| |
|
|
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Nestled in the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas, |
|
|
the city of Hemphill is renowned in the Lone Star State and beyond |
|
|
as a premier destination for bass fishing; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The seat of Sabine County, Hemphill is situated |
|
|
between Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Sabine River and Sam Rayburn |
|
|
Reservoir on the Angelina River; these two immensely popular |
|
|
locations regularly rank near the top in ratings of bass fishing |
|
|
sites, and in recent years, each has been recognized as the best |
|
|
bass fishing lake in the nation by Bassmaster Magazine; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The reservoirs contain a variety of fish species but |
|
|
are best known for their thriving populations of largemouth bass; |
|
|
an analysis of fishing tournament results published in Texas Parks |
|
|
and Wildlife noted that the lakes were among the state's best in |
|
|
terms of the size and availability of bass, and the reservoirs |
|
|
attract legions of recreational and professional anglers seeking |
|
|
trophy catches; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Serving as the hub of this prime fishing area, |
|
|
Hemphill is home to marinas, bait and tackle shops, guide services, |
|
|
restaurants, hotels, and a host of other enterprises catering to |
|
|
visitors; these fishing-related businesses help drive the local |
|
|
economy, and the city has a deep and long-lasting connection to the |
|
|
culture of the outdoors; residents of Hemphill and the wider region |
|
|
demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation and responsible |
|
|
fishing practices, and through their dedicated environmental |
|
|
stewardship, they are working to ensure that water resources are |
|
|
protected and preserved for future generations; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, That mission is furthered by the public agencies |
|
|
that help oversee the reservoirs; these include the Texas Parks and |
|
|
Wildlife Department, which manages the stocking of fish and guides |
|
|
vegetation management for both lakes, and the Sabine River |
|
|
Authority of Texas, which has helped install fish habitat |
|
|
structures in Toledo Bend Reservoir and is developing new |
|
|
facilities, such as Sabinetown Park, a world-class venue for |
|
|
fishing tournaments, boating, and other recreational activities; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Bass fishing is integral to the heritage and |
|
|
prosperity of Hemphill, and the sport has brought the city a level |
|
|
of national acclaim that is a source of pride to all Texans; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
|
hereby designate Hemphill as the official Bass Fishing Capital of |
|
|
Texas; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
|
|
Section 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in |
|
|
effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
|
|
finally passed by the legislature. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |