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Nestled in the rolling hills of the farms and ranches near Brenham is a lake that offers a place to play and a place to relax just 90 miles from the hassles of Houston. Lake Somerville covers 11,460 acres and has 85 miles of shoreline. It provides water for the area and was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960’s.

A state park is located at this lake in two distinct units. The Birch Creek Unit is located on the north shores of the lake and comprises 640 acres. It offers 103 partial service campsites with water and electricity, four dump stations and 20 equestrian tent sites with water only. This unit also offers a Group Trailer Area with 30 water and electrical sites and a Dining Hall.

The Nails Creek Unit, 300 acres located on the southeast corner of the lake, has 40 campsites available with water and electricity, a dump station and 20 tent sites, 10 of those being equestrian.

The Birch Creek Unit offers three picnic areas and the Nails Creek Unit offers two. There is a total of 30 miles of hiking, biking and horseback trails throughout the park.

Fishing is excellent in both units, and the Birch Creek Unit provides an 80-foot concrete fishing jetty. Both Units offer an enclosed fish cleaning shelter. The Nail Creek Unit maintains the west bank of Cedar Creek where anglers can find good crappie fishing from January to late April.

The Birch Creek Unit has two two-lane boat ramps and the Nails Creek Unit has one two-lane boat ramp. Both Units offer volleyball courts. Both sand and grass are available at the Birch Creek Unit, while the Nails Creek Unit offers just one grass court. Lake swimming is allowed, but no lifeguard is on duty.

The two units are connected by the Lake Somerville Trailway where visitors can find 100 primitive campsites, four sanitary toilets and six shade shelters.

For something different, consider Nails Creek Unit for weekend hayrides. They even offer “Hayride Weddings.”

For more information about the two units, please feel free to call Russell Fishbeck at the Birch Creek Unit or Glen Korth at the Nails Creek Unit.

For bait and tackle near the park, the Birch Creek Unit Headquarters offers some basic supplies. For more extensive needs in the Birch Creek Unit area, try Big Creek Marina on Park Road 4 in Lyons for live bait, tackle, gas and a camping area and motel on the premises. Call Big Creek Marina at (409) 596-1616. Judy’s Grocery is located in the town of Somerville and in addition to groceries, offers bait, tackle, gas, a bar & grill, a pool room and dancing. Contact Judy’s Grocery at (409) 535-4030.

For fishermen in the Nails Creek Unit, bait and tackle can be found at the Checkpoint Trading Post at the intersection of Overlook Park Rd. and FM 1948. Bonnie and Steve Todee can help with your fishing needs, including renewing your fishing license, at (409) 289-4102. The Rocky Creek Store on FM 1948 on the south shores of the lake offers fishing supplies, boat storage and a restaurant. Contact Andy Holley at Rocky Creek Store at (409) 289-3426. Burger & Stuff, located on FM 180 in Burton is southwest of the Nails Creek Unit and has bait, groceries and liquor available. They can be reached at (409) 289-2466.

If you want to stay near the park but can’t camp, several motels are available nearby. The Big Creek Marina offers a motel in Lyons near the Birch Creek Unit with AC and kitchenettes. They accept Visa and MasterCard and the motel is located close to the marina. Surrey Inn is located in Caldwell, just 16 miles northwest of the lake, and has 24 rooms, a pool, cable TV, a cafe on the premises and takes major credit cards. Surrey Inn’s rates range from $32.00 for a single to $37 for a double, with a $4. charge for each additional person. The Varsity Inn, also located in Caldwell, has 63 rooms, a pool, cable TV and takes major credit cards. The Varsity also serves continental breakfast on the weekends. The rates here range from $37 for a single to $43 for a double, and $4 for each additional person.

If you need a fishing guide for the lake, Paul Place comes highly recommended. Place Guide Service can be reached at (409) 693-3017.
– Lake Mohave

The World Wide Web now has several new “pages” to offer you surfers of the ‘net. Outdoor enthusiasts can find information on some of the best hunting and fishing in the world!

Pat McCarty, who has brought The Texas Sportsguide to the world through the Internet, has been spending quite a bit of time in Mexico and South America researching hunting and fishing opportunities. He has created several new Web pages to show the world the excellent hunting and fishing resources Mexico and Venezuela have to offer.

Mexico has often been overlooked as a getaway location except for the heavily trafficked resort cities. Some of the world’s most beautiful natural scenic resources can be found here in its pristine state. Mexico has something for everyone from its tropical rain forests, rugged mountains, lakes and streams to its scenic deserts and white sandy beaches. Mexico is a hunting and fishing paradise where you will find a lack of hunting or fishing pressure and many out-of-the-way dream destinations.

McCarty has created a Web page where outdoorsmen can find just what they’re looking for in Mexico from bass fishing, sal*****er fishing or fly-fishing to scuba diving to eco-logical tours or ruin exploration to bird hunting or deer hunting or even exotic game hunting. It’s called Adventures in Mexico and can be found at www.texs.com/mexico/.

One resort you will find through Adventures in Mexico is Mexico’s Laguna Vista. This is the site of the best waterfowl hunting resort in North America. Over 300 species of birds can be found here and can be spotted year-round. Hunting, Fishing, Birding and Eco-logical Tour packages are available at Laguna Vista. For a taste of the REAL Mexico, investigate the Laguna Vista Web site directly at www.texs.com/mexico/laguna/.

La Marina del Rio has long been recognized for its hunting and fishing resources and is now becoming a popular destination for birding and ecological tours. Newly discovered Aztec ruins close to the resort are also worth exploring.

La Marina del Rio offers world-class bass and sal*****er fishing, ecological tours, bird watching, Blue Rock Pigeon, dove, quail, duck, turkey and deer hunting. Information on each vacation package can be found directly at www.texs.com/mexico/la_marina/.

Venezuela is a land forgotten by time with great adventures to offer the adventurer. Venezuela is by no means hum-drum. You have never seen forests so full of life or rivers so beautiful. Everything about Venezuela will be a new experience for you. Get ready for the adventure of your lifetime because you will never forget it.

All travel in the jungles of Venezuela is done by dugout canoe made locally and very sturdy. They provide a safe and easy method of transportation through the lush jungles and tropical beaches.

Image Builder’s Advertising, the Web page design company of McCarty’s, has created two new Web pages under the name of “Bass Adventures” to introduce the world to the natural resources of Venezuela.

Uraima Falls Camp is located on the banks of the La Paragua river deep in the Venezuelan jungle. Here, Payara fishing is the main attraction. Payara is a distinctive fish found in greater numbers in Venezuela than in any other place in the world. They are an aggressive fish and an average of seven will be caught in a day at this camp with an average weight of 17 lbs. per fish.

The jungles near the camp are full of wildlife and plantlife not to be seen anywhere else in the world. This promises to be the most interesting and adventurous experience of your life! Look for their Web page at www.ibweb.com/uraima/.

Pea***** Bay Lodge(see page 8) is located 100 miles downstream of the Uraima Falls Camp on the shores of Lake Guri. Combination tours of both camps are available.

Pea*****
Bay Lodge is well-known by Venezuelans for its Pea***** Bass fishing. Knowledge of its fishing resources is just now becoming available to North America through Image Builder’s Web “Bass Adventures” pages.

The Pea***** Bass is a beautiful and powerful fish and the average angler can expect to land 10 to 20 of these per day. More information about Pea***** bass and other jungle adventures of Pea***** Bay Lodge can be found at www.ibweb.com/pea*****/.

One other Image Builder’s Bass Adventures page that introduces the world to the exciting world of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, can be found at www.ibweb.com/viva/, but that site is under construction at the present time. Check back with Image Builder’s soon, however, for information about the romantic Puerta Vallarta.

McCarty says of his Bass Adventures pages, “we will more than double our hunting and fishing lodges in Mexico and South America advertised on the Web in ’97.” These sensational hunting and fishing resorts mentioned here are still new and untouched by the masses, providing terrific opportunities for the outdoors enthusiast, whether it’s hunting, fishing, bird watching or ecological tours that interests you. – Lake Mohave

Michael Eugene Smith was an adult who felt it unnecessary to wear his life jacket on that final day on Lake Conroe. After all, the boat was only moving at seven to eight MPH and he and his friends were only about 100 yards from shore in their 12’ johnboat.

But Michael Smith was an epileptic. He had a violent epileptic seizure and fell overboard. Despite valiant efforts of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Forest Service, a game warden, Sergeant Leldon Hamilton, and two members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Bing Hastings and Diane Wharton, his body floated to the surface 46 hours later.

Smith was the needless victim of a drowning that could have been prevented through common sense. Personal Flotation Devices, or life preservers should be worn by all persons in a boat, whether it is moving or not. As a matter of fact, it is a good idea to wear one when you’re anywhere near the water. This goes for children, adults, experienced swimmers, and ESPECIALLY ANYONE PRONE TO SEIZURES, BLACKOUTS, DISORIENTATION, ETC.

The Texas Water Safety Act is written by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and applies to all persons in Texas waters. It states: “The operator of every Class A and Class 1 motorboat while underway shall require every passenger under thirteen (13) years of age to wear a Personal Flotation Device of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the Commandant of the Coast Guard. A life belt or ring buoy does not satisfy this requirement.”

In regards to personal watercraft, such as jet skis and water bikes, “Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V must be worn by each person on or being towed by personal watercraft.” The different types of PFDs pertain to the weight of the person wearing it.

Greg Gibson, a Precinct 1 Deputy Constable assigned to Lake Conroe, says that children under the age of 13 also need the correct child-sized PFDs. A life preserver must also be available for all adults on board. They should be adult-sized and adults should have easy access to them. In other words, they cannot be under heavy equipment or stored in a lower cabinet.

Gibson adds that jet skiers, of any age, are required to wear PFDs at all times.

Gibson is a stickler on children wearing life jackets. He also believes all persons with mental or physical handicaps should wear them.

Deputy Sheriff Jim Ford was principally involved in the futile rescue efforts of Mr. Smith. He says, “anyone with common sense, especially if they have a physical handicap, would be wearing a PFD anytime they’re around the water.”

The subject of PFDs is a sore spot with Ford. He says he gets violations all the time with kids not wearing the required life saving equipment. “It’s the infrequent recreational boaters that cause most of the problems,” he says, “as far as PFDs or equipment violations.”

Robert Schuster is Dive Master of the Montgomery County Dive Team. These are the guys that retrieve the bodies of drowning victims in Lake Conroe and other area lakes. Schuster says he has pulled numerous children out of the water after playing on piers or near bulkheads, and GUESS WHAT? They weren’t wearing life preservers! Not one! When the Dive Team is called, it is after the child has been in the water too long for a safe recovery, in most cases.

Schuster says he has not had to go after one drowning victim in his ten year career with Montgomery County that was wearing a PFD, with one exception. The exception was a heart attack victim that the coroner says was dead before he hit the water.

The Boating Trades Association of Texas is self-governing organization of more than 650 boat dealers, manufacturers, distributors and marina operators. It is dedicated to the interests of the boating industry and public of Texas.

The BTAT mails a pamphlet titled the Commandments of Boating to every Texan that registers their boat with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department,
according to Lee Couch of the BTAT. It is required that every boat in excess of 14 feet in length be titled with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Over 600,000 pamphlets have been mailed to Texas boatowners by the BTAT to date.

The first commandment listed to ensure boating fun and safety says, “Be sure to wear a life jacket (Personal Flotation Device). Even an expert swimmer is not safe without one.”

Recently, Darryl Hurst, President of the BTAT said, “we strongly support all efforts to increase enforcement…of…the entire Water Safety Code. While we were able to reduce our accident rate last year, there continues to beincidents of irresponsible boating. We have no tolerance for illegal or inappropriate behavior on the water and we will continue to work for a more educated and informed boating public.”

The BTAT is a member of the Boater Education Advisory Group. This group is comprised of representatives from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the Marina Association of Texas, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the American Red Cross, the U.S. Power Squadrons, the Lower Colorado River Authority, the National Park Service and other organizations interested in promoting safe recreational boating.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers a course free of charge called “Texas Boating Basics” to boaters of all ages and experience.

At this time, it is not a part of the Texas Water Safety Act that all persons prone to seizures or otherwise impaired are required to wear PFDs, unless they are under the age of 13 and aboard a moving water vessel. Deputy Sheriff Ford says it’s “common sense” that should make someone with a mental or physical impairment wear a life jacket. Will it take an Act of Congress to enforce common sense?
– Lake Mohave

Jumpin’ Jahozephat!! You’ve found the fish! Just as fast as you can get ’em in the boat, you’ve got your limit! It only took you seven and a half minutes to land 18 stripers once you found the fish and now, at 8:15 AM, you’re through for the day. You haven’t even finished your first cup of coffee but you’ve had the most exciting 10 minutes of your life! Hmmm…. Looks like you’ll be coming back to Lake Texoma.

Lake Texoma is the best fishing lake in the country, according to Mel Stover who works on the lake as a fishing guide. He makes this claim for some very good reasons. Lake Texoma is one of three lakes in the country where the striped bass reproduce naturally (without restocking).No other lake can produce stripers o the size found in Lake Texoma, either. It is not uncommon to land a striper in excess of 25 pounds on Lake Texoma.

The striped bass, previously a sal*****er species, became a freshwater fish quite by accident. When the Santee-Cooper Lake was dammed and sal*****er was no longer allowed to empty into the famous lake, striped bass that were trapped in the lake adapted rather well to their new lake. Stripers were later stocked into several other freshwater reservoirs and they did well. Today, striped bass is regularly stocked in Lake Livingston, Toledo Bend, Falcon Lake and other popular fishing spots in Texas. It is a popular sportfish because it is very aggressive and will give the angler quite a run for his money. No, a striper catch is not just another catch. Die hard bass fishermen may never go back once they’ve mastered a striper.

Striped bass fishing alone brings about $25 million per year to the economy of Lake Texoma and fishing is the primary industry of this part of both states. The population of the lake area easily doubles or even triples during fishing season.

Two-thirds of Lake Texoma lies in Oklahoma, according to a map of the Red River Channel. This makes the lake only the third largest reservoir in the state of Texas, but it is easily larger than any other lake within the state of Texas. Located just an hour-and-a-half to two hours north of Dallas, the lake offers North Texans a convenient get-away set in beautiful rolling hills.

Lake Texoma also has huge catfish! Several catfish in excess of 35 pounds are taken from the lake every day. This is another fish that naturally reproduces in the 100,000 square acres of Lake Texoma.

The ecology of the Red River is unique. In the Panhandle of Texas and Western Oklahoma, there is an underground salt bed that dates back 220 million years. Many of the springs that feed into the Red River produce water that is almost pure brine. It is estimated that 3,600 tons of salt is emptied into the Red River per day. The result is that the Red River has a very high salt content that occurs naturally and is probably the reason that stripers thrive in Lake Texoma.

Another consequence of this high salt content is water that is unusable for municipal, industrial or agricultural purposes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has devised a plan to remove 2,000 tons of the salt deposited in the river per day. Municipalities, large industrial users and farmers could benefit from a plentiful supply of water, but the reduction of salt deposited into Lake Texoma would only have detrimental effects on the striped bass population. Some experts believe that they would no longer reproduce naturally in the lake.

The project would also affect the flow rates of the river, possibly reducing it to 0, and the water will be murky virtually all the time. Selenium buildup in the brine lakes used for disposal of salt threatens all waterfowl and wetlands that are home to a number of endangered species such as the Bald Eagle and the Whooping Crane.

The project was initiated in 1957 and approximately 27% of the allotted funds for the project have been spent to date. Currently, 250 tons of salt are being removed from the river per day. A lack of funding halted the project in 1988, but a recent political push has released more funds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has raised objections that have effectively halted the project to allow additional input from the affected wildlife agencies and the public.

What can you do, you ask? Call or write your Congressman! Now is the best time to be heard. Work is slated to resume within the year and, if nothing is done to stop it, the project will be completed in the year 2001 or 2002.

The Red River Chloride Project, as it is called, is a very real threat to Lake Texoma. This spectacular fishery could be destroyed for generations to come. We still have time to save it and preserve one of nature’s great wonders.

In the meantime, plan a trip to
the cooler climate of North Texas/Southern Oklahoma and try some of the best striper or catfishing to be found anywhere. You may never come back to bass fishing. If you need an experienced striper or catfish guide, call Mel Stover at (800) 315-8607. – Lake Mohave

Considered by many to be the best fishing reservoir in the South, Toledo Bend has a great deal to offer sportsmen from both Texas and Louisiana. Snowbirds from the Midwest and anglers from all points flock to the warm waters of the largest man-made reservoir in the state of Texas spanning 185,000 acres. The lake offers 1,200 miles of shoreline both in Texas and Louisiana and is 15 miles wide at its widest point. Toledo Bend offers possibly the best fishing in the country with an extimated 300.63 pounds of game fish per acre, including black bass, white bass, stripers, Florida bass, crappie, bream and catfish.

In addition to great fishing, Toledo Bend offers a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere that can only be found in the south. Texas’ celebrated friendliness coupled with Louisiana’s well-known hospitality guarantees the tourist a delightful vacation. Toledo Bend can become habit-foreming, so expect to visit often.

The Toledo Bend Project was conducted by the Sabine River Authority of Texas and the Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana for the purposes of water supply, hydroelectric power generation and recreation. Both private and public recrestional facilities are available for swimming, boating, fishing, camping and hunting.

The reservoir is located 45 minutes northeast of Jasper or one hour due east of Lufkin on Highway 21. From Shreveport, Louisiana, take Highway 171 South two hours to Many and Highway 6 West to the lake.

Pendleton Bay Bridge crosses the reservoir at apprximately its midpoint. The Texas Highway that crosses this bridge is Highway 21. This becomes Louisiana Highway. 6 as it enters the state of Louisiana.

The Sabine River Authority of Texas operates a day-use park at the intersection of R255 and FM 692 on the southern tip of the lake. Another day-use park is located in Hemphill just north of Hwy. 21 and still another of the Texas SRA parks is located in Shelby County on the northern tip of the lake in the North Toledo Bend Wildlife Management Area.

The Sabine National Forest covers the entire western side of Toledo Bend. The U.S. Forest Service operates several recreation areas here. These include the Willow Oak Recreation Area, which is equipped with a boat ramp on Hwy. 87 near the south end, This park is open all year but, according to Dwayne Husband of the Sabine River Authority, provides no overnight camping facilities.. East Hamilton Recreation Area has a very nice boat ramp, according to Husband, and picnic tables for day use. It is located at the eastern tip of FM 2261 near Martinez Bayou.

Campers can find plenty of overnight camping facilities at the Lakeview Recreation Area. This U.S. Forest Service park lies at the tip of Housen Bay and has a boat ramp. This facility is open between March 1 and October 15. Indian Mounds Recreation Area is located just south of Hwy. 83. There is a boat ramp here that is open year-round and overnight camping facilities are available here Ragtown Recreation Area, located just south of FM 3184 in Ragtown Bay, is the last of the U.S. Forest Service’s facilities that provides facilities for overnight camping. It also has a boat ramp and is open from approximately March to October.

Approximately 34 private marinas are open for business on the Texas side of Toledo Bend. These marinas vary in price and facilities. Hemphill, which Hwy. 21 runs through on its way across the lake, is home to the majority of private marinas, including Harborlight Marina and Frontier Park.

The Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana supports five public parks on the eastern shores of Toledo Bend Reservoir. These include, from the north, Oak Ridge SRA Park 2, Converse Bay Park 4, San Miguel Park 7-A, Twin Island SRA Park 11 and Pleasure Point SRA Park 15.

San Miguel Park sits on San Miguel Creek just north of LA Hwy. 6. Turn north on LA Hwy. 191. The park provides a total of 60 campsites, including 40 with RV pads. Twenty of these have full RV hook-up. Twenty of the campsites are for tent campers with tent pads. The park has 19 A-frame cabins available that sleep four each and are fully equipped with a refrigerator, stove, AC/H, cookware and bedding. San Miguel Park is the only SRA park that offers these A-frame cabins. The park has two boat ramps and 28 boat stalls.

North Toledo Bend State Park is the only state park on Toledo Bend Reservoir in either state. It sits across San Miguel Creek from San Miguel SRA Park 7-A on the Louisiana shores of Toledo Bend Reservoir. This park encompasses more than 900 acres of pine-filled lands available for camping, fishing,
hiking and picnicking. A total of 63 campsites and 10 vacation cabins and a group camp area are available for overnight guests. The park has a boat ramp on San Miguel Creek, a swimming pool, a nature trail, a pavilion and a camp store.

If you’re planning to visit the Toledo Bend area for some of the best fishing in the country or for any other reason, I hope this information proves useful. Wherever you fish this summer, good luck and keep those lines tight!
– Lake Mohave

The Texas Sportsguide has seen many a fishin’ season come and go and has remained the premiere fishing magazine in the state. Well, you don’t stay #1 for so long without making some changes.

The Texas Sportsguide On-line Edition made its debut in 1995 as the first magazine of its kind devoted to Texas fishing to appear on the World Wide Web. In the beginning, it was only a
six-page magazine, but with the increased coverage of area lakes and the peeked interest of
on-line users, the magazine now offers over 20 pages of solid fishing news stories and several pages of advertising, and it’s growing with every issue.

Pat McCarty is the Editor and Webmaster of The Texas Sportsguide On-line Edition. He is very happy with the attention his Web pages are getting. He says, “the World Wide Web is the future of advertising and the print media. As of the February 1996 issue, we’ve been getting around 10,000 readers per month and the number is increasing every month.” McCarty provides advertising services for both the On-line and Print Edition under the name of ImageBuilders Publishing and can be reached at (409) 856-8537.

The Texas Sportsguide On-line Edition has grown so fast, in fact, that it was necessary to obtain a Domain Name specifically for the magazine. A Domain Name is a short, easy-to-remember address or url. The adoption of its own Domain Name makes it easy for readers to gain access to the magazine’s Web pages. The Texas Sportsguide can be found on the Web at www.texs.com

But, alas, the World Wide Web is not yet in every home in Texas. It’s not on every boat, pier or in every marina. That’s where the print version comes in. The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition can still be found in local marines, marinas and tackle shops in the Houston, Dallas, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, Lake Richland-Chambers, Lake Fork and Lake Sam Rayburn areas. It can even be found in Waco and has subscribers all over the United States. Jim Binns serves as Editor and Outdoor Writer of The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition.

The contributors to The Texas Sportsguide include Jim Binns, a highly regarded tournament fisherman with an entertaining fishing story or helpful
tricks of the trade to share in every issue. Jim is a Houston business executive who finds time to fish whenever possible, and whenever possible is pretty often!

Julia Forney, an outdoor writer from the Conroe area, is a frequent contributor to The Texas Sportsguide Print and On-line Editions. She has been published in Bassin’ Magazine as well as Texas Black Bass Unlimited’s Inland Fisheries. Julia is an active member of Texas Black Bass Unlimited and the Texas Outdoor Writer’s Association.

Bill Cannan is a reputable fishing guide and tournament fisherman with experience on all the lakes that The Texas Sportsguide provides coverage as well as the Gulf Coast and sal*****er fishing in general.. The February issue of the On-line Edition even has a fishing article of Bill’s that is set off the Ivory Coast of Africa! Cannan’s fishing articles appear each month in both the On-line Edition and the Print Edition of The Texas Sportsguide.

Captain Bill Pustejovsky provides sal*****er fishing information for The Texas Sportsguide a little closer to home. Captain Bill is a full-time professional guide and the owner of the Gold Tip Guide Service that runs out of Matagorda Bay. He has been fishing out of Matagorda Bay all of his 41 years and has kept records of the bay regarding wind conditions, water depth, fish catches, etc., since 1975. Captain Bill knows his bay and provides guide services for wade fishermen and boaters alike.
Alan Richardson provides the Gulf Coast Fishing Report for The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition and is also a contributor to the Online Edition. Alan has been writing columns and freelancing fishing articles for six years. He is experienced with sal*****er fishing, having fished off the Galveston Coast since 1968, and he and his wife Terry own and operate the Fishing Tackle Resource Center in Spring. Alan has hosted outdoor radio shows for four years and has won awards all four years from the Texas Outdoor Writers Association, of which Alan and Terry are members.

Keith Warren is a contributor to The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition. Keith is perhaps the most visible outdoorsman in America. He is a regular guest on national outdoor programs and the owner and host of his own program, Texas Angler. He appears regularly in countless regional and national publications like Bass Masters Magazine, Sports Afield and Texas Parks and Wildlife. His 1994 award-winning video, “How to Catch Trophy Specks,” is touted as the number one selling sal*****er videotape of all time in Texas.

Sherry Ruslink is another contributor to the The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition. Sherry is an experienced tournament angler who fishes on the Bass’n Gal Tournament Trail. She has earned several awards for bass fishing including the coveted Texas Lady Angler of the Year Award for 1992 and 1993. Residing in Arlington, Texas, she provides coverage for Lake Fork.

A new page has just been added to The Texas Sportsguide On-line Edition that provides coverage for northern Mexico lakes and the southern United States. In it, Hugo Trevino will “share a few anecdotes and maybe a few tips” for bass fishing. Hugo is a television producer for several big corporations in Mexico. He is an outdoor writer who is very familiar with the fishing that Mexico has to offer.

Pat McCarty himself is a contributor to both the On-line and Print Editions of The Texas Sportsguide. Pat has been a tournament fisherman for 20 – 25 years and he has been a licensed guide on east Texas lakes for 11 years. He is an active member of Texas Black Bass Unlimited, a Texas freshwater conservation association.

Boots Follmar Marine is a big sponsor of The Texas Sportsguide. Boots has a fine selection of bass boats, both freshwater and sal*****er, and pontoon boats for the professional fisherman or the weekend angler. Boots’ dealership is in Houston and he can be reached at ( 713) 649-2709.

Other big sponsors include Pier 45 Marine in north Houston with their impressive lines of ProCraft bass boats and Voyager pontoons, (713) 999-5666, and April Plaza Marina on Lake Conroe. Look for the charity bass tournament there on March 2. Call Ron at (409) 588-1144. Red Wing Boat Company and Fred Lester’s lines of Stratos and Champion boats and Evinrude outboards, (713) 921-0656, Quantum Lures and Skeeter Boats all are sponsors of The Texas Sportsguide as well. In fact, Thomas Ferro of Skeeter Boats has a very informative article on Skeeter Boats in the February On-line Edition of The Texas Sportsguide.

Upcoming sponsors of The Texas Sportsguide include Keith Warren of Texas Angler, who can be reached at (210) 625-3474, Holt Taylor of the “Get Hooked on Fishing! Not Drugs!” campaign at (210) 534-4100, TBBU’s 96 Houston Gala (214)388-4724 and Bingham’s Check-It Stick.

The Texas Sportsguide is planning to increase its coverage of Texas lakes in the On-line Edition to include Lake Sam Rayburn, Richland-Chambers and others. If anyone is interested in sponsoring or submitting lake reports for other lakes, please contact Pat McCarty at anglers@texs.com or www.ibweb.com – Lake Mohave

Adventures in Mexico™ brings the excitement of the Mexican bass hunt to the homes of Web users around the world. The Web pages were designed by Pat McCarty to attract fishermen to the excellent resources that Mexico has to offer. Mexico offers the bass angler the finest bass fishing in the world and McCarty presents the very finest bass fishing adventure trips in Mexico. The pages can be found at www.texs.com/mexico/.

Lake Comedero is “Mexico’s Greatest Bass Fishing Hotspot.” Located 100 miles northeast of the popular resort, Mazatlan, the secluded mountain lake of the Sierra Madres offers the adventurous angler cool, clear water teeming with thousands of hungry black bass. Lake Comedero sees no “best fishing season” all year, averaging daily catches in excess of 100 bass per boat during any season.

Lake El Salto is called “the world’s greatest bass fishing lunker hole.” This is the newest bass fishing lake Mexico has to offer and is located 50 miles north of Mazatlan. El Salto has the largest population of trophy size bass of any lake in the world.

Lake Oviachic is known as “Mexico’s most accessible bass fishing hotspot.” It is located on the west bank of Mexico on the Gulf of California.

The Adventures in Mexico™ pages have information available on other Mexican lakes as well including Presa Espanola, Presa Los Mimbres, Presa Cuchillo, Cajon de Pena, and the famous Lake Guerrero, possibly the oldest and most popular of Mexico’s bass fishing lakes. Lake Guerrero is located just 165 miles south of the Texas border, just a three-hour drive from Texas.

Each lake is fully described on its own “page” and all the information needed, including lodging facilities, costs, best lures, transportation information, fish limits fopr each lake, weather, guide services, and other general information is listed for each lake.

Mexico has often been overlooked as a getaway location except for the heavily trafficked resort cities. Some of the world’s most beautiful natural scenic resources can be found here in its pristine state. Mexico has something for everyone from its tropical rain forests, rugged mountains, lakes and streams to its scenic deserts and white sandy beaches. Mexico is a hunting and fishing paradise where you will find a lack of hunting or fishing pressure and many out-of-the-way dream destinations.

Another favorite sportfishing destination of McCarty’s is Puerto Vallarta. A new Web page has just been completed that will introduce the world to the unbelievably picturesque Puerto Vallarta. Marlin and sailfish are popular sport fish here and Cajon de Pena, a lake nestled in the scenic mountains of the Sierra Madre range, offers excellent bass fishing. This page can be found at www.ibweb.com/viva.

If these fishing spots don’t hold enough adventure for you, try Pea***** Bass Fishing on Lake Guri in Venezuela. Bass Adventures, America’s leading international fishing outfitter has made all the arrangements and are just waiting to give you the adventure of a lifetime. You’ve never really fished for bass until you take on the Pea***** Bass of the Amazons! You can find more information on this fascinating adventure at www.pea*****trips.com .

Whatever type of fishing venture you’re in the mood for, let Pat McCarty’s web pages guide you to the best fishing experience available. – Lake Mohave

World’s Strongest Superline Enhanced

SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA – Now the world’s strongest superline is improved with better colorfastness and improved resistance to fraying. Berkley FireLine is the only superline to meet or exceed the rated test at the Palomar knot across all pound tests. The small diameter FireLine has the same high sensitivity and smooth handling as before and is the best superline for spinning tackle.

FireLine has top rated knot strength giving the angler more confidence for the hook set and fish handling. The strength of FireLine along with low stretch provides a more positive hook set with greater impact resistance. This non-braided superline is favored by both fresh and sal*****er anglers for its ease of casting, rugged durability and comfortable handling.

FireLine is available in smoke and flame green colors. With the improved formulation the flame green color is brighter and more visible to the angler than before. Line sizes of FireLine range from 4-pound test/1-pound diameter to 30-pound test/12-pound diameter. The suggested retail prices are $15.45 for a 125-yard spool, $29.95 for a 300-yard spool and $92.45 for the 1,000-yard spool.

For more information about Berkley or the location of the nearest Berkley retailer, call Berkley Angler Services at 1-800-BERKLEY or visit the web at www.berkley-fishing.com. – Lake Mohave

Spirit Lake, IA – Berkley Vanish Transition has been touted as hi-vis line ideal for fishing in clear water and when finesse fishing. But today’s major bass tournaments are seeing Berkley Vanish Transition being used by fishing pros known for using big fishing line and catching big fish such as Davy Hite, O.T. Fears and David Workman. Workman, of Ft. Worth, Texas, won the September EverStart Series Northern Division Tournament on New York’s Lake Champlain. His line was the new Berkley Vanish Transition. His technique was flipping a 4-inch watermelon with red glitter Power Bait Flippin Tube from Berkley into the thickest brush he could find in 8 to 12 feet of water. Not your conventional finesse fishing.

The four-day event found most of the tourney’s anglers seeking the great smallmouth bite, and Workman caught his share. But it was the bigger green fish not brown, that took him to the winner’s circle.

“I found my best fish in 8-foot and deeper water in thick mats of grass and heavy brush”, said Workman. “I had a great largemouth pattern for the week so I just stayed with it. I figured the last day I’d switch to smallmouth but the wind was too tough and my largemouth holes beckoned”.

“I did some Carolina rigging in practice using 20-pound Berkley Big Game with a foot or longer leader of 17-pound Berkley Vanish Transition. But during competition I caught over 50 fish during the four days of the tournament flipping with my Abu Garcia 4600C spooled with 20-pound Berkley Vanish Transition almost exclusively”.

Berkley Vanish Transition is such a popular item at sporting goods stores that finding replacement line has been difficult at times as stores reordered to restock their shelves. Workman was having the same problem. “I only had one spool of 20-pound Berkley Vanish Transition going into the tournament. As a result I used the same line without replacing it during the entire tournament. But I never lost a single fish and I was fishing some really tough areas with tight brush piles. On several occasions I was dragging fish over logs but my fishing line never failed me”.

Workman loves to flip into heavy cover with a tube or jig but this requires the ability to see the line and detect the slightest bites. “Watching my line for bites is the key but I’ve always had to strain to see my monofilament line. I’m sure I was missing bites. The gold color of Berkley Vanish Transition is so visible, no matter what the background. I now can see my line against the water, floating weed mats, timber, the sky, everywhere. Before I always had to strain to see my monofilament line. I’m sue I was missing bites and the best part of Berkley Transition is its clear underwater and virtually invisible to fish. A line that changes color – you gotta love it.” – Lake Mohave

AUSTIN, Texas – Six boat ramp construction grants totaling $2,104,024 were approved Nov. 3 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The grant program provides funds for the purchase, construction and maintenance of boat ramps, access roads and related improvements. Funds may also be used for capital improvements to existing state boat ramp sites. The grant program is administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is funded by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act and the State Game, Fish and Water Safety Fund.

Aransas County Navigation District 1 received a 75 percent matching share grant in the amount of $187,202 for renovation of a parking lot and loading ramp, a pollution prevention plan, and construction of a mooring pier, fish cleaning station, and signs. The facility is located at Cove Harbor South on Aransas Bay in Rockport.

The Brazos River Authority received $103,125 in 75 percent matching funds to renovate an existing single-lane boat ramp and parking area, and construct a courtesy dock, restroom and signs. The facility is located at the North D & D Public Use Area on Possum Kingdom Lake near Graford.

Hidalgo County received $500,000 in 75 percent matching funds to renovate an existing boat ramp, dock, fish cleaning station, and lighting. The facility is located at the Anzalduas Dam on the Rio Grande River adjacent to the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge near Mission.

The Lubbock County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 received $500,000 in 75 percent matching funds to construct a new 3-lane boat ramp and restroom, and renovate three existing restrooms at various locations on the lake. The facility is located on Buffalo Springs Lake near Lubbock.

The Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority received $33,697 in 75 percent matching funds to construct a courtesy dock, pier, and signs at two existing boat ramps. The facility is located on Lake Mackenzie between Tulia and Silverton.

Sheldon Lake State Park received $780,000 in 75 percent matching funds to construct a two-lane boat ramp, dock, dredging, roads and parking. These facilities will be located at Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center in Harris County.

All facilities except the Sheldon Lake project will be operated and maintained by the local government sponsors.

For more information about TPWD grant programs, visit the Web (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/grants/). – Lake Mohave

JASPER, Texas — Favorable winters and high water levels have contributed to the spread of Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) in Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of dozens of lakes affected by exotic aquatic water weeds statewide. Infestations once confined to the backs of a small number of creeks and bayous in both Texas and Louisiana have now spread throughout the reservoir. Giant salvinia is easily spread overland to new locations by boat trailers, propellers, or even the intakes of jet-skis. The possibility of giant salvinia reaching neighboring Sam Rayburn Reservoir by this fall is extremely high, considering the number of boaters and anglers that utilize both reservoirs.

The threat giant salvinia poses to Sam Rayburn is very real and should be of primary concern to anyone who utilizes this premier bass fishery. Under ideal growing conditions in Texas, the invasive plant can double every 5-8 days, is resistant to cold weather, and can live for weeks out of water if kept moist. Once established, the invasive fern forms dense mats that eliminate all other aquatic vegetation in the area, introductions may be apparent as early as spring of 2005. Meanwhile, the potential threat to Sam Rayburn and many other popular reservoirs in Texas and Louisiana continues to grow.

The magnitude of the problem has reached such proportions that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is now forced to concentrate all control efforts near boat ramps and other access points in an attempt to simply contain the infestation to Toledo Bend.

TPWD has begun large-scale introductions of a bio-control agent in the form of a weevil that is totally dependent on giant salvinia throughout its life cycle. Although it may take as long as two years for reproducing populations of giant salvinia weevils to establish, results of these introductions may be apparent as early as spring of 2005.

Concerned anglers and other resource users can help by inspecting and cleaning their boats, trailers, jet-ski intakes, and other equipment of all aquatic vegetation before leaving an infected area. Anglers fishing Sam Rayburn should be aware of any suspicious floating aquatic vegetation, particularly around boat ramps and the backs of nearby creeks. Most new infestations of invasive species occur at or near boat ramps.

Giant salvinia typically has oblong floating leaves from .5 to 1.5 inches long. Leaves have a velvety surface and are usually a shade of green. Younger plants closely resemble common salvinia and have smaller leaves that lie flat on the water surface. In more mature plants the leaves are much larger, folded, and compressed into upright chains.

When viewed with a magnifying glass, the tips of leaf hairs on giant salvinia resemble an eggbeater. In contrast, leaf hairs of common salvinia are forked and do not form the identifying “cage-like” structure.

Common salvinia, a close cousin to giant salvinia, has been do*****ented on both Sam Rayburn and B.A. Steinhagen. Although a serious problem on B.A. Steinhagen, common salvinia persists in relatively small populations on Sam Rayburn primarily isolated to the Harvey Creek and Stanley Creek arms.

TPWD personnel, the Sabine River Authority, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) have been waging a pitched battle with giant salvinia on Toledo Bend since its discovery in 1998. Aggressive herbicide treatments by TPWD and LDWF soon after its discovery held infestations in check for the first two years. An unplanned and extended drawdown in 2000 helped to suppress the invasive fern, stranding many plants on dry land. Lower water levels during the summer normally help contain the spread of giant salvinia, although small populations will continue to thrive in the backs of creeks and drainages.

Possession or transport of giant salvinia is prohibited by State and Federal law. Any possible sightings of giant salvinia on Sam Rayburn should be reported to TPWD immediately. Any suspicious plants found should be left in place and their exact location do*****ented. – Lake Mohave

ishing on Lake Sam Rayburn is not only back to a summertime pattern but we are back to our 100degree temperatures and late evening thunder showers. Please remember to take along some Catch and Release or ice for your fish. We do want to be able to release them in the best condition possible. With all this hot weather also remember to take along plenty of fluids for yourself and sunscreen.

White buzzbaits along with your favorite top water baits are still producing action early and late. Once the sun is up that bite is just about over. But don’t put your rod away we have had some schooling fish around main lake points and you will want to be able to throw something at them quickly once you have spotted them. Also late in the evening there have been schooling fish around the Black Forrest area . These schooling fish don’t stay up very long so be alert.

Rayburn’s grass is not up to par this year. The grass line is very hard to follow and the matt is not solid. Favorite flipping areas such as Needmore and Farmers are no exception. But the fish are still holding in it. Most of the fish being caught are on the bottom, this is where that 1oz. jig in Black/Blue or Black/Brown/Amber comes in. Start in about 10ft. -12ft. of water. Look for the points of hydrilla. Most of the time if you find one or two fish in an area there will be several more . I use Stanley’s Rattling jig in 1 oz. Sometimes when the bite is tough the rattle makes all the difference. You also need to have a rod with enough backbone to hoist your trophy out . I would suggest a Castaway Grass Rake. The name say’s it all, this is the ultimate rod for grass fishing. You will also need to have some type of braided line . Lynch line in 75lb test or Spiderwire will work great this line has not streatch so your can snatch your catch right out of the hydrilla. Remember that vertically flipping a jig can be boring but the results can also be very rewarding.

On the South end of the lake ,Rayburn has a Friday Jackpot Tournament to offer anglers that lasts 4hours and has a 3 fish limit. This is a tournament open to all, and can be alot of fun.

Gene Larew has out some new colors in Hawg craws that have been very popular . They are core shots. Colors are: redbloodline,bluebloodline, pumpkin core and firetiger and don’t forget glow. Glow is a white hawg craw that is very hot right now. For the lastest in tackle or a fishing report just give us a call at D.J.’s Tackle 1-800-870-0131.

This lake report is provided by La Donna Jones. La Donna is a Tackle shop owner, and an avid angler who is fishing the Bass-N-Gal Circuit along with several other tournament trails, she is a member of the Texas Outdoors Writers Association and provides a weekly report for the Jasper NewsBoy. La Donna is currently sponsored by Castaway Rods and StanleyJigs.
– Lake Mohave

EARLY AND LATE FISH YOUR TOPWATER BAITS SUCH AS : POP-R’S ,BUZZ BAITS AND EVEN A SLUG-GO OVER THE TOP OF THE HYDRILLA. ONCE THE SUN IS UP OR ABOUT 7:30 TRY GOING TO THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE HYDRILLA. YOU WILL NEED A 1 OZ. OR EVEN AN 1 1/4 OZ. JIG TO PUNCH THROUGH THE THICKEST MATT . THE BEST COLORS WILL BE BLACK,BROWN, AND AMBER OR BLACK AND BLUE. STANLEY HAS A RATTLING JIG THAT WORKS GREAT RIGHT NOW. SOMETIMES THAT RATTLE MAKES ALL THE DIFFRENCE. THE OTHER OPTION IS TO FLIP A GENE LAREW HAWG CRAW ON THE EDGE OR JUST LOOK FOR THE HOLES IN THE GRASS. CLORS IN THE HAWG CRAW ARE: PLUM, PUMPKIN-PEPPERGREEN/CHART. CLAWS, OR PUMPKINGREEN. IF YOU ARE ON THE NORTH END OF THE LAKE AROUND THE BLACK FORREST TRY A BLACK /BLUE HAWG CRAW AND INSERT A GLASS RATTLE IN IT. THIS DOES MAKE A DIFFRENCE IF THE BITES ARE FAR AND FEW INBETWEEN.

IF YOU LIKE TO WORM FISH TRY THE 4″ RINGWORMS IN PLUM, CRABAPPLE AND CRANAPPLE. EVEN THE RED BLOOD LINE AND TEXAS SMOKE COLORS WILL WORK USE A LIGHT SINKER SOMETHING LIKE AN1/8 OZ. AND FISH SLOW. WACKY WORM FISHING IS STILL PRODUCING SOME NICE KEEPERS. THE COLORS ARE WATERMELON AND PLUM. THIS BAIT CAN BE FISHED ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE HYDRILLA ALSO JUST REMEMBER IT TAKES LONGER FOR IT TO FALL. BE PATIENCE.

ALSO BE AWARE THAT THE SCHOOLING BASS ARE USUALLY AROUND POINTS IN THE MAIN LAKE AND RUNNING INTO A SCHOOL OF THEM CAN FUN.

IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER YOU CAN FIND THE CRAPPIE IN ABOUT 25 TO 30 FT. IN THE BRUSH PILES. BEST BAIT IS A BAG OF MINNOWS.
AS LONG AS THE DAM HAS A GENERATION SCHELUDE THE HYBRIDS WILL BE RUNNING . THE BEST BAITS TO USE OR A SLAB IN WHITE OR CHART. OR A HAIR JIG.

REMEMBER TO CATCH AND RELEASE AND FOR THE LATEST FISHING REPORT OR LAKE ACTION JUST CALL 1-800-870-0131.

LA DONNA AND HER HUSBAND DENNIS OWN AND OPERATE D.J.’S TACKLE IN JASPER, TX. SHE ALSO IS A TOURNAMENT FISHERMAN PARTICIPATING IN BASS’N GAL, ANGLERS CHOICE COUPLES, AND BASS N BUCKS TEAM CIRCUIT. HER WEEKLY FISHING COLUMN ABOUT SAM RAYBURN APPEARS IN THE JASPER NEWS BOY. SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE TOWA. CURRENTLY LADONNA IS SPONSORED BY STANLEY JIGS AND CASTAWAY RODS.
– Lake Mohave

Fishing on Rayburn is back to a summer time pattern. Start off by using a top water bait. I personally like a Rattling Chug Bug. This little chugger will walk like a Zara Spook or pop like a Pop -R. But it has a rattle in it and it drives the fish crazy! The best colors seem to be Tennessee Shad and White Herringbone . Use this bait or a buzz bait in white or chart / white first thing in the morning or late in the evening. Remember if there is cloud coverage these baits will produce all day.

After the morning bite is over start in about 10-12ft. of water throwing a Carolina Rig Zoom Watermelon lizard or centipeide with about a 2ft. leader.

If this is not your cup of tea then go to a 3/4 oz. or 1oz. black/blue or a black,brown and amber color( #93) Stanley Jig. Use a black /blue Gene Larew craw worm with the black/ blue jig and a pumpkinpepper green /chart. claw craw worm behind the #93 Stanley jig. The Gene Larew craw worms are salt impregnated and the fish do hang on to them longer. Also the Gene Larew Hawg Craws in Black/Blue or Pumpkinpeppergreen /Chart. claws will be used this time of year. This bait is used the same way the jigs are, (Vertically) only you use a Florida Riged 3/4 oz. or 1 oz. screw lock weight to secure the craw worm to the weight.

The hydrilla line should be easy to follow, but a flasher is needed if you are really hunting for the hawgs. Also make sure to use some type of braided line. The most popular is Lynch line in 75lb test and Spiderwire in 50lb. test. These lines help you hoist those hawgs out of the hydrilla. The water depth will be determined by the lake level. Most common place to start jig fishing willbe somewhere between 12-and 15ft. As the summer progresses the debth will get deeper.

Terry Oldham also has out a new 1 1/4oz. jig that will bust through the thickest hydrilla. To go along with the jigs ,a new scented craw worm that fits on any jig perfectly. You don’t even have to bite any off. Terry has one last NEW item to offer this year and that is a rattle. This rattle will fit on any hook shank. Making a non -rattle jig a “rattling one” by just adding this rattle. Remember for the lastest fishing report or tackle information just give us a call at 1-800-870-0131.
– Lake Mohave

Sam Rayburn Fishing Report:

LAKE LEVEL: 169.07
WATER TEMPETURE: 69 – 78 DEGREES

Crappie: Crappie action is well on its way. Favorite baits to use now are the road runners in black/ chartecuse , chartecuse and white in 1/16 ounce . Also the spring grugs in 2inch are very pouplar in black /chartecuse and chartecuse. Later in the year 3″ grubs and 1/8 ounce road runners will be more the dominating baits. To be on the safe side take along a bag of minnows and fish 6 – 8 ft. over the moss. Veach , Coleman and Tiger Creek have already started producing . Start fishing in about 8ft. to 10ft. of water on the points early and late. Also use your minnows on your brush piles.

Stripers: With the flood gates open there is plenty of activity now. Use a 2 oz. white or chartecuse slabs on the river side ( Tip), change the hooks out on your slabs and replace them with a flash tail hook .

Bass: The top water activity is getting better. Use your chuggers in chad colors or buzz baits early or until the sun is up. Make sure to use them again late in the evening untill dark. With the lake level up the fish are sitll in the bushes. Several baits have been working. Flipping a Stanley black/blue 1/2 oz. jig with a black and blue craw as a trailer will work well or use a Zoom centipede Texas riged with no weight and place a nail in the end of the worm. The nail will work as your weight. Now you can flip the brush right in the middle without getting hung up as bad. The fish are holding tight to the brush and laydowns. The other pattern is to carolina rig with a 2 1/2 foot leader , use a watermelon lizard or pumpkinseed/chart. lizard over the scattered moss in about 8- 12 ft. of water. If the fish quit hitting a lizard change to a smaller bait such as a centipede in the same colors mentioned earlier. Slowly drifting seems to produce more fish.

For the most up to date lake report or guide service give us a call at D.J.’s Tackle 1-800-870-0131
La Donna Jones is an avid angler following several different trails this year Bass-N-Gal, Bass N Bucks Team, and Anglers Choice Couples, she also writes a weekly lake report for the Jasper News Boy, is a member of the Outdoorwriters Asso. and along with her husband, Dennis, owns D.J.’s Tackle in Jasper, Tx.
– Lake Mohave

This is truly a fish tale. After catching this massive fish and wanting to see just how big her trophy was the couple went to Piney Point Plaza on March 12, to weigh it in. The scales at Piney Point were Postal scales and they are certified but…. they were missed read by the weigh master. Something to remember is that any one that is present and weighs in the fish becomes the official weigh master. And this is where the story gets confusing. This scale has two sides to read and by accident the wrong side was read at 12lb 10 oz. Michelle decided that she wanted to mount this hawg and took it home. This trophy bass was 27 and 1/4 long and 22’” in the girt. Hard to believe it could be mistaken for a 12 pounder.

The story continues, three days later this fish is on ice, they take it to their taxidermist, who re-weighed the fish. To everyone’s surprise she weigh in at 15.00 lbs. His advise was to take it to certified scales and have it re-weighed.

Fourth day the fish is taken to Wingates Meat Market in Orange, TX. and is weighed in at 14.75 lbs. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was notified and the proper paper work was filled out for certification.

Now , a problem arises that Michelle’s fish can not be certified because in the rules it states that the fish must be weighed in before the 3rd. day on certified scales. This couple had waited until the fourth day to weight her in on certified scales. Not really, because the scales at Piney Point Plaza are certified . Well , the miss read scale was not detected until Mr. Seidensticker was called out to make another certification and he started looking at the scales at Piney Point. On his inspection he found that if you look at the side that read 12.10 oz. the opposite side reads 15.00lbs. This solves the problem of the fish being weighed in before three days , because she was first taken to Piney Point. So new paper work was submitted and finally approved. Sam Rayburn has a new lake record.

Congratulations to Michelle Ford on her outstanding catch. – Lake Mohave

Lot me just start out by saying how much I appreciate the opportunity to write this report and give readers a brief introduction. I have been an avid bass fisherman my whole life, although I have competed in tournaments for about 8 years. I have had the pleasure of guiding on Falcon since 1984. In 1993, my wife LeEtte and I opened Lunkerville Tackle & Guide Service. We have about five guides who work for us besides myself.

In 1993 and 1994, 1 directed a team trail in South Texas, before deciding that I would rather fish as many as possible. Currently, I am fortunate enough to write several periodical articles monthly, as well as fish two team trails. My sponsors are: Falcon Rods, Browning, T.U.F, Line, Stealth Boats, and Angler’s Marine.

Now that you have a little background, let’s talk about the fishing for April on what many anglers feel is the best bass lake in the United States, Falcon Lake.

During April, we will have pro, post, and spawning bass throughout the lake, This is highly unusual during April as the bass down here usually spawn from January-March. The low water level seems to be keeping fish away from the beds until the last second- About 80% of the fish will have already spawned by April.

One of the fantastic things about Falcon fish, is that they will remain active and shallow even after the spawn. They also recuperate from the trauma of spawning and become aggressive quickly. With these two things in mind, there will be several patterns that will produce ten Pounders and thirty pound stringers in April.

First of all, spinnerbaiting the Salinillas Creek is a must, White, gold, and red and chartreuse combinations work for us. Fish the numerous hydrilla Patches around hardwoods. I recommend staying in the 2-4 foot range. Chrome rattle traps have also been a perennial hot bait.

From the Tiger Creeks, north fish big crankbaits along the rocky points. There are several brush piles in these areas, and those places are even better.

I recommend chrome, firetiger, and red colored Rapalas and Storms. The new Norman’s are producing real good also, With the lake down some 27′, we have a lot of off shore ledges and house ruins popping up. While these are terrible navigation hazards, they are awesome fish cover. Be sure to fish them anywhere you see them. A Carolina rigged lizard will produce some heavy stringers.

With this information you can come down and get your string pulled throughout April. I recommend calling us or Oso Blanco Motel ahead of time to get your reservations. For guide, lake, or motel information give me a call at 210-765-3939. Until next month, good luck, good fishing, and I hope to meet you all on the water. – Lake Mohave

This month’s report is a sort of good news bad news scenario here on beautiful Falcon Lake. The bad news is that we are still suffering from extremely low water levels and from all appearances the lake will continue to fall through the summer. The good news is that the fishing is fantastic. As Mr. McCarty talked about last month, Falcon is one of the few lakes that will produce five fish 30 pound stringers throughout the summer’s heat.

For the summer there will be two predominant patterns. One will be deep diving crankbaits fished down rocky points and parallel to rock ledges. With the water so low these areas will be visible. I recommend red, firetiger and chrome.

The second hawg huntin’ pattern is to pitch and flip worms or lizards around 3-6’ hardwoods. This pattern works from the Marker 9 area south. When it comes to colors I would recommend red shad, blue fleck and junebug. In locating the preferred hardwoods limit your search to ,areas that are near deep water.

When coming down to Falcon this summer I have several recommendations. First spool up with braided line. Down here all my guides use T.U.F. line 50-65 pound test. I can personally recommend this super braid as I have used it for the past three years. It was one of the first braids available and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Secondly have plenty of sunscreen and water available. Thirdly purchase a good map and run the international markers along the main river channel. There are lots of mean rock piles and trees popping up right now. Finally bring a camera. Falcon can produce the fish of a lifetime, even in the summer months.

Give me a call at 210-765-3939 for any information you might need. My headquarters are at Lunkerville Tackle and Guide can take care of everything from guides to motel and taxidermy. you will find that our unequaled selection of tackle and capable guide Pro Staff will gladly help you in any way.

Until next month hope to see you on the water. If you see a big red silver and red Stealth motor on over and say hello. (Chip Harmon’s sponsors are Stealth Boat, Falcon Rods, T.U.F. Line, Browning and Angler’s Marine. For information on any of these products or a demo ride don’t hesitate to give me a call) – Lake Mohave

Texas Black Bass Unlimited is a non-profit organization that exists for the future of Texas lakes. For three of the past four years, the Houston chapter of TBBU has raised funds to aid the Houston area lake determined to be in the most need.

In October of 1993, a TBBU Houston Gala was held at the Woodlands Executive Conference Center to raise funds for the Lake Livingston Channel Marker Project. The Gala saw donations totaling almost $46,000 from generous members.

Once again, Lake Livingston, along with Lake Conroe, were deemed in need of TBBU’s assistance in 1994. The 1994 Houston Gala was held at the Greenspoint Wyndham to raise funds for the Lake Livingston and Lake Conroe Habitat Projects. The project’s goal was to bring the ideal fishing of past years back to the lakes by improving the fish habitat. Members of TBBU have been working with scientists of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the last three years to this end. The 1994 Gala saw proceeds in excess of $44,000.

The funds necessary for the habitat projects were still needed in 1996, so TBBU held a Houston Fishfest ’96 Gala at the Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. The goal of this project was to raise funds to complete the habitat projects begun in 1994.

This year, TBBU is raising funds for Lake Houston. They hope to raise funds to build a fishing pier on the lake for the physically challenged, elderly, and underprivileged youth of the Houston area. The pier will be constructed on Lake Houston at Deusen Park. The entire project is expected to cost approximately $60,000. The goal of TBBU is to raise $30,000 at the Gala. Matching funds have been promised for the project from the City of Houston, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Operation Kidfish. These are just a few state organizations who want to see this pier on Lake Houston become a reality.

TBBU is pledging, along with the pier, their ongoing support to City of Houston youth with monthly instructional fishing seminars at the pier. Volunteers from Houston area bass clubs will conduct the seminars. TBBU believes the seminars and the fishing provided at the pier will give Houston’s young people a desirable alternate activity. Everyone is invited to the seminars and a sign will be posted stating the times they will be held.

The ’97 Houston Gala will be held at the Marriott Greenspoint in Houston on Saturday, November 8. There will be a banquet dinner and a live auction of boats, vacation trips, hunting and fishing equipment, and much more. Doors will open at 5:00 with *****tails served and auction items on display. Dinner will be served at about 7:00 PM. Activities are expected to conclude by 10:00 PM.

The ’97 Houston Gala is being sponsored by many fishing and boating merchants in the Houston area, including Platinum Sponsors Mercury Outboards, Astro Boats, Champion Boats, Fisher Boats, Nitro Boats, and ProCraft Boats.

Patrick D. McCarty is Chairman of the TBBU Steering Committee that is organizing the Gala. He is very excited about this year’s Gala. “We hope to exceed prior years’ attendance at this year’s exciting event. Everyone is personally invited.” So come out and show your support for this worthy cause. General admission tickets are $25.00. For reservations and information, please call Pat McCarty at 409/856-8537 or see the TBBU ad on their website: www.tbbu.com. – Lake Mohave

It’s almost here! The 1996 Texas Black Bass Unlimited Fishfest and Gala will take place at Sam Houston Race Park on May 4. This date will coincide with the annual Derby Day at the racepark. It promises to be a great time and a benefit for a worthwhile cause in the interests of both anglers and water conservationists alike.

Randy Nichols of Louis Delhomme Marine and Vicki Follmar of Boots Follmar Marine are serving as co-chairpersons for the event. Both Randy and Vicki have worked very hard to make this year’s Gala a success and they will be working even harder in the last month before the event takes place to insure a great night for all.

Serving on the Advisory Board for this event are Clay Mills of Family Boating Center, Glenn Kirk of Captain Kirk’s Marine, Keith Kocurek of Pier 45 Marine, Ed Parten and Leonard Ranne of TBBU, Don McPherson and Larry Bozka of Texas Fish and Game Magazine, John McCroskey of Louis DelHomme Marine, Pat McCarty of the Texas SportsGuide and Fred Lester of Redwing Boat Company. All of these people have gone through great lengths to provide a great evening of entertainment for the whole family.

Some new names have been added to the guest list that should be mentioned: Forest Wood, a fishing Hall of Famer and the founder of Ranger Boats, will be an honored guest along with Andy Sansom, Executive director of Texas Parks and Wildlife. John Hope will introduce his new ESPN outdoors program, “Tracking Trophies.” Two more familiar faces on ESPN, Billy and Bobby Murray of “Guides”, will be on hand at the event. Mike Dyes and Lonnie Stanley will also be attending the Gala. Mike and Lonnie host the popular “Sportsman’s Challenge”. Another big name in the fishing industry, Keith Warren of “Texas Angler”, will be hosting the event.

Sports celebrities such as Elvin Bethea and Dan Pastorini, both former Houston Oilers, will be in attendance at the Gala.

But none of these celebrities will be as heartily welcomed as fellow fisherman and country music recoding artist, Mark Chesnutt, who will perform at the event at 9:30 PM.
Boat dealers from the Houston area will be presenting their new lines of Astro, Champion, Ranger, ProCraft, Skeeter, Stratos and Tracker boats. Silent and live auctions will be held at the Gala and dinner will be served.

The Infield of the Sam Houston Race Park has been reserved for this event on May 4th. Steve Hofmann, Director of Retail Sales at the horse track, and Richard Linihan of Publicity and Marketing at the racetrack were kind enough to show me around the grounds of the massive Sam Houston Race Park. Steve told me he was “very excited about having the fishing industry represented at the race park.”

The Sam Houston Race Park is located on the south side of Beltway 8 in northwest Houston between Highway 249 and Highway 290. The park sits on 240 acres and has two horse tracks, a children’s playground and a 20-acre lake. More than 1000 television cameras throughout the park keep viewers abreast of the action on the horse tracks.

Texas Black Bass Unlimited hopes to raise funds through the ‘96 Houston Fishfest and Gala to improve the aquatic habitats of Lake Conroe and Lake Livingston. These lakes have been victimized for years with heavy pollution levels and the subsequent loss of aquatic vegetation necessary to maintain healthy fisheries.

Tickets for the event are $10.00 for general admission and concert, $50.00 for the dinner and photo session with the celebreties and may be purchased at the following locations:
Boots Follmar Marine 713-649-2709
Captain Kirk’s Marine 713-367-5630
Family Boating Center 713-441-4300
Louis DelHomme Marine 713-821-3300
Pier 45 Marine 713-999-5666
Red Wing Boat Company 713-921-0656
Texas Black Bass Unlimited 214-388-4724
Texas SportsGuide 409-856-8537

The Houston ‘96 Fishfest and Gala, according to Randy Nichols, is “designed to maximize the collective force of freshwater anglers while simultaneously bringing more people into the sport.” TBBU is a non-profit conservation organization that exists for the future of Texas lakes. Come on out to the races and show your support. See ya’ll at the races! – Lake Mohave