July 10, 2026
Texas’ Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 22, Issue 22
Starlit swine Beating the heat for pigs at night By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News With the dog days of summer upon us, hog hunters across the state have resorted to chasing
wild pigs from late in the evening through the wee hours of the morning. The hogs have been on their feet consistently during this time period to beat the heat, and many folks using thermal optics have followed suit. Jeraan Arguellez said the hog activity in Victoria and DeWitt
counties has been solid during the nighttime hours in grazing pastures where the pigs have been rooting on the properties he hunts. “I’ve been finding quite a few hefty, lone boars cruising around at night in Victoria County,” Arguellez said. “The property I’ve Please turn to page 11
Andre Kielczewski harvested this hog near a corn feeder after dark on a property he hunts east of Dallas. Photo from Andre Kielczewski.
Not as popular, but should be Smallmouth bite solid in Texas By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Often overshadowed by their closely related cousin the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass don’t get near as much publicity as they may deserve here in Texas. The hard-fighting fish can be found on many of the state’s major lakes and reservoirs where they are stocked by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department annually. Typical summertime patterns are currently setting in on lakes and reservoirs where the smallmouth fishery is flourishing. Most smallies are being caught using finesse tactics around drop-offs, depth changes, and ledges with various structure. Rocky and grassy bottoms in clear water have been holding the most fish. Reports on smallmouth from Canyon Lake have come from anglers targeting stretches of grass near drop-offs in 10- to 25-feet of Smallmouth bass can be found in their summertime patterns near ledges and drop-offs over rocky structure and grassy bottoms in clear water. Photos by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Primed for flounder By Cory Byrnes
A client of Colton Stahl with a 25-inch, 8-pound flounder caught and released in Port O’Connor. Photo by Colton Stahl. Fishing reports . . . . . . . . . Page 8 Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 12 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News The summer flounder bite is getting better, according to coastal anglers. Fishermen credit improved conditions and the recent addition of the closed season for increased numbers and better quality of fish. July begins prime flounder fishing up and down the Texas coast.
In the Clear Lake area, the fishing has been good. “We’ve been catching a lot of flounder in the morning on a popping cork with live shrimp in about 3 feet [of water],” said Harrison Woods with Rippin & Runnin Guide Service. He and his clients have been focusing on rocks, docks, and oyster beds for flounder. An incoming tide has been the most
productive around these structures. “Any docks (structure) that look old or have moving water is where the fish like to sit,” Woods said. He recommends once you catch one, work the area thoroughly. He has been catching his limit in one to two spots. “When they stop biting, we move to another spot,” Woods said. When the sun comes Please turn to page 19
HUNTING
FISHING
An art form (P. 4)
Hot on the coast (P. 6)
Young taxidermist wins award.
Anglers targeting specks, redfish.
Something to eat (P. 4)
Go deeper for catfish (P. 6)
Mesquite beans provide summer nutrition.
Summer patterns push fish to deep structure.