Passport to Texas

TPW Magazine App

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In the midst of World War II, Texas Game and Fish—the predecessor to Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine—hit newsstands.

09— So, can you imagine what it would be like to start a magazine at that time? We have a print version of the magazine that’s been published continuously since then, and that print version is not going to go away.

Publisher Randy Brudnicki says the 73 year old publication, with black-and-white text and visuals, gave way to modern design, writing and brilliant color photos. What hasn’t changed is its mission to inspire Texans to preserve and enjoy the natural wonders of Texas.

16— We cover most of the concepts that support Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: hunting, fishing, state parks, and other conservation areas. [We have] articles about [the work of] game wardens, biologists…what’s happening with endangered species. Just a big, wide variety of what happens in the [Texas] outdoors.

Audiences change, and Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine is keeping pace beginning with digital issues, which require an internet connection to read, to a new app, which doesn’t. Art Director, Nathan Adams.

16— Well, it was very important to me that we didn’t just take the print version and throw it onto an app. Paper and digital are completely different media. And so, when we sat down and said we are going to do an app, it was very important to say how do people interact with digital media.

Insights on that question tomorrow. Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Art Morris with his saltwater catch.

Fishing: Saltwater Fishing in 2015 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Variety and quality – that’s what anglers can expect when fishing in Texas bays.

12— Spotted sea trout and red drum on any given cast. Throw on the occasional flounder and black drum…. There’s just tremendous opportunity there for any sort of skill level at any time of the year for that matter.

Art Morris, with coastal fisheries says his favorite is the Upper Laguna Madre.

24— I’ve been fishing it since I was a child, and it’s those trophy sized spotted sea trout that I like to go after. You’ve got clear water, shallow grass flats; you’ve got deep water reefs, and you use top waters and site cast the fish. And, oftentimes, it’s just the perfect setting for sport fishing on the Texas coast – for me, personally.

Each bay system is different and requires different tactics and baits.

25— As you move down the coast, the water tends to get clearer, so we tend to use more variety of stuff on the lower coast as far as artificial lures and bait. On the upper coast the water gets a little more turbid; you get more into live bait fishing, dead bait fishing. Some artificial use up there, but yeah, as you move down and up the coast, each bay is unique and have their own techniques that work best in those particular areas.

Want more? Check out Art Morris’ article on bay fishing in the digital fishing issue at tpwmagazine.com.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

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

Caleb Harris enjoying the salt air.

Fishing: Expectations When Hiring a Fishing Guide Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Want to hire a fishing guide? Be clear with them about your expectations.

16—It’s going to be nebulous to just say, I’m going to hire a guide to go fishing on this lake. It would be better to say I want to learn how to catch a certain type of fish. Ask yourself exactly what you want to do, and then when you shop around for a guide, be very clear with that guide, I want to do this. I would say that’s the primary thing to consider.

Caleb Harris wrote an article about fishing with a guide for the TPW Magazine Digital Fishing Special. He says making this request of a guide can help you know if they’ll be a good fit.

07— Please describe a typical day of fishing with you. And then, let the guide describe that, and then you’ll have a really good idea of whether or not they’re a fit for what you want to do.

Avoid unexpected expenses and misunderstandings, by discussing the guide’s expectations in advance.

25— If you’re going to be using a boat, is the fuel included in the cost? If you’re going to be using bait, is the bait included in the cost? You know, if you’re going out for a whole day, is lunch provided? Do you need your own cooler? Who’s going to clean the fish? Is that a part of the fee? Is that extra? What sort of clothes do they suggest? It would be kind of shameful if you got there and the guide was expecting you to wade, and you didn’t clarify that and you show up with your nice shoes. That would set the day up for a bad experience. So, clarify as much as possible.

Find Caleb Harris’ article on fishing guides at tpwmagazine.com. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series.

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

Fly Fishing in the Guadalupe River.

TPW Magazine: Hiring a Fishing Guide Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Beginners and experts alike can experience some of their best fishing days by using a professional fishing guide. That’s what Aquatic education training specialist, Caleb Harris writes, in an article for the digital fishing issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

02—The article is written for people who have never hired a guide.

Harris says anglers who have hired guides in the past will also find the article informative. Guides offer expertise and location knowledge and teach new tactics and techniques, he says.

15— I think most people hire a guide so they can become as familiar as possible as quickly as possible with, say, a new technique, or a certain lake, or a river that they’ve never been on. And these guides have incredible experience in the places that they guide, so they can bring people up to speed really fast.

Finding a guide that’s right for you is as easy as joining a fishing club or going online.

22— Guides do best where they have a great deal of experience fishing. You know, they’ll kind of dig in in that area; they’ll be well-involved in different clubs and different social events. And most guides I know meet a lot of their clients through word-of-mouth. So, if a fisherman gets involved with a local club, or talks to people wherever they go fishing – they can often meet a really good guide just by word-of-mouth that way. But, if you’re not in a club, the internet is a great place to start.

Things you need to share with your guide before setting off. That’s tomorrow. Meantime find Caleb Harris’ article on fishing guides at tpwmagazine.com.

The WSFR Program supports our series. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Larry Hodge with his freshwater catch.

Fishing: Freshwater Fishing for 2015 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As the weather warms, seasoned and wannabe anglers yearn to get on the water in the New Year.

18— Overall, the prospects for fishing are good; they’re not going to be great because parts of the state are still in a drought. But, East Texas and North and Central Texas have fared fairly well in the current drought, and most of the lakes still have access and the fish are still there.

Larry Hodge is with Inland Fisheries. He says white bass are especially active this time of year.

19— Most of the reservoirs in East Texas, particularly Toledo Bend, will have a good white bass run up the Sabine River. Those fish are legendary for their size and numbers. Some of the lakes in East Texas also have good white bass fishing. The Neches River above lake Palestine is good for their size and numbers.

Catching largemouth bass might prove spotty due to low water levels. Yet, Hodge says traditional places like Falcon, Choke Canyon and Amistad will have fish as always, but anglers may have to work harder to find them.

08— So, you may have to find some new places [in those reservoirs] to fish; use your electronics, frequent the coffee shops, and talk to the locals and hunt ‘em down.

Find an article by Larry Hodge’s about the best lakes and rivers to fish in 2015 in the digital fishing issue of Texas parks and Wildlife magazine.

The wildlife and sport fish restoration program support our series.

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