Passport to Texas

Toyota Texas Bass Classic at Lake Conroe

Event: Toyota Texas Bass Classic (Oct. 4-6) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This weekend – October 4th through the 6th – 50 world class bass anglers will converge on Lake Conroe for the seventh annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic.

06 — This is a great opportunity for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to promote the great fishing we have in our state.

Dave Terre is with Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Inland Fisheries Division. Texas is known worldwide for its great bass fishing, and Lake Conroe is recognized as one of the best bass lakes in the state.

04—Anybody coming to the event will likely see some pretty good sized fish.

The bass classic raises money for youth fishing programs throughout Texas. In addition to the fishing and philanthropy, attendees can also expect fun.

33—The Bass Classic is not only a world class professional bass tournament; it’s also a huge outdoor expo and concert series. There is something to do for all families there. Lots of activities for kids to enjoy and become involved in the outdoors. For instance, this year, we’ll feature a much broadly expanded outdoor zone. There’s going to be lots of hands on activities for the kids. Bring your whole family. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the good work of Texas Parks and Wildlife and the great fishing we have in our state.

Find times, ticket, and band information for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, this weekend—October 4 through 6—at toyotatexasbassclassic.com.

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

Proud angler with his ShareLunker

Angling: ShareLunker Season Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Juan Martinez, a hatchery biologist, is the guy anglers call to donate lunkers (largemouth bass 13 pounds or larger caught in Texas waters) to the Sharelunker program.

06 — I became a hatchery biologist in 2005 here at the Texas Fresh Water Fisheries Center in Athens. And since my years here. I’ve essentially taken care of the lunkers from the point that they come in until they go home.

The Sharelunker program is an angler recognition program which involves anglers in largemouth bass conservation. Since taking over the job of “the lunker
guy” last year, Martinez says he’s had a few extra duties added to his job description.

10 —The only additional duty that I got is coordinating with the anglers on the picking up of the fish and talking to the media as well as far as educating them about our program.

I’m introducing you to Juan Martinez now, because October first through April 30th is when anglers may share their lunkers with the program to help Texas Parks and Wildlife breed bigger, better largemouth bass.

24—The main reason we do it during that time is because that’s when the weather is cool enough so we can handle fish. We had experimented in the past when the program was in its infancy stage, and we picked up fish in the summer. But the water gets too hot for the fish – the warmer water stresses the fish. We
want the best for the fish, and that’s to return it back into the lake where it’s alive. So, by doing it during this month, it allows us to take better care of the fish.

After one breeding season the fish is returned to the angler or to the water body where it was caught. Find more information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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CONTACT INFORMATION IF YOU REEL IN A LUNKER:

ShareLunker Program — Juan Martinez (903) 670-2285, (903) 681-0550
or pager (888) 784-0600 to report a lunker only from Oct. 1 through April 30

Catching Redfish

Angling: Bull Redfish Run Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Red drum, also called redfish, is a favorite among coastal anglers. And now is the time of year when this species make a big splash.

08— From about August to November or December, adult red drum congregate near the beach in these spawning aggregations.

Bill Balboa is a fisheries biologist for the Galveston Bay system. This concentration of red drum near the beaches is the annual red bull run.

06— So, they’re very big fish; they can run anywhere from 30-inches to upwards of 46 to 48-inches long.

Balboa says the name Bull redfish is a coastal colloquialism for any big fish in the gulf or estuaries.

11—But [they’re] also [called bulls] because they’re very powerful; and if you ever catch one it would be like trying to hold a bull in place. They’re very strong fish.

Medium to heavy fishing tackle with 12 to 30 pound test line, using crab, finger mullet or cut bait could help you real in these big boys.

21— If you catch a red drum between 20 and 28 inches long, you can keep three per day per person. If you catch one that’s over 30-inches long, with a Texas saltwater fishing license, we have a bonus red drum tag. So, if you catch a red drum that’s over 28-inches long, the fish has to be tagged after you catch it, and the tag has to be filled out. So, you can keep one fish over 28 inches.

We have more coastal fishing information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

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

Toyota Texas bass Classic, Image by Larry Hodge

Angling/Conservation: Conservation Practices at the Bass Classic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bass anglers in the know – regardless of where they are in the world – make tracks to Texas to reel in big fish.

04—By Texas standards, a big bass is one that’s 13 pounds or larger.

Dave Terre, with Inland fisheries, says the 7th Annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic will bring the world’s top bass anglers to Lake Conroe for a world class tournament. And maybe someone will reel in a 13 pound lunker.

17—Lake Conroe is one of the lakes in the state that’s produced a lot of fish of that size. At no time have we caught a lunker during a Toyota Texas Bass Classic Tournament, but I think this is the big year. I keep making those promises every year, but I think this is the year that it’s going to happen.

Family activities and musical entertainment are also on the agenda of this free event, set for October 4 – 6. But anglers, bass, and conservation, take center stage.

23— This tournament is the most conservation-minded bass tournament in the history of bass fishing. Every fish that’s caught and weighed in this tournament is done so in the boat. Most of them are released immediately after being caught. We do bring a few big fish to the stage for the public to see, but they are taken care of by Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists.

Admission for the event October 4 – 6 at Lake Conroe is free if you sign up for tickets online at Toyota Texas Bass Classic dot com.

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

Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Image by Larry Hodge

Angling: Toyota Texas Bass Classic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Texas has earned its bragging rights when it comes to our state’s bass fishery. And Lake Conroe is among the top producers of some our state’s biggest bass. So it makes sense the annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic, takes place there.

06—This is a great opportunity for Texas Parks and Wildlife department to promote the great fishing we have in our state.

Dave Terre, with Inland fisheries, says 50 professional anglers will compete over the three days during the seventh annual Bass Classic; the top-10 will fish the final round on Sunday.

11—Lake Conroe was chosen because it is a producer of huge largemouth bass. So, anybody coming to the event will likely
see some pretty good sized fish. Maybe a fish of a lifetime.

Over the years, these events, which are free to the public, have raised funds for TPW youth fishing programs.

20—A total of six of them [events] have provided 1.5 million dollars in funding to support youth fishing programs in our state. No other state has this opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for the public to come see, and enjoy, an event that supports Texas Parks and Wildlife in so many different ways.

The family-friendly Toyota Texas Bass Classic is October 4 – 6 at Lake Conroe. Admission is free if you sign up for tickets online at ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com.

Additional details about the event on tomorrow’s show.

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