2018-19 Texas hunting, fishing licenses on sale now

With the opening of dove hunting season upon us, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reminds sportsmen that all current year Texas hunting and fishing licenses (except year-to-date fishing licenses) expire Aug. 31. New licenses for 2018-19 are on sale now so don’t forget.

Rain and cloud cover equals lower water temps on all our area lakes and this means the fish are on the move and scattered. Most of our lakes, including Pat Mayse, have water temps running from the high 80’s to the lower 90’s. With the fresh water, the fish are really happy and this is ideal fishing conditions. The recent rains provided our lakes with oxygen, and also raised water levels a little. Most of our lakes are about one to two feet low. More rain and cloud cover is in the forecast this weekend, but also calling for thunderstorms and this means lightning, which means caution is important. On Mayse you are usually close to areas where you can take cover, so pay attention to the weather.

During early hours, topwater baits are good choices and you can follow up with bladed jigs and squarebill cranks worked in the shallows. With the cloud cover, the shallow bite will allow you more hours running your shallow water pattern. There will be periods with some sun though, and then the squarebill and some type of soft plastic worked around cover such as any object that provides shade or structure change, What I mean by structure change is maybe dirt—changing to grass or wood—or just any change to something different.