Fish Texas E-Newsletter: Fall Edition

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Fish Texas E-Newsletter

In This Issue: Time to Get Ready for Texas Trout Fishin' | New Marine Species ID Guide Online | Toyota ShareLunker Launches 27th Season | Is Your Reel Ready? | Try a Fishy Event for Halloween and Beyond | Landing Poachers: Game Warden Field Notes | Do You Qualify as an Ethical Angler?

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Time to Get Ready for Texas Trout Fishin'

pond, sunny day, a trout in foreground

The start of the Texas rainbow trout season is just a few weeks away. Trout stocking locations and schedule for 2012-2013 will be posted in mid-November. You can see last year’s locations and check for this year’s schedule here. Get a taste of the trout excitement in this video.

Some lucky urban dwellers will be able to fish for rainbows close to home through the Neighborhood Fishin’ Program. These urban ponds will be stocked with rainbow trout every two weeks from December until March.

Check this map for four seasonal access points for Guadalupe River winter fishing, including three new ones. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has signed temporary lease agreements with Mountain Breeze Campground, Rio Raft and Resort, and Whitewater Sports from September 2012 through February 2013. Anglers have free access to the river from 30 minutes before daylight until 30 minutes after dusk. You may use the properties for bank fishing and to launch non-motorized watercraft such as rafts, kayaks and canoes for the purpose of fishing.

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New Marine Species ID Guide Online

stretchjaw blinny - a fish

 Can you name the creature in this image?* Ever come across a weird sea creature or a saltwater fish you can’t quite ID? Try using the new online “Identification Guide to Marine Organisms of Texas” to answer your saltwater “whatizit?” questions.

Launched this summer, the Identification Guide has been compiled by TPWD Coastal Fisheries biologist Brenda Bowling.

Anglers, biologists, beach combers and others who want to know more about what they see will find all the tools  needed, including photos and detailed descriptions, to identify just about any marine organism in Texas.  Anglers will also find an easy-to-use length and weight calculator than can provide the average weight per a given length for more than 100 species of fish.

The growing site houses 422 marine species. Anyone who still cannot identify the sea creature they have encountered is encouraged to send clear photos to txmarspecies@tpwd.state.tx.us. Read more about this new resource.

* It's a Stretchjaw blenny (Chasmodes longimaxilla).

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Toyota ShareLunker Launches 27th Season 

happy man holding big largemouth bass, pine forest

Here is a happy angler from the last Sharelunker season. Maybe it's your turn this year.

The 27th season of the Toyota ShareLunker program began October 1, and the first entry arrived October 16. Bennett Cowan’s 14.28-pound bass came from Lake Austin.

The ShareLunker program has successfully involved the public in the conservation and enhancement of trophy bass fishing in Texas. Since it began, more than 500 largemouth bass have been donated from 62 public reservoirs and more than a dozen private lakes.

The numbers to call to report a ShareLunker catch (a legally caught largemouth bass weighing 13 lbs. or more) remain the same. The voice number, which is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the season, is (903) 681-0550. If cell phone service is poor, anglers can leave a phone number (including area code) at (888) 784-0600. That number is also monitored 24/7 during the season.

Both anglers and fish have benefited from the accomplishments of the program. More anglers understand of the value of catch and release fishing in developing trophy bass.  And more careful handling of fish improves their survival.

Sign up for Toyota Sharelunker News to learn who's catching the big ones --- and where.

Thanks to Toyota for a renewed three-year sponsorship of the ShareLunker program.

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Is Your Reel Ready?

2 men, bass boat, fishing on lake

There is definitely a wrong way to attach line to a reel spool, or "arbor." As effective as it is for securing hooks and swivels to lines and leaders, the improved clinch knot is a lousy choice for effectively spooling line on the empty arbor of a new or freshly cleaned reel.  Unfortunately, it’s common to see "hump-backed" evidence aplenty on the reels of countless anglers who have yet to learn to tie the appropriately named arbor knot.

Here's a better idea. Read “Knot for Reel” from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine to build your skill in creating a smoothly functioning reel using the low-lying arbor knot.  

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Try a Fishy Event for Halloween and Beyond

young boy holding up fish

Fish, kids and pumpkins make a slightly weird but winning combo at TPWD fish hatcheries. For a change of Halloween pace, introduce some kids to fishing fun at these spooky events.

  • Spooktacular at Sea Center Texas, October 28, 1PM -3PM, Lake Jackson

 For some year-round fun, treat yourself to a fishing event that suits your interest. Check out these full fishing events calendars:

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Landing Poachers: Game Warden Field Notes 

offshore, warden driving boat, leading 2nd boat

On land or sea, from a boat or from horseback, Texas Game Wardens have always got some informative and entertaining encounters with anglers and hunters. Read the latest update in the October Game Warden Field Notes.

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Do You Qualify as an Ethical Angler?

angler in boat, returning fish to water

 It’s been said that ethical anglers:

Take only what they can use, and use what they take.

Always recycle or properly dispose of monofilament line to protect the environment and aquatic or wildlife resources.

Leave no litter and don't pollute our waters.

Record their trophy with care and return it to the water.

Find hunting and angling information, regulations, seasons and articles in the digital Outdoor Annual

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2012-2013 Outdoor Annual
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