Outdoors
Texas Fishing Report — 7-2-09
AUSTIN (AP) — Here is the weekly fishing report as compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for July 1. (Report also available on Web as www.txfishing.com.)
ATHENS: Water lightly stained, 84-87 degrees; 0.23’ high. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to Carolina rigs off points. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on punch bait and worms around baited holes.
CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 86-89 degrees; 0.38’ low. Black bass are fair early on topwaters, midday switching to flukes fished around grass. White bass are very good on Humdingers and 1.5 to 2 oz. slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on Sassy Shad early. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles. Catfish are very good drifting cut shad.
FAIRFIELD: Water fairly clear; 86-95 degrees. No report available.
FORK: Water lightly stained; 85-94 degrees; 0.09’ high. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters early and late, later switching to Senkos, drop shot rigged finesse worms and Carolina rigged watermelon/red Brush Hogs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs under the bridges and over brush piles. Catfish are good on prepared baits.
PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 85-90 degrees; 0.99’ low. Black bass are fair to good on spinnerbaits, Texas rigged black/blue Power Worms and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad. White bass are good on topwaters and Humdingers. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cheese bait.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off color; 86-92 degrees; 3.14’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Texas rigged lizards or worms and medium diving crankbaits. White bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on Humdingers, topwaters and live shad. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Catfish are good cut shad and prepared baits.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 90 degrees; 0.24’ low. Black bass to 4 pounds are fair on watermelon red and June bug red flake 10” soft plastic worms near the subdivisions and on the south side of the lake near the dam in 12-16 feet. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows over brush piles near the pump station and in coves near the dam in 20 feet. Bream are good on live worms off piers and grass beds. Channel and blue catfish to 4 pounds are good on trotlines baited with perch in 12 20 feet.
SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 84 degrees; 2.36’ low. Black bass are fair on minnows and watermelon soft plastic worms. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are good on minnows and blue/black tube jigs over brush piles in 20-30 feet. Bream are fair on nightcrawlers. Catfish are very good on trotlines baited with live bait and cut bait.
TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 84 degrees; 1.40’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Striped bass are fair on minnows and white striper jigs. White bass are fair on silver spoons.
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Guns to be allowed in national parks
WASHINGTON — A change in federal law effective Monday allows firearms in many national parks.
People who can legally possess firearms under federal and Texas law can now possess those firearms in the national parks in Texas and other states. The new law (Sec. 512 of P.L. 111-24) was passed by Congress and signed last May by the president.
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Some gift ideas for sporting types on your hit list
One of the best Chrismas gifts I ever received was a crisp $20 bill I found stuffed in an envelope that was tucked away under the tree way back in 1967. The reason I remember it so well is because I got my butt spanked for the way I went about spending it.
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Texas Master Naturalist program seeks applicants
Austin, Texas — Thirteen chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist program have announced training classes across the state starting January through March for volunteers who want to learn about and help conserve natural resources.
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A Chance to Hunt
A chance to hunt exotic game is something 18-year-old Alyssa Howerton will never pass up.
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Holiday gifts galore for the conservationist on your list
AUSTIN, Texas — If you’re fresh out of holiday gift ideas for your eco-minded cousin or that relative who would rather spend his or her spare time in the woods, on the lake or at a state park, or even for yourself, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department invites you to shop the outdoors.
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Trout season opens this weekend at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
ATHENS — Rainbow trout fishing comes to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens each December, once water temperatures cool enough for the cold-water fish to survive.
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Celebrate Holiday Season at a Texas State Park
AUSTIN, Texas — Vow this holiday season to start a new family tradition that celebrates the great outdoors and Texas history by visiting one of the more than a dozen Texas state parks and historic sites hosting special holiday events for all ages. From a Christmas sing-along around a woodland campfire to a pancake breakfast with Santa, the holiday spirit shines through at a park near you. And, don’t miss the 40th annual tree lighting celebration begun by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson in 1970.
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Deer season opens
Hunters will be out in full force this weekend as gun season for deer officially opens in Texas.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department says an above average acorn crop and all the recent rains are giving deer an ample natural food supply which may contribute to a slow season for hunters.
“There is an abundance of food sources for deer right now, and deer movements are reduced because they don’t have to move as far or as often to keep their bellies full,” said TPWD Wildlife Biologist Mike Krueger. “Deer don’t appear to be coming to feeders as often or as regularly as they would if it were still dry.”
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Storm Chaser
Ben Bartlett has logged some memorable experiences over the years chasing big game critters, but none to compare to the wild chain of events that unfolded deep in the heart of his Angelina County hunting club on the afternoon of Oct. 23. The deer hunting gods were hard at work that day, and they cooked up a doozie for the veteran archer from Lufkin.
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Fall Reflections
I love fall. That's largely because it is the harbinger of cooler weather. Jack Frost as a remarkable way of making everything wild seem a whole lot wilder.
Take a look around or cup an ear. If the timing is right, you will see and hear what I am talking about. The sights and sounds of autumn are everywhere.
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Guns to be allowed in national parks
