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-. 4 , , ~ - .~4 ~ ,TEXASS DOCUMENTS rn,[1 texas & news TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT " AUSTIN, TEXAS 78744 In the March 1, 1989 issue: . . . . . - - - 1 Cold Weather Killed 7.5 million Coastal Fish ...... - - - 2 Three Waterfowl Habitat Projects Completed ...... - ...... - - - 4 Crappie Population Strong At Cypress Springs ...... - . . . . - 5 Volksmarch Walk-A-Thon Set At Guadalupe Park ...... 5 Boater Education Classes Offered In Houston . . . . 6 . . . - . - - - - Big Gag Is No Joke To Charter Boat Captain . . . . 7 ...... - . - - -H.- R. Magee's Bass Finally Bumped From Top 50 10 Top 50 Bass List ...... - . ------

COLD WEATHER KILLED 7.5 MILLION COASTAL FISH

was fatal to AUSTIN -- The recent frigid weather on the Texas Gulf Coast differences between the approximately 7.5 million fish. There were many Texas Parks and recent cold weather and the record-setting 1983 freeze, the

Wildlife Department said.

Dr. Jerry Clark, chief of the department's Coastal Fisheries Branch, the 1983 said the February norther affected a relatively smaller area than

freeze, but losses of sport and forage fish were high in East Matagorda Bay

and in St. Charles Bay of the Aransas Bay system.

optimistic "During and for a week after the cold temperatures, we were adverse that few fish were killed," Clark said. "However, because of

weather conditions, department planes were grounded and no aerial

assessments could be made." Once observers got airborne, he said, they

discovered that some bays were hard hit.

more than Of the estimated 7.5 million fish killed in the recent freeze,

5.5 million were bay anchovies, a tiny forage fish. However, biologists

UofNTDepLrle C0 PAGE 2

estimate that 240,000 spotted seatrout (speckled trout), 109,000 black

drum, 47,000 red drum (redfish) and 52,000 sheepshead also were killed

The 1983 freeze was fatal to about 14 million fishes, including 567,000

spotted seatrout, 225,000 black drum, 90,000 red drum, 183,000 sheepshead

and about 7 5 million forage fish

Clark said about 75 percent of the dead spotted seatrout, red drum and

black drum were observed in East Matagorda and St Charles Bays Lesser numbers were killed in Mesquite, Carlos and Ayres Bays and in the Land Cut

and Port Mansfield areas

Clark said the current estimates are preliminary and based on fish found

along the shoreline only "Once biological sampling is completed, these

figures may be revised," he said

"All in all, the recent cold weather created several surprises for department biologists," Clark said, "but the fishery resources of Texas did not suffer the devastating losses seen in 1983-84 "

JC 2/24/89

THREE WATERFOWL HABITAT PROJECTS COMPLETED

TENNESSEE COLONY -- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and

Ducks Unlimited, Inc (DU) recently met at the department's Engeling

Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to mark the completion of three waterfowl habitat projects in East Texas PAGE 3

The projects, located at the Engeling WMA in Anderson County, Richland

Creek WMA in Freestone and Navarro Counties and Keechi Creek WMA in Leon

County, were cost-shared on a 50-50 basis under DU's M A, R S H (Matching

Aid to Restore States' Habitat) program

The TPWD's share of the costs was funded by sales of Texas Waterfowl

Stamps and art prints

These projects are the first waterfowl habitat developments completed by the TPWD under the aegis of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan

(NAWMP) The TPWD is a partner in three joint ventures under the plan

They are the Lower Mississippi Valley (East Texas bottomland hardwoods),

Gulf Coast and Playa Lakes joint ventures MWA R S H projects also are underway in Shelby, Brazoria, Matagorda and Calhoun Counties

Dr Dan Moulton, program leader for waterfowl habitat acquisition and development, said hunters and conservationists can support the TPWD's wetland preservation and development program by purchasing Texas waterfowl

Stamps and Prints Print reproductions of the stamp art are available from

art dealers or from Collectors Covey, P 0 Box 57306, Dallas, TX 75207,

(214) 630-4981 Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Waterfowl Habitat

Fund, TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 DM 3/1/89 PAGE 4

CRAPPIE POPULATION STRONG AT CYPRESS SPRINGS

MT VERNON -- Lake Cypress Springs has become one of the East Texas area's top crappie producing lakes, according to the Texas Parks and

Wildlife Department

Fishery Technician Pope Fisher of Marshall said recent frame net surveys on the 3,400-acre lake indicate good populations of the popular panfish are available for anglers

Crews collected 87 white crappie and 18 black crappie in the net survey

Size structure of the fish was excellent, Fisher said, with 48 percent of the white crappie measuring over 10 inches in length Individual fish up to 14 inches long were collected

Of the 30 crappie selected for age. and growth analysis, 25, or 83 percent, were at least three years old "In many East Texas reservoirs, crappie populations are dominated by small fish less than two years old," said Fisher "The abundance of older fish indicates Cypress Springs should provide an excellent opportunity for fishermen seeking quality-sized crappie "

Fisher said there is no minimum length limit for crappie at Cypress

Springs The bag limit is 25 per day, with a possession limit of 50

The lake is located south of Mt Vernon off FM 21 The lake is PAGE 5

and there are controlled by the Franklin County Freshwater District, Fisher said .several areas for public access around the lake, JC 3/1/89

VOLKSMARCH WALK-A-THON SET AT GUADALUPE PARK

expected to BULVERDE -- Walking enthsiasts of all sizes and ages are at Guadalupe participate in the annual Northeast WMCA Indian Trailwalk

River State Park on March 11-12

in the volksmarch Park Superintendent Duncan Muckelroy said participants the park's 10 kilometer event can walk,. jog or run run at their own pace on

(6 2-mile) trail

For further information Registration will begin at 8 a m March 11 YMCA, 10710 contact event organizer Buzz Clark at the Northeast Branch (512) 652-5234 Nacogdoches, P 0 Box 47607, San Antonio, TX 78265, ESC 3/1/89

BOATER EDUCATION CLASSES OFFERED IN HOUSTON

conduct boater HOUSTON -- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will R education classes and instructor workshops March 11-12 at the George

Brown Convention Center in Houston

March 11 The boater education class will be held from 1-7 p m PAGE 6

Persons interested in attending should contact Guy Connelley at (713) 494-3626

The instructor workshop is slated for 12 noon to 6 p ,m March 12, also at the convention center Those interested should contact Gina Swift, boater education coordinator for the department, by calling toll-free

1-800-792-1112, or (512) 389-4999

Swift said the instructor course is open to adults who have completed the student course and feel they could effectively teach the boating education course on a volunteer basis JC 3/1/89

BIG GAG IS NO JOKE TO CHARTER BOAT CAPTAIN

AUSTIN -- It's a gag, no joke

Charter boat captain Arlie Harrison of Port O'Connor knew he had something unusual when he pulled a grouper-like fish aboard his boat on

Jan 31

No one aboard could positively identify the fish, but upon returning to port the 19 1/2-pound fish turned out to be a gag It now is the new state record, beating the previous record fish by a full seven pounds

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist Steve Marwitz said gags are members of the grouper family, of which several species are caught off the Texas coast "The variable colors that groupers exhibit often makes PAGE 7

them difficult to identify," Marwitz said He said identification of

Harrison's fish was based on spine and ray counts on the fins and a count

of scales along the lateral line

Also certified recently as a new state saltwater record was a three-

pound, 12-ounce Atlantic stingray caught by Bryan Ellis of Hitchcock in

Jones Bay during May 1988

JC 3/1/89

H, R. MAGEE'S BASS FINALLY BUMPED FROM TOP 50

AUSTIN -- A quarter-century ago, there seemed little hope that anyone would ever break the state record for largemouth bass HR Magee' s

13-pound, eight-ounce monster caught in 1943 appeared to be, in .fact, unbeatable

That theory was shot in February 1980 when Jim Kimbell of Pittsburg set a new state record with a 14-pound, 1 1/2-ounce bass caught from Lake

Monticello

This week another milestone occurred, one that is even more remarkable than Kimbell's feat Richard McCarty caught a 13-pound, nine-ounce bass from Lake Fork near Quitman on Saturday McCarty's fish in effect bumped

H, R, Magee's bass off the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's list of the state's 50 biggest bass

As seasoned bass fishermen know, this avalanche of big-bass records is a PAGE 8 result of introductions of Florida-strain bass into Texas waters Although the Florida fish look virtually identical to native (northern) largemouths found in Texas, they have faster growth rates and can achieve larger sizes at maturity

McCarty's catch, plus three more big bass caught during the past week, bring the TPWD's "Operation Share A Lone Star Lunker" program up to speed, according to Bill Rutledge, chief of the agency's Hatchery Branch

Rutledge said one of the new entries is a 13-pound, 13 ounce bass caught by Richard Todd of Hurst Sunday at 1,500-acre Lake Athens near Athens

Todd's fish was impressive not only in weight, but also because of its the length At 27 75 inches, the fish was a quarter-inch longer than was current state record fish when it was certified in 1986

The state record bass, caught by fishing guide Mark Stevenson at Lake

Fork, weighed 17 pounds, 10.7 ounces

The other three new lunker bass were caught from Lake Fork near Quitman, which has produced six of the seven bass in the lunker program this year a They are a 13-1 caught Friday by Paul Robinson of Shreveport, La on spinnerbait; a 13-9 caught Saturday by Richard McCarty of Alba on a jig and pork rind, and a 13-1 caught by Rick Gore of Arlington, also Saturday on a jig and pork rind

All four new lunker fish arrived at the Tyler Fish Hatchery in good condition, according to David Campbell, superintendent Under the Lone

Star Lunker program, 13-pound-plus largemouths are loaned to the PAGE 9

are returned to the lake department's hatchery for spawning, then normally fish, alive Participating anglers get free fiberglass replicas of the donated by the Texas Taxidermy Association JC 3/1/89 TEXAS TOP LARGEMOUTH BASS

WEIGHT LENGTH AGE # (ib) (oz) (inch) ID, (yrs) RESERVOIR DATE ANGLER

1 * 17 10 70 27 50 10 Lake Fork Nov- 86 Mark Stevenson 2 17 4,16 Lake Fork Feb-.88 Larry Barnes 3 * 16 14, 58 27 63 FLMB 10 Pinkston Feb-86 Earl Crawford 4 16 12 32 Mill Creek Mar-88 Herchel Brickey 5 16 9 .44 26 00 Lake Fork May 87 Guy Whitherspoon 6 16 2 50 26 00 7 Gibbons Creek Jan-*88 Troy Johnson 7 16 1 00 27 50 Lake Fork Mar-88 Tom Hallum 8 15 8 50 27 00 Lake Fork Apr-87 Dennis Canada 9 * 15 8 00 25 75 F-1 Echo (private) Feb-81 John Alexander Jr 10 15 3 75 27 50 Welsh Dec-83 Bill Ockerhausen

11 15 3 00 27 00 Houston County Mar-88 Terry Walling 12 15 2 50 26 50 Lake Fork Feb-89 Bill Lozano 13 15 2 00 27 50 FLMB Jacksonville Apr-86 Melvin Berry 14 14 14 00 27 00 Lake Fork May-88 Art Keenom 15 14 13 28 Lake Fork Mar.88 Robby Bickley 16 14 12 25 25 00 6 Lake Fork Feb-88 M, L, George 17 14 10 00 26 50 FLMB 9 Mill Creek Mar-86 Mike Reeve 18 14 8 80 28 00 Lake Murvaul Feb--88 Larry Schubert 19 14 8 48 27 00 Lake Fork Jul..88 Gaylan Wooldridge 20 14 8 00 28 50 Lake Fork Apr-,88 Jeff Neighbors

21 14 6 75 25 63 Jacksonville Mar--86 Eddie Lumpkins 22 14 6 50 Houston County Mar-.86 Dan Bush 23 14 6.4 25 25 Mill Creek Mar-88 James Jordan 24 * 14 5 00 26 63 F-1 Echo (private) Jan--81 John Alexander Jr 25 14 3 50 Monticello Feb-84 Jackie Walker 26 14 3 36 25 00 Murvaul Mar-87 Stan Ritter 27 * 14 1 50 28 00 FLMB Monticello Feb-80 Jim Kimbell 28 14 1 00 Monticello Jan-84 Max Roach 29 14 1 00 28 00 Pinkston May-85 Ronnie Denard 30 14 0 32 27 25 Nacogdoches Mar- 86 Jimmy Williams

31 13 15 00 26 00 Lake Fork Jul-87 Tony Clark 32 13 14, 50 27 00 F-X 7 Lake Fork Jun-.86 Todd Hunter 33 13 14 00 Choke Canyon Nov--88 T L, Rutherford 34 13 13 00 27 00 Jacksonville Feb--86 Robert Parker 35 13 13 00 23 66 FLMB 9 Mill Creek Mar-86 Mike Reeve 36 13 12 00 Houston County Oct.,85 Paul Sivy 37 13 12 00 26 00 Mill Creek Sep--87 Don Gilley 38 13 11 68 27 00 FLMB Private Lake Sep-86 Bennie Boles 39 + 13 11 00 27 75 Athens Feb--89 Richard Todd 40 13 10 56 26 75 9 Mill Creek Aug-86 Bill Ballard

41 13 10 56 24 75- 9 Lake Benbrook Feb 88 Bill Lynn 42 13 9 92 25 90 Private Lake Oct--86 Lynn Kelley 43 13 9 76 25 50 Lake Fork Apr-88 Kirk Balsley 44 13 9 50 25 00 Private Lake Jan 87 Dan Berg 45 13 9 28 21 50 7 Lake Fork Feb 88 Michael Kubecker 46 13 9 12 24 50 Lake Fork Mar 87 Rodney Allen 47 13 9 00 Calaveras Jul-84 Bill Guilliani 48 13 9 00 24 75 Lake Fork Feb. 89 Freddy J Casados 49 + 13 9 00 24 50 Lake Fork Feb.89 Richard McCarty 50 13 8 50 27 00 11 Nacogdoches Apr-87 Keith Drewery

* State Record Status at one time + = New Entry 02/27/89 ID. FLMB - Florida bass,F-1 = 1st generation hybrid,and F-X = Later gen, hyb AUSTIN: Here is the weekly fishing report as compiled by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for March 2 CENTRAL BASTROP: Water clear 62 degrees, normal level, black bass good to 11 pounds, 15 1/2 ounces a new lake record caught by Jerry English of Wimberley on a crawfish colored Model A, most other bass in the 4-5 pound range on cranks, Shad Raps, Rat-L-Traps in shallow water; crappie fairly good to 15 fish per string on minnows and small jigs in 4-5 feet of water: catfish good to 20 pounds on jug lines baited with live perch. BELTON: Water clear, 55 degrees 4 feet low; black bass good to 3 pounds on chrome jigging spoons in 10 feet of water hybrid striper slow; crappie fair to 12 fish per string on minnows in 20 feet of water, white bass fair to 15 fish per string on small chrome Rat- L-Traps channel catfish fair to 5 fish per string on blood bait and stink bait with rod and reel BROWNWOOD Water murky, 4 feet low; black bass fair to 8 pounds on artificials and minnows; striper slow- crappie good to 25 fish per string off the docks; white bass slow; catfish fair BUCHANAN Water fairly clear. 50 degrees, 10 1/2 feet low; black bass fair in the 2 1/2 to 4 pound range on Fat Getz its and Rogues off points in 6-15 feet of water striper good in number in the 3-5 pound range on Zara spooks on top in the Council Creek area but mostly around the Garrett-Tow area on dowriggers with Bomber baits and Tad jigs a few in the 12-13 pound range off points on 1 ounce white leadhead jigs bounced like a worm off the bottom; crappie are good with numbers of limits unde the baited docks on minnows, white bass good up the river from the highline area to the falls on Hot'n Tots in the deeper areas and Rattlin Spots catfish good to 4 pounds on trotlines with stinkbait and shad CANYON: Water clear, 53 degrees normal level; black bass good to 6 pounds on plastic worms and pig and jig striper slow- crappie slow; white bass slow; catfish slow- walleye slow. COLORADO BEND: Water slightly murky, 58 degrees. 10 1/2 feet low; black bass poor. striper poor crappie poor white bass fair and patchy to 8 fish per string .on jigs and spoons in 2 feet of water; catfish poor. FAYETTE: Water clear, 58 degrees, normal level; black bass fairly good when the wind lays with good numbers of bass in the 6-8 pound range, good numbers of throwbacks, some over 21 inches every day on live bait, plastic worms lizards gold or crawfish colored Rat-L- Traps in 4-5 feet of water crappie fair to 12 fish per string, fish are good sized in 20-22 feet of water catfish fairly good with a 47 pound catfish caught on live perch on a jug line, GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear, 57 degrees, normal level black bass good to 11 pounds 6 ounces a week ago on Rat-L-Traps and lizards in 1-4 feet of water crappie fair to 50 fish per string on minnows; catfish good on shrimp seasoned with garlic powder to 10 pounds on a rod and reel LBJ Water clear, 51 degrees, lake full black bass good to 6 1/2 pounds most in the 2-3 pound range on Fat Getzits 4-inch Ringworms, Rogues in 3 to 15 feet of water; striper fair on the Colorado arm to 13 pounds on shad behind the dam drifting Hellbenders and L 'il Mac 's crappie good in the brushy areas and under baited docks; white bass good up the Llano arm in running water using grey or blue flea flies with limits; channel catfish good to 3 1/2 pounds on worms stinkbait and shad, yellow catfish still slow. SOMERVILLE: water murky, 2 1/2 feet low' black bass slow; striper slow; crappie fair to 15 fish per string on minnows and jigs white bass slow; catfish slow. STILLHOUSE: Water clear, 49 degrees. 10 feet low; black bass good with limits between 2 to 3 1/4 pounds on nightcrawlers and purple worms, medium diving Bombers; hybrid striper and striper slow; crappie slow white bass slow; catfish slow. TRAVIS: Water clear, 55 degrees, 11 feet low black bass fairly good over the weekend to 3 1/2 pounds on 4 inch plum worms in 15-20 feet of water: striper slow; crappie good in 20 feet of water around brush on minnows. white bass fair but spotty some caught by deep jigging in 40-45 feet of water and same caught by trolling Hot'n Tots and Thinfins up the Colorado and the Pedernales; catfish slow. WACO: Rivers clear waters between the Bosque and Brazos water muddy 52 degrees in main lake normal level bass slow; striper poor; crappie fair to 10 fish per strings on minnows white bass good up rivers, mainly male fish and most legal sized; catf ish poor. WHITNEY- Water clear 52 degrees, 8 8 feet low: largemouth bass fair to good to 4 9 pounds on jigs with dark pork trailers; smallmouth slow; striper good to 12 3/4 pounds on deep diving Bombers shad and-shiners; crappie good to 1 3/4 pounds on minnows and jigs white bass good with sane limits to 1 1/2 pounds on slabs; channel catfish good on worms to 4 pounds blue catfish good to 11 1/4 pounds on live bait in shallow water: yellow catfish slow. NORTHEAST ATHENS Water clear lake full black bass good to 13 pounds, 13 ounces on a black and blue Jig and Craw Worm last Sunday and an 8 pound, 7 ounce fish caught midweek; crappie are scattered in shallow and deep water white bass slow' catfish slow. BOB SANDLIN: Water murky 51 degrees, normal level. black bass good to 8 1/2 pounds on Rat-L-Traps worms and jigs in 2-16 feet of water; crappie good under the railroad bridge in 35 feet of water in the 2- 3 pound, best at night; white bass good under highway 21 bridge and in the tree line at Junction Marina to 3 1/2 pounds catfish slow. BRIDGEPORT: Water clear 13 feet low; black bass slow; striper slow; crappie fair to 15 fish per string on minnows around boat docks in the brush; white bass slow; catfish slow CADDO: Water clear, 6 inches above normal level black bass fair to 3 pounds on purple worms in the river bed; striper and white bass slow; crappie good to 25 fish per string to 1 3/4 pounds on minnows in 3 feet of water: catfish fair to 1 1/2 pounds at night on set hooks on minnows, CEDAR CREEK: Water slightly stained on north end clear in the south, 49 degrees 15 inches low; black bass spotty and fair in number on black and red metal flake worms in 5-8 feet of water; hybrid striper slow; crappie slow on south end fair on the north end in 10 feet of water: channel catfish good to 7 1/2 pounds on trotlines baited with shrimp and nightcrawlers CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water clear 50 degrees, normal level; black bass fair to 5 1/2 pounds on Pig and Jig and lizards; crappie fair in 25 feet of water; catfish slow FORK: Water clear. 58 degrees lake full, black bass good to 13,9 pounds on black and white spinners in 10 feet of water a total of 3 Lone Star Lunkers over 13 pounds caught last Saturday and donated to Parks and Wildlife for spawning; crappie slow; catfish slow. LAKE 0 THE PINES Water clear 53 degrees, 18 inches above normal level black bass fair to 6 1/4 pounds on jig and pig, white spinners and some Rat-L-Traps; striper slow; crappie good around the Big Cypress Marina with some limits on minnows white bass good on Sassy Sue to 20 fish per boat: catfish slow, LAVON: Water clear 45 degrees, 3 inches above normal level black bass slow; crappie good numbers of limits on minnows and chartreuse jigs south of the power plant in the 1 3/4 to 3 1/4 pound range also in the baited holes white bass slow: catfish good to 3 pounds drifting shrimp and on trotlines baited with nightcrawlers LEWISVILLE: Water muddy 48 degrees, normal level black bass slow; striper slow crappie picking up again after the cold weather with some limits on minnows white bass slow catfish good to 6 1/2 pounds on dough bait on trotline and while drifting. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear 56 degrees, normal level, black bass good in the 4-8 pound range on Rat-L-Traps spinners and black worms striper slow; crappie slow; white bass slow: catfish slow. MONTICELLO: Water slightly off color 70 degrees, normal level, black bass good to 8 1/2 pounds on live water dogs and 11 inch black worms; crappie slow: catfish good with good numbers of limits to 35 pounds on rod and reel baited live water dogs MOSS LAKE: Water clear 49 degrees, normal level black bass slow in the 3-4 pound range on spinners; crappie good to 1 1/2 pounds on jigs and minnows; white bass slow; catfish slow MURVAUL Water clearing, 55 degrees, 3 inches above spillway; black bass fair to 7 pounds. 9 ounces on dark worms in 6-8 feet of water; crappie slow a few under the 1971 bridge on minnows; channel catfish are fair in number to 4 1/2,pounds on cut shad and nightcrawlers PALESTINE: Water clear 47 degrees, 6 inches above normal level; black bass good to 6 1/4 pounds on jigs and spinners in 8-10 feet of water! striper fairly good in numbers up the river on small spinners and jigs, crappie are still a little slow; white bass good up river with the striper catfish fair to 14 pounds on shrimp or stink bait, most fish caught on trotline. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear. 49 degrees normal level; black bass fair to 3 pounds on spinners in 8 feet of water; striper fairly good to 18 pounds on magnum Rat-L-Traps in 15 feet of water; crappie good with good numbers of limits on minnows in 12 feet of water; white bass good under the bridges with crappie lights in 16 feet of water on small minnows; catfish good to 3 pounds on minnows in 40 feet of cut chad and shrimp. TAWAKONI: Water clear. 50 degrees, 2 inches over spillway level; black bass fair to 5 pounds on Lazer Spoons and dark jigs in 6-8-feet of water. striper fair in number to 14 pounds on white jigs catfish good to 7 pounds on shrimp and worms crappie good to 25 fish per string on minnows and jigs in the dock area white bass fair to 8 fish per string on slabs TEXOMA: Water clear, 45 degrees 8 inches low; black bass good to 5 1/2 pounds on pig and jig in 4 feet of water. striper fair in number 7 to 17 pounds trolling deep diving Redfin in1 feet of water. crappie fair in number to 2 .pounds on minnows and white jigs, white bass slow; catfish good to 50 pounds on jugline baited with live bait. WELSH: Water clear some color 72 degrees, lake full, black bass fair to 7 1/4 pounds on topwaters early and late and medium cranks, lizards in 2-8 feet of water crappie are fair but scattered on tube jigs, small Roadrunner type jigs; catfish fairly good on nightcrawlers on rod and reel, trotline good on live bream; bream fishing good on little tube jigs and worms with shrimp parts SOUTHEAST CONROE: Water clear. 54 degrees 2 feet low; black bass fair in number to 8 .21 pounds on black and blue tailed worms in 8-12 feet of water, striper slow; fairly good numbers of white bass caught in the shallow water on the upper end of the lake on small chrome Rat- L-Traps or small spoons crappie fair in number but good sized on the upper end; catfish slow. HOUSTON COUNTY' Water clear 56 degrees. normal level black bass good to 8 pounds, 10 ounces in good numbers with many in the 6-7 pound range, on large shiners deep diving cranks, Rat-L-Traps. and live water dogs, striper slow; crappie fairly slow around boat docks to 5 fish per string on minnows; white bass good in the same area to 6 fish per string on minnows, catfish fair to 5 fish per string to 12 pounds on rod and reel with chicken blood. LIVINGSTON Water clear 51 degrees, normal level black bass fair in the 2-5 pound range on spinners and Rat-L-Traps; striper slow up river on the spawning run; white bass slow in lake good up river: crappie are fairly good in the 2-2 1/2 pounds on minnows, nolimits but most strings are in the 15-20 fish range; catfish good; blue catfish good to 45 pounds yellow catfish slow; channel catfish good the 2-5 pound range on shad RAYBURN Water clear. 52 degrees, 5 feet low black bass are good in numbers on Rat-L-Traps and spinners, larger fish on worms a 12 pound 6 ounces bass caught Sunday on a jig and a Craw Worm in 8- 12 feet of water; striper slow; crappie good when fishermen can get out and hold on fishing holes, some up river, some in baited holes in deeper water on minnows, white bass good around lower end of the lake; catfish good up the river on rod and reel TOLEDO BEND: Water clear, 51 degrees, 1 foot low; black bass fairly good in number to 6 pounds on white spinners, a single limit of bass to 4 pounds striper fair to 13 pounds around the dam on Redfins and large minnows; crappie fairly slow in number but good sized on minnows; white bass slow; catfish good in number on trotline. SOUTH AMISTAD: Water clear, 56 degrees 3 feet above normal level black bass good in the 8 1/2 to 9 pound range with limits fairly easy to catch in 20-40 feet of water on white cranks and purple. red and blue worms and jigs; striper good numbers of limits but nothing over 10- 15 pounds on 2 ounce white Roadrunner jigs and 2 ounce Bananahead jigs; crappie are fairly good up the Devil 's River with full limits of 25 fish to 2 pounds on minnows mostly' white bass good with easy limits on white and chartreuse slabs. catfish slow, sane on cheese bait to 5 pounds few limits in 30-50 feet of water. BRAUNIG Water murky, 58 degrees, normal level _ black bass slow to 7 pounds, 14 ounces on jigs and Rat-L-Traps striper fair catfish good with strings to 3 pounds to 14 fish per string on shad chicken livers corvina slow; redfish slow, CALAVERAS Water clear, 60 degrees, 6 inches dawn; black bass slow; striper good to 2 pound average on Rat-L-Traps, cranks and chicken livers; crappie slow: catfish fair to 18 pounds on tilapia and shrimp; redfish good to 10 pounds on crawfish; corvina good to 7 pound average on jigs, green grubs and Rat-L-Traps CHOKE: Water clear 4 feet low black bass slow to 5 pounds on worms and spinners striper slow; crappie fair to 2 1/2 pounds on minnows; white bass good up the river above Highway 99; catfish good in the 7-8 pound range on blood bait and Roger' s Cheese Bait in 30-35 feet of water COLETO CREEK: Water clear 60 degrees, 6 inches low; black bass good to 11 75 pounds a new lake record caught by Bobby Mosley of Lolita on a. lizard, most weighed between 2-4 pound range on dark worms and lizards striper slow crappie slow: white bass slow; catfish slow and small CORPUS CHRISTI Water clear 60 degrees, 5 1/2 feet low; black bass good to 6 pounds in 3-5 feet of water on white spinners and black lizards with chartreuse tails striper good to 8 pounds on chrome slabs and white Roadrunnners at Sunrise Beach in Hog Island area, some below the dam on white curly tailed jigs and shad; crappie slow in the lake proper good below the dam on minnows and jigs with some full strings; white bass good up the Nueces River with limits on slabs, Rat-L-Traps and jigs catfish good to 25 pounds on cut sunfish shad and lye soap. One fisherman caught a limit of 5 yellow catfish to 20 pounds each on goldfish baited trotline. FALCON: Water clear 3 feet low black bass good to 7 pounds on worms and spinners in 2-6 feet of water some limits; striper slow; to 10 pounds on plastic worms while fishing for bass, crappie slow; white bass good upriver with easy limits of 25 on L'il Georges, small cranks, small grubs and jigs catfish good up the river on frozen shrimp and sponge baits TEXANA: Water clear in the jungle area muddy in the lake, 60 degrees, 1 foot low black bass fair in the jungle area to 5 1/2 pounds on pig and jig. no limits. striper and white bass slow; crappie slow: blue catfish good to 30 pounds on trotline baited with live perch.. WEST FORT PHANTOM HILL: Water muddy. 7 feet low; black bass fair to 2 pounds on jigs and minnows hybrid striper fair to 10 pounds on Bombers in 10-12 feet of water crappie good to 25 fish per string on minnows and jigs, white bass fair in number to 12 fish per string on slabs; catfish slow; walleye slow. GRANBURY Water clear, 47 degrees 1 lake full, black bass good to 7 pounds, 3 ounces on black and blue jigs black split-tail eels; striper good to 16 pounds with good numbers of limits around the hot water outlets, most striper are in the 6-8 pound range on Cannon Ball Jigs white bass good with good numbers of limits up river around Tintop on L 'il Cleos, crappie good in 16 feet of water with limits on minnows catfish slow. HUBBARD CREEK: Water clear. 49 degrees, 6 feet low; black bass good to 8 pounds, 10 ounces on chartreuse spinners in 8-10 feet of water 1 most bass were in the 2-4 pound range on pig and jig, Mr. Twister and purple worms with a white tail striper good in 18-20 feet of water on chartreuse metalf lake spinners and spoons; crappie good on minnows in 4-5 feet of water up the creeks white bass slow; catfish slow. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear, 10 feet low; black bass good over the weekend to 7 35 pounds no limits, on pig and jig or minnows, slow midweek, striper fairly good with rumors of a 32 pounder over the weekend; crappie good with limits on minnows in the crappie house; white bass slow; catfish slow SPENCE: Water clear, 47 degrees, 27 feet low; black bass fair to good to 8 pounds, no limits on plastic worms, spinners and cranks; striper fair to 21 pounds, no limits on shad and shiners; crappie slow, white bass fair to 10 fish per string slabs; catfish fair to 5 pounds on trotline baited with minnows WHITE RIVER: Water clear. 44 degrees, 6 1/2 feet low; black bass good in the 4-6 pound range in 3 feet of water on dark jigs crappie slow; catfish slow walleye slow. COA STAL SOUTH SABINE LAKE: Redfish fairly slow some to 7 1/2 pounds on mud minnows on the reefs; some specks to 3 pounds on purple worms near the sunken barge. no limits, croaker fairly good on dead shrimp; no live shrimp available; mud minnows are available, GALVESTON: Fair numbers of limits of trout to 6 pounds in West Bay most are just above keeper size, best bait is strawberry Kelley Wigglers with a white tail redfish to 7 1/2 pounds in the bays with a few limits, also on strawberry Kelley Wigglers; best fishing is between Green's Cut and Carancahua; some small drum and small reds along with whiting along the beachfront; big drum are showing up at the jetties, a few in the channel some snapper activity offshore to 17 pounds live bait shrimp limited $8 50 to $9 per quart, Few fishermen out due to weather PORT OCONNOR: Good numbers of big redfish at the big jetties along with trout, drum and sheepshead best baits are live shrimp; winds have been high tides are low so few fishermen are in the back bays; no boats out in the last 10.days due to rough water Live bait shrimp available at $8 50 per quart, ROCKPORT Redfish were good through the weekend through 28 inches scene oversized in St. Charles Bay wind shift hit early Sunday and fishing has been terrible since; very little live bait shrimp available PORT- ARANSAS: Good sized trout on a wide variety on plastic worms, limits easy to get if fishermen can locate the fish, fish spotty; red fish slow few fishermen out midweek because of the weather: a few sheepshead and a few drum; live bait shrimp plentiful at $7 per quart Horace Caldwell Pier fishermen catching black drum, blacktip shark to 3 feet good numbers of whiting and good numbers of hardheads CORPUS CHRISTI Few fishermen out midweek, Oso Pier fishermen catching a few sandtrout midweek Few fishermen -out midweek PORT MANSFIELD Some redf ish in the 22-26 inchrange up north in the flats near the Oak Mott some redf ish down- south; a few flounder caught while drifting; no live bait shrimp SOUTH PADRE: Redfish have been fairly good in the 6-8 pound range with some some limits on shrimp and red worms in the Three Islands area specks good with limits in the same area on red worms; live bait shrimp spotty Weather misty, overcast and cool- midweek PH 3/1/89