February 16th, 2012
This is Passport to Texas
This year will be an interesting one for the annual Great Texas Birding Classic, which is a week-long birding competition in April on the Texas coast.
20—After 15 years of a really successful run, donating a lot of money to on the ground projects in Texas for habitat conservation for birds, we are going to be taking the year off and spending this year re-envisioning the classic, and coming back in 2013 with a newly re-energized and exciting event with some new twists.
Shelly Plante is nature tourism coordinator for Parks and Wildlife. For nearly half of the classic’s 15 year run, it partnered with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. But because of the down economy, the observatory decided to hold a yearly auction instead, with proceeds benefiting habitat conservation.
11—Parks and Wildlife is going to be taking back the birding classic and try to figure out ways to streamline it financially and logistically; keeping costs down yet still keep to the mission of the classic.
The mission includes outreach and education, engaging new birders, nature tourism in Texas and conservation fundraising.
16—So, that will be our focus moving forward. And we think by giving ourselves 2012 to really think about this and meet with partners and meet with past participants who have a passion for the event, we can come up with something really great for 2013 that will make a lot of sense in this economy, while still accomplishing those missions.
But for some…the classic goes on…details tomorrow.
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Birding, Conservation, Events | Comments Off on Great Texas Birding Classic is On Hold
February 15th, 2012
This is Passport to Texas
Fly-fish Texas is a daylong introductory angling event on March 10 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) for those wishing to learn how to fly-fish.
23—You wouldn’t have to have any fishing experience whatsoever. We’re going to have different forums going on through in multiple venues throughout the day. We’ll have a couple of areas where there’ll be speakers that you can just drop in and take a look at what the topic is. We’ll also have some casting classes going on. There’s a BBQ house that will be here serving BBQ as well…so that you can come and just enjoy the day.
James Booker is events coordinator at TFFC. Participants will fish for rainbow trout using loaner equipment (or may bring their own); volunteers from fly-fishing clubs will guide learners through the process…which may result in taking home some fish.
15—You can keep up to five rainbow trout per person, which is the legal limit here in Texas. Wow. What a deal. And, so, is there a cost involved? This event is free with regular admission. And we do honor the State park pass, so that can even further reduce your fee.
It‘s $5.50 for visitors 13 and older, $3.50 for children four to 12, and free for children under four years of age.
Fly Fish Texas at the TFFC in Athens, takes place 9 to 4, March 10. It’s family friendly with activities and food available on site. Find complete details 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.
Posted in Fishing, Freshwater | Comments Off on Learning to Fly-fish
February 14th, 2012
This is Passport to Texas
If you put “learn to fly-fish” on your list of New Year’s resolutions, here’s your chance cross it off. On March 10, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens offers a day of fly-fishing for rainbow trout.
18—it’s completely fine if you’ve never fly fished before. We’re going to have volunteers from fly-fishing clubs from all over Texas. Some 80 to 100 volunteers to work with small groups and one-on-one just to teach everyone who shows up all about the different aspects of fly-fishing.
James Booker is events coordinator for the center. Called Fly-Fish Texas, the daylong event attracts hundreds of eager students and enthusiastic teachers.
32—We have the fly-fishing clubs from all over the state so heavily involved, and so they descend on this site en masse—and are just eager to share their passion or fly-fishing. We also have some of the top fly-fishing equipment makers come and share their latest technologies and their latest poles and rods. We have up to 20 guest fly tiers, and so we convert one whole building of our center into what we call fly-fishing round up. It is basically just a giant fly tying lesson.
Equipment is provided for casting classes, but participants are welcome to bring their own gear.
Fly Fish Texas at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, is from 9 to 4, March 10. It’s family friendly with various activities and food available on site. Find complete details 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.
Posted in Fishing, Freshwater | Comments Off on Fly-fish Texas
February 13th, 2012
This is Passport to Texas
Falcon Lake State Park is home to some big bass, and straddles the Texas-Mexico border. Our State Park guide Bryan Frazier says now is a great time to fish the lake for lunkers.
64—Falcon Lake turns on this time of year to become one of the best bass fishing lakes in the Southwest US. All of that South Texas scrub brush that people are so familiar with on the landscape is pretty much what’s on the bottom of that lake–and it’s great fish habitat.
The waters are typically warm, and those fish have long growing seasons. Last year seven ShareLunkers—which are largemouth bass that weigh 13 pounds or larger were recorded at Falcon. In fact, it’s given up 18 ShareLunkers in its history.
It’s really come along as a great bass fishery, and February is a good time to check it out down there.
It’s not your typical lake. It’s a long, skinny lake—it’s 60 miles long. It was actually impounded in 1953; President Dwight Eisenhower was there to christen this lake when they opened it. Falcon lake is a place you want to check out even if you’re not a winter Texan. Although it’s a great place to go and check out all the birds that winter there as well. But for fishing, Falcon lake is on the bucket list for a lot of people.
That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in State Parks | Comments Off on State Parks: Falcon Lake State Park
February 10th, 2012
This is Passport to Texas
You’ll find interesting people with interesting jobs at Texas Parks and Wildlife. And you’ll meet some, too, this month on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television Series. Series Producer, Don Cash.
59—In February we’re going to introduce you to several people and their odd jobs—I guess. One of those people is Amy Treuer-Kuehn; she’s a plant ecologist, and she travels around the state looking at vegetation and habitat and getting record of it and letting people know what’s there on the property.
Amy goes out and tells us what’s exactly on the ground. Her expertise in botany and plant ecology makes sure that we have a really good dataset.
Also in February, meet Billy Tarrant, who is a wildlife biologist. And he works in the Trans-Pecos region. And one of the projects he works on is pronghorn antelope.
There’s a huge amount of responsibility trying to manage some of the greatest diversity in our state. However, there’s an immense amount of satisfaction knowing that you’re doing it.
So, yeah, part of what we do on the television show is people stories. There’s a lot of interesting people with some unusual jobs at Texas parks and Wildlife, and we hope people will watch in February and see what we’ve got going on.
Thanks, Don.
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series; it’s funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in TPWD TV | Comments Off on TPW TV: Parks and Wildlife People
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