Whopper `blues` - Lone Star Outdoor News

Transcription

Deep thrills
September 22, 2006
Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper
Volume 3, Issue 3
Anglers paddle
to offshore
rigs
SEE PAGE 8
w w w. l o n e s t a r o u t d o o r n e w s . c o m
A teal of a time
INSIDE
FISHING
Coastal hunters stay busy bagging bluewings
By Craig Nyhus
Three friends hit a motherlode of
striper on Lake Texoma and
found themselves sweaty, but
smiley as they pulled up fish
after fish.
See Page 21
Dredging is normally a bad word
to anglers, but some are having
second thoughts after the Sabine
Pass project — where dredging
for a new gas plant created a
pocket abounding in fish.
See Page 8
HUNTING
Purina hopes to stimulate interest
in the hunting of mule deer by
pitching a food supplement for
the animal, whose population has
declined in recent years.
See Page 6
CONSERVATION
A consistent theme echoed across
Texas after the early teal season opener on Sept. 9 — where there was water,
there were teal.
Hunters throughout the state
reported excellent numbers of bluewinged teal — in line with estimates
of 5.9 million bluewings traveling
through the Central Flyway this Sept.
— and excellent hunting results.
Coastal areas reported the most
success, as expected.
Hunter Uzzle, 10, hunted with a
party of adults near Winnie. He
reported the group was “covered up,”
and he shot his limit in less than one
hour with a 20-gauge.
Thunderstorms had threatened the
hunt, but he called his father to check
the radar.
Dad said to wait 10 minutes as the
storm was moving to the east. They
drank hot chocolate, ate donuts and
waited. The birds took to the air after
the storm.
Some Comanche County hunters
with access to water reported fast and
furious early action and quick limits
on opening weekend, but most
hunters reported the birds had
moved on by the second weekend.
Hunters near Lubbock report teal
in numbers beyond recent memory.
Brad White with Big Honker Guide
Service reports his customers were
often confused due to the numbers of
birds circling the ponds.
“We’ve been hunting in Lubbock,
Hale and Lamb counties,” he said.
“Every depression in the land has
See TEAL, Page 13
BRINGIN’ IT HOME: Tim Solderquist’s lab, Maggie, retrieves a blue-wing teal at the Hammerdown Hunting Club near Bay
City. Photo by David J. Sams.
Joe McBride sells guns, but his
commitment to conservation led
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Foundation to announce he will
be honored at their Oct. 6
banquet .
See Page 5
Whopper ‘blues’
Trophy cats biting at Texas reservoirs
NATIONAL
Ann Richards was lauded for her
political success when she died
Sept. 13, but many Texans will
remember Richards for her
enjoyment of hunting and
dedication to preserving the
state's wildlife habitat.
See Page 4
DEPARTMENTS
Game Warden Blotter
Page 10
Hunting Season Dates
Page 13
Heroes
Page 15
Made In Texas
Page 17
Outdoor Datebook
Page 17
Weather
Page 18
Wild in the Kitchen
Page 18
Fishing Report
Page 19
Product Picks
Page 20
By Diana Kunde
HEAVYWEIGHTS: Big catfish, tipping the scales at more than 50
pounds, are being caught on rod and reels at a few lakes.
September’s unseasonably cool nights
are proving to be a bonus for anglers who
go after big blue catfish — trophy cats —
with rod and reel.
Chad Ferguson, of North Texas
Catfish Guide Service, said he pulled in
unusual numbers of large blue catfish
early in the month.
Deer carcasses dotting
stock tanks out west
By BILL MILLER
Numerous whitetails are dropping dead in West Texas.
State wildlife officials say it’s not
unusual to lose deer to deadly diseases, but recent reports are surprising.
Dozens of dead deer have been
spotted around stock tanks since
August, although an exact count
hadn’t been taken by midSeptember.
Most of the reports are from
Schleicher County, said Dale
Rollins, wildlife specialist for the
Texas Cooperative Extension in San
Angelo. Others were found in Tom
See DEER, Page 13
His party’s top fish on Sept. 2 was a 50pounder, 42 inches long and 31 inches
in girth, caught on Cedar Creek Lake.
“We catch big fish all year long,”
Ferguson said. “It’s just more rare to
catch the numbers we did this time of
year. We caught four fish over 30 pounds
and that one over 50.” The fishing party
caught and released “multiple fish”
between 20 and 30 pounds.
See BLUE CATS, Page 22
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
PLANO, TX
PERMIT 210
Page 2 September 22, 2006
September 22, 2006 Page 3
NATIONAL
A way with the outdoors
Richards dedicated to wildlife, conservation
Ann Richard’s success in the political arena is well documented, but the silver-haired lady of Texas also had an
attraction to another arena — the
outdoors.
Dressed in hunting attire,
Richards, who served as the 45th
governor of Texas from 1991 to
1995, was a familiar figure to the
media.
The democrat made it a tradition to hunt doves in front of the
media when campaigning.
An incident which drew popularity came in September of 1994
ANN RICHARDS
when President George W. Bush,
a gubernatorial candidate at the
time, and Gov. Richards went on
separate dove hunts on the first day of the season with the
press alongside.
Richards, who started the season firing off three shots in a
field in North Texas, wasn’t able to bag a dove on opening
day.
Hunting friends recall the special lady with magnetic
charm who died Sept. 13 at her home in Austin after a battle
with esophageal cancer.
Dallas attorney Frank L. Branson has fond memories
Richards, who in 1991 became the first female Texas governor in 50 years.
“Ann was a true character and fun to hunt with,” Branson
said.
Mesquite attorney Ted Lyon recalled Richards’ skills and
her dedication to the outdoors.
“Ann truly was the best governor in Texas history to protect wildlife resources from the bays
and bayous to the state parks,” Lyon
said.
‘Ann was
And the attorney said Richards was
good with the shotgun and could
a true
hunt with the best.
“She was truly an outdoorswoman
character and
and could handle a Winchester
fun to hunt
Model 23 pigeon grade 20-gauge over
and under as well as any man.”
with.’
Richards’ dedication to the out— FRANK L.
doors earned statewide recognition.
BRANSON
During her career, she was honored
with a “Connie Award” by the
National
Wildlife
Federation,
America’s conservation organization protecting wildlife for
future generations.
Richards earned the achievement award for making outstanding contributions to conserving wildlife and restoration of habitats.
Richards also formed the Governor’s Task Force on Nature
Tourism in Texas in 1993.
The task force helped communities and private landowners develop passive wildlife programs to conserve both
wildlife habitat and to stimulate economic growth through
environmentally-based tourism.
Funeral services for Richards, 73, were held Monday at the
University of Texas Frank Erwin Center.
— Compiled from staff reports.
HONORABLE HUNT: Ann Richards shows doves harvested by her hunting
partners on opening day near Terrell in 1994. Photo by David J. Sams.
Survey: Waterfowl harvest increases in Texas
The waterfowl harvest in Texas
increased 38 percent in 2005, according to a survey compiled from The
Migratory Bird Harvest Information
Program (HIP).
The harvest in Louisiana was up 7
percent for the same period.
Oklahoma’s harvest was down 18 percent, Arkansas was down 4 percent
and New Mexico was down 7 percent.
The program is a method by which
state wildlife agencies and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service develop
more reliable estimates of the number
of all migratory birds harvested
throughout the country.
These estimates give biologists the
information needed to make deci-
sions concerning hunting seasons,
bag limits and population management.
Duck, goose and crane hunters are
required to participate in the program, which is usually accomplished
at the time of hunting license purchase.
The program is based on a volun-
tary survey of selected migratory bird
hunters in the United States.
The state wildlife agencies collect
the name, address and some additional information from each migratory bird hunter in their state and
send that information to the wildlife
service.
The service randomly selects a sam-
ple of the hunters and asks them to
provide information on the kind and
number of migratory birds they harvest during the hunting season.
The hunters’ reports are used to
develop reliable estimates of the total
harvest of all migratory birds
throughout the country.
— A Ducks Unlimited report.
CONSERVATION
McBride
in Expo
spotlight
Banquet to honor
conservationist
In a state abundant with outstanding conservationists, Joe
McBride stands tall.
That’s why the founding father
of the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Expo is the consensus choice to be
honored at the 15th Annual Expo
Conservation Banquet, Oct. 6, at
the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort near
Austin.
The event, which benefits the
TPW Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of Texas Parks and
Wildlife, also features silent and
live auctions.
Live auction items valued at
more than $125,000 include a
Panhandle quail hunt with Nolan
Ryan, spring turkey hunt with
Texas music great Tracy Bird and
South Texas deer hunt with Gov.
Rick Perry.
As second-generation owner of
McBride’s Gun Shop in Austin,
McBride is the sporting goods dealer to dignitaries, celebrities, governors and even presidents.
His unassuming personality, wisdom, salesmanship, service and
dedication made and keep him successful in a very competitive and
changing category of retail business.
McBride has been named
Salesman of the Year by both
Winchester and Browning. He
founded the Texas Gun Dealers
Association and Hill Country
Wholesale.
While working for 36 years selling sporting goods, McBride also
has found time along the way to
Biologists zero
in on seatrout
Texas Parks and Wildlife Coastal
Fisheries biologists will host a second
round of public meetings to discuss
regional management options for
the Lower Laguna Madre spotted
seatrout fishery.
The meetings will include a presentation of spotted seatrout trends in
the Lower Laguna Madre, description of the regional management
concept and information about various management options.
The management options being
analyzed are various reductions in
bag limit, increases in minimum size
limit and combinations of these for
the Lower Laguna Madre only.
Stocks overall are doing extremely
well in Texas; however, in the Lower
Laguna Madre, sampling data and
models show a clear downward trend
in relative abundance and spawning
stock biomass of spotted seatrout.
For more information about the
meetings, call the TPW Brownsville
Field Station at (956) 350-4490.
Meetings
•Sept. 25, Port Isabel Community Center,
213 Yturria Street, Port Isabel
• Sept. 26, Harlingen Public Library, 410
’76 Drive, Harlingen
• Sept. 27, Texas A&M University –
Corpus Christi, Natural Resource Center,
Room 1003, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus
Christi
• Sept. 28, Texas Parks & Wildlife
Department, Dickinson Marine Lab,
1502 FM 517 East, Dickinson
• Sept. 28, Historical Center, 427 South
7th Street, Raymondville
All meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are
open to anyone interested in spotted
seatrout management.
— A Texas Parks and Wildlife report.
DEDICATED TO THE OUTDOORS: Joe McBride’s dedication to the community will be
recognized on Oct. 6 at the 15th Annual Expo Conservation Banquet.
give back to his community, his
state and many of its worthy causes.
He has provided leadership to
the Austin Woods and Waters Club,
which established the McBride
Family Conservation Fund and
awards thousands of dollars annually for youth education. He serves
on the board of Operation Game
Thief.
The Texas Outdoor Writers
Association and the Austin Woods
and Waters Club named him
Conservationist of the Year. The
Austin Police Department named
him Patron of the Year.
In 2006, the TPW Foundation is
recognizing McBride for all he has
done for the department, other
conservation organizations, the
sporting citizens of Texas, the
state’s hunting and fishing heritage
and its natural resources.
Tables for the banquet may be
purchased for $1,500. Individual
tickets purchased in advance are
$100, or $150 at the door.
Purchases may also be made
online at www.tpwf.org/auction.
For more information, email
[email protected] or call 214-7201478 ext. 205.
— A Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation report.
EDITORIAL OFFICES:
9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South,
Dallas, TX 75243
Phone: (214) 361-2276
Fax: (214) 368-0344
Publisher/Editor: CRAIG NYHUS
Design Editor: DUDLEY GREEN
Contributing Editor: DARLENE MCC ORMICK SANCHEZ
Associate Editor: MARK ENGLAND
Founder & CEO: DAVID J. SAMS
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Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A
subscription is $25 for 24 issues. Copyright 2006 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of
any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited.
Printed in Dallas, TX, by Midway Press. Subscribers may send address changes to:
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Page 6 September 22 2006
HUNTING
Taking a byte out of crime
‘The
Internet
is really
creating
new
headaches
for us.’
Wardens target illegal wildlife sales on Internet
By Darlene McCormick
Sanchez
S
ometimes at night after
his workday is through,
Sgt. Adam Chrane, a game
warden with Texas Parks
and Wildlife, cruises the Internet
in search of crimes against
wildlife.
He checks out eBay and chat
rooms and other cyber sites in
hopes of catching people hawking
specific game mounts or animals
that are illegal to sell in Texas.
— SGT. TOM HULETT
It’s a routine crime with a new
twist. And it’s keeping Chrane,
one of two game wardens in the
state in special operations that
handle wildlife crimes, pretty
busy.
“The Internet has been a boon
to everything … it’s been the same
to (illegal) wildlife,” he said. “It’s a
constant.”
Chrane’s job involves a lot of
cyber acting — posing to be a
buyer in order to hopefully bust
culprits.
In mid-August, Chrane helped
nab four people in the Houston
area trying to sell illegal game
items on eBay. Two were taxidermists. With the assistance of
Game Wardens Kevin Creed and
Mike Weiss, two pronghorn shoulder mounts, one full-body pronghorn mount and a javalina skull
mount were seized. The cases are
pending.
In general, state lawmakers
made it illegal to sell game animals
and game birds, dead or alive.
And, in general, the same law
makes it illegal to sell their parts.
Pronghorns, javalinas, game
See ILLEGAL, Page 7
Winging it through late season
FILLING THE SKY: White-winged dove circle over a sunflower field east of Hondo. The hunting was hot over this field during the special white-wing season. Limited available grain in South Texas concentrated the
birds. Photo by David J. Sams
By Lynn Burkhead
Thousands of Texans thrill to the
Sept. 1 ritual of opening day of dove
hunting season.
But after the first week or two of
the season, the attention of many
Lone Star State hunters begins to
wane as early teal and archery seasons arrive on the calendar.
And that’s a shame since some of
the best dove hunting of the entire
fall occurs in later September and
on through October.
Hanging in there for a hunt weeks
after dove opener could pay off
Here is some sage advice from
experts on how to take advantage of
the late season’s dove hunting
bonanza.
Scout — Again
“It’s one thing to go out on opening day and go to your favorite
waterhole or your favorite maize
field and shoot doves, but after
opening day, you’ve got to start
looking for the birds (again),” said
Phil Bellows, a Gainesville-based
Ducks Unlimited district chairman.
“You’ve got to go out and find the
birds, then you’ve got to hit them
then, because if you wait, they may
be gone a day or two later due to
changing weather patterns or whatever.”
Bellows says the scouting keys for
later in the year remained un-
changed — find the preferred food
sources, where the birds are watering, where they are roosting, and
what flight corridors they are using
to get between these places.
Watch the Weather
As the first significant cool fronts
of the season roll through the area,
weather changes certainly can
reshuffle the dove-hunting deck.
When that happens, successful
gunners must adapt.
So says Steve Hollensed, a fulltime striped bass fly fishing guide
Interest is growing in food
supplements for mule deer
By BILL MILLER
Mention deer hunting in Texas and the
mind’s eye would probably behold the image of
a trophy whitetail buck.
But wedging the Texas mule deer into that picture is the goal of Purina Mills and one of its top
distributors.
Next month, Purina will unveil a new supplemental feed pellet for mule deer, which in Texas
live in the arid region between the Panhandle
and the Big Bend.
The product will be launched during a mule
deer management conference Oct. 19-20 in San
Antonio. The event’s sponsors expect a strong
turnout because, they believe, the big-eared
desert-dwelling deer is about to enjoy a popular-
ity explosion.
“You have to do something pretty impressive
to raise the standard in the whitetail industry,’’
said Scott Hohensee of Mumme’s, Inc., the
Purina distributor. “(But) lots of people are looking at West Texas and applying the things they
have learned from the management of whitetails to mule deer.’’
Hohensee is in charge of wildlife products for
Mumme’s Inc., which has stores throughout
South Texas. The firm is sponsoring the San
Antonio conference with Purina and the Texas
Deer Association.
Hohensee grew up in San Angelo, prime
whitetail country, but also springboard to mule
deer lands in West Texas.
“I really enjoy the challenge of spot and stalk
for mule deer,’’ he said. “I like to hunt them like
See MULE DEER, Page 16
PROTEIN POWER: A mule deer buck feeds at a protein feeder in West Texas.
See DOVE, Page 16
Watts gets call
to nationals
IN TUNE WITH THE WILD: Robb Watts sounds off at the Gulf Coast Regional
Duck Calling Contest. Photo by Craig Nyhus.
The Gulf Coast Regional Duck
Calling Contest was held Sept. 9 at
Cabela’s in Fort Worth. Ten
world-class callers competed with
the winner qualifying for the
National Duck Calling Contest in
Stuttgart, Ark. in November.
The competition was extremely
close, and after paring down the
competitors to six after Round 1,
four callers were within one point
of each other going into Round 3.
Robb Watts of Beebe, Ark. captured first place, a $1,000 Cabela’s
gift certificate, and the chance to
compete at the national competition. Watts, the national sales
manager for Echo Calls, looks forward to the national competition.
“I plan to stick with my same routine,” he said. “I also want to
thank Cabela’s, they did a great
job.
Illegal
Continued from Page 6
birds and even squirrels fall under
this ban.
However, white-tailed deer and
mule deer mounts, horns and skin —
the inedible parts — can be sold.
Game bird breeders can sell their
mounts. Taxidermists can sell
unclaimed mounts to recoup the cost
of their labor only, meaning they
can’t make a profit from the sale.
Wild-caught game fish flesh,
such as redfish and trout, are illegal
to sell in Texas — but Chrane said
he hasn’t seen these types of cases
— yet.
Right now the biggest increase
in wildlife cybercrime is in the area
of illegal reptile sales, he said. But
at least with Internet crime, there’s
usually a written record and companies such as eBay are very good
about helping law enforcement
catch these types of perpetrators,
he said.
In July, Chrane busted a guy
who said he bought a piranha on
Craig’s List and then offered to sell
it on an aquarium Internet site.
People warned the seller that it was
illegal, who responded with: “I
don’t think Parks and Wildlife are
monitoring these chat rooms.”
Word got back to Chrane who
then posed as a buyer and set up
the meeting that resulted in a bust.
Elsewhere, wildlife cybercrime
has taken game wardens out of the
field and onto their computers as
well. In Springfield, Oregon, an
August article reported how State
Police Sgt. Tom Hulett, with
Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife
Division, was chasing down cyber
criminals as well. In Oregon, deer
and elk mounts, racks of antlers
and bear rugs with skulls attached
are among the wildlife parts being
marketed illegally on the Web,
Hulett told the Eugene RegisterGuard.
“The Internet is really creating
new headaches for us,” Hulett said.
Nationwide, the legality of selling wildlife parts vary widely from
state to state. Most game species
aren’t federally protected, so federal officials usually don’t get
involved, said Sandy Cleva, a
spokeswoman with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service law enforcement division.
But for those species that are
protected, such as reptiles and elephants, the Internet has become a
bonanza for crime as well, she
added.
“I can tell you what I’ve seen is a
definite increase in the Internet,”
she said.
Darlene McCormick Sanchez is contributing editor for the Lone Star
Outdoor news.
FISHING
Dredging project a clear hit to anglers
Trout, redfish ganging up in pristine waters of ‘Louisiana Pocket’
By Chuck Uzzle
‘The water clarity is amazing at times.’
Coastal anglers shudder at terms that conjure up bad images such as “red tide” or “hurricane.”
Another term that usually spells disaster for
anglers is “dredging,” which usually results in
undesirable fishing conditions.
The Cheniere Energy Company has put a
new spin on dredging and Sabine Lake anglers
are praising its efforts.
Cheniere Energy is establishing a Liquefied
Natural Gas facility in Sabine Pass.
— AARON HOMMEL
The project required that some 4 million
cubic yards of dredge material be removed
from the ship channel to make room for
barges, ships and other traffic at the plant.
Cheniere removed this dredge material and
relocated it to the area most anglers refer to as
“the Louisiana Pocket,” a popular fishing spot
among locals on the east side of the Sabine jetties near the beach.
According to published reports from Shiner
Mosely and Associates, an engineering firm
working on the Sabine Pass project, the dredge
material was deposited several hundred yards
from the beach to create a shoreline protection
berm.
The berm acts as a barrier to inhibit erosion
from the Gulf of Mexico’s pounding surf. The
dredge material also has helped protect precious wetland areas from the effects of erosion.
For sportsmen, the creation of the berm has
been nothing short of a blessing as the manmade structure has made a good place to fish
even better.
“We wanted to protect the shoreline and
enhance the fishing,” said James Ducote of
Cheniere Energy. “We took a negative and
turned it into a positive.”
See DREDGING, Page 13
Deep
thrills
Anglers paddle
to offshore
excitement
By Mark England
Christmas is more than three months away,
but Ken Larson of Rockport has already gone
on a Texas sleigh ride — in the Gulf of Mexico.
“I hooked a stingray and it took off,” said
Larson, who was south of Port Aransas in his
kayak. “The other guys turned around and
went, ‘Whoa.’ I was rapidly putting distance
between myself and them.
“We like to call that a Texas sleigh ride. It
was one of the best ones I’ve ever been on. The
stingray ran about 300 yards before it
foundered.”
Getting towed is just one of the pleasures of
kayak fishing, especially when done in the
ocean.
However, the sport is about more than
thrill-seeking, according to Larson, vice president
of
sales
for
Malibu
Kayak
(Malibukayaks.com).
“It’s a very intimate outdoor experience,”
FAR-OUT ADVENTURE: Ken Larson battles with a stingray caught near an offshore oil-production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo by Lupe Buitron.
See KAYAKERS, Page 22
Drop-shotting Texan
takes Table Rock title
Angler nails
Big Bass win
Long-awaited win
is Faircloth’s first
as a professional
Fish-off highlights
under-slot category
The last time Todd Faircloth fished
on Table Rock Lake he didn’t fare well
and lost a berth in the CITGO
Bassmaster Classic.
This time around, Faircloth earned
some redemption.
Faircloth, who hails from Jasper,
won The Rock presented by Theraseed
— the final tournament of the 2006
CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series. His
four-day total of 50 pounds, 9 ounces,
propelled him to the victory, earning
him a $100,000 check and a spot in the
2007 Bassmaster Classic.
It was Faircloth’s first victory in his
seven years as a professional angler.
“I’m emotional,” Faircloth said, as he
choked back tears. “It’s all coming out.
Where to start? Seven years I’ve been
doing this and I’ve been close. I just
hadn’t got it done. But I got it done
today.”
Faircloth was fishing in approximately 30 to 35 feet of water at the
James River near Indian Point.
He drop-shot a 5-inch Senko Slim
Worm (green pumpkin color) to land
all of his bass on Sunday — the same
lure that made him one of only two
anglers who caught a limit of fish each
day of the tournament.
He looked for underwater contour
near deep drop-offs and specifically targeted gravel flats to land his biggest
fish.
“It was anywhere you had a break, in
about 30 to 35 feet of water,” Faircloth
said. “If you had some wood, it was
even better. I caught a lot of my fish
around brush piles and around trees.
See FAIRCLOTH, Page 13
TEXAS FLAIR: Todd Faircloth lifts his Table Rock title trophy
high in the air. The victory earned him $100,000. Photo by
James Overstreet.
More than 570 anglers from 14 states
hooked up for the first annual Berkley Big
Bass tournament on Sept. 10 at Lake Fork.
The unique tournament rules required
that all anglers use Berkley Baits exclusively.
Top prizes included a Skeeter SX 190 boat
with a Yamaha 150-horsepower motor for
the largest fish over the slot (more than 24
inches in length) and one boat for the
largest fish under the slot (under 16 inches
in length).
Additionally, hourly prizes were awarded
in both categories.
After the first hour there were 26 fish
weighed in, but none were over the slot.
Overall, there were six bass weighed in over
the slot.
In the last hour, Ted Robbins of Longview
brought in a fish that measured 24 inches.
See TOURNEY, Page 22
GAME WARDEN BLOTTER
DOVE HUNTERS CAUGHT
IN BAITED FIELD
•Brewster County Game Warden
Ray Spears responded to a call from
the sheriff’s department about
shots being fired on a small tract of
land just outside the Alpine city
limits. The caller complained about
dove hunters shooting too close to
his property and was concerned for
his family’s safety. Spears made
contact with two hunters who were
hunting dove over bait and
charged both hunters with the violation. Spears had previously
warned the property owner about
hunting over bait. Cases pending.
This will be the operator’s fourth
Driving While Intoxicated/Boating
While Intoxi-cated charge. He had
a device on his vehicle to detect
alcohol on his breath. One of the
boat passengers said that he had
blown the alcohol detector on the
boat operator’s vehicle so that the
boat operator could start his truck.
Case pending.
STUCK IN MARGARITAVILLE
Denton County Game
Warden Ron VanderRoest,
while patrolling Lewisville Lake
for water safety violations, saw
a boat beached in front of the
local restaurant and bar with
the operator gunning both
engines in full reverse trying to
two different fields. Ten citations
were given to three people for
exceeding the daily bag limit in two
different fields; three citations for
drug paraphernalia (while hunting
and fishing); one minor in possession of alcohol while hunting citation; and one citation for hunting
doves from a public road. Other
citations included unplugged shotgun, killing a protected nongame
bird, no hunting license and no
hunter education certificate. The
warnings included: no HIP certification, no hunter education, hunting dove from a vehicle, no wildlife
resource document and discharging a firearm across a public roadway.
DOVES EAT WELL IN ERATH COUNTY
•Palo Pinto County Game Warden
Bill Jones received a tip opening
weekend of dove season regarding a
baited field in Erath County. After
locating the field, Jones made contact with Erath County Game
Warden Tony Navarro and Hood
County Game Warden Danny
Tuggle. After inspecting the field,
the wardens found 3,000 pounds
of oats, wheat and maize. The case
was turned over to US Fish and
Wildlife Service Agent, Steve
Hamilton. Charges were filed for a
baited field and for no hunting
license.
’GATOR’S RED EYES SCARE WOMAN
•San Jacinto County Game
Warden Aryn Corley was called out
to assist a Shepherd woman who
had trapped an alligator on her
property and wanted help to
remove it. When he arrived, Corley
noticed the woman was visibly
shaking. She had the gator trapped
under a flowerpot because its
“crazy red eyes” scared her. When
Corley lifted the flowerpot, he
asked the lady if this was some sort
of joke. The reason — her red-eyed
gator was, in fact, a red-eyed
squeaky toy alligator. She was very
embarrassed and her friends all got
a good laugh. Corley took possession of the gator.
DEER HUNTING CONVICTION
RESULTS IN FINE AND SUSPENSION
•Parker County Game Warden
Randall Hayes received final disposition on a felony trespass hunting
case that occurred in January 2006.
The defendant received two felony
convictions, one for possession of a
controlled substance, methamphetamine, and for taking a whitetailed deer without the landowner’s consent. The hunter received
four years probation and four years
hunting license suspension. The
fine amount was $1,200 for the
hunting case and $800 for the
drugs. Forfeiture of a hunting rifle
and other hunting equipment was
also included. Civil restitution on
the white-tailed buck is also
involved.
GREED GETS THE BEST OF THEM
•Game Wardens Clint Borchardt
and John Padgett, after several
hours of surveillance, cited two
people for exceeding the daily bag
limit for dove. When the wardens
checked the hunters the previous
day and saw the amount of doves
harvested and noticed that their
stories did not match, they set up
surveillance. After hiking about
half a mile through another piece
WARDENS ISSUE 34 CITATIONS
•Tarrant County Game Wardens
Clint Borchardt and John Padgett
teamed up opening weekend of
dove season and filed 34 citations
and 10 warnings. These violations
included 12 citations to 12 people
for hunting dove over bait found in
get free. After the boat got
loose, VanderRoest stopped the
boat and noted the operator
was intoxicated. The suspect
said he only had eight or nine
frozen margaritas and did not
see what the problem was. After
failing field sobriety tests, the
of property, the wardens videotaped and counted dropped and
retrieved birds for more three
hours. The hunters had been in the
field for at least an hour before surveillance began. When the hunters
left the field, both suspects were
known to have exceeded their daily
limit during the morning hunt.
Later that afternoon, Borchardt
and Padgett met up with Johnson
County Game Warden Ty
Patterson and Capt. W.J. Rawls to
once again check the hunters. One
individual finally admitted to
killing 32 birds that morning and
retrieving only 21. Cases pending.
FIRE ANTS FEAST
ON UNWANTED DOVE
•Tarrant County Game Warden
Michael McCall cited a suspect in
northern Tarrant County for hunting doves with an unplugged shotgun. Returning to the same field on
Saturday evening, McCall stopped
this same hunter as he was exiting
the field from the evening hunt.
The subject, who had his shotgun
properly plugged, was asked how
many doves he had killed. The subject stated that he had killed four
and that his hunting companion
had killed three. When McCall
asked to see the birds, the subject
stated that he didn’t keep them
because four doves were not
enough to eat. His companion said
he did not like to eat dove and that
he did not want to clean them. The
subjects led McCall back to the
field where he found the seven
doves in a pile covered in fire ants.
Both hunters were cited for waste
of game. Cases pending.
FIVE PEOPLE DIE AFTER BOATS
COLLIDE AT 130 MPH
•Grayson County Game Warden
Jim Ballard responded to a call for
assistance on the west end of Lake
subject was transported to
Denton County Jail where a pat
down found a small bag of
methamphetamines in the
coin pocket of his shorts. The
boater was charged with BWI
and possession of a controlled
substance.
BATTY COMPLAINT FILED
•Somervell County Game Warden
Neal Bieler received an Operation
Game Thief call from Austin
Headquarters advising that a complaint had been made regarding
two white bats that were in a cage
at an RV Park in Glen Rose. Bieler
immediately went to the location
and found the cage in question. To
his surprise, inside the cage were
two large white bats … baseball
bats. No cases were filed.
Texoma. During the annual Labor
Day High Roller’s Poker Run, two
boats collided. One of the high performance boats had veered in front
of another and the oncoming boat
entered the other through the
cockpit area. Witnesses estimate
the speed of both boats to be in
excess of 130 miles per hour. All
four occupants of the boat that
veered off course were killed, and
the wife of the driver of the other
boat was killed. The driver was just
released from an area hospital. The
accident happened in Oklahoma
waters and is being investigated by
the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Grayson County Game Wardens
Jim Ballard and Dale Moses along
with Wise County Game Warden
Chris Dowdy were asked to assist
with the investigation. With the
use of the side scan sonar, parts of
the boat including the cockpit,
both jet engines and both outdrives were recovered and turned
over to Oklahoma investigators.
NOT SMART: SHOOTING
WHILE DRIVING
•Henderson
County
Game
Wardens Audie Hamm and Tony
Norton were patrolling Navarro
County and saw a man in the back
of a truck shooting dove from the
highline while his partner drove
the truck down the county road.
Contact was made and charges
were filed.
STAY OFF THE GRASS
•Hardin County Game Warden
Kenny Lee received information
about an ibis being killed in a local
neighborhood. After a short investigation, Warden Lee determined
the local golf course administrator
shot the bird for “digging up the
grass” on the course. A citation was
issued for hunting a protected
species.
BOATER HITS DOCK, ARRESTED
ON ALCOHOL-RELATED CHARGES
•Hood County Game Warden
Danny Tuggle was called early in
the morning in reference to a boating accident on Lake Granbury.
Tuggle, along with Brazos River
Authority Lake Ranger Randy
Johnson, began an investigation.
The boat found had hit a boat dock
hard enough to rip a 4-foot hole on
the driver’s side. Blood was found
on the windshield, but the passengers of the boat had left the scene.
After locating the boaters, the operator was taken to the hospital with
cuts to the head. Further investigation showed that the operator was
under the influence of alcohol. He
was arrested and placed in the
Hood County Jail. Witness statements showed the operator was
drinking heavily prior to and up to
the accident for about 12 hours.
BODY FOUND IN BARREL
AT LAKE BUCHANAN
•Game Wardens Chris Davis and
Andy Ozuna were called by Texas
Ranger Joey Gordon to assist in
recovering a decomposed body
inside a barrel at the water’s edge of
Lake Buchanan. The barrel had
been submerged for what appeared
to be a long time, and since the lake
has gone down, the barrel
appeared on a rock ledge. The
Burnet County Sheriff’s Department and Texas Rangers are investigating.
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Teal
2006-2007 TEXAS HUNTING SEASON DATES
COOL HUNT: Many teal hunters beat the late summer heat by wearing shorts in the field.
water right now, and every small body of water
has teal. Our customers have filled quickly every
morning, although we had a storm one morning which delayed the flight.”
Some north Texas hunters reported difficult
hunting conditions — despite the presence of
birds. “The water was so low — the best places to
set up were too soft and muddy to stand or put
out decoys,” said David Carroum, Jr. who hunts
near Italy.
“I was stuck to my upper thigh — even the dog
was getting stuck, which was scary.”
Opening day produced near-limits for four
hunters. The next day, muddy conditions led to
a one-bird hunt. “The birds moved early, but
didn’t come back,” Carroum said.
Jeff Kucera, manager of Port Bay Hunting and
Fishing Club, reported that 28 members shot
opening day limits of bluewings near Rockport.
“Like doves, they came in waves,” he said. The
second weekend was a different story, with
hunters struggling to bag half-limits. “The tide
came up, a cold front blew in, and we had a full
moon, he said. “Everything left and went south
— that’s teal hunting.”
Craig Nyhus is publisher/editor of the Lone Star
Outdoor News.
Deer
But, like crime scene investigators, the officials are picking up on clues that point to
EHD.
The proximity of the deaths near water
holes isn’t surprising because in arid West
Texas, those are some of the few places where
the flies can live.
“During the long, dry spells like the ones
we’ve been in, animals tend to concentrate
themselves around water,’’ said Ruben Cantu,
a regional director for the Texas Parks and
Wildlife office in San Angelo.
Bucks, however, are especially susceptible to
flies in late summer as they scratch velvet
from their antlers, Cantu said. The resulting
blood supply, he explained, is like “a magnet
on top of their heads’’ to insects.
Alvizo noted that the reports he investigated involved either very young or very old deer.
“I’ve yet to find a mature buck that was
affected,’’ he said. “I’m sure they’re out there;
I just haven’t seen them yet.’’
As wildlife officials contemplate the enormity of the outbreak, landowners wonder
how big a toll it will take in their region — a
legendary home for revenue-generating trophy bucks.
Archery season starts Sept. 30, followed by
gun season on Nov 4.
“Come the first freeze, this will get knocked
down,’’ Cantu said of the outbreak. “But until
then, we’re going to lose some animals and I
know that’s a big concern to people.’’
Green, Concho, Menard, Crockett, Sterling
and Sutton counties.
Marco Alvizo, the state game warden
assigned to Schleicher County, said he
received a report of a disoriented, sickened
deer wandering into a rural home.
“Some that I’ve seen are so far gone, they
just sit there when you walk up to them,’’
Alvizo said. “Their tongues are hanging out of
one side of their mouths and their jaws are
locked.
“Basically what kills them is that they can’t
drink any more water, and they can’t last two
or three days like that in this heat.
“It’s a bad way to go.’’
As of mid-September, officials were trying to
confirm if the ailment was epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, which is similar to
bluetongue in sheep and cattle.
Both diseases are caused by virus-carrying
flies called culicoides, said Don Davis of the
department of veterinary pathobiology at
Texas A&M University.
Neither disease can hurt people, but officials urged ranchers to wear gloves while
removing the dead deer.
That’s because they want to be sure the culprit isn’t the soil-borne bacteria that causes
anthrax, a potentially fatal disease that can be
passed from animals to humans.
Faircloth
That’s what I keyed on all week.”
Faircloth admitted he’s not crazy about dropshotting in deep water. It’s something he didn’t
have to do when he was growing up on the Sam
Rayburn Reservoir.
“I would never have dreamed my first victory
would have come on a drop-shot,” he said. “I’m
Dredging
The positive for anglers is the
calm, protected water between the
berm and the beach. The Gulf waves
are subdued as they break on the
berm, leaving pristine water for
anglers to pursue speckled trout and
redfish from the beach.
At low tide the berm is exposed,
allowing wade fisherman a chance to
catch fish without getting their feet
wet. The contour change the berm
provides offers fishermen an opportunity like many locals never imagined.
“The whole system of humps and
guts around the spoils is amazing,
Bill Miller is a Fort Worth-based freelance writer.
better with a flipping stick in my hand. It’s definitely new to me, but I’m learning how to do
it. This is just incredible.”
Oklahoma’s Edwin Evers was the only other
Elite angler to catch a five-fish limit each day.
He parlayed that consistency into a secondplace finish with a four-day total of 46 pounds,
3 ounces. Evers caught a 10-14 sack on Sunday.
Arkansas’ Kevin Short placed third with a 4514 total. He boated a 13-1 bag Sunday.
— A BASS report.
the fish just gang up in that area,”
said local angler Aaron Hommel.
“We have seen herds of redfish, plenty of sharks and some really nice
trout hanging out in this area. The
water clarity is amazing at times.”
The Sabine Pass project has been a
hit so far for all involved, both industrial and recreational. The type of
program where companies compensate for loss of wetlands by creating
others has been going on for quite
some time, especially in Louisiana
where coastal erosion is one of the
state’s biggest problems.
With the help of the protective
spoil berm, areas of beach and shoreline should continue to prosper.
Chuck Uzzle, an Orange resident, writes
about the outdoors.
THE OFFICIAL
TRUCK OF THE
Ducks
HIGH PLAINS MALLARD MANAGEMENT UNIT
Youth
Oct. 21-22
Regular Gun
Oct. 28-29
Nov. 3-Jan. 28
NORTH ZONE
Youth
Oct. 28-29
Regular Gun
Nov. 4-26
Dec. 9-Jan. 28
SOUTH ZONE
Youth
Oct. 28-29
Regular Gun
Nov. 4-26
Dec. 9-Jan. 28
Duck Bag Limit:
The daily bag limit shall be 5 ducks with the following
species and sex restrictions — scaup, redhead, and wood
duck — 2; only 1 from the following aggregate bag: 1
hen mallard, or 1 pintail, or 1 canvasback, or 1 "dusky
duck" (includes mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black
duck, and their hybrids); all other ducks not listed - 5.
Possession limit: Twice the daily bag limit.
Goose
WEST
Light and Dark Geese
Nov. 4-Feb. 6
Light Geese
(Conservation Order)
Feb. 7-March 25
EAST
Light Geese
Nov. 4-Jan. 28
White-fronted Geese
Nov. 4-Jan. 14
Canada Geese
Nov. 4-Jan. 28
Light Geese
(Conservation Order)
Jan. 29-March 25
Bag Limit:
• Western Zone Daily Bag Limit:
• Light Geese — 20 in the aggregate;
• Dark Geese — 3 Canada and 1 white-fronted goose.
• Eastern Zone Daily Bag Limit:
• Light Geese — 20 in the aggregate;
• Dark Geese — 3 Canada geese and
2 white-fronted geese.
Possession Limit: Twice the daily bag limit for dark
geese, no possession limit for light geese.
Dove
NORTH ZONE
Sept. 1 - Oct. 30;
Bag limit 15 birds per day, 30 in possession
CENTRAL ZONE
Sept. 1-Oct. 30
Dec. 26-Jan. 4
SOUTH ZONE
Sept. 22-Nov. 12
Bag limit 12 birds per day,
Dec. 26-Jan. 12
24 in possession
SPECIAL SOUTH TEXAS ZONE
Sept. 22-Nov. 12
Dec. 26-Jan. 8
Teal
STATEWIDE (Blue-winged, Green-winged and Cinnamon
Teal):
Sept. 9-24; Bag limit 4 birds per day,
8 in possession
White-tailed Deer
ARCHERY
Sept. 30-Oct. 29
GENERAL
•SPECIAL YOUTH SEASON
Oct. 28-29, Jan. 20-21
NORTH TEXAS (200 counties)
Nov. 4-Jan. 7
PANHANDLE (6 counties)
Nov. 18-Dec. 3
SOUTH TEXAS (30 counties)
Nov. 4-Jan. 21
EDWARDS PLATEAU (39 counties)
Late Antlerless and Spike
Jan. 8-21
Late Antlerless and Spike
Jan. 22-Feb. 4
MUZZLELOADER (23 counties)
Antlerless and Spike Only
Jan.13-21
Mule deer
ARCHERY
Sept. 30-Oct. 29
GENERAL
Nov. 18-Dec. 3
SOUTHWESTERN PANHANDLE
(7 counties)
Nov. 18-26
TRANS-PECOS (19 counties)
Nov. 25-Dec. 10
Pheasant
Dec. 2-31
Bag limit: 3 roosters per day, 6 in possession.
Chambers, Jefferson
and Liberty counties
Nov. 4-Feb. 25
Quail
STATEWIDE (all counties)
Oct. 28-Feb. 25
Bag limit: 15 birds per day, 45 in possession.
Rio Grande Turkey
ARCHERY
Sept. 30-Oct. 29
FALL SEASON
•SPECIAL YOUTH SEASON
Oct. 28-29, Jan. 20-21
NORTH TEXAS (122 counties)
Nov. 4-Jan. 7
Nov. 4-Jan. 21
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg
and Willacy counties
Nov. 4-Feb. 25
(Seasons on other species may be found on
the TPW Web site — tpwd.state.tx.us/)
HEROES
Captain BUTCH FINLEY fought for 30 minutes before bringing in this approximately 5 1/2-foot, 75- to 80pound sailfish while fishing 65 miles off Port Aransas in 5-foot seas. He was using a 2/0 reel and 30pound line.
JOSH CULPEPPER of Tyler shows a 27-inch speckled trout he caught fishing in Louisiana.
JOHNNY HATTNER, 11, of Keller, caught a 100-pound Pacific Sailfish in
Panama. This was the first sailfish he caught on a spinning rod.
JASON KIRKLAND caught a 7-pound hybrid on a slab spoon in 40 feet of
water while fishing with guide Bob Holmes on Richland Chambers Lake.
KELSEY WOOSTER, 7, holds a bass she caught at her
“Mee-Mee” and “Pooh-Pa’s” pond in Sadler.
SHARE AN
RAY and SUNNY THOMPSON show off the 40- and 38-inch redfish they
caught while fishing with Capt. SKIPPER RAY with Island Outfitters in South
Padre Island.
ADVENTURE
JACK TANNER WINN recently went with dad on his first squirrel hunt.
Want to share your great hunting or fishing photos with the Lone Star Outdoor News family? E-mail your photo, phone and caption information to
editor@ lonestaroutdoornews. com, or mail to: Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX, 75243.
OUTFITTERS
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Deer and Turkey
Hunting
10,000 Acres
Duck, Goose and
Dove Hunting
40,000 Acres
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3218 Coral Ridge Ct.
League City, TX 77573
(281) 535-1930
Fax: (281) 535-1935
www.circleh.org
It’s easy to advertise on this page — just send us your business card, and let us know how many weeks you want your ad to run. Purchase 12 issues of advertising and
your business will be profiled with a photo in this section. Outfitter Listings: $40 each issue. Please include either a check or credit card billing information with your order.
Mail to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or call (866) 361-2276.
Mule Deer
some people like to hunt elk.’’
In recent years, the availability of the hopping deer — they don’t trot like whitetails —
has fluctuated.
From 1978 through 2001, their numbers
have gone from a high of 221,220, to lows of
fewer than 100,000, according to Texas Parks
and Wildlife.
However, the estimated population last
year rebounded to 249,000.
Meanwhile other states have seen even
more drastic declines in their mule deer
herds. Biologists blamed drought, disease
and shrinking habitat.
But Texas wildlife officials have long
understood the harshness of the mule deer’s
range, and they’ve tightened the bag limit to
a single buck; hunters can take one doe, but
only by special permit.
Mule deer fans, however, hope new techniques like supplemental feeding will boost
populations.
Dr. Larry Varner, Purina nutritionist,
developed the new pellet. He said it’s loaded
with protein, calories, and a secret flavoring
that appeals to mule deer.
“Our research has shown that if you feed
them, and you do it right, you can basically
double your fawn production,’’ Varner said.
“And mule deer bucks are like whitetail
bucks; when you feed them more, their
antlers get bigger.’’
But Ruben Cantu, a TPW regional director
in San Angelo, said effective management
depends on more than one food source.
“If (it) comes out of a bag, we don’t have a
problem with it,’’ he said, “just as long as
folks know it’s a supplement.’’
But most Texans already get that, said
Cantu, which brightens the deer’s future.
“Private property owners have done an
exceptional job,’’ said Cantu, who will speak
at the San Antonio conference. “That has
turned out to be a real plus for our mule deer
population.’’
For information about the conference in
San Antonio, call the Texas Deer Association
at 210-767-8300, or go online at
www.mummesinc.com.
Bill Miller is a Fort Worth-based freelance writer.
Dove
on Lake Texoma who loves to wingshoot in
his spare time.
“Weather plays a big role,” said Hollensed,
who has gunned for doves for three decades
using the same worn Remington 1100. “It can
rain, it can be dry, or a strong cool front can
blow through, changing things up a lot.”
Decoys
Denison resident Dale Moses is a recent
convert to the value of using spinning wing
dove decoys — recently, as in after a hunt earlier this week.
“We set (two of) them out in front of us,”
Moses said. “I felt we should have been down
by a pond, but instead we set up on hill about
80 yards from the pond.”
With the decoys about 20 yards apart,
Moses says that neither the hunting location,
nor the fact that he was wearing jeans instead
of camo, made much difference.
“Virtually every bird that flew around that
pasture flew in our direction.”
Beef Up Shot Sizes
Finally, remember to adjust what you’re
shooting at doves later in the year.
“Later in the year, I’ll go from improved
cylinder to modified (choke) and from No. 8
shot to No. 7 1/2 shot,” Bellows said.
One reason is that the birds are spookier
now and creampuff shots aren’t the norm.
Another is that mourning doves aren’t the
only game in town, even in North Texas.
“Around here, we seem to have more
whitewings now and it seems to me that
whitewings are harder to knock down than
mourning doves,” Bellows said. “Sure
enough, you’ll need that (extra firepower) for
them.”
It often pays in late season to eschew bargain loads, instead opting for heavier trap
loads with better components and downrange ballistics.
Put these tips into practice the remainder of
dove hunting season and you might enjoy
some epic wingshooting — with nary another soul in sight.
Lynn Burkhead is a frequent contributor to Lone
Star Outdoor News and an associate editor for
ESPNOutdoors.com.
EVENT FEATURES BANQUET, EXHIBITS,
MUSIC AND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
Greater Houston Christian Outdoor Fellowship
The
will host its Annual Wild Game Banquet and Expo on Saturday, Oct. 14, in celebration of the organization’s 10th anniversary. Exhibits and clinics are from noon
to 6 p.m., and the banquet begins at 6 p.m. This year’s fundraiser will be held at the
Stafford Convention Center in Stafford, located at 1050 Cash Road.
The annual wild game extravaganza will include a fantastic evening of dinner featuring Cornish hen and venison sausage, and special entertainment from Dennis
Swanberg – a well-known motivational speaker and host of “Swan’s Place” on
Family Net Television. Swanberg’s charismatic, humorous storytelling and love of
the outdoors has captivated audiences across the country for more than a decade.
Guests also will enjoy live bluegrass and contemporary music from Robert Till
and Family, hilarious skits from Bubba’s Drama Team and live animal calls from
Ralph Duren. Renowned for his unique ability to make sounds of frogs, dozens of
birds and many mammals, Duren has been featured on “The Tonight Show with Jay
Leno” and many other national television and radio shows.
“What makes this event so fun and truly unique is that it is for the whole family,” said Jimmy Hassell, GHCOF’s executive director. “We guarantee a fun, entertaining event for all ages and encourage hunters and fishermen to bring their spouses and children.”
Tickets are on sale now for this unique event. GHCOF sponsorship tables are
available for $500 (or $50 per ticket), and business sponsorship tables are $750 (or
$75 per ticket). Individual admission is $35. Tickets are available by calling
(281)788-8435, or can be purchased online at www.ghcof.org.
Proceeds from the event benefit the various activities of GHOCF, including special hunting and fishing trips for at-risk and physically challenged children, as well
as for young people experiencing economic hardships. GHCOF also sponsors many
parent-child hunts and fishing outings.
“The goal of our organization is to show love and share unique recreational activities with others, especially those who otherwise might not be able to enjoy the
amazing experiences of fishing, hunting…and simply enjoying the incredible outdoors,” Hassell added.
In addition to the banquet, the event includes a special hunting and fishing exposition, from noon – 6 p.m. Admission to the exhibit area is free and will feature all
types of outdoor-related booths, including hunting and fishing outfitters, artists,
taxidermists, clothing, as well as clinics on training hunting dogs, turkey calling
and duck calling and much more. Guests also can bid for hunting and fishing
equipment and trips in a silent auction.
For more information about the GHCOF Wild Game Banquet and Expo, go
online to www.ghcof.org.
MADE IN TEXAS
Former guide makes rods his game
By Mary Helen Aguirre
Jimmy Burns was a professional fishing
guide for eight years. When he decided to go
into business, he opted to stay in the outdoor
industry and in 2005 purchased Waterloo Rod
Company USA.
It was a natural fit.
“I’d been using their rod for years and knew
it was a good product,” Burns said.
The Victoria-based company has been manufacturing custom rods since 1997.
Its Web site credits high-quality components
and advanced building techniques for producing rods that deliver sensitivity, lightness,
strength and durability.
“The company was small,” Burns said.
He acquired the business from Ryan Seiders,
whom he had known for years.
“I’m just taking it to the next level,” he said.
“Since buying it last year, we’ve doubled our
sales.”
And, the growing company has expanded
from a two-man operation to a staff of six.
Burns’ priority has been to get the word out
about the graphite rods, which sell for $180 to
$320.
He’s put his product in the hands of professional fishing guides, increased his ad buys,
and is hitting different shows and fishing tournaments. The company also sponsors a pro
angler.
Burns said his goal is for the rods that are
mainly known in Texas to see wider retail distribution.
In addition to marketing, Burns is focusing
on getting a quicker turnaround on custom
orders of the the rods, which are manufactured
in his Victoria shop.
There, employees build all the components
that go on the blanks, including the one-piece
solid nickel titanium guides.
Burns has made minor modifications to his
product line: He added two new rods. And his
saltwater rods now sport a modified handle
HOT ROD: Owner Jimmy Burns is taking Waterloo Rod Company USA “to the next level.” Since his purchase of the company last year, Burns has seen sales
double. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte.
that offers a better grip.
Currently, the company carries five freshwater rods, seven saltwater rods and a flyfishing rod.
The company also will customize rods for
customers who request a logo, for example, or
a specific length.
Burns’ personal favorite when he fishes?
The HP Slam, he said.
It is also the rod that professional fishing
guide Cliff Webb prefers. “I’ve used hundreds
of rods,” said Webb, who works out of Corpus
Christi.
“I picked Jimmy (Burns) because I like his
equipment.”
Webb says the rods are maintenance-free
and lightweight. “Just a few ounces on the
rods makes a big difference on the arms,” says
Webb, who spends many hours on the water.
A professional guide since 1983, Webb says
he especially likes the 6-foot 6-inch HP Slam
when he sight casts because it increases his
OUTDOOR DATEBOOK
Sept. 23: Granbury Ducks Unlimited
banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the De
Cordova Bend Country Club. Contact Kyle
Lewis at (817) 573-9836 or
[email protected] for more information.
HAVE AN EVENT?
E-mail it to
Sept.
25: Cedar Creek Lake DU banquet
[email protected]
at 5:30 p.m. at the Pinnacle Club, 200
Pinnacle Club Drive, Mabank. Contact
Christina Campbell at (903) 498-7726 or
[email protected].
Sept. 26: East Wharton County DU dinner
at 6 p.m. at Hungerford Hall. Contact
Roslyn Hadash at (979) 282-9822.
Sept. 27: Rice Belt (El Campo) DU dinner
at 5:30 p.m. at El
Campo Civic Center.
Contact Curtis
Mollnar at (979)
543-1688,
[email protected].
Sept. 28: Bonham DU banquet at 6 p.m.
The banquet will be held at a new location
— the Legacy Ridge Country Club. Contact
Rick Hazelip at (903) 583-9768.
Sept. 28: Heart of Texas DU banquet 6
p.m. in Round Rock. Contact Bruce
Steiner at (512) 340-0200 or
[email protected] for more
information.
Sept. 28: Beaumont DU dinner 6 p.m. at
the Harvest Club. Contact Brad Boullion at
(409) 923-7535 or
[email protected].
Sept. 28: Whitehouse DU dinner at 6 p.m.
at the Oil Palace-U.S. 64 South. Contact
Chad Smotherman at (903) 534-1044 or
[email protected].
Sept. 28: Oyster Creek DU dinner at 5:30
p.m. at the Sugar Creek Country Club.
Contact Parker Dobson at (281) 5890087.
Sept. 29: Dallas Business Journal Bass
Tournament Benefiting DEF Youth Fund.
The event will be based at Sneaky Pete’s
Resort – Lewisville Lake. The cost is $150
per angler. Go to www.biggame.org for
updates and new activities. To register for
each event, call 972-980-9800.
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: The Texas
Hill Country River Region
Fall Fly-Fishing Fest will be
held at in Concan. For
more information and
lodging, call (800) 210-
0380 or visit www.thcrr.com.
Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Troutmasters Tournament
Series, in association with Gulf Coast
Troutmasters Association, will be held in
Matagorda at Russell Bait and Tackle. Pro
and amateur team divisions will compete.
Call (713) 466-7849 for more
information.
Oct. 6: The Texas Parks
and Wildlife Foundation
Expo Conservation
Dinner & Auction at the
Grand Ballroom Hyatt
Lost Pines Resorts &
Spa in Austin. For more information,
email [email protected] or call 214-7201478 ext. 205.
Oct. 7: Third annual Sporting Clays Event
fundraiser to benefit Equine Angels will be
held at the Alpine Shooting Range, 5482
Shelby Road, Ft. Worth, (817) 478-6613.
The event will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 2
p.m. with a $20,000 prize raffle. First
prize is a Bad Boy Buggy valued at
$8,500. Tickets for the raffle are $100.
Contact Brian Gray at (214) 543-5706 for
more information.
Oct. 7: The 2006
Ladies Fall Shooting
& Outdoors Clinic
hosted by Texas
Women’s Shooting
Sports will be held
at Elm Fork Shooting Park in Dallas. Call
(214) 733-8687 or visit www.txdiva.com
for more information.
Oct. 7: The Big Fish Bluegill Tournament
will be held at the Texas Freshwater
Fisheries Center in Athens. Teams must
consist of one adult and one child under
18. Call Barry St. Clair at (903) 670-2222
for more information.
Oct. 7–8: TPW Headquarters in Austin
will hold the annual Texas Parks and
Wildlife Expo. Fish, shoot, mountain
bike, kayak, rock climb, learn camping
and outdoor skills, shop and more.
There’s something for every member of
the family, and it’s all free from 9 a.m.5 p.m. Call (800) 792-1112 for more
information.
Oct. 9th: Hill Country DU Banquet @
Johnny Fins @ 6:00PM. Contact Chris
Andre at (512) 653-3718 for individual
tickets or corporate tables.
accuracy and the 6-foot 9-inch model for shallow water fishing.
His customers also are offered Waterloo rods.
“I hand them one of mine. They put theirs
down and don’t fish with it again,” Webb said.
For more information about Waterloo Rod
Company USA, visit www.waterloorods.com
or call (361) 573-0300.
Mary Helen Aguirre is a freelancer in New
Mexico.
CLASSIFIEDS
Oct. 14: Greater Houston Christian
Outdoor Fellowship will
hold an event at the
Stafford Convention Center
for the entire family from
noon -6 p.m. with free
admission. There will be
more than 40 exhibits, door
prizes every 30 minutes,
free hats and $10 gift cards for kids. Bring
your game meat for donation to Hunters
Harvest Ministries. Tickets can be
purchased online at www.ghcof.org or by
calling (281) 788-8435.
Oct. 14-15: Waterfowl and Dog Days
Weekend at Bass Pro Shops in Katy.
Retriever and obedience training, dog
rescue groups, and more. Call (281)
644-2200 or visit basspro.com.
Oct. 15: Associated Builders &
Contractors Central Texas Chapter will hold
its Open Bass Tournament at Lake LBJ.
For more information, contact (830) 7988199.
Oct. 19: Arlington DU banquet will be
held at 2201 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd. in
Arlington at 5:30 p.m. For ticket
information, contact Steve Barber at
(817) 572-3228.
Oct. 19: Northeast Tarrant County DU
banquet at the Colleyville Community
Center. Contact David Hornsby at (817)
283-6082 or [email protected].
Oct. 19-20: Mule Deer Management
Conference will be held at the Airport
Hilton in San Antonio. Top speakers
will cover Desert Mule Deer ecology,
biology and management, Mule Deer
dietary habits and nutrition, Managed
Lands Deer programs for Mule Deer,
and more. Advanced registration is
$150, onsite is $175. To register, call
(210) 767-8300 or visit
www.mummesinc.com.
Oct. 20-22: Oktoberfisch, A Fly
Fishing Festival will be held at Keller’s
Riverside Store. Casting clinics,
vendor booths, and shuttles to fishing
areas on the Llano River will be
available. For more information,
lodging and directions, visit
www.fredericksburgflyfishers.com,
contact oktoberfisch@hotmail. com, or
call (830) 997-8881.
AREAWIDE OFFICE
SERVICES
CONDO RENTAL
Day, week or month
119 E. Coronado SPI, Tx
(956) 761-5281
NEW LOOK — BETTER RESULTS
Place your classified advertising in the Lone Star Outdoor News and experience
the results of a new look. The 2”x 2” classified will get the attention necessary
to say SOLD! $30 for two editions. Call (214) 361-2276.
WEATHER
OUTDOOR PUZZLER
For crossword puzzle solution, see Page 22
ACROSS
1. A plump short-tailed game
bird
5. The older ones are classed
as loners
9. The bow scope protector
10. A species of moose
11. The hunt and fish permit
12. A valuable gauge for the
angler
13. A type of camp fireplace
15. A flock of geese
17. Gun’s enlarged rear portion
of the bore
18. An aid to icefishing
22. A pronghorn
24. A type of arrow
26. Part of a stag’s rack
28. Indian name for deer
29. Charge in a shot shell,
_____ charge
31. A top retriever
34. Also called a bowfin
37. A weasel
38. Mammal trapped for the
fur
39. A type of hunter’s cover
40. To propel the boat
DOWN
1. Act of carrying boat
overland
2. The ____necked pheasant
3. Rear motion of a fired gun
4. An angler’s consideration
6. Food source of the bear
7. The fish pole
8. The material in a clay
pigeon
14. Ruffed or sage
16. A game found
WILD IN THE KITCHEN
Catfish Cakes
2 catfish fillets (approximately 1
pound) diced
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup onion, chopped very fine
1/3 cup green pepper, chopped
very fine
3⁄4 cup Bisquick or other pancake
mix
Salt and pepper
Oil for frying**
In a large bowl, mix together fish,
onion, green pepper, adding
desired amounts of salt and pepper. Mix whisked egg and lemon
juice into the fish mixture. Add
Bisquick. Form into patties and fry
in heated oil. Makes 12 catfish
in mountainous region
17. Important kit item
for hunters
19. Common name for
the strawberry bass
20. Name for the Arizona
whitetail
21. A wild game
23. Bow built up in layers,
______ bow
25. A type of gundog
27. A type bowhunter’s weapon
30. Movement of an
arrow in flight
32. Shells and arrows
33. Wingshooter’s grassland
bird
34. 28 across
35. Of the mouth of the bass
36. A type lure
Outdoor Puzzler,
Wilbur "Wib" Lundeen
cakes.
**Patties can also be broiled on a
lightly greased cookie sheet. Flip
once so patties can brown on both
sides. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 400
degrees after broiling.
For tarter sauce:
Mayo
Sweet or dill pickle relish
Salt and pepper
Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce
Lemon juice
Mix all ingredients to taste.
—Recipe is complements of the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Division, www.dnr.ohio.gov.
FISHING REPORT
CENTRAL
BASTROP: Water lightly stained. Black
bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Channel and blue catfish are good on
frozen shrimp and nightcrawlers. Yellow
catfish are slow.
BELTON: Water fairly clear; 85 degrees;
5.43' low. Black bass are fair on dark soft
plastics, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits.
Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are fair
on silver slabs and minnows. Crappie are
fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish
are good on frozen shrimp and liver. Yellow
catfish are slow.
BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 82 degrees;
5.49' low. Black bass to 4.5 pounds are
excellent on Texas rigged green pumpkin
and red bug soft plastics between docks
and over brushpiles in 8 - 18 feet, and on
Zara Spooks on the main lake. Hybrid
striper are slow. White bass to 2 pounds
are excellent on tube jigs on the main lake
and off lighted docks at night. Crappie are
fair on minnows over brushpiles in 12 - 18
feet at night under lights. Channel and yellow catfish are fair on live perch in 5 - 18
feet.
BUCHANAN: Water clear; 80 degrees;
18.61' low. Most boat ramps are closed
due to low water level. The ramp at
Paradise Point is still in use. Black bass
are slow. Striped bass are fair drifting live
bait in 30 feet and trolling along the dam.
White bass are slow. Crappie are slow.
Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue
catfish are slow.
CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 80 degrees;
5.88' low. Several county boat ramps on
the south side are closed, such as Canyon
Lake Forest, Canyon Lake Hills, and
Canyon Lake Shores. Corps ramps are still
in use. Black bass are fair to good on
pumpkin JDC Skip-N-Pop topwaters and
chartreuse Whacky Sticks in creeks early,
and later on brown 1/8oz. Curb's jigs and
black/blue finesse worms along main lake
points in 15 - 30 feet. Striped bass are fair
trolling silver X-Rap magnum crankbaits
and vertically jigging 1⁄2oz. silver Pirk
Minnows near humps. White bass are fair
but small on 1/8oz. Tiny Traps and Road
Runners along main lake points.
Smallmouth bass are fair on black/blue
finesse worms on jigheads, smokin' green
Devil's Tongues on drop shots, and green
pumpkin tubes on Carolina rigs at first light
in 15 - 30 feet. Crappie are slow. Channel
catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are
fair on cutbait and live bait upriver.
COLEMAN: Water clear; 84 degrees; 4.80'
low. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are
fair on white striper jigs early. Crappie are
slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on
stinkbait and bloodbait. Yellow catfish are
slow.
COLORADO RIVER: (At Colorado Bend
State Park) Water murky. Black bass are
slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are
slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow.
DUNLAP/MCQUEENEY: Water stained.
Black bass are slow. White bass are fair on
live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Channel catfish are fair on stinkbait and
shrimp. Blue catfish are fair on live perch
and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.
FAYETTE: Water clear; 94 degrees. Black
bass are fair on Carolina rigged soft plastic
worms in 14 - 19 feet. Channel and blue
catfish are good on shrimp, perch, and
stinkbait on juglines and over baited holes
in the trees in 12 - 18 feet.
GRANBURY: Water stained; 1.93' low.
Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow.
White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on
minnows. Catfish are good on stinkbait and
bloodbait.
GRANGER: Water clear; 78 degrees; 2.68'
low. Black bass are slow. White bass are
good on slab spoons on main lake flats.
Crappie are good on tube jigs in 5 - 10
feet. Blue catfish are good on perch and
cutbait. Yellow catfish are slow.
LBJ: Water clear; 76 degrees; 0.27' low.
Black bass are good on white/chartreuse
Terminator buzzbaits and white/chartreuse
belly crankbaits early and late, and during
the day on Carolina rigged
watermelon/chartreuse creature baits.
Striped bass to 21" are good on 2" Spoiler
Shads and blue back Li'l Fishies at night.
White bass are very good on 11⁄2" Spoiler
Shads and Li'l Fishies at night. Crappie are
fair on white Curb's jigs and minnows over
15 foot brushpiles. Channel catfish are fair
at night. Yellow and blue catfish are slow.
NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 85
degrees; 7.53' low. Black bass are slow.
White bass are fair on green Little Georges
early and late. Crappie are fair but small on
minnows and green tube jigs. Channel and
blue catfish are good on stinkbait, liver,
and frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.
PROCTOR: Water stained; 87 degrees;
7.07' low. Black bass are fair on crankbaits
and spinnerbaits. Striped bass are fair on
white striper jigs. White bass are slow.
Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish
are fair on trotlines baited with shrimp and
shad. Yellow catfish are slow.
SOMERVILLE: Water clear; 89 degrees;
2.96' low. Black bass are slow. Hybrid
striper are slow. White bass are slow.
Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish
are fair on shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.
STILLHOUSE: Water clear; 84 degrees;
1.84' low. Black bass are good on chicken
livers and hot dogs. White bass are slow.
Crappie are slow. Carp are fair on corn.
Channel and blue catfish are good on
chicken livers and hot dogs. Yellow catfish
are slow.
TRAVIS: Water clear; 84 degrees; 33.70'
low. Black bass to 4 pounds are good on
watermelon worms and chrome topwaters
early in 4 - 18 feet. Striped bass are slow.
White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on
minnows and blue and white tube jigs in
10 - 25 feet. Channel and blue catfish to 5
pounds are good on nightcrawlers and bait
shrimp in 22 - 35 feet. Yellow catfish are
slow.
WALTER E. LONG: Water clear; 91
degrees. Black bass are fair on crankbaits
and minnows along the banks early. Hybrid
striper are fair on minnows and crankbaits.
White bass are slow. Crappie are very good
on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are
good on stinkbait, nightcrawlers, shad, and
shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.
WHITNEY: Water stained; 7.62' low. Black
bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White
bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are fair
on minnows. Catfish are good on stinkbait
and liver.
SOUTH
AMISTAD: Water clear; 84 degrees. Black
bass are fair on topwaters, heavy jigs, and
soft plastics. Striped bass are slow. White
bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel
and blue catfish are fair on cheesebait,
shrimp, and nightcrawlers in 6 - 25 feet.
Yellow catfish are slow.
BRAUNIG: Water stained; 92 degrees.
Black bass are slow. Striped bass are excellent on liver, shad, and spoons. Redfish are
good on perch, shad, and silver spoons
near Dead Tree Point, and down rigging
spoons near the jetty. Channel and blue
catfish are excellent on liver, cheesebait,
shrimp, and nightcrawlers on the bottom.
CALAVERAS: Water stained; 92 degrees.
Black bass are slow. Striped bass are fair
down rigging spoons near the power lines
in 15 - 20 feet, and on shad and chicken
livers near the dam. Redfish are excellent
down rigging spoons in 20 - 25 feet, and
on tilapia and live perch near the power
lines and the dam, and along the crappie
wall. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are
excellent on liver, shrimp, cheesebait, and
nightcrawlers. Blue catfish are good on liver
and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow.
CHOKE CANYON: Water lightly stained; 86
degrees; 6.76' low. Black bass to 8 pounds
are good on baitfish All-Terrain Swim Jigs
and citrus Xcalibur Wake baits on grass
mats early, and later on green goby
Reaction Innovations boom-boom tubes
and sweet beavers, Texas smoke YUM
Wooly Hawg Craws, and flipping watermelon red YUM Sooies rigged with 11⁄2oz. TruTungsten weights in open holes across
grass mats. White bass are fair jigging
Cotton Cordell spoons and Gay Blades off
main lake points in 10 - 20 feet. Crappie
are fair on white crappie jigs tipped with
live minnows over brushpiles and standing
timber in 4 - 12 feet. Channel and blue
catfish are good on CJ shad bait in 10 - 25
feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines
baited with hybrid bluegills and comets in
15 - 25 feet.
COLETO CREEK: Water lightly stained; 92
degrees (99 degrees at hot water discharge); 2.42' low. Black bass are slow.
Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow.
Crappie are fair on minnows in 12 - 16
feet. Channel and blue catfish to 4 pounds
are fair on liver, perch, and nightcrawlers.
Yellow catfish are slow.
COLORADO CITY: Water clear; 81 degrees;
4.5' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are
slow. White bass are slow. Catfish are slow.
FALCON: Water stained, clear from Marker
10 south; 86 degrees. Black bass are good
on crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and flipping watermelon red and dirt colored Sweet
Beavers and Brush Hogs in shallow water.
Striped bass are slow. Crappie are slow.
Channel and blue catfish are excellent on
juglines baited with cutbait, stinkbait, and
frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.
MEDINA: Water stained; 84 degrees; 30.31'
low. Black bass to 6 pounds are fair on
white Booyah Swim jigs and white Booyah
Counterstrike Buzz baits on main lake points
and into schooling fish early, and later on
drop shots rigged with watermelon Reaction
Innovations mini-skirts and Shaky Heads
rigged with black/red ZOOM Shaky worms
across main lake and secondary points in 6 20 feet. Striped bass are fair vertically jigging Bagley Prizm Minnows in 15 - 30 feet,
trolling blue flash Rapala Deep Tail Dancers,
and drifting live hybrid bluegills and jumbo
minnows near the dam at night. White bass
are good vertically jigging KT Lures off main
lake points in 20 - 30 feet. Crappie are fair
on minnows over baited holes. Channel,
blue, and yellow catfish to 6 pounds are
good on juglines baited with perch and goldfish in 20 - 30 feet.
NORTHEAST
ATHENS: Water clear, 79-83 degrees;
4.36' low. Black bass are good on Chug
Bugs and Tiny Torpedoes fished near points
in 8 feet, and white spinnerbaits in 4 - 8
feet near hydrilla. Midday, bass are good on
medium diving crankbaits in 6 - 8 feet
near brushpiles. Crappie are fair to good on
minnows and jigs fished over brushpiles in
15 feet. Bream are good on live worms in 5
- 10 feet. Catfish are fair to good on live
worms and cutbait in 6 - 12 feet just
before dark and after midnight.
BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 77-83
degrees; 9.28' low. Black bass are good
early and late on topwaters and small shad
pattern crankbaits, midday switching to
Carolina rigs. White bass are good on
Humdingers. Crappie are slow. Catfish are
fair in 12 - 20 feet around creek channels
with timber.
CADDO: Water fairly clear to stained; 7884 degrees; 1.12' low. Black bass are slow
on chartreuse or white spinnerbaits and
Texas rigged black/blue Power Worms
fished around the edges of the pads and
cypress trees. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Catfish are fair drifting catalpa worms.
CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 78-82
degrees; 5.33' low. Black bass are fair on
topwaters early, later switching to Carolina
rigged worms fished in and around creeks.
White bass are good on slabs and
Humdingers. Hybrid striper are fair on large
slabs jigged vertically. Crappie are fair
around shaded boathouses on tube jigs.
Catfish are fair drifting cut shad.
COOPER: Water stained; 78-83 degrees;
15.08' low. No report available. Due to the
low level of the lake, boaters are advised to
use extreme caution.
FORK: Water clear; 78-83 degrees; 4.51'
low. Black bass are fair on watermelon red
wacky rigged worms along main lake grass
lines in 5-12 feet and watermelon red or
watermelon seed Carolina rigged Baby
Brush Hogs and 3" Grande Bass Cannibals
in 22-26 feet. Crappie are good (catching a
lot of under sized fish) on minnows and
small jigs in16-22 feet under main lake
bridges and around brush piles. Catfish are
very good on prepared baits in 22-24 feet
along creeks.
GRAPEVINE: Water fairly clear; 77-82
degrees; 10.67' low. Black bass are fair
early and late on Yellow Magics, midday
switching to medium to deep diving
crankbaits and Texas rigged worms. Crappie
are fair on minnows and jigs over brushpiles in 15 - 25 feet. White bass are fair to
good on Humdingers. Catfish are fair to
good on nightcrawlers and cut shad.
JOE POOL: Water fairly clear; 78-83
degrees; 2' low. Black bass are good on
watermelon, white or redbug light Carolina
or Texas rigged soft plastics, and crankbaits
around grass lines and cover in 2 - 10 feet.
Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished
around bridge columns. White bass are
good on pearl/black back TailHummers.
Catfish are fair on liver and prepared baits
drifted over flats in 10 - 15 feet.
LAKE O' THE PINES: Water stained; 78-82
degrees; 4.24' low. Black bass are good on
clear Boy Howdys, chrome Rat-L-Traps,
white spinnerbaits and Carolina-rigged blue
fleck french fries. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on bloodbait, nightcrawlers and minnows. Bream are slow.
LAVON: Water stained; 77-82 degrees;
15.72' low. Black bass are fair early on
buzzbaits and Pop Rs in 1 - 4 feet, later
switching to watermelon candy Texas rigged
Baby Brush Hogs. White bass are good on
shad pattern slabs and white Road
Runners. Crappie are good on minnows.
Catfish are fair to good on shad and nightcrawlers.
LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 78-83
early on topwaters, later switching to
Carolina rigs, deep diving crankbaits and
jigs. White bass are good on chartreuse
slabs and Humdingers. Crappie are good on
minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut
shad and prepared baits.
PALESTINE: Water fairly clear; 78-83
degrees; 4.24' low. Black bass are fair early
and late on topwaters, midday switching to
soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are
slow on minnows and jigs over brushpiles
in 20 - 25 feet. Catfish are slow on chicken livers and cut shad in 15 - 20 feet.
Bream are fair on worms and crickets.
Hybrid striper and white bass are fair on
slabs and Rat-L-Traps.
RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 77-82
buzzbaits and spinnerbaits early, midday
switching to Carolina rigs and crankbaits.
Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over
brushpiles. White bass are fair on slabs and
minnows. Hybrid striper are slow to fair on
slabs. Catfish are fair on chartreuse (use
Worm-Glo) nightcrawlers.
RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 78-83
around vegetation and points on Counter
Strike buzzbaits and Yum Houdini worms.
White bass are good on CC jigging spoons
with sporadic schooling. Crappie are fair
around Corps of Engineers brush piles.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water fairly clear;
78-83 degrees; 9.08' low. Black bass are
good on chartreuse pepper or watermelon
Carolina rigged Exude Poc'it fries. White
bass and hybrid striper are fair on
white/chartreuse TailHummers and chartreuse slabs on main lake humps. Crappie
are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are
good on live perch fished off the main
creek channels and flats.
TAWAKONI: Water stained; 77-83 degrees;
10.05' low. Black bass are fair on topwaters and white or shad pattern spinnerbaits
early, midday switching to Texas and
Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows.
White bass are fair on slabs and pearl
Sassy Shad. Striped bass and hybrid striper
are fair on live shad and slabs. Catfish are
fair on prepared bait.
TEXOMA: Water clear; 76-81 degrees;
4.94' low. Black bass are fair on topwaters
early and late, midday switching to
crankbaits, jigs and Carolina-rigs. Crappie
are fair on minnows and jigs. Striped bass
are fair to good on topwaters early and late,
midday switching to live shad and Sassy
Shad. Catfish are fair to good on chartreuse
(use Worm-Glo) nightcrawlers and cut shad.
WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 78-82
are good on soft plastics and spinnerbaits
at the water inlet and around docks.
Crappie are good in the fishing barge and
brush piles on minnows. Channel catfish
are good on nightcrawlers and white dough
bait. Yellow catfish are fair on live bream in
deep water. White bass are good in the
water inlet. Bream are excellent on worms.
WHITE RIVER: Water lightly stained; 78
degrees; 27.69' low. Black bass are fair.
Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
Walleye are fair. Channel catfish are good
on live baits.
WRIGHT PATMAN: Water fairly clear; 8186 degrees; 4.47' high.
SOUTHEAST
CONROE: Water stained; 4.19' low. Black
bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on silver
and white striper jigs. Crappie are fair on
minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and
shrimp.
FAIRFIELD: Water fairly clear; 84-89
degrees. Black bass are good early on white
Senkos, Pop-R's and buzzbaits above the
grass on secondary points, later switching
to Texas rigged 3" PowerBait Beasts fished
off the edges of grass in 5 - 9 feet. Hybrid
striper are fair on Humdingers and live
shad off main lake points. Redfish are slow.
Catfish are good on prepared baits and live
shad in creek channels and on flats.
GIBBONS CREEK: Water stained. Black
bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Catfish are good on stinkbait and liver.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 84
are good on cherry seed and pumpkinseed
soft plastic lizards around stumps and drop
offs. Crappie are good on live minnows near
the marina 10 feet deep in 14 feet. Bream
are good on nightcrawlers around docks,
grass beds, and lily pads. Channel and blue
catfish to 4 pounds are good on live minnows.
LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 89
Striped bass are slow. White bass are good
on slabs, pet spoons, and hellbenders.
Crappie are slow. Blue catfish are good on
shad. Yellow catfish are slow.
SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 87
chartreuse/blue/white spinnerbaits,
crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps over grass in
10 - 20 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows
and green tube jigs.
TOLEDO BEND: Water clear; 80 degrees;
9.90' low. Black bass are good on red bug
and watermelon/red flake worms in 15 - 18
feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are
slow. Crappie are fair over baited holes.
Bream are good on crickets and worms.
Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow
catfish are slow.
PANHANDLE
GREENBELT: Water lightly stained; 73
degrees; 27.5' low. Black bass are good on
topwater lures early and late in day; and
shad-colored spinnerbaits and crankbaits
around humps throughout day. Crappie are
good on jigs and minnows. White bass are
good on live bait and Rat-L-Traps.
Smallmouth bass are fair on crankbaits
along channels and grass lines. Walleye are
fair on live bait and chrome jerkbaits along
grass lines. Catfish are good on live baits.
MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 70
on topwater lures early and late in day, and
shad-colored crankbaits and spinnerbaits
throughout day. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass and striped bass
are fair on shallow crankbaits along riprap.
Smallmouth bass are fair. Walleye are fair
on slabs and live baits. Catfish are good on
live baits.
MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 68
topwater lures early in day; live bait and
shad-colored crankbaits around grass lines
and rocky points. Crappie are fair on jigs
and minnows. White bass are good on minnows along rocky points. Smallmouth bass
are fair on live bait and crankbaits. Walleye
are fair. Channel catfish are fair on live
baits.
PALO DURO: Water lightly stained; 67
live bait and shad-colored spinnerbaits.
Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
Smallmouth bass are fair. Walleye are fair.
Channel catfish are good on cut baits.
WEST
ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 77
degrees; .1' low. Black bass are fair on
buzzbaits early in day, and shad-colored
spinnerbaits and green pumpkin jigs or
large soft plastics along timber during day.
Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.
ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 80
degrees; 5,1' low. Black bass are good
around shallow points and aquatic vegetation on soft plastics and topwater baits
early and late in day. Crappie are good on
minnows near some derricks suspended 20
feet and fair near stat park piers. White
bass are very good on shad-imitation lures
and white soft plastics off points and flats
with some surface action early and late in
day. Catfish are good on shad, punch bait
and juglines lake-wide.
BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 78-83 degrees;
16.45' low. Black bass are good on Bandit
200 crankbaits in baby bass color - target
main lake points in 3 - 10 feet, and on
shaky heads with a 4" Power Worm. White
bass and hybrid striper are fair on live bait.
No reports on catfish.
FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 79
Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White
bass are fair on live bait. Catfish are fair on
live baits.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water lightly stained;
79 degrees; 12.5' low. Black bass are fair
on topwater lures early in day; shad-colored
crankbaits outside stickups, and soft plastics in reeds and timber. Crappie are fair on
jigs and minnows. White bass and hybrid
striper are fair. Catfish are fair on cut baits.
NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 81
degrees. Black bass are fair on shad-colored spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Redfish are fair. White bass
and striped bass are fair on live baits.
Catfish are good on cut baits.
O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 80
live baits, and shad-colored crankbaits and
spinnerbaits along timber and channels.
White bass are fair on live baits and Rat-LTraps. Smallmouth bass are fair. Channel
catfish are fair on live baits and prepared
baits.
OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 79
degrees; 22.74' low. Black bass are fair.
Catfish are fair on prepared baits. No boat
ramps open. 4x4 vehicles can unload on
the dirt road near the dam.
POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 81
degrees; 6.5' low. Black bass up to 16inches are good on soft plastics and spinnerbaits near rocky cover, spinnerbaits and
topwater lures early and late in day. White
bass are good off shallow points, with surface action early and late in day on silver
crankbaits. Striped bass are fair at night
around lighted piers. Blue and channel catfish are good on set lines baited with shad
in the upper part of reservoir.
SPENCE: Water lightly stained; 78 degrees;
49.98' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie
are slow. White bass are slow. Striped bass
and hybrid striper are slow. Catfish are
slow.
STAMFORD: Water lightly stained; 77
degrees; 3.1' low. Black bass are slow on
live bait. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White and striped bass are fair on
live baits. Catfish are fair on live baits.
SWEETWATER: Water lightly stained; 80
Crappie are slow. White bass are slow.
Catfish are slow.
WICHITA: Water lightly stained and clearing; 79' degrees; .5' low. Crappie are slow
near pier poles. White bass and hybrid
striped bass (some sub-legal) are good on
minnows along the dam, and slow trolling
with shad raps. Channel and bullhead catfish are good on worms and punchbait, and
trotlines baited with shad.
COASTAL
NORTH SABINE: Trout are good while drifting slicks and birds on red shad and pumpkinseed/chartreuse Bass Assassins and
Sand Eels. Redfish are good along the
shorelines and in the cuts and drains in the
marsh on live shad and topwaters.
SOUTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are
good at the jetty on live bait and topwaters.
Redfish are good at Garrison Ridge on topwaters and red soft plastics. Bull Redfish
are good at Sabine Pass on cut mullet and
shrimp.
BOLIVAR: Bull redfish are good at Rollover
Pass on finger mullet and shrimp. Trout are
good along the Refuge shoreline on pumpkinseed/chartreuse Bass Assassins, Crazy
Croakers, Trout Killers and Sand Eels.
Redfish are good for waders on gold and
silver spoons.
TRINITY BAY: Trout are good on shrimp
and croaker at the wells and on the deep
shell. Redfish, trout and sand trout are
good at the Spillway on live bait and strawberry/white shrimptails. Redfish are good in
Jack's Pocket on soft plastics and topwaters.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good
over mid bay reefs on strawberry/white and
glow/chartreuse Hogies, Sand Eels, Trout
Killer IIs, Crazy Croakers and Bass
Assassins. Trout and redfish are good for
waders working the Refuge shoreline with
topwaters.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout and redfish
are good on the shell on live shrimp under
a popping cork. Bull redfish are good in the
surf on cut bait and mullet. Trout, sand
trout and redfish are good from the beachfront piers on live shrimp at night under
the lights.
TEXAS CITY: Trout are good at night under
the lights on live bait at the piers off the
dike. Redfish are good on live bait in
Moses Lake. Trout are fair to good in the
Ship Channel on croaker and live shrimp.
FREEPORT: Trout are good at night under
the lights from the piers on live shrimp.
Bull redfish and Spanish mackerel are good
on mullet and shrimp at San Luis Pass and
Surfside jetty.
EAST MATAGORDA: Trout are fair to good
while wading the reefs on bone and chartreuse- backed Top Dogs and Super
Spooks. Redfish are good around Hog
Island and Brown Cedar Flats on roach
Hogies, Bass Assassins, Crazy Croakers,
Trout Killers and Sand Eels.
MATAGORDA: Trout and redfish are fair to
good on the shorelines on topwaters and
soft plastics. Redfish are good on live
shrimp in Oyster Lake. Trout are good on
live shrimp at the wells. Trout and redfish
are good under the lights in the Colorado
River on Crazy Croakers and glow plastics.
PORT O'CONNOR: Trout are fair to good at
Barroom Bay and protected shorelines on
Top Dogs, Super Spooks and pumpkinseed/chartreuse Bass Assassins, Trout
Killers and Sand Eels. Bull redfish and
sharks are good at Pass Cavallo on shrimp
and mullet.
ROCKPORT: Trout are fair to good on live
bait and red plastics around Traylor Island.
Redfish are good around Mud Island and
the Estes Flats on live finger mullet. Trout
and redfish are good at night under lights
on glow jigs and live shrimp.
PORT ARANSAS: Offshore is good for
blackfin tuna, shark, dorado and kingfish.
Bull redfish are good in the surf on mullet
and shrimp. Redfish are good in Shamrock
Cove and the East Flats on shrimp and
mullet.
CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout and redfish are
fair to good from the Oso Bridge on live
shrimp and mullet. Gafftop and flounder
are good on shad and mud minnows. Trout
and sharks are good in the surf on finger
mullet and croaker.
BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good in the Land
Cut and in the Humble Channel on piggy
perch, croaker and black Hogies, Sand
Eels, Trout Killers, Crazy Croakers and Bass
Assassins. Redfish are good at Yarborough
on finger mullet.
PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are good on live
shrimp under a popping cork in the
Intracoastal and the Ship Channel. Redfish
and trout are good in West Bay on live
shrimp under a popping cork. Kingfish, red
snapper and ling are good offshore.
SOUTH PADRE: Redfish are good on topwaters and soft plastics around Three
Islands. Trout are good on live shrimp while
drifting grass flats.
PORT ISABEL: Trout are good on live bait
on the edges of the Intracoastal. Flounder
are good in the same area on live bait.
Trout and redfish are good in the surf on
topwaters and live bait.
PRODUCT PICKS
ABSORBS
SCENT:
The
ScenTote
helps
hunters
keep clothing as
scent-free as
possible. The
air-tight tote
contains a
Carbon-Web
absorber. Good
for about two
years, the CarbonWeb releases
activated carbon particles that continuously absorb such odors as vehicle exhaust, smoke or
perfumes. The Carbon-Web can be regenerated in a clothes dryer. The ScenTote costs about
$60 and can be ordered at www.scentote.com.
SPOTLESS SPOTTING SCOPES: Nikon's Lens
Cleaning Kit will help protect such
equipment as binoculars, rangefinders and
spotting scopes. The Lens Cleaner kit
includes three pre-moistened cloths plus (for
heavier cleaning), a 1-ounce bottle of
liquid lens cleaner and a micro-fiber
cleaning cloth. The kit costs about
$12. The lens-cleaning products are
also available individually or in larger
quantities. For more information, visit the
company's Web site at
www.nikonsportoptics.com or call (800)
248-6846.
UTILITY VEST: The WAYNE CARLTON
SIGNATURE SERIES VEST PACK is a bird bag,
a backpack and a utility vest in one
garment. The design is the brain child of
Carlton Calls founder and avid hunter
Wayne Carlton, who has worn a
similar vest for the last couple of
decades. Made by Dickies, the
durable and comfortable vest is
fashioned from a quiet weave
canvas with weather guard to
help repel the rain. It is available in the
Vanish and Arid camo patterns and
costs about $60 for medium to extra large
($10 more for largest size). For
dealers or more information, visit
www.dickies.com or www.camowest.com.
REFLECTIVE BAG: Cocoon's Sawtooth ATV cargo bag was designed with safety in mind.
The bag features silver webbing that turns a bright white at nighttime. The zipperless
cargo bag uses snap buckles and fold-up pouches for easy access. The bag is made
of 600 denier fabric with reinforced corners and measures 27 by 12 by 15 inches.
Its detachable bags are 8 by 6 by 6 inches. It sells for about $95 and comes in five
colors. To order, call Cocoon Solutions at (800) 810-4840 or visit
www.atvcocoon.com.
BIG GAME GUN: The Knight
Long Range Hunter, available in .50 and
.52 calibers, is described as the perfect
combination of distinctive styling, awesome power and
pinpoint accuracy. The gun has a 27-inch barrel with spiral fluting. It
features a cast-off stock design for right or left-handed shooters, a beavertail
forearm and vent slots for heat dissipation. It is available in Forest Green
laminated wood or Sand Stone and sells for about $700. For dealers, call
(641) 856-2626 or visit www.knightrifles.com.
EXTREME
LIGHTING:
Cyclops has
introduced the
Thor Magnum
15 Million
Candle Power
Spotlight. Its
bright, clear
beam is
powered by
a 100-watt
Phillips HG
Halogen
Bulb. Among
its features are
two power levels
and an
adjustable swivel stand. It offers
60 minutes of burn time in spotlight
mode and can be recharged with its quick charger or a 12V DC car
adapter/charger (included). The spotlight retails for about $80. For dealers,
call (877) 269-8490 or visit www.cyclopssolutions.com.
HUNTING BOOT: LaCrosse Footwear's
Broadside GTX boot was co-developed with
Michael Waddell, the host of the Realtree
Road Trips Show. The leather boot was
designed with LaCrosse's "Quad Comfort"
platform, which provides layers of
cushioning throughout the insole
board. It also has a waterproof GORETEX liner to keep feet dry. The
Broadside 6" boots are uninsulated
and feature the Realtree
Hardwood Green HD
pattern on the
cordura panels.
They retail for
about $130. Go
to www.
lacrossefootwear.
com or call
(800) 323-2668
for more
information.
FOR SMALLER HANDS: Outdoor Adventure Kids Inc.'s Jr. Fisherman
Rod Combo, named Best in the Kid's Tackle category at the
2006 ICAST Show, features a lighter and shorter rod. Because
it is not as heavy as an adult's rod, small anglers won't tire as
easily. The rod designed for 6- to 9-year-olds is 3.5 feet long
(about $33); the one for youths 10 to 14 is 4.5 feet
long (about $35). The rods
come in metallic colors and are
available at
www.outdooradventurekids.com.
For more information, call (519)
488-1483.
CLEAR PROTECTION: Swifty Nu-Skin
Reel Armor is designed to preserve
and maintain the beauty of
aluminum-body reels. It is a clear,
flexible, semi-permanent
membrane that covers the nonhandle side plate and top of
the reel. Made by Swifty
Manufacturing, this protectant
was named Best in the Fishing
Accessory category at the 2006
ICAST show. The Reel Armor fits
more than 180 reels, including
models by Penn, Shimano, Diawa,
Okuma, plus more. It costs around
$14. For dealers, visit
www.swiftymfg.com or call (626)
963- 1142.
TACKLING TEXOMA: David Schuessler and Jim Lillis battle a double hookup from a school of large stripers on Lake Texoma. The fish were biting gizzard shad at a depth of 32 feet.
Striper seekers
Bait your hook with gizzard
shad — sit and wait
patiently. If the fish are not
very active, then thrash the
water with an old broken rod
to imitate surface feeding
action. Texoma Guide Mike
Beeson said topwater action
is good, but the fish are
smaller. He is expecting the
bigger fish to start moving
into the shallows very soon.
The recent rains will help
get things going, he said.
Story and photos
by David J. Sams
I
f paper graphs were still
being used to locate fish, the
fish finder would have run
out of ink as the boat idled
around a main lake point near the
Red River on Lake Texoma.
Fishing guide Mike Beeson
looked at the graph in disbelief.
“It is covered — those are bait
and these are stripers,” he said.
The screen remained almost
black for the next two hours as
the boat drifted with the schools
of fish and the group landed 45
fish.
Doug Jones of Keller caught
the biggest fish, estimated at 20
pounds. “That is the biggest
freshwater fish of my life,” Jones
said.
Most of the fish were biting giz-
zard shad at a depth of 32 feet.
Jones switched to slab spoons
and top-water lures just for fun,
but the fish caught on lures were
smaller.
Sherman resident Jim Lillis
kept catching big fish as sweat
soaked his fishing shirt. He had
the hot stick in the boat, but for
some reason he was breaking the
20-pound line on about every
third or fourth fish.
Lillis asked the guide if the line
was old. Beeson gave him another rod. Lillis continued breaking
lines and just accepted the ribbing from the other anglers in
the boat.
David Schuessler drove up
from Austin to help out the others and landed his share of the
melee. He let out some mighty
big “I got one’s” that were always
heard by other boats, now starting to edge closer and closer.
The action was steady for more
than two hours. Put on bait —
drop it to the bottom — and reel
up about 10 turns.
It did not take long to hook up.
The three friends caught several
15 pounders and a few in the 18pound range. Most of the fish
caught were over the slot.
It was not a meat haul, it was a
release haul and they enjoyed
putting them back to fight
another day.
Beeson reports the fishing has
been great the last few weeks, and
the striper fishing is getting even
better as fall approaches.
Kayakers
said Larson, who’s been kayak fishing
for 10 years. “When you’re in a kayak,
you become part of the environment
rather than being a spectator. You
interact with nature in a way that you
can’t in a boat.
“For example, I had a friend who
went down the Guadalupe in a kayak.
He had a Rio Grande turkey run down
the hill screaming at him. He had no
idea what my friend was.”
When out in the Gulf, Larson and
his buddies prefer to take sit-on-top
kayaks. The kayaks are generally
longer, in the 12- to 14-foot range,
and extremely stable.
Anglers can sit with their legs over
the side without worrying about tipping, Larson said. You can even stand
up and fish.
“To me, it’s the perfect platform for
fishing,” Larson said.
Oil rigs, two or three miles off the
coast, are a favorite place to fish for
Larson and his friends.
They either pick them out from
shore or find them on Google Earth.
It takes about 45 minutes to an hour
to paddle out to a rig, said Lupe
Buitron.
While it's work, it's not overly
strenuous, said Buitron, who met
Larson on TexasKayakFisherman.
com.
And the rewards are priceless.
"Once you get past the breakers,
everything is so silent," said Buitron,
who teaches automotive technology
at Robstown High School. "It's so
Blue cats
On Lake Tawakoni, David
Hanson of Little D’s Trophy
Catfish Guide Service agreed
this year’s cool early fall may
push the season. “We’re having
the cool nights and that really
gets things going,” he said.
While blue catfish can be
caught anytime of year, the trophy season typically is the first
of October through May, both
guides said. Top fishing for the
larger sizes is in the coldest
months of November, December, January and February.
Blue catfish grow to whopper
size in Texas reservoirs. The
state record is a 121.6-pounder
caught by Cody Mullennix at
Lake Texoma, just a little
behind the world record 124pounder from the Mississippi
River.
Trotlines and juglines have
been around forever, but sport
fishing for the big blues with
rod and reel took off in the
mid-1980s at Texoma, said
Bruce Hysmith, fisheries biologist with Texas Parks and
Wildlife in Pottsboro.
CROSSWORD
PUZZLE
SOLUTION
FROM
PAGE 18
SHARK ON BOARD: Lupe Buitron shows a small shark he caught fishing from his
kayak in the Gulf. Photo by Ken Larson.
tranquil that it's almost surreal. The
rush of the surf is behind you and the
water is gorgeous."
While rigs are a great place to target snapper, Buitron caught four 4foot sharks on his trip with Larson
and Danny Garcia, who was making
his excursion to an oil rig.
Garcia had an 8-foot shark on his
line — before it snapped.
“It scared the crap out of me,” said
Garcia, who manages a Corpus
Christi shooting range. “As soon as I
put the rod in gear, he came up to the
surface and thrashed around to show
me how big he was.
“He was a little bigger than I cared
to hook. It can be humbling out
there. You realize you’re no longer the
Striper guides were suffering
through the dog days of one
particularly hot and windless
summer when they started
noticing unusual blips on their
sonars, Hysmith said.
“Then a young lady named
Becky Curtis caught a 72pounder on a rod and reel.”
A few more highly publicized
catches — including the 300pound total catch for Hysmith
and an outdoor writer on one
day — and the sport started
catching on.
Alton “Scooter” Kiser of
Alvarado said he’s been fishing
for catfish all his life, but in
recent years decided to try the
rod-and-reel version with
Ferguson. His biggest catch so
far was a 46-pounder.
“It’s a really neat bite — hard
to describe unless you’ve
caught one,” Kiser said. “Once
you’ve caught one of the big
fish, though, you’re hooked on
that style of fishing.”
Guides
Ferguson
and
Hanson follow the shad these
predators like to eat, and generally use shad for bait, although
Hanson also uses prepared
stinkbaits.
Ferguson favors an Eagle
Claw GRX series rod designed
top predator.”
Safety is paramount when you're
miles out in the ocean.
Garcia “trained” for a year before
heading out to an oil rig. He practiced
self-rescue, getting back in the kayak
after capsizing, and increased his
strength.
Kayakers should always buddy up,
Larson said. They should also carry a
radio, cell phones, flares, a backup
paddle, a first-aid kit, a compass and
even a GPS device.
Since kayaks can carry hundreds of
pounds of gear, a few ounces of prevention isn’t a problem.
Garcia’s training came in handy.
He dumped his kayak retrieving a
buoy attached to it. The buoy had
drifted just inside the oil rig.
“A swell lifted the kayak about a
foot and drifted it to the left into a
pipe and rolled me,” Garcia said. "I
was able to keep the kayak upright
and didn’t lose any gear, but I was
swimming. I swam out of the gap and
jumped back in.”
What kayakers call “turtling” doesn’t happen often in the ocean. The
surf is far more likely to plunk a kayak.
If a kayaker gets turned sideways in a
breaker, a wave can knock him over.
“I’ve had it happen in a foot of
water,” Buitron said. “That’s embarrassing.”
Master a kayak, though, and you
can stalk fish far out in the ocean,
Buitron said.
“You can swim right into a school
of fish,” he said. “You can see the fish
coming up from below. I’ve been surrounded by a school of feeding mackerel with sharks in the mix. You’re
feverishly trying to cast before they
move on. It’s hectic but a thrill.”
Despite his close encounter with a
shark, Garcia's looking forward to his
next kayak fishing trip to a Gulf oil
rig. The sport has him hooked, he
said.
"Two weeks before, I went on my
first offshore boat trip," Garcia said.
"We went tuna fishing. We spotted
some sharks from the captain's deck.
It didn't bother me at all, even when a
10-footer swam underneath the boat.
“In a kayak, though, I saw what I
thought were three sharks underneath me. Lupe thought they were
ling. They got my heart racing, whatever they were. It's definitely a rush."
Mark England is associate editor of
Lone Star Outdoor News.
for steelhead and salmon fishing. He uses a variety of hooks,
particularly the wide gap or
Kahle hook. A depth-finder is a
must, he said.
The Lone Star State has plenty of good blue catfish fisheries
that include Lewisville Lake,
Tawakoni,
RichlandChambers,
Cedar
Creek,
Whitney, Eagle Mountain,
Conroe and Sam Rayburn.
Some smaller lakes might
surprise you, TPW fisheries
biologists said. Martin Creek
was stocked in 2003, and “we’re
getting fantastic growth and
survival out of these fish,” said
Dan Ashe, assistant district
biologist in Jasper. Other small
lakes with relatively big fish are
Bonham and Mill Creek.
Hanson, whose ancestors
hunted what’s now the bottom
of Tawakoni, where he guides,
contends there’s nothing in
inland fishing like the thrill of
catching the big blue cats. “I
can take an average fisherman
and catch him a 25-pound
(cat)fish anytime,” he said.
“You can fish all your life to
catch a 10-pound bass. “
Diana Kunde is a freelancer based
in Arlington.
Tourney
When the fish was placed on
the scales, it locked it at 10.10
pounds — a new leader.
“It was 10 minutes before the
final weigh-in,” Robbins said. “I
rigged up a new Berkley 7-inch
Powerbait shaky worm. I rigged it
wacky-style and put a nail at one
end. We were fishing in about 22
feet of water.
“I threw it the first time and
wind blew it sideways. I reeled it in
and threw it again. Then it I let it
fall about 18 feet into a tree. I
picked it up one time, and then
she nailed it” to win the over-slot
category.
In the under-slot category, Billy
Painter of Emory won the first
hour with a fish weighing a 2.9
pounds.
Later, Glenn Todd of Graham
also weighed in a fish at 2.9
pounds, tying Painter’s catch.
Tournament rules provided that
a tie for a boat would result in a
one-hour fish-off, but neither
angler caught a keeper fish during
the fish-off.
The anglers were given the
choice of a sudden death fish-off
or a coin flip for the top prize.
Both anglers agreed to a tension-filled coin flip, which was
won by Painter.
Awards included 87 checks to
anglers for hourly prizes.
www.huntersheadquarters.net
FAT CAT: This blue cat caught on Cedar Creek Lake
weighed about 50 pounds and was 42 inches long
with a 31-inch girth.

Whopper `blues` - Lone Star Outdoor News

Transcription

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