Passport to Texas

Answering questions at Bassmaster University. Photo: James Overstreet

Bassmaster University During Texas Fest Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Fishing for largemouth bass is more satisfying when you have the skills and know-how to reel them in. Anglers can acquire both during the annual Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest May 17th – 20th on Lake Travis.

And you ask why.

Dave Terre is chief of fisheries management and research, and coordinates the tournament for the agency.

Well, some of the world’s best bass fishermen are going to be at this event. And they have an event called the Bassmaster University. And here you can come and listen at no cost to you, a seminar from these bass anglers. And they’ll teach you have to cast, they’ll teach you how to fish with particular kinds of baits—in a seminar format. You’ll be able to hear seminars from some of our favorite bass fishing pros. Maybe Mike Iaconelli, or Kevin VanDam. And actually hear them talk about: how do they fish a crankbait, how do they fish a top water; what strategies do they use to fish for bass during high water, or low water, or during the springtime, or whatever. It’s an opportunity to hear how the best fish. That’s a window of opportunity you don’t want to miss.

The Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest is May 17th -20th on Lake Travis. It’s free to attend. Find details at bassmaster.com.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, Cecilia Nasti.

Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculii)

A Fish Grab Bag Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

The Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest is a professional bass fishing tournament that puts the spotlight on Texas’ exceptional bass fisheries. The event comes to Lake Travis in the Texas Hill Country May 17-20.

Just outside of Jonestown, Texas at Jones Brothers Park.

Dave Terre, chief of fish management and research, coordinates the event for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The pro anglers who fish the tournament should also expect to reel in species other than largemouth.

It’s going to be kind of cool this year. Yes, they’ll catch white bass, they’ll catch a striper. But I think they’re going to be reeling in one really cool fish this year. A fish that they’ve never caught in the 12 year history of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest. They going to be catching some of the state fish this year. The Guadalupe bass. They’re very abundant in Lake Travis, and also, we’re going to be doing some messaging with that fish this year…since we’re doing so much work with the Guadalupe bass right here in the Texas Hill Country; that will be really cool.

The Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest is May 17-20 on Lake Travis. It’s free to attend, and offers an Outdoor Adventures Area for family friendly fun. Details at bassmaster.com.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, Cecilia Nasti.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J., will be competing among a full field of 108 anglers in the 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Image: bassmaster.com.

Fishing, Fundraising and Family Fun Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

More than 100 world class bass anglers will be on Lake Travis later this month for an event originally called the Toyota Texas Bass Classic.

This event has been going on since 2007, but, for the past two years, it’s under a brand new name: The Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest.

TPWD’s Dave Terre helps to coordinate the event for the agency, which he says is a fundraiser.

To help the department raise fund to benefit our youth fishing activities.

Including the neighborhood fishin’ program, state fish art contest, and various other programs that get youth involved in the sport of angling.

This has been really huge for Texas Parks and Wildlife. So far we’ve raised 2.75 million dollars since the event’s inception since 2007 as the as the Toyota Texas Bass Classic.

With another $250,000 donation expected at the Lake Travis event, donations will reach $3-million dollars.

It’s a blessing. And we can thank Toyota, And Gulf States Toyota and Bassmaster for helping us and supporting us in this event, to showcase our Texas fisheries, and to give us these funds to do good work to bring children into the outdoors through fishing.

The Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest is on Lake Travis in Jonestown, Texas. It’s free to attend, and offers an Outdoor Adventures Area for family friendly fun. Details at bassmaster.com.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, Cecilia Nasti.

Angler Stacy Spriggs of Huntsville caught the 13.06 pound, 27 inch Legacy Class lunker during the Second Annual Stanley Burgay Memorial Bass Tournament on a Carolina rig in 8 feet of water.

Effects of Drought on Bass (it's not all bad) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Lake Travis is the site of this year’s Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest May 17-20th.

Just a few short years ago the lake was at historic low levels due to extreme drought. However, Dave Terre, chief of fish management and research at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says, the drought contributed to improvements in the fishery.

During those low water years, what happened is a lot of terrestrial vegetation grew up into the lake bed, or on the edges of the lake. Then, in 2015, when we caught all that new water, it flooded all that terrestrial vegetation, creating an immense amount of fish habitat at the lake. Then, TPWD came in there and stocked Florida largemouth bass into the reservoir; plus we had a lot of natural spawning of bass also at the same time, and the bass population just took off wildly. And now, we’re just seeing the result of that increased fish production. And these strong year classes of fish up pushing through. And fishing has really been amazing on Lake Travis. And now is a great opportunity with the Toyota Bass Master Texas Fest to showcase this great fishery to a worldwide audience.

It’s free to attend the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, May 17-20th, on Lake Travis. Find details at bassmaster.com.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, Cecilia Nasti.

Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest

It's Back: Toyota Texas Bassmaster Texas Fest Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Excellent management has made Texas a destination for bass fishing. And more than a hundred of the nation’s top professional bass anglers will be at Lake Travis, May 17-20, for the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest.

Well, what’s so cool about this event in its 12 fabulous years is we’ve gotten the opportunity to showcase our fisheries all across the state.

Dave Terre is chief of fish management and research at TPW, and helps to coordinate the event for the agency.

The event is really a benefit event for Texas Parks and Wildlife, to help the department raise funds to benefit our youth fishing activities; including the neighborhood fishin’ program, the state fish art contest, and other programs that get youth involved in fishing.

An Outdoor Adventures Area will provide visitors a chance to meet pro anglers and participate in outdoor activities.

Where the weigh-ins happen, there’ll be an onsite expo. Families can come, learn how to cast, meet a fisheries biologist, learn how to camp, learn about our state parks. You can learn about how we do our fisheries management business. You can learn all about the outdoors in our Outdoor Adventures Area. So it’s a great time to come and get the kids involved, and we hope everybody will come and enjoy this.

It’s free to attend the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, May 17-20th, on Lake Travis at Jones Brothers Park. Find details at bassmaster.com.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, Cecilia Nasti.