FISHING ANNUAL INSIDE March 28, 2025
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ANNUAL 2025
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Volume 21, Issue 15
A windy start
Crappie spawn kicks off
South Zone toms shy opening weekend By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Parker Sayers caught this and several more crappie on Lake Buchanan. Photo by Capt. Jess Rotherham.
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News With the onset of springtime conditions, the spawning season for crappie has begun. The fish can be found in all stages of the spawn, depending on what lake anglers are targeting. Minnows and jigs have been putting good numbers of crappie in the boat over both shallow and deep water. Crappie fishing guide, Capt. Jess Rotherham, has been chasing crappie on Lake Buchanan, where the fish are stacked along the banks and spawning.
Bryan Osteen and his daughter, Claire, walks away from the South Zone turkey opener with a mature gobbler after battling tough, windy conditions and gangs of jakes. Photo by Darren Jones.
South Zone turkey hunters were met with gusty winds and changing temperatures with the passage of a cold front for the opening weekend of spring turkey season. The strong breezes seemed to shut the birds down for some hunters, while others were able to tag a mature gobbler. Bryan Osteen and his daughter, Claire, traveled from Houston to Wilson County to hunt with Osteen’s lifelong friend, Darren Jones. Jones had scouted a couple of days before the opener and observed multiple longbeards courting hens. “It also seemed like the pecking order between birds was being established, and there were large gangs of jakes around that both the gobblers and us would have to contend with,” Jones said. “On opening day the wind picked up quickly. It was rough — the birds were quiet and not aggressive.” Jones said they had a few toms working on opening day, but they acted decoy shy and stayed just out of range. “My best guess is, that the number of jakes around had them wary of walking into a fight and being outnumbered,” Jones said. “We had three groups of jakes come in on opening day, with five to 10 birds in each group.” The second day of the season brought improvement for Jones and the Osteens. Chilly temperatures in the mid to upper 40s and calm winds had the gobblers sounding off all morning long, and Jones was excited for Osteen’s daughter, Claire, to experience it. After a few mishaps and near
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Spring break anglers fight changing conditions
Meade Flavin III, right, caught this redfish on the fly while fishing out of South Padre Island with his dad during spring break. Photo by Capt. Glenn Harrison. 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
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For Lone Star Outdoor News Many anglers and some interested in a day of fishing flocked to the coast for spring break. Fishing guides did their best to cope with changing winds and conditions and targeted a variety of species. Most customers were happy to catch whatever species of fish was willing to bite. Capt. Dominic Sanchez, said the black drum bite was consistent in areas with oyster shell along the Upper Laguna Madre,
Redfish Bay, Aransas Pass and Nueces Bay. “The wind played the largest factor in determining where we were able to fish,” Sanchez said. “I tried to stay in protected waters and keep my anglers hooked up with fish.” Fresh dead shrimp rigged under a cork was the ticket for catching keeper black drum in the 17-19 inch range. Most of the fish were found in about 3 feet of water around the edges of heavy shell reefs. “Low tides had the fish hanging out off Please turn to page 19
HUNTING
FISHING
Bill to sack TPWD (P. 4)
Oyster license buyback (P. 8)
Rep. backs away after meetings.
Proposal of $30K price.
DSC changes course (P. 4)
A Texas Classic (P. 8)
Convention location to change in 2028.
Young Minnesota pro takes title.