Indiana Outdoor News March 2015

THE LAST THOUGHTPAGE 15

DROPSHOT PANFISHPAGE 5

LAST ICEPAGE 8

SPRING TURKEYPAGES 3&4

MARCH OUTDOORCALENDAR - PAGE 13

HUNTING HERITAGEPAGE 6

FOOD PLOTSPAGE 7

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VOL. 2015 • No. 3 www.IndianaOutdoorNews.net MARCH, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS - Youth hunters can apply for a reservation to hunt oneof 21 DNR properties during the special youth wild turkey hunting season,April 18 and 19.

The hunters must be younger than 18 on the day of the hunt. The reserved hunts are at the following fish & wildlife areas (FWAs):

Atterbury, Chinook, Crosley, Deer Creek, Fairbanks Landing, Glendale,Hillenbrand, Hovey Lake, Jasper-Pulaski, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle,Minnehaha, Pigeon River, Roush Lake, Sugar Ridge, Tri-County,Winamac and Willow Slough; as well as at Salamonie and Mississinewalakes.

The number of hunters allowed on each property will be limited.Interested hunters or an adult representing them must register in person orby phone with the property they wish to hunt. Hunters should register dur-ing normal office hours, March 16-27. Hunters can register for only oneproperty.

Those wanting to sign up for Chinook hunts may do so at Deer CreekFWA. Those wanting to sign up for Fairbanks Landing, Hillenbrand orMinnehaha hunts may do so at Goose Pond FWA.

At properties where the number of registered hunters exceeds thespots available, a drawing will be held on March 30. A youth hunter maybe drawn for either one or both hunt days, depending on the number ofapplicants. All applicants will be notified of drawing results by mail.

Applicants must possess a 2015 Youth Consolidated Hunting &Trapping License, a 2015 Non-Resident Youth Spring Turkey License witha game bird habitat stamp privilege, or Lifetime Comprehensive HuntingLicense. Apprentice hunting licenses of the types named above also maybe used.

Hunts will run one-half hour before sunrise until noon at properties inthe Central time zone, and one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. onproperties in the Eastern time zone.

Youth hunters selected for the hunt may check in at any time each dayuntil the end of legal hunting hours for that property. Properties will nothave a daily “no-show” drawing. Hunters interested in possible unfilledquotas at a property should call that property for more information beforeshowing up.

During youth wild turkey season, hunters younger than 18 on the dayof the hunt can take a bearded or male wild turkey. The youth must beaccompanied by someone 18 or older.

The youth hunter may use any legal shotgun, bow and arrow, or cross-bow. The adult accompanying the youth hunter must not possess a firearm,bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field. The adult does not need topossess a turkey hunting license unless the youth is using an apprenticelicense, or unless the adult is calling turkeys.

Phone numbers for information or to register at a specific property areas follows: Atterbury (812) 526-2051, Crosley (812) 346-5596, DeerCreek (765) 653-0453, Glendale (812) 644-7711, Goose Pond (812) 659-9901, Hovey Lake (812) 838-2927, Jasper-Pulaski (219) 843-4841,Kankakee (574) 896-3522, Kingsbury (219) 393-3612, LaSalle (219) 992-3019, Pigeon River (260) 367-2164 , Roush Lake (260) 468-2165 , SugarRidge (812) 789-2724 , Tri-County (574) 834-4461 , Winamac (574) 946-4422 , Willow Slough (219) 285-2704 , Mississinewa Lake (765) 473-6528, and Salamonie Lake (260) 468-2125.

To purchase a Youth Consolidated or Turkey license go toIndianaOutdoor.IN.gov.

For wild turkey hunting regulations go to dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/hunt-guide1/hunting1.htm.

RESERVED YOUTH TURKEYHUNT DEADLINE IS MARCH 27

Youth hunters participating in Indiana’s Youth Turkey Hunting Season April 18and 19 must be accompanied by someone 18 years or older. That person maynot posess a firearm or archery equipment, and does not need a huntinglicense unless they are calling for the youth or the youth is using an appren-tice license. Photo courtesy of Howard Communications & ALPS OurdoorZ.

Indiana’s spring turkey season is right around the corner.Scout your turkey hunting properties now to tilt the odds in your favor comeopening morning. Need some inspiration? See page 3 for a few turkey scout-ing tips you may not have considered. Josh Lantz photo.

Late ice is a great time for catchingfish like this crappie held by NikkiGroceman of Chesterton. See page 8for insights on tracking down late icecrappies and catching them on largenorthern lakes like Wawasee andJames as they migrate into springspawning areas. Photo provided.

Still Time For

ICE

TTiimmee ttooSSccoouutt YYoouurr

TTOOMM!!

Page 2 INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015© March 2015

March 2015 INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015© Page 3

JOSHLANTZ

Most experienced turkeyhunters have a pre-season scoutingroutine, especially those who havethe good fortune to hunt their ownland or, at the very least, a propertythey are familiar with. But lessexperienced hunters may not knowwhere to start when it comes topatching together the pieces of thepuzzle that will help them bag abird once the redbuds start tobloom.

I leaned on my friend, AlexRutledge, to provide all of us witha few turkey scouting tips thatmight help us be more succcesfulthis season. The Birch Tree,Missouri native's 30-plus years ofworkmanlike hunting experiencehave taught him not only the bene-fits of pre-season scouting, but alsoa thing or two about the best waysto go about it. Rutledge combinesold school, boots-to-the-groundscouting principles with today'stechnology and gear to create hisown success in the turkey woods.“Success in any hunt comes downto scouting,” says Rutledge, who inaddition to serving as pro staff forTenzing Outdoors and Mossy Oak,also hosts Bloodline TV and Radio.

Look Before You LeapRegardless of how familiar

you may be with the property you'llbe hunting, it's always a good ideato go online and print out an aerialphoto to study. Better yet, carry thisinformation with you right on yourphone.

“Learn the lay of the landahead of time and make references

in the field by downloading an aer-ial photo of your hunting propertyfrom Google Earth,” saysRutledge, who pays particularattention to fence lines, creeks,swamps, or any other obstacles thatmight cause a tom to hang up.Familiarize yourself with the fieldedges and woodlots, too. Try toidentify likely roosting areas, feed-ing areas and strutting zones -- thentake a drive, but stay in the truck.

In the mixed woodlots andagricultural fields of Indiana, birdsfeeding on waste grain are oftenvisible from the roadways. Makenotes on the number of toms andthe total number of birds observedin individual fields, along with thevarious times you see them. If pos-sible, follow birds from the road inlate afternoon and stick with themlong enough to see if you can get avisual on where they go to roost.Listen for gobbling or other vocal-izations if you lose sight of them.

Of course, trail cameras pro-vide another quality source ofscouting information, and mayserve as the ideal way to monitorbird movements -- especially in themore hilly and densely woodedareas where roadside observation isless viable.

Rutledge prefers cameras withhigh trigger speeds to capture allthe action, as well as models whichsend those images directly to hisphone or computer. He uses thistechnology to keep track of turkeysall year long, placing his camerason food plots, clearings and otherlikely strutting zones. “You need tokeep track of the information yourcameras are providing if they aregoing to be of any use to you,” saysRutlege. “These cameras providethe images and related data remote-ly, so I may never need to risk dis-turbing the birds,” he continues.

Hit the GroundOnce you have a general

understanding of the lay of the landand have observed birds from afar,it's time to sneak in and take a clos-er look at those likely roosting,

feeding and strutting areas.Rutledge employs a variety of gearfor his ground attack, includingeverything he needs to remaincomfortable and undetected. “Thelast thing I want to do while scout-ing is impact the birds and theirnormal routines,” he says, “so Ipack my gear so it is accessiblewith a minimal amount of move-ment on my part,” he concludes.

Central to Rutledge's scoutingforrays is his unique pack.“Tenzing's TZ TP14 Turkey Packhas plenty of room for my scoutinggear, and also doubles as a com-fortable hunting chair,” he says,referring to the pack's integralspring loaded support legs and folddown, padded seat.

“When I glass or attempt topin down a gobbler's position witha locator call, I want to remaintotally undetected... that meanstucking down in a fencerow, dead-fall or some other available cover,”continues Rutledge.

“The unique TP14 deploysand stows quickly and silently,allowing me to sit quietly for aslong as I need and move my base ofobservation from spot to spot.”Inside his pack, Rutledge keepsessential scouting items and provi-sions neat, secure and accessible,including his cell phone, binocu-lars, snacks, water, first-aid kit, anda variety of locator calls and turkeycalls.

Interpreting Ground SignsTracks, scratchings feathers,

dusting sites and scat are the pri-mary ground signs hunters look forwhen scouting for high-use turkeyareas.

Scratchings are evidenced bythe small piles of leaves and grassturkeys make while foraging forfood, and Rutledge investigatesthese sites for the clues they holdregarding turkey movements. “Ifthe leaves are pulled left to right, ittells me the birds are generallymoving to the left. This kind ofinformation is really helpful whentrying to determine general travel

Pre-Season Turkey Scouting Tips

Volume 2015 • Number 3

Publisher: Brian E. SmithAssistant Publisher: Mark C. Smith

Editor-in-Chief: Joshua D. Lantz, Sand Creek MediaField Editor: John Martino, Central Indiana

Field Photographer: Bill Konway, www.BillKonway.comAdvertising Sales: [email protected]

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patterns,” he says.He also investigates to see if

hens or toms did the work. Henstypically leave popcorn-shapeddroppings, while larger, “J”-shapeddroppings are left by gobblers.

Feathers provide clues, too, asdarker, black-tipped feathers pro-vide additional evidence of toms.Of course, the tracks themselveswill also give toms away. “Thetrack of a gobbler is an inch or aninch-and-a-half larger than that of ahen,” Rutlege says.

Careful CallingOnce Rutledge finds enough

ground sign to be confident num-bers of birds are actively using anarea, he uses an owl or a crow callto solicit shock gobbles from anytoms within earshot. But proceedwith caution, he warns. “The lastthing a hunter wants to do is to fireoff a locator call in the wide openand have a nearby tom pick himoff,” says Rutledge, who makessure he's tucked away in his TP14and out of sight first. If a tom gob-bles back, Rutledge stops callingimmediately and makes note of thebird's apparent location.

“My goal with calling whilescouting is to simply mark the

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birds' locations, not influence theirbehavior,” he says. It’s the samereason bass pros often remove orbend the treble hooks closed ontheir lures while pre-fishing a tour-nament. They want to locate thefish and see what they are doing,not impact their behavior.

“If I can shock gobble a tomand then leave him alone, that's abird I can work once I start hunt-ing,” Rutledge says.

Keys to SuccessPre-season scouting covers

three of Rutlege's four keys toturkey hunting success: know yourproperty; assure you have an abun-dance of game; and have a plan ofattack. “You're only as successfulas the dirt you stand on,” saysRutlege, who uses scouting to helpdetermine whether or not a specificproperty is even worthy of hunting.

“If it is,” he says, “that samescouting effort will help you puttogether a game plan for openingday, and a backup if that game planfalls through.”

And Rutledge’s fourth key?Well, that involves employing yourcalling and shooting skills to finishthe job once the hunting seasonactually begins.

Turkey pro Alex Rutlege advises against alerting birds to your presence at allcost while scouting. This means making sure you are tucked away andmotionless while calling like this hunter is. Josh Lantz photo.


This month’s puzzle

on Page 13

RESERVED TURKEY HUNT DEADLINE MARCH 15

BASS PRO SHOPS ROUND-UP PROGRAM BENEFITS NWTF

OUTDOOR COOKING MERIT BADGE CLINIC, APRIL 10-11

DNR REPORT - Reserved turkey hunts will beoffered again this spring at various DNR-managedproperties and at two national wildlife refuges.

Applications will be accepted online untilMarch 15. Hunt locations and dates are:• Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge: April 18-19, 22-23, 24-25, 26-27, and 28-29.• Aukiki Wetland Conservation Area, Deer CreekFWA, Glendale FWA, J.E. Roush FWA, Jasper-Pulaski FWA, Kingsbury FWA, LaSalle FWA,Mississinewa Lake, Pigeon River FWA, SalamonieLake, Tri-County FWA, Willow Slough FWA, andWinamac FWA: April 22-24, 25-26, 27-29, April 30-May 2, May 3-5, 6-8, and 9-10.• Atterbury FWA, Big Oaks National WildlifeRefuge, Chinook FWA, Crosley FWA, FairbanksLanding FWA, Hillenbrand FWA, Hovey Lake FWAand Minnehaha FWA: April 22-24, 25-27.• Sugar Ridge FWA: April 22-24, 25-26.

Applicants are required to possess a valid license to hunt turkey in the 2015 spring sea-son. Applicants can apply for one property and choose from the available dates for that prop-erty.

On DNR properties, successful applicants are not allowed to bring a hunting buddy butmay bring a non-hunting observer or helper.

At Muscatatuck, successful applicants may bring a buddy but only the drawn hunter canhunt. At Big Oaks NWR, a buddy is required and the buddy can hunt. You don't need to reg-ister your buddy at the time you apply.

An email confirmation will be sent once the application is complete. If you do notreceive email confirmation, you may not have properly completed the reserved hunt applica-tion.

Apply at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5834.htm. Draw results will be posted onlineat least one week after the deadline has passed.

DNR STOCKED NEARLY 32 MILLION FISH IN 2014

DNR REPORT - When it comes tostocking fish in Indiana waters,2014 was a banner year.

The DNR and organizationswith a DNR permit stocked 31.9million fish in 70 counties in 2014.In a typical year, stocking numbersare between 22 million and 24 mil-lion fish.

The increase was primarilydue to a near-record number of walleye eggs collected at Brookville Lake by DNR biolo-gists for hatchery production. Those eggs also had a higher-than-normal survival rate. Asa result, biologists stocked approximately 10 million more walleye fry than normal.

Other species stocked throughout Indiana were bluegill, brown trout, crappie, chan-nel catfish, chinook salmon, coho salmon, grass carp, hybrid striped bass, hybrid sunfish,largemouth bass, muskie, pike, rainbow trout, redear sunfish, saugeye, steelhead, stripedbass and yellow perch.

Stocking fish size ranged from fry to channel catfish and muskellunge more than afoot long.

Stockings supplement natural reproduction or help establish a species in an areawhere it cannot reproduce on its own.

“Fish stockings not only add value to the fishery but also give a boost to the localeconomy by bringing additional anglers to the area,” said Brian Schoenung, DNR Divisionof Fish & Wildlife fisheries chief.

District fisheries biologists evaluate fish populations to determine the best sites forstocking. For questions about stocking at a specific location, contact your district fisheriesbiologist. A map of districts and their biologists is at fishing.IN.gov/3590.htm.

It is illegal to stock public waters without a DNR permit.The fish are produced at the state’s seven hatcheries and one trout rearing station.

Information on hatcheries is at fishing.IN.gov/3077.htm.Fish were raised and stocked with the help of anglers through fishing license sales and

the Sport Fish Restoration Fund, which collects excise tax paid by the manufacturer onqualifying fishing equipment.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED RULE CHANGES

DNR REPORT - The Natural Resources Commission has scheduled three hearings toaccept public comment on a package of proposed rule changes, including rules that wouldallow the use of high-powered rifles for deer hunting, a 25-fish daily bag limit on sunfishpanfish (that includes bluegill), and suspension of the ruffed grouse hunting season. Fora complete list of proposed amendments with additional information about each propos-al, see dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/2362.htm.

The hearings are:• Monday, March 16, 5:30 p.m. at Spring Mill State Park, 3333 S.R. 60 E., Mitchell.• Tuesday, March 17, 3:30 p.m. at The Garrison Conference Center, Fort Harrison StatePark, 6002 N. Post Rd.Road, Indianapolis.• Wednesday, March 25, 5:30 p.m. at the DNR Northeast Regional Office, 1353Governors Dr.Drive, Columbia City.

Public comments can be submitted online. Locate the “comment on this rule” link inthe Rules Docket for the Fish & Wildlife Biennial Rules Amendment Package. Commentsalso can be mailed to: Natural Resources Commission, Indiana Government CenterSouth, 100 North Senate Ave., Room N501, Indianapolis, IN 46204. The deadline forsubmitting public comments is midnight March 25.

SPRINGFIELD, MO – Bass Pro Shops is showingits support in a new way this March for the NationalWild Turkey Federation and its members. DuringNWTF month, shoppers at participating Bass ProShops stores are invited to donate their change tothe leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation byrounding up their purchase total to the nearest dol-lar.

“The NWTF is thankful for the unending sup-port from Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops,” said George Thorton, NWTF CEO. “They con-tinue to create opportunities for our shared audiences to further conservation efforts in thiscountry.”

Throughout March, Bass Pro Shops stores across the U.S. will offer customers an oppor-tunity to donate their spare change in support of NWTF conservation efforts and programssuch as the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative. In addition to NWTF receiving 100percent of the money customers donate at the cash register, Bass Pro Shops will make a con-tribution at the end of the promotion. Bass Pro Shops also provides promotional support toNWTF through multiple advertising channels.

With recent declines in wild turkey populations and an estimated 2.2 million acres ofwildlife habitat lost each year, conservation is more important than ever before. NWTF’s Savethe Habitat. Save the Hunt. program is working to reverse those trends by mobilizing science,fundraising and volunteer efforts to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of uplandwildlife habitat, create 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting, shoot-ing and outdoor enjoyment.

Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris has made giving back to conservation a hallmarkof the company since he first began selling fishing tackle in the back of his dad’s liquor storein 1972. Over the course of several decades, Morris has dedicated himself to inspiring peo-ple, especially youth and families, to love, enjoy and conserve the great outdoors. One waythat Bass Pro Shops works on behalf of conservation is by supporting the efforts of nonprofitconservation organizations that share a desire to tackle key conservation initiatives such as fishand wildlife habitat improvements, conservation and outdoor skills education, improving thequality of our lakes, rivers and springs, and conservation advocacy.

Wabash Valley District scouts can learn to cookoutdoors and earn their cooking merit badges at a spe-cial clinic at Ouabache State Park, April 10 and 11.

Each troop should bring separated trail mixingredients for Friday night, such as pretzels, nuts,cereal, chocolate and dried fruit. Troops are responsi-ble for Saturday breakfast and any meals if theychoose to stay Sunday.

The cost is $15 per adult and $25 per scout. Thisfee covers camping for Friday and Saturday nights,and two meals on Saturday.

Advance registration is required by March 20 by calling (260) 468-2127.Ouabache State Park (stateparks.IN.gov/2975.htm) is at 4930 E. St. Rd. 201, Bluffton,

46714.


Amazing that such a versatilerig- this prefect presenter of softplastics and livebait- would be solittle employed by panfish fans. Inreality, a dropshot rig can be as pro-ductive as a bobber and bait, oreven a tiny jig. It's even possiblethat the dropshot is the most versa-tile rig of all, providing instantdepth control; fishes heavy withoutimpairing or impeding the presen-tation; shines in shallow and deepwater; and activates softbaits likeno other presentation.

Despite the rig's “advanced”connotation, the dropshot couldn'tbe simpler. Think split-shot rig inreverse. As a softbait deliverymethod, the dropshot excels forbass. So it's no surprise that smallbaits twitched and wiggled in newand tantalizing ways hold equalappeal for crappies, sunfish and bigperch. If you can cast, you're in. Ifyou can tie a Palomar knot, you canmaster a dropshot rig.

Dropshot BaitsTons of small softbaits now

give panfish angler's an arsenal ofsweet options. Yet, while shapeslike twister tail grubs excel on a jig,a dropshot activates straight tailworms, minnows and other subtleshapes. Moreover, many classicsoftbait shapes traditionally thread-ed onto 1/8 to 1/64-ounce jigheadsspring to new life when pinned to aplain hook above a sinker.

Consider the Custom Jigs &Spins Wedgee, a lively microbait“twitcher” that marries perfectlywith a dropshot. Impaled onto a#10 or #12 short-shank hook abovea dropshot sinker, the Wedgee andother wispy sliver-tail baits can bealmost magic for palm-stretchingpans. Deployed with a _- to 3/8-ounce weight, these tiny morsels

SPRING PANFISH Dropshot Panfish: The Best Rig You’ve Never Fished? By Ted Pilgrim with Brian “Bro” Brosdahl

move with spellbinding action.Other microbaits like Custom Jigs& Spins Finesse Plastics andNoodel and Northland Tackle'sImpulse Bro Bloodworm performtruly captivating dropshot dances.

Anything with nice softappendages and a fine quiveringtail is a potentially perfect dropshotenticement. So long as you cannose hook it on a #6 to a #12 fine-wire hook, such as an Eagle ClawL2B, nearly any miniature morselcan be made to tempt bites, includ-ing livebait.

“Any time I need to put a baitat an exact level and keep it in thefish's face,” contends guide andpanfish pioneer Brian “Bro”Brosdahl, “a dropshot is priceless.Not only can I cast a dropshot andsimply twitch it in place, I can alsodrag the rig, swim it, troll it or evenwork it vertically beneath the boator a hole in the ice.”

As with any presentation, ofcourse, limitations exist. Shallowdense cover areas, suchas thick vegetation orbrush are largely offlimits. Fish suspendedhigher than three feetabove bottom are alsobetter served with otherapproaches. But eventhis situation hasexceptions. When crap-pies or sunfish suspendin treetops or sparsebrush deep enough tofish vertically beneathyour boat, a dropshotcan be the perfect pres-entation.

Rigging the DropBased on countless

cover, depth and other conditions, awell-armed dropshot can be builtwith an array of possible compo-nentry. “To detect bites,” says Bro,“I use a 4- to 8-pound test braidedmainline, joining it to an 18- to 36-inch section of mono or fluorocar-bon, using back-to-back Uni knotsor an Improved Albright knot.”Often, when hunting fish within afoot of bottom, Bro says, an 18-inch length of 4- to 6- pound testmono is perfect.

The most critical aspect of thedropshot is tying the Palomar knotso the hookpoint faces up. Brointerjects that an exception to thestandard dropshot rig oftenbecomes necessary with light bit-ing fish. “Big bluegills often moutha softbait like humans taste red hotfood. So it's sometimes best to rigwith a short dropper, or pair ofdroppers jutting from the mainline,as opposed to pinning the bait tothe line with a Palomar.” Beyondthe obvious advantage of allowing

fish to more easily flush a baitentirely into its craw-thanks to thesemi-slack dropper line-Bro alsoextols the 'flutter factor.'

“Once the sinker hits bottom,”he says, “a short 3- to 8- inch drop-per gives your bait a nice flutteringeffect-more movement-as the drop-per and bait slowly descend tocatch up. I also like that a droppergives baits a little extra whippingaction when you move the rod-tip.”

Situational Droppin'“Best rig there is for fishing

just inches above low growinggrass or small rocks, keeping a baitclean and at eye-level with thefish,” Bro asserts. “With a 1/4-ounce sinker and 4-pound test, Ican even get down to 20 feet ofwater fast, and fish with finesse andprecision.

“In flooded trees and bushes,I'll position my boat directly abovea school of fish, and slide the rig

down to a certain level-tops of thetrees or mere inches above the levelof fish I'm marking on theHumminbird. With Spot-Lockengaged on my iPilot, I'll hoverdirectly above and simply shakethe rod tip to activate the bait's tinytail. The control you have with thispresentation is unbelievable.”

For casting to shallow springpanfish, a dropshot can be powerfulmedicine. “Fish that have justmoved up onto shallow flats aren'treal active yet. I use a 7-foot St.Croix Panfish Series rod to pitch acompact dropshot rig past the fishand slowly work it into position.Once there, give the rod-tip period-ic nervous shakes, so the sinkerstays put, but the bait's little tailquivers like a defenseless inverte-brate, inches above bottom.

“A dropshot is absolutelybeautiful for putting a bait at thefish's eye level-right where they'vegot no choice but to eat it.”

Bass don't have an exclusive on dropshotting. Variations of the technique areeffective for crappies, bluegills, perch and even walleyes.

Bro maintains meticulous boat control with Minn Kota i-Pilot and Spot-Lock.


HOOSIER HERITAGE M.R. James: Hunter, Hall of Fame Member and Writer By Jason Houser

Born in December of 1940,Bristow, Indiana resident M.R.James became one of the modernpioneers of archery. His hunts andpassion for the animals he huntshas been documentedthroughout his life,and I am honored toshare what I havelearnt from this man.

Bowhunting hasgrown since theinvention of thecompound bow, butfrom the very begin-ning there was amagazine that washelping the sportgrow as well.

Walk throughany check-out line atthe local store, walkinto an archery shop,visit a bowhunter’shome, or maybe evenon your own coffeetable, and you are likely to notice acopy of Bowhunter Magazine.Bowhunter has been a staple forarchery hunters for more than 40years and is still going strong.

Recently, I was able to talkwith the founder and past Editor ofBowhunter and dig a little deeperinto his passion for bowhuntingand what the sport means to him. Itis an honor to call this man afriend, hear his stories throughoutthis past deer season and listen andlearn from his advice.

Above all else, M.R. is abowhunter -- a bowhunter with afire burning strong and one who Ienvy.

Q: Growing up as a child what wasyour favorite animal to hunt?M.R.: I hunted squirrels, cotton-tails, quail and waterfowl whilegrowing up in Wabash County,Illinois during the 1940s and1950s. There were no deer aroundin those days, but I loved huntingsmall game and birds, includingdoves. Squirrel hunting was myfavorite. I learned to stalk closeenough for a good shot whileremaining undetected. It was greattraining for the bowhunting Iwould do later.

Q: Have youalways only beenan archery hunter,or was there atime you usedfirearms?M.R.: I huntedwith both 20 and12 gauge shot-guns, as well as.22 rifle forbushytails. Butit got easier as Igot better, so Iswitched almostexclusively tobow and arrowhunting. Iespecially liked spot and stalkhunting for groundhogs. I haveonly shot a handful of deer withfirearms and always felt as if I wascheating when I did.

Q: You still hunt whitetails almostdaily during the season. Is thereany other animal you wish youcould hunt more? M.R.: I am a deer hunter first andalways, and I love whitetails. I'vebeen blessed to bowhunt most ofthe North American big gamespecies and collect more than 20 ofthe 29 species recognized by thePope and Young Club. Next todeer, my favorite species is bear. I

have always been fascinated withbruins and have tagged dozensover the decades. I simply enjoywatching and photographingbears. They are amazing crea-

tures. Most of the time they knowyou are there and do not care.They are at the top of the foodchain; you are a curiosity they'llcheck out. I can't count the times Ihave had themclimb a treeI'm in or walkup to myground blindto see what Iam. Only twohave reactedaggressivelyand forced meto kill them.That elementof unpre-d i c t a b i l i t yand dangeris appealingto me.

Q: Is there ahunt in particular that stands outamong the rest?M.R.: I can't single out any partic-ular hunt that stands out becausethere've been too many. I enjoyedthe physical challenge of huntingsheep and mountain goats becauseof the high, remote, and ruggedcountry they inhabit. Goat huntingis the only bowhunting I've done

that mademe realize Iwas oneslip and fallaway fromdying. Onehunt thatwill alwaysstand out isa bowhuntfor muskox.Riding in asled behind as n o wm a c h i n eacross frozentundra for100 miles toreach the

hunting area -with the temperature 20 to 25degrees below zero with a 20 mphwind - is unforgettable. That's alsotrue of these beasts which time hasnot changed since prehistoric days.Stalking close enough to make akilling shot was challenging, to saythe least. And I was lucky to take abull that was a mere one inch offthe bowhunting World Record.Regardless, many of my deer huntshold a very special place in myheart because of the bucks I saw orthe friends I was with.

Q: How did Bowhunter get itsstart?

M.R.: Bowhunter was born out ofa need I saw, namely to create amagazine written for, by, and aboutbowhunters. Starting in the mid-1960s, I'd written and sold features

for the three existingarchery magazines ofthe day - Archery,Archery World, andBow & Arrow. But allthree covered allaspects of archery, andI was interested onlyin bowhunting. In1971, three friendsand I published thefirst issue ofBowhunter afterabout a year of study,research, and prepa-ration. It was aninstant hit with read-ers. Subscriptionsand ads poured in. Wequickly caught and

passed our competitionwith a paid circulation larger thanall three other magazines com-bined. Popularity of the newly cre-ated compound bow swelled theranks of archery hunters who were

thirsty forhow-to andwhere-to-huntinformation.We providedthe informa-tion neededand grew asthe sport grew.

Q: One of thehighest honorsbestowed to anybowhunter isbeing inductedinto the Hall ofFame. What didthat mean toyou?

M.R.: Being inducted into theArchery Hall of Fame on a firstballot vote in 2003 was truly hum-bling. I was the AHOF's 54th mem-ber, elected as a Bowhunter, aContributor to the Sport, and anInfluence on the Sport. To be rec-ognized by my peers for doing whatI loved, for a sport I loved, meant alot, as did seeing my name includ-ed with true legends likeHoward Hill, Fred Bear,Ben Pearson, Glenn St.Charles, Jim Dougherty,Dr. Saxton Pope andArthur Young, to nameonly a few of my personalheroes, was a dreamcome true. The fact I wasinducted at a Pope andYoung Club banquet withmy wife and our adult chil-dren present, made it espe-cially meaningful.

Q: What advice do youhave for deer hunters?M.R.: Advice? Be patientand proficient. Realize thatyou don't have to have ananimal on the ground andblood on an arrow to have asuccessful bowhunt. Mosthunts will end without a shottaken. Accept the challenge ofdoing it “the hard way” and realizethat occasional success will bemore meaningful that consistentlykilling game with firearms.

Q: Is there something or some-place you have not hunted andwould like to?M.R.: As mentioned previously,I've been blessed to hunt placesand animals all across this conti-nent for more than five decades.

There is no huntor animal onmy bucket listthat I feel Ineed to take.I'm perfectlycontent to huntdeer on myown farm orshare campsand huntse l s e w h e r ewith friends.While I'll con-tinue to pur-sue othergame, myheart belongsto the bucksthat millionsof otherbowhunterspursue witha passiononly they can trulyunderstand.

Q: As past President of the Popeand Young Club I know the organ-ization holds a special place inyour heart. What would you likereaders to know about the Pope andYoung Club that they might notknow?M.R.: The Pope and Young Clubwas originally founded to provethat archery equipment was ade-quate for hunting and harvestingbig game animals, and to recordfor posterity the information aboutanimals taken with archery equip-ment. Those goals have been ade-quately met since the Club wasborn in 1961. Today the club pro-motes legal fair chase bowhuntingand donates hundreds of thousandsof dollars to conservation of ournative wildlife. Its pro-conserva-tion efforts benefit hunter and non-hunter alike by ensuring the futureof species that might otherwise dis-appear from our modern world.

Q: Some hunters feel they have notbeen successful unless they are rec-ognized by a record keeping organ-ization. What are your thoughts onthis?M.R.: I have never counted orcared about the number of

personal entries in thePope and Young Records. Over theyears I suspect I've had dozens oftrophy-class animals recognized,which is more than some but only ahandful compared to some serioustrophy hunters I know. I enter myanimals in the records because Iknow the money from entry fees isused wisely in the club's pro-hunt-ing, pro-conservation efforts.

Q: I know readers are curiousabout your biggest whitetail. What

do you have to say about that?M.R.: I've taken a few whitetailbucks that measure in the 160s, butI've never racked that 170-inchmark that would qualify it for entryin both the Pope and Young andBoone and Crockett record books. Imissed the largest buck I've evershot at a year ago in Illinois, ahuge deer that easily would havescored in the 170s or 180s. He'sstill out there and I'm hoping foranother close encounter next fall.As for my best deer, he's a tall-tined9-pointer I shot in the early 1980sin northern Indiana only 100 yardsor so from my rural home's backdoor. My wife had seen an evenbigger buck there earlier. Such isthe unpredictability and magic ofhunting whitetails.

Q: Just for fun, in the Midwestwhere you live and do a lot of yourhunting there are two “big game”animals that have an archery sea-son. They are the whitetail andturkey. Which is tougher?M.R.: Bowhunting deer andturkeys can be very difficult or rel-atively easy, depending on thegame populations, conditions, andhunting methods. Where good num-bers of birds or deer are found,

hunting deerfrom elevatedstands or gob-blers from legalground blinds(with calls anddecoys) can beu n d e r t a k e nwith reason-able expecta-tions of shotsand success.H o w e v e r ,stalking with-in good bowrange ofeither deer orturkeys isu s u a l l ytremendous-ly challeng-ing. For my

m o n e y ,shooting at a broadside buck

under my tree is less difficult thanhitting the much smaller kill areaof a fully fanned longbeard hiddenbeneath fluffed up feathers. The oldturkey hunter's advice tobowhunters, “Hit 'em low andwatch 'em go, or hit 'em high andwatch 'em die,” is well founded inbird anatomy and fact. For deer,there's no more lethal shot than adouble-lung hit with a razor-sharphead penetrating both lungs. Hiteither “where they live” and they'llgo down in a hurry.


Pigweed (Palmer Amaranth)has been a frequent topic of con-versation among farmers and foodplot guys in the last several years.Pigweed has been causing severeproblems because of its rapidgrowth and in many parts of thecounty, resistance to glyphosatewhich leads to problems inglyphosate resistant crops that arebeing grown. In warm season foodplots, whether it is a spring plantedperennial or annual blend, pigweedcan very quickly become a problemand overtake the plot.

When left to mature and go toseed, pigweed grows a substantialamount of seeds that can continueto cause problems for years downthe road. The key to killing andcontrolling pigweed is early identi-fication and proper herbicide appli-cation. Imazamox is a greatbroadleaf control herbicide withchemistry that has excellent resultsand residual control on pigweedand other broadleaf weeds.Imazamox (brand names WeedReaper or Raptor) can be sprayedover legumes including clover,alfalfa, beans, peas, and lablab.Ideally, broadleaf weeds should beless than 6 inches in height for thebest kill.

My first experience in testingImazamox was on a severe infesta-tion of pigweed on over 10 acres ofspring planted Lablab a few yearsago. The Lablab was less than twoweeks out of the ground when Inoticed a solid carpet of pigweedbeginning to emerge. Left untreat-ed, the Lablab would have easilybeen outgrown by the rapid growthof pigweed and my summer cropswould have been non-existent. Itested BioLogic Weed Reaper(imazamox- active ingredient) at arate of 4oz per acre with AMS

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Early Spring Herbicide Tips & Food Plot Preparation By Austin Delano

(ammonium sulfate) and a surfac-tant as a tank additive. I was pleas-antly surprised on my return trip tothe fields to find a 95% + kill on allbroadleaf weeds including the solidcarpet of pigweed that was com-pletely nuked. The only areas Icould find with less than idealresults were due to inconsistentspots in the spray pattern and notfailure on the herbicide. Thesewere all at the end of my turn rowswhere I didn't get quite enoughoverlap. If you have trouble grow-ing warm season plots because ofbroadleaf weeds, Imazamox maybe your answer. Nobody likes tospend the money and effort ofplanting only to have it ruined byproblematic weeds.

One of the most commonproblems in food plots, especiallyperennials, is weed competition.Weeds rob your plot of essentialnutrients, water, and root space.Given time and opportunity, weedswill quickly mature, produce seed,and overtake a well intended foodplot. The use of herbicides is one ofthe greatest tools a wildlife manag-er can utilize to keep weeds undercontrol and get the most out of yourplantings. Here are a few tips to getthe most from your efforts.

1. Read the label - theinformation on the herbicide labelscontain great info and will identifywhat weeds they control and whatcrops it is designed to protect.

2. Spray when grasses orbroadleaf weeds are young andthriving. If you wait to spray whenthey are tall and mature, the resultswill often be less than desirable. Ifweeds are already tall and matur-ing, mow first and return 7-10 dayslater to spray the new re-growth.

3. Spray in good conditions.Cloudy and still days are best.

Windy and rainy days do not makefor good conditions to spray in.

4. Make sure sprayingequipment is functioning properlyand carry some spare spray rigparts to the field. There's nothingworse than having a busted hose orclogged tip in the field and be with-out the tools to fix it.

5. Make sure to add a sur-factant or crop oil when called for,many grass specific herbicides donot work well without one.

6. For optimal results, useAMS (ammonium sulfate) or addBioLogic M.E.E.N Green (a watersoluble fertilizer) to your tank mixwhen spraying selective herbicides.AMS or M.E.E.N Green willincrease the effectiveness of theherbicide by helping the weedsreadily trans-locate it to the rootsfor a good kill, at the same time itwill foliar feed the plot with essen-tial macro and micro nutrients.

7. Know the size of thefields you are going to be sprayingso you can apply the appropriateamount of solution. To practice andcalibrate your sprayer, find a fieldand measure it with a GPS or use arange finder to determine theacreage. Fill your spray tank withjust water and take note of thespeed you travel and the amount ofwater you apply over the knownarea. This will help take a lot ofguess work on applying the correctamount. Most herbicides work bestwhen 12-20 gallons of water areused over an acre with the appro-priate herbicide.

Another very common prob-lem is the flush of weeds you getafter planting warm season annualssuch as soybeans, peas, or lablab.Anytime you disturb the groundwith a piece of equipment like adisc, harrow, or tiller you are likely

to get a fine crop of weeds that ger-minate from seeds that have beenin your soil profile for years wait-ing on their chance to grow. Manytimes these weeds will outgrow thecrop you have planted and end upchoking it out. I typically use thissequence in the spring when plant-ing my warm season annuals, keepin mind that glyphosate (round-up)is a contact and non residual herbi-cide. If it doesn't contact somethinggreen and growing it is basicallyin-active. It does not have anyresidual activity in the soil and willnot affect seeds you are preparingto plant.

I generally spray the area to beplanted after a good portion or allof the plot has a good flush ofspring weeds. In the South this isusually around early to mid April.Wait around a week and go in andwork the soil with a disc or tiller orwhatever your primary tillageequipment is. This disturbance of

the soil should create a new flushof weeds over the plot in a relative-ly short period of time, after I see agood carpet of weeds starting toemerge, I spray again with 41 %glyphosate (generic round-up).Wait just 3-5 days and lightly pre-pare the top couple 3-4 inches ofsoil again and plant. This secondspray application seems to reallycut down on early weed problemsin spring planted plots. Giving theplot you are planting time to getestablished and canopy out toshade the soil will drastically cutdown on the amount of weeds thatcan grow.

Would you like to learn more aboutimproving your hunting and getdiscounts on the products youneed? Learn from the experts byjoining the new Mossy OakGameKeepers Club at www.game-keepersclub.com. Or call 662-495-9292.


It’s no secret. Big watergrows big crappies. Large, deeplakes have an abundance of forageand more places for crappies tohide, feed and grow. Find a biglake with relatively low anglingpressure, and you’ve set the stagefor potentially epic crappie fishing.

But you’ve got to find thembefore you can catch them.Anglers who do a little research,drill enough holes, stay mobile andfish speedy baits will be rewardedwith success.

Seasonal Crappie MovementsIn smaller, shallower lakes,

crappies are typically located andcaught throughout much of thewinter season over main-lakebasins. In large, deep lakes, how-ever, they tend to avoid the deepestareas and use flats, humps andbasins ranging from 20 to 40 feetdeep. But crappies are also notori-ous for suspending. Dependingupon conditions, they can be foundanywhere in the water column, cre-ating an additional variable in theangling equation.

As the ice-fishing seasonnears its end, crappies transitionfrom their deepwater winteringareas towards shallow bays, chan-nels and river mouths in prepara-tion for spawning. Depending onwhere and when you fish, concen-trations of crappies will be presentalong a relatively straight linebetween these distinct areas.During the late-ice period, take astab at identifying some of theselikely travel paths between winter-ing areas and spawning areas on amap of the lake you plan to fish.Look for potential staging loca-tions where cover, structure or cur-rent variations are present alongthose paths.

Drill ‘Em OutOnce you’ve identified attrac-

tive areas, gas up the auger and getto work. Use your GPS to confirmyour location on the ice, and pick avariety of sweet spots over the par-ticular structure you plan to fish.

A larger fishing party is bene-ficial because you can share the

work of drilling holes and checkingthem for fish with sonar. Onceyou mark fish, take the time to drillmore holes. It’ll save you time inthe long run as you’ll waste lesstime fishing an unproductive holewhen an entire school may belocated just 10 or 15 feet away.

Mobility is KeyOnce the crappies are located,

hole hopping is the key to keepingbusy catching them.“Here on Lake of the Woods, theguys who are willing to leave thecomfort of their fish houses anduse their electronics to fish fromhole to hole are the ones who catchthe most crappies,” says Lake ofthe Woods Minnesota Tourismdirector and avid angler, Joe Henry.

“The best crappie anglerswon’t waste time fishing a holethat doesn’t produce a mark ontheir flasher. They’ll keep mov-ing—drilling more holes if neces-sary—until they get a sonarreturn,” he continues. “Then they’lldrop down, catch a fish or two andmove on once the action slows.”

Effective as it may be, holehopping requires some specializedgear – especially at the very top ofthe continental United States onLake of the Woods, where daytimetemperatures can often remainbelow zero. Quality boots andouterwear are a must. A piece ofgear like Frabill’s Tackle Pack-Hand Muff is also indispensable,keeping tackle organized and at theready, while also serving as a vitaland cozy refuge for off-duty hands.

Fish FastCrappies display a variety of

moods, and their responsiveness tovarious presentations can changethroughout the day – often rapidly.Late-ice crappie anglers should beprepared with a variety of offer-ings, from small tungsten jigstipped with thin plastics to relative-ly large jigging spoons.

“When crappies are aggres-sive, it’s hard to beat a SlenderSpoon or a Buckshot Rattle Spoontipped with a minnow head or tail,”says Henry, who prefers variations

of gold and glow red for Lake ofthe Woods’ stained waters.

When a fish is showing onsonar, Henry advises stopping thespoon 4 to 5 feet above it and slow-ly working it down if necessary.“A lot of times you’ll seethe fish begin drifting uptowards your bait immedi-ately,” Henry says. “Ifthey do that, I’ll slowlyraise the spoon whiletwitching it ever so slight-ly and make them chaseit… Once you get themmoving, they’ll usuallycharge it,” he continues.

Aside from a jiggingspoon’s larger profile,Henry prefers them foranother reason. “Spoonsfish heavy,” he says, refer-ring to their ability topunch through a slushyhole and get back down to otherfish quickly once one has beencaught. “If you’re marking a fishdown there, a spoon is going to getdown to it quickly… hopefullybefore it leaves,” he adds.

Crappies aren’t usually toodifficult to catch. But they can behard to locate, especially on a vastpiece of water. Do your home-work ahead of time, be willing todrill a lot of holes, fish fast andmove if necessary. Some call itice trolling because of the amountof water one can cover this way ina single day. Of course, if youreally want to tip the odds in yourfavor, consider hiring a guide orconsider fishing out of a full-serv-ice lodge.

Trophy WatersAt over one million acres,

Lake of the Woods, Minnesota is aprolific fishery. Best known forits walleye, sauger, yellow perchand northern pike – all of whichcan be caught in great numbers allwinter long from the comfort ofcountless heated ice houses placedand maintained by a number offull-service lodges – Lake of theWoods is also one of North

America’s best trophy crappie fish-eries.

Crappie fishing at Lake of theWoods, however, takes a bit morework and planning. Some of thebest crappie fishing on the lake

takes place around the NorthwestAngle, a thin strip of U.S. land andwater extending north into Canada.

“Crappie anglers interested incoming to Lake of the Woodsshould consider staying at one ofthe lodges up at the NorthwestAngle,” says Henry.

There are several lodges tochoose from, and any of them willwork with you to meet your specif-ic angling objectives. Most use

classic and reliable Bombardiertrack vehicles to transport theircustomers. It’s a unique experi-ence that adds value to an alreadyexceptional fishing trip. “They’llget you comfortably to and from

the best bites, which maybe in Minnesota orCanadian waters,” contin-ues Henry.

Sliding up into Canadais a relatively easy optionfor anyone traveling to theNorthwest Angle.Canadian fishing licensesare easy to obtain at thelodge, and a simple phonecall to Canadian authoritiesis all that’s needed to gainlegal entry for fishing –for walleye, pike, muskie,perch or, of course, slabCanadian crappies.

Ice fishing for crappiesextends into April at Lake of theWoods, providing yet anothersuper reason to visit this outstand-ing angling destination. For moreinformation, call Joe Henry at Lakeof the Woods Tourism at 800-382-FISH (3474), email [email protected], or visitwww.lakeofthewoodsmn.com. Besure to ask about walleye, sturgeonand other four-season anglingopportunities, too.

DESTINATIONS Late-Ice Crappie Dreams By Josh LantzIce fishing for crappies continues well into April at Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods

Frabill’s Tackle Pack-Hand Muff is engineered for holehopping, combining convenient and mobile tackle stor-age with hand- and core-warming technology.

Jigging spoons are a great choice for targeting crappies in most situations. This one fell for the author’s Custom Jigs andSpins Slender Spoon in Gold/Glow. Dan Stefanich Photo.

Crappies aren’t necessarily hard to catch, but they can be challenging to locateon vast waters like Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods. Joe Henry (L) and theauthor (R) scratch out a few more dandies before sundown. Dan Stefanich photo.


Every year tackle manufactur-ers from all over the world gatherfor their (ICAST) trade show.Besides displaying their completeproduct lines, the manufacturersintroduce new products that (theyhope) will generate excitementfrom the fishing public. Last sum-mer’s show was no exception.Here are are several new productsfor salmon, trout, walleye, small-mouth bass and perch that I foundinteresting. You may, too.

Perch fishing on the GreatLakes is a long-time tradition andthe Lindy Perch Talker fromLindy Legendary Tackle shouldget the job done. Designed origi-nally for ice fishing applications,the Perch Talker should be idealfor deep water, vertical presen-tations throughout the openwater season as well. Whengently jigged, the colored brassbeads create a clicking and rat-tling noise while the shiny sur-faces reflect light and color toattract fish with both sound andsight. The discs displace waterand activate fish. The PerchTalker dropper chain separatesyour bait to a safe distancefrom the bold attraction ofthe beads and discs, alsoappealing to fish in a negative orneutral mood. The Perch Talkercomes in 2 sizes, small and medi-um, and 6 color combinations. Formore information go to www.lindy-fishingtackle.com.

Based on last year's successfulintroduction of the Storm SilentSquare Arashis, the new RattlingSquare Arashi models 3 and 5 fea-ture a multi-ballrattle systemthat imitates thesound of bait-fish and produces better indirty-water environments. Thenumbers in the name refer to thebaits maximum diving depth andboth run with a rolling action and apronounced tail kick that shouldreally appeal to small-mouth bass.Featuring as t u r d y ,square, cir-cuit-board lipand availablein 12 color pat-terns, both RattlingSquare Arashis have aself-tuning line tie that allows thebait to recover quicker afterdeflecting off cover and also per-mits a “burning” retrieve. Formore information go towww.stormlures.com.

New from the folks at Rapala,the BX (Balsa Xtreme) WakingMinnow is a surface-waking baitthat swims with incredible, strike-inducing performance. Measuring

5 - 1 / 4 -inches longand weighing 3/4-ounce, the WakingMinnow boasts a balsa coreencased in a durable copolymershell. The BX Waking Minnowfeatures lifelike 3D eyes, finitescale and gill detail paired with aninternal holographic foil for attrac-tion. It is available in six color pat-terns. With its dynamic flashing,rolling action, it will pull fish outof the cover. For more informationgo to www.rapala.com.

Great Lakes anglers are facedwith some of the most abrasiveenvironments like the razor-sharpshells of zebra mussels andnumerous piles ofrock rip-rap used to

build piers, harborsand breakwalls.Berkley's new ver-sion of IRONSilkmonofilament line isup to 33 percentmore abrasionresistant than otherlines of the samediameter. The line is areinforced polymermatrix with no coating, whichmeans it has structural toughnessat the molecular level.IRONSilk also boasts ultra-lowmemory, maximum UV resist-ance, and comes in 6- to 20-pound test. For more informa-

tion go to www.berkley-fishing.com.

Storage always seems to be aproblem no matter how big yourboat. The folds at Plano Moldinghave come up with a solution.Their Marine Trunks are avail-able in three introductory sizes -56-Quart Model 161, 68-QuartModel 171 and super-sized 108-

Quart Model 191. TheMarine Trunks are

made tough towithstand real-world use like

rough seas, off-road transportand shoves from dock onto deck.All sizes feature an o-ring seal tokeep contents dry and out of theelements. Outside, the trunks are

t r e a t e dwith aU V

pro tec -tive coatingthat resistsfading, heat

damage andensures durability for years of

use. The Marine Trunks also fea-ture sturdy, easy to open / closebuckles and molded ports to secureyour trunks with standard tie-downstraps and padlocks. For moreinformation go to www.planomold-ing.com.

For spring and fall fishing onthe Great Lakes and wintertimesteelhead fishing on the tributarystreams, protective headgear is amust. Simms' 50% wool / 50%

acrylic knit jacquard Visor Beanieoffers cold weather pro-

tection. TheBeanie's full-time brim cutsglare and keepsthe elements

away from yourface. The wool alsodraws sweat away from theskin and absorbs and releases 10times the moisture than syntheticfibers. For more information logonto www.simmsfishing.com.

Smallmouth bass anglers gen-erally prefer bait casting reels formost presentations on the GreatLakes and Abu Garcia has intro-duced their (made in Sweden)Morrum ZX round bait caster.From its compact

m a c h i n e da l u m i n u mframe andsideplates tobent carbon handleand flat EVA knobs,no detail was sparedin design. It features

10 stainlesssteel HPCRbearings plus1 roller bear-ing for

increased corro-

ICAST 2014: New Products for Anglers

BILLTAKACS

sion protection. The CarbonMatrix drag system pro-

vides smooth, consistentdrag pressure across

the entire drag range.Infinitely VariableC e n t r i f u g a lBrake gives very

precise brakeadjustments allowing

anglers to easily cast a wide varietyof baits. The Morrum ZX comes inright or left hand retrieve, weighsjust 7.34 ounces and has a gearratio of 6.3:1. For more informa-tion go to www.abugarcia.com.

For details on other new fish-ing products honored with “Best ofShow” awards at ICAST 2014, goto: http://asafishing.org/newsroom.

2014 ICAST Best of Show

Freshwater Rod – DuckettFishing Micro Magic Pro

Freshwater Reel – Abu-RevoBeast

Combo – Lew’s American HeroBaitcast Combo

Fly Fishing Rod – G. LoomisPRO4x Short Stix

Fly Reel – 3TAND TF-70

Hard Lure – SPRO BBZ-1 Rat

Soft Lure – Okuma Savage Gear3D PVC Crab

Kids’ Tackle – ZEBCO SplashCombos

Technical Apparel – STORMRFusion Bib

Boating Accessory – Minn KotaUlterra Trolling Motor

Boats – Predator XL KayakElectronics – HumminbirdONIX 8SI

Fishing Accessory – Lit Coolers

FishSmart Tackle – Cuda Grip& Scale

Line – Berkley IronSilk

Terminal Tackle – Eagle ClawFishing Tackle


Being an Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) meanslate hours. Darkness emboldens those that are trying tohide nefarious activities. But, darkness also allows an ICOto monitor that same activity without being observed. Partof the technique is to watch suspects for a period to see whoall is involved and what they are doing. Staying hidden canalso prove fruitful if the suspects are taking an over limit offish, using drugs, or some other sort of casual activity.

The best technique is to get close enough to be able tosee all that is going on and what is being said. This canlead to comic results when an ICO's passion for their job istempered with a sense of humor.

It was a warm summer night when ICO Bill Bevillenoticed a lantern shining down a lane that led to a local fish-ing spot. With an hour left in his shift Beville decided toease down the lane on foot and investigate what was goingon. “I assumed they were doing some cat fishing.” AsBeville quietly walked down the lane he spotted someoneheading towards him. Beville silently stepped aside. Theman passed him in the darkness, never realizing the ICOwas mere feet away.

Beville continued down the lane and stopped in theshadows a few yards away from a second fisherman. In amoment, the first fisherman ran back down the road, “Thegame warden’s out on the road!” The second fishermanseemed full of bluster. “Let’em come! I’ll whip his ass!”

Having warned his friend, the first fisherman walkedback up the lane to go on his beer and bait run. A few minutes later Beville quietly wentback up the lane and moved his truck out of sight, and then returned to the fishing spot, nevermaking his presence known. It wasn’t long until the first fisherman returned and the twofishermen started chattering away. Beville hadn’t noticed any violations, but protocol stillrequired that he check the men’s fishing licenses, but he was going to have a little fun whiledoing it.Beville eased on out until his was just a few feet away. “Here I am!” his voice cut throughthe darkness, “Let’s go!”

The startled men turned. “W-W-What?”“You said you were going to whip my ass,” Beville replied. “Let’s go! Let’s do it!”

The fisherman lost all his bluster. “Well, I-I-I—“As Beville checked their licenses, he chuckled, “You really need to watch what you say

because you never know who is listening.”A few years ago, when the water level in Jennings County’s Brush Creek Reservoir was

low, a flat was exposed that drew fishermen. Beville was making his rounds in the weehours of the morning, when he spotted a lantern out on the flats. After parking his truck hestarted down a trail to the flat to perform a spot check. When he was in ear-shot, he heardone of the men ask the other, “Are you ready to go?” The second fishermen picked up his

empty lantern fuel can and flung it back into the woods.“I’m ready, now,” he replied.

Beville stopped dead in his tracks. One of Beville’s petpeeves is littering by fishermen, and after seeing that fla-grant act of disrespect to a public attraction, his blood start-ed to boil. As the two men headed for their vehicle, Bevillefollowed them in the darkness. When they got to theirpickup truck, Beville was right behind them.

“As he set his fishing pole down I was at his shoulder,”Beville said. As Beville spun him around, the manscreamed like a little girl at the sight of the ICO loamingover him in the darkness. “You’re the reason this lakelooks like a trash heap!” Beville berated the man. “Do youhave any trash bags in your truck?” The man producedseveral plastic shopping bags. With Beville at his side thelitter bug proceeded to the lake shore and filled all of thebags and then placed them in a nearby dumpster. He wasthen cited for littering.

It was early fall in Decatur County when ICO Bevilleand a partner spotted a vehicle parked along a wooded roadone night. They stopped and listened in the still night air.In the distance they could hear hounds baying, as if theywere in a chase. Raccoon season was not in yet, so while“running” the dogs was allowed, the hunters were notallowed to have firearms with them.

The two ICOs went up the road to where a lane separat-ed two fields of crops. Getting out of their vehicle, they

started up the lane towards the shadowy woods at the far end. As they reached the halfwaymark, they spotted lights bobbing out of the woods. Not wanting to be seen until they knewwhat was going on, the two ICOs melted into the shadows of the standing corn.

Beville’s partner had night-vision optics and could see everything the approachinghunters were doing. Beville had his hand on his partner’s shoulder and he could sense theother ICO’s rising excitement. “They’ve got a gun!” he hissed.

Within moments the hunters were passing the two hidden ICOs. In the excitement oneof the ICOs rattled a dry corn stalk, startling the hunters. One of the hunters yelled out,“Who’s there?!?”

Beville flipped his light on and yelled, “Conservation Officers! Put the gun down andput your hands up!”

The men were had dead to rights, so the ICOs started writing tickets for everyone in theparty for hunting raccoons in a closed season.

As Beville got to the last man, he noticed that the hunter’s overalls appeared darker fromthe groin down. Beville didn’t want to embarrass the man, so he didn’t say anything.

As the two ICOs walked back to their truck, Beville commented to his partner, “I thinkwe scared the pee out of the one guy.” The ICO nodded in agreement. “I think we did.You noticed it too?”

Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Hearts of Men?

ALANGARBERS


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S t e r l i n gPublishing is proudto announce theupcoming publica-tion of KenSchultz’s TheComplete Guide toNorth AmericanFishing (April 2015;$39.95).

The man ESPNcalls “Mr. FishingUSA” shares hisangling expertise inthis gloriously illus-trated exploration offishing in North America. Former Field & Stream FishingEditor Ken Schultz provides details on major saltwater andfreshwater fish, analyzes all the latest equipment, offersadvice on techniques, and gives the pros and cons of differ-ent types of locations. The stunning photographs of beauti-ful places and great catches will whet every angler’sappetite.

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It’s oftensaid the sim-plest solu-tions arethe bestanswers tolife’s littletribulations.Take, for example,the quandary ofkeeping your softplastics in the samepristine shape as they were the day you bought them. Youknow, having them remain in the very fish-catching formsthey were designed to be even after seasons of storage later.

Gone are the days anglers would take softbaits fromtheir original wrappings, tuck them into heavy-duty resal-able plastic bags and then squeeze as many as of those theycould into totes. All it took was one cast with one of thesecompressed creatures just a few days later to realize thiswas not the right way to go about it.

The end result? What was once a package of expensiveswimbaits, grubs, minnows, worms, lizards and the likewere mashed, smashed and mutilated; basically each andevery bait rendered worthless because they got bent out ofshape and stayed that way.

So what’s the uncomplicated answer to the worm-warping predicament these days? Plano Elite KVDSpeedbag Wormfiles – rugged gear that allow anglers tokeep their precious plastics in their original packaging andperfectly organized and easily sorted. And the Elite KVDSpeedbag Wormfile is constructed tough enough for theworld’s most well-know and respected angler, Kevin VanDam (KVD), to initial them.

“The Plano Elite KVD Speedbag Wormfile is the mostefficient system for storing soft plastics, and they allowquick and easy access to your baits for when the bite sud-denly changes,” says seven-time Angler of the Year VanDam. “You can load these bags up yet still keep the integri-ty of your softbaits. And using only the most reliable plas-tics is more important than many anglers realize.”

The Plano KVD Speedbag Wormfile features a uniqueaperture that folds out and opens wide to allow easy accessto each and every package of plastics, and then closes tightvia a heavy-duty zipper with pulls that are easy to grip, evenwith gloves on. Durable nylon handles make transportationby hand a breeze.

New for 2015, the Plano Elite KVD SpeedbagWormfile comes in three sizes to meet every angler’s needs.The 480570 is a 7.5” x 4.5” x 5.5” bag that holds up to 20packs of plastics, while its bigger brother, the 480670, is a9.5” x 4.5” x 6.25” totes up to 20 magnum packages withroom to spare. And then there’s the massive 480770, whichat 14” x 4.5” x 5.5” can house up to 40 packs of yourfavorite plastics while still keeping its contents un-crushed.

Plano’s Elite KVD Speedbag Wormfiles retail foraround $14.99 - $24.99. Learn more at www.planomold-ing.com.

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Having a good grip is pivotal to premiumperformance. Consider the carpenter. Without asolid grip of his hammer-handle,there’s little chance of sending anail true and deep. ANASCAR driver would eatthe wall coming off turn-twowithout gloves planted firmlyon the wheel. And the angler?Well, let’s just say feeble handlingcan result in a lunker dumped boat-side, or worse, that same animal going psycho onboard,injuring itself, even you.

Adult-strength fish-grippers have been subduingaquatic brutes for decades. First finding their way ontocrusty commercial boats and saltwater charters, fish-grip-pers have long tamed oceangoing savages like barracudaand billfish. Today, freshwater anglers manage mega-fishlike striped bass and leg-length catfish with these nowmust-have, handheld devices.

Catfish experts Rippin Lips is following the successfulrelease of their original gripper with the new, beefier, sim-ple to operate, PRO Big Fish Lip Gripper. The tool’s burlyclamps clutch a fish’s jaw in a single, one-handed motion.Just as easily, a temperamental fish can be released in a solo

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Almost every fishing boat has a livewell. Some have ded-icated baitwells, too. Most rely on pumps to re-circulate water– an important function that regulates water temperature,removes the buildup of toxins like ammonia, and introducesoxygen – to help keep fish and bait alive. But how well are thelivewells and baitwells on your boat actually working?

The best way to improve livewell and baitwell perform-ance is to introduce more dissolved oxygen. And the bestway to accomplish this is to install a workmanlike Frabill

AQUA LIFE Dual Output 12V DC Aerator.When simple water recirculation won’t cut it, AQUA LIFE Aerators use industry proven technology

coupled with Frabill’s engineering excellence to deliver near 100% dissolved oxygen in up to 50 gallons offresh or saltwater – precisely what your bass, shrimp and shiners need to stay alive and strong.

Boasting dual pumps, 10 feet of flexible air hose, two air stones, two anti-siphon valves and a t-con-nector, a single AQUA LIFE Dual Output 12V DC Aerator can be rigged to provide supplemental oxygen to one

or two different wells. Simple, customized installation is a snap in the boat or shop, thanks to direct, 12-volt powerand Frabill’s thoughtful inclusion of flexible mounting hardware.

AQUA LIFE Dual Output 12V DC Aerator Model Number 14213• Includes 10 feet of flexible air hose, 2 each 2” long air stones, t-connector, 2 anti-siphon valves• 6’ Power cord with copper battery clips• Lightweight, proven design• Dual pumps aerate up to 50 gallons in one or two separate containers or livewells• Flexible mounting hardware for boat or shop• Produces almost 100% Dissolved Oxygen• Corrosion resistant design for fresh or saltwater applications• Rubber non-marking feet

Cure your sick livewell or baitwell. The powerful but lightweight Frabill AQUA LIFE Dual Output 12V DCAerator is the perfect solution for the delivery of high performance, cost-effective oxygenation whenever a 12-voltpower source is required. Frabill’s AQUA LIFE family of Aerators also includes two 110-volt models for addedconvenience when used in the home, garage or shop.

The AQUA LIFE Dual Output 12V DC Aerator retails for about $40. Learn more at www.frabill.com.

stroke, making the PRO Big FishGripper ideal for both crews and one-

man operations.Defying rust and the nemesis of saltwa-

ter, the PRO Big Fish Gripper is constructedof non-corrosive stainless steel, affording years

of flawless operation. Giving grip to the gripper –the angler – the solid-state tool features a non-slip rub-

berized handle with adjustable wrist-strap, yielding evenmore control.

Rippin Lips cofounder and professional catfish anglerJohn Jamison is a control freak when it comes to dealingwith tape-measure catfish. “Safety is number one,” says thedecorated tournament champion. “A giant blue, flathead orchannel can tear you up. Getting gashed by a dorsal or pec-toral fin will ruin your day. The PRO Big Fish Gripperhelps hold a giant cat solidly in place while you remove thehook, take photos and measurements, and bring her rightback down to the water for a clean release.”

On the topic of weights and measures, Rippin Lips’PRO Big Fish Gripper features a built-in scale that goes to50-lbs of fins, scales and fillets. Anything bigger andyou’re probably going to round up for storytelling purpos-es anyway.

The Rippin Lips PRO Big Fish Gripper is introductorypriced at $29.99. Learn more at www.rippinlips.net.

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Anywhere the probability of big fish exists, theonly thought of a diehard angler lacking gear is theone about the rod, reel and tackle they wished theyhad with them.

To this end, the engineers at St. Croix have cre-ated two new models for the popular, affordableTriumph series of rods. One spinning and one casting; both medium-heavy-power rods excel when it comes to han-dling heavier line, larger baits and fighting and landing big fish. And all at a price that won’t shrink your wallet.

“The best thing about these new Triumph travel rods is that they’re built on four-piece blanks that feel likeyou’re fishing with a one-piece rod; both when casting and when loaded up with a big fish on the line,” says JasonBrunner, director of engineering at St. Croix, in Park Falls, Wisconsin. “With our specialized computer program-ming, we’re able to see exactly how a rod will flex at the ferrules long before the first one is ever manufactured. Andthe entire series of Triumph rods are proof that anglers can purchase a high-quality rod, travel rods included, with-out spending a lot of money.”

New for 2015, the TRS66MHF4 spinning rod is a 6-foot 6-inch 5.5-ouncer that can handle 3/8- to 3/4-ouncebaits on 8- to 17-pound-test line, while the TRC66MH4 is a 6-foot 6-inch baitcasting wonder that weighs in at 5.4ounces and can cast lures from 3/8 to 1 ounce on 10- to 20-pound-test line. Both break down into four 21-inch pieces,which fit snuggly into the included padded nylon soft case. Each has a retail price of only $130.

Like all Triumph rods, including the four others in the travel series, these two new models feature premium-quality SCII graphite blanks for superior strength, sensitivity and hook sets. Each is adorned with hard aluminum-oxide guides encased in two coats of Flex Coat slow-cure finish and feature premium-grade cork handles. The spin-ning model comes with a quality Fuji DPS reel seat, while the casting model features a Fuji ECS reel seat. Bothinclude a 5-year warranty backed by St. Croix’s Superstar Service.

Don’t miss another opportunity to land a lunker when you’re on the go. Open the hatchback and toss in a newTriumph medium-heavy travel rod and you’ll always be ready. Of course, if you’re headed to the middle of nowherefor that once-in-a-lifetime trip, you’ll want to pack one in the floatplane, too. Either way, you’re ready to fish.Learn more at www.stcroixrods.com.

Deer Hunting Changes on the Horizon?

BRANDONBUTLER

Deer hunting sure haschanged. Just 20 years ago, wetook to the woods with little morethan the hope of seeing and shoot-ing a buck. Not a specific buckidentified with motion activatedcameras, just a buck that happenedto walk within range. There wereno “hit lists” of deer we hadnamed. We just went hunting, andif we got one, we weighed it to seehow much meat we had harvested.

Today, deer hunting is differ-ent. Ego and competition have poi-soned one of the purest pursuits onthe planet. What was once aboutgathering nourishment for yourbody and soul has been manipulat-ed into a quest for chest thumpingbased only on the size of the rackatop a deer's head. The value of theexperience, the hunt, has beengreatly diminished by the value ofthe outcome.

Unfortunately, I see little hopefor returning to our roots. The out-door media, especially televisionshows, have created a platform for

marketing today's sad misconcep-tion of success. The outdoor mediaindustry has been manipulated bybillions of dollars of product pro-motion, and it's only becomingworse. Hunting has becomeNASCAR, meaning sponsors andcorporate allegiances take prece-dence over all else. The observantpublic follows suit, with delusionsof grandeur that they too one daywill be standing in victory lanehoisting above their heads a deerrack worthy of public praise andattention as confetti showersdown.

The pursuit of large antlershas become so horrendously per-verted that those with the financialmeans can skip the entire huntingprocess all together. In manystates, including Indiana, a captivedeer industry exists to cater tothose who just want to shoot a“trophy buck.” These propertiesare surrounded by a high-fence, sothe deer have absolutely no chanceof escape. You can pick out the oneyou want to kill from photographsand then go find it in the enclosureand shoot it. Or, in some cases youcan wait to see what comes by andchoose to shoot a deer based on thecost attributed to the color of thetag hanging from its ear. A small,but very vocal, contingent of peo-ple actually believe this is hunting.

So now those of us desperate-ly holding on to the heritage ofwhat hunting truly is are losingground every time we turn around.Product manufactures keep pro-ducing tools to further disadvan-tage our quarry. Politicians areapproving lesser rules for deerbreeding operations, even thoughnearly every wildlife biologist inthe country warns about the dan-gers of disease associated with

Deer hunting is not all about antler inches. The smiles on the faces of Jeremy and Kalynn Stephens are proof.Photo provided.

FLW, the world’spremier tournament-fishing organization,and the Ram Truckbrand announcedtoday a strategicmarketing agree-ment that namesRam the official towvehicle of FLW.Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“With its best-in-class fuel economy, best-in-class towing, best-in-class payload and best-in-class torque, Ram will find an appre-ciative audience among the hundreds of thousands of anglers thatFLW touches each month,” said Trish Blake, President of FLWMarketing. “This loyal group of truck buyers will embrace Ram likeno other consumer group the company currently targets.”

Ram trucks will be displayed at all FLW Tour Expos and promi-nently featured at the 20th anniversary Forrest Wood Cup in HotSprings, Arkansas, Aug. 20-23. The sponsorship also includesexposure for Ram across all FLW media platforms, includingFLWFishing.com, FantasyFishing.com, FLW Bass Fishing maga-zine, social media and FLW TV, which airs on the NBC SportsNetwork WFN and Pursuit.

“Ram truck owners are deeply involved with the outdoors andmore than 40 percent name fishing their top hobby,” said BobHegbloom, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ram Brand,FCA - North America. “Our broad line of hard working Ram trucksare a perfect match for anglers and outdoorsmen. Ram’s partner-ship with FLW is a great opportunity to show our capability andsupport.”

In addition to significant media exposure through FLW mediaproperties Ram dealers nationwide have the opportunity to hostpro days and offer contingency awards tied to FLW tournaments.


these confined animal operations.And even state agencies are begin-ning to cave to the cries of theantler-crazed crowd. The IndianaDepartment of Natural Resourcesincluded. This new generation ofdeer hunters has amassed enoughsize and strength to begin influenc-ing rules and regulations, and theywant some changes made inIndiana.

Personally, I see nothing

wrong with the pursuit of maturebucks. I am looking for maturebucks myself, when I'm in thewoods. But the size of the rackshould not be the main motivationfor hunting. I support rule changesthat increase the opportunity forrecruitment and retention ofhunters, and oppose those onlyrooted in increasing the number ofbucks with big antlers.

See you down trail…

RAM Trucks named official tow vehicle of FLW

ACROSS

1 The antlers5 Ants, gnats8 Type of bullet, _____ jacket

10 Used for bait at times11 The wild pig12 Hunting and fishing equipment14 Appendage on a turkey's foot15 A station for still hunting16 Male turkeys19 A deer lure, scent ___21 A group of decoys23 Number game, fish, fowl allowed24 This controlls spread of shot pellets26 A male dall27 Where you fish for the brookie30 A deer and squirrel food source33 Name for the whitetail of the North34 A species of duck35 Parts of antlers38 Popular, tasty icefishing catch41 This brings a catch into the boat43 Fly pattern term for the steelhead44 Outdoor activity regulation45 A food fish of Florida shores46 Term for crack in a bow stave

DOWN

1 Jolt from a fired gun2 A brook trout3 Term for the 20 gauge gun4 Commercial fishing equipment5 A Northern freahwater fish6 A fighting bass species7 An aid to icefishing9 A buck mating period

12 A Rocky Mountain game13 To closely follow a game15 Camo slip-ons for a bow17 A silvery minnow bait18 A wood used in arrow shafts20 The hunter;s quarry22 He hunts with a snare25 Rules for hunting and fishing28 A species of duck29 Sought by thr trapper31 Squirrels gather them32 A predator to the wild turkey33 A type of fly lure36 A type of open sight37 Female dalls38 Deer food source39 An artificial bait40 Line grommets on a fish rod41 A Gun Organization42 To construct a fly lure

A.M. A.M P. M. P.M.Minor Major Minor Major Sunrise Sunset Fishing Quality / Notes

01 Sun 3:41 8:56 2:12 9:16 7:18 6:36 Poor02 Mon 4:20 9:43 3:07 10:01 7:17 6:37 Fair03 Tue 4:55 10:28 4:02 10:44 7:15 6:38 Fair04 Wed 5:27 11:12 4:58 ----- 7:14 6:40 Fair05 Thu 5:58 11:55 5:53 ----- 7:12 6:41 Poor06 Fri 6:27 12:10 6:49 12:38 7:11 6:42 Fair / Full Moon07 Sat 6:57 12:53 7:45 1:21 7:09 6:43 Fair08 Sun 7:26 1:35 8:41 2:03 7:08 6:44 Fair09 Mon 8:59 2:52 10:38 3:48 8:06 7:45 Fair / Daylight Savings Time10 Tue 9:33 4:16 ----- 4:34 8:04 7:46 Fair11 Wed 10:12 4:53 ----- 5:22 8:03 7:47 Poor12 Thu 10:55 5:44 ----- 6:12 8:01 7:48 Poor13 Fri 11:43 6:36 ----- 7:03 8:00 7:49 Fair / Waning Half Moon14 Sat 2:24 7:31 12:39 7:57 7:58 7:50 Fair15 Sun 3:16 8:28 1:40 8:52 7:57 7:52 Fair16 Mon 4:05 9:26 2:47 9:49 7:55 7:53 Fair17 Tue 4:51 10:24 3:57 10:45 7:53 7:54 Fair18 Wed 5:33 11:21 5:09 ----- 7:52 7:55 Fair19 Thu 6:14 ----- 6:23 12:18 7:50 7:56 Good20 Fri 6:53 12:38 7:35 1:14 7:49 7:57 Good / New Moon21 Sat 7:32 1:33 8:48 2:10 7:47 7:58 Good22 Sun 8:12 2:30 9:58 3:05 7:45 7:59 Good23 Mon 8:55 3:26 ----- 3:59 7:44 8:00 Fair24 Tue 9:40 4:22 ----- 4:53 7:42 8:01 Fair25 Wed 10:28 5:17 ----- 5:45 7:41 8:02 Fair26 Thu 11:19 6:11 ----- 6:36 7:39 8:03 Poor27 Fri 1:54 7:03 12:12 7:25 7:37 8:04 Poor / Waxing Half Moon28 Sat 2:39 7:52 1:06 8:12 7:36 8:05 Fair29 Sun 3:19 8:40 2:01 8:58 7:34 8:05 Fair30 Mon 3:56 9:26 2:57 9:43 7:33 8:06 Poor31 Tue 4:29 10:10 3:52 10:26 7:31 8:07 Poor

March’s Best Hunting & Fishing Times...

Indiana Outdoor CalendarMarch 2015

Light Goose Conservation Hunting Season Open All Month

Mar. 1: Last Day of Late Split Crow Hunting Season

Mar. 14: Fly Fishing Workshop at the Clarksville Bass Pro Shops at 10:00 a.m. Call

812-218-5500 for more information.

Mar. 14: NRA Metalic Reloading Course at the Hammond Cabela’s, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00

p.m. Contact Lynn Garnand at 847-767-2275 or e-mail [email protected]

to register.

Mar. 14-15: Captain’s Weekend Seminars and More at the Hammond Cabela’s. More

info at http://www.cabelas.com/stores/store_info.jsp?pageName=024

Mar. 15: Last Day of Coyote and Striped Skunk Hunting and Trapping Seasons

Mar. 15: Last Day of Beaver Trapping Season

Mar. 21: NRA Home Firearm Safety Class, Noon-5:00 p.m. at the Hammond Cabela’s.

For more information or to sign up, e-mail [email protected].

Mar. 22: Pre-Spawn Patterns Fishing Workshop at the Clarksville Bass Pro Shops at

2:30 p.m. Call 812-218-5500 for more information.

Mar. 29: Indiana Bass Federation Invitational Tournament at Patoka Lake. Contact

Kenny Swint at 317-416-4579 for more information.

Mar. 31: Last Day of Light Goose Conservation Hunting Season

Apr. 18-19: Youth Wild Turkey Hunting Season

Apr. 22-May 10: Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season

• A variety of Hunter Education courses are offered around the state this month. For

details, visit www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/4812.htm.

• Check http://www.ducks.org/indiana/events/ for a complete list of Ducks Unlimited

events throughout Indiana this month.

• Check http://www.nwtf.org/indiana/hh_banquets.html for a complete list of National

Wild Turkey Federation banquets in Indiana this month.

www.INDIANAOUTDOORNEWS.net

A Marketplace for the Outdoors Enthusiast!

GET RESULTS!

Place your ad in the

ION Outdoor Directory.

2”x2” ad just $30 per run!

574-273-5160


Answers on Page 4

It’s well known I run a fishingcharter business on LakeMichigan. I don’t use this columnto promote my business, but it doespresent me with interesting experi-ences worthy of passing on to youoccasionally. This story is aboutone of my customers who, unbe-knownst to me, was on a questwhen he fished with me a fewyears ago.

I don’t know if David Howardwas actually on a “quest” at thattime or if it was just somethingstirring in the back of his mind.The story he told me at the time ofour trip was he would watch air-fares available from airports nearhis home in Virginia and when hefound an inexpensive flight tosomewhere, he’d check out whatsort of fishing was available at thatdestination, check the timing ofwhen the best fishing times forspecific species occurred and thencheck his life list of fish he’dcaught previously. If everythingaligned, he’d contact a guide in thearea and make the plane reserva-

Fishing the Fifty

tion. My website has a “fishing cal-

endar” on it that shows what kindsof Lake Michigan fish are mostlikely to be hitting each month.The month of June caught his eyebecause other than brown trout,one never knows what species offish is likely to bite next. Coho andking salmon as well as lake troutand steelhead trout are commoncatches all month. Howard hadnever caught a steelhead, cohosalmon or lake trout.

The weatherman threw us a bitof a curve the day we scheduled. Acold front had come through thenight before and when we got tothe lake, the waves were three tofive feet. The area I hoped to fishwas several miles offshore andtraveling that far in those condi-tions would be out of the questionfor safety reasons as well as com-fort. That crossed Mr. Lake Troutoff the list, right away. In the sum-mer, lakers are deepwater fish anddeepwater in Indiana is not avail-able close to shore.

However, Indiana does haveone thing going for it in late June.The Indiana DNR stocks a sum-mer-run strain of steelhead calledSkamania.

Skamanias invade the shal-lows in June, offering a solidchance for Howard to catch at leastone of the species he’d traveled sofar to catch.

The waves still made for

somewhat uncomfortable fishing,but not unsafe, so I set some luresto see what would happen. Actioncame quickly. It didn‚t take longbefore a beautiful, 14-pound steel-head started the party, Howard’sfirst steelhead - another species hecould add to his lifetime list. Hewas happy, I was happy and theparty wasn’t over.

The next fish to bite was apleasant surprise. Though his lakerquest was stymied, a brown troutcrashed the party. Browns are com-monly caught in March and April,but when the water warms, theybecome only an occasional visitor.Most years my customers onlycatch a handful of browns all sum-mer long. David had caught streambrowns in Virginia previously, fishthat are measured in inches. Thisone, over nine pounds was, easily(and still is) the largest brown trouthe’d ever caught

As the morning progressed,the waves died down as the windslackened. We were able to moveoffshore a little way to see if wecould find a bit of cooler water andthe next fish that bit was a cohopulling the scale down past theseven pound mark. A beautiful fishand another fish for his life list!

That outing with Howardoccurred a few summers ago andevidently, with time, his quest mor-phed from filling his fishing lifelist to something more grandiose.I don’t know how many states

The Last ThoughtMIKESCHOONVELD

David had visited previously, buthe eventually revised his questfrom simply adding species to hislist to a quest to visit each state inthe USA and fish for a trophy fishavailable in that state. He’s current-ly only one state away from fulfill-ing that quest. A trip to Hawaii, hisone missing state, is planned for

April of 2015. He’s set up a web-site with photos and short essaysfrom each of the states he’s visited.

It’s impressive. Spend sometime clicking the map on his site,reading his essays and looking atthe photos. If you would like tocheck out David’s adventures, goto www.fishingthefifty.com.

Here are some Indiana fish that fulfilled Dave Howard's quest. Photo provided.



Documents

Indiana Outdoor News March 2015