News

Bass n Bucks Tournament Trail 2005 SCHEDULE Lake Livingston/Conroe Circuit (5 Tournaments)
February 19, 2005	Lake Conroe
March 5, 2005	Lake Livingston
April 30, 2005	Lake Conroe
June 25, 2005	Lake Livingston
July 23 , 2005	Lake Livingston
All Conroe tournaments will be April Plaza Marina	All Lake Livingston tournaments will be Lakeview Marina
2005 Championship September 10 & 11, 2005.

– Lake Mohave

AUSTIN, Texas — A couple of isolated and relatively minor active fish kills on Lake Granbury have been traced to elevated levels of golden alga toxins, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials.

“We could be seeing the beginning stages of an outbreak or it could be some isolated incidents that just go away, there’s no way to tell at this time,” said Joan Glass, an investigator with TPWD’s Kills and Spills Team. “The good news is because of all the recent rains the creeks are all running and there are places for fish to hide and get away from the toxins.”

TPWD and Brazos River Authority staff are continuing to monitor the 8,700-acre impoundment located 30 miles southwest of Fort Worth. According to Glass, water samples pulled from the Ports O’ Call homeowner canal near the dam and from the Bentwater Shores canal near Highway 377 revealed elevated golden alga cell counts. Most of the fish kill has occurred in shallow water near those areas.

At present, Granbury is the only lake in Texas experiencing an active fish kill related to golden alga. “Things are looking good at Possum Kingdom and Lake Texoma and Lake Whitney is also in pretty good shape,” Glass noted. “We’re hoping this event follows the same course as the one we saw on Whitney last November where it just went away.”

First discovered in Texas in 1985, golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) was identified in a fish kill in the Pecos River and has since been responsible for fish kills in the Colorado, Canadian, Wichita, Red and Brazos river systems as well.

This alga releases a toxin that kills gill-breathing organisms such as fish and clams. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, anecdotal evidence has shown no human health risks associated with golden alga.

Since 2001, golden alga fish kills have occurred on two dozen reservoirs in Texas. Since 1985, nearly 18 million fish have been killed. Although significant numbers of game fish were affected in several areas, most of the fish killed were either forage or rough fish species. – Lake Mohave

AUSTIN, Texas – Walter Cronkite has narrated a one-hour video program about Texas water resources, which will air Feb. 3 on all Texas public television stations. “Texas: the State of Water—Finding a Balance” explores what’s at stake in the struggle to provide enough clean water for wildlife and the environment, cities, industry and agriculture.

“I’m afraid that many Texans presume that there will always be plenty of water for all of our needs, but it’s important for all of us to take a closer look now,” said Robert L. Cook, executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which is producing the program.

“Even if you’re not an angler or boater or have no connection with water resource development, this issue affects every single Texan,” Cook said. “There is still time to plan for a future with enough water for people and fish and wildlife. But we need to act responsibly now.”

For the second time, the Emmy Award-winning television series “Texas Parks & Wildlife” is teaming with the state’s 13 PBS affiliates to broadcast original programming in prime-time on one night. The series’ first one-hour program about water resources, a partnership venture with KERA-TV in Dallas, aired May 29, 2003.

“The greatness of Texas, its future, its well-being and its prosperity depend on its people understanding the vital role played by the wise and equitable distribution of its water supply,” said Cronkite, who donated his services to the program project.

Cronkite, 88, was born in Missouri but moved to Texas as a boy and grew up in the Houston area. He still has family in the Austin area and returns to visit frequently.

He was anchorman and managing editor of the CBS Evening News for 19 years, until 1981. He is still a special correspondent for CBS News, but now also co-owns the Cronkite Ward Company in New York, which produces programs for The Discovery Channel, PBS and other outlets.

Cronkite recorded narration for the program at the “Texas Parks & Wildlife” TV series production studio while in Austin in November. The weekly half-hour series runs on PBS stations in Texas and some other states.

Topics explored in the program include the controversial “rule of capture,” an overview of agencies and laws that regulate surface water and groundwater, river instream flows, water lawsuits, controversies involving environmental river flow permits, how water use affects endangered species and other aquatic life, water rights permitting, proposed reservoirs, water as a commodity, interbasin water transfers from one river basin to another, and how river inflows affect the ecological health of bays and estuaries.

The program concludes with what people can do to help, including ways to conserve water, enhance groundwater recharge and retention, improve housing developments, and get involved as volunteers.

The program is part of a broader TPWD public information initiative that began in July 2002 with the first of an annual series of special issues of the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine devoted to water issues. The July 2005 special issue will focus on groundwater, in which some of the best writers in the state along with TPWD experts, will help explain what groundwater is, how it works, and why readers should care. The overall communications initiative also includes using the TPWD radio series, Web site and other media to get messages out there.

The “Texas: the State of Water” 2005 communications initiative is funded in part by underwriting sponsor The Boone Pickens Foundation, A Communities Foundation of Texas Fund, patron sponsor Brazos Mutual Funds and supporting sponsors San Antonio River Authority, Brazos River Authority and Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority.

The following stations (and cities they cover) will broadcast “Texas: the State of Water—Finding a Balance” in the listed cities on Feb. 3. Unless otherwise indicated below, stations will air the program from 8-9 p.m. Central Standard Time.

* KERA: Abilene, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Longview, Lufkin, Marshall, Nacogdoches, Paris, San Angelo, Sherman, Texarkana, Tyler, Wichita Falls.
* KUHT: Beaumont, Galveston, Houston, Port Arthur, Texas City, Victoria.
* KLRN: Kerrville, Laredo, San Antonio.

* KMBH: Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen, Mission.
* KWBU: Waco.
* KOCV: Midland, Odessa.
* KNCT: Killeen, Temple.
* KCOS: El Paso (8 p.m. Mountain Time).
* KTXT: Lubbock
* KACV: Amarillo
* KLRU: Austin
* KEDT: Corpus Christi
* KAMU: Bryan, College Station
– Lake Mohave

AUSTIN, Texas — Free trout fishing access is available on the Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake until March 17 at two sites leased by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The cliffs access site is located just past the third bridge crossing on River Road. This access site offers parking and wade-fishing access via a marked path to the river. There is no bank fishing access at this site. Wade fishing is advised only at river flows below 500 cubic feet per second.

The second access site, Camp Huaco Springs, is located just below the first bridge crossing on river road. This site offers approximately a mile of bank access, as well as good wade fishing opportunities. In order for the daily access fee to be waived at this site, anglers must park in the designated parking area and walk to the river.

TPWD stocks trout at both these sites as part of its annual winter trout stocking program, which provides economical access to fishing at more than 100 water bodies around the state. Camp Huaco Springs receives about 25 percent of all the trout stocked by the department on the Guadalupe River. River road runs along the Guadalupe River from New Braunfels to Sattler.

Trout stockings on the Guadalupe River are slated for Jan. 21 and Feb. 11. Additional Guadalupe River trout stocking sites include the fishing pier directly below Canyon Dam (free access), Whitewater Sports on Highway 306 (fee charged) and the bridge crossing in Sattler (fee charged by Rio Raft company). Anglers should consult the 2004-05 TPWD Outdoor Annual for specific trout fishing regulations on the Guadalupe River.

For the first time in many years, Texas anglers do not need a special trout fishing stamp in order to fish, however a freshwater fishing package is required. Youth ages 16 and younger and anyone fishing from the bank in state parks are exempt from the fishing package requirement.

TPWD has been stocking rainbow trout in small urban lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces each winter since the 1970s, providing Texans a simple and economical opportunity to go fishing. – Lake Mohave

ATHENS, Texas – Each year the public has a chance to nominate a favorite fishing icon for consideration as an inductee to the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 28.

The Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, which is housed at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center here, honors legendary anglers, fisheries professionals and organizations that have made a contribution to freshwater fishing in Texas. One nominee will be chosen by an independent selection committee and formally inducted during the annual Hall of Fame Banquet in May. The honoree will join a legendary group of fishing Hall of Famers including Floyd Mabry, Jackie Hewlett, R.D. Hull, Bob Kemp, Nick Creme, Charlie Inman, Sugar Ferris, Leonard Ranne, Earl Golding, Kathy Magers, the Sabine River Authority, Skeeter Boats and Michael (“Shorty”) Powers.

The rules are simple. The nominee must be a Texan or Texas organization that made a lasting, beneficial impact on freshwater fishing or freshwater fisheries management in Texas. Individuals may be either living or deceased. The nomination form must be completed and postmarked by Feb. 28.

To submit a nomination:

* Obtain an official nomination form available from http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish or from the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center by calling (903) 676-2277.
* Complete the nomination form and mail it to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, c/o Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 FM 2495, Athens, Texas 75752, or fax to (903) 676-3474 by the deadline.
* Include copies of supporting do*****entation (testimonials, videos, photos, samples, etc.)
* Nomination forms and all materials submitted with them become the property of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and will not be returned. – Lake Mohave

The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Texas Chapter in Houston is hosting the first stop on the 2005 PVA Bass Tour on Lake Conroe on April 1-3, 2005. We are looking for assistance in obtaining about 70 boaters to register and compete alongside the diabled angler…also for about 15 non-boaters to fish with a disabled angler who brings their own boat to fish. The Texas BASS Federation is helping with getting the word out to many of its bass clubs. Please consider joining us and fishing. Registration information is available on our web site at www.pvabasstour.com or by contacting the event organizer (me). Anglers, Sponsors, Donors…help make this event a success!

Thanks

Greg Joyce
Texas PVA Bass tour Coordinator
GJ10SPEED@AOL.COM
Cell – 281-639-3952 – Lake Mohave

AUSTIN, Texas – Active golden alga blooms are causing fish kills in nearly a dozen water bodies in north-central Texas, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Most of the fish kills are relatively small and involve shad, an abundant forage fish, but some game fish species are also being lost, say investigators with TPWD’s Kills and Spills Team.

“We’re seeing more ongoing activity,” said David Sager, Ecosystem/Habitat Assessment branch chief at TPWD. “We’re monitoring and taking water samples, studying the water chemistry and a lot of other parameters of the lakes during the blooms to see if there’s anything we can attribute to the cause.”

TPWD is currently monitoring golden alga activity on Lake Whitney, where cell counts had been rising during the last two weeks and a fish kill occurred on Sunday, Jan. 30 in the upper end of the lake.

“Unfortunately, it is happening, but we expected it because cell counts (the density of the alga) were going up and the water was turning yellow and foamy,” said Joan Glass, a Kills and Spills Team investigator.

Golden alga activity has been ongoing along the Brazos River watershed for several weeks, impacting fisheries at Possum Kingdom Reservoir and Lake Granbury. Because of recent rainfall, dams at both impoundments have been releasing water, which Glass said may be contributing to activity at Lake Whitney.

TPWD is also monitoring for golden alga on the following: Lake Kemp, Lake Diversion, Lake Sweetwater, Lake Colorado City, Moss Creek Lake, Wadley-Barron Park pond in Midland and Red Bluff Reservoir in New Mexico. E. V. Spence Reservoir is not experiencing a kill and the Colorado River between Spence and O.H. Ivie Reservoir is stable. There have been no reports of any dead or stressed fishes in O.H. Ivie Reservoir.

Biologists at the Dundee State Fish Hatchery in Wichita Falls are also experiencing golden alga in several hatchery ponds and are experimenting with various techniques to control the alga. “They’re looking at various treatment options including barley straw in containers to see if it helps control the toxins,” said Sager. “Straw has been used to control algae in other lakes and areas, but it’s never been tried on golden alga.”

While golden alga is present on several lakes, biologists say the good news is that the blooms have not returned to Lake Texoma. Texas and Oklahoma fisheries biologists have not found any high concentrations of the toxin producing alga in samples taken throughout the lake.

Glass also reported that golden alga activity on Lake Granbury appears to be subsiding. “We’re not losing any more fish and a fishing tournament was held there over the weekend and they were catching fish so that’s a good sign,” she noted.

The ongoing algal blooms also are providing researchers with an active event to study, according to Sager. “We’ve begun an intensive monitoring program at Lake Whitney and will be taking samples of all the different plankton communities. We’ll share that information with the universities so they can use it in conjunction with their research.”

Scientists from several universities in Texas are working in laboratories and with net enclosures at Possum Kingdom Reservoir studying the affects of water quality on algal bloom toxicity. Researchers are also looking at algae genetics. Another study is focusing on the economic impacts of fish kills; specifically at the 2001 golden alga fish kill events at Possum Kingdom Reservoir.

“We’re also working in cooperation with river authorities and local governments to obtain water samples from around the state to see where golden alga might be present,” added Sager. “That could be helpful if we find it in locations that aren’t experiencing kills. We could try to identify what controls are present at those sites that aren’t present at sites experiencing fish kills.”

First discovered in Texas in 1985, golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) was identified in a fish kill in the Pecos River and has since been responsible for fish kills in the Colorado, Canadian, Wichita, Red and Brazos river systems as well.

This alga releases a toxin that kills gill-breathing organisms such as fish and clams. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, anecdotal evidence has shown no human health risks associated with golden alga.

Since 2001, golden alga fish kills have occurred on two dozen reservoirs in Texas. Since 1985, nearly 18 million fish have been killed, most of which were either forage or rough fish species. – Lake Mohave

ATHENS, Texas — The sixth annual Fly Fish Texas is scheduled for March 5 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center here. TFFC has hosted the event each year since 2001.

Expert fly fishers from all over Texas will converge to share tips and techniques during seminars and hands-on demonstrations. Participants can tie flies, practice casting and fish for bass, sunfish and rainbow trout in TFFC’s ponds and streams.

Seminars will cover fly fishing for bass and carp, fly fishing the Texas coast, kayak fishing, urban fly fishing and fishing small streams in Texas and Colorado. Dutch oven cooks will serve up breads and desserts hot off the coals.

Many of the speakers are well known in Texas fly fishing circles. Colby (“Pops”) Sorrells will speak about “Bass Buggin”Texas Style.” Mark Marmon will reveal the secrets to “Urban Fly Fishing,” while Steve Rawls, Marty Cecil and Ronnie Ray will tell how and where to fish streams in Texas and Colorado. Steve Robbins’ session about “Bream Bustin’ with a Fly Rod” spotlights a fishing opportunity that offers fast-paced action on almost any body of water.

Young people make up a large part of the thousand attendees each year, and basic and intermediate fly-fishing classes are the reason. Kids ages 12 and older learn what makes good fish habitat and get to collect and identify bugs from TFFC streams and ponds. Then they learn how to tie flies that mimic those bugs and use them to catch fish using fly-fishing gear provided on-site.

Admission to the day-long event is included with regular admission to TFFC: $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors and $3.50 for children ages 4-12. TFFC is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 5550 F.M. 2495, three miles east of Athens. Athens is 75 miles southeast of Dallas.

Sponsors and vendors for the event include the Sabine River Authority, Orvis, Texas Department of Agriculture, Dwight Cooley Foods, Post Oak Master Naturalists, Jimmie’s Fishing Jewelry, Boy Scout Troop 1299, Temple Fork Outfitters, Steve Robbins Backcountry Fly Shop, Steve Rawls Fly Fishing Guide Service, Marty Cecil Elk Trout Lodge, Deborah Wade Dame Julia Fly Tying, Chris Dukeminier Mariner Sails, Jim Partin ArkAnglers and Brooke’s Seasonings.

For more information and a schedule of events and seminars call (903) 676-2277 or (903) 670-2222. – Lake Mohave

SAN ANTONIO — The recent acquisition of 421 acres of significant endangered-species land increases the total acreage of the Government Canyon State Natural Area in San Antonio to 8,622 acres.

The acquisition, announced Feb. 3 by The Trust for Public Land, is part of a 12-year effort by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, local agencies, residents and conservation groups to protect land located over the Edwards Aquifer, which is the primary source of drinking water for the City of San Antonio. Government Canyon provides a remarkable recreation destination for area-residents and is scheduled to open on June 4.

The property, known as Canyon Ranch, is crucial to the completion of the state natural area because it is situated between two properties previously acquired by TPL. The property is also extremely important for the protection of nine federally-listed endangered invertebrate species, including three small eyeless beetles, a small eyeless harvestman, and five other small spiders, including the Madla’s cave spider.

“TPL is pleased to be a partner in the effort to preserve Canyon Ranch,” said Amy Wanamaker, TPL project manager. “It is a treasure-trove of native plants and wildlife.”

Approximately 70 percent of the property will be owned by TPWD. The City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Water System will each own 15 percent of the property. TPWD will manage the 421-acre site.

“This is an example of how working together we can do great conservation projects for the people of Texas that we could not have achieved alone,” said Walt Dabney, TPWD’s director of state parks. “It is one more component of a longstanding partnership between TPWD and TPL in the conservation of urban-fringe landscapes and high-value habitat in San Antonio.”

TPWD applied for and secured a $3.5 million U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grant that included a funding match from the City of San Antonio and SAWS. The local funding came through the City of San Antonio’s Proposition 3 Program that authorized a 1/8 cent sales tax increment to locate and purchase undeveloped land in the Edwards Aquifer’s recharge and contributing zones as a means of protecting the aquifer from pollution.

“We are appreciative to all of the folks that have worked so hard to make this happen,” said Bob Pine, administrator for the Austin Ecological Services Field Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Preserving Canyon Ranch will not only safeguard the Edwards Aquifer, but also will help a number of endangered species.”

U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn and U.S. Representatives Henry Bonilla and Pete Sessions were extremely supportive of the federal grant.

This acquisition is also part of the Edwards Aquifer Land Acquisition and Park Expansion Program for permanent protection of the city’s drinking water. TPL has pursued projects associated within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone since 1990, protecting more than 11,500 acres over the Aquifer.

“We are so delighted to have acquired this property to protect the Edwards Aquifer,” said former San Antonio City Council member Bonnie Conner, who represents District 4 as a member of the Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors. “This is a significant accomplishment made possible by the citizens of San Antonio through their vote in 2000.” – Lake Mohave

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department surveys confirm what most saltwater anglers already know: the fishing along the Texas coast is getting better and more anglers are taking advantage of it.

About 2,000 new anglers per month on average are discovering Texas coastal fishing, based on saltwater fishing license sales during the last seven years. The economic impact of saltwater angling in Texas exceeds $1.3 billion dollars annually and provides more than 13,000 jobs, according to TPWD research.

“There are indications that this trend will continue,” stated Larry McKinney, Ph.D. and TPWD coastal fisheries director. “The popularity of center-console bay boats continues to increase as does the use of kayaks and the continued increase in the sale of saltwater tackle.”

The amount of time anglers spend plying Texas coastal waters is staggering. In the 2003-04 season, according to TPWD creel surveys, anglers spent 5.27 million hours fishing on the Texas coast.

Not only are there more anglers but they are catching more fish. Landings of the two most popular gamefish, spotted seatrout and red drum, increased coastwide in 2003-04 by 11 percent and 31 percent, respectively. Galveston Bay (24 percent) and the Lower Laguna Madre (33 percent) showed the greatest increases while Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays declined slightly. However, Aransas Bay saw a spectacular increase in red drum landings with an increase of 76 percent. Other bays showed significant increases as well: Upper Laguna Madre (57 percent), Lower Laguna Madre (40 percent) and San Antonio Bay (45 percent). Only Galveston Bay showed a decrease in red drum landings.

“These year-to-year fluctuations show the power of having good monitoring programs that can track annual changes down to the bay system level,” said Robin Riechers, science and policy director for TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division. “But the real value is when you start to link up the data to look at long-term trends.”

The long-term trend in the recreational catch data along with the TPWD resource monitoring data allows TPWD to monitor and track fish populations along the entire coast as well as in each bay system.

Texas anglers have also become more efficient as well. Catch rates (the number of fish caught per hour of effort) for all species combined increased by four percent from .27 fish per hour in 2002-03 to .28 fish per hour in 2003-04. When the statistics for gamefish are examined separately, spotted seatrout saw an increase in catch rate of nine percent and red drum a spectacular increase of 33 percent.

“Even with the increased numbers and pressure, our populations of gamefish, especially red drum and spotted seatrout, remain strong and healthy,” concluded McKinney. “We face challenges in two areas to continue this success. One is assuring that the quality of the fishing experience continues in the face of issues like access and allocation of resources among users. The second is assuring the water quality of our estuarine waters and that freshwater inflows into them are adequate to maintain their health and productivity.” – Lake Mohave

ATHENS, Texas — “Fly fishing — it’s easier than you think” is the theme of the 6th annual Fly Fish Texas to be held at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center March 5.

A long list of fly-fishing professionals will be on-hand to prove that slogan true, providing seminars and hands-on instruction about everything from fly tying to solving casting problems. Special classes will be offered for beginners and young people.

Although drifting dry flies down a mountain stream in the Rockies may be the picture most people have of fly fishing, there are plenty of opportunities closer to home. Mark Marmon guides urban fly fishers in the Houston area and will share secrets of where and how to fish close-to-home waters. Colby “Pops” Sorrells, a certified casting instructor from Mansfield, will speak about fly fishing for Texas bass. Tye Green grew up fishing the Guadalupe River and will share his knowledge of Texas Hill Country streams.

If fishing Colorado streams is your aim, you’ll want to hear Steve Rawls and Marty Cecil. Rawls guides for B&B Outfitters of Fredericksburg during the winter months and for Elk Trout Lodge in Kremmling, Colorado during the summer. Jim Partin of ArkAnglers will reveal the secrets of reading Colorado trout streams.

There will be sessions for advanced anglers as well. TPWD’s own Bill Johnson, a fisheries technician from Bryan, will teach wade fishing in one of TFFC’s ponds. Ron Sheepstra and Bill Huegel will show how to cast using two-handed long rods. And Ronnie Ray of Austin, another TPWD employee, will speak about fishing large rivers for warm water species.

After you’ve worked up an appetite tying flies, paddling kayaks and casting for rainbow trout in TFFC’s streams and ponds, a visit with Ann Carr and John Jackman at the Dutch oven cooking demonstration area will be in order. They will have fruit cobblers and fresh-baked bread available for sampling.

Fly Fish Texas will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of TFFC, which is four miles east of Athens on F.M. 2495. Athens is 75 miles southeast of Dallas. All seminars, demonstrations and instruction are included in the regular price of admission, $5.50 for adults, $ 4.50 for seniors and $3.50 for children ages 4-12. For more information or directions, call (903) 676-2277.
Seminar Schedule

(All in the Anheuser Busch Dive Theater)

* 9:10 a.m. Bass Buggin Texas Style – Colby “Pops” Sorrells
* 10:10 a.m. Guiding Rivers in Texas -Tye Green
* 11:10 a.m. Fly Fishing for Carp – David Speer
* 12:10 p.m. Urban Fly Fishing – Mark Marmon
* 1:10 p.m. Fishing Texas and Colorado Rivers – Steve Rawls and Marty Cecil
* 2:10 p.m. Fishing a Small Stream – Jim Partin
* 3:10 p.m. Fishing Large Rivers and Warm Water Species – Ronnie Ray

Special Classes and Demonstrations

(Tents outside Visitor Center, Wetlands Pond, Fishing Pond)

* 9:10 – noon Junior Fly Fisher Program, first session
* 10:10 a.m. Solve Your Casting Problems – Colby Sorrells
* 10:10 a.m. Kayak Fishing – Paul Lara and Dave Bradley
* 10:10 a.m. Rigging the Fly Rod for Trout Fishing – Jim Partin
* 11:10 a.m. Fly Fishing Texas Rivers and Streams – Ronnie Ray
* 12:10 p.m. Long Rod Casting – Ron Scheepstra and Bill Heugel
* 12:10 p.m. Roundtable Discussion of Problems and Solutions – Jim Partin
* 1:10 pm. Wade Fishing – William and Bill Johnson
* 1:10 p.m. Texas Hill Country Guide Program – Steve Rawls
* 1:30 pm. “ 4 p.m. Junior Fly Fisher program, second session
* 2:10 p.m. What It’s Like to be a Fly Fishing Guide – Tye Green
* 2:10 p.m. Casting Demonstration, Slow Versus Fast Rods – Mark Marmon
* 3:10 p.m. Kayak Fishing – Paul Lara and Dave Bradley

Day-Long Activities and locations

Commercial Exhibits (TFFC Visitor Center)

* Fly Action/Fish Pursuit by the Dallas Fly Fishers (Visitor Center aquaria)
* Fly Tying (Anglers Pavilion)
* Casting Instruction (East side of fishing pond)
* Western River Style Raft Display (East side of Anglers Pavilion)
* Kayak Tryouts (Wetlands Pond)
* Fly Fishing for Trout, Bluegill and Bass (Fishing stream east of Anglers Pavilion)
* Dutch Oven Cooking (East side of Anglers Pavilion)
– Lake Mohave

If you are like most fisherman who work full-time during the week spending lunches and any chance they get to daydream and do research for their upcoming weekend tournament or fishing adventure then you are part of the bass fishing and tournament society known as the “weekend warrior”.

Being successful in tournaments can be a challenge since you have had no or limited time on the water. Typically, you are arriving at the lake late the night before or early the morning of the tournament or fishing day. You have ideas as to what you are going to do, but will end up spending the first half of the day trying to quickly put together a pattern for the day. So how do you consistently compete? Part of the challenge is the average angler does some, but not enough pre-planning for the day of bass fishing.

I have found the following steps to be necessary for consistent success:

One- If you can get to the lake the weekend before your tournament or the day before, known as “pre-fishing”, it will help you a lot in the tournament. Most likely, it will not help you establish a pattern for the bass because this will change as fast as the day or weather changes. What it will do, is help you become familiar with the water and eliminate water based on seasonal movements of the bass and locate structure and cover that you like or don’t like to fish. Since time is of the essence in tournament fishing, you don’t want to waste it trying to figure out how to run a lake or find a particular area of the lake.

Two- you have to understand the bass. You have to know the creature you are pursuing, their habits, and how they relate to their environment. By knowing this, you can put together a likely pattern before you even get to the lake that will take only minor adjustments during the first part of the day.

Third- putting together a preliminary pattern for a tournament feeds off the two points above. Hopefully you have had a chance to get on the lake prior to the tournament. If not, or even if you have, you should have a detailed contour map in your possession and get access to the internet. From the internet you can gather some important data as follows and set yourself up for a successful day:

• Find out what the current conditions for the lake are; water color, rising or falling water, schedule of water releases from the dam, tidal fluctuations, water temps going up, down, or stable, and the weather patterns in the area for 3 days leading up to the tournament and during.
• Find a history of fishing reports for the lake you are going to. Match the report history to the current conditions. This will give you a starting point.
• Lay your map out flat and begin to eliminate water based on the reports and conditions you are facing given the seasonal movements of the bass. This will help you isolate some areas of the lake that should have active bass.
• Pick one area, like the lower section of the lake or a section of a river arm feeding the lake. By breaking the lake down into smaller chunks, it will be less overwhelming and will keep you focused on fishing rather than “running and gunning” all over the lake. Within this area, look for smaller areas and special contours on your map that would be overlooked by the average angler. Learning how to read a contour map is very important in your tournament success.
• Based on the forage base in the lake, the report history you have, and the current conditions, you can pick some lures that will
  allow you to cover a variety of structure and depths in the area you have mapped out.
• Make a mental or physical list of an action plan. This will usually have you fishing fast at first to find active bass. You may then plan on slowing down or using a different approach or changing locations in the area based on what this initial strategy tells you. By having an action plan, you won’t have to do a lot of thinking on the water and your changes will allow you to capitalize on catching bass faster.

Minor adjustments for success will be second nature to you as you gain more and more experience.

Tournament angling or just having successful days on lakes takes a fair amount of study prior to being on the water if you want consistent success. Nobody is very successful at anything without putting the time in on the fundamentals. The level of competition is getting tougher every year as more and more information is shared. Just know that most anglers won’t put in the time to plan and prepare. This will allow you to have an edge over 50% or more of the field as soon as you hit the water. Your skills and experience will allow you to beat the rest.

Being a successful “weekend warrior” requires you to take more action off the water if you want consistent success. Become a student of the water you are fishing and the behaviors of the bass. This will put you ahead of most of your competition and with time on the water, you will quickly advance well beyond the competition. One last point I would like to make is this: NEVER get sidetracked from your planning by listening to the “dock talk” that takes place by the water’s edge or at the place you are staying. Have confidence in your abilities and the information you have gathered. Most of this talk is B.S. and half truths anyway. If you are going to listen to it, just file it away in your brain to use as an extension to your current plan, but don’t let it sidetrack you.

Best wishes –

David Burlington
Bass Fishing? Ask Dave…
Professional Guide and Tournament Angler
www.bassfishingaskdave.com – Lake Mohave

Quality and affordability

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– Lake Mohave

ALAN HENRY

Water lightly stained; 49 degrees; .07′ low. Black bass are fair on
shad-colored jerkbaits and jigs suspended in trees. Crappie are good on
minnows and jigs.

AMISTAD

Water fairly clear; 58 degrees. Black bass are very good on Carolina
rigged watermelon seed, watermelon seed red, and red shad soft plastics
and deep diving crankbaits. Striped bass are fair on striper jigs and
slabs in the Castle Canyon area and up the rivers. White bass are fair
on striper jigs and slabs in the Castle Canyon area and up the rivers.
Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on cheesebait over
baited holes in 5 – 40 feet. Yellow catfish are slow.

ARROWHEAD

Water muddy in upper end; 54 degrees; 3.7′ low. Black bass are slow
around rocky areas and flooded vegetation on shallow running crankbaits
and spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs suspended 13-15
feet near the derricks. White bass are fair on mud flats on
shad-imitation crankbaits and larger jigs with inline spinners. Blue
catfish are good on cut shad and prepared baits just off the river
channel in the mid-lake area and above.

ATHENS

Water stained; 50-57 degrees. Black bass are good on soft plastics and
Rat-L-Traps in 8-12 feet around man made brush piles. Crappie are fair
on live minnows in 10-15 feet around docks with brush. Catfish are fair
on prepared baits fished over baited holes in 12-15 feet.

BASTROP

Water murky. Black bass are slow on silver spinnerbaits and shallow
diving crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue
catfish are fair on stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

BAYLOR

Water lightly stained; 48 degrees. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow on minnows. Catfish are slow.

BELTON

Water murky; 4.00′ high. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow.
White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are
slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

BOB
SANDLIN

Water clear; 50-56 degrees; 0.15′ low. Black bass are good on red
Rat-L-Traps and plastic worms in 10-18 feet; most bass still around the
mouth of creeks with adjacent shallow flats. Crappie are fair on jigs
and minnows around heavy brush in 15-25 feet. White bass are good on
jigging spoons in 20-24 feet. Catfish are fair on jug- and trotlines
with live bait.

BRAUNIG

Water stained; 71 degrees; Black bass to 8 pounds are fair along the
shorelines and near structure. Striped bass to 6.5 pounds are fair on
chicken livers and Tony Accetta spoons. Redfish to 18 pounds are fair
on live perch and tilapia. Channel catfish are fair on shrimp, liver,
and stinkbait. Blue catfish are fair on chicken livers, shrimp,
stinkbait, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow.

BRIDGEPORT

Water stained; 50-56 degrees. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged worms
and shad pattern medium running crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows
in 12-18 feet. White bass are fair to good on slabs and live shad in
15-20 feet. Hybrid striper are fair on live bait. Channel catfish are
good on cut bait and worms in 15-20 feet in holes baited with soured
grain.

BROWNWOOD

Water murky; 51 degrees; 0.68′ high. Black bass are fair on black/blue
jigs and waterbug colored Sweet Beavers and brush hogs in the rivers
and in the main lake in wind-blown rocky areas. Hybrid striper are
slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on small tubes and minnows
in the rivers and at Kirkland docks. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow
catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN

Water clear; 55 degrees; 0.46′ low. Black bass to 5 pounds are good
dead-sticking bubblegum Snap Back soft jerkbaits, ¼oz. crawfish
Rat-L-Traps, and suspending Rogues in 5 – 15 feet. Striped bass are
good trolling ½oz. Hyper Striper jigs with trailers around The Willows
in 30 feet, and on large diving shad-imitators and chrome Spin Traps in
surfacing schools. White bass are fair to good on 2in. Spoiler Shad
swim baits, Tiny Traps, and white Road Runners just inside the mouth of
large creeks and the main river channel below Mud Island. Crappie are
fair to good on white and chartreuse Curb’s crappie jigs and live
minnows under baited docks. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue
catfish are slow.

CADDO

Water stained; 51-56 degrees; 1.13′ high. Black bass are good on orange
belly Rogues and black or grape 6″ plastic worms in 3-6 feet around
single cypress trees. Crappie are fair on chartreuse or
black/chartreuse jigs and live minnows in 4-6 feet in Johnson’s Woods.
Yellow bass are excellent on baby crawfish in channels with current.
White bass are good on slabs and spoons in 8-10 feet at channel
intersections below Johnson’s Ranch. Channel catfish are excellent on
limb lines baited with small pieces of hot dog soaked in garlic and
olive oil.

CALAVERAS

Water stained; 70 degrees; Black bass to 7 pounds are good on plastic
worms and grubs around the reed beds along the shorelines. Striped bass
to 6 pounds are fair on chicken livers and shad. Redfish to 16 pounds
are fair on perch, tilapia, and shrimp on the bottom. Catfish to 4
pounds are fair to good on nightcrawlers, shad, and liver in 10 – 20
feet.

CANYON LAKE

Water clear; 57 degrees; 0.35′ high. Black bass to 10 pounds are very
good on pumpkin/chartreuse Snap Back lizards, crawfish Rat-L-Traps, and
Texas rigged pumpkin plastic stickbaits along points in 5 – 12 feet.
Striped bass are fair to good vertically jigging ½oz. silver Pirk
Minnows, 3″ Spoiler Shads, and white bucktails with grub trailers along
channel break lines in 35 feet. White bass are very good (staging for
the spawning run) on ¼oz. silver Pirk Minnows, 2″ Spoiler Shads, and
Blade Runners in 25 – 40 feet. Smallmouth bass to 5 pounds are good on
crawfish tubes, pumpkin Sliding Weight crawfish, and root beer/green
curl tail grubs. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish to 4 pounds are fair
upriver. Yellow and blue catfish to 19 pounds are good on juglines.

CEDAR CREEK

Water stained; 60-55 degrees; 0.14′ high. Black bass are fair on
spinnerbaits and plastic worms around vegetation in 6-10 feet. White
bass are good on slabs in 18-22 feet on main lake humps. Hybrid striper
are fair on 4″ glow Sassy Shad under the birds; better catches coming
between Crappie Island and the dam. Crappie are good on tube jigs in
20-25 feet around heavy man made brush piles. Catfish are good in 4-15
feet on fresh shad just out from windblown banks.

CHOKE CANYON

Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.14′ high. Black bass to 10 pounds are
excellent on gold sparkle spinnerbaits with chartreuse skirts in the
backs of major creeks in 3 – 6 feet early. White bass are excellent on
Riverside Mystic Shad, chartreuse 1.5in. YUM Wooly Hawgtails, 1/16oz.
chartreuse Road Runners, and large minnows at the Hwy. 99 Bridge.
Crappie are good on gray crickets, 1/16oz. white Road Runners, and live
minnows over brushpiles and pilings. Channel and blue catfish are fair
on live minnows, nightcrawlers, and Lewis King punchbait. Yellow
catfish are fair on trotlines and juglines baited with live hybrid
perch.

COLEMAN

Water slightly stained; 51 degrees; 0.41′ high. Black bass are very
good on chartreuse/white Senkos, cherry seed lizards, chartreuse spider
grubs and crankbaits, white spinnerbaits, and black/blue jigs. Hybrid
striper are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow.
Yellow catfish are slow.

COLETO CREEK

Water murky; 68 degrees (76 degrees at hot water discharge); 0.19′ low.
Black bass to 6 pounds are good on Carolina rigged soft plastics in 6 –
8 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie to 1 pound
are excellent on minnows in 10 – 12 feet. Channel and blue catfish to 2
pounds are fair on perch and liver in 10 – 12 feet. Yellow catfish to 6
pounds are fair on trotlines baited with perch and cutbait.

COLORADO CITY

Water clear; 53 degrees; .9′ low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are
slow. White bass are slow. Redfish are slow. Catfish are slow.

COLORADO RIVER

(At Colorado Bend State Park) Water murky. Black bass are slow. Striped
bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue
catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

CONROE

Water stained; 0.23′ high. Black bass are good on watermelon seed and
watermelon red spinnerbaits and shallow diving crankbaits in 1 – 6
feet. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and small tube
jigs. Catfish are good on liver, stinkbait, and shrimp.

COOPER

Water stained; 50-55 degrees. Black bass are fair in 6-8 feet on white
spinnerbaits and soft plastic shad imitations. Crappie are slow to fair
on Betts Crinkle jigs and minnows on main lake brush piles. Catfish are
good on prepared baits in 8-16 feet along creek channels. White bass
are fair.

DUNLAP/MCQUEENEY

Water stained; 50 degrees. Black bass are good on 3/8oz. black and red
Oldham’s jigs with black Uncle Josh’s pork trailers around docks in 8 –
15 feet, and on 4″ red worms with 3/16oz. standing weights around
docks, break lines, and brushpiles near the river channel in 8 – 15
feet. Crappie are slow on live minnows and 1/8oz. white Curbs crappie
jigs around brushpiles at night under lights. White bass are slow.
Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

FAIRFIELD

Water clear; 51-75 degrees; normal pool. Black bass are good on worms
fished around mid-lake points and reed beds. Crappie are slow. Catfish
are good on fresh shad and shrimp in 12-18 feet drifted on mid to lower
lake points and around the hot water discharge. Redfish are good with
surface schooling action on large Rat-L-Traps and Sassy Shad on 1/4oz.
heads; several fish in the 15-25 pound range landed the past week.

FALCON

Water fairly clear; 62 degrees. Black bass to 13 pounds are very good
on chartreuse and white spinnerbaits and dark soft plastics. Striped
bass are slow. Catfish are very good on liver and frozen shrimp. Yellow
catfish are slow. Mexican fishing licenses and boat permits are
required to fish in Mexican waters. Everyone in the boat must have a
Mexico Fishing License whether fishing or not.

FORK

Water stained; 50-56 degrees; 0.36′ low. Black bass are fair to good on
red Rat-L-Traps and white/chartreuse spinnerbaits in 8 feet along main
lake grass lines. The deeper bite (18-26 feet) is fair on silver/black
backed suspending Rogues around main lake points with grass. Crappie
are fair on minnows in 30-36 feet on the deep flats on the lower end of
the lake. Catfish are fair on minnows and prepared baits in 20 feet.
Yellow bass are good on small jigs in 20-22 feet. TFF Lake Fork Open
Team Bass Tournament held March 26 – see texasfishingforum.com/lakefork
or call (817) 488-8824.

FT. PHANTOM HILL

Water clear; 51 degrees; .4′ low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live bait. White bass are fair. Catfish are fair.

GIBBONS CREEK

Water stained. Black bass are good on watermelon red and watermelon
seed spinnerbaits and soft plastics, and on shallow diving crankbaits.
Crappie are fair on minnows and white tube jigs. Catfish are good on
stinkbait and shrimp.

GRANBURY

Water murky; 0.47′ low. Black bass are slow on watermelon and
chartreuse soft plastic worms and lizards. Striped bass are slow. White
bass are slow on silver slabs and live bait. Crappie are fair on
minnows and small tube jigs. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and live
bait.

GRANGER

Water murky; 58 degrees; 1.17′ high. Black bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps
and Stanley Jigs near the mouth of the river. White bass are fair on
twister tail jigs and small white marabou jigs up the river near
Circleville. Crappie to 2.4 pounds are fair on Bass Assassin Jigs and
minnows in 5 – 20 feet. Blue catfish are fair on cutbait and prepared
baits. Yellow catfish are slow.

GRAPEVINE

Water stained; 50-55 degrees; 0.22′ high. Black bass are fair on
Carolina rigged worms and shad pattern crankbaits in 8-15 feet around
submerged vegetation and brush. Crappie are fair on minnows around
docks with brush. White bass are good on jigging spoons and slabs
around humps and points in 20-24 feet. Catfish are good on punchbait
and fresh shad in 15-20 feet in baited holes.

GREENBELT

Water lightly stained; 47 degrees; 24.25′ low. Black bass are fair on
slow-rolled shad-colored spinnerbaits and suspending jerkbaits along
secondary points. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are
good on live bait and shad-colored jerkbaits worked along the dam.
Smallmouth bass are fair on live bait and jerkbaits. Walleye are fair
on live bait. Catfish are good on minnows.

HOUSTON COUNTY

Water stained; 61 degrees; 0.98′ high. Black bass are good on black
buzzbaits with black and white skirts, orange/black Rat-L-Traps, and
orange crankbaits near subdivisions and near ledges in 8 feet, and on
purple worms with chartreuse tails and gold spinnerbaits with
chartreuse and orange skirts near grass edges and sandy banks in 2
feet. Crappie are fair on live minnows and yellow/chartreuse beetle
spinnerbaits near piers at night in 3 – 6 feet. Catfish are slow.

HUBBARD CREEK

Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 11.4′ low. Black bass are slow.
Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass and hybrid striper are
fair on live bait. Catfish are fair on chicken liver and shad.

JOE POOL

Water stained; 50-55 degrees; 0.32′ high. Black bass are fair in 6-10
feet on Rat-L-Traps and Texas rigged worms. Crappie are fair on minnows
and jigs around Corps of Engineers brush piles and bridge columns in
12-20 feet. White bass are good on chrome or white jigs in 20-24 feet
around main lake points and humps. Channel catfish are fair drift
fishing fresh shad and prepared baits around points and humps in 10-20
feet.

LAKE O’ THE PINES

Water stained; 50-55 degrees; 0.27′ high. Black bass are fair on worms
and crawfish pattern crankbaits; some fish landed on jigging spoons
from deep water by anglers fishing for white bass. Crappie are fair on
minnows in 18-24 feet around standing timber and brush. White bass are
fair on jigging spoons and live minnows in 15-20 feet. Catfish are fair
in 15-20 feet on nightcrawlers and cutbait on holes baited with soured
grain.

LAVON

Water stained; 50-54 degrees; 0.44′ high. Black bass are fair on
Rat-L-Traps and soft plastic worms in 8-15 feet. Crappie are fair on
minnows in 20 feet around standing timber and man made brushpiles off
main lake points. White bass are fair on white/chartreuse slabs fished
vertically on main lake points in 20-22 feet. Catfish are good drift
fishing cut bait in 30-40 feet around mid-lake points.

LBJ

Water clear; 55 degrees; 0.50′ low. (Refilling began Feb. 21) Black
bass are very good on Texas Red Terminator spinnerbaits, ¼oz. #46
Rat-L-Traps, and wacky rigged black/blue Wacky Sticks tight to deep
brushpiles and stumps along channel break lines. White bass are fair
vertically jigging Pirk Minnows, chrome Tiny Traps, and Spoiler Shad
swim baits in channels and ditches in the main lake. Crappie are fair
on Curb’s crappie jigs and live minnows under docks. Channel catfish
are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on trotlines.

LEWISVILLE

Water stained; 50-55 degrees; 0.06′ high. Black bass are fair on jigs
in 10-12 feet around docks with brush and tire breakwaters. Crappie are
fair to good on minnows in 15-20 feet around boathouses. White bass are
good on jigging spoons in 20-24 feet around main lake points and humps.
Catfish are good drift fishing fresh cutbait on main lake points and
humps in 20-30 feet.

LIVINGSTON

Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.88′ high. Black bass are good on
spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Striped bass are slow.
White bass are slow. Crappie are very good on minnows. Channel and blue
catfish are good on brown crawfish. Yellow catfish are slow.

MACKENZIE

Water lightly stained; 46 degrees; 66.7′ low. Black bass are fair on
jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass and striped bass
are fair on minnows. Smallmouth bass are fair on live bait. Walleye are
fair on live bait and jerkbaits. Catfish are fair on shad and chicken
liver.

MARTIN CREEK

Water clear; 51 degrees mid-lake, 76 at hotwater discharge; normal
pool. Black bass are good in 3-8 feet on jigs and lizards fished in the
hotwater discharge cove. Crappie are fair on minnows in 20-30 feet over
submerged brush and timber. Channel catfish are good on prepared baits
in 15-20 feet around baited holes.

MEDINA

Water stained; 61 degrees; 0.53′ high. Black bass to 4 pounds are good
on gold shad JoBabies, gold Nichols spinnerbaits, and green pumpkin YUM
Houdini Shads off main lake points in 4 – 8 feet. Striped bass to 8
pounds are fair trolling Hellbenders off main lake points in 15 – 18
feet. White bass are very good on chartreuse Berkley Blade Dancers and
large minnows upriver in 8 – 10 feet, and trolling firetiger Bomber As
off main lake points. Smallmouth bass to 3 pounds are good on
black/blue Terminator Finesse jigs with junebug YUM Wooly Hawgtail
trailers over rock piles and steep ledges. Crappie are fair on live
minnows, gray crickets, and pink Fle-Flys around brushpiles and
pilings. Channel and blue catfish are fair on Lewis King punchbait,
chicken livers, and live minnows in 6 – 12 feet. Yellow catfish are
fair on live perch, comets, and jumbo minnows.

MEREDITH

Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 22.77′ low. Black bass are fair on
minnows and suspended jerkbaits off secondary points in coves. Crappie
are fair on jigs tipped with minnows. White bass are fair on jigs
tipped with minnows. Smallmouth bass are fair on jerkbaits and slabs
tipped with minnows. Walleye are good on bottom bouncers and minnows
along main lake points. Channel catfish are fair.

MONTICELLO

Water clear; 50 degrees upper end, 76 degrees at hotwater discharge.
Black bass are fair to good in shallow water on soft plastics; females
are on nests in shallow water around shorelines close to the hotwater
discharge. Points adjacent the railroad bridge are good spots to
intercept bass migrating into shallow water to spawn. Crappie are slow.
Channel catfish are good on prepared baits in 20-30 feet in the center
of creek channels on holes baited with soured grain and drift fishing
shrimp in the hotwater discharge area.

MURVAUL

No report available.

NASWORTHY

Water lightly stained; 48 degrees. Black bass are slow. Crappie are
fair. Redfish are fair. White bass and striped bass are fair on
minnows. Catfish are fair on chicken liver.

NAVARRO MILLS

Water clear; 1.73′ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow.
Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow
catfish are slow.

O.H. IVIE

Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 22′ low. Black bass are fair on live
bait and Carolina-rigged dark plastics tipped chartreuse fished along
humps and creek channels. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White
bass are good on live bait. Smallmouth bass are fair on live baits.
Channel catfish are fair on prepared and live bait.

OAK CREEK

Water lightly stained; 49 degrees; 24.25′ low. Black bass are fair.
Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on live bait. No
boat ramps open. 4×4 vehicles can unload on the dirt road near the dam.

PALESTINE

Water clear lower lake, stained upper end; 50-55 degrees; 0.47′ high.
Black bass are good on jigs and trick worms in 8-12 feet around
boathouses with brush and along the river on the upper end around
stickups. Crappie fair on minnows and chartreuse/black jigs in 15-20
feet around standing timber and heavy submerged brush. Catfish are good
on fresh cutbait along channels in 20-24 feet. White bass are good on
Road Runners and soft plastic shad imitations along the river channel
in the upper end of the lake. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad and
Sassy Shad.

PALO DURO

Water lightly stained; 44 degrees; 43.25′ low. Black bass are fair.
Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Smallmouth bass are fair on live
bait. Walleye are fair. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

PAT MAYSE

Water stained; 49-54 degrees; normal pool. Black bass are good on white
spinnerbaits and Carolina rigged Top Dog lizards in 6-8 feet. Crappie
are fair on black/chartreuse Betts Crinkle jigs and small live minnows
in 24-27 feet on main lake brush piles. Catfish are fair on prepared
baits and nightcrawlers in creek channels. White bass are fair on slabs
in 20-28 feet around mid lake humps. Hybrid striper are good on
suspending crankbaits.

POSSUM KINGDOM

Water clear; 55 degrees; .75′ low. Black bass are fair. Crappie are
slow. White bass are good near Carter Bend. Striped bass are slow on
live bait fished vertically in the lower part of the lake. Channel and
blue catfish are fair just above the reservoir on trotlines baited with
shad. Note: Golden alga is affecting fewer shoreline areas with a shad
die-off.

PROCTOR

Water murky; 2.91′ high. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow.
White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are
slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

RAY HUBBARD

Water stained; 48-54 degrees; normal pool. Black bass are fair on Texas
rigged worms with a light weight in 6-12 feet around rip rap. Crappie
are fair on minnows and jigs at the fishing barges in 12-18 feet and on
the main lake on man made brush piles in 20 feet. White bass are good
on slabs and Sassy Shad fished close to bottom around Robertson Point
and The Peanut. Hybrid striper and striped bass are fair in 20 feet on
4″ Sassy Shad. Catfish are fair on fresh shad and prepared baits in
24-28 feet on holes baited with soured grain.

RAY ROBERTS

Water stained; 49-55 degrees; 0.19′ high. Black bass fair on
Rat-L-Traps around isolated cedar trees in 6-10 feet; some fish still
being landed on jigging spoons in 24 feet at mouth of creeks. Crappie
are good on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs in 28-30 feet around main
lake points and humps with submerged brush. White bass are excellent on
silver jigging spoons and slabs in 22-28 feet. Catfish are good on
prepared baits in 12-20 feet along sheltered creeks.

RICHLAND-CHAMBERS

Water stained; 50-56 degrees; 0.46′ high. Black bass are slow. White
bass are excellent on white or chartreuse slabs fished close to the
bottom in 20-24 feet around Pelican Island and Wind Sock Point. Hybrid
striper to 8 pounds are fair on Sassy Shad and slabs; some topwater
schooling on the edge of The 309 Flats. Crappie are slow on minnows in
20-30 feet around heavy brush and timber. Catfish are good drift
fishing fresh shad in 15-20 feet around the 309 Flats.

SAM RAYBURN

Water stained north, lightly stained south; 58 degrees; 2.86′ high.
Black bass are good on watermelon and green pumpkin Wacky Worms,
Senkos, lizards, and tubes in buck brush. Crappie are fair on live
shiners and pink/white jigs near brush tops in 25 – 30 feet. Catfish
are good on juglines baited with live bait and prepared bait.

SOMERVILLE

Water stained; 1.90′ high. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are
slow. White bass are fair on spinnerbaits and spoons. Crappie are good
on minnows and jigs. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish
are slow.

SPENCE

Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 48.35′ low. Black bass are fair on
Carolina-rigged dark red plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and
jigs. White bass are fair. Striped bass and hybrid striper are slow.
Catfish are slow.

STAMFORD

Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 4.12′ low. Black bass are slow.
Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White and striped bass are fair
on slabs tipped with minnows. Catfish are fair.

STEINHAGEN

0.27′ high. No report available.

STILLHOUSE

Water fairly clear; 57 degrees; 1.98′ high. Black bass are fair on
Carolina rigged soft plastics. White bass are slow. Smallmouth bass are
slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on
shrimp and chicken livers. Yellow catfish are slow.

SWEETWATER

Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 30.63′ low. Black bass are slow.
Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on live bait
and roadrunners. Catfish are good on live baits and prepared baits.

TAWAKONI

Water stained; 50-55 degrees; 0.09′ high. Black bass are fair on
plastic worms around marinas and docks with brush in 8-12 feet. Crappie
are fair on live minnows jigs in 12-18 feet at the Duck Cove Fishing
Barge and around man made brush piles; best bite during low-light
conditions. White bass are good on 1oz. white or chartreuse slabs
fished close to the bottom around upper lake humps and ridges. Striped
bass and hybrid striper are fair on 4″ Sassy Shad and 1 to 2oz.
slabs
fished close to the bottom in 20-24 feet. Catfish are excellent on
fresh shad and prepared baits in 15-20 feet around points close to the
mouth of creeks – larger blues hitting large pieces of fresh cutbait on
5/0 circle hooks in 35-40 feet.

TEXOMA

Water clear; 50-55 degrees; 0.57′ high. Black bass are fair to good on
jigs and soft plastics fished around boat docks in sheltered waters
with cover. Crappie are fair on minnows around boathouses in 20-30
feet. Striped bass are excellent on live bait, Sassy Shad and slabs in
30-40 feet along the river ledges. Blue catfish are excellent on cut
bait and live shad along the submerged river ledges and adjacent flats.

TOLEDO BEND

Water stained north, lightly stained south; 60 degrees; 2.22′ low.
Black bass are fair on Carolina rigged lizards and French Fries around
main lake grass beds on the south end, Texas rigged soft plastic
lizards and worms around shoreline cover at mid lake, and on
spinnerbaits and shallow running crankbaits around shoreline cover and
jigging spoons over deeper drops in the north end in 15 – 25 feet.
Crappie are fair on shiners over planted brush tops in the Chicken Coop
area above the Pendleton Bridge.

TRAVIS

Water murky; 57 degrees; 2.10′ high. Black bass to 4 pounds are good on
red shad worms, brown jigs, and white drop shot rigs in 15 – 42 feet.
Striped bass are slow. White bass to 1 pound are fair on shad rap
crankbaits and jigging spoons in 10 – 35 feet. Crappie to 1 pound are
fair on minnows and pink and blue tube jigs in 12 – 32 feet. Channel
and blue catfish to 4 pounds are fair on fresh cutbait and
nightcrawlers in 30 – 40 feet. Yellow catfish are slow.

TYLER

No report available.

WALTER E. LONG

Water clear. Black bass are fair on minnows and small crankbaits.
Hybrid striper are good on minnows, silver spoons, Rat-L-Traps, and
gold and black shysters. White bass are good on minnows, silver spoons,
and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish
are fair on shrimp, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and frozen shad. Yellow
catfish are slow.

WHITE RIVER

Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 18′ low. Black bass are fair on
black/blue jigs and shad-colored crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs
and minnows. Walleye are fair on minnows. Channel catfish are fair on
live bait.

WHITNEY

Water stained; 1.78′ low. Black bass are slow on shallow diving
crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are
fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and shrimp.

WICHITA

Water clearing; 55 degrees. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow.
White bass and hybrid striped bass are fair on large minnows and white
twister-tails along the dam. Channel catfish are fair on trotlines
baited with shrimp, punchbait or shad. Note: East and north boat ramps
are open.

WRIGHT PATMAN

Water stained; 50-55 degrees. Black bass are slow to fair on Texas
rigged worms and red Rat-L-Traps around brush and stick-ups in 6-12
feet. Crappie fair on live minnows and chartreuse jigs at Kelly Creek
Marina and over submerged brush in 12-18 feet. Catfish are good in
15-20 feet on prepared baits in holes baited with soured grain.
– Lake Mohave

Shakespeare’s top of the line

Shakespeare’s new Catera® Front and Rear Drag Spinning Reels are sure to be a hit for 2004. Sleek new styling and design make this reel not only functional but attractive as well. Available in four models rated for applications from ultralight to medium freshwater in the front drag, and three models rated for applications from light to medium freshwater in the rear drag, Shakespeare’s new Catera® Spinning Reels will just about cover it all. Features on these reels include:

* 5 ball bearings
* One-way clutch instant anti-reverse bearing
* Long cast aluminum spool
* Anti-twist titanium line roller and bail wire clicker
* Smooth multi-disc drag system
* Left/right convertible fold down handle
* On/off anti-reverse switch
* Spare aluminum spool

– Lake Mohave

Cross Trail Outfitters today announced its 2005 Youth Hunting and Fishing Photo Contest. The organization is looking for the very best amateur photographs of young people having fun hunting or fishing.
The theme of this year’s contest is, “Fun in God’s Great Outdoors.” The grand prize winner who submits the best photo will win a choice of a free parent/child Axis deer hunt or guided kayak bay fishing trip.
Photos will be judged both on photographic quality and on how well they represent the theme. All photos must include at least one young person in a fishing or hunting setting.
Finalists will be selected by a panel of outdoor writers, and the final prize winners will be determined by an online vote on the CTO website, http://www.teamcto.org.
Entering the contest is free, and participants may submit as many photos as they wish. Photos may be submitted either hard copy (prints) or online (digital).
In addition to the grand prize hunting or fishing trip, three additional winners will receive valuable gift certificates good toward tuition to the 2005 CTO Hunting and Fishing Summer Camps.
CTO is a non-profit Christian club for boys and young men ages 7-20 who have an interest in hunting and fishing. In addition to popular summer camps, the club offers year-round hunting and fishing trips, skills training, fun shoots, and other activities.
Deadline for submission is March 31, and the winners will be announced in late April.
For complete details on the contest, including the rules, prizes and how to enter, log in to http://www.teamcto.org/photo or call 210-286-4875.
– Lake Mohave

Friends and fellow anglers, So far the winter of ’04-’05 has been very kind. All watersheds in Northern NM and Southern Colorado are over 100% of the 30 year average and its only the beginning of March. Traditionally our wettest months are March, April and May so the forecast is for adequate water for our finned friends this season. Hopefully this pattern is more than a brief respite from the drought of the past 5 years. Heres my predictions on what to expect this year.

The Cimarron should have adequate flows thru June even if they don’t release water from Eagle Nest Lake. The drought drastically reduced levels in Eagle Nest so I expect them to hold back as much water as possible to to build up their storage. Flows from the tributaries below the dam should keep flows between 20-50cfs. thru the Stonefly hatch in June.

The Costilla which opens July 1st has had a banner snow year. Reports say that most north facing canyons have up to 6′ of standing snow. Last year releases from Costilla Resevoir were a lot better [ higher weekend flows and lower flows on weekdays ]than at any time in its 20 year history. I expect flows between 40-90cfs thru mid September. Commance Creek may also make a comeback this year. We have a new piece of private water on the lower Costilla also.

Sanchez Resevoir above the Culebra was close to empty at the end of last year. Depending on how they manage the water it should be best from early April thru July and then we’ll have to see what the summer rains bring.

The Red is its usual self with springs warming the flow and as of now there are caddis, mayflies and little brown stoneflies hatching. Fishing should be great here until runoff which will start in mid April [depending on the weather] and will last into June this year. After runoff the Red fishes well thru November.

The Rio Grande will be back to its pre drought condition. If it stays cool thru April we could have a decent caddis hatch. The bugs will be there the only question is the clarity of the water. After runoff starts, fishing on the Rio will be over until September when lower flows and clearer water will usher in the best fishing of the year on the Grande.September and October are the best months here.

The Conejos will have significant runoff this year and probably won’t be fishable until late June or early July. Fishing should be great thru October. The Pinnacles should be real good when flows get low enough by late July or early August.

The Embudo, Santa Barbara, Pueblo and Chama will all be fishable after runoff thru September.

Rita returns from 4 months of fishing in Patagonia in May and we look forward to seeing you this season

Tight Lines, Ed Adams [505-586-1512]
– Lake Mohave

ATHENS, Texas—With hundreds of fly-fish enthusiasts filling the air with lines and lures March 5 as they cast for rainbow trout, one had to walk carefully around the grounds of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

While fishing occupied many people, hands-on learning and informal education about subjects as varied as the importance of water quality and tying knots caught the attention of others.

Would-be fly fishers learning how to “match the hatch” by scooping tiny insect larvae from streams and identifying them buzzed about. Experts from Arkansas, Colorado and Texas whetted appetites for fishing with seminars about where and how to fool fish with flies. Fly tyers guided novices through the intricacies of creating insect look-alikes from feathers, foam and thread. And for those who’d rather eat than fish, food vendors and demonstrators turned out hundreds of tacos, catfish dinners and Dutch oven fruit cobblers.

An estimated 1,250 people attended the event held under the auspices of Fly Fish Texas, an organization dedicated to increasing participation in fly fishing. – Lake Mohave

Springtime abounds with nature fulfilling it’s clockwork course of destination.

A magnificent wake up call to the plant and animal kingdom to start their yearly ritual of mating, multiplying, and growing. This mysterious time of year surrounds our world with beauty, life, and energy that awakens our deepest feelings and senses to a level of childish excitement. For all these signs tell us – SPRING IS HERE, and to an angler, it means fishing time again.

Fishing in the spring is much more enjoyable for anglers because the weather is usually warmer, and the bass are beginning to be more active in their feeding binges after their long winter metabolic slow down. The days are getting longer, and the warm sun rays gleaming down begin to warm the water, triggering a call to the male bass to come to the shallower water and prepare a bed for the ladies in waiting. Bass movements are centered around their spawning, and the spawning is centered around water temperature.

Therefore, if the weather cools, the male bass will move back out into deeper water, but will remain close to the spawning areas waiting for a warming trend again. This pattern may occur several times before the male bass feels it’s time to make the actual bed. When the water temperature reaches about 55 degrees, the males start cruising the shallow water, feeding actively on available bait fish, storing up for the long, energy draining part he plays in the actual spawn. During this time, the female bass are in a period known as staging, and will be located in deeper areas such as points, edges of creek channels, sides of humps, or breaklines. They are waiting for their magic water temperature, which is in the mid 60’s, to signal it is time to move toward the spawning grounds. The male bass courts his lady by bumping his nose into her side, guiding her to his nest. She deposits her eggs and he fertilizes them with his milt. A few days late r, her job is finished, and she moves back out in deeper water for rest and recuperation. Left to his own demise, the male becomes full time guardian of the eggs. Once the fry are hatched, his instincts dictate that he stay with them for a short time protecting his young from hungry intruders.

But, soon he grows wary and hungry, and his will to survive overpowers his parental calling. Gorging his own babies for instant nourishment, he then leaves the vulnerable fry unprotected, letting nature choose it’s destiny.

From the millions of fry that are born, only a small percentage actually reach adulthood, because they are so vulnerable when small. Predators, lack of forage, water temperature drops, and mankind all play a critical role in how many baby bass will reach adulthood.

The north side of lakes and coves will warm the quickest, because it receives the sun for a longer period of the day, and is less volatile to the cold northern wind. Once the bass start their trek up the major creek channels, efforts should be concentrated in the secondary creek channels on the northwest side, and the shallow flat areas at the back and sides of the secondary creek channels. Usually, the murkier the water, the more shallow the bass will spawn. Pre-spawn, spawn, and post spawn will be in different areas of the lake, at different times, making it difficult for the weekend angler to establish a consistent pattern, because each phase does not last very long. However, bass will be spawning somewhere on the lake, from late February through April or May, following the same sequence of patterns of pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn. Study the spawning sites, the creek channels that lead the bass there, and the points at the beginning of the coves. Start a fishing diary of where bass spawn, and note the routes, cover, and structure they use to get there.

Then return there next year, because bass return to their spawning areas year after year, following the same routes. If you notice male bass swimming along the shoreline in a spawning area, then you can be assured that the egg laden females are close by. Within a couple of days to a week, the girls will be moving in to join the boys., providing the water temperature remain warm and constant.

Spawn time is so interesting to watch and study. Witnessing the precise timing of each stage, and to know that each bass that reaches
maturity has overcome great and numerous obstacles to reach catchable size. Our bass need to be respected and handled very gently during this time, and released as quickly as possible. Better yet, just leave the nesting bass alone to natures call. A good pair of polarized sunglasses allows you to witness the beautiful bass romance which is performed underwater.

There is an old do*****entary on video, entitled “Big Mouth”, which shows the life of a bass from birth to death, including the spawn. It can be rented at most video stores, and I highly recommend it to learning anglers for a better insight of how a bass lives, the spawn, and how it relates to the world underwater. Please practice catch and release, and safe handling of bass.

Sherry D. Ruslink
Licensed Bass Fishing Guide – Lake Fork
owner – Anglers Educational Seminars
http://www.texs.com/ladybass
email: ladybass@onramp.net
817-572-3675 phone & fax
903-473-1016 Lake Fork
– Lake Mohave

Post spawn generally causes anglers to question their ability in locating and catching bass. Many anglers are presently facing the inevitable question: Where are the bass hiding? Rest assured the bass are there, close to their spawning flat, traveling the route they utilized to enter areas for nesting. Post spawn is characterized by bass moving back to areas they call home. During this time of rest and recuperation, bass show a tendency towards lethargy and inactivity, which generally lasts about 2 weeks. Post spawn may
deal anglers a low blow in catching numbers of bass, but remember, it won’t last long, and the bass will still bite.

On any given lake, not all bass are doing the same thing at the same time. Given this premise that bass have individual biological time clocks, will help ease the blues while fishing for post spawn bass. Starting in the upper end of lakes, bass will begin the first wave of their spawn on the northwest sides of the lake and coves. Like a giant wave, the spawn will creep slowly down the lake to the lower end over a period of several weeks to a couple of months. The water temperature must be conducive to eggs warming enough to hatch, and with that knowledge the upper ends will warm the quickest, while the lower end will be the last area to warm enough for a spawn to take place. As well, most female bass will not lay all their eggs in one nest with one male partner. Fear that their eggs will be destroyed, females will wave in and out of nesting areas, mating with different males over several weeks. Therefore, an area may have prespawn, spawn, and post spawn going on at the same time. Females stage and recuperate in the same areas, which are most apt to be secondary points right off of a creek channel that leads to a protected spawning territory.

The difference in a prespawn and post spawn female is the activity level. Post spawn bass will not expend much energy in chasing baitfish because they are physically spent. They will suspend in more open water, during the transition period from post spawn to summer phases, and basically be in an inactive state for several weeks. On the other hand, male bass have a tendency to hang around in the shallows and feed more actively on vulnerable forage, before transistioning to summer homes.

While experiencing post spawn in one area of the lake, try fishing other areas that might still be in prespawn or spawn, or has transistioned from post spawn already. Prime post spawn and transitional structure is long sloping points, humps, roadbeds ditches, and tankdams that will serve as migratory routes for bass to travel. Stopovers from one area to another need to have ideal cover which will serve as shade and offer them protection from other predators. Stumps, trees, grass, ledges, tire reefs, and rocks will give bass a place of comfort and security, and give them an advantage in ambushing their prey.

While fishing for post spawn bass may not be to the liking of most anglers, there are alternatives to the actual post spawners, as mentioned above. Experiment a little and attempt to find what stage of the game the bass are in, and then move to the upper end or lower end according to the different stages until all bass are through with the 3 phases of prespawn, spawn, and post spawn.

Sherry Ruslink is a professional tournament angler and guide on Lake Fork. She owns Anglers Educational Seminars which specializes in lady angler education. She may be reached at 817- 572-3675, 903-473-1016, email: ladybass@onramp.net, homepage: http://www.texs.com/ladybass – Lake Mohave