July 26, 2024
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 20, Issue 23
Anglers, guides rebound after Beryl By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Juston Love caught this redfish while fishing in East Matagorda Bay a couple of days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in the area. Photo by Capt. Glenn Ging.
Hurricane Beryl made landfall along the Texas coast near Matagorda earlier this month. The most extensive coastal destruction caused by the storm took place from Matagorda to Galveston Bay. Fishing guides and anglers are now hitting the water once again, and they
are finding plenty of hungry redfish and speckled trout in the wake of the storm. Matagorda Bay-area guide, Capt. Glenn Ging, said things recovered fairly quickly around Matagorda after Beryl passed — as far as fishing was concerned. “Local marinas and boat ramps are open, and Matagorda Harbor is back to function-
ing pretty much as normal,” Ging said. “Areas just to the northeast of us, like Sargent, Surfside and Freeport seemed to incur more structural damage.” Ging actually returned to fishing just a few days after Beryl hit and found the fish right where he left them before the storm made landfall. “There’s still some run-off
coming out of the marsh, but overall the fishing action has remained consistent,” he said. Ging has been fishing in East Matagorda Bay, where he is finding birds working over schools of trout in open water. “We don’t usually experience bird activity in July, but Hurricane Beryl flushed a tremendous amount of baitfish and shrimp out of the Please turn to page 20
High water, current slows crappie bite By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Crappie anglers are starting to experience a lull in the action as the dog days of summer set in. However, warm water temperatures aren’t the only variable provoking sluggish behavior. High water levels and current caused by water being let out of lakes seems to be making crappie harder to target and catch. Avid crappie angler, Carl Ellis, said consistently catching numbers of big crappie has been tough on Lake Arlington and Lake Palestine where he’s been fishing lately. He believes it has something to do with the elevated level of these lakes, and the current created by water being let out of them due to ample summertime rains. “In my opinion, crappie don’t
seem to like current,” Ellis said. “The fish have been staying hunkered down in brush piles, timber, and around other structure, and have not been feeding very aggressively. I’ve had to cover a lot of water to find fish that are willing to feed.” On Lake Arlington, Ellis has been targeting brush piles in 12-20 feet of water. On Lake Palestine, he has been fishing for crappie around timber at depths of 20-30 feet. “I’ve fished these lakes a lot over the years and can usually find and catch numbers of crappie consistently,” he said. “This year things have been different, with all of the rain that we’ve had. I can find the fish using forward facing sonar, but they just don’t seem to want to eat. I’m also not finding near as many big fish as I normally do.” North Texas crappie guide Daniel Please turn to page 20
North Texas crappie anglers are finding fish, but having trouble getting them to bite. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Testing Nosler in Texas By Meghan Sharber Madi Woodward took this aoudad at Cibolo Creek Ranch, using prototype equipment from her employer, Nosler. Photo from Madi Woodward. Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 20 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22
INSIDE
CONTENTS
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For Lone Star Outdoor News Marketing Manager Madi Woodward recently was invited on a special hunt to test future Nosler products. “I am very fortunate in my career with Nosler,” Woodward said. “I get to go on many hunts, and this was one of the hunts for work. We have some new rifles coming out this fall and this was an opportunity for us to get some content.” The team visited Cibolo Creek Ranch in search of Texas aoudad. While this hunt alone is a dream itself, Woodward said the environment overall was breathtaking. Please turn to page 17
HUNTING
FISHING
Biscuits and bullets (P. 4)
Two die in boat accident (P. 8)
Ammo vending machines in Texas.
Offshore boat, tanker collide.
Togetherness and taxidermy (P. 4)
For the bass (P. 9)
Convention combines learning, fun.
LFSA defends Lake Fork slot limit.