texas spring fishing annual 2015

| 13 Lone StarOutdoorNewsO TEXAS FISHINGSPRINGANNUAL2015

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TEXASFISHINGSPRINGANNUAL2015

14 | Lone StarOutdoorNewsO TEXAS FISHINGSPRINGANNUAL2015

E-TEC G2: The outboard of the future from Evinrude

CHOOSEYOURETEC.COM

Evinrude, renowned for industry-leading innova-tion, introduced the Evinrude E-TEC G2 engines in June of 2014, bringing bold, breakthrough design, unmatched lifetime value and unrivaled performance to the stagnant marine industry.

The Evinrude E-TEC G2 engine offers power and performance that’s unequaled in the field, but because the engine was designed from the ground up, many of the new features are decidedly consumer friendly.

Features like dynamic power steering and I-Trim controls give new boaters access to the industry and they shrink the learning curve for people who could become lifelong customers. During the Miami International Boat Show, the Marine Marketers of America recognized this feature of the new engines by awarding the Evinrude team the coveted In-novation Award for 2015 in the Outboard Engines category for the Evinrude E-TEC G2.

The industry-leading engines range from 200 hp to 300 hp and deliver 20 percent more torque, up to 15 percent better fuel efficiency and up to 75 percent fewer total regulated emissions than leading competitors’ four-stroke engines.

And the industry is taking notice. A total of 78 new deal-ers partnered with Evinrude in 2014, a clear indication of the excitement surrounding the new Evinrude E-TEC G2 engines. During this same time period, Evinrude added 20 premium OEM boat builders to its partner portfolio. In the past year, market-leading manufacturers such as Campion Boats, Cape Horn, Kingfisher, Tidewater, and Scout have signed supply agreements with Evinrude. The expansion in partners brings the power of choice to more consumers in

the U.S. and Canada. Consumers now have more access to Evinrude E-TEC G2’s broad range of options and the ability to choose their boat and engine package, not only for utility and horsepower, but also in design and color.

The company launched its first-generation Evinrude E-TEC technology in 2003 and added to the line a broad spectrum of horsepower options for any boating need. The innovative technology has delivered on more power and torque while achieving and surpassing the EPA’s clean air standards for more than 10 years. BRP’s technological breakthroughs with the Evinrude E-TEC technology have also allowed for fewer dealer visits and less engine mainte-nance over time, giving boaters more time on the water.

“BRP’s Evinrude brand is an integral part of one of the most innovative powersports companies in the world,” said Alain Villemure, vice president and general manager of BRP’s Marine Propulsion Systems division. “Our reputa-tion for inventing and reinventing the playgrounds we’re in dictates that a new era in outboard engine technology and design would originate from BRP.”

Evinrude’s configurator app helps boaters explore the engine offerings and color combinations, giving boaters the true power of choice in rigging their engine. Customize your Evinrude E-TEC G2 engine at ChooseYourETEC.com to explore all of the many combinations of power and design available with the new Evinrude E-TEC G2.

BRP’s Evinrude engine lineup from 3.5 to 300 horse-power offers customers superior value across a full range of applications. Engines are available at authorized Evinrude dealerships worldwide.

2 |


©2015 BRP US Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®™ Trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.* Based on BRP conducted performance and ICOMIA Fuel Efficiency testing of BRP and competitive engines.

CHOOSE UNRIVALED PERFORMANCEINTRODUCING THE EVINRUDE® E-TEC® G2™Since its introduction in 2003, the Evinrude E-TEC has delivered unbeatable low-end torque and fuel efficiency, because of its direct-injection two stroke technology. Now, the Evinrude E-TEC G2 uses PurePower Combustion to precisely mix the perfect 14:1 air and fuel ratio, delivering 20% more torque* than competitive outboards. Combine that with 15% more fuel efficiency* and 75% fewer emissions* than the leading competitors and it’s clear to see that the Evinrude E-TEC G2 delivers uncompromising performance that’s unrivaled in the outboard industry.

Experience the power of choice at ChooseYourETEC.com

20% more torque may get you to the fishing spot before the fish even get there.

| 3


2015 Freshwater RegulationsAlligator GarDaily Bag: 1No Minimum LengthCertain areas may be temporarily closed to alligator gar fi shing when optimum spawning conditions occur.

BassThe combined limit for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Guadalupe and spotted bass is 5 fi sh per day.Largemouth & smallmouthMinimum Length: 14 inchesSpotted & GuadalupeNo Minimum LengthStriped & hybrid striped(also known as Palmetto or Sunshine bass)Daily Bag: 5 (in any combination)Minimum Length: 18 inchesWhite bassDaily Bag: 25Minimum Length: 10 inchesYellow bass Daily Bag: No limitNo Minimum Length

Catfi shChannel, blue, their hybrids & subspeciesDaily Bag: 25 (in any combination)Minimum Length: 12 inchesFlatheadDaily Bag: 5Minimum Length: 18 inches

CrappieWhite, black, their hybrids & subspeciesDaily Bag: 25 (in any combination)Minimum Length: 10 inches

Paddlefi shNo harvest allowed

SaugeyeDaily Bag: 3Minimum Length: 18 inches

Sunfi shVarious species including blue-gill, redear, green, warmouth & longearDaily Bag: No limitNo Minimum Length

TroutRainbow and brownDaily Bag: 5 (in any combination)No Minimum Length

WalleyeDaily Bag: 5 (only 2 can be less than 16 inches in length)No Minimum Length

Possession Limits• Twice the statewide daily bag

limit.• The only exception to the

statewide possession limits in fresh water is for striped bass from Lake Texoma.

• Please note that on lakes Caddo, Kirby, Livingston, Palestine, Toledo Bend and the Sabine River below Toledo Bend where some daily bag limits are larger than the statewide daily bag, the pos-session limits remain twice the statewide daily bag limits listed above.

• Fish stored by a person at their residence do not apply to their possession limit.

Exotic Aquatic SpeciesThere are special requirements associated with the harvest of harmful or potentially harmful exotic species and transport of exotic aquatic species (tilapia, grass carp).

See TPWD for more information

Alligator GarDaily Bag: 1Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)No limit - No limit

Black DrumDaily Bag: 5Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)14 - 30No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag limit and possession limit.

Blue MarlinDaily Bag: No limitLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)131 - No limit

GafftopsailDaily Bag: No limitLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)14 - no limit

LingDaily Bag: 2Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)37 - No limit

FlounderAll species, their hybrids and sub-speciesDaily Bag: 5/2 (see below)Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)14 - No limitDaily bag is 5 fi sh except from Nov. 1-30, when the daily bag limit is 2 fi sh and fl ounder may be taken only by pole-and-line; and from December 1-14, when the daily bag limit is 2 fi sh and fl ounder may be taken by any legal means.

Gag GrouperDaily Bag: 2Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)22 - No limit

Goliath Grouper (formerly called Jewfi sh)Daily Bag: 0 (catch and release only)

Gray Triggerfi shDaily Bag: 20Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)16 - No limit

Greater AmberjackDaily Bag: 1Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)34 - No limit

King MackerelDaily Bag: 2Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)27 - No limit

Lane SnapperDaily Bag: No limitLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)8 - No limit

MulletAll species, their hybrids and subspeciesDaily Bag: No limitLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)No limit - 12 (see below)May not take from public waters, or possess on board a boat, mullet over 12 inches during October, November, December, and Janu-ary. No limits apply during other months.

Red DrumDaily Bag: 3Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)20 - 28During a license year, one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affi xed with a properly com-pleted Red Drum Tag and one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affi xed with a properly completed Bonus Red Drum Tag. Any fi sh retained under authority of a Red Drum Tag or a Bonus Red Drum Tag may be retained in addition to the daily bag and possession limit as stated in this section.

Red SnapperDaily Bag: 4Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)15 - No limitRed snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind of hook other than a circle hook when using natural bait.

Sailfi shDaily Bag: No limitLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)84 - No limit

SharksNote: the daily bag limit is 1 fi sh for all allowable shark species including Atlan-tic sharpnose, blacktip, and bonnethead.Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, bonnetheadLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)24 - No limitOther allowable shark speciesLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)64 - No limitDaily Bag: 0 (catch and release only)

SheepsheadDaily Bag: 5Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)15 - No limit

SnookDaily Bag: 1Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)24 – 28

Spanish MackerelDaily Bag: 15Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)14 - No limit

Spotted SeatroutDaily Bag: All waters north of FM 457 in Matagorda County - 10All waters south of FM 457 - 5Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)15 - 25 with one fi sh over 25 inches.

TarponDaily Bag: 1Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)85 - No limit

TripletailDaily Bag: 3Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)17 - No limit

Vermilion SnapperDaily Bag: No limitLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)10 - No limit

White MarlinDaily Bag: No limitLength in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)86 - No limit

2015 Saltwater Regulations See TPWD for more information

4 |

Sheepshead in numbersPACKERY CHANNEL — The sheepshead have been

spawning and anglers on the Packery Channel are tak-ing advantage, according to multiple Internet reports.

Live or dead shrimp have been catching the tasty fish in large numbers.

“Saw many people with limits and got one myself,” said one poster on the Texas Fishing Forum. “The wind was brutal but the sheepies were hungry.”

Along with shrimp, Fishbites have also been working to hook the spawning fish.The sheepshead bite hasn’t been limited to Packery — many piers and jetties up and

down the coast are reporting loads of big sheepshead and anglers taking advantage.

Top-water action GALVESTON BAY COMPLEX — According to Capt. Blake Sartor, the top-water bite has

finally turned on with the arrival of warmer temperatures across the Galveston Bay com-plex.

“The top-water bite is at its best right now as the warmer water has turned on the springtime trout,” Sartor posted on 2cool-fishing.com. “Wade fishing with (Rapala)

Skitter Walks and Super Spooks early, then switching to Corkies later in the morning has been producing many solid specks.”

Sartor said along with wading, finding structure has also produced solid action.We’re also catching fish drifting and anchored over shell reefs and other structure with

live shrimp,” he said.To contact Capt. Blake Sartor, call (832) 385-2012.

Find clear waterBASTROP BAYOU — Angler reports say there

is a nice trout bite going on in the bayou, with nice trout in the 18-inch range being caught on soft plastics.

When the soft plastic bite dies down, a top-water like a Skitter Walk in bone color has been catching fish.

Along with decent trout, a good redfish bite has also been reported.The best bite has been in 2 to 3 feet of water over mud, shell and grass. The water temperatures are around 75 degrees, and the anglers willing to search out

back lakes and tidal areas with clearer water are having better success finding bigger fish.

— Conor Harrison

NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good on the Louisiana shoreline on top-waters and Corkies. Flounder are fair on jigs tipped with shrimp around marsh drains. Redfi sh are good in the marsh.

SOUTH SABINE: Sheepshead, redfi sh and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Trout are fair to good around Blue Buck Point on top-waters and live shrimp.

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Black drum and redfi sh are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on plas-tics. Redfi sh are fair on the north shoreline around the Spillway.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on Catch 5s, MirrOlures and top-waters. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Black drum are fair to good

in the Ship Channel on crabs.WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to

good for drifters working shell on live shrimp. Trout, sheepshead, redfi sh and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers. Redfi sh are good in the back lakes on shrimp and scented plastics.

TEXAS CITY: Redfi sh are fair to good in Moses Lake on shrimp. Trout are fair on the reefs on live bait. Black drum are fair to good on crabs and mullet in the channel off the dike.

FREEPORT: Trout are fair at San Luis Pass on live bait. Sand trout, trout, redfi sh and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs in Christmas Bay and at the jetties.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair to good over humps of shell on live shrimp. Redfi sh are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet. Redfi sh are fair while drifting with live shrimp.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfi sh are fair to

good on the edge of Oyster Lake on shrimp and crabs. Black drum and redfi sh are fair to good at the jetty on crabs.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfi sh are fair on soft plastics over sand and grass near Grass Island. Trout and redfi sh are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp.

ROCKPORT: Black drum are good in the Lydia Ann Channel on crabs. Redfi sh are fair to good on the Estes Flats on mullet and crabs.

PORT ARANSAS: Redfi sh are fair to good at East Flats on gold spoons and small top-waters. Redfi sh, black drum and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on Gulps and live shrimp. Black drum and redfi sh are fair to good in the Packery Channel on crabs.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in the guts and around the rocks on soft and

scented plastics and twitchbaits. Redfi sh are fair to good over sand and grass pockets on gold spoons.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on top-waters around sand and grass on Corkies, Soft–Dines and top-waters. Redfi sh are fair to good while drifting potholes on scented plastics under popping corks.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout are good around the spoil islands, channel edges and color changes on DOA Shrimp, scented plastics and live shrimp. Black drum and redfi sh are fair at the jetty on crabs and shrimp.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfi sh are fair to good on the fl ats on live shrimp. Redfi sh are fair in South Bay on DOA Shrimp and live shrimp.

— TPWD

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT


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Spring is here and what a great sight to see all of the wildflowers in bloom. It seems the world around us has once again come to life after what seems like a lon-

ger than normal wintertime pattern. Outdoorsman begin switching gears

from deer and duck hunting mode and on into spring turkey as well as trophy trout, redfish and bass action. There is never a dull moment in the outdoors!

Outfitting correctly is important in staying ahead of each season and having a shop that can do it all is important. Who doesn’t like a one-stop shop, right?

With that said, I want to welcome a new kid on the block in our hometown of Hallettsville. Brush to Bay Outfit-ters is the new South Texas outfitter of everything outdoors. The store sports everything from a full-supply archery shop to include Mathews Archery, Hoyt, Bear, Easton, Ozonics, Nikon, GameGuard and ForEverlast to a full line of fishing gear to include Simms waders, Shimano reels, Waterloo Rods, Yeti, Costa, and, of course, gear from ForEverlast.

Brush to Bay will have a full indoor range, outdoor 3-D target range, and everything to get you outfitted for your outdoor adventure. Plus, they will of-fer reel cleaning, line spooling and rod repair. You can find them on Facebook, at brushtobayoutfitters.com, or stop by and see them on Highway 77 two miles south of Hallettsville beginning May 4.

I know I will be a regular customer and I hope to see you there!

By Billy Gerke

| 5

18 | Lone StarOutdoorNewsO TEXAS FISHINGSPRINGANNUAL2015 6 |

ALAN HENRY: Water stained; 59–63 degrees; 9.96’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Senkos, lipless crankbaits, Shaky heads and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair to good on jigs under a slip cork.

AMISTAD: Water murky; 63–67 degrees; 28.90’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Senkos, spinner baits, crank-baits, and soft plastic lizards in 10–25 feet. Striped bass are fair on slabs, crankbaits, and Sassy Shad.

ATHENS: Water lightly stained; 59–63 degrees; 0.33’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits and Senkos. Crappie are fair on minnows.

BASTROP: Water stained; 62–66 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on red/white spinner baits, crankbaits, and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are slow.

BELTON: Water murky; 58–62 degrees; 11.89’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastics and crankbaits.

BOB SANDLIN: Water murky; 58–64 degrees; 0.32’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on white spinner baits and swim jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on minnows.

BONHAM: Water stained, 59–64 degrees; 0.08’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, spinner baits and chatterbaits, jigs and soft plastics.

BRAUNIG: Water stained. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on silver striper jigs.

BRIDGEPORT: Water stained, 57–61 degrees; 23.92’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shallow to medium crank-baits in chartreuses.

BROWNWOOD: Water murky;

58–62 degrees; 12.60’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and white or shad Li’l Fishies in 5-12 feet.

BUCHANAN: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 32.04’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin JDC Craws, trailers and black/blue Whacky Sticks on jigheads along ledges in 12–20 feet.

CADDO: Water stained to muddy; 62–66 degrees; 2.30’ high. Largemouth bass are good on bladed jigs, small crankbaits and swim jigs.

CALAVERAS: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin soft plas-tics and crankbaits near the dam. Striped bass are good on spoons and jigs near the dam.

CANYON LAKE: Water murky; 61–65 degrees; 11.07’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on black/chartreuse hair jigs, Texas-rigged grape worms, and suspending jerkbaits on shaky jigheads. Smallmouth bass are very good on JDC smoke/red fl ake tubes.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained to muddy; 59–63 degrees; 0.02’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on spinner baits and bladed jigs.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 60–64 degrees; 28.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin soft plastic worms and liz-ards, and on jigs over grass.

COLEMAN: Water clear; 58–62 degrees; 19.47’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics, spinner baits, and crank-baits. Hybrid striper are fair on silver jigs.

CONROE: Water murky;

60–64 degrees; 0.06’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and lipless crankbaits.

FALCON: Water murky; 58–62 degrees; 23.66’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin soft plastics and spinner baits.

FORK: Water stained; 60–64 degrees; 2.98’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on shallow crankbaits, swim-baits and hollow-body frogs. Some fi sh starting to spawn.

FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 58–63 degrees; 16.86’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on fl ukes, lipless crankbaits and Texas rigs.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red and June bug soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows.

GRANBURY: Water murky; 59–63 degrees; 8.47’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on green pumpkin soft plastics and lipless crankbaits.

GRANGER: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 1.16’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on white jigs along the river channel.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 57–62 degrees; 9.33’ low. Largemouth bass are good on small crankbaits and weight-less soft plastics. Crappie are fair.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained to murky; 65–69 degrees; 0.36’ high. Largemouth bass to 6 pounds are good on green soft plastics, swim baits, and shad-colored lipless crank-baits.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water off- color; 59–64 degrees; 30.5’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on drop-shot rigs, lipless crankbaits and

Texas rigs. Catfi sh are fair to good on nightcrawlers and live shad.

JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 60–64 degrees; 0.33’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, small crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained to muddy; 61–64; degrees; 8.11’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on fl ipping jigs and bladed jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

LBJ: Water stained; 61–65 degrees; 0.23’ low. Largemouth bass are very good on buzzbaits and weightless watermelon red Whacky Sticks along lay-downs and stumps on creek points.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 62–66 degrees; 0.19’ high. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse crank-baits, spinner baits and soft plastics.

MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 60–65 degrees; 0.07’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and hol-low-body frogs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

MONTICELLO: Water clear; 59–63 degrees; 0.93’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits and Beaver-type baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 59–63 degrees; 0.42’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse/white soft plastics and crankbaits.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 59–65 degrees; 43.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shallow-running crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair to good

on minnows and jigs (moving shallow).

OAK CREEK: Water stained; 60–64 degrees; 25.71’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits and Texas rigs.

PALESTINE: Water stained; 58–63 degrees; 1.86’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Shaky heads and weightless Senkos.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 60–66 degrees; 14.3’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, split-shot weighted fl ukes and lipless crankbaits.

PROCTOR: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 12.65’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow.

RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 60–64 degrees; 5.81’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shallow/medium crankbaits and Texas-rigged worms.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 57–61 degrees; 5.61’ low. Largemouth bass are good on umbrella rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs near brush piles.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 59–63 degrees; 6.21’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Shaky heads and swim jigs.

SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 61–65 degrees; 5.35’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged green pumpkin soft plastics and spinner baits. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies and silver spoons.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 2.38’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastics and lipless crankbaits.

STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 61–65 degrees; 13.98’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin soft plastics

and spinner baits. Hybrid striper are slow.

TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 0.60’ high. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits, soft plastics and lip-less crankbaits.

TRAVIS: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 52.95’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon soft plastic worms, green pumpkin fl ukes and crawfi sh crankbaits in 5–20 feet.

WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastics and lipless crankbaits.Crappie are fair on minnows.

WHITNEY: Water murky; 59–63 degrees; 9.38’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits and Carolina-rigged soft plastics in 10–25 feet. Striped bass are fair drifting live bait in 20-35 feet. White bass are fair on Pirk Minnows and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained to muddy; 61–64 degrees; 15.85’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on green pumpkin fl ipping jigs and bladed jigs near shallow cover. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfi sh are good on trotlines.

— TPWD

TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

■Saltwater reports: PleaseturntoPage FA 4

Tough weekLAKE TEXOMA — “Humbling.”That is the word LSON’s Mike Hughs used

on his latest trip to fi nd big largemouth bass on Lake Texoma at the 2015 State Bass Club Championship.

The teams practiced in 48-degree water temperatures, but the temperature had risen to 65 degrees by the time the tournament rolled around.

“That, combined with the lake turnover and water rising about 4 feet in the last month hurt us,” Hughs said. “We were expecting prespawn fi sh, but they weren’t even in prestage yet. They were stuck between their winter areas and the staging areas. Most of the bass were suspended and following bait.”

Hughs, who fi shes Texoma a lot, said there was more bait in the water than he had ever seen. The fi sh he did catch came on a jerkbait worked near schools of shad.

“There were some fi sh around the smartweed,” he said. “We caught a few using spinner baits and fl ipping baits into pockets of the smartweed. We also caught a few nice stripers up to 15 pounds.”

In six days of fi shing, Hughs boated three fi sh — one smallmouth, one largemouth and one striper.

“I tried everything,” he said. “Shaky heads, drop shots, etc. I just couldn’t fi nd the right combo. But, someone is always catching them on something.

Hybrids heating upLEWISVILLE LAKE — The hybrid bite has been

picking up on Lewisville the past couple of weeks, according to anglers.

The bite has been better in shallower areas near bait, although there hasn’t been much schooling action yet. Focus on windblown points and smaller coves.

Crankbaits, slabs and Sassy Shads are catching fi sh up to 10 pounds. The average has been about 3 to 5 pounds.

The water clarity is decent, and the lake has caught some water with recent rains. Water temperatures are around 64 degrees.

The crappie bite is also improving around brush piles.

Good daysFAYETTE COUNTY RESERVOIR — Anglers on the Texas Fishing Forum are reporting a

steady largemouth bass bite on Fayette. Water temperatures are about 72 degrees, and the best action has been around struc-

ture, namely trees and stumps.The best bait has been Texas-rigged soft plastics fi shed in 3 to 7 feet of water. Along with bass, channel and blue catfi sh have also been good on stinkbait and shrimp.

— Conor Harrison

TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

That is the word LSON’s Mike Hughs used on his latest trip to fi nd big largemouth bass on Lake Texoma at the 2015 State Bass Club

temperatures, but the temperature had risen

action yet. Focus on windblown points and smaller


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TroKar_LoneStarOutdoorNews_Ad_March2015.pdf 1 3/17/2015 2:36:04 PM

Eagle Claw TroKar is proud to feature this strong addition to the TroKar lineup, and a favor-ite among big fi sh anglers, the TK130. This American-man-ufactured hook is extremely

sharp and features the world’s fi rst surgi-cally sharpened point, allowing it to pen-etrate easily and quickly with less force required. This heavy-duty, durable hook is perfect for fl ipping and pitching when bass fi shing, can hold up in heavy cover, works great with heavy line, and features a TroKar barb to hold bait in place.

The complete TK130 features: • Flipping hook• Extra-wide gap• Barbed • Straight shank• Forged• Welded eye• Black Chrome fi nish

The TK130 comes in sizes 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0, and 7/0 with an MSRP of $6.99.

(720) 941-8700EAGLECLAW.COM OR TROKAR.COM

New TK130 hook best for fl ipping and pitching

SurgicallysharpenedTK130

byEagleClawTroKar

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March 26 public hearing approved adjust-ments to bass length limits on several lakes, a change in al-ligator gar bag limit on Falcon

Lake and clarifi cations to commercial crab and fi nfi sh rules.

The adopted changes to the 2015-16 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing regulations, which take effect Sept. 1, include:

Braunig and Calaveras Reservoirs — The largemouth bass length limit will revert back to the statewide 14-inch minimum limit. Daily bag limit would remain at fi ve fi sh.

O. H. Ivie Reservoir — The length limit for smallmouth bass will revert back to the statewide 14-inch minimum limit and fi ve fi sh daily bag.

Lake Nasworthy — The length limit for largemouth bass will change to a 14- to 18-inch slot limit (no harvest between 14 and 18 inches). Daily bag limit would remain at fi ve fi sh.

Falcon Lake — The current daily bag limit of one alligator gar will change to fi ve fi sh per day. The increased bag limit will be in effect in the all impounded waters of the Rio Grande from the Falcon Dam upstream to the Zapata/Webb County line.

New fi shing regulations

| 7


Girl time

It’s time to line up youngsters for summer camps, and Outdoor Texas Camp has a new offering at the Homer Martin Ranch

along the Llano River. The Outdoor Texas Girls Camp, available for girls ages 9 to 16, will specialize in teaching hunting and fishing activities to young women interested in the outdoors.

“We started off doing boys and girls camps 12 years ago, but had a difficult time getting the girls to come out,” said camp founder David Todd. “I always felt bad about it. We really want the girls to learn about the outdoors — so we decided to try it.”

Todd said the ranch is the perfect setting to learn and play, and the ranch’s beauty, located about one hour north of Fredericksburg, is unsurpassed.

“There is no place else in Texas they can get this,” he said. “We have held archery and fly-fishing camps at the Homer Martin Ranch in the past, and it is the perfect set-ting for our first Girls Hunting and Fishing Camp. The Llano

River offers great free-time opportunities for swim-ming and fishing, especially fly-fishing. We have a few openings for our fly-fishing camp at the ranch as well, held June 7-13.”

The camp will offer in-struction in archery, rifle and handgun shooting, fly-fish-ing, fly-tying and kayaking, game calling and scoring, and other activities. Like all of the other camps, the girls camps utilize top instruc-tors in each field to provide the best instruction in a fun atmosphere. Guided fishing trips on the river will follow fishing instruction.

They encourage campers to sign up this month before it fills up.

“Campers will get to select their favor-

ite activities and customize the camp experience to their liking — it’s like a menu for both hunting and fishing activities,” Todd said. “The week is divided into 24 ses-sions of activities and I ex-pect archery will be popular, as will fly-fishing — the girls are really good at that.”

The Girls Camp will be held July 5-11. The cost is $1,125 per camper and the camp will be limited to 16 girls. Transportation to and from the camp will take place at Cabela’s in Buda.

(830) 562-3354 or (512) 217-1587OUTDOORTEXASCAMP.COM

Huntingandfishingcamphelpsreachyoung

outdoorswomen

8 |


BASS SEE UV LIGHT!

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If you want to catch bigger bass than you ever dreamed possible give Super Gel a try…

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BASS SEE UV LIGHT!BASS SEE UV LIGHT!

A plastic worm under UV light without Super Gel on it. It’s almost camouflaged against a weedy bottom.

The same worm with UV enhanced Super Gel smeared on it. Bass have to see it before they can eat it!

“I fished my whole life without ever hooking a double digit bass.

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In addition to UV FLASH only Pro-Cure Super Gel is made from real whole fresh bait - real gizzard shad, real threadfin shad, real rainbow trout, real crawfish, real night crawlers and leeches – we use nothing artificial in our bait scents.

Then it’s super charged with powerful amino acids that intensify the natural smell of the bait while stimulating

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Then iintensify the natural smell of the bait while stimulating

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Anglers who know about Pro-Cure know they make all of their Super Gel scents out of real whole fresh bait. For the bass anglers, they use real threadfi n shad,

gizzard shad, crawfi sh, night crawlers and leeches. For the inshore saltwater anglers, Pro-cure uses real mullet, menhaden shrimp, blue crab, squid, etc. These are all great scents when you know what your target fi sh is feeding on.

What happens when an an-gler is not sure what his target species is feeding on? Intro-ducing “Searching Scents.” For the largemouth bass scents, the Super Gel to use is “Trophy Bass.” It is made from real ground threadfi n shad, gizzard shad, crawfi sh, night crawlers and leeches. Big bass can fi nd whatever interests them with this scent, and it really turns

big bass on! For the Inshore saltwater angler Pro-Cure offers Super Gel in its “Inshore Salt Water Formula.” It’s made from real whole mullet, menhaden, shrimp, crab and squid. It’s a smorgas-bord of fl avors big reds and trout can’t resist.

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| 9


Tournament begins Redfish Lodge’s season

Acool front bringing 30-plus mph north-east winds didn’t hamper the efforts of fishermen at the 9th annual Redfish

Lodge Invitational Catch and Release Tournament held at the Redfish Lodge on Copano Bay in Rockport on April 4.

“The impetus for the event was because we couldn’t sleep in every bedroom and make sure everything was working properly,” said lodge owner Melissa Rogers. “We wanted to have someone we knew check everything out — and they had great suggestions. It turned into an annual charitable event from there.”

The event, held near the beginning of the lodge’s season and involving several of the lodge’s top repeat customers, benefits a charity or person of the group’s choice. This year’s recipient was Kirk Colvin, a fisherman who has fished the event nearly every year but is cur-rently battling cancer.

The rules were simple. Only artificial lures could be used, all fishing was catch-and-release, and the total length of the redfish, speckled trout, black drum and flounder caught by the two-person team won. Fish caught by the guides didn’t count.

While the fishing for some was tough, each team caught at least three fish and a few teams located the hard-to-find clearer water and found more fish ready to bite. The team of Wes Webb and Ric Gonzales topped the field with 185 inches, consisting of primarily redfish landed on top-water lures.

“Some of those fish were angry,” said the winning team’s guide and Redfish Lodge General Manager Brian Holden.

Fishing in a huge north wind has plenty of drawbacks, but guests and guides said going fishing still beats staying home, and commented on some of the positives.

“There were only two boats at the ramp where we launched, and both were in the tournament.”“We drifted Estes Flats on a Saturday and there were only two other boats.”“We didn’t have to watch out for kayaks — and there were no airboats.”“The game wardens wouldn’t come out in these conditions.”“My casting ability got a lot better, as long as it was with the wind.”Special recognition was given to Gary Liefer for a graceful entry into the water for the morn-

ing’s first wade and a wet remainder of the day spent fishing.“They said to enter from the bow because it was too deep off the back of the boat,” Liefer

said. “Well, it was deep off the front, too.”

By Craig NyhusLone Star outdoor newS

10 |


APPROVED BY BRANDON PALANIUK

WAKETHE CRANK

UP!NEW

WAKE-CRANK

TOPWATER WAKING ACTIONSINGLE BALL RATTLEROTATED HOOK HANGERSCIRCUIT BOARD LIPSELF-TUNING LINE TIE

RAPALA.COM

At day’s end, a shadow doesn’t die; it slowly fades away.

So it is with Rapala’s new suspending jerk-baits, the Shadow Rap

and Shadow Rap Deep. Combining a horizontal struggle with a vertical fade, the lure perfectly mimics a minnow’s fi nal, quivering moments before its end of days — triggering unforgettable strikes as preda-tor fi sh move in for an easy meal.

“The Shadow Rap does something I’ve never seen another bait do — I call it the ‘death quiver,’” said three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifi er and 2014 Forrest Wood Cup Champion Randall Tharp. “When you pause it on slack line, it shimmies from side to side as it’s suspending there. So even when it’s sitting still, it looks just barely alive.”

Tharp and fellow Rapala pros Michael Iaconelli, Brandon Palaniuk, Ott DeFoe and Jacob Wheeler were armed with Shadow Raps last month at the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell. The baits were unveiled there to the public for the fi rst time, but the Rapala pros have had them for months. And they are impressed. Big time.

“It could win the Bassmaster Classic,” said Palaniuk, the 2013 Classic runner-up. “You can bet that the Rapala Shadow Rap is going to be in my boat.”

Wheeler, a FLW Forrest Wood Cup cham-pion and runner-up, was equally enthusias-tic about the Shadow Rap heading into his fi rst Classic.

“That fading away action I think might

just be the ticket to getting those fi sh to bite down there at Hartwell,” said Wheeler. “That bait does stuff that not another bait out there in the market does.”

While most jerkbaits follow a forward tra-jectory with each twitch of the rod tip, the Shadow Rap’s action stands out. “Not only will it dart side to side, but with a certain jerk, you can make it spin around almost 180 degrees,” Tharp explained. “But it also moves vertically too — it will dive down, then move up.”

So a Shadow Rap will trigger bites on its initial kick and its snap back to life, as well as on its slow-fading fall.

“It’s perfect — it’s exactly what I want,” said Iaconelli, the 2003 Classic Champ. “I want that bait to have these little tiny move-ments — little tiny fl ashes and rolls. Then, on the pause, I want it to be just barely lurking out — just barely going down.”

Featuring a minnow body profi le, fl at sides and metallic fi nish with textured scales, the Shadow Rap is designed to tar-get bass and other gamefi sh in 2- to 4-feet of water. The Shadow Rap Deep targets fi sh in 4- to 8-feet. Both models come armed with three No. 6 VMC Black Nickel Round Bend Hooks and are available in 14 color patterns.

Rapala’s new Shadow Rap moves unlike anything before

| 11

24 | Lone StarOutdoorNewsO TEXAS FISHINGSPRINGANNUAL201512 |

texas spring fishing annual 2015

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