9946 and at additional mailing offices.
ARDIA NEVES TF&G Editor-in-Chief
Happy Fishing New Year
FOR THOSE OF US OLD
enough to have looked ahead to “ e Year 2000” as a doorway to futuristic wonders, it’s almost surreal to realize we’re now standing at the quarter-century mark of the 2000s.
Yet here we are: Happy 2025!
A er enduring the wild roller coaster that was 2024—hot on the heels of the House of Horrors that was 2020-2023—maybe, just maybe, we’re in for a peaceful stroll through the next twelve months. Hopefully, we’ll avoid any sharp turns, sudden drops, or unexpected loops.
Of course, we have no crystal ball to predict what’s coming economically, politically, or socially. All we can do is cross our ngers and have faith in the resilience of systems that (usually) manage to keep moving forward despite the shenanigans of mere mortals. What we can look forward to, however, with some degree of certainty, is a fantastic year for anglers.
Our intrepid Freshwater Fishing Editor, Ma Williams, kicks o this issue (see page 10) with a feature on three Texas lakes where serious bass anglers have their best shot at landing a double-digit lunker. Despite the long-term drought conditions gripping their region of the state, two of these lakes continue to produce giant catches by the boatload. e broader theme of the piece is clear:
Inside FISH & GAME
freshwater shing in Texas is poised for a boom, thanks in no small part to the dedicated e orts of Texas Parks & Wildlife sheries
biologists.
Texas lakes have earned glowing recogtwo Lone
Texas lakes have earned glowing recognition from B.A.S.S. in recent years, with at least two Lone Star water bodies consistently cracking their Top Ten U.S. Lakes rankings. is reputation is well-deserved, and much of the credit belongs to the state’s investment in freshwater sheries research and hatchery production. Since its opening in 1996, the Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens has been the backbone of the state’s e orts to boost freshwater game sh populations. TPWD hatcheries annually produce more than 7.5 million bass, 1.2 million cat sh, 5.8 million striped and hybrid-striped bass, and a million other species—all destined to replenish reservoirs across Texas.
One standout initiative is the TPWD ShareLunker Program, which saw a banner year in 2024 and is poised to continue that momentum into 2025. Launched in 1986 with the record-breaking catch of Mark Stevenson’s 17.67-pound largemouth— “Ethel,” who gained fame as a resident of the Bass Pro Shops agship store in Spring eld, Missouri—the program has since become legendary.
Initially, the ShareLunker program encouraged anglers to donate bass weighing 13-plus pounds and measuring over 24 inches for breeding purposes. Over the years, the program has expanded, allowing year-round entries in categories for 8-plus- and 10-pluspound sh. ShareLunker bass are temporarily housed at TPWD hatcheries, where they contribute to the production of o spring designed to enhance the size and quality of the state’s largemouth population.
To date, the program has logged 3,854 entries, including 668 certi ed “Legacy” sh—those 13-plus-pounders caught during the January-to-March season. By the time this issue hits the streets, the 2025 season will be well underway, with new entries likely already in the books. Who knows? is could even be the year we see the holy grail: a new state record twenty-pounder.
Drought remains a concern for several major reservoirs across the mid section of Texas, where water levels are perilously low.
Amistad, Falcon, and Choke Canyon are nearing single-digit capacity levels, while lakes in eastern and northern Texas remain near full pool. ese low water levels haven’t necessarily dampened (unintentional pun there, sorry!) shing prospects in the short term. ey o en concentrate sh in smaller areas, making them easier to nd. However, the long-term impact—diminished habitat and reduced forage—could be damaging if drought relief doesn’t arrive.
Returning to the futuristic notion of our opening paragraph, Twenty-First Century technological advancements are transforming the sport of shing for bass—and many other highly targeted species. Forward-facing sonar, supercharged anchoring systems, high-tech trolling motors and pinpoint GPS locking have turned bass shing into something that feels like a live-action video game. ese tools have undoubtedly contributed to the surge in big-bass catches—and underscore how much the sport of shing has evolved.
Meanwhile, on the saltwater side of things, perspectives remain mixed. Conservationminded anglers can appreciate the recent tightening of trout limits and the annual fall ounder closure as necessary steps to protect sh populations. On the other hand, those who see such measures as government overreach might be considering “For Sale” signs for their center consoles.
Our take? Sure—ge ing out on the bay, wading a marsh or shell bed, or just hauling a bait bucket out onto a pier or je y may be less rewarding in the amount of keepers for your freezer—but that experience is still a hell of a lot more enjoyable than si ing around and complaining about “the good old days.”
So here’s to 2025: another year of shing, adapting, and making the most of the waters and opportunities we’re fortunate to have.
Email Ardia at aneves@fishgame.com
Email Roy at rneves@fishgame.com
Thanks, Doug, for the Katy Memories
THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS great article. (Doug Pike’s column, “Pike on the Edge,” November/December 2024 issue) So many great memories I had hunting the Katy/Brookshire rice elds with my dad and brothers.
Like you, when I drive west through those unrecognizable areas, I tell my family of all the waterfowl that would come into that area – snows, specks and Canadian geese along with a variety of ducks. It is because of me sharing those stories they understand why the Katy water tower has painted snow geese or why it has a bronze statue of geese gliding in.
If I didn’t tell them, they would never know why since those birds are no longer welcomed. For years we actively fought the proposed westside airport due to the keeping the fowl safe and protect our passion, but all that is a moot point now –just go ahead and build it.
Mike Poehler
For Joe Doggett
HEY JOE, WAS wade- shing the surf o Follet’s Island and realized a lifetime goal of catching and releasing a tarpon. I’m 70 so it was a long wait. Only 32 inches so my Abu Garcia Black max level-wind was up for it.
A Johnson 3/4 oz gold spoon is my go to since your convincing article from years ago. I’m glad they aren’t extinct anymore in Texas like Rudy Grigar said in his book. Wish I could have looked at it longer, but I freaked out with all the blood in the water and wanted to release it ASAP.
u LETTERS to the EDITOR
:: by TF&G READERS
I thought of you and the “6 feet of chrome” comment in your writings. I always enjoyed your writings going back to the Brister days.
George Layne
Editor: We have a special mini feature on Pike and Dogge in this issue (page 26). It’s ing these were two of the le ers that came in before publication.
Rogue Waves
AS A COASTAL RESIDENT AND regular shermen on the Texas Coast, I am
are handling a high volume of commercial vessels daily. With these large ships come massive waves, or “wake waves,” that can be extremely dangerous, especially in narrow or shallow channels. I have seen them and have been bumped around a few times. e danger isn’t limited to boaters but also to homes and their shorelines are eroding at an accelerated rate due to these waves. And this isn’t just a threat to safety but an environmental hazard. Increased wave activity stirs up sediment and screws up our waters.
Anyway, I read the article and wanted to share my thoughts and remind fellow anglers to be safe when shing around the ship channels.
Gene Thayer
Editor: anks for sharing your opinion on the rogue waves. It is a real issue and the more
deeply concerned about a growing but o en overlooked danger in our ship channels: the waves created by commercial shipping trafc. I saw the article about these waves on the Texas Fish & Game website and wanted to give my opinion.
Texas’ ship channels, like those in Galveston, Corpus Christi, and Port Arthur,
Chester Moore’s Rogue Wave report, originally published in the July/August 2022 issue and available online at www.FishGame.com.
people that speak out the be er in terms of raising awareness-especially of public safety.
Email Your Comments to editor@fishgame.com
ABrave New World
MONTANA MAN HAS BEEN charged and sentenced to six months in prison for tra cking and conspiracy under federal law for cloning a Marco Polo sheep as well as breeding and selling its o spring and DNA across several states, including…you guessed it…Texas.
In addition to his prison sentence, Arthur Schubarth, 81, of Vaughn, Montana, was ordered to pay $24,200 in nes and assessments according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
e Lacey Act prohibits interstate trade in wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of federal or state law.
e Lacey Act also prohibits the interstate sale of wildlife that has been falsely labeled.
Marco Polo sheep are massive wild sheep that can grow to 400 plus pounds and sport horns measuring 65 inches. ey inhabit Central Asia’s Pamir Mountains in Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan and can only be imported as trophies with strict permi ing. at includes a Convention On the Trade Of Endangered Species (CITES) export permit from the country in which it was harvested in addition to a permit from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) for import, possession, and other uses.
Schubarth and ve others labeled in court documents as Persons A-E by federal o cials, were allegedly involved in various activities.
ree persons are from Texas, one from Montana, and another from Minnesota.
Court papers cite the following claims:
“On or about January 25, 2013, Person A entered the United States with biological tissue from a Marco Polo argali sheep that had been hunted in Kyrgyzstan. Person A did not declare the animal parts upon entry.
“On or about January 31, 2013, Schubarth entered into a ‘Cell Storage Agreement’ with a corporation for storage and preservation of the above-referenced tissue from a male ‘Marco Polo’ sheep named ‘Rocky.’
“On or about October 6, 2015, Schubarth
EDITOR’S Notes
entered into an “Ovine Cloning Contract” to clone an unspeci ed number of Marco Polo sheep from the tissue. He provided a deposit of $4,200 for the cloning.
“On or about November 22, 2016, Schubarth received 165 cloned Marco Polo embryos at the Schubarth Ranch.
“On or about May 15, 2017, a pure Marco Polo argali sheep male was born from the cloned embryos, which Schubarth named “Montana Mountain King.”
“Starting in 2018 at the latest, Schubarth harvested semen from M1\.1K in order to inseminate ewes via LAP-AI to create Marco Polo argali hybrid o spring.
Other notes from the case involved sending semen straws from MMK to Texas as well as transferring its o spring to Texas.
Upon sending a list of questions about the case to the Department of Justice, one of their public a airs specialists replied, “ ank you for reaching out. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing nature of the case, we don’t have any comment to pass along at this time.”
e cloning of the Marco Polo sheep, from an as yet undisclosed piece of tissue, represents a signi cant advancement in cloning technology since the successful cloning of Dolly the Sheep, the world’s rst cloned mammal in 1996.
is is the rst signi cant case involving wildlife cloning, and it has potentially large implications across several areas of the wildlife industry beyond this issue with wild sheep.
I’m not saying everything related to cloning and genetic tinkering is bad, but I believe it’s my responsibility to address these issues and raise questions. e existence of a cloned Marco Polo sheep will not likely make any impact on native wildlife in this case.
A er all, the Texas dall is a fertile hybrid of a mou on and domestic stock—albeit done by pu ing male and females in a pen together back in the 1970s—not done in a test tube..
What concerns me is the cloning part.
e fact that someone can clone wildlife and do it across international borders is something we need to at least examine. Perhaps an even bigger potential concern is gene editing. ere are hogs that have had their genes edited to make them immune to the swine u. ey are being sold on the market as of 2024.
And I interviewed someone very high up in the cloning business that described how
:: by CHESTER MOORE, JR. TF&G Editor-in-Chief
gene editing could be used to deal with feral hogs. In theory, scientists could edit genes of a bunch of sows and cause them to only produce boars. Eventually this would cause a population decrease and on island populations could potentially eliminate them in several generations.
I can see animal rights groups salivating at the chance to use such tactics to lessen wildlife populations without killing them.
Would whitetails in some areas be next?
Like I said, I don’t think all of this is bad.
e U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has cloned a black-footed ferret from a cryogenically frozen specimen from the 1980s. It’s living in Colorado today and in fact they have not only cloned ferrets but the ferrets that were cloned have bred.
We need to pay a ention to what’s going on in this arena. ere can be good done like bringing back endangered species like the black-footed ferret or even extinct animals like the thylacine but there are things that raise huge questions about this technology. And Texas will be the epicenter of this since non-indigenous wildlife is not regulated for the most part.
We have entered a new age, and the technology is increasing so quickly, it could get ahead of hunters, shermen and wildlife lovers before we know what’s really going on.
A er all, it was only seven years ago when I predicted these kinds of things would be an issue in 10 years.
I was wrong. It’s already happening in major ways.
Email Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com
DOGGETT at Large
Oopsie, Daisy W
HEN I WAS A KID IN Houston during the mid-50s good old Santa delivered a classic lineup of young-boy presents: a Lionel electric train set, then a Schwinn bicycle, then a Zebco Model 33 spincast reel and a berglass Shakespeare Wonderod.
On my eleventh Christmas I hit the jackpot, a Daisy Model 25 BB gun.
I was convinced the Model 25 with its long trombone pumping arm and spring-fed tubular 50-round magazine was superior to the Red Ryder carbine with its lever-cocking design. e Model 25 shot straighter and hit harder; if you centered a Coke bo le just right, the BB would break the green glass. e Red Ryder looked more “western,” but the projectile usually bounced o .
I loved that air gun and during the next several years ran umpty-thousand BBs through it while plinking in nearby vacant lots and along the wild and uncut banks of Brays Bayou.
e Model 25 nally wore out, but not before teaching me a lot about the elements of proper ri e shooting: sight alignment, breath control and trigger pressure. And the great majority of shots were taken while standing o and, the most challenging position. e lack of noise and recoil were huge allies in edgling marksmanship.
Frankly, I was a be er o and shooter back then than now. You can’t press a trigger that many times and not become reasonably skilled.
About 10 years later, at the Naval O cer Candidate School in Newport, RI, we were required to shoot ri es from the (easiest) prone position at a 100-yard center- re range. We used the old M1 Garand, chambered in .30-06 Spring eld.
We were stationed in a long ring line as the drill instructor paced back and forth. As I recall, each candidate shot two 8-round M1 clips. We banged away with peep sights and the large rectangular paper targets were retrieved.
e o cer candidates were from all over
quate
the country, and shots were sprayed all over the targets. Some missed the entire paper.
Four or ve of my shots were in the bull’seye and the remainder were punched in a fan several inches outside, nothing more than adequate with open sights, but all would have killed or seriously wounded a 100-yard combatant. e DI eyed the target. “Where are you from, o cer candidate?”
“Texas, sir!”
:: by JOE DOGGETT
“Well, that explains it. Carry on.” at was the rst time I had red a heavy center- re ri e, and the mindset and muscle memory from the Model 25 laid the foundation.
Early on, as kids will do, I made some foolish mistakes but understood from the get-go the BB gun was not a toy. It was, in fact, a real gun. I took ownership seriously and tried not to carry it in an unsafe manner or aim it irresponsibly.
Several neighborhood boys owned BB guns, and we o en prowled the bayou banks. Parents did not object. We were outside in the open spaces and enjoying clean exercise, not plo ing trouble with zip guns in some dark alley.
Winter days especially were fun, more as we imagined real hunting. ese were educational forays; for example, the quick splash of a BB near a distant oating object showed the signicance of windage and elevation.
Incidentally, at the sight of a group of armed youths strolling along South MacGregor Way, no one called a SWAT team. For starters, no one knew what a SWAT team was. Times were di erent, a lot di erent, but many of the lessons on handling ri es remain the same.
Most were positive, a few negative. One was bad, seriously bad.
I was thirteen. My parents and I had returned from St. Paul’s Methodist Church and mom was frying Sunday chicken. I was outside, pegging away at a brush pile near the driveway. I was not wearing protective shooting glasses.
Mom called for lunch, and I decided to rapid- re the remaining BBs into the mound of debris. I wailed away, blowing up dust and twigs, guring 10 or 12 rounds remained in the tubular magazine.
About midway through the John Dillinger pumpfest a bronze blur ricocheted back. I can still see it, incoming and curving slightly. e BB struck my le eye. e physical blow dropped me to my knees and made me sick to my stomach. Within seconds the eye was hemorrhaging,
and vision was lost behind a red lm.
So much for Sunday fried chicken.
We rushed to nearby Texas Children’s Hospital and by great fortune coincided with a convention of ophthalmologists at the Houston Medical Center.
e BB struck the white cornea, not the blue iris, and failed to penetrate. Both eyes were taped shut to allow the trauma and swelling to relax. Apparently, blinking the good eye can put involuntary strain on the injured eye.
And I had to remain in the hospital bed for several days, a terrible con nement of darkness and demons and doubts for a 13-year-old kid. Or anybody. I learned that St. Paul’s Church was not the only place for heartfelt prayers.
When the doctor removed the gauze and patches the le eye was watery and blurry. Mom and dad standing bedside were vague silhoue es.
But a er several minutes of swabbing and blinking, the images in the room snapped into sharp focus. I was a young 20/20 gunslinger again, and the wash of relief was overwhelming, one of the profound moments in my life.
Several years ago, su ering from a maudlin case of nostalgia, I bought another Daisy Model 25. It cost about $40, a huge bargain for the memories it delivers. I plink on paper now and then in the walled courtyard of my Houston townhome, good refresher training with cheap ammunition and no noise and no neighbors calling 911.
And you can take it to the nearest bank that I am wearing a pair of protective shooting glasses.
Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@fishgame.com
TF&G Senior Contributing Editor
NGLERS LOOKING TO JOIN THE MEGA BASS CLUB
this year—recording official catches of eight, ten and thirteen-plus pounders—can look to three Texas lakes as the most promising places to apply their efforts: OH Ivie and JB Thomas in West Texas, and the grandpappy of ShareLunker production, Lake Fork in the east. Here is a profile of each
O.H. Ivie
Dalton Smith likes to remember that eventful day back in December 2022 when he joined the budding list of anglers to discover big bass nirvana on Lake O.H. Ivie.
2024 SHARELUNKER GALLERY FROM AROUND THE STATE: TRACY
It was the third shing day following a long journey he and Cole Logston had made to the famed West Texas shery from their home state of Kentucky. Logston had boated an 11 pounder the day before, but Smith hadn’t caught anything bigger than ve pounds. Smith’s luck changed in a really large way on December 30. He landed a pair of O.H. Ivie giants weighing 14.69 and 14.26 pounds less than three hours apart, both on tiny swim baits rigged on spinning gear matched with 15- pound braided line and a thin 8-pound leader. e shing trip made a life-changing impression on the former Dale Hollow shing guide and light tackle specialist. Less than a week later, Smith packed his bags and moved his guiding business to ‘Ivie. He’s been steering others to Texas-sized lunkers ever since.
For those who may not know, ‘Ivie has been the workhorse for Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Toyota Sharelunker program in recent times with 51 Legacy Class entries over 13 pounds over the last four spawning seasons, Jan 1 - March 31. Among them are six Top 50 sh, including two 17 pounders, three 16 pounders and a 15.82 — all caught making casts that likely never would have
the advent of forward-facing sonar technology.
Bassmaster Magazine ranked ‘Ivie as the No. 2 bass lake in America 2024; No. 1 in 2023. If you’re a er a big girl, it’s de nitely a lake you don’t want to overlook in 2025. Smith says there has been talk of the lake’s trophy shery showing signs of decline due to low water and increased competition for food, but he isn’t buying it just yet. He predicts there will be another 10-14 Legacy Lunkers turned in this season. “ e lake is ge ing a lot more pressure than it used to, so it is naturally tougher for the average shermen to catch them than it was a few years ago,” Smith said. “But there are still good numbers of 13-15 pound bass swimming around out here. I know those bigger sh are going to eventually die o , but the good thing is there are a bunch of 10-12 pounders coming up right behind them. e number of 6-7 pounders that are caught that you never hear about is astronomical.”
Perhaps no one is happier with ‘Ivie’s performance in recent times than Lynn Wright, the sheries biologist who oversees the lake for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Wright agreed that ‘Ivie is still holding good num-
‘Ivie is still holding good num- been made prior to 1 2 3 4 5
2 Christian Gladfelter, 10.10 pounds, JB Thomas, August 12 3 Parker Aycock, 10.00 pounds, Lake Fork, March 23 4 Kyle Hall, 15.82 pounds, OH Ivie, March 18 5 Grant Labriola, 10.36 pounds, JB Thomas July 27.
bers of big sh. e bad news, he says, is the reservoir continues to shrink in size due to drought. e lake saw a welcomed rise of about 5 1/2 feet in September, but Wright said it wasn’t enough to bene t much in the long term. e 19,000-acre lake was at 33 percent capacity (about 8,800 surface acres) in late October. Likewise, the competition for food is steadily increasing.
“Fishing is still good, and with the forward facing sonar technology anglers have they may continue to nd the big ones at low water levels for a while,” Wright said. “But looking at my data, growth is slowing down and the sh under 20 inches are getting skinny. e pipeline of bass coming up isn’t owing as fast as it was ve years ago. As those teeners start to fade out due to old age, there are just not going to be as many back lling as there were before. History shows us when the lake gets really low and competition for forage increases, sh growth rates are going to start tailing o . It’s happened before. If the conditions don’t change, I have to think it will do it again.”
Lake J.B. Thomas
Another West Texas lake big bass junkies won’t want to overlook this year is J.B. omas. Located near Snyder, the remote shery caught re in 2023, and it’s been smoking ever since.
rough October, the 7,200-acre lake had produced 97 entries for the Toyota ShareLunker program in 2024 alone. Among them were two Legacy Class sh, six Legend Class (13 pounds plus caught outside the Jan. 1-March 31 spawning window), 44 Elite Class (10 pounds plus) and 45 Lunker Class (eight pounds plus).
Like O.H. Ivie, ‘ omas is starving for water. e lake level did jump about 13 feet in September but was only about 36
percent of full capacity in late October, or 4,160 surface acres.
Fishing guides
Christian Gladfelter and Brandon Burks have enjoyed a wealth of success on ‘ omas. Check out their Facebook pages. It’s gallery a er gallery of lunker largemouths. Both guides are experts with forward-facing sonar. Much of their success is owed to this real-time technology.
Amazingly, Gladfelter steered Lawrence Lee of Tolar to four 13 pounders in 2024, several of them coming at night during the heat of the summer. According to Gladfelter, Lee epitomizes what it takes to be consistently successful catching the big ones on the muddy water reservoir. “Casts and retrieves have to be precision here and Lawrence has it down perfect. e more conventional ways of bass shing just don’t
work here. Most people don’t have very good luck.” Gladfelter pointed out that J.B. omas bass are di erent animals than those in most lakes. “ ese sh aren’t spot oriented to structure,” he said. “ ey just show up in random areas. You might nd an area with a bunch of big ones one day and they’ll be someplace else the next.”
Lake Fork
Lake Fork hasn’t produced a Legacy Lunker since 2021, but the 45-year shery near Quitman is a long way from being all washed up. Bassmaster Magazine ranked it No. 5 in the country last year.
rough October, Fork anglers had reported more Lunker Class sh for 2024 than any other Texas lake — 88 — plus 20 Elite Class sh over 10 pounds. Several of the entries were reported during the Bassmaster Elite Series event held there last spring. e event will forever be remembered as one of greatest big bass slugfests of all-time, as the entire Top 10 earned century belt trophies for cracking the 100-pound mark over four days on 20 bass. e tournament champion, Trey McKinney, reeled
in 130 pounds,15 ounces — just shy of the BASS all-time four day weight record set by Paul Elias in 2008 at Falcon Lake. ough some were shocked by all the heavyweights reeled in by the Elite Series eld, the big bass parade didn’t come as a total surprise to Jake Norman. Norman is the sheries biologist who oversees Fork and several other powerhouse lakes.
e biologist said the Elite Series results con rm what he has been preaching for the past few years — the lake is bristling with bass in the 4-7 pound range. And they should continue stacking on weight. “ ose 4-7 pound sh have obviously kept growing, and I can comfortably say now that the lake is full of 5-9 pound sh,” Norman said. “I have always said Fork is still the best lake in the state — likely the country — to catch multiple sh over eight pounds in one day. You have a be er chance at a true giant other places, but I would still argue there isn’t a water body that can give you multiple 8 pounders and a 35-pound plus bag any day of the year.”
THE TEXAS COAST OFFERS PRIME opportunities for topwater fishing for speckled trout, especially given the unique geography and diverse estuary systems found along its shores.
From the deep marshes of Sabine Lake to the flats of the Lower Laguna Madre, each region along the Texas coast presents distinct challenges and opportunities for targeting trout with topwater lures.
Here are some Texas-specific insights to elevate your topwater fishing game.
Timing
EARLY MORNING & LATE EVENING: Morning and evening hours are particularly productive for trout along the Texas coast. The combination of warm Gulf waters and cooler land temperatures often results in a light onshore breeze at dawn and dusk, which helps keep surface waters cooler—ideal conditions for trout to feed aggressively on top.
SPRING THROUGH EARLY FALL: While speckled trout can be caught all year in Texas, the warmer months from late spring to early fall are peak seasons, as baitfish
Scan to Hear Audio Version q
like mullet and shrimp are more abundant. e active spawning season from May through September also means more aggressive sh, making it a prime time for targeting trout on the surface.
WHAT ABOUT WINTER: As we said, trout can bite year-round on topwaters so don’t give up during winter. Warm a ernoons are best for winter trout shing, especially on incoming tides when warmer Gulf waters enter bay systems.
TIDES & WATER MOVEMENT:
Texas coastal trout tend to favor locations with moderate tidal movements, especially in bays like Galveston and Matagorda. During these tidal shi s, look for areas where freshwater in ows meet saltwater, creating nutrient-rich zones that a ract bait sh and, in turn, speckled trout.
POPPING ACTION FOR ROUGHER
CONDITIONS: Opt for a popper when shing in choppier waters, such as around the je ies in Port O’Connor or the surf near Corpus Christi. e popping sound can a ract trout even in low-visibility waters stirred up by coastal breezes or boat tra c, making it easier for trout to home in on the commotion.
ADJUST FOR TEXAS VARIABILITY:
Texas coastal waters can uctuate in clarity and temperature, a ecting trout behavior. Adjust retrieval speeds and pause lengths according to water clarity: slower retrieves for murkier water and faster, more erratic movements for clearer conditions.
a moving tide for the best results.
MARSH CUTS AND BACK LAKES NEAR THE COASTAL BEND:
Texas’s back lakes and marsh cuts, such as those found in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, provide protected zones teeming with bait sh. Target narrow passes and feeder creeks during tidal changes, as these areas act as natural funnels for trout to ambush prey.
WALK THE DOG IN SHALLOW
FLATS: e Texas coast is home to vast grassy ats, particularly in regions like Rockport and Port Aransas. Walkers excel here, where the trout are o en visible prowling the shallow water. Mimicking a wounded mullet or pin sh with a side-toside “walk” usually triggers explosive strikes.
GRASSY FLATS IN SOUTH TEXAS:
e Lower Laguna Madre, with its extensive seagrass beds and sandy potholes, is ideal for targeting trout in shallow water. Look for areas with a mix of grass and sand pockets where trout lie in ambush.
EAST TX CHANNELS & DROPOFFS:
Areas around Sabine Lake and the Intracoastal Waterway are rich with channels and drop-o s that a ract trout seeking bait sh. Fish these depth transitions during
WALKERS: Best suited to calm days on Texas’s expansive ats or shallow back bays. e sort of zigzag motion of walkers closely resembles Texas bait sh like mullet or pin sh, making it especially e ective when trout are near the surface in calm water.
POPPERS: Poppers are ideal for working areas with surface commotion or rougher water. Use poppers around je ies, the beachfront, or during windy conditions when creating additional noise can be advantageous. Poppers are also highly e ective near marshy areas with muddy bo oms, as the sound can lure trout in low-visibility conditions.
Topwater shing for speckled trout along the Texas coast combines the thrill of the hunt with the reward of explosive strikes, making it one of the most exciting
Warmer months may be more productive, but trout can bite year-round on topwaters.
ways to enjoy Texas’s opportunity-rich coastal waters.
Wake baits, o en used for bass shing, can be surprisingly e ective for targeting speckled trout in coastal waters. ese lures are designed to create a steady wake just below or on the surface, imitating a slow-moving bait sh.
e unique advantage of wake baits lies in their ability to maintain a steady track, unlike walkers or poppers, which require speci c rod movements.
Clockwise from ignore more might sentations. For best
is steady motion makes them ideal for trout,
is steady motion makes them ideal for a racting wary or inactive trout, especially
during warmer days or in calm, shallow waters along grass ats and marsh edges. e lure’s subtle, continuous action can o en draw strikes from trout that
ignore more aggressive topwater preresults, cast long edges, sandbars,
trout o en hunt.
trout o en hunt.
be added sound helps alert trout to its pres-
Wake baits with a ra ling component can be even more enticing, as the added sound helps alert trout to its presence, enhancing your chances of a strike in murky or low-visibility conditions.
top: Walker, Popper, and
Wake Bait.
ROM “FLIPPER” THRILLING FAMILIES ON television in the 1960s to modern-day dolphin encounters at aquariums and resorts, the love affair families have with dolphins is a strong one.
So, when game wardens in Orange County, Texas, found a dead dolphin impaled by a fishing arrow, it sent shockwaves across national media outlets.
A couple of days after the incident, I spoke with the warden on the case. He revealed the type of fishing broadhead used in the incident was only sold at one location in the region, a popular archery shop.
“That has narrowed down our search. We’ll find out who did this,” he said.
Officials did not expect that the perpetrators were two teenage brothers who, while bowfishing, came across a young dolphin that had wandered into freshwater.
So instead of enjoying seeing the beautiful, protected marine mammal and reporting it was in an unusual area, they killed it.
This happened a few miles from my home in 2015 and opened my eyes to a problem few in our industry have discussed other than Texas Fish & Game. We have covered this issue but are taking it to a new level in this feature.
In my opinion, Texas has a teen poaching issue, and we need to address it now.
Killing Cranes and Eagles
Federal officials charged a teen from Jefferson County just 30 miles away for killing two whooping cranes less than a year after the dolphin incident.
A judge ordered the 19-year-old to pay $26,000 in restitution, barred him from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition, and prohibited him from hunting or fishing in the U.S.
Bald eagles have been a high profile target of poaching in recent years.
He also got 200 hours of community service.
Shortly a er this made headlines, I asked a Galveston County game warden if she had noticed any trends in game and sh violations among teenagers. e answer blew me away.
“Yes, they need to stop killing our eagles.”
old Harris County, Texas boy is is not an indictment of teens.
Take, for example, a 17-yearold Harris County, Texas boy who shot a bald eagle near White Oak Bayou. It was one of a pair that actively nested in the area for several years.
What Is Going On?
is is not an indictment of teens. It is not one of those rants we o en hear in our culture like, “ e kids these days are ro en.”
I dedicate much of my life to working with teens. I believe in them and think there are things about the current crop of teens that shows incredible promise for our future.
But this teen poaching thing must be addressed.
And it must start with an admission.
Most, if not all, of these teens, came from hunting families. While we as hunters rightfully denote that poaching and hunting are radically di erent practices, these kids are familiar with game rearms and in several instances, were engaged in legal hunting activities when an opportunity to poach came along.
at means somewhere down the line, we must as a hunting community talk about this issue and nd ways to engage it with them directly.
But we need to ask some questions rst.
How much does parental in uence play into this? ere is no question some of these cases involve a long family line of game law violators.
In a 2015 Leon County poaching spree, Four adults and two juveniles were charged with over 175 state jail felony and Class A misdemeanor wildlife violations. Over a three-month period, they illegally killed at least 68 white-tailed deer and numerous other wildlife species across Leon County. e group used various rearms, including a ri e ed with a silencer, to shoot animals from a motor vehicle on public roadways and private property without landowner consent according to the Associated Press.
In 2023,Texas Parks and Wildlife Game
Teen poaching is becoming a problem in Texas, even threatening protected species such as dolphins and eagles.
Wardens, along with Arkansas Game and Fish Wardens, executed a search warrant in Texarkana connected to a poaching investigation. e case involved a small group of adults and juveniles suspected of wildlife violations in both states.
e following are other factors that need to be examined.
SOCIAL MEDIA NOTORIETY:
In our culture, some of the most famous people are now not those who have accomplished anything but those who have broken laws or done other immoral things and published them on social media.
Is there a link here between social media celebrity and teen poaching?
Texas o cials solved a 2020 Texas case because the teen that poached a deer that was well-known in an o -limits-to-hunting community pasture, bragged about it on Facebook.
THE POWER OF SUGGESTION:
Unfortunately, social media and traditional outdoor media outlets have been a place for dark sentiment regarding wildlife. While we can agree that much of the “green” movement has li le to do with protecting the environment, some of the rhetoric railing against it is quite dark and is hauntingly similar to things we see play out in some of these teen cases.
A few years back, I encountered several people who used social media and at least one traditional outdoors media program to suggest shooting dolphins to cure ailing ounder populations.
“ ey are always out there in the passes ipping those ounder out of the water and eating them, so we should start killing some of the dolphins,” one of them told me in an email.
is idea gained a large enough following to cause me to receive multiple messages advocating for it a er I published an article on ounder conservation issues.
unit.
GAMES: A few years ago, I received a hunting video game to review in the mail. I’m not a gamer, and since it was unsolicited, I did not review it but put it away in a box in our storage
When the dolphin shooting case occurred, I took it out for study. e game had multiple opportunities to kill nongame and even endangered animals
like Bengal tigers.
Some hunting games are ethical with bag limits, seasons, and other aspects of how true hunters conduct themselves. I would even say most hunting games I have looked at are now on the up and up and promote resource stewardship.
But there’s another side to gaming and wildlife. ere are games based on survival and apocalyptic scenarios that have nothing to do with hunting, and killing animals is a key component. is includes many nongame, protected, and endangered species. is makes me come back to the quote from the warden in charge of a Pennsylvania teen poaching case.
“It was almost like a video game for them. ey did it because they were bored, he said.
SOLUTIONS?
ere is a gap somewhere in wildlife education and awareness of the penalties for these wildlife atrocities. Teens have had their lives uprooted by the consequences of these senseless actions. e great news is that there are far more teens engaged in conservation than poaching. And it’s time we highlight them even more in our media outlets.
e Houston Safari Club Foundation’s educational work with Houston area school districts is a shining example.
Teens get to see conservation-centric hunting information and are inspired to give back to our natural resources. And at the next stage, the scholarship program helps connect forward-thinking young people with careers in the world of wildlife management.
Programs like Texas Brigades and others do a great job of instilling conservation awareness as well.
As an industry, we must confront this for the sake of the future of wildlife and our youth.
Last Chance
IT HAPPENED LAST JANUARY,
a er I had spent several days at the 2024 DSC Convention visiting with hunters who, like me, were headed to their deer camps as soon as the festivities completed to nish out their deer season on properties under Texas’ Manage Land Deer Permits. Lands under those approved wildlife management programs can hunt whitetails until the end of February. On our lease in Sterling County out west of San Angelo, I still had buck and doe permits assigned to me that remained to be lled.
I invited Luke Clayton, with whom I have been doing a weekly radio show since 2007 (“Cat sh Radio with Luke Clayton and Friends”, now also a weekly podcast like my “DSC’s Camp res with Larry Weishuhn” on www.outdooraction.com and many other places) and Je Rice. Je , Luke and I do a weekly television series on CarbonTV.com, “A Sportsman’s Life.” I hoped to take a couple of bucks and had asked Je and Luke to help me with my doe quota. We also hoped to get footage to use in our show.
Upon arrival we headed to the range to make certain our ri es were properly sighted-in. I was using two Rossi lever actions (.44 Mag and .30-30 Win), and a new Mossberg Patriot in 7mm PRC topped with a Stealth Vision scope (www.stealthvision.com), shooting appropriate Hornady ammo.
A er dropping o Luke and Je I headed to a blind on the back side of a long stretch of “low country.” I had scarcely sat down when I spo ed three nice, young bucks. Moments later a short-tined, ancient buck stepped out; one to remove. Not because of genetics, but because the forage he would consume if I passed him, could be eaten by one of the younger bucks that had just walked by. I raised my ri e and shot him. en se led back to wait to see what else I might see, hoping for a doe or two.
More bucks showed up at the feeder.
Texas WHITETAILS
Even though the rut was waning, bucks were still dominant. Does, having been bred wanted nothing to do with “pesky” bucks.
Way o in the distance I saw more movement which quickly turned into a huge herd of deer. In near awe I watched seventy-two deer stream by. e closest was unfortunately over 500-yards away. e herd included bucks of all sizes including six of the best bucks I had ever seen on the property, does and fawns. I watched as they ran to the head of the long draw I was on.
I still have no idea what spooked the deer or how they had become such a large herd. I knew western Texas whitetails, typical of the plains, tended to be herd animal. But never outside of several years earlier on the historic Rocker B Ranch in Irion County had I seen
:: by LARRY WEISHUHN TF&G Whitetail Hunting Editor
a 10% fawn survival rate) those same past three years. What is interesting about the lease and a few other places I hunt and manage is I kept record of the sex of 6-month old fawns I observed while hunting. On the lease during the past few years approaching 70% of the fawns I counted during the fall were bucks!
is interestingly goes back to research done years ago on red deer in Europe. It was determined if a hind (doe) goes into the fall breeding season in less than good body condition she tended to produce male o spring. Whereas, if she was in top body condition going into the fall she tended to produce female o spring. In doing observations on numerous ranches I manage as wildlife biologist or where I hunted, this research seems to have validity in whitetails as well.
such large number of whitetails together in one herd.
I hope such a large herd might again form on our lease this January and February.
I related what I saw to Luke and Je when I picked them up. Both had seen numerous deer, all bucks! e feeders where I had put them were apparently too, dominated by bucks.
Why so many bucks? Interestingly for the prior three years the property we lease had experienced a high fawn survival rate near 80%, as opposed to surrounding ranches where they had raised very few fawns (around
We did nally shoot the number of does I needed to take. We put out Vineyard Max (www.vineyardmax.com) at least a hundred yards from where the corn feeders were. Initially does could come there to feed, while bucks congregated and dominated the feeders. is worked for about three days before bucks took over the Vineyard Max feeding places as well.
ankfully during the interim we were able to harvest the remaining number of does on quota.
By the time you read this I’ll be hunting my lease once again to see if the deer there during January and February are herding up! Surely hope one of those biggest bucks I saw last January puts in an appearance!
Email Larry Weishuhn at ContactUs@fishgame.com
Luke Clayton with his late season whitetail.
Exploring the Versatility of Kayaks, Paddleboards and Inflatables
TF&G Staff Report
MANY ENTRY-LEVEL ANGLERS ARE hitting the fishing market not in a high-powered bass boat or big bay boat, but in kayaks, paddleboards and other more easily portable and affordable vessels.
And even anglers with the financial means for other boats are adding them to their arsenal due to portability and a stealth approach to fishing. In this issue, we thought we would look at a variety of innovations in this increasingly popular category.
NEXT LEVEL KAYAK TECH
The evolution of pedal-driven kayaks has redefined efficiency on the water. Early models introduced a simple way to free
up hands for fishing or photography. Modern designs feature advanced systems that mimic natural leg movements, ensuring silent propulsion and reducing fatigue. These innovations allow paddlers to cover more water with less effort, particularly beneficial for fishing in expansive lakes or coastal areas.
For urban dwellers or those with limited storage, modular and folding kayaks are game-changers. Some brands are actually origami-like in nature, allowing for easy transportation in car trunks or even backpacks. Similarly, some allow anglers to assemble or disassemble their kayak, enabling adaptability between solo or tandem use.
Kayak manufacturers are moving beyond traditional fiberglass and polyethylene. Advanced plastics and lightweight com-
posites, provide increased durability while reducing weight which is a big deal for shallow water fishermen along the Texas Coast and even bass anglers wanting to get in the skinny water and target spawning bass for example.
The integration of technology into kayaks has enhanced navigation, safety, and fishing. Smart kayaks so to speak, feature mounting systems for GPS units, fish finders, and action cameras. Some models even incorporate solar-powered charging stations for devices.
And of course there are lightweight motors and shallow water anchoring systems for them as well.
Fishing kayaks have undergone a bit of a renaissance, offering features such as customizable rod holders, built-in tackle stor-
age, and livewells for keeping bait fresh.
Stability is another focus, with wide, flat-bottom hulls ensuring anglers can stand and cast without tipping.
INFLATABLE BOATS
Inflatable boats are an interesting part of this market. Gone are the days of flimsy, unstable inflatable boats. Modern innovations, like high-pressure inflatable floors and drop-stitch technology, provide rigidity comparable to hard-hulled boats.
Companies have embraced these advancements, offering inflatable models that can handle rough waters while remaining surprisingly lightweight and portable.
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e use of advanced materials such as Hypalon and PVC-coated fabrics ensures durability against punctures and abrasions. Hypalon, in particular, stands out for its UV resistance and longevity, making it a preferred choice for high-performance in atable boats used in harsh environments.
In atable boats are no longer limited to oar power. Many models now feature
popular for shing due to their versatility and eco-friendly nature. eir lightweight design and maneuverability allow anglers to explore shallow waters, narrow inlets, and areas inaccessible to larger boats, opening up new shing opportunities.
spooky red sh.
Paddle boards are also great for maneuvering into areas and then wade shing. Actually, many anglers use kayaks for the same purposes, so if you’re not so sure about actually shing from these proven shallow water vessels, there are great options to get the boat to a safe destination and wade sh.
transom mounts for outboard motors, transforming these vessels into versatile workhorses. Lightweight electric motors are also becoming popular.
Manufacturers are introducing in atable boats that cater to a variety of activities. Convertible models can shi between recreational paddling, shing, and even diving platforms.
Portability remains the hallmark of in atable boats. Modern models pack down into compact bags, making them ideal for road trips, air travel, or remote adventures. Some brands o er quick in ation systems that minimize setup time, ensuring you spend more time on the water.
PADDLE BOARDS
Paddle boards, traditionally associated with water sports, have become increasingly
A paddle board provides a stable platform for shing, with many models specifically designed for the sport. ese boards o en feature wider decks, non-slip surfaces, and the ability to mount rod holders, tackle boxes, and coolers. Some even include anchor systems to stabilize the board in current or windy conditions, ensuring a hassle-free shing experience.
One of the key advantages of using a paddle board is its stealth. Powered only by paddling, these boards glide silently through the water, minimizing disturbances and making it easier to approach sh without scaring them away. is stealth aspect is particularly useful for targeting species in clear or shallow waters, such as super
e innovations shaping kayaks, paddle boards and in atable boats point to a future where these vessels become more accessible, e cient and impactful for the angler. Whether you’re navigating narrow river passages in a folding kayak or exploring coastal waters in a motorized in atable, the possibilities are growing.
We assume since you’re reading this in Texas Fish & Game you are not only interested in seeing the beautiful sunrise over the bay or going out to birdwatch in a secluded location.
You want to catch sh.
And that’s why we wanted to present you with some information on what’s going on with these cra that can be a valuable part of an angler’s arsenal.
One key advantage of paddleboards for anglers is their stealth.
Many kayak anglers choose to paddle to locations and then wadefish.
Many inflatable boats now come with transom mounts for outboards.
TTexas FRESHWATER
JB Thomas: It’s Like the Wild West Out There
HE STORYBOOK FISHING
trips to shock the imagination continue to unfold at Lake J.B. omas near Snyder. To hear Christian Gladfelter and Brandon Burks tell it, it’s been like the Wild, Wild West out there.
Both shing guides are pre y salty with forward-facing sonar. eir success is built 100 percent on their ability to read an electronics screen to locate suspended sh roaming around in open water, then tease them into biting with precision casts that 10 years ago would have never been made.
Chris Chopelas of Alpine has witnessed the magic at the li le West Texas lake multiple times over the past few months with the help of Gladfelter, owner of slaunchedguideservice.com. To wit:
On the night of August 15, 2024, Chopelas experienced what may be the best a er hours shing trip ever recorded on Texas waters. In eight hours of shing, Chopelas boated multiple bass over eight pounds, including three over ten pounds and two over nine. His heaviest ve sh weighed nearly 55 pounds.
One of the bass had a really serious weight problem. e sh weighed 14.09 pounds on a digital scale. at’s slightly heavier than the 13.79 pound o cial lake record caught by Lawrence Lee of Tolar. e big bass was a real night owl. Chopelas caught the sh at about 2 a.m. All of the sh are documented in photographs on Gladfelter’s Facebook page. “It was truly a wild night,” says Gladfelter. “It was one of those shing trips I’ll never forget.”
Gladfelter has been using Garmin’s LiveScope technology since it was introduced 2018. He relies on it exclusively to nd and identify big sh. “I put the trolling motor down and don’t cast until I nd what looks to be a big sh, eight pounds and up,” he said. “Sometimes it might take 15 minutes and sometimes it takes an hour or more.”
Gladfelter pointed out that J.B. omas bass are di erent animals than those in most lakes. “ ese sh aren’t spot oriented to structure,” he said. “ ey just show up in random areas. You might nd an area with a bunch of big ones one day and they’ll be someplace else the next.” Gladfelter said all of Chopelas’ bass were caught within the same 50-yard stretch in 10 - 15 feet of water using one bait — a 1/2 ounce jig he calls the Space Invader. Hot pink was the magic color that night.
It’s hard to imagine the shing ge ing any be er, but it did.
During September 2024, Gladfelter says his boat has accounted for more than 250 bass over eight pounds, including 20 double-digits up to 13.36 pounds.
Burks says he doesn’t fool around much with trying to catch sh that look to be less than 10 pounds on his Lowrance Active Target screen. He claims his boat accounted for 17 bass over 10 pounds during September alone. Among them were ten sh in the 10-pound class, four 11 pounders, two 12s and a 13.22 pounder.
ose are truly incredible numbers unchallenged by any lake in Texas right now — perhaps the entire world. ere is plenty of photographic proof on both of the guide’s Facebook pages. It’s gallery a er gallery of plump bass with serious weight problems.
“ is lake has been shing completely o the charts — it has been insane,” he said. “ ere isn’t another lake around shing like this one.”
It hasn’t aways been that way. Built in 1952, the 7,200-acre reservoir has not been at full level since the early 1960s. In 201213, the reservoir was so starved for water it had dropped to 200 surface acres. Low oxygen levels spurred a signi cant sh kill that wiped out most piscatorial life.
ings changed in September 2014, when remnants of a powerful Paci c
:: by MATT WILLIAMS
TF&G Freshwater Fishing Editor
hurricane dumped so much rain on the watershed that the lake went from under 200 acres to around 6,000 acres in size in a week’s time. e rise ooded elds of terrestrial vegetation that sprouted during the extended drought, essentially creating a brand new lake.
Texas Parks and Wildlife took advantage of the vibrant “new lake e ect” by stocking nearly 79,000 Florida ngerlings in 2015, followed by additional stockings through 2024. It’s logical to assume that the earliest stockings are largely responsible for the armies of big bass nning around out there today.
It’s worth noting that J.B. omas caught about 13 feet of water a er heavy rains fell on the Colorado River watershed again in early September 2024. e welcomed rise spurred the lake from about 16.6 percent of full capacity to about 38 percent of full capacity. e reservoir currently spans about 4,200 surface acres.
TPWD sheries biologist Caleb Huber of Canyon said the most recent rise ooded an abundance of salt cedars and other terrestrial vegetation that sprouted at the lake’s upper reaches over the last decade.
e newly ooded cover will provide excellent spawning habitat for existing bass populations, while serving as a nursery and playground for the Lone Star bass ngerlings the department plans to stock this spring.
Email Matt Williams at contactus@fishgame.com
Doug Pike (left) and Joe Doggett (right) have been on the TF&G masthead for most of its history.
Fish&Game Profiles by CHESTER MOORE Doggett and Pike: Fish & Game Icons... Texas Outdoor Legends
THIS MONTH, WE BEGIN A SERIES HONORING our columnists, who provide us with such valuable content and inform us about their adventures in the great outdoors.
We are going to start with two of the rst people I met when I began my career: Joe Dogge and Doug Pike. Both were so kind and helpful to this young writer that their kindness le a powerful impression on me on how to treat others when I got in their position.
JOE DOGGETT’S career as an outdoor columnist spanned 35 years at the Houston Chronicle, where he began
in 1972 and retired in 2007. roughout his tenure, Dogge covered everything from shing to hunting and even sur ng, re ecting his deep passion for the outdoors.
He was an early advocate for conservation e orts, particularly in promoting catch-and-release practices.
Beyond his newspaper work, Dogge contributed to national publications such as Field & Stream, where he served as a contributing editor for nearly a decade.
Even a er “retirement,” Dogge writes for Texas Fish & Game. He occasionally does freelance pieces for various outdoor magazines, including Tail Fly Fishing Magazine, where he shares his experiences and insights from his shing,
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hunting, and sur ng adventures.
His rsthand experiences, such as wade shing alongside legends like Rudy Grigar, provide a unique perspective on the evolution of Texas inshore saltwater shing.
He also does a lot of super cool shing. Our last conversation was about him ying to the Bahamas to sh for bone sh!
DOUG PIKE is a Houston native who has dedicated his career to sharing his passion for the outdoors and golf. He hosts “ e Doug Pike Show,” which airs on SportsTalk 790. e show covers topics ranging from shing and hunting to golf, appealing to both beginners and experts. It has been a staple for over twenty years.
Before his broadcasting career, Pike spent 23 years as an outdoors columnist at the Houston Chronicle, where he developed a reputation for writing informative, passionate pieces on a wide variety of outdoors topics.
Pike was involved in the epic waterfowl hunting on the Katy Prairie, which is, for the most part, a memory. His recollections of that area remind us of not only a bygone
era but also the need to conserve the habitat we have now and inspire a young generation to hit the eld with us.
Pike is bold in his writing for Texas Fish & Game and sometimes challenges outdoors lovers on their perspective of conservation as well as hunter and angler advocacy.
And his work is always impeccable.
Joe Dogge and Doug Pike have signicantly contributed to outdoor journalism in Texas. eir writing and media presence has inspired countless individuals to engage with the great outdoors.
And we are grateful to have them regularly contributing to Texas Fish & Game.
A close encounter of the Doggett kind.
Ten Toes Deep W
INTER ON THE TEXAS
coast is a special time especially for those in heavy pursuit of an elusive breeder speckled trout. Wading shorelines sca ered with Spanish daggers and cactus while keeping your eyes peeled for any kind of bait movement and casting into sandy potholes with a brisk chill in the air is something that only us third coast anglers have the opportunity to experience. e Lower Laguna Madre is known for its world class speckled trout shery and many travel from all over the globe for a chance at landing one of these mysterious predator sh. When targeting big speckled trout, one word comes to mind; persistence. Some days can be a grind looking for that one bite, but when it happens its pure magic.
During the winter months, I like to wait until mid-day or the a ernoon whenever the sun has risen overhead and warmed the waters a bit. ese bigger trout like to feed on large mullet and other n sh that will be more active as the water temps increase a notch or two. Areas with plentiful grass and mud bo oms not only provide a safe haven for bait sh but also keep big predator sh warm. Areas like this make for great speckled trout grounds as well as ones with a slight drop o to deeper, warm water. When it comes to gear to use when wading, I reach for the Shimano GLF B Series 6’6” medium fast rod. Shimano designed these all-new GLF B series rods with actions built speci cally for anglers tossing arti cial lures on the Gulf Coast. ey have a shorter rod bu that is ideal for landing sh while wading. Spinning or baitcasting, these rods have the right amount of action to work jigheads, topwaters or swim baits and have enough back bone to stick an over slot sh. Topwaters must be my all-time favorite arti cial to use for speckled trout. e Heddon Super Spook and Rapala Ski er
Going COASTAL
Laguna Madre and the treble hooks do snag
Walks are some of my go-tos. We experience a great deal of oating grass on the Lower Laguna Madre and the treble hooks do snag a lot of it resulting in the lure not walking properly. Switching out those trebles for single hooks makes all the di erence and still catches sh. e aerodynamic D.O.A. PT-7 is a topwater made of so plastic with a single 7/0 hook and a ra le inside. You can bomb this lure far and not worry about snagging grass. Historically, bone and pink colored top pieces have been the most successful.
single hooks makes all the di erence and still
Pictured with this article is Blaine Anderson of Shimano North American Fishing with his bucket list speckled trout he caught on a Teramar XX 7’0” rod and D.O.A. PT-7 right before sundown while wading a grassy at with Capt. Brian Barrera out of South Padre Island, Texas. We were slowly
working the area and bombing our lures far away as possible. We had a few blow ups and could feel there were giants amongst us. I was about 20’ away from Blaine working my lure, when I heard that unforge able sound of trout slurping down a topwater. If I had a blindfold on, I would think that someone had thrown a large rock or brick into the water, that’s the best way I can describe it. I heard the deep “whoosh” sound of the sh eating and tail smacking the water. I looked over and saw Blaine’s ear to ear smile. He had traveled from South Carolina to experience our shery and he hooked up to quite the specimen. A 7 lb. healthy speckled trout that had a very full stomach. I was happy to witness such an
TF&G Contributing Editor
incredible moment for him.
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e combination of the historical freeze of 2021, the number of guide licenses annually distributed, shing licenses sold to the public and conservation e orts; new limits and regulations on trout came into e ect in 2024. e limit is 3 15”-20” speckled trout per person and during a license year, one speckled trout over 28” may be retained when a xed with a properly completed Spo ed Seatrout Tag and one speckled trout over 28” may be retained when a xed with a properly completed Bonus Spo ed Seatrout Tag. It is your legal right to keep an oversized speckled trout with proper tagging, but the real reward and trophy is watching that sh swim away. A trout of that caliber can produce as many as 10 million eggs per season, allowing our incredible shery to continue to ourish. And if a wall mount is what you are seeking, a nice photo, weight and measurement is all you need to send to the taxidermist to have a replica made.
One thing that is a fact about large trout is that they remain mysterious; hence the reward when landing one. It makes sense to sh deeper, warm water during a frigid day, but they may be on a shallow at. If a big trout is what you are a er, stick to your guns and go with your gut. With persistence and using your “speckled trout” senses, success is bound to reach the end of your line. Enjoy your winter pursuit of the almighty speckled trout. u
Email Kelly Groce at contactus@fishgame.com
Blaine Anderson of Shimano North American Fishing achieved his goal of catching a breeder speckled trout on a topwater while wading a grassy flat with Capt. Brian Barrera.
THANKS TO BREAKTHROUGHS IN HIGH-TECH OPTICS, hog-hunting tools have come a long way.
ese innovations are giving hunters new advantages, making night time hog hunting more e ective, and helping keep feral hog populations in check. ese modern optics are changing the game for hunters tackling these invasive exotics which number more than three million in Texas alone.
Thermal Imaging Scopes
ermal imaging has become a go-to for hunters working a er dark. Instead of relying on light like traditional night vision, thermal scopes focus on heat. is means warm-blooded animals like feral hogs stand out against cooler surroundings,
Capt.
Capt.
Capt.
Thermal imaging optics helped TF&G Editor-In-Chief Chester Moore, Britt Perry and Andrew Austin bag these two hogs on the Warren Ranch.
making them easy to spot even in dense brush. High-de nition thermal scopes go a step further, with color gradients that make distinguishing hogs from other objects easier. Many models even come with rangenders, so hunters can calculate the exact distance to their target, boosting accuracy and helping ensure ethical shots.
Old School Night Vision
Traditional night vision uses an intensier tube to amplify ambient light, to allow
a hunter to see in low-light conditions. e light enters the scope, is ampli ed within the tube, and produces a greenish image typical of analog night vision. is technology has been popular in military and hunting applications for decades due to its reliability.
Digital Night Vision
While thermal imaging is powerful, digital night vision remains popular, especially as a budget-friendly alternative. Night vision scopes amplify available light—whether it’s faint moonlight or starlight—to give hunters a clear image. is approach works well for close-range encounters, and many night vision models have infrared (IR) illuminators that create an invisible light source only the scope can see. is lets hunters move in undetected, as hogs can’t see IR light, making it easier to get closer without alerting them.
Recording and Sharing the Hunt
Many high-tech optics now come with recording and live-streaming features, allowing hunters to capture their hunts on
High-tech hunting advances give property owners a fighting chance in the war against the destructive impact of runaway hog populations.
video. Some hunters use these features to keep a digital record, track hog sightings, and create video logs for future reference or simply post on YouTube.
With the help of high-tech optics hunt-
ers have a be er chance at scoring on hogs and having an impact on controlling their populations.
Large-scale hog population control has failed at every level but on small properties
pu ing pressure on them will cause them to move eventually and at least give the property owners or leaseholders a reprieve from their destructive ways.
Game Wardens Honored for Life-Saving Actions
IN THE EARLY HOURS OF MARCH
17, ve Texas Game Wardens played a critical role in rescuing a man who had slipped while shing o the Port Aransas je ies and had gone into the water. e day brought strong winds, and the je ies were wet and slippery due to recent rains, creating hazardous conditions.
Nueces County Game Wardens John Failla, Kyle Hendley, Benjamin Jenkins and Welden Rappmund and Harris County Game Warden Eric Taylor had been working a 14-hour enhanced patrol during the busy spring break season when they got the call. Even though their shi had ended hours earlier, the wardens continued working to assist
local authorities.
A er the call came in, the wardens were among the rst to arrive on the scene, quickly locating the man in the water. Despite the dangerous conditions, wardens navigated the slippery je y to reach the unresponsive man.
Upon reaching him, the wardens faced the challenging task of carefully transporting him up the je ies. As the man struggled to breathe, the wardens used a portable
to
NEWS of the OUTDOOR Nation the
oxygen device until medical personnel arrived.
With great care and teamwork, they carried him down the je y to reach emergency medical personnel. e man was transported to a nearby hospital, where he received further medical care and remained overnight.
anks to the swi response, determination and life-saving measures by the wardens, the man survived.
On July 4, Denton County Game Warden Kyle Allison and his partner responded to a medical call on Lake Lewisville for a man who had su ered a boat propeller strike.
A er locating the boat, Allison boarded with his medical kit, assessed the situation calm, covered him to
the and applied two tourniquets to the victim’s right thigh to control the bleeding. He kept the injured man reduce shock and
PHOTO:
Brandon Ayers shot these two turkeys while hunting with his dad in Stockdale. Brandon has been turkey hunting with his dad since he was 3 years old.
Cindy Nguyen (Columbia Fishing Athlete) with a nice sheepshead caught at the Galveston jetties while out fishing with Capt. Derek York of Spot Stalker Guide Service.
coordinated the boat’s transfer to shore, where EMS awaited.
e Li le Elm Fire Department Ba alion Chief commended Allison’s decisive actions, noting they were “essential to the victim only losing his leg and not his life.”
home was surrounded by oodwaters, and she was concerned about being unable to make it to her appointment and the possibility of labor di culties. e crew was able to successfully evacuate her to a nearby re station, where she could receive further care.
Allison graduated from the Texas Game Warden Academy in 2012, serving Zapata County before transferring to Denton County in 2016. In October 2024, Allison was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and became one of the instructors at the Texas Game Warden Training Center in Hamilton.
Director’s Citation Award
ON APRIL 10, THE TEXAS GAME
Warden Aviation Unit deployed a helicopter crew to aid rescue operations during severe ooding in Southeast Texas. e crew, consisting of Lt. Robert Mitchell, aircra pilot, Sgt. Tyler Stoikes, tactical ight o cer, and Michael Serbanic, McLennan County Game Warden and rescue swimmer, promptly responded to multiple emergency calls.
eir rst call involved rescuing a man stranded atop his semi-truck, encircled by rising oodwaters. e crew executed a swi hoist rescue, safely li ing the man from danger and transferring him to ground responders.
Shortly a er, the crew received a call regarding a woman who was pregnant and due for a C-section the following day. Her
Later, while scanning the area with a thermal imager to locate additional ood victims, the crew detected the heat signature of another man stranded in the same area as the initial semi-truck incident. ey were able to guide ground responders to his location, facilitating a safe rescue.
is deployment highlighted the bravery, skill and dedication of the ight crew, whose coordinated e orts saved lives amid dangerous conditions. eir ability to execute rescues under challenging circumstances underscores the impact of their rigorous training and teamwork.
MADD Outstanding Service Award
THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS CHAPTER of MADD, in partnership with the Houston Law Enforcement Districts and the Harris County District A orney’s O ce, honored the Harris County Game Wardens and their captain for their dedication to combating Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Boating While Intoxicated (BWI). Each year, MADD recognizes law enforcement o cers who show exceptional commitment to safeguarding public roads and waterways from impaired drivers, acknowledging their vital role in preventing
tragic accidents. MADD believes that every DWI and BWI intercepted is a potential life saved.
e following wardens from Region 4 District 3 received an Outstanding Service Award for their recognition by MADD for their e orts in leadership, prevention and enforcement, which have a measurable impact on reducing impaired driving and enhancing public safety: Texas Game Wardens Jordan Bagwell, Michael Blevins, Jamie Hill, Derrick Lopez, Vinicius Mathias, Je Putnam, Tyler Zaruba and Captain Randy Bu on.
“Texas Game Wardens serve with unwavering dedication and bravery, and I couldn’t be prouder of these wardens for their exemplary service,” said Col. Ron A. VanderRoest, director of Law Enforcement for TPWD. “ ey have each demonstrated a level of commitment that goes above and beyond. eir actions not only saved lives and ensured public safety on our lands and waterways, but helped reinforce the trust and con dence our communities place in us every day.”
—TF&G Staff Report
From left: Benjamin Jenkins, John Failla, Welden Rappmund, Eric Taylor. Not pictured: Kyle Hendley
Layer Up SABINE
Reported by CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ
HELLO WINTER. WELCOME to Texas’ northernmost stretch of coastline. Since there’s not much I can do to prevent you from making your annual appearance, I will welcome you with open arms and accept what you have to o er. I realize that these next couple of months will not be the most comfortable when it comes to running the bay in pursuit of sh. I also realize, however, that for those of us who are willing to throw on some extra layers and get out there, the Sabine ecosystem can pay o in a big way.
Years of logging countless hours of wintertime shing have taught us a thing or two. For starters, you have to be disciplined enough to grind it out in less than desirable conditions hoping for a few big bites. Another thing Is shing the clearest water that you can nd is a key ingredient for success. Don’t waste your time shing spots with murky water.
Key on areas with good visibility and nice mud bo oms, preferably those where mullet are present. Clear water warms faster than murky water, mud warms quicker and retains heat be er than sand and bait is always our ally in chilly water.
As usual, the slower you work it back to the boat the be er when their metabolism is low. Some other good bait choices are slow sinking mullet imitations such as MirrOlure Catch 2000 and Catch V as well as Corky Original and Devils. ese baits are designed to sink very slowly, so give them time to get down then twitch and retrieve slowly. If you’ve got good sunlight penetrating the water, your best bet would be to use darker or natural colored bait. Morning Glory, Red Shad and natural mullet or shad work well in bright sun conditions. Lighter colors like chartreuse, limetreuse and White Ice are much more e ective when the sky is overcast.
e eastern bank of Sabine Lake has multiple bayous, cuts and drains that empty into the bay. Some of these open up into big shallow ponds that have their own drains and cuts. Because of the large amount of water that moves in and out with the tides, your chances of nding decent water to sh somewhere along the eastern shoreline are pre y good. If you’re lucky enough to nd clear water that’s also holding bait, chances are you’ll be happy you decided to layer up.
Although the di erence in water temperature may seem very li le to us, it can be huge to the sh. e slightest variance in water temperature can mean the di erence between casting and catching. It may only be a couple of degrees or less but that is very signi cant to the sh in cold water. Experience has also taught us that straight tailed baits are more e ective than those with a lot of movement. Wobbly baits like curl tails, which work great in warm water, don’t really do much for these cold-blooded sh in cold water. A be er scenario is to o er them a straight tailed or fork tailed so plastic. Use the lightest jig head that the elements will allow and gently twitch it once it’s on the bo om.
GALVESTON
INTERTIME ON THE Texas coast can be a wild one with all of the cold fronts we get blowing through each month here on Galveston Bay, which can make for some sporty and sometimes dangerous conditions out
Reported by CAPT. DEREK YORK
on the water. But on the days when the weather calms down you can de nitely get on some fantastic catches. Red sh, spo ed seatrout and sheepshead are my go-to targets in the bay this time of year. e je ies can also be good for reds and black drum.
Typically, on my charter trips while looking for trout we throw popping corks with live shrimp or arti cials dri ing water anywhere from 3-7 feet deep. I am also always looking for birds working in the area. You will catch some red sh doing this as well. If you are looking for that trophy trout, we will be concentrating on mud bo oms as the water warms throwing Corky’s and MirrOlures.
For sheepshead this time of year, I really enjoy working shoreline structure for them. I look for good bulkheads and transition areas where two di erent types of structure meet. For example, look for areas where there are metal bulkheads meeting a wooden bulkhead or even concrete walls. Many times, you will catch multiple sh o one spot and don’t be surprised to catch a personal best this time of year. We have put multiple double-digit sheepsheads in my boat in the winter. Clear Lake and all the bays along the upper Houston ship channel provide plenty of habitat to target. I am always throwing live shrimp under a popping cork for these sh.
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Usually about an 18-24” uorocarbon leader to a 1/0 circle hook or a #6 treble with a split shot above the hook.
One of the great things about wintertime shing on the coast that o en gets overlooked is shing for Red Snapper in state waters. In recent years, there have been a lot of improvements in our area just several miles from the Galveston je ies. Big Man Reef has been producing some quality snapper and provides a large area of arti cial
HOTSPOTLIGHT
GALVESTON CAUSEWAY
THE AREA SURROUNDING THE GALVESTON CAUSEWAY, THE MAIN ARTERY between Galveston Island and the mainland for well over a century, also marks the dividing point between Galveston Bay and Galveston West Bay. Other notable water bodies in the area include Jones Bay, Swan Lake and Offatts Bayou. Selected fishing HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map.
reef habitat that can easily be dri ed or shed using a trolling motor with GPS holding capabilities. is area is located o shore of the west end of the island about 8 miles out. Just remember to follow state regulations and don’t travel out into federal waters with sh onboard if the federal season is closed. State regulations set by TPWD allow for 4 sh per person with a 15” minimum year-round.
With all the options this time of year, try to get out and get on some sh when the weather allows. Be sure to take some extra precautions with potential weather issues. I keep extra towels and a change of clothes on board along with doing a oat plan of some type to let people know where I will be and when I expect to be back home. Give me a call if you’d like to book a trip!
CONTACT CAPT. YORK:
Email: SpotStalkerFishing@sbcglobal.com
Online: SpotStalkerGuideService.com
Between the Fronts MATAGORDA
Reported by CAPT. MARK TALASEK
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO everyone! I hope all of you had a blessed holiday and were able to enjoy your family. As my time decreases on the water during the winter I still enjoy shing between the cold fronts. East bay produces numerous trophy trout during the winter months.
I’m going to talk about winter trophy trout tactics. Everyone wants the big one to put up on the wall. It’s not an easy feat to accomplish. It takes hours on the water studying pat-
UPPER COAST HOTSPOTS
LOCATION: Chocolate Bay
HOTSPOT: Chocolate Bay Shoreline
GPS: N 29 10.392, W 95 9.005 (29.1732, -95.1501)
SPECIES: Redfish
terns along with some good old fashioned luck. Most people in the shing industry consider anything 25” plus a trophy. With current regulations you can only snap a couple of photos of one that size. Hopefully with numbers increasing, size limits will return to normal, giving people a chance to get that wall hanger. While most people want a skin mount you can get a replica with a few measurements. is way you can release the sh back into the water for another ght.
To target one of these trophies I like to use a Corkie or subsurface lure. Between cool fronts when the wind lays I will usually sh mid-day. I will nd a shoreline with some mud. e mud will warm up faster than the sand which re ects the heat back. Tide movement and bait in the area is a plus. e bigger sh don’t eat as o en in cold weather. A bigger meal is what they search for. So a bigger bait will a ract bigger sh. Patience is key. I have waded all day for only a couple bites. But the bite you receive is the one that you want!
Warmer temperatures are a couple of months away for you fair weather shermen.
To book your next shing or ounder trip to Matagorda give me a call at 979-4791397.
BEST BAITS: Texas Tackle Factory soft plastics with either 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig heads
TIPS: Check out the oyster reef in the middle of the bay. There is a good shell reef that comes off the deep-water reef, 4-5 feet of water.
LOCATION: Freeport
HOTSPOT: Swan Lake
GPS: N 28 58.098, W 95 16.446 (28.9683 -95.2741)
SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Corkies or Catch 2000
TIPS: In January the water gets a lot clearer and lower. You can do a lot of sight fishing for redfish.
LOCATION: Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Levee Flats
GPS: N 29 26.614, W 94 54.316 (29.4436 -94.9053)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Twitch baits
TIPS: Wade shallow early, drift late with suspending switch baits; dawn-midday.
LOCATION: Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Spillway Flats (San Leon)
GPS: N 29 30.501, W 94 57.002 (29.5084 -94.9500)
SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Shrimp, finger mullet
TIPS: Fish live shrimp or finger mullet, great night gigging under lights; dawn through morning, dusk and night.
LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef
GPS: N 29 28.703, W 94 45.703 (29.4784 -94.7617)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live and artificial trout bait
TIPS: Drift/anchor with moving tide, low wind; avoid midday, night.
LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge
GPS: N 29 28.179, W 94 41.941 (29.4697 -94.6990)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Kelly Wiggler soft plastics, shrimp
TIPS: Fish the drop-off on the west end.
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LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Camp House
GPS: N 29 40.478, W 94 42.609 (29.6746 -94.7102)
SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Topwaters
TIPS: This spot is made for the wade; fish early.
LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Halfway Reef
GPS: N 29 33.406, W 94 58.207 (29.5568 -94.9701)
SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp
TIPS: Fish shrimp 2-3 feet under popping cork, anchor or drift; dawn through afternoon.
LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Spillway Flats (San Leon
GPS: N 29 30.501, W 94 57.002 (29.5084 -94.9500)
SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, finger mullet
TIPS: Best with moving tide; dawn through morning, dusk and night.
LOCATION: Galveston West Bay
HOTSPOT: Confederate Reef
GPS: N 29 15.755, W 94 55.177 (29.2626, -94.9196)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Texas Tackle Factory soft plastics with either 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig heads
TIPS: Fishing from the boat you will catch a lot of the smaller fish around Confederate Reef in West Bay, right in front of the Causeway, just drifting.
LOCATION: West Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Offats Bayou
GPS: N 29 16.819, W 94 51.507 (29.2803, -94.8585)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/4 oz. jig head
TIPS: In January catches of numbers of fish probably will not happen, so concentrate on catching bigger fish.
LOCATION: Galveston West Bay
HOTSPOT: Starvation Cove
GPS: N 29 14.221, W 94 56.409 (29.2370, -94.9402)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Corky or MirrOdine
TIPS: Wade fishing: You will have eight or ten days
in the month that are favorable for catching quality trout in excess of 25 inches…three days preceding the new moon and three days preceding the full moon.
LOCATION: Matagorda
HOTSPOT: Colorado River
GPS: N 28 40.542, W 95 58.08 (28.6757, -95.9680)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/4 oz. jig head
TIPS: Rivers, creeks and bayous will produce the most fish.
LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Brown Cedar Flats
GPS: N 25 44.406, W 95 42.09 (25.7401 -95.7015)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Shad or Corkies
TIPS: Look for bait activity, maybe a couple of loons working. They will tell you where bait is.
LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Tripod
GPS: N 28 40.147, W 95 54.813 (28.6691 -95.9136)
UPPER COAST
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Shrimp, soft plastics
TIPS: Drift with live shrimp under popping cork or with soft plastics on a Carolina rig; dawn-morning, dusk-night.
LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay
HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou
GPS: N 28 29.458, W 96 13.499 (28.4910 -96.2250)
SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters and soft plastics
TIPS: Fish the grass beds early and maybe some of the little cuts that trickle through the grass beds.
LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay
HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou
GPS: N 28 29.458, W 96 13.499 (28.4910 -96.2250)
SPECIES: Redfish
New Year, Same Fish Habits
PORT
O’CONNOR
Reported
by CAPT. KIM GOULDEN
THE PORT O’CONNOR AREA
o ers a strong winter shery for speckled trout, red sh, black drum and ounder. e diverse structure and habitat of our protected back lakes and marshes can provide some hot action. With January comes consistently cooler air and water temperatures. Target species of speckled trout and red sh tend to be
BEST BAITS: Topwater Lures
TIPS: Carolina rig shrimp or crab, fish the bottom; morning through midday.
LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Old River Cove
GPS: N 29 59.036, W 93 50.909 (29.9839 -93.8485)
SPECIES: Redfish
TIPS: After a big front, try fishing on the low tide for redfish. They will come out of the back lakes in the little troughs running out of the peninsula.
LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Island Reefs
GPS: N 29 45.106, W 93 53.307 (29.7518 -93.8885)
SPECIES: Black Drum
BEST BAITS: Shrimp, crab
creatures of habit.
Below are some tips that I hope will keep you consistently landing good sh this winter.
1. WATER TEMPERATURE
While we can’t control water temperatures, we can be aware and use them to our advantage.
In the coastal bend area, we are blessed with an extensive back lakes and marsh shery. e bo om in these areas tends to be so er with a combination of so sand and mud. ese protected areas with so er terrain hold heat well from sunlight, whereas hard sand tends to allow the heat to escape
BEST BAITS: Spoons, soft plastics
TIPS: Texas Red Killers or gold spoons are your best bets here.
LOCATION: Surfside
HOTSPOT: Brazos River
GPS: N 28 56.456, W 95 21.444 (28.9409 -95.3574)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/4 oz. jig head
TIPS: The Brazos River in Freeport, around the Chemical Plant is a “well-kept secret.” A lot of trout come from out of the river in the colder months.
at night. Bait sh will seek out this warmer, protected water and game sh will not be far behind.
Areas with hard sand and sca ered grass beds will warm up quickly once the sun is up. Keep those in mind on days we have a warming trend.
2. BAIT PRESENCE
Once our water temperatures sustain below 70 degrees, most of our summer bait sh and shrimp leave the shallow ats. Mullet becomes the major food source for our winter shery. Because of this, I want to see some nger-sized mullet ipping before I commit to a wade. ere needs to be something on the bu et for the game sh to hang around.
3. STRUCTURE
With cooler water temperatures and mullet as the main bait source, focusing on the following areas should get you on your way to consistently landing sh:
So bo om
Protected water
REDFISH BAY
Leeward drop-o s/depth changes
Windward coves
SITTING astride Aransas Pass and between Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays. It is separated from Aransas Bay by Talley and Traylor Islands.
PINCH POINTS: Guts in close proximity to marsh/back lake areas
WINTER FISHING TIP: Present your lure through the entire water column, top to bo om.
I hope you can nd some time to sh the Port O’Connor area of the Texas coastal bend area this winter. Please be kind on the water and I hope to see you out there!
WE HAVE FINALLY arrived...yes, at the BEST time of year, and no I’m not talking about sippin’ pina coladas and chilling on the beach. I’m talking about bundling up in our Simms G4s, built for performance and wicking technology that keeps us out longer as we are extremely focused on chasing down that potential lifetime trophy speckled trout. Who is with us?
We have put in the work and have spent many hours, weeks, and months leading to this epic time of year to learn these big girls patterns.
I want to
MIDDLE COAST
share a couple known facts as to why our Trout grow longer and heavier here in the Upper Laguna Madre and Ba n Bay systems than in other ecosystems. It is because of the rich nutrients and according to biologists, the relatively consistent salinity level most signi cantly in uences Ba n’s production of big trout. Because of this condition, it limits the time our resident sh have to adjust their swim bladders in response to changing salinity levels, which impacts and correlates to their growth.
e Upper Laguna, Ba n Bay, and Lower Laguna Madre all have one thing in common, not having large rivers feeding fresh water into the Bays causing salinity levels to temporarily drop. ese awesome facts make our coastal paradise one that is world renowned for its Trophy Trout.
From the Laguna Shores shoreline all the way down the King Ranch shoreline to Ba n Bay we have protected ats and shorelines that hold bait with easy deeper water access which creates the perfect environment for wade shing these gator trout.
One of our go to methods that is proven and highly practiced by many professional guides and especially my wife, Krystal ompson, is the use of her 1/8” oz pink Salty Head lead head and with the combo, Plum Punch 6” and 8” dart bait from Coastal Brew Bait are constantly producing hook ups on these trout, as I am typically throwing a Corky and or XL So Dines nine times out of 10 still producing but not at the rate she is.
More times than not I see her out producing me with large Trout, making me doubt my lure of choice and eventually switching over. However, I prefer to use the Nuke Juice and the new White Flash 6” dart baits also made by Coastal Brew Baits.
We are now moving further South and sometimes through the Land Cut and all the way down to Port Mans eld to hunt down the 30” beast! But it’s not always necessary because we are able to catch these big gals right around the corner from the boat ramp here in Corpus Christi. So in short, these sh are here in the Upper Laguna Madre too.
To close, we want to applaud TPWD on the fact that the new size and bag limit placed on trout is paying o in dividends and we have personally witnessed the growth in bigger trout. Keep up the good work and continue to be a responsible advocate for conservation so we can continue restoring our historically rich trout population to what it once was.
CONTACT CAPT. THOMPSON:
Email: RandKCoastalOutfitters@gmail.com
Online: RandKCoastalOutfitters.com
New Year, New Tactics?
ROCKPORT
Reported by CAPT. JARED MCcULLOCH
WHAT AN ODD START TO the fall and following into winter. Tides staying high into the start of duck season. I can only guess that the birds were staring at their maps questioning why the back lakes looked so di erent! But late high water hanging out is only a bene t to shermen.
If you had been pulling hooks from a
bunch of mouths in early November, most red sh caught had pre y sharp teeth. Signs of being fresh to the ats and back lakes meaning we are headed into a plentiful winter as they stacked up from the deep water. But now it’s January, the heart of winter. Low water, sparse grass, guts and ledges hold good sh. A simple cut mullet can quickly become your best friend if you’re staying in your boat. e water is cold enough that the majority of perch have retreated to deeper water, so your live shrimp stand a chance of nding the mouth of a tasty sh. Dirty water and shrimp go hand in hand especially around reefs.
Everything from trout to reds, drum, even your smiling sheepshead are hanging out mid-day around a big reef. Play the tide charts to your bene t. Big drops force as many sh o the ats into guts and ledges. For the wade shermen a lot can be the same. Working guts or deeper out ows from the back lakes with smaller slow sinking lures can be the cat’s meow. A simple day with low walking and excellent turnout.
My favorite winter lure is a 3” D.O.A. C.A.L. in stark naked. Pair it with a short hook 1/8oz or 1/16oz for thicker grass. Slow retrieves, watch for the take on the fall instead of the twitch. Remember, the water is cold, and the sh won’t be as hyper, but they still want to eat. Don’t discount simple colored speck rigs.
I have a group of guys that like to come down on short notice right a er a hard front every year and all they throw are speck rigs from my boat and boy can they clean up. Just because it’s an outdated lure doesn’t mean it’s worthless. ey gured out a good li le combo of watching the weather this time of year and lures they really like to maximize their shot at phenomenal days of shing.
Finding a couple of scenarios you can repeat over and over can really maximize your shing and cut down on the searching this time of year.
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MIDDLE COAST HOTSPOTS
LOCATION: Copano Bay
HOTSPOT: James’ Bend
GPS: N 28 2.453, W 97 9.341 (28.0409 -97.1557)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Jighead
TIPS: Drift with 1/8 oz jig head under cork; morning through dusk.
LOCATION: Copano Bay
HOTSPOT: Rattlesnake Point
GPS: N 28 3.631, W 97 7.749 (28.0605 -97.1292)
SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Gold spoons, mullet, crab TIPS: Watch for schooling wakes; dawn through afternoon.
LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay
HOTSPOT: Laguna Madre ICS
GPS: N 27 40.8529, W 97 13.672 (27.6809, -97.2279)
SPECIES: Black Drum
BEST BAITS: Dead or live shrimp
TIPS: The Drum will be the edges of the drop-offs, 3-10 feet of water.
LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay
HOTSPOT: Nueces Bay East Shoreline
GPS: N 27 51.894, W 97 21.132 (27.8649 -97.3522)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics
TIPS: Gulp New Penney and any other soft plastic in purple are effective colors.
LOCATION: Espirito Santo Bay
HOTSPOT: Lighthouse Cove
GPS: N 28 20.883, W 96 26.334 (28.3481 -96.4389)
SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Mud minnows, shrimp
TIPS: Anchor and fish near the pilings; avoid midday, afternoon.
LOCATION: Espirito Santo Bay
HOTSPOT: Dewberry Island
GPS: N 28 23.962, W 96 28.957 (28.3994 -96.4826)
SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Croaker, MirrOLures
TIPS: Fish sand pockets with live croaker or bone/ white MirrOLures; avoid midday, night.
LOCATION: Espirito Santo Bay
TIPS: January and February are almost identical as far as spots and baits. A big difference is there is no reason to be on the water at the crack of dawn. The fish are cold too. I do a lot of starts about 10 a.m.
LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Mustang Point/Ship Channel
GPS: N 27 49.444, W 97 8.2109 (27.8241, -97.1369)
HOTSPOT: Midway Reef
GPS: N 28 21.154, W 96 31.513 (28.3526 -96.5252)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Shrimp
TIPS: Fish shrimp shallow to deep, trout strike as the bait falls; morning through midday.
LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay
HOTSPOT: Pats Bay
GPS: N 28 15.787, W 96 37.382 (28.2631, -96.6230)
SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Cut crab, Carolina Rigged
TIPS: In January, fish the back lakes for redfish over mud and shell.
LOCATION: Mesquite Bay
HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou
GPS: N 28 6.708, W 96 49.812 (28.1118 -96.8302)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Down South & Kelley Wiggler soft plastics
TIPS: Fish like the round body of Down South soft plastics, and the willow tail of Kelley Wigglers that’s dipped in Garlic
LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Morris & Cummins Cut
GPS: N 27 53.2851, W 97 6.661 (27.8881 -97.1110)
SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp shrimp
TIPS: If you get a sunny day and can do a lot of sight casting, the redfish will come up and lay on the sand. Use a salt/pepper color.
LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Mud Island
GPS: N 27 56.635, W 97 1.266 (27.9439 -97.0211)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddle Tails or live shrimp
SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp
TIPS: Look for holes and depressions in the flats. It’s not going to be a real deep hole, but it will be a little bit deeper than the rest of the flat.
LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Quarantine Shoreline
GPS: N 27 54.468, W 97 3.5159 (27.9078 -97.0586)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddle Tails or live shrimp
TIPS: The fish will be really lethargic, especially on the flats until the sun gets up and warms everything up.
LOCATION: Port O’Connor
HOTSPOT: Bird Lake
GPS: N 28 24.01, W 96 24.992 (28.4002 -96.4165)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Sardines or shrimp
TIPS: Use live bait, either sardines or shrimp. Rig it as a bottom dropper, a 1 1/2 oz. sinker about 12 inches and a #4 Kahle hook, fishing close to the bottom. Put it in the water and let it sit.
LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Guadalupe Bay East Shore
GPS: N 28 24.803, W 96 45.342 (28.4134 -96.7557)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish
BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp under a popping Cork
TIPS: When wading, concentrate around Panther, south of Panter and Cedar Bayou
LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline
GPS: N 27 29.130, W 97 20.913 (27.4855 -97.3485)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Slow Sinking Artificial Baits
TIPS: The color of the lure depends on whether it’s sunny or cloudy. Early in the morning, use a brighter color. Pink is a good color.
Tips for the Novice or the Pro BAFFIN
BAY
Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT
WE AT PARADISE GUIDE
Services hope every one of our readers had a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and an amazing anksgiving. We always appreciate everyone’s interest in the information we try and share about Ba n Bay and surrounding areas.
With that said, let us talk about shing in January and February. is time of year is great for the angler looking for “the one,” but it can also be great for the novice crew. Either way, start with a empting to pick the right weather pa erns and days. For a novice group or a family trying to get the kids in on the action, I typically try to sh two days or more a er a northern front blows in. e wind may still be from the north but has settled down by this point and is not going to blow us o the water. e pressure is usually starting to change and become be er for a sh bite to take place. is bene ts us as we are trying to get novice shermen hooked and wanting to come back for another enjoyable experience. Our unique rock structures, along with sh that o en warm up in the shallows early in the morning, create a great shing experience for anglers of all skill levels. With family groups or new anglers just wanting to see if they will enjoy the water, we typically recommend live shrimp under a popping cork. Similar approaches can also be applied for the shermen that are looking for “the one.” is group tends to be a li le more
ically start by shing shallow water early and deeper water once the sun gets up. We look for grass lines early and structure later in the day depending on water color and visibility. We can tailor any trip, so do not think you have to be a professional to enjoy the beautiful waters and shery that Ba n Bay and the land cut o er!
hardcore and we typically suggest wadeshing with lures or live shrimp under a popping cork. When it comes to lures, we recommend bringing an assortment of what you enjoy throwing. A lot of the success is due to the con dence in a lure and adjusting if needed when the neighboring angler is having success with a di erent color or lure. As much as we are working and doing di erent things this time of year, we always encourage anglers to bring an assortment of plastics. Rest assured, however, we will
CONTACT CAPT. MERRITT:
Email: GeradMerritt@gmail.com
Online: ParadiseGuideServices.com
Time to Chase the Trophies LOWER LAGUNA MADRE
always have a few di erent options on hand to help.
JReported by CAPT. BRIAN BARRERA
ANUARY AND FEBRUARY are a great times to be on the water. ere are plenty of good opportunities to chase trophy sh, and to ll up the box with good eaters as well!
We base lure selection on water temperature, water clarity and what the sky is doing, but also advise you to throw what you are comfortable with. Later in the day, the shallows might warm up more than what the bait sh are comfortable with. Due to this we typ-
I like to spend most of my days in January chasing big trout and snook. If I’m shing the ats in search of that trophy 30-inch sh I’m usually dri ing over potholes, long weed lines, or sand ats bo om bouncing jigs with D.O.A. 4-inch jerkbaits or 3-inch shad tails. If the weather is good for it, I love to throw topwater lures with single hooks. With the right clients we will wade sh in deeper areas and pick them apart slowly using so plastics and suspending jerkbaits. During live or dead bait situations we will dri with
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CAPT. BRIAN BARERRA
CAPT. GERAD MERRITT
cut ballyhoo or live shrimp on a cork. ese live bait tactics usually work best for “eater” box size sh.
Snook shing in January/February can be almost quite the opposite as my ats trips. I am shing heavy jigs in 16-25 feet of water or using slow sinking twitchbaits for sh that are suspended in the thermocline. Post cold front hard jerk bait/twitchbait bites can be some of the best and the only ways to get them to eat during those periods of tough (post cold front blue bird skies) shing. I use zero live bait for snook during the winter months.
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As February gets going the sheepshead start showing, and that means it’s a boat party and any kind of medium depth structure you can nd close to the inlets will be loaded with great tasting sheepies for everyone to enjoy. e numbers are unbelievable, they taste great, and the shing is very easy for them. is is one of the only times of the year I encourage my clients to ll the boat up with family members to go load up the boxes and enjoy some easy shing and good old family fun. We like to use live shrimp on a heavy short shank jig head or a drop shot style rig with a small/strong circle hook to get the biggest ones from the bo om of the schools to bite. But the live shrimp at the stands go quick this time of year so get there early or keep a couple packs of frozen shrimp in your cooler as a backup in case “livies” cannot be found.
SOUTH BAY IS THE SOUTHERNMOST BAY ON THE TEXAS COAST, AND IS AN extensiion of the Lower Laguna Madre. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Brazos Island. It is accessed via South Bay Pass, off the Brownsville Ship Channel. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map.
LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Kleberg Point Rocks, South GPS: N 27 16.371, W 97 36.636 (27.2729 -97.6106)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Shrimp
TIPS: Drift live shrimp under cork very slowly of top of rocks; dawn through morning, dusk.
LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Penescal GPS: N 27 15.672, W 97 25.29 (27.2612 (97.4215
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters
TIPS: Wade under a full moon, large trout action; night.
EAST TEXAS HOTSPOTS
Reported by TF&G STAFF
LOCATION: Lake Bob Sandlin
HOTSPOT: Jake’s Creek
GPS: N 33 4.636, W 95 4.658 (33.0773, -95.0776)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Shrimp
TIPS: Live shrimp works best here in the afternoon.
TIPS: Wade the mouth on an outgoing tide; dawn through midday.
LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Long Bar
GPS: N 26 8.902, W 97 14.352 (26.1484 -97.2392)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Shrimp, pinfish, plastics
TIPS: Drift the area with live shrimp, pinfish, red/ white plastics; dawn through dusk.
LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
GPS: N 32 32, W 94 28.67 (32.5333, -94.4778)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, jigs
TIPS: Fish the hydrilla beds inside and out with jigs or crankbaits; dawn-morning, dusk, evening.
LOCATION: Caddo Lake
HOTSPOT: Jackson’s Arm and Red Belly
GPS: N 32 43.1699, W 94 5.4359 (32.7195, -94.0906)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, flipping jigs, lipless crankbaits
TIPS: This is the month that bass will usually start staging to come in for the spawn in the next couple months. I like to keep an eye on water temps in February. Once I see the water temps rising to the mid to upper 50’s then you can begin using search baits like bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits over the shallow grass flats. Anything colder than that use your flipping jigs on the trees. Once the water gets to 60 degrees, stick to the cypress trees where the bass spawn, with your jigs and spinnerbaits here.
LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: League Line Point
GPS: N 30 22.893, W 95 32.778 (30.3816, -95.5463)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Shad, crankbaits
TIPS: Work out from the concrete against the current with live shad or white crankbaits; dawn through afternoon.
HOTSPOT: Nine Mile Hole
GPS: N 27 5.159, W 97 24.621 (27.0860, -97.4104)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Slow Sinking Artificial Baits
TIPS: If you use a real light color in the morning. The fish are looking up and the light color sticks out.
LOCATION: Middle Ground
HOTSPOT: Century Point
GPS: N 26 37.983, W 97 26.148
(26.6331, -97.4358)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, plastics, shrimp
TIPS: Drift the break with topwaters, soft plastics or live shrimp.
LOCATION: Middle Ground
HOTSPOT: East Side of Spoil Islands
GPS: N 26 47.049, W 97 27.561 (26.7842, -97.4594)
SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Gold spoons, live shrimp
TIPS: Fish hug the east shoreline at high tide.
LOCATION: Middle Ground
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Butchers Island
GPS: N 26 38.1019, W 97 23.149 (26.6350, -97.3858)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Corkies
CURRENT LAKE LEVELS EAST TEXAS
LAKE CAPACITY CURRENT %
As of 12/7/2024 AC. FT. AC. FT. FULL
Addicks 7,900 514 7%
B A Steinhagen 69,186 65,761 95%
Barker -n.a.- -n.a.- -n.a.-
Bob Sandlin 192,417 182,584 95%
Caddo 29,898 29,898 100%
Conroe 417,577 393,132 94%
Crook 9,195 7,478 81%
Cypress Springs 66,756 64,066 96%
Fork 605,061 543,129 90%
Houston 132,318 131,290 99%
Houston County 17,113 17,113 100%
Jacksonville 25,670 25,670 100%
Jim Chapman 258,723 188,219 73%
Lake O’ the Pines 241,363 241,363 100%
Livingston 1,603,504 1,517,744 95%
Monticello 34,740 27,651 80%
Murvaul 38,285 37,976 99%
Nacogdoches 39,522 39,260 99%
Palestine 367,303 344,195 94%
Pat Mayse 113,683 98,536 87%
Sam Rayburn 2,857,077 2,584,906 91%
Striker 16,878 16,721 99%
Sulphur Springs 17,747 15,752 89%
Toledo Bend 2,236,450 1,915,620 86%
Wright Patman 122,593 122,593 100%
LOCATION: Lake Jim Chapman/Cooper
HOTSPOT: South Sulphur Channel
GPS: N 33 17.733 , W 95 45.542
HOTSPOTLIGHT
LAKE JIM CHAPMAN
SURFACE AREA: 19,305 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 55 feet IMPOUNDED: 1991
WHITE BASS AND HYBRID STRIPED bass are the dominant species in Lake Chapman. But largemouth action is best in the winter and spring, primarily in the flooded timber where fencerows and scattered small islands provide added structure for bass.
The lake also offers excellent catfish action. Vegetation is sparse, with submerged timber providing much of the structure, especially in the upper half of the lake where access is gained through boat lanes and sedimentation lines.
Impounded as Lake Cooper, the lake was renamed in 1998 to honor Jim Chapman, a former congressman from nearby Sulpher Springs.
TIPS: Beginning in February it’s time again to be looking for that trophy trout.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Dubbs Island
GPS: N 26 43.2409, W 97 25.6 (26.7207, -97.4267)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Corkies
TIPS: Wading is the only way to go if you are trying for that bite of a lifetime.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: The Saucer Center
GPS: N 26 28.852, W 97 22.093 (26.4809, -97.3682)
SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under cork
TIPS: Fish color changes and potholes; dawn through midday.
EAST TEXAS
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
(33.2950, -95.7590)
SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut bait
TIPS: Fish cut bait on a split shot and Kahle hook. Drift channel edges. Action best from midday through night.
LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Dale Creek Hump
GPS: N 32 49.582, W 95 35.43 (32.8264, -95.5905)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits
TIPS: Slow roll the top & edges of the hump with chartreuse/white spinnerbaits; Feb-Apr, midday
LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Hauak Lake
GPS: N 32 54.464, W 95 43.839 (32.9077, -95.7307)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs, plastics, spinnerbaits
TIPS: Fish the creek with spinnerbaits, shimmy shakers & big eye jigs; this spot is good all day.
LOCATION: Lake Houston
HOTSPOT: Skier’s Cove
GPS: N 29 58.058, W 95 8.896 (29.9676, -95.1483)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live minnows, fish slow using spider rigs
TIPS: Live minnows, fish slow using spider rigs
LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: Lake Cove
GPS: N 30 54.684, W 95 16.432 (30.9114, -95.2739)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
TIPS: Great Spawning area, fish live minnows, or work jigs shallow; avoid midday, afternoon.
LOCATION: Lake Murvaul
HOTSPOT: No Name Creek
GPS: N 32 2.788, W 94 27.035 (32.0465, -94.4506)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics
TIPS: Good spawning area, sight cast for bass; dawn, morning, dusk
LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches
HOTSPOT: Roadbed
GPS: N 31 37.117, W 94 49.834 (31.6186, -94.8306)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: RatLTraps, soft plastics
TIPS: Fish the shallow flats with hydrilla and the roadbed in the middle. Avoid midday.
LOCATION: Lake O the Pines
HOTSPOT: Wes’ Two Stumps
GPS: N 32 53.099, W 94 42.371 (32.8850, -94.7062)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics, tubes
TIPS: Fish worms or tubes. Slow down and work cover entirely. Midday through afternoon.
LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: Lavaca Creek
GPS: N 31 23.67, W 94 28.163 (31.3945, -94.4694)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits
TIPS: Flip into and fish the back brush, work the points and mouth of the creek. Dawn to late morning, dusk.
LOCATION: Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: 276 / Patroon Bayou Bridge
GPS: N 31 31.387, W 93 47.918 (31.5231, -93.7986)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
TIPS: Work pilings, brush and shadows, or rip rap with minnows or jigs; dawn, morning, dusk, night.
LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman
HOTSPOT: Romaces
GPS: N 33 16.065, W 94 10.802 (33.2678, -94.1800)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live minnows, jigs
TIPS: Fish live minnows or white/chartreuse jigs, working along the channel edges. Action is good all day.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY:
Dave Cox: www.PalmettoGuideService.com
Richard Tatsch: www.FishDudeTX.com
CENTRAL TEXAS HOTSPOTS
Reported by TF&G STAFF
LOCATION: Lake Austin
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Rocks, Shade Trees & Docks
GPS: N 30 19.464, W 97 50.316 (30.3244, -97.8386)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs
TIPS: Morning—spinnerbaits, Midday—flip jigs at the docks, Evening—fish dark spinnerbaits.
LOCATION: Bachman Lake
HOTSPOT: Bridge or Dam Areas
GPS: N 32 51.5699, W 96 51.3839 (32.8595, -96.8564)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps | Crappie: minnows and jigs
TIPS: For bass, throw spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps along the weed lines. Bass fishing is especially good at the dam, by the banks and near the timber under the bridge. Crappie are under the bridge at night this time of year. Minnows and jigs are your best bet right now.
LOCATION: Lake Belton
HOTSPOT: Frank’s Marina
CURRENT LAKE LEVELS CENTRAL TEXAS
LAKE CAPACITY CURRENT %
As of 12/7/2024
Aquilla 43,243 34,556 80%
Arlington 40,157 26,342 66%
Athens 29,503 28,269 96%
Austin 23,972 23,050 96%
Bardwell 43,856 39,467 90%
Belton 432,631 406,244 94%
Benbrook 85,648 72,135 84%
Bois d’Arc 367,609 306,518 83%
Bonham 11,027 7,700 70%
Buchanan 866,694 547,825 63%
Canyon 378,781 193,376 51%
Cedar Creek 644,686 530,738 82%
Choke Canyon 662,820 112,861 17%
Coleto Creek 31,040 23,761 77%
Corpus Christi 256,062 71,084 28%
Eagle Mountain 185,087 142,364 77%
Georgetown 38,005 24,243 64%
Gibbons Creek 25,721 20,396 79%
Granger 51,822 47,786 92%
Grapevine 163,064 151,936 93%
Halbert 6,033 4,739 79%
Hubert H Moss 24,058 22,403 93%
Inks 13,729 13,139 96%
Joe Pool 149,629 145,336 97%
Lavon 409,757 337,931 83%
Lewisville 563,228 476,829 85%
Limestone 203,780 168,497 83%
Lyndon B Johnson 112,778 111,045 99%
Marble Falls 7,597 7,209 95%
Martin 75,726 67,196 89%
Medina 254,823 7,099 3%
Mountain Creek 22,850 22,850 100%
Navarro Mills 49,827 43,339 87%
New Terrell City 8,583 1,887 22%
Ray Hubbard 439,559 380,927 87%
Ray Roberts 788,167 751,012 95%
Richland-Chamb. 1,099,417 1,006,935 92%
Somerville 150,293 126,487 84%
Stillhouse Hollow 229,796 218,266 95%
Tawakoni 871,685 767,369 88%
Texana 158,975 116,587 73%
Texoma 158,975 116,587 73%
Travis 1,098,044 483,968 44%
Tyler 72,073 68,783 95%
Waco 189,418 171,498 91%
Waxahachie 11,060 7,014 63%
HOTSPOTLIGHT
GPS: N 31 06.369, W 97 29.121 (31.1062, -97.4854)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics
TIPS: Work along the rip rap and cove rocks with Carolina-rigged dark plastics.
LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Silver Creek and Paradise Point
GPS: N 30 50.5139, W 98 24.942 (30.8419, -98.4157)
SPECIES: Striped Bass, Hybrid Striper and White
LAKE SOMERVILLE
SURFACE AREA: 11,456 acres
MAXIMUM DEPTH: 38 feet IMPOUNDED: 1967
SOMERVILLE HAS STRONG LARGEmouth and white bass/hybrid action, especially in the spring. The white bass spawning run begins in the creeks in mid February.
TPWD has installed habitat structure throuought the lake. See this symbol... ...on the map).
CENTRAL TEXAS
Bass
BEST BAITS: Large shiner, live perch, 1oz or 1/2 oz. silver or chartreuse slabs, Large Zara Spooks, Pencil Poppers or any other topwater lure that splashes.
TIPS: The stripers will be on the upper end of the lake around the Silver Creek and Paradise Point area as well as around Shaw and Garret Islands. Watch for feeding seagulls. White bass will be in the river channel. Troll shad colored diving baits.
LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Man Lake Basin
GPS: N 32 17.43, W 96 8.6219 (32.2905, -96.1437)
SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers and White Bass
BEST BAITS: 1/8th oz. to 1oz shad imitating lures
TIPS: On spinning and casting tackle spool 8 to 20lb line and present small to medium sized shad imitations vertically below the boat. Tap on the floor of the boat
And watch your electronics in 30’ to 50’ of water. Anchor or drift and look for suspended fish 1’ to 10’ off bottom. Watch for light bites. 1/8th oz. to 1oz baits will work in various colors, just remember to make a lot of noise.
LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points
GPS: N 28 43.4879, W 97 11.328 (28.7248, -97.1888)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Zoom pearl white or watermelon fluke using a 4/0 worm hook rigged weedless and weightless, 7” Zoom watermelon lizards, small Colorado blade spinnerbaits
TIPS: Coleto being a power plant lake means water temperatures are warmer in winter months. This means fish are having to feed more through the cold season. On bright sunny days, try a weightless fluke around grass ( hydrilla) in 4-8 foot of water. Let it sink really slow. Now wait for line to start moving. Pull back to feel weight then set the hook. Do the same with 7-inch Zoom watermelon lizards, dipped slightly in chartreuse. Don’t discount small Colorado blade spinnerbaits . Slow roll them along shallow water stumps lay downs or shallow grass edges.
LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: South Of Pelican Island
GPS: N 32 54.302, W 97 30.237 (32.9050, -97.5040)
SPECIES: Blue cats
BEST BAITS: Cut or whole shad
TIPS: This area is surrounded by two channels;
Walnut Creek on the west and the Trinity River on the east. Depth is from 4 to 10 ft. The water warms up during the day. The shad will go to the warm water and blue cats will follow. I like to anchor the front and the back of the boat to eliminate sway. I use a Carolina rig with circle hooks. If you don’t get a bite in a short time, move until you find them. In this area they tend to stack up in one spot.
LOCATION: Fayette County
HOTSPOT: Hog Pond Trees
GPS: N 29 55.2779, W 96 43.056 (29.9213, -96.7176)
TIPS: Catfish are in Pre-spawn mode. Fish 10 feet of water, close to stumps, straight down with tight line. Chum will help too.
LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: State Park Brush Pile
N 32 37.746, W 96 59.265 (32.6291, -96.9878)
SPECIES: Largemouth
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, soft plastics
TIPS: Fish deep-diving crankbaits or Carolina rigged soft plastic worms & lizards. Avoid midday.
LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Dam Area Ledges
GPS: N 33 1.9379, W 96 28.7639 (33.0323, -96.4794)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Creature baits, Texas rigged or Carolina rigged, and DD 22s crankbaits
TIPS: In February you probably want to be fishing the dam with DD 22’s and creature baits along the ledges that run parallel along the dam. These fish could be 3 feet deep, or they could be 25 feet. You just have to find their pattern. It could be freezing cold outside, and they could be tucked up in some boulders in 4 feet of water. You just never know.
LOCATION: Lake LBJ
HOTSPOT: Granite Knoll
GPS: N 30 33.734, W 98 20.902 (30.5622, -98.3484)
SPECIES: Hybrid/Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Shad
TIPS: Carolina rig live shad, colder months, fish drop-offs and the underwater dome; dawn through morning.
LOCATION: Lake Lewisville
HOTSPOT: Highway 720 Bridge
GPS: N 33 9.65, W 96 57.297 (33.1608, -96.9550)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
TIPS: Fish close to the pilings with live minnows or crappie rigs with jigs; all day.
LOCATION: Lake Limestone
HOTSPOT: Dam Area
GPS: N 31 19.769, W 96 19.631 (31.3295, -96.3272)
SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits
TIPS: White or chartreuse inline spinnerbaits, jigs, look for birds, schools; good spot all day.
LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Kickapoo Creek
GPS: N 32 17.7299, W 95 30.2699 (32.2955, -95.5045)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Texas Spinnerbait Company spinnerbaits in chartreuse and white, the famous Shimmy Shakers in Skeeter color, 3/8 oz. Big Eye Jig in black/ blue, Mister Twister Swimsation in black/blue
TIPS: Bass are in the beginning of the spawn. Fish a Big Eye Jig along the creek channels and back waters around the islands and on the river. Fish the stumps and any brush you can find in two to four feet. Fish slow for best results.
LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard
HOTSPOT: Highway 66 Drift
GPS: N 32 50.185, W 96 32.544 (32.8364, -96.5424)
SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad or bream TIPS: Drift just outside of Rush Creek; dusk through morning.
LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts
HOTSPOT: Main Lake/Creeks
GPS: N 33 23.9603, W 97 3.1223 (33.3993, -97.0520)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Jerkbaits and Alabama rigs
TIPS: With February being the shortest month of the year, it can almost be like two different months with how much the fishing can change. Early in the month you can still do the same things you were doing in January. Late February can be fantastic. It all depends on the weather. If it is still cold at the end of the month, it will stay the same as early February. Fishing mainly on the main lake and the mouth of the major creeks on the North end of the lake. Jerkbaits and Alabama rigs will be a main pattern in most of February. Sexy Shad and Firetiger are great colors
to use on your suspending jerkbaits. The key is too fish it slow and wait between jerks. You want that bait to come to a complete stop. Most of the bites come when it is sitting still. If it warms toward the end of the month, the creeks will also start to heat up. You can use the same patterns but concentrate on the secondary points. A RatLTrap or square bill will also start to produce with the warmer weather.
LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake
HOTSPOT: 309 Flats and Windsock Point
GPS: N 31 59.3039, W 96 8.4659 (31.9884, -96.1411)
SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Striper
BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, 1oz. Silver Slabs TIPS: February can be a really tough month on RC, or it can be a month when you catch the trophy fish you’ve always fished for. It all depends on what’s happening with the weather and water temperatures. If it isn’t much of a winter or if there is an early spring warm-up period, the water temps will begin to move into the low 50s, and the fish will turn on. Sassy Shads and 1-oz. Silver Slabs fished in 20-30 feet of water off the 309 Flats will result in lots of white bass action and the occasional LARGE hybrid striper. Don’t forget the really deep water (40 feet, plus) off the end of the Windsock Point. Look for the gulls to help locate the baitfish that the whites are feeding on. Not many fishermen will brave the cold temperatures you usually experience in February, but those that do are often rewarded with the BIGGEST fish of the year!
LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Deer Island
GPS: N 30 17.904, W 96 35.3099
(30.2984, -96.5885)
SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait/Crawdad
TIPS: Fish the sunny side of the island where the water is warming, and the wind is blowing into the island. Use a tight line and cast toward the stumps nearby.
LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Res.
HOTSPOT: Wheat Bed
GPS: N 31 1.6, W 97 33.215
(31.0267, -97.5536)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Flukes
TIPS: Carolina rig fluke in watermelon, fish the right ditch in 20 feet to the bank; dawn through afternoon.
LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni
HOTSPOT: Cloud Point
GPS: N 32 53.583, W 95 58.28 (32.8931, -95.9713)
SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs
TIPS: Fish on the point edges with chartreuse slabs, look for birds; morning through afternoon.
LOCATION: Lake Texana
HOTSPOT: River Bend
GPS: N 29 1.245, W 96 34.833 (29.0208, -96.5806)
SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Shad, shrimp, cheesebait
TIPS: Fish cut shad, shrimp or cheesebait on a bottom rig; the catch is good here all day.
LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: Little Mineral
GPS: N 33 52.041, W 96 38.845 (33.8674, -96.6474)
SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad
TIPS: Fish a chartreuse sassy shad, slow retrieve, jerk hard when hit; morning through dusk.
LOCATION: Lake Waco
HOTSPOT: Point S of Ridgewood Marina
GPS: N 31 31.977, W 97 13.619 (31.5330, -97.2270)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs
TIPS: Cast red/white jigs, if no action, move area slowly\; morning, afternoon
LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Big Rocky Creek
GPS: N 31 52.794, W 97 23.682 (31.8799, -97.3947)
SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass
BEST BAITS: 3/4 oz. Lead Heads and 4” chartreuses swim baits and jerk baits from www.rsrlures.com, 1/2 oz. Bucktail jigs
TIPS: The stripers are moving back into the creeks like Big and Little Rocky Creeks trapping the bait from the mouth and escaping to the open water. We are using the Lead Head jigs and swim baits and are making long casts behind the boat while using the trolling motor on a slow to med slow speed, dragging the baits through the fish. When marking a big school
CENTRAL TEXAS
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
big school of fish, we stop the boat and switch to a Lead Head with a Bass Assassin swim bait and dropping the baits down and doing nothing. This is called dead sticking. Wait for the small tap on the line and set the hook. Keep in mind the water is cold and when you think you’re fishing slow enough, slow down some more. On mornings when the bite in the creeks slows down, we are heading out to the main lake and using our binoculars, looking for diving birds or flocks of gulls flying low over the water. Using swim baits or 1/2 oz. white Bucktail jigs with 7” snake worm trailers from www.stripersnipertackle.com. Cast toward the birds and let the bait fall down below the baitfish and smaller fish on
WEST TEXAS HOTSPOTS
Reported by TJ RANFT
CONTACT TJ RANFT:
Email: TJRanft17@gmail.com
Online: RanftGuideService.com
LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Boulder Cove
GPS: N 33 2.083, W 101 6.292 (33.0347, -101.1049)
SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut shad
TIPS: Fish the bottom with live minnows, night crawlers or cut shad; catch fish here all day.
LOCATION: Lake Arrowhead
HOTSPOT: The Derricks
GPS: N 33 45.29, W 98 21.128
that THUMP and set the hook! It’s a great time to be on Lake Whitney!
the surface. Then slow roll them along the bottom catching the larger fish that are laying in wait on the injured bait that the smaller faster fish are injuring and dropping to the bottom. If no bird action, then make long casts and slow troll (stroll with trolling motor and drag the baits behind the boat. Wait for
(33.7548, -98.3521)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
TIPS: Fish derricks in 12-20 feet with minnows or 1/8 oz jigs; morning, dusk.
LOCATION: Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Poverty Point
GPS: N 32 36.5339, W 99 40.049 (32.6089, -99.6675)
SPECIES: Hybrid striped bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, spoons, jigs, swim tails, crankbaits
TIPS: Anglers can catch schooling hybrids striped bass by fishing along Poverty Point in about 10-20 ft. of water. Lures such as chrome or pearl white slabs and chrome spoons work well when fishing off the lake bottom. Trolling along spillway cove and Poverty Point with 1 ¼ oz. white or chrome painted jigs with white or chartreuse 3-4 swimming tails or deep-diving crankbaits work well for catching hybrids. Fishing on calm days just after sunrise or just before sunset is likely to yield better results. Often on calm days, you can see schooling hybrids and white bass popping at the surface as they are preying on shad just after dawn or at dusk. If fish seem to be near the surface, a chrome-bodied suspending jerk bait with a blue or black back may yield a good catch.
LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Deep Water Ledge on the Lower End
GPS: N 32 23.014, W 97 42.550 (32.383567, -97.709167)
SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: 3/4 to 1oz jig heads with 5-inch swimbaits/jerkbaits in blue/chartreuse
TIPS: Work over structure slowly and work deeper until you locate the best depth. Very little movement
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY:
Bill Carey: www.StriperExpress.com
Carey Thorn: whitebassfishingTexas@gmail.com
Royce Simmons: www.GoneFishin.biz
Weldon Kirk: www.FishTales-GuideService.com
Randy Routh: 817-822-5539
is required to get bit. Granbury water temperatures continue to be in the upper 40s and low 50’s. Winter patterns are in full force with an early spring just around the corner. Striped bass are active and are moving back and forth from the river to deeper water on the main lake. The warmest water on the really cold days is near the bottom of the channel. Find the bait, find the fish. Wintering Birds are in place and are pointing anglers to active feeding fish from the dam to the river above Granbury. Passing cool fronts continue to dominate the weather pattern.
LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 45.7988, W 99 0.6078 (32.7633, -99.0101)
SPECIES: White crappie
BEST BAITS: live minnows, worms, jigs
TIPS: February may provide a great opportunity to catch the early spawning crappie. Lures such as 1/16-1/8 oz. jigs in white or chartreuse may produce a bite. Live minnows and worms may also serve well as a bait.
LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: North end of the lake
GPS: N 32 53.712, W 98 28.377 (32.895196, -98.472944)
SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: 3-to-5-inch split tail fluke
TIPS: Water temperatures are in the 40s to 50s. Dead-sticking season is in full swing. Work structure and ledges with ¾-to-1-ounce jig heads with a white, chartreuse, or pink 3-to-5-inch fluke. The split tail version works best for dead-sticking. Drop the bait down in front of the fish and hold it very still. You will feel a small tap. When you do set the hook. If you feel two taps you’ve missed the fish. You can also fish live
HOTSPOTLIGHT
CURRENT LAKE LEVELS WEST TEXAS
LAKE CAPACITY CURRENT %
As of 12/7/2024 AC. FT. AC. FT. FULL
Abilene 7,900 514 7%
Alan Henry 96,207 96,207 100%
Amistad 1,813,408 481,169 27%
Amon G Carter 19,266 19,266 100%
Arrowhead 230,359 160,605 70%
Brady Creek 28,808 10,138 35%
Bridgeport 372,183 281,752 76%
Brownwood 130,868 130,868 100%
Champion Creek 41,580 20,373 49%
Cherokee 40,094 40,094 100%
Cisco 29,003 17,187 59%
Coleman 38,075 37,877 100%
Colorado City 30,758 22,942 75%
E V Spence 517,272 90,207 17%
Elephant Butte 1,985,900 154,689 8%
Falcon 1,562,367 197,407 13%
Fort Phantom Hill 70,030 47,462 68%
Graham 45,288 44,353 98%
Granbury 132,949 131,241 99%
Greenbelt 59,968 5,430 9%
Hords Creek 8,109 4,947 61%
Hubbard Creek 313,298 150,131 48%
J B Thomas 199,931 86,113 43% Kemp 245,307 245,307 100%
Kickapoo 86,345 59,961 69% Leon 27,762 27,343 99% Lost Creek 11,950 11,899 100% Mackenzie 46,450 4,337 9% Meredith 500,000 203,857 41%
Millers Creek 26,768 22,311 83%
Mineral Wells 5,273 4,296 82%
Nasworthy 9,615 8,884 92% Natural Dam 9,615 8,884 92%
Nocona 21,444 19,064 89%
N. Fork Buffalo Cr. 15,400 6,244 41%
O C Fisher 115,742 10,013 9%
O H Ivie 554,340 225,038 41%
Oak Creek 39,210 11,361 29%
Palo Duro 61,066 830 1%
Palo Pinto 26,766 26,505 99%
Pat Cleburne 26,008 21,757 84%
Possum Kingdom 538,139 535,636 100%
Proctor 54,762 54,762 100%
Red Bluff 151,110 60,552 40%
Squaw Creek 151,250 151,250 100%
bait this time of year and have great success. Smaller shad tend to work better than the larger summertime shad. Just fish them like you would in the summer.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY:
Michael W. Acosta: Unfair Advantage Charters 254-396-4855
SURFACE AREA: 2,880 acres
DEPTH: 100 feet
ALAN HENRY IS ON THE DOUBLE Mountain Fork of the Brazos River.
LAKE ALAN HENRY
Dominated by largemouth, it also has respectable spotted bass, catfish and crappie fishing.
This is a very narrow lake with a steep, rocky shoreline. Structure consists primarily of rock and timber.
06.402
5-25 feet near the point & ledges with shad or crawfish crankbaits; morning through afternoon.
brush in the bends in the creek with white
The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for our Base Point, Galveston Channel (N 29.317, W 94.88)
Tidal movement and daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many fish and game 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 point 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 TIMES: Our Forecast Calendar uses both Tide and SoLunar projections to predict the best fishing times and days. Generally, if a SoLunar Period (Major/Minor) falls within an hour of sunrise or sunset, fishing conditions should be better. On certain days where Tidal Activity is stronger, the best fishing times may fall ouside the normal SoLunar range. While tides are not a direct factor in FRESHWATER FISHING, SoLunar Activity still accounts for increased feeding activity in freshwater species. It is also a prime factor in the movement and feeding habits of game species.
TIDE CONVERSION TABLE
Sportsman’s DAYBOOK
Tides and Prime Times JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR
(See Instructions for reading the Graphs on the opposite page)
TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the White Area at the top of the Calendar Pages. You can use the CONVERSION TABLE below to make adjustments. It is keyed to 23 other tide stations along the Texas Coast (see these map icons: T1 ). Adjust low and high tide times, plus or minus in minutes, from the times given for the Base Point at Galveston Channel.
SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the Green Boxes on the Calendar pages. Moon Overhead and Underfoot times are given in the SoLunar Box and illustrated on the Fishing Graph.
Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE on the map below to adjust times for points East and West of our Base Point at Galveston Channel.
than watching a younger hunter bag their rst big game animal. Whether it is a deer, hog or bear watching them take the shot and seeing the sheer excitement on their faces when they put their hands on the animal is truly something special.
But, there are many moving parts to get you from point A to point B. If you don’t have a plan in place, you very well may not get the smile of a satis ed hunter, but you
can rather turn a youth completely against it. ere are several moving parts that are di erent for a big game hunt over other youth hunts such as squirrel or rabbit.
So let’s go over a few tips to make sure they have a great day in the woods and make memories that will cement them in the outdoors for years to come.
SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS
Have a blind or stand that provides you
with plenty of game that is under the 100 yard mark. is usually means corn or some type of feeder to a ract the big game and keep them occupied. If possible show them pictures from game cameras at the hunting location to get them excited about the hunt and the area.
RANGE TIME
Set aside some time to let the youth shoot the weapon to become somewhat familiar with the gun. Don’t wait until the animal is in range to try and show them where the safety is and how to properly squeeze the trigger. It goes without saying to always stress safety and to treat every gun as though it is loaded and to keep pointed in a safe direction.
DON’T GO SMALL ON
CALIBER
is is by far the biggest mistake I see people make in taking youth hunting bigger game like deer and hogs. ey will reach for their trusty AR15 chambered in .556, or a single shot 223. Yes, all of these weapon systems can dispatch big game with one shot. But shot placement is paramount here. is is where I err on the side of a larger caliber ri e. My twin boys are 8 and have killed dozens of hogs with my AR10 chambered in 6.5 creedmoor. e felt recoil is very minimal and they are shooting a 129 grain bullet instead of a 44 grain. ere are several other options out there that fall into this category: 6.5 grendel, 6mm ARC, 243, 6.8 SPC and the 7.62X39mm. ese calibers all give the youth a bit more leeway as far as shot placement and still won’t have the sinful recoil of typical big game ri es.
USE A SUPPRESSOR IF POSSIBLE
A suppressor will provide the youth shooter a bit more of recoil relief in addition to not hurting their ears. I also love the fact that you get the instant report of hearing the bullet impact the animal. I know a suppressor can be expensive, but much like any quality optic, you buy once and cry once.
BRING A TRIPOD or have a steady shooting platform. If you hunt in a blind or treestand, make sure you have something in place to rest the gun on. Se ing the gun up and having it somewhat where it needs to be will eliminate unnecessary movements that could spook the game. is also gives the youth the best chance for a clean one shotone kill.
The author’s twin sons have killed dozens of hogs with an AR 10 which has minimal recoil.
KEEP THEM COMFORTABLE
I bring extra seat cushions to make sure my boys are comfortable and not squirming the whole time due to seats that don’t really t them. Also, grab a few snacks that are quiet to open. Bring a thermocell if you have mosquitoes in your woods. Where we live the bugs can make or break your hunt if you don’t have some type of repellent!
Scan to Hear Audio Version
Taking youth out hunting big game is very rewarding and very challenging. Set your youth up for success this fall and get them in the woods to enjoy the outdoors every chance you get and I promise you that you won’t regret it!
story by SHANE SMITH •
Mountain Lion Trifecta
DANNY GRIMM SHOT THESE THREE MOUNTAIN LIONS ON HIS CROCKETT County deer lease. The first cat walked out after a whitetail doe got alarmed and ran back and forth while he was sitting in his deer blind. He placed the crosshairs on the big cat and fired. Then shortly thereafter two more walked out and he shot at one of them and ended up cleanly killing both as the bullet passed through. There are no limits or seasons on mountain lions in Texas. He is getting the two largest full body mounted and the other done in a rug. Landowners in the area were happy about the harvest due to cattle depredation.
Flaws in the Logic of Banning Hunting
THE IDEA OF BANNING
hunting, as advocated by some animal rights activists, is based on the belief that protecting individual animals will result in a ourishing wildlife population.
And I’m happy to report this animal rights-driven ideology was pushed back in Colorado where Proposition 127 which would have banned all mountain lion and bobcat harvest was defeated.
e anti-hunting perspective, while well-intentioned, overlooks critical ecological, economic, and management realities that have long-term consequences for wildlife. e aw in this logic stems from a basic, misunderstanding of how wildlife populations are maintained and the important role hunting plays in conservation e orts.
First, animal rights activists o en assume that by banning hunting, wildlife will thrive. ey overlook the complex ecological balance that hunting maintains in a world where human populations are continually growing and competing for resources. In regulated hunting systems, wildlife populations are managed through scienti c data to prevent overpopulation, ensure genetic diversity, and maintain ecosystem health. Without human intervention, many species would experience unchecked population growth, leading to habitat degradation and widespread starvation or disease outbreaks. Hunting acts as a tool to help balance these populations.
Second, the argument for banning hunting does not address the economic vacuum that would be created if hunting-related revenue ceased. As outlined by the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, a large portion of funding for habitat restoration, wildlife research, and law enforcement comes from the mandated sale of hunting licenses, permits, and excise taxes on hunting equipment. Without these critical sources of revenue, there would be li le to no nancial support for conservation programs. Animal rights
APTITUDE Outdoors
activists o en suggest non-consumptive activities like ecotourism or wildlife observation as alternatives, these industries cannot generate the same level of consistent funding.
If you don’t agree, look at Africa, where according to Sue Tidwell in her book Cries of the Savanna, one hunter can generate the same revenue as 29 photo tourists, with studies showing that hunters spend up to 30 times more than ecotourists, and their contributions are more widely distributed, bene ting local communities far beyond the concentrated areas that ecotourism supports. Furthermore, replacing this lost income through public taxes or grants would be challenging and unpopular, and there is no guarantee these funds would be allocated e ectively or even ever generated.
Lastly, a ban on hunting would likely lead to unintended consequences for wildlife and ecosystems. For example, species like deer or elk that thrive in environments altered by human activity could quickly reach unsustainable population levels in the absence of controlled hunting. ese overpopulated species would not only su er from lack of food and shelter but would also cause severe damage to forests, grasslands, and other habitats. is would, in turn, have ripple e ects on other species, potentially leading to further declines in biodiversity. Paradoxically, the very wildlife that activists seek to protect would end up su ering MORE under a hunting ban.
In sum, the push to ban hunting disregards the practical realities of wildlife management and conservation in the current state that this planet is in. It underestimates the ecological role that hunting plays in population control and overestimates the ability of alternative funding mechanisms to replace the substantial economic contributions of hunters. e awed logic in the argument to ban hunting risks doing more harm than good to the wildlife populations it seeks to protect. is is not a utopia where wildlife and human beings all get along and everything is fun and fancy free.
:: by PAUL FUZINSKI TF&G Contributing Editor
is is the real world where wildlife needs to be carefully monitored and conserved, or they will disappear, pu ing us right back in the early 1900s.
e short-sightedness of activists in calling for a ban on hunting is not only impractical but dangerous for wildlife conservation. eir failure to present a viable alternative to the North American Model reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of how conservation works and the critical role hunting plays in funding and managing wildlife populations. is lack of a practical solution threatens to undo a century of progress, leading to further habitat destruction, overpopulation, and severe ecological imbalances. By pushing for policies that ignore the realities of conservation funding, they risk causing the very extinction events they claim to oppose.
Without hunting and the substantial revenue it generates, wildlife populations would spiral out of control, su ering from starvation, disease, and habitat loss. In their idealistic vision, animal rights activists overlook the harsh truths of nature and the need for human intervention. eir deeply awed, utopian logic endangers the future of wildlife far more than the regulated hunting they seek to eliminate. Without a workable solution, their calls for action will lead to a collapse in conservation e orts, leaving wildlife populations to su er and decline in ways far more brutal than a hunter’s bullet.
Email Paul Fuzinski at ContactUs@fishgame.com
WHITETAIL
Mason County
Seven-year-old Trevor York harvested his first whitetail deer this season while hunting in Mason County. A nice 6 pointer!
MIXED STRINGER Undiscloded Location
Ricky Stilley of Tarkington Prairie shows off a nice haul of reds and specks and a flounder, caught with his mentor Travis Puls and another angler at an undisclosed location.
SPECKLED TROUT
Galveston
Matthew Flueckiger and his six-year-old son Henry caught a nice Trout at the Galveston jetties fishing with Capt. Derek York of Spot Stalker Guide Service.
WHITETAIL
Houston County
Jeremiah Rowell took this 10-point buck while hunting in Houston County. He bagged the deer with a .270 at 80 yards with a lung and heart shot.
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SNOOK
Lower Laguna Madre John Wells landed this 30+ inch snook on an artificial DOA shrimp while fishing with his father, Ross, and Capt. Brian Barrera.
FLOUNDER
Port O’Connor
Brian Silva caught this flounder while fishing at Port O’Connor with Capt. Kim Goulden.
SPECKLED TROUT
Port Mansfield
Silje Rodningsby all the way from Norway, caught this nice speck while fishing Port Mansfield with Capt. Kim Goulden.
Stephenville
Seven-year-old Henson Compton with his first buck, taken on a ranch near Stephenville owned by a family friend. Henson has been hunting with his dad and older brothers since he was four.
