State of the Nation

L ast year we introduced the concept of the “Texas Outdoor Nation.”

Texas is larger than many countries and in many social and natural ways is a nation unto itself. Our goal is to give all of you—the Texas Outdoor Nation—the best; most cutting edge outdoor information available, and I believe we are doing that.

For starters, this month we are introducing a new column “Bass University.”

“Bass University” is a long-term project of bass fishing stars Pete Gluczek and Mike Iaconelli that collaborates with virtually everyone in the pro bass fishing world to create a deep learning of bass fishing techniques. I have been to two of their stops and was blown away by the level of information available to the public.

Now, we bring it to you. Each month it will be written by a pro and tailor-made to Texas fisheries. In case you haven’t noticed, Texas is experiencing a bass fishing renaissance, and we want to make sure you have the best information available. Add that to our Hot Spots, Matt Williams’s killer freshwater writings, along with our various features on bass fishing and we’re easily tops in the information on Texas’s most popular fish.

On the saltwater front, we are beginning some of the most unique and in-depth coverage of fisheries that we have ever done. Check out Danielle Sonnier’s “Toxic Trout” story in this issue. We are not only going to give you how-to, but also share information you need to know. I am talking about actual journalism here.

There is definitely a place for “We Report, You Decide” in an outdoor publication.

Fox News seems to have forgotten that as of late, so why not?

Speaking of saltwater, Check out fishgame.com and sign up for our weekly “State of the Nation” e-blast. Our saltwater stories on flounder and speckled trout have been getting upwards of 50,000 views in a few days. We will never cover who has live shrimp at the bait camp, but we are giving you a “now” spin on things via the Web. We’ll cover what is happening with weather and other conditions and consult with top biologists and other high level sources—fun stuff.

This month we begin our yearlong “Texas Safari” series which sees us featuring a different huntable species in each issue. Texas has year-round hunting, and we are going to cover it in a way that I have yet to see anywhere else.

We are talking natives and exotics. This is not just going to be about which ranch to go to hunt the species. We are going to give information about hunting free-ranging exotics, how-to strategies and in-depth profiles of these animals. Exotics are portrayed as animals you drive around in a truck and shoot. That’s perfectly legal, but each species has attributes that you can learn to make for a tremendous actual hunt.

Did you know that you can call in rams? I have an old VHS that my cousin Frank Moore and I filmed calling in a huge merino ram from more than a half- mile away on a ranch in Real County in 1995. I once called in a Hawaiian black ram to within 10 yards and took the animal with my bow. It, by the way, made fine barbecue.

Each of these animal profiles will also feature a recipe. Again we are covering exotics as well as natives. Wait until you see the mule deer story coming later this year. The Texas mule deer has been ignored for too long, and what we have uncovered is shocking.

There are unspoken rules in the outdoor media. There are agendas in the outdoor world. We plan on going wherever it takes to give you the information you need to make informed decisions and enjoy your time in the great outdoors at the highest levels.

This will be a big year for the Texas Outdoor Nation. Expect great things. and spend as much time in the outdoors as you can with your loved ones.

Whether on the water or in the woods, there is no better place to share with the special people in our lives and make incredible memories.

 

 

Email Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com

 

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