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2 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 / 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 and Stephanie Ward and Roy and Ardia Neves.

ROY NEVESPUBLISHER

DON ZAIDLEEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CHESTER MOOREEXECUTIVE EDITOR

C O N T R I B U T O R S

TOM BEHRENS TROPHY QUEST COORDINATORGREG BERLOCHER KAYAKING EDITORPAUL BRADSHAW CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

HERMAN BRUNE CONTRIBUTING EDITORJOE DOGGETT SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

JOHN GISEL WEBSITE CONTENT MANAGER CALIXTO GONZALES SALTWATER EDITORKENDAL HEMPHILL POLITICAL COMMENTATOR

CAPT. MIKE HOLMES ASSOC. OFFSHORE EDITORBOB HOOD HUNTING EDITOR

STEVE LAMASCUS FIREARMS EDITORPATRICK LEMIRE SALTWATER RIGS EDITOR

LOU MARULLO BOWHUNTING EDITORJIMMY D. MOORE NORTH HOTSPOTS EDITOR

TED NUGENT EDITOR AT LARGEDOUG PIKE SENIOR OFFSHORE EDITOR

LENNY RUDOW BOATING EDITORWAYNE C. WATSON LEGAL AFFAIRS EDITOR

MATT WILLIAMS FRESHWATER EDITORREAVIS WORTHAM HUMOR EDITOR

A D V E R T I S I N G

ARDIA NEVESVICE PRESIDENT/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

NICOLE MCKIBBIN NATIONAL MARKETING REP.DENISE BELL NATIONAL MARKETING REP.

1745 GREENS ROAD, HOUSTON, TX 77032PHONE 281/227-3001 FAX 281/227-3002

SUBSCRIPTION/PRODUCT MKTG.

1745 GREENS ROAD, HOUSTON, TX 77032PHONE 800/725-1134

DUANE HRUZEKMARKETING/CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

HEIDI GERKE SUBSCRIBER SERVICES MANAGERLARRY FRIEDMAN FIELD REPRESENTATIVE

JOE LUCA NEWSTAND REPRESENTATIVE

P R O D U C T I O N

JIMMY BORNEART DIRECTOR

LINDSAY WHITMAN YEATESGRAPHIC DESIGNER

A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

DENNISE CHAVEZNATIONAL ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/RECEIVABLES MANAGER

TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & GamePublishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Texas Fish &Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or oth-erwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsi-bility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year$19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to TexasFish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6 weeks forresponse. Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing address label whenwriting about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH& GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Address all subscription inquiriesto TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Email change ofaddress to: [email protected] Email new orders to:[email protected] Email subscription questions to: [email protected].

Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX 77267-9946 and atadditional mailing offices.

MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS

www.fishgame.com

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34 BEATING THE RAPBetween December 1 and February 28, thelimits on Texas top crappie lakes actuallyreverse themselves: anglers are required tokeep ALL of the first 25 crappie they catch,even those under the normal 10-inch mini-mum.

by Matt Williams

JANUARY 2010 Volume XXV NO.9

ON THE COVERS:COASTAL INL AND/NORTH: Thebarefoot boy on a country roador beachfront pier with a cutfishing pole over his shoulderis iconic to American culture.The boy might be older, thefishing pole high-tech, and thefeet shod with wading boots,but the spirit remains the samein a new feature series for2010the Walkabout Angler.

Photo by JCH Fotolia.com

ALSO IN JANUARY:

42 USED BOATDOS & DONTSBuying a used boat isalways risky. In abad economy,involuntary neglectby some sellersmakes it even riskier. by Lenny Rudow


FEATURES

www.FishGame.com

18 THE WALKABOUTANGLERTF&G embarks on a year-long trekto explore and extoll the challengesand virtues of low-tech mobility inthe pursuit of angling adventures.

by Reavis Wortham

22 SECRETS OF THEFLOUNDER BITEWith help from the University of TexasMarine Science Institute in Port Aransas, wehave uncovered secrets that will help youcatch more and bigger flatfish.

by Chester Moore

www.twitter.com/FishandGame

www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Fish-Game-Magazine/86524948620

26 PRACTICAL BOATS FORPRACTICAL ANGLERSDespite the popularity of big bass and bayboats, probably more fish hit the decks ofaluminum johnboats than any other water-craf t. Here is a quick guide to some of thebetter options in low-cost boating.

by John Felsher

38 LAST CHANCE SPECKSWhite-front geese (specklebellies) have longbeen consistent bag-fillers for Texas water-fowlers. But hunting pressure and relaxedlimits have educated the birds so that byJaunary, they have wised up to the mostcommon hunting tactics.

by Bink Grimes

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COLUMNS


JANUARY 2010 Volume XXV NO.9

10 Editors NotesA Thousand Words by DON ZAIDLE TF&G Editor-in-Chief

13 Chesters NotesNo-Fishing Zones Are Here by CHESTER MOORE, JR. TF&G Executive Editor

14 Doggett at LargeCover Your Backupsby JOE DOGGETTTF&G Senior Contributing Editor

15 Pike On the EdgeHunters: Takethe Offensive by DOUG PIKETF&G Offshore Editor

16 TexasWildBaits, Backstraps& Bureaucratsby TED NUGENTTF&G Editor-at-Large

37 Texas FreshwaterTPWD Secrecy Erodes Confidenceby MATT WILLIAMSTF&G Freshwater Editor

45 Texas SaltwaterLog Rollby CALIXTO GONZALESTF&G Saltwater Editor

46 Hunt TexasThe Whitetail Legacy by BOB HOODTF&G Hunting Editor

47 Open SeasonCross-DressingCross-Upby REAVIS WORTHAM TF&G Humor Editor

DEPARTMENTS

8 YOUR LETTERS

11 TF&G REPORT

12 BIG BAGS& CATCHES

30 TRUE GREEN

COLUMNS and DEPARTMENTS

www.FishGame.comwww.twitter.com/FishandGame

www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Fish-Game-Magazine/86524948620


TF&G A TURN-OFF TOKIDS - PART II

In non-respect to the TF&G a turn-off to Kids letter in the November issue: I, too,have never written a letter to any magazineor paper before. I have had a subscription toyour fine magazine for years. When I getyour mag, I read it from cover to cover, adsincluded. I highlight areas for references andnote the page number. I was in total shock tolearn that Texas Fish & Game would darepromote patriotism.

The very gall to promote love of ourcountry and respect for Old Glory! For Mr.Baggetts information, thats our flag; theworldwide symbol of our country; land thatI love, respect, and have defended; the goodold USA (United States of America).

My daughter, who is in college, states shereally wasnt interested in (to paraphrase),Your points of view. I know many kids inmy area, and I cant find any with your pointof view. Why would you not sit those young-sters down and explain what the flag standsfor. Among many things is freedom of reli-gion, speech, to vote, andoh, yesfree-dom to bear arms and defend yourself.

I read numerous sports, woodworking,and DIY magazines. They all mention flag,God, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc.Are Mr. Baggetts kids offended by thesealso? Most kids I know skip over what theydont want to read.

Mr. Baggetts whole letter seems verysuspect to me. My answer to him: If youdont like it, dont read it.

Rob RobinsonA Proud AmericanVia email

I am a long time reader/subscriber andhave advertised with you in the past. I enjoyreading my Texas Fish & Game and look for-ward to receiving it each month. Keep upthe great work and continue doing what youdo best. Note: What you do best is not polit-ical news and commentary.

James WommackCorpus Christi, TX

John Baggett expressed our feelingsexactly. We asked for this subscription notknowing your heavy political content. We arenow seeking a magazine that focuses on fishand game.

T.S. RandolphVia email

A reader in the November Letters to theEditor suggests that politically conserva-tive articles are turning kids off and thatTF&G should leave such subjects to othermagazines. I strongly disagree. The politi-cally sensitive, common-sense editorial pos-ture of TF&G is the main reason I have con-tinued to renew my subscription, and Ibelieve it is critical that new recruits to ouroutdoor sports be made aware of the tenuouscontext in which we must enjoy them. If wedo not respond to the distorted emotionalpropaganda of PETA, HSUS, andFriends of Animals, and the deviousattempts of the politically correct gunhaters to take away our constitutional right tokeep and bear arms, we could lose our rightto fish and hunt.

A deer being eaten alive by coyotes in anoverpopulated area isnt going to feel grate-ful to the animal rights fanatics, and whileI have no particular interest in assaultweapons, it was in fact the assaultweapons with which they had just defeatedthe British army that the authors of theConstitution guaranteed us the right to keepand bear.

John HahnVia email

In response to John Baggetts letter to theeditor in the November issue of TF&G: Ireally dont know where to start, Mr.Baggett, there are so many things wrongwith your letter.

If you only know two younger genera-tion that you are sharing your TF&G andyour love of the outdoors, hunting, and fish-ing with, you really arent doing your share.You should get more involved and not makethe kind of judgment you have made fromthis limited experience. Where would theyget the information that Zaidle, Moore,Lemire, Nugent, Watson, Hemphill, Brune,

et al bring us every month? Do you thinkthat the Left Coast entertainment industry,the national and local newspapers, or the tel-evision networks are going to? Where elsebut excellent publications like TF&G, whichhave the ability and willingness to put thetruth out there, can we learn what groupsthat conflict with our interests are doing?

I do not like extremist on either side ofan issue, but TF&G articles have been objec-tive, fair, and educational. Everyone shouldsee all sides of an issue, and then with theirintelligence, education, and experience makeup her/his own mind.

I have four children, three of whom par-ticipate in (and enjoy) hunting and fishing,and one who doesnt. Thats their decisions.I dont think any are right or wrong. Itsjust that they are adults and have a right todecide for themselves.

As far as not being a letter writer, maybewe should all do more of that. Write our rep-resentatives in Austin and Washington.Write our local newspapers. Write to the net-works when they have an obviously biasedviewpoint promoted with misinformationand cloaked in sugar as part of an enter-tainment program.

If you think that anti-hunting and anti-fishing are not part of a political agenda forsome, I dont think you understand politicsor politicians either.

I, for one, will not leave discussions of theflag, the ability to hunt and fish, gun owner-ship, the right to vote for the candidate of mychoice, states rights, individual rights, theright to express your opinion, political opin-ions, etc. to The National Riflemanand Ipray neither will Texas Fish & Game andother responsible publications out there.

If the focus is going to be on fish andgame and Texas hunting and fishing, wefirst need to make sure there will be a hunt-ing and fishing for that younger generationof the future. To that end, we cant silencevoices as important as TF&G and its writers.

Sanitize and censor TF&G? I think not!

Patrick LarsonBeaumont, TX


Letters

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A ThousandWords

APICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS ISa wholly American adage, popular butincorrect attribution to Chinesephilosopher Confucius notwithstand-

ing. An American ad man, Fred R.Barnard, coined the phrase to hawk adver-tising on the sides of streetcars. Whatever theorigin, the phrase succinctly sums the valueof photographs for teaching, telling stories,or just pure entertainment.

As outdoorsp r o f e s s i o n a l s ,almost all of ourstaff members areaccomplished pho-tographers. Wephotograph darnnear everythingimaginable in macroand telephoto detail.Which is fine as far asit goes, but we are notso shortsighted as tothink we have seen andphotographed it all.

We know there issome very cool stuff wehave not experienced orseen, let alone pho-tographedbut many ofour readers have.

To that end, we wantto see your outdoors pho-tographs, whether shotyourself or via trail cam.And not just hero shotsof you or friends with gameand fish, but anything out-doors related, from flora,insects, sunsets, and camp-fires to bow wakes, beavers,and bison. Some we will pub-lish and most we will post to a

special section of our website.To provide inspiration and get the

ball rolling, here is a few of my ownnon-consumptive outdoors photos,uncaptioned. See if you can figure outwhat they are. Send your answers andyour photos to [email protected].

E-mail Don Zaidle at [email protected]

Editors Notes

by Don Zaidle | TF&G Editor-in-Chief


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PHOTOS BY DON ZAIDLE

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TF&G Report

GAME LAW VIOLATORS IN TEXAS COULD FACEadditional consequences for theiractions under an interstate agreementrecognizing suspension of hunting,

fishing, and trapping licenses in other states.The Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission

approved a regulation for Texas to join 31other states currently participating in theInterstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

The Interstate Wildlife Violator Com-pact is an agreement that unresolved huntingand fishing violations in one state can affecta persons hunting or fishing privileges inother participating states. Any person whoselicense privileges or rights are suspended ina member state could also be denied futurepurchase of a license in Texas until they havesatisfied suspension in the other state. If apersons hunting, fishing, or trapping rightsare suspended in Texas, they may also besuspended in member states as well.

This cooperative interstate effort willenhance Texas game wardens ability to pro-tect and manage our wildlife resources, saidMaj. David Sinclair, chief of fisheries andwildlife enforcement with the Texas Parksand Wildlife Department. If a person plansto hunt, fish, or trap in Texas and they havea license suspension in another state, thiscompact allows us to deny them a license.The same will hold true for a Texan with asuspended license looking to hunt or fishelsewhere.

The Interstate Wildlife Violator Com-pact also establishes a process wherebywildlife law violations by a non-resident froma member state are handled as if the personwere a resident, meaning they can be serveda ticket rather than being arrested, booked,and bonded. This process is a conveniencefor hunters, fishermen, and trappers of mem-ber states, and increases efficiency of gamewardens by allowing more time for enforce-

ment duties rather than violator processingprocedures.

The concept of a wildlife violator com-pact was first advanced in the early 1980s bymember states in the Western Association ofFish and Wildlife Agencies. Law enforce-ment administrators and wildlife commis-sioners from several states began discussingthe idea of a compact based on the format ofthe existing Drivers License Compact andNon-Resident Violator Compact, both ofthese related to motor vehicle operatorlicensing and enforcement.

In 1985, draft compacts were developedindependently in Colorado and Nevada.Subsequently, these drafts were merged andthe Interstate Wildlife Violator Compactwas created.

In 1989, compact legislation was passedinto law in Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon.These three states formed the nucleus of theCompact.

TPWD will be developing policies andprocedures, but no timeline has been set forformally joining the Compact.

Offshore Oil Lease DealBenefits Conservation

A U.S. Department of the Interior(USDOI) oil and natural gas lease sale forthe Central Gulf of Mexico Outer Conti-nental Shelf of nearly 36 million acres couldproduce up to 1.3 billion barrels of oil and5.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Texasstands to share 12.5 percent of revenuesfrom those leases that will be deposited intothe Land and Water Conservation Fund foruse by all 50 states to enhance parklandsand for other conservation projects.

The USDOI Minerals ManagementService has proposed that oil and gas Lease

Sale 213 for the Central Gulf of MexicoPlanning Area be held 17 March 2010.The proposed sale encompasses about 6800unleased blocks covering more than 35.9million acres offshore of Louisiana, Missis-sippi, and Alabama. The proposed CentralGulf of Mexico lease sale could result in pro-duction of up to 1.3 billion barrels of oil and5.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Theacreage is located from 3 to 230 miles off-shore in water depths ranging from 10 feet tomore than 11,200 feet.

Since January 2009, the Minerals Man-agement Service has conducted two offshoreauctions and Interiors Bureau of LandManagement has held 29 onshore oil andgas lease sales. Together, these sales generat-ed more than $931 million in revenuesshared between the states and federal gov-ernment.

The proposed sale area includes an areaknown as 181 South, which has about 4.2million acres, located in the southeasternpart of the Central Planning Area. Theacreage in the 181 South area was offeredfor lease for the first time since 1988 in lastyears Central Gulf Lease Sale 208, asmandated by the Gulf of Mexico EnergySecurity Act of 2006. An enhanced revenuesharing program also mandated by that Actallows Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,and Texas to share 37.5 percent of all rev-enue from leases in that area.

TPWD Poised To Join InterstateWildlife Violator Compact

On the Web

www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lsesale/213/cgom213.html

T E X A S F i s h & G a m e / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 1 1


Rainbow TroutFishing AvailableAcross the State

RAINBOW TROUT FISHING COMES TO THETexas Freshwater Fisheries Center(TFFC) in Athens and at other loca-tions across the state each December,

once water temperatures cool enough for thecold-water fish to survive.

Whether fly-fishing or using other tackle,anglers will increase their success rate byusing baits that look similar to the floatingfish pellets the hatchery-raised trout areaccustomed to eating. One brand is BerkleyHatchery Formula Chews, available onlineand at major outdoor retailers.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

purchases trout each year and stocks theminto, streams, urban ponds, and state parklakes around the state in order to increase

fishing opportunity. For a list of stockinglocations, see the TPWD website.

No fishing license is needed to fish atTFFC, and rods, reels, and bait are fur-nished free. Anglers are allowed to bringtheir own tackle and bait, but no treble hooksare allowed. A $5 fee is charged for theopportunity to harvest five rainbow trout;catch-and-release fishing is free. Regularadmission fees ($5.50 adults, $4.50 seniors,$3.50 children ages 4 through 12) apply.

TF&G Report

BIG BAGS & CATCHES

MACKERELPORT ARANSASShafer Shope, age 11, of Belton, Texas, with

his first king mackerel, caught while fishing withhis dad and uncle out of Port Aransas. He alsocaught his limit of red snapper.

BUCKBURLESON COUNTYRhan Burrell of Houston, Texas, took this 8-

point buck with a .308 Remington 7600 at 116yards in Burleson County, Texas.

FLOUNDERWEST BAY GALVESTONJoe Prendki and daughter Emme, age 2, of

Houston, Texas, had fun catching these two 23-inch flounder at night in West Bay Galveston.This was Emmes first time seeing flounder andshe couldnt understand why they are flat.

1 2 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 / T E X A S F i s h & G a m e

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/management/stocking/trout_stocking.phtmlwww.basspro.com

On the Web

PHOTO COURTESY OF TPWD



No-FishingZones AreHere

NO-FISHING ZONES HAVE BEEN A HOT TOPICof conversation in this magazine overthe years. Beginning with PresidentBill Clintons executive order that

created millions of acres of no-fishing areasin the Pacific, to the recent push to shutdown fishing at the Flower Gardens out ofGalveston, we have never kept our eye onthis story.

Government-enforced no-fishing zonesare a terrible idea, and anyone who supportsthem obviously thinks our illustrious leadersare also doing a good job managing healthcare, trade, and our borders.

In other words, they are delusional.The truth is, no-fishing zones are already

here; they just do not have the fancy title.TF&G contributor Kyle Tomek touched onthis in our September 2009 edition, but Iwant to take it farther.

I, along with thousand of other anglers,have to deal with a 120,000-acre-plus no-fishing zone every year on Sabine Lake asthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) shuts down fishing in the SabineNational Wildlife Refuge (NWR) October15-March 15. The very best fishing oppor-tunities in my entire region are off limits forfive months without good reason.

I have heard excuses ranging from water-

fowl management to a lack of funding forwardens, but the reality is we paid for theland, pay for its management, but cannot uti-lize it during some of the best fishing times.

The huge Aransas NWR has an openseason for April 15-October 15, knockingback angling opportunities for half a calen-dar year. In the Laguna Atascosa NWR,fishing is allowed only in Adolph Thomae,Jr. Park.

On Pleasure Island (just outside of PortArthur), anglers have been shut out of thenorth and south levees off and on for the lastfew years by the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-neers. A variety of issues has contributed tothis problem, and I will admit the Corps hasbeen more lenient than I initially expectedbut we are talking more than 10 solid milesof bank fishing access.

When you take into account the impend-ing shutdown of Rollover Pass, the restric-tion of beach access all along the coast, thehuge loss of piers and the Texas City Dikefrom Hurricane Ike, we have huge no-fishingzones already in place and restrictinganglers.

I will proudly proclaim we have been writ-ing about this issue for a long time and keep-ing bank fishing access open has been a per-sonal crusade of mine. However, we neverreally connected the dots until now.

No-fishing zones are no-fishing zoneswhether they are given that title or are simplyfishable areas anglers cannot fish. The rea-son you have not heard much about thesedefault no-fishing zones is because they affectmainly low to middle-income bank fisher-men.

The official no-fishing zones that someare rightfully afraid will come to the Gulfaffect rich, influential guys fishing for dol-phin, wahoo, marlin, and other species mostanglers will never catch. For some sad rea-son, those who fish for reds, specks, andflounder from the bank or simply like to crabdo not get the same kind of concerns placedover their fishing holes.

I have nothing against rich, influentialguys. In fact, I would really like to be the richpart of that equation but it is time we all seewhat is really happening with fishing accessand do something about it.

We have all made a lot of fuss over redsnapper but that fishery only represents atiny minority of Texas anglers. I agree thingsare messed up with their management but wehave no-fishing zones creeping up every-where and I have not heard a peep.

Have you?Last year I was on the Texas Parks &

Wildlife Department (TPWD) committeethat helped steer the new flounder regula-tions. During one of the meetings, a coupleof commercial fishermen suggested we pro-hibit fishing around the passes during the fallrun. In other words, create a no-fishing zone.

I along with others spoke against the ideaand TPWD wisely shot it down but youheard it here first, official no-fishing zoneshave been brought to the table here in Texas.

The truth is they do not scare me nearlyas much as the low-key ones we have talkedabout. We can easily get the angling commu-nity riled up over something with No-fish-ing in its title. However, while we weresleeping hundreds of thousands of acres weretaken away from anglers. It is time to dosomething about it.

If you would like to make a stand forincreasing angler access and rolling back thisfrightening trend, email me [email protected]. We will run a spe-cial letters section on the issue to highlightthe righteous anger I know will be out therewhen everyone can see the issue as clearly asI do now.

(To contact Chester Moore, e-mail him [email protected]. You can hear him onthe radio Fridays from 6-7 p.m. on NewstalkAM 560 KLVI or online at www.klvi.com.)

Chesters Notes

by Chester Moore, Jr. | TF&G Executive Editor

TF&G FIRST

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1 4 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 / T E X A S F i s h & G a m e

Cover YourBackups

HERES ONE SOLID LESSON LEARNED DURING50 years of outdoor adventures: Dou-ble up.

When you find a piece of equipment thatreally suits your style, buy a backup. As soonas you dont, the item will be discontinuedand no longer readily available.

Heres another tip when dealing withmanufacturers of outdoor products: Newand improved sometimes translates in thefield or on the water to cheaper to make andless reliable.

Certainly, this is not always the case.Many new-of-the-year products are signifi-cant upgrades over previous models. Mostcurrent top-end rods and reels are the finestthe sport has known. Technology hasadvanced so much that many of todays mid-range models are superior to the highestgrades available 10 or 15 years ago; howev-er, the top quality comes with a price.

You can expect to pay several hundreddollars for the finest casting rods and reels,and at least twice that amount for the best flytackle. But, returning to the original premise,the backup for a prized older model might beobtained for a fraction of a comparable cur-rent issue.

Rods, unlike reels, have few parts to wearout. And, to repeat, this is a proven productin your hands; you know the delicate tweaksand subtle actions that make it sing acrossthe water.

For example, my all-time favorite fly rodfor serious rainbow trout fishing in Alaska(25- to 30-inch-plus fish) is a 9-foot, 6-inchG. Loomis IMX 8-weight. The four-piecetravel rod is at least 20 years old; theyphased out IMX years ago.

IMX was top-of-the-line composition buta bit sketchy. The blanks occasionally broke

against little or no abuse, but when you got agood one, you really got a winner.

This old rod is an ounce, maybe two,heavier than current top rods, but big deal. Imean, what difference in the real world(opposed to the gloss of marketing hype)does that make for a big, tough angler. Oreven a skinny, wimpy angler. Come on4ounces versus 3 ounces, and thats a trip-killer?

That particular excruciatingly heavyrod is a marvelous blend of extra length formending line and tight crispness for drivingaggressive casts. At least it is for me. Ivecaught several thousand rainbows on thatstick during annual late-summer trips toAlaska; no doubt, it would be a great bone-fish tool, as well, but I dont dare risk stum-bling over a rum bottle and breaking it downon a tropical flat somewhere.

That discontinued rod is my on-goingreminder to double up. Try to locate one inexcellent condition now. Some new rodsfrom top houses are better, no question, butI know exactly how to make that old 9-6IMX boomer spring to life.

Rods and reels often improve each fewyears but manufacturers always are lookingfor ways to cut costs. The savings of even afew pennies per unit can add up and, torepeat, the cost cutting might come at theexpense of quality control.

Old-timers might recall Winchestersquestionable call in 1964, when benchmarkmodels such as the Model 70 bolt rifle werecheapened and classics such as the Model12 pump shotgun were dropped. Not all oftheir newer models were junkbut by mostreviews they just werent as good as older,more-expensive-to-make ones. The cachetassociated with a Pre-64 Winchester con-tinues to carry a handsome price tag on theused gun racks. Fortunately, the newer Win-chesters again are excellent.

But Im straying from the original premiseof covering yourself. Even if the product is ashiny 2010 model, if you are truly pleasedwith its performance, act on the assumptionthat a bean counter somewhere will push forthe corporate decision to drop it.

Admittedly, some doubles are more cost-

ly than others, but nobody can accuse me ofnot following my own advice. I purchased anew Chevrolet Tahoe two-door Sport Pack-age SUV in 1995 and liked it so much thatI bought a second one in 1999the finalyear for the shorter two-door style Tahoe.

A quail hunting and bay fishing friend,Norman Frede, put the bug in my ear. Ofcourse, hes in the business of selling Chevro-lets, but the plan made perfect sense to me.

The first Tahoe increasingly was relegat-ed to beach detail. By 1999, it was a highlyevolved beachmobile with after-marketYakima watersport roof racks, a front grill,and any number of obnoxious surf decals.

An interior roof rack accommodates up tosix rods and reels and, traveling solo, youcan lower the passenger-side leather seat andinsert a 10-foot Fry longboard. With the rearseat down and the back filled with tacklebags and coolers and surfing accessories, thevehicle maintains a cocked and locked atti-tude for upgraded beach potential.

Many afternoons, while working at theHouston Chronicle, fellow outdoor writerDoug Pike and I would bolt for the garage(Screw the staff meeting!) and blast downHighway 288 to Surfside. But the price forthis cavalier state of readiness was anincreasingly salty aura. The Beach Tahoewas an offensive choice for squiring aroundtown, hence the shiny new Town Tahoe.

The latter vehicle still looks good, withclean paint, tender mileage and the ever-so-cool slightly jacked rear end. It is a realSUV, not just something you take to thesupermarket. It was paid off years ago andremains reliablenot a free ride, but a lotcheaper than outfitting in a new rig.

Every few months someone offers to buyit, and every few weeks I congratulate myselfon having the wisdom to double up. And,no, the Beach Tahoe is not for sale eitheralthough, oddly, nobody seems interested inthat one.

E-mail Joe Doggett at [email protected]

by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Doggett at Large

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by Doug Pike | TF&G Offshore Editor

Pike on the Edge

Hunters:Take theOffensive

MY EARS ACHE FROM THE CACOPHONOUSchorus of outdoors-related apathythat rings these days from sea toshining sea. If we do not change

our tune, there may come an autumn inwhich there is no opening day.

That will not happen first in Texas, to besure, but outdoorsmens privileges in everystate, even ours, are being challenged andrescinded every year. Bottom lineand thisis nothing new: Nobody cares about us butus.

The us to whom I refer is folks whohunt and fish, people who know how toshoot and cast, and how to get what they killfrom the ground to the grill. Birders and hik-ers and other non-consumptive users of theoutdoors make great allies in most cases, butdo not assume any such alliance exists untilyou hear specifically that it does.

Our problem as hunters and fishermen isthat, without rebuttal, we allow ourselves tobe criticized and ridiculed and insulted bypeople who know about wildlife and fisherieswhat John Wayne knew about pedicures andpetit fours.

They are not stupid people; they are mis-informed people. And to underestimate thepersuasive powers of smart people who dis-agree with you is a recipe for the failure ofany cause.

When they spout off against our passions,we get jelly-kneed and lose our voices. It hap-pens at parties and in offices, at PTA meet-ings and in places of worship. Someone says

they do not like hunting, and we retreat to acorner.

We do not have to defend ourselves, ofcourse, but doing so is a good idea if weintend to keep watching ducks fall intodecoys or bucks step into senderos. Here area couple of heavy bullets for your counter-point gun; be willing to fire them.

Richard Louv and Randall Eaton eachpublished excellent books recently on thepositive aspects of direct involvement withthe outdoors and of hunting, respectively. InBoys to Men of Heart, Eaton notes that insocieties around the world where boys areraised by hunters and become hunters, mentend to be more compassionate and humblethan men in societies that do not hunt.

Louvs research for Last Child in theWoods revealed that kids who are involveddirectly with the outdoors tend to have fewerbehavioral and attention disorders, and they

score higher on standardized teststhan do children who are all cityand no country.Present that information. Explainto an anti-hunter that recreationalhunting is an invaluable wildlifemanagement tool and that sports-men fund nearly every wildlifeand fisheries restoration programin the nation. If hunting did notexist, you should ask, how wouldwildlife be managed, and whowould fund efforts to protectwildlife?We are so scared of offendinganyone that even the hosts ofhunting showstelevision pro-grams that air every minute of thehunt from rolling out of the bunkto posing with dead animalshave mistaken themselves forfarmers. Hunters kill animals.Farmers harvest crops. I am agood hunter but a horriblefarmer.

Write a letter. Make a phone call. Tellyour friends. Call it what it is. That way,there is less chance that we or what we dowill be misunderstood.

In response to a 2009 op-end piece in theNew York Times that included a passingmention of hunting, a woman who stronglyopposes the sport actually suggested (Illparaphrase here) that we get our meat fromthe grocery store, where no animals areharmed to make it.

She and too many others are outspokenlyagainst us. At some point, we might want tothink about mounting a loud and cleardefense.

E-mail Doug Pike at [email protected]

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Bait,Backstraps,&Bureaucrats

DOZENS OF OLD APPLE TREES LINED OUTalong a steep ridge unfolding into aneternal marshland, pocked withislands of oaks, chokecherry, and

maples. Scattered clumps of grey dogwood,willows, reeds, cattails, autumn olive, tagalders, and untold vines and tangles ofpuckerbrush abounded. The whole beautifulplace reeked of wildlife, especially whitetaildeer. Good Lord.

At some time, a man planted all thoseapple trees. This man hunted amongst themfor a shot at a deer. And like millions of myfellow gung-ho hunters across America, thisman also planted crops and food plots on myhunting grounds to optimize my chances fora good shot at game. Surely, by no stretch ofthe imagination, could anyone attempt toclaim that all these attractants are anythingless than bait.

Like the waterhole we sit over duringextremely dry conditions, the mock scrapeswe create in our favorite buck woods, or thetrail of doe urine we strategically plot out tocross in front of our tree standwrite thisdown--it is all bait.

I will not enter the embarrassing world ofrhetorical redundancy here as it pertains tothe junk science of Chronic Wasting Disease(CWD). Like all my hunting buddies andme, all hunters should have already donetheir homework on the mutated protein priontransmissible spongiform encephalopathy(TSE) that is CWD, or how the ColoradoDivision of wildlife injected deer withscrapie, the domestic sheep version ofCreutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) back in1967, or how Mad Cow erupted from theinsane government-sanctioned practice offeeding animal parts from livestock that had

died from unknown causes to other livestock,and how the CWD scare is about as real asAl Gores global warming hoax. I dismiss itout of hand, and you should, too.

Deer do not need bait thrown around tohave nose-to-nose contact. Their lives arenose-to-nose contact, nose to butt contact,nose to eyeball contact, and nose to ear con-tact, with or without mans involvement.Find a person who says otherwise, and youare looking at a liar of a fool. Period.

Think about it. The U.S. governmenttakes tax dollars to provide supplementalfeed for public wildlife when severe wintersjeopardize western herds, then turn aroundand tell We the People that we cant feedwildlife on our own private property. Thatslike the insane outrage from soulless bureau-crats who tell their employers, We the Peo-ple, that we must be unarmed and helplessbut we must pay for their armed securitydetail. Makes sense, huh, Governor Doyle.Sure, if you reside on Planet of the Apes, orin Wisconsin.

We could go on how these same corruptbureaucrats waste a few gazillion more of ouralready hammered tax dollars to furtherdestroy our health care system, the wholetime voting for their own state of the art,unlimited health care system that We thePeople have never had any say in deciding.Yeah, these are the people I trust to makewildlife decisions in my life...never.

Unlike some locales, such as Michigan,my former lost love of a home state, in thewonderful, last best place Republic of Texasand elsewhere, my long gun can join me onthe front seat of my truck, dove season beginswhen its supposed to, and Texas deerhunters spend more than a billion dollars ayear on deer corn, supplemental feed prod-ucts, wildlife food plots, and other wildlifeattractants. Add a few billion dollars moreon private property owned and maintainedjust for hunting, and you get the picture thatWe the People are still in control in the LoneStar State. I am right at home there, thankyou. Remember the Alamo.

I do it all, and I love it all, including clev-erly positioning an automatic feeder to spraycorn into shadowy groves where I might get

a close shot at a doe or buck at some point.Not only are all these strategies over-the-topexciting and absolutely fair chase, but, aston-ishingly, we can find fellow hunters whowould like to ban one or more of these legalmethodologies for some strange, selfish,unsophisticated, small-minded, andunfounded reasons. Phooey, or other suchHooked on Phonics verbiage.

Got straps? Get straps, and get them theway you like. Whatever your personal choicein hunting, have at it, I am with you. Thisincludes the farmer or rancher who couldntcare less about sport or challenge butsimply wants some delicious, succulent veni-son for the grill. Enough with the ethicshysteria. You want meat, get meat. Buy alicense, eat venison. Have a nice day.

The finest human beings in mankind arefound in hunting camps in America. Unfor-tunately, some of the biggest dolts are part ofour family, too. Ignore the dolts, embrace theBloodBrothers. America is about choice,about freedom. Beware of bureaucrats, forwhenever they mingle in anything, theydestroy it or immediately turn assets into lia-bilities. Its what bureaucrats do. I dont likeany of them.

We are facing many problems in Ameri-ca, and deer bait is not one of them. In ourbeloved hunting lifestyle, the real problemsare illogical, counterproductive game lawsseemingly designed to impede recruitmentand create attrition. Sunday hunting bans,minimum age limits, shooting hours, cross-bow bans, bait, the vulgar practice of hiringsharpshooters and government hunters to killour game, three shell limits on migratoryfowl, bow and gun case laws, no hunting instate and national parks, and so many moreinconsistent, nonsensical rules that havenothing to do with safety or science.

Deer corn is not on the list, or at leastshouldnt be. Believe me. Until we unite toopen the gates to more and new hunters, wewill be in danger. We must unite and focuson meaningful priorities and leave thesquawking to the antis.

E-mail Ted Nugent at [email protected]

by Ted Nugent | TF&G Editor-at-Large

Ted NugentsTexasWild


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by Reavis Z. Wortham


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washonored

when TexasFish & Game

editor DonZaidle asked me to

write the introduction tothis series called Walkabout Angling.Don and I are kindred souls, leaning towardnon-typical outdoor pursuits such as walk-infishing as opposed to traditional boat excur-sions.

For me, that comes from a lifetime of foot-bound experiences that began with my par-ents. I recall a massive tree trunk probably20 feet from root to main fork, which was aparticularly treacherous viaduct on a 40-year-old, long-forgotten trail through thewoods leading to one of the Old Mansfavorite fishing spots on Sanders Creek.

I remember the time our entire familycrossed the log on our way to one of the sum-mers last fishing trips. It would have beenjust as easy to drive our truck one mile downthe highway to the two-lane bridge andlaunch the boat to Dads fishing hole, butthe Old Man preferred to hike from thehouse, though twice the distance. Even backthen, he knew we needed exercise and feltthe hike to the fishing hole served as anadventure all its own.

He subscribed to writer Edward Abbeysadmonition to escape the infernal machineand walk or crawl to experience the out-doors. Mama never complained about thewalk, even across the foot log while wearinga skirt that swirled around her legs andcaught cockleburs and sandspurs along theway.

Dad led the way with his Zebco 33 car-ried backwards to avoid brush entangle-ments. Mama followed with her own canepole and an empty bucket. Little Brotherand I walked drag, poking our fiberglassrods into every bush and armadillo holealong the route.

Dad, I cant make it, Little Brotherwhined in his seven-year-old voice. Imsick.

Go on back, then, the Old Man sym-pathized.

You dont have any fever, Mama said,

feeling his forehead with the back of herhand. Youll be all right.

Our mini-safari moved slower after that,with Little Brother stopping to retch withfrustrating and entertaining regularity.

Two steps, gag!Two steps, retch!I watched with interest, noting his

strained neck muscles and bugged eyes, rem-iniscent of the offending road-killed frog Idconvinced him to taste earlier in the day.

Our expedition stalled at the foot log.The Old Man crossed first to demonstratethe stability of the natural bridge. He was alog-walker from way back in the days whenhe had no shoes for his callused feet. On thatday, his worn brogans barely slowed himdown.

Mama, who always seemed skittish abouteverything under the sun, slipped her shoesoff and crossed barefoot as if she were on a

sidewalk, virtually skipping to the other side.Wow, I said, amazed that she was

capable of something other than washingdishes. Mama, when did you learn that?

She whispered something to the OldMan and they laughed, arms around eachother, on the opposite side of the bridge.Youd be surprised at what I can do, shecalled. Until then, it hadnt occurred to methat the young girls I knew would some daygrow up to become mothers.

Mama suddenly looked different to mestanding over there, and I saw the girl sheonce was.

Little Brother finally yakked up the frog.Mama shot back across, once again becom-ing our mother and forgetting the fish wait-ing at the end of the path. She held his headand declared the trip over.

Such dim trails and primitive bridgeswere magnets beckoning me to step back into

A kid, a bicycle, and a stringer offishAmericana at its finest.

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the realm of our forefathers and generationsbeyond. We know those Old Folks fished,because scores of bone fishing hooks rest qui-etly in museum cases across the world. Wehave read about birch bark canoes, andbefore that, dugouts. I am sure primitiveman straddled floating logs or bobbedtoward their favorite fishing holes in a ring ofgourdsperhaps to catch supper, or just forthe sheer experience of it all.

In an age of automobiles, intercontinentalflight, and the Segway humantransporter, one could makethe case that walking isunconventional. But asZaidle says, we are peri-patetic by natureborn towalk. Nature has proventhat. As soon as babies mus-cles develop, they flip and crawlbecause mankind was meant to move. Notlong afterward, little ones pull up to stand,swaying like college students after last calluntil some yet unknown neuron flashes anda first step is taken amid shrieks of delightand applausefrom admiringparents.

From thenon, we areambulatory.

That is what these arti-cles will be about: travelingby elementary means to a spe-cial or secret fishing hole or newand unexplored creek or lakeshore.Pure words of wisdom from perambu-lant fishermen will virtually leap from thesepagesthe shared knowledge of outdoors-men who learned as children to wade wetand dabble creeks for crappie, wade-fish thecoast, or to simply hike in to locations devoidof fishermen and related detritus.

Our experienced writers will discusstransporting lightweight johnboats, kayaks,and canoes on their backs, and maybe some-one will even examine more personal floatingvessels such as belly boats.

We will cover angling and fish on the ter-minal end of quality tackle. Walkaboutangling requires different techniques for not-a-second-thought basics such as keeping andtransporting live bait during the day, catchpreservation (streamside stringer caches, forinstance), collapsible rods, and an assort-ment of gear to better outfit the roving fisher-

m a n .Additionally,

we will cover com-munity lakes and private ponds accessible tothose with landowner connections, and evenfishing from abandoned bridges.

Walkabout angling is not limited to walk-ing. Adventurous anglers use bicycles, dirtbikes, or ATVs to quickly reach areas inac-cessible within a fixed time frame by walk-ing.

The number of magazine and newspaperarticles, TV productions, and conversationscovering fishing from a boat are innumer-able. The Walkabout Angler series of printand internet articles are dedicated to thosewho like to do it in a simpler way. The read-er will come to understand the determinationof anglers to pursue their passion, even if itmeans leaving common techniques behind,

r e -l e a r n -

ing what hasbeen forgotten and is new

once againor to follow Edward Abbysadvice to get out and walk or crawl into theoutdoors.

Then, maybe we will see and experiencesomething old fashioned freshened withtechnology that makes the pursuit much eas-ier than bone hooks and gut string.

Hang on and enjoy the hike.

Gerber Multitool Lowrance GPS

Plano 1070 CompactTacklebox

Sliva Compass

Although gear will vary with species and locale, everyWalkabout Angler needs some basic equipment.


The TackleboxB a s i c W a l k a b o u t G e a r



TF&G FIRST


T E X A S F i s h & G a m e / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 23FLOUNDER PHOTO BY CHESTER MOORE, JR.

by Chester Moore, Jr.



n my book Flounder Fever, Iaddress a couple of differentkinds of flounder strikes. Overthe last few years, I have stud-ied this intensely and identi-fied four separate varietiesranging from the mighty to themysterious, and each presentsits own kind of opportunitiesand problems for anglers.

Based on captive flounderobservations, experiences in the wild, andvideo provided by the University of TexasMarine Science Institute (UTMSI) in PortAransas, I have uncovered some secrets offlounder bites that will help you catch moreand bigger flatfish.RAW HUNGER: This is the one most

anglers are familiar withthe hard thump!signifying a hungry flatfish collecting a meal.This bite occurs when flounder are activelyfeeding, with the initial hard strike often fol-lowed by several smaller ones.

In the video provided by UTMSI, yousee large captive flounder grabbing sardinesabout the size of a large finger mullet, hold-ing them on the edge of their mouths a fewseconds, and then swallowing. Setting the

hook on the initial strike would result inpulling it out of the fishs mouth, hence the10-second rule for live bait. I have been rec-

ommending anglers wait two long sec-onds before setting the hook whenusing lures for flounder, which goesback to my captive underwater observa-

tions over a decade ago.In most cases, lures are smaller than the

live bait used for flounder. Therefore, the

lures are deeper in the fishs mouth, allowinga good opportunity for hook-set. In manycases, flounder spit the hook once they figureout the plastic is not a real baitfish.GREEDY: The first time I visited

UTMSI, I had the great honor of feedingthe flounder there, including an 8-pounderthat swam up and took a sardine out of myhand. There were lots of fish in the tank,and I noticed they often would grab the bait,hold it, and swim away to eat. You will seethis in the video.

I believe this is what happens when youget a solid hit and your line starts movingaway in a slow, but determined fashion. Ibelieve this is when flounder are schooled uptightly and individuals are trying to eat with-out letting the others in on the action. In fact,the day before I penned this story, I had this

Timing is everything for turningstrikes into catches.

Go to http://www.fishgame.com in ourvideo library and check out this exclusivefootage provided by the University ofTexas Marine Science Institute.

Never before seen flounder striking footage!Learn why the 10 second rule works.

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On the Webhttp://www.fishgame.com/video/default.aspx

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exact thing happen in a spot where wecaught several flounder within a 10-square-foot area. Each bite was followed by a swim-away.

The secret to hooking these fish is to letthem run with the bait and not set the hookuntil they either start running quickly (prob-ably swallowed the hook) or they stop for afew seconds. At this point, you will feel somebumps come up the line as the fish startsdevouring its prey, which gives you theopportunity you have been waiting for.CANT RESIST: Sometimes, a floun-

der will lightly grab a bait or lure, hold it onthe edge of its mouth, and sit with it. I callthis the cant resist strike because it usual-ly comes when a flounder is not feedingheavily, but has food presented so close itsimply cannot resist striking it. Many times,you simply feel a little pressure on your linewhen dragging across the bottom. The prop-er protocol is to stop and wait. No matter ifyou are fishing with a lure or live bait, wait10-20 seconds, slowly reel in the slack, andset the hook if you feel strong pressure.Sometimes, the fish will swallow if it thinks

it is about to lose its food, and other times itwill take a hard bite, which allows you to setthe hook.DOMAIN DEFENSE: I first posited this

theory of flounder behavior back in 1998after studying captive fish, and experiencingfrustration with getting strikes I knew wereflounder and not catching the fish.

Flounder are a territorial, and even whennot hungry will sometimes lash out at a baitwhen it comes swimming by. I think whatoften happens is the fish strike and let go, sit-ting an inch or two away. In this situation,setting the hook immediately would be fruit-less because it is not in the fishs mouth, andwaiting can be equally unproductive if youdo not take action.

If you are encountering fish in this fash-ion, there are several things you can do totrigger an engulfing strike. I have been usinga tiny rattle chamber invented by LanceStringer called the XXS Rattles that hasbeen very effective for enticing flounderstrikes when the fish are not actively feeding.I have been inserting it into my hot pink-col-ored 4-inch Bomber Saltwater Grade Mud

Minnows, thus giving it an extra sound thefish do not typically hear. This seems toaggravate them enough to hold on.

Lure anglers can up the odds by tippingplastics with shrimp to give a smell and tastethat might turn the flounder on enough towarrant holding on. Gulp! Baits can work inthe same fashion.

If you are missing the fish no matter whatyou do, let the lure sit a couple of secondsand gently shake it without moving it much.By kicking up the sediment and creatingmotion in front of the fish, you might triggera strike and transform your frustration into aflatfish in the boat.

On the Web

http://www.fishgame.com/video/default.aspx



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exans like tothink that every-

thing is bigger in the LoneStar State, but bigger does-nt necessarily mean better.As gasoline prices soar,anglers in diminutive craftcan often find better fishingfor less. Some of the bestfishing occurs in the small-

est, least accessible waters.Despite the popularity of big bass and

bay boats, probably more fish hit the decksof aluminum johnboats than any otherwatercraft. Growing up, I spent consider-able hours fishing from a 14-foot aluminumboat powered by a 6-horsepower outboardbefore moving up to a 15-horse. Sometimes,I could fish five or six days before refillingthe 6-gallon gas tank.

In the old days, anglers choosing thesmall-boat option could fish only from suchubiquitous aluminum johnboats, woodenskiffs, or canoes. Used for millennia onwaters ranging from potholes to the PacificOcean, canoes and kayaks can put anglersinto the tiniest waters. Gliding along silentlywithout burning an ounce of gasoline,anglers in paddle craft can thoroughly fish a

pond measuring just a few acres.Often, paddlers discover outstanding

fishing in virtually untouched waters. Some-times, narrow ditches actually lead to wider,deeper waters hidden behind thick cover.Just a few yards from major waterways orhighways, perhaps surrounded by urbansprawl, anglers in small boats might find iso-lated places where they can cast in solitudeto fish that seldomif eversee lures.

Canoes can usually carry more weightand, configured as they are as utilitarianworkhorses, more gear by volume thankayaks. Anglers in canoes can fish in teams,while kayaks generally work best for soloanglers, although some large yaks can holdmore than one person with incredible stabil-ity.

Some companies specifically designkayaks for fishing or perhaps even for par-ticular kinds of fishing. They might incorpo-rate comfortable seats, baitwells, rod hold-ers, enclosed storage areas, and other.Sometimes, anglers can slip a couple of rodsinto built-in holders and troll while paddlingacross their favorite fishing hole. Anglerscan use kayaks to catch everything frombluegill to blue marlin.

On the coast, many anglers use kayaks to

penetrate marshes and seek redfish, floun-der, and other fish in shallow flats or lagoonswhere outboards could never run. Makingvirtually no noise and casting minuscule sil-houettes, anglers sitting low in kayaks cansneak up on spooky fish. As no motorzones proliferate, kayaks allow anglers tofish areas that others cannot visit. To elimi-nate long paddling stretches, some anglershaul kayaks close to their favorite honeyholes with larger boats before setting off tofish.

For anglers who prefer pushing their craftwith something other than muscle power,many small vessels can support electricmotors or even small gasoline outboards.Anglers who cannot afford a big-rig boatcan buy a stable, comfortable craft that fitstheir price range and fishing goals.

Some plastic versions resemble diminu-tive bass boats and can accommodate two ormore anglers, carrying enough equipmentfor a comfortable day of fishing. Sometimescalled baby bass boats, these rectangularcraft can include swivel seats suspended overpontoons. Ranging from 8 to 14 feet long,some weigh less than 100 pounds and cancarry more than 600 pounds and cost lessthan $600. They typically fit in the bed of a

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Small, practical boats are lessexpensive and, in some ways,more serviceable.


pickup truck, eliminating the need for trail-ers. Two anglers can usually carry a babybass boat short distances and drop it into asmall honey hole.

Anglers can also find various inflatableboats that slip into the bed of a truck. Theseboats can carry surprisingly large loads invery light packages, possibly enablinganglers to pack them into remote areas.Some cost less than $150. For those whoworry about inflatables deflating, foldingboats snap together quickly in a more rigidpackage. When not in use, anglers can storefolding boats like a 4-inch stack of lumberthat weighs less than 100 pounds.

There is no rule mandating that full-sizeboats cost more than your home. Aluminumboats rigged out for tiller-steer outboardoperation up to center- and side-consoleconfigurations come in at a fraction of thecost of a fiberglass rig of the same size. Theymight not be as pretty, but shallower draftand rugged construction make them moreutilitariantruly practical boats for practi-cal anglers.

Baby bass boats, inflatables, and folding

boats make the perfect platform for fishingpetite ponds and out of the way lakes that donot allow access for larger craft. These inac-cessible waters characteristically receive verylittle pressure, even in the middle of a majorcity. Some could probably benefit fromadditional pressure to keep fish from stunt-ing. People might pass up some of the bestfishing around as they drive to work or evenwhen towing a boat to a larger system.Although fish could enter these systems nat-urally, state agencies frequently stock suchsmall lakes with various species. In addition,anglers might release some of the fish theycatch into tiny lakes near their homes.

Ponds can produce big fish, said MikeEchols, a professional bass angler. Ivecaught bass up to 10 pounds in ponds. Fishin ponds are more sensitive to pressurebecause they cant move around as much.Put a few boats into a small pond and fishmight sense that and stop biting.

With limited surface water, ponds mightremain stable and fishable while roaringstorms whip large lakes into frothy milk-shakes or rains transform rivers into raging

torrents. In some cases, intense cold oradverse weather can actually improve fishingin a pond. Created by crews excavating soil,gravel, minerals, or material to build roadsor levees, some ponds or borrow pits actu-ally hold incredibly deep water. Extremeconditions might even concentrate fish indeep holes, making them easier to catch.

Many ponds are square or rectangularwith little structure, Echols said. The cor-ners of pits are usually very good. Theresusually a flat around the corners and maybesome weeds or fallen logs. On the flats, Ithrow topwater baits. The flats usually dropoff into deeper water. There, I fish a Texas-rigged worm or a jig.

Unfortunately, many small waters sit onprivate land and anglers need to obtain per-mission before fishing them. However, asimple phone call or a knock on a doormight result in an invitation to fish a lunkerparadise that few other anglers can experi-ence.


ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY POINT CAR-bon, an independent consultingcompany that tracks global carbonand energy markets, U.S. climate

legislation could push gas prices 13 centshigher at the pump, a result of the cost tooil companies for carbon permits.

Oil industry analysts believe a U.S.cap-and-trade system would thrashdemand for gasoline and lead to the shut-tering of many refineries.

The U.S. senate is currently debatinglegislation that narrowly passed the U.S.House of Representatives in June thatwould require companies to hold carboncredits for their emissions. Point Carbonanalysts said in press reports that the leg-islation would lead to substantial costs,since few permits would be available toeach company in the first years of theprogram.

Power companies could face greaterconstraints because many states regulateconsumer energy prices, thus limitinghow much cap-and-trade costs compa-nies can pass along to consumers.

Staff Report TG

IN A LETTER TO U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

GARY LOCKE, TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY

JOINED WITH THREE OTHER GULF STATE GOVER-

NORS TO OUTLINE THEIR CONCERNS OVER THE

POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CATCH SHARE

PROGRAMS ON THEIR STATES ECONOMIES, AND

HOW SUCH PROGRAMS COULD RESTRICT CITIZENS

ACCESS TO FISHERIES RESOURCES. IN ADDITION TO

GOV. PERRY, LOUISIANA GOV. BOBBY JINDAL, MIS-

SISSIPPI GOV. HALEY BARBOUR, AND ALABAMA

GOV. BOB RILEY HAVE ALL SIGNED ON TO THE

EFFORT COORDINATED BY COASTAL CONSERVATION

ASSOCIATION (CCA) AND THE CENTER FOR COASTAL

CONSERVATION (CENTER) TO FIND A BETTER SYS-

TEM TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC.

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Cap-and-TradeLegislation =Higher Gas Prices

GREEN

We have already seen the negativeimpacts of the Gulf red snapper catchshare system, and are concerned aboutpotential negative impacts from the pend-ing program for Gulf grouper, the gover-nors letter stated. Creating an exclusiveharvesting right for a small group of com-mercial fishermen inherently marginalizesother users who do not have the sameaccess privileges. In purely commercialfisheries this effect can have both econom-ic and management benefits. But whenapplied in mixed-use fisheries, recreation-al anglers are forced to focus their effortsin limited state waters or not participate inthe fishery at all. Neither of these out-comes is desirable.

Recreational angling is an importantpart of Texas economy and culture,

Continued on page 32


PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE

Gov. PerryDefendsFishing

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One option TPWD

recently initiated is a dedicated effort to rearhatchery raised juvenile southern flounderfor stocking into Texas bays and estuaries.The ultimate goal at Sea Center Texas(SCT) in Lake Jackson is to develop newtechniques for growing flounder on a large-scale basis to help compensate for poor classrecruitment regardless of the season.

A critical aspect and challenge in achiev-

ing this goal has been the ability to acquire

the quantity of broodstock that is required toconsistently spawn captive flounder. Studiesindicate that three males are needed forevery female for successful fertilization offlounder eggs.

For the last couple of years, SCT hasbeen able to acquire adult southern flounderthrough a variety of methods. Efforts bySCT staff, CCA sponsored guided fishingtrips and fish donated by the public are afew methods that have been used to gatherbroodstock. These efforts have been produc-tive but it has become apparent that hookand line collection simply is not enough tobring in the amount of fish this programneeds to be successful.

One method that has proved to be very

successful is in other areas of the state isnetting. This method is similar to giggingflounder under the lights but nets are usedrather than gigs. This allows the fish to begently lifted into the boat with no harm doneto the subject. With catch rates as high as 50fish in a three hour period, it is also anextremely efficient and effect way to collectbroodstock.

To this end, CCA Texas is pleased toannounce the gifting of $14,000 to SCT forthe purchase of a welded aluminum boat,motor and associated equipment. The boatwill be used by SCT staff to ensure SCTand other hatcheries have sufficient numbersof fish to ensure reaching production andresearch goals for the future.

CCA Texas is proud to be part ofanother important project related to therecovery of the southern flounder, saidRobby Byers, CCA Texas executive direc-tor. The staff at Sea center Texas is doinggreat work and this boat will assist them intheir efforts. CCA Texas and our membersare committed to seeing flounder numbersrebound and this boat is another big step inthe flounder recovery process.

Staff Report TG

TEXAS HAS SEEN A DRAMATIC DECLINE INSOUTHERN FLOUNDER NUMBERS, PROMPTINGTEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT (TPWD)OFFICIALS TO EXPLORE VARIOUS MANAGEMENTOPTIONS TO INCREASE THE STATEWIDE POPULA-TION.


TPWD aquatic vegetation biologistHoward Elder surveyed the situation fromthe air and reported:

2000 total acres affected southerly winds broke apart the main

concentration, resulting in a few large mats

and many smaller onesintermixed with scatteredplants

the worst infesta-tions were on the Texas portion of the reser-voir

many plants pushed against the shoreand into small south-facing coves, some ofwhich were 100 percent covered

plants were spread over 16 miles fromPatroon Bayou above Pendleton Bridge tothe southern point of Housen Bayou

Crews from North Star Helicopter, Inc.,of Jasper under contract with TPWD, car-

ried out the herbicide application.Larger concentrations of vegetation were

targeted first while smaller mats and scat-tered plants will be treated as conditionsallow. Results from the treatments may takeweeks to be fully visible due to cooler watertemperatures. Additional treatments will benecessary to reduce concentrations in areasinaccessible to aerial treatment.

Staff Report TG

PHO

TO C

OU

RTES

Y O

F TP

WD

Aerial SalviniaTreatment at T-Bend

TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT HELI-

COPTER CREWS HAVE BEEN TREATING FLOATING

MATS OF GIANT SALVINIA AND WATER HYACINTH

ON TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR WITH HERBICIDE TO

RID THE IMPOUNDMENT OF THE INVASIVE PLANTS.

CCA Funds Sea CenterFlounder Boat


A study by the Department of Psycholo-gy at the University of Florida suggests dogsdo not understand human pointing gesturesuntil they reach a certain age, informationhunting-dog dog trainers should find handy.

The findings, accepted for publication inthe journal Animal Behavior, suggest that

the ability to understand point-ing gestures is not innate as pre-viously theorized, but a skillthat develops with age andexperience.Nicole Dorey and her teamstudied 36 puppies represent-ing multiple breeds, such asGerman shepherds, collies,Dachshunds and pointerbreeds.To determine the age at whichdomestic dogs first show theability to understand humanpointing cues, we tested pup-pies in their human caregivershomes when the puppies were924 weeks old, Dorey wrote.

We found little evidence that puppiesyounger than 21 weeks had the ability to fol-low human pointing gestures.

The findings are consistent with studieson other animals. When tested on their abil-ity to understand human pointing, chim-panzees steadily improve from the age of 8months to 3 years.

Children and dogs perform equally wellon pointing studies when the children areage 2 and younger. Three-year-old childrendo much better than dogs on such tests. Itlikely has to do with the emergence of cer-tain language skills in young humans. Otherstudies indicate the part of the brain thathandles visual cues also processes language.

Staff Report TG

NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS FEMALE ALLIGATORS

ARE MONOGAMOUS BREEDERS AND NOT THE INDIS-

CRIMINATE FLOOSIES SCIENTISTS ONCE THOUGHT.

TF&G TRUEGREEN

CONSERVATIONPARTNERS

GREEN


Perry said. I appreciate CCA bringing this issue to my attention and look forward to continuing to workwith the recreational angling community to find a solution to this issue.

Governor Perry and his fellow Governors in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have brought to light a number of the problems inher-ent to catch share programs in mixed-use fisheries, said Robby Byers, CCA Texas executive director. Governor Perrys leadership on thisissue is helping the voice of the recreational angler be heard.

CCA recently filed a lawsuit in federal district court challenging the adoption and implementation of Amendment 29 to the Gulf of Mexi-co Reef Fish Management Plan, which gives away a majority share of Gulf grouper to the commercial fishing industry through a catch shareprogram. The Obama Administration has made the implementation of catch share programs in federal fisheries a priority, and both CCA andthe Center have been working at the state and federal level to oppose their use in fisheries that have a large and growing recreational compo-nent.

Catch shares are a huge concern for recreational anglers, and Governor Perry and his fellow Gulf State governors obviously share thoseconcerns, said Patrick Murray, CCA president. We are extremely grateful to Governor Perry for taking the lead on this effort, and to gov-ernors Jindal, Barbour and Riley for taking such an extraordinary step to raise the visibility of this issue and protect their citizens access topublic marine resources.Staff Report TG

Dogs Take TimeTo Get the Point

Continued from page 30

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE


THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND IN DUCKhunting. It is a sport that you either loveor hate, thats it. You cant just kind oflike it. It takes a special breed of out-

doorsman to want to get up at 3:00 a.m. towade through water that is just half a degreefrom turning solid, then sit in the mud withfrostbitten fingers and make noises most self-respecting adults would be embarrassed by, allin the name of taking a few ducks.

One of the best parts about duck huntingis all the toys that go with it. Shotguns, dogs,decoys, waders, calls, boats

I still have a pedal-powered boat in theback yard that is begging to be turned into afloating duck blind, but thats a different arti-cle for a different time. Since we are on thesubject of boats, lets assume you have an oldflat-bottom boat upside down in the backyardand want to turn it into the ultimate duck-killing machine, but dont know where to start.It can seem like an overwhelming job, but real-ly isnt hard when you get the basics down anddont worry about frivolous things you willnever use.

When we get a boat for duck hunting (andtrust me, if you look in my yard, you willunderstand that I know all about this) weworry about the big things. Items such ascamo pattern, blind size and design, andwhether or not we get a short-shaft mud motoror outboard are all at the top of the list ofthings we consider, and these are all veryimportant but more an individual choicerather than something that can be coveredwith one broad statement.

As a rule of thumb, buy or build a low pro-file blind to hide the boat as much as possible,do your own home-made camo job on the hullwith flat spray paint (black, brown, gray) andcardboard stencils, hang a small horsepoweroutboard on the transom, and you can huntjust about any water in the state.

Your duck boats main purpose is to safelytransport you and a ton of gear to and fromyour hunting location, so keep this in mindwhen you start your project. Weigh the func-tion versus weight for items such as flooring todetermine if they really are needed.

A lot of things can be added to a duckboat, but the first thing you must think about

is safety equipment. Most of this is requiredby law anyway, but always have a fire extin-guisher, life jackets for everyone on board,noise making device, throw cushion, 12-gaugeflares (since most hunters will be carrying a12-gauge shotgun), paddle, push-pole, andfirst aid kit for you and your dog. Carry a fewbasic tools as well. Many boats have beenlimped home with repairs made by a pair ofpliers and duck tape.

The second aspect of the duck boat thatmust be considered is the lighting. When youlaunch a boat three hours before daylight,good lighting in and around the boat, is amust. While lights showing you where to goare important (we will get to those in aminute), the lights inside the boat showing

you where you dropped your duck calls arejust as critical.

The good part about internal lighting isthat it can be relatively cheap and found at thelocal dollar store. For those of you who stay upway too late, you will recognize these from theinfomercials at midnighttap lights (yes, theones probably hanging in your closet rightnow) hung on the sides of the boat workexceptionally well to illuminate the floor.These battery powered lights come with anadhesive backing, so they just peel and stick toany flat surface; they cost next to nothing.

If you dont want your duck hunting bud-dies to make fun of your wifes lights in yourboat, go to the local auto parts store and getsome of the more manly LED tap lights.They can run about $10 each, so you canlight up the whole boat for next to nothing andmaintain your manly image.

External lighting is important, but can beoverdone. You dont want to run down thelake looking like something on the SyFy chan-nel in a B grade alien movie. The purpose isto see whats in front of you so you dont hit astump in the dark. Dont get drawn into buy-ing the way-too-cool remote controlled spot-light that rotates 360 degrees (yes, I have one)because its very difficult to work the remotewhile cruising down the lake, and thats onlyif the batteries in the remote are still good andyou havent dropped it in the water. Instead,get some basic automotive off-road lights(waterproof) and mount them on the bow.Then get a high-powered headlamp spotlight(like coon hunters wear) to look all around as

by Paul Bradshaw

PHOTO COURTESY LUND BOATS

Decked Out for Ducks

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needed while keeping your hands free to steer.Have you ever been lost on a lake in the fog

or couldnt find you are way to the blind in thedark because you missed a landmark? Itshard to believe, but Ive done both, more thanonce, thats why any hardcore duck hunterwho takes a boat out multiple times per week

would be remiss not to install a GPS in theirrig. Handhelds are fine and Ive made my wayto and from blinds using one for years, butmount a holder for it in your boat to keep yourhands free. I have a matching holder in myboat and four-wheeler so I can use the sameGPS on both.

Better than a handheld, the high enddepthfinders with GPS and built in lakemaps are much better when you are cruisingalong in the morning and cant see more than10 feet in front of you. The lake maps anddepthfinder keep you in the channels and offthe shore while the GPS feature takes you toyour blind.

A $1000 GPS on a $200 boat might lookstrange, but is worth it. The first time youmake it back to shore in the fog or during astorm, you will never question the moneyspent on it. Its cheap life insurance for youand your family.

Big boats can take a lot of weight in onearea with little effect on the way in sits in thewater and rides; small duck boats cannot.Once you add a motor, five or more gallons offuel, a battery or two, an overly stuffed hunter,and various other items to the stern of theboat, the nose tends to ride high. Get aroundthis by mounting some of these items in thefront. Batteries and fuel can be moved upfront to balance out the load.

There are myriad ways to customize yourown boat to make it more efficient for duckhunting, but if you start with the basics of safe-ty, lighting, navigation, and camouflage, youwill be way ahead of the game.

HOTSPOTS & TIDES SECTION

C4 TEXAS HOTSPOTS Texas Hottest Fishing Spots |BY TOM BEHRENS, CALIXTO GONZALES,TRIPP HOLMGRAIN, & KYLE TOMEK

C15 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: UPPER COAST Patience Pays |BY CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

C16 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: GALVESTON COMPLEX 2010 Begins! |BY CAPT. MIKE HOLMES

C17 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: MATAGORDA Boldness in the Coldness |BY BINK GRIMES

C18 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: ROCKPORT Surfing |BY CAPT. MAC GABLE

C19 HOTSPOTS FOCUS: LOWER COAST Decisions, Decisions |BY CALIXTO GONZALES

C20 SPORTSMANS DAYBOOK Tides,Solunar Table, Best Hunting/Fishing Times |BY TF&G STAFF

HOW-TO SECTION

C36 TEXAS BOATING Life Saving Technology |BY LENNY RUDOW

C38 TEXAS KAYAKING Multi-piece Paddles |BY GREG BERLOCHER

C39 TEXAS GUNS & GEAR What is a Keith Bullet? | BY STEVE LAMASCUS

C40 SALTWATER BAITS & RIGS Vermilion Candy | BY PATRICK LEMIRE

C41 FRESHWATER BAITS & RIGS Capps and Coleman Rig |BY PAUL BRADSHAW

C42 WILDERNESS TRAILS Second Efforts |BY HERMAN W. BRUNE

GEARING UP SECTION

C28 INDUSTRY INSIDER Fish-N-Hunt: Paul Perrins Lasting Legacy | BY CHESTER MOORE, JR.

C30 NEW PRODUCTS Whats New from Top Outdoor Manufacturers |BY TF&G STAFF

C32 SHOOT THIS New Marlin Bolt-Action |BY STEVE LAMASCUS

C33 BOWHUNTING TECH Last-Minute Deer |BY LOU MARULLO

OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE

C34 TROPHY FEVER A Boy and his Alligator | BY TOM BEHRENS

C44 DISCOVER THE OUTDOORS Classifieds |BY TF&G STAFF

C46 TEXAS TASTED Cajun Meatloaf with Yellow Squash Casserole | BY BRYAN SLAVEN

C48 PHOTO ALBUM Your Action Photos |BY TF&G STAFF

In This Issue

C1 COVER STORY Decked Out for Ducks |BY PAUL BRADSHAW

C2 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 / T E X A S F i s h & G a m e / A L M A N A C


Sheep DolphinLOCATION: Lower Laguna MadreHOTSPOT: Dolphin Point (drive-up access)GPS: N26 4.044, W97 9.712

SPECIES: sheepsheadBEST BAIT(S): live shrimpCONTACT: Quick Stop, 956-943-1159TIPS: Big convict fish start aggregating

along the rocks and the drop-offs when watertemperatures dip. These arent the numbersthat are present in March during the spawn,but there are plenty to keep fishermen fromgetting bored. Put a live shrimp 3 feet undera popping cork to suspend it over the rocks

andright ina sheepys face.Dont wait for thecork to submerge; itmight simply move six inchesor flop over on its side.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna MadreHOTSPOT: South BayGPS: N26 1.458, N97 11.023SPECIES: speckled troutBEST BAIT(S): live bait; cut bait; SPI Lures

Tandems in smoke, mullet, black/glitter,glow/chartreuse

CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956-943-3474

TIPS: There is always a resident popula-tion of speckled trout in South Bay the year-round, and they arent hard to find. Fish thedeeper, darker water. Set up a long drift. Ifyou decide to eschew bait and use lures, thenchoose darker color patterns. Fish them slow-ly with as little action as possible. Trout pre-

fer a more subtle presentation in winter.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna MadreHOTSPOT: Pirates Landing Fishing PierGPS: N26 4.476, W97 12.193SPECIES: sheepsheadBEST BAIT(S): live shrimpCONTACT: Pirate Landing Fishing Pier,

956-943-7437TIPS: This is an excellent spot for a family

fishing trip. There is the security provided bythe pier railings, a shop to buy munchies, andsome good fishing. You dont have to go toofar down the pier. Plenty of keeper-sizedsheepshead hang out around the pilings nearthe sea wall. A free-shrimp rig with a splitshot and No. 1 flounder hook is enough. Usestout tackle. There are some big fish underthe pier.

LOCATION: South Padre IslandHOTSPOT: Brazos-Santiago Jetties (shore

access)GPS: N26 4.080, W97SPECIES: Mangrove SnapperBEST BAIT(S): live or fresh shrimp, Fish

Bites strips in shrimpCONTACT: Quick Stop, 956-943-1159TIPS: Nothing can turn a crummy day into

a memorable one faster than a cooler-full ofthese feisty panfish that seem to bite evenwhen nothing else will. A free-lined shrimpor Fish Bite fished near the rocks with a 1/4-ounce barrel sinker works great. Winter visi-tors have taken to uses Yankee rigs such as aGapen Baitwalker to mitigate snagging onthe granite

LOCATION: Lower Laguna MadreHOTSPOT: Condo ChannelGPS: N26 5.217, W97 9.930SPECIES: redfishBEST BAIT(S): live shrimp, cut bait soft plas-

tics, topwatersCONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-

551-9581TIPS: Pods of redfish travel up and down

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the boat channel and onto the sandbar infront of the condos on balmy days. Anchorup and fish with live bait under a poppingcork or cut bait on the bottom. Fish topwaterson top of the sand bar early in the morning.Work the deeper channel once in a while juston spec.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna MadreHOTSPOT: Unnecessary IslandGPS: N26 12.672, W97 16.333SPECIES: redfishBEST BAIT(S): live bait, Gulp! Shrimp in

New Penny; SPI Lures Tandems inred/white, new penny, rootbeer

CONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956-943-3474

TIPS: Start your drift between the main-land and the island. Fish deeper water on aclear day, or the islands shallows early or ona cloudy day. Topwaters are good whenfished slowly, or you can work soft plasticsalong the depth breaks. Dark colors workbest, but red/white is also effective.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna MadreHOTSPOT: Arroyo City DocksGPS: N26 20.061, W97 26.375SPECIES: speckled troutBEST BAIT(S): live Shrimp. Jerkbaits, small

topwatersCONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956-

943-3474TIPS: Lights off the cabins draw scads of

trout during wintertime. The bigger fish lurkaround the shadows on the perimeter of thelights. Topwaters such as the classic HeddonTiny Torpedo can be real fun in these condi-tions. If you see residents fishing their docklights, move on and fish an unoccupied one.Or, you can ask if you can fish the edges.Courtesy is the catchword in this situation.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna MadreHOTSPOT: The Cabins.GPS: N26 23.932, W97 20.591SPECIES: Black drumBEST BAIT(S): live shrimp, fresh shrimp,

crab chunksCONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez, 956-

551-9581TIPS: Drum fishing improves steadily as

the cold fronts roll in during January. Frieddrum fillets or hot chowder are welcomechanges from the typical winter fare. If youdont need fillets for the freezer, there will besome big uglies swimming around, too. Bot-

tom fish with large chunks of crab or jumbofresh shrimp for the big ones, free-line withlive shrimp for the eaters. For something dif-ferent, bounce a bucktail/live shrimp comboon the bottom.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna MadreHOTSPOT: Peytons BayGPS: N26 24.528, W97 21.703SPECIES: redfishBEST BAIT(S): live shrimp. SPI Lures

Tandems in Pearl/chartreuse, Pearl/pinkCONTACT: Captain Allen Salinas, 956-

943-3474TIPS: Watch for nervous bait or large swirls

to cue you onto the presence of redfish in thisshallow bay. Ease up to them and cast livebait under a popping cork or a soft plastic.Dont put too much action to the cork. Thefish might be a bit spooky.

LOCATION: Port MansfieldHOTSPOT: Big OaksGPS: N26 41.468, W97 27.791SPECIES: Trophy speckled troutBEST BAIT(S): Topwaters, Catch 5s , Catch

2000s or B&L Corkies in smoke, pinfish

patterns. Soft plastics in red/white, bone-chartreuse

CONTACT: Captain Steve Devries, 956-289-3631

TIPS: Shift your focus from to the shorelinein January. Trout follow high tides up close toshore to take advantage of warmer much andthe bait it attracts. Suspending lures are cru-cial tools in your tackle box, but give a top-water a go after a stretch of mild days, whentrout are more aggressive.

LOCATION: Port MansfieldHOTSPOT: South of BennieGPS: N26 30.590, W97 23.246SPECIES: Trophy speckled troutBEST BAIT(S): Topwaters, Catch 5s or

B&L Corkies in smoke, pinfish patterns.Soft plastics in red/white, bone-chartreuse


TIPS: Slow is the word, so wade-fishermenhave the advantage. A low profile is less like-ly to alarm an ultra-spooky trophy trout. Fishsuspending plugs in the mid-depths and fishas slow as you can stand (or slower, even). Ifthe trout are still moody, switch over to a soft

A L M A N A C / T E X A S F i s h & G a m e / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 C5


plastic with an eel-style profile. The subtleaction might be just enough to get a big sowto bite.

LOCATION: Port MansfieldHOTSPOT: The TargetsGPS: N26 30.590, W97 24.603SPECIES: redfishBEST BAIT(S): Topwaters, Catch 5s or

B&L Corkies in smoke, pinfish patterns.Soft plastics in red/white, bone-chartreuse


TIPS: Captain Devries reports that the Tar-gets are equally as good for redfish in Januaryas it is for big speckled trout. Fish shallowerduring warmer days. Watch for panickedmullet jumping for safety and focus in thatgeneral area. Unlike trout with the wintergrumps, a redfish will chase down a lure andgive it a good whack.

LOCATION: Port MansfieldHOTSPOT: San Antonio ShackGPS: N28 42.871, W97 27.211SPECIES: redfishBEST BAIT(S): Topwaters, B&L Corkies,

soft plastics in dark colorsCONTACT: Captain Steve Devries, 956-

2889-3631

TIPS: Its a long run all the way to the flatsaround the TPW shack near San AntonioBar, but the trip can

Documents

January 2010