$1.75 www.lonestaroutdoornews.com

Texas’ Premier Outdoor NewspaperJuly 8, 2005 �Volume I, Issue 22�

ADVENTURENew Mexico Fly Fishing

See page 12

INSIDE

HUNTING NEWS

Texas Parks and Wildlife dove-hunting changes mean moreopportunity this fall.

See page 6

Want to shoot better this year?Then take some tips from DucksUnlimited pros.

See page 7

FISHING NEWSBig mackerel can be caught offjetties or in the surf. Either way,the key is a light breeze.

See page 8

A 90-inch tarpon hauled in offPort Aransas is poised tobecome a state catch-and-release record. Other records arepending.

See page 8

CONSERVATION Texans will get to voice theirideas about conserving nativewildlife and habitats duringeight meetings to be held atzoos across the state.

See page 4

NATIONAL NEWSThe world’s biggest freshwaterfish, a rare Mekong catfish thatweighed 646 pounds, washauled in by villagers. However,they could not keep it alive.

See page 5

Federal employees are asked tosupport the Farmers andHunters Feeding the Hungryprogram. Donated game isneeded to supply food banksand soup kitchens with meatnationwide.

See page 5

DEPARTMENTSProduct Picks Page 13

Made in Texas Page 14

Bordering Texas Page 14

Weather Page 15

Wild in the Kitchen Page 15

Crossword Page 15

Game Warden Blotter Page 16

Fishing Report Page 17

Outdoor Datebook Page 19

Heroes’ Corner Page 19

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDPLANO, TX

PERMIT 210

Plastic frogs devastate reticent bass By John N. Felsher

More and more anglersare discovering thatwhen it’s hot out-side, so are the bass

— with the right bait.Soft plastic frogs aren’t just a

professional’s tool anymore.They’re the latest trend sweep-ing the country. No other lurecombines the heart-throbbingexcitement of topwater baitswith the fish-finding abilities ofbuzzbaits and the weedlessadvantages of Texas rigs like softplastic buzzing frogs.

“Soft plastic frogs are a hottrend in bass fishing right now,”said Eddy Gresham, a bass profrom Lufkin.

A big bass may stay in incredi-bly shallow water, even duringthe heat of summer, if it can findsufficient cover. As anglers putmore pressure on bass, lunkersburrow into the thickest grass.Rich in protein, frogs createprime forage for largemouths,especially in thick weeds or lilypads.

Until recently, anglers could-n’t fish matted grass very effec-tively. They probed the edgeswith worms, spinnerbaits or top-waters, but couldn’t work lureswhere the big ones lurked. Socompanies such as Zoom,Sizmic, Stanley and Wave begandesigning floating or slow-sink-ing frogs that could buzz acrossthe tops of matted grass withoutsnagging. Rigged weightless,buzzing frogs look like naturalforage as they skitter acrossimpenetrable salads where no

Archery gear hits bull’s-eyefor homesick U.S. soldiers

WATER WORRIES: Scott Sommerlatte and Gray Thornton wade near PortO’Connor. Warm water increases bacteria risk. Photo by David J. Sams, LoneStar Outdoor News.

LEAPING FISH: Plastic frogs are a hot item in the bass-fishing industry right now. Continued on page 11

Bacteria lurk in salt waterBy Robert Cadwallader

Grenade launchers, .50-caliber machine gunsand sniper rifles may bethe weapons of choice

at the Idaho National Guardcamp in northern Iraq. But someof these homesick militarymechanics are thinking retro as

they pine for their beloved wildgame hunts in the northwesternUnited States.

At the top of their e-mail wishlist: bows and arrows.

“A few of my guys were sittingaround talking about what wemissed, and that was a commonthing that we all missed,’’ said1st Lt. Randall Russell, an

Continued on page 10

By David Sikes

Bacteria season hasbegun along the Texascoast. But health offi-cials say this is no rea-

son for most anglers to avoidsaltwater recreation, includingwade fishing.

The summertime rise in

waterborne bacteria, however,is reason to take special precau-tions against allowing baywater to come in contact withopen wounds and to pay closeattention to wounds that getwet. Awareness of symptomsand swift medical attention arethe best defenses against infec-tion from saltwater bacteria

Continued on page 11

Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution.*Call 1-888-4ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) or visit onstar.com for system limitations and details.**Available in the 48 contiguous states. Basic service fees apply. Visit gm.xmradio.com for details.©2005 OnStar Corp. All rights reserved. OnStar and the OnStar emblem are registered trademarks of OnStar Corporation.©2005 XM Satellite Radio Inc. All rights reserved. The XM name and related logos are registered trademarks of XM Satellite Radio Inc.©2005 General Motors Corp. All rights reserved. Yukon, GMC and the GMC logo are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL GRADE.®

GMC Yukon SLT

SEE THE PROS AT YOUR LOCAL GMC DEALER

TURNING DIAMETER

EPA EST. 2WD FUEL ECONOMY(city/highway)

ONSTAR® 1-YR SAFE AND SOUND SERVICE*

TRI-ZONE CLIMATE CONTROL

XM SATELLITE RADIO®**

REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL

A CONSUMERS DIGESTBEST BUY

GMCYUKON

SLT

TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED

FORD EXPEDITION

XLT

THE YUKONADVANTAGE

38.3 FT

16/20 MPG

STANDARD

STANDARD

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

YES

42.3 FT

15/18 MPG

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NO

38.7 FT

14/19 MPG

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NO

NISSANARMADA

LE

40.8 FT

13/19 MPG

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NO

IT TAKES ON KIDS. IT TAKES ON CARGO.

IT EVEN TAKES ON THE COMPETITION.

Page 4 � July 8, 2005

CONSERVATION UPDATE

EDITORIAL OFFICES:9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243

Phone: (214) 361-2276 Fax: (214) 368-0344Editor: DARLENE MCCORMICK SANCHEZ

Art Director: TODD DUNCANAssociate Editor: MARK ENGLANDAssociate Editor: DAVID RENFROW

Subscription Services: DEBORAH COMER

Founder & CEO: DAVID J. SAMS

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES:Order online via secure Web site at www.lonestaroutdoornews.com

or call toll-free (866) 361-2276

ADVERTISING SERVICES:Advertising Manager: SIDNEY JUNEK

Call (214) 882-0053 or e-mail advertising@lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month.A subscription is $25 for 24 issues. Copyright 2005 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or useof any photographic or written material without written permission by the Publisher is prohibited.

Printed in Addison, TX, by Midway Press. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or e-mail them to

readercare@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

FROM OURREADERS

Dear Editor,For the past year I have been a subscriber

to your (newspaper) and really enjoy read-ing the articles. However, there is a groupof men with the Louisiana National Guardcurrently serving a tour in Iraq who enjoyit even more. For you see, my first cousin,Maj. Jason Yeates, is serving with that unitbased out of Lake Charles, La. After read-ing each issue, I forward it on to him.There are several members of the unitfrom East Texas. They all enjoy readingyour (newspaper). Jason being the bigduck hunter that he is really enjoys theduck-related articles, naturally. Your(newspaper) has brought a little bit ofhome to all of those Louisiana boys (TigerBrigade). Keep up the good work on a great(newspaper).

Scott Woodwardsemper fi

Texas will boost its habitatfor wintering waterfowlthanks to the MigratoryBird Conservation

Commission, which approvedacquiring 330 acres in LibertyCounty near the Trinity RiverNational Wildlife Refuge.

The acquisition is part of thenearly $18 million in grantsapproved by the commission forhabitat conservation in theUnited States and Canada tobenefit migratory birds. Theawards were announced byInterior Secretary Gale Norton.

The funds will be given tostates and other partnersthrough the North AmericanWetlands Conservation Act.

“NAWCA represents exactlythe kind of partner-driven con-servation efforts that are con-serving and improving wildlifehabitat across the entire NorthAmerican continent,” saidNorton, who chairs theCommission.

“Thanks to the dedication ofthe citizen conservationists

who make NAWCA work on theground, we are turning the tideand working to reach PresidentBush’s goal of a net increase ofwetlands across the U.S.”

The NAWCA Standard Grantsawarded more than $3 millionto four U.S. projects in five statesto protect, restore or enhance5,446 acres of wetlands and asso-ciated upland habitats. Projectpartners added nearly $32 mil-lion.

The commission alsoapproved more than $14 millionfor 14 projects in Canada.Partners added nearly $30 mil-lion. In addition, based on theresults of 38 grants under the“small grants” program, thecommission approved an addi-tional $2 million in allocationsfor the 2006 small grant pro-gram.

“Since many of NorthAmerica’s waterfowl species weenjoy in the U.S. during thespring and fall depend onCanadian wetland habitat dur-ing the summer months, it is also

appropriate to use NAWCA fundsto support wetlands conserva-tion projects in Canada,” saidNorton.

Funding for this programcomes from congressionalappropriations, funds collectedfrom fines, penalties, and forfei-tures under the Migratory BirdTreaty Act, interest accrued tothe Pittman-Robertson WildlifeRestoration Act, and from excisetaxes paid on small-engine fuelsthrough the Dingell-JohnsonSport Fish Restoration Act.

Money raised by the sale ofFederal Duck Stamps pays forwetland acquisitions for theNational Wildlife RefugeSystem. The Commissionapproved using nearly $1 mil-lion dollars in stamp funds toacquire land for the NationalWildlife Refuge System. Allacquisitions were previouslyapproved by the respectivestates.

NAWCA awardees are:Arizona: A partnership led

by the Yuma Crossing National

Heritage Area will receive nearly$500,000 and put up more than$3 million to conserve wetlandsalong the lower Colorado River.

California: A partnershipled by the WildlifeConservation Board will receivenearly $1 million and put upnearly $13 million to conservewetlands in San Pablo Bay.

Idaho/Wyoming: A part-nership led by the TetonRegional Land Trust, Inc., willreceive $1 million and put upnearly $14 million to conservewetlands in the Teton RiverBasin.

Washington: A partnershipled by Ducks Unlimited, Inc.,will receive $1 million and putup $2.2 million to conserve wet-lands in the San Juan Islands.

Stamp fund awardees are:Texas: Acquisition of 330

acres to provide habitat for win-tering waterfowl near TrinityRiver National Wildlife Refugein Liberty County. The tract willbecome part of the refuge.

Arkansas: Addition of nearly

10,000 acres to the refugeboundary at Cache RiverNational Wildlife Refuge inTucker County. The serviceplans to buy an estimated 980acres this summer to conservebottomland hardwood habitatfor migratory waterfowl.

Virginia: Acquisition of a355-acre easement to protectwetland habitat for waterfowlnear Rappahannock River ValleyNational Wildlife Refuge inRichmond County. The tractwill become part of the refuge.

New Jersey: Acquisition of19.1 acres to preserve a Spartinasalt marsh for migrating water-fowl within the boundaries ofthe Cape May National WildlifeRefuge.

Tennessee: Acquisition of 56acres to protect habitat for win-tering waterfowl within theboundaries of ChickasawNational Wildlife Refuge inLauderdale County.

Compiled from a U.S. Fish andWildlife Service report

Grant will give Texas waterfowl additional habitat to wait out the winter

Texans will get to voicetheir ideas about con-serving native wildlifeand their habitats when

eight zoos across the state hostmeetings this July to get publicinput on a proposedComprehensive WildlifeConservation Strategy. The newplan is tied to millions of dollarsin federal funding for the state.

Texas Parks and Wildlife mustsubmit a final plan to the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service by Oct.1 to continue to receive funds

from the State Wildlife Grantsprogram.

Last year, the federal grantsprogram provided about $3 mil-lion for Texas sea turtle conser-vation, coastal seagrass mappingprojects, wildlife data collectionand mapping, a freshwater mus-sel survey, and staff salaries andresearch to aid various non-game wildlife species and habi-tats such as the lesser prairiechicken and swift fox. For thefirst time, Texas zoos are hostinga series of public meetings to

focus on conserving nativeTexas wildlife.

Anyone can comment on thedraft plan. To make commentsonline via the TPW Web site,phone (800) 792-1112, ext. 4427or send mail to Steve Bender,Texas Parks and WildlifeDepartment, 4200 Smith SchoolRoad, Austin, TX 78744.

All public meetings listedbelow will take place from 7 to 9p.m. unless otherwise noted. Allzoos, except the Dallas Zoo, willnot have normal exhibits open

to the public.Meetings include:

• Austin: July 11, Texas Parks andWildlife Headquarters, 4200 SmithSchool Road, (512) 389-4800.

• Houston: July 13, Houston Zoo,1513 N. MacGregor, (713) 533-6500.

• Dallas: 1-4 p.m., July 14, Dallas Zoo,650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway,(I-35E), (214) 670-5656.

• Waco: July 14, Cameron Park Zoo,1701 North 4th St., (254) 750-8400.

• Lufkin: July 18, Ellen Trout Zoo,402 Zoo Circle, (936) 633-0399.

• Abilene: July 19, Abilene ZoologicalGardens, 2070 Zoo Lane, NelsonPark, (325) 676-6085.

• Lubbock: July 20, Science

Spectrum, 2579 S. Loop 289, (806)745-1216.

• El Paso: July 21, Magoffin HomeState Historic Site, 1120 MagoffinAve.

• San Antonio: July 25, San AntonioZoological Gardens and Aquarium,3903 North St. Mary’s St., (210)734-7184.

• Brownsville: July 26, Gladys PorterZoo, 500 Ringgold St., (956) 546-7187.

• Corpus Christi: July 27, Texas StateAquarium, 2710 North Shoreline,(800) 477-4853.

— A Texas Parks and Wildlifereport

Texas zoos to host meetings on wildlife’s future

ATexas effort to restorehundreds of acres ofecologically importantwetlands in the

Delehide Cove area of WestGalveston Bay received one oftwo National WetlandConservation Awards lastmonth in Washington, D.C.

The Delehide Cove projectteam received a $939,862 grantfrom the National WetlandsConservation Grants Program of

the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService in December 2000. Thegrant, along with an additionalfederal contribution of $50,000from the USFWS CoastalProgram, was matched withfunds and in-kind contributionsfrom state and local sources thatincluded the Texas General LandOffice’s Coastal ErosionPlanning and Response ActProgram, Galveston BayFoundation, Galveston Bay

Estuary Program, PiratesHomeowners Association, FishAmerica Foundation, RestoreAmericas Estuaries, NOAAFisheries, Blackard Develop-ment, Reliant Energy and TexasGenCo. A total of more than $2million was provided by thesefederal and state contributors toprotect and restore the area’scoastal wetland habitat.

Approximately 8,100 linearfeet of sand-filled geotextile tube

breakwaters were constructed toprotect existing intertidalmarsh, tidal bayou, and subtidalflats from erosion.

One year after construction,200 acres of habitat have beenprotected from erosion, 2.4 acresof sand flat have been restored,3.2 acres of seagrass habitat havebeen enhanced and 48 acres ofsalt marsh and open water com-plex have been restored orenhanced. A total of 250 acres of

estuarine marsh complex in theWest Bay area of Galveston Baywere protected, and another 55acres were restored or enhanced.

Each year the USFWS gives twowetland conservation awards:one to a team and one to an indi-vidual. Matt Hogan, acting direc-tor of USFWS, presented theaward June 30.

—A Texas Parks and Wildlifereport

West Galveston Bay wetlands project gets national award

WANT TO SOUND OFF ON AN ISSUE? WRITE US!Lone Star Outdoor News welcomes comments and suggestionson our newspaper and your views on the Texas outdoors.Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Send letters to:editor@lonestarout doornews.com, or mail them to: LoneStar Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South,Dallas, TX 75243.

CORRECTIONA page 1 story on nesting ducks that appeared June 24misspelled Donnie Draeger’s name and misidentified him.He is the wildlife manager of Comanche Ranch.

July 8, 2005 � Page 5

†Maximum payload capacity includes weight of vehicle, passengers, cargo andequipment.

††Trailer ratings are calculated assuming a properly equipped base vehicleplus driver. See the GMC Trailering Guide for details.

†††When properly equipped, includes weight of vehicle, passengers, cargo andequipment.

*Call 1-888-4ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) or visit onstar.com for systemlimitations and details.

**Available in the 48 contiguous states. Basic service fees apply. Visitgm.xmradio.com for details.

© 2005 OnStar Corp. All rights reserved. OnStar and the OnStar emblem areregistered trademarks of OnStar Corporation.

© 2005 XM Satellite Radio Inc. All rights reserved. The XM name and relatedlogos are registered trademarks of XM Satellite Radio Inc.

©2005 Bose Corp. All rights reserved.©2005 General Motors Corp. All rights reserved. Sierra, GMC and the GMC

logo are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL GRADE.®

GMC SIERRA1500 CREW CAB SLT 4x4

DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SLT 4x4

TOYOTA TUNDRA DOUBLE CAB LIMITED 4x4

5.3 L V8

295 HP

335 LB-FT

1701 LBS

7400 LBS

7000 LBS

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

4.7 L V8

235 HP

300 LB-FT

1530 LBS

7150 LBS

6650 LBS

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

FORD F-150 SUPERCREW

XLT 4x4

4.6 L V8

231 HP

293 LB-FT

1340 LBS

6500 LBS

6900 LBS

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

ENGINE CAPACITY

STANDARDHORSEPOWER

STANDARDTORQUE

MAXIMUM PAYLOAD†

STANDARD TOWING CAPACITY††

GROSS VEHICLEWEIGHT RATING†††

AUTOMATIC REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL

ONSTAR®*

XM SATELLITE RADIO®**

BOSE® LUXURY AUDIO SYSTEM

THE SIERRAADVANTAGE

4.7 L V8

282 HP

325 LB-FT

1580 LBS

6500 LBS

6600 LBS

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

NOT AVAILABLE

SEE THE PROS AT YOUR LOCAL GMC DEALER

GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab SLT

EVERYBODY’S COMFORTABLE.

EXCEPT THE COMPETITION.

NATIONAL NEWS

This deal is too good to pass up!Call soon to reserve a space.

One deer can feed upto 200 hungry peo-ple. With that inmind, Farmers and

Hunters Feeding the Hungrywants to give hunters theopportunity to become food-providers for the needy bytransforming deer and otherbig game into a meal.

Federal employees nation-wide are invited to partnerwith FHFH by designating agift to the group through thecombined federal campaignthis fall.

FHFH is a national venisonand big game donation min-istry that operates local pro-grams in states nationwide.Hunters are invited to donatedeer and other big game tolicensed butcher shops that areparticipating in a local FHFHprogram. The butchers processand package the meat for pick-up by local feeding agenciesand regional food banks thatserve the poor. FHFH raisesmoney to cover the butcheringcosts so hunters can donatedeer and other animals free ofcharge.

To date, FHFH and partici-pating hunters have beenresponsible for distributingmore than 1,800 tons of veni-son and other wild game thatadded up to 14.4 million mealsfor the hungry. Food banksand soup kitchens nationwideagree that meat is their mostneeded yet least available fooditem. A 100-pound, fielddressed deer yields about 200meals and costs FHFH an aver-age of $50 to process. Thisequates to $1 per pound orabout 25 cents per serving.Larger animals such as elk pro-vide even higher amounts ofmeat.

FHFH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofitministry that was formed inMaryland in 1997 and nowoperates programs in morethan 25 states. Visit FHFH atwww.fhfh.org or call (866) GET-FHFH for more information.

— A Farmers and HuntersFeeding the Hungry report

Classified ads are going for only $10 a month, that’s only $5 an issue!

HUNTING RANCHES

BOATS

GUNS BOOKS

LEASES

PROPERTIES FISHING GEAR

ATVs

FISHING GUIDES

AND MORE!

Hunting leasesSell it in the Lone Star Outdoor News Classified Section on page 18

See page 18 for complete details

Mekong catfishcalled rare giant

Remington Arms Co.remains the largestfirearms manufacturerin the U.S. for the third

year in a row, leading in thecategories of both rifle andshotgun production, accordingto 2003 government statistics.

The statistics were recentlyreleased by the Bureau ofAlcohol, Tobacco andFirearms. Remington was alsothe largest exporter of shot-guns in 2003 and was in a sta-tistical tie as the largestexporter of rifles.

Remington made history in2001 when it became thelargest U.S. firearms manufac-turer. It was the first long gunmanufacturer to secure the topposition.

In commenting on this data,Remington President and CEOTommy Millner said: “I ampleased that Remington’s com-mitment to new product inno-vation, creative marketingtechniques and a strong distri-bution system bore fruit for thethird year in a row. We are,however, dedicated to furthergrowth in the years ahead asthe markets we serve demandfurther innovation.”

Remington, headquarteredin Madison, N.C., is one of theworld’s leading manufacturersof sporting firearms, ammuni-tion and accessories.

The company employs nearly2,500 people worldwide.

—A Remington Arms Co. report

Remington remains largestU.S. firearms manufacturer

What is believed to bethe world’s largestfreshwater fish, agiant catfish

weighing 646 pounds, wascaught by Thai fishermen onthe Mekong River, according toan announcement by the WorldWildlife Fund.

Thai fisheries departmentofficials determined that thisnew catch was 11 pounds heav-ier than the previous recordholder, another Mekong cat-fish.

The WWF reported that thecatfish was caught May 1.

“This catfish is as heavy as agrizzly bear. It’s amazing tothink that giants like this stillswim in some of the world’srivers,” said Jamie Pittock, Headof the WWF’s GlobalFreshwater Program.

Wildlife officials had urgedvillagers to release the 9-footadult male so it could spawn. Itdied, however, and was eaten byvillagers in the Chiang Khongvillage in the Chiang Raiprovince.

The Mekong River Basin ishome to more species of giantfish than any other river onearth, according to WWF offi-cials. It is also the most produc-

tive river fishery in the world,generating $1.4 billion eachyear, and provides the primarysource of protein for manymore than the 73 million peo-ple who live along the river.

The giant catfish species hasbeen in decline, which localfishermen blame on dams andenvironmental damage alongthe Mekong River.

The Mekong giant catfishshares the title of largest fresh-water fish with a close relative,the dog-eating catfish. TheMekong giant catfish was listedas critically endangered in2003. Research showed its num-bers had fallen by at least 80percent over the past 13 years.

A century ago the Mekonggiant catfish was found theentire length of the river fromVietnam to southern China.Today, scientists estimate thatnumber has decreased by about90 percent in the past 20 years.

Zeb Hogan, a WWF conserva-tion science expert, said: “Dueto the precarious state of theMekong giant catfish and otherlarge fish, the effort to protectthese amazing creatures is a raceagainst the clock.”

— A World Wildlife Fund report

Venison forthe hungry

plan involvesemployees

Page 6 � July 8, 2005

HUNTING

New limited-entry management programs for the Texasoyster and Gulf of Mexico shrimp fisheries, changes in thegame bird stamps hunters are required to buy and clari-fied enforcement powers for game wardens are just some

of the results of bills passed by the 79th Texas Legislature.A number of bills that became law affect Texas Parks and Wildlife

along with hunters and anglers. Below are descriptions of selectedbills. Unless otherwise noted below, all new laws take effect Sept. 1.

•HB 505 — This bill makes it a Class C misdemeanor to dischargea firearm across a private property line while hunting or engaging inrecreational shooting. The bill contains a provision so there is no vio-lation if the person shooting owns both sides of the property line orhas obtained written permission from the landowner.

•HB 506 — Currently, when private property becomes flooded bya public river or stream, that land can then be used for hunting. Thisbill requires a person to obtain landowner consent to hunt a wild ani-mal or wild bird on private land submerged by public water when theland is conspicuously marked as privately owned.

•HB 1076 — As a token of appreciation for the sacrifices being madeby active duty Texas service members, this bill directs the TPWCommission to waive all fees for hunting and fishing licenses for Texasresidents on active military duty. A Texas resident is defined as a per-son who has resided continuously in the state for more than sixmonths prior to applying for a license.

•HB 1636 — Currently, the TPW defines a resident as an individualwho has resided continuously in Texas for more than six monthsimmediately before applying for a hunting, fishing, or other TPWlicense. However, there are no requirements for documenting whetheror not a person is a bona fide Texas resident. This bill gives the TPWCommission the authority to establish the proof required to prove res-idency for the purpose of obtaining a department license or permit.This bill was technically effective when the governor signed it on June18. As a practical matter, though, it won’t take effect until the commis-sion adopts the proposed requirements at their Aug. 25 meeting.

•SB 454 — This bill establishes a license moratorium for Texasgulf shrimp licenses due to overcapitalization (too many boatsworking the water). The industry has suffered in recent years fromnew entrants in the fishery, market conditions and the increasedcost of production. Furthermore, a moratorium on shrimp licensesin federal waters (beyond nine nautical miles offshore) is anticipat-ed. The federal moratorium is expected to drive more shrimpersinto the gulf waters. A license moratorium for Texas gulf shrimpingshould limit the destabilization of the market for existing partici-pants. This bill took effect when the governor signed it May 20.

•HB 2026 — This bill repeals ambiguous language and clarifiesstatutes related to taking wildlife resources, possessing wildlife eggs,and disposing of seized wildlife, including exotic livestock and fowl.It also repeals the alligator-hunting license and allows a person totake an alligator with a general hunting license. The bill repeals themaximum number of acres for a private bird hunting area and clari-fies area sign placement. Internet hunting is banned under the provi-sions of this bill with a fine of $200 to $2000 and/or 180 days in jail.A person may not engage in computer-assisted remote hunting of anyanimal or bird or provide or operate facilities for computer-assistedremote hunting if the animal or bird being hunted is in Texas. The billalso provides a $25 to $500 penalty for a person leaving public or pri-vate water who does not remove and lawfully dispose of any harmfulor potentially harmful aquatic plant clinging to the person’s boat,trailer or vehicle.

For more information visit TPW at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

—A Texas Parks and Wildlife report

Changes afoot forhunters and anglers

Texas dove hunters willenjoy a 20-percentincrease in the size ofthe special white-

winged dove hunting zone thisSeptember.

The U. S. Fish and WildlifeService Regulations Committeehas accepted Texas’ proposal toexpand the special white-wing-ed dove zone, adding a newportion of land west ofInterstate 35 and south of U. S.Highway 90 near San Antonio.

The special zone is open towhite-winged dove afternoon-only hunting the first twoSaturdays and Sundays inSeptember. Also, a new baglimit increase will raise thenumber of doves from 10 to 12birds, with no more than fourmourning doves and twowhite-tipped doves.

Although the change dropsthe mourning dove bag limitfrom five to four, it does meanmore hunting opportunitiesalong the Highway 90 corridor.Dove hunting starts Sept. 1 justnorth of Highway 90 in theCentral Zone, but South Zonedove hunters until now had towait until the first Friday afterSept. 20 to hunt south of thehighway.

“We’ve seen a huge increasein whitewings in this section of

country and hunters north ofHighway 90 see whitewingstrading back and forth acrossthe highway and can’t under-stand why they can’t hunt bothsides,” said Vernon Bevill, theTPW’s small game and habitatassessment program director.

“The real issue with theService has been growing con-cern for mourning doves,”Bevill added, “which appear tobe declining somewhat range-wide, even though there arestill several hundred million ofthem, making them one of the10 most abundant birds inNorth America. We have beguncollaboration with other dove-hunting states to band mourn-ing doves and develop betterdatabases to clearly understandchanges in populations to seewhat is really happening. Bygaining the opportunity toexpand the special whitewingzone, we are at least able tooffer some added opportunityto hunters asking for thischange.”

The TPW will be activelymonitoring hunting in the areato ensure the additional oppor-tunity doesn’t adversely impactmourning doves. Hunters willhave to pay closer attention towhat species of dove they aretargeting to assure they do not

take more than four mourningdoves.

“We are pleased that our staffput together a good, science-based proposal that was accept-able to the Service RegulationsCommittee,” said Mike Berger,the TPW wildlife division direc-tor.

Berger said the TPW ran itsproposal past the CentralFlyway Council for its endorse-ment. The extent of the pro-posed hunting area was modi-fied as a result.

“That helped eliminate con-cerns that too many mourningdoves would be taken in an areawhere some nesting effortextends into September,”Berger said. “Until we have abetter understanding of what isgoing on with mourning doves,we have to be sensitive to err onthe side of the resource.”

Berger went on to say that thenew Migratory Game BirdStamp that rolls the waterfowland white-winged dove stampsinto one stamp covering allmigratory game birds will givethe TPW additional funding todirect toward research onmourning doves.

Since the Texas Legislaturepassed SB 1192 in the recent ses-sion, all dove hunters will be

Texas white-winged zonechanges win approval

BIRD IN MOUTH: “Gem” retrives a white-winged dove that owner Paul Hudspeth shot near San Antonio.

Continued on page 10

July 8, 2005 � Page 7

WHY IS TOMMIE VAUGHN FORD DIFFERENT?• No Add-Ons To Factory Sticker • Free 1 Year/15,000 Mile Maintenance

• Free Shuttle • 1 Hour Delivery • No Lies • No Hassles

’05 SUMMER SELL-DOWN

800-225-8931 x 673EMAIL: skovacs@tommievaughn.com1201 North Shepherd • Houston, TX

1 Mile N. of I-10 Inside 610 Loop

Stephen KovacsMember of: Coastal Conservation

Assoc, Texas Trophy Hunters Assoc,Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

www.tommievaughn.com

2005 FORD F-250 CREW CAB5.4L V-8, Automatic, A/C, Towing Pkg,

Tow Mirrors, Aluminum Wheels & Much More! $26,893 - $3000 Rebate

$23,893$23,893

“Proudly Serving Texas for Over 50 Years!”

With waterfowl sea-sons just around thecorner, it’s time tostart dusting off

your decoys, getting your dog inshape, practicing your calling andpatching those leaky waders. Anddon’t forget one of the mostimportant ways to get ready forhunting — practicing your shot-gunning skills.

Becoming a better shot will notonly help you put more ducks inthe bag, it will also help reducethe number of crippled birds thatget away.

To help hone your skills beforethe season starts, here are tipsdesigned especially for waterfowlhunters. Ducks Unlimited’s GaryGoodpaster, with help from JimAlexander, explains how thesetips and a little practice can makeyou a better shot.

MASTER EYEVirtually every shooter has a

dominant, or master, eye. Toshoot well, you must use thatdominant eye and shoot fromthat shoulder. Most right-handedshooters have a right dominanteye, and most lefties have a leftdominant eye. But not always.Here’s a quick test.

With both eyes open, extendyour arm and index finger fulllength and point the index fin-gertip at a distant object. Keepboth eyes open and focus on thetarget object. Now close your lefteye, while still focusing on thetarget object. If your fingertipstays on the target object, youhave a right master eye. If yourfinger jumps off of the targetobject when you close your lefteye, you probably have a left mas-

ter eye.If you’ve found that your mas-

ter eye is on the opposite side ofthe shoulder you shoot from,there are some alternatives.

The simplest and quickest is tosimply close your off-shouldermaster eye and shoot with oneeye only.

But that might not be the bestfor you. We suggest that youcheck with a competent shootinginstructor at your local gun clubfor other options.

QUICK TEST TO SEE IFYOUR GUN FITS YOU

Make sure your gun isunloaded, and then fully mountit to your shoulder with youreyes closed. Now, open youreyes, without moving the posi-tion of your head on the stock. Ifthe back of the thumb of yourgrip hand (right hand for a right-hander) is not touching yournose, and is no more than twoinches from your nose, thelength of pull is probably fine.And if your master eye is general-ly looking down the centerlineof the ventilated rib (laterally),and it is not notably above orbelow the plane of the rib (verti-cally), the drop at comb is proba-bly fine as well. But, if you don’tpass both of these quick tests,you might need a stock adjust-ment by a competent gunsmithin your area.

GUN MOUNTIn shotgunning, movement is

everything, and everything ismoving. The target is moving. Sois your body. So is the gun.Coordinating those movementsis critical to success.

Your movement of the gun tothe target must be confident andsmooth, and the entire shotprocess must be fluid. Watch thetarget and bring the stocksmoothly up to your cheek. Donot lower your cheek to thestock! The butt must nestle firm-ly against your shoulder, withyour body leaning forwardslightly. As you move to the tar-get, keep the gun firmly againstyour shoulder, with your headfirmly on the stock, and the gunmoving smoothly throughoutthe shot. Don’t stop movinguntil after the shot has beenfired.

Remember, movement iseverything, and everything ismoving. Jerky, hesitant move-ment is bad. Smooth, confidentmovement is good.

FOCUS ON THE TARGETOf all the lessons a shooter will

learn, this is the most impor-

tant. It doesn’t matter if the tar-get is a clay bird or a drake mal-lard. Watch the target.

Learn to trust your eyes. Yourhands and body will move theshotgun to where your eyes arelooking. Just make sure they’relooking at your target. Thinkabout other sports. How canTiger Woods repeatedly makethose incredible shots on a golfcourse? His first rule is to watchthe ball. How does Barry Bondshit all those home runs? Hekeeps his eye on the ball fromthe time it leaves the pitcher’shand until his bat makes contactand he drives it over the wall.And Tiger and Barry don’t justwatch the ball, they focus com-pletely on the ball. Tiger mayfocus on just one dimple on thatgolf ball, and Barry actuallywatches the rotation of that 95-mph fastball. They focus com-pletely on their target.

A shotgunner must do the

same thing to become profi-cient. Pick out your target, focuson it intently and keep focusedon it until you’ve made the shot.Then you can relax. Or, if anoth-er target is available, refocus onthat second target and repeatthe shot process. But alwayswatch the target.

“STAY IN THE GUN”In the language of shotgun-

ners, that means keep yourhead down on the stock withthe gun positioned against yourshoulder and your hands incontrol of the fore-end and gripof the shotgun. It’s the equiva-lent of keeping your hands onthe wheel when driving yourcar. Stay in complete control ofthe shotgun, and most impor-tantly, keep your head on thestock.

Lifting you head off the stockis one of the most frequent caus-

Shoot better this yearwith tips from DU

TARGET PRACTICE: John McWilliam pulls for shooters Perry Lowery and Johnny Cantu at the Elm Fork shooting range.

Good dog.

Bring me my Lone Star Outdoor News!

To subscribe, turn to page xx or visitwww.lonestaroutdoornews.com.

The Texas WildlifeAssociation celebrated its20th anniversary last monthat its annual meeting where a slateof new leaders were elected for2005-2006.

Newly elected this year isCharles Davidson of SanAntonio, president; Dr. NealWilkins of College Station as vicepresident; Tina Yturria Buford ofHarlingen as treasurer; andRandy Rehmann of Austin as sec-retary. Terms will officially runthrough the next annual conven-tion, scheduled in San Antonio,but new officers typically servefor a two-year period.

“It was great to see solid repre-sentation from all regions of thestate, especially in light of myobjectives for the next two yearsthat center around serving a

statewide membership andresource with excellence and con-tinuing to grow our organizationthroughout the state,” saidCharles Davidson, TWA president.

Kirby Brown, executive vicepresident of TWA and the TWAFoundation, said the associationcontinues to provide strong lead-ership and advocacy.

“We are essentially a habitat-based organization encouragingsound management for all species,unlike a lot of the single species-focused groups,” Brown said.

Brown encouraged those inter-ested in making a difference forwildlife and habitat in Texas toview the TWA website atwww.texas-wildlife.org.

— A Texas Wildlife Associationreport

TWA elects new officers for 2005-2006

Continued on page 10

Page 8 � July 8, 2005

FISHING

By Scott Sommerlatte

While most Spanishmackerel are foundbeyond the beachin the Gulf or along

the surf, many schools of mack-erel find their way through thepasses and into the bays.

They can often be found herd-ing glass minnows and smallmenhaden beneath wheelinggulls and terns. Just look for thejumping baitfish.

Anglers in search of Spanishmackerel should search no fur-ther than the surf or any one ofthe numerous passes or jettiesalong the 300-plus-mile coast ofTexas. The key to success is alight wind that pushes the greenwater in from offshore. The fishwill move up into the surf andthen slowly work their way intothe passes and bays as long asconditions remain favorable. Afew hot spots for Spanish mack-erel include the Padre Island

surf, the Port Aransas jetties,Matagorda Bay just inside PassCavallo, and San Luis Pass.

As for tackle for these toothycritters — chances are, you’vealready got it. Spanish mackerelrarely exceed 3 to 4 pounds, withmost running around 2 pounds.So the standard medium-lightcasting or spinning rods used fortrout fishing will suffice for land-ing one. The fish can be quitefast and take a great deal of line,so a reel capable of holding 100yards of 12-pound test line witha good, smooth drag is a definiteplus.

When choosing lures formackerel, remember they havelots of sharp teeth. Go with alarge silver spoon with a shortsection of wire leader.Occasionally topwater baits pro-duce well, but because mackereltypically feed on smaller forage,downsizing the bait is often nec-essary to get them to hit.

Spanish mackerel also pro-vides great sport for the fly fish-

erman. An 8-weight rod with amatching reel is perfect for thesefish. As for flies, small ClouserMinnows and Deceivers workwell, as do small poppers.

Just a few days ago, the windswere light and the mackerelmoved in for some fast and furi-ous action — just a reminderthat it’s mackerel time again!

—Scott Sommerlatte is a freelancewriter/photographer based in LakeJackson.

Afather-son team fishingfor mackerel, insteadhauled in a 7-foot 6-inchtarpon off Port Aransas,

which will most likely earn theson a state catch-and-releaserecord.

Allan Reiter was fishing offthe North Jetty June 21 when agiant tarpon took his 30-pound line at 8:30 p.m. Heused a ribbon fish for bait.

Page Campbell, program spe-cialist for Texas Parks andWildlife, said the fish probablywould have been a state record,but Reiter couldn’t keep it with-out a tarpon tag. Campbell saidthe state record tarpon weighed210 pounds and measured 80inches long. Reiter’s fish was 90inches long, which wouldmean the fish probablyweighed 237 pounds by the

department’s calculations, shesaid.

“It was a big fish,” Campbellsaid, adding Reiter fought thefish for more than four hours.At the time, he was fishing withhis 72-year-old dad.

Meanwhile, other fish recordsawait approval by theInternational Game FishAssociation. Joshua Hill of Dallasis up for a world record in fly fish-ing. Hill was using a 16-poundtippet on the Pedernales Riverwhen he pulled in a smallmouthbuffalo weighing 20 pounds, 14ounces.

Tim Pruitt of Alton, Ill., standsto unseat Cody Mullennix ofHowe, Texas, for the blue catfishrecord. Pruitt caught a 124-pounder. Mullennix’s LakeTexoma cat weighed 121.5pounds.

Big-time tarponhauled to shore

Spanish big macsready for attack

The Texas Lady Anglerscharity tournamentraised $6,500 this Juneand attracted 61 women

anglers. The money raised willgo to The Rose, a Houston non-profit group that helps low-income women receive mam-mograms and treatments tofight against breast cancer.

The tournament results are asfollows:

Redfish 1st place - MichelleGauthier: 8.41 pounds

Redfish 2nd place - RobbynWhite: 4.92 pounds

Trout 1st place - TammyTownsend: 4.21 pounds

Trout 2nd place - PattiPolensky: 3.75 pounds

Trout 3rd place - LavonaKuzniar: 3.53 pounds

Flounder 1st place - VickiPike: 1.77 pounds

Flounder 2nd place - AzaliaTennis: 1.76 pounds

The Texas Slam winner - JoWilliams: 7.71 pounds

One trout at 1.89 pounds;one redfish at 4.43 pounds; oneflounder at 1.38 pounds

Sponsors such as LagunaRods, Boaters World, BoatsU.S., Academy and Guy Harveypitched in, as well as manyguides who donated trips thatwere raffled off:• South Texas Charters –

South Padre Island

experience. • Reel Fiddler Charters –

Rockport to Laguna Madre. • Salty Dawg Guide Service –

Galveston Bay.• Bay Bound Guide Service –

Galveston Bay. • Burdett’s Gulf Coast Guide

Service– Trinity, Galveston,and Matagorda bays.

• Coastal Adventures –Matagorda Bay.

• Rusted Hook Guide Service –launch at PortO’Connor/The FishingCenter.

• Bay Flats Waterfowl andFishing Guide Lodge.

• Fun Fishing Trips, one-halfday trip.

• Captain Elliot’s Party Boat,12 hour deep sea fishing trip.

• Laguna Guide Team, full day.• Steve Coffee Guide Service,

full day.

The weigh-in was on June18th at Topwater Grill in SanLeon, Texas. In addition, aseminar was held June 17 atKemah Community center aspart of the tournament events,with Capt. Steve Coffee andCapt. Clint Sholmire providinginformation on fishingGalveston Bay using live baitand lures.

Texas Lady Anglers is nowover 130 ladies strong, sharinga true passion for fishing.

The next seminar will be July29 at the Cowboy Ranch inPasadena, Texas, with DonNetek’s Wildlife Cookers.

Texas Lady Anglers charity eventhelps nonprofit breast cancer center

Island cabins prove popular with biddersBy David Sikes

Five new fishing cabins willbe erected soon on theUpper Laguna Madre spoilislands for the first time in

decades.It’s part of an innovative plan

by the Texas General Land Officeto offer cabin sites to the highestbidders as a way to raise moneyfor the department.

The pilot program brought in$112,501 in the first-ever sealed-bid sale of cabin sites, which areaccessible only by boat.

GLO officials consider therecent sale a success, promptingthem to continue the program inother sections of the Texas coastas a way to help finance schools.

Permits for land-based cabinson spoil islands initially wereissued in 1973 to people who hadbuilt a cabin or occupied onewhen the School Land Board andthe GLO were granted regulatoryauthority over the structures thatyear. Since then, permits havebeen handed down to the heirs ofpermit holders or transferredwith state approval.

Permits must be renewed everyfive years. The renewal fee is $175.And then there is an annual

cabin fee of 60 cents per squarefoot. Rules regarding the newlypermitted cabin sites will allowcabins no greater than 1,000square feet.

About 84 land-based cabinsexist now on the Upper LagunaMadre, which holds the highestconcentration of cabins on theTexas coast. About the samenumber of floating cabins arebetween Corpus Christi and theLandcut, just south of Baffin Bay.Several years ago, a moratoriumwas imposed on floating cabinsalong the Texas coast, making theland-based sites more valuable.In part, the moratorium law wasmeant to limit the number of per-manently moored houseboats incoastal waters, while addressingsafety concerns and assigningaccountability to owners.

GLO spokesman Rene Truanexpects bidding on future sites

will be spirited. Selection of thosesites is under way.

A total of 12 bidders participat-ed in the June sale, whichinvolved four sites near BirdIsland and one near Baffin Bay.The average bid for the remotelots was $22,500. The GLO hadset $10,000 as the minimum bidamount.

Successful bidders have 12months to build a cabin on theirsite.

Structures built on these siteswould be the property of thestate. But if builders obey therules, the GLO is prepared letthem stay indefinitely.

For program information, e-mail cabins@glo.state.tx.us orcall Amy Koltermann at (361)825-3038.

David Sikes writes about the outdoorsfor the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

CABIN FEVER: Fly fishing houses have been popular with anglers in the past.

GOOD CATCH: Brian Holden catches aSpanish mackerel while fly fishing.

July 8, 2005 � Page 9

TPW stocks 7.2 million fish

The Inland FisheriesDivision of Texas Parksand Wildlife producedand stocked 4.6 million

striped bass and hybrid stripedbass fingerlings into 42 lakes thisseason. An additional 2.6 mil-lion striped bass and hybridstriped bass fry were stocked intojust three lakes.

This number of fish is in themiddle of average productionlevels prior to the onset of gold-en alga, said Gerald Kurten,hatchery program director forcatfishes and striped bass.

Golden alga is a microscopicorganism that can produce tox-ins capable of killing fish of anysize.

“We are proud to be backwhere we should be in spite ofthe fact that golden alga contin-ues to be problematic for boththe Dundee and PossumKingdom hatcheries,” Kurtensaid.

This year’s stockings representabout 80 percent of the requestsfrom the TPW’s Inland Fisheriesmanagers. The TPW is keenlyaware of the importance of thestriped bass and hybrid stripedbass fisheries to local economies,said Gary Saul, TPW hatcherieschief.

“Our staff works around theclock for weeks to produce andstock these fish in order to sus-tain this valuable fishery,” hesaid.

The fingerlings were producedat the A.E. Wood Hatchery atSan Marcos, the PossumKingdom Hatchery near Grafordand the Dundee Hatchery nearElectra.

The process began with thecollection of striped bass malesand egg-laden females from theTrinity River at the foot ofLivingston Dam in mid-April.The fish were transported intank trailers to the hatcheries,where TPW fisheries biologistsand technicians continuouslymonitored the females to deter-mine when their eggs weremature and ready to be spawned.

Technicians then stripped theeggs from each female into acontainer while milt from one ormore males was added. The eggsand milt were mixed using aturkey feather, and the fertilizedeggs were then placed intohatching jars. Large striped bassfemales are capable of producingas many as a million eggs.

After the fry hatched, mostwere reared in outdoor ponds tofingerling size, about 1.5 incheslong, before being stocked intolakes.

The presence of golden alga atthe Possum Kingdom andDundee hatcheries complicated

the production. Hatchery per-sonnel monitored the level ofgolden alga toxins continuouslyduring the spawning and grow-out periods and took measuresto ensure the fish survived.

Successful management of fin-gerling ponds requires constantattention to water qualityparameters such as temperature,pH and ammonia concentra-tions. High pH and ammoniaconcentrations are the key tokeeping golden alga at bay inhatchery ponds, but they arealso potentially lethal to youngstriped bass. Hatchery staff mustperform a balancing act to main-tain the appropriate conditionsin the ponds. Fluctuations intemperature and cloud coveralso have an impact, and thestaff must consider how futureweather will affect the ponds.When golden alga is present, thefish can be lost at any time dur-ing pond production, so con-stant vigilance on the part of thehatchery staff and predictableweather are the keys to success.

Striped bass are anadromouslike salmon in that they spawnin fresh water and then migrateout to salt water. Striped basswere first introduced into Texasin 1967, when they were stockedinto lakes Navarro, Mills andBardwell. They can survive infresh water and, except in LakeTexoma, they normally do notproduce enough offspring natu-rally to maintain their popula-tion. The TPW stocks fish to sup-plement the natural productionand provide additional fishingopportunities.

“The way our hatcheries dothe spawning absolutely makesthem the leaders in this field,”said Roger McCabe, who retiredin June 2005 after heading theTexas striped bass program for aquarter of a century. “As far asstocking for maintaining fish-eries is concerned, we have thelargest striped bass and hybridstriped bass stocking program inthe country.”

Striped Bass Stockings,2005:• E. V. Spence: 37,243• Possum Kingdom: 156,355• Buffalo Springs: 3,686• Whitney: 332,999• Kemp (Baylor County):

149,771• Granbury: 125,155• Livingston: 526,148• Amistad: 318,908• Lavon: 107,008• Canyon: 40,997• Tawakoni: 100,211• Buchanan: 150,100• Travis: 96,000

—A Texas Parks and Wildlifereport

Boats that meet

all the demands of

Texas sportsmen

•Gator Trax Boats

•Legend Craft Boats

•Mud Buddy

•Hyper Drive Motors

•Boat Blinds

•Flounder Rigs

11709 FM 1764,

Santa Fe, Texas 77510

409-927-1462

www.sportsmantrailers.com

By Diana Kunde

This summer’s thick car-pet of widgeon grassgrowing along the state’scentral coastal region

could prove a headache forboaters and anglers now, but itprobably bodes well for fall fish-ing, say guides and biologists.

“From a selfish, human stand-point, it limits the fishing,” saidBrian Holden, head guide atRedfish Lodge on Copano Bay.“From a biological standpoint,it’s doing wonderful things forour fishing. I’m realistic. We

can’t fish certain areas, but Iknow what the extensive grassesdo to protect the fish that livethere.”

Holden has seen large standsof widgeon in parts of CopanoBay, St. Charles Bay andSundown Bay. “The widgeon hasbecome so long and overgrownthat in some places it appearslike a bad comb-over,” he said.

This time of year all seagrassesare growing. But the widgeongrass (scientific name: ruppiamaritima) — one of five speciesof seagrass that line the shallowflats and inlets of the coast —got a special boost from nearly

20 months of heavy rainfall inthe drainage areas of the SanAntonio and Guadalupe rivers,said Dennis Pridgen, fisheriesbiologist with Texas Parks andWildlife. These drainage areasempty into coastal estuaries,Pridgen said.

“What’s happened is that wid-geon grass had a really good yearlast year. It put out a tremendousseed bed, and as those seedsfloated out they found goodconditions,” Pridgen said.

That’s because widgeon grass— so named because it attractsthe American widgeon and

Widgeon grass snags up summer fishing

OVERGROWTH: Widgeon grass is taking over many back country lakes along the barrierislands.Continued on page 11

Page 10 � July 8, 2005

Take a Walk onthe Wild Side…Take a Walk onthe Wild Side…

Join the Dallas Safari Cluband celebrate wildlife andthe sporting way of life.The mission of the DallasSafari Club is to conservewildlife and wildernesslands, to educate youthand the general public andto promote and protect therights and interests ofhunters worldwide.

• Annual HuntersConvention andExposition

• Youth Programs• Member Meetings

and Activities• World-Class

Publications• Conservation

and Education

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB6390 LBJ Freeway, Ste. 108

Dallas, TX 75240-6414Phone: 972-980-9800

Toll Free: 1-800-9GO-HUNTFax: 972-980-9925

Website: www.biggame.orgE-mail: info@biggame.org

Join Dallas Safari ClubTodaywww.biggame.orgJoin Dallas Safari ClubTodaywww.biggame.org

Academy Sports &Outdoors will open itspremier Texas store inCorpus Christi on July 14

in response to a growing need forretail space.

At 81,000 square feet, the storewill be the chain’s largest Texaslocation — more than 15,000square feet bigger than the compa-ny’s traditional store.

“It’s huge for us,” said Carl Main,Academy’s advertising director.“This will be a premier store.”

Academy has been quietlyexpanding the size of its stores,Main said. The company’s storesused to be in the range of 50,000square feet.

“When you look at our stores,we’re just flat outgrowing them,”Main said. “It was a struggle foreveryone — associates and cus-tomers. That’s why we went to65,000 square feet as our basic lay-out. But with Corpus Christi andother select markets, we wanted tostep out there and try somethingnew.”

Academy officials say they aren’tresponding to superstores like theone Cabela’s recently built in FortWorth that’s more than 230,000square feet. So don’t look for anaquarium or the entire productline, said Academy DistrictManager Jeff Richards. But do look

for better service.“I don’t know that you’ll see a

tremendous amount of differentequipment,” Richards said. “Wewill have room for expandedinventories. For example, we’ll beable to keep a selection of huntingproducts year-round in this store.Most of all, though, our customerswill have an easier time shopping.Our store will give them room tomove around. Our customers inCorpus Christi have always sup-ported us very nicely in a crampedlocation. We wanted to do some-thing to provide a better shoppingexperience for our customersthere.”

Academy Sports & Outdoorstraces its roots in Texas back to1938, when founder MaxGochman opened Academy TireShop in San Antonio. In the early’80s, Academy added sports andoutdoor items to its product line.

Opening across the street fromthe old store, Academy’s newCorpus Christi store will provide asmooth transition for customers.The grand opening is July 30.

“We’ll close down our currentlocation on the evening of July13,” Richards said, “and we’ll openour new store the next day, July 14,at 9 a.m.”

—A staff report

Academy grows with the marketAnchorage, Alaska, nativeassigned to the Bravo Company,145th Support Battalion.“Archery is big in Alaska. Andfrom what I understand, archeryis also big there in Idaho.’’

Russell’s e-mailed plea for helpwith starting an Iraq archeryclub caught the attention of RonCarmichael, who runs the TexasState Archery Association’s Website. Carmichael quickly set up aTSAA fund-raiser that collectednearly $1,900, including dona-tions from archers around thecountry. A Pennsylvania archerysupply store is stretching thosefunds by applying purchase dis-counts and handling the ship-ping.

“I thought that even if you’reagainst the war,” Carmichaelsaid, “here’s something you cando to help the guys over thereinstead of just putting a stupidmagnet on your car.”

Ousted by firearms in the 16thcentury as the dominant battle-field weapon, the bow and arrowremains popular for competi-tions and hunting. Russell’sarchery club would focus on tar-gets and competitions, but hehas been told there may be somewild boar in the vicinity.

He admits it would be interest-ing to see the look on the face ofan insurgent who met up withsome American archers.

“I’m not sure that the insur-gents would know how to react ifthey saw someone carrying abow,’’ he said.

He jokes but he knows thethreat of an attack is relentless,

especially in a war with nodefined combat front. Two sol-diers from his battalion werekilled within a few days of eachother in June, one in a bombattack and the other from a non-combat incident. One of the sol-diers, Staff Sgt. Virgil Case, was amember of his company andamong those anxiously awaitingthe arrival of archery equip-ment.

“He was a big bow hunter backhome in Mountain Home,Idaho,’’ Russell said. “That weekwas hard on a lot of us, but we alldeal with it in our own ways andget on with life. It is importantto remember that they both diedfor their country and making adifference in Iraq.”

Such stress makes recreationall the more important, said Sgt.Maj. Eric Parris of III Corps pub-lic affairs at Fort Hood.

“That’s one of the things youfight,” he said. “It’s a challengeto make sure they have somequality down time.”

Parris recently returned from ayear-long deployment in Iraq,where he was based at CampVictory, which was set up in a for-mer palace of Saddam Hussein.Recreational opportunities wereplentiful — pools, a recreationcenter and a gym were available.At Camp Anaconda, an hour’sdrive north of Baghdad, Parrissaid facilities included a buildingconverted into a movie theater.

He hadn’t heard of an archeryclub in Iraq, though. “That defi-nitely would be different,” hesaid. “But there’s definitely room

for it.”Archery wouldn’t be Russell’s

only weapon against the stressand boredom. The post has twogyms with weights, basketballand volleyball, a swimming pooland a pitching machine. Soldiersrecently competed in a wild-ani-mal-calling contest.

“These items and events allowfor us to unwind and forget — fora little bit — where we are,”Russell said.

Bravo Company is finding lotsof support among archers backhome. Some equipment hasalready started to arrive in Iraq —six compound bows and tworecurve bows. Arrows and tar-gets, though, were laggingbehind as of June 27.

Lancaster Archery Supply inPennsylvania is coordinating theshipping of the Texas archeryassociation’s project, said TSAAPresident Michael Hojnacki.

Ten Ring Archery, a store nearChicago, has sent a care package— two bows, a dozen arrows, tar-gets, arm guards and sights — inresponse to the TSAA request.

“And we sent some bow huntermagazines because they saidthey didn’t have much to read,’’said store owner Ken Walther, anarcher since his Boy Scout days.“It’s my way of saying thanks forwhat they’re doing. This is some-thing we can truly help themwith.”

—Robert Cadwallader is a Fort-Worth area freelancer with morethan two decades of experience as ajournalist and writer.

Continued from page 1

Archery

required to purchase the new $7Migratory Game Bird Stamp thisfall. However, there will be nopractical change for a large per-centage of dove hunters whowere already buying the white-winged dove stamp.

“As it was, we were already see-ing more than 60 percent ofdove hunters buying the White-winged Dove Stamp, probablybecause whitewing numbershave grown so much and spreadso far that hunters were con-cerned about staying legal,” saidRobert L. Cook, the TPW execu-tive director.

Cook said the new stamp givesthe TPW added flexibility toaddress mourning dove needsbecause the agency could notspend white-winged stampfunds on research involvingmourning doves.

“Hunters should thank thegame bird hunting conservationgroups that supported game birdstamp reorganization in therecent legislative session, includ-ing Ducks Unlimited, DoveSportsman’s Society, NationalWild Turkey Federation, QuailUnlimited, and TexasAudubon,” Cook said.

The recommendations approv-ed by the USFWS regulationscommittee must be published inthe Federal Register for another30-day comment period. If theyare approved, the 2005 dove

season will be as follows: NorthZone — Sept. 1-Oct. 30, with a15-bird bag and not more thantwo white-tipped doves; CentralZone — Sept. 1-Oct. 30 andreopening Dec. 26 — Jan. 4,with a 12-bird bag and not morethan two white-tipped doves;South Zone — Sept. 23-Nov. 10and reopening Dec. 26-Jan. 15with a 12-bird bag but not morethan two white-tipped doves;Special South Texas WhitewingZone — Sept. 3-4 and Sept. 10-11 afternoon only, with a 12-bird aggregate bag includingnot more than four mourningdoves and two white-tippeddoves.

The USFWS has also indicatedthere will be a September tealseason this year, with details tocome later.

—A Texas Parks and Wildlifereport

Continued from page 6

Dove

es of missed targets. Rememberthat your master eye is actuallythe rear sight of the gun. To keepthat rear sight on the target,your head must stay on thestock. If you move your head atall, your master eye (your rearsight) moves too, and the resultis almost always a miss. Keepyour head down until after theshot is fired.

FOLLOW THROUGHMovement is everything, and

everything is moving. The “fol-

low through” concept generallyapplies to the completion phaseof the shot. A shooter can doalmost everything right and stillmiss the target. That’s usuallybecause he stops moving thegun just as he pulls the trigger, orshortly thereafter. It’s a guaran-teed miss.

To watch an online video ofthese techniques visit:www.ducks.org/waterfowling/shotgunning/index.asp.

— A Ducks Unlimited report

Shoot better

SEASON OPENER: Doves prove plentiful.

July 8, 2005 � Page 11

Continued from page 1

Frogs other lure can go.

“Buzzing frogs have taken thebass world by storm. It’s really ahot bait on the tournament trail.Many companies are coming outwith similar baits,” said Gresham.

In weedy lakes, such as ToledoBend or Sam Rayburn, grassgrows so thick in places thatthese type of baits are oftenmandatory.

“A Ribbit looks like a live frog asit runs on top of the water overvirtually any cover,” said LonnieStanley, a five-time BassmasterClassic veteran and owner ofStanley Lures in Huntington.Rigged weedless, it’s designed togo across thick, matted grass orlily pads. It can do what topwa-ters, buzzbaits and Texas-riggedbaits can do, all in one package.

Anglers can also use the “stopand hop” method. Let a frog siton a matted surface for amoment. Then, pop it vigorouslyand repeat. The commotion sim-ulates a live frog. This methodworks effectively in places wherelily pads grow thick or mattedgrass can support the weight of afrog.

“We can’t fish thick pads witha conventional spinnerbait orother lure,” Gresham said. “I fishbuzzing frogs in matted grass andlily pads at Lake Sam Rayburnand Toledo Bend.”

John N. Felsher is an outdoor writerbased in Lake Charles, La.

Continued from page 1

Vibriosuch as vibrio vulnificus, whichis the same microorganism thatsometimes makes people sickfrom eating raw oysters.

Two other bacteria, staph andstrep, have infected anglers in theCoastal Bend. Both men had open-ings in their skin and both haverecovered. These three bacteriaoccasionally invade the bodythrough skin wounds but none isknown to penetrate healthy skin.

The vibrio victim, Rockportguide James Fox, 64, was hospital-ized for nearly three weeks afterthe bacteria entered his blood-stream through a small abrasionbetween his fingers. Fox’s treat-ment included an aggressiveregime of intravenous antibioticsfollowed by plastic surgery toreconstruct his hand.

His advice? Don’t neglect thesymptoms of infection.

Symptoms generally includeredness and/or swelling, pain,

discoloration and localizedwarmth.

While the Texas Department ofHealth Services documents somethree dozen cases of vibrio annu-ally, only a tiny fraction of theseinvolve anglers who contractedthe infection through wounds.And there is no indication thatvibrio infections are on the rise.Eating tainted oysters is the pri-mary source of illness from thebacteria. Most deaths attributed tovibrio involve high-risk patients

who are elderly or have liver prob-lems, deficient immune systems,diabetes, gastric disorders, canceror steroid dependency.

Health officials are quick topoint out that millions of peoplefish, wade, swim or otherwisecome in contact with coastalwaters each summer without anyill effects.

—David Sikes writes about theoutdoors for the Corpus ChristiCaller-Times.

• Know that wounds exposed toseawater (whether wading, shorefishing or fishing from a boat)could become infected with vibriovulnificus.

• This bacterium is more preva-lent during warmer months inshallow bays.

• Don't wade with open (partic-ularly fresh) wounds that could beexposed to seawater.

• Alcohol consumption sub-stantially enhances chances ofinfection.

• Seek medical attention imme-diately if a wound, cut, burn or sorerapidly becomes painful, swollen,discolored or feels hot after expo-sure to fish/shellfish and/or seawa-ter. Don't wait until tomorrow.Sometimes hours count.

• Seek medical attention if youexperience fever, chills, vomitingor dizziness during or after fishingor eating raw/undercookedseafood.

• If you cut or puncture your skinwhile fishing or handlingfish/shellfish, flush the wound

with soap and/or freshwater imme-diately. Bring freshwater and anti-bacterial wash along for this pur-pose.

• Use over-the-counter betadine,peroxide, diluted chlorine bleach,antiseptic soap or cleanser to treatcuts or pricks incurred while fish-ing, cleaning seafood or swimmingin seawater.

• Freezing and refrigeration donot kill this bacterium. Cookingwell does.

• People at higher risk of infec-tion include patients with diabetes,liver disorders, immune deficien-cies, gastric disorders, cancer orsteroid dependency and alcoholics.

• Vibrio vulnificus infections arenot contagious.

For more information, visitwww.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/disea-seinfo/vibriovulnificusg.htm orwww.epi.state.nc.us/epi/hab/vib-factsheet.html

Source: Texas Department ofHealth, vibrio victims andphysician interviews

Safety advice and facts for anglers

other duck species — prefers lesssaline water than the other fourseagrass varieties. It got that, inspades, due to heavier-than-usual rains in the Texas HillCountry that eventually drainedinto the mid-coastal waters.

The slender, tall grass growsback farther from the coast, inthe more inland, or tertiary,estuaries where salt content islower. Pridgen saw an especiallybig stand earlier this month justwhere Copano Creek emptiesinto the bay, an area popularlyknown as the Turtle Pen.

Widgeon grass is more notice-able when it does have a goodyear because it grows taller thanthe other four species, Pridgensaid. The “comb-over” effectHolden described is probablydue to seeds and flowers thatgrow above the surface of the

water, he said.Bobby Caskey, owner of Shoal

Grass Lodge in Aransas Pass, saidhe doesn’t see much widgeongrass — but what he’s seen is inbig stands. “We don’t have awhole lot of it around here, butwhat we do have seems to bedoing well. You can be in 2 feetof water and it’s all the way tothe surface,” he said.

Widgeon and other seagrassesare valuable because of the manyfunctions they perform in theoverall ecology of the coastalarea, said Ed Hegan, regionaldirector for the southern coast inTPW’s coastal fisheries division.

“It provides hiding and protec-tion for small shrimp and fishthat larger fish feed on. It stabi-lizes the soil. It also recyclesnutrients and produces oxygen,like any plant,” Hegan said. The

grass beds also function as fishnurseries. TPW recently reinsti-tuted the scientific designationfor the Redfish Bay StateScientific Area, protecting 14,000acres of seagrass beds, and there-fore the fishing habitat.

Typically, seagrasses die backin the fall, clearing more areas ofthe shallow flats and estuaries.

“As soon as it does that, thefish will be exposed a littlemore,” said Holden. “I’m surethey’ve had a great summer.They’ve eaten like pigs. I’ve nodoubt fishing will be good in thefall.”

Diana Kunde has 30 years ofexperience writing and editing fornewspapers that include the DallasMorning News. She is a free-lancerbased in Arlington, reachable atdikunde@sbcglobal.net.

Continued from page 9

Widgeon grass

VIRUS: Rockport guide James Fox is recovering from an infection. Photo by Laura Fox.

GETTING THE JUMP: A largemouth bass preys on a frog bait. Photo by David J. Sams,Lone Star Outdoor News.

By Lynn Burkhead

Driving east from Aztec, New Mexico,along Highway 173, the desert wilder-ness seems to be virtually devoid of life.Any life. As the sun bakes the parched

earth into a dusty brown, the colors of the rainbowtrout seem to be far, far away.

And yet, suddenly, the twisting two-lane roadwinds across a bridge in the shadow of Abe’s Moteland Fly Shop below Navajo Dam and there it is, thecold, rushing bluish-green waters known to flyfishermen across the world over as the San JuanRiver.

Legendary trout waters sometimes fail to live up to their advanced billing. But on myfirst sojourn to this desert trout stream a few years ago to fish with guide Matt Pyle, Ifound everything I had ever heard about this desert dream stream to be true.

“If it was in my backyard and no one else could fish it, yeah, it would be the perfecttrout stream,” quipped guide Matt Pyle of the San Juan.

After doing some guiding while working for the National Wildlife Federation, Pylediscovered the San Juan River. He caught an 8-pound trout on his second journey tothe tailwater fishery, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What intrigued the high school science teacher, guide and commercial fly tyer themost were the huge rainbow trout the San Juan supported and the tiny flies theygulped down.

“It is a very unique fishery,” Pyle said. “You’ll see the fish rising and it will look likethey’re not eating anything — you’ll look a little closer and you’ll see a little black dot.”

“Fish are keying in on a little black speck. It’s hard to believe they’ll expend the ener-gy to chase something so tiny, but they do. The good thing is that they have to eat alot of them.”

Once I adjusted to the art of fishing tiny midges and dry flies, the San Juan morethan lived up to its advance billing.

In fact, by the time my fishing partner, DougRodgers of Whitesboro, Texas, and I had stumbledinto our room, we had managed to land more thantwo dozen spunky fish between the two of us.

Weary yes, but still able to wear the silly grins onour faces that fly anglers have after a superb, butchallenging day on the water.

“Bites are sometimes extremely subtle,” Pyleadvises. “You have to be able to recognize thestrike. Any subtle hesitation, flicker, or pause onthe strike indicator, and you’ve got to be ready toset the hook.”

What equipment should an angler use to set thehook? Dennis Harrison of Abe’s Fly Shop andMotel provides the answer with more than two

decades of experience to back it up.“I’d suggest either a 9-foot five-weight or six-weight rod,” Harrison said. “Our river is

fairly large and open and the average size of the fish is anywhere from 16 to 18 inchesand many will go in excess of 20 inches. There are a few real hogs out here up to 28inches and you need a rod with a lot of backbone to fight these fish.”

Harrison suggests a 9-foot 5X or 6X leader. Off of that, he’ll usually fish a droppercombination with a 5X tippet section from the leader to the attractor fly, then drop-ping a 16- to 18-inch section of 6X tippet from the eye of the attractor fly to his drop-per fly.

Some say that the San Juan has slipped a bit in recent years due to drought-inducedlow water flows and the ever-present angling crowds. But if it has, it’s hard to tell sincefishing is generally being reported as good this year.

Plus, after the runoff from massive winter snows filled the reservoir above theNavajo Dam earlier this spring, a silt-cleansing flow of nearly 5,000 cubic feet per sec-ond has resulted.

“We’re kind of spoiled here with lots of big fish, lots of small bugs, and lots of lighttippets,” Pyle said.

And that’s the magic of the San Juan.

Page 12 � July 8, 2005

ADVENTURE

San Juan magic: tiny flies, big troutEnchanting New Mexico trout stream is a must-visit tailwater for Texas anglers

IF YOU GO:Navajo Dam: about 26 mileswest of Aztec, N.M. on Highway173.

Abe’s Motel and Fly Shop:1793 Highway 173Navajo Dam, NM 87419(505) 632-2194

The motel has rooms with oneto four double beds; most havekitchenettes. Rates are from$40 to $105 plus tax. Rates aresubject to change withoutnotice.

The full-service fly shop offersa complete range of tackle andgear and fishing licenses can bepurchased there.

July 8, 2005 � Page 13

PRODUCT PICKS

FALLING FOR A LINE. P-Line promises more strikes with thisfishing line, which is extruded from Japanese fluorocarboncrystals. Because fluorocarbon has a refractive index veryclose to that of water, the line virtually disappears whenimmersed. This 20-pound, 250-yard line costs about $22. Forretailers, check the company’s website at www.p-line.com orcall (800) 537-2394.

SINK OR SWIM. It’s the weighted balance and bent-bladedesign that give the Power Bait Blade Dancer suchversatility. This means fishermen have more ways to workthis lure: They can jig it, swim it, drop it, pause it orwalk it. Berkley’s bait is pre-rigged with a grub, whichhas a swimming tail, realistic textured fins and 3-D eyes.The Blade Dancer comes in four sizes (from 1/16-ounceto 3/8-ounce) and 15 colors. It costs about $5.50 (whichincludes three extra bodies). For retailers, visitwww.berkley-fishing.com or call (800) 237-5539.

NONSCENTS. This Unscented Hand Lotion formulated by the WildlifeResearch Center will allow outdoorsmen to moisturize dry hands withoutthe fragrances that can spook fish and game. The 4-ounce size costsabout $4.50. For the nearest dealer, e-mail the research center atsales@wildlife.com or call (800) 873-5873.

A STEADY HAND. The Level-Level-Level by Wheeler Engineeringis designed to make it easier to perfectly mount a scope on abolt-action rifle. The magnetic base in the rifle level bridgesthe bolt raceway, allowing users to position the rifle perfectlylevel, according to the manufacturer. Then, just level thescope and tighten the rings. It retails for about $20. Fordealers, go to www.battenfeldtechnologies.com or call (573)446-3857.

ALL CHOKED UP. Quiet thatcough this cold and flu seasonwith the Magnum Cough Muffler.This compact muffler byHunter’s Specialties features asatin finish to minimizereflections and is easy todisassemble for cleaning. Itsells for about $20. Go towww.hunterspec.com or call(319) 395-0321 for the nearestdealer.

BAG ’EM. The Excell Auto 5 by H&R 1871 LLC is a self-loading,12-gauge shotgun. It feature 5-shot magazines, ventilatedrecoil pads and up to a 3-inch Magnum capability. This one, inwalnut stock, retails for about $460. It’s also available in ablack synthetic stock, a hardwood camo pattern for turkeyhunters or a wetlands pattern for water fowlers. To check outall its features or for dealer information, visit www.hr1871.comor call customer service at (978) 630-8220.

A BETTER VIEW. The new Nikon Buckmastersriflescope has gotten more ergonomic. It’srounder and sleeker, but with the same greatoptics and exceptional light transmission. This3-9x40 riflescope features a matte finish andcosts about $200. Its body tube isconstructed from aircraft-grade aluminum. Thescopes are O-ring sealed and nitrogen-filled forwaterproof, fog-proof and shockproofperformance in the field. For dealers, go towww.nikonsportoptics.com or call (800) 645-6687 (option 7).

SPREAD IT ON THICK. Abby Manufacturing’s spreader is just the right size for those inthe hunting industry to seed and fertilize their food plots. Its polyethylene hopperand stainless-steel splash guard and spreading mechanism are corrosion-resistant. Itsells for about $750. For the nearest retailer, call Terry Abby at (888) 794-4004.For more information about this implement, which attaches to an ATV, visitwww.abbymfg.com.

ALLURING BAIT. Tiny propellers on the front ofthese Pistol Pete flies create an action andsound that attract the fish, according to themakers. Hi-Country Flies, Inc. makes theflies in more than 50 patterns and sizes. Forpike or saltwater game fishing, try theSimple Saltwater Streamer #1/0, whichcomes in orange, chartreuse or blue. It costs$3.34 or $39 per dozen. To order, call (888)846-6900. Visit www.pistolpeteflies.com formore information.

Page 14 � July 8, 2005

MADE IN TEXAS

ARKANSASBASS FISHERMEN HELPAGFC STOCK LAKE OUACHITA

Arkansas bass fishermen con-tinue to do their part in helpingimprove Lake Ouachita’s bassfishery. The Arkansas Game andFish Commission’s fisheriesdivision, along with theArkansas Black Bass Coalition,have recently completed sched-uled stockings of largemouthbass and smallmouth bass intoLake Ouachita.

The group assisted AGFC biol-ogists by distributing the finger-ling size bass throughout LakeOuachita. ABBC members pro-vided the use of their fishingboats in carrying the youngbass, in stock tanks, to selecthabitat sites.

According to AGFC biologistBrett Hobbs, more than 66,000fingerling smallmouth bass werestocked into sites on the east endof the lake, while 62,000 finger-ling size largemouth bass werereleased into mid-lake sites.“These hatchery-reared youngbass should add to a good natu-ral spawn present throughoutthe lake,” Hobbs said.

Prior to bass stockings, AGFCfishery biologists sampledshoreline fish cover at numerouslocations around Lake Ouachita,Hobbs said. “With rare excep-tion, young largemouth bass arepresent in shallow vegetationfrom one end of the lake to the

other,” he said.Additional largemouth bass

will be stocked into the westernend of Lake Ouachita in earlyJuly through the AGFC’s nurs-ery pond. Approximately40,000 largemouth bass will beabout 5 inches in length whenreleased.

The smallmouth bass finger-lings were produced at theAGFC’s Andrew Hulsey StateFish Hatchery near Hot Springswhile the largemouth bass fin-gerlings stocked were producedat Joe Hogan State FishHatchery near Lonoke.

LOUISIANAMULTIPLE FINES ISSUED

The National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration’sOffice of General Counsel forEnforcement and Litigation hasissued Notices of Violation andAssessment (NOVAs) totaling$20,500 that allege Gulf Reeffishermen John Tabor, JohnLanglois, John Hagmann andGeorge Donaldson violated theMagnuson-Stevens FisheryConservation and ManagementAct.

The recreational fishermenwere the subjects of a year-longinvestigation for allegedly sell-ing recreationally caught Gulfreef fish by the NOAA FisheriesService’s Office for LawEnforcement and the LouisianaDepartment of Wildlife and

Fisheries. “Basically, these fishermen

were spear-fishing around theoil rigs in the Gulf and then sell-ing their catch to a seafood deal-er in Baton Rouge,” said SpecialAgent Steve Campbell, NOAAFisheries Service’s Office for LawEnforcement – SoutheastDivision.

Gulf reef fish are subject toannual quotas split between thecommercial and recreationalfisheries as determined by theGulf of Mexico FisheryManagement Council. Onlyreef fish harvested under thecommercial quota may be sold.Recreational fishermen are sub-ject to individual catch limits,and Gulf reef fish possessedunder the catch limits may notbe sold or purchased.

To report illegal fishing activi-ties, contact the NOAA FisheriesService’s Enforcement Hot Lineat 800-853-1964.

NEW MEXICOANGLER LANDS STATERECORD BLUE CATFISH ATELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE

David Gower raised the bar forNew Mexico’s record blue cat-fish catch by more than 18 1⁄2pounds on June 20 when he suc-cessfully landed a 52-pound, 1⁄4-ounce whopper at ElephantButte Lake.

The new state record, subjectto final confirmation, was 43 1⁄2inches long and 30 1⁄4 inches

around. It eclipsed the oldrecord, a 33-pound, 8-ounceblue catfish caught in 1999 byTubby Oldfield, also at ElephantButte Lake. The North Americanand world record blue catfishweighed 121 pounds, 8 ouncesand was caught in 2004 at LakeTexoma in Texas.

Gower, from Truth orConsequences, caught his bigblue in the North Monticelloarea of Elephant Butte Lake. Heused cut carp as bait on a trot-line.

Elephant Butte Lake is knownfor producing very large catfish.The state record flathead catfish,a 78-pounder that measured 471⁄2 inches long, was caughtthere by Jim Wilson in 1979.

OKLAHOMATEXOMA PRODUCING BIGSTRIPERS

The water level may be down -six feet low, but rising at lastreport - but the fishing at LakeTexoma is as good as ever.Anglers on the sprawling reser-voir are reporting excellentstriped bass fishing over the lastseveral weeks.

“Not only are folks catchinggood numbers of stripers, they’realso catching some big fish,” saidPaul Mauck, south central regionfisheries supervisor for theOklahoma Department ofWildlife Conservation. “I havehad several reports of fish from20 to 25 pounds.”

Lake Texoma, located on the

Red River along the Oklahomaand Texas border, has earned areputation as being one of thetop striper lakes in the nation.Known for their outstandingfighting abilities, striped bass arelong-lived and fast growing.Stripers are voracious predatorswith a diet consisting mainly ofthreadfin and gizzard shad.

“The striped bass population isreally in good shape right now.And the number of fish over 20inches has been impressive dur-ing the last few weeks,” Maucksaid.

Anglers are allowed to keeptwo stripers over 20 inches inlength, and Mauck is urginganglers to exercise caution oncethey catch their limit.

“This time of year, schools ofstripers will often move to deep-er water to find cooler tempera-tures,” Mauck said. “There canbe problems when you pull a bigfish up quickly from 30 feet ordeeper and then release it. Theirair bladders cannot compensatefor the quick changes in pressureand the fish may die.”

Mauck said the best thing todo is find another school of fishonce anglers have caught two bigstripers. Additionally, informa-tion on how to release the pres-sure on the striper’s air bladdercan be found at wildlifedepart-ment.com.

Those fishing Lake Texomaneed either an Oklahoma orTexas annual fishing license,depending on which state’swaters they will be fishing, oranglers can purchase a LakeTexoma Fishing License for $12.The Lake Texoma license allowsan angler to fish the entire lake.

BORDERING TEXAS

By Mary Helen Aguirre

By the time T.J. Neal was10 — when he first castin the shallow, crystalclear waters of Port

Mansfield — he was familiarwith the fly fishermen’s rite.Before each outing, his grandfa-ther and father would painstak-ingly and patiently tie the fliesthey were planning to use.

“(Tying your own flies) adds alittle bit to the whole experi-ence,” Neal explained.

Now, as the owner of East CutSaltwater Flies, it’s something hedoes professionally for otheranglers. Through his Boerne-based business, he designs andmanufactures saltwater flies soldin more than 50 retail shopsthroughout Texas and along theGulf Coast.

“I saw there was a market forTexas-style saltwater flies,” saidNeal, who started his companyin 1999 and named it for the EastCut (which runs from PortMansfield to the Gulf).

Most companies offer fliesthat are slightly too big for use inTexas, he said. Unlike suchlocales as Louisiana or Florida,

where fly fisherman cast indeeper waters, Texas fishingtakes place in shallow, clearwater. So the wily fish need to belured in with smaller flies.

The Texas A&M Universitygraduate designed a colorfulhalf-inch redfish popper fash-ioned from foam and startedmarketing it. He also designedother downsized saltwater fliesand modified existing patterns.

In the beginning, he said, hewas tying all his own flies.

Now that his company offers20 to 30 patterns (each in differ-ent sizes and colors), he contractsout most of the tedious handi-work to three or four people.

But on some, like his best-sell-ing Scott’s Spoon Fly designed byfishing guide Scott Graham, Nealpersonally hand finishes the flies.He places about 30 dozen of theone-inch flies on a rotatingdrum. Then, using a small dispos-able paint brush, he carefullycoats the baits’ prismatic tapebodies with epoxy, which makesthem more durable.

“What’s superior about T.J.’sflies is the quality and attentionto detail,” said Ray Boazman ofSan Antonio.

Boazman, who’s been fly fish-

ing for 15 years, said if he had topick one bait with which to fish,it would be a spoon. “What T.J.has tied is a miniature version of aJohnson Spoon,” he said of thefly that sparkles and wobbles inthe water. “The fish will comefrom 10 feet away to get one.”

Most of Neal’s saltwater fliesaverage about 3 to 4 inches. Theyare made from natural materials,

including feathers and deer hair,and synthetic materials such asyarns, chenille and filaments.

Neal said that as a business-man, he prefers the syntheticsbecause they’re more consistent.“It’s easier to get my patterns tolook the same.”

Developing patterns is oneaspect of his business he espe-cially enjoys. Perhaps because it

takes him back out to the water,where he tests potential designs.“Fishing is a big part of what Ido,” he said.

Mary Helen Aguirre is a nativeTexan with almost 15 years ofexperience editing and writing fornewspapers, including the AtlantaJournal-Constitution. She is a free-lancer in Connecticut.

T.J. Neal’s company, East Cut Saltwater Flies, offers hand-tied flies ranging from $3 to $6. For the future, he’s concentratingon adding more pa