Real Estate Annual Inside
April 25, 2025
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Real Estate texas 2025
A RARE OPPORTUNITY PAGE 6
ADVERTISING SECTION
Volume 21, Issue 17
Learning from duck DNA Study shows increase in duck hybrids By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Students at the University of Texas at El Paso are examining waterfowl tissue samples to learn more about waterfowl genetics and hybridization. Photo from UTEP Dept. of Biological Sciences.
A major study of waterfowl genetics is underway at what might be thought of as an unusual loca-
tion — The University of Texas at El Paso. Dr. Philip Lavretsky is leading the study after partnering and raising funding with Ducks Unlimited. Lavretsky is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the university, and has been studying water-
fowl genetics for 15 years, much of that time in Ohio. “I came to UTEP in 2016 and had been building up the studies to the point I realized I had samples for all of the North American waterfowl species,” he said. “I approached DU and they saw the potential and interest of duck
hunters to understand ancestry of their harvests, while building one of the largest genetic repositories of any organism.” The study, called duckDNA, launched in 2023, involves citizen science, with 300 hunters throughout the lower 48 states invited to participate the first year, Please turn to page 6
Beast Hunter By David J. Sams Lone Star Outdoor News
As the sun is peeking over the horizon on many mornings this spring, you’ll find a young man having breakfast from a floral paper plate and downing a Red Bull at the Elm Creek Marina on O.H. Ivie Reservoir. At age 22, Tristan Marsh is decked out in his hoodie and baggy clothes, sitting among other guides, most of them wearing a straight-bill 6th Sense cap. These young guns are ready to hit the water and help their clients catch the largest bass of their life. Marsh has perfected fishing for giant bass using forward-facing sonar. This relatively new technology takes hours and hours of practice to figure out how to identify the most active fish — and the guide has definitely put in his time. Oblivious to fighter jets practicing in the stratosphere above, Marsh focuses on his screen, hunting for that lone, giant bass. Marsh grew up in East Texas, fishing Caddo Lake and Lake O’ the Pines with his father. After finishing high school, he decided college was not for him and went right into becoming a hunting and fishing guide. Now, the Midland resident fishes mostly West Texas lakes, and O.H. Ivie happens to be his favorite for giant spawning bass, although he also loves fishing J.B. Thomas. His favorite food is stir fry, he watches YouTube instead of TV, he likes hip-hop and country music, and he might be addicted to video games and social media.
Tristan Marsh uses forward-facing sonar to guide anglers looking to catch the bass of a lifetime. David Sams caught this 11-plus pounder on the second day of fishing with Marsh. Photos by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Please turn to page 11
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Active fish feeding on upper coast By Nate Skinner
Anglers are finding trout, redfish, drum and more along the upper coast. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
With springtime conditions setting in and water temperatures on the rise, a variety of species are providing action for anglers across Texas’ upper bay systems. Live shrimp and a variety of artificial lures have been working well for trout and redfish. Sheepshead,
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
black drum and flounder have been biting on natural offerings. Capt. Jake Brown has been targeting drop-offs along the Brazos River, near Freeport, to catch a variety of species including sheepshead, black drum, speckled trout, redfish and flounder. Free-lined live shrimp has been producing the most bites. “Some of the most productive
areas along the Brazos have been those that have underwater trees situated right off of the edge of the drop-offs,” Brown said. “Most of the trees are in about 15-20 feet of water or deeper.” The redfish have been all sizes, from lower slot reds to oversized. Keeper-sized black drum and sheepshead have been thick in the river as well, along with trout Please turn to page 11
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News
HUNTING
FISHING
Sending in duck wings (P. 4)
Big bluefin (P. 8)
What info results?
Crew lands potential state record.
One bow, three gobblers (P. 5)
Livingston stripers gone (P. 9)
Man arrows all in one evening.
Hybrids stocked to replace.