Aidan Bryant, son of Christy & Robert of Seadrift, fishing with Bay Flats Captain TJ Christensen

We’ve talked a lot in recent editions of Guide Lines about how much the wind can blow at this time of the year along the Texas Gulf coast, and the past few weeks have been no exception. When you wake up in the morning it can be anyone’s guess as to what might happen by day’s end with regards to the wind, and there have been days when I thought it would never stop blowing. One morning it might be absolutely beautiful with a slight breeze coming out of the northeast at about 3-5mph. So you setup wade sessions along a clean shoreline only to be blown off the water in a couple hours by an ever-increasing southeast wind that muddies the water as fast as you can blink an eye. The next day you hope you have planned accordingly by setting out for a favorite shoreline that’s protected from the strong southeast wind. You reach your destination right as the sun begins to shine and the wind is already howling between 15-20mph. After a couple hours of daylight, the sun warms the air enough to increase wind gusts to 25 and 30 mph. Even with good protection you have to fish fairly tight to the bank. That afternoon you head home thinking things can’t get much worse, and that the wind should subside during the night. You awake the next morning to a 20 mph wind out of the north due to the onslaught of the latest brief frontal passage, and suddenly all the plans you made last night for this morning’s trip now have to be reconsidered and altered. I know I’m not telling a lot of you anything new here, as I realize we’ve all probably experienced this at some point in our fishing careers. The wind can be a very frustrating thing when it wants to be.

Working around the squirrely winds that have been associated with the ending of March and the start of April has proven to be quite challenging at times, to say the least. But I have found success atop shell-spotted shorelines and hard, sandy bottoms whenever I’ve been able to access such areas. I’ve waded a lot of miles over the course of the past few weeks, and have come up empty handed whenever in the absence of baitfish activity of some sorts. If I find a jumping mullet (or two), I immediately stop walking and fish the entire area thoroughly. In instances like this I fan out casts at almost every angle before taking any advancing steps with my feet. When I do finally move, I may only take 10-15 steps before stopping and then fan-casting again. Incorporating this strategy, along with zig-zagging whenever moving along a shoreline, is one of my favorite methods of scouring the area in search of big springtime trout and red fish.

To-date, there has not been a lot of shrimp in the bays, so I have maintained the use of mullet-imitating baits whenever possible. There’s a special place in my heart for the top water action that generally tends to turn on around this time each season, so I do spend a certain amount of time each outing throwing some of my favorite surface plugs. And although the bite on top hasn’t quite started it’s spring pattern yet, I still feel like I owe it to myself to at least try it for a little while each trip (just in case!)

I’ve recognized recent successes while using dark-colored, bottom-hugging, plastic mullet imitations like the Texas Tackle Factory’s Killer Flats Minnow in Morning Glory, Texas Roach, and Plum Chartreuse colors. The fish love them and they’ve proven to be more than effective for me in the presence of low-light conditions and somewhat muddy water. I like attaching these baits to a 1/16-ounce laser-lock jighead if I can get away with it. I prefer the lighter jighead because I like to barely let the bait touch the bottom when I’m working my retrieve. The lighter weight also performs a lot better for me in the event I happen to be working the bait over shell or grass. I also sometimes like to return the bait to me using a slow, steady retrieve, and using a lighter weight allows me to work the bait back to me at just about any depth I prefer, allowing me to easily cover the entire water column if I prefer.

The water temperature should soon rise to the point to where we can begin wading in just our fishing pants and not have to lurch around in those heavy chest waders we’ve been wearing for the past several months. However, it’s extremely important to realize that we shouldn’t get too comfortable with the nice springtime weather. It’s important to still take caution when spending the entire day out in the sun. I know it feels good to not have to bother with layers of clothing in order to get in the water, but be careful and protect yourself. Coat exposed skin areas with ample amounts of UV-protective sunscreen, and cover your arms and legs with long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Oh…and…uh…don’t forget the stingray boots either!

Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region.www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868

“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the guest columnist to enlighten readers on a subject, as he views it, and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

Whims of Iron: Liberal “Progressives” vs. The Constitution and Common Sense

The current demands for changes of Constitutional Law and American ideals and life-styles by the Far Left Liberals that are now liking to call themselves “Progressives” are getting further and further away from normal American life.”Liberal” is something of a misnomer because Liberals don’t believe in ‘Liberty’, but a liberal interpretation of the Constitution. They seek to bypass or ignore the limits placed on the Federal govt and the ‘checks and balances’ that are designed to prevent tyranny and abuse of power. They want a powerful, even totalitarian, Federal gov’t because they believe every aspect of our lives must be regulated, taxed, and controlled, “for our own good”. Of course, the Liberals are the complete authority on what is “good” for us. Their Big Mommy Gov’t programs always expand their power, increase bureaucratic control, and waste money. They increase dependency and destroy individual initiative. It is an economic death spiral, but continues the expansion of Liberal power.

The constant expansion of “Abortion Rights” has gotten to where they demand that “Day After” abortion drugs be made available to junior high girls on demand without any parental consent. It is illegal for a young woman under the ‘Legal Age of Consent’ to have sexual relations because she is presumed to lack the maturity to make good decisions, but Liberals say she has the ‘right’ to abort her unborn baby without parental consent?? That is illogical. “Liberals” demand total government support for abortion to control population growth, but refuse to control the borders from illegal immigrants, criminals, and terrorists. Also they encourage legal immigration for non-Christians that refuse to assimilate and want to force Sharia Law on us. They want un-assimilated groups for block votes.

They have spent over 15 Trillion dollars on “The War on Poverty” over the past 50 years, but poverty seems to be winning, especially against the middle-class workers. The gov’t printing presses are cranking out ‘money’ backed by nothing to spend on buying votes for “Progressives”. That ‘Fiat Money’ only dilutes the value of our currency and robs our savings and investments of purchasing power. No one can calculate the money spent, and lives wasted, on the “War on Drugs”, but the Narco-traficante Cartels are invading us now. If they would legalize the reasonable recreational drugs for adults, tax the Hell out of them, and prosecute to the max anyone that gave them to children, it would remove the profit from the criminals and hopefully, experience and education could overcome most of the problem. Serious losers will always be with us, saving them is not possible or even desirable.

We spend a large portion of our GDP buying oil from people that hate us because radical “environmentalists” don’t want oil wells, refineries, coal-fired electrical generation plants, or nuclear generators. We are enriching and arming people that are sworn to defeat and enslave us while spending unlimited treasure and blood to “democratize” and win the “hearts and minds” of ignorant, hate-filled, tribal people that have neither. They don’t want democracy or common sense, they want Islam and to conquer the world for Allah. We run tankers half way around the world, but we can’t build a pipeline from Canada, our friend, ally, and trading partner.

And why do we keep giving Foreign Aid to countries that hate us, where we have no earthly interest? Sequester? Poof, gone.

They demanded “Equal Rights” for Gays, but now demand “Gay Marriage”. The Obamunist Administration now gives Spousal Benefits to unmarried Gay couples in the military, but not to unmarried hetero-sexual couples. Equal? Also now, in California, there is a law being pushed to give gay couples “Infertility Treatments” or ‘ compensation’ if they want children and can’t have them. Well DUH? You don’t have to be a graduate of Texas A&M to know it takes a male and a female of any vertebrate species to make babies. ( I fear the ‘vertebrate’ thing is lost on Lib politicians.) This Gay Marriage thing is going to bite us in the butt forever. What’s next? Polygamy? (certainly more defensible than gay marriage) Group marriages? The Pedophiles are already cranking up their political action groups. (Children have the right to ‘love’ too) Bestiality? Yep, there are people pushing for that, too. (What is the legal age of consent in dog-years?) BARF!

I’m not saying we should outlaw abortion, certainly not at the Federal level because there is no Constitutional authority for it. Also, in our present immoral and irresponsible society it is probably a “necessary evil”. But it is criminal for the Federal gov’t to extort taxes from moral productive people to support what many, even most, Americans believe is a mortal sin, even murder. Especially organizations like Planned Parenthood that teach pre-puberty children that abortion is OK and homosexuality is ‘normal’, a viable life-style, and encourage it at a form of “birth control”. They are sexualizing children at an unnaturally early age and giving them harmful and false information that may ruin their lives. This is how Liberals protect homosexuals from possible “discrimination”.

Immigrants that come here should become Americans. That means accept our Constitutional law, learn English, and assimilate economically and socially. Don’t come here to sponge off the welfare system, demand special ‘rights’ or privileges, ignore our laws and customs, or try to force foreign Marxist theories or 8th century barbarous Sharia law on us. If you don’t like it here, go home! As for the insanity of illegal immigration and “Anchor Babies”: If a criminal couple breaks into your house and the woman gives birth, does that make the child a co-owner of your house? That you must accept them and share your home, feed and clothe them, provide education for the child and subsequent children? That is how Liberals and Political Correctness deal with criminal invasion.

You must show a picture ID to cash a check, buy cigarettes or beer, buy an airline ticket, but Liberals say no ID should be necessary to vote. You must present a certified copy of a birth certificate for your child to play T-ball, but it is racist to ask for one from a Presidential candidate. Totally illogical, but part of the Liberal mantra.

If any of the above offends anyone, or is considered racist, homophobic, mean-spirited, or whatever other Liberal PC buzzword-of-the-day, TOUGH! Get Over It! Liberalism and Political Correctness is a mental disease and left untreated it is fatal. It is killing our Nation, our dollar, our military, our manufacturing base, our economy, our entrepreneurial spirit, our individualism, our independence, our freedom, and our souls. We are in a culture war, as well as an economic and political war. Man up and face it. If we lose, the United States of America is over. They know it; that’s why they’re trying to erode the Second Amendment. They must take the guns away before they take your property rights, your money, and your children. But they are all in the Agenda, some Libs are even admitting it publicly. Learn about the Cloward-Pivens Strategy, the Left-Liberal plan originated back in the 60s to break the economy & gov’t with a constantly expanding welfare state, create economic and political chaos, so the American people will accept an International Socialist Totalitarian (Soviet-styled) Federal gov’t, run by the Liberal Intelligentsia. All of these political failures are not accidents, but part of their plan. ObamaCare will fail because it was designed to fail, to be replaced with a Govt Controlled Health Care System like England.

May 25 Kids Fishing Tournament
www.portoconnorchamber.org

May 25-Sept. 2 CCA Texas STAR Tournament
www.startournament.org

June 1 Rojo Classic Redfish Tournament
www.rojoclassic.com

June 21-22 ABC Tournament

June 28-29 Pescado Grande
the.pescadogrande@gmail.com

July 12-13 Cula Roja
www.cularoja.com

July 17-20 Poco Bueno

July 23-28 Lone Star Shootout – Caracol
www.thelonestarshootout.com

July 27 Nails and Tails Tournament
Builders Association of Victoria

August 3 Possum Invitational
www.possuminvitational.com

August 10 Speedy Stop Kids Tournament

To add your tournament to our list,
call 361-983-4667 or email dolphin1@tisd.net

The Calhoun County Ducks Unlimited is planning a sportsman’s night out. Of course you can’t forget the sportswomen as well. The outdoor sports are some of our most cherished traditions. We pass our knowledge and skills on to our children and hope that they will enjoy the natural world as much as we do. Along with learning to hunt and fish, one of the most important things we can teach our kids is to give something back to the resource.

Hunters do more to conserve habitat than any other group. And doing the right thing has its rewards: ducks in the sky and habitat to hunt. All of this is brought to you by outdoor enthusiasts like yourself and Ducks Unlimited. We share your vision of skies filled with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

For more than 65 years, hunters and others have been giving back through their support of Ducks Unlimited. That support has led to more than 10 million acres of wildlife habitat on the ground.

Help carry on a grand outdoor tradition. Attend the Calhoun County Sportsman and Sportswoman’s night out, Saturday May 11, 2013 at the Bauer Community Center in Port Lavaca.

Ticket prices are $35 for a single and $40 for a couple. Tickets available from Jake Huddleston at 361-237-6803 or Bill Pyle at 979-966-3689.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Hope to see you there.

75th Anniversary Celebrated

Port O’Connor First Baptist Church celebrated its 75th Anniversary this past Sunday, April 14, 2013. The Church has been blessed with 32 different pastors during those 75 years. The current Pastor is Rev. Donnie L. Martin. The Anniversary Celebration began Sunday morning with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Pictures and artifacts of past years were on display in the church foyer for everyone to view and inspect. At 11:00 a.m., the morning service began with a fellowship of music by Minister of Music, Raymond Grant, and this was a joyous time. The choir sang a beautiful hymn and Bro. Donnie Martin gave the Invocation. Bro. Doyle Adams, who directed the church music for 12 years, led the congregation in singing a favorite hymn, “When We All Get To Heaven”. Executive Director of Missions of Guadalupe Association, Walter Jackson, addressed the congregation and congratulated the Church on 75 years of ministry in Port O’Connor.

Former pastor Bro., Marcos Gohlke spoke to the congregation and Marcos and Sue Gohlke sang the beautiful song “When I Get Carried Away”. Other speakers were Bro. George Yarbrough and Bro. J.V. Helms., Bro. T.L. Kennedy, Bro. Bill Reeves, Kenneth Clark and Tina Mendoza. We enjoyed the music of Rachael Grant as she played the dulcimer. After the service, everyone was invited to the beautifully decorated Church Fellowship Hall for a fantastic luncheon. Visiting between the “old timers”, families and friends was held for several hours. It was a “once in a lifetime” affair and everyone certainly enjoyed the 75th Anniversary Celebration.

On February 20, 1938, the Church was named First Baptist Church of Port O’Connor, 27 years after the vacant lot on Jefferson and Fifth Streets was bought for that purpose. The Church was organized through the efforts of two families, Mr. & Mrs. P.L. Lewis and Mrs. H.P. Clark. Mrs. H.P. (Mary) Clark was the last surviving Charter Member of the Church and she went to be with the Lord in June, 1984.

The Church met in the school house in 1941-1942 because a hurricane destroyed the old church building. Building a new church building met delay after delay. In June 1947, Chapel No. 3 at Camp Hulen, Texas in Palacios, was purchased from the War Department for $1,500. The building was moved by barge over West Matagorda Bay to the foot of 5th Street in Port O’Connor and was transported by low-boy trailers to exactly where it sits today. Hurricane Carla arrived in September, 1961 and almost all of Port O’Connor’s buildings were destroyed, but First Baptist Church was not moved! The church building was damaged, but after repairs, church services were held again.

Through the years many renovations have been made: new windows, air conditioning, new pews, carpets, sound systems, and in 1992 a beautiful new Fellowship Hall was constructed to everyone’s delight! This building is used for many functions in Port O’Connor: birthday parties, wedding and anniversary functions, club and organization meetings, plus all Church activities.

The Church has a beautiful new parsonage and a paved parking lot. God has blessed the Church through the years and the Church has never been in debt.

-See you in church Sunday!