Passport to Texas

Birding: Harris Hawk

 TPW Magazine May Preview: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The month of May is especially great for those who enjoy birding. TPW magazine Editor, Louie Bond, says the magazine’s May issue highlights birds not normally found in Texas.

66 –Vagrants, they call them. They come from all over the world and the pass through and stop through here to have a drink or get a little rest. One of our features this month is an incredible story on what they call the star vagrants. And these are like the rarest of the rare birds; names you’ve probably never heard. But, if you get out there with your binoculars, you might even see them. Now, another thing I always like to do in the spring was to take my kids to what was then called Aquarena Springs, which was very famous for its kitschy appeal. But what you didn’t really realize was what a gem Spring Lake is. Hidden underneath the lake, in those Aquarena Springs, are some of the endangered species that are endemic only to that particular body of water. And former TPWD executive director, Andy Sansom, has taken over there. It’s now called the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. They’ve stripped away all the kitsch, and the hoo-ha, and have left a natural treasure where you can still go out on glass bottom boats and look beneath and see the real wonder, the real show of nature. This spring, whether you’re a birder, or you like to look under the water, there’s something special for you to do.

Thanks, Louie.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW Magazine April Cover

 TPW Magazine April Preview: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

April is a gorgeous month in the state. The blue skies and mild weather always gets Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine Editor Louie Bond thinking about the outdoor places she’d like to be.

61— This inspired our first article a couple of years ago called best of Texas Naturally. And that first year we just did staff picks. Last year we decided to expand that a little and we went throughout Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and asked for their nominations for their favorite natural things in Texas. So, this year, we’ve spread our circle even a little wider, and we’ve gone to the natural partners for Texas Parks and Wildlife. We have one called the best historical font, that’s not Times Roman, nominated by Andy Sansom, former Executive Director of the agency. And he nominated Aquarina Springs Resort, which is now called the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Another one is from another former TPWD guy, Larry McKinney at the Hart Institute. And he nominated the Devil’s River as The Best River to Know Where – which is the K-N-O-W kind of know where. So, you get where we’re going with this. And it’s all meant to inspire you for some new places to go and visit in this great state ours. So, we hope April inspires you to get out the rest of the year and enjoy Texas.

Thanks, Louie.

The April issue of Texas parks and Wildlife Magazine is on newsstands now.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

White Bass, Colorado Bend State Park

 Angling: Battling White Bass: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Largemouth bass give fishermen a good fight, but the smaller white bass is just as capable of providing anglers with an adrenaline kick.

14— Ounce for ounce, they are a real strong fighter. But they’re not as big as largemouths. If they grew as large as largemouth bass, I think we’d have to fish for them with surf rods and heavy lines.

John Jefferson is an outdoor writer, and crafted an article about this species for Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine’s February digital fishing special.

11— Most people that fish for whites will use lightweight tackle, a medium to lightweight spinning rod, and four to six pound test line – and then they’re fun!

Late winter and early spring white bass begin schooling in tributaries to spawn. Whether from a bank or a boat, fishing for whites in open and running water is your best bet for success.

21— Middle of the creek, and then draw the lure back to the shore. And you’ve covered water from the deeper water in the middle up to the shore. You’ll probably hang one. It’s not uncommon, and a neat thing to see [that sometimes] you’ll hook one fish and as you’re reeling it in and playing it, there will be two or three others schooling right along with it.

They’re probably offering moral support. Read the February digital fishing special, free online, at www.tpwmagazine.com.

That’s our show…with support from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

White Bass, Illustration TPWD

 Angling: White Bass Run= Sprintime Fun: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In the February Digital Fishing Special from Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine you’ll find an article on white bass by outdoor writer John Jefferson.

11— White bass is a great sport fish. Parks and Wildlife records show there are more white bass caught per hour of fishing than any other fish in Texas.

Usually a lake dweller, white bass school in tributaries to spawn in late winter and early spring.

21— The white bass are triggered to spawn when the water reaches 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. As far as the calendar, instead of the thermometer, it starts sometimes as early as warm days in January, but it really picks up in February and March. Those are the best two months.

Anglers may keep up to 25 fish caught with a pole and line that meet the 10-inch length requirement. Although white bass prefer shad and minors, they’ll take artificial lures, which is what John Jefferson says he uses.

13— With me, it was a matter of laziness. I didn’t want to lug a big minnow bucket up and down the creeks when I could take a few jigs with me and a lightweight spinning rod and spend more time actually fishing than changing bait.

We’ll talk more with John about white bass tomorrow.

That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Image courtesy www.russellgraves.com

 Nature: Dirty Fingernails and Goat Slobber: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We live in an age where nearly everyone has access to more than one kind of electronic media device.

02— Which, personally, I’m not against.
What writer, photographer and former Ag teacher, Russell Graves, does take exception to is the amount of time children and families spend indoors using those gadgets.

07 –You know, I think a lot of my attitude comes from the way I was raised. When I was growing up, I was continually outside, and it just seemed like the natural place to be.
Studies suggest children who spend time outdoors are healthier, happier and more focused in the classroom. Parents can help their children develop an affinity for nature by starting small…such as by growing a flower garden, or going on hikes in State parks with the goal of spotting specific animals or plants.

06 – Getting them to the point where the kids are motivated so they want to go outside and play on their own, without their parents having to push them outside.
Graves, a former award winning public school teacher, says schools have a role to play when it comes to reconnecting young people with nature.

08 – School can provide a way for kids to learn about the outdoors, and become involved in camping or hiking or photography or any number of outdoor activities.
Russell Graves wrote an article for the January issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine [called Dirty Nails and Goat Slobber] that outlines simple steps any adult can use to help children take back the outdoors. Because: Life’s Better Outside.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.