White Rhinos to Texas? Fly Fishing With Orvis’ Tom Rosenbauer, Texas Rice Production Affecting Central Flyway Waterfowl and Chasing Early Fall Lunkers

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What do African white rhinos have to do with the Texas landscape? If you haven’t heard, the Texas based Exotic Wildlife Association is undertaking perhaps it’s biggest project to date. EWA Executive Director Charly Seale joins us to discuss ‘Rhino 1000’. This project essentially will bring South African rhinos to Texas for the purposes of protection and reproduction. Many of the arriving rhinos are expected to be orphans of rhinos that were poached for their ivory.

Charly talks about the strict regulations involved with the project. The ranches receiving rhinos must meet strict requirements and take a course on how to care for these magnificent animals. Keep in mind that there will be no hunting of white rhinos in Texas, ‘Rhino 1000’ is a dedicated conservation effort to help save the species from poaching in it’s native lands.

Next, we talk some flyfishing with Orvis Rod and Tackle’s Tom Rosenbauer. A respected author, instructor and fly fishing innovator, Tom was named Fly Rod and Reel Magazine’s 2011 Angler of the Year. He has written over a dozen fly fishing books and hosts the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast. Needless to say, he is one of the most respected fly fisherman on the planet.

We discuss the changing trend in participation within the sport. Also, what about the longtime conventional angler taking up fly fishing? What species should one pursue? Tom breaks it all down for us, plus gives us some tips that could make that afternoon spent wading with the long rod one of the most memorable fishing experiences of your life.

We tackle a serious waterfowl conservation issue next with Ducks Unlimited Conservation Outreach Biologist Kirby Brown. With rice production along the Texas coastal prairies at an all time low, we are starting to see the negative affects on duck and goose populations that depend on those wetlands every winter. Water usage issues are a major concern as rice farmers simply aren’t getting enough water due to extended drought conditions.

What species of ducks are being affected the most? What is Ducks Unlimited doing to work with landowners and water policy writers to make sure this immensely important wintering habitat remains? As far as the Central Flyway is concerned, the Texas rice prairies hosts the largest concentration of wintering waterfowl in the entire flyway.

We wrap up this week’s show by talking early fall lunker patterns with longtime guide and successful tournament angler Charles Whited of Barefoot Fishing Tours. With 2 Toyota Sharelunkers coming over the rail of his bass boat in the past 3 years, no Texas angler can say they know big bass better than Charles. (He is also well on his way to securing his 2nd Angler of the Year title of the year in the Central Texas/Hill Country region).

Charles tells us where he is finding fish as temps begin to cool off and what baits he catching them on. He also offers some interesting advice regarding the size of plastic worms he is routinely throwing – you might be surprised to hear his thoughts on the way bass have changed their response to certain baits due to increased fishing pressure over the past 10 or so years.