February 14, 2025
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 21, Issue 12
On the run for white bass By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News The white bass run is off to a strong start in some parts of the Lone Star State. On the Nueces River, Pato Hernandez has been fishing out from the Highway 59 bridge with good results. “For the last two weeks the bite has been hot,” Hernandez
said. “And I have noticed we are limiting out quicker lately.” Hernandez has been using tandem rigs with white grub tails to entice the sandies. He said the drought in the area has the river pretty shallow. “I am on what is like a paddle trail,” he said. “Sometimes I have to get off and pull my kayak to get to the next pocket.” His best luck has come from
shallow water with deep water nearby, and he said the low water hasn’t seemed to hamper the run. “I have seen them move in 2 to 3 feet of water with their backs out of the water,” he said. “That cold front started things up,” Pato said. North of Lake Houston, the fish seem to be scattered in Kings Creek.
“Its not a normal year for white bass,” angler Paul Myers, who guides gar fishermen in the summer, said. “I have heard a lot of people complaining. But when I do find them, I find them in big bunches.” Myers has been putting white grub tails on a pink jig head and has been using a slow retrieve. “They aren’t running up the Please turn to page 11
Kevin Brown caught this keeper white bass in Kings Creek north of Lake Houston. Photo by Paul Myers.
Hope for quail in the Rolling Plains Medicated feed producing astounding results By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News A story that began in 2010 is showing great promise for the future of bobwhite quail in Texas, especially in the Rolling Plains. After researchers at the Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory at Texas Tech University concluded that parasites, specifically eyeworms and cecal worm, contributed to the decline of quail numbers, a medicated feed, called QuailGuard, was developed. Results on “demonstration” ranches, allowed to study the feed over the past four years as
part of what became a 9-year approval process of the medicated feed with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, are showing incredible results. Now, the FDA has approved QuailGuard (in 2024), and the feed is available. A recent article by Hannah Suber, a graduate research assistant at Texas Tech who has worked on the project since 2021, recapped the observations of ranchers, researchers and hunters on the numbers of birds seen on treated vs. untreated ranches. “I came into the project with an open mind,” Suber said. “But from our work, it’s pretty obvious the feed seems to be working.” This season on the Snipes Ranch, in Stonewall County, more than 20 coveys were en-
countered within the first three hours of this hunting season. “Everyone has an opinion, and they are fully entitled to that opinion,” said Rick Snipes. “However, we have evidence and proof of the effectiveness of the medicated feed. On the Snipes Ranch, the infection rate has fallen from 100 percent in 2017 to less than 10 percent today. We have lots of birds, and they are very healthy. In fact, we have harvested birds over 200 grams. Here in the Rolling Plains, we have happy hunters and happy landowners.” Joe Crafton, founder of the Park Cities Quail Coalition, hunted the Snipes Ranch this year. “The last three trips, we pointed 113 coveys in 23 hours,” he said. “The good ol’ days have
Hunting reports have been much better in areas treated with medicated feed and special feeders for quail. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Please turn to page 17
By Meghan Olivia Jackson When searching for your soulmate, is it your dream to be loved by someone who loves the outdoors just as much as you do? After being informed a lateseason duck hunt was for photography content, Cierra Borak had no idea this day was strategically organized to change her life.
“It was not uncommon for our friend, Hayden Dobbins, to take photos for different brands and I knew about the preparation weeks in advance,” said Borak. “Suddenly I was told he needed more people for the photos and was oblivious to what was really happening — I had no idea.” It was the morning of the duck hunt and nothing out of the normal occurred. Borak said for some reason when the
sun began to rise, it crossed her mind that this would be the perfect time to receive a proposal. “Even though that happened to cross my mind, the sun rose and we just kept shooting,” Borak said. “All of a sudden, I am being yelled at for shooting a banded bird when I was certain I did not shoot one.” Dobbins and her fiance, Mason Matejcek, used a customized duck band they previously Please turn to page 17
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Outdoor Blotter . . . . . . . . Page 12 Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 19 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22
INSIDE
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Duck season is for lovers
After surprising Cierra Borak with a special band on a drake pintail, Mason Matejcek officially proposed. Photo by Hayden Dobbins.
HUNTING
FISHING
Quail in East Texas (P. 4)
Stripers, hybrids down low (P. 8)
Restoration efforts successful
Crankbaits, dead-sticking working.
Nilgai poachers busted (P. 6)
Fishing aggregating devices closer in (P. 8)
Group using airboats, trespassing.
Options increase for billfish anglers.