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Texas’ Mustang Island marks 40th anniversary

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — Forty years ago, Mustang Island State Park opened its gates with little fanfare. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports the lead-up to the park’s creation and opening was a wild ride of political machinations and court battles that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and ended with Ada Wilson forcing the Texas government to buy her land on Mustang Island, ensuring future generations could enjoy its natural state. The state of Texas had been attempting to create a water exchange pass between Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico for ...

Recalling summer days

I asked a young high schooler whether he was glad when school was out. To my surprise, he replied, “Naw, I’ll be glad when it starts again. It’s too boring when you’re off in the summer.” In MY day, that would have been heresy. We can all look back at some wonderful times in our lives, but I think when I was a kid the most magic time of all was summer vacation. In those days, the last day of school came earlier than it does now, usually just before Memorial Day, which at that time was May 30, no matter on what day of the week that fell. The last day was always a short ...

Small trout brings big reward

Most anglers would cringe at the thought of a four- to six-mile walk to catch a few trout that vary in length from 6 to 12 inches. For me, it’s less about the fish and more about the quiet walk, lack of other people and some quality exercise. The small and beautifully colored trout are simply a bonus. Chances are, you know what a real challenge it can be if you’ve ever fished a small native trout stream, and I mean really small — like jump across it kind of small. The kind of tiny stream that when you walk through it, you feel as if you’ve just walked across a field of tall ...

Commission increases funding for share program

From staff reports HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners on Tuesday voted to increase the agency’s monetary donation to Hunters Sharing the Harvest, ensuring that hunters can continue to donate venison to the state’s hungry without having to pay deer-processing costs. The board unanimously approved increasing to $55,000 the Game Commission’s 2019 donation to Hunters Sharing the Harvest. The Game Commission for several years has made annual $20,000 donations to the nonprofit organization that routes hunter-harvested ground venison to food banks and soup ...

Learn to fish the weeds, not avoid them

“How are they hitting?” It’s the ultimate icebreaker when anglers meet. The other week on a nearby lake my fishing partner and I asked this question of two different boatloads of fishermen, and received two very different responses. “Terrible!” was the first answer from a, shall we say, mature pair in a johnboat. “@#$% weeds. Didn’t catch a thing all day!” “Pretty well,” said our second quizee, a younger fellow in a one-man plastic craft. “Been picking up a few out of the weeds.” One question, two answers. Two different aspects of summer fishing when ...

Summer memories from on the Juniata

Hunters, fisherman, and outdoorsmen have spots. Not literal spots like those of a Dalmatian, but spots meaning places that are special to them. A certain tree, tree stand, rock outcropping or other landmark may come to mind when you think of your owns spots. It may be incredibly secluded and a secret you will take to the grave. It could also be a place that was special to not only you, but for many other people as well. One of my favorite spots of all time wasn’t secluded, secret or private by any stretch, and it was indeed enjoyed my many others over the years. The old ...