ATHENS – In March 2008, Jeremy Bruton of Blooming Grove caught a 13.05 pound largemouth bass during a fishing tournament on Richland Chambers Reservoir. The big bass propelled Bruton to a second place finish and a $40 payout in the tournament that day, but the fish proved to be of much greater value when its 13.06 pound daughter was caught nine years later and more than 100 miles away Feb. 28 on Lake Naconiche.
ATHENS – Angler Larry Mosby caught the second Toyota ShareLunker of the 2017 season Feb. 28 from Lake Naconiche near Nacogdoches. ShareLunker 567, a 13.06 pound largemouth bass, is the first ShareLunker from the lake to be submitted to the program.
ATHENS – In March 2006, angler Edward Reid pulled a staggering 14.48-pound largemouth bass from the depths of Lake Conroe near Houston. On Feb. 10, nearly 11 years later and more than 234 miles away, angler Ryder Wicker caught the 13.07-pound offspring of that fish from Marine Creek Lake near Fort Worth.
AUSTIN – The Devils River is one of the premier paddling and fishing destinations in Texas, drawing outdoor enthusiasts each year to enjoy the preserved natural beauty, excellent sport fishery, and native wildlife along its clear waters. But the river is not for the faint of heart.
ATHENS — Fort Worth angler Ryder Wicker caught the first Toyota ShareLunker of the 2017 season Feb. 10 at Marine Creek Lake. But this wasn’t the only “first” he checked off the list – this particular fish outweighs the former water body record holder by more than 2 pounds, and is likely the first ShareLunker caught from a group of selectively bred largemouth bass that were stocked by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries biologists 11 years ago.
ATHENS – Fly Fish Texas is back for the 17th year with a jam-packed day of activities, classes, demonstrations and vendors 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. And it’s all free with the cost of admission to the TFFC.
AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has more than 68 repair and improvement projects, with a total construction value at over $70 million, which must be bid and encumbered into construction contracts by this August, thanks to funding provided during the 84th legislative session in 2015. For builders who like the idea of working in state parks, it can offer a nice change of pace compared to big city projects. Anyone is encouraged to bid, but the agency makes special efforts to appeal to minority and woman-owned businesses, following state purchasing rules.
AUSTIN – The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and the George H.W. Bush Vamos a Pescar Education Fund announced five Texas Parks and Wildlife Department partnered fishing organizations as grant recipients to help bring conservation, education and fishing and boating experiences to Hispanic families.
The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
AUSTIN – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, recognized the Texas Master Naturalist Program today as part of the 2017 Bright Ideas in Government initiative.