Shelby County Today

Wednesday, January 17, 2018. Tenaha Special Events Center –

The Tenaha Tigers Boys Varsity Basketball Team took a 70-39 win over the visiting Joaquin Rams on Wednesday. Six points each from Tigers Hayden Jenkins and Cody Foshee helped Tenaha take a 24-6 lead over the Rams by the end of the first quarter.

Seven Tigers scored a total of twenty points during the second frame to help Tenaha take a 44-13 lead by the midway point of the contest.

Ellie Huerta and Tray Wilkerson each hit 3-point shots for Joaquin, during the third quarter, which helped the Rams score eight points, but Tenahas’ Jay Lloyd exploded for nine points during the third stanza and THS outpaced the Rams 19-8, taking a lopsided 63-21 advantage into the fourth period.

Huerta hit three 3-points shots during the final stanza which helped JHS outpace the Tigers 18-7 in the fourth period.

Joaquin was led by Ellie Huerta with 17 points. Teammate Lorenzo Lane had 8, Tray Wilkerson 6, Kase Yates 4, and Conner Bragg had 4 points.

Tiger Cody Foshee had 15 points, Jay Lloyd 13, Trai Gardner 8, Erik Smith 8, LaDarrius Garrett 6, Juarmez Brock 6, Hayden Jenkins 6, Tavoris Giles 3, Trenton Haas 3, and CJ Horn scored 2 points.

Tenaha will face the 4-1 San Augustine Wolves, at San Augustine Gymnasium, on Friday January 19, 2018. Junior Varsity games begin at 5 p.m. with Varsity to follow.

Joaquins’ District 22A mark now stands at 0-3. They will host Shelbyville High School, who is undefeated in conference play( 5-0). The games will take place at Rams’ Gymnasium on Friday, January 19, 2018. JV will begin at 5 p.m. with Varsity games following afterward.

January 12, 2018 - There is no such thing as a bad time to hook up with a big Texas bass, but there is plenty of evidence to show when the odds of getting the big bite are best. More than three decades worth of data collected by the Toyota ShareLunker program indicates that the four-period spanning January through April is prime time to catch a big bass with a weight problem.

ShareLunker is an angler recognition program run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department since Nov. 1986. Up until this year, the threshold for entry to program has been 13 pounds.

Of the 570 ShareLunkers documented during the last 31 years, 241 were caught during March. The second leading month is February (132) entries, followed by April (89 entries) and January (58).

Not surprisingly, the Top 50 list of Texas' heaviest bass of all-time reflects a similar trend, although the spreads are aren't near as wide. March is the No. 1 month for Top 50 fish with 15 entries, but running a really close second is February with 14. January is third with seven entries, while April and May have kicked out two Top 50 each.

The only other months with more than one Top 50 fish are August and September, both with two fish. October, November, December and July account for the remainder of the Top 50 with one entry apiece. June is the only month out of 12 not found on the prestigious Top 50 list.

One of the main reasons why more big bass are caught in late winter and early spring is because that's when the fish are plump with eggs. Fisheries biologists have learned that the weight of a mature female bass may increase as much as 10 percent when its ovaries are full.

In other words, a fish that weighed 10 pounds in July could easily weigh 11 pounds early in the year. It could weigh even more after consuming a healthy meal comprised of a two-pound crappie or a couple of big bar fish, which happens pretty frequently. Two years ago, ShareLunker caretaker Tony Owens found dead crappie floating around in hatchery raceways that were occupied by fresh-caught ShareLunkers. He believes the big fish regurgitated the smaller fish soon after their arrival at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

Timing is big factor is linked to high incidence of big bass catches this time of year. On many reservoirs, particularly those in eastern and South Texas, now is when the biggest fish in the lake will begin nudging their way towards the shallows to spawn.

Fish that are positioned near the bank are much more vulnerable to being caught than those far from shore, mainly because that is where most anglers feel the most comfortable fishing. More hooks in high percentage water naturally boosts the chances of big fish getting caught.

Translation: We're on the cusp of another big bass season in Texas.

There are all sorts of worthwhile tips to offer that might help anglers boost their odds of catching a big fish, but might be a better idea to offer up some advice to help fishermen reduce the chances of losing one when it grabs the bait.

All sort bad things can happen a giant bass comes calling. Here are some things anglers can do to help prevent a train wreck from happening:

Think Big on Line

One of the best ways to commit big bass suicide is to spool a reel with inferior fishing line that isn't up to the task. Fishing lines are rated by pound test. A line that is rated as 14-pound test should be able to withstand 14 pounds of pressure before it breaks.

Plenty of big bass have been landed on lighter lines, but tossing a lure into a lake known for producing the big bite with anything less than 14-pound test is risky business. Big bass are typically caught in relation to heavy cover and they know how to use it to their advantage.

Go Fresh

Monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing lines can become dry and brittle with time, which can result in a significant loss in strength. It's always a good idea to respool reels with fresh line at the beginning of each fishing season. Depending on how much you fish, you may need to respool periodically over the course of the year.

There is no sense in refilling the entire spool when changing line. In fact, it's a waste of time, good line and money.

Most low profile reel spools will hold well over 100 yards of 14-pound line, but most anglers seldom cast beyond 40-50 yards. Rather than emptying full spool, peel off about 60 yards of line off the top layer, cut it and tie the new line to the backing. When refilling the spool hold the line snug to ensure it goes onto the spool tight.

If you're filling a new reel for the first time, it's a good idea to use some cheap or old line to fill the spool to the halfway point, then use a premium line to top it off.

Don't Get Nicked

Modern fishing lines are more resistant to abrasion than ever before, but they aren't indestructible. When you catch a fish or get hung in brush or on rocks, always inspect your line for nicks or frays that could create a weak spot and cause the line to snap under way less pressure than it should.

Line crimps created by backlashes can be demons in disguise, especially with fluorocarbon lines. The crimp automatically creates a weak spot that could cause the line to for break for no apparent reason.

Something else that can result in premature line breakage is a cracked insert in the line guide on your rod. Most inserts are made from ceramic material. If the ceramic insert cracks it could create a sharp edge capable of cutting your line like a knife. If the line breaks the hookset, cracked insert could be the culprit. The best way to check line guides for cracks is to use a Q-Tip to swab the inner wall. If the cotton snags, the ceramic insert should be replaced.

Routine Drag Checks

One of the best ways to lose a big fish is to have the star drag on your reel set too tight or too loose. The drag is intended to allow the reel spool to turn and release line under the pressure of a large fish. A drag that is set too tight could result in line breakage before the spool has the opportunity to slip. A drag that is set too loose could allow a big fish to get the upper hand and get you hung up, or result in poor hook penetration.

It is always a good idea to check your drag periodically to make sure it is set properly. To do this, make sure the reel gears are engaged. Grasp line ahead of the spool and pull. If the drag doesn't slip under hard pressure, it should be backed off until it does. If it slips under light pressure, tighten it accordingly.

Constant Pressure

Give a big bass an inch and it'll take a mile every time. Sometimes there isn't much you can do other than hold on and hope for the best. Big fish like to hang out around thick cover. It is always best to maintain constant pressure and try to get the fish coming your way as quickly as possible. If your line goes slack there is a good chance the fish could shake the lure.

Tie Good Knots

The line is a critical link between the angler, the lure and the fish. The knot is what ties it all together.

Tying a faulty knot or one that isn't suited for the application can spell disaster when a big bass comes calling.

Always make sure your knots come together smoothy and easily when you cinch them down. A straggling loop or twist in a knot is good sign that something got fouled up in the process. It only takes a few seconds to start over and retie. And be sure and wet the knot with saliva before snugging it tight. Otherwise you'll burn the line and create a weak spot.

Net Jobs

The guy with the net can be your best friend or very worst enemy. I hear all kinds of horror stories from from tournament pros whose co-anglers have cost them dearly by causing them to lose fish at the boat because they didn't know how to handle a fish net properly.

Never try to scoop or stab at the fish from the top with the net. Instead, lay the net at a slight, downward angle in the water and let the angler bring the fish to you. Be ready to react in case the fish darts, dives or jumps.

If your partner doesn't know how to to net fish, show him or her ahead of time. Otherwise, you might be better off handling the job yourself.

Big bites don't come along very often. It pays to be prepared when Lady Luck looks your way. It can cost you dearly when you aren't.

Things can go awry when a big bass comes calling, even when you are prepared. Here, the late Ken Cook shows how it's done at Lake Amistad. (Photo by Matt Williams)

Old fishing line should be discarded and replaced with new line at least once a year, possibly more if you spend a lot of time on the water. It's also a good idea to replace line if the reel backlashes. (Photo by Matt Williams)

Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogcoches. He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com.

Shelbyville High School, Tuesday,  January 9, 2018 –

The Shelbyville Dragons Varsity Basketball team handed the Tenaha Tigers their first District 22 2A loss of the season when they took an 85-73 home court win on Tuesday.

The Dragons took a 14-8 lead midway through the first period and held a 19-13 lead at the end of the first stanza.

Ten points by senior guard Trai Gardner helped Tenaha tie the game at 30-30 at the midway break.

Nine third-period points by sophomore shooting guard Jordan Boykin helped Shelbyville go on a 9-0 run to begin the third period. The Dragons outscored the Tigers 29-17 in the third frame and led 59-47 going into the final stanza.

Both teams scored 12 points during the final quarter and Tenaha was unable to gain ground on the hometown Dragons.

Jordan Boykins led the Dragons offense with 20 points.  Teammate Cole Ferguson added 19 points. Jakovian Buckley had 16 points and Ryan Bailey 14.

Tenaha was led by Trai Gardner with 33 points. Hayden Jenkins scored 12 and Jay Lloyd was in double-figures as well with 11 points for the Tigers.

The Tigers overall record now stands at 4-2. They will next host the Woden Eagles on Friday, January 12, 2018, at 7 p.m. Tenaha has started basketball late due to playing in the state championship round of football just three weeks ago.

The Dragons are 19-3 overall. They host Woden on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 8 p.m. The Dragons lead conference play with a 4-0 mark.

Center Roughrider’s Gymnasium.  January 6, 2018 –

The Center Lady Roughriders Varsity Basketball Team suffered a narrow 2-point loss to the visiting Carthage Lady Bulldogs, by a narrow 55-53 score, at Center High School. The game was each school’s first District 16 Class 4A-II game of the season.

The Lady ‘Riders started slowly and trailed 13-21 at the end of the first quarter. Five points each by Lady Roughriders, Taylor Nichols and Kalei Larock, in the second period helped Center pull to within 2 points of Carthage at the halftime intermission. The Lady Bulldogs led 30-28 going into the third quarter.

Lady ‘Riders senior point guard Taylor Nichols helped Center keep within striking distance by sinking two three pointers and scoring eight points during the third stanza. Center trailed Carthage 44-40 going into the final period.

Center outscored Carthage 13-11 in the final frame  but Lady Bulldog Jada McLin’s six points, in the final quarter, proved to be enough to help the Lady Bulldogs hold on to their narrow 2-point lead till game’s end. McLin led Carthage with 19 points for the night.

Center was led by Taylor Nichols with 16 points, Kalei Larock and Jakayla Weathered each had nine points, Makenzie Mireles 7, Jasmine Cooks 5, Shanyah Williams 4, and Jada Hicks scored 4 points.

The Lady Roughriders will next face the Rusk Lady Eagles at Rusk High School at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2018.