Texas Fish & Game December 2014

THE Texas Outdoor Authority

www.FishGame.com Wild in Texas:

Jaguarundi

DECEMBER 2014 | VOL. 31 • NO. 8 | $3.95

5 Keys to Catching

Trophy Crappie River Ducks:

Feathery Flows!

Frozen Fish:

Salt Strategies for Plummeting Mercury 1412-Dec-CoverDIG.indd 1

Christmases Past:

Holiday Hunts

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

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

ROY NEVES PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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

A D V E R T I S I N G ARDIA NEVES VICE PRESIDENT/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DAVID BECKLER • NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES LARRY DALTON • ADVERTISING COORDINATOR 1745 GREENS ROAD HOUSTON, TX 77032 PHONE: (281) 227-3001 • FAX (281) 227-3002

C R E A T I V E ELLIOTT DONNELLY DIGITAL PUBLISHER ANNA CAMPBELL MELINDA BUSS WENDY KIPFMILLER-O’BRIEN

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. ©Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response. Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing address label when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Email change of address to: dhruzek@fishgame. com Email new orders to: dhruzek@fishgame.com Email subscription questions to: dhruzek@fishgame.com.

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Table of

Contents

DECEMBER 2014 Volume 31 • NO. 8

Features

FROZEN FISH Here are a few alternative saltwater species to target and tactics for anglers to use when the winter mercury takes a dive.

COVER: Family Traditions, Whitetail Revelations

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by Calixto Gonzales

Fathers and sons, uncles and cousins... family hunts not only validate the bonding nature of the sport, but campfire conversations lead to shared learning experiences that make better hunters.

F.L.E.X. ABILITY

STORY:

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TF&G’s editor has developed a system for targeting big fish of any kind.

This article focuses on using F.L.E.X. (Focus, Learn, Eliminate eXperience) tactics to catch big crappie.

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by Chester Moore

Cover Photo and Story by Chester Moore

RIVER FLOWS

ALSO IN DECEMBER:

For waterfowlers unwilling—or unable—to pay high lease fees, Texas rivers can provide hot duck action at an affordable cost.

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by John N. Felsher

Wild in Texas Did you know that Texas is home to the jaguarundi?

This month’s Wild in Texas photo essay looks at this exotic wild cat.

by Chester Moore

STORY:

CHRISTMASES PAST

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The conversion of old 8mm home movies to DVD brings on a rush of memories of Christmases past and holiday hunts with a lost loved one.

by Reavis Z. Wortham

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Contents (continued)

Inside Fish&Game

Columns

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by Roy & Ardia Neves | TF&G Owners

Editor’s Notes

by Chester Moore TF&G Editor in Chief

The Annual Blessings Audit

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S ANOTHER YEAR BARRELS TO A CLOSE, IT IS meaningful to stop for a few moments and reflect on our lives, on the lives of those close and important to us, and on the state of the world at this particular juncture in history.

No matter where—or when—you are, there will always be troubles. Some people have it better than others. Some generations have it better than others. But everyone has to contend with day to day difficulties to some degree. Everyone and every time also has had some measure of reason to be thankful. From a glass-half-empty perspective, this means acknowledging that no matter how bad things are, they could always be worse.

All forms of life are built for conflict and stress. Meeting challenges might even be viewed as the essence of life. Stress is a natural condition that every thing and every one has to deal with, from a single-cell organism to the leader of the free world (and we’ll let you draw your own conclusions as to which of those two examples handles it better).

We are definitely living—as the old Chinese curse goes—in interesting times. Threats come at us from hordes of murderous religious fanatics, drug cartels, exotic viruses, gun-wielding nut jobs, a hostile climate and economic uncertainty, in an unrelenting 24-hour news cycle that fills our brains and competes unmercifully with our personal daily stresses to make it all but impossible to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

And yet, every day good deeds still get performed by individuals and communities. Art is still created. Innovations and solutions to vexing problems are engineered. Life goes on and, on balance, gets better.

In our world here at TF&G, the past year—like the last five or so before it—has certainly been “interesting.” Economics and the “Print is Dead” movement have been our personal jihadist enemies. But technology, creativity and the exhilaration of working hard have kept us alive and ahead of our daily and systemic challenges. Setting our particular struggles aside, we feel blessed to work in an industry that champions the natural world and serves as its true protector, and to work with people who keep us inspired.

Whatever your personal trials are at this time, we sincerely hope you are able to look beyond them and find your blessings. They are there.

We wish you a Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year (just so it isn’t one that glorifies thugs, the bullying of women and infringing the rights of others) and a Happy 2015, and beyond.

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Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

TexasWild

by Ted Nugent TF&G Editor At Large

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Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill TF&G Politcal Commentator

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Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales TF&G Saltwater Editor

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Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams TF&G Freshwater Editor

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Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo TF&G Hunting Editor

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Open Season

by Reavis Wortham TF&G Freshwater Editor

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LETTERS TF&G REPORT BIG BAGS & CATCHES

32 TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

34 TRUE GREEN 50 TEXAS TESTED 52 FISH AND GAME GEAR

54 HOTSPOT FOCUS

Texas Boating

62 TEXAS

TF&G Boating Editor

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TIDES & PRIME TIMES

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SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SECTION

by Lenny Rudow

Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus TF&G Firearms Editor

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Departments

Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven

HOTSPOTS

94 TF&G PHOTOS

The Texas Gourmet

Texas Fish & Game is a family-owned business, and the owners welcome your comments and questions. E-mail Roy and Ardia Neves or Ron Ward at ContactUs@fishgame.com 6 |

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Letters to the Editor More on the Border YOUR EDITOR’S NOTES IN THE September Fish & Game was right on. Since the end of March, I have been working on a huge landscape job near Langtry. It’s a 17 mile trip down a dirt road. I live in Lake Hills which is a little north of San Antonio.

After I had been working there for about a month, My father came to visit us to see his at the time 16-month-old granddaughter. While he was here, his F250 Ford was stolen out of a motel parking lot in the middle of the night.

The management of the motel was of no help which so ever which lead us to believe they were in on it. three days later, it was recovered by the border patrol about 10 miles from the ranch we are working at in what they called a bail-out, where the border patrol chased them until they wrecked the truck and everyone bailed. No one was caught.

Two weeks after that, while we was harvesting cactus on the ranch for the landscaping, we came upon a spot, where we found a couple of backpacks with some very worn clothes and a couple of empty water bottles.

Some of the clothes were kid’s size. You could see where they climbed the high fence to the ranch on the other side and got into a truck. We saw the foot prints and tire marks.

This spot was about 200 yards from where we have our trailers set up to sleep in.

About a month ago, while I was driving out to the ranch, I came upon what looked like a truck broke down on the dirt road. The two people outside the truck tried to get me to stop. I didn’t and when I drove past the truck, I saw it was just made to look like it was broke down.

50 yards up the road, I saw a bunch of black bundles behind an iron tree and it didn’t take me long to figure out what was going on. It’s scary down there and you better watch out if you are by yourself out there.

Thanks for printing what you did. We all need a heads up on what’s going on down there.

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MR. MOORE I FEEL YOU BASICALLY only brushed the surface in your column regarding concerns down in the lower country.

It is my belief it is only a matter of time before bad things surface, the illegal immigrants are becoming bolder by the day. A good friend just sold his place in Webb County for the above reasons.

I don’t think anyone is really on top of the problem. I read recently that in 2013 the Border Patrol averaged only 4.2 alien arrests per Border Patrolman agency wide.

Bill Newsom Brush Country Field Deputy The border situation as we both agree is a travesty. There are so many facets to it we could dedicate an entire issue and not scratch the surface. As an outdoor magazine we felt it was important to address the key issues and make people who might not otherwise be aware what is happening in many cases right here on Texas soil.

—CM

The Texas Lynx Stockings?

DEAR MR. MOORE, I RECENTLY came across your blog on “The Texas Lynx” and found it fascinating. Where do you think the stories on actual Canadian lynx being stocked in Texas came from?

long, ruff of fur extending from the ears to the jowl and a black-tipped tail. The colors are similar, from light gray to brown. That is more common and is often spotted or streaked with black. Their size is similar, from 65-100 cm (including the tail) and weights range from 15-35 lbs. From here, we can get more specific.

The bobcat looks more like an overgrown housecat. Most of them do not have the distinguishing extra-long tufts of hair on the tips of its ears or the bigger, shaggy feet that help the Canada lynx navigate in the deep snow.

Another characteristic is the tail. Although both have short “bobbed” tails, the bobcats is banded with black stripes, and is black at the top of the tip and white at the bottom. The lynx’s tail lacks banding and is completely black at the tip.

The range of the bobcat is from southern Canada to central Mexico and tolerates the forest, mountains, swamps or desert regions.

The Canada lynx prefers forested areas and mainly lives on the snowshoe hare.

There is a distinct correlation between the number of births of Canada lynx and the numbers of prey, the snowshoe hare. The bobcat feeds on a more diverse diet of, rabbits, squirrels, mice and birds and sometimes deer, a trait that has contributed greatly to their success.

We could find no basis for the origin of Canada lynx stockings in Texas as was discovered about the alleged timber rattlesnake releases in the Piney Woods and published first here in TF&G in 2003.

—CM

Fred Pearson I think they most likely started with someone killing or seeing a bobcat that was bigger than most and had longer ear tufts than others they had seen. Bobcats are first cousins of the lynx, so to speak, so there is not a whole lot of difference; but I think that is the basis of the legend.

By appearance, they are similar. They both have “stumpy” tails about 4-5 inches

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Send your Comments to: Editor Texas Fish & Game 1745 Greens Rd Houston TX 77032 Email: editor@fishgame.com

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Editor’s Editor’s Notes

by Chester Moore | TF&G Editor in Chief

Wild Wishes

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T WAS A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT. A sweet, young girl who had recently lost her father, got the opportunity to pet and interact with her favorite animal, a zebra.

A few months earlier at church, the Holy Spirit put it on my heart to ask her what her favorite animal was and without hesitation she said “zebra”.

I promised her she would meet a zebra and here it was two months later. Thanks to Donna McDonald of Jasper that was getting to happen. It was the first of several of what we call “Wild Wishes” that my wife and I through our ministry, Children’s Kingdom Ministries got to give in 2014.

We have dedicated every bit of time, energy and finance outside of our jobs (mine at TF&G and hers as a teacher) to working with children on behalf of the Lord. It’s our passion and life’s mission, and it started with my grandmother.

The late Ruby Pickard, founded an organization called My Wish Inc. in 1982 to grant wishes to terminally ill children in Southeast Texas. At eight years old, I accompanied her on that first wish where a little boy who simply asked for an American flag to fly over his home in Mauriceville.

That had a huge impact because at the time I would have asked for something extravagant like a live elephant or the entire Star Wars merchandise collection. But here was a boy my age with leukemia wanting a humble flag. That event and being able to see her give so many children happiness birthed a heart for kids even while I was one.

This year we have opened the Kingdom Zoo: Education Center in West Orange near my home and launched our Wild Wishes Project to continue making the connection between the Creator and His Creation.

Wild Wishes is important to us because it is a means of giving hope and at Christmas this is something I want you to think about.

How much hope is out there in the world?

How much hope is out there in the news, in popular culture and on social media?

If you can find any, please let me know.

We have an opportunity in a season that even the most hardened person realizes is about giving to do something special for others. If you know someone who is hurting or maybe a child who has suffered or loss or is experiencing a sickness, reach out and offer help.

Simply taking that person out to the duck blind or on a fishing trip during the Christmas break could do wonders for them.

People need to know that they matter. You might be the only person who gives them that feeling by speaking to them, offering kindness and letting them feel like there is something out there for them.

Our Wild Wishes Project is not about hunting or fishing. There are already wonderful programs that grant those types of wishes, and we are not limited to terminal illness. We are also working with kids who have suffered a loss, perhaps suffered abuse or neglect and also include terminal illness.

In fact we granted a wolf-related wish to a wonderful little boy suffering from a form of cancer (now in remission) thanks to our friends at Exotic Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo as well as my friend David Cleaver and his wolf dog, Lucy.

What it’s about is letting kids have some kind of safe, fun encounter with wildlife one that they might not realize is possible. Who would think there are zebras in Jasper, Texas, for example?

Well, there are and our sweet friend got to meet one of them.

I’m a little uncomfortable writing about the charitable work Lisa and I do because it is certainly not about us. It’s about He who sent us and the wonderful kids we work with, whether it be at our Education Center, on a field trip with kids or on a Wild Wish.

The fact is, I turn down most hunting and T E X A S

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fishing excursions I am offered these days.

The work I do outside of this magazine is almost totally for this cause, and I have no regrets. Seeing the smile of a child who has had a rough go of it trumps shooting any big buck or catching the biggest flounder.

It’s also exciting to honor my grandmother by, in a way, continuing her work that blessed more than 250 kids in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. A few days before I wrote this column, I had the privilege of ministering to 13 kids from Buckner’s Children’s Home at our Kingdom Zoo: Education Center.

They got to see and meet a bunch of reptiles, amphibians, arachnids and mammals and spend a day in a fun, loving, faith-filled environment. It was our fourth event with Buckner for the year, and it reminded me that even the smallest of things matters to a child.

One little girl couldn’t help but laugh that our rat, Rita, is hairless. I’m used to the fact she was born that way but seeing that beautiful smile at such a simple and admittedly silly-looking creature serves as inspiration to keep doing this and take it to new levels.

If you would like to support us with a tax-deductible end of the year donation go to kingdomzoo.com and click on the Donate link. Everything we do is made possible with donations. Or if you would like to see how else you can get involved, visit the website or e-mail me at cmoore@fishgame.com.

Here’s to you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful beginning to 2015. Most important, I hope you can give hope to someone else whether they live across your street or around the world.

Hope lives in the hearts of those willing to give it.

E-mail Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com Listen to his weekly radio show Fridays, 6 pm on 560 KLVI Beaumont (www.klvi.com)

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The TF&G Report Texans Convicted in Illegal Deer Breeding Operation THE LATEST CHAPTER IN A DECADE long series of criminal and wildlife disease investigations involving a former South Texas deer breeder ended recently when a Corpus Christi area couple pleaded guilty to 50 charges of Unlawful Possession and/or Sale of Live Game Animals.

Frank Thomas Shumate Jr., 51, and Kalub Rogers Shumate, 31, were each assessed $14,127.50 in fines and agreed to surrender the ability to apply for a deer breeder permit or a hunting lease license for all time. Mr. Shumate also agreed to surrender his hunting license through the end of the 2015 license year and Ms. Shumate

Hailey Hurlburt caught this 27-inch, sevenpound trout while fishing at the north end of Sabine Lake.

through the end of the 2017 license year.

The criminal cases were adjudicated in the office of Hon. Caroline Korzekwa, Karnes County Justice Court Precinct 2.

Retired San Antonio attorney Rene Barrientos served as special prosecutor in the case with approval and support from the Karnes County Attorney. He also coordinated a global agreement in Travis County District Court to resolve a pending civil case against Ms. Rogers and recover $34,080 in restitution related to expenses incurred by TPWD staff while conducting a deer herd inventory inspection and disease sampling at a deer breeding facility permitted to Ms. Rogers.

Investigation into Mr. Shumate’s deer breeding activities began in March 2004 and led to multiple charges in three coun-

ties. Two years later, his deer breeder violations resulted in 10 convictions on criminal charges in Jim Wells County, five convictions in Nueces County and five convictions in Webb County. As a result of these findings, Mr. Shumate agreed to relinquish his Scientific Breeder’s Permit and liquidate all deer held in captivity in his deer breeding facility in Nueces County.

In advance of losing his deer breeding privileges, Mr. Shumate allegedly initiated a plan to have a new deer breeding facility permitted in the name of Kalub Rogers on his property in Karnes County, where he then transferred more than 100 deer from his Nueces County facility.

Over time the TPWD Special Operations Unit received numerous reports that Mr. Shumate was reportedly still in the

Big Bags&Catches

Mario Gomez (left) with a 9-point mule deer and Benny Rodriguez (right) with a 12-point muley, both shot on the Terlingua Ranch in Brewster County. They were hunting with “Uncle Ed,” the Redskins fan in the center.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your Big Bags & Catches Photos and Vote for our next Winners 10 |

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deer business and was buying and selling deer for which he was not legally authorized

by TPWD. An investigation revealed that Mr. Shumate conducted sales of at least 78 white-tailed deer from Ms. Rogers’ deer breeding facility to ranches for release into the wild for stocking purposes since September 2010. Mr. Shumate received a minimum of $171,466 in payments for white-tailed deer he unlawfully sold, which according to records submitted to TPWD, were transported from Ms. Rogers’ deer breeding facility. The investigation further indicated that Kalub Rogers was holding a deer breeder permit in her name on behalf of her husband Frank Thomas Shumate Jr. Ms. Rogers’ facility came under additional scrutiny in 2012, initially as a result of a delinquent annual report required of all permitted deer breeding facilities. Criminal charges were filed when a subsequent herd inspection and inventory revealed significant irregularities and discrepancies, including 162 inventoried deer that were missing from the facility.

During the herd inspection, TPWD wildlife biologists

Nine-year-old Baker Wardell shot his first Rio Grand gobbler near La Pryor in Zavala County. Dad Ronald Wardell said it was a classic story of pre-dawn anticipation, frustration, and ultimately, complete success. The tom came to Ronald’s call near a hen decoy at 15 yards and the boy made the shot with his dad’s Remington 1100 magnum 12 gauge.

noted the remaining deer in the facility to be in poor condition and numerous decayed deer carcasses were observed throughout the pens.

The observation of 142 deer of unknown origin was cause for additional concern and tissue samples from several deer were tested for both Chronic Wasting Disease and Bovine Tuberculosis. Neither disease was detected.

“Unscrupulous actions by these two individuals are not only a threat to all the law-abiding deer breeders who are carefully monitoring and managing their facilities, but also to the state’s free-ranging deer, which can be exposed to unnecessary disease risk from these illegitimate activities,” said Mitch Lockwood, TPWD Big Game Program Director. “Captive and free-ranging deer are too important to our state to have them compromised by the actions of a few.”

State Gives Deer Handling Guidelines

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Proper Carcass Disposal

THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Department reminds hunters throughout the state to properly dispose of deer carcasses to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in deer. This is particularly important for mule deer taken inside the Chronic Wasting Disease Containment Zone, which covers portions of Hudspeth and El Paso counties, and the surrounding High Risk Zone.

“Because many hunters process their own deer, they are key players in slowing the spread of diseases such as CWD,” said Ryan Schoeneberg, Big Game Program Specialist with TPWD. “One possible way that disease can spread is by the transportation and improper disposal of carcass parts.”

Deer can become infected with CWD if they come into contact with other infected deer or an environment contaminated with CWD prions.

Although CWD prions are ubiquitous throughout the body of an infected deer, they are known to accumulate in the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes.

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Hunters who take deer in the Containment Zone are required to present the unfrozen head of the deer to a designated check station within 24 hours of take so tissue samples can be removed for CWD testing. Additionally, hunters in this area should not take whole deer carcasses out of the Containment Zone, or carcass parts that contain brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, or lymph nodes, according to Shawn Gray, mule deer program leader for TPWD. “We recommend hunters in the Containment Zone and High Risk Zone quarter deer in the field and leave all but the quarters, backstraps and head at the site if it’s not possible to bury the inedible carcass parts on the ranch or take them to a landfill.”

Hunters are urged to follow these safe handling recommendations:

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• Avoid cutting through bones, spine, or brain when processing deer carcasses.

• If processing harvested deer in camp or at home, place carcass parts in trash bags and properly dispose of them through a trash service or landfill.

• For taxidermy work, use a licensed taxidermist to assure proper carcass disposal.

Safe Parts to Transport • Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spine or head attached; • Hides or capes from which all excess tissue has been removed; • Antlers, including antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue.

For more information visit: http://www. tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/diseases/ cwd/.

—From staff reports

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Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Stand Down

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AKING A STAND IS THE MOST POPULAR and productive method of whitetail hunting in Texas. It has been for decades and with good reason—the positives far outweigh the negatives in this admittedly sedentary approach.

The hunter on stand, either in a box blind or perched on a tripod, is in excellent position to fill a deer tag. Being hidden while overseeing a promising intercept area allows the game to come to you. You are able to glass an unaware deer, make an educated decision, then wait for a high-percentage shot. Well, most of the time.

Also important, the proper stand allows a rifle rest for deliberate bullet placement. And a clean shot is—or should be—the goal of every conscientious hunter. A fast offhand chance might seem more dashing and “sporting” but maybe not so much if it wounds and cripples and the deer is lost.

The typical box blind offers a measure of weatherproofing on a raw or rainy day, and the easy access allows individuals of limited physical abilities to enjoy deer hunting. Oh, yes—it’s also a fine place to watch (and photograph) the random passing of wildlife that most nonhunters seldom see.

The only negative to climbing into a stand (except maybe a swarm of nesting wasps) is that a prolonged session can become boring. This especially is true if the seat is uncomfortable and you are under-dressed and the brush appears dead, void of game.

You can only admire fluttering chee-chee birds for so long. Being the keen hunter that you are, you try to talk yourself into “one more hour” but the lingering minutes on a slow-motion wristwatch can become a neverending ordeal. If apex predators such as the Tyrannosaurus rex hadn’t been wiped out by the Ice Age, several excruciating vigils in a barren deer stand certainly would have done it.

The grip of impatience is tightened by our fast-lane mentality. Several hours of sitting quietly and staring at nothing can be difficult—if not impossible—for some hard-chargers.

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Fortunately, options afoot are available.

This is assuming the lease allows hunters to leave designated stands.

Horn rattling, or clashing a pair of antlers together to imitate a fight between two territorial bucks, originated in Texas and remains steeped in lore and legend. The technique does work, sometimes with dramatic results, but timing can be critical. Rattling often is most effective during the early stages of the rut, when dominant bucks are most competitive for available does.

Weather also can be a factor. Cool, moist mornings with a light wind from a constant direction are ideal; conversely, a hot afternoon under a whipping wind is a poor draw.

You can successfully rattle from an elevated stand, especially when attempting to draw unseen bucks from “way over there,” and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. And rattling is a fine way to stoke the final 30 minutes or so during a deerless vigil. At least you are doing something that might actually attract a buck.

But, for sure, rattling is best from the ground. Teaming with another hunter is great, especially when you have the rifle and your companion totes the horns. A solo session will work—just have the rifle ready as you drop the horns. Either way, the scope should be turned to its lowest power to acquire a close, fast target.

Put another way, it’s a rookie mistake to lift 14X at a B&C candidate closing fast through tangled mesquite at 30 yards.

A good rattling site offers a broken field of view downwind— the random clumps provide cover for a circumspect buck while allowing you to anticipate the action.

And pay attention when settling into your brushy hide. You don’t want to cozy down next to an irritable rattlesnake. Nor do you want to sit in the middle of a fire ant bed.

The great advantage of rattling from the ground is the ability to utilize available cover— not just for concealment, but for imparting realistic sounds of fighting. Whacking branches, thumping dirt, kicking rocks add realism.

The hunter on foot can spend several hours rattling, usually easing from one promising spot to the next. Go slow, pausing often to glass ahead. Each rattling stop warrants waiting and watching before moving. How long at each sta-

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tion depends on the situation, but rattling when bucks are responsive is a great way to spend a day in the field.

Just be cautious over the rifle when the brush erupts; a so-so young buck can appear awfully big as it charges into the horns.

So-called “still hunting” (walking through the woods in hopes of finding game) usually is not the best game plan for a mature buck. We tend to move too fast. Also worth note, the deer lives there. Also worth note, have a look at those ears and that nose.

No, unless your family crest depicts Daniel Boone on one escutcheon and Hiawatha on the other, attempting to bumble through the brush and “walk up” game may succeed only in routing a big buck that might have been tagged by patient waiting and watching.

There’s one possible exception: If the weather is witheringly cold, wet and windy, you might have a shot when still hunting through thick draws and bottoms. Most deer bed down, reluctant to move under such harsh conditions, and the rough weather helps mask your approach.

Of course, this sounds good on paper, maybe not so solid out there in the icy brush.

A steaming bowl of chili and a football game on the TV back at camp might be a more realistic call.

Spot-and-stalk is another option for the restless hunter. The odds for success are better here because you know exactly where an unwary deer is. Well, almost exactly. They do have four feet, but you’ve got a major head start.

Most spot-and-stalk attempts originate from stands or lease vehicles. A deer is located at considerable distance (a spotting scope may help greatly in fine tuning things) and it remains only to slip within shooting range.

Full camo helps but the idea is to stay hidden, using wind and sun and terrain, and close the gap. Anything inside 100 yards is ice cream but 200-plus is a legitimate poke with a scoped rifle.

This is assuming you had the forethought to tote a stable tripod or bipod—and the wisdom to practice “off the sticks” at a range.

Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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N IDLE MIND OFTEN FOLLOWS WHIMSIcal paths. I was reminded of that when the following thoughts crept into my head one late-winter evening: For no reason, I pondered the marked similarities between specific species of terrestrial and aquatic life. If you think of the plane on which air and water meet as a looking glass, it is fairly easy to see some of the creatures that live on one side reflected in those that live on the other.

Take hardheads, for example. (And take all you want—nobody will miss them.) The hardhead catfish is a generally despised, potentially harmful waste of flesh that never met anything it wasn’t willing—enthusiastically—to bite.

My immediate thought as its counterpart was the cottonmouth, but I actually respect snakes and do not share that feeling for the hardhead. Ultimately, the nod went to sewer rats. City rats. Garbage eaters, not field mice earning their hardscrabble existence on waste grain and wild seed.

Scale tipper for the sewer rat-hardhead play was that if you were hungry enough, although you wouldn’t like doing so, you could eat either one. I couldn’t eat a water moccasin.

Moving on to a more glamorous path, consider the Spanish and king mackerels.

Both are high-velocity, acrobatic predators that take most of their meals at full speed.

This one is easy. The smaller and larger mackerels are to schools of sardines and mullet what falcons and hawks are to meadow mice and pigeons. By water or air, the attacks of these lightning-bolt predators are swift, and death of the prey is instant or nearly so.

“ On the cuddly side, there is commonality between crappie and cottontails.

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Wildlife Odd Couples

Somewhere near the bottom of the visible food chain, you will find shrimp in the bays and grasshoppers in the fields. Both can seem amazingly agile to any of us who try to catch one by hand, but neither is a match for the stabbing beaks of birds, rushing mouths of big fish, or bullwhip tongues of lizards.

Where shrimp and grasshoppers live, almost everything bigger than them eats them.

On the cuddly side, there is commonality between crappie and cottontails. Each is relatively delicate in its world and, as

prey, must constantly watch over its finned or furred shoulder. Nervous by nature and prolific by same, white perch and bunnies are the marshmallows of fish and wildlife.

I wanted to liken largemouth bass to bobcats, both being opportunistic ambush feeders, but the latter tends to remain lean throughout its life. A bass, on the other hand, becomes relatively fat and lethargic in seniority, still capable of feeding itself but more apt to take one big meal than six smaller ones. I will stick with the comparison for lack of a better one but, in my mind, add a beer belly to the cat.

There are solid matches in the world of biting, stinging creatures. The first is stingrays and scorpions, both of which respond to threat with a swift upturning of their tails.

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Stingrays are much larger, of course, and capable (with a few exceptions) of inflicting a more painful wound, but either can ruin an outdoorsman’s day with one swing of its tail.

No roll call of natural annoyances is complete without mention of what most coastal residents call sea lice, which actually are the pinhead-sized larvae of blue crabs. On the right spring tide, they can be so thick in the surf that paddling a surfboard through them feels as if you are pulling your arms through a giant bowl of grits. They have tiny pincers with which to attach themselves to any unsuspecting host that happens along.

Hitchhikers, they are, with a preference for dark, damp places. (Draw your own conclusions.)

Their terrestrial mirror image, of course, is the chigger. Evolution left no clues as to whether chiggers crawled to sea and became crab larvae or crab larvae got tired of the marine life and crept up the beach into the nearest open field. It doesn’t matter. A few dozen of either can generate an excruciating, ceaseless itch in places it is not polite to scratch publicly.

There are plenty more—blue marlins and lions, wahoos and wolverines—for which there isn’t room here, but there is one more that must be shared.

My favorite pair grow big and aggressive and fearless, and as adults, individuals can defend themselves against anything they might encounter. Each of their populations has risen steadily through the past two, maybe three decades, and both like to feed in the mud with their noses down and tails up.

As if either needed identification after those descriptions, they are the redfish and feral pig. And like all those other animals, I am convinced each would be proud to be associated with the other.

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Ted’s TexasWild

by Ted Nugent | TF&G Editor-at-Large

When in Doubt, Ask the Nuge

DEAR MR NUGENT, I HAVE HAD A dissagrement with a coworker over my daughter bow hunting.

In August she bought her own bow and gear and started practicing in our back yard.

Her second time out hunting with me she shot a doe. I was telling my coworkers about it and said later on that night she started crying that she killed it. I told her she did nothing wrong and they have hunting to cut down on the population. I think shes going to be ok now.

She and her Mom don’t like deer meat, but I do! That’s where this starts. One of my coworkers doesen’t think she should be hunting because she wont eat the meat. It really hacked me off enough for me to write this letter.

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sor now. I would like to get your thoughts on this if you have the time. Her name is Nicole and she is 24 years old and a very good kid.

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One of my coworkers doesn’t think my daughter should hunt because she won’t eat the meat.

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UCKY LUCKY ME, I HAVE BEEN blessed with the greatest human connection available to mankind over my lifetime of hunting. I am constantly bombarded with communications from hunters, fishermen, trappers and a whole slew of folks, mostly young, that want to know how they can achieve the glowing high that I write about and celebrate all the time on Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV. It’s legal, it’s pure, it’s universally available to Americans, and it is obviously so much fun it’s intoxicating in the ultimate good way.

Here is a fine example of the questions I receiver on a daily basis that I thought I would cover at this time.

With the engineered dumbing down of so much of America by so much of our failed education system and scamming media, I thought my response would be a good starting point for all of us to counterpunch the abject ignorance and outright insanity running amok regarding hunting.

Love your Spirit of the Wild TV show on Outdoor Channel, love your music and how you stand up for our constitutional rights.

Mike Neargarten DEAR MIKE, GOOD TO HEAR from you sir and thanks for thinking of me. It is so very tragic that in the year of our Lord 2014 anybody could possibly be aware of, or worse, much worse, pretend to not be aware of nature’s sustain yield wildlife science. Hunting, fishing and trapping is perfect and pure, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, giving sincere thanks for God’s natural annual renewable bounty.

To not hunt is cruel and irresponsible, for all the new creatures born last spring and sustained all summer when nutritional conditions are at their peak, cannot possibly survive the death of that sustaining vegetation through the dead of winter.

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Dear God, man. Who dosen’t know this? Must be an intentional scam by our so-called education system and lying and nasty agenda driven propaganda ministry media.

Surely everyone must know that deer, moose, bear, elk, pronghorn, birds of every species, smallgame and critters by the BILLIONS are slaughtered and left to suffer on our American hiways EVERY year. What kind of soulless goofball is #1 unaware of that, or #2 could possibly deny it, or #3 dare turn their back on our responsibility to harvest the annual surplus in order to respectfully utilize the sacred protein and balance the herds to minimize such waste. Good Lord in heaven!

You did great guiding your daughter to be a hunter. Hunters are the real conservationists and ultimate environmentalists not only safeguarding quality air, soil and water producing wildlife habitat, but sharing more literally BILLIONS and BILLIONS of the ultimate natural, organic, healthiest meat available to mankind EVERY YEAR! To be against hunting is to be against nature and to be against healthy, thriving wildlife.

Nicole did good and we who know the truth thank her and salute her.

Now just make sure you are handling and processing the venison properly, clean, cold and aged, because if anyone doesn’t like venison, it can only be because it was mishandled.

You and Nicole and your coworker should check out my 1000s of writings at tednugent.com and get up to speed on the truth, logic, science, commonsense and honesty of how hunting is a win win win win win for everybody and everything. Good hunting, goodluck, Godbless & Godspeed!

American venison BloodBrothers, Ted Nugent & Family

Contact Ted Nugent at TNugent@fishgame.com

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11/5/14 12:07 PM

Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill | TF&G Political Commentator

E

ARLY IN MY WRITING CAREER I REALIZED that PETA was going to be a big help to me. The group’s efforts to control the actions of others has been a constant source of material, and pointing out the flawed thinking of these supposed animal rights advocates has allowed me to illustrate why hunting and fishing is essential to the continued welfare of wildlife. Plus it’s fun to poke fun at the antis, although it’s similar to swatting a fly with a Pontiac.

A few years ago the PETA folks were advocating that all the cows, pigs, chickens, and other domesticated stock in America should be turned out to fend for itself. The idea, as put forth by a PETA member in an interview with a SUN reporter, was that nature would take care of the animals. And I’m quite sure it would, in the form of predators.

Another option mentioned by a PETA member was for ‘sanctuary farms’ to be set up by the government, and paid for by the rice milk and almond milk industries, so the freed animals could live happily ever after.

My impression was that the people in charge of the alternative milk industries had not been consulted about the plan.

There have also been efforts by PETA, in various states, to erect memorials in highway right-of-ways where trucks hauling livestock had wrecked, and numbers of animals had died. These efforts have been largely unsuccessful, not because they’re ridiculous, which they are, but because most states have rules against unnecessary monuments in highway right-of-ways.

When a video surfaced in mid-2013 of a man kicking a squirrel into Grand Canyon, PETA came out in force, and offered a

“ I believe we are stewards of the wildlife on earth.

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Merry Christmas, PETA

reward for information leading to the man’s identity. I have to admit I can’t argue with them on that. While I have no problem with hunting, I believe we are stewards of the wildlife on earth, and should not be abusive or cruel, ever.

I also agree with PETA’s opinion on zoos and circuses, most of which are, in my opinion, cruel and inhumane. Keeping animals locked up in cages shows them no respect, and I believe we have a responsibility to honor the creatures over which we have dominion. Entertainment at their expense does nothing for the animals, and less for the people who enjoy it.

But PETA rarely wanders into the realm of credibility, preferring to travel the paths of the ludicrous, as evidenced by articles recently sent in by astute readers. One such article, from the Portland Oregonian, addresses the issue of roadkill as food.

While the very idea is repugnant to most of us, there are some who have no qualms about gathering dead animals from roadways and taking them home to eat. Incidentally, if you happen to be one of those, please let me know, so I can make a note to respectfully decline your dinner invitations.

This practice may have been encouraged

by PETA, since the article mentions that the animal rights group ‘supports salvaging roadkill so the animal carcasses don’t just rot.’

Which makes it sound as if PETA advocates eating the roadkill, which would invalidate at least part of the group’s goals. Plus it’s pretty T E X A S

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disgusting.

The problem with PETA has always been its contradictory nature. There are two main premises which form the foundation of the PETA cult – and yes, it is a cult. When members blindly follow leaders who are getting rich from a cause with nothing to offer society, that’s a cult.

The group purports that people and animals are equal, and because of that we should not eat animals. However, it’s fine for animals such as grizzly bears and wolves to eat other animals. Other animals evidently have more priviledges than human animals have. Who is equal here?

You can’t have it both ways. You have to pick. The PETA cult wants it both ways.

You can’t win an argument when the other side gets to provide its own contradictions.

Or, as Jesus put it, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’

Of course, PETA officials argue that humans should know better, and we have a greater responsibility because we are more advanced than the other animals. To which I would suggest that, if we are equal with the other animals, why should we be held to a different standard?

There is no truth in the PETA doctrine, only contradictions. There is no common sense, only unsupported lies. There is no fact-based creed, only emotional manipulation. The PETA house is built on a faulty foundation.

The group is, however, entertaining, especially during the holiday season. The pleas to America to spare turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas, in favor of vegetarian alternatives such as tofu, are always enjoyable, if not very well-received. So, in appreciation of the hours of diversion PETA has given us over the years, I would like to wish everyone in their camp a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I just have one question – If tofu is so great, why do vegans always claim it can be made to taste just like meat?

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Story and Photos

by Chester Moore

I FELT LIKE A KID ON CHRISTMAS MORNing. As I finished field dressing a 20-inch-wide six

pointer that weighed in excess of 200 pounds, ranch owner Robert Scherer and my Dad drove up.

“Come see what your Dad shot,” Robert said.

After loading my big buck in the truck we drove to the edge of a field. Lying on the ground was a massive, massive buck.

It looked like something from Iowa or Kansas with points shooting all over the place and a third The author and his father with Robert Scherer and the two big bucks they took.

main beam.

Taking a nice buck as Dad took his biggest buck ever was a lot to take in. It gave me the best day of hunting in my life.

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The author and the big buck he took while hunting with Diamond M Whitetails.

These bucks were now a part of a lineage of nice bucks taken by members of my family, namely my father Chester Moore, Sr., my late Uncle Jackie Moore and his son Frank—along with me.

Over the years when we gathered, the conversation often ended up centered on deer and growing up. Frank and I loved to hear the stories about their biggest bucks as well as their misadventures.

My Dad tells the story of shooting a big nine pointer while listening to the Dallas Cowboys play the Detroit Lions on a Thanksgiving Day. He was sitting on a big rock overlooking a hill listening to the game.

Out walked a big buck paying him virtually no attention. That was its last mistake.

My Uncle Jackie admitted to missing some distant shots at an absolutely monster buck he said had a “Christmas tree rack.”

He ran out of bullets as it ran several hundred yards directly toward him to stand less than 50 yards away.

Frank and I used to love that one.

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just about every season.

We both got back into it in a big way back in 2011, and we both took nine-pointers.

I took mine while venturing down to Inez, Texas to hunt with Diamond M Whitetails and was able to take a gorgeous tall, wide nine-pointer on their low fence acreage in the middle of beautiful scrub brush and live oak country.

Our conversations after that hunt led to an interesting revelation. As we got to looking at the products we used to pursue game, we realized virtually all of it has to do with overcoming the incredible senses of these great animals.

In fact, a huge portion of our communication over the years has been how to get around these super senses.

The sense of smell of deer for example is legendary. There are hundreds of products on the market and homegrown remedies for eliminating human scent and appealing to hunger and sexual urges through smell.

Did you know however deer actually have two noses?

According to a fascinating article put out

by Dr. Karl V. Miller from the University of Georgia, few hunters realize that a deer actually has two ‘noses’.

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“The second nose is technically not a nose, but it serves some of the same purpose.

If you look on the roof of the deer’s mouth you will see a diamond shaped structure with a small passage leading into the palate. This additional nose, called the vomeronasal organ (VNO), is similar to the Jacobson’s organ that snakes use to ‘taste’ the air. Deer use the VNO exclusively to analyze urine. When a buck sees a doe urinate, he will often take some of this urine into his mouth and perform a behavior called flehmen, or lip-curl.” ”This flehmen helps to introduce urine into the VNO. It is interesting that this organ is not connected to the same part of the brain that the nose is connected to. Instead it is connected to the part of the brain that controls the reproductive condition of the deer. What type of information the deer is getting is unknown, but it is likely that odors analyzed in the VNO help get the hormones pumping in the buck and bring him into rutting condition.”

When I got that information I sent a text to Frank as eagerly as I did when I shot my big buck at Scherer’s ranch. He has been working super hard to ensure he gets a buck with his bow this year.He has done everything, including putting out three stands around his feeder so he can hunt it effectively with virtually any wind. He has invested in 3-D camouflage. He even took soil from beneath his stand and put his hunting clothes in it, thanks to a tip from TF&G Bowhunting Editor Lou Marullo.

The answer?

“Great! I was worried enough about the first nose and the eyes and ears now I have to worry about appealing to or avoiding a second one. Yikes! LOL.” I am blessed to have been born into a hunting family that gladly took their children into the great outdoors. I am blessed because our family has very serious deer hunting traditions, though never verbalized, which have been passed down.

Hundreds of thousands of other Texans have similar stories and deeply held beliefs and traditions regarding deer hunting. This is what has helped make Texas the number one deer hunting state in the nation.

I have always loved the pursuit of whitetails and stand with all hunters who hit the field happy to simply collect some venison but are always pursuing that big, heavy antlered buck.

PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

11/5/14 11:50 AM

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION: TF&G

11/5/14 11:57 AM

“BY GOD IT’S A great day to be alive!” shouted Captain Larry Corbett over the roar of his outboard.

“No it isn’t,” wailed my wife Sandie.

“It’s explitive cold!”

She was right. It was very cold. Cold enough to make your cheeks burn and the snot in your nose to freeze up. It was an unfriendly 39 degrees that morning when we had gotten up at oh-dark-thirty to drive to Port Isabel to meet Larry at his dock. Had we not planned this trip weeks in advance and had it not meant the only chance at a fishing trip for weeks, Sandie and I would’ve canceled and stayed in bed.

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We eased up to a piling along the Queen Isabella Causeway and I fastened a line to it. We each baited up with live shrimp (only one bait shop in town actually had any for sale) and sent them to the bottom. The braided line detected vibrations as my hapless crustacean flipped and kicked as some unseen predator zeroed in on it. Then the line started feeling heavy, and then it moved off. I set the hook hard. Sandie and Larry did likewise almost simultaneously.

All three of us were hooked up to jumbo, quarrelsome sheepshead. By the time we had used up an entire quart of shrimp two frigid hours later, we had a triple limit of sheepshead, several keeper-sized speckled trout, and a handful of beautiful black drums that approached the upper end of the slot limit.

“It’s still expletive cold,” Sandie said as we turned the boat toward home.

trout pounced on a Corky in the middle of February, 1996. Wintertime is big trout time in Texas.

Many anglers, however, don’t have the stamina, wherewithal, or desire to go through the physical tribulations of doing what is normally required to score a career trout in winter (long wades for hours, or even days for a single strike that may never come). They would much rather find a few cooperative fish that will stretch a line and make them forget about the cold.

“If I’m going out into the cold, I don’t want to sit there all day for one fish,” said Captain Billy Castro. “If I’m going to run out in the winter, I’m focusing on more plentiful fish. There are a ton of different fishing opportunities that don’t involve making 10,000 casts for one fish.”

Castro and other anglers target fish that are more active in colder climes, such as the underrated sheepshead. These toothy critters aggregate in good numbers year around, but they’re most active when water Literally hundreds of thousands of words temperatures dip below 70 degrees. The have been composed about cold weather prison-striped fish start congregating along fishing. There is no denying that there are piers, seawalls, jetties, and causeway pilings during the winter months. The fish are in Winter is Big Trout time in Texas. But not staging mode for their many anglers have the stamina for that spawn, which occurs sport’s thousand-to-one cast-to-catch ratio in late February and in frigid conditions. through March. When you locate these congregations, you can catch a quick limit of chunky sheeps in short order and be back at the dock with a hot cup of coffee.

Live shrimp are hard to come by when weather gets really cold (lower than 50 degrees). When water temperatures take a corresponding dip, shrimp bury themselves deep in warm mud and are hard to reach with plenty of fishing opportunities for the anglers trawl nets. When you can locate live bugs, with stout hearts and warm clothing. Many they’re tough to beat for sheepshead. anglers actually circle the coldest months on The best method to fish them is to rig a the calendar as their prime fishing period. free shrimp rig, which is a split shot 12-16 These anglers are focused on trophy trout, inches above a hook (usually a #2 Eagle and for good reason. Jim Wallace’s former Claw X-tra Long Shank is best). Flick the state record 13 pound 11 ounce speckled bait as close to the structure as you can.

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Keep an index finger on the line to detect a pickup. Once you feel the fish move off with the bait, set the hook.

Castro has a different technique for wintertime sheepies. He uses a two-drop rig that is specifically designed for crappie. The rig has two stiff wire stagings to which you attach snelled hooks. A 1 ounce bell sinker on the bottom snap finishes the rig.

“I have better contact with this rig,” said Castro. “I can also cast it with heavier baitcasting tackle, which gives me better power to pull fish away from pilings and rocks.”

Bang the Winter Drum Another fish that makes great winter quarry is the black drum. The Texas winter drum fishery is legendary. Past issues of Texas Fisherman, a predecessor of this magazine, were filled with pictures of happy anglers with giant black drums pushing upwards of 50 pounds. These big, gnarly brutes cruise in and out of passes and channels all winter long. The big runs are usually after the first big cold front of the year, and again towards the end of winter.

Big black drums are a very proletarian fish. Anglers fishing off piers, jetties, and the shoreline have as much of a chance to latch onto a big one as an angler cruising a ship channel in a boat. You can catch them with a variety of rigs ranging from trout tackle all the way up to boat rods and surf gear, although anglers who target them specifically tend to use heavier tackle.

A classic technique is to set up in a pass or channel edge and fish along the bottom with either a dropper rig or a Fish Finder (Carolina) rig baited with fresh shrimp or crab chunks. The latter should be hooked through a leg socket and out the top of the shell point. That way, the bait doesn’t spin in the current.

Big drums are not averse to taking lures.

A large Gulp! Shrimp, DOA Shrimp or similar soft bait rigged on a ¼-3/8th ounce jighead and dragged along the bottom is the best choice. “Dragging” is a literal term. It’s much more effective to keep the bait in contact with the bottom than hopping finishes the illusion.

Once the fish picks up your offering, you won’t notice the cold as much!

PHOTO: GRADY ALLEN

11/6/14 3:16 PM

Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

Do It Yourself

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HEN I WAS 12, MY GRANDFATHER gave me a lure-making kit for Christmas. It wasn’t very elaborate. It was a couple of molds for soft plastic tails, a pint of Plaistisol and a couple of dye colors.

I spent hours mixing, cooking, and pouring tails. I will admit that I made more mess than tails, and the lures I did pour were rough. I’d be lying though if I didn’t admit that I had a blast.

There was something really cool about making my own lures. They never caught anything, but that may be more due to the fact that it’s hard for a 12 year old who lives in a mid-sized city to find very many opportunities to test lures. It made enough of an impression on me that, though those molds are long gone, the itch to make my own lures would tickle the back of my mind now and again.

You can’t deny that the idea of designing and manufacturing your own lures does have its appeal. For some, it can be a simple pastime to while away bad weather days and winter doldrums. Other anglers can find lure making as a means to accommodating a specific need or situation. Still others may be trying to, as Larry Dahlberg, host of the popular television show The Hunt for Big Fish puts it, “build a better mousetrap.”

For the ones who do make a better rodent catcher, it can turn into a full-blown business venture, as it has for Jay Nichols, owner/ designer of Down South Lures and the Southern Shad.

In recent years, the hobby of lure-making has become a full-blown grassroots movement that has more than a few devotees. The key is the availability of materials for molding, designing, and manufacturing of home-grown artificials and the relative ease of using these products.

“When consumers discover how easy it

is to use our products, they become big fans,” says Mike Faupel, of Alumilite (www. alumilite.com, www.makelure.com, 800-4479344). “There is so much you can do, whether it’s pouring soft plastics, or even designing your own hard baits, you are limited only by your vision.”

Some of Dahlberg’s more popular segments on his show are “Larry’s Workshop,” where he shows viewers simple steps to design lures, discusses the principles of rod making, and other nifty do-it-yourself ideas and techniques any angler can use in their own fishing endeavors.

He shows step-by-step instructions to use Alumilite products to make everything from soft plastics such as his original Mr. Whiggley to Alabama rigs, topwater plugs, and even marlin lures. The steps are simple and easy to follow. The sheer variety of lures that anglers can make is remarkable.

“Anglers are starting to push the envelope” of what they can design, says Faupel.

“Freshwater anglers are developing lures that simulate specific local forage for all sorts of species from bass to muskie to walleye.

We’ve had customers who’ve designed jerkbaits, swimbaits, dropshot worms, and grubs.

Saltwater fishermen have designed both soft plastics and hard baits for stripers and redfish, and for sea trout farther south.”

The lure-making craze isn’t just limited to a few anglers with time on their hands and some ideas they’re dying to try out. Faupel said that lure making clubs are springing up around the country. Some schools, especially in the Midwest, have established student organizations dedicated to lure-making (which is a truly novel way to implement some of the essential elements of various vocational curricula that various education plans require). Faupel pointed out that one high school in Minnesota sells lures and Christmas ornaments they make to raise funds for a student trip to Lake of the Woods.

Another quality of lure making that can make it attractive to some anglers is the relative economy of the activity. Molds can be used ad infinitum. Soft plastics that fish mangle can be melted down and re-poured.

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You can take the same basic body design and create variations such as paddle tails, ball tails, thumper tails, and curlytails.

Anglers who want to pour traditional baits can find after-market molds on various websites such as Amazon and E-Bay. YouTube is the lure-maker’s best resource with too many different how-to videos to count.

Modern technology in its various forms has made the lure making process easier and more accessible to the fisherman with a stout heart and ambition. “The question is, what do you want to make?” Faupel said.

Next month, I will walk readers through the process of creating a mold and pouring a soft plastic. We’ll see how idiot-proof the process is. If this idiot writing these words can do it, then anyone can.

I love my barbecue a lot. Steaks, brisket, fajitas, and redfish on the half shell you name it, and I will grill it.

With that in mind, I’m always on the hunt for products that will help me with grill more efficiently. Perhaps my greatest difficulty has been lighting a fire and keeping it lit.

I prefer to avoid using lighter fluid because I hate the smell. Building a fire from twigs to logs is time-consuming and is a problem if I only have briquettes on hand. Still, I’ve got to have a good fire to prime my coals.

Fire starters by Grate Chef is an effective solution. Each fire starter packet carries a petroleum-free, environmentally safe, flammable material that lights when wet, burns at 1,500 degrees and will light either wood or charcoal.

The one-inch square packets can be easily stowed for transport by even the most spartan camper and can be a real life-saver. Grillers will be especially pleased with the lack of petroleum residue that can taint even the best ribeye. Each package contains eight fire starter packets.

Visit GrateChef’s website for further information, www.Gratechef.com.

G A M E ®

Contact Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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11/5/14 12:20 PM

5 Keys to Catching Trophy CRAPPIE

FOUR YEARS AGO, I DEVELOPED A system for targeting big fish of any kind. It is called F.L.E.X. Fishing速 and it involves a scientific, systematic approach to angling.

F.L.E.X. stands for Focus, Learn, Eliminate, Experience and it is these principles that drive my fishing and have made a major difference in success especially for big fish since 2011.

I will be blogging about this system and hold some F.L.E.X. clinics online at www.fishgame.com in 2015 so I thought this would be a great time to give you a teaser for what is coming and we would T E X A S

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like to start with my favorite freshwater fish: crappie.

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOTES from my F.L.E.X. Fishing online crappie series we will debut at fishgame.com in February that shows you the deep level we are going to for the pursuit of big slabs and other fish with this system we will be giving you in 2015 by giving you unpar-

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alleled access to not only this system but information most have never seen on Texas’ top game fish.

Diet/Metabolism • A LITTLE-KNOWN fact is that mature crappies eat their own young. The bigger the crappie, the bigger the young they can consume. Consider crappie-patterned tube jigs, etc. when seeking monster crappies.

• THE METABOLISM of crappie slows dramatically in winter and in super hot periods of summer in shallow water bodies and those with little current flow (due to low dissolved oxygen). It has an especially large effect on white crappies. When seeking trophy-sized slabs during these periods remember the fish will not actively chase your bait/lure. Use a slow, subtle presentation to trick big, wary fish into biting.

• YOUNG BLUEGILLS are a favorite prey item of larger crappies. These tiny perch can be caught in traps and could present a way to get bigger fish to score when they seem to turn their nose up to shiners.

• ANGLERS seeking really a big crappie should avoid baiting brush piles. Baiting draws in catfish, stripers and other predatory species that not only can eat the crappies themselves but also outcompete them for food. When these types of predators are lurking, large crappies will stay in the cover and not leave. The cover itself is the main drawing card for larger crappies.

Ecology • A STUDY conducted in Ohio showed that crappie activity increased at dusk, peaked at night and declined at dawn and remained low throughout the day. Peak movements occurred when measurable light intensity approached zero.

• BLACK CRAPPIE are fairly saltwater tolerant and can do well in brackish marshes and rivers. Since these areas receive very little fishing pressure and are rich in forage items, they can yield trophy fish.

Consider targeting the brackish zones of well-known crappie producing systems to find big, unpressured fish.

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pies are the first to seek a change in location due to water quality issues.

• ANGLERS seeking trophy white crappies should focus on moderately turbid water bodies. In clearer water, black crappies tend to dominate whereas white crappies thrive in environments that are more turbid. Avoid super murky areas as studies have shown whites can tolerate them, but tend to avoid them.

Senses • STUDIES have shown the lower the water temperature the better a crappie’s vision gets. This is because the cool water helps the flounder’s eye cells function better.

In cool, clear water, you will have to use stealthy techniques to consistently bag big, wary crappie.

• CRAPPIE EYES are designed to look up which is why it is so important to get bait or lure right in the strike zone. If you go too deep, they will not see it.

X-Factors • MINNESOTA researchers found most of the biggest crappies on their study lakes were first generation white/black crappie hybrids although they all appeared to look like black crappies. They said it is not unusual for first generation hybrids to grow to large proportions. Consider lakes with healthy populations of both crappie species when seeking large blacks. Your trophy fish, however, could actually be a hybrid.

• RESEARCHERS at the world’s largest fishing tackle company Pure Fishing have found the crappie to be the “smartest” of the popular freshwater species in North America. They respond quickly to fishing pressure, line visibility and color even more so than bass as they mature.

• I FOUND by hand feeding crappies while diving that the very largest specimens will blow a hard jet of water at a prey item before striking. When you get a hard thump on a shiner, wait a couple of seconds to set the hook or you could be setting it on nothing.

• THE TERM “papermouth” is often used for crappie but in reality that is only descriptive of white crappies.

Black crappies have fairly

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hard mouths. Be extremely careful to always use a net to land a trophy crappie especially whites.

• CRAPPIES literally inhale baitfish.

Many times anglers using jigs put on tiny hooks so the fish swallow it. Unfortunately, they tend to miss many fish, especially big ones, which are wary about anything that does not seem safe to them. By using larger jigs and jigheads, they have a better chance of getting a hook in the roof of the crappie’s mouth when it exhales.

Confidence in F.L.E.X. I will never recommend fishing so you can watch the sun rise over the water or any other of a dozen clichés common in the outdoor media. Fishing is about catching fish.

The other stuff is wonderful, but there are less expensive and time consuming ways to see and experience those.

There goes that word again “experience”. It is crucial in this process and allows one dream to form another and the cycle to continue. Never think you have climbed all of the mountains because there is always another waiting on the horizon.

Just like there is a monster crappie waiting for me on a deep drop-off at Toledo Bend.

I think I will go practice what I preach and show that fish what F.L.E.X. is all about.

Am I that confident?

Yes. And if you follow these principles that we will unleash in 2015 you should be too.

Now, go out there and catch that fish of your dreams.

Watch for more F.L.E.X.® instruction at FishGame.com

G A M E ®

11/7/14 10:13 AM

Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams | TF&G Freshwater Editor

A Christmas list for the Angler in Your Life

1) GUIDED FISHING TRIP: A GUIDed fishing trip is a great present because it eliminates the need for dragging a boat and other gear to a strange place and then having to worry about finding fish once you get there. Finding the fish is the guide’s job, and the good ones will always have a viable plan of attack before you get to the lake. I know a lot of great fishing guides. Here are a few I can recommend: BASS: Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn, Tommy Martin, 409-625-4792; Stephen Johnston, 409-579-4213; Fork, Gary Paris, 903-763-2801, Mark Stevenson, 903-7653120.

TROPHY CATFISH: Cedar Creek, Jason Barber, 903-603-2047; Dallas area Lakes, Chad Ferguson, 817-522-3804; Texoma, Cody Mullennix, 903-815-0273; Tawakoni, George Rule, 214-202-6641.

Stripers: Texoma, Bill Carey, 903-7864477.

CRAPPIE: Toledo Bend, Stephen Johnston; Sam Rayburn, Larry King, 936872-3952.

2) NEW SHADES: EVERY ANGLER will appreciate a new pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes on the water while helping to reduce sun glare. Some sunglasses even have built-in readers to aid weak eyes in tying knots, changing hooks, etc… Some good upper end brands to look at include Costa Del Mar, Oakley, Maui Jim and Bolle. Strike King and Typhoon offer quality shades at a greater value.

“ A guided trip is a great present.

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HRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORner. If you’re looking to score some serious points with a guy or gal who likes to wet a hook every now and then, take my advice and forget designer jeans this year and buy him or her something to use when they are playing their favorite game. It makes no difference if the angler in your life is a crappie freak, a bass buff or a catfish nut, there are plenty of cool gifts out there that are sure make them crack a grin when the family gathers around tree on Christmas morning.

Here’s list of possible gift ideas every angler is sure to appreciate:

3) MULTI-TOOL: GREAT FOR THOSE moments when you need a specific tool like a screwdriver, pliers, cutters, saw or file in a clutch. A quality multi-tool will have all those tools and more in a nifty fold-up package small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. You can find some good ones at leatherman.com or sogknives.com.

4) HAND-HELD GPS - GPS IS THE way of the water. If the angler on your gift list hasn’t gone there yet, you can lead the way with a nifty hand-held unit from Lowrance or Garmin. The units allow for marking trails on the water, fishing hotspots and for using various mapping chips for precision navigation. Check them out at lowrance.com and garmin.com.

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5) FISHIN’ DUDS: WHEN THE weather turn nasty, good foul weather gear is a must. During the winter months, you need something that block water and wind from getting in while remaining breathable enough to keep you comfortable. There are number good foul weather suits out there.

I’m particularly fond of Frabill’s FXE Storm Suit, a high-quality jacket/bib combo that features leak-proof zippers, padded knees, a waist cinch, reinforced wear areas and sealed seams. The whole outfit is treated with DuPont Teflon fabric protector. frabill. com.

6) EVERY ANGLER NEEDS A GOOD scale in the boat to weigh the big ones.

Berkley and Rapala make some great digital models designed to provide accurate readings right down the ounce. One of the most advanced scales I’ve seen in recent times is the Rapala Tournament Touch Screen Scale/Culling kit. The digital scale weighs individual fish up to 15 pounds and allows anglers to maintain an accurate weight total of the fish in their livewell. Feature a large touch screen, ambient temp gauge and an on/off backlight for use in low light conditions. Runs for up to 400 hours on two AA batteries. rapala.com or purefishing.com.

7) STOCKING STUFFER IDEAS: Everybody likes a stocking stuffer or two, and they needn’t be expensive to be appreciated.

For bass fishermen, a few new H2O XPRESS crankbaits and maybe a few packs of worm hooks and tungsten sinkers are good ideas. For crappie or cat fishermen, you might consider a good fillet knife, either standard or electric. Some other good choices include a few extra spools of line, a rod tip repair kit, dry box/bag for the cell phone or maybe a new sheath for holding pliers, scissors and other tools.

Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!

G A M E ®

Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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11/5/14 12:25 PM

story by john n. felsher

A

Texas Rivers can provide hot duck action at aN Affordable cost

LTHOUGH TEXAS SPRAWLS across nearly 300,000 square miles, relatively little opens to public hunting, particularly for ducks.

Many Lone Star waterfowlers lease expensive hunting property, but rivers can offer a cheaper alternative.

Rivers and other navigable waterways belong to the public, so

sportsmen can usually hunt almost anywhere in the main channels and backwaters. However, adjacent lands may remain private, so check to avoid trespassing. In the right spot, though, hunting along rivers can often provide sportsmen incredible shooting for little more than the cost of the gasoline required to get there.

“Some Texas rivers have decent waterfowl hunting,” advised Kevin Kraai, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department waterfowl biologist in Canyon. “Rivers are largely untapped resources for people looking for public waterfowl hunting, but because so much land in Texas is privately owned, access can be difficult.

When rivers rise, people often find some very rewarding hunting on rivers if they put in the effort.”

To hunt successfully on rivers, sportsmen must scout before and during the season. Many river runners scout and hunt from the same small, camouflaged boats. If they find a place they like, sportsmen can toss out a few decoys, hide the boat in available cover or erect a pop up commercial blind and begin hunting in minutes. Sometimes, sportsmen might hunt from several spots in one morning.

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Steven Felsher jumps ducks in a wooded creek. Such wooded creeks often hold mallards, wood ducks and hooded mergansers.

Daniel Felsher admires a drake ring-necked duck he shot during a hunt in a river backwater.

“One day, people might see thousands of ducks everywhere and another day hardly anything,” said Dave Morrison TP&WD biologist in Austin. “It’s been my experience hunting rivers that the best shooting occurs when the water rises and gets into the backwater areas.”

A river can rise and fall very quickly.

A major thunderstorm can turn a placid stream into a raging torrent almost overnight.

Low water concentrates birds, but ducks may go elsewhere if water levels drop too low. During high water periods, birds may spread out or depart entirely if they can’t reach food.

Nothing concentrates birds along a river channel like a hard freeze. When fields, ponds and marshes freeze, birds cannot land. Currents keep rivers relatively ice-free.

When everything else freezes over, a flowing ribbon of water looks mighty tempting to any duck looking for a place to land.

With the most abundant water, the best river hunting naturally occurs in eastern Texas, but the Red River along the TexasOklahoma border can provide outstanding action. The second largest river basin in the southern Great Plains, the Red rises in the Texas Panhandle and flows 1,360 miles until it hits the Mississippi River. Many ducks use rivers like the Red to navigate during their annual migrations.

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“The Red River system probably has the best river waterfowling hunting in Texas, but it can be difficult to access,” Kraai recommended. “The Brazos River is also a good duck hunting stream. It’s a little easier to navigate than other waters in that part of Texas. Some sections of the Colorado River can provide exceptional hunting. It’s known mostly for dabbling ducks, but the river can produce many different species including mallards, green-winged teal and shovelers plus a lot of gadwalls and wigeons.”

The Brazos River runs 1,280 miles from New Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico near Freeport. The longest river entirely within Texas, the Colorado flows 862 miles from Dawson County to Matagorda Bay. “I’ve hunted on the Colorado River,” Morrison recalled. “I’ve had great hunts and not so great hunts on the Colorado, but that’s river hunting. People need to understand how to move around safely, particularly in the dark, because the Colorado River can get really shallow, really quickly.”

While many lands bordering Texas rivers remain private, the Sulphur River basin offers some public hunting. The Sulphur River flows about 175 miles through northeast Texas and Arkansas. It touches the White Oak Creek Wildlife Management Area, which covers about 25,777 acres of hardwood bottomlands in Bowie, Cass,

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Morris and Titus counties near where White Oak Creek hits the Sulphur River.

“White Oak Creek WMA holds a lot of mallards and wood ducks,” Kraai said.

“The Sulphur River is historically a flooded hardwood complex, but it has been altered significantly over the years. In areas where the river remains as it was, it can provide exceptional hunting. When the river spills out of its banks, it floods thousands of acres of bottomland hardwoods.”

Originating in eastern Texas, the Sabine River flows 555 miles until it hits the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, it forms part of the Texas-Louisiana state line. The Sabine watershed drains approximately 9,756 square miles. Old Sabine Bottom WMA includes 5,158 acres of bottomlands and streams north of Tyler. It can hold mallards, wood ducks, teal, gadwalls and wigeons.

“Old Sabine Bottom WMA has a lot of old growth bottomland hardwoods,” Kraai said. “When the Sabine River floods that old growth bottomland, the area can provide exceptional flooded timber duck hunting.

The Sabine and Neches rivers hold ducks.

Cypress Creek in east Texas attracts many wood ducks.”

Some other rivers where Texans can hunt ducks include the Trinity, Guadalupe and the Pecos. The Trinity River flows 710 miles from northern Texas to Trinity Bay, an arm of Galveston Bay. The Guadalupe River originates in Kerr County and flows 230 miles before entering the gulf near Victoria. The Pecos River originates in New Mexico and flows 926 miles before emptying into the Rio Grande near Del Rio. “The best river hunting in Texas occurs in the eastern part of the state, but the Pecos River is a real hidden jewel,” Kraai revealed. “Unfortunately, it’s often not navigable because of low water. Any place with water in West Texas could become a duck oasis. The Pecos River system attracts an incredible mix of species. It’s not unusual for a party of hunters to shoot 10 different duck species in a morning.”

Not everyone can afford a big duck lease, but many people can enjoy excellent public gunning close to home if they put in their time and stay off private property. Before hunting anywhere, check the local laws to avoid trouble.

PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER

11/5/14 12:25 PM

Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo | TF&G Hunting Editor

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T’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE Year…” that is what the song says. For many veteran hunters, the holiday season IS the most wonderful time of the year… but for a different reason. Christmas morning always gave me great pleasure while I watched my family open the gifts I picked out just for them. Me? I was always the easiest to buy for. At least that is what I thought.

Hunters always need something. It matters not if they have just bought those broadheads last year… they need the new and improved model. “Honey, I know I just bought those boots last year, but they won’t keep me as warm as these new ones!” Been there…done that. It did not work for me either, but hey!

You never know.

My wife once asked me how many firearms do I really need? I tried to explain to her that hunters need all the firearms they can get!

I do not think she understood that. I could tell by the look on her face. I was not sure if it was a look of confusion, surprise or just sheer fury!

Last Christmas was one I will not soon forget. I had been hinting for months about a new rifle that I wanted. Christmas morning came and the family all gathered in the living room as my youngest played Santa and gave us our gifts. I waited in anticipation for the gift from my wife. Then it came….there it was. It was wrapped in a box that was way too small to hold a rifle. I forced a smile as I shook the small package. As everyone watched, I slowly opened it. I had no idea what it could possibly be. Even after I opened it, I questioned (to myself) what could it possibly be!

Well…I found out soon enough. A toy rifle.

“ Hunters always need something.

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Ideas for Under Your Christmas Tree

Shall I repeat that? A toy rifle! However, underneath that toy rifle was a gift certificate to Bass Pro for a rifle of my choosing. Wow! Am I glad I kept my composure when I saw that toy rifle!

It really makes no difference if you hunt with a rifle, bow, crossbow, shotgun or sling shot! If your hunter is going out in the field, then there are always things he could use.

Even if you know nothing about hunting yourself, then a gift certificate to a favorite outdoor supply store would be a welcomed gift for any hunter.

A box of shells for his rifle might be the answer. Maybe a dozen of his favorite arrows is the ticket. I realize there are many types of rifles shells out there. It would, of course,

depend on the caliper of rifle your hunter is using. As far as arrows go, you need to have the correct spine that would fit his or her particular set up. A pro shop will be happy to help you in that department.

New broadheads will definitely bring a smile come Christmas morning as well as some new camo. There are so many different types of camo available that you will need to get a look at what your hunter usually wears.

For example, your waterfowl hunter is not going to blend into his surroundings if he has tree camo on. It would be a much better choice to get camo that looks like tall marsh grass. The bow hunter would, however, wear tree camo and blend in perfectly.

My wife tells me I have enough tree stands.

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Hmmmmm. I disagree. I can always use a new stand. A hang-on or ladder stand is nice to have, but a portable climbing stand like the Summit Viper may be a better choice. If your hunter needs to “move to the movement” he will find it much easier to relocate his portable climber than the other types of stands.

Boots. What is it about boots? They never seem to last. Maybe it is just MY feet that ruin the boots every two years! One thing is for sure. I have found that the older I get…

The colder I get. A nice pair of boots is always needed when I go afield. If I plan to be on stand for a while, then I would want my feet snuggled in a nice warm boot. If your extremities get cold, then your whole body feels the chill. Which brings me to good gloves. Not so warm that you can not fit your finger in the trigger guard, but warm enough to keep your fingertips from freezing. I know that in Texas, there are not too many freezing temperatures, but if you travel up north for a hunt, gloves are a must!

Scent control is imperative if you plan on hunting deer. A nice gift idea might be some scent prevention products from Wildlife Research Center or Hunter’s Specialties.

Both companies make great products that keep the human scent down to a minimum.

They simply work and work well.

A new range finder or maybe a new feeder for his lease would be nice. Oh, and don’t forget the stocking stuffers! I always get flashlights and plenty of AA batteries. Now THAT is something I always could use!

All you really have to do is take a stroll through the hunting department of Academy, Bass Pro or Cabella’s and you will get tons of great ideas for Christmas gifts. Take a walk and do a little hunting for the hunter yourself. And remember that a gift card is always nice too!

Now I have to go and sight in my new 30-06 rifle that my wife bought me. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Remember to have fun and hunt safe out there.

G A M E ®

Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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Texas Department of Defense How to Pull the Trigger

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HESE ARE NOT COMMANDMENTS. I have seen different shooters, all top-notch marksmen, use various methods of making a handgun fire.

These are just the ways I have found that work best for me.

First, there are different methods for different types of handguns. For instance, a 1911 with a light, crisp trigger pull is fired somewhat differently from a double-action revolver with a tough 15-pound trigger pull.

A target gun, used on a target range, is fired differently from a combat gun fired in

KelTec’s Cool Factor KELTEC HAS THE REPUTATION for coming up with some unique firearm designs, and the Sub-2000 rifle is another pretty cool one. The most innotvative feature is that it folds completely in half to a compact 16x7-inch package.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see the Sub-2000 in a 007 movie.

Another super cool feature is that you can order it to accept your preferred magazine whether it is a Glock 17/19, S&W 59, Beretta 92, or Sig 226 in 9mm or a Glock 22/23, Beretta 96, S&W 4006, or Sig 226 if in .40S&W. For my testing I picked up the Glock 32 |

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anger. So, get it out of your head right now that there is only one right way to shoot a handgun, ‘cause it jist ain’t so. And it is almost never right to pull the trigger with the tip of your finger.

I cut my shooting teeth on a doubleaction revolver. The first thing I learned was that, surprisingly, a double-action with a good, smooth pull, can be fired just as accurately as a single-action. Once I learned this, I seldom cocked my double-action revolvers and almost never cocked my duty weapon.

It is difficult for anyone to get the most

17 magazine model from Evans Brothers Guns in Huntington because I have my TTI 3 Gun G34 and can also use cool 32 round G18 mags in it as well. The rifle folds in half by depressing the trigger guard, and then it unfolds by depressing a small switch on the buttstock that snaps into the front sight. The bolt charges with the handle under the stock tube, and can be locked to the rear with a simple rotation.

This is how I preferred to store it for ease of loading upon deployment.

The trigger had a little mush to it, and at 6.5 pounds it was a tad heavy but predictable enough to use consistently.

The magazine release was right where it should be on the left side of the handle and crossbolt safety a bit above it that I

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| Self Defense | | Concealed Carry | | Tactical |

by Steve LaMascus & Dustin Ellermann out of a double-action revolver by pulling the trigger with the tip of the trigger finger.

When a DA gun is fired in this way it will almost invariably kick to the side a bit at the end of the trigger pull. No, I don’t know why. Truth is I never really thought about it, I just noticed it.

The more trigger finger you are using, the greater control you have of the trigger.

For instance, if you pull the trigger with the pad of the second joint of your trigger finger you will have more control. The problem is that almost nobody has hands large enough

The KelTec Sub-2000 unfolded and ready to fire the ever popular Glock 9mm magazines

found rather useless unless I was hunting.

At the range or in storage I prefer to keep the bolt locked to the rear. The rear peep sight is just a solid plastic tab that folds with the rifle. The front fiber optic is somewhat crude and large, making 100-yard shots on eight-inch steel a focusing challenge, but it did its job.

I’m glad it came zeroed from the factory because for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how to adjust windage, but elevation was pretty straightforward.

My first reaction after shooting was “THIS IS FUN!” 9mm doesn’t have much recoil in the first place, and having PHOTO: DUSTIN ELLERMANN

11/6/14 3:21 PM

to do that and still have a proper grip on the gun, because the trigger finger should touch nothing but the trigger. Therefore it is necessary to find another way.

I personally pull a double-action trigger, like that of my Model 19 S&W, by putting the trigger exactly in the first joint. This gives me the maximum control over the trigger in double-action fire.

I came to this conclusion over several thousand practice rounds. It is rather like trying to lift a weight using the tip of your finger or by using the first joint. Obviously, the first joint gives you greater strength.

Using this method I can dry-fire the doubleaction a number of times with a coin balanced on the front sight, without the coin falling off.

Try it yourself, but it will take a bit of practice. When you can do this, you will find

that when actually firing the gun, your front sight does not move until the gun fires, which is the epitome of “trigger control.”

A Model 19 with target grips fits my hand like it was measured for me, so this is the perfect grip and trigger position for me. If using a larger or smaller gun, which places my hand farther from or closer to the trigger, I may have to fudge a bit one way or another. If your hand is larger or smaller than mine, you too may have to fudge to get the required result.

The single-action trigger on a 1911 takes a different method to get the best out of the gun. It can be shot the same way as a double-action, but for me anyway, accuracy suffers a bit. Instead, when firing a 1911 I place the gun more in line with my forearm and pull the trigger with the first pad on my trigger finger. That is, I use less finger in the

trigger guard.

This allows me to pull straight back down the line of the gun and my forearm, keeping my wrist firm. Using this method I can put an entire magazine in the 10 ring in less than three seconds from seven yards, or hit three separate targets two times in about the same period of time.

I detest handguns that have a doubleaction first shot and a single-action second shot. I could never figure out a way to put my finger on the trigger to get the first two shots to go to the same place on the target.

That is why I use guns with double-action or single-action triggers, only.

However, I have seen shooters who could really work a double-single trigger, I’m just not one of them. It is easier for me to flick the safety of a 1911 than to get used to those two different trigger pulls on the same gun.

However, when I am forced to use a double/ single handgun, I shoot it just like I do a double-action, with the trigger in the first joint of my finger.

These are the methods that work best for me, and I have seen them work for a large number of other shooters. Something similar should work for you. Just remember -- sight alignment and trigger control.

—Steve LaMascus

it against your shoulder tames it even more, yet you have almost the power of a .357 due to the increased velocity of a 16-inch barrel. My 115-grain Black Hills ammunition was running nearly over 1,400 FPS. The rifle also has the advantage of being a bit quieter than 9mm pistols, although ear protection is still required.

Wanting to see how inexperienced shooters would do with this I invited two college age ladies to the range who had shot only a handful of times. First I gave

The KelTec Sub-2000 9mm folded looks just like a perfect secret agent briefcase weapon.

them basic instructions with my Walther 9mm P99AS and had them both run a few magazines through the handgun.

Then we switched over to the KelTec Sub-2000 rifle. With less training on the rifle they shot better with it. They preferred the softer recoil, easier sight alignment, and longer sight radius. One of them had a little difficulty strength wise on locking the bolt back, but with further T E X A S

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training those muscles would develop.

The four-pound rifle was also easier for her to hold in the firing position. With the pistol, she quickly tired, extending her arms to aim and shoot.

The Sub2000 strikes me as the perfect budget home defense gun for the wife who doesn’t get to the range too much. Also, it’s the perfect stowaway rifle when a pistol isn’t enough. The ability to accept your favorite sidearm magazines makes this a total win. The low MSRP of $409 makes this rifle extra attractive. If you are lucky enough to find one on the shelf in a gun shop, check it out, you’ll probably end up taking it home.

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—Dustin Ellermann

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TRUE GREEN

Edited by Will Leschper

Answers Sought in Goose Hunting Declines IN PAST GENERATIONS, IT wasn’t uncommon for hunters to take the first buck they saw, whether that deer had two points or 12. Today, however, in the age of high-fence hunting, high-protein feeding and game-camera action 365 days

a year, most hunters are looking for bigger and better.

Judging the age of deer also has a strong conservation component, allowing for specific animals to make it through another hunting season to provide better

New Rock Structures Improve Marsh Conditions DUCKS UNLIMITED, IN COOPERAtion with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is currently constructing two fixed-crest weir structures at McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge to improve coastal marsh habitat conditions and sustainability. The projects are located in the Willow Lake Marsh and the Mud Bayou Marsh units of 34 |

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McFaddin NWR, and will benefit an estimated 2,100 acres.

These weirs, which are constructed with large stone or quarry rock, are placed within a tidal slough or channel below mean low tide levels. The weirs do not stop water flow, but rather reduce the exchange of tidal flows and salinity fluxes to more natural condiT E X A S

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genes down the line.

Judging deer on the hoof is an easy proposition for biologists and land managers who spend most of the year around them, but for the average hunter, deciding how old a deer really is isn’t a walk in the park. It takes seeing a lot of critters and knowing what to look for.

Few would criticize you for taking a younger buck, especially if it’s a down year for headgear and you’re also looking to stock a freezer for the year with a variety of venison cuts. Still, it’s good to know the ins and outs of deer identification, which is rooted in biology. As with aging of other species, there are notable characteristics that easily differentiate a mature buck from a youngster.

When inspecting a whitetail buck, the first aspect to examine is the overall body type. A younger deer will look lean and lanky, with a somewhat sleek appearance. This buck also would have skin that appears tighter than an older one and also would appear to have longer legs by comparison. Younger deer seem more symmetrical to the naked eye as well.

The next places to check are the head and neck. Most free-ranging young bucks obviously aren’t going to produce larger antlers yet. But don’t let that fool you, some younger deer have the genes to put on big horns quickly.

A younger deer’s face also appears leaner than that of an older buck, with what appears to be a straight nose profile.

tions.

Fresher water salinities were historically found in these locations, but man-made canals and alterations to the watershed have affected the natural flow of water. Over time, the tidal canals have increased in size, thus allowing for greater water exchanges and increases in interior marsh salinities.

Changes in salinity impact the plant community, thereby disrupting the natural food and cover plants in the area. These structures will reduce the amount of salt water that enters from

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TRUE GREEN A younger buck’s neck also would appear leaner, though during the rut they will swell and grow as competition for does increases.

This time of year across the state, the necks of younger bucks may not even be wider than the deer’s face, a sure sign of a young deer, and the necks of younger animals typically are more clearly defined as to where they end and the chest and shoulders begin.

Other places to check for indicators are the shoulder and chest. On a younger buck they will appear to be as large and heavy as the hindquarters, if not a little smaller.

When it comes to a mature deer, it’s hard not to see the differences, especially if a younger buck is nearby that can serve as a comparison. Older bucks undergo distinct

changes as they age.

At the first overall glance, a mature whitetail buck will look much more muscular from head to toe, so much so that their legs almost appear shorter than those of younger deer. In contrast to a younger buck, the mature deer will have sags, specifically in its skin and belly, and some older deer will sport a distinct potbelly.

Like the face of a younger buck, the mature deer will have distinct characteristics, notably a Roman nose with a much deeper and fuller profile. It’s not uncommon for older deer to have a variety of wounds around the head area.

The mature deer’s neck appears swollen, especially during the rut, and typically appears to blend with the shoulders and

chest. The shoulders and chest of an older deer also appear heavier and thicker than the hindquarters, with some deer having such a heavy front end that their front legs almost appear too short for their bodies.

One characteristic to look for is a deer’s tarsal glands, which during the rut look large and dark with the back legs of some bucks appearing almost entirely black, typically a tell-tale sign of an older deer.

The behavior to key on during the rut in particular is the dominance factor, with mature bucks chasing younger deer away from potential mates, in addition to constantly marking their territory with scrapes on trees and in the dirt.

Although the general deer season has been in high gear for a month, there’s still plenty of time to head afield. Just make sure you conserve the right animals so that the overall state herd stays the best in the country.

—by Will Leschper TG Will Leschper’s work has won state and national awards. Contact him at willleschperoutdoors@gmail.com

The weirs will allow these marshes to have less salty regimes, which is known to be more productive as wildlife and fisheries habitat.

Rock weirs like this one in coastal Louisiana will be constructed below mean low water levels to allow for tidal fluctuations, species interchanges, and boat traffic while reducing the passage of a higher salinity salt water wedge that can occur during summer months

Keith Lake and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and will reduce overall marsh salinities by 6 parts per thousand (ppt) during the growing season.

These salinity reductions will increase the establishment and density of emergent and submerged plant species; increase the density and diversity of fisheries and water birds within PHOTOS: DUCKS UNLIMITED

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these marshes; and decrease water turbidity and organic soil loss from these ecologically valuable marsh complexes.

Mud Bayou and Willow Lake Marsh are open to the public for fishing, while Mud Bayou is also open to waterfowl hunting. Ducks Unlimited is providing engineering and construcT E X A S

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tion services for these projects, which have gained financial support from North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and Texas General Land Office – Coastal Impact and Assistance Program (CIAP).

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—Andi Cooper TG

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ID YOU KNOW that Texas is home to the jaguarundi?

The jaguarundi is a medium-sized cat with a mean body size of 102 centimeters for females and 114 for males according to Mexican researcher Arturo Caso. Other sources list them as ranging from 100 to 120 centimeters with the tail making up the greatest part of the length.

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ters tall and sport a dark gray color while others are chocolate brown or blonde.

Jaguarundis are known to range from South America to the Mexican borders of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. The key word here is “known”. That means scientists have observed or captured the species within those areas, however they are reported to range much farther north in the Lone Star State and perhaps elsewhere.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials solicited information T E X A S

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from the public and received numerous reports of the species in the 1960s, including several sightings from central and east Texas. Additional sightings were reported from as far away as Florida, Oklahoma, and Colorado In a study conducted in 1984, TPWD biologists noted a string of unconfirmed jaguarundi sightings in Brazoria County, which corners the hugely populated areas of Houston and Galveston.

More than a decade ago, I had a jaguarundi sighting far north of their accepted PHOTOS: UPPER LEFT, USFWD; CENTER, PUBLIC DOMAIN ILLUSTRATION; UPPER & LOWER RIGHT, CHESTER MOORE

11/7/14 10:12 AM

ONE OF THE jaguarundis the jaguarundis at Bear Creek Feline Center. This facility is working to raise awareness about jaguarundis and are on the cutting edge of all things related to the species. For more information go www.bearcreekfelinecenter. org. If you’re in the Panama City area, make sure and contact them about a tour. It’s an amazing place.

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A VINTAGE jaguarundi sketching shows the extra-long tail and unusual body proportions.

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super exciting, and the best part is we will have kids involved in setting out and monitoring the cameras.

If you have a jaguarundi photo or would like to help with the project email cmoore@fishgame.com.

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range and this inspired a deep interest in their research.

My friend Jim Broaddus of Bear Creek Feline Center in Panama City, Florida has some of the only captive jaguarundis in America and is involved in a project called “The Search for Little Foot” that is looking for the mysterious cats in Florida.

Our Kingdom Zoo: Education Center will bring the project to Texas. We will look for these cats on some properties along the Texas-Mexico corridor and in other locations with game cameras. It’s

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WE WILL HELP Bear Creek Feline Center’s research by working with kids here in Texas to put out and maintain game cameras in areas with possible populations. Here is Jaxon Slone with a camera he won in a wildlife photo contest through the Kingdom Zoo: Education Center.

Jaxon will be part of the project.

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11/5/14 11:40 AM

Story by Reavis Z. Wortham

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WISH I HAD A TIME machine to visit certain past events in my life.

We have one, of sorts, and it’s called video. Well, it was originally Super 8 film my parents shot. We transferred everything last year to DVD, which means we completely bypassed the video stage of the eighties and nineties.

There’s no sound, so the transfer company used cheesy music,

but all the same, when you tune it out or turn down the sound, the images are still there. The color is that weird 1960s and 70s tint, but it works.

A little Beatles music from the iPod is an immense help.

We watched images from long ago, and each eight minute movie, the run time for 50 feet of film, brings back different recollections. Mentally recorded sounds and smells arose as our brains recalled those times. Many of the movies were when we were kids during Christmas. It seems like Mama only brought out the camera on that day, and for birthdays and the occasional vacation.

The Christmas movies also help recollect those who’re no longer with us, and it’s bittersweet to see them laugh, smile, and simply live.

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Those Christmas hunts with Uncle and Cousin came up just this weekend as we talked about the old folks and my grandparents’ little farm in Northeast Texas. The holidays were filled with family tradition, and one in particular drove Mama crazy.

The following is a compilation of Christmas past conversations that recurred like clockwork on the Red River in Lamar County.

After dinner on December 25th, (that’s lunch for them that don’t know) Mama looked up from the dishpan and stopped scrubbing the dinner dishes. “Where are y’all going so early?”

Uncle, her baby brother of substantial girth, shot her a grin. “Bird hunting.”

Cousin and I listened to the exchange, mentally recording the discussions for future use.

Mama wagged a dripping dishrag in his direction. “Y’all do this every year.”

Sitting at the chrome and Formica table, he sorted through a worn out hunting vest full of paper shells. He preferred Winchester Brush Loads. “What?”

My grandmother shouldered between Uncle, the kitchen table and the stove.

“Move a minute, hon, so I can get this turkey in the oven.”

Mama gave him the Hairy Eyeball. “You always take these kids and go out with those dogs and don’t come back until supper.”

Uncle thumbed some shells into the loops and gave us boys a wink.

He loved to aggravate Mama. “What’s your point?”

“The point is that the three of you take off right after dinner, and we usually have to wait supper on you because it’s nearly dark by the time you get home, and then you have to clean the birds before we can eat, and the little kids are chomping at the bit to open presents.”

“So?” He was the master at getting her goat. His eyes always sparkled at the exchange.

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“So, we’re sittin’ here in this house, cleaning the dishes and cooking supper and waiting on y’all to get in.”

“What would you be doing if we stayed here in the house all day?”

She paused and glanced out the screen door propped open to cool the hot kitchen.

Geese passed over our little farmhouse, complaining about the cloudy weather. Their cries were as clear as the jangle of a ringing telephone. I could tell she loved the sound as much as we did, and it distracted her for a moment. “Well, that’s not the point.”

“Yes it is the point. You’d be doing the same thing with us under your feet. At least we’re out of the house.”

“Yeah, and the first thing y’all do tomorrow morning, after Santy Claus comes, it go load up those guns and go hunting again.”

“Mornings and evenings are the best time.”

“You need to be here with us.”

“And do what?”

“Well, talk.”

“We’re talking now. What would you be doing while we’re talking?”

Mama thought for a minute. “Cleaning up the breakfast dishes and cooking dinner.”

“That’s right, and we’d be underfoot some more. At least we’re out of the way, and when we come back in, we’ll bring a mess of birds to fry up. You know you love quail. Right, boys?”

He must have felt it

up a hunt.

“I’m not talking to them. I’m talking to you.”

“You’re right. We’re talking now. What do you want to talk about?”

“Quit sorting them shells.”

“You quit washing dishes.”

She looked down at the forgotten dishrag in her hands. “Well, I don’t know.”

“You want to talk about hunting?”

“No.” “These kids?”

We looked up, hopefully.

“Lord no.”

“What it was like when we were kids?”

A smile brightened her face. “It was hard back then.”

“But it was good too.”

“Yep, and when I wasn’t much more than their age, I’d take up a shotgun on Christmas morning and shoot us a mess of quail for dinner, when everyone came over to eat.”

My grandmother sighed. “I’m glad some of those times are past.”

There was a long silence.

“Well,” Uncle said, shrugging on the stained vest. “It was a good talk. You boys ready?”

He picked up his old Belgium Humpback Browning and we hit the door running, to get in a good hunt before it got dark and we opened presents.

While watching those old grainy, jumpy movies of my good old days, I can almost hear those voices again. I miss the old folks, Christmases past, and quail hunting.

Like I said, a time machine for old, dim hunting trips with Uncle.

was necessary to bring us into the conversation, whether to shoulder some of her grief, or to teach us how to argue

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11/5/14 11:40 AM

Open Season

by Reavis Wortham | TF&G Humor Editor

W

RONG WILLIE AND I WERE SITTING in a large deer stand, admiring the south Texas countryside.

“Did Cash say we could both take a buck?” he asked.

I glanced out the window on my left side.

“He said one of us could take a buck, and the other needs to get a doe.”

“Which one do you want?”

“I don’t care,” I said. “I just want some venison, so you can have the buck.”

“Fine by me,” he said and carefully opened the window in front of us. Knowing he wasn’t just getting fresh air, I leaned forward to look outside. A wide ten-point buck with two-drop tines was standing broadside a hundred yards away.

“Hey, you set me up,” I accused.

“Shhhh. I just asked you a simple question.” He pointed his rifle out of the window.

“Not the point,” I argued, glassing the big deer. “This guy is a trophy and you knew he was standing there when you asked me.”

“He won’t be standing there long if you keep arguing so loud,” Willie said. “Now let me shoot my deer. And keep your voice down.”

“We should have flipped for him,” I said.

My argument was drowned by the sharp bang of Willie’s .270. The buck spun around and fell as if hit with a howitzer. “Good shot, though.”

We climbed out of the tower stand and trudged across the broken terrain to where the deer lay. “That’s the biggest rack I’ve ever taken!” Willie said and danced a jig through the cactus.

“It would have been the biggest deer I’ve ever taken if you’d been fair about it,” I said, unloading my rifle and leaning it against a large mesquite.

“Quit crying and help me skin this deer.”

In preparation, Willie filled his bottom lip with the Brand of the Week and unloaded his rifle. He dug in a pocket and perched a

“ That’s the biggest rack I’ve ever taken!

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pair of smudged reading glasses on his nose.

After fumbling through wallet, Willie located his license, tore off and filled the appropriate tag, and wired it to the big buck’s antler.

He’s been a stickler for detail since he got a ticket a few years ago for using the wrong tag on a deer.

“Where’d you hit him?” I asked.

Willie didn’t answer. Instead, he rolled the buck onto its back, pinched up a flap of skin and reached out to make his first incision.

The buck kicked him so hard in the stomach that water squirted out of seven orifices.

He swallowed his dip and went backwards like a felled tree.

The up-until-then-stunned-buck regained his feet and tore off across the ranch like a kid after an ice cream truck. “#*$)#!!!” Willie said to me and gave chase with nothing but the skinning knife in his hand. Because he’d been kicked so hard, he ran almost apelike, hunched over and helping himself along with his empty hand.

I grabbed my unloaded rifle and charged after him. The buck ran down into a dry wash and sprinted along the sandy course.

We followed at a gallop until we both ran out of steam.

Willie stopped to catch his breath, both hands on the ground.

I fumbled three loads into my gun just as we heard the report of another rifle.

“Somebody shot my deer!” Willie shouted and ran even harder.

When I came around a sharp curve in the T E X A S

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draw, Willie and a stranger were arguing over the deer. “It’s my buck,” Willie said, pointing at the one we’d been chasing.

Stranger shook his head. “Nope. That old boy ran past me here and I dropped him.

He’s mine.”

Willie wheezed for a minute and then stood up straighter. “Wrong. Just look at that right antler. He has my tag on it. You can’t claim another man’s deer after he’s been tagged.”

Stranger frowned and gave the buck a closer look. He face registered the shock of his life. “Well I’ll be, he is tagged.”

“That’s how Willie hunts,” I said. “He drops down on them from a tree and clubs them senseless with the handle of that skinning knife there in his hand. Then he tags them and while they’re out, he finishes them off and skins them. Says it’s more sporting.”

Stranger looked back forth between the two of us. “You have a rifle.”

“I’m backup,” I said. “He just surprised me is all.”

Undecided, Stranger wasn’t convinced.

“Show me your license.”

Willie produced the required document with the missing tag. “You’ll find my name on that one wired to his antler.”

Just in case the buck was pretending again, we stepped back as the Stranger examined the tag, He rose and sighed. “All right.

I reckon you can have him. Anyone who can take a buck like that deserves him.”

He turned to walk away and then stopped.

“Hey, would you guys mind if I go with you next time and try it myself?”

“Sorry,” Willie said. “I always said if I got a buck that scored this high, I’d retire. Looks like that day has come.”

“Well, all right,” Stranger said and wandered away, talking to himself. “What will these Extreme Sportsmen think of next?”

“Whatever it is,” I said, grateful the encounter was over. “I hope I’m not part of it.”

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Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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ORGET MALLARD. WHILE WE’RE ARE AT IT, FORGET PINtail, widgeon, and blue-winged teal; might as well throw wood duck, good measure.

These are all key species, but in terms of overall importance to Texas

waterfowlers, all pail in comparison to the gadwall--yes, gadwall.

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shoveler, and redhead on the forget pile, too, and toss in bluewing for

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Almanac Feature Story Called “gray duck” by many hunters, this species has seen a renaissance in population growth and hunter interest over the last 25 years like no other species.

This year gadwall are up 14 percent about last year’s high numbers with 3.811 million breeding birds in the population. That’s a whopping 102 percent about the long-term average.

Gadwall are abundant in the Texas coastal marshes and agriculture where most of the duck hunters in the state reside.

“They are an extremely important duck for us,” said Brian Fischer of Drake Plantation Outfitters-based in Winnie.

“They decoy well and eat pretty good too. A good year for gadwall usually means a good year for hunters in the coastal area especially up here on the Upper Coast.”

While these ducks can be easy to dupe, they are much more stubborn in the breeding grounds of North and South Dakota, where they are one of the last species to nest.

“Some ducks like mallards will already

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3.8 MILLION SHADES OF GRAY: Robust population growth has made the gadwall a vital species for Texas duck hunters.

be well into nesting before the gadwalls begin. However when they do start they do it with gusto and they will re-nest,” said Dr. Scott Manley, biologist with Ducks Unlimited.

Re-nesting is important because predators like skunk and red fox often destroy nests and some species like pintail for example abandon their efforts. Gadwalls carry on and that coupled with their favor for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land and large, permanent wetland impound-

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ments gives them an edge over other species.

In dry years like 2008, when seasonal wetlands were few and far between, gadwall did decline from the previous wet year but held at 56 percent over the long-term average.

“The Dakotas are very important to gadwall and it is important we continue CRP and also the conservation easement program, which pays landowners a one time fee to deed nesting grounds protection into their property,” Manley said.

Since 1997 DU and their partners like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have purchased nearly 800,000 acres in easements in the Dakotas to a tune of more than $116 million dollars, greatly benefitting gadwall.

“Gadwall are an important and successful duck but they must have nesting habitat and that is what programs like this and the purchase of duck stamps provides. Gadwall and other species are direct benefactors of these acts of conservation,” Manley said.

Gadwall are my personal favorite duck as detailed in my book Texas Waterfowl.

Much of that has to do with magical experiences with this amazing birds.

Green may be the color of envy but gray is the true measure of success in Texas.

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Texas Boating

by Lenny Rudow | TF&G Boating Editor

A Clean Boat is a Happy Boat

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F I HAD THE TIME, I’D WASH AND WAX my boat each and every week. But I don’t—and I’ll bet you don’t, either.

That’s too bad, because keeping that gel coat shiny and clean also keeps it protected.

Let it fade and get chalky, and you’ll have to do a ton of work to get back the shine.

Don’t think this is merely a matter of vanity. Gel coat that’s in good shape is easier to clean up after a fishing trip, and in the long run, a good-looking boat will have a much higher resale value than one that’s dingy and old-looking.

Unfortunately, that brings us right back to time. Few of us have enough to wax our boat more than a couple times a season.

Fortunately, with just a bit more time and elbow grease, you can give your boat a twicea-season gel coat treatment that(with a little regular maintenance) will keep it looking good and in close-to-perfect condition. Let’s get started.

Clean Slate

You can’t seal and protect the gel coat until you first get it into pristine condition.

That starts with removing any and all oxidation that’s currently defiling your pride and joy.

Oxidation is what causes that chalky or yellowed look, and if it’s out of control, you may need to call in a professional to completely restore your boat. For now, let’s assume the oxidation you have to contend with is the more garden-variety surface oxidation that hasn’t yet caused any real damage.

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marine supply store) and a buffer, to get the job started. Sure, you could do it by hand, but if you value your wrists and elbows you won’t—this is going to take some serious rubbing.

Pour a glob of oxidation remover onto the buffer bonnet, hold it gently against the hull side with even pressure, and click the power button. But use some caution, here. If you hit the power button before the buffer is sitting flat against the hullside, as centrifugal force hits the goop on the bonnet it’ll go spraying off in every direction.

Now, slowly sweep the buffer back and forth across the hull, going over the same area three or four times and being sure not to leave any gaps in your coverage. Keep that buffer moving, though, because if you hold it still, it can wear down a divot in the gel coat. When the oxidation remover seems to be thinning out, give the buffer a healthy new glob and continue working your way down the hull side.

No matter how careful you are, you’ll probably have to go back and re-touch some areas of the boat that are hard to get with the buffer. Under the rubrail and around through-hull fittings, for example, often requires some hand-rubbing with a rag.

Next you’ll have to go back and buff away all the oxidation remover, after it’s dried. The boat should have a great shine, once this part of the job is done. But inspect it carefully for any remaining oxidation. If you don’t get rid of it now, you’ll be sealing it in later and all this hard work will be for nothing.

Wait a sec do you have an annoying rust streak or stain that just wouldn’t buff away? This is the stage to eliminate that,

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as well. You need an acid-based fiberglass cleaner. These are usually branded as “fiberglass stain remover,” but finding the right active ingredient—oxalic acid—is the key to choosing the correct cleaner. Read the ingredients, and make sure you pick one that includes this stuff (it’s amazing how well it gets rid of stains on fiberglass). A note of caution: some of these cleaners give off harmful fumes, burn your skin, and/or damage the gel coat if you don’t thoroughly rinse them away after use, so be sure to read and follow the instructions.

Okay—so she’s looking good. But not good enough. Now’s the time to put a new bonnet on the buffer, and polish the fiberglass. In fact, you should use a microfiber bonnet for this step.

Don’t get a combination wax/polish, either. That stuff is great for shines inbetween full-blown wax jobs, but isn’t the best choice at this stage of the game. Instead, choose a high-quality, dedicated fiberglass polish.

You’re done polishing? At this point, that boat should look uber-sharp. So let’s make sure it stays that way. Now we need to put on a coat of wax. Actually, maintaining the shine requires two coats. And not that wimpy liquid carnauba wax, either. Sure, that stuff shines great, but it offers little protection and will wear away with a couple of weeks of weathering. Instead, use a tough paste wax.

Lay it on thick, give it plenty of time to dry, and again switch to the rag and elbow grease to hit parts of the boat the buffer can’t reach. Two coats of a high-quality paste wax will provide some very real protection to the fiberglass, and prevent oxidation from beginning to form again.

At this stage, you may gaze upon your boat and think it still doesn’t shine quite like it did when it was new. That’s because you need to do one more thing, to bring out the best your boat has to offer. Give it a coating of that liquid carnauba wax. Although it’ll CONTINUED ON PAGE 49 

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Texas Guns

The Gun That Won The West

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NE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES IS THE Jimmy Stewart film Winchester 73.

The gist of it is that Jimmy and his evil brother shoot against each other in a shooting match where the prize is a special 1 of 1000 Winchester Model 1873.

Jimmy wins the gun, but his evil broth-

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er who had murdered their father steals the gun and takes off for parts unknown.

Jimmy and his sidekick, “High Spade,” follow and the movie ends in a shootout between Jimmy and his brother. Of course, Jimmy wins, avenges his father, gets his rifle back, and gets the girl.

Many years ago the Model ’73 Winchester was discontinued and replaced by the stronger Model 1892.

Then a couple of years later the legendary Model ‘94 came along, with its equally

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IMAGE: COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

by Steve LaMascus | TF&G Shooting Editor

legendary .30-30 cartridge. The Winchester ’73 became a collector’s item and a movie star.

The Model ’73 was one of the smoothest lever-actions ever invented. It held a large number of rather underpowered cartridges, which were, if the shooter desired, of the same caliber as his handgun. This allowed the shooter to carry only one kind of ammunition. Many thought this was a great idea.

Now, because computer controlled manufacturing allows the gun to be produced cheaply enough to be financially feasible, and because the Single Action Shooting Society, the cowboy shooting group, makes such a gun worthwhile, Winchester has reintroduced the Model ’73. Strangely enough the caliber of the new gun is .357 Magnum/.38 Special, rather than one of the original “WCF” Winchester Center Fire cartridges (.38-40, .44-40, etc.), although I am told that it will be made in the original calibers in the near future.

I ordered one of the new Model ’73s for testing. At first glance it is beautifully finished. Mine has a round barrel, rather than an octagonal barrel, which I would have preferred. It is, also, the carbine version, while I would prefer a longer barrel. However, I assume it is what Winchester believes is the most desirable for the SASS crowd.

The action is slick as glass and the trigger is crisp, with a surprisingly light let-off of just

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TEXAS BOATING over four pounds. It has what appears to be an American walnut stock, is all blued, with a blued, curved, metal butt plate. The sights are a gold bead front and a buckhorn rear.

All in all, the gun is a reasonably faithful reproduction of the original.

Accuracy is acceptable, but not brilliant.

I shot it with factory jacketed ammunition and with my handloads using hand-molded Keith bullets. I could not tell that the gun preferred one over the other. All the loads tested grouped in about three inches at 50 yards. Recoil was mild, even with the wickedly curved butt-plate.

This new Model ’73 should make a wonderful saddle rifle, especially for hunting cougars or black bears with dogs. It would take deer if the shots were kept close and the shooter were careful what ammunition he chose.

The only fault I found with the gun was that it flatly refused to function with .38 Special ammunition. It clearly had .357 Magnum/.38 Special stamped on the barrel, but every time I tried to use it with .38s it hung up solidly. I tried it with wadcutters

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 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 46 wash away fast, it does provide some extra shine that the paste wax just can’t match.

Your boat is now so reflective it can be spotted from the international space station—we’re finally done.

Sort of.

There’s one more thing you need to do, and that’s some simple maintenance. Every time you use your boat, especially in saltwater, after the wash-down give it a quick dose of spray-on wax (sometimes called “quick wax”). This is another form of liquid wax. and 158-grain round-nosed police loads.

The problem was that the .38 Special cartridges were too short and jammed the mechanism that lifted the rounds up to the chamber. It should be no problem to handload .38s with long Keith bullets seated far enough out to function properly, but with factory ammo it was a no-go.

This is a beautifully built gun. If you are an SASS competitor, or just fancy a Winchester ’73, this is your baby. Retail is

Although its protection is similarly shortlived, using it on a weekly or bi-weekly basis will prevent the layers of paste wax from wearing away. Sure, it’ll add another 10 minutes or so to your clean-up routine.

But keep up with the job consistently, and six months from now, your boat will still be shining and oxidation-free.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com

just above $1,000. I would love to have one of my own, but will wait for the introduction of the original calibers and buy one in .38-40.

Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@fishgame.com

11/11/14 6:35 PM

Texas Tested Umarex APX Air Rifle THE NEW NXG APX MULTI-PUMP air rifle is a great all round BB and pellet gun for youngsters. It has a sleek modern design that youngsters will appreciate and an automatic safety mechanism that is only found on Umarex pneumatic rifles. As soon as the shooter starts to pump the rifle the Mini-14 trigger guard style safety automatically engages. The shooter can pump it from 5-10 times for the preferred power, and load the on board BB hopper that will automatically load into the chamber upon opening the pellet ramp, or hand feed pellets. The APX comes in a variety of packages ranging from $50-80.

—by Dustin Ellermann

Nautic Star 244 XTS: Shooting Star FORGET ABOUT WAKEBOARDING, coving at the lake, or an evening dinner cruise—you want a boat for fishing, period.

And if that fishing takes place in a coastal bay, you’re probably on the hunt for a boat like the Nautic Star 244 XTS. The 244 XTS leaves all of those “other” boating activities in its wake, and focuses solely on getting you to the hotspots you want to hit, then enhancing fishability. As far as getting there goes, be prepared for a short trip. Rigged with an F300 outboard this boat blasts across the water’s surface at over 59 MPH. Dial it back to a reasonable 4500 RPM cruise, and you’ll still be shredding the water at 42 MPH. A good part of 50 |

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this awesome performance can be credited to Nautic Star hull design, which in this case incorporates air-assist chines and aft planning pods. Construction also contributes to performance by minimizing weight, while maximizing strength. Take a look at the hatches,

for example. RTM (resin transfer molding) means they’re built with the ideal resinto-fiberglass ratio. Added bonus: this also means they’re fully finished on both sides.

Other construction highlights to take note of include the use of stainless-steel where other builders often use plastic (throughhulls, rodholders, and cup holders, for a few examples); a fiberglass stringer system; LED lighting; waterproof Deutsche electrical connectors; and brass ball valves. Think you can find a weak point? Good luck.

Fishing features are just as well thoughtout. The livewells (both forward at 20 gallons

and aft at 37 gallons) have high-speed pickups, 500 GPH recirculation pumps with timers, 800 GPH aeration pumps with timers, LED lighting, and 1.5” overflow standpipes. There’s a five-drawer tacklebox built into the console, locking rod boxes for 10 rigs, and three rod holders in each gunwale. The forward fishbox is insulated, drains overboard,

and holds 30 gallons. You say you catch so many fish that 30 gallons of capacity won’t cut it? No problem; there’s also a 94-quart Igloo, which lives underneath the leaning post. And yes (even though it has nothing to do with fishing) there is room for a portable MSD inside the console.

Are you ready for some specs? LOA is 24’6”, beam is 102”, maximum horsepower is 300, weight is 2,500 lbs, draft is 1’2”, and fuel capacity is a whopping 79 gallons.

Heck yeah, the Nautic Star 244 XTS is, in fact, a star. For more information visit www. nauticstarboats.com.

—by Lenny Rudow

NauticStar 244 XTS

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Fish and Game Gear New Bracket Captures Your Point of View CAPTURE THE ACTION FROM ANY Angle. Cotton Carrier’s new POV Bracket offers action camera photographers an exciting new way to capture the action handsfree from any angle.

POV bracket can shoot to the side, down to the ground, even straight up for an inthe-action “selfie.”

“With 360 degrees of rotation, you’ll be hard-pressed to come up with a shot that POV cannot handle,” Parker said. “Being a part of the action is nothing new for Cotton Carrier. For years our products have securely held DSLRs and other high-end photo gear for photographers as they run, bike, hike, ski and skateboard. Even while doing flips on a trampoline!”

The POV Braclet features Cotton Carrier’s camera hub system and mounts into any Cotton Carrier product. POV is also sold with the StrapShot, which easily attaches to most backpack straps. The bracket is a solid piece of aluminum manufactured in North America.

For more information on the POV Bracket and other Cotton Carrier products, go to www.cottoncarrier.com. Watch POV in action at youtu.be/ElJ7Z8KSss0

Flex Spex: IFTD 2014 Best of Show Eyewear Cotton Carrier’s new POV Bracket.

“Going hands-free with an action camera is a snap, but positioning the camera in virtually unlimited dynamic ways hasn’t been available … until now,” said Brook Parker, chief operating officer of Cotton Carrier Ltd. “Cotton Carrier’s POV Bracket for GoPro and other action cameras allows you to position your camera to any angle you want.”

While other action camera brackets remain in a fixed position – or only allow limited up-or-down tilting – the Cotton Carrier POV bracket can rotate 360 degrees. Instead of just straight ahead shots, an action camera on a Cotton Carrier 52 |

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FLEX SPEX ARE TWO PIECE READing glasses for people who enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. Each piece consists of a stainless steel clip, flexible stainless steel and copper temple piece, and framed lens with a magnetic closure. The glasses are clipped to the bill of a cap. When needed, simply pull the lenses apart, bring them down over your nose, and allow the magnets to connect the two lenses together.

The corrective lenses can be adjusted to the precise point you are trying to see. When you are finished, simply pull the magnetic lenses apart and fold them back up on top of the bill of your cap. The clips keep the glasses secure at all times preventing you from losing or misplacing the glasses. Our unique patented design keeps these readers off your neck and out of your field of vision, but easily accessible. Flex Spex come in

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Flex Spex: as easy as ONE...

... TWO...

... THREE!

four magnifications: 1.50, 2.00, 2.50, 3.00 and three frame colors: clear, blue, and tortoise. Each pair of glasses comes with its own protective case.

Email flexspex@tctwest.net or visit www.flexspex.com.

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AccuSharp Pulls Off Another Breakthrough FORTUNE PRODUCTS, INC., A world leader in manufacturing sharpening products, announces the addition of the new AccuSharp PullThrough Knife Sharpener to its line of award winning sharpeners.

The AccuSharp Pull-Through Knife Sharpener is great for sharpening and maintaining your blades. This commercial grade knife sharpener combines the awardwinning technology and proven reliability of their diamondhoned tungsten carbide sharpening blades with fine ceramic rods.

The heavy duty, ergonomicallydesigned handle with the rubber over-molded grip provides a stable and comfortable platform for sharpening all your knives.

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AccuSharp Pull-Through knife sharpeners in three color combinations.

The AccuSharp Pull-Through Knife Sharpener is available in three color com-

binations (white/blue, orange/ green, black/gray). “The AccuSharp PullThrough Knife Sharpener is an excellent addition to the revered AccuSharp family of knife and tool sharpeners and received the 2015 Gold Innovation Award for manual knife sharpeners presented by Housewares Executive magazine,� said President Jay Cavanaugh.

The AccuSharp PullThrough Knife Sharpener model #036C, #037C and #039C will be sold in sporting goods, kitchen, restaurant supply and hardware stores worldwide.

Fortune Products, Inc. has made quality knife and tool sharpening products since 1984.

For more information on the complete line of products, visit www.accusharp.com or call (800) 742-7797.

11/11/14 6:35 PM

Hotspots Focus: Upper Coast

by Capt. Eddie Hernandez | TF&G Contributor

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GUESS IT TOOK ME SITTING DOWN with pen and paper in hand to fully grasp that another year has come and gone. It has vanished so quickly that I hardly remember the excitement I felt as Spring was knocking on the door Just like that, the Christmas season is at our doorstep as we eagerly await the arrival of another brand new year. Before any of that takes place though, there is still some 2014 business at hand to take care of targeting, locating and catching some serious December redfish in the marsh and bayous of the Sabine ecosystem.

Most of us have witnessed the tremen-

“ ... locating and catching some serious December redfish in th marsh and bayous.

“

Unfinished 2014 Business

dous growth of the redfish populations coast wide since the removal of the nets and the redfish wars of the 80’s. That growth has resulted in one of the greatest rebounds on

record of a threatened species and we are all reaping the benefits.

Thank God for all of the organizations

and individuals who fought so hard for this great cause. Although redfish are not hard to catch year round, here on Sabine the month of December has become prime time for targeting them in the chilly waters of the bayous.

It pretty much boils down to finding bait. Mullet is a major source of nutrition for redfish in December mainly because other options like shrimp and shad become scarcer as the water cools down during the winter months. Therefore, if you happen to see a school of mullets, or even one or two mullets cruising the shallow bank, there is a very good chance that there are some hungry reds nearby.

On nice calm days, it shouldn’t be hard to find mullet along long stretches of shoreline in the bayous. If you’ve located the bait, you’ve probably located the fish, especially if there’s any tidal movement. Drains and small cuts leading to the back lakes in the marsh will usually hold most of the bait and fish. Gold spoons, and spinner baits will work well, as will plastics rigged with 1/8 oz. heads.Dark colors like Texas Roach, Morning Glory and Red Shad are hard to beat.

Let’s take advantage of what is left of 2014 and enjoy it while we’ve got it because next month it will be just a memory.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Jetties at old pilot station (Sabine Pass) SPECIES: Black Drum, Redfish, Whiting BAITS/LURES: Cut Mullet, Fresh dead shrimp BEST TIMES: All Day

Contact Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Hotspots Focus: Galveston

by Capt. Mike Holmes | TF&G Contributor

Playing the Blues

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EVERAL YEARS AGO I FISHED A LOT with my friend, Rene Morales, aboard his very well-equipped 25-foot Grady White, pushed by twin 200 hp outboards.

At that time, I probably had more experience trolling and chumming, while Rene preferred bottom fishing around rigs, so we helped each other mix and complement techniques.

Those were also times of fewer restrictions on offshore fishermen, so we fished more in fall and even winter past the breakers than we probably would now.

While giving cooler water a try, we discovered some interesting things about fall fishing.

One was that in cooler water many species normally found in the bays and around the jetties were actually fairly numerous around rigs and

over bottom structure offshore. Among these were redfish, black drum, and flounder.

Also of interest was that these fish along with red snappers and other bottom feeders were very partial to live shrimp as bait, and they did not have to be jumbos, either. Red snappers are “off the menu” now, as are redfish in waters more than nine miles from shore.

Flounder are probably not going to be so numerous as to encourage offshore trips specifically for them. In fishing, as in many other aspects of life, however, it does not pay to be particularly “color-blind”.

Meandering around the palette of fish names and colors this time of year, I would not skip over the bluefish. Although they are an important sport and commercial species on the Atlantic coast, fishermen in our part of the Gulf generally consider them as an unwanted “trash” fish.

Blues are more common in our waters in cooler weather, when they are thought to migrate to the northern Gulf to spawn. The usual introduction a fisherman has to blues is that while anglers are bottom fishing for

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snapper around a rig, the bait will either be taken on the drop to the bottom, or attacked

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Hotspots Focus: Matagorda

by Mike Price | TF&G Contributor PHOTO: MIKE PRICE

Fishing Between Fronts

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WAS KAYAK FISHING ON THE SOUTH side of West Matagorda Bay in midDecember. It was a sunny day with air temperatures in the low seventies, and wind coming from the southeast at five to ten mph. The tide was outgoing, and the water was high and very clear with visibility over two feet. Even if the fish weren’t biting, it was a great day to be on the water, but fortunately, the fish were biting.

As I approached an oyster reef, between me and the shore I saw some clear signs of activity, a small fish leaped with terror, then a puff of silt exploded from the bay floor on my right. And as I paddled to the back of a cove, I caught fleeting glimpses of large fish through the clear water.

I tossed my drift anchor over and let the light wind float my kayak out of the cove while I swam an Egret, four-inch Wedge Tail soft plastic over the oyster reefs. A redfish darted out of a sand hole and took the lure. Drifting in the center of the cove, I caught a 16-inch trout and as soon as I hooked it, I dropped my anchor so that I would not drift over the reef.

Trout under twenty or so inches feed and move in schools and I hoped that this was the first of many. The next cast produced another trout, and on the next cast the fish got off just before I could net it. This was followed by landing an eighteen-inch trout; and so it went for an hour.

I kept five trout and the redfish and released the rest because I figured five trout was plenty. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department changed the bag limits on trout as of September 1, 2014. If you are fishing south of FM 457, the limit is now five speckled trout.

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Sun setting over West Matagorda Bay as seen from Oyster Lake

The exceptionally nice day I described above was between two fronts. Low tides and strong north winds are common in December, but you can still find fish. The Diversion Channel, south of Braggs Cut, is a good place to anchor and fish on a strong northwest or northeast wind.

North of Braggs Cut and The Colorado River Locks, the Colorado River is a good place to fish in the winter for trout and redfish. Fish like the deep water because it is a little warmer. The Tres Palacios River also holds trout when water temperatures drop.

The decision where to fish in December in the Diversion Channel or the rivers depends on how much rain falls in the week or so before you go. If there has been little or no rain, you will find trout and redfish in the Colorado River north of FM 521. Under those same conditions, you will find fish north of FM 521 in the Tres Palacios River.

Even when we have rain, the fish will be in the rivers at depth, but most likely they will be closer to the bay. Salt water is heavier than fresh water, and it will be at depth while fresh water will be on the surface and down to variable depths depending on rainfall.

You may want to look for a morning when the water is high and outgoing, and then try drift fishing over the oyster reefs in East Matagorda Bay for trout. I have seen fishermen use this strategy to come to the cleaning table with stringers of large trout.

This works best on a south or southeast

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wind at less than 15 mph if the water is low and cooler than 55°F. If it’s a sunny day with an incoming tide and the wind is light from a southerly direction, wait until the afternoon to go fishing.

It was early December when Jeff Wiley and I headed to West Matagorda Bay. We arrived at our chosen bayou at about 1 p.m.

The tide was moving in with force and rapidly covering the exposed oyster reefs. Initially there were no takers, but at 2 p.m. the fish turned on.

I saw the outline of a wake in very shallow water and dropped a pearl/chartreuse Bass Assassin in front of it. The 23-inch redfish was a vigorous fighter and we hooked up with several more in the shallow water over the sun warmed flats. Then we fished the gut in the center of the bayou, which was two to four feet deep, and found steady action from feeding trout.

If the wind is howling out of the north, but this is the one day that you have to fish, head for the rivers or the Diversion Channel, but if it is a partially sunny day with light southerly winds, time your fishing so that you have high, moving water that has been warmed by the sun.

THE BANK BITE OYSTER LAKE On December 17 last year, my wife and I went to Oyster Lake. The wind was light and variable and the water was 52°F and very clear. Low

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GALVESTON FOCUS  CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55 repeatedly on the way up. Sometimes a snapper being reeled to the surface will arrive with large bites taken out of it.

Although our Texas state record blue is more than 16 pounds, most I’ve caught have run from a pound or so up to about seven pounds. I found the best method of hooking a bluefish was to let them worry the bait until the circle hook had found a spot to stick. No hook set will be necessary, as the blue will be off like a shot when it feels the metal.

A bluefish fights harder than a red snapper of the same size. In fact, I suspect they fight stronger than a king mackerel of the same weight class.

They don’t battle deep, either, preferring to rush to the surface to thrash and even jump in their efforts to get free. Do not stick a finger inside the mouth of a bluefish unless you’re tide at Port O’Connor was at 11:30 a.m., but we did not have a strong incoming tide at Oyster Lake until 6 p.m. But, when the water started moving the trout started hitting and we enjoyed some good fishing while

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wearing Kevlar gloves. They have sharp teeth that can do a lot of damage remember the bites I mentioned that were taken out of a whole snapper?

Bluefish will often be found close inshore in mixed schools with Spanish mackerel, where they can be caught trolling or chummed to the surface and tempted with flashy lures.

On one occasion I remember seeing exceptionally large blues chasing mullet in the surf of West Galveston Island. Medium class tarpons were working the surf that day, and the big blues would hit and run hard enough to really get your hopes up.

I may be the only Texas fisherman who will admit to eating bluefish and liking it.

Somewhat like sand trout, they should be cooked as fresh as possible. When you fillet, them be sure to remove all the dark red meat along the lateral line.

Personally, I always remove any darker watching a beautiful sunset over West Matagorda Bay. We fished at the point where water exchanges between Tres Palacios Bay and Oyster Lake where there are deep guts.

meat on any fish, as that part usually will have a strong and less pleasant taste, but this is especially important with blues. After that, I fry them crisp and fast and enjoy. They are not as good on the table as red snapper, but for a cold weather fresh fish fry they work out very well. There is also a neat trick to getting more and better meat off a bluefish I’ll have to try to find room for in another column!

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Deeper water in bayous, rivers, harbors and bays SPECIES: Speckled trout, redfish BEST BAITS: “Fresh dead”, live bait, selected lures BEST TIMES: Night under lights, day trips planned around the weather, tides

Contact Mike Holmes at ContactUs@fishgame.com.

Contact Mike Price at ContactUs@fishgame.com

11/11/14 6:35 PM

Hotspots Focus: Upper Mid Coast

by Capt. Chris Martin | TF&G Contributor

Clear Water Insight

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HE OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF WINTER occurs this month, but the air and the water have already cooled considerably. You may soon begin seeing some really clear water in our bays as things continue to get even colder now through February.

Some anglers claim that winter bay waters sometimes become too clear to catch fish effectively. Others will tell you that the water clarity is one thing they love most about fishing during colder months.

Historically, some extremely large trout

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and an unmentionable number of absolutely gorgeous redfish have been landed in these cold, clear waters. This winter should be no exception along our coast. Most everyone will have their own opinions and strategies about what is the best way to go about catching some of these attractive fish as temperatures creep downward, but here are a few things that we found to have helped in the past.

Accompanying the clear water this winter will be a lot of strong wind, whether it’s north or south wind. The north wind will usually be associated with a cold front that can churn bay waters to obscurity. However, shorelines that are protected from the north wind from Mesquite Bay and eastward to East Matagorda Bay will sometimes remain gin-clear even in the harshest conditions.

A few days after these winter storms pass through the area, the south wind normally kicks in again and the miles upon miles of bayside shorelines along Matagorda Island will be protected and should hold clean water until the next storm arrives.

A good bite can sometimes be located in the clear portion of streaked water which is a fairly common characteristic seen during windy conditions. The trout and reds tend to sit in the clear water because they’re waiting to ambush bait fish that are hanging within the confines of the darker, murkier water.

A prime target this month will be shell pads and reefs, either submerged or exposed, wherever clean water can be found. If we happen to find an exposed reef surrounded by nice water, we prefer to be set up on that location just before a rising tide. The exposed portion of the reef holds a number of food sources that will be covered and washed across the reef with an incoming tide. The trout and reds will sit gorging themselves as the top of the reef slowly disappears below the surface with the water movement that’s resultant of the rising tide.

When working artificial baits in this clear water, we have found that dark and bright colors both tend to produce well on a fairly regular basis. The tough part is trying to figure out what the fish want on any particular day, but some favored dark baits include plastic tails

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like shad and sand eels in black, motor oil, plum, or electric blue bodies and chartreuse tails.

Topwater baits such as the Super Spook, She Dog, and Top Dog Jr. in black, bone, dark green, chartreuse, and red and white are all good surface walkers with tremendous wintertime track records, as well.

When the water temperature drops considerably, shrimp are no longer found in the bays, and trout and redfish begin feeding primarily on bait fish like large horse mullets, and any of a myriad of other finfish and crustaceans that may be available.

You’ve probably heard the old phrase “… the larger the bait, the bigger the trout.”

We can’t be sure that whoever originally said that was talking specifically about wintertime trout (and reds), but we can vouch for the success that we’ve had in the past when throwing larger baits in cold water.

If you’re tossing plastics, try throwing the four-inch version of the tails instead of the three-inch baits. And again, for top water choices include the Super Spook and the She Dog. And as far as some of the finesse baits are concerned, try presenting the Corky Fat Boy over that of the original Corky.

The time period between December and March is also a very good time for some of the old-reliable crank baits such as the MirroLure 51M and 52M series.In water that looks almost like tap water out of your faucet at home, cold water anglers should never discount the ever tried-n-true gold and silver spoons, in either the regular or weedless models. We’ve actually painted some of the silver minnow spoons red and white, and the redfish have a hard time passing them up on a regular basis.

They call this month the season of giving, so give yourself a gift by trying your luck at what might just be a catch of a lifetime.

We sincerely wish you and yours a Merry Christmas. Keep grindin’!

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

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Hotspots Focus: Rockport

by Capt. Mac Gable | TF&G Contributor

Short, Not So Sweet

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HIS ARTICLE IS GOING TO BE SHORT and to the point. As the holidays draw near, I get a lot of questions about potential gifts for spouses and loved ones. Often they come in the form of an email or a text and I do my best to respond as time allows.

Usually the questions are specific and point to a particular product for a loved one’s fishing and hunting passion. The questioner is doing his or her best to provide a top quality gift that will be a joy for the receiver.

Unfortunately those selling these products can be and often are misleading about their products. It seems more and more these days out-and-out lying is becoming an acceptable practice when describing a product’s capability.

Before I launch into a tirade over this lessthan-ethical type of selling, I will be the first to admit some fishing and hunting devices, as unrealistic as they might seem, do actually work. However, the lion’s share are mostly gimmicks whose sole purpose is to make money, not improve your opportunity to catch fish or hunt prey.

Admittedly some of the blame belongs with us. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me for not having the gonads to stand up and try to right the wrong.

One of my pet peeves is self-created fishing and hunting celebrities who line their pockets with our money when they support, sponsor and advertise products. Like the proverbial limbo dance, “How low can you go?”

Really, are you telling me and those who are tuned in that this product is the best you’ve ever used? You wouldn’t go onto the water or into the field without it? Yet when simple-minded guys like me see you and share the same boat or hunting camp, we seldom, if ever, see you with the product.

Isn’t that lying and stealing? Oh I’m sorry,

it’s the holidays, let’s just all forgive and forget. Sell whatever junk you are peddling so I can waste my time on the water or in the field discovering not only that it does not work, but is a detractor to my effort.

I have confronted several of these individuals while on a boat and/or in a hunting camp and with my finger in their face went off like a Roman candle in the heat of July.

“You sir/ma’am, are not only less than honest but the sad truth is you are hurting our fishing and hunting sport.

“I’ve used your product in good faith and can tell you it doesn’t work, and wouldn’t work even on another planet where the targeted species is dumber than caliche dirt.

“Not to mention some of your products that DID work now don’t work because you off-loaded their production to a foreign country. Now they don’t even remotely reflect the product in quality or workmanship they used to. This was done so you and or your representing manufacturer can pocket an additional penny.

“If you can show me how you have

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improved the product, made it more functional and more durable while at the same time lowering the cost, great! I won’t want to buy it, but I will buy it.

“How can you in your heart of hearts go on TV, Radio, and place ads in magazines and promote this rubbish bric-a-brac and sleep at night?”

I mean, really, are there any ethics in place today?

Aside from the ensuing fist fight that almost always was about to happen here, most of the celebrities, after they and I cooled down, admitted there wasn’t much they could do because it pays their bills. What do you do with that, I ask you?

I went to a hunting and fishing trade show not too long ago and found a good friend of mine sitting in a booth promoting a product he was so ashamed of he couldn’t even look me in the eye and did his best to avoid me altogether. He explained to me later it paid for half of his new boat.

I do some product testing, and I am adamant I will not be paid by advertisers for bad

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Rockport Focus products. After ample testing and thorough use (which sometimes may take a year or so) I will provide feedback good and bad and do, when warranted, recommend those products that measure up.

We live in the greatest country on the planet, but it pricks my soul to see the infiltration of bad products. It makes me fighting mad to see those who are supposed to be the leaders in this industry say “God bless our country and our troops” out of one corner of their mouth and out of the other, “Please buy this piece of !@#$% product so I can make a living.”

Our hunting and fishing heritage was founded on ethics...ethics for the game we pursue, ethics for the way we pursue game, ethics in the way we treat each other, ethics we teach our children and our grandchildren and yes ethics in the products we buy, sell and use.

I have a wish for you this Holiday season: I wish you would stop listening and start researching the fishing and hunting products you seek to buy. I wish you would call out those who falsely advertise and misrepresent, and I wish this season finds you healthy, happy, and with those you love.

••• Bait is usually scarce this time of year, and frozen bait is usually the rule the fresher the better. I have found keeping the bait as cold as I can right before I put it on a hook to be the best approach. This is not just soft plastic season, but can be a great time for top waters and shallow running lures as well.

COPANO BAY - Mission Bay is still good for black drum using peeled shrimp on a #2 kahle hook on a light fish finder rig.

The mouth of this bay is usually productive but some good activity can be found on the west shoreline as well. Sheepshead are plentiful on the pilings of the old fishing pier. Just be careful of the new LBJ bridge construction. Swan Lake on high tide is a good place for reds using mud minnows or cut mullet on a light Carolina rig.

ST CHARLES BAY - East pocket is good for reds using cut mullet or menhaden free-lined on high tide. Some black drum are at the mouth of Cavasso Creek using peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig. Wading on the west shoreline is the ticket for some nice trout using Berkley Jerk Shad in anchovy and new penny colors.

ARANSAS BAY – The shoreline just off Blackjack Peninsula is good for reds using mud minnows or piggies. On high tide fish closer to the salt grass and on low tide fish about 30 yards off shore. The spoil area at the mouth Dunham Bay is good for sheep head using a popping cork and squid.

Small hooks, #2, are the ticket here. On a falling tide Jay Bird Reef is good for trout using live shrimp or Berkley Gulp shrimp under a cork.

CARLOS BAY - On colder days fish the deep parts of Carlos Trench and on warmer days the shallow water next to the shell reef is best. Free-lined live shrimp or Vudu shrimp worked slowly from shallow to deep water is hard to beat.

MESQUITE BAY - This bay is under change due to the opening of Cedar Bayou.

Some bait from the Gulf has been seen so that’s a good sign. You’ll find some flounders in Brays Cove using white two-inch grubs tipped with shrimp or squid. Drifts with slow retrieves are the right action here, waiting a two count after you feel a bite to set the hook.

AYERS BAY - Ayers Reef is good for some trout and reds using live shrimp free-lined, but keep the bait moving to keep it just off the shell. If you bottom fish don’t move your bait until you get a bite as it will more than likely hang up. The south side of Second Chain Reef is good for black drum using peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig.

Here’s wishing you tight lines, bent poles, and plenty of bait.

THE BANK BITE THE GOOSE ISLAND SHORELINE is good this time of year especially with a north wind. The mud and sand and shell holes in the area are a great place to wade or free line finger mullet or piggies for trout and reds. To get to the area you will need to access the park but the fee is minimal.

Contact Capt. Mac Gable at Mac Attack Guide Service, 512-809-2681, 361-790-9601 captmac@macattackguideservice.com

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Hotspots Focus: Lower Coast

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

Black Christmas

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ECEMBER CAN BE COLD, EVEN IN South Texas very cold. Plenty of anglers remember the Great Freeze of 1983, when sub-20 degree temperatures rolled all the way down into the Lower Laguna Madre and actually froze the usually warm water or Christmas 2004, when it actually snowed on South Padre Island.

December on the Lower Texas Coast can be just as inhospitable as it can be anywhere.

The simple truth is that sometimes the weather can be snotty enough that trout and redfish won’t bite. Maybe it is because of a super-low tide, or a full moon, or maybe they simply aren’t hungry.

Whatever the reason, trout and redfish develop a case of zipperlips, and nothing you do short of dynamite will get one in the boat.

It can make for a long day, especially if you have your kid in the boat during the Christmas break.

So, what do you do? Do you turn around, head over to White Sands Marina and have breakfast? Rail and rant away that Notre Dame got hosed against Florida State on the pass interference call? How about turning your attention to a couple of other species that are still cooperative when conditions aren’t quite optimal?

There are plenty of sheepshead and black drum lurking within a very short run from anywhere on South Padre Island and Port Isabel. These fish are low maintenance, and don’t require sophisticated tackle or techniques, they’re dogged fighters, and they can grow quite large.

The current state record 15 pound sheepshead, and the two prior records, as well as my personal best—12 pounds eight ounces—all came from the same fishing pier on South Padre Island. Black drums come in sizes ranging from the 14-16 inch “puppy drum,” to

big ugly and gnarly beasts that measure more than 40 inches and tip the Toledos over the 50-pound mark.

One very good spot for sheepshead is the Queen Isabela Causeway. The pilings are sheepshead magnets. On calmer days, when clean water is flowing around the pilings, you can actually see some fat sheepies hovering up and down along the concrete, grazing on barnacles.

Maneuver your boat in between two sets of pilings and drop your anchor upstream. Feed out line until your boat is positioned about 8 to 10 feet from the piling. If you have a trolling motor, you can regularly re-position your boat to work the pilings more thoroughly.

Once you have your boat in position, rig up a free-shrimp rig and get to fishing. The standard rig involves a #2 Long-shank hook, a #3 split shot 8 to 10 inches above the hook (which affords you better control and sensitivity), and a live or fresh shrimp.

The former bait costs a bit more than the latter, but the larger fish seem to prefer the live stuff. Simply flip your rig up next to the pilings, and feed line until the rig is near the bottom.

Spinning tackle is preferable for this application because you can control the descent of your bait more effectively. Keep a finger tip on your line. You can actually feel a hungry sheepshead chewing on your bait. When he starts to move off, set the hook and be ready for a tough, short fight that features your striped foe swimming in circles and surging back towards his concrete-and-barnacle lair.

You can use standard trout tackle, but I would recommend winding about 20 to 30 feet of 20 pound fluorocarbon onto your reel to provide some abrasion-resistance and durability to your outfit. Some sheepshead aficionados have taken to buying a heavy popping rod and rigging with a 400-sized reel and 30 pound braid specifically for ripping sheepies from the holes. The beefier outfit means fewer lost fish.

A strange feature of sheepshead is that they tend to congregate according to size. You’ll find smaller males hanging together, and larger females doing likewise. If you pull up 12-incher after 12-incher, move on to the next set of pilT E X A S

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ings, and keep moving until you find a better size class of fish.

If you are looking for fish with a bit more heft, try hunting down one of the herds of black drum that have made the Lower Laguna Madre home over the past couple of years.

These schools are prodigious in size, and though most fish average three to five pounds, there are some big rogues cruising around the edges of these schools ready to cause some accelerated heartbeats.

It isn’t difficult to find an area that produces good numbers of black drum. Just a little north and west of the Causeway is a broad flat known as the Pasture near the current Pirate’s Fishing Pier (a long cast from the pier can easily reach the area). The best times to fish the area are the calm days after a cold front, and at night during the full moon. Large shrimp on a Carolina rig work well for these bruisers. Most of the fish will be over the maximum 30-inch slot, but the best bait for large black drum are crab chunks with the carapace removed. Pass a 5/0 circle hook through a leg socket and out the top of the crab, chunk the whole rig out, and set the rod in a holder to wait.

It isn’t a bad idea to use stouter 17 to 20 pound tackle for this application. There aren’t any real snags in the area, but it’s much easier to turn one of these finny bulldozers with the heavier stuff.

An ambitious angler might try night fishing during December’s full moon. The calm, misty nights that are typical of a South Texas December are prime black drum nights.

Bundle up, take some hot coffee and a few sandwiches, motor out to the Pasture just east of the Intra-Coastal Waterway, and set out your baits. It shouldn’t be too long before a big ugly comes calling.

Even when the weather sours, you will have some good fishing opportunities on the Lower Laguna Madre. So get out there and apprehend some convicts and thugs.

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Texas Hotspots

UPPER TEXAS COAST

Smith Point Flats for Galveston Trout

by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Smith Point Flats GPS: N 29 31.258019, W 94 45.094979 (29.5210, -94.7516) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “I don’t think it makes any difference whether the soft plastic is paddle or straight tail; color and presentation is more important.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: St. Mary’s Bayou GPS: N 28 39.621, W 95 56.667 (28.6604, -95.9445) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Shad CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “We key on drift fishing over shell in December.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoals GPS: N 28 33.02802, W 96 18.081 (28.5505, -96.3014) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: 051 and 052 MirrOLures CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “If the shrimp are gone we throw big paddle tail soft plastics like the Norton Sand Shad.”

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Half Moon Shoal GPS: N 28 43.371, W 95 46.228019 (28.7229, -95.7705)

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GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes).

Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information specific to your GPS device.

DIGITAL EXTRA: TAP GPS TO VIEW HOTSPOT ON GOOGLE MAPS (Internet Connection required)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Shad CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “December is a great time to wade dome of the mid-bay reefs, if the wind is calm.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Drull’s Lump GPS: N 28 42.285, W 95 50.06598 (28.7048, -95.8344) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Corky and topwater lures CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “I had one of my best days last year in December, catching 30 trout, averaging three pounds on Corkies and topwaters.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Long Reef GPS: N 28 40.38798, W 95 53.08998 (28.6731, -95.8848) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Shad CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: Wade the mid-bay reefs if the winds are calm.

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Clear Lake GPS: N 29 33.564, W 95 3.379199 (29.5594, -95.0563)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Skitter Walks and Baby Spooks CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Pink seems to be the color the trout prefer in December.

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Dickinson Bay GPS: N 29 28.413599, W 94 56.212199 (29.4736, -94.9369) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Productive colors for the soft plastics are Limetreuse, Firetiger and glow.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 29 33.143999, W 94 37.785 (29.5524, -94.6298) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “So many people think you have to work the slick. You have to understand the tidal flow and wind.

When they regurgitate and pull up to the surface, the tidal flow is already moving that slick 50 feet from them.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Colorado River GPS: N 28 40.539, W 95 58.07898 (28.6757, -95.9680) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Shad CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Just drift and throw using heavier lead heads, 3/8 or 1/4 ounce, with soft plastics in chartreuse or hot pink.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Coffee Ground Cove GPS: N 29 58.182, W 93 46.158 (29.9697, -93.7693)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: MirrOLure Provoker and Super Flukes CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 4097862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: “I switch to a longer soft plastic in December, a 5 inch bait, to better match the hatch - mullet.” Capt.

Watkins LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Sydnes Island GPS: N 29 58.64358, W 93 49.489979 (29.9774, -93.8248) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: MirrOLure Provoker and Super Flukes CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 4097862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: “Redfish will actually bury half of their body down in the mud. It protects them form extreme water temperature changes, not because it absorbs more heat.” Capt. Watkins LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Burnett Bay GPS: N 29 46.1136, W 95 3.0462 (29.7686, -95.0508) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Skitter Walks and Baby Spooks CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Topwaters work good at this time of the year in Burnett Bay no matter whether it’s direct sunlight, overcast, early morning or late evening.” Capt.

Marcaccio LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Scott Bay GPS: N 29 44.630399, W 95 2.362799 (29.7438, -95.0394) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Based on previous years, there should be an overabundance of trout in Scott Bay.” Capt.

Marcaccio LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Taylor Lake GPS: N 29 34.646999, W 95 2.8128 (29.5775, -95.0469) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “When fishing a slick, get behind them, at least 50-100 feet.” Capt. Marcaccio

LOCATION: Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Mud Lake GPS: N 29 34.1472, W 95 4.2294 (29.5691, -95.0705) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “So many people think you have to work the slick. You have to understand the tidal flow and wind.

When they regurgitate and pull up to the surface, the tidal flow is already moving that slick 50 feet from them.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cotton Bayou Shoreline GPS: N 28 30.45, W 96 12.381 (28.5075, -96.2064) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “After a frontal passage, key on some of guts looking for redfish,” says Countz. He throws a 1/8 or 1/16 oz. lead head with a soft plastic in either black or Chicken-on-a-Chain color.

MIDDLE TEXAS COAST

Nueces Bay Reds Like Penny Plastics

by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Portland Shoreline GPS: N 27 52.771979, W 97 16.55202 (27.8795, -97.2759) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live bait CONTACT: Capt. Mike O’Dell 361-436-1866 captmikeap@yahoo.com www.afishingfantasy.com TIPS: “Hook the perch in the back, not their belly.”

Capt. O’Dell LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Deadman’s Hole GPS: N 27 40.665, W 97 12.44202 (27.6778, -97.2074) SPECIES: Black drum BEST BAITS: Live or dead bait CONTACT: Capt. Mike O’Dell 361-436-1866 captmikeap@yahoo.com www.afishingfantasy.com TIPS: “If the weather turns blustery and cold, fish drops and ditches.” Capt. O’Dell LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Super Flats GPS: N 27 54.81402, W 97 2.044979 (27.9136, -97.0341) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Chartreuse/white Clousers CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-533-2058 captrandyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadresightcasters.com TIPS: Any natural colored Clouser works for redfish.

“It depends on how deep the water is that determines how much lead to put on.” Capt. Best

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Nueces Bay GPS: N 27 51.892979, W 97 21.130019 (27.8649, -97.3522) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-533-2058 captrandyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadresightcasters.com TIPS: One of Best’s favorite soft plastics is the Gulp New Penny. Also anything in purple produces results.

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Lydia Ann Channel GPS: N 27 52.218, W 97 2.883 (27.8703, -97.0481 SPECIES: Black drum BEST BAITS: Live or dead shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-533-2058 captrandyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadresightcasters.com TIPS: “There were a lot of drum caught last year. As soon as the water temperature drops, the big bulls will come back and we catch them up to 40 lbs.” Capt.

Best

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Ingleside Point GPS: N 27 49.881, W 97 14.548979 (27.8314, -97.2425) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live bait CONTACT: Capt. Mike O’Dell 361-436-1866 captmikeap@yahoo.com www.afishingfantasy.com

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Lydia Ann Island GPS: N 27 53.69502, W 97 2.59398 (27.8949, -97.0432) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live piggy perch or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Mike O’Dell 361-436-1866 captmikeap@yahoo.com www.afishingfantasy.com

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TIPS: O’Dell freelines live piggy perch with 5/0 Razor Sharp hooks.

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Texas Hotspots TIPS: “If I have a north wind blowing, I’m going to fish the side of the island the north wind is blowing into. I want the waves blowing up on the island.”

Capt. O’Dell LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Dagger Island GPS: N 27 50.217, W 97 9.967019 (27.8370, -97.1661) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live piggy perch or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Mike O’Dell 361-436-1866 captmikeap@yahoo.com www.afishingfantasy.com TIPS: A west wind is worse than a north wind in the Port Aransas area. “We don’t ever get much wind out of the west; nobody knows how to fish it.” Capt.

O’Dell LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N 27 57.11802, W 97 5.14902 (27.9520, -97.0858) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-533-2058 captrandyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadresightcasters.com TIPS: Best at one time poured his own plastics. “I’m keyed in on what colors work.” Capt. Best LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou GPS: N 28 3.66798, W 96 51.19902 (28.0611, -96.8533) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-533-2058 captrandyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadresightcasters.com TIPS: “Looking forward to fishing Cedar Bayou since it has reopened.” Capt. Best LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Goose Island GPS: N 28 7.629, W 96 59.463 (28.1272, -96.9911) SPECIES: Black drum BEST BAITS: Live bait CONTACT: Capt. Mike O’Dell 361-436-1866 captmikeap@yahoo.com www.afishingfantasy.com TIPS: “Drum can be found anywhere from a foot to 18 inches deep along shell and mud.” Capt. O’Dell LOCATION: Rockport HOTSPOT: Long Reef GPS: N 28 3.77598, W 96 57.538799 (28.0629, -96.9590) SPECIES: Flounder

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BEST BAITS: Mud minnows or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Mike O’Dell 361-436-1866 captmikeap@yahoo.com www.afishingfantasy.com TIPS: “In December, the drop offs will be good for flounder. Besides mud minnows and live shrimp, curly tail jigs work well.” Capt. O’Dell LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Pure Oil Channel GPS: N 27 31.839, W 97 18.44898 (27.5307, -97.3075) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-533-2058 captrandyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadresightcasters.com TIPS: In the wintertime Best switches to bigger baits and retrieves them a lot slower. If the water is clear, he prefers a lure that has pink as part of its coloring.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Deadman’s Channel GPS: N 27 39.02202, W 97 13.92498 (27.6504, -97.2321) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live bait CONTACT: Capt. Mike O’Dell 361-436-1866 captmikeap@yahoo.com www.afishingfantasy.com TIPS: “The only time I use a Carolina rig is if there is a hard current, just to slow my bait down.” Capt.

O’Dell

LOWER TEXAS COAST

Yarborough Yields Baffin Trout

by CALIXTO GONZALES and TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Yarborough GPS: N 27 12.23598, W 97 21.966 (27.2039, -97.3661) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-533-2058 captrandyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadresightcasters.com TIPS: Best likes the Gambler soft plastic because it’s a bigger bait with a flat, wide tail that works better in cooler weather for big trout.

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LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Yarborough Flats GPS: N 27 12.77898, W 97 23.849999 (27.2130, -97.3975) SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics and topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Randy Best 361-533-2058 captrandyb@yahoo.com www.lagunamadresightcasters.com TIPS: “In December I will switch to the bigger baits, 4-6 inch plastics, working them slowly.” Capt. Best LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado HOTSPOT: Marker 63 GPS: N 26 14.343, W 97 16.482 (26.23905, -97.2747) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live bait, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny; soft plastics in red/white, new penny, root beer, gold spoons.

CONTACT: LG Outfitters 956-371-0220 lgonzales@lgoutfitters.com lgoutfitters.com TIPS: Trout hang out around the potholes in 3- to 4-feet of water. The traditional live bait and soft plastics work well, but a hidden gem is a 1/8-ounce gold weedless spoon with a red trailer. If the sky is cloudy, or the water off-colored, switch to a chartreuse or glow trailer. Fish it with as slow a retrieve as you can. With a light, fast tip, you should feel the wobble of the spoon.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Holly Beach GPS: N 26 41.10354, W 97 25.63914 (26.685059, -97.427319) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Cut bait, live shrimp. Topwaters on warm days, soft plastics in Mullet, Smoke, Morning Glory.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: There are some big trout in this area, and they are hungry. Scan for big fish sunning themselves over mud. Swim a fresh mullet or a large topwater over them for best results. If the water is cooler, fish in deeper water with soft plastics or cut bait.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Queen Isabella Causeway GPS: N 26 5.20602, W 97 11.03898 (26.086767, -97.183983) SPECIES: sheepshead BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, fresh shrimp.

CONTACT: Captain Carlos Garcia 956-433-6094, 956-433-6028 southtexasredfish20@gmail.com TIPS: Fish live or fresh shrimp around causeway pilings on split shot rigs. These guys are notorious

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bait-stealers, so a smaller hook is the way to go.

Some fishermen use a #2 long-shank hook like the Eagle Claw 066N to zap them, but a more effective hook may be a 1/0 LazerSharp L7226 Octopus-style hook. The short shank and wide gap has a higher hook-up ratio, and they seem to lodge in the corner of the sheepie’s mouth .

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Color Change GPS: N 26 7.5, W 97 13.99998 (26.125, -97.233333) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live bait. Gulp! Shrimp in glow, new penny, gold spinnerbaits with red/white tail CONTACT: Captain Carlos Garcia 956-433-6094, 956-433-6028 southtexasredfish@gmail.com TIPS: Fish just inside the color change between clear and sandy water. The off-colored water retains warmth more effectively and offers cover for predators. You can work live shrimp or Gulp! tails under a popping or Alameda float. Fish slowly and deliberately. These trout may not be as aggressive as in spring, but they are there.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Atascosa Wildlife Refuge GPS: N 26 10.24398, W 97 18.15498 (26.170733, -97.302583) SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut bait. Soft plastics in dark patterns, chartreuse combos.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Crummy weather doesn’t seem to bother the spottails, which will forage in the dirty water kicked up by a north wind. On calmer days, try topwaters fished slowly along the shoreline. If the water is too messy, or nothing is biting, back off and switch to tails or bait on a popping cork rig.

LOCATION: South Bay HOTSPOT: South Bay GPS: N 26 1.665, W 97 12.34698 (26.02775, -97.205783) SPECIES: speckled trout BEST BAITS: : Live shrimp, finger mullet, soft plastics in red/white, pearl/glow, pearl/chartreuse.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Big trout live in South Bay year around. They’ll eat mullet, so try swimming a fresh one on a large Khale hook. Large topwaters and four to six-inch soft plastics also work well, too. Especially effective is a 7” BassAssassin in Red Shad.

PINEY WOODS

Caddo Bass Still Hanging in Gangs

by DUSTIN WARNCKE

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 42.4379, W 94 5.4 (32.7073, -94.0900) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: In December the bass are usually still grouped up chasing shad before winter fully kicks in. Watch for schooling on the big flats and along the creek channels. Light colored shad imitating baits will catch those feeding Bass. Crappie along the main channel is also in full swing during this time also.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 26.214, W 95 35.502 (30.4369, -95.5917) SPECIES: Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Live shad and Storm Swim shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: The hybrids will begin their aggressive feeding habits and should be in the 16 to 22 foot range along the channel edges and humps on the main lake. Use live shad to be more productive; artificial baits like swim shad also work well if you find a good school of fish. Bank Access: Stowaway Marina LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 26.214, W 95 35.502 (30.4369, -95.5917) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Stink bait CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: The larger catfish will start feeding in the 15 to 20 foot depth ranges some days you may not catch a lot but they will be worth your while. Bank Access: Stowaway Marina LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake Points GPS: N 32 49.59924, W 95 35.88108 (32.826654, -95.598018) SPECIES: crappie BEST BAITS: Live minnows, feathered or plastic jigs T E X A S

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CONTACT: Seth Vanover 903-736-4557 TIPS: Target the main-lake points that are near deep-water creeks. The fish will be in water ranging from 25 to 45 feet. Both plastic and feathered jigs will work but on some days the crappie will hit live minnows better than on other days. On the brighter days, the darker jigs will work best.

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Mid-lake river channel at the old 190 bridge GPS: N 30 45.3959, W 95 6.858 (30.7566, -95.1143) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh dead shad or live perch CONTACT: David S Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Carolina rig off the bottom near drop offs in the old river channel. Bank Access: Governor’s Point LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: English Bay River Sandbar GPS: N 31 42.414, W 93 48.66 (31.7069, -93.8110) SPECIES: White bass & crappie BEST BAITS: Slab spoons & Rat-L-Traps for the White Bass and shiners and jigs for the Crappie CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: My Christmas gift to you: two species for one location! December is the time to kill two birds or two limits of fish with one rod and two baits. December is a prime month to be fishing on the north-end of the lake for both Crappie and White Bass. The Crappie will be bunched up on the main lake river channel ledges over planted and natural brush. And, the White bass will be on the channel sandbars. It’s not uncommon to be able to limit out in the same location on both Crappie and White bass by only moving a 100 yards.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

Richland Timbers Sing the Blues

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Heavy Timbered Areas in the Richland Creek Arm GPS: N 32 1.6679, W 96 13.488 (32.0278, -96.2248) SPECIES: Channel and Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Danny Kings Punch Bait

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Texas Hotspots CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: “December and the entire winter is the time for LOTS of Catfish and BIG Catfish on Richland Chambers! It’s normally non-stop action and easy limits of Eater size Blues and Channel Cats. If the weather cooperates, it’s a good time of the year to get the kids on the lake because the action is fast and the catchin’ is easy!

Find any timbered areas where the cormorants roost.

Fish in 15-25 feet of water. Use a # 4 Treble Hook with Punch Bait. Keep a net handy as you’ll catch LOTS of 1 to 3 lb. fish. You’re also subject to hooking a MONSTER Blue Cat! LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 22.8354, W 96 9.2459 (32.3806, -96.1541) SPECIES: Blue catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-887-7896 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Fish for big blue cat by drifting long stretches of water throughout the lake with fresh cut shad or rough fish. Big bait = big fish. Fish as shallow as 6’ on the north end and as deep as 40’ on the south just cover a lot of water and use a driftsock if the wind is strong. I like 20 to 30lb line and 2oz weights on heavy tackle with a 5/0 to 8/0 hook.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Bridges GPS: N 32 13.962, W 96 2.1841 (32.2327, -96.0364) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows and jigs CONTACT: Rodney Stuart, Go Fish Guide Service 817-675-8062 Fishingrod38@aol.com TIPS: Fishing is great on any of the bridges in 2 to 10 feet of water using jigs or minnows.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 32 18.6959, W 96 9.3812 (32.3116, -96.1564) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Large cut shad and perch CONTACT: Rodney Stuart, Go Fish Guide Service 817-675-8062 Fishingrod38@aol.com TIPS: Fish Main lake points with large cut shad and perch in 27 to 33 feet of water for trophy blue cat.

Drifting is the preferred method of fishing. We have had great successes catching fish from 30 to 50 pounds.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Key Ranch Area

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GPS: N 32 13.1459, W 96 6.6899 (32.2191, -96.1115) SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Top water lures, Spoiler Shad swim baits in pearl color CONTACT: Rodney Stuart, Go Fish Guide Service 817-675-8062 Fishingrod38@aol.com TIPS: Hybrid and white bass are on fire early and late evening as well as night. The Key Ranch area has had lots of schooling fish and we are catching them on any type of top water lure as well as swim baits at night. The lighted boat docks are great places to fish at night.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Dam and Spillway GPS: N 32 10.9259, W 96 4.068 (32.1821, -96.0678) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shallow crankbaits in perch and shad colors, weightless flukes in watermelon color .

CONTACT: Rodney Stuart, Go Fish Guide Service 817-675-8062 Fishingrod38@aol.com TIPS: Bass are good in shallow water. Fish 2 to 10 foot around boat docks and the rocks at the spillway and dam.

LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: Intake Cattails GPS: N 29 55.398, W 96 44.883 (29.9233, -96.7481) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, worms, shrimp CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Right side of intake, cattails in 5 feet water, chum along the cattails. Early morning and evening best here LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Hog Creek GPS: N 30 37.281, W 96 4.121 (30.6214, -96.0687) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, Fresh shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Hog Creek comes close to Pelican Island, with 13’ water. Fish edge of creek, close to Lily Pads is good, big Blues cruise here.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Striper Alley GPS: N 32 24.15, W 97 41.232 (32.4025, -97.6872) SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Jerk baits (Glow, white or Chartreuse) and Jigging slabs

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CONTACT: Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 www.unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Work the soft plastics using dead sticking techniques near schools of baitfish near channel ledges.

Look for bird action or just hovering birds.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Deep Main Lake Areas and Rock at Dam GPS: N 33 1.956, W 96 28.284 (33.0326, -96.4714) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Deep diving crankbaits Carolinarigged CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Find the bait, find the fish. Use deep diving crankbaits and fish in about 12 feet of water. Fish deep structure and rocks at the damn area.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Coves GPS: N 33 3.6959, W 96 32.316 (33.0616, -96.5386) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut Shad CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Fish are at all depths but mainly shallow feeding on shad. Concentrate on1-10 foot of water in coves with trees and structure.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Dam area and Collin Park Marina GPS: N 33 2.664, W 96 31.656 (33.0444, -96.5276) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Black and chartreuse jigs and live medium size minnows.

CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Dead sticking 3 & 4 inch flukes or slabs on deep points and humps. Otherwise they are suspended near the dam. Search all around the island in different depths.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Highway 155 Bridge GPS: N 32 8.76, W 95 28.212 (32.1460, -95.4702) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Green and yellow jigs and pink/ white jigs CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com

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www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Fish lures slowly around bridge pilings for good crappie action!

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Cades Lake Area/Dam Area GPS: N 32 16.182, W 95 27.7219 (32.2697, -95.4620) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: 3/8 oz. Big Eye Jigs and small crankbaits CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Fish the river up near the Cades Lake area.

Fish jigs on the river bends and on the small points where you have pockets or sloughs near the islands as well as the stumps or brush in these locations.

Down south near the dam, fish the rocks with jigs and small crank baits and fish the points with Carolina rigs.

provide a big bite. Black/blue jig rigged with a Gene Larew Biffle Bug. Another good way to catch them as the water cools, is to bounce a 1.5 square bill off the shallow stumps. Sexy shad and chartreuse/white have been good colors for me in the past. Sometimes you have to hit the tree a couple times to get the fish to bite.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Tire Reef GPS: N 30 18.4399, W 96 33.6909 (30.3073, -96.5615) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh Shad, Shrimp CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Tire reef from 6’-23’, start shallow and move out deeper for the bite. Colder water tires hold more shad, attracting cats. Carolina rig here, plenty time to land big fish in open water.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Main Lake Ridges & Humps GPS: N 33 26.1443, W 96 59.0976 (33.4357, -96.9850) SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Live bait CONTACT: Dannie Golden, Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: December continues to be a great time to stock up the freezer on some white bass fillets. The fish will be on their winter holes. Main lake ridges, humps, and creek edges. There should still be some gulls around to help find the fish. Electronics are the key. Start looking at the ridges that top out in 30 feet of water, but have a steeper drop off. Along the face of the dam, there are some deeper points that run north. Those hold fish this time of year. The big ridge that runs south off of Wolf Island, will be holding fish.

And of course the hayfield, that is a big flat where the main channel runs next to it. It is Northeast of Wolf Island. Make sure you scan these areas right where the drop off is. The fish will be holding close to the drop, if not right off the drop.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Juniper Point East GPS: N 33 51.892, W 96 49.83 (33.8649, -96.8305) SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: Road Runner and Sassy Shad jigs in white glow and chartreuse colors CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: Few anglers know how good fishing is in December. Cool water temperatures make the fish go into a feeding frenzy. Large fish up to 20 pounds will be on the prowl. A 4 to 6 inch Sassy Shad on a 1-ounce jighead will work the best. Texoma’s stripers prefer white glow and chartreuse colors. Road Runner 1 ounce jigs with a 7-inch worm are deadly on the big fish holding on structure. Fish the main lake points, mouths of creeks and humps near deep water. Always keep your eyes on the seagulls. Large schools of stripers can be under the birds. Bank Access: Juniper Point East

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Creek backs & edges GPS: N 33 27.1036, W 96 58.7525 (33.4517, -96.9792) SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Flipping baits, crankbaits CONTACT: Dannie Golden, Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: December is a good month to find some quality bass on Ray Roberts. The bass will still be active in the backs of the creeks, and along creek edges.

Shallow vegetation will be starting to go dormant, but can still hold good fish. Most of the fish will be holding around the edges of the grass. A chatterbait is hard to beat this time of year. Chartreuse/white or green pumpkin are two good colors to try. I like using a Gene Larew Sweet Swimmer as a trailer. The tail on that bait has a ton of action. This is also a good time to break out your favorite flipping baits. Flipping a jig and craw around the abundant standing timber can

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Island Flats GPS: N 31 53.646, W 97 23.062 (31.8941, -97.3844) SPECIES: Stripers and White Bass BEST BAITS: 3” chartreuse swim baits and Stripaholic lead heads from www.rsr.lures CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: The stripers and whites are roaming the flats early morning into midday, then again late afternoon chasing and gorging on shad. On days with cloud cover the bite can last all day. I am using chartreuse swim baits, making long casts behind the boat and running the trolling motor at a medium to slow speed twitching the rod tip occasionally, keep a close eye on your surroundings and watch for diving gulls or birds that are sitting on the water. Approach from upwind then use your trolling motor to get into casting T E X A S

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distance. Make long casts and count down about 10 seconds, make a slow to medium retrieve twitching the bait occasionally. We are catching a mixed bag of white bass and stripers.

PANHANDLE

Costello Island Hot in December

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Costello Island GPS: N 32 53.9774, W 98 27.7228 (32.8996, -98.4620) SPECIES: Striped Bass/Hybrids BEST BAITS: Live bait, jig & slab CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: The fish will be transitioning south to north of Costello Island, so look for fish on breaklines and sand flats at about 20 foot deep. Best bite is live bait, but this time of year we fish a jig & slab combo right off bottom and if the birds happen to show where the fish are, this is a deadly combo for long casts under the birds and also right under the boat.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Costello Island GPS: N 32 53.9774, W 98 27.7228 (32.8996, -98.4620) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Anchor and chum & fish with cut bait shad for phenomenal catches—including some big blues.

BIG BEND

Box Full of Bass on Amistad

by DUSTIN WARNCKE

LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Box Canyon GPS: N 29 31.55466, W 101 9.9786 (29.525911, -101.16631) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms, lizards, jigs CONTACT:

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Texas Hotspots James Burkeen 830-734-9652 jjburkeen@gmail.com amistadfishin.com TIPS: Fish the plastic worms and lizards on a Carolina rig with an 18-inch leader and one-quarter ounce weight. Fish the deep pockets in the middle of the draws and creek channels. Fish very slowly and look for a light bite. During the middle of the day, a deep-diving crank bait worked atop the grass in the deeper cuts will work. Let the lures tick the top of the grass beds for best results.

HILL COUNTRY

Canyon Bass, Stripers & Crappie

by DUSTIN WARNCKE

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Point at Potters Creek GPS: N 29 54.0794, W 98 17.034 (29.9013, -98.2839) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Senko type plastics, Drop Shop, Jewel jigs w/ Net Bait Trailers, Spinner baits white/ chartreuse 3/8oz, and finesse type presentations.

CONTACT: KC’S Bassin’ Guide Service 210-823-2153 kandie@gvtc.com www.kcbassinguide.com TIPS: Be sure and fish this point and down the bank line on the left, (Mystic Shore area) and the shoreline to the right of the ramp. Weightless Senko type plastics work well as well as square billed crankbaits against the trees and bushes. A great spinning rod is a must this time of year and if you currently do not own a KC Rodz’s MicroWave spinning rod, be sure and ask “Santa” for one! You will not be disappointed.

Line twist is virtually gone for all intents and purposes.

Cast after cast you will be impressed with the distance and the “non-line twist” issues. Happy Fishing!!

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Cranes Mill Point GPS: N 29 54.1704, W 98 17.6916 (29.9028, -98.2949) SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin 5’’ Shad Assassin CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: You can find the fish close to the river channel and round the point. Dead sticking the Assassin close to the river channel on a slow drift produces

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some good catches this time of year. Tight lines and Fish On! LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 29 54.2809, W 98 17.4901 (29.9047, -98.2915) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Top water lures, soft plastic jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: With water temperature continuing to fall, bass and crappie are still actively feeding in preparation for the cold winter. This is a great time of year to fish. When possible, plan your fishing trips just before cold fronts. After the frontal passage and skies clear, it takes several days of stable weather to ignite aggressive feeding. In this part of the country many techniques still work. Also look for feeding birds to ambush big feeding schools. Beginning this time of year, the north wind is something to avoid. Fish the areas with the most sunshine and out of the wind as much as possible.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Guadalupe River Arm GPS: N 29 53.472, W 98 18.4737 (29.8912, -98.3079) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, worms, and crankbaits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: This area is a good area this time of year for bass. It is upstream past the mouth of the Guadalupe River end of the lake with a well-defined channel, some shallow water and lots of cover. This area is usually stained (compared to the main lake) and has lots of cover, so I prefer more bait casting equipment than spinning tackle.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Guadalupe River Arm GPS: N 29 53.472, W 98 18.4737 (29.8912, -98.3079) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Light jigs tipped with bright colored soft plastics in pink and white or black and chartreuse CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: This area is a good area this time of year for crappie It is upstream past the mouth of the Guadalupe River end of the lake with a well-defined channel, some shallow water and lots of cover.

Crappie are now becoming more aggressive so I

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use a lot of light jigs tipped with bright colored soft plastics. Look for crappie suspended about 8 feet in treetops. Inside creek channels bends also seem to hold crappie.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats GPS: N 30 43.0862, W 97 22.501 (30.7181, -97.3750) SPECIES: Blue catfish BEST BAITS: Shad CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell (512) 365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Now is a good time to go for the blue catfish that inhabit the lake. Blue cats seem to like cold harsh weather and that can be the case in December. Jug lines are your best bet. The best way to catch the larger fish is to bait your lines at dusk and check them the following morning. Rod and reel fishing can also be good. A good method for this is to drift fish shad across main lake flats. A windsock can help to slow the drift if needed. Good luck and good fishing.

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Highway 360 Bridge GPS: N 30 21.03, W 97 47.826 (30.3505, -97.7971) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Picasso Double Underspin, Picasso Flashback Rig, V&M Pacemaker Jigs, V&M Wild Lizzie 6.5, V&M Thunder Shad Jr, V&M Ledge Blade, Bass Mafia Boxes, Custom Angle Rods, StormR Cold Weather Gear CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 lakeaustinfishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: I consider December bass fishing in Texas the best month and the best weather to catch giants. Picasso Lures have 2 new baits, the Double Underspin and the Flashback. Use a V&M Thunder Shad and Thunder Shad Jr trailer. If there’s wind on the water, I will throw the Picasso Flashback loaded with V&M Thunder Shad Jr’s or The Picasso Double Underspin with a V&M Thunder Shad trailer. Cloudy or low light conditions I like using non-glitter colors and sunny conditions I use some glitter trailers. If there’s no wind, I will go to deeper water and throw a V&M Pacemaker jig or a Texas rigged V&M Wild Lizzie 6.5. I work them very slowly or crawl it to entice those big girls to eat. If I feel the big fish want a moving bait deep I will tie on a V&M 1oz Ledge Blade with a Thunder Shad trailer and slow roll it across breaks.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Mid to Upper Lake GPS: N 30 50.1539, W 98 23.616 (30.8359, -98.3936) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad, cut bait, or various other catfish baits CONTACT: Clancy Terrill

G A M E ®

11/11/14 6:36 PM

512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Catfish are being caught right now in the mid to upper section of the lake. Jug fishing is an excellent way to catch them but rod and reel work as well.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Mid to Upper Lake GPS: N 30 50.1539, W 98 23.616 (30.8359, -98.3936) SPECIES: Stripers and White Bass BEST BAITS: Shad image lures or flat line live bait CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Fish on shallow ridges early morning in the mid to upper part of the lake. Watch for splashes near shore or shallow water as they could be in 5 - 10 feet of water. Cast any kind of shad image lures or flat line live bait in as shallow water as you can.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Dam Area/Lower End of Main Lake GPS: N 30 45.8281, W 98 25.9834 (30.7638, -98.4331) SPECIES: Stripers and Hybrids BEST BAITS: Zara spooks-silver with blue back or any topwater lure CONTACT: Ken Miliam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: Stripers are on a tremendous topwater bite right now. Fish early in the morning and just before dark. Watch for the gulls as they will give you telltale signs that the fish are nearby.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Garret Island GPS: N 30 48.6435, W 98 24.8772 (30.8107, -98.4146) SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, slabs, medium diving baits that mimic shad CONTACT: Ken Miliam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: “White bass will be on the upper end of the lake around Garrett Island.

Troll medium diving baits that look like shad for the best fishing action. Watch for the gulls as they will give you telltale signs that the fish are nearby.”

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake/River Channel GPS: N 30 46.8155, W 98 25.7599 (30.7803, -98.4293) SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad, perch, or carp CONTACT: Ken Miliam 325- 379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: Catfish reports are good along the main lake river channel in 20 to 36 feet of water. They will be

along the sides of points and humps near trees as well. Fish on the bottom or a few feet off the bottom for best results.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 34.2363, W 98 23.0248 (30.5706, -98.3837) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Topwater lure, soft plastic jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: With water temperature continuing to fall, bass and crappie are still actively feeding in preparation for the cold winter. This is a great time of year to fish.

When possible, plan your fishing trips just before cold fronts. After the frontal passage and skies clear, it takes several days of stable weather to ignite aggressive feeding. Fish at the breaks lines of vegetation and ledges next to deeper water. Also look for feeding birds to ambush big feeding schools. Beginning this time of year, the north wind is something to avoid.

Fish the areas with the most sunshine and out of the wind as much as possible.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Arant Creek Area GPS: N 30 37.1468, W 98 24.975 (30.6191, -98.4163) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Squarebill and deep diving crankbaits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: This area is a good location for this time of year. If you can get out of the wind and there are good break lines that hold bass and crappie. This is the time to begin shifting from tight wiggling crank baits to those with a wider wobble. Square bills work great around grass but use deep divers close to deeper edges along the main river channel. In highpressure clear sky conditions, shift to smaller baits and go deeper using 4’ to 6” drop shot rigs.

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Salinas Creek GPS: N 26 52.4038, W 99 15.9796 (26.8734, -99.2663) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Texas rigged Jobaby spinnerbaits, Rage Hogs, CONTACT: Jim Behnken 210-414-8048 jimbehnken@hotmail.com www.fishlakefalcon.com TIPS: For December you want to concentrate on defined creek channel edges. Throw slow rolling spinnerbaits and cast Texas rigs for pre-spawn females.

Keep your boat in the creek channels and fish the center of creeks as well as the edges.

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N 26 33.6487, W 99 9.7398 (26.5608, -99.1623) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Flukes, Senkos, deep diving crankbaits CONTACT: Bassin Billy’s Guide Service and Lodging 281-928-1133 billy34@gmail.com www.lakefalconfishing.com TIPS: Rocks are holding fish. Approach them with a Texas rig or Carolina rig and fish very slow. When throwing the crankbait, make sure you are digging into the rocks and pause often.

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

Scout Eagles for Coleto Bass

DIGITAL EXTRA: Tap GPS to view Hotspots on Google Maps

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Coleto Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Eagles Nest area GPS: N 28 43.7062, W 97 10.0879 (28.7284, -97.1681) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Zoom 4 inch pearl grub dipped in T E X A S

ALMANAC-1412-DecDig.indd 69

chartreuse CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-250-3959 www.coletocreekguidefishing.com TIPS: Bass fishing has been great! I go about anywhere on the lake and catch fish. I particularly fished the Eagles Nest area using a half-ounce jig head with a Zoom 4 inch pearl grub dipped slightly in chartreuse.

It doesn’t sound like a small bait for big bass, I know, but don’t be fooled. I always use 20-pound Trilene Big Game. I caught a few Bass around the 2-3 pound range and my best was around the 6-pound range.

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Sportsman’s Daybook DECEMBER 2014

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Channel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).

T12

T4

T11

T10

TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the upper white boxes on the Calendar Pages. Use the Correction Table below, which is keyed to 23 other tide stations, to adjust low and high tide times.

T9 T8 T7

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE below to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

T15 T16

T6 T17

T3 T2 T1

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below.

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species.

T13 T5

T14

AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.

T18

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.

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month.

PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine the adjustment from the time shown for GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass Jetty Sabine Pass Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass Galveston Bay, S. Jetty Port Bolivar

HIGH -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14

LOW -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06

KEY PLACE HIGH Galveston Channel/Bays T7 Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +3:54 T8 Eagle Point +6:05 T9 Clear Lake +10:21 T10 Morgans Point T11 Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39

LOW +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

PLACE Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, W. Bay Alligator Point, W. Bay Christmas Pt Galveston Pleasure Pier

HIGH +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -1:06

LOW +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:33 +2:31 -1:06

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

PLACE San Luis Pass Freeport Harbor Pass Cavallo Aransas Pass Padre Island (So. End) Port Isabel

HIGH -0.09 -0:44 0:00 -0:03 -0:24 +1:02

LOW -0.09 -1:02 -1:20 -1:31 -1:45 -0:42

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE GRAPH:

Yellow: Daylight

12a

Tab: Peak Fishing Period

6a

12p

6p

AM/PM Timeline

12a

Light Blue: Nighttime

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Green: Falling Tide

Gold Fish: Best Time

Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

Blue Fish: Good Time

MINOR Feeding Periods (+/- 1.5 Hrs.) Time Moon is at its Highest Point in the Sky

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY:

12a

AM/PM Timeline

70 |

AM Minor: 1:20a

PM Minor: 1:45p

AM Major: 7:32a

PM Major: 7:57p

Moon Overhead: 8:50a 6a

12p

6p

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

D E C E M B E R

ALMANAC-1412-DecDig.indd 70

12a

MAJOR Feeding Periods (+/- 2 Hrs.) Time Moon is Directly Underfoot (at its peak on opposite side of the earth)

2 0 1 4

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T E X A S

F I S H

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11/11/14 6:36 PM

SYMBOL KEY

= Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

Dec 1

Sunrise: 6:55a Moonrise: 2:06p

2

Set: 5:20p Set: 1:57a

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:56a Moonrise: 2:48p

WEDNESDAY

3

Set: 5:20p Set: 2:58a

Sunrise: 6:57a Moonrise: 3:31p

4

Set: 5:20p Set: 3:59a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:58a Moonrise: 4:17p

FRIDAY

5

Set: 5:20p Set: 5:00a

Sunrise: 6:58a Moonrise: 5:04p

SATURDAY

Set: 5:20p Set: 5:59a

6

Sunrise: 6:59a Moonrise: 5:54p

Set: 5:20p Set: 6:55a

7

Sunrise: 7:00a Moonrise: 6:46p

Set: 5:20p Set: 7:49a

AM Minor: 12:31a

PM Minor: 12:56p

AM Minor: 1:16a

PM Minor: 1:42p

AM Minor: 2:02a

PM Minor: 2:28p

AM Minor: 2:49a

PM Minor: 3:15p

AM Minor: 3:38a

PM Minor: 4:04p

AM Minor: 4:29a

PM Minor: 4:55p

AM Minor: 5:22a

PM Minor: 5:48p

AM Major: 6:43a

PM Major: 7:09p

AM Major: 7:29a

PM Major: 7:55p

AM Major: 8:15a

PM Major: 8:41p

AM Major: 9:02a

PM Major: 9:28p

AM Major: 9:51a

PM Major: 10:17p

AM Major: 10:42a

PM Major: 11:08p

AM Major: 11:35a

PM Major: -----

Moon Overhead: 8:30p

12a

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2014

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 10:13p

Moon Overhead: 9:21p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 11:06p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: None

Moon Overhead: None 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

 = New Moon  = First Quarter  = Full Moon  = Last Quarter  = Good Day  = Best Day SUNDAY

DIGITAL EXTRA Tap for Customized Tide Charts

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

Moon Overhead: 12:51a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 8:04a

+2.0

0 -1.0

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 8:55a

Moon Underfoot: 9:47a

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 10:40a

BEST:

8:30 — 10:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 11:33a

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 12:25p

BEST:

9:30 — 11:30 PM

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 1:17p BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 PM 12:00 — 2:00 AM

+2.0

12:30 — 2:30 AM

+1.0 0

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:16 AM 12:49 PM 5:55 PM 11:42 PM

0.29ft.

1.12ft.

0.79ft.

1.26ft.

Low Tide: 6:57 AM High Tide: 2:11 PM Low Tide: 7:14 PM

0.03ft.

1.25ft.

0.95ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:08 AM 7:39 AM 3:17 PM 8:23 PM

1.25ft.

-0.19ft.

1.36ft.

1.06ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:36 AM 8:20 AM 4:15 PM 9:22 PM

T E X A S

ALMANAC-1412-DecDig.indd 71

1.26ft.

-0.34ft.

1.42ft.

1.14ft.

F I S H

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

&

1:05 AM 9:00 AM 5:05 PM 10:10 PM

1.27ft.

-0.44ft.

1.45ft.

1.18ft.

G A M E ®

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

|

1:35 AM 9:41 AM 5:52 PM 10:53 PM

1.27ft.

-0.46ft.

1.43ft.

1.19ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

D E C E M B E R

2:07 AM 10:20 AM 6:36 PM 11:32 PM

2 0 1 4

1.26ft.

-0.44ft.

1.39ft.

1.18ft.

|

-1.0

71

11/11/14 6:36 PM

Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

8

Sunrise: 7:00a Moonrise: 7:39p

Set: 5:20p Set: 8:38a

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2014

TUESDAY

9

Sunrise: 7:01a Moonrise: 8:32p

WEDNESDAY

10

Set: 5:20p Set: 9:23a

Sunrise: 7:02a Moonrise: 9:25p

THURSDAY

11

FRIDAY

12

SATURDAY

13

Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 7:03a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 7:03a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 10:04a Moonrise: 10:17p Set: 10:41a Moonrise: 11:08p Set: 11:17a Moonrise: None

14 

Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 11:51a Moonrise: None

Set: 5:22p Set: 12:25p

AM Minor: 6:17a

PM Minor: 6:42p

AM Minor: 7:11a

PM Minor: 7:35p

AM Minor: 8:04a

PM Minor: 8:27p

AM Minor: 8:55a

PM Minor: 9:17p

AM Minor: 9:43a

PM Minor: 10:05p

AM Minor: 10:29a

PM Minor: 10:50p

AM Minor: 11:12a

PM Minor: 11:33p

AM Major: 12:04a

PM Major: 12:29p

AM Major: 12:59a

PM Major: 1:23p

AM Major: 1:52a

PM Major: 2:15p

AM Major: 2:43a

PM Major: 3:06p

AM Major: 3:32a

PM Major: 3:54p

AM Major: 4:18a

PM Major: 4:39p

AM Major: 5:01a

PM Major: 5:23p

Moon Overhead: 1:43a

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:20a

Moon Overhead: 2:32a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 4:05a

6p

12a

6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 5:32a

Moon Overhead: 4:49a

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 6:14a 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

 = New Moon  = First Quarter  = Full Moon  = Last Quarter  = Good Day  = Best Day SUNDAY

Tap for Customized Tide Charts

= Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

SYMBOL KEY

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 2:08p

+2.0 TIDE LEVELS

0 -1.0

BEST:

12:30 — 2:30 AM

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

TUESDAY

16

Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 5:22p Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: 12:51a Set: 12:59p Moonrise: 1:44a

1:21 AM 3:29 AM 12:16 PM 8:35 PM

17

Sunrise: 7:06a Moonrise: 2:38a

0.02ft.

1.17ft.

18

Set: 5:23p Set: 2:13p

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 3:34a

19

Set: 5:23p Set: 2:55p

0.18ft.

1.12ft.

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 7:07a Moonrise: 4:32a

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

11:00P — 1:00A

5:25 AM 8:04 AM 2:08 PM 10:06 PM

0.73ft.

0.75ft.

0.35ft.

1.08ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

SATURDAY

Set: 5:23p Set: 3:41p

20 

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 5:32a

5:38 AM 10:08 AM 2:50 PM 10:29 PM

21 

Set: 5:24p Set: 4:32p

Sunrise: 7:08a Moonrise: 6:31a

Set: 5:24p Set: 5:28p

AM Minor: 12:13a

PM Minor: 12:35p

AM Minor: 12:54a

PM Minor: 1:17p

AM Minor: 1:36a

PM Minor: 2:01p

AM Minor: 2:20a

PM Minor: 2:47p

AM Minor: 3:09a

PM Minor: 3:36p

AM Minor: 4:02a

PM Minor: 4:30p

AM Major: 5:43a

PM Major: 6:05p

AM Major: 6:24a

PM Major: 6:47p

AM Major: 7:05a

PM Major: 7:29p

AM Major: 7:48a

PM Major: 8:13p

AM Major: 8:33a

PM Major: 9:00p

AM Major: 9:23a

PM Major: 9:50p

AM Major: 10:16a

PM Major: 10:45p

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 8:27a

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 11:03a

Moon Overhead: 10:08a

Moon Overhead: 9:16a 6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 12:00p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 7:19p

+2.0

BEST:

-1.0

5:55 AM 11:53 AM 3:40 PM 10:49 PM

0.41ft.

0.77ft.

0.66ft.

1.05ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 AM

6:17 AM 1:17 PM 4:45 PM 11:08 PM

KEY

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine the adjustment from the time shown for GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.

Moon Underfoot: 9:42p

BEST:

12:30 — 2:30 AM

TIDE LEVELS

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

Moon Underfoot: 8:51p

0.24ft.

0.88ft.

0.79ft.

1.05ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

PLACE

0.05ft.

1.00ft.

0.90ft.

1.07ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

HIGH

LOW

KEY

Sabine Bank Lighthouse -1:46

-1:31

Galveston Channel/Bays

PLACE

T2

Sabine Pass Jetty

-1:26

-1:31

T7

T3

Sabine Pass

-1:00

-1:15

T4

Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass -0:04

-0:25

T5

Galveston Bay, S. Jetty -0:39

T6

Port Bolivar

-0.13ft. Low Tide: 7:47 AM 1.11ft. High Tide: 3:56 PM 0.98ft. Low Tide: 8:06 PM 1.10ft.

HIGH

LOW

Moon Underfoot: 11:31p BEST:

2:30 — 4:30 AM

7:13 AM 3:11 PM 7:09 PM 11:47 PM

T1

+0:14

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 AM

6:42 AM 2:20 PM 6:00 PM 11:26 PM

Moon Underfoot: 10:35p

Moon Underfoot: None 4:30 — 6:30 AM

-0.32ft. High Tide: 12:15 AM 1.21ft. Low Tide: 8:26 AM 1.03ft. High Tide: 4:39 PM Low Tide: 8:56 PM

1.14ft.

-0.48ft.

1.28ft.

1.07ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:50 AM 9:07 AM 5:22 PM 9:43 PM

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

LOW

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

T12

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay +5:48

+4:43

T18

San Luis Pass

-0.09

-0.09

Texas City Turning Basin+0:33 +0:41

T13

Gilchrist, East Bay

+4:18

T19

Freeport Harbor

-0:44

-1:02

T8

Eagle Point

+3:54

+4:15

T14

Jamaica Beach, W. Bay +2:38

+3:31

T20

Pass Cavallo

0:00

-1:20

T9

Clear Lake

+6:05

+6:40

T15

Alligator Point, W. Bay +2:39

+2:33

T21

Aransas Pass

-0:03

-1:31

-1:05

T10

Morgans Point

+10:21 +5:19

T16

Christmas Pt

+2:32

+2:31

T22

Padre Island (So. End) -0:24

-1:45

-0:06

T11

Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39 +5:15

T17

Galveston Pleasure Pier -1:06

-1:06

T23

Port Isabel

-0:42

+3:16

+2.0

BEST:

3:30 — 5:30 AM

TIDE LEVELS

0

Moon Underfoot: 8:04p BEST:

12:00 — 2:00 AM

+1.0

0

SUNDAY

PM Minor: -----

Moon Overhead: 7:41a

+1.0

-1.0

0.57ft.

0.72ft.

0.51ft.

1.06ft.

AM Minor: 11:54a

Moon Overhead: 6:57a

+2.0

BEST:

10:00A — 12:00P

Low Tide: 1:30 PM High Tide: 9:39 PM

THURSDAY

Moon Underfoot: 6:36p

BEST:

9:00 — 11:00 AM

1.08ft. Low Tide: 12:53 PM 1.09ft. High Tide: 9:09 PM -0.13ft.

1.22ft.

WEDNESDAY

Set: 5:22p Set: 1:35p

BEST:

8:00 — 10:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 5:53p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

15

1.14ft.

1.17ft.

-0.26ft.

1.28ft.

Moon Underfoot: 5:11p

BEST:

7:30 — 9:30 AM

1.22ft. Low Tide: 12:16 AM -0.36ft. High Tide: 3:07 AM 1.34ft. Low Tide: 11:38 AM High Tide: 7:58 PM

MONDAY

Moon Underfoot: 4:27p

BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 AM

High Tide: 2:38 AM Low Tide: 10:59 AM High Tide: 7:18 PM

12a

Moon Underfoot: 3:43p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 2:56p

+1:02

1.17ft.

-0.61ft.

1.32ft.

1.07ft.

+1.0 0 -1.0

LOW

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION 72 |

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Sportsman’s Daybook

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION = FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

22 

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 7:28a

TUESDAY

23 

Set: 5:25p Set: 6:29p

Sunrise: 7:09a Moonrise: 8:22a

WEDNESDAY

24 

Set: 5:25p Set: 7:33p

Sunrise: 7:10a Moonrise: 9:13a

THURSDAY

25

Set: 5:26p Set: 8:38p

26

Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:26p Moonrise: 10:00a Set: 9:43p

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

27

28

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:27p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:27p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:28p Moonrise: 10:44a Set: 10:47p Moonrise: 11:26a Set: 11:50p Moonrise: 12:07p Set: None

AM Minor: 4:59a

PM Minor: 5:28p

AM Minor: 6:00a

PM Minor: 6:29p

AM Minor: 7:02a

PM Minor: 7:31p

AM Minor: 8:05a

PM Minor: 8:33p

AM Minor: 9:06a

PM Minor: 9:33p

AM Minor: 10:04a

PM Minor: 10:30p

AM Minor: 10:59a

PM Minor: 11:24p

AM Major: 11:13a

PM Major: 11:43p

AM Major: 11:41a

PM Major: 12:14p

AM Major: 12:48a

PM Major: 1:17p

AM Major: 1:51a

PM Major: 2:19p

AM Major: 2:53a

PM Major: 3:20p

AM Major: 3:51a

PM Major: 4:17p

AM Major: 4:46a

PM Major: 5:11p

Moon Overhead: 12:58p

12a

Tides and Prime Times for DECEMBER 2014

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 2:53p

Moon Overhead: 1:56p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 3:49p 12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

MONDAY

 = New Moon  = First Quarter  = Full Moon  = Last Quarter  = Good Day  = Best Day SUNDAY

Tap for Customized Tide Charts

= Peak Fishing Period

BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

SYMBOL KEY

Moon Overhead: 5:35p

Moon Overhead: 4:43p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 6:27p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 12:29a

+2.0

-1.0

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:33 AM 9:50 AM 6:04 PM 10:31 PM

1.19ft.

-0.68ft.

1.33ft.

1.05ft.

2:23 AM 10:36 AM 6:46 PM 11:23 PM

30

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:29p Sunrise: 7:12a Moonrise: 12:48p Set: 12:52a Moonrise: 1:31p

Sunrise: 7:12a Moonrise: 2:14p

Set: 5:30p Set: 2:53a

BEST:

0.85ft.

1.00ft.

-0.45ft.

1.16ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

THURSDAY

Jan 1, 2015 2

Sunrise: 7:13a Moonrise: 3:00p

Set: 5:30p Set: 3:51a

1:31 AM 5:59 AM 1:01 PM 8:37 PM

0.68ft.

0.86ft.

-0.23ft.

1.09ft.

FRIDAY

Sunrise: 7:13a Moonrise: 3:48p

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

2:43 AM 7:47 AM 1:53 PM 9:09 PM

0.46ft.

0.73ft.

0.04ft.

1.02ft.

Set: 5:31p Set: 4:48a

3

Sunrise: 7:13a Moonrise: 4:39p

5:30 — 7:30 PM

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

SATURDAY

3:52 AM 9:45 AM 2:52 PM 9:40 PM

4

Set: 5:32p Set: 5:41a

Sunrise: 7:13a Moonrise: 5:30p

Set: 5:33p Set: 6:31a

PM Minor: 12:38p

AM Minor: 12:59a

PM Minor: 1:24p

AM Minor: 1:44a

PM Minor: 2:10p

AM Minor: 2:30a

PM Minor: 2:56p

AM Minor: 3:18a

PM Minor: 3:43p

AM Minor: 4:06a

PM Minor: 4:31p

AM Major: 5:37a

PM Major: 6:02p

AM Major: 6:25a

PM Major: 6:51p

AM Major: 7:11a

PM Major: 7:37p

AM Major: 7:57a

PM Major: 8:23p

AM Major: 8:43a

PM Major: 9:09p

AM Major: 9:30a

PM Major: 9:56p

AM Major: 10:18a

PM Major: 10:43p

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 9:53p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 11:35p

Moon Overhead: 10:44p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: None

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 6:53a

+2.0

-1.0

BEST:

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:54 AM 11:42 AM 4:06 PM 10:10 PM

-0.05ft.

0.75ft.

0.56ft.

0.95ft.

Moon Underfoot: 8:35a

BEST:

6:00 — 8:00 PM

TIDE LEVELS

0

Moon Underfoot: 7:44a

BEST:

6:30 — 8:30 PM

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:49 AM 1:27 PM 5:51 PM 10:40 PM

-0.28ft.

0.87ft.

0.74ft.

0.94ft.

Moon Underfoot: 9:27a BEST:

BEST:

4:30 — 6:30 PM 10:00A — 12:00P

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:41 AM 2:48 PM 7:20 PM 11:27 PM

Moon Underfoot: 10:19a

-0.57ft. High Tide: 12:03 AM 1.03ft. Low Tide: 8:14 AM 0.86ft. High Tide: 4:26 PM Low Tide: 9:28 PM

Moon Underfoot: 12:00p

BEST:

11:00A — 1:00P

-0.48ft. Low Tide: 7:31 AM 0.99ft. High Tide: 3:39 PM 0.80ft. Low Tide: 8:35 PM 0.95ft.

Moon Underfoot: 11:10a

0.96ft.

-0.66ft.

1.07ft.

0.88ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:42 AM 8:54 AM 5:05 PM 10:03 PM

+2.0

BEST:

11:30A — 1:30P

12:00 — 2:00 PM

0.97ft.

-0.69ft.

1.08ft.

0.88ft.

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

1:23 AM 9:32 AM 5:40 PM 10:29 PM

0.97ft.

-0.68ft.

1.05ft.

0.86ft.

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

0

SUNDAY

AM Minor: 12:12a

Moon Overhead: 9:01p

+1.0

-1.0

0.21ft.

0.69ft.

0.31ft.

0.97ft.

PM Minor: -----

Moon Overhead: 8:09p

+2.0

BEST:

5:00 — 7:00 PM

AM Minor: 11:50a

Moon Overhead: 7:18p

12a

31

Set: 5:29p Set: 1:53a

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 6:01a

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

29 

Moon Underfoot: 5:09a

3:00 — 5:00 PM 4:00 — 6:00 PM

1.11ft. Low Tide: 12:23 AM -0.61ft. High Tide: 4:30 AM 1.24ft. Low Tide: 12:11 PM High Tide: 8:03 PM

WEDNESDAY

Moon Underfoot: 4:16a

BEST:

2:00 — 4:00 PM

1.17ft. High Tide: 3:20 AM -0.69ft. Low Tide: 11:23 AM 1.30ft. High Tide: 7:26 PM 0.98ft.

TUESDAY

Moon Underfoot: 3:22a

BEST:

1:00 — 3:00 PM

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

MONDAY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

BEST:

12:30 — 2:30 PM

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST:

Moon Underfoot: 2:25a

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 1:27a

+1.0 0 -1.0

SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE (right) to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

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the

Christmas Truest Meaningof

a holiday reflection by Chester Moore

I

have heard the song a thousand times.

“The Little Drummer Boy” echoed through our church service one recent Christmas Eve with a special collaboration from a local high school’s drum line. Everyone was captivated by the drums and the passion put into the performance by our worship team, but there was something else.

The lyrics to the song came alive.

“Little baby, I am a poor boy too.

“I have no gift to bring that’s fit for our king.

“Shall I play for you? On my drum.

“Pa rum pum pum pum.”

The vision of a poor, little boy so desperately wanting to honor this very special child became clear. With no material belongings, he offered what he had: his talent. Compared to the gold typically offered to royalty it seemed insignificant but it put a smile on the baby’s face.

LATER ON THAT CHRISTMAS EVE night, as my daughter drifted off to slumber, and my wife enjoyed a bit of well earned relaxation time, I reflected on this T E X A S

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song’s meaning and the fact that many people struggle during this most special of holidays. Perhaps you face such struggles yourself. It may be with the fact you are not sure if the family will enjoy the meager gifts you were able to buy for them. With your budget cut, it was a miracle you could get anything for anyone. Some of you might not have any gifts under the tree at all, or perhaps you went into debt to put smiles on the kid’s faces.

Others are struggling within.

Remember the little drummer boy. He gave what he had and if we truly give the best of us, great things can happen.

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WHILE ENJOYING THE MANY thoughtful gifts my parents spent their hard-earned money buying, my Dad spoke up.

“I only ever remember getting a Christmas gift once,” he said.

“It was a little windup caterpillar and I remember being so happy to get it, but that is the only gift I ever remember getting.”

Here I was with a BB Gun, a bunch of Star Wars figures and an X-Wing fighter replica along with clothes and a stocking full of candy and other goodies.

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PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

The seeds of understanding this valuable lesson were planted in me, many years ago when I was just a boy.

The author’s daughter Faith smiles after a big Christmas morning. Getting gifts for our family is wonderful but our greatest offering is time.

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And although I was so happy to get these amazing gifts, I could not help but be heartbroken over my father’s memory of Christmas. He grew up in abject poverty, dealt with more neglect than he will ever admit to and to this day wears scars from

it.

Do not let false ideas steal your Christmas by attempting to grade it on a financial curve. And never look at yourself as unworthy to give what you have. You can make a huge difference in the lives

Taking kids on a rabbit hunt is a great way to spend quality time and give them a low pressure look at the hunting lifestyle.

of others by simple acts of kindness and obedience.

There might be a child in your neighborhood who, like my father as a boy, has never received a gift.

It does not need to have financial value.

Time can be the best gift we ever give and those of us who love the outdoors are in a better position than anyone to do this.

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PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

falsehood. We are all to enjoy nature.

Every couch potato kid I have taken outdoors has been blown away by the experience. Simply seeing a bird or squirrel up close or catching a palm-sized perch blows kids away.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE held a campout for boys ages 7-12.

We were shocked at how many had never roasted weenies or marshmallows or even see a campfire for that matter.

Their excitement touched our hearts and reminded all involved how blessed we were to have been brought up in an outdoors lifestyle. It is sad to see kids with such little life experience outside of what they get in school or what they can control

Zoos and wildlife parks are excellent places to engage a youngster’s interest in wildlife and the outdoors.

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with a joystick or mouse.

Make time to take the kids in your life into the great outdoors. Whether they go crabbing, perch jerking or searching for shells on the beach, there are lifeenhancing experiences to be had. Do not take them Carolina rig fishing for bass or chunking topwaters for trout on their first trip. Perch, crabs and croaker are the ticket because they provide simple, quick action.

Sometimes in reality, the best opportunities for encounters for really young children come in places like zoos and aquariums. They may not always have the patience for long hikes, but a place such as a zoo has many different things to see so they can keep moving.

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GENERALLY, THOSE WHO GROW up in the outdoors do not end up in crack houses. That might sound harsh to some, but the fact is a true love/passion/fascination/addiction to the outdoors inspires

people to keep a clear head and focus on the next encounter, not the next opportunity to numb oneself.

People need a link to nature and to realize that we are a part of it and not an

When kids are exposed regularly to the outdoors, they build natural defenses to the temptations of destructive lifestyles.

alien species—the latter what many people are taught or believe.

You hear a lot about the natural world, and then mankind mentioned as some invading force in opposition to what is going on in the outdoors. The reality is we are part of nature, and the more people who realize that, the better off everyone is.

Who is going to be more opposed to water pollution? Will it be the guy who grew up hiding out in his basement, never seeing sunlight, or the one who spent his youth fishing and scuba diving?

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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I do not recall a group of chess players conserving 25 million acres of wetlands.

Hunters did that through a group called Ducks Unlimited. I could go on and on with example after example, but the

point is, those who realize they are part of nature and embrace that fact are the ones who care most about it.

It is no wonder most of the great acts of wildlife and fisheries conservation have

Simply letting kids encounter animals can build a love for wildlife. Here Rachel Rose has a parakeet encounter.

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results can be life changing.

I will never forget catching sturgeon up to 10 feet long in the Columbia River in Oregon with my father. We always dreamed of doing this, and decided to make it a reality. We are both better for it.

All of the time spent fishing for flounder helped give me a career in the

PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

been performed or paid for by hunters and fishermen. We are the ones that care about wildlife because we are the ones who actively seek it.

The beautiful thing about encountering wildlife is that it is a real experience, not an element of a video game, website, or movie. The source is nature itself, and the

A simple campout can be a wonderful gift for families this Christmas.

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outdoors, formed lasting friendships, and inspired me to get involved with fisheries conservation.

Cage-diving with great white sharks off California in 2002 helped me realize

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a lifelong dream inspired by watching Jacques Cousteau programs in my youth, and gave me a true understanding of those amazing creatures.

Watching 2000-plus wood duck fly to

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roost on a remote tract of public hunting land gives me chills just thinking about it.

What a rush!

I guarantee the lives of those of us who embrace such encounters are richer than those who are afraid to get out and experience such things for themselves.

It is important to keep in mind a connection to nature does not necessarily mean hunting and fishing, and a prime example is one of my personal causes.

From 1994-1996, I volunteered for the Exotic Cat and Wildlife Refuge in Kirbyville in various capacities, from photographing the cats for publicity to conducting fundraisers, rescuing a bear from a nightclub in Houston, and taking a jaguar to the dentist for a root canal.

I had always loved big cats, but being around them a lot inspired me to do something about the conservation of these animals, particularly the super endangered ones like tigers, and those of unknown status such as jaguars. In fact, I fell in love with jaguars and have spent a huge amount of time studying and lecturing on them around the country.

The simple act of taking a kid to the zoo or an aquarium can spark an interest in wildlife that lasts a lifetime.

Were I a cynical person, I would say the only kind of conservation youngsters today will be concerned with is making sure there will always be enough internet bandwidth, and enough video games to go around. But the reality is that there are kids out there who seek that precious encounter with wildlife, and will grow into the conservation leaders of the future.

Anything we can do to help facilitate that will benefit the wildlife we love so much and help save precious lives from the rav-

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ages of manmade self-destruction.

with full abandon and the belief that it can make a difference. The greatest gifts come

from a sincere heart.

Pa rum pum pum pum.

MY WIFE LISA AND I TAKE OUR daughter to every zoo, aquarium and other animal related venue we can. If there is a wildlife drive thru park or nature center wherever we travel, we stop and let her experience nature in a close, personal way.

A great way to top off an opportunity to encounter wild things is giving them photos of their trip. These will help build powerful memories they will one-day share with their own children. You can get prints made from digital photos for just a few cents apiece and buy photo albums for a couple of dollars.

After all, this time of year is all about the greatest gift of all and whether we can bless our families with the latest in electronics or play the drum beat that we know the best we can, it should be done

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Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven | The Texas Gourmet

Catfish and Wild Rice Soup

high and then cook the filets 5 to 7 minutes or until done. Remove from the fire to a plate and allow the filets to cool, cut into small pieces 2. MELT butter in sauté pan over medium heat. Cook mushrooms, green onions and garlic until tender, stirring occasionally.

3. MIX together the flour with ¼ cup of the heavy cream in a small bowl until smooth, then add to the mushroom, garlic and green onion mixture. Gradually stir in chicken broth. Heat to simmering, stirring constantly.

4. ADD white wine, parsley, Worcestershire, cayenne pepper, thyme, Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice seasoning and lemon juice.

5. COOK for approximately five minutes to reduce liquid to desired consistency.

Stir in the balance of the cream, then the catfish and heat thoroughly.

6. LADLE into bowls and top with chopped green onions for garnish.

Serves two.

A

S WE LOOK FORWARD TO DECEMber and the years end, we are in for some cool nights and visiting with family around the dinner table. This recipe can be made with freshly caught or store-bought catfish or you can substitute with redfish if you like. The wild rice gives the backbone to this recipe and makes it a great appetizer or one pot meal.

INGREDIENTS • 2 U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish Fillets • 1 cup of cooked Long grain and wild rice • Paprika • ¼ cup butter • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced • ¼ cup green onions, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 3 tablespoons flour • 1½ cups chicken broth • ½ cup Dry Sac Sherry (may substi tute chicken broth, not!)

• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme,chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves) • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper • ¼ teaspoon Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice • 1 teaspoon lemon juice • ½ cup heavy cream

PHOTOS: BRYAN SLAVEN

Email Bryan Slaven, “The Texas Gourmet,” at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

INSTRUCTIONS 1. IN SMALL PAN, bring butter to a boil and cook until bubbles stop, then reduce heat. Liberally sprinkle the Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice on both sides of the filets. Increase the heat to 92 |

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TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS SALTWATER

TEXAS SALTWATER

LAKE AMISTAD

SABINE LAKE

ROCKPORT / BAFFIN BAY

SEADRIFT/SAN ANTONIO BAY

DFW METROPLEX

LAKE TEXOMA

Statement of ownership, management and circulation 1.

Publication title: Texas Fish & Game. 2. Publication number: 7577-70. 3. Filing Date: 10/01/2014. 4. Issue freq: Monthly. 5. No. Issues Annually: 12. 6. Annual subscr. price: $15.95. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication (not printer): 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032; Contact Person, Duane Hruzek; Tel, 281-2273001. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher (not printer): Same. 9. Full names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor and managing editor: Publisher, Roy Neves, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032; editor: n/a; managing editor: Chester Moore, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. 10.

Owner: Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co. LLC; Ron & Stephanie Ward; Roy and Ardia Neves. All addresses same as publisher. 11. Known bondholders, Mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1% or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages of other securities: none. 12.

Tax status has not changed during preceding 12 months.

13. Publication title: Texas Fish & Game. 14. Issue date for circulation data below: October 2014. 15. Extent and nature of circulation: a. Total number of copies (net press run): Avg. no. copies each issue during preceding 12 mos., 50,470; No. copies of single Issue published nearest to filing date, 54,865. b. Mailed Outside-County: Avg. preceding 12 mo., 48,905; single issue nearest filing, 52,270. Mailed in-county: 0. Sales through dealers, Avg. preceding 12 mo., 909; single issue nearest filing, 1834; Other classes mailed, 0. c. Total paid/requested circulation: Avg. preceding 12 mo., 49,814; single issue nearest filing, 54104. d. Free distribution outside-county, Avg. preceding 12 mo., 32; single issue nearest filing, 65; In-county, 0; Other classes, Avg. preceding 12 mo., 30; single issue closest to filing, 21. e. Total free dist, Avg. preceding 12 mo., 62; single issue nearest filing, 86. f. Total dist: Avg. preceding 12 mo.,49,876; single issue nearest filing, 54,190. g. Copies not dist: Avg. preceding 12 mo., 594; single issue nearest filing, 675. h. Total (sum 15f and g): Avg. preceding 12 mo., 50,470; single issue nearest filing, 54,865. Percent paid: Avg. preceding 12 mo. 99.87%; single issue nearest filing, 99.84%. a. Paid Electronic Copies, Avg. preceding 12 mo., 44,280, single issue nearest filing, 41,917. b. Total Paid Print Copies + Paid Electronic Copies: Avg. preceding 12 mo., 94,094, single issue nearest filing, 96,021. c. Total Print Distribution + Paid Electronic Copies: Avg. preceding 12 mo., 94,156, single issue nearest filing, 96,107. d. Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies), Avg. preceding 12 mo., 99.93%, single issue nearest filing, 99.90%. 16. Publication of statement of ownership required. Will be printed in December 2014 issue of this publication. 17. Signature and title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager or Owner: Roy Neves, publisher, Date 10/9/14

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SALTSPECIES Where Lee Casey of Dallas caught this bull red in four feet of water while trout fishing in the Upper Laguna Madre. It was the leader of a school of reds, which took 45 minutes and three boat moves to land. (Dad wasn’t happy it took so much time from his trout fishing!)

SPECKLED TROUT Portland Seven-year-old Kaleb Billman caught this 31-inch speckled trout on artificial bait while fishing with his dad, Jeremiah near Portland.

BLACKFIN TUNA Gulf of Mexico Justin Patterson caught this blackfin tuna at the Boom Vang rig out in the Gulf of Mexico.

REDFISH Sargent Mike Foeh caught these reds while fishing at Sargent.

FRESHWATER REDFISH

TURKEY

Lake Calaveras

Schleicher County

Brothers Jacob and Andrew Hoppas show off a 27-inch redfish Jacob caught at Lake Calaveras while fishing with their dad, Steve Hoppas.

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Beau Theimer shot this tom and one other while hunting on his family’s ranch in Schleicher County near Mertzon. Duke the dog was quite impressed.

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MAIL TO: TFG PHOTOS 1745 Greens Rd, Houston TX 77032 NOTE: Print photos can not be returned.

EMAIL: photos@FishGame.com

For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

BLACK DRUM Matagorda Rosa Gale caught her first black drum while fishing on Matagorda Bay.

No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

AXIS

BASS

Private Ranch

Lake Amistad

Caitlin Roach, 7, shot her second deer and first axis deer at 150 yards with a single shot .243, dropping it in its tracks.

Manson Hanselman, age 6, reeled for Dad’s (Ray Hanselman) seven -ounder, when father and son were fishing on Lake Amistad.

BASS Lake LBJ Nicklaus Langlois caught this 10-pound, 3-ounce largemouth in Lake LBJ at the High School State Tournament. It won big bass for the tourney.

MOUNTAIN LION Idaho Jeff Hulstein took this large mountain lion while bowhunting in Idaho.

REDFISH

REDFISH

Cocodrie, LA

Galveston

Jacob Kassman caught this 31-inch red while fishing from his kayak in the marsh at Cocodrie, Louisiana.

Lee Mencacci caught this beautiful sevenspotted redfish in Offatts Bayou in Galveston.

KING MACKEREL Port Aransas Max Armola of Mesquite caught this king mackerel while on an offshore trip out of Port Aransas. He also caught a nice stringer of red snapper.

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