Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 206
No matter how hard lure manufacturers try they will never be able to create a lure that works better than real thing, period. The typical profile of the weekend angler is not that of the high end trophy trout hunter who chunks artificial lures for hours on end looking for one big fish, it’s the fisherman who takes a quart of live shrimp or a bucket of mud minnows and looks for anything that will bite. Much has been made of the big trout phenomenon and all the hoopla that s...
In many ways our freshwater counterparts have it made; no tides to worry about, no fish stealing sharks, and you couldn’t step on a sting ray if you tried. The saltwater folks on the other hand have plenty of positives as well like how many hard pulling species of fish one can encounter on a single trip, or the simple fact that you have the potential to hook a creature that may indeed be bigger than your boat. Both sides have great arguments that back up their claims to b...
The slick surface of the lake was disrupted by skipping shrimp and the familiar sound of trout crashing the helpless crustaceans. Each cast with a soft plastic was met the familiar thump of an aggressive fish that thought they were much larger than they really were. One small trout after another continued to hammer the jigs and also continued to be too small. The next logical thought for catching bigger fish was to go to a topwater plug, which usually works well under these...
Years ago there was an incredibly popular ad campaign started by the athletic shoe giant known as Nike that coined the phrase “Just Do It”. The catchy slogan has become entrenched in our pop culture mindset and in some ways represents the way people nowadays think they should act regardless of how it affects others around them. It’s no secret the population near the Texas coast is growing and the gravitational pull felt farther inland by vacation loving tourists makes the b...
“You can’t see the forest for the trees” is a well-used phrase that I’m sure each of us has not only heard but can completely relate to in some form or fashion. On more than one occasion over the past few weeks my wife and I have laughed while watching different groups of people in places like restaurants become living examples of the phrase about seeing the forest. Case in point, a family of 4 at the table and each one has an electronic device in their possession, so they ha...
There have always been places in the community that were considered "constants", places that just seemed like they would always be there. One such place has been brought back to life and the new version has proven to be a huge hit with both local and out of town folks who enjoy our local waterways. The new "Cove Marina" on Adam's Bayou has rapidly turned into a top local destination and it just keeps getting better. New owners, Quinton and Jacqueline Singleton, have revived...
The launch was uncrowded and the temperatures were already starting to climb as Ron Begnaud and I prepared to head out in search of some willing redfsih in the marsh. Begnaud, who lives in Lafayette Louisiana, is about as hard core a marsh fisherman as I know. Many of our conversations begin and end with thoughts of new and unexplored regions of the marshes that border Sabine and Calcasieu as well as other areas farther east. Finding a prime redfish pond that has no fishing...
You ever wonder what a 64 pack of Crayola crayons, 31 flavors of ice cream at Baskin Robbins, or bags of assorted candy have in common? The answer is they offer something for everyone because we all don’t have the same taste. If everyone did things exactly like everyone else then life would be ridiculously boring and mundane. It’s choices and options that give each individual the opportunity to succeed and sometimes those options and choices are a little different than wha...
One of the biggest and most intriguing factors that keep fishermen coming back day after day is the process of discovery, figuring out the puzzle so to speak. The task of sifting through all the variables and making sense out of all the factors in order to establish a pattern is what drives many anglers. Unknowingly we all go through the same process every time we fish but without the fanfare. Most of us don’t realize we are even doing it, establishing a pattern, but just a...
It’s a given during certain months that there will be tons of ink dedicated to the pursuit of certain fish. There are “big trout” months, “flounder run” fiestas, and “spotted fever” epidemics during the summer when the redfish steal the show. I get it, believe me I truly get it. All the while most folks believe that the sun rises and sets with the “big 3”, specks, reds, and flounder when that may not be totally true. I cannot count how many times I have told folks who attend...
From my perch on the poling platform I often have plenty of time to think while I push my little boat around the marsh. The standard stuff that goes through every fisherman’s mind usually dominates my thoughts. “Where are the fish?” “Should I change locations?” “Is this the right bait?” Nothing out of the ordinary, just everyday fishing thoughts that happen to come to mind. Plenty of those moments routinely get interrupted by my fishing partner for that day and I snap back t...
Just about any Texas fisherman who ever wet a line knows that the spring is full of many things, most of which fall into the category of uncertainty and unpredictability. The all time #1 villain is the weather man and his friend the marine forecast, aka “that #$%@ wind”! For plenty of us who take advantage of every season the waders that were used during duck hunts have become your best friend as the gears switch in favor of chasing trophy trout in 60 plus degree water. All...
Next week marks the annual hiatus from school that kids of all ages look for once the Christmas holidays are over, spring break is here! During this week off from the rigorous demands of reading, writing, and arithmetic you can rest assured that a cry will rise up from the masses that there is nothing “fun” to do. Video games have long been mastered and challenges are getting more difficult to come by every day, give your student a first hand look at some real life they may...
You ever wonder what a 64 pack of Crayola crayons, 31 flavors of ice cream at Baskin Robbins, or bags of assorted candy have in common? The answer is they offer something for everyone because we all don’t have the same taste. If everyone did things exactly like everyone else then life would be ridiculously boring and mundane. It’s choices and options that give each individual the opportunity to succeed and sometimes those options and choices are a little different than wha...
A steady dose of big south wind has just wreaked havoc on the local fishing scene and all but shut down the open water of Sabine Lake. As water conditions have improved the winds have ramped up so it's been tough to get out and take a look at much water. The river has cleared up somewhat after some heavier rains earlier in the month, so hopes are high that there is some nice water in the lake. A few folks I have talked with lately have been hiding in the protected waters...
The loud noises you have been hearing from your neighbors garage more than likely have been the sounds of fishing tackle emerging from winter hibernation. The combination of warmer weather and better water conditions have many anglers scurrying to knock the dust off their boats and head for the water. Both freshwater and saltwater anglers alike have benefitted lately from the conditions and the bite has improved in both places. If the current forecast holds true it looks like...
I have no idea why we as anglers are constantly trying to complicate things, always re-inventing the wheel and adding corners. In our never ending quest to catch more and bigger fish we often stray down the path which we think leads to discovery only to find that out that if we had just read the street signs we’d be in much better shape. Over the years it seems like we have become so detailed and specific that the average fisherman suffers from “paralysis by analysis”. Fishi...
It's a common known fact that we have some of the craziest weather in the world here in Texas, especially on the coast. January and February have historically been some of our worst weather months, the conditions at this time of the year coupled with low water temps can make it down right miserable. During these periods the average fisherman may defer from the outdoors to a warmer climate by the fire thinking that the fishing won't be worth the effort, big mistake. For many...
“Howdy Tex” was a common greeting from other anglers as Bink Grimes and I strode down the sidewalk towards our waiting boat. “I wonder how they know we’re from Texas” I thought to myself, then I looked down at my rods and it hit me as gazed at the fist full of baitcasters. We were in Florida and baitcasters are a dead giveaway that you are from the Lone Star State, down in the Sunshine State spinning tackle rules the angling world. Now before you go get in a fired up huff a...
How many times have you had it happen to you? After hours of fishing, struggling, changing baits, and changing tactics it finally happens, the fish finally decide to cooperate and all is right with the world again. That brief period of euphoria wipes away all the memories of cold boring hours spent probing empty acres of water; it’s the opportunity we all search for yet only few find on a consistent basis. Those few fishermen who routinely find these brief periods where fish g...
Just like the old saying “all good things must come to an end” the 2023-2024 waterfowl season is almost over. Texas hunters will have until January 28th to get it done while the folks across the river in Louisiana will finish up on January 21st. For plenty of local hunters it feels like the season already ended as this crazy weather pattern has made staying on the birds a challenge. Hunters who have been willing to put in the scouting time and be flexible are still sho...
In all the major bay systems along the Texas gulf coast die hard big trout hunters are licking their lips in anticipation of finding that one truly big speckled trout of a lifetime. The late fall and winter months are regarded as the best times to pursue real wall hanger size trout, and here on Sabine lake we are no different. In the past couple of years we have seen some amazing things come our way to change the way we as anglers looked at fishing. Some or most of these...
Any tackle geek knows they are the next great weapon in the angling arsenal, saltwater spinnerbaits have come to the coast and the redfish have a new enemy. They come in array of different colors and each one does a little something different that sets it apart from the competition. Truth be told there are 2 basic styles and they both do a great job catching fish. The most common style is the “safety pin” style, famous in bass fishing circles and the one most known by Tex...
For months the faithful waited in anticipation for opening day and in what seems to be the blink of an eye the 2023-24 duck season is just about gone. With a few weeks to go before the end many water fowl hunters have resorted to road trips to get that last little fix in before the party ends. For many hunters the coast has been the destination, especially the Rockport and Port O’ Conner areas since they have been covered up with ducks for most of the season. The stories about...
Cooler water and air temperatures along with overcast days conjure up a recipe for the coastal plugger and big fish are the main course on the angling menu. These conditions dictate a different approach and a different mentality from the rest of the year. Some things are obvious, slowing down and paying attention to water temps and tides go without saying. The more subtle approach and bait presentation are also high on the list. At this time of the year many folks revert to...
