LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 1

Hooking hybrids Action up and down across Texas. Page 11 March 23, 2012 Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Volume 8, Issue 15 Inside Spring break partying continues on coast, but so does fi shing

By Antonio Vindell on March 12, he joined cent to deep water.” a full two times before I FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS a buddy near Bird Island, Grant started throw- could pull him in. south of Corpus Christi. ing a 3-inch Sea Shad on “Once I got the fi sh Spring break couldn’t “We launched our kay- a light-action rod with in the kayak, I was come soon enough for aks right after sunup with braided line. He blind- astounded to see that Grant Heatherly, a stu- ❘❚ HUNTING extremely dense fog cov- casted into about 3 feet of I had just laced into a dent at Texas State ering the water,” Grant water in a muddy spot and 27-inch red that pulled Fawn feeders SCHOOL'S OUT: Grant Heatherly, a stu- University at San Marcos. said. “Navigation was got a huge strike. 9.5 pounds on the Boga.” dent at Texas State University, dashed New fencing technique lets you nourish the The 22-year-old his- challenging, but we man- “I knew this was a big fi sh Grant hooked two more down to the coast the fi rst day of spring tory major from New aged to fi nd some promi- because it was everything I young’uns while barring the hogs. break. He launched his kayak in the reds, 21 and 25 inches. Page 4 waters south of Corpus Christi where Braunfels is also an avid nent mud fl ats. could do not to break off on Later he got a 20-inch he caught redfi sh and trout. Photo by saltwater angler. With “The redfi sh were tail- a 10-pound leader,” Grant Wisdom tooth Chase Okrasinski. a break from the books ing in skinny water adja- said. “He turned my kayak See SPRING BREAK, Page 14 New aging system recommended for whitetails. Page 4 6-year-old ❘❚ FISHING boats big bass on Ray Roberts By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Luke Underwood, his dad, Ty, Pond ponderings and 16-year-old brother, Garrett, Don’t wait until summer to restock fi sh in just wanted to get out on Lake newly recharged ponds. Ray Roberts for a spring break Page 8 white bass fi shing trip with guide Dannie Golden. They all got a huge shock when 6-year-old Luke, a student at Kayak attack Liberty Christian near their home in Lantana, pulled a 10.25-pound Saltwater anglers paddle to the bite. Page 8 See BIG BASS, Page 14

❘❚ CONTENTS Classifi eds ...... Page 24 Crossword ...... Page 17 Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 16 For the Table...... Page 17 The spring turkey season in South Texas is underway. Plenty of mature birds are looking for hens Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 SUN RISES ON ANOTHER SEASON: this year, but don’t count on seeing many jakes due to a poor hatch last season. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON. Heroes...... Page 20 Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Page 24 Outdoor Business . . . . . Page 26 By Conor Harrison hunters shot 13 gobblers Products ...... Page 25 LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS in two days. Sun, Moon and Tide data . . Page 17 South Zone Several guides said the ❘❚ LSONews.com “It was sick, man.” hunting was outstanding That was the report on opening weekend. ALL BY MYSELF: Six-year-old Luke Under- rocking in from one guide on a ranch There was a lot of 2- wood shows off the 9.9-pound bass he near George West after the and 3-year-old birds caught on Lake Ray Roberts with his dad, fi rst weekend of the South and they were separated Ty, brother, Garrett, and guide Dannie Zone spring turkey season Golden at left. Photo by Ty Underwood. PAID March 17-18. He said eight See TURKEY OPENER, Page 25

PLANO, TX turkey opener PRSRT STD PRSRT PERMIT 210 US POSTAGE

Reality of game warden tickets By Bill Miller County, when wardens many tickets as possible to LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS weren’t allowed to issue fund their payroll. warnings instead of tickets. Flores, who oversees all Col. Pete Flores recalled Now they can, yet he is Texas game wardens, said his days as a newly minted not surprised some people that’s illegal. game warden in Chambers claim that wardens write as “You hear that com-

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP Sensitive Material • Deliver Time plaint in any law enforce- CONTACT: A Texas game warden performs a routine license check, but ment jurisdiction, like offi cials say these contacts, and the citations that can result from them, dropped in 2011 because of the recession and drought. Photo by TPWD. See TICKETS, Page 26 Page 2 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 3 Page 4 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com HUNTING New aging system more accurate for bucks Researchers say one tooth better than the whole jaw

By Conor Harrison “Everyone uses the old tooth wear, but we rate measurements in millimeters of tooth LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS know that is not very accurate,” Cooper said. height, as well as all ridges of white enamel “Landowners want something better, and and brown dentine on the tooth from jaw Any hunter who has visited a Texas I had a teacher’s assistant suggest looking at samples of harvested known-age bucks 2.5 deer camp has seen it. one tooth.” to 7.5 years old. You know, the plaque on the wall The new method examines the width “We wanted to see if we could go to just with eight lower jawbones that allows of the dentine — the hard tissue located one location in the jaw to reduce the amount hunters to gauge a recently harvested under the enamel of a tooth — in this of variability of age-related wear within the deer’s age. case, the fi rst bicuspid molar. In plain jaw,” said research assistant Shane Sieckenius. According to a group of South Texas English, that’s the third tooth of the “This particular tooth was consistent in show- biologists, those plaques were iffy at lower jawbone. ing the true indication of wear.” best, and frequently downright wrong. “It came out that that was the only thing Cooper said the original aging method, The group of biologists, headed by related to age,” Cooper said. known as the Severinghaus technique, was Dr. Susan Cooper of the Texas AgriLife After discussion and evaluation, the developed using deer from New York and is Research and Extension Center in team determined the fi rst permanent inaccurate for estimating the age of deer in Uvalde, has devised a new way to age CHEW ON THIS: Instead of looking at the entire jawbone, a new study molar would be the tooth that was most Texas beyond the rough categorizations of deer using one tooth instead of the suggests that measuring the wear on the third tooth may be more ac- likely to show age-related wear patterns. whole jawbone. curate in telling the age of a deer in South Texas. Photo by Texas AgriLife. Using digital calipers, they took accu- See ONE TOOTH, Page 15

Suitable habitat sought for eastern turkey stocking program

By Conor Harrison specifi cally east of I-45. the area of Washington County, LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS “In East Texas, water and any stockings would probably be brood stock habitat is limited, done with Rios.” Turkeys are struggling in plus the lack of prescribed burn- Forrester said Rios occurred Eastern Texas. ing for decades has allowed the in the area naturally, and any The reasons are varied — undergrowth and midstory stuff stockings of eastern birds would drought, predators and the main to grow.” probably result in hybridization culprit, lack of suitable habitat. Hardin said a turkey’s best between the two sub-species. The Texas Parks and Wildlife defense is its eyes, and with such Forrester said he would like to Department is developing a thick brush, birds will move to see landowners band together Habitat Suitability Index. It will areas with greater visibility. for habitat improvements to measure a property’s value for “With good habitat around it, bring more turkeys, whether future stocking programs of east- we need a minimum of 7 percent Rios or easterns, to the area west ern turkeys, said Jason Hardin, of a property open up to about of Houston. TPWD biologist. 50 percent,” he said. “We are Suitable habitat includes open In the past, TPWD has exper- also looking at the structure and fi elds, roost trees, native bunch imented with limited stock- height of the grasses.” grasses for nesting and cover and ings consisting of 20 or so birds Hardin said any attempts at plenty of room to roam without released into areas in East Texas. super stocking are still several human interference. There was minimal success, forc- years away. “We need about 5,000 acres of ing a closure of turkey hunting in “We are still trying to fi ne-tune continuous, suitable habitat,” he some counties. the requirements,” he said. “This said. “That is the hang-up right Now TPWD is considering will be our second year of testing now. There is no need to bring “super stockings” — the releas- (habitat) in May and June — the birds without suitable habitat. ing of more than 100 birds for primary brooding period.” With the eastern birds, we want better odds at long-term sur- TPWD Oak Prairie District to see what the study results are.” vival. Biologist David Forrester agreed “We are looking at any prop- with Hardin’s assessment. erty that is 10,000 acres or more “I think we are a long ways IT WILL BE AWHILE: Some East Texas residents hoping to hunt eastern that meets requirements,” away (from any super stock- turkeys in large numbers will have to Hardin said. “That includes ings),” Forrester said. “In East wait several years at least before su- national forests and preserves. Texas we are doing super stock- per stocking programs are fi nalized. The priority area is East Texas, ing research right now, but in Photo by David J. Sams, LSON. Fences for fawns New feeder designs let young in, hogs out

By Craig Nyhus and fawns are at the bottom, “We compared feed- LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Moore said. ers with no fence at all, a But allowing feeder time round pen with 34-inch Fencing or hog panels for fawns is important at an galvanized panels and around feeders accomplish an early age. round pens where every intended purpose for many “You want to supplement other panel was cut to 28 ranchers and deer hunters — their diet during weaning,” inches,” Moore said. “We they keep the hogs out. Moore said. “A 1-month-old just removed the top tiers But what about the white- fawn will start eating some on the panels by cutting tail fawns? dry matter. Access to feed can the top 6 inches off with “Pens around feeders keep result in increased survival.” bolt cutters.” out hogs and cows,” said Matt Studies have shown that The pens were moni- Cutting the top tier of wire between every other post allows fawns greater access to feeder areas, Moore, a former graduate stu- very few fawns can reach a tored with game cameras LOWER THE JUMP: while still keeping the hogs out, researchers say. Photo illustration by Darin Bliss. dent at Caesar Kleberg Wildlife feeder surrounded by net one week per month from Research Institute and now a wire. Attempts at designs August through January. the hogs and javelinas out. extreme hog control efforts. Moore plans to continue biologist at the Faith Ranch in with 8-inch gaps allowed the The results surprised Moore. “I didn’t think it would Currie found that feeder use the research, cutting the South Texas. “But they keep fawns in with great success. “Of course, the best fawn work — but 6 inches made a by fawns increased. panel height down to 28-30 the fawns out, too.” “But the hogs and javeli- access was the pen with no huge difference.” “The panel is simply inches to increase fawn Fawns struggle for time nas got in, too,” Moore said. fence,” he said. “But the pen Currie studied an alter- raised 26 inches from the access. at feeders for other reasons, New designs were attempted with the cut fence provided native fencing method ground,” Currie said. “All “We want to fi nd the low- since there is a hierarchy of by Moore and fellow CKWRI much greater fawn access to designed for areas with cat- the deer go under the fence, est height that still keeps the dominance with whitetails graduate student Chase Currie. the feed source. And they kept tle, but less feral swine due to including the fawns.” hogs out,” he said. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 5 First aid techniques move from battlefi eld to deer lease

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

The U.S. mission in Somalia was brief com- pared to recent confl icts, yet the harrowing deaths of nearly two dozen special operations troops are well docu- mented in the book, and movie, “Blackhawk Down.” But from that episode spawned a new doc- trine in combat medi- cal care and fi rst aid supplies. And what’s right for the battlefi eld can also work on a deer lease. DR. ALAN FRANKFURT That’s the message of Dr. Alan Frankfurt, an anesthesiologist in Dallas who was a combat hospital physician in the Navy. He said an accidental slice from a broad- head or a slash from a chainsaw in a hunting camp are no different from a gunshot wound caused by an AK-47 in Afghanistan. “Anything that can cut, slice or crush — BLOOD STOPPER: John Follis of Richardson-based and it results in bleeding — can be addressed Tactical Gear Now demonstrates how to apply a with these tools,” Frankfurt said. “It’s a pre- modern tourniquet with 9-year-old Indy Pence. The ventable death.” company offers tactical fi rst aid seminars to hunters. Frankfurt recently partnered with Photo by Bill Miller, LSON. Richardson-based Tactical Gear Now, which sells combat medical supplies, to offer semi- Frankfurt served at a Navy fi eld hospital nars on modern military fi rst aid. in Saudi Arabia where he helped treat U.S. Hunters are a target audience. One of the Marines injured during the First Gulf War. fi rst presentations was in January at the Dallas It was a couple years later, and after Safari Club convention. Somalia, that Delta Force operators resolved The doctrine they promote is Tactical that they could do more in the fi eld to save Combat Casualty Care, or TCCC. lives. A small group of military doctors took Frankfurt described it as “stuff that can be that challenge and TCCC was born, Frankfurt accomplished by an 18-year-old kid that will said. keep a casualty alive until he can get to a com- bat hospital.” See FIRST AID, Page 25

Win Nikon 10x42 PROSTAFF 7 binoculars See a full selection of Nikon products at McBride's Guns 52915 San Gabriel Street

Austin, TX 78705 The burly white-tailed buck had made regular appearances on trail camera photos all summer long. When hunting season came to the 2K Poole Ranch in San Saba www.mcbridesguns.com County, HANNAH LAURENCE, 10, of Thorndale had high expectations of tagging the eight-pointer. She closed the deal with a 64-grain bonded bullet from a .223-caliber (512) 472-3532 rifl e. “She hit it right behind the shoulder and it only ran about 50 yards,” said her dad, Joe Moldenhour. Joe added that Hannah is especially excited that her deer's shoulder mount will be on the wall with trophies taken by the rest of the family. Page 6 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

TCU wins rifl e New turkey products for spring championship; UTEP fi fth Texas was honored at the recent NCAA Rifl e Championship when one of its universities brought home the By Conor Harrison TheThT Closer call is waterproof, The Flextone Thunder Chicken title and another placed fi fth. LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS constructedconst with a one-piece pop- is lightweight, portable and looks Texas Christian University in lar bbody with a cherry lid for a like a gobbler or jake in full strut. Fort Worth won fi rst place at the It seems like every spring,g, ggreatre custom look and feel. The For under $40, this decoy is easy championship tournament, held several new products comee lidlid is held in place with a screw to set up andd onlyonlyy shows March 9-10 at Columbus, Ohio. out that will actually help overo a spring, making it easy to the front 1/44 ooff the turtur-- The University of Kentucky hunters in their quests to tunet if needed. The Closer also key, makingg it a breeze fi nished second, followed by harvest a big gobbler. hash an attached elastic band to transport.t. the University of Alaska, Army, This year is no different, tot silence it when walking Hunters canan University of Texas at El Paso, with several products intro-- throught the woods. choose to usese tthehe West Virginia, Jacksonville State duced in the past few monthsths that “I’m really excited about lifelike jake fafann and Nevada. could make the difference inn clos- thethe nnew line of H.S. Strut turkey that comes wwithith It was the second NCAA rifl e ing the deal this season. callscallls for 2012,”said fi ve-time world the decoy, orr title in three years for the TCU The fi rst product is for bowhunt-whunt- frictionfriccti calling champion Matt they can usee ttheirheir Horned Frogs. All fi ve team ers who want to get maximumum effi - Morrett.Moorr “Our new custom quality own, real fann ttoo members subsequently earned ciency from the broadheadad they handmadehandn calls producep attach for a moremore “All-American” honors. shoot. lifelikelif look.. Juniors Sarah Scherer and The new Rage 22-blade-blade and Sarah Beard were named fi rst- 3-blade Turkey Broadheadsdheads offer a team All-Americans in air rifl e huge cutting area onn an expand- and small-bore. able head that fl ies like a fi eleldd Caitlin Morrissey, also a point. junior, was a fi rst-team All- Designed exclu- American in air rifl e. sively for tur- Senior Mattie Brogdon key hunting, the earned a spot on the second 2-blade Turkey team in small-bore and an Broadhead has a 2.25-- honorable mention in air rifl e. inch cutting diam-- Sophomore Catherine Green eter, and the 3-bladee received an honorable mention an incredible range All-American in air rifl e. Turkey Broadhead hass of turkeyturkey sounds to help UTEP’s fi fth-place spot a 1.75-inch cuttingng hunters tag theirthheeir gobbler,gobbler, and thetheyy capped the Miners’ fi rst diameter. Both broad-ad- have a great ccucustomustom look as wellwell.”.” showing at the NCAA Rifl e heads feature 1.25-inchnch boboxx cacallll thatthat sousoundsnds liklikee TheThe CCloserloserr bboxox ccallall sesellslls fforor a Championship since 2005. blade edges. a cucustomstom mmodel?odel? ChCheckeck ououtt ththee suggested retail retaaiil price of $16.99. Four of its team members Both styles offer the new H.S. Strut Closer box call from Finally, no turkeyturkey hunter also received All-American ShockLock blade retention system Hunter’s Specialties. would head too the woowoodsds honors. that allows the blades to lock in The Closer is a handmade, without a goodoood ddecoy,ecoy, Senior Andrea Palafox was place by using an O-ring that acts hybrid boat paddle style call that and with plentyennty ooff named fi rst-team air rifl e All- as a shock absorber for the blades, can produce a wide range of turkey expensive, ffullull American and Alix Moncada keeping the blades in place until sounds. The call has plenty of vol- body decoysoyys was named to the second-team. impact. ume to reach gobblers on windy on the mar-r- Freshman Jennifer Armendariz Look for the green ferrule design days, but it also has the ability to ket, why nott received an honorable mention. on the shelves this spring. A three- make soft yelps and clucks when spend lesss Andrea Vautrin earned sec- pack costs about $45. the hunter has a bird working in and get thee ond team honors for small-bore. Looking for a new, inexpensive close. same results? —Staff report LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 7

ADVERTISEMENT New innovations at Leica

Trinovid 42 brings back top performance at a lower price

Leica’s updated Trinovid premium entry- chassis, so we were able to use the existing level binoculars have hit the shelves — at a optical calculations to save money on produc- price nearly $700 less than the previous model. tion costs.” The fi rst Trinovids were known for their inno- The result is a high-quality product at a bet- vative prism design and unparalleled optical ter price. The Trinovid retails for $1,449 for the performance. The latest models, available 8x42 and $1,499 for the 10x42. in 8×42 BR and 10×42 BR, feature a rugged Thanks to magnesium housing, the Trinovids design ideal for hunters everywhere. are extremely lightweight, yet durable enough Despite the lower price, the company cre- to handle rugged conditions and unpredictable ated the new models without compromising weather thanks to the rubber armoring. The quality. 42 mm objective lens delivers optimal light for “Leica has never developed products to hit a viewing, even in less than optimal conditions, price point,” said Jeff Bouton, marketing man- and the premium optics provide great contrast/ ager. “There is an easy way to do that, but neutral color correction. Leica insists on developing products using “We stayed true to our branding; these are only the best European technology.” still truly Leica,” Bouton said. “It has been very How did they develop the new Trinovid and well-received in the marketplace — it performs keep the cost down? better than anything at that price.” “We didn’t have to retool any equipment,” For additional product information, see Bouton said. “The new Trinovid uses the same www.leica-sportoptics.com. Page 8 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

FISHING Options vary on restocking recharged ponds

By Bill Miller “That’s kind of the clas- LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS sic, 40-year-old strategy,” said Bill Wingo of Magnolia Congratulations if you’re Fisheries in Coppell. “But a landowner whose pond I’ve been doing both species dried up last summer but is simultaneously for 25 years, now recharged with recent as long as the bass are not too rainfall. big.” Spring is the right time to Wingo, a former fi sher- restock it with fi sh; it will be ies biologist for Mississippi too late after June 1 when Department of Wildlife, summertime heat puts Fisheries and Parks, recom- deadly stress on fi ngerlings. mended stocking baitfi sh Conventional wisdom at 2-4 inches, catfi sh at 6-8 calls for re-establishing inches and bass at no more baitfi sh fi rst — bluegills or than 6 inches. redear sunfi sh — then fol- Some of the 2-inch blue- lowing up next spring with gills may quickly become game species like large- bass food, but there ought to mouth bass or catfi sh. be plenty of larger ones left Texas Parks and Wildlife to spawn. Department recommends Brock and Wingo agreed, stocking bluegills 3 inches however, that buying larger or bigger. That’s a fi sh old baitfi sh is more expensive. POND REVIVAL: It’s time to restock forage species, like this sunfi sh, in ponds that went dry or were drawn down signifi cantly by last summer’s enough to spawn, said Rafe Wingo said his formula drought. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News. Brock, a TPWD district biol- calls for stocking “10 blue- ogist in Fort Worth. gills for every bass.” Brock said. “Redears provide hole has been at 50 percent pond levels shrank last sum- “On private ponds, there “The reason we stock them “So,” he added, “if you a different fi shing opportu- for 30 days, I’ll come stock mer, the remaining water are people who want to do fi rst is because they’ll have have 50 bass per acre, stock nity, but you can do just fi ne your tank.’” was overcrowded with bass, catch and release, but you the whole summer to hope- 500 bluegills.” with 500 bluegills per acre.” But what about the folks which probably put a huge cannot do that and have a fully get a couple spawns off Brock noted that other Wingo also urged land- who didn’t lose all their dent in the number of avail- healthy bass population,” he by the end of the year,” Brock forage species are avail- owners to fi rst make sure the water to drought last sum- able forage fi sh. said. “You need to take out at said. “Then the following able. Redear sunfi sh, he pond has enough water. mer? Therefore, Brock said a least 20 pounds per acre per year, in the spring, you can explained, provide diversity “The key to it is, you need Brock and Wingo sug- landowner should, “put in year. add your largemouth bass.” and inhabit deeper levels to have half of the water back gested they fi sh their ponds as many sunfi sh as he can “You cannot stockpile One private pond con- than bluegill. in the pond for 30 days or now to gauge the body con- afford. You can never have bass, just like you can’t be sultant, however, said he “Usually at 500 fi sh per there won’t be enough oxy- ditions of the bass. enough.” stockpiling spikes and does respects that opinion, but acre, you can go with 300 gen,” he said. “I always tell If the fi sh are skinny, they And Wingo urged land- and expect to have trophy frequently bends the rule. bluegills and 200 redears,” people, ‘If the water in that said, it’s a sign that, as the owners to keep fi shing. bucks.”

Kayak anglers White bass fi shing still strong booming on coast across northern portion of state

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

The white bass run might be winding to a close in South Texas lakes and rivers, but the action is still full speed ahead in many northern lakes and creeks, despite the spawn being done in some areas. Lake Ray Hubbard guide Ron Metzger said he has been fi shing and talking with other guides who’ve been targeting white bass with good success. “There has been a string of good catches in certain spots,” he said. “The white bass fi shing seems to be get- ting better every day. The spawn is just about over with, and we are catching a lot of them in the main lake.” Metzger said the most popular tactic was throwing slabs and small silver spoons near points at the mouths of creeks as the fi sh move back down to the lakes

See WHITE BASS, Page 15 TAKE IT TO THE BANK: Anglers fi sh the banks under the U.S. 377 bridge spanning Denton Creek north of Grapevine Lake. The fi shing was slow in mid-March, and many anglers said the white bass run hadn’t started there yet. Photo by Conor YAK ATTACK: Capt. George Young holds up a nice redfi sh caught from his kayak in Harrison, LSON. Galveston Bay. The popularity of kayak fi shing continues as more guides get into the fun. Photo by George Young.

“A lot of people have been buying a ton of Fishing experience great closer to water Live shrimp the ticket for coast shrimp,” said an employee at Marker 37 Marina in Corpus Christi. That business has a good supplier of By Conor Harrison a great thing. and not pay a fortune.” anglers in mid-March shrimp, he said, which has allowed them to freeze Bait dealers along the Texas Coast reported brisk some of it for later use. LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS “I started doing Young charges this about eight years about half of what sales of live shrimp in mid-March for spring break Rodrigo Rodgers, manager of South Shore Bait George Young of ago,” he said, “and I guides who have to anglers, and demand frequently outstripped supply. and Tackle in Port Isabel, said shrimping has picked up, but live shrimp was still in high demand. Texas Coastal Kayak have seen a tremen- buy gas charge their “It’s getting harder, believe me,” said Cheryl Rostetter “Shrimp is pretty abundant if it’s frozen,” he said. Fishing Charters has dous amount of kayak clients for a day of fi sh- at Bridge Bait of Freeport. “I had eight tanks of live shrimp last week. Right now, I got one partial tank. But Rodgers, like other sellers, did report strong seen an explosion of anglers since then. ing. “As soon as it comes in, they’re buying it up, a supplies of fi nger mullet, ballyhoo and squid. kayak fi shermen along You can’t go anywhere Young said for couple quarts at a time.” Nicole Durkin of Bastrop Marina in Freeport said the bays and beach- without seeing them coastal outings, a sta- Similar reports were made from Corpus Christi to anglers have been making good use of artifi cial lures, fronts of his home now. It makes it where ble kayak that is also Port Isabel. but the shop also had some live bait. waters in the Galveston the common guy can fast is a great combi- The sellers said the availability of blue crab and “All we carry is mullet and shrimp,” she said, Bay complex. get out and have some croaker was about a month away, but live shrimp “and we got plenty.” And he thinks that's fun, catch some fi sh, See KAYAK, Page 15 remained the big draw. —Staff report LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 9 Lithium-ion batteries’ weight could increase boat speeds

But some lithium-ion batteries can cost $1,000 or more. “The sticker shock is amazing,” said Kevin Bennett, president of Lithium Pros of Knoxville, Tenn. “People ask all the time, ‘Will the cost come down?’ “I see it coming down some- what, but not hugely, not like with personal computers.” The reason, Bennett explained, involves the availability of raw materials used to make lithium- ion batteries. “You have a lot of aluminum, copper and some rare earth com- ponents,” he said, “and I don’t see the costs of those things coming down. Photo by Lithium Pros. “As the world economy heals from all the fi nancial meltdown, you’ll have upward pressure on those commodities.” The batteries are popular in auto racing By Bill Miller circles, but dealers are trying to reach tour- LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS nament anglers. Ott DeFoe of the Bassmaster Elite Series has signed on to help. The Tennessee angler What’s not to like? used lithium batteries for the fi rst time in Dealers say lithium-ion batteries outper- last month’s Bassmaster Classic. form lead acid batteries. DeFoe said he was excited with the perfor- Both types power the starting of an out- mance he got from Lithium Pros batteries. board engine, trolling motors and onboard As for his performance, he won fi fth place. electronics. But dealers say lithium-ion “Cost is defi nitely the biggest hurdle with batteries throw more voltage and can be it,” DeFoe said. “But they got some major recharged in a third of the time it takes for benefi ts. Just the fact that you can save so the conventional batteries. much weight, you run a little shallower and And they’re a lot lighter. At around 18 to fl oat a little shallower. 30 pounds, they can cut at least 100 pounds “And in the tournaments, if we only have from a bass boat, increasing speeds by as three or four hours to recharge our batteries, much as 3-5 mph — a big consideration for tournament anglers. See BATTERIES, Page 19 Page 10 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT less than 2 feet of water. blue cats up to 15 pounds in the shal- pening right now. About to heat up “The soft plastics will pick up real good lows between 3 and 10 feet. Those fi sh are Burkeen looks LAKE FORK — Well-known Lake Fork (in the next 10 days),” he said. “Also a spawning right now.” for hydrilla 2-3 guide James Caldemeyer said fi shing on the Texas-rigged craw fl ipping to stumps. The Martinez said the water temperature is inches below the world-famous lake has been next few weeks could get pretty good.” between 79 and 82 degrees in discharge surface and 2-4 “tricky” the The water temperature has been between areas. fefeetet off the banks. past week mid-60s and 70 degrees. The redfi sh bite has also been good, with “I am catching them due to an To contact James Caldemeyer, call (903) solid catches of running redfi sh caught on right on the edge of the hydrilla,” he said. infl ux of water 736-9888. plastic minnow and spoons with a white or “Crankbaits in Tennessee shad color are great that brought yellow trailer in depths of 7 to 20 feet using and I’m burning it pretty good. Also, T-rigged the lake up electric downriggers. fl ukes pitched into bushes are catching a lot more than a To contact Manny Martinez, call (210) of fi sh. They are eating it like crazy.” foot. However, the bass are Cat's meow 386-6695. Burkeen said he’s had 80 bass days with about ready to head to shallow water to bed, CALAVERAS LAKE — According to no giants, but steady fi sh between 2 and 4 especially in clear water, if you can fi nd it. guide Manny Martinez, the catfi sh bite on pounds. “Secondary points and pockets with less Calaveras Lake has been outstanding the “For deep-water guys, drop-shotting in 40 runoff and clearer water have been good,” past few weeks. Throw anything feet and throwing football jigs has produced,” Caldemeyer said. “The best baits right “We are catching AMISTAD RESERVOIR — Guide James he said. “Top-water hasn’t gone crazy yet, but now are a square-billed crankbait and chchannela cats between Burkeen said the fi shing has been “fantastic” I have caught a few.” chatterbaits — anything with chartreuse 2 and 6 pounds,” the past few weeks on the border lake. Burkeen said the spinner bait bite has been and white and darker colors like red shad in he said. “We are “You can catch fi sh a variety of ways,” the only thing that hasn’t been working. dark water.” using my bait, Burkeen said. “I am catching a lot of fi sh To contact James Burkeen, call (830) 734- Caldemeyer said a lot of males are in the Catfi sh Gold. throwing a jerkbait and ghost minnow right off 9652 shallows, and he has been catching bass in AlsAlso, we are catching of the fl ats in small cuts — Amistad is hap- —Conor Harrison

ARROWHEAD: Water off-color; striper are good on slabs with the minnows over brush piles. Chan- 60–64 degrees; 0.73’ low. in 5–8 feet. Blue catfi sh are good STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 52–57 degrees; 8.01’ low. best action at midday. nel catfi sh are good on stinkbait Largemouth bass to 9 pounds are on cut shad. Yellow catfi sh are 58–62 degrees; 14.35’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on BROWNWOOD: Water lightly and cut bait. excellent on watermelon red plas- good on live perch. Largemouth bass are fair on min- spinner baits, lipless crankbaits, stained; 55–59 degrees; 10.10’ COOPER: Water lightly stained; tics near the dam and boathouses O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 54–59 nows, spinner baits and lipless square-billed crankbaits and jigs. low. Largemouth bass are good on 55–60 degrees; 7.12’ low. and on some lipless crankbaits degrees; 39.66’ low. Largemouth crankbaits. White bass are good White bass are good on Road crankbaits, black/blue jigs, and Largemouth bass are good on and soft plastics. Crappie are bass are fair to good on lipless on minnows below Long Bridge. Runners and minnows. Blue 4” worms over brush piles. chartreuse shallow crankbaits good on minnows around docks crankbaits, Texas rigs, jigs and Channel and blue catfi sh are catfi sh are good on live shad. and Texas-rigged craw worms and brush. Channel and blue swim jigs. White bass are fair to good on shrimp and stinkbait. BUCHANAN: Water clear; 57–61 catfi sh are very good on trotlines ATHENS: Water clear, 56–61 degrees; 26.61’ low. Largemouth later in the day. Green pumpkin good on tail spinners and live TAWAKONI: Water stained; 56–60 degrees; 2.43’ low. Largemouth soft plastics are best. Crappie are baited with chicken hearts and bait. Catfi sh are fair to good on degrees; 3.69’ low. Largemouth bass are good on blue/chartreuse shad. bass are good on watermelon tailed worms, white/red spin- good on minnows. White bass are nightcrawlers and cut bait. bass are good on black/blue Fire- shaky-head worms and lipless ner baits, and watermelon soft good on slabs. Hybrid striper are JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; water1/2 oz. jigs and sun perch- crankbaits. Crappie are good on jerkbaits along points and in fair to good on Sassy Shad and 56–61 degrees; 0.26’ high. 56–61 degrees; 1.70’ low. colored chatter jigs. White bass jigs and minnows. Catfi sh are creeks in 5–10 feet. Striped bass live shad. Catfi sh are good on Largemouth bass are good on Tex- Largemouth bass are good on are excellent on white slabs and good on prepared bait. are fair to good vertically jigging prepared bait and cut bait. as-rigged creature baits, lipless black and blue jigs, shaky heads tailspins — schooling on points BASTROP: Water clear; 60–64 de- silver spoons and on live bait in FALCON: Water stained; 62–66 crankbaits and smaller jigs — and bladed jigs. Crappie are good early and late. Striped bass and grees. Largemouth bass are good 25–35 feet. White bass are good degrees; 20.56’ low. Largemouth midday bite has been best. Deep on minnows and jigs. White bass hybrid striper are good on 4” to on chartreuse soft plastic worms, on Li’l Fishies, watermelon lipless bass are good on watermelon red brush piles are best later in day. are fair to good on slabs and 6” white- or shad-pattern Sassy crankbaits and spinner baits. crankbaits and live minnows in 6” worms, crankbaits and spinner Crappie are good on minnows minnows. Catfi sh are good on Shad in the shallows early then Crappie are good on minnows and 18–25 feet. Crappie are fair to baits. Channel and blue catfi sh and jigs. White bass are good on prepared bait. suspending deep during the white tube jigs over brush piles. good on live minnows. are good on shrimp, stinkbait, slabs. Catfi sh are fair to good on day — drifting live bait is also prepared baits. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly producing. Catfi sh are excellent Channel and blue catfi sh are CADDO: Water stained; 55–60 and cut bait. clear; 50–58 degrees; 6.36’ good on stinkbait, shrimp, and LAKE O' THE PINES: Water lightly in deep water drifting cut bait degrees; 1.38’ high. Largemouth FAYETTE: Water clear. Largemouth low. Largemouth bass are fair on and fresh shad. nightcrawlers. bass are good on black/blue jigs bass are good on chartreuse Car- stained; 56–62 degrees; 1.15’ Texas rigs, jigs and medium- or BELTON: Water clear; 57–61 around isolated cover. Shad- olina-rigged soft plastics, spinner low. Largemouth bass are good shallow-running crankbaits. Crap- TEXOMA: Water fairly clear; degrees; 2.12’ low. Largemouth pattern lipless crankbaits and baits, and lipless crankbaits. on Texas-rigged worms, spinner pie are fair to good on minnows 55–60 degrees; 0.92’ low. The bass are good on lipless spinner baits in the same areas Channel and blue catfi sh are baits and shallow crankbaits and jigs. White bass are fair to Blue–Green Algae alert has been crankbaits. Crappie are very good are effective. Yellow bass are good on shrimp, nightcrawlers, along main lake points. Isolated good on shiners and Road Run- downgraded to an advisory. Bodily on minnows around structure good on minnows. and stinkbait. cover is the key. Crappie are good ners. Catfi sh are fair to good on contact with water is no longer under lights at night. Channel on minnows and jigs. Catfi sh are nightcrawlers. prohibited. It is now just discour- CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 58–62 GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. good on cut shad. aged. Largemouth bass are fair on and blue catfi sh are good on hot degrees; 9.19’ low. Largemouth Largemouth bass are good on RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly dogs. Yellow catfi sh are good on LAVON: Water lightly stained; suspending jerkbaits and medium bass are good on yellow spinner watermelon crankbaits and clear; 56–60 degrees; 1.82’ crankbaits along rocky points trotlines and throwlines baited baits, pumpkin worms, and wa- spinner baits. Crappie are fair 56–61 degrees; 4.00’ low. low. Largemouth bass are good with live perch. Largemouth bass are good on Tex- with larger rock. Striped bass and termelon jerkbaits along stickups on minnows and blue tube jigs. on Texas-rigged creature baits, hybrid striper are good on slabs. BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly in 5–12 feet. Smallmouth bass Catfi sh are good on shrimp, as-rigged creature baits, black/ square-billed crankbaits and stained; 56–61 degrees; 5.71’ are good on blue/green fl ake curl nightcrawlers, and stinkbait. brown jigs and square-billed lipless crankbaits. Swim jigs are TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; crankbaits. White bass are good 61–64 degrees; 3.92’ low. low. Largemouth bass are fair to tail grubs, smoke/red tubes, and GRANBURY: Water clear; 57–61 good around riprap also. White good on black/blue jigs, shaky watermelon worms over rock piles on slabs. Crappie are good on bass are excellent on humps in Largemouth bass are good on degrees; 0.36’ low. Largemouth minnows and jigs around bridge watermelon and pumpkinseed heads with fi nesse worms and lip- in 10–20 feet. bass are good on perch-col- 17–23 feet with hybrids mixed less crankbaits. Crappie are good columns. Catfi sh are good on cut in. Catfi sh are good on prepared soft plastics, spinner baits and CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; ored soft plastics and lipless shad and nightcrawlers. crankbaits. on live minnows and jigs. White 55–61 degrees; 1.59’ low. crankbaits over grass. Crappie baits. bass are good on Humdingers Largemouth bass are good on are good on minnows and green LEWISVILLE: Water stained; RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly TRAVIS: Water lightly stained; and top-waters. Catfi sh are fair to Texas-rigged creature baits, shaky tube jigs. 56–60 degrees; 0.35’ low. stained; 57–62 degrees; 1.61’ 58–62 degrees; 49.03’ low. good on trotlines or juglines with heads and black/blue fi nesse jigs Largemouth bass are slow on low. Largemouth bass are good Largemouth bass are good on soap. GRANGER: Water murky; 59–63 medium-running crankbaits and white grubs, Senkos, and water- around docks. White bass are degrees; 0.66’ low. Largemouth on rattle baits in Rayburn Red BRAUNIG: Water clear. good on slabs. Hybrid striper are suspending jerkbaits along riprap and chartreuse/white chatterbaits melon soft plastics in 5–15 feet. bass are fair on small crankbaits near the dam. White bass are Largemouth bass are good on good on live shad. Crappie are upriver. White bass are good fi shed around shallow grass. WEATHERFORD: Water stained; crankbaits and spinner baits fair to good on minnows. good on slabs. Catfi sh are good Crappie are good on minnows 55–61 degrees; 1.81’ low. on small white jigs and river on prepared bait. in the reeds. Striped bass are CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; minnows near Dickerson’s. Blue in backs of creeks. White bass Largemouth bass are slow on good downrigging silver and gold 60–64 degrees; 12.54’ low. catfi sh are good on prepared baits LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; are good on slabs in 25 feet of shallow crankbaits, shaky heads spoons near the jetty and dam. Largemouth bass are good on on rod & reel, and on juglines 60–64 degrees; 0.98’ high. water on main lake ridges and and Texas-rigged creature baits Channel catfi sh are good on liver, swimbaits and jerkbaits early. baited with shad. Largemouth bass are excellent on some ridges toward the mouths — target any shallow cover. shrimp and cheesebait near the Crappie are good on minnows soft plastics and spinner baits. of major creeks. Catfi sh are good Crappie are good on minnows dam. Blue catfi sh are good on GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; Crappie are very good on min- around baited holes on punch and jigs. and white tube jigs at night 56–60 degrees; 0.61’ high. cut bait. under lights. Channel and blue nows. Blue catfi sh are very good bait. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly Largemouth bass are good on on shad. BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly catfi sh are good on doughbait and watermelon Texas-rigged worms, SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 55–60 degrees; 5.24’ stained; 56–62 degrees; 6.81’ nightcrawlers. watermelon fi nesse jigs, lipless NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; stained; 59–64 degrees; 4.48’ high. Largemouth bass are good low. Largemouth bass are good on COLEMAN: Water clear; 57–61 crankbaits, and jerkbaits along 60–64 degrees; 0.62’ high. low. Largemouth bass are fair on on Texas-rigged worms, shallow watermelon soft plastics thrown degrees; 15.74’ low. Largemouth main lake points. Crappie are Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged chartreuse soft crankbaits and chatterbaits along around shallow cover. Good bass are fair on spinner good on minnows. White bass are spinner baits along the shoreline. plastics and spinner baits. Catfi sh main lake points. Catfi sh are bite reported on square-billed baits, crankbaits, and lipless good on slabs. Catfi sh are fair to White bass are good on minnows are good fair to good on crankbaits in TN Shad midday crankbaits. Hybrid striper are good on nightcrawlers and cut in the creeks. Crappie are good on frozen cut shad and along shallow points. Crappie are good on minnows and white shad. on minnows and blue/chartreuse shrimp, live ■ See Saltwater fi shing reports: prepared bait. good on jigs and minnows. White striper jigs. Crappie are fair on and gold/chartreuse jigs tipped minnows and Page 16 —TPWD bass are good on slabs. Hybrid HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; with crappie nibbles over brush stinkbait. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 11 Hybrids active, but not always feeding

By Conor Harrison catches a few hybrids LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Anglers having mixed in. “I use slabs and live Lake Tawakoni guide some success in bait,” he said. “The Tony Parker knows how water is stained right to target spring hybrids North Texas lakes now and between on his home lake — look 56 and 58 degrees. for the birds early in the I’ve been catching morning. them on humps “Tawakoni has been early and late.” really good for hybrids McCullough’s the past few days,” Parker fi shing report on said. “We are catching his Web site stated a lot of hybrids up to 8 he has been mark- or 9 pounds looking for ing a lot of fi sh schooling fi sh under birds lately but they early.” aren’t always feed- Parker said he has pur- ing aggressively, sued the chunky fi sh by which can be com- slow rolling Sassy Shad mon this time of over humps and lake year as water tem- points between 13 and 30 peratures and clar- feet of water. ity fl uctuate with “They are wherever rains and weather you fi nd them,” he said. fronts. “The water temperature Denton County today (March 16) is 59.3 Game Warden degrees.” David Benoit said Other guides also had the hybrid fi sh- favorable reports for ing has been solid Tawakoni, proving that in certain areas of Parker isn’t the only one Lewisville Lake. having success this time “Around Lake Photo by Steve Fogle. of year. Park and the old Farther west on Lewisville Lake, guide Kevin dam, the hybrids have been biting really McCullough said the action has been hit or good,” Benoit said. “And they are really good- miss, but more hit for him and his clients. sized fi sh.” “We tore them up the other day,” Benoit said bank anglers were having suc- McCullough said. “But on this lake, you can cess casting a long ways out from the bank. tear them up one day and be searching for “There are a lot of 20- to 22-inch fi sh being them the next.” caught off the bank,” he added. McCullough said he has been mostly fi sh- Guide Tony Parker, (903) 348-1619 ing for sand bass this time of year, but always Guide Kevin McCullough, (817) 909-1953 Page 12 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com GAME WARDEN BLOTTER FOILED BY FACEBOOK POST SHRIMP SELLER ASKED Trinity County Game Wardens Sam THE WRONG GUY Shanafelt and Randy Watts inter- RULES OF POACHING EXPLAINED TO WARDENS While off duty, Galveston County viewed a man about information he Captain Edward Tanuz was pump- put on Facebook. The Facebook post Newton County Game Wardens Ellis Powell, Brian of the four main subjects have had a hunting license ing gas into his personal vehicle read, “I just found out that you can’t Srba, Landon Spacek, Bradley Smith and Jasper County since 2004, with no deer taken in daylight hours when a man approached asking if drop a deer at 400 yards with a .22.” Game Warden Morgan Inman executed a search war- during this time. Numerous charges fi led with more he was interested in buying shrimp. The hunter admitted to shooting at rant on a 24-year-old Louisiana resident. The warrant interviews with other subjects pending. The seller stated that the shrimp was a doe fi ve times. Citations for hunt- was a result of a four-month investigation on the sub- One suspect explained the “rules of the hunt”: fresh and that he personally caught ing whitetail in closed season and no ject, with warrants also being served on the subject’s • Never take a girlfriend the shrimp that morning. After look- hunting license were issued. Facebook account for e-mails and photos. Louisiana • Never hunt from a vehicle or paved road ing at the shrimp and discussing a game wardens interviewed subjects implicated from • If a kill is made, do not return for two weeks reasonable price, Tanuz showed the CHALLENGED TO PROVE IT, LAB the Facebook account. The subject admitted to kill- • Find entry and exit points seller his law enforcement identifi ca- RESULTS CONFIRM CHARGE ing eight deer in the last few months and implicated • Place spotters with radios at these points to tion and asked to see a commercial In September, Gillespie County several other subjects with numerous deer kills. None watch for game warden or landowner license. The seller possessed no com- Game Warden Sam Harris cited a mercial licenses and was selling the couple for road hunting. Harris seized shrimp illegally. Case pending. a rifl e the night of the incident, and After a lengthy search, Waddell fi nally it like they found it. After the hunters boat into the bed of a truck, and were recovered a bullet from an axis buck. located the men and obtained a con- left, the landowner checked his gate. about to drive off with it when they DENIAL OF FIREARM IN The couple refused to cooperate and fession. Cases pending. His lock was missing and a new lock were apprehended. VEHICLE DASHED told Harris to prove it. The rifl e and was on the gate. The landowner knew Delta County Game Warden Chris the bullet were sent to DPS Lab in BUCKETS OF FISH UNDERMINE the identity of one of the hunters. EGRET SHOOTER NOT DOING NEIGHBOR Fried witnessed a vehicle traveling Austin for analysis. Results of the SLOW FISHING DAY Watts called the hunter and met with A FAVOR down a county road and heard numer- testing found the bullet recovered While on patrol along the Nueces all the individuals on the neighboring Jasper County Game Warden ous shots fi red from the vehicle. from the axis deer positively matched River, Game Warden Nichole Spatz property. Citations were issued to fi ve Morgan Inman received a call from Contact was made and all fi ve occu- the suspects’ rifl e. The couple were made contact with two fi shermen who hunters for trespassing. Game Warden Justin Eddins about pants stated that there was no fi rearm arrested and are now facing several informed her that fi shing was slow someone shooting a cattle egret off in the vehicle. A search revealed a charges including hunting without and they had not caught any fi sh. WARDENS HAVE SKIRMISH WITH his neighbor’s pond. The landowner dead rabbit, a 30-pack of beer, and landowner consent. After visiting with the two anglers SUSPECT, PIT BULL called and said his neighbor from a loaded handgun hidden under the for about 10 minutes, Spatz passed A man suspected of shooting a deer down the road called him and said, back seat. Citations were issued for CRAPPIE HOUSE CAPERS the fi shermen’s truck on the way to illegally led Red River County Game “I just did you a favor and shot that minor in possession of alcohol and During the middle of January, Wood hers. A bucket in the bed of the truck Wardens Benny Richards and Daniel bird eating all your perch.” The land- hunting from a public roadway. County Game Wardens Derek Spitzer held red and black drum. A second Roraback on a foot pursuit along the owner replied, “You did what? That and Kurt Kelley received information bucket beneath the toolbox also con- banks of the Red River. Richards tack- was momma’s pet.” Inman went to MAN SPENDS MORE THAN 30 HOURS of fi shermen exceeding the daily bag tained black drum. Seven undersized led the suspect, who then attempted the shooter’s house, and he admitted STUCK ON BOAT limit for crappie at a public boat- black drum and three undersized red to take Richards’ weapon. Roraback to shooting several egrets along with At around 8 p.m., Leon County house. Spitzer and Kelley along with drum were confi scated and citations used his pepper spray in an attempt three deer that he didn’t tag. Cases Game Warden Oscar Henson and Van Zandt County Game Warden Trent were issued. to stop the suspect from fi ghting. All pending. Limestone County Game Warden Hirschman set up surveillance on the the while the suspect’s pit bull dog Randy Harper received a missing boat house. Numerous citations were NEW LOCK PLACED ON GATE was attacking both wardens. The GIVING NEW MEANING TO NETTING person call on the Trinity River in issued to four individuals for exceed- BY TRESPASSERS suspect was fi nally detained and WHITE BASS Madison County. With the threat ing the daily bag limit and no fi shing Trinity County Game Warden Randy arrested. Charges pending. Houston County Game Warden of strong thunderstorms rapidly licenses. Cases pending. Watts received a call from a land- Eddie Lehr observed two subjects approaching, they searched by land owner about hog hunters trespassing BOAT THIEVES LANDED BY WARDEN using a dip net to catch sand bass and then by boat. About 2 a.m., SAWING OFF ROADKILL ANTLERS on his high-fenced ranch. The land- An adult and two juveniles were along the bank of the Trinity River. they found the man huddled under NOT LEGAL SHED HUNTING owner found a dog with a GPS collar apprehended while in the act of steal- The subjects would keep the net in an umbrella sitting in his boat. He Last week, Gonzales County Game and a few minutes later the hog hunt- ing a 14-foot aluminum boat. Game the water until the bass would run had hit a stump around 5 p.m. two Warden Dan Waddell investigated ers showed up to get the dog. The Warden Calvin Harbaugh observed into it on their way up river. The sub- evenings earlier and had been stuck several calls relating to the witnessing landowner asked the hunters how that the boat had been chained to a jects landed 30 fi sh using this illegal there. Other than being cold, wet, of two men from Louisiana sawing the they got in the ranch. They stated the tree near the river’s edge. The defen- method. Cases pending. and tired, the man was OK. antlers off a deer on a county road. gate was open and they would leave dants had broken the lock, loaded the LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 13 Page 14 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

Spring break Big bass Continued From Page 1 Continued From Page 1 speckled trout. said before boarding a bay a student at DeVry University largemouth out of 30 Thousands of students fi shing boat owned by Capt. in Irving, said he wanted to go feet of water fi shing with thronged the Texas Coast in Murphy Charter Services. “I deep-sea fi shing because he a slab. mid-March — many from out always wanted to do this.” preferred bigger fi sh. “We were going after of state. As always, there was Mary said she and fi ve of But his hopes to catch a few sand bass and Luke plenty of partying, but some, her friends drove 28 hours red snapper withered after he had four or fi ve sand- like Grant, took time to fi sh. from Indiana for spring break. was told the only boat going ies in the boat within On South Padre Island, The red-haired woman from out was to fi sh in federal the fi rst 10 minutes,” Mary Ellen, a senior from the Connecticut said they had waters, which were closed to Ty said. “He was fi gur- University of Notre Dame, been partying, but she got that fi sh species this time of ing out how to hook wanted to try something new. away from the group so she year. them when something “Why not fi shing?” she could learn to fi sh. Ryan Hunka, a Canadian tugged on his line and She took a crash attending the Northeast Fire/ he set the hook.” course from deckhand EMS Training Academy in Ty said the fi sh didn’t Gilbert De La Paz who Sulphur Springs, said bay fi sh- fi ght much. said a few spring break- ing was fi ne with him. “I said he probably ers have been booking Ramses Gonzalez, a has a catfi sh,” Golden the three-hour bay fi sh- Brownsville resident attend- said. “And then when ing trips in the morn- ing Texas A&M University, that big ole fi sh came up ings and afternoons. who described himself as a I went, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ I “They have been fi shing fanatic, went to the went to grab her and she catching sheepshead, north jetties in pursuit of dove straight down. I’m sand trout, whiting and the tasty sheepshead, which glad I had the drag set a few black drum,” he have been showing up in con- right on that reel. It was said. “The afternoon sistent numbers since late only 8-pound test line.” trips have been the February. When the fi sh dove, best.” “I fi sh in the morning Borden Thongsapsin, Luke held on and slowly and drink beer in the after- reeled the big female noon,” he said, showing two back to the boat, only IT WAS A 10-POUNDER! Luke Underwood helps hold the 9.9-pound bass SPRING BREAK BITE: Ramses sheepshead he caught with to get his line wrapped he caught fi shing on Lake Ray Roberts. The fi sh weighed 10.25 pounds Gonzales Jr., a student from his dad, Ramses Sr. “We used in the boat, but lost eggs, and weight, on the way to the dock. Photo by Texas A&M University, fi shed around the trolling live shrimp, but when we go motor. Cathy Underwood. on the north jetties on South to South Bay we like to use Padre Island in pursuit of “When it got hung Sparkle Beetles and other in the trolling motor, I Ty said the fi sh was spilling eggs all over sheepshead. Photo by Anto- lures. I was born to fi sh.” nio Vindell for LSON. thought we were going to lose it,” Ty said. the boat and in the livewell, and when “I fi nally got it in the net and we were they got to a certifi ed scale, she weighed plenty excited.” 9.9 pounds. Golden weighed the fi sh on the boat “If I’d have known she was losing and it tipped the scale at 10.25 pounds. weight, we would have headed for the Time to sign up for STAR More than half million However, the family was camping on the dock immediately,” Ty said. “Still, he The STAR tournament entry fee is still $20 for lake and wanted more sand bass for a fi sh made his daddy proud.” ages 18 and up. Membership to CCA is $25 annu- raised in Dallas for quail fry, so they continued fi shing for another The big bass was released back into the ally, for a total of $45. For anglers ages 6-17, the A total of $675,972 for quail research was raised hour before heading to the dock and a cer- lake after it was weighed. “New Tide” membership is $10 and the STAR at the 2012 dinner and auction of Park Cities Quail tifi ed scale. Young Luke was excited about his catch. entry is free, but the youngster still needs to be in Dallas. “She was ready to spawn, but with the “She was 10 pounds, and I did it all by registered to win a prize or scholarship. The event in Dallas attracted more than 1,000 cold snap, she had headed back to deeper myself,” he said excitedly on the phone. Signup is available at www.ccatexas.org or people. water,” Golden said. “She had a bloody “My mom was really proud.” www.startournament.org or by calling (713) 626- The money will fund PCQ’s mission of research tail and was full of eggs. There were a lot What does the future hold for Luke now 4222. and education to help restore the quail population. of little sandies out there, and I think she that he has caught a big female bass? — CCA STAR — PCQ report may have been feeding.” “Now I want to catch a daddy,” he said. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 15

<— — — — — — — — — — — Clip for your camp ✄ —— — — — — — — — — — > White bass One tooth Continued From Page 8 Continued From Page 4 South Texas after spawning. Deer Aging Chart On Richland Chambers, guide Craig Copeland said the white bass spawn hadn’t occurred yet, but the action had still been solid. “The water is still a little cold (for spawning),” Copeland said. “Right now it is 58.5 degrees and they are really biting a slow draw.” Copeland said he is fi shing 2-ounce slabs in HOW OLD? Using calipers to measure 25-35 feet of water. wear on the third tooth, hunters can “We limited out in about 45 minutes the other determine the approximate age of a day,” he said. “There were a lot of other boats harvested buck, according to research- Age From To around us doing really fast retrieves — just ripping ers. Photo by AgriLife. it. You’ve got to slow down right now. The fi sh 2.5 YRS 0 0.63 don’t want to expend a bunch of energy.” young, mature or old. deer-related research. All of the deer were Copeland said the spawn would start on Many experienced “When these bucks correctly aged within 3.5 YRS 0.64 1.19 Richland Chambers when the water hits about 62 hunters can tell are harvested, the a year of their actual degrees. which age class a buck partner ranch returns age. Those numbers 4.5 YRS 1.20 1.74 Torrential rains across much of Texas recently falls into by looking at any known-age jaw- are nearly double the made creeks rise, many to the point of being body characteristics bones from tagged accuracy of the old 5.5 YRS 1.75 2.30 unfi shable. alone, without look- deer to us for evalua- method, Cooper said. A game warden on Lewisville Lake reported that ing at the old plaque tion and assessment,” The new method 6.5 YRS 2.31 2.86 the white bass anglers he checked said the fi shing or jawbone. she said. only works with has been hit or miss near Hickory Creek. He said Cooper said over Cooper said when bucks, because bucks 7.5 YRS 2.87 3.41 the white bass run was on several weeks ago, but, the past 10 years tested on a sample of will draw calcium the wildlife team at jaws from 141 bucks, from their bodies to after heavy rains turned the creeks muddy, the 8.5 YRS 3.42 3.97 fi shing went downhill. the Uvalde center the formula pre- grow antlers, while has ear-tagged more dicted the correct does won’t, thus On Denton Creek, the fi shing has not been as 9.5 YRS 3.98 4.52 steady as in years past, but that could be because of than 2,000 wild buck age for 61 percent of changing the equa- fawns on South Texas young bucks aged 2.5 tion to fi nd an accu- rising, muddy water, or the fi sh haven’t run all the 10.5 YRS 4.53 5.08 way to the U.S. 377 bridge yet. ranches. During that to 3.5 years; 53 per- rate age. “If you hit it at about the right time, you can time, ranch owners cent of mature bucks “This (new method) catch a bucketful,” said Crum angler David Stone. and operators kept aged 4.5 to 6.5 years, allows those that deal “I don’t think they are up here yet.” tabs on ear-tagged and 25 percent of old with deer to get a Guide Ron Metzger, (281) 910-0517 deer, collaborating bucks aged 7.5 to 8.5 more accurate age,” Guide Craig Copeland, (214) 783-3801 with the center on years. Cooper said.

Bay area on twitch baits that mimic Young said the primetime to fi sh dations for anglers heading to the kayak angler is to head to a shal- Kayak shad and are about 3 inches long. from a kayak is during the summer coast for the fi rst time in a kayak. low reef at sunset and wait until the Continued From Page 8 “When the trout and reds get months of June and July. “San Luis Pass will be up and com- motorboats have headed for the off the glass minnow bite, which “When the wind settles, you ing in a few months,” he said. “The docks. nation. they have been on the past month, have the option of fi shing both the North shore of Christmas Bay is a “At night, on an outgoing tide, “I prefer something that is sta- that will be a hot lure,” he said. “In beachfront and the bays,” he said. nice sand-and-grass bottom mix. we can hammer the 24- to 26-inch ble yet fast, like the Ocean Kayak another few weeks, they will switch “Or both. It is easy to launch from When the weather warms up a bit, trout,” Young said. “You can hear Prowler 13 or the Wilderness 140s,” over to the 2- and 3-inch shad. I a shoreline and work that shoreline, get out there in waist-deep water the explosion (when the fi sh hits) he said. “I can stand up in those.” think those (twitch bait) lures will but I like the weather to settle down with a top-water bait and, man, but you can’t see it, so you don’t jerk Young said he has been catching be perfect. I prefer the slow-sinking a bit.” hold on!” the lure out. It can be awesome.” trout and redfi sh in the Galveston ones.” Young had several recommen- Another favorite tactic for the Capt. George Young, (713) 501-0636 Page 16 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

“The bite for big drum was Live and dead shrimp on during the height of the REDFISH BAY — According to Capt. Randy Filla, the fi shing Muckleroy said. “The wade fi shing has been pretty decent on ououtgoing tide about midday,” has been good in Redfi sh Bay on days when the wind doesn’t places like the Longbeach shoreline. It’s slowly picking up.” SSams said. blow anglers off the water. The top-water bite has been good early, but not great later After catching big drum, the “WeWe area mostly targeting in the day, although it is getting better as the water contin- ggroupr headed to the fl ats to redfiredfi ssh and drum right now, ues to warm. catchcatch smallersmaller drumdrum fforor tthehe ttable.abl a lot more than trout,” “I had a friend that caught several in East Bay up to 6 1/2 “We caught a lot of puppy drum between 14 and 16 FFilla said. “The trout are pounds,” he said. “He was fi shing on Spooks.” inches — perfect eating size,” Sams said. “The small drum tthere, but waiting for the Muckleroy said he has been throwing soft plastic shrimp were moving across the fl ats in less than 2 feet of water.” crcroaker to come in. We under a popping cork in Texas roach or chartreuse colors. The group was throwing dead shrimp. are catchingcatccatch oversized drum on Muckleroy said the North end of the bay system has seen The water was muddy, caused by a strong wind tide and crackedracked crab and shrimp and the reredfidfi sh on pin perch and an infl ux of freshwater and water temperatures are between they also caught several small reds. sea lice in about 18 inches of water.” 70 and 73 degrees withh fair Filla said he is pitching the pin perch live or as cut bait. clarity. “For trout, we are drifting with shrimp under popping To contact Capt. Not so hot corks.” Dean Muckleroy, PORT MANSFIELD — Fishing around the Port Mansfi eld Filla said the majority of fi sh are in shallow water, with call (281) 660- area has been slow according to guide Shane Jones. reds hanging along sand patches and grass lines and puppy 4280. “It’s been pretty windy and I haven’t been out that much drum being caught in their normal haunts on shell. — a few trips over spring break,” Jones said. “Honestly, the The water temperature has been between 68-70 degrees. fi shing has been mediocre. I took a couple of groups of kids To contact Capt. Randy Filla, call (361) 215-2332. Drums beating and we caught trout with shrimp under popping corks.” Jones said the top-water bite has been OK. COPANO BAY — Several anglers from the LSON crew The water temperatures are in the mid 60s. headed to the Copano Bay area for spring break, and Transitions to top-water “I’ve been heading north, but most guides have headed returned with reports of solid action for oversized black TRINITY/EAST BAYS — The trout and redfi sh bite has been drum, “puppy” black drum and redfi sh. south where the action has been a little better,” he added. good recently, despite a transition from winter to spring fi sh- According to David Sams, LSON founder, his family had To contact Shane Jones, call (956) 873-0453. ing, according to Capt. Dean Muckleroy. a great run of big drum on an outgoing tide using cracked — Conor Harrison “It’s been pretty good on protected shorelines over shell,” crabs as bait.

NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to mullet on soft plastics. Redfi sh piers on shrimp. Redfi sh are fair are fair to good in Oyster Lake on mullet and shrimp. redfi sh and sheepshead have good in the river on live shad. are good at the spillway on crabs to good on shrimp and crabs in on shrimp. Trout are fair on shell PORT ARANSAS: Black drum are been taken at the jetty. Trout and Redfi sh are good in the marsh and mullet. Moses Lake. and grass on soft plastics. Black good in the Shrimpboat Chan- redfi sh are fair to good on the on small top-waters and scented EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are FREEPORT: Sand trout and drum are fair to good at the jetty nel on crabs and fi nger mullet. edge of the Intracoastal on DOA plastics. good on the south shoreline on sheepshead are good on live on crabs. Redfi sh and sheepshead are fair Shrimp and Gulps. SOUTH SABINE: Sheepshead and twitch baits, soft plastics and shrimp on the reefs. Black drum PORT O'CONNOR: Trout and redfi sh to good at the jetty on shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Snook are fair in black drum are good at the jetty suspending jerkbaits. Whiting are good in Cold Pass and San are good on top-waters over soft CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair the Brownsville Ship Channel on live shrimp. Trout are fair and sand trout are good on the Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. mud in waist–deep water in San to good on the edge of the spoils on free–lined shrimp. Trout and around the Reef on live shrimp. edge of the Intracoastal on fresh Black drum are redfi sh are fair to Antonio Bay. Trout and redfi sh are on scented plastics and live redfi sh are fair to good in South Drifters have found good trout shrimp. good on live shrimp over reefs. fair for drifters working the back shrimp. Black drum are good in Bay on live shrimp. Sheepshead around mullet and shell. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are lakes with live shrimp. Redfi sh the Humble Channel at night on and mangrove snapper are fair BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good fair to good in the mud and shell fair to good for drifters in the are good in the back lakes for crabs and table shrimp. around the causeway on shrimp. on the south shoreline on soft on top-waters and Corkies in the afternoon on live shrimp over waders tossing gold spoons and —TPWD scented plastics. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good plastics and plugs. Black drum afternoon. Sheepshead, redfi sh humps and scattered shell. on the King Ranch shoreline on and redfi sh are good at Rollover and black drum are good at the Redfi sh are fair to good on the ROCKPORT: Black drum are good Corkies and top-waters. Black Pass on crabs. jetty on shrimp. edge of the Intracoastal on crabs in the Lydia Ann Channel on drum are good in the Land Cut TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for TEXAS CITY: Sheepshead and and mullet. crabs. Trout are fair over grass on crabs. drifters working pods of shad and sand trout are good around the WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfi sh while drifting with live shrimp. Redfi sh are fair on the Estes Flats SOUTH PADRE: Black drum, LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 17

Moon Phases Solunar | Sun times | Moon times Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor | | Full New window. F=Full Moon, N=New Moon, Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity. For other Sun Moon Tides locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 min- First April 6 Last April 21 Texas Coast Tides March 30 April 13 ute per 12 miles west of a location. Houston Sabine Pass, jetty Port O’Connor 2012 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Mar-Apr Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets Mar 23 4:37 AM 2.3H 10:21 AM 1.3L 3:42 PM 1.9H 10:07 PM 0.3L Mar 23 12:25 AM 0.1L 9:09 AM 0.5H 1:18 PM 0.4L 3:56 PM 0.4H 23 Fri > 6:19 12:08 6:41 12:30 07:20 07:34 7:38a 8:47p Mar 24 5:29 AM 2.3H 10:48 AM 1.5L 3:54 PM 2.0H 10:38 PM 0.2L Mar 24 12:48 AM 0.1L 10:18 AM 0.5H 24 Sat > 7:05 12:54 7:27 1:16 07:19 07:34 8:12a 9:41p Mar 25 6:21 AM 2.3H 11:17 AM 1.7L 4:03 PM 2.0H 11:13 PM 0.1L Mar 25 1:14 AM 0.1L 11:26 AM 0.6H 25 Sun > 7:54 1:43 8:17 2:06 07:18 07:35 8:48a 10:35p Mar 26 7:17 AM 2.3H 11:46 AM 1.9L 4:03 PM 2.1H 11:52 PM 0.1L Mar 26 1:47 AM 0.0L 12:40 PM 0.6H 26 Mon 8:45 2:34 9:09 2:57 07:17 07:35 9:27a 11:28p Mar 27 8:19 AM 2.3H 12:16 PM 2.0L 3:47 PM 2.1H Mar 27 2:30 AM 0.0L 2:10 PM 0.6H 27 Tue 9:38 3:26 10:02 3:50 07:16 07:36 10:10a NoMoon Mar 28 12:37 AM 0.2L 9:32 AM 2.3H 2:50 PM 2.1L 3:30 PM 2.2H Mar 28 3:24 AM 0.0L 3:51 PM 0.7H 28 Wed 10:31 4:19 10:55 4:43 07:14 07:37 10:56a 12:20a Mar 29 1:30 AM 0.2L 10:54 AM 2.3H Mar 29 4:30 AM 0.1L 4:57 PM 0.7H 29 Thu 11:24 5:11 11:48 5:36 07:13 07:37 11:46a 1:10a Mar 30 2:30 AM 0.3L 12:06 PM 2.3H Mar 30 5:47 AM 0.1L 5:47 PM 0.7H 30 Fri Q ----- 6:03 12:15 6:28 07:12 07:38 12:40p 1:57a Mar 31 3:38 AM 0.3L 12:47 PM 2.3H Mar 31 7:05 AM 0.1L 6:25 PM 0.7H 31 Sat 12:40 6:52 1:05 7:17 07:11 07:38 1:36p 2:42a Apr 01 4:46 AM 0.4L 1:11 PM 2.3H 6:45 PM 2.0L 10:18 PM 2.1H Apr 01 8:18 AM 0.1L 6:45 PM 0.7H 01 Sun 1:27 7:40 1:52 8:05 07:10 07:39 2:36p 3:24a Apr 02 5:50 AM 0.5L 1:29 PM 2.2H 6:36 PM 1.7L Apr 02 9:22 AM 0.2L 6:49 PM 0.6H 02 Mon 2:13 8:25 2:38 8:50 07:09 07:39 3:37p 4:04a Apr 03 12:01 AM 2.2H 6:48 AM 0.6L 1:45 PM 2.2H 7:03 PM 1.3L Apr 03 10:21 AM 0.3L 6:44 PM 0.5H 9:54 PM 0.5L 03 Tue 2:57 9:10 3:22 9:35 07:07 07:40 4:39p 4:43a Apr 04 1:20 AM 2.4H 7:42 AM 0.8L 2:00 PM 2.1H 7:39 PM 0.9L Apr 04 3:58 AM 0.6H 11:21 AM 0.4L 4:21 PM 0.5H 10:18 PM 0.4L 04 Wed > 3:41 9:54 4:07 10:19 07:06 07:41 5:43p 5:20a Apr 05 2:31 AM 2.6H 8:35 AM 1.1L 2:16 PM 2.2H 8:20 PM 0.4L Apr 05 6:12 AM 0.7H 10:54 PM 0.2L 05 Thu > 4:27 10:41 4:54 11:07 07:05 07:41 6:50p 5:59a Apr 06 3:37 AM 2.9H 9:26 AM 1.5L 2:33 PM 2.2H 9:04 PM -0.1L Apr 06 8:12 AM 0.7H 11:36 PM 0.1L 06 Fri F 5:18 11:32 5:46 11:59 07:04 07:42 7:58p 6:39a 07 Sat > 6:14 12:00 6:43 12:29 07:03 07:42 9:08p 7:24a Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Rockport 08 Sun > 7:17 1:01 7:47 1:32 07:02 07:43 10:18p 8:12a Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height 09 Mon 8:23 2:08 8:54 2:39 07:00 07:43 11:25p 9:06a Mar 23 5:24 AM 1.8H 10:47 AM 1.0L 4:29 PM 1.6H 10:33 PM 0.3L Mar 23 12:27 AM 0.0L 9:20 AM 0.2H 11:52 AM 0.2L 4:48 PM 0.2 10 Tue 9:31 3:16 10:02 3:47 06:59 07:44 NoMoon 10:05a Mar 24 6:16 AM 1.8H 11:14 AM 1.2L 4:41 PM 1.6H 11:04 PM 0.2L Mar 24 1:32 AM 0.0L 5:06 PM 0.2H 11 Wed 10:38 4:23 11:08 4:53 06:58 07:45 12:27a 11:06a Mar 25 7:08 AM 1.8H 11:43 AM 1.4L 4:50 PM 1.6H 11:39 PM 0.1L Mar 25 2:29 AM 0.0L 5:40 PM 0.2H Mar 26 8:04 AM 1.8H 12:12 PM 1.5L 4:50 PM 1.6H Mar 26 3:24 AM 0.0L 6:28 PM 0.2H Mar 27 12:18 AM 0.1L 9:06 AM 1.8H 12:42 PM 1.6L 4:34 PM 1.7H Mar 27 4:19 AM 0.0L 7:26 PM 0.3H Dallas Mar28 1:03 AM 0.1L 10:19 AM 1.8H 1:16 PM 1.7L 4:17 PM 1.7H Mar 28 5:17 AM 0.0L 8:29 PM 0.3H 2012 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Mar 29 1:56 AM 0.2L 11:41 AM 1.8H Mar 29 6:16 AM 0.0L 9:31 PM 0.3H Mar-Apr Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets Mar 30 2:56 AM 0.2L 12:53 PM 1.8H Mar 30 7:14 AM 0.1L 10:29 PM 0.3H 23 Fri > 6:24 12:14 6:46 12:35 07:26 07:39 7:40a 8:56p Mar 31 4:04 AM 0.3L 1:34 PM 1.8H Mar 31 8:09 AM 0.1L 11:28 PM 0.3H 24 Sat > 7:11 1:00 7:33 1:22 07:24 07:40 8:13a 9:52p Apr 01 5:12 AM 0.3L 1:58 PM 1.8H 7:11 PM 1.6L 11:05 PM 1.6H Apr 01 8:59 AM 0.1L 25 Sun > 8:00 1:48 8:23 2:11 07:23 07:41 8:48a 10:46p Apr 02 6:16 AM 0.4L 2:16 PM 1.8H 7:02 PM 1.4L Apr 02 12:35 AM 0.3H 9:45 AM 0.1L 26 Mon 8:51 2:39 9:14 3:03 07:22 07:42 9:27a 11:40p Apr 03 12:48 AM 1.8H 7:14 AM 0.5L 2:32 PM 1.7H 7:29 PM 1.1L Apr 03 1:59 AM 0.3H 10:29 AM 0.2L 5:42 PM 0.2H 8:38 PM 0.2L 27 Tue 9:43 3:31 10:07 3:55 07:20 07:42 10:09a NoMoon Apr 04 2:07 AM 1.9H 8:08 AM 0.7L 2:47 PM 1.7H 8:05 PM 0.7L Apr 04 3:54 AM 0.3H 11:08 AM 0.2L 4:25 PM 0.2H 10:32 PM 0.2L 28 Wed 10:36 4:24 11:01 4:49 07:19 07:43 10:55a 12:33a Apr 05 3:18 AM 2.1H 9:01 AM 0.9L 3:03 PM 1.7H 8:46 PM 0.3L Apr 05 6:29 AM 0.3H 11:32 AM 0.3L 3:28 PM 0.3H 11:48 PM 0.1L 29 Thu 11:29 5:17 11:54 5:42 07:18 07:44 11:45a 1:23a Apr 06 4:24 AM 2.3H 9:52 AM 1.2L 3:20 PM 1.8H 9:30 PM 0.0L Apr 06 2:50 PM 0.3H 30 Fri Q ----- 6:08 12:21 6:33 07:16 07:44 12:39p 2:10a 31 Sat 12:45 6:58 1:10 7:23 07:15 07:45 1:36p 2:54a San Luis Pass Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier 01 Sun 1:33 7:45 1:58 8:10 07:14 07:46 2:37p 3:35a Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height 02 Mon 2:18 8:31 2:43 8:56 07:13 07:46 3:39p 4:14a Mar 23 5:54 AM 1.1H 11:43 AM 0.6L 4:59 PM 0.9H 11:29 PM 0.2L Mar 23 5:00 AM 1.3H 11:12 AM 0.7L 3:27 PM 0.9H 10:12 PM 0.1L 03 Tue 3:03 9:15 3:28 9:40 07:11 07:47 4:43p 4:51a Mar 24 6:46 AM 1.1H 12:10 PM 0.7L 5:11 PM 0.9H Mar 24 5:59 AM 1.4H 12:05 PM 0.9L 3:09 PM 1.0H 10:43 PM 0.1L 04 Wed > 3:47 9:59 4:12 10:25 07:10 07:48 5:49p 5:27a Mar 25 12:00 AM 0.1L 7:38 AM 1.1H 12:39 PM 0.8L 5:20 PM 1.0H Mar 25 7:01 AM 1.4H 11:18 PM 0.0L 05 Thu > 4:33 10:46 4:59 11:13 07:09 07:48 6:57p 6:03a Mar 26 12:35 AM 0.1L 8:34 AM 1.1H 1:08 PM 0.9L 5:20 PM 1.0H Mar 26 8:10 AM 1.5H 11:59 PM 0.0L 06 Fri F 5:23 11:37 5:51 ----- 07:07 07:49 8:08p 6:42a Mar 27 1:14 AM 0.1L 9:36 AM 1.1H 1:38 PM 1.0L 5:04 PM 1.0H Mar 27 9:33 AM 1.5H 07 Sat > 6:20 12:05 6:49 12:34 07:06 07:50 9:19p 7:25a Mar 28 1:59 AM 0.1L 10:49 AM 1.1H 2:12 PM 1.0L 4:47 PM 1.0H Mar 28 12:47 AM 0.0L 11:06 AM 1.4H 08 Sun > 7:22 1:07 7:52 1:37 07:05 07:51 10:30p 8:12a Mar 29 2:52 AM 0.1L 12:11 PM 1.1H Mar 29 1:43 AM -0.1L 12:16 PM 1.4H 09 Mon 8:29 2:13 9:00 2:44 07:04 07:51 11:38p 9:05a Mar 30 3:52 AM 0.1L 1:23 PM 1.1H Mar 30 2:46 AM -0.1L 12:58 PM 1.4H 10 Tue 9:37 3:22 10:08 3:52 07:02 07:52 NoMoon 10:03a Mar 31 5:00 AM 0.2L 2:04 PM 1.1H Mar 31 3:53 AM -0.1L 1:26 PM 1.4H 11 Wed 10:43 4:29 11:13 4:58 07:01 07:53 12:40a 11:04a Apr 01 6:08 AM 0.2L 2:28 PM 1.1H 8:07 PM 0.9L 11:35 PM 1.0H Apr 01 5:00 AM -0.1L 1:46 PM 1.4H Apr 02 7:12 AM 0.2L 2:46 PM 1.1H 7:58 PM 0.8L Apr 02 6:04 AM 0.0L 2:01 PM 1.3H 7:44 PM 0.9L Apr 03 1:18 AM 1.1H 8:10 AM 0.3L 3:02 PM 1.0H 8:25 PM 0.6 L Apr 03 12:01 AM 1.1H 7:06 AM 0.2L 2:13 PM 1.3H 7:53 PM 0.7L San Antonio Apr 04 2:37 AM 1.2H 9:04 AM 0.4L 3:17 PM 1.0H 9:01 PM 0.4L Apr 04 1:37 AM 1.3H 8:07 AM 0.4L 2:21 PM 1.2H 8:16 PM 0.5L 2012 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Apr 05 3:48 AM 1.3H 9:57 AM 0.5L 3:33 PM 1.0H 9:42 PM 0.2L Apr 05 2:56 AM 1.5H 9:09 AM 0.7L 2:25 PM 1.2H 8:48 PM 0.2L Mar-Apr Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets Apr 06 4:54 AM 1.4H 10:48 AM 0.7L 3:50 PM 1.1H 10:26 PM 0.0L Apr 06 4:09 AM 1.7H 10:14 AM 1.0L 2:24 PM 1.3H 9:25 PM 0.0 L 23 Fri > 6:31 12:21 6:53 12:42 07:33 07:46 7:51a 9:00p 24 Sat > 7:18 1:07 7:40 1:29 07:32 07:47 8:25a 9:53p Freeport Harbor South Padre Island 25 Sun > 8:07 1:55 8:30 2:18 07:31 07:47 9:01a 10:47p Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height 26 Mon 8:58 2:46 9:21 3:10 07:29 07:48 9:41a 11:40p Mar 23 5:14 AM 1.5H 11:44 AM 0.8L 4:13 PM 1.1H 10:44 PM 0.2L Mar 23 5:06 AM 1.3H 11:15 AM 0.8L 3:08 PM 0.9H 10:15 PM 0.2L 27 Tue 9:50 3:38 10:14 4:02 07:28 07:48 10:24a NoMoon Mar 24 6:03 AM 1.5H 12:33 PM 0.9L 4:23 PM 1.1H 11:08 PM 0.2L Mar 24 6:07 AM 1.3H 12:08 PM 0.9L 2:47 PM 1.0H 10:46 PM 0.1L 28 Wed 10:43 4:31 11:08 4:56 07:27 07:49 11:10a 12:32a Mar 25 6:54 AM 1.5H 1:39 PM 1.0L 4:22 PM 1.1H 11:37 PM 0.1L Mar 25 7:10 AM 1.3H 11:19 PM 0.0L 29 Thu 11:36 5:24 ----- 5:49 07:26 07:49 12:00p 1:22a Mar 26 7:49 AM 1.5H Mar 26 8:21 AM 1.3H 11:57 PM 0.0L 30 Fri Q 12:04 6:15 12:28 6:40 07:25 07:50 12:53p 2:09a Mar 27 12:12 AM 0.1L 8:52 AM 1.5H Mar 27 9:49 AM 1.3H 31 Sat 12:52 7:05 1:17 7:30 07:24 07:51 1:50p 2:54a Mar 28 12:53 AM 0.1L 10:03 AM 1.5H Mar 28 12:41 AM 0.0L 11:27 AM 1.4H 01 Sun 1:40 7:52 2:05 8:17 07:22 07:51 2:49p 3:37a Mar 29 1:44 AM 0.1L 11:18 AM 1.6H Mar 29 1:32 AM 0.1L 12:35 PM 1.4H 02 Mon 2:25 8:38 2:50 9:03 07:21 07:52 3:50p 4:17a Mar 30 2:45 AM 0.1L 12:19 PM 1.6H Mar 30 2:33 AM 0.1L 1:11 PM 1.5H 03 Tue 3:10 9:22 3:35 9:47 07:20 07:52 4:52p 4:55a Mar 31 3:56 AM 0.2L 1:02 PM 1.6H Mar 31 3:39 AM 0.2L 1:34 PM 1.5H 04 Wed > 3:54 10:06 4:19 10:32 07:19 07:53 5:56p 5:33a Apr 01 5:11 AM 0.2L 1:33 PM 1.6H 8:45 PM 1.1L 11:00 PM 1.1H Apr 01 4:47 AM 0.2L 1:50 PM 1.5H 05 Thu > 4:40 10:53 5:06 11:20 07:18 07:53 7:02p 6:12a Apr 02 6:23 AM 0.2L 1:59 PM 1.5H 8:22 PM 1.0L Apr 02 5:54 AM 0.3L 2:00 PM 1.4H 7:33 PM 1.1L 11:33 PM 1.2H 06 Fri F 5:30 11:44 5:58 ----- 07:17 07:54 8:11p 6:53a Apr 03 12:38 AM 1.2H 7:29 AM 0.3L 2:22 PM 1.4H 8:22 PM 0.8L Apr 03 7:00 AM 0.4L 2:07 PM 1.3H 7:40 PM 0.8L 07 Sat > 6:27 12:12 6:56 12:41 07:15 07:55 9:21p 7:37a Apr 04 1:55 AM 1.4H 8:33 AM 0.4L 2:42 PM 1.3H 8:38 PM 0.6L Apr 04 1:19 AM 1.3H 8:05 AM 0.5L 2:09 PM 1.1H 8:03 PM 0.5L 08 Sun > 7:29 1:14 7:59 1:44 07:14 07:55 10:30p 8:26a Apr 05 3:03 AM 1.6H 9:37 AM 0.6L 3:02 PM 1.3H 9:05 PM 0.3L Apr 05 2:45 AM 1.4H 9:11 AM 0.6L 2:07 PM 1.0H 8:36 PM 0.1L 09 Mon 8:36 2:20 9:07 2:51 07:13 07:56 11:37p 9:20a Apr 06 4:07 AM 1.8H 10:41 AM 0.8L 3:19 PM 1.2H 9:40 PM 0.1L Apr 06 4:02 AM 1.5H 10:21 AM 0.8L 1:59 PM 1.0H 9:15 PM -0.2L 10 Tue 9:44 3:29 10:15 3:59 07:12 07:56 NoMoon 10:18a 11 Wed 10:50 4:36 11:20 5:05 07:11 07:57 12:39a 11:20a Amarillo 2012 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Mar-Apr Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets 23 Fri > 6:45 12:34 7:07 12:56 07:46 08:00 7:59a 9:20p 24 Sat > 7:31 1:20 7:53 1:42 07:44 08:01 8:31a 10:17p 25 Sun > 8:20 2:09 8:43 2:32 07:43 08:02 9:05a 11:12p 26 Mon 9:11 3:00 9:35 3:23 07:42 08:02 9:43a NoMoon 27 Tue 10:04 3:52 10:28 4:16 07:40 08:03 10:24a 12:07a 28 Wed 10:57 4:45 11:21 5:09 07:39 08:04 11:10a 12:59a 29 Thu 11:49 5:37 ----- 6:02 07:37 08:05 12:00p 1:50a 30 Fri Q 12:17 6:28 12:41 6:54 07:36 08:06 12:55p 2:37a 31 Sat 1:06 7:18 1:31 7:43 07:35 08:06 1:53p 3:20a 01 Sun 1:53 8:06 2:18 8:31 07:33 08:07 2:54p 4:00a 02 Mon 2:39 8:51 3:04 9:16 07:32 08:08 3:58p 4:38a 03 Tue 3:23 9:35 3:48 10:01 07:30 08:09 5:04p 5:13a 04 Wed > 4:07 10:20 4:33 10:45 07:29 08:09 6:11p 5:48a 05 Thu > 4:53 11:07 5:20 11:33 07:28 08:10 7:20p 6:24a 06 Fri F 5:44 11:58 6:11 ----- 07:26 08:11 8:32p 7:01a 07 Sat > 6:40 12:26 7:09 12:55 07:25 08:12 9:45p 7:42a 08 Sun > 7:42 1:27 8:13 1:58 07:24 08:13 10:57p 8:29a 09 Mon 8:49 2:34 9:20 3:05 07:22 08:13 NoMoon 9:21a 10 Tue 9:57 3:42 10:28 4:13 07:21 08:14 12:05a 10:18a 11 Wed 11:04 4:49 11:34 5:19 07:20 08:15 1:07a 11:20a

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen Solution on Page 23 FOR THE TABLE deer family 5. A very good hunter Venison tidbits 24. A game lure, scent 6. The trapper's interest ____ 7. A good bait for muskies 2 lbs. venison cut into bite-sized add a little tenderizer. Wash venison 26. Valuable part of a 8. Color worn by hunters chunks thoroughly to remove buttermilk. game for safety 2/3 cup red wine Heat oven to 170 degrees. Use 27. Name of a certain 11. Name for a large trophy fi sh 1 tsp. thyme 2 ounces of bacon fat to coat the lure 13. Game runways 1 tsp. tarragon venison pieces. Then heat in oven 29. A valuable fur bearer 16. A large grouping of 1/2 tsp. garlic powder until the venison is warm. Lightly 31. Teeth can reveal this animals 1 cup of diced onions saute the onion, mushrooms, tarra- of game 18. Commercial fi shermen 1 cup of sliced mushrooms gon, thyme and garlic powder in the 33. An excellent beaver bait use a very large one 4 ounces bacon fat remaining bacon fat. 34. Name for a type of 21. Figuring out the age of Buttermilk Slice the venison on a warm simple tent tracks Cut venison into bite-size chunks. serving dish, top with sauted onion/ Marinate the venison for three hours mushroom mix and serve. 35. Fishing poles 22. The wingshooter's helper in buttermilk. If it is an old animal, — wildgamerecipes.org 39. A group of decoys 23. A fuel for camp stoves 42. The ring______25. A black and white fur pheasant bearer 43. To construct a fl y 28. A good trap bait Teriyaki striped bass lure 29. A good scent bait for Striper fi llets for four cut into Heat one to two tablespoons of 44. A game bird traps portion sizes sesame oil and four tablespoons of 45. A stream fi sher- 30. Another good scent bait Sesame oil butter until hot. Add the four fi l- man's lure for traps Butter lets and saute until light brown on 46. Act of removing 32. Game found high in the Flour both sides. Add garlic and ginger meat from a carcass Rockies 1 tsp. garlic powder powder, peppers and lemon juice. ACROSS 14. Sharp horn on a boar 47. A bowman's protec- 35. A game pathway Cook until garlic begins to brown. 1/2 tsp. ginger powder Deglaze with 1/3 cup of sake. Add 1. Newborn elk 15. Fish that has no food or tor, arm ____ 36. Duck hunter's lure 2 diced Szechuan peppers 4. This holds the gun cartridge trophy value 37. A part of a trap eight tablespoons of teriyaki sauce. Juice from one half lemon Serve on a plate with a little of the 7. A species of geese 17. The baker is one DOWN 38. A type of arrowhead 1/3 cup sake or white wine sauce from the pan spooned over 9. A breed of gundog 19. Found above tree line in 1. Protective covers on 39. Angler's name for a large 1 tsp. sugar the fi sh. Top with diced scallions. 10. Angler's name for a large the Rockies scopes sturgeon 9 tbsps. teriyaki sauce — easyfi shrecipes.com trout 20. Name for unborn fi sh 2. An animal hideaway 40. To snare a game 12. Common name for the 21. The bowman 3. A cover area against foul 41. Has great affect on ar- brook trout 23. A large member of the weather row fl ight *E-mail LSON your favorite recipe to [email protected]. Page 18 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 19

TOURNAMENT BRIEFS Batteries we have yet to see one of our bat- teries simply ‘wear out.’” Continued From Page 9 The company also stated its Two Ryans take batteries save 170 to 260 pounds that’s good enough.” on a boat. Bass Champs on But Bennett said that “A bass boat will typically another appeal is the lithium- draft up to 2 inches higher in the LBJ ion batteries’ longevity — water, thus allowing for a greater Ryan Warren and Ryan about 10 years or more. range of shallow water fi shing Crawford, both of Gatesville, He said that if an angler is capabilities,” the company said. bested 161 other teams and replacing batteries every two to Both companies say their bat- took home fi rst place at the Bass three years, “changing to lithium teries maintain steady power Champs Central Region #2 on will help him in the long run.” curves right up until they’re Lake LBJ. Similar advantages are completely out of juice. So, The pair had narrowed fi shing reported by Lithionics of according to Lithionics, “Your areas to just a few spots — sight- Clearwater, Fla. trolling motor will run 100 per- fi shing for bass on the beds. “Our batteries are designed cent power for the entire charge “We drew boat No. 12, and to a 20-year life,” states a com- curve of the batteries.” headed to a dead-end canal by pany fact sheet. “In three years But considering sticker shock, the dam,” Crawford said. “It is a LITHIUM-ION AT WORK: Ott DeFoe, Bennett said he and his competitors small area, only the size of a really have a lot of work ahead of them. little pond. We had caught a few Bassmaster elite angler, has “I don’t think lead acid man- good ones in practice there, and outfi tted his boat with lithium-ion batteries, which are promoted as ufacturing facilities are going we were hoping they would move outperforming conventional batteries to be shutting down tomorrow in. for powering engines, trolling mo- because of lithium-ion,” he said. “I hooked one over 7 pounds, tors and onboard electronics. That and got it halfway to the boat “Entering the marine industry is, if you can get over the “sticker has potential, but it’s going to when it got off.” shock.” Photo by B.A.S.S. The pair left the area alone to take a lot of education.” give the bass time to settle down and caught several more fi sh before heading back to the spot later in the day. “We caught a lot of fi sh, and other boats kept coming by want- ing to get in that spot,” Crawford said. “We got lucky. When we went back for them, they bit again, but this time we got them in.” Boating two bass more than 7 pounds, the pair ended up with 23.31 pounds to take the win and $20,000. The father and son team of Sam and Cole Jones from Rogers took second place looking for bedded bass on Speed Craws and Gitzit baits along grassy fl ats. James Millsap boated the event’s biggest bass — an 8.62 pounder. —Bass Champs Weekend warriors win on Bud Light Trail The Bud Light Trail got under- way March 17-18 with three tournaments. The events were held for the Palestine Division on Lake Tyler, the Toledo Bend/Sam Rayburn Division on Sam Rayburn Reservoir and the Fort Worth Division on Eagle Mountain Lake. Jackie and Keith Gordon took home top honors on Lake Tyler; Tommy Rascoe and Alton Powell beat out the fi eld on Sam Rayburn; and David and Mike Stepich won on Eagle Mountain. —Bud Light Trail Jones, fellow Texans dominate St. Johns River Alton Jones and two other Texans swept the top three spots at the St. Johns River Showdown Bassmaster Elite Series event, which wrapped March 18 near Palatka, Fla. Jones, of Woodway, took fi rst with 75 pounds, 9 ounces, and won by a margin of 1 pound, 2 ounces over runner-up, fellow Texan Todd Faircloth of Jasper. Another Texan got third, Keith Combs of Huntington, with 71-2. Jones won $100,000 and an instant berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. He also was leading the Bassmaster Angler of the Year race following St. Johns. He relied on sight-fi shing all four days in several areas of the river’s Lake George. His primary lure was a 6-inch junebug-col- ored plastic stick bait. “I have a lot of confi dence in that color, and if it’s working, I don’t switch it,” he said. — B.A.S.S. Page 20 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com HEROES DARLA ROOKE of Junction recently fi shed in a tournament on Falcon International Reservoir, sponsored by Couples Associa- tion of Sport Tournaments. Fishing with her husband, Kenny, she boated these two largemouths, 7.8 and 8.8 pounds.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE ■ Want to share hunting and fi shing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? E-mail them with contact and caption information to [email protected]. High-resolu- tion original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX Fishing recently on Falcon International Reservoir with Outlaw Guide Service were DAN RIDDLE and TOMMY REEVES. Both 75355. fi sh were caught on guide Tommy Law’s Outlaw Jigs in bream color.

GEORGI BERRY of Austin shot two deer last season on the Crocker Ranch in Live Oak County. Georgi, who recently moved to Texas from Los Angeles, Calif., was mentored by August Crocker, who loaned her his custom Sako TRG rifl e chambered in .260 Remington. “Now,” said August, “if I could just get my rifl e back!” CHRIS MAHFOUZ (above) of Houston tagged this buck last season in Medina County. It was 203 2/8. “Not the largest I’ve killed,” Chris said, Taking a break MARSHALL PAYTON, 11, kept his cool “but certainly the from deer hunting, while hunting last October on his family’s prettiest!” Chris also ROBERT LEE and his farm near Paradise. Two bucks busted submitted this photo son, JUSTIN, both from cover, but Marshall applied deadly of HILARY SCHNEIDER of Katy, caught this aim with a .243-caliber Rossi. “I’m a very of Dallas (right) who, mess of crappie on proud dad,” said John Payton. while hunting on the their lease in Hous- same ranch, got her ton County. Their fi rst bow kill — a baits were 3-inch buck that measured swim baits. 160 1/8. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 21 Page 22 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

LONE STAR MARKET

To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at [email protected]. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 23

TEXAS BIG BITES

GIG ’EM: Seth Gibson, 9, of Cor- PENDING RECORD BUFFALO: Austin pus Christi gigged the current Anderson, 16, of Coppell com- junior state record southern peted recently in the inaugural fl ounder last December in the Lake Fork Carp and Buffalo Chal- Aransas Channel. The fl atfi sh lenge, but he got much more. His weighed 7.7 pounds. It was 24 50-pound, 6-ounce smallmouth inches long. Photo by TPWD. buffalo is a pending International Game Fish Association record for junior anglers. Photo by Austin Anderson.

Arkansas ‘record bass’ caught illegally Whoops. That has to be what Paul Crowder of Forrest City, Ark., is thinking. Less than two weeks after the Arkansas largemouth bass record apparently was set by Crowder and shown in the March 9 issue of Lone Star Outdoor News, an investigation by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has revealed that the fi sh was caught illegally. Crowder landed the 16-pound, 5-ounce fi sh Feb. 28 on Lake Dunn near Wynne, which would have broken the record by an ounce. The AGFC discovered that a license was purchased by Crowder three hours after he claimed to have caught the bass. Crowder’s fi shing license expired in April 2011. Crowder has been charged with fi shing without a license. He faces up to a $1,000 fi ne and up to 30 days in jail. —Staff report West Texas fi sh hatchery closes Operations at the Dundee State Fish Hatchery near Wichita Falls have been suspended due to a lack of suffi cient water, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offi cials announced. “Although many parts of the state recently received good rains, the area west of Wichita Falls around Lakes Kemp and Diversion did not,” said Todd Engeling, director of hatchery operations for TPWD. “As a result, operations at the Dundee Fish Hatchery will be temporarily suspended until conditions in Lake Kemp improve.” The Dundee hatchery is one of the state’s primary producers of striped bass and hybrid striped bass fi ngerlings for stocking into Texas public waters. “We will be adjusting normal production plans and shift efforts at other facilities away from large- mouth bass to produce striped bass and hybrid striped bass fi ngerlings,” Engeling said. —TPWD

Puzzle solution from Page 17 Page 24 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

DATEBOOK March 23 March 25 April 4 April 13-14 Coastal Conservation Student Angler Federation Hill Country Quail Coalition Texas Deer Association Annual Dinner and Banquet Greater Houston Executive Editor Craig Nyhus Association Texas High School Fishing State Texas A&M Chapter Championship The Bob Bullock Museum, Austin Area Banquet and Editor Bill Miller quailcoalition.org Annual Banquet Lake Lavon Auction Associate Editor Conor Harrison Brazos Valley Civic (580) 765-9031 Crowne Plaza Center, Bryan highschoolfi shing.org April 7 Reliant, Houston Associate Editor Mark England Texas Team Trail Tournament (559) 901-9783 (210) 767-8300 Graphics Editor Amy Moore Lake Ray Roberts texasdeerassociation.com ccatexas.org March 26 (210) 788-4143 Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Coastal Conservation Association texasteamtrail.com April 13-15 Operations Manager Mike Hughs March 23-24 West Texas Chapter Annual Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas Parks and Wildlife Banquet Accounting Ginger Hoolan April 12 Department Department Midland Country Club Ducks Unlimited Web site Bruce Soileau 4th Annual Women in the Wild Bass Management Workshop (432) 682-3499 Bellaire Dinner Rockport Meridian Banquet Room, Bellaire National Advertising Mike Nelson Texas Freshwater Fisheries ccatexas.org (361) 790-2611 Accounts Manager (713) 501-1286 Center, Athens townrockport.org (979) 845-2604 March 29 ducks.org Advertising Sales Jaimey Honea tpwd.state.tx.us Coastal Conservation Association Texas Wildlife Association April 14 Founder & CEO Brazoria County Chapter Banquet David J. Sams 1st Annual TWA Capital Classic Coastal Conservation Association Cabela’s Collegiate Lake Jackson Civic Center Golf Tournament Inland/Greater Woodlands Contributors Kyle Carter Big Bass Bash (979) 266-9104 Hills of Lakeway Chapter Alan Clemons Lake Lavon ccatexas.org Golf Course, Austin Crawfi sh Boil David Draper (210) 697-8081 (210) 826-2904 Papa’s Ice House, Spring Wilbur Lundeen Aaron Reed collegiatebasschampionship.comonship com Coastal Conservation Association ext. 114 (800) 626-4222 Erich Schlegel 34th Annual Corpus Christi texas-wildlife.org ccatexas.org David Sikes March 23-25 Banquet Dallas Woods and Scott Sommerlatte SCI North Texas Chapter American Bank Center Bass Champs Tournament Chuck Uzzle Water Club Outdoor Expo Show (361) 563-2010 North Region #3 Ralph Winingham Monthly Meeting Lake Fork Bass Pro Shops, ccatexas.org Sheraton Dallas Grapevine (817) 439-3274 North Hotel basschamps.com (940) 612-1928 Whitetails Unlimited (214) 570-8700 scinorthtexas.com North Texas Deer dwwcc.org April 14-15 Camp Advertising Seven Coves Bass Club Call (214) 361-2276 For home delivery March 24 The Cotton Mill, Big Covey Quail subscriptions 1st Annual Lake Conroe Big Bass or e-mail editor@lone Texas Swordfi sh McKinney Coalition staroutdoornews.com www.LSONews.com Annual banquet Extravaganza to request a media kit. (214) 361-2276 2nd Annual Seminar (972) 345-8265 Outdoor Education Center, Sport Harbour Marina Surfside Marina, Surfside Beach whitetailsunlimited.com Wichita Falls (903) 383-7748 (281) 344-9083 quailcoalition.org bigbassextravaganza.com Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of boobytrapfi shingteam.com March 30 Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes Ducks Unlimited twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 April 13 April 19 Bass Champs Tournament Lone Star Flyway for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, Ducks Unlimited Dallas Safari Club one per person. Copyright 2012 with all East Region #3 Shoot Frisco DU Texas Hold’em Monthly meeting rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of Sam Rayburn Reservoir American Shooting any photographic or written material with- Tournament Place TBD out written permission by the publisher is (817) 439-3274 Center, Houston Fairy Tale Manor, Frisco (214) 980-9800 prohibited. Subscribers may send address basschamps.com (713) 724-2237 (972) 743-5230 biggame.org changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. ducks.org Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or e-mail ducks.org them to [email protected]. CLASSIFIEDS

MUST SELL HOUSE LAKEFORKLODGE.COM STATE WATERFOWL 3 Bedrooms/garage for Recognized as one of the STAMP/PRINT COLLECTION your boat. 3 miles from top fi shing lodges in North FOR SALE boat ramp. Corpus Christi America. Also booking upland 32 total signed and num- area. $67,000 OBO. Call bird, duck, deer, and hog hunts. bered state prints and stamps (361) 205-4730 (903) 473-7236 from around the country 12 state fi rst; Louisiana, Vermont, Arizona,Kansas, Rhode 184 ACRES Island, Kentucky, Connecticut, DECOYS WANTED MILLS COUNTY Idaho, Virginia, Nebraska, WOODEN Ag. exempt, awesome Canada, Australia. 10 from Duck and Goose. Top views, oaks and native pas- South Carolina. All unframed. prices paid. Ask for David. ture. Electricity, 2 wells, Great art work for any water (214) 361-2276 pond + barns. Great deer fowlers offi ce wall or hunting hunting. $3200 acre. Visit camp. Call and ask for David. doglegranch.webs.com 214-361-2276 GREAT FISHING & HUNTING HOUSE FOR SALE IN ARCHERY HOG HUNTS Approx. 5 acres. King KERRVILLE NOW OFFERING Salmon, Alaska. Borough Come to the mecca of In Llano, Texas. Night hunts road and electricity. Major Texas hunting in the conducted with feeder airline and bush service. heart of the Hill Country. lights, $125. For details call (907) 953-9230 Awesome 3/3 with a guest Hills of Texas Taxidermy. house close to down- (325) 247-2441 town and the ranches. SOUTH PADRE 505 Elm St. Call FISHING DEER LEASE WANTED (830) 896-5503 Reds, Trout, Flounder, Lone Star Outdoor News Snook. Everything sup- is looking for a hunt- SIDE-BY-SIDE plied but food and licenses. ing and fi shing lease with SHOTGUN Multiple trip discounts. Call all hunt and fi sh rights. Smith & Wesson Elite Gold Capt. Thomas for details Central or Northwest Texas. 20-gauge, 26” BBL, English or [email protected]. Camphouse is needed. stock. In box, never fi red. (956) 551-1965 (214) 361-2276 (214) 361-2276 x 201 PER WORD $12 issues minimum Classifi ed Order Form LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 25 PRODUCTS KVD SEXY DAWG: This dog will be a pleasure to walk! B.A.S.S. Elite Series angler Kevin VanDam designed Strike King Lure Company’s new top-water hardbait. Described as the best walking bait made, it is a far- casting lure that features 3D eyes, a loud internal rattle, and side-to-side popping ac- tion that will make fi sh crazy curious. It comes in two sizes and a three-hook or two-hook version. The 4 1/2-inch-long model sells for just under $9.

HALE FIRE TURKEY CALL:

Hunters will be talking fl uent turkey with Knight & Hale’s (901) 853-1455 single-reed call. It is easy to use, even for novice callers. Constructed of www.strikeking.com>> a molded body with an aluminum centerpiece, the call features the com- pany’s “Threadlock” design, which makes it easy to disassemble and clean quickly in case it is dropped. The Hale Fire sells for about $20. (For more new pyg,gproducts for turkey hunting, see article on Page 6.)

(479) 782782-8971,-8971, Ext. 103 www.knightandhale.comnightandhale.com >>

POPSNAGGERS: >> Essential little pliers for anglers, the PopSnaggers were concconceptualizedonceptualizedceptualized by a crafty angler who needed a tool to punch the paint out of a new lure lure’s’s eyeeeye-ye- let, quickly, so that he could thread his line before the fi sshh wwereere gone. The cone-shaped point on the nose of these pliers can removemove paint ffromrom almost any size of lead-headed jigs. Once the paint hasas bbeeneen rere-- VENUSS LLUMBARUMMBAR PAPACK:CK: moved, spin the pliers around. Then, use the threader ttoo ppushush

Put on tthishiss ddurableurable pacpackk ththroughror the jig's eyelet and attach it to the line. Now you’re readyeady from PPrecisionrecission PPakak to easeasilyily carcar-- ttoo tie it up and cast. The multi-purpose tool also has a hone on ry fi shingng ggear.ear. Made ooff durable 4420D20D tthehe oother handle for sharpening dull hooks.>> It sells for about $30.30. nylon, tthehe ccontouredontoured pacpackk hhasas tthreehree zzip-ip- pered pocketskdidhhid and a side horseshoe-zippered www.popsnagger.comere .comom pocket to hold plenty of lures, line and more. It even has the capacity to ac- commodate a tackle box. The Venus Lumbar Pack comes in two sizes. The small measures 9 inches by 4 inches by 5.5 inches while the large mea- RUGER AMERICAN RIFLE: sures 12 inches by 4 inches by 6.5 inches. The pack sells for about $30 to Sturm, Ruger & Company’s new value-priced fi rearm is a 100-percent American-made bolt-action rifl e that is $40, depending on size. offered in short- and long-action calibers. This 6 1/4-pound rifl e has a user-adjustable trigger pull that can be set between 3 and 5 pounds and a “Power Bedding” system that uses stainless-steel bedding blocks that www.precision-pak.com are insert-molded into the stock to positively locate the receiver and free-fl oat the barrel. The barrel’s rifl ing is cold hammer-forged to exacting tolerances, providing sub-MOA accuracy, long-term endurance, and a mirror- smooth fi nish that is eaeasysy to cleanclean.. The rifl e carries easileasily,y, sshouldersh quickly, and shoots comfortably, thanks to the ergonomic design of its trim, lightweight stock with an ambidextrous palm swell and soft rubber

recoil pad. Other features include: dual-cocking

cams incorporated into the bolt assembassembly to provide smoother, easier bolt cycling; a 70-de- >> gree bolt throw that provides ample scope clearance and reduces cycling time; and a fl ush-fi t rotarotaryry mmagazineagazine that ooffersffers smooth and reliable ffeeding.eeding. ThThee rifl e’s receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting the included scope bases. It sells for about $450.

(603) 86865-24425-2442 wwww.ruger.comww.ruger.com

First aid Turkey opener Continued From Page 5 Continued From Page 1

This doctrine, for example, stresses This is key, Frankfurt said, because more effi cient ways to control bleeding. the tourniquet has long been misunder- The modern soldier can now do that stood. with new gauze pads impregnated with “People were taught that if you put substances that promote clotting. someone into a tourniquet, you’ve com- Also available are new tourniquets mitted him to an amputation,” Frankfurt said. “But in the Civil War, the reason with special tensioners about the size of a people lost their legs was because the ballpoint pen that put powerful constric- battlefi eld was such that it might be a tion on a bleeding arm or leg. day or more before you were extracted. “Instead of a last resort, (a tourniquet is) a fi rst resort and you should leave it on until a doctor takes it off.” Hunting accidents are rare, according to Texas Parks and ALREADY SEARCHING: Wildlife Department data. Many hens are reportedly There were four fatalities in already on nests in South 2010 in Texas, down from 37 Texas, meaning gobblers in 1968, a few years before will be looking for willing hunter safety education hens, or hunters that became mandatory. sound like one. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON. But the class taught by Frankfurt also deals with other from the hens. Uvalde and Corpus Christi. Jackson said many birds emergencies like choking on Guides didn’t hear many Many areas had greened up were called in, but many food. Instructors also stress toms on the roost, but they nicely after good rains to of the young hunters suc- having a plan to summon a knew where they were and produce good nesting cover cumbed to their excitement quick medical evacuation. once they hit the ground, for hens, many of which when it came to harvesting “The point is, on the bat- they called them in eas- were already on nests. the toms. tlefi eld, you have a bunch ily, according to one guide. Outside of Brackettville, “Most had the opportu- of healthy 20-year-olds run- They reported no jakes, just Terrance Jackson of the nity to take a bird, but we ning around,” he said, “but on mature birds. National Wild Turkey had some near misses,” he the ranch in South Texas, it’s A jake and hen decoy Federation, Harris County said. “We did this same hunt 60-year-olds, so we teach an combination worked great Wildlife Group, took a large last year and there were a lot effective Heimlich maneuver all weekend, and lured group of youngsters on their more birds this season.” and CPR.” plenty of strutting action. fi rst turkey hunts. Jackson said he hunted John Follis of Tactical Gear One guide said he had “The birds were really two huge groups of toms Now said classes can be custom- a hunter miss four differ- responding,” he said. “They during the weekend, with ized for half or full days, with ent toms with a bow before gobbled a lot. We actually one group containing 29 possible shooting tips from switching to a shotgun and saw more gobblers than birds. professional instructors. The connecting with two on one hens, so I assume a lot of “I’ve never seen them like NEW AND IMPROVED: This modern medical gauze is impreg- shot. hens were already on the this,” he said. “We didn’t nated with substances that help promote faster blood clotting. classes could be held on shoot- Reports of solid action nest. They were very respon- see a single jake, but there These pads are issued to the military, but hunters can also ing ranges, and venues outside also came in from Goliad, sive to calling.” are big groups of toms. buy them. Photo by Bill Miller, LSON. the Dallas area. Page 26 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

Tickets Continued From Page 1 Did you know? with speed traps,” he said. total 2011 revenue from rec- personnel were cadets still Newton, TPWD’s manager include trespassing, drugs “But quotas are not lawful reational hunting and fi sh- in the academy. of license revenue. “This and traffi c violations, but ■ In 2011, Texas game wardens — not for us, not the sher- ing violations amounted to When presented with year we’re at $65.7 mil- TPWD doesn’t get any rev- issued 18,086* tickets for iffs and not for the police about $600,000. the fi ndings of the analy- lion, which is $2.9 million enue from that. recreational hunting and fi shing department. By comparison, 2010 sis, Flores said he wasn’t down.” It can only collect revenue “Mainly, what we want generated around $1.3 mil- surprised. He said fewer Flores insisted, however, from violations of the Parks violations. That amounted to our wardens to do is to be lion and 2009 saw about people went hunting and that wardens weren’t slack- and Wildlife Code, but there averages of: out in the fi eld making $1.5 million in fi nes. fi shing last year because of ing in 2011. are controls on how it can be contacts, educating peo- The study only looked at the economy and because “Any time you see spikes, spent, Flores said. 1,507 per month ple. violations involving recre- drought made a lot of lakes especially in fuel, it’s a rip- For example, there is 348 per week “And, in the course of con- ational hunting and fi shing, too shallow to launch boats. ple effect to everything,” “split” for Class C misde- 50 per day tacts, they’ll fi nd violations.” which are how most people Other TPWD data he said. “Obviously we’re meanors; 85 percent goes to 2.06 per hour Flores said wardens encounter game wardens. showed that license pur- not going to contact as Fund 9, which pays for all couldn’t write enough Not included were vio- chases for hunting and fi sh- many folks if there are not TPWD programs, while 15 ■ By comparison, 22,875* tickets tickets to fund the Law lations involving com- ing started to fall last year, that many in the fi eld.” percent goes to the counties were written in 2009, which Enforcement Division of mercial fi shing and special and the trend has contin- Scott Vaca, assistant chief, where the tickets are written. amounted to averages of: Texas Parks and Wildlife permits. Water safety vio- ued into 2012. Hunting said wardens, being sworn And TPWD can only

Department — a budget of lations also were not con- and fi shing license sales are peace offi cers, must also spend Fund 9 allocations about $46 million. sidered. off 4.3 percent for the fi rst enforce the state’s penal code. that are authorized by the 1,906 per month The limitations of ticket Averages were developed six months of the current “Any state law, we can Legislature. 440 per week revenue were evident based on the number of “license year,” which began enforce,” Vaca said. “Like Flores said that “if we 63 per day in 2011, when citations game wardens in the fi eld Sept. 1. a domestic violence situa- were in this for money 2.61 per hour dropped drastically from as of March 2012 — 488. “Last year, for the same tion; if a couple is going at making” a lot more tickets *Includes only hunting and fi shing viola- the previous two years. Flores said he was autho- six-month period, we sold it on a boat ramp, the law would have to be written. tions. An analysis by Lone Star rized to deploy 532 war- $68.6 million in recre- says you shall arrest.” And, he added, “there Outdoor News showed that dens, but the remaining ational licenses,” said Tom Other penal code offenses would be no warnings issued.”

Fishing Hunting Number of citations for recreational Total fi nes and average revenue per game warden hunting & fi shing violations 14,000 from recreational hunting & fi shing citations 2009, 2010, 2011 Annual Average Monthly Average Daily Average Revenue Revenue Revenue 12,000 12,381 3,000 $2,986 11,747 $2,696 10,000 10,494 10,320 2,500 9,810 Total Fines 2009 $1.5 M 8,000 2,000 7,766 1,500 6,000 Total Fines 2010 $1.3 M 4,000 1,000 $1,196 Total Fines 2011 2,000 500 $0.6 M

$249 $8 0 $225 $7 $100 $3 2009 2010 2011 2009 2010 2011

OUTDOOR BUSINESS LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News March 23, 2012 Page 27 Page 28 March 23, 2012 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com