Passport to Texas

TPWD technician Jeff Bowling holds a 42.5-inch, 39-pound blue catfish caught on a jugline at Richland Chambers Reservoir on December 10, 2009.

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This is Passport to Texas

Catfish are more adaptable to changing environmental conditions than other game fish, are popular among anglers, and are good eating. For those and other reasons, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners approved a new Catfish Management Plan earlier this year. Dave Terre.

The first step in this plan was to go to our anglers and ask them what they want for the future of catfish angling in Texas. And we took their opinions and their needs and desires for catfish fishing in the future, and we tried to look to see what we could do with our catfish populations to make fishing better for them.

Terre is chief of fisheries management and research at Texas Parks and Wildlife. Stocking, habitat management, and regulations, are among the tools they’ll use to implement the plan. In addition, he says, they’ll bring fish to the fishermen.

People want good, quality fishing opportunities close to home. So, what we strive to do is to use catfish to create good catfish fishing opportunities on smaller, public water bodies in major metropolitan areas close to where people live in cities. So, look for us [to be] doing more of that in the future.

Find the complete catfish management plan on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

All these strategies have been confirmed with our anglers as things tht they want us to do. So, for the next decade or so, this is the direction that we’ll be moving with our catfish program.

The Sport Fish restoration program supports our series.

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

During the Toyota Texas Bass Classic at Lake Conroe in Conroe, Texas on October 6, 2013. (Photo by Jason Miczek)

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This is Passport to Texas

The 10th Annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic, May 20 through 22, takes place on Lake Ray Roberts, and features family friendly activities at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.

This is a new thing for Bass Classic. The fishing portion is going to take place at Lake Ray Roberts, and then they’re going to come over and do all the awards in the stadium. So, it’s really going to be a little different than it’s been, but almost a little cooler, because usually we’re out in the country, and this time a lot of people that haven’t been able to come out to this event in the past are going to get to come out and try it.

Lacey Estus is outreach and recruitment manager at Texas Parks and Wildlife. The festivities in Frisco offers urban families an opportunity to get acquainted with the agency and the diverse outdoor recreation opportunities available to them.

A lot of times, it’s the first time they see us. They’ve heard about us, but they don’t really know who we are and what we do. A lot of people have no idea we that we even do archery; they think a lot of times we’re just fishing and camping. But, we’re a lot of things. And, it’s a great place for them to touch and feel things. It kind of goes back to when we did EXPO. The idea was ‘Hey, let’s take this on the road and give people that experience—[take it] to places that may not have seen it before or know anything about it.

Enjoy country music concerts all three days of the Toyota Texas Fest. There are plenty of family friendly activities, food, drinks and big bass. Discounted single day tickets or weekend passes are available before the event at toyotatexasfest.com.

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

Take Me Fishing Hutsell, image courtesy Katy Times.

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DUE TO RECENT FLOODING,  IT’S ADVISED TO CHECK WITH THE SCHOOL TO FIND OUT IF THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AS SCHEDULED

This is Passport to Texas

Once a year, Hutsell Elementary school students in Katy ISD, trade school books for rods and reels.

Each year, in the spring, we invite our third, fourth and fifth grade students to Peckham Park. And we have a beautiful pond there. And through Texas Parks and Wildlife, they stock the pond for us. And on a Saturday, the children and their families all attend a fishing event.

That event is Take Me Fishing Hutsell. Principal Margie Blount says this year’s event is special, because it’s the 10 year anniversary of the program in the school.

We are going to be inviting the alumni. And those students will be invited to come back and enjoy the fishing event and enjoy the 10th year anniversary with us.

Over the years, Hutsell educators have seen improvement in the test scores of students who’ve participated in the Take Me Fishing program. Principal Blount says the upcoming celebration on April 23 is for the entire community.

Texas Parks and Wildlife will be there. They have been a great contributor. Game Wardens will be there. We will have angler clubs that will be coming. We’re looking at this to be one of our bigger fishing events.

If you’re in the area of Peckham Park between nine and noon on Saturday April 23, Hutsell Elementary Principal Margie Blount invites you to join in the festivities.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our Series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Toyota Texas Bass Classic at Lake Conroe

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This is Passport to Texas

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is a professional bass fishing tournament that for the past 10 years has attracted professional anglers from across the country.

These pros, they really love to come to Texas because Texas has great fishing.They know that Texas Parks and Wildlife wants to make Texas fishing the best in the world. And they just love to come to Texas and showcase our department. They come here and they speak real highly about the work that we do. And, of course, us being fisheries biologists, we like to be bragged on. It means a lot to us. There’s just no question about that.

Dave Terre, with Inland Fisheries. The tournament takes place May 20th through 22nd on Lake Ray Roberts.

You’ve got to be there. Get your boat up to Lake Ray Roberts State park, and you need to follow along and see your favorite pro catch that fish. And then, you need to come to the Toyota Stadium, and see tht big fish held in front of a crowd of about 20-thousand people. And while you’re there, take in a great country western concert, and go introduce your youngster to the outdoors at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Expo.

The tournament helps raise funds for youth fishing programs throughout the state.

Find complete details and ticket information for Toyota Texas Bass Classic at toyotatexasfest.com.

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

Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Image by Larry Hodge

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This is Passport to Texas

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is May 20th thru 22nd this year.

We’re in our tenth year now. The event is moving to a new location in Frisco, Texas; we’ll be at the Toyota Stadium, and fishing at Lake Ray Roberts State Park.

Dave Terre, with Inland Fisheries, helps organize and promote this professional bass fishing tournament and outdoor festival.

 The Toyota Texas Bas Classic gives us an opportunity to really showcase what it is that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department does. It gives us an opportunity to showcase the great fishing we have in our state. This year it’s going to give us a great opportunity to showcase state park opportunities we have, since this year we’ll be doing it at Lake Ray Roberts State Park.

Professional bass anglers compete to reel in the biggest bass for big winnings. The true winners, though, are the youth of Texas; the Toyota Texas Bass Classic is a fundraiser for Parks and Wildlife’s youth fishing programs.

We’ve already received about 2.25 million dollars which the department has taken and reinvested back into youth fishing related outreach, creating new anglers. It’s really an exciting opportunity for Parks and Wildlife; something no other state has.

Find details and ticket information for Toyota Texas Bass Classic at toyotatexasfest.com.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti