November brings prime camping




November brings cool, crisp evenings, changing trees, and fall outdoor recreation. It’s also the perfect month to camp under the stars, spending time and making memories with friends and family.

Texas state parks offer prime spots for crackling campfires, dark skies for stargazing and a variety of guided and self-guided activities throughout the month. There are a variety of ways to stay overnight in Texas state parks, including comfortable cabins, screened shelters, RV areas and campsites for pitching tents. Reservations fill up quickly during this popular camping month, and visitors are encouraged to book their next overnight trip in advance.

First-time campers or anyone wanting to brush up on their outdoor skills can sign up for one of the Texas Outdoor Family workshops offered at a number of state parks for one and two nights. For only $65, park rangers and expert volunteers guide families of up to six on how to set up a campfire, pitch a tent and cook outdoors. All camping equipment—tent, lantern, cooking stove and dishes—is supplied, with the exception of food and sleeping bags.

“The fall season provides some of the most family-friendly camping experiences that Texas state parks have to offer,” says Robert Owen, Texas Outdoor Family program coordinator. “Unfortunately, it seems that nowadays kids are more likely to play video games than ride a bike or play outside. We aim to change that and are proud to offer the first step to helping families get outdoors and reconnect with nature by enjoying their state parks.”

The Texas Outdoor Family program has been teaching families how to camp efficiently and safely, learn new outdoors skills such as kayaking, fishing, geocaching, nature hikes, opportunities for wildlife watching and how to follow established Leave No Trace practices. More than 3,500 families have participated in the educational state park campouts throughout the state since the program’s inception.

All program participants can look forward to new equipment, including durable REI tents and cots. The program is also gradually moving their entire fleet of stoves to propane from white gas, making outdoor cooking basics easier than ever.

This year’s remaining Texas Outdoor Family workshops in November and early December will be held in a number of Texas state parks this year.

For a complete listing of upcoming Texas Outdoor Family workshops and information about Texas State Parks camping options, and tips on camping safety and etiquette, visit: www.texasstateparks.org/camping/.

Visitors can book Texas Outdoor Family workshops and other camping reservations by calling the Customer Service Center in Austin at (512) 389-8900 or by using the online reservation system: http://texas.reserveworld.com/. The shortest call center wait times are during afternoon hours Wednesday through Friday, and customer service representatives are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For same-day reservations please contact the park directly.




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Lake Fork Weather Forecast

Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 93

Tuesday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75

Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 93

Wednesday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 73

Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 96

Thursday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75

Friday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 96

Friday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 75


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Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Jul. 9)

GOOD. Water Stained; 82 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. Fork : Top waters early around pond weed and grass with frogs and poppers still working . Mid morning chatter baits on the outside edge of grass in 3-5 ft is good as well as shaky heads . Best bite is Carolina rigs off shore on points , road beds and humps in 12-25 ft . Big worms and flukes are good . Deep Cranks are good over the same area when the fish are suspending 19-23 ft . Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Lily fields are filling in, hydrilla and milfoil are reaching for the surface. Fish this type of cover at mid day when bass are seeking cover. Frog patterns are working in the shallow vegetation early and late. Small fish patterns like a dock knocker are producing bass and crappie shallow near grass. Large bream have moved shallow, wooly buggers are producing good fish. Channel catfish are cruising 2-4 feet biting clousers. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing has been super up and down this past week. The fish are stacked up on brush piles, lay downs, tire reefs and some trees. The bite is the tricky part. Some days the bite is good and the bigger fish show up. Some days the bite is just off and the short fish show up. Seems like the bite may be better on days we have a little breeze. If the winds are calm the bite is very slow. Minnows will get some bites but small 1/32nd ounce hand tied jigs with small bodies and tails are working well on fish that don’t want to bite. Best depths have been 18-13ft with most fish suspended on trees and loaded in the brush. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

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