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.
SAN ANTONIO – This Saturday, a new children’s nature playscape at Government Canyon State Natural Area will be unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. The playscape is ADA accessible and offers young natural area visitors a unique outdoor recreation experience.
BURNET— The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will hold a public meeting March 9 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. to address future development at Inks Lake State Park Complex, which includes Inks Lake State Park, Longhorn Cavern State Park and Park Road 4.
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.
SAN FELIPE— After almost a year of repairs from the flooding last Memorial Day, Stephen F. Austin State Park is reopening its gates to visitors March 1.
AUSTIN — For the sixth consecutive year, Whole Earth Provision Co. will be donating proceeds from the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour to Texas State Parks.
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.
JUNCTION — Nestled just off IH-10 on the western edge of the hill country is the International Dark-Sky Association’s newest appointee – South Llano River State Park located just outside of Junction. The International Dark-Sky Park designation will ensure the protection of the park’s dark skies not only for the park’s natural resources, but also for the local community and out-of-town visitors to enjoy.
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.
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.