How cool, we are getting a new boat!! woo hoo! Been wanting to upgrade our old 16ft jon boat for a few years for the coast.. You know, something a little bigger, able to run shallower, farther, etc.. This was something we weren’t really planning until next year. And then, one trip to Rockport and all that changed.
Continue reading The end of an era
| SAN ANTONIO (April 30, 2019) Trinity Oak’s 5th Annual Texas Hill Country Shooting Classic & Sporting Expo is slated for Saturday, June 8, at Joshua Creek Ranch in Boerne, TX. One of Trinity Oaks’ most popular and fastest growing events, the Texas Hill Country Shooting Classic and Sporting Expo, will offer two sporting clays courses to accommodate the continually growing number of shooters. This event is sure to be a fantastic day of competition and comradery, food and friendship and fun for all who attend.
The fee to participate in the event is $600 for a four-person team or $150 for each individual shooter. This includes 100 clays, lunch, a T-shirt, awards and trophies and access and participation in all of the exciting Trinity Oaks fundraiser events. In addition to the shoot, the daylong festivities will include corporate exhibits. These exhibits will showcase outdoor products, outfitters, local clubs, and much more. Be sure to stop by and visit them. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a safety video. A shotgun start at 9 a.m. will kick off the competition to be followed by lunch and an open bar at 12:30 p.m. A fabulous fundraiser that includes bucket raffles, a silent auction and a live auction benefiting Trinity Oaks will be held after lunch. Concluding the event will be a full awards ceremony awarding the top shooters, groups, ladies, seniors and youth categories. Only side-by-side or over/under shotguns (no autoloaders or pumps) are acceptable. Shotguns are available for rent at Joshua Creek. Eye and ear protection are mandatory. The maximum shell size is 12 gauge, 2 3/4″, #7.5-shot, 1 1/4 oz. loads. You can bring your own ammunition, or it can be purchased at Joshua Creek. All proceeds from corporate sponsors, raffles and auctions will benefit Trinity Oaks’ many programs that use hunting, fishing and outdoor activities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of underprivileged kids, terminally ill children and combat veterans. With the popularity of this event, you will want to reserve your team’s spot today for this event. Register online at ICLAYS.com. For those that are interested in a corporate sponsorship, please complete the two forms jodee. About Trinity Oaks In 2007, San Antonio native Tom Snyder founded Trinity Oaks, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on the premise that active participation in the outdoors is a powerful, healing, and fundamentally life-changing experience. The organization’s mission is to use hunting, fishing and outdoor activities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of underprivileged kids, terminally ill children and combat veterans. Each year, Trinity Oaks offers at least 50 events at no expense to those who can benefit from once-in-a-lifetime hunting or fishing experiences. For more information on Trinity Oaks, visit www.trinityoaks.org, or call 210-447-0351. For more information on Thumbtack Ranch, visit https://trinityoaks.org/thumbtack/. |
THURSDAY – April 18th
Capt. Nick Dahlman– We didn’t get to start this morning as early we usually do because of thunderstorms that swept the coast earlier this morning, but the day turned out positive for us, as well as for many of the other boats that were out today. The clouds parted and showed us some blue sky, and the wind settled down to a manageable speed, and my crew of three proceeded with a day of fun catching their limit of some great looking redfish!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great topwater trout action first thing this morning, with a handful caught on DSL soft plastics. Then some hard pulling redfish to end the day.
Knee to thigh deep grass beds and scattered shell produced the best bites. Redfish didn’t want to commit to the topwater, but they couldn’t resist an XL Mirrodine.
Folks there is still time to get in on this Spring/early Summer bite, we have plenty of open dates for April-June. Give us a call and lets make a wade!
Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell:(210)452-9680
nmsportsmansadventures.com
1996 16ft welded SeaArk with 40hp Yamaha
Continue reading Boat for saleGrinded it out in a bit today through some morning fog and rain. But, it’s always a lot of fun to take a first time wader. Mrs. Noel did a great job, first out of the boat, and managed to catch a few throwing DSL pumpkinseed and chicken of the c. Other fish fell for a Mirro-dine.
Hopefully the fronts are behind us, and we can move into some great Spring action. Give us a shout to get your trip booked, plenty of April-June dates available.
Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell:(210)452-9680
nmsportsmansadventures.com
Post front bites, usually 2-4 days after a big front can produce the best results. When water temps start to rise.
The water in Port Mansfield is heating up, and so is the action!
Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell(210)452-9680
nmsportsmansadventures.com
Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell: (210) 452-9680
N&M Sportsman’s Adventures
nmsportsmansadventures.com
AB Kennels
abkennels.com
AUSTIN – Many Texans opt outside to reconnect with nature after a long winter, but spring break adventures aren’t limited to swimming, camping and hiking. Fishing also offers a great way for families to experience the diverse aquatic life and scenic places that Texas has to offer.
Here are 10 ideas to help families to make memories fishing this spring break:
- Learn the basics at a fishing class: More than a dozen Texas State Parks and other locations around the state are offering beginner fishing classes throughout March to help anglers learn the fundamentals of fishing and give them an opportunity to catch a fish. Fishing poles and bait are available for families to borrow for the day at many locations, and no fishing license is needed to fish in a state park. Find a full list of events, details and maps and directions in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Fishing Events Calendar online.
- Go kayak fishing on the Texas coast: The newest coastal paddling trail, the Seadrift Paddling Trail, features 20 miles of freshwater and saltwater paddling from the Guadalupe River to San Antonio Bay. Anglers can find prime red drum and spotted seatrout fishing opportunities along this scenic float, along with wildlife watching opportunities for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and a variety of shorebirds and migratory birds. Kayak and canoe rentals are available in nearby Victoria. Eight other coastal paddling trails can be found on the Texas Paddling Trails website.
- Catch your first fish at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center: The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, located about an hour drive from Tyler and Dallas and less than two hours from Fort Worth and Waco, offers several stocked fishing ponds, ample fishing loaner equipment, a full production hatchery and a vast array of aquatic exhibits to explore. After catching catfish and rainbow trout in the fishing ponds, spring breakers can see other interesting creatures like paddlefish and American alligators, watch a live fish-feeding dive show, and take a narrated tram tour through the outdoor hatchery facility.
- Experience the spring white bass run: White bass provide anglers of all experience levels with exciting action during their annual spring spawning migration up river and stream tributaries. The best time for white bass fishing is usually in March, but with the recent cold snap anglers should look for areas where the water temperature has reached at least 54 degrees, or where the redbuds or dogwoods are blooming. In East Texas, anglers can try Chandler River Park on the Neches River or the Grand Bluff Boat Ramp on the Sabine River for white bass fishing access. Central Texas locations can be found in the TPWD publication White Bass Fishing In Central Texas.
- Visit marine life at Sea Center Texas: At Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson, visitors can explore aquaria and exhibits of Texas marine life, the largest redfish hatchery in the world, 36 one-acre fish culture ponds, an outdoor wetland exhibit and a youth fishing pond. A 20-foot touch pool allows visitors to gently touch marine animals such as blue crabs, hermit crabs, stone crabs, snails and even anemones. On April 6, families can attend the free Kids Reel Big Fish Event to learn how to catch and release fish and get a free fishing pole (limited to the first 100 kids).
- Fish for rainbow trout in East Texas: In Texas, cold-water loving rainbow trout can’t survive past the winter. Spring breakers can harvest the last of the year’s stocked rainbow trout for free 8 a.m. to 12 p.m March 11-14 at the Tyler Nature Center in East Texas. TPWD Inland Fisheries staff will have loaner equipment, tackle and bait on hand to help families catch and clean up to five rainbow trout each at the free event. No fishing license is needed to participate. After spending the morning on the water fishing, anglers are encouraged to put on their hiking shoes and explore the nearby scenic outdoor hiking trails.
- Catch and cook a crappie: Crappie are a delicious and popular sport fish that are easiest to catch in the spring when they move to shallow water in preparation to spawn. At Granger Lake, north of Austin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates four parks that provide campgrounds, restrooms, picnic areas, boat ramps, and opportunities for shoreline fishing on this reservoir. Other popular crappie lakes include Lake Fork, Toledo Bend Reservoir and Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
- Target the state fish of Texas: Guadalupe bass, the state fish of Texas, can be found in the rocky, spring-fed rivers of the Texas Hill country. Anglers can find public fishing access, kayak and canoe launches and other amenities on several of the rivers that Guadalupe bass call home, including three sites on the Colorado River, two sites on the Brazos River, and four sites on the Llano River. A list of all of the public fishing access sites, along with details and directions, can be found on the TPWD River Access and Conservation Area Program website.
- Tour a Texas state fish hatchery: Anglers and future fisheries biologists can see first-hand where millions of fish are raised each year for stocking into the public waters of Texas at five inland fish hatcheries located across the state and three saltwater fish hatcheries on the Texas coast. Many of the hatcheries welcome the public to come and visit their educational and informative facilities through scheduled tours or by appointment. Learn more on the Texas State Fish Hatcheries website.
- Catch a big bass in West Texas: In Texas, March is considered one of the best months to catch a whopper bass. With recent rainfall, many West Texas lakes have higher water levels and are producing “lunker” bass for anglers, including Oak Creek Reservoir, O.H. Ivie Lake, Twin Buttes Reservoir and Lake Amistad, to name a few. Pick a fishing spot in the TPWD Angler’s Guide to West Texas online, and find detailed fishing regulations, angling opportunities, cover & structure, and tips & tactics for it in the Texas Freshwater Lakes list.
For anglers over 17 years old, a valid fishing license with a freshwater or saltwater endorsement is required to take fish, mussels, clams, crayfish or other aquatic life in the public waters of Texas. A fishing license is not required if fishing from the bank in a state park or in waters completely enclosed by a state park.
More information on current fishing regulations, limits and license requirements can be found online in the TPWD Outdoor Annual, or get the mobile app free for iOS and Android here.
Starting off with thick fog each morning and calm winds each day, the bite started slow. By mid day the skies would start to clear off and SE wind picked up to 10-20mph turning water color to a sandy green and concentrating bait fish. It seemed like each day from 1pm until 5:45pm the big trout bite really fired off with fish from 6.5-8.25# landed. Because the water temperatures started in the mornings around 70 degrees and reached 74-75 in the afternoon, most of the Corky bites died off. Our best baits were DSL super models color x, strawberry wine and topwaters.
Sunday morning we were able to get in one wade before the front reached us. Hoping for a good pre front bite, we were able to get on some great fish. Good reds mixed in with big trout. We had several good blow ups, but not many connected. I was the lucky one who got to land a trophy of a fish at 9# and 30.25”, with a 7.25# just a few cast later before calling it quits.
All of our Port Mansfield fish are released to fight another day!
Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell: (210) 452-9680
N&M Sportsman’s Adventures
nmsportsmansadventures.com
AB Kennels
abkennels.com
Leica has deservedly earned a reputation for superior optics. The new Leica Geovid 10×42 HD-B 3000 binoculars uphold that fine tradition. I have had the opportunity to carry these for twenty-plus days deer hunting in South Texas and have been impressed with their performance.
My experience was primarily glassing for deer out to 500 yards. In that capacity these are superb. Animals just seem to “pop” in all conditions. Color, contrast, and resolution are amazing. Most impressively, the depth of field blows away anything else I have used. When scanning a distant tree line, it is critical to “see” back into the woods as far as possible. Most binos require a constant “nudge-nudge-nudge” of the focus adjustment knob as you scan into the tree line. The new Geovid HD-B binos eliminate most of that annoying fine-tuning of the sight picture. Instead, when focused on the front tree-line your eyes just see into the woods without any adjustments of the knob. This eliminates some eye strain and allows easier one-hand operation.
I am not an optics engineer and not qualified to speak intelligently regarding roof prism versus Porro prism systems. The Leica HD-B 3000 utilizes a Perger-Porro prism. Porro prism is actually the older design with roof prism products becoming more popular in the 1960s. However, it is said that the Porro prism design is simpler, with better light efficiency and higher contrast.
The unit is remarkably compact considering it also contains a world-class laser rangefinder. Measurements are quick and the scan mode provides a continuous reading every 0.5 seconds on multiple targets. The HD-B 3000 will range from 10 to 3,000 yards. I was previously using a dedicated mid-price range finder that seemed to take forever to lock onto measurement. The Leica is way faster, almost instantaneous. It is quite impressive to see something way, way off in the distance and receive instant feedback. I was routinely locking in on deer or cattle at 1,000 plus yards. For fun, I picked out some objects way out there, and the Leica never failed to lock on. In complete fairness, I did not have a professional level control unit to verify the Leica readings on distant targets but I’m confident, given their expertise, it is within their published tolerances. Measurement can be displayed in yards or meters.
The Advanced Ballistics Compensation (ABC) system applies range measurement, inclinometer, atmospheric pressure, and temperature to twelve pre-set ballistic curves. Or you can truly customize ballistics by coding your own microSD card. Read more here.
I do have two minor complaints about the HD-B. Neither of these are deal-breakers considering the overall high performance.
First, the LED display automatically adjusts to real-time light conditions. This usually works fine but there are times when I would like to manually brighten the display. This seems to occur during low-light conditions on a busy background. I sometimes have trouble reading the display and would like to simply turn up the intensity.
Second, the objective lens covers have fallen off several times. I wish they were more securely attached to the binocular body. I will figure out a solution to this as I don’t want to lose them in the woods.
Leica quality is not inexpensive. In the case of the HD-B 3000 you are receiving best-in-class binoculars with a built-in 3,000 yard range finder and a ballistic calculator. The open bridge design, rubber armor coating, forgiving eye-box, and easy two-button operation make it a pleasure to use for long hours in the field. This could be the best, and last, pair of binoculars you will ever need to purchase.
MSRP $2,999. Street Price here.
