July 2015 - PDF - Texas Outdoors Journal

Transcription

TEXAS OUTDOORS
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Dorado - The Ultimate Gamefish?
(see
“Texas’ Most Comprehensive Outdoors Publication”
July 2015 / $3.99
texasoutdoorsjournal.com
Journal
Inshore Angler’s 1-2-3 | Texas Lakes - Fill ‘Er Up
Year-Round Axis | The “Lure” of Offshore Fishing
Things Go Bump At Night | Gearing Up for Archery Season
Big Bore - Stopping Power | Understanding Upper Coast Shell
coastal & lake forecasts | tide & solunar tables
TEXAS OUTDOORS
FINANCING L AND OWNER SHIP
“Texas’ Most Comprehensive Outdoors Publication”
Journal
For Hunters . . .
16 Just Shooting
—Kerry O’Day
Stopping Power
24Off-Season or Year-Round
Axis- These transplants from India
represent an alternative, affordable
sporting animal during a time of
the year no other hunting is legally
allowed.—Bob Zaiglin
NMLS493828
Let us finance your weekend retreat
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SERVICES
Real Estate Appraisal
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Leasing
877.944.5500 | CapitalFarmCredit.com
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Just Hunting
32
—Nate Skinner
Archery Transition - Gearing Up for
Next Season
58
Guns N Stuff
—Harold Gunn
Republic Forge: Texas Proud, One
Gun at a Time
70Field Tips & Techniques—
Bill L. Olson & Danno Wise
Summer Practice with a Purpose
Freshwater
For Anglers . . .
Saltwater
14
Bassology 10 Understanding Upper-Coast —Matt Williams
Shell- Oyster and clam shell reefs Del Rio’s Reelin’ Ray
are prime summertime structures
22
Just Fishing for fish to feed around.
—Nate Skinner
—Brian Hughes
Things That Go Bump in the Night
36Fill ‘Er Up- Rising water levels on
Texas’ lakes will benefit our fisheries
in more ways than one.
—Matt Williams
Lake Roundups — Pros Forecasts
44 Central – John Jefferson 50 East – Matt Williams
52 North – Brian Hughes 64 South - Danno Wise 65 West – TOJ Staff
65 High Plains – TOJ Staff
18DORADO- This ultimate game fish may also be the wackiest fish you’ll ever catch.—Robert Sloan
oastWatch – Danno Wise
C
28 Upper Forecast
30 Louisiana Forecast 40 Lower Forecast
42 Middle Forecast 46Inshore Angling’s 1-2-3: A simple
game plan and a variety of live and
artificial options will keep anglers
on fish. —Danno Wise
68 Tackle Tips & Techniques
—Danno Wise
Catch ‘Em in the Shade
For Everyone . . .
On the Cover . . .
4Editor’s Insight – Bill L. Olson
6 TOJ Notebook – TOJ Staff
21 Subscription Information
67, 69, 71 Guides, Gear & Getaways
72 Outdoors Calendar
74 Fishing & Hunting Times
“Mahi Hook Up”
july 2015
July 2015
By artist Carey Chen. For more information on “Mahi Hook Up” or other
fine works of art, jewelry and wine by
Carey Chen visit www.careychen.com
or email tiffany@careychen.com
TEXAS OUTDOORS Journal
56 Saltwater Journal
—Mark Sosin
Fish Smell
60 Texas Offshore
—Mike Holmes
The “Lure” of Offshore Fishing
66 Tackle Tips & Techniques —Danno Wise
Cool, Deep & Shady Coastal Hot Spots
3
Editor’s Insight
Bill L. Olson
INDEPENDENCE DAY
July 4th is more than just a single day representing the adoption of a document.
It is much more. The History Channel’s website provides a concise explanation of
the origin of this federal holiday. It states, “In June 1776, representatives of the 13
colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would
declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress
voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration
of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until
the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence,
with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual
family gatherings and barbecues.”
As one that loves history, particularly American history, and certainly Texas
history there are a number of things about this special day that are not acknowledged.
First this single day only recognizes the formal adoption of the Declaration of
Independence. All of the discussions, input, debate, not to mention sacrafice that
preceded as well as followed this day are represented on this date.
Then once independence was declared, it still had to be won. That did not occur
until October 17, 1781 when British General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered
to General George Washington’s Continental Army after having been under siege
at Yorktown for 20 days. After independence had been declared and won, that
freedom had to be defended. It didn’t take long for the struggle to maintain this
new freedom to be challenged. One can look at the War of 1812, once again with
the British, as the first major test.
Over the years, in order to preserve this document and the covenants it holds
there have been numerous encounters large and small that have tried to undermine
what today too many take for granted — our freedom — our independence. Some
have obviously come from attacks and confrontations with governments of other
countries. Over time these challenges and the form of these attacks have continued
to change and evolve. Today there are forces that live within our country that are
trying to destroy the vision of our founding fathers and disgrace the memory of
those that have defended that vision over all of these years.
This weekend holiday should be more than just an observance. It should be a
time to teach and pass on its importance. This long weekend provides the perfect
opportunity. For those of us that fish, hunt and recreate outdoors this weekend is
when we gather with family and friends to enjoy the natural beauty and bounty
this country posses. It is a time when we unwind from our daily battles we are
challenged with in our lives. However, we should be mindful of all that has been
done to preserve our independence as a country.
The very word “independence” is something Texans embrace. While the Lone
Star state was not one of the original 13 colonial states there is no question its
annexation as the 28th state provided a positive boost in countless way to our
nation that continues to this day. Around the world Texans are certainly known
as an independent lot.
In the beginning it took leaders – prominent as well as obscure to form and pour
the foundation of our country. Other leaders have followed and are needed today.
Individually taking the lead and sharing is what will assure Independence Days
into the future.
Until next month: Pursue all of your outdoor activities in a safe and ethical
manner.
CAUTION: All technical data in this publication, especially for handloading, reflect the limited experience of individuals using specific
tools, products, equipment and components under specific conditions and circumstances not necessarily reported in the article and
over which Texas Outdoors Journal has no control. The data have not otherwise been tested or verified by Texas Outdoors Journal. Texas
Outdoors Journal, its agents, officers and employees accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons using such data and
disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or damages.
4
“Texas’ Most Comprehensive
Outdoors Publication”
Publisher/Editor
Bill L. Olson
Administrative Assistant
Adala Ruhge
Contributing Outdoors Editors
Harold Gunn
Brian Hughes
Mike Holmes
John Jefferson
Cody Koehler
Kerry O’Day
Billy Olson
Nate Skinner
Robert Sloan
Mark Sosin
Matt Williams
Danno Wise
Whitetail Deer Editor
Bob Zaiglin
Art/Production Editor
Sunni Gonzales
Advertising Sales
713/957-3997, 713/957-3996 (fax)
Subscription Information
Call 1-800-222-4TOJ (4865); In Houston,
713/957-3997 to charge your subscription by
phone. Subscription prices: one year $18.95,
two years $29.95, three years $39.95. Mail
inquiries/changes of address to:
1706 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77043
TEXAS OUTDOORS Journal (ISSN 1082-5940) is a publication of Texas Outdoors Journal, Inc. Editorial and
advertising offices are located at 1706 West Sam Houston
Parkway North, Houston TX 77043. Phone (713) 957-3997.
Fax (713) 957-3996.
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TEXAS OUTDOORS Journal is published monthly. Photographs and manuscripts for publication consideration are
welcomed, but the publisher assumes no responsibility
for such material while in transit or in the office of the
publication.
Copyright 2015 with all rights reserved. Reproduction or
use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without
permission is prohibited. Views expressed by TEXAS OUTDOORS Journal contributors do not necessarily express
the views of Texas Outdoors Journal, Inc. Publication of
advertising in TEXAS OUTDOORS Journal does not constitute endorsement of products or services advertised.
Volume 24, Number 7
july 2015
TOJ Notebook
New Bass License Plate Aims to Increase Funding for Fisheries
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
is re-introducing its largemouth bass
conservation license plate with a new
graphic design. Artwork on the new plate
depicting a jumping bass chasing a lure
was created by well-known wildlife artist
Clemente Guzman.
In an online contest to determine the
new plate design, Guzman’s jumping bass
received the most votes from anglers with
more than 4,000.
“Our hope is that this more robust
bass will appeal to more anglers who will
want to display this plate on their vehicles
and boat trailers. By purchasing this specialty plate they will help provide critical
funding for Texas’ fish management programs,” says Dave Terre, Inland Fisheries
Management and Research Chief. “The
more plates purchased by anglers, the
more funding will be available to help
keep Texas one of the best places to fish
in the country.”
The new plate launched May 25, at the
Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Lake Fork.
Plates can be purchased online at www.
ConservationPlate.org/Bass or at local tax
county offices for $30/year, of which $22/
plate goes to TPWD.
“The bass plate was one of the first
plates we introduced back in 2002 and
we wanted to take advantage of the new
digital printing capabilities at Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and give this
plate a much-needed facelift” says Janis
Johnson, TPWD marketing specialist who
manages the conservation license plate
program. “In 2008 we redesigned our
white-tailed deer plate and sales increased
20 percent. We’re aiming for similar results with the new bass plate.”
TPWD now offers seven conservation
license plates, including the recently introduced hummingbird and rattlesnake
plates and the horned lizard plate (all
three benefit native wildlife), the whitetailed deer (benefitting big game management); and the camping and bluebonnet
plates (both benefitting state parks) These
specialty plates have generated more than
$7 million for conservation efforts in
Texas since the first plate was introduced
in 1999.
The plates are available for cars, trucks,
motorcycles, trailers and RVs for an annual fee of only $30. This fee does not
replace the regular vehicle registration
cost. Specialty plates may be purchased
at any time of the year independent of
vehicle registration renewal.
For more information about specific
projects that have benefitted from funds
generated from the conservation license
plate program, visit www.conservationplate.org/projects .
Toyota has been a proud sponsor of
the TPWD Conservation License Plate
program since 2003.
State Parks Recovering from
Recent Storms
Floods Damage More Than Half of
Texas State Park System
Torrential storms that hammer much
of the state for more than a week have left
their mark on Texas’ State Park system. As
of May 27, more than 50 state parks report
some damage as a result of significant
rainfall; about half those sites were either
closed or partially closed to the public due
to flooding.
Current information about park
conditions, including links to images and
videos, is available on the Texas Parks and
Cover Art
One of the most sought after and sporting offshore species
to pursue is the mahi mahi, dorado, or dolphin. From the small
schooling “chicken dolphin” to the challenging bull dolphin these
fast growing creatures of the blue are pursued not only for sport,
but also for the rewards provided on the table.
World renowned marine artist Carey Chen’s “Mahi Hook Up”
captures the aerobatic tendency of a big bull as it bursts through a
weedline in an attempt to rid itself of the hook and line that tries
to restrain. Trolling along weedlines, rigs or any flotsam found in
the Gulf may result in an exhilarating and challenging hook ups.
For more information on “Mahi Hook Up” or other fine works
of art, jewelry and wine by Carey Chen visit www.careychen.com
or email tiffany@careychen.com.
“Mahi Hook Up”
6
july 2015
find the winning school of fish early on
the first day of practice. “I saw some fish
down there, and on one of my first casts I
hooked a 6-pounder. When I was reeling
it in, I noticed a bunch of other big ones
following the hooked fish back to the
boat,” he explained. “I immediately knew
that I’d found a spot that could be very
productive.”
On Monday, he caught a limit weighing
23 pounds off his primary area and then
boated the 10-pounder and a 6-pounder
off his secondary area in the afternoon.
“Both areas that I fished were basically
points that extended out into the lake and
then dropped off,” he explained.
In total, five of the 35 competitors
including Jason Christie, John Crews,
Mike Iaconelli, Shad Schenck and Brent
Ehrler, caught a Lake Fork bass surpassing
the 24-inch slot length.
Ja s o n C h r i s t i e o f Ta h l e q u a h ,
Oklahoma, won the LEER Heavyweight
award for his 37-pound, 4-ounce limit on
Saturday. Due to severe storms and heavy
rainfall, the weigh-in venue and activities
were closed to the public on Sunday and
Monday.
For complete tournament results, visit
www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com.
and the Texas StateFish Art Contest. This
year the total amount
donated reached $2.25
million.
Ehrler said that
it was hard to put
into words what the
TTBC title meant to
him. “I’m still kind
of shocked. I really
didn’t think that I
had a great chance to
win today, because I
was so far behind,” he
explained. “This win
ranks way up there
for me. At Media
Ehrler and TPWD Outdoor
Day on Thursday,
Programs Big Winners at Toyota
they presented Keith
Texas Bass Classic
Combs with his 2014
Courtesy photo
Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California,
championship ring,
Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, won the Toyota Texas Bass
won the Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Lake
and I remember
Classic on Lake Fork over the Memorial Day weekend, taking home
Fork over the Memorial Day weekend,
thinking, ‘It would be
a check for $100,000, a fully rigged bass boat and a 2015 Toyota
taking home a check for $100,000, a
really cool to have a
Tundra.
fully rigged bass boat and a 2015 Toyota
ring like that.’ I never
Tundra.
expected that it would actually happen.”
ninth year in a row, Gulf States Toyota
Ehrler entered the final day of
donated $250,000 to TPWD in support of
also came away a big winner. For the
competition Monday in fifth place with
such programs as Neighborhood Fishin’
a total weight of 58 pounds, 4 ounces.
Despite averaging over 29 pounds a day
for the first two days of competition, the
California pro had yet to catch a bass
surpassing Lake Fork’s 24-inch slot length.
That changed shortly before 1:00
p.m. on Monday, when Ehrler boated a
10-pound, 11-ounce bass to take over the
top spot on the leaderboard. The Lake
Fork giant proved to be the Tundra Big
YOUR BEACHFRONT OR CANAL-FRONT RETREAT LEADING TO
Bass of the tournament, earning Ehrler
a 2015 Toyota Tundra valued at $35,000.
FAVORITE FISHING SPOTS ON THE UPPER LAGUNA MADRE IS WAITING!
For much of the tournament Ehrler
Let our professionals help plan your next island vacation, getaway or tournament needs.
fished
offshore with a trio of baits
Call us for specials and availability.
including a Lucky Craft 3.5XD crankbait
in shad color, a 6-inch hollow-bodied
swimbait in shad color on a ¾-ounce
BOSS Swimbait Jig Head, and a ¾-ounce
BOSS Football Jig Head tipped with
a Yamamoto trailer. He used Daiwa
rods and reels spooled with Sunline
fluorocarbon for all of his presentations.
He caught the bulk of his weight slow“Professional Property
rolling
the swimbait, but he also caught
Management and Sales
several fish on the crankbait and two key
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fish on the football head jig, including his
biggest fish on Sunday and a 6-pounder
361.949.9050 OFFICE 361.949.9070 FAX
on Monday.
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Ehrler said that the key to his victory
www.rentalmgmt.com
was using his Humminbird graph to
RMEF Celebrates 31 Years of
Conservation, Salutes Volunteers
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
honors and reveres its volunteers and
members while celebrating its 31st
anniversar y of land and w ildlife
conservation work. “Entering our fourth decade of
conservation successes, we fully recognize
that the organization would not be
anywhere close to where it is today without
the tireless and passionate dedication of
our hard-working volunteers and the
staunch support of our membership,”
said David Allen, RMEF president and
CEO. “They selflessly give of their time
and talents in helping the RMEF carry
out its mission of ensuring the future of
elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our
hunting heritage.” Officially established by four hunters
in northwest Montana on May 14, 1984,
the RMEF founders created a vision to
safeguard elk, elk hunting and the habitat
they need to thrive. At that time, there
were approximately 550,000 elk in North
America. Today, there are well over one
million. 8
july 2015
Wildlife Department website.
“The safety of our staff and our visitors
is our top priority right now,” says Brent
Leisure, TPWD State Parks Division
director. “Many of our parks remain
operational and as conditions permit, we
will be bringing our other sites back on
line. Much of the damage is flood related
debris and that takes time to clear. We’re
heading into our peak visitation period
and have all hands on deck to make our
parks safe and enjoyable again.”
Visitors can check the status of their
park reservations by contacting the Texas
State Parks customer service center at
512-389-8900 or by contacting the park
directly.
july 2015
RMEF has a membership of more
than 205,000, including an army of 11,000
volunteers in 500-plus chapters around
the nation. To date, those volunteers
helped the RMEF carry out 9,336 projects
to protect or enhance more than 6.6
million acres of prime habitat for elk
and other wildlife while also opening or
securing nearly 770,000 acres of land for
hunters and others to enjoy. RMEF also
helped restore elk to their native range
in six states and one Canadian province.
Volunteer activities in 2014 included
removing old fencing, planting trees,
pulling noxious weeds, hunter education
instruction, hosting youth and wounded
veteran hunts, installing wildlife water
guzzlers, serving as mentors at youth
camps, thinning encroaching conifers
from meadows, building exclosures
around recovering aspen stands, teaching
kids about elk and elk habitat, removing
“No Hunting” signs on lands protected by
RMEF that are now in public ownership,
and many other activities. D iscover w hy “Hunt ing Is
Conservation™” at www.rmef.org or
800-CALL ELK.
9
UNDERSTANDING
UPPER-COAST SHELL
Oyster and clam shell reefs are prime, summertime structure for fish to
feed around.
Story and photography by Nate Skinner
Hannah’s reef in East Galveston Bay is one of the most popular stretches of shell on the upper
coast. Although the general location of this mass of oysters is shown on the Hook-N-Line chart,
there are several depth changes, ledges, cuts, drop-offs, and other fine details to this chain of
shell that attract fish, all of which can be found using a side scan sonar imaging unit.
S
hell reefs are scattered across the
bottom of our Texas bays, and
make up one the most predominant forms of structure that fish feed from,
especially during the summer.
Due to regular freshwater influx, the
Upper Texas Coast contains some of the
largest and most dense concentration of
reefs, as oysters and clams thrive in an
estuarine environment where salinities do
not surpass moderate levels. These reefs
10
are unlike any other form of structure, in
that they are a community of many living
organisms that are constantly evolving,
changing, and growing along the estuary
floor. As a result, everything seems to be
drawn to these shell structures including
gamefish and the baitfish they pursue.
Many of these reefs have been charted
over the years and their general location
is public knowledge — it’s no secret these
areas hold tons of feeding fish. However,
knowing the general location of a reef,
and understanding how it lays out on the
bottom as well as how fish are going to
feed around it, are two completely different things.
Anyone with access to the internet,
a chart, or a marine GPS can find these
areas, but there’s more to catching fish
here than just simply dropping anchor
over some shell and casting a line.
Reefs are typically high traffic areas
july 2015
bay systems on the
either side of their boat. In other words
upper-coast and the
they are not only seeing what is directly
location of major
below them, but what is around them as
reefs are shown with
well.”
their GPS coordiThis new innovative technology makes
nates provided. It
using a standard sonar system seem ineffiis important to recient — the big picture is lacking. Accordmember that this set
ing to Garcia, the standard technology
of coordinates repused in a traditional depth/fish finder in
resents the general
a depth of five feet will only display inarea of the reef, and
formation for an area of about one square
does not take into
foot under the boat. This is like looking
account any small
through a microscope or having tunnel
humps, secondary
vision while examining the bay bottom.
reefs, or significant
Only a fraction of what is out there is
shell clusters that
being transmitted to anglers looking at
may make up its
the unit’s screen, leaving the majority of
edges. Anglers can
the bay bottom untapped as a mystery,
navigate to these
while side scan sonar imaging is enabling
general, charted loanglers to see how the bottom and the
cations and then emstructure present is changing out to either
ploy the use of side
side of the boat, not just underneath it.
scan sonar imaging
Veteran Galveston Bay guide, Captain
unit to get a more
Tim Young, says side scan sonar imaging
detailed picture of
changed everything in terms of him
how the reef lays out.
understanding the reefs in Trinity Bay
Side scan sonar
and East Galveston Bay, that he has been
imaging units are
fishing for years.
available through
“I’ve fished these areas my entire
several manufacturlife, and thought I knew how fish would
ers, includi ng Hu m Bruiser reds like this 30 incher caught by Steve Kotara will be found
minbird,
cruising upper-coast shell.
Garmin,
and can draw large weekend crowds,
Lowrance, and Raymarine. Humbut there is a reason these areas produce
minbird was the first to come out
quality fish, year after year, despite the
with this remarkable technology
fishing pressure. The “living” aspect of
and since, other manufacturers
these structures keeps them constantly
have tweaked and improved it to
changing and growing.
create a sonar unit that displays
Live shell reefs are continually expandto anglers the most detailed of
ing from their edges as smaller, secondary
readings of what lies below the
clusters of shell exist and grow out from
water’s surface. Garmin and Raythe main reef areas. These may be small
marine side scan sonar imaging
clumps with only a few inches difference
units sport the highest resolution
in depth, or large jagged humps of shell
images as they employ the latest,
that come up a foot or two from the
C.H.I.R.P. technology.
bottom. Anglers that understand how
“This technology will literally
reefs lay out and where changes, such as
draw you a picture of what’s on
humps, drop offs, and holes in the shell
the bottom,” says Derek Garcia,
are located, will catch more fish than the
General Manager for Breakwater
rest of the crowd.
Marine Electronics.
One of the best ways to map out the
Garcia says the detail at which
shape and composition of a reef is to
the side scan technology presents
combine the use of side scan sonar imstructure that is present on the
aging technology with the use of a chart.
bottom, is unmatched. “In a
The best charts for navigating Texas
depth of five feet, the side scan
Captain Tim young uses side scan sonar imaging to
bays are those made by Hook-N-Line.
sonar is showing anglers what’s on
find trout like this one over shell in Galveston Bay.
Hook-N-Line produces a chart for all
the bottom at twenty feet away on
11
july 2015
and spoil islands off
the Houston Ship
Channel that runs
through Galveston
The colors that appear on the screen
Bay are good options
while using a Side Scan Sonar imaging
too.
unit represent different bottom comGalveston Bay
positions. According to Derek Garcia
Guide,
Captain Billy
at Breakwater Marine Electronics, a
Penick
of Gyspy
hard bottom is represented as a light
guide service says he
color, while a soft bottom is seen as a
prefers to start a drift
dark color.
off and away from
Changes in color on the screen can
the reef he’s fishing
help anglers find small uncharted humps
and either drift to
and reefs. Shell should show up as a light
it, or use the trolling
color, while sand and mud will show up
motor to approach
Lowrance’s structure scan shows detailed images of what is to the
darker. When a slightly shallower depth
it slowly. “This does
side of your craft.
change occurs, even if it as little as half
two things. It allows
a foot, and a white or light color on the
anglers to check and see if there’s any fish
the reef toward the edge, the side scan
sonar coincides with this depth change,
holding off the reef on the ledge, and it
imaging will reveal how the reef tapers off
this could in fact be a small oyster or
reduces the chance of spooking fish that
and what it’s edges are like, as well what
clam shell reef. Fish may be holding
are feeding on top of the reef.” he explains.
other structures may lie off the edge and
here, and the next uncharted gold mine
Oysters are not the only shell that
in the drop offs.” he explains.
may have just been discovered.
holds fish on Texas’ upper coast. In Sabine
Once anglers become familiar with usLake the clam beds along the Louisiana
ing charts and side scan sonar technology
feed around structure, but the side scan
Shoreline from Blue Buck Point up to Garto discover the different components of
imaging brought on a whole new level
rison Ridge and towards Greens Bayou
reefs, they can turn these new discoveries
of understanding of how structure and
hold plenty of redfish and trout. Long
into on the water success. With plenty of
reefs are laid out in our bays” he says. “It
time Sabine Lake guide, Captain Randy
shell all over the upper-Texas Coast, the
shows slight humps, heavy shell areas,
Foreman, says reds will hold tight to the
options are endless. The reefs on the west
and everything in between. The reason
shoreline, while trout will be found off the
end of East Matagorda Bay present both
fish consistently stack up on one side of
shoreline over small humps.
drift fishing as well as wade fishing options
a reef or another can clearly be seen with
“These fish are usually right on the botfor summer anglers. Matagorda guide,
this technology.”
tom,” he says, “which is why I like to drag
Captain Tommy Countz says he prefers
To really understand the shape and
soft plastics right over the shell.” Foreman
to wade fish the shallow humps of some
characteristics of a reef using side scan
says many of the fish are coming up with
of these reefs early, and then move out to
technology, Young suggests starting with
sores on their bellies from laying on top of
deeper water later in the day.
the boat directly on top of the reef, and
the shell. “If you’re not bouncing the jig
“I like to wade right on top of Drull’s
then moving off of it. “While idling off
on the shell then you’re not going to get
Lump, or on shallow shell in the Raymond
bit,” he explains. Over on Lake Calcasieu
Shoal area. I might
in southwest Louisiana, this summertime
be standing in a foot
shell pattern continues. Captains Nick
of water or less, but
and Jeff Poe of Big Lake Guide Service will
I’m casting out off the
be fishing reefs in the middle of the lake
reef to deeper water,
with soft plastics and MirrOlures. Reefs
and working the bait
around Commissary Point and Long Point
back up the ledge.” he
are good bets, as well as humps scattered
explains.
throughout the middle of the lake.
In the Galveston
There are few secret, uncharted
Bay Complex shell is
stretches of shell on the upper- coast,
prevalent just about
however there is plenty of it to go around.
everywhere. East
The use of side scan sonar imaging techGalveston Bay reefs
nology, along with charts and a little trial
are typically the “go
and error will help anglers discover unto” hotspots and
charted humps that lie within the major,
some good areas inwell-known reefs in upper-coast bays. A
clude Hannah’s Reef,
greater understanding of these mysterious
Deep Reef, Stephenshell structures awaits, and the outcome
son Reef and PepIf you’re not touching shell you’re not going to get bit.
pays great dividends.
pers. Shell humps
Side Scan Sonar Imaging Color
Representations
12
july 2015
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july 2015
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13
BASSOLOGY | Matt Williams
three times in a row — all in the same
season — is unheard of. In fact, no one has
ever done it before up until now.
When asked how he pulled it off,
Hanselman’s modest response was as
down-to-earth as they come.
“I was blessed,” he said. “Somehow all
of the stars lined up and everything went
just right at every tournament. It has to in
order to win against these guys.”
Hanselman’s miracle season got
underway last January on his home
lake, where he crushed the field with a
banner performance that culminated in
a 130 mile round trip up the Rio Grande
River. Well out of range of the nearest cell
phone tower and miles from any other
competitors, Hanselman milked a series
of sweet spots, one of them influenced by
a canyon spring, for a high percentage of
his three-day catch totaling 50 pounds,
14 ounces.
In April, Hanselman took his bass
fishing prowess cross state and duplicated
his winning ways with another convincing
win that saw him spank some of East
Texas’ top sticks on Sam Rayburn. He
weighed in 60 pounds, 3 ounces over
three days to take the trophy with more
Del Rio’s Reelin’ Ray
than a seven-pound cushion over secondplace finisher Kris Wilson of nearby
Montgomery.
Like much of the field, Hanselman
did his damage by flipping willow bushes
and buck brush flooded by the deluge of
rain fell across eastern Texas last winter
and spring, pushing ‘Rayburn as far as 6
1/2 feet above full pool by the time the
tournament got underway.
He targeted areas that were hard to
get to in order to find fish that hadn’t
been pressured and were more willing
to bite. Another key was dunking heavily
weighted creature baits around bushes
that had yet to sprout their spring growth.
According to Hanselman, the bald limbs
allowed better sunlight penetration, which
made them more attractive to spawning
bass.
From there Hanselman took his
A-game to Lake Texoma in early May.
There, he pieced together a high water/
shallow water pattern following several
days of heavy rainfall to reel in 58 pounds,
13 ounces and completed the clean sweep
of Texas Division Rayovac events.
He said a high percentage of his fish
came on a Strike King Sexy Frog fished
around newly flooded cover following
heavy rains that pounded northern Texas
and Oklahoma just before tournament
time.
“I’m still in shock — I still can’t believe
it,” Hanselman said. “I was blessed this
year. That’s all I can say.”
As lucrative as Hanselman’s 2015
Rayovac season was, he could have come
out of the deal a heck of a lot richer had he
been running a Ranger bass boat instead
of a Skeeter. Arkansas-based Ranger
Boats is a long time sponsor of FLW Tour.
Founded by Forrest L. Wood, the boat
manufacturing giant awards a fully rigged
Ranger Z518C bass boat to the pro winner
in each Rayovac event. The only catch is
the angler has to be the original owner of a
2011 or newer Ranger bass boat to qualify
for the contingency bonus.
The boats sell for around $45,000 each.
Do the math. It is plain to see Hanselman
left more money on the table than he put
in his pocket.
“That hurts, but I’ve been running a
Skeeter since 2003 and they are a great
company to work with,” Hanselman said.
“They’ve been real good to me over the
years and I’m loyal to them.”
Check back often for the latest outdoor news
from across Texas, the United States, and
around the world.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Photo courtesy FLW
Texas bass pro Ray Hanselman was on fire in the FLW Series Rayovac Texas Division this year as he won three consecutive regular season qualifiers
— a first in FLW history, and pocketed nearly $100,000 along the way.
The name is Ray Hanselman. But
“Reelin’ Ray” might be a more befitting
title for the amicable Lake Amistad fishing
guide and Texas tournament pro these
days. Read on and you’ll get my drift.
Last spring, the veteran angler from
Del Rio showed that he can go on the road
and catch big bass — lots of them — on
lakes in all corners of the state. More
importantly, he showed that he can reel
‘em in when they count the most, over
and over again.
Competing on the 2015 FLW Series
Texas Division Rayovac tournament trail,
Hanselman, 42, completed a bass fishing
version of baseball’s perfect game, only
14
better. The long-time Skeeter pro pulled
off the unimaginable as he ran the Rayovac
table and put together an unprecedented
perfect tournament season.
Amazingly, Hanselman finished in the
top spot in all three qualifying events en
route to winning the popular trail’s Strike
King Angler of the Year title, which comes
with a $2,000 prize package including paid
deposits for the 2016 Rayovac season. He
also earned automatic berths to the 2015
Rayovac Championship in October, the
2016 Forrest Wood Cup and a ticket to
compete on FLW Tour next season if he
wants it.
No doubt, he’s got the cash in the bank
to pay his way. Hanselman’s cash winnings
after the three events totaled $99,528.
“We’ll just have to wait and see,”
Hanselman said in reference to the
possibilities of joining the major league
tour. “It’s definitely an option, though.”
Rayovac level tournaments are
sometimes referred to a Triple A caliber
events, but in many regards winning one
can at times be just as tough to as winning
a big league tournament.
Maybe even harder. That’s because
individual tournament rosters are
typically heavy with great local talent.
Translation: Winning one of these
Triple A events is a huge deal. Doing it
july 2015
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july 2015
15
Just Shooting | Kerry O’Day
Stopping Power
The 380 ACP (right) and 38 Special (left) are great for shooting but nothing will stop someone
like the 45 ACP (middle).
Last week I was sitting around a campfire in Africa and as always the question
comes up, “what is the best caliber for
stopping a problem animal?” That is a
16
good question but you can’t answer it
without knowing what you have to stop.
There is a big difference between stopping
a Cape buffalo or a lion in Africa. Or stop-
ping a whitetail deer or a person trying
to do you harm here in Texas. The other
thing you have to look at is how good of a
shot you are and how well you can shoot
under pressure.
There is a big difference between a
killing caliber and a stopping caliber. If
I am hunting dangerous game in Africa
the most popular hunting caliber to use
is a 375 H&H. The old 375 is one of the
best killing calibers there is. I would say
more dangerous game has been killed with
this caliber in the hands of hunters than
any other caliber. But it is not a stopping
caliber.
Most hunters can shoot a 375 very
well; it doesn’t beat you up under recoil.
They are very accurate and can put a large
hole with a lot of bullet in the right place.
However, when everything goes wrong
and you are in the face of a full charge by
a Cape buffalo, the 375 H&H is a minimal
caliber.
When your adrenalin is going and
time seems to stand still, the bigger the
caliber the better. I would much rather
have a 416 or a 470 Nitro in my hands than
a 375. The 375 shoots a 300 grain bullet
and the 416 shoots a 400 grain bullet while
the 470 shoots an even bigger chunk of
lead. The heavier the bullet the bigger hit
it makes and greater impact on the animal
you are trying to stop.
Now you can think that you can hit a
one inch bulls-eye at 100 yards with your
375 and that is great, but can you make a
four inch head shot on a 40 mph charging
Cape buffalo at 20 yards while your body
is shaking, sweat is running in your eyes
and your brain is telling you to turn and
run? The bigger caliber gives you a better chance of stopping the charge with a
marginal hit than the smaller caliber will
with a marginal hit.
There is a formula called KO (knock
out) which is bullet weight times velocity
times frontal diameter of the bullet then
divided by 1440. Try it and look at the
difference between the 375 and 458. A
375 H&H has a KO of 195.3 where the
458 Win has a KO of 365.7.
Now why would you care about stopping energy here in Texas when all you are
july 2015
If the author has a problem with dangerous game he wants the biggest caliber available in his
hands. (left to right) 375 H&H. 416 Rigby, 500 Nitro.
going to do is hunt whitetail deer and the
occasional exotic but nothing that is going
to charge you or is dangerous? That’s a fair
question. However, I have shot some deer,
and made good shots on them, that have
them run 100 yards into the heavy brush
country of South Texas where it has taken
hours or even days to find them. I would
much prefer to shoot one in the right spot
and have them dead right there or within
a few yards of where it stood.
One of the hardest animals to stop in
Texas is the nilgai antelope. I have seen
them hit with 300 Weatherby Mags and
run off to never be found.
What I’m telling you is a 243, 7mm-08,
257 Wby, or even the 270 Win are great
killing calibers for deer but they are not
going to stop one like a 300 Winchester.
Now if you can make that perfect shot
and hit the spine or neck then the smaller
caliber rifles work great. However, not
everyone can make that perfect shot every
time. If you miss judge the distance or if
the wind blows at the wrong time, you can
miss the spot you were aiming at.
I talked to Gary Meade; one of the
managers at the King Ranch, Gary has
guided thousands of customers hunting
nilgai. He says, “I like big slow moving bullets like the 375 H&H or the 35
Whelen. We use the 35 Whelen for our
ranch guns and they work every time.”
Gary hates it when a client shows up with
a 7 Mag; he politely asks them to use one
of the ranch guns.
The same principle can be applied to
personal protection. If you have to stop
a person from inflicting harm on you or
others nothing beats a 45 ACP. Statistics
july 2015
show the two best calibers for stopping a
fight are 45 ACP and the 357 Mag. Now
that doesn’t mean killing someone, but
stopping the problem at hand.
Now I carry a 380 ACP or a 38 Special
handgun most of the time and the reason
is because they are smaller, lighter weight
and don’t get in the way. My wife hunts
with a 454 Casull revolver but carries a 22
automatic because it fits her hand and it’s
cute. There have been more people shot
with 22’s or 38’s than any other handgun
caliber.
Most people who get hit with any
handgun caliber will stop what they are
planning to do but the drugged up villain
will take more bullet weight than the average 22 or 38 can supply. The British Army
found out long ago that the 38 caliber
handguns the officers carried were fine
for making noise and making the Boers
mad but the 454 Webley took the fight
out of them.
At the range I can shoot 5 shots into
less than a two inch group at 10 or 15
yards with my 38 snub nose revolver. This
means I should be able to hit someone in
the head at the normal three yards that
a gun fight happens in. But the target
I’m shooting at is not moving and it is
not shooting back at me. So if anything
bad ever happens you should plan on
aiming for the biggest part of the person,
the chest. Now hitting the chest may kill
someone but it may not stop someone
unless you use a big enough handgun with
the right bullet.
17
D
DORADO
orado could be the ultimate
saltwater game fish. Consider
the following — they are
abundant and can be found in schools
around a variety of structure. They will
eat just about anything that won’t eat
them first, and they will hit a variety of
lures and even flies. When hooked they
will light up like a Christmas tree, and
come out of the water like a cat on fire.
Plus, when grilled these feisty fish make
some of the best tacos in Texas.
Call them what you want - dolphin,
mahi-mahi, dolphinfish or dorado. They
typically show up with warm currents off
the Texas coast in June, and can be caught
through late October. The fascinating
thing about these fish is that they can be
found just about anywhere in the Gulf from one to 100 miles offshore.
They especially like feeding and
holding in the shade of floating Sargasso
beds. But I’ve also caught them around
floating debris like wooden pallets, logs
and plastic bags. Manmade structure like
buoys and rigs will definitely attract and
hold dorado of all sizes.
One of my best days of offshore fishing
was about 79 miles out of Freeport on
a 54-foot Bertram. The target fish were
blue marlin and yellowfin tuna. But as
we neared one of the big offshore rigs
our spread of lures was attacked by a
huge school of dorado in the 15 to 25
pound class. We quickly reeled those in
and switched over to baitcasting rigs with
1-ounce silver spoons. It was like a circus.
Every cast was a hook up, and in no time
flat the cockpit was a bloody mess. When
it was all said and done, we had 17 of the
tasty fish iced down. Later that afternoon
we had fresh dorado ceviche for appetizers
followed with grilled tacos.
I’ve caught fish from East Africa to
South America and can say from some
pretty salty experiences that no fish
on earth can light up and jump like a
dorado. I’ve seen them under weed beds
in gin clear water and they looked like a
swimming neon rainbow of colors. When
hooked the first thing a dorado will do is
come out of the water like a rocket doing
cart wheels. On light
tackle, especially a fly
rod, they are big time
fun.
Dorado are fast
growing fish. I’ve
caught them up to
about 45 pounds. The
Texas state record
weighed 65.70 pounds
and was caught on
June 21, 2008 by Ryan
Foster while trolling
a Moldcraft/ballyhoo
rig.
Dorado can weigh
nearly 3-5 pounds
within a span of six
months, and within a year can weigh
as much as 20 pounds. A 4 to 5 year old
dorado can weigh upwards of 45 to 50
pounds. The IGFA world record dorado
weighed 87 pounds and was caught off of
Costa Rica on Sept. 25, 1976.
Over the years I’ve caught dorado on
everything from foot long chuggers to ¼
ounce jigs along the Texas coast from the
Sabine jetties to the Texas/Mexico border.
Small dorado, fish in the two to
four pound class, are known as chicken
dolphin along the Texas coast. They
are usually found in schools under big
floating beds of Sargasso. That’s why it’s
always a good idea to slow down and idle
along the edge of grass beds. Typically the
ABOVE: The author is shown with a nice sized
dorado.
This ultimate game fish may also be the wackiest fish you’ll ever catch.
LEFT: Larger dorado are most often caught
while trolling lures.
Story and photography by Robert Sloan
18
july 2015
july 2015
19
shrimp handy. You can tip a jig
with a piece of shrimp to fool
lure-wary “chickens”.
Another little trick is to toss
a handful of chum in the water
to lure dorado out from under a
shrimp boat, floating debris and
grass beds.
One of the most unusual places
I’ve caught dorado was while
fishing out of Port Mansfield.
On one particular morning a few
friends and I left Mike Sutton’s
Getaway Adventures Lodge and
headed out to fish the nearshore
rocks for snapper and kings. On
one particular rock, not more
than a half mile off the beach, a
school of 10 to 15 pound dorado
suddenly appeared around the
boat. We scrambled around like
crazed fire ants trying to get rods
rigged with small bucktail jigs. I
had a fly rod rigged with a small
A very good dorado lure that can be cast or trolled is the Bomber Super Pogy — this lipless crankbait is
streamer. I made one short cast
three and a half inches long and is built with a pair of No. 2 treble hooks.
and hooked up immediately. Talk
about crazy.
most productive grass beds will be in clear
4/0 trebles. This jointed lure kicks out a
When
heading offshore you should
water that’s either blue green or cobalt
lot of action, similar to that of a wounded
always
have
at least one rod rigged and
blue. Chicken dolphin can be caught all
baitfish. This is one of my go-to lures for
ready
to
catch
small dorado - fish in the
day long on small jigs. The tandem rigged
casting and trolling around rigs, buoys
two
to
four
pound
class. I make it a point
jigs used for speckled trout are perfect.
and along grass and tidal rips. Best colors
to
have
two
light-weight
spinning rods
It’s not unusual to hook up with two
are silver/flash/pink, silver/flash/pink/
rigged
with
½-ounce
Bomber
Nylure jigs.
“chickens” at a time. The only problem
chartreuse and silver/flash blue back.
They
have
chrome
heads
and
nylon tails
is that when they jump in opposite
Another very good dorado lure that
on
a
2/0
hook.
The
best
colors
are white/
directions something has got to give.
can be cast or trolled is the Bomber Super
red
or
chartreuse/red.
These
are
perfect
Catching big dorado is most often
Pogy. This lipless crankbait is three and a
for
pitching
to
hungry
dorado
that
appear
done while trolling lures. They especially
half inches long and is built with a pair of
out
of
nowhere.
Plus,
it’s
a
great
way to
like to plow into a surface trolled chugger.
No. 2 treble hooks. When coming through
load
up
for
some
tasty
tacos.
Just as a little side note, my two heaviest
the water its tight vibration and loud
Got questions? Feel free to contact
dorado were caught on chuggers while
internal rattles draw a lot of attention. Top
Port
O’Connor based Capt. Robert
marlin fishing out of Venezuela and
colors are pinfish, red head and mullet.
Sloan
at sloan288@aol.com or go to
Guatemala. One of the best surface
One thing to remember when casting a
www.luckystrikeguide.com.
trolling lures is a Mold Craft bird with a
Super Pogy is that you can rip them back
trailing chugger. The bird flutters on the
in for more strikes. Just make sure you
surface getting the attention of dorado.
keep a firm grip on the rod.
DID YOU KNOW?
Best colors are white/yellow, pink/white
When using Long A’s and Super Pogy’s
and green/clear/black. The Boone bird
I like to rig them up with short 12 inch
-Dorado roam the open tropic watrolling rigs are big time popular, as well.
wire leaders. The tag end of the leaders are
ters looking for food. Smaller sized fish
The Iland trolling lures with silver
attached to a black 80 pound test barrel
are likely to school together and can be
bullet heads and colorful nylon skirts are
swivel. Don’t be surprised when you reel
found around any little bit of floating
very good for trolling fast in big spreads.
in a dorado and see many other fish with
debris or along Sargasso beds. Bigger
The 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 ounce lures work well
it. It’s kind of like the old saying, “birds
fish turn into lone rangers or even can
in blue/silver, blue/green/yellow and blue/
of a feather flock together.” Ditto that for
be found in male-female pairs.
white.
dorado, except in fish mode.
-The name Mahi-mahi comes from
The small sub-surface diving lures
A little trick you can use to keep fish
Hawaii meaning to say “Strong-strong.”
are deadly when trolled around rigs and
at the boat is to leave a hooked dorado in
-Dorado are very fast swimmers that
buoys. The Bomber Magnum Jointed
the water. To catch the others simply pitch
can reach speeds of 50 mph in short
Long A’s are perfect for this type of fishing.
jigs to them. What I’ve found to be very
bursts.
They are seven inches long with a pair of
effective is to have a small bag of peeled
20 TEXAS OUTDOORS Journal
july 2015
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Just FISHING | Brian Hughes
Things That Go Bump in the Night
I remember one July many years ago
when I first started guiding, a gentleman
from California was going to be in Texas
for the Fourth of July holidays, and
wanted to do some bass fishing with a fly
rod. He wanted to book three full days of
fishing. I advised that July was an awful
hot time of year and he might want to
consider half-day trips instead, but he
was adamant. Being young, and hungry, I
went ahead and put him in the books for
three full days.
It was a particularly hot summer that
year, and along about 2 0’clock on the first
day I looked back at my client, only to see
a scary sight. He was as white as a ghost.
Literally, he had a ghostly pall about his
face. In a flash I realized he was suffering
from heat stroke. He wasn’t sweating,
had the shakes, and the aforementioned
skin-tone told me he was in real trouble!
Trying to cool him off as quickly as
possible, we went to a shallow area and I
had him hit the water. Then we proceeded
to the bank and some tree-shade, while I
fired up my truck and got the a/c going.
After a half hour or so he was in much
better shape, but still feeling the effects.
“I’m going to pay you for the three days
because I said I would,” he told me, “But
I’m getting on a plane and going to
Montana!”
He did pay me for all three days,
and he did go to Montana, and he had
a wonderful time trout fishing there, as
one would expect. But not all of us can
just pick up and fly off to wherever the
temperature suits us, (as the manufacturer
of those five-gallon plastic buckets you see
everywhere he had become very wealthy,
in case you hadn’t guessed), and the
fishing. Most of us just have to do the best
we can with what Texas gives us. And in
the heat of the summer that means night
fishing.
I like to get on the water about 9:00 to
9:30, and start looking for my first fishing
location, so I’m casting by 10:00 p.m. I’ll
fish as long as I can stay awake, usually
‘til about 4:00 a.m. I have found that I
feel better, and fish stronger, if I take a
long nap the afternoon before I go on an
overnight trip. And I highly recommend
clients getting some rest before you leave
the ramp AFTER a long night on the
water. Most of us are accustomed to being
up during the daytime hours, a long night
can lead to falling asleep behind the wheel
on the ride home.
The species that are most commonly
fished for at night include the basses,
largemouth and smallmouth, crappie and
Texas rig night fishing gear include : (top) 7” Ribworm --Red shad; (middle) 10” Powerworm-Motor Oil; (bottom l to r) 1/2 oz. brass weight, 1/4 oz. brass weight, rattles, red glass bead, and
brass tickers.
22
catfish. While sand bass, bream, hybrids
and stripers can all be caught at night,
I rarely hear of anyone targeting them
specifically.
A recent study found that most fish
can see as well, or better, than we humans
can. Moon phases are definitely a factor
in night fishing. On full moon nights, fish
can see very well and I often use colors that
would be associated with daytime fishing.
White for example, can be very effective,
especially if the night is cloudless. Fullmoon and New-moon (when it appears
as though there is no moon at all) seem
to provide the best opportunities, with
partial moon phases being a little less
productive.
If you’re after crappie it is no secret that
a floating light will help immensely. They
are often called “Crappie Lights” although
I think that is a misnomer, simply because
they primarily draw in the baitfish, which
then draw the crappie. Live minnows or
darker jigs work well at night, but I’ve also
seen chartreuse crappie jigs load the boat
in no time on more than one overnight
trip. Of course, many boat docks, bridges
and marina structures will have lights on
them and these are popular destinations
for crappie, and crappie fishermen, as well.
To get away from other anglers you may
want to use your electronics and locate
remote brush piles, and drop your baits
on those.
When it comes to bass fishing, both
species, what really counts at night is the
hearing system that fish possess. Sound
travels five times as fast in the water as
it does above the surface. In addition to
ears, fish have a “lateral line” that helps
them hear as well. That lets a fish know
very quickly that something is happening
in the water. It is therefore best to use
baits that “call-out” to the fish. They will
respond to the sound, bringing them
within sight of the bait.
Try a buzzbait and tweak the blade
so that it has a squeal to it as it comes
through the water. Do this by holding out
the window as you drive to the lake. You’ll
be able to hear when the sound is right.
Cast it out and begin a steady retrieve,
just fast enough to keep it on the surface.
july 2015
If you’re going to fish a spinnerbait, use
a Colorado blade that disperses a lot of
water on the retrieve. That will be felt
through the lateral line, and heard by the
fish. Again, a steady retrieve at moderate
speed will suffice.
Many topwater baits will work,
including Pop’Rs, ‘Spooks, and frogs, but
you’ll want to use a very steady retrieve
rhythm so the fish can hone in on the lure.
I like the old Fred Arbogast Jitterbug lures.
The floating bait is easy to cast, will sit on
top ‘til you move it, and produces a very
rhythmic plop, plop, plop as you slowly
retrieve it across the surface. The model
I liked is apparently no longer available,
with two hooks protruding from the rear
of the bait and a “Hula” skirt, but the new
Jitterbug Clicker looks very intriguing. I
use darker black and blue colors on all
three baits.
If fishing Texas rigged soft plastics, add
a brass weight and glass bead to the line.
This was extremely popular a few years
ago, and everyone had brass and glass on
both Texas, and Carolina rigs, even during
daylight hours. For one reason or another
the technique has waned a bit lately, but
it is still a great help in night fishing. Cast
out your plastic and pop the slack in the
line sharply to make the brass and glass
click against each other.
Jigs will also work at night and it will
help to attach a rattle to the bait via a
collar, or some other method. Pitch the jig
onto cover and shake it several times. In
daylight hours I might shake a jig two or
three times and yank it back if I don’t get
a bite, ready to make the next cast. It can
take a little longer at night for a fish to get
to, and find, your offering. Don’t be too
quick to move it away. Use dark colors like
black/blue, red shad and junebug.
Catfishing at night is extremely
popular and can be very rewarding. Three
of the biggest blue cats I have caught have
come at night, on big black spinnerbaits.
Look a bit shallower than you would find
them during the day. I usually start at
about six to eight feet and move deeper
‘til I connect. The spinnerbait fish came in
about fifteen feet while I was slow-rolling
for big bass.
Use your standard cut or live bait for
blues and any of the prepared formulas
for channel cats. When fishing for channel
cats put a little chum out about an hour
before sunset, but don’t use too much.
You should also make note of where
july 2015
the Cormorants roost. Catfish will feed
on the un-digested fish in the Cormorant
droppings, and if you’ve ever pulled up
on a roost and scared away the birds,
you know they leave quite a shower of
droppings behind.
Finally, I always suggest getting on the
water at least an hour before dark if you
are not VERY familiar with the lake. Give
yourself some time to get the lay of the
land, so to speak. And don’t be afraid of
things that go BUMP in the night.
Other good night fishing baits include: (top, left to right): 1/2 oz. black/red spinnerbait, 1/2 oz.
black/blue jig, and 1/2 oz. black/blue spinnerbait. (bottom left to right): Jitterbug, Black deep
diving crankbait, and black buzzbait.
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23
OFF-SEASON OR YEAR-ROUND
AXIS
These transplants from India represent an alternative, affordable sporting animal
during a time of the year no other hunting is legally allowed.
Story and photography by Bob Zaiglin
T
he Hill Country is characterized
by an abundance of springs
nestled between rocky hills
that provide grand vistas of an evergreen
live oak and cedar-laden landscape. It’s
also recognized as the ‘bread basket’ for
deer hunters with the highest density of
whitetails in the state. But whitetail deer
are not its only inhabitants.
Visitors to this dynamic ecological
region can see a diverse array of hooved
ungulates, some of which like the scimitarhorned ibex are more abundant in the Hill
Country than in their homeland back in
Africa. Some refer to this region of the
Lone Star State as ‘little Africa’ as virtually
all of the antelope of the Dark Continent
can be seen on private land hunting
operations.
Most exotic ungulates have been
released onto private landholdings
to increase ranch revenue through
commercial hunting. Many of the
animals have been sustained within game
deterrent fences, but over time some have
24
escaped and now occur throughout the
region on a free-range basis.
Throughout the Edwards Plateau
and portions of the brush country, there
exists an ungulate that is despised by some
yet relished by others. It’s lumped into a
category referred to as an exotic, but this
one has been here long enough to claim
citizenship. The hoofed animal I am
referring to is the Axis deer, acclaimed as
the most abundant exotic in the state.
The shiny, reddish-brown-colored
axis deer dappled with whitetail fawnlike spots throughout its life, is a native
of India, where it is referred to as chital.
A lacquer-dark, almost black line of hair
runs the length of its spine from shoulder
to tail, bordered by white spots meeting
the underbelly, which is snow white. Males
are larger than females with some mature
males breeching the 200-pound mark.
Their antlers are characteristically
three-tined, with forward extending brow
tines and a forked terminal end to the
beams, which can extend to 35 inches or
more, making them extremely attractive
to trophy hunters. Old males have been
known to retain a set of antlers for over 19
months but they generally shed and grow
a new set of antlers annually.
Although axis shed their antlers on
an annual basis, males in hard antler
can occur throughout the year. In Texas
the highest percentage of axis in hard
antler occurs in June through August,
which makes this ungulate attractive to
sportsmen wishing to hunt outside the
state-regulated hunting season. Like
all exotics, axis deer are considered
domestic livestock and are not under the
jurisdiction of the state game agency. As
a result, they can be legally hunted year
round.
One of the more unique physiological
characteristics of axis deer is, unlike
whitetails, they have no set breeding
season. Males can be seen in hard antler
throughout the year and are capable of
breeding. As a result, fawns can be born
in any month of the year. Their estimated
july 2015
life span is 15 years, which is quite long
for an ungulate. Although they are often
seen in herds, males do not sustain a
harem, but aggressively guard females
in estrous. Combat between males is
common, making rattling an optional
hunting technique.
L i ke w h i te t a i l s , a x i s de er a re
crepuscular, being most active during
the early morning and late evening hours.
Grass makes up the highest percentage
of their normal diet, but they will browse
during the dry season when much of the
landscape is void of grass. This automatic
shift in dietary components is one of the
concerns most whitetail managers have
when it comes to free-ranging axis.
Their ability to digest grass during
portions of the year then switch to browse
when necessary gives them a nutritional
advantage over native deer, as their
populations can continue to increase even
when droughty conditions persist. And
although whitetail deer consume grasses,
it’s only at the early stages of development
which is ephemeral.
The axis deer is extremely wary.
When alarmed they will drive their front
feet into the ground much like a whitetail,
often emitting a loud, high-pitched bark.
And when running away, their tail will be
erect, displaying the white underside, the
universal danger signal for cervids.
When it comes to hunting axis deer,
Texas sportsmen don’t have to search very
long to locate a quality hunt at a price
july 2015
A rusty-red coat dappled with white spots along with a substantial set of headgear makes the
axis one of if not the most impressive exotic species in Texas.
that places little impact on their wallets.
Introduced to the Texas landscape in
the 1930’s, axis have adapted extremely
well. Their feeding behavior in concert
with the fact that they have historically
contended with predators as large as the
Siberian tiger has definitely augmented
their survivability across much of Texas.
And the fact that they are acclaimed by
many as the most beautiful member of
the cervid family makes them only more
popular with sportsmen.
Locating a place to pursue this
unique species normally starts in the
Hill Country, where Texas exotic game
ranching evolved. But quality axis hunts
can also be found in the brush country.
At present axis deer occur on private
ranches throughout the state and are often
considered as the most abundant exotic
in Texas. More importantly, a significant
number of them are free-ranging escapees
that have adapted well and continue to
increase.
A typical Hill Country axis hunt
usually begins at first light as sportsmen
25
Considered domestic stock, there is no season or limit on the chital.
negotiate the generally rocky
roads in a pickup, winding
through a maze of cedar and
live oak trees, periodically
pausing to glass openings
in the landscape. Although
males do not sustain a harem,
they characteristically remain
in herds of considerable size,
thus when several females are
observed, it’s always prudent
to pause a little longer in
order to catch a glimpse
of remaining members
sometimes concealed by the
understory.
The pursuit of axis
deer is often considered
a gentleman’s hunt, but
can be quite challenging
at times. Hunting from
a blind positioned near a
feeder is extremely popular
and effective. They can
become quite dependent on
free handouts, oftentimes
responding to the sound of
a feeder going off at virtually
any time of day.
26
I remember a time in the late 80s when
I was managing a sprawling 44,000-acre
ranch in Edwards and Sutton Counties
that supported an excessive number of axis
deer. In order to reduce the population,
we harvested them for commercial meat
production. But in order to do so, we had
to hire a company that provided a walk-in
cooler on wheels plus a representative of
the USDA to inspect the cropped animals.
Once the individuals and equipment were
on the ranch, it was imperative to harvest
a maximum number of deer to justify the
effort.
We started out by driving around
and dispatching animals from a vehicle,
but it was not long before the animals
became extremely wary of this protocol,
reducing our success rate. That all
changed one evening when I set off one
of the ubiquitous corn feeders located
throughout the property and several axis
rushed in to consume the palatable feed.
Repeating this event substantially elevated
our success rate.
Axis deer relish water, making this
often-times limited commodity a place
for hunters to set up. This is particularly
effective during the driest and hottest
times of the year, July and August,
which happens to be when the highest
proportion of males are in hard antler.
For those who enjoy stalking, the
axis deer provides a unique opportunity
to conduct this activity during the spring,
but summer time temperatures elevate
swiftly during the day, rendering such an
event as an early morning exercise.
Judging an axis deer’s rack is based
on the eyes of the beholder, but beams
of 30 inches or greater are considered
exceptional.
However, the mass and tine length
must be weighed in as well. In other
words, a 30-inch beamed male with
short tines may not be as impressive as a
25”-beamed animal with excessive mass
and long tines. Upon occasion, atypical
tines can develop, making a rack that
much more unique.
Regardless antler size, sportsmen
consider axis venison to be second to no
other wild hoofstock. This fact alone
makes the females extremely attractive to
individuals who enjoy venison primarily
because they are relatively inexpensive
to hunt and their hides, once tanned, are
absolutely gorgeous.
Although axis deer may be the most
abundant exotic, it’s not the only exotic
species that has thrived. The aoudad
sheep has fared quite well and can be
found throughout the Hill Country,
particularly in rougher, rocky country less
used by whitetail deer. And although these
sheep are not recognized for their table
fare, the unique shape and size of horns
in older males makes them particularly
attractive to hunters.
Additional exotic ungulates such as
blackbuck antelope and sika deer along
with a number of others occur throughout
the region. The abundance of axis deer
represents an alternative, affordable
sporting animal during a time of the year
no other hunting is legally allowed.
So instead of cleaning and storing that
favorite rifle at the end of deer season, it
might be put to good use enjoying another
Texas hunting opportunity for possibly
the most beautiful deer in the state—the
chital.
The Texas Hill Country is home to a plethora of exotic ungulates, some of which, like the
scimitar-horned ibex, are more abundant in Texas than in their African homeland.
You can make a difference by
r eporting illegal hunting and fishing activity!
Up to $1,000 may be paid for information leading
to arrest and conviction of poachers
Reward Hotline 800-792-GAME
The ability of axis deer to shift from grass to browse represents a significant nutritional advantage over their
native cousins, the whitetail deer.
july 2015
Support anti-poaching efforts by becoming a
member of the Operation Game Thief Program
(call 512-389-4381 for membership information) or by
sending your tax deductible contribution to Operation
Game Thief, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744
july 2015
27
For information on guides mentioned, see Guides, Gear & Getaways on pages 67, 69 & 71
CoastWatch
Danno Wise
Photo by Nate Skinner
By July, upper coast bays should have seen most of the freshwater move out and conditions
stabilize. Any freshwater encountered can be overcome as Capt. Billy Penick of Gypsy Guide
Service did to catch this big trout just after the rains ended the first of June while slowly fishing
deeper shell.
In July both the weather and the angling
action is hot. The summer of 2015 got
started with flooding rains across much
of Central and Southeast Texas. Of course,
all of that rain made its way to the coast.
But, most Texas coastal pros agree that
the freshwater influx was a plus and any
negative effects will be long gone by July.
In fact, inshore guides almost universally
agree July should be a banner month for
coast fishing in Texas this year.
Bay fishermen will still have steady
action with speckled trout, redfish and
flounder. Surf fishermen will have an
opportunity to land specks, reds, jacks,
ladyfish and Spanish mackerel on a
consistent basis. Many of the Gulf passes
will also be temporary homes for tarpon
and kingfish.
A little further offshore, kings, ling,
bonito, dorado and more will be viable
targets. And, in the big blue water, tuna,
wahoo and a variety of billfish species will
be tangling with anglers willing to invest
in the fuel to chase them. Red snapper (for
28
anglers fishing aboard a federally licensed
charter boat), amberjack, and ling will be
plentiful
Whether fishing inshore or offshore, the
one downside to summer angling on the
coast during July is the increased number
of boats and anglers that will be found
on Texas waterways. However, most of
the serious anglers know that by heading
out early in the day, they can avoid the
majority of the crowds.
UPPER COAST
Matagorda guide Capt. Tommy
Countz says that any lingering effects of
the freshwater runoff from the Memorial
Day should be long gone by July.
“By July it should be business as usual
in Matagorda,” said Countz. “The fresh
water run off from the Colorado should
be just a memory by then. Fresh water
running into the bay can be a blessing.
In the summer droughts from years past
our bays have suffered. I look for fishing
in West Matagorda to be good in July.
I’ll be back wading the grass beds on the
south shore throwing Mirrolure soft shads
and Lil Johns in Chicken on a Chain and
Morning Glory rigged with light lead
heads.
“When I’m not wading I’ll be drifting
the Halfmoon Reefs or targeting tripletail.
Of course tripletail fishing is out in the
main part of West Bay, so you need light
winds to make that happen.
“Anytime that the surf is flat and green
you can find me there. By mid or late July,
our wind will be dying down, which is
what we need for the surf to get good. But,
that’s our number one deal in July - if the
surf is right, we’re going.
“On calm days I may wade the mid-bay
reefs of East Matagorda Bay which is not
affected by the fresh water. If I’m in East
Bay, I’ll be drifting shell reefs or mud flats.
We might fish live shrimp if that’s what my
clients want to do.
“But, usually I’ll be throwing those
same dark Norton Sand Eels, but on a
heavier head so we can get ‘em down.
And, sometimes we might start out with
topwaters. Early in the morning there
can be a really good topwater bite. It just
depends on what mood they’re in.”
Galveston guide Capt. Greg Verm of
FishingGalvestonTx.com says fishing in
July is always good and he expects this
year to be better than most.
“I believe July fishing is going to be
incredible,” said Verm. “Yes, the freshwater
flow into our bays has definitely affected
the areas that are holding fish. The passes
to the Gulf are the hotspots now and will
continue to be through the summer. The
Galveston jetty and beachfront will be
stacked with speckled trout, redfish, drum
july 2015
and sheepshead.
“I do see a very negative effect for
sharks, Spanish mackeral, jack crevalle and
other species that require high salinity. I
have already seen these species push out
to the Gulf. The sharks, mackeral, jacks
did show up early this year at the jetties,
but pulled out a month ago.
“Some very good news for anglers
that rely on charters for Gulf access was
announced this year. We now have a 44
day red snapper season that began June
1. Along with the red snapper, we will
also be catching mahi, kingfish, ling, tuna,
wahoo, sailfish and more out in the Gulf
of Mexico.
“Last year I had an incredible July and
August for kings, mahi, tuna, and ling. I
anticipate another great year for offshore
fishing out of Galveston. Most days, we
will be fishing 30 to 90 miles out.”
Capt. Billy Penick of Gypsy Guide
Service also believes Galveston fishing
should be outstanding this month.
“In my opinion with all this freshwater
we have had this year the July fishing will
be awesome if the rain stops,” said Penick.
“The fish will be stacked up on the ship
channel spoil banks and humps due to
the currents from tides and ships. When
the tide goes slack you can look for ship
traffic along the Houston ship channel to
cause some false current to keep the trout
and redfish biting.
“The main bait of choice for my boat
will be croaker and soft plastics on a 3/8 oz
Berkley darter jig head. Not all of the spoil
banks have oyster shell on it and the key
will be finding the shallower humps that
do have shell and the ledges with baitfish.
This year should be a great year on the
ship channel because the fish have been
pushed off the shorelines due to excessive
amounts of flushing the bay has taken.
“The fish that typically live in Trinity
Bay all year have been washed down and
will stay hung up on the channel for the
most part. With the combination of bait
and the number of shrimp boats on the
channel now you should be able to expect
large schools of fish in isolated areas of
the spoils.”
According to Sabine Lake guide Capt.
Randy Foreman, July should kick off some
outstanding summer fishing.
“Everything’s looking good for July,”
said Foreman. “We’ve had a lot of bait
in the lake and lots of trout. This is a
numbers lake and we’ve been catching
july 2015
good numbers. We did have a lot of
runoff, but that just concentrated the fish
even more. So I think we’re gonna have a
great summer.
“As far as July, the pattern will be
pretty much the same as June – only the
fishing will be better. We’ll still have birds
working in the lake. We’ve been on the
birds since March and will still be on ‘em
in the summer.
“If we get more heavy rainfall, it will
push all those fish to the south end of
the lake. But, if we don’t get a lot of rain,
we’ll still have plenty of fish throughout
the lake.
“In July, the jetties really get going, too.
We’ll have some good trout in the channel
and around the jetties. You can usually
catch fish on both the inside and outside
of the rocks. Start out throwing right up
against the rocks.
“If the fish aren’t tight against the
rocks, you need to move out about 10 or
20 feet and try there. Just keep looking
until you find them. When you find them,
stay on them. And, we’ll also have plenty
29
Photo courtesy Capt. Tommy Countz
Capt. Tommy Countz will have his clients hooking up with fish along shorelines and grass beds.
of tripletail around the jetties in July.
“Around mid-July, the big white
shrimp will move into the beachfront
and the big trout will be chasing them.
That’s when I’ll be wadefishing the surf.
Those trout will be chasing those big
white shrimp – and I mean like 9/12 or
6/8 (count) shrimp, big shrimp. So, I’ll
be throwing big plastics for the most
part, but early in the day, I’ll throw some
topwater plugs.
“Whatever you’re throwing, it needs
to be glow. Everything’s glow on the lake
right now. And, when I’m throwing softplastics, I dip the tails in lime green paint
– just like always. By July, the short rigs
are really going off. When I’m fishing the
short rigs, I’ll throw a 3/8-ounce head so I
can get the bait down deep. You can throw
the same baits in the same colors, just use
a heavier head. Most of these rigs are in
22 to 30 feet of water and you need the
bait down on the bottom to catch trout.
“You’ll also catch Spanish mackerel,
tripletail, and even some ling on good
days. But, if you want those big trout,
you need to get the bait on the bottom
and keep it there. I just crawl it across
the bottom. And, of course, you can also
fish mullet or pogies or croaker around
the short rigs.
“But, I don’t like throwing bait unless
I just can’t get the fish to hit anything
else. Overall, July should be really good.
I expect us to catch a lot of fish.”
30
LOUISIANA COAST
Across the state line in Lake Calcasieu,
the deep reefs will be holding good
numbers of “keeper” trout. Fishermen
using jigs or live shrimp under popping
corks will regularly take good numbers
of solid specks this month. Redfish will
also be caught in good quantity on Big
Lake during July. The vast majority of the
redfish will be taken along the shorelines.
Anglers fishing along the shorelines have
a good chance at hooking into a trophy
trout as well during July.
Big Lake fishermen will also be able to
target tripletail this month. Tripletail will
be caught inside the lake itself, but the
best tripletail action will be around the
channel markers and rigs. Anglers hitting
the short rigs can expect to find a bounty
of inshore species during July. Beside
tripletail, anglers can reasonably expect
to encounter speckled trout, redfish,
Spanish mackerel, jacks, shark and more.
There will also be plenty of specks, reds
and Spanish mackerel along the jetties and
beachfront this month.
There will be good quality inshore and
offshore angling for fishermen heading
out of Venice during July. Red snapper
fishing will still be good. Although the
federal season will be closed for private
anglers, fishermen aboard federally
licensed charter boats can legally fish for
red snapper until July 14 this year. Anglers
headed offshore will also be able to tangle
with big mangrove snapper, which are
not subject to the federal closure as red
Look for some good speckled trout to be caught on Lake Calcasieu by anglers fishing mid-bay reefs.
snapper are.
Ling will be another popular offshore
target in Louisiana waters in July. Anglers
hoping to tangle with cobia should look
for fish around grass lines or other floating
structure.
Kingfish w ill be thick around
practically every piece of nearshore and
offshore structure in the Gulf during
July. Dorado and wahoo will also be
consistently found within a reasonable
boat ride. Tuna, on the other hand, will
require a bit longer of a boat ride. While
tuna action can be good during July, to
experience consistent action, anglers need
to run out to the deep water floating rigs.
Fishermen can also expect to start
seeing tarpon show up just offshore early
in the month. By the end of July, tarpon
should be in fishable numbers along the
beachfront and in the passes.
Trout will also be found in the passes as
well as on the outside beaches. The short
rigs located in 8 to 20 feet of water will
be holding specks and a variety of other
species such as Spanish mackerel during
July and through August.
Captain Randy Foreman found this red in the middle of Sabine lake over a small shell hump. In
July he says fish will be over shell, particularly clamshell beds along the Louisiana shoreline.
july 2015
july 2015
31
JUST HUNTING | Nate Skinner
Archery Transition — Gearing Up for Next Season
intense, pounding
like a bass drum in
my ears, I extended
my index finger
towards the trigger
on my release —
this was it.
Wh e n b o w
hunters hit the
woods in early fall
for the first chance
at har vest ing a
Texas whitetail,
they will be taking
the stand, or sitting
in a ground blind,
for one draw
Photo courtesy Brad Olinick.
of their string
at a time. Their
Bow hunters that put forth the effort will have phenomenal results like
actions within
Brad Olinick, pictured with a mature buck he took with his bow from a
these few seconds
tree stand.
will determine their
At 15 feet up in the air, I sat clad in
success, and it is this primitive nature of
camouflage with a face covered in paint
the sport that gives these hunters the rush
and my bow at full-draw. I looked through
that has them addicted for life.
the peep sight with my first pin hovering
“A bad drug,” I’ve heard some call it,
just behind the lower portion of the buck’s
as many a bow hunter lives for the few
shoulder. It couldn’t have been more than
seconds when a precise set of skills sends
several seconds, but it seemed as if I’d been
an arrow flying towards an unaware game
at full-draw for minutes on end. Now
animal. It’s literally the art of having an
was not the time for distracting thoughts
extreme close encounter with game and
to flash through my head, disrupting
harvesting them with a stick, that dates
much needed poise and composure.
back to Native Americans and beyond.
With my pulse becoming more and more
It’s a sport where the slightest adjustment
32
matters and an endless amount of
variables can determine whether the
flight of an arrow results in success or
failure — fractions of a centimeter can
change everything. Bow hunters willing
to correctly tune up their bows and put
in the hours practicing under a variety
of scenarios and conditions can turn
this primitive art into a habitual instinct.
There’s no better time to start this
transition than right now.
Whether it’s a brand new bow, or one
that has been used for several seasons,
the first thing hunters should do upon
removing their bow from the case to
prepare for this season, is to make sure all
aspects of the hunting tool are in a wellmaintained condition. This includes the
string, bearings and bushings, as well as
the sight, rest, and other accessories. The
best way hunters can do this, is by taking
their bow to a local pro shop to have these
things examined by a professional, and to
have the bow cleaned of all dirt, dust, and
debris if this has not been done since the
previous season.
David Leining, owner of Santa Fe
Archery in Santa Fe, Texas says bow
hunters should begin examining their
equipment now, so it will be in good
functioning condition when the season
opens. “Two of the main problems we
see with hunters and their bows include
incorrect draw length and incorrect sight
july 2015
to right. Finding this sweet spot
takes practice and repetition.
Installing a kisser button on
the string in the anchor point
position will ensure hunters find
their anchor point each time
they draw.
When gripping the bow
at full draw, it is important to use
a relaxed grip. A tight grip puts
pressure on the handle and often
results in torquing the bow when
the arrow is released, causing
inaccuracy.
“We explain this to
people by telling them to grip the
bow like they are shaking hands
with a child,” says Leining. “It’s
an open handshake grip that is
gentle — the finger tips do not
wrap completely around the
handle.”
The anchor point should be near the corner of the mouth
A wrist strap can also
with consistency being the key to accurate shooting.
affect a hunter’s grip causing
positioning,” Leining explains. “In order
torque on the bow if it is too tight. The
for a bow to perform exceptionally, it must
wrist strap should be loose — a hunter
be fitted to the stature of the hunter that
should be able to fit two fingers between
will be shooting it.”
the strap and wrist.
The best way to make sure a bow is
Shooting practice should become
fitted for a specific hunter correctly, is to
take it into a pro shop and have an expert
examine the hunter with the bow at full
draw.
“When a bow is correctly fitted for a
hunter, the string near the loop where the
release is engaged should rest against the
corner of a hunter’s mouth when the bow
is fully drawn,” Leining continued. “If it
comes to rest anywhere past this against
the cheek, then the draw length is too
long.”
As far as sight positioning goes,
Leining suggests mounting the sight in
the middle of the holding bracket on the
bow, and to make sure the peep sight on
the string is aligned with the hunter’s eye.
Once a bow is fit for shooting, certain
things need to be considered before
mindlessly flinging arrows at a randomly
placed target.
“Shooting is all about two things;
keeping a consistent anchor point, and
gripping the bow correctly,” Leining
stated.
The anchor point should always
be near the corner of the mouth. Too
much pressure of the string against
the face, or too little, can significantly
change the flight of the arrow from left
july 2015
a regular routine — the more muscle
memory that is built up the better. The
grip, anchor point, and action of drawing
the bow should become second nature.
Once this happens, hunters should
practice shooting from a variety of
positions including standing and sitting
from both ground level and elevated
locations. Shooting in different scenarios
such as wind, rain, sunny, and cloudy
conditions is a good idea too.
When sighting in a bow, it’s important
to understand how the sight works. The
sight should be adjusted to follow the
direction the arrow is missing the target.
For example, if a hunter is consistently
shooting to the right of the targeted area,
then the sight needs to be moved to the
right in order to correct the issue. In
addition, if a certain pin is consistently
missing low, then that pin should be
bumped down to correct the problem.
When choosing an arrow to shoot, bow
hunters will want to be able to produce
enough kinetic energy to penetrate
through hide and bone. This same kinetic
energy is needed to deploy the blades of
expandable broadheads to deliver piercing
cuts, and it is what gives fixed blade
33
Perhaps there is a
tree that is about
20 yards away from
the stand, or a large
rock or bush that
is 25 yards away. If
a deer is standing
near one of these
reference points,
there is no doubt
how far of a shot
the animal is
presenting.
Rage expandable broadheads and Muzzy Fixed Blade
There is plenty
broadheads are among the best on the market today.
of time for hunters
broadheads penetrating power.
to become comfortable with
In order to achieve this kinetic energy,
their bow before the rapidly
Leining says hunters should employ 5.5
approaching archery season
to 6 grains of arrow weight per pound of
arrives and the time to start
bow draw. For example, a bow with a 70
is now. Developing muscle
When sighting in your bow, remember that you must move
pound draw should use a 420 grain arrow.
memory by using the right the pin or sight in the direction the arrow is missing to correct
During shooting practice sessions
shooting techniques with
the problem.
hunters should develop a comfortable
equipment fitted specifically
shooting distance range in which they
for the individual hunter will separate
Gear to Consider for the 2015
would be confident in taking a shot at
the successful bow hunters from the rest.
Archery Season
an animal. These distances should be
Those willing to put forth the effort will
examined in the areas that will be hunted
see a transition from a primitive form of
•Tru-Fire Smoke Release —This
and certain physical land marks should
hunting to an instinctively accurate set of
release
features a heavy-duty, buckle
be noted to reference these distances.
game harvesting skills.
wrist strap and Tru-Fire’s “foldback” ring
design that allows the release head to be
flipped back 180 degrees, where it stays
held in position against the archer’s arm
out of the way when moving around, but
can be flipped out in an instant to engage
the string loop.
•Rage Chisel Tip SC — This is an
excellent option for an expandable
broadhead that boasts both hide and
bone crushing power, as well as a twoinch cutting diameter.
•Muzzy Phantom SC — This is a
great fixed-blade broadhead option
that sports four blades that have a powerful one and one-eighth inch cutting
diameter.
•Bow and Gear Hoist by Hunter
Safety Systems — This is a compact tool
that will help hunters safely and silently
hoist their bow and other gear into an
elevated stand.
More information on these products
and many more can be found through
Hunter Outdoor Communications at
www.hunteroc.com where hunters can
subscribe to receive press releases on
the newest products by their favorite
manufacturers.
34
july 2015
CONSERVATION
EDUCATION
PROTECTING HUNTER’S RIGHTS
It’s who we are.
It’s what we do.
JOIN
Greatest Hunters Convention on the Planet™ January 7-10, 2016
For more information, go to www.bigggame.org
FILL ‘ER
UP
Rising water levels on Texas’ lakes will benefit our fisheries in
more ways than one.
I
t’s happened before. Last spring, it
happened again. In a whole bunch
of places.
The topic up for discussion here is one
freshwater fishing crowds in many parts
of the state have been dreaming about for
months. No, make that years.
It’s called “trophic upsurge.” Otherwise
known as the “new lake effect,” trophic
upsurge is a good thing. It is what happens
when the water levels suddenly jump
several feet on a body of water that has
been starving for water for an extended
period of time. It’s great for business
because it’s great for fishing.
More on that little later. First, let’s
look at the past leading up to the present.
In case you have been living under
a rock, then you probably know most
of Texas has been in some form of
drought mode ranging from moderate
to exceptional for several years dating
back all the way to 2010 and beyond.
This factor, combined with growing
water demands in larger metropolitan
areas, caused water levels on many public
impoundments to dwindle well below full
capacity. Some dried up completely.
While folks out west and down south
were still doing a rain dance as this was
written, people in eastern Texas and parts
of North Texas were scrambling around
hunting a bigger umbrella. Some were
even begging for somebody to please
Photo by Matt Williams
Fisheries biologists say the big rains fell above Lake Texoma last spring got the Red River flowing,
which should have been beneficial to the big lake’s natural-spawning population of the striped
bass.
36
turn off the faucet
after witnessing
one of the wettest,
soggiest springs in
recent history
The timing of
the big rains varied
from one region to
the next. At times,
county to county.
In far southeast
Texas, most lakes
were already full,
or real close to it,
by the time Easter
rolled around. As
a result, water controlling authorities in
these parts spent most of the spring in the
water management mode, letting water
out as fast as possible in order to keep up
with the near constant inflow without
flooding people out downstream.
Up north the story was altogether
different.
Several lakes including Fork, Cooper,
Richland Chambers, Amon G. Carter,
Cedar Creek, Texoma, Lewisville, Ray
Roberts, Grapevine, Alan Henry and host
of others made huge jumps and refilled
to full capacity or above within a matter
of weeks. Some filled within mere days
on the heels of training weather systems
that packed everything from heavy rains
and dangerous lightning to hail and even
a few tornadoes.
Areas around Dallas recorded more
rainfall in a matter of a few months than
were recorded in all of 2014. As more
and more water fell on already-saturated
ground it caused rivers, creeks and small
tributaries to swell beyond their banks,
july 2015
Story and photography by Matt Williams
sending millions upon millions of gallons
water flowing downstream on course for
thirsty major reservoirs just waiting to
swallow it up. Many lakes caught water
until they couldn’t hold anymore, forcing
controlling authorities to release water
through flood gates in order to make
room for more inflow generated by rains
that just wouldn’t quit.
In some cases the rises came so fast
and with such intensity that it resulted in
boat ramp closures and a host of other
problems. In Athens, which received more
than 10 inches of rain during a 6-8 hour
period on May 11, a small breach in the
dam at the Athens Fish and Game Club
lake resulted in a voluntary evacuation
of people who live in the area. The big
rains also resulted in wash outs and road
closures in several different counties.
To get feel for how much and how
hard it rained, consider these figures
july 2015
from the Texas Water Development Board
website, which monitors water levels on
dozens of reservoirs around the state.
* Between May 6 and May 13, Lake
Amon G. Carter near Bowie caught
nearly 12 feet of water and rose from 56.1
percent full to more than six feet above
full capacity.
* Between April 13 and May 13, Lake
Texoma along the Texas/Oklahoma border
caught nearly 13 feet of water and rose
from 91.4 percent full to more than 10
feet up above full capacity.
* Between Feb. 13 and May 13, Lake
Fork east of Dallas caught more than
seven feet of water and rose from 72
percent full to full capacity.
Cooper near Sulphur Springs caught
about 12 feet of water and rose from 39.1
percent full to more than a foot above
full capacity.
Richland Chambers near Corsicana
caught nearly 11 1/2 feet of water and
went from 63.6 percent full to more than
a foot above full capacity.
* Between March 13 and May 13, Lake
Alan Henry near Lubbock caught nearly
10 1/2 feet of water and rose from 73.6
percent full to full capacity.
The list of reservoirs that saw dramatic
increases in water levels goes on and on.
Lavon, Ray Hubbard, Cedar Creek, Ray
Roberts, Grapevine and numerous other
reservoirs that have been starving for
water for years are now at full capacity
or well above.
So how does this benefit our fisheries?
As mentioned earlier, it’s all about “trophic
upsurge.”
Trophic Upsurge: What is it?
When water levels fall below normal
and stay there for an extended period,
37
had suffered deleterious effects
from chronic drought.”
TPWD fisheries biologist
Kevin Storey of Tyler says he is
excited about the prospects on
lakes in his district, especially
at lakes Fork, Cooper and
Tawakoni.
“Dur ing the droug ht,
terrestrial vegetation including
trees, shrubs and grasses was
established over much of the
exposed shoreline,” Storey said.
“These areas are now inundated
and the immediate impact on
fish populations has been a
sudden increase in “cover”
along the shore, which should
improve protection for young
fish potentially increasing
survival. These newly-flooded
areas will also attract larger
fish which should translate into
more productive fishing.”
Photo by Matt Williams
While some of the terrestrial
When vegetation floods after long periods of low water it is beneficial to all sorts of fish from the bottom of
plant growth will deteriorate
the food chain all the way to the top.
and provide a nutrient boost,
hundreds and sometimes thousands of
growth hydrilla beds, lily pads and other
others will continue to thrive, he said.
acres of the lake bed normally covered
aquatic plants. This creates even more
“Some of the plants that have been
by water are suddenly exposed to direct
quality habitat where sport and forage
established during the drought such
sunlight. This causes grasses, weeds,
fish populations can thrive.
as willows and buttonbush will tend
bushes, trees and other forms of terrestrial
Looking Ahead
to persist and provide “cover” for fish
vegetation native to the landscape to
populations,” he said. “Since 2011, TPWD
sprout on shorelines, flats, tapering
fisheries biologists who oversee the many
has been working with the Lake Fork
points and other areas that may not have
lakes that rebounded as the result of
Sportsman’s Association to make habitat
seen daylight in years. The longer the
recent rains say they are excited about
improvements by planting buttonbush, a
lake remains low, the thicker and more
the prospects. That’s because the new lake
native shrub commonly called buckbrush,
widespread the new growth vegetation
effect like a healthy dose of adrenaline
along exposed shorelines. LFSA has been
becomes.
that can turn a tired fishery into ripe and
working cooperatively with students and
When water levels rise, all the junk
vibrant one, seemingly overnight.
staff at Yantis High School to culture
that grew during the low period is
“The rain is a huge blessing from a
buttonbush and the first big planting
inundated. This displaces a sudden influx
fisheries perspective,” said Craig Bonds,
event took place in November 2014.
of nutrients into the water creates a jungle
TPWD director of inland fisheries.
TPWD also purchased close to 500 2-3
of underwater cover for young fish to
“However, I feel for those folks dealing
year old potted plants in March 2015
hide in, thus leading to increased survival
with loss of life and/or property as a result
and planted those as well. At the time
and recruitment while at same time
of the storms.”
of planting sites were several feet above
creating an abundance of fresh targets
Bonds says rising water levels will
lake elevation but subsequent to the rain,
for fishermen to toss their lures around.
benefit our fisheries in more ways that
they are now inundated. Hopefully over
Another benefit occurs as the newlyone.
time we can establish buttonbush colonies
flooded terrestrial vegetation begins
“I would expect strong year classes of
in selected areas and provide areas for
to die and decompose. This results in
fish produced this year in broad swaths
protection and attracting of largemouth
another big shot of nutrients into the
of the state where rainfall was timely,” he
bass and prey fish. Over time there is the
water, which in turn benefits plankton
said. “It is also going to improve angler
potential for seed from the mature plants
and other microscopic plants and animals
access on some lakes and rivers previously
to spread down the shoreline if lake levels
that are the foundation of the food chain.
impacted by low water and improve
decline.”
habitat conditions with newly inundated
The nutrients also act as a liquid fertilizer
Storey says it will be waiting game to
vegetation. I would expect a higher
for the lake’s bottom, causing dormant
see how well hydrilla seed banks vested
than normal demand on our hatchery
native and non-native vegetation seed
in the fertile soil respond to the trophic
resources to rebuild some fisheries which
banks to spring back to life with new
upsurge.
“The trophic upsurge or “new lake
effect” can release nutrients that are taken
up by hydrilla resulting in population
increase,” he said. “This type of change
has been documented in other lakes in
the southwest so there is a good chance we
could see it here. In Lake Fork, hydrilla
has fluctuated unpredictably in recent
history and we’ve not seen this kind of
elevation change since I’ve started work
in this district 14-15 years ago.
“No doubt similar processes will
take place at our other lakes,” Storey
added. “Anglers are definitely grateful
for increased water levels at Cooper and
Tawakoni because of the improved access.
We were actually concerned during the
winter that if we did not get substantial
rainfall we would not be able to stock
hybrids or stripers in either lake.”
All 12 north-central lakes TPWD
fisheries biologist John Moczygemba of
Pottsboro helps manage are at or above
conservation pool following the late
spring deluge.
“Since the lakes have all been so low,
this sudden increase in lake size will
cause the other sportfishes to be a little
disoriented,” he said. “Fishing may be
a little difficult until the lakes return to
normal and the fish get reacquainted with
their new habitat. However things will get
better this summer. Because of vegetation
growth in the dry basins for the past few
years, the flooded waters will provide a lot
of nutrients to fisheries from the bottom
38
july 2015
july 2015
Courtesy Photo
A group of boat trailers sit immersed at Lake Grapevine in May. Built on Denton Creek in Tarrant and Denton counties, Grapevine rose more than
21 feet since February and seven feet over seven days during May after heavy rains pummeled the area.
of the food chain (shad and sunfishes) to
the top (basses and catfish). Reproduction
of all fish should increase.”
Moczygemba says he expects Texoma’s
natural spawning striped bass fishery to
benefit from all the fresh water, as well.
“The stripers should get a great
spawn,” he said. “Right now the striper
fishery on Lake Texoma is made up of a lot
of 20 inch plus fish, so the fishing should
be great this summer and fall. Those lakes
with white bass will do well as they chase
threadfin and gizzard shad this summer,
and the bass and crappie will have a lot of
new areas to hunt. The flooded vegetation
will give their spawn lots of areas to be
protected and feed. After the rains stop
and the lakes get back to normal, anglers
should look for some of best fishing in
several years.”
Editor’s Update: Check TEXAS
OUTDOORS JOURNAL website (www.
texasoutdoorsjournal.com) and go to For
Anglers – Freshwater for a link to sites that
provide daily updates on lake levels across
Texas.
Courtesy Photo
Property owners around Lake Fork are happy these days since the lake is now full, making it
possible for them to utilize their lakeside boat slips and docks again.
39
CoastWatch
July, for many people, is summer’s
first “real” month. It is definitely the first
month in which coastal waters become
truly crowded – with both people and
visiting fish species. Fishing in the bays
and rivers is as good as it gets for speckled
trout, redfish, and flounder.
This month is when Lower and Middle
Coast fishermen can expect a truly diverse
offering with kingfish, Spanish mackerel,
tarpon and shark being caught right off
the beach. And, the offshore crowd can
expect to find pelagic species such as
sailfish, amberjack, wahoo and more.
July isn’t just a busy time for beachgoers
and fishermen. It can also, unfortunately,
be one of the busier months for the
Gulf Coast so far as tropical weather is
concerned. Fishing and fishing conditions
generally hold stable during July so long
as a tropical system doesn’t threaten the
Texas coast.
When a system does move close, not
only can the fishing fall off for a few days,
but fishermen – especially offshore anglers
- who aren’t prepared to deal with difficult
weather can find themselves in dangerous
situations.
Make sure and check the weather and
be aware of any approaching systems
before heading out, especially if you plans
take you several miles offshore.
But, so long as tropical weather doesn’t
threaten, July is actually one of the most
stable and consistent months for coastal
anglers.
LOWER COAST
Port Isabel guide Gencho Buitureira
Jr says July is the midpoint of a summer
pattern that is consistent from June
through August, assuming no major
weather happenings occur
40
Danno Wise
“Our summer pattern that started
particularly thick on the east side flats
in June will continue through July,” said
during July. There will also be good
Buitureira. “The difference is, July is more
numbers of bull redfish showing up
consistent weather-wise. In July it’s almost
around the jetties and in the East Cut.
always hot and flat calm. A lot of days we
They will be joined by schools of Spanish
don’t even get enough wind to drift until
mackerel, kingfish, shark and tarpon,
late morning or even afternoon.
giving inshore anglers a bit more variety
“Like I always do when fish are in a
during the month of July.
summer pattern, I’ll be concentrating
Corpus Christi guide Capt. Allen
on deep drops and shaded structure. I
Sifford says he’ll have plenty of choice
like fishing the ICW, the causeways, the
spots to work through three different bays
South Bay Channels - any drops or deep
— Baffin Bay, Nueces Bay and the Upper
structure.
Laguna Madre -- during July.
“Most of the time I’ll start on the ICW,
“Leav ing from under the JFK
freelining shrimp. After I get my trout, I’ll
Causeway, I have a choice of several spots
move onto the nearest flat with potholes
to get to pretty quickly,” said Sifford. “In
and start fishing cut bait for redfish. If
under an hour, I can be all the way in
we have enough wind to drift, I’ll drift.
the back of Baffin. It takes me less than
Otherwise, we’ll just anchor down in an
20 minutes to get into Nueces and I’m
area with a lot of
potholes.”
Fish in the upper
end of the Lower
Laguna Madre will
also be in a fullfledged summer
pattern come
July according to
the guides at Port
Mansfield’s GetA-Way Adventures
L o d g e . Tr o u t
fishermen will be
concentrating on
grass beds, potholes
and channel edges.
While there will be
some good shallow
water action early,
once the sun gets
up fishermen
should work the
outside edges of the
grass and deeper
grass flats. Good
numbers of keeper
specks will also be
found along the
ICW.
Redfish will be
found on the flats
Capt. Allen Sifford says depending upon conditions in July he will fish
t h ro u g h o ut t h e
Baffin Bay, Nueces Bay, the Upper Laguna Madre or the beachfront
while looking for big trout.
day. They will be
july 2015
july 2015
41
Rockport guide
Capt. Ray Burdette
says fishing for specks
and reds is generally
very productive in the
Coastal Bend region
during July. He thinks
this year could be even
better than the average
July.
“Summer is finally
here and fishing is
great,” said Burdette.
“The speckled trout
have returned in great
n u m b e r s . We a r e
using top waters, soft
plastics in pumpkin
seed and chartreuse,
and live croakers. Really
big speckled trout are
moving into the bays
Photo courtesy Capt. Gench Buituriera Jr.
to spawn and with the
Capt. Gencho Buitureira Jr put Luanne Coleman of Johnson City on this nice trout. He says he will have a number of
brown shrimp moving
good options available in July.
out to the Gulf. Everyone
is catching fish and having fun.
right here at the Upper Laguna. Plus,
“During summer, I like to target small
it’s a pretty quick run to the beachfront.
lake and bay drainages on an outgoing
Having all those options really helps that
tide – especially in the afternoons. Night
time of year because things can change.
fishing can also be great for trout and
“During summer, it can be tough at
redfish on knee deep grass flats with top
times to catch fish on artificial lures,”
water lures. Use dark colors with a rattle
Sifford said.
inside.
“The water gets hot and there are lots
“Redfish are great with live finger
of boats running around. Most people
mullet being the top bait,” he says. “Cut
fishing during July are using croaker. I’ll
bait also works well. The best cut baits are
throw some artificials, mostly topwaters
menhaden, mullet or pin perch. Be sure
early, but most of the time I’ll be throwing
to cut the fins off the pin perch. I use my
croaker.
braid scissors. And, be sure to use a hook
As is the case in most of the Coastal
“For trout, I’ll usually be in Baffin,
appropriate for the size of the bait.
Bend region, the waters around Aransas
fishing areas like Center Reef, or fishing
“Earlier rains have concentrated fish
Pass and Port Aransas will be full of
Alazan or Nueces. Whenever the
in some bays due to fresh water inflows.
fishermen and other boaters during July.
conditions are right, I’ll be fishing on the
That is great for fishing and great for the
Therefore, it will be advantageous for
beachfront. But, regardless of where I’m
bays. They needed to freshen a little. If the
serious fishermen to get an early start.
at, I’ll usually be throwing croaker.
water near the inflows is still a little fresh,
Not only will this allow them to avoid
“If I’m going to throw artificials for
try fishing near gulf passes and where you
the majority of the boat traffic, the fish
trout, I’ll usually run down to the Land
find big schools of bait. And, keep an eye
are more active before the temperature
Cut early, early in the morning. I’ll fish
out for working birds.”
gets too hot.
the west shore of the Land Cut. You can
Capt. Jim Garrison of Redfish Roper
Throughout July, there will be good
catch fish on topwaters early, then switch
Charters says the area between Rockport
numbers of trout along the channel edges
to plastics. The bite will only last 3 1/2 to
and Port O’Connor should be hot so long
and around deeper structure, like the
4 hours and you’ve got to leave extra early
as the heavy runoff from the Memorial
wells in Aransas and Corpus Christi bays.
to hit it right.
Day floods has made its way out of the
Redfish will be found on the flats in good
“For redfish, I’ll look in Yarborough
bays.
numbers during July.
Pass or 9-mile hole or the Upper Laguna.
“By July, the bay should be plenty
Areas like Dagger and Hogg will have
I’ll usually start off throwing topwaters –
salty, even though we had a lot of rain,”
plenty of active redfish, particularly early
MirrOlures – anything in the ‘Dog’ family.
said Garrison. “Assuming we have our
in the day. Fishermen looking for reds
A lot of times, when you can’t get them to
regular salinity, we’ll still be fishing for
should concentrate on the sand pockets
hit spoons or soft-plastics, you can still get
reds be using cut mullet and crab while
and the edges of grass beds.
them to hit topwaters.”
fishing sand pockets in back
lakes and outer shorelines of
San Antonio Bay.
“We’ll also be fishing the
reefs in San Antonio Bay
for trout using shrimp and
croakers. If I’m fishing shrimp,
I’m usually working them
under a popping cork. I’ll be
freelining the croaker. Although
I usually use shrimp with a
popping cork, but will also
freeline shrimp as well at times.
“We’ll also be on the lookout
for slicks and birds. If we see
slicks popping, diving birds or
areas with good bait working,
we’ll make drift through it. If
we get some good fish right off
the bat, we’ll keep working it. If
not, we’ll move on.
“I know we can count on
catching solid specks around
the reefs, so I won’t spend a
lot of time messing with slicks
and birds unless we’re catching
some really good fish under
them.”
42
july 2015
MIDDLE COAST
july 2015
Capt. Roy Garza who guides out of Getaway Adventures Lodge in Port Mansfield shows off a keeper trout
caught while drifting some grass beds and potholes. This pattern will continue in July.
43
Lake Roundup
By John Jefferson
I tired of writing about the weather
and ever-present drought several years
ago. It had become yesterday’s news. And
the day before that’s. But this is different.
And IS news.
Several people asked me if Lake Travis
would ever fill
again. I said, “Of
course. Always
has.”
In 1971, I
was invited to
live e lsew here
and chose a little
shack on the
bank of Travis
that Henry David
Thoreau would
not have spent
an afternoon in,
much less every
night for the next
Lake Travis’
year and a half.
Sometimes Islands
For me, though,
BEFORE the rise.
it was as close to
perfect as I could expect at the time. Travis
had always been a special place to me
since the late John L. Bell and I had spent
so many hours escaping the drudgery of
law school by chasing black bass and our
dreams of being fishermen/outdoorsmen.
Lake Travis lay down a steep descent
but more or less in front of the little
shack. The lake was hardly Thoreau’s
Walden Pond, but it was what I needed a quiet place to live and write away from
civilization and troubling problems. A
44
prolonged drought (are there any other
kinds in Central Texas?) was sapping our
strength and spirit, and the Cypress Creek
arm of Travis was only about 12-inches
wide at the time and about half that
dimension deep. My two sons dammed
it up with river rocks and authored a lake
about two-feet wide. That was it.
Then one night while I was in
Georgetown having dinner with my
mother and aunt, it started softly raining.
It soon became a storm, and by the time I
got back to the shack, a chair had caught
almost as much roof-leaked rain water as
the kid’s little dam had held. A number
of photographs in the chair were floating.
The landlord apologized and said it
had been so long since it had rained that
he had actually forgotten that the roof
leaked. His street-brawling upbringing
had earned him the nickname “Mean
Gene,” so I took him at his word and
began mopping.
The upshoot of this was that in two
or three days, Lake Travis had completely
filled. When I left town on Friday, May
22, this year, the Travis watershed had
caught enough rainfall since January 1
that the lake had risen seven feet. That was
remarkable; we were thankful. But it was
still 40 feet below full conservation pool.
As we sat in a Houston hotel room
drinking morning coffee the next day, we
learned that really severe weather coming
in from the west bore tornadoes and heavy
rain for Austin, Lake Travis and its entire
watershed. And so it came to pass. From
Friday to Sunday, the lake rose 11 feet
from 633 to 644 feet above sea mean level.
That filled it to 50% of capacity – a level it
hadn’t enjoyed for several years.
When we got back to Austin, we took
the dogs and headed out to see the new
lake. A radio station termed it Austin’s
new tourist attraction. After a
five-year drought, any increase
of ten feet or more was a cause
célèbre.
Traffic was, as expected,
heavy around the lake. The
“Sometimes Islands” were once
again islands, instead of a
peninsula connected to the
mainland on one bank.
The Sometimes Islands AFTER.
Photo by John and Vicky Jefferson
july 2015
At the boat ramp at the end of Bullick
Sheriff, who once borrowed a .38 from
my friend and journalistic colleague, Mike
Hollow, two fishermen were rigging lines.
me after a hurricane since the Galveston
Leggett, says, “I save my beers until the
Instead of asking the obvious — a Jeff
Causeway was littered with snakes fleeing
fishing is over.” Sound advice.
Foxworthy comment-inducing “Are y’all
hurricane-caused flooding. It happens
Boat ramps began opening on Travis
going fishing?” — I instead asked “Goin’ or
everywhere there is rapidly-rising water.
following the storms. At press time, seven
comin’?” They said they were just getting
Travis will continue to rise in early
public ramps were open; five were closed.
started.
June as run-off flows into and through
Three will open when safety inspections
Since the water was chocolate
the constant level lakes — Inks, LBJ
are completed. On Buchanan, which is
and swirling with sticks, logs, leaves,
and Marble Falls — and ultimately into
rising slower than Travis, the White Bluff
Styrofoam, plastic water bottles and
Park ramp should be open. See side bar
Travis. Fishing will boom as baitfish seek
other debris, I commented that the
for levels at which ramps open/close. You
the flooded lakeside vegetation, followed
catfishing ought to be pretty good. The
can also check the LCRA website for ramp
by hungry, gorging bass. Scott told me
one rigging a fly rod looked at me with a
information (www.lcra.org/parks/pages/
they’ll fall for worms, flukes, grubs and an
bored expression. He said they were bass
boat-ramp-information.aspx) or click
assortment of baits. Boaters will be able
fishermen. Not one to shun a learning
on the LCRA app if you have it on your
to cover more water, but waders along the
experience, I listened as they told about
smart phone. I do.
bank will be right in the strike zone. July
fishing there previously as the rising lake
Fishing will be exciting with all the
should be exciting.
and new habitat of drought-spawned
new shoreline cover created by droughtThe Fourth of July weekend, however,
vegetation along the shore – including
spawned vegetation. Both cover and
will see increased law enforcement
on and around the islands — had caused
structure will exist over and around the
presence from multiple agencies – all
the bass to go crazy.
Sometimes Islands. We haven’t had cover
armed with the power of arrest – on the
I was a little surprised, but curious
there like this in years. See photo.
lookout for boating while intoxicated
enough to leave them a note on their
And enjoy it while you can!
(BWI) and public intoxication (PI). As
windshield after they
CLIP AND SAVE
left asking them to call
and let me know how Just as I predicted the lakes would again fill, let me say that as surely as dawn follows darkness, drought will recur...
often during summer. These are the lake levels at which ramps open and close. Table Courtesy Lower Colorado
they had done. One of
River Authority
them named Scott called
several hours later.
“John,” he said, “we
didn’t do much good in
the swift water. But we
walked about a mile-anda-half from the (closed)
boat ramp until we got
to where the lake water
had backed up to meet
the swift, incoming water
from Cypress Creek. We
caught a couple of little
bass and I lost a nice one
near the bank as I tried
to reel it through all the
flooded brush. But what
we saw were a lot of gars
and about ten snakes!
They were everywhere!”
An earlier warning
on the radio as we
returned to Austin from
Houston said to be wary
of snakes since the rising
water had displaced so
many of them and they
were moving into new
territory, seeking new
abode. I recalled a cousin,
Tom Switzer, a Galveston
County Reserve Deputy
july 2015
45
J
uly ushers in one of the most
diverse times of the year for Texas
inshore anglers. There are lots
of available species and more areas of
productive water. But, although there are
a lot more variables at play in regards to
species, depth, and location, there is no
need for a complicated game plan. In fact,
being successful during mid-summer is as
easy as 1-2-3…
1
Inshore Angling’s
1-2-3
A simple game plan and a variety of live and
artificial options will keep anglers on fish.
Story and photography by Danno Wise
Whether fishing shallow flats, the shade of
structure, or around passes and jetties there is a
time where each location will produce fish.
46
july 2015
It all starts with location. All three of
Texas’ traditional inshore venues will be in
play come July. The fact all of these areas
will be productive allows fishermen to
spread out over a much greater expanse of
water than they have been able to during
spring. This not only allows anglers to
spread out, thus reducing the impact
of the summer crowds, but also allows
fishermen to enjoy a bit of variety in their
angling routine.
Bays – During July, almost every
stretch of bay water will be productive at
some point during the day. Again, there
are plenty of available species – speckled
trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and,
in some bays, tripletail and/or snook.
Regardless of which species they
are targeting, anglers can be productive
throughout the entire day if they
are willing to shift with the fish as
temperatures rise and fall. Essentially, fish
will be in shallower water – or nearer the
surface in deeper areas – during the cooler
portions of the day and will be found
progressively deeper as temperatures rise.
Passes & Jetties – Passes which
exchange water between the bays and the
open Gulf become extremely productive
during the summer months. Gulf water
is usually cooler than bay water, so fish
coming from areas in or near passes will
usually be a bit “spunkier” than those in
the back bays.
When incoming tides push clean,
green water into passes, fish will be in
the channel. When outgoing tides drag
dirtier, warmer bay water out into the
Gulf, fish will be hanging on the outside
of the flume of warm dirty water, waiting
on whatever prey items are swept out with
the current.
Jetties line many of these corridors to
the Gulf and are fish attracting structures.
Passes lined with jetties offer the greatest
variety of fish during summer months
– speckled trout, redfish, sheepshead,
july 2015
snook, shark,
Spanish mackerel,
kingfish, tarpon,
and mangrove
snapper are among
the regular catches
for rock hopping
fishermen.
Beachfront –
The long awaited
“green to the beach”
conditions begin
in July. Ice cream
conditions along
t h e b e a c h f ro n t
offer not only great
speckled trout
fishing, but also
the opportunity
to tangle with
Shallow running crank baits are good options once the early topwater
bite slows and allows an angler to fish the upper two or three feet of
Spanish mackerel,
the water column.
pompano, redfish,
jack crevalle and
Deep – In the afternoon, when
other species. Depending on which
temperatures peak, fish will be looking
portion of the Texas coast fishermen
for the coolest water they can find. This
are on, they may be able to reach first
will typically be in either deeper flats or
gut or two from dry sand or they may
channels, or in shaded areas. So, anglers
need to wade a bit to reach these deeper
should concentrate on channels, deep
depressions where fish concentrate. Early
shell, deep structure or shaded structure
and late, fish will be found in the first
like oil and gas platforms, bridges and
gut, then will move increasingly further
docks.
offshore as the day wears on.
Whether fishing in the bays, on
jetties, in passes or along beachfront, the
productive portion of the water column
Although many anglers believe it is
will change throughout a summer day,
necessary to switch to natural baits in
as air and water temperatures fluctuate
order to draw action during the summer
greatly during a 24 hour cycle in July.
months, a wide variety of artificial lures
Shallow — During the coolest
can be productive if utilized correctly.
portions of the day — early and late –
Topwaters – Early in the morning,
the milder water temperatures encourage
when fish are feeding in the shallows,
fish to feed in the shallows. But, the bite
topwater plugs can be very productive.
won’t last more than about an hour past
While surface plugs seem like an obvious
sunrise and won’t begin again until about
choice in bay, they are also very productive
an hour before sunset (although a hot bite
in surf or around jetties. When fishing in
can extend well after sundown, especially
back lakes and bays, small to mid-size baits
if there is a favorable tidal flow). The
tend to work best in the summer. Along
exception to this is an overcast day, which
the beachfront and jetties, full-size plugs
keeps temperatures lower than normal
produce better results.
later into the day.
Shallow runner, slow-sinkers, spoons,
Mid-depth — Once the temperatures
light jigs – When the topwater bite turns
start climbing, fish will alter their behavior
off, anglers need to utilize something that
and, often, their physical location. From
can work the upper two or three feet of
mid-morning until early afternoon, the
water column. There are a wide variety of
period of time when it is getting hotter but
artificial lures capable of being productive
the temperature is not quite at its zenith,
in this depth range. Among the most
fish will begin burying in grass or moving
productive for summer inshore action
into transition areas such as channel edges
are shallow running crankbaits, slowand deeper flats.
2
47
will vary tremendously in size.
sinking and suspending plugs,
Anglers will enjoy the most
spoons and unweighted or
consistent action using the
lightly weighted soft-plastics
most prevalent size (the size
work well.
there is the most of).
Heavy jigs, lipless cranks
However, if looking for
& deep diving plugs – During
big fish, ask for “jumbos” –
the heat of the day, when fish
especially if fishing along the
are found at depth, anglers
jetties or in Gulf passes. In the
need to utilize lures when
bay, anglers may lose many
can get down in a hurry and
jumbo shrimp to pinfish
stay low in the water column.
snacking on the shrimps’ legs,
Lipless crankbaits and deep
but often times the jumbos
diving plugs are good choices
that can avoid the onslaught
w i t h m i l d or m o der a te
of pinfish will get inhaled by
current. However, when the
jumbo trout.
current flow is strong, slim
Croaker – Probably the
profile lures are needed to
most popular live bait item
cut through current. Under
for Texas inshore fishermen
these conditions, heavy jigs
during the summer months,
and jigging spoons are better
During the heat of the day lipless crankbaits will get down to the deeper
depths where fish are holding.
croaker are generally used to
choices.
target trout, although they will
For those fishermen who
also account for a fair number of redfish
are still unwilling or unable to utilize
usually expect good results.
as well. Croaker are one of the more
artificial bait, natural baits are always
Shrimp – Whenever shrimp are present
difficult baits to keep alive, so if you don’t
productive during summer. For most
in a bay system, they can effectively be
have a large, well-functioning livewell, it
natural bait fishermen, keeping baits alive
used as bait. During summer, shrimp are
is probably best to opt for another type
can be the biggest challenge as summer
at times scarce, but when available they are
of live bait.
temperatures soar. But, anglers who
plenty productive. At some points during
Pinfish – During warm weather
are able to keep their live bait lively can
summer, shrimp dumped into livewells
months, most Texas bays are overrun with
pinfish – and just about every species of
predator fish likes to dine on pinfish. They
are especially productive around potholes
on grass flats and around docks and
pilings. The key to having a productive
pinfish is allowing it some freedom of
movement and making sure the fish is
healthy and strong enough to swim in a
somewhat natural motion.
3
Like lure fishermen, those anglers
utilizing live bait must also adapt their
tactics to keep up with the changing
conditions throughout a summer day in
order to remain productive.
Freelining – Early in the morning,
anglers should keep baits at or near
surface by freelining -- utilizing just a
hook and the bait. To avoid line twists,
anglers may want to add a barrel swivel
about 18 inches up the line. And, if they
need the bait to get a little lower in the
water column, a split shot or two can be
added about 6 to 9 inches above the hook.
Popping cork – Later in the day, as
fish move a few feet deeper, popping cork
rigs can keep baits in the productive
strike zone longer. The leader below
the cork may be anywhere from 18
to 36 inches depending on time
of day and depth of water. Some
anglers go as long as 42 inches with
a leader, but such a rig can become
unwieldy to cast.
Carolina rigs – During the heat
of the day, fish will be holding
deeper near the bottom. At this time,
utilizing a Carolina rig can be useful.
Whether using shrimp, mullet or
croaker, a Carolina rig allows bait
to be a foot or so off the bottom
and allows anglers to feel even the
slightest take. If fish are suspended
a little higher in the water column,
fishermen can use either a longer
leader or lighter egg sinker.
So, while July is the quintessential
summer month that comes will all
the trappings of summer (ie: crowds,
extreme heat, etc.), it can also be a
boon for inshore fishermen. And
rather than coming up with a
complicated plan of attack in order
to be successful, anglers need to keep
it as simple as 1-2-3.
On the lower coast snook are an option in addition
to speckled trout, redfish, and flounder.
A PLACE FOR ALL SEASONS
Relax, we’ll take care of the details!
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48
july 2015
july 2015
49
Lake Roundup
EAST TEXAS
By Matt Williams
CONROE — Back in May weather
forecasters were saying an El Nino weather
pattern was settling in. The prediction was
this summer would be cooler and wetter
than normal across most of Texas. If that’s
the case, Lake Conroe guide Butch Terpe’s
early morning Ribbit Frog pattern may be
going full tilt all month long on big bass.
“It worked real good right at first
light last July,” Terpe said. “I caught quite
few four pounders doing it. It’s definitely
something I’m going to try.”
Terpe says the frog bite is always best
at the lake’s northern reaches where the
water’s edge laps against the Sam Houston
National Forest.
He says there is an abundance of
terrestrial vegetation that grew on flats,
shorelines and points several years ago
when the lake was low. All of this cover is
flooded now, and has been holding bass
all year long.
“It’s probably going to just be an early
morning deal, but it could last a little
longer under overcast skies,” Terpe said.
“Once the sun gets up I’ll head down
south and work the main lake stuff in
deeper water, say 8-15 feet.”
The guide says he is especially fond of
old pond dams, road beds and man-made
brush piles strategically placed on points
and along channel swings. His go-to bait
is a Carolina rigged Baby Brush Hog in a
black or watermelon pattern.
“Boat docks with brush and any rock
structures also will be good places to look,”
50
Terpe said.
Conroe channel cat also will be on
the prowl this month. Terpe says the bite
is always best over baited holes in water
ranging 17-25 feet deep.
Best places to bait a spot with range
cubes or soured maize are along the San
Jacinto River, major creeks and around
the FM 1097 bridge. Terpe’s favorite bait
is a cheese, dough style bait matched with
a sponge hook. Livers and night crawlers
also can be good.
Hybrid bass also pose a great funfishing option throughout the summer,
but good electronics are essential for
finding and catching them. Terpe won’t
fish until he determines whether the
fish are suspended or holding tight to
bottom. For suspended fish, he likes to
use a Hellbender trailed by a pet spoon.
A 3/4 ounce slab gets the call if the fish
are on bottom.
NACOGDOCHES — Water levels at Lake
Nacogdoches have represented somewhat
of a see-saw pattern all year long as above
average rainfall kept the lake at full pool
or above all the way through May.
The water clarity has been stained-tomuddy, too, which didn’t bode very well
for hydrilla growth. Dirty water blocks
out the critical sunlight hydrilla needs to
grow away from the bank, so it isn’t likely
we’ll see much of a flipping pattern like
we did last summer out there in 12-13
feet of water.
Topwaters and frogs should produce
a few blow-ups early in the day around
lily pads and other shallow vegetation up
and down the lake. Once the sun gets up
it would be wise to back off and target
the deepest outside grass lines you can
find using wacky worms, Texas rigs, jigs
or a medium-diving crankbait in a shad
or perch pattern. Carolina rigging on
main lake points and Texas rigging along
channel swings also is a good bet, as is
targeting some of the deeper boat docks
with jigs or plastics.
Night fishing is also a good option,
particularly if the weather turns off hot.
Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits will get
you bit along main shorelines, or you can
camp out on points, drop offs and other
well-defined structure.
Crappie anglers won’t have near as
many options. The fish will be settled
into their summer patterns by now and
that means fishing around brush piles
exclusively. The best stuff is around the
power line crossing south to the lake
proper.
PALESTINE — Like most lakes around
eastern Texas, Lake Palestine comes into
the summer months in great shape as far
as water levels go, thanks to the plentiful
rainfall that fell across the region. The
water level as of this writing in late May
was about 2.21 feet above normal pool
and the water was stained to muddy from
one end to the other.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff
says bass, crappie, catfish and white bass
should be settled into their summer time
patterns by now. Here’s how he suggests
fishing throughout the month:
Black Bass: The guide says he likes to
start out the day in skinny water, usually
with a topwater or frog. He’ll tease the
fish around vegetation and other junk for
about 90 minutes or so, then he’ll head for
deeper water in relation to main lake and
secondary points in 5-10 feet of water.
Points with rock are best.
Catfish: Try baited holes along the
edges of the Neches River using night
crawlers, punch bait and liver. Best depth
will be around 16 feet. Areas with trees and
underwater brush can be especially good.
Crappie: Target brush piles in 18-20
feet of water using white or blue/white jigs
or live shiners on a gold aberdeen crappie
hook. Vandergriff expects the fish to be
suspended about 14 feet around the tops
of the brush piles.
White Bass: Vandergriff expects there
will be plenty of fish schooling on main
lake points towards the dam, especially
during the first hour of the day. These fish
will bust topwaters and ‘Traps so long as
the shad stay in the upper water column.
Once the bait goes down the whites
will go with them. That’s when Vandergriff
will pick up a spoon and target the first
break in depth, usually around 10-14 feet.
SAM RAYBURN — The water level
at Sam Rayburn was at 3.83 feet above
july 2015
normal as this was starting to be compiled
in mid-May. That’s about three feet lower
than it was in April, but well above the
norm for late spring. By the end of May
the lake had once again risen, at that time
to 8.46 feet above pool as torrential rains
continued to fall.
If water levels remain high into July,
willows and buck brush could be players
in the shallow bite. Fishing guide Stephen
Johnston says the outside bushes closest to
deep water will be the most likely to hold
fish that can be caught on everything from
Texas rigs to wacky worms, topwaters,
frogs and spinnerbaits.
Johnston also predicts a strong
topwater bite on Yellow Magics and
‘Spooks around flooded hay grass early
and late. Additionally, he says there
should be strong frog bite during the
midday hours around any flooded hay
grass and lily pads. This also can be a good
time to throw a Senko or wacky worm
along the outer edges of hay grass in 6-10
feet of water.
In deeper water, Johnston suggests
throwing a Texas rig worm or Strike King
6XD crankbait around any new growth
hydrilla that beginning to shoot up off
bottom.
Johnston says July crappie fishing
prospects will be restricted to brush piles
in 18-25 feet of water. He says the fish
will be suspended, so it is important to
experiment at different depths around
the brush until you find the sweet spot.
Live shiners and small jigs are the tickets.
TOLEDO BEND — T-Bend was at full
pool and in great shape as May gave way
to June. The only thing missing are the
lush hydrilla beds.
“The high water and lack of sunlight
did a number on the hydrilla here and
at Sam Rayburn,” says fishing guide
Stephen Johnston. “We’ve still got a little
up shallow and there should be some new
growth stuff showing up in 15 feet.”
Johnston is forecasting a strong
topwater and frog bite in the shallows
this month, mostly around lily pads in
water ranging 1-5 feet. He says the surface
action is usually best during the first two
hours of the day, then he’ll move to main
lake ridges in 15-30 feet where he’ll throw
assorted Strike King cranks like a 6XD,
8XD or 10XD in a shad pattern.
“The crankbait also will work around
the outside edges of any new growth
hydrilla you come across,” he said. “The
july 2015
best depth range there will be 15-25 feet.”
Johnston also pointed to night fishing
as a good option. Not only is it a great way
to beat the heat, but it’s also a good way to
catch a career fish on T-Bend.
“There are always some giants caught
over here during the summer at night,” he
said. “You can catch ‘em running the banks
with a buzz bait or a spinnerbait, but the
better fish typically come off of humps,
points, bare ridges and other structure
at 15-25 feet dragging a Carolina rig or
Texas rig.”
July also has a history of producing
scads of schooling action over main
lake ridges. The schoolies will hammer
assorted baits ranging from topwaters,
Rat-L-Traps and spoons wound quickly
through the commotion.
Crappie? No secrets, here, Johnston
says.
Brush piles are going to be the main
deal,” he said. “My guess is the best ones
will be in about 18-25 feet of water.
LIVINGSTON — Lake Livingston was
1.37 feet high and muddy as this was
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51
written. According to local fishing guide
and former BASS pro Randy Dearman,
the lake should be back to normal and
the bass will be settled into their summer
patterns by the time July rolls around,
provided the weather settles down and
rains let up in the meantime.
“I’ve never seen so much rain in my
life,” Dearman said. “Livingston didn’t
get near as high as a lot of lakes did last
spring, but there was a lot of water that
passed through. They (the Trinity River
Authority) are able to control it pretty
good.”
If this July is like most, Dearman says
the bass will be relating heavily to channel
breaks, points and other drop offs where
the water falls abruptly from shallow to
deep.
“Isolated places where the water falls
from 3-7 feet of water into 10-15 is what
I like,” Dearman said. “If you can find a
place like that with a few stumps or a lay
down or two it can be a big bonus.”
Dearman also pointed to main lake
boat docks as good places to look. The best
ones are those located in close proximity
to a channel swing, he said.
Dearman’s go-to baits this time of
year include a shad pattern Strike King
crankbait and a Texas rig Rage Craw. “A
white buzz bait also can be real good at
times,” he said. “I’ve seen times when
they will blast it all day long, even under
clear skies.”
White bass also should be getting
active on the main lake this month.
Dearman says the fish will often times
school on roving pods of shad during
the low light hours, then they will retreat
to bottom and congregate under water
humps and road beds.
“If you see birds working you need to
go investigate,” Dearman said.
The guide will use assorted topwaters
and lipless crankbaits when the fish are
busting the surface. Once they go down
he will switch to spoon or slab.
Strike King Titanium Umbrella rig with Yum Yumbrella accessory Kit (the jigheads and plastic
shad bodies) is a good option for schooling bass.
52
NORTH TEXAS
By Brian Hughes
Both the temperature AND the fishing
can be really hot during July in Texas.
The standard warnings are apply plenty
of sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and
these should definitely be taken seriously.
Having said that, some of the best
fishing I’ve ever had has come in the
hottest part of the year. Bass, sand bass
and hybrids will school on the surface
early and late in the day, and sometimes
repeatedly throughout the day, on most
of our lakes. Catfish will start the month
a little deep, but will migrate shallower as
the weather heats up. And spring rains put
North Texas lakes in the best shape they’ve
been in for the last five years or more.
Night fishing will also be a popular
pass time during the heat, and we can
expect a fantastic catch-rate in the dark
as well. The lakes can be crowded so all
hands on deck for safety. Don’t forget that
for some boaters, this will be their first
summer on the lake.
Never assume the other guy is going
to do the “right”, or safe, thing out on the
water. Keep an eye on all craft in your area
while underway, and as a good friend and
longtime guide used to say, “Lifejackets
and killswitches.”
CEDAR CREEK — Visiting with guide
Chuck Rollins over at bigcrappie.com
guide service is always a fun experience.
An outgoing guy, Chuck knows Cedar
Creek as well as anyone I ever met and his
information is always spot on.
“Our lake is in the best shape I’ve
seen it in over the last several years,” he
said recently. “We have a mud problem
because of the run-off, but that should
clear up by July.”
He mentioned the holiday crowds, “We
get a lot of weekend visitors, and a lot of
homes on the lake are vacation homes,
july 2015
so those folks come out to enjoy the lake
during the holidays. And Fourth of July is
one of the biggest. But a week later things
are back to normal. There will still be a lot
of folks out on the weekend, but nothing
like the 4th.”
The points will be holding both sand
bass and hybrids fairly shallow early in
the month, progressing a little deeper
throughout the next few weeks. “If it’s
overcast, they’ll school throughout the
day,” says Rollins. “Use ¾ oz. slabs or ¼
oz. jigheads with 2” or 2 ½” swim lures.”
Look to the 10’-18’ mark. Hybrids
will separate from the sandies later in the
month, but be in roughly the same areas.
“The schools separate, but they like the
same kind of structure, and are usually
close to each other,” he said. Hybrid
anglers will want to use ½ oz. to 3/4oz.
jigheads with 4” swim lures, the larger
baits being less appealing to the sandies.
Bigcrappie.com specializes in crappie
as the name suggests and Chuck has
definite ideas on what crappie will be
doing. “You can certainly fish the deeper
docks for crappie. If the water is still
stained it will take multiple presentations
to get a strike. I’d much rather go to
the clearer water and deeper brush and
standing timber in 12’ to 25 feet of water
where they will be concentrated, and
easier to catch.”
One other note, Chuck is one of only
a handful of people I’ve ever talked to
that fish hybrids and sandies at night. “I
don’t do trips at night anymore but in my
opinion, it is the best time to fish during
the hot summer months,” he said. “Look
to lighted docks and throw large jigs, ‘traps
and Roadrunners and such. It’s a real blast,
and you’ll catch sandies, hybrids and bass.”
PAT MAYSE — Allen Ballard at
ballardsguideservice.com is pleased with
the way Pat Mayse looks, except for the
color. “The rains brought us a lot of mud
and the color is off right now. I would
suspect that by July it will be better, but
still probably stained at best.”
For stained water he suggests bass
fishermen use dark colors. “I’d start the
day with topwaters, buzzbaits and popper
baits,” he said. “Then we’ll move out to
main lake points using Carolina-rigs
and deep diving crankbaits. I like a Lake
Fork Tackle fry in darker colors on my
Carolina rig.”
You may also want to Texas-rig the
shallow water with worms. “Again, darker
july 2015
Bass Pro Shops XPS Lazer Eye Crankbait (15-17’) in blue back/ chartreuse should be a hot bait to
fish during the heat of summer on North Texas lakes.
53
colors if the water is stained, but if it clears
up, watermelon or greens.” Later in the day
look for schooling bass, and the topwater
bite may return late in the evening.
Catfish should be near the dam. “We
see them on the dam spawning in June,
but everything has been delayed this year
so they may still be spawning in July,”
said Ballard. Use live worms, cut shad, or
prepared baits.
Crappie will be hugging the brush
in about 16’, use your jigs and minnows.
“I’d advise graphing the drops on the
lake too,” Allen said, “Pat Mayse has a lot
of drops where the crappie will gather in
the summer.”
CYPRESS SPRINGS — Allen also guides
on Cypress Springs and he has very good
things to say about Cypress’ future this
summer. “I think it may be the best bass
lake in the area since the rains filled it up.”
Early mornings begin on top with
the Yellow Magic and other topwaters.
And don’t put them away when the bite
plays out, “We usually get a really good
bit of schooling activity from the bass
throughout the day,” he suggested. “I
keep these baits handy all day for just
that reason.”
When the early morning topwater bite
slows down, Allen has a plan, “We head to
the docks with small crankbaits, smaller
worms and shaky-head rigs in watermelon
or plum apple colors. Just work the docks
and you’ll run across plenty of bass.”
One other approach works well also,
the Carolina-rig. “I’ll dip a watermelon
lizards’ tail in chartreuse dye and throw it
on a Carolina-rig, but it is a bit different
in the catching. “
Most of the time they’ll hit it on the
way up from the bottom. So lift it a lot.”
Night fishing will be with big ten-inch
worms on a Texas rig, or large bladed,
black spinnerbaits, fished around the
lights.
BONHAM — Dennis Bush has some
great lakes all within a few miles of each
other in northeast Texas. Bonham is one
of those and he’s got the fishing down pat.
Guiding on these lakes for bass has given
him an insight to their peculiar behavior.
“Because we don’t have a lot of deep
water,” said Bush, “When I tell people
to fish the deep humps they sometimes
think I’m talking about 20’ plus. But on
Bonham, deep is about 8-15 feet.” Big
worms and deep diving crankbaits will
reach down and get the fish.
He also advises to not forget about the
rocks around the lake. “There will almost
always be bass on the rocks, use a topwater
there early, before moving out deep.”
COFFEE MILL — Very near Bonham,
Coffee Mill is another small but potent
bass lake for Bush. “I’ll throw frogs,
spinnerbaits and plastics in chartreuse or
blue fleck,” he said. “You’ll need to look
for the grass, and fish the shallow points,
and the dam.”
Coffee Mill is another lake that may
still be muddy, to stained, in July, so
when fishing the points and dam areas
Dennis suggests rattling crankbaits and
chartreuse colors. “Unless it clears, then
they don’t want the rattles,” he clarified.
FORK — Hall of Fame guide Mark
Stevenson likes July on Fork, “The fish will
move out deep in huge schools and run
the main lake humps, channels and points.
When you find them you can catch a lot of
fish in one place.” Try fifteen to twenty-five
feet, depending on the thermocline, with
deep-diving crankbaits.
Texans Are “Talking”about
Texas Outdoors Journal
“Hunting AND Fishing
every month!
That’s great!”
“I love the new look of
your covers.”
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to cover every month.”
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should be covered.”
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TOJ.”
“Lake Roundup even
talks about the smaller
East Texas lakes I fish.”
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to count to 12!!”
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“TOJ just keeps getting
better, and better.”
Watermelon/red with a dash of
chartreuse on the tail is a good color
choice for the Senko, as is chartreuse/
pepper.
Jigs can be black/blue brown and
orange or a greenish brown. Toss them
into all of the thick cover you can find,
especially where pads, grass and timber
come together. Main lake points call for
the Carolina-rig or drop-shot approach,
as well as the Alabama rig.
Use French-fry type worms on the
Carolina rig, while the drop-shot will
naturally have the small finesse worms
and the ‘Bama rig will be tipped with the
swim-bait type lures. You can also take
these set-ups to the road beds and deep
humps to catch bass.
Night fishing will also be well underway
as anglers try to beat the heat and the bass.
“Start halfway back in the creeks around
3-8 feet with buzzbaits and spinnerbaits,
and then work your way out to around
ten feet with a 3/8ths ounce jig or ten-inch
worm,” says Stevenson.
Personally, I prefer to use the biggest
worms I can find. Eight inch, 10 inch, and
even larger worms will lower the odds that
a small fish will take your bait. That means
you are fishing for fewer bites, but the ones
you get will be quality fish. Black/blue, red
shad and blue fleck lead the list of colors
I’ll start with. Lighted ramps, docks and
marinas are good places to start at night.
The crappie at Fork will be on the
bridges and timbered points in about 15
feet of water. At the bridges remember
that the vertical columns represent only
a portion of the cover crappie use.
Far more important are the horizontal
support members that you can’t see,
below the surface. Drop a ¼ ounce lead
weight down between the columns and
count it down ‘til it stops, then count
your jig down at a rate of two to one. A
ten count with the weight means about a
twenty count with a crappie jig. Or, you
can actually measure the line used with
the weight, and then measure out your
offering to match.
Any way you cut it, July fishing will
be hot. Pre-hydrate before you get on the
water and stay hydrated while you’re there,
use plenty of good sunscreen, wear good
sunglasses and you’ll be in fine shape to
tackle this months’ fishing challenges!
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54
“Once I’ve located fish I’ll double back
with a jig or worm,” he explained. “We use
a ¼ ounce weight on 15-17 pound test line
and an eight inch LFT worm.”
Of course, July will also see schooling
fish on top and those can be large bass at
Fork. “We’ve caught many fish over nine
pounds out in the schools,” says Mark,
“Usually they are smaller than that, but
you need to be ready for a big bass at any
time on this lake.”
Make sure your drag is set properly,
check your line often for nicks and fraying,
and keep a sharp point on your hooks.
And I wouldn’t fish anything less than 17
lb. test. Mark can get away with lighter
line but he knows the lake well enough to
know where the danger lies. The rest of us
should be extra prepared with bigger lines.
The Alabama rig has become one of his
favorites for schooling bass, “Of course,
topwaters will work, but for schoolies I
like the Alabama rig. These seem to catch
bigger fish,” he opines. The pads will hold
some bass shallow and be good for those
that want to flip and pitch jigs and worms
around the openings, and fish the Senko
around the edges.
East HWY 82 | Gainesville
940-665-9331
july 2015
july 2015
www.northtexasmarine.com
1100 NE Loop 820 | Fort Worth
817-246-2100
55
SALTWATER JOURNAL | Mark Sosin
Fish Smell
I t ’s e a s i e r t o
understand fish and
fish behavior if you
learn how they are
motivated. Too many
of us apply human
characteristics to fish or
other animals, a process
referred to by scientists
as anthropomorphism.
The sense of smell
is a prime example.
Since our own sense of
smell is not extremely
important to us, it’s
easy to discount it in
fish, particularly since
they live in a watery
environment.
Redfish rely on their sense of smell to find
food. That’s why it is easier to catch them on
natural bait or with a bait hanging from a
popping cork.
A fish, on the other hand, has a
highly developed olfactory sense that is
extremely complex, forming the largest
part of a fish’s brain. That alone is enough
to tell us that its sense of smell is essential
to a fish’s survival. Science has discovered
many fascinating and useful facts about
the sense of smell in fishes, demonstrating
that certain species can locate food or
danger with incredible sensitivity.
As a general rule, you can assume that
if a fish species prefers muddy or turbid
water or shows a preference for feeding
at night, it has a highly developed sense
of smell. Fish that boast a keen sense of
smell are usually easier to take on natural
bait than on artificial lures. Smell will
lead them a long distance to a bait under
conditions of poor visibility.
Fish can
sense a far
greater range of
odor-producing
chemicals in
the water than
we can in the
air. The salmon
is the textbook
example. It
can navigate
hundreds and
even thousands
of miles from the
open ocean to the
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july 2015
structure that might hold fish and far
by a fish in distress.
river of its birth for spawning using smell
enough away so the chum sinks to fisheye
One exception is the mako shark
alone for navigation.
level. The slick must be continuous.
which has rather good eyesight and
Like any air-breathing animal, a
About the time the last bit dips out of
often feeds visually, although it can still
fish has two nostrils in its snout. Each
sight, it’s the right moment to ladle in
smell and hear its prey. The mako will
nostril leads to a separate olfactory organ.
more chum and that holds even if you
hit an artificial if it is presented within
Unlike air breathers, a fish’s nostrils don’t
are fighting a fish. Experience has shown
the shark’s field of vision. Blacktips have
connect to the throat. Instead, each ends
that oily fish make better ground chum
better than average vision for a shark and
in a shallow chamber lined with a sensory
because the odor carries farther and the
can often be taken on artificials.
pad of epithelium so highly developed
oil causes a slick on the surface. If you
Sharks combine their extreme
for detecting odors that it contains a halfneed to bring fish up from deeper water,
sensitivity to smell with a rapid and
million olfactory cells for each square inch
mix the chum with sand.
extremely accurate directional ability.
of surface.
Even though most gamefish rely
They often swim a zigzag rather than
Good odor perception requires
on sight for the final attack, smell often
a straight course. The instant a shark
that water from the fish’s surroundings
alerts them to the presence of food and
senses an odor, it begins a search pattern,
be moved rapidly over the olfactory
its location. In deeper water or during
working left when the odor is stronger in
cells. Fish that hunt by smell have an
periods of low light, if you hang a piece
the left nostril and swinging right when it
arrangement to circulate the water at a
of fresh natural bait on a leadheaded
becomes stronger in the right nostril. This
fast speed. Thousands of tiny hair-like
bucktail or some other artificial, scientists
leads the shark to the source of the odor
structures (called cilia) pulse in sequence,
tell us that the number of strikes will
rapidly where it hopes to find a wounded
forcing the water down through the
increase. That’s why it is so important to
fish that will make an easy meal.
chamber. Some species supplement this
change natural bait frequently. You want
The whole theory of chumming is
pumping arrangement by contracting and
to benefit from maximum smell. And
based on the ability of fish to track prey
expanding a portion of the nasal chamber
the quality of the bait you get is equally
through the sense of smell. Chumming
each time the gill covers are moved for
important.
can work in two ways. It could attract
breathing.
Most of us seldom consider smell as
your target species or it might attract
Research has shown that redfish are
a critical factor because our own olfactory
smaller fish which in turn will lure the
notoriously nearsighted. They will strike
senses don’t play a significant role in our
bigger guys into the slick. The key to any
an artificial lure if it is placed right in front
eating three meals a day. For a fish, it
chumming is moving water. Whether it is
of them or close enough where they can
translates to survival. I know I’m going to
the tide or a current, the flow must carry
see it. However, reds rely on their sense of
pay more attention to smell in the future
the tidbits and the smell to where you
smell to find food. That’s why it is easier to
when I’m fishing and I suggest that you
suspect the fish are holding.
catch them on natural bait or with a bait
do, too.
You want to be upcurrent from any
hanging from a popping cork.
Perhaps the
best example of a
species that relies
on smell as its
main sense for
finding food is
the shark. Some
sharks have
an olfactory
apparatus so
developed that
it occupies twothirds of their
entire brain.
The eyesight of
most sharks is
unquestionably
poor and they
compensate for
this by using
smell and sound
(vibrations in the
water) to locate
food. They can
Photo courtesy Capt. Gencho Buitureira
easily hear the
The
best
example
of
a
species
that
relies
on
smell
as
its
main
sense
for
finding
food is the shark.
sounds given off
57
july 2015
GUNS ‘N STUFF | Harold Gunn
REPUBLIC FORGE: Texas Proud, One Gun at a Time
Located in
grips of ivory and beautiful mammoth
Perryton, Texas at the
ivory. They offer a Damascus slide with
tip of the Panhandle
each one unique due to the process.
above Amarillo, they
Available calibers include .45 ACP,
are proud to be Texas
10mm, .40 S&W, .38 Super and 9mm.
owned with the goal
Models go from The General, an Officers
to create world-class,
size with 31/2-inch barrel, to The Predator
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with a 6-inch barrel. Among other choices
custom Model 1911
in between are The Patriot, Commander
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firearm is hand-crafted
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from start to finish by
barrel. Add to this the fact they welcome
one gunsmith, one
special requests.
gun at a time!
Each Republic Forge 1911 begins with
Although you
premium steel frames and slides handmight find a finished
fitted and mated to the finest quality
product at a dealer
barrels and components available. By
that hits your hot
example, here is how my test pistol was
button, the Republic
constructed.
Forge strategy is to
It is a Republic Forge Patriot model,
allow the end user to
Commander size with a 41/4-inch Kart
go online and design
Match Grade barrel with 45-degree
their dream gun from
crown in .45ACP. The Carry Cut frame
The Republic Forge Patriot Commander on paper.
scratch. The selection
with beveled mag well and slide with
and customization process is quick and
front cocking serrations are Burnt Bronze
“Curb Appeal” is the term used in the
easy thanks to simple navigation, detailed
Cerakote, with Graphite Black Cerakote
automotive industry to describe that first
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controls and Texas Star hammer. The
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This “Build Your Own” application opens
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checkering and the top of the slide has
carry bag and pulled out my test pistol
Online you have a shopping list that
20LPI serrations.
from Republic Forge I was holding the
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The sights are The Ledge developed by
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has to be the Colt Government Model of
finish that is much more wear, corrosion
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1911 in .45ACP. As creative and prolific
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resistant than
the amazing number of iterations and
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re-conceptions that have occurred to a
or stainless steel.
design that was already perfect.
Sight options
Republic Forge’s versions may be the
include Novak
best ones yet. As founder and President
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58
july 2015
safety is beavertailed
and humped and the
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grab your hand.
The Tri-Cavity
trigger has a
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for self protection.
Remember if you
ever have to drop
the hammer on a
predator, the lighter
the trigger the
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The ignition parts
General Officers with Damascus slide.
are all from Cylinder
Straight Eight Night Sight configuration
& Slide and the custom carry case holds
consists of a tritium dot in the front and
two Tripp Research Cobra Magazines.
a slightly smaller tritium dot in the rear.
I was more anxious to get The Patriot
When aligning this sight picture, one
to the range than I have been for some
dot is on top of the other dot making an
time when it comes to testing. It is like
elongated figure eight. The tritium dots
someone loaning you a Bentley with a
have a 10 year warranty.
full tank of gas and saying, “Drive it like
A heads up, if you rack the slide with
you stole it.” This gun is built to such tight
an overhand grip, quickly remove your
tolerances I ran a box of 50 rounds of
hand when you let go to avoid unnecessary
inexpensive full metal jacket ammunition
serrations on your palm. The Caspian grip
through it just to smooth the process for
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I would recommend a 500 round break
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After the first 50 shots I loaded up
with the outstanding Winchester Train
and Defend. This ammunition features
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having a flat nosed full metal jacket
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I calmed down the next three were a clover
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59
1:35 PM
TEXAS OFFSHORE | Mike Holmes
The “Lure” of Offshore Fishing
Good Kingfish/dolphin lure combinations include the Tuna Clone with a plastic baitfish trailer
(left) scoop-faced “bubbler” lure with imitation ballyhoo (far right), and a home made bluntfaced “pusher” of PVC pipe with a plastic and lawn-chair skirt.
A few years ago, I was acquainted
with a fisherman who regularly trolled
a Barbie Doll behind the boat offshore.
I never knew if he rigged it with hooks
and a skirt, or just pulled it as a teaser –
but he claimed it was “hit” by game fish
fairly regularly. The purpose of revealing
his secret is not to have fathers raid their
children’s toy boxes before going fishing,
but rather to get the point across that at
some time or another, a fish of some kind
will likely hit just about anything moving
through the water.
To take this a bit further, several times,
while anchored over bottom structure
offshore I have seen a lure such as a large
lipped floating/diving plug exploded on
by king mackerel while it was drifting
unattended behind the boat, moved only
slightly by whatever surface current might
have been running that day – so fish will
also hit things that might NOT be moving
through the water. To be successful at
trolling offshore, however, an approach
somewhere between these two extremes
will normally be more productive.
Freshwater bass fishermen are faced
with an untold number of choices of
artificial lures they must choose from to
successfully fool their quarry, as it seems
sometimes that the lure makers spend as
much time trying to “catch” the fishermen.
Saltwater anglers also have many lure
types, colors, and actions to pick from, but
they can expect to be productive with a
much smaller number of offerings – even
though (or perhaps because?) they will
likely pull those lures past many more
species of fish in a much greater range of
sizes.
When I was a young man growing up
between Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend
lakes in East Texas, I absolutely detested
trolling. In those days trolling for bass
usually meant tying on a Hellbender and
dragging the bottom with it until you
hung up on a snag or saw a small fish
flopping on the surface as the boat pulled
him hopelessly along.
In the open Gulf of Mexico, trolling
is a whole different game. There is much
more water to be covered and generally
more numbers and types of fish. When
a nice king mackerel, wahoo, or bull
dolphin takes a lure, there is nothing
boring about the action to follow – and no
doubt about having a hook-up. Although I
have certainly been known to experiment
with different types of trolling lures, and
even sometimes make my own, experience
has led me to settle on a rather limited
lure selection to be used in differing
conditions, and on different species.
Po s s i b l y t h e f i r s t s u cce s s f u l
commercially offered trolling lures were
the “Japanese Feathers” – so named
because Japanese commercial fishermen
likely developed them. A very simple
lure consisting of a plated lead head with
a skirt made of died chicken feathers,
feather jigs have caught untold numbers
of kingfish and “bonito” – properly Little
Tunny or false albacore. When the feathers
are eaten off, the heads can be dressed
with plastic skirts which will give the user
a much broader selection of colors, have
very good action, and last longer.
Once, in a kingfish tournament out of
Freeport on a friend’s boat, the only lure I
had among the tackle I brought with me
was a “feather” with a pyramid shaped
head I had re-skirted with yellow lawn
chair strands under an orange plastic skirt,
using a large plastic curly-tailed “worm”
as a trailer.
My buddy told me when I was tying it
on “You’ll never catch a fish on that ugly
little lure!” Pulling it pretty much in the
wake just behind the transom, using a “tiedown” clip to keep it in the water, EVERY
fish we caught that day came on this “ugly
little lure.” Pulling it close also gave us a
great view of kings tracking and hitting it,
a couple jumped pretty high after being
hooked, and at least one made an aerial
attack on it – leaping high and slashing
down on the lure from above!
While I have become a strong advocate
of the big plastic worms in orange and red
Good trolling plugs for offshore that might draw strikes for kings, wahoo, or tuna are the lipped
diving type and the weighted Giant Trembler, which also has rattles molded inside.
as trolling jig trailers, a natural bait like a
cigar minnow also works well. To sort of
even things out after my triumph with the
jig, my buddy once took a metal Russell
Lure and wadded a big collection of squid
on it – using all of its treble hooks to hold
the bait – and chunked the whole mess
overboard as a trolling lure. Amazingly,
he caught a decent ling on the thing.
For my money, Seven-Strand
improved the feather jig concept years ago
when they introduced the “Tuna Clone”.
In spite of the large sounding name, this is
a small lead-head jig with a skirt that also
encloses the head of the lure, which I think
gives it and extra sleek motion through
the water (even though that is not always
a good thing). This lure is made in many
colors, and serves to demonstrate that
color does matter in offshore trolling, as
While the banana-shaped metal lure in the center is a great trolling lure, the heavy diamond
jigs flanking it are among the very best choices for deep water jigging when tuna, amberjack, or
even big red snapper and grouper might be targeted.
60
july 2015
july 2015
different colors have proven to be more
attractive to different species.
In my experience, kings have preferred
red and white or sablefish – a sort of
reddish/orange with a slight black pattern
– but bonito will also get all over those red
and white ones! Bonito absolutely love
the blue and white ones, while green and
white is sort of a crap shoot, and could
raise about anything.
These lures can be trolled at a pretty
good cruising speed as long as they stay in
the water – which might require pulling
them pretty far behind the wake – or
with a transom clip - and will catch fish
at any speed.
Using a Tuna Clone as a skirt for a
natural bait like a ballyhoo also works very
well, and especially on the edge of a weedline where other lure types might become
entangled with weed. With the tapered
head and the hook buried in the trailing
bait they will slide through a lot of weed.
Big “swimming minnow” lures like
the large Rapala or Rebel type produce
well on kings at slower speeds, especially
around a rig or other surface “structure”.
Sometimes bumping the engines in and
out of gear to allow the lure to float up a
bit, then jerking forward quickly will work
with a hard-to-hook fish like ling.
This method also works especially
well when trolling across the stern of an
anchored shrimp boat with any lure or
even natural bait, and “bump-trolling”
along side a weed-line or in the chumline behind a culling shrimp boat can be
deadly.
The most productive yet least
impressive appearing trolling lure for
fish like kings, dolphin, and ling I’ve ever
used is probably the little “Duster” leadTEXAS OUTDOORS Journal
61
head jig that uses Christmas-tree tinsel
for skirting. When positioned ahead of a
cigar minnow, ballyhoo, or even mullet
these little lures will often out-produce
anything else!
An interesting tactic when trolling
for smaller gamefish like king mackerel
is to pull large lures intended for billfish
or tuna. The smaller billfish lures like the
little Softheads and miniature versions
of blunt head pushers or poppers will
draw hits from kings and dolphin with
or without a bait trailer, and might also
bring in a stray wahoo or sailfish even in
shallower waters.
On slow days I have sometimes
dropped a full-sized Yap back among
my kingfish lures, and gotten some
spectacular hits from big kings and
wahoo.
When we used to marlin fish around
the Cerveza Rigs out of Freeport we
would sometimes swing around some of
the Intersection Rigs on the way in and
catch amberjack on marlin lures pulled
slow close to the pipes. Occasionally, a
large shark will decide to unload on one
of these lures.
To turn this around, a fellow I knew
many years back found himself out of Port
O’Connor in his center console on a flat
day just made for a long offshore run. He
was not equipped with “blue-water” lures,
so he when he hit deep water he pulled
feather jigs with bait trailers and brought
in a pair of nice yellow fin tuna, proving
that just as large lures will catch smaller
fish, so will smaller lures tempt bigger
Either the traditional bucktail jig with a soft plastic tail or the heavier, larger weighted jig with
an icefish (cigar minnow) trailer will pay off when deep jigged around rigs or over structure, just
possibly for different sized fish.
prey.
If your taste in jig fishing runs more
to actual jigging than trolling, just about
any of the weighted head versions can be
used to catch big red snapper, amberjack,
and grouper around rigs or over natural
bottom structure. “Buck-tail jigs” are
pretty much the standard for this type
of fishing – especially with a natural bait
“sweetener”, but plastic skirts produce
well, too.
The time honored metal “Diamond
Jig” is one of the best lures for this, as it
sinks well and fast with a lot of flash in the
water, then “jigs” back up with the jerky
action of a wounded bait fish. Big metal
jigs are also favorites for tuna around
deeper rigs at night.
Of course, no metal offshore lure
has gained more fame on the Texas coast
than the time-honored Russell Lure or
its clone, the King Getter. These vaguely
banana shaped half-pipe lures will catch
more king mackerel and jack crevalle than
anything else. They are marketed in silver,
gold, blue and sometimes you might find
one in red.
Archie Robinson, who used to market
the King Getter after Joe Pennek of
Freeport stopped making them, always
said that his “dolphin” color was his
favorite. Silver and gold have always
worked best for me, although I was assured
it is impossible to pull a blue one past a
jack crevalle without getting an
immediate and crashing strike.
There are two reasons I
really don’t like them, and one
is they pull with such a violent
side-to-side action that it takes
a strong rod and heavy line to
handle them.
Also, I have an aversion to
all those treble hooks – having
once had the front hook from
one of these lures imbedded in
the flesh above my knee while a
25 pound king thrashed on the
back hook. They do catch fish,
just be careful.
Whichever lure an
angler chooses to pull behind
his boat in August, the Texas
Smaller lures of the type designed for marlin and tuna will work closer inshore for kings, dolphin, and
Gulf is likely to reward with fast
the occasional shallow water wahoo. The large Yap on top has been pulled from Port Eads, Louisiana to
Mazatlan, Mexico - and some of the scars on the head were inflicted by big kingfish off Freeport.
action.
62
july 2015
Lake Roundup
SOUTH TEXAS
By Danno Wise
South Texas lakes have spent the early
part of 2015 with fairly low water levels.
However, heavy rains that occurred
during late May should help raise the
level on most South Texas reservoirs.
Unfortunately, those rains hit too close
to the deadline for this issue to be able to
fully see what the impact would be. But,
it is anticipated several lakes could return
to near pool level.
The rising water levels will certainly
improve access on most lakes, which will
result in lots of summer crowds. But, more
water also means more areas for everyone
to spread out over. However, it also means
more places for fish to spread out.
So, at least initially, the extra water
may make it a bit tougher for fishermen
to locate fish. But, on lakes that have been
severely low for a long time, there will
be a lot of newly flooded brush, which
will provide additional structure for fish.
Overall, there isn’t really a downside to
having lakes at or near capacity again,
but it will take a bit of adjustment for
fishermen used to fishing near empty
reservoirs.
But, no matter how much (or little)
water is in a given lake, it is still summer,
which means fish will still be seeking cooler
water. Anglers should be concentrating on
deep water structure and shaded areas.
Then again, if new fresh water continues
to enter reservoirs throughout June, water
temperatures may end up being a bit
cooler than normal during July, which
could result in a bit more shallow water
64
action.
In addition to black bass, July will also
see plenty of panfish action. This, coupled
with consistent catfishing, makes July an
excellent time for family fishing. There
will be plenty of hungry fish ready to
grab a grasshopper, cricket, nightcrawler
or small jig under practically any dock or
overhanging tree. This simple fishing can
provide kids with hours of enjoyment.
COLETO CREEK – According to
Victoria bass pro Dennis Lala, July won’t
be much different than late June – fish
will be in a summer pattern which means
fishermen should be looking on the
outside edges of the grass beds.
“This is the time of year when we start
working the outside edge of the grass
using a Texas rig, Wacky Worm or a real
light Carolina rig,” said Lala. “We don’t
have as much hydrilla as we used to, but
we have plenty of coontail grass. The fish
will be working along the edges of that
coontail grass, feeding.
“For the most part, I’ll be fishing
in 12 feet of water or deeper, working
Carolina-rigged plastics along the grass
edges. You want to use a real light Carolina
rig – nothing heavier than an 1/8-ounce
jig. Sometimes I’ll just use a split shot.”
“There’s a lot of worms and jerkbaits
that will work this time of year, but my
favorites are a Berkley Power Jerkshad
or a GULP! Shaky Worm. My favorite
colors are June Bug, watermelon/red,
watermelon/candy or Red Shad. We do
have a good topwater bite in July. You’ve
got to get there really early, but if you do,
you can have some real good action. I like
throwing a Frenzy Popper around the
grass beds and up against the shoreline.
But, once the sun gets up, you might as
well put it away because the fish will move
out deeper.
They will get going on top a little bit
late in the day, but the rest of the time
they’ll be on the outside edge of the grass
beds.”
MEDINA – Jim Gallagher of Jim’s
ReBait Tackle says that Medina Lake
is still low, but unexpected rainfall
could improve the situation heading
into summer. Regardless of lake level,
Gallagher says fish will be in a summer
pattern, which means they will find the
deepest water they can.
“We did get some pretty good rain
in late May,” said Gallagher. “Which was
kind of unexpected. We’re still really low
and, once we enter this time of year, about
the only thing that will change that is a
major storm of some sort. So, that rain
helped, but I really expect the lake to be
low through the summer.
“Really, the biggest problem has been
access. Fishing’s been okay. And, during
the summer, sometimes it helps to have
the lake a little low. It puts a lot more
deep structure in play - places that would
normally be a little too deep to fish.
“Overall, I expect this July to be pretty
much like a normal July, which means
we’ll be in a summer pattern. Main lake
and secondary points will still be the key.
We will still have a good topwater bite
early, like before the sun comes up. Fishing
will be good late as well and at night.
Otherwise, fish will be really deep. You
can see them on the surface every now and
then. But most of ‘em will be deep. Some
folks have success by running downriggers
with Pet spoons or KT spoons and doing
figure eights around the islands in 30 – 35
feet of water. Chrome or white are the
best colors.
“Catfish and perch are always catchable
on this lake. Which makes it a perfect place
for families and kids to come. For catfish,
the key is depth. During the day, those
fish will probably be in about 20 feet of
water, but during the evening and at night,
they’ll move into 2 to 10 feet of water to
feed. Perch are even easier. Anywhere you
find shade, you’ll find perch.”
CHOKE CANYON – Choke Canyon
has also seen its water level swing wildly
in recent years. Just before deadline for
this month’s issue, the watershed got quite
a bit of rain, but it’s too early to tell how
much the lake will rise.
But, regardless of water level, most
bass on Choke Canyon will be hanging
around hydrilla for the next few months.
By mid-July, the hydrilla should be matted
over on the surface of the lake. During the
middle of summer, these grass beds make
for a great starting point for fishermen
looking to bag some bass.
july 2015
Even on the hottest of days, the early
morning hours will see fairly good shallow
water activity against the banks and over
the tops of the grass beds. Noisy topwaters
are always productive on Choke. Tried
and true favorites such as the Rebel Pop
R and various buzzbaits work well. Once
the grass reaches the surface, weedless
frogs, which can be retrieved through the
densest portion of the grass beds without
fouling, will be the go-to baits for most
fishermen.
Later in the day anglers will need to go
deep to continue catching bass. The best
ways to target deep water bass on Choke
is by either punching through grass beds,
fishing the outside edges or working over
deep main lake structure like tank dams.
There will also be plenty of fish up the
river.
Anglers should again concentrate on
the deeper structure, in this case, flooded
timber and the channel edges. Texasrigged lizards and deep-diving cranks will
be the best deep water offerings for big
bass on Choke during July.
FALCON LAKE – Most fish in Falcon
Lake will be holding on deep structure
during July. Points, ledges and rockpiles
will all produce fish. Deep-diving
crankbaits, swimbaits and jumbo softplastics are the best bets for drawing
strikes from fish holding on deep structure
in Falcon during the summer months.
Anglers wanting to work visible
structure can always spend the early part
of the day fishing the flooded brush that
rings much of Falcon’s perimeter.
During the early morning hours,
spinnerbaits and surface plugs will draw
plenty of attention. However, this shallow
water bite won’t last long once the sun
is high in the sky. There should also be
some schooling bass in the main lake
during July. When these fish are found,
they’ll hit just about any fast-moving
bait. Catfish and hybrid stripers will give
anglers a couple other options during
mid-summer.
Catfish should be good up the river,
while hybrids will be consistent down by
the dam. Like the largemouth population,
the hybrids will spend most of their time
down deep.
Although they can be easily caught
when they are found schooling on the
surface, anglers looking to consistently
produce fish during July should either
troll or use vertical jigging techniques to
produce consistent catches of hybrids.
july 2015
WEST TEXAS
By TOJ Staff
So much of our conversations about
fishing in recent months and years has
centered around rainfall or the lack
thereof as well as declining lake levels.
For much of Texas, the conversation
remains the same except it is now about
the rising levels of many of our lakes and
the impact the increased water levels
will provide. Check out the TOJ website
under “For Anglers” – Freshwater for daily
update under Water Data For Texas.
AMISTAD — “Big Friendly” is a huge
impound and over recent months has
continued a fairly steady rise.
However, this part of Texas did not
receive the torrential rains that fell just
to the north and west. Last July this lake
was over 45 feet low. At the start of June
it was about 28 feet low, a deficit that has
been fairly stable this year.On the fishing
side, there is plenty of flooded vegetation
with some good catches being reported.
Lipless crankbaits, topwater lures, frogs,
buzzbaits and square billed crankbaits
have all produced black bass.
Jigs and Texas rigged baits have also
bee good options to probe vertical timber.
Stripers continue to be active in front
of the dam. Big RedFins or slabs have
caught fish. So has cut bait for those
drifting this area. Catfishing has been
good in water 18.25 feet deep. Cut bait
and prepared baits have been best.
O.H. IVIE — For most of this year this
popular big bass producer has held fairly
steady between 43 and 45 feet low. As of
the first of June it had risen to less than 43
feet low despite some heavy rains falling
in the area. One would have to question
if downstream commitments were calling
for excess water levels to be released.
Summertime on Ivie means topwater
lures early and late or running and
gunning for schooling bass. When fishing
the schools look for all three species of
bass (black, white, and smallmouth) to be
available. Small topwater lures like Pop ‘Rs
will add to the excitement of this action.
BROWNWOOD — Last month’s
report said this popular lake was 12 feet
low. With torrential rains falling across its
watershed Brownwood is less than a foot
low as of June 1 and maybe full as this
issue is read. Look for an explosion of bass
activity around newly flooded vegetation.
Topwater lures, frogs, buzzbaits will be
the first choice early and late. On overcast
days this action could last well into the
morning hours. Lipless crankbaits and
spinnerbaits are good options to fish right
along the first drop. Once fish are located
Texas rigged worms or creature baits are
good options. Crappie angler may have to
do some searching for bursh piles. Plus
there will be an opportunity to create
some new habitat for papermouths.
HIGH PLAINS
By TOJ Staff
ALAN HENRY — Just after last
month’s deadline was completed this
lake’s watershed received a drenching and
rose over 10 feet in a week’s time. Through
the month of May and up to the first of
June it has held fairly steady at a few inches
over conservation pool.
Look for newly flooded vegetation
to hold most of the promise. Jigs, Texas
rigs, square-billed crankbaits and lipless
crankbaits will be first choices for many
through the majority of the day. Early and
late topwater lures and buzzbaits will be
good options. The flooded vegetation will
also be a good place for baitfish to hatch
and hide. The key may be to downsize and
match the size of available forage. Other
lakes in the region also caught some water,
but reports were very spotty at press time.
White River had come up about 15 feet
and was 15 feet low. Stamford had risen
over 13 feet and was just under four feet
low and on a rise.
65
Guides, Gear & Getaways
TACKLE TIPS & TECHNIQUES | Danno Wise
Cool, Deep, & Shady Coastal Hot Spots
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TACKLE TIPS & TECHNIQUES | Danno Wise
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july 2015
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july 2015
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71
Deadline for the August calendar is June 25, 2015
use for this clinic or you may bring your
own. Children 7 years or older as well
as adults are welcome to participate.
For more information and registration
call (830) 644-2252.
Outdoor Calendar
THROUGH SEPTEBMER 7,
C.C.A. S.T.A.R. Tournament, statewide.
For more information call (713) 6864222 or visit www.ccatexas.org.
JULY 1, 4, 11, 15, 18, 25,
Fly Tying Demonstration, Allen. TPWD
volunteers from the Dallas Flyfishers
Club will be on hand to show you how
easy and fun it is to tie a fly. This free
demonstration is open to beginners
and novice fly fishers. Equipment and
materials provided, or bring your fly
tying tools if you have them. Held at
Cabela’s on Highway 75. 6:00 p.m.- 9:00
p.m. For more in-formation call (972)
618-6714.
JULY 2,
Underwater Discovery, Inks State Park,
Burnett. Venture into the shallow waters off the lake shore with a seining net
and see what you can find! Learn about
aquatic life like minnows, bugs, and
plants. Participants should be prepared
to get wet as you will be wading into
water several feet deep, though getting
into the water is not required. 10:00 –
11:00 a.m. For more information call
(512) 793-4689.
JULY 3, 10, 17, 24, 31,
Fishing with the Ranger, Inks Lake State
Park, Burnet, Every Friday of the month
- 5:00-6:00 p.m. Up to 30 participants
for free catch and release instructional
program. No fishing license required
while on state park property. We will
supply the poles and the worms. Free
with park entrance fee. Call (512) 7932223 for more information.
JULY 4,
H-E-B Fireworks on the Brazos, Washington-on-the-Brazos, Washington.
Celebrate our na-tional independence
at the “Birthplace of Texas!” Includes a
fun-filled day of family activities and a
fabulous fireworks show in the park.
JULY 4,
Fireworks at the Fishery, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens. Free fishing
72
until 8:30 p.m. 5:00 - 10:00 p.m. For
more information call (903) 670-2266.
JULY 7,
Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation
fundraiser banquet, Brenham. For
information and reservations call (903)
227-2006.
JULY 9 – 12,
80th Annual Deep Sea Roundup Fishing Tournament, Port Aransas. Deep
Sea Roundup includes Offshore, Bay
Surf, Fly Fishing and Junior Division
plus a free Piggy Perch contest for
the little guys and gals. Registration
includes an open bar on all three
nights plus a shrimp dump on registration night and full meals on Friday
and Saturday nights. The “Roundup”
is considered the best value among
the Texas Coastal Tournaments. For
registration, rules and entry information call (361) 215-5928 or visit www.
deepsearoundup.com.
JULY 10,
Hill Country Chapter National Wild
Turkey Federation fundraiser banquet,
Fredericksburg. For information and
reservations call (830) 889-5819.
JULY 10, 17, 24,
Fishing With A Ranger, Martin Dies Jr.
State Park, Jasper. Join Ranger Amy to
discover the essentials of fishing, how
to tie basic knots, place a bobber, and
enjoy the sport of fish-ing. Bring your
own bait. There are a limited amount
of fishing poles available for this event.
Meet at the Walnut Ridge fishing pier
in the shelter loop. 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. For
more information call 409-384-5231.
JULY 10,
Midlothian Chapter Ducks Unlimited
30 Gun Raffle Night, Midlothian. For
information and tickets call (422)
664-9559.
JULY 11,
San Jacinto Strutters Chapter National
Wild Turkey Federation fundraiser banquet, Coldspring. For information and
JULY 11,
Lone Star Chapter Mule Deer Foundation fundraiser banquet, Austin. (512)
633-7519.
JULY 11,
Lake Limestone’s Annual Kidfish Derby,
Lake Limestone Campground and
Marina, Jewett. Kids 4-12 bring your
parents and let’s fish. Equipment and
instruction available along with great
fishing, camping and outdoor prizes,
trophies for every conceivable reason.
Hot dog, drink and ice cream provided
for each contestant. 8:00 a.m. until
noon. Produced by Joe King of KNES
radio. For more information call (903)
389-5637 or (903) 626-4119.
JULY 13,
Angler Education Instructor Certification Workshop, Belton. Free workshop
open to anyone 18 or older interested
in teaching fishing skills in their communities. The program provides the
curriculum, equipment, materials and
support to help volunteers successfully
introduce youth and their families
to fishing. SBEC credit available for
teachers. Wear comfortable clothing for outdoor activities, wear hat,
sunglasses and bring a sack lunch or
money for lunch and a water bottle.
The workshop is free, but preregistration is required, The location of this
workshop is pending, upon registration you will be notified of the workshop location. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. For
more information and registration call
(512) 389-4472.
JULY 17,
Blunt Spurs Chapter National Wild
Turkey Federation fundraiser banquet,
Palestine. For information and reservations call (903) 948-8230.
JULY 17-19,
25th Annual Texas Hunters & Sportsman’s Expo, McAllen Convention
Center, McAllen. Great outdoor show
filled fishing and hunting products.
Special guest country star Tracy Lawrence. Stop by the TEXAS OUTDOORS
JOURNAL booth and let’s talk fishing,
hunting, or anything about the outdoors. Call (956) 664-2884. for more
information
JULY 18,
Conroe Chapter Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation Big Game Banquet, Lone
Star Convention Center, Conroe. For
information and reservations call (936)
524-7161 or (936) 203-1647.
JULY 18,
Go Fish! Learn-to-Fish Event, Buescher
State Park, Smithville. Families can
learn the basics of fishing through
fun, hands-on activities. Equipment
and bait provided or feel free to bring
your own. No license necessary. Adults
must accompany children. Registration and start time is 9:00 a.m. Call (512)
581-0377 for additional information.
JULY 23-26,
41st Annual Port Mansfield Fishing
Tournament, Port Mansfield. Two Bay
Tournaments - Open Division and NEW
Artificial Only Division. Three Offshore
Tournaments - Friday and Saturday
Open; Friday - Red Snapper Derby;
and Saturday Shrimp Boat Slam. Kids
Piggy Perch Tournament. Live Music
Thursday & Saturday. Saturday night
Brisket and Rib Dinner prepared by the
Award-Winning Domino Effect Fishing
Team. For more information, rules and
registration call (956) 944-2354 or visit
www.portmansfieldchamber.org.
JULY 24,
Henderson County Chapter National
Wild Turkey Federation fundraiser
banquet, Athens. For information and
JULY 25,
Kayak Basic Class, Purtis Creek State
Park, Eustace. Play games & get familiar
with the use of our kayaks or bring your
own. Meet at the Boat Ramp. The class
is free with paid entrance to the park
but limited in size. 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Reservations required so please call
(903) 425-2332.
JULY 31,
North Texas Upland Game Bird Chapter
National Wild Turkey Federation fundraiser banquet, Plano. For information
call (972) 496-1141.
Mail your Outdoor Calendar items to:
1706 W. Sam Houston Pkwy North, Houston TX 77043
Fax: 713.957.3996 Email: toj@airmail.net
JULY 16,
Archery Clinic, LBJ State Park & Historic
Site, Johnson City. Every Thursday Night
through July 30th, 2015. Free Basic
Archery Clinic.at the LBJ State Park Ball
Field off of HWY. 290 on Cornet Street.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Bows and arrows
will be provided by the State Park to
july 2015
july 2015
73
Tide Tables
Fishing & Hunting Times
US TIME ZONES
JULY 2015
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
H6:07A1.4
L10:44A1.1
H1:53P1.2
L10:25P-0.5
1
FRI
H6:45A1.4
L11:17A1.1
H2:42P1.2
L11:06P-0.5
2
SAT
3
L2:14A0.2 L3:11A0.5 H12:10A0.9 H1:57A1.1 H3:17A1.2
H9:40A1.2 H10:11A1.2 L4:26A0.8 L6:17A1.0 L8:12A1.1
L4:21P0.5 L5:25P0.2 H10:42A1.2 H11:15A1.2 H11:49A1.2
L6:21P0.0 L7:12P-0.2 L7:59P-0.4
H10:06P0.9
H4:15A1.4
L9:32A1.1
H12:27P1.2
L8:44P-0.5
H5:02A1.4
L12:28A1.1
H1:09P1.2
L9:26P-0.5
H5:42A1.4
L11:08A1.1
H1:52P1.2
L10:06P-0.5
H6:17A1.4
L11:40A1.1
H2:35P1.2
L10:43P-0.4
L12:20A0.0
H8:14A1.2
L2:07P0.8
H5:53P0.9
L12:50A0.1
H8:40A1.2
L3:06P0.7
H7:16P0.8
L1:20A0.3
H9:15A1.1
L4:04P0.6
H9:02P0.7
L1:50A0.5 L2:22A0.7 H10:08A1.1 H10:20A1.1
H9:29A1.1 H9:50A1.1 L6:12P0.1 L6:48P0.0
L4:53P0.4 L9:35P0.3
H11:00P0.8
22
23
24
H3:28A1.1
L6:37A0.9
H10:29A1.1
L7:25P-0.2
H4:03A1.3
L8:36A1.1
H10:57A1.2
L8:04P-0.3
H4:36A1.3
L9:01A1.1
H11:57A1.2
L8:44P-0.4
H5:07A1.4
L9:25A1.2
H1:02P1.3
L9:27P-0.4
H5:39A1.4
L9:57A1.2
H2:06P1.3
L10:10P-0.4
H6:10A1.4
L10:38A1.1
H3:12P1.3
L10:55P-0.4
12
19
26
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
8
9
15
29
H6:49A1.3
L12:08P1.0
H3:19P1.1
L11:17P-0.3
16
30
CENTRAL
EASTERN
< (+) (-) >
< (+) (-) >
< (+) (-) >
4
L1:23A-0.1
H9:08A1.3
L3:08P0.7
H8:00P0.9
6
MOUNTAIN
< (+) (-) >
H7:22A1.4 H7:59A1.4
L11:58A1.1 L12:50P1.0
H3:37P1.2 H4:42P1.1
L11:50P-0.4
L12:35A-0.3
H8:34A1.3
L1:55P0.9
H6:08P1.0
5
PACIFIC
10
11
H7:19A1.3 H7:47A1.2
L12:38P1.0 L1:16P0.9
H4:03P1.1 H4:52P1.0
L11:49P-0.2
17
18
25
120°
115°
31
110°
105°
100°
95°
90°
85°
80°
75°
JULY 2015
AUGUST 2015
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
H6:41A1.4
L11:25A1.0
H4:22P1.3
L11:41P-0.2
1
H7:11A1.3 L12:27A0.0 L1:16A0.3 L2:08A0.6 L3:10A0.8 H12:29A1.2 H2:10A1.3
L12:20P0.8 H7:41A1.3 H8:10A1.3 H8:40A1.2 H9:11A1.2 L4:43A1.1 L7:06A1.2
H5:39P1.2 L1:20P0.6 L2:26P0.4 L3:35P0.2 L4:43P0.0 H9:45A1.2 H10:25A1.3
H7:06P1.1 H8:45P1.1 H10:35P1.1
L5:49P-0.1 L6:49P-0.2
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Times are for Galveston, Galveston Channel
TIME DIFFERENCES
Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana
Sabine Pass Lighthouse
Sabine Pass Jetty
Sabine Pass
Mesquite Point, Sabine Pass
Galveston Bay ent. south jetty
Port Bolivar
Galveston Bay
Texas City, Turning Basin
Eagle Point (1)
Clear Lake(1)
Morgan Point (1)
Round Pt.,Trinity Bay (1)
Point Barrow, Trinity Bay
Gilchrist, East Bay
Jamaica Beach, West Bay
Alligator Point, West Bay
Christmas Point, Christmas Bay
Galveston Pleasure Pier
San Luis Pass
Freeport Harbor
Pass Cavallo
Aransas Pass
Padre Island (South End)
Port Isabel
HighLow
-2:14
-1:24
-1:46
-1:31
-1:26
-1:31
-1:00
-1:15
-0:04
-0:25
-0:39
-1:05
+0:14
-0:06
+0:33
+3:54
+6:05
+10:21
+10:39
+5:48
+3:16
+2:38
+2:39
+2:32
-1:06
-0:09
-0:44
0:00
-0:03
-0:24
+1:02
+0:41
+4:15
+6:40
+5:19
+5:15
+4:43
+4:18
+3:31
+2:33
+2:31
-1:06
-0:09
-1:02
-1:20
-1:31
-1:45
-0:42
Tidal adjustments are not predictable for Port O’Connor, Matagorda Bay; Port
Lavaca, Matagorda Bay; and Riviera Beach, Baffin Bay since they are driven by wind
and weather. — NOAA
74
AUGUST 2015
Fish, game and all wildlife move in search of food in cycles relative to the moon’s location to the earth.
The time spans listed above are the prime times to start each day at and along each time zone meridian
of longitude 75 degrees (Eastern) 90 degrees (Central) 105 degrees (Mountain) and 120 degrees (Pacific)
during Standard time and Daylight Saving during the time it is in effect. To determine the feeding cycle
time for best fishing and hunting in the area you plan to fish or hunt advance the sum of 4 minutes for
each degree west and back up 4 minutes for each degree east. The next prime feeding cycle (not listed on
the calendar) will be approximately twelve and one-half hours later. There are minor periods that occur
between the prime or major periods. The minor periods are typically fair periods and last only about half
as long as the prime periods.
Feeding Times by Dan Barnett have been proven by analysis of 124 – 3 day bass tournaments between
1967 through 1983 to be reliable and accurate in predicting wildlife feeding activity. The Feeding Times
are not a cure-all. Weather and other environmental conditions affect wildlife feeding activity. Annual vest
pocket books, which show all the major and minor periods, can be ordered by sending a check or money
order for $15.00 per book. For S&H, please add $4.00 to an order of 1 to 4 books. Make check or money
order payable to: Feeding Times. Send to: Feeding Times, P.O. Box 2240, Covington, GA 30015. After Oct.
1, please indicate book year. For questions or comments, you can call 404-373-7151.
Over 60 Years in Print
Feeding Times by Dan Barnett
17 Years Test Proven
july 2015
Managing Comfort in Port Aransas, TX
For Over 30 Years

July 2015 - PDF - Texas Outdoors Journal

Transcription

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