Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

San Juan Capistrano has its swallows, Hinckley, Ohio, has its buzzards, and Texas has its trout—rainbow trout. The annual arrival of the colorful fun-to-catch fish to lakes began last month [December], and continues through March.

We stock trout because we can provide one more unique fishing opportunity for anglers. And, we do it throughout a large part of the state, especially around cities and urban areas, where anglers have access.

Carl Kittel coordinates the trout-stocking program for Parks and Wildlife. Unlike the swallows of Capistrano and the buzzards of Hinckley that travel on their own steam, the rainbow trout of Texas are chauffeured to their destinations.

We get deliveries from late November all the way until late February. So it’s like a just in time inventory—and they move in and they move out.

Close to 275-thousand rainbow trout will find temporary refuge in Texas waters.

The purpose for stocking them and our expectation for those fish is that they will be fished out by anglers. So, we do not expect to create a fishery by stocking them, we just expect to create fishing opportunities.

We have a link to the rainbow trout stocking schedule on our website, passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…which also helps fund winter trout stocking in Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Trout Stocking Schedule

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Small, relatively harmless, populations of golden algae exist in most freshwaters. Yet when conditions are right, as when temperatures cool, the population of this toxic organism may explode.

It could very well be that the cold knocks down the other competing algae so that then the golden algae has an advantage over them and blooms.

Dave Sager works with inland fisheries in the area of ecosystems and habitat assessment. He says golden tinged water with foam on the surface is a sign that a bloom is underway. Dead fish is another.

Initially, the fish that are in the shallows or at the surface of the water are impacted first. You’ll see the bait fish, the shad or minnows and shiners that will die first. And then later on as the bloom and the toxins spread through the water column you’ll see other fish like the sunfish, large mouth bass, striped bass and others starting to be affected.

Sager reminds freshwater anglers and boaters that they play an integral role as a kind of early warning system.

They can see when a fish kill event is taking place – see that the water is golden; there’s foaming on the water. And call in to let us know so that we can then go out and do an investigation.

You’ll find the number to call to report a golden alga bloom at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Know & Report Golden Algae Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Small, relatively harmless, populations of golden algae exist in most freshwaters. Yet when conditions are right, as when temperatures cool, the population of this toxic organism may explode.

It could very well be that the cold knocks down the other competing algae so that then the golden algae has an advantage over them and blooms.

Dave Sager works with inland fisheries in the area of ecosystems and habitat assessment. He says golden tinged water with foam on the surface is a sign that a bloom is underway. Dead fish is another.

Initially, the fish that are in the shallows or at the surface of the water are impacted first. You’ll see the bait fish, the shad or minnows and shiners that will die first. And then later on as the bloom and the toxins spread through the water column you’ll see other fish like the sunfish, large mouth bass, striped bass and others starting to be affected.

Sager reminds freshwater anglers and boaters that they play an integral role as a kind of early warning system.

They can see when a fish kill event is taking place – see that the water is golden; there’s foaming on the water. And call in to let us know so that we can then go out and do an investigation.

You’ll find the number to call to report a golden alga bloom at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Know & Report Golden Algae Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

On November 3rd, the city of Bastrop launched a new paddling trail with the help of Texas Parks and Wildlife.

I think that this trail is just a great half day trip for families and friends and people who just want to get out on the water.

Shelly Plante is the coordinator for Nature Tourism at Parks and Wildlife

This paddling trail, El Camino Real, starts off in downtown but goes through the piney woods as you head to the take out point. So you’re going to see something very different for Central Texas. This is just not the type of trees that you typically see in Central Texas.

The El Camino Real Paddling Trail is a 6 mile paddle.

This trail is actually fairly slow moving, fairly calm. There are a few minor rapids. There are a lot of great sandbars where you can take out and picnic, you can go swim and rest for a while. It’s a fairly leisurely run actually.

Although the trail starts in downtown Bastrop, paddlers will see a variety of wildlife.

There’s a lot of diversity. You’ll see a lot of different kinds of trees and there’s a lot of different birds. You’ll see everything from raptors like hawks, to king fishers, little bitty birds, to some of our large birds such as great blue herons.

More information about the El Camino Real Paddling Trail and the other 10 paddling trails in Texas is available at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Kate Lipinski… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

It’s summer camp season. But instead of sending the kids off to make potholders and Popsicle stick picture frames, send them to fish camp in East Texas where they’ll learn a lifelong skill.
Fish Camp is a four day camp and it will be in the mornings only from nine to one PM. It’s a camp where the kids can learn about fish, fishing, and water in general. They’ll not only learn the basics, but a few extra techniques and things about the tackle and bait, and different kinds of things to use for different kinds of fish.

ZoeAnn Stinchcomb is with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, the site of the camp.

We really want to get the kids outside and doing things outdoors, because a lot of kids nowadays don’t go outdoors as much as we want them to. Families have kids that are out of school. You can have a little more extra time to spend, and what better time to experience the Texas outdoors.

Fish camp is for kids 9 to 15 years old, and fifty dollars per child. The deadline to register is Friday, June 22.

It’s a fun thing to do and plus we’ll be getting wet, and that’s always a good thing to do during the summer I think.

Fish Camp is July 3rd through 6th at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

Visit passporttotexas.org to find out how to register.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

July 3–6, 2007 — Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center — Camp Fish — Boys and girls ages 9-15 can learn fishing techniques and skills and practice them in our stocked casting pond. They will also study aquatic ecology and learn how important water quality is to fish and people. Call for times; fee $50 per person includes daily admission and all equipment; preregistration required, deadline June 22, 2007. To register, e-mail terry.bedford@tpwd.state.tx.us or call (903) 670-2211. (903) 676-BASS.

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