From spring-fed rivers to Texas-sized lakes, to diving in a pool, Texas State Parks offer swimming opportunities. Spring floods affected many natural swimming holes, so call ahead to find out about access and safety. Meantime, parks with public pools were largely unaffected.
Abilene State Park in the Panhandle has a large swimming pool and pavilion built by the Civilian Conservation Corps decades ago, which continues to provide visitors with summertime swimming and a separate wading pool for children.
Balmorhea State Park welcomes swimmers to the crystal-clear water of the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool. Swim or just relax under the trees at this CCC created historic park in arid West Texas.
In Far West Texas, Indian Lodge, within the boundaries of Davis Mountains State Park, has a lovely facility for its guests, who can relax poolside with a cool beverage or snacks from the lodge’s restaurant.
Bastrop State Park, in Central Texas, entices campers and folks from the surrounding area to its pools for summertime fun. The pool opens at noon daily.
While Goliad State Park and Historic Site in South Texas doesn’t offer swimming on premises, it is available across from the park, at a junior Olympic swimming pool, operated by the city of Goliad.
Wherever you are, there’s still time to get wet in the wilds of Texas this summer.
That’s our show for today… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in State Parks, Swimming | Comments Off on Swimming Opportunities at State Parks
It seems summer just got rolling, and now August and the new school year is nearly here. It’s time to make the most of what’s left of summer, and camping is the perfect way to do that. With state parks throughout Texas, your destination is just a short drive away.
Most state parks have campgrounds, and some of those have water and electric hook-ups. Some parks even accommodate RVs for those who wish to bring a little piece of home with them to the great outdoors. Check ahead to see what RV connections are available at your campsite.
For the pampered camper, check out state parks that offer cabin and lodge rentals. Historic landmarks and secluded ranches make for a relaxing getaway.
When tent camping, remember to properly dispose of food waste to discourage unwanted animals visitors; and always pack out what you pack in.
Whenever you’re outdoors, remember you are not just a visitor, you are part of the natural world, and as such, it is your responsibility to keep it healthy and inviting to others.
If you’ve never been camping before, consider attending a Texas Outdoor Family workshop where Texas Parks and Wildlife staff teaches you and your family the basics in a fun-filled weekend.
That’s our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti
Posted in Camping, Conservation | Comments Off on Before Summer Ends, Take the Family Camping
When the sun goes down, angling for big bass in shallow water picks up–particularly on one lake.
05- Lake Fork. That’s the lake in Texas that has the most really big bass.
Larry Hodge, with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center says in the 1980s and 90s, fishing guide John Hope put radio transmitters on big bass–including ShareLunkers–to track their whereabouts day and night.
21–And one of those fish, was a fish named Wanda. He followed her for three years on Houston County Lake, and found that during the day, she was in deep water and was not interested in any kind of lures that anybody showed her. But at night, she’d cruise around the shoreline in shallow water, and he and his don caught her–a total of six times.
Fish hear everything that goes on for hundreds of yards around them, which is why many fish go to quieter, deeper waters in the daytime; once things calm down,
they emerge to feed in the shallows. Hodge says if you’re going after big bass, bring the heavy duty gear.
18- [When] night fishing, most people are best advised to use braided line, perhaps even as heavy as 50 pounds. Dark lures. Big lures that move a lot of water, because bass can’t see it–but using the lateral line they can feel it move through the water. And be prepared to do battle with a really big bass.
The Sport Fish restoration program supports our series.
The stars at night are big and bright in Texas, and so are the bass. They’re big, anyway. It seems the biggest of the big come out when the sun goes down.
07- Talking with a number of people who practice fishing at night, I got a lot of tips on where and why and how.
Larry Hodge, with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens compiled tips on bass fishing at night for an article in the July issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine. According to the guides and anglers he interviewed, big fish come into the shallows at night, because that’s when the food arrives.
25- At night, the bait fish–shad, primarily–minnows, crayfish, and other things that know that daytime is the dangerous time to be out because you might get eaten, tend to move up into shallow water at night because it’s safer–until a big bass comes along. So, there’s more food at night available up in the shallow water, and the bass know that, so that’s when they go fishing.
Tomorrow, Larry Hodge returns to tell us the best place fish for bass at night, and the gear to have with you when going after the big one.
05– Use heavy line. Heavy equipment. And be prepared to do battle with a really big bass.
The Sport Fish restoration program supports our series.
One of Frank Gore’s earliest outdoor memories is of sleeping on the floor of a duck blind under his father’s coat when he was just 4 years old.
03- I come from a long family history of duck hunters.
The tradition continues with his kids and grand-kids on his Jackson County property, which he bought in 2007.
07- We wanted a place for the family to hunt. But, it became much more than that over time. It’s actually turned into a chance to give a bit back.
About 20 miles from Palacios, the Gore Family Farm is in the flyway; Mr. Gore converted it from rice and cattle production into wetlands and upland habitat; restoration work that earned him a Lone Star Land Steward Award.
16- In the cattle grazing days, they had planted Bermuda grass and it was pervasive; it was really detrimental to the native songbirds as well as the upland birds we were trying to foster on the place. So, we began the process of habitat restoration and rehabilitation.
In the end, landowners like Frank Gore preserve Texas– natural heritage for their descendants, and all Texans.
14- The main justification [of the restoration work] is so that my grand-kids will know what a covey of quail sound like calling each other in the morning. And, what it looks like to send up 300 ducks off of a pond, and watch ’em whirl around and come back in. And that’s something your money just can’t buy.
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series.
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