May 25, 2012 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

May 25, 2012

Page 1

Taking notes Journals of hunts help memories last forever.

Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

May 25, 2012

Volume 8, Issue 19

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A fistful of fish

Inside

First noodling tournament hits Texas

❘❚ HUNTING

Camo or no camo Mannequins used to help study deer habits. Page 4

Hard work pays off A three-year quest finally results in a turkey. Page 4

❘❚ FISHING

By John Keith LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Sticking your arm in a muddy, underwater hole up to your elbow in the hope it will coax a 50-pound catfish to latch onto your hand is not for everyone. But for members of the teams competing in Texas’ first-ever noodling tournament, the game of underwater tug-of-war was the ultimate goal. And for one team, Team SeaArk, more than just money was on the line in the Lone Star Noodling Tournament held May 19 at Lake See NOODLING, Page 19 MUSCLES REQUIRED: Vera Tedder, a member of Team SeaArk, hoists a 42-pound flathead catfish she pulled from a hole during the Lone Star Noodling Tournament at Lake Palestine. Photo by John Keith, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Calmer and clearer offshore

Off the beds Postspawn bass are hungry. Page 8

Mild weather gets people to the fish

Gafftop grief Saltwater cats bring big sting. Page 8

By John Keith LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

❘❚ CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Outdoor Business . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

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ON TARGET: “The Hunger Games” is popular with teens and tweens, especially on the female side. Archery complexes are seeing a significant increase in interest in the sport as more and more younsters see the movie. Photo by Erich Schlegel, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Movie draws young girls to archery By Mark England

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS The pull of “The Hunger Games” is sending many young fans to places such as the Cinnamon Creek Ranch, an archery complex in Roanoke. “Compared to last year, we’re up 20 to 30 percent,” said Ken Hays, field staff coordinator. Hays gives much of the credit to Katniss Everdeen. She’s the 16-year-old heroine in “The Hunger Games.” Played by Jennifer Lawrence, she’s

movie rekindled a deadeye with a her interest in bow and arrow, archery, which whether it’s ■ ARCHERY IN started in the hunting animals THE SCHOOLS: sixth grade when or fellow comPage 7 she attended an batants known outdoors expo. as Tributes. “It would defKatniss definitely scores big with initely come in handy if our society were to have tweens and teens. “She just makes it a Hunger Games,” said look so easy,” said Thira Vicki, 17, of Dale, Texas. Schlegel, 12, of Austin. “But I picked it up again “There’s a scene where just because I rememthey’re eating, and she bered how interesting and fun it is. Like any shoots an apple out of a other hobby, it’s nice just pig’s mouth. That’s why to forget your troubles they give her the highand focus on something est score. That was cool. else for a little while.” Definitely cool.” Vicki Ysla said the See ARCHERY, Page 23

INSIDE

Anglers headed into the Gulf of Mexico are finding calmer conditions, in stark contrast to last year’s windfest. “We had months last year where the wind was blowing 20 to 30 knots daily, said Chris Ledford, an artificial reef specialist. “Compared to last year, this year is great.” The time of transition from the inconsistent spring to the more stable summer conditions help make offshore runs safer and more successful. The water temperature is slightly higher than normal, Ledford said, reading

78 degrees at the surface, and 75 degrees at a depth of 100 feet. These factors can prove beneficial to anglers. “The (calm conditions) are real positive,” said guide Patrick Buchanan of Laguna Charter Company, who made a recent run out of Packery Channel about 10 miles to fish the rigs. “Last year we had 111 days straight of 20 mph winds. We’re having an extremely calm spring in comparison with years past, with very clear water.” And the rigs held fish. “We caught two good ling right off the bat — they were about 40 to 50 See CLEAR WATER, Page 25

SMILING DURING SPRING TRIPS: Anglers are battling more fish in calmer water offshore this year. Photo by LSON.