While this weekend sees youth hunters getting a shot at waterfowl, next weekend is for deer hunters.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) has set aside Oct. 31-Nov. 1 as special youth-only seasons for white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey.
Additional youth-only seasons have also been set aside in January. During the statewide special youth-only hunting weekend, licensed youth 16 years of age or younger will be allowed to harvest white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey.
“A Special Youth Hunting License ($7) is required and may be purchased wherever hunting licenses are sold, as well as online and by phone at 1-800-TX-LIC-4U for an additional convenience fee.”
“General season bag limits for the county hunted apply during the youth-only weekend, but some additional restrictions may apply in certain areas so be sure to check the Outdoor Annual before heading afield,” TPWD reported.
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Ducks Unlimited (DU) will dedicating a special Texas DU Greenwing (Youth) Legacy Project at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area 10 a.m. Saturday at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area headquarters.
All 114 Legacy Greenwings and their parents/guardians or sponsors are invited to attend and see the youngsters names permanently displayed on a plaque overlooking a wetland area.
For more information contact Tim Soderquist at 281-259-9638.
Now onto the report…
North Sabine---Before the front hit anglers reported fair numbers of trout holding in East Pass and Old River Cove on live bait and light colored plastics. Redfish are mixed with the trout and running in the deeper channels. Flounder are fair on live bait fished in the channel and around the cuts along the Louisiana shoreline.
South Sabine---Capt. Phillip Samuels reports fair to good action for flounder in the channel and around Garrison Ridge on live bait and Gulp shrimp. Trout are fair under birds when the wind is not blowing. Reds are good in the bayous on the Louisiana side of the lake.
Sabine Pass---Flounder fishing continues to pick up along the pass with anglers fishing live bait taking some nice fish around drop offs on live bait. Reds are good in Keith Lake and Texas Bayou. Trout are scattered. Very few reports from the jetties.
Sabine River---Black drum and redfish are good on dead shrimp fished around the big cuts in Blacks Bayou. Trout are scattered. Flounder are fair around drop-offs on live bait. Very few reports of bass.
Calcasieu (Big Lake )---The Hackberry Rod and Gun Club reports reds are good on spoons and soft plastics fished under the birds and over shell along the shorelines. Trout are good under the birds on soft plastics fished under popping corks and on jigheads. Flounder are good around the cuts in the marsh on live mud minnows and Gulp shrimp.
Sam Rayburn---Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials report largemouths are good on redbug soft plastic worms and buzz baits in 15 - 25 feet, and on topwaters early and late. White bass are fair on minnows and silver spoons. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Bream are good on nightcrawlers. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live bait
Toledo Bend---Holly Park Marina reports anglers are taking largemouths on deep ledges with spoons and crankbaits. Crappie are still being caught on baited holes in deeper water when the wind is not blowing. Catfish are fair to good on cut and prepared bait.
Lake Livingston---Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials report largemouths are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on pet spoons, slabs, and hellbenders. Crappie are fair on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad and cut bait. Yellow catfish are slow.
Hunting---State waterfowl managers report along the coast, pintails, teal, gadwalls, wigeons and shovelers are using prairie ponds. Coastal marshes are holding teal, gadwalls, shovelers and wigeons. Redheads and bluebills are finding their way to the shoalgrass shorelines of the middle coast, but another round of cold air is needed before the Oct.31 opener to push new ducks to the coast.
Specklebellies are arriving daily on the prairies, and expect more to show this weekend on the heels of the next cold front.
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TOLEDO BEND: Normal Pool Level: 172.0 Current Pool Level: 169.76 Was 169.17
RAYBURN LAKE: Normal Pool Level: 164 Current Pool Level: 159.56 Was: 159.64
B.A. STEINHAGEN: Normal Pool Level: 85 Current Pool Level: 82.76 Was: 82.68
By Chester Moore, Jr. is The News Outdoors Editor.
