May 29, 2013

Angler Sets New Fly Rod State Record for Channel Catfish

ATHENS—When Bryan Smith of Athens isn’t helping visitors to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) catch fish, he does some fishing on his own.

May 23, 2013

Balmorhea Springs Placed on “Waters to Watch” List

BALMORHEA—Balmorhea Springs, a complex of Trans-Pecos water sources which supports two endangered fish species, an endangered snail, and four other species of concern, has been placed on the National Fish Habitat Partnership’s 10 “Water to Watch” list for 2013.

May 17, 2013

Lake Belton Trails to Join Texas Paddling Trails Network

MORGAN’S POINT – Three paddling trails on Lake Belton will be joining 52 other inland and coastal trails as official Texas Paddling Trails through an initiative launched in 1998 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

May 14, 2013

Local Volunteers Improve Fishing in Canyon Lake

ATHENS—Fishing used to be like the weather—everybody talked about it, but nobody did anything about it.

May 13, 2013

NFWF Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund to Receive $203 Million for Texas to Restore Gulf Coast Natural Resources

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 13 – Texas will receive $203 million over a five-year period to restore Gulf coast natural resources impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced today.  NFWF will administer the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund involving $2.544 billion from plea agreements resolving certain criminal cases arising from the 2010 explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

As Temperatures Rise Lake Placid Catfishing Heating Up

ATHENS—As temperatures begin to rise throughout the south-central Texas region, so should the catfish bite at Lake Placid. Lake Placid is a small 214-acre impoundment located on the Guadalupe River in Guadalupe County one-half mile southwest of Seguin. Primary access to the reservoir is located below the I-10 bridge.

Free Food, Fishing to Highlight National Fishing Day at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center

ATHENS, Texas—The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens will kick off National Fishing and Boating Week June 1 by making a family fishing trip affordable with free admission for kids 12 and under plus free fishing for the whole family.

May 9, 2013

Lake Conroe Conservation Efforts Receive State, National Recognition

ATHENS—Lake Conroe has suffered more than its share of ups and downs over the years—pun intended.

May 7, 2013

Gulf Shrimp Season Closing May 23

AUSTIN — The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both Texas and federal waters will close 30 minutes after sunset on May 23 until a still-to-be determined time in July.

May 1, 2013

Toyota ShareLunker Season Ends with Mixed Results

ATHENS—The Toyota ShareLunker program received a below-average number of entries during the season just ended, but the number of lakes producing 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass continued to increase, and investments in DNA testing showed promising results.