FISHING

Texas rig is no * May 12, 2006 Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Volume 2, Issue 18 * stranger to coast

www.lonestaroutdoornews.com See Page 8

INSIDE HUNTING Rollin’ across Texas ShareLunker manager’s job is ‘keeping fish alive’

By Mark England night, at a marina at three in the morning and I picked up one at Alan Henry (Reservoir) at 5 a.m.,” Campbell said. “The David Campbell manages the Budweiser sooner we get a fish in our possession, the ShareLunker program. That means from Oct. better its chances of surviving.” 1 to April 30, he’s on call 24/7. On a The bass are taken to the Lunker Bunker, moment’s notice, he must be ready to drive part of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center anywhere in Texas — provided the caller is in Athens, for spawning purposes as well as holding a largemouth bass that weighs more research. Hunters should inspect their than 13 pounds. Producing a world-record largemouth bass ON THE ROAD AGAIN: David Campbell holds a replica of the treestand and fall-arrest gear in “I’ve met people at a boat ramp at mid- See LUNKERS, Page 10 bass he traveled 500 miles to the Canadian River to pick up. the off-season and before each hunt. The Treestand Manufacturers Association offers safety guidelines. AT SEASON’S END Stillhouse See Page 6

Volunteers from the Dallas Safari Club were on hand to help young hunters at the S.A.F.E.T.Y. Hollow Extravaganza. Josh Lakatos, a world championship shooter and Olympic medalist in the 1996 Atlanta games, was among the instructors. Best-kept See Page 7

FISHING Reports from across Texas secret in Texas? indicate it’s a good time for anglers to head to the lake By Craig Nyhus because Mr. Whiskers is biting. Channel cats are leading the way. Nestled on the fringe of the Texas Hill Country See Page 8 just five miles east of Belton sits Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, a 6,429- acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Supreme masters of camouflage, reservoir impounded in 1968, where big largemouth the elusive flounder bury their and spotted bass are mottled-brown bodies under soft thriving. bottom slop or grass. There are This scenic high- land lake offers clear, ways, however, to catch this deep water with a surprisingly aggressive fish. maximum depth of 107 feet. A trip to this See Page 9 unassuming, un- crowded lake is all the NATIONAL more appealing if you A 66-year-old Florida man was consider that it has attacked by a 10-foot alligator excellent fishing. while fly-fishing on Lake Istokpoga. Stillhouse presents a Also, in Boynton Beach, Fla., a different fishing pic- ture than many other diver hired to retrieve golf balls lakes. “The water is HOOKED ON HOLLOW: This 8-pound from a golf course lake was super clear, and there attacked by a 9-foot alligator. largemouth, caught on a Berkley is a lot of hydrilla,” Beast, is a “Stillhouse” trophy. said fishing guide and See Page 4 park ranger Kevin Cobb. To deal with this, most fish- ermen use braided line and a fluorocarbon leader. CONSERVATION “You might bring up 10 pounds of grass with a 2- Leading national conservation pound fish, so you need the strength.” officials gathered in support of The fishing at Stillhouse has been reported as the National Fish Habitat Action excellent. Cobb also fishes the weekly Wednesday night open tournaments. “Most winners have been Plan designed to protect, restore TOTIN’ A TOM: Derek Rambo crosses the Clear Fork of the Brazos River with a harvested bird. He was weighing in more than 20 pounds in a 3 1/2-hour and enhance fish habitat. hunting on the Krooked River Ranch. As another turkey season draws to a close, find out how the tournament,” he adds. hunting was on Page 8. See related photos “Calling all toms” on Page 19. Photo by David J. Sams. See STILLHOUSE, Page 11 See Page 5

PRSRT STD DEPARTMENTS Blaze orange product US POSTAGE Product Picks Page 13 PAID PLANO, TX Heroes Page 14 a gray area to deer PERMIT 210 Outdoor Puzzler Page 15 By Mark England has come to the rescue. Wild in the Kitchen Page 15 Covert Orange, manufactured by Carlile Design of Rolla, Mo., is a mix- Weather Page 15 Next season a product will hit the ture of safety orange and ultraviolet Game Warden Blotter Page 16 market that claims it can trick deer pigment designed by three research into turning a blind eye to hunters ophthalmologists. When applied to a Made in Texas Page 16 wearing blaze orange. hat and vest combo, it triggers differ- Outdoor Datebook Page 17 Deer, despite what some hunters ent reactions in humans and deer, said believe, are not color-blind, according Kevin Carlile. Fishing Report Page 18 to scientists. But never fear, capitalism See COLORS, Page 12 Page 2 * May 12, 2006

Page 4 * May 12, 2006 NATIONAL ’Gator Mexican wolves attacks bound for Gila The New Mexico Department of increase the likelihood the wolves will Game and Fish will assist in the remain in the area. The site was select- translocation of five federally endan- ed because the release was acceptable gered Mexican Wolves in the Gila with the owners of the closest private angler National Forest within the next three land, and the current grazing permit- months as part of the Department’s tee. The site also is a considerable dis- A 66-year-old Florida man was attacked by an alliga- continued participation in the tance from the San Carlos Reservation, tor while fly-fishing on Lake Istokpoga on April 24. Mexican Wolf Recovery Program. where the wolves were removed in The 10-foot gator grabbed him by the hip as he stood The Department’s recently hired 2005 because of boundary issues. in 41-inch deep water. wolf biologist, Saleen Richter, will In June, two female wolves and one Also, in Boynton Beach, Fla., a diver hired to retrieve assist with the releases and ensure they male wolf will be released in one of golf balls from a golf course lake was attacked by a 9- are conducted according to current four approved sites within the Gila foot alligator that bit his arm. restoration rules and with close inter- Wilderness. The females were captured Neither man sustained life-threatening injuries. action among the department, other in the Gila National Forest in 2005 as Warm weather and spring breeding seasons bring agencies, landowners and livestock pups when the Francisco Pack was about increased activity in alligators, and on May 1, operators in the release areas. removed from the area because of live- Texas Parks and Wildlife issued public safety tips. “We are aware of the need for cau- stock depredation issues. The male was “Springtime is when alligators are most active,” says tion in releasing wolves that have been captured outside its boundary in 2005 Monique Slaughter, a TPW biologist. “Courtship and captured elsewhere,” Richter said. “It is following a single depredation inci- mating begins in late spring, and continues through important that we work to release dent. The exact release site of the three early summer.” wolves that will adapt to their new sur- wolves will be determined after other In Texas, no fatalities have been documented due to roundings without conflict.” wolf packs have established dens to alligators, but 17 injuries have been reported in the Two wolves, a male and a pregnant maximize the distance between the past 15 years. TPW estimates there are about 286,000 female, will be released in the eastern translocated wolves and existing alligators in Chambers, Jefferson and Orange Photo by Bobby Sanchez side of the Blue Range Recovery Area in packs. Counties, but no statewide estimate exists. Alligators MEXICAN GREY WOLF late April, just prior to birthing to — A New Mexico Game and Fish report currently are found in 120 of the 254 counties in Texas. Alligator experts say the most important rule is to never feed an alligator or allow it to get food. In Judges sentence poacher to penitentiary October 2003 it became a Class C misdemeanor to intentionally feed a free ranging alligator. Baiting for For a nighttime poaching spree Nov. 26-27 ing, fishing and trapping privileges revoked for sheriff’s office was looking for a man who had legal hunting purposes is still allowed. As of near Boulder claiming four mule deer bucks, 20 years. trespassed into a Pinedale residence to sleep on September 2005, a special alligator hunting license is Michael Benjamin Acuna was assessed $17,000 During sentencing March 23, Sublette a couch. The Wyoming Highway Patrol later not required to hunt alligators in Texas, but all other in fines and restitution — plus sentenced to 2-3 County Circuit Judge John Crow said the fines located the suspect at a convenience store and requirements, including tag requirements, remain in years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary for and restitution would be waived if a $5,500 notified the Game and Fish Department of a effect. being a felon in possession of a firearm when donation to the Wyoming Wildlife Protector’s buck mule deer in the back of his truck. The sus- Other tips for persons near alligators include: committing the crimes. Association — administrator of the Stop pect, Michael Acuna, was booked into the •Keep pets on a leash or in a penned enclosure; Acuna, 37, was convicted of one count of the Poaching Program — was made before the Sublette County Jail for being a felon in posses- •Don’t get too close or swim in areas where alliga- “winter range statute” for taking an antlered defendant’s future parole was ended. sion of a firearm and the out-of-season deer. tors have been observed; deer out of season, two counts of wanton District Court Judge Norman Young sen- “The poaching occurred in the middle of a •Don’t harass or agitate alligators at any time; destruction of deer, one count of taking a deer tenced Acuna to the prison term for the felony large migration route used by thousands of deer •Remember that alligators are most active at dawn out of season and one count of using artificial charge on April 6. to get to their winter range from the highly cov- and dusk in the warmer months. light to take a deer. He was also sentenced to 2.5 Game wardens were first alerted to the Acuna eted Sublette Mule Deer herd,” said South — Compiled from Florida Fish and Wildlife and TPW years in the Sublette County Jail to run concur- case Nov. 27 while keeping the apartment of a Pinedale Game Warden Brian Nesvik. reports rently with his prison term and had his hunt- suspect in another case under surveillance. The — A Wyoming Fish and Game report In Brief New & Used Monster Missouri crappie treated for his injuries and trans- with Wildlife, an effort to boost state may be international record ferred to St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and federal funding for wildlife con- STORAGE CONTAINERS John Hortsman, 69, of Fulton, Mo., for further treatment. servation, outdoor recreation and landed a 5.02-pound black crappie After investigating the shooting, conservation education and prevent from a private pond in Callaway agents ruled it was accidental, but wildlife from becoming endangered. County on April 21. The Missouri cited the hunter for negligent injury Teaming with Wildlife is a nation- Conservation Department has certi- because he failed to identify his tar- al grass-roots organization that LARRY SINGLEY fied the fish as a state record. The fish get. A Remington 870 Express 12- includes wildlife managers, conser- is larger than the current all-tackle gauge shotgun was seized for evi- vationists, hunters, anglers and busi- 817-992-9122 record listed by the International dence. nesses. 866-992-9122 Game Fish Association. The current The national steering committee record has two fish tied at 4.5 pounds. Marathon Oil joins NWTF’s includes the American Fisheries TOLL FREE Hortsman’s fish was caught on a Energy for Wildlife program Society, American Zoo and Aquarium minnow. The fish has been donated The National Wild Turkey Association, Congressional Sports- to Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo.. Federation’s Energy for Wildlife pro- men’s Foundation, International gram recently reached another mile- Association of Fish and Wildlife Louisiana man, 25, shot stone that could help improve thou- Agencies, Izaak Walton League of OCEAN FREIGHT CONTAINERS, INC. ARLINGTON, TX in hunting accident sands of acres of wildlife habitat. America, National Audubon Society, Louisiana Department of Wildlife Marathon Oil Company, based in National Wild Turkey Federation, and Fisheries Enforcement Division Houston, Texas, became the first National Wildlife Federation, Nature agents cited a 24-year-old Colfax resi- petroleum company to join the fed- Conservancy, Theodore Roosevelt dent after he allegedly shot another eration’s membership-based certifi- Conservation Partnership, Wildlife hunter accidentally while turkey cation program for all energy com- Society, Wildlife Conservation hunting in Winn Parish on April 10. panies with the primary goal of Society and Wildlife Management Institute. While hunting on the Catahoula enhancing wildlife habitat on com- EDITORIAL OFFICES: pany managed, owned or influ- The group is calling for new and Wildlife Management Area, the 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 cited hunter mistook another 25- enced lands. These properties greater funding to support full imple- Phone: (214) 361-2276 Fax: (214) 368-0344 year-old Colfax resident for a gob- include power line and gas rights of mentation of recently completed bler. way, plant sites, forest lands or other State Wildlife Action Plans, which lay Publisher/Editor: CRAIG NYHUS He had been stalking a turkey that properties. As part of the program, out clear needs and actions for Contributing Editor: DARLENE MCCORMICK SANCHEZ crossed a woods road near the other Energy for Wildlife’s 26 members wildlife conservation in every state. Design Editor: DUDLEY GREEN hunter. The injured hunter said he manage more than 1.5 million acres Associate Editor: MARK ENGLAND Copy Editor: DAV I D RENFROW was unable to get a shot at the turkey of wildlife habitat. Sportsman Channel moves Founder & CEO: DAV I D J. SAMS and then saw the 24-year-old hunter Energy for Wildlife was created by into Laredo market come out onto the road about 35 the NWTF in response to the utility Time Warner Cable is now offering SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: yards away. industry’s need for assistance in The Sportsman Channel, to customers Order online via secure Web site at www.lonestaroutdoornews.com The victim waved his arm to managing the millions of acres of in Laredo and throughout the South or call toll-free (866) 361-2276 announce his presence and the rights of way and other land that Texas area. The Sportsman Channel ADVERTISING SERVICES: shooter raised his gun and shot. could potentially provide ideal habi- (TSC) is the first and only television The accused man and his hunting tat for a number of wildlife species. network dedicated exclusively to Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail [email protected] partner rendered aid by calling 911 hunting and fishing programming 24 to request a media kit. Texas groups join Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. and transporting him out of the hours a day, seven days a week. The A subscription is $25 for 24 issues. Copyright 2006 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of woods. Once on the highway, the Teaming With Wildlife channel is currently airing on Time any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Printed in Dallas, TX, by Midway Press. Subscribers may send address changes to: men flagged down Louisiana State Texas groups recently met with Warner Cable digital cable channel Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or e-mail them to Trooper Mike Gilliam, who trans- congressional and conservation lead- 315. [email protected]. ported the injured hunter to Winn ers here as part of a coalition of 3,000 TSC airs hunting and fishing pro- Parish Medical Center. He was organizations that make up Teaming gramming 24/7. May 12, 2006 * Page 5 CONSERVATION Officials launch landmark fish habitat action plan Leading national conservation offi- creatures for years to come,” said Lynn The National Fish Habitat Action cials recently gathered on the banks of Scarlett, acting secretary of the Plan is targeted toward fisheries pro- the Potomac River to announce a bold Department of the Interior. “Clean tection, restoration and enhancement new initiative designed to stop the water and healthy habitat are essen- in key watersheds and is based on a downward spiral in the populations of tial for people and wildlife. With consolidation of the best scientific many fish and other aquatic species. today’s announcement, we’ve rededi- expertise on fisheries and habitat The National Fish Habitat Action cated our national commitment to management. Plan, supported by hundreds of achieving both.” To date, the action plan has more diverse partners and stakeholders “We’re putting together American than 450 organizational supporters, across the country, provides strategies ingenuity, existing and emerging sci- from small local watershed groups to protect, restore and enhance fish ence and the determination of the and fishing clubs to international habitats in watersheds and waterways American people to pass along a pre- conservation organizations, federal across the country. cious legacy to the next generation: agencies, angling industries and aca- “This is a historic day for the organ- viable fish habitats,” said Carlos demia. izations dedicated to making sure we Gutierrez, secretary of the — A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services have healthy fish and other aquatic Department of Commerce. report Redhead Tree seedlings take root for duck on wildlife Each year, conservation-minded new stamp ‘Morning Swim’ Americans celebrate National Arbor The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Stamp, which the Fish and Wildlife Day by joining forces on the last has announced a redhead duck will Service makes available for $5 to Friday in April to plant an estimated be featured on the 2006-2007 Junior stamp collectors, conservationists 18 million tree seedlings. Duck Stamp. The design for the new and the general public will be However, to improve wildlife habi- stamp, painted by 15 year-old released on June 1. Proceeds from tat and the environment, tree-plant- ing efforts must span much further Rebekah Nastav of Amoret, Mo., was Junior Duck Stamp sales are used to than Arbor Day celebrations. During chosen by judges on April 20 at the support environmental education the last two months, more than Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design efforts and awards for contest win- 1,000 private landowners and land Contest held in Washington, D.C. ners. managers have worked through the The acrylic painting, entitled A conservation message contest National Wild Turkey Federation’s “Morning Swim,” which previously was also held. Chris Thiessen of regional habitat programs to plant won the Missouri State Junior Duck Kentucky won first prize with the nearly 225,000 tree seedlings. Stamp Contest, was judged the top message, “When conservation Each year, the NWTF distributes painting among the Best-of-State becomes a way of life, it benefits all seedlings to volunteers, who in turn entries from all 50 states, the District life.” plant the trees to improve wildlife of Columbia and American Samoa. — A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services habitat. The 2006-2007 Federal Junior Duck report — A NWTF release Page 6 * May 12, 2006 HUNTING Drought conditions dry up turkey season The toms ‘just weren’t talking’

By BILL MILLER conditions. the dry weather guiding “The Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau down south seemed to hunters in several South areas seemed to have the most favorable keep things totally out Texas counties. With only a few days left in the 2006 conditions, while South Texas is still in a of whack. “If I had to rate it on a spring turkey season, state wildlife officials drought, which kind of delays the nesting “Hens and gobblers might scale of one to five, I’d have were predicting a fair harvest, even though season.’’ not even mate if they have to to give it a one and a half,’’ drought conditions were especially unkind Hunters and guides reported inconsistent spend all their time on maintenance; he said.” All the hens were to hunters in south Texas. gobbler behavior right from the start. The i.e., finding food,’’ DeMaso said. “It just staying together and not even Steve DeMaso, upland game program season opened in the Panhandle and Hill messes up the whole system.’’ getting on a nest. leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said har- Country simultaneous with the breeding Professional guide James Prince of Port “Of course there’s really no vest figures wouldn’t be available until June. season, which wildlife officials try to avoid. O’Connor agreed. Prince, who sits on the grass to make a nest.’’ But, he noted, “I think we had a pretty At first, many toms preferred communing game bird advisory council for TPW, said he Although there are an estimated 600,000 decent season, considering the weather with hens over heeding hunters’ calls. But was especially challenged this year while See TURKEYS, Page 7

TREESTAND SAFETY GUIDELINES TMA has prepared its Treestand Safety Guidelines, which include Hunters the following: • Wear a fall-arrest system (FAS)/full body harness meeting TMA standards even during ascent and descent. Be aware that single- strap belts and chest harnesses are no longer the preferred fall- arrest devices and should not be used. Failure to use a FAS could in high result in serious injury or death. • Read and understand the manufacturer’s warnings and instructions before using the treestand each season. Practice with the treestand at ground level prior to using at elevated positions. Use all places safety devices provided with your treestand. Never exceed the weight Off-season is time limit specified by the manufacturer. to inspect gear • Inspect the treestand and the In spring and summer, most Texas fall-arrest system for hunters keep their treestands in a signs of wear or garage, in the back yard, or, for damage before each some, they may even still be in the use. Contact the tree from this past season. manufacturer for Then, as the fall season approach- replacement parts. es, some just pick up their treestands Destroy all products and go hunting. Dozens of times that cannot be each fall, a repaired by the manufacturer. The simple mis- FAS should be ‘Hunters step or an discarded and improperly replaced after a fall should installed or has occurred. failed piece of • Practice in full- inspect their equipment body harness in the results in, at presence of an adult, treestand best, a ruined learning what it feels hunting trip, like to hang before the and, at worst, suspended at ground beginning serious injury level. or death. • Attach the harness in the manner and The off-sea- CHECK IT OUT: Lawrence Taylor puts on his fall- of each method described by arrest body harness before climbing into his son is a good the manufacturer. season, as time to Failure to do so may treestand in West Texas. inspect your result in suspension without the ability to recover into your well as treestands. treestand. Prolonged suspension may be fatal. Have in place a “Hunters plan for rescue. If you do not have the ability to recover or before each should inspect escape, hunt from the ground. hunt.’ their treestand • Hunt with a plan and if possible a buddy. Before you leave before the home, let others know your exact hunting location, when you plan beginning of to return and who is with you. — LAW R E N C E each season, • Carry emergency signal devices such as a cell phone, walkie- TAY L O R as well as talkie, whistle, signal flare, personal locator device and flashlight before each on your person at all times and within reach, even if suspended. Watch for changing weather conditions. In the event of an hunt,” said Lawrence Taylor of accident, remain calm and seek help immediately. Pradco Outdoor Brands. “Hunters • Select the proper tree for use with your treestand. Select a live should check the webbing, tighten straight tree that fits with the size limits of your treestand. Do not all bolts, and check for durability. If climb or place a treestand against a leaning tree. Never leave a they see any problems or cracks, treestand installed for more than two weeks since damage could they absolutely should not use that occur from changing weather conditions or other factors. stand.” • Use a haul line to pull up your gear and unloaded firearm or The Treestand Manufacturers bow to your treestand once you have reached your desired hunting Association (TMA), a non-profit height. Never climb with anything in your hands or on your back. organization made up of manufac- Prior to descending, lower your equipment on the opposite side of turers, retailers and other profes- the tree. sional organizations, devotes its • Know your physical limitations. Don’t take chances. If you start thinking about how high you are, don’t go any higher. resources to treestand safety. • Never use homemade or permanently elevated stands or make TMA promotes the mandatory modifications to a purchased treestand. use of fall arrest systems/full body A GRIP ON SAFETY: Hunters in treestands should always use safety equipment. The No. 1 • Never hurry! While climbing with a treestand, make slow, even harness devices. Through educa- cause of treestand accidents is falling asleep. Photos by David J. Sams. movements of no more than 10 to 12 inches at a time. Make tion in the proper use of treestands, sure you have proper contact with the tree and/or treestand every the development of treestand man- injuries. titled, “Safe Treestand Hunting,” time you move. On ladder-type treestands, maintain three points ufacturing standards and quality TMA has issued Treestand Safety which is used by many state wildlife of contact with each step. control, and promotion of proper Tips, and also has jointly produced departments and hunter safety For a detailed list of products that meet or exceed TMA equipment, TMA hopes to mini- with the National Bowhunting instructors. standards, contact the TMA office at 601/584-7983 or visit the mize treestand accidents and Education Foundation a video A Lone Star Outdoor News staff report TMA Web site at www.tmastands.com. May 12, 2006 * Page 7

S.A.F.E.T.Y. for youth More than 100 middle schoolers along with their do it every year. I love helping the kids.” Lakatos parents learned to shoot hunting weapons at the helped with the positioning and aiming of the shot- S.A.F.E.T.Y. Extravaganza held at the Greystone Castle guns, as many of the participants were shooting a gun Sporting Club in Mingus on May 6. for the first time. One boy was so nervous that he was On hand to provide assistance and instruction were shaking after shooting a 20-gauge and did not want to 150 volunteers from the Dallas Safari Club, which has shoot again. Kakatos took him aside and calmly spoke sponsored the event for the past 17 years. with the youngster. In two minutes, he had him S.A.F.E.T.Y. stands for Shooting Archery Field shooting again. The boy walked away with great con- Excellency Trials for Youth. Each participant was given fidence and the knowledge that he could shoot a shot- instruction in the safe and responsible handling of .22- gun. caliber rifles and revolvers, shotguns, muzzleloaders Many of the parents were proudly “outshot” by and archery equipment. They then had an opportuni- their children. ty to shoot each of them with the help of a certified As a requirement for participation, each student instructor. In addition, they were exposed to a field must successfully complete the state-certified hunter exercise trail where they applied the knowledge and safety course taught in their school’s “Outdoor Trails” outdoor ethics taught in the hunter safety program. education course. Outdoor Trails is an elective course Josh Lakatos, a world championship shooter and taught in participating public schools and introduces Olympic medalist in the 1996 Atlanta games, was more than 1,500 secondary school kids to the out- Josh Lakatos, at top, a world championship Olympic shooter, assists a student with helping out with the clay target shooting. “ I drove all doors. positioning a shotgun. Students also sharpened their archery skills. Photos by David the way from California for this,” Lakatos said. “I will A Lone Star Outdoor News staff report J. Sams. TWA sets seminar on overabundant white-tailed deer On May 18 at Texas State tailed deer are a valuable resource and safety concerns. Some Texas deer issues. Issues covered will and the Lower Colorado River University in San Marcos, the Texas providing enjoyment for thousands communities are confronting these include the impact of overabun- Authority. The seminar begins at Wildlife Association will host a across Texas, they are very adaptive issues and others soon will be. dant deer populations, current 7:45 a.m. and registration is $50. seminar titled: Overabundant to life near people. However, when This seminar will allow attendees management tools, what’s worked For further information, call 800- White-Tailed Deer in Texas: deer numbers escalate and they to learn about the experiences of and overabundant deer planning. TEX-WILD or visit www.texas- Impacts on People, Communities, become overabundant, deer can communities as well as hear from Other sponsors include The wildlife.org. and the Land. threaten wildlife and plant diversity nationally recognized experts cur- Nature Conservancy, Texas Parks TWA reports that while white- as well as cause economic, health rently working with overabundant and Wildlife, Texas State University — A Texas Wildlife Association report

Recent rains in West Texas and Some hunters improved their of Palestine in East Texas. Had he to do it over again, North Texas offer glimmers of chances by getting out more The 30 mph winds gusts kept Hodge would have picked a more Turkeys hope for everyone concerned often. Larry Hodge, spokesman for gobblers from hearing his calls central spot. about wildlife in those regions. the Texas Freshwater Fisheries during the West Texas hunt. On “I would have loved to have Continued from Page 6 Folks in South Texas, however, Center in Athens, wished he the other side of the state, heat been able to get out to the Hill to 1 million Rio Grande turkeys in haven’t seen any of that yet. could’ve done that. was the problem. Country,’’ he said, “but we hunt Texas, biologists have feared that Nevertheless, Prince, who shot He got out got out only twice: “It was 100 degrees, and it seems where we can and we take our dry conditions might throttle veg- two birds this season, urged once on his West Texas lease near like it just shut them down,’’ chances.’’ etation needed for turkey nests, hunters to get out and test their Comstock, and the other time on Hodge said of his East Texas hunt. and also their preferred food — skills, no matter how wet or dry the Gus Engeling Wildlife “We knew they were there; they Bill Miller is a Fort Worth-based insects. the conditions. Management Area, 21 miles north just weren’t talking.’’ freelancer. Page 8 * May 12, 2006 FISHING Texas rig is no stranger to coast Worm’s weedless ways lure trout, redfish too

By Danno Wise saltwater, they also point to the same source as being responsible for intro- ducing them into South Texas’ saltwa- The Texas-rigged worm has been a ter environment — Capt. Freddie Petty favorite of bass fishermen since practi- of Laguna Vista. cally the day Nick Creme invented the “rubber” worm in 1949. “We originally started fishing them Few folks realize it’s been in use back in the ’70s because we were fishing along the Texas coast for nearly as long. such shallow water with lots of grass,” And, although its use is far from preva- recalled Petty, who still operates a high- lent among coastal pluggers, it remains ly successful guide service on the Lower a productive way to take speckled trout Laguna Madre along with his wife, and redfish in Texas bays. Capt. Janie Petty. “At that time, there “Late spring and early summer is an really weren’t any weedless saltwater ideal time to throw a Texas-rigged baits, so we began using worms. Of worm,” said longtime South Texas guide Capt. Chuck Scates. “Especially course, we couldn’t hardly find those or when you get a low tide and the grass is anything else way down here back all ‘layed over’ (the top of the water). then, so I started making ’em myself. Since it is so weedless, it is sometimes “I’ve experimented with all kinds of the only thing you can fish through colors back then, but most of the time, that grass without getting fouled.” I’d use purple or some other dark color,” Besides their weedless qualities, the added Petty. worms actually do imitate a natural Ellis agrees with Petty’s color choice, forage item for marine fish, says Port adding that, although he typically Isabel-based guide Capt. Steve “JR” Ellis. throws purple or red, he will some- “I think it looks like a sand eel,” said times go with a bright color, such as Ellis. “And it is awful effective when chartreuse. Among today’s models of those fish are up on the sand or in worms, Scates says his favorite is the sandy potholes rooting out eels and Culprit swirl-tail worm, while Ellis opts those little marine worms. It is one of for a Stanley Wedge Tail worm. the best baits you can use when big “The other great thing about this rig trout are lazing in potholes in kind of a is its versatility,” Ellis stated. “By vary- lethargic state. In that situation, you ing your choice of worm colors and the just lay the worm right in the pothole size of your weight, you can rig a worm with ’em and irritate them into striking — just like you would with bedding to fish in practically any shallow water bass. situation.” DUAL DUTY: A speckled trout often falls victim to a Texas-rigged worm in late spring and early summer. The rig, popular Not only do both guides agree on the Danno Wise is an outdoor writer and fish- among freshwater anglers, is not a stranger this time of year in the coastal saltwaters. effectiveness of Texas-rigged worms in ing guide who lives in Port Isabel. The catfish are jumping 0n Texas lakes It’s a good time for Texas anglers to head to Omar Cotter, who guides primarily on the lake in search of Mr. Whiskers. Grapevine, Lewisville, Lake Tawakoni and Reports from across the state indicate cat- Richland Chambers, agrees the catfish are fishing remains good to excellent on many biting. Texas lakes, with channel cats leading the “It’s going to be great real soon,” Cotter way. Fishermen are still awaiting the spawn in most of the state. said. “I like to bait out holes with maize, go Near Austin, at Canyon Lake, Sylvan fish for sand bass for a few hours, and come DeJardo reports channel cats are good to back with fresh cut shad and catch cats.” excellent in 15-25 feet of water. “Fishermen He reports success with both channel cats are having the best luck with Lewis King and blues, but says the flatheads will pick up Punch Bait or live hybrid bluegills,” he said. soon. “You need live shad for the flatheads, On Choke Canyon, the best bet seems to because they won’t take anything dead,” he be either bluegill or goldfish also in 15-25 feet. said. “To catch your shad, you’ll have to go to In North Texas, Chad Ferguson, who shallow water well before daylight.” guides on Lake Grapevine, Lewisville Lake North of Houston at Lake Conroe, Darrell and Lake Ray Roberts, reports channel cats Taylor reports good results on channel cats are biting good good in 2-3 feet of water on and blues at depths of 19 1/2 to 20 1/2 feet, prepared baits and stinkbaits. using his creation, Catfish Killer Cheese dip. “I expect the spawn to begin in the next Taylor expects the spawn at the end of two weeks,” Ferguson said. “The fish will May. “We don’t fish too much for big fish, then move to the rip-rap and timber.” MR. WHISKERS: While anglers await the spawn, reports indicate catfish are biting well. He also reports good results for blue cats in but we have been catching blues weighing 5- 4-10 feet, using fresh shad under slip corks. 50-60 fish per day, but not like last month Ferguson expects fishing for flathead to 6 pounds,” he said. “It’s been down a little, we’re still catching when we were catching over 100 per day.” pick up “in another month or so.” A Lone Star Outdoor News staff report TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING HALL OF FAME Hart, Bradley to join ranks of elite Two men have been selected as how-to-fish presentations across Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center the 2006 inductees into the Texas the nation. in Athens. Included in those funds Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, Richard M. “Dick” Hart of Dallas was a $650,000 matching gift from and their background and achieve- has spent much of the last several Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny ments make them perfect comple- years raising funds to help preserve Morris. Construction is due to start ments to each other. the tradition of fishing so ably this year. Albert S. “Buddy” Bradley of developed and promoted by Hart and Bradley will be induct- Dallas has devoted much of his life Bradley and others. His crowning ed into the Texas Freshwater to the study of largemouth bass achievement was a successful effort Fishing Hall of Fame in Athens at a and how to fish for them, helping to secure private funding for a $2 banquet on June 3. RICHARD M. “DICK” HART to popularize bass fishing by giving million structure to be built at the — A Texas Parks and Wildlife report ALBERT S. “BUDDY” BRADLEY May 12, 2006 * Page 9 Anglers ‘flip’ for flatfish A flounder’s forte is hide-and-watch By John N. Felsher Flounders don’t run; they hide. slowly released the remaining line. Supreme masters of camouflage, elusive With this method, the Texas-rigged soft flatfish bury their mottled-brown bod- plastics dropped vertically into cover. Most saltwater anglers probably catch ies under soft bottom slop or grass. “Flounder bite for two reasons — flounders more by accident than inten- With only their eyes protruding above intrusion of domain or hunger,” James tion, but people who know how to work the muck, they watch and wait for food said. “Unlike specks or reds, they won’t the weeds might “flip” for flatfish. to pass foolishly close. In an instant, go chasing baits. Anglers need to get Long ago, bass anglers in coastal areas they dart from their silty coating to close to the bank and put the baits right discovered that flounders love to slurp devour baitfish or passing shrimp with on top of the flounders. Put a bait in the worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits astonishing speed for such oddly- bite window and it will hit.” and even topwater baits. Any lures that shaped fish. When not feeding aggressively, a resemble natural food, such as baby Since flounders rely heavily upon flounder might strike something that croakers, shad, menhaden or shrimp, camouflage to protect themselves from almost lands on it, but it might not might work on these surprisingly predators and ambush prey, anglers can reveal its hiding spot to attack a morsel aggressive fish. get close to them. Believing themselves several feet away. Therefore, anglers During one trip to Sabine Lake along well hidden, they might not spook even need pinpoint accuracy to work an area the Louisiana-Texas line, Capt. Skip if a boat passes overhead. Therefore, he thoroughly. With the hook inserted James, a guide from Orange, Howard positioned the boat close to the shore- into the plastic, the worm easily slips Hammonds “flipped” for flounder. line and dropped Texas-rigged worms easily through cover. Jig the bait up and With the tide high and water milky, flat- into every pocket between the reeds. down a couple times before moving to fish closely hugged the reeds. Like fish- Using long rods almost like cane the next pocket. Usually, a fish either ing thick brush for bass, he probed poles, he stripped a few feet of line from bites instantly or not at all. pockets along the shoreline to yank our reels and held the line in one hand. Wacky worms also provoke flounder flounders from their reedy lairs at close Then, he and the fishing party swung strikes. To rig a wacky worm, run a hook THE ELUSIVE ONE: To catch a flounder, it’s best to get close. range. their rods toward likely hiding spots and See FLOUNDER, Page 12 Tournaments Texas Tournament Trail Bass Champs Tournament Trail Central Region FLW Redfish Series Western Division Pro Tim Harp, of Pottsboro, caught a two-day total of On a tough day with thunderstorms leading up to launch Jonathon and Kris Culpepper, of Houston, caught a six-redfish 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 8 ounces to win the Texas time, and windy conditions throughout the day, 149 teams total weighing 41 pounds, 12 ounces to win the FLW Redfish Tournament Trail event on Lake Texoma. attempted to land first prize in the Central Region’s third Series Western Division event in Port Aransas . A field of 200 pros and 200 co-anglers competed in the event of the season at Lake Travis. The Culpeppers fished depth transitions on shallow flats event, which featured a $220,500 purse. A total of 408 fish were caught with an average weight of about 75 miles north of Port Aransas. With rainy and windy weather making an uncomfort- 1.82 pounds. James Scogin and Roland Loera had a huge day, Fishing 4-inch Berkley Gulp! Shrimp in pearl-white color on able two days of fishing, the fishermen prevailed and still winning both the event and the big bass competition. Their 3/8-ounce jigheads, the winners caught approximately 40 red- caught healthy limits of fish. five-fish total was 17.84 pounds, and the big bass topped the fish Saturday. “We had 13 pounds within the first half hour,” Harp caught his bass on a 3/4-ounce Nichols spinner- scales at 7.88 pounds. Culpepper said. “We kept waiting for that big bite, but they were bait around boat docks. Second place went to Kelly Mauldin and Tom Cantwell all cookie-cutter 6-pounders. We kept culling them and upgrad- Rounding out the top five pros are Spencer McAlester with 14.70 pounds, and Jack Waldrop Sr. and his son Michael ing ounces at a time.” of Denison (10 bass, 24 pounds, 4 ounces); Chuck Waldrop finished third with a total weight of 12.28 pounds. Rounding out the top five teams were Cory Walker, Stafford, Lawless of Park Hill, Okla. (10 bass, 23 pounds, 3 ounces); The Central Tour will finish its schedule with its final regu- and Jason White, Austin; Danny Coppin, Belton, and Grant Charles Reagan of Marquez (10 bass, 22 pounds, 3 lar season event on June 17 at Lake Buchanan, with the Coppin, Corpus Christi; Tommy Ramzinsky, Fulton, and Todd ounces); and Chad Griffin of Cresson (nine bass, 22 Central Tour Championship to follow on June 18, also on Adams, Rockport; and Jay Watkins and Jay Watkins Jr., both of pounds, 2 ounces). Lake Buchanan. Rockport. Page 10 * May 12, 2006

READY TO ROLL: David Campbell has traveled as much as 10,000 miles in two months when the call came an angler had landed a bass weighing more than 13 pounds. Photo by David J. Sams.

“He got there about 11 at night. He was happy conditions are sometimes not ideal. Campbell shoulder to make sure the fish wasn’t coming as could be. We talked for awhile, then he has picked up bass in live wells, on stringers out of the box it was in. We realized there was Lunkers turned around and drove all the way back. I and in ice chests hooked to aerators. something special in there. I also realized I Continued from Page 1 couldn’t believe it. He must really love what he One handy angler, though, stands out in wouldn’t want the responsibility for keeping a does.” Campbell’s mind. man’s trophy bass alive.” is the ultimate goal. Catnaps and Budweiser’s specially rigged “He was standing in knee-deep water, hold- Forshage actually ended up monitoring the While Campbell’s unpredictable schedule truck — which has two 50-gallon compart- ing the fish in his hands,” Campbell said. “He fish over Thanksgiving, as Campbell had holi- seven months out of the year may have some ments complete with temperature probes and hadn’t even weighed it. He thought it was big day plans. Maybe that explains his appreciation people questioning who’s really the lunkhead, aerators — make the job easier, Campbell said. enough, and it was. A lot of people see a 10- for Campbell’s work. Campbell isn’t one of them. “I can monitor the fish while going down pound bass and think it’s 13 pounds. I’m not “I’m glad he carries the pager,” Forshage said. “I tell people I have the best job in the the road,” he said, “rather than stopping every good at estimating weight either. Some people “It’s kind of a way of life for him. He’s depend- inland fisheries program,” he said. “I meet the hour to check the fish. That way, I can make a are.” able and very knowledgeable. His expertise is constituents I work for. And I’ve never met little better time.” Campbell’s first ShareLunker trip was just keeping fish alive, I’d say. And he still has the anyone who was mad after having caught a 13- Technology and experience have improved before Thanksgiving in 1986. same fire today that he had when the program pound bass. It’s very encouraging to me to the survival rate of the largemouth bass. This Allen Forshage, now director of the Texas started.” meet people who really support the program.” year, only five of 32 lunkers perished before Freshwater Fisheries Center, and Steve Knight, In case you were wondering, Campbell is Jason Baird met Campbell in February. reaching Athens. Most were in bad shape outdoors editor for the Tyler Morning Telegraph, married. Baird, the parks and recreation director in when he picked them up, Campbell said. accompanied him. His wife, Micki, is the office manager at the Herington, Kan., caught the ShareLunker pro- “I tell people they‘ve got to realize is that Knight remembers the bass, which weighed Athens hatchery and long ago made peace gram’s 400th bass, a 13.1-pounder taken from these are wild animals, and sometimes they 17.67 pounds, a state record at the time, was with the craziness of lunker season. Lake Amistad. don’t adapt to a controlled environment,” he being held in a minnow tank at Lake Fork. “It’s just part of his job,” she said. “I do cele- Baird admits to being surprised at said. “We laughed and joked the whole way brate, though, on May 1.” Campbell’s demeanor. Although the ShareLunker Web site details there,” Knight said. “On the way back, though, —Mark England is associate editor of Lone Star “I caught the fish around noon,” Baird said. how to handle a trophy bass, the reality is that it was deathly silent. We kept looking over our Outdoor News. SHARELUNKER HEROES — 2006

JON BABICH - LEWISVILLE LAKE FRANK BROWN LAKE CONROE TOM SUTHERLAND - LAKE AMISTAD JIM LEE - PRIVATE LAKE HARRY DURHAM - LAKE CONROE BILLY PFEIL - LAKE FORK 13.63 - FIN-S-SHAD 14.22 - MINNOW 15.68 - NORMAN DD-22 13.07 - ZOOM FLUKE 14.8 - CRANKBAIT 15.5 - 5-INCH SENKO

KURT WADE MELVILLE - MILL CREEK STEVEN HOOVER LAKE FORK JASON BAIRD - LAKE AMISTAD DAVID UTZ - LAKE RATCLIFF DAVID UTZ - LAKE RATCLIFF MARK SMITH - LAKE FORK 13.1 - YUM ZELLAMANDER 14.14 - FLUKE 13.1- SMALLIE BEAVER 13.65 - JIG AND PIG 13.03 - JIG AND PIG 14.09

RODNEY HILL - ALAN HENRY TREY MCCOLLOM - SAN AUGUSTINE CITY LAKE TANYA SORTER - TOLEDO BEND MIKE TRULOVE - ALAN HENRY TIM TRULOVE - ALAN HENRY CURTIS NORROD - ALAN HENRY 13.22 - BLUE FLAKE WORM 13.13 - BEETLE SPIN 14.25 - RATTLIN RAPALA 14.24 - TIKI-STICK 14.26 - RUBBER BLUEGILL 13.21 -JUNEBUG JIG

JOHNNY WORLEY - PURTIS CREEK STATE PARK 13.31 - WATERDOG EDWARD REID - LAKE CONROE BILLY GREESON - ALAN HENRY FRANCISCO VALLEJOS - ALAN HENRY DUSTIN GILLIAM - ALAN HENRY GREG HOLLERS - ALAN HENRY 14.48 - GREEN LIZARD 15.0 - BLACK AND BLUE JIG 13.05 - WATERDOG 13.04 - HAWG HANGER 14.78 - MINNOW

SAM TRINCA - LAKE FORK ROBERT JONES - LAKE FORK A.J. SACHTLEBEN - LAKE FORK PATRICK STARNES WAYNE LINDGREN JAMIE BONNER - ALAN HENRY TRAVIS DARLEY - LAKE AMISTAD 14.02 - A GRANDE BASS MUTANT 13.01 -WATERMELON SEED BRUSH HOG 13.2 - SENKO CASA BLANCA - 13.06 LAKE AMISTAD - 13.18 13.43 - MAD MAN CRAW WORM 13.58 JAY STEVENS — LAKE CASA BLANCA — 13. 2 — JIG (PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE) The staff of the Lone Star Outdoor News congratulates the anglers who donated their bass to the ShareLunker program. We applaud you for your conservation efforts. May 12, 2006 * Page 11

CATCHING ATTENTION: Kevin Cobb and Mike Lott cast to the rocky shoreline at Stillhouse Hollow, where the FLW Texas Tournament Trail is holding its 2006 championship in November. Photo by David J. Sams.

• Capt. Skipper Ray SOUTH • Capt. Craig Woolly Stillhouse 956-943-2798 956-984-9730 If You Go: Continued from Page 1 Stillhouse Hollow Lake offers four PADRE ISLAND parks with secure, 4-lane boat ramps. • Capt. Bill Jarrard • Capt. Darryl Adams The most popular lures at There is a $3 launching fee, although 954-761-2067 956-346-3700 Stillhouse are Carolina or Texas- an annual pass is available for all rigged lizards or worms in natural Corps of Engineers lakes in the U.S. FISHING GUIDES for $30. On the north side of the 956-497-3454 cell colors. Cobb prefers a Berkley • Capt. Chris lake, Stillhouse Park is located on Powerbait Beast or Zoom baby Simmons Road off of U.S. 190 and • Capt. Allen Salinas Kohnert brush hog in colors such as green FM 2410, and Stillhouse Hollow Lake 956-943-6954 956-761-3432 pumpkin, watermelon or water- Marina, located in the park, is open 956-605-0246 cell melon candy, Carolina-rigged, 24 hours per day (254-939-5741). 956-561-4535 cell fished over the grass. Dana Peak Park, on FM 2410, also Thomas Wells of Belton fishes offers campsites with hookups. On • Capt. Chris • Capt. Steve Stillhouse at least once per week. In the south side of the lake, Union Ellis addition to Carolina-rigged soft Grove Park, on FM 2484, offers La Cross baits, he uses large spinnerbaits and campsites with hookups, and River’s 956-739-2142 956-943-4525 Bend Park is also located off FM 956-492-8472 crankbaits fished along the edge of 2484. the grass in 18 to 20 feet of water. For more information, visit the • Capt. Bryan cell Wells is also a fan of hydrilla. “The Stillhouse Hollow Official Web site at . grass creates a natural edge for the www.swf-wc-usace.army.mil/stillhouse, Tyrrell • Capt. Mike fish, and gives anglers a chance to or call the Belton/Stillhouse Lake 956-761-2385 Perryman catch the big fish.” Office at 254/939-2461. 956-434-1025 Cell Some anglers try for larger num- 956-434-9636 bers of smaller fish. “I use a differ- 206 W. Swordfish • South Padre Island, Texas 78597 • 956-772-1300 • 956-943-2798 ent approach on Stillhouse,” Salado resident Mike Lott said. “I weighing in spots over 4 pounds in fish the treelines with a split-shot the tournaments,” Cobb adds, “but rig and go small because the water never bother to register them. The is so clear. I use 10-pound Vanish next state-record spot will be line with a 5-inch Gulp! Wacky caught at Stillhouse.” Worm.” Why are the locals now willing to In summer they all recommend share information about Stillhouse fishing a heavy jig in the grass. Hollow? Probably because the lake “Use 1 1/2 -ounce jigs thrown right has drawn the attention of Texas into the grass,” Cobb said, and use professional fishermen and tourna- super heavy line. I use 65-pound ment officials. braided line to hopefully bring In November, the FLW Texas them out of the grass.” Tournament Trail is holding its Wells prefers a 1 1/4-ounce jig 2006 championship at Stillhouse with 65-80 Power Pro line. “I’ve Hollow. The top 50 professionals even had a few fish break that,” he and co-anglers from the TTT points added. Wells also uses a 7.3-foot standings will launch from one-piece Waterloo Scrape Rod that Stillhouse Hollow Lake Marina and is “all backbone,” saying “the big vie for the Tour Championship fish along with the grass would Nov. 11-12. Locals feel what was left probably break most telescopic of their best-kept secret will fade rods.” away following the attention the The jumbo spotted bass add even lake receives in November. more to the lore of Stillhouse Craig Nyhus is publisher/editor of the Hollow. “People are regularly Lone Star Outdoor News. Page 12 * May 12, 2006

Anderson. Anderson, along with Lincoln Johnson, helped Colors Hageman develop Covert Orange. Both Anderson and Johnson work at the Neuroscience Research Institute at Continued from Page 1 the University of California-Santa Barbara. Humans will still see blaze orange; deer, however, will Texas wildlife officials said their only concern is the see gray. eyesight of hunters, not deer. “The science told us that deer see blaze orange as a “If it still maintains blaze orange qualities on the bright yellow,” Carlile said. “They also see ultraviolet human side of it, it’s OK,” said Steve Hill, hunter educa- light very well. Of course, humans don’t see it all. The tion coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife. doctors, working with a wildlife biologist, wondered That doesn’t mean Hill is sold on the need for such what would happen if you combined the two. The UV products. was overlaid on the blaze orange. Looking at graphs, “I’m not aware of any studies that say that hunter suc- they could see where the two crossed. That’s called the cess has diminished because of blaze orange,” Hill said. neutral point, where the blaze orange goes from what “As far as deer, I think movement and shine will get you the deer perceive as bright yellow to gray.” before anything else. Color may be a factor, but it’s “Long story short, they patented that color range,” down on the list, in my opinion.” said Carlile. “Some hunters believe they don’t see it at The technology behind Covert Orange was patented all. But that’s kind of an urban legend. Science tells us in 1995. Carlile sought permission to license the tech- they do see it.” nology last year. Deer alert to two colors, said Greg Hageman, one of “I spent about a year developing it,” said Carlile, who the Covert Orange inventors. He’s an ophthalmology also hunts. “It was very painstaking, trying to get the professor at the University of Iowa. right combination onto the material and to make it “Deer and other game animals differ from humans in legal.” that their eyes are sensitive to only two colors, blue and Covert Orange meets the American National yellow,” he said. “They are therefore called dichromat- Standards Institute’s criteria for blaze orange, Carlile ic.” said, and was approved for hunters’ use by wildlife offi- Humans are trichromatic. The cells in their eyes are cials in Colorado and Missouri. most sensitive to red, green or blue light. As a result, However, Covert Orange has yet to be field-tested. humans and deer see the same object differently. That’s “We intend to do that,” Carlile said. “We’re going to what Covert Orange counts on. set up some feeders with regular blaze, then our blaze “Because humans have three color-sensitive cells in and see how many deer congregate. We’re confident. their eyes, as opposed to two for deer, the color combi- The science and technology behind it is rock solid.” nation producing this ‘neutral point’ in deer is still per- Two national outdoors chains are currently evaluat- HUNTER OF A DIFFERENT COLOR: Three opthalmologists say when a mixture of safety orange ceived as a bright orange by human observers,” said Don ing the product, according to Carlile. and ultraviolet pigment is applied to a vest and hat, a deer sees the hunter’s attire as gray.

Tell ‘em you’re the drop-off. “Sometimes, people make the shooting birdies. Flounder mistake of sticking close to the Most people see a Tuffpak gun Continued from Page 9 bank for too long,” James said. case and assume you’re travel- through the bulbous “egg sack” on “Flounders constantly look up. At ing with golf clubs. Let’ em the “neck” of a straight worm night or early in the morning, they think that. It protects your instead of through the “head” as in go into clear, shallow water. anonymity and your firearms a “Texas rig.” With nearly neutral During bright days, they don’t like both in a way no other case buoyancy, an unweighted wacky looking at the sun, so they prefer can. In fact, a Tuffpak worm slowly sinks horizontally water with a little bit of murk to it will hold a standard 9" while quivering and shaking with to filter out the sun or they move golf bag. So whether tempting natural vibrations. into a little deeper water off the you’re traveling with a “A wacky worm is a slow, hori- edges of the drops. Bigger floun- .300, a 12 gauge, or a zontal presentation,” James said. ders are usually in slightly deeper The world’s most versatile rifle (or bow, or rifle (or bow, most versatile The world’s driver, all your shotgun, or boot, sleeping bag, or…) case. “It’s in the bite window for a long water. They drop off to the second “woods” will arrive time and looks similar to a sand eel. break in two to four feet of water, safe and sound. It’s a very slow presentation that where the sunlight is not as requires considerable patience. intense.” Flounders look up and see the When fishing wacky worms, worm silhouette slowly sinking anglers must pay attention to their toward them for several seconds. lines. Often, fish subtly suck in They keep their eyes glued to the falling worms. An angler might not sinking worm until it triggers a even detect a strike, but only feel a predator instinct to kill.” slight tug on the line or a bit of Throw a wacky worm as close to extra weight — or an angler might the reeds as possible and let it sink. simply notice the line moving in an After it hits bottom, pop it back up odd direction. to the surface. Move it a few feet www.hunters-hq.com and let it sink again. Keep yo-yoing John N. Felsher is an outdoor writer Hunters Headquarters the worm out from the shoreline to based in Lake Charles, La. 1725 Woodhill Lane Bedford, TX 76021 817.267.3700 [email protected]

THE OFFICIAL TRUCK OF THE

Academy Sports & Outdoors presents the 2006

PRO & AMATEUR TEAM DIVISIONS

PRO DIVISION pays 10 places with 2006 TOURNAMENTS $12,500 cash paid for 1st Place • AMATEUR DIVISION, $150 Entry Fee, TBA Matagorda pays $4,000 cash, based on 80 boats Russell Bait & Tackle (formerly Skippers) • 979-863-7620 TEAM OF YEAR (PRO & AMATEUR) April 1 & 2 • Rockport wins boat, motor & trailer package. Lighthouse Inn • 888-790-VIEW April 29 & 30 • Galveston Lubricant Nasa Clear Lake Hilton 281-333-9300

Gulf Coast Troutmasters Association • 7449 Wright Rd • Houston TX • 713-466-STIX (7849) www.americanrodsmiths.com • [email protected] May 12, 2006 Page 13 PRODUCT PICKS

ROOMY TENT: The Promontory by Paha Que Wilderness Inc. will comfortably accommodate up to four campers. It boasts a peak height of 7 feet plus two HIGH-TECH 10- by 6-foot rooms. Its HOOCHIE: Mustad main door plus a door has made its on either end offer Hoochie more quick attractive to fish access to both by embedding in it rooms. Two 36- by an EChip that 36-inch windows emits an electrical provide ventilation; impulse that an awning pro-tects duplicates the against stormy nerve discharge of weather. a wounded baitfish. Outdoorsmen will The 4 3/4-inch appreciate the Hoochie lure comes adjustable/ rigged with 30-pound removable Mustad Ultra Line and a mesh gear loft double hook. Available and gear in 20 colors, it costs hammocks about $7. For dealers, under each email window where they can stow www.custserve@mustad- their stuff. The tent sells for about usa.com. $480. For information, visit www.pahaque.com or call (888) 700-8368.

STURDY TRAP: Do-All Outdoors COMPACT SHOOTER: Leica has introduced its Aerial Camera touts its D- Assault Auto Trap for target Lux 2 as the shooters. The fully-loaded trap compact digital boasts heavy-duty, powder- for mega coated steel construction and a pictures. The 8.4 pivot adapter that allows the mega-pixel shooter to adjust the height of digital camera the target. Powered by a 12-volt features 4x marine battery, the trap will run optical zoom for up to 24 hours. It offers a 50-target lens, an auto feeder that delivers the targets to optical image the throwing arm, which flings them 80 stabilizer to to 100 yards. The 84-pound trap ensure sharp comes with an instructional DVD; it pictures, three sells for about $682. For dealers, picture formats visit www.do-alltraps.com or and 14 scene call (800) 252-9247. modes. It also offers the option of manually setting the aperture and the shutter speed for those days when your creative side cries out. Plus, its Digital Adapter 2 makes the camera ready for digiscoping. It sells for about $750.

FULLY LOADED SUV: The SUV Sportsmen's Utility vests from Hunter's Specialties have the features hunters want. The vests, constructed of brushed BASS polyester, have plenty of BAIT: pockets, a zippered game FoodSource Lures, pouch and a compartment for the maker of molded fishing storing an orange safety flag. A lures made from real food ingredients bonus is the attachable has expanded its line. The company’s new Gun Stock Buddy, which 4-inch Minnows can be fished like a fluke or jerk bait. Its design allows it to be retrieved like an holds the butt of the gun injured baitfish. The minnow-shaped lure features a weedless hook slit. It comes in nine colors, while the hunter is each of which is available in five scents. The 100-percent biodegradable lures cost about $4.90 seated, freeing up both per pack of nine. For information on all the company’s new products, visit hands for calling. The www.fslures.com or call (866) 375-8737. vest comes in two models: the Standard has an attached WEIGHT YOUR LURE: Bullet Weights has introduced Screw-in Weights for padded triangle camo anglers who like to peg their weights when using a Texas rig for fishing. seat cushion and the On the bottom of the lead bullet-shaped deluxe boasts the sinkers is a stainless steel corkscrew device Bunsaver Deluxe that threads onto a plastic bait to hold it in Ground Seat. They place. The Screw-in Weights come in natural, sell for about $70 black, green, red and purple. They are to $90. For dealers, available in nine sizes ranging from 1/16 visit ounce to 1 ounce and cost about $3 per pack. www.hunterspec.com For information, visit www.bulletweights.com or or call (319) 395- call (308) 382-7436. 0321.

FRAGRANT FOLIAGE: The new Trophy Leaf WATERTIGHT BAG: The Kodiak Deck Bag is by Wildlife Research Center is a made of urethane-coated nylon and scent dispenser that can be features a roll-down closure hung up or attached to to ensure contents stay dry. different surfaces. It A translucent window allows comes in a variety of light to penetrate the bag, scents that have been making it easier to find small impregnated in the items inside. Bungee cords and plastic “leaf.” The pine, earth and acorn D-rings make attaching the bag dispensers cost about $7 for a pack of four; to a kayak easy. The 16-ounce the elk-fire and whitetail estrus dispensers bag measures 4 by 12 by 13.5 about $10. For dealers, visit inches. It costs about $50. For www.wildlife.com or call (800) 873-5873. information, visit www.seallinegear.com. Page 14 May 12, 2006 HEROES

MATTHEW BERKMAN,13, from Houston, caught this largemouth bass while fishing at the Lakes of Danbury. The JAMES PRINCE, a Redhead pro staffer, shot this tom near Vanderbilt. The bird, with a 10 3/4-inch beard, LARRY SMITH of Odessa shows a red bass weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces. came in hot and slapped the Pretty Boy decoy with his wing. Prince shot him at 18 yards. drum he caught.

BETTY BOHNERT show a 9.11-pound bass she caught at Lake Falcon.

Share a photo adventure Want to share your great hunting or fishing photos with the Lone Star Outdoor News family? E-mail your photo, phone and caption infor- mation to editor@lonestaroutdoornews. com, or mail to: Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX, 75243. JASON MELTON, from Jourdanton, shows off two bass he caught on PAUL HUDSPETH, a resident of Mico, holds a couple of bass he caught topwater, pencil poppers at Amistad. while fishing at Amistad. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! We Want to Welcome to Deliver Our Lone Star Outdoor News Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Newspaper We’re publishing twice a month, so we can bring you the very best of the Texas outdoors from the Big Thicket to the Big Bend and from the Red River to You! to the Rio Grande. And hunters and anglers by the scores are sending us their thank-yous, comments and subscriptions. Every issue, we’ll bring you some of the state’s best outdoor photography and stories. You’ll read about big game hunting, waterfowling, upland bird 24 hunting, freshwater fishing across the state and saltwater fishing all up and down the glorious Texas Coast. Plus, you’ll get national news… conservation updates… weather report… wild game and fish recipes… and the latest break- ISSUES ing news from state and federal wildlife agencies.

FOR SEND A SUBSCRIPTION TO A FRIEND NAME

ADDRESS $25 NAME CITY ST. ZIP ADDRESS DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILBOX FOR ONE YEAR EMAIL

MAIL TO: Lone Star CITY ST. ZIP Outdoor News, PHONE 9304 Forest Lane, Ste. 114 South, PLEASE RENEW MY SUBSCRIPTION 051206 Dallas, TX 75243 MASTER CARD VISA AMERICAN EXPRESS FAX TO: (214) 368-0344 or For Fastest Service, Call CC# EXP. You won’t want to miss Toll-Free at SIGNATURE (866) 361-2276 051206 a single issue May 12, 2006 Page 15 WEATHER

MOON PHASES SOLUNAR TABLE Major/Minor periods: For up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, please visit www.accuweather.com Full Last New First Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo May 13 May 20 May 27 June 3 5/10 9:55a/3:45a 7:05p/12:52p 10:01a/3:51a 7:11p/12:58p Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2006 5/11 10:16p/4:06p 7:28a/1:16a 10:22p/4:12p 7:34a/1:22a 5/12 10:34a/4:23a 7:52p/1:40p 10:40a/4:29a 7:58p/1:46p TIDES 5/13 10:56p/4:45p 8:12a/2:00a 11:02p/4:51p 8:18a/2:06a High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low 5/14 11:17a/5:05a 8:36p/2:24p 11:23a/5:11a 8:42p/2:30p Sabine Pass Freeport Corpus Christi 5/15 11:41p/5:29p 8:55a/2:42a 11:47p/5:35p 9:01a/2:48a 5/10 3:09 a.m. 9:27 a.m. 1:01 p.m. 8:53 p.m. 5/10 3:10 a.m. 8:57 a.m. 1:02 p.m. 8:23 p.m. 5/10 3:18 a.m. 8:35 a.m. 1:10 p.m. 8:01 p.m. 5/16 12:06p/5:53a 9:19p/3:07p 12:12p/5:59a 9:25p/3:13p 5/11 4:00 a.m. 10:21 a.m. 12:55 p.m. 9:16 p.m. 5/11 4:01 a.m. 9:51 a.m. 12:56 p.m. 8:46 p.m. 5/11 4:09 a.m. 9:29 a.m. 1:04 p.m. 8:24 p.m. 5/17 ——/6:19p 9:38a/3:25a ——/6:25p 9:44a/3:31a 5/12 4:46 a.m. 9:44 p.m. —- —- 5/12 4:47 a.m. 9:14 p.m. —- —- 5/12 4:55 a.m. 8:52 p.m. —- —- 5/18 12:33a/6:47a 10:03p/3:50p 12:39a/6:53a 10:09p/3:56p 5/13 5:30 a.m. 10:16 p.m. —- —- 5/13 5:31 a.m. 9:46 p.m. —- —- 5/13 5:39 a.m. 9:24 p.m. —- —- 5/19 1:01p/7:15p 10:24a/4:11a 1:07p/7:21p —-/4:17a 5/14 6:17 a.m. 10:54 p.m. —- —- 5/14 6:18 a.m. 10:24 p.m. —- —- 5/14 6:26 a.m. 10:02 p.m. —- —- 5/20 1:33a/7:47a 10:51p/4:37p 1:39a/7:53a 1:33a/4:43p 5/15 7:10 a.m. 11:37 p.m. —- —- 5/15 7:11 a.m. 11:07 p.m. —- —- 5/15 7:19 a.m. 10:45 p.m. —- —- 5/21 2:02p/8:16p 11:15a/5:01a 2:08p/8:22p 2:02p/5:07a 5/16 8:10 a.m. —- —- —- 5/16 8:11 a.m. 11:56 p.m. —- —- 5/16 8:19 a.m. 11:34 p.m. —- —- 5/22 2:36a/8:51a 11:43p/5:29p 2:42a/8:57a 2:36a/5:35p 5/17 9:18 a.m. 12:26 a.m. —- —- 5/17 9:19 a.m. —- —- —- 5/17 9:27 a.m. —- —- —- 5/23 3:06p/9:20p 12:12p/5:57a 3:12p/9:26p 3:06p/6:03a 5/18 10:21 a.m. 1:21 a.m. —- —- 5/18 10:22 a.m. 12:51 a.m. —- —- 5/18 10:30 a.m. 12:29 a.m. —- —- 5/24 3:41a/9:56a ——/6:26p 3:47a/10:02a 3:41a/6:32p 5/19 11:00 a.m. 2:22 a.m. —- —- 5/19 11:01 a.m. 1:52 a.m. —- —- 5/19 11:09 a.m. 1:30 a.m. —- —- 5/25 4:10p/10:25p 12:42a/6:57a 4:16p/10:31p 4:10p/7:03a 5/20 11:23 a.m. 3:30 a.m. 8:55 p.m. 7:08 p.m. 5/20 11:24 a.m. 3:00 a.m. 8:56 p.m. 6:38 p.m. 5/20 11:32 a.m. 2:59 a.m. 8:43 p.m. 6:16 p.m. 5/26 4:45a/10:59a 1:11p/7:26p 4:51a/11:05a 4:45a/7:32p 5/21 11:38 a.m. 4:47 a.m. 11:40 p.m. 6:50 p.m. 5/21 11:39 a.m. 4:17 a.m. 11:41 p.m. 6:20 p.m. 5/21 11:47 a.m. 3:55 a.m. 11:49 p.m. 5:58 p.m. 5/27 5:13p/11:27p 1:44a/7:58a 5:19p/11:33p 5:13p/8:04a 5/22 11:50 a.m. 6:13 a.m. —- 7:16 p.m. 5/22 11:51 a.m. 5:43 a.m. —- 6:46 p.m. 5/22 11:59 a.m. 5:21 a.m. —- 6:24 p.m. 5/28 5:45a/11:58a 2:12p/8:26p 5:51a/12:04p 5:45a/8:32p 5/23 1:27 a.m. 7:42 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 7:50 p.m. 5/23 1:28 a.m. 7:12 a.m. 12:01 p.m. 7:20 p.m. 5/23 1:36 a.m. 6:50 a.m. 12:09 p.m. 6:58 p.m. 5/29 6:12p/—— 2:46a/8:59a 6:18p/—— 6:12p/9:05a 5/24 2:48 a.m. 9:09 a.m. 12:08 p.m. 8:27 p.m. 5/24 2:49 a.m. 8:39 a.m. 12:09 p.m. 7:57 p.m. 5/24 2:57 a.m. 8:17 a.m. 12:17 p.m. 7:35 p.m. 5/30 6:39a/12:28a 3:12p/9:26p 6:45a/12:34a 6:39a/9:32p 5/25 3:53 a.m. 10:35 a.m. 12:10 p.m. 9:05 p.m. 5/25 3:54 a.m. 10:05 a.m. 12:11 p.m. 8:35 p.m. 5/25 4:02 a.m. 9:43 a.m. 12:19 p.m. 8:13 p.m. 5/26 4:50 a.m. 9:45 p.m. —- —- 5/26 4:51 a.m. 9:15 p.m. —- —- 5/26 4:59 a.m. 8:53 p.m. —- —- SUN AND MOON 5/27 5:42 a.m. 10:26 p.m. —- —- 5/27 5:43 a.m. 9:56 p.m. —- —- 5/27 5:51 a.m. 9:34 p.m. —- —- 5/28 6:33 a.m. 11:09 p.m. —- —- 5/28 6:34 a.m. 10:39 p.m. —- —- 5/28 6:42 a.m. 10:17 p.m. —- —- Sunrise/set 5/29 7:27 a.m. 11:53 p.m. —- —- 5/29 7:28 a.m. 11:23 p.m. —- —- 5/29 7:36 a.m. 11:01 p.m. —- —- Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo 5/30 8:25 a.m. —- —- —- 5/30 8:26 a.m. —- —- —- 5/30 8:34 a.m. 11:47 p.m. —- —- 5/10 6:32a/8:04p 6:33a/8:16p 6:45a/8:16p 6:47a/8:40p Port Bolivar Pass Cavallo South Padre Island 5/11 6:31a/8:05p 6:32a/8:17p 6:44a/8:17p 6:46a/8:41p 5/10 5:24 a.m. 10:14 a.m. 3:16 p.m. 9:40 p.m. 5/10 4:27 a.m. 8:45 a.m. 2:19 p.m. 8:11 p.m. 5/10 3:32 a.m. 7:58 p.m. —- —- 5/12 6:30a/8:06p 6:31a/8:18p 6:43a/8:17p 6:45a/8:41p 5/11 6:15 a.m. 11:08 a.m. 3:10 p.m. 10:03 p.m. 5/11 5:18 a.m. 9:39 a.m. 2:13 p.m. 8:34 p.m. 5/11 4:29 a.m. 8:22 p.m. —- —- 5/13 6:29a/8:06p 6:31a/8:19p 6:43a/8:18p 6:44a/8:42p 5/12 7:01 a.m. 10:31 p.m. —- —- 5/12 6:04 a.m. 9:02 p.m. —- —- 5/12 5:21 a.m. 8:50 p.m. —- —- 5/14 6:29a/8:07p 6:30a/8:19p 6:42a/8:19p 6:44a/8:43p 5/13 7:45 a.m. 11:03 p.m. —- —- 5/13 6:48 a.m. 9:34 p.m. —- —- 5/13 6:13 a.m. 9:24 p.m. —- —- 5/15 6:28a/8:08p 6:29a/8:20p 6:42a/8:19p 6:43a/8:44p 5/14 8:32 a.m. 11:41 p.m. —- —- 5/14 7:35 a.m. 10:12 p.m. —- —- 5/14 7:11 a.m. 10:04 p.m. —- —- 5/16 6:28a/8:08p 6:28a/8:21p 6:41a/8:20p 6:42a/8:45p 5/15 9:25 a.m. —- —- —- 5/15 8:28 a.m. 10:55 p.m. —- —- 5/15 8:14 a.m. 10:50 p.m. —- —- 5/17 6:27a/8:09p 6:28a/8:22p 6:40a/8:20p 6:41a/8:45p 5/16 10:25 a.m. 12:24 a.m. —- —- 5/16 9:28 a.m. 11:44 p.m. —- —- 5/16 9:21 a.m. 11:41 p.m. —- —- 5/18 6:26a/8:09p 6:27a/8:22p 6:40a/8:21p 6:41a/8:46p 5/17 11:33 a.m. 1:13 a.m. —- —- 5/17 10:36 a.m. —- —- —- 5/17 10:23 a.m. —- —- —- 5/19 6:26a/8:10p 6:27a/8:23p 6:39a/8:22p 6:40a/8:47p 5/18 12:36 p.m. 2:08 a.m. —- —- 5/18 11:39 a.m. 12:39 a.m. —- —- 5/18 11:11 a.m. 12:37 a.m. —- —- 5/20 6:25a/8:11p 6:26a/8:24p 6:39a/8:22p 6:39a/8:48p 5/19 1:15 p.m. 3:09 a.m. —- —- 5/19 12:18 p.m. 1:40 a.m. —- —- 5/19 11:39 a.m. 1:37 a.m. —- —- 5/21 6:25a/8:11p 6:25a/8:24p 6:38a/8:23p 6:39a/8:48p 5/20 1:38 p.m. 4:17 a.m. 11:10 p.m. 7:55 p.m. 5/20 12:41 p.m. 2:48 a.m. 10:13 p.m. 6:26 p.m. 5/20 11:50 a.m. 2:41 a.m. —- —- 5/22 6:24a/8:12p 6:25a/8:25p 6:38a/8:24p 6:38a/8:49p 5/21 1:53 p.m. 5:34 a.m. —- 7:37 p.m. 5/21 12:56 p.m. 4:05 a.m. —- 6:08 p.m. 5/21 11:45 a.m. 3:52 a.m. 11:21 p.m. 6:20 p.m. 5/23 6:24a/8:13p 6:24a/8:26p 6:37a/8:24p 6:38a/8:50p 5/22 1:55 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 2:05 p.m. 8:03 p.m. 5/22 12:58 a.m. 5:31 a.m. 1:08 p.m. 6:34 p.m. 5/22 11:29 a.m. 5:14 a.m. —- 6:27 p.m. 5/24 6:23a/8:13p 6:24a/8:26p 6:37a/8:25p 6:37a/8:51p 5/23 3:42 a.m. 8:29 a.m. 2:15 p.m. 8:37 p.m. 5/23 2:45 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 1:18 p.m. 7:08 p.m. 5/23 1:46 a.m. 6:57 a.m. 10:59 a.m. 6:55 p.m. 5/25 6:23a/8:14p 6:23a/8:27p 6:37a/8:25p 6:36a/8:51p 5/24 5:03 a.m. 9:56 a.m. 2:23 p.m. 9:14 p.m. 5/24 4:06 a.m. 8:27 a.m. 1:26 p.m. 7:45 p.m. 5/24 3:24 a.m. 7:31 p.m. —- —- 5/26 6:23a/8:14p 6:23a/8:28p 6:36a/8:26p 6:36a/8:52p 5/25 6:08 a.m. 11:22 a.m. 2:25 p.m. 9:52 p.m. 5/25 5:11 a.m. 9:53 a.m. 1:28 p.m. 8:23 p.m. 5/25 4:41 a.m. 8:11 p.m. —- —- 5/27 6:22a/8:15p 6:22a/8:28p 6:36a/8:26p 6:35a/8:53p 5/26 7:05 a.m. 10:32 p.m. —- —- 5/26 6:08 a.m. 9:03 p.m. —- —- 5/26 5:47 a.m. 8:55 p.m. —- —- 5/28 6:22a/8:16p 6:22a/8:29p 6:35a/8:27p 6:35a/8:53p 5/27 7:57 a.m. 11:13 p.m. —- —- 5/27 7:00 a.m. 9:44 p.m. —- —- 5/27 6:49 a.m. 9:41 p.m. —- —- 5/29 6:22a/8:16p 6:22a/8:30p 6:35a/8:28p 6:35a/8:54p 5/28 8:48 a.m. 11:56 p.m. —- —- 5/28 7:51 a.m. 10:27 p.m. —- —- 5/28 7:52 a.m. 10:28 p.m. —- —- 5/30 6:21a/8:17p 6:21a/8:30p 6:35a/8:28p 6:34a/8:55p 5/29 9:42 a.m. —- —- —- 5/29 8:45 a.m. 11:11 p.m. —- —- 5/29 8:54 a.m. 11:17 p.m. —- —- 5/30 10:40 a.m. 12:40 a.m. —- —- 5/30 9:43 a.m. 11:57 p.m. —- —- 5/30 9:53 a.m. —- —- —- Moonrise/set San Luis Pass Port O’Connor Port Isabel Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo 5/10 4:18 a.m. 9:56 a.m. 2:10 p.m. 9:22 p.m. 5/10 7:41 a.m. 11:12 p.m. —- —- 5/10 4:17 a.m. 9:06 a.m. 2:09 p.m. 8:32 p.m. 5/10 5:56p/4:50a 6:06p/4:55a 6:08p/5:03a 6:28p/5:12a 5/11 5:09 a.m. 10:50 a.m. 2:04 p.m. 9:45 p.m. 5/11 8:57 a.m. 11:38 p.m. —- —- 5/11 5:08 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 2:03 p.m. 8:55 p.m. 5/11 6:53p/5:18a 7:05p/5:21a 7:06p/5:32a 7:29p/5:37a 5/12 5:55 a.m. 10:13 p.m. —- —- 5/12 10:07 a.m. —- —- —- 5/12 5:54 a.m. 9:23 p.m. —- —- 5/12 7:54p/5:50a 8:08p/5:51a 8:06p/6:04a 8:33p/6:06a 5/13 6:39 a.m. 10:45 p.m. —- —- 5/13 11:21 a.m. 12:09 a.m. —- —- 5/13 6:38 a.m. 9:55 p.m. —- —- 5/13 8:58p/6:27a 9:13p/6:26a 9:09p/6:41a 9:40p/6:39a 5/14 7:26 a.m. 11:23 p.m. —- —- 5/14 12:40 p.m. 12:45 a.m. —- —- 5/14 7:25 a.m. 10:33 p.m. —- —- 5/14 10:02p/7:10a 10:18p/7:08a 10:14p/7:24a 10:46p/7:20a 5/15 8:19 a.m. —- —- —- 5/15 1:59 p.m. 1:27 a.m. —- —- 5/15 8:18 a.m. 11:16 p.m. —- —- 5/15 11:04p/8:02a 11:21p/7:59a 11:15p/8:16a 11:48p/8:10a 5/16 9:19 a.m. 12:06 a.m. —- —- 5/16 3:10 p.m. 2:14 a.m. —- —- 5/16 9:18 a.m. —- —- —- 5/16 none/9:01a none/8:58a none/9:15a none/9:09a 5/17 10:27 a.m. 12:55 a.m. —- —- 5/17 4:12 p.m. 3:05 a.m. —- —- 5/17 10:26 a.m. 12:05 a.m. —- —- 5/17 12:01a/10:06a 12:17a/10:04a 12:12a/10:20a 12:44a/10:16a 5/18 11:30 a.m. 1:50 a.m. —- —- 5/18 5:05 p.m. 3:58 a.m. —- —- 5/18 11:29 a.m. 1:00 a.m. —- —- 5/18 12:51a/11:14a 1:06a/11:14a 1:02a/11:28a 1:32a/11:27a 5/19 12:09 p.m. 2:51 a.m. —- —- 5/19 5:48 p.m. 4:51 a.m. —- —- 5/19 12:08 p.m. 2:01 a.m. —- —- 5/19 1:34a/12:22p 1:47a/12:24p 1:46a/12:36p 2:11a/12:38p 5/20 12:32 p.m. 3:59 a.m. 10:04 p.m. 7:37 p.m. 5/20 6:03 p.m. 5:42 a.m. —- —- 5/20 12:31 p.m. 3:09 a.m. 10:03 p.m. 6:47 p.m. 5/20 2:11a/1:29p 2:22a/1:32p 2:23a/1:43p 2:45a/1:49p 5/21 12:47 p.m. 5:16 a.m. —- 7:19 p.m. 5/21 4:21 p.m. 6:29 a.m. —- —- 5/21 12:46 p.m. 4:26 a.m. —- 6:29 p.m. 5/21 2:45a/2:34p 2:54a/2:40p 2:57a/2:48p 3:15a/2:58p 5/22 12:49 a.m. 6:42 a.m. 12:59 p.m. 7:45 p.m. 5/22 2:06 p.m. 7:00 a.m. —- 9:50 p.m. 5/22 12:48 a.m. 5:52 a.m. 12:58 p.m. 6:55 p.m. 5/22 3:16a/3:39p 3:24a/3:47p 3:29a/3:52p 3:43a/4:07p 5/23 2:36 a.m. 8:11 a.m. 1:09 p.m. 8:19 p.m. 5/23 12:17 p.m. 10:11 p.m. —- —- 5/23 2:35 a.m. 7:21 a.m. 1:08 p.m. 7:29 p.m. 5/23 3:48a/4:44p 3:53a/4:54p 4:01a/4:57p 4:11a/5:16p 5/24 3:57 a.m. 9:38 a.m. 1:17 p.m. 8:56 p.m. 5/24 10:28 a.m. 10:48 p.m. —- —- 5/24 3:56 a.m. 8:48 a.m. 1:16 p.m. 8:06 p.m. 5/24 4:20a/5:51p 4:24a/6:03p 4:34a/6:03p 4:40a/6:26p 5/25 5:02 a.m. 11:04 a.m. 1:19 p.m. 9:34 p.m. 5/25 10:43 a.m. 11:30 p.m. —- —- 5/25 5:01 a.m. 10:14 a.m. 1:18 p.m. 8:44 p.m. 5/25 4:56a/6:59p 4:58a/7:13p 5:10a/7:11p 5:12a/7:38p 5/26 5:59 a.m. 10:14 p.m. —- —- 5/26 11:26 a.m. —- —- —- 5/26 5:58 a.m. 9:24 p.m. —- —- 5/26 5:37a/8:08p 5:36a/8:23p 5:51a/8:19p 5:49a/8:50p 5/27 6:51 a.m. 10:55 p.m. —- —- 5/27 12:18 p.m. 12:14 a.m. —- —- 5/27 6:50 a.m. 10:05 p.m. —- —- 5/27 6:23a/9:14p 6:21a/9:30p 6:37a/9:26p 6:33a/9:58p 5/28 7:42 a.m. 11:38 p.m. —- —- 5/28 1:16 p.m. 1:00 a.m. —- —- 5/28 7:41 a.m. 10:48 p.m. —- —- 5/28 7:16a/10:15p 7:13a/10:31p 7:30a/10:26p 7:25a/10:59p 5/29 8:36 a.m. —- —- —- 5/29 2:15 p.m. 1:48 a.m. —- —- 5/29 8:35 a.m. 11:32 p.m. —- —- 5/29 1:34a/12:22p 1:47a/12:24p 1:46a/12:36p 2:11a/12:38p 5/30 9:34 a.m. 12:22 a.m. —- —- 5/30 3:11 p.m. 2:37 a.m. —- —- 5/30 9:33 a.m. —- —- —- 5/30 9:14a/11:54p 9:13a/none 9:29a/none 9:24a/none TEXAS TIDBITS OUTDOOR PUZZLER WILD IN THE KITCHEN ACROSS For crossword puzzle solution, see Page 17 Turkey Burger 1. A trout coloration 5. A catch of the icefishermen Want to create a 9. Bowhunter’s quarry in Florida burger that is lower in cholesterol and 10. The fur seeker’s gear fat, especially when 11. Term applies to icefishing prepared over the 13. Term for a trophy size game fish open flame of a 14. A quick-to-erect tent charcoal grill? Try 15. A wingshooter’s quarry this turkey burger 16. Act of dropping antlers recipe served piled 18. Another name for a largemouth high with tomato, 20. A grouping of pheasants red onion and pick- 22. An animal hideaway les on a Kaiser bun 23. Term for the wild boar dressed with home- 24. To swim off with the bait made honey mus- 25. A wild hog tard and a side of 27. A gobbler’s collection of hens fries at your next 28. Term for a hookless lure cookout. 30. Common name for the brook trout 34. A good wood used for arrow shafts • 3⁄4 cup heavy 36. A Northern saltwater flat fish cream thyme and chives. Cover and 37. Muley appendage that is large • 4 eggs refrigerate. Sauté mushroom, 38. A good bluegill bait • 1⁄2 bunch parsley, chopped garlic and onion in oil until ten- 39. The main fin on a fish • 1⁄2 cup chopped fresh thyme der; add to cream mixture. • 1⁄2 cup chopped fresh chives Transfer to mixer; add turkey, DOWN • 2 pounds mushrooms, de- salt and pepper, and mix well. 1. A pool of fish in one spot stemmed, sliced Slowly add breadcrumbs; don't over-mix. Divide into 7-ounce 2. A field habitat the quail favors 12. A breed of retriever out of shoes • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic 3. An animal’s resting place patties. Grill or pan fry until 16. The Irish is a good bird dog 29. Term for the hunting area • 1 small onion, diced 4. A shedded antler • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil desired degree of doneness. 17. An in-hole fireplace 30. A female elk 6. Anything that attracts game, • 5 pounds ground turkey 18. A boat propeller 31. Bait placed in water to lure fish Yield: 15 servings fish, fowl 32. Used on a fishline • Salt to taste 19. The fish, game. fowl law man • Pepper to taste 7. Small rodent classed as a predator 33. An exciting outdoor adventure 21. The _____ Walton League • 1 1⁄4 cups fine breadcrumbs 8. A lake bird 35. A bear’s young Recipe courtesy of National Wild 10. These reveal age of some animals 22. A finder important to the angler Outdoor Puzzler, Turkey Federation. For more wild 11. The trapper’s interest 26. Used to keep snow, stones Wilbur "Wib" Lundeen Mix cream, eggs, parsley, turkey recipes visit www.nwtf.org. Page 16 May 12, 2006 GAME WARDEN BLOTTER

HUMAN SKULL FOUND from a nearby pier. Once the fish- •Presidio County Game Warden erman had gotten his boat started, Tony Todd and Jeff Davis County he tied up the boat with the chil- Game Warden Jim Porter assisted JUST COULDN’T LET IT GO dren in it and loaded the children Texas Rangers in the search for and into his boat; he took them to •Hill County Game Warden Mark Hammonds lying next to her in the boat was getting a bite. recovery of human remains after a and Bosque County Warden Preston Spiller made She quickly grabbed it and set the hook. She shore. Waters went to the location human skull was found in a remote contact with a couple operating a boat at Lake missed the fish but admitted to fishing. The war- of the children, but found that as location of the Sierra Vieja Aquilla. The wardens saw the couple fishing. dens found 14 of 29 crappie boated were under- soon as they had gotten out of the Mountains in Presidio County in Upon contact, the woman denied fishing. sized, and several items of safety equipment were boat they took off running. One late April. The search resulted in the Hammonds made her aware that the fishing pole missing from the boat. Cases pending. child was hiding in a storage room finding of numerous human bones about half a mile away and gave and pieces of clothing. Skull and the names of the other two chil- bones have been submitted for dren involved. The child was five catfish and then taking them a cop. combined cans and bottles of beer, examination and possible identity prison and wanted to kill turned over the local sheriff’s to his vehicle. Mount left and The man was captured after a four- several bottles of wine, whiskey of the remains. department. returned shortly to a new area of hour manhunt without incident. A and vodka. Two of the fraternity the parking lot to watch the sus- loaded 9mm Glock pistol was also members were wanted, one for an JUST A LITTLE BIT ILLEGAL KIDS LEARN LESSON pected catfish thief. While Mount confiscated. The suspect is in outstanding DWI and the other for •Bosque County Warden Mike was watching, the suspect caught Grayson County Jail on numerous possession of marijuana. These two •Hays County Warden James Sibila and Hill County Warden five more catfish, placed them in a charges. suspects were arrested. Cases pend- Michael received a call from the Mark Hammonds checked two cooler, and carried them to his ing. Hays County Sheriff’s Office about men and a woman wading and vehicle. Mount approached him as NO VENISON TONIGHT people trespassing to hunt in the catching a lot of white bass at Lake he neared the vehicle to check the •Shelby County Game Warden MASON MAN CONFESSES Las Lomas subdivision. With help Aquilla. Upon contact, the war- catch. She asked to look at the fish Mike Hanson received a call about a •Easter Sunday saw the culmina- from the sheriff’s office, they dens noticed several undersize fish that he had in the truck. He deer lying under a shed at a resi- tion of four months of work and apprehended two youths who had scattered on the shore near the removed the extra fish from his dence in Center. Upon arrival, investigations with the confession hunted a white-tailed doe with a fishermen. The fishermen vehicle. He had 15 more fish in the Hanson met the local animal con- of one suspect to hunting deer at bow and arrow. One of the youths explained that those fish had been cooler in the truck. Charges were trol officer who had the deer in his night and without landowner con- was a minor, but the shooter was hooked too deep to live, so they filed for possession of over the limit truck. It appeared that the deer had sent. Game Wardens Buster Nixon 18. The landowners did not want were just throwing them ashore. of channel catfish. been tied up, and a rope around its and Jerry Gordon finally got to the to press felony charges on the local The wardens located several other neck likely contributed to its death. end of the investigation and were youths but wanted them to be small fish that had made their way GUNMAN CAPTURED Although a language barrier exist- able to obtain a written confession charged with something, so the into their bucket and ice chest. •Grayson County Game Warden ed, Hanson talked to the shed and seize two sets of antlers from a warden charged them with tres- Undersize and fishing license cases Dale Moses assisted local Grayson owner. The owner said the deer was local Mason man. Charges are passing and added the charge of pending. County law enforcement in the tied up so it would not escape (one pending. hunting in closed season against capture of a convicted felon want- front leg was tied to the rope the shooter. Cases pending. CATFISH CHEATER CAUGHT ed for parole violation. The suspect around the neck). The owner said WAIT ’TIL MOM AND DAD FIND OUT •Tarrant County Game Warden had led local authorities on a high- they were going to eat the deer. •Hunt County Game Warden Dale OPEN AND SHUT CASE Chelle Mount was called to speed chase at speeds in excess of Case pending. Waters responded to a call of •Game Wardens Jason Bussey, Ben Chisolm Park in Hurst on a report 90 mph. The man stole a vehicle young children in a small boat Friebele, Raul “Pinky” Gonzales, of fishermen keeping more than and was confronted by the vehi- THE YOUNG AND THE FOOLISH without life jackets. While stand- Danny Kelso, Scott McLeod, and their limit of newly stocked catfish. cle’s owner. The suspect then •Briscoe County Game Warden ing at the bank, Waters noticed a Brandi Reeder conducted a crab After arriving at the park, Mount pulled a gun and fled. Passengers in Clint Hunt, Lake Mackenzie Lake local fisherman had gone to help trap operation on San Antonio checked all the people fishing. the getaway car, arrested after the Patrol Emmett Tomlin, and a DPS the children, but his boat died and Bay. Twenty-six cases were filed While completing the routine vehicle blew a tire and lost a wheel, trooper charged a fraternity group would not start. Another fisher- against three commercial crab fish- check, several people told her one said the suspect had been telling of 17 minors with drinking alco- man approached Waters and said ermen for using traps that had the fisherman was catching his limit of people he would not go back to hol. The minors had about 400 the children had stolen the boat escape vents completely shut. MADE IN TEXAS ‘PhotoArt’ a unique focus on the outdoors

By Mary Helen Aguirre al fee, customers can also schedule an urban photo shoot (a 2- to 4-hour ses- sion) or a safari photo shoot (a one- Todd and Nancy Steele are the day session). But, usually, Steele works owners of Katy-based Todd Steele from a print, negative or digital PhotoArt, which specializes in cus- image the customer has taken of a tom works of art converted from treasured moment. treasured photos. Steele has worked with sports The business serves as a showcase images, family portraits, pictures of for Todd Steele’s skills as a photogra- pets and more. But, his favorites are pher, his artistry with a computer hunting and fishing photos because it and his love for hunting and fishing. is something he can relate to, he says. It also taps into Nancy Steele’s ease “There are only a few people with the business of logistics, market- around who are doing this. But, I’m ing and customer service. probably one of a handful who spe- The busy Steeles — they are the cializes in the outdoor theme,” says parents of Hunter, 7, and Forrest, 5; Todd Steele. plus, he works in the oil industry and The couple also has an archived she is a caterer — credit an illness for library of about 10,000 nature images the birth of their new business. that can be integrated into the cus- “Todd is pretty much known for tom pieces. For example, Steele having a camera and taking lots of might use an image of birds in flight pictures,” says Nancy Steele of her and place them above a waterfowl husband, whose interest in photogra- hunter. phy started as a youngster in The Steeles’ “photoart” caught the Pennsylvania. eye of Mike Falick during the Houston When Todd Steele, who also is an Fishing Show in March. He ordered a underwater photographer, suffered custom conversion of a photograph an illness about three years ago, he he had taken of his son, Stephen, dur- used his recovery time to experiment ing a fishing trip to the Bahamas. with his brand new digital camera The resulting piece, says Falick of and the different effects that could be Houston, looks like a watercolor achieved with the format. painting of the 8-year-old holding When hunting season rolled two 39-inch barracudas. around, he was unable to shoot his “I’m happy enough that we’re heavy shotgun so he picked up his going to do one of my daughter, digital camera instead. And, he start- Avery, for her birthday,” says Falick, ed producing enhanced photos for who plans to use a photo of the 11- members of the Thunderbird Hunting Club. year-old competitive rider astride her The Steeles quickly recognized a horse. business opportunity and last sum- Todd and Nancy Steele are making an art of Todd’s photo-enhancing skills. He specializes in outdoor themes. The Steeles plan to be at the Texas mer launched their new company at Trophy Hunters Extravaganza being the Rockport Art Festival. starts with a photograph and con- what the customer has ordered, he com) are examples of eight different held Aug. 4-6 in Houston. For more Although they also offer limited verts it into a digital format. Then, he might make the photo look like a effects that can achieved. information about their business, edition nature photo artwork, it is the uses a variety of programs to manipu- watercolor painting, a hand-tinted “The computer mouse is my paint- call (281) 398-7100. custom pieces that are the most pop- late the image — perhaps sharpening black-and-white photo or an ink- brush,” says Todd Steele. Mary Helen Aguirre is a native Texan ular. the photo or enhancing the lighting brushed portrait. On the company’s A custom conversion of up to 16 by with almost 15 years of experience To create them, artist Todd Steele or stripping the color. Depending on Web site (www.toddsteelephotoart. 20 inches costs $300. For an addition- editing and writing for newspapers. May 12, 2006 Page 17 OUTDOOR DATEBOOK

be held 3:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday at information. hold a free seminar on GPS operation Will Rogers Coliseum. The Majors Expo from 6-7 p.m. For more information, May 21: Greater Houston Greenwing will be held 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Saturday contact Mike Wray at (214) 704- HAVE AN EVENT TO PUBLICIZE? Day at Dewberry Farms-Brookshire. The & Sunday at the Amon G. Carter, Jr. 2920. free family event will feature a fishing E-mail it to Exhibits Hall. A “Fan Experience” is tournament, Department of Public June 3: Rocky Mountain Elk [email protected] scheduled from 4-6 p.m. at Billy Bob’s Safety helicopter, bird banding Foundation Houston Chapter Big Game in Fort Worth. demonstration, archery and air rifle banquet at Marriott West Chase. For May 19: National Wild Turkey demonstrations, retriever tickets, contact Kirk Waldron, (281) May 17-20: FLW’s Stren Series visits held at Sneaky Pete’s 2 Eagle Point Federation Blackland Prairie Chapter demonstration, wood duck nest box 219-4600. Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper. The Drive, Lewisville. Call (972) 434-2500 building, fingerprinting, gun safety banquet at old Greenville Post Office June 3: Texas Freshwater Fisheries event will be held at the Umphrey or visit www.sneakypetesonline.co for information, clay target shooting, rock in Greenville. Contact James Handley Center National Fishing Day. Celebrate Family Pavilion, with registration May more information. Final weigh-in on climbing wall, duck calling demo and at (903) 862-3332 for more with a fun filled day of fishing, 16 at 4-7 p.m. at Jasper Middle May 20 at Will Rogers Coliseum in waterfowl identification, raffles and information. contests, games and prizes. Free hot School Gym, (409) 384-3585. For Fort Worth at 3:30 p.m. door prizes, and much more. If you more information, visit May 19-20: Fishin’ For Freedom II dogs and drinks. Children 12 and May 18: DU Addison Metrocrest plan to compete in the parent and www.flwoutdoors.com. bass and catfish tournament. Belton under admitted free. Event will be dinner at the Addison Convention child 5-Stand Sporting Clay Target Lake Outdoor Recreation Area. Boat held 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Call (903) 676- May 18: Huntsville State Park’s 50th Center. The event will feature a steak Shoot, please bring your favorite gun owners will be paired with soldiers. BASS for more information. Anniversary Celebration will include dinner from Outback Steak House, and ammunition. The fee for $50 registration fee, free to soldiers. fishing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, plus live and silent auctions. Tickets competing is $25 for adults and June 3: Coastal Conservation Concerts, carnival rides and beginner bird watching, nature hikes, are $65 for singles, $85 per couple, greenwing or $20 for individuals. Hot Association/Central Power and Light alligator programs, bicycling and much or a table for 10 for $500. All tickets concessions. Donation tickets are $5. dogs will be available for a small fee Marine Development Center SFH will more. Texas Parks and Wildlife staff, include a year membership to Ducks Registration and concert tickets can be and the event will start at 1 p.m. host a National Fishing Day Kidfish. City of Huntsville Parks & Recreation Unlimited. Contact Rob Gokey at purchased at Texas Boat World in Organizers are asking that each child Bring the family and take a tour of the Department Staff, Walker County (972) 234-3933 or (972) 994-0783 Harker Heights, (254) 699-9151. attending bring a canned good to visitor center, hatchery brood rooms, donate to needy families. For more incubation room and fingerling grow- Chamber of Commerce staff and evenings. May 20: 6th Annual Swinging into information, please contact Sherrie out ponds. Children 17 and under can volunteers from the local community Summer Youth Fishing Derby. Bramble May 18-21: Bassmaster Memorial Emory at (713) 501-5584 or participate in catch-and-release fishing will be providing this day of family fun Park, Texarkana, Ark. Registration at 9 Majors tournament at Eagle Mountain [email protected]. from 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. Day use entry fee a.m. Call Tendra Jones at (870) 779- in ponds. A limited number of fishing Lake, Fort Worth. Launch Thursday poles available, but bring your own will be waived. Call (936) 295-5644 4918. May 23: DU Corpus Christi Sponsor and Friday at 7:30 a.m. at West Bay bait. Fishing will be from 8 a.m.-noon, for more information. dinner at the Corpus Christi Yacht Marina & RV Park at Eagle Mountain May 20: NWTF River City Chapter tours at 10 a.m. and noon; Club. Contact John Warren at (351) May 18-20: Women’s Bassmaster Tour Lake. Launch Saturday and Sunday at banquet at Knights of Columbus Hall reservations required, (361) 939- 883-8567. at Lake Lewisville. Event will be held 7:30 a.m. at Lake Worth Boating & in New Braunfels. Contact Michael 7784. Call (361) 939-7784 for more from Park Ramp. Registration will be Ski Club at Lake Worth. Weigh-in will Schraeder at (830) 214-6550 for more May 25: Boater’s World in Dallas will information. REACH THOUSANDS OF READERS CROSSWORD E PUZZLE SOLUTION FROM PLACE YOUR ADVERTISING IN PAGE 15 TEXAS’ PREMIER OUTDOOR NEWSPAPER Call 214-361-2276 or FAX 214-368-0344 OUTFITTERS

Offshore and Bay fishing Duck, Goose and 30' Stamas Dove Hunting 21' Shallowsport 40,000 Acres

Capt. Scott Hickman South Texas 3218 Coral Ridge Ct. League City, TX 77573 Deer and Turkey (281) 535-1930 Hunting Fax: (281) 535-1935 10,000 Acres www.circleh.org

Fish Texas 956-642-7357 956-642-7357 [email protected]

OUTFITTERS, HUNTING GUIDES AND FISHING GUIDES: Want to profile your business? 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. Lone Star Outdoor News Hunting and Fishing Guide Business Card Listings: $20 each issue. Please include either a check or credit card billing informa- tion with your order. Mail to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243.

CLASSIFIEDS

$10 A MONTH FOR 3 LINES! 37 characters per line including spaces. Each additional line is $6. You can add a photo for an extra $20. Classified ads must be prepaid by check or credit card. 2004 Larson 190 LXI 2004 Larson 210 LXI 2004 Boston Whaler 180 2004 Boston Whaler 255 2006 Boston Whaler 270 Call (866) 361-2276 Runabout, Merc IO alpha 1 Runabout, Merc IO alpha 1 Ventura, 150HP Merc Conquest, twin Merc 150 OR, twin Merc 225HP motor w/Clarion stereo Syrius motor $25,400 (713) 202- Optimax, $33,900. Optimax, windlass, $72,900. Verado 4-stroke, triple axle or e-mail: satellite $22,500 (713) 1476, (713) 384-3268. (713) 202-1476, (713) (713) 202-1476, (713) w/disc brakes, loaded, [email protected] 202-1476, (713) 384-3268. 384-3268. 384-3268. $104,995. (713) 202-1476,

For Sale — 960 Ac., Fisher Co., For Sale — Kansas hunting tracts. Port O’Connor bayfront rental — 4/3, PROPERTIES mule/WT deer, blue/bob quail, Brown Realty Co. 318-728-9544. sleeps 8. Great views. Fish out front. FISHING hogs, nice home, barn, pens, bor- www.brownrealtyco.com $300 per night weekly. Available dering the Double Mountain Fork of South Padre Island Waterfront prop- now.www.kanepochome.com Private 16-acre lake — Awesome South Texas — Brooks, Duval, Jim fishing, Florida cross largemouth the Brazos River, income-produc- erties on the Laguna Madre and Gulf or (361) 655-7695. Hogg County Ranches. Call: David bass, redear, catfish, B&B and boat A. Lohse Real Estate, Inc. (956) ing ranch. $785.00 Ac. www. fick- of Mexico. Call: David A. Lohse Real for rent, call (512) 237-4792. Classifieds sell! 761-6699. esdorety.com, (817) 925-0483. Estate, Inc. (956) 761-6699. Great fly-fishing. Page 18 May 12, 2006 FISHING REPORT CENTRAL on stinkbait, liver, and live bait. Yellow catfish are slow. rigged watermelon lizards, black/blue jigs and spinner- piers. Catfish are good on stinkbait and chicken livers STAMFORD: Water lightly stained; 72 degrees; Black baits. White bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on off piers. bass are fair on live bait and white spinnerbaits. white/chartreuse or chartreuse slabs on main lake Crappie are fair on red/white jigs and minnows. White WALTER E. LONG: Water clear. Black bass are fair on BASTROP: Water murky. Black bass are fair on humps and secondary points. Crappie are good on min- and striped bass are good on live baits. Catfish are fair minnows, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Hybrid striper LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 69 degrees; 3.06’ chrome/blue and chrome/black spinnerbaits and nows in the mouth of the creeks around brush. Catfish are good on Rat-L-Traps, silver spoons, and live min- low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and soft plas- on minnows and prepared baits. crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on juglines with live shad set off the main nows. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on min- tics. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on are good on cutbait, shrimp, and stinkbait. Yellow cat- creek channels and flats. nows. Channel and blue catfish are good on punchbait, fish are slow. slabs, pet spoons, and hellbenders. Crappie are good SWEETWATER: Water lightly stained; 73 degrees; frozen shad, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are good on minnows over brushtops. Blue catfish are excellent 31.72’ low. Black bass are fair on live bait and on juglines baited with live perch. TAWAKONI: Water stained; 69-73 degrees; 5.53’ low. on shad. Yellow catfish are slow. BELTON: Water murky; 72 degrees; 1.68’ low. Black black/blue jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Black bass are good on worms, lizards, Senkos and jigs White bass are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on min- bass are good on green and blue soft plastics and in 1-3 feet. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs. WHITNEY: Water murky; 3.01’ low. Black bass are good SAM RAYBURN: Water clear; 71 degrees; 1.12’ low. nows and cut shad. crankbaits. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. White White bass are excellent on chartreuse, gold or chrome on chartreuse and pumpkinseed spinnerbaits and Black bass are fair on chartreuse/white spinnerbaits, bass are good on minnows and slabs. Crappie are good slabs. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair on char- crankbaits, and on red/white soft plastics. Striped bass crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps, and on pumpkinseed jerk- on minnows and jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good treuse or white Sassy Shad, 1 1/4 oz. slabs and Rat-L- WHITE RIVER: Water lightly stained; 74 degrees; 22.9’ on stinkbait and frozen shad. Yellow catfish are slow. are fair on silver striper jigs. White bass are fair on min- baits over grass. Crappie are good on minnows and Traps. Catfish are good on cut bait, shrimp and night- low. Black bass are fair on live bait and junebug soft nows and chrome slabs and spoons. Crappie are fair on blue tube jigs. crawlers. minnows. Catfish are slow. plastics along grass lines and timber. Crappie are fair on BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 71 degrees; 1.90’ low. jigs and minnows. Walleye are fair on live bait and TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 3.29’ low. Very little Black bass to 6 pounds are excellent on watermelon/red TEXOMA: Water clear; 69-74 degrees; 1.3’ high. Black white/black crankbaits. Channel catfish are good on live NORTHEAST fishing activity due to low water level. Navigation is Grande Bass Baits 4” Cannibals, Texas Perch bass are fair on weightless flukes, spinnerbaits and blue baits. dangerous due to numerous stumps and stickups. crankbaits, and Red Bug 4” Squirm Worms. Hybrid fleck lizards. Striped bass are fair to good on live shad Tournaments have been moved to Lake Sam Rayburn. striper to 3 pounds are fair on crankbaits under lights at ATHENS: Water clear, 68-74 degrees; 1.25’ low. Black and chartreuse slabs, with a sporadic topwater bite early night. White bass to 2 pounds are excellent on slabs WICHITA: Water lightly stained; 71 degrees; 4” low. bass are fair to good on white/chartreuse tail trick and late. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and Crappie are good on 1/8 oz. chartreuse jigs or small and spoons. Crappie to 1.5 pounds are excellent on Li’l worms, spinnerbaits and Carolina rigged green lizards. cut shad. PANHANDLE minnows along dam riprap and near old pavilion pier Fishies and minnows in 5 – 10 feet. Channel and yel- Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse Road poles American Legion point and old yacht club areas. low catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait. Runners. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 73 degrees; 6.64’ low. BAYLOR: Water lightly stained; 67 degrees. Black bass White bass and hybrid striped bass are fair on minnows, Black bass are good on crankbaits and soft plas- are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on live bait. white twister-tails and trolling along riprap. Channel cat- BUCHANAN: Water murky to clear; 68 degrees; 9.20’ BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 69-74 degrees; 4.9’ low. tics. Crappie are excellent in the fishing barge and fish are fair on bait shrimp, punchbait or trotlines bait- low. Black bass to 5.5 pounds are good on white Black bass are good on Senkos, spinnerbaits and marina cove on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on ed with shad. The north side (yacht club) and east side Terminator “double buzz” buzzbaits, JDC Skip-N-Pop GREENBELT: Water lightly stained; 66 degrees; black/blue lizards in 2 – 6. Crappie are fair on minnows nightcrawlers, liver and shrimp. Schooling white bass boat ramps are open and serviceable. topwaters, and smoke Super Tubes on jigheads early and blue tube jigs. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and are good on Little George’s and Road Runners. Bream 25.22’ low. Black bass are good on topwater lures at and all day under cloud cover in 5 - 15 feet. Striped nightcrawlers. are good on worms. The boat ramp is open. dawn, and shad-colored spinnerbaits with willow bass are fair drifting live bait, 3” Spoiler Shads, and blades and white twin-tail trailers and crankbaits near COASTAL Red Fins in surface activity over humps in 30 feet. grass lines and timber throughout day. Crappie are White bass are slow to fair vertically jigging Tiny Traps CADDO: Water fairly clear; 78-83 degrees; 0.21’ high. SOUTH good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on live and ?oz. silver Pirk minnows along main lake points. Black bass are excellent on watermelon flukes and bait and jigs tipped with minnows. Smallmouth bass NORTH SABINE: Flounder are fair to good in the guts Crappie are fair over brushpiles in 8 - 15 feet. Channel Senkos fished around cypress trees, and on frogs and and bayous on mud minnows and jigs tipped with AMISTAD: Water clear; 72 degrees. Black bass are good are fair on crankbaits along channels. Walleye to 4 catfish are good. Yellow and blue catfish are good. buzzbaits in the pads and grass. Crappie are fair on shrimp. Trout and redfish are fair to good on live shad on watermelon red and watermelon seed jerkbaits, pounds are good on live bait and crankbaits. Catfish to shiners in the shallows around cypress trees. Catfish are 10 pounds are good on live bait and chicken liver. in the river. good on limblines with cutbait. Redear bream are excel- crankbaits, soft plastics, jigs, and topwaters. Striped CANYON LAKE: Water murky to clear: 69 degrees; lent on crickets in shallow cypress breaks. bass are good on red fins and topwaters early and late. 2.87’ low. Black bass are good on pumpkin JDC Skip- White bass are fair on shallow running crankbaits. MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good on the Reef and N-Pop topwaters, smoke 5” Scoundrel Worms and white Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on 67.75’ low. Black bass are good on live bait and shad- Johnson’s Bayou on live shrimp under a popping cork. crankbaits along main lake and secondary points at first CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 71 degrees; 1.73’ low. cheesebait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish colored spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on minnows Flounder are fair to good on the shorelines and in the light in 5 - 20 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass Black bass are fair on topwaters early, later switching to are good on trotlines baited with live perch. and jigs. White bass and striped bass are good on jigs guts on live bait. Redfish are fair to good at the jetty on are fair at the fishing pier at night. Smallmouth bass Carolina rigs. White bass are excellent on Humbugs over tipped with minnows. Smallmouth bass are fair on finger mullet and crabs. are good on smoke/red Super Tubes, 4” root beer JDC shallow water early and slabs fished deeper around mid- BRAUNIG: Water stained; 92 degrees. Black bass to 5 small crankbaits. Walleye are good on minnows and curl tail grubs, and Smokin’ Green Devil’s Tongues on day. Hybrid striper are good on Sassy Shad. Crappie are pounds are good on dark soft plastic worms and some crankbaits. Catfish to 8 pounds are good on live baits. drop shots in 8 - 20 feet. Crappie are good on live min- excellent on tube jigs around shallow banks and docks. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair near Big Pasture Bayou on crankbaits near the jetty and in reed beds. Striped bass nows at the fishing pier. Channel catfish are fair to good Catfish are good on cut bait drifted over humps. chartreuse and pearl Corkies and Top Dogs. Trout and to 5 pounds are very good on perch, shad, and chicken on trotlines. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on juglines. MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 61 degrees; 29.25’ redfish are fair while drifting deep shell on live shrimp livers early. Redfish to 20 pounds are good on tilapia, low. Black bass are fair on live bait, white spinnerbaits under a popping cork and glow/chartreuse and red shad COOPER: Water stained; 68-73 degrees; 8.23’ low. No crawfish, and perch on the bottom. Channel and blue and shad-colored crankbaits. Crappie are fair on min- Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. COLEMAN: Water clear; 70 degrees; 2.15’ low. Black report available. Due to the low level of the lake, catfish to 4 pounds are good on liver, shrimp, and shad. nows and jigs suspended 12 feet. White bass are good bass are good on Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. Hybrid boaters are advised to use extreme caution. Yellow catfish are slow. on minnows and jigs near humps. Smallmouth bass striper are fair trolling striper jigs. Crappie are slow. are good on crankbaits. Walleye are fair on live bait TRINITY BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the shell and Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers, in the grass on live shrimp under a popping cork. FAIRFIELD: Water clear; 75 (main lake) - 82 (outlet) CALAVERAS: Water stained; 93 degrees. Black bass are and chrome jerkbaits near northern points and riprap. and on trotlines baited with liver. Yellow catfish are Croaker, whiting and sand trout are good at the Spillway degrees; 3.5’ low. Black bass are excellent on white slow. Striped bass to 4 pounds are very good on liver Channel catfish are good on minnows. Note: Fritch good on trotlines baited with live perch. Bass Assassins or flukes and Pop-R’s above the grass on and silver spoons early. Redfish to 21 pounds are very Fortress ramp is closed for upgrades. on shrimp. Trout are fair to good on the east shoreline secondary points and main lake flats. Hybrid striper are good on crawfish, perch, and Rat-L-Traps early and late. on topwaters and live shrimp. fair on white/chartreuse slabs and live shad on main COLORADO RIVER: (At Colorado Bend State Park) Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are good on liver, PALO DURO: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 48.25’ lake points. Redfish are slow on live shad in the inlet Water murky. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Blue catfish are fair to good low. Black bass are good on live bait, black/blue jigs EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair at Dollar Point on cove and around the dam. Bow fishing for tilapia is slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are on liver and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow. and white spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and live shrimp and croaker. Redfish are fair to good in the good in the back of coves. Catfish are good on prepared fair on trotlines and juglines baited with perch. minnows. Smallmouth bass are fair on small baits and live shad on main lake flats. back lakes on live shrimp under a popping cork. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 76 degrees; 4.29’ crankbaits and live bait. Walleye are fair on crankbaits DUNLAP/MCQUEENY: Water stained; 76 degrees. Black low. Black bass are very good on white 1?oz. Revenge and live bait. Channel catfish are good on minnows WEST GALVESTON BAY: Redfish and black drum are bass are good on 10” Texas rigged Berkley Power FORK: Water clear; 66-72 degrees; 2.37’ low. Black spinnerbaits and rainbow trout Reaction Innovations and chicken liver. fair around the railroad and causeway bridge on live Worms and 1?oz. firetiger Revenge spinnerbaits in the bass are good on Carolina rigged watermelon seed fries Vixen on main lake points early in 2 - 8 feet, and later shrimp under a popping cork. Flounder are fair to good river channel on points and bends. White bass are slow. and watermelon candy 5’ lizards along the main lake on banana cream Norman DD-22’s and spring craw WEST in the same areas. Crappie are good on small live minnows and char- grass and pockets - the topwater bite has started on Lucky Craft CB-D20’s tight to timber in 10 - 15 feet treuse/white crappie jigs near the ski jump, and upriver Yellow Magics in 5-8 feet close to spawning areas. and good on weightless watermelon seed 6” YUM Crappie are fair on small jigs in 14-20 feet under the ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 75 degrees; 1.3’ under trees. Channel catfish are excellent on shad, Dingers and smoke red pepper YUM Houdini Shad. TEXAS CITY: Trout and redfish are fair at night off the main lake bridges and around brush piles. Catfish are low. Black bass exceeding 10 pounds are good on live chicken livers, shrimp, and nightcrawlers in swift water White bass are fair on live minnows and vertically jig- piers on live shrimp under a popping cork. Croakers, good in 10 feet on prepared baits. bait, black/blue jigs or watermelon soft plastics in tim- upriver near the powerhouse, and near the ski lodge. ging C.C. spoons or KT spoons along main lake points. sand trout, gafftop, whiting and sheepshead are fair on ber, and deep diving chartreuse crankbaits in stained Blue catfish are fair on shad, shrimp, and nightcrawlers Crappie are good on live minnows and chartreuse fresh dead shrimp. waters in river along timberlines. Crappie are good on in swift water upriver near the powerhouse, and near GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 69-74 degrees; sparkle Berkley Power Worms over brushpiles and minnows and jigs. the ski lodge. Yellow catfish are slow. 5.54’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Rat-L-Traps, standing timber in 4 - 12 feet. Channel and blue cat- crankbaits and Texas rigged soft plastics in 4 – 8 feet. fish are very good on Lewis King punchbait, perch, FREEPORT: Trout and redfish are fair at Cold Pass on and shad gizzards in 8 - 15 feet. Yellow catfish are live shrimp under a popping cork. Trout, flounder and FAYETTE: Water stained; 81 degrees. Black bass are Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs over ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 74 degrees; 2.3’ good on trotlines and juglines baited with hybrid redfish are fair in Christmas Bay on live shrimp under a good on shad patterned crankbaits and Carolina rigs brushpiles. White bass are fair on slabs and low. Black bass are fair and improving on crankbaits bluegills and jumbo minnows in 15 - 25 feet. popping cork. near banks in 2 – 5 feet. Channel and blue catfish are Humdingers. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. and soft plastics off points and in flooded brush. good on shrimp, stinkbait, and cut shad on humps and Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs at State Park, and Henrietta, Deer Creek and Post Oak bridges and along outside edges of grass in 5 – 6 feet. JOE POOL: Water fairly clear; 68-75 degrees; 0.2’ high. COLETO CREEK: Water clear; 83 degrees (93 degrees EAST MATAGORDA: Trout are fair along the shorelines wading near 1-2 feet flooded vegetation. White bass Black bass are fair on pumpkinseed lizards, black/red at hot water discharge); 3.68’ low. Black bass to 4 on gold spoons and topwaters. Redfish are fair to good pounds are fair on soft plastics and Rat-L-Traps in weed are good on shad-imitation baits on shallow points and GRANBURY: Water murky; 0.43’ low. Black bass are shad craws and spinnerbaits in 2 - 6 feet in creeks and in the grass on pumpkinseed Trout Killers, Hogie’s and beds in 6 – 8 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass schooling on flats. Blue catfish are good on shad, slow. Striped bass are fair on silver striper jigs. White shallow pockets. Crappie are fair to good on minnows Sand Eels. Tides are above normal. are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish to punch bait and juglines in upper part and west side of bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and Road 2 pounds are fair on perch, liver, and nightcrawlers in lake. good on stinkbait, shrimp, and live bait. Runners. Catfish are fair on cut and prepared baits. 12 – 15 feet. Yellow catfish are slow. MATAGORDA: Trout are fair on the south shoreline on COLORADO CITY: Water clear; 74 degrees; 2.55’ low. topwaters and red shad, morning glory and pumpkin- GRANGER: Water clear; 74 degrees; 1.97’ high. Black LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 69-73 degrees; seed/chartreuse Bass Assassins and Norton Sand Eels. FALCON: Water stained; 79 degrees. Black bass are Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on 1.65’ low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse/white Redfish are fair to good on live shrimp under a popping good on crankbaits, topwaters, brush hogs, and soft jigs. White bass are fair on live bait and jerkbaits. 1/32oz. jigs in 1 - 15 feet. Blue catfish are very good buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged blue fleck cork around Shell Island and in Oyster Lake. plastics along outside points. Striped bass are slow. Catfish are fair on live and cut baits. along newly flooded shorelines in 2 - 3 feet. Yellow cat- Power Worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are very fish to 75 pounds are very good on trotlines baited with coves and around structure. Catfish are good on night- good on shad, cutbait, and frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish live perch. crawlers and prepared baits. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 71 degrees; 6.74’ PORT O’CONNOR: Trout are good on live shrimp under are slow. Mexican fishing licenses and boat permits are low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows a popping cork on the grass flats. Redfish, sharks and required to fish in Mexican waters. Everyone in the boat black drum are good on live bait at the jetty. Trout are LAVON: Water stained; 68-76 degrees; 8.13’ low. Black and jigs. White bass are fair on live bait. Catfish are LBJ: Water murky to clear, 68 degrees; 0.30’ low. must have a Mexico Fishing License whether fishing or fair to good in the back lakes on live shrimp under a bass are fair on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits, Texas- fair on live bait. Black bass are good on Rat-L-Traps along 5 - 8 foot not. popping cork and topwaters. break lines and over coon-tail early and late, blue flake rigged Gene Larew black/blue tube jigs and 5” Whacky Sticks, and green pumpkin Snap Back Tubes black/blue or green pumpkin lizards in 4 - 8 feet. HUBBARD CREEK: Water lightly stained; 73 degrees; MEDINA: Water stained; 75 degrees; 17.03’ low. Black in brushpiles. Striped bass are fair on 2” Spoiler Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Catfish 10.5’ low. Black bass are fair on live bait and pump- ROCKPORT: Trout are fair to good around Traylor and bass to 4 pounds are good on shad 3/8oz. Revenge Shads and free lining live bait at night. White bass are are fair on nightcrawlers and stinkbait. kin/chartreuse soft plastics near timber and reeds. Mud Island on live shrimp and croakers. Redfish are spinnerbaits and clear Yo-Zuri poppers across main good on 1.5” Li’l Fishies at night. Crappie are good on Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass and fair to good on the Estes Flats and around Hog Island lake points and coves early in 2 - 15 feet, and later on white crappie jigs and live minnows. Channel catfish hybrid striper are good on live baits. Catfish are good on live shrimp and finger mullet. Trout are fair on top- LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 69-75 degrees; 6.55’ low. motor oil neon 2.5” YUM Craw Papi’s and June bug are good. Yellow and blue catfish are good. on minnows and juglines. waters on the St. Joe shoreline. Black bass are good on flukes, lizards and spinnerbaits. candy Berkley Beasts in 10 - 20 feet. Striped bass are Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to fair vertically jigging chrome/blue Fle-Fly slabs in 15 - good on nightcrawlers and cut bait. NAVARRO MILLS: Water fairly clear; 4.34’ low. Black 30 feet. White bass are fair vertically jigging KT NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 72 degrees. Black PORT ARANSAS: Trout and redfish are fair in Shamrock bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie spoons and chrome/blue Pirk Minnows along main lake bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows Cove on bone Super Spooks and pumpkinseed/char- are good on minnows and jigs. Channel and blue cat- MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 3.16’ low. Black bass are points. Crappie are good on live minnows and char- and jigs. Redfish are fair. White bass and striped bass treuse Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Norton Sand fish are slow. Yellow catfish to 65 pounds are fair on fair to good on white buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, and treuse sparkle Berkley Power Worms around brushpiles are good on minnows and inline spinners. Catfish are Eels. Trout are fair at the jetty on live shrimp and finer fair on prepared baits and minnows. trotlines baited with live bait. off main lake points on Carolina-rigged blue fleck and standing timber at night under lights in 10 - 25 mullet. french fries and Arkansas Shiner flukes. Crappie are feet. Channel and blue catfish to 6 pounds are very good on minnows and jigs over submerged brushpiles. good on Lewis King punchbait, hybrid bluegills, and PROCTOR: Water murky; 72 degrees; 2.31’ low. Black OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 69 degrees; 19.2’ Catfish are good on trotlines with cut bait. Bream are cut shad. Yellow catfish to 20 pounds are good on jug- CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout and redfish are fair around the bass are very good on chartreuse, yellow, white, and low. Black bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are fair on good on red wigglers in 4 feet. lines baited with perch and goldfish. causeway and on the reefs in Nueces Bay on live pink spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics, and Rat-L- minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on minnows. No shrimp. Trout are fair to good on topwaters around Traps. Striped bass are good on striper jigs, slabs, boat ramps open. 4x4 vehicles can unload on dirt road Pelican Island. spoons, and live bait. White bass are good on min- PALESTINE: Water fairly clear; 68-72 degrees; 1.76’ SOUTHEAST near the dam. nows, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. low. Black bass are good on green pumpkin/red shad Crappie are good on minnows and tube jigs. Channel craws, spinnerbaits and black/blue lizards. Crappie are CONROE: Water stained; 3.37’ low. Black bass are OH. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 70 degrees; 17.3’ low. BAFFIN BAY: Trout, redfish and black drum are fair to and blue catfish are very good on frozen shrimp, shad, fair on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striper are fair on live good on chartreuse and pumpkinseed/orange spinner- Black bass are good on live bait, white spinnerbaits, good at the Land Cut on live shrimp under a popping liver, nightcrawlers, and minnows. Yellow catfish are shad and slabs. White bass are good on slabs and tor- baits and medium running crankbaits, and on water- white soft jerkbaits near timber and humps. Crappie cork. Redfish are fair on shrimp in Emmords Hole. Trout fair on live bait. pedoes. Catfish are fair to good in the shallows. melon seed and watermelon red soft plastic worms are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on and redfish are fair to good around the rocks on live and lizards. Striped bass are fair on chrome striper inline spinners and minnows. Smallmouth bass are shrimp and croakers. SOMERVILLE: Water clear; 1.98’ low. Black bass are RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 67-71 degrees; jigs and silver spoons and slabs. Crappie are fair on good on chartreuse/black crankbaits. Channel catfish slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, nightcrawlers, are good on live baits. 0.11’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Senkos PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on the grass Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on and shrimp. and buzzbaits in 2-6 feet. Crappie are fair to good on beds adjacent to the Intracoastal on live shrimp and minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp minnows and jigs in the marinas and around bridge POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 73 degrees; 2’ low. bone Trout Killers, Sand Eels and Bass Assassins. Trout, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow. columns. White bass are good on slabs and GIBBONS CREEK: Water stained. Black bass are fair on Black bass are fair on Senkos, spinnerbaits and redfish and black drum are fair to good on live mullet Humdingers. Catfish are fair on prepared baits. chartreuse green and chartreuse blue crankbaits and crankbaits in the shallows lake wide. White bass are and shrimp around the Land Cut. STILLHOUSE: Water clear; 81 degrees; 2.50’ high. Rat-L-Traps, and on red/white soft plastics. Crappie are good around river and off points near Willow Beach. Black bass are good on minnows, and on watermelon RAY ROBERTS: Water clear main lake, muddy in the fair on minnows and blue tube jigs. Catfish are good on Striped bass are fair at night near lighted piers. Blue and tequila sunrise soft plastics. White bass are good creeks; 67-78 degrees; 3.69’ low. Black bass are good stinkbait, frozen shrimp, nightcrawlers, liver, and live and channel catfish are fair on setlines baited with SOUTH PADRE: Trout, redfish and black drum are fair on minnows at night. Smallmouth bass are slow. on split shot rigged green Houdini shad and Chatter perch. shad in the upper part of reservoir. to good on gold spoons around Airport Cove. Trout and Crappie are good on minnows at night. Channel and Baits fished around milfoil. White bass are excellent on redfish are fair to good on topwaters at Holly Beach. blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers, liver, shrimp, chartreuse Bomber slabs - surface schooling starting on HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.69’ SPENCE: Water lightly stained; 71 degrees; 50.25’ low. stinkbait, and cutbait. Yellow catfish are slow. the main lake. Crappie are excellent on minnows and high. Black bass are good on cherry seed worms on the Black bass are fair on live baits and spinnerbaits. PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good in jigs around Corps of Engineers brush piles. east end of the lake. White bass are good on silver Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are Cullen Bay on topwaters, pumpkinseed/chartreuse and TRAVIS: Water murky; 74 degrees; 15.50’ low. Black spoons near the marina. Crappie are good on live min- fair on minnows and jigs. Striped bass and hybrid plum/white Trout Killers, Sand Eels and Bass Assassins. bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water fairly clear; 68-74 nows in coves on the north end of the lake over struc- striper are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad Black drum and redfish are fair to good on the Gas-Well slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair degrees; 4.95’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Texas ture in 15 feet. Bream are good on live worms off and live baits. Flats on live shrimp under a popping cork. May 12, 2006 Page 19

Calling all toms

urkey hunting has been tough. After thirty minutes, two toms and two The birds have been henned-up hens came into view. The birds worked all year and the season is near- slowly in his direction, the toms in full ing the end. Guides on the strut. Both hens and toms were moving in Krooked River Ranch near and out of the brush. Gobbles were few HaskellT were working hard to get their but a couple of birds slipped in on the left hunters birds. side and gave a few territorial gobbles, not At 4:45 a.m. Roy Wilson, owner of Texas even bothering the locked-up toms. Best Outfitters, pointed to a painting of two One of the hens started running strutting toms in a field of wildflowers that around doing the kee kee call, a call heard hangs on the wall of the dining hall. “ That mostly in the fall. The big toms came out is what you are looking for,” he told Derek after her but there was an extra bird, prob- Rambo. ably one of the birds from the left. All the other guides laughed, but Rambo Now there were three toms strutting. took it in stride, as he was the new guide at “Take the one in the middle when I yelp the camp. The new guide gets the worst of and he looks up,” he said. it, forced to travel the farthest and work the Feathers flew and a nice tom was kick- hardest. But that is what he loves the most ing on the ground. “I guess we saw the — hard work. painting that Roy showed me come to life Rambo has entered and won many call- this morning,” Rambo said. ing contests, but this morning he sat qui- When he walked back into the camp etly in the dark listening to the yelps and house, the other guides could see the suc- gobbles that were all around him. cess on his face. He pointed to the paint- He was sitting with his hunter in a spot ing. “We saw that and we brought one where he felt the turkeys would move home.” after fly down. He made two soft yelps The other guides were skunked. while the birds were still up and two more You can reach Texas Best Outfitters at when they were on the ground. www.krro.net or at (325) 773-2457.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID J. SAMS