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Volume 21, Issue 21
Stormy weather good for fawns, antler growth By Nate Skinner Heavy rains in much of the state helped improve conditions, possibly explaining why the protein feeders were not empty. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
For Lone Star Outdoor News Recent rains and precipitation events have caused various types of vegetation and warm season forbs to explode across the landscape. Blaise Korzekwa, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Whitetailed Deer Program leader,
said this will have positive impacts on both fawn crops and antler growth. “Portions of the Hill Country, South Texas, the Post Oak Savannah region, and the majority of the Edwards Plateau region have been plagued with drought conditions,” Korzekwa said “Although the recent rains that
we have received did not end the drought in most of these areas, they still occurred at a crucial time to help our fawn crops and improve antler growth for bucks.” Korzekwa said the Piney Woods, Blackland Prairies, Cross Timbers, and Rolling Plains regions are in good shape in terms of range con-
ditions and precipitation. He expects those areas to have above average fawn production this year. “The remainder of the state should see average fawn production and survival rates this summer,” he said. “There are plenty of fawns already on the ground in the eastern third of the state, and there will be Please turn to page 6
Adapting to freshwater runoff By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Heavy thunderstorms earlier this month brought flooding rains and tremendous runoff to estuaries, particularly from Palacios up to Sabine Lake. Some areas received 10 inches of rain or more, and rivers, bayous, and creeks inundated the upper reaches of bays and marshes with freshwater. Anglers were met with off-colored water and were forced to adjust their game plans. Ryan Welch spent time in some back lakes and marshes off the Intracoastal Waterway in the Freeport area, just southwest of Bastrop Bayou, where he said a strong incoming tide kept the freshwater
runoff from dispersing. “Freshwater was flowing hard out of bayous, creeks and marsh drains, but the tide was rushing in,” Welch said. “This made for less-than-ideal water clarity in a lot of places, because the runoff couldn’t spread out across the bay.” Welch said the marsh ponds and back lakes he targeted were full of baitfish and small shrimp. “The water was really dirty, but the runoff had pushed a ton of shrimp out of the back reaches of the marshes, and schools of speckled trout were feeding on them,” Welch said. “There were groups of seagulls working over schools of trout just about everywhere I went.” Welch said most of the trout Please turn to page 18
Anglers, especially along the upper coast, have had to adjust their game plans due to freshwater runoff in order to stay hooked up with trout in off-colored water. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
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Fishing the bluegill spawn By Cory Byrnes
Bluegill are still being found in shallower water as the spawn winds down. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Summer is officially here, and that means the bluegill are spawning in many lakes and rivers. The best thing about bluegill is that everyone has access to them. In the Mansfield area. James Welday has been fishing the neighborhood ponds, us-
ing a simple red worm on a slip cork. “We catch a lot on a trout magnet as well,” Welday said. Neighborhood ponds that are stocked with bluegill generally lack structure. Welday targets medium shallow water from 3 to 5 feet. “They are starting to bed down,” he said. “I typically am looking for pockets or where the
pond bends. You’re looking for water deep enough to fish but shallow enough the bigger bass don’t want to be there.” Once we reach July, the bluegill move deeper. “That’s when you will have to go low-and-slow to find them,” Welday said. In the Salado area, Josh Wells primarily fly-fishes for bluegill with 3 or 5 weight rods. Please turn to page 22
Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Outdoor Blotter . . . . . . . . Page 12 Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 18 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26
INSIDE
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For Lone Star Outdoor News
HUNTING
FISHING
Young poults observed (P. 4)
Mural for anglers (P. 8)
Landowners helping create access to insects.
Father/daughter paint Lake Fork Marina scene.
New screwworm facility (P. 5)
Inventions for vets, disabled (P. 11)
Hidalgo County base to produce sterile flies.
Reels for wheelchairs, amputees.