Even though the outside temps are hot enough to make a camel beg for mercy, summertime fishing in August and September can be some of the best times to be on the water. It might surprise most crappie anglers but I catch a lot of good crappie this time of year shooting docks in as little as 2 - 3 feet of water. First thing I look for, knowing it is summer and the boat traffic is going to be brutal on Weiss Lake, are the little out the way places where you don't see a lot of jet skies and ski boats. When fishing docks this shallow they will take a pounding by 3 foot waves when you have a lot of boats running back forth. Little coves and pockets close to the river channel is a great place to look for crappie under docks. I like to wait to around mid-morning before I will start shooting docks. I like to wait for the sun to get high and hot to push the crappie even tighter to the docks looking for shade from the sun beating down on the water. Another little trick for success at shooting docks is boat position. I like to approach the docks with the sun to my face as to make sure I don't cast a shadow with my boat around the dock. Crappie are very spooky fish this time of year the more you can do to not let the crappie know your coming the more success you will have at this technique.

  Equipment

  The best rod I have found for shooting docks is the BnM Sharpshooter. They have three available lengths in this rod but I like the 5 ½ footer the best. These rods are designed just for shooting docks and even though it is an Ultra Light rod you will have no trouble pulling that big slab out from under his hidden water haunts. The reel I use is BnM's West Point Spinning Reel. It is very light weight reel and that helps keeping your combo light and manageable. In a full day shooting docks you may shoot 200 to 300 times so the lighter you can keep your combo the better off you will be. I do about all my crappie fishing except for spider rigging with 6 lb. Sufix Siege line in clear and the neon Tangerine. The Tangerine is a neon orange line that is very visible when watching for those faint little taps.

  Lures

  Lure color and type are one of the most important parts of shooting docks. The one that I have found that works great on every lake I have fished including Weiss is the Southern Pro 2 inch Crappie Stinger. The Crappie Stinger has a solid body with a whip/stinger type tail and holds up very well for this technique.

  The color that produces day in and day out would be Black/Blue with the chartreuse stinger tail. Southern Pro has eleven colors available in the 2 inch Crappie Stinger but for shooting docks with a lot of shade I like to stay with the darker colors. The size jig head you use is very critical in presenting the bait that catches the crappie by surprise. You want a light jig head for these shallow water docks and most times I am using a 1/24 oz jig head. This lets the jig hit the water with very little noise and also lets it fall in a natural slow fluttering manner.

  Presentation

  I like to shoot the jig right at the dock pilings in the very back of the dock. Most times the crappie will hit the jig within the first foot or two when on the fall. If you get no hits on the fall let your lure go all the way to the bottom and then start a slow steady retrieve back to the boat. A lot of times you will catch crappie as soon as your lure breaks the shadow line that the dock puts off. I like to work the dock very thorough shooting at every piling before moving on.

  Tips

  Here are a few things to know that may help you when shooting docks in the summer. Like I said before, look for those little out of the way places that don't see much boat traffic. Another key to shooting docks is to look for things on the docks like rod holders mounted to the dock lights close to the water. This lets you know that this dock is fished regularly and there is structure close by. If there is structure around the dock there will be crappie under it that the owner can’t get to. Some of the best docks I shoot here on Weiss Lake in the summertime are docks that are in 6 to 8 foot water at the very end and built on shallow water points with deeper water close by. Wait until the sun gets up high and hot around 10:00 am. That is when the crappie will be holding tight under the dock.

  Most crappie anglers put up there gear after the spring spawn waiting for the first sign of fall. Summertime can be just as good if you will try this technique, you just have to experiment with different areas of the lake, but when you find those special docks they will produce crappie day in and day out all summer long.

  Thanks for your time and I will see you on Weiss Lake. Kelly Matthews

  For more information on fishing Weiss Lake or to book a day or two of fishing visit Kelly’s site at: www.weisslakeguides.com or e-mail him at kelly@weisslakeguides.com.

  There is something in the air here in Texas that let's you know something big is about to happen and I can’t wait for the big day. The day when people put their worries aside about high gas prices, the economy and global warming. This day my friend is the start of hunting season in Texas and what a fiesta it is.

  We Texans kick hunting season off with a weekend party called the "Dove Panchanga", an event that has it roots deep in tradition. A day that father's can take the kids out to a good patch of sunflowers or maybe if lucky enough a tank of water to hopefully knock down a cooler full of birds. This is a sport of the working man that doesn't cost thousands of dollars for some fancy hunting rather anybody can purchase a public lands permit and a hunting license with stamps for around 100 dollars.

  If that does not make you proud of Texas I don't know what else will. I personally have participated with parks and wildlife public hunting opportunities for at leaset 10 years and know first hand the quality of hunts that can take place with a little planning. The whitewing dove hunting in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is exceptional and something everyone should try once in their life before checking out of this crazy world. I have been fortunate enought to have been introduced to these opportunitites thanks in part to my father who is my hunting partner and now I get to continue the yealy tradition with my 9 year old son.

  He already takes advantage of the freshwater public fishing opportunities that parks and wildlife contribute a tremendous amount of catfish, trout, and bass to local ponds in Texas. Let’s just say he is very pleased with the efforts of Texas to get young people involved with the outdoors.

  I am proud to live in a state that promotes wildlife opportunities and being a hunter has helped me grow as an individual to share these great values with others. No dollar amount or recessional economy will keep me from breaking out the old shotgun or taking that seasonal fishing trip. We owe this to our future and the values and moral of this great country to get our young generation outdoors to pass on the magic of nature. - Gustavo Gonzales

  Beep, beep, beep goes the unforgiving alarm at 3:30 in the morning. I think to myself, "Man I have got to get one of those alarms that plays music or honks like a goose. That thing has got to go." Okay, sit up on the edge of the bed. As I rise to my feet I hear a creaking noise. What was that, the floor boards? No, stupid, that was your ankles cracking. Alright now, you got to get the hunters going this morning. Man, that fresh brewed coffee smells great. You gotta love those timers on the coffee pots, especially at 3:30am.

  Let's see now, where did I leave those long johns? Oh here they are. Thank God, my wife washed them. That is probably a good thing. This is the sixth day in a row of Snow goose hunting and Lord knows those babies have to be ripe by now.

  As I hobble out to the bunkhouse, breaking the kinks loose in my ankles, I remind myself of a saying that I have posted in my office that simple says, "Never Regret Growing Old Because Many Are Denied the Privilege." Words to live by for sure. OK now, get the guys up. Right, they are so full of jitters they could hardly sleep last night. Unlike myself who has learned to get your sleep or you get sick. You can bet my head hit the pillow at 8pm.

  "Mornin' fellas. Ready to whack'em and stack'em."”

  "We have been ready ever since we got here" Bill says. "We got about two hours of sleep. Between nerves, Buddyweiser and some good scotch, we kind of lost track of time."

  "Not a problem guys as long as everyone is sober. We'll fill up the thermos at WaWa (Indian for goose. Pay attention to the sign next time you go by.) That'll snap those eyes lids open. If not I guess I'll have to kill your geese for you."

  "Let's get moving. Bill, will you ride with me? I'll give you the low down on this Maryland style snow goose hunt."

  "Okay Big Joe."

  As we get on the road to the field I tell Bill that there was about 50 acres of Snow's on the field the day before. At about 750 birds per acre, that works out to about 37,500 birds using the field the day before. We just might kill a few.

  As we get to the field the temperature is warm, about 55 degrees. The guys get bummed out. Not to worry fellows, warm weather causes fog and I can already see it forming in the headlights. I'll drive around in the field and the young bucks, Charley and Steve, you get in the back of the trailer and pitch out decoys. Let me know if I’m going too fast. Ha!! Ha!! Ha!!

  Bill sits in the truck with me and while we are riding around he asks, "Did you hear something?"

  "Yeah Bill, sure did. It's the young bucks in the back of the trailer getting bounced around when we crest the corn rows. They'll be alright. That's why I wanted the young fellows to do the pitchin'. Their bones are more flexible than us old farts."

  "OK fellas set the decoys and spread them in the field about 6 feet apart." Paul asks if that isn't a little far apart. "Give me a break Paul. When is the last time you ever saw a Snow Goose with a tape measure. Besides, our 800 decoys look like a thousand or better when we spread them out some."”

  "Hey Bill, did you see something in the headlights then?"

  "I thought so but it was fast. Hard to see what it was in the dark."

  "Look out George! That thing is flying straight at you!"

  George instinctively throws a Snow Goose shell at the object just barely missing the Juvi Snow Goose. Man, no one is going to believe this. I am sure glad he didn't hit it before sun up. I don't know if that would be hunting before legal shooting hours or just pure self defense.

  After we get all 800 decoys out and placed we switch to the blinds.

  "Remember how I showed y'all how to pop up the layouts? Let's get those up and put a little brush on them." Okay, as I go down the mental checklist, dekes out, layout blinds in place, coffee poured, and shotguns ready to roll. Looks like we are ready for some Snow Goose Swattin'.

  The fog is thick. It looks like it is going to be a good morning. As the red sky starts to form over our shoulders, mixed in with the fog, Bill says "Hey guys did you hear something." Steve says, "I think so. It is way off. What is it? It sounds like truck traffic in the distance."”

  "No, Steve. That sounds like about 5000 snows coming this way and they are making one hell of a racket! Get buttoned up in the blinds. Game on!"

  I do the calling. They can’t hear us anyway. It will be more sight than calling that will get their attention. All those geese know is that they have flown about 30 miles to be in this field this morning. How they can find this field 30 miles from their lift off point in the Atlantic in a fog is beyond me but they always can.

  Get ready guys. You won't be able to hear me holler "take 'em", so just look for my gun barrel to go up in the air. All of a sudden they bust through the fog and hit the ground out of nowhere lighting all around us. Oh crap! That one just landed five feet away and almost took off my head. Man, the goose crap is about ready to fly.

  I holler, "Kill 'em, kill 'em, kill 'em!" as we pop up and the mayhem begins.

  Darn, how do I pick one? Okay, deep breath, focus, follow through, squeeze. Bam!! That's one. Swing, follow through, and shoot again. Bam!! Miss! How could I have missed? That was a wall of snow goose white. One more shot. Follow through, squeeze, Bam! and thump goes the goose body as it hits the deck. YEAH!!! Two out of three shots. I'll take that.

  Man these Snows can gain altitude fast. How can a 10 lb. bird move so fast? OK guys stay put and reload. They are coming back. Two thousand or so birds that were on the far end of the flock never heard us shoot. They don't have a clue what's in store for them. Take a deep breath, relax and focus when you shoot. A hundred yards and closing. Get ready; their wings are set and landing gear down. Okay, "“Kill'em, kill'em, kill'em!"

  Thump, thump, thump the white birds go as they whack the ground. Man did you see that one hit the deck? He must have bounced three feet in the air. Good shooting guys. Stay put and Summer (my Yellow Labrador) will get the birds. Watch her. Her instinct will take over now. She has already seen the sailer. She gets on the birds butt and runs a good three hundred yards to get the cripple. As she brings the bird back she mentally takes note where the other birds are laying. The instinct of her knowing which bird is crippled and which one she should go after first is amazing. She hands me the bird and tears off for the next one.

  Rick says "I got three that hit the ground behind us and Steve got two on the far left."

  After Summer finishes retrieving all the birds we do a quick count. Man what a great start! Eight guys shooting and 15 birds so far.

  "Okay guys button up. A small bunch of about 500 are coming at us." I say. "Here comes a single ahead of the flock. Don't shoot he should bring in the others." The bird settles down in the wheat field and immediately starts to feed. Here come 10 more following up the single. Let them come in too. Almost enough birds to shoot now as they start to touch down they sense something is wrong and they begin to back pedal. We had better shoot now. I scream "Kill 'em, kill 'em, kill 'em!"

  The guns roar and eight of 11 birds tumble. That was some great shooting. We've got 23 for the grease now.

  As the sky clears of birds and fog and the madness of the morning becomes a memory for life we are standing around the rig talking about the sight of 8000 birds coming straight at us in the early morning light. (Take note that when the birds came in earlier it was 5000 birds. Oh yeah the fish tale starts to grow already).

  "Man did you see those birds in the decoys?"

  "There must have been a 1000 on the ground when we sat up to shoot." (Right...., more like 100 at the most. But the story sounds good anyway.)

  Thinking to myself, "let them have their fun Joe. They're building a hunting memory that they will tell their grandkids years from now and Lord knows how many birds they will say came in at daybreak and how many thumped the ground." One thing for sure, the number of birds we saw that morning won't get any smaller as the years go by. Oops, reality check.

  "Here comes a single. Get in the blinds!"

  "But Joe he'll see us move."

  "Don't worry about that. That bird is at least 500 yards out and he can't make us out. All he sees is movement and that will just bring him in faster."

  Everyone dives into their blinds and buttons up as the bird starts sailing to land with wings cupped. The bird is at least 250 yards out and with the wind blowing now at about 25 knots it seems like it takes hours for him to get in range. I whisper to the hunters next to me, "Wait, hold, hold, hold." Mean while beads of sweat break out on their foreheads. "Okay," I think to myself, "you let 'em suffer long enough." "Take 'em!" I yell and all 8 hunters shoot at the bird and he crumples. Oh boy that one is going to be a good eating bird. I sarcastically say "Shouldn't have much shot in it."

  As the time approaches noon the birds start flying about a mile high, heading back to the ocean for the rest of the day and night. Well guys it looks like our hunt is over. The birds are heading to roost. Let's pack up and head back to the barn. We have a few birds to clean.

  We get back to the lodge and get the birds cleaned and washed, take a good hot shower and throw another log into the wood stove. "Did someone say nap time?" Even the young bucks feel the warmth and nod off for a snooze.

  About five my wife comes in to a sleeping crowd and announces supper time. Another delicious home cooked meal. My wife grew up on one of the islands in the Chesapeake and one thing those women can do is cook. After the meal, with bellies full and a couple of shots of good bourbon in our bellies it is becoming obvious that we won't be long for the sack and dreams of a day of ducking tomorrow. Man this is living! Another great hunt with DOA Outfitters. Nite y'all.

  Joe Austin is the owner of DOA Outfitters a waterfowl guide and outfitting service for the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia areas. For information on the various hunts he provides, visit his web site at www.doaoutfitters.com.