october 2011
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THE Authority on Texas Fishing & Hunting Texas Fish & Game is the largest, oldest, and best outdoors resource of its kind in the nation. No other publication matches our coverage of hunting, fishing, guns, gear, tackle, conservation, outdoor news, and wildlife subjects. Our editorial cadre includes the best outdoor writers in the state—all experts in their respective fields. This is the sportsman's one-stop resource for information and education on Texas' outdoors.TRANSCRIPT
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2 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC.TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent,
family-owned outdoor publication in America.Owned by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & Ardia Neves.
ROY NEVESPUBLISHER
DON ZAIDLEEDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CHESTER MOOREEXECUTIVE EDITOR
C O N T R I B U T O R S
JOE DOGGETT • SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
DOUG PIKE • SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
TED NUGENT • EDITOR AT LARGE
BOB HOOD • HUNTING EDITOR
MATT WILLIAMS • FRESHWATER EDITOR
CALIXTO GONZALES • SALTWATER EDITOR
LENNY RUDOW • BOATING EDITOR
STEVE LAMASCUS • FIREARMS EDITOR
LOU MARULLO • BOWHUNTING EDITOR
KENDAL HEMPHILL • POLITICAL COMMENTATOR
REAVIS WORTHAM • HUMOR EDITOR
GREG BERLOCHER • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
PAUL BRADSHAW • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
CAPT. MIKE HOLMES • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
LISA MOORE • CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR
JOHN GISEL • WEBSITE CONTENT MANAGER
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ARDIA NEVESVICE PRESIDENT/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish &Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. ©TexasFish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprint-ed or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes noresponsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1year $19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries toTexas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6weeks for response. Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing addresslabel when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changesto: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Address allsubscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX77032. Email change of address to: [email protected] Email new ordersto: [email protected] Email subscription questions to:[email protected].
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FEATURES
4 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
OCTOBER 2011 • Volume XXVII • NO. 6
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ON THE COVERS:
Floats for FlounderPopping corks andother new-techfloat rigs can helpyou fish the
unfishable — but prime — flat-fish feeding grounds.
by Chester Moore
The Rut InterruptedA new study bywhitetailresearchers hasuncovered a num-
ber of factors that can put thebrakes on a region’s rut after ithas started. Their findings offerboth obvious conclusions(weather) and a few interestinginsights.
by Paul Bradshaw
STORY:
50
www.FishGame.com
STORY:
30
24 THE WINGS OF AUTUMNQuail numbers are in declineagain, but fortunately, Texas wing-shooters have plenty of otheropportunities from plentiful water-fowl to sandhill cranes.
by Bob Hood
40 STRING JUMPERSJust how good are whitetails atsensing the subtle noises a bow —or a bowhunter — makes at themoment of the shot?
by Ted Nugent
46 GOING DEEPER BUTKEEPING IT WACKYWith a jighead designed especial-ly for “wacky-style” fishing, theFlick Shake technique gives bassan action they’ve never seen indeep water.
by John N. Felsher
52 TF&G BOWHUNTING QUIZBowhunting has evolved since thedawn of civilization. Technology andmethods have improved, but suc-cess still requires knowledge andskill. Here’s a little quiz to see howfar your bowhunting has evolved.
by Lou Marullo
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6 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
COLUMNS
OCTOBER 2011 • Volume XXVII • NO. 6
DEPARTMENTS
8 LETTERS
12 TF&G REPORT
12 BIG BAGS &CATCHES
34 NEW! TEXASDEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
44 TRUE GREEN
www.FishGame.com
10 Editor’s NotesThe Hunt forRed Octoberby DON ZAIDLE TF&G Editor-in-Chief
14 Chester’s NotesHard QuestionsAwait Huntersby CHESTER MOORE TF&G Executive Editor
16 Doggett at LargeThen, Now &Tomorrowby JOE DOGGETTTF&G Senior Contributing Editor
18 Pike On the EdgeThe Case of Clientv. Guideby DOUG PIKETF&G Senior Contributing Editor
19 TexasWildDeer Baiting101by TED NUGENTTF&G Editor At Large
22 CommentaryRunnin’ andGunnin’by KENDAL HEMPHILLTF&G Politcal Commentator
33 Texas Bow HuntingThe Bow-TechAssassinby LOU MARULLOTF&G Bow Hunting Editor
38 Hunt TexasGhosts of GooseHunts Pastby BOB HOODTF&G Hunting Editor
43 Texas FreshwaterWildBillby MATT WILLIAMSTF&G Freshwater Editor
49 Texas SaltwaterOur TrojanHorseby RICHARD SANCHEZGuest Contributor
56 Open SeasonAdultToysby REAVIS WORTHAMTF&G Humor Editor
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Waterfowl ExpoI WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF MY EXPE-
riences at the Gulf Coast Waterfowl Expo
held at the Pasadena Convention Center
recently. That was the best money I have
spent in a long time. There were knowledge-
able seminars that covered duck hunting,
dog training, what is being done to benefit
the ducks’ nesting areas, and how to handle
your wild game after harvesting. I was so
impressed, my wife and I joined the local
Ducks Unlimited chapter.
While at the Expo, I had the opportuni-
ty to meet Chester Moore and talk about
fishing. I have been reading his articles for
years and some of his books, but this was the
first time meeting him. And, I’m telling you,
you want to meet him if you love fishing. He
will talk fishing with you. He was happy to
answer any questions about fishing and
shared information as long as you were will-
ing to listen. He was quick to shake your
hand and talked to you as if he had known
you for years. Hats off to you, Chester, for
being a first-class representative for us who
fish and hunt.
Then, there was the Texas Gourmet,
Bryan Slaven, who was willing to share his
recipes.
I was even able to get my wife an auto-
graph from Gator Queen Liz, from Swamp
People.
It was a very enjoyable and informative
expo. Remember everyone—Buy Local,
Buy American, Buy Union. Because the
one job you save may be your own.
Richard Holcomb
Texas City
How to CarrySTEVE, THANKS FOR YOUR ARTICLE IN THE
September 2011 issue. I just finished read-
ing “How to Carry a Concealed Weapon.”
I am an “older” woman who currently car-
ries my gun in a purse. I completely agree
with you about that being an invitation to
have my purse/gun snatched. I have looked
at and considered every possible type of hol-
ster. I even went as far as buying a couple,
including a “soft” IWB holster which I tried
to modify to fit my gun. Needless to say, I’m
not happy with the result. Otherwise, I
wouldn’t be writing to you. When is the
piece dedicated entirely to holsters going to
be published? Please hurry!!! I want some
more input before I continue my search for
the “perfect” method of concealed carry.
Gail Mullinax
via www.FishGame.com
Gail,
Finding the perfect holster is, sad to say, a
life-long quest for most of us. After nearly 40
years of searching I still buy the occasional
holster because I think it has some quality
that will make it better. Since you took the
time to write, I will tell you a couple of
secrets.
I suggest that you try two different types of
holsters.
I had a lady friend in the Border Patrol
who seemed to love her Pancake holster. That
is a holster that has ears on each side that the
belt fits through. This allows the holster to lay
flatter against the side than one with the belt
loop on the back. Several makers produce
such a holsters, both with and without reten-
tion devices, but I think you will find High
Noon Holsters makes as good a holster as
any. The Slide Guard and Sky High are two
examples of what I am talking about. These
are both standard waist and strong-side waist
holsters.
If you like an inside the waistband holster,
something that fits inside the waistband of
your clothing, I recommend the Milt Sparks
Versa Max 2, or one of its clones. This is the
most comfortable such holster I have ever car-
ried. I carried mine, filled with my Kimber
Pro Carry .45, all over Kerrville yesterday,
covered only by a square-tailed nylon fishing
shirt.
Thanks for reading, thanks for writing,
and good luck. And remember that the more
you practice with that handgun, the luckier
you get.
—Steve LaMascus
Dixie Jet SpoonRE: YOUR 2010 ARTICLE “5 LURES NOT
Fished Anymore,” concerning the Dixie Jet
Spoon. This lure is now back in full produc-
tion through American Legend Tackle,
located in Richland, Missouri, 573-774-
0631. This is a fish catching machine.
Recommend you check them out.
Tom Murphy
via www.FishGame.com
PoliticallyDisappointed
I AM RESPONDING TO THE LETTER,“Politically Disappointed”, by Gene Brake
of San Antonio. Hello, Kendal Hemphill is
the “political editor,” so one should expect to
find a political opinion expressed!
Texas Fish & Game is honest enough to
state it is a political editorial. I have read
articles in other hunting and fishing maga-
zines which promote “global warming,” but
state it as a fact, not opinion. I would sug-
gest Mr. Brake just skip political commen-
tary if he is not open minded enough to see
what other opinions might be.
Keep up the good work, Kendal
Hemphill!
Keith Garner
Abilene
Send Comments and Letters to:Editor, Texas Fish & Game
1745 Greens RD
Houston, Texas 77032
Email: [email protected]
8 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
Letters to the Editor
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The Hunt forRed October
TECHNO-THRILLER BOOK ENTHUSIASTS(mea culpa) and movie buffs connect
“Red October” with the book and
subsequent movie of the same name.
Historians and political pundits think of the
Bolshevik Revolution led by Vladimir Lenin
October 25, 1917—notwithstanding that
the backward Russians still used the Julian
calendar and the actual date was November
7 by the Gregorian calendar, “Red
October” stuck nonetheless.
To the hunter, “Red October” means some-
thing quite different, although the sanguine con-
notations of “red” remain consistent—whether
shed in anger, revolution, or predatory con-
quest, blood’s color doesn’t change.
The world changed in Russia’s Red
October, which seems wholly fitting. October
has marked a time of change ever since Man
named the months and seasons. It is the time
of the Harvest Moon—the first full moon
nearest the autumn equinox, when waning
days give way to longer nights—followed by
the Hunter’s Moon—the first full moon after
the Harvest Moon.
Harvest and hunt are the essence of Man’s
very existence, the bread and meat of body
and soul. To reap the herbaceous bounty of
Earth satisfies hunger, but leaves wanting a
deeper need untended by seed and scythe.
The hunt slakes a primordial thirst common to
all men—an imperative to kill, taste flesh, and
smell the sweet warmth of blood, a need driv-
en by genetic, saber-toothed memories of prey
and triumph.
In October, autumn woods turn the color
of blood and bone, a rich mix of crimson and
ochre that reminds the hunter of his predatory
ancestry. The air smells different, a burnt
umber scent of ancient campfires and roasted
flesh of hard-won prey. The world feels differ-
ent, a subtle inner throb that drives a man to
he knows not what—unless he is a hunter.
For many, the October primordial drive
finds relief in dove and other avian weight in
the game bag. But to some—those still suffi-
ciently “uncivilized” to embrace their roots—
it is a time of blooding in earnest, a reconnec-
tion to the surrogate fang and claw of ancient
ancestors, a time to take up the simple instru-
Editor’s Notes
by Don Zaidle | TF&G Editor-in-Chief
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 11
ments that propelled Man to the top of the
food chain—the time of the bow.
The name (if he had one) of our ancient,
hairy ancestor that discovered the utility of
wood held bent into a bow by sinew to launch
a stick tipped with chiseled flint is lost to antiq-
uity. Nonetheless, his nameless legacy
endures, personified in Saxton Pope, Arthur
Young, Howard Hill, Fred Bear, et al—men
who understood what it means to be a preda-
tor, equipped not with fang and claw, but intel-
lect sharper than any corporeal weapon in
Nature. And it was those men, their ancestors
and progeny, that secured the future of the
modern hunter, and more—the very survival
and continued ascendance of Homo sapiens.
The bowman’s art figures prominently in
Man’s history, reaching beyond mere suste-
nance to the fortunes and defilement of politi-
cal pretenders. Britain’s War of the Roses
reached resolution with the Act of Accord that
recognized York as King Henry’s successor to
the throne, disinheriting Henry’s six-year-old
son Prince Edward (largely due to the effica-
cy of bowmen) in October of 1460. Bows in
the hands of American Indians wrought crush-
ing defeat against Kentucky and Pennsylvania
militiamen in two separate engagements on
October 18 and 22, 1790.
October saw Columbus discover America;
the birth of King Henry III of England, and
Commander James Lawrence, who uttered
the famous last words, “Don’t give up the
ship!”; Alexander the Great defeat the
Persian army; and Spain cede Louisiana to
France in a secret treaty.
The magic of October drives men to great
things in field, fiefdom, and boardroom. It stirs
an inner cauldron long dormant in some, that
conjures ambitions and machinations beyond
normal reach; awakening the primordial
hunter that sleeps in our psyches, restoring life
to dreams undreamt for perhaps millennia to
hunt, stalk, and kill creatures vulnerable to our
schemes—prey and predator-foe alike.
The ancient hunter-gatherer with his bow
of wood, medieval British archer with his long-
bow, and French soldat with his crossbow are
all the same—torch-bearers of an ancient art
that gave rise to tribal leaders, kings, and
despots with equal utility. For the same
strength of arm and shrewdness of eye that
wielded the bow that brought meat to hearth,
also made kings, dethroned cruel overlords,
and changed the fortunes of nations.
Without the bow, the world as we know it
would not exist—perhaps Man would not rule
Creation. The hunt itself might lay dead
beneath the detritus of antiquity, but because
of the bois de arc—the “bow of wood”—Man
rules the known cosmos, civilization exists, and
the hunter is the bulwark of culture.
Maybe, someday, the hunter and his bow
will go the way of the dodo and Clovis point.
Meanwhile, the hunter and his instincts rule
the corporate boardroom, the headship of
nations, and the suburban bedroom. The
hunter’s instinct and baser drives cleave the
way of progress, innovation, and triumph.
And the man who draws the bow holds in his
fingers the history and fate of the world at
large, and Mankind in particular.
It could not rest in better hands than of the
man who hunts and yearns for Red
October—the season of blood.
E-mail Don Zaidle at
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12 More Chargedin KansasPoaching Probe
THE KANSAS DEER POACHING SAGA CAR-ries on, with charges filed recently against 12
more men—including several from East
Texas—who prosecutors say broke federal
game laws by taking deer illegally and trans-
porting them across state lines.
More than two years have passed since
dozens of federal agents and Texas game
wardens swarmed the small East Texas town
of Center, Texas, and surrounding towns
and communities in Texas and Louisiana, to
begin cleaning up what some are now calling
one of the dirtiest deer poaching cases in
U.S. history.
Authorities seized dozens of mounted
deer heads and antlers, many of them
believed to have been taken illegally in con-
nection with a deer hunting operation based
from a hunting camp called “Camp Lone
Star” near Coldwater, Kan., between 2005
and 2008.
There, and on other leased property in
Kansas, prosecutors say the camp’s owner,
James Bobby Butler, and his brother, Marlin
Jackson Butler, encouraged, directed and
allowed some clients to kill deer illegally
without proper licenses and permits, and by
using illegal means and methods such as
spotlighting and rifles during archery season.
In May 2010, a federal grand jury hand-
ed down a 23-count felony indictment charg-
ing the Butler brothers with a long list of
hunting violations, including multiple viola-
tions of the Lacey Act.
The Lacey Act is a federal law that pro-
hibits the transport of illegally taken game
across state lines. The law has razor teeth,
carrying a maximum penalty of five years in
prison and a $250,000 fine per count.
Last June, U.S. Senior District Judge
Wesley Brown of Wichita, Kan., sentenced
the Butler brothers to jail time and slapped
them with healthy fines following months of
legal wrangling that ended in plea deals.
James Butler was sentenced to 41 months
in federal prison and fined $50,000. Marlin
Butler was sentenced to 27 months in feder-
al prison and fined $20,000. Both men are
appealing their sentences.
Court records indicate the U.S. govern-
ment at one time targeted as many as 60
Camp Lone Star hunters suspected of ille-
gally killing more than 100 deer—many of
them trophy bucks—during hunting seasons
spanning 2005-08.
Judging from recent developments in the
case, not everyone in that group is out of the
woods just yet.
In July, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom of
Wichita announced that two more East
BIG BAGS CATCHES&
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The TF G Report&
8-year-old George Torreros III of Dickinsoncaught his first bull red while fishing withhis dad George Jr and grandfather GeorgeSr at the Galveston jetty.
Hannah Shelby Booth, age 10, of Booth,Texas got her first deer, this 8 point buck,on the Booth Ranch in Ft. Bend County.Hannah’s buck scored green at 130 5/8B&C and weighed 155lbs. Hannah’s mom,Sarah Booth, assisted her on the hunt.
Charles Gonzalez and his son John werefishing the surf at Crystal with the familywhen they caught this bull shark, estimat-ed to weigh 50 pounds. They caught sev-eral more sharks and some bull reds too.
WHITETAIL BUCK
Ft. Bend County
REDFISH
Galveston
SHARK
Crystal Beach
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Texas men had been indicted on federal
poaching charges related to the Butler case.
According to court records, Justin Klein
of Center was indicted on three counts of
transporting deer across state lines that were
taken illegally in Kansas between Nov. 1,
2006 and Nov. 1, 2007. Meanwhile,
Johnny Risinger of Mt. Enterprise was
indicted on one count of transporting a deer
across state lines after the deer was taken
illegally in Kansas on Dec. 1, 2005.
If convicted on the felony charges, Klein
and Risinger face a maximum penalty of five
years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines,
according to Jim Cross, public affairs officer
for the U.S. Attorney in Kansas.
On Aug. 11, federal prosecutors filed
misdemeanor Lacey Act charges against 12
more men from Texas and Louisiana in con-
nection with illegal hunting activity in
Kansas. What follows is a list of the defen-
dants and a description of the federal
charges filed against each one:
• Charles B. Sapp, 32 of Center, Tx:
Charged with taking deer unlawfully without
valid license and tags, and in excess of the
bag limit.
• Michael Herne, 37, of Monroe, La.:
Charged with unlawfully taking deer without
valid license and tags, and in the improper
Deer Management Unit.
• Arthur Clemons, 67, of Cushing, Tx.:
Unlawfully taking deer without valid license
and tags.
• Michael Scarber, 31, of Center, Tx.:
Unlawfully taking deer with illegal equip-
ment.
• Harry Wells, 53, of Denham Springs,
La.: Unlawfully taking deer without valid
license and tags, and in the improper Deer
Management Unit.
• James Jacobs, 41, of Shelbyville, Tx.:
Unlawfully taking deer without valid license
and tags, in the wrong Deer Management
Unit, and in excess of the annual bag limit.
• James Donnan, 57, of Center, Tx.:
Unlawfully taking deer with illegal equip-
ment and failing to tag the deer upon kill.
• Jerry Deville, 39, of Denham Springs,
La.: Unlawfully taking deer without valid
license, and failing to tag the deer.
• Kyle Bush, 39, of Timpson, Tx.:
Unlawfully taking deer without valid license
and tags, in excess of the bag limit, with ille-
gal equipment, and failing to tag the deer
upon kill.
• Zach Belrose, 21, of Center Tx.:
Unlawfully taking deer without valid license
or tags, and in excess of the annual bag limit.
• Douglas Baker, 52, of Palestine, Tx.:
Unlawfully taking deer without a valid
license.
• Bazil Moore, no age or hometown
available: Unlawfully taking deer without
valid license or tags.
According to Cross, the charges against
the 12 men are categorized as misdemeanor
Lacey Act violations based on “the value of
the game they crossed state lines with.”
Cross said the the maximum penalty facing
each hunter is one year in prison and a fine
up to $10,000, if convicted.
Cross held his cards close to the vest
when asked if charges against more hunters
might be forthcoming.
“This case is still open,” he said.
—by Matt Willams
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HardQuestionsAwaitHunters
AS A HUNTER I HAVE BEEN ON GUARD FORthings that could steal this important
part of my lifestyle. For years we
have looked at anti-hunting groups
as bogeymen, but are there other factors out
there far more detrimental to the sport?
These are a list of questions I recently
asked myself along with some of my opin-
ions. I hope you will take the time to answer
and perhaps share your opinions with me via
email at [email protected].
Here we go…
1. WHAT HAS BEEN MORE DETRIMENTAL TOhunters in Texas, anti-hunting groups or the
federal government? There are hundreds of
thousands of acres off limits to hunting and
fishing. Let’s take the Aransas National
Wildlife Refuge for example. Sure, they
allow very limited deer and hog hunts but
the entire 100,000 plus acre refuge located
on the coast is off limits to waterfowl hunt-
ing. And, it was purchased by duck stamp
money! Think about that. Who has given us
more restrictions? Is it the antis with their
pathetic signs and slogans or bureaucrats
with real authority and no publicly stated
agenda?
2. WHERE ARE ALL OF THE MORTALLYwounded hunters, deer and immense hunt-
ing pressure caused by the legalization of
crossbows in the archery-only season? For
decades, many in the so-called leadership in
bowhunting in Texas said it was going to be
a disaster to make them legal. The facts
show their resistance had more to do with
cliquish attitudes (hey, I’m better than you
because I shoot a real bow) than any con-
cerns for deer or safety.
3. HAS THE TROPHY WHITETAIL CRAZE OFthe last 30 years benefitted or hurt you? Has
deer hunting outpaced your other living
expenses in great fashion or has it stayed the
same? How much longer can you afford to
deer hunt?
4. IS IT ME OR IS THE FEAR OF CHRONICWasting Disease (CWD) way out of line
with reality? Sure, it is a real thing but it has
undoubtedly been around forever and with
all of the deer in Texas along with exotics
imported from everywhere you would think
Texas would have deer dropping left and
right if it CWD were such a huge threat.
5. SHOULD TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFECommissioners be elected instead of
appointed? On one hand it would give them
more accountability if they wanted to seek
reelection but I remember reading a brilliant
article by Ron Henry Strait once that float-
ed the idea that we have done a good job of
keeping the antis out with appointed candi-
dates. With growing urban populations who
have no clue about hunting, he might be
right. What do you think?
6. I WATCH VERY LITTLE OUTDOORS TELEVI-sion but occasionally find myself at a hunting
camp when one of the myriad deer hunting
programs is on. Doesn’t it get a little old to
have a hunter get a shot the very “last day”
of the hunt on a huge buck that is supposed
to be ultra wary, yet while they are talking
about the buck, they have tons of full frame
footage of the deer looking right at the cam-
era? Sometimes clichés need to be dumped
in the trash bin of history.
7. IF FERAL HOGS ARE SUCH A DIRE THREATthen why are the most effective methods
(trapping, hunting at night and hunting with
dogs) prohibited on most state and federal
lands? Oh, I almost forgot baiting is also
illegal so add that to the mix.
8. WHY IS TEXAS NOT THE TOP BOWHUNT-ing state in the nation? We have by far the
most abundant game and are always among
the top in overall license sales, so why do we
consistently rank below the top 10 in
bowhunting? Some say it is because
Midwestern states either have no rifle season
(shotgun only) or very short ones and that
could be a contributing factor for them.
What is the reason for Texas?
9. IF I HAVE TO VISUALLY MEASURE THEspread distance of a whitetail in about 1/3 of
the state before shooting, does that mean I
can throw a speckled trout in the ice chest
and measure it when I get back to the dock?
The possibilities of walking up to the deer
and measuring it before shooting are about
one in a million after all. It is really the same
thing isn’t it? You can’t shoot and release a
deer, nor freeze and release a fish. So how
are antler spread restrictions supposed to be
anywhere in the neighborhood of just?
10. WHAT HAVE YOU AND I DONE TO MENTORsomeone with an interest in hunting? Taking
someone once is fine but as my friend T.J.
Greaney has found with his Kids Outdoors
Zone project, mentoring is key.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A FISHINGtrip with me and the legendary Jimmy
Houston? If so, go to page 17 to find out
the details and sign up. This contest is
being brought to you by Texas Fish &
Game and U.S. Reels and not only
includes winning a trip but also a shot of
you with Houston on our cover in a
future edition. Why are you waiting? Go
sign up now.
—CM
Fish with Me & Jimmy Houston
E-mail Chester Moore at
Chester’s Notes
by Chester Moore | TF&G Executive Editor
14 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
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Then, Now &Tomorrow
ACOPY OF THE 1972/73 TEXAS HUNTING &Fishing Guide was stashed in the bot-
tom drawer of my work desk. I’m a bit
of a pack rat. I almost tossed it, then
decided to take a look.
The yellowed brochure defined the hunting
and fishing regulations during the year I was
hired as an outdoor writer for the Houston
Chronicle. The slim booklet has 48 pages.
By contrast, the 2010/11Texas Parks and
Wildlife Hunting and Fishing Regulations is
104 pages. But that’s not the remarkable dif-
ference. The shocker is the woeful lack of
attention devoted to saltwater angling.
Fishing regulations began on page 30 of
the old booklet. The only requirement under
the “Texas Sportfishing Guide” was an annu-
al $2.15 fishing license. That was good for
freshwater or saltwater, resident or non-resi-
dent. An additional $1.00 saltwater tag was
required for “sport” anglers using trotlines.
The following 14 pages were devoted to
convoluted freshwater sport fishing regula-
tions. But at least the lakes and rivers had size
and bag limits on most sport species.
The final 3 1/2 pages of the1972/73 book-
let were devoted to saltwater fishing. But three
of those pages dealt with various aspects of
commercial fishing for finfish and shellfish.
A total of four sentences concerned regula-
tions pertaining to the huge and growing
industry of sport fishing for speckled trout, red
drum and flounder in the coastal waters of
Texas. And they were short, incomplete sen-
tences, at that. Here, take a look:
Minimum Size Limits:
In all counties: Redfish — 14 inches.
In Cameron, Kenedy and Willacy
Counties: Flounder and Speckled Trout —
12 inches.
All other species — No size limits.
That’s it. No elaboration, no fine tuning
— and no bag limits on any saltwater species.
And, with the exception of three South Texas
counties, no size limits on trout or flounder.
Frankly, I suspect the 14-inch minimum on
reds was imposed to prevent rod-and-reel fish-
ermen from retaining them before they were
large enough to be caught in gill nets.
Younger anglers who have known nothing
but realistic limits might have trouble accepting
the fact that Texas was so lax in protecting
such a valuable resource/industry. This espe-
cially is true considering that, during the past
30 years, the Lone Star State led the way in
coastal finfish conservation and restoration.
The turnaround was achieved by sport fish-
ermen who recognized the serious decline of
redfish and speckled trout, and a growing
commitment by the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department to protect the resource.
Commercial trotlines, gill nets and beach
seines took heavy tolls. And, let’s be honest,
unregulated rod-and-reel pressure was a factor.
Balding, graying old salts remember all this
— the “Redfish Wars” — but some young
lions might benefit from a refresher course in
why our inshore fishing flourishes today.
Space does not permit a blow-by-blow, but
here are some of the highlights:
1977 — The Gulf Coast Conservation
Association was founded in Houston by
approximately 40 anglers determined to fight
the powerful commercial fishing industry. Talk
about the proverbial acorn growing into the
mighty oak — GCCA made it happen.
1979 — The first significant limits on
sport fishing (supported by GCCA) were
enacted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Commission. A rod-and-reel fisherman could
keep 20 trout and 10 reds per day. The mini-
mum length on trout was 12 inches. While
that daily bounty might seem remarkably liber-
al now, it was a big start in the right direction.
1981 — House Bill 1000, the “Redfish
Bill,” was signed into law by Gov. Bill
Clements. The law established red drum and
speckled trout as “gamefish,” effectively pro-
tecting them from commercial harvest in state
waters. This was huge; it established the value
of these species as a sport resource.
1982 — The John Wilson Marine
Hatchery run by TPWD and funded by
GCCA was opened near Corpus Christi.
1983 — The first batch of 2.3 million
hatchery spawned redfish fingerlings was
released in the bays near Port O’Connor.
Other coastal states were in awe of the can-do
attitude of Texas.
1984 — TPWD cut the daily speckled
trout limit from 20 to 10. The minimum
length was increased to 14 inches (to improve
spawning recruitment). The redfish limit was
cut to five fish, 18-inch minimum length. The
drastic reductions were in response to the killer
freeze during the winter of 1982/83.
1985 — TPWD approved the $5 Texas
Saltwater Stamp, required in addition to a
valid fishing license. Funds raised were used
specifically for conservation projects.
1989 — The limits again were tightened.
Another killer freeze played a part but so, also,
did the growing acceptance of catch-and-
release. The concept works. Three reds per
day, with a 20-to-28-inch slot limit, were
allowed (plus one annual tag for an over-sized
fish). The trout daily limit remained 10 but
the minimum length was upped to 15 inches.
2002 — TPWD acknowledged the fact
that large speckled trout are special. The big
fish deserve recognition and protection, and
the commission adopted the current rule
allowing only one trout measuring 25 inches or
more per day. In addition, licensed guides
were not permitted to retain trout, reds or
flounder while fishing with clients.
2007 — TPWD cut the daily limit for
speckled trout to five per day in the lower
Laguna Madre system south of Marker 21 in
the Land Cut. The move was made in
response to dwindling returns of mature trout
in the shallow South Texas bays. Two years
later, based on creel survey returns, both num-
bers and sizes were up.
The future for saltwater sport fishing in
Texas looks positive, mostly because of a lega-
cy of commitment along the coast and in
Austin. I think I’ll keep the old brochure. In
many ways, 1972 was a long, long time ago.
E-mail Joe Doggett at
Doggett at Large
by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor
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The Case of Client v.Guide
GUIDED FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPSdon’t always end successfully, even
when they do.
If you think that doesn’t make
sense, try sorting out the details of a hunting
trip this past season that led to disappoint-
ment and, ultimately, a lawsuit.
Sometimes I’ll name names in columns,
and sometimes I will not. In this case, it’s the
latter, because there isn’t yet resolution of the
case.
Generally, a couple of hunters signed on
for what they thought would go one way, and
it went another in a big way. They paid for
a good time and didn’t get it.
Most such disappointments end with
promise of a free trip, which seems at face
value a fair exchange if best-laid plans lay an
egg. In this case, however, the plaintiffs hope
to recover actual costs, plus damages and
attorneys’ fees.
A judge or jury will sort it all out, or the
sides will square up before trial. That’s how
our system works. If you’re angry or feel
wronged, whatever the circumstances that
got you that way, you can get a day in court.
Good system, mostly.
As much as I’d like to pick a side and
beat its tambourine until everyone tapped
toes in agreement, that would only alienate
folks. Instead, I’d rather offer thoughts on
how any guided trip could go better and how
both guide and client can ensure that it does.
We begin with the hunter or fisherman
who searched the Web and found what
seemed a reputable, respected guide service.
Its site featured photo galleries of success-
ful sportsmen and their kills or catches, all
smiles and not a one of them looking disap-
pointed. Secondary pages detail how and
where the service hunts or fishes, then wrap
with pricing and other services. Standard
stuff.
Online or on the phone, a reservation is
made, and that’s where both parties tend to
miss the opportunity to avoid problems; nei-
ther asks the other enough questions.
The more information is exchanged
beforehand, the fewer potential surprises.
Clients should express wants and needs, and
guides should explain the realities of pursu-
ing wild game.
Do you still run the boat in the photos?
Can you provide a rifle? Do you always hunt
from blinds? Does everybody catch fish or
get close shots at trophy bucks?
And on the flip side...
How much experience do you have?
What would you consider a successful trip?
Do you prefer lots of little fish or a few big
fish? Do you mind walking, or would you
prefer to ride to a blind?
Lots of people can cast plugs or blow
duck calls and stumble into the business, but
only a few last more than a season. They’re
magicians, in a way, only they can never be
certain that all their assistants will show up
for work.
Nobody who paid full freight wants to be
in the hands of an unseasoned guide, either,
but no great guide ever earned that reputa-
tion hunting by himself.
Hundreds, sometimes thousands of dol-
lars change hands on a dock or in some
sleepy pancake joint before dawn, often
between people who would be total strangers
but for a single call or email. Everyone
hopes it goes well.
But when it doesn’t, even when they were
told in advance about “worst case” out-
comes, clients don’t want to believe it could
happen to them.
It can, and it does. That’s when you pon-
der whether the guide did everything in his
or her power to provide opportunity to get
clean shots or catch fish. Did the guy work?
And make no mistake that guiding, on 90
percent of trips, is work. The crazy-good
trips are well earned bonuses for anyone who
puts in the daily effort of a professional
hunter or fisherman.
The highest hurdle for guides is that none
of them can make fish eat or ducks fly or deer
stand still. When a chef promises a great
meal, he’s got a kitchen full of food behind
him. When the Astros promise a major-
league ballgame…well, maybe that’s not the
best example.
If something goes wrong, a guide should
do all in his or her power to overcome that
situation. And if that person’s equipment
was in good shape, skills were to par, and
full effort was made to meet client expecta-
tions, then as a guide, the test was met.
As a client, you must cover your end by
being on time and following the guide’s
instructions – so long as they are within pre-
set boundaries.
Of course, even when both sides do
everything absolutely right, straps and
stringers can hang empty at day’s end.
That’s the exception more than the rule, but
such are hunting and fishing.
In all its forms, the service industry is
burdened with customer expectations that
sometimes are vague and impossible to meet.
A “good” hunting or fishing trip has hun-
dreds of definitions. Some of my best hunts,
as noted by the hunters themselves, only put
a handful of birds on the strap. Value was in
the experience, not the meat.
To make clients smile when wildlife does-
n’t cooperate, however, the experience itself
has to have genuine value. A guide has to
know his or her craft and execute it as well
as or better than the people with whom he’s
sharing a boat or blind. If there’s a valid rea-
son why animals weren’t where they should
have been, it should be explained in high-
dollar detail.
I can’t say how this particular case will be
resolved, but it will spark more first-contact
discussion between guides and their clients,
and both sides ultimately will benefit.
E-mail Doug Pike at
18 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
Pike on the Edge
by Doug Pike | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor
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DeerBaiting101
THAT THERE IS A SO CALLED DEBATEabout the sensible, effective practice
and proven hunting strategy of bait-
ing deer is rather laughable, except
for the very tragic reality that such buffoon-
ery and denial has manifested themselves in
the most egregious and offensive of ways.
One has to look no further than the infesta-
tion of a gang of America hating, power
abusing, corrupt gangsters in the White
House and throughout much of the govern-
ment of the United States of America for
definitive proof that way too many
Americans have lost their minds.
We can only pray such ignorance is cor-
rected soon, very, very soon.
For the record, those clowns who frown
on, or worse, would ban the baiting of deer,
are the very same clowns who would bait up
a leopard, bait up a bear, a hog, plant an
ambush friendly foodplot, make a mock
scrape, put out some doe in heat pee, sit at a
waterhole to ambush the creature of their
choice, or maybe hunker down in a govern-
ment or hunt club flooded corn field to
whack an incoming mallard. Really. Think
about that for moment. Ugly ain’t it.
Being that as it may, this old backstrap
addicted predator would like to state right
here and now that without question, my
absolute favorite hunting joys come from
picking the perfect tree in a perfect gamey
area, where there are either falling acorns, or
scattered kernels of golden corn, or maybe a
few small piles of commercial deer attrac-
tants or feed so as to optimize my close
encounter dreams with the delicious herbi-
vore of my choice.
I simply love hunting a spot where it is
most likely to get a shot, instead of less like-
ly to kill a deer. Ya think!
So let us examine the lessons learned of
the hunting'est bowhunting fool the world
has ever known, for I, your loving Uncle
Ted, The Nuge, Strap Assassin1, the hum-
ble WhackMaster, through much trial and
error, (heavy on the error) have discovered
better than average baiting techniques to
bring 'em in. Usually.
Of course, in some areas, one has to only
whip out a bag of shell corn and climb a tree
to get a crack at a deer, but on my outra-
geously heavily hunted grounds, a bit more
thought must go into baiting to get a strap-
per to show up.
First and foremost is stand location.
Repeat after me; wind, sun, cover. Say it
again; WIND, SUN, COVER.
It is always best to play the wind in our
favor, and we never want the sun shining on
us. Of equal importance is our silhouette
breaking hideout. We must have the advan-
tage, and the disappearance of the human
form is paramount. Do it all and do it all
completely.
The clowns who poo-poo baiting always
ignorantly beller that a real hunter scouts the
wild grounds, and learns all about the ani-
mals, and that baiting eliminates these basic
dues of hunting. Bull dung.
I doubt there is a human being alive that
scouts more than I do. I refuse to believe that
any hunter anywhere walks, explores, probes
or examines more deer ground in many sea-
sons that I do every season. Searching for a
baiting location is the same thing as scouting
for any and all deer ambushing endeavors.
Who doesn’t know this? I hear these guys
squawk this nonsense and actually feel sorry
for them.
Once we have determined the ultimate
travel routes, bedding, feeding and staging
zones, the proper treestand or groundblind
spot must be chosen for optimal wind, sun
and hiding cover. I like funnels and edge,
where there is plenty of ground cover to pro-
vide a sense of security for approaching deer
or hogs.
We hear a lot about “bait piles.” Don’t
put your bait in piles. Deer are on red alert
when they approach a pile of feed, but are
more relaxed when they encounter small
amounts spread far and wide, especially a
few kernels in dense ground cover. Deer
seem to gain confidence when they get a lit-
tle taste and nothing happens, and then
more readily move around looking for more,
eventually moving in for a shot where more
bait has been placed for the ultimate shot.
Shell corn works darn good almost
always, but with so many commercial baits
on the market, you would be wise to try them
all and see what brings em in the best.
I have found Primos Swamp Donkey to
be killer. So too the various WildGame
Innovations products. The 30-06 blend of
grains out of Ohio works like gold on both
my MI and TX sacred deer grounds.
Whatever your choice, a little extra effort
in finding and setting up that ultimate loca-
tion, and the sensible spreading of assorted
baits in optimal shot spots is as legitimate a
hunting strategy as any, anywhere, anytime.
I for one hunt as hard as possible to
encounter as much game as I possibly can.
Deer need to be killed, we insist on back-
straps aplenty, and I love being around
wildlife. I never bother fishing without a
worm on my hook, and baiting deer, bear,
hogs, turkey, where legal, gives me a thrill
that cleanses my soul.
E-mail Ted Nugent at
On the Web
For more gung-ho hunting cele-bration, visitwww.tednugent.com
T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 19
by Ted Nugent | TF&G Editor at Large
Ted’s TexasWild
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Runnin’ andGunnin’
IF YOU, LIKE MANY AMERICANS, BREATHE,you have no doubt heard about the gun
running debacle held recently by
America’s premier gun control organi-
zation, the BATF&E, which has become a
government acronym for Officers Who
Can’t Find Their Ammo With Both
Hands. In case you’re wondering why the
letters don’t correspond, so is everyone else,
but nobody has had the guts to ask yet.
My editor, Don Zaidle, asked me to do a
news story about this fiasco when it first
started, but so far I haven’t done one. The
problem is that it’s not easy to get new infor-
mation from people who belong to a govern-
ment organization so arrogant the employees
don’t even talk to each other. It’s also diffi-
cult to get new information from people who
have been so terrorized by that agency, and
forced by that agency to commit heinous
crimes, that they check with their lawyers
before they tie their shoes.
Basically, in case you’ve been living in a
cardboard box on Jupiter for the past several
months, the BATF&E had an operation
going in which they told gun dealers to
knowingly and illegally sell guns to people
who were supplying the arms for the bad
guys in Mexico. Instead of then arresting
these people, the BATF&E allowed them to
take the guns south. And we’re not talking
about ten or fifteen rifles, here. We’re talking
about over a thousand, minimum.
One of these guns later turned up at a
shootout in which an American law enforce-
ment officer was killed. According to
America’s litigious standards, if the trans-
gressor in this case were the tobacco industry
or a gun company instead of the BATF&E,
they would have already been sued for bil-
lions of dollars. And they would have lost.
Eric Holder, our AG (a government
acronym for Boss Who’s Probably Lying),
is in charge of the BATF&E. Holder claims
he didn’t know any of this was happening. If
Holder really didn’t know what was going
on he’s incompetent, and if he did he’s a
criminal. Either way he doesn’t belong in
charge of a kiddie train at Fiesta Texas,
much less a large agency that plays with
Commentary
by Kendal Hemphill | TF&G Political Commentator
22 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
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guns.
All this comes on top of the recent claims
of the Mexican government that their gun
problem is our fault. They can’t control their
citizens because the Mexican government
has taken away their rights, so somehow the
U.S. is the culprit. Blaming us for Mexico’s
illegal gun problem is like replacing your
spare tire because your gas tank is empty.
Some in our government also claim that
90 percent of the guns going into Mexico
illegally are coming from the U.S. This has
turned out to be less than accurate, inas-
much as it is a bald-faced lie.
No one knows exactly how many of
Mexico’s illegal guns come from the U.S.,
but the 90 percent figure cannot be support-
ed by any evidence whatever. That number
was invented because a small fraction of
guns confiscated in Mexico during a given
period were thought to have come from the
U.S., and when that fraction was checked,
90 percent of the guns in that fraction were
found to have originated in America.
Politicians hate to let a little thing like facts
ruin a good story.
The most dependable estimates I have
found that can be supported by factual evi-
dence indicate the number of Mexico’s ille-
gal guns that came from the U.S. is about
17 percent. Many will find that number
unacceptable, of course, but the laws of sup-
ply and demand will be met, from one source
or another.
The question is, if Mexico can blame the
U.S. for its illegal guns, can the U.S. blame
Mexico for its illegal drugs? The data I’ve
turned up indicates that at least 80 percent
of America’s illegal drugs come from
Mexico. This is obviously the fault of the
Mexican government.
Also coming to light recently is the fact
that many of Mexico’s illegal guns were sold
legally, by U.S. companies, under U.S. gov-
ernment oversight, to the Mexican military.
They were issued to Mexican troops, who
became unhappy and left the army, taking
their M16s with them when they joined the
Mexican drug cartels, where they were paid
more, treated better, and were far more pop-
ular. So a lot of the guns our government is
complaining about going to Mexico from the
U.S. were sent there by the people com-
plaining about them. This is known as
‘spin.’
Mexico most definitely does have a gun
problem. The problem is that Mexican citi-
zens are denied the right to keep and bear
arms. The way to solve the problem is to
issue a military-style rifle and several maga-
zines of ammo to each Mexican head of
household, so those good people can defend
themselves against the bad guys.
No, I don’t expect that to happen. Once
you give up rights, you rarely get them back.
What I do expect is for Americans to be
smart enough to refuse to accept the blame
for Mexico’s gun problems. I also expect
Americans to recognize the BATF&E for
what it is, a government agency that has
become so powerful, corrupt, and lawless it
must be disbanded.
American lives are at stake, but more
importantly, so is American freedom.
E-mail Kendal Hemphill at
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24 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® PHOTOS: JAY CRIHFIELD); INSET, THOMAS BURLISON;
LEAVES, MAKSIM SHMELJOV), BIGSTOCK
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 25
THE WHISTLE OF A BOBWHITE QUAIL on a ranch near Nix in
Central Texas at daybreak one morning recently may not be regarded as
front-page news to some people but it was like a choir
of hope for me. After all, wild quail numbers have
been declining all across the south and west and the
voices of the prince of all game birds from anywhere
brings me to attention.
by Bob Hood
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26 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
Fortunately for Texas wing-shooters, quail
aren’t the only birds available, both season-
ally and almost year-round. Doves, quail,
ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, and pheasants
provide a large variety of wing-shooting
opportunities all across the state.
Mother Nature also has stepped in to
provide many of us with even more wing-
shooting opportunities. She has expanded
white-winged doves populations all the way
from South and West Texas and Mexico into
many northern communities in recent years,
providing additional hunting opportunities
for dove hunters.
Sandhill crane hunting is excellent in the
Texas Panhandle, especially from Floydada
to Muleshoe, and goose hunting is a yearly
attractant to hunters from the Texas
Panhandle grain and cotton fields all the
way to the rice fields of the South Texas
coastal plains. Even resident Canada geese
in East Texas are now fair game to hunters
at the same time the special teal duck-only
season is under way in September.
Other species of migrating ducks and
geese also offer great hunting throughout the
state in private ponds and lakes, public reser-
voirs, rivers and coastal bays.
So, just where are your best wing-shoot-
ing areas for any of these upland and water-
fowl birds? It’s where the water and food
sources are the most plentiful.
Some commercial hunting operations
such as the WS Sherrill Waterfowl Resort
near Wharton go several steps beyond just
hoping the weather and natural water
sources attract the ducks and geese from
their northern wintering grounds. Bill
Sherrill annually pumps water into 40
pounds ranging from 10 to 100 acres in size
to attract ducks and geese and hunts them
sparingly so not to over-pressure them with
hunting.
Sherrill’s conservation efforts have
worked to produce some of the greatest
wing-shooting of waterfowl in the state.
Elsewhere, many outfitters rely on
Mother Nature to provide food and water on
their hunting properties. In Knox and sur-
Yes, this was a male bob white quail assembling his assembly on the Lampasas
County ranch, an area that normally does not host large quail populations. Three
double-syllable notes in a row was music to my ears as I sat in front of a hunting
cabin watching two whitetail deer feeding nearby just after the crack of dawn.
Mother Nature hasstepped in to providemore wingshooting
opportunities.
“
“Wild quail numbers have been declin-ing all over Texas. Fortunately, Texaswingshooters have plenty of otheravailable opportunities, including...
Sandhill crane offer great huntingopportunities in the Texas Panhandleregion that stretches from Floydadaand Muleshoe.
Waterfowl hunting is strong throughoutthe Lone Star State, from the grainfields of the Panhandle, through to therice fields of the coastal plains.
NO
RM
AN
BA
TE
MA
N;
TO
M Y
OU
NG
; B
OB
HO
OD
Fea1-Hood-Wings of Autumn.qxd:Layout 1 9/1/11 2:46 PM Page 26
rounding counties, Jeff Stanfield of Stanfield
Outfitters moves his hunters from field to
field to follow Canada and specklebelly
geese feeding patterns while his father, Ron,
provides released pheasant and quail hunt-
ing on nearby grassy fields when he isn’t
helping guide goose hunting groups.
With the exception of some blue quail
populations in far West Texas, bob whites
have continued on the down-slide, but that
doesn’t mean Texas hunters are out of the
game for bagging the prized upland game
bird. Good populations of wild bob white
quail still exist in South and Central Texas
as well as portions of North Texas where
adequate rainfalls have helped them survive.
Also, a number of operations that provide
released bird hunting have improved their
selections of quail to provide birds that are as
flighty, and sometimes more flighty, than
native quail.
One such operation is the S.M. Brown
Game Bird Ranch north of Nocona near
Spanish Fort bordering the Red River on
the Texas-Oklahoma border. Ranch owner,
Matt Brown is not only consistently looking
for the best quail for his released-bird opera-
tion but he tailors his land to accommodate
and propagate already existing populations
of native bobwhites by improving the habitat.
Billy Bunett, owner of Hidden Lakes
Resort at Yantis near Lake Fork, does the
same. Burnett releases pheasants, chucker
and quail, has a good brace of bird dogs and
takes care of hunters’ needs in lodging,
meals and bird cleaning.
Burnet’s tiny Jack Russell wirehaired
retriever, Huckleberry, has become a celebri-
ty among Burnett’s wing-shooting cus-
tomers.
Mourning and white-winged dove hunt-
ing may not be as good as usual in many
areas of the state this year due to recent
drought conditions and wildfires which
affected nesting activity of native birds, but
there likely will be hot spot areas of migrat-
ing doves from the north that target the best
available food plots.
Some of the best places to find doves will
be around stock tanks, gravel pits and irri-
gated fields that surpassed drought condi-
tions to produce adequate sources of foods.
The key to successful wingshootingin these times of challenging condi-tions is to find where food andwater sources are plentiful.
BO
B H
OO
D
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30 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® PHOTO: NATUREGUY, CANSTOCK PHOTO
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 31
What Factors Can Disrupt theGenerations-Old Timing of a Region’s
Rutting Season?
BY PAUL BRADSHAW
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32 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
Without a doubt, the rut was on and why
shouldn’t it be. The date was November
12th, right on schedule for the peak rut in
my hunting area but is this always the case?
Can you look at the rut charts for your sec-
tion of the state and put in for vacation on
the peak and be assured that there will love
struck bucks running around like ants or are
there other factors that lead to an interrupt-
ed rutting period?
“There is a time for everything, and a
season for every activity under heaven.” I’m
quoting Ecclesiastes, not The Byrds. Every
activity in nature has a very specific time,
including white-tail rutting activity. The
purpose behind the rut is simply to make
more little deer so that one day some of them
can grow up to be big deer and start the
process over again.
It is theorized that this timing is all based
on a culmination of factors including the
amount of available daylight (photo period)
and phase of the moon. I say it is theorized
and not confirmed because as of yet we have
not discovered a way for the deer to talk and
tell us why they rut when they do. We can
only observe the behavior and make educat-
ed guesses. Realistically, the rut happens
around the same time every year in a gener-
al area in order to maximize survival rates of
the fawns produced in a specific area.
In optimum conditions 200 days after the
doe is bred (200 days is the gestation period
for white-tails) the fawn will hit the ground
at a time when there is a lot of food and
cover around. In areas where there are mul-
tiple factors affecting fawn survival, the rut is
sometimes timed so that fawns are born dur-
ing a period when there is the least likeli-
hood of a natural disaster occurring.
For example, deer born in the Mississippi
River Delta would have low survival rates if
they were born in late spring (even though
the weather conditions are ideal and there is
plenty of forage for the does to turn into
milk), when the region is susceptible to
flooding. Looking at the peak rut charts for
this area we see that the majority of the
breeding is done later in surrounding areas
to allow the potential for floods to pass
before fawns are born. Since this area is less
likely to receive harsh winter weather than
North Dakota, the weather is not the main
determining factor for when the rut occurs.
This isn’t something the deer learn, but
rather a hereditary trait passed down by the
generations upon generations of deer that
have called the region home.
So overall, the main driving force behind
deer breeding when they do is the fawn sur-
vival rate but around here that just puts the
rut into about a two month period. Are
there other short-term factors that even fur-
ther define when the rut will occur and can
it actually be interrupted? I’m glad you
asked and the answer is yes.
White-tail expert Charles Alsheimer and
Vermont Biologist Wayne Laroche are work-
ing on a study to determine the effects of the
moon on rutting activity; but other interest-
ing information has come from the study,
most notably being the affect of weather and
human disruption have on rutting activity.
You can read more about the study at
charlesalsheimer.com but here’s the part that
I believe will have the most impact on how
you hunt during the rut.
First, air temperature plays a large roll in
the intensity of rutting. More accurately,
when it gets hot the rutting activity stops all
together. During the study, when the tem-
perature rose above 45 degrees (this is up
north) the rut stopped. The animals were
unable to chase without overheating due to
their heavier winter coats. Around here that
rut stopping temperature will probably be
close to 75 but as long as it is unseasonably
hot don’t expect the see any bucks chasing
even when temperatures fall during the
night.
Second, the more you move around in
your hunting area, the less the deer do dur-
ing the day, even during the peak of the rut.
I know that most hunters think that the rut is
a magical period when they can run around
the woods doing whatever they please and
the deer won’t pay them any attention, but
that’s simply not true. In Alsheimer’s study
the deer in areas with a large human pres-
ence traveled less than 30% of the time dur-
ing the day, even during the rut. So one of
the quickest ways to interrupt the rut is to let
your guard down and tip the deer off that
you are hunting them.
The third thing that can mess up the rut
in your area is an abnormally high doe to
buck ratio. When there are a lot more does
than bucks on your hunting grounds then the
bucks have little motivation to chase for does
because they know there is another one
around the corner. Sure, the young bucks
will chase anything that passes by, but
mature bucks with a few seasons behind
them know better. An over abundance of
does leads to a long drawn out breeding
period, with very little chasing, making many
hunters wonder if they missed the rut when
they are right in the middle of it. This
should be motivation enough to take a few
does out of your heard every year.
We all know that at some point this hunt-
ing season the deer in our respective areas
will be breeding. Exactly when they do this
is still somewhat of a guess but it most cer-
tainly can be affected by the heat, how much
they are disturbed, and the doe to buck ratio.
Keep an eye on, and work around, these
three factors and you’ll have a better chance
and taking a rutting buck.
SITTING ON THE GROUND UNDER a centuries old oak tree, I was trying to
stay warm and dry in the cold November drizzle. I love hunting on days like this
and my early morning vigil was soon rewarded as a doe sprinted by almost within
arms reach. Hot on her tail was a young buck that was probably wearing his first
set of antlers. As that duo disappeared into the underbrush another buck trotted
down the same trail with its neck out and nose down. A few minutes later a third
young buck came running down the trail looking for love.
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 33
TheBowTechAssassin
OCTOBER TO ME MEANS DEER SEASON.Bow hunting whitetails is my pas-
sion. After reading some of my
columns, you might have figured
that out already. Although I, along with
most of you, feel that we are fully prepared
to enjoy success this season, we still need to
remember to grab a bow and shoot some
arrows to stay in “hunting” shape. I make
sure that I still practice often during the sea-
son so I can make a clean, humane shot
when the time comes.
This year, I decided to add a new bow to
my arsenal. Although I already shoot a
BowTech and have for years, I decided it
was time for a new one. I am glad I made
that decision. I have been shooting the
Justice and it has been good to me. I try to
keep up with the many changes that compa-
nies like BowTech are making, changes for
the better I might add.
Enter the new 2011 BowTech Assassin.
From the minute I picked this up and felt the
familiar BowTech grip, I knew this was a bow
I could love, and I was not disappointed.
You may be asking yourself “Why is he
talking about practicing and then bring up
the new bow?” Well, I just came in from the
shooting range and had to tell you how
impressed I am with this bow. The very first
group of arrows I shot at 20 yards were all
touching each other, 30 yards brought the
same result. I was totally impressed. I have
not tried my 40 and 50-yard pins yet, but I
do not expect any big problems.
Not only does this bow have a super
smooth draw, but it also comes with the
speed of 333 fps. BowTech has been famous
for having a very fast bow since Day 1. They
do mean it when they say, “We take the arc
out of archery.” They even brought back the
“smooth draw” cams for those who want a
smoother draw. For those who prefer the
smoother cams, BowTech claims that you
will lose about 5 fps. Personally, I think that
would go unnoticed.
One thing I loved about the Assassin was
that I had the option to order it with the new
RAK system. Simply put, RAK means
ready, aim, kill. The knowledgeable techs at
BowTech take each bow and will set it up for
you at the factory. Mine came ready to hunt.
It was already equipped with a peep sight,
arrow rest, sights, wrist strap, stabilizer and
a quiver. It even came equipped with a string
loop. I only needed to slightly adjust the
sights and I was ready to go. The whole
process took me less than 10 minutes. I pre-
fer a drop away rest, but that was the only
change I made.
I love the fact that with the Assassin, I
have the option to change my draw length
without the use of a bow press. I am not sure
yet if I want to shorten my draw length, but
I might. The bow just feels so good and is
shooting so well right out of the box that I
just might leave things as they are. I must
admit that it sure is nice to have that option.
BowTech is not only famous for produc-
ing fast and accurate bows, but their Binary
Cam system is also legendary in the bow
hunting world. Combine all of this with a
very generous 7 inch brace height and this
Assassin is not only very forgiving for a fast
bow, but with a weight of only 3.8 pounds,
it is a pleasure to hunt with.
Although the bow already came with all
the silencers included and installed, I still
could not believe how quiet this bow was. I
must have shot 30 or 40 arrows before I even
realized that fact. I was mesmerized at how
smooth the draw was and just took the fact
that the bow was so quiet for granted.
For those interested in the specs of this
bow, here they are:
Speed: 333 FPS
Let-Off: 65-80%
Draw Length: 26-30”
Draw Weights: 50, 60, 70
Brace Height: 7”
Weight: 3.8 lbs.
Axle to Axle Length: 30 5/8”
I have saved the best for last. With other
quality bows running up towards $800 or
higher, BowTech has kept this price at
around $600. That is not the price of a bare
bow like the other companies. That price
includes everything you need to hunt with. I
joked with my friends and said, “The only
thing they forgot is the tree stand.”
I realize that bow season has already
started for us in Texas. I am not suggesting
you get a new bow mid-stream here, but for
those of you who are thinking about a new
bow, The BowTech Assassin would be an
excellent choice, particularly with the RAK
system. The price is right, and the bow is a
high quality bow from a company that
embraces quality technology. BowTech has
been around for years and after personally
trying out this new Assassin bow, I can
understand why.
The sun just came out again and I want
to get out and do a little shooting with my
new bow. Good luck this season. Have fun
and be safe out there.
Texas Bowhunting
by Lou Marullo | TF&G Bowhunting Editor
PHOTO: COURTESY BOWTECH ARCHERY
E-mail Lou Marullo at
The Assassin
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ConcealedCarryRevolvers
FOR THE FIRST HALF OF MY CAREER IN LAWenforcement I carried revolvers almost
exclusively. In all those years I never
had a complaint about the revolver as
a self-defense weapon. In fact, today,
admitting the ascendency of the
semi-auto as king of personal
defense handguns, I still carry a
revolver on regular occasions, espe-
cially while prowling around in the
brush or back country. Nothing in hand-
guns beats a big magnum revolver as a bear
dissuader.
For concealed carry the revolver does
have a couple of deficiencies. For a revolver
to hold several rounds of powerful ammuni-
tion it must have a cylinder that is rather
large in diameter. This is not the case with
semi-autos, as the cartridges for them are
carried in a magazine that can be only
slightly wider than the cartridge
itself. Still, even though there are
admitted drawbacks to revolvers,
they are minor and I believe that
their strengths far outweigh
their weaknesses.
One of the advantages of a
r e v o l v e r
over an auto is obvious
when a dud cartridge is encountered. One of
the loudest sounds in the world is a click
when you are expecting a bang. One game
warden who had to shoot a bear in self-
defense said he did not remember hearing a
single one of the very loud .357 Magnum
cartridges that he fired, but that he distinctly
heard the click when he ran out of ammo and
the hammer struck an already fired round.
With a revolver, should you have a dud,
all that is required is to pull the trigger again.
The gun, which is double-action (a better
term is trig-
ger cocking-action)
does all the work for you
TexasDepartmentof Defense
34 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
| Self Defense |
| Concealed Carry |
| Tactical |
by Steve LaMascus
AMMUNITION IS ALWAYS AN ISSUEin self-defense. There are a number of
things you must consider when buying
ammunition your life may depend on.
First is, how good a manstopper is it?
It is silly to buy ammunition that is not
the best there is for stopping a threat.
Second is, is it too powerful for you
to shoot well? Even if it is the best in
the world at stopping an assailant in
his tracks, it is worthless if you can't
put it where it needs to be. A great
example of this would be the massively
powerful .454 Casull. Ruger makes a
snub-nosed handgun in .454 Casull. It
is intended as a carry weapon for
those who want a handgun for stop-
ping big bears. As a manstopper it
would be wonderful, but it has several
disadvantages that prevent it from
being a viable candidate for that
purpose. It is so powerful
Ammunition for SelfDefense Revolvers Continued on page 40 �
PHOTO STEVEN MCSWEENY,
DREAMSTIME
PH
OT
O C
AN
ST
OC
K P
HO
TO
, G
AR
Y5
18
DeptOfDef.qxd:Layout 1 9/1/11 4:35 PM Page 34
except pulling the
trigger. When the
trigger is pulled
the cylinder
rotates and brings
a fresh round in
line with the bore,
the trigger also brings back the hammer and
when the round is in battery, releases the
hammer to strike the primer, firing the
round.
If you have a dud in an auto, you must
then go into the various drills that will clear
the gun, chamber a fresh round, and fire the
gun. This takes an eternity when you are in
a life and death situation.
The only danger with the revolver in such
a situation is if the primer fired but failed to
ignite the powder charge. If this happens it is
probable that the bullet has been forced into
the barrel or forcing cone by the pressure of
the primer, but that it did not exit the barrel.
If this is the case, firing the gun before the
obstruction is cleared can and probably will
destroy the handgun and may injure the
shooter. I choose not to worry about such
things when my life is being threatened.
Revolvers are simpler to learn to use than
autos. My wife, Kandace, simply cannot
pull back the slide of the smaller semi-autos.
She can, however, shoot small-frame
revolvers like the S&W J Frames very well. I
recently bought her a little Smith & Wesson
Model 632 in .327 Federal Magnum. It is
lightweight and easy to shoot, with very little
recoil. It took her about 10 minutes to be
shooting it well enough to keep the shots on
a standard bullseye target at 10 yards.
As I sit at this computer I am wearing an
old Smith & Wesson Model 38 Bodyguard
with aluminum frame. It is so light I some-
times forget I am wearing it, but should I
need it, it is there, comfortable in the old
handmade pancake holster I use for it. As a
friend of mine says, in regard to the little J-
Frame revolvers – “five for sure.” They hold
5 rounds and unlike a semi-auto, cannot
have a magazine-caused failure.
If I am prowling around the place here,
or someplace else out in the brush, I will
often be wearing one of a pair of Smith &
Wesson revolvers – a 4-inch Model 629 .44
The primary weakness of aconcealed revolver — namelyits bulk — is outweighed bythe reliability of the revolvingchamber.
PH
OT
O C
AN
ST
OC
K P
HO
TO
, U
RB
AN
LIG
HT
DeptOfDef.qxd:Layout 1 9/1/11 4:36 PM Page 35
Magnum, or a 4-inch Model 625 Mountain
Gun in .45 Colt. I carry them in an El Paso
Saddlery Street Combat, on my pants belt,
or a Tom Three Persons holster, also by El
Paso Saddlery, carried on a thick leather
belt. One of these two are my bear protec-
tion when I am fly-fishing in the back coun-
try of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana,
Idaho, or wherever bears are common. I also
carry the .45 Colt, in the same Street
Combat holster, around town here some-
times as my concealed carry gun. Six 250-
grain .45 caliber hollow points are pretty
much all the persuasion anything short of a
main battle tank will need. For bear protec-
tion I simply replace the hollow points with
hard-cast Keith bullets.
Another advantage of a revolver is that it
can handle much more powerful cartridges
than the standard semi-auto. The .44
Texas Department of Defense
that it is almost impossible to shoot
well in rapid fire; and it is so power-
ful that a human body would hardly
slow down the big bullets, which
would continue on to pass through
walls, cars, school buses, and many
other obstacles. Therefore, if you
have a .454 Casull that you like and
would like to use for self-defense,
you can opt to carry .45 Colt ammo
in it. A 250-grain or 225-grain hol-
low point .45 caliber bullet is right
at the top of the heap as a manstop-
per.
Smith and Wesson makes several
super-lightweight models in .44
Magnum, such as the Model 329
PD. If you want to carry one of
these marvelous handguns as your
primary self-defense weapon, I sug-
Ammo� Continued from page 34
Six 250-grain .45caliber hollow
points are all thepersuasion
anything short of amain battle tank
will need
“
“
DeptOfDef.qxd:Layout 1 9/1/11 4:37 PM Page 36
Magnum, .454 Casull, and the massive
.500 Smith & Wesson are good examples of
this.
These days there are three main manu-
facturers of handguns suitable for concealed
carry, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, and
Charter Arms. Smith & Wesson is the pref-
erence of most knowledgeable handgunners,
but Taurus makes a fine gun and is general-
ly considerably less expensive than S&W.
The most accurate revolver I have ever
owned was a 6-inch Taurus Model 44 in .44
Magnum. Charter Arms makes a good
revolver, and their little 5-shot 3-inch
Bulldog in .44 Special is a fine choice for
concealed carry.
The best choices for revolvers for con-
cealed carry are obviously the small-frame
.38 Specials and .357 Magnums. These
can be made very small, very lightweight,
and are easily concealed under very light
clothing. There are, however, some larger
guns that can be carried should the shooter
desire them and be prepared to deal with the
larger frames and cylinders, and heavier
weight.
Smith & Wesson makes a number of fine
choices, including revolvers in .45 ACP and
.40 S&W, so if you prefer the semi-auto-
type cartridges, but like revolvers, you can
have your cake and eat it too. In addition,
Smith & Wesson still makes a full line of
small frame revolvers for concealed carry.
Taurus also offers a large line of fine
revolvers.
Boiled down to the most basic concept, I
guess I would put it this way: If you shoot a
lot and are experienced with handguns, buy
what you prefer -- you know better what you
need than I do.
If you are a novice, shoot very little, and
do not have much experience with a hand-
gun, buy a revolver; at least until you are
confident enough in your ability to graduate
to an auto, if you ever do. Even some of the
most experienced handgunners out there still
prefer the wheel guns to the semi-autos. Me?
I haven't fully decided yet.
gest that you use .44 Special ammu-
nition in it. Then it would be a great
manstopper and a great carry gun.
In the smaller calibers such as
the .357 Magnum and .38 Special,
the best loads are generally mid-
weight bullets pushed to high veloci-
ties. The best load ever developed
in the .357 is the 125-grain hollow
point at around 1250 feet per sec-
ond. It is powerful and controllable.
In the .38 Special the current crop
of +P and +P+ loads using a 125-
grain (or thereabout) bullet are as
good as it gets in that caliber.
Important note: Be certain to
check your firearm before shooting
any modern high pressure ammuni-
tion. Some of the older guns are not
intended for such ammunition and
might blow up or be wrecked by it.
Be safe and not sorry.
—Steve LaMascus
DeptOfDef.qxd:Layout 1 9/1/11 4:38 PM Page 37
Ghosts ofGooseHunts Past
DAYBREAK CREPT SLOWLY ACROSS THElarge, sandy Knox County field
marked with peanuts, stubble and
goose tracks. I raised myself from
the coffin-shaped hole I had dug into the
sandy ground moments earlier, scanned my
surroundings and amused myself with the
thoughts of how goose hunting has changed
in Texas in just a few decades.
The first time I hunted geese was almost
42 years ago when I joined some friends to
hunt with a goose hunting guide in the rice
fields south of Columbus, Texas. It was a
wet morning where some hunters bogged
down in the ankle-deep mud while trying to
walk a few hundred yards into the harvested
field, spent more than an hour draping white
diaper-sized cloths over foot-high stubble
and then donned white parkas before lying
down on their backs on shallow levees.
The cloth “decoys” were intended to
replicate snow geese feeding on the spent
rice. A few years later they were replaced by
white sheets of plastic because the hunting
guides had learned they held up better than
cloth even though they had to be washed
after each hunting trip.
A few years later, I was fortunate to hunt
with another guide whose answer to staying
out of the mud or having to lie on your back
was to use pit blinds which actually were
barrels placed below the ground with small
stools to sit on. He added a few sheets of
gray plastic to his otherwise white spread to
simulate specklebelly geese feeding with the
snows.
Although it took a lot of work spreading
200 or more rags, the system worked and we
shot a lot of geese both lying on or backs and
from the sunken barrels. One hunting guide
who moved to Muleshoe in West Texas to
work as a crop duster took the rag spread
idea with him and used gray rags only to
work as decoys near water or grain stubble to
hunt sandhill cranes.
As I laid there that morning in the Knox
City peanut field waiting for action, the more
I thought about the past the more I appreci-
ated the present. The spread still numbered
around 200 or more decoys as in the old
days but they were a combination of Canada
and snow photo imprinted silhouettes along
with half and full bodied geese.
Instead of lying on our backs in parkas to
blend in with the decoy spread, each of the
nine hunters near me lay in a reclined posi-
tion in individual coffin-shaped holes that
were covered on top first with sheets of par-
ticle boards and then layered with peanut
stubble gathered from the field.
Camouflaged ammunition bags were within
arm’s reach.
Shovels for digging the holes as well as
the particle boards and decoys had been
driven into the field before daybreak by Tony
Stanfield of Stanfield Hunting Outfitters of
Knox City and each hunter joined in digging
the holes and setting out the decoys under
the headlights of their vehicles.
Choosing a place to set up to hunt geese
isn’t just guess work. It requires pre-hunt
scouting to find which fields the geese are
feeding in and then setting up there before
daybreak the following day.
The fresh goose tracks and other signs in
this spread told me this likely was going to
be a good day.
The honking of a single Canada goose
sent each hunter sliding deeper into their
individual dugouts. It soon was followed by
the calls of doubles, triples and groups of six
or more as the geese began entering the field
from their roosting areas not far away.
A lone specklebelly saw the spread and
decoyed to it as if on a string. A hunter on
the opposite end of the line of fire downed it
as it cupped its wings and began to descend.
Soon, the roar of hundreds of Canada and
specklebelly geese could be heard.
The sight of so many geese in the air with
many flocks of 25 to 100 flying toward you
at the same time is awesome. At times, as
many as six to eight geese fell to the ground
from a flock under the No.2, BB and larger
shotshells. And then, as with any type of
waterfowl hunting, there were times when
everyone was left scratching their heads and
wondering how they could have missed.
But that’s goose hunting, and it’s one
thing that makes the hunter want to go back.
E-mail Bob Hood at
38 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® PHOTO: BOB HOOD
Hunt Texas
by Bob Hood | TF&G Hunting Editor
Preparing for a goose hunt in a Knox City, Texas, peanut field.
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40 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® PHOTOS: DUSTIE, CANSTOCK PHOTO; TED NUGENT
Just How Good are Whitetails at Sensing the
Subtle Noises a Bow — or Bowhunter — Makes at
the Moment of the Shot? by Ted Nugent
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 41
THIS IS IT. THIS BUCK IS AS GOOD AS gut, hung and strapped as far as I
was concerned. With the steady breeze caressing my face, a setting sun behind my
back, invisible in my little leafy oak ambush pocket, a carpet of white oak acorns
blanketing the ground before me, this suicidal whitetail was literally asking for it,
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42 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
broadside, angling slightly
away, leg stretched for-
ward, head down facing
away, chowing down, and
oblivious to the venison
addicted predator fifteen
feet up just fifteen yards
away.
Sixty gungho years of
proven bowhunting trial
and error preparation had
come to fruition as I
anchored my arrow into
the corner of my mouth
for the gimme shot of a
lifetime. I could taste his
flesh. My cocky meter was
pegged. I could already
see the killer video on
Spirit of the Wild TV.
Case closed. Game over.
No problem. Sharpen
your knives and fire up the
camera for some celebrato-
ry photos of the perfect
deer hunt. Whip out the
garlic and butter and
mesquite charcoal baby.
This is a done deal.
With all the time in the world to calm
down, focus, review my time-tested killer
shot sequence mantra, say a little prayer for
the wildthings, take a deep breath, relax,
zero in on the pumpstation window, aim
small miss small, I could already envision
my lovely arrow vanishing into the vitals of
this dream shot of a lifetime. So I let ‘er rip
for the easiest dump shot of my life.
Woops! Never mind. As my highly visi-
ble black and white zebra Gold Tip arrow
with the big white feathers sailed just over
the buck’s back, I was speechless, aghast.
Spellbound. Flabbergasted. Befuddled.
Shocked. Dismayed. Bewildered. In total
disbelief. Getting angry. Questioning life
itself. Was I being punked by God? What
in tarnation?
With a deeply furrowed brow and the
look of abject confusion, I glanced back at
ace vidcamdude Bobby Bohannon and
asked “What the
heck?!”
He looked as aston-
ished as I felt. Our
brains couldn’t accept
the information that our
eyes were attempting to
convey. Bobby immedi-
ately rewound the tape
and we gazed into the
vid screen to inspect the
video evidence of what
had just taken place.
The tape doesn’t lie,
and in stop-frame slow
motion, we watched as the big deer buckled
at the shot, dropped his body twenty plus
inches as he gathered himself for the instan-
taneous spring loaded initial leap away
from the sound of danger.
Bobby hears much better than I do, and
he and the video tape proved that this buck
didn’t jump the sound of my bow going off,
but rather the noisy “whoosh” of wind
against the high profile helical feathers I
was using at the time.
Since switching to silent plastic vanes, it
is the rare deer that has leaped out of the
way of my arrows.
And remember, I shoot a lightweight,
48-53 pound draw bow, attaining moderate
velocities of around 200-225 feet per sec-
ond, much slower than the average speed
demon archer today.
But all my bows are set up at their maxi-
mum draw weight so that my limbs are as
tight as they can be, making my bows very
quiet. I add on all the sound and vibration
dampening goodies I can to create the qui-
etest rig possible.
A quiet bow, quiet clothing and silent
arrow rest are critically essential to mini-
mize the chance of alerting the target ani-
mal at the shot.
Of equal importance is tactical prepara-
tion. A bowhunter must become one with
his bow so that the drawing sequence is
graceful, smooth, and virtually unobtrusive.
If you are still one of these blundering
archers that insists on heavy draw weights
that force you to lift your bow awkwardly
into the air and strain to pull it back, you
will do what all such archers end up doing;
quitting or alerting every animal to your
position and blowing the shot, then eventu-
ally quitting.
Rule #1 for efficient archery predator-
ship is stealthy grace. And beyond a bow
we can draw gracefully, that includes intelli-
gent ambush setups where wind, sun and
background cover are proper. An alert deer
that is aware of your presence is so instinc-
tually high strung that your arrow will never
get there in time to defeat its miraculous
dodging ability. Know that.
The prime bowhunting goal is to get to
full draw on an animal virtually unaware
that you are there. With this in mind, a
quiet bow and a quiet arrow provide the
final advantage to make that accurate hit we
all dream of and dedicate ourselves to.
Deer don’t jump the string; they dodge
the hunter and our projectile. The name of
the game is to get it in his vitals before his
amazing defense mechanisms go to
DefCom1.
Visit tednugent.com to learn more about
the gungho hunting celebration.
PHOTO: TED NUGENT
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 43
Wild Bill
THIS AIN'T YOUR TYPICAL TEXASFreshwater piece. Rather, it is a fresh
look at an old warrior with a rich taste
of adventure and a heart the size of
Texas. One who has influenced the lives of
some, touched the souls of many and been a
mentor to the select few who were smart
enough to listen.
Casual acquaintances call him Bill. But
those familiar with his history know him as
"Wild Bill."
He earned that distinctive nickname, but
nearly killed himself in the process.
At 87, he doesn't get around near as well
as he once did. Even so, Wild Bill is still as
tough as boot leather. Just ask and he'll tell
you.
I've been thinking about Wild Bill a lot
lately. His days are numbered, and he knows
it.
Perhaps that's why I felt the urge to reflect
on a man who is largely responsible for who I
am today. Someone who I will always look up
to while he's here, and dearly miss once he is
finally gone.
He's the guy who took me fishing and hunt-
ing as a kid. The same one who taught me
how to twitch a topwater, trim horse's hoof and
shoot a shotgun.
He's the guy who constantly warned me
about keeping the empty beer cans swept out
of my pick-up bed at a time in my life when I
honestly believed I was bulletproof. The same
one who cautioned me to steer clear of girls
who wore too much make-up, and always told
me to treat every woman with respect.
He's the guy with a passionate love for fly-
ing who claims to have spun a 450 Stearman
10,000 feet before pulling it out just above my
grandparent's front yard, all for the mere hell
of it. The same one who landed a plane in a
wheat field between Dallas and Sweetwater
after a strong headwind drained his fuel
reserves prematurely, then finished the leg on
tractor gas.
He's the guy who once owned a black stud
horse named "Bullet" that would rear and
stand on its haunches on command. The same
one who grew up during the Great
Depression, working fields with his siblings to
raise cotton that sold for four cents a pound.
He's the guy who enlisted in the Navy in
1942, one year after the Japanese bombed
Pearl Harbor. The same one who spent 3 1/2
years working as an electrician aboard the
USS Fogg, a 306-foot Naval destroyer escort
that carried him on six trips across the Atlantic
and Mediterranean oceans.
He's the guy who raced home on military
leave in 1944, just so he could marry the
woman he once relied on to shuffle love notes
to another girl while he was in high school.
The same one who has been calling my moth-
er his wife for going on 68 years now.
He's the guy who once owned a herd of
cows so crazy and mean that they wouldn't
load without chasing him through the trailer
and out the emergency hatch. The same one
who sped his '68 Ford down the highway so
fast that my Uncle Glenn couldn't catch up to
warn him that the load of hay stacked high in
his pick-up bed was ablaze.
I could go on and on with stories about
"Wild Bill," but not all of them would be good.
He has lived through heart attacks, prostate
cancer and multiple bouts with pneumonia
and other respiratory problems. His rugged
face bears at least a dozen scars from skin can-
cer removal.
In 1980, he twisted the throttle too hard on
my dirt bike and flipped it on solid white rock.
The blow to his tail bone was so hard it
crushed two vertebrae in his spinal column.
The doctors told him he may never walk
again. Obviously, they didn't know "Wild Bill"
very well.
"Wild Bill" nearly met his match in 1986
when he was thrown from a horse in the New
Mexico high country. His friends found him
unconscious with blood trickling from his ear.
Two hoof scars in the trail indicated the horse
had stopped hard, throwing him into a head-
on collision with a fir tree.
It was a rough time for Wild Bill. His brain
swelled, demanding surgery to relieve the pres-
sure.
Some doctors believed he might not make
it. And if he did, the long term prognosis was
forecast as rocky.
And rocky it was. "Wild Bill" spent three
months in an intensive care unit in Santa Fe
and another two tied in hospital bed at Dallas
Baylor, haunting nurses and anyone else who
crossed his path.
Doctors there said his brain injuries were
likely terminal and that he would probably
never make a full recovery. I was standing in
the room the morning a physician told my
mother he would never drive again, but I
refused to accept it.
So did Wild Bill. It took several years, but
he gradually bounced back to a level nobody
ever expected. Except him.
Wild Bill is a fighter who doesn't know the
meaning of the word "quit."
True. All the beatings have taken their toll.
Though he walks with a sidewards swagger
and speaks in a muffled tone at times, his wit
is genuine as ever and his handshake is like a
vice. Best of all, his heart still beats to a solid
rhythm that is Texas to the bone.
I'm proud to call him my Dad.
PHOTO: MATT WILLIAMS
E-mail Matt Williams at
Texas Freshwater
by Matt Williams | TF&G Freshwater Editor
“Wild” Bill Williams
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‘PorkChoppers’Take FlightAS OF SEPT. 1, QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS
CAN NOW PAY TO HUNT FERAL HOGS OR
COYOTES FROM A HELICOPTER.
In August, Texas Parks &
Wildlife Dept. commissioners
approved permit requirements for
HB-716 passed by the 82nd Texas
Legislature. The new law supports
control of feral hogs or coyotes by
allowing qualified landowners or
their agents to participate in feral
hog or coyote hunts from a heli-
copter. Previously, a person was
prohibited from paying, bartering or
exchanging anything of value to par-
ticipate in aircraft hunts.
About 130 helicopter operations
are currently permitted by the
TPWD to conduct aerial manage-
ment of depredating feral hogs or
coyotes. The new rules permit qual-
ified landowners or their qualified
agents to pay these helicopter oper-
ators to participate in aerial hunts.
To qualify, landowners or
landowner agents must have on file
with TPWD a completed Landown-
er’s Authorization to Manage
Wildlife or Exotic Animals by Air-
craft (LOA) form. There is no appli-
cation fee to become qualified, but
the LOA does not take effect until
TPWD issues an authorization
number.
Feral hog populations in Texas
are estimated at 2 million. Accord-
ing to a Texas Dept. of Agriculture
study, each hog is responsible for
$50-500 in damage to agriculture
and wildlife habitat annually.
GREEN
TPWD BudgetCut 21.5%THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMIS-
SION HAS APPROVED A 2012 BUDGET THAT
REFLECTS A 21.5 PERCENT CUT IN FUNDING
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
The 2012 operating and capital budget
approved by the commission totals
$332.31 million, down from $423.2 mil-
lion in 2011 and $468.8 million in 2010.
TPWD had requested $700 million for
the 2012-2013 biennium in its Legislative
Appropriations Request and received
$550 million, a reduction of 21.5 percent.
The state budget bill also reduced
TPWD’s employee count. After account-
ing for vacancies, 111 people were laid off
across the agency, which employs about
3,100 people statewide.
“These are challenging times for all
state agencies, but if those who love wildlife
and parks feel moved to help, there is an
easy way to do so,” said Carter Smith,
TPWD executive director.
“It’s this simple: go fishing and hunting,
and visit your state parks,” Smith said.
“Regardless of how often you go, when
you buy a license or a state park pass, it’s
an investment in the user-pay, user-benefit
model of North American conservation.
We will need healthy license sales and park
attendance to get us through the next two
years.”
About a quarter of the agency budget
goes to State Parks Division, where 23 of
the 93 Texas state parks will see some
reduction in staff, operations or both,
though no parks are currently expected to
close.
Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine will
move to 10 printed issues per year in
2012, and will offer digital fishing and
hunting guides in the off months.
Fewer fish will be produced in Inland
Fisheries Division hatcheries for statewide
stockings. Also, TPWD lost $1.5 million
for the biennium to treat noxious aquatic
vegetation, meaning a drop in control of
dangerous water weeds like giant salvinia.
The budget also cut $2 million from the
Coastal Fisheries Division’s commercial
license buyback program. This means an
estimated 244 licenses (122 per year) will
not be purchased and retired in the shrimp,
finfish and crab fisheries.
—Staff Report �TG—Staff Report �TG
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CCA Texas’s habitat program, Habitat
Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT)
teamed up with Texas Parks & Wildlife
Department’s (TPWD) Artificial Reef
Program and Alamo Concrete Products to
further enhance the existing Port Mansfield
nearshore reef with more than 4,000 con-
crete culverts.
“This is a huge project for Texas
anglers. It will take 10 days of work around
the clock to move 4,000 culverts so we are
talking about creating a significant amount
of new habitat out there that will be within
easy reach of recreational anglers,” com-
mented HTFT Committee chairman Jay
Gardner. “You can’t just snap your fingers
and pull together a habitat effort on a scale
like this – it takes time, money and commit-
ment. We can’t give enough credit to our
partners at TPWD and Alamo Concrete
Products. CCA Texas is proud to be able
to do our part to bring this project to com-
pletion and we look forward to tackling
many more.”
CCA Texas contributed $50,000
toward the total cost of about $537,000 to
expand the existing reef, which already held
an old tug boat and about 800 culverts.
The expanded reef will provide additional
habitat for many species of fish and marine
life, including red snapper. The Port
Mansfield reef is the second major reefing
project undertaken
by HTFT. In
August 2010,
more than 250
tons of concrete
and granite
splashed down on
the Vancouver reef
site off the coast of Freeport, and a new
reefing project is planned for a third site off
the coast between Matagorda and Sargent.
To date, CCA Texas has committed more
than $200,000 to nearshore reefing in
Texas waters.
The state’s Artificial Reefing Program’s
nearshore and public reefing portion has
been in existence since 2006 and aims to
establish a 160-acre site at each major port
in Texas. Sites currently exist at Port
Isabel, Port Mansfield, Packery Channel,
Port Aransas (2), Matagorda and
Freeport. These nearshore sites, located in
Texas state waters, allow the general public
to place reefing materials within those
areas, as long as those efforts conform to
the guidelines of the program and have
prior approval from the state.
“Port Mansfield is a popular destina-
tion for many Texas anglers and for our
‘winter Texans’ who come down every year
to enjoy our warm weather. Our economy
benefits a great deal from the quality fish-
eries that we have to offer, and projects like
this help ensure that we will have them in
the future,” said Matt Klostermann, presi-
dent of the CCA Texas Rio Grande Valley
Chapter. “Anglers are the driving force
behind our efforts as a chapter to raise
funds for these kinds of habitat projects that
ultimately benefit conservation. We find
tremendous satisfaction from being a proac-
tive part of the solution.”
To find the acres of new fishing oppor-
tunity, plug the following coordinates into
your GPS: N 26 31.535, W 97 09.215
Port Mansfield ReefExpansion UnderwayRECREATIONAL FISHERMEN IN THE NEARSHORE WATERS OFF THE COAST OF PORT MANS-
FIELD WILL HAVE ALMOST FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF HABITAT TO FISH WITHIN EIGHT
MILES OF THE PORT MANSFIELD JETTIES AFTER A MAJOR INFUSION OF HARD STRUCTURE.
PHOT
O: C
OURT
ESY
CCA
MAP:
BIN
G
More than 4,000 concrete culvertsare being used to expand the reef atPort Mansfield.
The reef is located in the nearshorewaters of the Gulf, about 8 milesfrom the Port Mansfiel jetties.
—Staff Report �TG
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46 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER
The
‘Flick Shake’
Rig Does
Wacky One
Better
BY JOHN N.FELSHER
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 47
OVER THE DROP-OFF, the shoreline
shelf of this South Texas lake plunged rap-
idly into water approaching 20 feet deep.
Finicky bass looking for subtle baits hovered just
over the edge.
Terry Scroggins, a Florida bass pro, rigged a jighead
with a weight ball attached to the shank of a short wide-
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“A flick shake uses a jighead designed
specifically for wacky-style fishing, but deep-
er,” Scroggins explained as he set the hook
on a 5-pound largemouth that slurped the
temptation dropping through the water.
“With the weight in the center, the action is
unbelievable on a straight fall.”
Developed in eastern Texas, a wacky
worm rig employs a hook inserted through
the center or its bulbous “egg sack” instead
of through the worm head like with a Texas
rig. Rigged with no weight, wacky worms
shake and undulate as they slowly sink.
However, since a wacky worm descends so
slowly, anglers can’t fish it in water much
deeper than five feet – until now!
Using as little weight as possible, typi-
cally 1/16 to 1/4 ounces depending upon
water depth, a flick shake rig allows
anglers to make subtle presentations at
deeper depths
without forfeiting
that scintillating
natural wacky
worm action.
Also called a
wacky jighead or
flip shake tech-
nique, this sight
bait works best in clear water such as that
found in Lake Amistad. As the weight
drags the bait down, the worm ends fold
upward and quiver.
“A flick shake offers great action even
when the angler doesn’t do anything,”
Scroggins said. “Where this technique real-
ly excels is in deep, clear water, down to
about 20 feet. In stained water, I like to leave
the bait on the bottom and shake to give it
more action. A flick shake works very well
when fishing vertical structure like bulkheads
or steep ledges with vertical drops.”
For fishing bulkheads, bridge or dock pil-
ings, bluffs, standing timber, ledges or simi-
lar vertical cover, toss a flick shake as close to
the edge as possible. Let it sink on a semi-
slack line without adding any artificial move-
ment. Most strikes occur on the fall, making
it a killer presentation for targeting suspend-
ed bass. Watch the line for any adverse
movement that could indicate a strike.
Anglers could also fish it around deep
rock piles or other bottom structure. On the
bottom, the worm ends stand up and vibrate.
Pull the bait up a few feet and the worm
opens up to fold again on the fall. Hop it up
and down off the bottom a few times.
“A flick shake gives bass an action they’ve
never seen before in deeper water,” advised
Mike Iaconelli, the 2003 Bassmaster Classic
champion from New Jersey. “I use it around
woody cover, trees, docks or anything with
vertical edges. It’s a great bait to work the
edges of deep grass beds.”
On grassy lakes like Sam Rayburn or
Toledo Bend, anglers can drop a flick shake
next to thick mats, but not into entangling
vegetation. To make it a bit more weedless,
use hooks with wire weed guards, but even
“weedless” jigheads won’t keep baits out of
the salad entirely.
“I’ve caught fish with it around rocky
bluffs, sandy banks, standing wood, grassy
edges, everything but matted grass,” recalled
Ish Monroe, a California bass pro. “It’s
more aggressive than a wacky worm, but not
as aggressive as a spinnerbait or crankbait. I
use a flick shake when I want to fish a worm
wacky style, but deeper and faster to get that
reaction bite. On the bottom, I just shake the
rod tip.”
Although designed primarily to fish water
about 10 to 25 feet deep, a flick shake can
also provoke strikes in extremely shallow
water. When fishing sloping banks or long
points, toss it beyond a good spot and
bounce it across the bottom until it falls over
the drop-off edge. A flick shake works great
for tempting spawning fish. Toss it into the
bed and let it sit on the bottom twitching
with natural water movements.
This rig also works well on schooling
bass. The falling bait mimics a dying shad.
Keep fishing it through the same area even
after schoolies go deep.
Although bass sometimes grab a flick
shake worm and run, anglers usually only
feel a slight thump on the line or perhaps just
a little extra weight as if the bait snagged a
weed clump. The line may simply move the
wrong way, straighten or just feel mushy.
Since the soft bait feels lifelike, a bass might
hold it in its mouth or swallow it quickly.
Reel down all the slack to feel for the fish
on the line.
“Fish don’t really thump it,” Monroe
advised. “I just feel weight and the fish is
there. Don’t set the hook. Just start reel-
ing. It’s more of a reel pressure set.”
Most anglers prefer to
throw a light flick shake
on a 6.5- to 7.5-foot
light- to medium-action
spinning rod. For line,
stick with the lightest
practical fluorocarbon,
especially when fishing
very clear water. Most
anglers use 4- to 12-pound test. Denser
and more difficult for a fish to see in the
water, fluorocarbon sinks quicker than
monofilament.
“Line is very important,” Iaconelli said.
“Monofilament tends to float, so fluorocar-
bon line enhances the fall of the bait. I use
100 percent fluorocarbon, usually 6- to 10-
pound test. After the bait hits the water, flip
open the bail on the spinning reel and feath-
er the line by hand so it falls smoothly on a
semi-slack line.”
Since fishing this finesse bait requires
considerable patience, most anglers probably
wouldn’t reach for a flick shake as their first
option, but it can put more bass in the boat
under certain conditions. When lunkers hun-
ker down near deep cover and refuse other
offerings, trying tickling their noses with
undulating worm tips!
48 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER
gap hook instead of at the eye. On the jighead, he
hooked a straight worm wacky style and tossed it toward
the shoreline. As he dragged the bait over the drop-off
edge, a bass grabbed it.
A flick shake rigconsists of a
weighted jigheaddesigned for fishing
with a straightworm, rigged wacky
style. �
� When itsinks, theworm endsundulate inthe water.
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 49
Our TrojanHorse
THE MORNING SUN HAD NOT YETtouched the horizon and at 10 years
old, I was not keen on wading into
the cold dark water. Mostly I was
afraid I’d step on something icky and risk
sinking in the smelly muck. We had to try
fishing somewhere else.
We had not been to the south side of Port
Mansfield. My sixteen year old brother had
heard from a school friend that the fishing
was pretty good there. Henry was older
than I was, he could drive and make deci-
sions. On this trip, we invited my cousins
David and Steven to share our adventure.
My cousins and I ranged in age from eight to
twelve.
Days before, Henry put us to work. He
had us help him build a contraption out of
salvaged lumber. We had two large “A”
frames and three long boards. He would not
tell us what our project was. “Fishing sur-
prise.” He said.
Friday afternoon, we drove to Port
Mansfield. At the bridge we caught some
shiner for bait. Henry’s net spiraled into the
air and landed in the murky brine. In just a
few casts, we had more than plenty. Our
fishing trip was already looking good.
About a half mile outside of the port,
Henry turned right onto a rough dirt road
and we bumped our way past the dunes and
tall grasses. The place was remote, primi-
tive. We parked next to the fence and eager-
ly unloaded our stuff. With a hammer and
some nails we set out to work. Before long
we had a large “A” frame, a carpenter’s
horse. The side boards gave the structure
stability and the top board gave us a place to
sit. We built a fishing platform.
We set our Trojan horse in waist deep
water and waited for night fall. By the light
from a lantern we caught a number of nice
speckled trout. We laughed at our success.
Soon the disadvantages of our Trojan horse
became apparent. Whenever someone
brought in a fish, the other person had to get
into the water to remove the hook.
Another problem was the structure itself.
We were eight, ten and twelve, but we were
by no means lightweight. Every time we
moved, the structure moved. About 4 a.m.,
Steven went to unhook a fish. On the way
up, he wiggled just a tad too much. One
second, David told Steven not to move so
much and the next we headed south. With
a whoosh and splash the Trojan horse fell
over. We sank into the cold Laguna Madre.
We must have been a sight. When we hit
the water, the lantern went dark. We came
up gasping for air. Wet, cold and a little
miffed, we waded in the dark and made our
way to the car.
That next morning, we slept in. We
laughed at the ordeal and gathered what was
left of our project. We still had all of
Saturday and since we had bait left over, we
decided to go to the north side of the port.
We fished at the public pier. The fishing
slowed and we caught mostly saltwater cats
and other bottom dwellers.
I don’t know what possessed David, but
after he unhooked a good sized catfish, he
decided to kick it over the side. He gave it a
good field goal-type kick and, wouldn’t you
know it, he was barefooted. The catfish did
not go flying off into the distance. It was
stuck, pectoral fin embedded deep into
David’s big toe. He yelled out something
about a devil fish and fell sitting on the
planks. I could not believe the sight.
Henry grabbed the fin with some pliers
and Steven and I grabbed David. We
pulled in different directions. It looked
painful. Fishing was over for David. He
hobbled off the long pier and slept in the car.
Henry, Steven and I went wade fishing just
beyond the fence.
They say that disasters come in sets of
threes. It seemed that we were fulfilling
some ancient prophecy. I cast my line to the
far right and moments later felt a strong
strike. I set the hook. The fish battled, refus-
ing to give up the fight. At long last, it swam
in my direction and I saw it come up to the
surface. It was a stingray. I had to wade to
shore to remove the hook. Henry saw my
dilemma and came to my rescue. He
grabbed the line above the swivel and with
his other hand grabbed the hook.
At that moment, the stingray brought its
tail up and pushed its barb into the backside
of Henry’s right hand. Henry screamed in
pain and pulled the barb out. Blood oozed
from the puncture wound and Henry stuck
his hand in the water to rinse off the blood.
It was a long drive home. Henry was in
great pain and David looked like he was a
combat survivor. By the time we got to
Raymondville, Henry was turning green
around the gills and passing out. We
stopped at the hospital where Henry was
treated, sedated and released.
David, Steven and I looked at each other
and wondered how we’d get home. In his
stupor, Henry lifted his head and mumbled
something about David being the oldest and
assigned him to drive. We looked at David
and offered a quick prayer. Slowly, the ’66
Chevy rolled onto FM 186.
Aside from the cold water dunking,
Steven and I survived unscathed. David
went on to play high school football, but not
as a kicker. Henry survived the killer
stingray and gained a new respect for the
slimy flat critters. As for the Trojan horse,
we never did build another one; instead, we
built a pontoon raft out of 55 gallon drums,
but that is a story for another day.
Texas Saltwater
by Richard Sanchez | Guest Columnist
With a whoosh andsplash, the Trojan
horse fell over.
““
Saltwater.qxd:Layout 1 9/6/11 11:44 AM Page 49
Popping Corks Can Help You Fish theUnfishable — but Prime — Flatfish Feeding Grounds
BY CHESTER MOORE
50 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® PHOTO COMPOSITE: TEXAS FISH & GAME
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T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 51
I mention fishing these kinds of habitats
because some of the best flounder fishing can
be found there. Call it the Moore Theory if
you will, but the fact is flounder are territori-
al and fish that stay within certain zones are
most likely to receive heavy fishing pressure.
With flounder, that translates into getting
thrown in the ice chest. The fact is the only
people I am aware of who catch-and-release
legal-sized flounder are those participating
in my Flounder Revolution program spon-
sored by the Coastal Conservation
Association.
Thus, for anglers seeking big flounder,
the best shot they have for catching a trophy
flounder is either during the fall or spring
migrations when the vast majority of the pop-
ulation are funneling through a few passes or
by targeting unpressured zones. And that is
exactly why we are talking about using floats
for flounder.
Riprap, bulkheads and oyster reefs are
thick with flounder but as we have already
mentioned, they are super hard to fish with
bottom rigs. Floats however allow anglers to
fish just out of reach of snags and entice the
big flounder that dwell there.
I have one spot that has light, mixed shell
that is conducive to bottom fishing but there
is a small drop-off that is covered with oys-
ters and is often covered up with flounder.
You can see them swirling at the surface on
high, rising tides, yet any efforts at bottom
fishing equal getting snagged.
The first time I tried a float there, it was
the typical white and red weighted cork slip
float designed to sit kind of low in the water
and to be cast a good distance. Rigged with
a live finger mullet it did not take long to see
something was paying attention to it as the
float bobbed up and down. After a few min-
utes, I reeled in to see the mullet had trade-
mark flounder tooth marks and was scaled,
but the fish did not want to commit. The
same thing happened several times that day.
The next day we returned and I tried the
same thing and got the same results.
However, I began to suspect these flounder,
which were feeding but not in an aggressive
pattern were not fond of pulling something
down, so I rigged up a light slip float with no
weight. Instead I put a 1/16-ounce split shot
about a foot above the mullet to give it a bit
of load so it would not move around too
much.
Within five minutes we had a fish on.
That pattern repeated a couple of times that
day.
Since then this rig has proven very effec-
tive at fishing for flounder over shell and
rock. One of the best methods is to find
riprap in the ship channel that is covered
with menhaden, position the boat parallel to
the rocks, adjust the float to be six inches to
a foot over the rocks and make as long a cast
as possible. Slowly reel in and pop the cork
every once in awhile. The fish tend to hit
fairly aggressively if they do not feel much
pressure and are fairly easy to hook.
For these situations I am using 30-pound
Spider Wire Ultracast and attaching a swiv-
el to rig a 40-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon
leader finished off with an Eagle Claw kahle
hook. Live mullet or mud minnows are per-
fect but a Gulp! Swimming Mullet is effec-
tive as well.
For bank fishermen using this same rig
and walking along bulkheads can be
extremely effective. Simply walking slowly,
giving the float a little slack and popping it.
Give it some extra time if you fish an eddy or
washout of some sort because these spots are
more likely to hold flounder.
This fall I will be experimenting with
some clear plastic floats in pristine South
Texas waters over seagrass beds. Flounder in
those areas love to hang right on the edge of
the seagrass and working a standard rig
through it can be difficult. In addition, floun-
der are very shy of brightly colored things in
super clear water so the idea of catching
them in 2-3 feet of water using a neon float
is not exactly appealing. I have located some
clear floats called Rainbow Tough Bubbles
that I have tested on super lure, line and
color shy bass in some private ponds and it
has been effective. We will see what happens
with the flatfish.
Over the summer of 2011 my
father and I came across a very
unique example of flounder feed-
ing that played perfectly into using
popping corks. While trout fishing
we saw menhaden getting slammed
on the edge of a big drop off in the
ship channel near Sabine Lake.
I threw my favorite trout pop-
ping cork, the Bomber Saltwater
Grade Paradise Popper X-
Treme, and used a “pop-pop-
pop-sit five seconds” cadence.
On the first cast I caught a floun-
der. That seemed to be a fluke
(pun intended) but after three
flounder in a row, we saw there was
something very interesting going on.
The flounder were coming out of
20 feet of water in the channel, a flat
that was 8-10 feet deep and pushing
the menhaden against the steep
bank. They were rolling on the sur-
face and hitting a lot like trout but
bottom rigs were not working.
These flounder were feeding in the
middle to upper reaches of the water
column and because of the aggressive
nature of the phenomenon they took
the heavier float like they normally would a
small one.
This gave us an advantage because we
were able to watch fish surface and make
long casts to catch them. We repeated this
performance twice in the next two weeks but
I have not been able to do it enough to say I
have it all figured out.
It does however show that using floats can
give you an advantage when seeking floun-
der, even in locations that seem totally inap-
propriate.
IF YOU WANT A LESSON IN FRUSTRATION
management try dragging a Carolina rig over riprap in
the ship channel or over an old, virgin oyster reef where
the shells can be a foot long.
Ditto for fishing soft plastics rigged on standard jig-
heads. The fact is you will spend more time retying than
you will fishing, which is of course no way to spend your
limited time on the water.
PHOTO: COURTESY PRADCO FISHING
Fea5-Flounder-ALT.qxd:Layout 1 9/2/11 3:58 PM Page 51
52 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® PHOTO COMPOSITE: TEXAS FISH & GAME
Fea2-BowQuiz.qxd:Layout 1 8/31/11 11:23 AM Page 52
T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 53
BY TF&G BOWHUNTING EDITOR
Lou Marullo
Fea2-BowQuiz.qxd:Layout 1 8/31/11 11:23 AM Page 53
1. If you are bowhunting, which is mostlikely to give your presence away to thatelusive whitetail?
A) The absence of wearing good camo
B) A slight movement made by the
hunter
C) Human scent that is carried by a very
small breeze
D) The color of your feathers or fletching
2. What is the spine of an arrow?
A) Just another name for the shaft
B) How light the material is
C) How stiff an arrow is
D) How much penetrating power the
arrow carries
3. Injuries to a bowhunter are mostly
A) Equipment issues (limbs snapping
back and possible breaking)
B) Self inflicted
C) Other careless bowhunters in the field
D) Pig Attacks
4. A beginner bowhunter should pur-chase his equipment…
A) At an all-purpose department store to
keep the cost down
B) Find a deal at a garage sale
C) Online or mail order
D) An archery pro shop
5. Which is the most ideal shot for abowhunter?
A) Walking directly towards you
B) Quartering away from you
C) A broadside shot
D) Quartering towards you
6. After making a good humane shot,how long should a bowhunter waitbefore going after the animal?
A) About 30 minutes
B) 4 to 6 hours to let the deer expire
C) Immediately, as long as the shot was
good
D) Best to leave it until morning if it was
an evening shot
7. Assuming you have tuned andmatched equipment, what is the mostimportant item to have for success?
A) Camo clothes
B) Razor sharp broadheads
C) A high tree stand
D) A super fast bow
8. How does an arrow harvest game?A) Severe hemorrhaging
B) Shock impact
C) Causing the animals lungs to collapse
D) All of the above
9. What is the best way to practice?
A) In the morning to simulate hunting
times
B) From known distances to group your
BOWHUNTING IS A METHOD that has proven effective in harvesting game
since the dawn of civilization. Throughout the centuries, the bow itself has gone
through many changes.
Arrows have improved and the methods we use today to hunt game with a bow are
also a little different from years gone by. The bowhunter of today simply has to know
the game he is pursuing and try to use a little common sense (that is not so common)
and he or she will be successful.
Think you could pass a little quiz on bowhunting? Go ahead…give it a shot!
54 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
12. ANSWER: FALSE Hypothermia can
happen if you are wet with sweat and a breeze
picks up. The first sign of hypothermia is a shiv-
er.
13. ANSWER: D) although the others are
important, the most important is the safety har-
ness.
14. ANSWER: A) 4 to 6 hours! Read a
whole bunch of Texas Fish and Game mags!
15. ANSWER: FALSEwhitetails see
shades. If you are wearing orange and a deer
looks at you, you moved!
16. ANSWER: B) Gotta respect that nose!
17. ANSWER: B) Even if your broadheads
never left your quiver, oxidation could set in. You
should change them every bow season to make
sure you have a razor sharp blade.
18. ANSWER: D) Branches behind you will
help hide you and break up your outline. You
might just get away with a little movement.
19. ANSWER: B) and it is difficult to see
sometimes, take it slow.
20. ANSWER: D)Check for everything you
can before looking for the deer. It will give you
clues as to where your shot placement was.
BONUS…
I AM NOT GOINGto answer that one…just
in case my wife is reading this right now!
Fea2-BowQuiz.qxd:Layout 1 9/2/11 4:02 PM Page 54
arrows
C) From unknown distances and eleva-
tions
D) With field tips
10. How many glands does a whitetailhave?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 4
11. On a whitetail, what is thevomeronasal organ mainly used for?
A) Causes a buck to chase doe
B) Causes the buck to curl his lip also
called flehmen
C) Helps a buck to smell if a doe is in
estrous
D) All of the above
12) A Texas bowhunter never has toworry about hypothermia.
A) True
B) False
13. When bowhunting from a tree stand,which is the most important piece ofequipment you would need?
A) Razor sharp broadheads
B) A fast bow
C) Good binoculars
D) A safety harness
14. On a gut shot deer, how long shoulda bowhunter wait before looking for thedeer?
A) 4 to 6 hours
B) As soon as he loses sight of the ani-
mal
C) 30 minutes
D) 1 hour
15. True or False…whitetails can see col-ors
A) True
B) False
16. What is the best defense of a deer?
A) Sight
B) Smell
C) Hearing
D) The ability to blend into their sur-
roundings
17. If a bowhunter uses replaceableblades on their broadhead, how oftenshould they be changed?
A) After they have been shot
B) Before every bow season
C) Every few years
D) Only after they get rusty
18. The best place for a tree stand is…
A) Next to a deer path
B) On the edge of a waterhole or noisy
stream
C) On a tree with no branches to get in
the way
D) In a tree with branches behind you
19. With an arrow wound, what is theblood color is a liver shot?
A) Bright red
B) Dark and almost brown
C) Bright with bubbles
D) Red with green particles
20. After the shot and you have waitedthe appropriate time, what is the firstthing you should look for once you areout of your tree stand?
A) Your arrow
B) Any signs of blood
C) Any hair, which might give you a clue
as to where the shot placement was
D) All of the above.
Bonus Question…What will your wife be doing to keepbusy while you are out there hunting?
A) Shopping
B) Shopping
C) Shopping
D) All of the above!
1. ANSWER: C) gotta respect a nose of a
deer!
2. ANSWER: C) depending on your set up,
you may need a stiffer arrow to fly straight. A pro
shop can set you up correctly.
3. ANSWER: B)that may be the reason not
too many injuries are ever reported! “Hello ..yes
I was stupid and grabbed the wrong end of the
arrow!”
4. ANSWER: D)Let the professionals do it
right for you the first time.
5. ANSWER: B) that’s the most lethal. A well
placed arrow on a deer that is quartering away
will penetrate the lungs, liver, spleen, and might
even catch a piece of the heart.
6. ANSWER: A)good time to read Texas
Fish and Game!
7. ANSWER: B) A bowhunter should take
pride in a clean humane harvest and that can be
accomplished with razor sharp broadheads.
8. ANSWER: A) A bullet from a rifle will
cause impact shock, but an arrow will cause
severe hemorrhaging to harvest the deer.
9. ANSWER: C) always helps to put yourself
to the test and guess the distance so you can be
more proficient with the bow.
10. ANSWER: C)interdigital, metatarsal,
tarsal, Pre-orbital, forehead, nasal and preputial.
11. ANSWER: D) located on the roof of a
deer’s mouth. It is black and triangular in shape.
Also called the secondary nose of a whitetail!
ANSWERST E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 55
Flip the Page for the Correct Answers
RA
YM
ON
D G
RE
GO
RY
, B
IGS
TO
CK
Fea2-BowQuiz.qxd:Layout 1 9/6/11 12:35 PM Page 55
Adult Toys
DO R E E N ’ S 24 H R E AT G A S NOW CAFÉwas full when Delbert P. Axelrod,
my personal albatross, and I stepped
out of the twilight and into the café.
Squirrel season was on as of that morning
and the members of the Hunting Club were
in full camo regalia after a hard day in the
woods. Squirrel tails were in abundance.
I placed my new toy on the counter in
front of Doc, Wrong Willie, and Patrick.
Jerry Wayne dozed peacefully in a booth,
across the table from two little old blue-
haired ladies who whispered quietly to each
other, lest they wake him up.
I started to ask why Jerry Wayne was
sleeping in a booth, but Doc picked up the
rifle and took my attention away from our
sleeping partner. “This is the fanciest airgun
I’ve ever seen. Look here, Willie, it even has
a scope on it.”
“Just got it the other day,” I answered.
“It’s an RWS Model 48 Magnum air rifle.
It’s made in Germany. The muzzle velocity
is over eleven hundred feet per second,
which makes it darn close to a .22 caliber
rifle.
The members of the Hunting Club were
impressed. A crowd gathered, nodding in
the appreciation that men share over souped-
up BB guns.
“What have you been shooting with it,
squirrels?” Wrong Willie asked.
“Me and Delbert have been down at that
field not far from the dump. We settled in
under the shade and picked off rats for a
couple of hours to sight it in. We’ll shoot
some squirrels with it tomorrow.
“I love to do that,” Jerry Wayne mumbled
from under his tilted gimme cap. We looked
over at the booth. Jerry Wayne was already
asleep again. The little ladies nervously hud-
dled together over their coffee, making tink-
ing sounds with their spoons while they
watched Jerry Wayne snore.
Doreen came out of the kitchen. “Why
do I have firearms on my counter?”
“We were just out shooting and came in
for supper, Doreen. Give us whatever you
have on special today,” Delbert answered.
She’s sweet on him, so she forgave our little
firearm transgression and plopped a glass of
tea on the counter.
“Get anything?” Doreen asked.
“Shot about 15 of the little rodents,” I
answered, and reached for the sugar.
“Where are the tails? You know, you
have to have proof,” she stated and then
handed me a teaspoon so I wouldn’t have to
stir with my finger.
Her question kinda shocked me. I
thought about it for a minute and said,
“Well, we didn’t cut their tails off.”
She snorted. “I hope you guys cleaned
them as soon as you got back to the truck.
My daddy used to say that they tasted better
if they were cleaned as soon as possible.”
Conversation in the restaurant came to an
abrupt halt. We stared at Doreen for a full
minute, waiting for a punch line.
Delbert gulped. “Your daddy ate them?”
“Sure. We were raised so far back in the
woods that we ate whatever Daddy would
shoot. If it wasn’t for them, we’d eat quail, or
possum, ducks, or any varmint he shot and
brought in.
The two little old blue-haired ladies
rushed from their seats and headed at a tot-
ter for the ladies room.
“Urp,” said Delbert and virtually threw
himself off the counter stool. His headlong
rush carried him between the two little nau-
seated ladies like a seven-ten split in bowl-
ing. They whirled around in place for a
moment and then resumed their rush as if it
had been nothing more than a windstorm.
“Maybe that’s why she looks like she
does,” Jerry Wayne mumbled from under his
cap. He reached out and pulled one of the
abandoned coffee cups toward him.
“Doreen, I know times are hard for us all
from time to time,” I said, “but I’m not sure
I’d go around telling that story if I were
you.”
“Why not?” she asked. “My lands, we’ve
served them enough times in here and you
guys didn’t say anything. What do you think
that stew you were eating was made out of?
Remember guys, this café serves a lot of wild
game.”
Doc mopped his whiteface. No one
moved throughout the café.
“Is that rifle loaded?” Willie asked. “I
need to shoot myself.”
“You classify this as wild game?” I asked
and pointed at my untasted bowl with a
spoon.
“I sure didn’t trap them in the kitchen,
bub.”
More patrons hit the door. “What’s
wrong with everyone?” Doreen complained.
“Y’all act like you’ve never eaten squirrel
stew before.”
The rush immediately stopped.
“Squirrel.” Willie stated.
“What did you think I was talking
about?” Doreen looked at the four of us.
“You guys feeling all right?”
“We’re fine now,” Doc answered and
took a long drink of iced tea.
Doreen threw open the kitchen door and
stormed off shouting at James Albert who
was looking in from outside the back door.
“You’d think those boys were eating rats out
there the way they were carrying on about a
little squirrel head stew.”
Delbert had just resumed his place at the
counter and was mopping his brow with a
shaky hand. “She puts squirrel heads in her
rat stew, too?” He asked with a wavering
voice.
Dock shook his head and handed me the
rifle. “Take this outside and come in again.”
I just took it and went on home.
This is an excerpt from Reavis
Wortham’s book, Doreen’s 24 HR
Eat Gas Now Café. The book is
available in print from Texas Fish &
Game Publishing Company, LLC
and can be ordered online at
www.FishandGameGear.com or by
calling 1-800-750-4678.
E-mail Reavis Wortham at
56 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ®
Open Season
by Reavis Wortham | TF&G Humor Editor
HumorWortham.qxd:Layout 1 9/1/11 5:08 PM Page 56
“Paddling is an effective way to hunt ducks, although it’s not
as common as it once was,” said Kevin Kraai, Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department waterfowl program leader in Amarillo.
“It’s almost a lost art by people who still do it. It’s a particu-
larly good way to hunt wood ducks on rivers and backwaters.”
Federal laws prohibit shooting at ducks from boats under
power or sail. Before anyone may shoot at a duck from a boat,
the motor must stop and all forward momentum cease. How-
ever, sportsmen can shoot at migratory birds from boats pro-
pelled by human power. In Texas, navigable waters belong to
the public, but local laws might prohibit shooting in certain
places. Adjacent lands or backwaters might remain private.
PHOT
O: JO
HN N
. FEL
SHER
WATERFOWLERS TRADITIONALLY hunt from blinds surrounded by
decoys, but even in Texas, ducks don’t always respond. When birds don’t
come to the blind, go to them. A canoe, kayak or even a skiff or johnboat may
put more birds within range of sportsmen willing to do a little extra work.
T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 57
Paddlingto the DucksIF THE DUCKSWON’T COMETO THE BLIND,TAKE THE BLINDTO THE DUCKSBY JOHN N. FELSHER
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:24 PM Page 57
Skilled paddlers can often approach fair-
ly close to ducks and may target birds few
others try to hunt. Winding sloughs or bay-
ous with broken vegetated shorelines provide
outstanding places to jump ducks. Birds
often hide around bends where they can see
anything coming from one direction while
remaining unseen by anything approaching
from the other direction. When coming
around bends, stick as close to the inside
shoreline as possible. Masters of conceal-
ment, ducks may explode from high reeds
just yards from the boat.
Many paddlers work in teams. Designate
a shooter to sit in the bow at ready for any-
thing erupting from cover while another per-
son in the stern paddles and acts as spotter.
For safety reasons, only the designated
shooter should hold a loaded gun, but
sportsmen can take turns shooting. This
method provides an excellent way to intro-
duce hunting to young sportsmen who may
grow bored sitting in cold blinds for long
hours.
When hunting solo, paddlers put shot-
guns across their laps or in some other con-
venient, but safe, place to wait for flushing
birds. Ease the paddles into the water and
glide along as silently as possible. In very
shallow, hard-bottomed areas, use long pad-
dles almost like push poles. Scull along
without lifting them from the water. Sound
travels extraordinarily well over water so a
dripping paddle can alert wary ducks.
Periodically, stop paddling to listen for
quacking, splashing or other sounds that
could indicate duck activity. Scan ahead for
movement, telltale wakes or anything unusu-
al. Floating feathers might mark good hiding
places. Sometimes, flushed birds won’t fly
far, especially in areas with little other water.
Sportsmen might note where the ducks land
and make another sneak on them.
In Texas, coastal marshes generally pro-
vide the best paddling action. Jumping may
offer the most effective method for bagging
illusive mottled ducks that habitually avoid
blinds. In the Sabine-Neches River delta,
Texans might hunt the 7,998-acre Lower
Neches Wildlife Management Area near
Bridge City. The 7,411-acre Guadalupe
Delta WMA near San Antonio Bay pro-
vides another good area.
“All the bay systems along the coast hold
good duck populations,” Kraai advised.
“Some better places to hunt from a canoe or
kayak include Matagorda Bay, Laguna
Madre or Corpus Christi Bay. In remote
estuaries, people could take a powerboat
into the hunting area, anchor it and launch
a canoe or kayak to paddle up ducks.”
Most Texans don’t live near the coast,
but the Lone Star State also provides many
inland places to hunt. Rivers and winding
swampy creeks make excellent places to
jump wood ducks, mallards and hooded
mergansers. Birds often hide on the down-
stream side of fallen trees, logjams or current
breaks. Birds might also explode from flood-
ed shoreline timber.
58 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
HOW-TO SECTION
60 TEXAS BOATING • Corrosion,101 | BY LENNY RUDOW
64 TEXAS KAYAKING • Good News& Bad News | BY GREG BERLOCHER
65 PAUL’S TIPS • Don’t Think, Shoot| BY PAUL BRADSHAW
68 TEXAS GUNS & GEAR • RealMuzzleloaders | BY STEVE LAMAS-CUS
GEARING UP SECTION
70 INDUSTRY INSIDER • Polaris | BY
TF&G STAFF
72 FISH AND GAME GEAR • HotNew Outdoor Gear | BY TF&GSTAFF
74 TEXAS TESTED • Fishkid, Mid-land Radio | BY TF&G STAFF
75 SPECIAL SECTION • HuntingGear Innovations | BY BOB HOOD
FISHING FORECASTSECTION
88 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: UPPERCOAST • Sabine Octoberfest | BY
CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ
89 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: GALVE-STON • Is Change Good for theGulf? | BY CAPT. MIKE HOLMES
90 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: MATAGOR-DA • Target Reds Until the BirdsWork | BY BINK GRIMES
92 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: ROCKPORT• Fish or Hunt? | BY CAPT. MAC
GABLE
94 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: LOWERCOAST • 7 Keys to Lower CoastFall Success | BY CHESTER MOORE
96 TEXAS HOTSPOTS • Texas’Hottest Fishing Spots | BY TOM
BEHRENS, CALIXTO GONZALES, & BOB
HOOD AND CAPT. CHARLES NEWTON
104 SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK •Tides & Prime Times | BY TF&GSTAFF
OUTDOOR LIFESTYLESECTION
114 HUNTING TALES • Hungry forHogs | BY CHESTER MOORE
116 TEXAS TASTED • An Out-of-the-Way Treasure | BY BRYAN SLAVEN
118 OUTDOOR CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY • Guides, Gear andMore | BY TF&G STAFF
120 TF&G PHOTOS • Your ActionPhotos | BY TF&G READERS
TF&G ALMANAC Table of Contents
57 COVER STORY • Paddling tothe Ducks | BY JOHN N. FLESHER
www.FishGame.com
CONTINUED ON PAGE 60 �
Daniel Felsher shows off a henmerganser he bagged while jumpshooting from a canoe. PH
OTO:
JOHN
N. F
ELSH
ER
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Corrosion,101
IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPINGat night you could try popping a
Lunesta and chugging a bottle of red
wine, or you could read an average
article on some technical marine subject.
The effects are usually about the same. Prop
specs, gear ratios, and laminate schedules
are nearly guaranteed to numb your gray
matter into submission. So when you realize
that this article is about corrosion, how it
works, and what you can do about it, you’ll
probably either keep flipping pages or posi-
tion yourself on the couch in case you keel
over from an abrupt onset of REM cycles.
Wait! Though it may be a bit on the dry
side this is important stuff, and a better
understanding of corrosion will help you
keep your boat and its systems in tip-top
shape. And I promise—it won’t be boring.
There are several types of corrosion, all
of which have the same final result, your pre-
cious metal equipment turns into a chunk of
useless crud. If you immerse yourself in an
exhaustive in-depth scientific study of the
topic (as I did), by typing “corrosion” into
the search box on Wikipedia, you’ll learn
that corrosion is “the disintegration of an
engineered material into its constituent
atoms due to chemical reactions with its sur-
roundings.”
According to prevailing theory, this
occurs because the constituent atoms have as
much animosity towards each other as cur-
rent American partisan constituents; in
other words, Eric Cantor atoms and
Michelle Bachmann atoms gang up against
Nancy Pelosi atoms and Barak Obama
atoms, and they smash each other to
smithereens. As a result, your boat sinks…
or something like that. Another leading
school of thought—to which I lend far less
credence to—is that the metal object loses
mass as its molecules are transformed into
oxides. Take your pick as to which theory
you subscribe to.
UNIFORM corrosion is the most common
form of corrosion, and causes a slow degra-
dation of the metal’s surface. This form of
corrosion is also called “general” corrosion,
because it occurs whenever metal is exposed
to the general environment.
Though all boaters will be faced with
uniform corrosion, fortunately, it’s a slow
process which is easily combated. Regularly
coating metals every month or two with a
barrier spray, such as CorrosionX,
Boeshield T-9, or Boat Saver, will do the
trick indefinitely. But be careful when you
apply this stuff, since some formulations can
stain fiberglass. A good method is to spray
the coating onto a rag, then wipe down your
rails, hardware, and all metal objects from
stem to stern.
GALVANIC corrosion is the bane of all
mariners who leave their boats in saltwater.
“One of the best public places in Texas
to paddle up ducks is White Oak Creek
WMA,” Kraai said. “The creek is a small,
narrow stream that provides excellent cover
for jumping ducks from a boat. It holds a lot
of mallards and wood ducks. Another excel-
lent place for paddling is Old Sabine Bot-
tom WMA off the Sabine River. The
Sabine and Neches rivers hold ducks.
Cypress Creek in east Texas attracts a lot of
wood ducks. The Sulphur River in north-
east Texas is a good place to drift for
ducks.”
White Oak Creek WMA covers about
25,777 acres of hardwood bottomlands near
the Arkansas and Oklahoma lines at the
confluence of the Sulphur River and White
Oak Creek. The Sulphur River flows about
175 miles through northeast Texas and
Arkansas. Old Sabine Bottom WMA
includes 5,158 acres of bottomlands and
streams north of Tyler.
On swift streams where paddling back
upstream might pose a problem, use two
vehicles to drift through property few others
ever see. Position one vehicle downstream at
a take-out point and drive a second vehicle
to the launch spot. Sportsmen can even use
motorboats to retrieve game or head
upstream as long as they don’t shoot while
the motor runs.
“Several Texas rivers provide good drift
hunting,” Kraai said. “People can hunt the
Trinity, but it’s a large river without as many
twists and turns to provide cover. In central
Texas, people could hunt the Brazos River.
In west Texas, the Colorado River would be
the best bet for paddling up ducks.”
Not everyone can afford a lease or a huge
decoys spread, but waterfowlers on a budget
can jump ducks without even buying fuel!
Sportsmen can purchase many good canoe
or kayak models plus accessories for less
than $1,000. After obtaining a suitable
boat, sportsmen can start paddling up ducks
for very little additional investment. They
just need a gun and ammunition to hunt
most public waters.
In the days before motors, sportsmen pri-
marily hunted from canoes or rowboats.
Today, a dozen mallards erupting from
behind a logjam in a river bend only yards
away stills makes the heart pump faster.
Paddling can put a few extra birds in the
bag, especially for those sportsmen who can-
not afford private leases or expensive equip-
ment.
COVER STORY
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The water acts as an electrolyte; different
metals have different electrical potentials,
and when placed in an electrolyte, the metal
with a more “active” potential becomes an
anode and corrodes more quickly than if it
were alone in the environment. The more
noble (less active) metal in the electrolyte
becomes the cathode, since it has more pos-
itive potential. Electrical current flows
between the metals until their potentials are
equal. This not only results in the rapid
destruction of the anode (yawn), it also
quenches the electrical field’s thirst for
equality much in the same way as common
electrolyte drinks like Gatorade and Power-
ade quench our own thirst. Sort of.
Most of you already know that the best
way to fight galvanic corrosion is to equip a
boat with a sacrificial anode—commonly
zinc—which is meant purely to corrode
quickly, saving more important metals from
the same fate. But you should also make
sure your boat isn’t leaking electricity into
the water, a common occurrence which
speeds galvanic corrosion and can overcome
the effects of a sacrificial anode.
A simple “leak check” can be performed
with a voltmeter. You’ll also need to mount
a square of copper flashing, about seven by
seven inches, on the end of a wooden pole or
an old broomstick. Run a wire down the
pole and connect it to the copper, and con-
nect the positive lead of your voltmeter to the
wire’s end. Next, connect the negative lead
to a negative battery terminal or another
reliable ground. Then submerge the copper
plate next to your boat, set the multimeter to
read zero to one volt, and move the copper
around the vessel's parameter as you look for
a change in voltage. The voltmeter should
always show a natural reading of around 0.6
to 0.9 volts, depending on salinity and tem-
perature. If it doesn’t, you know you have a
problem. Next, turn on every electrical item
on the boat, one by one. Does the voltage
change? If so, you’ve identified a leaky
accessory.
Usually you’ll discover this accessory has
a bunch of green crud on a connection or
two. To eliminate the leak you need to elim-
inate the green crud which, in partisan con-
stituent terms, is known as campaign funds;
it pollutes the system horribly. Clean it
away, to plug the leaks and bring down your
electrical budget deficit, or something.
EROSION corrosion is one you might not
have heard about in the past. This is a
mechanical rather than electro-chemical
process, but it’s no less deadly to metals on
your boat. Erosion corrosion is exactly what
it sounds like: the erosion of a metal surface
resulting from constant physical contact with
something other than water. Commonly this
is going to be an issue for props and possi-
bly through-hull fittings. It’s usually caused
by ventilation, cavitation, or regularly run-
ning aground.
In the case of ventilation or cavitation,
unusual sounds or over-revving props might
give away the problem. But just as com-
monly, you won’t notice the damage until an
inspection of the metal in question exposes
pitting and wear. In all likelihood, you’ll
need to take the boat to a pro to have the
problem resolved.
When running aground is the culprit,
solving the problem is simple: stop driving
over sandbars and through mud, before you
wear your prop down to a nub.
You’d be surprised at how quickly this
can happen. After two years of hunting out
of a duck blind that’s surrounded by nearly
exposed mud flats, my 11” x 16” prop is a
10” x 14”.
PITTING corrosion is the last type most
boaters need to be concerned about, and
this form of metallic mayhem usually occurs
on aluminum rails, pipework and framing. It
forms when corrosion attacks a limited
amount of surface area, usually where an
anodized surface has been scratched or
dinged. The pits that result in the surface
are deeper than they are wide, and can even-
tually thin the metal until it’s substantially
weakened.
The best way to fight pitting is to prevent
it in the first place, by regularly washing and
waxing the aluminum on your boat. If it
does form, you can strip away impurities
with a rag soaked in vinegar, then re-seal the
surface—temporarily of course—with more
wax. Unfortunately, there’s no effective way
to fill the pits once they’ve formed.
There now. That wasn’t so bad, was it?
You made it through an entire article about
corrosion. Hopefully learned a thing or two,
and… Hey. Hey! WAKE UP!!!
E-mail Lenny Rudow at
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GoodNews and BadNews
“IHAVE GOOD NEWS AND BADnews,” I announced to the col-
lection of relatives gathered in
our hotel room at the family
reunion. “The good news,” I continued, “is
that I caught something. The bad news is
that it is me,” lifting my cap to reveal a gold
spoon impaled in my scalp.
Questions were plentiful and rapid fire
as I recounted the morning wade fishing trip
with my brother Stewart. We were probing
a shallow flat that was littered with oyster
shell. The tide was right and bait was all
around us. The set up looked perfect. A
long arching cast touched down and my
spoon came to an immediate halt. My rod
arched as I drove the hook home; unfortu-
nately it was into a large clump of oyster
shell. Rather than shuffle over and jiggle the
shiny lure free, I tried tugging it free, gently
at first, then with gusto. With a violent
sweep of the rod, the Johnson Sprite came
free. Monofilament line has roughly 22%
stretch and the glistening spoon came hur-
dling out of the water, straight toward the
bridge of my nose. Sensing I was going to
take a direct hit I began tilting my head
downward. A fraction of a second later, the
spoon struck my hair line, made its way
under my baseball cap, the treble hook
skewering the top of my noggin.
During a phone call last week, my broth-
er Bill recalled my good news, bad news
proclamation as he told a somewhat similar
story. He and his wife had invited friends
from Kansas City down to fish the Coastal
Bend and he was serving the role of guide,
netting fish and unhooking all of them. As
the trip was winding down, one of his guests
hooked one final trout. Bill was busy with
the anchor and his friend waved him off,
saying, “It’s OK. I will get this one.” You
can guess what happened. The thrashing
trout drove one of the treble hooks on the
plug well into the man’s finger.
Dangling treble hooks are dangerous
and represent a threat to anyone trying to
“bare-hand” a protesting fish. Treble hooks
are especially dangerous to kayakers.
Thrashing fish are more likely drive hooks
into hands and arms, but exposed legs can
easily become pin cushions if a slippery fish
wiggles free from your grasp.
Double bladed paddles require two good
hands to operate. While technically possible
to paddle with one hand, it isn’t really an
option when you are paddling in a breeze or
against a tide. A hand incapacitated by a
hook wound simply isn’t as functional as a
healthy one, more often than not stranding
the angler.
There are several things you can do to
mitigate the risk associated with treble
hooks. The most obvious thing is to simply
get rid of them. Many coastal sharpshooters
replace trebles with circle hooks without any
loss of hook ups. The more time you spend
unhooking plugs from fish’s mouths, the
greater the chance that you will get impaled.
These elite anglers know this and have taken
steps to reduce the odds. You should too.
If you have a phobia about single hooks
and insist on using trebles, use some sort of
landing aid instead of bare-handing fish. A
small landing net or Boga Grips should be
on everyone’s yak, making sure either option
is equipped with flotation aids. Landing
nets are a pain as hooks get tangled in web-
bing, but consider that the hooks could be
impaled in your flesh is you don’t use a net.
In addition to a landing device, good
tools, such as hemostats or fishing pliers,
allow you to get a firm grip on hooks and
help keep fingers out of harm’s way. I prefer
long handled hemostats and lock them onto
a shirt pocket so they are always within
reach when I need them.
Even though I prefer hemostats for
unhooking duties, I also pack a set of needle
nose pliers that have side cutters. Should
someone get hooked, I can prune the offend-
ing lure off the hooked person, leaving only
the embedded hook to deal with on the trip
back to shore.
You never really appreciate the buddy
system until you get into trouble, but once
you do you will never paddle alone. Always
paddle with a partner. Should you get
hooked and can’t use your paddle, your fish-
ing partner can tie a rope or stringer to your
bow and tow you home.
Kayakers that get accidentally hooked
don’t have the luxury of limping home with
the aid of a 150 horsepower outboard. Even
if you aren’t hooked in the hand, the pain
can be debilitating. The best game plan is to
take the necessary precautions to avoid get-
ting hooked. Then you won’t have to
announce to friends and loved ones that you
have good news and bad news.
Greg Berlocher can be
reached for question or comment at
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Treble hooksrepresent a threatto anyone trying to
bare-hand aprotesting fish.
“
“
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Don’tThink,Shoot
IF YOU HUNT WHITETAILS LONG ENOUGHyou will eventually shoot a deer and
not be able to find it. It happens to all
of us and it is probably one of the most
gut wrenching experiences in any hunter’s
life. I speak from experience.
I also speak from experience when I
say that the majority of the time the
responsibility for the shanked shot
lies with the shooter and not the
firearm. Sure, there are cases
where the scope get’s knocked
around or the gun doesn’t like a
particular brand of ammunition
so it sends the occasional flyer
but 99% of the time it’s our fault.
The reason for this is very sim-
ple, we’re human. We are made of
flesh and bone and muscles that
never stop moving (or make the exact
same movement twice in a row) but
rather make a series of little moves in order
to give a sense of stability.
To prove my point, take a yard stick and
hold one end of it in your dominant hand.
Now take it and point it straight out in front
of you pointing the end you are not holding
towards something in the distance. It is
impossible to hold the far end of the yard
stick completely still due to the minute
movements your hand constantly makes.
Now imagine that stick is 100 yards long
and you can see how these little involuntary
movements you are continually making can
lead to a missed deer.
The good news is there is a way to over-
come these involuntary movements and that
is to replace them with voluntary ones. If
you are telling your muscles what to do,
making deliberate movements, then you can
increase you accuracy and put more deer
down on the first shot. These deliberate
movements also give you something to con-
centrate on other than the antlers. Thinking
too much about the rack leads to buck fever
and missed shots.
What you need to understand up front is
that the point behind this technique is to
move, but on your own terms, so get beyond
the mindset of trying to get the rifle to sit
rock solid.
We’re not
trying to shoot a five shot group that you can
cover with a quarter. The purpose here is
place one shot precisely where you want
instead of wobbling all around the spot and
then jerking the trigger out of desperation
praying that the crosshairs are in the right
location. Here’s what I do, and you can
modify this technique to suit your shooting
style.
You have no doubt read thousands of
times that if you own a variable power scope
that you need to keep it cranked down to
around four power for most hunting situa-
tions. Well for this I like to turn mine up to
around eight. It may be a personal prefer-
ence but I feel it helps me place the shot
more precisely.
If you are more comfortable moving your
rifle on a horizontal plain then start out with
your scope’s crosshairs on the back hip of
the deer you intend to shoot. No, you’re not
shooting it here; this is just the starting
point. Now move the crosshairs slowly
towards the shoulder of the deer along a line
about six inches below, and parallel with,
the deer’s back. When you get to the shoul-
der, pause for a half second and squeeze the
trigger. This isn’t one of those times when
you want to take a breath and let it out
slowly, that should be done while you
are moving the crosshairs. You
should be ready to shoot when the
crosshairs touch the shoulder and
if you’re not then just start over.
Some shooters are more stable
moving the crosshairs vertically
and if that’s you then instead of
starting on the deer’s hip, start
on the front foot. Move the
crosshairs slowly up the leg until
you get to the upper third of the
shoulder, pause for half a second
and squeeze the trigger.
It really is that simple. This year while
sighting in at the range, take a few practice
shots using this method and you’ll be sur-
prised how accurate you can be by moving
on purpose.
E-mail Paul Bradshaw at
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On the Web
Get more tips from Paul’s Blog:www.FishGame.com
ILLU
STRA
TION
BY
PAU
L B
RADS
HAW
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Real Muzzle-loaders
THE TREND IN MOST SPORTS TODAY ISto get the best and most modern
equipment that money can buy, in
the hope that it will give us some kind
of edge over our competition or our game.
That includes what we euphemistically call
primitive weapons; generally that is archery
gear and muzzleloaders. With archery there
is only so much you can do, apparently. You
still have to have a stick and a string, even if
the stick is made of space age carbon fiber
and the bow looks like something out of Star
Wars. Muzzleloaders, on the other hand,
offer a much wider field for experimentation.
Some people get carried away with
“primitive” weapons. Hunting wild hogs—
the 4-legged kind, not leather-clad weekend
motorcyclists—with Bowie knives comes to
mind. But I am a gun guy. I'm too old to
run, and like my hunting tools to go bang, so
when discussing primitive weapons, that
pretty much means some kind of muzzle-
loader or black powder cartridge rifle.
With muzzleloaders, more than with
archery, we have lost the original intent,
which was to have fun shooting and hunting
with the antiquated weapons, taking us back
to the romantic days—they really weren't,
but we seem to need to think so—of Kit
Carson, Jim Bridger, Joe Walker, Jed Smith,
and others of what used to be called “The
Buckskin Brigade.”
When the current muzzleloader trend
began back in the 1960s, the idea was to
find a good Hawken or Pennsylvania long
rifle replica and go hunting. Thompson
Center (T/C) was the most common, and
was made to shoot either patched round
balls or what T/C calls Maxi-balls. Pretty
soon the market was glutted with all grades
and types of muzzleloaders, and there were
all kinds of big city suit-types wandering
around in the woods, wearing flannel and
buckskins, smoking corncob pipes, chewing
tobacco, and acting like they had never slept
under a roof. I loved the idea and joined in
with glee.
Today we have decided—at least many
of us seem to have—that muzzleloading is
not a way to enjoy a different and more
archaic form of shooting and hunting, but is
a way to cheat the system by going hunting
during special seasons and on muzzleloader-
only hunts with weapons that are muzzle-
loaders-only by way of having to be loaded
from the front. Instead of putting more zing
into our hunts by accepting intentional, self-
imposed limitations, we have tried to equip
ourselves right back into modern guns,
thereby cheating the regulations and our-
selves, by missing out on something really
special. Naturally, the manufacturers are
more than happy to help, since that means
profit.
Modern muzzleloaders shoot bullets,
wear high-power scopes, shoot modern
black powder substitutes, are fired by mod-
ern shotgun primers, are accurate to several
hundred yards, are impervious to the ele-
ments, such as rain, and have almost no
resemblance to the muzzleloaders carried by
Kit Carson, Daniel Boone, or Jim Bridger.
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One manufacturer says of their muzzle-
loaders: “This .50 caliber rifle, with 209
primer [standard shotgun primers] ignition,
can deliver 1 1/2” groups at 100 yards with
velocities exceeding 2300 fps with more
than 3,000 ft lbs of knock down energy.”
Doesn't sound very primitive to me.
Another says: “Our [deleted] rifles are
like no other Muzzleloaders on earth, fea-
turing the patent pending Electronic [delet-
ed] ignition is completely sealed from the
elements. (Not even a flash hole). No parts
other than the barrel have to be cleaned of
fouling. Ever! Ignition is absolutely instan-
taneous. The trigger pull is incredibly clean-
because the trigger is really an electronic
switch. And since there is no pressure explo-
sion, as there is with primer ignitions, there
is no accuracy robbing displacement of the
charge allowing full and constant burn of the
power charge at the bottom of the barrel.”
Now explain to me, if you can, why that
is considered a “primitive weapon.”
These guns have no business being
called primitive. So they load from the muz-
zle with individual components rather than
from the breech with a self-contained car-
tridge. Big deal. If you go to the lease and
shoot a deer with either of these modern
rifles, don't try bragging to me about how
you did it with your muzzleloader. 'cause I
ain't buyin' it!
On the other hand there are still some
fine old-fashioned guns out there. I have an
old .54 caliber Lyman Great Plains Rifle
that is a real peach. It looks enough like an
original caplock Hawken that Jim Bridger
himself couldn't tell the difference. It has a
slow-twist barrel intended for shooting
round balls. In fact, I tried to shoot some
bullets in it and it did not shoot them well at
all. With patched round balls it will keep its
shots in about 4 or 5 inches at 100 yards. It
runs out of steam at about 125 yards, due to
the ballistically inferior round ball.
Up to its maximum range it will pole-ax
a deer. It will not handle Pyrodex and hangs
fire almost every time I try to use some black
powder substitute, but shoots great when
stoked with regular old FFg black powder. It
does not use 209 primers, but is sparked
with #11 caps. I clean it using soap and
boiling hot water, and then oil it thoroughly
with a moisture displacing lubricant.
Like most muzzleloaders, when using
genuine black powder, if the barrel is not
swabbed out after every 5 shots it gets
almost impossible to load. And if it is not
cleaned immediately after a range session it
will rust like an old tin can. That I have had
it for 25 years and it is rust free is an indi-
cation of the loving care it is given after each
use.
I did make one concession to modern
technology. It now wears a Lyman micro-
adjustable rear aperture sight rather than the
original buckhorn that came on the gun.
This is because I never could get the buck-
horn to shoot exactly center, and because my
eyes are not what they once were. I will not,
however, stoop to mounting a scope on it;
that would be undisguised sacrilege.
I don't care if you hunt with a modern
muzzleloader. If it gets you into the field and
out of the office, I'm all for it. What ruffles
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New Limited Editions fromPolaris
POLARIS INDUSTRIES RECENTLYannounced the company’s new limited edi-
tion ATV and Side-by-Side offerings.
The new ATV models include:
2012 Sportsman 500 H.O.—
Polaris Pursuit Camo. Additional fea-
tures on the limited edition model include:
Photo-realistic Polaris Pursuit Camo;
Engine Braking System (EBS). It comes
with Kenda K590 25-inch tires. This
model was available as of July 2011.
2012 Sportsman XP 850
H.O./550 EPS—Orange
Madness. Additional features
on the limited edition model
include: Orange Madness
automotive-style paint; Black
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panels ; Custom cut & sew
Orange and Black seat ;
Color-matched painted front
and rear suspension springs ;
Electronic Power Steering
(EPS) ; Lock & Ride front stor-
age box. It will also feature 14-inch
machined black cast aluminum wheels with
Carlisle AT 489 II tires. This limited edi-
tion will be available in October 2011.
2012 Sportsman XP 850
H.O./550 EPS—Browning Polaris
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the limited edition model include: Photo-
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2012 Sportsman Touring 850
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machined black cast alu-
minum
wheels
with
Carlisle AT 489 II tires. This limited edi-
tion was available as of August 2011
The Side-by-Side models include:
2012 Ranger 500 EFI—Sunset
Red. Additional features on the limited
edition model include: Sunset Red painted
hood with custom-matched side decals;
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painted front and rear suspension springs;
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set Red deluxe seats; and 12-inch Black
Crusher rims with Carlisle 489 tires. This
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2012 Ranger XP 800—Magnetic
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2012 Ranger XP 800—Board-
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Boardwalk Blue painted hood,
dash and glove box with custom
matched side decals; Custom decal
accent package; Turbo Silver paint-
ed front and rear suspension
springs; Custom cut & sew
stitched Black and Boardwalk
Blue deluxe seats; and 12-inch
black Crusher rims with PXT tires. It was
available in July 2011.
2012 Ranger XP 800—Pearl
PHOT
O: C
OURT
ESY
POLA
RIS
INDU
STRI
ESSportsman 500 H.O. Polaris PursuitCamo Limited Edition ATV.
my feathers is the idea that we can somehow
cheat the rules by using such guns in primi-
tive weapons seasons. If you want to hunt
with a muzzleloader that shoots bullets,
wears a 3-9X scope, has electronic ignition,
and is accurate to 300 yards, use it during
the regular rifle season. Leave the primitive
seasons to the real primitive weapons, as
they were intended. Better yet, buy a replica
muzzleloader and use it. They really are a
lot of fun and hunting with one gives you a
very real sense of sharing in the past of Kit
and Jim.
E-mail Steve LaMascus at
TEXAS GUNS
� CONTINUED FROM PAGE 69
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White. Additional features on the limited
edition model include: Pearl White painted
hood, dash and glove box with custom
matched side decals
Custom decal accent package; Bright
White painted front and rear suspension
springs; Custom cut & sew stitched Black
and Pearl White deluxe seats; and 12-inch
black Crusher rims with PXT tires. It was
available in July 2011.
2012 Ranger XP 800—Walker
Evans. Additional features on the limited
edition model include: Premium Walker
Evans shock package; Black Metallic and
Indy Red painted hood, dash and glove
box with custom matched side decals; Cus-
tom Walker Evans graphic package; Indy
Red painted front and rear suspension
springs; Custom cut & sew stitched Black
and Indy Red deluxe seats; and 12-inch
black Crusher rims with PXT tires. It was
available in August 2011.
2012 Ranger XP 800 XP EPS—
Sunset Red. Additional features on the
limited edition model include: Electronic
Power Steering (EPS); Sunset Red paint-
ed hood, dash and glove box with custom
matched side decals; Custom decal accent
package; Turbo Silver painted front and
rear suspension springs; Custom cut & sew
stitched Black and Sunset Red deluxe
seats; and 12" black Crusher rims with
PXT tires. Available August 2011.
2012 Ranger XP 800 EPS—
Browning Edition with Pursuit
Camo. Additional features on the limited
edition model include: Electronic Power
Steering (EPS); Exclusive Browning Edi-
tion Ranger with Pursuit camo hood, dash
and glove box with custom-matched side
decals; Factory Installed Polaris 4500 lb.
winch; Dual Lock & Ride black gun scab-
bards, positioned above bed; Custom cut &
sew Browning seat with Buck Mark decal;
Matte Black steel rims with Polaris PXT
tires. It has been available since July 2011.
2012 Ranger CREW 500—Turbo
Silver. Additional features on the limited
edition model include: Turbo Silver paint-
ed hood with custom matched side decals;
Custom decal accent package; Turbo Silver
painted front and rear suspension springs;
Custom cut & sew stitched Black and
Turbo Silver deluxe seats; and 12" Black
Crusher rims with Carlise 489 tires. It was
available August 2011.
2012 Ranger CREW 800 EPS—
Sandstone. Additional features on the
limited edition model include: Electronic
Power Steering (EPS); Sandstone painted
hood, dash and glove box with custom
matched side decals; Custom Matte Black
decal accent package; Turbo Silver painted
front and rear suspension springs; Custom
cut & sew stitched Black and Sandstone
deluxe seats; and 12" Black Crusher rims
with PXT tires. It was available July
2011.
2012 Ranger RZR 800—White
Lightning/Red. Additional features on
the limited edition model include: White
Lightning painted dash and rear panels
with Indy Red painted hood; Custom
Rally graphics package; Color-matched
painted front and rear suspension springs;
Custom cut & sew stitched Black and Indy
Red seats with RZR emblem; with
Maxxis tires on 12" Black Crusher rims. It
was available as of July 2011.
2012 Ranger RZR 800—Magnet-
ic Metallic. Additional features on the
limited edition model include: Magnetic
Metallic painted dash and rear panels with
Liquid Silver painted hood; Custom Rally
graphics package; Custom cut & sew
stitched Black and Liquid Silver seats with
RZR emblem; Color-matched front and
rear suspension springs; and Maxxis tires
on 12" Black Crusher rims. It was avail-
able in July 2011.
2012 Ranger RZR 800 EPS-
Boardwalk Blue. Additional features on
the limited edition model include: Electron-
ic Power Steering (EPS); Boardwalk Blue
painted dash and rear panels with White
Lightning painted hood; Custom Rally
graphics package; Custom cut & sew three-
color stitched Black, Blue and White seats
with RZR emblem; Color-matched front
and rear suspension springs; Premium
Walker Evans Shock Package; and Maxxis
tires on 12" Black Crusher rims. Available
since July 2011.
2012 Ranger RZR S 800—
White/Orange Madness. Additional
features on the limited edition model
include: White Lightning painted dash
with Gloss Black painted hood and rear
panels; Custom three-color cut & sew
stitched Black, Orange and White seats
with RZR emblem; Color-matched paint-
ed front and rear suspension springs;
White Lightning painted control arms;
Premium Fox Podium X shocks; and it has
Maxxis Bighorn tires on 12" black Crusher
rims. This model was available in August
2011.
2012 Ranger RZR S 800—Liquid
Silver/Red. Additional features on the
limited edition model include: Liquid Sil-
ver painted dash and rear panels with Indy
Red painted hood; Custom graphics pack-
age; Custom cut & sew stitched Black and
Indy Red seats with Red RZR emblem;
Color-matched front and rear suspension
springs; Premium Fox Podium X shocks;
and Maxxis Bighorn tires on 12” Black
Crusher rims. It was available August
2011.
2012 Ranger RZR 4 800 EPS—
White/Orange Madness Robby Gor-
don. Additional features on the limited
edition model include: Electronic Power
Steering (EPS); White Lightning painted
dash with Gloss Black painted hood and
rear panels; Custom three-color cut & sew
stitched Black, Orange and White seats
with RZR emblem; Color-matched paint-
ed front and rear suspension springs;
White Lightning painted control arms; and
with ITP 900 XCT tires on 12” Black
Bruiser rims. It was available August 2011
2012 Ranger RZR XP 900—
White Lightning. Additional features on
the limited edition model include: White
Lightning dash and Black painted hood;
Custom Xtreme graphics package; Custom
two-color cut & sew White and Black seats
with RZR emblem; with Maxxis Bighorn
tires on 12" black Bruiser rims. It has been
available since July 2011.
2012 Ranger RZR XP 900—
Black/Orange Madness. Additional
features on the limited edition model
include: Metallic Black dash and Orange
Madness painted hood; Custom graphics
package; Custom three-color cut & sew
White, Orange and Black seats with RZR
emblem; White Lightning painted control
and trailing arms; Color-matched Orange
Madness front and rear fenders; and
Maxxis Bighorn tires on 12" black Bruiser
Information about the complete line of
Polaris products, apparel and vehicle acces-
sories is available from authorized Polaris
dealers or anytime from the Polaris home-
page at www.polarisindustries.com.
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ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:26 PM Page 71
A. G. Russell Cowboy & RancherPocket Knives
FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE, A. G. RUSSELLhas admired the Sodbuster style of knife,
with his favorites being made by the now
defunct Eye Brand of Solingen, Germany.
Recognizing that many others share his
interest and that he could produce and
offer it at a price that is affordable to nearly
every American, A. G. has designed his
own variation, which he has named the
Cowboy and the Rancher.
Both have blades of 8Cr13MoV steel
at 57-58 Rc. hardness, very properly flat
ground to a fine cutting edge. Both models
have been cycle tested in A. G.’s own shop
to more than 300,000 cycles of opening
and closing.
Measuring 4-3/8 inches closed, the
Cowboy, is big enough to trim a hoof, skin
a deer or perform any
of the jobs a cowboy or
hunter might perform. Model RUS-
CX12YD is priced at $29.95.
At 3 inches closed, the Rancher is a
perfect size for everyday use by the rancher
or foreman and carries comfortable in work
pants or your Saturday night jeans. The
Rancher, model RUS-CX13-ER sells for
$24.95.
Order at agrus-
sell.com/cowboyrancher or call 800-255-
9034.
Cool Off in the Outdoors
COOL OFF IS SURE TO BE YOUR NEWconstant companion, a pocket-sized, natur-
al cooling towelette is literally the “coolest”
product to have on-hand for outdoor enthu-
siasts. The invigorating, cooling must-
haves are the latest product to help you
stay refreshed and energized all day long.
Featuring the latest in cooling technology,
the multi-purpose cloths are one of the
hottest items to emerge in the fitness and
outdoor recreation categories, especially in
warm weather!
Infused with cooling herbs, plant botan-
icals and essential oils that sooth the skin,
the convenient towelettes offer relief for
any active, hot weather activity; so that you
can feel your best whether you’re hiking the
Appalachian, fishing in the deep blue,
camping in the wilderness, or simply tend-
ing to your garden. Whatever the reason is
to renew, refresh and re-energize, Cool Off
is there to guarantee your personal comfort,
so that you can keep trekking!
72 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
A.G. Russell’s Cowboy and Ranchermodels revive the Sodbuster styleof pocket knives.
PHOT
O: A
.G. R
USSE
LL
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:27 PM Page 72
So get cooled off with
Cool Off
(www.thequickchill.com),
the new convenient pock-
et-sized, natural, personal
cooling towelette, avail-
able online at
www.CVS.com,
www.Amazon.com,
and
www.drugstore.com
in packs of 4, boxes
of 12 and 24 tow-
elettes.
Great Line for Lessthan a Lincoln
C21 IS THE LATEST ADDITION TO THEP-Line family, and is sure to raise the bar
of what anglers can expect from an eco-
nomically priced line.
“This copolymer line is made with
Japanese raw materials and technology.
The ultimate goal of our engineers’ was to
create a line that bridged the gap between
two of our most popular lines, CX-Premi-
um and CXX-Xtra Strong, while main-
taining a great price point” stated Don
Newman of P-Line.
Castability is the most important
attribute for an angler, and C21 delivers
with a soft construction which literally flies
off the reel with virtually no memory. A
copolymer line made with two types on
nylon, C21 synergistically creates the ulti-
mate line for spinning or bait casting reels,
without putting a big dent in your wallet!
“We field tested this line in harsh win-
ter conditions in Alaska, and warm water
fisheries like
Clear Lake
and the
California
Delta and
were
impressed
with the
fishabili-
ty and
casta-
bility
of
C21” stated
Newman.
“Don’t let the inexpensive
price fool you, this is a high
quality Copolymer line
extruded with the best raw
materials available.”
C21 will be available in
300 yard spools of Crystal
Clear in sizes ranging from
4 to 30 pound test and will
begin shipping in November
of 2011. The suggested retail of
C21 will be $4.99-$5.99 with the
entire size run family priced.
For more information visit www.p-
line.com
Rifle Shoots a .50 Caliber Holethrough Red Tape
DRAGON CLAW .50 CALIBER RIFLE. NOpaper. It’s an airgun. Big bore airguns have
been around for over 500 years. Besides
the lack of government red tape, airguns
have other advantages over firearms.
Ammo is clean and easy—a lead bullet…
no powder, no primer, no case.
It also has a quieter report than a .50-
caliber firearm, yet the Dragon Claw deliv-
ers pounding power that quickly and
humanely takes hogs, javelina, coyotes and
other pests. The rifle features fine work-
manship, which is evident in the beautifully
executed checkered wood stock and the
deep, rich bluing.
Two versions of the pneumatic rifle are
available. One has dual air reservoirs and
the other has a single reservoir. The ver-
sion with dual reservoirs
will deliver
more shots
before needing to fill up with
high-pressure air. This bolt-action rifle is
available as a prepackaged deal at a dis-
counted price.
Three deal sizes are
available, with the large
one including ammo, rifle case, scope, rings
and bipod.
Order from www.PyramydAir.com,
877-309-4867, 18370 S. Miles Rd.,
Warrensville Heights, OH 44128.
Say ‘Nighty Night’to Flounder
YOUR FISHING PAL INTRODUCES THENew Lighted Flounder Unit for your night
time fishing enjoyment.
This unit has many features with
adjustable angles and depth for the 20”
LED light. It will run on a single 12 volt
gel cell 7.2 amps battery, for 4-6 hours
(depending on battery charge and condi-
tion). This Fish Light is made to with-
stand the rigors of salt water fishing as well
as fresh water. The bulbs are factory rated
for 20,000 hours use to provide years of
great fishing enjoyment. The light can be
removed from the Flounder Unit and used
to hang from the boat or dock for night
time fishing, comes complete ready to use
with 18 ft. of electrical cord. The intro-
ductory price is $194.99, (battery not
included). See their website,
www.yourfishingpal.com for more great
fishing products or call (979) 871-8700.
P-Line C21... high per-formance for less than5 bucks.
PHOT
O: P
-LIN
EPH
OTO:
COO
L OF
F
PHOT
O: C
OOL
OFF
Cool Off natural coolingtowlettes.
T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 73
Dragon Claw .50 caliber air gun.
Your Fishing Pal’s Lighted Flounder Unit
PHOT
O:PY
RAMY
D AI
R GU
NS
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:29 PM Page 73
Fish KidIS YOUR KID A FISHING FANATIC? OR,
do you want to make sure you impress
upon him or her the awesome nature of fish
and fishing at an early age? Then dress up
your kid as a Fish Kid.
Fish Kid clothing, sunglasses, and hats
are designed to fit the youngest fish fans
among us, from newborns (seriously!) to
preteens. Hats and sunglasses (which meet
ANSI Z80.3 UV requirements for gener-
al purpose sun protection, and block out
99-percent of AVA and AVB sunlight)
are sized for kids, and come in multiple
styles and colors.
The T-shirts, however, are what most
kids are going to really like—few cool fish-
ing shirts are available in kid’s sizes, and
these come in toddler, youth, youth L, and
youth XL. Some sport the Fish Kid logo
(a youngster wrestling with a bent pole),
while others are available with a variety of
sport fish prints or
“cool” fish, like
the Metallic Mon-
ster Fish and the
wild-looking
Angler Fish.
Styles include
T-shirts,
hoodies,
and tank-
tops, in both
boy’s and
girl’s cuts
and colors.
Slide your
newborn into
one of
the Fish Kid Onesies (with easy diaper
access – yippie!) and start imprinting the
baby’s brain with fish and fishing from the
moment they’re born.
My 11 year old boys thought the
coolest catch in this line-up was the Surf
Shirt. This form-fitting nylon/spandex
blend comes in short and long sleeves, car-
ries a Solar Guard SPF factor of 50, and
prevented the rashes and burns that usually
come with boogie-boarding and surf-riding
at the beach during our family vacation.
When it came to hoodies and T’s, one son
decided Fish Kid’s camo print was the
best, while another liked the Hawaiian
flare of the Aloha print. Performance fish-
ing shirts with vented sleeves and foul
weather gear are all in the works, so your
kids can don Fish Kid gear in all kinds of
weather. Check out the styles and pricing,
at www.fishkid.com.
Midland Xtra TalkARE YOU SUFFERING FROM A COMMUNI-
cations breakdown, while you’re fishing or
hunting? A pair of FRS radios will help
you stay in touch with your friends and
family members, but the quality of dif-
ferent models varies radically. I had a
chance to try out Midland’s Xtra
Talk radios while on a cross-country
trip this summer, and we put them
to the test as we drove down the
highway, hiked up a mountain,
and fished along a river.
The LXT 380VP3 was
the perfect Xtra Talk package for
us, since it includes two radios, a
charger/base station, rechargeable
batteries, and an AC adaptor. Mid-
land says these radios
have a range of up to
24 miles; on the road
we never lost touch with
each other, including up to
a distance of about five
miles when I took the wrong
exit ramp. When hiking, range was defi-
nitely shorter and when there was a moun-
tain in the way, although communications
were still possible the transmissions were a
bit broken up. For close-quarters communi-
cations there’s a low-power option which
lets you conserve battery life, but we used
these radios extensively between charges—
at one stretch of driving for about 20
hours—and never tapped the power supply
out, so they get a big thumbs-up for charge
longevity.
As with most FRS radios, there was
some bleed-over from other people’s con-
versations. Particularly on a crowded high-
way near major cities, we had to change
channels often. Luckily, the Xtra Talk has
22 channels to choose from so we were
always able to switch them until we had
clear airwaves to talk over. And during a
full week in campgrounds, bleed-over was
surprisingly rare. Now: ready
for the big surprise? The
LXT 380 VP costs a mere
$40. You can also opt for
behind-the-ear mics ($40)
and headsets ($20). Hunters
will be most interested in the
LXT 385VP version,
which comes in a camo pat-
tern but costs $10 more.
And if you want the best
Midland has to offer in
outdoors FRS radios,
check out the GXT
1050VP4 models; these
cost significantly more at
$100 for
the pack-
age, but
they’re camo, water-
proofed, and have a long
list of features including
NOAA weather radio, an
SOS siren, an additional
28 channels to choose from, and 14 miles
more maximum range. Take your pick at
www.midlandradio.com
74 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
PHO
TOS:
FIS
H K
ID; M
IDLA
ND
Midland GXT
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T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 75
CO
MPO
SITE
LAY
OU
T: T
EXAS
FIS
H &
GAM
E; D
EER
MO
UN
T, D
EEPS
PAC
E D
AVE,
FO
TOLI
A
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:29 PM Page 75
Whatever name you give it, the world
still is turning rapidly in the realm of innov-
ative hunting equipment, a fact that is evi-
dent at hunting shows, retail outlets, on the
internet and in hunters’ vehicles, packs and
cabins.
Major firearms manufacturers, ammuni-
tion producers, 4-wheeler companies, and
even the major auto industry and others
constantly are working to compete in the
hunting market, but it is the smaller, often
individual, businesses that are inventing
and presenting some of most useful hunting
gear for both the average hunter and the
veteran hunter.
New Camo FlavorsOne of the most interesting pushes
SOME ARE CALLED GADGETS, some are called items of necessity and some
are called “equalizer items” to even things with those new shoes your wife just
bought or that new shotgun your husband recently purchased.
BY BOB HOOD
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:30 PM Page 76
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:30 PM Page 77
among these new items for the hunter is the
latest advent of new camouflage clothing
patterns. A half century ago, most camou-
flage patterns were the same--simply patch-
es of green, brown, black and gray. Not so
today.
Even though camouflage patterns have
evolved with the presentations of clothes,
shirts, caps, hats, jackets, sweaters, waders
and other items with leaf-like prints or
those with prints simulating tree limbs, tree
trunks, sea grass and other natural-looking
items, the newest patterns are impressive,
indeed, and they are coming from individ-
ual or small businesses, not the major pro-
ducers.
One of the newest is a pattern that
blends in with sunflowers and comes in
“breathable” as well as other materials.
Another pattern being offered sinks a
hunter’s identity into cedars and shade
with its dark green pattern.
Although these new patterns are being
used on hunter’s clothing items, you can
expect to see them elsewhere such as on
hunting blinds, 4-wheelers, and maybe
even firearms and archery equipment in the
future, just as you have seen the trend in
other camouflage patterns being used on
various items.
Clothing Non-ScentsThe hunter clothing industry also has
seen a change not only in camouflage pat-
terns but also in “scent-control” products
PHO
TO: F
RAN
K BA
CH
, BIG
STO
CK:
Sunflowers make an ideal camopattern for Texas, in dove seasonand beyond.
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:31 PM Page 78
such as several shirts, pants, jackets and
coveralls that have been treated with tech-
nology to permanently control human odor
caused by bacteria. Among them are those
that use silver or silver-based components
and nylon threads rather than sprayed-on
or dyed or dipped silver to control human
odor.
Nice RacksUntil recently, gun and bow racks have
changed little. Most are designed to hold a
bow, rifle or shotgun securely on a 4-wheel-
er or similar vehicle, in a Jeep, pickup
truck or other vehicle while strapped down.
One new gun and bow rack designed
recently holds the weapons securely without
PHO
TO: A
LEX
ABIG
OSI
S, D
REA
MST
IME
Cedar is such a prevalent cover, expecially inthe Hill Country and Central Texas, that it is anatural for a Texas camo pattern.
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:31 PM Page 79
the use of a strap. It can be expanded by
hand to accommodate any size rifle or
archery equipment and even holds those
weapons securely when upside down such
as from overhead on a 4-wheeler or other
vehicle.
Glamour Game ShotsMany hunters today rely upon trail
cameras to help do the scouting for them.
In the early years of trail cameras, most
simply took black and white photos of any-
thing that triggered movement in front of
the camera. Modern technologies have
resulted in trail cameras that not only have
bulb-type flash units for night-time photos
but infrared night photos that do not alert
animals that their photo has been taken
other than a simple small red infrared light
on the unit itself.
Also, many of the new trail cameras not
only take still photos but short videos, run
on battery packs as well as a series of C
and D cell batteries and provide additional
information. One new trail camera is
designed to provide exceptionally longer
battery life than any other time-lapse cam-
era on the market. It records up to
1,000,000 images on a single set of batter-
ies with a full day using approximately
80 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
PHO
TO: M
ILAN
SU
RKA
LA, B
IGST
OC
K
Modern trail cameras shoot andstore thousands of high-definitioncolor photos and even video.
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:32 PM Page 80
7,500 images.
This particular camera also records
high-definition images while taking pictures
every 5 or 10 seconds and saves them as
an HD video. You can take the SD card
out of the unit and load the content on
your computer, then the software manages
and loads the files by the dates recorded.
T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 81
PHO
TO: C
OU
RTE
SY R
ICAR
DO
SIE
RR
A
Game cameras can shoot wildlifein all light conditions, withoutspooking them.
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:32 PM Page 81
You can review all of the recorded images
in minutes. Other cameras require manual
organization and time to see the images.
Archery AchievementThe designs of archery broadheads may
even surpass the new innovations in trail
cameras. There are many new mechanical
broadheads that expand upon impact as
well as fixed broadheads of two and three
blades that do all the work without expand-
ing. Among the newest in this field is a
fixed broadhead whose “point” is hollow
with three very sharp spears up front. The
purpose of the “hollow point” broadhead is
for the sharp spears to open up an area of
hair, bone and/or meat to provide better
cutting by the blades of the broadhead that
82 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
PHH
OTO
: CO
UR
TESY
EAS
TON
New designs in broadheads havevastly improved the sport ofbowhunting.
PHO
TO: D
AVE
WIL
LMAN
, BIG
STO
CK
Archery hunting has continued tobe a fast-growing sport, especiallyamong younger hunters.
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:32 PM Page 82
T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 83
is behind the point. The result is a quicker
cutting of the broadhead as it passes into
and/or through the animal’s body cavity.
Perhaps one of the fastest growing fields
for manufacturers of hunting equipment is
that involving archery and crossbow
hunters. Archery hunting, like spring
turkey hunting, has continued to be a fast-
growing sport, especially among young
hunters, so it isn’t surprising that small
companies are rapidly competing with larg-
er well-known brand name companies not
only for a piece of the pie but because they
truly are made up of archery hunters who
are developing better and more reliable
equipment for themselves and fellow
archery hunters.
New broadheads, arrows and bolts are
being developed every day. Lighted nocks,
mechanical and stationary cutting edges,
new fletching, and more are hitting the
shelves every day. One of the newest
broadheads is one that appears as a “hol-
low point” on the tip but which has three
very sharp spear-like parts to that “hollow
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point” that cuts into bone, meat and other
areas of the animal to open up a broader
path for the blades to cut through when
they reach that point.
Modern AntiquesProponents of antique rifles for hunting
during muzzle-loading and “primitive”
firearms seasons are seeing their methods
of hunting improved annually. Other than
using actual antique muzzleloaders, the
sport of hunting with these firearms has
been expanded drastically by the produc-
tion of modern-day replicas of cap-and-ball
firearms and flintlocks.
The advent of disc charging systems
using basically shotgun primers for muzzle-
loaders as well as lighter and stronger flint-
lock rifles with specially-designed flints like-
ly would have been accepted very well with
the likes of Davey Crockett, Daniel Boone
and other early adventures and hunters.
WaterfowlWhen you drop away from big game
hunting, you will find a large number of
new items and gear for waterfowlers, dove
hunters, upland game hunters, predator
hunters and small game hunters. They
range from motion decoys, silhouette
decoys, magnum shotguns and magnum
shotshell, improved waders, coveralls,
chests, boots, flashlights, caplights, gear
bags, calls and much more.
Waterfowl hunters, for example, are see-
ing a growing array of motion decoys for
ducks and geese which also has expanded
into the dove and predator hunting fields.
PHO
TO: J
OR
GE
GO
NZA
LEZ,
BIG
STO
CK
Modern-day replicas of cap-and-ball firearms and flintlocks haveredefined “primitive” hunting.
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:33 PM Page 84
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The “motion” waterfowl decoy presenta-
tions began more than a decade ago with
the presentations of duck decoys on stakes
whose wings were rotated by battery supply
to simulate ducks in flight to land on water.
That technology was later expanded to
include doves and even deer and other ani-
mals.
PHO
TO: T
ERR
ANC
E EM
ERSO
N, B
IGST
OC
K
Technology continues to advancein the service of waterfowl andother bird hunters.
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PredatorOn the predator calling avenue, there
are numerous motorized attractants that
simulate injured rabbits, rodents, birds and
even feathers of prey to distract a coyote,
bobcat, fox or other predator away from the
actual sound of the caller.
Remote-controlled predator calling
devices have revolutionized the predator
calling industry, replacing the old 45 rpm
record portable callers as well as the cas-
sette callers that were introduced in the
1970s and 1980s, but the traditional
mouth-blown calls have not fallen short on
innovations. Both historically-proven preda-
tor calls as well as modern-day manual
calls have been upgraded and remain the
favorites among many serious predator
callers.
Deer HuntersDeer attractants began with corn feed-
ers, spread to protein feeders and now
involves an array of mineral or “deer
PHO
TO: (
JOH
N P
ITC
HER
, BIG
STO
CK
Digital callers and innovations inhand-blown calls have revolution-ized predator hunting.
PHO
TO: T
ON
Y C
AMPB
ELL,
CAN
STO
CK
Supplement, scent, and feedermanufacturers have made a sci-ence of attracting deer.
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:33 PM Page 86
blocks” and attractants that truly work to
bring deer in to specific spots. Among the
newest deer attractants is one mineral bag
that is hung from a tree or other above-
ground support, wet with water and then
left to attract deer. The mineral bag pro-
vides nourishment that provides nutrients
for fawns, buck antler growth and overall
health. Its other advantages is that is hog
proof because it can not be rooted and
rolled away and will withstand years of
abuse without showing signs of wear and
corrosion.
RangefindersAnother big plus for both rifle and
archery hunters is a race among manufac-
turers to improve their range finders. One
company now has a rangefinder that pro-
vides consistent readings of up to 1,300
yards. That overall distance capability may
not be important to some archery hunters
but the fact is that the rangefinder is accu-
rate at very close ranges as well as those
far-out shots for rifle hunters.
T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 87
On the Web
A.G. Russell Knives:www.AGRussell.comAccuSharp Knife Sharpeners:www.AccuSharp.comAmmunition To Go:www.AmmunitionToGo.comBA Products:www.RemingtonFeeders.comBlack Hills Ammunition:www.Black-Hills.comCountry Home Products:www.DRPower.comDeSantis Holsters:www.DeSantisHolster.comHitch N Hunt:www.HitchnHunt.comKT Coolers:www.KTCoolers.comLarson Electronics:www.Magnalight.comLumenok/Burt Coyote Co.www.lumenok.netPuma Kniveswww.PumaKnifeCompanyUSA.comPyramyd Airwww.PyramydAir.comRAW Ranch Huntingwww.Worsham-RealEstate.comSpringfield Armorywww.Springfield-Armory.comSunflower Camowww.SunflowerCamo.netSure Gripwww.SureGripRacks.comThe Great Texas Gun Companywww.TXGunco.comTrophy Toolswww.TrophyTools.com
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:33 PM Page 87
SabineOctoberfest
WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT OCTOBER?You want big numbers? You
want action? How about excite-
ment, opportunity and endless
options? You want specks, reds and floun-
der? Sand trout? Bull reds?
If the word “yes” entered your brain to
any of these questions, you owe it to yourself
to get down here and join us in a Sabine-
style Octoberfest.
Many people are convinced that no other
month rivals October when it comes to sheer
numbers and the overall quality of the Big 3.
I’d have to agree because if I had to pick one
month out of the year to fish, this would be
it. The marsh and bayous are constantly
being purged as shrimp and batifish contin-
ue to pour out into the bay with every cold
front. As a result, the mouths of the bayous,
shorelines and open bay are all excellent
places to locate fish.
Flounder will set up ambush points in
the bayous at S curves and points near the
mouth on outgoing tides. Trout and redfish
will also take advantage of these areas as the
tide leads their next meal towards deeper
water.
Fishing the mouths of any bayou or cut
on the eastern bank of Sabine Lake can lead
to success. If you’ve got tidal movement and
bait present, the odds of you catching fish
increase greatly. The mouths of Willow and
Bridge Bayous are excellent places to start.
These areas hold bait year round and seem
to step it up a notch in October.
Throwing topwaters early and plastics
once the sun gets up should keep you on the
fish. It’s hard for flounder to resist the wob-
ble of a curl-tailed grub tipped with fresh
shrimp dragged slowly along the bottom.
Trout and redfish will like it worked a little
faster. Use an 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. lead head
and bounce it off the bottom or swim it back
to the boat.
The open bay should be wide open with
big flocks of birds leading anglers to schools
of trout and reds. Shrimp are making their
way out of the marsh and the fish have them
corralled and pushed to the surface where
the gulls, and hopefully you, will be waiting.
The big bulls have also invaded the
beachfront and jetties as they come in close
to spawn future generations. Break out the
big rods and catch some mullet and you
shouldn’t have to wait too long for the reels
to start singing. Make sure your drag is set
if you answered “yes” earlier and come be a
part of the Sabine Octoberfest!
LOCATION: McFaddin Beach
SPECIES: Bull Redfish
BAITS/LURES: Live or cut mullet
BEST TIMES: All day or night
Contact Eddie Hernandez at,
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THE BANK BITE
Many are convinced that noother month rivalsOctober in sheer
numbers and overall quality.
“
“
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Is ChangeGood ForThe Gulf?
MY LAST TRIP TO GALVESTONbefore writing this column was
on a very lovely summer day –
just about as good as it gets.
Although it was hot, maybe record hot,
there was a cooling breeze off the water; the
surf was green to the beach with just a small-
ish scattering of whitecaps coming in. There
was a heavy load of seaweed on the beach
that was making it rough on surf fishermen.
The weed gets on the lines of long rod
anglers and weights them down, pulling
even the best sand sinkers free, and harbors
mosquitoes and biting flies on land just as it
attracts small baitfish and crustaceans when
in the water. Those who love the Gulf see
the trade-off, however, and will take this as
an omen of good offshore fishing over the
horizon – especially for dolphin.
Coming up on the seawall from the
direction of San Luis Pass, it was sad to see
that the old Gulf Coast (90th Street) Pier is
still an island chain after Ike, with three
unconnected sections leading from Seawall
Blvd to the “T” – head. Again taking a
positive attitude, my thoughts were that a
surf-launched boat on a calm day might find
some excellent opportunities around those
pilings. The 61st Street Pier seemed to be
open for business, and it looked as thought
the store/restaurant area was being remod-
eled.
My reasons for coming to the Island that
day were not directly aimed at fishing, but
rather at the future of fishing, which we need
to face with a hopeful and positive attitude.
I was attending the Galveston segment of a
Gulf of Mexico Listening Session concern-
ing the Obama Administration’s National
Ocean Policy. Moderated by Dr. Larry
McKinney, former Coastal Fisheries Direc-
tor for TPWD and now Executive Director
of the HARTE Research Institute for Gulf
of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M Univer-
sity-Corpus Christi, this meeting followed a
gathering of the Gulf of Mexico Restoration
Task Force, and was attended by the major
players in the administration’s Ocean Policy
group, a couple of whom admitted this was
their first opportunity to see the Gulf in per-
son. There are nine objectives of the Ocean
Policy, which positively stresses communica-
tion between all the “stakeholders” and
users of the oceans, Gulf and Great Lakes,
while at the same time putting importance in
climate change, ocean acidification, and
changes in the Arctic that I think have
debatable importance. There are other pos-
itives, like concern over water from its source
to its final destination. The main thing to
watch for, however, is called Coastal and
Marine Spatial Planning. My favorite
deckhand, Jack “Six-Pack” Pierce, thought
they were saying “Special” planning, and
his thoughts were that “Hell, yes, the mari-
nas on the coast are special!” The UN
defines Spatial Planning, however, as “A
public process of analyzing and allocating
the spatial and temporal distribution of
human activities in marine areas to achieve
ecological, economic, and social objectives
that usually have been specified through a
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 90 �
The old 90th StreetPier is still an
island chain afterIke.
“
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TargetReds Untilthe BirdsWork
OCTOBER IN MATAGORDA IS NOTwhat it used to be. I remember
chilly earlobes, calm afternoons
and world-class light tackle fishing.
Ten years ago it was nothing to pop countless
4-5 pound trout on topwaters during an
evening session working birds.
Back then, it was crowded to see three
boats on an October weekday afternoon in
East Matagorda Bay. People were more con-
cerned with getting deer camp ready and
duck blinds brushed. Indeed, times have
changed.
Sure, the birds still work in October, but
the last few fall campaigns have been more of
a November thing. That doesn’t mean fish-
ing stinks in October, it just means if warm-
weather patterns persist, keep your Septem-
ber plan in your back pocket.
“It (bird action) has definitely been later
and later every year,” said guide Bill Puste-
jovsky. “We just keep plugging the reefs until
the shrimp leave the marsh and the birds
start working.”
The tell-tale spark that gets birds working
is the amount of water in the marsh. When
tides are high, which is normally the case in
early autumn, shrimp retreat to the backwa-
ter areas and nurseries. Then, as tides
recede, often after the first cold front of the
year, the marsh dumps those bloated tides
and shrimp ride the current to the bays.
“It seems to be later and later every year,”
said guide Tommy Alexander. “But there
are plenty of fish to catch until the birds get
really going.”
Swelling fall tides are a boon for redfish-
ers. Like shrimp, when tides are high, red-
fish wander to the back lakes and marshes. It
might be cruising the grass line in Oyster
Lake, staging on shell pads in Crab Lake or
circling the reefs and drop-offs at Shell
political process.
To me, this means dividing the waters
of our nation among users groups, and the
divisions will be determined by the same
people who cannot accurately and fairly
manage red snapper. To obtain more
information, or to register your own com-
ments online, go to
www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/26/sh
are-your-ideas-national-ocean-council-lis-
tening-session-near-you.
LOCATION: October should be a fine
month for fishing any part of the Galve-
ston area. Try the 61st Pier I mentioned
earlier on a green tide for a variety of
species.
ALTERNATE SPOT: “Wet” wading the
GALVESTON
� CONTINUED FROM PAGE 89
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Island. Live shrimp under a popping cork is
the best course of action.
“We Power Pole down and work the
grass line, then pull up and drift down the
shoreline and do it again,” said Alexander.
With all the shrimp in the back lakes, on
calm days schools of trout and redfish follow
the pods of crustaceans, and sea gulls usual-
ly follow.
“Birds will work in the back lakes in
October,” said Pustejovsky. “Other times of
the year the trout are usually small in the
lakes, but in October they all seem to be
keepers.”
Larger reds hang out in the surf and at
the jetty. Large table shrimp, finger mullet
and cracked crabs are the best offerings for
the big spawners. If you plan to target bull
redfish, the Gulf is the spot, but don’t be sur-
prised if you run in to a 40-incher in the bay.
“There are always big redfish in West
Bay,” said guide and redfish specialist
Jimmy Riddle. “We will be on a spot with
lots of slot-sized redfish and then a big bull
shows up and gives us a good time.”
As always, the scattered shell and mud in
East Bay is a player for trout with light
winds and green tides. Live shrimp under a
popping cork is normally the best bet for
bites, but as is the case every autumn, soft
plastics like Bass Assassins, Norton Sand
Eels and Bull Minnows, TTF Flats Min-
nows and Gulps become consistent players.
LOCATION: Matagorda jetty
SPECIES: Bull Redfish
BAITS: Table shrimp, cracked blue crabs,
finger mullet
Capt. Bink Grimes is a licensed fishing
guide and lodge proprietor
(www.matagordasunriselodge.com).
Email him at [email protected] BANK BITE
surf or bays is a very pleasant way to pass
your fishing time, and Galveston offers
many areas to try both, on either side of
the Island.
SPECIES: Speckled trout and redfish,
flounder, and various panfish species will
be most common, but this is also prime
bull red season, and there will still be big
jacks in the surf.
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, mullet, or
croaker when available, dead bait when
they are not. Artificials will be good on
early tide changes for specks.
BEST TIMES: Early morning tide
changes are the best, but moving water at
any time will stir fish to feeding activity.
Capt. Mike Holmes runs tarpon,
shark, and bluewater trips
on a classic 31 Bertram.
To book a trip, call 979-415-0535.
Email him at [email protected].
FOCUS
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Fish orHunt?
AS THE FIRST TRUE COLD FRONTSmake their way onto our beloved
bays, the refreshing chill can put
energy back in one’s step after a
summer of a record drought and so many
days of triple digit temperatures that I lost
count. Maybe it was just me, but this sum-
mer seemed unmercifully hot with most of
my clients giving me the “take me back to
the dock where I can soak up some A/C”
look by mid-day.
Most outdoors men/women seem to shift
from the first gear of fishing to the four
wheel drive of hunting as the cooler, lighter
air triggers some inherited evolutionary
switch that only a true outdoors person
experiences. While I love to fish, I must
admit that I, too, can hear the calling of my
old Mathews Drenalin bow to the pursuit of
critters of the 4 legged persuasion.
If I may, though, before you hang up
your favorite fishing rod and cover the boat
and treat the gas with Stabil for old man
winter’s visit, let me make a case for the piv-
otal month of October. As I go back in my
records over the years I am amazed at the
quality of fish I’ve caught at this time of year.
My biggest trout have been caught in
October; my biggest flounder as well as
biggest reds all caught in this magical
month. If you have followed my writings,
you know that the few hours just before a
significant cold front exacts some pretty
good fishing for those who keep rod, reel
and boat ready. Much has been written
about this feeding time and much debated.
Some say it’s barometric change, others
heatedly debate that fish cannot sense or feel
anything but the most drastic atmospheric
changes (barometric pressure is simply
atmospheric pressure as measured or indi-
cated by a barometer).
Others say it’s the sudden drop in water
temperature that triggers a survival feeding
cycle. Still others insist it’s the change in
light with wet cold fronts and their refractive
effects on fish at certain depths.
Then we have the wind gurus who swear
the northerly winds push bait from north to
south, in the opposite direction from which
it has been driven for most of the preceding
5 to 6 months, thus causing a stirring effect
to elicit the bite.
Let’s add into the equation the moon
and tidal effects have and we fisher-
men/women have much to ponder. Such is
the puzzled mysteries that an angler gets to
piece together.
Before we dive too deep into this pool of
theories and get totally confused, let us
remember we are talking about catching fish
in the month of October and why this month
merits a postponement of our cool-weather
fishing hiatus.
Over the years I have noted conditions
that correlate to this wonder bite and when
these conditions present themselves it will
make me stop whatever I am doing and put
my boat in the water for excellent opportu-
nities at some rod bending action.
First I think all the conditions previously
mentioned have merit and can, and do, fac-
tor into the equation; some more than oth-
ers. If you try to factor all these conditions in
the effort to arrive at the ultimate angler
answer, let me save you the time for there is
no such thing.
Instead let me tell you what I look for.
A cold front that promises to drop ambi-
ent temps by more than 30 degrees which in
turn will drop water temps by 10 degrees or
more in rapid fashion.
A crescent moon (new moon).
Frontal winds that promise to be around
20 knots (anything more and you will be
fishing in chocolate milk-muddy water);
winds less than that won’t likely move bait.
A wet front that drags a nice barometric
change with it and a light rain that follows.
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When these conditions line up, my boat
is either in the water or on the way to the
water and, yes, you do need to keep an eye
on the horizon; these fronts can bring much
mischief with them.
This is not all-day fishing, but rather a
select few hours of some of the best fish
action one can have on our bays. Seems the
big trout and reds and flounder, after a sum-
mer of warmer water, switch to overdrive for
these select few hours.
Note: For stronger fronts with colder
temperatures I wait for two to three days
after the front passes.
Now, so the hunter in you won’t think
that I’m trying to steer anyone away from
this special time of year, I found this writing
and it touched the hunter in me in a very
special way. So, for those that have already
mothballed their fishing gear and just can’t
scratch the itch enough for this coming hunt-
ing season, here’s a treat that most hunters
soulfully will understand. It was written by
a good friend, Dr. Dan McBride, an excel-
lent veterinarian in Marble Falls (the birth-
place of Texas Fish & Game) and a con-
summate outdoorsman/conservationist who
has dedicated his life to the animals we love,
those we pursue and those we dream about.
Enjoy and God Bless!
Memories Of HuntingMay the days of August find me
Far away from home,
Atop the Canadian Cathedrals
Hunting the sheep of stone
But all hunting is not killing.
For those who don’t, I must explain,
More are the memories of Gods majesty
And creatures living,
They are etched in one’s brain.
The feeling exalted when,
I peer over the next mountain top
My rifle I will stowe,
Shall that feeling ever go.
And the trophies that grace the wall
That I strived hard to find
Serve as only cues to memories of
Splendor
Carved indelibly in my mind.
Written by Dr. Dan on some distant
mountain top in Canada while sheep
hunting.
COPANO BAY—On low tide the mouth of
Mission Bay is good for reds using cut perch
and/or cut menhaden on a light Carolina
rig. Medium sized trout are in good num-
bers on Little Lap Reef and the grass line
just west of the reef. A popping cork and
shrimp work well here.
ARANSAS BAY—Good trout action on the
grass lines just east of the LBJ causeway just
off the north shoreline using free lined pig-
gies. The south end of Long Reef is good
for reds using mud minnows or cut mullet
and a light Carolina rig with early morning
high tide preferred. The spoil area at the
mouth of Dunham Bay is holding some
sheep head and medium sized black drum
using peeled shrimp and small 2/0 kale
hooks.
CARLOS BAY—As fronts push in between
tides Carlos Dugout is the place to be for
red and trout that seek shelter of deeper
water using soft plastics in pumpkin and
new penny colors. Corkies work well here
also; cast up to the shell and the work into
deeper water.
ST. CHARLES BAY—Egg Point is good for
reds using mud minnows on colder days.
Cow Chip is a good drift for reds using a
bubble cork and Berkley gulp crab during
high tide.
MESQUITE BAY—Rattle Snake Point is
good for reds with a light north wind. Cut
perch or finger mullet is the ticket here. The
east shoreline close to the fish huts is good
for trout using free lined shrimp or Berkley
Jerk shad in watermelon color. The key here
is to fish 50 to 75 yards off the bank work-
ing the baits or lures across the shell piles.
AYERS BAY—With a north wind Ayres
Reef is good for trout and reds using pig-
gies. On high tides throw on top of the reef
with strong leader material as this is oyster
shell country and try not to move the bait
until you get a hit. The east shoreline is a
good wade for keeper reds using soft plas-
tics, in morning glory and strawberry/white
colors.
THE SHORELINE OFF OF LAMAR BEACHRoad is good for reds and some trout. The
key here is to wade out into waist deep water
getting bait just off the edge into deeper
water. Live bait works best here with live
piggies and finger mullet best choices.
Contact Capt. Mac Gable at
Mac Attack Guide Service,
512-809-2681, 361-790-9601
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7 Keys toLowerCoast FallSuccess
FALL IS THE PEAK FISHING TIME ALONGthe Texas Coast.
And with the Lower Coast expe-
riencing some of its best-ever fishing,
there are incredible opportunities awaiting
anglers this year. Here are seven keys to
helping you unlock those opportunities and
maximize your time in the field.
1. AIM SMALL, MISS SMALL: As cold fronts
arrive and push baitfish and shrimp out of
back bays and out toward the Gulf it is easy
to get caught up in the vast amount of feed-
ing action going on. Trout and reds will
sometimes school in vast numbers under
huge ponds of shrimp and baitfish. Much of
the best action—for trout in particular—can
be found on small pods of shrimp. If you see
a few shrimp skipping across the surface
perhaps with little surface action, try these
areas by throwing a Gulp! under a popping
cork or a topwater and you stand a great
chance of getting it slurped under.
2. FLATFISH FUNNELS: With new regula-
tions for flounder in effect for two years now,
numbers of flatfish are increasing in the
region in a huge way. Anglers and Texas
Parks & Wildlife Department biologists are
reporting greatly increased counts of flatfish
in the area. After the first big cold front
blows through which should happen
between the middle and end of the month,
focus on small and large passes linking the
Laguna and the Gulf and bays and the
Laguna. Flounder will be migrating out
toward spawning grounds and providing
you with a great opportunity to catch them
on soft plastic curtltail grubs tipped with
shrimp or live finger mullet.
3. NATURAL COLORS: As water tempera-
tures begin to cool, anglers should consider
using more natural lure colors. Moving into
water this is important as the water can clear
dramatically. As a rule of thumb, the murki-
er the water, the brighter the lures (char-
treuse, pinks, etc.) and in clearer water
shad, shrimp and clear colored lures tend to
work better.
4. LIVE CROAKER: While the use of live
croaker for trout is controversial in the
region, there is no doubt of its effectiveness.
Here, however, I am talking about using it
for bull redfish. As the bull redfish hit the
nearshore Gulf, surf and jetty areas tie on a
large live croaker and throw it out on a Car-
olina rig. Croaker is by far the best bull red
bait as the distressed, hooked croaker give
the bulls an audible target as well as some-
thing that smells appetizing. Use circle
hooks to reduce deep hooking and consider-
ing releasing the big bulls to fight another
day. Despite the term “bull,” many of the
biggest fish are females who can produce
lost of offspring. Plus, their meat is tough
anyway.
5. FULL FRONTAL ASSAULT: Early cold
fronts can be great fishing opportunities but
they can also mislead anglers. When a front
approach the barometric pressure drops and
the fish feed very aggressively. This usually
means big winds which can in turn discolor
the water. Finding protected areas to fish
before a front arrives can lead to incredible
fishing. The day after a front however can
be tough because the pressure rises and the
fish get lethargic. If this is the only day you
can fish use more of a finesse strategy,
employing smaller lures and a slower
approach. Many times, it takes two days for
the pressure to drop a little and get the fish
feeding again and at this point baitfish and
shrimp from backwaters are exposed in open
water and opportunities abound.
6. CHUMMING REDS: Anglers in smaller
boats who like to anchor up and fish over
shell or around small passes can benefit from
chumming. Redfish will follow a chum line
right in, especially one consisting of mashed
up crab and shrimp. Take any old frozen
shrimp and mix with a few nice blue crabs
(legal size of course) and put them in a
chum or lingerie washing bag on the side of
the boat. As the tide moves, your chum slick
will spread out and sound the dinner ball for
roving reds.
7. LONG CASTERS: Always have a rod
rigged up you can cast a long distance with
a lure that compliments it. I always have a
silver or gold spoon rigged up during the fall
because sometimes the redfish in particular
are moving so far it is a real challenge to
keep up with a trolling motor. A ½ or ¾-oz
spoon rigged on a 7.5-8 foot long medium
heavy spinning rod spooled with 30-50
pound braid is ideal as it will let you make
those casts on fast moving fall reds and also
allow you to horse the fish in so you don’t
lose the school.
LOCATION: Padre Island National
Seashore
SPECIES: Redfish
LURE/BAITS: Live croaker, blue crab
BEST TIMES: High tides, particularly in
periods of low or falling pressure.
Email Chester Moore at
94 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
THE BANK BITE
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LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay
HOTSPOT: Catchall Basin
GPS: N28 42.19698, W95 46.61202
(28.703283, -95.776867)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: 1/4 - 3/8-ounce; leadhead
with soft plastic
CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281-
450-4037
TIPS: Drift letting your lure sink to the
bottom.
LOCATION: East Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef
GPS: N29 28.70298, W94 45.70302
(29.478383, -94.761717)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Soft plastic Bass Assassins
in Lime/Chartreuse, Red Shad, and plum
colors
CONTACT: Capt. Steve Hillman, 409-
256-7937
TIPS: Choose a Limetreuse or char-
treuse color if there is a lot of sunlight.
LOCATION: East Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Deep Reef
GPS: N29 31.062, W94 41.20602
(29.517700, -94.686767)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters
CONTACT: Capt. Steve Hillman, 409-
256-7937
TIPS: Chop on the water ñ throw
Mirolure She Dogs in chartreuse/Pearl
color pattern. If the sun's up and the water
is green, throw a chrome/blue colored She
Dog.
LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay
HOTSPOT: St. Mary’s Bayou
GPS: N28 39.56802, W95 56.54298
(28.659467, -95.942383)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: 1/4-ounce leadhead with a
Norton Sand Eel Jr; in Margarita or
Limetreuse colors
CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz, 281-
450-4037
TIPS: On a good falling tide, the fish
start dumping out into the flats.
LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Blue Buck Point
GPS: N29 47.77998, W93 54.43902
(29.796333, -93.907317)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in bright colors
with a 1/4-ounce; leadhead
CONTACT: Capt. Eddie Hernandez,
409-721-5467, 409-673-3100
TIPS: Let the lure drop down a couple
of feet and pop it.
LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Coffee Ground Cove
GPS: N29 57.75702, W93 46.33098
(29.962617, -93.772183)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in bright colors
with a 1/4-ounce; leadhead
CONTACT: Capt. Edie Hernandez, 409-
721-5467, 409-673-3100
96 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
GPS COORDINATESare provided in two for-mats: “Decimal Degrees”(degrees.degrees) and“Degrees and Minutes” some-times called “GPS Format” (degrees min-utes.minutes). Examples (for DowntownAustin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777,W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N3016.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manualfor information specific to your GPS device.
Catchall the Redson E. Matagorda
UPPER GULF COAST
by TOM [email protected]
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:35 PM Page 96
TIPS: Look for the birds working bait.
LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Willow Bayou
GPS: N29 51.72702, W93 46.90698
(29.862117, -93.781783)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in bright colors
with a 1/4-ounce; leadhead
CONTACT: Capt. Eddie Hernandez,
409-721-5467, or 409-673-3100
TIPS: Let the lure drop to the bottom
and retrieve slowly.
LOCATION: Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Fischers Reef
GPS: N29 39.91398, W94 50.55198
(29.665233, -94.842533)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin soft plastics
CONTACT: Capt. Steve Hillman, 409-
256-7937
TIPS: Choose a Limetreuse or char-
treuse color if there is a lot of sunlight.
LOCATION: Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Dow Reef
GPS: N29 39.20202, W94 53.889
(29.653367, -94.898150)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Soft plastic Bass Assassins
in Lime/Chartreuse, Red Shad, or plum
colors
CONTACT: Capt. Steve Hillman, 409-
256-7937
TIPS: If you’re drifting throw a 1/4-
ounce. leadhead; if anchored and there is
current, throw a 3/8-ounce lead head.
LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay
HOTSPOT: Grass Island
GPS: N28 6.19998, W97 0.3
(28.103333, -97.005000)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Corkys and soft plastic
lures
CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 361-
785-2686
TIPS: Locating bait activity is the secret
to success.
LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay
HOTSPOT: Packery Channel
GPS: N27 37.48602, W97 12.88302
(27.624767, -97.214717)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Topwaters;
brown/chartreuse curly tail soft plastics
CONTACT: Capt. Jon Fails, 361-949-
0133
TIPS: Redfish should be out of the grass
by October; cover the flats with soft plas-
tics.
LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay
HOTSPOT: JFK Causeway
GPS: N27 38.07102, W97 14.46102
(27.634517, -97.241017)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Topwaters;
brown/chartreuse curly tail soft plastics
CONTACT: Capt. Jon Fails, 361-949-
0133
TIPS: October should have schools of
redfish roaming in the Causeway area; high
water should have the fish moving.
LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Refuge Reef
GPS: N28 18.63, W96 45.96996
(28.310500, -96.766166)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Corkys and soft plastic
lures
CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 361-
785-2686
TIPS: Fish early, late, or stay at home.
LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Cedar Lake
GPS: N28 13.92996, W96 40.26996
(28.232166, -96.671166)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Topwater lures
CONTACT: Capt. Chris Martin, 361-
785-2686
TIPS: Walk the north shoreline from
north to south, while casting back to the
southwest.
LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline
GPS: N27 35.20002, W97 17.99802
(27.586667, -97.299967)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Brown/chartreuse curly tail
soft plastics
CONTACT: Capt. Jon Fails, 361-949-
0133
TIPS: Fails likes a bait that he can fish
slow and still have a lot of movement.
LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado
HOTSPOT: Colorado Island Hole
GPS: N26 22.25502, W97 19.857
(26.370917, -97.330950)
SPECIES: flounder
BEST BAITS: live shrimp
CONTACT: Capt. Ruben Garcia, 956-
459-3286
TIPS: Free line shrimp with a small split
shot weight above the leader, hook on the
end of leader.
LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado
HOTSPOT: South Cullen Bay
GPS: N26 13.42098, W97 16.773
(26.223683, -97.279550)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Cut mullet or live shrimp
CONTACT: Capt. Ruben Garcia, 956-
459-3286
TIPS: Fish along the channel; look for
sand holes.
LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado
HOTSPOT: Gas Well Flats
GPS: N26 13.73298, W97 15.25602
(26.228883, -97.254267)
SPECIES: black drum
BEST BAITS: live shrimp under a pop-
ping cork
CONTACT: Capt. Ruben Garcia, 956-
459-3286
TIPS: Soft plastics will sometime work
for the drum.
LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Kenedy Ranch Shoreline
GPS: N27 15.55002, W97 25.15398
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Get in the Spiritfor Specks
MIDDLE GULF COAST
by TOM [email protected]
Oh Boy, Oh BoyArroyo Action
LOWER GULF COAST
by CALIXTO [email protected]
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(27.259167, -97.419233)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in strawber-
ry/white, black back, plum/chartreuse, root
beer/red flake, Morning Glory
CONTACT: Captain Mike Hart, 361-
449-7441
TIPS: Watch for trout sitting in sand
pockets among the greasslines and sight
fish to them. Live bait is always effective,
but weightless plastics or Gulp! tails will
suspend in front of the gators.
LOCATION: Brazos-Santiago Pass
HOTSPOT: South Jetty Tip
GPS: N26 3.8802, W97 8.71002
(26.064670, -97.145167)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Logic Baits Tandems in
Tequila Gold, Mullet; live mullet or
shrimp, cut bait
CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956-
561-4535
TIPS: Big redfish begin staging in the
deep hole at the end of the jetties. Fish 5-
inch plastics, finger mullet, or large live
shrimp for best results. Keep your motor
on and in neutral for safety’s sake. Jetty
walkers can really do well with cut mullet.
LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Green Island
GPS: N26 23.46798, W97 19.725
(26.391133, -97.328750)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: live bait under a popping
cork; soft plastics in strawberry/white tail,
chartreuse, or Nuclear Chicken using an
1/16-ounce jighead
CONTACT: Capt. Ruben Garcia, 956-
459-3286
TIPS: Fish along the spoil banks.
LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Holly Beach
GPS: N26 8.83002, W97 17.75502
(26.147167, -97.295917)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: live shrimp, cut mullet and
ballyhoo, soft plastics in red/white,
Smoke/glitter, root beer
CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez,
956-551-9581
TIPS: The pvc pipes will mark the path
into the Texaco channel, which always
holds trout. There will be green water,
even on a windy day. Live shrimp or cut
bait under a popping cork, or soft plastics,
are top choices for these mustardmouths.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: East Cut
GPS: N26 33.68502, W97 22.23402
(26.561417, -97.370567)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Mullet
CONTACT: Capt. Richard Lopez, 956-
207-4715
TIPS: Lopez is fishing for bull redfish.
Anchor off the channel and cast up on the
flats; He likes to use a 80-pound test
leader in case he really gets something big.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Saucer Center
GPS: N26 27.651, W97 21.708
(26.460850, -97.361800)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Gold spoons
CONTACT: Capt. Richard Lopez, 956-
207-4715
TIPS: Water depth varies from 7í to 2í.
Lopez likes to cruise the area looking for
redfish.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: The Saucer
GPS: N26 27.64002, W97 22.24992
(26.460667, -97.370832)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Cut crab
CONTACT: Capt. Richard Lopez, 956-
207-4715
TIPS: Slice the crab in half, using one
half for the hook; leader length is 3í long,
tie 1/2-ounce sinker on end of line with
hook in the middle; looking for fish in 2-4
feet of water.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: South Side of East Cut
GPS: N26 32.814, W97 23.08902
(26.546900, -97.384817)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp
CONTACT: Capt. Richard Lopez, 956-
207-4715
TIPS: Fish in the mornings with a pop-
ping cork and Gulp.
LOCATION: South Bay
HOTSPOT: South Center South Bay
GPS: N26 1.45398, W97 12.195
(26.024233, -97.203250)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in Pearl with a
chartreuse tail
CONTACT: Capt. Luke Bonura, 956-
457-2101
TIPS: Sight cast for redfish on the flats
after frontal passages.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Fifteen Fathom Rocks
GPS: N26 48.52998, W97 11.28
(26.808833, -97.188000)
SPECIES: mangrove snapper
BEST BAITS: Baitfish, squid, bonito
chunks; snapper slappers, jigs
CONTACT: Captain Richard Bailey, 956-
369-5090
TIPS: Larger snapper hang out on little
deeper rocks. these fish won’t hold on the
bottom, but suspend in the mid depths.
Large fish prefer large baits, so a larger
baitfish like a sand trout is in order.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: East Cut
GPS: N26 33.93, W97 16.30302
(26.565500, -97.271717)
SPECIES: speckled trout
BEST BAITS: live croaker, live bait, soft
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plastics in Smoke, Pearly/chartreuse
CONTACT: Captain Richard Bailey, 956-
369-5090
TIPS: Look for some nice speckled trout
in the deeper holes along the jetties and
around the point on calmer days. use 1/4-
ounce jigheads to get your baits down into
the strike zone. Use a freeline rig with live
bait.
LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Nine Fathom Rocks
GPS: N26 58.06998, W97 18.21
(26.967833, -97.303500)
SPECIES: mangrove snapper
BEST BAITS: Baitfish, squid, bonito
chunks; snapper slappers, jigs
CONTACT: Captain Richard Bailey, 956-
369-5090
TIPS: Red snapper, actually. The state
snapper fishery is burgeoning, and the
action gets better as the year rolls along.
Bottom fishing is typical, but it isn’t hard
to chum up a strawberry field and fish free-
lined baits.
LOCATION: South Padre Island
HOTSPOT: South Bay Channels
GPS: N26 2.961, W97 9.993
(26.049350, -97.166550)
SPECIES: flounder
BEST BAITS: Wiggly-jiggly/grub combos
in Smoke, chartreuse, Logic Tandems in
chartreuse combos; live shrimp, dead
shrimp
CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956-
561-4535
TIPS: Flounder sit in the edges of the
channel on the windward sides and let bait-
fish get pushed towards them. Swim a
Wiggly/curlytail grub combo or a tandem
along the edges. Let the wind push your
offering off the flats. Don't ignore live bait.
LOCATION: South Padre Island
HOTSPOT: Gaswell Flats
GPS: N26 13.81098, W97 15.42198
(26.230183, -97.257033)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: live shrimp, cut bait, topwa-
ters, gold spoons, Logic tandem rigs in
black/glow, Tequila Gold, char-
treuse/chartreuse
CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956-
561-4535
TIPS: Watch for redfish to start aggregat-
ing for their fall migration. These fish are
aggressive and will strike any fast retrieved
lures. Live shrimp or mullet under a pop-
ping cork are tough to beat, as well. Any
color combo with gold works great.
LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: The Pocket
GPS: N30 55.662, W95 15.054
(30.927700, -95.250900)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastic lizards, jigs
CONTACT: David S. Cox,
[email protected], 936-
291-9602, palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: Fish Texas-rigged June bug or
Watermelon-jelly jigs with black neon craw-
fish trailers. Flip the docks, lay downs,
boathouses and rocks. Bank access and
launching is available at the Hwy. 19
bridge and Bethy Creek Resort.
LOCATION: Caddo Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats
GPS: N32 40.5363, W94 4.50768
(32.675605, -94.075128)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Flukes, swimbaits, Rat-L-
Traps, spinnerbaits
CONTACT: Paul Keith,
[email protected], 318-455-3437,
caddolakefishing.com
TIPS: October and November are my
favorite months of the year. The bass are
feeding heavy, schooling and the weather is
pleasant. Look for shad activity close to the
main channel and creeks that run past the
flats.
LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Ripraps
GPS: N30 23.58078, W95 35.36784
(30.393013, -95.589464)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits,
Pop Rs, Bass Assassins
CONTACT: Richard Tatsch,
[email protected], 936-291-1277,
fishdudetx.com
TIPS: During early mornings and on
cloudy days, cast a small single-blade spin-
nerbait close to rock ripraps and retrieve at
a very fast rate with the bait waking the
surface or try a buzzbait. Alternate with a
Pop R to see which bait the fish hit best.
Pick Livingston’sPocket for Bass
PINEY WOODS
by BOB [email protected]
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LOCATION: Toledo Bend Res.
HOTSPOT: Huxley River Channel,
Ledges
GPS: N31 44.43198, W93 49.67796
(31.740533, -93.827966)
SPECIES: crappie
BEST BAITS: Shiners, jigs
CONTACT: Greg Crafts,
[email protected], 936-368-7151,
toledobendguide.com
TIPS: Now is the time to start dropping
brush along the old river channel ledges to
make crappie holes. Drop brush in a vari-
ety of places and let them rest periodically
so they aren’t over-fished. The baitfish will
move deeper as the water gets colder.
LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Pelican Island
GPS: N30 18.13548, W96 34.42548
(30.302258, -96.573758)
SPECIES: catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait, fresh shad,
shrimp
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk,
[email protected], 979-229-
3103, FishTales-Guide Service.com
TIPS: Early-mornings and late-evenings
are best. Fish steep drop-offs on the north-
west side of the island. The lake is low and
the island larger. Watch for underwater
rocks. Use Carolina rigs with No. 4 treble
or 2-0 Kahle hooks. Big blues hang out
here.
LOCATION: Cedar Creek Res.
HOTSPOT: Twin Creeks Boat Docks
GPS: N32 17.5188, W96 7.57812
(32.291980, -96.126302)
SPECIES: hybrid striped bass
BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps
CONTACT: Jason Barber,
[email protected], 903-
603-2047, www.kingcreekadventures.com
TIPS: Fish at night around the lighted
boat docks here and elsewhere around the
lake. The fish will be in the upper third of
the water column. Cast beyond the light
and use a medium retrieve. Use a 7-foot
medium rod, low profile reel with 15-20-
pound line.
LOCATION: Fayette County Res.
HOTSPOT: Dam Rocks
GPS: N29 54.9021, W96 43.88226
(29.915035, -96.731371)
SPECIES: catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shrimp, cut
shad, perch
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk,
[email protected], 979-229-
3103, FishTales-GuideService.com
TIPS: Water is 20 feet deep with rocks
on the bottom. Use slip corks or straight
line with 4-0 Kahle or No.4 treble hooks
for perch and cut bait. Mark area with
buoy marker and chum around it. Large
fish hang around these rocks.
LOCATION: Lake Aquilla
HOTSPOT: Dam Riprap
GPS: N31 53.98632, W97 12.2922
(31.899772, -97.204870)
SPECIES: white bass
BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, Tail Hum-
mers
CONTACT: Randy Routh,
[email protected], 817-822-
5539, teamredneck.net
TIPS: The white bass are schooling early
along the riprap and chasing threadfin
shad. Position your boat along the side of
the dam and make long casts. Use a fast
retrieve. A good pair of binoculars is
handy for locating the schooling activity.
LOCATION: Lake Belton
HOTSPOT: Temple’s Lake Park
GPS: N31 7.33632, W97 29.2746
(31.122272, -97.487910)
SPECIES: white bass
BEST BAITS: topwater lures, slabs, live
shad
CONTACT: Bob Maindelle,
254-368-7411,
HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
TIPS: Use silver or clear topwater lures
and match the lure to the size of forage
fish. Fish silver or white slabs after the top-
water bite is over. Action will continue to
improve as cold fronts cause temperatures
to moderate. Deep water is nearby.
LOCATION: Lake Cooper
HOTSPOT: Pelican Point
GPS: N33 19.81098, W95 40.29996
(33.330183, -95.671666)
SPECIES: white bass
BEST BAITS: Four-inch Sassy Shads
CONTACT: Tony Parker,
TIPS: White bass and hybrid striped
bass congregate on this point and other
main-lake points to feed on shad. Use a
chartreuse Sassy Shad on 3/4-ounce lead-
head jig. Watch for fish and bird action in
the flats and off points in 10 feet of water
or less.
LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Ticky Creek Park
GPS: N33 5.77842, W96 28.77666
(33.096307, -96.479611)
SPECIES: crappie
BEST BAITS: 1-3-inch Shaddy Shad,
small minnows
CONTACT: Billy Kilpatrick,
[email protected], 214-232-
7847, straightlineguide.com
TIPS: The lake turned over last month
and the fish are moving back toward the
bank as shallow as 8-10 feet. Fish standing
timber on west bank of the park where fish
are 1-2 feet off the bottom. Also try timber
north of the discharge and the power plant.
LOCATION: Lake Lewisville
HOTSPOT: Lake Dallas Flats
GPS: N33 8.00106, W97 0.52878
(33.133351, -97.008813)
SPECIES: catfish
BEST BAITS: Fresh gizzard or threadfin
shad
CONTACT: Bobby Kubin,
[email protected], 817-455-
2894, bobby-catfishing.com
TIPS: Drift the flats in 15-25 feet of
water with a Santee Cooper rig with 1-
Punch a Cat onSomervile
PRAIRIES & LAKES
by BOB [email protected]
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ounce weight, 36-inch leader and circle
hook before the lake turns over. Once the
lake turns over, look for fish in deeper
water. Expect to catch lots of eating-size
blue cats.
LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Boat Houses
GPS: N32 6.21504, W95 26.5029
(32.103584, -95.441715)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Shimmy Shakers, Bomber
6As, topwaters
CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff,
[email protected], 903-561-
7299, www.rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Bass will be working the shallows
as well as deep water. Use Carolina-rigged
Shimmy Shakers, small Bomber 6A
crankbaits in shad color and topwaters in
the deeper water. Fish all boathouses you
can find with six feet of water in front of
them.
LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Hwy.155 Bridge Brushpiles
GPS: N32 8.64876, W95 28.49268
(32.144146, -95.474878)
SPECIES: crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs and live minnows
CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff,
[email protected], 903-561-
7299, rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Crappie are gathering underneath
the Highway 155 bridge as well as the FM
315 bridge over Flat Creek. Use a sonar
unit to locate brush piles under the bridges.
Work the water column from the brush
piles upwards to locate where the fish are
gathered.
LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Saline Bay Point
GPS: N32 10.24446, W95 26.52864
(32.170741, -95.442144)
SPECIES: white bass
BEST BAITS: Jigging spoons, Rat-L-
Traps
CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff,
[email protected], 903-561-
7299, www.rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Fish this point as well as the Hen-
derson Point area with chrome-blue Rat-L-
Traps and chrome jigging spoons during
the early-morning hours for the best action.
White bass also will be feeding off the
points during the late-evening hours.
LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: North Island and Tabletop
GPS: N33 52.07202, W96 41.67198
(33.867867, -96.694533)
SPECIES: striped bass
BEST BAITS: Topwater lures, Sassy Shad
jigs
CONTACT: Bill Carey,
[email protected], 877-786-
4477, striperexpress.com
TIPS: Look for stripers feeding in this
area, especially during early-morning
hours. Cast topwater lures and Sassy Shad
jigs and keep an eye out for surfacing
action.
LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Whitney Hump
GPS: N31 54.67194, W97 20.87298
(31.911199, -97.347883)
SPECIES: striped bass
BEST BAITS: Cut bait, live shad
CONTACT: Randy Routh,
[email protected], 817-822-
5539, teamredneck.net
TIPS: I am using cut gizzard shad and
making long casts up onto the hump and
leaving slack in the line. Leave the reel
open and the clicker on. The big stripers
are moving onto the hump very early. Let
them run until they stop and then set the
hook.
LOCATION: Richland-Chambers Res.
HOTSPOT: 309 Flats
GPS: N31 58.37718, W96 7.04508
(31.972953, -96.117418)
SPECIES: white bass
BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, RSR Slabs
CONTACT: Royce and Adam Simmons,
[email protected], 903-389-4117,
www.gonefishing.biz
TIPS: Fall is my favorite season for white
bass. Look for surfacing fish in the 309
Flats with sea gulls and herons working
over them. Fish blue-silver Rat-L-Traps
early and then silver glitter one-ounce
RSR Slabs when the fish go deep.
LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake
HOTSPOT: Red Roof Cove
GPS: N31 1.995, W97 34.20798
(31.033250, -97.570133)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: topwaters, crankbaits, slabs
CONTACT: Bob Maindelle,
254-368-7411,
HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
TIPS: Low water has revealed lots of
standing timber making structure easy to
find. Shad tend to congregate in the cove
in early fall. Check the area with a sonar
unit to determine where shad are in the
water column and choose lures accordingly.
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:36 PM Page 101
LOCATION: OH Ivie Res.
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Grassbeds
GPS: N31 32.62308, W99 39.82548
(31.543718, -99.663758)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: topwaters, finesse worms
CONTACT: Dave Caudle,
[email protected], 325-365-1020,
fishinwithdave.com
TIPS: Target the edges of the grass beds
close to deep water. Fish topwater lures
during the early-morning hours and then
switch to finesse worms once the fish have
moved into deeper waters under a rising
sun.
LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Big Grape Creek and Ence
Cove
GPS: N31 01.902, W101 02.446; N33
03.352, W101` 04.853
SPECIES: largemouth, spotted bass
BEST BAITS: Senko, buzzbaits, jigs, blue
speed craw
CONTACT: Phillip Pool, 806-792-5587,
www.lakealanhenry.com
TIPS: Work in 10-25 feet of water, keep-
ing in mind that topwaters will still produce.
LOCATION: OH Ivie Res.
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points
GPS: N31 33.04002, W99 41.01
(31.550667, -99.683500)
SPECIES: white bass
BEST BAITS: topwater lures, Rat-L-
Traps, Slabs
CONTACT: Dave Caudle,
[email protected], 325-365-1020,
fishinwithdave.com
TIPS: Expect to find white bass school-
ing in the main-lake area, especially off
points and edges of flats during the morn-
ing hours with limits possible almost every
day.
LOCATION: Possum Kingdom Res.
HOTSPOT: Costello Island
GPS: N32 54.07266, W98 28.12458
(32.901211, -98.468743)
SPECIES: white bass
BEST BAITS: live shad, jigs, slabs
CONTACT: Dean Heffner,
[email protected], 940-329-0036
TIPS: The fish are transitioning from
deep clear water to shallower stained water
on the north end of the lake. Concentrate
on the break-lines at 20-30 feet deep off
edges of sand flats near deeper water. Live
shad will produce the most action.
LOCATION: Possum Kingdom Res.
HOTSPOT: Costello Island Area
GPS: N32 54.54828, W98 27.77946
(32.909138, -98.462991)
SPECIES: catfish
BEST BAITS: live shad, cut shad, punch
bait
CONTACT: Dean Heffner,
[email protected], 940-329-0036,
heffnerguideortourpossumkingdom-
lake.services.officelive.com
TIPS: The catfish are undergoing their
annual fall migration to the north end of
the lake. Several yellow and blue catfish up
to 50-pounds are caught at this time of the
year along the edges of the river channel
from Costello Island northward.
LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Jacob’s Creek Point
GPS: N29 52.6947, W98 13.38294
(29.878245, -98.223049)
SPECIES: striped bass
BEST BAITS: Zara Spooks
CONTACT: Steve Nixon,
[email protected], 210-
573-1230, sanantoniofishingguides.com
TIPS: Striped bass will be pushing shad
up onto the lake’s numerous points. When
you see surfacing action, move upwind
from the school and drift back to it. Some
schools are as large as two acres. Best
action is early mornings and on cloudy
days.
LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek Points
GPS: N29 51.60954, W98 13.24392
(29.860159, -98.220732)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Plastic worm on drop shot
rig
CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria,
[email protected], 210-823-2153
TIPS: Fish a June bug, motor oil or red
bug soft plastic on a drop-shot rig off the
points and edges of the creek channels.
The bass will be close to the bank during
early morning hours and then move out to
the drop-offs near the channel during the
day.
LOCATION: Lake Granger
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Open Waters
GPS: N30 41.80056, W97 21.88722
(30.696676, -97.364787)
SPECIES: crappie
BEST BAITS: 1/16-ounce Stanley Wedge
Tail Minnow Jigs
CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell,
[email protected], 512-365-7761,
www.gotcrappie.com
TIPS: The crappie are actively feeding in
water as shallow as four feet and around
man-made or natural brush piles in 6-15
feet of water. Standing timber and stumps
lining the river channel also are good
options at this time of the year.
LOCATION: Lake LBJ
HOTSPOT: Sandy Creek Rock Wall
GPS: N30 34.752, W98 26.440
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits & soft plastics.
CONTACT: Kandie Candelaria, 210-823-
2153, [email protected]
TIPS: Work the cement wall and riprap,
secondary breaklines with laydowns and
stumps. Don’t be afraid to change baits.
102 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
Stripers in theCanyon
HILL COUNTRY
by BOB [email protected]
Panhandling forBass and Cats
PANHANDLE
by BOB [email protected]
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:36 PM Page 102
LOCATION: Lake Amistad
HOTSPOT: Deep Water Points
GPS: N29 29.67126, W101 8.2884
(29.494521, -101.138140)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: topwater lures, Texas-rigged
soft plastics, crankbaits
CONTACT: Larry Scruggs, Amistad
Lodge and Adventures,
[email protected], 210-789-
1645
TIPS: Move close to the steep banks
early with topwater lures. As the sun rises,
back off 10-15 yards and fish shallow-div-
ing crankbaits or Texas-rigged plastic
worms off the sloping banks. Fish Carolina
rigs over deep hydrilla beds at mid-day.
LOCATION: Falcon Lake
HOTSPOT: Veleno Creek Tributaries
GPS: N26 53.72604, W99 14.6481
(26.895434, -99.244135)
SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: topwater lures, plastic
lizards, crankbaits
CONTACT: Robert Amaya,
[email protected], 956-765-
1442, robertsfishntackle.com
TIPS: Start with popping topwater lures
and spinnerbaits early, targeting any rocks
and shallow cover in the area. Use Texas-
rigged soft plastic worms and lizards and
flip the trees on the west side of the creek
and points during mid-day.
LOCATION: Lake Calaveras
HOTSPOT: The Dam
GPS: N29 16.84686, W98 18.13878
(29.280781, -98.302313)
SPECIES: redfish
BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, topwaters
CONTACT: Steve Nixon,
[email protected], 210-
573-1230, sanantoniofishingguides.com
TIPS: Troll or cast topwaters and Rat-L-
Traps early along the riprap on the dam. If
trolling, keep lures at 10-20 feet, especially
at the east end of the dam, which usually
produces most catches.
Falcon Bass andCalaveras Reds
SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS
by BOB [email protected]
Crank ‘em Deepfor Amistad Bass
BIG BEND
by BOB [email protected]
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:37 PM Page 103
104 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
Tides and Prime Times OCTOBER 2011
SOLAR & LUNAR ACTIVITY:
Sunrise: 6:34aSunset: 7:51p
AM Minor: 9:11a AM Major: 2:57aPM Minor: 9:40p PM Major: 3:25p
Moonrise:9:27aMoon Set: None
Moon Overhead: 4:55p
USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR
SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:
The following pages contain TIDE andSOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Chan-nel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the upper white boxeson the Calendar Pages. Use the Correction Table below,which is keyed to 23 other tide stations, to adjust low andhigh tide times.
SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxesof the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENTSCALE below to adjust times for points East and West ofGalveston Channel.
TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, withHigh and Low tide predictions in text immediatelybelow.
SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indi-cate major and minor feeding periods for each day,as the daily phases of the moon have varyingdegrees of influence on many wildlife species.
AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moonrises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.
AM & PM MAJOR phases occur when the moonreaches its highest point overhead as well as when itis “underfoot” or at its highest point on the exactopposite side of the earth from your positoin (or liter-ally under your feet). Most days have two MajorFeeding Phases, each lasting about 2 hours.
PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to yourlocation, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEWMOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month.
PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls with-in 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, antici-pate increased action. A moon rise or moon set dur-ing one of these periods will cause even greateraction. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during aSolunar Period, expect the best action of the season.
T1T2
T3T4
T5T6
T7
T8
T9T10
T11T12
T13
T14T15T16
T17
T18
T19
T20
T21
T22T23
TIDE CORRECTIONTABLE
Add or subtract the time shown at the rightofthe Tide Stations on this table (and map) to
determine the adjustment from the time shownfor GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.
NOT TO BE USEDFOR NAVIGATION
KEY PLACE HIGH LOWSabine Bank Lighthouse -1:46 -1:31Sabine Pass Jetty -1:26 -1:31Sabine Pass -1:00 -1:15Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass -0:04 -0:25Galveston Bay, S. Jetty -0:39 -1:05Port Bolivar +0:14 -0:06
KEY PLACE HIGH LOWGalveston Channel/Bays
Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +0:41Eagle Point +3:54 +4:15Clear Lake +6:05 +6:40Morgans Point +10:21 +5:19Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39 +5:15
KEY PLACE HIGH LOWPt Barrow, Trinity Bay +5:48 +4:43Gilchrist, East Bay +3:16 +4:18Jamaica Beach, W. Bay +2:38 +3:31Alligator Point, W. Bay +2:39 +2:33Christmas Pt +2:32 +2:31Galveston Pleasure Pier -1:06 -1:06
KEY PLACE HIGH LOWSan Luis Pass -0.09 -0.09Freeport Harbor -0:44 -1:02Pass Cavallo 0:00 -1:20Aransas Pass -0:03 -1:31Padre Island (So. End) -0:24 -1:45Port Isabel +1:02 -0:42
T1T2T3T4T5T6
T7T8T9T10T11
T12T13T14T15T16T17
T18T19T20T21T22T23
KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS
Yellow: Daylight
Light Blue:Nighttime
AM/PMTimeline
Blue:Rising Tide
12a12a 6a 12p 6p
Gold Fish:Best Time
Blue Fish:Good Time
Red Graph:Fishing Score
BEST:7:05-9:40 PM
Green: Falling Tide
Tab: PeakFishing Period
12a12a 6a 12p 6p
AM Minor:1:20a
AM Major:7:32a
PM Minor:1:45p
PM Major:7:57p
Moon Underfoot: 9:15p
Moon Overhead: 8:50aTime Moonis at its Highest Point in the Sky
SOLUNAR ACTIVITY:
Time Moon isDirectlyUnderfoot (atits peak onopposite sideof the earth)
AM/PM Timeline
MAJORFeedingPeriods(+/- 2 Hrs.)
MINORFeedingPeriods(+/- 1.5 Hrs.)
TIDE GRAPH:
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 2:37 PM Page 104
T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 105
= New Moon
= First Quarter
� = Full Moon
= Last Quarter
� = Best Day
� = New Moon
� = First Quarter
� = Full Moon
� = Last Quarter
� = Best Day
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
= FALLING TIDE= RISING TIDE= DAYLIGHT HOURS= NIGHTTIME HOURS
FishingScore Graph
Day’s BestScore
GoodScore
BEST:7:45-9:40 AM
= Peak FishingPeriod
�26
High Tide: 3:51 am 1.60ft.Low Tide: 9:35 am 0.76ft.High Tide: 4:04 pm 1.76ft.Low Tide: 10:08 pm 0.78ft.
� 27
High Tide: 4:08 am 1.59ft.Low Tide: 10:17 am 0.47ft.High Tide: 5:15 pm 1.83ft.Low Tide: 10:56 pm 1.01ft.
�28
High Tide: 4:25 am 1.61ft.Low Tide: 11:03 am 0.22ft.High Tide: 6:27 pm 1.87ft.Low Tide: 11:44 pm 1.25ft.
�29
High Tide: 4:42 am 1.65ft.Low Tide: 11:53 am 0.04ft.High Tide: 7:43 pm 1.87ft.
30
Low Tide: 12:32 am 1.47ft.High Tide: 4:59 am 1.69ft.Low Tide: 12:47 pm -0.05ft.High Tide: 9:05 pm 1.86ft.
1
Low Tide: 1:24 am 1.64ft.High Tide: 5:10 am 1.73ft.Low Tide: 1:47 pm -0.06ft.High Tide: 10:39 pm 1.84ft.
2
Low Tide: 2:44 am 1.74ft.High Tide: 4:43 am 1.75ft.Low Tide: 2:54 pm 0.00ft.
Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 7:11pMoonrise: 6:09a Set: 6:27p
AM Minor:4:27a
AM Major:10:41a
PM Minor:4:54p
PM Major:11:07p
Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 7:10pMoonrise: 7:17a Set: 7:08p
AM Minor:5:19a
AM Major:11:32a
PM Minor:5:46p
PM Major:11:59p
Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 7:09pMoonrise: 8:26a Set: 7:51p
AM Minor:6:15a
AM Major:12:01p
PM Minor:6:43p
PM Major:12:29p
Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 7:08pMoonrise: 9:37a Set: 8:39p
AM Minor:7:17a
AM Major:1:02a
PM Minor:7:46p
PM Major:1:31p
Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 7:07pMoonrise: 10:46a Set: 9:32p
AM Minor:8:22a
AM Major:2:07a
PM Minor:8:53p
PM Major:2:37p
Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 7:05pMoonrise: 11:53a Set: 10:29p
AM Minor:9:29a
AM Major:3:14a
PM Minor:10:00p
PM Major:3:45p
Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 7:04pMoonrise: 12:54p Set: 11:29p
AM Minor:10:35a
AM Major:4:20a
PM Minor:11:05p
PM Major:4:50p
Moon Underfoot: None
Moon Overhead: 1:16p
Moon Underfoot: 12:48a Moon Underfoot: 1:43a
Moon Overhead: 3:10p Moon Overhead: 4:11p Moon Overhead: 5:11p
Moon Underfoot: 5:41a
Moon Overhead: 6:11p
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
FEET FEET
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
Moon Overhead: 2:12p
Moon Underfoot: 4:41a
Moon Overhead: 12:22p
Moon Underfoot: 3:40a
BEST:3:30 — 5:30 PM
BEST:4:30 — 6:30 PM
BEST:10:00A — 12:00P
BEST:8:30 — 10:30 AM
BEST:7:30 — 9:30 AM
BEST:6:30 — 8:30 AM
BEST:5:30 — 7:30 AM
Moon Underfoot: 2:41a
Tides and Prime Times for OCTOBER 2011MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
TI
DE
L
EV
EL
S TI
DE
L
EV
EL
SS
OL
UN
AR
A
CT
IV
IT
Y SO
LU
NA
R
AC
TI
VI
TY
12a 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 6a 12p 6p 12a 12a6a 12p 6p
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 3:03 PM Page 105
106 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
= FALLING TIDE= RISING TIDE= DAYLIGHT HOURS= NIGHTTIME HOURS
FishingScore Graph
Day’s BestScore
GoodScore
BEST:7:45-9:40 AM
= Peak FishingPeriod
3
High Tide: 12:20 am 1.83ft.Low Tide: 4:08 pm 0.10ft.
� 4
High Tide: 1:35 am 1.81ft.Low Tide: 5:26 pm 0.22ft.
5
High Tide: 2:15 am 1.76ft.Low Tide: 8:46 am 1.49ft.High Tide: 9:57 am 1.50ft.Low Tide: 6:38 pm 0.34ft.
6
High Tide: 2:40 am 1.69ft.Low Tide: 8:39 am 1.36ft.High Tide: 12:02 pm 1.48ft.Low Tide: 7:40 pm 0.47ft.
7
High Tide: 2:57 am 1.62ft.Low Tide: 8:54 am 1.21ft.High Tide: 1:28 pm 1.51ft.Low Tide: 8:32 pm 0.62ft.
8
High Tide: 3:10 am 1.56ft.Low Tide: 9:11 am 1.05ft.High Tide: 2:38 pm 1.55ft.Low Tide: 9:16 pm 0.78ft.
9
High Tide: 3:22 am 1.52ft.Low Tide: 9:30 am 0.88ft.High Tide: 3:37 pm 1.61ft.Low Tide: 9:52 pm 0.94ft.
Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 7:03pMoonrise: 1:48p Set: None
AM Minor:11:36a
AM Major:5:22a
PM Minor:-----
PM Major:5:50p
Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 7:02pMoonrise: 2:36p Set: 12:29a
AM Minor:12:07p
AM Major:6:18a
PM Minor:12:31p
PM Major:6:45p
Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 7:01pMoonrise: 3:17p Set: 1:29a
AM Minor:12:56p
AM Major:7:08a
PM Minor:1:21p
PM Major:7:33p
Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 6:59pMoonrise: 3:53p Set: 2:27a
AM Minor:1:41a
AM Major:7:53a
PM Minor:2:04p
PM Major:8:16p
Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 6:58pMoonrise: 4:27p Set: 3:22a
AM Minor:2:22a
AM Major:8:33a
PM Minor:2:44p
PM Major:8:54p
Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 6:57pMoonrise: 4:57p Set: 4:16a
AM Minor:3:00a
AM Major:9:10a
PM Minor:3:21p
PM Major:9:31p
Sunrise: 7:15a Set: 6:56pMoonrise: 5:28p Set: 5:08a
AM Minor:3:36a
AM Major:9:47a
PM Minor:3:57p
PM Major:10:07p
Moon Overhead: 8:00pMoon Overhead: 7:07p Moon Overhead: 8:50p Moon Overhead: 9:35p Moon Overhead: 10:19p Moon Overhead: 11:00p Moon Overhead: 11:41p
Moon Underfoot: 7:34a Moon Underfoot: 8:25a Moon Underfoot: 9:57a Moon Underfoot: 10:39a Moon Underfoot: 11:21a+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
FEET FEET
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
BEST:3:30 — 5:30 PM
BEST:4:00 — 6:00 PM
Moon Underfoot: 9:13a
BEST:5:00 — 7:00 PM
BEST:3:00 — 5:00 PM
BEST:2:00 — 4:00 PM
BEST:12:00 — 2:00 PM
BEST:11:00A — 1:00P
Moon Underfoot: 6:40a
Tides and Prime Times for OCTOBER 2011MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
TI
DE
L
EV
EL
S TI
DE
L
EV
EL
S
12a 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 6a 12p 6p 12a 12a6a 12p 6p
SO
LU
NA
R
AC
TI
VI
TY S
OL
UN
AR
A
CT
IV
IT
Y
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 3:03 PM Page 106
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108 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
= FALLING TIDE= RISING TIDE= DAYLIGHT HOURS= NIGHTTIME HOURS
FishingScore Graph
Day’s BestScore
GoodScore
BEST:7:45-9:40 AM
= Peak FishingPeriod
�10
High Tide: 3:33 am 1.51ft.Low Tide: 9:50 am 0.73ft.High Tide: 4:31 pm 1.65ft.Low Tide: 10:23 pm 1.09ft.
�11
High Tide: 3:45 am 1.52ft.Low Tide: 10:14 am 0.61ft.High Tide: 5:21 pm 1.69ft.Low Tide: 10:50 pm 1.23ft.
� 12
High Tide: 3:56 am 1.53ft.Low Tide: 10:42 am 0.51ft.High Tide: 6:10 pm 1.71ft.Low Tide: 11:15 pm 1.34ft.
�13
High Tide: 4:04 am 1.56ft.Low Tide: 11:12 am 0.44ft.High Tide: 7:02 pm 1.71ft.Low Tide: 11:38 pm 1.44ft.
�14
High Tide: 4:06 am 1.58ft.Low Tide: 11:46 am 0.40ft.High Tide: 7:57 pm 1.71ft.
15
Low Tide: 12:03 am 1.53ft.High Tide: 3:55 am 1.62ft.Low Tide: 12:23 pm 0.38ft.High Tide: 9:01 pm 1.71ft.
16
Low Tide: 12:28 am 1.61ft.High Tide: 3:42 am 1.66ft.Low Tide: 1:05 pm 0.37ft.High Tide: 10:17 pm 1.71ft.
Sunrise: 7:15a Set: 6:55pMoonrise: 5:58p Set: 6:00a
AM Minor:4:14a
AM Major:10:24a
PM Minor:4:34p
PM Major:10:44p
Sunrise: 7:16a Set: 6:54pMoonrise: 6:29p Set: 6:52a
AM Minor:4:53a
AM Major:11:03a
PM Minor:5:14p
PM Major:11:24p
Sunrise: 7:17a Set: 6:53pMoonrise: 7:03p Set: 7:45a
AM Minor:5:35a
AM Major:11:46a
PM Minor:5:57p
PM Major:-----
Sunrise: 7:17a Set: 6:52pMoonrise: 7:40p Set: 8:39a
AM Minor:6:21a
AM Major:12:10p
PM Minor:6:43p
PM Major:12:32p
Sunrise: 7:18a Set: 6:50pMoonrise: 8:20p Set: 9:33a
AM Minor:7:10a
AM Major:12:58p
PM Minor:7:34p
PM Major:1:22p
Sunrise: 7:18a Set: 6:49pMoonrise: 9:05p Set: 10:27a
AM Minor:8:02a
AM Major:1:50a
PM Minor:8:27p
PM Major:2:15p
Sunrise: 7:19a Set: 6:48pMoonrise: 9:53p Set: 11:19a
AM Minor:8:57a
AM Major:2:44a
PM Minor:9:22p
PM Major:3:09p
Moon Underfoot: 12:02p
Moon Overhead: 12:22a
Moon Underfoot: 12:43p Moon Underfoot: 1:26p
Moon Overhead: 1:49a Moon Overhead: 2:34a Moon Overhead: 3:22a
Moon Underfoot: 4:36p
Moon Overhead: 4:11a
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
FEET FEET
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
Moon Overhead: 1:05a
Moon Underfoot: 3:47p
Moon Overhead: None
Moon Underfoot: 2:58p
BEST:7:30 — 9:30 AM
BEST:8:30 — 10:30 AM
BEST:9:00 — 11:00 AM
BEST:7:30 — 9:30 AM
BEST:6:30 — 8:30 AM
BEST:5:30 — 7:30 AM
BEST:5:00 — 7:00 AM
Moon Underfoot: 2:11p
Tides and Prime Times for OCTOBER 2011MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
TI
DE
L
EV
EL
S TI
DE
L
EV
EL
SS
OL
UN
AR
A
CT
IV
IT
Y SO
LU
NA
R
AC
TI
VI
TY
12a 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 6a 12p 6p 12a 12a6a 12p 6p
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T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 109
17
Low Tide: 12:58 am 1.67ft.High Tide: 3:39 am 1.70ft.Low Tide: 1:52 pm 0.38ft.High Tide: 11:39 pm 1.74ft.
18
Low Tide: 1:48 am 1.72ft.High Tide: 3:38 am 1.73ft.Low Tide: 2:46 pm 0.39ft.
� 19
High Tide: 12:37 am 1.75ft.Low Tide: 3:46 pm 0.42ft.
20
High Tide: 1:07 am 1.75ft.Low Tide: 4:51 pm 0.48ft.
21
High Tide: 1:27 am 1.71ft.Low Tide: 8:50 am 1.42ft.High Tide: 9:56 am 1.43ft.Low Tide: 5:56 pm 0.57ft.
22
High Tide: 1:43 am 1.66ft.Low Tide: 7:34 am 1.22ft.High Tide: 12:34 pm 1.47ft.Low Tide: 7:01 pm 0.69ft.
23
High Tide: 1:59 am 1.62ft.Low Tide: 7:55 am 0.93ft.High Tide: 2:05 pm 1.58ft.Low Tide: 8:01 pm 0.86ft.
Sunrise: 7:20a Set: 6:47pMoonrise: 10:46p Set: 12:10p
AM Minor:9:52a
AM Major:3:40a
PM Minor:10:18p
PM Major:4:05p
Sunrise: 7:20a Set: 6:46pMoonrise: 11:42p Set: 12:57p
AM Minor:10:47a
AM Major:4:35a
PM Minor:11:13p
PM Major:5:00p
Sunrise: 7:21a Set: 6:45pMoonrise: None Set: 1:42p
AM Minor:11:41a
AM Major:5:28a
PM Minor:-----
PM Major:5:54p
Sunrise: 7:22a Set: 6:44pMoonrise: 12:41a Set: 2:24p
AM Minor:12:09p
AM Major:6:20a
PM Minor:12:33p
PM Major:6:45p
Sunrise: 7:22a Set: 6:43pMoonrise: 1:42a Set: 3:04p
AM Minor:12:56p
AM Major:7:09a
PM Minor:1:21p
PM Major:7:34p
Sunrise: 7:23a Set: 6:42pMoonrise: 2:44a Set: 3:42p
AM Minor:1:42a
AM Major:7:55a
PM Minor:2:08p
PM Major:8:20p
Sunrise: 7:24a Set: 6:41pMoonrise: 3:48a Set: 4:19p
AM Minor:2:27a
AM Major:8:40a
PM Minor:2:53p
PM Major:9:05p
Moon Underfoot: 5:27p Moon Underfoot: 6:18p
Moon Overhead: 5:53a Moon Overhead: 6:44a Moon Overhead: 7:35a Moon Overhead: 8:26a Moon Overhead: 9:16a Moon Overhead: 10:07aMoon Overhead: 5:02a
Moon Underfoot: 10:33pMoon Underfoot: 8:51pMoon Underfoot: 8:01p+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
FEET FEET
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
Tides and Prime Times for OCTOBER 2011
= New Moon
= First Quarter
� = Full Moon
= Last Quarter
� = Best Day
� = New Moon
� = First Quarter
� = Full Moon
� = Last Quarter
� = Best Day
BEST:1:30 — 3:30 PM
BEST:2:30 — 4:30 PM
BEST:3:30 — 5:30 PM
BEST:12:00 — 2:00 PM
BEST:11:00A — 1:00P
BEST:10:00A — 12:00P
BEST:9:00 — 10:00 AM
Moon Underfoot: 9:42p
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
TI
DE
L
EV
EL
S TI
DE
L
EV
EL
SS
OL
UN
AR
A
CT
IV
IT
Y SO
LU
NA
R
AC
TI
VI
TY
12a 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 6a 12p 6p 12a 12a6a 12p 6p
Moon Underfoot: 7:10p
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110 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
= FALLING TIDE= RISING TIDE= DAYLIGHT HOURS= NIGHTTIME HOURS
FishingScore Graph
Day’s BestScore
GoodScore
BEST:7:45-9:40 AM
= Peak FishingPeriod
24
High Tide: 2:14 am 1.59ft.Low Tide: 8:31 am 0.60ft.High Tide: 3:22 pm 1.72ft.Low Tide: 8:59 pm 1.05ft.
�25
High Tide: 2:31 am 1.59ft.Low Tide: 9:12 am 0.29ft.High Tide: 4:33 pm 1.85ft.Low Tide: 9:55 pm 1.25ft.
� 26
High Tide: 2:49 am 1.63ft.Low Tide: 9:56 am 0.01ft.High Tide: 5:41 pm 1.93ft.Low Tide: 10:48 pm 1.43ft.
�27
High Tide: 3:09 am 1.68ft.Low Tide: 10:44 am -0.18ft.High Tide: 6:48 pm 1.97ft.Low Tide: 11:40 pm 1.58ft.
�28
High Tide: 3:30 am 1.73ft.Low Tide: 11:35 am -0.27ft.High Tide: 7:57 pm 1.95ft.
�29
Low Tide: 12:33 am 1.68ft.High Tide: 3:52 am 1.76ft.Low Tide: 12:29 pm -0.27ft.High Tide: 9:09 pm 1.90ft.
30
Low Tide: 1:41 am 1.72ft.High Tide: 4:06 am 1.74ft.Low Tide: 1:27 pm -0.18ft.High Tide: 10:22 pm 1.83ft.
Sunrise: 7:24a Set: 6:40pMoonrise: 4:54a Set: 4:58p
AM Minor:3:12a
AM Major:9:25a
PM Minor:3:38p
PM Major:9:51p
Sunrise: 7:25a Set: 6:39pMoonrise: 6:01a Set: 5:40p
AM Minor:4:00a
AM Major:10:13a
PM Minor:4:27p
PM Major:10:41p
Sunrise: 7:26a Set: 6:38pMoonrise: 7:11a Set: 6:26p
AM Minor:4:52a
AM Major:11:07a
PM Minor:5:22p
PM Major:11:36p
Sunrise: 7:26a Set: 6:37pMoonrise: 8:22a Set: 7:17p
AM Minor:5:52a
AM Major:-----
PM Minor:6:22p
PM Major:12:37p
Sunrise: 7:27a Set: 6:37pMoonrise: 9:32a Set: 8:13p
AM Minor:6:56a
AM Major:12:41p
PM Minor:7:27p
PM Major:1:12p
Sunrise: 7:28a Set: 6:36pMoonrise: 10:38a Set: 9:14p
AM Minor:8:04a
AM Major:1:49a
PM Minor:8:35p
PM Major:2:20p
Sunrise: 7:29a Set: 6:35pMoonrise: 11:37a Set: 10:16p
AM Minor:9:12a
AM Major:2:57a
PM Minor:9:42p
PM Major:3:27p
Moon Underfoot: 11:26p
Moon Overhead: 11:54a
Moon Underfoot: None Moon Underfoot: 12:22a
Moon Overhead: 1:51p Moon Overhead: 2:54p Moon Overhead: 3:56p
Moon Underfoot: 4:26a
Moon Overhead: 4:56p
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
FEET FEET
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
Moon Overhead: 12:51p
Moon Underfoot: 3:25a
Moon Overhead: 10:59a
Moon Underfoot: 2:23a
BEST:2:30 — 4:30 PM
BEST:3:30 — 5:30 PM
BEST:9:00 — 11:00 AM
BEST:7:30 — 9:30 AM
BEST:6:00 — 8:00 AM
BEST:5:00 — 7:00 AM
BEST:3:30 — 5:30 AM
Moon Underfoot: 1:21a
Tides and Prime Times for OCTOBER 2011MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
TI
DE
L
EV
EL
S TI
DE
L
EV
EL
SS
OL
UN
AR
A
CT
IV
IT
Y SO
LU
NA
R
AC
TI
VI
TY
12a 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 6a 12p 6p 12a 12a6a 12p 6p
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31
Low Tide: 2:29 pm -0.03ft.High Tide: 11:29 pm 1.76ft.Nov
NOV 1
Low Tide: 3:36 pm 0.16ft.
2
High Tide: 12:19 am 1.68ft.Low Tide: 4:46 pm 0.35ft.
� 3
High Tide: 12:52 am 1.60ft.Low Tide: 7:33 am 1.22ft.High Tide: 10:36 am 1.30ft.Low Tide: 5:58 pm 0.54ft.
4
High Tide: 1:15 am 1.52ft.Low Tide: 7:52 am 1.03ft.High Tide: 12:25 pm 1.30ft.Low Tide: 7:04 pm 0.73ft.
5
High Tide: 1:33 am 1.46ft.Low Tide: 8:14 am 0.84ft.High Tide: 1:52 pm 1.36ft.Low Tide: 8:03 pm 0.89ft.
END DST 6
High Tide: 1:48 am 1.42ft.Low Tide: 7:36 am 0.66ft.High Tide: 2:03 pm 1.44ft.Low Tide: 7:54 pm 1.05ft.
Sunrise: 7:29a Set: 6:34pMoonrise: 12:29p Set: 11:18p
AM Minor:10:16a
AM Major:4:02a
PM Minor:10:44p
PM Major:4:30p
Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 6:33pMoonrise: 1:14p Set: None
AM Minor:11:14a
AM Major:5:01a
PM Minor:11:40p
PM Major:5:27p
Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 6:32pMoonrise: 1:54p Set: 12:19a
AM Minor:-----
AM Major:5:54a
PM Minor:12:06p
PM Major:6:18p
Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 6:32pMoonrise: 2:28p Set: 1:16a
AM Minor:12:30p
AM Major:6:41a
PM Minor:12:52p
PM Major:7:03p
Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 6:31pMoonrise: 3:00p Set: 2:11a
AM Minor:1:12a
AM Major:7:22a
PM Minor:1:33p
PM Major:7:43p
Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 6:30pMoonrise: 3:31p Set: 3:04a
AM Minor:1:50a
AM Major:8:00a
PM Minor:2:10p
PM Major:8:20p
Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 6:29pMoonrise: 4:01p Set: 3:56a
AM Minor:2:26a
AM Major:8:36a
PM Minor:2:46p
PM Major:8:56p
Moon Underfoot: 5:25a Moon Underfoot: 6:19a
Moon Overhead: 6:45p Moon Overhead: 7:33p Moon Overhead: 8:17p Moon Overhead: 9:00p Moon Overhead: 9:41p Moon Overhead: 10:21pMoon Overhead: 5:52p
Moon Underfoot: 10:01aMoon Underfoot: 8:39aMoon Underfoot: 7:55a+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
FEET FEET
+2.0
+1.0
0
-1.0
Tides and Prime Times for OCTOBER 2011
= New Moon
= First Quarter
� = Full Moon
= Last Quarter
� = Best Day
� = New Moon
� = First Quarter
� = Full Moon
� = Last Quarter
� = Best Day
BEST:3:00 — 5:00 PM
BEST:4:00 — 6:00 PM
BEST:5:00 — 6:00 PM
BEST:2:00 — 4:00 PM
BEST:12:30 — 2:30 PM
BEST:11:30A — 1:30P
BEST:7:30 — 9:30 PM
Moon Underfoot: 9:20a
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
TI
DE
L
EV
EL
S TI
DE
L
EV
EL
SS
OL
UN
AR
A
CT
IV
IT
Y SO
LU
NA
R
AC
TI
VI
TY
12a 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 12a6a 12p 6p 6a 12p 6p 12a 12a6a 12p 6p
Moon Underfoot: 7:09a
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112 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
Tides and Prime Times OCTOBER 2011
Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 7:21pMoonrise: 2:11p Set: NoneAM Minor: 11:55a AM Major: 5:40aPM Minor: ----- PM Major: 6:09pMoon Overhead: 7:27pMoon Underfoot: 6:59a
Sunrise: 7:31a Set: 7:19pMoonrise: 2:58p Set: 12:44aAM Minor: 12:26a AM Major: 6:37aPM Minor: 12:50p PM Major: 7:03pMoon Overhead: 8:19pMoon Underfoot: 7:54a
Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 7:18pMoonrise: 3:39p Set: 1:44aAM Minor: 1:14a AM Major: 7:27aPM Minor: 1:39p PM Major: 7:51pMoon Overhead: 9:09pMoon Underfoot: 8:45a
Sunrise: 7:32a Set: 7:17pMoonrise: 4:14p Set: 2:43aAM Minor: 2:00a AM Major: 8:11aPM Minor: 2:23p PM Major: 8:34pMoon Overhead: 9:54pMoon Underfoot: 9:32a
3High Tide: 12:20 am 1.83ft.Low Tide: 4:08 pm 0.10ft.
4 �High Tide: 1:35 am 1.81ft.Low Tide: 5:26 pm 0.22ft.
5High Tide: 2:15 am 1.76ft.Low Tide: 8:46 am 1.49ft.High Tide: 9:57 am 1.50ft.Low Tide: 6:38 pm 0.34ft.
6High Tide: 2:40 am 1.69ft.Low Tide: 8:39 am 1.36ft.High Tide: 12:02 pm 1.48ft.Low Tide: 7:40 pm 0.47ft.
Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 7:12pMoonrise: 6:16p Set: 6:20aAM Minor: 4:32a AM Major: 10:42aPM Minor: 4:53p PM Major: 11:03pMoon Overhead: NoneMoon Underfoot: 12:20p
Sunrise: 7:35a Set: 7:11pMoonrise: 6:46p Set: 7:13aAM Minor: 5:11a AM Major: 11:22aPM Minor: 5:32p PM Major: 11:43pMoon Overhead: 12:41aMoon Underfoot: 1:02p
Sunrise: 7:36a Set: 7:10pMoonrise: 7:19p Set: 8:07aAM Minor: 5:53a AM Major: -----PM Minor: 6:15p PM Major: 12:04pMoon Overhead: 1:24aMoon Underfoot: 1:45p
Sunrise: 7:37a Set: 7:09pMoonrise: 7:56p Set: 9:01aAM Minor: 6:39a AM Major: 12:28aPM Minor: 7:02p PM Major: 12:51pMoon Overhead: 2:08aMoon Underfoot: 2:30p
10 �High Tide: 3:33 am 1.51ft.Low Tide: 9:50 am 0.73ft.High Tide: 4:31 pm 1.65ft.Low Tide: 10:23 pm 1.09ft.
11 �High Tide: 3:45 am 1.52ft.Low Tide: 10:14 am 0.61ft.High Tide: 5:21 pm 1.69ft.Low Tide: 10:50 pm 1.23ft.
12 �High Tide: 3:56 am 1.53ft.Low Tide: 10:42 am 0.51ft.High Tide: 6:10 pm 1.71ft.Low Tide: 11:15 pm 1.34ft.
13 �High Tide: 4:04 am 1.56ft.Low Tide: 11:12 am 0.44ft.High Tide: 7:02 pm 1.71ft.Low Tide: 11:38 pm 1.44ft.
Sunrise: 7:39a Set: 7:04pMoonrise: 11:01p Set: 12:33pAM Minor: 10:11a AM Major: 3:58aPM Minor: 10:36p PM Major: 4:23pMoon Overhead: 5:21aMoon Underfoot: 5:46p
Sunrise: 7:40a Set: 7:03pMoonrise: None Set: 1:20pAM Minor: 11:06a AM Major: 4:53aPM Minor: 11:31p PM Major: 5:19pMoon Overhead: 6:12aMoon Underfoot: 6:37p
Sunrise: 7:41a Set: 7:02pMoonrise: None Set: 2:05pAM Minor: ----- AM Major: 5:47aPM Minor: 12:00p PM Major: 6:12pMoon Overhead: 7:03aMoon Underfoot: 7:29p
Sunrise: 7:42a Set: 7:01pMoonrise: 12:57a Set: 2:46pAM Minor: 12:27a AM Major: 6:38aPM Minor: 12:51p PM Major: 7:04pMoon Overhead: 7:54aMoon Underfoot: 8:20p
17Low Tide: 12:58 am 1.67ft.High Tide: 3:39 am 1.70ft.Low Tide: 1:52 pm 0.38ft.High Tide: 11:39 pm 1.74ft.
18Low Tide: 1:48 am 1.72ft.High Tide: 3:38 am 1.73ft.Low Tide: 2:46 pm 0.39ft.
19 �High Tide: 12:37 am 1.75ft.Low Tide: 3:46 pm 0.42ft.
20High Tide: 1:07 am 1.75ft.Low Tide: 4:51 pm 0.48ft.
Sunrise: 7:45a Set: 6:57pMoonrise: 5:13a Set: 5:16pAM Minor: 3:30a AM Major: 9:43aPM Minor: 3:57p PM Major: 10:10pMoon Overhead: 11:18aMoon Underfoot: 11:45p
Sunrise: 7:45a Set: 6:56pMoonrise: 6:22a Set: 5:57pAM Minor: 4:18a AM Major: 10:32aPM Minor: 4:46p PM Major: 11:00pMoon Overhead: 12:13pMoon Underfoot: None
Sunrise: 7:46a Set: 6:55pMoonrise: 7:33a Set: 6:42pAM Minor: 5:11a AM Major: 11:25aPM Minor: 5:40p PM Major: 11:55pMoon Overhead: 1:10pMoon Underfoot: 12:41a
Sunrise: 7:47a Set: 6:54pMoonrise: 8:45a Set: 7:32pAM Minor: 6:10a AM Major: -----PM Minor: 6:40p PM Major: 12:56pMoon Overhead: 2:11pMoon Underfoot: 1:40a
24High Tide: 2:14 am 1.59ft.Low Tide: 8:31 am 0.60ft.High Tide: 3:22 pm 1.72ft.Low Tide: 8:59 pm 1.05ft.
25 �High Tide: 2:31 am 1.59ft.Low Tide: 9:12 am 0.29ft.High Tide: 4:33 pm 1.85ft.Low Tide: 9:55 pm 1.25ft.
26 �High Tide: 2:49 am 1.63ft.Low Tide: 9:56 am 0.01ft.High Tide: 5:41 pm 1.93ft.Low Tide: 10:48 pm 1.43ft.
27 �High Tide: 3:09 am 1.68ft.Low Tide: 10:44 am -0.18ft.High Tide: 6:48 pm 1.97ft.Low Tide: 11:40 pm 1.58ft.
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
11:00A —1:00P
PRIME TIME
12:00 —2:00 PM
PRIME TIME
2:00 —4:00 PM
PRIME TIME
3:00 —5:00 PM
PRIME TIME
5:00 —7:00 AM
PRIME TIME
5:30 —7:30 AM
PRIME TIME
6:30 —8:30 AM
PRIME TIME
7:30 —9:30 AM
PRIME TIME
9:00 —10:00 AM
PRIME TIME
10:00A —12:00P
PRIME TIME
11:00A —1:00P
PRIME TIME
12:00 —2:00 PM
PRIME TIME
3:30 —5:30 AM
PRIME TIME
5:00 —7:00 AM
PRIME TIME
6:00 —8:00 AM
PRIME TIME
7:30 —9:30 AM
PRIME TIME
SYMBOL KEY
�New
Moon
�First
Quarter
�Full
Moon
�Last
Quarter
�
Good DayBESTDAYS
PRIME TIME
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Sunrise: 7:29a Set: 7:23pMoonrise: 12:16p Set: 10:44pAM Minor: 9:48a AM Major: 3:33aPM Minor: 10:18p PM Major: 4:03pMoon Overhead: 5:31pMoon Underfoot: 5:00a
Sunrise: 7:30a Set: 7:22pMoonrise: 1:17p Set: 11:43pAM Minor: 10:53a AM Major: 4:39aPM Minor: 11:23p PM Major: 5:08pMoon Overhead: 6:30pMoon Underfoot: 6:01a
1Low Tide: 1:24 am 1.64ft.High Tide: 5:10 am 1.73ft.Low Tide: 1:47 pm -0.06ft.High Tide: 10:39 pm 1.84ft.
2Low Tide: 2:44 am 1.74ft.High Tide: 4:43 am 1.75ft.Low Tide: 2:54 pm 0.00ft.
Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 7:16pMoonrise: 4:47p Set: 3:39aAM Minor: 2:40a AM Major: 8:51aPM Minor: 3:02p PM Major: 9:13pMoon Overhead: 10:37pMoon Underfoot: 10:16a
Sunrise: 7:33a Set: 7:15pMoonrise: 5:17p Set: 4:34aAM Minor: 3:18a AM Major: 9:29aPM Minor: 3:39p PM Major: 9:49pMoon Overhead: 11:19pMoon Underfoot: 10:58a
Sunrise: 7:34a Set: 7:13pMoonrise: 5:46p Set: 5:27aAM Minor: 3:55a AM Major: 10:05aPM Minor: 4:15p PM Major: 10:26pMoon Overhead: NoneMoon Underfoot: 11:40a
7High Tide: 2:57 am 1.62ft.Low Tide: 8:54 am 1.21ft.High Tide: 1:28 pm 1.51ft.Low Tide: 8:32 pm 0.62ft.
8High Tide: 3:10 am 1.56ft.Low Tide: 9:11 am 1.05ft.High Tide: 2:38 pm 1.55ft.Low Tide: 9:16 pm 0.78ft.
9High Tide: 3:22 am 1.52ft.Low Tide: 9:30 am 0.88ft.High Tide: 3:37 pm 1.61ft.Low Tide: 9:52 pm 0.94ft.
Sunrise: 7:37a Set: 7:07pMoonrise: 8:35p Set: 9:56aAM Minor: 7:29a AM Major: 1:17aPM Minor: 7:52p PM Major: 1:40pMoon Overhead: 2:53aMoon Underfoot: 3:17p
Sunrise: 7:38a Set: 7:06pMoonrise: 9:20p Set: 10:50aAM Minor: 8:21a AM Major: 2:09aPM Minor: 8:45p PM Major: 2:33pMoon Overhead: 3:41aMoon Underfoot: 4:06p
Sunrise: 7:39a Set: 7:05pMoonrise: 10:08p Set: 11:43aAM Minor: 9:15a AM Major: 3:03aPM Minor: 9:40p PM Major: 3:28pMoon Overhead: 4:30aMoon Underfoot: 4:55p
14 �High Tide: 4:06 am 1.58ft.Low Tide: 11:46 am 0.40ft.High Tide: 7:57 pm 1.71ft.
15Low Tide: 12:03 am 1.53ft.High Tide: 3:55 am 1.62ft.Low Tide: 12:23 pm 0.38ft.High Tide: 9:01 pm 1.71ft.
16Low Tide: 12:28 am 1.61ft.High Tide: 3:42 am 1.66ft.Low Tide: 1:05 pm 0.37ft.High Tide: 10:17 pm 1.71ft.
Sunrise: 7:42a Set: 7:00pMoonrise: 1:59a Set: 3:24pAM Minor: 1:14a AM Major: 7:27aPM Minor: 1:40p PM Major: 7:52pMoon Overhead: 8:45aMoon Underfoot: 9:10p
Sunrise: 7:43a Set: 6:59pMoonrise: 3:02a Set: 4:01pAM Minor: 2:01a AM Major: 8:13aPM Minor: 2:26p PM Major: 8:39pMoon Overhead: 9:35aMoon Underfoot: 10:01p
Sunrise: 7:44a Set: 6:58pMoonrise: 4:07a Set: 4:38pAM Minor: 2:45a AM Major: 8:58aPM Minor: 3:11p PM Major: 9:24pMoon Overhead: 10:26aMoon Underfoot: 10:52p
21High Tide: 1:27 am 1.71ft.Low Tide: 8:50 am 1.42ft.High Tide: 9:56 am 1.43ft.Low Tide: 5:56 pm 0.57ft.
22High Tide: 1:43 am 1.66ft.Low Tide: 7:34 am 1.22ft.High Tide: 12:34 pm 1.47ft.Low Tide: 7:01 pm 0.69ft.
23High Tide: 1:59 am 1.62ft.Low Tide: 7:55 am 0.93ft.High Tide: 2:05 pm 1.58ft.Low Tide: 8:01 pm 0.86ft.
Sunrise: 7:48a Set: 6:53pMoonrise: 9:55a Set: 8:28pAM Minor: 7:15a AM Major: 12:59aPM Minor: 7:46p PM Major: 1:30pMoon Overhead: 3:13pMoon Underfoot: 2:42a
Sunrise: 7:49a Set: 6:52pMoonrise: 11:01a Set: 9:29pAM Minor: 8:22a AM Major: 2:07aPM Minor: 8:53p PM Major: 2:38pMoon Overhead: 4:15pMoon Underfoot: 3:44a
Sunrise: 7:49a Set: 6:51pMoonrise: 12:00p Set: 10:31pAM Minor: 9:30a AM Major: 3:15aPM Minor: 10:00p PM Major: 3:45pMoon Overhead: 5:15pMoon Underfoot: 4:45a
Sunrise: 7:50a Set: 6:50pMoonrise: 12:52p Set: 11:34pAM Minor: 10:34a AM Major: 4:20aPM Minor: 11:02p PM Major: 4:48pMoon Overhead: 6:11pMoon Underfoot: 5:44a
28 �High Tide: 3:30 am 1.73ft.Low Tide: 11:35 am -0.27ft.High Tide: 7:57 pm 1.95ft.
29 �Low Tide: 12:33 am 1.68ft.High Tide: 3:52 am 1.76ft.Low Tide: 12:29 pm -0.27ft.High Tide: 9:09 pm 1.90ft.
30Low Tide: 1:41 am 1.72ft.High Tide: 4:06 am 1.74ft.Low Tide: 1:27 pm -0.18ft.High Tide: 10:22 pm 1.83ft.
31Low Tide: 2:29 pm -0.03ft.High Tide: 11:29 pm 1.76ft.
FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
4:30 —6:30 PM
PRIME TIME
10:00A —12:00P
PRIME TIME
3:30 —5:30 PM
PRIME TIME
4:00 —6:00 PM
PRIME TIME
5:00 —7:00 PM
PRIME TIME
7:30 —9:30 AM
PRIME TIME
8:30 —10:30 AM
PRIME TIME
9:00 —11:00 AM
PRIME TIME
1:30 —3:30 PM
PRIME TIME
2:30 —4:30 PM
PRIME TIME
3:30 —5:30 PM
PRIME TIME
2:30 —4:30 PM
PRIME TIME
3:30 —5:30 PM
PRIME TIME
9:00 —11:00 AM
PRIME TIME
7:30 —9:30 PM
PRIME TIME
PLACE HIGH LOWSABINE BANK LIGHTHOUSE(29.47° N, 93.72° W) -1:46 -1:31SABINE PASS JETTY(29.65° N, 93.83° W) -1:26 -1:31SABINE PASS(29.73° N, 93.87°W) -1:00 -1:15MESQUITE PT, SABINE PASS(29.77° N, 93.9° W) -0:04 -0:25GALV. BAY, SO. JETTY(29.34° N, 94.7° W) -0:39 -1:05PORT BOLIVAR(29.36° N, 94.77° W) +0:14 -0:06TX CITY TURNING BASIN(29.38° N, 94.88° W) +0:33 +0:41EAGLE POINT(29.5° N, 94.91° W) +3:54 +4:15CLEAR LAKE(29.56° N, 95.06° W) +6:05 +6:40MORGANS POINT(29.68° N, 94.98° W) +10:21 +5:19ROUND PT, TRINITY BAY(29.71° N, 94.69° W) +10:39 +5:15PT. BARROW, TRIN. BAY(29.74° N, 94.83° W) +5:48 +4:43GILCHRIST, E. BAY(29.52° N, 94.48° W) +3:16 +4:18JAMAICA BCH., W. BAY(29.2° N, 94.98° W) +2:38 +3:31ALLIGATOR PT., W. BAY(29.17° N, 94.13° W) +2:39 +2:33CHRISTMAS PT, CHR. BAY(29.08° N, 94.17° W) +2:32 +2:31GALV. PLEASURE PIER(29.29° N, 94.79° W) -1:06 -1:06SAN LUIS PASS(29.08° N, 95.12° W) -0.09 -0.09FREEPORT HARBOR(28.95° N, 95.31° W) -0:44 -1:02PASS CAVALLO(28.37° N, 96.4° W) 0:00 -1:20ARANSAS PASS(27.84° N, 97.05° W) -0:03 -1:31PADRE ISL.(SO. END)(26.07° N, 97.16° W) -0:24 -1:45PORT ISABEL(26.06° N, 97.22° W) +1:02 -0:42
TIDE STATION CORRECTIONTABLE
(Adjust High & Low Tide times listedin the Calendar by the amountsbelow for each keyed location)
NOT FOR NAVIGATION
Tides and Prime Times OCTOBER 2011
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“There are all kinds of reports in the
media about hogs and some talk about the
need to ‘eliminate’ them but the fact is that
is not going to happen. I had one rancher
tell me that would be like trying to eliminate
all the mesquite in Texas. It’s not going to
happen,” Standifer said.
“We can however manage their numbers
and do a lot of good in the process which is
why we developed the Texas Feral Hog
Roundup.”
The first event kicks off Oct. 1-Dec. 31
2011 with a second one taking place Jan. 1-
April 30, 2012 and it is unlike anything you
have ever heard of for hog hunting.
Hunters will compete in a firearms and
archery division to tally up their five heaviest
hogs.
“We were originally going to
make it a big hog event but one
of our sponsors told us there is
more ammunition sold in
Texas by far for hog hunting
than anything else, so we
decided to make it a
‘stringer’ type tournament
and make it more about
consistency than lucking
out and getting a big one,”
Standifer said.
“In other words if you fish a tournament
you might weigh in your five biggest bass.
Here you weigh in your hogs and the five
biggest you have at the end will
be what competes with the
other hunters out there.”
There will be weigh-in stations
throughout the state where
hunters can have their hogs
officially tallied. The tour-
nament itself will be broken
into four regions with one
from Interstate 10 to 190
east to the Louisiana border.
Another will go from 1-35
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Hungryfor Hogs
BY CHESTER MOORESOME CALL THEM A NUISANCE, others call them dangerous, yet others con-
sider them their favorite quarry. Bobby Standifer and Rich Schultz of the American
Hog Hunting Association (AHHA) call them an “opportunity.”
114 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
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South from the Okla-
homa border, another
1-35 West through Fort Worth and the final
1-35 South to Laredo.
Prizes will include pickup trucks, ATVs,
rifles, bows, hunting blinds and much more.
Plus every full season contestant gets a $30
to $50 gift card.
Firearms contestants can get a $50 gift
card good at the retailer where they choose
to sign up and Archery contestants get a
$30 gift card. Sign up online at
www.americanhoghunting.com using the
Academy Sports + Outdoors link and get
an Academy Gift Card.
There will be 100 prizes for the firearms
division with 20 winners for 5 heaviest hogs
overall and 20 winners in each geographical
region. For archery there will be 20 winners
for overall heaviest hogs and 10 in each
region.
“There are hogs just about everywhere in
the state and we believe there will be a lot of
participation from all over.”
While this tournament’s concept sounds
like good business it also translates to good
deeds.
“The original idea was to do something
about helping trim hog numbers in areas
and stop some of the waste of meat. You
have landowners and others having to shoot
them out of helicopters and just leave them
laying and I won’t argue with that but we
wanted to make sure we could do something
that could help feed people in need,” Stan-
difer said.
Tournament officials will promote
hunters donating the meat to facilities that
will process them or to help out families they
know need the extra help in these tough eco-
nomic times.
Wild pork is nutritious with lean cuts of
the meat having fat and cholesterol levels
much lower than the domestic fare. In addi-
tion it tastes great and is considered a deli-
cacy in high-dollar restaurants all over the
country.
“Why not make a positive out of what
can be a negative out there?” asked AHHA
CEO Rich Schultz.
“Hunters can spend more time in the
field, have a direct hand in helping manage
our wild grounds and agriculture and help
people in need. Plus, they can win lots of
great prizes and enjoy the thrill of competi-
tion.”
Are you up for the challenge of the Texas
Feral Hog Roundup? If so, go to
www.americanhoghunting.com or call
Bobby Standifer at (817) 366-1664 to
learn how to participate.
TF&G Hunting Editor Bob Hood (right) interviews BobbyStandifer of the American Hog Hunting Association. Seethe video interview at www.FishGame.com/video.
On the Web
www.americanhoghunting.com
Prizes includetrucks, ATVs, rifles,
bows, and more.Plus everyfull season
contestant gets a$30 to $50 gift
card.
“
“
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EXAS
FIS
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T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 115
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An Out-of-the-WayTreasure
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, YOU RUNacross one of those restaurants that
becomes one of your favorite spots.
Gilhooly’s just made the list.
Located in San Leon just down the road
from Kemah, this out of the way place at
first looks like a beer joint. But don’t let the
rustic appearance fool you, Gilhooly’s is a
great restaurant serving only fresh local
seafood. Oysters are a house specialty roast-
ed on an open wood burning pit.
The Oysters Gilhooly are amazing,
grilled on the halfshell in a garlic butter
sauce with parmesan cheese, and the Oys-
ters Picante comes topped with zesty salsa
and melted Colby jack cheese. They serve
great gumbo, oyster stew, seafood cakes, and
even have breakfast on the weekend with
some killer seafood omelettes stuffed with
shrimp, crab, and oysters.
The restaurant’s name came from the
John Wayne movie Donavan’s Reef. The
servings are generous, and the all female
waitstaff will make you feel at home, but
kids under 18 are not allowed.
They accept only cash, no credit cards.
BYOB is okay too!
Oysters Gilhooly12 – oysters on the halfshell
Spoon a little garlic butter sauce over the
oyster, then top with about a tea-
spoon of grated parmesan cheese , then
carefully place the oysters on the grill with
some wood chips to add some smoky flavor.
Cook with the lid open for 3 to 4 minutes,
then close the lid or cover with foil and cook
until the cheese is melted, approx. another 4
minutes. Remove to a platter and serve with
crackers, red sauce and horseradish!
Email Bryan Slaven, “The Texas
Gourmet,” at [email protected]
Chuck Glass, and Brandon Slaven enjoyingsome Oysters Gilhooly and South of the Bor-der grilled Oysters.
Bryan Slaven, The Texas Gourmet, with thefriendly wait staff from Gilhooly’s
JOIN THE TEXAS GOURMET FANCLUB on Facebook, athttp://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=152165096156.Come and share your favorite recipes, restaurants, and hang-outs. The Texas Gourmet is waiting on you!
116 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
PHOT
OS C
OURT
ESY
BRYA
N SL
AVEN
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118 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
ROCKPORT
UPPER COAST (SABINE LAKE)
TEXAS SALTWATER
BAFFIN BAY
TEXAS HUNTINGMIDDLE COAST
TEXAS SALTWATER
TEXAS SALTWATER
GALVESTON
TEXAS SALTWATER
WWW.FISHGAME.COM
NORTH EAST TEXASJack and Jeff Lee
Happy 40th Anniversary
Rockport Redrunner
The Swedesh Gang / Hook and Ladder
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 3:24 PM Page 118
T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 119
LAKE TEXOMA
SPOTLIGHT: WHITE OAK OUTFITTERS
White Oak Outfitters is an owner-operated outfitting service offering deer, boar and bear huntssince 1993. They provide fair-chase hunts for hunters of all ages on 3000 acres in beautiful EastTexas. Bear hunts take place in August and September in cooperation with Nolalu outfitters inOntario Canada and carried out on 4 Bear Management Areas. Texas hog hunts have a two-dayminimum and are conducted year around. Deer hunts run from October through December.Hunters can hunt as long as they want for the flat daily rate.
White Oak Outfitters processes all game by quartering, wrapping and freezing all the meat. Thereare no trophy fees or any other hidden costs. Living quarters are provided along with cookingfacilities at no extra charge.
“We try to treat people the way we would like to be treated if we were hunting with them,” saidBruce Hunnicut, owner. “We feel we have one of the premier hunting areas in the country. Wewould be glad to book a hunt for anyone who wants to experience a hunt of a lifetime.”
Call Bruce to schedule your next hunt @ (903) 537-2651 or visit www.whiteoakoutfittersinc.com
LAKE AMISTAD
TEXAS FRESHWATER
EAST TEXAS
TEXAS FRESHWATER
SOUTH TEXAS
COLORADO HUNTING
White Oak
OutfittersDavid Trove
Trout
Kighten’s Guide
Service
TF&G’s
Saltwater
Fishing Trip
Winner!!!
White Oak
Outfitters
Aerich and
Allycia
Redfish Charters
ALMANAC DIGITAL.qxd:1002 Coastal 9/22/11 3:17 PM Page 119
120 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® T F & G A L M A N A C
REDFISH
High IslandTwelve-year-oldMeaghan Bryanof Clear Lakewith her first bullred, a 25pounder, takenon cut mullet inthe surf nearHigh Island. Sub-mitted by JohnBryan(Meaghan'sfather).
➤ CATFISH
Highland VillageGarrett Gibson, age 8, from Highland Villagewith a 20-pound blue catfish he reeled in allby himself.
➤LARGEMOUTH BASS
Private PondCori Chandler, age 12, of Corsicana caught this7-pound largemouth on his grandfather’s pond(Frank and Betty Crawford’s ranch) in Streetman.He caught the bass on a 7-inch lizard.
➤
REDFISH | Port AransasLinda Bouchard caught this 38-1/2-inch bullred on her birthday. She and her husband,Don (see previous photo) were at Woody’sSport Center in Port Aransas.
REDFISH | Port AransasDon Bouchard caught this 40-1/2-inch bull red-fish at Port Aransas. He and his wife, Linda, wereat Woody’s Sports Center. Linda also had a goodday (see next photo).
➤➤
REDFISH | Baffin BayMichaela Ayers and family friend DannyAdams of Rockport hold a 50-inch, 40-poundbull red Michaela caught while fishing with livecroaker in Baffin Bay. The fish was revivedand released.
SAND TROUT | GalvestonHaidyn Pyfer, 16, of North RichlandHills with the Sand Trout that shecaught while fishing on the Gulfside of the North Jetty in Galveston.
CATFISH | Lake O’ the PinesHaley & Kenzie Pyle of Bullard caught thesecatfish while fishing with their dad Shane andgrandfather Jimmy on Lake O' the Pines. Theycaught 59 fish weighing up to 3 pounds.
WHITETAIL DEER
Stephens CountyColton Olson, 8, of Arlington, shot his first deernear Strawn in Stephens County, opening morn-ing of the Special Youth Season, with one shotfrom a .243 at 100 yards. Submitted by Colton’sPapa, Jim Withaeger.
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T F & G A L M A N A C T E X A S F I S H & G A M E ® O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 | 121
MAIL TO: TFG PHOTOS1745 Greens Rd, Houston TX 77032NOTE: Print photos can not be returned.
EMAIL: [email protected] best results, send MED to HIGHquality JPEG digital files only, please.
No guaranteecan be madeas to when,or if, a sub-mitted photowill bepublished.
SANDTROUT
CrystalBeach
Logan Ng ofCypresscaught thesetwo sandtrout, at thesame time,while fishingwith his Papain East Baynear CrystalBeach.
REDFISH
InglesideKristin Heiderof Pleasantonlanded this25-inch red-fish to limitout for herfirst time. Itwas a beauti-ful day onIngleside Baywhere BobCameroncould onlywatch andremove all theperfectly sethooks.
REDFISH | RockportLogan Kuenstler of Austincaught his first redfish –plus two more –in Rockport.He was fishing with his dad,uncle, cousin and Capt.Terry Coufal.
JACK CREVALLE | GalvestonJon Shipley of Bayou Vista caught this 26-inchjack crevalle at the tip of the Galveston Northjetty, using live fingerling mullet on bottom. Hefought the jack for almost an hour.
BLACK DRUM
West Galveston BayGilbert Moreno of Pasadena caught this blackdrum while kayaking the West Bay area inGalveston. Gilbert released the fish.
➤
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➤
➤
WHITETAIL BUCK | Kinney CountyJaye Widner, age 11, shot this 5-point buck dur-ing youth weekend at the TDW Ranch in KinneyCounty. Dad Wray says it took a couple of yearsto convince Jaye that hunting was more fun thandolls. The gleam in her eyes says he succeeded.
➤ REDFISH | Crystal BeachJoseph Gonzalez caught this bull red in thesurf at Crystal Beach while fishing withJoseph’s brother and other family members.They caught and released 12 reds in the surfand 11 more out in a kayak. They also caughta few sharks.
➤CATFISH | Village Mills
Seven-year-old Logan Fant, Daryl Fant and four-year-old McClain Fant show off a nice yellow catthey caught at Lake Kimble in Wildwood near Vil-lage Mills, Texas.
➤
WAHOO | Port AransasEdward Martin, his son-in-law David Munk andgrandson Logan Munk caught a 66-inch, 42-pound wahoo with Capt. Butch Finley out ofPort Aransas. It was Logan's 17th birthday.
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