Author: Lake Havasu Guide

Southern Bass Tournament Association is relatively a new around here and it sure has caught on to anglers in Texas and Louisiana.

The association was introduced to the public at the Houston Summer Boat Show of 1993 and fishermen did not hesitate to join in the competitions.

Bill Miller, the owner of Southern Bass and a tournament fisherman himself, had been organizing tournaments in the Lake Conroe and Lake Houston area for four years under his own name prior to forming Southern Bass. These tournaments were just called Team Tournaments and were strictly local.

In the spring of ’93, several national companies including Skeeter Boats, Bill Lewis Lures, Storm Lures, Cast-Away Rods, Lake Systems and CCSI persuaded Miller to start an East Texas tournament series, and Southern Bass was born.

The organization began with one employee, Miller, who also works full-time for Continental Distributors of Houston, an auto parts distributing company.

Now, almost a year after its conception, Southern Bass boasts a staff of eight. Miller’s daughter, covers the phones three days a week and Miller himself uses his weekends to promote tournaments.

Unlike many other tournament associations, Southern Bass offers individual tournaments. There are nine dates scheduled this year for the Individual Tournament Circuit in Texas and first place pays $1600. The entry fee is a mere $100.

Another practice of Southern Bass’ that’s uncommon for tournaments is the 80% payback policy on all of the organization’s tournaments. Seventy per cent of all money collected is paid at the lake, says Miller, while 10% goes to the championship tournament winner at the end of the year.

And Southern Bass is the only tournament association offering a bonus money program according to Miller. It works like this:

All the late entry fees go into a pot that all contestants are eligible to win. When a contestant’s name is drawn, he wins the whole thing – as much as $400 a tournament so far this year.
Southern Bass is the exclusive distributor of Okie Lite Lures in Texas. Okie Lite is a fishing tackle manufacturer in Oklahoma. Okie Lite products include spinner baits, jigs, plastic craws and plastic trailers.

The 1994 Team Tournament competition hosted by Southern Bass in Texas has nine dates scheduled and the entry fee is $125 per team. First place on this one pays $2300.

The Louisiana Team Tournament circuit this year also has nine dates and the entry fee is $75 per team. First place is expected to pay $1400.

Miller tries to take July and August off every year “to keep the fish kill down.” He says it’s easier for fish to die out of water in these hot summer months. Out of 731 bass caught by Southern Bass tournament contestants as of early April this year, only three died.

All of the Southern Bass tournaments are officiated from a unique 8′ X 20′ stage that is transported to each tournament. Miller himself personally weighs the fish and helps the contestants get the entertainment value they expect.

Miller says, “everything we do is first-class. People want to be associated with a winner, and that’s what Southern Bass is.” the weigh-ins, mail-outs, membership lists and other information of the association is done by computer.

On June 5th, Southern Bass is planning a tournament on Lake Conroe to benefit the River Plantation Lions’ Club. This tournament has a $75 entry fee, is open to anyone, pro or amateur, and will be held at Anchorage Marina.

In ’95 Miller plans to open up more regions to tournaments in Texas, Louisiana and other states. He is looking for tournament directors in other areas of Texas (north of Lake Richland Chambers, west of Lake Palestine and south of the Houston area) and other states. He prefers that they live in the area that is to be considered.

Miller also plans to give away several fully rigged bass boats in ’95.

Southern Bass Tournament Association may be a newcomer to tournament circuits around these parts, but Miller says, “we’re here for the long run – not just the first or second year.”

If you look around, you’ll probably find you know at least one Southern Bass tournament angler. Randy Dearman has even picked up the team tournament circuit this year.

Miller feels very good about the future of Southern Bass. He says, “we’ve grown faster than we’ve anticipated and that’s why ~I feel positive about our future plans.” – Lake Havasu

Ed Parten, Randy Kindler, Ray Scott and several other local fishermen recently held a telephone fundraising campaign to raise money for the Tennessee Valley Authority for the rent of their Mechanical Harvester used on Lake Bastrop to demonstrate the need in Texas for this machine. The harvester was just the tool needed to rid the lake of unwanted aquatic vegetation without resorting to chemical warfare, which was previously felt to be the answer.

The chemicals used in Texas lakes included 2-4,D, Sonar, and Fluridane, all of which are herbicides that can cause very serious problems for lake dwellers, not to mention the fish that we’re supposed to be preserving!

Recently, Governor George Bush, an angler of some repute, intervened to postpone the application of chemicals to kill Hydrilla in Lake Bastrop. Bush arranged for the Lower Colorado River Authority to borrow a Hydrilla Harvester from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Ray Scott, founder of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, told the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation, “The harvester is a state-of-the-art machine and costs $150,000-but the TVA will loan it to us for the cost of transportation and the operator.”

The demonstration of this machine was held June 10-11 of this year and everyone including Gov. Bush was delighted with what they saw.

This machine reportedly can cut one acre of Hydrilla per hour to a depth of five to six feet. It has a cutting width of up to seven feet and weighs up to 14,000 lbs. It cuts the vegetation, squeezes the water from it, shreds it, then puts the shredded vegetation back in the water. The harvester does not hurt the fish population either, according to the Department of Natural Resources in Minnesota, where the harvester has been used for years.

The demonstration on Lake Bastrop has started a fervor in the fishing community that has never been seen. Pat McCarty, a tournament fisherman and editor of this magazine, says, “I’ve never seen so many different fishing organizations come together over a single issue in my 25 years in this industry.”

There has been a great deal of support for the use of non-chemical methods of Hydrilla and other nuisance aquatic vegetation. Texas Black Bass Unlimited (TBBU), Texas Association of Bass Clubs (TABC), Bass Federation of Texas, Better Aquatics in Texas (BAIT), the Clean Water Action Committee, Honey Hole Magazine, Metro Leagues of Bass Clubs, Cen-Tex Bass Associations and other concerned groups from all over the country have all united in their common interest to preserve our fishing resources in Texas and an organization was formed from the union of these interests called Sensible Management of Aquatic Resources Together (SMART).

The telephone campaign generated over $10,000 from a total of 315 donors from across the nation. A photocopy of each check along with a list of who the check is from and where they live will be sent to Gov. Bush to try to generate government support for this issue as well. A check was written to the TVA for $8000 to cover the rental of their harvester and the remainder was placed into a fund that has been earmarked for the purchase of a harvester for Texas.

The Wallop Breaux Foundation is a federal organization that a percentage of all of our cost on fishing supplies goes toward. If a community shows the united concern in a conservation project in any part of the United States, this foundation has been set up to assist in the purchase of necessary equipment, according to Parten. The foundation will match funds at a rate of 3-1.

As Parten puts it, “To be SMART and work together, we can raise, this year, $62,500, and with the three-to-one matching funds of the Wallop Breaux Foundation, this will equate to $250,000.

Once the funds have been raised, our plans are to purchase a mechanical harvester to meet the needs and specifications of the fisheries and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Also, to design a trailer to haul the harvester and to purchase a truck to pull them.”

This is the goal of all those involved in this project, he says. “Texas fishermen are united on this issue.” Parten expects to purchase and have a harvester in operation by the Spring of 1999 to use as it’s needed.

A fundraising dinner is planned on Aug. 14th at the Hotel Sofitel in north Houston for this cause. It will be called “An Evening with Ray Scott” and Ray Scott will be the keynote speaker. A 1999 Dodge Quad-Cab Duly Pickup will be raffled off at the dinner. See ya’ there! – Lake Havasu

The Sunshine Kids held their fishing tournament on Saturday, August 6, at Stow-Away Marina. The Sunshine Kids is a national non-profit organization for children with cancer. They offer a variety of activities to the children, their siblings and parents because they feel that all members of the family are affected by the disease and they all need the opportunities for diversion from reminders of the horrors of the disease.

Jennifer Knerr, the Activities Coordinator of the Houston chapter, says, “through the Sunshine Kids’ activities, parents, siblings and the Sunshine Kids themselves are able to find the support and encouragement they need to continue their fight against cancer from those who truly understand.”

There are over 200 active Sunshine Kids in the Houston area. The numbers change daily with the high mortality rate of the group and new members. Nationwide, the organization boasts over 1000 members.

“All the activities we provide are totally free of charge to the Sunshine Kids and their families,” Knerr says.

One of the activities is an annual fishing tournament and the first place winner in each division is awarded a cash prize.

This year, the Sunshine Kids were fishing for bass and bream. A Junior Division and Senior Division were selected for each type of fish. Fifteen Sunshine Kids competed in this year’s tournament and each participant received a “goody bag” full of special items to remember this day.

The Sunshine Kids and their families are not ordinarily typical anglers or boaters. It was necessary to provide boats for the kids to fish from, and several area guides and other fishing individuals were kind enough to donate their boats for the tournament. The organization wishes to extend a hearty “thanks” to Wayne Vinton, Tom O’Connor, Jeff Goetzman, Steve Smith, Billy Mills, Tex Bonin, Keith Kocurek, Mike Schneider, Mitch Lowman, Dave Banta, John T. Gillis, Mickey Geisler, Marshall Brown, Jack Edwards, Bill Cannan, Gary Watts and Bob Driggers for their kind support in donating their boats to this tournament.

“Our philosophy is living life to the fullest,” Knerr says. “We try to give the families a break from hospitals and treatments by giving them the opportunity to just have fun and be a kid.”

Houston F.I.S.H. (Femmes In Search of Hawgs), a local organization of women anglers, sponsored this program. This group was formed in 1978 and was one of the first clubs affiliated with Bass ‘n’ Gals, a national organization of fisherwomen. 1994 is the 13th year that Houston F.I.S.H. has sponsored the Sunshine Kids tournament and this is the second year it has been held at Stow-Away Marina..

The Sunshine Kids tournament was followed by a Take A Kid Fishing tournament organized by Houston F.I.S.H. Any child that wants to fish but may not have access to a fishing boat or fishing tackle can participate in this program nationwide. This portion of the day’s tournament was dedicated to Edna Mills, a Conroe resident and a former member of both the local group and Bass ‘n’ Gals who died in a boating accident recently on Lake Conroe.

B. J. Nix was the tournament director for this Take A Kid Fishing tournament. She had 40 child/adult teams. Children are paired up with parents or anglers who want to donate their boats to the event. Everyone had a great time on this beautiful, sunny day.

All the bream and catfish caught in both tournaments was donated by Houston F.I.S.H. to Conroe area charities. The average weight of a day’s catch of bream and catfish is 200-250 lbs. The bass catches are released after being weighed and a photo is taken.

After the tournament, Houston F.I.S.H. held an auction featuring merchandise like a custom-made gun cabinet valued at $400 and several fishing rods with $60-$70 cash value each. Fishing guide trips, both freshwater and sal*****er, and a variety of artwork and jewelry were also auctioned.

The total proceeds from the tournament and the auction came to over $5000 for Houston F.I.S.H., including a cash donation of $2000 from Budweiser.

It’s great to see this kind of participation on Lake Conroe, especially for such a worthy cause. Cheryl Boen, President of Houston F.I.S.H., wishes to thank all those involved in the tournament for making it a terrific success.

The Houston F.I.S.H. organization offers women an opportunity to learn to fish and operate a boat . The group gets together on the first Monday of every month, unless that day is a holiday, in which case the meeting is
held on the first Tuesday.(September’s meeting is planned for September 6.) It also offers female anglers a support group and an opportunity to fish from a boat, even if members don’t own a boat.

About half the group owns boats and they pair up with other members who don’t own boats. Tournaments are held once a month at area lakes for members and potential members. Cheryl Boen told me that women are allowed to participate in one tournament before officially joining the group.

For more information on the Houston F.I.S.H. organization, please call Cheryl Boen at
(713) 466-1893 or Jacquetta Owens at (713) 367-4499. – Lake Havasu

Fishermen everywhere see the need for aquatic vegetation. It provides food for fish, improves water quality of fisheries and it provides cover for bass fingerlings to hide from their prey, allowing them to grow into trophy-size adults. However, most anglers and water conservationists in our state agree that aquatic weeds, particularly Hydrilla, need to be controlled. The method used for their control is the source of a great debate in Texas.

Chemical companies and government agencies have influenced the Texas River Authority and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to mandate the pouring of thousands of gallons a year of toxic chemicals into our lakes and rivers, some of which provide public drinking water.

Others want to control the aquatic vegetation through total eradication. One popular method involves the use of “grass carp.” Grass carp have been described as “the least acceptable method of non-chemical control.” The grass carp is a fish that was introduced into Lake Conroe in Conroe, Texas, to eat the unwanted aquatic vegetation. The result was they ate ALL the vegetation, leaving the lake unhealthy and unsuited for the survival of fish. The lake is now undergoing a lengthy process of reintroducing “good” aquatic vegetation in the hope that the fish will return to the lake.

S.M.A.R.T. is a non-profit organization formed by Texas anglers, conservationists and industry leaders to protect and improve our fisheries. Their name stands for Smart Management of Aquatic Resources Team The founders of S.M.A.R.T. hope to educate government agencies and the news media to the hazards of chemical treatment and total eradication
in the control of unwanted aquatic vegetation. The organization also hopes to teach the future facilitators of our freshwater resources the perils of chemical control.

With the help of TV personality and renowned cinematographer, Glenn Lau, they have developed an educational do*****entary on aquatic herbicides. Lau is the creator of the award-winning epic, “Big Mouth Forever,” which is a do*****entary on the life-cycle of the largemouth bass and sequel to the first film Lau produced in 1973 called “Big Mouth.” Lau is also host of his own TNN television show, Quest for Adventure.

The do*****entary will focus on the environmental impact of aquatic herbicides and other aquatic management techniques on lakes and other water reservoirs nationwide. It is the objective of S.M.A.R.T. to promote the film to secondary schools in Texas. They hope that schools will develop a curriculum around the lessons presented in the film to teach young outdoorsmen about the place of aquatic management today in the future of our water reservoirs.

S.M.A.R.T. management programs use several means for the control of unwanted vegetation. One method they sanction is another non-chemical control device, the “mechanical harvester.” This machine reportedly can cut one acre of Hydrilla per hour to a depth of five to six feet. The machines have a cutting width of up to 10 feet and weigh up to 14,000 lbs. The harvester cuts the vegetation, squeezes the water from it, shreds it, then puts the shredded vegetation back in the water. The harvester does not hurt the fish population either, according to the Department of Natural Resources in Minnesota, where the harvester has been used for years. In fact, lakes in the north central U.S. say they have enhanced aquatic life in their lakes and the water remains clear and clean, and most report enhanced game fish populations. Mr. D. Heise of LaPorte, Tennessee, says, “The quality of fishing has improved [on City Lake since we started using the harvester], and the fishing areas are more accessible now.”

One of S.M.A.R.T.’s short-term goals is to raise enough money through contributions and fund-raisers to purchase a harvester for the TPWD, and they in turn will implement mechanical management of aquatic vegetation as the state’s method of control. To date they have raised $65,000, or 60% of the funds they will need to purchase the necessary equipment.

The next fundraising event is scheduled for June 19th in Arlington, Texas, at the Arlington Convention Center. It will be called “An Evening with Ray Scott,” and Ray Scott, the founder of B.A.S.S., will be on hand along with several other celebrities of the fishing industry. This is the second fund-raiser Scott has sponsored, his first being in Houston at the Hotel Sofitel Greenspoint on August 14, 1998. Scott’s guest speakers in Houston were such pioneers of the bass fishing industry as Roland Martin, a legendary angler and TV superstar, Bob Cobb, the 30-year pioneer with B.A.S.S. Bassmasters Magazine and Bassmasters TV, Glen Lau, renowned cinematographer and TV personality and Earl Bentz, founder of Triton Boats and 30-year innovator and pioneer in the quality and performance of bass boats.

Martin, Cobb, Lau and Bentz will also appear at the Arlington event. Dinner and drinks will be provided and both a live and silent auction will be held. The auction will feature a 1999 Triton Bass Boat and a Mercury Outboard. A 1999 Chevy Suburban will be raffled off to one lucky guest, and only 100 raffle tickets will be sold at $100 each, so guests will have a one in 600 chance of winning the vehicle, valued at $36,000. This event is open to the public and admission is free. Dinner tickets will be sold at the door for $15 each. A special treat at this fund-raiser will be the premiere of the new Glenn Lau film.

The long-term goal of S.M.A.R.T. is to establish similar water conservation organizations in other states so their efforts will become nationwide. They also want to ally themselves nationally with other fishing organizations, bass clubs and water conservation groups. If you would be interested in helping to organize chapters in other states, please contact S.M.A.R.T. at (713) 648-6152 or toll-free at (888) 588-8228.

The Board of Directors of S.M.A.R.T. include President David Stewart, Vice President Ed Parten, Treasurer Lindy Ellason, Secretary Bill Bales, Asst. Secretary-Treasurer Pat McCarty, Sergeant at Arms John Alexander, Parliamentarian Jerry Gold, and three Board Members-at-Large, Mike Woehst with a 3-year term, Mike Hastings with a 2-year term, and Randy Kindler with a 1-year term.

The Members of the Board are all giants in the bass-fishing industry. They include, Ray Scott, Earl Bentz, Ray Murski, a fishing industry leader, Harold Sharp, a past B.A.S.S. tournament director, Jerry Dean, editor/publisher of Honey Hole Magazine, Duane “Sparky” Anderson of Clean Water Action, Johnnie Davis of Anglers Choice, Terry Oldham of Oldham Lures, Jack Allen, President of Southeast Texas Oilmen’s Bass Classic, Neil Carman of the Sierra Club of Texas, Ed Churchman and Bruce Shuler of T.A.B.C., Bruce Goss, Bob Hood , a sportswriter for the “Fort Worth Star Telegram,” Sue Pittman of the Chemical Connection, Robin Richardson of H.A.W.K., Bob Sealy of “Sealy Outdoors,” and Ron Werner of April Plaza Marine in Conroe, Texas..

The list of S.M.A.R.T. Member Organizations reads like a list of all of Texas’ fishing groups. It includes Anglers Choice, Inc., B.A.I.T. (Better Aquatics in Texas), Bastrop Environmental Association, Catfish and Crappie Association, the Central Texas Association of Bass Clubs, Clean Water Action, Consumers Union, H.A.W.K. (Health Awareness and Water Knowledge), the Henry, Lowerre, Johnson, Boss & Frederick Law Firm, F.I.S.H. (Fishermen Involved in Saving Habitat), Honey Hole Magazine, L.C.M.A. (Lake Conroe Marina Association), the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Clubs of Texas, Metro Leagues of Bass Clubs, Pro Team Tournament Trail, Inc., Rayburn Bass Classic, S.C.O.T. (Sportsmen Conservationists of Texas), Sealy Outdoors, Southeast Texas Oilmen’s Bass Classic, T.A.B.C. (Texas Association of Bass Clubs), T.B.B.U. (Texas Black Bass Unlimited), Texas B.A.S.S. Federation, Texas Center for Policy Studies, The Chemical Connection, Texas Oilmen’s Bass Invitational and the Texas Sportsguide.
– Lake Havasu

Scientists in freshwater regions throughout Texas have been wrestling with the problem posed by an exotic, invading weed called Hydrilla. This plant is not native to Texas, but, according to biologists of the Louisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility (LAERF), was probably brought here by compassionate aquarium-fish owners who wanted to set their pets free by dumping the whole aquarium into the lake.

One solution to the problems posed by this plant is total elimination. Attempts at eradication have included biological methods.

One such method involves the import of species to eat the Hydrilla. The problem with this method is that all the aquatic plantlife will be eaten, creating another serious problem. Fish need some sort of aquatic vegetation to survive. White amur, or grass carp, are commonly used at power plant lakes, but these vegetation-eating fish should be used with caution because, while solving the problem of overgrown Hydrilla, they have the potential to eliminate all plantlife in the lake.

According to Remmie Scarborough, the Manager of the Lake Conroe Division of the San Jacinto River Authority and a member of the Aquatic Management Society of Texas, Sonar was used early on in the eradication of Hydrilla from Lake Conroe. He is unaware of the effects of this particular chemical because shortly afterwards the Lake Conroe Marine Association and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department decided to import a large number of white amur, or grass carp, to Lake Conroe to eat the Hydrilla.

The decision to use so many carp was for total eradication purposes and was the decision of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Scarborough says. He believes that only four or five carp per acre would not have eaten all the vegetation. If a lake is considering using grass carp to control Hydrilla and not totally eliminate all vegetation, Scarborough recommends using only four or five carp per acre.

Grass carp are not considered a true biological control because they are not “host-species specific”, said the scientists at LAERF, meaning that they feed on other plants besides the problem plants. An example of a true biological control is the insect, hydrellia, that feeds on Hydrilla alone. Turtles are being studied at LAERF to see what types of plants they will feed on. Mt is a fungus that attacks Hydrilla. It is being studied for its use as a controlling agent.

All of these biological controls are still in the research stage and, according to Dr. Michael Smart of LAERF, “operational biological control of Hydrilla is still a decade away.”

Mechanical harvesting is another method of Hydrilla control that has been used on Lake Conroe, says Scarborough. It involves cutting Hydrilla much like a lawnmower and with the same results – it is only a temporary control. He thinks it makes the Hydrilla grow back thicker because in the process of harvesting it, “tubers” and “turions”
of the Hydrilla are scattered onto nearby areas where they root and grow new plants.

One interesting note about biological control: grass carp will not eat Eurasian watermilfoil, another problem exotic weed found mostly in the northern United States. They had no effect on the waterhyacinth or pond lilies of Lake Conroe either, says Blake Kellum, the Water Quality Supervisor of the San Jacinto River Authority. Waterhyacinth is another problem plant that scientists are looking to eradicate.

Other methods involve importing species to eat the Hydrilla. The problem with this method is that all the aquatic plantlife will be eaten, creating another serious problem. Fish need some sort of aquatic vegetation to survive. White amur, or grass carp, are commonly used at power plant lakes, but these vegetation-eating fish should be used with caution because, while solving the problem of overgrown Hydrilla, they have the potential to eliminate all plantlife in the lake.

The decision to use so many carp was for total eradication purposes and was the decision of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Scarborough says. He believes that only four or five carp per acre would not have eaten all the vegetation. If a lake is considering using grass carp to control Hydrilla and not totally eliminate all vegetation, Scarborough recommends using only four or five carp per acre.

Grass carp are not considered a true biological control because they are not “host-species specific”, said the scientists at LAERF, meaning that they feed on other plants besides the problem plants. An example of a true biological control is the insect, hydrellia, that feeds on Hydrilla alone. Turtles are being studied at LAERF to see what types of plants they will feed on. Mt is a fungus that attacks Hydrilla. It is being studied for its use as a controlling agent.

All of these biological controls are still in the research stage and, according to Dr. Michael Smart of LAERF, “operational biological control of Hydrilla is still a decade away.”

Mechanical harvesting is another method of Hydrilla control used on Lake Conroe, says Scarborough. It involves cutting Hydrilla much like a lawnmower and with the same results – it is only a temporary control. He thinks it makes the Hydrilla grow back thicker because in the process of harvesting it, “tubers” and “turions” of the Hydrilla are scattered onto nearby areas where they root and grow new plants.

Several methods have been studied for the elimination of Hydrilla, but only a few have considered the positive aspects of this plant, particularly to fishing. Most fishermen like to fish where Hydrilla is abundant. Over a period of time, however, Hydrilla can do more harm than good to a lake. If it is allowed to grow unrestrained, it can choke the lake of oxygen and other vital nutrients, killing other aquatic vegetation and fish.

But the fact remains that Hydrilla provides good fishing because it offers refuge and food for fish while it’s still in its youth. Other plants can provide this service and do not monopolize the waters. These plants are native to Texas and can grow in Texas lakes if they are not threatened by a dominating plant like Hydrilla.

These plants are duckweed, muskgrass, horned pondweed and American pondweed. These plants can provide all the benefits of Hydrilla without the problems. The biologists at LAERF are currently studying ways to introduce these preferable plants so they can be given a fighting chance over colonizing plants like Hydrilla.

Lake Conroe currently has a problem with basically no aquatic vegetation at all. Steps should be taken to introduce the right kinds of aquatic vegetation and in such a way as to ensure they will thrive in our lake. Let’s work together to give Lake Conroe a fighting chance. – Lake Havasu

Lake Conroe is a popular lake for boating, fishing, camping and just relaxing. Eric Howard, a Game Warden of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assigned to Montgomery County, calls the lake “Houston’s Playground” because it is located just an hour’s drive north of the city.

The popularity of Lake Conroe has created a need for the Montgomery County Marine Division, a law enforcement unit made up of two full-time deputy sheriffs. The sole responsibility of the Marine Division is the preservation of safety on the lake.

Officers Cullen Thomas and Jim Ford enforce the Texas Water Safety Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Lake Conroe Reservoir as mandated by the San Jacinto River Authority in the performance of this duty.

The Precinct 1 Constable’s Office also has a full-time officer assigned to the lake, Deputy Constable Greg Gibson, who works closely with Thomas and Ford.

The Marine Division spends a majority of their time on the south end of Lake Conroe. This is where the heavier boating traffic and boating novices are found on the lake. Thomas and Ford generally patrol as far north as the Walker County line, which crosses the lake just south of State Highway 1375.

The north end of the lake, Ford explains, is a minefield of stumps and a boater really has to know where he’s going. Mostly fishermen are attracted to the north end of Lake Conroe and, Ford adds, “we don’t have much of a problem with fishermen as a whole”.

In the enforcement of the Texas Water Safety Act, the deputy sheriff’s are very strict. Thomas explains that every boater is required by state law to know these regulations and the Marine Division will not hesitate to write a citation for a violation of this Act. A copy of the Texas Water Safety can be picked up at the Montgomery County Commissioner’s Office or at some marinas on Lake Conroe.

In addition to the state laws on boating, a boater on Lake Conroe should be familiar with the local rules and regulations of the lake. The Marine Division wants these rules adhered to, but they are more lenient when it comes to these regulations.

Several of the regulations deal with personal watercraft, including jet skis, water bikes and aqua planes. “No person shall operate …a personal watercraft…at a greater than ‘No Wake’ speed, within 50 feet of another vessel, personal watercraft or water skier.” Another regulation makes it unlawful for a person to operate any water vessel at a speed greater than ‘No Wake’ speed within 100 feet of a boat dock or an inlet being used for swimming. Banana Bay has been nicknamed “torpedo alley” by the sheriffs of Montgomery County because, as Deputy Sheriff Cullen Thomas contends, personal watercraft disturbances are very common there.

Another unique aspect of the local Lake Conroe regulations is the “Skier Down Flag Rule”. This rule requires a rear observer to be in the ski boat “who must hold up an orange flag…high enough to alert other traffic when the skier is in the water and no longer being towed.” Provisions are made in this rule so that operators without a separate observer may raise the necessary flag. Deputy Sheriff Thomas feels that this rule prevents many skiers from becoming victims of boating accidents and “mutilated in a boat’s propellers”.
The Texas Water Safety Act provides strict guidelines pertaining to the Boating While Intoxicated law. The Marine Division is quick to point out that Banana Bay is where most of these citations are written. The penalties for violation of the BWI law range from a fine of $100 to a sentence of five years in prison.

In some areas of the country, according to Deputy Sheriff Ford, peace officers are equipped with “portable intoxilizers” that give the officer at least a good idea of how much the boater has had to drink. Montgomery County is not equipped with this new technology, so it becomes necessary to keep the suspected boater in custody on land for fifteen minutes before the effect of “sea legs” is sure to have worn off and a sobriety test can be given. Deputy Sheriff Jim
Ford elucidates, “if you want to enforce BWI, you have to ignore everything else. It’s something you really have to target.”

Montgomery County is also favored with “a cracker-jack dive team” boasts Ford. The team is made up of a group of volunteers who leave their various jobs when they are needed on Lake Conroe. They have also been called to Walker County and Lake Somerville for their expertise. The group includes some reserve peace officers and they are very talented and well known for their diving skill, according to Officer Ford. The divers provide their own equipment and transportation and Montgomery County is very proud and lucky to have them.

The Marine Division was preparing for the Labor Day weekend when I spoke with them. Labor Day, says Officer Thomas, is less busy than the July Fourth and Memorial Day weekends. Though still busier than other weekends of the summer, the impending hunting season diverts interest away from the lake and “lightens the load on the lake”. Labor Day does attract its share of out-of-towners, however, just like every big weekend. On big weekends, the Marine Division spends a great deal of time “getting out-of-towners in compliance with local regulations”.

The Marine Division is an important part of law enforcement on Lake Conroe. Officers Thomas and Ford seem very fair and interested in keeping the lake a safe lake for everyone. This lake lover feels comfortable in knowing the Marine Division is on Lake Conroe. – Lake Havasu

Our supply of drinking water in Texas is under a serious threat of contamination by pollution from our cities and rural areas. Farmers use chemicals on their farmland that run off into nearby rivers and lakes and eventually contaminate drinking water.

Environmentalist Dr. Richard Walker elucidates the problem: “Toxic waste from industry, sewage from human settlements and excess fertilizers from agriculture are polluting rivers and lakes and poisoning water supplies; more worryingly, pollutants are seeping down into aquifers causing long-term and possibly irreversible damage to the water supplies of future generations.”

Pesticides, sewage, toxic waste, industrial gases, heat pollution, radioactive waste, oil seepage from refineries, oil spills and acid rain are all pollution threats to Texas’ rivers and lakes. The pollution created by chemical runoff from farm land accounts for 64% of pollution in the state’s fresh water supplies. These chemicals contain nitrates that have been blamed for several adult cancers and blood poisoning in babies. It can also cause eutrophication, the creation of an environment that is More suitable to plant than animal life. Raw sewage contaminating the water supply can reduce the oxygen level sufficiently to cause extinction of most forms of life. Not only does it destroy life, but it can get into the food chain threatening larger animals including man.

Another source of pollution in Texas’ rivers and lakes can be attributed to fisherpersons themselves. Some of these thoughtless sportspersons toss their monofilament fishing lines, allowing them to float downstream where they attach themselves to other debris. They then become a real hazard to Texas wildlife in the area such as otters, beavers, and other mammals and birds, according to Jess Ramsey, superintendent of Texas’ Purtis Creek State Park.

Several measures have already been taken to protect Texas, rivers and lakes. Toxic waste dumping has been banned near water supplies. Sewage treatment plants are treating sewage before release into rivers and lakes and waste water is now treated on site before it is released back into the environment. Stringent controls have also been enacted on industrial pollutants.

To assist in the efforts to protect Texas’ rivers and lakes, please contact:
Jerry Eller
Heart O’ Texas Bassmasters
808 S. 2nd
Killeen, TX 76541

Our groundwater supply is diminishing statewide, and the protection of our supply of safe drinking water in Texas needs to be a priority in future government legislation. – Lake Havasu

Darin Murphy is still the Prop Doctor, with 16 years experience repairing boat propellers and doing business in the Houston area. There are a few significant changes in his business this year, however.

First, his main location has moved. He is now on the west side of I-45 at 22303 I-45 North. You still take the Spring-Stuebner exit to get there, but now the Prop Doctor is right on the freeway and is easier to get to. The building is larger, too.

Darin’s younger brother, Sean, shop foreman, thinks the move was a very good idea. “We hope to increase retail traffic,” he says. “Our new location is much more accessible and it’s a bigger building to handle our increased workload.” The new building is more than 3000 square feet, which is twice the size of their former building.

Darin says one of the things he likes most about their new location is the Prop Doctor can be seen from the highway. “You can’t miss us.”

Another change in the Prop Doctor this year is their new location. It serves as a drop-off station for propellers and is located on 105 West next to Quality Marine.

At this new location, they are also starting a boat trailer repair business. Dickey Lightfoot, who operates their 105 store, has been repairing boat trailers for over 10 years. His business,
Rol-ex Trailers, Inc., works with the Prop Doctor to supply boaters with assistance. “My trailer repair service also supplies 24-hour road service for boat trailers,” says Lighfoot.

Darin started his propeller service business in Spring six years ago. He says the move to the Houston area was a very good idea. “Texas has been very good for me, my family and the business.” Darin and his wife, Kim, have seen the birth of their three children since their move to Texas, including a set of twin girls born during the January Boat Show of ‘92.

The Prop Doctor specializes in all types of boat propeller service and repair. The store stocks new and re-conditioned propellers for sale and performs aluminum boat welding, lower unit skeg repairs, prop shaft straightening and high polishing of aluminum, stainless steel and bronze. The propellers Murphy keeps in stock includes such names as Volvo, Mercury, Evinrude, Turbo, Power Tech, Stiletto, Force and Michigan.

The Prop Doctor does an equal amount of sales and repairs. He promises quick, quality work at low prices and backs this up with a 100% guarantee against any defect in performance or appearance.

Look for the Prop Doctor at the January Boat Show again this year. You can call the Prop Doctor at the Spring location at (713) 355-PROP (7767) or at the Conroe/Montgomery location at (409) 441-PROP (7767).
– Lake Havasu

Aquatic vegetation affects everyone who uses the lake. Anglers adore it for its use in providing refuge and food for sportfish. Recreational boaters abhor it because it gets tangled in their boat propellers and water skis.

However you feel about it, one thing is clear: aquatic vegetation must be controlled. If it is allowed to grow unrestrained, it does no one any good and can cause irreparable damage to the quality of a lake as a water resource.

Hydrilla is one form of aquatic vegetation praised by fishermen and cursed by boaters. It is an exotic plant brought over from Sri Lanka in the 1950s for use as a decorative aquarium plant. It found its way into area lakes by compassionate owners of goldfish who wanted to set their pets free.

This plant provides great fishing wherever it’s growing when it’s not overgrown. But when it is allowed to thrive unregulated, it creates a dense mat on the water’s surface and does not allow other underwater life access to sunlight or oxygen. When the underwater plants die out, fish cannot survive and the lake’s water quality becomes poor, according to scientists at the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility (LAERF) located near Dallas.

One sign of a lake of poor water quality, according to Doug Hannon, “the Bass Professor” on ESPN, is dirty, brown water. Another sign is the buildup of dead plankton in coves resembling soap suds. These are both beginning to be familiar sights on Lake Conroe.

The problems created by Hydrilla have prompted state and federal governments to impose laws to maintain control of the weed. “Possession of this plant is a second degree misdemeanor, and punishable by a $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail.”

The scientists at LAERF outlined several reasons why Hydrilla must be managed. It can quickly fill waterways, affecting boating, wildlife use and flood control. It outcompetes native species of plants, reducing plant diversity, and it reduces dissolved oxygen levels, increasing the potential for fish kills. It also causes an increase in organic sedimentation, accelerating the lake’s aging process.

Hydrilla is most commonly controlled through the use of herbicides. These chemicals have proven to be the most effective and cost-efficient methods, but alternatives are continually being researched. Fluridone is presently the most commonly-used herbicide for the control of Hydrilla. This chemical is sold commercially as Sonar.

According to Remmie Scarborough, the Manager of the Lake Conroe Division of the San Jacinto River Authority and a member of the Aquatic Management Society of Texas, Sonar was used early on in the eradication of Hydrilla from Lake Conroe. He is unaware of the effects of this particular chemical because shortly afterwards the Lake Conroe Marine Association and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department decided to import a large number of white amur, or grass carp, to Lake Conroe to eat the Hydrilla.

Sonar and Hydrothol 191 were both used to control Hydrilla on the lake until the white amur were introduced, Scarborough says. Hydrothol 191 is a chremical that burns Hydrilla down to a certain level, he says. This chemical is used as a temporary measure, much like mowing a lawn.

The effects of both Sonar and Hydrothol 191 on Lake Conroe’s Hydrilla problem could not be accurately determined, but Scarborough says he’s read of Sonar having positive effects where it has been used to control Hydrilla on lakes in Florida.

Waterhyacinth is another problem exotic plant. It was introduced to the United States from Brazil in the early 1900s as a decorative pond plant. It tends to grow in coves of a lake and can multiply at an accelerated rate to eventually choke off the cove from the rest of the lake.

Today waterhyacinth is the #1 aquatic weed problem in the world. The State of Florida spends $5 million a year solely for the control of waterhyacinth.

One of the ways waterhyacinth is controlled is with the herbicide Garlon. This chemical is manufactured by Dow Chemical and is only sold under research conditions. John Madsen, a research biologist at LAERF, says Garlon is about five years away from being released on the consumer market as an aquatic-use herbicide.

Another exotic problem plant, Eurasian watermilfoil, is being studied at LAERF. It is typically thought to have been brought over the Atlantic from Europe or western Asia as a decorative aquarium plant, like Hydrilla. It ranked #1 as the biggest problem aquatic plant below the Mason-Dixon line until Hydrilla pushed its way into first place. Today, it ranks #3 nationwide after Hydrilla and waterhyacinth as an exotic weed.

One interesting note about biological control: grass carp will not eat Eurasian watermilfoil, says Dr. Smart. They have no effect on the waterhyacinth or pond lilies of Lake Conroe either, says Blake Kellum, the Water Quality Supervisor of the San Jacinto River Authority.

A chemical known simply as “2,4-D”, or 2, 4 dichlorophenoxyl, is commonly used for the control of waterhyacinth and positive results have been seen for the control of Eurasian watermilfoil as well, says John Madsen of LAERF. The herbicide 2,4-D is being used by the TP&WD to control waterhyacinth in the state. It kills plants by disrupting the growth cycle.

The use of chemical poisons as a method of killing weeds is a relatively new development. A study of Carol Van Strum in the 1983 book, A Bitter Fog: Herbicides and Human Rights, says phenoxy herbicides, the most effective modern herbicides, were developed to stimulate growth of plants. Chemicals used for this purpose had the opposite effect when used in excess. In fact, the chemicals could kill selectively when used in overdose amounts. This attracted the interest of scientists in 1943 for their use in chemical warfare research.

Agent Orange, a chemical used in Viet Nam, is composed of 50% 2,4-D, according to Van Strum. This has spawned a great deal of research into the effects of 2,4-D on humans and wildlife and the amount of 2,4-D that could be used safely.

A study conducted by Bionetics Research Laboratories released in 1969 shows the effects of phenoxy herbicides on human health. Specifically, it shows 2,4-D “to be capable of causing birth defects at doses lower than lethal amounts.” It further lists 2,4-D along with six other pesticides under the heading “these should be immediately restricted.”

Dr. Ruth Shearer, a molecular geneticist and consultant in genetic toxicology from Washington state has been studying the genetic effects of 2,4-D and its relationship to cancer since 1979. She asserts, “2,4-D induces mutations in both animals and human cells in culture, and damages DNA….It causes developmental toxicity when given to the pregnant female animal. It causes fetal hemorrhage at a low dose in rats….2,4-D caused malformations and fetal death in the animals only at a high dose, but it caused various kinds of malfunctions and growth retardation at very, very low doses.”

According to an Environmental Protection Agency Pesticide Fact Sheet, “certain formulations of 2,4-D are highly toxic to fish and/or aquatic invertebrates.” In 1989, an EPA report stated that there was some potential of 2,4-D contaminating the groundwater.

A label from a distributor of 2,4-D lists safe handling procedures for the herbicide. Among several warnings, it reads,

“1) Do not contaminate water used for irrigation, domestic or spray purposes
2) Do not spray directly in water
3)Do not contaminate water by cleanup of equipment or disposal of waste”

In the areas that 2,4-D has been used, there have been many bad effects on humans and animals attributed to the herbicide and confirmed by scientific studies: swollen eyes, mouth and lips, rashes, urinary disturbances, renal damage, fatigue, nausea, anorexia, diarrhea, swelling and pain in the extremities, paralysis, serious irregularities of the heartbeat, neuritis and numbness in the legs, fingers and toes.

2,4-D is felt to be linked to an outbreak of muscular disorders reported in the Lake Livingston area where the TP&WD is using it to control the spread of waterhyacinth. However, 2,4-D is still a very common ingredient used in lawn care chemicals. It is an active ingredient in the consumer herbicides Rodeo and Roundup.

A study released by the National Cancer Institute in 1988 shows farmers who were exposed to 2,4-D for 20 or more days per year are six times more likely to develop non-Hodgins lymphonia (a type of cancer) than non-farmers. Farmers who mixed or sprayed the herbicide stood a greater chance of developing the disease.

2,4-D has never been used in Lake Conroe, according to Blake Kellum, the Water Quality Supervisor of the SJRA.

Today, Lake Conroe’s aquatic vegetation consists of pond lilies and some waterhyacinth, according to Kellum. The pond lilies tend to colonize the same area each year. They sprout purple and yellow blooms and are very attractive, Kellum says, and fishermen love to fish in them.

Waterhyacinth is not a problem on Lake Conroe right now, Kellum says, but it does have the potential of becoming a problem. “No one on Lake Conroe has reported a problem with waterhyacinth.
If it does become a problem, we don’t want property owners running out with a gallon of herbicide,” says Kellum. The public is not allowed to use any chemicals without the approval of the SJRA.

The scientists at LAERF are studying the largest number of plants available to any one of the research facilities under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Waterways Experiment Station located in Vicksburg, Mississippi. They said that in a lake devoid of vegetation, like Lake Conroe, a colonizing plant is the only type that will grow. This can be good or bad. Hydrilla is a colonizing plant, but so are several native, preferable plants, such as muskgrass, horned pondweed and American pondweed. Once the native colonizers get going, other native stable plants can be introduced. All these plants need is clean water, time to grow and a chance to grow without being suffocated by Hydrilla or another exotic weed. Lake Conroe will only benefit from this strategy of plant introduction, and boaters and anglers alike will gain a new appreciation for their lake. – Lake Havasu

Aquatic vegetation has been dubbed many names. Some curse it because their boat propellers or water skis get caught in it. Leonard Ranne of Texas Black Bass Unlimited calls it “the salvation of our fisheries.” Many anglers share his attitude, but the truth is that some aquatic plants can lead to poor water, and hence, poor fishing quality.

Dr. Michael Smart is an aquatic plant ecologist of the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility (LAERF) located in Lewisville, Texas. He has been studying aquatic vegetation for 20 years.
LAERF is one of four satellite research facilities of the U. S. ArmyCorps of Engineers’ Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The research taking place at LAERF is of national significance; the scientists are working on a variety of aquatic plant questions from different parts of the country.

Dr. Smart says, “basically, there are good plants and bad plants.” Plants that grow below the water’s surface stabilize deposited sediments and clear the water. Shallow water systems where no plants grow fall victim to wind and turbulence, creating dark, turbid water that is undesirable for many species of fish.

Another benefit is that aquatic plants take nutrients like phosphorous out of the water, Dr. Smart says. Too much phosphorous in the water makes the water turn green with excessive growth of microscopic plants
called algae. This condition, called an “algae bloom,” means there are too many nutrients in the water. Algae blooms can deplete levels of dissolved oxygen, sometimes resulting in fish kills.

Native aquatic vegetation also increases the water quality by reducing the water’s flow and increasing sedimentation, says Dr. Smart.

Aquatic plants provide habitat for aquatic insects and other invertebrates that fish feed on. They also provide habitat and food for waterfowl. Any sportsman worth his salt knows that his prey will follow its food and can be caught where it feeds. Fish also use underwater plants for shelter from predators.

Examples of “good” plants are all native species. Wildcelery is one of those plants. Dr. Robert Doyle, a research scientist of the University of North Texas who is conducting research at LAERF, says “we’ve really been impressed with this plant because it clears the water column, it provides food and shelter for aquatic life and growth is usually below the water’s surface so it doesn’t interfere with our use of the water resource.”

Another plant that the scientists at LAERF like is muskgrass. Dr. Smart says, “muskgrass stabilizes the sediment. It usually grows in a carpet and it clears the water column and provides food and shelter for aquatic life. This statement can be made of many native aquatic plants that we recommend for habitat enhancement.”

Hydrilla is what most often comes to mind when we think of aquatic weeds and it is the biggest culprit. Hydrilla is an exotic plant from China, brought over as a decorative plant species in aquariums. It has been found in Texas reservoirs since 1960. According to Bill Moore of the San Jacinto River Authority, it is a violation of the law to transport Hydrilla. Despite state and federal laws prohibiting the introduction of this plant, it is rapidly becoming the #1 problem in Texas lakes.

There have been reports of anglers deliberately planting Hydrilla in Texas lakes for “structure.” Their plan is to create a place for fish to eat and live so that they will be easier to find. Dr. Doyle stresses that this is not a long-term solution. This excessive growth of Hydrilla will damage the lakes almost irreparably and will cost taxpayers millions to eliminate.

Another plant that federal and state agencies are trying to control in area lakes is the waterhyacinth. This plant was brought over from Brazil as an ornamental plant in ponds around the turn of the century. It is a free-floating flowering plant with attractive buds, but it is historically the #1 aquatic weed problem in the world, according to Dr. John Madsen, a research biologist of LAERF. The waterhyacinth is another exotic plant that is illegal to transport, according to the San Jacinto River Authority.

To give you an idea of how seriously these plants can harm the environment, when the State of California finds Hydrilla growing in one of its lakes, it will immediately drain the lake and cover the affected area with concrete. On the opposite coast, Florida spends $8 million per year on the control of Hydrilla and $5 million per year on the control of waterhyacinth.

A third exotic plant that worries South Texas reservoir managers is waterlettuce. This plant also hails from South America and Dr. Madsen says it was “probably also brought over as an ornamental pond plant because it’s easy to grow and has an attractive leaf.” This plant has proven to be a problem in the entire state of Florida and all along the Gulf Coast.

Eurasian watermilfoil is a problem plant that affects primarily the northern states at this time. It has become a problem as farsouth as Tennessee, Kentucky, northern Alabama and North Texas. This plant was once the country’s #1 problem plant below the Mason-Dixon line.

The Eurasian watermilfoil is typically thought by scientists to come from Europe and western Asia and it was probably brought to the United States as an aquarium plant, just like Hydrilla.

All of these “bad” or exotic plants can completely cover the water’s surface in a canopy-like formation eliminating light below the surface and killing plants that grow beneath them.

A recent study performed by Dr. Smart and the others hoped to “provide a better understanding of the effects of aquatic plants on lake water quality.”

The researchers studied various factors and different species of both native and exotic plants. The results showed that “all aquatic plants exert certain influences on the aquatic environment by reducing water flows, changing flow patterns, increasing sedimentation, and altering chemical composition of the water.”

Dr. Smart says that Hydrilla, a canopy former, grows from the bottom of the lake to the water’s surface creating a “mat” that can be up to a foot thick. This mat, he says, prevents the movement of oxygen in the water leading to critically low levels of oxygen, especially in the early morning hours.

With the combined absence of oxygen and light below the surface, you end up with a single species of plant thriving in the water and low water quality, according to Dr. Smart. Waterhyacinth is the exotic plant that is blamed for restricting oxygen the most.
Surface mats also prevent the wind from mixing the water, so the water becomes stagnant and devoid of life.

All of these traits of exotic plants were cited as “contributing todegraded water quality conditions, although massive populations of any aquatic plant species, exotic or native, may cause diminished water quality and lowered oxygen availability,” says Dr. Smart and the others in their conclusions of the study.”

Another factor that contributes to the problems caused by exotic weeds is their rapid spread. Any little piece of Hydrilla stem can grow a new plant. Hydrilla also produces specialized stem buds called “turions” that fall off the plant in the fall and can spread the plant throughout the lake.

Hydrilla also produces “tubers,” Dr. Smart says, down in the sediment. Even if you kill the Hydrilla, the tubers will survive to grow again.

“Many of the things we build a lake for,” Dr. Smart says, “are destroyed by Hydrilla in the lake. There are plenty of native aquatic plants that provide benefits without problems.”

So the answer seems to be this: Don’t destroy aquatic vegetation, but replace problem plants with beneficial plants. Dr. Smart and the others recommend a mixed native aquatic plant community including plants like the American pondweed, southern naiad, sago pondweed, coontail, horned pondweed, wild celery and muskgrass.

This is a fairly new change in management philosophy. Up to now, governments and lake management agencies have used eradication to solve the problems caused by exotic vegetation. Finding that attempting to eliminate all vegetation often causes more problems than it solves, they are now trying more environmentally-friendly alternatives. – Lake Havasu

Lake Conroe is a very popular Texas lake for boaters, jet skiers, and fishermen alike. Less than an hour’s drive from any part of Houston, it is a favorite getaway location for Houstonians. It is also a lake that has taken extra precautions in protecting those who use it.

Boating safety on Lake Conroe has long been an issue. In light of the boating accidents of recent years, steps have been and are being taken to make Lake Conroe a safe getaway as well.

Constable Don Chumley’s Office has operated a Marine Division on Lake Conroe for several years. The Marine Division operates three boats and is manned by three officers from the Constable’s Office. Sergeant Greg Gibson is in charge of the three-man division consisting of himself, Cullen Thomas, and Randy Sanson.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department also has a two-man squad that patrols Lake Conroe. This team is made up of Ken Henderson and Robert Schuster.

All of these officers are on the lake to protect its guests and keep the lake safe for everyone. The lake is seeing more boats than ever before this summer and there are also a tremendous amount of jet skis. Greg Gibson of the Constable’s Office says they are writing more tickets this year and “really checking out boats this year” in an effort to make Lake Conroe a safe place to visit. There are extra patrols on the docket including night patrols “Our goal is to make Lake Conroe have the safest year we’ve ever had before by teaching boaters about boat safety and educating boaters on the rules and regulations of boating and promoting the consideration of others. The safer the lake, the more people will be drawn to the lake.”

Greg’s predictions are already starting to show in the Lake Conroe area. Boat sales are up in Conroe and Greater North Houston and more houses are going up along the lakeshore.

A bill passed by State Congress in 1996 established a minimum age for operators of personal watercraft, which includes jet skis, water bikes, and boats. The bill says that no person can operate a personal watercraft under the age of 13 and all those under 16 must have passed an approved boating safety course if operating the boat alone.
The bill has been approved by the industry, says Tim Spice, a Voter Education Coordinator of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Spice is himself a boater and feels that operating a boat is very different than operating an automobile. “We need education,” he says, “I feel education will save lives.”

The boating safety course authorized by the bill is called “Boat Texas” and it is offered by volunteers, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron, two groups that offer education programs. It is also in a home-study course and can be ordered by calling (800) 460-9698. The TP&WD also offers the course on-line at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/edu/boated/boattx.htm. Or you can simply search for the phrase “Boat Texas”.

One thing stressed in the course is the wearing of personal flotation devices (PFDs). All users of jet skis and water-bikes and all children under the age of 13 are required to wear PFDs at all times. According to Spice, the statistics on PFDs are that 85% of people who drown would be alive if they’d had them on.

The Boating Trades Association of Texas is a self-governing organization dedicated to the interests of the boating industry and public of Texas. The BTAT is a strong promoter of education among boaters. Darryl Hurst of the BTAT said recently of the group, “We have no tolerance for illegal or inappropriate behavior on the water and we will continue to work for a more educated and informed boating public.”

Let’s try real hard this year to make Lake Conroe the safest lake in Texas, OK ya’ll? – Lake Havasu

Aquatic vegetation affects every fisherman in every body of water. It attracts fish seeking shelter and harbors food for fish. It generally serves to clear the water and improve the quality of the water.

I spoke to several fishermen, both professional and weekender fishermen, about aquatic vegetation, and got a variety of responses. Most of the anglers I spoke to praised aquatic vegetation and expressed the need for more of it in east Texas lakes.

Larry Newbury is a boater and fisherman from Houston. He would like to see more aquatic plantlife in the lakes he fishes, which includes Lake Conroe. He says, “aquatic vegetation is good for the bait fish and the small fingerling bass.”

Hydrilla is what most readily comes to mind when anglers talk of aquatic vegetation, but Newbury says there are other types, like coontail moss and duckweed, that are just as good for the fishing and can improve the water quality.

Newbury says he fished on Lake Conroe years ago, “when it was a good fishing lake.” He stopped fishing here eight years ago. “This is a party lake now.”

Geneva Carroll is an angler from Louisiana. She feels that aquatic vegetation has a value in the lake. She feels that “it can improve the ecosystem of a lake.”

Mrs. Carroll moved to east Texas in August of ‘93 and she’s sorry to say that Louisiana lakes has some better ecosystems to offer.

Woody Woodrow is a biologist working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and he agrees with Mrs. Carroll. He says, “aquatic vegetation is important for maintaining biological diversity and aquatic ecosystem health.”

Woodrow is also a fisherman, and while aquatic vegetation can be a hindrance to fishing, he finds that he can almost always find fish there.

However, he says, “too much vegetation can cause stagnant water and low dissolved oxygen problems due to decomposing plant matter, and that’s not good for fishing.”

Waterhyacinth is one aquatic plant Woodrow points to as a problem plant. This plant tends to multiply into dense mats that completely cover the water’s surface. He says, “waterhyacinth impedes the transfer of oxygen from the atmosphere to the water. It also affects the amount of sunlight that breaks through, which affects underwater life.”

Lake Sam Rayburn seems to have solved the problems of these troublesome aquatic plants while preserving its ecosystem, according to Gary Brown of Conroe. He and his family like to fish Lake Sam Rayburn because “bass can find places to hide.”

This seems to be the greatest benefit of aquatic vegetation to the anglers I spoke to. David Covey, owner of Anchorage Marina on Lake Conroe, feels sure that there is an aquatic plant that can provide shelter for bass, while not becoming a nuisance to boaters.

Covey says, “I hear both sides. I understand the problems boaters have with the underwater plants, but I also understand the needs of the fishermen.”
Since the recent measures taken by citizens around the lake to rid the lake of Hydrilla, which Covey says in all fairness was becoming overgrown and a nuisance, Lake Conroe has developed other problems. Or so say the fishermen.

Apparently, all the plants in the lake were effectively eradicated, leaving no place for fish to hide or find food. The absence of aquatic vegetation of any kind has caused the water quality to become poor, says angler Jesse Garcia of Houston.

“Recreational boaters like [the lake] just the way it is,” says Covey, “but the water has never been so clear as it was with Hydrilla [in the lake]. Now you really can’t see more than a foot or a foot-and-a-half.” Covey wishes there was a happy medium between having Hydrilla and having no aquatic vegetation at all.

Bill Cannan is a fishing guide on Lake Conroe. He thinks we definitely need “some type of vegetation on Lake Conroe.” He says Little Lake Creek and Weirs Creek have vegetation in the form of waterhyacinth. This is the only form of aquatic vegetation he has found on Lake Conroe recently.

“The best kind of vegetation that I know of for fishing is Hydrilla,” Cannan says. “It filters the water (makes it clear), it gives the bait fish a place to hide and in general gives all the game fish a refuge. In most lakes it provides a successful backbone for underwater ecosystems.”

All in all, I think it’s fair to say that the fishermen of this area speak favorably of aquatic vegetation. But the recreational boaters tell a different story.

Tom Lee is a boater from Houston. He curses “the duckweed that fouls the intake filter on my outboard motor’s cooling system and prevents it from operating properly.”

I also spoke to a petroleum engineer with operations in the southern
Louisiana marshes. He says, “the biggest problem with aquatic vegetation like waterhyacinth is that it chokes off the canals and bayous and restricts or eliminates boat traffic. It affects not only recreational, but also commercial traffic.” – Lake Havasu

Nestled in the rolling hills of the farms and ranches near Brenham is a lake that offers a place to play and a place to relax just 90 miles from the hassles of Houston. Lake Somerville covers 11,460 acres and has 85 miles of shoreline. It provides water for the area and was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960’s.

A state park is located at this lake in two distinct units. The Birch Creek Unit is located on the north shores of the lake and comprises 640 acres. It offers 103 partial service campsites with water and electricity, four dump stations and 20 equestrian tent sites with water only. This unit also offers a Group Trailer Area with 30 water and electrical sites and a Dining Hall.

The Nails Creek Unit, 300 acres located on the southeast corner of the lake, has 40 campsites available with water and electricity, a dump station and 20 tent sites, 10 of those being equestrian.

The Birch Creek Unit offers three picnic areas and the Nails Creek Unit offers two. There is a total of 30 miles of hiking, biking and horseback trails throughout the park.

Fishing is excellent in both units, and the Birch Creek Unit provides an 80-foot concrete fishing jetty. Both Units offer an enclosed fish cleaning shelter. The Nail Creek Unit maintains the west bank of Cedar Creek where anglers can find good crappie fishing from January to late April.

The Birch Creek Unit has two two-lane boat ramps and the Nails Creek Unit has one two-lane boat ramp. Both Units offer volleyball courts. Both sand and grass are available at the Birch Creek Unit, while the Nails Creek Unit offers just one grass court. Lake swimming is allowed, but no lifeguard is on duty.

The two units are connected by the Lake Somerville Trailway where visitors can find 100 primitive campsites, four sanitary toilets and six shade shelters.

For something different, consider Nails Creek Unit for weekend hayrides. They even offer “Hayride Weddings.”

For more information about the two units, please feel free to call Russell Fishbeck at the Birch Creek Unit or Glen Korth at the Nails Creek Unit.

For bait and tackle near the park, the Birch Creek Unit Headquarters offers some basic supplies. For more extensive needs in the Birch Creek Unit area, try Big Creek Marina on Park Road 4 in Lyons for live bait, tackle, gas and a camping area and motel on the premises. Call Big Creek Marina at (409) 596-1616. Judy’s Grocery is located in the town of Somerville and in addition to groceries, offers bait, tackle, gas, a bar & grill, a pool room and dancing. Contact Judy’s Grocery at (409) 535-4030.

For fishermen in the Nails Creek Unit, bait and tackle can be found at the Checkpoint Trading Post at the intersection of Overlook Park Rd. and FM 1948. Bonnie and Steve Todee can help with your fishing needs, including renewing your fishing license, at (409) 289-4102. The Rocky Creek Store on FM 1948 on the south shores of the lake offers fishing supplies, boat storage and a restaurant. Contact Andy Holley at Rocky Creek Store at (409) 289-3426. Burger & Stuff, located on FM 180 in Burton is southwest of the Nails Creek Unit and has bait, groceries and liquor available. They can be reached at (409) 289-2466.

If you want to stay near the park but can’t camp, several motels are available nearby. The Big Creek Marina offers a motel in Lyons near the Birch Creek Unit with AC and kitchenettes. They accept Visa and MasterCard and the motel is located close to the marina. Surrey Inn is located in Caldwell, just 16 miles northwest of the lake, and has 24 rooms, a pool, cable TV, a cafe on the premises and takes major credit cards. Surrey Inn’s rates range from $32.00 for a single to $37 for a double, with a $4. charge for each additional person. The Varsity Inn, also located in Caldwell, has 63 rooms, a pool, cable TV and takes major credit cards. The Varsity also serves continental breakfast on the weekends. The rates here range from $37 for a single to $43 for a double, and $4 for each additional person.

If you need a fishing guide for the lake, Paul Place comes highly recommended. Place Guide Service can be reached at (409) 693-3017.
– Lake Havasu

The World Wide Web now has several new “pages” to offer you surfers of the ‘net. Outdoor enthusiasts can find information on some of the best hunting and fishing in the world!

Pat McCarty, who has brought The Texas Sportsguide to the world through the Internet, has been spending quite a bit of time in Mexico and South America researching hunting and fishing opportunities. He has created several new Web pages to show the world the excellent hunting and fishing resources Mexico and Venezuela have to offer.

Mexico has often been overlooked as a getaway location except for the heavily trafficked resort cities. Some of the world’s most beautiful natural scenic resources can be found here in its pristine state. Mexico has something for everyone from its tropical rain forests, rugged mountains, lakes and streams to its scenic deserts and white sandy beaches. Mexico is a hunting and fishing paradise where you will find a lack of hunting or fishing pressure and many out-of-the-way dream destinations.

McCarty has created a Web page where outdoorsmen can find just what they’re looking for in Mexico from bass fishing, sal*****er fishing or fly-fishing to scuba diving to eco-logical tours or ruin exploration to bird hunting or deer hunting or even exotic game hunting. It’s called Adventures in Mexico and can be found at www.texs.com/mexico/.

One resort you will find through Adventures in Mexico is Mexico’s Laguna Vista. This is the site of the best waterfowl hunting resort in North America. Over 300 species of birds can be found here and can be spotted year-round. Hunting, Fishing, Birding and Eco-logical Tour packages are available at Laguna Vista. For a taste of the REAL Mexico, investigate the Laguna Vista Web site directly at www.texs.com/mexico/laguna/.

La Marina del Rio has long been recognized for its hunting and fishing resources and is now becoming a popular destination for birding and ecological tours. Newly discovered Aztec ruins close to the resort are also worth exploring.

La Marina del Rio offers world-class bass and sal*****er fishing, ecological tours, bird watching, Blue Rock Pigeon, dove, quail, duck, turkey and deer hunting. Information on each vacation package can be found directly at www.texs.com/mexico/la_marina/.

Venezuela is a land forgotten by time with great adventures to offer the adventurer. Venezuela is by no means hum-drum. You have never seen forests so full of life or rivers so beautiful. Everything about Venezuela will be a new experience for you. Get ready for the adventure of your lifetime because you will never forget it.

All travel in the jungles of Venezuela is done by dugout canoe made locally and very sturdy. They provide a safe and easy method of transportation through the lush jungles and tropical beaches.

Image Builder’s Advertising, the Web page design company of McCarty’s, has created two new Web pages under the name of “Bass Adventures” to introduce the world to the natural resources of Venezuela.

Uraima Falls Camp is located on the banks of the La Paragua river deep in the Venezuelan jungle. Here, Payara fishing is the main attraction. Payara is a distinctive fish found in greater numbers in Venezuela than in any other place in the world. They are an aggressive fish and an average of seven will be caught in a day at this camp with an average weight of 17 lbs. per fish.

The jungles near the camp are full of wildlife and plantlife not to be seen anywhere else in the world. This promises to be the most interesting and adventurous experience of your life! Look for their Web page at www.ibweb.com/uraima/.

Pea***** Bay Lodge(see page 8) is located 100 miles downstream of the Uraima Falls Camp on the shores of Lake Guri. Combination tours of both camps are available.

Pea*****
Bay Lodge is well-known by Venezuelans for its Pea***** Bass fishing. Knowledge of its fishing resources is just now becoming available to North America through Image Builder’s Web “Bass Adventures” pages.

The Pea***** Bass is a beautiful and powerful fish and the average angler can expect to land 10 to 20 of these per day. More information about Pea***** bass and other jungle adventures of Pea***** Bay Lodge can be found at www.ibweb.com/pea*****/.

One other Image Builder’s Bass Adventures page that introduces the world to the exciting world of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, can be found at www.ibweb.com/viva/, but that site is under construction at the present time. Check back with Image Builder’s soon, however, for information about the romantic Puerta Vallarta.

McCarty says of his Bass Adventures pages, “we will more than double our hunting and fishing lodges in Mexico and South America advertised on the Web in ’97.” These sensational hunting and fishing resorts mentioned here are still new and untouched by the masses, providing terrific opportunities for the outdoors enthusiast, whether it’s hunting, fishing, bird watching or ecological tours that interests you. – Lake Havasu

Michael Eugene Smith was an adult who felt it unnecessary to wear his life jacket on that final day on Lake Conroe. After all, the boat was only moving at seven to eight MPH and he and his friends were only about 100 yards from shore in their 12’ johnboat.

But Michael Smith was an epileptic. He had a violent epileptic seizure and fell overboard. Despite valiant efforts of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Forest Service, a game warden, Sergeant Leldon Hamilton, and two members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Bing Hastings and Diane Wharton, his body floated to the surface 46 hours later.

Smith was the needless victim of a drowning that could have been prevented through common sense. Personal Flotation Devices, or life preservers should be worn by all persons in a boat, whether it is moving or not. As a matter of fact, it is a good idea to wear one when you’re anywhere near the water. This goes for children, adults, experienced swimmers, and ESPECIALLY ANYONE PRONE TO SEIZURES, BLACKOUTS, DISORIENTATION, ETC.

The Texas Water Safety Act is written by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and applies to all persons in Texas waters. It states: “The operator of every Class A and Class 1 motorboat while underway shall require every passenger under thirteen (13) years of age to wear a Personal Flotation Device of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the Commandant of the Coast Guard. A life belt or ring buoy does not satisfy this requirement.”

In regards to personal watercraft, such as jet skis and water bikes, “Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V must be worn by each person on or being towed by personal watercraft.” The different types of PFDs pertain to the weight of the person wearing it.

Greg Gibson, a Precinct 1 Deputy Constable assigned to Lake Conroe, says that children under the age of 13 also need the correct child-sized PFDs. A life preserver must also be available for all adults on board. They should be adult-sized and adults should have easy access to them. In other words, they cannot be under heavy equipment or stored in a lower cabinet.

Gibson adds that jet skiers, of any age, are required to wear PFDs at all times.

Gibson is a stickler on children wearing life jackets. He also believes all persons with mental or physical handicaps should wear them.

Deputy Sheriff Jim Ford was principally involved in the futile rescue efforts of Mr. Smith. He says, “anyone with common sense, especially if they have a physical handicap, would be wearing a PFD anytime they’re around the water.”

The subject of PFDs is a sore spot with Ford. He says he gets violations all the time with kids not wearing the required life saving equipment. “It’s the infrequent recreational boaters that cause most of the problems,” he says, “as far as PFDs or equipment violations.”

Robert Schuster is Dive Master of the Montgomery County Dive Team. These are the guys that retrieve the bodies of drowning victims in Lake Conroe and other area lakes. Schuster says he has pulled numerous children out of the water after playing on piers or near bulkheads, and GUESS WHAT? They weren’t wearing life preservers! Not one! When the Dive Team is called, it is after the child has been in the water too long for a safe recovery, in most cases.

Schuster says he has not had to go after one drowning victim in his ten year career with Montgomery County that was wearing a PFD, with one exception. The exception was a heart attack victim that the coroner says was dead before he hit the water.

The Boating Trades Association of Texas is self-governing organization of more than 650 boat dealers, manufacturers, distributors and marina operators. It is dedicated to the interests of the boating industry and public of Texas.

The BTAT mails a pamphlet titled the Commandments of Boating to every Texan that registers their boat with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department,
according to Lee Couch of the BTAT. It is required that every boat in excess of 14 feet in length be titled with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Over 600,000 pamphlets have been mailed to Texas boatowners by the BTAT to date.

The first commandment listed to ensure boating fun and safety says, “Be sure to wear a life jacket (Personal Flotation Device). Even an expert swimmer is not safe without one.”

Recently, Darryl Hurst, President of the BTAT said, “we strongly support all efforts to increase enforcement…of…the entire Water Safety Code. While we were able to reduce our accident rate last year, there continues to beincidents of irresponsible boating. We have no tolerance for illegal or inappropriate behavior on the water and we will continue to work for a more educated and informed boating public.”

The BTAT is a member of the Boater Education Advisory Group. This group is comprised of representatives from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the Marina Association of Texas, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the American Red Cross, the U.S. Power Squadrons, the Lower Colorado River Authority, the National Park Service and other organizations interested in promoting safe recreational boating.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers a course free of charge called “Texas Boating Basics” to boaters of all ages and experience.

At this time, it is not a part of the Texas Water Safety Act that all persons prone to seizures or otherwise impaired are required to wear PFDs, unless they are under the age of 13 and aboard a moving water vessel. Deputy Sheriff Ford says it’s “common sense” that should make someone with a mental or physical impairment wear a life jacket. Will it take an Act of Congress to enforce common sense?
– Lake Havasu

Jumpin’ Jahozephat!! You’ve found the fish! Just as fast as you can get ’em in the boat, you’ve got your limit! It only took you seven and a half minutes to land 18 stripers once you found the fish and now, at 8:15 AM, you’re through for the day. You haven’t even finished your first cup of coffee but you’ve had the most exciting 10 minutes of your life! Hmmm…. Looks like you’ll be coming back to Lake Texoma.

Lake Texoma is the best fishing lake in the country, according to Mel Stover who works on the lake as a fishing guide. He makes this claim for some very good reasons. Lake Texoma is one of three lakes in the country where the striped bass reproduce naturally (without restocking).No other lake can produce stripers o the size found in Lake Texoma, either. It is not uncommon to land a striper in excess of 25 pounds on Lake Texoma.

The striped bass, previously a sal*****er species, became a freshwater fish quite by accident. When the Santee-Cooper Lake was dammed and sal*****er was no longer allowed to empty into the famous lake, striped bass that were trapped in the lake adapted rather well to their new lake. Stripers were later stocked into several other freshwater reservoirs and they did well. Today, striped bass is regularly stocked in Lake Livingston, Toledo Bend, Falcon Lake and other popular fishing spots in Texas. It is a popular sportfish because it is very aggressive and will give the angler quite a run for his money. No, a striper catch is not just another catch. Die hard bass fishermen may never go back once they’ve mastered a striper.

Striped bass fishing alone brings about $25 million per year to the economy of Lake Texoma and fishing is the primary industry of this part of both states. The population of the lake area easily doubles or even triples during fishing season.

Two-thirds of Lake Texoma lies in Oklahoma, according to a map of the Red River Channel. This makes the lake only the third largest reservoir in the state of Texas, but it is easily larger than any other lake within the state of Texas. Located just an hour-and-a-half to two hours north of Dallas, the lake offers North Texans a convenient get-away set in beautiful rolling hills.

Lake Texoma also has huge catfish! Several catfish in excess of 35 pounds are taken from the lake every day. This is another fish that naturally reproduces in the 100,000 square acres of Lake Texoma.

The ecology of the Red River is unique. In the Panhandle of Texas and Western Oklahoma, there is an underground salt bed that dates back 220 million years. Many of the springs that feed into the Red River produce water that is almost pure brine. It is estimated that 3,600 tons of salt is emptied into the Red River per day. The result is that the Red River has a very high salt content that occurs naturally and is probably the reason that stripers thrive in Lake Texoma.

Another consequence of this high salt content is water that is unusable for municipal, industrial or agricultural purposes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has devised a plan to remove 2,000 tons of the salt deposited in the river per day. Municipalities, large industrial users and farmers could benefit from a plentiful supply of water, but the reduction of salt deposited into Lake Texoma would only have detrimental effects on the striped bass population. Some experts believe that they would no longer reproduce naturally in the lake.

The project would also affect the flow rates of the river, possibly reducing it to 0, and the water will be murky virtually all the time. Selenium buildup in the brine lakes used for disposal of salt threatens all waterfowl and wetlands that are home to a number of endangered species such as the Bald Eagle and the Whooping Crane.

The project was initiated in 1957 and approximately 27% of the allotted funds for the project have been spent to date. Currently, 250 tons of salt are being removed from the river per day. A lack of funding halted the project in 1988, but a recent political push has released more funds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has raised objections that have effectively halted the project to allow additional input from the affected wildlife agencies and the public.

What can you do, you ask? Call or write your Congressman! Now is the best time to be heard. Work is slated to resume within the year and, if nothing is done to stop it, the project will be completed in the year 2001 or 2002.

The Red River Chloride Project, as it is called, is a very real threat to Lake Texoma. This spectacular fishery could be destroyed for generations to come. We still have time to save it and preserve one of nature’s great wonders.

In the meantime, plan a trip to
the cooler climate of North Texas/Southern Oklahoma and try some of the best striper or catfishing to be found anywhere. You may never come back to bass fishing. If you need an experienced striper or catfish guide, call Mel Stover at (800) 315-8607. – Lake Havasu

Considered by many to be the best fishing reservoir in the South, Toledo Bend has a great deal to offer sportsmen from both Texas and Louisiana. Snowbirds from the Midwest and anglers from all points flock to the warm waters of the largest man-made reservoir in the state of Texas spanning 185,000 acres. The lake offers 1,200 miles of shoreline both in Texas and Louisiana and is 15 miles wide at its widest point. Toledo Bend offers possibly the best fishing in the country with an extimated 300.63 pounds of game fish per acre, including black bass, white bass, stripers, Florida bass, crappie, bream and catfish.

In addition to great fishing, Toledo Bend offers a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere that can only be found in the south. Texas’ celebrated friendliness coupled with Louisiana’s well-known hospitality guarantees the tourist a delightful vacation. Toledo Bend can become habit-foreming, so expect to visit often.

The Toledo Bend Project was conducted by the Sabine River Authority of Texas and the Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana for the purposes of water supply, hydroelectric power generation and recreation. Both private and public recrestional facilities are available for swimming, boating, fishing, camping and hunting.

The reservoir is located 45 minutes northeast of Jasper or one hour due east of Lufkin on Highway 21. From Shreveport, Louisiana, take Highway 171 South two hours to Many and Highway 6 West to the lake.

Pendleton Bay Bridge crosses the reservoir at apprximately its midpoint. The Texas Highway that crosses this bridge is Highway 21. This becomes Louisiana Highway. 6 as it enters the state of Louisiana.

The Sabine River Authority of Texas operates a day-use park at the intersection of R255 and FM 692 on the southern tip of the lake. Another day-use park is located in Hemphill just north of Hwy. 21 and still another of the Texas SRA parks is located in Shelby County on the northern tip of the lake in the North Toledo Bend Wildlife Management Area.

The Sabine National Forest covers the entire western side of Toledo Bend. The U.S. Forest Service operates several recreation areas here. These include the Willow Oak Recreation Area, which is equipped with a boat ramp on Hwy. 87 near the south end, This park is open all year but, according to Dwayne Husband of the Sabine River Authority, provides no overnight camping facilities.. East Hamilton Recreation Area has a very nice boat ramp, according to Husband, and picnic tables for day use. It is located at the eastern tip of FM 2261 near Martinez Bayou.

Campers can find plenty of overnight camping facilities at the Lakeview Recreation Area. This U.S. Forest Service park lies at the tip of Housen Bay and has a boat ramp. This facility is open between March 1 and October 15. Indian Mounds Recreation Area is located just south of Hwy. 83. There is a boat ramp here that is open year-round and overnight camping facilities are available here Ragtown Recreation Area, located just south of FM 3184 in Ragtown Bay, is the last of the U.S. Forest Service’s facilities that provides facilities for overnight camping. It also has a boat ramp and is open from approximately March to October.

Approximately 34 private marinas are open for business on the Texas side of Toledo Bend. These marinas vary in price and facilities. Hemphill, which Hwy. 21 runs through on its way across the lake, is home to the majority of private marinas, including Harborlight Marina and Frontier Park.

The Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana supports five public parks on the eastern shores of Toledo Bend Reservoir. These include, from the north, Oak Ridge SRA Park 2, Converse Bay Park 4, San Miguel Park 7-A, Twin Island SRA Park 11 and Pleasure Point SRA Park 15.

San Miguel Park sits on San Miguel Creek just north of LA Hwy. 6. Turn north on LA Hwy. 191. The park provides a total of 60 campsites, including 40 with RV pads. Twenty of these have full RV hook-up. Twenty of the campsites are for tent campers with tent pads. The park has 19 A-frame cabins available that sleep four each and are fully equipped with a refrigerator, stove, AC/H, cookware and bedding. San Miguel Park is the only SRA park that offers these A-frame cabins. The park has two boat ramps and 28 boat stalls.

North Toledo Bend State Park is the only state park on Toledo Bend Reservoir in either state. It sits across San Miguel Creek from San Miguel SRA Park 7-A on the Louisiana shores of Toledo Bend Reservoir. This park encompasses more than 900 acres of pine-filled lands available for camping, fishing,
hiking and picnicking. A total of 63 campsites and 10 vacation cabins and a group camp area are available for overnight guests. The park has a boat ramp on San Miguel Creek, a swimming pool, a nature trail, a pavilion and a camp store.

If you’re planning to visit the Toledo Bend area for some of the best fishing in the country or for any other reason, I hope this information proves useful. Wherever you fish this summer, good luck and keep those lines tight!
– Lake Havasu

The Texas Sportsguide has seen many a fishin’ season come and go and has remained the premiere fishing magazine in the state. Well, you don’t stay #1 for so long without making some changes.

The Texas Sportsguide On-line Edition made its debut in 1995 as the first magazine of its kind devoted to Texas fishing to appear on the World Wide Web. In the beginning, it was only a
six-page magazine, but with the increased coverage of area lakes and the peeked interest of
on-line users, the magazine now offers over 20 pages of solid fishing news stories and several pages of advertising, and it’s growing with every issue.

Pat McCarty is the Editor and Webmaster of The Texas Sportsguide On-line Edition. He is very happy with the attention his Web pages are getting. He says, “the World Wide Web is the future of advertising and the print media. As of the February 1996 issue, we’ve been getting around 10,000 readers per month and the number is increasing every month.” McCarty provides advertising services for both the On-line and Print Edition under the name of ImageBuilders Publishing and can be reached at (409) 856-8537.

The Texas Sportsguide On-line Edition has grown so fast, in fact, that it was necessary to obtain a Domain Name specifically for the magazine. A Domain Name is a short, easy-to-remember address or url. The adoption of its own Domain Name makes it easy for readers to gain access to the magazine’s Web pages. The Texas Sportsguide can be found on the Web at www.texs.com

But, alas, the World Wide Web is not yet in every home in Texas. It’s not on every boat, pier or in every marina. That’s where the print version comes in. The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition can still be found in local marines, marinas and tackle shops in the Houston, Dallas, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, Lake Richland-Chambers, Lake Fork and Lake Sam Rayburn areas. It can even be found in Waco and has subscribers all over the United States. Jim Binns serves as Editor and Outdoor Writer of The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition.

The contributors to The Texas Sportsguide include Jim Binns, a highly regarded tournament fisherman with an entertaining fishing story or helpful
tricks of the trade to share in every issue. Jim is a Houston business executive who finds time to fish whenever possible, and whenever possible is pretty often!

Julia Forney, an outdoor writer from the Conroe area, is a frequent contributor to The Texas Sportsguide Print and On-line Editions. She has been published in Bassin’ Magazine as well as Texas Black Bass Unlimited’s Inland Fisheries. Julia is an active member of Texas Black Bass Unlimited and the Texas Outdoor Writer’s Association.

Bill Cannan is a reputable fishing guide and tournament fisherman with experience on all the lakes that The Texas Sportsguide provides coverage as well as the Gulf Coast and sal*****er fishing in general.. The February issue of the On-line Edition even has a fishing article of Bill’s that is set off the Ivory Coast of Africa! Cannan’s fishing articles appear each month in both the On-line Edition and the Print Edition of The Texas Sportsguide.

Captain Bill Pustejovsky provides sal*****er fishing information for The Texas Sportsguide a little closer to home. Captain Bill is a full-time professional guide and the owner of the Gold Tip Guide Service that runs out of Matagorda Bay. He has been fishing out of Matagorda Bay all of his 41 years and has kept records of the bay regarding wind conditions, water depth, fish catches, etc., since 1975. Captain Bill knows his bay and provides guide services for wade fishermen and boaters alike.
Alan Richardson provides the Gulf Coast Fishing Report for The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition and is also a contributor to the Online Edition. Alan has been writing columns and freelancing fishing articles for six years. He is experienced with sal*****er fishing, having fished off the Galveston Coast since 1968, and he and his wife Terry own and operate the Fishing Tackle Resource Center in Spring. Alan has hosted outdoor radio shows for four years and has won awards all four years from the Texas Outdoor Writers Association, of which Alan and Terry are members.

Keith Warren is a contributor to The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition. Keith is perhaps the most visible outdoorsman in America. He is a regular guest on national outdoor programs and the owner and host of his own program, Texas Angler. He appears regularly in countless regional and national publications like Bass Masters Magazine, Sports Afield and Texas Parks and Wildlife. His 1994 award-winning video, “How to Catch Trophy Specks,” is touted as the number one selling sal*****er videotape of all time in Texas.

Sherry Ruslink is another contributor to the The Texas Sportsguide Print Edition. Sherry is an experienced tournament angler who fishes on the Bass’n Gal Tournament Trail. She has earned several awards for bass fishing including the coveted Texas Lady Angler of the Year Award for 1992 and 1993. Residing in Arlington, Texas, she provides coverage for Lake Fork.

A new page has just been added to The Texas Sportsguide On-line Edition that provides coverage for northern Mexico lakes and the southern United States. In it, Hugo Trevino will “share a few anecdotes and maybe a few tips” for bass fishing. Hugo is a television producer for several big corporations in Mexico. He is an outdoor writer who is very familiar with the fishing that Mexico has to offer.

Pat McCarty himself is a contributor to both the On-line and Print Editions of The Texas Sportsguide. Pat has been a tournament fisherman for 20 – 25 years and he has been a licensed guide on east Texas lakes for 11 years. He is an active member of Texas Black Bass Unlimited, a Texas freshwater conservation association.

Boots Follmar Marine is a big sponsor of The Texas Sportsguide. Boots has a fine selection of bass boats, both freshwater and sal*****er, and pontoon boats for the professional fisherman or the weekend angler. Boots’ dealership is in Houston and he can be reached at ( 713) 649-2709.

Other big sponsors include Pier 45 Marine in north Houston with their impressive lines of ProCraft bass boats and Voyager pontoons, (713) 999-5666, and April Plaza Marina on Lake Conroe. Look for the charity bass tournament there on March 2. Call Ron at (409) 588-1144. Red Wing Boat Company and Fred Lester’s lines of Stratos and Champion boats and Evinrude outboards, (713) 921-0656, Quantum Lures and Skeeter Boats all are sponsors of The Texas Sportsguide as well. In fact, Thomas Ferro of Skeeter Boats has a very informative article on Skeeter Boats in the February On-line Edition of The Texas Sportsguide.

Upcoming sponsors of The Texas Sportsguide include Keith Warren of Texas Angler, who can be reached at (210) 625-3474, Holt Taylor of the “Get Hooked on Fishing! Not Drugs!” campaign at (210) 534-4100, TBBU’s 96 Houston Gala (214)388-4724 and Bingham’s Check-It Stick.

The Texas Sportsguide is planning to increase its coverage of Texas lakes in the On-line Edition to include Lake Sam Rayburn, Richland-Chambers and others. If anyone is interested in sponsoring or submitting lake reports for other lakes, please contact Pat McCarty at anglers@texs.com or www.ibweb.com – Lake Havasu

Adventures in Mexico™ brings the excitement of the Mexican bass hunt to the homes of Web users around the world. The Web pages were designed by Pat McCarty to attract fishermen to the excellent resources that Mexico has to offer. Mexico offers the bass angler the finest bass fishing in the world and McCarty presents the very finest bass fishing adventure trips in Mexico. The pages can be found at www.texs.com/mexico/.

Lake Comedero is “Mexico’s Greatest Bass Fishing Hotspot.” Located 100 miles northeast of the popular resort, Mazatlan, the secluded mountain lake of the Sierra Madres offers the adventurous angler cool, clear water teeming with thousands of hungry black bass. Lake Comedero sees no “best fishing season” all year, averaging daily catches in excess of 100 bass per boat during any season.

Lake El Salto is called “the world’s greatest bass fishing lunker hole.” This is the newest bass fishing lake Mexico has to offer and is located 50 miles north of Mazatlan. El Salto has the largest population of trophy size bass of any lake in the world.

Lake Oviachic is known as “Mexico’s most accessible bass fishing hotspot.” It is located on the west bank of Mexico on the Gulf of California.

The Adventures in Mexico™ pages have information available on other Mexican lakes as well including Presa Espanola, Presa Los Mimbres, Presa Cuchillo, Cajon de Pena, and the famous Lake Guerrero, possibly the oldest and most popular of Mexico’s bass fishing lakes. Lake Guerrero is located just 165 miles south of the Texas border, just a three-hour drive from Texas.

Each lake is fully described on its own “page” and all the information needed, including lodging facilities, costs, best lures, transportation information, fish limits fopr each lake, weather, guide services, and other general information is listed for each lake.

Mexico has often been overlooked as a getaway location except for the heavily trafficked resort cities. Some of the world’s most beautiful natural scenic resources can be found here in its pristine state. Mexico has something for everyone from its tropical rain forests, rugged mountains, lakes and streams to its scenic deserts and white sandy beaches. Mexico is a hunting and fishing paradise where you will find a lack of hunting or fishing pressure and many out-of-the-way dream destinations.

Another favorite sportfishing destination of McCarty’s is Puerto Vallarta. A new Web page has just been completed that will introduce the world to the unbelievably picturesque Puerto Vallarta. Marlin and sailfish are popular sport fish here and Cajon de Pena, a lake nestled in the scenic mountains of the Sierra Madre range, offers excellent bass fishing. This page can be found at www.ibweb.com/viva.

If these fishing spots don’t hold enough adventure for you, try Pea***** Bass Fishing on Lake Guri in Venezuela. Bass Adventures, America’s leading international fishing outfitter has made all the arrangements and are just waiting to give you the adventure of a lifetime. You’ve never really fished for bass until you take on the Pea***** Bass of the Amazons! You can find more information on this fascinating adventure at www.pea*****trips.com .

Whatever type of fishing venture you’re in the mood for, let Pat McCarty’s web pages guide you to the best fishing experience available. – Lake Havasu

World’s Strongest Superline Enhanced

SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA – Now the world’s strongest superline is improved with better colorfastness and improved resistance to fraying. Berkley FireLine is the only superline to meet or exceed the rated test at the Palomar knot across all pound tests. The small diameter FireLine has the same high sensitivity and smooth handling as before and is the best superline for spinning tackle.

FireLine has top rated knot strength giving the angler more confidence for the hook set and fish handling. The strength of FireLine along with low stretch provides a more positive hook set with greater impact resistance. This non-braided superline is favored by both fresh and sal*****er anglers for its ease of casting, rugged durability and comfortable handling.

FireLine is available in smoke and flame green colors. With the improved formulation the flame green color is brighter and more visible to the angler than before. Line sizes of FireLine range from 4-pound test/1-pound diameter to 30-pound test/12-pound diameter. The suggested retail prices are $15.45 for a 125-yard spool, $29.95 for a 300-yard spool and $92.45 for the 1,000-yard spool.

For more information about Berkley or the location of the nearest Berkley retailer, call Berkley Angler Services at 1-800-BERKLEY or visit the web at www.berkley-fishing.com. – Lake Havasu