E X P O 2 0 0 7 Dallas Safari Club December 22, 2006 Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Volume 3, Issue 9 24-Page Special Section Inside www.lonestaroutdoornews.com

INSIDE FISHING Quail coveys no-shows

Speckled trout head to the bottoms when winter rolls in. That doesn’t mean, however, you’ll have to use traditional bottom-fishing techniques to catch them. See Page 8 HUNTING

An early morning, a few hours, but time spent at a choice duck blind brings GETTING THE POINT ACROSS: Bob Tinker and Brent Brockmire ease up as Dakota and Patch hold a point in Fisher County. Photo by David J. Sams. memories that are priceless. See Page 14 NATIONAL Hunters claim season worst in many years

The owners of one coonhound By Ralph Winingham most of Texas — with many quail reduced the number of bobwhite “The most I have seen on one have something to howl hunters reporting some of the and blue quail hunting opportu- harvest card is seven birds and the about. MEAD'S BLUEJET 8, worst hunting in recent memory. nities. guy hunted four days,” she said. The fine old Southern gentle- Widespread drought conditions Diana Mayo, administrative The management area also owned by Daniel Glista and Ed man bird and his crazy-legged that have plagued all but a few assistant at the Matador WMA in counts hunter days. Through Dec Mead, won the national UKC cousins seem to have pulled an areas of the Lone Star State during Paducah reports that the harvest 15, there had been 716 hunter days Triple Crown challenge, Elvis and have left the building in the past year have drastically numbers are way down this year. See QUAIL, Page 16 which brings recognition as a top coonhound as well as a prize package valued at more Shad don’t take than $3,000. See Page 4 Fit for the hunt kindly to cold CONSERVATION Taking to the outdoors Threadfin numbers often Sportsfishing interests were recognized in the drop with the temperature reauthorization of the a hearty venture By Mark England Magnuson-Stevens Sustainable Fisheries Act, which, among By Craig Nyhus other things, places limits on Threadfin shad are considered by many fishing guides to be the “perfect” the creation of no-fishing zones: Many avid hunters and forage fish. requiring that they be based on Even grown, the plankton eaters rarely sound science. fishermen wouldn’t be caught frequenting a health exceed six inches in length. Bass, crappie See Page 5 club or gym. and trout gorge on them as if they were But, their activities in the MOUTHFUL: A striper feasts on a appetizers. INDEX field or on the water are clos- shad. See SHAD, Page 12 er to an athletic event than Birds of a Feather Page 14 they realize. PRSRT STD That’s what prompted Ken US POSTAGE Fishing Report Page 19 Hoover to start i-getit.net — PAID Game Warden Blotter Page 10 a Web site established to pro- PLANO, TX vide information to sports- PERMIT 210 Heroes Page 17 men and women — and raise Hunting Season Dates Page 13 awareness of their health, especially their heart health. Outdoor Datebook Page 10 Hoover has been a trainer, health club founder and a Product Picks Page 18 consultant to health clubs. Puzzle Page 20 He helped set up the fitness trailers used by the PGA tour. Weather Page 20 BREAK TIME: An elk hunter in Montana stops But first and foremost he is a Wild in the Kitchen Page 20 to rest on a pack-out. See FIT, Page 12 Page 2 December 22, 2006 December 22, 2006 Page 3 Page 4 December 22, 2006 NATIONAL Barking up BUCKING THE TREND the right tree Bluetick claims coonhound crown The Bluetick Coonhound MEAD’S BLUE JET 8, co- owned by Daniel J. Glista of Berlin Center, Ohio and Ed Mead of Albion, Mich. scored the highest combined point total during the three largest annual UKC coonhound events to win this year’s national UKC Triple Crown challenge presented by Black Gold Dog Foods; earning a prize package worth more THE POINTS OF THE MATTER: Bill Crutchfield, Jr. shows the 26-point buck than $3,000 and recognition that claimed the Maryland record with potential national recognition ahead. as one of the country’s best Photo by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. coonhounds. Glista and Mead add the prestigious Black Gold Triple Crown win to already impres- Maryland hunter sive careers that have each spanned over two decades. Together the two friends harvests state mark have become one of the country’s most successful dog A new state record buck was becoming the number one non- owner teams, consistently taken by Bill Crutchfield, Jr. of typical buck ever taken on the producing top quality, award- Charles County near his home in entire East Coast, and ranking winning coonhounds. Newburg, Md. among the top 20 all-time largest Event results and a sched- Crutchfield watched the buck non-typical deer in the world. ule of upcoming events are for approximately two hours mid- Official confirmation will not available at the UKC Web site day Monday before finding an be possible until the antlers have (www.ukcdogs. opportunity to take the massive met the minimum 60-day ‘dry- com/HPCoonhounds). deer with a single shotgun round. ing’ period and an official score is Established in 1898, the Maryland DNR staff confirmed taken. United Kennel Club is the that the buck had 26 scoreable The former non-typical record largest all-breed performance- points (13 per side) and a prelimi- was taken in November 1987 by dog registry in the world. nary antler score of 268 5/8 inches. Jack Poole in Montgomery More than 60 percent of its If approved by national scoring County during the firearms sea- 12,000 annually licensed organizations, the buck will son and scored 228 4/8 inches. events are tests of hunting eclipse the current Maryland non- — Report by Maryland Department ability, training and instinct. typical record by 40 inches, of Natural Resources. CANINE CROWN: BLUE JET 8 was the UKC Triple Crown Challenge winner. Photo by UKC. — A United Kennel Club report. Briefs 14 nabbed in striped Sacramento. taken in 2000. members using outboard power will USPSA national titles within the bass poaching operations The suspects allegedly processed That total stands to increase with transition to an exclusive relation- same year. California Department of Fish and the fish, delivered them to homes or the remainder of archery and special ship with Yamaha. Game wardens arrested 14 suspects businesses, and accepted cash in the antlerless seasons. Smith & Wesson during targeted raids on illegal transactions. At times, wardens Julie Goloski wins 2006 announces acquisition striped bass poaching operations in watched while suspects set up tempo- Yamaha/IBBI pact targets USPSA Triple Crown Smith & Wesson Holding the Bay-Delta region. rary shop in a parking lot, complete independent boat builders Julie Goloski, Smith & Wesson Corporation has agreed to acquire Concluding a two-month poach- with fish scales. Yamaha Marine Group an- Professional Shooter, has won the Thompson/Center Arms, Inc. ing investigation, wardens served nounced an agreement with 2006 United States Practical Smith & Wesson announced the four search warrants in Sacramento Oklahoma deer hunters Independent Boatbuilders, Inc. Shooting Association (USPSA) Triple $102 million all-cash purchase. and Elk Grove to make the arrests, shatter harvest record (IBBI). The agreement is aimed at Crown. The 154-year old Smith & Wesson interviewed 35 other people and According to Mike Shaw, wildlife providing advantages for independ- With her victories earlier this year Company immediately acquires the seized five sport-fishing vessels. research supervisor for the ent boat builders that were once at the USPSA Production Nationals, major position in black powder More than 60 wardens divided Oklahoma Department of Wildlife reserved only for the boat brands of Limited-10 Nationals and Provis- muzzloading and accessories, and into takedown teams and contacted Conservation, hunters across the giant corporations. ional Single Stack Championship, the precision rimfire business. suspects at their homes. Wardens state have already harvested The long-term agreement with Goloski becomes the first person in The Thompson/Center Arms also contacted employees of a super- 104,346 deer in 2006, surpassing IBBI, the industry’s largest purchas- the organization’s 22-year history to held more than 50 percent of the market and a restaurant in South the previous record of 102,100 deer ing cooperative, specifies that its win a USPSA Triple Crown, three black powder shooting market.

EDITORIAL OFFICES: 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 Phone: (214) 361-2276 Fax: (214) 368-0344

Publisher/Editor: CRAIG NYHUS Design Editor: DUDLEY GREEN Contributing Editor: DARLENE MCCORMICK SANCHEZ Associate Editor: MARK ENGLAND Founder & CEO: DAV I D J. SAMS

CONTRIBUTORS MARY HELEN AGUIRRE DIANA KUNDE WES SMALLING LYNN BURKHEAD WILBUR LUNDEEN SCOTT SOMMERLATTE ALAN CLEMONS PETER MATHIESEN CHUCK UZZLE JOHN FELSHER BILL MILLER RALPH WININGHAM BINK GRIMES BRIAN HOLDEN TODD NAFE DANNO WISE BOB HOOD DAV I D SIKES PETER YOUNG

Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone SUBSCRIPTION Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a Order online via secure Web site at month. A subscription is $25 for 24 issues. www.lonestaroutdoornews.com Copyright 2006 with all rights reserved. or call toll-free (866) 361-2276 Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission ADVERTISING by the publisher is prohibited. Printed in Dallas, Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail TX, by Midway Press. Subscribers may send advertising address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite @lonestaroutdoornews.com 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or e-mail them to to request a media kit. [email protected]. December 22, 2006 Page 5 CONSERVATION Forensic scientist earns top honors

blood. Banks pioneer of using DNA technology From elk poaching cases to waterfowl and upland game bird to solve crimes against wildlife cases, black bear to abalone and sturgeon, crimes against wildlife Considered one of the early who have shown exemplary per- covers all species. pioneers in wildlife forensic biol- formance of their duties in the In California, more than $100 ogy, Jim Banks is a wildlife detec- protection of wildlife, enforce- million is generated annually by tive like few others. ment of game laws and the commercial poaching, the illegal As supervisor and senior scien- implementation of conservation sale of wildlife parts and prod- tist of the California Department programs. ucts. An elk head with an impres- of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Led by Banks and Levine, Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, DFG’s Wildlife Forensics sive set of antlers may be market- Banks has helped solve thou- Laboratory was one of the first in ed for $20,000. sands of crimes against wildlife. the country to have the capabili- Bear galls are also highly prized In recognition, Banks has been ties of prosecuting criminals who and are often used as an ingredi- selected Shikar-Safari Club poached deer. ent in traditional medicines, International Conservation Using DNA technology, they considered to cure all types of ail- Officer of the Year. were able to identify individual ments, from backaches to heart The Shikar-Safari Club Interna- animals from specific herds disease. tional Conservation Officer through their component parts, — A California Department of Fish Award is in recognition of those such as meat, fur or a few drops of and Game report.

Just as useful after Bill includes you get there. After you and your guns arrive safely at your destination, use your locking Tuffpak to store your travel clothing, passport, advances in tickets, cameras, even your laptop. It’s 11" inside diameter gives you options no divided case can. Then chain it to a bed, a pipe, sportsfishing even a tree with a bicy- cle lock, and you have the only case that The world’s most versatile rifle (or bow, or rifle (or bow, most versatile The world’s shotgun, or boot, sleeping bag, or…) case. In a last-minute effort, nomic contributions of sport- provides safety Congress approved the reautho- fishing when setting allocations. and security on rization of the Magnuson- Important conservation mea- both ends of Stevens Sustainable Fisheries Act sures include: a time frame to your trip. on Dec. 9. end overfishing; new require- The act makes a number of sig- ments for reducing bycatch; and nificant changes to the fisheries provisions for buyouts of over- management system in the capitalized commercial fleets. United States, including impor- The bill also contains provi- tant advances for sportfishing. sions on individual fishing quo- The bill places limits on the creation of no-fishing zones, tas for commercial fleets and requiring that they be based on strengthened enforcement to fight illegal international fish- sound science and that a review www.hunters-hq.com process be set to determine ing. Hunters Headquarters when and if they are no longer Saltwater anglers contribute over $31 billion annually to the 1725 Woodhill Lane needed. Bedford, TX 76021 The bill also requires the feder- United States economy. 817.267.3700 al Fishery Management — An American Sportfishing [email protected] Councils to recognize the eco- Association report.

Sound off Come experience the finest coastal hospitality in our well-appointed lodge — perfect for family reunions, meetings, Web site angler’s corporate retreats or simply a gathering with good friends, with plans to fit every avenue to speak up taste, from full-service to self-service. INSHORE AND OFFSHORE FISHING • HUNTING on conservation YourEscape from the Ordinary! K AYAKING•BIRDING•SURFING•MORE Wildlife Forever has established L O C AT E D O N T H E C O L O R A D O R I V E R I N M ATA G O R DA the online Outdoors Advisory ( 9 7 9 ) 8 6 3 - 114 3 • (9 7 9 ) 4 7 9 - 5 4 5 5 Panel to provide an easy way for f u l l s t r i n g e r l o d g e . c o m • c a s s a d y @ a i r m a i l . n e t anglers to voice their opinions on conservation issues. The system uses a survey format to discover what issues are of greatest concern to sportsmen New & Used and women, discover emerging fish and wildlife problems and STORAGE CONTAINERS help develop creative solutions. To sign up, visit the Wildlife Forever Web site (www.wildlife- forever.org) and click the link “Join The Outdoors Advisory LARRY SINGLEY Panel.” The process begins by taking a 817-992-9122 brief survey that describes who 866-992-9122 you are and what outdoor activi- ties you enjoy. TOLL FREE Every few months, panel mem- bers will receive an e-mail alerting them to a new set of conservation questions in which their opinions are needed. OCEAN FREIGHT CONTAINERS, INC. ARLINGTON, TX — A Wildlife Forever report. Page 6 December 22, 2006 HUNTING Layout blinds hidden success in duck quest They’re not just for goose hunting anymore

By Craig Nyhus

he water is 50 yards from what used to be the shore- line. Between them is only T dirt and mud. The mud makes it impossible to launch or remove a boat. But ducks are still using the lake or pond. This is a typical scene in Texas this fall and winter, with many lakes and ponds seriously low. Duck hunters, though, are a cre- ative bunch, and more and more are using “layout blinds” (fold-up blinds that the hunter lies in, cover- ing his torso with flaps), more com- monly associated with field hunt- ing for geese, to get to the water’s edge — and the ducks. “We used to lay on the ground or mud and try to cover ourselves with anything available,” said Tom Lutes of Kolpin Final Approach. “That was incredibly dirty, uncom- fortable and cold.” Final Approach makes the Eliminator Series of blinds. “We’re seeing a lot more interest in the use of layout blinds for duck hunting,” Lutes said. “The whole notion of a low profile is extremely effective. With the layout blind, it’s easy to get in shooting position; you’re concealed, plus you’re warm and dry.” Michael Holman of Bryan is an UNDERCOVER HUNTER: Phillip Monier fires his shotgun from an Avery Finisher layout blind in Comanche County. Above, he adds mud to help camoflauge the blind. See LAYOUT, Page 13 Photos by David J. Sams. Hunters log in for buck shot Ground technique offers close watch on deer

By Bill Miller sources are especially effective in ‘Once a doe nibbling South Texas where thick, thorny cover is broken only by the senderos. When your folks said “Don’t be a some corn actually put her “Kill your does and cull bucks bump on a log,’’ they were admon- around box blinds and tower ishing laziness. nose on the toe of my blinds,’’ he said. “But if you want to But being a bump alongside a log see the big bucks, our general feeling might help you bag a trophy buck. boot. That spooked her! is you’ve got to go where they are.’’ That’s the preferred hunting strat- When they get that close, Wall hangers, he added, are more egy used by a father-son duo from likely to be found deep in the the San Antonio area who hunt a you know it must work.’ mesquite jungles. south Texas ranch in Starr County. “I don’t feel that a lot of trophy Tom Winn and his son, Todd, — Tom Winn deer are killed around feeders,’’ Tom dressed in camo and covered with said. “Anything man-made — an old brush, lay parallel to big logs in the horned owls, and bobcats all around buck knows to stay away from it.’’ middle of senderos (brush openings) me,’’ Tom said. “Once a doe nibbling Todd likes to use the ground tech- known for heavy deer traffic. some corn actually put her nose on nique to get away from feeders fre- All their shots are taken from the toe of my boot. That spooked quented by young bucks he wants to prone positions, and some of them her! preserve for future seasons. are as long as 400 yards. Both Winns, “When they get that close, you He added, however, it’s an excel- however, recall shooting 10-point know it must work.’’ lent technique when bucks are eager bucks with 25-yard shots to the head The Winns aren’t snobby about to breed. GROUNDED FOR BUCK: Moving a log in the middle of a senderos known for or neck. their ground technique. See LOGS, Page 13 deer traffic offers the hunter a ground cover far from blinds and feeders. “I’ve also had javalinas, great Tom said blinds set up over food Invitation leads Texan to hog heaven Halletsville man says bringing down tusked beast ‘heart pounding’

By Bill Miller Everybody, he recalled, had a very good time Weiser, who still lives in Hallettsville, com- hunting the cagy, hard-to-bring-down tusked mutes to Austin where he is a police officer. His beasts that now number an estimated two million time off, however, is consumed by “anything It was a few years back that Cody Weiser of across the state. and everything wild boar.’’ Hallettsville had a revelation that feral pigs in “These guys had killed African game animals I Weiser said he has yet to see any studies that Texas were fast becoming an industry unto them- never heard of, in countries I never heard of,’’ explore the economic value of feral pigs in Texas. selves. Weiser said. “But just seeing the way they got all But Weiser said a hog hunt is an extremely Weiser, then a regular correspondent for fired up about these Texas hogs was kind of an affordable adventure, compared to deer hunt- Georgia-based Boar Hunter Magazine, was invited awakening for me. ing, which can cost as much as $2,000 a year, just on a Texas hog hunt with several nationally- “I thought, ‘Man, we really have something for the lease. LOADED FOR BOAR: The wild hog is stalked known “gun writers.’’ here.’’’ See HOGS, Page 13 by hunters throughout the year. December 22, 2006 Page 7 Blind boredom Variety keeps waiting hunter occupied until trophy arrives

By Ralph Winingham as well have some animal participa- tion on the hunt). No. 4 — Let’s Get Technical. On any given weekend in any Those hand-held electronic devices given area of Texas, a good number are popping up at more and more of men, women and children will hunting camps as high-tech takes be sitting in a box on the ground or over the outdoors. Whether the in a tower just waiting for some- hunter is listening to tunes on an thing to happen. iPod; checking for e-mail messages Known as “hunting from a blind” on a Blackberry; or sending text in some circles, this activity — more messages on a cell phone, he or she appropriately described as inactivity has jumped light years ahead of the — can rival a hospital maternity old days when a hunter might write ward for time-killing moments. out notes on a sheet of paper with a Hunters, being the creative souls pencil. For the new-age generation, they are, have devised many meth- a pencil is a wooden stick with an ods for passing the minutes and eraser on one end and a writing end COUNTING DEER: Slow time in a deer blind often leads to quality nap time. A trophy buck stirring in the brush can serve as a hours while sitting in a blind until a that could be sharpened with a welcomed wake-up call. trophy or meat deer steps into view. knife. Here are the top five, in descend- No. 3 — Read a Book or No. 2 — Get in Touch with climbing up his ladder. The ing chair backs are more conducive ing order of importance: Magazine. Serious hunters might Nature: Although the deer may be unwanted blind companion was an to sleep time than the old five-gal- No. 5 — Bring on the Munchies. want to stick with PG-rated reading missing in action outside of the escaped primate from a nearby lon buckets or hard wooden stools Chomping on a snack may not be material — there is no sense in get- blind, all kinds of wildlife can pro- wildlife refuge and took quite a bit of the old days. Several years ago, a good for the waistline, but chew ting too excited about something vide visual stimulation for those of persuasion before it gave up its Hill Country hunter was found time does make sitting in a blind a unrelated to the hunting scene. with an attentive eye. Watching visitation plans. Looking at wildlife stretched out on the floor of a large, little more palatable. Most blind Outdoor books, magazines or news- birds and other creatures carry on is fine, but most hunters don’t like cedar-lined blind after a morning diners favor soft foods such as a papers are an excellent choice and in their brushy homeland is good sharing a blind with strange crea- where he obviously spent more sandwich (hold the lettuce, it’s too an award-winning story/cookbook for your soul and for keeping your tures. time sleeping than hunting. “Did crunchy); cheese (no limburger, like “Revenge of Old Boots and game eyes in tip-top condition. No. 1— Take a Snooze: Nap time you see any big deer,” he was asked. please); tender fruits like oranges, Bacon Grease” will make your blind One South Texas deer hunter is has always been quality time during “You bet. I saw the biggest trophy pears or grapes (avoid bananas as time more entertaining. Stay away reported to have encountered a slow hours in a blind, particularly of my lifetime — in my dreams.” they are unlucky — who ever heard from romance novels — your camp slight wildlife viewing problem in in those situations where comfort- Here’s hoping that every hunter of a hunter dropping his banana mates might give you one of those the Cotulla area when he heard a able office chairs are given a second can experience some quality blind before dropping a big buck); or funny looks when you get back to noise outside his tower blind and career as hunter holders. Soft, time and that the trophy of their dried deer sausage and jerky (might your home base. looked down to see a snow monkey padded seats, arm rests and reclin- lifetime is not just a dream. East Texas West Texas 903.692.2725 325.659.1555

www.badboybuggiesoftexas.com Brush CountryCALL FOR A DEALER NEARDFW YOU — 817-723-1463 Hill Country Houston Texoma 1.888.631.6789CALL FOR A DEALER817.528.8002 NEAR YOU — 817-723-1463830.214.0144 281.392.4609 469.693.5412 Page 8 December 22, 2006 FISHING SIGNS OF THE SEASON Specks crowd coastal bottoms

CHANNEL CAST: An angler casts in the deep ditches of Lighthouse Lakes near Port Aransas. Channel edges are a great place to fish for winter trout. Photo by David J. Sams.

By Danno Wise “Using a light weight allows the shrimp to ‘I focus mainly on the channel edges fall slower, so you may pick up some fish that are suspended as the bait drops.” oastal fishing is a year-around pur- Adams said that in the throes of winter, size suit in Texas. And, throughout the and deeper holes this time of year.’ does matter. “During the winter, I think a larg- year, speckled trout are one of the er shrimp is better,” he said. C primary target species. — KEITH ADAMS Mid-coast guide Capt. Marvin Engle of Port However, unlike redfish, which are hardy Aransas also uses very little lead when probing enough to stay in shallow water on all but the the depths for winter specks. coldest days, trout are quick to sulk on the bot- “You can catch some decent trout around tom with a little winter chill. species. Marina in Port Isabel. “If I’m fishing bait, I’ll the wells in Corpus Christi Bay,” Engle said. “I But, pulling trout from the bay bottom does- “I focus mainly on the channel edges and use live shrimp with just a split shot. Even if use shrimp exclusively in January. I like to free- n’t necessarily mean employing bottom-fish- deeper holes this time of year,” said Keith I’m wanting to fish near the bottom, I just use line them with no weight and just let the ing techniques traditionally used for other Adams, owner/operator of White Sands a split shot. See SPECKS, Page 22 Going the Electronics find distance fish ‘hangouts’ Anglers stretch Watch for changes in offshore runs lake’s bottom structure to match tuna’s By Mike Iaconelli the fishery is like. Whether there are humps, drops, channel swings, points winter ways and isolated pockets of cover. To some anglers, electronics — When slowly motoring over a big By Danno Wise the type you’ll find at the console flat area that is — for example — 8-feet and on the bow of any modern fish- deep, watch the electronics to see Recent years have seen a swelling ing boat — can be a little confusing. when the depth drops to 10 or 11 feet in the ranks of Texas offshore Why? Because of the misnomer and rises back up to eight feet. anglers. that is attached to them: “fish find- Mark the change in sructure and But, with the exception of a rela- ers.” contour and start casting something tive few, most of these fishermen Many an angler has heard this like a crankbait, or maybe a Carolina consider offshore fishing a summer expression a million times and has rig with a Power Bait lizard or a heavy and fall pursuit off the Texas coast. raised a question. If the “finders” jig. However, the year’s coldest sea- locate fish, like the term suggests, These baits will come into contact son can provide some of the then why isn’t everybody catching with the bottom and let the angler hottest offshore action for anglers their limits of fish every time it’s learn more about it. Also, these baits hardy enough to tangle with tuna. turned on? cover a lot of water, so one can find Capt. Bryan Ray of Master Plan Truth is, electronics aren’t necessar- out quickly whether or not there are Charters on South Padre Island ily used to find fish, but to find struc- fish in the area. describes tuna fishing as a year- tural breaks, rock piles or stumps that When the time comes to use elec- round pursuit along the can help the fisherman locate fish. tronics to find fish, don’t necessarily Texas/Mexico border, saying only PULLING HIS WEIGHT: Steven Schmidt of Corpus Christi holds a 138-pound These high-tech electronics give look for a bass. Mostly look for fish See TUNA, Page 22 yellowfin caught offshore of Port Aransas. Photo by Paul Eccleston. provide a pair of underwater eyes so activity — especially baitfish that an angler can tell what the bottom of See FINDERS, Page 22 December 22, 2006 Page 9 Bass partner with slow suitors for big chill Fashion bait selection for the occasion

By Ken Cook of relying on the oldest known fishing lure by itself, try dressing it up with the newest technological advancement in fishing bait. If it’s not snow or freezing rain, it’s bone- On a 3/8-ounce jig, trim the skirt just past chilling air temperatures and icy winds that the hook to keep it from having too large a make a day on the water nearly insufferable. profile. Then, rig a Berkley Gulp! Bat Wing But just because you’re Frog as the trailer. These uncomfortable, it doesn’t two baits are meant to be mean that the bass are. fished slowly — the per- Sure, it’s winter, it’s cold ‘There’s no fect presentation for a outside, but bass are still in cold-blooded bass in the lake. If they want to secret to wintertime. make it through the win- Cut the front of the ter they will have to eat. catching bass bait off just behind the As the water tempera- eye and thread it onto ture drops, bass follow the in the middle of the jig hook. The legs on migrating shad out to the Bat Wing Frog flutter deeper water (deep being like crazy on the fall and anywhere from 30 to 40 winter. Just like with the slightest move- feet in clear, deep lakes or ments. six to eight feet in murky, any other time The trailer isn’t made shallow ones). of plastic so it actually Use electronics and find of year, you have breathes underwater and the balls of shad. There’s disperses scent. And the sure to be some bass near- to figure out the slower you fish it, the by, holding up in vertical, more scent builds up in deep cover. Typically, bass right pattern.’ an area, expanding the will be easier to find down strike zone by drawing in lake on outside channel — KEN COOK sluggish fish searching swings, bluff faces and for an easy meal that points with vertical drops. might not be interested Since bass are cold blooded, the colder otherwise. water has slowed them down — so you There’s no secret to catching bass in the should slow down, too. This ties in directly to middle of winter. Just like any other time of your bait selection, the most important year, you have to figure out the right pattern. aspect to catching bass in the cold. And once you figure out where they are, slow Just because the bass are following migrat- down your presentation. The fishing can be ing shad that doesn’t mean that’s all they good enough to make you forget all about will eat. Fish biologists have discovered a bass the plummeting temperatures. prefers a bait about three-inches long and Ken Cook is the 1991 Bassmaster Classic cham- about an inch in diameter. pion and a 14-time Classic qualifier. A former The jig anglers spend the summer pitching fisheries biologist, Cook lives on a ranch in COOL CATCH: Ken Cook unhooks a largemouth bass caught on Toledo Bend Reservoir. Photo by David into the bushes will do just fine. But instead Meers, Okla. J. Sams. Proposals target changes in saltwater fishing regulations Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Coastal eries biologists’ concerns about declining Fisheries division will host five scoping numbers of legal-sized spotted seatrout in meetings in January to discuss proposed the Lower Laguna Madre bay ecosystem changes to saltwater fishing regulations in compared to historic levels. 2007. Options under consideration for proposed All meetings begin at 7 p.m. rule changes in January include changes to • Jan. 3 — Port Isabel Community Center, spotted seatrout bag and size limits in the 213 Yturria, Port Isabel Lower Laguna Madre. • Jan. 4 — Port Mansfield Chamber Other changes under consideration for Pavilion, 101 East Port Drive, Port 2007 include: Mansfield • Increasing the minimum length limit • Jan. 4 — Dickinson Marine Lab, 1502 FM on sheepshead to provide sufficient protec- 517, Dickinson tion for this fish to reach sexual maturity • Jan. 9 — Lion’s Field Adult & Senior and ensure sustainable productivity; Citizens Center, 2809 Broadway, San • Increasing the minimum length limit Antonio for retention of a tarpon to 90 inches; •Jan.10 —TAMU-CC, Natural Resources • Expanding current rules prohibiting use Center Room 1003, 6300 Ocean Drive, of airboats to rally or harass schools of fish to Corpus Christi include all boats. Issues to be addressed include coastal fish- — A Texas Parks and Wildlife report. Flat Out Fishing offers tips for novice and expert anglers Texas Parks and Wildlife will host two spe- Capt. Robert Zapata’s trophy trout fishing cial Flat Out Fishing events in Corpus seminar. Christi and Lake Jackson to help anglers Other scheduled speakers include Pat start the new year with an edge. Hunt on using natural baits, Jim Dailey on The fourth annual Flat Out Fishing event saltwater fly-fishing tactics, Nick Meyer on kicks off at 8 a.m. on Jan. 27 at Texas A&M surf fishing Padre Island and Jeff Hermann University-Corpus Christi. The second on kayak fishing. event will be in Lake Jackson on Feb. 24. Bill Balboa of TPW will offer a presenta- These events will include seminars and tion on sargassum and tripletail, and John presentations from noted guides and Adams of TAMU-CC on understanding experts covering a variety of bay, surf, kayak, tides and currents. fly and offshore fishing techniques The cost is $20 per person or $30 per cou- The event benefits the Texas Parks and ple. Wildlife Foundation’s abandoned crab trap Seating is limited to the first 100 partici- removal program fund. pants. To register for the Corpus Christi That program has removed almost 20,000 event, contact Art Morris at 361-825-3356 abandoned crab traps from coastal waters or by e-mail at art.morris@ tpwd.state .tx.us. since 2002. To register for the Lake Jackson event con- The Corpus Christi event will begin with tact Bobby Miller at (281) 534-0110 or by e- a fishing over seagrass presentation at 8 a.m. mail at bobby.miller@tpwd. state.tx.us. and will continue through 5 p.m. with — A Texas Parks and Wildlife report. Page 10 December 22, 2006 GAME WARDEN BLOTTER GRANDFATHER INJURED AT LEAST THEY TOLD THE TRUTH DURING HUNTING ACCIDENT •Hunt County Game Warden •Tom Green County Game Craig Hernandez heard two Warden Cynde Aguilar investi- JOKE IS ON HER HUSBAND NOW shots from the road. He went to gated a hunting accident in Hunt County Game Wardens Dale Waters and that there were spotlighters on the property and investigate and noticed three November involving a man and Craig Hernandez received a call about spotlight- she had the gate blocked. Both wardens were a people in the road with flash- his grandson. The victim and ing and illegal hunting. The complainant said he long way off, however. They contacted the lights. When Warden Hernan- his grandson had returned to got into his truck and chased after them but they Sheriff’s Department who responded. A short dez made contact with the indi- their vehicle after hunting and got away. After numerous calls from the wife and time later, the complainant called back and said viduals, they told him every- the grandson had been admir- a lengthy CSI investigation involving checking that he was the one who was spotlighting, play- thing that happened and also ing his .410 shotgun and had all houses in the area and their trash, the war- ing a joke on his wife. The joke was on the com- told him where their marijuana placed it back into the case. The dens got a call again from the complainant’s wife plainant when deputies arrived. was. The subjects said, “We grandfather inquired if the safe- thought it would be smart to ty was on and the young boy tell the truth this time because advised he could not remem- thought of getting rid of the er, supposedly from Louisiana, There were multiple pieces of you are the same warden who ber. The grandfather picked up carcass by burying it out on the this individual presented a spe- meat in the cooler. When asked caught us last time we shot off the gun case to open it and ranch where the sheep was cial resident hunting license. about the cold storage log, one the road.” inspect the weapon. However, killed, but failed to go through Gray asked if he was from of the hunters said it was miss- the case was not zipped and the with his plan after deliberating Louisiana, and he said no, his ing. Gazaway and that individ- MAN BELIEVED TO HAVE weapon fell out of the case, the more serious consequences wife lived there. He said he lived ual drove across the ranch to DIED IN HUNTING ACCIDENT causing the butt of the weapon if he was to get caught. The with his brother in Texas. Gray find the ranch manager and •Red River County Game to hit the bed of the truck. The bighorn sheep carcass was asked to see some identifica- the owner’s son. While back at Wardens Kenneth Hand and weapon fired, hitting the grand- seized and appropriate charges tion. After taking several min- the headquarters, Kellner Benny Richards investigated a father in the right hand with a on the hunter will soon be filed. utes to look for his ID, the man found the log on the floor and hunting accident. A 32-year-old load of buckshot, doing exten- showed Gray a Texas driver’s identified that the top eight man was found dead by his sive damage to the right index WARDEN CATCHES license. Gray started investigat- deer were logged with no infor- uncle on their deer lease. He finger. DUCK HUNTERS ing and looking for proof of res- mation other than buck or doe. had been shot and died at the •Henderson County Game idence. Gray found out the Gazaway had already asked the scene. His death is under inves- HUNTER PAYS PRICE Warden Audie Hamm and man lived in Louisiana, had two owner’s son whether he had tigation. FOR MISTAKEN IDENTITY Anderson County Game driver’s licenses, one from Texas killed any deer that year to •Hudspeth County Game Warden Mike Pike worked duck and one from Louisiana, and which he responded, “No.” BOY SHOOTS HIMSELF IN HAND Warden Jake Simmering hunters on Lake Palestine. The had been buying a Texas Special Kellner checked that individ- received a call from a Sierra wardens had received a com- Resident license for the last six ual’s license and found three •Wood County Game Warden Blanca resident stating his plaint of hunters roosting ducks years using his brother’s address tags were missing. Kellner Ronny Ward worked a hunting friend had killed a desert the night before. It took the in Texas. Several days later the asked him if he had killed three accident. A 12-year-old boy shot bighorn sheep on a local ranch wardens about 45 minutes by subject was contacted by phone deer and he said no, his father himself in the hand with a .410 and the sheep was at his friend’s ATV to reach the camp, which to discuss the violation. A cita- killed them and used his tags. shotgun slug. The boy was place of residence in Sierra contained several tents, ice tion was issued, with the Gazaway called the dad, who transported to a local hospital Blanca. Simmering and Capt. chest and generators. The three request that the subject surren- denied the allegations. The and is expected to make a full Gus Sorola conducted the adults and one juvenile in the der his current Texas hunting truth finally came out that two recovery. investigation and interviewed camp had a total of 62 ducks. license to the judge with his men from Arkansas came to the cooperative hunter, who Cases pending. fine. Case pending. the ranch and killed eight deer, OYSTERS GET A BREAK admitted to killing the bighorn four bucks and four doe. They •Aransas County Game sheep thinking he was shooting WARDEN DISCOVERS WARDENS FIND EIGHT used the tags from two other Wardens Scott McLeod, Ben at an aoudad sheep, which he DOUBLE-DIPPING HUNTER DEER KILLED ILLEGALLY individuals and took the deer Friebele and Jason Bussey had authorization to hunt. The •Anderson County Game •Wardens Rachel Kellner and back to Arkansas. U.S. Fish and apprehended three commercial illegal act was not reported until Warden Gray was writing a Dennis Gazaway teamed up to Wildlife Service Agent Mark oyster boats returning from San the following day after the warning citation for a deer tag- check a ranch that always has a Johnston is taking over the Antonio Bay with undersize car- hunter realized he had killed a ging violation when the man violation or two. Upon arrival Lacey Act portion of the cases. goes. The captain of each boat bighorn sheep and not an mentioned they just went at the headquarters and a A full confession from all four was cited for possession of aoudad after talking to some hunting so his brother from check of coolers in the back of parties involved followed, and undersized loads. About 150 friends in town who informed Louisiana could kill a deer. trucks, the wardens headed felony and misdemeanor sacks of oysters were returned to him of his mistake. The hunter When Gray checked the broth- over to the walk-in cooler. charges are pending. the water. OUTDOOR DATEBOOK refundable; reservations required. Deadline HAVE AN EVENT? TROUT STOCKING SCHEDULE is Jan. 12. Call (940) 839-4331. Jan.13: Katy Bass Pro Shops will host a E-mail it to Stocking Location City Dates Bucks with Bizarre Racks contest. Bass Pro [email protected] Shops is looking for the most unusual set of Blanco State Park #4 Blanco Dec. 30. Jan. 9, 25. Feb.8. antlers for the contest. Bring your horns to Bob Sandlin State Park Mt. Pleasant Jan. 28. the store from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Scoring to Dec. 28-29: Bass Pro Shops in Katy will Canyon Southeast Park Lake Canyon Feb. 1. be based on abnormality with half of the Canyon Tailrace New Braunfels Dec. 29. Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26. hold a Hunter’s Education Course through score determined by a panel of qualified Feb. 2. Mar. 1. judges and the other half by our customers. Texas Parks and Wildlife from 3-8 p.m. both Fort Richardson State Park Jacksboro Jan. 21. Feb. 21. Saturday and Sunday. The fee is $15 fee. L.B.J. State Park Stonewall Jan. 16. No age limit on antlers. Participants must register beforehand. Call Lake Corpus Christi Mathis Feb. 11. Jan. 13: Port Isabel Junior Angler (713) 569-6791. Held in the Meeting Room Landmark Inn State Park Castroville Feb. 4. at Bass Pro Shops. Lewisville Tailrace Education Workshop. Children between the (Elm Fork Trinity River) Lewisville Jan. 4, 25. Mar. 1 ages of 7-14 will learn the basics of Dec. 29,30: 33rd Annual Customer Meridian State Park Meridian Jan. 11. traditional fishing such as tying the hook on Appreciation Day at McClelland Gun Shop, Nolan Creek Belton Feb. 23. the line, casting a spin casting rod and reel, 1533 Centerville Road in Dallas. For more Palmetto State Park Luling Jan. 21. identifying fresh and saltwater fish and information, call (888) 486-4878. Possum Kingdom Tailrace Graford Dec. 27. Jan. 12. Feb. 9. Mar. 9 River Park demonstrating safe and responsible fishing. Dec. 30-31: Cabela’s in Fort Worth will offer (Clear Fork Trinity River) Fort Worth Feb. 6 Class size is limited to 20. Held at the Port Saturday and San Antonio River Isabel Public Library, 213 Yturria. 9 a.m.- Sunday classes on (Mission County Park) San Antonio Jan.7 noon. Reservations required, contact South Llano River State Park Junction Jan. 31 fly-fishing trout Reynaldo Ramirez, tactics for stocking Trinity Park (Clear Fork Trinity River) Fort Worth Jan. 18 [email protected] or ask for season at 2 p.m.; Tyler State Park Tyler Dec. 28 Mariana Rodriguez at (956) 882-8979. followed by trout For more trout stockings locations and dates, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us tactics for stocking Jan. 13: Southwest Texas season at 2:15 Leadership Conference p.m. For more of the National Wild information visit www.cabelas.com. pond. No fishing license is required. For Jan. 11-14: Dallas Safari Club’s Annual information, call David Terre at (903) 566- Convention will be held at Turkey Federation Jan. 5-8: Texas Fishing, Hunting and 1615, ext. 202. Market Hall, Hilton Hunting Heritage will Outdoors Show, Arlington Convention Center. Anatole. Expo be held at Pioneer Fishing and hunting gear, seminars, and Jan. 10: Marfa public meeting will be held admission is $15 per Pavilion in more. Visit www texasfishingshow.com for concerning the Big Bend Ranch State Park person for a day pass. Fredericksburg. Contact more information. Public Use Plan. TPW is preparing a Public Weekend passes per Larry Noble at (830) 997- Use Plan for Big Bend Ranch State Park. person are $25 and Jan. 5-14: Houston International Boat, Sport 3961 or [email protected]. This plan will direct the changes in three-day passes are and Travel Show at the Reliant Center. Five recreational access and opportunities at the $35. Admission can be football fields of boats, RVs, camping and Jan. 19-21: The Houston Safari Club is park. The meeting will be held at the district purchased at the Convention Registration fishing gear, and more. Visit holding its annual Worldwide Hunting courtroom in the Presidio County Courthouse Counter. The Renaissance Hotel is the host www.houstonboatshow.com for more hotel this year and can be contacted at Expo at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott from 7-8:30 p.m. For more information, information. (800) 811-8893 or (214) 631-2222. Ask in The Woodlands. Hunters, guides and contact Chris Beckcom at for the DSC rate. Banquets will be held at outfitters from all over the world will be Jan. 6, 13: The East Texas Woods and [email protected] or (512) Waters Foundation and Texas Parks and the Hilton Anatole Hotel. there for every hunting need. Join other 389-4661 or Luis Armendariz outdoorsmen during our weekend expo Wildlife will host a free fishing opportunity atluis.armendariz@ tpwd.state.tx.us or (432) Jan. 13–14: Copper Breaks SP Hunter for youth and their adult mentors at The featuring the following types of exhibitors: 229-3416. Safety Class. State approved and required Nature Center in Tyler. Adults attending course for all hunters born on or after Sept. outfitters and hunting representatives, must bring at least one child and mentor Jan 11-14: Austin Boat Show at the Austin 2, 1971. Two-day course 8:30 a.m.-5:30 vehicles, art, sporting goods, books, them while fishing. One thousand rainbow Convention Center. Visit www. p.m. Saturday and 12:30-5:30 p.m. firearms, jewelry, optics and much more. trout will be stocked in The Nature Center austinboatshow.com for more information. Sunday. Fee is $15 per person and is non- Web site: www.houstonsafariclub.org. December 22, 2006 Page 11 Page 12 December 22, 2006

equates to running 12-minute miles for four hours — a 20-mile Fit run,” Hoover said. Shortly before Waddell took his Continued from Page 1 successful shot, his heart rate had sportsman. reached 179 beats per minute. In April at the Bassmaster Womack’s was 219. “It was neat to Memorial in Fort Worth, he see how the body reacts,” noticed the high fitness level of Womack said. “We had been many of the contestants. He standing still for 10 minutes, but approached Ray Scott with the seeing the elk made my heart beat idea of an “activity trailer” with faster than when I’m at a full fitness equipment and informa- sprint.” tion for the pro fishermen and Caloric intake is also a focus of their families, most who travel for the research. “These guys burned several months a year. more than 400 calories per hour,” Scott called it “the best idea Hoover said. “A piece of beef jerky anyone has brought me in 10 or and some crackers just won’t get it 12 years.” done. They need fuel.” “It’s all about The next project being prepared to involves professional engage in your bass fishermen. Pros favorite outdoor Aaron Martens and activity,” Hoover ‘It’s all about Gerald Swindle have said. “Studies had already volunteered. shown that the being prepared Martens burned average 40-year 3,300 calories in a old man who goes to engage in short day “just graf- on his annual deer fing.” hunt — if he is Does the prepara- successful and your favorite tion for outdoor activ- field dresses and ity involve long, gru- carries out a deer outdoor eling workouts? No, — has a tenfold said Hoover. “We’re higher risk of activity.’ trying to get people mortality.” who love the outdoors After learning — KEN HOOVER and wouldn’t go to a these results, gym to prepare with Hoover was deter- increased activity, mined to “simplify doing it more often, the science” of health and exer- and understanding the calories cise to the sportsman. “People are they burn and the need to replace dying,” he said, “and with some them in the field. simple steps, information, and What’s the best workout? “The preparation, people can safely workout you’ll continue to do,” enjoy the outdoors.” Hoover said. Much of the information So does being better prepared comes from the use of heart rate physically help with buck fever? monitors that track a person’s “Absolutely,” Hoover said. “In maximum and average heart rate, many cases, hunting and fishing as well as calories expended in the equates physically to an athletic field. event, but many people don’t treat Results of research projects of it that way. We hope to change hunters and fishermen have been that.” staggering. Michael Waddell and I-getit.net will launch its “Be David Blanton, hosts of television Ready” Information Road Show shows for Realtree, as well as their with national and world fitness production crews, volunteered to champions “The Fitness Twins” be monitored. (thefitnesstwins.com) at the On a September elk hunt in Bassmaster Classic in February in Arizona involving hiking hills at Birmingham, Ala. altitudes of 7,000 feet, Waddell As for the research information burned 2,500 calories in just four and results, there’s no catch. “It’s an hours. His producer, Marc information resource only,” Hoover Womack, who was manning the said. “This is my passion. It’s all CALORIE CRUNCH: Realtree’s Michael Waddell burned 2,500 calories in four hours on this Arizona elk hunt. Photo by camera, burned 3,000. “That Marc Womack. free.”

ed.” Shad During such cold spells, threadfins don’t move as much nor Continued from Page 1 do they eat as much. Winter also “They’re at the bottom of the effects predator fish, such as the food chain,” said guide Bob largemouth bass that put Lake Fork Wilson, who fishes Lake Texoma. on the map, Jubar said, adding “Everything eats a threadfin.” they’re not as aggressive. Come winter, though, “The bite is definitely slower in threadfins can get “under the the winter,” Jubar said. “You have weather.” to slow your presentation down. It Wilson, for example, is using all balances out, though. As the gizzard shad to entice the stripers bass slow down, the prey fish are at Lake Texoma. not moving around as much.” “This time of year, if you put a Still, threadfins won’t survive threadfin on a hook and set it long if the water temperature dips down in the water, it will be dead below 40 degrees. If the cold tem- in 10 minutes,” Wilson said. “They peratures linger, threadfins go into do not like cold water.” an irreversible stupor, Hysmith Threadfins are native to streams said. flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. A biting winter in the late 1970s, When colder weather hits, they Hysmith said, even killed the shad seek out deeper waters, said Aaron off at Lake Texoma. Jubar, an assistant biologist with “I could not believe nature would Texas Parks and Wildlife. completely eliminate a species,” “They get together in big schools Hysmith said. “We did a series of and congregate in deeper waters,” surveys, and we could not find a said Jubar, who monitors both Lake threadfin shad in that lake.” Fork and Lake Tawakoni. “They’re TPW in 1979 had to go to the looking for a temperature and oxy- Sabine River, below Toledo Bend, gen mix that works well for them.” capture shad and reintroduce them SCHOOL’S IN SESSION: Gizzard shad, like the threadfin, also school up in winter — but they handle the colder temperatures better. TPW biologist Bruce Hysmith, to Lake Texoma. The 30,000 shad who monitors Lake Texoma, said caught turned into more than 6 “In the morning, the water is expecting to find stripers galore. “Like lions, they’ll hang threadfins will school tightly at million within a year. cold in the shallows,” he said. “The predator is operating under around their prey,” Jubar said. “It such times. Ironically, the threaten- An estimated 12 million “Threadfins just don’t like cold the same constraints,” Hysmith can be a good time to fish if ing colder temperatures also offer threadfins died off at Lake Fork in water. I’m already seeing weak said. “As the water cools, it’s not you’re going after quality. You’ve the shad solace — allowing them to October 1994. Enough survived, shad. The birds massacre them. You going to eat as much.” got less active fish, but they’re school closer than usual. however, to quickly repopulate the can see seagulls and terns on the Still, the fishing can be reward- concentrated. Your chances of “The colder that water gets, the lake. banks, lined up to eat.” ing in such conditions, according catching a really nice largemouth greater its capacity to hold oxygen,” Even with the relatively mild However, if the really cold weath- to Jubar. Largemouth at Lake Fork in deep water are probably better, Hysmith said. “Threadfin therefore temperatures so far at Lake Texoma, er comes and the threadfins at Lake will follow schools of shad even though you most likely won’t are able to get closer together some threadfins are falling prey to Texoma retreat to deep water and when they’re not particularly catch the numbers you will at because the oxygen isn’t as limit- the weather, Wilson said. school snugly, don’t go there hungry. other times.” December 22, 2006 Page 13

Hogs ‘To go hunting with a Continued from Page 6 Bowie knife and a catch “Most folks can afford to hunt a few hogs,’’ he said, “and they get to do it all year-round, dog, you come away with and by any legal means possible.’’ Weiser’s Web site, wildboarusa. com, is a your heart pounding and showcase for companies that offer a wide range of hog hunting products. your knees shaking.’ Enthusiasts will get to see the goods up — CODY WEISER close and learn about various hunting tech- niques at the 2007 Wild Boar Hunting Expo, Feb. 3-4, at the William Baber Complex in The Texas Cooperative Extension estimates Hallettsville. they cause $51.7 million worth of property The event will feature scents, attractants damage each year, including lost crops. and feeder lights for those who favor modern Weiser suggested, however, that landown- hog hunting methods. ers turn their hog problems into profits by For the more primitive at heart, there will booking hunts. be discussions about “catch’’ dogs, knives and To that end, he advocated managing pigs spears. with the same enthusiasm that has improved Weiser, who raises stout European boars for Texas white-tailed deer populations over the crossbreeding with feral sows, also plans to past 20 years. launch his own Texas-based hog hunting The hog could subsequently become publication, Wild Boar USA Magazine, later “North America’s premiere dangerous in 2007. game,’’ taking its place among mountain “We’re big on pushing stuff that works,’’ lions, black bears and grizzlies, Weiser said. Weiser said, “whether it’s a product made by “To go hunting with a Bowie knife and a a multi-million-dollar company, or just some- catch dog, you come away with your heart AT DAY’S END: Phillip Monier and his dog “Tuff” show the day’s take of ducks in Comanche thing someone can mix up in the garage.’’ pounding and your knees shaking,’’ he said. County. But not everyone is happy about hogs. “It’s definitely a rush.’’

can stay in them all day and stay 100-per- cent dry,” Holman said. ‘This is a rifle hunter’s Layout Rick Stephanow of Houston hunts Logs Continued from Page 6 ducks in Matagorda County more than 50 days of the season, and uses his layout Continued from Page 6 answer to bow hunting. Avery Pro-Staffer, and has used layout blinds exclusively after mid-season, “During the rut, a buck might come and blinds exclusively for four years for duck It’s a way to get closer to whether the water is low or not. “I put it check a feeder for a little while,’’ Todd said, and goose hunting — whether in the field right by the water’s edge,” he said, “and “but then he’s right back out chasing a doe. or next to the water — from the Texas the deer.’ use fast grass through the straps for more “This gets us into another part of the coast to Saskatchewan. Avery Outdoors cover.” ranch where there are no feeders.’’ makes the Finisher and Power Hunter — TOM WINN Stephanow said the ducks seem to avoid Both Winns have added their own varia- blinds. conventional blinds after the first few weeks tions to the technique. He said concealment and comfort are Tom likes to lay his rifle and binoculars at the main advantages, with the proper of the season. “They get blind-shy,” he said. Hunters who like to use shotgun slugs or the ready on the log next to him. He clips a preparation. “The layout blind is almost invisible.” small bike mirror to the bill of his ball cap to handguns would enjoy the ground tech- It’s important to brush the blinds (straps Other layout blind manufacturers catch deer walking the sendero behind him. nique, Todd said, but not archers who have to connect artificial or natural materials include Cabela’s Interceptor and Otter Todd mounts his rifle on a bipod. He’s to be upright when they shoot. are included) to match the surroundings, Outdoors’ X-Terminator. also selective about his selection of camo, But, said Tom, “This is a rifle hunter’s Holman said. Features of the blinds include storage wearing green in the early season, and answer to bow hunting. It’s a way to get clos- The manufacturers also recommend room for hunting gear and shells, and new switching to brown later. “mudding” the blind (mixing dirt and features appear each year. “They’ve come a er to the deer. It’s a lot more sporting and a A camo face mask, Todd said, is essential. water and rubbing it on the blind surface). long way,” Holman said. lot more fun.’’ “Any man-made material like the poly- Avery recently introduced its “Neo- dacron we use has a certain amount of Tub.” Made from neoprene, it surrounds sheen to it,” Lutes said. “Mudding the the bottom and sides of the blind, and is blind knocks the shine off.” designed to be used in up to eight inches Holman agreed. “If you’re on a mud of water. “It’s like a big pair of waders for bank or in a plowed field, mud the blind the blind,” Holman said. with that dirt. The birds will have no idea Texas waterfowlers have discovered that you’re there. It can mean the difference layout blinds can mean a successful duck between a 35-yard and a 15-yard shot.” hunt in areas where hunting at all would Today’s layout blinds make lying on the be impossible. “It beats lying on the ground tolerable. The newer blinds have ground, that’s for sure,” Lutes said. “And if padded headrests and an insulated back- it’s slow, they are also great for taking a rest and floor. “It’s like a recliner — you nap.”

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper 2006-07 TEXAS HUNTING SEASONS

WHITE-TAILED DEER General DUCK YOUTH SEASON Jan. 20-21 High Plains Mallard Management Unit NORTH TEXAS (200 counties) Nov. 4-Jan. 7 SOUTH TEXAS (30 counties) Nov. 4-Jan. 21 REGULAR Nov. 3-Jan. 28 North Zone Late Antlerless and Spike REGULAR Dec. 9-Jan. 28 EDWARDS PLATEAU (39 counties) Jan. 8-21 SOUTH TEXAS (30 counties) Jan. 22-Feb. 4 South Zone REGULAR GUN Dec. 9-Jan. 28 Muzzleloader (23 counties) Antlerless and Spike Only Jan.13-21 Duck Bag Limit: The daily bag limit shall be 5 ducks with the following MULE DEER species and sex restrictions — scaup, redhead and wood General duck — 2 ducks; only 1 from the following aggregate TRANS-PECOS (19 counties) Nov. 25-Dec. 10 bag: 1 hen mallard, or 1 pintail, or 1 canvasback, or 1 "dusky duck" (includes mottled duck, Mexican-like RIO GRANDE TURKEY duck, black duck, and their hybrids); all other ducks not listed — 5 ducks. Fall Season Possession limit: Twice the daily bag limit. YOUTH SEASON Jan. 20-21 NORTH TEXAS (122 counties) Nov. 4-Jan. 7 SOUTH TEXAS (26 counties) Nov. 4-Jan. 21 GOOSE West Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg LIGHT AND DARK GEESE Nov. 4-Feb. 6 and Willacy counties Nov. 4-Feb. 25 Bag Limit: DOVE Light Geese — 20 in the aggregate; Central Zone Dec. 26-Jan. 4 Dark Geese — 3 Canada and 1 white-fronted goose. CONSERVATION ORDER Feb. 7-March 25 Bag limit: 12 birds per day, 24 in possession. South Zone Dec. 26-Jan. 12 East Bag limit: 12 birds per day, 24 in possession. LIGHT GEESE Nov. 4-Jan. 28 Special South Texas Zone WHITE-FRONTED GEESE Nov. 4-Jan. 14 Bag limit: 12 birds per day, Dec. 26-Jan. 8 CANADA GEESE Nov. 4-Jan. 28 24 in possession Bag Limit: QUAIL Light Geese — 20 in the aggregate. Dark Geese — 3 Canada and 2 white-fronted. Statewide Oct. 28-Feb. 25 Bag limit: 15 birds per day, 45 in possession. Possession Limit: Twice the daily bag limit for dark geese, no possession limit for light geese. PHEASANT CONSERVATION ORDER Jan. 29-March 25 Panhandle (37 counties) Dec. 2-31 Bag limit: 3 roosters per day, 6 in possession. (Seasons on other species may be found on Chambers, Jefferson, Liberty counties Nov. 4-Feb. 25 the TPW Web site — tpwd.state.tx.us/) Page 14 December 22, 2006 Birds of a feather

ld friends gather at the camp and plans are made for the next day’s hunt. You are excit- ed — you have been chosen to hunt with the group headed to the best spot on the lease. OThe word is, this blind only gets hunted two times a year and the pond is loaded with birds. The guide leads you down a levee and into a duck blind made of cane. Wings are whistling overhead and everyone loads their guns. The black lab’s body shakes as more birds zoom across the dark sky. It’s now shooting time and shells begin to fly. There are teal lying on the water and the seasoned lab sits patently, still shaking, waiting for the call. There is a lull, the call comes and the lab sprints for the first target. After the retrieves, the lab sits in the mud and shakes some more. Water drips from him as he looks from left to right. The ducks start moving over- head again. A group of pintails slide into the spread and one hunter shoots his hunter’s choice. The lab retrieves this prized bird under the first rays of the sun’s warming light. After twenty birds he grows tired but keeps up the retrieves, bringing them back to the owner’s hand. Before you know it, all hunters have their limit and the short hunt is over. The shooters and the dog are glad the guide has a boat so they can take the easy way back. The clouds have rolled in and grayed the day, but you got to hunt the best hole on the lease. A hunt that will not be forgotten. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID J. SAMS December 22, 2006 Page 15 Page 16 December 22, 2006

Quail Continued from Page 1 with a total harvest of 222 bobwhite quail. Last year the same time period showed 1343 hunter days with a harvest of 5141 bobwhite quail. “Hunters from all over have called to check in and we are telling them the reports are bad,” Mayo said. “ I have to be the bearer of bad news, and I don’t like that.” One area with a better quail population appeared to be in the lower part of the state around Falfurrias, Hebbronville and Sinton. Those areas did receive fairly decent ‘I normally go out rainfall in iso- 45 to 50 times a lated areas. SLOW TIMES: This year some hunters are lucky to get Dan Floeck a covey rise and some setters are lucky to get a season and this year of San point. Then some hunters are just walking all day I will be lucky to go Antonio, who with their guns on their shoulders getting some good hunts the exercise. Photos by David J. Sams. out seven or eight area around times.’ Falfurrias, McAlpine, who spends much of the year said the bird traveling the country as a shooting instructor reports are and sporting clays course target setter, said — MIKE MCALPINE good to excel- quail hunting is his release from work every lent in that year and he looks forward to the season. area where “Around the first week in November last there was good water and food for the quail. year, I went out in one day and saw 104 cov- “There are plenty of birds, but I am con- eys. This year at the same time I covered the cerned that we’ve had three nights of 32 same area and only saw eight coveys. degree weather — that might knock down “We have some residual birds from last the numbers a bit,’’ he said. year so we do have some birds to hunt,’’ he The bobwhite population this year rivals said. the very good season in 1993, Floeck said, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials had pre- adding the area has also experienced a very dicted the drought conditions throughout good dove hunting year. most of the state would reduce the number of While habitat management helps, he said quail available to hunters this season. the secret to producing a good number of There has been a gradual decline in quail birds seems to be to “get down on your knees populations across the state, with loss of every night and pray for rain.” habitat and unfavorable weather patterns Out in the San Angelo area, Mike being included as significant factors in the McAlpine said the rain came too late in the reduction in bird numbers. year to help with the hatch, although the McAlpine said he believes the quail popula- few bobwhite and blue quail in the region tion levels run in a 10-year cycle, with about now have plenty to eat. two exceptional years, about six average years “The food supply is good, but the hunting and about two years with very few birds. is pretty weak. I normally go out 45 to 50 “This year is just one of those that makes times a season, and this year I will be lucky to the exceptional years so memorable,’’ he go out seven or eight times,’’ he said. said. December 22, 2006 Page 17 HEROES

BREIGHTON LOEFFLER, 7, son of Lee and Tina Loeffler of Lampasas and grandson of Herbert and Debi Loeffler of Mason, Jean Cunningham of Comanche and Bill Tom and Susan Burch of Jasper, shot his first deer on opening morning of youth season at the Loeffler Panther Creek Ranch in southwest Mason CHAD POTTS took this deer while hunting with his 6-year-old daughter Morgan. The 10-point deer had a County. Breighton's deer was an 11-point with a 17-inch spread. 22-inch inside spread with a gross B&C score of 144.

RYAN W. HALTOM caught this 8'11'' gator in Polk County. The gator JAMES BEST, of McKinney, caught this 33 3/4-inch weighed in at 163 pounds. largemouth bass while fishing near Gilmer. JIM RUSHTON harvested this 8-point buck on his lease near Llano. 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@ lon- estaroutdoornews. com, or mail to: Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX, Nicholas Carrisal IV, of San Antonio, caught this snook while vacationing in 75243. DR. GRAYSON SELLERS, fishing with Capt. Skipper Ray, caught this redfish St. Croix, Virgin Islands. off the Texas coast. CLASSIFIEDS

Don’t NEW LOOK, miss the next issue BETTER RESULTS of the Place your classified advertising in the Lone Star Lone Star Outdoor News and experience the results of a new look. Call (866) Outdoor The 2”x 2” classified will get the attention necessary to 361-2276 News say SOLD! $30 for two editions. 9304 Forest Lane, Ste. 114 Call (214) 361-2276 South • Dallas, TX. 75243 Page 18 December 22, 2006 PRODUCT PICKS

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HANDHELD HUNTING GUIDE: Outdoorsmen will appreciate Garmin’s Rino 530. The waterproof two-way radio with GPS offers a range BIG GAME RIFLE: of 14 miles and will Winchester’s Super X Rifle is for serious big interface with any VHS game hunters. The SXR boasts a semi-auto center fire handheld radio. The GPS system that its maker says is among the fastest offers a color screen with because of its rotary bolt mechanism. Other features include a rigid alloy receiver, mapping hammer-forged barrel and single stage trigger. The rifle, which weighs about 7 1/4 pounds, is information on available in four calibers and retails for about $810 to $840. For dealers, visit www.winchesterguns.com. which you can locate fellow hunters. The 10.3-ounce SLEEK RIFLESCOPE: Zeiss’s Victory Diarange 3-12 x 56 device comes with a built-in T Riflescope delivers the precise range to the detailed basemap of North target at a push of a button. According and South America. Plus it to Zeiss, the sleek riflescope has a adds an electronic measuring range from 10 yards to 999 compass, barometric yards (depending on the size of the altimeter and NOAA object, reflectivity, angle of impact and weather receiver. It even weather conditions). The easy-to-use and has a calendar that shows simple-to-mount Diarange works in temperatures the best hunting and from -13 degrees to 122 degrees. The optics boast fishing times. The Rino 530 the company’s Advanced Optics System thin-lens technology costs about $536. For more and its T multi-coatings for greater clarity and resolution. Four information or retailers, visit non-magnifying illuminated reticles are available for use in lowlight www.garmin.com. conditions. The riflescope’s suggested retail price is $4,203. For additional specifications or for retailers, visit www.zeiss.com.

EXTREME POWER: Beretta’s new Xtrema2 semi-automatic shotgun boasts numerous recoil-reducing features that the company says lessens recoil by 44 percent more than its closest rival. Named the Shotgun of the Year by Shooting Illustrated magazine, Xtrema2 can handle up to 3 1/2-inch magnum loads. The shotgun’s stock and fore end have been slimmed down to offer more comfort while shooting. The Xtrema 2 is offered in 24- to 28-inch barrels and sells for about $1,100 to $1,600. For additional features or dealers, visit www.beretta.com or call (301) 283-2191. December 22, 2006 Page 19 FISHING REPORT ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 51 degrees. Black bass are slow. Crappie LBJ: Water clear; 58 degrees; 0.08' low. Black bass are fair to good on are fair on minnows and jigs. black/purple jigs with pork trailers and watermelon/red creature baits. White AMISTAD: Water clear; 64 degrees. Striped bass are good on small Rat-L- bass are slow to fair trolling Shad Raps and casting/jigging Road Runners and SALTWATER HOT BITES Traps, jigging spoons, and shallow running crankbaits. White bass are good on 1/8oz. Spin Traps in channels. Crappie are fair on Curb's crappie jigs and small small Rat-L-Traps, jigging spoons, and shallow running crankbaits. Channel and crankbaits. blue catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp, chicken livers, and nightcrawlers LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 48-54 degrees; 9.81' low. Black bass are fair LARGEMOUTH in 20 - 70 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch. buzzbaits, chrome crankbaits and Carolina rigged blue shad worms. White bass SCENE ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 5.6' low. Black bass are good are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair to good drift fishing cut shad and live. NORTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are near shallow points and submerged timber on spinnerbaits and purple plastic LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 65 degrees; 0.10' high. Black bass to 4 fair to good on live shad in the river. BASS worms, and off riprap areas with crankbaits. Crappie are good on small min- pounds are good on watermelon red and pumpkinseed soft plastics, crankbaits, Flounder are fair to good near the cuts nows near derricks suspended 15-25 feet and off the state park piers. and spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are very good on on the Louisiana shoreline on shad and jigs tipped with shrimp. BASTROP: Water stained. Channel and blue catfish are good on frozen shrimp shad. and stinkbait. MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 46 degrees; 72' low. White bass and striped SOUTH SABINE: Redfish and black drum are fair on cut-bait and shrimp BELTON: Water stained; 63 degrees; 7.45' low. Black bass are good on bass are good on crankbaits, slabs and live bait. Walleye are good on slabs tipped with minnows and crankbaits. from the jetty. Trout, sheepshead, croak- chartreuse soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Hybrid striper are good on live bait. er, sand trout and flounder are fair from BROWNWOOD: Black bass to 6 pounds Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait MEDINA: Water stained; 62 degrees; 34.69' low. White bass are good vertically the pier on shrimp, mud minnows and are excellent on 3/8oz. black/blue and shrimp. jigging Fle-Fly slabs off main lake points in 20 - 35 feet. Channel, blue, and DOA Shrimp. StrikeWorks jigs and chartreuse Craw BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 49-53 degrees; 10.52' low. Black bass are fair on yellow catfish are very good on Lewis' Select catfish bait and whole shad, and on juglines baited with perch. BOLIVAR: Redfish are fair to good in the 200 series Persuader crankbaits chrome/blue back Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits and jigs. Catfish are fair on stinkbait surf on mullet. Flounder are fair to good between docks, over brushpiles, and and cut shad. White bass are fair on jigging spoons and minnows. MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 47 degrees; 32.55' low. Black bass are fair at Rollover Pass on mud minnows. along the main lake shoreline in 3 - 10 BRAUNIG: Water stained; 65 degrees. Black bass are good on crankbaits and on crankbaits and slow-rolled spinnerbaits. White bass are good on crankbaits feet and over brushpiles. and live bait along rocky points. Smallmouth bass are fair on crankbaits and TRINITY BAY: dark soft plastics in the reeds and near the dam. Striped bass are good on liver Flounder are AMISTAD: Black bass are good on deep and shad, and down rigging spoons near the dam and jetty. jerkbaits. Walleye are good on bottom bouncers and slabs tipped with minnows. Channel catfish are good on prepared baits. fair to good in running crankbaits, soft plastics, and BUCHANAN: Water clear; 56 degrees; 22.17' low. Black bass are fair on grape the cuts and jigs. 6" worms on and smoke/red flake tubes on 1/8oz. jigheads in the mouths of NAVARRO MILLS: Water fairly clear; 60 degrees; 8.71' low. Channel and blue channels on BASTROP: Black bass are good on creek channels, and on pumpkin catfish are good on minnows and stinkbait. mud minnows small Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits. Terminator finesse jigs with pork trail- O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 53 and plastics. Trout are fair to good for JOE POOL: Black bass are good on drop ers along steep bluff ledges in 8 - 15 degrees; 22.72' low. White bass are drifters on soft plastics. shot rigged french fries and crankbaits feet. Striped bass are good vertically good on live baits and shallow EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to in 6 - 10 feet. jigging Pirk Minnows, 1⁄4oz. white HOT SPOT crankbaits. good. Redfish are fair in the holes and bucktails, and Rat-L-Traps under PALESTINE: Water fairly clear; 50-53 guts leading to the marsh on live shrimp birds around Lighthouse Point. White degrees; 4.84' low. Black bass are and dead shrimp. bass are fair trolling deep diving Shad fair to good on Carolina rigged water- WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to WHITE Raps and vertically jigging 1⁄4oz. sil- melon seed worms, buzzbaits and jig- ver Pirk Minnows. good for drifters working the shell on ging spoons. plum and red shad Bass Assassins, Trout HYBRID CALAVERAS: Water stained; 65 POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 51 Killers and Sand Eels. Trout are fair to degrees. Black bass are good on dark degrees; 2.8' low. Black bass are good in Christmas Bay in the mud for soft plastic worms and live minnows good near rocky cover and boat docks waders throwing Corkies and MirrOlures. STRIPER over reed beds and near the dam. on soft plastics or shad and crawfish Blue catfish are good on liver, cut- TEXAS CITY: Black drum and redfish are imitation crankbaits. Catfish are good fair to good in Moses Lake on shrimp. bait, and nightcrawlers. on set lines baited with shad in the CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 62 upper part of reservoir. FREEPORT: Flounder, reds and degrees; 7.40' low. Black bass are sheepshead are fair from the Pump PROCTOR: Water murky; 54 degrees; Station on mullet and live shrimp. good on drop shot pumpkin Devils 8.45' low. Black bass are good on Tongues, Texas rigged paddle tail Flounder are fair from the Coast Guard spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on Station and East Union on jigs tipped worms, and 4" watermelon worms on minnows and jigs. 3/16oz. jigheads along ledges and with shrimp. CEDAR CREEK: Hybrid striper are RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; excellent on Sassy Shad under working drop offs of sloping points in 12 - 20 EAST MATAGORDA: Trout and redfish feet. White bass are fair but small at 49-53 degrees; 4.15' low. Black bass are fair to birds. are fair on white/chartreuse spinner- POSSUM KINGDOM: White bass are daylight. Smallmouth bass to 3.5 good on pounds are good on pumpkin Devil's baits, firetiger stickbaits, Carolina rigs deeper shell excellent along channels vertical jigging and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on with silver slabs north of Costello Island Tongues with chartreuse tails on drop reefs Trout shots and smoke/red flake tubes on minnows and jigs over brushpiles. Killers, Sand with some striped bass. CADDO LAKE White bass are fair on slabs and min- shaky head jigs along main lake Water fairly clear to stained; 49-54 degrees; 0.98' low. Black bass are Eels and Bass Assassins. Flounder are RAY ROBERTS: White bass are excel- points and bluff ledges early. Crappie nows. Hybrid striper are slow to fair fair around the cuts and drains to the lent on slabs and CC jigging spoons in good on jigs, white spinnerbaits and flukes fished around vegetation. on slabs, and while trolling. Catfish are fair on white Curb's crappie jigs Crappie are excellent on red/white or red/green jigs in the pads along Intracoastal on mud minnows and finger 25-35 feet. and minnows in 10 - 18 feet. are fair on prepared baits. Catfish are mullet. deeper creeks.White and yellow bass are good on small spoons and tail- fair on chartreuse (use Worm-Glo) CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; spinners in the Big Cypress channel near Johnson's Ranch. nightcrawlers. MATAGORDA: Trout and redfish are fair 50-54 degrees; 7.07' low. Black bass to good on the south shoreline on Sand CATFISH are fair on jigging spoons over creek RAY ROBERTS: Water murky to Eels, Trout Killers and Bass Assassins. channel bends. White bass are fair on jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on small stained; 49-55 degrees; 8.07' low. Black bass are fair to good on drop shot Redfish and black drum are fair to good minnows and tube jigs over brush piles. Catfish are fair on cut shad drifted over rigged 3" Yum Dingers and 4" grubs on jigheads. Crappie are fair on minnows in the Diversion Channel on dead humps. and jigs over Corps of Engineers brush piles. Jordon Park ramp is nearly unus- shrimp. able due to silt. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 63 degrees; 7.62' low. Black bass are fair. PORT O'CON- White bass are fair vertically jigging Fle-Fly slabs off main lake points. Crappie RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water fairly clear; 50-53 degrees; 11.01' low. Black NOR: Redfish are fair on brown Curb's crappie jigs tipped with live minnows over brushpiles bass are fair to good on crankbaits, Texas rigged purple worm and jig-n-pigs. are good in the White bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on live shad and white/chartreuse BRAUNIG: Channel and blue catfish are and standing timber. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with hybrid back bays on bluegills. slabs on main lake humps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around deep- shrimp, mullet excellent on liver, cheesebait, shrimp, water trees. nightcrawlers, and cutbait. CONROE: Water murky; 0.14' low. Black bass are fair on watermelon red soft and plum Bass SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 62 degrees; 2.20' low. Black bass are fair on Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. CALAVERAS: Channel catfish are excel- plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on liver, shrimp, and stinkbait. chartreuse/green soft plastics and small spinnerbaits, and on dark Rat-L-Traps Trout are fair on topwaters in the back lent on liver, shrimp, cheesebait, and over grass. Crappie are fair on minnows and green tube jigs. lakes when the sun warms the water. nightcrawlers. DUNLAP/MCQUEENEY: Water stained. Channel catfish are good on frozen shrimp and liver. STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 62 degrees; 3.47' low. Black bass are slow. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on the reefs in CHOKE CANYON: Channel and blue Channel and blue catfish are good on minnows, liver, and hot dogs. Copano Bay and St. Charles Bay on Bass FALCON: Water clear upper end, stained lower end; 59 degrees. Black bass are catfish are excellent on Lewis' Select TAWAKONI: Water stained; 51-54 degrees; 12.26' low. Black bass are fair on Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. bait and cut shad. slow. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are Redfish are fair to good on the Estes good on cutbait and shad. white/chartreuse spinnerbaits, flukes and black/blue jigs. Crappie are fair on RAY ROBERTS: Catfish are excellent on minnows and jigs over brushpiles. White bass are fair on slabs and live min- Flats on shrimp, spoons and topwaters. prepared bait and cut shad. FAYETTE: Water clear; 62 degrees. Black bass are good on watermelon gold nows. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on live shad and topwa- PORT ARANSAS: Redfish and black and electric blue Carolina rigged worms and drop shot worms. ters. Catfish are fair on prepared baits. drum are good in the holes in Redfish FORK: Water clear; 49-54 degrees; 5.3' low. Black bass are fair on black/blue TEXOMA: Water clear; 49-53 degrees; 3.13' low. Black bass are fair on spin- Bay and around Pelican Island on piggy CRAPPIE jigs with #11 black pork trailer around wood in the mouths of coves, and on a nerbaits, buzzbaits, chrome crankbaits and Carolina-rigs. Striped bass are good perch and shrimp. 1⁄2oz. crawdad pattern Rat-L-Trap worked along main lake grass lines. Crappie on slabs, Sassy Shad and live shad. CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish, croakers, are good on minnows and small jigs in 22-26 feet under main lake bridges and TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 53 degrees; 6.83' low. The boat ramp at Holly sand trout and sheepshead are fair to around brush piles. Catfish are good on prepared baits in 22-24 feet along good on fresh dead shrimp around the creeks. Park is accessible - caution is advised. Black bass are fair but small on spinner- baits in 5 - 10 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are Oso Bridge. Trout are fair at night under GRANBURY: Water stained; 1.43' low. Catfish are good on cutbait and stinkbait. good on minnows in the river on the bottom. Bream are good on worms. the lights around the causeway on live GRANGER: Water murky; 50 degrees; 1.74' low. Blue catfish are good on shad Channel and blue catfish to 45 pounds are good on trotlines baited with hearts shrimp. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Crappie are good and cutbait. and cutbait. on minnows and jigs in 20 - 25 feet. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair around the GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 49-53 degrees; 12.92' low. Black bass are TRAVIS: Water clear; 62 degrees; 37.24' low. Black bass to 4 pounds are good rocks on piggy perch and glow and O.H. IVIE: Crappie are good on min- slow to fair on spinnerbaits and finesse jigs - sporadic topwater action early. on drop shot worms, shad crankbaits, and grubs in 10 - 28 feet. Crappie to 1 pearl/chartreuse Corkies. Redfish are fair nows and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and pound are fair on minnows and blue and pink tube jigs in 20 - 35 feet. in the potholes for drifters throwing top- STILLHOUSE: Crappie are good on min- Humdingers. Catfish are fair on cut bait and chartreuse (use Worm-Glo) night- Channel and blue catfish to 5 pounds are good on nightcrawlers and fresh cut- waters or live mullet under a popping nows. crawlers. bait in 28 - 40 feet. cork. GREENBELT: Water lightly stained; 48 degrees; 28.72' low. White bass are WALTER E. LONG: Water clear. White bass are good on minnows and pet PORT MANSFIELD: Trout and redfish good on live baits and crankbaits. Smallmouth bass are fair on crankbaits and spoons.Channel and blue catfish are very good on stinkbait, frozen shad, and are fair to good at the jetty on mullet BREAM live bait. frozen shrimp. and live. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.51' high. Crappie are good WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 47-52 degrees; 9.22' low. Channel catfish are SOUTH PADRE: Redfish are fair to good on live minnows. Bream are good on nightcrawlers over grass. good on nightcrawlers and dough bait. White bass are good in the water inlet in South Bay on gold spoons and finger JOE POOL: Water fairly clear; 49-54 degrees; 1.84' low. Crappie are fair on when the pumps are running. mullet. Trout are fair for jiggers working minnows and jigs around bridge columns and brush piles. White bass are fair WHITNEY: Water stained; 9.25' low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse Carolina the drop-offs near the Intracoastal. on slabs. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and prepared baits. rigged soft plastics and deep running crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair LAKE O' THE PINES: Water stained; 50-53 degrees; 5.05' low. Black bass are Catfish are good on stinkbait, frozen shrimp, and cutbait. to good at Three Islands on shrimp and WEATHERFORD: Bream are excellent good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and black worms. Catfish are good on blood- WICHITA: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; nearly full at spillway. White bass mullet. Trout, redfish and black drum on worms. bait. and hybrid striped bass are good on minnows and white twister-tails along the are fair to good on the drop offs near the Intracoastal on shrimp and finger mullet. LAVON: Water stained; 49-54 degrees; 16.52' low. Crappie are good on min- dam, near old pier poles and spillway using live shad and a bobber. Channel nows in 20 - 30 feet. catfish are good on worms and punchbait, or trotlines baited with cut shad. SUBSCRIBE TODAY 24 issues for $25 Get the most current hunting NAME and fishing ADDRESS information in print, including reports, tips, features, CITY ST. ZIP product reviews and EMAIL conservation news

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SIGNATURE 122206 9304 Forest Lane, Ste. 114 South • Dallas, TX. 75243 Page 20 December 22, 2006 WEATHER

MOON PHASES SOLUNAR TABLE Major/Minor periods: For up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, please visit www.accuweather.com New First Full Last Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo Dec 20 Dec 27 Jan 3 Jan 11 12/20 10:53a/4:38a 7:54p/1:40p 10:59a/4:44a 8:00p/1:46p Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2006 12/21 11:21p/5:07p 8:16a/2:02a 11:27p/5:13p 8:22a/2:08a 12/22 11:51a/5:37a 8:45p/2:31p 11:57a/5:43a 8:51p/2:37p TIDES 12/23 ——/6:06p 9:09a/2:55a ——/6:12p 9:15a/3:01a High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low 12/24 12:21a/6:38a 9:39p/3:24p 12:27a/6:44a 9:45p/3:30p Sabine Pass Freeport Corpus Christi 12/25 12:24a/7:06p 10:05a/3:50a 12:30a/7:12p 10:11a/3:56a 12/20 5:04 p.m. 8:48 a.m. 11:02 p.m. 9:27 p.m. 12/20 5:05 p.m. 8:18 a.m. 11:03 p.m. 8:57 p.m. 12/20 5:13 p.m. 7:56 a.m. 11:11 p.m. 8:35 p.m. 12/26 1:25a/7:39a 10:35p/4:20p 1:31a/7:45a 10:41p/4:26p 12/21 5:53 p.m. 9:29 a.m. 11:52 p.m. 9:32 p.m. 12/21 5:54 p.m. 8:59 a.m. 11:53 p.m. 9:02 p.m. 12/21 6:02 p.m. 8:37 a.m. —- 8:40 p.m. 12/27 1:53p/8:06p 11:02a/4:47a 1:59p/8:12p 11:08a/4:53a 12/22 6:43 p.m. 10:12 a.m. —- 9:59 p.m. 12/22 6:44 p.m. 9:42 a.m. —- 9:29 p.m. 12/22 12:01 a.m. 9:20 a.m. 6:52 p.m. 9:07 p.m. 12/28 2:26a/8:39a 11:30p/5:16p 2:32a/8:45a 11:36p/5:22p 12/23 12:38 a.m. 10:57 a.m. 7:25 p.m. 10:56 p.m. 12/23 12:39 a.m. 10:27 a.m. 7:26 p.m. 10:26 p.m. 12/23 12:47 a.m. 10:05 a.m. 7:34 p.m. 10:04 p.m. 12/29 2:52p/9:05p 11:58a/5:45a 2:58p/9:11p 10:04 12/24 1:23 a.m. 11:44 a.m. 7:53 p.m. —- 12/24 1:24 a.m. 11:14 a.m. 7:54 p.m. —- 12/24 1:32 a.m. 10:52 a.m. 8:02 p.m. 11:46 p.m. p.m./5:51a 12/25 2:17 a.m. 12:38 a.m. 8:12 p.m. 12:33 p.m. 12/25 2:18 a.m. 12:08 a.m. 8:13 p.m. 12:03 p.m. 12/25 2:26 a.m. 11:41 a.m. 8:21 p.m. —- 12/30 3:23a/9:35a ——/6:12p 3:29a/9:41a 3:23a/6:18p 12/26 5:30 a.m. 2:47 a.m. 8:26 p.m. 1:27 p.m. 12/26 5:31 a.m. 2:17 a.m. 8:27 p.m. 12:57 p.m. 12/26 5:39 a.m. 1:55 a.m. 8:35 p.m. 12:35 p.m. 12/31 3:48p/10:00p 12:28a/6:41a 3:54p/10:06p 3:48p/6:47a 12/27 8:47 a.m. 3:45 a.m. 8:37 p.m. 2:34 p.m. 12/27 8:48 a.m. 3:15 a.m. 8:38 p.m. 2:04 p.m. 12/27 8:56 a.m. 2:53 a.m. 8:46 p.m. 1:42 p.m. 1/1 4:16a/10:28a 12:53p/7:06p 4:22a/10:34a 4:16a/7:12p 12/28 11:10 a.m. 4:31 a.m. 8:45 p.m. 4:19 p.m. 12/28 11:11 a.m. 4:01 a.m. 8:46 p.m. 3:49 p.m. 12/28 11:19 a.m. 3:39 a.m. 8:54 p.m. 3:27 p.m. 1/2 4:40p/10:52p 1:23a/7:34a 4:46p/10:58p 4:40p/7:40a 12/29 12:50 p.m. 5:15 a.m. 8:47 p.m. 6:48 p.m. 12/29 12:51 p.m. 4:45 a.m. 8:48 p.m. 6:18 p.m. 12/29 12:59 p.m. 4:23 a.m. 8:56 p.m. 5:56 p.m. 1/3 5:06a/11:18a 1:46p/7:57p 5:12a/11:24a 5:06a/8:03p 12/30 1:58 p.m. 5:59 a.m. —- —- 12/30 1:59 p.m. 5:29 a.m. —- —- 12/30 2:07 p.m. 5:28 a.m. —- —- 1/4 5:29p/11:41p 2:14a/8:24a 5:35p/11:47p 5:29p/8:30a 12/31 2:51 p.m. 6:44 a.m. —- —- 12/31 2:52 p.m. 6:14 a.m. —- —- 12/31 3:00 p.m. 5:52 a.m. —- —- 1/5 5:53a/12:05p 2:35p/8:46p 5:59a/12:11p 5:53a/8:52p 1/1 3:42 p.m. 7:30 a.m. —- —- 1/1 3:43 p.m. 7:00 a.m. —- —- 1/1 3:51 p.m. 6:38 a.m. —- —- 1/6 6:17p/—— 3:01a/9:11a 6:23p/—— 6:17p/9:17a 1/2 4:28 p.m. 8:17 a.m. —- —- 1/2 4:29 p.m. 7:47 a.m. —- —- 1/2 4:37 p.m. 7:25 a.m. —- —- 1/7 6:39a/12:26a 3:21p/9:31p 6:45a/12:32a 6:39a/9:37p 1/3 5:14 p.m. 9:03 a.m. 11:57 p.m. 10:10 p.m. 1/3 5:15 p.m. 8:33 a.m. 11:58 p.m. 9:40 p.m. 1/3 5:23 p.m. 8:11 a.m. —- 9:18 p.m. 1/8 7:05p/12:52p 3:45a/9:55a 7:11p/12:58p 7:05p/10:01a 1/4 5:57 p.m. 9:48 a.m. —- 10:12 p.m. 1/4 5:58 p.m. 9:18 a.m. —- 9:42 p.m. 1/4 12:06 a.m. 8:56 a.m. 6:06 p.m. 9:20 p.m. 1/5 12:46 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 6:33 p.m. 10:42 p.m. 1/5 12:47 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:34 p.m. 10:12 p.m. 1/5 12:55 a.m. 9:38 a.m. 6:42 p.m. 9:50 p.m. SUN AND MOON 1/6 1:27 a.m. 11:08 a.m. 7:00 p.m. 11:56 p.m. 1/6 1:28 a.m. 10:38 a.m. 7:01 p.m. 11:26 p.m. 1/6 1:36 a.m. 10:16 a.m. 7:09 p.m. 11:04 p.m. 1/7 2:06 a.m. 11:43 a.m. 7:19 p.m. —- 1/7 2:07 a.m. 11:13 a.m. 7:20 p.m. —- 1/7 2:15 a.m. 10:51 a.m. 7:28 p.m. —- Sunrise/set 1/8 7:33 p.m. 12:14 p.m. —- —- 1/8 7:34 p.m. 11:44 a.m. —- —- 1/8 7:42 p.m. 11:22 a.m. —- —- Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo 1/9 6:10 a.m. 3:21 a.m. 7:43 p.m. 12:43 p.m. 1/9 6:11 a.m. 2:51 a.m. 7:44 p.m. 12:13 p.m. 1/9 6:19 a.m. 2:29 a.m. 7:52 p.m. 11:51 a.m. 12/20 7:12a/5:25p 7:26a/5:25p 7:24a/5:39p 7:51a/5:38p Port Bolivar Pass Cavallo South Padre Island 12/21 7:13a/5:26p 7:27a/5:26p 7:24a/5:39p 7:51a/5:38p 12/20 7:19 p.m. 9:35 a.m. —- 10:14 p.m. 12/20 6:22 p.m. 8:06 a.m. —- 8:45 p.m. 12/20 6:17 p.m. 8:01 a.m. —- —- 12/22 7:13a/5:26p 7:27a/5:26p 7:25a/5:40p 7:52a/5:39p 12/21 1:17 a.m. 10:16 a.m. 8:08 p.m. 10:19 p.m. 12/21 12:20 a.m. 8:47 a.m. 7:11 p.m. 8:50 p.m. 12/21 7:03 p.m. 8:44 a.m. —- —- 12/23 7:14a/5:27p 7:28a/5:27p 7:25a/5:40p 7:52a/5:39p 12/22 2:07 a.m. 10:59 a.m. 8:58 p.m. 10:46 p.m. 12/22 1:10 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 8:01 p.m. 9:17 p.m. 12/22 7:45 p.m. 9:29 a.m. —- —- 12/24 7:14a/5:28p 7:28a/5:27p 7:26a/5:41p 7:53a/5:40p 12/23 2:53 a.m. 11:44 a.m. 9:40 p.m. 11:43 p.m. 12/23 1:56 a.m. 10:15 a.m. 8:43 p.m. 10:14 p.m. 12/23 8:15 p.m. 10:15 a.m. —- —- 12/25 7:15a/5:28p 7:29a/5:28p 7:26a/5:42p 7:53a/5:40p 12/24 3:38 a.m. 12:31 p.m. 10:08 p.m. —- 12/24 2:41 a.m. 11:02 a.m. 9:11 p.m. 11:56 p.m. 12/24 8:30 p.m. 11:02 a.m. —- —- 12/26 7:15a/5:29p 7:29a/5:28p 7:27a/5:42p 7:54a/5:41p 12/25 4:32 a.m. 1:25 a.m. 10:27 p.m. 1:20 p.m. 12/25 3:35 a.m. 11:51 a.m. 9:30 p.m. —- 12/25 8:30 p.m. 11:51 a.m. —- —- 12/27 7:16a/5:29p 7:29a/5:29p 7:27a/5:43p 7:54a/5:42p 12/26 7:45 a.m. 3:34 a.m. 10:41 p.m. 2:14 p.m. 12/26 6:48 a.m. 2:05 a.m. 9:44 p.m. 12:45 p.m. 12/26 8:18 p.m. 12:43 p.m. —- —- 12/28 7:16a/5:30p 7:30a/5:30p 7:27a/5:43p 7:54a/5:42p 12/27 11:02 a.m. 4:32 a.m. 10:52 p.m. 3:21 p.m. 12/27 10:05 a.m. 3:03 a.m. 9:55 p.m. 1:52 p.m. 12/27 8:36 a.m. 3:07 a.m. 7:54 p.m. 1:43 p.m. 12/29 7:16a/5:31p 7:30a/5:30p 7:28a/5:44p 7:55a/5:43p 12/28 1:25 p.m. 5:18 a.m. 11:00 p.m. 5:06 p.m. 12/28 12:28 p.m. 3:49 a.m. 10:03 p.m. 3:37 p.m. 12/28 11:54 a.m. 3:32 a.m. 7:07 p.m. 3:21 p.m. 12/30 7:17a/5:31p 7:30a/5:31p 7:28a/5:45p 7:55a/5:44p 12/29 3:05 p.m. 6:02 a.m. 11:02 p.m. 7:35 p.m. 12/29 2:08 p.m. 4:33 a.m. 10:05 p.m. 6:06 p.m. 12/29 1:56 p.m. 4:11 a.m. —- —- 12/31 7:17a/5:32p 7:31a/5:32p 7:28a/5:45p 7:55a/5:44p 12/30 4:13 p.m. 6:46 a.m. —- —- 12/30 3:16 p.m. 5:17 a.m. —- —- 12/30 3:06 p.m. 4:56 a.m. —- —- 1/1 7:17a/5:33p 7:31a/5:32p 7:29a/5:46p 7:55a/5:45p 12/31 5:06 p.m. 7:31 a.m. —- —- 12/31 4:09 p.m. 6:02 a.m. —- —- 12/31 4:03 p.m. 5:45 a.m. —- —- 1/2 7:17a/5:33p 7:31a/5:33p 7:29a/5:47p 7:56a/5:46p 1/1 5:57 p.m. 8:17 a.m. —- —- 1/1 5:00 p.m. 6:48 a.m. —- —- 1/1 5:00 p.m. 6:37 a.m. —- —- 1/3 7:18a/5:34p 7:31a/5:34p 7:29a/5:47p 7:56a/5:47p 1/2 6:43 p.m. 9:04 a.m. —- —- 1/2 5:46 p.m. 7:35 a.m. —- —- 1/2 5:52 p.m. 7:29 a.m. —- —- 1/4 7:18a/5:35p 7:31a/5:35p 7:29a/5:48p 7:56a/5:48p 1/3 7:29 p.m. 9:50 a.m. —- 10:57 p.m. 1/3 6:32 p.m. 8:21 a.m. —- 9:28 p.m. 1/3 6:40 p.m. 8:20 a.m. —- —- 1/5 7:18a/5:36p 7:31a/5:35p 7:29a/5:49p 7:56a/5:48p 1/4 2:12 a.m. 10:35 a.m. 8:12 p.m. 10:59 p.m. 1/4 1:15 a.m. 9:06 a.m. 7:15 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 1/4 7:18 p.m. 9:08 a.m. —- —- 1/6 7:18a/5:36p 7:32a/5:36p 7:30a/5:50p 7:56a/5:49p 1/5 3:01 a.m. 11:17 a.m. 8:48 p.m. 11:29 p.m. 1/5 2:04 a.m. 9:48 a.m. 7:51 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 1/5 7:43 p.m. 9:53 a.m. —- —- 1/7 7:18a/5:37p 7:32a/5:37p 7:30a/5:50p 7:56a/5:50p 1/6 3:42 a.m. 11:55 a.m. 9:15 p.m. —- 1/6 2:45 a.m. 10:26 a.m. 8:18 p.m. 11:14 p.m. 1/6 7:52 p.m. 10:33 a.m. —- —- 1/8 7:18a/5:38p 7:32a/5:38p 7:30a/5:51p 7:56a/5:51p 1/7 4:21 a.m. 12:43 a.m. 9:34 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 1/7 3:24 a.m. 11:01 a.m. 8:37 p.m. —- 1/7 7:49 p.m. 11:10 a.m. —- —- 1/9 7:18a/5:39p 7:32a/5:39p 7:30a/5:52p 7:56a/5:52p 1/8 9:48 p.m. 1:01 p.m. —- —- 1/8 8:51 p.m. 11:32 a.m. —- —- 1/8 7:37 p.m. 11:43 a.m. —- —- 1/9 8:25 a.m. 4:08 a.m. 9:58 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1/9 7:28 a.m. 2:39 a.m. 9:01 p.m. 12:01 p.m. 1/9 5:37 a.m. 2:02 a.m. 7:16 p.m. 12:11 p.m. Moonrise/set San Luis Pass Port O’Connor Port Isabel Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo 12/20 6:13 p.m. 9:17 a.m. —- 9:56 p.m. 12/20 11:41 p.m. 11:36 a.m. —- —- 12/20 6:12 p.m. 8:27 a.m. —- 9:06 p.m. 12/20 7:30a/5:28p 7:47a/5:25p 7:42a/5:42p 8:15a/5:37p 12/21 12:11 a.m. 9:58 a.m. 7:02 p.m. 10:01 p.m. 12/21 —- 12:19 p.m. —- —- 12/21 12:10 a.m. 9:08 a.m. 7:01 p.m. 9:11 p.m. 12/21 8:26a/6:32p 8:43a/6:30p 8:38a/6:46p 9:10a/6:42p 12/22 1:01 a.m. 10:41 a.m. 7:52 p.m. 10:28 p.m. 12/22 12:47 a.m. 1:02 p.m. —- —- 12/22 1:00 a.m. 9:51 a.m. 7:51 p.m. 9:38 p.m. 12/22 9:16a/7:39p 9:31a/7:38p 9:28a/7:53p 9:57a/7:51p 12/23 1:47 a.m. 11:26 a.m. 8:34 p.m. 11:25 p.m. 12/23 1:48 a.m. 1:43 p.m. —- —- 12/23 1:46 a.m. 10:36 a.m. 8:33 p.m. 10:35 p.m. 12/23 9:59a/8:46p 10:12a/8:48p 10:11a/9:00p 10:37a/9:02p 12/24 2:32 a.m. 12:13 p.m. 9:02 p.m. —- 12/24 2:42 a.m. 2:20 p.m. —- —- 12/24 2:31 a.m. 11:23 a.m. 9:01 p.m. —- 12/24 10:37a/9:53p 10:48a/9:56p 10:49a/10:06p 11:11a/10:12p 12/25 3:26 a.m. 1:07 a.m. 9:21 p.m. 1:02 p.m. 12/25 3:29 a.m. 2:51 p.m. —- —- 12/25 3:25 a.m. 12:17 a.m. 9:20 p.m. 12:12 p.m. 12/2511:10a/10:57p 11:20a/11:03p 11:23a/11:11p 11:41a/11:21p 12/26 6:39 a.m. 3:16 a.m. 9:35 p.m. 1:56 p.m. 12/26 3:41 a.m. 3:04 p.m. 11:38 p.m. —- 12/26 6:38 a.m. 2:26 a.m. 9:34 p.m. 1:06 p.m. 12/26 11:42a/none 11:49a/none 11:55a/none 12:09p/none 12/27 9:56 a.m. 4:14 a.m. 9:46 p.m. 3:03 p.m. 12/27 9:48 p.m. 2:03 p.m. —- —- 12/27 9:55 a.m. 3:24 a.m. 9:45 p.m. 2:13 p.m. 12/2712:13p/12:01a 12:18p/12:09a 12:26p/12:14a 12:36p/12:29a 12/28 12:19 p.m. 5:00 a.m. 9:54 p.m. 4:48 p.m. 12/28 8:47 p.m. 6:51 a.m. —- —- 12/28 12:18 p.m. 4:10 a.m. 9:53 p.m. 3:58 p.m. 12/28 12:45p/1:06a 12:49p/1:15a 12:58p/1:18a 1:05p/1:37a 12/29 1:59 p.m. 5:44 a.m. 9:56 p.m. 7:17 p.m. 12/29 8:33 p.m. 7:31 a.m. —- —- 12/29 1:58 p.m. 4:54 a.m. 9:55 p.m. 6:27 p.m. 12/29 1:20p/2:11a 1:22p/2:23a 1:34p/2:24a 1:37p/2:46a 12/30 3:07 p.m. 6:28 a.m. —- —- 12/30 8:52 p.m. 8:19 a.m. —- —- 12/30 3:06 p.m. 5:38 a.m. —- —- 12/30 2:00p/3:19a 2:00p/3:33a 2:14p/3:31a 2:13p/3:58a 12/31 4:00 p.m. 7:13 a.m. —- —- 12/31 9:28 p.m. 9:10 a.m. —- —- 12/31 3:59 p.m. 6:23 a.m. —- —- 12/31 2:47p/4:28a 2:45p/4:43a 3:01p/4:40a 2:57p/5:10a 1/1 4:51 p.m. 7:59 a.m. —- —- 1/1 10:21 p.m. 10:04 a.m. —- —- 1/1 4:50 p.m. 7:09 a.m. —- —- 1/1 3:40p/5:36a 3:38p/5:52a 3:55p/5:48a 3:49p/6:20a 1/2 5:37 p.m. 8:46 a.m. —- —- 1/2 11:16 p.m. 10:56 a.m. —- —- 1/2 5:36 p.m. 7:56 a.m. —- —- 1/2 4:40p/6:40a 4:38p/6:56a 4:55p/6:51a 4:49p/7:24a 1/3 6:23 p.m. 9:32 a.m. —- 10:39 p.m. 1/3 —- 11:47 a.m. —- —- 1/3 6:22 p.m. 8:42 a.m. —- 9:49 p.m. 1/3 5:44p/7:36a 5:42p/7:52a 5:58p/7:48a 5:54p/8:19a 1/4 1:06 a.m. 10:17 a.m. 7:06 p.m. 10:41 p.m. 1/4 12:16 a.m. 12:34 p.m. —- —- 1/4 1:05 a.m. 9:27 a.m. 7:05 p.m. 9:51 p.m. 1/4 6:48p/8:24a 6:47p/8:39a 7:02p/8:36a 7:00p/9:05a 1/5 1:55 a.m. 10:59 a.m. 7:42 p.m. 11:11 p.m. 1/5 1:15 a.m. 1:18 p.m. —- —- 1/5 1:54 a.m. 10:09 a.m. 7:41 p.m. 10:21 p.m. 1/5 7:50p/9:04a 7:51p/9:17a 8:03p/9:16a 8:05p/9:42a 1/6 2:36 a.m. 11:37 a.m. 8:09 p.m. —- 1/6 2:08 a.m. 1:58 p.m. —- —- 1/6 2:35 a.m. 10:47 a.m. 8:08 p.m. 11:35 p.m. 1/6 8:48p/9:38a 8:51p/9:50a 9:02p/9:50a 9:07p/10:13a 1/7 3:15 a.m. 12:25 a.m. 8:28 p.m. 12:12 p.m. 1/7 2:49 a.m. 2:33 p.m. —- —- 1/7 3:14 a.m. 11:22 a.m. 8:27 p.m. —- 1/7 9:44p/10:08a 9:49p/10:18a 9:57p/10:20a 10:06p/10:39a 1/8 8:42 p.m. 12:43 p.m. —- —- 1/8 3:02 a.m. 3:01 p.m. —- —- 1/8 8:41 p.m. 11:53 a.m. —- —- 1/8 1:20p/2:11a 1:22p/2:23a 1:34p/2:24a 1:37p/2:46a 1/9 7:19 a.m. 3:50 a.m. 8:52 p.m. 1:12 p.m. 1/9 12:49 a.m. 3:14 p.m. 11:01 p.m. —- 1/9 7:18 a.m. 3:00 a.m. 8:51 p.m. 12:22 p.m. 1/9 11:31p/11:00a 11:39p/11:07a 11:43p/11:13a 11:59p/11:26a OUTDOOR PUZZLER WILD IN THE KITCHEN For crossword puzzle solution, see Page 22 Venison Stuffed onion, garlic, salt, pepper, rice, ACROSS Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 cup Green Peppers of mozzarella cheese. Add 1/2 1. Act of carrying canoe, gear overland can of sloppy joe sauce and 1/2 5. A male pheasant 4 or 5 green peppers can of diced tomatoes to venison 7. The king is one species of this 1/2 to 3/4 pound of ground veni- and mix. Fill the green peppers 8. A wood used for arrow shafts son with the mixture and place 9. Part of a gun frame below 1 medium onion green peppers in the crockpot. the barrel 1 tablespoon minced garlic Mix together the remaining 10. A gauge invaluable to 1/2 teaspoon salt sloppy joe sauce, diced tomatoes the anglers 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and mushrooms and pour over 12. A lure 1/2 cup rice the peppers in the crockpot. 14. A food source of the deer 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce Cook the peppers on low for 6 to 17. Hunter’s name for the predator 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 18. A school of fish 19. Term for a small trout 1 can sloppy joe sauce (26.5 oz) hours. Once the peppers are 21. A finger protection, 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz) ready to serve, drizzle with the shooting ___ 1 can mushrooms (4 oz) remainder of the mozzarella 22. Shells and arrows cheese. 23. A wingshooter’s quarry Cut the top off of the green pep- — Recipe from the Ohio 25. A popular commercial fish pers and clean out the seeds Department of Natural Resources, 26. Act of game having young inside, set aside. Mix venison, www.dnr. ohio. gov. 28. BB gun or ____ rifle 31. A good trap bait 33. A young quail 35. The bighorn 36. Clay pigeon ejector station 38. Wildlife’s daily routine movements 39. The tip of a bullet 41. Name for a family of sunfish 11. A large fighting sport fish 31. A type of gun sight 43. A bowhunter’s quarry in Florida 12. A gun part, _____ plate 46. Strings a bow 32. Grouse species, blue, spruce, 13. A good bear bait 47. Large member of the deer family and _____ 48. A type camp fireplace 14. A species of moose 34. Name for a Wyoming salmon 15. Perch are classified as this species 16. A fish steering appendage DOWN 35. Name of an icefishing lure 20. A turkey night-time haven 37. Large appendage on the muley 24. An excellent walleye bait 1. A valuable part of some game 40. A deer species, _____horn 2. The snare 27. A breed of setter 3. Loners are ____ gobblers 29. Type fishing requires use of an 41. Deer marks on tree trunks 4. Name for the wolf predator auger 42. To pull the bowstring 6. Common name for the brook 30. This controls spread of shot 44. The point of an arrow trout pellets 45. Best lure color to attract fish December 22, 2006 Page 21

January 11-14, 2007 • Dallas Market Hall Page 22 December 22, 2006

CUSTOMIZING BAITS: Anglers often customize regular summer baits in the winter to pull a speckled trout from the bottoms.

1/4-ounce head and fish right on the little hops,” Dillman said. “Don’t use bottom.” a drastic rod twitch, just a little one. Specks “A lot of people think you have to And, be sure to work the bait very use a heavy head to fish slow and slowly. In fact, sometimes I’ll switch Continued from Page 8 deep,” Dillman said. “But, it’s actual- to a slower (5:1) retrieve reel to make shrimp swim to the bottom. But, if ly easier to fish slow with a lighter sure I’m going slow enough.” the current is really strong, I’ll add a head. The only difference would be “I don’t think color matters a split shot or a light egg sinker and rig if the current is strong or if there is a whole lot,” Dillman said. “But, typi- it like a Carolina rig.” high wind — drifting in a high wind cally in winter, our water is very Although many Texas anglers makes it hard to keep up with a bait. clear, so we fish the mud streaks that stick to shrimp during winter, So, in those situations, I’ll switch to develop in the clear water. Darker Galveston guide Capt. David a 1/4-ounce head.” colors seem to work a little better in Dillman said he’ll be tossing soft- While some action is necessary to the muddy water.” plastics. draw strikes, anglers shouldn’t over- “Just remember, everything slows “I like throwing Bass Assassins, do it, Dillman said. down in winter. But, the fish will TROUT TASK: Ron Henry Strait shows a trout caught near Corpus Christi. Trout head Texas Trout Killers — baits like that,” “I like to work the bait right along feed. You just need to be there when to the bottoms as the winter temperatures set in. Dillman said. “I use either an 1/8- or the bottom and just bounce it with they do.”

of Port Mansfield, when you get a drip of menhaden oil to entice minutes,” Shuler said. “This Eccleston, who is based out of Port Tuna “weather window,” that 40-mile tuna to feed. brings them to the surface and Aransas and regularly chases tuna run can be very rewarding. “I’ll chum heavy for the first 15 allows sight-casting opportuni- during summer and fall, when the Continued from Page 8 “Right now we have blackfin minutes, usually while trolling ties.” fish move closer to shore. “But the fish’s proximity to dry land around 20 miles out and yellowfin slowly up current,” Shuler said. Employing these methods, most of them are about 130 miles changes throughout the seasons. at 40,” said Shuler, who regularly “Once I see bonito busting in the Shuler’s clients have set two IGFA out, mostly around the floating oil “The fish are closest during tames tuna with fly rods in addi- wake or chum slick, I’ll drop fly rod tuna records this year. rigs. It’s about a 36- to 48-hour summer and fall,” Ray said. “At tion to conventional tackle. anchor or wind sock, depending Along the middle coast, Capt. trip. The guys on the big head- that time, we will have blackfins “Once we get out there, we find on the depth. Then I stop chum- Paul Eccleston said while he rarely boats, like the Pelican, routinely and a few yellowfins 12 to 15 miles structure and start chumming. I ming for about 15 minutes to let makes an offshore run during the get limits of 60-100 pound yel- out. There are still plenty of fish in like using Doctor Chumley’s them get close to the boat.” heart of winter, plenty of the areas lowfins on those trips. the winter and spring, but you Saltwater Chum.” “Once they are within 20 feet of large headboats do quite well on “The Pelican leaves every five have to run a little farther — Shuler said he’ll also use shrimp the boat, I start chunking small overnight trips. days and stays out for two days at a around 40 miles — to get them.” boat bycatch when he can get it bits of chum — maybe four or five “There’s plenty of tuna out time. It’s a long trip, but you can But, said Capt. Brandon Shuler fresh and sometimes adds a slow pieces at a time every three or four there this time of year,” said catch a lot of big tuna.”

warmest water. Check the electronics for deep ROSSWORD Finders water with vertical break areas, places C where the channel swings to create Continued from Page 8 depth. THE PUZZLE show up as dark clouds on the elec- To catch more fish using your elec- tronics. tronics, it’s important to disregard OFFICIAL SOLUTION If the depth of the water is 25 feet this “fish finder” misnomer and not TRUCK and the bait fish are at 15 feet, focus use it as a crutch. By using the “fish efforts in 15 feet of water where the finder” to locate areas where fish OF THE FROM feeding is taking place. should be, most often you won’t actu- This information is especially im- ally have to see the fish to catch it. PAGE 20 portant this time of year. In winter, Berkley Pro Staffer Mike Iaconelli is the bass are more lethargic and are most 2006 BASS Angler of the Year and the often found deep in the fishery’s 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion. OUTFITTERS

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Capt. Scott Hickman WANT TO PROFILE South Texas 3218 Coral Ridge Ct. League City, TX 77573 Deer and Turkey (281) 535-1930 Hunting Fax: (281) 535-1935 YOUR BUSINESS? 10,000 Acres www.circleh.org It’s easy to advertise on this page — just send us your business card, and let us know how many weeks you want your ad to run. Purchase 12 issues of advertising and your business will be profiled with a photo in this section. Outfitter Listings: $40 each issue. Please include either a check or credit card billing information with your order. Mail to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or call (214) 361-2276. December 22, 2006 Page 23 Page 24 December 22, 2006