Speckled strike

Hooking up for a fight February 22, 2008 Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Volume 4, Issue 13 Page 16 www.lonestaroutdoornews.com

INSIDE HUNTING Trout take to mud bottoms On winter days, deeper mud flats are often overlooked

BY KYLE TOMEK

The waters of the Texas cover some of the best wintertime Handler Dave Rorem captured structure. Trout anglers two of the first four places in flock to scattered shell, deep holes, the open division of the reefs, and underwater rocks — major bait attractors up and down Coastal Bend Retriever Club the coast. But relatively few fisher- field trials. men take advantage of what bar- Page 6 ren mud bottoms hold in store. In winter and into early spring, trophy speckled trout anglers usu- ally favor wadefishing muddy shorelines. Known to attract big fish, the muddy shallows serve as a warming insulator in cold temper- atures. But the often-overlooked expanses of mud lying in deeper Archers using portable ground depths also entice the frequent vis- blinds are discovering that its of speckled trout, said veteran shoot-through mesh aids in tournament angler and guide concealment and doesn’t Capt. Charlie Paradoski. deflect the arrow’s flight. Deep mud flats are bleak and, at Page 6 times, seem to lack any sign of life. While guiding in Galveston and FISHING Matagorda Bays, Paradoski invests most of his fishing efforts over deep mud in winter. Paying close attention to a GPS and sonar to locate edges, drop- offs, and humps, he sets drifts according to where fish may be hanging or awaiting passing bait- fish. “On winter days, mud flats in MUDDY BOTTOMS: Big early-season trout can come from unusual places, and deep, barren mud flats can hold some giants. the middle of the bay can be mag- Photo by Scott Sommerlatte. See MUD, Page 18 Fishing for speckled trout this time of year usually means fishing deeper water, and some top anglers share Catfish action heats up Burglars make off with their favorite lures. Page 8 trophy deer mounts populations are in warm water declining from Maine to BY BILL MILLER Texas, and officials may be faced with some tough Their names were memorable decisions on regulating the enough — names like Lumpy, Big species. Tex and Twisty — but their Boone & Page 8 Crockett scores were all more than 200. CONSERVATION And now they are missing. The federal duck stamp may Eight whitetail trophy mounts increase from $15 to $25 belonging to Texas deer breeder Bill Martindale of Dallas were reported next year, according to budget stolen Jan. 19 from his ranch house proposals. in Bosque County. Page 5 Martindale has worked 18 years at NATIONAL his Snuff City Ranch, near Iredell, to develop a line of 200-class breeder STOLEN MOUNT: The mount of Twisty, a A sanctioned high school bucks, and a successful high-fence 253 B&C breeder buck owned by Bill bass has hunting operation. Martindale, was one of several mounts been adopted in Illinois. See BURGLARY, Page 17 stolen from his ranch in January. Page 25 CHURNING CATS: Shawn Reese spreads sour grain over one of his hot spots to help put cold-weather fishermen on catfish at Calaveras Lake. Photo by Ralph Winingham. PRSRT STD Time Sensitive Material US POSTAGE INDEX Power plant lakes keep anglers busy Deliver ASAP PAID Classifieds Page 22 PLANO, TX PERMIT 210 Crossword Page 19 BY RALPH WININGHAM Reese during an early February, cold-weather trip at Calaveras Game Warden Blotter Page 10 Don’t look for them at your Lake. Fishing Report Page 20 neighborhood sporting goods Air temperatures were hovering just above freezing, but the water Heroes Page 24 store, but hot-water catfish can make pretty fair handwarmers temperature at the cooling reser- Outdoor Datebook Page 22 during the cold winter months. voir for San Antonio’s City Public Products Page 23 “That’s one of the benefits of Service coal-fired power plant was a relatively toasty 63 degrees. Weather Page 19 catching catfish out here this time of year — they keep my “We have pretty good catfish Wild in the Kitchen Page 19 hands warm,’’ said guide Shawn See WARM, Page 18 Page 2 February 22, 2008 February 22, 2008 Page 3 Page 4 February 22, 2008 February 22, 2008 Page 5 CONSERVATION Partners lend support to restore Texas’ native forests Representatives from Dell and Private support for the initiative Like much of East Texas, large areas and restore these lands, the Fund has Located just 45 miles east of Travelocity joined The Conservation was made possible via a mix of cus- of forestland surrounding (and some engaged leaders in the public and pri- Houston, the 22,500-acre Trinity Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tomer and corporate donations from within) the boundary of the Trinity vate sectors to calculate and then off- River NWR safeguards a remnant of and Environmental Synergy, Inc. to Dell, Travelocity, Universal Studios, River NWR refuge are for sale. Once set carbon dioxide emissions by the bottomland hardwood forest announce the restoration of 158 acres NBC Universal and individual donors the region’s largest economic driver, planting trees. ecosystem that once dominated the of forestland at Trinity River National to The Conservation Fund’s Go the forest industry has put millions of The land was planted by ESI and eastern Texas landscape. Wildlife Refuge in East Texas. ZeroSM program. acres on the market. To help protect will be managed by the USFWS. — Conservation Fund report. TTHA supports outdoor adventures programs Texas Trophy Hunters Associa- donation from TTHA at their San adventures give youths some- tion will reward those who pro- Antonio Headquarters on Feb. 18. thing to look forward to while sus- Publisher/Editor: CRAIG NYHUS vide outdoor adventures to Texas “We are pleased to recognize taining them in their time of Design Editor: DUDLEY GREEN teens, military veterans and criti- the efforts of United Special need. cally ill and disabled youth. Sportsman Alliance, Show of The purpose of Show of Support Associate Editor: MARK ENGLAND These nonprofit organizations Support and Buckskin Brigade,” is to demonstrate public support Business/Products Editor: MARY HELEN AGUIRRE help build the fellowship of the said TTHA Chief Operating for the men and women of our Advertising Sales: BOB COLE great outdoors by granting the Officer Joe Betar. military by providing outdoor outdoor adventure wishes of dis- In 2007, TTHA allowed mem- opportunities to those injured in LEE GRESHAM abled youth, providing hunting bers to designate a portion of their service. Accounting: NANCY HALPHEN adventures to wounded heroes of membership towards one of these Buckskin Brigade teaches Texas our Armed Forces and educating outdoor-related service organiza- teen-agers wildlife-focused leader- Web site: BRUCE SOILEAU teen-agers on the importance of tions. ship and habitat management. Founder & CEO: DAVID J. SAMS wildlife conservation and stew- United Special Sportsman ardship. Alliance is a nonprofit “dream — Texas Trophy Hunters CONTRIBUTORS Three organizations received a wish” granting charity. USSA Association report. HAL BROWN WILBUR LUNDEEN SCOTT SOMMERLATTE KYLE CARTER PETER MATHIESEN KYLE TOMEK Duck stamp price BINK GRIMES BILL MILLER CHUCK UZZLE BOB HOOD DAVID SIKES RALPH WININGHAM increase proposed DIANA KUNDE BRANDON SHULER DANNO WISE The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service DISTRIBUTION plans to increase the cost of the feder- BRUCE ANDREEN AMBER WASKA al duck stamp. METROGATE COMMUNICATIONS AUTUMN WASKA The stamp now costs $15, but the VICTOR CANTU SOUTHERN BELLES INC. 2009 budget proposal asks Congress to SOUTH TEXAS CIRCULATION JEFF BULPIN raise it to $25. Hunters must purchase one of the ADVERTISING Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone stamps, along with a state hunting Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $25 for 24 license, to legally shoot ducks and editor issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per per- geese. @lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit. son. Copyright 2008 with all rights reserved. Last year, the Fish and Wildlife Reproduction and/or use of any photographic Service raised $24.2 million from the SUBSCRIPTION or written material without written permission sale of more than 1.6 million duck Order online at by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may stamps. With the price increase, an www.lonestaroutdoornews.com send address changes to: additional $14 million could be raised. or call toll-free (866) 361-2276 Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service OFFICE 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or e-mail them to Phone: (214) 361-2276 report. [email protected]. Page 6 February 22, 2008 HUNTING CONCEALED IN MESH Bowhunters can shoot through fabric of portable blind

BY BILL MILLER

Jack Fleming is a big fan of ground blinds with shoot-through mesh. Fleming, who owns Precision Archery in Bridge City and guides hunters across South and West Texas, said he and his guiding partners have seen more than 400 animals shot out of the blinds. “I absolutely love it. It’s the ulti- mate concealment,” he said. “And it’s a great thing for children. It keeps down the movement and dulls the glare when the sun is rising in the hunter’s face.” The portable blinds are practically an industry unto themselves. Companies like Ameristep, Avery, Double Bull and Eastman Outfitters are competing for a niche market of bowhunters who like the ease and portability of the tent-like structures. And they’re affordable, ranging from $100 to $300 — depending on whether they’re outfitted with amenities like scent control. Bob Wright of Dallas, president of Lone Star Bowhunters Association, said these blinds are quite popular among the organization’s members in South Texas, where few trees are tall enough for elevated blinds. The efficiency of the blinds is enhanced by windows made of shoot-through mesh, which allows archers to draw down on an animal at ground level, and with total con- HUNTERS MESH WITH BLIND: Lori Ford practices with her new bow in a Cabela's shoot-through mesh blind at the Rio Rojo Rancho in Red River county. "I cealment. got the Diamond bow for Christmas, and I have practiced a lot and am ready to shoot a doe," she said. "We have to shoot 10 doe this year under our Broadheads, launched at full Managed Land Deer permit, and I want to do it with the bow.” Photo by David J. Sams. See MESH, Page 15 Trials Competition draws retrievers, handlers from across the country

and tests BY CRAIG NYHUS marshes of Port Bay Club, the oldest put on such an event. “The field continuously-running hunting and trial circuit pretty much starts down The close of duck-hunting season fishing club in Texas. here and slowly moves north up the on Jan. 27 didn’t provide the usual “The judges came in from across country,” he said. “Some of the han- break for Jeff Kucera and the staff at the country and set the courses on dlers have as many as 10 dogs.” Port Bay Club in Rockport. the marsh,” said Port Bay’s Manager Jim Rumley and Pat Kenny of After the decoys and boats were Jeff Kucera. “They even used some Rockport founded the Coastal Bend put away, the club hosted the of the duck blinds to hide the bird Retriever Club about six years ago. Coastal Bend Retriever Club of boys when they threw the birds.” “We started it because of our inter- Texas AKC Licensed Field Trials a lit- Kucera, who has entered field ests in retrievers, field trials and tle more than a week later. trial competitions in the past, was hunt tests,” Rumley said. “Our field The trials used the grounds and well aware of the effort needed to See TRIALS, Page 15

TOP DOG: Dave Rorem prepares to cast Two Rivers Lucky Willie on a retrieve. The dog finished in first place in the open division of the Coastal Bend Retriever Club of Texas field trials finale. Retrievers, handlers and dog owners came from dozens of states and as far north as Canada to compete in the event. Rorem’s dogs captured two of the top four spots. Photos by John Eriksson. Texas’ nature tourism operators to be inventoried A list of nature tourism operations industry,” said Miles Phillips, Texas he said, so that businesses can add http://naturetourism.tamu.edu. produce, or adventure tour opera- in Texas is being compiled in order to AgriLife Extension Service nature information at any time. “In addition to the traditional tions, including biking, paddling, help develop assistance for owners tourism leader. “It will also help the An online form is available to hunting and fishing places,” Phillips canoeing, ATV trails and lodging and awareness programs for users. traveling public find nature tourism encourage all nature tourism busi- said, “nature tourism businesses facilities that cater to these markets.” “This is being done in order to businesses to enjoy.” ness operators to get their compa- might include agricultural tours —Texas Agricultural Extension assess the growth and demand of the The list will be an ongoing effort, nies listed. The form is at: such as hayrides and pick-your-own report. February 22, 2008 Page 7 McBride named OGT

board chairman 11th annual

Austin sporting goods retailer Joe McBride has been named board Thursday, March 6, 2008 chairman for Operation Game Alzafar Shrine Center, San Antonio Thief. Doors open at 6 p.m. McBride will serve a one-year term as chair of the state’s wildlife Silent Auction Games crime-stopper program, succeed- Live Auction Raffle ing Ray Bailey, who will remain on Free kids raffle the OGT board of directors. Prizes include: Guns, hunts, feeders, prints, hunting Begun in 1981 as a result of laws gear, knives, and much, much more!!! passed by the 67th Legislature to help curtail poaching, the program offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an individual committing a wildlife crime. OGT, a function of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Law Enforcement Division, has paid more than www.alamochapternwtf.org $200,000 in rewards and been responsible for the assessment of •$1,300 Gold Table Package more than $1 million in assessed One sponsor annual NWTF membership, three regular annual NWTF memberships fines. 8 dinners at the local banquet w/special seating Privately funded, the program is 8 chances on door prizes at the local banquet dependent on financial support NWTF members receive subscription to Turkey Call magazine and the Caller newsletter from the public through the pur- Recognition in the program and on the table. Sponsor member receives one chance at sponsor gun raffle, a limited edition pin, a cap, chase of OGT merchandise and a knife and $200 worth of raffle tickets and two chances on the bonus gun raffle. memberships, donations, sponsor- Plus table buyer will receive a Mossberg ATR 100 long action, .270 Win., black synthetic stock with 3x9x40 scope. ships and gifts. •$850 Silver Table Package The program also hosts annual Four regular annual NWTF memberships fundraising events, including the 8 dinners at the local banquet w/special seating Claystoppers Shootout near Austin 8 chances on door prizes at the local banquet April 25 and the Bandana Ball in NWTF members receive subscription to Turkey Call magazine and the Caller newsletter Houston May 31. Recognition in the program and on the table Through his career as a firearms $100 worth of raffle tickets and one chance on the bonus gun raffle dealer, McBride has built a network •Sponsor Member Ticket $275 of support for Texas game wardens One NWTF sponsor membership. One dinner at local banquet and OGT. He has been recognized Subscription to Turkey Call magazine and the Caller newsletter, one chance at sponsor gun raffle, limited edition pin, a cap and a knife by numerous groups, including (One extra meal ticket $40 with sponsor member) conservation organizations, law • Couples Ticket $125 2 dinners to local banquet. One annual NWTF membership enforcement and the firearms • Singles Ticket $75 1 dinner to local banquet. One annual NWTF membership industry for his achievements. OGT CHAIRMAN: Joe McBride will serve a one-year term as as board chairman of the state’s wildlife crime-stopper program. • Jakes (youth) Ticket $25 1 dinner to local banquet. One annual Jakes membership —Texas Parks and Wildlife report. Photo by Texas Parks and Wildlife. East EastTexas Texas Central Texas WestWest Texas Texas 903.692.2725903.692.2725254.296.2628 325.659.1555325.659.1555

www.badboybuggiesoftexas.com Brush Country DFW Hill Country Houston Texoma DFWCALL FOR A DEALER NEAR YOUHill — 817-723-1463 Country Houston Texoma 1.888.631.6789817.528.8002CALL FOR A DEALER817.528.8002 NEAR YOU830.214.0144 — 830.214.0144 281.392.4609281.392.4609 469.693.5412469.693.5412 Page 8 February 22, 2008 FISHING Falling Flounder Options explored to curb species’ downward trend BY BRANDON D. SHULER see on a expedition, a large part of the breeding population is being killed. Flounder populations from Maine to Texas Parks and Wildlife is actively seek- Texas are experiencing downward trends. ing methods to stem the downward trend. Anglers and biologists are noticing an In 1988, nets were banned coastwide, a 12- absence of flounder in iceboxes, tourna- inch minimum size limit was imposed with ments and gill net surveys. National conser- a bag limit of 20 fish. In 1996, the minimum vation organizations such as the Pew Trust length was dropped to 10-inches and the and state natural resource departments are bag limit reduced to 20 for recreational also witnessing the phenomenon. anglers and a 60-fish commercial limit was The Texas southern flounder is common- instituted. ly a youngster’s first introduction to saltwa- The buyback pro- ter fishing. But in last summer’s Port gram, which has reduced inshore shrimping Mansfield Fishing Tournament, only one by 50 percent, has also helped stem some of lonely flounder made it to the weigh-in. the downward trend. In fall, flounder make their mass exodus Although is believed to be the seaward to spawn in the shallow waters of leading problem reducing flounder popula- the Gulf with the first downward dip of the tions, Fernando Martinez-Andrade, TPW thermometer. The smaller of the species, data analyst, and biologist Shane the male, starts the migration when water Bonnot of Sea Center Texas, along with temperatures drop between five to eight leading biologists along the eastern degrees. seaboard, consider warmer winter tempera- Males typically only reach 14 inches in tures, rising ocean levels, and overall warm- length and live four or five years. The ing to be the largest negative factors affect- female, whose dropping numbers are most ing the American flounder populations. responsible for the population decline, typi- Larry McKinney, TPW head of Coastal cally reach 7 to 8 years of age and top out at Fisheries, told the Valley Morning Star, “Our 24- inches, making them the legal target for winter low temperatures have been increas- harvest. ing. When flounder go out into the Gulf to Flounder bury themselves in the sand and spawn they may be suffering greater preda- wait in ambush for unsuspecting tion of their eggs in the warming waters. DWINDLING NUMBERS: Flounder populations are declining according to state officials and will be the and baitfish to approach — making them The underlying factor may also be flounder subject of discussion for possible size-limit changes or temporary season closures. perfect targets for gigging. as a species are moving north.” Currently, Texas regulations treat floun- The steady downward trend has TPW But then flounder could only be harvested closures. However, Riecher wrote, this could der as a non-gamefish, maintain a recre- looking inward for ways to stem the falling through hook and line methods, eliminat- eliminate anglers’ access to the fabled fall ational limit of 10 fish per day, 60 for a small populations. Robin Riecher, TPW’s science ing a valuable part of the recreational and flounder runs. commercial gigging industry, and have a and policy director, outlined the methods commercial and destroying a part of What will be done to alleviate pressure on minimum length restriction of 14 inches. being explored to CCA Texas members, the Texas saltwater culture by eliminating the flounder remains to be seen. “The con- Some anglers and biologists feel that since each having pros and cons. gigging. dition of the flounder population is a very the males are the smaller of the species and The most appealing method is to create Other options being explored include high priority for action in next year’s regula- anglers usually target the largest fish they gamefish status for the flounder, she wrote. changing the size limits, or seasonal or area tory process,” McKinney said. Trout tackle arsenal varies among anglers

BY DAVID SIKES but difficult to employ or mas- ter. Most anglers must force Each generation of big trout themselves to resist retrieving anglers has its favorite tools. this rubbery too quickly. Legendary lures such as the Arguably a winter bait that King and Queen Bingo, Hump works equally well in all sea- and the Plugging Shorty sons, the Corky is designed to Shrimp Bull now sit in shadow imitate a lazy baitfish. boxes to make room for newer The slightest twitch of a rod models. Today’s coastal practi- tip will result in a complimen- tioners fall into a category that tary juke of this plug. The is as elite as the upper-class action is natural if done right. specks they seek. And the lure Work it more quickly and the types in their arsenal are few. lure remains just below the sur- Odds are that several or all of face. Bring it in faster still and it the following lures occupy becomes a surface plug. There space in the tackle boxes of are many imitations, but most most Texas big-trout hunters. elite trout hunters wouldn’t And if there is a favorite among have any of them. The Corky’s trout , it surely is the reputation is Brown’s greatest standard Corky plug. Arguably marketing asset. it held this top spot even before If you see them in a store, buy Jim Wallace caught his then- several. Most Corky plugs are state record 13-pound, 11- sold online or from Brown’s ounce trout in 1996. garage. Wallace’s was chartreuse, but This next lure is from the lately pink seems to be the rage. same family. Paul Brown’s Cliff Webb, notable Upper grandsons, Jake and Jason Laguna Madre/Baffin Bay guide Brown, have created a firm, soft-plastic bait called a Devil and big-trout master, uses these LURING THEM IN: The pink Corky plug is becoming a favorite winter trout lure this season in Texas, while other hot lures soft pliable plugs almost exclu- and colors also will bring in big winter specks. Photo by Kyle Tomek. Eye. The smaller version is sively, especially in winter. The called a Sea Devil. original Corky, created and still slower than in other bays. Most of today’s Corky plugs a smaller plug with a rear spin- Both resemble a traditional made by Houston-area resident The standard Corky mullet have a rattle inside with two ner, a broader profile Corky Fat soft jerk bait with a weight Paul Brown, is a slow-sinking or imitation is 4-inches long and dangling treble hooks. Brown Boy and the long-tailed Corky problem, but only the Devil suspending lure. In Baffin Bay’s weighs 5/8 ounce. They come makes three models of his stan- Devil. Eye has bulging eyes. high salinity it’s even more in more than a dozen colors dard plug. Each sinks at a differ- The accepted best technique Baffin Bay guide Aubrey buoyant, making it fall even with endless combinations. ent rate. And Brown now offers for retrieval is easy to explain, See TACKLE, Page 12 February 22, 2008 Page 9 White bass run Giant salvinia found on lakes Palestine Some anglers busy, others in a waiting game

Anglers mark their calendars, and Sam Rayburn watch the fishing forums, and look for vehicles parked along rivers and Giant salvinia was found for the bridges to make sure they don’t first time January 28 in Sam ‘Boaters should remove miss Texas’ fabled white bass runs Rayburn Reservoir in the back of in late February and early March. Coleman Creek. all plant material from Dry weather has delayed the run On Lake Palestine, a citizen in some areas, with others finding reported giant salvinia and water their boats and trailers the run in full swing. hyacinth in the vicinity of the On the Nueces River flowing into Kickapoo Creek boat ramp on before leaving the Lake Corpus Christi, reports of lim- February 5. ramp every time they its are common toward Mathis. Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Internet forum reports indicate Upper Neches River Municipal go to the lake.’ limits being caught black Water Authority and the U.S. Army and chrome Rat-L-Traps, while live Corps of Engineers are moving — HOWARD ELDER bait and sassy shads also are pro- quickly to control small infesta- ducing. tions of giant salvinia on Palestine more areas on both lakes,” said Rick The Sabine River is known for and Sam Rayburn. Ott, a fisheries biologist in Tyler. producing limits of whites up to 3 The Upper Neches River “We ask that people look for the pounds, and the run is on and Municipal Water Authority has plant and call us if they see it. improving. “It’s getting better every temporarily closed the Lake Boaters should remove all plant day,” said guide Greg Crafts. “We Palestine Kickapoo Creek boat material from their boats and trail- have plenty of water and that gets ramp, which is on F.M. 315 south of ers before leaving the ramp every the fish on the move.” Chandler. The closure is expected time they go to the lake. Place any Success has also been reported on to last at least a month. plants in trash cans or dumpsters so the Angelina River above Sam TPW Inland Fisheries Division they cannot be washed back into Rayburn Reservoir, and the first-to- personnel immediately investigat- the lake.” move males are being caught on the ed both areas and worked with the It is illegal to possess or transport Trinity River above Lake Livingston. controlling authorities to install giant salvinia. Possession or trans- Farther north and west, anglers floating booms that will prevent port of giant salvinia or other pro- are watching and waiting. At a pop- wind from spreading the plants to hibited aquatic vegetation in Texas ular weekend and spring break spot, other parts of the lakes. is a Class C misdemeanor punish- Colorado Bend State Park, white “We will clean the areas up by able by a fine of up to $500 per bass chasers are hoping for rain fol- hand if possible,” said Howard plant. lowed by sunshine to trigger the Elder of Jasper, TPW’s aquatic habi- Giant salvinia is a highly inva- run, and anglers are optimistic fol- tat biologist. The areas involved are sive exotic floating fern that can lowing a tough year last year due to about 0.1 acre on Lake Palestine spread very quickly. Dense mats of low water. and 0.2 acre on Sam Rayburn. Elder floating vegetation block sunlight Other hotspots waiting for the has prepared proposals for emer- and can result in the death of all run to begin include the tributaries gency chemical treatment of the other life beneath it. of North Texas lakes Grapevine, areas if necessary. Those proposals Anyone finding suspected giant Lewisville and Richland Chambers, have to be approved by the control- salvinia in a public water body and Central Texas lakes Belton and ling authorities, and treatment should contact Howard Elder at Stillhouse. ON THE RUN: Some South and East Texas spring anglers are finding a banner could not begin for at least two (409) 384-9965 or Rick Ott at (903) white bass run, while North and Central Texas fishermen are at the ready. weeks. 566-2161. — Staff report. “We will continue to search —Staff report. Reyes wins, 25 headed for OUSTON 33RD H Toyota Texas Bass Classic ANNUAL FISHING SHOW Jason Reyes of Humble held on to his knew that on Choke Canyon, that’s noth- first-day lead to win the overall title at the ing more than a single bite. Additionally, inaugural Toyota Texas Bass Classic Reyes was concerned that pressure would Qualfier, held on Choke Canyon Lake. harm his fragile area. His fears were real- The world Reyes finished the two-day contest with ized when “four or five boats joined (him) 10 bass weighing 48 pounds, 3 ounces. in there.” He managed to scrape out a 16- of fishing fully explored Reyes pulled into a backwater pond 11 limit, stout elsewhere, but sub-par on a mid-morning the first day of the tourna- hot lake like Choke Canyon. ment and started casting a Senko. Reyes leads the top 25 finishers from “The first fish I hooked on the Senko I the tournament who will be invited to ended up losing, but it clued me in,” he compete in the $750,000 Toyota Texas said. “By the bush where it bit, there was a Bass Classic, an event sanctioned by the bare spot and I saw the fish swim back Professional Anglers Association. Each of into it. I pitched in a white Zoom Speed Craw, and in two casts I caught that same the anglers from this event complete the fish.” four-angler teams fishing in the TTBC at After that, he began to comb the banks Lake Fork, April 18-20. and proceeded to cull out his smaller ear- Other qualifiers include Lake Fork resi- lier limit. “I found a 10-pounder paired up dents Lance Vick and Elite Series pro with a three-and-a-half,” he said. “I James Niggemeyer, Byron Velvick of Del Visit the Lone caught the male and then on my next flip Rio, and Trevor Knight, last year’s Boat Star Outdoor I caught the female.” U.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing News booth. He led after Day 1 with 31-08, and even Championship winner. Renew or though James Niggemeyer and Byron subscribe Velvick were tied for second at 26-15, he —Professional Anglers Association report. and get a Warren wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing FREE lure.

League event on Lake Whitney Where Fishing with finesse worms on clear- Rounding out the top five boaters were George R. Brown Convention Center, “A”, 1001 Avenida De Las water Lake Whitney, Ryan Warren of Tommy Mackey of Bryan; Dean Jones of Americas (Located in downtown Houston) Gatesville won the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing Cedar Park; John Cox of Austin; and Mike When League Cowboy Division tournament with Arnold of China Springs. Starts Wednesday, March 5 and lasts 5 days through Sunday, March 9 a five-bass catch weighing 19 pounds, 10 Mackey took home the Big Bass award Hours ounces. The victory earned Warren $2,171 with a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass he caught on plus a $383 Ranger contingency bonus and Wednesday through Friday an Omega football-head jig. placed him one step closer to qualifying for Cody Cox of Lufkin won the co-angler noon to 9 p.m. the Lake Ouachita Regional Championship Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in October. division with five bass weighing 16 pounds, “I feel great after winning my first BFL 9 ounces that he caught near Lake Whitney Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tournament,” Warren said. “I practiced one State Park on a Gambler Giggy Head finesse Admission day last week and found my key areas. I jig. Adults - $8 Children (6-12) - $2 (Under 6 FREE) focused on two places, the Katy Bridge area and Cedron Creek area.” —FLW Outdoors report. www.houstonfishingshow.com Page 10 February 22, 2008 GAME WARDEN BLOTTER TWO BURGLARS duced that had been stolen 10 CAUGHT IN THE ACT years earlier. Another man •While heading to an area where ANGLERS STEAL BOAT MOTOR TO FISH IN TOURNEY arrived home shortly and con- he had received complaints •Zavala County Game Warden Stautzenberger made contact obtain confessions from two fessed to killing eight mule deer about illegal hunting, Lubbock Chris Stautzenberger received with the tournament fisher- fishermen. The fishermen stole over the last seven or eight County Game Warden Quentin information about a stolen boat men upon their departure from the boat motor in order to be months. He said he was hunting Terrel met a DPS trooper on the motor in Zavala County being the lake. Dimmit County Game able to fish in the local lake fish- to feed his large family and road. A call came in to the sher- used in a bass fishing tourna- Warden Mike Bradshaw assist- ing tournament. They finished appeared to have no working iff’s office about someone bur- ment. ed. The wardens were able to second. knowledge of the Parks and glarizing a building 50 yards from Wildlife Code. He was updated where Terrel was parked. The on game laws through a transla- building was obscured from view called the hunter and advised abandoned vehicle call. Upon felony vehicle stop was made. tor. Cases pending. by tall weeds. Two burglars were him he had just killed a buck and arrival, he noticed a red pickup in Four individuals were arrested caught in the act by Terrel and if he still wanted some venison to front of a ranch. Heaton walked a without incident. Upon return- INVESTIGATION CLEARS UP the trooper. come out and tag the buck. The heavily wooded area of the prop- ing to the property with search 13 COUNTY BURGLARIES hunter tagged the buck and took erty and observed two men warrants, they recovered more •Stephens County Game Warden ILLEGAL HUNTERS STEAL GAME it to a local processor. Within two standing in a wooded area next to than 100 items, including stolen Ed Russell recently assisted the CAMERA AFTER PICTURE TAKEN days, the landowner called the a clearing. The men said they hunting equipment, commercial Stephens County Sheriff’s Office •Blanco County Game Warden hunter once again and asked if he were looking for property that tools, TVs, and guns. Several Don Jackson cited two individu- wanted another buck he had was for sale. After a search of the felony charges including posses- with completion of a 15-month als who had killed several white- shot. The hunter once again trav- area, Heaton located a 270-caliber sion of drug items, evading arrest, investigation centered on a series tails and exotics while hunting eled to the ranch and tagged the rifle and a 30.06-caliber rifle. deadly conduct, and stolen prop- of deer camp burglaries. Three from a roadway. After the war- buck and took it to the local Both rifles were on the ground erty up to $20,000 were filed. men were charged with engaging dens interviewed the individuals processor. Cases pending. covered in pine straw. Both men in organized criminal activity and their parents, the two con- admitted to deer hunting on the GAME WARDEN NABS ANGLER and burglary of a habitation. The fessed to the illegal activity and to DUCK HUNTERS EXCEEDING BAG property without permission. SELLING FISH ILLEGALLY investigation cleared up 13 taking a game camera from a LIMIT SURPRISED BY WARDEN The men were arrested for hunt- •Calhoun County Game Warden Stephens County burglaries and ranch where they had killed an •Panola County Game Warden ing without landowner consent Robert Dominguez investigated a one Shackelford County burgla- exotic. After crossing the fence to Tom Gallenbach heard shooting and their weapons were seized. county resident reported to be ry. One stolen vehicle and more retrieve the illegal game, one of coming from one of his favorite They received citations for hunt- fishing and selling illegally for than $15,000 worth of stolen the violators noticed a game cam- duck hunting areas. He witnessed ing deer during closed season and several months. Dominguez property has been recovered to era that had taken a picture of three men shooting ducks with hunting without a hunting apprehended the individual with date. Cases pending. them and decided they had no eight already lying behind them. license. Cases pending. 178 blue and channel catfish, choice but to take the camera. They continued shooting until weighing approximately 300 MAN PICKS UP CARCASSES Several cases are pending as a they ran out of ammo. The three STOLEN COPPER LEADS pounds. Charges and restitution INSTEAD UP BEING ARRESTED result of the illegal activity. One were surprised when they turned TO SEVERAL FELONY CHARGES are pending. •A complainant called the of the violators was cited last year around and saw the warden. •Young County Game Warden Abilene office advising of 17 fox, by Jackson concerning the plac- Citations were issued to three Brent Isom received a call from a HUNTER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF 1 coyote, and 5 raccoons that had ing of a road-killed deer in the men for exceeding the bag limit hunter who observed two ATVs PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE been dumped alongside a county school bus of a rival school dur- for ducks. Cases pending. in the road with one loaded •Potter County Game Warden road. Taylor County Warden Roy ing a volleyball playoff game. down with copper tubing. Young Steve Urben received a call from a Johnson contacted one of the ANGLER CAUGHT WITH WITH County deputies and Isom city clean-up crew concerning local outdoor shops that kept up TWO CITED HUNTING UNDER 147 TOO MANY FLOUNDER responded to the scene. When eight deer heads in a shed behind with the area predator hunts. An LICENSE OF ANOTHER •Jefferson County Game Warden the ATV operators spotted the a house. Urben and Randall •Gillespie County Game Warden Vu Nguyen checked an individ- warden and deputies, they ran on County Game Warden Frank employee at the shop knew of a Scott Krueger cited two individu- ual with 147 flounder over his foot until reaching their vehicle, Niemiec proceeded to the house man who had killed that specific als for exceeding the bag limit of possession limit, with many of and a chase ensued. During the and noticed that the heads number of animals. The man was whitetail and hunting under the the flounder also being under- investigation, it was determined looked fresh, and deer season had contacted, admitted to the license of another. A landowner sized. A total of 30 citations were that both ATVs were stolen and been over for over two months. dumping and was given the had invited a hunter to his ranch issued; cases pending. the copper tubing was stolen After being invited inside by an option of being arrested for Class to get some venison for his freez- from a nearby ranch house. Isom occupant of the home, the occu- B illegal dumping or immediately er. On the way out to the ranch, TWO ADMIT TO HUNTING WITHOUT remained in the area until 11 pant showed a freezer full of fresh returning to the location, picking the hunter hit a deer with his CONSENT OF LANDOWNER p.m., when he observed a vehicle deer meat and said the last deer up the carcasses and properly dis- vehicle and missed the hunt. •Grimes County Game Warden leaving a pasture near the area. was brought home two days posing of them. He chose the lat- Several days later, the landowner Johnny Heaton responded to an Isom requested backup, and a before. A hunting rifle was pro- ter option and apologized. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! www.lonestaroutdoornews.com Welcome to We Want to Lone Star Outdoor News Deliver Our Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Newspaper We publish twice a month to bring you the very best of the to You! Texas outdoors — the most credible and timely outdoor information in print. Every issue, we’ll bring you some of the state’s best out- door photography and stories. You’ll read about big game hunting, waterfowling, upland bird hunting, freshwater fish- ing across the state and saltwater fishing all up and down 24 the Texas Coast. Plus, you’ll get national news … conserva- tion updates … weather report … wild game and fish recipes … and the latest breaking news from state and fed- ISSUES eral wildlife agencies. FOR $25 SEND A SUBSCRIPTION TO A FRIEND NAME NAME ADDRESS

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These next favorites are hands, it can negotiate struc- hook makes it versatile in most cess with topwater plugs in Tackle throwbacks to the previous ture and can be retrieved quick- all situations, Watkins said. cooler bays. They say the sur- generation. The 51M MirroLure ly or manipulated to control its When conditions make fish- face commotion excites lethar- Continued from Page 8 and the more modern Catch 5 depth. In a word, it is versatile, ing tough, Watkins switches to gic trout, and some anglers use Black uses them almost exclu- and Catch 2000 are waders’ McBride said. the Bass Assassin Blurp, a scent- them to locate fish. After get- sively on 16-ounce Hogie plugs with a long history of suc- Straying from conventional ed version of the original soft ting the fish’s attention, they spring-head jigheads year cess. Port Mansfield’s Mike wisdom is Rockport guide Jay plastic, which also comes in a might switch to their favorite round for trout. For big winter McBride said the 51M has Watkins, who catches more paddle-tail model. Probably a subsurface lure for the catch. trout, Black lowers his lure earned his confidence as a shal- than his share of big trout using dozen manufacturers make sev- The MirroLure line of Top slowly to the bay bottom upon low-water trout plug. But it also a 5-inch shad Bass Assassin eral versions of a soft plastic Dog plugs, which include She casting and then tries to short- serves as a wintertime slow- regardless of conditions. jerk-bait. And, generally, prefer- Dog, He Dog, Top Pup and sev- hop it two, three or four times sinker in the super salty Laguna Watkins prefers a plum or ence is what sets them apart. eral more, is a good all-around about 6 inches off the bottom, Madre, where anglers twitch it plum/chartreuse Bass Assassin For pure enjoyment, the top- plug. There’s a size weight and maintaining a taut line. like they would a Corky near on a 16-ounce No. 2 chartreuse water plug makes this list. rattle tone for nearly every con- For fishing around rocks, the bottom. Screw-lock jighead. Corpus Christi’s David Rowsey dition. For a slightly different Black said the Devil Eye seems This cigar-shaped hard plastic Watkins said this staple soft said while nearly every trout look and sound, the Rapala to avoid hang-ups better than plug sinks at the rate of about jerkbait is best worked with a angler has a favorite surface Skitter Walk may have recently traditional soft plastics. Black one foot per second, McBride medium-action rod over shal- plug, he allows conditions to surpassed the Top Dog series in believes the fat head may be the said, adding that it’s not too low scattered oyster shell, but dictate his choice. popularity. reason it bounces off Baffin’s noisy, casts like a bullet even also is effective in deeper water Often dismissed as a warm- The Super Spook submerged rocks without get- into a breeze, and yet enters the during winter. A lightweight water lure exclusively, many and Super Spook Jr. also are top ting snagged. water unobtrusively. In skilled jighead with a shore-shank trout stalkers have found suc- preferences. February 22, 2008 Page 13

800.716.5402 Page 14 February 22, 2008 Largemouth bass seminar targets pond management

Texas AgriLife Extension, Bass: Better Fishing Through Private Program topics will include basic Barry Smith of the American Sport bass using otoliths, a necessary com- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Water Management,” on Mar. 28-29. pond management such as water Fish Hatchery in Alabama will report ponent of successful management of Sciences, in cooperation with Texas “The program is designed primari- quality, controlling exotic vegetation, on his efforts to use selective breeding a fishery. Parks and Wildlife and the ly for landowners who manage their bass diseases and parasites, fertiliza- to grow bigger bass that are easier to Attendees also will receive a Henderson County Wildlife own impoundments for bass fishing,” tion, feeding and stocking strategies. catch. behind-the-scenes tour of TFFC’s Committee, will present a seminar at said conference organizer Billy There will also be sessions on cut- Bassmaster Elite angler Alton Jones ShareLunker spawning and rearing the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Higginbotham, a professor at Texas ting-edge bass management tech- will speak on how to catch bass. There facility. in Athens entitled “The Largemouth A&M University. niques. will also be a session on how to age — Texas Parks and Wildlife report. February 22, 2008 Page 15

with new panels for about $13. can blend in better if they wear Two limits top Ameristep officials also warn black or very dark clothes inside Mesh archers not to shoot mechanical the blind. or expanding broadheads And although the exteriors of 3030 pounds Continued from Page 6 through the mesh. the blinds are camouflage, deer poundage, penetrate the mesh “The broadhead will deploy in will notice them after their ini- as if it wasn’t even there, Wright the mesh before hitting the ani- tial set-up, Wright said. at Rayburn said. mal,” said Tony Tenor, an “It can spook the deer, unless “Mosquito netting is all it is,” Ameristep customer service rep- you thoroughly brush in the Twenty-four limits of he explained. “At typical resentative. thing,” he said. “Then it doesn’t more than 20 pounds were archery ranges, it doesn’t seem Fleming disagreed. “I’ve shot bother them at all, and it does- weighed in at the Bass to have any affect on the arrow through them with expandable n’t bother hogs at all; antelope Champs East Region tour- at all.” broadheads and even the Rage either.” nament at Sam Rayburn, Fleming agreed. “I’ve never broadheads,” he said. “They go Fleming said his hunters typi- with two limits topping 30 seen one of them deviate an right through without expand- cally get shots within 15 yards. pounds. arrow,” he said. ing if you use O-rings.” “And my 10-year-old shot bucks Kris Wilson and David Not all archers are believers in Tenor also warned hunters not at 15 yards this year,” he said. Harvey topped the event the shoot-through mesh, to shoot guns through the mesh During the early bow season with a five-bass limit though. Jeff Birmingham guides because muzzle blast can ignite in Texas, Wright said, ground weighing 30.62 pounds, archery hunters in Bee County. mesh can only take a few pene- the fabric. blinds can become stifling, including a 9.48-pound “I tried it, and I didn’t like it,” he trations and then it has to be “And then you have a fire on even with mesh windows. bass, winning $20,000. said. “Plus, any time you touch replaced. your hands,” he said. Bring plenty of water to prevent Wilson and Harvey were an arrow with anything, it’s That’s because the breaches Wright also offered some gen- dehydration. throwing Rat-L traps in 5- going to affect how the arrow caused by fast-flying arrows will eral tips for hunting out of On balance, however, Wright foot drains. “We threw flies.” cause a mesh panel to sag, and portable blinds. said the ground blinds are “just them every direction,” The mesh does carry a few lim- an arrow can be deflected by the He said that many of them really great inventions because Wilson said. “The fish itations, according to bow- fabric if it isn’t stretched tightly. have dark interiors to help con- of their portability.” were everywhere.” hunters. Therefore, companies like ceal a hunter’s profile. “And, after all,” he said, “you Chris Clemens and For example, Wright said, the Ameristep sell replacement kits Therefore, he added, hunters can’t fall out of one.” Dallas Cole won second place with 30.02 pounds. The team targeted grassy points in the mid-lake area. “We were using crankbaits, throwing par- allel to the shoreline in water about 10-feet deep,” Cole said. Their 10.32- pound fish won Big Bass honors. It hit a crankbait at 11 a.m. In third place with 27.62 pounds was the team of Greg Christian and Bill Wilcox with 27.62 pounds, while Jerry McMullen and Randy Turner finished fourth with 23.34 pounds. Out of 256 teams, 174 brought limits to the scales.

—Bass Champs report. Trials Continued from Page 6 trials are a big deal because we start off the season, and people like to run their dogs in the coastal area — there will be five or six types of cover changes before the dog gets to the mark.” The retrievers, handlers and dog owners came from dozens of states and as far north as Canada, with 176 entries competing in four classes, including the coveted open and amateur divisions. “In the open and amateur divi- sions, dogs perform double and triple marks on both water and on land,” said Kenny, whose dog Icebreaker Mackinaw finished fourth in the amateur division. “And they also do blind retrieves on both water and land.” The open division, the only divi- sion that the pros are permitted to compete, had 77 entries. Handler Dave Rorem, who lives and trains retrievers near International Falls, Minn., in the summer and near Columbus in winter, captured two of the top four spots, with Two Rivers Lucky Willie, a black lab owned by Brady Oman of Marble Falls, taking the top prize. But Rorem, who trains dogs with his wife and 29-year-old daughter Ty, was most proud of his daughter’s performance. “It was only the sec- ond field trial she ever ran, and she finished second in the open with The Bear XVII, called ‘Yogi.’” Rorem, a retired Minnesota game warden, knew it was rare to have so many top finishers. “We’re blessed with good athletes,” he said. “We have a good string of young dogs, and we all work our tails off.” In the amateur division, all of the dogs were required to be handled by their owners. Kathy Berdan with her lab FC AFC Mizpaw Miss, took the top prize, and Alex Washburn with Coolwaters Hurricane Alley finished second out of 47 entries. Page 16 February 22, 2008 Speckled strike

In March, the water warms ever so slightly. The big female speck- led trout begins to hang out near the oyster shells that will eventu- ally protect her deposit of eggs. On good days, the lucky wade- will don his gear and walk in the cold water up to his belly. Casting and walking, casting and walking. Topwater action is what he is after. Days with the most tidal movement are best. He casts and cranks. The lure walks from side to side three feet over the mama sow’s head. She reacts to the sound of the heavy pellets hitting the side of the plastic plug. She strikes. BAM! Water goes flying. The angler pauses — and sets the hook. The rod bends, the line strips, the angler reels. A short while later, a measurement for weight and length is quickly taken and the fish swims off. The wader yells the results to STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID J. SAMS his partner and resumes casting and walking, casting and walking. February 22, 2008 Page 17 Four to enter bass fishing Hall of Fame at the Classic

Four legendary figures of bass fishing who the design of the Bass Tracker boat for Bass have contributed greatly to the sport through Pro Shops. He won a B.A.S.S. Federation education, achievements, innova- National Championship, fished five Classics tions and communications will join 32 previ- and won a total of 67 tournament trail events. ously inducted men and women in the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Buck Perry The class of 2008 includes Nick Crème of Perry is widely acclaimed as the “father of Texas, Charlie Campbell and Virgil Ward structure fishing.” Before sonar, Perry was both of , and Buck Perry of North using his Spoonplugs and trolling tactics to Carolina, as the seventh group of inductees. catch deep water and offshore bass that oth- Crème, Perry and Ward will be inducted ers did not even know existed. Even though posthumously. he passed away in 2005, his Spoonplugging Induction ceremonies took place on Feb. school is still a serious educational institution 21, the evening before the start of the 40th for anglers. Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell. Virgil Ward Nick Crème Ward had one of the most popular TV In 1949, Crème created the first rubber showcases of bass for 27 worms on his kitchen stove, which made a years with Virgil Ward’s Championship huge impact as the invention revolutionized Fishing Show. In 1955 Virgil and his son, Bill, bass fishing with artificial lures in the 1950s started the Bass Buster Lure Company, and ’60s. designed the feather jig and patented the Crème’s tackle company became one of fiber weed guard still used today by jig manu- the first to sponsor a pro angler when, in facturers. 1967, Nick offered John Powell of Alabama an $18,000 contract. Four new members to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board of Directors also will be induct- Charlie Campbell ed. They include Kathy Magers and Dick Hart As a Missouri educator and celebrated of Texas, Gene Ellison of Massachusetts and coach for over 15 years, Campbell would Hobson Bryan Jr. of Alabama. They were spend after-school hours and summers guid- named to three-year terms beginning ing nearby lakes. He later owned a marine January 1 of this year. dealership, developed the “Charlie Campbell CC Spinner Bait,” and was instrumental in — BASS Communications report.

Burglary Continued from Page 1 He has combined genetics from robust northern whitetails and strong south Texas bloodlines to create deer like Twisty, 253 (B&C); Big Tex, 230, and Lumpy, 208. Others missing mounts came from Little Tex, Pay Check and Terminator. All of the prized deer were prominently dis- played at the ranch after their deaths. But then someone took bolt cutters to an outside gate. “One of my ranch hands showed up early the next morning and saw the lock was cut off,” Martindale said. “They took everything that wasn’t nailed to the wall. “It makes you feel like your privacy has been violated — big time.” Also stolen were a couple replica mounts, several horn mounts, and some full-body mounts of other animals, including a bobcat. Two dart guns used in the breeding operation and a .222-cal- iber varmint rifle were also taken, Martindale said. ON THE LOOKOUT: Bill Martindale hopes that “The definitely knew exactly what someone will recognize the stolen mounts of they wanted,” he added. “It was probably Twisty, above, or Big Tex, below, and call someone who had been there before or authorities. someone who was hired by someone who had been there before.” Bosque County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the burglary, but no arrests have been reported nearly a month later. Meanwhile, Martindale has offered a $5,000 reward for information that could lead to a break in the case. Martindale noted that he is a longtime member of the Texas Deer Association, and he is appealing to his fellow deer breeders to be watching for anyone try- ing to sell some distinctive whitetail mounts. “I marketed my buying and selling off of those mounts,” Martindale said. “They were pretty well-known around our state, so there’s a good chance they will be recognized.” Images of the deer can be viewed at under the “breeding” section of the Snuff City Web site: www.snuffci- tyranch.com. Anyone with information about the case can call Sgt. David Pack of the Bosque County Sheriff’s Office at 254- 435-2363. Page 18 February 22, 2008

erman. Using a commercially produced Similar hot cat action is available cheese bait (or sometimes shrimp “From December Warm at the nearby Braunig Lake, also and chicken livers), Reese dips the Mud operated by San Antonio’s CPS, and treble hooks into the gooey concoc- through February, Continued from Page 1 at three other Texas utility cooling tion and then flips the baited hook Continued from Page 1 when temperatures action from December through reservoirs: one each in Fayette next to one of the bridge piers nets for fish,” Paradoski said. March because of the warm water County; Fairfield in East Texas; and about 30 feet from his anchored “From December through drop the most, mud discharge from the power plant,’’ Monticello in Northeast Texas. boat. February, when temperatures Reese said. “The (warm water) discharge just “Wait for a couple of taps — they drop the most, mud flats can flats can produce “This is more like hunting weath- seems to attract catfish,’’ said Tim don’t take the bait very hard — and produce some very big trout.” er than fishing weather, but on the Bister, a Texas Parks and Wildlife then set the hook,’’ he said. Drifting mud in Trinity Bay some very big trout.” weekends, the fishermen’s boats biologist whose region includes Reese and other warm water dis- resulted in a once in a lifetime will be lined up solid along this Fairfield and Monticello. charge catfish anglers favor depths outing. “It was during the ’70s — Charlie Paradoski bridge.’’ “Both of these lakes have really from about 6 feet to 12 feet, and and was my best trip ever,” he The morning trip across the taken off (for catfish action) in the they often use sour grain to bait hot said. “We were over solid mud. are holding on the deeper oys- 3,550-acre lake to the fish-attract- past few years,” he said. “With the fishing spots, whether they are near Trout had jumbo shrimp ter reefs and on others, mud ing railroad bridge piers produced a warm-water discharge, there is the railroad bridge piers or over hemmed up in the middle of the flats produce the most fish,” he string of 28 keeper cats in about two more for the catfish to eat and they creek beds crossing the lake bot- bay.” said. hours, including a 21-inch blue cat- grow faster than in other lakes.” tom. Paradoski claims they caught Captain Russell Smith search- fish and several 18- to 19-inch chan- The method used to attract win- “I’ve brought in channels up to 156 magnum specks. “None es out water color streaks when nel catfish. About twice that many ter catfish is simple and effective. six pounds from this area, but most were lighter than 7 pounds,” he drifting deep mud in West undersized channel catfish were Spin-casting reels loaded with 10- are in the 14- to 16-inch range,’’ said. “They were feeding like Galveston Bay. caught and released. pound test monofilament are Reese said. jackfish. It was the most aggres- “We fish the sandier mud in The minimum length for keepers attached to medium- to light- Reese with Shawn’s Guide sive school of fish I have ever West Galveston during winter,” at Calaveras is 12 inches and the action rods, with a small slip sinker Service can be reached at (210) 288- seen in my life.” he said. “During my charters, if limit is 25 fish per day for each fish- placed above a No. 6 treble hook. 4972. The chances of drifting into a I find decent green water with school of fish like that is like streaky water and distinct water winning the lottery. But drifting change, there are always fish.” mud packs potential and consis- A trout and mullet feeding HOG TRAPS tently produces speckled trout. frenzy can cause these streaks in w e • Sturdy 1 1/2” Square Tubing “The old trick is finding the the water, Smith said. “Trout N bait,” Paradoski said. “In the find these streaks of clear and • 48” x 96” x 36” - Fits Between Truck and Wheel Wells coldest times in winter, bait is off-color water and just get • Galvanized Steel Wire Panels tough to track down; this is comfortable.” • Spring Loaded Gate w/Vinyl Coated Cable when I rely on areas I have The warmth of a deep mud • Continuous Catching caught them before. flat with streaky water can cre- “When the sun is up and ate some fantastic vantage Fiberglass Deer Blinds water temperatures warm to 58 points for trout and redfish pur- New degrees, I key on schools of bait suing an effortless feed. w/ CAMO PATTERNS & ALUMINUM DOOR or oil slicks if they exist,” he said. “Using heavy leads are the • Aluminum Door and Frame w/Locking Key Entry Paradoski prefers soft plastics, best advice I can provide — 3/8- • Standard Sizes Available 4’x4’, 4’x6’ , 5.5’ and 6’x8’ preferably Bass Assassins of all ounce heads on any soft plas- • Custom Sizes Available colors and Mirrolures. tics work if the fish are ready to “It is a matter of trial and error; eat,” Smith said. you must take the time to switch In East Matagorda Bay, Smith and give different baits a try,” also has taken advantage of fish he said. “If I see bait on the sur- holding over deep mud during face, you can bet I will be the cold of winter. 916 N. Needmore Street, Athens, Texas 75751 chunking a topwater.” “I found these fish after I Call For a Dealer Near You Whether the fish are favoring made a blind drift over deep mud or deep structure at a given mud into a streaky patch of (903) 677-3141 • www.dillonmanuf.com time usually depends on water water,” he said. “I instantly temperature. “Some days, fish caught fish.” Blinds • Towers • Feeders • Hog Traps February 22, 2008 Page 19 WEATHER

OUTDOOR PUZZLER WILD IN THE KITCHEN For crossword puzzle solution, see Page 24 Venison Lasagna ACROSS Serves 6-8 Ingredients 1. A bony food fish 5. Part of ice-fishing gear 8 Lasagna noodles 9. A deer scent 1-1/2 Pounds ground venison 10. A top retriever 1 Can or jar prepared spaghetti 11. Term for tiring a fish to land it sauce (or homemade sauce) 12. A flock of geese 1-1/2 Tablespoons of Italian 13. A silvery minnow for bait seasoning 14. A deer lure, scent ____ 1 Cup cottage cheese 17. A brood of pheasants 3 Cups mozzarella cheese 20. A game trail 1/2 Cup grated parmesan cheese 21. Rings on 24 down’s scales reveal this Brown meat (if no fat was added 22. Deer marks on a tree trunk use 1/4 cup of oil in the skillet to of cottage cheese for the next layer, 25. A very keen-eyed game prevent sticking) and drain. Add followed by 1-1/2 cups of mozzarel- 27. Part of fishing gear spaghetti sauce and Italian season- la. Add another layer of the ingre- 28. A species of deer ing and cook 5 minutes. dients and then top by sprinkling 29. It is on the rod Layer four strips of the cooked with the parmesan cheese. 31. Hunter in snow country does lasagna noodles on bottom of rec- Bake in 350-degree oven for 30 this tangular Pyrex baking dish. Spoon minutes. 33. Material in fish lines on half of the meat sauce mixture —Recipe from David Ranier, Outdoor 35. The home to an outdoorsman and spread evenly. Spread 1/2 cup Alabama. 37. A predator 38. Estimating how old game Grilled Romaine Salad tracks are 39. A method of fishing Ingredients and trim root end. 42. To lose the antlers Split Romaine lettuce in half 44. Game find food in the rotten Romaine lettuce lengthwise (from root to leaf end). one Extra virgin olive oil Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive oil over 45. Brown bear of the North 7. A grassland bird 30. Good northern and walleye Kosher salt cut side and sprinkle with kosher 46. A family of sunfish 8. To travel seasonally in search bait Black pepper salt and black pepper. of food 31. Part of a stag’s rack Balsamic vinaigrette Place lettuce cut side down on DOWN 12. Outdoor activities equipment 32. A dog trained to hunt Blue cheese preheated grill. Let cook for 2 min- 15. To trap game 34. Excitement of a hunt Diced tomato utes. Lettuce should have some dark 1. The hunter’s lures 16. Name for a cold-weather tent 36. Part of the antlers Sliced red onion edges and a smoky aroma. 2. The snowshoe is one species 18. Some have an 8-foot 40. They are large on the muley Pumpkin seeds — toasted Place lettuce on a serving plate, of this wingspread 41. A deer-resting area cut side up. Dress with a Balsamic 3. A crude method of fishing 19. Describes a new trail 42. A very large species of bass Preheat grill or charcoal (best fla- Vinaigrette, blue cheese crumbles, 4. Name for a very large stur- 23. A fish strike 43. Wild ____ packs kill many vor is achieved using Hickory or diced tomato, sliced red onion and geon 24. A species of bass deer Mesquite wood). toasted pumpkin seeds. 5. A major deer food 25. A type of simple tent Clean Romaine lettuce heads. —Recipe from Clint Bronson, Hill Outdoor Puzzler, 6. A deer scouting method 26. Species of the perch Wilbur "Wib" Lundeen Remove any burned or wilted leaves Country Bad Boy Buggies. Page 20 February 22, 2008 FISHINGFISHING REPORTREPORT ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 0.71' low. Black fair on drop shot rigged finesse worms, crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps. bass are fair on dark jigs suspended in timber and along rocky drop- LAKE O' THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 42-48 degrees; 0.95' offs. high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged Baby Brush Hogs and Rat- HOT BITES ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 2.81' low. Crappie L-Traps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. SALTWATER are good on minnows off the derricks and state park docks, and east LAVON: Water lightly stained; 44-56 degrees; 3.21' low. Black bass side bridge pilings suspended 7-14 feet deep. Blue Catfish are good are fair to good on crankbaits, Texas rigs and drop shot rigs. Crappie on juglines and drift fishing using live shad in the lower part of lake. are fair to good on minnows and jigs. SCENE LARGEMOUTH ATHENS: Water lightly stained, 48-56 degrees; 0.27' high. Black LBJ: Water stained; 60 degrees; 5.08' low. The lake has been drawn bass are fair on shaky head rigs, Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits. down five feet to allow homeowners to clean up damage and debris NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair while ASS BASTROP: Water clear. Black bass are good on red/white spinner- from the flood of July 2007. It will be refilled beginning Feb.25. drifting deep shell in the middle of the B baits, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Channel and blue catfish are good Most boat ramps are unusable, and the channel is dangerous. lake on black/chartreuse and red shad on stinkbait, liver, shrimp, and minnows. LEWISVILLE: Water off-color; 45-58 degrees; 0.92' low. White bass Trout Killers, Bass Assassins, Hogies and BELTON: Water clear; 52 degrees; 0.29' high. Black bass are good are fair to good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and Sassy Sand Eels. Redfish are fair on the shore- on and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are good on minnows in Shad. Catfish are good on prepared bait and chartreuse (use Worm- lines on gold spoons and chartreuse 20-30 feet under lights at night. Glo) nightcrawlers. plastics. BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 46-56 degrees; 0.64' low. Black bass LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 53 degrees; 0.06' high. Black bass SOUTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are are fair on Texas rigs and Rat-L-Traps. are fair on crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on min- fair plum plastics and live shrimp off the TOLEDO BEND: Black bass are good BRAUNIG: Water stained; 61 degrees. Black bass are good on nows. Blue catfish are good on shad. reef on the south end of the lake. on watermelon and June bug soft plas- crankbaits and dark soft plastic worms in the reeds and near the jetty MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 46 degrees; 73.34' low. Black Sheepshead are good at the jetty on tics, and on watermelon spinnerbaits and dam. Striped bass are bass are fair on jigs and shrimp. and crankbaits. good on liver and shad at live bait. Crappie are fair BOLIVAR: Redfish and black drum are FALCON: Black bass are good on large Dead Tree Point and near on minnows and jigs. fair in the surf on cut-bait. Flounder are watermelon Brush Hogs, spinnerbaits, the pier, and down rigging MEREDITH: Water lightly fair at Rollover Pass on mud minnows. and soft plastics. silver and gold spoons and HOT SPOT stained; 44 degrees; TRINITY BAY: Sheepshead, sand trout marble spinners near the 73.47' low. White bass are and croaker are fair on shrimp at the HOUSTON COUNTY: Black bass are jetty and dam. excellent on watermelon red soft plas- good on live bait. Spillway. Trout are fair on the shorelines. tic lizards near the pump station in 8 BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly Smallmouth bass are fair EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to feet and at mid lake. stained; 44-58 degrees; on lipless crankbaits and good for 4.36' low. Crappie are fair live baits. TRAVIS: Black bass are good on Brush waders to good on minnows and MONTICELLO: Water clear; around Big Hogs, Senkos, and chartreuse jigs around ledges and crankbaits in 8-20 feet. 68-82 degrees; 0.5' low. Pasture on drop-offs. Hybrid striper Black bass are fair to good suspending are fair to good on live on Rat-L-Traps, flukes and plugs. Redfish are fair on the shorelines shad and slabs. crankbaits. Crappie are fair on mud minnows and gold spoons. BROWNWOOD: Water to good on minnows and WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair WHITE/ stained; 58 degrees; 2.07' jigs. for waders working the muddy shore- low. Black bass are good NAVARRO MILLS: Water lines. Black drum and sheepshead are on chartreuse jigs and lightly stained; 49 degrees; fair to good on live shrimp or fresh dead HYBRID/STRIPER watermelon soft plastics in 0.95' low. Crappie are good at the jetty. 10-30 feet. Crappie are on red/chartreuse tailed good on Li'l Fishies and TEXAS CITY: Sheepshead, croaker, black tube jigs off docks and drum, redfish and sand trout are fair minnows over brush piles over brush in 4-8 feet. in 10-30 feet. Channel cat- from the pier at the end of the dike on fish are very good on O.H. IVIE: Water lightly fresh dead shrimp. stinkbait, minnows, and stained; 55 degrees; FREEPORT: Black drum, whiting and frozen shrimp. 10.24' low. Black bass are sand trout are fair to good in the after- fair on shad-colored noon at Oyster Creek Park. Trout and BUCHANAN: Water clear; crankbaits, and Carolina- 59 degrees; 1.95' low. reds are fair in Christmas Bay on live rigged live baits. Crappie shrimp. WALTER E. LONG: Hybrid striper are Crappie are fair on min- are fair on minnows and good on minnows and cut bait. nows over brush piles in jigs. EAST MATAGORDA: Trout are fair on the 12-15 feet. deep shell on red shad, morning glory CEDAR CREEK: White bass are good PALESTINE: Water lightly CADDO: Water stained; 48- and glow/chartreuse Bass Assassins, on slabs. stained; 45-58 degrees; Sand Eels and Trout Killers. Redfish are 60 degrees; 0.81' high. 0.13' high. Black bass are Black bass are fair on fair on the south shoreline on gold fair on crankbaits, Rat-L- spoons and Bass Assassins. Long drifts Texas rigs and jigs. Catfish Traps, Carolina rigs and are fair to good on night- over shell has yielded solid trout on live CATFISH jigs. Crappie are fair to shrimp. crawlers and prepared bait. Amistad good on minnows and jigs. CALAVERAS: Water White bass are fair to good MATAGORDA: Trout are redfish are fair stained; 61 degrees. Black Water clear; 56 degrees; 7.04' low. Black bass are good on jerkbaits, Revenge on slabs and minnows. on the south shoreline on limetreuse, bass are good on dark soft spinnerbaits, Lucky Craft DD-100's, and Senkos. Striped bass are good on slabs black and electric chicken Bass POSSUM KINGDOM: Water Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. plastic worms, spinner- and small crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs and small crankbaits. Yellow stained; 54 degrees; 1.78' baits, and crankbaits catfish are good on baited with live perch. Mexican fishing licenses are low. White bass are fair on PORT O'CONNOR: Trout are fair to good around reed beds and near required to fish Mexican waters. Everyone in the boat must have a Mexican fishing silver slabs suspended 23- on the edges of the Intracoastal on the dam. Striped bass are license whether fishing or not. Mexican boat permits are no longer required. pumpkinseed/chartreuse and fire tiger BRAUNIG: Channel catfish are excel- 30 feet near Costello good on spoons and jigs Island. Trout Killers, Sand Eels and Bass lent on liver, shrimp, cheesebait, and near the crappie wall and Assassins. Warm temperatures have cut bait near the spillway and the dis- the dam in 15-20 feet, and on chicken livers, shad, and minnows PROCTOR: Water clear; 51 degrees; 0.31' low. Channel and blue cat- allowed for a good topwater bite. charge. Blue catfish are good on cut along the shoreline. fish to 35 pounds are good on live shad and goldfish in 22-25 feet. bait in 15-20 feet. ROCKPORT: Trout and redfish are fair on CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 60 degrees; 0.05' high. Striped bass RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 46-57 degrees; 0.11' low. the Estes Flats on live shrimp and red BELTON: Channel and blue catfish are are fair to good trolling 1/4 oz. white striper jigs and vertically Black bass are fair to good on Carolina rigs, white/chartreuse spinner- shad Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and good on hot dogs and Spam. Yellow Pirk Minnows and Spoiler Shads. Smallmouth bass are very good on baits and crankbaits. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Hybrid Sand Eels. catfish are good on juglines baited smoke/red flake tubes, tomato red curl tail grubs, and tomato red striper are fair to good on slabs and live shad. with live perch and goldfish. PORT ARANSAS: Black drum and drop shot worms over rock piles in 12-25 feet. RAY ROBERTS: Water murky; 44-56 degrees; 0.63' low. White bass sheepshead are fair to good from the CALAVERAS: Channel and blue catfish CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 46-59 degrees; 1.12' low. are good on slabs and Jigging Spoons. jetty on shrimp. Whiting, redfish and are excellent on liver, shrimp, and Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 45-57 degrees; 1.67' low. black drum are fair from the beachfront cheesebait near the railroad trestle and White bass are fair to good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs piers. 181 Cove. CHOKE CANYON: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 0.80' low. Black bass are fair on soft plastic worms and lizards, and flipping jigs in and live shad. CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair around CONROE: Catfish are good on the grass. White bass are good on small spinnerbaits and suspending SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 63 degrees; 4.91' low. Black bass the Causeway and in the Humble stinkbait, live minnows, and frozen jerkbaits from the 99 Bridge north. Channel and blue catfish are are good on tequila sunrise and pumpkinseed soft plastics. Catfish Channel on plum/white and glow/char- shrimp. good on punchbait in 5-10 feet. are good on frozen shrimp, live minnows, and stinkbait. treuse Bass Assassins, Hogies, Trout POSSUM KINGDOM: Catfish are good COLEMAN: Water clear; 57 degrees. Black bass are good on water- SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 0.11' high. Channel and blue catfish are Killers and Sand Eels. on set lines baited with shad along melon red soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits, and on char- fair on nightcrawlers and minnows. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on mud and the river channel. treuse Rat-L-Traps. Hybrid striper are good on minnows. Channel and STILLHOUSE: Water clear; 58 degrees; 0.04' high. Channel and blue grass on pink Corkies and suspending blue catfish are good on stinkbait, liver, and frozen shrimp. catfish are fair on hot dogs and nightcrawlers. plugs. Trout are good for waders working the rocks. CONROE: Water clear. Black bass are good on watermelon red and TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 44-58 degrees; 1.79' low. Crappie dark red soft plastics, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. Crappie are good are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Striped PORT MANSFIELD: Trout, redfish, and CRAPPIE on minnows and blue tube jigs. bass and hybrid striper are fair on live shad and slabs. sheepshead are fair in the Ship Channel on live shrimp. Trout and redfish are fair FALCON: Water stained; 58 degrees. Channel and blue catfish are TEXOMA: Water stained to clear on the north end; 46-56 degrees; excellent on frozen shrimp and stinkbait upriver. on the flats on plum, black and glow 1.05' low. Black bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps, drop shot rigs and Bass Assassins, Trout Killers, Hogies and FAYETTE: Water lightly stained; 64 degrees. Black bass are fair to crankbaits. Striped bass are fair to good live shad and large Road Sand Eels. Trout are good on topwaters good on Carolina rigged soft plastics off deep points, and on spinner- Runners. on the flats in the afternoon. baits, Rat-L-Traps, and soft plastics in shallow areas. TOLEDO BEND: Water clear; 62 degrees; 3.22' low. Crappie are fair SOUTH PADRE: Black drum and redfish FORK: Water fairly clear; 44-56 degrees; 0.2' low. Black bass are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. are fair to on Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, Carolina rigs and heavy jigs. TRAVIS: Water clear; 57 degrees; 1.29' high. White bass are good on good off the GRANBURY: Water clear; 1.18' low. Black bass are good on water- minnows and silver jigging spoons in 35-48 feet. Intracoastal COLEMAN: Crappie are good on min- WALTER E. LONG: Water clear; 60 degrees. Black bass are good on on live nows over brush piles. melon and pumpkinseed soft plastics, and on chartreuse Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are good on minnows and green tube jigs. Catfish are good minnows and chartreuse soft plastics. shrimp. Trout SAM RAYBURN: Crappie are good on on frozen shrimp, liver, and stinkbait. WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 46-56 degrees; 2.52' low. Black are fair on live mullet and plum/char- minnows and green tube jigs. treuse Trout Killers and Bass Assassins GRANGER: Water murky; 48 degrees; 0.44' high. Black bass are bass are fair on crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and Texas rigs. Crappie are SOMERVILLE: Crappie are excellent on fair on minnows and jigs. on the flats. Sheepshead are fair to good good on jigs along shallow banks upriver. at the jetty on live shrimp. minnows, and on tube jigs with red WHITNEY: Water stained; 7.12' low. Black bass are good on water- GRAPEVINE: Water fairly clear; 48-59 degrees; 1.7' low. Crappie are heads and green skirts. melon red and redbug soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. PORT ISABEL: Sheepshead are fair to fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs. WHITNEY: Crappie are good on min- White bass are fair on minnows and white striper jigs. good around rock groins and piers on live shrimp. Trout are fair at Holly Beach nows. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 57 degrees; 0.57' high. Crappie WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 45-56 degrees; 3.61' high. are good on chartreuse tube jigs and live minnows near the dam. and Airport Cove on Corkies and Crazy Black bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, shaky head rigs, Rat-L- Croakers. White bass are good along the northeast shore. Traps and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. JOE POOL: Water off color; 44-57 degrees; 1.13' low. Black bass are SUBSCRIBE TODAY

24 NAME Get the most ADDRESS current hunting and issues fishing information in print, including for CITY ST. ZIP reports, tips, EMAIL features, product $25 reviews and PHONE conservation news two times a month DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILBOX MASTER CARD VISA AMERICAN EXPRESS FOR ONE YEAR 9304 Forest Lane, Ste. 114 South • CC# EXP. Dallas, TX. 75243 • (214) 361-2276 www.lonestaroutdoornews.com SIGNATURE 022208 February 22, 2008 Page 21 HRCH Blay Day’s Blue Boy ‘Blue’ Nov. 24, 1997-Dec. 29, 2007

BY DAMRON HENSON Blue had a large tumor that extend- ed from his left hip through his Our lives changed on Dec. 29, pelvis into his chest. The vet wanted 2007, when we lost our friend, com- me to know one thing — it was fatal panion, and champion retriever due and it might be two hours or two to a very short battle with cancer. months, but he would never be the We hunted on December 27 and same. And to think less than 24 everything was just fine and nor- hours earlier we were hunting. mal. We killed a bunch of geese and My wife, Dana, and I discussed Blue picked up most of them. His what to do and we decided to bring last retrieve was a blind retrieve him home, make him comfortable, where he had to swim about 100 and say our good-byes. They gave yards and then break ice for another him a shot for the pain, and we took 80 yards into an open hole where Blue home. there was a crippled goose. By late evening, the tumor contin- As he always did, he got there and started the chase — it lasted about ued to grow at such a rapid rate it 20 minutes with several dives and dislocated his hips. We stayed up all he finally caught the goose and night with him, and it was really returned back to the blind to the tough watching him go through cheers of all of the hunters. this — so we called our vet and The rest of that day was just fine asked her to come out to the house and he ate and drank with no prob- and put him down. lems. The next morning I went to The doctors at the internal medi- let him out at 5 a.m. to go duck cine clinic were confident that he hunting and he didn’t want to eat had an anal gland carcinoma. and just walked off into the dark. I These are very aggressive and most grabbed my flashlight and followed always fatal. We are thankful that him. I shined the light on him and Blue was strong until the finish and he just fell over. he did not have a long and drawn- When looking him over I found a out illness. huge knot to the left of his tail on Blue had a great 10 years. He his hip. I could tell it bothered him, hunted whitewings on the Mexico so I loaded him up in the truck and border, pheasants in South Dakota, headed for the closest vet clinic. snows and mallards in The vet right initially thought Saskatchewan, plus all of the duck Blue had some sort of hernia, but and goose hunts here in Texas. Blue later determined the problem was more serious and should receive ended up with a little more than immediate attention. 6,000 retrieves during his career. We hunted with a veterinarian A special thank you to all of those several years ago who runs an inter- that helped us train Blue during the nal medicine clinic for animals in early years. We didn’t know much at Dallas. He always told me to call all about training, but Blue made it him if I thought I really needed help easy for us to keep up. And thanks with Blue. to all of you that shared time in the It only took these guys about five field or blind with us — those are minutes to tell us what was wrong. memories we will treasure forever.

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It’s easy to advertise on this page — just send us your business card, and let us know how many weeks you want your ad to run. Purchase 12 issues of advertising and your business will be profiled with a photo in this section. Outfitter Listings: $40 each issue. Please include either a check or credit card billing information with your order. Mail to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or call (214) 361-2276. Page 22 February 22, 2008 OUTDOOR DATEBOOK 2200 for information. Mar. 1: The Red River Valley DU banquet will be Mar. 8: The Hondo Bird Dog Challenge presented held at the Gainesville Civic Center. Call Phil by NAGDA will be held at Geronimo Creek Ranch Feb. 29: The Gulf Coast NWTF banquet will be held Bellows at (940) 665-0581 for information. in Hondo. Call (830) 426-4384 or visit HAVE AN EVENT? at the Charles T. Doyle Convention Center in Texas nagdog.com for information. E-mail it to City. Contact Troy Alexander at (281) 534-2890 or Mar. 1: A Women in the Outdoors NWTF event will [email protected] for information. be held at Cuthand United Methodist Church in Mar. 8: The Heart of the Hills NWTF dinner will be [email protected] Bogata. Call Julie at (903) 737-7080 for Feb. 29: The Hunt County DU dinner will be held at held at the Hill Country Youth Exhibit Center in information. the Texas National Guard Armory in Greenville. For Kerrville. Contact Tamrah Smith at (940) 257- information, call James Handley at (903) 455-1631. Mar. 5-9: The Houston Fishing Show will be held 0312 or [email protected] for information. at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Feb. 27: The Lake Grapevine DU Texas Hold’em Feb. 29: The Cross Timbers NWTF dinner will be Mar. 8: The Rockport Rio’s NWTF banquet will be Houston. Visit houstonfishingshow.com for Poker tournament will be held at Stacy’s Furniture in held at the Decatur Civic Center. Contact Jennifer held at Rockport Beach Park Pavillion. Contact information. Grapevine. Contact Rudy Boyd at (972) 768-1682 Barrow at (940) 627-5475 or Henry Harris at (361) 729-8130 or or [email protected] for information. [email protected] for Mar. 6: The Brazos Valley CCA banquet will be [email protected] for information. Feb. 28: The Corpus Christi NWTF banquet will be information. held at the Brazos Center in Bryan. Call (800) Mar. 13: The Lake Lavon DU dinner will be held at 626-4242 for information. held at the Ortiz Center. Contact Kyle Albrecht at Feb. 29: The Gulf Coast NWTF Swingin’ D Party Connection in Parker. Contact (361) 906-2151 or [email protected] for dinner will be held at Charles T. Mar. 6: The Alamo NWTF banquet will be held at Paul Romano at (972) 442-5106 or information. Doyle Convention Center in the Alzafar Shrine Center in San Antonio. Call [email protected] for information. Texas City. For information, Charlie Klein at (210) 344-7982 for information. Feb. 28: The Sabine-Neches CCA dinner will be held Mar. 14-16: The Lost Pines NWTF chapter will contact Troy Alexander at (281) 534-2890 or at Harvest Club in Beaumont. Call (800) 626-4242 Mar. 6: The Corpus Christi CCA dinner will be [email protected]. host a Women in the Outdoors trail ride and for information. held at Bay Front Plaza. Call (800) 626-4242 for classes at Watterson Ranch in Bastrop County. Call Feb. 28: The San Bernard Mar. 1-2: A bowhunter education course will be information. Trevor Lent at (512) 917-9034 for information. held in Farmersville. Call (214) 358-0174 for CCA banquet will be held at Mar. 6: The Dallas NWTF banquet will be held at information. Mar. 14: The Tri-County CCA banquet will be held Riverside Hall in East Bernard. Brookhaven Country Club. Call Marc Edwards at at the Show Barn in Pleasanton. Call (800) 626- Call (800) 626-4242 for Mar. 1: First Shots will hold a Free Introduction to (972) 743-8986 for information. 4242 for information. information. Shooting course at the National Shooting Complex Mar. 6: The Tri-County NWTF dinner will be held in San Antonio. Pre-registration is required. For Mar. 15-16: The Lone Star Hunting Retriever Club Feb. 28: The TCU CCA dinner at Seaton Star Hall in Temple. Contact Jeff Cowan information, contact Dan Moseley at (210) 254- annual HRC hunt test will be held in Bowie. For will be held at the Stockyards in Fort Worth. Call at (254) 780-3068 or [email protected] for 1525 or [email protected]. information, call Patty Collins at (972) 980-3278 or (800) 626-4242 for information. information. visit lonestarhrc.com. Mar. 1: The Casting for Recovery Women’s Fly Feb. 28: The Montgomery County NWTF dinner will Mar. 6: The Highland Lakes NWTF banquet will Fishing Clinic will be held at Tail Waters Fly Mar. 15: The North Texas Chapter of Safari Club be held at the Lone Star Convention Center in be held at the Burnet Community Center. Contact Fishing Co. in Dallas, including a casting clinic International 14th Annual Banquet will be held at Conroe. For information, contact James Alpha at Robert Linder at (830) 693-9515 or and in-store seminars. Call (214) 219-2500 or Embassy Suites Outdoor World in Grapevine. Call (936) 756-1707 or [email protected]. [email protected] for information. visit castingforrecovery.org for information. Jack Walker at (972) 342-8229 or visit Feb. 28: The South Mar. 7-9: Cabela’s in Buda will scinorthtexas.com for information. Mar. 1: The Henderson County NWTF dinner will Texas RMEF Big offer free whitetail scoring by be held at the Cain Center in Athens. Contact Game banquet will certified measurers and a SCI Mar. 15: The Dallas Woods and Waters Club benefit Bubba Matthews at (903) 489-2408 or be held in San Measuring Certification course. dinner will be held at the Renaissance Dallas [email protected]. Antonio. Call Dennis Call (512) 295-1100 for Richardson Hotel. Call (214) 570-8700 for Harwell at (210) 889-8332 for location and information. information and registration. information. Mar. 1: The Bosque County DU dinner will be held at the Mar. 8: The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Mar. 20: The Dallas Safari Club Feb. 29-Mar.16: Bass Pro Shops Clifton Armory. Contact Jay Athens will host Fly Fish Texas 2008 from 9 a.m. annual meeting will be held at in Katy will hold its Spring Hutchins at (254) 597-7756 or to 4 p.m., with fly-tying and casting, fishing for the Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Fishing Classic. Visit brenda.hutchins@clifton. rainbow trout, and seminars. 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Spring Turkey Bee Ready Kit Cinco Cinco Ranch Emergency Trophy Whitetail 7 - Ranches Bee 3 days - Full Svc. Protection Guided Weekend 2 mature gobblers www.beereadykit.com Hunts. Perfect truck for the hunting lease! E-mail Why spend 10 grand on a 4-wheeler Bill Whitfield [email protected] Also axis, blackbuck and turkey. when you can buy this 4WD 1999 Chevy Suburban for only $7,100? It's got about (210) 494-6421 P.O. Box 502 830-477-8459 (325) 226-2258 230k miles, but runs good. Call me for www.billwhitfield.com Falls City, TX 830-477-8574 [email protected] more details. Jay 214-280-6408

2006 Triton 170 CC – 75 hp Guide School Mercury Optimax - 71 pound 4 Days Place your classified advertising in the Lone Star Outdoor News — reaching more thrust 24 volt MotorGuide - Lowrance GPS 332C Field & Classroom than a quarter-million readers monthly — and experience the results of a new MUST SELL - Great Boat, very clean and well taken Whitetail-Turkey look. The 2”x 2” classified will get the attention necessary to say SOLD! $30 per car of, only used six time in fresh water only Instructors - Galvanized trailor with spare tire Eddie Salter July month (two issues). Ad also included on Web site. - Stainless rod holders - Live well with recirculating pump Bill Whitfield August Call (214) 361-2276. - Two extended fishing seats & three deck seats Larry Weishuhn Sept. - Bimini folding top Call - $15,995 OBO Bill Whitfield Call Dan Moseley 210-494-6421 210-867-3467 February 22, 2008 Page 23 PRODUCTS

IT’S A LIFESAVER: Weighing 10 ounces and measuring 1.4 by 5.85 by 2.21 inches, the MicroFix MHz GPS 406 Personal Locator Beacon by ACR Electronics Inc. is small NEW STAINLESS STEEL MODEL: enough that hunters can Smith & Wesson’s i-Bolt bolt-action rifle is now easily clip it onto a available with a stainless steel platform in a black or Realtree AP pocket or tuck it into a camouflage finish. The new centerfire rifle is chambered in .25-06, .270, .30- backpack. 06, 7mm Magnum and 300 Magnum. The 7mm Magnum and 300 Magnum rifles have Activated by a a capacity of 3+1, while the other calibers retain the original 4+1 magazine capacity. Features single button, the include a 23-inch, free-floated Thompson/Center match grade barrel; a Tru-Set trigger that allows the user MicroFix to adjust the trigger pull from 3 to 6 pounds without removing the barreled action from the stock; a three-position, transmits the user-friendly semi-lineal safety; flush sling swivel mounts; and no-slip checkering. This rifle starts at about $830. sender’s unique For dealers, call (800) 331-0852 or visit www.smith-wesson.com. registered, digitally coded distress signal via satellite. Emergency SIMPLE AND SAFE: Xtreme officials monitoring the Charge by PulseTech Products system not only will be Corp. will give new life to 12- able to tell who is sending volt batteries — and all of the signal but precisely the toys that they power. where the signal is coming The charger works with all from as a result of the built-in types and sizes of 12-volt GPS engine. The MicroFix, lead-acid batteries and, which runs on lithium battery according to PulseTech, packs, is waterproof up to 16 feet at one hour or up to 33 feet at 10 provides users with minutes. It costs about $700. For dealers, visit the industry’s most www.acrelectronics.com. advanced charging and maintenance system to date. The company’s “PULSE” technology, which utilizes a unique charge algorithm, coupled with its advanced battery evaluation capabilities result in an easy- to-use product: Users don’t have to identify battery type or chemistry nor do they have to select and set any specific charge criteria prior to THE BIG- charging. This technology also minimizes sulfate-caused corrosion on batteries. The LIPPED charger sells for about $100. For information, call (888) 287-9314. CRANKBAIT: The Little John Crankbait from SPRO was designed to run at 3 to 5 feet. The crankbait features a silent weight transfer system that utilizes soft tungsten for long casts, even in windy conditions. A computer chip board was used for its lip for feel and durability. The 1/2-ounce, 50mm crankbait has a Gamakatsu treble hook and comes in 12 color combinations. It sells for $12.60 at www.spro.com. WALKING STICK AND MORE: The Sportsman Staff by Outdoor Creations gives outdoorsmen a little extra support. Made of sturdy aluminum, the lightweight staff features a soft rubber handgrip that can be removed and replaced with a gun mount (or camera mount) for steady shooting. Halfway down the staff, a wing-shaped durable plastic attachment inserts to the staff for use as a lower gun mount or “1001 TIPS”: This 192-page holder. The staff includes INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES: Smith Optics’new Interlock Trace book ($19.95; Headwater Books) offers a spike attachment and sunglasses allow anglers to easily change out the lenses. Features practical advice and shortcuts for fresh Velcro straps. Plus, it has include polarized carbonic lenses that block reflective glare, megol and saltwater fishing from more than 25 a 41-inch ruler etched on temple pads for a secure fit, and a durable frame. Available in four experts. Topics include casting with Lefty one side. Available in frame colors and a polarized gray (for true color definition) or brown Kreh, matching the hatch with Charlie various colors, it costs (for increased depth perception) lens, the sunglasses sell for about Meck, mastering mayflies with John Barr, about $55. For $150. For dealers, call (208) 726-4477. and more. Edited by Jay Nichols, the book information, call (608) features 160 illustrations by Dave Hall. To 831-1224, Ext. 111. order, visit www.stackpolebooks.com or call (800) 732-3669.

ULTIMATE TROUT TAPER: 3M Scientific Anglers’ new Mastery Series Sharkskin FUNCTIONAL AND FLATTERING: precision textured fly lines are designed The Sherpa Jacket by Prois with features that mimic nature, such as Hunting Apparel boasts a the ability of insects to walk on water. The flattering and comfortable cut fly line’s texture is achieved through a for women hunters. With “microreplication” process that plenty of room for movement applies a structured pattern and layering, this lined jacket surface on the circumference of is made from a plush sherpa the line. Some benefits of the new fleece that is warm and quiet. fly line, says co-developer Jeff Features include a spacious Wieringa, include improved lumbar compartment with easy floatation, decreased line flash and less access, tapered wrist cuffs with line friction through the guides and on thumb holes for warmth, and the water (which means easier mending, deep pockets. It’s available for easier roll casting, easier pick-ups and $105 in the Realtree AP HD longer casting distances). Offered in and Realtree Advantage Max 1 chartreuse and blue, the line (available in camo patterns. For information, WF3-F through WF8-F) costs about $100. call (970) 641-3355. For retailers, visit www.scientificanglers. com, or call (800) 430-5000. Page 24 February 22, 2008 HEROES

GARY FULLER and his son, KENNY, show a hog that Kenny shot at Johnstown. This was his first hog. DAVE FLORANCE, right, of Carlisle, Pa., took this 12-point drop-tine whitetail while CANON OWEN of Friendswood shot his first turkey in Crockett hunting in South Texas with BUCKY BONNER, owner of B&B Outfitters. County.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE Want to share your great hunting or fishing photos with the Lone Star Outdoor News family? E-mail your photo, phone and caption information to editor@ lonestaroutdoornews.com, or mail to: Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX, 75243.

HUGO FLORES,10, of Laredo. shot this 9-point buck at the Rancho Loma Linda in JACOB LIVESAY, 6, of Oklahoma City, killed his first deer on the family ranch in Webb County. The deer dressed at 160 pounds. Freestone County with his grandad, BOB PETERS.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS REACHES A QUARTER-MILLION READERS ACROSS TEXAS. CROSSWORD SHOW THEM YOUR PUZZLE ADVERTISEMENT.

SOLUTION Call (866) 361-2276 or e-mail: editor@ FROM lonestaroutdoornews.com PAGE 19

Serving a quarter-million people

Bring the best of the outdoors indoors. February 22, 2008 Page 25 NATIONAL Gun safety program reaches 21 millionth child

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe through the third grade a simple, the program’s effectiveness, and Volunteers for the Eddie Eagle civic organizations have taught Program, NRA’s gun accident effective action to take should to the 21 million children we’ve program include NRA members, the program since 1988. prevention program for chil- they encounter a firearm in an been able to reach,” said Kayne schoolteachers, law enforcement In the last year, NRA offered dren, has reached its 21 mil- unsupervised setting: “If you see Robinson, executive director of officers, and community free Eddie Eagle materials to lionth child since 1988. a gun: STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave NRA General Operations. “The activists who teach the program, more than 1,000 law enforce- Created by past NRA President the Area. Tell an Adult.” history of this program is filled plus private donors and Friends ment agencies, resulting in Marion P. Hammer, in consulta- “The steady decline in the with stories of children who of NRA participants who raise enough materials being request- tion with child psychologists, number of firearm-related acci- have avoided firearm accidents funds to pay for the program’s ed to reach more than 670,000 elementary school teachers and dents among young children because they were exposed to educational materials. children. law enforcement officers, the since the launch of the Eddie Eddie Eagle’s live-saving mes- More than 26,000 educators, program gives children in pre-K Eagle program is a testament to sage.” law enforcement agencies and —NRA report.

Illinois adds bass tourney State collects child support payments from parents at high school level seeking hunting, fishing Illinois will become the first state to have a and from other non-school groups, has statewide bass fishing tournament at the demonstrated clearly to our board that this high school level. event is one with potential tremendous license The Illinois High School Association value to our schools,” said Executive Director Board of Directors approved a recommenda- Marty Hickman. “Implementing such an The Illinois Department of Healthcare and tion to add a bass fishing tournament as an activity will enable our schools to provide Family Services’ Division of Child Support IHSA activity beginning in the spring of another opportunity for students that will Enforcement has collected $109,000 in outstand- 2009, provided that adequate sponsorships enrich their educational experience and ing child support payments in the first three are secured in advance for the tournament. keep with the association’s mission.” months of a new program that uses the sale of “The level of support for a bass fishing hunting/fishing licenses to help identify deadbeat tournament, from both our membership —IHSA report. parents. The funds were collected from 171 individuals throughout the state. The cooperation between the NWTF volunteers celebrate 35 years child support office and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources cross-references individuals who The National Wild Turkey Federation is vation programs. “But they lacked money apply for fishing/hunting licenses with the dead- celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year. and a network that would allow them to beat parent list. Deadbeat parents are denied the In 1973, the national nonprofit conserva- move birds from one state to the next.” licenses until child support payments are made. tion organization was formed to help The NWTF helped bridge those gaps by The Division of Child Support Enforcement restore wild turkey populations nation- building partnerships with state and feder- expects that collections through this new enforce- wide. al wildlife agencies. Today, through the ment method will increase in the coming weeks, as “Back then, only about 1.3 million wild works of state wildlife agencies and dedicat- the 2007 licenses expire on March 31, 2008. turkeys existed in North America and ed volunteers, more than 7 million wild wildlife agencies were working diligently to turkeys live in North America. —Illinois Division of improve those numbers,” said James Earl Child Support Enforcement report. [email protected] Kennamer, senior vice president for conser- —NWTF report. Page 26 February 22, 2008 February 22, 2008 Page 27 Page 28 February 22, 2008