Toledo Bend Guide

Feb 2010

As I write this report on the morning of February 12th, snow is falling, it is c-o-l-d and just basically a miserable day for fishing. However, like everyone says about Texas weather .. "Just wait a bit and it will change". Hopefully we will see the sun in a few days and all of these cold fronts will go away. There are fish to be caught and I am getting cabin fever!

I saw that my friend Joe Joslin was heading to the Bass Master Classic at Lay Lake just out of Birmingham, Alabama .. and I hope he give us some good update of all the activities. If you have never attended a Classic you should. It is Mardi Gras disguised as a bass tournament. Lot's of fun!

LAKE CONDITIONS: Current lake level on 2/11/2010 is 169.72. Generator 1 Currently shut down Generator 2 Currently running 24 hours. Spillway Gates Closed Current Waterflow 6564 CFS Water clarity in the south end of the lake is basically clear but should stain somewhat as we continue to get drizzle/rain .... and snow. Water temperature continues to be bad for fishermen since it has dropped seven plus degrees in some areas and is between 50 to 52 degrees maximum in most areas. That is cold since three weeks ago we were fishing some areas that had 53-plus degree temperature. I hope that this colder temperature is doing a number to the Giant Salvinia since it doesn't like the colder temperatures.

Fishing Reports:
BASS - You have to be pretty lucky these days to find a window of time when the wind is not blowing or a cold front is not roaring thru our area. Three weeks ago bass were starting to stage in the creeks anticipating that warmer weather would occur and the spawning cycle would begin. Many of these fish have dropped back into the deeper areas but could move up fast when the sun gets back on the water.
A. D. White and I had a great day on January 23rd. We finished 1st and 2nd in the Fairmount Bass Club tournament and A. D. had a beautiful 11-pound 6-ounce lunker as a kicker. We both had limits-plus and about 80% of the bass were caught on a black/blue swim-jig with a craw trailer and the rest were taken on a black Texan Shaker.

It was a great day and the 11-pounder was released back into Toledo Bend to fight again another day. The key was to fish the baits in close proximity to the creek channel but also close to the flats.

Late reports on both Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn have been sketchy but the patterns that are working seem to be gold Rogues fished v-e-r-y slow, Shaker type baits, and drop-shots in 25-plus feet of water.

I visited with pro angler Tommy Martin and he said that the drop-shot pattern worked best for both he and fellow angler Larry Nixon during the recent FLW American Fishing Series tournament at Sam Rayburn. Pro angler Cody Woods won the event with a 3-day total of 32-pounds 10-ounces. Randy Cisler finished 2nd followed by Charles Bibber, Tommy Martin and Larry Nixon. Congrads to all!
With the cold fronts pulling in more cold air the deepwater pattern may be with us for awhile. If so I would recommend the Texan jigging spoon, a drop-shot and possibly the Carolina-rig. Take your time fishing an area and be patient. There are some big bass out there just waiting to come to the shallows so the ridges, long points and funnel area that lead from deep water to shallow would be good places to start. The afternoon bite seems to be much better than the early morning bite.

This is also a good time to wacky worm a Crème Scoundrel worm. That slow sinking worm can get the attention from bass that will ignore other offerings. I haven't had much luck in recent days with a crankbait or trap but this action will perk back up as the water warms.

Crappie - Have had a few reports of crappie being caught from Housen Bay and up around Holly Park. Not much from the Chicken Coop area. Best pattern seems to be fishing minnows on a tight line in about 25-feet of water over brush. I predict that this will be one of the best years ever for crappie fishing once they kick off.

O x y m o r o n s

1. Is it good if a vacuum really sucks? 2. Why is it called "after dark" when it really is "after light"? 3. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand? 4. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know? 5. If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words? 6. Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack? 7. Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing? 8. Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing? 9. Why do "tug" boats push their barges? 10. Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there? 11. Why are they called "stands" when they are made for sitting? 12. Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected? 13. Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites? 14. Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things? 15. Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds? 16. If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it? 17. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting? 18. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? 19. If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right? 20. Why is bra singular and panties plural? 21. Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead? 22. Why do we put suits in garment bags and garments in a suitcase? 23. How come abbreviated is such a long word? 24. Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them? 25. Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle? 26. Why do they call it a TV set when you only have one? 27. Christmas - What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks? 28. Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? I dunno, why do we? ************************************

Cinnamon and Honey
Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing." When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave.. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey. Cinnamon and Honey Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around.

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:
It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, in its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS: This is the one I really want to work!!!) Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

That's all -- Stay warm and I will see you on the water -- JB

Two Doors Bar-B-Que

Fin & Feather Resort

Fin & Feather Resort - A Sparkling Diamond In The Pineywoods

It’s always great to work with nice people.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting with Terri Ward, the new owner of Fin & Feather Resort and we talked about some of the new and exciting things that are taking place at the resort.

Terri Ward is a multi-talented lady that has background in many areas that cannot help but make Fin & Feather Resort one of the showplaces of our state. She has been involved in other operations that include Tranquility Bay in Louisiana, a resort business at Lake Livingston, Auburn Château in Houston and a number of others, so she knows her stuff.

Terri is very open-minded Christian lady that basically loves what she is doing. It is a breath of fresh air to listen to her talk about the changes she wants to do at Fin & Feather Resort that would not only benefit our community but help it continue to grow.

According to Fin & Feather Resort - Manager Kim Hill, many of the immediate plans involve family activities, attracting conventions and bass tournaments and the addition of a first class restaurant that is now open for business. The size of the restaurant bar and grill area was doubled in a recent remodeling - and it looks absolutely great!

The newly remodeled restaurant will seat 120 folks and in the near future a liquor license will be in place so you can enjoy your favorite adult beverage with your meal. The restaurant will soon be changing from winter to summer hours so be sure to call (409-579-2056) ahead to verify the hours the restaurant will be open.

Fin & Feather Resort has no shortage of sleeping facilities. There are 30 motel rooms, 16 cabins and 17 RV stations, with more RV hook-up areas planed for the near future.

And what a beautiful area it is. Majestic pine trees and beautiful Toledo Bend Lake make this a picturesque area that will fit any occasion. Add to this the flowering dogwoods, azaleas, bluebonnets and wisteria and you have a spectacular display of Mother Nature’s handiwork.

A fully equipped Convention Center that seats 300 can easily handle events like the recent Professional Anglers Association Tournament, weddings or large family reunions. State of the art cooking facilities are also connected to the Convention Center. Want to play a game of pool? .. Then check out the adjoining game room.

And don’t worry about bringing all that “stuff” from home because the office/store has a fully stocked area with grocery and personal items, cold drinks, bait and most anything else you need. Bring your swim suit during the warmer months because the swimming pool and hot tub will be the place to be.

Twenty boat stalls are available for safe storage of your boat during your stay and two boat ramps are available to make launching that boat quick and easy.

If you need a good fishing guide there are a number available such as pro angler Stephen Johnston, Mike Haimen and Bill Foundren to help you catch those big bass or crappie.

Toledo Bend is the South’s largest manmade lake with sparkling waters that provide 1,250 miles of shoreline - and lot’s of fish. In fact, some folks state that Toledo Bend is the Bass Fishing Capital of the World.

Future plans are to provide boat and bicycle rentals, possibly expand the parking area and do whatever it takes to make Fin & Feather the number one resort facility in our state.

Another item we discussed was Fin & Feathers possible involvement in a future women’s professional fishing circuit. As most of you now know, the women’s professional fishing circuit was recently cancelled. Terri Ward and I discussed the possibility of helping to form a new women’s circuit that could be available in the future. More on this issue as additional folks are contacted and plans are formulated. What a great idea to have a women’s professional fishing circuit based here at Toledo Bend Lake.

So there you are, a brief look at what I consider to be one of the finest organizations in our community -- Fin & Feather Resort. Drop by and visit with them – It’s a picture-book place with undisturbed natural beauty and great people. You sure won’t be disappointed. Good Fishing -- JB

Stanley Baits

There are few folks in the angling world that are not familiar with the great fishing products made by Stanley Jigs, Inc. Many years ago fishing legend and tournament pro Lonnie Stanley introduced some of the finest fishing jigs on the market and many tournaments were won with these great products. Over the years the company has expanded its product line in many ways but one thing has been consistent.. and that is Quality. Stanley knows fishing and has made every effort to put nothing but quality products into the hands of anglers like you and me.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting with Stanley and he told me about the great line of new items they are featuring for 2010. This highly innovative company always finds a way to put together new baits that are almost certain to increase not only the number of bass that we catch but also the size of the fish. Here are a few of the fishing products that you will definitely need in your tacklebox for this upcoming fishing season.

Y-NOT – This has to be one of the greatest little baits that have come along in the past decade. The name comes from its simple Y-shaped body, yet there is nothing simple about this lure's design and its uncanny ability to mimic a living, breathing crawfish. It absolutely drives bass nuts! The bait can be pitched, cast, flipped, jig’d, used on a drop-shot rig or fished as a suspended bait. Its versatility is truly unmatched.

Small air pockets are built into the legs of the Y-NOT and rattlers can be placed into the air pockets for added attraction. These chambers also trap air for greater buoyancy. As you fish the bait along the bottom of a lake or pond the two legs stand straight up, imitating with amazing realism a defensive crawfish with pincers in the air. Air is also trapped within the dozens of soft, flexible rings surrounding the lure's body and legs. Each time you twitch the bait tiny air bubbles are released. Bass are drawn to the “breathing” bait by the sound and sight of the air bubbles.

“The collapsible rings feel like something alive. When the fish grabs it, they just hold on,” says Stanley. “Since bass hang on tight it's hard to miss the fish when setting the hook. The point of the hook is exposed yet hidden in the flexible rings, for weedless fishing.” The bait is ideal for Carolina and Texas rigging and works great with Drop Shots and Shaky Heads. And according to Stanley, there is no better jig trailer.

When pulled behind a bare hook the Y-NOT looks amazingly like a frog. The trapped air adds buoyancy that floats the soft bait along the water's surface. As the air bubbles escape the lure sinks so slowly, that it looks just like a frog swimming with outstretched legs. Add a 5/0 hook and the bait will suspend the hook, sinking ever so slowly. It is absolutely awesome for fishing with a Carolina Rig. Y-NOT is available in 4 and 3.5 inch sizes and 11 top producing colors

ItzaBug – Although there are a number of “creature baits” on the market these days, nothing has all of the features of the new “ItzaBug”. The design combines the soft “real-feel” rings of the Sidewinder lure for the body with a pair of crawfish claws. Then throw in a couple of screw-tail tentacles and you have a “bug” that's dynamite for fishing our Texas/Louisiana waters.

ItzaBug's soft flexible rings trap air, emitting tiny bubbles that imitate a live, breathing crawfish. Bass will hang on tight to the collapsible rings that feel like moving prey in the fish's mouth. Two flat appendages with pincers and the pair of curly-tail tentacles add a liveliness that drives bass crazy. The small 4-inch ItzaBug is as versatile as it is effective. The soft bait can also be fished behind a 1/8 or 1/4-ounce jig head. “It's a great jig trailer,” says Lonnie Stanley. When the ItzaBug is slid onto a skirted jig the wide ringed body opens up expanding the skirt and the escaping air bubbles give it a “breathing” effect. The bait is also perfect for throwing after cold snaps, when the bass tend to favor smaller baits. It is ideal on a 3/0 or 4/0 hook Carolina-rigged or Texas-rigged, and works great when drop shot'ing. ItzaBug fished on a Texas-rig is deadly on the bedding bass. How the ItzaBug is fished, is limited only by one’s imagination.

The Sidewinder – This bait has a “soft ringed” body and sinks slowly with a life-like movement that bass just can’t resist. Multiple rings surround the soft bait from tip to tail, trapping air as its cast and giving it slight buoyancy. As it falls, the tiny air bubbles escape allowing the bait to sink deadly slow. The Sidewinder remains in the water column longer thus maximizing its visibility in the strike zone.

The Sidewinder has a rattle chamber in the tail that enhances its attraction. When used without a rattler the chamber becomes an air pocket that causes the tail to stand straight up. A slight shake of the rod allows trapped air bubbles in the rattle chamber to escape. The Sidewinder is extremely versatile and is ideal for shaky heads, Texas and Carolina-rigging or dead-sticking. The slow sinking Sidewinder can also be fished near the top “fluke style”. It can create some explosive strikes when snaked over or through thick cover. The tip of the hook can be exposed yet it's hidden in the rings, making it weedless.

The bait is also going to be great for those of you that like to “wacky worm”. Paired with the Stanley T-Wacky hook either 1/16 or 1/8-oz., the weighted hook and slow-sinking Sidewinder “fight” each other, giving it a life-like action whether the bait is hooked through the middle or the nose. The rings of the bait are so flexible that when you try to grab the bait in the water, it feels like trying to hold on to a live worm or snake.

The 5 1/2-inch Sidewinder can also be trimmed to a 4 to 4 ½-inch length and fished as a “jiggin” eel, with the air pocket in the tail giving it a floating snaky action; or insert a rattle in the chamber making the Sidewinder a deadly muddy-water jig trailer. Put a rattle in then slip it on a spinnerbait and you have the world’s first rattling spinnerbait trailer! The Sidewinder is available in eleven top producing colors

Ribbit Double-Take Hook As most of you know, the Ribbit is one of the most widely used baits in our area. Lonnie Stanley and colleague John Hale applied a great deal of common sense and logic when coming up with the idea of the Ribbit Double-Take Hook. As in most cases, two heads are better than one when solving a problem, and two hooks are always better than one for hooking and landing big bass!

The Ribbit Double-Take Hook is specially designed to fish with Stanley Lures' Ribbit soft bait but works wonders with other frog-imitation soft lures as well. Bass tend to strike violently at the “racing” frogs that run across the top of the water, and will often miss a single hook.

The Ribbit Double-Take Hook with its longer shank and two points doubles your chances of hooking up, says Bassmaster Classic veteran, Stanley. It's longer than other hooks, allowing the tips of the two hooks to penetrate lower within the legs of the Ribbit frog. The churning legs of the frog grab the fish's attention and are often the target of the strike. The added length to the shank of the hook greatly reduces the likelihood of the fish missing the hooks. The Ribbit Double-Take Hook is definitely going to get a double take from our anglers.

SwimMax Jig – In the past year or so the swimming jig has slowly moved more and more into the spotlight for our local anglers. There are just some days when this technique is about the only one that produces a strike.

My partner A.D. White and I experienced this in the recent January Fairmount Bass Club tournament. Although a few fish were caught on other baits, the majority of our first and second place finish came by swimming a black jig that had a dark crawfish trailer.

One of the bass caught (by A.D. White) pulled the scales down to 11-pounds 6-ounces. That is a BIG BIG bass!

Stanley has spent a great deal of time perfecting a jig made for this swimming technique. The shape of the head allows the bait to swim over and through grass, pads and all types of structure. The bait won’t roll over on a fast retrieve and it is great when fishing those tough areas of fallen timber. The bait has a patented “Wedgehead” design that is like adding a four wheel drive to your jig. It's the most weedless jig that Stanley has ever produced and comes in sizes of 3/8 and 1/2 oz

T-Wacky - If you haven’t tried fishing “wacky style” then you have missed out on some great fun and probably some nice bags of bass. Wacky worm fishing is one of the most effective do-nothing methods available today.

Stanley has just introduced the T-Wacky which may well be the best hook system on the market for wacky fishing. The T-Wacky has a teardrop front weight design so the lure will fall naturally. All of the T-Wacky hooks come with a weed guard and are super sharp. The unique teardrop head design allows the hook point to stay up as the weight falls head first, allowing you to have a superior hook set.

Bugeye Football Jig – Football jigs have certainly made their presence known in the past year or so and some anglers believe that they are the hottest thing going for big bass. Lonnie Stanley states that he has caught more monster bass on the jig and trailer than any other lure they make. The new Bugeye Football Jig will certainly enhance your chances of getting that big bass into the boat. The bait has realistic eyes, a quality Owner hook, Accent Flash Skirt, and the best paint jobs you'll ever see. All you have to do is pitch, flip, or cast and hang on.

Casting Jigs – These are the “bread and butter” baits that started the entire Stanley product line. The original casting and flipping jigs are the best of the basics for all jig fishermen. An all time favorite color would have to be black/blue, but others that receive a nod of approval from our area pros are the black/brown, white and watermelon seed.

RFE - Platinum Bloodspot Series – The new Realistic Flat Eyes bait comes with Bloodspot skirts and the patented two color weed guard. The weed guard is made with a few stands of red facing up... Where it counts. This bait should have a numbers of users because it is really one of the finest looking jigs on the market today. The bait sports a super sharp Mustad Ultra point hook, Hot Flash Blood Spot skirts, a rattle chamber and Realistic Flat Eyes.

Well there you are, a few of the newest baits on the market from one of the front runners of the fishing industry – Stanley Baits.

As I mentioned earlier, quality is what you get when you purchase a Stanley product and having a high level of customer focus is their way of doing business. Give some of these baits a try – They just may help you catch that bass of a lifetime.
Good Fishing – JB

For more information go to www.fishstanley.com or contact Ken Chaumont at kenchaumont@fishstanley.com

How To ''Mop Up'' On Bass

Right before the end of the year I had the opportunity to try out some baits that I think are just pure dynamite. These baits are made by Buckeye Lures, a USA company that produces a fine line of custom made products.

In case you are not familiar with Buckeye Lures they are headquartered in Martinez, Georgia and make some of the finest fishing lures on the market. If you’re looking for Quality then Buckeye Lures will be the place to shop. Each of the baits are made with only the finest materials available. Superior craftsmanship and attention to detail make these baits perform more realistically in the water -- and this boils down to more action and big time strikes.

Jeremy Altman, President of Buckeye Lures, put it very well when he said, “One look at our baits and you’ll see why fishermen everywhere are calling Buckeye Lures “Better than Luck”.

Buckeye Lures has a wide selection of products ranging from jig heads, jigs, buzzbaits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. For purposes of this article I would like to present a few of these baits so that you can get an idea of how innovative this company really is, and I will end up featuring a bait that should especially interest you Texas/Louisiana anglers -- the Mop Jig.

Spot Remover – This quality jig comes in four models and has a Mustad Ultra-Point black nickel hook. It’s a classy looking set-up and comes in colors of black, brown, green pumpkin, with the “Finesse Jig” also available in black/blue, orange pumpkin and white. A size is available for all your fishing needs and range from 1/16-oz up to 1/2-oz. The Magnum size comes with a heavy-duty Flipping hook.

The “Pro Model” bait has a spiral wire coming out of the head that allows you to easily attach a plastic trailer such as a worm or craw. The head of the bait sits flat on the bottom of the lake and the bait stands straight up off the bottom allowing it to be easily seen and taken by a hungry bass.

Flat Top Finesse Jig – A great jig that also comes in a good assortment of colors. This jig sets upright with the hook in the best position for a solid hook-set. This jig was designed with the help of pro angler Charlie Ingram.

If you are a tournament angler and looking for that special bait that will give you an edge over other anglers then check out the Su-Spin Blade and the Ditch Blade.

The Su-Spin Blade is a beautiful bait that looks more like a shad than the real thing. The bait has two small spinners running below the head and when you add your favorite fluke, grub or minnow -type bait to the hook the bait really comes alive. This bait will be great for all your fishing needs but should be outstanding for schooling fish.

The Ditch Blade – This unique bait will easily reach those fish positioned in deepwater and should be very easy to chunk when the wind is howling. A sinker strategically mounted on the lower spinner shaft will keep the bait running true and allow you to effectively work any depth of water. The bait is compact in size, has a strong hook and features beautiful colors ranging from pearl, blue, chartreuse, shad, plain lead and baby bass. Like the Su-Spin Blade, you can add your favorite plastic body to give it a “can’t resist” appeal to the bass.

The Wake Bait – This is a brand new addition to the Buckeye Lures arsenal and literally comes alive when it hits the water. If the bass are chasing shad or thumbing their nose at your normal baits then try The Wake. It is amazing.

Football Jig –
2008 was the year of the football jig and I can assure you that this will continue throughout 2010. This jig has great colors, a heavy-duty weedguard and a super sharp hook making it one of the very finest jigs on the market. The bait comes in ½, ¾ and 1-oz. size. Colors are brown, perfect craw, black, black/blue, brown pumpkin, watermelon red, Texas craw, cinnamon purple, gold craw, green pumpkin and PBJ.

Mop Jig –
Anglers in the Southeastern part of our country have known about the Mop Jig for some time. This has been a “bread and butter” bait for many anglers and was brought to the spotlight when South Carolina’s Davy Hite used the bait to win the 2006 Pride of Georgia tournament. The Mop Jig then started getting national attention when others followed Hite to the winners circle using what was referred to as “the unusual looking bait that catches Big bass”.

When I received the Mop Jig to test, my first reaction was to trim the 4 to 5-inches of live rubber skirting (like most anglers seem to do). That is a mistake and once you drop the bait into the water you will see why. The Living Rubber skirt suddenly gets very seductive and undulates like no other bait on the market today. The bait looks somewhat like a crawfish in a defensive mode and that seems to be what attracts the attention of big bass. Add a trailer to the jig and it is just outstanding.

My next thought was that the profile of the bait was too large to catch smaller bass -- and that too was a mistake. I caught two pound bass on the bait so the size of the bait is no issue. And when I saw the bait doing it’s gyrations in the water I just knew that this bait could put some serious bass in my weigh-in bag.

One interesting fact that I found out during the recent Bass Master Classic is that the jig originally started out as the “Heavy Rubber Living Jig”. Pro tournament angler Davy Hite was sharing a room at a tournament with Kevin VanDam and when he showed KVD the bait VanDam just laughed and said that Hite needed to trim the bait because its long rubber skirt looked like a mop. Thus was born the name “Mop Jig”.

One of the keys to this baits success is the way the skirt is tied to the head. Wire is wrapped tightly around the throat of each skirt making it flare out more than normal. The head design of the Mop Jig is a rocker type with a flat bottom that is angled at 45- degrees, thus allowing the plastic worm or craw trailer to stand straight up in Mr. Bass’ face. The bait comes with a couple of rattles on the shank to attract those bass that may need something a little extra to make them hit.

Most of us in this part of the world want a quality hook that will perform well when a 7- pound or bigger bass is on the other end of the line. The Mop Jig has a 5/0 Mustad heavy duty flipping hook that will certainly get the job done. Be sure that you have some fairly heavy equipment and stout line when fishing this big bass bait.

One important item when you are fishing the Mop Jig is to not work it too fast. Slow down your retrieve and allow the bait to sit longer in one spot than you normally would. Then shake the jig on a somewhat limp line which will move the rattles and skirt without actually moving the bait. This action will cause the shirt to flare and move about in a tantalizing manner. Hold on tight to your rod when doing this because the strikes can be awesome. Another thing to keep in mind is that the longer Live Rubber skirt sinks slower than most of your other jigs, and this is great for attracting bass when they may be in a finicky mood.

Many of the anglers in Texas and Louisiana know that a jig can be one of the most reliable baits you can be chunking for quality size fish. The Mop Jig will add another dimension to your fishing by giving big bass a unique and lifelike appearance that they haven’t seen before and just can’t resist. I have a feeling that all of you Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend anglers will just love the Mop Jig. It is a bait for serious anglers and will stand up under the wear and tear of rocks, trees …and BIG bass.

Whether you are a tournament angler or just lunker hunting on your favorite fishing hole, the Mop Jig may well be the bait that helps you catch that bass of a lifetime.

Well there you are, a quick look at some of the newest baits on the market from one of the premier companies in the world – Buckeye Lures. All of the baits are made in the USA and as I stated previously -- the quality is outstanding.

For more information regarding the complete line of products contact the following: Buckeye Lures 310 Commerce Drive Martinez, GA 30907 Phone (706) 863-5468 or 1-866-GOBUCKEYE Or go to the website www.buckeyelures.com

Fishing Report - January 2010

I hope all of you had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Years. Our Texas/Louisiana area offers many wonderful opportunities for the sportsperson, and if you are lucky enough to live in this area you are truly blessed.

So What’s Happening ... Lake Conditions – As of January 10th, 2010 - The lake level is 170.62’ msl. Normal pool level is 172‘ msl. (Lake is now 1.38 feet low) Generator 1 and Generator 2 are currently running 24 hours a day so expect the lake to continue to fall. Current waterflow is 14,186 cfs. Lake water surface temperature is running about 48 to 54-degrees with water clarity on the south end rated as reasonably clear to partly stained up in some of the creeks. Those folks that like cold weather have really enjoyed the past week or so. Temperatures down into the 20's have been common and make for a very cold ride on the water.

FISHING REPORTS: BASS
If you have been lucky enough to be on the water when the wind and rain weren't causing havoc, odds are that you may have gotten into some good bass fishing. I have had three trips since the first of the year that were really good. One one of the trips in Sandy Creek the bass were in about 33-38 feet of water and wanted a 3/4-oz jigging spoon vertically jigged slowly about five feet off the bottom. Total catch was about 30 bass with three in the five pound range.

Another late afternoon trip saw about 14 bass come into the boat (along with a couple of big crappie and a few yellow bass). These fish hit the jigging spoon and a Texas rigged Ol' Monster watermelon/candy worm, and a black/blue jig. Best depth to fish was from 19- to 23 feet. My most recent trip had 20+ bass up to 3-pounds and these were all taken in 27' of water off main-lake points.

Pick a day when the weather looks good (forget it not being cold because it is going to be cold for some time) and work these baits on creek channel drops and off the edge of humps. At this time of the year the fish will be in small areas and the bite may not last long. However, when the fish turn on you can really catch them Big Time.

Congratulations to local anglers and fellow fishing friends Ronnie Bland and Johnny Franks for their recent win in the Texas Super Team Tournament held on Toledo Bend and hosted by Fin & Feather Resort. The team fought some pretty tough weather to bag a limit of bass that pulled the scales down to the 29.29 pounds mark. Their big bass of the day weighed 7 1/2 pounds and the team walked away with a $10,000 payday. Great Job Guys!

This was the fourth tournament of five events and is sponsored by Legend Boats. John Salamone is the Tournament Director and if you are interested in more information for this fine event just give him a call at 409-594-8925. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting John and Legend President Randy Qualls and I assure you they are great folks and put on a first class event.

Hot Tips!! A couple of baits you need to be throwing in the upcoming months are the Texan jigging spoon, Stanley's Swim Max Jig/his new 3/4 and 1-ounce grass jig, Sidewinder plastic worm, the Bill Lewis "Toledo Gold" Rat-L-Trap, Creme's new Mad Dad flex plug and Buckeyes football jig and Mop jig.

Hopefully in the next few weeks we will see bass turn on to the "traps" and spinner baits. My ol’ favorite Carolina rig is still producing a few fish but you have to really slow down your retrieve, I recommend the watermelon or cotton candy centipede or a lizard in watermelon/red, pumpkin/chartreuse or the Junebug colors. Work the edges of the grass or channel drops in from 12- to 30 feet of water.

I believe that the bigger bass usually come in first to spawn so start paying special attention to drains and channels that feed in from deep water to shallow flats and sloughs. The bigger bass will use these “highways” when coming in to and from the spawning grounds. .

Catfish - A few really nice catfish have been caught in the past couple of weeks but from the reports I received, most have been taken on jigging spoons while the angler was fishing for black bass or yellow bass. No reports from trotliners -- I assume that they are waiting for more pleasant weather to start baiting up their lines.

Yellow Bass – Fishing for these guys has been pretty slow but in the past week or so some of the big ones have started to show up. There are lots of shad out in the deeper water and I expect that the deep water jigging is about to explode. Try a ¼ to 1-oz nickel jigging spoon and work the edges of channels and humps in the 18-to 45 foot depths. Lots of fish are also suspended at about the 24-to 30 foot depth so if you see these fish on your graph be sure to drop a spoon in front of them. When the BIG yellow bass start showing up it is definitely time to put some delicious eating fillets in the freezer.

Crappie - All eyes on on the Chicken Coop which is a spot north of the Pendleton Bridge that is just off the main river channel. For the past couple of years the crappie fishing has been "iffy", but this may be the year that it really produces those huge stringers of fish. Best bait for January has been live shiners fished about 30'deep near drops or river channels. *************************************************

Here are a few things to consider as we go into 2010...

A Billion Dollars --
The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it. Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! ... Are all your calculators broken??

Tax's -

Tax his land, Tax his wage, Tax his bed in which he lays. Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes is the rule. Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat. Tax his ties, Tax his shirts, Tax his work, Tax his dirt. Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he tries to think. Tax his booze, Tax his beers, If he cries, Tax his tears. Tax his bills, Tax his gas, Tax his notes, Tax his cash. Tax him good and let him know That after taxes, he has no dough. If he hollers, Tax him more, Tax him until he's good and sore. Tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in which he lays. Put these words upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom!' And when he's gone, We won't relax, We'll still be after inheritance TAX!! Accounts Receivable Tax, Building Permit Tax, CDL License Tax, Cigarette Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Dog License Tax, Federal Income Tax, Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA), Fishing License Tax, Food License Tax, Fuel Permit Tax, Gasoline Tax, Hunting License Tax, Inheritance Tax, Inventory Tax, IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax), IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax), Liquor Tax, Luxury Tax, Marriage License Tax, Medicare Tax, Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, Service charge taxes, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Tax (Truckers), Sales Taxes, Recreational Vehicle Tax, School Tax, State Income Tax, State Unemployment Tax (SUTA), Telephone Federal Excise Tax, Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax, Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax, Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax, Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax, Telephone State and Local Tax, Telephone Usage Charge Tax, Utility Tax, Vehicle License Registration Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Watercraft Registration Tax, Well Permit Tax, Workers Compensation Tax.

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What happened? Can you spell ‘politicians?' … And I still have to 'press 1' for English. ****************************************************

Well that’s all .. Have a great January and I will see you on the water -- JB

Those Crazy Winter Anglers

My Wife Says Winter Anglers Are Crazy!

I love this time of the year because most folks are either hunting or sitting behind the television set watching old re-runs of football games. The launching ramps are deserted and I finally have the entire lake to myself. So what if the wind is howling and the thermometer is hovering around the minus mark. To be a Texas/Louisiana “Winter Lunker Hunter” you have to be tough. And I guess it helps to be a bit mentally unbalanced.

People that will actually go fishing when the cold frigid Arctic air is cutting across the water are usually looked upon as weird but I assure you they are not. They simply have a great passion for their sport. It takes a different breed to go fishing when it’s so cold that your hands and toes lose all of their feeling, and conditions get so bad that the fishing line freezes to the rod guides and icicles are forming in the livewell. So why do it? Well it all boils down to a simple answer … Big Ol’ Lunker Bass.

There is absolutely nothing that compares with chunking a jig-n-pig near a submerged creek channel and then working the bait s-l-o-w-l-y down into the dark slate-colored water. Suddenly there’s the solid “thump” of a strike, you set the hook and then feel the violent reaction of a heavy largemouth bass. The powerful surge of the bass and then the monstrous roll of the fish at the surface makes your hands shake and your heart pound. And when you lift the lunker into your boat that moment is etched in your memory banks forever. My friend - This is what it’s all about!

But before you get all crazy and run out there looking for lunker bass there are a few guidelines that need to be covered that will make your transition to winter lunker hunting easier.

What To Do – And What Not To Do -

1. Dumb and Dumber is a good combination so use that as a guideline for selecting your fishing partner. Don’t get paired up with an angler that will keep griping and reminding you how cold it is, or even worse, how crummy the fishing might be. Remember, misery loves company so pick out a sympathetic partner or one equally as stupid as you.

2. Always check the local weather forecast. If it says winds 5- to 10 mph plan on a minimum of 15- to 20 mph. If it says rain plan on a monsoon, if they predict snow it will probably be the mother of all blizzards. You know the routine.

3. Watch for rogue waves. There is absolutely nothing more depressing than to look up and see a three foot cold, icy, frigid, wave coming over the front of the boat and heading your way. If you get caught in this situation at least turn the boat at an angle so that the wave hits your fishing partner and not you. And if you do drench your partner don’t say something stupid like “Boy this boat really takes the waves good .. Doesn’t it?” Anglers have been thrown out of the boat for much less.

4. Check the boat ramp out before you attempt to launch your boat. Few things are more embarrassing than to start backing down the ramp in extremely icy conditions and launch not only your boat, but also your towing vehicle with you in it.

5. Always wear boots... NOT tennis shoes. If you accidentally drop a rod and reel on the end of your half-frozen toe the pain will surpass anything you have ever experienced.

6. Always wear a life jacket. Why is this so difficult for anglers to do? Most of you sink like a rock in the bathtub so what makes you think you can swim like Tarzan in 40-degree water?

7. Always remember to put your drain-plug into the boat prior to launching. You would think that this one would need no explanation; however, some of you will obviously get a case of hypothermia trying to get the plug in while out on the water.

8. A complete change of clothing and at least 20 extra pair of gloves are a necessity. The extra clothes are needed for when you fall in the lake while putting your drain plug in. The extra gloves are needed when your first pair of gloves get damp and you can’t find another set. Don’t plan on your “friends” letting you use their gloves... It just won’t happen.

9. Macho baits are the key to building a winter fishing reputation. Don’t get caught using those wimpy drop-shots and other “finesse” type baits. Go for the gusto and build your reputation with baits such as the jig-n-pig, big crankbaits, jigging spoons or foot-long swimbaits. A macho image is everything in bass fishing!

10. Get lots of product decals and paste them all over your motor cover, boat and even your trailer. There is probably nothing more impressive than pulling into a busy launching area with decals like Wal-Mart, NASCAR Finalist, LSU and Viagra displayed.

11. One of my Louisiana angler friends has a boat with two livewells. He cooks up a pot of gumbo and then uses the extra livewell to carry the stuff. It works out great and there is nothing like a hot bowl of gumbo during a days fishing. Just be careful which livewell you put your fish in.

12. If you can sneak out your wives hair dryer it works great for warming up those plastic trailers you use on your jigs and making them more flexible. One angler I know even has a hair dryer duct taped to the inside of his pants leg and it warms everything from there up to his ears. Just don’t step down into the water when the hair dryer is plugged in.

13. One of my Texas friends gave me a pretty good tip to use for keeping the wind off your face when making a long boat run during very cold conditions. He simply takes a pair of underwear and pulls them over his head and has a couple of holes cut for his eyes. It’s cheap and works great. Just be sure to use clean underwear.

14. Nothing is more discouraging than to make a cast and have your favorite rod and reel slip out of your hands and disappear down in the briny depths. A simple fix for this is to always use your neighbors fishing equipment under these conditions.

15. And last but certainly not least … Always go to the bathroom before you put on two pair of long johns, one pair of pants, a jumpsuit, a snowmobile suit, and raingear. Trust me on this one... just do it.

Well there you are, a few tips be help you become the best winter lunker fisherman possible. Ignore all of those stupid comments your neighbors will make as you waddle out to your boat in all that clothing because there are lunkers to be caught! As it gets colder and colder and colder just keep reminding yourself that you are having lots of fun. In fact don’t act like you are having too much fun or your wife will probably want to tag along.

One Final Tip – Always carry a cell phone. Should any of the bad things happen that I have mention above you will still have a link to the world. And if the fishing REALLY sucks you can use the phone to call your local pizza place and have a pepperoni and cheese delivered to the dock. Winter fishing, big bass and pizza … Life doesn’t get much better than this!

Good Winter Fishing – JB

Lipless Crankbaits

It’s Shallow Cranking Time

By definition, a lipless crankbait is a shad-shaped, flat-sided, hard plastic lure that attracts a variety of fish as it comes through the water. Its running depth is basically controlled by the rod angle and speed. The bait produces a tight wiggle and the water breaking around the lure causes a vibration that is quite appealing to bass of all sizes. Many of today’s lipless crankbaits also have a “rattle chamber” that can create a racket that many anglers feel further attracts the fish. The standard lipless crankbait features two treble hooks that hang from the belly and tail of the lure. Most anglers in this area prefer the ¼, ½ and ¾-ounce models, although larger and smaller models are available for specific fishing needs.

Leaders in producing these baits include companies such as Bill Lewis Lures with the “Rat-L-Trap”, Strike Kings “Redeye Shad” and Cotton Cordells “Super Spot”.

Fishing a lipless crankbait is “chunking and winding” at its best and can be lots of fun. In fact, there are times when a lipless crankbait can outfish most other lures because you can cover so much water and they are great reaction baits. And don’t think that these baits can’t catch the bigger fish because when the bass are gorging on shad this lure is pure dynamite.

Few baits can beat a lipless crankbait when the fish are active and in an aggressive mood.

Lipless crankbaits come in a rainbow of colors, but only a few primary colors are needed for most of your needs. Everyone knows that in the springtime it’s hard to beat “Rayburn Red” or “Toledo Gold, but for fall fishing I would stay with the chrome or shad patterns, and if the water is stained try the fire-tiger color. A medium action 6-foot rod will work best when using the ½ or ¾-ounce baits. The longer rod will aid in longer casts and you will have enough leverage to control a big fish. I recommend a limber rod because it will get you better hook-ups and also lower your odds of the bass tossing the lure which is a common complaint from many anglers.

In fact, the Rat-L-Trap folks make a bait called the “Pro Trap” that has a special sleeve molded into the lures body which allows you to insert the fishing line and then a free-swinging treble hook is attached where the line comes out the belly. The lure rests on top of the treble hook but when fighting a bass the lure body slides up the line allowing you a better chance of landing the fish since it can’t use the weight of the lure as leverage to toss the bait.

The jury is still out on whether to use a 5:1 retrieve-ratio baitcasting reel or one of the higher ratios that will allow you to “burn” the bait back to the boat. Don’t get too hung up on line size and I recommend you use something in the 15- to 20-pound test range. Line visibility is not that much of a factor since the lure is running pretty fast and the bass will be keying in on the bait. Fluorocarbon line is great because it has little stretch and you can feel the action of the lure better.

One critical detail that many anglers overlook is that the hooks need to be very sharp. Many of the hooks that come on baits from the factory are lees than desirable and some anglers replace the factory hooks with another of their favorite brands to feel more comfortable.

One of the most effective techniques for fishing a lipless crankbait in our part of the world is “ticking the grass”. As you motor over the fishing area with your depthfinder note the depth of the grass. Now fancast the area, running your bait just over the top of the greenery. The bait should actually hit the grass every now and then to be sure you are in the right zone. Slow your retrieve occasionally allowing the bait to free-fall down into the grass and then “rip” the bait out and continue your retrieve. The ripping action will often trigger a strike from a bass that was following the bait but reluctant to bite. If the grass catches on the hooks as you make a retrieve just pop the rod sharply and many times the lure will clean itself.

When the bass are spitting crankbaits or being hooked on the rear treble try changing the color of the lure. I also replace the round split-rings with oblong ones which ensure that the knot and the lure eye won’t catch in the open part of the split-ring.

I know a few anglers that also carry a selection of different color fingernail polish to “touch-up” their baits. A red streak to the throat, chartreuse highlights on the side or perhaps a black dot on the side of the lure may be just what is needed to trigger the bass strike.

If you are looking for a tournament edge, or just want to catch fish on a high-pressured lake, the lipless crankbait may be the answer. It can help bring in quality stringer of bass and it sure is fun to fish. --

See You On The Water - JB

Texas

This is a must read for all Texans, used-to-be Texans, adopted Texans or want to-be Texans :

JUST TEXAS

Pep , Texas 79353 ---zip code
Smiley , Texas 78159
Paradise , Texas 76073
Rainbow , Texas 76077
Sweet Home , Texas 77987
Comfort , Texas 78013
Friendship, Texas 76530

Love the Sun?
Sun City , Texas 78628
Sunrise , Texas 76661
Sunset, Texas 76270
Sundown, Texas 79372
Sunray , Texas 79086
Sunny Side , Texas 77423

Want something to eat?
Bacon , Texas 76301
Noodle , Texas 79536
Oatmeal , Texas 78605
Turkey , Texas 79261
Trout , Texas 75789
Sugar Land , Texas 77479
Salty, Texas 76567
Rice , Texas 75155
Pearland , Texas 77581
Orange , Texas 77630
And top it off with :
Sweetwater , Texas 79556

Why travel to other cities? Texas has them all!
Detroit , Texas 75436
Cleveland , Texas 75436
Colorado City , Texas 79512
Denver City , Texas 79323
Klondike , Texas 75448
Nevada , Texas 75173
Memphis , Texas 79245
Miami , Texas 79059
Boston , Texas 75570
Santa Fe , Texas 77517
Tennessee Colony , Texas 75861
Reno , Texas 75462
Pasadena , Texas 77506
Columbus , Texas 78934

Feel like traveling outside the country?
Athens , Texas 75751
Canadian, Texas 79014
China , Texas 77613
Egypt , Texas 77436
Ireland , Texas 76538
Italy , Texas 76538
Turkey , Texas 79261
London , Texas 76854

Moscow, Texas
New London , Texas 75682
Paris , Texas 75460
Palestine , Texas 75801

No need to travel to Washington D.C.
Whitehouse , Texas 75791

We even have a city named after our planet!
Earth , Texas 79031

We have a city named after our state
Texas City , Texas 77590

Exhausted?
Energy , Texas 76452

Cold?
Blanket , Texas 76432
Schertz , Texas 78154

Winters, Texas

Like to read about History?
Santa Anna , Texas
Goliad , Texas
Alamo , Texas
Gun Barrel City , Texas
Robert Lee , Texas

Need Office Supplies?
Staples, Texas 78670

Want to go into outer space?
Venus , Texas 76084
Mars , Texas 79062

You guessed it. It's on the state line.
Texline , Texas 79087

For the kids...
Kermit , Texas 79745
Elmo , Texas 75118
Nemo , Texas 76070
Tarzan , Texas 79783
Winnie , Texas 77665
Sylvester , Texas 79560

Other city names in Texas , to make you smile......
Frognot , Texas 75424
Bigfoot , Texas 78005
Hogeye , Texas 75423
Cactus , Texas 79013
Notrees , Texas 79759
Best, Texas 76932
Veribest , Texas 76886
Kickapoo , Texas 75763
Dime Box , Texas 77853
Old Dime Box , Texas 77853
Telephone , Texas 75488
Telegraph , Texas 76883
Whiteface , Texas 79379
Twitty, Texas 79079

And last but not least, the Anti-Al Gore City
Kilgore , Texas 75662

And our favorites....
Cut n Shoot, Texas
Gun Barrell City , Texas
Hoop And Holler, Texas
Ding Dong, Texas and, of course,
Muleshoe , Texas

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas ...

If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Texas ;

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas ;

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas ; UNless you are Shelby in TN. LOL

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas ;

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas ;

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Texas ;

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas ;

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Texas

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph --you're going 80 and everybody's passing you, you may live in Texas ;

If you find 60 degrees 'a little chilly,' you may live in Texas ;

If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with all your Texas friends, you definitely live in Texas ..

Here are some little known, very interesting facts about Texas .
1. Beaumont to El Paso : 742 miles
2. Beaumont to Chicago : 770 miles
3. El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas
4. World's first rodeo was in Pecos , July 4, 1883.
5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water. Destroyed by Hurricane Ike -2008!
6. The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first full-time coach at Rice University in Houston .
7. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America 8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America 's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.
9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.
10.. The worst natural disaster in U.S. history was in 1900, caused by a hurricane, in which over 8,000 lives were lost on Galveston Island .
11. The first word spoken from the moon, July 20,1969, was " Houston ," but the space center was actually in Clear Lake City at the time.
12. King Ranch in South Texas is larger than Rhode Island ..
13. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43ï¿½ in 24 hours in and around Alvin in July of 1979...
14. Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, (known as the Constitution of 1845 by the Republic of Texas to enter the Union ) instead of by annexation. This allows the Texas Flag to fly at the same height as the U.S. Flag, and may divide into 5 states.
15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.
16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period in Dr Pepper..
18. Texas has had six capital cities :
Washington -on- the Brazos, Harrisburg , Galveston ,Velasco, West Columbia and Austin ..
19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington DC (by 7 feet).
20. The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest free standing monument in the world and it is taller than the Washington monument.
21. The name ' Texas ' comes from the Hasini Indian word 'tejas' meaning friends. Tejas is not Spanish for Texas ..
22. The State Mascot is the Armadillo (an interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies. They have one egg, which splits into four, and they either have four males or four females.).
23. The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston .

Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie , Texas :
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.

Y'all git all that?

S-Lazy-U

Summertime in East Texas means lots of heat and high humidity. Most folks just stay inside during these “dog-days” of summer and enjoy the air-conditioner, but I had a better plan. Rita and I headed to Colorado and spent some time at the S-Lazy-U Trout Resort.

Plans for this trip started months earlier when I visited with friends Dave and Becky Nelson who are the current caretakers of the S-Lazy-U. The Nelsons spend about four-plus months at the resort and then head back down to the Hemphill, Texas area where they have a home on Toledo Bend Lake. We had shared fishing stories on numerous occasions and since I grew up in New Mexico and have a fond place in my heart for trout fishing, it didn’t take long to work a deal to make a visit and put together an article on the resort, its people and the beautiful surroundings.

Regardless of the direction you go from East Texas, Colorado is a far piece to travel, but the scenic beauty of the resort area is worth every mile. The S-Lazy-U Resort is located on the southern part of Colorado east of Silverton and north of Pagosa Springs. Travel east from Monte Vista on Hwy 160 and then at South Fork take Hwy 149 to Creede and the resort is just a few miles from downtown Creede.

Downtown Creede is an assortment of historic buildings and names from a bygone era. The seven-block downtown section represents a section of Creede’s famous silver mining past. Creede boasts more than 300 sunny days every year and you can walk its streets easily and enjoy the many shops and eating places. The busy time for this community is from Memorial Day (late May) to Labor Day (early September).

Creede serves as the commercial and government center for residents and visitors and the magnificent canyon background makes a trip to Creede very worthwhile. The area is a popular destination for fishing, hunters, snowmobile riding, backpacking and skiing. While there we had the pleasure of attending one of the musical productions at the Creede Repertory Theater and it was very good. In recent times the arts have fallen on hard times because of our failing economy, however, these folks do an absolutely great job and I recommend that you attend one of their productions. For more information on Creede contact the Creede & Mineral County Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-327-2102 or go to www.creede.com.

The Rio Grande River, third longest in the nation, begins its journey from the eastern slopes of the Continental Divide just west of Creede. From there it journeys more than 1,800 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. The San Juan River is located on the Western Slope of the Continental Divide and flows into New Mexico, Utah and joins the Colorado River just north of Lake Powell. I tell you this just to let you know that there is some fantastic fishing in this area of the world.

The S-Lazy-U is actually an assortment of 34 homes nestled in beautiful Crooked Canyon. You have to be a homeowner to enjoy the benefits that the resort has to offer, but what benefits it has. The Good Lord did not skimp when he gave Colorado those magnificent mountains and sparkling lakes and streams. If you are lucky you can often see deer, mountain goats or even elk from your bedroom window as you enjoy your first cup of coffee of the day.

All are home-sites at the S-Lazy-U are sold with either a cabin/home on the lot or you buy a lot and build your own home. Homes and lots are still available and if you are interested in a purchase contact the lodge at (719) 658-2452.

S-Lazy U was actually started by the Wills family, and this was the first dude ranch in the area. Don Shirley and Anna Wills started the business and it served as a pack-train and stopping place along with being the dude ranch. Don at one time was also the Deputy Sheriff of Hinsdale, County Colorado.

Frank Wills was Don’s brother and they had both homesteaded the 160 acres of pristine land. Frank Wills ranch is now the Young Life’s Wilderness Ranch that is directly below the S-Lazy-U. The current lodge has a large sitting area with fireplace and piano, a spacious dining room, large kitchen, office area and living quarters.

Bob Wills was the leader of the western swing band the Texas Playboys, and frequently came to the S-Lazy-U ranch for horseback riding, fishing and to just generally relax. In return, the band would play on Saturday night at the new dance hall that Don had built on top of the hill. This was a great way to bring in some extra money from the residents and “dude” tourists. Music would fill the air in the Crooked Creek Canyon as the Texas Playboys entertained the guests and great food such as sandwiches, salads, cakes, pies and lots of coffee were served. Take Me Back To Tulsa was the signature song of the band and everyone that attended got into a party mood pretty fast.

There is a funny story here… There was a moonshine still up at the top of the hill where corn liquor was made. Guests parked their vehicles at the base of the knoll because there was no road up to the dancehall. Don Shirley stated that if someone was too drunk to make it back to the top of the hill then they wouldn’t disrupt the dance. A load of corn was scheduled to arrive that night after dark and the pack mules would then take the corn up to the still. The corn truck delivered the corn which was wrapped in burlap bags. Unfortunately one of the bags had a hole in the side and as the mules went up the hill a trickle of corn was released all the way up the hill to the still. Later that night a man that had a few too many drinks couldn’t navigate the trail back up to the dance hall and the man barged into Anna’s kitchen to give her a hug. This was a no-no, and she grabbed a #10 cast iron skillet from a hook on the wall and gave him a swat on the side of his head. Down he went.

Later that evening “skillet man” woke up and staggered around seeking the outhouse but unfortunately he found the door to the chicken coop. Inside were Anna’s pet bantam roosters and they aggressively flew at the man and in his inebriated state down he went again. The roosters then found the trail of corn left by the hole in the burlap bag.

The midnight supper was a huge success and by 3am most of the guests had departed and the ranch was quiet. Anna lay down for a bit of rest before getting up to start breakfast for the ranch hands and the departing Bob Wills and his band. At sunrise she looked out the window and saw her beloved chickens out across the canyon following the trail of corn up the hill. She jumped out of bed fearing for the safety of her birds and ran out the door to chase them back to the chicken coop. Anna grabbed a broom just in case there was a problem with the rooster flying at her.

Meanwhile, one of the visitors had been sleeping peacefully at the still site and saw Anna charging up the hill waving her broom. The mules that had carried the corn up the hill that night were startle and the roosters and mules began fighting. Mules were braying, roosters were squawking and all kinds of havoc took place. Anna was shaking her broom and the man sleeping at the still fell out of his hammock just as the mules broke their tie ropes and bolted down the hill to safety. Anna ordered the man to round up the roosters and put them in a burlap bag while she was rounding up the hens.

Meanwhile “skillet man” again woke up and this time he managed to find the outhouse. He had a thunderous headache and a bloody ear but he thought he remembered having a great time at the dance. He still didn’t know what had happened to his head but seemed to recall some huge birds attacking him during the night. He found his pickup and then started back down the hill to Creede.

A short time later Bob Wills group was packed up and as Anna was telling them goodbye the man from the still arrived and handed a few “jugs” of moonshine to the band. Bob Wills and his band always enjoyed the fridge benefits of playing at the S-Lazy-U. Sounds like weekends always had something funny happening at the S-Lazy-U.

During our visit we had a great jeep trip, but as a “flat-lander” I would like to say that the trip was not for the faint of heart. Our journey took us from the resort to Road Canyon Reservoir and then we followed the primitive “road” all the way along the Rio Grand River to Rio Grande Reservoir. From there we went to Lost Trail Ranch, Stony Pass and wound up for lunch at the bustling town of Silverton. Eating at the Handlebar Restaurant in Silverton is a must when you are in this area.

From Silverton we went north to Cinnamon Pass over the pass and down along the Lake Fork Gunnison River, Sherman Creek, Mill Creek, Williams Creek then up Gunnison River to Lake San Christoval to Lake City, back down 149 to Spring Creek Pass and then to Clear Creek Park and back to county road 500 and the resort. The scenery we saw was incredible. .

If you are planning to do some fishing be sure that you have a valid fishing license. We were never checked but did see a number of game wardens.
A non-resident 5-Day fishing license will cost you $21 and annual is $56. License can be purchased in Creede or at the Freemons General Store near the lodge. Freemons also has great food and some scrumptious ice cream. Popular Colorado fish include the Native Cutthroat, Brown, Rainbow and Brook trout. They are all scrappy fighters.

Common baits are in-line spinners such as the Mepps, Kastmaster spoons wet and dry flies and baits such as worms, salmon eggs and prepared baits like the Berkley Power Baits. Most of the anglers practice Catch and Release and the fishing is surprisingly good in some of the very small streams and ponds.

I took a few small crappie jig heads and curly-tail bodies to try on the fish and they were dynamite. None of these Colorado trout had ever seen these East Texas baits and they hit them with a vengeance. In fact, on one evening I gave my Colorado guide a lesson by catching 14 fish in a row. I was loving it and I am sure that he will get even with me when he returns to Toledo Bend.

I mentioned the Young Life’s Wilderness Ranch earlier and would like to tell you a few things about this impressive Christian outreach for youth. Its purpose is to show adolescents the person of Jesus Christ and his relevance to modern life. They do all of this by building personal relationships with the kids and participating with them in a number of activities – One of which is wilderness camping. The ranch is first class and gives the youth an opportunity to climb, camp, hike, and grow in Jesus Christ. Rita and I were impressed with what we saw and I highly recommend it to parents and kids. For more information phone (719) 658-2288 or go to www.wilderness.younglife.org.

You will see Lots of Texas travel trailers in this part of Colorado and I now know where all the Texans go each year when it gets hot. Be sure to pack some rain gear, walking boots, tennis shoes and mosquito repellent. The bugs can always get pretty annoying when the wind dies …and the fishing gets really good. At this time of the year the climate will range from very cool in the mornings to short-sleeve shirt weather by afternoon. The secret is to dress in layers and be ready for sudden changes in the weather... such as rain.

The toughest part of the trip? – It had to be coming back home to the humidity. But as in all trips, after a certain amount of time we sure started missing our own bed.

Rita and I would like to say thanks to the following folks for making our stay so pleasant. We wish we could have spent more time with each of you. --

Bob and Shirley Knox, Tommy and Barbara Huggins, Ron and Cecilia Russell, Vance and Lana Breaux, Jack and Nonien Fink, Don and Rosemary Lounsbury, Doug and Judy Wert, Alex and Ann Valdez and Dave and Judy Lickteig.

Thanks to you all for some great memories Also a special thanks to our great friends Pat and Paulette McCarty that extended us their hospitality while we were in Angel Fire, New Mexico. We Love You Guys! -- JB & Rita